Chapter 1: City Lights
Chapter Text
Opening his eyes and seeing the night sky was the first thing Sora saw when waking up. The night sky did not have a cloud in sight; however, it was difficult to spot any stars given that tall skyscraper buildings were blocking the night sky view leaving no chance at all to see the stars.
Turning his head to the side, Sora spotted many more buildings of various sizes with lights illuminating the inside of the buildings. Sora also noticed all the windows around the buildings were either the same color or different colors lighting up the building like a Christmas tree. That idea of thinking brought a smile to Sora's lips. If he had to be honest, Sora liked that during the nighttime the city was still illuminated keeping the darkness at bay.
Moving his body so that he was sitting upright, Sora got a better idea of his surroundings and found that he was sitting in the middle of a road with cars parked along the sides. Sora also spotted screens that were displaying advertisements for various types of food products and clothing. The clothes being advertised looked to be fancy suits and dresses for people who wanted to be caught in the spotlight by their peers.
Sora also began to take note of how many buildings he could see from his position and realized that he was in a very big city with numerous buildings in sight. Wanting to get a rundown on his situation, Sora began to get up and check to see if all his limbs were still in place. Running a hand through his hair, Sora let out a sigh of relief that all his body parts were intact and that he wasn't missing any. Remembering his time back in the Final World.
Speaking of the Final World, Sora began to recall the events that happened to him and how crazy it all sounded. The process he went through was to go back in time again and find the seven hearts that would restore Kairi's. Going through all of his friends' hearts and reliving the events of the Keyblade War. Sora then remembered meeting Master Xehanort and the piece of information he dropped on him.
Bringing a hand to ruffle his hair, Sora recalled the moment when he connected all of the Guardians of Lights' hearts towards the location of Kairi and successfully found her. Guiding her through the Final World, Sora wanted his last moments to be filled with joy and tranquility with Kairi and his new friend Chirithy. Traveling to various worlds, Sora took his friends to celebrate their victory over the Keyblade war saving all the worlds from Xehanort.
After dropping Chirithy off in the Land of Departure with his lost friend who turned out to be Ventus, Sora continued to travel with Kairi even helping restore Namine's heart at Radiant Garden. All seemed peaceful and nothing could ruin the moment. That was until Sora realized that his hand was starting to disappear more and more.
Finally reaching Destiny Islands and having spent all his energy to stay whole, Sora spent his last moments in this world with the people that helped him to become a part of something new, something amazing, something beautiful. The people whose hearts he was given the privilege to be a part of. His friends...
Saying goodbye to Kairi, Sora realized that everyone would be ok and get to live the lives that were taken away from the. If his sacrifice brought happiness to his friends, then he would gladly sacrifice himself however many times it took. With these thoughts being his last, Sora let out a smile for the last time before disappearing from reality and those he holds dear in his heart.
Sora then recalled waking up in the Final World, but it was nighttime which highlighted just how beautiful this plane of existence truly was. Remembering that this was where Sora randomly encountered someone who he never even thought was possible. Yozora...
The idea that a video game character was here truly did give Sora a lot to think about and consider especially since meeting someone from a video game was something completely new. However, the conversation between him and Yozora did not turn out as he thought it would and eventually led to him having to fight Yozora.
Feeling a headache hit him out of nowhere, Sora had to hold his head with his hands while letting out a tired sigh. Recalling what happened with Yozora was causing him to feel pain and even though the headache was irritating, Sora wanted to remember everything that happened.
Closing his eyes and letting his mind wander, Sora recalled how he and Yozora were standing in the Final World which then transformed into his Station of Awakening showing the people who were connected to his heart. Donald, Goofy, Riku, and Kairi were all there. However, the area around him and Yozora lit up within an instant and caused the two to be surrounded by buildings. Even his Station of Awakening transformed to the top of a circular building.
Sora then remembered how Yozora claimed that he, "accidentally wandered into this place, and went through some trials. Then, I was told to "save Sora"."
Confusion hit Sora as he was clueless as to what Yozora meant. However, Sora recalls having to summon his Keyblade while Yozora transformed his laser sword along with his crossbow gun. In a matter of flashbacks, Sora remembered having to dodge and roll constantly to block the beams of red and blue lights that were shot toward him. Having to consistently move around and stay on his toes, Sora recalled all the close calls he had while blocking the sword slashes from Yozora.
Stuck in a nonstop loop of blocking all of Yozora's attacks and countering his attacks with a quick slash or slamming his Keyblade into Yozora's side. Sora then remembered Yozora summoning a strange-looking orb that projected star constellations around him in a dome-like barrier that prevented him from leaving. Out of nowhere, Yozora summoned Mecha robots out of red cubes that were all gunning for him. Having to roll out of the way, Sora tried hitting the Mechas which did damage, but the Mechas were heavily armored.
Being slammed to the side, Sora remembers seeing Yozora winding his arm back and stopping for a moment before teleporting out of nowhere and appearing in front of him slashing him across his chest managing to knock the wind out of him and fall to the ground and letting his keyblade fall to the ground and disappear in a flash of light.
Feeling his body hurting all over the place and having to force himself to stand up on one knee, Sora recalled what Yozora said to him.
"Sorry, but I don't lose."
Before Sora could process what Yozora had said, he felt something crawl up his body quickly and remembers seeing Yozora looking at him with an unreadable expression before letting out a quiet "No..." and his vision being consumed by darkness.
And right after that, Sora found himself staring at the night sky having recalled everything that happened to him in such a short amount of time. Feeling his headache leave him, Sora brought his hands down from his head and began to get up off the ground and get a better look at where he was currently.
Standing upright, Sora began to check himself out to see if anything was missing. Realizing that he had a bunch of items on himself, Sora began to reach into his pockets and get a feel for what he had with him. Grabbing a bunch of things in his pocket, Sora pulled his hand out and was intrigued by what he saw.
"What the... what happened?"
In his hand was a bunch of items ranging from a sack full of his Munny that he had collected while traveling through the different worlds even picking up Munny from the Heartless. Why the Heartless were holding onto Munny was something Sora never did find an answer for and just ignored the weird coincidence. Checking the sack full of Munny, Sora realized that the last time he checked how much was in there it was a crazy amount he had saved up during his travels.
The Moogle shops he encountered in each world always had different prices on items and he even recalled one Moogle selling hi-potions for 8000 Munny. The nerve of that guy! Pushing that greedy Moogle to the side, Sora remembered the amount Donald told him that he had saved up and was astounded by how much was in the sack. About 80,000 Munny had been saved up thanks to all the Heartless that were stopped. Hopefully, the Munny could be used here at least to some degree.
Another thing in his hand was a few of the various keychains that he collected during his time in the most recent worlds he visited. The keychains that he had were the keychains he got from Twilight Town and San Fransokyo. The Formchanges that let him dual-wield guns and the blade that is made up of nano cubes created by his friend Hiro. These two keychains changed up his fighting style quite a bit allowing him to pull off some crazy attacks.
However, Sora noticed that two other keychains were in his hand, but the strange thing was that the two keychains were partially there. The keychains were for sure in the palm of his hand, but their appearance was partially gone. It reminded him of when he was in the Final World with parts of his body missing and replaced with a blue see-through veil effect on his body. Looking back at the keychains, Sora let out a sigh as the keychains that were affected were two of his most precious keychains.
Oathkeeper and Oblivion.
Not wanting to stress too much about why the keychains were affected, Sora put the items in his hand back into his pocket and began to reach into his other pocket. Immediately feeling something familiar, Sora pulled out his Gummiphone which was in perfect condition even with his time-traveling shenanigans that went on.
Turing his Gummiphone on, Sora was able to see that the phone was working in perfect condition. Thanks to Donald and Goofy's help he was able to navigate his way through the phone. Plus, with the help of Hiro, he was given an easy-to-understand lesson on just what the basics of using the phone consisted of. Along with the process that went into creating the phone and getting it to work such as internet service or Wifi as some people called it.
With the help of his friends, Sora was able to use his phone instead of just spamming button after button. Opening up his photo gallery, Sora was able to see all the pictures that he took with all his friends in the various worlds he visited. Pictures with Captain Jack Sparrow, Rapunzel and Flynn, Sully and Mike, Hayner, Pence, Olette, Hiro and Baymax, Aqua, Ven, Mickey, Kairi, Riku, Donald and Goofy, and everyone else he encountered in his journey. A feeling of happiness hit Sora remembering all the fun times he had with everyone.
Continuing to look at his phone, Sora saw his reflection off the Gummiphone screen and realized that he was still standing in the middle of the street. Deciding later would be better to reminisce about his adventures, Sora began to walk to the curbside and see what else the city had in store. Before he put his Gummiphone away, Sora realized that since he was in a modern like city as Hiro put it, then he could try to connect to an internet source to help him find his way around.
Opening his phone and going into the settings which were changed thanks to Hiro's help, Sora was able to easily access his phone settings and find the scanning program that would allow him to connect to the city's internet. Within a matter of seconds, Sora heard a ping sound that alerted him that his Gummiphone had successfully found an internet connection.
Pressing the button that had the three circles next to each other, Sora was able to go to his phone's home screen and began to check what had changed. Realizing that his phone was now fitted to this city's internet service, Sora checked the time and became wide-eyed at what he saw.
"4:49 A.M."
Having to blink several times, Sora was taken aback by what time it was. Realizing that the time of night explained why he didn't see anyone wandering the streets and why it appeared he was the only one out. Putting his phone away, Sora decided to take a walk around the city and find any landmarks to help him better navigate his way while getting a layout of sorts.
Walking along the sidewalk, Sora noticed that many of the buildings had a professional look to them. In addition, Sora was infatuated with all the lights helping illuminate the city even with it being the middle of the night. Basking in the cool night air with no one around honestly brought a sense of comfort as it allowed Sora to just relax for a moment given that he had been fighting nonstop.
Continuing to walk along the sidewalk, Sora turned the corner and noticed that the street began to break off into countless different streets filled with so many buildings that it was difficult to keep count of. Along the way, Sora tried looking for any significant landmarks of sorts that would help him to navigate his way around. But to no avail, nothing stood out enough to be classified as a landmark.
Sora did spot what appeared to be robots that were a couple of streets away and looked to be picking up trash. In awe at what he was seeing, Sora continued to observe the robots who were clueless about his presence and continued going about their business. With the confirmation of cleaning robots, Sora realized that this city was implementing technology that was impressive on all accounts. Plus, Sora remembered Hiro talking about how difficult it was to create a working robot so with that in mind this city must have many scientists working here.
However, in the distance, Sora was able to spot a park of sorts with trees spread out giving a break from the constant view of buildings. Wanting to get there sooner, Sora began to jog to the park while also watching out for any late-night traffic to which he facepalmed as it truly did seem that no one was out and about.
Several minutes later, Sora finally reached the edge of the park and got a better look at the size of the park. The park was a fairly good size that was beneficial for people who may have been overwhelmed at the sight of buildings and just wanted to see regular nature consisting of trees and bodies of water. Walking into the park, Sora decided that this would be a good spot to relax for a while seeing that it was the middle of the night, and no stores would be open.
Making his way further into the park, Sora spotted a bench that was looking very comfortable. While walking toward the bench, Sora heard birds flapping their wings and crickets making a sound that filled the quiet evening. Or would it be morning since it was the start of a new day. Shaking his head of these thoughts, Sora reached the bench and sat down with a thud having a wave of tiredness hit him.
There were several things Sora needed to consider especially since he was now in a brand-new world with rules, he wasn't aware of. Maintaining the World Order was something he feared that he would slip up on. Realizing that he would need to watch what he says or explain why he carries a large key that acted as a sword was something he would come up with on the spot. Who knows what sorts of random conversations he'll wind up getting himself involved in.
Moreover, the currency of this world still remains a mystery, and that worried Sora greatly. One of the first things he would need to do is find a bank or pawnshop of sorts where he could try to exchange his Munny. However, thanks to Captain Jack's wise words, Sora knew to try and bargain the price for the Munny. Seeing that the Munny was a resource that was conveniently used in most of the worlds that he visited. Sora silently prayed that this world used the Munny currency at least to some extent.
Another thing that Sora began to ponder was how he would go about using his powers in this world. Again, Sora had no idea how this world's rules worked so he wasn't sure if his summoning his Keyblade would cause problems with the people. While Sora didn't run into any real problems in all the other worlds he visited, it was still a good idea to be aware of his surroundings and the way he would need to summon his Keyblade. Of course, Sora wasn't much of a brawler, but he would still put up a fight with his fists if it came down to it.
Speaking of his Keyblade, Sora raised his hand in front of him and summoned his Keyblade, and began to examine it for any damages. Kingdom Key, his Keyblade that has been with him through his many adventures brought a sense of warmth. Remembering Chirithy's words about him losing his power and the Power of Waking, Sora wanted to see just what powers he still had.
Getting up from the bench, Sora brought the Keyblade in front of him before getting a feeling of what powers he could sense inside his heart. Feeling a rush of familiar energy flow around him, Sora could sense that the spells consisting of Fire, Water, Ice, Wind, Thunder, and Cure were still around. However, something felt off with the energy in his heart. Wanting to test his spell powers, Sora aimed his Keyblade towards a tree not that far and began to cast spell after spell at the tree.
"Fire!"
The Keyblade glowed a bright red color while creating a fireball that was shot right at the tree. However, the fireball wasn't what Sora was expecting, and once the ball of fire hit the tree sure it left an impact, but it wasn't as impressive as what Sora has cast before.
Deciding to try another spell, Sora cast a blizzard spell at the tree to see the spell's results.
"Freeze!"
A shard of ice shot straight at the tree where the fireball hit the tree only for the ice to cover the tree around the area where the fireball impacted it. Realizing that something was wrong, Sora cast a thunder spell to see how the spell would work.
"Thunder!"
In front of the tree, a multitude of lightning strikes hit the ground shining in a bright yellow light before instantly flashing away and leaving the ground burning.
Having realized what was going on with his spells, Sora lowered his Keyblade and let it vanish in his hand in a flash of blue light. Walking up to where his spells impacted the tree, Sora let out a sigh as he realized that his once-powerful spells were once again set back to the basic level of spell power. Something that Sora was undoubtedly familiar with since it's happened more than four times now.
Sora was really getting tired of having his powers get reset repeatedly.
"Oh, come on, for once can't I have some of my powers stay with me?"
However, before Sora could wail in despair, he felt familiar energy in his heart and wanted to look at that sudden energy. Closing his eyes and analyzing his heart's power, Sora felt many of his old abilities still with him. All his abilities that improved his fighting techniques were still there along with his flowmotion abilities, but they too felt weak compared to where he was at the of the Keyblade War.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Sora made his way back to the bench to sit down and further think about what his plan would be now that he gave himself a checkup. While Sora usually traversed the worlds with his Gummiship with Donald and Goofy, there was no way for Sora to get around. Plus, he lost the Power of Waking which did leave him stranded in this new world.
Realizing that he would most likely be here for a while, Sora began to plan ahead for what he needed to accomplish once things started to open up and people would be out and about. Pulling out his Gummiphone to check the time, Sora saw that a great deal of time had passed since he first checked his phone.
"5:53 A.M."
Since it wouldn't be that long for people to start waking up and opening their businesses or start flocking to the streets. Sora began to lie down on the bench to enjoy a moment of relaxation before getting ready for the busy day to begin.
However, right before Sora could make himself get comfortable, he heard what appeared to be a group of people running towards or away from something. The next sound he heard was that of a boy screaming out loud something along the lines of, "Misfortune!".
Pushing himself off the bench and standing upright, Sora began to jog towards the direction that he heard the boy scream and the group of people running.
Not wanting to lose the sound, Sora slowed his pace and made a funnel around his ear to hear if the group of people was still running. To his relief, Sora could still hear the group running. Picking up the pace, Sora now started to sprint towards the sound of the people running while also realizing that he was leaving the park that served to give him a moment of rest. Sora made a note to himself about the park and the poor tree he blasted with his spells.
Continuing to follow the sound of people running, Sora turned the corner and jumped over the hood of a car trying to keep up with the sound that was moving at an incredible speed. How could a group of people all run so incredibly fast? Wanting to get an answer, Sora bolted down the sidewalk while in the pursuit of whoever it was that screamed along with the group of people running.
Spotting in front of him along the sidewalk a tall lamp post, Sora instantly jumped along with the lamppost and began to spin around several times at an incredible speed all while having a blue glowing light surround his body. With his flowmotion kicking into effect, Sora leaned his body towards the direction that the sounds were coming from and shot forward with his entire body managing to roll onto the ground and sprint towards the sounds.
Sora very clearly heard the group of people running now and was so close to catching up with them. However, before Sora could continue moving forward, he faintly heard what sounded like someone breathing heavily from an alleyway attached to the sidewalk, and very easy to miss. Unsure of what to do, Sora decided to check out the alleyway in case of anything malicious hiding away.
Checking his surroundings for anyone around to which there was no one, Sora summoned his Keyblade and held it up so that it could light up the alleyway. Even though the sun was starting to rise, the alleyway was completely covered in the darkness making it difficult to see anything.
While holding his Keyblade up, Sora began to make his way further into the alleyway stepping over broken glass and food dumped all over the ground. However, Sora did double-take once he saw more food sprawled out on the ground and crouched down to get a better look. Upon closer inspection, Sora realized that the food on the ground was still fresh and had barely been dropped.
Moving further into the alleyway, Sora felt another presence close by and decided against better judgment to call out to the presence.
"Hello? Is anyone out there?"
Not hearing a response, Sora was about to start walking forward when he did hear something out of nowhere.
"Y-yeah, I'm here alright"
Surprised that he got a response, Sora called out to the mysterious voice which sounded like a boy.
"I'm not going to hurt you or anything like that. Do you mind coming out so I can see you?" Sora asked the voice wanting to figure out who was hiding in the alleyway.
After a moment of silence and no response from the voice, the sound of someone walking toward Sora began to get louder and louder. Preparing himself for the worst possibility, Sora gripped his Keyblade while still holding it as a light source and readied himself for whatever was about to make happen.
However, what Sora did not expect to see was that of a teenage boy with spiky black hair that almost rivaled his own spiky hair wearing an orange shirt with a red collar and a black jacket around his arms and shoulders. The boy also had on a pair of black pants with white sneakers. Moreover, the boy was holding what appeared to be a ripped grocery bag with food spilling out from a hole at the bottom of the bag.
While holding the tattered grocery bag in one hand, the boy raised his other hand and tiredly waved at Sora before greeting him.
"Ehh... nice to meet you. You're not with those guys chasing me right...?"
Looking at the boy carrying the destroyed grocery bag, Sora replied to him with a friendly smile on his face.
"Those guys chasing you? I'm not with anyone. I was sitting in the park when I heard someone scream along with what sounded like a couple of people running. I take it that was you running away from those people chasing you?" Sora asked while observing the boy looking like he was about to bolt out of there.
"Ah... I see. That's a relief to hear. Maybe this Kamijou still has some luck after all. For a second there I was prepared for you to attack me with your... with your... why do you have a giant key?" the boy with the ripped grocery bag said while noticing Sora's Keyblade.
Remembering that he had his Keyblade out, Sora quickly lowered it to his side while bringing his free hand up to ruffle the back of his head looking sheepish.
"Have you never seen anyone else carrying around a giant key before?" Sora asked slowly coming up with a valid excuse for having his Keyblade without spilling unnecessary information.
"Unless it's for a cosplay of some sorts, I've never seen anyone lugging around a giant ass key before. Are you a cosplayer?" the boy asked while staring blankly at Sora.
"No, I'm not a cosplayer... wait what is a cosplayer? Putting that to the side, no, I'm not a cosplayer. The reason I'm carrying a giant key around is so that no one would suspect the key to having some power stored in it" Sora replied having made up the whole idea of his Keyblade holding some sort of power that let him use it as a light source.
"Power stored in the giant key? Well, I don't think I've ever heard of an Esper doing something like that before. But who am I to judge, there are all sorts of Espers in Academy City with different powers" the grocery bag boy said while providing Sora with some very vital information.
"Academy City... Esper… " Sora said to himself trying to get a better picture of the city he woke up in.
The boy with the grocery bag then began to further observe Sora and his attire immediately feeling like something was off with him. Wanting to ask him a few questions, the grocery bag boy was about to say something but was cut off when he heard someone else yelling.
"The bastard's probably hiding this way!"
"Let's get 'em!"
"Let's kick his ass!"
Multiple voices could be heard getting closer from where Sora entered the alleyway. Hearing the various yells and the sound of multiple people running, Sora turned to look at the grocery bag boy and questioned him about the sounds.
"I take it those guys are the ones who were chasing you?" Sora asked while having a blank expression looking at the boy.
"Yeah, I accidentally slipped and ended up knocking over their bikes and their to-go food while walking home with my groceries. They've been chasing me since about midnight" the grocery bag boy said while grasping his torn-up bag and getting ready to sprint away.
Seeing that this boy was quite friendly and knew a great deal about the city, Sora made a quick decision to help him get away while asking more questions about this "Academy City" that he ended up in.
"Hey, wait!"
"No time. I'm not looking to get my ass kicked in the middle of the night. Or at least not on this night maybe tomorrow night but not right now!"
"Let me help you!"
"Wh- what? Why? This poor Kamijou can't afford to hire you for your protection services as nice as that sounds"
"No! You don't have to pay me!"
"Oh, so you're taking pity on this Kamijou being dirt poor. I see how it is"
"Look, I help you; you help me by just giving me some information"
"Information? Oh, no. That sounds like you are dangerous to be around. I'm not looking for any trouble right now. I've already got an angry Biri Biri after me I don't need a porcupine after me as well"
Confused by what the grocery bag boy was saying, Sora was beginning to get frustrated at his antics and was about to start yelling at him, but he could hear multiple people running and getting closer. At the rate they were running the group of people chasing the grocery bag boy would reach them in 30 seconds. Making a haste decision, Sora charged at the bag boy and pulled him to start running away.
"Ah! What are you doing! You almost made me spill my bag!"
"Your bag is already spilling!"
Reaching levels of worry as the sounds of the group of angry people were getting closer, Sora just flat out said what he needed from the grocery bag boy.
"Look, can you help me please? I'm not from the city and I don't know how I got here. All I need is some information and in return, I can help you get away from those guys chasing you. What do you say?" Sora said while running next to the grocery bag boy.
Realizing that help was offering its hand which wasn't too common, the grocery bag boy looked at Sora before shaking his head.
"Alright, deal. Now please! Stop those guys from kicking my butt!" the grocery bag boy said as he took off leaving Sora by himself with the incoming group of angry people.
Stopping in his tracks, Sora aimed his Keyblade in the direction of the group of boys and shot a spell to slow them down.
"Freeze!"
Instantly, the tip of the Keyblade glowed a light blue color before an ice shard shot forward and hit the side of the alley creating a wall to stop the group from chasing the grocery bag boy. However, Sora did not think the ice wall would be enough, so he started shooting ice spell after ice spell to further fortify the ice wall making it impossible to get past.
Once Sora checked his handiwork and was confident that no one would be able to reach them now, he began to catch up with the grocery bag boy. Lifting his Keyblade in front of him, Sora then let it disappear in his hand and continued to meet up with the boy.
After having been running for a few minutes, Sora caught up with the boy who was leaning on the side of the alleyway, he called out to him and told him the good news.
"We're all good. They won't be catching up to us for a while" Sora said while putting both of his hands behind his head.
"Oh man, you're a big help thank you... err... sorry, I didn't catch your name"
"Ah, right, my name is Sora. Nice to meet you"
"Sora... got it. I'm Touma Kamijou. Thanks for stopping those guys" the grocery bag boy now identified as Touma said while having a tired smile appear on his face.
However, Touma noticed that Sora did not have his giant key weapon with him anymore. Hence, he decided to not bring it up but keep a close eye on Sora since there was something that seemed off about him.
Deciding to check what time it was now, Sora pulled out his Gummiphone and was blown away by how much time had passed.
"6:10 A.M."
"Oh, wow. Guess the day is moving pretty fast huh, Touma?" Sora said while showing Touma the time on the phone. Taking a closer look at the time, Touma became pale-faced and began to sweat like crazy.
"Oh crap, my roommate is gonna kill me! If she doesn't eat by 6:30 then I'm a dead man!" Touma yelled while clutching his destroyed grocery bag.
Realizing the predicament that Touma was in, Sora decided to step in to help the frightened boy.
"Hey, why don't you let me take the blame, so your roommate doesn't go ballistic. I mean think of it as your way of paying me for the information I'm asking about" Sora said trying to reach a compromise with Touma.
Without even taking another second to think about Sora's offer, Touma started crying tears of sadness...happiness? Sora wasn't sure. And shook his head franticly.
"Yes! I'll gladly take that payment. You can face my roommate's fury" Touma proclaimed while looking like a giant weight was lifted off his shoulders.
Not sure what to make of Touma's reaction, Sora just merely looked at Touma and shook his head with a smile on his face.
"Alright, well, lead the way to your place, Touma," Sora said while gesturing to Touma to take them to his place of residency.
Nodding his head, Touma began to walk through the alleyway with Sora next to him having a get-out-of-jail card with him in the form of Sora. No way was that crazy nun going to bite his head off today.
Continuing their way out of the alley, Sora and Touma came across an opening with a blinding light that caused them to cover their eyes. Once their eyes got comfortable with the light, the two blinked several times to re-adjust their vision and were greeted with the sun rising in the sky. Signifying that a new day was beginning in a general sense and quite a literal sense. This would mark Sora's first day beginning in a whole new world on his own awaiting the challenges that would come his way.
However, what he didn't know was that the boy next to him would walk him into countless other challenges in a city where science and magic were always clashing. Directing him to plentiful more stories to be told for the Keyblade's chosen one.
Chapter 2: Encountering Misfortune
Summary:
From one spiky-haired boy to another, Sora and Touma will get to know each other all while meeting a certain nun of a roommate. Along with getting Sora caught up with this world's laws. Especially within Academy City.
Notes:
*Disclaimer - I do not own the copyright for Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index series.
*A/N - Looking to the future of this story, I have a plan for making use of the time in between actual events in the Toaru timeline. This story will be starting on September 2 since we know that the Kazakiri Arc took place on September 1. The same day that Accelerator is going through the Necromancer Arc. Although this will be an Alternate Universe, I still want to respect the original timeline while also having a bit of fun with Sora getting to experience his own adventures in Academy City. Plus, I'm going to delve further into the Alternate Universe route especially with Sora being in Academy City, so expect characters that are not as featured in Toaru to show up here. Hence, with Sora's involvement in Academy City, there will be familiar characters that will show up. With that out of the way, enjoy this chapter and have a wonderful day.
Chapter Text
Continuing to make their way to Kamijou's dorm, Sora asked Touma many questions about Academy City wanting to get an idea of what type of world he was in now and what rules he would need to be mindful of. Given that Sora was on his own without the help of Donald and Goofy, he would need to be extra careful of his surroundings and be aware of everything.
"So, Academy City is way more technologically advanced compared to the rest of the world to the point that it's basically thirty years ahead of the rest of the world?" Sora said while walking with both of his hands resting on the back of his head.
"Yeah, the city has its' own rules and goals that are vastly different than everywhere else. Everyone here doesn't seem to mind it that much. Plus, while the scientists and government leaders have their own schemes, they don't really affect the everyday person living their normal life here" Touma said while still carrying his tattered-up grocery bag with a tired expression plastered on his face.
"What do you mean by that?" Sora asked not entirely sure how most of the people would be fine with shady people in power over the city they are residing in.
"Huh, what do I mean by that? Uhm... Sora, how much do you not know about Academy City? You make it sound like you're from a whole different planet" Touma said while looking over at Sora like he was either crazy or had amnesia. Something he could actually relate to...
Feeling sweat start to slide down the back of his neck, Sora realized that he had to be careful with how he explained his situation to Touma while avoiding any talk about being from another world. Sora immediately realized that he could actually use a memory excuse for why he doesn't remember how he got to Academy City. Letting out an anxious sigh, Sora replied.
"W-well, I... to be honest, I'm currently going through some sort of amnesia situation," Sora said while closing his eyes and mentally facepalming himself for coming up with an idiotic answer like that. Not sure how Touma was going to react to his response, Sora opened his eyes and looked back at Touma and was surprised at his reaction.
Looking forward at the road, Touma had a small almost nonexistent smile on his face before turning to Sora.
"Amnesia... that's one bit of misfortune to be going through. I... I know someone who had amnesia once. A real pain to deal with. I'm sorry that you're going through it" Touma said while sympathizing with Sora's problem.
Thankful that Touma bought his sorry excuse of a lie, Sora began to elaborate on his amnesia dilemma.
"R-right, thanks, but my amnesia isn't that bad. I still remember my name and everything like that, but I just don't know how I exactly ended up here in Academy City. Or better yet how I ended up sprawled out on the street" Sora said while recounting everything that happened to him and still not entirely sure how he came to be in this city.
"Really? Where were you before you lost your memory?" Touma asked wanting to help Sora since he did help stop the mob that was chasing him.
"I was... I was on top of a circular building, and it was the middle of the night with no one out, and then... I remember blacking out and after that, I woke up laying in the street" Sora said recalling his time in the Final World and then the encounter with Yozora and waking up in the middle of the street.
"On top of a circular building... so, you were in a city but don't remember where and then you blacked out and woke up on the street. Am I understanding that correctly?" Touma replied while not understanding everything that was going on with Sora.
"Yea, you got it all right. Crazy right? I sound like I've got a screw loose, don't I?" Sora said while looking a bit sheepish.
"I mean... to be honest, I've experienced some crazy stuff before and everything you've said just now doesn't really come within the realm of crazy" Touma said while recalling the fights he found himself in and all the craziness that was happening between the magic and science side of Academy City.
"Heh, that makes me feel a bit better about my situation" Sora replied while chuckling at how his story sounded out loud.
"Well, once we get back to my dorm and you deal with my monster of a roommate, I'll see what I can do to help you. I can't exactly leave you to wander around the city. You're bound to get lost" Touma said while chuckling at how chaotic his day was starting.
"Thanks, Touma. I really appreciate you helping me out. But wait, you said that those guys were chasing you after you went grocery shopping. Have you been up all night?" Sora asked realizing that Touma must be tired from being up.
"It's fine. Not the first time I've been up all night. Plus, I couldn't sleep and was just scrambling around in my bed" Touma replied while his free hand ruffled the back of his spiky hair.
Feeling a bit worried for Touma, Sora figured that it wouldn't hurt to cast a Curaga spell on him to help give him a boost of energy for the coming day. When Touma wouldn't be suspecting anything, that's when Sora will cast the healing spell on his new friend.
Having walked for some time past many different-looking buildings, the duo spotted what appeared to be a large rectangular building that had multiple floors with doors all spread out. A railing was also in place to prevent anyone from falling off the building. Sora figured that must've been where Touma's dorm was located. Touma sensed Sora's curiosity and spoke up.
"Yep, that's where my dorm is at. It's not much, but it's practically home" Touma said while feeling embarrassed.
Shaking his head, Sora replied to Touma, "Don't be, home is where your heart is. Plus, in a city as big as Academy City, it must be nice to have a place all to yourself away from the ruckus that goes on outside".
Taken back by what Sora said, Touma turned to look at his dorm and had a small smile start to appear on his face. Touma realized that even with all the craziness that he dealt with his dorm was somewhere he cherished greatly. Even if his roommate was a freeloading monster that could empty a whole supermarket if she were given the opportunity. His dorm was his own personal bubble where he could take a breather in. Something he very dearly needed in his hectic life.
Another thing Touma realized was that Sora was about to enter the territory of a ferocious monster, Index. He should at least warn him about the impending doom that would befall him since he was going to be up against Index and taking the blame. While he should feel guilty for Sora offering to tame Index's rampage, Touma brushed it to the side since he would probably get hit with a bundle of misfortune in return.
"Sora, my roommate is... well, she can be a lot to handle. Even with her being a nun, you would think that she would be compassionate and friendly but that's the complete opposite for her" Touma said while sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.
"Your roommate is a nun? That's odd. Does Academy City have a church of sorts even though it's a city completely reliant on technology?" Sora asked confused by Touma's roommate being a nun. You would think in a city focused primarily on technology that people wouldn't turn to religion.
"Ye-yeah, she's an odd case. But she came to Academy City not that long ago and well... long story short I was appointed as her guardian which is why she's my roommate" Touma said while wanting to simplify the complicated story of how Index became his freeloading roommate.
"I see... well, I'll be sure to explain to her that I'm the reason for you showing up late and with a destroyed grocery bag," Sora said while having a relaxed posture.
Touma could only sympathize with what the poor boy was going to have to deal with. That girl was a beast. A beast that could only be stopped momentarily with the power of food.
Making their way up the stairs, Sora and Touma continued to talk about other aspects of Academy City. One topic of interest was the procedure on how students were watched closely based on their Esper ability level.
"Wait, you're telling me that a majority of the students here in Academy City have superpowers?!" Sora exclaimed while becoming excited at what amazing powers he would get to see.
"Sort of, while there are students that have powers, there are those that don't really have a strong enough power. Those students are known as Level 0's" Touma explained while walking towards his dorm door.
"Level 0... Is there a level of power that's the strongest?" Sora asked while processing the power system that's implanted in this city.
"Yes, the highest level in Academy City is known as a Level 5. There are only seven Level 5's in the entire city. They are classified as the strongest Espers" Touma said while fishing for his keys in his pocket.
"There's only seven Level 5's?! Whoa, they must be really strong" Sora said while brainstorming just what powers the seven Level 5's had.
"Yea, they're strong all right. I've had the misfortune of running into two of them" Touma said while realizing that he shouldn't bring up the fact that he met Accelerator. Although, Sora has no idea who Accelerator is or quite frankly anyone for that matter. Plus, it's not like he was going around telling people left and right that he beat the number one Esper in all of Academy City.
"You've met two of them? What were their powers like?" Sora asked while wanting to learn just what type of powers he would have to deal with in this city.
"One of the Level 5's I met was a girl known as Mikoto Misaka, also known as the Railgun. Her power revolves around electricity, and she can do crazy things with that power of hers. She shoots freaking coins that act like railgun projectiles. Plus, she's a stuck-up and annoying Tokiwadai prep girl living the life of luxury while also terrorizing this poor Kamijou for a fight" Touma said while recalling the times Biri Biri would chase him looking for a fight.
Sora listened to everything Touma said and realized that elemental power was something relevant in this world. Something he could get behind and use as a reason for him using his power. Touma then began to speak again.
"The other Level 5 I ran into was a guy named Accelerator. The guy is not what I would call very social or friendly for that matter. Misaka explained to me that Accelerator uses Vector Manipulation which allows him to manipulate the vector values of anything he touches. If you throw a car at the guy, chances are he'll just throw the car back at you" Touma explained while also feeling a chill run down his spine remembering the time he fought Accelerator to stop the Sister's Project.
Processing everything Touma had said, Sora was amazed by this Accelerator guy's ability and how he was known to be the number one Level 5 in all of Academy City. Just what other abilities did the many students in the city have. Sora could not wait to meet everyone.
Having practically searched every pocket on him, Touma could not find his dorm keys and slowly realized that he might have dropped them while he was running away from the angry mob. Fear ran through his body as he realized that he would have to knock on the door to wake up Index and open the door. Turning his head to look at Sora, Touma realized that he could let Sora deal the brunt of Index's fury or he could try to pick the lock. However, before he could act, Sora began to make his way toward the door.
"Did you lose your keys?" Sora asked while tilting his head and looking at Touma.
"Yea... that's the second time this week," Touma said while letting out a tired sigh.
"I can unlock the door for you if you want?" Sora said while realizing that his actions could become troublesome, but it would be worth it if it allowed his new friend to catch a break.
Looking at Sora as if he grew a second head, Touma was unsure of what he meant by unlocking his dorm door. Deciding to see what Sora would do, Touma obliged.
"Can you? If that's the case be my guest" Touma said while stepping aside and letting Sora get to work.
Having made up his mind and taking responsibility for his action, Sora let out a sigh before shaking his head and preparing himself for what his explanation would be to Touma. Raising his right hand in front of him, Sora summoned his Keyblade in a flash of blue light letting Kingdom Key rest in his hand.
Bewildered by what Sora had just done, Touma was wide-eyed and dropped his grocery bag while raising his right hand in front of him. However, before Touma could act, Sora pointed his Keyblade at the dorm door's lock and gently touched his weird-looking key sword which made a clicking sound.
Unsure of what to do, Touma slowly crept towards his dorm door and turned the knob only to be surprised that the door was unlocked. Swerving his head back to Sora and then to the doorknob. Touma was confused about what happened. Seeing the look on Touma's face caused Sora to let out a nervous sigh as this would be his first attempt at making a proper explanation for his Keyblade being out.
"Ah... you're probably worried about the giant key in my hand. Hahaha, don't worry it's my power. Or well I guess you could say it's my Esper ability. I'm able to control light and manipulate it to some degree. Which is how I was able to unlock your door" Sora said while feeling extremely nervous about the lie he gave.
"Now that I think about it, I guess I really do have an Esper ability. I just wasn't sure what it could be classified as, you know?" Sora explained while realizing that he messed up big time in his excuse for explaining his Keyblade showing up and unlocking Touma's door.
Having the idea of light manipulation be his Esper ability would allow for him to summon his Keyblade in a reasonable yet outlandish explanation. From what Sora caught onto Touma's description of Esper-related powers, he was willing to bet that someone in Academy City could use light in a similar regard to the explanation he just gave Touma.
Of course, he would need to give a solid explanation of himself on why he continued to summon his Kingdom Key Keyblade. The criticism he'll receive for carrying around a giant key is bound to be endless. And in all honesty, Sora was kind of looking forward to everyone's surprised reactions when they see him carrying around a large key to fight with. Putting these thoughts to the side, Sora let go of his Keyblade letting it flash a blue light before disappearing and looking at Touma who was starting to stare at him very intensely.
"...a light ability? I don't think I've ever run into anyone with an ability like that. And you said that your amnesia didn't affect your memories at all. But you still had an Esper ability? That's... really strange. However, your light ability is not out of the realm of possibility for Academy City. Either way, we can talk about it more later but now you get to deal with the sleeping beast inside" Touma said while silently processing what Sora had said about his Esper ability. However, Touma was now pitying Sora for having to deal with the beast inside his dorm.
Opening his dorm door slowly, Touma was the first to walk in and check to see if anything was out of place. Sora followed right behind him not sure what was making him so afraid of going inside his dorm and started to become nervous himself. Right before Sora could take another set into the dorm, he heard something rumbling around and start growling. At this point, Touma turned to look at Sora and had a frightened look on his face before bolting to the closest door next to him and closing it immediately.
With no time to think, Sora raised both of his hands in front of him and was prepared to block whatever was coming at him. However, to Sora's surprise, he saw a white cloak making its way straight at him and leaped in the air while having a red pair of glowing eyes looking right at him. In an instant, the white cloak leaped onto Sora and blocked his view and making him stumble while trying to stay upright. Yelling out was all he could do to prevent the cloak from devouring him.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Wait!"
"Stop!"
"Hold on a second!"
"Timeout!"
Hearing Sora's yells, the cloak stopped its rampage and began to crawl off of him before taking a couple of steps back. Rummaging around in the cloak, a pair of hands appeared on the sides of the cloak and began to move the rest of the cloak around. Before long a head appeared out of the cloak and what appeared to be a young girl was now visible. The girl looked to be younger than Touma and most likely younger than himself.
Pulling the rest of the cloak off of her, Sora was now able to get a better look at the girl that was under the cloak. She had a small stature with a petite build. She also had thigh length, silver hair, and large green eyes. Her clothing consisted of a white robe and a modified nun's habit with gold highlights. however, there were safety pins all around her clothes that looked to be holding it together. If Sora had to guess, then he would say that she was a nun of sorts.
Seeing that the person who she was throttling wasn't who she thought it was caused her to become all flustered and her face to turn bright red. She started to fidget around and face the ground in front of her. Having made a mistake and wanting to take responsibility, the girl looked at Sora before bowing and apologizing.
"Uhm... I'm sorry! You're not the person I thought you were. If I had known that I wouldn't have leaped at you. I'm sorry!" the nun said while bowing nonstop and looking as red as a fire hydrant.
Upset that the girl's first action was to lunge at him, Sora figured that was the reason Touma ran into the door and closed it. This little girl must've been his roommate that he feared. Seeing no real reason to deny her apology, Sora let out a sigh and shook his head before turning to the girl.
"Don't worry about it. While I'm not a fan of being jumped at unsuspectedly. I'm not entirely mad at you. Plus, it was Touma's idea for me to encounter his roommate which must be you" Sora said while crossing his arms and looking at the nun in question.
Shaking her head, the nun had a sad regretful look, "No, I should've known better. This isn't the first time Touma has brought a friend over. Luckily, he was the first one to enter before his other friend so he ended up being attacked. Speaking of, where is Touma?" the girl said while looking around the dorm.
Turning to the door that Touma went into, Sora nonchalantly waved at the nun and pointed at the door. The girl picked up on what Sora was getting at and began marching towards the door and calmly knocked on the door several times. No sound was heard from the other side. Realizing that Touma was not going to come out, the girl began to turn the knob and try to open the door. However, it was locked which led to her banging on the door and yelling out at Touma.
"Touma! Open this door now! I almost bit your friend's head!" the girl said while Sora had a shocked expression on his face.
After waiting for a few seconds, the doorknob began to turn and slowly Touma poked his head out and looked at Sora and the girl. He had a blank facial expression and did not look amused at the girl.
"Well, that will teach you to not lash out at me every time I enter the dorm," Touma said while slowly pulling his head back into the room.
However, the girl quickly reached for the door and pulled it so Touma could not go back into hiding.
"Wh-where do you think you're going, Touma!" the nun yelled while prying the door open.
"I'm staying in here and avoiding my head getting bitten. Why else do you think I'm hiding in the bathroom!" Touma said while pulling on the door for dear life.
"Bathroom?" Sora said while looking at the two pulling on the door.
In a last-ditch effort, Touma shifted his body weight into pushing the door shut but his foot gave out on him and caused him to slip and slam his face into the bathroom door causing him to crash to the ground. The nun saw this as her opportunity to slam the door open and jumped right on top of Touma most likely to bite him.
"Aaaahhhhhhhhhh! Why me! Such Misfortune!" Touma screamed while thrashing all over the ground and clutching his head which was being bitten by the girl.
Sora could only watch and shake his head while letting out a sigh and realizing that he was super close to being bitten.
After Touma and the girl spent several minutes of nonstop bickering with each other. Touma finally made his way into the kitchen of his dorm and spread-out what groceries he was able to save in his torn-up bag. Touma then called out to Sora.
"Sora, I didn't introduce you to my roommate. I'd like to introduce you to Index. She's whom I'm acting as a guardian of sorts for" Touma said while searching for his phone.
Sora now learning the girl's name began to introduce himself.
"Hello, nice to meet you, Index. My name is Sora" Sora said with a smile on his face hopefully coming off as friendly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sora. I'm sorry for my actions when you came in. That was meant for Touma since he's always leaving without telling me" Index said while giving Sora a little bow.
Surprised at how Index made a 180 in her behavior, Sora couldn't help but laugh and nod at her. At the same time, Touma was still searching for his phone and began to turn on the stove to cook breakfast finding at least a couple of eggs in his fridge. Touma then poked his head out of the kitchen window that led to the living room and called out to Sora.
"Hey, Sora, you mentioned that your Esper ability is heavily based around light manipulation. Is it something you have a grasp of? Or what other things are you able to do with that power of yours?" Touma asked wanting to learn a bit more about his power.
Making sure to get his story straight, Sora summoned his Keyblade in front of him and examined his weapon.
"I'm able to use elemental powers to an extent. Some of those powers are fire, ice, water, wind, and thunder. There are other powers I can work with, but they tend to take a toll on my body if I overuse those powers" Sora said while remembering his magic power capabilities.
"I see, that's some power all right. Better than my power" Touma said while finding his phone in his back pocket and bringing it in front of him while also looking at his right hand.
"Wait? You have an Esper ability as well?" Sora asked intrigued about what Touma's power could be.
"Yea, I do but it's not anything crazy. I... well, I can cancel almost any Esper ability if my right hand makes contact with that power" Touma said while recalling all the Esper and magic powers he canceled.
"Really!? That sounds like an amazing power!" Sora said getting excited at the idea of having a power like that.
Index, however, had been quiet. Ever since Sora summoned his Keyblade, Index had been intently staring at the weapon. Something Touma could almost sense even in the next room over. So, when he hadn't heard her for a minute, he called out to her.
"Hey, Index, are you ok? You've been quiet for some time now. Is everything all right?" Touma asked growing worried.
Index slowly walked next to Sora and looked at his Keyblade very intently before turning to look at him with a friendly smile.
"You're a magic sorcerer aren't you, Sora?" Index said dropping a bomb on both Touma and Sora.
Unsure of what to do and having red flags pop into Sora's mind, he was fumbling around for an answer to the girl's question.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a resident of Academy City. There's no way I could be a magician or sorcerer" Sora said put as soon as he finished his response, he slapped a hand over his mouth. Realization hit as he made a crucial mistake about him being from Academy City.
Touma instantly picked up on Sora's response and made his way into the living room to correct Sora.
"Index? What are you talking about? What do you mean Sora is a magic sorcerer?" Touma said while looking puzzled at the girl.
"And wait, Sora, you told me that you don't remember how you came to be in Academy City. Why did you say that you were from Academy City?" Touma said while now narrowing his gaze at Sora who was sweating from nervousness.
Letting out an exhausted sigh, Sora knew he was in trouble for the answer he was going to give. However, Sora knew for sure that he would need to keep the whole concept of him being from another world a secret that he couldn't tell. But that didn't mean he couldn't tell Touma and Index about him using magic along with the fact that he truly didn't know how he came to be in Academy City. Knowing what to say now, Sora turned to Touma and gave him a response.
"Well, you got me. I... I can use magic. That's how I was able to summon my weapon out of thin air with the flash of blue light. I wasn't sure if I should say anything about using my power to you since you explained to me about Academy City being heavily technological based" Sora explained while laying down the reason why he hid his powers.
"Moreover, what I told you about me being in Academy City with no idea how I got here is the truth. I don't know how I got here and before we met, I checked to see what powers I still have and found out that most of my physical powers are still with me, but my elemental powers are all but weakened" Sora said while bringing a hand to ruffle his hair.
Processing everything Sora said, Touma was silent for a moment before shaking his head and offering Sora a small smile on his face.
"Don't worry, I'm not mad that you lied about your power. It's a good thing you didn't outright say you used magic. Most people would've written you off as crazy and delusional. Plus, you're not the first person I've run into that happens to use magic" Touma said while making his way back into the kitchen.
"Whew, that's a relief. I'm glad a ran into you. Otherwise, I might've run into a bigger problem on my hands" Sora muttered while feeling a weight lift off his shoulders.
"However, Index, how did you know that I used magic?" Sora asked Index still not sure how he was ratted out.
"I... I'm not entirely sure. When you summoned your weapon, I sensed an immense amount of magic coming from it. Plus, when I scanned the area around you, I felt a great deal of light coming from your heart. The magic energy surrounding you is unlike anything I've ever felt before" Index said while closing her eyes and sensing the magical energy around Sora. It felt warm. And peaceful to be around.
Letting a smile cross his lips, Sora was happy to hear that his heart even after dealing with so many tragedies was still a beacon of light not only for those seeking help but for himself. Of course, being a part of many people's hearts is what made Sora who he is today. Those connections will always be with him even with no way home.
"Wow, that's amazing you're able to sense magic like that, Index," Sora said intrigued by the girl's power.
"It's nothing out of the ordinary. Any other magician with enough magical aptitude would be able to notice something different about you, Sora. However, what do you mean you don't remember entering Academy City?" Index asked confused by what he meant when he was spilling the beans.
"Well, as I told, Touma, I don't remember how I entered Academy City. I only remember standing on the top of a circular building and then blacking out. Once I woke up again, I was sprawled on the ground in the middle of the street. Sometime later, I met up with Touma and that's when he told me I was in Academy City. That's also why he's late to make you breakfast" Sora explained while giving a summary of his tale.
"You don't remember how you got here? Are you sure that you're, ok?" Index said becoming concerned for Sora's wellbeing after hearing his tale.
"Yeah, I'm good. Just wanted to learn more about where I ended up. Thankfully, Touma has been filling me in on the ins and outs of Academy City" Sora replied while feeling glad he met Touma.
Hearing Sora talking about the ins and outs of Academy City, Touma perked up and turned the stove off while getting several plates ready for food. Entering the living room with plates ready for Sora and Index, Touma spoke up.
"Here you guys go. It's not much but I was able to scramble up some breakfast" Touma said while handing the two their plates.
"Thanks, Touma. And don't worry about it not being much. Once I'm familiar with Academy City and its facilities I'll be sure to pay you back" Sora said while digging into his breakfast.
"Thank you, Touma!" Index said while swallowing all of her food down in one gulp.
Index then turned to Touma and raised her plate for seconds.
"More please!" Index said while looking giddy about getting more food.
Letting out a sigh, Touma picked up Index's plate and made his way into the kitchen only to return shortly with more food on her plate. Index smiled with glee seeing more food coming her way and picked up the plate out of Touma's hand before thanking him.
"Thanks, Touma! You're the best!" Index said while digging into her second plate of food.
"Yeah, right. You're only acting prim and proper cause we have Sora here. If he wasn't here, you would be threatening me with biting my head for more food" Touma said while making his way back to the kitchen to eat his food.
Index made a strange sound and lowered her eyes giving off an evil aura around her. Sora decided to stay out of Index's way and just stared at Touma. However, before Index could strike, Touma let out a squeal-like sound and began to scarf down his food. He then ran into the living room and began to search for something. Confused about what Touma was doing, Sora called out to him.
"Hey, Touma? What are you doing?"
"I'm looking for my homework. I've got class at 8 and if I'm late then Komoe sensei will surely let me have an earful. Wait a second..." Touma said while thinking of something leaving Sora and Index to just stare at each other and then back at Touma.
Snapping out of his daze, Touma turned to look at Sora," Sora! You're coming with me. Miss Komoe sensei can surely help us out with your dilemma" Touma said while throwing things around while looking for his homework.
"Uh... ok. But why?" Sora asked not getting what Touma was saying.
"If we meet with Komoe sensei, then she can help us get you situated into Academy City. There's a bunch of walls we're gonna run into if we go about this by ourselves. Plus, she knows a bunch of people who can help us" Touma said having finally found his torn-up homework and holding it in the air like a reward.
Becoming curious about this Komoe sensei, Sora figured that he had nothing else to do. In addition, if Sora were able to get some actual identification to his name, then he could learn more about Academy City and everything else about this new world he's found himself in. Deciding Miss Komoe sensei would be his best bet, Sora agreed with Touma.
"Alright, well, what are we waiting for? Let's get going" Sora said feeling pumped up about meeting someone who could help him.
Touma nodded in agreement and pulled out his phone checking the time. Upon seeing the time on his phone Touma began to sweat furiously.
"6:51 A.M."
"Oh crap! Cmon Sora we gotta get going if we're going to catch Komoe sensei before classes start" Touma blurted out while scrambling around and getting back to his feet. Touma then called out to Touma while he was beginning to run around.
"Sora! Let's put a pin in that revelation and talk about you being a magic-user. Let's just stick with your light manipulation Esper ability!" Touma said while running to the bathroom to make himself look presentable.
Index seeing Touma freak out began to move and turn the tv on and check what time it was. With the tv on, she was able to see that the time was 6:52 A.M.
"Oh! My show is starting soon. Sphynx, we need to get ready the new episode is coming out!" Index yelled while cleaning the living room up and getting ready for her show.
"Sphynx? Who is that?" Sora asked not seeing anyone else in the dorm.
To answer Sora's answer, a white furball appeared out of Index's robe and poked its head out of her neck collar.
"Oh? I guess you're Sphynx. Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Sora" Sora said while greeting the pelico cat.
The cat tilted its head while looking at Sora and let out a meow.
"Meow...?"
Smiling back at the cat, Sora turned his attention back to Touma who looked ready to go.
"You ready?" Touma asked now having collected his bag and looking ready to go.
"Yep, let's go! See you, Index" Sora said while making his way out of the dorm before waving back at Index.
Waving back at Sora, Index said goodbye.
"Bye, Sora. See you later. And can you bring back some food?" Index said leaving Sora to be amazed at how much the young girl could eat.
Making their way out of the dorm, Touma and Sora began to walk down the stairs of the dorm building and jogged to the nearest bus stop. Touma made it very clear that if they wanted to meet Komoe sensei before classes started then they would need to hurry.
"We've only got about an hour to meet with Komoe sensei before she makes her way to homeroom. Then the only other time we could get to talk with her is during lunch and that's not for a while" Touma said while clutching onto his bag and double-checking that he didn't forget anything.
Sora could only watch as Touma fumbled around his clothes and opened his bag multiple times just to confirm that he had his homework with him. Turning to look outside the bus window, Sora was amazed at all the buildings along the way. Seeing many different types of robots cleaning the streets and monitoring crosswalks for people to use. Sora was beyond amazed. Thinking back to his time back in San Fransokyo, Sora could only imagine how his Big Hero 6 friends would think about this place.
After spending some time on the bus and seeing all the various students making their way around the city and filling up everywhere the eye could see, several students made their way onto the bus. Girls wearing different uniforms consisting of dresses or skirts with a button-up shirt or the guys wearing dark pants and button-up sleeved shirts.
Sora was feeling a bit nervous having so many people take notice of his strange-looking clothes that had a mix of cosplay likeness and a hint of style to them. Some girls were even whispering to their friends about his looks. Sora caught onto a few of the conversations between the girls on the bus and felt embarrassed about what was being said about him.
One conversation Sora overheard was regarding a girl talking with her friends about how cute he looked with his red and black jacket and how his pants looked comfy while saying that the crown necklace around his neck made him look really cool. Another girl chimed in and said that his crown charm made him look really hot and that the girl was debating on asking him for his number.
Moreover, another conversation Sora heard was from a group of guys who were bashing on Sora's large shoes and how they looked like clown shoes. One guy even added that his uncle really did work at a circus and was friends with the circus's clowns and they didn't even have that big of shoes.
Deciding to go back and admire the city, Sora noticed that Touma was also staring out at the city and not saying anything. Wanting to make some small talk, Sora got his attention.
"Hey, Touma, how long have you been living in Academy City?"
"I... I've been living here as long as I can remember. I guess I came here at an early age" Touma said while remembering how he didn't know how long he had been living in Academy City. Well, how long the original Touma Kamijou lived in Academy City.
"Man, that must've been something. Living on your own for quite some time. Do you have any friends here?" Sora asked curious about Touma's life.
"Yeah, I have a couple of close friends of mine. With my luck, you'll sadly run into them here soon" Touma said feeling a headache coming.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No, well, yes, but no. Either way, they are a bunch of idiots that tend to get me involved in some stupid stuff. But I wouldn't trade them for the world... you know what I would trade them" Touma said recalling all the bad situations he got himself involved in thanks to Aogami and Tsuchimikado.
Feeling a wave of sadness hit him, Sora recalled all the happy moments he had with all of his friends. What he wouldn't give to see them just one more time and tell them all how much they mean to him. Along with giving them his final goodbye.
Shaking his head to refocus himself, Sora noticed that Touma looked like he was about to get up. On the bus, there was a light bar that signaled where the bus was at currently. On the bar, it was presenting a text for the location. 'A Certain High School'
Touma turned to look at Sora and motioned for him to get up.
"This is the place. Let's go catch up with Komoe sensei" Touma said while grasping his bag with both of his hands so that he wouldn't forget it on the bus.
Standing up, Sora made his way to follow Touma off of the bus and meet up with this Komoe sensei. Along the way out of the bus, Sora overheard the girl that mentioned wanting to get his number get cheered on by her friends to stand up and ask him for his number. However, before the girl could ask Sora, he stepped off the bus and watched it take off. He even caught sight of the girl wanting his number looking back at him.
Something like this had never happened to him before so it was a very odd feeling. In any case, Sora caught up to Touma and the duo began making their way toward the high school. Taking in the tranquil atmosphere, Sora liked this feeling of people just living their lives the best way they could without a single worry. No Heartless or impending doom to bring about chaos to the people of Academy City. Plus, seeing all the students walking toward the school and chatting away with their friends brought a smile to Sora's face.
Sure, school wasn't something that Sora excelled at especially since he was so busy saving the worlds from the Heartless and then the Nobodies. And then taking the Mark of Mastery followed by preparing for the Keyblade War. With all these things happening in Sora's life there wasn't any time for him to go to a regular school.
That didn't mean that he stayed away from any schoolwork. Thanks to the help of Donald and Goofy they made sure that whenever there was a moment to spare in their adventures Sora was busy studying up on his education. Of course, it was tricky at first seeing that Sora would miss out on vital information and an important portion of his life in school. But thanks to Donald's strict nature and Goofy's more relaxed and reasonable approach, Sora was able to stay around a B average on his tests for different subjects. Plus, it helped that Goofy had the tendency to push Sora onto the right path given that he was actually a dad and knew how to deal with a teenage boy.
Plus, a benefit of technically being home schooled by Donald and Goofy was that they were able to take Sora's experiences in different worlds and use that in their way of teaching. Complex topics dealing with math or reading were further illustrated thanks to Sora having to stay within the realm of understanding each world's rules and whatnot. Or even Sora's reading and writing skills were improved as he would write down notes about the various enemies and friends he met along the way. Wanting to remember everything that happened during his adventures.
Putting aside those happy thoughts of learning from his friends, Sora was excited at the idea of meeting this Komoe sensei and why she meant a lot to Touma. Hence, after walking along a path leading to the school for several minutes, Touma and Sora were standing in front of what appeared to be the main entrance to the school.
Feeling anxious about what was going to happen, Touma let out a sigh and turned to Sora to welcome him to his school.
"Well, Sora, we're here. Welcome to A Certain High School. Home to a majority of Level 0's. We don't exactly get as luxurious buildings or equipment but what can I say, this place is practically my second home" Touma said while letting a calm and peaceful smile be plastered all over his face.
"If this school is like your home, then who cares what other people say. This place means something to you and that's all that matters!" Sora cheerily said while resting his head with both of his hands.
Turning to look at Sora, Touma gave him a smile as well as a fist bump to solidify their newly founded friendship. Seeing Touma's fist bump, Sora knew exactly what to do. Lightly tapping Touma's fist, Sora then brought his hand back and twirled all his fingers up and down rapidly. He then said in a cheerful tone," Bah-la-la-la-la-la-la".
Touma did not know what to even think after seeing Sora do something like that. It didn't help that he said something along the lines of la la la. Unsure of what to do, Touma muttered whatever it was that Sora said after giving him a fist bump.
"Baaa-la-la-la?"
Chuckling to himself, Sora shook his head and smiled back at Touma.
"Ah, don't worry you're pretty close to what I said. We'll have to work on that fist bump later. But for now, let's go meet Miss Komoe sensei" Sora said while appreciating Touma for trying to mimic his Baymax fist bump.
Nodding his head and putting the weird fist bump to the side, Touma started making his way toward the main doors ready to get the day started. However, before Touma could even open the school doors. A bird flew right over him and managed to hit him on the head with its droppings. Sora didn't know what to do and just looked at Touma who had a deadpan stare just looking at the school doors.
Slowly yet surely, Touma turned to look at Sora with a hopelessness and despair-filled expression before asking him for his help.
"Hey... Sora"
"Err... yeah?"
"You mentioned that you have a water elemental spell on you right?"
"Uh, yeah, I do have a water spell on me"
"Could you please drench me?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean drown me with your water spell. To get the... bird's droppings out of my hair"
"But... won't your hand cancel out my spell from hitting you?" Sora asked not sure if his spell would work thanks to Touma's strange canceling ability.
"If my hand doesn't touch the spell then it'll still hit me. Just to be sure cast the spell over the top of my head" Touma said while looking down and putting his right hand into his pocket while his left hand was next to his head.
Looking at where Touma was pointing at his head, Sora checked his surroundings to make sure no one was around. Having confirmed it was only him and Touma for the moment, Sora summoned his Keyblade and cast a Water spell to clean his friend's messy hair.
The spell worked like magic in clearing Touma's hair of any bird droppings but left him all drenched in water. With Touma fixing his hair so it went back to its normal spiky style he thanked Sora for cleaning him off.
With that little misfortunate incident over, the duo continued to make their way into the school to find Komoe sensei who would hopefully lend Sora a hand in his peculiar predicament. What Sora and Touma didn't realize was that this would be the last moment of peace they would have for the entire day. As misfortune once again claimed not only the wielder of Imagine Breaker but now the wielder of the Keyblade.
May their hearts be their guiding keys for the troubles they will face.
Chapter 3: Meeting New & Old Faces
Summary:
Having a plan, Sora and Touma head to the school to find a certain pink-haired sensei which will lead to some ruckus.
Notes:
*Disclaimer - I do not own the copyright for Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index series.
*A/N - Greetings, hope you are doing well. In this chapter, I tried writing this in a different style and went with a format like this:
For example, Touma: "*sigh* Why do I have the feeling that Index just cleared out my fridge again..."
Seeing that this was written a while back, I've gone back to my regular writing style. So, this chapter will be the only one to look different. Once again, thank you for checking this story out, and look forward to more to come.
Chapter Text
Upon entering the school, Touma and Sora noticed that there wasn't really anybody in the hallways. Several teachers were chatting with each other or walking to their classes, but no students were around. Or at least no students here.
Touma let out an exasperated sigh while chuckling to himself and hunching his back tiredly.
Touma: "Heh, we made it. I really didn't think that we'd make it in time"
Looking at Touma with a confused look, Sora wasn't sure what to think. He thought that they made it to the school in time. And before more students arrived which would've blocked their chances of meeting with this Miss Komoe sensei.
Sora: "Uh… Touma, weren't we going to make it even if we were a little late?"
Touma: "I mean, yeah. We would've made it. But the people at this school are kind of… what's the word. Difficult to deal with. If we got here any later, then it would've been difficult to talk with Komoe sensei"
Sora could only chuckle at Touma's explanation for wanting to come to school early.
Making their way up a flight of stairs, Sora took note of all the different doors that led to classrooms. A tinge of excitement hit him. Since he never really attended secondary school or high school depending on how people phrased it here, Sora was growing excited at the prospect of being with students around his age in an actual school. Sure, school wasn't something that he was exceptionally good at, but he still kept up with his education. Thanks to Donald and Goofy.
Walking further down the hall, Touma seemed to stop in front of a steel gray door and began sighing quite loudly.
Sora: "Huh? What's wrong, Touma"
Touma: "Oh, it's nothing. Just preparing myself for whatever misfortune will befall on this poor Kamijou"
Sora: "..."
Not sure what to say, Sora stayed quiet and watched Touma knock on the door several times before a resounding voice replied.
?: "Come in"
Hearing the voice, the duo opened the door and entered the room which appeared to be a faculty room with several other people sitting in chairs and relaxing. Touma looked around until he spotted who Sora guessed was Komoe sensei. Steadily walking toward the teacher Sora imagined that this Komoe sensei might have been someone on the older side that was familiar with Touma.
However, Sora would have to retract that last thought. In front of him now sat a small girl with pink hair and pink eyes writing on what appeared to be a crossword puzzle. She was wearing a white dress shirt that was buttoned up with a pink jacket over her shoulders. She was also sitting at a desk with the chair raised so that she could reach the desk she was sitting at.
So many thoughts filled Sora's mind as he was taken back by her appearance. However, he had seen many other strange things so seeing a young and small-looking teacher here wasn't that crazy. I mean, His Majesty, King Mickey, was really short but provided great support in combat along with his other friends from other worlds that were different in size and height. Nothing wrong with that.
Seeing that Komoe sensei was working on a crossword puzzle and still had not noticed the two boys, Touma coughed into his fist before letting out a sigh and talking with Komoe sensei.
Komoe: "H-huh?! Oh! Kamijou! What are you doing here? And so early?! Oh, my, I-I can't believe it! Kamijou *sob* you've finally realized just how important school and your education are! And you're finally ready to take responsibility for your many failing grades!"
Looking deflated at what his teacher just said about him. In front of him no less. Touma facepalmed and shook his head, earning a sad and frowning Komoe sensei.
Touma: "Uh…sorry, sensei. I wouldn't be here for another hour unless it was for an emergency. And well… right now there's an emergency"
Komoe tilted her head while processing what Touma had just said. That was when she noticed Sora just standing there awkwardly smiling and waving at her.
Komoe: "Oh! I'm so sorry. I didn't notice you standing there. I was so astonished to see Kamijou come to school early for once"
Sora: "Haha, don't worry. It's all good. Besides, seeing Touma's teacher worry about him was fun to see. It shows how much you care about your student's well-being and education"
Smiling at Sora's generous comment, Komoe was feeling a sense of joy in Kamijou.
Komoe: "Kamijou, I'm so proud of you. You've managed to find a brand-new good friend! On top of that, he's a boy and not a girl…"
?: "Pfft…"
A teacher somewhere in the faculty room laughed at what Komoe said.
Komoe: "In any case, I haven't introduced myself properly yet. My name is Tsukuyomi Komoe. I'm a teacher here. Pleased to meet you"
Sora: "Hello, nice to meet you, Komoe sensei. My name is Sora"
Komoe: "Sora. I take it that you have something to do with the emergency that Kamijou talked about?"
Nodding his head, Sora hoped that Komoe sensei would be able to help him with his problems.
Touma: "Sensei, Sora's situation is… well *looking around to see if any teachers were listening to their conversation* it's on the odd side of things"
Komoe: "Odd side? Kamijou, is Sora in some sort of danger?"
Sora: "Nothing like that Komoe sensei. It's more like… I'm new to Academy City. Like *really* new here"
Komoe: "I…I'm not following…"
Touma: "Can we… talk about this outside? Please, sensei"
Komoe: "Hmm, alright Kamijou. Let's go outside"
Komoe lowered her chair which allowed her to come close to the ground and jump off her chair. Sora wondered if this was something that Mickey had to deal with being on the short side of things.
Holding the door open, Touma let Komoe and Sora walk out into the hall which was clear of any students. Allowing them the space to talk about sensitive things.
Komoe: "Ok, Kamijou, Sora, tell me what's going on"
Touma: "Well, you see, sensei, Sora…well, he is not from Academy City"
Komoe: "So, Sora is visiting the city? Or that he's lost and has no idea where to go?"
Touma: "No, more like…Sora just appeared in Academy City and has no recollection of how he got here"
Sora: "It's true. One minute I'm on top of a building. The next I'm waking up in the middle of the street with no idea how I got into Academy City"
Komoe was baffled by what she just heard. Having been accustomed to all the craziness that Kamijou has been involved in. Hearing that this young man ended up in Academy City with no idea how he got here was strange all around. But even with how weird it all sounded, there was no way she was going to leave Sora alone without any help.
Komoe: "I see… Well, this sounds… like we'll need to get Sora a bunch of things. Not only will we need to get him an ID but also find a way to get him into the Academy City database. Along with seeing if he has an Esper-related power and what level he might be at. And where he will be staying"
Touma: "Actually, we did a little bit of work on that, sensei. You see, Sora does have a light related Esper ability. But that's the only thing he knows. Want to show her, Sora?"
Sora: "Sure. Please don't freak out, Komoe sensei"
Komoe: "Now why would I freak ou…"
Holding out his right hand, Sora summoned his Keyblade in a flash of blue light. Komoe jumped back and hid behind Touma who was staring at the woman with wide eyes.
Sora: "Sorry for startling you, Miss Komoe. But this is my… Esper power. I'm able to manipulate light to a degree. However, I need my weapon in order to utilize my ability"
Sora explained while still having to correct himself mentally on how much information he can give away about his Keyblade and not bring up the fundamentals of magic. Sticking within the World Order was something he cared for back in his other adventures, but here in Academy City, it felt… different. Like if he messed up the World Order, then things would probably get worse especially in a city so technologically advanced. The power structure could get whiplashed by his power and secrets.
Komoe: "Your Esper ability is light manipulation? And you need your… giant key to help you with manipulating light?"
Sora: "That's right. I'm able to make certain things appear out of nowhere. Like Fire or Thunder elemental abilities. Or even make my weapon appear and disappear whenever"
Komoe: "..."
Komoe remained silent, having begun processing the scientific possibilities of Sora's ability. While in concept, there were fundamentals with light manipulation that were questionable being that Sora summoned a giant key out of nowhere and with ease, but there were other properties regarding his method of utilizing his personal reality that would need to be tested to make sure he wouldn't hurt himself by using his light manipulation too many times.
Shaking her head, Komoe realized that she went into full-on teacher and analysis mode. Since most of the students at her school had difficulty managing to control their Esper-related abilities or even use their abilities given that many of them were Level 0's. To see Sora just use his in the blink of an eye was something else. Moreover, the whole ordeal of him waking up in Academy City with no idea how he got here just screamed suspiciously. She had seen quite a lot during her time in Academy City, so Komoe already had an idea on how to help Sora.
Komoe: "Hmm… Ok. Touma. Sora. Let me make a call to one of my friends. She'll be able to help us get Sora situated and get some paperwork to accommodate him to Academy City's database. Otherwise, he'll have some trouble getting around"
Sora: "Phew. That's a relief. Thank you, Miss Komoe,"
Komoe: "But of course! It's our job as teachers to support students on their path to growing up and learning more about themselves while helping them keep up with their studies to further develop their abilities"
Touma: "..."
Touma looked at Komoe as if that comment was directed right at him. As he was always late to class or even straight up missing class thanks to whatever misfortune he was dealing with at the time. If it were any other teacher, Touma was sure that he would be held back or even worse. Expelled from school due to his…outrageous claims of being late or missing. Plus, his grades weren't the best.
Komoe: "Therefore, Kamijou, would you mind taking Sora and waiting in our classroom? I'm not sure when my friend will be arriving but once she does, I'll catch her up to speed and we can get things going"
Feeling a headache coming on, Touma reluctantly agreed while also realizing that he'll have to do his best to protect Sora from being corrupted by his idiotic friends.
Touma: "Alright, sensei, see you there. And thank you for helping us out"
Sora: "Yeah! Thank you so much Miss Komoe. Without you, we would've been lost on the whole situation, ehehe"
Komoe: "*nodding her head* It's no problem at all. I'm glad you took the initiative, Kamijou. Usually, you would've tried to solve this all on your own, but this time you came to me for help. Thank you for trusting in me, Kamijou"
With that, Komoe excused herself and headed back into the faculty room to make the call with her friend. Touma meanwhile let out a sigh and began to scratch the back of his head.
Sora: "What's wrong? Not used to asking for help?"
Touma: "No, it's not that. I knew after giving it some thought that we would need help getting you some documents to accommodate you into Academy City's database. There was only so much I could do to help you. Besides, I didn't want to bother Komoe sensei with our little problem. She might've already had some other stuff to worry about"
Sora: "*crossing his arms* Yeah, she might've. But you heard her, she was glad that you asked for her help. I take it that you like to do things on your own so that others don't get bothered or involved?"
Touma: "*sighing* I don't always do things on my own. But… yeah, I guess you could say that most of the time when it comes to problems. I end up being involved with, I want to help everyone I can so that they make it back home safe and sound. As well as with their troubles or dark illusions shattered…"
Hearing what Touma had to say, Sora had to admire that he was someone you could count on to help you with your troubles. But… Him relying solely on himself to solve everyone's problems was going to bite him in the butt. Sooner or later, there will be a time when he hits a wall and can't go any further in helping a person. Sora knew firsthand how that felt.
Recalling the many times, he called out to his friends for help and received said help. Even during the final battle between Master Xehanort. If it were not for Donald and Goofy at his side, Sora wasn't sure he would've prevailed in the end. But together, the three half-pints managed to win.
Sora: "I think that… There are times when it's alright for you to solve a problem all by yourself. But I also know that there are problems that you alone can't solve. And if you tried to solve them on your own, then the worst could happen, and you can't help that person with their problem anymore"
Touma: "...Yeah. You're right about that"
Leaving a somewhat awkward bout of silence, Touma decided to get the ball rolling and get them to his classroom to wait for Komoe.
Touma: "We should make our way to the classroom"
Sora: "Sounds like a plan. Lead the way"
Walking down the hall, Sora followed behind Touma and tried peeking into any classrooms that had their door open. However, most of the doors appeared to be closed or if they were open then there was nobody inside yet. Guess the students really do show up minutes before their classes start.
Seeing Touma coming to a stop, Sora saw a classroom door open along with hearing several students inside chatting. There was something wrong with Touma as he stood still letting out a fed-up sigh while standing in front of the classroom door without budging an inch forward. Unsure of what was going on, Sora had to ask his fellow spiky-haired friend.
Sora: "Hey…uh, Touma, is something wrong? Why are you not going into the classroom?"
Touma: "Well… Nothing is wrong. It's just that… there are going to be two idiots inside that will ask you a bunch of… *questions* that you won't have a solid response to. Do your best to ignore them. And try not to pick up on their antics"
Sora: "Umm…Ok? I'll do my best?"
Nodding at Sora's half-hearted and confused response, Touma braced himself and set foot into the class. Upon standing completely inside the classroom, several students were spread out throughout the room chatting amongst themselves. However, once the two boys made themselves apparent, things got quiet, and everyone stopped talking and was now staring at Touma and Sora.
Acknowledging that this would happen, Touma awkwardly laughed while patting the back of his head.
Touma: "Ahaha…haha…ha. Hey…everyone. Good to see you all. Hope you're doing better than this misfortunate Kamijou"
"…"
Silence enraptured the classroom.
However, a girl in her mid-teens with a slender build and well-endowed chest along with a large forehead stepped forward.
?: "Kamijou? Wh-What are you doing here?"
Touma: "Huh? What do you mean, what am I doing here? I go to school here?"
?: "Not that you dunce! I mean, why are you here so early? You've never been to school earlier than needed nor even on time"
Touma: "Hey! It's not that I don't want to show up to class on time. I for sure wouldn't want to be here earlier than needed, but I'll still show up to class. It's just that this poor Kamijou tends to run into misfortune on a daily. Besides, something…urgent and unexpected happened which required for me to be here early"
Doing her best to process everything Touma said, the girl began to stare holes into Kamijou to try and see if he was lying about what he said when she finally noticed Sora standing there looking wide-eyed at what was transpiring.
?: "Oh! I'm so sorry. I didn't notice you standing there"
Sora: "Ehehe, It's not problem at all. Plus, it was nice to see Touma chatting away with his friend"
Touma: "Yeah… some friend you are Fukiyose. Yelling at me for doing nothing wrong"
The girl who was now identified as Fukiyose began to glare daggers at Touma who immediately stiffened up.
Fukiyose: "Well, seeing that Kamijou is here earlier than usual and that something happened that required him to be here early. I take it that you may be the reason?"
Sora: "Yeah. I'm the reason for Touma having to come in early. Well, earlier than usual. My name is Sora. It's nice to meet everyone"
Fukiyose: "Mm, it's nice to meet you, Sora. My name is Fukiyose Seiri. I hope Kamijou here is helping you with whatever your problem might be"
Sora: "Don't worry. Touma has been a big help. If it wasn't for him, I would still be lost and with no way to solve my problem"
Hearing that Kamijou was actually helping Sora out with whatever his problem was, Fukiyose let out a surprised sigh. Maybe Kamijou is willing to stop his misfortunate spiel and consider working hard. If only he could focus on improving himself and quit blaming his misfortune on every little thing.
Once Sora finished defending Touma, most of the students rushed at him. Asking all sorts of questions as well as introducing themselves to the newcomer. However, two boys were standing off to the side that was looking at Sora almost like they were analyzing his every movement. These two, Touma knew very well for they were idiots.
Touma: "Tsuchimikado. Aogami. What's up with you two?"
One boy had blonde hair with a gold chain around his neck and was wearing a green shirt with white floral patterns while wearing his school uniform jacket. The boy was also wearing sunglasses…while inside the school and classroom. Touma had to wonder if there was ever a time that the idiot wasn't wearing his sunglasses. Either way, this boy was Tsuchimikado Motoharu.
The other boy was wearing a white shirt with dark blue pants and a dark blue jacket. He also has short light blue hair and a gold piercing in both his ears. His eyes looked seemingly shut which made it hard to see if he was staring at you when talking with him. In hindsight, the boy looked very plain and like your average teenager. He was Aogami Pierce. Together, the three of them made up the infamous Delta Force.
Seeing their spiky-haired friend, Tsuchimikado pushed up his sunglasses and gave Touma a frown.
Tsuchimikado: "Kami-yan…what have you done…"
Touma: "Huh? What are you talking abo…"
Aogami: "You know what you did! How could you?!"
Touma: "Seriously you guys. I have no idea what you're talking about?!"
Tsuchimikado: "Kami-yan. How could you bring a guy to our class?"
Touma: "A guy? Wait? Do you mean Sora? What's wrong with him?"
Aogami: "You don't get it do you, Kami? Oh c'mon, you're one of us. You've read many different mangas or seen all those JRPG games. Think Kami think!"
Taking a second to think about what his two friends were getting at. Touma looked over at Sora who was talking with his other classmates and noticed something odd. Something very worrying. Sora was easily chatting away with some girls who had their undivided attention on him. Something that he could see that would irk Aogami and Tsuchimikado off.
Chuckling to himself, Touma looked back at the other members of the Delta Force and prepared to defend his new friend.
Touma: "Oh, you mean what's going on with Sora? Don't worry about it. Sora's a really chill guy. Plus, usually, it's me causing all the ruckuses"
Aogami: "That sounds all fine and dandy Kami. But you're not listening to us. Sora is getting all the chicks to notice him. And he's not even doing anything!"
Touma: "You're just being ridiculous now. There's nothing wrong with Sora"
Tsuchimikado: "I'm with Aogami on this one Kami. There's something that you're not noticing. Well, not that I blame you for not noticing. You share that ability with Sora even without you acknowledging it"
Utterly confused and becoming frustrated with his friends, Touma wanted a straight answer.
Touma: "Would you just say what the damn thing is rather than alluding to it!"
Tsuchimikado: "Kami… you and Sora share the ability to have girls notice you"
Facepalming himself so hard that there was a loud sound, Touma lazily responded.
Touma: "…What?"
Aogami: "Now hold your horses there Kami. Before you go say that girls won't, can't, or don't fall head over heels for you. Just think about it. Normally, if a girl is being nice to a regular average joe *like ourselves* she'll just glance at us and then go back to doing whatever she was doing. But with you it's different"
Realizing that he's already heard this spiel about a hundred times from these two, Touma was about to leave them and go talk with Sora, but Tsuchimikado pulled him back by hanging onto his shoulder.
Tsuchimikado: "Hang on there, Kami-yan. I'm sure you've heard us many times about your Kami-yan disease being a real thing"
Touma: "It's not a real thing..."
Tsuchimikado: "It's a real thing now embrace it! But from our point of view, Sora might have that same ability. I mean just look at him"
Deciding to listen to Tsuchimikado's antics, Touma looked over at Sora who was still conversing with several girls and getting them to laugh at whatever he was talking about. That's when Touma realized that Sora did give off a peculiar look. Especially with his appearance.
The spiky brown hair with the dark jacket and red outlines. The large dark-colored pants with a red stripe going across each thigh. His large black and yellow boots along with his red and gray gauntlets. And of course, his eye-catching crown necklace.
All-in-all, Touma realized that Sora looked very stylish and almost like an adventurer. Or well someone cosplaying as an adventurer. Which certainly did make him stand out compared to the rest of the guys who sadly were plain looking. Touma felt that. Since he considered himself plain.
Touma: "Well, Sora does look very stylish and certainly does attract attention"
Aogami: "Bingo Kami. But the worst part is that Sora looks like one of those characters out of a JRPG or an anime that goes from being really weak to crazy strong. On top of that, he probably has a way with words or actions that attracts girls to fall head over heels for him without him even doing anything"
Touma could only shake his head in sadness as his friend was comparing Sora to a character out of an anime or video game that he played.
Touma: "I think you're just overreacting. Sora's new here which means that everyone is interested to meet him. After he leaves then things will go back to normal"
Tsuchimikado: "Heh, yeah, they probably will. And then all the girls will go back to hating us but still hold Kami deep in their hearts thanks to the Kami-yan disease"
Before Touma could retort Tsuchimikado's comment, Komoe sensei appeared in the doorway with another woman standing right behind her.
Komoe: "Oh! It's so good to see you getting along with everyone, Sora!"
Sora: "Yeah! Everyone has been really friendly"
Komoe: "That's good to hear. By the way, this here is my friend who's going to help us solve your problem"
Walking behind Komoe into the classroom, the woman made herself present which shocked everyone and forced them to immediately rush to their seats.
Taking notice of the woman, Sora noticed several distinct characteristics about her. The woman was tall with long dark hair tied into a ponytail, giving her a relaxed yet intriguing look with her… attractive proportions. She was also wearing a green jersey which…hugged her large chest quite tightly. Before Sora could fall deeper into the rabbit hole, she began speaking.
?: "Wow, you guys do know that I'm not your teacher till later?"
Tsuchimikado: "We know teach. That's why we're worried and acting like good, obedient students who would not do anything wrong at all"
?: "I'll be, Tsuchimikado if I didn't know you well enough, I would think that was a genuine comment. But seeing that you are doing well today, I seem to recall that you didn't finish your pacer test from last time. You only had… what twenty more laps to finish since you and Aogami decided to chitchat about who knows what"
Aogami: "*raising his hand* Yomikawa-sensei If I may. Our chitchat was very important and could decide the fate of Tsuchimikado's relationship with his younger sister"
?: "…Make that thirty laps"
Groans could be heard from Aogami and Tsuchimikado.
?: "*looking at Sora who was the only one standing up* You must be Sora, right?"
Sora: "Yes, you're correct. It's nice to meet you…ma'am?"
?: "Oh, there's no need for that. It makes me feel older than I am. My name is Yomikawa Aiho. I'm a teacher here as well as a member of Anti-skill. Komoe here said that you had an issue that you needed help with"
Sora: "That's right. Touma was able to help me for the most part. But we kind of ran into a brick wall"
Yomikawa: "Well, it's a good thing that you came to Komoe. Don't worry we'll get you squared away. Would you and Kamijou mind stepping outside with me so we can get caught up to speed?"
Sora: "Not at all"
Ignoring all the stares that were coming his way, Touma got up from his seat and followed Sora out of the classroom. Fukiyose, Aogami, and Tsuchimikado became confused about what was going on and how it involved both Touma and Sora. Just what had those two become involved in?
Standing outside in the hall, the two boys were now with Yomikawa who had a concerned look on her face.
Yomikawa: "Sorry about that. I figured that you would want to keep this conversation between a few people"
Sora: "You're good. And yeah, that would be wise. It's already a strange story revolving around me"
Yomikawa: "Strange is putting it lightly. From what Komoe said, you were first on top of a building and then mysteriously woke up in the middle of the street without any idea how you got to Academy City. And you have no idea where you are or where to go from here. Is that all, correct?"
Sora: "*looking sheepish* Ehehe, yeah. That sounds about right"
Yomikawa: "And then you ended up running into Kamijou by chance?"
Touma: "Correct. After Sora… got me out of a situation, I took him back to my place to see what I could do to help him, and that's when I came up with the idea of asking for Komoe sensei's help on the matter"
Yomikawa: "Mm, good on you Kamijou. For using that spiky head of yours. If you guys didn't ask Komoe, then I'm sure you would be getting nowhere. It's times like these where it's ok to rely on adults for help"
Sora could only chuckle at what Yomikawa said. Remembering all the fights and world-ending events where it was all up to him, Donald, and Goofy to save the day and stop the Heartless. There wasn't an adult there to help him in his final battle against Ansem, Xemnas, or even Master Xehanort. It was all up to him.
*A/N – Ok don't smite me. Donald and Goofy are basically adults. I mean Goofy is a dad. But… well, you know what I mean. Lol
Touma: "So, what's going to happen now?"
Yomikawa: "Well, I called ahead to my partner in Anti-skill, and they reported back that there was no one matching Sora's physical description or characteristics in the Academy City database. Meaning that Sora really is not from Academy City and does not have a single file under his name. This means that we're going to need to get some paperwork done for him. Hence, I'll be taking Sora with me to the Anti-skill facility I'm stationed at so we can get the necessary paperwork for him to be permitted access to Academy City's facilities"
Processing everything Yomikawa said, Sora was taken back by how much work would need to be done to get him accustomed to Academy City's rules. This was way more complex than he was used to when traveling to different worlds. Heck, even Tron's world wasn't as finicky as Academy City with the MCP or CLU taking control of things.
Yomikawa: "On that note, Sora, since you're not from Academy City and the city is pretty strict when it comes to rules even allowing visitors is troublesome already. There may be some problems with getting you access. In the worst case, the city's officials will deem you not worthwhile and kick you out of the city. But… if they do allow you to get access, then they'll probably want to integrate you as a student. Especially since you seem to have an Esper ability that you can use without any trouble"
Touma: "Hold on, Yomikawa-sensei, are you saying that if Sora does get all his paperwork verified and given access to Academy City's facilities, then he'll have to attend school?"
Yomikawa: "Yep, that's about right. It's the higher-up's way of keeping an eye on Sora seeing that he's not from the city"
Hearing that he would have to attend school, Sora had two thoughts in mind. One was that while he wasn't exactly fond of going to school, he hadn't actually attended a regular school in years. Having been forced to save the world back-to-back times and even ending up sleeping in a pod for a year certainly give him the privilege of going to school. And it was only thanks to Donald, Goofy, and even Jiminy for making him keep up with his education while having free time in the Gummiship.
And the second thought was that…he wasn't sure when he'd be able to return home. After giving what Chirithy said more thought, Sora realized that he might be stuck here for quite some time. Maybe that'll give him a chance to relax and enjoy some time to himself while being in a whole new and unfamiliar world. He figured that if he didn't end up in Academy City, then maybe he could have ended up somewhere worse. Or even…
Deciding to follow his heart, Sora charismatically responded to Yomikawa.
Sora: "That's alright. If going to school is the price that I'll have to pay to get accepted into Academy City, then so be it. It beats wandering the city for who knows how long"
Nodding at Sora's answer, Yomikawa felt relieved that he would accept attending school if that meant he could stay in Academy City. Legally that is.
Yomikawa: "Alright, glad to hear it. Well, since we're all good here. Sora, would you mind coming with me so we can get you squared away. Then it'll all be up to one of the higher-ups. That is if they get off their ass and actually give you the go-ahead"
Touma: "I'm guessing that you'll only be taking Sora along?"
Yomikawa: "Yep. Can't have you missing class now can we Kamijou? Besides, Komoe will be really sad if her misfortunate student decided to skip class on the day he showed up early"
Touma: Grhh… I see your point, sensei"
Yomikawa: "Plus, if you do skip, I'll have you join me for remedial classes"
Touma: "Nope. I'm good. I'll see you later, Sora"
Seeing Touma get ready to run back to class, Sora realized that he would need to stay in contact with him. Reaching into his pocket and pulling out his Gummiphone, Sora stopped Touma.
Sora: "Hey, Touma, mind if we stay in touch? That way I can let you know what's going to happen?"
Touma: "Ah, right. Almost forgot about that. *Pulling the broken phone out* Here, let's exchange numbers"
Reaching for Sora's phone, Touma was about to find his contacts list but was met with a bunch of questions. One question is the weird-looking phone itself as it looked bulky and square-like. The other strange thing was the settings on the phone that didn't make any sense. Deciding to let Sora take charge, Touma asked Sora to put his number into the strange phone which he did with ease.
Though, as easy as Sora made it look working his strange-looking phone, the story behind how Sora learned to use his Gummiphone is quite hilarious. He spent hours upon hours trying to work the darn thing. Spending so much time being frustrated and yelling at the device all his friends would lend their support to help him become familiar with using the phone. In the end, Sora was able to use the phone and have a rather basic understanding of what things he could do with the phone. More specifically, being able to call people or add their *phone* numbers to the Gummiphone.
Being handed his phone back, Touma looked to see Sora's contact information all there. Though…there wasn't much there besides his number and name. Oh well, maybe that'll change later down the line.
Yomikawa: "Well, since you two can stay in contact, shall we make our way, Sora?"
Sora: "Yeah. I'm all good here. Take care, Touma"
Touma: "You too. And good luck"
Ready to get himself accustomed to Academy City, Sora followed behind Yomikawa who was making her way out of the school. Touma watched the two get further away, hoping that things would go well for his new friend.
Now, outside the school and in a parking lot of sorts, Sora followed Yomikawa to her car and got to see the school from a different angle. Hearing a loud beep sound, he turned to the car and saw that she unlocked it and was getting in. Following suit, he took the passenger seat and buckled himself in readiness for the drive.
Yomikawa: "Sorry about the mess. I usually just throw everything in the back since I seem to always be in a hurry"
Sora: "Not a problem, I don't really mind. Being a teacher must have you on your toes most of the time"
Yomikawa: "You have no idea. Haha"
Turning the car on, Yomikawa began to pull out of the parking lot and drive to her destination. Moreover, she figured that she could get to know more about Sora along with what his situation really was. So, she could get a better picture of just who this teen boy sitting next to her was.
Yomikawa: "So, Sora, tell me about yourself"
Sora: "Huh? What do you mean?"
Yomikawa: "I mean, just tell me about yourself. Seeing that you're basically new to Academy City, there's gotta be more to you than just waking up in the middle of the street with no idea how you got there"
Hesitating on what exactly he could say to Yomikawa, Sora decided to mostly tell her the truth about his likes and dislikes. As if wouldn't hurt to talk about himself.
Sora: "Well, I'm sixteen… or seventeen. I'm not sure anymore. I..uh…like hanging out with my friends. I grew up on an island with my two best friends. I ended up traveling for a couple of years. I'd like to think I have a good handle on my Esper ability. And I tend to make new friends quite easily whether they are friendly back or come off as not interested in being friends"
Yomikawa: "You…you don't know how old you are anymore?"
Sora: "Y-yeah. I kind of…ended up in a coma for a year which threw off my perception of time. And then I had *other* stuff come up which didn't leave me time to worry about my birthday"
Yomikawa: "And you said that you grew up on an island. Which island did you grow up on? Was it somewhere on the coast of Japan? Or over in Hawaii? Maybe somewhere else?"
Sora: "The island that I grew up on was called Destiny Islands. They're probably not going to show up on any map. They were pretty small when compared to other islands on a map"
Yomikawa: "…I see. Well, Komoe said that you have access to your Esper ability and that it had to do with light manipulation, right?"
Sora: "Yeah. With my light manipulation, I'm able to use light to my benefit. But to do a lot of things, I need to cast my weapon which helps me with my ability"
Yomikawa: "*tilting her head* You need to cast a weapon? What kind of weapon do you need to cast?"
Sora: "My weapon is a blade. But in its base form, it looks like a giant key. While it looks… strange. I'm used to it and have grown to accept that. Plus, if I wanted to, I could attach different chains to it that allows it to change form"
Yomikawa remained silent as she was trying to wrap her around Sora and all the new things, she was learning about him. For starters, hearing that he didn't know how old he was currently was very concerning. Especially since he said that he was in a coma for a year. Then, to hear that his island wouldn't show up on a map was suspicious. And now to hear about his Esper ability needed a weapon to help him control his light manipulation just added to the mystery around him.
Continuing to drive to her Anti-skill facility, Yomikawa was about to ask Sora more questions about himself when he beat her to the punch.
Sora: "Hey, err, sensei?"
Yomikawa: "Haha, I don't mind what you call me, Sora. Yomikawa or sensei works. Even Aiho I'm fine with. Just not while in school. If the students heard you calling me by my first name, then I'm sure some smart ass would try it"
Sora: "Ok. Then…Aiho, I have a couple of questions"
Yomikawa: "Well now, you certainly don't shy away from calling a girl by her first name"
Sora: "You said that you work with Anti-skill, right? What kind of organization is that?"
Yomikawa: "Anti-skill is an organization that acts like the city's police and security forces. It's mainly adults who work in the city. We're not paid like a regular job but instead are compensated with various gifts and privileges. Another organization that you'll see in the city is Judgment. They mainly consisted of student-based disciplinary committees. Together, we maintain peace and order within the school system since we're dealing with super-powered students of all ages. Judgment can be identified by the armbands they wear over their right sleeves which are green with white strips and have a shield symbol. Anti-skill often is equipped in high-end security outfits along with riot shields or even guns and deal with situations that are too dangerous for Judgement to handle"
After finishing her explanation on Anti-skill, Yomikawa realized that while Anti-skill sounded like a stable and functioning organization. That was not entirely true. The Disciplinary Action or DA extremist group was becoming more of a problem recently. Abusing their power and title of Anti-skill and conducting shady dealings with the dark side of Academy City. She had heard rumors spreading through word of mouth from other Anti-skill members about the dangerous group but couldn't put much time and effort into looking into the group. That was…until recent events.
Sora: "Wow…it sounds like there's never a dull moment here in Academy City. What are some of the craziest things you've had to deal with while on duty?"
Yomikawa: "Well, there was this one-time tha…"
Before Yomikawa could finish what she was saying, she had to slam on her brakes to stop her from crashing into a car in front of her. Shaken up by what just happened, she turned to Sora who looked concerned about what was happening which caused her to look around and notice that something was definitely wrong.
In front of her was a line of cars not moving and honking their horns nonstop. The line went on for quite a way leaving her bewildered by what was happening.
Yomikawa: "Sorry about that Sora. I didn't think the car in front would stop so suddenly"
Sora: "No problem. But…is this…normal?"
Sora asked while feeling…off.
Taking note of how other cars were stopping behind her as well, Yomikawa figured that she could look and see what was holding them up. Opening her door, she stepped outside and tried to see what was going on when she was met with worry.
Many people both students and adults were running away and in the opposite direction. Screams could be heard, and fear began to set in. Yomikawa's Anti-skill instincts kicked in as she quickly leaped out of her car and ran to her trunk looking for her gear. Sora seeing that something was wrong got out of the car and looked to see what Yomikawa was doing. He was met with her putting on a vest with different tools equipped and shoulder pads. She was also now carrying a pistol on her hip and had a riot shield and baton in her hands.
Yomikawa: "Sora, I hate to say this, but I need you to stay here while I go and check whatever is going on up ahead. Anti-skill will be arriving soon along with Judgment to lead people to safety. Listen to whatever Judgment asks you to do. I'll come to find you afterward"
Sora: "But wait there's something wro…"
Before Sora could continue talking, a scream could be heard right in front of Yomikawa and Sora. A girl who was wearing a school uniform was being chased by a dark figure. The dark figure leaped onto the girl slamming her to the ground and presenting itself for the duo to see. Sora knew exactly what this creature was.
The creature was black and had glowing yellow eyes with a humanoid body. On its head were large yet long antennas that became thin at the end. Large claw-like hands and legs were eerily like a person. The dark creature was also tilting its' head almost observing the girl see what she would do next. This creature was known as a Heartless. And not just any ordinary Heartless. It was a pureblood.
Before the creature could use its claws to slash at the girl, something pierced the head of the Heartless leaving a giant hole. The Heartless began to wobble back a few steps before falling to the ground and fading away instantly in a dark cloud. The girl was shocked beyond belief and couldn't believe what just happened. Adrenaline was flowing through her body and had her shaking nonstop, but she was slowly calming down. Not sure what destroyed the creature, she turned her head to the side and noticed something peculiar.
There in the ground was what looked to be a giant key that had managed to slam itself into the ground leaving it lodged and not moving.
Yomikawa couldn't believe what she had just seen. A creature…no, a monster had just attacked a student and was about to strike her when out of nowhere a giant key managed to kill the monster. Doing her best to get her bearings back and focus on the situation at hand, Yomikawa turned to look at Sora and finish telling him to listen to Judgment when she was star-struck at what she saw.
In Sora's hand was the same giant key that had managed to kill the dark monster. Swerving her head back instantly, Yomikawa thought that she would see the key still stuck in the ground but was flabbergasted by what she saw. The key was no longer there but in the hands of Sora.
Spinning the key in his hand, Sora knew that things were about to get rough here soon. Where there was one Heartless. There would be many elsewhere.
Sora: "Yomikawa, you're going to need my help with this. That monster I just killed is called a Heartless. In short, the Heartless are physical manifestations of darkness looking to take people's hearts and turn them into Heartless as well. If you're going to have any chance of stopping the Heartless, then you're going to need me"
Left speechless, Yomikawa had many questions about these Heartless. Monsters that could take people's hearts along with turning people into monsters. It was almost too much to comprehend. But one thing was for certain, Sora knew just what these monsters were and how to deal with them. While she didn't like the idea of asking a soon-to-be student for help with a dangerous entity. Yomikawa knew that she was dealing with something new. Something dangerous.
Yomikawa: "Alright, Sora. But stay close to me and provide me with details on how to deal with these monsters. From what I can guess, there's probably more up ahead"
Sora: "Yeah. You're right about that. Wait, Yomikawa, give me your phone number so we can stay in contact in case we get separated!"
Yomikawa: "Sora, I just said to stay close to me. *sigh* Well, it's better to be prepared at least"
Quickly exchanging contact information, Sora had Yomikawa's number in his Gummiphone now to keep in contact were he to get separated from her.
Sora: "Alright, I'm good. Let's go!"
Nodding her head, Yomikawa slammed her trunk closed and went to check up on the girl who was just attacked.
Yomikawa: "Miss are you ok? Are you hurt anywhere?"
?: "N-no. I'm ok. Just a few bruises from b-being slammed to the ground"
Yomikawa: "That's good to hear. Listen, it's not safe here. Follow everyone that's running away. There should be Anti-skill or Judgment members directing people to a safe location"
?: "A-alright. I'll go. And thank you for stopping that monster"
Yomikawa: "Don't thank me. It was all him *pointing to Sora*"
Taken back by her savior, the girl stuttered while thanking Sora.
?: "T-th-thank you! I-I don't know what would've happened if…"
Sora: "Don't worry about it. Now, please get to safety it really is not safe here"
?: "R-right. Thank you so much!"
The girl said while jumping to her feet and giving the two a bow before bolting away. Leaving only Sora and Yomikawa to themselves while hearing and seeing many people screaming and running away.
Yomikawa: "We need to get going. Follow my lead, Sora"
Sora: "Got it! Let's get a move on"
Wasting no time, Yomikawa sprinted off in the direction that everyone else was running away from. Right behind her was Sora with his Keyblade hanging over his shoulder ready to strike any Heartless that appeared. With no clue as to how the Heartless appeared, he was going to have to be nimble and quick to stop the Heartless from causing any more trouble. Academy City was quite large and that meant only one thing.
How much darkness was truly residing in this scientifically advanced city?
Chapter 4: Confrontation
Summary:
With the Heartless appearing out of nowhere and attacking people, Sora will have to get back to doing what he does best. Saving the day.
Notes:
*Disclaimer - I do not own the copyright for Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index series.
*A/N - Greetings, hope all is well. With the Heartless showing up out of nowhere, Sora is sure to have a rough time. But even with all the trouble, he'll be dealing with, he'll find some reward worth it all. Once again, thanks for checking the story out, and stay tuned for more.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The sight of people running away, and screaming was all that anyone could see. Cars were still running but with no driver as they had left in a hurry. Bags of various sizes and shapes were sprawled all over the ground with their contents spilled. Screams could be heard as well from all over the place.
