Part 1: Family Business
A massive estate stood before them–
Traditional yet modern, its elegant architecture stretched across acres of perfectly maintained land.
Beyond it, a dense, green forest loomed, stretching far into the horizon.
Five figures stood at the grand entrance.
Mei turned to them, smiling. "Well… welcome to my home."
Hikari took a deep breath, inhaling deeply. "Ahh, I haven't been here in a while. I missed the smell of herbal tea."
Haruto glanced at the estate, then back at Hikaru. "…You guys didn't tell me we had a rich friend."
Silence.
Hikaru and Teshii stood completely frozen–
Jaws dropped.
Minds blank.
Hikari burst out laughing at the sight of their stunned expressions.
"…What," Teshii finally whispered, "the hell… is this."
Hikaru blinked, still processing. "Mei… when you said 'family estate'… you actually meant it."
Mei giggled. "Yep!"
Teshii let out a low whistle. "Wow. Mei. I think I've been calling you the wrong nickname this whole time."
He smirked. "Forget 'Shy Girl." From now on, you're 'Rich Girl.'"
Mei's face turned pink. "P-Please don't!"
Hikari nudged her, giggling. "You're not denying it, though."
Teshii clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough admiring the mansion! Let's head in, 'Rich Girl.'"
His grin widened.
"And while we're at it, let's talk about the Element of Wood… and also how your family got this rich. You know, so I can get rich too."
Mei rolled her eyes but smiled. "Alright, alright. Follow me."
The doors swung open–
And the secrets of the Tomita Family awaited them inside.
Herbal Tea Business
As they stepped into the Tomita Estate, the air was fragrant with the rich aroma of herbal tea.
A woman stood near the entrance, waiting for them. She bowed gracefully, her face calm, though her blue eyes held a distant sadness.
CHARCTER INTRODUCTION
Name: Yuki Osamu
Age: 42
Hair Colour: White
Eye Colour: Blue
Height: 5'5
Weight: 130lbs
Occupation: Maid of the Tomita Family
"Welcome back, Miss Mei." Yuki greeted, her voice even and emotionless.
Mei smiled warmly. "Thank you, Yuki."
Yuki's eyes flickered to the group. "I see you have guests."
"Yes. Can you prepare us some tea, please?" Mei asked politely.
Yuki bowed again. "As you wish, Miss Mei."
As she left, Teshii leaned over to Hikaru and whispered. "Wow, Sunshine, your girlfriend, 'Rich Girl,' is really treating us well."
Hikaru immediately turned red and whispered back, "She's not my girlfriend!"
Teshii grinned. "Yet."
Before Hikaru could strangle him, they were led into the dining hall–
And all three boys froze in their tracks.
A massive dining table stretched across the bast room, polished to perfection, with chandeliers above them casting as soft glow.
Teshii snapped out of his trance first, casually plopping into a chair. "Alright, Rich Girl. Spill it. How did your family get this rich?"
Mei giggled. "We own a herbal tea business."
Hikaru raised an eyebrow. "…Wait, so the tea…"
Mei nodded proudly. "Yes, it's our famous herbal tea."
Right on cue, the door swung open.
Yuki returned, carrying an assortment of herbal teas on a traditional wooden tray.
She placed each one carefully on the table:
Matcha
Sencha
Genmaicha
Hojicha
Banchia
Everyone stared at the beautiful display of tea, their rich aromas filling the air.
"Wow, they look amazing." Hikari said, eyes sparkling.
Hikaru picked up the matcha, taking a sip. His eyes widened. "This… this is incredible, Mei."
Mei blushed slightly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I-I helped pick some of the herbs from the forest."
Teshii casually grabbed a sencha, taking a sip before pulling out a notebook labelled 'How to Be Rich!'
"…So this is why the Tomita Herbal Tea Business is so successful." He scribbled furiously, writing notes on each tea.
