Ren Takahashi had never asked for his life to be anything but ordinary. At 17, his days were a predictable routine: school, basketball, looking after his younger sister Rika, and the occasional bouts of awkwardness with Mika, Kaede and Haru. The world around him had Kaijus—massive creatures that once roamed the Earth, now mostly hidden away by a group of specialized hunters. Ren cared little about them. He hasn't really encountered one himself, and he liked it that way. His world, for all its chaos, was simple enough.
But that was before the storm.
---
The Ordinary Morning Before Chaos
The usual alarm buzzed, but Ren had already been awake for a while. His thoughts raced as the usual mundane sounds of Rika's energetic stomps reached him.
Rika: "Ren! You're gonna be late again!"
Ren groaned, dragging himself out of bed, annoyed yet not surprised. "Five more minutes…"
A pillow landed on his face. "You said that five minutes ago!"
Ren had never felt more like an old man, even though he was still a teenager.
Rika was already at the kitchen table, shoveling down breakfast with impressive efficiency, looking completely awake.
Ren grabbed a piece of her toast. "How are you this awake?"
Rika, grinning mischievously: "Because I'm not an old man like you."
Ren snatched the toast, teasing her in return. "You'll live."
---
At School – The Routine of Ordinary
As Ren dropped Rika off at school, he felt the usual weight of his day bearing down. But just as he approached the school gates, Mika's familiar voice cut through the noise.
Mika: "Ren! You still owe me for that history test."
Ren grinned, leaning against the gate. "Oh yeah… the one where I wrote your name instead of mine?"
Mika's laugh was musical, but it quickly shifted to a more teasing tone. "Exactly. You dumbass."
The bell rang, signaling the start of the day. The usual routine resumed.
---
Basketball – Where Ren Comes Alive
Basketball practice was where Ren could escape. His speed, his agility, his precision—on the court, he wasn't just Ren Takahashi. He was the best.
Coach: "Takahashi! Quit showing off and pass the damn ball!"
Ren's grin was infectious. "Can't help it, Coach."
The team groaned, but they laughed along with him.
---
The Storm – A Moment That Changed Everything
That night, the storm rolled in. It wasn't the usual storm Ren had grown up with; this one felt different. It was as if the sky was alive, rumbling with a fury that matched the chaos beginning to brew within him.
Rika: "Do you think it'll rain?"
Ren, glancing at the sky, could sense something… more. "Probably. Let's hurry."
But before they could get home, lightning struck a lamppost beside them.
Rika screamed, and instinctively, Ren shielded her, but as he did, another bolt came crashing down, hitting him square in the chest.
Everything went white.
---
The Awakening – Ren's Mindscape
When Ren came to, he found himself in darkness—an endless void, as if the world had ceased to exist. A strange, booming voice echoed through the abyss.
???: "You. What are you?"
A massive figure loomed in front of him, crackling with electricity. Ren's heart raced as he struggled to process what was happening.
Ren: "Who… are you?"
The figure's voice smirked. "I am nothing but the storm that now resides in you."
Ren's body stiffened as if shackled by invisible forces, the weight of power pressing in on him.
???: "Your body is now my vessel. Your life? Irrelevant. The moment that lightning struck, you became mine."
The storm surged again, and Ren's vision blurred before everything went dark.
---
Reality – The Aftermath of the Strike
When Ren woke up, he felt a burning sensation on his arm, as if something deep within was waking up with him. Rika, frantic, was shaking him.
Rika: "Ren! Wake up! Please!"
Ren struggled to sit up, his body aching from the strange experience. His gaze dropped to his forearm, where the lightning-shaped scar still burned faintly.
Ren: "What just happened?"
---
The Shift – The Storm's Power
As Ren tried to make sense of the overwhelming surge of energy within him, something stirred in his mind—???, a voice echoed in the dark corners of his consciousness.
Rika, oblivious to the turmoil inside her brother, hugged him tight, but Ren's thoughts were elsewhere, caught between confusion and fear. "What the hell have I gotten myself into?"
Later, when he stood at the window, staring out at the now calm sky, Ren felt something crackle in the air around him, a reflection of what lay inside him now.
"…Mine."
His reflection flickered, revealing an ominous blue gleam in his eyes.
Ren stumbled back, gripping his wrist. Pain surged from his arm. What was this power? Was it his, or had it taken root in him?
---
The Struggle Within
The next morning, the unease hadn't gone away. As Ren walked to school, his mind was still trapped in a battle with the voice—???—who now resided within him.
Rika had noticed something was off. "You've been acting weird, you know. I'd it because...it has to be..."
Ren, forcing a smile, waved her off. "Just tired from practice."