A businessman was running for his life and had managed to step wrong causing him to come crashing down and roll his body ending up with his back on the ground. Feeling light-headed, the man grasped his head and tried to regain his vision. That was when he felt his stomach drop and the color of his face go pale white. His hands and legs began to shake at an incredible speed.
There in front of him was a dark creature that had long claw-like hands with a humanoid figure and large yellow eyes. The creature tilted its head in a nonhuman way and looked down at the man. Fear began to overtake him, and his breathing was becoming rigid. The man could do nothing but yell and raise his hands to defend himself as the creature leaped right at him with its claws ready to slash at him.
However, nothing ever happened. The man didn't feel the creature at all and was worried about what was happening. Slowly lowering his hands down so he could see in front of him, the man did not see the creature anymore and saw something else.
Standing in front of him was a boy with brown spiky hair in dark red and black clothes while holding a large key. The key looked to be a blunt weapon with no real sharp part appearing on the blade. Moreover, next to the boy was what appeared to be a floating pink crystallized heart. The heart just stayed there floating without doing anything. Suddenly, the crystalized heart began to float up higher and higher before disappearing from his sight, leaving him to look back at the boy who was now staring right back at him with a concerned look on his face.
"Are you ok?"
Left stunned and paralyzed at what just happened, the man struggled to stand back up and stuttered with his response.
"Y-Yes. I'm ok"
"That's good to hear '' Moving his head to scan the area, the boy grimaced before speaking up again. "Listen, it's not safe here. Keep following this road and you'll see other people and Anti-Skill. They're helping everyone get to safety"
Nodding at the boy's words, the man began to walk away briskly but before he got too far, he turned to look at the boy one more time and thanked him for saving his life.
"Young man, thank you…"
Hearing the businessman's gratitude, the boy replied with a nod and a small smile that appeared on the corner of his lips before sprinting away in the direction that the creature appeared from. Doing the same, the businessman began to run to where the boy said Anti-Skill was located and hoped that they would lead him somewhere safe. But along the way, the man realized something. He never found out who the boy was.
Reaching another part of the street, Sora was able to spot Yomikawa holding her own against a group of Heartless all while protecting several schoolgirls who were huddled behind a car that was parked in the middle of the sidewalk.
With her riot shield, Yomikawa slammed the Heartless to the ground before slamming her baton toward its head with a direct hit. This managed to kill the Heartless causing it to puff in a cloud of smoke. Turning around rather quickly even with her Anti-Skill clothing, she targeted another Heartless that was beginning to make its way toward the girls. But due to her combat training and experience, she was able to strike the back of the Heartless with her baton which forced it to lash in pain before setting its sights on her.
Leaving her no time to spare, the Heartless raised its hand and slashed right at her, forcing her to raise the riot shield in front of her for protection. However, the Heartless still managed to hit her leaving a thin slash across her cheek letting a drop of blood spill. Angered by this, Yomikawa dashed toward the Heartless but not before lowering her body in an athletic stance and swinging her foot and side sweeping the Heartless leaving it startled and in the air for a split second.
Seeing this as her chance, she charged right at the Heartless while it was falling to the ground and thrust her riot shield right into the monster's body, managing to kill it and leaving behind a puff of dark smoke.
Quickly catching her breath, Yomikawa looked down at her riot shield and noticed that there was no blood stained on the shield. This confused her and left her with many thoughts to consider. Suddenly, those thoughts would have to wait as she heard one of the schoolgirls scream out loud, which alerted her.
Swerving her head instantly at the girls, Yomikawa let out a curse as she realized that she let one of the monsters get too close to the girls and was about to attack them. Feeling a lump in her throat and her stomach hit the floor, she knew that she wouldn't make it to the girls in time and that one of the monsters would get to them. Not taking her eyes off the girls, Yomikawa prepared for the worst and continued to sprint toward the monster ready to finish it.
However, she would be left stunned as she saw the monster only inches away from one of the girls be struck with something that went through its head and ended up killing it instantly. The strange thing was that while the puff of dark smoke appeared, there also appeared to be a pink crystalized heart that was floating right near where the monster was killed. The heart then began to float up higher and higher into the sky.
Yomikawa figured that it would keep on floating higher but didn't have time to continue watching the heart and turned her attention back to the schoolgirls who appeared to be quite shaken up. She then turned her attention to the side where she saw a familiar figure standing there with his arm outstretched holding a giant key weapon.
"Sora! Thank God, you made it. I wasn't sure I'd make it in time" Yomikawa replied, feeling a heavy weight leave her.
"Yeah! I managed to see you dealing with the Heartless. Nice job handling them by yourself! Most people have a tough time dealing with them in their first encounter" Sora said, holding his keyblade over his right shoulder.
"These Heartless… I still have a bunch of questions for you but that can wait" Noticing that the schoolgirls were frightened by everything, Yomikawa knew what she needed to do but let out a sigh. "Sora. I'm going to escort these girls to safety and rendezvous with the rest of Anti-Skill. The more people that know just what we are dealing with, the faster we can save everyone"
"Got it. I'll keep moving forward and direct everyone I can to meet up with Anti-Skill" Reaching into his pocket, Sora pulled out his Gummiphone and waved it at Yomikawa. "If anything comes up, I'll call you and let you know where I am"
Agreeing with Sora's plan even though she didn't want to leave the boy by himself to deal with the Heartless, Yomikawa nodded her head and called out to the scared schoolgirls.
"Hey, I know so much is happening right now. But everything is going to be alright. Follow me and I'll get you all to safety" Yomikawa said.
Each of the girls looked at each other until one girl stood up and rallied her friends.
"H-hey, c'mon guys. We have to get out of here. We're probably not the only ones out here in trouble"
Realizing that, the group of girls shakily stood up and looked at Yomikawa giving her the confirmation she needed to get the girls out of there. Readying herself and her gear, she shot Sora a look which got him to send a nod back at her. It was as if the two communicated without saying anything. And with that being said, Yomikawa began directing the girls to follow her.
Not wanting to get left behind, the group of schoolgirls began to make their way to safety with Yomikawa leading them. Sora figured that he should continue to search for anyone and help them get to safety, so he readied himself and began to run in the direction everyone was running away from.
However, one of the girls stopped in her tracks and looked behind her at the form of Sora getting further away. The girl continued to stare at the boy until she was grabbed by her shoulder by one of the schoolgirls who called her by her name.
"Saten! We have to go!"
Snapping out of her daze, Saten half-heartedly replied to her friend, "Y-yeah. Let's catch up with the others" But not before she cast one last look in the direction that Sora was heading. Saten even muttered out the name she overheard. "Sora…"
Continuing to make his way down the long street, Sora noticed that there didn't appear to be any Heartless in sight. This was unusual. But with as much experience as he had, Sora figured that the Heartless were up to something. And it surely wasn't something good.
All of the sudden, Sora was thrown back several feet onto the road and had to roll several times until he was able to land his feet on the ground and come to a crouched stance. The sounds of cars being pushed back into buildings and even thrown across the ground were heard. Feeling dazed because of the sudden pushback, Sora shook his head to clear his vision. He also felt his battle instincts kick in. Immediately after he regained his focus, he had to dodge roll on the ground to avoid being hit by a car that was sent flying his way.
Now on his side, Sora was able to see what was happening and it was not good at all.
There in front of him was a good-sized tornado with Heartless making up most of the body of the twister. Sora had encountered a number of these creations before and had a good idea of what damage they could do. A Demon Tide.
Seeing that he needed to finish it off quickly before it could cause any more damage to the city or even grow bigger, Sora jumped to his feet and twirled his Keyblade in his hand, getting into his signature battle stance. Once he showed the Demon Tide his Keyblade, that would get its attention and cause it to stop traveling around the area.
Raising his Keyblade high in the air, Sora was met with solid confirmation. The Demon Tide seemed to stop moving from one spot to the other but kept spinning around with Shadows flying at an incredible speed. Suddenly, the tornado then began to glow a menacing red outline and began to make its way toward Sora picking up everything on the street and sending it either flying into buildings or leaving it in the body of the tornado.
Sora knew he wouldn't have a lot of time to act before the Demon Tide became an even bigger problem. So, swung his Keyblade forward and cast a Blizzard spell right at the tornado which ended up being ripped apart before it could even get close to the body of the twister. He then looked closely at the large Heartless structure and tried to find an opening anywhere that would allow him to get in close and destroy the core. Upon further inspection, Sora spotted what appeared to be an opening that didn't seem to close and gave him a glimpse of the core inside the Demon Tide.
"My magic isn't as strong as it used to be. Looks like I'll have to go with physical attacks this time!" Sora exclaimed while scanning the area hoping to find something he could throw at the tornado to damage it.
However, before Sora could charge at the Demon Tide, several cars were thrown his way by the wind that the tornado was creating. With no time to spare, Sora reacted quickly and slid right under one of the cars coming his way, managing to have only a part of his hair touch the rear bumper of the car before it went crashing behind him. He then had to use his Flowmotion to push himself to the side before another car came crashing down right where he just was.
Swinging his head to look at the Demon Tide, Sora noticed that it had grown bigger compared to before and was picking up even more cars than before. This gave him an idea as he spotted several cars being lifted in the air that served almost like platforms. Locking his sight onto each of the cars, Sora felt his Flowmotion begin to activate and used his Airstep, and launched himself right at the first car.
Slamming right into the suspended vehicle, Sora's body completely glowed in a blue light which also had blue particles coming off his body. He then narrowed his eyes toward the next car that he locked onto and shot straight at it. This time he was quick on the takeoff and bounced off the second vehicle and headed right to the third car.
However, a large dump truck was now suddenly thrown right at him and blocked him from reaching the third vehicle. Taking a gamble, Sora twisted his body while still in mid-air so that he could dodge the incoming truck. To his relief, the way he twisted his body while using Flowmotion left him without even touching the truck though his legs were only inches away from being clipped by the truck. Nevertheless, Sora managed to come to a stable position and locked onto the third vehicle slamming right onto the hood.
Now in the position he wanted to be, Sora noticed several other vehicles being tossed around by the growing Demon Tide and wondered which vehicle would be best useful. His question would be answered by the sight of a school bus that had just been picked up by the Demon Tide and appeared to have no one inside.
"That's the one!"
Gripping his Keyblade tightly in his hand, Sora only had one shot to get this right otherwise he would have to come up with another plan on the fly. Hence, he readied himself and waited for the school bus to be lifted and near the area where he spotted an opening from earlier. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. The tornado, vehicles lifted, wind, and even Sora.
Suddenly, Sora leaped right off the third vehicle's hood and forced his body with his Flowmotion to slam right into the school bus. He even managed to swing his Keyblade right in the middle of the school bus leaving a heavy impact and shooting the large bus right at the Demon Tide with so much force that it was impossible to stop the incoming vehicle.
Due to the bus slamming into the Demon Tide, there was a large explosion that rocked the Heartless tower and even pushed other vehicles back that was being lifted by the wind. This left Sora the opening that he wanted. Still, in the air, he managed to lock his gaze onto the core of the Demon Tide and with all of his might shot himself right at the core.
Now in the middle of the Heartless twister, Sora got right to work on destroying the core. Bringing his Keyblade across the core, a barrage of horizontal and vertical slashes began to impact the Demon Tide's core. Dashing to the side, Sora kept an eye on the core as it was beginning to spew out Shadows to defend itself which was annoying but nothing too difficult to deal with. Once he slashed a couple of Shadows out of his way, Sora raised his Keyblade and struck with several Speed Slashes across the core.
Landing a significant amount of damage on the core, Sora groaned at the sight of a smaller cyclone of Shadows appearing to lash out at him which caused him to raise his Keyblade and block the incoming attack. Using both his hands to hold up his Keyblade, Sora continued to block the relentless attack from the Heartless until he figured now would be a good time to strike back. Shifting his right leg forward a step, Sora forced his Keyblade up in a vertical manner and counter-slashed the cyclone, breaking it in half and spilling all the Shadows onto the ground.
Sora then twirled his Keyblade in his hand and began to feel an energy course through him. An energy that he had grown quite familiar with thanks to his last adventure letting him experience many different methods of fighting. His Formchanges. Second Form to be exact. Ready to end this charade, Sora grasped his left hand and brought it close to his heart before yelling out.
"Give me Strength!"
In a flash of light, Sora spun the Keyblade in his hand before throwing his arms out and letting a blast of energy surround him which let his body glow in a blinding light until the light dimmed down and his attire was that of his Second Form. It was heavily inspired by his second adventure attire which he loved very dearly. Now, however, he was ready to finish the fight.
Sprinting right at the Demon Tide core, Sora spotted several Shadows trying to pile onto each other and create another cyclone. However, bringing his Keyblade down in a stabbing maneuver, he was able to finish them all at once. Seeing that time was of the essence, Sora twisted his body around to commence a Flash Step and severed a Shadow's head while also kicking another in the face. He then dragged his Keyblade across his body and stabbed a Heartless right in the chest and cast a Thunder spell which managed to clear a path to the core.
Seeing this as his chance, Sora sprinted right at the core until he was under it and began to slash at the core putting some weight into his attacks. Forcing his Keyblade onto the core, he was able to get in back-to-back slashes with his weapon before raising it and letting an explosion of light hit the core which made it grow a darker red and start thrashing around. Sora swung his Keyblade once more but was slightly stunned when the core lashed out right at him coming right into contact with the blade.
Jumping back a few inches, he saw that the core was beginning to swell up and thrash around angrily. This was all new to Sora and he didn't know what this meant but it was probably nothing good. Gripping his Keyblade, he felt that he had stored enough energy and was ready to perform an Ars Arcanum on the core to finish it off once and for all. However, before he could do so, many Shadows began to appear around him in pools of darkness, and they were climbing out of the ground.
The many Shadows then began to leap at Sora which caused him to block and slash as many Shadows as he could even having to Counter Impact the Heartless and send dozens of them flying back with his power and area of effect slash. Several Shadows managed to leap right above him which then forced him to raise the Keyblade above his head to block the incoming attack. But he was met with a yelp as the Shadows managed to strike him from the back with slashes of their own. This resulted in Sora meeting the Heartless that he blocked with his Keyblade and dragging them with the teeth of his blade toward the Shadows that just attacked his back killing them all.
Having taken a bit of damage and beginning to grow tired, Sora was growing anxious. This was starting to become worrisome as everywhere he looked, he saw Shadows crawling out of pools of darkness on the ground. It was getting hard to keep count of how many Shadows were appearing. Plus, he was still inside the ever-growing Demon Tide which was still spinning and did not look to be slowing down.
This left him in a daring situation. Rather than fight them all, Sora knew he needed to destroy the core before even more Heartless could overwhelm him. It was a do-or-die moment. And he was not about to die after just arriving in this new world.
With his newfound determination, Sora yelled out and charged right at the Demon Tide's core while slashing with vigorous speed and accuracy at every Heartless that got in his way. He may have lost a deal of his power, but he did not lose his battle training and experience.
Only just inches away from the core, Sora was ready to give it his all and use his Ars Arcanum to finish the Heartless.
"You're through!"
Raising his Keyblade just above his head, Sora let his first strike against the core be a clean slanted slash across the core and then he let it have it. Leaving no time in between his attacks, Sora slashed the core horizontal then vertical then slanted, and repeated the technique several times before using his full strength to kick off his back foot and leap into the air and managing to spin his body twice and gain momentum before slamming the Keyblade right down the middle of the core with a clean vertical slash.
The clean cut managed to slice the core into two which caused the Demon Tide to start shaking but surely slowing down. Until the twister stopped and all the Shadows making up the tornado started to collapse to the ground and sprawled out all over. Now able to see the buildings around him, he took notice of how damaged everything looked. But that would have to be a concern for later as he was seeing another problem. A sea of darkness with large yellow eyes was staring back at Sora.
He was now out of the frying pan and into the fire as he saw hundreds of Shadows staring right at him ready to all leap at once. With his breathing becoming raspy and needing a moment to regain his energy, Sora was not liking his chances. Not to mention, it didn't help that while he still felt a majority of his physical powers, his abilities were tampered with and not as strong as they used to be.
However, he doubted that he would get a second to relax and knew he needed to be quick otherwise he would be overwhelmed. With all his might, Sora winded his Keyblade back and got into his signature pose ready to fight his way out. No matter what happened, he would not fall here.
Suddenly, all the Heartless around him began to shake violently and their eyes seemed to glow even brighter, which was something completely new to Sora. This worried him. But before he could act, all the Shadows began to sink into the ground and back into the pools of darkness that spawned them. One by one the once Heartless filled area was clearing up letting Sora finally see the street again.
Looking at one of the Shadows in front of him, Sora had so many questions flooding his head. Just what were these Heartless doing?
That question would have to be put on hold because as soon as Sora looked at another Heartless, the sound of a woman calling out to him could be heard along with many footsteps.
Turning to look at the source, Sora was met with a joyful sight.
"Yomikawa!"
There stood the mature woman with a pistol in her hand and other Anti-Skill members with her all holding guns and aiming them at the surrounding Heartless. In turn, the many Shadows all stared back at the Anti-Skill members getting ready to attack them.
"Sora! I thought I told you to call me if something was going on!" Yomikawa shouted, aiming her pistol at one of the Heartless.
"Sorry! Things happened so quickly. I wasn't able to stop and call you" Sora replied, feeling a bit sheepish while holding his Keyblade in a defensive stance.
"Nevermind that. I see you managed to take down that dark tornado. I take it, these Heartless are what's left over?"
"Yeah! But watch out. These Shadows are acting differently"
With that said, all of the Shadows began to shake once more and looked right at Sora throwing him off. This was downright strange. However, before anything else could happen, all the Heartless began to sink into the ground and disappear before everyone's eyes. All the Anti-Skill members were at a loss for what just happened. Yomikawa definitely had to add this to her list of questions that she was going to ask Sora once things calmed down.
Speaking of Sora, he was confused about everything that just happened. The Heartless were not acting like they usually did. At least at the end where they started shaking, that was completely new. But it was something he would have to consider later. Now his main concern was making sure there were no Heartless wandering around attacking any more civilians.
That being said, the area around him was now completely clear of any Heartless which let Yomikawa and the other Anti-Skill members make their way to him.
"Are you alright, Sora?"
"Yeah. I'm good. Got a few scratches and bruises but other than that I'm doing alright"
"That's a relief. After I got those girls to safety, I managed to meet up with my squad and high-tailed it back here to help you. But once we got close, that's when I spotted the dark tornado throwing cars and debris all over the place"
"Mm. Things got a bit… hectic to say the least. But while I gave the place a good scan for people, I hope no one was caught in that storm" Sora replied, clasping his left hand closed.
"Let's hope for the best. I'll make sure Anti-Skill scans this area thoroughly for any civilians. But for now…" Looking Sora up and down and noticing that the boy looked like he needed a break, Yomikawa decided to give him one. Or at the very least make him take a rest. "I think you need to sit down and catch your breath"
"I…" Sora started but didn't finish as he realized that he really did need to rest and get his energy back.
Due to his power being lost thanks to abusing the Power of Waking to save his friends, Sora figured that was why he was feeling really tired. He had done so much during the Keyblade War and didn't even end up feeling this tired. Maybe he should at least sit down and catch his breath for a minute.
Taking that suggestion to heart, Sora decided to go through with Yomikawa's idea and gave her a tired nod which was all she needed to understand the young man.
"Alright. Let's get you that well-deserved rest along with getting checked up by a doctor" Yomikawa said which earned a wide-eyed Sora.
"Uh… don't you think you're going a bit extreme, Yomikawa?" Sora asked.
"Nonsense. You said that you suffered some cuts and bruises but that might not be all"
Sora wanted to argue with her about that but he realized that she was just looking out for him which made him feel happy. Even having only met her just today, Yomikawa was proving to be a great friend already.
"*Sigh* Ok. You win"
Humming to herself, Yomikawa looked over to her squadmates and began to discuss with them what procedures they needed to accomplish while searching the area for any civilians. While she was doing that, Sora looked up at the buildings that were damaged by the Demon Tide and winced at how much damage occurred.
Maybe he went a bit too far by slamming a school bus at the Demon Tide and causing it to explode and hit other vehicles?
The area around him was littered with debris from cars, buildings, and random objects scattered on the ground. The surrounding buildings had parts of them heavily damaged and even cars thrown through the glass windows leaving an odd sight. A car that was supposed to be parked on the street was now sitting inside a large building on the fifth floor. It made Sora chuckle a little.
Taking another look at the area, Sora saw Yomikawa pointing her finger at one of the areas that would probably be checked by Anti-Skill, and it made him reminisce about the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee which he was a part of thanks to the card Leon and the gang gave him. Having said that, he reached into one of his side pockets that he hadn't checked earlier and began rummaging around to see if he still had that card with him, but to no avail, he did not. Though, while he did not have that card with him, he did feel another card which puzzled him.
Pulling out the card he was met with a strange sight that immediately made him remember his fight with Luxord. In his hands was a playing card but it was one that he had never seen before. No numbers or symbols were indicating the card's value which left him stumped. In the middle of the card was a large white skull with what appeared to be a pointy cross that was part of the skull. It was truly a weird-looking card.
But Luxord did give it to him and tell him it was a wildcard. Along with Luxord straight up saying that the card, "Could turn the tables" Maybe there was really more to this strange card?
Either way, Sora made sure to safely put it back in his pocket for later. At the same time, Yomikawa was now making her way over to the boy and had a smile on her face.
"All right, the situation's all good here. Let's get you checked up"
Nodding at her suggestion, the two began to make their way to wherever it was that she wanted to take him. Maybe a little rest wouldn't be all that bad…
Meanwhile, at one of the Anti-Skill safety zones
A girl with dark black hair and wearing a sailor uniform was chatting with one of her friends asking her if she was ok now that she had a bandage wrapped around her forearm.
"I'm good, Saten. It's just a scratch that I got when I fell to the ground" the girl said to her worried friend.
"But still!"
"If it wasn't for you, we would still be stuck being chased by those monsters," another girl said.
"Yeah! Saten, you were really cool swinging around that metal pipe smacking the monsters back"
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" another schoolgirl asked.
"W-well, I sometimes go to the batting cages and take out my frustrations there" Saten explained, sweat dropping at all the attention she was receiving.
"That's so cool!"
Before anyone else could say anything else, the sound of footsteps appeared out of nowhere followed by three girls appearing and staring right at Saten.
"Saten!"
"Saten! Are you ok?!"
"Saten!"
The three that said that were Saten's close friends, Kuroko Shirai, Kazari Uiharu, and Mikoto Misaka aka the third-ranked Level 5 or better known as the Railgun.
"Uiharu. Shirai. Misaka. What are you guys doing here?" Saten asked.
"What do you mean, what are we doing here? We came to check on you" Shirai retorted.
"But how did you know I would be here?"
"We were monitoring the calls going out about what was going on here and we had Uiharu get into one of the building's security feeds and see how bad the situation was. That was when we saw you in this safety zone Anti-Skill had set up" Misaka explained.
"You're not hurt, are you, Saten?" Uiharu asked, looking concerned for her friend.
"I'm good. Just a few scratches here and there but that's all" Saten replied.
"Are you guys all, ok?" Misaka asked the other girls who looked shocked at being able to talk with a Level 5.
"Y-y-yes. I'm ok"
"Mm. I'm good"
"Yeah. I'm good. Just got a scratch on my arm but nothing else"
"That's good to hear," Misaka said, feeling relieved that no one got hurt.
Saten smiled at seeing how worried her friends were for her wellbeing. Everything happened so fast. One minute she was hanging out with her school friends and the next screams were heard and cars were crashing into each other. And then people started running away from something which left her panicked. Then, she saw what it was that people were scared of. The dark creatures that were attacking people.
Soon after, she and her friends started running but didn't get that far as one of the girls ran right into some guy that was frozen in place which threw her to the ground and caused her arms to become bruised with a long scratch across her arm. This forced Saten and the other girls to stop and help their friend all while the dark creatures attacked everyone. With adrenaline rushing through her body, Saten looked around for anything she could use to defend herself while helping her friends, and that is how she found the broken metal pipe from one of the cars that crashed into one of the buildings.
Once she picked up the metal bar, one of the creatures began making its way toward her which made her shift into her batting stance and swing right at the creature sending it flying back. After that, she went to help her friends get out of there which ultimately led them to make their way down the road at a slow pace. Furthermore, she and her friends were at one point surrounded by the creatures, and she had to use the metal bar as best as she could to protect her friends. But the pipe soon broke after hitting several of those monsters leaving her defenseless. That led her to meet that Anti-Skill woman who was helping them with those monsters. And then…
"Oh! Misaka. Uiharu. Shirai. There was a boy that helped us with those dark monsters" Saten exclaimed, remembering the boy.
"A boy?" Uiharu repeated.
"Yeah. He had spiky hair and managed to help the Anti-Skill woman deal with the monsters" Saten said.
"Spiky hair? Could it have been that idiot?" Misaka muttered.
"Spiky hair? *gasp* "Was it that ape?! What was he doing out here?" Shirai asked, picturing a familiar misfortune boy.
"No, no. It wasn't Kamijou. It was another boy with spiky hair. He had brown hair" Saten stated.
"Um… are you sure?" Misaka asked.
"I'm sure, Misaka. I remember Kamijou clearly. This other boy was wearing some really cool clothes and was carrying around a giant key" Saten explained.
"A giant key? Why would anyone carry something like that around?" Shirai asked, confused by what Saten just said.
"I don't know. But he was so cool! Fighting the monsters off with such ease and he looked like he knew how to deal with them"
"He sounds so cool!" Looking around Saten and her friends as well as the area, Uiharu was left wondering about something. "But uh… where is he?"
"He said that he was going to keep on looking for people and send them this way so Anti-Skill could help them," Saten said.
"Then, he must still be out there" Turning her head to look at Shirai, Misaka didn't want this boy to be left alone and deal with these strange but dangerous monsters. "Kuroko. We need to go"
"You read my mind, Oneesama," Shirai responded.
"I'll stay with Saten and see if there's anything I can do to help around here," Uiharu said which earned a nod from both Misaka and Shirai.
Before the two Tokiwadai girls could teleport, Saten quickly remembered another important detail about the boy.
"Wait! I almost forgot. The boy's name..."
"That'll be a big help to know. What is his name?"
"His name is Sora"
Back with Sora and Yomikawa
The duo had returned to where Yomikawa's vehicle was still parked and got into the car. Sora felt a wave of happiness flow through him as he got to sit down and rest. So much had happened in just one day and he wasn't even halfway done with the day.
"So, where are we heading next?" Sora asked.
"We're going to go meet up with a doctor I know. He'll be able to give you a good check" Yomikawa responded.
"Alright, sounds good. But won't you get in trouble for leaving your uh Anti-Skill duties?"
"Nah, it's all good. I spoke with my squad and reported to HQ about what had happened. They gave me the clear"
"Ah. That's good to hear" Sora said, sitting back in the passenger seat and looking out the window at the city. "Maybe I should let Touma know what's happened?"
With that being said, Yomikawa began driving and maneuvering her way out of the stopped traffic and got back onto the road and toward the hospital where a familiar frog-faced doctor was located.
Elsewhere…
"Hey! Hey! Did you see the news? Misaka Misaka asks while throwing pillows at you to get your attention" said a small girl that looked really similar to Mikoto Misaka.
"No brat. I didn't. Now leave me alone" said a white-haired boy who was trying to sleep but couldn't for the life of him with this small energetic girl bothering him.
"Ooh c'mon. It was on the TV The nice news lady said that monsters were attacking people and that some boy stepped in to save the day Misaka Misaka says while jumping up and down"
"..."
"Now you're just being rude to Misaka. You're not even a little interested? Asks Misaka Misaka trying to get you interested in the news"
Left staring at the white-haired boy, the little girl pouted until an idea struck her that she was sure to get the boy's attention.
"The nice lady giving out the news said it was a spiky-haired boy that was seen fighting off the monsters says Misaka Misaka as she role plays the hero described on the TV"
This seemed to do the trick as the white-haired boy perked his head a bit, growing the tiniest bit curious about what the girl was saying.
"Spiky hair? Did they show a picture of the bastard?"
"Nope. They only said that a spiky-haired boy was there at the scene helping Anti-Skill fight off the monsters says Misaka Misaka pretending to fight off monsters"
Scoffing at the answer he was given, the white-haired boy figured it was the damn hero that was involved in this monster situation.
"It's probably that damned hero again. Sticking his nose in other people's business"
"Oh! The savior! Why didn't I think of that, says Misaka Misaka, happy that the Savior is off fighting monsters!"
"Monsters. Huh…" the white-haired boy muttered.
In a high-end apartment located somewhere in the city
Several girls were all lounging around in a living room with the television on which coincidentally had the new playing. One girl wearing a beret was lazily sitting on a couch watching the news which was reporting on the situation with dark monsters attacking people.
"Monsters attacking the city?" the blonde-haired girl said.
"This all sounds super dumb" another girl with short brown bob-cut hair replied while playing on her phone.
"Maybe it's real" muttered another girl with shoulder-length black hair and wearing a pink tracksuit.
"Maybe it's a science experiment gone wrong? What do you think, Mugino?" the blonde-haired girl asked another girl that had tea-colored hair and was currently reading a magazine ignoring everything that was happening.
"Don't know. Don't care" the tea-colored girl nonchalantly responded.
"Oh, c'mon. You super at least have something to say about it?" the bob-cut girl said.
"It doesn't concern me, so I don't care. Now, quit asking me about it"
With that said, the tea-colored girl raised her magazine higher, so it blocked her entire face leaving the blonde-haired girl to sigh.
"Well, either way, I wonder who the boy is that was mentioned in the news regarding the monster situation?" the blonde girl asked.
At the same time, Touma started sneezing like crazy which drew the entire class's attention.
"Jeez, Kami. Got someone thinking about you?" Tsuchimikado asked, smirking at the spiky-haired boy.
"It's probably one of the girls Kami infected with his disease" Aogami stated.
"I hope nobody is thinking of me. And no. It's not a girl. This poor and helpless Kamijou is not well-liked by the female population. Plus, I don't want to deal with any more misfortune than I've already accumulated today" Touma replied, fearing that misfortune was bound to make its way toward him soon.
This got Touma to look out the window of his classroom and see that there appeared to be quite a few helicopters hanging in the sky all heading in the same direction. Maybe something happened?
Touma would later bite his tongue and facepalm at how that question would be answered. And the misfortune it brought.
Notes:
*A/N - And that's a wrap. Now we get to see more of the Toaru characters show up. Can't wait for everyone to meet Sora and the craziness to follow. I'm also thinking about taking a bit of inspiration from Xenoblade Chronicles 3 with the moves that the cast is able to do. For instance, Noah's swordfighter basic special that allows him to do a few flips in the air before slashing down at the enemy. And taking a look at other games and the crazy move sets that characters are able to do is something I want to get some ideas from. Hope that is alright. Besides, Sora fights dirty and doesn't have a clean fighting style which is why I really love Kingdom Hearts 2's reaction commands and the ridiculous stuff he's able to do. I mean, the man threw half a building at a dragon. Along with a bunch of other amazing and badass actions. Either way, hope you liked the chapter and look forward to more to come. Take care.
Chapter 5: Hospital Friends
Summary:
After the battle, Sora has some thoughts that are bothering him. But those bad thoughts will get drowned out. As he'll get the chance to meet some new friends.
Notes:
*Disclaimer – I do not own the copyright for Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index series.
*A/N – Hey everyone, hope you're all doing good. Figured I'd give this story a bit of love since all my other stories are much further along. Also, seeing that Sora has now made the news. How will that affect the Keyblade Wielder and whom will that attract? Expect friends and enemies. Either way, hope you enjoy it and stay tuned for more.
Chapter Text
Sitting in the passenger seat of Yomikawa's car, Sora continued to look out the window and was amazed at the sight in front of him. Even having explored Hiro's world, San Fransokyo, Academy City had a different kind of feel to it. Especially because over 50% of the people here have Esper powers. It all sounded so cool!
Moreover, there were still many questions he had. Not only about this city but this world. How could the Heartless already be here and attacking people? Were they here before he got here? Or… did the Heartless start appearing after he arrived in this world?
Many more thoughts began to make Sora feel guilty about the whole thing. The Heartless were attracted to hearts so it wasn't far off that they were already in this world. But that just made Sora have another troubling thought in his lap. Sora recalled Leon's words that he said to him back in Traverse Town during his first adventure which felt so long ago.
"They'll come at you out of nowhere. And they'll keep on coming at you, as long as you continue to wield the Keyblade"
Guilt crawled up Sora's throat as he was starting to put two and two together and was having inner turmoil with himself. While he was sure that the Heartless didn't just show up as soon as he arrived in this world, that didn't mean they would not come after him now. Seeing that the ones that he just dealt with were not your everyday Shadows. There was something wrong and he needed to get to the bottom of this.
However, that would have to wait as Yomikawa cleared her throat to get his attention. She probably had a bunch of questions to ask him which he did owe her.
"So, you feeling all right? Now that you got a minute to get your energy back" Yomikawa said, getting a quick glance at the boy.
"Yeah. I'm feeling better"
"That's good to hear. In that case…" Yomikawa turned her attention back to the road and let out a sigh that she didn't know she was holding. How was she supposed to go about asking him what exactly just happened in the past half-hour?
"Do you want to start talking or should I just throw something out there and you go from there?"
Bringing a hand under his chin to give a thinking pose, Sora had a feeling that Yomikawa had a lot on her mind. It didn't seem fair that she wasn't in the know. So, he figured she could start.
"You can start"
"… all right. Well then, first, what the hell was that!?" Yomikawa asked, letting her emotions become apparent.
Sora had a surprised look on his face as he stared at the mature yet beautiful woman still wearing her Anti-Skill attire and the expressive look on her face.
"Err… what do you mean?"
"Are you kidding me? Sora. We just got done fighting small dark monsters that were ripping people's hearts out. But it wasn't their real heart but something like a heart and then the people who were attacked ended up becoming said monsters" Yomikawa said without even taking a second to catch her breath.
"And on top of that, you're able to summon a giant key-looking weapon that kills those monsters. I mean, the Heartless. And when you kill the Heartless, small pink hearts appear and float away which didn't happen when I killed them" Yomikawa added.
"Plus, don't get me started on how you were able to throw a school bus at the Heartless tornado" Feeling a headache start to come, Yomikawa let out a long sigh before continuing to talk again. "But I guess if we need to start somewhere. My first question to you, Sora, is… are you ok?"
This threw Sora off completely as the entire time she was pouring her thoughts out; he did not expect her first real question to him to be about how he was.
"I-I'm all right. A bit tired though. Usually, I have no trouble dealing with the Heartless. But… it seems like I'm not as strong as I used to be" Sora replied, having an inkling of why he wasn't as strong as he used to be.
Chirithy's words seemed to resonate with him at that moment. "You'll lose your powers. You won't be able to use the power of waking"
At the time, he didn't really take heed of Chirithy's words. But now waking up in a whole new world with no way home. He would need to be extra careful. Moreover, while his magical powers seemed to be heavily weakened, his physical abilities were still with him. However, after his most recent battle with the Heartless, it appeared that his newly gained strength was also gone which left him working twice as hard in a fight. He'll have to adjust his fighting style at least until manages to reclaim his lost power for the fourth time now.
"Not as strong as you used to be. Are you telling me that you used to be a lot stronger?" Yomikawa asked, looking bewildered at the young man.
"Yeah. Before I would be able to kill Shadow Heartless with ease. Almost like swatting a fly off the wall" Sora responded.
This left Yomikawa to have a small smile on her face as she recalled a certain white-haired boy who was also dealing with the problem of once being super strong but now having to adjust himself and his Esper ability.
"Normally, if someone said they lost their power or they used to be super strong they would be really upset. But you clearly look fine"
"This isn't my first time losing my power" Sora stated.
"And you just continue to amaze me. Well then, seeing that things are going to be a bit hectic in the city for a bit, while you are getting checked up, I'll be calling headquarters to help me get you somewhat situated into the city's database" Yomikawa said.
"I thought we had to go and get the paperwork for me to stay in Academy City?"
"That was the original plan. However, seeing that monsters suddenly appeared out of nowhere and started attacking people. Things are going to be a mess around the city. Plus, there is another problem…"
"Huh? Another problem? What do you mean, Yomikawa?" Sora asked, not sure what the ponytailed woman was getting at.
"Well… you do know that drones were flying around the area and surveillance cameras on buildings that were broadcasting everything that was happening, right?"
Frowning at what she was saying, Sora still didn't get it.
"Sora. You were most likely caught on video fighting the Heartless"
"Ok? I'm betting that in a place like Academy City there are bound to be a lot of people using their Esper powers and being recorded" Sora explained which earned a shake of the head from Yomikawa.
"Yes. But not everyone is recorded fighting against dark monsters that have never been seen before and managing to save people left and right. Plus, you did just fight a large tornado that was made up of dark monsters and even threw a school bus at the twister" Yomikawa added.
"I…I can see your point" Ruffling his hair and looking a bit embarrassed, Sora was now getting at what she was trying to say. "So, does that mean I'm in trouble?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure. While I think you were right to fight the Heartless, even though your account of the whole thing sounds crazy. Others will think of you as the next big thing. You know how people can be when it comes to seeing something new" Yomikawa said, trying to explain that people will be looking at Sora in an all-new light. And the boy had only just gotten here less than 24 hours ago!
"But I do think that someone will want to have a word with you about the whole situation. Seeing that you are familiar with the Heartless" Yomikawa added.
"Yeah. I figured as much. But will that affect me being able to stay in Academy City?" Sora asked.
"I think the sooner we get you the paperwork needed. The less we need to worry about some higher-up sending Anti-Skill to escort you out of the city. Plus, I'll talk to the doctor I'm taking you to. He's got some connections with the higher-ups of Academy City. I'm sure he could help us"
Sora let out a breath he didn't know that he was holding in and sheepishly looked grateful at Yomikawa.
"That's a relief. Thank you, Yomikawa, for everything" Sora said, meaning every word.
"Don't worry about it, Sora. You know, it's ok to rely on others and not deal with everything on your own" Yomikawa responded with a hint of worry in her voice.
"I know that. I just… didn't want anyone else to get hurt while dealing with the Heartless. But…" Looking out at the passenger window, Sora was able to see that he and Yomikawa were in another part of the city with trees and windmills that were in the distance. "Now that the Heartless have shown up, things are going to change"
"No kidding. A brand-new creature has appeared in a city full of scientists that make the crazy scientists in movies look sane. That just spells bad news" Yomikawa said, grimacing at the thought.
"Yeah… I'm going to need help. Do you think you could help me, Yomikawa?" Sora asked, already knowing the answer but still wanting to ask the question to the mature beauty.
"I think you already know the answer, Sora" Yomikawa replied, flashing the young man a warm and confident smile to which he returned the smile.
Now having another friend in this world that could help him with the Heartless, Sora had another person in mind that he could ask for their help. A certain black spiky-haired boy with a mysterious right hand. However, Sora would be knocked out of his thoughts as Yomikawa spoke up which caught his attention.
"Well, would you look at that? Time seems to fly by when you're having a good time"
Coming into view was what appeared to be a hospital of sorts. It made sense since Yomikawa said she had a friend that would check on him for his injuries.
Pulling into a parking spot, Yomikawa stopped the car and turned it off while pulling her phone out and typing something. Sora just looked around the area seeing that the hospital looked quite busy. Maybe that was because of the incident with the Heartless?
After getting out of the car and stretching, both Yomikawa and Sora began walking through the front doors of the hospital and could see that a bunch of people were in the waiting room. They must be waiting to hear about their friends that were here seeking medical help.
Yomikawa had a concerned look on her face but didn't say anything and went to the receptionist who was looking at something on her computer.
"Excuse me"
"Oh! Miss Yomikawa. What brings you here? Did something come up with…" the receptionist never got to finish what she saying as Yomikawa stopped her.
"It's not that. I'm looking for Heaven Canceller is he available?"
"Let me check and see really quick" the receptionist began typing away on her computer looking up this Heaven Canceller.
"All right, it appears that he is currently free now. I'll send him a message about you and…" the receptionist turned to look at Sora who awkwardly waved his hand at her for a greeting which she also waved back somewhat confused. "And your friend heading to meet you"
"Great! Thanks. C'mon Sora"
Following right behind her, the two began to walk down a long narrow hall before stopping in front of a large door that looked a bit different compared to the other doors in the hallway. Yomikawa knocked on the door twice before a response could be heard.
"Come in"
Upon entering the room, Sora was met with an older fellow that had the appearance of what many would identify as a frog face, but not in a rude way. Just that he reminded many of the occupants of Academy City with his similarities to a certain frog mascot.
The older gentleman had a smile on his face as he was now facing Yomikawa who also had a friendly smile.
"Long time no see"
"You were just here not that long ago"
"You know what I mean"
Having had their greeting, Sora was now the focus of attention as the frog-faced doctor was now looking at him a with friendly smile.
"I take it you're the young man Yomikawa has told me about?"
"Right, sir. I'm Sora. It's nice to meet you…" Sora replied, not sure about his name.
"Please, call me Heaven Canceller," the older doctor who was now known as Heaven Canceller said while offering a handshake which Sora returned.
"Now then, why don't we get you a seat while I perform a check-up on you? Does that sound all good?"
"Yeah. I'm good with that"
"Mm. If you would" Heaven Canceller said, directing Sora to a hospital bed that would serve as his seat.
Taking a seat, Sora was a bit curious about what the doctor, err… Heaven Canceller would do. His answer would be that of a gun of sorts that had what appeared to be a screen on it that was almost see-through but not so much. The first thought that came to Sora was that it reminded him of his AR headset back in San Fransokyo where it would send him information and highlight important features.
However, Sora would be stopped from thinking about anything else as the thing Heaven Canceller was holding seemed to light up and activate while projecting a bunch of data on the screen from pointing at him. This left Sora stumped and a bit weirded out by the device. Heaven Canceller seemed to notice the young man's reaction and chuckled a bit.
"Haha. Don't worry about it, Sora. This device is scanning your body and gives me your temperature along with letting me know if there are any abnormalities around your body. Normally, I'd have you step into a large scanner of sorts that would tell me if there was anything wrong. However, this device is making things a lot easier and speeding up the process" Heaven Canceller explained.
"Whoa… that's so awesome! Is that device something only available here in Academy City? Since the city is advanced in technology?" Sora asked, curious about the helpful technology.
While he was not exactly all that familiar with technology, Sora was beginning to learn more and more thanks to his latest adventure and meeting the Big Hero Six gang. His new friends introduced to him the many wonders technology had and how it could help everyone live a better life. Since then, he's been working on paying attention to everything regarding technology. Plus, he was in a highly advanced city that relied heavily on science and technology.
"You'd be correct. However, at the moment, I'm the only one with this device. It's still going through a testing phase and once I'm done, then it can start to be published for others to use" Heaven Canceller said.
"I'm guessing you've had some help with testing the device, huh?" Yomikawa suggested which got a chuckle out of the frog-faced doctor.
"Yes. If it weren't for those girls, I'd be stuck with a whole lot more work to do. But thanks to them, they were able to help me get things moving right along" Heaven Canceller stated, having put down the device.
Yomikawa had a content look on her face hearing that news.
"Well, Sora, based on what Yomikawa has told me, you were involved with that monster attack happening"
"Yeah. I let my guard down and got hurt by a few of them. But I was able to stop them" Sora said, frowning at the truth of what happened.
The loss of all his strength had thrown a wrench in his way causing him to have to use more energy than he was used to, which was thanks to him losing his power. Once things calmed down, he would need to readjust his fighting strategy and come up with ways to substitute his lost power.
"We've been receiving victims from the attack and have been able to treat most of them. I'm guessing you are to thank for helping these people get help"
"It wasn't just me. Yomikawa and the others in Anti-Skill were able to help push back the Heartless"
"The Heartless? I take it that's what they are called?"
"Yes. And as much as I don't like saying this… you might want to prepare yourself and your fellow doctors and nurses for more cases involving Heartless attacks" Sora said, grimacing at the negative truth.
Even though he was able to defeat the Demon Tide, that still didn't explain where the Heartless came from. Whether it was from someone trying to command them or if they just spawned due to the manifestation of darkness in people's hearts, the Heartless were still a threat. That thought lay right at the forefront of Sora's mind.
He needed to regain his strength. Better yet, he needed to get stronger.
"I see… thank you for the heads up, Sora" Looking over at Yomikawa who seemed to be listening to the two's conversation while also thinking about something in deep thought. Heaven Canceller addressed the pony-tailed woman, "Can I also get a detailed report on what I should be preparing for regarding these Heartless?"
"Yeah. I'll send over an official Anti-Skill report on the situation once we're done here" Yomikawa said, still recalling the many thoughts she had.
"That would be great, thanks. Now, Sora, based on results, it really does appear that you're in good healthy shape. Though it does appear that…" Before Heaven Canceller could finish whatever, it was that he was going to say. The door to the room slammed open and a brown blur dashed right into the room and straight at Heaven Canceller.
"Did you see?! Did you see it?! Misaka Misaka asks as she is alluding to the fact that the savior was on the TV" a small brown-haired girl energetically said.
"Yes. Last Order. I did see the news in fact the person you saw is standing right over there" Heaven Canceller said, pointing over at Sora.
However, before anyone could say or do anything, the little girl now identified as Last Order bolted right at Sora and started firing off questions all while her eyes were closed.
"Oh! It's you! The savior! I saw you on the TV fighting those monsters! You looked so cool! How are you doing? Did those monsters hurt you? Is that why you're here? Says Misaka Misaka as she is wondering why you are here" Last Order said, now opening her eyes and was met with a pair of blue eyes and brown-spiky hair instead of black.
"Uhm…Hi?" Sora said, taken back by the little girl and her many questions.
Last Order was silent for a moment before jumping back and yelping at what she just did.
"W-whaa?! I-I thought you were… Ah!" Lowering her head and giving an apologetic bow, Last Order felt a wave of embarrassment hit her. "Misaka Misaka is terribly sorry for that"
"Hehe. Don't worry about it. I'm sure everyone is all excited about seeing what happened on the television" Sora said, ruffling the back of his hair.
"I thought you were someone else Misaka recognized says Misaka Misaka as she shakes her head and is once again sorry"
"You mistook me for someone else? I think you mentioned someone having black hair. Do they also have spiky hair?"
"Yep! He's known as the savior due to how he saved all the Misakas. Says Misaka Misaka as she immediately realizes that she shouldn't say something strange like that" Last Order said.
"Hmm" Crossing his arms and thinking for a second, Sora had one person come to mind. But in a large city like Academy City, there had to be more people with dark spiky hair and not just one boy, right? "Is this savior you're talking about named Touma?"
"Oh! You know the savior! Says Misaka Misaka as she instantly recognizes that name!"
"Yeah. Touma has been helping me ever since I got here. I'm new to Academy City" Sora said, not wanting to confuse the young girl with his story.
"That's great to hear! Says Misaka Misaka as she is happy that the savior is still helping others out"
Sora was now beginning to realize that the young girl was talking in a third person or at the very least repeating someone's name over and over. However, Sora wasn't one to judge someone on their personality. Besides, it was something new and Sora was growing used to it by the second.
"Last Order. I thought you were with the others?" Heaven Canceller asked.
"I was. But once I saw the TV, I grew excited at the idea that the savior was fighting monsters. And one of the other Misakas said that she saw a head of spiky hair entering the hospital and looking for your room which was exciting! Says Misaka Misaka explaining why she is here"
Yomikawa had a smile across her lips while she stayed quiet while the young girl was looking all excited to meet her hero, but even with it not being the person she thought it was. The little girl was still excited to meet the boy. Plus, Sora was very friendly and had an air of positivity around him that was infectious to be around.
"I see… well, he is pretty much done here. He's in good health but just fatigued which is understandable given what he's just been through. Last Order, do you think you could give him a tour around the place while I discuss some things with Yomikawa here" Asked Heaven Canceller.
"Sure! I'd be happy to do that. Says Misaka Misaka as she is getting all giddy at hanging out with the boy from the TV" Last Order cheerfully said.
"Last Order. You do know he has a name…" Heaven Canceller said, chuckling to himself at the young girl's antics.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I've been calling you the boy from the television. Says Misaka Misaka feeling guilty for not knowing your name"
"Ehehe. It's all good. My name is Sora. It's nice to meet you, Last Order" Sora said, having picked up the girl's real name or the name she went by and not the name Misaka that she keeps on saying.
"It's very nice to meet you, Sora! Says Misaka Misaka happy to have made a new friend" Last Order replied, eager to show Sora around.
Sora shot a look at Yomikawa who nodded and responded, "Go on ahead. I'll catch up in a bit. I want to talk with Heaven Canceller about some things"
Hearing the mature woman's words, Sora smiled and returned the nod before following Last Order's lead.
"All right, Last Order, lead the way," Sora said, ready to follow.
"Alrighty! Make sure you stay close to Misaka. And we'll have to walk fast but not as fast as running. Says Misaka Misaka as she recalls getting yelled at by one of the nurses for running in the halls yesterday"
With that said, the Keyblade wielder and Misaka control tower began making their way to show Sora around the place. Yomikawa now looked over at Heaven Canceller with many questions at the forefront of her mind.
"Is Sora going to be, ok? Or were you just saying that to put him at ease?" Yomikawa asked.
"Sora's results from the device showed nothing really physically wrong with him. His temperature and eye coordination all appeared to be normal and there were no instances of any other physical injuries besides fatigue which is understandable since he's been fighting against those monsters" Heaven Canceller said, pulling out the device.
"However, while I can certainly guarantee that my device works as I've used it not only on myself but other patients as well. There was something that bothered me" Heaven Canceller added.
"What do you mean?"
"Sora's eyes," Heaven Canceller said, having a serious tone of voice behind his words.
"His eyes? I'm not following…"
"I've seen my fair share of cases while in Academy City along with the spectacles that newer technology can bring to the table. But when I observed Sora, it appeared like something was bothering him"
"Bothering him? Are you sure it wasn't just fatigue he's dealing with as you said?" Yomikawa suggested.
"Perhaps. But for now, I'd like to keep this between the two of us. It could be nothing or… it could be something"
"Ok…" Grasping her gloved hand, Yomikawa had to take a deep breath. So much had happened today and the day was still not even halfway through. Plus, while she may have talked with Sora. She still didn't completely know the boy. Looks like she'll have to keep her eye out for another teenager.
"Now then, let's talk about the other thing you wanted to discuss," Heaven Canceller said which drew Yomikawa's attention back.
From one subject to another, Yomikawa was in for a long day.
Following Last Order and Sora
The two had been exploring the other side of the hospital for quite a bit of time. And now the young girl was speed walking right in front of Sora pointing to thing after thing in the hospital forcing the boy to chuckle at the girl's energy.
"Oh! And over there is where Misaka and her sisters go to get our eyes checked says Misaka Misaka as she is wondering if anyone is in there"
"Mm. Hey, Last Order, based on what you've said are your sisters here in the hospital? Are you guys, ok?" Sora asked, becoming considered after hearing about Last Order and her sisters staying in the hospital.
"We…" before Last Order could finish what she was saying, a nurse walking by seemed to recognize Last Order and called out to her.
"Oh? Last Order. What are you doing around here? Are you with one of your sisters?"
"Nope. This Misaka is giving her new friend a tour. Says Misaka Misaka as she is liking being a guide"
Noticing Sora standing there, the nurse offered him a smile.
"I see, it's nice to meet you. I hope Last Order is a good guide and shows you everywhere that is accessible. Do note that there are areas that are restricted to the public. Other than that, if you have any questions, you can find another nurse or even a doctor" the nurse said.
"Understood ma'am. And yeah, Last Order is a good guide showing me all sorts of cool areas the hospital has" Sora responded.
"That's good to hear" Checking the clipboard she was holding onto and then looked at the two again. "Well, I've got a few patients to check on. Last Order, please remember. No running and no going into random rooms"
"*Sigh* Misaka knows that already. Don't need to tell her again. Says Misaka Misaka as she remembers being scolded for walking into another patient's room and getting yelled at"
With that said, the nurse began walking away leaving Sora and Last Order alone yet again.
"So, we've seen a lot of the hospital. But I take it that everything we couldn't see is off limits?" Sora asked which made Last Order groan.
Nodding her head up and down, Sora realized that it wouldn't be a good idea to let Last Order go into a room that had someone else in there. That would be rude and probably get the two of them into trouble. At that sudden realization, Sora had a thought hit him. Even though he had spent a bit of time with Last Order enjoying the girl's company. He still had no idea who she really was.
"Hey, Last Order, since we can't go anywhere else, there is something I'm curious about"
"Oh? What is it? Says Misaka Misaka as she is getting excited" Last Order said, practically jumping up and down.
"Ok. Well, *rubbing the back of his neck* who are you exactly?"
Last Order tilted her head. Almost like she was confused by the question.
"I mean, I know that your name is not Misaka even though you keep mentioning that name. I figured that's just your sister's name. And that you go by Last Order but other than that you came running into Heaven Canceller's room and thought that I was the 'Savior' and then you jumped at me" Sora explained, hoping to get some sort of answer.
"Hmm. You raise a big point. Says Misaka Misaka as she begins to take a thinking pose" Last Order replied.
"If you don't feel alright telling me anything that's ok. I was just curious about who you were. And I'm betting that you have questions about who I am as well" Sora stated.
Taking a moment to think things through, Last Order remained quiet as if she was thinking deeply about what Sora was asking. However, what she really was doing was communicating with the Misaka Network and gauging what her sisters were saying about the whole ordeal. After spending a whole minute quiet, Last Order finally got her answer and looked chipper about it.
"Alright. Misaka has just talked with her sisters about your question, and we have decided to tell you a bit about ourselves. And one of Misaka's sisters would like to join us. Says Misaka Misaka as she is excited for you to meet her sister!" Last Order replied, earning a smile from Sora.
"Mm. Got it. Thank you, Last Order" Sora said, excited to learn more about his new friend.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Misaka's sister said that she'll meet us outside at one of the benches. Says Misaka Misaka getting ready to speed walk outside.
Now with a plan to follow, Sora nodded at Last Order's determination and gave her the go-ahead which sent Last Order the confirmation she needed to zoom out of the hospital. Sora could only chuckle and began to slowly catch up with her.
Meanwhile, back with the Railgun gang
It had been some time since the Heartless attack, that most of the citizens who were bunkered down at the Anti-Skill's safety zone were either sent to the hospital or home. However, four girls remained in the area looking for a certain spiky-haired boy who was nowhere to be found.
"Onee-sama, I don't think he is here anymore," Shirai said, looking at the Railgun with a concerning look.
"This doesn't make sense. We didn't see him coming back this way" Saten said with a frown crossing her lips.
"Maybe he's still out there?" Uiharu suggested.
"No. If there are any more attacks from those monsters, then I'm sure that's where he would be. But nothing has popped up on the Anti-Skill radio frequency" Misaka stated.
"Do you think he might have left then?" Saten asked.
"Well…" Uiharu muttered but had no real answer for her friend who looked worried about the boy.
"Maybe we should ask one of the Anti-Skill officers about any information on him" Shirai suggested.
With that in mind, Misaka spotted one Anti-Skill member talking with another before the other person left to go do something which left the other all alone. Taking this chance, Misaka began to walk up to the lone Anti-Skill member leaving her friends stumped at what was happening.
"Hey, excuse me"
"Young lady, even though the monster attacks have stopped it's still not safe for you… to be… here…" the Anti-Skill member stopped what he was saying as he now realized who he was talking to.
"O-oh… Uh… sorry about that. I thought you were…"
"It's alright. Realistically, no one should still be out here. But my friends and I were looking for someone" Misaka said, understanding where the Anti-Skill member was coming from.
It was dangerous for anyone to be in this area given that the monsters had disappeared but may still be out there. Plus, Misaka still had no idea what those monsters were. And that was something she had to be careful about. One wrong move and she could be next.
"There was a boy with brown spiky hair here earlier when the monsters were attacking. He helped save one of my friends and we were wondering if you had seen that boy anywhere?" Misaka asked.
"A boy with spiky brown hair?" The Anti-Skill member looked puzzled for a moment before a look of realization hit him. "Oh! I think I know who you're talking about. But I'm afraid that I can't give away any of his personal information. Just know that he managed to help us out a great deal and retreated to get checked up. He was with another Anti-Skill member"
"I see… thank you for the information" Misaka replied.
"No problem. But would you mind getting your friends away from here? We still don't know if those monsters will show up again"
"Understood. Thanks again for the help"
With that said, Misaka began walking back to her friends who looked at her with varying expressions.
"So, what did he say?" Saten asked.
"He said that the boy was here. But he left to get checked up at some hospital. We must have missed him" Misaka responded.
"Darn" Kicking a piece of rubble at her feet, Saten was glad to hear that the boy who saved her was safe but wished she could at least thank him. "That's good to hear that he got away. I just wish I could have thanked him"
"I'm sure you'll get the chance another time. But what should we do now?" Uiharu asked.
"Well, the first thing we should do is get you two out of here" Saying that Shirai grabbed Uiharu and Saten's hands along with Misaka planted her hand on her shoulder and then in the matter of a split second the group of girls was gone from the Anti-Skill safety zone.
The next thing the girls knew was that they were now further away from the safety zone and could see it from a distance. Shirai had teleported them a bit away so that they could talk about what their next move would be.
"Now we can discuss what to do next," Shirai said, dusting off her school outfit.
"I think that we should split up and look for the boy" Misaka stated.
"Are you sure you want to do that, Onee-sama?"
"Why not? I mean, not only did he save Saten, but he was also saving people from being attacked by those monsters. We should at least make sure he is ok. Or maybe he even knows something about those monsters?" Misaka reasoned.
"*Sigh* Ok, Onee-sama. We'll go with your plan. Besides, it's not that usual ape who's involved so that makes me a bit relieved" Shirai muttered that last part to herself.
"Do you have a plan in mind, Misaka?" Saten asked, curious about what the brunette-haired girl had in mind.
"Yeah. I'll look at one of the hospitals around here while you three head back to the Judgment office to get a better idea on security cameras and whatnot. That way we can see where he might have gone" Misaka explained.
"Are you sure you want to go alone, Misaka? Wouldn't you want Shirai to go with you?" Uiharu asked, confused why the Tokiwadai girl would want to go alone.
"It'll be more convenient if Kuroko goes with you guys. I'll have my phone on me in case you guys catch anything" Misaka said while having another reason why she wanted to check out the hospital on her own.
Maybe she could get some information from her sisters on who the boy was. Moreover, Misaka wanted to make sure that all her sisters currently in Academy City were ok and not caught up in the monster attack.
"Alright, Onee-sama. We'll go with your plan. Just please make sure you have your phone on you" Shirai said, knowing that she couldn't talk her dear friend out of her plan.
"Got it. See you guys soon" With that said, Misaka bolted away from the girls and started jogging to a certain hospital that not only had her sisters but where a certain frog-faced doctor was working at.
In a luxury apartment where four girls were residing
Not having moved from their previous spots, the four girls were still lounging around the living room, each minding their own business. However, this group of girls was not your typical group as they were elite members of a Darkside group better known as ITEM. Their leader, Shizuri Mugino, was the one with tea-colored hair and had a magazine stationed in front of her face.
The other girls were Frenda, Kinuhata, and Takitsubo. Together the four of them made ITEM. And on a day like this, no assignments or contracts were being offered which basically gave them a free day.
However, their moment of peace would soon be cut short as Mugino's phone started to vibrate, alerting her that a call was coming through. Letting off a scoff, the tea-colored girl picked the phone up and had her face turn to a scowl instantly.
"Girls. We got a call coming through" Mugino said, setting the TV up so that the encrypted call would come through and letting the other members get ready.
Now prepared to answer the incoming call, ITEM was annoyed but ready to receive the call. The TV now lit up with a green soundwave appearing so that whenever the person on the call was talking the soundwaves would bounce up and down while also coming in clearly.
"Greetings, ITEM. Hope you are doing well" the voice coming from the call said.
Mugino could only look at the television screen with a bored expression and scoffed at the voice. Not really wanting to make chit-chat with their current job contractor.
"Cut the bullshit. You're getting in the way of my free day" Mugino said, clearly irritated.
"Not my problem. However, there is something I have for you that might pique your interest"
"Oh? I doubt whatever it is that you're offering will have me interested" Mugino retorted.
"How about a mission dealing with what's been happening lately?"
"Huh?" Frenda's attention was now piqued.
Kinuhata perked her eyebrows while Takitsubo remained quiet with no real reaction on her face. Mugino, however, had an impassive look.
"The hell are you talking about?"
"Don't any of you watch the news? I'm talking about the monster incident that's all over the news"
Frenda had stars in her eyes as her interest had now been caught.
"Oh. That. What does that have to do with us?" Mugino asked.
"I'm offering you a job," the voice said.
This left the ITEM girls all quiet as they were mentally considering the job offer. Especially since it was such a high topic of interest.
"Caught your interest, have I? Well, I'll sweeten the deal. The job details are that you're to be on the clock for whenever these 'monsters' appear again"
"So, you're putting us on a wild goose chase? Hunting down monsters…" Mugino stated with a distant tone. Something about this job sounded off.
"You didn't let me finish, Meltdowner. The job is asking that you clear out all but a few of the monsters. The monsters left alive are to be captured" the voice on the call said.
"Wait? Do you only want us to capture a few? That seems super redundant" Kinuhata said, confused by the job details.
"Don't ask me why. All I know is that this job offer is out there on the market, and I figured you girls would want something different. Rather than protecting a package or defending a position or taking out a target. Besides, from what I'm hearing from sources, the monsters are extremely dangerous. Hence, the job is only asking for a few to be captured"
"Sounds simple. But difficult…" Takitsubo muttered, finally showing some interest.
"Did I mention that the price on this job is triple what you made on your last job?" the voice said which got most of the ITEM girl's eyes to widen.
"T-triple?! Basically, that sounds too good to be true" Frenda said, wiping her mouth of the drool that was appearing.
Kinuhata and Takitsubo were also considering what the voice just said. They already got paid quite well from their last job and the jobs before that but hearing that this job offered so much more managed to get them interested quite a bit.
However, Mugino was heavily considering what the voice said. While the monster incident was something she brushed off, this job offer set many flags off in her mind. What was the reason for so much interest in this job and collecting a few of the monsters? Why the interest in only a few monsters instead of collecting more?
"What about the public? Isn't everyone on high alert with these monsters appearing?" Mugino asked, wanting some more information.
"That's the kicker. Sources are telling me that these monsters can appear and disappear at any time. So, while the public is aware of these monsters, it's not like everyone can report about every sighting of these monsters"
Mugino did not like that answer. While she didn't go out of her way to hide the fact that she was a Level 5, she didn't exactly go out and let everyone know. Plus, if these monsters could appear and disappear at any time then that would mean that things could get complicated. Beams of light would be seen by others leading from one problem to another.
"…what do you all think?" Mugino asked, wanting to get an idea of what the others thought about it all.
"Hmm… well, we super don't know how dangerous the monsters are as we've never dealt with them. But then again, we've got a Level 5 with us so it will probably make things easy?" Kinuhata suggested.
"…I think we should take the job. We don't know if they'll show up later when we're doing another job. Plus, I can scan them for an AIM to get a better idea of what they are" Takitsubo answered, speaking a bit more than usual.
"Basically, I think we should. If things were to get worse which I doubt since we have Mugino, then we can just kill all the monsters and try again later?" Frenda responded.
Having a clear answer, Mugino let out a sigh as she realized that she was going to take the job.
"Fine. We'll take the job"
"Excellent. I figured as much" The voice went silent for a moment before picking back up. "I've sent you all the information on the job. Good luck hunting, ITEM" With that said, the voice ended the call leaving the girls to think to themselves.
Mugino noticed a message coming from her phone which must have been the information on the job. However, what she found was another file attached to the job details. Becoming curious, Mugino opened the file and was left puzzled at what she saw. A few pictures showed different points of view from security cameras of what the monsters looked like. Dark creatures that were somewhat small with large yellow eyes. Different pictures showed more of what the monsters appeared like.
But there was another picture that piqued Mugino's interest slightly. There in the picture was a boy with spiky hair wearing a black, grey, and red jacket holding what appeared to be a large, oversized house key. The boy appeared to be fighting the monsters with that ridiculous weapon if you could even call it that. However, a realization hit her as she recalled Frenda talking about some boy on the news. Maybe she would have to give the news a look.
Back with Sora and Last Order
Now sitting on a bench just outside the hospital in a nice little opening that wasn't too far away from the main building, Sora was waiting for Last Order's sister to join them in the discussion. However, it appeared that Last Order was losing her patience.
"Ooh, c'mon! How slow can Misaka's sister be?! Says Misaka Misaka as she is angry by her sister being slow"
Sora could only chuckle at the younger girl's words. It made him consider an idea that he really had never thought of before. What would it have been like to have a sibling? An older sister or brother? A younger sister or brother? If they were younger, would they be like Last Order?
He would have to give this idea some more thought later as he heard someone getting closer. Jumping out of his thoughts, Sora looked around and immediately spotted a girl that looked around his age but most likely younger than him. The girl had chestnut hair and while wearing a white and tan school uniform with a little cross on the left side of her vest. It was most likely an insignia from her school. In addition, the girl was wearing a grey colored skirt with white socks However, on her head was a pair of what looked to be goggles. And above all else, she had a strikingly similar appearance to Last Order. This must have been her sister.
With Last Order, back when she was asking the Misaka Network what to do about Sora's question, Misaka 10,032 was the first to respond and took interest in helping her out with an answer. She had also seen the news and was curious about the boy on the TV and wanted to meet him. Hence, Misaka 10,032 would be the one coming to speak with Sora.
"Hello, I take it you're the one that the newest Misaka model is escorting around. Replies Misaka noticing your very spiky hair that reminds her of another" the older sister of Last Order said.
"Yeah. Last Order was a big help showing me around. By the way, my name is Sora. It's nice to meet you"
"I see, it's very nice to meet you, Sora. The control tower has told Misaka about you and the questions you have in mind. Notes Misaka as she is ready to give an answer" Misaka 10,032 replied.
Hearing what the older sister had to say, Sora was a bit confused by whom she meant was the control tower. That was until he looked at Last Order who was smiling back at him. He figured the two sisters must've had special names for each other. And judging by how the older girl talked, her name must have been Misaka.
"Great! I'm also ready to tell you about myself as well…" Sora said, happy to be learning more about his new friends.
"Well then, shall we begin? Questions Misaka as she doesn't know what to do next" Misaka 10,032 said.
"Right then, well, I guess I could start" Clearing his throat and mentally preparing himself for what he was going to say. Making sure to not bring up anything difficult. "As I said, my name is Sora and I'm new to Academy City. I just got here last… actually, I think it's more like I got here today. When I got here, I wasn't sure where to go but by chance, I ended up running into a new friend. Someone you two already know"
"You seem to be alluding to the Savior, states Misaka as she was already told this revelation by the control tower"
"Yep. Touma really helped me out. He took me to his place where I met his roommate, and we came up with a plan to help me. From there, we made our way to his school to meet one of his teachers who could help us. And after that, I went with Yomikawa, who was the woman that was with Heaven Canceller" Sora mentioned to Last Order in case she didn't know who the blue-ponytailed woman was. "But as we were on our way to get me some paperwork done for the city, that's when those monsters attacked"
"Oh! Oh! And then, that's when you were on the TV fighting those monsters like this! And this! Swinging your very large house key around. Says Misaka Misaka as she is reenacting how you were fighting on the TV"
Sora began to chuckle at the young girl moving her body in a… somewhat exaggerated manner while trying to re-enact his fighting style. He even saw in the corner of his eye the strange look Last Order's sister was giving her. 'Also, did she just call the Kingdom Key a large house key?' Sora thought.
"Yeah, that's pretty close to how I fight hahaha. Hey, Last Order, how much of me was shown on the TV?" Sora asked, wanting to get an idea of what the public all saw.
"Hmm. Well, the TV showed a lot of you fighting the monsters and doing all sorts of really cool tricks with your Esper ability. The TV also showed you throwing a bus at that strange tornado that appeared out of nowhere. Says Misaka Misaka as she recalls everything that was shown"
"Might I add that the way you were using your weapon was truly fascinating. How were you able to fight like that? Asks Misaka adding that you don't have to tell us if you don't want to"
"Well… that's a bit complicated. While this is my first time being in Academy City, I seem to have a light manipulation Esper ability that allows me to use my weapon and somewhat control different elements and abilities. And…" Sora stopped himself and had to take a breath. He figured that he could mention not knowing how he got to Academy City without making it complicated.
"And I have no idea how I got here" Sora finished.
"Huh? You don't know how you got here? But…" Last Order didn't get to speak as her sister beat her to it.
"Is the likely scenario in which you don't know how you came to be in Academy City and that you may have suffered a case of amnesia and are dealing with memory loss? Replies Misaka as she is giving a guess based on the information being presented"
"Err… something like that. I remember standing on top of a building and then blacking out only to wake up lying face down in the middle of the street" Sora explained.
"Mm. Perhaps you may already be a resident of Academy City but lost your memory of such a thing. Suggests Misaka as she is growing quite curious about your predicament"
Hearing that Sora might be suffering from memory loss, Last Order began to worry about him.
"A-are you ok? Do you need to see Heaven Canceller again? Says Misaka Misaka as she is suddenly really worried"
"Ehehe. Everything's all right, Last Order. Nothing else hurts. I think now I just want to get that paperwork that Yomikawa mentioned done with, and then see what else I need to complete to be allowed to stay in Academy City" Sora elaborated.
Waving his hand in the air, Sora didn't want to worry these two about his situation. There was still much he didn't know about, and it wouldn't help to stress his new friends already.
"I see. Well then, seeing that you've told us a bit about yourself it's only fair we tell you a bit about us. Says Misaka as she is looking narrowly at the control tower"
"Hey! Why are you looking at Misaka like that?! Says Misaka Misaka not liking the look you're giving"
Either choosing to ignore what the younger girl said or just brushing her off, the older sister began speaking again.
"As you might have suspected, my name is Misaka" Pointing to Last Order, Misaka 10,032 began introducing her. "And this specimen is a Misaka as well. But given that she is the last Misaka model to be produced. She takes the name Last Order. She is also the last to order when it comes to food. States Misaka as she is laughing under her breath"
"Pfft! Haha!" Sora couldn't help but laugh as he was not expecting that.
The older Misaka had a mix of expressions appearing on her face as she was trying to keep her blank and bland expression, but it was slowly becoming diminished as a smirk was starting to appear on the corner of her lips. Last Order looked like she had just been deeply betrayed.
"Hey! What's the big idea!? Says Misaka Misaka as she is furiously stomping her foot on the ground"
"In addition, there are… other Misakas around Academy City. However, you may run into our big sister. And before you say anything, yes, she looks just like us or rather we look just like her. However, she is not wearing any goggles and can be a bit of a hard head at times. Just know that if you see a Misaka fawning over a cartoon frog, then you will have found the oldest Misaka. Replies Misaka as she is moving the conversation along and ignoring the control tower" Misaka 10,032 said.
"Understood. If I happen to see another Misaka and she's not wearing any goggles, then it's the oldest Misaka. Are there any younger Misaka's then?" Sora asked.
"Negative. The control tower is the youngest Misaka model out there. Says Misaka as she explains the dire information overload of Misaka's"
"Hmph. I may be the youngest but I'm still the most important. Says Misaka Misaka as she reminds her sister of how important this Misaka is" Last Order responded.
"Misaka will pretend that she did not hear anything just now. States Misaka as she is focusing her attention elsewhere" Misaka 10,032 said, having a bland expression on her face.
All Sora could do was smile at the two sisters and their strange way of showing affection. And if he had to be honest, he was getting used to how the two said things. Especially the repeating of their names.
"Well, either way, it's nice to meet you, Misaka, and Last Order. Although… since you both were already here at the hospital, are you guys, ok?" Sora asked, becoming concerned for the two sisters.
Hearing Sora's question, the two sister clones looked at each other and shared a look of understanding while also communicating with each other via the Misaka Network. Having spent a good bit of time with the boy, Last Order was happy to report that he was friendly and fun to be around. Even though the entire Misaka Network already had an idea about Sora from Last Order, to see the boy's friendliness in person was something else. It made both Misaka 10,032 and Last Order feel a wave of happiness covering their hearts.
"Misaka would like to report that we are doing well. We were only here for a minor… checkup. Explains Misaka as she does not wish to worry you" Misaka 10,032 said.
"That's good to hear. That doctor, Heaven Canceller, was really friendly. And that device he had that scanned me for any injuries was so cool!" Sora exclaimed, recalling the frog-faced doctor.
"Yep! He also gives Misaka a treat for helping him with watching over another one of his patients. Says Misaka Misaka as she is wishing that she had a treat to eat right now"
Hearing the word treat brought a sense of hunger to Sora as it dawned on him that he was feeling a bit hungry which wasn't out of the realm of possibility. He did just get done fighting a bunch of Heartless, and that always resulted in an empty stomach.
"Hey, does the hospital have a cafeteria of sorts? I'm feeling a bit hungry hearing about treats all of a sudden" Sora said, followed by one of his awkward laughs at the sudden change in topic.
"Uh-huh! The cafeteria food here is really good! Misaka is always asking for seconds anytime she eats down there. Says Misaka Misaka as she is now wanting to eat"
"Mm. I feel like we've talked a bit and now have a better understanding of each other. Seeing that we're already friends. If there's anything else you guys want to ask, do you think we could chat while we visit the cafeteria?" Sora suggested, hearing his stomach grumble.
"Misaka would very much like to eat and talk. Therefore, we should relocate to the cafeteria. Suggests Misaka as she is also feeling hungry" Misaka 10,032 said.
"Great! Well then, Last Order, would you mind showing me where the cafeteria is?"
"Of course! Misaka is your guide. Says Misaka Misaka as she is ready to show you to the cafeteria" Last Order stated.
Following the younger girl who was acting as his guide, Sora realized that a lot had happened recently and that he hadn't yet contacted Touma. Reaching into his pocket, he took out his Gummiphone and worked his way to find Touma's contact information and shot him a text message. Just a friendly message about him being at the hospital and getting something to eat. Along with telling him to not freak out if he sees the news. Having sent the text message, Sora put the Gummiphone back into his pocket and continued to follow Last Order and Misaka to the cafeteria.
However, on the outside of the hospital stood the original Misaka who was going off a hunch that the boy who saved Saten would be here. Plus, this would give her the chance to stop by and check up on her sisters. And hopefully, that idiot wasn't here otherwise she would… she couldn't finish that train of thought as she felt her cheeks get warm.
Shaking her head furiously, Misaka calmed herself down and began making her way into the hospital to check the place out.
Back with Touma
The misfortunate spiky-haired boy was still sitting in class trying his hardest to listen to the lecture being taught on the board when out of nowhere he was struck with a series of intense sneezes.
Each sneeze felt like a punch to the gut, causing his left arm to feel numb. This drew everyone's attention and even forced the teacher to stop talking and look at Touma.
"Kamijou, are you ok?" Asked Miss Komoe who was concerned for her… troubled student.
"Y-yeah. I'm all right. Just… got someone thinking about me" Touma replied.
"The hell, Kami? What? Is it more girls thinking about you?" Aogami remarked, jealous of the spiky-haired harem protagonist.
"Lucky…" Said one student in the background.
"More girls…" Another student said this time being a girl.
"It's probably the girls that Kami-yan wasn't aware that he infected. And now on a day like today, they are thinking about him while bored out of their minds. Curse you, Kami!" Tsuchimikado explained, earning a loud facepalm from Touma.
"Would you two quit it already? For starters, this poor Kamijou has no girls interested in him" Touma said while expressively holding his index finger up to emphasize what he was trying to say. "And second, nothing good ever happens to me"
"Oh, I call bull" Aogami muttered.
"It's true. Whether or not you choose to believe me, this poor Kamijou is riddled with misfortune now and forever"
"Now and forever? Does Kamijou need serious help?" Himegami softly said while watching the whole scenario play out.
"That's not a very good mentality to have, Kamijou" Komoe suggested.
"It's the truth, Sensei, this Kamijou is cursed to have misfortune plague his entire life," Touma said, sounding very dramatic.
"Okay. That's enough. Seriously, Kamijou, when are you going to drop this whole misfortune act?!" Fukiyose questioned, livid that Kamijou was still using misfortune as a scapegoat.
"Act? There's no act. I'm seriously doomed to have misfortune follow me for the rest of my life" Touma said.
"Don't forget the Kami-yan disease as well" Tsuchimikado muttered.
"And yeah, that disea… there is no disease!" Touma exclaimed.
"You just don't want to admit it. But the facts are all there, Kami. You unconsciously get girls to fall head over heels for you" Aogami said.
Having had enough of the Delta Force, Fukiyose promptly stood up from her desk and in a matter of seconds instantly appeared right in front of Aogami's desk and swiftly hit him. This sent his head down onto the desk with enough force to daze him but not leave any lasting damage.
Fukiyose then made her next move at Tsuchimikado who was already prepared to dodge the Iron Wall's next attack. However, what he didn't account for was that she used her other hand to faint an attack against Tsuchimikado which forced him to move and ultimately allowed Fukiyose to land a solid hit to the blonde's forehead sending him crashing into his desk. It looked like the boy was taking a nap now even though he had just been knocked out.
Now, Fukiyose had her sights set on Touma who was beginning to look pale and felt sweat coming down the back of his neck. He quickly raised his hands in the air for defense knowing full well that his chances to block an attack from the Iron Wall girl were practically impossible. Maybe Fukiyose's Esper ability had something to do with her brute strength? Would Imagine Breaker work to stop her? Touma did not want to try and find out.
However, the sad truth was that before Touma could think about what to do next, he found himself staring right at the desk and looking up at Komoe Sensei from a sideways angle. He had been hit to the point that he was still conscious but dazed enough to see the front of the class. In all honesty, this was better than ending up like those other two Delta Force members.
The rest of the class could only shake their heads or bow their heads to honor their fallen classmates who had just been dealt a blow from the Iron Wall girl. Komoe Sensei looked worried for her students hoping that they would wake up and pay attention to the rest of the lecture before class ended.
With a scoff, Fukiyose made her way back to her seat while readjusting her seat and looking to Komoe Sensei ready to begin the lecture again. As did the rest of the class. It was all just another day in Komoe's classroom.
But at the same time, Touma's phone received a message that would later leave him stumped and realize that this was the misfortune he was dreading. And things would only get harder for the poor misfortunate boy. Thanks to the involvement of a certain Keyblade Wielder.
Chapter 6: The Good & The Bad
Summary:
Still, at the hospital, Sora will have the chance to meet Misaka and Misaka and of course Misaka. Along with getting a better of idea of how Academy City operates. Followed by Touma dealing with the ramifications of seeing his new friend on the news. The residents of the city will also start to wonder just what those mysterious monsters were that attacked and how Sora plays a role in all this.
Notes:
*Disclaimer – I do not own the copyright for Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index Series.
*A/N – Long time no see. Sorry for the long wait. Life really did not go as I thought it would lol. But now that things have calmed down, it's time to get my ass in gear and crank out some chapters. Plus, Sora has a lot to learn while being in Academy City and a lot of new friends to make. I appreciate everyone for checking the story out and hope you are all doing well. With that out of the way, hope you enjoy this chapter and look forward to more to come.
P.S. – Happy Holidays and stay safe out there.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Having followed the young and energetic young girl, Sora was now sitting at one of the tables located in the hospital's cafeteria. He was accompanied by Last Order who was gushing about the food today, not including enough sweets, and her sister who was poking at her sandwich that she picked up while in the food line. Sora couldn't help but smile at his two new friends and even chuckled recalling when they arrived at the cafeteria. The two sisters made a beeline straight for the food line, but Last Order trotted back to him and latched onto his jacket. Beckoning him to follow them which is how he came to have a tray of delicious food sitting in front of him.
The whole cafeteria as a whole was really stylish with plenty of space and a large number of people currently in the place chatting amongst themselves. It felt nice to get something to eat as Sora had been through quite a lot in just the morning of the day. Meeting a bunch of new people and then having to deal with a Heartless attack.
Sora couldn't help the chuckle that escaped, "Just another day for me, huh?"
Last Order seemed puzzled by what Sora just said and tilted her head while blurting out her confusion.
"Just another day? Says Misaka Misaka as she is repeating the confusing statement that you made"
"Heh. Don't worry about it. Just me collecting my thoughts. Speaking of…" Picking up the sandwich that was sitting on his tray, Sora took a bite and couldn't help the goofy smile that was plastered on his face while still chewing the sandwich. "This is really good!"
"Is it? This sandwich is a regular concoction created at this here cafeteria. Misaka has had this sandwich plenty of times and isn't sure what you mean by really good. Answers Misaka as she is wondering if something is different about today's sandwich" Misaka 10,032 stated.
"Misaka thinks that your tasting sensors are outdated and need to be updated to taste a delicious sandwich. Says Misaka Misaka as she is criticizing this model's taste buds"
"Or… I think that I'm just really hungry and anything I eat now will just be more delicious" Sora said, interjecting before the two sisters could start fighting over taste.
"That would also be a likely case. Says Misaka as she also agrees with that conclusion"
Enjoying the company, Sora spent the next several minutes finishing up his lunch while also chatting with the two sisters about other aspects of the hospital. He also made sure that if he was around in the evening to stop by the cafeteria for some ice cream. Granted, he didn't ask what flavors would be at the cafeteria, but he had a feeling that his favorite flavor wouldn't be here sadly. However, before he knew it, Last Order seemed to look over at the cafeteria's clock on the wall and bolted up from her seat.
"Oh! He's almost out of his checkup. Says Misaka Misaka as she jumps up and is getting ready to go see him"
Looking over at the clock as well, Misaka 10,032 also realized that the checkup was going to be ending soon. "You appear to be right, Control Tower. However, before you go, you should clean up after yourself and part ways with our new friend here. States Misaka as she is shaking her head at you in shame"
"I was getting to that! Says Misaka Misaka as she is sticking her tongue at you and putting away her tray"
Getting to what she said she would do, Last Order stood up, picked up her tray, took it to where finished trays go, and then returned and stood in front of Sora, who had a smile on his face.
"It was really nice meeting you, Sora! I didn't think I'd get to meet the hero on the tv so soon. I hope Misaka can tell you more about the adventures she's been on later. Says Misaka Misaka as she is happy to have made a new friend"
"Same here, Last Order. It was great meeting you. And I'm sure we'll run into each other sooner or later. Take care and see you" Sora replied.
"Uh-huh! Bye! Says Misaka Misaka as she is now eagerly heading off to her next adventure" Last Order said while taking off and leaving the spiky-haired boy to be amazed at the young girl's speed.
"Misaka knows that she is going to run into a wall. Smirks Misaka as she now imagines that being a real possibility. Heh heh" Misaka 10,032 replied while chuckling at the thought.
"That's not a nice thought… But you're probably right about her running into a wall" Sora told the girl.
"Misaka still finds it funny. Replies Misaka still laughing"
"Has she run into a wall already?" asked Sora.
"Yes"
Sora couldn't help but let a small laugh escape his lips. It was rude to laugh at that but at the same time… it was a bit funny. This led to the two discussing more of Last Order's antics and other incidents that were caused because of her.
Meanwhile, within the same hospital
Misaka turned the corner and began to view the people sitting down in the lobby but to no avail, she didn't see anyone recognizable or anything helpful. Hence, she continued to look around the main floor of the hospital searching for any of the people she had in mind. Either a certain spiky-haired idiot, a frog-faced doctor, one of her sisters, or… the strange boy that fought the monsters. At least one of them should have been here.
Moving to the next room, she waved at one of the nurses who was typing away at a computer. This nurse was someone she befriended over time as she stopped by to visit her sisters in their recovery. Perhaps she could help her.
"Hi, Misaka. What brings you here today? I don't think your sisters have a checkup scheduled today" the nurse said, thinking about if that was the case.
"Hello. I also don't think my sisters have anything going on today. But I am looking for them or their doctor. Have you seen either of them?"
"Hmm. Let's see…" the nurse began typing away looking for Heaven Canceller's schedule. "Ah, it appears that he's seeing someone right now"
"I see, that's all right. But what about my sisters? Have you seen any of them around?" Misaka asked, hoping that they were here.
"As a matter of fact, yes, I have seen one of them"
"Really! Where did you manage to see her?"
"I saw her heading to the cafeteria with someone" the nurse answered, taking a thinking pose as she recalled what happened earlier.
"With someone?" Misaka asked, tilting her head.
"Yeah. She was with a boy that had spiky hair. I didn't get a good look at him, but I saw that she and the boy were heading to the cafeteria"
"Spiky hair… that idiot!" Misaka said, thinking that a certain idiot was with her sister.
"Misaka. That's a bit rude to say"
"S-sorry. But thank you for the help. Take care" Misaka replied, waving at the nurse.
"Thanks. You do the same as well and see you"
Now with an idea of where to go, Misaka made the cafeteria her go-to designation. Just what could that idiot be doing with her sister? She would get to the bottom of it.
Having spent a few minutes walking through the hospital, Misaka finally reached the cafeteria. Now in the directed location of her sister, she got to work looking all over the place for her sister. It didn't take long until she spotted a familiar set of clothes and hair sitting down at one of the tables all alone.
Walking up to the girl, Misaka tapped her sister's shoulder.
"Hey, what are you doing here all alone?"
Tilting her head to the side and now seeing her older sister, Misaka 10,032 replied. "Oh? Misaka did not think you would stop by today. Responds Misaka as she is happy to see her sister"
"It's nice to see you too. And why did you not think I would stop by today? I pop in whenever I can" Misaka replied.
"Misaka understands what big sis is trying to say. However, based on what happened on the news today, Misaka figured that you would be busy with your friends helping fight those strange and small-looking monsters. Says Misaka as she is still happy to see you" Misaka 10,032 answered.
"So, you saw the news, huh? Well, I was with Kuroko and the others but… something happened and I'm currently searching for someone"
"Ah, I see… and you figured whomever you were looking for might be here? Misaka asks she is trying to understand your predicament"
"Yeah, that sounds about right. I was looking for your doctor, but he appears to be busy and…" Misaka brought her hand up to her chin and considered asking her sister if she's seen a certain someone. "Hey, you wouldn't have happened to see that idiot today, have you?"
"Idiot? Misaka does not know what you mean. Says Misaka as she has a frown on her face from her sister's rude comment toward someone"
"Err… I-I mean… Oh! You know who I mean!" Misaka exclaimed while having a blush start to appear on her face.
"…"
Misaka 10,032 didn't reply and just had a deadpan stare while looking at the brunette girl.
"Really? You don't know who I'm talking about?"
"No. Says Misaka as she has no idea who you are referring to" Misaka 10,032 responded.
"That guy. You know, he has spiky hair and acts like a hero all the time" Misaka explained.
Hearing that description, the clone realized who her sister was talking about. However, before she could say anything someone appeared behind Misaka. Someone that sort of matched the description given by the Railgun.
"Uh…"
Hearing that sound, Misaka turned around and spotted the first most distinct feature on the boy. Spiky hair. However, she noticed that the spiky hair was brown instead of black which made her lower her gaze and find her eyes staring into blue eyes. She then began looking at the boy up and down and saw that this wasn't the spiky-haired boy that she was familiar with.
"I take it that you are another one of Misaka's sisters?"
From Sora's perspective, the new girl was an exact side-to-side copy of Misaka aside from not wearing goggles. He was also a bit taken aback by how she managed to describe him. Maybe it was a lucky guess?
"O-oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you. And yeah, I'm her sister" Misaka stated while pointing her thumb over at the goggle-wearing girl.
"Hm… are you the older sister? Sora questioned.
"You could say that. But uh… how long were you standing there?" Misaka asked, regretting saying what she said and didn't want to make things even worse.
"I got here when you started talking about the spiky-haired guy who acts like a hero. I also think I overheard you saying something an idiot?" Sora elaborated to Misaka.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean that about you. I was referring to another spiky-haired guy. And he tends to act like an idiot a lot of the time" Misaka explained, feeling embarrassed.
"I didn't think that when I heard what you were saying. Plus, we haven't exactly met before. My name is Sora"
Nodding at Sora's understanding, Misaka let out a relieved sigh. "It's nice to meet you, Sora. My name is Mikoto Misaka, and I take it that you've already run into my sisters" Misaka reasoned.
"Yep. The both of them were a big help showing me around the hospital"
"Correct. We were able to show Sora around to give him a better idea of the layout. Says Misaka as she states happily" Misaka 10,032 added.
"That's great to hear," Misaka then looked over at her sister who had a pleasing smile on her face. "Thanks for doing that"
The Misaka clone only nodded her head with a blank look on her face. She got to take all the credit instead of the Control Tower. Immediately, she alerted the Misaka Network and informed the others, specifically Last Order.
"Well, since we got that out of the way could I ask you something a bit strange"
"Uh, sure. What's on your mind?"
"You were out saving people from the monsters earlier, right?"
Letting out a small sigh, Sora figured that this was going to become a common reoccurrence for him. There must have been many people who saw the news or are now learning about the Heartless and are going to start watching the news and see him there fighting. It was only fair to think that he would have some fans come up and ask him about the attack.
"Yeah, that was me" Sora answered.
Instead of being swarmed with many questions, Sora was met with a strange outcome. Misaka's sister had a calm and collected smile on her face while also pulling out her phone and texting away before turning her attention back to him.
"Sorry about that. I had to let my friends know that you were ok" Misaka replied.
"Ok? Were you looking for me or something?"
"Yeah. You helped save one of my friends during the monster attack"
"Oh. Well, I'm glad she was able to get out of there and find help" Sora replied, feeling happy that he helped.
"We heard from some of the Anti-Skill officers that you were there helping people escape from the monsters and that you had left after the monsters stopped attacking," Misaka said.
"Mm. And you came looking here on the idea that you would find me?"
"It was a bit of a guess really. I didn't know if you had come here or to another hospital"
"Well, you guessed right. So, now what?" Sora asked, unsure if the girl had anything else to add.
Before Misaka could respond, her phone started to make noise causing her to pull it out and see who was getting ahold of her. As if by coincidence it was Kuroko who was texting her saying that the others were relieved to hear that the boy was alive and well. Furthermore, Misaka also read in Kuroko's text that Saten wanted to meet the boy and thank him in person.
"Well, my friends are glad to hear that you're ok and the one who you saved wants to meet you and thank you for saving her" Misaka reiterated.
Sora was taken aback as heard of Misaka's friend's request. It wasn't every day that the people he saved wanted to personally thank him for saving them. Of course, the idea was very thoughtful and made him smile but it wasn't something he was used to. Helping others and seeing that their problems were fixed was what Sora enjoyed most of all aside from visiting new places and meeting all new friends.
"She doesn't have to do that" Sora retorted.
"Nonsense. It's only fair that she at least thanks you for saving her. Plus, my other friends and I would like to sit down and talk with you about the monsters that appeared" Misaka answered.
"Huh? You want to learn about the monsters?" Sora asked, not sure what the girl was getting at.
Misaka 10,032 continued to remain quiet and listened in on the conversation. Now, hearing that the monsters were being brought up she made sure to make note of everything that would be said by Sora seeing that he did fight the monsters and might know something about them.
"I do. Nobody has ever seen them before and now that they've appeared we've been getting reports throughout the Judgement and Anti-Skill radio channels about reports of monsters showing up or being sighted" Misaka explained.
Grimacing at what he was hearing, Sora realized that he had a problem on his hands. If there were more sightings of the Heartless running around then that would mean that they were growing in number which meant that more and more people were losing their hearts. He needed to get back out there and help.
That is what he wanted to say but Sora knew better than to go rushing into the fray once again. For starters, he still didn't know his way throughout Academy City and had no idea where significant landmarks might be. Moreover, he was still not a registered citizen of the city and still had the chance of being thrown out. With that in mind, he figured that the best thing now would be to get back to Yomikawa and explain to her more about the Heartless so that she could spread the word and help others in the city.
However, in that instance, Sora had an idea come to him. Earlier he learned that Judgement and Anti-Skill were forces within the city that helped everyone. And Misaka did just say that she heard a commotion on the Judgement radio channels…
"Hm… Hey, maybe we can both make the most of the situation" Sora commented.
"How so?" Misaka said, confused about what the boy meant.
"Well, we could pick a time later to meet up and I could meet your friend. And maybe you and your friends can help me out with something along with telling you more about the Heartless" Sora explained.
"The Heartless? Is that what they're called?" Misaka asked which got Sora to confirm her question by nodding.
"All right, that sounds like a fair deal. Do you have anywhere you want to meet up specifically?"
"Uhm… the thing is that I'm not exactly from Academy City," Sora said while ruffling the back of his hair.
"You're not? So, are you visiting the city then?" Misaka asked.
"Misaka was not aware of that. Responds Misaka as she is quite interested in the situation" Misaka 10,032 pipped in.
"Err… Kind of. It's a long story but I was with someone who was helping me get officially situated and we were on our way to do so but that's when the Heartless attack happened" Sora stated, making sure to avoid any talk of how exactly he got to Academy City to avoid raising suspicion.
"Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate" Misaka added.
"Yeah, no kidding. But after I get things settled, I would be happy to meet your friends and discuss more about the Heartless" Sora stated.
"Got it," Misaka said while pulling her phone out and seeing what time it was. "Well, Sora, I'm going to be heading back to meet up with them and let them know about the good news"
"Ok. How should we meet up after things have calmed down?" Sora asked, not sure how he would get into contact with the girl.
"Oh? Here, let me give you my number that way once you get settled, we can set a place and time to meet" Misaka said, pulling out her phone.
"Sounds like a plan" Sora replied.
After getting Misaka's phone number and making a note on her new profile, Sora figured that it would be nice to meet new people. Besides, he still hasn't really explored much of the city and there was a lot of ground to cover.
"All right looks like we're all good here," Sora said, putting his phone back into his pocket.
"Yep. Well, I'd best be getting back. Take care, Sora" Misaka commented before looking over at his sister. "And I'll see you later, ok"
"Likewise. Says Misaka as she expects to run into big sis soon" Misaka 10,032 replied.
"Hm. See you" Sora responded while waving at the girl.
Nodding at the two's words, Misaka began making her way out of the cafeteria and back to her friends at the Judgement branch they were residing. She had a lot to tell them about the boy that was saving people and fighting those mysterious monsters.
"Heartless…" Misaka muttered, recalling what Sora called the monsters.
Back with Sora in the hospital cafeteria
Seeing Misaka exit the cafeteria and most likely the hospital, Sora figured that he had spent quite a bit of time away from Yomikawa and should head back. Granted, Last Order was nowhere to be seen. He would have to explain what happened to the young girl.
"Hey, Misaka, what are you going to do now?"
"…Misaka does not know. Perhaps Misaka will go after the Control Tower and see what trouble she has found herself in. Responds Misaka as she has a general idea of what's happening with that girl" Misaka 10,032 explained.
"Haha. Right, Last Order looks like she has a bunch of stored-up energy. Always on the go"
"Hm. Agreed. Well then, Misaka is guessing that you'll be returning to the doctor and Yomikawa now. Asks Misaka as she is curious about what you'll do next" Misaka 10,032 questioned.
"Yeah, I'll probably head back. Got a lot of things to get done" Sora answered.
"I see, it was nice meeting you boy from the tv now known as Sora. States Misaka as she is happy to have met you"
"Same here. It was really great getting to meet the Misaka family. Hope we can all get together another time" Sora suggested.
"That would be nice. Says Misaka looking forward to that time" Misaka 10,032 replied.
"Now then, Misaka wishes you well and assumes that you know the way back. Asks Misaka as she is sure you do know the way"
"Yep. I'm all good here. Take care" Sora reassured the Misaka sister.
With that being said, Misaka 10,032 slightly tilted her head and began to make her way out of the cafeteria heading in the same general direction that Last Order went towards. Sora also figured that he should be making his way back to Yomikawa to see what to do next.
"Hopefully nothing too bothersome"
"Wait, does that mean I have to take a test!?" Sora exclaimed, looking exasperated and feeling that he spoke too freely earlier.
Let's take a look at what happened a few minutes before finding out what exactly happened.
After he made his way through the hospital and back into the room that Yomikawa and the Heaven Canceller were in, Sora was confused when he saw the two discussing something while the blue-haired woman was holding a packet of sorts. It also looked like they were having or had a pleasant conversation about something. Maybe they were talking about something regarding him or the Misaka sisters?
"Hey there, I'm back"
"Sora! How was your tour?" Yomikawa asked while looking behind the boy to see if there was anyone else present.
"Great! Last Order showed me around the place, and we even met up with her sister"
"Sister? Oh, you mean Misaka. Figured she'd be curious about you" Heaven Canceller said, opening one of the shelves on the wall.
"Yeah, we met up and introduced ourselves. We then went to grab a bite to eat at the cafeteria and spent some more time talking. After that Last Order said she was going to meet up with someone and parted ways with us" Sora explained.
"Ah, I know where she is then," Heaven Canceller confirmed.
"Mm. Then Misaka's other sister stopped by and was looking for me"
"Other sister?" Yomikawa questioned.
"Yep. She said that she had a friend whom I saved during the Heartless attack and wanted to find me to make sure I was ok. Her friend also wants to meet up later sometime and thank me for saving her" Sora stated.
"I take it then that was Mikoto, correct?" Heaven Canceller asked.
Taking a second to think it over, Sora recalled hearing the sister introduce herself. "Correct. That was her name. Wait, does that mean that Misaka is her last name?" Sora asked, confused if he was calling the sisters by the wrong name.
"You'd be right. Granted, I don't think there's anything wrong with calling any of them Misaka. Well, Last Order might prefer to be called by her name just to be different" Heaven Canceller added.
"That does sound like her. Anyway, I take it that you guys had a nice chat" Sora suggested.
"Yep. And we've got some good news for you" Yomikawa stated while having a smirk on her face.
"Good news?"
"Mm Hm. After we got talking, Heaven Canceller was able to pull a few strings thanks to his contacts" Yomikawa explained while motioning to the doctor to tell his side of the story.
"Well, Yomikawa here informed me about your entire situation and a bit of a rough idea about what you need to get done. And I figured that since you're going to be a vital help to us due to these Heartless, why not help return the favor"
Sora tilted his head hearing Heaven Canceller's words. Help return the favor? What did that mean exactly?
"I called up one of my friends at the Academy City registry and told him about your situation. While there is some small stuff that you still need to get done, I was able to get most of the files that you need to get registered for the city faxed over and processed" Heaven Canceller said, offering a friendly smile to the Keyblade wielder.
"That's amazing! Thank you, sir," Sora exclaimed, feeling a weight leave his body.
"Don't mention it, Sora. I'm happy to help in any way that I can. Especially since you'll be helping us with these monsters and filling us in on what to prepare for to prevent any more people from getting hurt"
"However, there is a bit of a catch" Yomikawa added, getting Sora to raise his eyebrows.
"What do you mean?" Sora pondered.
"In order to get you fully recognized into the Academy City system and since you are a bit of a mystery there are some tests that need to be conducted" Yomikawa explained.
"And seeing that you're quite the young man I think you have an idea about what tests we're talking about" Heaven Canceller stated for the teen who had an idea, but it didn't sound like a good one.
"Oh no… school…" Sora said while taking a second to process just what that meant. "Wait, does that mean I have to take a test!?"
Fighting the urge to laugh, Yomikawa brought a hand to cover her mouth but still let out a stifled chuckle. Seeing the teen go from a relieved expression to that of a shocked and fearful face was too much. Even Heaven Canceller couldn't help but crack a small smile at seeing Sora's deflated face.