Haruto, who had already finished his tea, leaned forward. "So, Mei… tell us about the Element of Wood."
Mei clapped her hands. "Right! The Element of Wood lives in the forest behind my home."
Hikari raised an eyebrow. "He lives in the forest?"
Mei nodded. "Yes. His name is Moriya. He's part of a tribe that has lived in the forest for generations."
Hikaru's eyes widened. "…A tribe?"
Mei nodded again. "Yes, they've been helping our family harvest herbs for years. My father told me that the tribespeople believe Moriya is special."
Teshii smirked. "Well, they're right. He is special. He's the Element of Wood."
Then–
Teshii suddenly stood up, turning to Hikaru and Haruto.
"Alright, Sunshine and Aqua. Tomorrow, we go into the forest and recruit Woody."
Haruto blinked. "…Woody?"
Hikaru sighed, rubbing his temples. "Teshii, you haven't even met him yet, and you already have a nickname for him?"
Teshii grinned. "Of course."
Then he turned to Mei. "By the way, Rich Girl, thanks for the info. Also, I gotta say, I'm glad Hikaru has you as his girlfriend."
Silence.
"G-Girlfriend?!" Mei's face turned bright red.
"TESHII!" Hikaru shouted, nearly knocking over his tea.
Teshii just burst into laughter.
Ignoring him, Hikaru turned to Mei, clearing his throat. "Mei… if you don't mind, could you take us to the forest tomorrow?"
Mei nodded shyly. "Of course. Anything for you."
Teshii narrowed his eyes, a sly grin forming. "'Anything for you,' huh?"
"Shut up!" Hikaru and Mei shouted in unison.
And with that, their next journey was set–
Tomorrow, they would venture into the forest in search of the Element of Wood.
Part 2: Welcome to the Order, Haruto
After leaving the Tomita Estate, Hikaru and Teshii led Haruto toward their safehouse – the hidden base of the Order of the Elements.
As they walked, Haruto, still new to everything, had one important question.
"Mr. Teshii… can you tell me more about the Order of the Elements?"
Teshii sighed dramatically. Then, he turned to the empty air beside him and spoke as if addressing an invisible audience.
"Alright, guys. Since Aqua asked nicely, it's time for some exposition. Feel free to skip this part."
Hikaru stared at him in disbelief.
Seriously, who is he even talking to?
Haruto blinked. "…Who are you talking to?"
Teshii grinned mysteriously. "Don't worry about it."
Haruto side-eyed Hikaru, silently asking if this was normal.
Hikaru just sighed. "You get used to it."
Teshii cleared his throat. "Ahem! Now, back to the lesson. The Order of the Elements is a secret organization founded by three incredible people–"
He flourished dramatically, pointing at himself.
"–most importantly, me!"
Haruto stared blankly. "…With that personality, I find it hard to believe you helped found anything."
Teshii froze mid-stride, completely offended.
Hikaru burst out laughing.
Teshii pouted. "Excuse you! I am a visionary!"
Haruto ignored him and continued. "So… how many Elements are there?"
Teshii was still too shook to respond.
"So, Hikaru answered instead. "There are ten."
Haruto nodded. "Which ones?"
Hikaru held up his fingers as he counted. "Light, Fire, Water, Wood, Thunder, Ice, Eaarth, Air, Steel, and Darkness."
"And how many have you found so far?" Haruto asked.
Teshii snapped out of his offended state. "Two."
Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Just two?"
Teshii sighed dramatically. "Yeah… You and Sunshine here."
Haruto thought for a moment. "So… eight more to go."
"Yep," Teshii said, suddenly back to normal as if nothing had happened.
They continued walking.
More questions. More ridiculous answers from Teshii.
Until–
They finally arrived at the safehouse.
Haruto in the Safehouse
Haruto stared up at the old, run-down building in front of him. He frowned and turned to Hikaru. "This place looks abandoned."
Hikaru chuckled. "Yeah, I thought the same thing at first."