But as they made their way to school, the voice echoed again.
???: "Your sister's got a lot of spirit. Reminds me of someone I used to know."
Ren clenched his fist. "Not in the mood for nostalgia, Don't."
---
School – The Return to Normal?
The routine at school was a welcome distraction, but Ren couldn't escape the presence in his mind. As Mika teased him, and Haru tried to get him to focus on a surprise quiz, Ren felt himself dissociate, the glow of his scar flashing in the corner of his eye.
During science class, a spark from the Van de Graaff generator sent a shock through his arm, and Ren winced.
Mika noticed the glow. "What was that?"
Ren, trying to brush it off: "Nothing! Just… static."
But inside, he was fighting back panic. What was happening to him? Why now?
---
The Night – Facing the Storm
Later that night, Ren once again found himself standing before the storm, his arm burning, the voice, ???, inside his head.
???: "The storm chose you. You are the vessel... and I will use this body for my cause."
Ren's grip on his wrist tightened. "I won't let you take over."
But in the end, the storm outside mirrored the one inside him. The battle for his body and soul had only just begun.
As the screen faded to black, Ren's declaration echoed in the storm: "I won't let you take over."
Opening Scene: The Subtle Shift
The morning sun filtered through Ren's bedroom window, the golden rays battling the ever-present clouds outside. The hum of the early morning was soon interrupted by a small, insistent voice.
"Onii-chan! You're gonna be late again!"
Ren groaned, the sound of his sister's voice slicing through the fog of sleep. His eyes barely cracked open, and he turned his head toward the small girl standing at the door, dragging her stuffed bunny by its ears.
"Five more minutes, Rika. You're not my mom."
The girl pouted, a scowl appearing on her cherubic face.
"Mom's not here anymore, so you have to listen to me!"
Ren sighed, sitting up slowly. He rubbed his face with a hand, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. He ruffled Rika's hair as he stood up.
"Alright, alright. Let's get moving."
Rika beamed up at him, victorious.
---
Breakfast Scene:
Downstairs, Ren quickly tossed a piece of bread into the toaster, ignoring the faint smell of burning as the bread darkened a bit more than it should've. He grabbed the jam, the butter, and started assembling the quickest meal possible. His little sister sat at the table, hugging her bunny tightly.
"Do you think Mom's ever coming back?"
Ren hesitated, the question hitting him harder than he expected. The soft rumble of thunder in the distance filled the silence. He gazed out the window, watching the dark clouds gather in the sky.
"She's busy, Rika. Let's go, or you'll miss the bus."
Rika looked at him, her big brown eyes full of quiet concern. Ren couldn't meet her gaze for long. He turned away, but before he could leave, the whisper echoed in his mind.
"Your sister's got a lot of spirit. Reminds me of someone I used to know."
Ren's eyes narrowed.
"Not in the mood for nostalgia, Don't."
He didn't want to hear it. Not now.
---
School Setting: Classroom Antics
Ren arrived at school with barely enough time to make it to class before the bell rang. The moment he stepped into the room, Mr. Kondo, his teacher, shot him a disapproving glance.
"Nice of you to join us, Mr. Takahashi. Care to solve this equation for the class?"
Ren froze. His mind went blank, the numbers on the board seeming to blur into an impossible mess. His heart raced in his chest.
Not now...
The voice in his mind chuckled softly, a low rumble that only Ren could hear.
"Having a host with this IQ... Twelve."
Ren muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible to anyone around him.
"Twelve..."
The class stilled. Mr. Kondo raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by Ren's response.
"Correct. Lucky guess, I'm sure," he said, sarcasm dripping from his words.
Mika, seated beside Ren, nudged him with her elbow.
"Since when are you good at math? Did you actually study for once?"
Ren's lips twitched into a sarcastic smile.
"Yeah, I've got a secret tutor."
??? (In Ren's mind): "Literally....."
The class erupted into laughter, but Ren barely heard it. He was lost in his thoughts. Why did I say twelve?
---
Class Periods: Everyday Life
The rest of the morning passed in a haze. In history class, Ren stared out the window, the raindrops racing each other down the glass. He wasn't sure if it was the storm outside or something else that was making him restless.
"Daydreaming about basketball again?" Kaede's voice broke through his thoughts.
Ren snapped out of it, his focus shifting back to Kaede, who was turned around in her seat, arms crossed.
"Something like that," Ren replied, giving her a half-smile.
"Well, snap out of it. Midterms are coming up, and if you fail, Coach is going to bench you."
Ren's brow furrowed. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Mom."
Kaede flicked his forehead, her usual mischievous grin tugging at her lips.