"Unfortunately, in your case, Sora, yes. You will need to take a short general assessment. Just so we know what level your education is not only for academics but also for an idea of what information we can provide to you while you stay in Academy City" Yomikawa reasoned.
Letting out a sigh, Sora couldn't help but see the blue-haired woman's reasoning. Sure, while visiting some of the worlds it was wise to understand the rules or laws that were placed in that specific world. However, Academy City was a very different but unique place in that there was so much that he did not know of. And that ultimately was something that would put him at a disadvantage while being here.
"I… I can see that being vital. *sigh* Ok, what do I need to do?" Sora said, knowing that the sooner he got this done the sooner he could relax.
"Nothing too difficult mind you" Heaven Canceller reassured the Keyblade wielder.
"To make things easier and faster we can have you take the test here. I'll be able to vouch for being your proctor but honestly, the test is just to see what you know or what you'll need to learn while in Academy City" Yomikawa said, motioning to Heaven Canceller who nodded back and picked up the test from his desk.
"Well…" Taking a look a what Heaven Canceller picked up and seeing the test, Sora figured to give it his all along with letting his heart guide him. Guide him to the right answers hopefully.
"Let's get started!" Sora stated, ready to take on this difficult foe.
Back with a certain misfortunate boy in class
The shock of seeing his new friend on the news and fighting against what appeared to be small dark monsters with giant yellow eyes was something that he did not expect at all. And this was coming from someone who has misfortune around him 24/7 that left him in some of the strangest things to ever happen to someone. Specifically, to an ordinary high school student.
However, this left Touma to now deal with a plethora of undivided attention that he did not want to deal with, and he didn't even do anything this time. Thanks to Sora being featured on the news, everyone was asking him a million questions about how the brown spiky-haired was able to do all the crazy things he did to fight back against the dark monsters. Or just who Sora really was and where did he come from. Or another question he constantly got was what level Sora was.
This led Touma to actually focus on the lecture that was being given by Komoe while doing his best to ignore the obvious stares that were directed toward him. At the moment, it seemed like the only person who was not looking to him for answers was Fukiyose. Maybe she was just waiting to ask him questions after the lecture was done. But he wouldn't be able to keep pondering this thought as he suddenly felt something land on the side of his head and into his spiky hair.
Doing his best to make it not so obvious, Touma raised his right arm to his head and felt what was stuck in his hair. A paper airplane. How classic.
Turning to look at the suspected person whom he thought was the one who threw the paper airplane, Touma was staring right at Tsuchimikado and trying to look right at his eyes but could only see the tint of his sunglasses. That idiot and his sunglasses. Who even wears sunglasses inside a classroom?
Consequently, Tsuchimikado returned the attention he was receiving from Touma and merely cracked a smirk on his face while pointing at the airplane. Understanding the blonde idiot's message, Touma flipped the paper airplane over and began to unravel the folded contraption until the paper was all flat. Doing so led to him seeing a message that made his eye start to twitch.
The message on the paper said, "Hi."
It took everything in Touma's willpower to not rustle up the paper and chuck it right at the blonde Delta Force member's head. But he knew that would lead to an abundant amount of misfortune that would be put over his head just from Fukiyose herself for interrupting Komoe sensei. Deciding to let it go, he let out a quiet sigh and went back to focusing on the lecture.
However, just as he was starting to pick up on what Komoe was discussing another paper airplane landed right on his desk without even raising anyone's attention. Puzzled, Touma shot a glance over at Tsuchimikado who still wore a smirk on his face but this time he pointed at the airplane with his index finger and then gave a thumbs up to the wielder of Imagine Breaker.
Opening said airplane, Touma was met with an actual message this time and it was one that made him frown.
"Is he a magician?" was what was said in the paper airplane message.
Touma knew whom Tsuchimikado was referring to as he had also seen the news coverage that showed the brown spiky-haired boy fighting the strange-looking monsters. While using a giant key as a weapon was not something that everyone did; granted, he had seen quite a variety of different weapons that people used to fight with even against himself. But seeing Sora do some crazy things like dodge cars being thrown at him and even sending a bus right at the tornado that was made up of the dark monsters would obviously get people curious.
Moreover, it didn't help that he knew Sora could use magic along with elemental magic. Hence, Touma figured that in a way Tsuchimikado was correct about him being a magician. However, that was not his secret to tell as Sora said himself that he didn't know if magic was a common topic in the city and wanted to keep quiet about it. Thinking more about the subject, Touma decided to give Tsuchimikado a response that would keep him at bay… at least for a while unless he started looking into the boy.
Getting the blonde sunglasses-wearing boy's attention, Touma shook his head indicating a no which was transcribed to the said boy who gave a sharp confirming nod. The next time he saw Sora he would have plenty of questions for the boy. However, that train of thought was diminished instantly as in the corner of his eye he spotted Aogami who had a blank expression on his face while he raised his hand to address Komoe sensei.
"Sensei! Kamijou and Tsuchimikado are passing notes talking about girls in tennis outfits again!" Aogami shouted, earning the entire classroom and Komoe's attention directed to the two boys in question.
"What the…"
"The hell are you talking about you idiot!" Tsuchimikado exclaimed.
"Kamijou… I thought you were paying attention to the lecture today… but instead, you were… talking about inappropriate things… again" Komoe said, tears starting to appear in her eyes.
"You've got it all wrong, Sensei! I was paying attention. It was Tsuchimikado who wasn't!" Touma said, instantly throwing his friend under the bus.
"Wow. Throwing your old buddy under the bus huh Kami-yan? Two can play at this game" Tsuchimikado countered.
"Quiet you, sis-con-loving bastard! I was minding my own business actually paying attention to the lesson and you went and started throwing paper airplanes at me" Touma retorted while having an annoyed expression.
"What do you mean by actually, Kamijou?" Komoe muttered.
"Oh? Pinning all the blame on me huh? Well, Kami, need I remind you that you were actively responding to my messages. Which in a way can be seen as you are the one to initiate the conversation to continue. Hence, you should be the one to blame" Tsuchimikado replied, leaning back in his seat.
"Pfft. Ha-ha!" laughter could be heard coming from several of the students in the class. Especially from a blue-haired fellow who was smirking widely at Touma.
"Seriously Kamijou!?" Fukiyose exclaimed while getting up out of her seat.
Touma couldn't help but feel many emotions circling through his mind at this second. One of which being fear that she would hit him so hard that he would break his desk…again. Moreover, another thought that came creeping into his head was his teenage tendencies when he noticed the girl's well-endowed chest as she started making his way toward him. He didn't even get to chance to think about anything else as he suddenly saw his life flash before his eyes and saw Fukiyose's fist inches away from his face before impact was made.
"Fukiyose! Wait a minute!" Komoe shouted, hoping to save her difficult student.
"Hm? Sensei, you know that these three idiots are just going to distract the class again?"
"Hey! I didn't even do anything this time" Aogami yelled.
"Doesn't matter. Knowing you it was only a matter of time before you also caused a distraction" Fukiyose retorted.
Becoming annoyed by the minute, Touma couldn't help but shake his head. All this started thanks to his idiot friends once again.
"Kamijou. Tsuchimikado. Why were you two passing notes along and not paying attention to the lecture?" Komoe asked, curious about what the two were talking about.
While on one hand, bringing up the topic of Sora was an obvious answer since he was still a hot subject for everyone to ponder. On the other hand, there wasn't much to say about the boy given that Touma didn't know about his abilities aside from the little he was shown. However, before he could comment, Tsuchimikado managed to beat him to it.
"Kami-yan was discussing with me what type of miniskirts were the best for girls. Along with what types of bras match with the skirts" Tsuchimikado answered which left Touma wide-eyed.
Immediately all the girls in the class started to stare right at Kamijou who could only look over at Tsuchimikado who was now grinning at him. Even Komoe had her hand covering her mouth while muttering about what caused him to have such thoughts. Fukiyose also stared at the spiky-haired boy before she started to make her way toward him. Touma could only mutter one last thing and that was his signature catchphrase.
"Such misfortune…"
This was all thanks to the discussion surrounding his fellow spiky-haired friend. Wherever he was, Touma hoped things were at least going well for him.
Back with Sora in the hospital
The sound of the Keyblade wielder's head landing on the desk he was seated at could be heard and even echoed in the room where he was stationed in. It had taken a little longer than expected but he managed to finish the test. Having not been in school for a few years now, Sora was grateful to Donald and Goofy for making him keep up with his education while traversing the different worlds. That painstaking work really did pay off in the end.
"Looks like you're done, Sora," Yomikawa said, seeing the tired boy and even thinking that he looked more tired taking the test than fighting against the Heartless.
"Yeah… I'm finally done" Sora muttered while handing her the test.
"Well, on the bright side, it looks like you're all situated for the moment," Heaven Canceller said as he was looking over some files that were in his hand.
"No kidding" Standing up and stretching his arms and legs, Sora let out an audible groan as he wanted to do anything else other than take another test.
"So, what's next?" Sora asked Yomikawa.
"Thanks to Heaven Canceller, I'd say we've made great progress on getting you registered into Academy City's systems. Speaking of…" Yomikawa replied while looking over at Heaven Canceller and seeing him start typing away at his computer.
The doctor then picked up a tablet that was resting next to him and pointed it at Sora drawing his attention. "Sora would you mind smiling for a second. I need to take your picture"
"Sure thing! Cheese!" Sora replied, posing for the picture with a casual pose.
After tapping away on the tablet for a few seconds, Heaven Canceller picked up what appeared to be a card that had been ejected from his printer. He then handed it over to Sora who looked down at the object and could see that it was an I.D. of sorts with his picture on there along with his name.
"You're all set for now" Heaven Canceller informed the boy who looked up from checking out the card.
"Got it. And thank you once again for all the help"
"My pleasure, Sora. Now then, if you'll excuse me, I have another patient that I need to check up on as well as see if Last Order has managed to cause any more ruckus, Haha" Heaven Canceller stated.
"All right take care and see you!" Sora said, waving at the doctor.
"Thanks, doc, I'll probably be back later. You know how it goes" Yomikawa replied, crossing her arms, and shaking her head.
"As a matter of fact, I do know how it goes. Hm. Take care you two" Heaven Canceller said before exiting the room and leaving the Anti-Skill officer and Keyblade wielder alone.
"What do we do next?" Sora asked.
Pulling out her phone and looking at the time, Yomikawa figured that since they pretty much got most of Sora's paperwork done thanks to Heaven Canceller there was no reason to head to the registry building after all. Plus, she probably had some explaining to do to some of her friends and colleagues about what happened today.
"Let's head back to the school. I'm sure you've got some explaining to do to your, as he claims, misfortunate friend. Hahaha"
For a second, Sora was confused about whom Yomikawa was referring to but after thinking about it he instantly knew whom she was talking about.
"Ah, Touma. Yeah, I probably should explain what happened. He's probably getting bombarded with questions about me, heh" Sora said, feeling bad for the black spiky-haired boy.
"By the way, what's the deal with Touma always bringing up misfortune? Is it a catchphrase that he uses? I mean, sure bad things happen but…"
"Oh-ho, it'll be a minute before we get back to the school so let me tell you why I think he says that phrase a lot. Along with giving you some examples of this so-called misfortune" Yomikawa explained while heading out of the room.
Following suit, Sora closed the door and continued to head to where Yomikawa's car was parked while listening to her explanation of Touma's misfortune. And after listening to just a few minutes of Yomikawa talking about him did Sora realize that luck might truly not be on Touma's side.
Inside a Judgement Branch Office
Inside the Judgement branch building, several girls were busying themselves with various things to do. Saten was sitting on a couch while skimming through a magazine that highlighted different types of sports equipment ranging from tennis rackets to baseball bats and tracks and running shoes. Uiharu was typing away at her computer looking into other reports that had been reported on the mysterious monsters that attacked earlier. And Shirai who was staring holes into her phone eagerly awaiting a response from Misaka who said that she was on her way back.
"Oh… where is she?"
"Hm? Uh… Shirai…" Saten muttered, unsure of what to say to the defeated girl.
"It's only been a few minutes, Shirai. I'm sure Misaka is just stopping to get a drink from the vending machine or chatting with someone that she saw while on her way back" Uiharu reasoned.
"And that's exactly why I'm worried! Oh! Knowing my luck, Onee-sama probably ran into that no-good ape of a man and is chatting away with him and forgetting about me" Shirai stated, starting to imagine unthinkable scenarios.
"Um…" Saten had no idea how to respond to what the pigtailed-haired girl just said.
However, before Saten or Uiharu could make a comment on what Shirai said the door to the Judgement office opened revealing a Mikoto Misaka holding what appeared to be a can of tea in her hand. The Level 5 looked wide-eyed and confused about why Shirai was looking at her strangely.
"Huh? Kuroko? What's going on?" Misaka asked, still eyeing her friend's odd behavior.
"Oh! Onee-sama! You're ok!" Shirai shouted all excited at seeing the girl.
Without further delay, Shirai teleported right where Misaka was standing ready to feel the girl's embrace and not let her go when the next thing, she felt was the hard floor on her face. Having become accustomed to the teleporter's antics, Misaka sidestepped the incoming girl and merely watched as she fell face-first into the ground while taking a sip of her drink.
"Anything new come up on the frequencies?" Misaka asked nonchalantly disregarding the teleporter that was muttering onee-sama on the ground.
"Nothing aside from a sighting of the monsters" Uiharu reported.
"We're going to need to stamp a name on the monsters now"
"Oh! Did that boy tell you what they are? What was his name? What's he like? What was his-…" Saten asked.
"One question at a time, Saten. Now, what can you tell us, Misaka?" Uiharu stated, wanting to make sure to note down everything that'll be discussed.
"Before we get to that," Shirai started to say before she teleported right in front of Misaka and latched onto her arm. "Onee-sama, please tell me where you were just now?"
"What? Why?"
"I must know if you were with that… that… man!"
Bringing her free hand to her forehead, Misaka was tempted to shock the teleporter but figured that they had more important things to be focused on.
"No. I was not with that idiot. I just stopped by to get a drink and took my time getting here" Misaka explained.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
"Onee-sama, you have the tendency to- "
"Getting back on hand. I was able to find the boy that helped you, Saten"
"What was he like?" Saten asked, leaning forward in her seat and eager to hear what Misaka had to say.
"He was really nice and easy to talk to. I found him at the hospital's cafeteria" Misaka stated to the girls in the room.
"Mm. What did he say when you asked him to meet us?" Saten asked, curious about the response given.
"At first, he was a bit hesitant and didn't think that a meeting was necessary. He was content knowing that you were thankful to him for saving you" Misaka elaborated on the conversation she had with Sora to Saten.
"But after pushing it a little more he caved in and will gladly meet us at a later date" Misaka added.
"Awesome! Thank you, Misaka. *phew* I feel much better knowing that he's all right. Speaking of… what's his name even?" Saten asked, feeling a bit embarrassed talking about the boy and still not knowing his name.
"His name is Sora"
"Sora? How old is he, Misaka?" Uiharu questioned while also beginning to type away on her computer to look up said boy.
"I'm not sure. He did look like he was in high school, but I am not entirely sure. I also know that he's not from Academy City"
"He's not from Academy City?" Shirai repeated.
"That's what he told me. He also said that he was on his way to get registered in Academy City's registry but from what I understand it's pretty complicated to even get a visitor's pass unless you're a parent or guardian" Misaka stated.
"Hmm…" Uiharu made a sound while beginning to type away on her computer. Being proficient at using her resources, she figured she could try and see if Sora was registered as a visitor at the least to give her a better idea of who the boy was.
However, to the flower headband-wearing girl she was met with a confusing sight. There on the computer screen was Sora's profile but the document dedicated to him was glitched out so that there were some aspects unreadable. But the most distinctive feature on his profile was that he was now a registered citizen of Academy City.
"There's no way…"
"Huh? Uiharu is something wrong?" Misaka questioned the tech-savvy girl.
"N-no. Nothing is wrong. Just saw something weird on the Judgement reports" Uiharu responded.
Many thoughts and ideas were swirling around the young girl's head. On one hand, she wanted to bring it up with her friends about how odd it was that Sora was already registered in the Academy City database. But on the other hand, she felt that she should investigate this more and find a definitive answer. Not to mention, Sora did say that he wouldn't mind meeting them all later. Perhaps, she could research more into the boy.
"Oh, ok" Misaka replied, raising her eyebrow at the girl.
"Getting back to the topic at hand, Onee-sama, what else did Sora say about the monsters?" Shirai asked, wanting to move the conversation.
"Sadly, he didn't say much about the monsters. But he did call them the Heartless and said that when we meet up that he'll exchange more information about them" the brunette girl explained.
"The Heartless?" Uiharu spoke aloud.
"Huh. I mean, that does make some sort of sense" Saten said while recalling when she and her friends were in the middle of the attack. She didn't really mention it to her friends but… she remembered seeing a floating pink heart that went toward the sky. And now hearing the monster's name it made sense.
"Hmm. Well, at least we know what to call these things. Uiharu, can you send out a report to all Judgement officers alerting them about what to call the monsters. I'll get in contact with Senpai and let her know of our findings" Shirai stated, pulling out her phone and contacting Konori.
Misaka could only nod and look out through the nearest window and see the clear blue sky. Various thoughts ran around in her head. These monsters… these Heartless. Just what else could these monsters do to cause so much trouble for the city?
Back with Sora
Having had another interesting chat with Yomikawa while heading back to the school, he began understanding even more about Academy City. Things such as what time curfew was but knowing full well that there were people who disregarded the rule. Along with some of the many events that go on in the city and how the train system worked across the different districts in the city.
Without even realizing it, the two were already parked in the teacher's parking lot of the school and could only blink at how fast time seemed to pass.
"Heh. Guess time got the best of us huh?" Yomikawa joked which got Sora to also chuckle.
"No kidding. Now comes the hard part"
"Yeah. We are definitely going to get an earful from everyone. Me more so than you I suppose"
"Nah, I think I'm going to get bombarded with questions. I owe Touma one at the very least" Sora replied, bringing his arms behind his head.
"Well then, shall we head in?"
"Yep. Let's do this"
Ready to face their impending fears the two began heading into the school. However, what the two didn't account for was the several sets of eyes that were poking out of the windows from inside the school. Students familiar with Yomikawa's vehicle spotted the blue-haired woman's vehicle once it entered the parking lot and identified her and Sora arriving. Questions were already forming in the students' minds and without wasting another second they all bolted to their classrooms ready to hear about the gossip that would stem from Komoe Sensei's class.
Making their way through the school, Sora had prepared himself to confront many students who probably already saw the news and spotted him fighting against the Heartless. However, to his and Yomikawa's surprise, no one was in the halls or up front and center and ready to barrage them with questions. This left the older woman to start sweating and realizing that everyone was just biding their time.
"Hey, Sora, I'm going to head to the teacher's lounge. Everyone's back with their homeroom teacher. You should head to Komoe's class"
"Got it. Should I… be worried" Sora asked, offering the woman a nervous smile.
"…Yeah"
Taking a deep breath and letting it out, Sora nodded to Yomikawa and made his way to the classroom. Yomikawa on her end shook her head and prepared herself for the many comments that would be sent her way for allowing the boy to help fight the monsters.
A few seconds later, Sora was now in front of the classroom door and was prepared to knock on it to let Komoe Sensei know that he was coming in. However, before he could even knock the door opened and there stood Komoe who had a relieved expression on her face.
"Sora! You're ok!"
"Uhh… yeah"
The next thing he knew was that he was now standing in front of the classroom with many sets of eyes all looking right at him. He even spotted Touma who was in the back with his head down on the desk almost like he was asleep. But that idea would be dropped as he saw Touma raise his head and spot him standing up front. The next thing Sora saw was Touma who shot him what looked to be a tired expression along one that could be interpreted as we need to talk later.
"H-Hey everyone! I… I'm guessing you all saw the news?" Sora asked, following the room not saying anything.
That it until every student shot up from their seats and charged right at the Keyblade wielder demanding that he answer questions about what had happened in the monster attack. It was at this moment that Sora had an idea of just what Touma had probably gone through.
'Sorry, Touma. I feel your pain now' Sora internally thought.
Hence, the nonstop questions directed at Sora would begin. Leaving the spiky-haired boy in what seemed like a never-ending interrogation.
Inside a high-end apartment
Mugino Shizuri found many things plain and boring. Such was the way of her lifestyle, having grown up in a wealthy family and getting anything and everything, she ever wanted. Hence, there weren't that many things that truly piqued her interest. Aside from shopping and fine-tuning her wardrobe collection to stylized outfits and the occasional cooking magazine she lived a high expectational life.
Now, however, having received her next job for ITEM she decided to look at the news feed that Frenda wouldn't stop talking about. And what she found got her somewhat interested. There on the television screen was the news coverage of the monster attack and how no one knew anything about the strange-looking monsters.
But that would all change when the appearance of a boy with spiky hair holding what appeared to be a giant key. Just seeing the stupid object almost made her turn the television off and chew Frenda out for wasting her time. However, before she could swear at the blonde the news showed the boy using his key to slash at several of the monsters managing to kill them instantly.
Nothing too interesting but that would all change when the news feed showed a dark tornado and the boy charging right at it. From there the boy managed to perform some impressive movements to reach the tornado. And the next thing Mugino saw was the boy managing to throw a bus at the tornado. To say that the Level 5's interest was caught would be a lie. But that didn't mean that she would cast aside the boy given that he seemed like the only person who knew what these monsters were based on his battle experience that was shown on the news.
However, any research on him would have to wait as Mugino spotted Takitsubo appearing in front of her not saying anything but giving her a thumbs up indicating that the others were ready to depart on their mission.
Turning the tv off, Mugino put the boy to the back of her mind and focused on ITEM's mission. The retrieval of several of these monsters… intact.
"All right. Let's go"
Back at the school
After dealing with the nonstop barrage of questions that were directed at him, Sora finally had a chance to sit down. It took a few minutes of answering all the questions in a simple explanation which didn't exactly help his case.
So many questions that asked him whether he was a high-level Esper or how he was able to fight against the monsters or why he used a giant oversized key. It took the help of Komoe to calm the class down and give him some space to answer the questions. He also made sure to not mention anything of magic and just say that it was all thanks to his Light Manipulation Esper ability.
And once the constant questions came to an end, Komoe got the class back to their seats and asked if Sora could take a seat while she finished lecturing to the students. He gladly nodded and went back to where Touma was sitting and sat next to the boy who had a tired expression on his face. Tuning out whatever Komoe was saying, Sora looked out one of the classroom's windows and got a nice view of the city. So many sights and places to see…
Without even realizing it, Sora felt someone tap on his shoulder and brought him back to his senses seeing that it was Komoe who got his attention.
"Sora, are you ok? You didn't hear me call out to you"
"Oh! Sorry. I was just thinking about some stuff"
"I take it you're thinking about what happened earlier?" Komoe suggested.
"Yeah… I'm guessing that you have some questions"
"I do. But I can ask you about it later. All I'd like to know is if you're ok"
"Mm. I'm good. Yomikawa and I stopped by the hospital to get me checked up and all is good"
"That's good to hear. Now then, Kamijou- "
Hearing his name mentioned, the boy turned to look at Komoe waiting for her to speak. Moreover, Sora looked around him and noticed that only a few students were now in the class. Everyone else must have taken off.
"Seeing that Yomikawa just got back, would you mind taking him with you to gym class where she'll be"
"Yeah. I can do that" Touma replied, standing up and stretching.
"Thank you and I'm glad you're doing well Sora. And I'm sorry for all the attention you'll be receiving" Komoe replied.
"It's all right. I kinda figured that everyone would look at me in the spotlight once the news got out"
"Right… Well, you two best be off"
"Right! Shall we go?" Sora asked Touma.
The misfortunate boy merely nodded and began to make his way to his next class aka gym class with Yomikawa but not before Komoe called out to him specifically.
"And Kamijou, make sure you don't forget about your homework"
Making their way to Yomikawa's class, Touma figured now would be the best time to get some real answers from Sora.
"All right, Sora, mind explaining what happened," Touma asked, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, sorry about leaving you to deal with the crazy masses"
"*sigh* I'm used to it by now. My misfortune tends to put me into similar situations as today. But what exactly were those monsters?"
"Those monsters are called the Heartless and they go after people's hearts. Not their actual physical ones but more of a magical kind like the light inside you" Sora explained, trying his best to get the point across quicker than the last time he explained this.
"Magical kind? Like magic in everyone?"
"More like the feelings of a person along with the light and darkness you have inside"
"…" Touma could only remain silent as he was having trouble understanding what Sora was saying.
"It's ok if you don't understand it at all. Even I have trouble really knowing what it all means. I just know that… the heart may be weak and sometimes it may even give in but… deep down there's a light that is always with you that never goes out. Something to push you to achieve your hopes and dreams" Sora explained, recalling the past.
"To achieve your hopes and dreams… I guess you could call it a force that lets you live your life how you want it" Touma answered, thinking back to the illusions that people envelop themselves in and how he has helped so many find a new path.
"So, these Heartless as you called them are monsters that go around and take away people's hearts?"
"Yeah. The Heartless can be killed but sooner or later they'll come back since they are manifestations of the darkness in people's hearts"
"Is there any way to completely stop them?" Touma asked, slowly realizing how terrifying these monsters truly were.
"Yes. My weapon, the Keyblade, is the only thing that I'm aware of that can completely destroy the Heartless. They fear my weapon and are drawn to it so that they can kill the one who wields it" Sora explained to the dark-haired boy.
"Haah… that sounds like a lot of responsibility"
"It is. But… I'd rather it fall to me than anyone else. Besides, I'm not alone…" Sora stated, remembering all his friends and how they give him the strength to push forward.
"No, no you are not Sora- "Touma started saying before he was stopped abruptly as he spotted a familiar face making its way toward the two spiky-haired boys.
"Huh? Tsuchimikado? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Yomikawa?"
Now standing a few feet away from the two was Tsuchimikado who had one hand in his pocket and the other on the phone.
"Sorry to butt into your conversation but I'm gonna need you and Sora to come with me Kami"
"Uh… why?" Sora muttered, confused about what was going on.
"Hate to say it, Sora, but you've drawn in a lot of attention in the short time that you've been here. And not any good attention mind you. I take it Kami talked to you about some stuff, right?" Tsuchimikado stated.
"Define stuff" Sora stated.
"I…" Touma said managing to draw the two's attention.
"I didn't exactly tell him about the magic and science sides at odds with each other" Touma claimed.
"Well, mistakes happen. More so with you Kami"
"Hey!"
"But putting that to the side. Sora, as you might have just guessed I'm with the magic side" Tsuchimikado announced to the Keyblade wielder.
"I mean, I've dealt with many strangely dressed people so I'm not that surprised your part of a secret organization" Sora stated, starting to become defensive.
"Now that's a story I hope you'll be willing to share later. But for now, you two need to come with me. Don't want unwanted ears to hear what I have to say"
"Tsuchimikado, what's going on"
"To make it plain and simple, a few of our guys and gals on the magic side saw Sora on the news fighting against those monsters that appeared out of nowhere. There was even one down where the attack was and saw everything up close"
"Our spy even saw Sora casting what looked like a spell dealing with lightning against the dark tornado made up of the monsters" Tsuchimikado added.
Hearing this, Sora did recall casting Thunder on the Demon Tide.
"Ok? So why do you need us to go with you? We were told to head to Yomikawa's class" Touma retorted.
"And you two will get there. But for now, Kami, please follow me. We have some things to talk about"
Feeling like he was walking into a whole new set of problems, Sora realized that the sooner he dealt with the blonde's request the sooner he could get back to Yomikawa.
"All right, lead the way"
"Sora?"
"If we don't follow him now, then it might become worse over time," Sora replied.
"Fine" Looking over at his friend, Touma had a frown on his face and wondered just what the spy would want. "Where are we going?"
"Glad one of you can see reason. Follow me if you would" Tsuchimikado responded.
Doing as he said, Sora and Touma began following the blonde spy. After a few minutes, the trio found themselves at the school's exit, which made Touma even more worried about what was going on. Looking around and seeing that no one was present, Tsuchimikado made his way out of the building followed by the two and kept walking until they were a bit away from the school.
"Oh. And to ease your concern Kami, we're seeing some familiar faces that only want some questions answered by yours truly" the blonde said while gesturing to Sora.
Frowning at the comment, Sora replied to Tsuchimikado. "I take it that it has to deal with the monsters?"
"Bingo. But not entirely about them. They have some questions about who you are and what not"
Touma couldn't help but feel that he was walking into another conflict involving the magic side and the ringleader was once again Tsuchimikado. However, before he could start chewing out the blonde, he noticed a very familiar girl waiting by the side of a building. The girl had long black hair tied up in a ponytail with a very attractive body that went along with the white T-shirt that was tied at the bottom. She was also wearing a pair of jeans with one side sawed off.
"Kanzaki? What are you doing here?" Touma asked, surprised at seeing the girl.
"Kamijou, I-it's nice to see you again" the girl known as Kanzaki Kaori responded while nodding at the boy.
"Kanzaki here is the one we're meeting" Tsuchimiado stated.
"Strange occurrences truly do find a way of involving you, Kamijou "
"Isn't that the truth…" Touma muttered.
"And I take it that you are Sora?" Kanzaki said, addressing Sora with a mixed expression on her face.
"Yeah. That would be me"
Without saying anything else, the next thing to happen was Kanzaki suddenly pulled out her weapon and aimed it right at Sora leaving the duo and even Tsuchimikado confused about the sudden action. The Keyblade wielder had experienced so much in the little time that he was in Academy City and met so many of the people here. He figured that he would take a page out of Touma's book and use his so-called signature catchphrase.
"Such misfortune…"
Inside a mysterious windowless building located in Academy City
In a dark room, there was a man floating upside down and connected to wires inside a large tube that was filled with red liquid. That man was identified as Aleister Crowley, Board Chairman of Academy City, and he was motionless in the tube with his eyes closed almost seeming like he was dead. However, that couldn't be further from the case.
Suddenly, several monitors seemed to appear out of nowhere and were suspended around the tube that held the man. Each monitor was showcasing news reports about the strange attack that occurred earlier with the mysterious monsters. But that all changed when all the monitors now showed a certain spiky-haired boy holding what appeared to be a giant key fending off the creatures. In all of Aleister's life, he had seen and experienced many things that some would consider impossible or far-fetched. However, there was no denying that what he saw the boy wielding was something that piqued his interest greatly.
Another monitor screen now showed a close-up of the boy allowing Aleister to take in his characteristics. The brown spiky hair, the crown around his neck, the red and grey jacket, and of course, the giant key. Aleister couldn't help the smirk that appeared on his face. The plans he was beginning to come up with diminished when another monitor showed another face quite familiar to him.
Kamijou Touma.
The wielder of Imagine Breaker was now with the key-wielding boy. It seemed that Aleister now had a new subject to look further into. And the plans he had foreseen for the future would now definitely include the mysterious boy. For this was an opportunity that he could not pass on.
Notes:
*A/N – Just what has Sora gotten himself involved in now? Lol. Take care and Happy Holidays. Stay safe everyone and look forward to more.
Chapter 7: Explanations & Events to Come
Summary:
Now having members of the magic side investigating him, Sora has found himself in a bit of a situation. Plus, how will he get a handle of his current situation in Academy City? He's only just started his adventure in this world and already has gotten through so much in one day. What's to come for the Keyblade wielder?
Notes:
*Disclaimer - I do not own the copyright to Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index
*A/N - Greetings everyone! Hope everything is going well. The same can't be said for Sora. Having only gotten to Academy City and not even a full day in the city he's ended up in all sorts of crazy events. Heartless, High school, and now the Magic Side taking an interest in him. What other crazy scenarios is the Keyblade's chosen wielder going to end up in? In addition, I'd like to thank everyone for sticking around this story and hope you're in for the long run. Take care and hope you enjoy it.
Chapter Text
Shifting his head to look over at the long black-haired girl who tied it into a ponytail and the blade that she was carrying, which was pointed right at him, Sora felt his heartbeat start to pick up.
He had just barely met this girl who he assumed to be one of Touma's friends based on their brief exchange of words and now she wanted to attack him out of the blue!
Not wanting to get hit by the weapon, he threw his hand in front of him and was about to summon his Keyblade in case the girl decided to fight him. Everyone looked in awe at the sudden move and weren't sure what was going to happen next. Touma on the other hand was starting to sweat bullets as he realized a fight might break out any second now.
"Whoa! Whoa! Time Out! What's going on here? Kanzaki!? Why are you on the offensive?" Touma shouted at the dark-haired beauty.
"I'm all for shoot first, ask questions later, but don't you think it's a bit too soon?" Tsuchimikado nonchalantly replied to Kanzaki.
"Too soon!? What do you mean by that?" Sora questioned the blonde-haired boy.
Hearing the black spiky-haired boy's comments, Kanzaki couldn't help but glance over at him and peer into his eyes. Suddenly she felt her cheeks become warm. She didn't want the situation to turn out any worse.
"I-I'm sorry! This is my fault!" Kanzaki yelled while pulling her blade to her side and bowing her head.
"Huh?"
"Nee-chin?"
"Uh…what?"
Everyone's reaction was that of total confusion and bewilderment. To go from a sense of tension and quite possibly a fight about to break out to changing it up with an apology.
'What sort of last-minute genre change is this!?' Touma exclaimed in the depths of his head.
Taking a second to let the awkward moment pass, Touma coughed into his fist which drew Kanzaki's attention from the ground and had her stand straight up from bowing.
"Err… Kanzaki, could you please tell us what's going on? I'm utterly lost."
"Well… I went about this the wrong way."
"The wrong way?"
"Mm. *sigh* Let me start over please."
"Go right ahead."
"Thank you."
Turning her attention back toward Sora, the one pant-legged girl immediately bowed and began to apologize to him.
"I am truly sorry, Sora."
Startled at the sudden change in attitude from the black-haired girl, the Keyblade wielder casually waved at Kanzaki.
"It's all right. At this point, I'm used to people threatening me upon meeting them for the first time, haha."
Surprised by the boy's words, everyone there just looked at the brown spiky-haired boy with puzzled looks.
"Right… Well, again I'm sorry for brandishing my blade against you. It was based on instinct and rumor" Kanzaki explained to the Keyblade wielder.
"Instinct and rumor? What do you mean?"
"What rumors, Kanzaki?"
Deciding to get to the root of the situation, Kanzaki began to delve into her side of things.
"I received reports on my way to Academy City that a monster attack appeared within the city. I had only just arrived when the news coverage was being displayed everywhere you could see."
'Hoo boy…' Sora thought to himself. He really put the spotlight on himself.
"Moreover, after meeting with our allies in the city it was then that I was told of the presence that the monsters had around them."
"Darkness" Sora affirmed which got Kanzaki to nod her head.
"Hold up. You can smell Darkness on people? What in the world?" Tsuchimikado questioned, feeling lost on the matter.
"Not exactly like that. It's… more of a feeling that I can sense."
"Moron" Touma commented which got him a slap to the head from the spectacle-wearing boy.
"Anyway, I also received a report of a surge of power and magical traces where the monsters were located. Which leads to you" Kanzaki continued saying to Sora.
Ruffling the back of his hair, Sora knew that his actions would have consequences sooner or later. It's not every day you see someone running toward a tornado that was made up of dark monsters that were taking away people's hearts.
"Yeah…"
"So, why do you two need to see Sora? Are you here to ask him questions?" Touma asked the two Necessarius members.
"Bingo Kami. There are some things that our bosses want to know about the incident along with identifying the one who stepped in to save the day" Tsuchimikado stated while pointing over at Sora.
"But why did you look like you wanted to attack me, Kanzaki?"
Moving her head to look at Sora's right hand, Kanzaki's eyes were glued there.
"There's… something different about you, Sora."
"Come again?" Touma asked, not sure what the girl meant.
"As one of only 20 saints, I'm able to detect traces of light coming from religious artifacts or sacred locations that once held or are still holding traces of power. And before you three arrived here I… felt traces of light coming my way."
"A saint?" Sora curiously questioned.
"Saints are basically powerful people on the Magic Side. They possess characteristics that match those of the Son of God and allow for them to draw on his power" Tsuchimikao explained to the confused-looking boy.
"I see… I guess that does make a bit of sense." Sora had no idea how this world's magical power structure worked but for now, he would just go along with the conversation. "But why did you look like you wanted to attack me?"
Having a frown on her face, the dark-haired beauty brought her head down.
"Lapse of judgment. Seeing you on the news and getting a glimpse of the abilities you used to fight back against those monsters caused me to be on guard. Until earlier no one had ever seen those monsters before and yet everyone back at headquarters is on edge" Kanzaki stated which got Tsuchimikado to frown.
"No kidding. Not even you know who had no idea about these monsters?"
Shaking her head, Kanzaki continued to speak on her behalf.
"No one. And it's throwing everyone off. Headquarters was only able to receive the reports made by our allies in Academy City followed by footage of the event captured."
"Is it safe to say that not only is the Magic Side freaking out right now but the Science Side as well?" Touma asked the group.
"Not a bad suggestion, Kami. I haven't checked in on the Science Side of things, but I'd put money on the idea that they're also in the dark about this whole thing."
"Which leads to the next factor in all this."
As Kanzaki said this, she turned her head to get a better look at Sora and his appearance, noticing the stylish clothes he was wearing.
"Right, I'm guessing you have questions?" Sora asked the teens.
"You think?" Tsuchimikado remarked.
"Hmm. Where to start… *ahem* I might as well start by answering any of your questions. So, who is first?"
Raising her hand quickly, Kanzaki beat Tsuchimikado who looked betrayed at the dark-haired girl.
"Sora, the traces of light surrounding you… what… or who are you?"
To answer her question, the Keyblade wielder raised his right hand for everyone to see before he summoned his Keyblade in a flash of blue light.
"Well, I'll be."
"That… That's the trace of light. No. It's like a- "
"It's emitting power like an artifact" Tsuchimikado added.
"Yeah. Sora, where did you get this weapon?"
Bringing the Kingdom Key closer to his face, Sora held a small smile on his face.
"I was more or less picked to wield this weapon. It's known as a Keyblade."
"A Keyblade?" Kanzaki repeated.
"It's a weapon imbued with light and allows me to combat the Darkness. And those dark creatures you saw on the news are known as the Heartless."
"The Heartless? Catchy name."
The Keyblade wielder couldn't help but chuckle a bit.
"Heh. Wait till you hear about what they go after."
"Let me guess. People's hearts."
"Yep. The Heartless are manifestations of the darkness within people's hearts and- "
"Wait. Repeat what you just said, Sora."
"Uh… the Heartless are manifestations of the darkness inside people's hearts?" Sora repeated to the girl.
"Darkness within people's hearts… How is that possible?" Kanzaki asked, trying her best to grasp her understanding of the topic.
"Everyone has a little darkness in their heart along with light. It's part of what makes everyone who they are."
"So, you're saying Kami over here has some Darkness in his sweet illusion-breaking gold heart?" Tsuchimikado questioned, shooting the black spiky-haired boy a smirk.
"Very funny."
"Mm-hm, as I said, we all do," Sora said, bringing his hand up to his heart and feeling a wave of contentment course through him.
Deciding that things were getting to become more complex to explain, Sora reached into his pocket and started tapping away until he managed to open up a tab on his Gummiphone that had records of data regarding everything in his adventures. Along with information compiled on the Heartless.
"But *sigh* putting aside darkness in everyone. What is the Heartless goal? Why did they suddenly appear out of nowhere and why hasn't anyone seen them before?" Kanzaki questioned, still feeling lost about everything being said which was understandable for the saint.
This was a great deal of information to consume all at once.
"The Heartless's main goal is to seek and consume hearts. And they'll stop at nothing to get what they want."
"Sora, I'm still not quite following. Why are the Heartless here now? I mean, not to drag this place down any further but… Academy City practically has its own menacing nickname. The Dark Side of Academy City" Tsuchimikado stated.
"I… I don't know. Honestly, none of this makes sense at all. But at the same time, it does."
"When does anything dealing with the Magic Side make sense?" Touma remarked while having a tired look in his eyes.
"The Heartless tends to come in two forms. Purebloods and Emblems. Pureblood Heartless are natural and born when people's hearts are normally consumed by Darkness. While Emblem Heartless are created" Sora continued explaining as much as he could.
"And those Heartless you fought earlier, did… Did they take people's hearts?" Kanzaki asked, recalling the footage she saw.
"Yeah…I wasn't there in time to stop them," Sora replied.
"...So, what do we do?"
Startled by the sudden question from Touma, Tsuchimikado, Kanzaki, and Sora all looked over at the dark spiky-haired boy for further explanation. But the saint had her own question spring to mind.
"Is there any way for us to get rid of the Heartless once and for all? Kanzaki asked the brown spiky-haired boy.
Having no say in the matter, the two Necessarius members turned their attention over to the Keyblade wielder who looked deep in thought before he turned and addressed everyone.
"This."
Raising his Keyblade once again, Sora began to answer the boy's question.
"I already mentioned this to Touma, but the Keyblade is the only weapon that I know of that completely destroys the Heartless. Sure, anyone can kill a Heartless but only the Keyblade truly gets rid of them for good."
"So, if Kanzaki over here killed a bunch of Heartless?"
"Then they would later reappear and go back to seeking hearts."
"A monster that can be killed but can't be stopped… talk about shit hitting the fan" Tsuchimikado commented while taking a few steps back and casually kicking the ground.
Going blank for a second, Touma began to have some questions pop into his head.
'Would… Would my right hand be able to destroy a Heartless? I mean, it negates anything supernatural. Esper and magic powers. But… are the Heartless technically magic monsters?'
Snapping out of his thoughts and back to the group, Touma would have to ask Sora about his idea.
"Sora, how is it that you know so much about the Heartless?" Kanzaki asked, tilting her head at the boy to read his face.
Having had a feeling that this question would be brought up, Sora let out a sigh and began to brainstorm about how he should go about answering the question.
'I need to obviously stick with my story about not being from Academy City and from what I'm understanding from everyone's comments about the magic side it sounds very finicky. And I need to avoid mentioning anything else not from this world… great.'
Letting go of the Keyblade and having it flash and disappear, Sora then crossed his arms and began talking.
"I've had many run-ins with the Heartless now. And the first time I received the Keyblade was when the Heartless were attacking me and my friends. They've honestly managed to become a pain in my life."
The trio could tell from the tone in Sora's voice that there was quite a story behind his words but decided to not ask him about it now.
"I see…" Kanzaki muttered, feeling like she now better understood the boy.
"Wait a second. Sora, you mentioned you received the Keyblade when the Heartless attacked you and your friends. What did you mean by that?" Tsuchimikado asked, picking up on that detail.
"Well, the Keyblade is a special kind of weapon. It chooses its wielder, and it chose me."
"Come again? Did you just say that your weapon chose you?" Touma put forward while having a dumbfounded look on his face.
"Yeah. You heard right. The Keyblade chooses its wielder. In fact, my best friend was supposed to be wielding it, but his heart was tainted by the Darkness which made the Keyblade choose me instead."
"...Right…" Touma had no response to hearing that the key-shaped weapon was picky with who used it.
"What if someone tries to take the Keyblade away from you?" Tsuchimikado questioned.
"Here. Check it out."
Summoning the weapon back into his right hand, Sora handed it to the blonde-haired boy who began to swing it around and get a feel for it.
"Wow. This is pretty light. I can't see how you'd be able to attack anyone with- "
Out of nowhere, the Keyblade flashed in a bright light before ending up back in Sora's hand while Tsuchimikado looked down at his hand and then back at the Keyblade wielder.
"Now that's a fancy trick. You're making me wish I had one."
"Haha. Sorry. I don't know how to exactly help your chances of getting one but thanks anyway."
"Hey, Nee-chin, you wanna give it a shot? See if your saintly powers will do anything?"
Startled by the suggestion, Kanzaki gave the idea some thought before nodding her hand and asking Sora to try, to which he happily accepted.
Now holding onto the Keyblade in her hand, Kanzaki could feel a sense of power begin crawling up her arm. There was no light or anything really on her arm but more akin to a feeling. Like, the weapon was emitting a warm and comforting light and she felt better being around it. Such a strange feeling. Truth be told, she wasn't even that put off by the weapon's design.
However, what was even stranger was that the weapon had not disappeared from Kanzaki's hands yet which amazed everyone in attendance. Tsuchimikado clicked his tongue while waving off the girl. Touma merely watched what was happening while having his own thoughts on the matter. And Sora was beyond amazed at how long she was able to hold onto the weapon before it would flash and be right back to him.
"Hey, Kanzaki, could you try swinging it around a bit?" Sora requested the girl.
Doing as asked, she began to swing it lightly to the side and then back again while trying to get a feel for the weapon. The tip of the blade next to the crown teeth started to glow with a faint light, however, this seemed to go unnoticed by the teenagers.
"The balance on this weapon is strange. It's almost as if the weight is being dispersed or changing constantly. Being heavy and then light."
"That's rich coming from a saint who has twice the manpower of a regular person. No offense Kami."
"None taken? Wait a minute. What are you talking about? You're normal" Touma bluntly replied to Tsuchimikado.
"Anything else strange about the weapon?" Tsuchimikado asked while ignoring Touma's comment.
"Nothing of the sort. Although, it's almost like I can start chanting a- "
Before Kanzaki could finish speaking, the Keyblade flashed in blue light before being placed back into Sora's hand.
"Wow… You were almost able to cast a spell" Sora stated while being awestruck.
"I didn't even know what I was casting. I just… felt like a sense of light coming to me" Kanzaki answered, having her thoughts about what transpired.
"Well, not to state the obvious but Kanzaki does have the influence of a saint. It's only natural she would be able to do something normal people couldn't with your weapon. Which leads me to the next big thing we need to talk about" Tsuchimikado said, gaining everyone's attention.
"Oh great. Here comes the bad news" Touma muttered, feeling that something misfortune was about to happen.
"What now?"
"Sora. What are your plans now?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean, what do you plan on doing now? I'm sure you already know but the higher-ups in Academy City now have their eye on you. Whether that's a bad thing or a really bad thing I am not sure. But either way that's not a good thing to have in your case."
"Not to mention, news of what happened with the Heartless will have spread across the church and every other magic faction" Kanzaki added.
"Exactly. Both Magic and Science Sides will now be looking at you. But where do you stand on all this, Sora?"
"I…" Sora couldn't come up with an answer on the spot. This was a very complex situation he found himself in.
'Not even a day in this world and I've managed to get practically everyone's attention' the Keyblade wielder stated to himself.
Taking a step back and looking at everyone one at a time, Sora knew that his life was about to get a whole lot harder in this world. But when wasn't his life ever easy? This led to the boy having a grin on his face before nodding to himself and addressing everyone.
"I guess I stand with neither side."
"Say again?"
"Heh. Interesting."
"That is not what I thought you would say."
"But you wield magic? You don't want to side with Kanzaki and everyone else who can use magic?" Touma asked, confused about the boy's statement.
"Nope. I'm not going to pick sides."
"Won't that make things harder for you? I mean- "
"I know things are going to get harder, Touma. But the Heartless aren't something that I can just let wander throughout the city and hurt people. I have to stop them. And… honestly, I don't know how the Magic Side will react to my rash decisions" Sora explained to his spiky-haired friend.
Hearing the Keyblade wielder's conviction, Touma couldn't help but smile while thinking of himself. All the situations he tended to find himself in and how his one goal was to pave a path that everyone can walk. His strong desire is to aid those who are in need. No matter the cost. Everyone deserved to see the world for all that it had to offer.
"Sora does have a point."
"Tsuchimikado?"
"Think about it, Kami. If Sora does decide to come over to the Magic Side, then he'll have to follow orders and be limited on what he can and wants to do" Tsuchimikado explained.
"I… I have to agree with Tsuchimikado" Kanzaki said, which surprised the blonde boy.
"Nee-chin? This is surprising. I would have thought that you would be chewing my ass out for agreeing with Sora's idea."
"Normally, yes. I would have. However, things are different."
Shifting her body so that she was now staring up at the city buildings that caused her to move her head back, Kanzaki let out a small smile.
"With the sudden appearance of the Heartless and now knowing a bit about them thanks to Sora, I say that his plan is probably for the best. Besides, the Heartless have only been spotted here in Academy City. There must be a reason for that."
"You've got a point" Sora added to the dark-haired girl's statement. "I still don't know how the Heartless showed up. And that alone raises a lot of red flags to me."
"This also raises another problem were you to join the Magic Side. What if the leaders of the Magic Side begin to hide things from you?" Kanzaki suggested.
"Tch. We all know that is honestly something that's going to happen" Tsuchimikado remarked.
"So, should I just stay away from just the Magic Side? Or the Science Side as well?"
"Hm… I am not exactly sure what to do in this situation, but I would say be cautious toward either side. Sure, the Science Side has good people on it, but there are also some crazy bastards that will do anything to gain power and influence and hurt anyone that gets in their way" Touma stated while remembering his encounters involving the Science Side of Academy City.
On the same topic, Touma began to recall the many people who he could consider to be good and were involved with the Science Side. The first to come to mind was Biri-Biri. Sure, she tended to be difficult at times but if you needed her help she would be there to help. Plus, it did help to have a Level 5 esper on your side at times.
Another person was Yomikawa Sensei. That woman… she probably enjoyed seeing him and the other high school students suffer through her extracurricular activities. And she did tend to act like a stern adult. But truthfully, she was also someone you could count on to help you.
"Right… Sounds like I've got my hands full."
Before anyone else could comment on the Keyblade wielder's comment, someone's phone began to start going off. Tsuchimikado reached into his pocket and immediately frowned at seeing who was calling him.
"Sorry about this."
Moving away from the group, Sora could only watch as Touma and Kanzaki had curious looks on their faces. A sudden realization dawned on the wielder of Imagine Breaker as he figured he could ask a question.
"Hey, Sora."
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Could I try holding your Keyblade?"
Surprised by Touma's sudden request, Sora remembered that the boy hadn't gotten a chance to hold the weapon yet.
"Sure! Here you go."
Summoning his Keyblade, Sora handed it over to Touma who looked at the weapon and decided to try something before getting to the meat of his idea.
Using his left hand, the black spiky-haired boy grasped the Keyblade's handle and began examining the weapon. It felt… strange. Almost like it was pulsating in the palm of his hand. But that could have been his mind playing tricks on him. Lifting the Keyblade higher into the air, Touma figured he should try giving his idea a go.
'*sigh* Well, let's see if the Keyblade will instantly disappear when I touch it with my right hand.'
Slowly moving the weapon so that it was in front of him, Touma began bringing his right hand to grasp the handle when something unexpected happened.
Now holding onto the Keyblade with his right hand, Touma raised it in the air and waited for it to instantly disappear but strangely it wouldn't. This caused Sora and Kanzaki to look bewildered and have many questions.
"W-What…"
"How did… Touma?"
"I have no idea. I'm just holding it. But from what you said about holding it, Kanzaki, I'm not feeling anything of the sort. It's just like I'm wielding a blade."
Narrowing his gaze onto the weapon and Touma's right hand, Sora wondered if this is what the boy meant about his power being able to negate anything supernatural. However, if that was the case then shouldn't the Keyblade have flashed out of his hand? Sora wanted to try something out now.
"Hey, Touma, let go of the Keyblade."
"Like just drop it?"
"Yeah. It's ok."
"All right…"
Doing as told, Touma let go of the handle and let the blade fall from his hand when suddenly as soon as his hand stopped touching the weapon it immediately flashed and appeared right in Sora's hand.
"Now try holding it with your left hand and then your right again," Sora told the boy.
"Got it."
Repeating his actions from before, Touma held the Keyblade in his left hand and then moved it over to his right hand where it stayed in place leaving Kanzaki to eye the weapon suspiciously now.
"Kamijou is able to hold onto it for so long… meanwhile, I was able to hold it for only a bit longer than Tsuchimikado."
"But it looked like you were about to start casting a spell or something else. Don't forget that, Kanzaki" Sora addressed the girl who nodded at his words.
"Hmm… Do you feel anything different now, Touma?"
"Nothing. It's honestly just like I'm holding a sword now."
"Let's see… Here. Hold onto the Keyblade while I try to summon it into my hand."
"Fair warning. This poor Kamijou would like to apologize in advance in case something happens to you."
"It'll be fine… I think."
Kanzaki was now completely focused on the two boys' actions and was watching the scene unfold in front of her without even needing to blink.
"Here we go!"
Throwing his hand in front of him, Sora did what he always did and summoned the Keyblade into his hand expecting there to be a blue flash of light in his hand.
However, that was not the case.
"Uh… Sora. What's going on?"
"I-I don't know! This has never happened before."
"Never!?" Kanzaki asked, her voice spiking up in both worry and a hint of excitement.
"Oh crap. I didn't break it did I?" Touma asked, feeling guilt wash over him.
"No, no. You didn't. But you did manage to leave me with even more questions now" Sora replied while flashing the boy a reassuring smile.
Taking a step toward Touma, Sora carefully eyed the Keyblade and looked to see if there was anything happening to it. Unfortunately, or in his case fortunately there was nothing out of the ordinary happening.
"Let it go please."
Doing as told, Touma let the blade out of his hand, and it once again flashed in a bright light before appearing in Sora's hand again.
"Haha… I have more questions now."
"Kamijou, you certainly know how to make things more exciting," commented Kanzaki while looking over at the boy warmly.
"*sigh* You can thank my misfortune for that."
Before anyone else could add to the conversation, Tsuchimikado started walking back to join the group.
"Hey, kiddos. What did I miss?"
"Nothing all that interesting," Touma casually replied.
'Nothing that interesting!?' both Kanzaki and Sora thought after hearing Touma's response.
'Does Touma not want Tsuchimikado to know about the Keyblade not functioning normally?' Sora thought to himself.
'What is Kamijou up to now? Why not let Tsuchimikado know about what we discovered?' Kanzaki pondered in her head.
"Huh. That's kind of depressing. Did you at least thank Kami for all the trouble, Nee-chin?"
"Bwah!"
Kanzaki suddenly made a strange noise which made Sora go wide-eyed and look at her, hoping she was okay. Touma was just puzzled.
"W-We don't have time for that now!"
"Err… Kanzaki, what are you talking abo- "Touma began saying.
"Heh. As much as I want to see Nee-chin spill the beans and thank you properly, we actually can't. Just got done talking with headquarters and they want an update on the situation."
"What did you tell them?" Kanzaki asked, thankful that the conversation was moving away from… where it was originally going.
"Same old stuff. We have information that needs to be investigated and analyzed before returning. That should buy us a few hours until they send someone else here. Probably Stiyl" Tsuchimikado explained.
"Guess you were right, it sounds like they're really being uptight," Kanzaki said which got the blonde spy to grin.
"Of course, I'm right. Anyways, we should probably end things here for now. I'll head on ahead and get things situated."
Getting several feet away from the group, Tsuchimikado then called out to one person in particular.
"Sora."
"Yeah?"
"Watch yourself."
"Huh?"
"Academy City. While it looks all nice now, don't be too surprised by what you'll find hidden underneath its fine and dandy appearance. There's a reason this city has a Dark Side."
"...I understand. I'll be careful."
"Good to hear. Nee-chin, see you later. And Kami?"
"What now?"
"Your fly is down."
"Very funny you sis-con bast- "
Touma suddenly stopped speaking as he looked down at his pants and realized that the boy was right. The fly on his pants was down. Flustered beyond belief, he quickly zipped himself up while swinging his head to the side to see Sora just looking up at the city and whistling to himself. Kanzaki on the other hand had closed her eyes and looked as red as a tomato.
"You've got to be kidding *sigh* Such misfortune."
"Haha! Take care, Kami."
Seeing the blonde boy's form get further away, the trio now looked at each other. There were so many more questions they had about the Keyblade and how it reacted to Kanzaki and Touma holding it. But for now, it would have to be put on hold.
"Hey, Touma, why didn't you tell Tsuchimikado about what we discovered with the Keyblade?" Sora asked the high school boy.
"Do you not trust him?" Kanzaki questioned.
"Do you, Kanzaki?"
This left the dark-haired beauty stumped. She should have quickly responded and retorted his question but deep down she had her answer.
"I trust him… but not with this."
"That's a bit… strange. Shouldn't friends confide in each other about something not normal?" Sora casually commented.
"This whole situation is unlike anything I've ever dealt with. Honestly, I doubt anyone has had to deal with this before."
"Which is why I decided to not mention anything. While he is my friend… sadly… I don't think he should know about this. Plus, I trust you Kanzaki. More than him" Touma answered.
"Y-You trust me?"
"Of course! Honestly, I'm glad it was you who found out about this strange mystery. I know that you will keep this to yourself while Sora and I try to uncover anything else about what happened. If I had to pick anyone from the Magic Side to keep this quiet for now it would be you."
Feeling a burst of happiness in her heart, Kanzaki had a bright smile on her face that she tried breaking down but ended up making it even more noticeable. All while having red blush appear on her cheeks.
"I understand, Kamijou. I won't disappoint you and keep this to myself."
"Great. And I'll let you know if anything comes up."
"That's good to hear. Well then, I should probably catch up with Tsuchimikado. Sora, while our first meeting went… bad. I hope that you know I'm glad to have met you and gotten to know a bit more about you and the situation involving the Heartless."
"Not a problem. And it's water under the bridge. I consider you a friend now and friends help each other."
"I'm happy to hear that."
"Mm. And if you hear anything more about the Heartless or even if they're spotted outside of Academy City, then please let Touma know so he can tell me" Sora asked, hoping to learn more about the rest of this world.
"Gladly. Until next time."
And with that, Kanzaki began making her way in the direction that Tsuchimikado went, leaving Sora and Touma alone to themselves.
"Well, should we head back? I'm sure Yomikawa is wondering where we went" Sora said, which made Touma groan.
"Oh man, why did you have to remind me of Yomikawa Sensei? Crap. I'm screwed. Again."
"Don't worry. I'll say it was my fault."
"...That still doesn't help me!"
This led to the two spiky-haired boys making their way back to the high school while discussing the possibility that today might be the day that Touma dies. Thanks to Yomikawa's strict regime she has the students run for physical education. And now she'll be gunning for Touma. Sora could only laugh half-heartedly for the boy.
*Breakpoint*
Catching up with Tsuchimikado, Kanzaki began to consider everything that she had just learned thanks to Kamijou and his newest friend, Sora. Everything surrounding that boy just sparked her curiosity. However, there was so much more that didn't add up about him.
Before she could ponder about the boy any further, she spotted Tsuchimikado who was now leaning against a wall looking down at the ground. He appeared to be gathering his thoughts.
"Nee-chin… what are your thoughts on him?"
Knowing exactly who Tsuchimikado was talking about, Kanzaki answered truthfully.
"He seems very friendly and easy to talk with. However, … I have questions."
"Same here. Sora seems like a well-rounded person. But there are too many problems and questions around him."
"For starters… that weapon of his. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before" Kanzaki answered while picking up a can that was near her foot and throwing it into the nearest trash can.
"We know for a fact that none of the artifacts confiscated by the church look anything like a giant house key" Tsuchimikado replied, continuing to walk and talk.
"Not to mention, the power inside that blade. I've never felt anything of that magnitude before. And that alone was just from seeing it out in the open when Sora summoned it which is another thing in of itself" Kanzaki explained.
"Tell me, what did you feel when you held onto it? You mentioned feeling a sort of warm light from it."
Recalling the sensation of holding the Keyblade, Kanzaki didn't know where to start about her experience with the blade. In truth, thinking back to the blade and the wielder himself, she was unsure what to think. Sora as an individual was a complete mystery.
"It's like I said, it felt nice to be around. But what I'm more concerned about is where did he come from."
Shrugging his shoulders, Tsuchimikado had that same exact thought cross his mind. There was no way someone of Sora's caliber just up and appeared in Academy City out of nowhere. Plus, showing up and battling monsters that have never been seen before just sounds absurd. There was more to the boy.
"No offense to Sora, but I'm finding it hard to believe that he's carrying around that much firepower. That Keyblade of his… we're not the only ones that are going to be keeping an eye on him that's for sure" the blonde-haired spy stated.
"…I do believe that he won't become our enemy though."
"Kanzaki- "
"Look who he's with now."
"You think Kami is going to be able to stop him if he flips suddenly? Again, we have no idea what that weapon of his is capable of. I think he's a cool guy, but we don't know everything about him. There are too many questions shrouded around him."
"Then we wait. I mean, didn't you say yourself to be cautious about the Magic Side?"
Hearing what she said, Tsuchimikado smirked.
"Double crossing spy, Kanzaki. Get him to think I'm with him but I'm against him… while also still being on his side."
Letting out a sigh, the saint couldn't do anything but shake her head. While they could continue to discuss the circumstances around Sora, they had to prepare and get ready for their next set of orders from headquarters. However, Kanzaki still had her own thoughts about the Keyblade and its wielder. What will they do next?
*Breakpoint*
After having walked all the way back to the high school, Sora and Touma were now standing in front of the gym doors where one of the two spiky-haired boys was practically sweating buckets.
"Uh, Touma, are you going to be, ok? I don't know if a healing spell would, you know, heal you."
"I'm good. Just thinking."
"Thinking?"
"Yeah. About what my last words should be before Yomikawa- "
"Before Yomikawa what?"
Feeling the wind get knocked out of him without even getting hit, Touma looked behind and saw not only an attractive older woman but a woman that looked ready to make his life a living hell.
'Help…' the wielder of Imagine Breaker mumbled in his head.
"Hey, Yomikawa. Ehe sorry about being late" Sora tried to casually say.
"Late huh? Tell me, do you think the class is still in session?"
"Oh, crap…"
"Yep. Kamijou gets what I'm saying."
"Uh… I thought gym class was still going on?"
"Gym class ended about five minutes ago."
"..."
"..."
"I take full responsibility" Sora replied before either Yomikawa or Touma could respond.
"Sora. No, it was also my fault. I was the one with him" Touma tried reasoning.
It was at this point that Sora caught onto what Touma was secretly getting at. To avoid mentioning ditching class to follow Tsuchimikado, he was pushing the topic elsewhere. If that were the case, then he would help his friend.
"*shaking his head* No, it was me. I wanted to check something out and you told me we had class. This one's on me."
Taking a second to eye the Keyblade wielder, Yomikawa couldn't help but let out a sigh while doing her best to hide the small smile that appeared at the corner of her lips.
"Haha, *sigh* Sora."
"Yes…?"
"Normally, Kamijou would be having to run twenty extra laps around the gym."
The sound of Touma making a sound in his throat *gulp* could be heard along with him looking like a deer in headlights.
"But… seeing that today has been unlike any other, why don't you run the exercises for him?"
"Say what now?"
"Yomikawa Sensei?"
"You two heard me. Let Sora run through the obstacle course."
Shooting the black spiky-haired boy a look, Sora had a grin on his face before addressing Yomikawa.
"Sure! Let's see how it looks."
"Great to hear! Take some notes, Kamijou."
"With what?"
Whether the two who were now making their way to the gym did not hear him or just didn't have a good enough response to his comment it didn't matter as Sora and Yomikawa continued to make their way into the gym. Touma soon followed suit as he hoped the Keyblade wielder would be ok.
*Breakpoint*
Pushing open the doors to the gym, Sora saw what appeared to be a large gymnasium with different obstacle courses throughout the large room. Cones were put out in several rows, a wall with colored rocks and harnesses next to it, a net that was tied to several poles, and other obstacles that looked interesting.
"Yikes…" Touma muttered, walking through the gym doors.
"Ah. What are the obstacles here?"
"Glad you asked, Sora! See, Kamijou? Why can't you be this interested in the obstacle course?" Yomikawa questioned the black spiky-haired boy.
"Because you're usually more… harsh when it's just me running the obstacle course" Touma replied to the teacher.
"I'm not harsh. I'm just preparing you for life."
"Running around and going through various exercise obstacles is supposed to prepare me for…"
Both Sora and Yomikawa looked at Touma wondering why he suddenly stopped talking.
Meanwhile, internally Touma was realizing that in the pursuit of having an ordinary high school student life, he ended up getting caught in many situations that forced him to do some crazy extracurricular activities.
'Didn't I have to go through something like all these obstacles in the last incident I was involved in? *sigh* Such misfortune…'
Hanging his head down, he just sighed and waved at Yomikawa to have her continue explaining the obstacle course to Sora.
"Okay? Anyway, back to what I was saying. The first obstacle course is high knees, followed by rock climbing, and then an upper arm strength, which ends the main course with running up a flight of stairs and back. But it's all timed adding to the speed of everything getting done quicker" Yomikawa explained to the Keyblade wielder.
"What's the fastest time anyone has gone through the course?" Sora asked, bringing his hands behind his head into his signature pose.
"Why? Feeling a bit confident you'll beat the time?" Yomikawa asked while having a teasing tone in her voice given that she knew what the boy was capable of.
"Maaaybe. Haha!"
"Well, since I have this obstacle course adjusted for high schoolers instead of Anti-Skill trainees, I'd say the best time is about six minutes."
"Six minutes? You told me it was five!" Touma shouted, pointing his finger at the older busty woman.
"That was because I know you, Kamijou. I'm aware that you tend to get yourself involved in some… let's say random incidents. And you've proven yourself quite agile."
"Can't blame you there. This helpless Kamijou doesn't do it on purpose… all the time."
Taking a step toward the obstacle course and checking out everything in front of him, Sora couldn't help but chuckle to himself. This was going to be a piece of cake!
"Yomikawa."
"I take it that you're ready?"
"Yep! Just say when."
Pulling out her phone from her pocket, Yomikawa prepped the device to act as a timer for the boy. She gave Sora one last look giving him a nod to let him know that everything was ready. This led Sora to take a running stance and readied himself.
What he would do next would leave the teacher and student shocked. Granted, Yomikawa already had an idea about the boy's abilities, but she was still startled by the result.
"Go!"
*Breakpoint*
"How in the world?" Touma muttered while walking right next to the Keyblade wielder.
"Ahaha. I don't know what to say exactly. Experience maybe?" Sora replied, crossing his arms behind his head and having cheerful look on his face.
"You beat the time Yomikawa set."
"No biggie."
"Sora" Yomikawa said, catching up to the two boys after closing the gym doors. "You beat the record. And you beat the Anti-Skill personal best."
"Oh… guess I was lucky" Sora nonchalantly responded.
"You beat it on your first try."
"…I was really lucky."
"Right. *sigh* I should have figured that you would beat the time I told you. I also shouldn't be too surprised after what I saw you do today. But still, it's hard to wrap my head around the idea that you completed the course like it was nothing" Yomikawa stated to the boy while having both a smile and an exhausted look on her face.
"So, what now, Sensei? Are we still in trouble?" Touma had to ask the question that was gnawing at his head.
"Normally, yes. But today's been strange enough as it is. Let's get you back to class Kamijou. Sora and I still need to make sure he's got all his paperwork submitted for the Academy City's database."
"Great…" Touma said, hoping that he wouldn't receive a boulder-crushing hit from the Iron Wall.
"Hey, Yomikawa" Sora addressed the blue-haired teacher.
"Yeah, Sora. What's up?"
"After we get my paperwork done, then what's next?"
"…what's next huh."
Stopping in her tracks and looking over at Sora who also stopped, Yomikawa had to really give the boy's question some thought. So much had happened in such a short amount of time. The young woman didn't have a clear idea of what was going to happen next.
Facing the boy in question, she decided to put off a collected face and give him an answer. Something that would give him a minute to pause and think about.
"Well, depending on what your status in the database is looking like on my Anti-Skill side of things. If you're in the clear, then we can get you started on the ickier side of things. Finances and living quarters and of course education occupancy."
"Oof. That sounds fun" Sora humorously stated.
"What. Afraid of a few little books?" Yomikawa joked with the boy.
"Nah. It's not the books I'm worried about. It's the tests."
"Tell me about it" Touma added his two cents.
"Well, I don't see what's so bad about tests. I mean, it sounds like you're more scared of tests than dealing with those monsters today."
"Haha… You might be right about that idea" Sora said while chuckling.
Before she could say anything else to the boy, Yomikawa looked ahead and could see a familiar face making her way toward her and the two spiky-haired boys.
"Komoe? What are you doing over here? Don't you have a class right now?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. But I was asked to come to the teacher's lounge for something. I had Fukiyose-san manage the class while I'm out."
"Of course," Touma said under his breath.
"Why'd you get called to the lounge?" Yomikawa asked, confused about the situation.
"It had something to do with you and Sora."
"Something to do with us?" Sora asked.
"Yep. Now, if you two could stop by there that would be great. And Kamijou?"
"Y-Yes, Sensei?"
"Why don't we take a walk back to class? Wouldn't want you missing out on today's lecture."
Seeing no way out of this predicament, Touma could only nod while glancing over at Sora and Yomikawa. He figured attending the rest of today's classes, which was only one more class, wouldn't hurt. Hence, he followed Komoe back to class leaving the other two by themselves again.
"Well, shall we see what's up? Maybe it's about your documents?"
"Sure! Let's go check it out."
With that being said, the two began making their way to the teacher's lounge. Hoping that whatever was there was good news.
As soon as the two entered the teacher's lounge, Sora was puzzled at what he was seeing.
Standing there in the middle of the room was a strange-looking machine that had a white color to it with a red-tinted ball at the top of its head. And what was even stranger was that the machine had what appeared to be a scanner for its eyes with a speaker where its mouth should have been. Plus, it had silver robotic hands which were holding a stack of papers.
"Um… what?"
"I have no idea. I've never seen a machine of this design before. And how did it get in the school?" Yomikawa questioned.
Deciding to see what was up, Sora walked up to the machine and greeted it with a friendly smile.
"Hi, there! Err… nice to meet you. I'm Sora. Do you- Can you speak?"
Suddenly the machine started waving its arms and basically giving Sora the stack of papers that it was holding. This caused the boy to take the stack and look over at Yomikawa who was puzzled about the whole thing. She then took one look at the paper and realization dawned on her.
"Oh! Sora, do you know what this is?"
"No. Should I?"
"It's your papers!
Sora had a surprised expression on his face.
"My papers? What does- Oh! Was I accepted then!?"
"Not sure. Let me look."
Grabbing the papers and taking a seat Yomikawa got to work looking over the papers while Sora awkwardly stood there while smiling and waving at the machine.
Consequently, the Keyblade wielder wasn't sure if his mind was playing tricks on him but he could have sworn that the machine waved back or looked like it wanted to wave back and just moved one of its arms.
But before he could ponder the idea anymore, Yomikawa suddenly bolted up from her seat.
"Shoot! I think I left my Anti-Skill badge back in the gym. Sora, wait here please."
"Got it. I'm not going anywhere."
Nodding at the boy's response, Yomikawa got up from her seat and made her way out of the lounge leaving Sora and the machine alone.
*Breakpoint*
However, out of nowhere, the machine started to make a clicking noise before what sounded like a lever being opened could be heard causing Sora to look over at the robot and feel his jaw drop to the floor.
"It's so great to see you, kupo!"
Standing or rather floating inside the machine was a small white creature with purple wings on its back while having small hands and feet and a large red nose. But the standing out feature was the large red ball hanging atop its head. A Moogle.
"Wh-What!? How!? I…Wha?" Sora was at a loss for words.
"Heehee. I figured you would be like that, kupo."
"H-How are you here? Um… Sorry I don't know your name."
"It's not a problem at all, Sora. My name is Moogla, kupo" the Moogle now known as Moogla stated.
"Moogla… that's a nice name."
"Thank you, kupo!"
"Have… I met you before. Or done business with you on my journeys before?" Sora asked, curious if Moogla and he had met before.
"I'm afraid not. This is our first-time meeting. But! I did hear of all the crazy adventures you've been involved in from my family, kupo."
"Your family? Oh! The Moogles that I've met in the different worlds."
"Yep! Though, not every Moogle you've met is my sibling. But still, nonetheless, I know very much who you are, kupo."
Realization seemed to hit Sora at that moment when he put two and two together.
"Wait!? Your family. Can you get in contact with them right now!?" Sora hurriedly asked.
If there was a way to contact Moogla's family, then he could let his friends know that he was okay!
Hearing this, Moogla's ball on her head suddenly started drooping down and she lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, Sora… I don't think that will be possible, kupo."
"Huh? How…come. Did I come off too strong?"
"Not at all, kupo. It's just… I haven't been able to contact my family in quite some time, kupo" Moogla sadly replied.
"Oh no…"
"Yeah… I don't know what happened. But it's been like that for several months now. I have no way of contacting them since communication between other worlds is still something that's being worked on as we speak, kupo."
"Right…" Sora murmured as he pulled out his Gummiphone and started looking at it.
He still didn't know much about the device or how it was created or internally worked. But now he was more appreciative of the technology behind it.
"How long have you been here? In this world?"
"For about a couple of months now. This world is very different from other worlds I've visited before. The concept of magic is very different from what you or I are familiar with. And for a while, I was worried that my time here would be really bad, or someone might do something bad to me, kupo" Moogla said while floating back and forth around Sora.
"But I was found by a very nice old man! I later found out that he has a great deal of influence in this world or rather this city. He's actually someone you've just met, kupo."
Taking a second to process Moogla's statement and ponder about everyone that he's met just today, Sora was puzzled until he recalled a certain doctor.
"No way! You met Heaven Canceller!?"
"Yep! He's quite wise for how old he is. Though, I think he's lying about his age, kupo."
"Ahaha! I bet. So, you're working for him?" Sora asked.
"To some degree. I help him when it comes to situations involving business or finances since I'm quite familiar with all that stuff. Coming from a business selling to other heroes on other worlds does rack up experience and skills, kupo" Moogla explained to Sora.
"However, I am also working on building a business of my own selling and trading items of various degrees, kupo."
"Really? Like what?"
"Well, right now I've managed to get a sponsorship in place for a certain brand of milk that's extremely popular throughout the city. Along with supporting and partnering with a bunch of event organizations that are scattered across the city since Academy City tends to go big with its activities given that it's mostly focused on esper related education and activities, kupo" Moogla stated.
"Wow. Sounds like you've got things going well for you."
"You're right about that. But I've still got a long way to go, kupo."
"And I'm guessing Heaven Canceller asked you to stop by and drop off the papers directed to me?" Sora questioned, eyeing the menacing stack of papers.
"Right again! He said that everything went through successfully and that Yomikawa would help you get the rest of the paperwork done to have you be situated in Academy City. Plus, he also said that your new Academy City I.D. and newly registered bank account card would be somewhere in that stack, kupo."
"Haha… I guess I should get used to things being a bit more complex huh?" Sora asked Moogla while looking overwhelmed.
"It's quite a lot to process huh? Don't worry. I was like that at first but after getting used to everything then things made more sense, kupo" Moogla replied, getting Sora to smile at the kind words.
"Thanks, Moogla. *sigh* I… It's really nice to see a familiar face…"
Sora couldn't help the sad tone he had while saying that. Being in a new world all on your own was quite the hurdle. But seeing something or someone from back home did manage to get him to feel a bit better.
"I'll bet… hearing about what you and your friends went through… It's… quite scary, kupo."
Grasping at his right hand slowly, Sora couldn't help but let out a small smile, "…Yeah."
"But still, thank you. For what you and your friends have done, kupo."
Hearing the unexpected thank you, Sora couldn't help but feel warm and a sense of appreciation flow to his heart.
Shaking his head and pushing the sad feelings roaming throughout his heart to the side, Sora suddenly recalled a very important matter he neglected to focus on, but seeing the floating Moogle in front of him brought that matter back.
"Hey, Moogla, you said that you were technically still in business right?"
"Correct, kupo."
"Is there any way for me to exchange my Munny?"
"Your Munny?"
"Yeah, I was just curious since this I don't think this world uses Munny. But instead uses some other form of currency" Sora explained to Moogla.
Spinning around in the air and entering the machine that was housing her, Moogla started moving her small hands around until she found what appeared to be a strange-looking device with a funnel at the top of it.
"I haven't used this thing for quite some time, but it should work just like usual, kupo."
"What's that?"
"It's something that one of my brothers and I created. It processes any amount of Munny and checks the balance. Giving us Moogles a faster way of checking someone's finances. But since this world or rather city uses a different kind of currency then I had to put this tool away, kupo" Moogla said while holding the device.
"That's neat. So, I take it you can convert my Munny to Academy City's currency?"
"Yep! Thankfully, I've managed to work out a connection with the bank which is standing at a good level for transactions or trading. Could you go and grab your new bank card while I make sure everything is all good, kupo?"
"No problem!"
Walking over to the intimidating stack of papers, Sora made sure to not topple over the large stack and began looking for the card. And felt what he suspected was a card and pulled it out and looked down at his hand only to find out that it was his I.D., and the picture was the one he took at the hospital.
Chuckling at his photo, Sora put the I.D. back on top of the stack of paper and continued looking for his new bank card. Luckily, he felt another card and pulled it out of the stack. He was now looking at a white card that had the initials "A.C.E."
Turning the card around and looking at the back, Sora spotted his name on the card along with the full name of "A.C.E." which was Academy City Express. This must have been his new bank card.
Making his way to Moogla, Sora walked up to her and handed her the card.
"Got it right here."
"Thank you! Now, let's see your Munny, kupo."
Reaching into his pants pocket, Sora pulled out the sack that he usually carried all his Munny in. However, while pulling the bag out, he realized just how heavy it was and had to carry it with both of his hands. Nervously looking over at Moogla, he realized that he might have saved up quite a bit of Munny.
"Guess I was carrying around a piggy bank? Ahaha."
That attempt at a joke suddenly made him realize that his new friend Ham who was back in the Toy Box world he visited where everyone was a toy was actually a piggy bank.
"Oooh! I'm curious about how much there is in there. Here, pour the Munny down the funnel and we shall see what you have."
"Right!"
Doing as told, Sora began to pour the Munny sack into the funnel watching as all the currency was disappearing. He didn't know how and just summed it up to magic.
Once the bag was now completely empty, Sora folded the bag and put it back into his pants pocket for later use.
"Alrighty! Let's see how much you've accumulated in your travels, kupo."
Pressing a few buttons on the device, Moogla and Sora watched as the screen on the device started increasing. The counting soon stopped on a number that caused the spiky-haired boy to tilt his head and look at the Moogle weirdly.
"Hey, Moogla, I… think your device is off. Why are there so many zeros?"
The floating Moogle slowly turned her head to look at Sora while just staring at him. She would then shake her head and clarify to the Keyblade wielder.
"…Sora. What you're seeing is correct, kupo" Moogla bluntly replied.
Hearing that, if Sora was drinking anything then he would have to spit it out in both shock and confusion, however, he was not holding a beverage in his hands and instead started choking on air.
It would be a few seconds until he calmed himself down and had to check the device's screen to see what the Munny conversion turned out to be.
"T-There's gotta be a mistake, right? I mean, that seems like a whole lot of Munny" Sora tried reasoning with the Moogle.
"Actually, that's in what's called Yen, Japan's currency, kupo."
"Japan?"
"That's the name of the country you are in now. Sora, not to be harsh but maybe you should take a look at this world's map and get an idea of the layout. You'll also be surprised to find how big Academy City is, kupo" Moogla explained to the otherworldly visitor.
"Right. I'll be sure to ask Touma about that… without raising awareness."
"Good to hear, kupo."
"Now…" Taking another look at the amount being displayed on Moogla's device, Sora had to ask a question that he had no idea what the answer would come out to be.
"What should I do now?"
"Well, thanks to checking out your new bank card I can set it up to receive separate installments of your exchanged Munny. It'll take a few days until the full amount is deposited into your account. I believe Heaven Canceller might have included more information for you to look over regarding your Academy City accounts and whatnot, kupo."
Without warning, Moogla floated up to Sora until she was only a few inches away from him.
"Also, I believe you have a phone with you if I'm correct. Could you pull that out please, kupo?"
"Sure. What for?"
"I'll install an application onto it that will let you see how much Munny is currently on your bank card, kupo."
"Whoa! How are you able to do that? And how did you get so good with technology?" Sora asked while amazed at Moogla's skills.
"A lot of practice. Plus, it's a hobby of mine that I managed to work into my business, kupo."
After tapping away at the boy's device, Moogla now gave it one last look and then handed it back to him.
"There we go! All good. Now, you'll be able to see your current Academy City balance at any time. Along with other features, I'm not sure you'll need them now but if anything happens there are instructions on the application to help you in case you get lost, kupo" Moogla explained while giving the boy a thumbs up.
"*phew* That's great to hear. There's a lot here…" Sora replied, doing his best to make sure none of what Moogla was explaining went over his head.
"As I said, it's a lot to take in but you'll get used to it with some practice. And don't forget to ask for help, kupo."
"That's nice to hear. And… does Heaven Canceller know about… you know…the other worlds?"
"Hmm… I want to say no. But I'm not so sure. He didn't really question me on my appearance and helped me get settled here in the city. If he does, then he's keeping it to himself, kupo" Moogla said while wondering about the doctor and what he truly does know.
"I see… what else… Oh! You said that you were still in business and whatnot. Will I be able to find you in the city? Or do I have to go to a certain location?" Sora asked, wondering where he could find the Moogle later.
"Excellent question! Around the city, there will be other machines that look like the one I'm operating now. All you need to do is grab its attention and it'll recognize you while showing a small but limited item shop for you to exchange your Yen or Munny depending on what you have at the time, kupo" Moogla elaborated to the boy who had an excited look on his face.
"Nice! I take it you'll be elsewhere since it sounds like these machines are running without you inside them?"
"Correct! Thanks to Academy City's advancement with technology, it was somewhat easy to take old, refurbished machines and fix them up while giving them the task of roaming the city. They normally act as cleaner robots that pick up trash but have a secret function of acting like a Moogle shop, kupo."
"Heh. I can't wait to see- "
Suddenly, before Sora could finish speaking, the sound of someone making their way to the teacher's lounge could be heard. Moogla immediately flew into her machine and started to close it before speaking to him one last time.
"Sorry for the rush. I'll make sure to get your Munny transferred into your bank card and into Yen. But I don't want to freak anyone out" Moogla said to Sora who could only nod his head.
"Got it. And thanks once again, Moogla. Take care."
"Yep! Bye kupo!"
And with that, the machine holding Moogla began to close making it look like it never even opened or that the Moogle was never in the teacher's lounge.
*Breakpoint*
The door to the teacher's lounge opened and Yomikawa had an exhausted look on her face.
"Sorry, Sora. Had to deal with a couple of students causing a ruckus. Followed by a few teachers coming up and asking questions about the incident" Yomikawa stated while making her way into the teacher's lounge.
"You're good. I was just… relaxing here…" Sora replied while shooting the machine that Moogla was sitting an unsuspecting look.
"Uh… ha. Okay? Anyway, let's take a look at those papers."
Shuffling the stack of papers around, Yomikawa seemed to know what she was doing. Moving the once menacing stack around until it was now separated into separate piles, Sora relaxed a bit knowing that looking over everything now didn't look so intimidating.
"Let's see… this pile deals with your residency…"
"Where I'll be staying?" Sora asked, having forgotten a vital part of his time in this world.
Where would he be staying?
"Yep. And from the gist of it…"
Sorting the papers so that she could read them all like a book, Yomikawa seemed to speed through the entire pile until she let out a huff of air.
"You now have a dorm that's located… huh. Well, I'll be…"
"What?"
"Your new dorm is located next to someone that you know. I'll let him show you to your place."
"…Ok?" Sora wasn't sure what the blue-haired woman meant but he would worry about it later.
Closing her eyes and trying to find out where she went wrong with her statement, Yomikawa now opened her eyes and stared at Sora who was unsure of what was happening to the woman.
"It's Kamijou. He's the someone I meant."
"Ooooooh… you could have just said that."
"Trying to lighten the mood. Paperwork is such a drag sometimes."
"Right, right. Gotcha there" Sora replied.
"And this pile- "
Picking up another pile of papers, Yomikawa once again speedily read through all of it and had a puzzled look on her face.
"Err… I guess you already have an account associated with the bank. Meaning that your card is good to go. Don't lose your card otherwise, it's a pain to get a new one. Trust me, I know" Yomikawa stated while thinking more about how convenient everything was sounding and started looking around for the card stated in the papers.
"Got it. And I take it that this is the card?" Sora asked, holding up the card that Moogla had him pick up.
"Yep. That's it. I take it you saw it in the stack?"
"Haha, I couldn't help it."
"Mm. And now the final pile."
Grabbing the last pile, Yomikawa seemed to zoom through the papers and had another contemplative look on her face. This was not a good sign to Sora.
"What's wrong?"
"*sigh* Something's not right… basically, you'll be attending school. But not just any school – this school. And you'll be assigned to Kamijou's class and…"
Yomikawa's silence did not make Sora feel any better. His hands started to get sweaty and he tried to read the expression on her face while hoping that nothing bad was going to be said.
"… as of this moment you are not classified under the leveling system."
Sora blinked a few times before he waved his hand in the air and let out a sigh of relief.
"Pssh. That's all. I don't see what's wrong with that?"
"A lot, Sora. A lot is wrong with this. Practically everyone has now seen you on the news. And not to state the obvious but the abilities you showed off were not just something to cast off" Yomikawa explained while bringing a hand to her forehead and looking over the pile of paper again.
"But I'm classified as an unknown. I don't get what's the big deal."
"The big deal is that people will come looking for you and asking you what level you are. And that's bound to bring some unwanted attention."
Grimacing at the point the teacher just made, Sora also remembered that he was hiding the fact that he used magic and instead had an esper power that was related to light manipulation. But realizing that he now had both the Magic and Science Side taking an interest in him, he let out a loud sigh. Things were definitely going to get complicated.
"So, what do I do? Is there anything I can do?" Sora questioned Yomikawa who began to take on a thinking pose.
"For now, I would just go along the lines that your ability is being re-evaluated and you'll be going in for tests soon to determine what level you truly are. Which reminds me…"
Sora immediately gulped. He began to grow worried that she would prod him for complicated questions that required depth.
"You'll need a proper schedule and list of homework since now you'll be attending classes here."
"…Yay…" the Keyblade wielder said weakly.
"But I can talk to Komoe about that later. Looks like class is about to let out" the Anti-Skill officer said while taking a peek at the clock and seeing classes were about to let out for the day.
"Again… Thanks, Yomikawa. I doubt I would have gotten this far without you" Sora said while feeling grateful to the teacher.
"Don't worry about it, Sora. It's our job as not only adults but teachers to lend support to students and help them on their way to growing up" Yomikawa replied, feeling appreciated by the boy's words.
"Well then, what now?"
"Now. You should head on over to Komoe's classroom. By the time you get to her class, it should be over."
"Got it. See you later, Yomikawa. And… I'll say it again, thanks."
Excusing himself from the room, once Sora was out of the teacher's lounge, Yomikawa couldn't help but smile to herself. He was an interesting teen but that cheerful personality of his made her glad that she helped him. The boy really did have a full day of craziness. Speaking of crazy…
Looking over at the strange machine that had just been idly sitting by and not doing anything seemed to perk up and make its way over to the blue-haired teacher. This should have alarmed Yomikawa but instead, she just kept her eye on the robot.
'Such a strange looking machine… wonder if it's a new cleaning model?' the Anti-Skill woman thought to herself.
But rather than worry about it any more than she needed to, Yomikawa went back to looking over Sora's paperwork just to make sure the boy would be set down the right path. She also began to wonder what else was going to happen to him. The teen years were when everyone experienced amazing and memorable times. She began to wonder what memories Sora was about to make in his time at Academy City.
*Breakpoint*
Walking down the school hallway and encountering many of the other students, Sora began to wonder if this is what his old high school at Destiny Islands would have been like. Everyone coming out of class and meeting up with each other to discuss plans of hanging out or getting together to plan future events. Would he, Kairi, and Riku be doing the same thing?
That thought of his would-be dragged to the back of his head as he suddenly realized that many of the students were also beginning to look at him strangely. Some students even started whispering to each other while also watching his every movement. This left Sora puzzled until he remembered the elephant in the room. The news coverage of the Heartless attack.
While he shouldn't be surprised about this thanks to his earlier confrontation with Komoe's class, Sora still felt slightly off put that he gained so much attention on him thanks to stepping in and dealing with the Heartless. However, he realized that even if he was put into another similar situation, he would step in without hesitation. But still… seeing everyone staring at him made him feel weirded out. So, being the kind of person he is, Sora waved at practically everyone.
"Hey there."
Seeing the boy pay everyone attention, all the students looked shocked and either waved back at Sora or froze up and weren't sure what to do now. This got the Keyblade wielder to fight back a chuckle while continuing to make his way down the hall.
Furthermore, what the otherworldly hero did not realize was that there was a certain older girl who saw the boy walk away. She began to examine him from a distance and couldn't help but smirk to herself. Appearance-wise, the older girl had shoulder-length black hair, fringe tied back, and an attractive figure. She was also currently wearing a school-issued sailor uniform. She also had a nickname within the school which was that of the "Beauty Senpai."
But before she could examine the Keyblade wielder any longer, someone called out to her which drew her attention back to focus.
"Kumokawa-san?" one of the female students said to the black-haired girl.
"Senpai?" another student muttered, looking at the girl who appeared to be in deep thought.
"Huh? Oh? Sorry was just thinking about something."
Nodding at the girl's comment, the students went back to looking in the direction that Sora was walking having their own thoughts about the boy who was featured in the news.
However, Kumokawa Seria kept her eye on the Keyblade wielder while also having a small glint in her eye.
'I see… guess they've got plans for you. But to have you be so close to my cute kouhai… I wonder…' Kumokawa thought while observing the brown spiky-haired boy.
Whatever the higher-ups of Academy City were plotting around the boy who wielded the giant key, it was certainly not anything good. The dark-haired girl knew for a fact that the boy's life was going to become more difficult. And, seeing that he was so close to a certain Kamijou Touma it was safe to say things were not going to be easy for either of them.
*Breakpoint*
Standing outside the classroom door, Sora didn't want to waltz right in and figured to knock before entering. To his surprise, no one responded which gave him the okay to go in.
Upon entering, he saw only a few students now in the class including Touma's friends Aogami and Fukiyose followed by Komoe who looked to be putting something away. There was still no sign of Tsuchimikado which wasn't that surprising. His eyes then tracked across the room and spotted a fellow spiky-haired boy who had his face planted down on his desk.
"Uh… Touma? You good?" Sora asked, tilting his head, and looking concerned.
"This Kamijou is doing incredibly well. Thanks for asking" Touma replied while having his voice be muffled by the desk.
"Oh, lighten up. Attending class for once is not going to hurt you physically" Fukiyose commented while walking over to the boy's desk.
"Look on the bright side, at least he showed back up and had a valid excuse. Unlike Tsuchimikado who just took off" Aogami reasoned to the Iron Wall girl.
"*sigh* Don't remind me. That blonde-headed idiot…" Fukiyose responded by slamming her fist into her hand and having a small burst of wind appear on impact.
"Let me be clear, Fukiyose. This poor Kamijou may be… well, poor. But he is not hopelessly stupid. It's just… there's so much homework!"
"I don't know about that…" Aogami muttered, remembering Kamijou's scores on his last test.
Hearing what the blue-haired Delta Force member said, Touma, shot him a deadpan look. This caused Aogami to respond with a thumbs-up.
"Well, you wouldn't have so much homework if you didn't ditch class all the time" Fukiyose stated.
"It's not my fault! I'll have you know that this Kamijou does his very best to show up to class like a good, ordinary high school student. But my misfortune tends to be the bane of that lifestyle."
"Seriously Kamijou? You're going to use your so-called misfortune as an excuse again?"
"You don't understand. I do my very best to follow a straight path to school to ensure I make it on time."
"And yet you come up with the most ridiculous sorts of reasons for why you either show up late or don't show up at all," Fukiyose said to counter the boy's weak reasoning.
"Ha… you have it lucky. You probably get to ride comfortably on a bus and do nothing but sit in a relatively safe space until you reach the school. Meanwhile, life is not so kind to this poor Kamijou and he has to deal with being chased by an old lady's dogs, and groups of thugs either harassing unsuspecting girls or thinking that I'm messing with them which results in getting chased for several blocks until they run out of stamina, or tripping on a bottle left undisposed of and ending up in a hole that's being worked on by the hard construction workers of Academy City" Touma elaborated to the dark-haired girl.
Sora couldn't help but glance over at the boy and feel sad for him while also amazed at the kinds of situations that he managed to find himself involved in before attending class. It was also right then that he took another look at Touma, Fukiyose, and Aogami continuing to talk about Touma's mishaps or him just coming up with excuses to miss class which resulted in him standing up to defend himself.
The sight of the three friends arguing with each other made Sora's heart twinge slightly. He began to look around the classroom and have a single thought looming in his head.
His friends.
Seeing the trio of friends talking with each other made him smile while recalling moments he shared with his two best friends. But before he could start thinking more about those two and feel even more sad, Komoe now appeared next to the trio while smiling.
"It's good to see you three getting along."
"We're not!"
"We're not!"
Came the reply of both Touma and Fukiyose while Aogami merely shook his head.
"Well, either way, you're still talking with each other. And it looks like you're all interested in what each other has to say."
"Sensei, these two idiots need to learn to quit causing a commotion in class. And besides, where is the last idiot? Didn't he say that he had stomach problems?" Fukiyose said to the teacher.
"I'm not sure where he went but I'm disappointed that he skipped class" Komoe commented while growing sad that her student would miss her class.
"That's rough. Making Sensei start to cry" Aogami replied. "Isn't that Kami-yan's job though? Since he's always missing class."
"Oi! Are we really going to start this discussion over again!"
Moving the topic away from causing another argument amongst the trio, Komoe looked over at Sora who continued to watch the group of friends.
"Sora, were you able to get everything cleared up with Yomikawa?"
"Yep. I believe we got most of it done" Sora answered the teacher's question.
"Great to hear! Well, I'll head on over to see what's going on. Kamijou, you should get Sora situated and show him around the city."
Hearing Sensei's idea, Touma figured that he could indeed do that as well as make it in time to get to the sale that was going on later today. Killing two birds with one stone or however, that phrase went.
Nodding his head, the wielder of Imagine Breaker looked over at Sora to gauge his reaction. The boy immediately gave a thumbs-up to the idea.
"All right then, we'll go do that."
"Mm! Take care and don't forget about the extra lessons we'll be having tomorrow, Kamijou-chan!" Komoe stated extremely sweetly to Touma who had a crestfallen look on his face.
"Geh…" was the sound coming out of the boy's mouth.
"Heh. We'll see if Tsuchimikado shows up tomorrow as well" Aogami added while grinning maliciously.
"*sigh* I'll worry about it later. Come on, Sora. We've got a lot of ground to cover."
"Right! See you guys later."
Waving back at the newcomer, Sora was really happy to have made a few new friends in his short amount of time being in this world. The boy followed Touma making his way out of the class and toward the exit of the school. The hallway had died down from all the commotion earlier which was nice but also raised another concern. How would the rest of the city act?
Standing outside the school now, Sora followed next to Touma while pulling his phone out and looking through it to see what his current balance of Munny err… Yen was now. Thanks to Moogla, it was as simple as tapping an emblem of a Moogle on his phone and then being shown a bunch of other information which he didn't know anything about. But what stood out was that there were small blobs of clues to help him navigate followed by seeing how much Yen he had now.
He figured he owed it to Touma and wanted to do something nice for him.
"Hey, Touma, what now?"
"Well… seeing that we're getting into the evening."
Looking up at the sky, Sora also realized that the day was coming into the later hours of the day. He really did have one eventful-filled day.
"I should probably go and get a few groceries for my dorm. Chances are that Index ate everything…again."
Hearing this, Sora now knew how he wanted to thank Touma for all of his help today and most likely for the future as well.
"Touma! Let me take of that."
The boy wielding Imagine Breaker raised his eyebrows.
"Huh? Take care of what? My bag?"
"No, no. Your groceries."
Startled by what he heard, Kamijou Touma didn't know whether he got hit in the head by Fukiyose earlier and was now hearing things and facing the now permanent damage to his head or if he just made up in his imagination that Sora was offering to pay for his groceries. This led to him shaking his head.
"Come again? For a second, this Kamijou could have sworn that you said you'd pay for my groceries."
"I did."
Guess he didn't have head damage. Yet.
"Sora, I appreciate the offer but I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"I just can't. It'll be wrong of me to ask you to do something like that. Besides, I don't know if you've forgotten but how are you going to pay for the groceries in case you do get them?" Touma asked the brown-haired boy.
"With this!"
Throwing his hand into his pocket, Sora pulled out his newly issued bank card and showed it off to Touma.
"When did you get this?"
"Earlier when I was with Yomikawa getting me all situated with the Academy City database. So much paperwork…" Sora responded while feeling his brain fry up at the information overload he recalled and realized that he'd have to learn.
"I see…"
"Oh! Yomikawa also said that you would be able to show me to where my new dorm is."
"Your new dorm? What the- "
Almost by luck or fate, Touma's phone started going off. Opening the device up, he was met with what could only be called coincidence. This led to him reading a wall of text from his physical education sensei.
"Sorry! I forgot to send this out earlier but Sora was issued a dorm to himself since he's now going to be a student at our school. And wouldn't you know it, his dorm is right next to yours. Do be sure to show him around and whatnot. Tomorrow Komoe and I will break down Sora's test results and get him caught up to speed on the school year. We'll discuss it and relay the information to you tomorrow during the extra lessons. Don't forget! Take care!"
Yomikawa really did know how to drop a ton of information on you out of nowhere.
"Ha… Well, that makes this Kamijou's life easy. For once. But getting back on track, Sora I can't have you pay for my groceries. That doesn't sit right with me" Touma argued.
"Hmm."
Thinking about how he could get the stubborn boy to cooperate and let him do something nice, Sora was about to keep on pushing the idea until he thought of something that would be a win-win scenario.
"How about this, Touma? You let me buy you your groceries- "
"Again, I appreciate the offer, but this Kamijou doesn't want to have to owe you anything."
"I didn't finish. You let me buy your groceries while I also buy my own groceries."
Touma tilted his head while listening intently.
"And then we work together to have dinner together. You, me, and Index. Oh! Can't forget Sphynx. The four of us eating together" Sora explained while raising his hands and having a confident smile on his face knowing he set his plan in motion.
Considering the way Sora worded his explanation, Touma wanted to counter it yet again with a determined comment about declining the offer… but hearing the boy's reasoning made him doubt his willpower.
'A meal together does sound nice…'
"Come on, Touma! Let me at least do this for you once. You've helped me a great deal today and the way things are going you're probably going to help me a whole lot more."
Sighing in defeat there was nothing else to do but accept the friendly offer. Besides, it wasn't like this kind of offer ever happened. It'll probably be the first and last time it ever happens.
"…Fine. *sigh* All right. You win."
"Yes!" Sora exclaimed while pumping his fist.
"Let's get going. It's getting closer to the evening hours and that's when everyone starts hauling ass to the stores" Touma stated while taking on a thinking pose.
With Sora's influential offer, he would be able to purchase a little more than usual which got him thinking about what he could cook up to quell the monster in his dorm known as Index.
After giving it some thought, he finally landed on something that would not only appease the dorm-dwelling beast but be something that Sora might like a good deal. Plus, he was craving this dish for some time now.
"How about curry?"
"Curry? What's that?"
"Hold up. Sora, what did you just say?"
"Um… what's curry?" Sora repeated his question while feeling as if he did something wrong.
"…Are you serious?"
"Touma, I'm being serious. I'm not sure I know what curry is. I don't think I've cooked it before."