Teshii pushed open the door with a smirk. "Never judge a book by its cover, Aqua."
Haruto raised an eyebrow but followed them inside–
And immediately froze in shock.
The interior was completely different. Instead of an abandoned dump, the inside was modern, high-tech, and well-maintained. Holographic monitors, high-end security systems, and sleek furniture lined the walls.
"Wow." Haruto muttered, eyes scanning the futuristic surroundings.
Teshii casually threw an arm around him. "Told ya."
"Yeah…" Haruto mumbled, still absorbing everything.
As they moved deeper inside, Hikaru and Teshii continued to show Haruto around.
Then–
"So… you're the Element of Water."
A voice cut through the air.
Haruto turned.
Two people stood near the main operation table.
One was Satoshi, his arms crossed, his sharp eyes analysing Haruto carefully. Beside him stood Reina, watching with a slight, knowing smile.
Haruto met Satoshi's piercing gaze head-on, his usual stoic demeanour unwavering.
"Haruto Setsuna." Haruto gave a respectful bow.
Reina tilted her head slightly. "He's polite. That's a good start."
Satoshi nodded. "Agreed." Then, after a brief moment–
"Welcome to the Order."
Before Haruto could even process his official welcome, Satoshi turned to Teshii, his expression darkening.
",,,Now," he said in a dangerously calm voice. "Let's talk about what you did."
Teshii blinked. "…What I did?"
Satoshi's stare hardened. "You told Hikaru's sister and girlfriend about the Order."
Hikaru immediately choked on air. "MEI IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"
Satoshi ignored him completely. "You revealed classified information to civilians."
Teshii raised his hands defensively. "Okay, okay, technically… they saw everything before I told them. So at that point, it was damage control."
Satoshi's gaze did not waver.
Teshii scratched the back of his head. "Besides, Hikari was staring into my soul, demanding an answer… and come on, I can't say no to a beautiful woman."
Reina sighed. "Teshii–"
"Wait! I'm not done!" Teshii interrupted, holding up a finger. "Mei actually had valuable information about another Element. If I didn't tell them, we'd be wasting time trying to find someone that she already knows exists."
Satoshi exhaled slowly. "Are you sure about this lead?"
Teshii grinned. "Positive. A year ago, Mei saw someone controlling wood in the forest behind her estate. A guy named Moriya."
Hikaru, who had been silent for most of this, finally stepped forward. "It's worth looking into. If there's even a chance that the Element of Wood is there, we'll find him."
Teshii smirked, throwing in a quick jab. "And let's be real, Sunshine just wants an excuse to see his girlfriend again."
Hikaru turned bright red.
"FOR THE LAST TIME, MEI IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"
Teshii grinned mischievously. "Oh, come on. Even the people reading this know you two are gonna end up together."
Hikaru glared daggers at him.
Satoshi, ignoring their antics, sighed deeply. "Well then… tomorrow, the three of you will head into the forest."
Teshii saluted playfully. "Roger that, bossman."
Satoshi sighed. "Stop calling me that."
Reina turned to Haruto. "If Teshii starts annoying you, just tell me. I'll handle him."
Haruto paused for a second, then nodded. "Okay."
Then – he turned back to Satoshi, curiosity creeping into his voice. "I do have one question."
Satoshi met his gaze. "What is it?"
"…Is it true that this guy–" he pointed at Teshii–
Teshii grinned. "That's me!"
"–actually co-founded the Order of the Elements?"
Satoshi closed his eyes briefly, as if regretting all his life choices.
Then, with a long, exhausted sigh, he said: "Unfortunately… yes."
A moment of silence.
"Wow." Haruto said. "That's… really concerning."
Teshii clutched his chest dramatically. "OKAY, THIS IS JUST STRAIGHT-UP BULLYING!"
Hikaru and Reina laughed.
Part 3: Yakuza?