---
Lunch Break: The Growing Storm
Ren sat under a tree, trying to block out the noise around him. The chatter of students, the distant murmur of conversations, all faded away as he ate his lunch with Kaede and Mika.
"So, Ren, you ready for the game next week?" Kaede asked, her voice light but serious.
"Of course. Just gotta work on my jump shot."
Mika rolled her eyes, her lips curling in a playful smirk.
"More like work on not tripping over your own feet."
Ren scowled. "Hey, that was one time!"
Just as he was about to say more, a loud crack of thunder startled him, sending a jolt through his chest. His gaze snapped to the sky, and his heart skipped a beat. Something felt... off.
"Something's wrong," he muttered under his breath.
The voice in his mind echoed again, more urgent this time.
"The air's too charged. This isn't just a regular storm."
Ren stood abruptly, his chair scraping across the ground.
"Ren? You okay?" Kaede asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Yeah, I just need some air. Be right back," Ren replied quickly, walking toward the school gates.
---
The Hunters Appear
As Ren approached the gates, a group of people in dark uniforms caught his attention. They were moving with purpose, setting up strange equipment around the perimeter of the school.
His heart dropped as one of them, a woman with sharp eyes and commanding presence, stepped forward. She held a scanning device, and as the light swept across the area, it froze on Ren.
He felt her gaze before he saw it. The moment their eyes met, recognition flashed in hers.
Ren's pulse quickened, and something within him reacted—an almost instinctual fear.
"A Host," Aya murmured to her team. "Prepare for extraction."
---
The Chase Begins
Ren's body went into overdrive, the fight-or-flight response kicking in full force. Panic flooded his chest as he turned and ran.
"Why now? What do they want from me?" His thoughts raced as his legs carried him faster, heart pounding in his ears.
???'s voice rumbled in his mind, a growl that sent shivers down Ren's spine.
"So I was tracked..."
Ren ducked into a nearby storage room, his breath coming in sharp bursts. He pressed himself against the wall, trying to calm himself, but his hands shook.
Aya's voice echoed through the intercom, cold and commanding.
"Attention, students. This is an emergency. Please remain in your classrooms. Anyone found outside will be detained."
Footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder.
Mika and Kaede appeared at the doorway, their faces full of concern.
"What the hell's going on?" Mika whispered, her gaze darting around.
Ren hesitated, the weight of his secret pressing down on him.
"You two shouldn't be here. Go back to class," he said, his voice strained.
Kaede crossed her arms, not backing down. "Not happening. What's going on, Ren?"
Before he could answer, the door slammed open, and a Hunter stepped inside.
---
Ren's Partial Awakening
The tension was unbearable. Ren's hands clenched, his body trembling with the power building inside him. He could feel the electricity crackling under his skin, a storm waiting to break free.
???'s voice growled again, urging him on.
"Let it out."
The surge of energy exploded. Blue lightning erupted from Ren's body, crackling through the air.
The Hunter stumbled back, eyes wide in disbelief.
"It's him! The Lightning Host!" the Hunter shouted into his radio.
Mika and Kaede stared, frozen in shock as Ren's form began to glow, electricity flickering around him like a storm.
"Not now," Ren gasped, struggling for control. "I can't—"
But it was too late. The aura surged again, knocking the Hunter to the floor.
Aya appeared in the doorway, her weapon raised, her expression hard.
"Stand down. You're endangering everyone."
Ren's gaze hardened, and the energy around him fluctuated dangerously.
"I won't go with you. And I won't let you take control."
---
Climactic Showdown
The room was tense, the air thick with crackling energy. Aya's eyes locked onto Ren's, her voice steady but filled with warning.
"You can't control that power. You'll destroy everything around you."
Ren's voice cracked with frustration, his fists trembling at his sides.
"I won't become a monster like you think!"
Mika and Kaede stepped closer, standing beside him, unwavering.
"We're not leaving you, Ren. Not like this," Mika said, her voice fierce.
Aya's gaze flicked between the three of them, her jaw clenched.
"Next time, we'll end this," she said coldly, signaling for the retreat.
"Squads! Fall back!"
---
End Scene: A New Resolve
That night, Ren sat on his bed, the scar on his arm glowing faintly in the dim light. His thoughts swirled in his mind.
"If she thinks I'm a danger, I'll prove her wrong." He clenched his fist, the words coming out more resolute than he felt.
"I'll control this power… on my terms."
A voice echoed in his mind, dark and knowing.
"Sure…"
Ren turned toward the window, where the storm still raged. The wind howled through the trees, but inside, something had shifted.
---
End of Chapter.