This got Sora to start wondering if he cooked anything related to curry back in his time in Twilight Town with Uncle Scrooge and little chief. But nothing came to mind leaving him to shake his head.
"What have you done in life?"
"What?" Sora responded while looking stunned by that comment.
"Nevermind. *sigh* That's it. We- No. I have a mission now!" Turning to look at Sora, Touma raised his right fist into the air and now pointed it at the puzzled Keyblade wielder.
"Sora… Your life has been clouded. Clouded by illusions that you yourself were not aware of. But that ends today. As your friend, I will do what I must and destroy those illusions blocking you from knowing what curry tastes like!" Touma shouted with such conviction and determination that Sora was now amazed instead of confused.
Smiling at the boy and crossing his hands behind his head, Sora was thankful. In a strange kind of way, he didn't know what was happening now.
"Thanks, Touma… I guess?"
"You're welcome. Now, let's do this!"
*Breakpoint*
Later into the evening…
Making their way to the dorm complex that was not only housing students of Academy City but Touma as well, the two boys were chatting away while carrying many bags with them. They had gotten through a unique experience together now. Battling the one thing that Sora had never dealt with in his entire life.
Hungry Level 0 students looking to buy discounted food at rush hour.
"Hahaha! We did it. I never thought it would be possible."
"Yeah, we did. But is it always like that?"
"You mean all the starving Level 0 students fighting tooth and nail for the best-priced food? Then, yeah, it's always like that. But it only happens once a week. The rest of the time everyone is really chill and friendly" Touma explained while having a victory smile plastered on his face.
"That's good to hear. Everyone looked ready to kill each other. Especially that one guy with the long hair. He tackled that one other guy who was wearing the hat" Sora explained, recalling the carnage inside the store.
"Oh? That's Shuichi and Tsubaki. Those guys go to a different school but they're pretty chill. I often see them at the store, and we chat for a bit. Shuichi does have a killer uppercut though. I got into a fight with him one time."
"Err… what did you two fight over? I'm guessing it was over food" Sora asked, growing curious about the situation.
"It was over a sack of potatoes that were discounted at sixty percent. That was a one-time deal and had never happened before! Shuichi and I teamed up to fight everyone for the potatoes and at the end when it was just the two of us we duked it out" Touma said, reminiscing about the event in the store.
"Who won?"
"I did, of course."
Perking up, Sora was excited to hear his friend win the duel.
"Really!?"
"No. Sorry. That was a lie. I got thrown back into one of the isles and ended up destroying most of the groceries that I had already picked. Ended up going home with a quarter of what I was supposed to get" Touma replied, head downcast and recalling his defeat.
"Oh… Uh… better luck next time?"
"Oh, I'm winning the next time potatoes are on sale."
Touma said while raising his right hand into the air and balling it up.
Before Sora could respond, he saw the dorm complex coming up into view and started to wonder what his new dorm would look like.
'Is it going to be empty? I mean, I'm glad that I have a place to sleep… I wonder if it's going to be the same size as Touma's?' the Keyblade wielder wondered.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Sora realized that he was now following behind Touma up the stairs and onto the higher levels. Making their way up to the boy's dorm but not before coming across the one that he was assigned and seeing what appeared to be an envelope taped onto the door.
"Looks like the dorm manager knew about you taking the dorm" Touma commented.
"That's nice."
Reaching to pick up the envelope, Sora found inside a key to the dorm followed by paperwork that he did not want to look over. He'd already had an information overload today and the last thing he wanted to do was read what the letter had to say.
Turning to look over at his friend, he wasn't sure what they should do first.
"Hmm. Sora, want to check out your dorm first? And then you can come on over for dinner?"
"Sure! Sounds like a plan."
Nodding at the boy's words, Touma went over to his dorm and began to unlock the door when it suddenly slammed open, and a white blur latched itself onto the boy. Screams could be heard echoing down the dorm hallway and into the city.
"Waaaaitttt! Index! Stoooopppp!"
"Tooooouuummmmaaaa!"
That gnawing feeling you get when you want to step in and help someone with something is exactly what Sora was feeling now watching Index start biting Touma's head. However, he had already taken one for the team and decided to stay out of this.
The biting would continue for another whole minute before the young girl started to sniff something and looked down to see all the groceries.
"Ah! Sphynx! We're saved!"
Appearing out of the nun's clothes was the small calico cat who tilted his head upon seeing Sora again.
"Meow?"
"Hey there, Sphynx! Good to see you again!" Sora replied to the cat while offering a wide smile.
"Oh? Sora? What are you doing here?"
"Well, it's kind of a long story but… I'm going to be your neighbor now."
"That's great to hear! Also…"
Hearing Index suddenly stop talking got Touma and Sora to look at each other. Had something happened?
"Would you mind telling me what happened today?"
"Hm? What happened today?"
"…The TV."
"Ah… right," Sora said, realizing that this was going to be a fun conversation.
"Well, we can talk about it inside while Touma gets dinner ready."
"Well come on in!" Index enthusiastically said while bolting inside the dorm leaving Touma to have a deadpan expression at his roommate's antics.
"Shall we?"
"Yep. Thank you."
The duo now began making their way into the misfortunate boy's dorm all while about ready to have an interesting evening dinner together.
*Breakpoint*
Now situated inside the dorm and leaving Touma to get dinner ready to which Sora asked to help but was declined by the ever-determined chief in the kitchen. He also mentioned something about illusions being destroyed again but that left the Keyblade wielder stumped and decided to just chat with Index.
"All right, where do you want me to start?"
"Start from the beginning. What were those monsters that appeared all over the news? It was being broadcasted front and center even stopping other shows from being shown. I missed my show today thanks to the news."
"Right, well, those dark monsters with the large yellow eyes are known as the Heartless. And they are the manifestations of Darkness from people's hearts" Sora explained.
"The Heartless… why have I never heard of them before?" Index asked the boy.
"I…I'm not sure about that. But my weapon- " Holding his hand out and summoning the Keyblade, Sora showed it to the nun. "Is the only thing that I know of that can completely defeat the Heartless."
"When you say completely defeat the Heartless, what do you mean by that?"
Shrugging his shoulders and pulling out his Gummiphone in case he would need to answer a question that he did not know, Sora continued to explain.
"Anyone is able to kill a Heartless but sooner or later it's going to reappear somewhere else given enough time. But with the Keyblade it stops the Heartless for good."
"Then… it almost sounds like…"
"Huh? What did you say, Index?"
"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking if there was anything I know that might be similar to the Heartless in that a certain item or person can destroy something for good. But I'll need to give it some more thought" Index explained while still thinking if there was anything like that in her vast memory space.
"I see, well, that explains the Heartless. But as for everything else, then that was just me using my abilities" Sora stated.
"Wait, are you serious?" Touma surprisingly asked from the kitchen.
"Yeah, I used my Flowmotion ability which imbues my body with magic spreading around and letting me run up walls or warp to things that are in sight or do all kinds of attacks as well."
"…Sora, how powerful are you?" the spiky-haired misfortunate boy asked.
Taking a second to consider the question, the Destiny Island resident wasn't sure how to respond. Sure, compared to others he was strong but… he still had a lot to learn.
"I'm not sure how to answer that, but what I can say is that when it comes to my friends and those in trouble even if I don't know them, then I'll do what I can to make sure everyone gets to go home safe" Sora affirmed to the boy's question.
"That's really admirable, Sora" Index commented, smiling at the boy's response.
"Nah, not really. You should hear my best friend, Riku's, response. He was someone who had fallen into the Darkness but did everything he could to overcome it, and wouldn't you know it? He overcame it and now fights with both light and darkness. And he's even a Keyblade Master" Sora eagerly said while recalling Riku's journey.
"A Keyblade Master? There's a class ranking?" Touma curiously asked.
"Kind of. I'm still fuzzy around all the details but back when there were a lot of Keyblade wielders they trained to master their skills and when they were ready they went through a test to become a true Keyblade Master."
"Are you a Keyblade Master?" Index asked, relating the magical exam to other classifications in the Church of England.
"I…"
Sora hesitated a bit on answering her question. Thinking about the Mark of Mastery brought a sour taste to his mouth.
"No. I'm not a Keyblade Master. I failed my exam."
In the kitchen, Touma was about done with cooking the curry when he heard Sora's response. This got the spiky-haired boy to start thinking.
'You're kidding me!? How can someone fail a test but do what he did today and not be considered a master?'
Deciding to change the mood after hearing Sora's downcasted response, Index had to wonder about something else.
"Sora… What else are you able to do with your Keyblade?"
"Well funny you should ask that because in all honesty there is still so much that I don't know about the weapon. Again, I was practically self-taught for quite a while before I took the exam. I'm still utterly clueless about a lot of things and not that smart as well."
Before Index could retort Sora for calling himself dumb, Touma had now begun leaving the kitchen and was carrying some plates of curry. Dinner was now done.
"All right, who is hungry?"
"Mmmmmeeeeeeeeee!" Index shouted, leaping toward the plate of food.
"Here you go, Sora."
"Thanks."
"With this, your illusions of not tasting a Japanese classic dish are about to be shattered" Touma commented which got Sora to raise his eyebrows again before focusing back on the food.
"MMMThhhawnkk tywoooo Twouuuma!"
"Index. How many times do I have to tell you? Don't eat with your mouth full."
"Bwehttt it's gwood!"
Smiling at the two friends bickering with each other, Sora decided to try a taste himself and grabbed a spoon, and brought the curry to his mouth.
The Keyblade wielder's eyes suddenly shot up and he had to take a second to realize what he had just done or rather tasted. The curry was good! Scratch that, it was better than good. It was amazing!
"Whoa….what… Touma this is good!"
"Told ya. You can now consider your illusions shattered."
"How is it this good though?!" Sora exclaimed.
"Uh, what do you mean? It's simple curry. Nothing too special."
"You don't have to be so humble. This is amazing!"
"You've got it all wrong. I didn't do anything that special" Touma retorted.
Sora didn't respond and just went back to enjoying the delicious curry. This was definitely one of the best meals he has had in quite some time maybe ever in his life. The boy's food definitely toppled his own cooking.
Making his way to the kitchen and grabbing his own plate of curry followed by Index's second helping, Touma sat down and handed the growing nun her next plate which made her eyes grow wide and light up. She hurriedly grabbed the plate while yelling out thank you.
Now all together, the trio enjoyed a hearty dinner together while laughing and chatting about a variety of things. Leaving the perfect picture of a good time together.
Something that Sora was needing.
*Breakpoint*
After having dinner together and spending some time talking, it wasn't long before Index was full to the point that the young nun flopped down on her bed with Sphynx having a full tummy as well and having smiles on both of their faces.
Sora offered to help Touma with the dishes which the boy was hesitant to accept but ultimately allowed for the help. Leaving the dorm now clean and looking normal minus the messy area around the television thanks to Index but other than that it was clean.
And now standing in the hallway while leaning back against the wall, Sora was talking with Touma about what his next plans were going to be.
"So, tomorrow not everybody has class?"
"Right, except for me, of course."
"Hmm. Do you think that I'll need to go then? I mean, aren't there things for me to do?"
"Yomikawa mentioned in her text wall that she and Komoe will talk about your situation tomorrow. If anything I'll shoot you a text or just come tell you myself" Touma explained.
"Right, then what should I do tomorrow?"
Not sure what the boy should do with his free day, Touma figured it would be best that he get familiar with the city.
"Maybe get used to the city? Take a train to another district or go for a walk. Familiarize yourself so that you don't get lost."
"Yeah, yeah that sounds like fun."
"Do you have a map to get around the city?"
"I don't think so. Do you know where I could get one?"
This led to the misfortunate boy explaining to Sora about where to find a map of the city and opening his strange-looking phone up and seeing that there was actually a map on the device.
Sora was left puzzled about how that happened but suddenly recalled a certain floating Moogle that was tapping away on his Gummiphone.
"Looks like your good. If you need anything else just come knocking. If I'm not here then Index is. She might not be familiar with everything in Academy City but she does know a thing or two."
"Got it. Thanks again, Touma. For everything" Sora said wholeheartedly.
"Again, no problem at all. And have a good night."
"Back at ya! See you."
And with that, Sora excused himself from the boy's dorm and walked over to his own. Pulling out the key that he was given by the dorm manager, he inserted it into the door and opened it to the dorm. Upon first reaction, Sora let out a small smile.
It was nearly identical to Touma's except for the housewarming atmosphere that his had. The entire place was covered in darkness which made him reach for the light switch and see how empty the space was aside from a small television and what appeared to be a rolled-up bed.
Feeling the day's effect take its toll on his body now, Sora kicked off his boots and took off his jacket while unrolling the bed and laying it out. He also reached into his pocket and pulled out his Gummiphone along with two other items that meant quite a deal to him.
Oathkeeper and Oblivion's keychains.
Laying down on the bed, Sora got himself comfy while reaching for the Gummiphone and checking what time it was.
"10:49 P.M."
It wasn't too late but again, so much had happened.
Placing the phone next to him, he then reached for Oathkeeper and Oblivion and could still see that they appeared only partially there in front of him. So many questions popped into his head for why the two keychains were like this but everything ended up leading to another question.
This led to him thinking about everyone back home and how… he wasn't sure he'd ever see them again. But… that was ok. Everyone was safe. Everyone… was… safe…
The Guardian of Light had now fallen asleep and had a sad smile appeared on his face.
*Breakpoint*
Later into the night
Sora could feel something around him. Something that was light?
Suddenly, a wave of invisible air seemed to push down on the boy and a flood of memories began to pour into his consciousness. This forced the sleeping boy to begin seeing all kinds of things. Memories to be exact.
Images of his past adventures and all the amazing abilities and experiences that he was able to experience. Magical spells that he remembered using against the Heartless and how his journey was supported by so many people. All the good and bad times. Everything was now being remembered. Even the bad stuff.
Memories of the Organization and the Heartless and all the villains that he faced in the past. All the difficulties that he faced in his many adventures. It all came rushing back to him. Including the memory of being surrounded by so many new faces. Along with shaking someone's hand who was also wearing a large red cap.
However, that memory soon faded and another one appeared. Only this time it was not a pleasant memory. The sight of a boy with dark grey hair and holding what appeared to be a crossbow gun pointed right at him. With no hesitation in his eyes, the boy pulled the trigger and…
Sora jumped up from laying down on the bed and began to take several fast-paced breaths.
It would be a minute before the boy calmed himself down and began to run a hand through his spiky hair. He was now fully awake and couldn't go back to sleep.
Deciding to check the time, Sora saw the time on his Gummiphone.
"1:23 A.M."
Letting out a sigh, the boy looked at the glass door and figured he could use some fresh air. Now standing outside on his small balcony with a view of a different part of the city, Sora had to admit that Academy City was an amazing place. But there was more to this city than meets the eye.
Moving his sight down to the ground, the boy began to check the dorm complex out and wonder what sights he should check out tomorrow or rather later today. However, in the corner of his eye, Sora spotted something strange. It looked like someone was crawling around the corner of another building a bit away from him. He scrunched his eyes to get a better view but couldn't really see what it was.
Everything soon came to a stop when he realized what it was that he was staring at. When the dark figure moved itself to look around and shift its body, Sora now knew what it was.
A Heartless.
Feeling goosebumps on his arm and his body tense up, the Keyblade wielder took action and rushed to grab his boots and jacket. Sora figured he could unlock his dorm door with his Keyblade and didn't grab his dorm key.
Poking his head out of the balcony, Sora tried to see where the Heartless was now and couldn't see anything. But rather than wait any longer, he closed the glass door and jumped into the air aiming himself to fall to the ground. Upon impact, he rolled on the ground and began to run in the direction that he saw the Heartless in.
'Looks like I'm not getting any sleep tonight.'
*Breakpoint*
In another part of Academy City
Underground in a parking lot, the sound of gunfire could be heard along with screams. Given the appearance of the Heartless, many on the Science Side had decided to take action on their own terms. Which led to many new contracts being sent out for a challenging order.
Capture a monster alive.
Upon hearing of the many incoming requests to capture these monsters, the dark side of Academy City went into an uproar. Not only at the demand but the prize included with the mission.
Hence, this is why in this underground parking lot the sounds of combat were heard. However, no one here was very familiar with these kinds of monsters leading to there being casualties. Cockiness had gotten the best of these dark-side operatives which is why there were now guns placed all over the parking lot followed by what appeared to be debris.
One operative was now laying on the ground with her entire body covered in dirt and blood due to her trying to escape the incoming monsters. So many of her teammates were overwhelmed by the monsters and… she could remember the screams of everyone getting attacked.
What was even more traumatizing was that after the screams came the silence. Just thinking about it made the operative start sobbing and shaking. Looking around the place, the operative saw a walkie-talkie in front of her and figured that if she was quick enough, she could call for backup. But… those monsters are still in the parking lot.
Knowing that time was leaving her, she slammed her fist into the ground and leaped up at the walkie talkie managing to hold it, and started screaming into it.
"Hello! Heeeeelllpp! Pleaaase! Backup! We were overrun! I repeat- "
Before the girl could continue screaming into the device, she turned around and saw many yellow eyes looking at her. Dropping the walkie-talkie, the operative began to run away and thought that she could make it to the upper level and get away. But that was not going to happen.
Appearing in front of her, a puddle of darkness began to appear, and out came many more small creatures leaving the girl with no way out. She then closed her eyes and began sobbing before reaching into her belt and pulling out something that would cause a big blast.
A grenade.
Pulling the pin on the grenade, the operative dropped it where she was now standing and began running to the stairs that would lead to the upper level while also screaming.
"Geeeettttt awwwwwaayyyyyy!"
She threw punch after punch and used her body to push past the monsters all while feeling scratched and clawed. She was now at the stairs when she turned around and had a blast of air and debris hit her.
Not leaving anytime for the monsters to get to her, she jumped up and could feel her leg go numb but ignored it and let adrenaline take place and hurry up the stairs. Pushing the door leading to the base floor open, the operative began running as best as she could while now limping away from the parking lot.
Reaching the exit of the parking lot and seeing the night sky, the girl began to sob and forced herself to run out in the middle of the street before falling to the ground and start crying her eyes out.
She had made it.
Hearing the sound of a van coming up on her, the girl turned her head and saw the vehicle she arrived in with her team. She was saved.
Inside the Windowless Building located in School District 7
Floating inside a tube was the General Chairman of Academy City, Aleister Crowley. So much had happened throughout the day that there was much to consider. And one thing that interested him greatly was how it was all connected to a certain someone. A certain teenage boy.
Pulling up multiple screens around the tube, each screen was showing pictures and clips of the boy wielding the giant key and fighting back against the mysterious dark creatures. There was no recollection in his memory of these creatures or anything similar to them at all.
However, there was no denying that once the boy began engaging in combat with those monsters, Aleister couldn't help but sense something strange…
Almost as if there were traces of light…
Those thoughts of the man floating inside the tube were brought to a halt when another screen urgently appeared in front of him. Activating the screen, Aleister was now seeing something more interesting.
The footage shown to him was of the boy in question running across a street while looking in the direction of something.
"It appears it is going to be an interesting night after all."
In another part of the city, another dark side team was sitting idly inside a van.
The team in question was Item, led by the fourth-ranked Level 5, Meltdowner. Better known as Mugino Shizuri.
She and her team were now analyzing a map that had been sent to them by their support group based on the mission's details. Multiple sightings of the monsters had greatly increased in the past hour leading to Item discussing where would be the best place to start their operation.
"Say, Mugino, how do you feel about an underground parking lot?" Frenda asked while fixing her beret.
Having an annoyed look on her face, the tea-colored-haired girl put down her tablet and began to ponder the blonde's question.
"That's a hard pass. I'm not in the mood to have to deal with the ceiling collapsing on me from using my power."
"That's only because you super use your power a bit much" Kinuhata replied, eating out of a bag of chips.
"Maybe if you use only one beam instead of multiple then the ceiling won't collapse?" Takitsubo commented while looking tired.
Letting out an annoyed sound, Mugino shot Kinuhata a look.
"Just because you said that I'm picking the parking lot and you're staying next to me when I drop the ceiling."
"*sigh* Great."
Taking another look at her tablet, Mugino spotted another area where the monsters were recently spotted and had a grin appear on her face.
"Nevermind, Kinuhata, today's your lucky day."
"Oh? Super change of heart?"
"Better. Here is where we will be heading."
Pointing at her tablet, the brunette girl was indicating what appeared to be an old warehouse that appeared a district away.
"An Anti-Skill warehouse?" Frenda questioned.
"Abandoned. Was a training site but disclosed not that long ago" Takitsubo stated while checking out the place on her own tablet.
"Oh. How fun."
"Don't be a sour puss. Besides, the job will be simple. We take out however many there are of these monsters and lead one away for capture. Be done in about an hour so I can get back to my beauty sleep" Mugino stated while brushing her hair off her shoulder.
"I could make a super comment about your so-called beauty sleep, but I think I'll hold off on it" Kinuhata commented off-handedly.
"Want me to tell the driver?" Frenda asked but was waved off by the Level 5.
"No need. Just sent him the location. And now we plan on how to go about this."
This was Item. One of the dark side teams that was well known amongst those dwelling in the dark side of Academy City. However, they had no idea what they were walking themselves into.
Chapter 8: Late Night Fights
Summary:
Now in the middle of the night, Sora is now on the tail of what he suspects to be a Heartless. However, there is more going on than he thinks. The dark side of Academy City is now also on the hunt for the monsters leaving the Keyblade wielder to find out more about this strange and mysterious city. Along with a certain dark side team out there as well. The Guardian of Light is in for a long night.
Notes:
*Disclaimer - I do not own the copyright to Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index
*A/N* - What's good everyone? Hope everything is going well with you. Hopefully, those that were looking for an action-filled chapter are in for a treat in this one. I would also like to bring up the reviews which I am a big fan of and enjoy reading about what works, what doesn't work or is confusing, and what speculation is around this fan's story. I'm kind of surprised there aren't any other stories about Sora ending up in the Toaru universe. Oh well…
Once again, thanks for checking this story out and I hope you'll stick around for the long run. With that out of the way, hope you enjoy this chapter and take care out there.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Passing by a parked car and swerving his head left to right, Sora didn't want to admit it, but he had no idea where the Heartless that he had seen went.
One minute he was heading in the same direction that he saw it go but once he got further away from his dorm and into the city, he realized that he was lost. This should have been a no-brainer for the boy as this was technically still his first day in Academy City.
Shaking his head, Sora figured that he could keep on heading down the road until he saw something or anything that gave him a clue as to where the Heartless went. With it being nighttime and most of the residents of Academy City asleep, he knew that there wouldn't be that many people out and about which was good since the Heartless couldn't attack as many people. However, that did make his job of finding them a bit harder.
Hence, the Keyblade wielder did the only thing he could do and started jogging down the street while keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.
This continued for another while until he came to a sudden stop before dropping his head and frowning at his situation. He needed to know where he was heading so that he could get a better idea of the situation. Letting out a sigh, Sora grabbed his Gummiphone and pulled out the map that Touma had noticed before and was probably installed thanks to Moogla and her technology expertise.
Opening the Moogle icon on his Gummiphone, Sora saw a map appear on his screen followed by a crown icon which he figured must have been his location. Using his fingers, the boy made the map expand until he had a better picture of what not only the district looked like but the entire Academy City.
"... Oh, man…"
Seeing just where he was now, Sora saw the guidelines for District 7 and looked up at the road seeing that he was in the direction of District 5. Realization settled in for the boy that he would need to be using his Flowmotion ability to get across the city faster.
Looking around to see if there was anyone out at this time of night, he figured it would be all right since nobody could see him do some questionable things. Mainly like gliding across guard rails or running up a building. Something that not everyone was able to do. Although, he still wasn't that familiar with every kind of ability that was possible here in this city.
Picking up his pace, the teenage boy continued to make his way down the street and stay alert to anything that could be related to the Heartless attack.
As if by coincidence, Sora heard someone screaming in the distance which caused him to start bolting in the direction of the sound. Lifting his hand so that he could summon his Keyblade at any time, the boy charged ahead while getting ready for whatever he might encounter.
This is not what he expected to see.
Having made it to the area where he heard the scream coming from, Sora was met with a strange situation playing out in front of him.
Standing there arguing with a few other people who looked to be older teens arguing about something while pointing to the bag that lay on the floor. No one had noticed Sora standing there watching them argue until one of the boys who had blonde hair looked puzzled at the spiky-haired boy off to the side.
"Huh? What the- How long have you just been standing there and watching us!?"
Raising his hands into the air defensively, Sora did his best to clear up the misunderstanding.
"Not long! I just got here. I heard someone screaming and thought something bad had happened."
One of the boys wearing a beanie pointed to the blonde one and snickered.
"It was this gumball who screamed."
"I only screamed because your dumbasses shoved me too hard which caused me to drop the desserts!"
"Naw, that's all on you. You've got a weak grip. You need to go hit the gym."
"You're kidding me? How the hell am I supposed to go hit the gym when the damn membership is a couple thousand yen a month?" the blonde-haired boy exclaimed. "You think I have that kind of money!?"
One of the other boys crossed his arms and started brainstorming the blonde's predicament.
"Maybe you could just do some pushups?"
"Where? In the middle of an alley?"
"I mean, I don't think it matters where you work out. As long as you get rid of those noodle-like arms of yours. No way you'll be able to get a girl's attention with your weak ass."
"Stick a fork in it, you moron! I can get any girl's attention!" the blonde boy argued.
"Yeah, right. You've never even kissed a girl before. Ryuji told me all about your old school days haha!" the beanie-wearing boy said.
"Don't listen to anything Ryuji has to say. Dude's a total wash. That jackass can't even do simple calculus since he flunked out of school."
"All I hear is whining."
Annoyed at his friend's statements, the blonde-haired boy suddenly turned to look at Sora who had just been watching from the sidelines, and pointed right at him.
"You!"
"Me?"
"What do you think?"
"Huh!? What are you talking- "
Grasping at straws now, the blonde-haired boy's voice hit a tone deeper to convey just how important his question would be to Sora.
"Do you think I can get a girl?"
Blinking his eyes a few times, Sora had to wonder how he got roped into a strange situation like this. He was just checking out who screamed. Not get pulled into… whatever was happening here.
"I-I don't know! I have no idea who you are!"
"That doesn't matter! Just based on a first glance. What do you think?"
Taking a better look at the blonde boy, Sora was able to see that he had messy blonde hair while sporting a tan-like jacket while looking like an ordinary student while having a nose ring. The Keyblade wielder had nothing really bad to say about him.
"I think you look all right."
Laughter could be heard coming from the blonde's friends who were listening to their friend get judged by a complete stranger.
"That's it?"
"What more do you want me to say!? I mean, again, I don't know you. All I can say is just to be kind to everyone and treat others the way you would want to be treated."
Hearing this, the blonde boy began to frown and grimace at the boy's comment.
"That's shitty advice."
"Why? It's the truth. If you treat- "
"Everyone says that… but it's all bullshit. You're telling me that if I treat everyone with respect then they'll also treat me with respect? What a complete total lie."
Sora was not expecting this kind of answer and decided to keep quiet and listen to the boy.
"Do you know how many times I've been laughed at or cast aside by people when all I do is try to be nice?"
"Look, I don't know exactly what you've dealt with and I'm sorry. Not everyone is going to be- "
Before Sora could finish saying what he wanted, the sound of gunfire could be heard in the distance. All of the boys turned their heads in the direction of the sounds. The blonde boy's face went from anger to confusion by what was happening.
"What the hell? Is there anything going on tonight?" the blonde boy asked his friends who all shook their heads.
"No."
"Not that I remember."
"Weird."
However, Sora had his own thoughts on what was going on right now. And it was not a good sign of things to come.
'I'm not sure what is happening but… it might be the Heartless!'
Getting ready to take off and head in the direction of the gunfire, Sora quickly turned to look at the blonde-haired boy and warn him.
"You guys need to get out of here."
"What? Why? It's probably some bozzo trying to get away from Anti-Skill."
"No. You all need to seriously get out of here" Sora retorted.
"I don't see what's the- What the hell is that!" one of the boys started saying but started freaking out.
Shifting his gaze at the boy who yelled out, Sora saw him pointing in the direction where the gunshots could be heard. He couldn't see anything from where he was standing but he knew exactly what was seen by the boy.
"Again. You guys need to leave. Now! Go!"
Not needing to be told twice, the two boys accompanying the blonde teen bolted away as quickly as they could while leaving their friend behind. Sora looked at the boy in question with a look that conveyed that he needed to get out of there. Doing just that the blonde boy began following his friends and leaving his bag full of desserts on the ground but not before turning around and seeing the spiky-haired boy start running in the opposite direction.
"Hamazura! Let's go!"
Hearing his name, the boy could only grunt before catching up with his friends. All while wondering just who that spiky-haired boy was and why was he crazy enough to head straight into danger.
Now entering what appeared to be a storage facility, Sora wasn't sure where he was currently and pulled out his Gummiphone to check his whereabouts. Upon clicking the map icon on the device and seeing the crown emblem which represented him, he saw that he was now in District 5.
Drawing his attention away from the phone and putting it away, he looked ahead and spotted what appeared to be a light pointed right at one of the storage units. Taking that as a sign, the boy kept on running until he got close enough to realize what it really was that was casting a bright light.
A flashlight had been dropped onto the ground while still on.
Checking his surroundings and having a bad feeling, Sora summoned his Keyblade and began to scan the area. It was awfully quiet. Too quiet in fact. You would think the sound of cars or planes, or the city's machinery would make noise to be heard but where he was now… there was nothing. No sound. No signs of life. Nothing.
That is… until what sounded like a shrill scream could be heard coming from the inside of one of the storage units.
Rather than freezing up or fleeing away from the place, Sora immediately bolted to the unit emitting the sound, and tried to lift the metallic storage door open but found it locked. Getting his Keyblade ready, the boy tapped the weapon on the door's lock which made a clicking sound signaling that it was now open. Grabbing the bottom of the door, the spiky-haired boy threw the metal door open and was prepared to deal with whatever was inside.
What he saw made him worried. Very worried.
Crouching behind what appeared to be a destroyed vehicle was a man that appeared to be in his late 20s. He was wearing what could be identified as heavy-looking gear along with a pistol in his shaking hand. The man's face could be described as fearful. Tears were streaming down his face and his entire body looked frozen.
Upon seeing the brown-haired boy, the man tensed up and looked about ready to shoot Sora, but the boy was prepared.
"Wait! Wait! Stop! I'm human!"
Letting out a confused sound all while doing his best to not start crying again, the man hiding behind the vehicle started to pick himself up all while Sora had his arms raised with nothing in them. He had let go of his Keyblade while opening the storage door.
"Are you hurt? Are you alone?" Sora asked the man trying to get anything from him.
"W-Wh-Where did you come from?"
"I was in the neighborhood and heard gunshots going off."
"Y-You sh-shouldn't have come here!" the man yelled all while letting go of the gun and having it fall to the ground.
"Too late now. Please, tell me what happened here. I saw a flashlight outside but that was it. I didn't see anyone else."
Doing his best to respond to the boy's question, the frightened man forcibly composed himself before answering.
"Th-Those monsters! They were here. They were everywhere… all over the place. Our mission… we just had to grab a couple."
Hearing this, Sora's face contorted into one that was shocked.
"What? Say that again."
"W-We picked up a job… All we had to do was grab a couple of those monsters. The reward was too great to pass up on" the weakened man said.
Sora could only lower his head and frown.
"...Who else?"
"H-Huh? What did you say?"
"Who else is looking for the… for those monsters?"
"P-Practically everyone on the dark side."
Left aghast, Sora was once again shocked.
"Dark side? What is that?"
"I-I…" the man muttered while looking the boy up and down to see if he was lying. "The dark side of Academy City. You know, the underbelly of this city. You didn't think it was all sunshine and rainbows did you?"
Not answering the man's question, the spiky brunette could only grit his teeth. He had a feeling that there was more to this world than meets the eye but… to hear that this city was not only invested with darkness but that it even had its own nickname…
Shaking his head and putting that thought to rest for now, Sora focused back on the topic at hand.
"How many of you arrived here at this storage facility?"
"Four. Four of us. We… We got our mission details from our associate. All we had to do was just show up and bag a couple of monsters and we'd be rolling in so much cash… cash we'd be able to split seven ways and still have more to split."
Sora continued to stay silent all while listening to the man tell his tale.
"And once we got here… we noticed that it looked like another team had beaten us to the monsters."
"Wait. You mean there was another team here?"
"Yeah… only when we arrived here we…"
"Please. I need to know what happened" Sora conveyed to the man who was starting to sob again.
"...I've seen the dark side of Academy City. I've been working within it for quite some time now… I've seen people die. I've killed people even… but what I saw… that's not right. *sob* That's not right at all!"
The man now started to cry again while shaking rapidly. Sora had a better idea of what exactly happened.
As soon as the man and his team arrived here, they saw what could be suspected as the other team being attacked by the Heartless and… having their hearts taken right in front of them. For someone who had never witnessed anything like that before… they had a right to be scared. Terrified beyond belief for seeing such a sight and unable to really do anything.
But for someone like Sora… that was what his role as a Keyblade wielder was meant to prevent. Moreover, dealing with the Heartless for so long and knowing exactly what they were capable of was all the more reason he needed to act fast and destroy them for good. He would not let this world fall to darkness. He had already made so many friends in his short amount of time here… he would not fail them.
Standing up and walking closer to the crying man, Sora kneeled down and put his hand on his shoulder managing to knock some sense into him.
"I'm going to get you out of here. But in order to do that I need your help."
Unable to say anything, the man merely just nodded his head which gave Sora the answer he was hoping for.
"Good. I know it's scary, but it'll be alright. Have those monsters come this way at all? Or did they start clawing at the door while you were in here?" Sora asked.
Shaking his head, that gave Sora a bit more relief. If he could just escort this guy to the entrance and wave off any Heartless that came his way, then that would buy him enough time to escape the storage facility.
"Ok. Here's what we are going to do. We're going to head out there and run to the entrance or whatever way you came here with your team. The monsters may or may not appear but when they do you need to run. Run as fast as you can and don't look back. I'll deal with them, so you don't have to worry" the Keyblade wielder explained to the startled man.
"B-But how!?"
"I've fought these monsters before. I'll be ok. But tell me, before we go can you do it?"
Looking down at himself, the man knew that the longer he stayed here, then the sooner the monsters would come looking for him. Deciding that he wanted to live, he nodded his head in confirmation.
"Good to hear. Now then, you said that everyone on the dark side is interested in these monsters and are out there hunting. What else can you tell me is going on?"
"N-Near the main building there is an armored truck that has its lights on. While my team and I split up after seeing… after seeing the monsters attack another operative from the dark side, I spotted it just sitting there with its doors open. I-I think I heard what sounded like a radio going off in there with someone shouting something over the frequency channel. I'm not sure though. So much was happening all at once" the man stated to Sora who could only nod.
"Okay. That's something to work off. *sigh* All right, are you ready? Once I open the door we run."
Nodding his head and wiping away his tears, the dark-side operative started raising himself up. Seeing that he was ready, Sora gave the man a thumbs up before lifting the door to the storage room open, and immediately the two bolted out of there and toward the entrance the man came through earlier.
"Do you know where your team is?" Sora asked while running next to the man.
"N-No. I don't."
Staying silent on the matter, the brunette boy scanned the area in front of him and instantly spotted what appeared to be a small dark blob moving around the side of another building.
"T-There! It's over there!"
Spotting the Heartless, Sora summoned his Keyblade and charged right at it, managing to land a clean slash across its chest and kill it instantly.
He turned around and saw the man still running toward the exit with a newfound conviction after seeing the boy kill the monster. Suddenly, appearing on top of several of the storage buildings were more Shadows looking like they were going to leap at the man.
Not going to let this happen, Sora aimed his Keyblade at the Heartless and cast several Fire spells which hit the Shadows sending them tumbling while caught on fire. The boy then saw a few more creatures appear on the ground all beginning to crawl toward him.
Wanting to still keep an eye on the man running away, the Keyblade wielder raised his weapon which was now glowing a green color at the tip of the weapon. Immediately afterward a green vortex spawned out of nowhere and started picking up several of the Heartless which gave him the chance to strike. Pointing the weapon back at the vortex, he cast a Thunder spell to finish the Shadows off.
At this point, Sora looked over at the man who had now reached the entrance gate and was gasping for breath. He shifted his body to look at Sora and had the most relieved expression on his face. Waving at the spiky-haired boy, the man called out to him.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
"You're welcome. Now, get out of here!"
"Wait! I-I didn't catch your name!"
Getting ready to respond, Sora opened his mouth but started to feel something off. As if the air around him suddenly dropped in temperature. Turning around, the boy saw what was causing him to feel weird.
Multiple portals of darkness began appearing all over the place leading to Sora looking at the man once again.
"Doesn't matter! Just go!"
Understanding that things were about to get worse, the man rushed away without even looking back. Offering a silent thanks to the boy for helping him get away. He didn't think that he could get to see the sunrise, but thanks to that boy's influence he would get to see it again.
Now left alone, Sora let out a small grin. He could now go all out without having to have his attention divided.
Charging at the closest portal of darkness, the boy slammed his Keyblade into it and called upon light to destroy the Heartless pouring out. The blast of light shot both upward and downward into the portal which managed to slam some of the Shadows to go flying several feet back. Not wasting another second, Sora swung his weapon down at the nearest enemy before moving to another and blasting it with an Ice spell at close range. The explosion of ice encased the Shadow allowing the boy to kick the frozen Heartless and cause it to shatter into many smaller pieces before disappearing.
Checking the area around him again, Sora dashed to several other Shadows that had appeared from the dark portal and began to slash at each Heartless managing to either kill it easily or have to come back around and finish the job. Stabbing his weapon into another Shadow, the brunette lifted the Heartless into the air before throwing his Keyblade along with the creature still impaled into another group of Shadows before rushing forward and resummoning his weapon to cast a Thunder spell to finish the group once and for all.
Not wanting to spend too much time on these Heartless, Sora was about to start casting multiple spells to finish the monsters in the area when out of nowhere a bright light began to appear over his heart.
Confused about what was going on, he brought his free hand over the light and suddenly a blast of white light covered the area.
There was no real explanation for what just happened but realization seemed to settle within the Guardian of Light's mind. It was almost as if a plethora of information and memories came flying back to the boy. A better explanation for what just happened to the boy was back when he and Roxas merged back together to be one whole person in The World That Never Was. The strange feeling of being whole.
Once the light started to fade away, Sora now looked at the remaining groups of Heartless that had crawled out of the dark portals. He now had a giant grin on his face. There was a resounding feeling pounding in his chest and he decided to do what he always does. Follow his heart.
Raising the Keyblade at the nearest group, the spiky-haired boy yelled out a spell that he hadn't used since his Mark of Mastery.
"Bind!"
Out of nowhere, a ring of light surrounded the group of Heartless and immobilized them from moving at all. Seeing this opportunity, Sora began charging at the binded Heartless and called out another spell.
"Balloon!"
Appearing in a flash of light and sparkles, several large colorful balloons appeared around the Heartless allowing Sora to add a finishing touch to his plan. Leaping into the air, the boy then slammed his Keyblade down right in the middle of the balloons causing a large explosion to blind the area in light.
Rolling to the side, he saw that he had cleared the Heartless and now only had to deal with one other small group. Wanting to test if this ability that came to mind would work, Sora heaved the Keyblade back and then with enough force chucked the weapon at the group but not before yelling out the name of an ability.
"Circle Raid!"
Instead of the Keyblade just slapping a single monster, the weapon now seemed to act in a different manner. Circling around the group, the Kingdom Key began to hit each Shadow back and forth several times all while not showing any signs of slowing down. It wasn't until the weapon flashed in a blue light that Sora dashed at the group and commenced a clean cut through each of the Heartless killing them all.
Twisting on his back foot, the boy shifted his body and now began to take in his surroundings and noticed that there were no more Heartless around the area. The fight had seemed so short. He kind of wanted it to go on longer. Getting to use these spells and abilities again that he had lost a connection with thanks to his power getting tampered with by Organization XIII felt great!
However, he could gush about regaining some of his old power later. Right now, he needed to get a move on and find where else the Heartless were being spotted. Recalling what the dark side operative said about the multiple sightings of the creatures and where teams were being sent to try and capture a Heartless which is a ridiculous idea. But that got him thinking and forced him to look around and try to find the vehicle that was mentioned.
Looking around the area, he spotted a truck with its lights still on and figured that was the one discussed.
Running up to it, Sora checked the area around the vehicle for any clues about what had happened to the team but didn't find anything. About ready to start looking around the main building, the boy was getting ready to move but the sound of a muffled voice could be heard in the truck.
"*static* *static* Hell *static* Anyone *static* Anyone there? Hello? *static* Status report?"
Making his way to the front seat of the truck, Sora spotted what looked to be a radio of some kind and grabbed the device waiting to see if anything would be said.
"Report. Haruto? Akira? Seiya? Hello? I repeat. Is anyone there?" a voice said through the device.
Feeling a wave of guilt, Sora figured that those must have been the names of the people who were part of the first group. If only he had been faster, then those people could have been…
Shaking his head, the boy knew that what was done is done. He needs to get a move on before others get hurt by the Heartless. However, he also realized that he was in a whole new situation that he'd never been in before. These people were not normal and were in fact working for the dark side of Academy City. It was likely that they would be tight-lipped about their operation.
Hence, Sora wasn't sure what to do about gathering information from the voice on the other side of the radio device. But he figured he could try and pull a trick to get something useful from the person calling.
Grabbing the radio, Sora cleared his throat before hanging his thumb over the call button and decided to play things slowly.
"*cough* *clearing throat* Hello?" Sora asked while using a deeper tone of voice.
The sound of rustling could be heard on the radio before a person's voice came through the device.
"Hello!? Are you there? Akira?"
"…Yeah"
"Why does your voice sound weird?"
Starting to sweat profoundly, Sora needed to come up with a quick excuse for why his voice sounded like… well, his voice.
"Got hit. Don't want to waste energy talking."
Silence was heard on the radio receiver which got Sora worried that he had been found out. But that concern would soon fade away as the radio had sound coming from it again.
"I see, how bad is it?"
"…Bad."
"What about the monsters? Were you able to retrieve at least one?" the voice on the radio asked.
Frowning at the question, Sora continued to talk with his deep voice.
"No. They overwhelmed us. Dangerous."
"Damn it."
Deciding to take a gamble, Sora wanted to know more about what was happening across the city and if there were other districts experiencing Heartless attacks.
"What's the sitrep across the city?"
"Not good. It's looking like Districts 4 and 6 have been getting calls nonstop about those monsters appearing, but from what I'm seeing on my end all the teams stationed there have not completed an extraction of the monsters. Meaning that they're either dead or couldn't capture one alive."
"…Anything else?" Sora questioned while taking what was said and realizing that the Heartless were proving to be trouble for the dark side operatives.
"It looks like… Item has occupied District 19. I'm not seeing anyone else in the area or at the very least from what I'm getting from the support organizations assessments" the voice replied.
"Item?"
The radio channel went quiet before the voice on the other end addressed Sora directly.
"…You're not Akira, are you?"
Realizing that he had been had, Sora decided to let go of the act and talk normally.
"No, I'm not. Sorry."
"…"
"…How did you get access to this radio channel?"
"I happened to come across this vehicle when I heard gunshots in the distance. I went to check out if someone was in trouble and when I got here…"
Once again, silence from the other end of the radio. That is until the radio started crackling.
"Do me a favor. Just walk away and forget you saw or heard everything there. You don't want to involve yourself in the dark side" the voice stated to the boy.
"A bit too late for that. And besides, I can't let those monsters roam free and hurt any more people" Sora responded to the voice.
"…You're a fool."
"Maybe. But I can't just stand by and let people get hurt by these monsters."
"…You're funeral then."
And with that, the sound of a click could be heard followed by silence. It was safe to say that the radio call was now concluded.
Still holding onto the radio receiver, Sora let out a sigh. He was still feeling down about not being able to get here in time to save the dark-side operatives. However, he would do whatever it took to prevent that from happening again.
Beginning to press all sorts of buttons in the truck, the boy had no idea what he was doing. But at the very least he could tell that he was doing something by hearing various sounds coming out of the radio. Tampering with the buttons soon got him to hear the voice of a girl screaming into the receiver.
"Hello! Heeeeelllpp! Pleaaase! Backup! We were overrun! I repeat- "the girl's voice suddenly stopped leaving Sora greatly concerned.
Going back to pressing every single button in the truck, Sora had just had about enough of this and sank into the seat he was in while thinking about what to do next.
'The voice said that Districts 4 and 6 were heavily congested and that no one had been able to secure a Heartless. Which means…'
Pulling out his phone and bringing up the map that showed Academy City and each district respectively, Sora knew where he would be heading next.
"District 19."
Jumping out of the truck, Sora started plotting his course to the district in question while also recalling something the voice on the radio said.
'The voice mentioned something about an item. Or something like that. Maybe that group had a special weapon of sorts?'
Deciding that he would figure out when he got there, the Keyblade wielder looked around him and soon spotted what appeared to be a pole.
Perfect.
Running right at the pole, he activated his Flowmotion which covered his entire body in a blue light. Soon after, the boy landed on the pole but started spinning around it several times at an incredible speed before shooting forward and toward another pole and so on making his way to District 19 to help the team operating there from being overrun by the Heartless.
Meanwhile… in District 19
The girls of Item were now standing outside what appeared to be a large reasonably destroyed building that was part of a big facility. The field leader, Mugino Shizuri, was currently scrolling through a small tablet while switching between video channels taken from the surveillance cameras to see where the supposed monsters may be currently. However, to her dismay, there were no signs of the creatures or anything for that matter.
"Frenda. Tell me you have something on your end of things."
The blonde member of the team Frenda Seivelun was currently doing the same thing by scrolling through various video channels while tinkering away with a small explosive in her hand. She had just finished setting up her latest trinket that would help the mission succeed.
"Sorry, Mugino. Nothing on my end. Basically, this whole thing might be a drag."
"Are there places where there are no cameras?" asked the tracksuit-wearing member of the team, Takitsubo Rikou.
The last member of the team, Kinuhata Saiai, was currently scanning the area with her own eyes and trying to get a lay of the land. Sometimes it was better to do reconnaissance yourself than rely on technology.
"Corners on the buildings maybe, but everywhere seems to have at least a camera getting the best angle for a super wide view" Kinuhata responded to the black-haired girl.
"Ugh, fine. Looks like we're going in blind here. Takitsubo, have you picked anything up while we've been here?" Mugino asked while putting away her tablet.
Taking a second to get a read of the place, the tracksuit-wearing girl began to widen her eyes while almost growing stiff. But to those who knew what she was capable of, then they could see that she was activating her AIM Stalker ability. The ability to utilize a passive power imitative from Clairvoyance in which she was able to easily spot out other espers' AIM Field. Leading her to be the tracker of the team and someone you did not want to have looking in your direction in an ill-intent way.
However, the girl continued to use her ability for another minute until she calmed herself down and looked over at her team and leader, an impatient Mugino to be specific, and confided in them.
"I'm not getting anything. We're clear of any other espers around the area so no need to worry about them."
Taking Takitsubo's word, Mugino then looked to the building in question and decided to lay out a plan of attack.
"Frenda, how extendable is that cage you brought?"
Smirking at the question being asked, the blonde beret-wearing girl began to elaborate.
"Basically, this bad boy is fitted at 50 inches all around and has had its fence modified to let out an electric shock if something were to start lashing out. Giving it a wake-up call to not leave the cage. I even read up that it could trap a small bear inside without any trouble."
Both Mugino and Kinuhata did not look amused. Takitsubo remained indifferent but what the three members of Item realized while Frenda was answering the tea-colored-haired girl's question was that the cage looked… cheap. Like the kind of cheap that you get when you purchase a product online for a killer price and when you finally receive it through the mail it turns out you were duped by false advertisement.
The cage itself looked… weak. Most of the metal surrounding the cage could probably be bent easily. Along with the size which was big enough but in the case of capturing one of the small monsters then it looked like it would be too good for the simple job. The only saving feature of this cheap cage was the electrifying shock initiative if something wanted to try and escape.
All in all, Mugino so dearly wanted to start swearing at Frenda for purchasing something this dimwitted but held her tongue. While she may have been the leader and oldest teen of the group adding a characteristic of being knowledgeable, she herself had fallen victim to false advertisement before on multiple occasions. The curvy brunette girl recalled several times when she ordered bras, pants, shirts, etc. online only to find upon delivery that they were a size too small leading to the packaged clothes being burnt to a crisp in feminine wrath. Which is why she wasn't chewing Frenda out… yet.
Kinuhata began to give the criticized cage another look while throwing a soft punch at the cage to see if it would hold together. Upon impact, the short-haired girl looked at the blonde with a deadpan expression. The cage now had a side that was bent.
"Wh-What?"
"Seriously. This cage is super ass. What is it made of stainless steel? Are we going to take it apart afterward and use it for our forks back at the apartment?" Kinuhata asked the explosives expert.
"Gah! What are you doing!? Why are you breaking the cage?" Frenda questioned the girl with a shocked look on her face.
Tilting her head and looking at the cage, Takitsubo added her own thoughts for everyone to hear.
"She's not wrong. We could use a bit more knives."
"I'd rather just go buy a new set of utensils for the apartment and not have Frenda's cheap cage be what I use to eat my dinner" Mugino stated while irritated.
"T-This is just a faulty model. Basically, I already contacted the agency I got this from and am demanding a full refund" Frenda said, trying to defend her already damaged cage.
"Next time we have to capture someone or something, Frenda is super not in charge of the procedure or cage."
"*sigh* Enough. We can make fun of Frenda later. The sooner we get this shit done, the sooner I can go back to bed and get my beauty sleep" Mugino proclaimed for the girls to hear.
Everyone in attendance just gave the well-endowed girl a glance over before shaking their heads. There was no denying that Mugino was beautiful or that she had looks that most models would kill to have. But the Level 5 tended to have a strange attitude when it came to said looks. She seemed to think that she needed to stay in tip-top shape while also carefully watching what she ate. This was valid since she had the tendency to eat meals that were high in carbs, especially breads which made her complain about her weight. But truth be told there was no real difference or concern to the brunette's figure. It was just all in her head.
Kinuhata on the other hand did have some thoughts about how Mugino was able to achieve the kind of body she had. The short-haired girl even started taking notes on all the foods that the Level 5 scarfed down and did calculations on every single meal's carbohydrate intake. A past time interest that had now become a full-blown investigation to achieve a model-like figure.
However, before Takitsubo could remark about the tea-colored-haired girl's methods for keeping her body and looks fine-tuned, she turned her head toward the building and activated her esper ability. Something was off.
"Mugino. Something is wrong."
Hearing this, the group of girls pushed the topic to the side and now went into battle-focus mode.
"What is it? Esper activity?"
"No. It's… something else. My ability is picking something up but it's not an AIM field" Takitsubo replied while focusing on her power.
"Do we even know if these monsters have an AIM field? I mean, now that we are really talking about them what do we already know?" Frenda asked everyone in attendance.
Shrugging her shoulders, Kinuhata had no clue as to anything about the monsters. Only that they had to capture a few or at the very least one monster and skedaddle out of there.
"We don't know jack shit about these monsters. All our support group was able to get us is the location, descriptions, and images of the monsters" Mugino said while getting ready for a battle.
Which is exactly what the battle fanatic was looking for.
"Well, that's just super. What do we do now, Mugino?"
Scanning the area and coming up with a plan, the brunette Level 5 started considering one plan but it would depend on what Takitsubo had to say about their surroundings.
"Takitsubo, what does the situation look like now?"
Stopping the use of her ability, the black-haired girl looked over at Mugino and nodded her head.
"I'm getting a reading on the north side of the building. It's small but there's definitely something there."
"That's good enough for me. Frenda."
"Yep!"
"Stick with Takitsubo and keep your phone on you. Kinuhata and I will go and deal with the majority of the monsters while leaving a few alive. We'll call you two in to get the trap ready" Mugino more or less commanded.
"Sounds like a super simple plan."
"Is there a problem with that?"
"Nope. Just super curious if we have a backup plan. You know in case you go all overkill."
Gritting her teeth, the brunette beauty couldn't help but want to chew out the shorter girl but decided that the sooner they finished the sooner she could get back to sleep.
"Let's just get this done. If things go awry, then we'll improvise."
"Sounds like a plan!" Frenda exclaimed, getting a sense that Mugino wanted this job done quickly.
With that being said, the blonde and dark-haired girls began prepping the cage and giving one last look over before heading to their advantage point while the two brunette girls headed to the north side of the building.
The physical structure of the building was that of many large openings which must have been once used as a shipping post which explained all the open spaces. Moreover, the building was still standing in one whole piece but there was debris all over the place offering a not-so-welcoming sight.
Entering through one of the open areas, Mugino used her Meltdowner ability to cast a small ball of white light to hang over her and act as a flashlight while Kinuhata followed behind her acting as her defensive shield watching her six.
The entire area in front of them was surrounded by darkness and the only visible light in sight came from the open doors and windows that allowed the moon's light to be allowed into the building.
Mugino continued to stay alert while passing along an empty hallway and coming up with several calculations in her head if she needed to target multiple monsters all at once. Since Kinuhata was here to back her up, she could focus on clearing the area of most of the monsters.
Coming into a large-looking room with many vehicles either damaged from debris or flipped on their sides, the room looked to be one of the main areas that used to transfer products from incoming truck deliveries. The room had a bit more light coming in compared to the rooms the two passed along the way. But that wouldn't really matter anymore.
Noticing something dark on the other side of the large room, Mugino looked over at Kinuhata who also saw the same thing and gave a confirming nod. Already knowing what the Level 5 had in mind.
Flicking her hand forward, a ball of white light appeared above her and suddenly shot a beam of light right next to the dark object. Upon the beam hitting the ground, the dark object seemed to see the warning shot and turned itself around displaying itself to the two girls.
Yellow eyes.
Realizing what the dark thing was now, Mugino's eyebrows twitched followed by a menacing grin appearing on her face. Jackpot.
Kinuhata at the same time slammed her fist into her other hand while keenly watching the monster start to stand up straight and look at the two. She had never encountered a monster like this but based on first impressions it didn't seem that bad.
However, the monster suddenly jumped at the two causing Mugino to nonchalantly have her Meltdowner beam hit the monster splitting it in two.
Upon being hit by the whiteish blue beam, the monster's body began to disappear in a cloud that came out of nowhere. This left the two higher leveled girls puzzled.
"What the hell?" Mugino muttered.
"That was super weird."
Having many questions about what just happened, Mugino shoved those thoughts away and pulled out her phone to dial up Frenda.
"Frenda. Where's Takitsubo?"
"She's right here. Do you want to talk with her? What's the situation?"
"Tell her to check the area again. We encountered one of the monsters but- "
Before the girl could finish what she was saying, the sound of banging and things being knocked over could be heard all around her. Grimacing at what was happening, the brunette called out to Kinuhata to cover her.
"Mugino? What's- "
"Get Takitsubo to check the area, now! We're surrounded!"
Slipping her phone back into her pocket, Mugino was now activating her Meltdowner to strike the area in front of her while the sound of her beam scorched the ground and whatever was originally there. The tea-colored-haired girl now began firing beam after beam into the darkness where she thought to have seen shadows moving back and forth while trying to not get hit by the light.
Kinuhata seemed to notice something crawling to the side of her and began calculating how much force would be needed to counter whatever might jump out at her. This proved to be smart as in the next instance a dark creature leaped right at her and tried to swipe at her face but ended up getting decked in the side before being grabbed at the foot and slammed headfirst into the ground killing it instantly.
What the two didn't realize was that the area around them had now been covered in many puddles of darkness which were letting Shadows crawl out and fill up the abandoned building all while blocking off their exit. And the downside was that the girl who acted as their UAV was currently counting into the dozens for how many foes suddenly appeared out of nowhere and were now starting to appear on the outside of the building the Level 4 and 5 were situated in. Leading to a situation not looking good.
Back with a certain Keyblade wielder
Running across the top of what he guessed was a fish plant, Sora was parkouring his way across the city at an incredible speed.
During his travels in his last adventure, after learning and utilizing the Flowmotion ability, he had gotten used to having more flexibility and mobility when it came to fighting or getting around different places. But he hadn't really been able to truly experience the ability's wide range of usage.
The only place he could really say that he got to do some amazing tricks would be back in San Fransokyo with Hiro and Big Hero 6. Getting to explore the wide-open city district with Baymax at his side was an experience that he would never forget. Plus, while in that world he got to use Flowmotion a whole lot more than ever before. Which greatly helped him right now at the moment.
Bouncing against walls or sliding across railings, the boy was making incredible time but still wanted to push himself to get to District 19 before anything bad could happen. He had no idea how bad the situation might be there but if it was anything like at the storage facility, then he would need to hurry. He wasn't going to let the same thing happen again. This time would be different.
With blue light covering his entire body, Sora locked his gaze onto another building's rooftop that had a tall antenna sticking up. Using his Airstep ability, the boy shot forward through the air and landed on the other building while falling through the air. Aiming himself toward another building while still in free fall. Not wasting another moment, he flipped himself so that his body was ready to land on the roof of the other building.
Landing on his feet and rolling forward to allow himself from not getting hurt, the boy got back to sprinting across the rooftop and leaped into the air while positioning himself to come into contact with another tall building. Only this time, Sora started running across the building while having one hand help guide him across the building and keeping him balanced. This lasted for only a few seconds before he jumped in the air and Airstepped to another building's rooftop before rolling on the concrete roof and pulling out his Gummiphone to see where he was exactly on the map of Academy City.
To his surprise, he was super close to entering District 19 and felt that he had made impeccable timing. However, that thought would be diminished as he suddenly saw out of the corner of his eye something glowing in the distance. It was like a whiteish light appearing every few seconds. Turning to get a better look at whatever was happening, Sora realized that might be an indicator that the Heartless were attacking.
Without even taking a second to hesitate, the spiky-haired boy leaped through the air and continued to dash in the direction where he saw the light. He had one goal in mind and that was to save everyone. No matter who they were.
Back with Item in District 19
The sounds of explosions, gunfire, and beams of light scorching the ground were all that could be seen and heard in the area.
Mugino and Kinuhata had brazenly made it out of the facility with scratches and bruised bodies along with their clothes now having stains of blood thanks to having to fend off the endless monster attacks which showed no sign of stopping. The duo was now outside the facility all while doing their best to weaken the horde of monsters continuing to show up and attack them.
Meanwhile, Frenda and Takitsubo had retreated from their camping spot and were now sticking close together while avoiding being surrounded by the monsters. Takitsubo while not normally an offensive player in the group's dynamics had taken the liberty to use a firearm that Frenda had carried as one of her emergency weapons and was doing her best to kill any monsters that got close to her.
The blonde-haired girl on the other hand had switched to using a knife while keeping the last of her explosives on hand in case of a sudden emergency or getaway distraction. This entire situation was something that Item was not prepared for but that didn't mean they would be overwhelmed by the monsters and go out without a fight.
Each of the girls was battling with everything they had to defeat the monsters. Giving it their all to win. They would not fall here.
Flipping to the side and performing a precise cartwheel, Frenda moved her slim body to use her legs to side-sweep one of the monsters before stabbing another one in the head with her knife killing it. Followed by dashing and jumping over the hood of a broken car and kicking a creature in the head while throwing multiple projectiles which looked to be small sewing needles at another monster before running up to it and stabbing it in the face with her knife. She then performed a stylish backflip to make some space between her and the monsters that tried leaping at her. The girl's attire was a bit damaged with scratches covering her face and body along with her clothes being ripped in some parts but otherwise, the blonde had a determined look on her face before charging at another monster and landing a drop kick at its chest.
The tracksuit-wearing girl of the team was doing her best to fend off as many monsters as she could. Shooting as many as she could with the limited amount of ammo Frenda had given to her. While she wasn't normally on the frontlines and didn't have any real training with a gun, she suspected that thanks to her usage and experience with her AIM Stalker ability she was able to achieve a high accuracy when it came to hitting the monsters. She also had cuts and bruises around her but that was to be expected as she wasn't the most physically active and was slower than her teammates. Nevertheless, Takitsubo was holding her own for now while trying to stick close to Frenda and the acrobatics that she used to fend against the monsters.
Kinuhata on her part was landing punch after punch against the monsters. Sending one after another flying into the building or into debris scattered across the area. Even with her Offensive Armor, she had several cuts around her body but nothing too fatal. The ever-growing number of monsters had proven that much of a problem for her at first but seeing that her allies were being constantly attacked forced her to take charge and act as a defensive shield at times which caused her to constantly control the nitrogen in the air and focus on protecting her team. While she could manage to stay in the fight for survival, her main goal was to ensure that her team and friends would stay safe. Or rather, as safe as one could get while being constantly attacked by strange dark monsters.
As for the team's leader, she was having the time of her life. The brunette girl was firing beam after beam against as many monsters as she could. Dodging left and right while throwing a punch or kick against any creature trying to get close to her. The tea-colored-haired girl shifted to the side avoiding an attack while bringing her hand back and throwing a haymaker punch at one monster before palm-striking another monster in the face. Thanks to her hearty upbringing as a child, she was well-versed in various martial arts techniques which were something she didn't usually use since her Meltdowner beam was a distanced attack that got the job done easily. However, that didn't mean she didn't know how to use her hands and legs to fight. The battle-fanatic girl was enjoying every single moment of this incursion. Mugino also had scratches and parts of her clothes were bloodied due to her not really focusing on defense and being primarily on the offensive end. Needless to say, the Level 5 was ready to fight tooth and nail to get out of there alive.
This was how the dark side team, Item, was functioning while doing their best to stay alive against the endless horde of monsters that show no signs of stopping their assault.
Pulling the trigger on the pistol and hearing a clicking sound, Takitsubo looked over at Frenda and called out to her.
"Frenda! I need more ammo."
"I'm all out! I gave you everything I had. Haah!" Frenda yelled back while throwing a jab at one of the monsters before running up and slitting its throat killing it instantly.
"Watch out Takitsubo!" Kinuhata called out while rushing to her and kicking one creature which went flying through the air.
Dashing and jumping in front of the dark-haired girl, Kinuhata took blow for blow from the monsters before grabbing the leg of one and slamming it into the others.
Mugino seeing her teammates, lashed out her hand and started the calculations needed to strike every enemy that was getting closer to the two girls. Within an instant, a beam of light scorched one area and then another while killing multiple monsters leaving nothing behind. She also had to raise her arm in time to block an enemy that leaped at her but was now hanging onto her arm and scratching her with deep cuts.
"Dammit!"
Slamming her arm to the ground, the brunette lifted her foot and stomped on the monster's head killing it while also doing her best to be versatile to her surroundings. While it wasn't impossible per se, it was rather difficult for her to get complete accuracy of her Meltdowner beam while on the move. This is exactly what she was trying to do now but ended up firing a beam of light that just missed one monster while luckily killing another.
"Tch."
Making her way to join the rest of her group, Mugino spotted Frenda being pushed back by several monsters that threw her toward a rusted-up car causing the young girl to hit the car. The blonde felt the wind knocked out of her while rolling to the side and dodging the monsters before throwing one of her knives into the head of one and killing it. She gasped for a second before rolling out of the way and rejoining her teammates.
Things were not looking great. However, that would not stop them from getting away.
Suddenly out of nowhere, a blast of wind came out of nowhere and threw the group of girls back causing them to all be bunched up. Takitsubo ended up hitting the side of a broken wall causing her to black out while Frenda was slammed into a pile of broken debris leaving her wincing in pain. Kinuhata landed right into a busted-down car and was working on getting herself up. Mugino on the other hand was feeling the effects of her long battle and took a few deep breaths while on her back which got her to sit upright and see what was happening.
She was left once again puzzled at the strange sight.
The monsters looked to be all piling up on one another while standing over what appeared to be a giant dark puddle. Many yellow eyes were scattered all like ants crawling back into their nesting ground only that it wasn't ants doing this.
Forcing herself up, Mugino was able to stand on one good leg while the other began to feel numb, looking down she grimaced at seeing her leg all busted up with blood and bruises. Something she didn't have time for. Drawing her attention to her team, she saw Frenda limping while helping Takitsubo wake up and Kinuhata staggering to get to her.
If they wanted to get out of here, it would be difficult. But there was no way they were dying to these monsters.
Without any warning whatsoever, a large light appeared above the injured girls followed by the sound of someone yelling something out.
"Heal!"
Appearing out of thin air, a large colorful flower began glowing above the group and a sense of relaxation and a burst of energy seemed to flow through each of the girls. Feeling like she just got out of the sauna and lost all the pain in her body, Mugino looked down at her arms and legs and noticed right away that the cuts and bruises were practically gone. Save for the blood still staining her clothes, the brunette girl felt better.
Hearing something fall behind her, Mugino and the other members of Item were left puzzled when they saw a figure that they had no clue as to who it could be. Getting a better look at the figure showed that it was a boy that had appeared. However, the first person to say anything happened to be Frenda who immediately recognized the boy who just appeared.
"Y-You're – "
"You guys need to get out of here" the boy stated while turning his attention to the monsters piling onto each other.
"W-What?" Takitsubo muttered while still regaining her bearings.
"Who the fuck are you?" Mugino demanded.
Having a frown on his face, the boy switched from looking at the monsters and was now staring right into Mugino's eyes.
"My name is Sora. And right now, you guys need to get going. It's not safe for you to be here."
"You're the boy from the T.V.!" Frenda exclaimed, now knowing exactly who he was thanks to getting a better look at the boy.
Hearing Frenda's comment, the rest of Item gave the boy a quick look over. Mugino also narrowed her gaze on the boy and realized that the blonde was right about him being all over the news earlier in the day. However, that wouldn't stop her from yelling back at him.
"Like hell, you're going to tell us what to do!" Mugino shouted, not showing any indication of listening to this boy who looked to be a high schooler.
Letting out a small groan, Sora raised his hand and resummoned his Keyblade while now pointing it at the Heartless. This action caused each of the girls to go wide-eyed and go on the defensive in case the boy attacked them.
"Please. You need to get out of here. The Heartless will now be focused on me now."
"The Heartless? That's their super name?" Kinuhata asked, eyeing the boy closely.
"We're not going anywhere. So, you can scram and- "
Suddenly, the Heartless that were piling up on each other suddenly began sinking into the dark puddle beneath them leaving the girls confused about what was happening. Sora, meanwhile, twirled his weapon in his hand and got ready. He had a bad feeling about this.
"The area doesn't look like anyone else is here… that'll save me from worrying about anyone else getting hurt…"
"What are you super talking about?"
"You guys need to leave- "
"How many times do I need to repeat myself, we are not leaving" Mugino responded while glaring at the boy.
Before Sora could respond to the brown-haired girl, the dark area that the Heartless disappeared from suddenly began contorting and twirling around like a whirlpool when without warning a giant hand shot through the puddle and began pulling itself up.
Left with so many questions about what was happening, the girls of Item were witnessing the Heartless better known as a Darkside appear out of that strange-looking area on the ground.
The monster's features were that of a massive, muscular, humanoid figure with black skin and short legs. There also appeared to be something on its back but nobody could tell for sure and around the middle of the monster's body was a giant hole in the shape of a heart. The next distinct feature noticed by the dark side operatives was that the creature's head was wrapped with black tentacles that twisted around its head leaving only large yellow eyes to be visible. All in all, a menacing aura surrounded the monster and left the girls taking a step back not out of outright fear but concern about what the monster was capable of.
"…huh?" Takitsubo made a slight sound while activating her AIM Stalker. While scanning the area in front of her, she made a startling discovery.
The newly appeared large monster had the same sort of pulsating reading that all the smaller monsters were giving off. Again, it was not an actual AIM field but something else. Something she had no clue about.
Sora on the other hand twirled his Keyblade in hand and got into his signature battle stance while scanning the area around the Darkside. Now, hordes of Shadows were appearing around the bigger Heartless leaving the area to look like a sea of yellow eyes.
He had to stop this before things got any worse.
Turning to look at the older girl with the long hair, Sora had to get her and the others out of there.
"Where is the item?"
"Huh? Pardon?" Frenda muttered.
"What?" Takitsubo replied.
"Excuse me?" Kinuhata asked.
"What did you just say?" Mugino stated to the boy.
The girls of Item were absolutely confused by what the boy just said.
"I was told that there was an item at this location where the Heartless were spotted."
Mugino stared dumbfounded at the boy.
"You're a real idiot."
"W-Why? What is going on? I'm lost?"
"We are Item. Our team signature and title" Mugino stated to the shocked boy.
"…oh…"
Shaking his head and focusing back onto the Darkside, enough time had been spent ignoring it. The Keyblade wielder needed to deal with it now.
"Look, you guys need to get out of here."
"I'm not- "
"I don't know who you are, but I know that you're strong."
Hearing this, Mugino stopped herself and decided to listen to what the boy had to say.
"To be able to fight off the Heartless and work with others… that takes a strong heart."
"Pssh. A strong heart? What are you even talking about?" Mugino questioned while scoffing at the idea.
"You'd be surprised. I've encountered many people and there are those who would have fallen to the Heartless for not working together with others. So, again, I have no real idea who you guys are, but you handled yourselves well and did what others couldn't. But now, everything is going to be ok. I'll take care of them."
Frenda, Kinuhata, and Takitsubo all looked at the boy differently now. Something about what he said did not make any sense at all. But that part about others losing to the monsters known as the Heartless, and how they worked together to cover for each other's faults is what led to them surviving the monster attack. It shouldn't have been that impactful, but it did get them to stop and wonder about what he said.
Mugino on the other hand was contemplating giving the boy's words a second thought. While he did consider her to be strong that didn't sit well with her. Due to the boy not knowing who she was. This left the tea-color-haired girl to watch the boy closely.
"…Fine."
"Mugino?"
"We're moving back. But I'm not leaving here."
Figuring that was better than nothing, Sora nodded his head and immediately charged at the Darkside all while Item watched from the side. What they didn't know was that they would be left with many more questions about what they were about to see.
Charging right up to the Darkside, Sora spotted a heavily damaged building that was close by. That would allow him to drop down and slam into the creature along with hitting any other Shadows in the area. However, before he could get there many Shadows were now leaping at him which resulted in the boy going on the offensive.
Swinging his weapon horizontally, the Keyblade slashed through several Shadows killing them instantly with the clean cut. Followed by Sora swiping the weapon under another Heartless launching it into the air and then jumping up and heaving the Keyblade down killing the foe.
Dodging to the side, the boy kicked one Heartless away while stabbing another right in the head. Moving left and then right, he parried an incoming attack from one Shadow and counter-slashed the Heartless into two. Then the spiky-haired boy slid under a trio of Heartless jumping right at him and then turned on his back foot and lifted his Keyblade up into the air before casting a spell to finish them off.
"Thunder!"
Yellow bolts of light hit the group of Shadows causing them to start shaking before disappearing into a cloud of dark smoke. Before any other Heartless could get the upper hand against the boy, he stabbed his Keyblade into the ground and shouted another spell to disrupt the incoming monsters.
"I call Wind!"
A green vortex suddenly started to pick up speed causing what looked to be a small tornado to lift debris and Heartless off the ground allowing Sora to come dashing past each Shadow and pull off a clean strike killing it instantly. His long-time experience in dealing with the Heartless gave him the right idea of how much time and power he would need to deal with all the small fry before getting to the Darkside.
Speaking of the massive Heartless, the creature had lifted its arms across its chest and looked to be shaking intensely. The Keyblade wielder spotted this after striking another Shadow and knew what was about to happen.
Taking off without delay, the boy began to jump on top of the debris scattered across the area and soon found himself running along the roof of a destroyed bus. Performing a bit of parkour as soon as he hit the end of the roof, he leaped onto the side of a destroyed building while wall running and keeping one hand against the wall while his other held onto the Keyblade. Ready to block what was coming.
In a dramatic sequence, the Darkside released its arms across its chest and suddenly multiple dark projectiles came hurtling toward Sora causing the boy to continue to run against the wall and deflect the incoming ranged attacks both at the same time.
Slicing the last projectile, he decided to change things up and spotted another damaged building in front of him. In a leap of faith, the boy jumped through the air all while quickly noting how many Shadows were surrounding the area. As he said before, he wasn't going to let anyone else get hurt. Which meant that every Heartless here was going to be stopped.
Coming crashing into the other building, Sora activated his Flowmotion and began glowing blue around his body all while running up the building and doing his best to keep an eye on the Heartless.
Flipping himself onto the building's roof, the boy now pointed his Keyblade to the ground and started to clear some room for him to act. Recalling the strange and sudden event that happened earlier where he recalled the spells and abilities he lost, Sora was ready to see how those spells worked now.
"Let's go! Light!"
In the next instant, several beams of light all featuring different colors began flashing around the area and hitting the Heartless causing them to get hit back and forth before fading away. That spell that Sora had just cast was primarily known as Spark and had been one of his go-to spells back while traveling through the Sleeping Worlds.
But rather than spend any more time admiring what he just did, Sora spun around and saw more Shadows crawling up the building's walls and appearing on the roof with him.
In a fit to finish the enemies quickly, the Keyblade wielder ran right at the enemy with his weapon at his side.
"Time to get serious!"
Performing a Quick Slash by spinning and hitting the first Heartless in sight, the boy then rolled to the side before heaving the weapon at the already attacked Shadow and managed to stab it in the head before throwing his blade at another Shadow and summoning it back to his hand and diagonally slicing another Heartless. This allowed him enough time to blast another Heartless with a point-blank Fire spell.
Jumping back, he now performed a Triple Rush by charging at the nearest Shadow and pulled off three consecutive jabs before flipping himself into the air and slamming his Keyblade down on the enemy killing it. Turning on his back foot, Sora decided to flood the roof with a little shock. Raising his Keyblade, he let the Heartless have it.
"Take this!"
With a burst of blue and yellow light coming from the tip of the Keyblade, a torrent of water came splashing toward all the Heartless making their way toward the boy before a crackling sound hit the area. The water surrounding the Heartless had been hit by a bolt of thunder leaving the Heartless to be decimated and disappearing.
Nodding to himself, Sora still saw many more Shadows surrounding the area beneath him, they didn't seem like that much of a problem. But the one baddie that was of concern was the looming Darkside that stared up right at him and looked ready to start charging up more dark projectiles to send his way. Noticing this, the Keyblade wielder knew that he needed to act fast which is why he gripped his weapon tightly before doing something reckless.
In an attempt to make a dent against the large Heartless, he was going to need to call upon his powers and get the job done for sure.
Leaping off the rooftop, he began flipping himself around and diving right toward the Darkside ready to slam into it. He also had a plan of action and could feel enough energy charged up and ready to be unleashed.
Meanwhile, back with the girls of Item they all looked at the boy standing on the rooftop and were left beyond puzzled at everything that had just happened.
"How did he… He just super-used several different elements like it was nothing. Is he an elemental esper?" Kinuhata asked, trying to understand if he was an Electromaster or a Hydromaster.
"Forget that, how was he able to run across and up the building? Basically, does he have some sort of gravity-based power?" Frenda questioned while recalling the boy's ease of doing such feats.
"…" Takitsubo remained quiet which wasn't that odd, however, she was actually using her esper ability to see what his AIM field looked like and… to her confusion she couldn't get a read.
Mugino on the other hand was watching the spiky-haired boy's moves very closely. While she had no idea who the hell he was aside from his name, Sora. She had to admit that the boy's ability was not that of a one-time show.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
From the way, he charged forward and used the surroundings to his advantage, and kept his body posture relaxed and focused showed that he was adept and familiar with combat. Plus, it looked like he knew exactly how these monsters acted and was prepared to counter them at every opportunity that was available. But that just raised an even bigger red flag in her head, what was his level rank?
The power being displayed for her and her team to see was certainly not something a low-level individual could pull off. Which seemed to annoy her. She was practically told to step aside and watch as this bastard stepped in to play the role of hero for her and her team. Or more specifically to her. She wasn't going to let that happen.
Just as she was about ready to start making her way to deal with the monsters, did the brunette girl see that he leaped off the rooftop.
"What the hell? Did he just jump?"
"He super did!"
"Maybe it was- "Before Frenda could finish speaking, she saw that the boy flipped himself in the air and was now diving toward the large monster.
In a blast of light which caused all the girls to cover their eyes, they all saw that the boy had basically slammed himself right into the tall menacing monster. He was also now on the ground and grasping at his heart while kneeling.
Takitsubo seemed to pick something up and shouted at Mugino.
"Mugino! He- "
…*Ka-boom*…
"Give me strength!"
Out of nowhere, another blast of light rocked their eyesight and forced the girls to cover their eyes. Now adjusting their vision, the girls were met with an even stranger sight.
Standing there with his weapon facing the large monster head-on was the boy but there was something different about him. His clothes had changed!
His outfit now consisted of a blue V-neck t-shirt with white hemming and black chap-style shorts with yellow belts holding onto two red pockets on either leg. The red jacket he was wearing now appeared black with white hemming and pauldron-like additions on the shoulder.
The girls seeing this new outfit were at a loss for words.
"Wha… How did he just change his clothes?" Frenda muttered.
"Mugino, there's something up with him" Takitsubo stated which drew the other members' attention.
"What are you talking about? Is it his AIM field?"
"No. It's something else. I don't know what it is but it's acting almost like a beacon. I've never encountered this before…" the black-haired girl said while going back to scan the boy.
Unsure of what to think about Takitsubo's report, the tea-color-haired girl just decided to watch and see what was new with the strange boy. This was all new to her. She had never heard of this boy before but knew one thing for sure. She would find out soon.
Back with Sora
Staring right up at the Darkside, the boy didn't waste any time and dashed toward the Heartless all while making short work of the Shadows that tried stopping him.
Slamming his Keyblade down at one Shadow, he then blocked an incoming attack before disappearing in a flash of light before appearing in front of the Heartless and landing a magical kick to its face. The attack managed to kill the Shadow but also impacted other Heartless in the area.
Getting back to his feet, Sora threw his body around and swung the weapon into another Shadow throwing it back several feet into another, and swiftly tilted his Keyblade to hit under a Heartless managing to send it flying through the air. Jumping up and chasing it, he threw his body back and started spinning around while also hitting the Heartless until it disappeared.
Landing back to his feet, the spiky-haired boy was getting closer to the Darkside but needed more space to act. Bringing the blade close to his chest, he heaved the weapon across the chest of another group of Shadows before slamming the Keyblade down and causing several orbs of light to explode around the area and hurt the Heartless killing them all.
Not stopping, he stabbed another Heartless right in the chest before lifting himself and the weapon into the air and letting a wave of light appear managing to kill any close enough to him. Just for the added support, he also started casting multiple Thunder spells while creating a path forward to the Darkside. He did this while also running and dodging any Shadows leaping toward him.
Finally, standing several feet away from the massive Heartless, Sora knew the exact points on the monster's body that would cause it to become defenseless to attacks. Charging at the ankle of the monster, he was about to attack but narrowly missed one of the Darkside's hands slamming right to the side of him which propelled him to start slashing at the foot. Striking the foot from every angle, the boy was sure that he did enough damage but was suddenly pelted to the ground by multiple Shadows that jumped onto him.
Instead of clawing and slashing at the Keyblade wielder, the Heartless just put their weight onto him making the blue-eyed boy puzzled for a second before he realized what was up.
'They're trying to stop me!'
Not about to let that happen, Sora let go of his Keyblade allowing it to flash away, and brought his hand to the top of his chest. Situations like this call for improvisation.
"Get off!"
A blast of energy impacted the Shadows that were on top of the boy sending them to all go flying across the area and slamming into debris or straight to the ground causing them to all disappear.
The boy had let go of his hold over his Second Form and was now back to his regular clothing. Pulling himself up and summoning his Keyblade, he looked over at the Darkside and realized that many dark projectiles were about to hit him. With not enough time to act, he quickly tried to block the incoming attacks but was immediately shot backward and crashed through one of the damaged building's walls. Dust and debris were everywhere.
The Darkside now started to walk slowly toward the building that Sora was sent flying into to finish the job.
However, a whiteish beam of light suddenly hit the Darkside's face causing it to take a step back. Soon after, many more beams of light started barraging the large creature forcing it to move its body and use its arms to block the incoming attacks. The Heartless now looked at where the random attacks came from and saw a figure in the distance.
Standing there with her hand extended out and holding onto a strange metallic-looking card was Mugino Shizuri with a battle-crazy grin on her face.
"What the hell was all that talk about I'll take care of them? You're getting your ass handed to you" the tea-colored-haired girl said loud enough for Sora to hear.
Seemingly upset at the surprise attack, the Darkside started to move its arms across its chest and started charging up another ranged attack. But that's exactly what the Level 5 was expecting. While watching Sora fight the monsters, she was carefully studying the enemies' movements along with how they behaved while being attacked. Which is how she knew what the big monster was about to do.
Beginning to calculate the precise amount of power that she would need to finish the monster off for good, Mugino waited and carefully watched the monster begin to release its arms from its chest and now had a confident smirk on her face.
"Got ya."
As fast as the eye could see, a whiteish blue beam of light shot right toward the Darkside just as it was starting to dispel the ranged projectiles. The two attacks collided and now caused a large explosion causing smoke to block the area's visible surroundings. Item was left confused about what was happening since their visuals were nonexistent. However, they soon got their answer, and it was not a good one.
The large monster's top part of its body was completely gone. But that didn't matter. Dark tendrils were beginning to crawl up the monster's legs and started layering onto each other. It was ultimately trying to reform itself!
Not about to let that happen, Mugino started firing beams of her Meltdowner at the monster but was suddenly attacked by many of the smaller monsters. They were buying the large monster time to reform.
Seeing their leader be attacked, Frenda and Kinuhata dashed to help Mugino while combating the monsters and killing them to make some room.
However, out of the corner of their eyes appeared the boy who was somehow connected to the monsters.
Coming out of the building and having dust and scratches across his body was Sora who looked irritated. With his weapon in hand, he charged right at the Darkside not about to let it get back to full form.
Jumping through the air and landing on top of the damaged Darkside, he started laying waste to the Heartless and slashing at the dark tendrils, Sora stabbed his weapon into the monster and shouted out another one of his attacks.
"Light!"
Beams of light started to appear all around the Darkside before hitting the Heartless and barraging it with magical power. This caused the remaining body of the monster to start moving slowly before coming to a complete stop. Nothing happened.
That is until the boy could feel the weight of the monster start to lean back causing him to jump down and roll on the ground and watch the Darkside fall to the ground and start to disappear signaling that he had defeated the Heartless once and for all.
With Mugino and the rest of Item, the girls watched as all the smaller monsters started crawling away or into dark puddles that suddenly appeared all around them. None of the creatures were attacking them now. This just raised even more questions for them to consider.
Checking the area out to see if anything else was going to happen, Sora had a lot to think about.
'The Heartless in this world… they're not extremely difficult to deal with… but that Darkside was stronger than any normal Darkside I've fought before. There must be something bigger going on in this world to strengthen the Heartless… but what do I do now? I can't be everywhere all the time…'
Suddenly, snapping out of his thoughts, the boy was now face-to-face with the older teen girl with the long brown hair, and she did not look happy.
"Who - the hell - are you?"
"Huh? I thought I told you- "
"I heard what you said, Sora. But I'm asking again. Who. Are. You?"
Feeling like he was walking on top of a ticking time bomb, the spiky-haired boy let out a sigh before conversing with the girl.
"I… I'm not sure what you mean. Maybe if you ask me something clearer then I'll do my best to answer."
"…"
Taking a second to consider the boy's response, Mugino had two options currently in mind. On one hand, she could just find the information she wanted on her own or through her sources on the dark side. However, that was a 50/50 bet that she wasn't sure she should take. But on the other hand, she could get answers from the boy himself.
Deciding to go with the more sensible option, she knew what answer she wanted first and foremost.
"All right then, Sora… what level are you?"
The other girls of Item were standing off to the side and watched as Mugino questioned the spiky-haired boy. Each of them had their own thoughts about the boy but decided to remain silent on the matter. If they managed to get in the Level 5's way right now, then she would probably roast them with her Meltdowner beam.
Patting the back of his head, Sora answered as best as he could.
"I'm… I'm currently classified as an unknown."
A moment of silence passed between the two before Mugino lowered her head and took a deep breath. In the next instance, she lifted her head and her brown eyes looked to be almost glowing. No, that glow was actually coming from the light right next to her that was coming right at-
Rolling to the side, Sora summoned his Keyblade and had a beyond-shocked look on his face.
"What was that for!?"
"Classified as an unknown? Are you fucking kidding me? Do you really think I'll believe that?"
"It's the truth!"
"Bullshit! I'm not stupid enough to fall for something like that."
With no time to move, the Keyblade wielder raised his blade to block the incoming beam of light that was shot toward him. The attack instantly reminded him of Xemnas and how he used laser beams in many of his attacks. He also hoped that he could try to talk the girl down from attacking him again.
"Whoa! Can't we just talk about this?"
"Not a fat chance."
Seeing another beam of light appear next to the girl, Sora bolted to his feet and tried to put some distance between the two but had to throw himself back onto the ground to narrowly miss a beam of light scorching the ground in front of him.
Looking at the long-haired girl, he saw that she did not look calm at all. Strands of hair had now fallen in front of her while she was glaring at the Keyblade wielder. Several orbs of light now appeared around her, and they were all getting brighter.
He would have to stop her and push back a little while still not going too far and hurting her.
Rolling across the ground and pushing himself up to his feet, the boy was now raising his Keyblade and deflecting multiple beams of light coming right toward him. The beams were coming at an incredible rate maybe even faster than Xemnas's attacks. But that wouldn't stop him from trying to stop her and calm her down.
Throwing himself to the side and rolling on the ground, he narrowly missed two beams scorching the spot he was just in before spinning his weapon to deflect the incoming attacks. He saw that Mugino did not look like she was going to stop attacking him which annoyed him.
Seeing more orbs of light appear around her, he started dashing to the side and blocked the staggering beams but realized something too late. There were only three orbs. He knew for sure that there were four before-
Feeling the impact of one of the beams hit him in the side, the boy was sent flying back a few feet all while checking where he got lasered. Patting his side, there were no real signs of the attack burning him aside from the charred smoke on his jacket. Magical clothes imbued with the synthesis of other magic materials really did wonders. Standing up, Sora knew that he had to stop the tea-colored-haired girl.
Spotting more orbs of light start to shoot forward at him, he quickly blocked every beam by spinning his Keyblade right in front of him in an impressive manner all while lowering his head. Sora looked over and spotted the girl sporting a frown while also having her eyes locked onto his own.
He would use that to his advantage.
Dashing forward and sliding under another incoming beam that scorched the ground right behind him, Sora threw his Keyblade in the direction that the girl was standing which caused her to move to the side. But that's exactly what he wanted.
Running up to Mugino, he knew that he probably could have gone about it another way, but at the same time, he was running out of options to prevent hurting the girl.
Swinging his Keyblade at her, Mugino saw the attack and rolled herself on the ground before landing a kick at the boy's legs. This caused him to plop to the ground and see her charging at him while summoning more of her orbs. With his fast reaction time, he stabbed his weapon into the ground and leaned back onto it hoping that his plan of flinging himself would work. He didn't want to outright start striking her with the weapon since he didn't see her as an enemy and only wanted to stop her.
Which is why he was about to use himself to solve this problem.
Letting his body go flying toward her, he slammed right into Mugino causing the two of them to come crashing down to the ground which stopped the firing of the beams. Now on the ground, Sora looked over at the girl to see if she would stop and listen to reason. He was met with her immediately jumping on top of him and grabbing both of his arms to prevent him from summoning his weapon. Suddenly, a beam of light appeared right next to her.
"Dodge this."
Thrashing his right hand out of her grip, he quickly summoned his Keyblade and brought it right up to his face in the nick of time to block the incoming beam of light. This went on for a good moment with Mugino still on top of the boy while trying to get him to budge and have one of her Meltdowner beams hit him. Sora meanwhile was doing his best to block the intense beam of light coming down on him.
Having had enough of this, he yelled out followed by pushing his weapon forward, and let a blast of his own light attack hit the girl which sent her flying back and off him while also stopping the incoming beam.
Getting the girl to stop attacking him without outright fighting back proved to be more difficult than he thought.
Pulling himself up, Sora saw that Mugino had also lifted herself up and was glaring daggers at him. He didn't want to admit it but… he was getting fed up now.
However, before he could say anything the other girls stepped in between the two or more likely in front of their friend.
"Mugino! Hold on a second!"
"Can it, Frenda. I'm not done with him."
"I think you should super calm down. You guys barely started talking and then you shot first" Kinuhata stated to the tea-color-haired girl.
"That's because this ass hole thinks I'm dumb enough to believe that he doesn't have a level classification."
"But it's the truth! I just got to Academy City!" Sora shouted, defending his answer which was the truth.
"That's even more ridiculous!"
"Wait… maybe he's telling the truth, Mugino?" the dark-haired girl of the group said.
"Huh? Are you seriously going to pay attention to what he's saying?"
"Think about it. Logically. His power or at the very least from what we've seen is clearly not anything a level 2 or 3 could pull off. Possibly a level 4 but that brings about even more questions" Takitsubo reasoned, showing a bit more interest than usual.
"To super add to what Takitsubo is saying, think about it. If he was lying about not having a level, then we would have known. Data or information about him would have been out there for us to see. But we didn't encounter anything, and we all know Frenda was looking into this guy earlier and found nothing" Kinuhata added.
"T-That's a bit of a weird way of phrasing it, but basically, she's right. I got nothing on him. He's a total mystery."
Hearing the brunette girl's teammates sort of stick up for him made the boy relax. But he was still wary of the older girl and how she seemed to look at him now.
Letting a moment pass before taking a deep breath, Mugino did her best to calm down.
"…Alright. *sigh* Sora?"
"Y-Yes?" the spiky-haired boy replied, noticing the girl take a somewhat more friendly approach. At least for now.
"How about we… start over. Does that sound fair?" Mugino asked, clearly forcing herself to sound normal. Or as normal as one could get after just narrowly trying to attack and possibly kill someone.
"Right… I don't think I ever got your name."
"…Mugino Shizuri. Fourth-ranked Level 5."
Not sure how to really respond to what the long-haired girl now known as Mugino said about her level, Sora only nodded his head.
Next, the blonde-haired girl stepped forward and did a little pose with her hands, "I'm Frenda Seivelun. Hilsen, Sora."
Not sure what Frenda said there at the end, the boy could only smile and nod in return.
"Name's Kinuhata Saiai. What's your favorite B-movie?"
"B-movie? I… I don't have one?" Sora responded, not really sure what she meant.
"Lame."
The next girl to introduce herself was the one wearing a tracksuit who also seemed to be looking rather intently at Sora. Almost like she was examining him.
"Uh, hey there, nice to meet you?"
"Takitsubo Rikou."
That's all that was said.
"Well, it's nice to meet you all. Again, my name is Sora. And… I'm new here."
"Let's start there." Standing up and wiping the dirt off her clothes, the Level 5 started questioning him. "Are you saying that you just got to Academy City yesterday?" Mugino asked, making sure to mentally take note of everything Sora was about to say.
"Yes. I just got here yesterday."
"And what about those monsters? What are they?"
Taking a second to consider his answer, he had a feeling that… while Mugino did just try to kill him… it wouldn't hurt to let her, and the others know about the Heartless. At least in a fair warning kind of way.
"They're called the Heartless and they are basically- "
Before Sora could give another explanation about the Heartless a loud shaking sound could be heard coming from one of the abandoned buildings nearby. Not exactly sure what that was, he started making his way over to investigate what had happened when something crashed right through the building and practically destroyed the structure. Floating there for everyone to see was something only Sora knew the name of.
A Demon Tide.
A long line of Shadow Heartless were all bunched together in a snake-like formation and moving through the air at a fast rate. This was a foe that left unattended could cause massive problems. And right now, it was moving away from the damaged area and into another part of District 19.
Mugino and the rest of the girls let out annoyed sounds at seeing the monsters or better identified as the Heartless again.
"Are you fucking serious right now?"
"We basically killed them all! How are they back?"
"I can super confirm. There were only a few that got away. No way there was this many to escape."
"Why can't…" Takitsubo muttered while once again using her AIM Stalker ability to get a read on the Heartless.
"That won't stop them from coming back." Taking a step forward and summoning his Keyblade in hand, Sora addressed the girls one more time. "The only thing to truly stop the Heartless is the weapon I'm holding."
Looking at the large key in his hand, Mugino scoffed at the weapon's appearance.
"You're telling me that this *pointing at the weapon* this giant oversized skeleton key is supposed to destroy these monsters for good!?"
"You're the first person to call it something other than a house key."
"That's even worse!"
"But you're correct. And I know, it sounds ridiculous. But I can change the appearance of the blade" Sora explained to the tea-color-haired girl.
Eyeing the boy and his weapon, the girl known as Meltdowner had to wonder about something.
"Then why don't you have it to be oh I don't know an actual blade?" Mugino suggested to the Keyblade wielder.
"I lost the tools needed to do so. But never mind, I can't let that Demon Tide get away and hurt anyone" Sora stated getting ready to chase the Heartless boss but was pulled back by a certain Level 5's hand.
"We are not done here yet. I still have questions."
"Ugh... Look, Mugino, I can't do that. Not now at least."
"Yes, now."
A sudden thought came to the boy being heckled by the girl.
"Wait! Timeout! I have a phone. We can just meet up later."
Hearing this, Mugino shouldn't have listened to him and just got her answers here and now but… considering that she was still in the dark about practically everything that happened here tonight and she did just try to… seriously hurt him, she decided to play nice. Letting go of the boy's hood, she let him reach into his pocket and pull out a strange-looking device.
"What is that? It super looks like a book. Haha," Kinuhata said, examining the abnormally large phone.
"Uh… how do we stay in contact?" Sora asked, not sure what he should do next.
"For fuc- here."
Grabbing the boy's phone and pulling hers out, she was about to start typing on it when a sudden ring sound was heard. Looking at the boy's device it showed on the screen that a number had been saved. Blinking several times, the two teens could only look at each other before Sora took his phone back and went to look at the people he could contact. And wouldn't you know it, there was Mugino's contact information at the ready without even having to press a single button.
Sora had no idea about what happened and decided to just go along with it being magic.
Mugino on the other hand was confused and had even more questions pop into her head. Resulting in her scrolling through her phone and going into her contacts and getting to the latter half of listed contacts which wasn't that many, to be honest. She didn't really have that many people who she considered important enough to be stored in her phone. Hence, she continued going down the very short list and spotted Sora's name and instantly pressed the call button to see if it was real.
Ringing could be heard coming from the boy's phone as he saw the brunette girl's name pop up. Pressing the green button, he brought the phone up to his ear while looking over at the caller.
"Hello?"
Closing her phone, Mugino bit her tongue from saying anything about the boy being an idiot and decided that she had at least come to a compromise.
"Hmph. You'll be expecting a call from me soon, Sora. Girls, let's go."
Not wanting to argue or piss off their explosive leader, each of the girls began to wave back at Sora while he offered a friendly wave back. He would continue to watch them get further and further away until they were out of earshot and let out a tired sigh.
'Those girls… Item…they're a strange bunch.'
Shaking his head, Sora brought himself back to his senses and realized that the Demon Tide was getting further away which made him groan. Seems like he was going to be even busier tonight. And with that, the Guardian of Light began to chase after the Heartless boss and stop it before anyone else got hurt in the crossfire all while putting his thoughts about Item to the side.
Meanwhile, with Mugino and the rest of Item
Having walked a bit away from the site of their failed capture, Mugino had called in a transport vehicle to come pick them up but not before taking another look at her phone and the newly added number to her device.
Before anything else could happen, Frenda seemed to poke the girl's shoulder which snapped her back into reality, and faced the blonde with an irritated expression.
"What?"
"Are you ok, Mugino?"
"Of course, I'm alright. Why the hell wouldn't I be?"
"I mean, first we super failed the mission and got our asses kicked by those… what did he call them? Heartness?"
"Heartless" Takitsubo replied.
"Right. That's the name. And second, we got super saved by Sora who showed up out of nowhere."
"Sora…" Frenda muttered while recalling the boy's abilities both on the television and what she just saw not that long ago.
"…It's fine."
Hearing Mugino's response, the girls of Item all looked at their leader with surprised expressions. That was not the answer they were expecting.
"Uh… am I missing something here?" Kinuhata questioned Frenda who shook her head, confused just as much as she was.
"When we get back to the apartment, Kinuhata, and Frenda, I want you two to start analyzing and evaluating Sora's power."
"When you say analyze- "
"Yes. Break down everything you saw. From the way, he used that key of his to the elemental attacks that appeared out of nowhere. Takitsubo. You and I will be pulling everything we can about him."
"Didn't he say that he was new to Academy City?" the tracksuit girl asked the Level 5.
"That may be true… but I still call bullshit. There's no way someone with that kind of firepower just appears out of nowhere. Either he's playing us for a fool or… "
"Or?" Frenda pipped up.
"… I don't know. But I'll be damned if I don't find out the truth."
Looking at Mugino who held an unreadable expression on her face, Kinuhata had to wonder.
"Why are you so intent on finding the truth behind him?"
"…"
Mugino did not respond and was back to focusing completely on her phone and ignoring everyone around her which seemed strange even for her. Hence, seeing this, the girls of Item decided to not wake the content bear and just go along with what she said. However, Takitsubo took one last look in the direction that the snake-like monster and Sora were heading. She still had no idea why her ability was acting up all of the sudden but this ultimately led her to think that there was more than meets the eye when it came to those monsters and the boy who wielded the giant skeleton key. She would have many questions to ask him if she and he were to ever cross paths again.
All in all, just another eventful night in Academy City.
Notes:
*A/N* – Funnily enough, Sora's first actual night in Academy City is just getting started. I was able to read the Item light novel spin-off and took notes on all things Mugino. (Of course). I hope I didn't make those who were eagerly waiting for another chapter to wait too long lol. Sorry about that. But other than that, hope to see you around next time. Take care out there.
Chapter 9: New Day, New Friends
Summary:
Still on the tail of the sudden appearing Demon Tide, Sora will need to clean up after it while also feeling the after-effects of spending a whole day and essentially night fighting. Leading him to face a new day in Academy City while unknown forces start making their moves and questions start to be asked about the spiky-haired boy who wields a giant key.
Notes:
*Disclaimer* - I do not own the copyright to Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index
*A/N* - Yellow. Hope everyone is doing well. Wanna keep this somewhat short since there's much to get to. Sora's first day in Academy City and things are already this hectic. Also, it's officially been a year since the KH4 reveal trailer. Crazy to think about and gets me excited for what'll be shown next in the future given that Sora's influence will change a few things around. Either way, thanks for everyone being interested in this crazy crossover, and hope you'll stick around for the long run. Also, all the reviews have been a tremendous help and inspiration to continue writing so I'd like to say thank you. Now, enough rambling, and back to Sora hitting a wall.
Chapter Text
"Aaah!"
*Boom*
Slamming right through a wall, Sora winced in pain while forcing himself up and eyeing the Demon Tide that seemed to be antagonizing him on purpose. This got the tired boy to not only glare at the bundled monsters but sigh.
It hadn't been that long since he split off from Mugino and the rest of the girls in Item. But once he caught up to the Heartless mass, he was forced to go on a little scenic route past many old and damaged buildings while simultaneously venturing deeper into District 19. Using his Flowmotion to run across building walls and swing around poles to catch up to the moving target until he managed to Airstep to a street lamp and used the momentum and trajectory to fling himself in the air and dive bomb the Demon Tide and push it into a courtyard of sorts.