The day had finally come – the day they would venture into the forest behind the Tomita Estate to find the Element of Wood.
But first–
They trained.
Hikaru faced off against Haruto in the training centre.
"RADIANCE BLAST!" Hikaru shouted.
A beam of golden energy erupted from his palm, shooting toward Haruto.
Haruto dodged effortlessly, weaving through the air like flowing water.
Hikaru narrowed his eyes, firing another.
Then another.
And another.
But Haruto kept dodging, never once counterattacking.
Teshii and Satoshi watched from the sidelines.
"Something isn't right." Teshii muttered.
Satoshi turned to him. "What do you mean?"
Teshii nodded toward Haruto. "Aqua… isn't using the Element of Water."
Satoshi's gaze sharpened as he observed Haruto carefully.
"You're right. Not even once."
Why?
What was holding him back?
Satoshi turned back to Teshii. "What do you think the reason is?"
Teshii shrugged. "We ask."
Hikaru fired one more blast.
Then–
"STOP!" Teshii suddenly shouted.
Hikaru and Haruto turned to him in confusion.
BOOM!
A bright flash.
Teshii, Satoshi, and Hikaru winced as they saw Haruto get hit directly by Hikaru's Radiance Blast.
The force sent him flying across the training mat.
He crashed down–
Knocked out cold.
Silence.
Teshii rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"…Maybe I said 'stop' at a bad time."
Haruto's Reason of not using Water
Haruto's eyes fluttered open. His vision blurred before slowly coming into focus–
The first thing he saw was Hikaru, Teshii, and Satoshi staring down at him.
"Haruto, are you okay?" Hikaru asked, concern in his voice.
Haruto groaned, rubbing his head as he sat up. "Yeah… I think so."
Teshii clapped his hands on his hips and laughed to himself. "Apologies, Aqua. That was some bad timing on my part."
Hikaru, Haruto, and Satoshi all glared at him.
Satoshi crossed his arms and turned to Haruto. "Haruto."
Haruto met his gaze. "Yeah?"
"Why aren't you using the Element of Water?" Satoshi asked, his tone calm but serious.
Hikaru nodded. "Yeah, I noticed too. You haven't used it even once. How come?"
Haruto's eyes dropped to the ground. "…Because there's no water around."
Silence.
Teshii suddenly stopped laughing. "…Wait."
He squinted at Haruto. "Are you saying… you can't produce water?"
Haruto exhaled. "No. I can only control water."
Hikaru's eyes widened. "Wait, really?"
Haruto nodded. "But… maybe I can produce water. I just don't know how to."
Teshii tapped his chin, deep in thought. "Hmm… okay, okay. Let me think of a short-term solution until you learn to produce water."
Hikaru smirked, arms crossed. "You? Thinking? That's new."
Teshii gasped dramatically. "Hey! Don't underestimate my intelligence!"
Ignoring him, Hikaru turned back to Haruto. "You know… that's actually surprising."
"What is?" Haruto asked.
"That you can't produce water." Hikaru explained. "When I awakened my Element, Light just started glowing from my body."
Haruto smiled slightly. "Yeah… when I awakened mine, water started rising around me. I was confused at first."
Suddenly–
"I GOT IT!"
Hikaru, Haruto, and Satoshi flinched as Teshii's voice boomed across the training centre.
Teshii pointed dramatically at them. "SUNSHINE! AQUA! BOSSMAN! I HAVE A GENIUS IDEA!"
Then–
Without another word–
He bolted out of the training centre.
Hikaru and Haruto exchanged looks.
"What the hell did he come up with?" Hikaru muttered.
Haruto shrugged. "Beats me."
Satoshi cleared his throat. "Well, I'll leave you two to figure that out. I need to help Reina locate the other Elements."
Hikaru and Haruto nodded as Satoshi left, leaving them both to wonder–
What the hell was Teshii up to now?"
Solution to Haruto's Problem
Teshii strolled back into the training centre, a smug grin on his face, hiding something behind his back.
Hikaru and Haruto watched him cautiously.
"Okay, Aqua." Teshii smirked. "Behind me… is something that will make your life a whole lot easier until you can produce water."
With a dramatic flourish, he held up a small pouch.
Haruto raised an eyebrow. "…A pouch?"
Hikaru stared at it, unimpressed. "Teshii. How the hell is a pouch going to help Haruto?"
Teshii's grin only widened. "Because–" he sook the pouch slightly "–this baby is filled with water."
"There's water inside?" Hikaru asked, leaning in.
"Yep." Teshii tossed it lightly. "Haruto, whenever you're in a situation where you can't find water or produce it, you can just pull from this."
He unfastened the pouch, revealing the small reserve of clear, shimmering water inside.
Haruto raised his hand – and the water smoothly floated out, swirling between his fingers before he sent it back inside with ease.
He nodded in approval. "I gotta admit, Teshii… this is actually a smart idea."
Teshii puffed out his chest. "Told ya."
Hikaru crossed his arms. "Wait… how did you even come up with that?"
Teshii grinned mischievously. "From Avatar: The Last Airbender."
Haruto and Hikaru blinked in confusion.
"…From where?" Haruto asked.
Teshii stared at them like they had just committed a crime. "Wait – you guys don't know Avatar?" His jaw dropped. "You're missing out on a masterpiece."
Hikaru and Haruto exchanged looks, then slowly turned back to Teshii.
"…You're unbelievable."
Teshii ignored them, refocusing on the task at hand. "Anyway, here. Take it."
He handed the pouch to Haruto, who accepted it gratefully – but then his eyes drifted to Teshii's arms.
There were markings.
Tattoos.
Haruto narrowed his eyes. "Teshii."
"Hmm?" Teshii tilted his head.
Haruto gestured toward his exposed arms. "…Are you part of the Yakuza?"
Silence.
Hikaru's head snapped toward Teshii, his eyes going wide. "Wait, WHAT?!"
Teshii blinked in confusion. "…What makes you say that?"
Haruto crossed his arms. "Because you have tattoos on your arms."
Hikaru gasped dramatically. "Holy shit, you actually do! How did I never notice that?!"
Teshii glanced down at his own arms, then snorted. "Oh, these?"
He waved dismissively. "Nah, I'm not Yakuza."
Haruto wasn't convinced. "Then what are they?"
Teshii held up his arms with a lazy grin. "Come on, Aqua. Do these even LOOK like Yakuza tattoos?"
Haruto and Hikaru took a closer look.
Teshii was right.
The tattoos weren't traditional – they weren't the intricate dragons, koi fish, or kanji symbols that typically belonged to the Yakuza.
Instead–
They were random.
Symbols. Strange patterns. Abstract designs.
Nothing about them made sense.
Hikaru and Haruto exchanged another glance.
Something wasn't adding up.
Teshii clapped his hands together, changing the subject instantly. "Welp! Let's forget about that and focus on the Element of Wood."
He threw one arm up in excitement. "Because today, we're heading to the forest!"
Hikaru and Haruto hesitated for a moment, still side-eyeing Teshii's tattoos – but eventually, they raised their arms as well.
"Yeah." They said in unison.
But–
The mystery of Teshii's tattoos stayed in the back of their minds.
Part 4: The Forest
The group – Hikaru, Teshii, Haruto, and Mei – arrived at the Tomita Forest, an ancient, sprawling woodland that had belonged to Mei's family for generations.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, fresh herbs, and something else – something faintly mystical.
As they ventured deeper, the atmosphere shifted.
The towering trees seemed to lean inward, their gnarled branches twisting overhead, as if the forest itself was watching them.
Then–
They were greeted.
Figures emerged from the trees, silent as shadows.
A tribe – dressed in earth-toned robes and woven natural clothing, their eyes sharp, their expressions wary.