This is how he managed to get sent flying into the building that he's now in or for better terminology laying on the ground covered in dust and debris while pushing himself to stand up.
However, his moment of peace was now interrupted by the Demon Tide rushing straight at him which forced the spiky-haired boy to roll to the side and stab his Keyblade right into the side of the Heartless bundle.
"Light!"
Out of nowhere, a beam of light was shot right through the Demon Tide causing it to start thrashing around and drop Shadows all over the ground. Not about to deal with another troublesome Heartless spawning others again, Sora jumped up to his feet and started casting Thunder magic like a madman.
"Strike!"
Bolts of yellow lighting hit around the entire room killing all the smaller Heartless instantly while also heavily hurting the Demon Tide. But it still wasn't enough.
Beginning to barrage the Heartless with horizontal slashes across its long body, Sora was fed up and began putting more force into his attacks. Bringing his weapon straight down, the impact managed to send sparks of light and star effects around the room causing the Heartless mass to start spreading apart everywhere and forcing him to run outside and through the hole he caused.
Now standing outside, Sora grit his teeth and aimed the Kingdom Key at the open hole and started blocking it off with some of his spells.
"Get a load of this! Balloon!"
Multiple large colorful balloons appeared around the hole preventing the Heartless from spilling out. But the Keyblade wielder wasn't about to let that happen again. Twirling his weapon, Sora decided to be more forceful with the Heartless and bring them to him rather than waiting
"Gather!"
The entire hole was now filled with a bright spiraling orb that was forcing the Heartless to be pulled toward it which would ultimately cause the balloons to go off. But still, he wanted to make sure none of the monsters were left behind. Which just meant that-
*Ka-boom!*
The area around the hole was blasted with both bright lights and dust covering the area. Sora wasn't sure what the situation looked like but still kept up his guard. This seemed almost easy… too easy.
*Whew* *Brrr* *Whew* *Brrr*
Coincidentally, the dust cleared as something rapidly flew toward him. Raising his blade to defend himself, Sora was instantly hit with a heavy force trying to knock him down but he was prepared and put his all into pushing back. Now with the dust clearing, he saw the Demon Tide with not as many Shadows in its main body anymore meaning he did do some damage.
"Grrrh! Gah!" Sora grunted while doing his best to continue to hold his ground.
However, he knew that if this kept up any longer, then his body would give out and be taken into the dark swirl. Trying to come up with any other ideas to help him out, he was about to try and counter the Demon Tide in the side when he spotted what appeared to be a truck out of the corner of his eye. The truck looked destroyed but was high enough for him to slide under. Buying him enough time to charge up and attack.
Deciding to take that gamble, Sora shifted his weight into his back leg and was ready to strike.
"Haah! Back off!"
In quick succession, he pushed the incoming Heartless to the side of him before performing a counter-impact reprisal and blasting several Shadows away, killing them instantly. Next, the spiky-haired boy sprinted toward the truck but not before flicking his wrist that was holding the Keyblade back at the Demon Tide while performing a Circle Raid on the Heartless stopping it abruptly.
Rushing at the truck, he slid right under the truck while seeing that the Demon Tide had caught up to him and essentially picked up the truck and ripped it into two to reach him. However, Sora had narrowly dodged to the side and summoned his Keyblade behind him but not before dragging the teeth of the blade across the ground while trying something he thought of on the spot.
The tip of the weapon began to glow red which soon caused Fire to appear but instead of pointing the magic attack at the Heartless, he continued to drag his weapon across the ground managing to leave a small trail of flames behind while charging right at the bundled monsters.
"See how you like this! Haah!" Sora yelled while gripping the Keyblade handle tightly and raising the blade now coated in a bright and burning red light.
Not about to let the Demon Tide last any longer, he leaped right at the bundled-up Heartless and began performing multiple quick slashes across its body. With the blade caught on fire, the sight of sparks, stars, and flames was all that could be seen lighting up the dark area. One attack consisted of him having his weapon still with the blade covered in flames and dragging it across the ground before bringing it around in a circular motion and slamming it into the Heartless swarm.
This resulted in a great deal of damage followed by lighting some of the Shadows within the Demon Tide to catch fire and spread it throughout the grouped-up monsters.
Blobs of Shadows now dropped from the Demon Tide's body and began attacking the boy causing him to block the incoming monsters and countering every single Heartless either with a counter slash across one monster killing it. Or managing to drag one with the teeth of his blade into others before performing a counter impact causing a wide strike to be thrown toward the shadowy foes.
This went on repeat as the Keyblade wielder was also casting area-wide spells to slow down the menacing enemies while rushing toward them and stabbing the Heartless in the head or chest or clashing with their dark claws resulting in him being scratched all around his body. There was no time to cast a Curaga spell as the Shadows continued to surround him which drew his attention away all while still trying to keep an eye on the Demon Tide that looked to be on the move again. He would not let it escape.
Throwing his body into every attack, Sora was not letting up and started barraging the Demon Tide with vertical, horizontal, and diagonal strikes before outright stabbing his weapon into the middle of the Heartless group.
At this point, the Demon Tide was now picking up speed and spinning around the wielder of light managing to throw debris his way and force him to drop to the ground and roll away to avoid being hit or worse squished.
"Whoa!"
Crawling to the side, the spiky-haired boy was seconds away from being squished like a pancake from a destroyed vehicle landing right where was just a moment ago. The situation was starting to take a turn for the worse with more and more debris being picked up and thrown his way. Deflecting a large chunk of stone and metal piping, Sora started swatting away everything that came at him while trying to come up with a plan to get the Demon Tide to slow down its torrent of wind.
Recalling what he did with the Balloon and Magnet spells, he figured trying something like that would be better than nothing and pointed his weapon right at the fast-moving swarm of Shadows. But not before being hit in the back with something heavy and sent flying a few feet across the rough ground.
Wincing in pain, Sora perked his head up and saw what hit him. The front end of a destroyed car was what smacked him. He didn't have time to check how badly he took the hit but that would have to wait. This had to stop.
Swinging his head to the side, he narrowly sliced what appeared to be a ripped wall that was about to slam into him but was left untouched. The Demon Tide was looking smaller than when he first encountered it but now its behavior was that of a monster thrashing around both in survival and in anger. If the Heartless decided to flee away, then that could leave it to get away and become an even bigger problem.
"You're going down!"
Springing to his feet and charging at the swarm of monsters, Sora knew that he would need to create a special explosion to finish the Demon Tide once and for all which got him thinking. If he was able to bundle all the Heartless into a small area, then…
Twirling his Keyblade in his hand while still running, he aimed his weapon right at the area in front of the swarm and started casting magic on a rapid basis.
"How do you like this! Gather!"
A Magnet spell now appeared and was spinning while also forcing many of the Shadows to be pulled toward the orb even managing to break apart the damaged Demon Tide swarm leaving a pool of dark yellow eyes to be everywhere on the ground.
Not letting a second get away from him, Sora cast another spell he wanted to test out.
"Drip!"
Suddenly, a purple ring of light went flying around him and reached the bunched-up Heartless managing to force them to stay in place. He had just cast the Zero Gravity spell which if he was correct would stop the monsters momentarily. Allowing him to perform the special attack he was waiting to let loose.
"Take this!"
Locking his sight onto the swarm of Heartless, Sora was now ready to perform a Shotlock on the defenseless enemies. Jumping up into the air and pointing his Keyblade at the Heartless, the tip of his blade glowed in a bright blue light before multiple projectiles started firing right at the group of monsters still affected by the magic spells. In the next instant, a large explosion covered the area leaving him to close his eyes while also wondering what happened.
Casting a Wind spell, the Guardian of Light started scanning the area around him and was now left confused. The area looked to be charred and destroyed in some aspects due to his attacks but the more confusing part was that there were no more Heartless around.
"Did my attacks work? I already let my guard down once back with the girls…" Sora muttered while observing his surroundings
There was no sign of any Heartless still lingering around the area.
Feeling a bit worn down and at least a few minutes had passed now, Sora spotted a destroyed car that had most of its body ripped apart along with its front doors but the seat still remained intact. Slowly making his way over to the car, he plopped himself down in the driver's seat and took a moment to catch his breath.
"*sigh* This is not right… something has to be going on within the city to cause the Heartless to appear this frequently." Raising his hands in front of him while leaning back into the seat, Sora continued to be vocal with his thoughts. "The dark side of Academy City… I'm guessing the city has a lot of things going on that most people don't know about."
Leaning his head to the side, Sora also recalled the various people he had run into in such a short amount of time. First, those teenagers that were out arguing about the blonde guy's looks, then the frightened operative who he managed to help escape, and finally, the girls of Item.
This sprang about a whole different conversation to take place in the spiky-haired boy's head.
'Mugino said that she was a Level 5… If I remember correctly from what everyone told me yesterday, then the city works on a leveling system that sorts everyone into groups based on their power capabilities… not to mention, there is also magic in this world that seems to be at odds against the science side of things *sigh* this is a lot to take in and it's only been my first day!' Sora mentally shouted from within.
Allowing a frustrated sigh to escape his lips, he figured that he should see what time it was since he'd been out for quite a bit now.
"4:49 A.M."
Great. Just great.
"There goes any chance of me sleeping."
Sora stated while realizing that the sunrise wouldn't be that long of a wait now. Since he had his phone out, he decided to take a look at something that was recently added. Pulling up his contacts, the boy began scrolling down the list of people he had listed down. Once again, thanks to his friend Hiro for giving him an efficient lesson in maneuvering his phone. Granted, he still didn't know how to do a lot of things but now he had gotten the hang of it.
Going down the list, he suddenly stopped when he saw the name of someone new in his contacts. Mugino Shizuri.
The image of the tea-color-haired girl appeared in his mind. She was… safe to say a rather explosive girl. One that could also back up that statement with the orbs of light that she could summon around her. Something that left him wondering… did the other Level 5's have abilities like that?
He still wasn't very familiar with the leveling system here in Academy City but the way Mugino presented her title gave him the impression that she was at the very least proud of her strength. Speaking of the brunette girl, Sora wasn't sure what to think about her. As far as first meetings, he could say he's had worse but that still raised a few questions in his mind regarding her. One was that he had in a way given his number to her which would allow for the laser beam-firing girl to contact him at any time. Plus, she probably had a plethora of questions for him regarding the Heartless and who he was since the other girl who was blonde recognized that he was on the tv.
And the other question he had regarding Mugino was how she was involved with the dark side of Academy City. Again, he had just met her for the first time so, he could not understand her as a person. Only that… being involved with the dark side or any side affiliated with darkness really was putting yourself in danger. Which also could push her to do something that she might regret later on once the dust had cleared and she came back to her senses. Similar to how Riku was involved with Maleficent and tempted by the darkness. Becoming a vessel for Ansem and so on…
Putting his best friend to the side for the moment, Sora realized that there wasn't anything he could do at the moment. But when Mugino does come into contact with him and she most certainly will, then he'll give it his all to talk to her about what she could be dealing with. The same goes for the other girls of Item, Kinuhata, Frenda, and Takitsubo.
Before he could think about anything else, the Keyblade wielder soon heard what sounded like a *whoop whoop whoop whoop whoop* sound that was moving very fast and getting louder by the minute. Turning his head to the side, he found what exactly was making that sound.
A bright light shined right next to him followed by the wind picking up. It was a helicopter.
Raising his hand to cover his eyes, Sora considered several things at that moment. One is that if he were to stay there any longer, then he would probably be asked questions about what he was doing there or what had happened to cause the place to look destroyed. The other idea was that he would probably be on the news again and wasn't sure if that was a good thing. Granted, he was still a hot topic but-
Before he could ponder that idea further, the helicopter seemed to shine the searchlight around the area to get a better visual of the area. This forced Sora to take cover behind the closest wall next to him. Another idea appeared within his heart and this time… it was a more concerned feeling.
What if the helicopter was dark-side operated?
It would make sense given that the night was most likely when dark operatives…well, operated. Avoiding any trouble with the common public that could get involved. This is a sort of messed up way of thinking but it was a better alternative compared to doing heinous things in broad daylight. His train of thinking went to all the villains that he's encountered in his adventures and how collateral damage or people's lives didn't mean much to them. The villains still acted no matter who got in their way. Hence, the boy began thinking of the people he had met just tonight. That dark side operative that was scared and the girls of Item. People that-
Once again, he was thrown out of his inner thoughts when he saw the helicopter begin to move to another location. This provided the right moment for him to get out of there. Coming up to his feet, Sora pulled out his Gummiphone and activated the map feature to see where he should head next.
"Huh? District 9… that'll put me a step closer back to home." Looking at the screen a bit longer than intended, Sora muttered a few more words while in a trance-like state. "Home… guess that's what I should call my dorm now."
Knowing that he had a few thoughts and feelings regarding what he said, Sora shook his head and figured that he could worry about that later. For now, he needed to get out of there.
Running through the heavily damaged area, Sora started making his way toward District 4 while activating his Flowmotion to get ahead faster. Sprinting away from the battleground while another day was starting to begin.
Within the windowless building found in School District 7
Residing within the building and appearing to float upside down and connected to wires was the Board Chairman, Aleister Crowley.
Aleister was known by names. Both on the magic and science sides. Some are good while others are not so good. But one thing that he liked to consider about himself was that he was prepared for any eventuality. Being the de facto leader of the Science Side proved to be a task that led him to encounter a number of unknown variables that in one way or another affected his plans. Hence, for the past 24 hours, he had also come to the realization that there was still much he did not know when it came to the forces of magic.
The greatest magician in history is being taught a whole new aspect of magic.
After reviewing the plethora of evidence regarding the boy now known as Sora, Aleister was left with many unanswered questions. The footage and magical readings that had been sent his way of the mysterious brown spiky-haired boy and how he combatted the strange dark monsters. In all of Alesiter's time, he had not once seen these monsters appear in any form or location that he knew about. Such a small creature capable of causing so much chaos. Intrigument was the word he would use to describe the said act.
The boy was able to use magic that he had not ever seen before and with such ease while swinging around that strange weapon of his. The magical properties being implemented to cast such powerful magic as he was able to do was nothing to ignore. Even from a distant glance, the boy held magical power. But it was the power that he was not familiar with in the slightest aside from the occasional elemental spells he conjured.
Moreover, another mystery that laid bare right before him was the sudden appearance of the boy who remained at the center of this phenomenon. Sora.
Being the superintendent of the metropolitan city, he gained easy access to every single individual who entered the city. Everything ranging from who they were, where they came from, and what they were doing. Such power was at his fingertips. However, what seemed to amaze even him was the file that was currently being projected right in front of him regarding the boy who wielded the large oversized skeleton key. Even stranger was that instead of having to go looking into who he was, the boy was practically asking to be allowed into the city.
Such a twist on the typical script of trying to enter somewhere that nobody else could.
Now, however, seeing the boy's request to be allowed residency within the city was an absolute joke. Whether the up-and-rising boy knew it or not, he had become involved in something grander. A part of his future plans. A pawn if you will that-
A surprise came to Aleister's face which remained unmoving, while still within the tube filled with liquid, as he sensed something strange entering the dark room he occupied. Pulling up several screens, he scanned the area for anyone who may have entered without alerting him but to no avail nothing was targeted.
However, in the corner of the room, something did appear. Something that… wasn't normal.
"You know… it's rather rude to waltz into a room without alerting someone. You might have seen something you shouldn't have" Aleister said while waiting for a response.
Silence was heard in the room. Until it wasn't any longer.
"In my defense, finding a door to knock on is rather difficult to do so" replied… no one.
Aleister did not react to what the voice had said and was rather curious about where it was coming from. It was not anyone that he was familiar with. Meaning that whoever was speaking was someone he had no prior knowledge or interactions with.
"Is that so? Well then, for further clarification, there's a reason for that."
"Heh. In a way, I can respect that."
"...Now then, do tell me, friend, just who are you? And what brings you here?" Aleister questioned while silently scanning the room for any lifeforms.
"That's a loaded question to ask."
"Where I am currently standing, I'd say it's a reasonable set of questions to start with."
"Well, when you phrase it like that… How can I ignore your request?" the voice said while having a hint of amusement in its voice.
"Then, if you'd be so kind?"
"...Who I am… let's just say I'm someone that's… heavily involved with the darkness."
"Hmm…" Aleister didn't say much and continued to listen to the mysterious figure.
"Not clear enough I see…"
"To some degree, I understand what you are proclaiming. However, that is still a far-fetched answer."
"Then perhaps it'll be easier to understand if you were to see me."
Expecting some grand appearance, Aleister was prepared to see someone stepping out of the shadows and presenting themselves in a dramatic reveal. However, what he did see managed to keep him quiet and raise a plethora of questions to consider.
The figure who stepped from the corner of the dark room… was enshrouded in darkness. Quite literally. From head to toe, the figure was a blank slate of nothing but a dark cloud making up their entire body. However, Aleister was able to sense a magical presence around this… figure even to the point that he could scarcely see a form within all the darkness.
"Well now, not what I was expecting in the slightest."
"You don't seem all that surprised."
"Trust me, if I could, then you would see my eyebrows raised."
"Funny. Although your face remains still, from the tone in your voice it sounds like this is your first time encountering something like this for the first time" the dark figure commented.
"I wouldn't classify it as a first. However, I will say that you appearing out of nowhere with no prior interaction does leave me intrigued."
"Fair enough. Plus, it seems I still haven't answered your questions completely."
"As it seems so…"
"Well then, my reason for appearing before you is quite simple really. I would like to propose… a partnership of sorts."
Hearing the dark figure's reasoning, Aleister spent a good moment thinking before responding.
"A partnership you say? Do tell me, what is your reasoning for coming here with that goal in mind? And why would you ever think I would agree?"
"My reasoning? Well, to make the offer even more appealing, it has to do with what's been keeping you on the edge of your tube. No pun intended."
"There are many things keeping me, as you put it, at the edge of my tub. You'll have to be clearer, friend" Aleister replied while putting much emphasis on that last word.
"...Tell me, what do you know about the heart?" the voice asked.
Once again, silence entombed the large dark room as Aleister did not have an immediate response.
"Conventional wisdom is ascertaining to me to believe that you are referring to something other than the actual topic that is a heart. Would that be a likely concept to follow?"
"You are quite right. The heart, so to speak, is a fickle thing really. Something so hard to describe and yet so easy at the same time. To give you a very short idea of what I mean… the heart is made up of memories, wills, goals, and ambitions. Bordering between the light and darkness. It's also something that should be of interest to you since it greatly involves a certain brown-haired boy who was seen wielding a giant key."
The pitch had been sent and received.
"I see… then, do tell me, what is it that you hope to gain from this so-called partnership? Moreover, what's in it for me? You can't be the only one to benefit from this sudden alliance" Aleister replied while carefully listening to everything this figure had to say. His interest in the topic had increased.
"What I hope is to see… progress if you will. And for what you will receive in benefit… I guess you could say enlightenment."
"Hm. How so?"
"While I have not spent that much time here in this city… I must say it's rather impressive… to a certain degree of course."
Aleister did not reply and continued to listen to the voice.
"However, were you take my offer of a partnership, then I could supply you with something only a man of your standing would truly understand to be treasured above anything else."
"And what, pray to tell, do you mean by that?"
"Knowledge. It's as that overused saying goes, the pen is mightier than the sword. Information is more beneficial to be used as a weapon rather than just using the weapon."
"You seem to talk as if this is not your first time proposing a partnership. Is it safe to say you've done this before?" Aleister replied, taking note of the figure's response.
"Heh. That… you'll just have to find out in due time. Now then, what say you? Do we have a deal?"
"Were I to accept this sudden idea of a deal, what then? Do I confide with you on every single breath I take in my city?"
"Of course not. Honestly, speaking, I have no real intention of getting in the way. I prefer to stick to the sidelines and watch how things unfold. I only ask that you allow a certain someone to flourish here in the city for the foreseeable future. He's the one I'm most interested in."
"This someone… I take it that it's Sora?" Aleister asked, having a screen pop up right next to the tube which showed a picture of the boy.
"You'd be correct. He and I… Well, we haven't exactly met. But he is certainly someone that is of great interest to me."
"And all you want is to see him flourish in Academy City? Such a simple request."
"One that comes with added benefits. You see, those monsters causing havoc within your city are better known as Heartless. The reason for their sudden appearance is… complicated to say the least. Just know that Sora will need to be the one to deal with them if you want them completely gone from your city" the dark figure stated while seemingly starting to fade away.
"Your answers have been nothing but insightful and confusing to a certain level of understanding" Aleister responded.
"As they should be. There's so much you are unaware of… magician. Or should I say- "
"Enough with the patronizing. I have given it some thought regarding your offer."
"And?"
"It's an offer that is quite suspicious. But… I'm willing to take a risk on it."
"Excellent."
"Besides, if I am being played, then do know my actions aren't personal."
"Heh. I'd like to see you try" the dark figure said while sounding amused.
Seeing that there was nothing else to talk about now, the dark figure began to start fading away until…
"And one more thing to know about Sora."
"Please, do tell."
Seemingly letting a moment pass between the two, the dark figure spoke in a more serious tone of voice.
"Do not underestimate him."
"That's some praise to be throwing in his direction."
"Heh. Oh, trust me, you'll see firsthand how he manages to beat all expectations. Along with the connections he makes with those who cross paths with him. That's all I have to say for now. I'll be seeing you, Aleister…"
"Likewise… whoever you are."
The dark figure let out a small laugh.
"I guess it'll be rather awkward to be referred to without a name. Especially if we are going to be partners for the foreseeable future. You can refer to me as… darkness."
"...How amusing."
With nothing else to say, the dark figure began to fade away until there was no more dark cloud within the room. Leaving Aleister to himself once again only this time he had many thoughts regarding the interaction that just occurred. Moreover, his attention was drawn to the spiky-haired boy on the screen along with the paperwork he managed to pull on the said boy. Everything was given permission to be granted making him a full citizen of Academy City. And if the dark figure was correct about him, then he would be someone to keep a close eye on. Especially if what… darkness said about his ability to connect with others.
Aleister couldn't help the ecentric fascination entering his mind regarding the boy who wielded the key-shaped blade. Things seemed to be getting interesting.
Inside a luxurious apartment
The dark side team known as Item had made it back home. All exhausted from an eventful night. Well, all but one.
Standing in the main room was the tea-color-haired girl who hadn't even changed out of her dirty clothes. As soon as she and the others had made it back to their place they all went their own ways. Or to be more precise they all went to shower and go to bed. The night's events had left them beyond tired. But not for Mugino.
There was no way that she could let slumber claim her. Once she had stepped into the high-end apartment and ignored the small talk from her teammates, she got right to work. Grabbing blank pieces of paper, opening up her laptop and typing at an incredible speed, printing things left and right, pulling up recordings of the news feed of the prior day's monster event, and leaving sticky notes all over the main room's wall. She also printed out a picture of a certain spiky-haired someone that was captured on the news and put him right in the middle of the wall. Turning the tennis court living room wall into something akin to a criminal investigation you see in movies where the detective goes all out trying to solve the case.
That was what she had started once she got back to the apartment but now, the entire wall had basically become a spider's web of string and documents and pictures. All sorts of evidence and speculation on the boy who wielded the giant key. Practically the entire wall was now fitted with all sorts of topics surrounding the boy. Things like what elemental abilities he had used, weapon structure, and anything else relating to the giant key, and different theories on what his esper ability was. Mugino had not stopped trying to pinpoint just who Sora was or where he came from which brought another action from the high school girl.
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring* *Click*
"Mujinyama, about damn time."
"And a good morning to you, milady."
"Did you get the information I requested?" Mugino questioned, getting right to the point.
She had gone a step further in her search to find more about the brown spiky-haired boy. Using her influence within the Mugino family to gain something like intelligence was something as easy as putting butter on a piece of toast. Really, anything that she could ask for or wanted would be given to her without a second thought. This is why in the case of gaining background information on the spiky-haired boy, she sent a message to her family's butler, Mujinyama, to find and collect anything and everything on the boy.
"Milady…"
"Yes? I'm waiting for you to send everything you have on- "
"I regret to inform you… there was nothing that we could find on this Sora."
Taking a second to let what the old man had just said, Mugino had to repeat his response word-for-word twice before clutching her phone and calmly speaking into the device.
"...What?"
"It's as you are thinking, milady. There was nothing that I could find on this boy. Honestly, I have to say, this is a first for me as well. With how vast the Mugino family's connections are and how deep they run through different government systems there was nothing to be found around this young man. Truth be told, this has left me rather perplexed" Mujinyama stated, having a feeling of how the young lady was acting on the other end of the phone.
The Mugino family was guaranteed to have access to such a thing as someone's background information especially if it came at the request of someone as prominent and distinguished as the young lady herself. Due to their laundering into casinos and banks which then moved to military hardware and soon transitioned into governmental power, the Mugino family was one with great influential connections. Hence, why the old butler who had been in the service of the monumentally deep-rooted family was startled by the stark realization that nothing was coming up in any of the networks the Mugino family had connections to could not find anything on the boy known as Sora.
Mujinayama had also gotten a look at the boy due to the young mistress sending photo after photo of the boy that she could find along with descriptions of his clothing and physical appearance. Alas, he also had his own thoughts about the boy but decided that it was best to keep those thoughts to himself. Moreover, he also had to explain to the young mistress how something like this could even be possible. He already had an idea of how she would react given that… he was quite familiar with her proud and unwavering personality when it came to things that she wanted.
Speaking of said girl, Mugino began to feel her hands clamp up while the urge to reprimand the old butler for how something like this could happen. But with the circumstances at hand, she decided to merely let out a frustrated sigh while taking a seat on her couch and lean back while staring blankly at the wall littered with everything regarding the spiky-haired boy who wielded a stupid giant key.
"Mujinayama."
"Yes, milady?"
"Was… Is there anything at all that you could find on him?"
"I"m afraid not, milady. There is absolutely nothing surrounding this boy. It's almost as if he appeared out of nowhere one day without any prior history on him."
Scoffing at the statement, Mugino let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Ha. You know better than I do, that's complete bullshit."
"Again, milady, I am only stating what I am seeing here. Perhaps I should contact your mother and father for help in this endeavor?"
"No. I'll handle it from here now."
"Milady?"
"I don't want them getting into my business. This is a problem that I'll solve on my own."
"I see, then, I take it whatever information you are seeking lies within Academy City?" Mujinayama asked while growing curious about how the young lady would solve this problem.
"In a way, yes."
Taking a look at her phone, Mugino realized just what time it currently was.
"6:30 A.M."
"Well then, milady, I wish you good luck in your endeavor to find everything you can on this boy. Furthermore, I also ask that you do manage to get some sleep. It's not good for- "
"I don't need you to tell me something like that," Mugino bluntly replied.
"Now, now."
Clicking her tongue, the tea-color-haired girl let out a sigh.
"*sigh* Whatever. Make sure this conversation stays between the two of us."
"As you wish, milady. Have a good rest of your day."
And with that, the conversation came to an end leaving the tea-color-haired girl to her thoughts while still staring at the decorated wall. Many thoughts were going through her head all at once. Seeing that there was nothing else to do, she got up from the couch and made her way to the kitchen to grab something light along with a cup of coffee to help give her a boost of energy as she was starting to feel the effects of being tired.
Now with what you could call a very light breakfast, Mugino began to eat and tried to take her mind off the boy when someone began walking into the living room and let out a surprised noise.
"Whoa! What the- Is Mugino having another super intense investigation?"
Deciding to ignore what the short-haired girl just said, the Level 5 let it be known that she was in the kitchen right now by clicking her drink and having a ringing sound be heard.
"O-Oh! Mugino. Hey there… Have you been up all night?" Kinuhata said, coughing into her fist.
"It hasn't been that long."
"Long enough to see that you haven't gotten any sleep."
"It doesn't matter. What does matter is that I can't find jackshit on Sora."
Tilting her head, Kinuhata was not expecting the older girl to say that.
"Are you super serious? That shouldn't be possible. We've gone after people who tried erasing any trace of their past before and managed to find dirt on them in a matter of hours."
"I don't need a reminder of what I've been having to deal with, Kinuhata," Mugino coldly stated.
"My bad, my bad. Just saying what's super on my mind."
"Yeah, well, either Sora has some deep-rooted connections that neither of us expected. Or… the bastard really did just waltz right into Academy City out of thin air" Mugino said while crossing her arms and frowning.
Looking over at the wall that was now filled with papers and pictures of the spiky-haired boy along with a long list of different esper abilities listed out about what they saw Sora doing during his fight against the Heartless.
'Geez. If I didn't know Mugino, I would've super thought that she had an obsession with this guy" Kinuhata thought to herself since she was smart enough to know if she voiced this thought then she would be toast.
Deciding to switch up the conversation, Kinuhata made her way into the kitchen to grab herself something to eat while also striking up a chat.
"So, since you super haven't been able to find anything outside of Academy City, are you going to call up your sources about him?"
"No."
A bit surprised by how fast the brunette-haired girl responded, Kinuhata had to ask why.
"That's super strange. Why won't you do that?"
Taking a sip of her coffee, Mugino looked down at her drink and began elaborating her thoughts clearly.
"If I were to call up that hag or anyone I have on speed dial, then more attention would be directed toward him and what would that entail?" Mugino asked.
"More heads looking his way."
"Exactly. We also need to take into account that he's practically on every major news site since the monster attack is fresh on everyone's mind. A new celebrity appearing in Academy City!"
She said that last part with a more excited tone of voice while making it sound as sarcastic as one could.
"Hmm. That does super lead us to hitting a wall."
"Yeah…"
Suddenly recalling the night's events, Kinuhata facepalmed herself.
"Wait, don't you have his number? Why don't you just contact him yourself?"
Processing what the younger girl just said, Mugino began to wonder, why didn't she just call him? She even told him herself that she would be contacting him soon due to the vast amount of questions she had. But another part of her threw that idea out the window immediately.
"Right now, I just want to learn as much as I can about this shitty wannabe hero before confronting him."
"Wouldn't he super technically already be considered a hero though?" Kinuhata questioned her leader.
Mugino's response was to send her a glare that elaborated that she was both tired but could still chew her ass out. This left Kinuhata to take the hint and go back to making herself something to eat. Which in reality meant using the microwave.
"So, what's the super plan now?"
"Nothing. Aside from going about our days as regular students basking in everything that Academy City has to offer. I'll contact the hag later about what other missions we can take while also hearing that bitch complain about us failing the mission."
"Mm. That's super lame. Those monsters were such a pain. They didn't hit that hard nor were they super scary. But there were just so many of them."
"...And yet, Sora knew exactly what those things were."
That comment left the two girls to bask in their own thoughts regarding the boy. There was still so much they did not know about him or what his background looked like. But the one thing that stood out was that he was strong. And in the eyes of the battle freak ala Meltdowner, she was interested in that kind of thing along with the fact that she had many questions for the boy. And she would stop at nothing to get those answers.
Inside a certain dorm where a misfortunate boy and nun resided
Kamijou Touma's internal alarm clock had been blasting in his dreamless slumber that as soon as the feeling that he needed to get up was realized, he pushed himself forward from his comfortable bed better known as the bathtub. However, as he forcefully pulled himself up, the black spiky-haired boy hit the bathtub's faucet square right in the face eliciting a loud pained groan.
"*smack* Gah! Ow…"
Bringing his hand to massage where he was just hit, Touma could already tell that today was going to be one of those days. Lady Misfortune was all ready to make herself comfortable and send everything and anything misfortunate toward him.
"Just my luck… what time is it even?"
Getting out of the bathtub and going to the living room, he was met with an all too familiar sight. That being his roommate sprawled all over his bed along with the calico cat, Sphynx, laying on the nun's chest without a care in the world. Coming into the kitchen, Touma grabbed his phone that he left charging to see what time it currently was and had to blink several times due to not believing what he was seeing.
"7:00 A.M."
"Crap! I'm going to be late again!"
Rushing to grab a somewhat clean pair of clothes, Touma already knew that he was going to be late for the extra lessons being taught by Komoe Sensei. Which also meant receiving another mark on his academic record meaning even more extra lessons. Something the poor lad was dreading.
"Let's see. Let's see. Ah! There's food… there's food…" Touma said while starting to feel tears coming down his face.
Thanks to Sora's gracious offer to have dinner together while also buying groceries, the Kamijou residence was for once able to provide a somewhat nutritional breakfast. Touma knew it wasn't much but seeing that there really was food in his fridge just made his appreciation for his fellow spiky-haired friend even grander. Even to the point that he was beginning to weep in happiness.
However, there would come a time and place to cry but now was not that time. He needed to get a move on.
Cracking his knuckles, Touma set out to do the impossible and that was to cook a half-course meal in a matter of minutes. Grabbing a few eggs and anything else he saw available in his fridge, the boy got to work. If someone were to observe the spiky-haired boy cooking right now they would think that he was being featured on one of those cook-off shows where chefs compete to take the gold home by working at impeccable speed to create a delicious meal.
At the same time, his roommate began to sniff the air with such intensity that she immediately bolted up from her slumber while still having her eyes closed. The sudden action caused Sphyx to land down on the covers of the bed while looking up at his owner.
"Meow?"
Starting to open her eyes, Index slowly shook her head while letting her eyes adjust to being woken up. Now with a clear mind, she began making her way to the kitchen to find out what that magnificent smell was. To her surprise, she saw Touma working at speeds that made her head hurt just trying to keep up with what the boy was doing.
"W-Whoa! Sphynx! Touma's gone mad."
"Meow?"
Hearing his roommates right next to him, Touma turned his head to the side just as he was about to place the cooked food on a plate. His hand missed the plate completely and landed on the counter all over the place.
"Aah!"
Scooping up the food back onto the plate, he seemingly forgot how hot the food was and held back a scream as his hand was burning. He so wanted to scream but knew time was against him now.
"Index. Sphynx. Here's your food. There's some more in the fridge thanks to Sora's gratefulness. I'm running late."
Handing the nun her first plate and the second plate of breakfast, Touma also handed what appeared to be a small plate of food to Sphynx while simultaneously grabbing his own plate of messy food and eating it all in one bite.
"Yes! Thanks, Touma!"
"Meow!"
"*gulp* Y-Yeah… I'll see you guys later…"
Grabbing his bag and phone, the spiky-haired boy began bolting out of the dorm while closing the door and running down the stairs hoping that he didn't miss a step and come tumbling down… again. Luckily… or not exactly luckily, he did not fall down the stairs and instead turned his attention to another topic. His new neighbor, Sora.
He didn't have time to stop and greet him but he was however ever grateful to his fellow teenage neighbor for providing him with a slightly easier morning than usual. He would have to pay back the Keyblade wielder not because he should have but because he wanted to. Speaking of him, Touma began to wonder what his new friend was doing right now. Was he still asleep? Or was he starting to wake up?
Who knew? But he at least hoped Sora was getting used to being in Academy City, especially with his strange predicament of having some sort of amnesia.
That was something he could understand better than anyone else… not knowing anything and being thrown into a new lifestyle. Touma at least hoped that the boy was doing all right.
Sora was not doing all right.
After having traveled across the city using his Flowmotion ability to scale up the tall buildings or slide across railings for quite some time, he was now located within District 4 which mainly focused on food-related facilities. However, the boy was now feeling the after-effects of being up the whole night and dealing with the Heartless. Sleep was calling out to him and he was on the verge to respond happily.
But he knew that he couldn't just fall asleep right now. If he was able to get back to his dorm, then he would gladly get some shut-in even though the day had just officially started. Which is where his trouble started.
Sliding down the railing of an escalator, the Keyblade wielder had now spotted what appeared to be a small park not that far away with no one present. Alas, that didn't really matter as his attention was drawn toward something within the park. A bench.
Recalling what happened the night before and how he was so close to falling asleep before hearing Touma scream. He was honestly looking forward to taking a nap on that bench which is why he was staring straight at the bench in front of him.
"You know what… I need a break."
Jogging over to the park, Sora pulled his phone out and realized that it was still early in the morning and nobody would be out for another half hour at the earliest. Offering the perfect chance to catch a small but greatly needed nap. Coming up on the bench, he stared at the wooden creation with newfound admiration and appreciation. Laying his entire body down, the spiky brunette let out a happy sigh while closing his eyes and having a dumb smile on his face.
"Thank…you… bench…*snore*"
The boy who wielded the Keyblade was now out cold while comfortably making the bench his temporary bed. After a hard night full of unexpected events, the boy deserved at least some time to himself. Even if it was in the middle of a small park located in District 4.
Sometime later
Feeling like something was off, Sora tried opening his eyes but the comfortable feeling of the bench was preventing him from doing so. However, that would soon be fixed as he heard what sounded like the clicking of a camera going off.
Hearing this, he began to sit up from the bench and started rubbing his eyes to attune his sight to what was going on in front of him. Once he had gotten his vision back to focus, he was left shocked at what was going on around him.
Students wearing various styles of uniforms and casual wear were all staring at him like he was out of this world… wait.
"U-Um… are you, that boy?" one of the students asked Sora.
"Err… what boy do you mean exactly?"
Another one of the students, this time a girl with long dark hair pulled up her phone and showed a video of yesterday's news coverage and wouldn't you know it, there he was fighting against the Heartless.
"Oh. Uh… yeah. That was me… Haha," Sora replied, realizing that this was going to be a recurring thing.
As soon as he said that all the students surrounding him began to bombard him with questions and all sorts of random things such as a picture with him and even his autograph. He also thought he heard a girl yell out for his number but he wasn't entirely sure about that.
Deciding that he needed to calm down this group which could at any moment turn into an angry mob. Sora got to his feet and yelled out to everyone.
"Hey! Please wait! One at a time!"
That didn't seem to help him at all. In fact, the group of students seemed to take that as a sign to get even crazier around him. Time for his backup plan.
Raising his hand into the air, he summoned his Keyblade which got everyone to quiet down and look in awe at the strange choice of weapon.
"*sigh* Thank you. Now, I don't want to sound rude but could you all please ask me what you want one at a time" Sora asked, figuring that if he dealt with this group then he could make his way… he hadn't thought that far yet.
Apparently, hearing the boy's request, all the students rushed to form a wavy line that seemed to curve around him so that they could hear what he had to say to all the questions. This was all so weird. He'd never had to deal with this kind of public reaction while traveling the different worlds. So strange.
The first student to appear in the line was a young girl dressed in a sailor uniform which must have been her school uniform.
"H-Hi! It's nice to meet you finally!"
"Hey there, I guess I'm the talk around the town huh?"
"Y-Yes! Everyone has been talking about you. You're trending on all social media."
"Great…" Sora said while faking a bright smile on his face. What did she mean by that?
"Um. About my question… What's your name?"
Blinking a few times, Sora realized that his name hadn't gotten out to the public yet. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing he wasn't totally sure yet. But that did leave him to consider something about the whole ordeal. Would it be a bad thing to tell her his name?
On one hand, it was a bit of common decency to give his name when asked as he didn't want to come off as rude or anything like that. He would have gladly given his name in any ordinary situation. However, this led to another objection of his. Would giving his name backfire on him later on? The whole city probably saw what he did and how he was able to fight back against the Heartless. Could that be something that makes his life even more stressful?
Deciding that he should do what he always does which was obviously following his heart, Sora figured that if giving his name would lead to trouble, then so be it. Besides, it wasn't like the life of a Keyblade wielder wasn't filled with craziness.
"Ah, my bad. My name is Sora."
Hearing this, many students began to type rapidly on their phones about what they were hearing.
"Sora-san … Thank you for answering my question," the girl said while kindly bowing.
"Not a problem."
Now, the next person in line stepped forward and looked to be a guy around his age but he was in regular clothing and not a school uniform.
"So, Sora, what level of esper are you? There's no way a level 2 or 3 could pull off what you did yesterday."
Frowning at what the boy said, Sora didn't like how he said that.
"What do you mean there's no way a level 2 or 3 could do what I did?"
"It's the truth. The way you were able to fight off those monsters. You're probably a level 4. Or… maybe you're a Level 5?"
Many people in the crowd got excited at hearing this idea be said. However, the spiky-haired boy didn't think so.
"No."
"H-Huh?"
"I'm not a Level 5. I'm not a level 4 or 3 or 2 or even 1."
Looking at the boy right into his eyes, Sora had a calm and collected look on his face. No sense of nervousness or falsehood was present in his voice either.
"I"m me. It doesn't matter what level you are when there's trouble… when something bad is happening… All that matters is you tried your best to help. No matter what title you have, doing the right is more important than that."
No one in the crowd of students said anything as they all processed what Sora was saying. That is until the boy who asked the question spoke up.
"That's not true. It's because you're so strong that you were able to save those people."
"Really? Do you think that's the truth?" Shaking his head, Sora now grasped at his heart while steadily replying to the boy. "Even if I didn't have my powers I would have still stepped in and tried to help in any way. And what makes you think someone classified as a level 1, 2, any level really is incapable of helping?"
"I-I didn't mean it like that- "
"But you did. Everyone in Academy City is probably thinking that I'm some kind of superhero for stepping in and saving the day but in reality… I'm not. I'm just me. Someone who likes to make friends everywhere he goes and help in any way that I can. No matter how much stronger I am or how dire the situation is. I'll always be ready to lend a helping hand to whoever is in trouble."
No one said anything until someone finally did.
"Even if a Level 5 asked for help?" one of the students in the back of the crowd asked.
"Of course. And I'm not the only one who thinks that way either. I'm sure there are others out there who do all they can to help those in need. It's just that I happened to get shown on the news. That's the only reason I've become popular like this. And going back to your question… I'm currently classified as unknown in my level status" Sora stated for everyone to hear while offering a small smile.
Everyone present was shocked at what they were hearing. And yet, the boy's words were becoming more ingrained into their heads. Hearing that it didn't matter what your level was or what kind of power you had, only that what you did with said power mattered. A majority of the students currently in the crowd were either level 0's or 1's with a few 2's in the mix. So, hearing that Sora did not look down on any of them or think any differently about those who were classified in those levels made the students extremely happy.
Plus, the boy who asked the question had gone silent before nodding to himself and toward Sora.
"All right. Who else has a question?"
This led to most of the students raising their hands and getting back to the formation they had started with one question at a time. But now the questions were more on the fun side of things ranging from what kind of esper ability did he have or what was it like fighting the monsters. One question that threw Sora for a loop was when one girl with her hair tied into a ponytail asked him if he had a girlfriend to which he replied no albeit confused that kind of question. He also didn't get to ask a follow-up to the girl who asked that due to her running to the back of the line while giggling to herself which forced the boy to just watch her get away while more questions were sent his way.
Question time continued for about another ten minutes until only one more student was waiting to ask him a question. Most of the other students had started dispersing and went their own ways leaving the once-crowded park slightly empty.
"Whoa. That sounds awesome! Thank you, Sora!"
"You're welcome! Plus, if I get the chance, I might stop by a skateboard shop and get one myself. It's been a minute since I last tried but I had a blast riding my friend's skateboard" Sora replied while recalling his time in Twilight Town and riding the skateboard that turned out to be Roxas' board.
"Hopefully you'll have time to learn some new tricks. Either way, thanks again and see ya."
"Same here. Take care."
And with that, Sora was now left with one more student who wanted to ask him a question. Turning to face the last student, he noticed that this girl stood out compared to the rest of the other students who had their uniforms on. In addition, the girl's appearance consisted of a slender body, a small body frame with a small bust size, and long lavender hair with ringlet curls and purple eyes. Another thing that stood out about the girl was her uniform which was definitely different from everyone else he encountered.
"Hello there!"
"Hi! Sorry, you're the last one."
"Oh? Don't be sorry at all. In fact, the way you managed to get everyone under control and in an orderly fashion where everyone had time to ask a question followed by you answering and giving fair enough time. Ah, it was amazing!" replied the purple-haired girl.
"Thanks. I was kind of hoping that everyone followed through with it and whaddya know, they did."
"Mm-hmm. Oh! Where are my manners? I'm deeply sorry, Sora-san. My name is Hokaze Junko. Nice to meet you officially!"
"Hokaze Junko… Got it. I'll be sure to remember your name now. I wasn't able to get a lot of names back there" Sora replied, making a mental note to remember her name.
"I wouldn't worry about something like that. I'm sure everyone that stopped by will understand why it was hard to remember names" Junko said, positivity bubbling off her.
"Yeah, but don't worry. I've got your name memorized!" Sora said, recalling Axel's err… Lea's famous catchphrase.
Beginning to giggle at the boy's lively attitude, Junko also realized something dire.
"Ah! I'm terribly sorry again, Sora-san. Here we are chatting and I've yet to ask you my question."
"It's not a problem at all, Hokaze. Besides, it's really nice to chat with someone so friendly."
"That's great to hear! *ahem* Now then, about my question."
Nodding at the girl, Sora was ready for her question.
"Go ahead. I'm all ears."
"All right, well then, my question for you is… will you be my friend?"
Continuing to start at Hokaze, Sora began processing what her question was in his head multiple times before bursting into a bright and giant smile.
"Haha! Of course, we can be friends. Normally, I'm the one asking people to be my friend but this is kind of nice actually" Sora replied while chuckling and patting the back of his head.
"Truly!? Oh, Sora! Thank you, thank you so much! I was a bit worried you would turn me down. I've had that happen once before but I believe it was my fault for coming off so strong it left the person I was trying to be friends with a bit… put off to be exact" Junko explained while tilting her head to the side.
"That's a shame. They missed out on making a new great friend."
"Thank you, Sora! So, what are your plans now?"
Opening his mouth to answer Hokaze's question, the spiky-haired boy was left aghast. What was his next move? He didn't have anything really going on today aside from waiting to see if Touma was told anything regarding him from Komoe or Yomikawa. And he was told by his fellow spiky-haired neighbor to go explore around Academy City getting familiar with the place.
"I… I'm not sure. I don't have anything I really need to do now. Maybe go get breakfast?"
Clasping her hands together, Junko had a bright smile on her lips followed by her eyes sparkling.
"Then I know exactly what you can do!"
"You do?"
"Yep. You should attend breakfast with me!" Junko exclaimed happily.
The magical-sword-wielding boy didn't want to force the lively girl to propose something like that just because of him opening his big mouth about being hungry.
"A-Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose."
"Nonsense, Sora. Besides, aren't we friends?"
"Of course, we are. New and barely recent friends but nonetheless friends."
"Then to mark the start of our new friendship why don't we go and get some breakfast together? My treat!"
Bringing a hand to his heart, Sora couldn't let the energetic girl do that.
"Nonsense. You're inviting me. The least I could do is pay for the breakfast since you're letting me join you."
"No, no, Sora. Allow me."
"I couldn't."
"But you could."
Seeing that they were talking to each other on the same wavelength, the Keyblade wielder figured he could turn the tables.
"All right, how about this... I pay for the breakfast- "
"But- "
"And next time you could pay for breakfast" Sora finished voicing his idea.
"Next time?"
"I mean if you aren't against it. Why don't we do this every once in a while? Going out to eat with friends and whatnot. Maybe bring more of our friends together to sit down and eat. What do you say?" Sora asked, ruffling the back of his head.
If it was even possible, Junko's eyes shined even brighter than before with a new look of admiration on her face toward the boy.
"That… would be amazing! I very much agree with your idea, Sora."
"Great! Then shall we get going?"
"Yes! But first I'll be rushing back to meet with my Queen to inform her of what I'll be doing and why I won't be back till later" Junko said to the boy.
"Your Queen? I didn't know there was royalty in Academy City…"
This got the purple-haired girl to start giggling.
"Not exactly. I am a part of the ever-amazing and truly inspiring clique of Shokuhou Misaki better known as the fifth-ranked Level 5, Mental Out."
Hearing that term again in the past 24 hours, Sora realized that he was in a way connected to another Level 5.
"Mental Out…"
"Hmm? Have you heard of my Queen before, Sora?"
"No, I have not. But not in a bad kind of way. You see, I'm fairly new to Academy City" Sora explained to the ringlet girl.
"Wait… What!?" Junko shouted, shocked beyond belief.
Ruffling the back of his head, Sora knew that this was going to be a common reaction from everyone.
"Yeah. I know. It's a bit crazy when you really think about it. But we can talk more about it later while at breakfast. Where did you have in mind?"
"Right, getting back on topic. The place I had in mind was Joseph's Coffee and Restaurant. Have you heard of it?"
"No, this is the first time."
"Well then, if you would permit me, may I send you the coordinates to find Joseph's?" Junko politely asked.
"Of course. Here you go" Sora answered while pulling his Gummiphone out and placing it in his hand.
Junko did the same and pulled her phone out which had a small green frog attached to the side of it. Sora thought that he saw that frog from somewhere but couldn't put his finger on it.
"May I ask what's your number, Sora?"
"Actually, if I place my phone right next to yours' then…"
Suddenly, a chime sound could be heard which left Junko confused and Sora had a more understanding look on his face.
"What was that?"
"Check your phone's contacts for my name."
Doing as the boy asked, Junko went through her contact list and was amazed at what she was seeing. The boy's contact information was all there. Not believing what she was seeing, she called him up immediately expecting nothing to happen but was shocked when she heard a phone going off.
Pressing the call button on his phone, Sora brought the device up to his ear and spoke into it.
"Hello?"
"It really worked… What kind of advanced technology does your phone contain, Sora? Normally, I would have to manually put your contact info into my phone but… you made that so much easier."
"I… I'm not sure. I barely found out about this trick not that long ago. Must be some new form of technology slowly being put into phones" Sora explained while still just chalking it all up to a magical feature within the Gummiphone.
Looking down at her phone, Junko shook her head and was amazed at the advancement of technology.
"Well then, I'll send you the directions to get to Joseph's once I have met with my Queen. Until then, Sora. Take care!"
"Right, see you Hokaze."
Waving at the purple-haired girl beginning to walk further away, Sora was already feeling eager to have some food enter his stomach. Plus, he's been active all night long, so it was only natural that he would be feeling the effects of hunger. Wait a minute, Hokaze didn't exactly specify where this restaurant was located…
Turning around on his heel, Sora tried to spot the ringlet-haired girl to ask her for further clarification but to no avail, she was nowhere in sight. Letting out a sigh, the spiky-haired boy figured that he might as well just wing it and start exploring the city to kill some time. Taking out his Gummiphone to check what time it was, he saw that a bit of time had passed since he last checked the time.
"7:30 A.M."
Placing his hands behind his head, he began to walk down the street and take in all the new sights. In reality, he had barely touched the surface of what was in store within Academy City and couldn't wait to see what else there was to see.
A little bit later within the School Garden located in District 7
After some time had passed riding on a bus heading to District 7, Junko stepped out of the vehicle but not before thanking the bus driver. Now, she was standing near one of the gated entrances leading into Tokiwadai Middle School where her Queen was currently situated with the other members of her clique. With a smile on her face, the purple-haired girl made her way through the halls and toward one of the outside gazebos which were hosting many girls all around a table or more specifically all around a certain blonde-haired girl with stars in her eyes better known as the Level 5 Mental Out, Shoukohu Misaki.
"Ah! My Queen. I'm sorry that I'm late."
"Junko, how many times must I tell you? You're free to come and go as you please" the girl with stars in her eyes stated.
"Apologies. It's a bit of a habit at this point. Nevertheless, you won't believe who I happened to run into!" Junko excitedly said, drawing the other girls' attention to her.
"Someone famous I suppose?" Misaki questioned while taking a sip of her tea.
"You'd be correct. It was the spiky-haired boy from the- "
Hearing the word spiky-haired boy forced Misaki to have to stop sipping on her tea and willfully compose herself from not causing a scene in front of everyone. Even though she was slightly coughing. Now her full attention was drawn to Junko's tale.
"My Queen! Are you okay?"
'Darn, it. She saw!'
"Y-Yes, I'm quite alright. Must have been drinking the tea too fast. Go on, please continue with what you were saying" Misaki said while wondering what Junko had to do with her prince.
"Of course, well then, I happened to be in District 4 where I was on the search for a limited-time Gekota plushie that was draped in a waiter's outfit and being sold by one of the companies there. But while I was looking around, I happened to see a bunch of students crowding around a small park. Curious, I went to investigate, and wouldn't you know it there he was..." Junko explained while everyone including Misaki was paying attention to the story. Especially the Level 5 as she hadn't even blinked an eye yet.
'What was my prince doing?' Misaki wondered in her head.
"The boy from the news was sprawled out and sleeping on a bench."
All of the girls minus Misaki were astounded by the news and bombarded Junko with questions regarding the boy. The honey-blonde girl however didn't know whether to let out a sigh of relief or berate herself for acting as she did. But that would have to wait as she asked a question that threw her for a loop.
"What boy from the news?"
Hearing this, all the girls in the clique turned to look at their Queen like she had grown another head out of nowhere before Junko was the first to address her.
"My Queen… have you not seen the news?"
"I haven't. I don't particularly spend a lot of time checking the news. Aside from something that interests me" Misaki replied, seeing that everyone was still looking at her. This was a strange situation.
"My Queen…" one of the other girls muttered.
"Well then, to catch you up to speed. Yesterday there was an attack within the city and it was strange small but dark-looking monsters. Both AntiSkill and Judgment forces were doing their best to get everyone to safety but out of nowhere a brown spiky-haired boy leaped onto the scene and was fighting back against the monsters"
"Hokaze-san, you're not getting to the exciting details of the incident" another girl in the clique spoke up.
"I first wanted to catch up our Queen on what exactly happened."
"Fair, fair. Now, get to the good part!"
Smiling widely, Junko nodded and elaborated to Misaki all while a few of the other girls in the clique pulled out their phones and started pulling up videos of the boy in action.
"Right, as the boy jumped into the action, he summoned what appeared to be a giant key to fight the monsters and- "
"Wait. He summoned a what?" Misaki asked while making sure she heard right.
"A giant key. And what's even crazy was that he was able to use different elemental abilities with it like lightning, fire, water, wind, and many more. Plus, he even fought the monsters that somehow turned into a tornado!"
Lost for words, Misaki wasn't sure if her clique and friends were playing a prank on her and was about to say something but stopped when one of the girls handed her footage of the actual event and it was exactly as they said. The brown spiky-haired boy was wearing strange-looking clothes while using a giant key by his side and defeating monster after monster. And then the video switched to a dark tornado appearing in the middle of the street throwing car after car toward the boy who continued to charge forward. The video ended by showing one angle of the mysterious boy running across what appeared to be a bus before it abruptly ended.
To say that the Level 5 was surprised was… well, sort of a half lie. While she was taken aback by seeing the strange monsters and how they had formed a tornado, her attention was on the boy who she had never seen before. But based on his power aptitude from the video alone, it was safe to say that he must have been a level 4. However, that's all Misaki could consider since she didn't know him personally and didn't see how their paths would ever cross.
"And to make things even more amazing, when I saw him not that long ago there was a bunch of other students swarming him with questions and when the time came I finally got to ask him one as well" Junko happily replied.
"And what did you ask him?"
"I asked if we could be friends!"
Again, many of the girls were amazed at their Senpai's direct confrontation and friendly attitude that hearing her outright ask that kind of question startled them. Misaki also had wide eyes at how blunt her friend could be.
"What did he say?" the honey-blonde girl asked, curious about the result.
"He said yes! I even managed to exchange phone numbers with him" Junko ecstatically responded.
"He what?" a girl in the clique muttered.
"Yep. And I offered him to have breakfast with me to celebrate the start of our new friendship!"
This time, Misaki was indeed shocked by her friend's outgoing personality.
"I-I see… good for you, Junko."
"Thank you, my Queen! This brings me to why I came back so suddenly. Would you all like to attend breakfast with Sora and me?" Junko asked while realizing her grave mistake.
"Oh! How could I be so rude? I forgot to mention his name correctly."
"Sora…" many of the girls repeated while now having a name to go along with a face.
Taking a second to process what Junko had just asked, Misaki was about to kindly decline the offer but realized that… maybe this could turn out to be a good thing in the long run. Perhaps by meeting this Sora, she would be able to have a somewhat connection with him in the case of anything bad happening to her or her friends. Having someone with exceptional strength based on what she saw would be a great thing. Plus, if he was so accepting of Junko's request to be her friend, then that could work in her favor…
Bringing one of her remotes out of her purse, Misaki drew the clique's attention.
"Everyone, if you will all agree with me, why don't we accept Junko's offer and attend breakfast with this Sora."
"H-Huh? My Queen? Are you sure that's a good idea? What if he's… you know…" one of the girls started to say.
"I mean, there's a lot of us. Plus, we'll have our Queen with us as well."
"Yeah. We can take him if he tries anything."
"Girls, girls. Please, Sora is not like that at all. In fact, he's quite friendly" Junko said to calm down everyone.
Raising her hand to the air, Misaki got everyone's attention in a collected manner.
"Girls, it's a bit rude to be saying these things without having even met the boy. Why don't we just go find out for ourselves? Who knows, maybe he is as friendly as Junko says?"
Hearing their Queen's wise words, the girls in the clique simply nodded while smiling at the obvious statement.
Turning to look over at Junko, Misaki confided in her.
"Junko."
"Yes, my Queen?"
"Where exactly did you plan on having breakfast with Sora?"
"..."
"Ah! I forgot to tell him how to get there!" Junko exclaimed while blushing in embarrassment. "I proposed Joseph's Coffee and Restaurant."
"Joseph's… I've been there before. Food is not bad. Nothing like what's served here at the School Garden but good nonetheless. Very well, let's get a move on."
"Right. Let me send Sora a message on how to get there."
Back with a Certain Keyblade Wielder
The Guardian of Light didn't think this is how things would end. There was so much he had to live for. So much to do yet so little time. But now he wouldn't get to do any of those things. All thanks to his stomach eating itself.
The boy was trudging along the street still in District 4 while awaiting any further message from Hokaze about where breakfast was to be had. He didn't mind waiting but…
*grumble* *grumble*
His stomach on the other hand minded.
Coming to another clearing, Sora was tempted to run into the nearest store and grab something small to bite but his attention was thrown off when he saw something quite familiar.
"Hey… isn't that…"
Starting to jog toward the object that piqued his interest, he checked both sides of the road before running across the street and calling out to a… robot?
"Hey! Aren't you one of Moogla's?"
Upon hearing the boy's voice, a medium-sized cleaning robot turned around and began making its way closer to the boy before standing still and letting a few gears start to click and move. Next, the front side of the robot opened up followed by a robotic arm of sorts holding out what appeared to be a tablet with various things on it.
Getting closer to the tablet, Sora realized that it was a list of all the potions this robot currently had available to sell. Smirking widely, he pulled out of his pocket his bank card and began to take inventory of what he had… which was nothing.
Deciding that he needed to stay stocked up especially if the Heartless were running amok and causing trouble on a daily basis. He needed to be prepared.
Tapping away at the tablet, Sora had now requested a purchase of several Hi-potions, a few Ethers, and some regular potions just in case. Now, the robot saw what he wanted and tapped away at the tablet a few times until a receipt popped up followed by the robot hand directing him to place his bank card onto the tablet. Doing as asked, the tablet made a jingle sound followed by a green check appearing on the screen. His order was accepted.
The robot then began to place the tablet within its inner body and pulled out what appeared to be a tray that held all of the items he had requested to buy.
"Sweet! Thank you!"
As if understanding what he just said, the robot hand commenced a slight wave with its hand before gears could be heard followed by switches and the entire robot body transitioning back to a cleaning bot.
Putting the potions away in his inventory, Sora saw the robot get further away from him and go back to cleaning which made him chuckle. Coincidentally, at the same time, his phone went off indicating he just got a message. Checking the device, he was excited to see that Hokaze had sent him the directions to get to Joseph's Coffee and Restaurant followed by her friends who wished to come, which made the boy excited. The more the merrier.
Texting her back that he was on his way, Sora now had a little jump in his step as he was eager to meet his new friend's friends. And to quell his stomach from eating itself. All in all, everything was going well for the boy. Or so he thought.
Later...
"Uh… Hokaze?"
"Hm. Yes, Sora?"
"When you said your friends wanted to come to breakfast with us…"
"Yes?"
"I didn't think we'd be taking up most of the restaurant."
Sora said this as he was now in the presence of many girls all wearing school uniforms and staring right at him like he was an alien… technically he was but still. This was not what he was expecting. Not even in the slightest.
'Should I say Touma's catchphrase again… I mean, I'm not in trouble… I don't think so. For now, at least...' Sora said to himself while trying to keep a calm and collected look on his face as the other girls continued to watch his every move.
This was going to be a strange, yet eventful breakfast and the day had only just started.
Across the city and at the top of the one of the buildings
There standing in the middle of the helicopter pad was a dark figure or to be precise, a presence surrounded by darkness leaving it hard to really see what it truly looked like. This presence had gone by many names throughout different worlds, but every name still had some tie to what it truly wanted... darkness.
Beginning to step off the pad and near the edge of the building, the dark figure merely let out a small laugh while slowly beginning to look out into the city and take in the magnificent view.
"I'm surprised 'he' hasn't shown up. Granted, I am unsure if he's been to this world already, but still, it does not matter. My fun is about to begin..."
In a show of egoism, the dark figure began to relinquish more darkness in the area causing the veil of dark mist to appear but still remain unnoticeable to all in this busy city.
"And it will start... with you #2."
Chapter 10: Eventful Situations
Summary:
After finding himself in a strange situation for breakfast, Sora will be welcoming the new day with some eventful conversations. In addition, sources both outside and inside of Academy City will continue to feel the aftereffects of Sora and the Heartless appearing in the city.
Notes:
*Disclaimer* - I do not own the copyright to Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index
*A/N* - What's good everyone. I do hope everything is going well. Last time we left off with Sora getting ready to head to breakfast with his new friend Hokaze but has now found himself in a strange and albeit worrisome situation with many girls all part of Mental Out's clique. Not to mention, a mysterious figure going by the name Darkness is setting his sights on the #2 of Academy City, Dark Matter. For those who are not familiar with the Kingdom Hearts lore (I don't blame you. It gets crazy lol) there are 13 beings known as true darkness which is where that dark figure comes into play. More questions will be explained while other questions will be brought up. Either way, Sora is in for a rough journey in this new world. Though, it might not hurt to give him a moment to relax. With that being said, I hope you continue to do well and enjoy. Take care out there.
*P. S* - At the time of this chapter coming out… Summer Game's Fest posted which companies will be featured in the event and Disney and Square Enix were spotted. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for that. As of now, clown mode is engaged lol.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Having gotten himself as comfortable as he could in his seat, Sora awkwardly brought one of his hands up to ruffle the back of his head while staring at the table or rather entire room of girls all staring right at him. This was certainly a situation that he had never found himself in before. It was also one where… he didn't know if he'd make it out safely or in one piece which was something he never negatively thought of.
Deciding to make things less awkward and throw a bone at Hokaze who was trying her best to ease the tension in the restaurant by telling each of the girls that Sora wasn't a bad person or that he was very friendly and easy to get along with. She had managed to get a few of the girls to think differently about the boy but the rest of the others kept a close eye on him. Their time at Tokiwadai had managed to give them a bad impression of boys and the suspicious things that they tended to do.
Hence, Sora figured that the best way to get most of the girls to at least not glare daggers at him would be to befriend the one girl that seemed to be at the center of everything. The girl that was given the title Queen.
"Um… I don't think we've officially met yet. My name is Sora" the Keyblade wielder greeted with a friendly smile.
Drawing her starry eyes toward the boy, Shokuhou Misaki had several options she could go with to respond to the boy. First, she could showcase a sense of a façade in her voice and face to the boy while making it seem apparent that she was here to merely analyze him. Or she could try to be friendly since he was Hokaze's new friend who she seemed to talk positively about. Plus, the purple-haired girl did invite her to breakfast with the two of them it would seem a bit rude to cause a problem in her friend's case.
Figuring that she would go with the second option, Misaki returned the friendly gesture.
"Hello there, Sora. You may already know who I am, but I'll still go ahead and introduce myself. My name is Shokuhou Misaki. The fifth ranked Level 5 better known as Mental Out. It's nice to meet you."
Chatter could be heard coming from the other girls as they all started whispering amongst each other while glancing over at him and Shokuhou. He also thought that he heard a few girls muttering that how their Queen introduced herself was very impressive or that they were in awe of how she talked to him. This threw the boy for a loop. While it was nice to see all the girls talk positively about the honey-blonde girl, he had to admit it was something that he'd never encountered in all his adventures.
This also led to him wanting to still make it so that everyone didn't come off as stiff or nervous around him. Hence, he figured that he would do something about it.
"Likewise. And I… have to apologize."
"Huh? What for, Sora? I don't think you've done anything wrong?" Shokuhou questioned while confused by the boy's statement.
"Not necessarily. Based on everyone's reaction to me I'm guessing that you're not all that familiar with meeting strangers for the first time."
No one said anything as they had their full attention on the boy and how his words did ring a degree of truth. It wasn't that many of the girls had trouble meeting a new person for the first time. The real reason was basically because he was a boy and he had been featured on the news performing feats that not just anybody could do. Mixing the two facts that the girls of Tokiwadai were not that familiar with interacting with a boy and that he was relatively famous right now added to the circumstances.
"I just feel like I didn't make a good first impression which has left Hokaze in a rather difficult situation" Sora explained which got said girl to glance at the boy while listening to his words.
"Sora…" Hokaze muttered.
"And so, I want to make sure that everyone here has a good time and doesn't have their breakfast ruined because of me. Besides, I would still like to meet everyone and get to know each other so, that we could become friends… If that is all right with everyone?" the boy clarified with each of the girls while hoping they would agree.
As he explained his reasoning, many of the girls had their facial expressions switch from a defensive or distant expression to that of one of curiosity and intrigue by how the boy took ownership over something that wasn't his fault at all but still do so. In the pursuit of making everyone not so indifferent to him being there. A thoughtful idea that several of the girls had never experienced before.
It wouldn't take another second before one of the girls decided to take a chance and raise her hand gaining the boy's attention. This girl was also one of the ones that questioned Shokuhou about if she knew about the spiky-haired teen appearing on the news.
"Um… Sora?"
"Yeah? What's up?" the spiky-haired boy casually asked while offering a friendly smile.
"Well, on the news there wasn't much information about you or what your level was. Everyone is kind of left in the dark about understanding who you are. Could you… tell us a bit about yourself?" the girl politely asked.
Realizing that he would be receiving questions about the previous day's events, Sora took a second to gather his thoughts. You would think that with as many times as he had been asked a question or two regarding the Heartless attack or his status in the city, he would be ready to answer questions. But every time he answered, he felt like one or two things changed in his explanation. He wasn't exactly reading from a script but still didn't want to tell a lie or the truth. Such was the predicament he was facing as things would not make any sense if he tried to explain everything.
Coming back to his senses, Sora had a grasp of what he wanted to respond with and began to do so.
"Ha, well, this might sound a bit crazy but…"
Every one of the Tokiwadi girls moved forward in their seats as they were waiting for the boy to finish saying what he started. Even Shokuhou was somewhat interested in how he would answer the question.
"I'm not exactly from Academy City."
The girls were left confused at first but then started processing what he said and thought about it with calm heads. But that then switched back to being confused again.
"Wait. What?"
"How is that possible?"
"Are you pulling a prank with us?"
"That doesn't make any sense?"
"What do you mean?"
Questions like these went flying all around the side of the restaurant that was occupied by a majority of girls and only one boy. It didn't make sense that someone with the abilities that were captured for all to see just stated that he wasn't from Academy City or that he had been here long. What kind of esper could think of stating something like that?
Seeing that he left everyone practically doubting his answer or confused. Sora knew that he had to clear things up quickly which got him to go along with what he originally told Touma. This was in a way still true as he had no idea how he appeared in this world.
"Wait, wait. Please let me explain."
Raising his hands to ease the situation, he immediately explained his reasoning.
"There's more to it than just me not being from Academy City. I'm also suffering from a case of amnesia."
The girls swiftly changed their stance on the situation from confused to puzzled. While his first statement was confusing this new announcement was a head turner. Some girls now put together the puzzle surrounding this boy and realized that he said he wasn't from Academy City because he might not know where he is originally from. Many of the girls' attention was now caught and wanted him to elaborate further.
One girl however could feel a sense of… nostalgia in what the boy proclaimed. That girl being Shokuhou who had experienced a situation involving memory loss was a… sore subject. Her mind instantly went back to the person she cherished most dear to her heart and how the cruel reality that amnesia had played on his life or rather… her life. Just thinking about him brought an outward sigh out of her as she now felt her mood fall. But in a show of solidarity, she put on a façade of an expression to not worry the others.
"Are… Are you ok?" one of the girls asked.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm good. Nothing lasting and whatnot. It's not a complete memory loss just… somethings don't exactly make sense. Such as me ending up here in the city or anything before that. But I do remember everything else about my childhood and my friends and whatnot."
"That sounds horrible! Have you seen a doctor yet?" Hokaze worriedly questioned the boy.
"I have already. After the monster incident, I went to go get checked up and was given a clean bill of health. So, there's nothing to worry about I'm all good" Sora affirmed to his dear new friend.
"Ah, what a relief. You had me worried there for a second."
"But that still doesn't answer why you have amnesia?" one of the other girls stated to him.
Right as he was just about to respond to the girl's question, the waitress looked to be finally situated and came up to the side of the restaurant that was filled with nothing, but girls dressed in Tokiwadai school uniforms along with one sole boy. The sight of so many people caused her to freeze for a second before regaining her senses and taking the plunge into the mass that was young teens ready to order food.
"Hi there! Welcome! What can I get all of you to drink? Also, seeing that there are so many of you joining us… it might take a bit longer for your food to arrive. I hope you can understand."
"That's not a problem at all. Honestly, thank you for making space for all of us to come in" Sora respectfully replied.
"We truly appreciate it" commented Hokaze as she bowed her head to the waitress.
"Nonsense. Though there are…" The waitress looked around the room to try and get a specific headcount of how many students there were in attendance, but she gave up after counting over twenty and decided to just say that there was a lot. "Many of you. We figured that we could just bunch you together as a large party."
"Once again, thank you for that" Shokuhou affirmed.
"Of course, now then, what can I get you all to drink?"
This led the waitress to go through each of the students and take down what they wanted to drink followed by what they would like to eat. The notebook that she was carrying was soon filled to the brim with everything that the students wanted. Sora's heart went out to the waitress as she managed to not only get every girl's order but make sure the order was correctly checked.
Now, left with just the girls again, Sora figured that he could pick up on what he was saying.
"Well, I guess I should get back to what I wanted to say." Closing his right hand and looking down at it, the Keyblade wielder began to explain a bit about himself.
The rest of the girls were now back to paying attention to the boy and were eagerly waiting to hear him out.
"The reason for my amnesia is… complicated. I don't really know what triggered it. Just that… I was on the top of a building, and I was talking to someone, and then… I woke up in the middle of the street in the middle of the night."
Sora explained what he truly experienced but decided to leave out the part about Yozora. He alone was a topic that he had no idea what to think of.
"Wait… you said that your memory hasn't been completely affected. Does that mean you remember how you got on top of a building?" another girl asked.
Meanwhile, Shokuhou merely kept her eyes trained on Sora. Becoming interested in what he had to say. Hokaze was also in the same boat wanting to learn more about her friend.
"I… I'm not sure about that either. What I can tell you is that I'm originally an islander. Having lived on an island for most of my life. But again, there are bits of my memory that don't make any sense at all" Sora explained while coming to a sudden conclusion with his amnesia shtick.
Because of how convenient the story of him dealing with a case of amnesia sounded a lot more believable than saying that he's from another world. He was going to keep on falling back on that answer. Especially for discussing parts about his younger childhood but for questions regarding his later years, he would give a basic half-truth answer.
"An islander… which islands?"
"Are you from Hawaii?"
Hearing the questions about his home, Sora came up with a quick answer. One that was obviously false but… true to a degree since he had some thoughts about his home. Thoughts that would sadly go unresolved since he… might not ever be able to go back.
Putting on a sad expression, he answered the girls' answers.
"I'm from the Destiny Islands. They were located out in the middle of the ocean."
"You said were… does that mean…" Hokaze started saying but wasn't sure if she wanted to hear the answer.
"Yeah… the islands were swallowed during a storm."
Silence had taken its place and none of the girls knew what to say. Anything they were originally thinking about the boy was flipped on its head. To hear that this mysterious boy was dealing with something more than they originally thought caused them to look at him differently now. Not in a bad way per se, but in the concerned type of way.
"I-I'm sorry."
This was muttered by a few more girls while the rest just decided to stay quiet on the matter having their own thoughts swimming around their heads.
"It's all good. Don't feel bad about it. It happened a while back. There might be times when I'm sad thinking about it, but I need to keep moving forward. Especially if I want to protect my friends."
Seeing that everyone didn't know how to progress the conversation forward, Sora let out an awkward chuckle. Having an inkling of what he needed to do to get the somber mood out of there.
"Hey, I'm sorry for bringing the mood down. I appreciate the thoughts you might have but it's okay. Besides, I haven't answered everything yet, have I?"
Immediately, Shokuhou realized what he was doing and decided to lend a helping hand.
"You're right about that. Seeing that you're willing to answer some questions about yourself, would you mind answering one of my questions?"
"Sure. Ask away."
"Right then, what level are you currently designated? From everything that I've been told and shown, the things you pulled off couldn't have been done by someone below a level 3 status."
Being hit with another question like this that focused solely on what level he was, Sora forced himself to not frown at the blonde's question and answered like he always does. With his heart.
"That's another complicated topic. You see, I'm currently classified as an unknown."
Once again, the girls all went silent but this time it was due to shock. They couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"What…"
"How is that possible?"
"You don't know what level you are?"
"How…"
Hearing all the questions coming at him, Sora was about to start speaking when Shokuhou gave her own opinion.
"You're classified as an unknown… how is that even a thing? Have you gotten testing done?"
As she said this, memories of her time when she first arrived in Academy City and participated in the Power Curriculum Program along with being classified as an unknown level began to flash through her mind. The city was many things but right now she couldn't exactly give a definitive name for it. Only that it was likely those sitting at the top knew more than they led on.
"Yeah… I did. The results on my esper power resulted in me being labeled as an unknown which, to be honest, I don't really care about what level I'm given" Sora clearly stated.
"Huh?"
"Wait what? Why?"
"Eh?"
"You don't care about your level status? But… why?"
"Why? You guys make it seem like that's all that matters?" Sora questioned, looking at everyone with a strange look.
Many of the girls shot glances at each other while displaying a sense of slight confusion on their faces.
"But…"
"Sora."
The spiky-haired boy turned his head to look over at Hokaze since she called him.
"Hearing your situation… while there is so much more, I would like to know about you… I guess to better understand our train of thought you must know that our time in Tokiwadai and Academy City has placed onto us that the results of your hard work are dependent on your esper level status."
He didn't say anything and beckoned for Hokaze to continue.
"So, in a way, a person's level status could truly mean so much to them to the point that if they don't achieve proficient results, then their entire life could be affected."
Not believing what he was hearing, the Keyblade wielder sank further into his chair but maintained a balanced weight to not fall over. There was so much wrong with what he was hearing.
"That's… "
"It's not fair."
Perking up at hearing Shokuhou, Sora remained silent to hear her out.
"This city's desire to seek proficient and outstanding results… there's no way that everyone will ever be able to achieve outstanding results. This is also why you might have heard it already, but people see Level 5's as something so much more than everyone else. There are only seven Level 5's in a city filled with thousands of kids."
Frowning at hearing how the city was starting to show its true colors, Sora knew that there was probably going to be more that he would come to find out about. But for now, he would learn all that he could.
"Still though… I don't believe that whatever level you are assigned is what truly defines a person" he said sincerely. "It's all about who you are as a person."
The girls of Shokuhou's clique were now leaning forward in their seats. Eager to hear what he had to say.
"It doesn't matter if you are a level 0 or a level 1 or even a level 5…"
Shokuhou's eyes were raised a bit at hearing the boy's words.
"If you're willing to step in and help in any way you can, then you'll be surprised by what you are really capable of. There are so many things that tests can't exactly depict in the results. Even when you think things are going bad or that you don't have the power to do something right… the heart will find a way to show you."
"The heart?" Mental Out commented as she was lost now.
"Mm. The heart is a mystery that I don't think anyone can really answer what it is. But I know that by following your heart… you are more likely to discover features about yourself that you might have never known. Strengths, you didn't know you had. Weaknesses, you never expected."
Everyone listening in didn't know what to think.
"The heart is something that even when you feel like the world is going against you, or even the smallest to largest things in life are against you… it will always be there to give you strength" Sora added, bringing his hand up to his own heart.
"…I think I'm lost…" one of the girls in the clique muttered.
A few others also nodded their heads but there was one girl that didn't say anything but instead looked over at Sora. That girl happened to be Hokaze who also brought a hand to her heart and smiled cheerfully.
"I think I understand, Sora."
All eyes were now on the purple ringlet-haired girl.
"There have been times where… I felt lost if you could believe it. But knowing that… by believing in myself and everyone that I hold dear to me… I was able to push past the problems going against me. Letting sit here with all of you today and holding my head up high and loving every moment of my life."
Hokaze said these words with the utmost conviction and sincerity that many of the girls were feeling a bit… inspired. Knowing that someone so close to them and one that they looked up to, aside from their Queen, managed to deal with problems she was facing with herself and conquered those difficulties. The idea of following your heart sounded strange but given how Hokaze explained it, then it didn't sound all that difficult to grasp now.
However, there was one girl who didn't have much of an opinion on the matter and that was Shokuhou. She didn't exactly understand the idea of believing in the heart or how it stepped in to help you in times of need or weakness. Perhaps it was just her way of approaching the idea but for now, she decided to stay silent on the matter and get the conversation back on track.
"So, from what I'm understanding it doesn't matter what level you are as long as you are able to do something that's all that matters?"
"In a way, yes."
"But what about those who don't have powers or abilities that are deemed remarkable or strong to make a difference? What then?"
"Is that really all that matters? I've met so many people that may have not been able to do extraordinary things that others could do, but at the same time, they still made a difference. Even if it was minimal, they still managed to help."
The Keyblade wielder said this with as much heart as he could. "Even knowing that someone believes in you or that you have friends in your corner can do so much."
Shokuhou couldn't help but cast her gaze to the floor. Thoughts and memories of her time in the prior year came to the forefront of her mind. Sora couldn't help but see the girl's body posture change and wanted to say something but was suddenly stopped as a girl from the clique spoke up.
"Sora, seeing that there's still not much known about you. Can you tell us about your esper ability?"
"Sure. I'm able to use and manipulate light into doing many different things." To better elaborate on his coverup esper ability, he summoned his Keyblade for everyone to see.
To say that everyone was stumped would be the correct explanation for everyone's reaction. Many of the girls had seen the news coverage featuring the boy and how he used a giant key to fight back against the monsters but to see it up close now. It left them a bit confused about how it could even be used as a weapon let alone manipulate light to create things as Sora stated. Some girls figured that the weapon could be used as a baton to beat things.
"How… exactly is it a weapon?"
"And what do you mean you can do other things?"
Seeing that he needed to clear the air, Sora began to divulge a bit of the crazy things that he was able to do while also making it somewhat believable with the idea of it being the esper ability to manipulate light.
"Well, I'm able to easily manipulate light to warp and create the things I need at times. The way I do it is… complicated to say the least. But just know that there are so many things that I can do like cause elemental abilities to appear or change the way I'm able to use energy throughout my body such as running up a wall or jumping really high. Different things like that" Sora explained while trying to make his ability somewhat realistic rather than say it was all magic.
Although the truth of the matter is that it was all magic. And even then, he didn't know exactly the process of how everything worked. It just sort of worked.
"Light manipulation…"
"Are the calculations difficult to attune to the different abilities that you are able to do?"
"How long did it take you to break down the effects of your personal reality?"
"Is it hard to control?"
"Does the… giant key act as a processor for your ability?"
"Does it have to be a giant key?"
"How good are you at- "
Questions and questions flooded Sora's head as each girl was becoming very interested in how the boy's esper ability worked. This resulted in questions that he did not have an answer to. Along with some that didn't make sense. He was at his wit's end and was about to start blurting out random answers to get the girls to calm down, but he was luckily saved by his new purple-haired friend.
"Is that how you were able to defeat those monsters?" Hokaze asked, managing to quiet everyone down and focus on that question.
Sighing in relief, Sora eagerly and excitedly answered her question.
"Yes! That's exactly how I was able to defeat the monsters yesterday."
"Were they scary to deal with?"
"Did you have a hard time fighting them?"
"Were you scared?"
"What were those monsters?"
Glad that the conversation had moved from talking about his made-up esper ability to the topic of the Heartless. Sora knew he could be a bit more open with what he said about the monsters. At the same time, he also didn't want to scare the girls since it seemed that they were a bit… closed off from how the world truly was.
"Well, those monsters weren't all that scary to deal with. But that's because I've dealt with them before many times. I have a good idea of how they might react or their attack patterns. Of course, that doesn't mean that I should let my guard up. No matter what kind of foe or challenge you are dealing with, you should never underestimate what you're dealing with."
Sora said this with the utmost sincerity while also having a hint of confidence in his words.
"And regarding if I was scared. The answer is no." Crossing his arms across his chest, the boy spoke as clearly as possible. "I can't be scared. Not when I know just how much trouble those monsters can cause if not dealt with."
Many of the girls were looking in awe at how he answered those questions. Both in confidence and reassurance. This led the honey-blonde Queen to decide to take part in the conversation as she had grown quiet for a minute.
"… And just what were those creatures? A science experiment gone wrong?"
The Keyblade wielder knew this question was coming but he still wanted to make sure he answered in a somewhat reasonable sense. He couldn't quite say that the Heartless were creatures physically formed manifestations of the darkness within people's hearts. That would just make everyone look at him weirdly or worse. So, the spiky-haired boy decided to twist the truth of the monsters to fit in this world.
"Those monsters are better known as the Heartless. They're creatures that have been… created by mad scientists and can take various forms."
Sora figured that he could rely on the idea of a mad scientist creating the monsters which in a way was true… just not in this world. Ansem's research into the human heart and all the reports he had collected in his adventures could be the evidence and support of his answer. Along with the idea of the Emblem Heartless. Plus, all the collected reports that were written in Jiminy's journal were converted into his Gummiphone so he had proof in case someone asked.
Shokuhou's expression hardened as she heard that a mad scientist was involved in the creation of those monsters, she had briefly seen due to her clique's interest in the news feed. Many painful memories began to flash through her head of her as a young child. All the tests that were done to her… and the other girls that…
Shaking her head and avoiding having to live through those thoughts right now, she merely let out a frustrated sigh before focusing back on Sora who was answering another girl's question about the monsters.
"But how did you come up with the idea of throwing a bus at that tornado? And why did the monsters turn into a tornado? That doesn't make any sense."
"When it comes to the Heartless, nothing really makes sense. As for throwing the bus, I needed to create an impact that would not only throw the flow of the tornado off but allow me to get close and start attacking the core. The whole thing was made up of the Heartless better known as Shadows and inside the dark vortex was a core that was holding the mass of monsters all together" Sora finished explaining.
Bewildered expressions could be seen on the Tokiwadai girls' faces. Learning more about what transpired during the monster attack left the girls with an even more surprising interpretation of the boy sitting with them. Not to mention, hearing that Sora was already familiar with the monsters and probably had many more encounters with the dark creatures before.
Seeing that Sora was even more mysterious than they originally thought, many of the girls started bombarding him with random questions of varying degrees. The topics ranged from his favorite color to the way his weapon looked along with doubts about the key-shaped blade being able to hurt anyone to even how the boy dressed. That topic led several other girls including Hokaze to guess where he bought each article of his outfit, but they were soon surprised to hear that he received them as a gift from one of his friends and didn't know where they were made. All in all, the mood was one of cheerful chatter as the girls sought to get a better understanding of the brown spiky-haired boy.
As the girls and Sora continued to talk about a plethora of topics unsurprisingly centered around him, he was also trying his best to remember each of the girls' names. The waitress had suddenly started making her way over to the group with an apologetic look on her face.
"I'm so sorry for the long wait. We are currently… experiencing some problems and are backed up in the kitchen."
"How so?" Shokuhou questioned.
"Our main chef had to step out for an emergency call but hasn't returned yet. We're doing our best to try and contact him but…"
Hearing this, Sora hoped everything was alright with the chef but knew that people were waiting for their food. Hence, he was about to do something a bit… reckless. But honestly, when didn't he do anything crazy?
"Um, if it won't be too much trouble, then could I help?" Sora asked the waitress.
It took a second for the waitress to come back to her senses as she realized just what he had said. Even Shokuhou and Hokaze were stunned at what the boy just said.
"O-Oh? That's very kind of you, sir. But that won't be- "
"But didn't you just say that you're falling behind on orders? I know that this is our first time meeting, and you don't exactly know me, but I truly want to help. Besides, I'm pretty familiar with my way around the kitchen" Sora collectively replied.
During his time in Twilight Town, he had come to learn a great deal in the kitchen and could confidently say that his cooking skills were good. Of course, they could be better. But that was something he would work on later.
Many of the girls didn't know what to think as they looked back at each other and then at Sora. Did the spiky-haired boy know how to cook?
The waitress on the other hand shot a look at Sora debating if she should even consider the boy's offer. It would take her another moment of looking back and forth between the kitchen and the spiky-haired boy. In a rather quick motion, she speed walked back to the kitchen and was gone for a few seconds before coming back and having a mixed expression on her face. It was one of regret and gratefulness combined and contorting.
"I didn't even catch your name, sir."
"Haha, my name is Sora."
"Sora… well then, this is certainly not anything I've ever had to do but… we would greatly appreciate it if you could help us in the kitchen. Of course, you'll be reimbursed with your order and- "
"Don't worry about it. Know then…" Stepping up from his seat and pushing it in, he began walking up to the waitress while donning his game face. Ready to start the cooking. "Shall we get started? There's a lot of hungry customers here and we wouldn't want to keep them waiting" Sora enthusiastically responded while grinning widely.
Nodding at the boy, the waitress beckoned him to follow her into the kitchen. Meanwhile, Shokuhou and Hokaze were questioning what just happened. Seeing the boy step up and take on the role of the chef in the kitchen… was certainly quite surprising and caused them to grow excited at the prospect of the brunette boy cooking their food. That same thought was shared by the other Tokiwadai girls.
"Can Sora cook?"
"He didn't strike me as the type that could."
"Maybe appearances can be deceiving?"
"What if he's bad?"
"What if it's good?"
"Girls."
Everyone stopped talking as their Queen seemed to calm everyone down. Their eagerness to see the results of the boy was causing a bit of noise but now they were back to normal. All they could do was patiently wait for the boy's food to arrive.
Back in the kitchen, Sora had gotten himself ready by washing his hands and putting on a spare apron that said, "Love the Chef". Upon seeing this, he couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"That's funny."
Hearing footsteps head toward him, he spotted the waitress walking toward him holding what appeared to be all the orders in hand.
"Okay. This is something I've never done before so… let's hope it goes all well."
"Don't worry. We've got this. Just leave the cooking to me" Sora said this with the utmost confidence managing to even get the waitress to think that this was going to work.
"All right, then, please Sora. Get to cooking!"
"You got it!"
And with nothing else needing to be said, the spiky-haired boy began working through the kitchen at an impeccable rate. Getting the stove running and already cooking eggs and other ingredients that were listed on the first batch of orders he received. Making sure to get everything correctly cooked based on what the customers wanted, he thought that he was having a good time with everything cooking. But… he thought he could do better.
With the kitchen equipment all going at the same time thanks to his flexibility to multitask, Sora wondered if he'd be able to speed things up. Particularly, with the power of magic.
He knew that he could use the time spell to slow things down but wasn't sure if that could be used to speed things up. Of course, this was something he had never tried to do before so it was likely that it wouldn't even work, but still he wanted to at least try. Hence, while watching the food cook in front of him, he began to brainstorm how a spell could increase the speed at which the food could be finished.
"Hmm. Speed? No, Fast? Time speed? Increase? Cook the food?"
Sora was mumbling to himself when he spotted that the eggs needed some attention. He began thinking about a few other things when a sudden idea popped into his head.
Haste.
People tended to make haste when things started to get bad. Rushing in to help in any way possible. Maybe that could work?
When it came to casting spells, he had no idea of the fundamental foundation of spells or any of that complex stuff. Only that it took time to master how a spell worked and could be used along with how it could evolve into an even more powerful spell. So, to try and utilize a spell that he had no idea how it really worked or if it even was a real thing, was a big stretch. However, the world traveler was willing to try.
"Well, worst case, I use a Stop spell on the whole place to fix my mistake, haha… please work."
Looking around the kitchen to make sure that no one could see him, he summoned his Keyblade and pointed it to some of the food that was cooking, and cast the spell. Hoping that something good would happen.
"Haste."
Several Minutes Later
As the Tokiwadai girls were continuing to chat amongst themselves about all sorts of things including the spiky-haired boy who was acting as a chef now, they noticed that the waitress was coming out of the kitchen holding plates of food and beginning to take them to the other customers who had been waiting longer than they had. The girls tried to get a look at how the food appeared but couldn't quite see well enough since they were on the other side of the restaurant. Alas, this led to them chatting once more about the food and if Sora was a good chef.
Once the waitress was done serving the food, she made her way back to the kitchen and within a matter of seconds, she came back out with more dishes to be served. This repeated several times all while amazing the girls at how fast the food was coming out. Not to mention, a few of the girls, Hokaze and Shokuhou included, had gotten a look at some of the dishes being served to the other customers and had to admit… they looked really good.
The quality of the food looked very appealing, especially because it was still morning time and practically everyone had ordered something relating to breakfast. This just made the girls even more eager to try the food since they saw some of the other customers smile and brighten up immediately after tasting the food. They also began to worry about if it would take longer for the food to be made but that idea was suddenly thwarted.
Coming out of the kitchen once more, the waitress was now carrying a large plate that contained even more dishes and was heading over to the girl's section.
"Here you all go! Courtesy of the chef. I've never seen someone work so fast in the kitchen before it… it's honestly astounding."
Once she was done handing several of the dishes out, she made haste to get the rest of the food while the girls who had gotten their food waited for the others to get their food. Soon after several trips to the kitchen were made, every one of the girls now had what they asked for, resting in front of them. Now, based on the principle of Tokiwadai girls to act prim and proper one would look over at the uniformed girls and think the exact opposite. However, that was to be expected as their first reaction to tasting the food was utter shock.
Everything tasted so good. Basic ingredients that were commonly used somehow tasted even better. As if they were not at a regularly established chain restaurant and instead eating at a 5-star restaurant located in France where top-of-the-line ingredients were being used. This was throwing the girls, especially Shokuhou for a loop at how amazing everything was tasting. Before long the girls had gone silent and were basking in the goodness that was their breakfast.
It wasn't until Hokaze stopped eating and realized they were missing someone. That someone being the chef who cooked their food.
"Wait, where is Sora?"
By coincidence, the spiky-haired boy was seen coming out of the kitchen with a plate of his own while talking to someone they hadn't seen before. After a second of thinking it became apparent that the man talking with Sora was indeed the original chef and he looked all sorts of thankful and appreciative of the brunette boy.
"Again, I can't thank you enough."
"Don't worry about it. Everything worked out in the end."
"Still though, there has to be some way to repay you…"
"Please, it's all good" Sora tried to reason with the chef but wasn't getting anywhere.
Thinking of how to repay the teenager for his actions, the chef snapped his fingers and had an idea come to him.
"What about a discount on your meal?"
Now, Sora had experienced many things in his time of traveling across different worlds and grew to love many things. But one thing that seemed to stick with him even as he got older and somewhat wiser, not that Riku or Donald would agree, was that he had a great interest in discounts. This appreciation might have started with his encounters with the Moogles that he encountered and their steep prices for things such as crystals or potions or even the synthesis of items. Seeing the price of Munny increase each time he stopped at a Moogle station left him slowly experiencing defeat inside, so when discounts were openly talked about as much as he didn't want to seem stingy or come off as taking advantage… He also knew the chef wouldn't stop offering different ways to pay him back for stepping in as cook.
Sighing in both acceptance and defeat, he silently nodded at the idea of getting a discount on the meal.
"Oh! Thank you. Now, I feel slightly better."
"But before you or the waitress hand over the check, make sure it's all under one bill and I'll take care of it."
Eyes wide, the chef was surprised by the boy's request.
"That's awfully courteous of you. Are you sure that's okay?"
"Yeah. I don't mind. Besides, being able to sit down and eat with friends makes it all the more worth it."
Sora stated this with the utmost truth and sincerity as it was true that eating with friends was something he really appreciated. Being in a new world all on your own tended to be a bit scary. But with friends by your side, it made it all worthwhile. Besides, he had plenty of money, or should he say Yen in his account that it was nothing in the grand scheme of his bank account. Plus, he might have even more Munny due to dealing with the Heartless late last night.
"Alright then. Again, thank you, Sora."
"Not a problem. Any time."
Not needing anything else to say, the spiky-haired boy made his way over to the group of girls who were eyeing him like he was some kind of hero who managed to save… oh.
"Uh… why are you guys staring at me like that?"
Turning to look at the others, Hokaze was the first to respond.
"Sora, I-I didn't know you were so skilled in the kitchen!?"
"… But I'm not."
"Say what?"
"I'm not. I still have a whole lot more to learn. Besides, another one of my friends is way better at cooking than me. I hope everything tastes ok."
"Ok?... Ok?" Shokuhou suddenly started saying which seemed a bit strange.
"This food tastes like it would be made at a 5-star restaurant located in France!"
Beginning to smile brightly, Sora was reminded of his time with little chef.
"That… actually makes sense, haha!"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Shokuhou asked.
"When I started learning how to cook, I managed to learn from one of my new friends who I came to find out was a very skilled chef. I also learned from his boss that he came from a place called Paris where he was said to work at a highly established restaurant. I never did learn where he used to cook… oh well" Sora said this all too casually.
The blonde Level 5 could do nothing but stare with her mouth slightly open at what the boy just said. She was once again left puzzled by who he was. Just when she was starting to get an idea of his personality and character, he goes and does as well as says something out of left field. But the one thing she could say about him was that he appeared to be a good person. At least, based on what she could tell about him from her brief introduction to him.
Taking his seat which was next to Hokaze, Sora began to eat his own food which got everyone to watch carefully and see how he enjoyed his creation. They were stumped at what he said next.
"Hmm… the hashbrowns could be a bit better. I'll fix that for next time I cook breakfast."
After spending the next bit of time enjoying his food while also chatting with the girls, Sora noticed the waitress coming back over to him holding what he suspected to be the check. Swiftly reaching into his pocket to grab his card, he also smiled warmly as she was coming up to him.
"Sora… I don't know what to say."
"Think nothing of it. It all worked out in the end."
"Mm-hm. I guess all I can say is thank you."
"You're welcome. Is that the check?" He asked, pointing to her hand.
"Yes. I was also told to give this to you."
"Wait a second…" Hokaze started saying but was stopped as Sora handed his card to the waitress.
"Yep. Here you go."
"Thanks, I'll be right back."
Now left waiting for the bill to go through, he had to deal with a confused and somewhat angry-looking Hokaze who was staring right at him.
"Sora! Why did you do that?"
"Uh… no reason."
"No reason? But didn't you- "
"If you have to know, then… think of it as a thank you."
"A thank you?"
"Yeah. Not just to you but to Shokuhou as well?"
"I beg your pardon?" Shokuhou stated, confused as to what he was getting at.
Sinking a bit back into his seat, Sora explained his reasoning for covering the bill.
"Being in Academy City and… in the situation that I've found myself it's a bit hard… being alone."
The girls' faces softened at hearing the boy's words.
"But even though I've already made many friends here in the city, it still feels great to meet even more friends. Besides, getting to go out and eat with you all is worth paying for. And like I told Hokaze, I would like to do this again sometime. Hopefully, bring even more of my friends to a get-together like this" Sora relayed his reasoning to everyone managing to have them see him in a whole new aspect.
There was, however, one girl who wasn't sure how she should take the boy's words. That girl being Shokuhou as she suddenly became a bit guarded. There was no way that someone this nice and kind could want something so simple as getting together with friends. She realized that this sudden turn in character for her was uncalled for, but after what she had dealt with throughout her time in Academy City… it was a bit of a force of habit to remain cautious. Plus, the last time she could think of anyone as kind as Sora was… a certain black spiky-haired boy.
Knowing full well that she was letting her thoughts twist the way she saw the boy, Shokuhou decided to take a risk. One that she would take full ownership of were it to cause any problems.
Reaching into her purse, she wanted to know just what kind of person Sora really was and what he was thinking right now on the heel of him saying those thoughtful things. Making sure not to make it obvious, she pointed her remote at him to peek into his mind and get a better idea of his thoughts.
Once she clicked the button on her remote, she regretted even thinking ill of him.
So many thoughts and instances came rushing toward her in what seemed to be an overflow of information. It was as if instead of taking a small peek into the boy's head to read his current thoughts, she threw herself headfirst into a deep pool of nothing but confusion and thoughts that didn't make any sense whatsoever. Things that he was thinking about that made no sense at all. This forced her to stop what she was doing and cut the connection she made in Sora's mind and stumble back into her own. Once she was back and did her best to put on a façade of remaining neutral, she realized one thing about the brunette-haired boy. He was still a total mystery even though she had gotten to know a bit about him.
On the other hand, Sora felt as if he had a sudden wave of dizziness hit him out of nowhere. It caused him to feel groggy all of a sudden while shaking his head. He jogged it up to being a sudden headache from eating too much so quickly or just the night's effects wearing down on him again. Before he could spend any more time wondering about what caused the sudden nauseous effect, the waitress was making her way to him with a smile on her face.
"Here you go. Everything went through successfully. Thank you once again, Sora. Without your help… I don't even know what would have happened."
"It's all good… "
"Huh? Is something up?"
Ruffling the back of his head, Sora felt embarrassed for barely realizing something that he didn't do. He didn't know the waitress's name.
"I'm sorry. This whole time I haven't even asked for your name."
Starting to laugh a little, the waitress merely waved her hand in the air.
"It's not a problem at all. My name is Himeko Arai. It's… haha, nice to meet you, Sora."
"Likewise, Himeko!"
"Well then, if there's nothing else, I wish you all a good day and hope you will stop by again. Thank you!"
And with that, Himeko went back to work to get new customers situated. Business as usual.
The rest of the Tokiwadai girls also checked their phones to see the time and realized that the day was nearing lunchtime now. They had spent more time out than they originally thought but it was all worth it. The high, privileged girls had managed to get something more than they thought they would. And that was a new friend.
Sora was so much more than they thought. Some girls thought that he might be as perverse as some of the boys they encountered on their unlucky encounters outside of Tokiwadai while others thought might have a tough personality, but it turns out those ideas were incredibly wrong. Hokaze was definitely right. He was one of the nicest boys that they had ever met and could certainly call him a friend.
Even Shokuhou who was beginning to feel guilty for doing something so drastic to the boy during their first-ever meeting knew that he was somebody she could see getting along with to a certain degree if she ever encountered him. Hence, she also started thinking about her original intentions for coming to meet him for breakfast. To have a… friend on her side were things to ever get difficult. As much as she didn't want to think of it like that, she was basically getting that and some more. This is why she decided to somewhat scold herself later and go for a more networking relationship with the boy.
Pulling her phone out of her purse, she called out to the boy.
"Sora, I'm grateful for what you've done for us."
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it, Shokuhou."
"Nonsense. I'd like to make it up to you."
Seeing that the blonde girl wasn't going to take no for an answer, Sora immediately knew what he would like.