Some of the whispered among themselves, their gazes flickering toward the newcomers. Others simply observed, unreadable.
But–
A few of them were glaring.
Directly at Teshii.
Teshii felt it immediately.
His usual grin faltered for just a second. "Um… hi?"
No response.
The tribe members remained silent, their postures rigid.
Mei stepped forward, clearing her throat. "These people live deep in the forest, protecting the land and its resources. My family has worked with them for years."
One of the elders stepped forward – a small but imposing woman, her long green hair streaked with grey.
"Mei Tomita," she said, her voice steady but unreadable. "Welcome back to the forest."
CHARACTER INTRODUCTION
Name: Elder Sana
Age: 65
Hair Colour: Green
Eye Colour: Brown
Height: 5'2
Weight: 120lbs
Occupation: Tribe Member
Mei's eyes lit up with warmth. "Elder Sana!"
The older woman gave a small smile. "How are you doing, dear?"
"I'm doing great." Mei replied, bowing slightly.
Elder Sana's gaze then shifted to the others. "And these are…?"
Mei straightened. "These are my friends."
Then–
Elder Sana's sharp eyes landed on Teshii.
"…Even him?" She asked, her tone unreadable.
Teshii blinked. "HEY! What does that mean?"
Elder Sana's expression darkened slightly.
"You smell of blood and deception."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
Teshii chuckled dryly, crossing his arms. "Well, that's just rude."
The other tribe members shifted, their hands instinctively gripping their weapons – bows, spears, and knives.
Hikaru leaned toward Mei, whispering. "Uh… should we be worried?"
Mei sighed. "They're cautious with outsiders – especially ones like him."
Haruto crossed his arms. "Not surprising."
Teshii smirked. "Aqua, are you implying something?"
Haruto didn't respond.
Hikaru groaned rubbing his temples. "Can we NOT start something right now?"
Then–
Before the tension could escalate any further–
A new voice cut through the air.
Moriya, the Element of Wood
"ENOUGH!"
The voice rang through the forest like a command from the earth itself.
Everyone looked up.
Perched high on a sturdy branch, a long figure stood effortlessly, watching them.
He was tall, his long, green hair tied into a loose ponytail, with piercing hazel eyes that carried wisdom beyond his years. His clothing, woven from natural fibres, was adorned with wooden beads and leaves – and strangely, the leaves seemed to shift and move as if they were alive.
More importantly–
The air around him was different.
Powerful. Ancient.
The forest itself seemed to breathe with him.
CHARACTER INTRODUCTION
Name: Moriya Arakawa
Age: 21
Hair Colour: Green
Eye Colour: Hazel
Height: 5'11
Weight: 171lbs
Occupation: Tribe Member
Mei whispered, eyes wide. "That's him. It's Moriya."
Hikaru blinked. "So… that's the Element of Wood.
Then–
Moriya moved.
He leaped from the towering branch, descending gracefully toward them.
Haruto's eyes widened. "Did he just jump?"
Teshii, completely unfazed, grinned. "Yep. He just did."
Moriya landed effortlessly, barely making a sound, as if the very ground welcomed his presence.
Silence–
Then–
"WHOOO! WHAT A LANDING!"
Teshii immediately clapped, cheering as if he had just witnessed an Olympic performance.
Everyone – Hikaru, Haruto, and Mei – stared at him in disbelief.
Moriya ignored Teshii entirely, his attention instead fixed on Hikaru.
The way the leaves rustled despite the still air, the way the roots beneath them felt more alive – it was undeniable.
This was the Element of Wood.
Hikaru took a deep breath, stepping forward.
"My name is Hikaru Nozomi, and I am the Element of Light."
He extended his hand.
Moriya regarded him calmly, then took his hand in a firm, respectful grip.
"I know." Moriya said simply. "I've been aware fo you… thanks to her."
His gaze shifted to Mei.
Mei nodded, confirming it. "I didn't want to surprise them."