"Then, what do you say we all get together again and do this again?" Sora curiously asked. "I would like to do this again with my other friends and maybe one day find a way to bring together all my friends to go out and eat. Something as simple as eating together was really fun…"
Letting a small smile appear on her face, Shokuhou had to agree that eating with friends was something she never thought all that much before. But now it seemed like something she would take and twist to fit her own image with her clique members.
"I think that's a great idea. Moreover, what do you say that we stay in contact? I know you have Hokaze's number but what about mine?"
"Sure! That sounds like a plan. Plus, it'll make it easier to do get-togethers rather than having to rely on Hokaze."
"I don't mind one bit" Hokaze happily added. "Ah! I almost forgot…"
Scrambling to search her pocket, Hokaze pulled out something that had a strange appearance and left Sora confused. But after taking a second to realize what the item was, he was astounded and left excited.
"I managed to pick this up on the ground before you got to the restaurant and wanted to give this to you or at least ask if you wanted it as a gift of sorts. I realize that the idea of picking something off the ground and giving it as a gift is… not normal and kind of unhygienic but if you don't like it I- "
"Hokaze. Do you realize what you picked up?" Sora asked the purple-haired girl.
"N-No? Should I?"
"I will gladly accept your gift!"
"Oh?! Then by all means, here you go."
Taking the gift into his hands, Sora immediately knew what this was at first glance. It was the keychain for his Olympus Keyblade allowing him to use the shield form and even summoning the chariot. Since he lost most of his keychains upon coming into this world, he now knew that they were out there somewhere, and he would have to go looking for the rest. But now he could rest easy and focus on what he and Shokuhou agreed to.
Reaching for his Gummiphone, Sora spotted the blonde's phone in her hand and pressed his device next to hers which confused her but with a beeping sound being indicated, he checked his phone and saw that her contact had successfully been added. Just like how he got Mugino's number which he once again figured it was magic being magic or his Gummiphone had a technological feature he had no idea about.
The blonde girl didn't know what just happened and figured that it was just the boy's strange-looking phone that did the trick. She wanted to question it, but she already had things apparent in her mind. Things that made no sense at all.
Seeing that nothing else needed to be done, she and the rest of her clique began parting ways with Sora once again thanking him for taking care of the bill and stepping in to cook. They couldn't wait to spread the word around Tokiwadai about meeting the boy from the news coverage and detail how nice he truly was.
Watching as the girls got further and further away, Sora realized that today had started off very interesting, and realistically it was still barely starting. He also knew that there was much that he still had to do while becoming familiar with the city and this new world.
In that line of thinking, he began to realize that he should start to make his dorm feel more like home and decided that he could do a bit of shopping. Both in terms of preparing for his eventual days as a school student and making his dorm feel like home. His home.
With a plan in place, he began to set forth into the city and back to his dorm to get things situated. At the same time, Sora realized something that had just happened to him. Pulling out his Gummiphone, he went into his contacts and went down to the newest individuals added.
Mugino and Shokuhou. Two Level 5's.
In any normal situation, anybody would be freaking out at the idea of getting not just one Level 5's number to be able to get two numbers sounded outright absurd. But Sora merely looked at his newly added contacts and couldn't help but smile. More names came up from the people that he had met in this world. He had made so many new friends in such a short amount of time. It helped take his mind off the issue that the Heartless were still out there causing problems for everyone. He might as well get himself ready for his next fight with them.
Meanwhile, outside of Academy City
News had traveled far and wide about the events occurring within the city. Members of the magic side of the world had come to understand what happened and how it was all centered around two indistinguishable facts. The spiky-haired boy who wielded the key-shaped weapon and the dark creatures were connected in some way. Not to mention, the dark monsters were reported to be… different.
Within the last 24 hours, multiple reports coming in from various agents of the magic side infiltrating Academy City had sent word about first-hand reports garnered from witnesses on the scene or from word-of-mouth accounts. Many were left confused or intrigued by what happened but something that could be collectively agreed upon was that something else was going on in the technologically advanced city. And it was all happening while the board chairman sat idly by in his impenetrable building watching from atop.
One individual who had been informed of the prior day's events was a certain tall red-headed boy who was at the age of 14 and already smoking packs of cigarettes. Stiyl Magnus, member of the English Puritan Church and its 0th Parish, Necessarius.
He was currently situated back in England and doing his best to break down all the various reports he was getting from his insider sources dwelling within the city. Recently, he had also received word from Tsuchimikado and Kanzaki on what happened, and their report was the one that he highlighted to be of great importance. Granted, the report also included Kamijou being present which made him let out an irritated sigh. That plain spiky-haired boy always seemed to find himself involved in something and now he was in some way connected to the events that happened.
However, before he could continue to bash the spiky-haired boy's name further, he recalled what Kanzaki and Tsuchimikado said about actually encountering the boy who was involved in the incident which he had been sent to review. Hearing that this boy was named Sora and the information he provided was downright confusing. The things this boy said didn't make sense at all. Not to mention, the way he was able to use magic was alone in itself a topic that warranted much attention. But that would be for another time.
Stiyl needed to attend a meeting and discuss all that he had come to find out about the information he was receiving from Academy City. And while he knew that there was much to talk about, he also knew that whatever he reported would soon become a problem. Not only to him and his friends but… to the boy named Sora.
Back in Academy City at a certain high school
Kamijou Touma could feel his soul starting to leave him. The feeling that his body was on the verge of collapsing due to the one thing that was rather difficult to fight back against… sleep.
The class he was currently sitting in was surprisingly filled with many of his friends. Even some people he didn't think would need to take the extra lessons. Moreover, he spotted his blue-haired and blonde-haired idiotic friends also barely paying attention to what was being discussed at the front of the class. The topic being glossed over had to deal with the aspect of Calculus and its relation to establishing a complex structural understanding of building upon an individual's personal reality and incorporating the knowledge to one's esper ability. All in all, Touma was doing his best to fight the temptation of letting his eyes wander or close.
Suddenly without warning the bell sounded indicating that it was finally lunchtime and that the painstaking lessons stopped for now.
Letting his head slap the top of his desk, Touma heard footsteps making their way over to him and immediately knew who it was.
"Oi, Kami-yan, what's got you looking all down? Don't tell me another dog chased you on your way to class this morning?" Tsuchimikado commented.
"Nah, I bet he encountered something with his misfortune again. Like, supposedly getting blamed for staring at a girl at the wrong time and place" Aogami clarified, adding to painting the boy in a bad picture.
"…Maybe he's just having a bad day?" Himegami said which surprised Touma as he didn't think she would be here.
"Or maybe he's just slacking off again and blaming his so-called misfortune like he always does" Fukiyose stated loud and clear earning an irritated sigh to come from the spiky-haired boy's mouth.
"None of you got it right." Picking his head up off the desk, he began to explain his side of things. "Nothing bad has happened to me at all today. In fact, the exact opposite."
"How so?" Himegami asked.
"*sigh* Lately, nothing bad has happened to me at all today. This is suspiciously alarming…"
Hearing the dark spiky-haired boy complaining about something that almost everyone would be happy about leaving them to just shake their heads.
"That should be good, shouldn't it?" Himegami suggested, not following Kamijou's intuition.
"When it comes to Kamijou, he tends to say the opposite of what you think. When it comes to girls when he says he's not staring. He's actually staring. When he says he couldn't get to class on time, then he can get to class but comes up with stupid random excuses for not showing up" Fukiyose stated.
"Not to mention, Kami does tend to come up with crazy stories. So, seeing that he didn't have an explanation for today and showed up must mean that he couldn't think of a good excuse" Tsuchimikado said while grinning at the boy in question.
"That's just the way the guy is. Or the more obvious answer about his misfortune is that he's just sneaking off to meet girls" Aogami added to the conversation.
"You're all hopeless. Nothing bad happened to me this morning which means that something bad is going to happen soon. And I'm going to get dragged into something troublesome I can just feel it."
As Touma said this the four students observed the boy until what he said finally registered in their brains. Tsuchimikado snorted at the boy's response.
"You sound like an old man with your body feeling pain going through it haha!"
This got Aogami to join in the laughter while Himegami tilted her head and looked at Kamijou.
"How old are you, Kamijou?"
"I'M NOT THAT OLD!"
"Ahahahaha!"
"You have no idea what it's like to live with Lady Misfortune waiting for you at any second. Ready to strike whenever and wherever you are. Would you take my warning seriously?" Touma said to the group.
Aogami and Tsuchimikado were left laughing at the idea of old man Kamijou while Himegami continued to look him up and down and continued to ask him questions about his health and if he was experiencing anywhere else on his body hurting, and if so, he should go and see the school nurse.
Fukiyose could feel a headache coming on from hanging out with the Delta Trio. These idiots and their ridiculous conversations surrounding things that didn't make any sense. She began to worry about the other spiky-haired boy and how these three idiots' influence would affect him.
Suddenly, the door to the classroom opened, and in walked Komoe Sensei who smiled happily at seeing her students spending time together. Even if it appeared that Kamijou was being laughed at but still… that was normal in her class.
"It's good to see you all getting together."
"Sensei, that couldn't be further from the truth."
"Hello, Sensei."
Fukiyose and Himegami greeted their homerun teacher while Aogami and Tsuchimikado were still laughing at Kamijou who had a deadpan stare directed at them.
"Kamijou-chan? Did something happen? Why are they laughing at you… again?"
This resulted in the two Delta Force members laughing even harder at the misfortunate boy.
"*sigh* No reason at all Sensei. They're just… idiots."
"I concur" Fukiyose added.
"Well then, be that as it may, I hope you all enjoy your lunch break. Once class starts, we'll be going further delving further into our extra lessons along with playing a game for who answers the correct questions. Depending on if you answer questions incorrectly, you'll be tasked with a bit more homework to get done. Of course, Kamijou-chan, you'll already be assigned to do the extra homework since your grades are so low" Komoe elaborated which got the two idiots to chuckle.
Touma couldn't help but let out a loud sigh as he realized this might be what misfortune he was sensing.
"Oh! Also, Yomikawa asked me to pass along a message to you for Sora. She said that his books and whatnot will be available when normal classes start up again and that he just has to stop by the teacher's lounge to pick them up along with you giving him advice about the school uniform. She'll send him a text message later but in case she gets to be busy, then it's your job to relay this information to him."
"Hai. I'll let him know."
"Great! Well then, enjoy your lunch and get ready for afternoon lessons."
And with that, the small pink-haired teacher left the classroom leaving the group and a few other students to remain in the classroom. Touma reached into his pocket and started texting Sora to fill him in on what he was just told. This also led the wielder of Imagine Breaker to wonder just how the boy's day was going so far. Hopefully, things were going better for Sora than they were for him.
Standing at the top of one of the buildings within Academy City
There was so much to do yet so little time to get things done. That was what the being identified as Darkness thought as they looked down at the city. It had been a rather hassle trying to find the boy that piqued their interest. Research into the #2 and how his esper ability delved into the subject matter known as Dark Matter…
The ability to create something that doesn't exist in this universe until the moment he creates it… such an interesting concept. Especially when there were now factors in this world that… were not particularly from this universe.
Those factors were the formless figure currently covered in darkness and the spiky-haired boy who wielded the giant key-shaped weapon. These two were not of this world. Not even from this universe. And yet, here they were. Living proof of irregularities in this world.
Suddenly, the area around the dark figure began to contort and leave what appeared to be a dark corridor allowing them to sink into it and leave that location for another. This allowed for the figure to appear on the top of another building which had another point of view of the city while also being the location of their target.
Inside the building at one of the top levels was a dirty blonde man with shoulder-length hair wearing what appeared to be a dark maroon-colored suit with a white collared shirt, both unbuttoned, revealing a red V-neck under them. This young man who tended to wear a cocky smile was the 2nd ranked Level 5 in all of Academy City. Kakine Teitoku, also known as Dark Matter.
He was currently scrolling and tapping away at his tablet while also reading another report to come in regarding another breakdown of the first rank's esper ability and the fundamental applications that seemed to correlate with his power. Reading further into the report just angered the dirty blonde and beckoned him to start reading another report that didn't relate to Accelerator.
"You're not all what I expected you to be… You're more… disappointing really."
The dark being said this as they watched from the corner of the outside window taking in the appearance of the 2nd ranked. Though they could have gone after other targets connected to the science side or even on the magic side, the thirteenth darkness remnant had taken a keen interest in the boy who could create unique possibilities. However, they also knew that things could be moving at a relatively faster pace. Which is what they were about to do right now.
Back inside the apartment, Kakine started swearing to himself in frustration after skimming through another report that did absolutely nothing to benefit him with ideas to become stronger not only in his ability but to outclass the white-haired bastard sitting at the top. He was about to leave the apartment and find something else to do when he suddenly started to feel as if… someone was watching him.
Turning his back to the apartment's plethora of windows, he knew better than to let whoever was watching him get the first strike. Hence, in quick succession, he threw his right arm around his body while twisting his entire body to stand still while several large white, yet disproportionate wings appeared to sprout from his back. He had also narrowed his gaze at whatever was watching him only… it wasn't exactly a person.
Floating there in the middle of the air was what appeared to be a figure enshrouded with dark mist around them as they floated there. You couldn't really see their face as everywhere on their body was covered with darkness leaving how they looked like a complete mystery.
Eyeing the dark figure, Kakine did not let down his guard and instead kept it up while trying to get a read of what he was looking at before reducing it to the molecular level.
"Aren't you a disgusting sight…"
"…"
"Tsk. Whatever you are I suggest that you say or do something before I leave nothing behind to ever show you existed in this world."
"… I'd like to see you try."
Smirking while still narrowing a hard gaze at the dark figure, Kakine began to start demanding answers.
"So, you can talk. How amusing. Now, what the hell do you want?"
"Well now, aren't you direct? I can work with that. Truth be told, I'm here for you."
The dirty blonde boy began twisting his hand around which resulted in the wings on his back to start fluidly moving and now aiming right at the dark figure.
"You wanna clarify that? I'm not in the mood to deal with your shit."
"…You're searching for something."
"…"
"It's clear that no one else will ever be able to understand what it is that you're capable of or what you're able to create. Of course, that Dark Matter ability of yours is in a way… out of this world, no?"
"It sounds like you're just stating the obvious. Get to the point already" Kakine commanded the dark figure.
"What I mean is that the thing you are searching for something… whether it is influence or an answer you will not be able to find it by using conventional methods" the dark figure clearly stated.
Kakine continued to narrow his gaze at the dark mass and for a split second, his face relaxed before becoming serious once again.
"Go on…"
"Heh. Tell me… what do you know about darkness?"
"What? Are you playing some game with me?"
"No, no. You're thinking within the box. You need to start thinking outside of the box that is better identified as your world."
"Tch. And what the hell would you even know about thinking about something like that? Believing that you know about the principles of reality. Ha, don't make me laugh. Whoever you are, I suggest you- "
"Are you so sure about that?"
The Level 5 heard this and went silent while continuing to watch the dark figure only this time he really tried to see who was speaking.
"There are many things that I know of. Things that… you won't find the answer to at the rate you are progressing. Perhaps, the so-called scientists you tend to listen to might have what you need to take the next step in reaching power. But… Would they even be willing to give it to you? And… who knows? Maybe what you're searching for isn't in Academy City?"
"Now you're really just talking utter nonsense. And what the hell gives you the idea that I listen to those wastes of space? You've got a lot of nerve to say that to my face!"
Having had enough of the figure's game, Kakine threw his hand forward which instantly caused the wings sprouting from his back to strike where the dark clouded figure was floating. The attack created not only strange sounds but dust and debris to go flying both in and out of the apartment while also leaving nothing behind.
Waiting for the cloud of dust to disappear, the dirty blonde had his eyesight locked onto the spot where the dark figure was last expecting to see nothing but what he saw left him grinding down on his teeth and ready to kill someone.
There floating in the air not having moved at all was the dark figure still completely surrounded by the dark mist that covered their body.
"You have a temper."
"And you are about to be ripped to shreds with your head being the first thing that goes."
"With that kind of attack… don't make me laugh. I've seen children younger than you create stronger attacks than what you just did. I've even heard of a duck pulling off a stronger attack than what you just did. That was just… sad."
Dark Matter was now seeing red and wanted nothing more than to kill the figure. But before he could act, the dark figure waved what appeared to be its hand in the air while calling out to the boy.
"Stop, stop. You'll only hurt yourself."
"The fuck did you just say? I'm going to show you- "
"Just who you are messing with? Yes, I know who I'm messing with. Which is why I came to pay you a visit?"
"Why?"
"Well, you see… there are things within this city that… interest me. One of those things happens to be… can you guess?"
"…Me."
"Bingo. Heh, maybe you do have a brain up there next to all that imagination you use to create things that don't exist in this world."
The wings on Kakine's back began to move back and forth like they were waves on water with how fluid their motions were. Nevertheless, he was still on the defensive about this dark figure and wanted nothing more than to shut them up.
"Just get to the goddamn point. Why are you interested in me?"
"Because you have something that the number one doesn't have… potential."
"Ha, you're shitting me. You think sweet talking me is going to work?"
"It's not sweet-talking if it's the truth." Taking a step or rather floating closer to the second-ranked, the dark figure continued his explanation. "You see, you might have heard this from all the scientists you've ever met in your life about how you're second-rate or old garbage."
Dark Matter's fist was clenched and was now beginning to change color.
"But what those nuisances don't understand is that there is more to your ability than they or even you think. I mean, it's the name of your ability. Dark Matter. You can create things that don't exist in this world. Wouldn't that alone be something grand to investigate?"
"I don't need anyone else to tell me about my ability."
"Maybe not. But… what if I were to say that I could help you… open your eyes."
"What?" Kakine muttered, confused at what he was hearing.
"There's so much more to learn… all it will take is a little… influence."
The dirty blonde didn't know how to retort what he was hearing but just as he was about to say something the sound of an elevator activating could be heard signaling that someone was coming to the apartment.
Seeing this as the perfect send-off, the dark figure began to slowly move toward the open area of the apartment before stopping and expectedly staring at the boy.
"Think about what I said. We can continue our chat another time. There's so much out there, Dark Matter, you barely covered the surface of true power…"
With that being a standout statement, the dark figure went through the open hole of the apartment and unbelievably disappeared in what could be ascertained to be a dark portal leaving nothing behind to show that he was ever there in the first place.
Not a moment later, the sound of the elevator opened, and the clap of heels could be heard coming closer until Kakine looked over and saw a girl with blonde hair and wearing a pink dress could be seen.
"What happened here?" the girl asked as she saw the damage cast over the apartment.
Taking one last look at where the dark figure lingered, Kakine merely scowled and grasped at his hand letting his wings disappear before answering the girl.
"Nothing… Just had an idea come to me…"
The blonde girl didn't say anything after that and figured that he must have seemed… appeased at whatever idea came to him. Moreover, the boy also didn't look to be in the talking mood which gave her the indication to not ask him any more questions. Hence, she got on the phone to call in about the apartment needing repairs leaving the dirty blonde boy alone to his thoughts. Thoughts that revolved around what the dark figure said.
Back with the Guardian of Light
Sora didn't know how his clothes worked aside from the three fairies probably being the ones to enchant them with magic, he knew one thing and it was that he was thankful for how they worked.
After leaving the restaurant, he went deeper into the city and spent some time familiarizing himself with everything he could in the time that he had. He also got a text from Touma about his school supplies for when classes which was taken care of along with the school uniform curriculum which wasn't too bad. He would have to thank Yomikawa and Touma for helping him with that. Therefore, he also managed to do a bit of shopping to not get fitted for school and life in the city but also to liven up his dorm room and fill up the place with some food as that was now technically his new base of operations.
However, this led to a bit of a problem as he wasn't sure how he was going to carry his supplies and groceries around. Coming up with several ideas that all turned out to not work, he randomly thought of the idea to store some items in his pocket since that was how he stored potions and a variety of things. To his surprise, everything that he carried seemed to fit without even looking like anything was in his pocket. Granted, the largest thing he had bought during his spending spree was a pillow. He also figured that he couldn't store anything living which made total sense.
This is why he was now walking back to his dorm with a bright smile on his face having achieved quite a great deal in one whole day. Even though he had been busy since late last night, he still counted the day a win.
Coming up on his dorm complex, Sora also wondered what Touma and Index were up to seeing that he hadn't seen them since yesterday.
Making his way up to his room, the Keyblade wielder heard what sounded like footsteps coming from Touma's dorm before the door suddenly opened, and out popped the black spiky-haired boy's blue eyes staring right at him.
"Sora, there you are. I thought you were home already and didn't want to bother you" Touma warmly replied.
"Hey, I just got here if you can believe that."
"Heh, good to see you didn't lose your way around. It can be a bit too much at times."
"Yeah… but still… there's a whole lot more I want to see."
"Mm. Hey, I know you said not to worry about dinner yesterday- "
"I did say that."
"But… I can't help it. I was worried. So, in return want to have dinner with me and Index?"
Suddenly, the sound of a meow could be heard coming from Touma's dorm.
"And Sphynx as well" Touma replied, sighing as he was getting slack from the cat as well.
Smiling at the offer, Sora happily accepted while explaining to the boy that he had some stuff to put away and would need a minute. This was understood by Touma as he said to just come on over when he was ready.
Beginning to look for his keys, the brunette realized that he left them inside and recalled how he was brought out of slumber and left in a hurry. Summoning his Keyblade, he tapped the lock which opened immediately, and allowed himself in. This would begin the boy's mission to put away everything that he had gotten in his busy day. Putting food away, then making sure all his clothes were good to go, and then sorting the backpack that he bought while shopping away for school. He then was ready to go next door when he felt something strange.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the two keychains of his best friends, Riku and Kairi better associated with Oathkeeper and Oblivion, and saw something peculiar about them. Oathkeeper's keychain was now slightly back to normal compared to when he saw it the other day faded out in a blue outline like he was in the Final World. However, Oblivion was still partially there and had not looked like Oathkeeper. This left the boy confused but also got him wondering.
Looking for the charm that Hokaze had gratefully given to him today, he also summoned his Keyblade and attached the Olympus chain to it transforming the weapon into Hero's Origin. Examining the blade, he realized that nothing was wrong with it and called it good to go. But he also became curious about the charm he got from Kairi and decided to try it on. In a white flash, the Keyblade transformed into the Oathkeeper design with nothing really wrong with it.
This left Sora confused about what he did to restore the keychain. Maybe it had to do with the connections with his friends. Or maybe new connections? He wasn't sure. But what he did know was that the rest of his keychains were out there somewhere in Academy City, and he had to find them. Along with start looking into how the Heartless were consistently appearing in the city. There had to be a reason for their appearance. He also had to stop them before others took an interest in the dark creatures. If the magic or science side got their hands on the Heartless… flashbacks to all the adversaries that he had fought against left a bad taste in his mouth.
Putting Oblivion back into his pocket, Sora left Oathkeeper and Hero's Origin at the ready to switch between his weapons and got himself ready to head over to Touma's. He was looking forward to eating with friends again and learning more about this city and this world.
A good way to end the day.
Meanwhile, inside a luxurious apartment
Blast marks could be seen scattered all over the tennis court-sized living room. The one responsible for such attacks came from none other than the tea-color-haired beauty who… did not exactly look good right now.
She had spent the whole day trying to uncover at least one shred of evidence or information about the brown spiky-haired boy but to no avail she got nothing. Mugino had never had a target leave her in the state that she was in. She hadn't really eaten anything throughout the day and only munched on small food here or there. She hadn't switched out of her battle-damaged clothes from the previous night, and she hadn't stopped looking for information and was beginning to feel the effects of tiredness hit her.
However, that was not going to stop her. She would not stop until she found at least one small piece of information about the mysterious boy. The other members of Item had merely kept to themselves throughout the day as they watched their leader become so focused on trying to find anything on Sora that she didn't even notice that Frenda and Kinuhata had left for most of the day. She only took notice when they entered the apartment but then went back to clamoring for information about the boy.
Takitsubo didn't exactly want her leader and friend, even if it was one-sided, to continue pushing herself until exhaustion took over which could then lead to other worrisome concerns. Hence, she braved herself and without uttering a single word walked over to Mugino and tapped her shoulder while holding a wet towel in the other hand.
Seeing this, Mugino was pulled out of her thoughts and growled at the tracksuit-wearing girl.
"What Takistubo!?"
"You need to rest."
"The hell I do!? I haven't found a single goddamn piece of shit thing about this guy. Just how much secrecy does he have around his entire life profile? Nothing regarding him has come up in any databases in Japan. I was about to ask and check to see what the United- "
"Mugino."
"What!?"
"Rest."
Faced with the black-haired girl's deadpan expression, the brunette couldn't do anything else but reluctantly take the towel and wrap it around her head feeling the coolness hit her greatly.
"Ah… that feels much better. Thanks."
"Mm."
Looking up at the wall decorated with nothing but information and speculation about Sora, Takisubo decided to give an answer that would solve the tea-haired girl's problem instantly.
"Mugino…"
"…Yeah."
"You should text Sora."
Were she feeling better and full of energy, Mugino would've lashed out at the girl and screamed at her for asking something so stupid amongst other things. But… how she was feeling now, the girl merely nodded her head and began to walk away.
"I'm going to shower…"
"Ok. Good night."
Not saying anything else, the tea-colored-haired girl whisked herself to the bathroom and began to think about how refreshing a shower would be for her. Also, she began to wonder just what she would say to the boy to meet up with him. Granted, she was going to grill him not only for what happened during their encounter but also about who he really was and why there wasn't anything showing up in any database. And she would not leave or let him leave until she got every one of her questions answered.
Every. Single. One.
Back with Sora
While the boy was eating away with his neighbors and friends enjoying the lively company and vast arrange of topics discussed about the city and magic in this world, he felt his Gummiphone go off which resulted in him pulling it out to see what had happened.
Upon glancing down at the device, he was left a bit shocked but not that much. The person who contacted him happened to be Mugino who had only sent him a location and time via text. This left the boy confused but not that concerned. Hence, he put the phone back into his pocket and went back to talking with Touma, Index, and Sphynx and enjoying another night that he would never forget.
All while remaining oblivious to a grand scheme of events that now included him in how this world would be… changed.
Notes:
*A/N* - Hey there, finally hit the bottom I see. I hope you liked this chapter and all the things that are starting to ramp up in the city with Sora's inclusion. Things are starting to pick up as one of the thirteen true darknesses starts to plant some ideas into the 2nd rank's mind. It's also a bit crazy to think that not much time has passed since the Keyblade wielder of Light got to this world. Kind of makes me wonder just how much time really does pass when he visits the various worlds in-game. Hope in KH4 we see a more day-to-day lifestyle for Sora and all the crazy things he gets involved in. In a bit of guilty pleasure, some people might see what I'm going for as to have Sora get everyone's phone number and you'd be right. I have the crazy idea of him just having every single Level 5's number along with some soon-to-be-added magical characters ready at the speed dial. In addition, I really like the idea of Sora wanting something so simple as getting together with friends to go out and eat since in all reality… he might never be able to go home and do such a thing. Hence, building connections and bridges to so many hearts. Like they say in the series, "A boy like him who touches so many hearts…"
Thanks again for checking this story out and until next time.
Chapter 11: Light Meets Light
Summary:
Starting a new day within the city, Sora makes his way to meet up with the girl better known as Meltdowner only to realize that he'll find himself in quite the predicament trying to learn more about his new friend and defend himself against her short temper and highly dangerous beams of light. The Guardian of Light can never seem to catch a break.
Notes:
*Disclaimer* - I do not own the copyright to Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index
*A/N* - Greetings there. I felt the wave of creativity and figured I might as well crank another chapter out for this story. Seeing that things are starting to pick up in the story leading to events playing out differently now thanks to a certain brown spiky-haired boy's appearance and impact within this world. I also couldn't help myself as this chapter focuses on a certain girl and how Sora will factor into her life now. Moreover, how things will continue to change due to his influence is going to be interesting. Along with, how the true darkness will manage to flip things both on the science and magic sides of this world. Things are going to get complicated lol. Without further ado, hope you are enjoying the story and I appreciate the feedback/reviews given to the story. Hope you take care and until next time.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Sora couldn't remember the last time that he had slept that comfortably. Laying on his back and staring at his ceiling, the teen boy realized that it had been a minute since he was able to sleep peacefully. His time in this new world hadn't exactly provided him with a decent moment of slumber. The last few times he tried to catch a wink was back when he ended up in the middle of a street, the time he tried to sleep on a bench, and the last time he tried to sleep in his new bed which didn't last long.
Now, however, he had found himself comfortable to the point that he could breathe easily and feel that he got enough sleep. In addition, he also began to think about the prior day's activities and how his busy day ended with the joy of eating dinner with the nun, calico cat, and boy who seemed to carry misfortune with him everywhere. Memories of being at Touma's apartment and enjoying the lively company of Index asking Sora more about what other magical abilities he could perform which immediately switched to the nun explaining a bit about something called Idol Theory and how that was the explanation for how magicians draw their powers.
This entire explanation made the boy's head start hurting at how in-depth and complex the process was but once Touma stepped in to add his own input on understanding the whole process to which he explained it in the terms of a video game, then Sora began to interpret it easier. It also got him thinking about his own power and how he used his own magical mana to cast spells of varying degrees. Some spells require more mana than others while also realizing that thanks to the Keyblade he had become accustomed to fighting with and without magical spells at times. Solely relying on nothing but his blade to solve whatever problem he was dealing with.
However, as the rest of the night started to finish up, he remembered parting ways with the three while thanking them again for their hospitality and dinner. He was once again met with Touma's laidback response to not worry about it which resulted in the two planning on doing this again soon with Sora being the one to come over and cook or even host since they really did live right next to each other. Leaving the evening to end on a great note and having Sora get the needed rest he deserved since he'd been totally busy.
This brings him to the now as he reached for his Gummiphone and saw what time was displayed on the device.
"8:21 A.M."
"I thought it would be later… oh well, that gives me plenty of time to get ready."
As Sora said this, he forced himself up from his bed and rubbed his eyes until he felt that they had grown accustomed to staying open now. Reaching for his Gummiphone, he set out to the kitchen to find himself something to eat. Preferably something that would give him enough support for the day since he recalled the message he received last night from a certain tea-color-haired girl.
There was a part of himself that felt worried about the long-haired brunette and how she would confront him since their last meeting didn't pan out all that well since they had to deal with the Heartless. Not to mention, he did say he would answer her questions about everything that was going on. And based on a first impression of the girl, Sora had the idea that she wouldn't be holding back on the questions. This meant that he had to be confident in his half-truth answers that he had been telling everyone else as of late.
With this revelation in mind, he set out to make himself a breakfast that wouldn't take long while also planning on jumping into his shower and cleaning himself since… now that he thought about it… how long had it been since he had showered?
"Let's see… the last time I showered was at Master Yensid's Mysterious Tower in one of the rooms that was given to each of us before the Keyblade war which was… uh… how long ago was that?"
The more Sora thought about what he said, the more he realized he didn't know exactly how long it had been since his last shower. The sudden thought made him feel a bit embarrassed while also relieved that his magical clothes managed to repair themselves with small cuts or burns and stains that smelled but that could only do so much. Plus, he had switched out of his regular clothes and into a white t-shirt with long dark shorts while finally giving his clothes a break after which further drove home the point of him not having showered in so long. How could he let himself get like this?
Deciding to fix this issue, he quickly made himself an omelette with toast and juice while also getting himself used to this lifestyle since this is what he'll be doing for quite some time now. Finishing up his food, he spent a good minute in the shower making up for lost time. After he was now done and back to wearing his regular stylish clothing, he set out to make sure his dorm was decently clean for when he got back from hanging out with Mugino. Who knows how long that will take and if Sora was to guess, then he wouldn't be back until later tonight. Closing up shop, once he was done giving his place the rundown, he exited his place and locked it while making sure that he was ready for the day. Reaching into his pocket, he remembered attaching Hero's Origin and Oathkeeper to his Keyblade letting them ready to go at a moment's notice.
Now, taking a step away from his dorm, he sent out a text to Touma letting him know that he was going to be out for the day in case he had to get a hold of him. With nothing else to do, Sora set off to the location that Mugino had sent to him along with the time that he was supposed to be there. The boy had unexpectedly gone about his business in a timely manner and still had plenty of time to get to the location. Hence, he figured he could take a train or two and ultimately take his time. Besides, he still had a great deal more of Academy City to see.
Meanwhile, within a luxurious apartment in another part of the city
The fourth-ranked Level 5 better known as Meltdowner had prepared herself to the point that her teammates/roommates were wondering whether she was going to war against the city or taking an extra precautionary thirty steps in preparation for her meeting with the spiky-haired boy they encountered the prior night.
After having jumped into the shower and freshened herself up due to neglecting such a thing because of her focus on the investigation of the boy, she was now dressed in attire that she concluded to be comfortable to move around if the situation permitted. Who knows how her meeting with Sora would go?
Her outfit consisted of a grey dress with a black tank top underneath that went along with black leggings and grey slip-on athletic shoes. In her terms, she figured her outfit would be fine. Besides, if she changed her mind about her outfit, then she could quickly change to something else due to her large wardrobe. In addition, under her grey dress on her left arm was a small sleeve that was hidden from plain sight that acted as a holder for her phone along with containing several cards that helped amplify the number of lasers, she was able to shoot out.
Having seen the spiky-haired boy's abilities the night before and done as much theory crafting and speculation on his power, she was preparing for a fight for answers. And in her case, that was something she was silently craving for more. Given that she was someone who loved fighting and seeking a challenge. The tea-haired girl could honestly say she was growing excited at the thought of a battle. She was a battle freak after all.
Walking out of her room, she spotted Frenda and Takitsubo sitting down at the kitchen table while chowing down on what appeared to be cereal. Seeing that she had no idea what could happen today, she figured she might as well grab something quick to eat.
"Mugino? Are you going somewhere?" Frenda asked, curious at seeing the older girl dressed up.
"None of your damn business."
The blonde did the only thing she could do which was to brush off the harsh response and go back to her breakfast. This caused the brunette to outwardly sigh and give a decent answer.
"I'll be out for a bit. I don't know when I'll be back."
Takitsubo lazily raised her head from her bowl of cereal and quickly eyed the brunette's attire before realizing that she must have done what she told her to do.
"I take it that you contacted him?"
"Yes. I did."
"Hold up? Basically, what did you do?"
Before she could yell at the blonde for asking too many questions, Takitsubo quickly answered.
"Mugino contacted Sora to meet up with her so that she can find out more about him" the tracksuit girl casually said.
Taken back by her leader's action, Frenda had to speak her mind on the matter.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Excuse me? You want to run that back?"
Raising her hands up, the blonde began to explain her train of thought on the matter.
"I mean, do you need us to go with you? Or stay nearby in case you need backup or something? Basically, you're walking into a situation where we have no idea what could happen" Frenda tried reasoning with her.
Many different feelings were on the verge of being released by the blonde-haired girl. Curse words that Mugino bet neither of the two girls had ever heard before were about to be launched toward Frenda. However, she bit her tongue to the point that she thought blood was starting to come out. She had better things to worry about. And those things were questions oriented toward a certain brown spiky-haired boy about who he was and how he was able to do all the things that she saw the night before.
Hence, the brunette Level 5 merely scoffed at Frenda while continuing to get herself a short yet efficient breakfast before heading to the meeting spot she decided upon.
"No, Frenda, I don't need your damn help. Frankly, I can handle this myself."
"…Ok… I'm just asking" the blonde cautiously responded before going back to her food.
Takitsubo on the other hand was slightly more interested in how the meeting would go. This is why she decided to question the lioness, better known as her leader, about the whole situation.
"Mugino?"
"Yeah? What is it Takitsubo? Are you also going to ask me if I need your help?"
"Do you have a game plan in mind?" Takitsubo said this as clearly as she could while also brushing off the harsh comment.
If there was one thing to know about Mugino it was that she was a girl who was blunt about what she wanted, so if you wanted to tell her something you needed to be direct and straightforward.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Like, what will you do when you meet him? What questions will you ask him to learn what you want?"
"Why are you asking, Takitsubo? Do you not think I can handle this?"
Shaking her head, the dark-haired girl simply said what she thought.
"The opposite. I know you can handle this. The real question is will you be able to get what you want without coming back here still upset?"
Mugino considered what she was saying and had to agree with her way of thinking. When it came to her getting what she wanted, she always won in the end. That's how it had been her entire life growing up in a household that carried a prestigious name and reputation to the point that she could have almost everything that she ever wanted. Ranging from materialistic objects to information and opportunities that only a small percentage of people would ever get to have. However, the circumstances that she currently found herself in were anything but normal or ordinary, or even conventional. Sora was a total mystery with nothing surrounding him that could be used to her advantage. A real going-in dark situation where she didn't know what would come of their meeting. And deep down in her heart… that excited her.
Coming back to Takitsubo's question, she decided to give a valid explanation for her impromptu plan.
"*sigh* I know that screaming at him once we meet up isn't exactly a smart way to go about things. Which is why I'll be starting off by asking him questions about small aspects of himself."
"Oh… Basically, I'm guessing it'll be questions about who he is and whatnot?" Frenda added to the conversation while eating away at her breakfast.
"Yes. Although, nothing too direct or controversial that will scare him off. Just small talk to try and get a better idea of who he is and where he came from. Seeing that I haven't been able to pick up anything about him in the past 24 hours."
Nodding her head at Mugino's response, Takitsubo figured that would be a good start to learning more about the spiky-haired boy. However, this also got her to think about something else. Something that… she didn't want to directly ask the tea-color-haired girl about since it involved her actions and behavior quite intensively. The thought Takitsubo had regarding her friend was the idea of if a fight broke out between the two of them… would Mugino attack Sora? Or better vice versa?
While Mugino had spent the prior day trying to find out anything about the boy, she had done some thinking on her own about her AIM Stalker ability and how it had worked differently compared to every other time she had used it recently. Takitsubo couldn't quite put into words how when she scanned the area of monsters, they appeared to have no AIM field surrounding them but something else. The best thing she could come up with based on her own research findings was that she had scanned the monsters like a UAV system.
Of course, one could argue that this is what her esper ability already was doing or considered to be doing, but that still didn't explain why she picked up on the monsters that way. Moreover, what was more puzzling was when she scanned Sora and couldn't find an AIM field around him at all. Even with all the crazy abilities that he was able to do that she saw first-hand. None of it made any sense.
"How do you think he will take it? You know, the questioning and whatnot. Basically, if I was in the situation that he was in, I wouldn't be answering anybody's questions" Frenda stated which might have been the wrong thing to say once she finished speaking.
Rather than lash out and whack the blonde on the head, Mugino merely scowled at her before going back to making herself breakfast. Dodging a bullet, Frenda let out a silent but relieved sigh. Takitsubo on the other hand simply shook her head.
"I don't plan on getting every one of my questions answered. Just enough to give me a better idea of who he is and what his esper ability is. Once I get that information, then I'll be able to start looking in-depth into his records."
Truly, that is all Mugino was counting on as a result of their meeting. Getting to know more about the boy would provide her with a way to… per se get him to tell her about the monsters and how he was able to do the things that he did that night. The power he showcased interested the Level 5 in many ways. Ways that definitely included the usage of combat.
"So, where do you plan to meet him?" Takitsubo asked, curious about how much damage might take place to the location picked by her leader.
"A park located in District 9. That way, he won't think I'm trying to lead him into a trap or anything of that nature" Mugino clarified. "Besides, that district is mainly for the boring as hell fine arts schools. Nothing too distracting."
Her reasoning for going to a park theme for their meeting was simple, the two would be in an open area where he could see other people as well leaving his guard down. Allowing her to get Sora to spill the beans about details surrounding him that she could then use to…
"Mugino? What happens then?" Frenda suddenly questioned.
"Eh? Repeat what the hell you just said?"
"I said, what happens once you do find more about Sora? Do you have a plan for after?"
The thought of what would happen after didn't immediately register with the tea-color-haired girl until now. She had spent so much of her time focused on trying to find any information on the boy that she had no idea what would come after.
"I… I don't know." Crossing her arms and beginning to think about it some more, Mugino had to wonder what she truly wanted out of all of this. "It's likely that he's not working with any other dark side organization since he didn't know who Item was."
"Mugino…" Takitsubo muttered, which got the girl's attention.
"Yeah, Takitsubo? What is it now?" she annoyingly questioned the girl while realizing something at the moment.
Color her surprised but Mugino noticed the usually quiet and lazy girl was speaking and showing a whole lot of interest in the spiky-haired boy.
"You should ask him more about what those monsters were. What did he call them?"
Recalling what Sora called the monsters, Frenda was the first one to answer.
"Didn't he call them something with the word heart?"
"Heartless" Mugino answered due to her vast investigation into the boy.
"Right, you should ask him more about them. I checked the mission details, and no one has completed it yet."
"…What the hell? Are you serious?"
Takitsubo nodded her head which threw Mugino for a loop. She quickly pulled out her phone and got into the database regarding missions that were available for Item to take. Upon seeing what missions were currently available for any dark side teams to take, the one regarding the capture of a monster was still open and accessible. Meaning that no one had been able to accomplish it yet.
"No way… you've got to be shitting me…"
This left Mugino even more interested and intrigued by what Sora knew about the monsters.
"What is it? Is the mission still up for grabs?" Frenda asked.
"It's still there. No one has been able to complete it."
"Has this happened before?" Takitsubo muttered which got the two thinking of their time within Item and all the various missions they've accomplished together.
"There have been instances where a job was open for the taking, but that was because it was so complicated to get done. I don't even think that job was completed."
And yet, a job like the one they had tried to complete where all they needed to do was capture a single monster turned out to be a hella difficult thing to do.
"Hmm. This just makes me even more curious about what he knows" Mugino said becoming visibly excited.
Having said that, she went back to looking for something to eat before going to meet the brown spiky-haired boy.
"Mm. Keep us updated if something comes up" Takitsubo commented before going back to eating her food which turned out to be a bowl of cereal.
Nodding at her comment, Mugino decided to take the safe route of just making herself a bagel and orange juice. Something simple yet efficient.
"Uh… Mugino…"
Feeling frustration flowing through her body, she turned to look at Frenda who called out to her. At this point in their working and living together relationship, Mugino was starting to become curious about investing in an object that she could throw at any of the girls when they did or said something stupid that pissed her off.
"What. Is. It. Frenda?"
If venom could be heard, then that's the tone one would hear coming from Mugino in that instance.
"B-Basically, you told us to reprimand you for having anything bread related since you said that you wanted to watch your figure… just saying," Frenda said while being ready in case she had to dodge something being thrown at her.
Realizing what the blonde just said, Mugino was about to curse her out but suddenly remembered that what Frenda said rang true. The older girl was once again cautious of what foods she was eating recently ever since she tried on a few different dresses that fit her… tightly. This left her in a fit of rage and downright fury as she checked her weight and calorie intake along with how her figure appeared. She even forced the other girls to tell her the truth about whether she had gained any weight due to her eating habits. This was starting to become a song and dance routine as Mugino was now worried about bread making her legs look fat again or if the number of dairy products she ate affected her figure.
What the tea-haired beauty didn't realize was that the dresses she tried on had shrunk in the washer leaving her to think that she had gained weight. Hence, why she told the girls of Item to make sure that she didn't eat certain things as she wanted to see if grains were the culprit for her mishap this time around.
"Goddamn it. *sigh* You're right, Frenda."
Letting out a sigh of relief, the blonde went back to sitting down and enjoying her breakfast while casting another look at the older girl. Frenda was of the mind that Mugino was just taking making things complicated and that there wasn't a problem with her figure, and it had to do with something else. But you wouldn't catch her saying such a thing otherwise she would get an earful and probably an ass-kicking.
Looking down at her bagel, the brunette debated against herself about what she should have to eat if she couldn't enjoy the creation in front of her.
"Here, Takitsubo, you take it."
Sliding the prepped bagel over to the dark-haired girl, she gratefully nodded while munching on it.
Mugino decided to just stick with something small and worry about food later. She was now all too eager to meet Sora and learn more about everything that seemed to connect to him in some way. Just thinking about finally getting some answers excited her.
Back with Sora
After having spent some time riding on several trains to get to the location that Mugino had asked him to be at, he was finally leaving the train station located in District 9. The boy was also glad that he didn't have to ride any more trains and figured he would walk back to his dorm instead of going by train again. That wasn't to say that he disliked riding on the train. The exact opposite. He found it to be an exciting and somewhat thrilling experience being able to see different parts of the city zooming past him. However, he was once again surrounded by other students who were all asking him about the events captured on video along with guessing what his esper power was. It was all becoming routine at this point.
Hence, once he was now back on solid ground, he began making his way to the park that Mugino had said to go to. As he was getting closer and closer, several different thoughts appeared in his head. Would it just be Mugino? Or would her team be there as well? What would she ask of him? And what questions of hers' could he answer?
This train of thought would be interrupted as he now saw the park coming into view but also saw something else nearby. A cleaner robot better known as one of Moogla's.
Running up to the robot, Sora waved at it which got it to stop sweeping the sidewalk it was currently on and started opening its inner body. The strange part was that it looked to be holding what appeared to be a small tablet with a video ready to be played. Making sure that no one else was nearby, he gestured to the machine that it was good to show him whatever was on the device.
Pressing on the device, a video started playing and the appearance of Moogla was now seen on screen.
"Hello, Sora! I hope that one of the cleaner bots was able to track you down, kupo. Ever since our last meeting, I've been getting back into the swing of things when it comes to synthesizing crystals and materials and whatnot, kupo. But that's when a thought came to mind, kupo!"
On the screen, Moogla was now holding up what appeared to be a white crystal that had the shape of a triangle. Suddenly, the triangle crystal burst into light causing the screen to go white. Once the light died down, there were what appeared to be several smaller triangles created from the crystal which Moogla picked up and showed to the camera.
"This crystal is something that I've been working on to ensure that me and now you are protected from some of the weapons used in this world, kupo. I don't want to bore you with all the magical properties that were used to create this but think of it like a sort of small magical armor effect that will protect you from getting hurt since this world has many powers that could be considered dangerous, kupo. My crafting of gear isn't as good as it used to be, but I think this should suffice as it is really simple to use and won't take long, kupo. All you need to do is press the crystal on all your clothing and hold it there for a few seconds until the crystal pulsates as a different color. When you are done hold it in front of you and it'll go back to being white meaning that it worked, kupo. You can apply this to a bunch of clothes, however, I'm not sure what the limit is on how many things can be magically buffed or how long the effects will last, kupo."
As if by command, the cleaner bot used its other hand to reach deep inside its body and pulled out a crystal that had the same triangle design as the one that Moogla had in the video. Taking the crystal into his own hands, Sora did as the video told him to do and pressed the crystal to his jacket. Suddenly, a pulsing light appeared and changed the color of the crystal to red signaling that it was done there. He then went to his pants which changed the color to blue, and then his shoes which changed to yellow, and finally he went to his shirt and the crystal flashed to green. Feeling the crystal start to get heavier, he raised it in front of his body and watched as the four different colors all appeared and then burst into a small light. Looking at the crystal, he was stunned to see it back to the color white indicating that it worked successfully.
"Whoa… I feel… not that different actually."
The video started up again as he said these words.
"You might be thinking that nothing really happened, but you'd be wrong to think that, kupo. The synthesized crystal's ability is a more passive effect that you'll notice when caught up in a fight, so make sure to use it on any other pieces of clothing you wear as it'll give you a bit of protection, kupo. Well, that's all from me for now, kupo. Please be sure to buy lots of my goods and let me know if there's anything else I can do to help you in your adventures here in Academy City, kupo!"
And with that, the video ended.
Looking at the triangle crystal in his hand, Sora simply smiled and would have to thank Moogla for all the help she had been since he got into this world. It really made a difference having someone you could talk to about things that nobody else would ever be able to understand.
Pulling out his Gummiphone and checking the time, he realized that he would make perfect time of arriving at the place Mugino wanted him with ten minutes to spare. Deciding to take Moogla's advice, he would have to apply the crystal to his school outfit and other clothes he had gotten. Now, gesturing to the cleaner bot that he didn't want to buy anything this time around the bot went back to its default mode while he began heading to the park. Ready to meet the laser-firing girl.
Inside the park at District 9
Mugino had just barely arrived at the park even though she was early. Part of her wanted to be here early due to her eagerness to finally have her questions answered and the other part was simply curious. Would the boy be rushing to get here? Would he already be here at the park? Or the more questionable was that would he even show up?
She wanted to know the answer to these questions and whether she would act in a positive or negative kind of way.
To answer her questions, she looked to her side and spotted the very person she was expecting to see.
Sora appeared to be walking down the path leading into the park with both of his hands behind his head and admiring the park as if it was the first time he had been there. She checked her phone again to see what time it was, and wouldn't you know it, he was still early and would not be late. That was a good sign. Meaning that he is punctual and could be considered reliable. Something she would use to her advantage to get some answers.
Turning his head to the side, Sora immediately recognized Mugino standing there while watching him while he was carelessly observing the park as it was his first time here in this part of the city. He figured there was no turning back now.
"Hey, Mugino! I'm not late, am I?"
"No, you're not. In fact, you're here early. Or in this case, I'm the one that's early."
Seeing that she was coming off as peaceful… for now. He continued to be open while also careful.
"Gotcha. Well, do you want to walk and talk? I don't know exactly what's happening here, hehe" Sora said this as he truly didn't know what he was getting himself into.
Casting a gaze over at the boy, Mugino could see that he was waiting for an answer. Hence, she decided to go with his idea.
"Sure, we can walk and talk."
"Great. Well then, shall we?"
With that, the two began to casually walk down the path that lay in front of them while venturing deeper into the park which happened to surprise Sora as it appeared larger than he initially thought.
"So… I'm guessing you have questions."
"Really? What made you guess?" she said this with as little sarcasm as she could.
Not sure if he should chuckle or not, he simply hummed to himself before looking around the brunette.
"Quick question. Is it just you here?" Sora asked.
"Yes, it's just me. Why? Is there a problem with that?" Mugino demanded while carefully eyeing the boy's reaction.
"No, no reason. I was just curious since our last encounter ended rather… abruptly" he cautiously explained.
Looking ahead, Mugino guessed that his question made sense. The other girls did have questions for the boy but the only one she really took into consideration was Takitsubo's as it related to the monsters and the overall connection between them and him.
"Hmm. Well then, I'll start." Turning her head to stare at the boy, she asked him the one question that had been bothering her for the past 24 hours. "Who the hell are you? And don't give me a half-assed answer. You already talked about your level and that you're new to the city, so don't go repeating that shit."
"Wow. That's quite the way to start the conversation." Sora casually commented.
The girl simply stared at him with an expression that could be interpreted as not in the mood for a joke.
"Right. Sorry. Well, it's like I already said. But there is more to it than you think. And a lot of it doesn't make any sense."
From the way that the two were walking together, Sora couldn't see it, but Mugino's eyes had widened at hearing what he just said.
"And I already have an idea of what you're thinking. Yes, when I say I'm new to the city that's not a lie. I really am new. But… "
She patiently waited for him to finish what he was saying as she took notice of the mixed expression appearing on his face as if he was considering whether he should answer or not.
In Sora's case, he had to make sure that he answered with enough false credibility to counter whatever the girl might say after hearing his explanation.
"My situation is a bit… complicated."
"Tch. Can't be any more complicated than you taking your sweet ass time to finish whatever you're trying to say" Mugino stated, growing irritated.
"*sigh* Well, here it is. I'm suffering from a slight case of amnesia."
That was not what she was expecting. Out of all the things he could have said, she did not expect to hear amnesia be an answer. Better add that to her bingo card for the next time she has to interrogate someone for an answer.
"You're shitting me… Are you serious?"
"Yeah, I'm being serious. And it's not the usual case of amnesia. I remember a lot but there are parts of my memory that don't make complete sense. And wouldn't you know it, my memories of being in Academy City are all but gone. The important ones that explain everything…"
Sora was once again relying on his half-truth excuse for not being familiar with anything regarding Academy City. At this point, it was starting to feel like the truth due to how many times he gave that answer.
"…That's… awfully convenient. Don't you think?"
The Level 5 said this in a tone that indicated that she partially believed the boy's statement, but at the same time, she had a feeling that he was just bullshitting her. It all seemed too convenient.
"You're telling me. One minute I'm at the top of a building and the next I'm lying in the middle of the street. Confused and no idea where I ended up" Sora explained while planting his hands behind his head and sighing.
"And so, what? You remember your whole life and yet nothing about Academy City?"
"Makes no sense, right? I've talked with a doctor and some people about getting me established into the city's database. So far, it's been going well."
What the boy was saying answered so many of Mugino's questions that she was furiously searching for and had spent practically all day looking into. The reason why she couldn't find anything about him was because something did happen regarding him.
"What about your life? Your records? The first time you got yourself hurt like an idiot and ended up in the hospital. Don't tell me everything about you got erased. If I hear that bullshit cliché, then I'm going to lose it" Mugino stated while crossing her arms and staring at the boy.
Lowering his hands from his head, Sora let his right hand grasp the back of his neck while embarrassingly grimacing at the girl.
"You have got to be kidding me."
"I know it sounds crazy- "
"You're damn right it sounds crazy!"
"But it's the truth."
The old saying that if looks could kill would be the perfect way to describe the way that Mugino was looking at the spiky-haired boy.
"So, what? You're just going about your business living a normal life and not wanting to figure out what the hell happened to your memory?" the stylish girl questioned.
Shaking his head, he had to state his plans clearly.
"Not at all. I know that's a ridiculous idea to go about."
"Hmph. Color me surprised. You might have a brain after all" Mugino off-handedly commented.
"But there's a lot of things going on right now. Worrying about my amnesia won't help me get through my daily life. Instead, I've already worked on getting situated into the city."
As Sora explained this, he also began to realize the difference between his new social life of starting school and making new friends and having to deal with the Heartless and the overall fact of being in a new world where he had no idea how things really worked.
"And what makes things even worse is that the Heartless are still running around the city. I can't be everywhere at once" Sora commented while frowning.
Mugino's interest had been piqued once again.
"Why do you give a damn about those monsters? That's all they are."
"*sigh* The Heartless are dangerous. The longer they continue to just exist, the greater the chances of them multiplying and growing stronger are."
Seeing that the conversation had moved from learning about Sora to the monsters, the tea-color-haired girl saw this as another opportunity to learn.
"What are they? Those little bastards weren't that hard to deal with, but they were a bother at how many appeared. It honestly felt like they keep appearing even after I killed so many" Mugino said, brushing some hair off to the side.
Sora took a second to mentally prepare himself, this girl seemed to have an attitude. Not that it was a bad thing, but he had a feeling that once he started explaining about the Heartless, then she would become annoyed and take that anger out on him.
"The Heartless are… you could say a science experiment gone very wrong. While I don't exactly know when or where the first monster was created, I do know that they have continued to grow in numbers and strength."
Mugino scoffed at what she heard.
"You're making it sound like these Heartless are intelligent."
"That's exactly what I'm getting at. You do not want to underestimate them. The ones that you and the others encountered are better known as Shadows. You could say that they are the lowest level of Heartless."
"They even have rank and levels?" Mugino questioned, clearly puzzled by everything she was hearing. "Just what the hell kind of science project is this?"
"Yeah, they also come in various sizes. Some small and some… really big."
Sora had a sudden barrage of flashbacks to all the fights with the different Heartless that he had dealt with throughout his adventures.
"Tch. If these Heartless are so dangerous and so bad, then why is this the first time that I'm hearing about them? Wouldn't word about them have spread online or in small groups? Based on what you're saying… I'm not buying it" the Level 5 offensively stated.
Having heard what he said about the Heartless, the idea that she hadn't heard about them before from even her networks of information within Academy City rang alarm bells in her head. Not to mention, once she got back to her apartment, she was going to contact Mujinayama about any news collected from her family's connections regarding the Heartless. There was no way in hell that the Heartless were a topic that only a few people knew about if what Sora was saying was to be believed.
"That…" Sora was beginning to grow worried. Mugino was smart. Too smart.
Most of the people that he talked to regarding the Heartless tended to believe him and take note of what he was saying. But Mugino on the other hand managed to take things to a whole new level. Asking questions that were both complex and… dangerous for him.
She was getting to the point where he was having to answer her questions with as much believability as he could come up with on the spot. In addition, she was asking about things that he was worried about answering and could start mixing lies together resulting in the tea-color-haired girl busting him in his draft of lies.
"I'm not sure about that. Maybe it is online? I haven't really checked…"
"Uh-huh. Maybe you should check" Mugino said this knowing that she had managed to break Sora's credibility.
Seeing that he needed to get the conversation back on track, he decided to tell her a bit more about the Heartless in detail.
"Yeah… I'll have to do that. But another thing that you should know about the Heartless is that they are more complex than you might think."
"Try me. How complicated can they get? They're a science experiment that probably some balding old bastard three steps away from the grave created and now they're running around causing problems."
"The Heartless… they feed off human emotions."
"…What?"
The girl couldn't help but think that this was starting to sound outright ridiculous.
"The Heartless are attracted to people's hearts and seek to increase their numbers. Taking away the light that is within people. And they'll stop at nothing to get what they want" Sora elaborated to the girl.
"Feeding off human emotions? Taking away the light? What the hell are you talking about!?" Mugino shouted.
Understanding just what Mugino was feeling, and trying to process everything that he said, Sora's heart went out to her.
"It's complicated no doubt. But let me explain what I mean by the heart because… it's not what you think."
The tea-color-haired girl said nothing as she gestured for the boy to continue talking. However, at the same time, she also slid her right hand up her left arm making it look like she was grasping her arm in frustration but that was just a façade. She was actually pressing on her phone to record what the boy was about to start saying.
"What I mean by the heart is that it's not the physical one in our bodies, but more in line with the emotions within you that make you who you are. Feelings of happiness, joy, sadness, anger, and more. The aspects of light and darkness that you use in your life."
Hearing the usage of light and darkness being involved in this supposed heart made Mugino frown.
'What kind of bullshit is this? Light and darkness inside a person? That makes you who you are? Who the hell believes any of this crap!' the Level 5 thought to herself.
"The science experiment leading to the appearance of the Heartless was originally intended to be research based on studying the heart. Even after gathering all the research reports from that scientist, he still had thoughts and ideas regarding the heart that went unanswered. Honestly, there's still so much more to learn…"
This whole time the two were still walking down the path inside the park with nobody else present, which was surprising. However, Sora suddenly stopped walking and looked to the side at a patch of various flowers all having different colors. The sight made him smile.
"But there's one thing that I do know."
Mugino also stopped walking and narrowed her gaze on him.
'What did he know? More bullshit about light and darkness."
"I know that the heart is a topic that doesn't make complete sense. It sounds crazy talking about light and darkness but… the heart is filled with all kinds of emotions. Hearts are made of the things that we feel when meeting new people or seeing old friends. The moments of happiness or anger that we feel when something good or bad happens. That's what makes up the heart. It's full of all different kinds of feelings."
Neither of the two said anything as they let what he just said sink in while staring right into each other's eyes. Sora was hoping that Mugino would be able to better understand just what the heart…
"…That's so stupid…"
Taken back by her reaction, the boy was confused.
"Huh? What do you- "
"Made up of light and darkness? Do you even realize how childish this all sounds!"
"It's not childish. There are so many aspects of the heart that affect how you live your life."
"Oh, sure. I bet this so-called heart does just that. This is a waste of time."
Frowning at what she said, Sora had to explain it to her in different terms.
"You're just saying that because you don't fully understand it."
"What's there to understand? You're talking about shit that a kid would come up with."
"And yet, it's the truth. You have feelings about things whether they are good or bad about things in your life. Moments of happiness and sadness or anger. That's because of your- "
"Just stop. I've had enough of this. I at least got what I wanted now I can leave."
Knowing that Mugino would be the type to just up and leave without saying anything else, Sora couldn't let the conversation end there. Hence, he decided to say something that related to her stance in Academy City.
"The heart is also full of all kinds of possibilities."
"…"
Nothing was said as the tea-haired girl continued to walk away.
"It's also probably the reason why you are a Level 5."
Silence could be heard as Mugino had stopped walking.
"What did you just say?"
This was said out of pure malice. Mugino had to wonder if Sora was the one who was looking to start something.
"I said… that the heart is full of all kinds of possibilities which is probably how you were able to become a Level 5."
"Tsk. You don't know anything about me."
"I know that you're strong."
"No shit Sherlock!"
"And I know that you have feelings. Feeling that drives you to like or dislike certain things!"
"Right now, you're definitely a thing that I dislike."
"But that still proves my point. Your heart is responding to what- "
"You know what, Sora…"
"…What?"
"I've had just about enough of your shit."
Turning the back-and-forth argument on its side, Mugino raised her hand and suddenly several white orbs appeared around her. Seeing this action, Sora quickly raised his hands and summoned his Keyblade while taking a defensive stance. He didn't want to fight her as that was not what he came here to do but seeing that the brunette girl wasn't one to back down so easily… he knew that he was in a tough situation.
"Mugino… let's just calm down."
"Calm down? You seriously think that's on the table now?"
Seeing that she was showing no sign of backing off, the Keyblade wielder knew that he still had to try.
"Yes. I do think that's still possible. Besides, you don't really want to hurt me, do you?" Sora asked aloud.
Taking a second to register what he just said, Meltdowner simply looked at him with amusement on her face.
"Haha, you're stupid to think I'd care about hurting you. Do you know who I am?" Mugino questioned the boy, knowing full well he didn't.
"No… I don't."
"See that's where- "
"But I want to change that!" Sora suddenly yelled out.
With her orbs of light still activated, the long-haired brunette didn't know how to react.
"What? Are you an idiot? I'm three seconds away from burning you six feet under."
"Doesn't matter. I came here not only to answer any questions you might've had but also to get to know you better."
The Level 5 was seriously starting to think that Sora had some things messed up in his head. She also seemed to jump the gun and started thinking that the spiky-haired boy was just spontaneously saying this to get her to lower her guard. But she would not fall for it.
"You know what, fuck this!"
Without letting a second pass, several of her Meltdowner orbs suddenly shot beams of light forward forcing Sora to raise his Keyblade and block the incoming attack. Pushing his weapon forward to stop the blasts of light, he quickly sprinted to the side of Mugino while keeping a bit of distance away from her.
Her response to this action was to start sending beam after beam of light at the boy causing collateral damage to take place in the area that they were in within the park. Thankfully, it appeared that no one else was nearby which meant that Sora didn't have to worry about others getting hurt due to Mugino's stupidity.
"Mugino! Stop!"
"Or what!? Afraid that you'll get hurt!"
"No! That's not what I mean."
More beams of light were shot at the boy which resulted in him quickly blocking and deflecting the attacks while staring back at the girl.
"I'm worried that you will get hurt!" Sora yelled out.
What the Keyblade wielder didn't realize at the moment was that he had not only insulted the fourth-ranked but made it seem like she wasn't a threat too serious to be worried about. Granted, he meant it in the sense that by her using her power to throw beam after beam of light against the boy it could lead to her doing something stupid and getting hurt. However, she did not think of it like that.
"…What did you just say?"
"I said- "
"I heard what the hell you just said. Thinking something like that. Well, bad news for you. There's no damn Frenda or Kinuhata or Takitsubo to stop me from tearing you apart this time around!"
Clutching her fist tightly, the orbs of light appeared to be getting brighter while also appearing to be doing something else. But Sora didn't have time to really think about what was happening as in the next instance, the girl suddenly shot forward at him while the orbs around her started rapidly firing right after another toward him.
Seeing no way out of this without fighting, the Keyblade wielder also ran forward and was ready to strike against the Level 5.
'If she won't listen to me… then I'll have to tire her out!'
Deflecting as many beams as possible being shot at him, Sora blocked and even rolled on the ground to avoid being hit by the blasts of light while also seeing the tea-color-haired girl getting closer. It was now or never. He would apologize to her after things settled but for now…
Within only a few feet apart from each other, Sora swung his weapon right at her side expecting to hit her but was surprised when he saw something that appeared out of nowhere. A large shield made of light that managed to block the incoming attack.
Throwing his arms and blade back, he began trying to sweep at her legs which resulted in her jumping to the side and avoiding the attack while discarding the shield and firing her Meltdowner beams at him again. This caused Sora to block the attacks and quickly counter the attacks with a heavy slash through the air to try and see what Mugino's next move would be.
On her side of things, Meltdowner raised her right hand forward while hardening her face and narrowing her gaze while coming up with a plan of attack. Suddenly having one idea that made her start grinning, she summoned three orbs to appear in front of her to take the outline of a triangle. She also began to quickly calculate where Sora would be since he wasn't doing anything abnormal and simply stayed on the defensive with the occasional strike toward her. This gave her the perfect idea.
Sending out a couple more beams of light to blast the boy, she was about to commence her plan when she suddenly felt something hard hit her shoulder. The sudden impact hurt like hell and began to become even more intense as Mugino was suddenly being attacked by Sora's rapid strikes from his damn oversize key. She didn't know how it was possible but that stupid weapon of his was packing a punch as her vision was being thrown all over the place as she was launched back and rolled across the ground while forcing her body to stop. She was now crouched down and staring at the boy with a murderous glare.
"Haah. Is that all you've got? Do you think you are some high and mighty person going easy on me? Well, think again you bastard!"
"I'm trying not to hurt you! Would you please just wait and- "
"Piss off!"
Orbs of light appeared around her and this time there were more than before. With barely enough time, Sora managed to barely block several beams of light that were aiming for his chest and head but did not go untouched. Feeling a sensation that not only hurt a great deal but also burned, he was hit in the shoulder with one of Mugino's beams and went flying a few feet across the park ground. Grimacing at the attack, Sora decided to set the record straight here and now.
"All right, Mugino. You win."
"What are you talking about?" the tea-haired girl asked while confused about what he meant.
"I have been going easy on you. I didn't want to hurt you but… if that's how you want to do things then so be it. And… sorry" Sora said this while realizing that actions have consequences and in order to calm Mugino down… she needed a wake-up call.
Not sure what the hell he meant by sorry, but Mugino quickly calculated and aimed her hand at the spot where Sora was standing while also holding onto his weapon with only one hand while the other was brought to his chest while looking right into her eyes. She had no idea what he was doing.
Suddenly, the boy twirled his key around and pointed it at her before a bright blue light appeared at the end of the key and something came rushing at her. An ice spell to be specific. The ice shard was aiming right at her which forced her to immediately throw her calculations and aim at the object which was then impacted by her Meltdowner. However, that's exactly what Sora wanted.
In the next instance, Mugino couldn't really recall everything that happened but one thing she did know was that she could feel the wind being knocked out of her while also sensing that her feet left the earth along with the feeling that she was hit and sent flying across the ground. Once she leveled herself out, she was now sprawled on the floor glaring daggers while slightly wincing in pain at the boy who seemed relatively calm and composed while still holding his weapon.
What Sora had done to put the Level 5 in the position that she was in included a somewhat fast-paced combination of attacks. First, after taking the hit from her Meltdowner blast, he focused his sight on her while activating his Airstep ability to target a tree that was close enough to her. Taking off in a burst of light, Sora swung around the tree and managed to side-sweep Mugino off her feet and cause her to be suspended in the air. Not wasting any time, he then shot right at her and managed to heave his Keyblade down at her with a quick slash causing her to go flying back but not before sending an Aeroaga spell at her which sent her flying across.
Now wanting the spiky-haired boy dead, Mugino got back to her feet and started charging at him like a bull with nothing but anger in her mind. Seeing this, Sora cast several Thunder spells toward her but unbeknownst to him, Mugino had the affinity to redirect electrical current due to her ability to manipulate electrons. She was able to swing her arm across to the side managing to redirect the electrical attack. However, she wasn't fast enough to redirect one of the Thunder spells and managed to get and yell out in minor pain. Due to technically being an electrical esper, she figured from her own experimentation with her ability and past experiences that she was more resistant to electrical attacks. Hence, she continued to charge at the boy and was only a few feet away from him before summoning her Meltdowner beams to attack him. This caused Sora to block but in hastened fashion, Mugino used this as a distraction to land a devastating blow to the boy's face with a solid punch.
"Gaah!"
The Keyblade wielder flinched at the attack and left his guard down for a split second which is all Mugino needed to start sending punch after punch at the boy. First his face, then to his chest and stomach, and finally a swift knee to the chest and kick to his legs causing him to fold. However, Sora did say that he was done playing nice and let the Keyblade go in a flash of light and threw his own punch toward the girl which she saw and tried to avoid but ended up being hit in the shoulder. He then tried to hit her in the face, but his punch didn't do much as she managed to block the attack and countered by throwing fist after fist at his head causing him to raise both his hands and block the incoming attacks.
He knew he should have asked his various friends to teach him how to fight with his fists instead of relying so much on his Keyblade.
Having had enough of this, Sora quickly lowered one of his hands just in time to summon his Keyblade and used it to block another attack from Mugino which caused her to slam her knuckles into the blade.
"Goddamnit!"
Throwing his arms and legs out, a sudden blast of light appeared in front of Sora causing Mugino to get sent flying back and rolling to the ground which resulted in her jumping back to her feet. From that small close-up encounter, she realized one thing that the boy lacked and that was physical combat with his hands. Something that gave him a big disadvantage in close-range combat.
"Heh, being able to do all that shit with your ability, and yet you can fight hand-to-hand. That's just pathetic."
"That's what you think."
"Oh? Really? Well, how about you shut up!"
In what seemed like an instantaneous flash, Mugino threw one of her silicon cards up in the air followed by her hand which caused several of her Meltdowner beams to hit the card causing it to glow all around. Sora didn't need to be a genius to know that she was extending her reach with her lasers.
Deciding that he had built enough stored energy, he quickly raised his right hand forward and a flash of light appeared in his hands but not before Mugino's card was activated causing many more beams to go flying all over the place causing massive damage to this area in the park. Trees either had holes scattered all around or were now falling to the ground as parts of their bodies were obliterated by the light. As for Sora, a small cloud had appeared which left Mugino a bit confused but also curious to see if the attack had managed to hurt the boy badly due to how many lasers were shot out.
Once the cloud faded away enough for her to see the boy, she was once again left bewildered and confused as to what the boy's esper ability truly was.
Standing there with no real damage to his body, Sora was still wearing his usual outfit but this time it had changed colors. The whole outfit had changed its design to match that of a yellow style. In addition, in the boy's hand was now what appeared to be a shield with a strange design.
'How the hell did he do that? Can he create other weapons with his ability?'
Staring her down, Sora knew that he had enough energy stored in his shield to launch a solid attack at the girl. Enough to really knock the wind out of her. Something that would get her to wind down and allow him to talk to her and try to get her to calm down.
Lifting his shield and pointing the center of it toward her, the spiky-haired boy felt a second of hesitation stop him but once he saw the tea-color-haired girl start yelling at him along with several orbs of light appearing behind her, he decided to let loose.
"Take this!"
In a burst of light, the boy's shield created a gigantic-sized glowing yellow fist that slammed right through Meltdowner's orbs and right into her sending her flying back into several trees and even knocking them down along with her. The large glowing fist suddenly disappeared in a sparkling fashion leaving his shield to look normal. Still holding onto the equipment in hand, Sora quickly started jogging over to where Mugino was hit to see if she was badly hurt. What he saw forced him to grimace.
Not even getting several feet to her form which was on her back next to a fallen tree, several more orbs of light appeared to shoot right at him. Immediately blocking the beams, he tried to see where the girl was but realized that she wasn't where she last was.
Hearing something to his side, he quickly shifted his gaze but was met with another point-blank laser to the face causing him to hide behind his shield. Slightly lowering the shield to look over at the Level 5, Sora could see that she was indeed hurting but was forcing herself to stand up even with the cuts around her arms and legs and a slight tear on her dress. Before he could try to say something, Mugino beat him to it.
"Y-You… You damn bastard! Were you holding back that night!?"
"Wha- What are you talking about?"
"Oh! Don't you fucking dare play dumb now! What's that you're holding right now?" Mugino shouted at the boy while pointing at his shield.
Realizing what she meant, Sora gulped. This was going to be a lose-lose situation. Even if he tried to label the shield as one of the things that he could create with his fake esper ability, Mugino would probably think that he was messing with her or question why he didn't use it when dealing with the Heartless back in District 19. Either way, he was going to have to deal with her upset.
"I… I'm able to manipulate and create other weapons but need an object to help regulate my power. I lost the objects that allow me to do such a thing and just yesterday I found one that I lost and another…"
He stopped himself short of explaining what happened to his Oathkeeper keychain would not make any sense to her. Coincidentally, he had no idea how his magic was able to allow him to summon all the different weapons that he could or even the attractions that he was able to summon at difficult times. Besides, Sora saw that Mugino's facial expression had shifted from pissed to well… still angry but almost having something click in her head.
On her side of things, what Sora just said might have been the first thing he's said in a fat minute that actually made sense. A quick checkup on how many silicon cards she still had got her thinking that she used a similar technique to amplify her power. Hence, the boy needing something to give him different ways to utilize his esper ability made some sense. But then again, it also raised more questions as to what things he could create with his light manipulation. Along with how many other objects he had in his possession beforehand.
Casting that thought aside, she would have to ask him once she put a hole or two through his body.
Raising her hand to grab another silicon card and getting ready to throw it, Sora saw this and quickly raised his hands in the air. The shield was still being held onto.
"Wait! Mugino, please! Give me a second to talk to you!"
"I'm done listening to you. Now, just shut up and- "
"No!"
Not even letting her get the next word in, Sora began to speak with the one thing that he knew he was good at. Speaking from his heart.
"I know that almost everything I've talked to you about since meeting up doesn't really make sense. I get that. I also get that you don't care to know about the heart or how it affects you and your status as a Level 5."
Mugino simply began clutching her fist and summoning more orbs to appear around her. This time more than four were around her and ready to be fired at a moment's notice.
"But the one thing that I can say is that you are stronger than you think."
"Don't try to sweet talk your way- "
"I'm not! I'm telling you the truth. The only reason I'm not lying on the ground with holes through my body is because of one thing I have that you don't. And it's not a bad thing at all."
"Oh, do tell. What is it that you seem to be so much better at than me? Come on, what is it? More power? A giant dumb-looking house key? The ability to hide how strong you really are? What the hell is it!?" Mugino questioned while letting venom be present in her voice. She was getting tired of all of this.
Sora simply said one word that left the tea-color-haired girl stunned for the briefest of moments.
"Experience."
The high school girl merely didn't say anything and simply threw her silicon card up into the air within the trajectory range of where Sora was standing. At the same time, he also raised his shield in front of him ready to block the incoming attacks while also realizing that this pointless fight was going on for too long and needed to stop. And he had a bright idea on how he would end it. A way to get Mugino to stop and come to her senses and calm down so that he could reach out to her. Not just verbally but… reach out to her heart.
*KA-BOOM*
A barrage of laser beams hit all over the area especially where Sora was standing and hiding behind his shield. The multitude of attacks hitting him seemed to also benefit him in not only giving Hero's Origin the boost it needed but also the chance to use Oathkeeper to counter Mugino at her own game. But first…
Once the beams came to a stop and before Mugino could try to surprise attack him again due to being on the defensive, he raised his shield and quickly started spinning it at a fast pace which also managed to cause it to activate and create a cloud to appear above him while also a circle of yellow sparkling orbs appeared around him. Next, the orbs shot electricity all around him in an area-wide effect which not only prevented Meltdowner from getting close to him but also cleared the area of smoke from the barrage of attacks.
Seeing the electrical light show, Mugino simply ran while still wincing up to the circular barrier of electricity and waved her hand forward which caused several of the trails of lighting to bend allowing her to lunge right at Sora. However, what she did not expect was to be blown back once again in a burst of light and come back to her feet only to be left confused yet again by the spiky-haired boy.
Sora was now dressed in his regular clothes only they were now taking on a white design all around. Even his boots had white aspects to them. Eyeing his weapon, she noticed that it actually looked like a real sword now with its metal body and strange-looking end. She also saw that he was staring at her with a look that basically said that this was it. This was going to end their clash. And due to her battle-freakish nature… she couldn't help but become extremely excited.
Grabbing her last card and throwing it into the air once again, she shot a single Meltdowner beam at it causing it to barrage the surrounding area while eyeing what Sora would do to counter the attack. To her surprise, just before the beams of light were sent everywhere, she saw the boy calmly raise both of his hands out while doing nothing else to avoid the incoming attack.
Until… she saw something completely new.
The appearance of a white bubble shield surrounded the boy and managed to block every single beam causing them to all disappear after hitting the barrier. Once Meltdowner's attack stopped, so did the bubble shield. And in a quick flash of light, Sora was suddenly getting closer to Mugino only that instead of him running at her… he was disappearing in a flash of light back and forth from spot to spot. This was causing her to start stressing that she couldn't lock onto him and shot in one spot. Hence, she threw her hand forward and shot multiple shots of her Meltdowner beam around the area, but nothing managed to hit the boy as he was moving so fast.
'Dammit! He's moving too fast. At this rate…'
Suddenly, before she could even react, the white light shot to her side and then moved toward her back causing her to twist her body and then the light shot forward to her other side again. She was about to try and throw a fist in one direction where she suspected him to move next, but she suddenly felt a slash go across her body as she winced in pain.
"Aaah!"
Again, another strike was felt on her back and then to her side as she saw the white light that was Sora shooting all around her to the point that it was getting hard to see which way he was moving. Every time she tried to get an idea of where to shoot her ability, she was met with another attack across her body resulting in her stumbling to stand up. Her stamina was beginning to fail her as she was not expecting the spiky-haired brunette to have a diverse range of weapons on hand.
"N-no. I'm not… done yet" she angrily yet weakly said.
Stopping in front of her, Sora was now standing a few feet in front of the tea-color-haired girl and wanted to help her but knew that he needed her to see his next attack. Hopefully, with this next move, she would at least become interested and hurt to the point that she couldn't continue to lash out at him.
"Mugino."
Lifting her eyes to tiredly glare at him, she saw that he was frowning while also gripping his weapon tightly. The blade was then pointed at her while he calmly called out to her.
"There's more to light than you truly realize."
And with that, Sora swung Oathkeeper down while the tip of the blade glowed with a white light causing something to happen that Mugino didn't know what to think. Beams of white light appeared in front of Sora and were coming right at her but in the form of four pillars extending out leaving one of the beams to hit her and send her flying back once more…
For the majority of her time in Academy City, Mugino had not encountered another esper that had the ability to manipulate the state of electrons and utilize them in an abnormal state as she could. Sure, there were other espers that could ignore quantum theory and manipulate electrons in their ability but none of them managed to come close to what she could do. However, seeing the boy manage to create beams of light… it left her confused. Angry… but confused.
Laying on her side, she weakly lifted her head to see how badly her body appeared to be from taking all the attacks she had gained from her fight with Sora and realized that she would need a minute to catch her breath before getting back to-
"Heal!"
With no notice, she could suddenly feel her entire body relax and not hurt as much. This sensation was very familiar as she realized it was what happened back in District 19 after she had regrouped with the other girls and Sora did whatever he did to heal them. Turning her head to the side, she saw the boy with his weapon raised into the air while slowly walking up to her.
"You okay?"
Not saying anything else, she raised her hand and summoned several orbs, and lazily shot them at the boy which caused him to swing his weapon down at the ground causing his own beams of light to counter her own. She didn't try to attack him again as she tried to come up with a plan of attack but was met with the boy standing over her with his blue eyes staring right into her own. He then did something that she was not expecting in the least. He offered her his hand.
"Here."
Staring at the hand for a good whole second, Mugino seriously considered slapping the hand away and swearing at him until she felt like she needed a break before going back to cursing him out. But instead, she cautiously raised her own hand and was about to let her hand meet his when she abruptly stopped. This could have been a ploy. Something to get her to lower her guard and then attack her. Or maybe something else.
However, the brunette girl was pulled out of her thoughts as she felt Sora's hand lightly grasp her own which had been still left centimeters away from each other. Seeing this, the boy also offered her a friendly smile while helping her back to her feet.
Once she was standing on both of her legs, she didn't know what to do next as she saw how close she was to the boy and really took notice of his clothes and the strange symbols and patterns being displayed in his white outfit. It was then that he sincerely talked to her. No malice or anger in his voice. Just simple… talking.
"Sorry about that. I didn't want to use all of my power against you."
"…Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why not? You're still holding back you son of a- "
"There's a reason for that," Sora countered quickly.
"Then there better be a goddamn good reason."
"It's because I don't want to hurt my friend" Sora stated, ensuring that his tone was direct and nothing but the truth.
There was a significant difference in ways of fighting that the Keyblade wielder had come to realize after his long and perilous adventures.
There was the case of fighting to protect those you hold dear in your heart. And... there was the case of fighting to survive. This conflict with Mugino was one where he was not looking to survive but to help her.
Mugino, on her part, didn't know how to react. Hence, she simply stared at the boy questionably.
"What the- We've barely met? Hell, this is our first time really talking to each other."
"And? I don't see anything wrong with that."
"I just tried to kill you!" the Level 5 shouted.
Smirking at her, Sora replied in the best way that he could.
"Ha, you're not the first friend I've made that's tried to kill me."
The tea-color-haired beauty did not know whether there was a screw loose in Sora's head or if the boy was just too friendly.
"…You're honestly something else."
"I know." Taking a look at the damaged area around them, the boy figured that it might be best if they weren't around when somebody showed up. "So… what now?"
"Well, seeing that I just lost and am not dead. I have questions."
"I think anybody would after what just happened."
The teen girl simply bit her tongue as there were several things, she wanted to say at that moment but stopped herself.
"But… I sure as shit don't want to be around here any longer."
"Hehe, you just read my mind." Nodding at the girl, the Keyblade wielder gestured to her that they should continue walking further into the park and away from the battleground. "Well then, shall we continue where we left off? And this time… could you please not start a fight?"
Glaring at the boy, Mugino brushed some of her hair to the side while merely sighing at his request.
"Fine. I won't start a fight again."
"*whew* Thank you- "
"Unless you do something stupid again."
This caused Sora to stare at her with a deadpan expression while taking what she said seriously while she started to laugh at him.
"I'm kidding…" Mugino jokingly said.
"…"
"You don't believe me?"
"…"
"Heh, fine then. Guess we'll have to settle this- "
Raising his hands quickly into the air, Sora gave in.
"I believe you. I believe you."
Fighting the urge to smile openly, Mugino looked to the side and continued to walk down the path. This resulted in Sora catching up to her while shooting one last look at the destroyed area. He felt guilty for ruining the park but didn't let it get to him completely. Hence, he continued to walk next to Mugino to reach another part of the park.
A Few Minutes Later
After getting away from the damaged part of the park where they had their fight, Sora now spotted a bench next to what appeared to be a small pond. Seeing this, he figured that he and Mugino could sit down and talk.
"Hey, what about here?"
Seeing what he was gesturing at, Mugino figured that this would be an alright spot to sit and chat about the many things she had questions about.
"Yeah, this is fine."
Taking a seat right next to each other, Sora sank himself further into the bench while staring at the pond of water in front of him. He was glad to see that not only did his keychains work like usual but that he managed to calm Mugino down without hurting her badly.
"So… here we are. Back to the questions, haha."
"*sigh* It doesn't even feel like we just got done fighting" Mugino commented.
"Well then, instead of me just answering your questions… how about you answer some of my own questions."
Taken back by what she was hearing, the tea-haired girl simply looked at the boy with a puzzled expression.
"Why?"
"Don't you remember what I said earlier? I came here not only to answer your questions but to get to know you better."
Befuddled by the boy's answer, Mugino didn't know why he was so interested in getting to know her. And frankly, it was starting to irritate her.
"Why the hell are you so interested in getting to know me?"
"I always want to get to know my friends. No matter how we started, I still consider us friends" Sora stated concisely.
Knowing that if she went against the boy, then things would just spiral back to how they did before lead her to start a fight and essentially get pulled into a battle she knew that she was unprepared for.
"*sigh* Fine. You win."
Doing a little fist pump, Sora cheered in success.
"All right, well then, do you want to start then I'll ask you something and just go from there?" he asked.
Closing her eyes and swearing under her breath, Mugino figured that this would be the only way she would be able to get any of her questions answered.
"Might as well. Now then, what the hell did you do?"
"Uh… which part are you talking about?" Sora questioned, realizing that he managed to do a lot that… didn't make sense.
"That shield. You happened to just pull that out of your ass."
"Actually…"
Raising his hand into the air, he summoned Hero's Origin and began to display it for her to see up close. Not to mention, he didn't really showcase it in its blade form and only transformed it into the shield.
"So, you can just summon weapons?"
"No, the objects I told you about are what this created. Here at the end." Pointing at the keychain part of his weapon, Sora began to explain the weapon's characteristics. "They take the form of chains that allow me to switch up how my regular blade works. Really, it helps me to manipulate light into different forms."
The Keyblade wielder was once again just speaking without any real credence in his words on a scientifical level. But on a magical level… he also didn't know how he was able to transform his Keyblade into different weapons. He just did it. Another situation centered around magic being magic.
"Then, I take it that you're able to use different weapons based on other keychains?" Mugino asked, starting to understand a bit more about Sora's power.
"Yes. Which is why… "Summoning Oathkeeper this time, he showed the stylized blade to her. "I was able to use beams of light and basically dashed around covered in light with this chain."
Taking another look at his weapon, the tea-haired girl wasn't sure what to think. On one hand, she knew that Sora wasn't an electrical esper and was more oriented around the manipulation of light which was something she would need to investigate. But on the other hand, he was able to in a way mimic her ability with the beams of light. This made her more than anything want to learn more about his power. Along with the idea of learning a trick or two from him as his fighting style had changed drastically in their short bout. Plus, if he had other chains out there that gave him even more abilities, then she would need to keep a close eye on him. To see just what else he could do.
"… I see…"
"Mugino? Are you good?"
"I'm fine. Just thinking."
"Right… well then, I have a question for you."
Seeing no way out of this, she relentlessly sighed before gesturing to him to ask away.
"Why are you distancing yourself from your friends?"
That was not the question she was expecting to hear.
"Huh? What the hell are you talking about?"
"I'm saying that you decided to come here alone without the others. Clearly, you wanted me to explain things that didn't make sense, but… based on everything that we've talked about it sounds like you don't really keep your friends close to you" Sora said while making sure to not step on any landmines with the girl as he was starting to understand how she acted.
"You're wrong again in thinking that you know me, Sora."
"Am I?" Moving his head so that he was looking forward instead of at Mugino, he continued to speak about how he thought concerning her. "This might be a far-fetched guess, but I think that you purposely distance yourself."
Just as she was about to retort his claim, he kept on talking.
"Knowing that you are a Level 5 and hold yourself to a high standard…" Now looking back at her, he continued. "It's noticeable after having met so many people. The way you carry yourself and how you wanted to find the truth even without your friends' help. Along with how frustrated you got when you heard that I was classified with an unknown level status. You care a lot about your prestige and status."
What was this? A lecture being given by one of the shitty guidance counselors at her school.
"But that's not exactly a bad thing per se. I don't know what you've been through, but it seems that you've worked hard to get to be as strong as you are now. Even if you claim that you don't believe the whole idea of your heart playing a factor in anything. I can tell that you are a good person deep down."
As Sora said this, he didn't see the grim expression on Mugino's face that appeared for a split second. Half of what he just said was wrong. And boy was he going to be surprised at what she was about to say.
"… Ha… you're wrong, Sora."
"I'm sorry?"
"I'm not a good person. I don't even know why I'm sitting here talking to you about anything regarding my personal life. Hell, my life in general."
"Sometimes, talking to someone who has no insight into your life can be the thing that you need the most. Honestly, just speaking with someone can go a long way."
Staying quiet for a second before opening her mouth, Mugino wouldn't normally do this… any of this… but for some reason… she decided to do it.
"I've killed people. I've killed to the point that most of the time it doesn't bother me."
Sora's face changed from concerned to… not essentially shocked but more akin to sad.
"Being raised on the dark side of things and coming over to Academy City and drenching myself in the side of the city that not everyone knows about. I consider myself to be raised in darkness. There's no coming back from- "
"You're wrong."
Instantly looking at Sora, she expected to see a disgusted look on his face but was instead met with one of his more sincere and collected expressions.
"Nobody is truly born of light or darkness. Even if you were raised in a home where darkness was the only thing you were taught… even if you have taken away people's lives… that still doesn't define who you are as a person."
"I killed people. How the hell does that not instantly make me one with darkness?"
Sora didn't need to say anything as the only thing he did was to look at her right into her eyes. Mugino wanted to complain and ask him what the hell he was doing when she suddenly continued to look into his blue eyes. It was then that… she realized just what he was getting at.
'No shit… is he being serious?'
"…So, you too?"
"Yeah… "
"Heh, I did not depict you as a killer."
Wanting to clear things up, Sora decided to tell her a bit about the challenges he's had to face in his adventures.
"There have been many situations that I've found myself in that… I was forced to take a life away. People were involved in an evil organization that was hurting people. That's something that I'll have to deal with for the rest of my life. Even now, killing the Heartless is in a way… killing a person."
Mugino was now interested in what the boy had to say. Before, she figured he was some goody two shoes who stepped in and played the role of a hero without killing anyone. But that idea was flipped on its head and now she could tell that he had seen some things. Or rather, seen some shit.
"So, saying that you already see yourself as one with the darkness or that you don't think you can change or view yourself differently is wrong." Grasping his hand to his heart, Sora told her the truth. "There are way worse things and people out there that make anything you've done wrong seem like it's nothing."
"That still doesn't change the fact that I'm involved in the darkness and dark side of this city. Nothing can fix that."
"Yes, there is."
Gaining her sudden attention, Sora spoke with sincerity about what his heart was telling him to say.
"This is another guess of mine, but I think the reason you think that you can't change is because you don't have anyone in your corner to help you change. Sure, you have the other girls, but they don't understand you because you think of yourself on a level completely different from theirs. Along with the idea that because you are so out of reach, there's nothing to do but keep on following on the path you have laid out before you…"
Recalling a certain best friend and his story of conquering his own darkness, Sora couldn't help but feel proud of his friend and how even if they were worlds apart, he was still inspiring him to do his best and help others in need.
"But I say that changes today. Right now."
About to call him on his bullshit, Mugino was startled when Sora suddenly grasped one of her hands with his while smiling warmly at her.
"Because I'm here now. I'll be there to help you walk this new path."
Pulling her hand out his, Mugino venomously retorted his claim.
"Who says I want to change?"
"Nobody does. But I'm going to tell you something that no one else will." He said with collectiveness in his voice. "Only you can decide if you want to change. Anything I say can be ignored or disregarded. But I'm here to tell you something that should be considered and something that no one will straight up tell you."
Letting a moment of silence appear before continuing his speech, Sora spoke as truthfully and clearly as possible.
"A choice. You have the option to choose what you want to do with your life. Whether it's to continue living in total darkness or find a new path into the light… or… create a new path for yourself. One involving both light and darkness. The choice is up to you."
Sending an annoyed look Sora's way, Mugino had to ask the question that was bothering her the whole time. Something that just didn't make utter sense in the grand scheme of things.
"Why?"
"Hm? Why what?"
"Why the hell are you doing this? What the hell makes you want to tell me all this crap. What? Do you think there's going to be a reward at the end of this?" she questioned him while getting right up into his face.
Doing the one thing that she was not expecting him to do, Sora simply smiled at her while ruffling the back of his hair.
"I'm telling you all this because I care about you." Chuckling a bit, he brought his hand over his heart and continued to speak from there.
Mugino on her part was just quiet. No lashing out at him or ridiculing him or anything of that sort. She just didn't say anything and let him keep on talking while staring intently at him.
"We're friends. Why wouldn't I care about my friends' lives? And no, I don't expect anything in return. Just knowing that you'll see yourself in a new light which will not only help you but show that there are limitless possibilities waiting to be discovered within yourself. That's why I'm doing this. To help you listen to your heart."
"…"
Another moment of silence consumed the atmosphere within this area of the park as Mugino didn't say anything else and she simply looked at the ground before standing up and began to walk away.
"Next time…"
Eager to hear what she was going to say, Sora listened.
"I'm going to kick your ass. The next time we fight because you can be damn sure there will be another fight. And I expect you not to hold your punches."
"No pun intended am I right?" Sora jokingly said which got no reaction from Mugino. "Don't worry. The next time we fight I for sure won't be holding back at all. Maybe I'll also have a completely different skill set ready to take you on. Who knows? But I'll be ready."
The dress-wearing girl begrudgingly stopped walking and let a moment pass as it looked like she was thinking about saying something but then, she simply turned her head to the side and passed a glance at Sora before replying to him one last time.
"… See you around, Sora."
"Likewise, Mugino."
And with that, the tea-colored girl began walking away from the boy while not saying anything else. She kept on walking until she disappeared from his sight leaving Sora to sigh out of being tired and letting go of the stress he had built up.
'*sigh* That girl… wonder if anything I said will be considered? I hope she manages to find some peace or her answer one day…'
Seeing that it was just him alone on this side of the park, Sora figured that a good deal of time had passed since their meeting and decided to head back home. He had to start getting ready for classes tomorrow and boy… was he not excited to relive the horrors that were homework again. But he also realized that was the charm of being in the city and this world. New experiences seemed to come and go. And he was only getting started discovering what else this world had to offer.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city
Darkness had just stepped out of a newly formed dark corridor and was on top of what appeared to be a storage container. The dark figure had teleported to the shipping yard within Academy City as something interesting had just arrived.
Staring down at one of the containers left unattended, the true darkness spotted a young woman and a blonde-haired man chatting with each other while poking their heads back and forth around the container to make sure that no one was following them. The darkness figured that it wouldn't hurt to get a closer look at the two and disappeared into another corridor of darkness.
Down on the ground, Tsuchimikado and Kanzaki were entrusted to receive a package of some sort at this shipping yard. They had spent the last few minutes searching the place while also making sure to not get caught by any of the security cameras and systems in place watching the area. And now, the blonde spectacle-wearing teen was holding what appeared to be a small envelope that was decorated in a color to match the inside of the container making it harder to spot unless told specifically where it'll be placed.
After reading through the letter and then passing it over to Kanzaki, Tsuchimikado was the first to say anything.
"So, Nee-chin, what do you think?"
Letting out a frustrated sigh, the dark-haired beauty simply frowned and looked at the letter's contents again. Realizing that things just seriously got complicated.
"Well, to start we are going to need to have a chat with Sora. As this letter directly involves him."
"Agreed. It seems like our fellow second spiky-haired friend is going to be busy for quite a while" Tsuchimikado commented.
Lowering her head, Kanzaki was starting to feel bad for the Keyblade wielder as he was now becoming more involved with the magic side, especially after the letter, she just got done reading sent by Stiyl from over in London. The letter had been transitioning via plane and then managed to be picked up by one of their agents and placed inside the shipping container after it was cleared of its contents.
The contents of the letter seemingly indicated that the Church of England was now taking a stance on the events happening in Academy City and would be sending more agents into the city to take a closer look into the Heartless problem that was continuing to evolve. Based on things being said from Tsuchimikado's sources on the dark side of the city, more and more small-time teams were still trying to accomplish the open mission of capturing one of the small monsters alive. However, most of the teams were running into problems being overrun by the monsters or even underestimating them resulting in heavy injuries or worse.
At the moment, no one had been able to complete the job which was drawing more of the larger powers within the dark side's attention. It wouldn't be long before dark teams began to cooperate with each other to share the payout and complete the task. Leading the science side to have an advantage when it came to identifying this mysterious monster that seemingly only one person knew about extensively. Hence, the magic side actually had an even larger advantage there. But that just led to the Keyblade wielder getting pulled into his war between the two sides.
"I know that the letter says that we need to gather more intel about the Heartless from Sora, but…" Grasping her left arm with her right hand, Kanzaki stated her intentions clearly to the blonde-haired teen.
"I'm not going to use violence to get him to help us in this endeavor."
Shifting his gaze so that he would be looking out at the water next to the shipping yard, Tsuchimikado casually yet weakly voiced his stance.
"I understand where you're coming from, Kanzaki. But orders are orders. Besides, having gotten to know the guy I can safely say that when it comes to these Heartless, he'll do whatever he can to avoid letting others get hurt. Kind of reminds you of another spiky-haired protagonist huh Nee-chin? One that's caught your eye and attention~."
Tsuchimikado said this knowing full well that the black-haired beauty had her eyes set on a certain Kamijou Touma and his relentless personality to help those in need without asking for anything in return. His desire to help anyone and everyone get out of the situation that they found themselves in and go home with a smile on their face safe and sound was all that he wanted.
Not to mention, she still needed to find a way to pay him back for all his help involving her. And yet, she still couldn't find the perfect way of thanking him properly.
"*ahem* We should focus back on the letter's contents. What should we do now?" Kanzaki asked this while trying to fight the blush that was still appearing on her face.
"For now, I say we keep this under wraps. Just for a day or two as I keep poking my head into what's going on within the science side of things. In the meantime, think you can keep an eye on Kami-yan and Index. Sora is also bound to be with them."
"I think I can do that. From a distance, correct?"
"Yeah, just to watch their backs. We have no idea how much the Heartless have begun growing within the city and thanks to everything that Sora told us we are two steps ahead of anyone else."
Having said this, Tsuchimikado suddenly had a strange feeling building up in his mouth as in one moment he was looking calm and collected and in the next, he leaped to the side of the shipping container and swerved his head back and forth to look for something.
"What is it? Have we been spotted?" Kanzaki asked, getting ready to brandish her weapon.
However, the blonde spy simply raised his hand to stop her as he calmed himself down.
"Sorry. False alarm. I thought… "
"Hm? You thought?" Kanzaki curiously asked.
"Never mind. It's nothing. Back to the plan. We wait a day or two and then confront Sora and Kami if they are together. And I doubt you'll need to use violence to get him to help us. The guy seems like someone you could truly rely on as well as hang out with and play some cards with" Tsuchimikado stated as he folded the letter and put it into his pocket.
With nothing else to be discussed, the two cautiously made their way out of the shipping yard while being completely oblivious to the fact that darkness was lurking right above where they were standing. The dark figure was simply floating there while watching the two get further and further away.
"Hmm. It looks like you're becoming quite the celebrity, Sora. Which means… I need to start preparing my plan sooner than expected. Dealing with one side at a time seems more sufficient and fun than having to deal with the two sides at once. Well then, I hope you enjoy your moment of rest. Because you're about to be quite busy here soon, Guardian of Light."
Back with Sora
After having walked back to his dorm and done a little sightseeing, he was finally sitting down on his bed and began looking over the things that he would need for school the next day. School… the idea seemed both foreign and yet exciting at the same time. He recalled the time he met Hayner, Pence, and Olette back in Twilight Town and how the brunette girl asked him about completing the assigned homework. That threw him in for a complete loop as he had been so focused on reuniting with his friends and having to deal with the Heartless still running around. Or the times that Donald and Goofy were persistent on him keeping up with his studies as well as his two best friends taking on the role of teachers in between their world hopping.
Donald. Goofy.
Just thinking about those two made Sora's heart weigh heavy in his chest and his breathing change. He missed the other half pints. Being in this new world and having to do so many things on his own now was a game changer. He could honestly say that for being on his own like this for once… he was doing an okay job. Not to mention, he really wasn't on his own now. He had made so many new friends in such a short amount of time. Along with so much help being given to him in ways that he never expected. It all made him happy to know that he wasn't alone in this world. Plus, having Moogla know who he was, and his backstory did a great deal to make him feel better since he had someone that he could talk to on a deeper level than someone like Touma or Yomikawa.
On the topic of new friends, Sora went down the list of all the people he had met and befriended. Touma, Index, Sphynx, Yomikawa, his new classmates, Komoe, Misaka and her sisters, Kanzaki, Heaven Canceller, the girls of Item, and more recently Mugino.
Thinking about the tea-color-haired girl, he really hoped that she would consider his words and try to feel what her heart was trying to tell her. He truly believed that she was strong and if she was able to create her own path rather than follow the standard light or darkness route, then she could not only become more powerful but find solace in those closest to her. Getting her to open her heart to others. He couldn't say he enjoyed having to fight her but seeing that she properly alerted him to a fight next time. He would be lying if he wasn't at least somewhat curious to see what her decision would be along with reassuring her that he would be right there next to her to help her and be there for her.
Like he always said, his friends are his power. And he would always be there for his friends.
Seeing that he should get prepared for school, Sora went back to looking into all the things he would need to be ready for class. It was both exciting and worrisome at the same time. But he would happily leap forward into whatever adventure would be ready for him.
Inside a luxurious apartment which was the home of Item
Mugino had arrived at her apartment and was met with the other girls all lounging around in the living room either watching the tv or playing on their phones. She didn't say anything upon seeing them and instead went to the kitchen to grab herself a drink. Takitsubo was the first to actively get up and go check on her leader/friend to see how it went.
"Mugino. How did it go?"
Placing her drink on the kitchen counter, she didn't say anything until she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was then that the dark-haired girl noticed the Level 5's clothes looked a bit worn down and even had some cuts here and there. Something that she knew must have angered her greatly.
Opening her eyes and ready to somewhat talk, Mugino picked her drink up again and started making her way to the living room while answering Takitsubo's question.
"It went fine. I got most of my questions answered…"
"That's good. What else?"
"… We fought."
The black-haired girl's eyes were raised, and she waited to see if the brunette girl would elaborate on what happened.
"…"
"And I lost."
Shock went through Kinhuata and Frenda's faces as they had gotten up from the living room and went to join the others in the kitchen when they had just heard Mugino talk about the battle with Sora.
"What?"
"H-How? Basically, you had a plan in play due to having seen his abilities the other night."
"And that all didn't mean jack shit." Turning to look at the two, she continued. "He changed it all up."
"I'm super not following. What did he do?"
Steadily walking over to the living room and standing in front of the wall decorated with things pertaining to Sora, Mugino simply lifted her arm and began burning most of the information theorized about him until the only things left were several pictures of him. Especially the main picture that was the clearest image of him. She then decided to explain a little about what happened.
"We met up. We talked for a bit. Went for a walk. He talked more about the Heartless and what they are along with a back story that I need to investigate. I even learned why I haven't been able to find anything about him online."
Kinuhata did not want to voice what she was thinking but, in her head, it was starting to sound like Mugino describing how a date went.
"And then, shit was talked about, and I lashed out at him. We fought for a bit and then he pulled a goddamn new trick on me."
"What was the trick?" Takitsubo asked, becoming more interested in Mugino's encounter with the spiky-haired boy.
"He pulled a freaking shield out of his pocket."
The girls were not expecting to hear talk about a shield at all. Frenda was of the mind that Sora was going to pull out a gun, but that idea was destroyed instantly.
"A shield? What kind?"
"I don't know but that damn piece of equipment managed to protect himself from my silicon cards. All those beams of light were simply blocked. And then…"
Mugino stopped herself short as she wasn't sure if she should talk about Sora being able to summon his own beams of light. That was a topic that… she wanted to keep to herself.
"And then? Basically, don't leave us on a cliffhanger like that" Frenda stated, eager to hear what happened next.
"He just pulled out more stupid shit that I hadn't seen before. And then, rather than end me there, he… he helped me."
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Come again?"
The responses of the three girls were beyond puzzling.
"How did her super help you?"
Sighing at the thought of remembering what Sora did and what they talked about. Mugino decided to discuss a brief part of their encounter.
"He helped heal my wounds and asked if we could try and talk things out. That's when I learned a bit more about him and the way he thinks. Also, he started spewing some nonsense to me."
"He also said that his reasoning for coming to the meet-up wasn't just because I told him to but because he wanted to get to know me better. Learning about his friends or whatever bullshit you could think of would probably align with his way of thinking" Mugino explained, keeping out a majority of what was actually talked about.
It was at this point that Kinuhata was ready to activate her defensive armor in case Mugino would send a Meltdowner beam at her for what she was going to say. There was no way she couldn't not say it.
"Mugino."
"What Kinuhata?" the Level 5 sounded both annoyed and curious about what the short girl had to say.
"… It sounds like Sora was super hitting on you from what you're telling us."
"…"
Silence was the only thing present within the entire apartment once Kinuhata said what she said. Mugino didn't say or do anything for a good whole moment before simply walking to the living room and reaching for her laptop. Kinuhata, Frenda, and Takitsubo were taken aback by their leader's empty response to the point that they all thought that the short-haired girl had landed a bullseye with her abrupt statement. Kinuhata was about to ask if Mugino was starting to grow feelings for the boy when she was suddenly hit in the hard quite hard with what appeared to be the television's remote. The impact to her face made her wince and monotonal yelp while the remote fell to the ground.
Mugino continued to not say anything as she was now typing away at her laptop and creating a new file focused primarily on everything new that she had learned about Sora. Moreover, in one of the new documents involving the spiky-haired boy, she created a new tab that went by the title "Light or Dark". She had done this so fast that she didn't even realize that she did and just went back to compiling all the new information on Sora. Her new plans included starting over on the investigation wall regarding the boy based on the new information she had learned about him today. The tea-color-haired beauty also didn't notice the looks on her teammates' faces as they weren't sure what was going on with Mugino. But the one thing that they could collectively say was that her change in attitude was thanks to her meeting with the mysterious spiky-haired boy.
Just what had he said to her?
Notes:
*A/N* - Good to see you down here. Boy, Sora really has found himself dealing with a busy life in this world. Not to mention, reaching out to so many people and their hearts. I can't wait to see just what else he will get himself involved in, especially trying to live a normal student lifestyle. All while being a Guardian of Light and fighting back against the darkness. In addition, with Sora's presence within this world and story, he's truly going to change the way the story goes. Not to mention, he's not the only hero in the city as we are now getting into the mainline scenarios within the timeline. How will Sora factor into it all? Now there's a story to be told.
However, I still have to admit that clown mode is engaged, and I really do hope that we at least get Missing Link info at the Summer's Game Fest this year. I'm in need of some groundbreaking and earth-shattering story details that make me go, "WTH".
With that out of the way, I hope you have yourself a good one and take care out there.
Chapter 12: Challenges That Await
Summary:
After being bombarded with unexpecting adventures, Sora finally takes a few days to get settled into his new school life while also still making his way through Academy City. However, that moment of peace is soon upheaved as dark forces both on-stage and behind the scenes begin to take action. Will the Guardian of Light be prepared for what comes his way?
Notes:
Disclaimer* - I do not own the copyright to the Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu franchises.
*Sidenote* In addition, all guest characters used are not mine and belong to their respective copyright owners.
*A/N* - Hey there hope all is going well. Last time we left off Sora was about ready to start adjusting to his new life involving school and adapting to the ordinary student life. With the addition of having to deal with monsters that go after hearts. No biggie. Moreover, Darkness is beginning to enact its plan while other forces both inside and outside of Academy City are starting to take notice of what's going on. Sora's about to be pulled into a whole new set of problems and he's sure in for a wild ride. Not to mention, Touma's story will continue alongside everything new happening in his world. Craziness meets ridiculousness. I'd also like to thank everyone for continuing to check this story out. Your reviews and feedback are truly amazing and while there is much work to be done on the story, I appreciate it all and hope you'll stick around. With that little bit of excess dialogue, I hope you enjoy it and take care.
*P.S.* The clown makeup has been taken off. No KH4 news at SGF. Was kinda hoping something would show up but nope. At least FF7 Rebirth got a trailer and release window which does give me hope that KH4 will be focused upon later in the year or next. Oh well… Maybe next time.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Several days later
Sora was anything but an ordinary boy. That much was obvious. There were things that he had done and seen that nobody else would ever be able to comprehend or truly understand. His experiences range from traveling to different worlds and meeting all the unique and memorable people there or even transforming himself to match the structure of the world. Becoming a small lion or mermaid or even a toy that was somehow connected to a video game that had somehow become real… that bit didn't make any sense.
But what he was going through right now was certainly going to be considered one of the most difficult things he's had to ever do… and that was school.
After spending the day chatting and fighting with Mugino, he went back home to prepare for his first day of school in a long time. The whole prospect of returning to school even if it was not his school back home the idea still made his stomach churn and a sense of nervousness. And yet, there was a flicker of excitement in the idea. He had no idea what was in store for him, but he would face it head-on.
Besides, how bad could it get...?
Boy, was he in for a tough time.
His first day of school went as one would expect it to be. Many eyes were on him along with the struggle of paying attention to the lessons and finding his classes. The typical high school experience that you would usually hear about. Not to mention, so much attention was directed toward him due to his overall presence. However, this was his first real-time getting to experience that kind of lifestyle since for the last few years it was nothing but fighting against the Heartless and searching for his friends along with a whole bunch of other things to keep him preoccupied instead of attending school.
And now as he was working to get used to his new life, he couldn't help but smile a bit while finding comfort in that he had people around him he could consider to be friends. Dismissing the burden of being alone. Even if he knew that he wasn't truly alone.
Touma, Tsuchimikado, Himegami, Aogami, Fukiyose, Komoe Sensei, and Yomikawa just to name a few. They had certainly played a great part in getting him accustomed to his new school life.
Whether it was sharing notes with Fukiyose or idly chatting with Himegami who he thought was shy at first but after listening to her he got a better idea of how talkative she really was. Or even listening to Aogami talk about… things that he had no clue about especially since they revolved around aspects that he had never truly considered or at the very least confided in anyone else.
One such topic he remembered being asked about by the blue-haired teen switched from his clothing choice to…well…
"Sora, my good sir... You look like you have exquisite taste in things. Seeing that you have some stylish clothing and that necklace of yours adds a bit of character. Taking that all into account… What kind of outstanding qualities do you find in a woman?"
And before he could even muster up an answer, Aogami started ranting about other things relating to girls that he liked which… once again left the spiky-haired boy speechless.
Moreover, there was also Touma who was as friendly as ever while making sure to help him with as much as possible. The fellow spiky-haired boy also seemed to be dealing with his misfortune and showcasing it first-hand to Sora leaving him wondering if magic had a role in it, but with Touma's right hand able to cancel anything supernatural it did leave the Keyblade wielder a bit confused about what his so-called misfortune could be considered.
Alas, there was also Tsuchimikado who left him a bit defensive. It wasn't anything about who he was personally. Sora thought the blonde-haired boy was quite fun to talk to and the discussion of tips and tricks for getting around the city or various small shops that offered fun and unusual knick-knacks were located. However, there was something about him that the spiky-haired brunette couldn't wrap his head around. It almost felt like Tsuchimikado was watching his every move.
Which seemed redundant and pointless to think about since Sora knew he was affiliated with the magic side. He was probably even keeping an eye on him to see what his next move might be. A realization that felt surprisingly … not that strange.
Maybe it was because Organization XIII always watching him from the shadows or a distance in his last two adventures?
Returning to his thoughts, Sora was also surprised by Fukiyose's change in behavior toward him since it seemed like she warmed up to him and was surprisingly friendly with him. He recalled her being somewhat taken back that he was trying his hardest to stay afloat with the class given that he could honestly consider himself slightly below average when it came to schoolwork. She proclaimed to agree with his idea and said that whenever he needed help with his studies that she would lend a helping hand.
Transitioning to the topic of exams, the mock tests presented by Komoe Sensei had painted a clear picture of his aptitude when it came to school, and while his results showed that he was a bit behind he was still somehow ahead of Touma's. However, that worked. But seeing that he was going to be in Academy City for who knows how long, he decided to work on himself and his studies. Plus, it would also allow him to start learning a bit more about his new lifestyle.
Taking all of this into account, the past few days had certainly flown by with him starting to get used to his academic life. There had also been no new sightings of the Heartless which left him a bit puzzled. It was like a double-edged sword. On one side he was sort of happy that he didn't have to stay up late and deal with the heart-stealing monsters, but that also left the other side of the whole situation. What were the Heartless up to?
Normally, when he visited another world, the dark creatures tended to cause mayhem daily, but now it was starting to leave him wondering if there was anything else going on. Something more devious and concerning that he just wasn't aware of.
*THUD*
"H-Huh?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Sora realized that Komoe Sensei had tagged something on the board for everyone to see and upon closer inspection, he noticed that it had something to do with mathematics.
The brown spiky-haired boy let out a silent sigh while glancing over at Touma and seeing the boy look like a deflated balloon based on how he was sinking into his seat. He also spotted a few other students looking desperate and glancing at the clock on the wall hoping that class was ending soon. It was not. Not even in the slightest.
Going back to the board and seeing Komoe start to write something, Sora wondered just what else was going on in the city. So much had happened in the past few days that he was starting to think that his life was beginning to relate to a roller-coaster. There were the calm moments and then the high and low parts. He figured that now was one of those calm moments leading up to an unexpected high scenario. What that was? He had no clue. But whatever it might be, he would be ready to-
"*Achooo! *"
Startled by the sudden sneeze, the boy figured it was nothing and that-
"*Achooo! *"
"*Achooo! *"
At this point, he had managed to gain the class's attention with everyone staring at him with somewhat puzzled expressions.
"Sora-chan! Are you alright?" Komoe asked, stopping her writing to check up on her student.
"Yeah… I'm alright. I don't know where that- *Achooo!*"
Many of the students let out a chuckle at seeing the boy go from talking and then sneezing. Aogami had muttered something which got a few other students to laugh which then resulted in him getting berated by Fukiyose.
"Do you have any allergies?" Touma questioned him.
"No. None that I know of."
The misfortunate boy took on a thinking pose before throwing out one idea for Sora's sudden sneezing fit.
"Hmmm. Think you got a whiff of Tsuchimikado's cologne?"
"Hey! Why are you throwing my name out there, Kami-yan? I haven't even done anything… yet" Tsuchimikado commented while supposedly glaring at the black-haired boy but… it was hard to tell due to his sunglasses.
Fukiyose on her part knew what was coming and could feel her start to ball up into a fist. The Delta Trio was about to distract the class again.
Rubbing a hand over his nose, Sora began to wonder just what was causing him to go on a sneezing rampage. He couldn't help but ponder if he was allergic to something or just picked up a smell that was irritating his nose. Therefore, he was thinking about saying something to the others when suddenly he started sneezing once more.
"*Achooo! *"
"Well, in your defense, Tsuchimikado, if Sora was allergic to your cheap cologne, then he would have started sneezing the first day of class," Aogami said while grinning.
"Oh? Sounds like you are wanting to start a little schoolyard confrontation downplaying a man's cologne" the blonde countered.
"Just stating the facts. Your bad smell is affecting our friend here."
"I'd be careful if I were you, you closeted neet. I can take any of your so-called insults head-on, but this cologne was handpicked by my dear and sweet loving sister." The glasses-wearing boy stated while cracking his knuckles. "And anyone who bad mouths my sister is going to end up on their ass!"
Eyeing the blonde teen up, Aogami let out an amused chuckle. "You're kidding? You? Ahaha."
"Alright, that's enough out of- "
Seeing the two members of the Delta Trio acting up again, Komoe was about to try and calm them down but was beaten to it by the all-time famous Iron Wall girl's hardened punch. Fukiyose was not about to let the Delta Trio cause another distraction today as they had already taken some time out of the beginning of classes.
*WHAM!*
*POW!*
Heads were slammed right into desks leaving a loud thud sound to ring out in the classroom. The rest of the students winced at the impact while Touma was silently sweating, and Sora couldn't help but feel slightly bad for them.
With those two out of the count for now, the focus went back to Sora's predicament which seemed to have no real next direction to go toward. However, a familiar girl with black hair raised her hand to gain the Keyblade wielder's attention.
"Huh. Uh, yeah, Himegami?"
"Could it be that someone is thinking about you?"
"Err..."
About to say something, Sora stopped himself as the more he thought about her idea the more it made sense. There was that old saying that whenever you sneeze it must be because someone is thinking about you. In the spiky-haired boy's case that was a bit… more believable given that he had quite a vast list of friends that were probably worrying about him. Not to mention, there were those that he got to befriend in the past few days of being in Academy City and this world in general.
It could have been anyone thinking about him really. Who knows?
Meanwhile, in another high school in the city
Sitting at a desk and mindlessly not paying attention to the lesson being taught at the front of the class, Mugino Shizuri was currently doodling nonsense in the notebook that she had opened. Her attention had been away from the lecture for practically the whole time. Everything being taught was basic knowledge to someone of her standing which meant that she did not need to pay it any mind. Frankly, she didn't even really need to be there at all.
Not to mention the large ass elephant in the room… the upcoming Daihaseisai Festival was just around the corner meaning that she really did not want to be there.
Schools throughout Academy City were starting to prepare for the event in their own ridiculous ways. All of it was a shit show and the premise of it was so that the management committee of the city could collect data on the usage of students esper abilities. A basic free pass for old fucks to spy on students so that they can be used for scientific and monetary purposes.
Or mainly just for monetary expenditures so that they had even more reason to waste millions of Yen on equipment. She truly wasn't sure and to be honest… she didn't care.
However, due to her stance of being a Level 5, she was at the very least required to attend school for a short period. Or at the very least pop her head in once and a while. The school she was currently attending was a branch of the Kirigaoka Girl's Academy network which had connections with the dark side allowing for her plethora of absences to not affect her on that academic front as stupid as that sounded. It had something to do with the city's procedures of maintaining status on curriculum study and the involvement of its students. She truly couldn't give a fuck about any of that but in order to have access to all of the benefits of being a Level 5, she needed to at least show up every once in a while, which is why she was here. A complete contrast between her dark side appearance and the façade that she was displaying right now.
Besides, with everyone focusing on the Daihaseisai Festival it drove attention away from her which was something she relished. That way, she could just fly under the radar for however long she remained at school until she dipped out.
Speaking of contrast, her usual attire of a purple dress or stylish outfit was replaced with a plain old sailor uniform. If she had to wear this thing on a daily, lasers would be shot everywhere in fury, and truth be told somebody would probably end up dead on the spot. The school outfit did not match her style of clothing at all. Nevertheless, with her attention anywhere but the teacher who looked to be in her late 40s, the tea-color-haired girl couldn't help but scoff at her while going back to staring out the window and doodling in her notebook.
Within a few more minutes of background noise, the bell signaling that the class was over rang throughout the school indicating that she could finally move her legs around. She began to pull her phone out to see if there was any news that would pique her interest or if Kinuhata or Takitsubo had any new mission for them to take. At this point, anything was better than nothing.
Without even noticing it, several of her classmates had made their way over to her desk and politely waited until she took notice of them. Once she did, Mugino immediately switched gears and went into her fake-friendly personality.
"Hi, Mugino-san! It's good to see you again, and just in time for Daihaiseisai as well!"
One of the girls said while smiling warmly at her.
Another thing to consider about the shitty establishment that was currently hosting Meltdowner was that it was an all-girls school. Not as prim and proper as the spoiled brats over at Tokiwadai but something akin to the no male presence idea. Something that she saw as a pro and con. Not getting hit on was a definite pro but having to deal with all these damn maidens and their careless view of the world or the typical fairy tales and happy view of life was a definite con.
"Hello, it's good to see you all again" Mugino kindly responded… or at the very least tried to make it sound kind.
"We weren't sure when the next time you would show up to class. It's been a minute since you last attended" another of the girls commented.
The brunette's head was filled with numerous things that she wanted to say about the nitwits standing next to her but bit her tongue and continued to play the calm and collected persona she had in school.
"I've been busy. There are so many things that they require of Level 5's. Honestly, it's all a bit too much at times" she coolly said while thinking about lounging about at the pool or sunbathing or even relaxing in a hot tub.
The life of a Level 5 was rough… said nobody ever.
"I'll bet. But still, it's nice to see you again."
"Likewise."
It was then that one of the girls shot a glance down at her notebook and tilted her head before voicing her thoughts.
"Oh? I didn't know that you draw."
"I… don't…"
Not sure what the idiot in front of her meant, Mugino cast a glance down at her notebook and had to do a double-take at what she was seeing.
There on a clean sheet of notebook paper was a sketch of what appeared to be a crown, but not just any crown. The crown drawn very vividly matched a certain spiky-haired boy's crown necklace that she had encountered a few days ago. The details on the sketch were no museum piece but it was noticeable that some work had been put onto it.
However, the kicker was that Mugino did not do this purposely. Truth be told, she wasn't sure how the hell a drawing of that damn hero's necklace got onto her paper, but the only reasonable explanation was that during her boredom she must've unconsciously done that. Her attention had been anywhere but the classroom. Spite and frustration were starting to build up in her but seeing that she was still in her school persona, she did her best to bite her tongue and swore to herself while staying in character.
"Huh. I guess… I must've done that without really knowing."
"I'll say, it looks good for a first-time sketch" one girl commented.
"Are you interested in that boy from the news a few days ago?" another girl asked.
Seeing that these girls were not going to leave her anytime soon, she begrudgingly answered the question while giving a plain believable answer.
"To a degree. I happened to catch one of the videos online that showcased what he did."
'Tch. I did more than that,' she thought to herself while remembering her two fights with the boy.
Getting all excited, the girls looked at each other before turning their attention back to Mugino.
"So, what do you think about him, Mugino-san?"
Left on the spot, she responded with a basic answer while her tone of voice indicated that she didn't think much of him. Of course, that had been a bit of a lie.
"Not a whole lot has been presented around him. Leaving him a complete mystery."
The rest of the girls nodded their heads and began to turn the topic of the conversation toward the spiky-haired boy.
"I wonder what kind of esper ability he has."
"Do you think he's a Level 5?"
"Level 5? Don't you think a Level 4 is more believable?"
"What do you mean?"
"If he was a higher level esper, then wouldn't there be a lot of information known about him?"
Processing what was being said, one of the girls finally responded.
"That does sound a bit more plausible. I mean, if he was a Level 5, then wouldn't the higher-ups already know about his esper ability? Or at the very least information about his power would be out there now."
The students were conversing with themselves while the tea-color-haired teen girl was doing her best to hide the fact that she had a scowl on her face while her eyes seemed to display disdain and annoyance. It had been a few days since her last meeting with the boy and during that bit of time, she had come to the realization that she needed a new game plan to knock that bastard off his pedestal. Her defeat had not only left her in a foul mood whenever it was brought up, but it also painted her a broader picture of the differences between her and the mysterious boy. One of the distinct differences was something that she should have figured out at first but as the saying goes overthinking the most simplistic of things when the simple truth was the real answer.
The foundation surrounding experience was the difference between the two that she was solely focused on.
She had spent the last day coming up with new hypothetical ways of utilizing her beams of light and other new ideas she hadn't really considered before. This defeat did not sit well with the battle-fanatic girl as she had been craving a challenge as of late but this whole deal with the Heartless and Sora left her feeling… off.
A better description of what she was feeling could be explained as her knowing the battlefield and preparing to deal with many things that might come her way. However, with the monsters and spiky-haired boy appearing out of nowhere, it left her unsure of her next move. And that was a feeling that she despised most of all. Her personality of having things done her way or getting whatever she wanted to be done did not sit well with these two unknown forces just showing up. Control over everything was what she sought and when that wasn't viable, then it was a problem.
Coming back to the conversation, it looked like one of the girls was prodding Mugino by looking over at her waiting for a response.
"Huh? Sorry. I was lost in thought."
"Not a problem, Mugino-san. I was just asking what you think about that boy. Do you think he is a high-level esper?"
The tea-color-haired girl scoffed at that question and replied with a bit of snark in her voice.
"I don't give a crap about what level he is. What is more interesting is why no one knows anything about him. That's the only notable thing I have to say about him."
And with that, she ripped the page that had the drawing of the boy's crown necklace, crumping up the paper and getting ready to burn it to nothing with her ability. Unfortunately, before she could do such a thing one of the girls moved her head to look at Mugino's notebook and tilted her head while looking a bit puzzled.
"Um… Mugino-san?"
"What?" she responded with a dull tone.
The girl then pointed her finger down at the notebook leaving the brunette girl to raise her eyebrow before shifting her eyes to the desk. What she saw left her feeling undoubtedly angry with a hint of confusion. But overall, she wanted to punch a wall.
On the notebook paper was what appeared to be another drawing, only this time it was of Sora's ridiculous-looking weapon. The damn house key was sketched lightly while also including the small stupid chain. Granted, even though it was a simplistic-looking weapon there was still detail in her drawing.
It would be a minute until one of the girls decided to say anything.
"So… you're not interested in who he is?"
The Level 5's response was to stand up from her seat and grab her bag, leaving the notebook there and just walking out of the room. In any other situation, she would have left multiple bodies at the scene of the crime. Or practically nothing but burn marks would be left. However, she decided that she wouldn't waste her time dealing with those fuck tards and just leave. She had spent enough time at the school to be marked as appearing.
"Mugino-san?"
The girls said while they were stunned to see her sudden action of leaving the room and leaving the notebook. They weren't sure if it was the right thing to go after her or to leave her around, so they decided to go with the former. One of the girls also glanced down at the sketch of the boy's weapon and had to say that it was very similar to what was seen in the footage captured of him fighting the monsters. She must have been keeping a close eye on him.
Throwing the school doors open, Mugino began walking briskly away while frowning and clenching her hand. She wasn't one to openly state her feelings or any sappy shit like that, but it was beginning to become apparent that her defeat at the hands of Sora had left her feeling many things. And one of those feelings revolved around eagerness. The spiky-haired brunette boy had managed to beat her and while most people would take that on the nose… she was not like most people. She wanted a rematch and this time she would win. Her battle prowess personality would not accept a defeat.
Alas, this desire of hers was also abruptly halted as she realized that she needed to come up with a new plan of attack. Her strategy of just barging in and blasting first wasn't going to cut it. She needed to go in with a new strategy in mind. One that would allow her to leave the shitty hero flat on his ass. But that meant that she needed time to get to work.
With that in mind, the tea-color-haired beauty set out to call up a pickup and take her back to her apartment where she suspected Takitsubo and the Kinuhata to be doing absolutely nothing. Frenda was out of the picture doing whatever the hell she does.
And yet, her mind transitioned to another subject. One that caused her to look behind her and stare at the ground. The high-positioned sun caused her shadow to become visible. It caused her to take a minute to ponder about something seeing the difference between the light and dark shadow caused by her. This moment was soon diminished as the sun now became hidden from a stray cloud and caused the rest of the area to darken. It was also at that moment that she spotted her pickup arriving in front of the school.
Wasting no time at all, Mugino stepped into the vehicle and signaled to the driver that she was good to go without even muttering a word. The subject of light and darkness weighed heavily on her mind along with the image of a certain boy. Followed by the arising desire to confront him and put him in his place. It was a nice thought… accompanied by another thought that appeared so appealing but disappeared before she could truly think about it. Such a strange thought.
Back with Sora
Some time had passed since the small scene he caused in class with him sneezing like no other and now he was making his way back to his dorm. Everyone had gone their separate ways indicating that they had prior arrangements to get to. Everyone had their own lives of course.
To his surprise, there was a big event coming up that he had no idea about. It wasn't until it was announced in his class that he became fully aware of what was coming up.
~Flashback to earlier~
"The Daihaiseisai Festival?"
Sora did not at all have a clue as to what Fukiyose was talking about. Komoe Sensei had stepped out for a quick second which allowed the dark-haired girl to take charge of the classroom and start discussing plans regarding this festival.
"Sora! Don't tell me that you're playing dumb with me. How could you… forget… whoops."
Fukiyose had a grimacing demeanor on her face. She realized that she had utterly messed up.
"Right, sorry. I forgot. You're not exactly used to everything going on in Academy City."
The topic of Sora's arrival to the city for the first time had been discussed during the few days that he attended class. Conversations revolving around the brown spiky-haired boy were common as he and the rest of his classmates had gotten along quite well. And without missing a beat, they were also a bit confused about the teen's entire situation of being new to the city yet having such a grasp of his esper ability. It seemed like anything relating to Sora was confuddled in confusion.
Coming back to the topic of the sports carnival, Fukiyose knew that she was starting to take on an angered approach toward the boy but remembered that he was not the one she should be angry toward. That approach was deserved by the royally known Delta Trio.
"It's all good. Besides, it now does make a bit more sense. On the way to class this morning I noticed a bunch of small little banners with the words Daihaseisai on them. I didn't have a clue then, but now I do" Sora understandingly replied.
"That's good to see that advertising is getting out. But still…" The dark-haired girl now turned her entire body to glare at a certain someone who did not look to be all there. "Kamijou!"
"Y-Yes? What is it?"
"Why didn't you tell Sora about Daihaseisai coming up right around the corner?"
The question directed to the boy left him in an awkward situation. One that only he would be able to understand even though Sora's circumstances differed greatly from his in this case.
"I… figured that you would tell him…"
A hard glare was sent Touma's way which caused him to come up with a response that didn't have much merit but still contained some truth to it.
"You know since it's you. I figured that you would want to keep him up to speed on everything. Plus, I wouldn't have done the explanation justice…" the spiky-haired boy said while silently hoping that his answer would be sufficient.
It would be a good moment that felt like an eternity until Fukiyose relented and let out a content sigh.
"*sigh* I want to ridicule you, Kamijou. But you're also right."
"Thanks… I think?"
"Either way, Sora, Daihaseisai is where students all throughout the city compete in a sports carnival where they use their powers in a plethora of events going on. It's also when Academy City opens to the public where parents visit and watch all the events happening. There are even television broadcasts of the events going on for everyone to see. A sort of eye into the city to improve its image around the world" Fukiyose explained.
Sora couldn't help but let a grin appear on his face. This was starting to sound like the games that went on back in Thebes where his friend Hercules participated along with where he fought and competed. A certain blonde spiky-haired man came to mind.
'This sounds like a whole lot of fun!'
"So, what does our school participate in?" the Keyblade wielder asked, becoming more interested in this event.
What he didn't realize was that the floodgate of answers that lay within Fukiyose's head began pouring out and he was somewhat forced to listen to everything she had to say while everyone else went back to minding their business. Aside from Touma who had gone quiet with his own thoughts revolving around Daihaseisai.
~Flashback over~
Back to the present
Now thinking about what everyone else's plans were, it wasn't exactly discussed but with the realization that Daihaseisai coming up soon, it made sense. It sounded like something everyone had looking forward to.
Touma was the only one who specified his current situation to Sora, and it dealt with him needing to run a few errands before grabbing groceries with whatever money he had left. The Keyblade wielder could vividly remember the look of hesitation and unease on his friend's face. More in part with the returning home aspect. Seeing that Kamijou Touma was going to have it rough with his ever-hungry roommate, Sora lent him some much-needed praise for being able to take care of both him and Index… and of course, Sphynx as well.
The words of comfort managed to boost Touma's drive, and Sora could have sworn that he saw the spiky-haired boy walk with a pep in his step.
Now left alone, the teen from another world figured that it wouldn't hurt to do a bit of exploring around the city since he was still trying to get used to it all. There were so many things that he was discovering that each day left him a bit more excited than the last. He was tempted to use his Flowmotion and start running across the buildings to cover more ground but decided not to. He was still fairly popular whenever new people spotted him walking about. Everyone at his school had grown to his presence that the barrage of questions died down but there was still someone who wished to speak with him about the event. And truth be told he didn't mind speaking or meeting new people at all. It was something he enjoyed greatly.
Taking in his surroundings, he realized that he was near an open area with benches spread around and what looked to be a vending machine. The thought of having an ice-cold drink made him want it even more. Hence, he walked up to the machine and began to see what was available. Upon scanning the first few rows of drinks, he had his eyes set on what looked to be a flavored strawberry juice which sounded appetizing.
However, once his eyes shifted to the side of the drink, he had to blink several times to truly believe what he was seeing. After spending a good whole minute staring at the vending machine, he slapped his face with both his hands and shook his head. He wasn't daydreaming.
Sitting there in the vending machine was what appeared to be one of the keychains that he obtained in his most recent adventure. The keychain to Shooting Star.
Immediately reaching into his pocket to pull out his card, he was dead set on getting the charm out of there. How it even got into the vending machine in the first place was something he did not want to think about too much. His goal right now was to get-
*CLINK*
"Huh?"
Pressing his face into the screen of the vending machine, Sora saw that the charm was hooked onto the mechanism that ejected items within the thing. About a few moments away from panicking, he swiped his card again and watched the charm carefully. There was little movement seemingly moving the charm back and forth causing the boy to start sweating at how nerve-racking the scene was. What would happen if he couldn't get his keychain?
Would he break the machine? That seemed a bit excessive.
Could he open it with his Keyblade? The weapon of light could unlock the machine but that might get him in trouble.
Run around and find someone to help him? That was one sound idea but the possibility of someone seeing the charm and taking a shot at getting it was something that worried him.
Hence, he decided to stick with what he was doing and wait to see if the machine would function correctly and give him his keychain.
Unbeknownst to him, a girl with maroon hair color wearing a white and black dress with red pants and dark boots could be seen watching the boy a few feet away. She said and did nothing while watching the boy stare intently at the vending machine before finally making herself known by speaking to him.
"It'll work if you give it a little nudge."
"Aah!"
Scared at the sudden voice, Sora turned around rather quickly to see who had said that, and when he did, he was met with a friendly-looking face staring at him. A girl with dark red hair was seen looking at him while also a bit startled by his startled yell.
"Oh. Uh, sorry about that. I didn't see you standing behind me."
Shaking her head, the girl kindly responded.
"Don't worry about it. It's my fault for not saying anything and just watching you deal with the machine."
Ruffling the back of his head, Sora let a chuckle escape his lips.
"Haha, yeah. I don't think I've had this much trouble with a vending machine before. What was that you said about giving it a little nudge?" he asked the girl.
Making her way over to him, the red-haired girl looked to see what he was trying to get and could see the strange-looking blue charm hanging on the machine. She knew exactly what to do.
"Here, watch this." Going to the side of the machine, she started leaning into the machine and making it slightly rock back and forth. "This thing has given me and so many others a lot of trouble before. I even heard of a girl who kicks the machine to get her drink."
"Wow. Harsh much?"
"At this point, I think it's well deserved, haha."
Observing how the girl continued to sway the machine and cause everything inside to move more and more, Sora saw that his charm was just about to fall and be accessible when the girl gave it a hard push. The action resulted in him grinning widely while reaching down and picking up the Shooting Star keychain. One down more to go.
Examining the charm in his hands, he turned to look at the girl and offered her a bright smile.
"Thanks! I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't shown up. I might have still been feeding it my money."
"It's not a problem at all. I couldn't just watch the machine take away another person's money. This thing is truly something else" the girl stated while pointing over at the vending machine.
Realizing that he hadn't introduced himself, the Keyblade wielder set forth to change that.
"Mm. My name is Sora. It's nice to meet you, and again, thanks."
"You're welcome, Sora. And my name is Popola. It's nice to finally meet you" the girl now known as Popola said.
Surprised by what she said there at the end, the spiky-haired boy tilted his head in confusion.
"Nice to finally meet me? What do you mean by that?"
"It's nothing that deep. I had just noticed that you were the boy that was featured on the news a few days ago. Word about you is still spreading around even if the news has stopped covering what happened" Popola clarified.
"I see…"
Sora had a few thoughts on the matter.
'I'm kind of glad that attention on the Heartless attack has stopped. But… is there a reason for that? Is whoever is in charge of the city making sure to not let the people worry about it for too long? Am I overthinking this?'
These thoughts would have to remain in his head as there was no one who could really answer them. At least… for now that is.
"Is something the matter? You have a strained look on your face" Popola commented while observing the boy.
"Huh? Oh! Sorry. I was just thinking about what you said. I've also noticed that people aren't rushing at me for questions regarding the incident" Sora replied.
"I bet that has been quite stressful to deal with?"
"Not as much as you would think." Bringing both of his hands to rest behind his head, the brunette boy continued speaking. "At first it was a bit startling and worrisome but after some time I got used to it. Besides, the people who used to barrage me with questions stopped because I see them on a daily now. I've even become friends with them, so it works out."
Nodding her head at his answer, Popola decided to glance over at the vending machine once more before saying what was on her mind.
"Have a lot of people asked you about the… you know, monsters?"
Letting a moment of silence pass through the two, Sora voiced how he felt about the situation.
"Some have. Some not so much. The questions I've received mainly just gloss over what happened and how I was able to do all the things that were recorded."
"And yet, it sounds like nobody has truly asked you where those monsters came from," Popola said, clutching her arm gently.
Allowing a sigh to escape from his mouth, he answered her question sincerely.
"No. Nobody has asked that question. And to be honest, I don't even know where they came from. I've dealt with them before many times but to see them here and now… I don't know how that happened."
It was at this moment that Popola let out an audible sigh while bringing a hand through her hair. She knew was going to be in some trouble for what she was about to say, but she didn't care. It seemed like Sora needed a little push in the right direction.
"…Darkness."
Puzzled by what he just heard, the Keyblade wielder had to let a moment pass before saying anything.
"Err… I'm sorry did you just say- "
"Darkness."
"…"
"You're not the only one that knows of it here, Sora."
As if by routine, the boy's instincts told him to be wary of Popola but he still wanted to hear what she said. Hence, he did not react and merely kept listening to her.
"Right… uhm, Popola, who are you?"
Chuckling a little, the maroon-haired girl offered him a warm smile. One that conveyed that he needn't be worried.
"I'm nobody really just someone passing by who knows a thing or two more than the average person. And that includes seeing that what you are dealing with is something much more sinister."
Sora felt like his breathing had stopped so that he could truly hear what she was saying. A thumping in his chest could also be heard.
"Do you know what they are? The monsters that I fought" he asked Popola, getting an idea of just how much she might know.
The answer he got was a resounding no from her shaking her head.
"Not quite. But they… those monsters are different based on what I've seen of them" she replied.
However, there was something more she wanted to say but stopped herself from saying. That would be for another time… if time would permit her to elaborate.
Feeling like there was more to her answer, Sora simply let it slide.
"I see, that's good to hear that there are those who are somewhat aware of how dangerous those monsters can truly be."
"Mmm. And while I might not be of much help to you, Sora. I do hope that you will do your best to take care of yourself. Don't lose hope no matter what might trouble you" Popola sincerely said, showing that she was speaking the truth by her eyes never faulting away from his.
Processing her words, the boy couldn't help but offer her a reassuring smile along with a thumbs up.
"Thanks, Popola. I'll take your words to heart." Bringing his right hand over his heart, Sora felt happy. "It's nice to hear friends giving you, their support."
"I'm glad to hear that you consider me a friend."
"Of course! You managed to help me get back my charm. That's one definite way to start a friendship don't you think? Haha," Sora cheerfully responded.
"True enough. Don't think I've ever made a friend that way before. That's one for the books" Popola happily commented.
"Haha. Glad to hear." Pulling out his phone to check the time, he realized that he should be making his way. There were a few more things he wanted to get done before the day was over. "Well, I'm glad I could meet you, Popola. I hope we can catch up again and chat. It was really nice meeting you."
"Likewise, Sora. I enjoyed our chat. Do take care."
"Yep! See ya!"
And with that, the Guardian of Light began to casually make his way away from the area with a smile on his face realizing that he had the luck of not only finding one of his lost keychains but also that he had made a new friend. One that also lent him a bit of support in his endeavor to stop the Heartless from taking this city… this world.
Watching the spiky-haired boy get further and further away from her, Popola simply let out a comfortable sigh while also taking a seat on the nearest bench. There was a great deal more that she wanted to discuss with the boy but decided that she had said enough. He had his own goals to worry about and she was merely an observer from afar. There was-
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
Her thoughts suddenly stopped when she heard someone coming up to her. Without even needing to look who was coming, the maroon-haired girl indeed knew who it was.
Coming up into view was another maroon-haired girl with similar clothing to her own. The only difference one could tell at first glance was the way her hair was styled. Other than that, the style and colors of her clothing matched Popola's. A strange situation one would think.
The new girl didn't say anything for a moment until she did.
"…He's a lot nicer than I expected."
"What did you expect? That it was all an act."
An outward sigh could be heard coming from the girl.
"You know that's not what I meant. Granted, we only caught a short glimpse into who he really is. And… this is the only chance we would have to talk with him."
A moment of silence passed until Popola decided to say something.
"I would have thought that you'd like to talk with him even if it was for a small amount of time," she asked the other girl.
"I figured not to. Plus, it looked like you two were having a good chat. Even if it'll be the only time."
Hearing the other maroon-haired girl say this, Popola let a sad sigh escape her lips. As clouded as that statement was… it was the truth. They had no real part in that boy's… in that hero's story. They were merely observers of it all.
"…Devola. Do you think I said enough? Or that I said too much?"
The other girl now known as Devola shook her head while staring up at the city's buildings. Thoughts were floundering around her head, and she wasn't sure what the correct answer should be.
"I believe that you said what needed to be said. Nothing good, nothing detrimental, and nothing to cause trouble."
Gathering her thoughts to find a sound response, Popola found her answer.
"I think that Sora is smarter than he gives himself credit. Although it was only for a brief moment that we talked, I could tell that he has a lot going on. However, he does not look to be giving up anytime soon" Popola stated clearly.
"Then there is no need to worry. We can leave knowing that hope is still in this world" Devola said while pulling out a small device and glancing at it before putting it away.
Looking down at the ground, Popola nodded but also realized that what Devola said wasn't the full truth.
"I think you might be wrong on that idea, sis."
"How so?"
"Sora's not the only one to fight back against the darkness."
Clicking her tongue, Devola hadn't really considered that realization.
"Are there others?"
"Why wouldn't there be? Just because Sora is the one that's actively taking a stand against the darkness doesn't mean that there aren't others doing the same thing. Be it in a different manner or different way others are fighting for this world" Popola explained, having hope gush throughout her voice.
It would be a good minute before either of the sisters said anything but when they did, they couldn't help but happily let out a relaxed sigh.
"Then we have nothing to worry about."
"Yeah." It was then that Popola took another look in the direction that Sora went and let a bright smile appear on her lips. She would do her best to send all the goodwill and fortune she could muster to her new friend. "Take care, Sora. And good luck."
With nothing else to say or do, the two maroon-haired sisters began walking away from the area while having their train of thought be on the spiky-haired boy who they had heard so much about in a short period of time. They couldn't wait to hear about the tribulations and challenges that he and the others of this world faced. It would be a story to tell… or rather a story to sing.
Later…
After arriving back at his dorm, Sora let himself plop onto his bed while letting this moment of relaxation wash over him. It felt nice to be able to make a new friend and not to mention Popola helping him get his missing keychain back.
Speaking of, he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the Shooting Star charm, and gave it a look overtaking in its blue color and details all around. He then summoned his Keyblade and set to think about which blades he would have at a moment's notice. Since he was able to switch between the three different blades, he would have more versatility in his fighting with different moves and whatnot, but that did leave him with a heavy decision.
He wouldn't be able to grab a keychain from his pocket in the middle of a battle and would only be able to use the ones he had ready to go. Hence, he went with a more defensive and ranged plan.
Raising his weapon with the newly attuned keychain, Sora summoned the Kingdom Key and then Hero's Origin, followed by Shooting Star. The perfect setup for a balanced combat strategy of guns, shield, and blade.
Next, he moved on to what other things he needed to get done before the day was over and that meant homework. Luckily, Komoe Sensei hadn't given him that much to do. The same could not be said about Touma. Poor guy.
Sora's attention then moved to his regular clothing and how he figured that it wouldn't hurt to switch out of his school outfit. Taking a second to change, the Keyblade wielder checked himself out in the bathroom mirror and saw that everything looked to be in good order. He then began to reach into his pocket to check on his charms for Oblivion and Oathkeeper still curious about how they looked the other day. However, his attention was shifted as his Gummiphone started rigging out of nowhere.
Startled and excited by the action, he quickly grabbed the device and checked to see who was calling him. Upon seeing the screen, he was a bit surprised by what he was seeing.
There on the screen read the name- Moogla.
"Hello?"
"Sora! I'm glad you answered, kupo."
"Hey, Moogla, what's up? Is something wrong?"
"It's terrible, kupo!"
"Huh? What's wrong!?"
The tone of voice that could be heard from Moogla started worrying him.
"Something is going on in one of the districts where I have one of my cleaner bots located, kupo."
"What do you mean? What's going on?" Sora questioned, trying to understand what was going on.
"Everything was going fine until I noticed that the cleaner bot in District 17 was acting strange, kupo. Come to find out there was interference that was causing it to act strange and what do you think was causing that, kupo?" Moogla explained, leaving enough of an idea for Sora to realize what it might be.
"The Heartless."
"Yep, they were spotted around a railway cargo area, kupo."
It was at that moment that the spiky-haired boy jumped to his feet and scrambled to check himself with everything that he needed. There was no telling what might happen.
"Got it! Thanks for the heads up, Moogla. I'll be there shortly."
"Understood! Thank you and good luck, kupo!"
And with that, the phone call ended with Sora knowing what he needed to do next. Since there hadn't been that much chaos caused by the Heartless in the past few days, it led the boy to have a bad feeling gnawing in his chest. Things could get ugly if his past experiences were of any indication. He would stop them no matter what.
Now good to go, he ran right out the door and leaped into the air to come barreling across the ground without even breaking a sweat. He had to make sure that he got to District 17 in time even if that meant not being able to alert Touma about what was going on.
Time was of the essence.
Running up to a light post, the Keyblade wielder activated his Flowmotion and threw himself forward while imbued with blue light around his body while actively swinging around the pole at an incredible speed. Once enough momentum was attained, Sora flew forward at another post and continued to do so covering a lot of ground moving at a fast rate.
Such action was noticed by a few bystanders who were surprised by what happened but a few students who immediately recognized Sora tried to pull their phones out and film the boy moving but were too slow to catch anything. The boy was just moving too fast.
Once he had reached another part of the district, Sora started slowing down to a jog and then to a total stop as he was looking for the best route to take to get over to District 17. That had been an area that he hadn't explored yet, so he was walking into unknown territory.
"Taking the train might take too long…"
Sora muttered this while bringing a hand to his chin to think about what his next move should be. He didn't want to let the Heartless get away with whatever they were doing and that meant the situation could change at a moment's notice. He needed to act fast.
Snapping his fingers, the spiky-haired teen had an idea.
Moving to get a better view of the city from his perspective, he spotted the railway that was used for the trains that went around the different districts. That would be his ticket to get around faster.
Rushing up to the train station in this area, Sora got onto the main platform and checked to see if there was a train arriving or departing any time soon. Upon glancing at the system screens stationed around detailing what times were available for a train ride, he was able to see that a ride was arriving within a few minutes but frankly, he didn't have time to spare. Hence, why he suddenly jumped onto the train rails causing many of the people waiting for the train to freak out at his action. One guy even yelled out to him about getting off the rail and was about to jump down and pull him out.
Not wasting any more time, he activated his Flowmotion and sped away on the train rail leaving everyone who was watching him become bewildered by the sudden action.
Flying along the train rail, Sora kept his eyes open in case something was coming his way. He also became worried about if he was heading in the right direction which is why he pulled out his Gummiphone to help navigate him to District 17. Glancing between his phone and the path ahead of him, the teen now had a better idea of where he needed to head next once the railway continued through another two districts.
However, his attention would soon be interrupted as he heard what sounded like a loud horn beginning to erupt a good distance in front of him. Shifting his head up, Sora spotted the train that was supposed to be arriving at the station.
Seeing that he was out in the open while riding on the train rail, the Guardian of Light couldn't help but let a smirk appear on his face. He was about to try something that should definitely not be done at home or even attempted.
With the train blaring its horn and the window for him getting out of the way becoming smaller, Sora threw himself up and with the Flowmotion energy swirling around him managed to leap over the front of the train. While in the air, he balanced himself so that once his feet touched the top of the train he was running along the top. An acrobatic yet show-off action that caused many on the train to try and poke their heads out to see the boy on top.
Still running along the top, he spotted a large pole that would be just what he needed to get a burst of speed to go flying in the direction of District 17.
"Here we… go!"
Soaring through the air, the Keyblade wielder positioned himself to come into direct contact with the pole and immediately started spinning until he let go and went flying through the air.
Everyone on the train was amazed at his acrobatics and some people had even managed to get a brief recording of the event.
Losing his momentum, Sora quickly scanned the ground below him and saw that it was devoid of any people. Positioning his body so that he was in free fall, the brunette came falling but instead of landing face-first, he landed with a simple roll on the ground.
'Piece of cake.'
Not wasting another minute, the boy continued to trek through the city while silently hoping that he would make it in time before the Heartless could cause any more trouble. Even if that was a hopeless idea since the Heartless were always known for causing problems.
Meanwhile, with a certain black spiky-haired misfortunate boy
After walking around the city for some time now, Touma was tired beyond belief. The entirety of today had left him quite exhausted with what was coming up soon. The Daihaseisai Festival would soon be upon the city. A time for celebration… at least to everyone but him.
While everyone seemed to be eager and excited about the upcoming week, he was indifferent to it all. His thoughts were drifting toward the uncertain aspect of it all due to the loss of his memories. That was a topic he already pondered about but with Sora's appearance and involvement, it was a bit different compared to normal. Still though, if he was going to survive the upcoming week, then he would have quite the hill to climb. His train of thought then shifted over to his fellow spiky-haired friend.
'I doubt Sora will have to worry about anything. Though… outright wielding magic publicly in place of an esper ability… how long will that remain tight-lipped? I'm sure sooner or later somebody is going to become curious. Whether they are from the magic side or science side… Sora's bound to deal with some trouble even with all his power. Heh, I know how that feels…'
Putting aside his concern for his friend, Touma lifted his right hand in plain view for him to examine and couldn't help but be curious about his own power. The ability to cancel any magical or psychic powers with only a single touch.
Imagine Breaker.
Just what was this power of his?
Another question followed by an answer that he did not have insight into at the moment.
Letting out an audible sigh, Touma changed his focus to recall what had gone on today and remembered getting yelled at for setting up the tent that was both needed and not needed. Along with all the other bits of misfortune he ended up somehow getting involved in. Like every day in his life, it all was not enough to be described with a single "Such misfortune" at all.
In times of hardship, one could turn to the glory and appreciation that food could accomplish managing to take away the pain and tiredness one was feeling. However, with that in mind, Touma recalled that there most likely wasn't anything left in the fridge due to a certain roommate of his.
The desire to stop by the market was dear to him but for the benefit of his life, he did not have the required funds to stop there yet and would need to stop by his dorm to pick up more money. This left him with a bitter feeling of annoyance.
Alas, moving his head upward at the dorm, Touma spotted a familiar girl sticking her head out and trying to look for something. Her eyes seemed to dart around the place until she spotted him and started repeatedly waving her arm from one of the higher floors.
The girl he recognized happened to be Tsuchimikado's younger sister, Maika.
'Wonder what she wants?'
Touma thought while continuing to walk closer to his dorm not aware that his day was about to become a lot more complicated.
Within the confines of District 17
Being on the Western side of Academy City there weren't that many spots one could conduct albeit suspicious activity in the day. At nighttime that was a completely different ball game. However, with current activity being anything but ordinary, then it was safe to say that people wouldn't have paid much attention to what was transpiring in that district.
Within this district, several different dark side teams were continuing their operation of capturing a monster and extracting it for a handsome amount of money. Suffice it to say, the stakes regarding this job had been increased twofold due to how difficult it was proving for teams to complete the task of capturing a single creature. Not to mention, there had been word spreading around that the monsters were extremely dangerous. Hence why the job hadn't been completed yet.
However, there were several teams currently within the railway cargo storage bay who had come to the consensus that a mutual beneficiary output might just be the best way to complete a task as difficult as this one was shaping up to be. A bit ironic that teams who affiliate themselves with doing a degree of bad things could opt to work together and evenly split the costs of a job in order to stay alive. Survival of the fittest as some would say.
Alas, what this team had also managed to involve themselves in was the disruption of a few of the maintenance robots around the area. One of those was a certain someone's who had managed to help a spiky-haired boy get used to being in the city.
Moogla's cleaner bot was one of the few who had been apparently acting up because as soon as the dark side teams arrived at the Switchyard, they spotted the machine being damaged by the monsters.
Gunfire erupted as the job highlighted that only one creature needed to be captured. Meaning that all the other monsters could be wiped out. Which left the sound of gunfire flooding the cargo yard.
And once the area had been cleared out save for a couple of monsters, the maintenance robots were tossed into a corner. Moogla's bot being within that pile-up.
Now all that was left was the process of capturing one of the few remaining monsters wandering around the area. Something that wouldn't be that much of a problem. Nothing would stand in the dark side team's way now.
Back with Sora
Having just run across the side of a building and thrusting himself through the air before Air stepping into what appeared to be an antenna, the Keyblade wielder came to a stop and balanced himself out while taking in the new view before him.
What he was seeing could be described as a storage area with large metal-looking crates. Not sure if this was where he needed to be, he pulled out his Gummiphone and quickly dialed back Moogla.
*Ring* *Ring* *Click*
"Sora! Are you there, kupo?"
"Yeah. I at least think I'm at the right spot."
"What do you see, kupo?"
"Large metal-looking crates. Almost reminds me of a storage area."
"Yep! That's right where you need to be, kupo!"
"Good to hear." Taking a quick look at the area, Sora's attention was suddenly startled as he heard what sounded like gunfire taking place nearby. "Hey, Moogla, can your cleaner bot see what's going on at all?"
It would be a second before the moogle would respond.
"No, there's nothing on the screen, kupo. It almost looks like something is blocking its camera, kupo."
"Got it. I'll check and see what's going on. I'll fill you in later."
"Understood. Be careful, kupo."
And with that, the call stopped allowing Sora to put away his Gummiphone and check his gear one last time. His keychains were ready to go. Perhaps it was just his gut feeling this way, but he knew there would be a fight coming up.
'Best get to it then.'
Wasting no more time, he started running toward the direction of the continued gunfire and managed to leap over a tall fence rolling on the ground and picking himself back up. It was then that he summoned his Keyblade and turned the corner now entering deeper into the storage-filled area. As soon as he passed by a row of metal containers lined up like a wall, Sora could hear what sounded like chatter going on between multiple people.
Without realizing it, he turned the corner around one of the metal boxes and stumbled upon an interesting sight. One that made him realize that the city was still focused on capturing the Heartless as he recalled the night of his first encounter with the dark side operative and Item as well.
Several people were wearing what looked to be heavy dark clothing with firearms in their hands while a few others were holding nets of some kind that looked to be shocking the Heartless they had in their grasp. Their attention had been directed right at the spiky-haired boy as he looked like a deer in headlights staring at the group wide-eyed.
Nobody seemed to move a muscle for a split second before one of the armored people who had a large upper body build and gruff-looking face shouted out to the group.
"What the- Who the hell is he!?"
This resulted in various operators speaking out.
"I don't know."
"Don't think he's with us."
"Nobody said there were civilians in the area."
"Is he with you guys?"
"Nope."
Seeing that he was causing quite the commotion, Sora was about to try and talk his way out but spotted the Heartless thrashing around in the nets getting electrocuted and getting everyone's attention back at hand.
"Doesn't matter who he is. Get him out of here!" the gruff-looking operator shouted.
Not about to let that happen, the Keyblade wielder lifted his weapon into a defensive stance while glaring at the head honcho.
"Like that's going to happen." Sora retorted while glaring at the dark side members. "Do you know just how dangerous those monsters are?"
The strange question got a few of the agents to look at each other and shake their heads in confusion.
"What are you mumbling about? And why is he still standing there?!"
It was at this point that one of the dark side operators narrowed her glace at Sora and began to realize just who he was.
"Oh shit… Boss! Change of plans. We take him out now!"
As she yelled this out, the female operator loaded her assault rifle while aiming it right at the boy.
"Whoa! What are you doing!?" Sora yelled out.
The situation had gone from uneasy to outright dangerous in a matter of seconds. This girl looked like she would shoot at him and not hesitate at all.
"What the hell are you doing!?" the rough-looking man questioned the girl while glancing over at Sora to try and see what caused the sudden reaction.
"Look a bit closer boss. He's the kid from the new coverage a few days ago. He knows about these monsters."
Doing as the girl said, the other dark side members eyed the boy closely until another operator let out a small gasp as they also recognized the boy. This prompted another weapon to be aimed at the spiky-haired boy. Something that turned the entire mood sour leaving the brunette boy to be prepared.
"Well, I'll be. Didn't think we'd get a guest audience here."
Realizing that things were not looking good, Sora decided to play it cool and try to talk this situation down.
"There's no need to go all out on the decorations. All I want is to destroy that monster before- "
"Oh. Is that all? Well, sorry but to be frank that's not going to happen" the guy referenced as the boss stated.
The atmosphere surrounding the area was turning even more tense.
"By the way, no hard feelings. It's just… as they say… business."
And with that final statement, the gruff-looking guy gave a nod of his head which signaled to the others to take action.
Immediately once the signal was received multiple guns were firing at Sora which resulted in him quickly blocking the incoming bullets while also deflecting as many as he could. With his Keyblade's influence, most of the gunfire was blocked from hitting him. This left the dark side operators growing frustrated while the ones with the net around the Shadow Heartless were thrashing the monster around and trying to put it into a cage. Said action caused one of the members to lean forward too much and go tumbling on the ground resulting in the Shadow leaping at him and start slashing at his body with its claws.
The operator let out a pained yell followed by another operator coming to grab the monster off him. This sequence of actions would cause frustration and anger to arise in many of the dark side members. Something that… would benefit the Heartless appetite.
Still, on the defensive, Sora took a few steps back while deflecting as many bullets as possible that were sent his way. Due to his reflexes being attuned and used to rapid projectiles coming his way, the spiky-haired boy was doing his best to stay calm all while planning on what he should do next. From the looks of things, the dark-side operators were not going to stop their assault.
Which meant… he would need to stop them.
In quick succession of blocking the gunfire, he dashed to the side causing the operators to adjust their aim to track the boy but were finding it a bit difficult to do so as the teen was very nimble and had to focus on. Sora constantly moved side-to-side and even slid on the ground. It almost seemed like he was just toying with them.
"How the- How is he moving that fast!?"
Loading another magazine into her weapon, the female operator was starting to grow pissed at what was transpiring.
"How hard is it to hit him!?"
The answer to her question resulted in a swift kick to the face as Sora appeared in a flash of light managing to send her flying followed by a slash of his Keyblade at another operator managing to cut their weapon right down the middle. He then rammed the end of his Keyblade at the operator's chest and instantly twirled the weapon around to cast a Fire spell from the tip of the blade. The fireball hit the operator and caused them to go flying back.
This sudden action caused the other operators to continue firing upon him which resulted in Sora pulling out another one of his tricks to deal with the incoming attacks.
Raising his Keyblade up, he cast a Thunder spell to spread throughout the area causing a few of the enemies to become shocked while others were backing up and still shooting at him.
Rolling to the side, the brunette teen lifted his hand and let the Kingdom Key disappear but soon after another blade appeared in his hand only this time it started making a mechanical sound and the appearance shifted at an astounding speed. Once the sounds stopped the weapon in the boy's hand was now that of a shield along with his clothes having taken a yellow color all around.
Several of the operators were confused but kept their guard up. However, that was soon thwarted as the boy hurled the shield at them causing the wind to be knocked out of them followed by the mass of metal to disappear and then reappear in his hands. Many of the grunts were hit with heavy attacks and sent crashing to the ground. Moreover, sparks of light from the shield began to consume the area shocking anyone in the way followed by most of the operators getting taken out and thrown back either into metal containers or toward the ground quite forcefully. Either way, everyone was getting taken down.
The gruff-looking operator was sporting a concerned look on his face as he wasn't sure just what the boy had up his sleeve in terms of attacks. He had only gotten a glance at the boy from the news coverage but other than that he did not have a clue as to who he was. Just that he fought back against the monsters and was now causing a problem.
Speaking of the monsters…
Emptying his last magazine at the boy who continued to block the gunfire this time with his strange-looking shield, the suspected boss of the operation glanced over at the members who were supposed to hold back the monster and couldn't help but let out a curse.
"What the hell…"
The last time he checked on the capture team was when the boy arrived and caused one of the net carriers to collapse and be attacked by the creature. Now, however, there appeared to be three more monsters standing in place.
Where had the other capture team members gone?
In a split second, one of the other operators called out to him but it was too late.
"Boss!"
*WHACK*
A metal blade had come striking him right in the chest followed by getting hit again and again. The spiky-haired boy was right in front of him with what appeared to be blue energy surrounding him. He didn't get a good look as he was suddenly upside down now.
"Aaaahhh!"
Sora had unapologetically Airstepped to the boss and landed a few blows to his chest before maneuvering himself to side-sweep the gruff-looking man and sending him flying in the air with a clean vertical slash which caused him to flip around in the air. To finish off his attack, Sora leaped up at the man and grabbed part of his dark armored chest, and threw him at the ground making sure that he would land on his back.
Coming to a hard landing, the beaten man was knocked down and out for the count.
Turning his attention to several other dark agents who were reloading their weapons, Sora threw his Keyblade right at the agents before quickly resummoning it and calling out a Thunder spell to shock them. Allowing him to quickly run up to the weakened agents strike a them until they lost consciousness.
The rest of the operators were continuing their assault against the boy, but a few members noticed that there were more monsters than before. A startling number of monsters were now present.
"Hey, hey, hey! We're surrounded!"
The gunfire against Sora had come to a stop as the Keyblade wielder still had his shield form out while scanning the area and watching the operators closely.
"What's the plan now? Keep lighting him up?" another grunt asked while gesturing over at Sora.
"And what? Keep wasting your ammo. No, let's get the hell out of here."
Hearing the dark side operator casually announce that they were going to leave their allies and get out of there. It left him feeling upset and bewildered by how he could easily say all that.
"What's the matter with you!? You're just going to leave them!?"
Turning to the boy and aiming his rifle, the operator who suggested leaving simply scoffed at the boy while whistling at the others which seemed to signal something nonverbal.
"Tch. What does it matter to you hero? We're done here. Let's go!"
And with that, the remaining dark side operators simply gave the boy one last look before scrambling out of formation and retreating from the area while all the others that Sora had beaten were still lying around.
What a way to show comradeship.
Seeing that many Shadow Heartless were starting to show up, the spiky-haired hero knew that he needed to act, and it had to be fast.
'I can't protect everyone that's left knocked out. Unless…'
Realizing that he now had the ability to deal with multiple enemies now, Sora stylishly twirled his Keyblade around but in a quick flash of blue light there appeared to be something different in his hands. With both of his hands extended out, two strange-looking weapons were now being held onto.
Two guns to be specific.
Not to mention, his clothes had taken a blue color with star insignias all around his jacket and pants adding a bit of flair to his appearance.
Shooting Star form.
"Taaaakee Thissss!"
Taking one step forward followed by allowing his other foot to be in mid-air, Sora began firing away at all the Heartless in the area while twirling around and managing to send light projectiles at the foes. The projectiles had also taken the form of blue glowing arrows which managed to lock onto the Shadows surrounding him. Gunfire rained all around the area with blue lights striking everywhere the monsters were located. Making it almost look like a light show of some sort.
Deciding to cover more ground, Sora began sprinting at one of the metal containers where Heartless were beginning to take the high ground. He would not let that happen.
Once he was close enough to the container, he felt energy course through him which allowed his Flowmotion to activate and let him wall run across the large box while still firing his blasters nonstop. The box he was still running along was connected to a long line of containers which gave him enough time to come up with his next move. Improvisation to be exact.
Continuing to run and shoot at the Heartless, he spotted what appeared to be a crane of some kind which could allow him to get a better view of the area around him. Hence, what he did next was a bit of a show-off move.
Aiming his guns right at his feet, he cast a Wind spell that caused a green glow to appear at the end of his weapons creating a small vortex which managed to throw him forward into the air followed by him using his Airstep ability to zoom up to the crane. The sequence of events happened all in one go.
As Sora landed on top of the crane and his guns disappeared from his hands, he spotted just how many Heartless had spawned all around the cargo area. There were too many for him to deal with while also watching over the defeated dark-side operators.
"Come on. Give me a break."
Worry was arising in his chest as he wasn't sure what he should do next. His next plan would need to get a lot done. However, in a stroke of luck, the spiky-haired teen spotted what looked to be an open metal container which gave him an idea. If he couldn't watch over everyone, then he could at the very least protect them all at once.
Clutching one of his hands, he summoned one of his guns and gripped the handle tightly. This would not be an easy plan, but it was still something he had to do. He would not let the Heartless win.
Summoning his other gun, Sora quickly transformed the two weapons into a larger one in a blast of light creating what looked to be a rocket launcher of some sort. Heaving the weapon over his shoulder, the boy aimed it down at the ground and started firing round after round of a large sphere hitting the Heartless and causing lights akin to fireworks to light up the area. He then started using elemental spells to clear out the area where the downed operators were located. Raining fire down upon the ground.
Once he figured that enough of the Shadows had been cleared out of the area, Sora heaved the large weapon in his hands and jumped off the crane and aimed the launcher at the ground causing one last shot to rock the ground and clear out any remaining Heartless.
Falling through the air and back to his regular clothing, he landed on the ground by rolling until he came to a stop and quickly got back up to carry the downed dark side agents to the open container he spotted. Using his agile speed, he made short work of picking everyone up and reaching the metal box. Due to having cleared the area, it was super easy to get the job done.
In a matter of a few minutes, every single fallen operator was packed into the metal container with Sora having picked up the gruff-looking boss last. He gently dropped him in there while also realizing that he didn't want them to suffocate in the box. Hence, he closed the metal door until there was a gap of space still available for air to reach them, and then he shot an ice spell at the door freezing it shut. That way the dark side members couldn't escape. He would deal with them later.
Now having that concern dealt with, the spiky-haired boy turned his attention over to the area where the Heartless was first spotted. There seemed to be nothing there now as he had probably killed the monster during his onslaught. This raised many red flags in his head about what was going on.
"Are there any more dark side agents around here?" He said to himself while twisting his head to the other side and saw a few more metal containers open.
It soon dawned on him that Moogla's cleaner robot was somewhere within this cargo yard.
"Now then, where are you at little bot?"
Breaking out into a jog, he started running past as many cargo containers as he could while checking to see if there was any evidence of the robot being there. But luck was not on his side as he passed so many metal boxes but was ending up with nothing. He was starting to think that he got himself into an even more tough situation.
Perhaps he would be left running around for quite some time. That is until he remembered the obvious answer to his problem. He could have just called Moogla for help.
Bringing out his Gummiphone, he quickly called her number and waited for her to pick up. To his surprise, he did not have to wait long at all.
"Hello? Sora? Are you there, kupo?"
"Yep! I'm here."
"That's good to hear, kupo! What's the situation over there right now, kupo?" Moogla asked, sounding a bit concerned over the phone.
"Well, once I arrived in the area, I came across a group of people trying to capture a Heartless again."
"Again, kupo?"
"Ah. Right, I didn't tell you about that. Sorry but to make a long story short, I ended up running into this guy who was affiliated with the dark side of Academy City as he described it. He also told me that there was a job posted to capture a Heartless alive" Sora explained what had happened to him a few days ago.
"The dark side of Academy City… that doesn't sound good at all, kupo."
"Did you know about the dark side?"
"Yes, but not that much about it, kupo. I had only heard small talk captured from my robots while they were wandering around the city at night, kupo."
Sora couldn't help but let out a sigh. The more he learned about this dark side of the city, the more he started to wonder just what kinds of things were being done. Plus, now with the Heartless wandering around the city, it made him frown knowing that somebody put a hit out on capturing a Shadow. His mood slightly dropped. However, he snapped back to normal when he heard Moogla speaking again.
"But if they are looking to capture a Heartless, then we will need to stop that from happening, kupo."
"Huh? Moogla, you'll help me stop the Heartless?" Sora asked into the phone.
"Of course! I won't just stand by and let you deal with this all alone, kupo. Besides, I also know firsthand how dangerous the Heartless can be and the idea that someone wants them captured is bad news, kupo. I might not be able to fight but I'll do everything I can to make sure you're safe while out there fighting, kupo" Moogla affirmed to the boy.
Smiling ear-to-ear, Sora nodded his head in pure happiness.
"Thanks, Moogla! Hey, switching topics but can you currently see where your cleaner robot is now?"
"Hmm. Let me see… Oh! Yes! I can, kupo."
"Great. Can you tell me where it is or anything that stands out which can help me find it?"
Taking a second to check and see where the cleaner bot was currently, Moogla tried moving it around but could tell from the small video feed being sent to her that it looked to be trapped. Not sure what she could do to help Sora, she started controlling the machine via manual mode and kept trying to wiggle the robot back and forth. The result she got was the sound of metal crunching into the metal which made her wince slightly in guilt.
But that was exactly what Sora needed.
"Hey! I hear something."
"Oh! Then that's the machine, kupo. I'm trying to move it around, but it looks to be stuck under something, but I can keep trying to move it around to create some noise, kupo."
"Yeah, keep doing that. I'm heading over to the noise."
Keeping one hand on his Gummiphone, Sora kept jogging over to where he heard the noise and passed by many corners and walls created by stacked-up containers. The more he thought about the more he realized that he was in a maze-like area. He would have been here for hours were it not for Moogla's help. And he did not have that much time to waste.
Trekking around the corner of another large container, Sora now heard the cleaner robot loud and clear banging inside one of the metal boxes.
"Hey, Moogla, I found the container with the cleaner bot."
"That's good to hear, kupo!"
"Yeah, I'll set them free and give you a thumbs up signaling that everything is all good."
"I'll be waiting, kupo."
Ending the call, he put away his device and tried opening the metal container but realized that it had some kind of lock on it. This got him to smirk.
Summoning his Keyblade, he lightly tapped the lock with the weapon and a clicking sound could be heard followed by the lock falling off and hitting the ground. He then let go of his weapon and began opening the metal container expecting to find only Moogla's robot.
The look on his face could be described as complete bewilderment.
Many different-looking robots had been piled inside the small compact area. He would need to slowly take each machine out one at a time. Hence, a small sequence of him pulling each machine out and making sure that it was functionally running well. Save for a few minor cuts or scraps most of the machine looked to be working in good order.
His eyes lit up when he finally spotted a familiar-looking robot as it was Moogla's. Helping the machine out, he then checked to see the damage done to it and winced a bit at how hurt it looked. Alas, there wasn't anything he could do for it aside from giving the camera a thumbs up signaling to Moogla that all was well.
With his objective done, the spiky-haired boy turned his attention back to the cargo yard and figured that he would be on the hunt looking for wherever the Heartless moved to. A repeat of what happened on his first real night in this world.
However, before he could even make his next move something caught his attention as there appeared to be a dark mist appearing out of nowhere while floating in air and starting to gain traction in how big the cloud was becoming. His senses were being alerted internally as he recognized this sensation.
Darkness.
Throwing his hand out and summoning his weapon, Sora narrowed his gaze toward the dark mass and made sure to not let his guard down no matter what happened.
"…Well now…"
The brunette's eyes widen as he questioned himself if what he heard was real or not.
"It's a pleasure meeting you for the first time… Sora."
He was not kidding himself now. He heard that voice loud and clear even if it did sound a bit distorted. It was still able to be understood.
"Who are you?" Sora demanded.
In a suspenseful move, the dark mist started to conform to itself until it appeared to resemble a figure of some kind with no real distinguishing characteristics aside from looking like a person. This was the first time he had seen something like this.
"I think you know who I am, Guardian of Light."
This caused the Keyblade wielder to tighten the grip on his weapon as he was trying to remember if he had encountered something like this before. His thoughts went barreling through all his adventures and the challenging things that he went through. Nothing came to mind at all. Until… he remembered his latest quest to save Kairi. Going into the past and experiencing the Keyblade War again.
"Huh? Vanitas!?" he yelled out while watching the floating dark figure.
A small chuckle could be heard coming from the dark figure.
"That's a pretty good guess. But you're slightly wrong."
Safe to say, Sora was confused now.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"*sigh* It's true what they say about you. Stark and brave yet utterly stupid when it comes to understanding the truth of it all."
Gritting his teeth, he was getting frustrated with this figure's game.
"Enough! Just say who you are so I can kick your butt!"
Hearing this, the dark figure seemed to react in the dark mist surrounding them and appeared to grow even more while waving their hand.
"You already know who I am. Just give it a little more thought. You're almost there."
Glaring at the figure, Sora began to give some more thought to the Keyblade War and how darkness was heavily involved in the battle. Nothing was clicking until… It was then that he remembered venturing into Aqua and Ven's hearts where there was the aspect of…
He suddenly recalled venturing into Ven's heart and calling out to him only for someone or rather… something to respond to him instead.
'No, leave him be.'
'He's too pure… and a pure heart can be most careless.'
'…Darkness.'
Darkness…
Sora's breath became hitched as he now realized just who he was dealing with now.
"Wait… you're Darkness!?"
"Heh, there might be hope for you after all" the figure better known as Darkness commented.
Now knowing who he was dealing with, or at least a somewhat guess, the Keyblade wielder readied himself as he had a feeling this upcoming battle would not be an easy one. He could try to come up with a reasonable explanation for what was going on with the dark figure and why their name was Darkness later. Right now, he needed to be smart about his actions.
However, he would soon be stunned by what happened next. The dark figure simply raised one of its hands to stall the boy and get his attention.
"Now then, before we undoubtedly clash against each other… I feel there is something that first must be done."
"Oh yeah? Well, whatever it is I'm not interested!" the spiky-haired brunette shouted.
"Hmph. You're about to eat those words."
"Why?"
"Because it has to do with more or less a hypothesis of mine for why you came to this world."
To say Sora was stunned would not be the correct description of how he reacted. Puzzlement wouldn't even be enough justice to elaborate on his internal predicament.
Just what did this… Darkness know about him? And would it be worth it to listen?
These two questions were at the forefront of the Guardian of Light's mind as he continued to watch the dark figure. Waiting to see what might happen and how he would have to get himself out of this issue.
All bets were off the table now.
Meanwhile, within a luxury apartment across the city
Sitting on her highly manufactured and stylish couch, Mugino Shizuri was not in a good mood at all.
Having come back to her place after dealing with the problematic situation at her school, the tea-color-haired girl wanted to simply cast her mind aside and indulge in any kind of entertainment that was playing on the television screen or whatever was within the magazine she had in hand.
Sadly, that was not happening at all.
Her mind was clouded with nothing but anger and frustration being directed at everything and everyone. Including herself for some unknown reason.
The desire of becoming stronger so that she could overpower her foes and come out on top every single time was being tampered with as she couldn't help but feel like something was off within herself. Something that wasn't exactly medical and more in line with being… emotional. As stupid as that sounded.
Granted, this was an entirely new feeling that she was dealing with and the idea of confiding in anyone else for their input into the situation was an absolute and resounding no. The only person she needed to fix this damned problem was herself and nobody else. Hence, why she was in a foul mood and could be considered an actual ticking time bomb.
At least, that's what her roommates had visioned her to be.
Kinuhata, Frenda, and Takitsubo had noticed how tense and short-fused the brunette beauty had been all day and knew that by pissing her off they would face a wrath of fury involving laser beams to the face. That was something the three of them wanted no part of.
However, amidst the antagonizing aura given off by their leader, Takitsubo was the only one who was brave enough to say anything to the long-haired girl.
While Mugino conquered the living room, the tracksuit-wearing girl was sitting in the kitchen talking with Kinuhata who appeared to be pouring herself a glass of juice. The topic of missions had been something that they were discussing along with what they would buy on their next payday. During this eventful chatter between the two, Kinuhata had gotten curious to look up any new missions available for them to take and was shocked to see something that affected them all.
"Hey, Takitsubo, you might wanna super check this out."
Sliding her phone to the black-haired girl, she looked at the phone and began reading whatever was on the screen immediately understanding what was being conveyed and knew that they had to tell their leader. Even if that seemed like a suicide mission.
"Do you wanna tell Mugino?" Takitsubo asked Kinuhata.
Shaking her head and taking a sip of her juice, the short-haired girl responded kindly.
"With all due respect, I would like to super keep my clothes from getting burned or damaged from tanking laser beams. I think you should."
Casting another glance at the older girl, Kinuhata let out a sigh.
"Besides, Mugino is super less likely to vaporize you than me and Frenda's out of the question. She would probably get thrown out the window instead of shot at with lasers" she added.
Letting out a muffled sound, Takitsubo braced herself to tell Mugino the news.
Walking over to Mugino who seemed to be disgruntled and even looked to be glaring lasers into the big television screen, she just said what needed to be said.
"Mugino."
"*sigh* What Takitsubo? I'm not exactly in the mood for you or Kinuhata or even Frenda's shit."
"…Look."
Holding up Kinuhata's phone so that Mugino could see what was on the screen, the tea-color-haired girl aggressively swiped it away and into her own hands beginning to read what was on the device. The owner of said phone weakly realized that she would probably lose that phone due to it being destroyed here soon. That was fine. She wanted a newer model anyway.
Coming back to Mugino, the battle-fanatic girl couldn't help but stand up from the couch and start gripping the device tightly all while walking over to the decorated part of the room that had all the gathered information on Sora. She took one long look at the wall and then back to the phone and then back at the wall.
It would be a minute before she moved or said anything but when she did it was a bit different from their expectations.
"Kinuhata. Did you see that there is a new model of this phone out now?" Mugino said to the girl in question.
"Yep. Looks the same as mine now but I kinda super want it."
"…Good."
The device was suddenly tossed over at the girl who caught it gracefully before looking a bit surprised at her leader's reaction.
Closing her eyes, Mugino began walking over to the couch and picked up her phone and what looked to be her purse while opening her eyes and searching for something inside the expensive-looking bag. Once she found what she was looking for which appeared to be a small wallet of some kind, she turned to look at the two and spoke with a calmness that worried them greatly. What was going on with Mugino?
"Want to go out and get it with me now?"
"…Uh…super sure."
"Takitsubo? You coming?"
"Y-Yeah. I'll come."
"Alright then. Let me get something really quick."
And with that, the Level 5 made her way to her room while the two other girls looked at each other wide-eyed. Something was not right.
"Kinuhata."
"Don't ask me. I was super expecting her to hurl my phone like a quarterback from the American sport Football."
Tilting her head to the side to see if Mugino was coming back yet, Takitsubo spoke in a hushed tone of voice.
"This might be a reaching guess…"
"Any guess is super ok in my book" Kinuhata jokingly commented.
"But I think Mugino's acting this way because of…" Shooting another look at the tea-color-haired girl's room to see if she was coming back, Takitsubo continued. "Sora."
"You read my super mind. Ah. Abort. Abort" Kinuhata hastily said as she spotted the door to Meltdowner's room opening.
Walking out of her room, Mugino's appearance did not change at all, and it looked like she did not grab anything at all. However, that was all a façade.
Inside her room, she had grabbed a bunch of her silicon cards and tucked them into her pocket while also arranging a few other things in order. One such thing was something that she had been off-handedly working on and now would be the best time to test it out. The thing she was so keen on was a small earpiece that sat snuggly in her ear while not being visible to anyone.
This earpiece was something she requested soon after her fight with Sora and had gotten Item's support team to make it happen. The special device was attuned to her phone via a hidden system that updated her on sightings of the Heartless since they had become such a hot topic within a short amount of time. But alas, she honestly couldn't give a damn about the dark creatures. The real reason she cared was because of what a sighting would mean.
Aka a certain spiky-haired boy showing up.
Her drive to outwit and beat that house key-wielding bastard was unwavering and as she mentioned before, she needed to come up with a new battle strategy. Hence, she was going to stay up to date on any crucial information being played out via chatter within the dark side of Academy City. She had paid a pretty penny for a device such as this but in all honesty, it wasn't even a drop in her financial bucket.
Moreover, based on what Takitusbo had shown her with Kinuhata's phone, the job order to capture one of the monsters had been successfully completed by another dark side team meaning that there wasn't anything else she could do about that. However, that didn't mean it was no longer in her interest.
Sora was still heavily involved with those monsters.
This is why she proposed to go out and get Kinuhata the new phone model so that if opportunity proved itself, then she would step aside and see if she could catch up to the boy's antics and continue her plan to counter him and the bullshit he managed to pull off.
And in all honesty, she couldn't help but like this sort of challenge, the boy was putting her through. To become stronger not just with her power but in a mental fortitude kind of way. It made her blood run and excitement flood her heart while finally having something to look forward to aside from her usual hobbies, but realistically, she was focused on her eventual rematch with the boy.
Coming back to the girls in front of her, Mugino put on a plain-looking face while addressing them casually like nothing happened.
"So then, shall we get going?"
Nodding their heads, all three girls began making their way out of the apartment and down to the vehicle currently being called in by their leader all while Kinuhata and Takitsubo shot each other confused looks. Something was up with Mugino, and they weren't exactly sure what it was. Only that it must have some significance to her, and that time would tell.
Elsewhere deep inside an underground laboratory within the city
Sitting there inside an electrical cage was a lonesome Shadow Heartless who was simply tilting its head to the side while taking in its surroundings. It was currently located in a large white metallic room with computers, screens, and large testing tubes positioned around the space.
Many scientists were scattered all around the cage while holding either tablets or devices while observing the dark creature. Their interest was going through the roof all while speculation around the monster was being discussed amongst everyone. This was a situation that no one had predicted to happen at all and that was saying something.
However, standing in the back of the room was an older-looking man with a hunch and his eyes closed. There also appeared to be a birthmark on his right temple which was overshadowed by the unnerving smile appearing on his face. This man was better known as Kihara Gensei. Creator of the Ability Body Crystal which was a drug that induced an esper to overload their ability causing a temporary boost in power. Such a dangerous drug was seen as a complete accomplishment in the scientist's eyes to achieve something more.
The involvement and dealings within the Kihara family were anything but accomplishments.
Alas, Kihara Gensei was reveling in the fact that one of these mysterious creatures had finally been captured resulting in him having a hundred different ideas come to mind. The footage captured of these monsters in the past few days provided him alone with many new aspirations that could be tampered with and molded to fit his own goals and projects. The scientific theory of testing and testing until sufficient results were achieved.
The plans he had involving these dark creatures… just the thought made him giddy. And it was all thanks to the low-tiered dark side team for delivering this gift to him. He couldn't help but mutter out that the group might have a bright future. That is… if they don't end up dead.
"Now, now, we can all admire and relish the creature later." Walking up to the electrifying cage, the old man simply leaned down next to the creature and let a small smile appear at the corner of his mouth. "We have work to be done."
Time truly was of the essence as Kihara Gensei had many more projects of his to get back on track. He was, after all, an aspiring man with many insights.
Insights that would get him what he craved most of all… power and insight to possibility.
Notes:
*A/N* - Good to see you reach the bottom. I think it's safe to say a lot of things are in play now given that Sora has spent a good bit of time becoming accustomed to his new life in Academy City. Not to mention, the appearance of a certain pair of maroon-haired sisters. My intention of including Popola and Devola from the Nier series is simply for a guest appearance. Like in Kingdom Hearts, there are Final Fantasy characters appearing in the series while not entirely taking attention away from the story and being different takes on the characters. I wanted to do something like that for this story and hope it'll be well received. I'm even thinking about dropping even more FF guest appearances, but it won't always happen. Just a thought.
In addition, the bit about Mugino is something I came up with since we don't exactly know where she goes to school since it's never brought up. Hopefully, with the next addition to the Item Light Novel, we learn a bit more about her and where she goes to school since she is a teenager. Moreover, the bit about Touma is a direct link to where this is now in the timeline since we are still in early September. September 8th to be exact which is when the Orsola Aquinas Arc beings. With Sora's involvement, things are bound to change within the canon, and we will start to see it evolve more and more. Nevertheless, the True Darkness has now contacted the Guardian of Light. Things are about to get ridiculous. I hope you take care and until next time. See you.
Chapter 13: First Clash of the Night
Summary:
Having found himself in an unusual and dangerous situation, Sora will have to hear just what the mysterious being calling itself Darkness has to say. Furthermore, the events of this night will be noticed by many throughout the city. Causing a lingering question to remain prevalent at the forefront of their minds... Just who is Sora?
Notes:
*Disclaimer* – I do not own the copyright to the Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index franchises
*A/N* – Salutations everyone. Hope you are doing well or as good as one can be. Things are starting to ramp up with Sora's involvement in the city followed by events throughout the actual story with Touma off on his own adventure. For those who are new to Toaru or not as familiar with the timeline, then know that he's in the Orsola Aquinas Rescue Arc while Misaka Mikoto and her close friends are in an affiliated city of A.C. better known as Liberal Arts City. Hence, while those two are nowhere near to helping Sora in his upcoming battles it'll just make the fight seem even more lonesome. I believe that it's time for the hero to come face to face with a challenge that only he will be able to face. Given that what comes next is something he is familiar with but also the realization that Sora has been having a bit of an easy time in the city. Well, that's about to change as he is also about ready to embark on his next adventure in the city.
Thank you all to those who check this story out and will continue to do so. All the reviews and discussions around the story are truly amazing and I hope you'll stick around for more to come. With that out of the way, I hope you enjoy this chapter and what's to come.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Staring up at the dark figure looming above him, Sora couldn't help but grip the handle of his weapon tightly. He didn't want to admit it, but a sour feeling was bubbling in his chest. He had encountered this feeling before in his adventures and it occurred right before something bad happened. One moment that came to mind was during his first encounter with Xehanort possessing Terra back in the Keyblade Graveyard back when Donald… cast the Zettaflare right at the corrupted Keyblade wielder causing him to…
Shaking his thoughts from that bad memory, he focused his attention back on the mysterious figure while waiting for something to be said.
"…Well, humor me. Aren't you going to say something about what I just said?" Darkness commented while seemingly tilting its head.
Letting out a small groan, the Guardian of Light replied, "What's there to say? How do I know you're not just trying to mess with me? Or that you're just making things up?"
A scoff could be heard from the black-clouded figure. It almost sounded like a laugh if you thought about it.
"Amusing. No, Sora, I think we are both past the point of playing cat and mouse when it comes to learning the truth of the matter on important subjects. Besides, as surprising as this sounds, you are the only person in this entire world who truly understands certain elements of what I have to say. Were I to tell anyone impounded by the magic side or deceived on the science side, then all I have to tell would fall to empty ears. Strange, isn't it? That I would seek the ear of someone who stands directly opposite to everything that I am."
"I don't think so." Casting a glance over at the dark figure, Sora continued to speak. "It's normal to want someone to listen to you. Especially if it's something really important like the idea of why you are here. In this world…"
A stark moment of silence passed before Darkness said anything.
"Well then, with that in mind, may I ask you, Guardian of Light, to listen to what I have to say. Save the action and conflict for a moment."
Seeing that this was one of the strangest encounters he's ever had with a being of darkness, Sora begrudgingly decided to hear the being out on what he had to say.
"…Alright, I'm listening."
"Thank you."
Suddenly, the dark figure seemed to extort a small blast of darkness around itself before steadily falling to the ground so that it was now standing in front of Sora. This would be a long conversation.
"Now then, to get to the matter at hand, the reason for your appearance in this world is… complicated to say the least."
"No surprise there."
"Yes, nothing is ever as simple and clean. Which is why I believe there are three viable solutions for why you appeared in this world and… not somewhere else" Darkness said while leaving that last part ominous.
That comment left Sora tilting his head in confusion.
"What? What do you- "
"Never mind that. Now then, the first guess as to why you appeared in this world is fairly simple. Someone summoned you here."
The idea of someone summoning him to a world was something that didn't make sense at first, but the more Sora pondered on it, the more it started to sound like a far outreach of an explanation, and yet… he found himself involved in many things that did not make any sense at all.
"Is that even possible? I mean, I'm still not familiar with this world's power dynamic on either the Magic or Science Sides. And, how do you know about the Magic and Science Sides clashing with one another?" he questioned the dark figure.
"It's not that difficult to notice that there are conflicts behind the scenes. This world is truly filled with idiots floundering around without a care for anything. Or there are those who choose to remain obvious to the unexpected. Those who have fashioned their entire world around the promise of power and influence granted by scientific discovery and application. And those who entrench themselves into the depths of faith and religion basking in everything magic has to offer. Moreover, both sides have yet to truly understand just what is possible and what is out there beyond their self-centered worlds. However, you see past all that central-minded thinking thanks to your past experiences and openness to new things."
Paying mind to what the individual surrounded by darkness was saying, Sora could in a way see what they were getting at. His mind drifted over to the explanation he gave to Mugino and how she very easily disregarded everything he had to say about the heart. Granted, it was a rather difficult subject to understand and even one that he wasn't all that knowledgeable about since there were times, he still learned a thing or two regarding it. But the fact that she dismissed the idea of trying to understand it gave him the impression of understanding what Darkness was getting at.
"Even if that's the case… How does that still affect me being summoned here?" the spiky-haired teen remarked.
"Again, I must reiterate that this is simply a hypothesis split into three subtle explanations without any realistic merit behind what I'm saying" Darkness responded.
"Then why am I still listening to you?" Sora asked, now pointing his weapon at the clouded figure.
"Because deep down you also wish to know why you appeared here in this world. Besides, would you have preferred staying afloat and wandering endlessly in the Final World? Lost for all time on the border between life and death?"
A frown followed by a downtrodden expression could be seen on the boy's face as he recalled the last time he appeared in the Final World and how it was during nighttime. Alone and confused in a place where he had no idea what was going on. He did not want to go through that again.
"I thought so." Darkness stated while seeing the boy take a second to pause and think about the Final World. "Hence, I'm of the mind that someone on the magic side performed a ritual or summoning of sorts to bring you here. If or how they did so, then I am unaware of how it was possible. However, another element of this world to consider is that you have only seen the science side of things. That which you still have not even come close to understanding. The gods and goddess worshiped in this world… the tranquilities and retributions of the various religions sprouted in this world have yet to be discovered or shown to you."
Sora was once again left with nothing to say and could just continue frowning at the dark figure. There was so much that he did not know about that it was starting to make him realize how small he was in this world.
"And yet, this leads me to my second viable hypothesis."
Letting out an annoyed sigh, Sora retorted quickly.
"Let me guess, you're blaming the science side."
"Heh, was it that easy of a guess?"
"No, you're just predictable" the teen shot back.
"Oh? Do you really want to go there? I'll make this very clear, Guardian of Light…" Darkness said in a tone of seriousness that was indistinguishably different from how they had been talking this entire time.
"I have seen and experienced many things in my time wandering through various worlds. I have seen the rise and fall of Keyblade wielders old and new. I have brandished the power to snuff out the light in not just one but many worlds. I am anything but predictable" Darkness continued to lament to Sora who had gone into a defensive stance looking ready for a fight.
A solemn moment seemed to inject itself between the two as the wielder of light and the being of darkness seemingly glared at each other.
However, nothing came to pass as the dark figure surprisingly let out a light chuckle before taking a few steps to the side with Sora having a confused look on his face.
"Haha, well I'll be, you have heart, Sora. Which is why I must say you are everything I've heard and more."
"What? You've been stalking me?"
Shaking what was most likely its head, Darkness replied.
"No, no. Not stalking but more like observing." Darkness took a few more steps to the side once more before continuing. "Before arriving in this world and quite some time ago might I add, I had managed to… exchange some words with someone who had learned of your great feats. Along with a gratuitous depiction of your character."
'Someone was talking about me… But who?'
This realization left the teen confused and a bit nervous. Was it someone that he knew? Maybe an old enemy? He had a lot of those now that he thought about it, but nobody seemed to come to mind.
"Who told you about me?" Sora asked, looking directly at Darkness.
The dark figure simply let a moment pass adding a dramatic tone to the mood before openly replying.
"…Someone you've yet to meet."
Confusion was once again evident on his face.
"What? I-I don't understand."
"And you're not supposed to. Alas, it's not my place to explain it to you either. Just know that… You are someone of great value and importance. If I were to make it plainer to you since I can see the look of utter confusion and intrigue on your face, then listen well to this."
Sora unconsciously leaned forward a bit and kept his ears focused on what was about to be said.
"Consider that there is a book that details a vast majority of experiences and stories waiting to be read and learned from." The sound of fingers snapping could be heard from Darkness as footsteps were taken again. "However, this book only details the most important aspects of said experiences or stories stored inside. Along with the realization that there are many topics that are continuously mentioned no matter how strange or drastic the story changes. One of these topics if you will… is you."
The boy's mouth was left slightly open with nothing to be said but sheer surprise.
"Me?"
"Yep. You should feel honored. Your name is mentioned a great deal of times more so than many others."
"But… But wait how does that- "
"Ha, and that's all I have to say on that matter. As I said, it's not my place to explain anything. I would daresay that I've said too much already."
Frustration was starting to pile up within the boy as he couldn't help but glare at the dark figure. Here he thought that being kept in the dark on certain subjects was not going to be present.
"What happened to speaking plainly?" Sora asked, having a bit of anger in his tone of voice.
"I have been speaking plainly. However, there are things that I have no right to explain to you. Not because I won't or can't but shouldn't. That is for you to learn. Besides, we have yet to discuss the second idea in depth" Darkness said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Letting his gaze drop down to the side, Sora had to admit that everything being discussed between the two wasn't even covering everything. He still had to learn more about the magic of this world along with the workings of esper abilities and science. This realization was starting to make him have a headache.
"Right… your second hypothesis focused on the science side."
"Correct. This one is a bit more on the complicated side of things. Well, for you I would say it's more convoluted than trying to understand anything else in the city."
Sora had no response and simply frowned.
"Getting to the point, the experimentation of new esper abilities and the research applications to enhance an esper of high aptitude regarding quantum physics and atomic manipulation is just one of the thousands of things this city has going for it. However, to make this easier for you to understand seeing that this is all going above your head" Darkness proclaimed.
This got the spiky-haired teen to let out a growl while also getting fed up with the mysterious figure's demeaning comments.
"That's what you think."
"That's what I know. You haven't the faintest clue when it comes to personal realities or the complexity within an electromasters capabilities or even the dissertation of mental sustainability. You should keep to your own knowledge which breaks all reasoning in this world. Even your magic is something that has those in the Magic Side scratching their heads in confusion due to what you can conjure at a moment's notice" the dark figure explained to the boy who slowly realized just how disadvantaged he was in this topic.
"Grr…. *sigh*…"
The dark figure took a few more steps until they were now standing a few meters away from the spiky-haired teen watching him carefully. Messing with the Keyblade wielder was starting to prove quite fun.
"Now then, may I continue with my explanation? Unless you have something else to say?"
"…" Sora remained quiet indicating that he wasn't going to say anything else.
"Good. Where was I? Oh. Right, the Science Side. This is more along a wide hypothesis but allow me to humor you. It would be possible that those in the upper echelons of Academy City conducted an experiment tampering with a force of power they have no clue about which must have had some kind of pull on your… how should I put it… Light if you will."
Sora had to repeat what he just heard.
"Hold on, you think that a science experiment pulled me to this world? You do realize how complicated and complex that would have to be right? I mean, I'll be upfront and say that I have no idea how a lot of the science stuff works but again this world has a whole different take on that end of things."
"Hmm. Good to see you know your weaknesses. However, taking what you say to note, you'd be surprised at what these imbeciles strive for. It does not matter what it is they have to achieve or who they have to get rid of, Academy City is overflowing with darkness throughout the city. In ways that you would not believe unless you saw it with your own eyes."
Hearing that there were elements of darkness in this world that he couldn't even fathom left the hero feeling a bit uneasy. Just what was going on in the background of the city? And how deep did this darkness spread throughout the city? He had only gotten a glimpse at the dark side of the city through his encounter with the dark operatives and ITEM, but he was sure there was more to it. And that was starting to worry him.
"Putting that to the side, there is one esper that you've yet to meet but knowing how adventurous your life can be, I say you'll encounter him soon enough" Darkness implied to Sora.
"An esper… who?"
"A Level 5 to be frank."
Sora's eyes shot up, "A Level 5…"
"I don't believe you know all the names of the Level 5's in the city. Allow me to take the time to name them all." The sound of someone or something clearing their throat could be heard. "Some names will obviously sound familiar."
The brunette kept a close eye on the being enveloped in darkness. He did not like where this conversation was going now.
"In order from weakest to strongest, you have Sogitta Gunha the seventh who is considered to be the strongest Gemstone."
"Gemstone?"
"A term used for a special individual with varying degrees of power. Look it up yourself. Next, we have Aihana Etsu, not much is known about the sixth only that they can give others power. They are someone that I'll be interested in looking for."
A glare could be seen on Sora's face as he was against that idea.
"Next would be the blonde starry-eyed middle schooler, Shokuhou Misaki also known as Mental Out. Her ability revolves around the utilization of moisture-manipulated chemicals inside the brain. Someone you need to watch what you are thinking whenever you're around her. Otherwise, she might just get a bit curious and poke her head into your business."
Listening to Darkness talk about his friend in such a way left a distasteful sense in his mind and heart. This was also made apparent by Sora balling up his left hand while continuing to glare at the figure.
"Following her on the power scale would be Mugino Shizuri aka Meltdowner."
Sora seemed to pause when he heard Mugino's name pop up. Just what was going to be said about her? Based on how what was being said about the other Level 5's, he was starting to get the idea that this was all an analysis of their powers and abilities as well as a look into their characters.
"Well now, you can consider her to be a glass cannon with that ability of hers. Control over electrons in a state where they are both wave and particle which allows them to be fired off into beams of light. Hmm. She's a very interesting case along with the fact that she has a short, fused temper. Might be the reason nobody likes her or that she's easily replaceable given that a girl younger than her took the third-ranked spot from her."
Hearing the details about Mugino's personality, Sora didn't want to outright say that it was all true, but… there was a part of him that couldn't disagree with what was said about her ticking time bomb personality. However, he could also counter and say that there was so much more to her than just what was being said or what a report documented about her. Her heart expressed so many different feelings and he noticed them twice now. Once upon their first encounter and the other when the two went to the park.
Mugino Shizuri was more than just a glass cannon.
"Here's where the Level 5's start getting interesting. Misaka Mikoto also known as Railgun. Electromaster with the ability to generate, manipulate, and sense electricity with an output of 1 billion volts. Hmm, there's a bunch more information I could list down but just know that she's got more potential than the other Level 5's I just mentioned."
Misaka… Sora let out a sigh hearing that she was also being talked about like she was some object or subject for Darkness to label off. It was starting to anger the teen to the point that the temptation of slinging his Keyblade at the being was becoming more of a reality than a thought.
"Following her in research potential would be Kakine Teitoku better known as Dark Matter…"
Darkness suddenly stopped speaking which caught Sora off guard and forced him to quickly scan the area. Something was up.
"What? What is it?"
"Hmph. Nothing. Just a thought that came to mind" Darkness responded spaciously which warranted the brunette to become even more considered about the situation.
That did not sound good to Sora.
"Dark Matter's ability allows for him to create unknown matter that does not naturally exist and does not follow the normal laws of physics. And while this may sound like a terrific ability let it be known that his personality lingers in the garbage. In fact, now that I think about it… most of the Level 5's seem to have personalities that jump from normal to outright rude or crazy or even cold. Must be a thing they all share. Wallowing in what could be described as despicable. Each has their own faults that weigh them down further from being an actual decent human being."
Before the formless dark individual could utter another word, the teenage Keyblade wielder took a step forward and called out to him.