Moriya let go of Hikaru's hand, his voice measured. "Welcome to our forest."
Then–
His hazel eyes hardened as they shifted to Teshii.
"…But you," Moriya said, crossing his arms, "are not welcome by many here."
Why the Tribes Hates Teshii
Teshii held up his hands in mock surrender, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
"Whoa, Woody, no need for the hostile tone. I haven't even done anything…"
A tense silence fell over the forest.
Then–
"…yet,"
Everyone – Hikaru, Haruto and Mei snapped their heads to Teshii.
A ripple of disapproving murmurs ran through the surrounding tribe members. Their eyes, filled with suspicion and disdain, never left him.
Hikaru exhaled slowly, sensing the growing hostility. "I think… this tribe has history with your kind, Teshii."
Teshii quirked an eyebrow. "My kind? You mean handsome people?"
Moriya remained unamused. His gaze was cold, calculating. "Years ago, a Yakuza group attempted to take our land from us."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air.
Hikaru, Haruto, and Teshii stiffened.
"Yakuza?" Hikaru repeated.
Moriya nodded. "They killed many of our people."
The atmosphere grew colder. The nearby tribesmen gripped their weapons tighter, their stares hardening as they looked as Teshii.
"…And you think I had something to do with that?" Teshii's tone had dropped, losing its usual carefree edge.
Moriya's hazel eyes locked onto him. "You wear their markings."
All eyes turned to Teshii's tattoos.
Haruto nudged him. "Uh… You might wanna roll your sleeves down."
Teshii's gaze flicked to him, then back at the watchful tribe, who were eyeing him like he was already guilty.
With a sigh, he rolled down his sleeves, covering the inked skin.
Then, he met Moriya's gaze head-on. "First of all – I'm not Yakuza."
Moriya's expression didn't change. "Then explain the tattoos."
Teshii shrugged. "They're just for show."
Hikaru, deciding to step in, crossed his arms. "Moriya, I get the suspicion, but come on – his tattoos aren't even Yakuza designs. They're just… random doodles."
Teshii jerked his head toward him, offended. "I BEG YOUR PARDON?! RANDOM DOODLES?"
Hikaru ignored him. "They have zero meaning. Trust me."
Teshii groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I get why you're pissed. But I've never stolen from you, never killed your people, and I DEFINITELY don't plan on starting now."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, finally – Moriya nodded.
"Fine. But I still don't trust you." His voice carried no hesitation. "If Mei brought you here… then I won't oppose your presence. But don't expect me to lower my guard."
The tension eased slightly, though the tribe still eyed Teshii like he was one wrong move away from being executed.
Hukaru turned back to Moriya. "So… what happened after the Yakuza attacked?"
Moriya shifted his gaze to Mei. "Her family prevented further damage."
All eyes turned to Mei.
Hikaru blinked. Then – his face lit up with admiration.
"Wait… Mei, your family fought off the Yakuza? That's… AMAZING!"
Mei's cheeks turned pink. "I-I mean, it wasn't me, it was family–"
Hikaru smirked. "Still. That's seriously impressive."
Mei looked away, fidgeting.
Teshii snickered, crossing his arms. "Ohh, look at that, Sunshine. Your girlfriend is blushing~"
Both Hikaru and Mei snapped their heads toward him, faces burning red.
"SHUT UP, TESHII!" they shouted in unison.
Meanwhile
Unbeknownst to them – someone else was approaching the forest.
A shadowed figure stood at the edge of the Tomita Forest, his silhouette barely visible against the dense treeline.
Then – he vanished.
A blink.
He reappeared several meters ahead, stepping lightly between the trees.
Another flicker – gone again.
Then again.
And again.
Each movement was silent, each appearance effortless, as if the forest itself didn't even register his presence.
Finally – he emerged at the outermost edge of the tribal lands.
A smirk curled on his lips.
"Found you."
TO BE CONTINUE!!!