"You're wrong about that!" Sora yelled out.
"Oh? And how so? How am I wrong with my analysis?"
Lowering his free hand but keeping it balled up, the brunette began to speak with his heart and defend his friends.
"While Mugino may have quite the temper, that doesn't mean she's heartless to things. She has her own thoughts and feelings about things. Both good and bad. And here's the kicker, you haven't even met her so, you don't know her at all. The same goes for Misaka and Shokuhou. Their hearts are also filled with love and care and are beyond friendly and positive to those around- "
"Yes, yes. But let me remind you of something vital. You have not been in this world longer than a month. You still know nothing. Nothing about them and nothing about this world. This world is not as simple as black and white" Darkness implied to the courteous teen.
"That…"
Sora had to bite his tongue. What the dark being was saying rang a tune of truth behind the statement directed at him. He really had not been in Academy City or even this world for that long and there were still many things he had yet to discover.
"I'm right and you know it. Now then…" Darkness seemed to put a pin in Sora's response and went back to the main topic at hand. "We come to the golden boy of Academy City and especially the higher-ups. Accelerator."
Unexpectedly, Darkness raised its hand forward and a small orb started to appear with dark energy appearing to pile up into the sphere. Sora had no idea what was going on but knew that it wasn't anything good. Hence, he started mentally preparing himself for a fight even though there was still much to talk about.
"He has quite the firepower behind his ability. Able to control the vectors of anything he touches. If I remember correctly, then he also has the ability to automatically reverse and redirect the vectors of things that would get close to him. I wonder what magic would do to him?" the dark figure elaborated to the defensive-looking boy.
The orb in Darkness's hand suddenly disappeared leaving the teen to let out a sigh.
"I don't think I've met him yet…" Sora idly commented.
"That's expected. Even I have not gotten the chance to meet him officially. Though… truth be told I'd rather just mess with him than actually bother to care about his ability."
To say that he was surprised would be an understatement. Sora wasn't sure if he heard the figure right given that it was Accelerator he was talking badly about. The first-ranked, strongest in the city was not in his interest. What was going on?
"Huh? That's surprising."
"What? Not taking an interest in number one? That's what everyone else would do. However, my interests are… on a grander scale."
"Such as…" Sora inquired.
Deciding that it wouldn't hurt to leak one of his current interests, Darkness continued speaking.
"…The second-ranked. His ability to manipulate and create matter not belonging to this world is where my second hypothesis stems from. The fundamental process of working such a power as that would be difficult for the scientists of this world. However, you and I are not from this world. We have seen our fair share of different abilities in our time traveling throughout the many open worlds."
Sora did not want to vocally admit it, but the dark presence was right about that. He had seen many things that anybody would write off as being made up or fake, but that couldn't be any more wrong.
"So… you think Dark Matter's ability is what brought me here? To this world…"
"It's only a thought. Of course, there are other ways the science side could have done such a thing. Tampering with matter and spatial quality that they have no business in messing with or research conducted into moving one object from one place to another breaking the mold for what it already established in an esper's limit. Espers with the ability to teleport would provide a better insight into that whole field. Alas, who knows… but that does lead me to my final hypothesis for why you are in this world" Darkness explained.
Seeing that this could be important, Sora did not respond and simply narrowed his gaze over at the being covered in nothing but dark mist.
"Giving it some more thought, I would like to change this hypothesis into more of a… guess."
"A guess? What, not feeling confident in your work?" Sora retorted, confused about the sudden change.
"No, it's just that this is more of feeling rather than backed-up information to support my stance."
This got the brunette teen to gesture to the dark figure to say what they had to.
"My official guess would have to be that it was your heart that brought you here."
That was not what Sora was expecting at all.
"My heart? What does that mean? I brought myself here?"
"Is that so hard to believe? Aren't you the one who has gone on to accomplish many things that no one thought possible regarding another's heart? Bringing back those who lost their hearts? Listening to one's heart who needed comfort?"
Again, the Keyblade's Chosen One was at a loss for words. Everything Darkness was saying was all true even the small bits and pieces of bringing his friends back or giving Ven's heart a place to rest. This being of darkness knew a great deal about him and it was starting to make him feel worried.
Letting out a low annoyed groan from his mouth, Sora decided to see where else this chat was going.
"…Is there anything else that needs to be said about my heart bringing me here?"
"Yes. There is more to tell. I think you can understand that this world is unlike any you have visited before in your numerous adventures."
He couldn't disagree with that statement.
"Yeah… this world is very different."
"This is why I believe your heart brought you here. To help save it."
Casting a glance at the area around him and even peering at the tall buildings appearing a good distance away from him, Sora was starting to have his own thoughts on the entire matter.
'Could my heart really have called me here? Is there something going on in this world that I don't know about yet? Does it have to do with this world's heart? The Heartless? I mean, my heart did react to Ven's when I was younger… is it that far-fetched to think my heart was called to this world? To Academy City…'
Right before Sora could ponder anything else about his heart playing a role in his being here, Darkness seemed to take a few more steps away from him and was now looking up at the buildings that were tall enough to be seen in this location.
"Furthermore, I would also like for you to think about something very interesting as it has to do with those you consider to be your friends."
At this point, the spiky-haired teen was becoming annoyed with the dark being's ominous words.
"What is it now?"
"Quite the reaction. However, this is something you should truly ponder about."
"What? I'm guessing it has to do with me?"
A small chuckle could be heard coming from the figure clad in nothing but dark mist around their entire body leaving a sense of unease in the atmosphere.
"Not exactly. Rather, it has something to do with… the Seven Level 5's."
Sora's blood ran cold when the term seven was said.
"Seven… such a unique number. You know as well as I do just how important and impactful that number can truly be."
'The Seven Guardians of Light fighting against the Thirteen Seekers of Darkness…' Sora thought to himself.
"But not to worry that is nothing more than an… interesting topic. Followed by the upholding of power that a saint has stored within them. And those two topics are just a few that come to mind when it comes to discussing possibilities…" Darkness explained while leaving a bad feeling in the boy's heart.
It would be a minute before either of them said anything else but the one to break the silence was none other than the mysterious being.
"Hmm… it would seem that we have come to a conclusion on my indulgent explanations" Darkness casually commented.
"Yeah… we have."
Sora said this while conveying a sense of boldness. He was not going to let the Darkness get away from him and hurt his friends.
"However, before we get this show moving- "
"Figured this wasn't going to just be a normal talk."
Crossing their arms behind their back, Darkness held the posture of an amused person even though there were no real details or expressions on their face. It was still completely blank and devoid of anything human.
"Of course, I gave you a rather exploited explanation of why you may be in this world. Furthermore, I would hope that you do the same in return."
"What exactly are you getting at?" Sora questioned the dark being, gripping the handle to his Keyblade tightly.
"I would like for you to… help me with something. Something you seem to be rather good at." Raising their right hand, the same orb that Sora noticed earlier had instantly appeared back into Darkness's hand and was beginning to expand greatly even covering the dark being in a blast of dark clouds.
Jumping back and raising his weapon forward to block the incoming attack, Sora was met with the dark expanded cloud seemingly fading away and now leaving him with a shocked and worried expression on his face. The time for action was nigh.
Standing there right next to the dark figure was a large beast with a gray body followed by two bull-like horns and flowing manes. The creature also appeared to be quadrupedal with all of its legs touching the ground with claws on each foot. Another stand-out feature of the monster standing there was the large, expanded muscles appearing all throughout its body followed by the wide-open mouth with many sharp teeth including two rather large fangs popping out of the top of its mouth. A tuff of hair was also spotted on its head.
"I believe you have yet to encounter such a beast like this one, right, Sora?"
The spiky-haired boy remained silent and quietly prepared himself for what appeared to be a rough fight coming his way.
"Well, there is one other thing that needs to be done before you are properly greeted."
With a snap of their right fingers, the large creature suddenly had darkness appearing all around it causing drops of black liquid to ooze around its colossal body. Within seconds, the entire monster was now covered in a black pigment while one very drastic and dangerous feature was now present on its body that caused a droplet of sweat to trail down his neck.
The monster's eyes were now glowing a bright yellow indicating that it was now a Heartless.
"Sora, allow me to introduce to you this magnificent creature. The Heartless Behemoth."
A loud roar could be heard screeching throughout the train yard and expanded out into the city surely waking up the residents of said District 17 and beyond. It wouldn't be outlandish to think that roar must have reached further than expected.
Coming to a standstill, Sora carefully moved his body so that his undivided attention was on the dangerous-looking monster while also making sure that he watched the dark figure closely.
"What's the matter? Not in the mood to fight me yourself?" Sora directed to the dark opponent.
"No, no. If that's what you want then I'm more than fine knocking you down a peg." Darkness said while taking a few steps forward throwing Sora's battle instincts start to immediately go off and shifted himself ready for a fight.
However, that all changed when Darkness suddenly stopped walking and glanced over at the Behemoth and then back at Sora before shaking their head.
"…Such as shame. As much as I would enjoy dealing with such an experienced challenger that will have to wait for another time. For now, I would like to test you."
"Test me? I have to be evaluated in order to send you packing to the Final World?" Sora shouted, confused by this unique interaction.
"Funny. But no, Sora. Think of this as nothing more than a… warmup if you will."
"A warmup? What are you- "
The figure encased in dark mist did not let the boy get another word in.
"You'll see soon enough. There is still much to talk about along with something that I still need your help with."
"This doesn't make any sense!? You're asking me for help now!?" The spiky-haired teen was at a total loss for what was going on.
"All will be explained soon enough. Well…" Taking a look at the Heartless Behemoth that was seemingly growling at the bearer of light, Darkness simply began walking away casually. "Soon enough depending on how long it'll take you to deal with him."
Summoning a Corridor of Darkness not that far away, the figure encased around dark mist slowly began walking through the portal but not before uttering one last thing.
"Good luck. And do try to make a good show out of your fight."
Disappearing out of sight, Sora tried calling after the foe but was rudely stopped when he saw the Heartless Behemoth rear its head forward into the sky and let out an ear-piercing roar that shook many of the metal containers located throughout the cargo yard. Sora knew that it was only him and the Heartless beast now and based on first impressions alone this monster could not be left alone. If so then… he did not want to think about how much trouble it could be for the residents of Academy City.
Quickly readjusting his weapon into his hands and making sure that he had his keychains ready to go, the Keyblade wielder would put an end to this otherworldly beast. No matter what it takes.
*ROOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR*
The Heartless Behemoth had let out a nerve-wracking yell while having its jaw open wide so that all of its sharp and dangerous teeth were on display.
At the same time, within the boy's pants pocket, a bright white light was starting to pulsate without him even noticing. What was even stranger was that another light appeared to be glowing dimly and trying very hard to reach the same kind of brightness that the white light was emitting. These two objects were better known as the Oathkeeper and Oblivion keychains representing his best friends and it would seem that something was happening to them right now.
The battle between the dark beast and the Guardian of Light was about to begin.
Meanwhile… in another part of the city
Standing in what appeared to be a fairly long line was Mugino Shizuri followed by two of her teammates from ITEM quietly waiting right next to another group of girls that appeared to be around their age. Kinuata and Takitsubo were keeping their eyes fairly active on the part that they would try to glance around at all the other people seemingly waiting in line with them for the new model to Kinuhata's phone while also glancing over at their leader. The task proved to be quite difficult given that if they were spotted by the brunette beauty, then all hell would be unleashed, and it did not matter if a scene was played out in front of everyone.
After leaving their apartment, the trio continued to make their way to the Dianoid located in District 15 to purchase the newer model phone at the behest of Mugino. However, along the unquestionably long car ride to the mall, the duo couldn't help but realize that their leader appeared to be in a trance-like state where she merely kept to herself and did not interact with the two. This just furthered their belief that whatever was going on had to do with the spiky-haired boy.
However, there wasn't much they could do now to find out what exactly happened to her. Hence, the only plan to go with would be to purchase the new phone and see where else their intimidating leader wanted to go.
"Say, Takitsubo, are you super gonna get a new phone as well?" Kinuhata asked, hands in her pocket and looking up at the black-haired girl.
"Hm… I don't know" the tracksuit-wearing girl replied in a noncaring tone.
"You might as well. It'll at least super kill some time while we wait for…" Kinuhata perked her head to the side to see what Mugino was doing and saw that she was still looking at her phone without her eyes trailing away from the screen. "Whatever Mugino says our next move will be."
"Mm… Oh. Looks like we're getting closer" Takitsubo said, pointing ahead with her index finger.
Seeing that she was right, Kinuhata let out a content sigh. They were finally almost at the finish line to purchase the shiny new piece of tech. She was getting tired of waiting in line for an excruciating amount of-
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a crowd of people were rushing to get toward what appeared to be one of the exits within the mall. This sudden movement managed to catch everyone's attention that was waiting in the line and even Mugino shifted her head to see what all the commotion was.
A few more people were starting to run past the stationary line and were heading to where everyone else was going. It was at this point that Kinuhata grabbed the shoulder of one of the people that was on the move.
"Hey, what is super going on?"
"I don't know. I just heard one of my friends call me that there was a loud roar coming from outside. Guess it must be loud enough to be heard around the mall" the stranger said before continuing to jog over and join the clambering crowd.
Left with nothing to really go off, Kinuhata turned to look over at Takitsubo and Mugino for any input but was met with the dark-haired girl having a plain-looking expression on her face while the tea-color-haired girl seemed to be pressing her hand up to her ear.
In Mugino's case, she had been clued into dark-side radio chatter for quite a while now. The frequency channel that she had managed to get connected with thanks to her new technology was picking up radio chatter from many different support teams throughout the dark side of Academy City. So far it had been steadily quiet aside from some idle talk regarding a target but nothing else. Now, however, that had changed due to a barrage of voices flooding her ear about something going on in District 17. Alas, there were no real details about what was happening only that it was causing quite the disturbance. And now with the crowd of people swarming the exit to hear a roar of some kind… something didn't add up.
Before she could continue to ponder about what was going on, Mugino could sense that someone was trying to get her attention. Shifting her eyes to her front, she saw Takitsubo waving her hand to get her attention.
"Mugino… we're up next."
Looking ahead, the older teen girl noticed that the majority of the line was now gone as the people that were waiting had booked it to the exit to join the growing crowd.
"Damn. Aren't we lucky?"
"Yeah… So, what's next after we get the phone?" Takitsubo asked her leader.
Crossing her arms across her chest, Mugino did not want to be caught in a situation where something exciting would happen while she was on her way back to her apartment. Hence, she figured that she could extend this sudden shopping trip.
"There are some things that I want to check out at the store where I usually get my pants. I want to try out a new outfit that I thought of earlier today" she explained to AIM Stalker.
"I see…"
"Why? Is there someplace you want to check out?" Mugino questioned the bored-looking girl.
"No, not really. Just curious where we were heading next."
"Hmm."
Mugino didn't pay Takitsubo much mind now as there was now chatter being discussed inside her headphone only this time it was taking on the form of yelling and confusion. Many different voices were spilling out of her headphone that she had to reach for her phone and turn the volume down to try and make out just what the hell was being said.
"What the fuck is that!?"
"You've got to be- "
"This isn't real. This isn't real."
"Who the hell knew that the city was messing with animals like this!?"
"Repeat. Say that again? I'm not understanding- "
"That doesn't- "
"Now the higher-ups are fucking with lions!?"
"Repeat. What is the status on- "
"That's… what the hell…"
Mugino's mind was now on an automatic drive to try and understand just what the hell was going on now. There had been no talk at all just a minute ago and now there were many different channels all freaking out about something that-
*ROOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR*
It was now made clear what the dark side radio channels were freaking out about. And the brunette couldn't wait any longer to find out what was going on. Just as she was about to call out to Kinuhata and Takitsubo about her plan of leaving, she was abruptly stopped when one of the frequency channels picked something up.
"Repeat. That boy from the news coverage is engaging in combat with the… I don't even know what that thing is."
"Sectors 5, 6, and 7 are clear of any Anti Skill movement and are reinforcing- "
"Evacuation efforts are in talk at- "
"Status on the boy's location."
"Helicopters are bound for District 17 and making slow progress on- "
"Repeat. The target is- "
*KA-BOOM*
What could be described as the sound of something large blowing up was blasting through the high school girl's headphone leaving her beyond puzzled at just what was going on. Without wasting another second, Mugino took off in a split second out of the line and further into the mall.
Takitsubo, noticing the girl's sudden action tried to call out to her but realized that it would only be ignored.
Kinuhata also noticed her leader take off immediately and thought about going after her but stopped when she felt a tug on her shoulder. Looking at Takitsubo who appeared to be the suspect, she asked her about the situation.
"Shouldn't we super go after her?"
"No… If we did then I'm sure we would be yelled at."
"Yeah… and if we stay here there's also the super chance that we still get yelled at. No winning in this situation."
"Mm…"
Left with no real solution, the two decided to continue to stay and purchase the new phone while also making sure to get Mugino one as well even if she did not need it. Takitsubo also told the short-haired girl about where the brown-haired girl wanted to go afterwards which got the two thinking that she would likely still be within the Dianoid. Hence, their curiosity for whatever was happening around them was starting to ramp up. Just what was going on?
However, with the tea-color-haired Level 5, Mugino was continuing to pick up the pace as she was now on one of the higher levels within the mall while still listening to the dark side radio channels freaking out about what they were seeing. These support teams must have been pretty shocked to see whatever was going on in District 17 because it was a nonstop repeat of questions regarding a giant monster or something matching that illustration. As she was now in a part of the mall where it offered a view of the city from a different perspective, she tried to see what was going on in the direction of all the activity.
Coincidentally, she did not have to wait long until she heard what could only be described as a loud and terrifying shriek coming from what sounded like a large creature based on how intimidating and deep the yell had been. There was no way to know which direction the scream had come from, but Mugino knew that it was starting to pick up in intensity.
'What the hell have you gotten yourself involved in… Sora…'
Back with Sora
The situation had gone from bad to worse in a matter of seconds after Darkness had disappeared from the area. Once it was only Sora and the Heartless Behemoth, the monster let out a mighty roar before seemingly shifting its entire body on its hind legs causing it to do something that left Sora even more startled and immediately letting him know that what he was dealing with was no ordinary monster. The Behemoth lunged forward sweeping its front right arm forward with its claws only inches away from nicking him before its left arm came slamming down in the exact spot where he was standing.
Jumping to the side, Sora quickly bolted to his feet and started slashing at the creature's body with his blade cutting vertically and horizontally as fast he could before needing to roll under another sweep coming from the Behemoth's paw. This monster was unlike anything he had faced before and the speed at which it was moving left the boy beyond amazed.
Coming to the side of the large animal, if you could still call it that due to it having taken the form and appearance of a Heartless, he started stabbing his weapon into every available part of the body visible and open for attacking but would soon be forced to stop as the monster seemingly started to notice just what he was doing. Even if the Keyblade wielder was fast and had quite the agility speed, the Behemoth was not that far behind in speed.
Raising its upper body into the air, the monster forcefully slammed its front two paws right into the ground causing a massive shockwave to affect the area causing Sora to stammer a step back due to being surprised by the sudden move. However, that was just what the Behemoth intended.
"Gaaaah!"
Without even seeing it coming, Sora could feel an intense amount of pain coming from his shoulder along with the sudden realization that he was in the air, or rather… he was flying through the air with his vision being thrown upside down.
One of the Behemoth's horns had nipped him in the shoulder and with the impact it had on the boy, he was sent flying up in the air and out of the train yard and right into the street right next to the railyard.
Slamming into the rough ground, Sora rolled himself over while examining how bad the attack was against his left shoulder. Upon a quick inspection, he could see that there was a trickle of blood appearing followed by a very noticeable bruise starting to form. His first instinct was to cast a quick healing spell to fix him up, but he immediately realized that the Behemoth was not anywhere in sight. This did not sit right with him at all.
"Where did it- "
* ROOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR *
With a burst of air coming his way, Sora summoned his Keyblade back into his hand quickly and did his best to block the gust of wind. Once the wind died down, he readjusted his sight to see that the Heartless Behemoth had jumped from the railyard and was now standing right in the street while staring right at him. Part of him worried that the monster would become bored with him and start running off to attack anyone that was out in the open, but Sora instantly remembered that it was now technically a Heartless. Meaning that it would be gunning after him due to his Keyblade acting as an instrument of light to counter its darkness.
'At least that solves one problem' Sora thought to himself before seeing the Behemoth do something else that was new.
Having its paws implanted on the street and causing an impression into the ground, the Behemoth raised its head where a red light could be seen coming from its eyes and mouth leaving the spiky-haired teen confused. However, in the next instant, several red markers appeared all around him causing the boy to leap to the side with his body hitting the ground and narrowly out of the area of the marker. In the next moment, several balls of fire appeared out of nowhere and came crashing down in the spots marked while also exploding upon impact with the street leaving a mess around the area.
"This is crazy!" Sora yelled while jumping to his feet and aiming his weapon at the monster to cast multiple fire spells toward its face.
Once the fire spells made an impact on the creature's face, there wasn't that much damage done to it aside from leaving its face scorched with burn marks and even having some of its dark hair enflamed giving it an even more intimidating look. It then let out another roar before leaping at Sora causing him to block the sudden attack while also countering with a wide slash to its arm. The slash was quick and clean leaving a noticeable mark but nothing too damaging.
Blocking another slash from the Behemoth, Sora had to use both of his hands but was ultimately thrown back a bit causing him to roll on the ground to avoid being skewered by the creature's claws. This was getting him nowhere. Hence, he knew immediately that he had to level the playing field.
Pushing himself back a bit, he waited to see what the Heartless's next move would be since that would determine what his next move would be as well. By sheer luck, the Behemoth growled and started charging at him which is exactly what Sora wanted. This would be his time to strike back.
With a confident grin on his face, the Keyblade wielder threw his right hand back allowing for the Kingdom Key to flash away in a blue light followed by a yellow light now appearing in his hands. Only this time, the sound of something mechanical was apparent and there appeared to be something circular in his hand.
Once the Behemoth leaped right at him again with its arm slashing forward it was suddenly countered by a yellow and white shield. The impact made against the shield caused a blue light to almost pulsate followed by yellow electricity scattering around the metal defensive item. In the next second, a giant yellow fist appeared out of nowhere slamming right into the monster and threw it back with such force that it toppled on its back while letting out a shriek signifying that it had indeed been hurt.
Sora having a giant smirk on his face did not sit and wait for the monster to get back up and activated his Flowmotion to shoot forward at the beast and start slamming his shield into his body and face before quickly switching to his Shooting Star Keyblade and started barraging the creature's face and legs with cuts and stabs. He even started experimenting on the spot with casting a Thunder spell and instantly causing the spell to be part of a slash against the Behemoth's body.
"*swoosh* You're. *slash* Going. *swish* Down!"
Continuing to hit the monster with everything he could, Sora even ran up to the creature and pushed his feet off the Behemoth's shoulder, and slammed his Keyblade back against its body while continuing to cast spell after spell against the foe. Twirling his weapon around, he swiftly started barraging the beast with several stabs with his blade making sure to put some weight into the attacks. Gashes of dark marks had appeared on the large beast while even pigment of black was starting to coat the area and had even appeared on Sora's clothing.
Having taken enough damage, the Behemoth started growling and kicked its back legs out trying to hit the boy but with his battle instincts kicking in he managed to quickly block the attack with his blade but was sent screeching back with his feet barely staying on the ground. Once he had gotten his balance back, he saw that the Behemoth had scrambled back on all four and was now glaring menacingly at him. With a fiery gaze, the beast let out a mighty roar but not before allowing its eyes to glow red once again.
Sora seeing this knew what was coming and forced himself to jump back to avoid the incoming explosions, but he had made one critical error. That was exactly what the Behemoth wanted.
Instead of the fire spells appearing out of nowhere, the Behemoth charged at Sora with its eyes still glowing red but now its mouth was also wide open with a snarl present.
Realizing that he was caught in a bluff, Sora couldn't dodge the incoming attack and quickly summoned Hero's Origin still in its shield form to block the inevitable attack. With a colossal leap, the monster slammed its front two paws down at the boy with the intent of maiming him on the spot. However, his shield had taken much of the attack, but the weight put behind the strike caused him to drop down to one knee wincing at the pain in his shoulder and arms now. Before he could plan his next move or try to counter in any way, Sora was met with a scorching hot blast directed right at him.
Thankfully, his shield was able to protect him from the Behemoth's constant flurry of flames coming from its mouth that had been painted in a glowing red. Alas, the teen was also starting to feel the heat get to him causing his body to start rapidly sweating and the feeling of weakness was becoming more apparent by the second. This couldn't go on for much longer.
Not knowing what might happen but deciding to take a risk, Sora threw himself forward while letting go of his shield and allowing the flames from the Behemoth's mouth to scorch the area he was just at.
Shifting his eyes to the beast and seeing that it had not stopped spewing fire from its mouth, he summoned his Kingdom Key back into his right hand and drew it back before using all his might to hurl it right at the beast's face. A blast of light slapped the monster allowing him to start rushing further down the street to form a new plan of attack. He could continue to try and swat at the Heartless but who knows how long that could take to put it down. Also, the Behemoth was something that he had never truly encountered before, and seeing that it had pulled a few tricks of its own against him, he did not want to be caught in an even worse situation that could cause more damage to the area. But at the same time, what he was doing might just make things even more difficult.
But that was a choice he was going to have to make.
Having gotten a good distance away, he turned around and saw that the Behemoth had gotten its senses back to normal before roaring once more and charging toward him. This time the beast looked to be even angrier with it thrashing its head at every vehicle parked next to the road being smashed completely or lifted by the monster's horns and thrown through the air mainly at the spiky-haired teen who was continuing to run down the street avoiding being crushed by the metal vehicles.
By coincidence, Sora turned his head slightly behind him and saw a large-looking vehicle coming right at him only a few feet away from hitting him. In a dire sequence, he twisted his body around while still running and gripped the handle on his Keyblade tightly before pushing himself back toward the direction that the vehicle was coming from and reacting by command.
In a split second, the Guardian of Light twirled his weapon in hand and shot forward allowing for a clean slice to split the vehicle in two while also making sure that there was enough space between him and the debris of the car to drop to the ground. It was at this point that he noticed even more vehicles being picked up by the Behemoth's horns being hurled right at him. This was a whole new strange experience and one that he would not let get the best of him.
Slicing through vehicle after vehicle, Sora had created a junkyard in the middle of the street with how many cars and trucks were scattered all over the place. He did not want to keep leaving behind such as mess which is why when the next vehicle was shot right at him, he got an idea for how to stop the repetitive attack.
Aiming his Keyblade at the incoming vehicle, he yelled out the spell that would help him in this situation.
"Drift!"
Suddenly, a blast of light appeared right around the suspended vehicle which is exactly how he wanted the Zero Gravity spell to work. His past experiences with the spell were waiting to be used and now he would go all out against the beast.
With the car floating in midair, the Keyblade wielder activated his Flowmotion and shot right at the vehicle while twisting his body so that his weapon was ready to be used like a struggle bat. Once he got close enough, Sora winded up his arms and weapon and swung at the vehicle hard enough that it went flying back right at the Behemoth causing a large explosion to rock the area and create a veil of smoke to block his view of the beast.
Falling to the ground and rolling, he got back on his feet and waited to see just what else the Heartless monster was going to do since he knew that the explosion wouldn't be enough to kill it.
As expected, the Behemoth slowly walked through the cloud of smoke with its teeth visibly showing and indicating that it did not like what just happened.
Seeing this, Sora let out an annoyed sigh before letting go of his Keyblade and summoning his Shooting Star blade only this time he transformed the weapon to create the dual guns which he had pointed right at the large monster. At the same time, his clothes had also changed into a blue color scheme while he looked ready to continue the fight.
"Come on! What are you going to do now?" Sora called out to the Behemoth.
In a show of aggression, the Behemoth seemed to shift its weight back to its hind legs and sported a menacing grin on its face before once again charging at the boy with the intent to kill.
Not about to let that happen, Sora hurriedly dashed to the side and began firing at the creature before once again activating his Flowmotion to start running up the closet building. Halting his feet so that he was now running across the building's wall, the teen moved his left hand to the side so that he was still shooting at the Behemoth while his right hand helped balance his weight against the wall.
Charging up an elemental spell to his gun, he started casting multiple water spells that fused with the projectiles coming from his weapon and striking the beast all across its body. Cuts and bruises were now visible around the monster which had no way of leaping up at the boy. However, this allowed the monstrosity to thrash its head in the air while several red orbs appeared above it.
'No, no! That will destroy the building!' Sora shouted once he saw the same balls of fire appearing overhead the Behemoth.
If those projectiles were thrown toward him and impacted the building, then…
He would not let that happen.
Realizing that he was running out of time, Sora bared his teeth and threw himself off the building and into the air. While beginning to fall, he quickly summoned his other gun and immediately fused the two together thanks to having stored enough energy to create his rocket launcher which he pointed right at the large Heartless. With his aim primed, he cast every elemental spell that he could muster now which included fire, water, and lighting. The three spells then transformed into an orb that was sent flying right at the Behemoth causing quite the area of effect. Incasing the area in fire, water, and ultimately electricity which shocked the beast severely.
Seeing that his attack did some damage, he shifted himself so that his launcher was aimed directly at the beast and would not miss no matter what. Having only a few more seconds before he made contact with the ground, he charged up everything into this last attack and without hesitation fired a charged-up orb right at the beast causing his clothes to flashback to his original attire and him to come sailing toward the ground.
Before he hit the ground, however, a colossal burst of energy covered the area due to his attack creating such an impact that windows and cars all throughout the area were either broken or going off with the alarms blaring.
With barely enough visibility, Sora saw a clear landing spot and shifted his body so that he would be rolling across the ground when he landed. Doing just that, he found himself sprawled on his back before shifting his body to the side and jumping up to his feet with a frown. While he was undoubtedly not going to be giving up any time soon, he wouldn't lie that his shoulder was starting to hurt a great deal. But that didn't matter because the Behemoth let out another ear-piercing roar which snapped his attention.
The Behemoth looked to be heavily injured with part of its face blasted off with his ability but the worrisome aspect of it all was that the creature's face was covered in complete dark pigment slowly starting to reform the damaged part of its head. Within a few seconds, the monster's head was back to normal and this time it looked to be even more pissed off with the Keyblade wielder's attack.
Gritting his teeth in annoyance, Sora was starting to worry that the beast had even more tricks up its sleeve. And at this rate, he was worried that it could ignore him and rush away to wherever there might be-
Suddenly, the boy's attention was pulled away as he heard the sound of helicopters coming closer to his location. That made his heartbeat start to pick up as he realized that this was a worst-case scenario.
'If the helicopters get close enough and gain the Behemoth's attention, then…'
Not about to let that happen, Sora summoned his Kingdom Key and pointed it up in the air shooting a beam of light to get the monster's attention.
"HEY! We're not done here!"
The beast, hearing the teen's outburst began snarling at him once more before roaring again. This time, lifting its left paw to strike at the boy but was ultimately blocked by the Keyblade which was followed by a swift slash at its arm causing it to growl. Not about to waste any more time, Sora got to work swinging his weapon at both of its front arms while also avoiding every strike from the monster.
Blocking and deflecting each attack while also countering with as many reprisals as he could, the Guardian of Light was making good headway against the beast forcing it to take multiple steps back due to the constant guarding and counterattacks sent its way. Before long, the beast had its eyes turn red indicating that it would be using magic as its next attack. Not about to let that happen, Sora dashed forward and planned on sliding under the beast to deploy a barrage of slices across its inner body to weaken the creature for the chance to perform another one of his special attacks.
However, in an unexpected move, the Behemoth lowered its head and just at the same time as Sora began sliding under its upper body, the creature let a large explosion discharge from its mouth causing a massive explosion to rock the entire area.
Debris had gone flying all over the place with alarms blaring and smoke covering the area with the sounds of sirens started to pick up in the distance. Drones that had been monitoring the situation from a distance had even momentarily stopped due to how dangerous the area was becoming. Alas, stepping out of the smoke-filled area was the Behemoth who sported a dust-covered body while still having its yellow eyes glow visibly. The monster was turning its head side-to-side searching for something or rather someone.
With the smoke starting to fade away, it became apparent just how much damage had been done to the area and where the Keyblade wielder was just located.
A massive crater appeared right where the Behemoth was standing and all around its debris was scattered on the street and even implanted in the buildings nearby with pieces of rubble either thrown through windows or parts of the building completely gone. It was a sight that would make anyone go silent.
With there being no movement around the area, the fearsome monster now turned its head toward the direction that the helicopters were coming from and let out a growl while showing its sharp teeth in an intimidating manner. However, the beast suddenly threw its head to the side when it heard something getting closer.
*Tap*…*Tap*…*Tap*…*Tap*…*Tap*
Coming out of one of the damaged buildings' bottom floors, the silhouette of a boy with spiky hair could be seen. In the next instant, the cloud of smoke that was blocking visibility faded away leaving a sight of wonder to be seen.
Standing there with his right hand pressed against his left arm and dirt and smudge appearing all over his clothes followed by several bruise marks appearing on his legs and face was the Guardian of Light, Sora. He had a tired and beaten expression on his face followed by a drop of blood appearing to trail down the side of his face. Once he turned to see where the Behemoth was, the teen's anxious face turned to one of sheer and undeterred determination. He was going to finish this right now.
Taking a few more steps past the debris scattered on the ground, Sora brought his right hand over his heart and chanted out a spell that would help him get ready for the fight to continue.
"Heal."
Immediately, a beautiful, colorful flower appeared right above him and enveloped him with a bright light managing to heal most of the bruises and cuts on his face and body. The spot where the blood was trailing on his face had been fixed but the red stain was still visible on his face. However, that didn't matter as he was now feeling a whole lot better than before. There was still the element of tiredness seeping into his body but that could wait. He had more important things to worry about.
Suddenly, the boy felt a cold breeze pass through his hair and body causing him to freeze up for a split second before widening his eyes. A pulsating sensation was rising in his body and soon caused him to close his eyes for a split second before opening them. Something was happening.
Looking over at the Behemoth, Sora continued to grasp his heart and could feel something coursing through his body. Something that he did not have the right words to explain in detail, but he knew for a fact that it was a good sort of feeling. One that… made him start smiling gleefully and even making the corner of his eyes water up.
"I can't fall here… there's still a lot that I have to do… have to solve… but now I know… I'm not really alone. I can feel you two here… with me. More so than I already thought. We may never meet again… but that doesn't matter. You'll always be a part of my heart… my life. So please!"
Reaching down into his pocket, Sora pulled out the Oathkeeper and Oblivion keychains. Each symbolized a deep connection to his two best friends that not only gave him strength but were reminders that no matter how far apart they were… they would still be by his side. With Kairi's Oathkeeper in his right hand and Riku's Oblivion in his left, Sora started walking toward the Behemoth with a calm and collected look on his face.
Scratch that.
Sora was smirking widely while holding onto the two keychains which had simultaneously started glowing brightly until they were actively pulsating with light.
Bringing both of his hands to the side with his arms held up high, the spiky-haired hero from another world screamed out with all his might. A burst of light swelling near his heart.
"GIVE ME STRENGTH!"
*BOOM*
A blast of light and energy appeared all around him, causing the Behemoth to close its eyes for a moment before snarling back at the boy who appeared in a completely new position.
Now in his Second Form attire with his dark clothes mixed with red, white, and yellow appearing in his outfit, he also had suspended above him two distinct weapons that were seemingly floating right next to him. One of the weapons on his right side was doused in a white light while the other hung around his left side covered in a dark purple light. Once the light surrounding these two weapons started to dim, it became apparent what they were.
Oathkeeper and Oblivion were now fully present.
As if the two Keyblades had a mind of their own, they started to swirl around Sora while he continued to grip his Kingdom Key in his right hand while wearing a confident expression and narrowing his eyes toward the monster. He had a trick up his sleeve.
Up above, multiple helicopters were about ready to reach the two for coverage but suddenly stopped a good distance away. It almost appeared like they could not go past a certain perimeter otherwise something bad might happen. Hence, there appeared to be at least four different helicopters just hanging high up in the sky trying to get good footage of whatever was happening down on the ground. Nobody could really tell just what was going on.
Meanwhile… back with a certain Level 5 several minutes before
Mugino was not expecting her night to be this exciting at all.
Her original prediction of the night would have been her trying to find something to keep her entertained at the very least for an hour. Alas, nothing she really thought of would do such a thing. However, ever since arriving at the Dianoid, her expectations had gone from being in the dirt to an all-time high with how much activity was going on around her.
As she had split away from Kinuhata and Takitsubo to try and find out just what was going on out in the city, she found herself perched near an open lounge area featured next to a restaurant where it appeared that other people were also curious about what was going on in the city. The atmosphere settling around everyone was that of mystery and caution followed by intrigue on a high level. Almost everyone had their phones out or were looking to where a television was stationed since news coverage was quick on the scene. Everyone's eyes were trying to find out what exactly was going on.
However, the tea-color-haired girl was one step ahead of everyone with her headphone still glued to what radio chatter was going on through the support teams scattered across the dark side. And what she was listening to left her even more confused.
"Checkmate. Status."
"Unidentifiable activity in the north- "
"Reports of explosions on the- "
"Nothing to be seen in the southwest sector of District 17."
"Reporting on the east side. Nothing is being- "
"Wait, contact on the- "
*BOOM*
"Report. What just happened?"
"Unknown. Surveillance is unavailable in the area. Something is blocking the- "
"Security check is unavailable. What commotions is going on down there?"
"Repeat. Are there any teams available in the area to identify what exactly is going on down- "
"First wave. Negative. Second wave. Negative. No active teams are- "
"Scan for any available devices in the area that can provide- "
"Order has been dismayed. Wrap it up, people."
"What the hell? Did you just say- "
"Say again? I don't think I heard that correctly."
Neither did Mugino. She had to take the headphone out of her ear and stare at it for a moment before going to place it back in her ear to hear if what she just heard was absolutely correct.
"Repeat. Wrap it up. Surveillance of the area is being limited to only one- "
"To hell with that!"
"Report. Request demand to put- "
"Alert! Alert! Activity spotted!"
"Contact coming in clear view of one of the news channel's helicopters. Visual feed is- "
"Report. Connect to channel highlighted on frequency alpha-delta- "
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"
Mugino jumped up in her seat as she was totally invested in whatever was going on via the dark side radio chatter. Whatever was just seen caused a standout reaction that even got her growing in the excitement in all the mystery and intensity of what was going on. She was about to sit back down and continue listening in on the dark side chatter when suddenly one of the people next to her in the lounge yelled out while pointing to one of the televisions nearby.
"What the- what is that!?"
Soon, everyone in the area started to rush toward the television and any others that were close by to see what exactly was being broadcasted by one of the news helicopters. Mugino herself rushed forward and even shoved two guys to the side causing them to go falling to the ground and soon encumbered by all the people gathering near the screen. There was no way that she would be missing whatever was going to be shown on the television screen.
In the next instant, the news crew reporting within the helicopter had gotten only a small glimpse at whatever was going on in District 17, and many people were left complaining about not seeing anything. The screen had flashed so fast that practically nobody saw anything.
Except… Mugino saw something.
And it matched exactly everything that she heard from her headphone connected to the dark side radio chatter. The quick comments made through the radio frequency earlier painted a somewhat rough picture of the creature that Sora was currently engaged in combat with. Hence, her glimpse further supported her idea based on what she quickly saw on the television screen. The details helped to depict the idea of a large weird-looking lion that was in a dark color followed by the area completely in ruin. There was nothing else that could be noticed but the thing that stuck out to her were two key features of the dark monster.
Two yellow eyes.
Before she could continue to ponder about the creature any longer, she sneakily sensed that someone was standing in her bubble which got her to ball up her fist and turn around swiftly while getting ready to land a haymaker punch to the bastard that was caulking right behind-
"Super whoa!"
The Level 5's fist was only inches away from slamming right into Kinuhata who wore an amused yet surprised expression on her face. Takitsubo was also behind her and sported a barely stunned expression. Perhaps that would have changed if she was the one that was about to be punched.
"Kinuhata. What the fuck are you doing creeping up on me!?" Mugino shouted at her teammate.
Lowering her hands, the girl who was about to become a punching bag calmed down and explained the situation to her leader.
"Well, it was either call out to you, but you looked deep in thought, or super stand in your personal bubble. I wasn't going to tap you on the shoulder because that would have for sure earned me an elbow to the face and I didn't want that" Kinuhata casually replied.
"Tch. You're right about that. Anyway, what are you two doing here? I thought I told you- "
"You didn't tell us anything, Mugino" Takitsubo replied before she could finish speaking. "You kind of just took off while saying something about pants but nothing else."
Feeling anger swell up inside her, the brunette girl wanted to lash out at the tracksuit-wearing girl but realized that she was essentially right. She had just taken off without leaving them an idea of where she was going or what she was doing. Not that they needed to know any of that since it wasn't their business, but she did realize that she should have at least told them to back off or met her somewhere.
"…Right, that's my bad. Either way, I'm guessing that you two have an idea of what's going on?" she said while gesturing to the ever-growing crowd of people around them.
The swift response she got was a nod from the two. They had picked up on the discussions and overall curiosity swarming through Dianoid. It seemed like everyone was talking about whatever was going on outside and wanted to find out what it was.
"Any idea on what's actually super going on?" Kinuhata questioned her leader.
Just as Mugino was about to respond, she quickly observed the area around her and realized that they were out in the open. Something that she did not take a liking to right now.
"Not here. This way."
Beginning to walk away from the scene, Mugino was followed by Kinuhata and Takitsubo who continued down a narrow hallway that soon led to another open area that was designated for elevators to stop by. Seeing that more and more people were either ignoring the elevators or rushing to enter one, the brown-haired teen girl quickly entered one open elevator and immediately slammed her fist into the button that closed the doors once her teammates were inside. A commotion was barely heard as other people complained about the doors closing so fast. The tea-color-haired beauty had also hit a random button signaling the elevator to take them up a couple of floors.
Now left alone in the elevator, Mugino figured now would be a good time to get caught up on what the two knew about.
"So, what all do you know?" Mugino nonchalantly asked.
"Nothing more than that something super is going on in District 17 and it has something to do with Sora" Kinuhata replied.
"Hmm. Takitsubo, have you used your AIM Stalker ability at all yet?"
"No, I haven't. I figured it would be better to wait until we were all together."
"I see, good call." Glancing over at the elevator buttons, Mugino saw that they were going to the 7th floor of this building which would be taking them to another shopping zone primarily focused on household materials. "We'll head to the floor just before the roof and find a spot that'll give us a better view of the outside facing District 17."
"Are we going to be doing anything?" Takitsubo asked, sporting a confused expression on her face.
"Not anything drastic, but I am curious about what exactly is going on. Surely there's- "
Suddenly, Mugino abruptly stopped talking as she was picking up distinctive chatter appearing in her headphone regarding the situation via the dark side radio channel. At the same time, Kinuhata started rapidly tapping away at her new phone while recalling that she had Mugino's new phone in her pocket.
"You want your super new phone now or later?"
"Later. I'm bound to break this one soon enough" the Level 5 nonchalantly responded while pulling out her phone and tapping away at it.
A reasonable answer that the short-haired girl expected.
"Right. That's what I super… huh?"
"What? What is it?"
"Is there something wrong?" the dark-haired girl murmured to Kinuhata.
Scrolling her finger across her new device, the short-haired girl turned the phone around so that she was showing the screen to her two teammates.
"This is now being live-streamed on one of the news channels."
Observing the news coverage, Takitsubo had a shocked expression on her face, but it was hard to tell since she didn't exactly show that much in her facial reaction. Mugino curious about the sudden change in her teammate's face decided to peer over at Kinuhata's phone and see what was going on. What she saw left her even more confused about the boy who had bested her in combat. Along with the realization that there was so much more she had to learn and prepare before she tried to confront him for another battle.
"What the fuck… How is he doing that?" Mugino stated while not letting her eyes leave the screen.
"I have no idea. It's almost like he's super- "
Suddenly, the footage on the phone was distorted as the helicopter that was providing live coverage of the event going on in the city had pulled away leaving them to see nothing vital. The girls were now left with such thoughts that revolved around one thing only.
Sora's power made no sense at all.
What the three members of ITEM had witnessed was the spiky-haired boy dressed in his black clothes that they had managed to see the night they first encountered him but this time things did not make any sense. Aside from the boy on both sides were what appeared to be different glowing swords. One of the blades Mugino easily recognized as it was the weapon he used to be able to summon beams of light to his side to beat her. The other she had no idea about but in truth, there was a great deal of information that she still knew nothing about the boy. This in turn left her feeling many feelings inside her chest.
Some emotions dwindled on the side of confusion and somewhat frustration while other feelings could be accumulated to being that of excitement and eagerness. She had truly encountered a foe that not only got her battle-fanatic blood running but her sheer interest in the boy's entire character.
He was truly something else.
Most of the time when it came to dealing with a nuisance, Meltdowner typically did the trick to finish off whoever got in her way or tried standing up against her. Now, however, not even her ability was able to solve the problem known as Sora. This got her heartbeat to gradually speed up while also allowing for a sly grin to appear on her face. Alas, her train of thought had also drifted to her last encounter with the boy and how his words had managed to stop her momentarily. Something that even now she wasn't sure what to sincerely think about since it involved the boy wanting to help-
"Mugino? You super, okay? You've been staring at the elevator wall for a minute now."
Hearing Kinuhata's comment, the tea-color-haired teen snapped out of whatever she was about to think and turned to address the girl.
"I'm fine. Look, we are here."
What followed was the sound of a ding while the elevator came to a stop as they arrived at the second-to-top floor. There appeared to be a few people but not as many as the brunette had expected which meant that they would have space to talk and observe just what was going on through the city.
Entering what appeared to be a small lounge area with seats and tables, Mugino took up a spot table overlooking the direction over to District 17 where more audible explosions were taking place. Kinuhata got set to scouring different live streams in the hope that whatever was going on was being broadcasted via the news channels. Takitsubo seemed to make herself comfortable while mentally preparing herself for what was inevitably going to happen. She figured that Mugino would ask her to use her ability to find out what was going on in the distance.
After a few more seconds passed, the stylish girl looked over at the tracksuit-wearing esper and gave her a curt nod.
"Takitsubo."
"Already on it."
"Hoo boy. This ought to be super good."
Seemingly letting herself relax, Takitsubo appeared to pause any movement for a split second before suddenly her eyes seemed to glow meaning that her AIM Stalker ability was now activated. It would only be a few more seconds before she found out exactly just what was going-
"*Gasp*"
Mugino and Kinuhata quickly turned their attention over to Takitsubo who had suddenly gasped out with no prior warning.
"Takitsubo! What's super wrong?"
"What is it?"
"It's… It's like that night… I'm picking up on Sora's… but there's something else. It's huge. Like, bigger than all the Heartless that tried to surround us that night" she explained while continuing to wince in frustration.
'Her ability usually picks up on Esper's AIM fields but now… just what the hell is going on?'
Seeing that there was no real answer to her question, Mugino decided to prod the girl on what she saw with her ability.
"Takitsubo, what did you see over in District 17?"
Putting her weight down on the table with one hand while the other was pressed up to her head focusing on analyzing just what was being observed with her ability.
"I see Sora and… what appears to be a large Heartless… only… I can't get a good read on it."
"What does that super mean? Didn't you scan them before like a radar system?" Kinuhata questioned the girl while not understanding what she was getting at.
"Mm. I'm getting the same read on the Heartless as before but… it's almost as if it's ten times the frequency being identified. Again, this has never happened…" the tracksuit-wearing girl replied while still peering in the direction of District 17.
"Can you get a read on what the Heartless looks like?" Mugino asked, keeping to herself the details she learned about it looking like a lion of some kind.
"Its appearance is… a lion? A really big lion."
'Bingo.'
Mugino thought to herself, knowing that the information she was listening in on was providing her with correct facts.
"A big lion? What kind of super description is that?"
Suddenly, a large explosion seemed to shut the trio up from saying anything else as their attention was now back toward the direction of District 17. It was also noticeable that many helicopters were distancing themselves from the area but still keeping a fine-lined perimeter hold around the area. Either that was to avoid being caught in whatever was going on or… something else was up.
Nobody had an answer but the one thing Mugino knew for a fact was that whatever was going on had to do with Sora. The boy shrouded in mystery. Just what else would happen?
Elsewhere a few minutes ago
Inside the windowless building located in School District 7, Aleister Crowley quietly sat confined within his tube upside down while his eyes peered at countless screens appearing all around his space. Each screen depicted either pictures or live footage of the events occurring within District 17 where a certain spiky-haired boy was currently engaged in combat with a strange-looking beast. One that even he had not encountered in his life. Or at the very least was not recognizable in his recent memory.
Before he could ponder about anything else, the sound of a door activating could be heard followed by the sound of someone walking through the dark room that housed Aleister. As the sound started becoming more apparent, the suspect who had entered was now visible, and… it turned out to be a dog. A golden retriever to be specific.
The unusual characteristics surrounding this dog was not the collar around his neck but rather the backpack currently holstered on his back with robotic arms currently holding what appeared to be a tablet and water bottle.
Aleister did not look confused by the sudden appearance of the dog and even greeted the four-legged animal.
"I take it that you're staying up to date on all activity going on right now, Noukan?"
The golden retriever's name was Kihara Noukan. Member of the Kihara family who had been granted intelligence by one of the original seven founding Kihara members. His intelligence crossed many various fields earning him profound recognition and a mark of respect within the Kihara family. He also tended to be one of the more sentimental and understanding members.
Noukan's response to Aleister's claim was to simply shake his head while one of his robotic arms moved the tablet to his side while also typing away at it to pull up footage of the events currently happening in District 17.
"Yes, granted, there have been other incidents that have managed to gain quite the attention. This time around it's a bit different."
"Public interest I take it?" the white-haired man replied to the dog's statement.
"Correct. Though, nothing that can't be covered up or ignored in a single day. We have Daihasei to look forward to taking away all the attention. Although…" Noukan said while taking a few steps forward and now staring at one of Aleister's screens that displayed a clear picture of the brown spiky-haired boy who was currently in the spotlight. "I do wonder how he will play a part in what's to come?"
Knowing full well who the golden retriever was referring to, Aleister let out an amused hum while pulling up another screen that seemed to be captured by a security camera in the area where Sora was currently last seen in.
"He certainly is an interesting one. Able to conjure and use abilities that have even left me curious about the fundamental process he goes about doing such things."
"Has he gone in for testing?" Noukan asked.
"Not quite. As you have noticed, these monsters have proven to be quite active. It is thanks to him that we needn't worry as much."
"Hmm. I do wonder… how does he fit into your, how best should I put this, ever developing plans?" the golden retriever questioned the man in the tube.
Taking a second to glance over at one of the screens which was providing live footage of the boy battling what appeared to be a large strange-looking beast with yellow eyes and heavily toned body. He was not familiar with the creature and would have to look in his findings to see if this was something hidden in time or… something new.
"You'd be surprised. While Sora is someone that I have an immediate fascination with and about a dozen ideas on how I can involve him. I will continue to monitor his activity while also seeing how his appearance is… for a lack of better terminology… helping those he encounters" Aleister explained.
"Oh? I wasn't aware that he was having such an effect on others. By chance, who are you referring to?"
"The fourth-ranked easily comes to mind."
"Ah, Miss Mugino Shizuri. Meltdowner. Has Sora's influence been something positive or negative?" Noukan asked, gaining an interest in this topic.
Momentarily pausing, the Board Chairman of Academy City began to recall the activity being pursued by the fourth-ranked and how her overall interest in the boy had skyrocketed in the past few days. The young miss was certainly someone who did not like losing and would not take a defeat so kindly. Besides, she had also shown a newly profound interest in academic research when it came to the progression and development of study around her Meltdowner ability. It honestly warmed the man's heart to see the Level 5 take action to better herself even without his intuitive input. And it was all thanks to a certain spiky-haired boy who wielded magic in a way that he was not completely familiar with.
"…Undetermined. Though, if I had to give a glass-half-full answer, then I would say positive."
"Well now, that is something else. Who else has he come into contact with."
It was not made apparent due to Aleister's facial features not moving an inch, but deep down, the de facto leader of the Science Side was smugly smiling.
"Another individual who happens to be held in high regard around here."
"Ah… young Kamijou. Well now, you've certainly gotten me interested in this fine young man, Aleister" Noukan replied while his tail was slowly beginning to wag.
"Yes, I do wonder how things will- "
Suddenly, the sound of a large explosion caught the two's attention forcing the screen that was tuned into live coverage of the battle currently going on to disappear and then reappear to the side. The screen then emerged at a large resolution covering a space of a hundred inches both in length and height showcasing just what was happening. It appeared that something occurred around the boy to summon two glowing swords to his side. The sight was truly fascinating and albeit breathtaking.
"It seems we are in for quite the show" Aleister commented while turning his attention to the large screen.
Noukan did the same as he sat himself down and looked over at the screen displaying what was happening. This was something he would not miss out on.
Meanwhile… somewhere else in the city
Coverage of the incident occurring within District 17 was being spotlighted for all to see who had been paying attention to social media. Alas, the trending news coverage was picked up on by an unusual individual who kept to themselves while having his eyes trained on one of the television screens being hoisted up and taking everyone's attention in the restaurant that he was currently sitting in. A coffee mug at his side followed by a small flip phone. This individual had no noticeable characteristics about him aside from his dark short hair and European facial features that not just anyone could identify. However, while this man was no one of any real importance, he was now doing something that would soon become significant to another superpower found in this world.
He was an undercover spy for the Magic Side.
More specifically, he was part of the Anglican Church and had been placed in Academy City as nothing more than an owl. Keeping to himself as a self-proclaimed tourist while secretly filling in his superiors on intel going on throughout the city. And right now, while catching a glimpse of the activity being covered by all the news channels, he set out to report on the situation.
Reaching into his pocket and pulling out an extra tip for the coffee, he gently placed it under the mug and casually exited the restaurant while simultaneously opening his burner phone and speed-dialing a number. He also continued to walk down the street managing to not catch any attention as everyone had their attention drawn to what was happening.
Letting the phone ring for approximately two and a half rings, the man waited for the call to be answered before uttering one word that seemed to indicate that it was him and no one else.
"Necessary."
A moment of silence seemed to pass as there was no commotion heard from the other line on the call leaving anyone else to wonder if the call was a real thing.
However, a curt response was given in return out of nowhere indicating that the call went through.
"Evil."
"Report. Magical activity occurring in the city. This time it involves the boy who wields the key. Further updates will be registered at the passing of dawn in one day."
"Understood."
*click*
The call went dead.
The undercover magician spy had successfully informed the Church of England that magical activity was occurring and that it had something to do with the boy who had been reported by other members of the church involved in suspicious activity with beings of darkness. The man had no say in what was going on and would probably never be heard. Alas, he did what was tasked to him and relatively preferred this kind of work.
Furthermore, he continued to briskly walk away while making sure to find another restaurant to stay up to date on just what was going on in the city followed by how the spiky-haired boy was somehow involved in all this before reporting it to his superiors.
The magic side would soon turn their heads to all the commotion appearing in Academy City followed by another incident involving a nun and another spiky-haired boy. So much was happening all at once…
Back with Sora in the present
With Oathkeeper and Oblivion by his side and his glare sent toward the Heartless Behemoth, he was fully confident in his abilities to put an end to this monster's reign of terror. He was going to finish this.
"Alright! Let's go! With me! Riku! Kairi!"
Taking off in a full-on sprint, the Keyblade wielder held his weapon in both of his hands while positioned on the right side of his body while the two blades representing his best friends floated right beside him projecting a magnificent sight to behold.
The Behemoth seeing the boy and letting out a deep roar began running toward him as well with the intent to rip him to shreds. There was no need to leave anything of him left.
At the same time, Sora dashed to the side of the beast while the Oblivion Keyblade shot left while Oathkeeper continued moving upwards above the creature. In a simultaneous movement, the boy heaved his weapon at the monster's left arm while the two Keyblades shot across the Behemoth's body. A clean cut was performed but rather than let that be it, the Guardian of Light had other plans in mind.
Running up to the Behemoth, the brunette started striking away at the beast going for its left arm and paw to weaken it while slashing as many times as he could followed by blocking each incoming strike coming his way. At the same time, the two floating Keyblades were there accompanying him in the assault with flashes of white and purple light appearing all around the creature. White beams of light would strike on one side while bursts of dark energy bombarded the monster's other side. All the while Sora landed hit after hit against the Heartless managing to perform swift hits around its body and multiple blasts of light when he slammed the Keyblade down.
Swinging his Keyblade across the top of its arm causing quite the impact, Sora immediately saw the creature rear its head toward him which forced him to block the incoming attack. However, in the nick of time, Oathkeeper and Oblivion appeared right next to him in an X fashion while also supporting him by blocking the attack. With such force stopping the Behemoth's paw from ripping him in two, the spiky-haired teen thrust his weapon upward causing the Keyblades to create an explosion of light and allowing him to leap right at the creature's face to start slashing at its eyes. Explosions of light consumed the area followed by the sound of metal slashing back and forth at a constant rate. The constant attack was a sight to see.
Roaring out in anger, the Behemoth thrashed its head back and forth while trying to get its horns to throw off the Keyblade wielder but was met with resistance as Oblivion and Oathkeeper appeared right in front of the beast and cast bubble shields to halt the beast while Sora continued to lay waste to its face. With a mix of magic and swordplay, the teen continued to perform slash after slash as well as casting spells right in the monster's face forcing it to roar once more and plunge itself backward. The damage done was very noticeable now and would only continue as the spiky-haired teen was not going to stop.
Angered beyond belief, the creature suddenly jumped in the air which caused Sora to instantly block but what he did not expect was for the creature to move that fast as well as launch a ball of fire toward him. The sudden attack hit Sora and caused him to wince out in pain before jumping back to his feet with the two floating Keyblades by his side ready to launch a reprisal. The monster now landed on the ground creating quite the shake and tried lashing out at the teen but ended up having his attack be deflected followed by a flash banging attack at its eyes and body. The Keyblade wielder had landed an uppercut under its arm and continued to land quick slashes and blasts of charged light against the foe while the light and dark blades targeted its head with rapid strikes. This sequence of actions caused the beast to spin around and throw the boy back leaving some distance between the two.
With some space away from the boy, the Behemoth's eyes once again turned red with its mouth rearing open with flames starting to spew out. However, before the beast could launch another flurry of fire from its mouth, Sora had aimed his Keyblade right at its mouth and cast several Blizzard spells to stop the attack from happening. What happened, as a result, was a massive explosion that caused the boy to raise his weapon to block out the smoke and debris that went flying all over the place. This action also forced him to start dashing to the side of where the beast was and summon his Hero's Origin Keyblade. The weapon was back to being in its blade form and he needed it to transform into the shield. Hence, he raised the Olympus-themed weapon and started sending a barrage of Thunder spells at the beast.
The impact could be heard as the Behemoth let out a mighty roar and began twisting and turning around which cleared the smoke away and gave visibility back to it.
Seeing that he was getting somewhere, Sora shot forward at the beast to start another flurry of attacks but had to block a sudden attack from the beast's back legs. The force driven into him sent him flying back but another trick up his sleeve was made apparent as Oblivion had managed to catch the back of his hoodie and send him soaring into the sky. Realizing what was going on, the brunette nodded before pushing himself forward and started falling through the sky and down toward the beast.
"Take this!"
Rather than come crash landing to the ground, Sora quickly summoned his Shooting Star Keyblade and could feel enough energy coursing through him to summon the dual guns again. Doing just that, he flipped himself in the air so that his head was coming headfirst with the ground and started rapidly firing down on the beast. Even performing a feat such as twisting his body around in a circle while casting elemental spells to impact the creature while falling through the air. The two Keyblades by his side had also started firing projectiles at the beast with Oathkeeper firing beams of white light at its torso while Oblivion sent orbs of dark fire at its legs. A complete barrage of projectiles hitting the Behemoth. Colors of blue, red, yellow, and green could be seen from a distance as the boy laid waste to the beast before seeing that his time in the air was enough.
Flipping himself around so that he was in regular free fall, Sora summoned Hero's Origin and sensed that now was the time to finish this. Extending his arm to the side, he allowed the Keyblade to transform into its shield form before pointing it down at the Behemoth who raised its head at him and was beginning to charge up a counterattack with its eyes and mouth glowing red again.
"I've had enough of you! Shut up and sit down! Haaaah!"
Only a few feet from encountering the Heartless Behemoth, Sora thrust the shield forward to not only block the incoming attack that was starting to spew out of the monster's mouth but to also land a solid attack to finish the beast. In the form of something so simple yet effective at the same time.
A massive yellow-illuminated fist slammed right into the creature so hard that it forced the beast to falter under its own weight and drop down to the ground creating a massive shockwave around the battleground.
Falling to the ground and rolling to a stop, Sora did not let this staggering opportunity go to waste and began charging toward the beast with both Oathkeeper and Oblivion right there beside him. Seeing the Behemoth struggling to get up, he set to finish this fight in the next instance. Raising his blade in the air behind him, Sora began performing a rather intense Ars Arcanum followed by the two glowing Keyblades to follow his movement as well as start zig-zagging across the beast landed strike after strike and picking up where the teen managed to miss. Before long the area was endowered in flashing lights with every slash sent horizontally and vertically across the Heartless until the Guardian of Light positioned his Keyblade to his left side and held it there for a second before yelling out with all his might.
"You're through!"
*SWOOOOSH*
The three Keyblades had managed to cut right through the Heartless Behemoth all at the same time leaving it to try and move but ultimately caused the monster's head to fall with a thud on the ground.
It was finished.
In the next moment, Sora took a few tired steps back to see if the beast was truly defeated and after a good 30 seconds passed, he knew that it was finished. He had killed the monster.
Suddenly, at the Behemoth's head, a purple glowing color appeared but took an unexpected turn when its body started to break apart in small bits of light that lit up the once battle-filled area. It only took a few more moments before the entire body of the creature started to light up and fade away leaving a strange yet serene feeling inside the boy's chest.
Right then, the two Keyblades representing his friends had appeared right in front of him glowing a radiant color based on their personalities. Oathkeeper had a white pulsating glow while Oblivion had a purple glow to it. If Sora had to guess, then he would say that their time in this form was up.
"Thanks, you two. I couldn't have done it without you."
Turning his attention to Oblivion, Sora decided to say what's been on his mind for the past few days ever since he arrived in this world.
"I'm sorry I'm not there with you guys. I know that my actions have… consequences. But if given the choice, then I would land on this decision every single time. Making sure that everyone was safe and together."
The teen was now looking over at Oathkeeper.
"Things have been… a bit tough at times. But know that I'm not alone. Even if we are worlds apart and may never be able to see each other again… I'll always remember that you two and everyone else is here with me."
Sora said this while bringing his hand up to his heart. At this point, his clothes had also changed back to their regular form.
"Besides, I've made so many new friends here. Some of them you guys would really get along with while others… not so much at first. But isn't that what makes some friendships so great? So, thanks, Riku. And please keep looking after the others. I don't know if you're here or if this is just my power helping the two Keyblades move around like this…"
As if to answer the boy's question, the two weapons flashed brightly at the same time leaving Sora to smile brightly while also feeling his eyes start to become wet.
"Heh, guess that answers my question. But again, thank you."
Shifting his body to now address Oathkeeper, Sora took a deep breath before speaking.
"Kairi… I'm sorry."
A moment seemed to pass before he continued speaking about what he really was feeling.
"There's so much I'd like to explain to you but… I think you already know what I'm going to say."
Oathkeeper seemed to blink as he said that.
"But just know that you and Riku will always be there with me. You guys give me strength. And now, I… I'll be the one to give you strength."
Glancing over at Oblivion and then Oathkeeper, Sora knew what needed to be said.
"A lot is happening in this city… in this world that I don't have a clue about. People that I have come to care about and… some that I want to help no matter how much trouble it might get me in."
He said this while offering a kind smile.
"Not to mention, there's someone or something that knows who I am and what I've done. They're dangerous and I have no idea who they are aside from them mentioning that… they're in some way connected to Vanitas. *sigh* I still don't understand it all but what I do know is that I have to stop them and the Heartless from taking over this world. I'm not going to let my friends here deal with this problem alone. I'm going to help them no matter what."
Taking a step toward the two Keyblades that represented his best friends, Sora had a confident and determined look on his face. One that he wore many times in his adventures when helping those in need.
"So, if it's not too much trouble… I think you guys know what I'm going to ask."
To answer the boy's unspoken comment, Oblivion and Oathkeeper flashed brightly causing him to cover his eyes before feeling something in the palm of his hand. Checking to see what it was but already having an idea, Sora was met with the keychains of Riku and Kairi resting in his hand. However, the two looked to be slightly faded in color compared to before. The feeling of worry seeped into Sora's chest but immediately calmed himself down as he had an idea come to him.
'This might just be something that I haven't solved yet. It doesn't feel like anything is wrong with them, but it might just mean that I can't use them in their enhanced form. I'll need to ask Moogla if she's heard of anything like this happening before' the spiky-haired boy thought to himself before quickly slotting Oathkeeper and Oblivion into his Keyblade taking away Shooting Star and Hero's Origin and putting them into his pocket.
With the area falling into a quiet zone aside from the sounds of the helicopters starting to make their way toward him, Sora was about to start walking away when a Corridor of Darkness appeared right in front of him. Summoning his weapon back into his hands, the teen remained on the cautious side of things.
"Well now, I have to say that I am impressed" a voice belonging to the being known as Darkness emerged through the dark portal leaving only a black figure covered in dark mist to appear out in the open.
"Why? Didn't think I'd be able to beat that thing?" Sora shot back.
"No, no. Don't get me wrong. I knew for a fact that you would be able to beat it. I'm not downplaying your achievement. I'm just saying that the way you did so was certainly a sight to behold. The distinct thing about you, Sora, is that your fighting style is unique."
The spiky-haired boy let out a small sarcastic laugh.
"Ha, thanks I guess?"
"Truly. Most Keyblade wielders tend to dwell in the art of finesse and proper technique when it comes to fighting. You, however, do whatever needs to be done. Fighting in creative ways and using methods that not just anyone could come up with on a whim. It truly makes seeing you fight an enjoyable sight."
Frustration was evident in the Keyblade wielder's facial expression.
"I'm not interested in being a toy you mess around with. Watching me fight your Heartless creations."
"Oh, that Behemoth wasn't my creation. That was a… well, that's a fantasy for another time. The only thing I did was bring it here along with giving it the boost it needed to take you on."
A frown was present on Sora's face now as he was distraught by what he heard.
"You're just using animals to do your dirty work? That's disgusting!"
"From your point of view, yes. However, before you try and attack me…"
The boy seemed to tense up.
"Yes, I know what you were planning to just do. You wouldn't have been the first to try a trick such as that. Alas, before I put you in your place there is… something I would have you consider listening to."
Blue eyes were now watching the dark figure quite closely. Something did not seem right.
"What are you talking about?" Sora questioned the dark being.
"This world is as I have said before unlike any you've encountered before. It's honestly a treat to witness all the craziness going on involving the Science and Magic Sides bickering back and forth. So much so that I would seek a… truce with you."
So many thoughts were swarming around the brown-haired boy's head that he could not rightly voice what he was actually thinking. Hence, the only thing to come out of his vocal cords was a simple answer.
"What!?"
"You heard me. Right now, there is currently an operation being carried out in another location within the confounds of Academy City. It is being led by the Magic Side this time and directly involves an imminent plan to attack the city."
"H-How… You're just bluffing with me! Trying to confuse me. Well, that's not going to work!" Sora yelled while pointing his Keyblade at the dark figure.
Merely staring at the boy, Darkness simply let out a snarky chuckle.
"Whether you believe me or not is your doing. I'm simply giving you a heads up as to what is going to happen to this city."
Not sure if listening to the mysterious figure was the right thing to do, Sora anxiously clenched his left hand and continued glaring back at the foe before him.
"… What do you mean something is going to happen in the city?" he forcefully said.
"A group of rogue magicians aligned with one of the Magic Side factions is working to plant a bomb of some kind within the city. I'm sure you've heard of the festival that is coming up soon?" Darkness asked.
Immediately connecting the dots to what was being said, Sora realized that with the Daihasei Festival coming up within a week there would be quite a commotion going on in the city. The perfect time for someone with bad intentions to do something. This caused him to start grimacing at the idea that Darkness was right. Meaning that he should at the very least hear him out.
"*sigh* I know I'm going to regret this… What else do you know about the rogue magic group planning on detonating a bomb?"
The dark figure suddenly began taking a few steps toward Sora and seemingly held out their hand.
"I know of two places where this supposed bomb is going to be placed. One is near a prison located in the city and another in a highly populated school district."
The brunette's eyes went wide as worry began filling up his heart.
"Where!? Where is the bomb going to- "
"Don't worry. I've already set to deal with the bomb inside the school district."
"Oh… wait then- "
"Which is where you'll be coming into play" Darkness stated for the boy to hear.
Sora was now sure that something was suspicious with this information he was being fed.
"You're kidding me. You want me to go to this prison and stop whatever this supposed rogue magic group is plotting?"
"Correct."
"Do you really think that- "
"Yes. Yes, I do."
The grip on his weapon handle was now being held tightly while Sora looked to be done talking and listening to this being of darkness.
"Well, news flash that's not going to happen!" The spiky-haired boy was now taking action. "I sincerely don't think you're telling me the truth!"
"Oh? Does that mean you think I was lying to you earlier? Or now?"
"That's… Do you want my honest answer? I think you were onto something earlier. But now, not so much."
A moment of silence became absorbed into the area until Darkness let out a scoff.
"And to think I wanted to extend a hand of truce to you. Guess that old saying the enemy of my enemy is my friend is nothing more than wasted breath. Fine then. Find out for yourself before it's too late."
Having said that, the being of darkness summoned another Corridor of Darkness and was beginning to walk toward it until Sora yelled out to get its attention.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?"
Turning back to look at the boy, the mysterious figure clad in dark mist merely shook what was assumed to be their head.
"What does it look like? You show no appreciation or care for what I am offering. Why else would I bother to stay around?"
"That doesn't mean I'm gonna let you get out of here!" Sora proclaimed to the formless figure.
"Oh? You think you can beat me?"
"Yeah. I know I can."
However, in the next instant, the Guardian of Light who had so far been victorious on a night as eventful as this one was suddenly thrown back with such force that he felt his entire body being hit with a strike so powerful that he for sure knew the wind was knocked out of him. A purple blast of light had hit him and thrown him backward.
"Hrrrrr! Gaaaaah!"
Rolling across the ground several times before landing flat on his back, Sora let out a flurry of coughs as well as wincing at the intense pain felt all over. He had not even seen the attack coming. One minute he was talking and the next hurting with no idea what had just happened. Something did not add up. Checking himself for any visible injuries, the body concluded that the attack was not fatal and surmised to be more of a statement.
Slowly walking over to the downed warrior, the dark formless figure kept on strutting over until it simply stared at the boy who scrambled to get back up.
"Alright then, hero, let's see what you can do."
"Cheap shot."
"More like you need to pay attention. Nevertheless, this next attack will be sending you several districts away while- "
Suddenly, Darkness seemed to stop talking and moving which caused Sora to grow a bit nervous about the whole exchange.
"What? Why did you stop?" the boy carefully questioned the formless being.
"Hmmm. It seems that we will have to put a placeholder on our clash between Light and Darkness. There is another matter that is of grave importance that I must oversee" Darkness replied while walking back to the Corridor of Darkness still up.
"Something more important than this?" Sora asked, becoming concerned with each passing second.
"Yes. It has great importance to me and my plans for the foreseeable future in this world." Darkness seemed to stop for a moment before clearly speaking to the boy again. "Oh, and don't you worry. This importance will require your presence sooner or later."
"Wait!"
Just about to enter the Corridor of Darkness, the dark formless foe assumedly raised its hand one last time while hypothetically looking right at the boy.
"One last gift I must present you, Sora. And I'm sure you've yet to be introduced to such a creation."
With what sounded like a snap of the fingers, an orb of darkness began growing and growing in front of the two before it started to spin at a very fast speed before seemingly stopping. In the next instant, the orb exploded in a cloud of dark smoke before the area's visibility cleared up displaying a sight that left Sora gritting his teeth and glaring very intently at what was now in front of him.
Standing there on two legs and dressed in a full-length dark coat with a hood and waist-high slit going up the back. Included on the coat was a large silver zipper that showed what looked to be dark pants and dark boots underneath. Sora couldn't tell who exactly it was but knew without a doubt that an old foe was present before him.
An Organization XIII member.
"I don't think introductions are needed. However, you will be relieved to know that this is something I experimented with and essentially created on my own. I call it a Mimic" Darkness explained to the teen.
"A Mimic? What does that… Wait. You're not telling me- "
"Correct again, Sora. You're showing me that you have a brain up there in that head of yours."
The situation had gone from bad to extremely worse in a split second. Sora wasn't sure how many times he had thought that tonight but right now that claim was at an all-time high.
"But… How!? How do you even know about the Organization? And how do you- "
But he was cut off from saying anything else.
"Well now, I'd best be off. I will be interested to know how much… damage will be caused by you two later. Have fun."
And with that, the splintered being of true Darkness had disappeared through the Corridor of Darkness leaving Sora to deal with the creation known as a Mimic now. An unidentified foe that he'd never encountered before was standing right in front of him. It left the teen with a sour taste in his mouth given that he thought he was finally done with the Organization. But as fate would have it… that was not the case.
Not even in the slightest.
Elsewhere within District 17
Standing next to what appeared to be a roadblock dressed in her Anti-Skill attire was the blue-haired woman who had greatly aided Sora in his short period within Academy City, Yomikawa Aiho.
The teacher and Anti Skill member had not been in contact with the spiky-haired boy for a minute now due to having seen him multiple times at school and waving at him while he passed her in the halls or briefly chatted with her. There didn't seem to be any indication that Sora was having problems either with his ordinary student life or the more hectic side of his life dealing with the Heartless.
Now, however, she couldn't help but start worrying greatly about what the boy was currently facing. Granted, the last thing she had heard was that he managed to defeat the large, dangerous Heartless lion that was reported to be seen by many of her colleagues. Her relief had hit an all-time low and the breath that she didn't know that she was holding onto was finally let go. She also smiled warmly knowing that the boy had managed to defeat the monster and keep it from hurting any civilians. The next time she had the chance to talk with him, she would have to-
"Yomikawa! Pack it up here. We are retracting the boundary zone further back," one of her fellow Anti Skill colleagues directed.
"Wait, what? I thought Sora took down the monster?" Yomikawa questioned, confused about what was happening right now.
"Reports indicate that he did. However, we are being fed a crap ton of information right now and it appears that there is still unusual activity going on around him still."
This didn't sound right. What else could be going on involving Sora?
"But that doesn't make any sense. What did the reports say?"
"Yomikawa."
"What did the reports say?" the blue-haired woman argued with the Anti Skill member while showing no signs of backing down at all.
Letting out a defeated sigh due to knowing how intense Yomikawa gets when it comes to a student's life, not to mention someone like the spiky-haired boy who she had formed a special bond with in such a short amount of time.
"Coverage that was sent our way was captured by one of the news helicopters loitering around the area up above. There appeared to be a figure dressed in a dark coat standing a few feet away from the boy. No further action has been reported but if what happened with the lion is anything to go off, then we need to be on high alert" the Anti Skill member reported to Yomikawa.
Shooting a glance over in the direction that Sora was supposedly still located, the caring woman couldn't help but desire the chance to call the boy up to make sure that he was alright and get an idea of just what the situation was like. Along with the idea of whether there was any way for her to help in some way or even Anti Skill to support the boy. Alas, that was nothing more than a fleeting desire of hers that would remain in her heart as she knew what she needed to do and that was make sure everyone stayed away from all the fighting that was going on.
There would be time later for her to get into contact with the brown spiky-haired boy and check up on him to see what exactly was going on. She could only hope that the support she was sending him now would aid him greatly in whatever he might get himself involved in. And that he would be able to walk away safe and sound. There was still a great deal for him to discover within Academy City.
Meanwhile, back with a certain trio of girls a few minutes ago
To say that they were confused would once again be an understatement. Everything that they had heard both from the news coverage being played on Kinuhata's phone as well as Takitsubo's AIM Stalker ability still did not make any sense at all. The description applied to what was going on around the spiky-haired boy and how he was performing such feats left them with one singular thought.
He was holding back.
Even that claim did not correctly and accurately depict just how much the power gap between the three against the boy could be applied. Sure, in other fields they were sure that they bested him by a mile but when it came to power… they were unsure what to really think. And that left them puzzled about what was happening now. Activity through Mugino's headphone, Takitsubo's ability, and Kinuhata's cell phone had gone quiet as there wasn't much said aside from the last explosion that rocked the area. They were completely in the dark, which prompted a certain someone to speak out.
"…You've got to be fucking kidding me!" Mugino said, slamming her fist on the table.
"I… I'm at a super loss of words. I thought that Sora might have one or two more abilities that we haven't seen but I guess not" Kinuhata commented while looking intently at her phone to see if there was anything else going on.
"There's nothing else being picked up on aside from Sora in the area" Takitsubo confirmed to her two teammates.
Each had their own thoughts about what had just transpired and even then, they had only heard and seen bits and pieces of the encounter Sora had with the giant Heartless lion. Mugino for sure would contact ITEM's support division to try and capture actual footage of the event to view later and examine closely. She didn't even care if the other girls sat to watch the captured recordings. There were two stand-out feelings swelling in her chest right now and one of those emotions was exuberant frustration. She had no idea how she would be able to beat the spiky-haired boy in their next bout but based on tonight's event, she had a lot of work to improve on. Secondly, the other emotion had to do with why her heartbeat was strangely high. For a moment, she considered it to be excitement due to hearing how Sora killed the monster with such style and finesse but that didn't seem like the right answer. Instead, she considered another reason why her heart was picking up the pace and that was because she-
Suddenly, flashing on Kinuhata's phone the visual being projected from one of the news channel helicopters began showing the aftermath of the area where Sora and the beast had engaged in combat. However, there was something else happening now.
Standing right in front of the boy was a figure clad in a long dark coat doing nothing but standing there. And Sora on the other hand looked to be taking an offensive stance while watching the being closely. Something was not adding up.
"Hey, Mugino, something's going on" Kinuhata alerted her leader.
"Show me."
Placing the phone on the table for the tea-color and black-haired girls to see, the footage being showcased was clear as day. In addition, one of the newscasters had started talking which was captured in the livestream.
"This is just in; we are now live with what appears to be the aftermath of the confrontation between the spiky-haired boy who was seen battling what appeared to be a large… Wait a minute. What's… What's going on? Are they… who is… *gasp* Oh my- keep the camera steady. Ladies and Gentlemen, it looks like another fight is starting to break out between the boy and- "
Suddenly, the video coverage being live-streamed was distorted followed by the helicopter turning away and causing the newscaster to yell out in frustration.
"HEY! What gives!? What are you- "
"We have been given the order to pull back again. All combat is to be viewed from a distance. Don't like it then you go down there yourself. It's too dangerous to be close to the ground. We have no idea what will happen" said a voice in the background suspected to be the pilot of the craft.
Immediately following this interaction, the newscaster continued to argue with the pilot while whoever was manning the camera tried to capture what was going on down at the ground but only caught Sora standing there pointing his weapon at the cloaked figure.
Mugino, for her part, was furious about missing out on what was assumed to be another fight beginning to start. Her frustration was demanding that she summon one of her Meltdowner beams and shoot something. Instead, she grabbed a chair that was right next to her and picked it up with ease before slamming it on the ground. The people who were nearby saw the action and decided to get out of there before the brunette girl would turn her attention toward them.
Kinuhata and Takitsubo shot each other glances that seemed to indicate a nonverbal exchange.
'Normal Mugino behavior.'
Before the tea-color-haired beast of a girl could demolish another poor chair located in the lounge, she suddenly pulled out her phone and began scrolling and typing furiously at the device for a good minute before she hurriedly turned to the two.
"Let's go you two."
Knowing not to argue against her, the two did as commanded but with the inclusion of Takitsubo speaking up to her leader and friend.
"Where to?"
"Where else? We're going to find ourselves some front-row tickets to Sora's second fight" Mugino said in a tone that could best be described as excited.
It was a strange sight to see on the Level 5's face. A mixture of anger and frustration that now turned into eagerness and intrigue were the emotions visible on the girl's face. Kinuhata and Takitsubo had now fully confirmed their prior suspicions regarding their leader. She was showing an all-time interest in the spiky-haired boy, and it was causing her to act differently.
Just what else would this intrigue in the boy do to her?
Following her into the elevator that brought them to this floor, Kinuhata decided to ask for more information about what they were getting themselves into.
"So, should we super contact Frenda to meet up with us? And what exactly is the plan?"
"No. That moron can enjoy a night off. And we are heading to the main floor to catch a ride that'll take us as close as we can get to District 17 without being blocked by Anti Skill."
"Gotcha. Sounds like a super plan."
"Takitsubo, do you have an ability crystal on you now?" Mugino asked AIM Stalker.
"No. I didn't think I would need one back at the apartment."
"Tsk. Fine. We can work around that. Make sure you're ready to scan the area once we get close enough."
"Understood."
And with that, the trio remained silent as they prepared themselves for what was seemingly going to be another fight involving the mysterious spiky-haired boy and now a strange, cloaked foe. The circumstances revolving around the boy were beginning to be entrenched in mystique that they genuinely had no idea what could happen next. But one thing that was certain was that it was going to be an entertaining sight to behold. And one that might just give them a bit more of an idea about just who Sora truly was.
Returning to Sora's current situation
Continuing to watch the cloaked Organization XIII member very closely, Sora had to mentally remind himself that this wasn't a real person and only a creation made by a being of darkness seeking to seemingly kill him. But that was not going to happen.
Suddenly, the figure standing before him raised their right hand forward and an orb of light appeared out of nowhere and was starting to expand. Before long, the orb had turned into a long-looking claymore with spikes spread out at the top. Giving the glowing weapon a second glance, Sora immediately recognized the weapon as being not just any ordinary claymore but the same one that a certain Organization XIII member used. He also vividly remembered getting hit square in the face with that same weapon.
The one who wielded the claymore and had a connection with one of his friends, Lea.
The Lunatic, Saïx.
This was going to be a difficult fight if what he understood the Mimic to be exactly. Not to mention, there could also be more to the creation than even he thought possible. Leaving an aura of uncertainty settling around the Guardian of Light.
"Alright… round two here we go!"
With his Keyblade in his hand, Sora sprinted at the fake Organization XIII member ready to put an end to Darkness that had confronted him on this night. Followed by the realization that his night was in no way done yet and he had a bunch more things to consider. But for now, taking down The Lunatic was his main priority.
And like it or not, Sora was at a complete disadvantage at what was about to transpire. One that would remind him that carrying around a little hurt can't be all that bad… can it?
Notes:
*A/N* - Salutations, reader. Glad to see you reach the bottom again. This chapter, if you could believe it or not was actually split into three chapters but after rearranging some things it will turn into two now. In addition, with many old faces showing up, there is also a bit of a tease as to what Sora will be up to in the future before the Daihaseisai Festival arrives. Something that I wanted to get him involved in seeing is that there are countless other mysteries that he has yet to uncover within Academy City. There will certainly be a lot going on when we get to that part of the story. Paths crossing with many characters and revelations made on both the Science and Magic Sides. It's going to get hectic. However, with Sora around you know things will never get boring. Thank you all for checking out this ridiculous and cheesy story of mine and leaving reviews centered around your thoughts and interests around the chapter. I do enjoy reading them all for feedback, entertainment, and insight into how the story is going along. Crazy to think that it's been a year already and yet it feels like we haven't even gotten to the best parts yet. Either way, thanks again for checking this story out and I hope you take care out there wherever you are. Until next time…
Chapter 14: Secondo Scontro Del Destino
Summary:
Left in a dangerous situation, Sora will have to deal with an old foe from his last adventure. However, things are not what they seem. And reactions across the city will be taken into account at what the Keyblade wielder is finding himself involved in dealing with. Another fight is about to break out.
Notes:
*Disclaimer* - I do not own the copyright to Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index
*A/N* - Hello again. I do hope all is going well for everyone who's reading this and even for those who are not. Life can suck sometimes but at other times it truly is amazing. Now, regarding the story, Sora has gotten himself involved in what can only be described as a fight fest. With the new creation taking the name of a Mimic, he's going to be dealing with something that he's quite familiar with as well as not entirely familiar with. For those not as familiar with KH, there are a set of bosses you fight that are super maxed and true adaptations of who they are as characters and their abilities. Each foe has a unique set of tools at their ready. Sora's going to be in for quite the ride this chapter as well as setting up what happens afterward. The Daihaseisai Festival is soon coming up and the Toaru world is going to feel more of an impact due to the Keyblade wielder's stance in this world. Along with other characters reacting to what's going on in the city. Where one story is advancing, you can be sure another is as well. Once more, I do thank everyone for checking this story out. A crazy idea that I've come to enjoy writing even if at times it makes no sense at all lol. I also enjoy reading all the comments and reviews about what's going on and hope to continue to learn more and build this story up for the better. Nevertheless, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and how Sora is essentially going to get his ass kicked lol. Take care and enjoy the story.
*P.S.* – For this chapter, I also included small little notes regarding battle music that goes along with the Mimic's antics. Those who are familiar with Kingdom Hearts will obviously know what's playing while those who aren't… well, not to brag but KH music hits hard.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It just had to take the form of them.
That was the thought prevalent in Sora's mind right now as he stared right at the cloaked figure standing in front of him. The blue spiky claymore in their hand was also pointed at him while the mysterious figure still had the black hood covering their face leaving the teen no idea just who was under there. Sure, he knew who wielded that exact claymore, but he wasn't entirely sure about it all.
'Saïx… I mean, Isa. I defeated him with the help of Roxas and Xion but… it couldn't be him here. Right?'
Deciding to find out for himself, the brunette called out to the hooded figure.
"Hey! Isa, is that you?"
No response.
"Are you even a real person? A Nobody? A copy even?"
No response.
"Would you just say something?"
No response.
"Grr… What are you?"
No respo-
Suddenly, the hooded figure brought its free hand up to its head and near the open area where its face was supposed to be. However, what it did next left the spiky-haired boy even more confused about what was going on.
The figure wearing the black coat simply brought its gloved index finger up to what was supposed to be its mouth and nonverbally made the gesture of being quiet. It was almost as if the Mimic was telling Sora to stop talking.
Left aghast at what just happened, the Keyblade wielder suddenly felt a pit forming in his stomach as he knew one thing that was for sure. This was not Isa. This was something else.
Summoning his Keyblade and aiming it at the dark figure, Sora knew things were about to pick up. They always did. But this time, he was starting to wrap his head around this strange occurrence before him. A Mimic as Darkness had told him. The name alone gave him the impression that it had taken from Saïx's fighting style using the large claymore and his magical abilities.
A grin appeared on the boy's face as he had become familiar with the Lunatic's fighting technique from beating him multiple times already.
"Alright, fine. If that's how you want to play, then let's do this!"
*Kingdom Hearts 3 Re:Mind DLC Music – The 13th Dilemma – Saïx*
Not wasting any more time, Sora shot forward right at the Organization XIII fake member with his weapon raised high while being held with both of his hands. His entire body moved with a newfound rush of adrenaline knowing that he was fighting a familiar foe. This would easily be over soon.
However, just before he was about to swing his weapon across the Mimic's body, the claymore in its hand began glowing. Adding to that sudden act, the fake Saïx let his arms extend out before swirls of white light appeared all around him giving off a strange wavy sight leaving his entire body glowing white.
Before Sora could do anything, the Lunatic shot forward with his claymore slamming down right at him causing the boy to instantly block the attack before several more slashes were sent his way. With quick reaction, the teen quickly blocked the claymore at every strike coming his way before taking the opportunity to dash around the hooded figure and land multiple slashes across his back.
"Not fast enough!"
Sending another strike across the Organization member's back, Sora suddenly had to block a rushed attack coming his way which had such force to it that he was launched back several feet before regaining his footing. At this point, Saïx had managed to catch him off guard and slammed the claymore right into the boy's abdomen causing him to yell out.
"Aaaah!"
Thrown back by the attack, Sora quickly got back into a defensive stance only to feel an immense weight slam right into him. The heavy claymore was now once again hitting him head-on and forcing him to try and block every attack coming his way. Launching a vertical slam with the heavy weapon, the fake Saïx started barraging the boy again but left a momentary pause between each attack. Sora did not notice this and assumed it was just the movement of the strikes but was unprepared for what happened next.
Thinking that the next attack would be another vertical slam, the Keyblade wielder raised his weapon to block an attack coming for his head but was sadly mistaken as he felt pain in his chest as the Mimic's claymore was swung upside down. Causing the boy to go flying back from the impact.
"Geeeh!"
Forcing himself to do a reprisal, Sora flipped in the air and was trying to get back on the ground but had to hurriedly block another incoming slash from the Lunatic who had jumped right at him and was once again hitting him with attacks that had weight put behind them. The fake Saïx showed no sign of stopping as it had performed a complete spin around while heaving the claymore around like it was nothing more than a regular sword.
Performing another spin attack, the recoil was greater as this time it caused the boy's weapon to be pressed right into him. Sora was then sent flying to the ground causing an impression along with cracks spewing in different directions. He shifted his head to see where the Lunatic was now but had to grit his teeth and hold up his Keyblade with both of his hands as the black-coated figure came screeching to the ground with his claymore glowing a bright light. Before he even could think, the spiky-haired teen was sent flying back down the street and landed right in the windshield of a car that was now wrecked.
Wincing at the pain coursing throughout his body and knowing that the car was probably destroyed, the teen was about to lift himself when he suddenly saw a bright purple light coming right toward his chest. Not wanting to feel what it would be like to get smashed by the incoming claymore, Sora forced himself to the right of the vehicle seconds and inches away from seeing the front end of the vehicle completely smashed and debris spraying all over the place. Glass and metal were torn and spread around.
Seeing the destruction, the Keyblade wielder quickly got to his feet and turned his head to the side only to see several more purple glowing claymores heading his way. Breaking out into a sprint, Sora continued running further down the street and seeing what other things were in the area. If Saïx was going to continue with his attacks then-
Suddenly, to his right, a large explosion caused debris to go flying and even caused several vehicles parked nearby to be pushed back. This caused the boy to roll to the side narrowly missing a car that appeared out of nowhere and was now completely smashed upside down several feet away from where he was just standing. He knew that this couldn't continue for much longer and decided to take a swing at the Lunatic and get him to stop his onslaught on the street.
Pushing off his back foot, Sora started running toward the Mimic making sure to keep his eyes open and focused on where the claymore was currently at now. As expected, the hooded figure raised the claymore above its head before slamming it on the ground causing lines of purple fire to appear out of nowhere and arch away from where the claymore hit creating a blast of dark fire to engulf the area. The fake Saïx continued to do so as he was marching toward the boy picking up the speed with every step, he took getting closer to the spiky-haired teen.
Dodging to the left and then the right, Sora was stuck in a rough spot as everywhere he turned, he was met with a wall of fire inches away from scorching him. It didn't help that the Claymore user was getting closer and closer leaving him seconds away from confronting the black hooded figure. With every moment that seemed to pass, another claymore was hurled his way causing a massive wall of fire to appear and scorch the area leaving him very little room to move around in. One slip up and he would be burned.
However, before he could react, the Keyblade wielder had to throw himself backward as the Mimic had thrown another claymore right at him with such ease you would have thought it was nothing more than a spear. Even so, the heavy-looking weapon was heading right for him, and he planned to easily block or deflect the incoming attack. Alas, Sora was playing right into the Mimic's hand.
This being born from the hand of Darkness was not just any ordinary monster but something else entirely. Something smarter and keen on adapting to his adversary. It would not only take on the fighting style of one of the Guardian of Light's past foes, but it would evolve into something that the teen had not encountered before in his many fights with the Lunatic Organization XIII member.
With a quick flick of its hand, the Mimic summoned another claymore to appear in its hand only this time, several other claymores appeared all around, and they each had a red glowing color to them. Immediately, all the claymores began spinning at a rapid speed before instantly hurtling toward the boy. This was something new.
Having just blocked the one incoming claymore that caused a blast of light to cloud his vision for a second, Sora was not quick enough to see the attack that would ultimately hit him with so much force and destruction that the area he was once standing in had been obliterated with debris flying everywhere as the multiple red projectiles had caused explosion after explosion of purple fire to consume the area. The brunette on his part had been sent skidding across the road and further away from the fake Saïx with his Keyblade disappearing in a flash of light.
Rag dolling back quite the distance, Sora finally felt his head stop spinning as he was now laying on his side with his entire body in immense pain. He then brought his hands up within his vision and saw them battered and even bloodied. Grimacing in pain, he forced his right hand to extend out and summoned his Keyblade once more before casting a healing spell on himself.
"H…Heal…"
With a glowing flower appearing over his head, the boy felt his body cry out in relief as a good majority of his bruises and injuries had been fixed but the sense of feeling tired got to him. But he would not stop any time soon.
Looking in the direction that Saïx was coming from, he saw the black hooded figure merely walking toward him with the claymore dragging across the ground emitting sparks to trial behind. As if by coincidence, the Mimic passed by several destroyed vehicles and paid them no mind. Not even when the sparks coming off the claymore which was still screeching across the road managed to light up a gas spill leaking from one of the damaged cars causing an explosion to occur behind the monster.
Sora had come to the late realization that the name "Mimic" did not exactly provide enough credit to the named creation he was staring at.
"Haah… It's called a Mimic because it picks up on other's fighting styles… but also creates its own. Just my luck" Sora commented while eyeing the hooded figure getting closer.
Understanding that he was now facing a completely unknown foe rather than continuing to think it was just a copy of Saïx, the spiky-haired teen let out an exasperated sigh before shaking his head. He also quickly reached into his pocket and took inventory of just what other potions he had on him as he felt that this would be a difficult battle ahead of him. Done with the inventory check, Sora also switched to his other Keyblades to make sure that Oathkeeper and Oblivion were ready to go at a moment's notice. Based on how things looked, he would need them at his beck and call while switching to his Light and Dark Forms.
"Here we go!"
Yelling that out loud, the boy shot forward and toward the Mimic which had also begun picking up its pace while still dragging along the claymore causing quite the crack on the road from the heavy weapon.
Not about to let this thing cause any more trouble, Sora would not lose. Not a chance.
Meanwhile, a few moments earlier
Yomikawa was standing right next to an Anti-Skill vehicle that had several screens propped up in the back of the vehicle next to a few of her colleagues trying to get a good visual on whatever was going on with Sora. The situation was labeled as unverifiable, and no one was to get too close to the area until it was confirmed that no civilians were present.
"Dammit! I can't get this thing to look straight" one of the Anti-Skill officers shouted while maneuvering what appeared to be a remote control.
On one of the screens, a video of the sort was being played while the visual was moving left and right as well as up and down. This was the point of view displayed from a drone that had been deployed by Anti-Skill to get a better view of what was going on in the area.
"Maybe if you gave the controller to someone who can actually control the darn thing, then we wouldn't be watching you crash the thing" another Anti-Skill member commented while having their arms crossed and shaking their head.
"Oh, go take a hike. This thing is harder to control than you think!"
"Grr… Yomikawa, do you know how to control one of these drones?"
Hearing her name addressed, the blue ponytail-haired woman turned her attention from the screen to where she heard her name called.
"Huh? Oh. No, I don't. But at this point, I'm willing to go through a quick lesson if it'll give us a visual of the situation" she replied in a slightly irritated tone.
"Oh, come on! Doesn't anyone else know how to fly this hunk of metal?" the Anti-Skill member controlling the drone cried out.
Before anyone else could ridicule him any further, an Anti-Skill officer with wavy dark green hair tied into a ponytail with glasses on her face appeared. She was also suited in a blue vest with a dark blue shirt and pants with black combat armor.
"Tessou! Where have you been?" Yomikawa questioned her junior.
Offering a nervous and timid laugh, the girl better known as Tessou Tsuzuri reported to Yomikawa.
"I-I'm sorry! I got held up trying to get a bunch of students who wanted to stay and find out what exactly was going on in the area."
"*sigh* Did you get them to leave?"
"Yes. I told them that I would be contacting their schools and telling them about their actions, and they didn't believe me. I then told them I would be personally contacting their parents and that got them to leave" Tessou replied, leaving out the bit about how the students thought that she was also a high school student sneaking into the area while wearing Anti-Skill equipment.
Nodding her head, the blue-haired woman didn't say anything else before she figured it wouldn't hurt to ask her junior the same question she had been asked.
"Hey, Tessou, do you know how to fly one of the Anti-Skill drones? If not, want to learn how to with me? Seems like no one knows how to really- "
"Yeah, I do."
"… fly one of these darn- … wait. What? Say that again?"
"Uh… I-I said yeah. I do know how to fly one of our drones" the green-haired girl repeated which earned her the awkward gaze from all her peers.
Nobody said anything, as everyone present, stared at the young woman with shocked expressions.
"W-Why is everyone looking at me like that?"
The Anti-Skill member still holding the remote control had his mouth left slightly open trying to find the right words for this situation.
"But… how?"
"How? What do you mean?" Tessou said, not sure what the member was getting at.
"How do you know to fly one of these?" the Anti-Skill member questioned.
Pushing up her glasses while feeling extremely nervous with all the sudden attention, Tessou cleared her throat as best as she could.
"During one of the days for Anti-Skill summer training, after I was done for the day, I got offered to try and fly one of the drones that had been distributed to our group. It was still an early-in-progress build but the superiors watching over the flight training helped me with it. Even if I did manage to crash the drone a couple of times…" Tessou whispered the last part of her explanation.
Amazement appeared on Yomikawa's face.
"You never told me that."
"I didn't think there was much to it. Most of the time we don't usually have access to the drone, so I just kept it to myself."
An immediate idea popped into everyone's head at that moment.
"Tessou! Can you fly the drone and give us a better picture of what's going on over there?" Yomikawa asked, getting within a few inches of the girl's face.
"I-I s-sure…"
"Aaah. Thank you! Now, hand it over."
Yomikawa directed toward the member who was still holding onto the remote controller.
"Fine, fine. Here you go. Stupid thing doesn't even work."
Having given up without a fight, the officer handed the remote over to Tessou who began examining the controller before walking over to one of the screens. She seemed to take a second to evaluate it before her fingers started pressing buttons rapidly causing the screen visual to go shaky for a moment before becoming a clear picture of one of the buildings nearby.
"What the- Forget this. I'm getting a coffee."
The defeated Anti-Skill member said while beginning to walk off. The other member who had been present also figured he would support his defeated buddy and listen to him complain about the drone.
Now left alone, Yomikawa was present right next to Tessou while also watching the screen carefully. The entire visual was so much better broadcasted than before that she could make out small details in the showcase. Even small things like what license plates were being displayed and details on buildings that weren't seen before.
"Right then, can you get a good visual on the area where all the chaos is going on?"
"Y-Yep. Just give me a second to get there."
Controlling the remote, Tessou managed to easily move the drone so that it was smooth sailing to the location where Sora was last seen thanks to reports coming in from other Anti-Skill branches monitoring the situation. This way, Yomikawa would be able to see what exactly was going-
"Wait… he's going to- "
* Boom *
There on the screen was the visual of Sora being hit and flying back into the windshield of a vehicle from what looked to be a giant claymore in the coated figure's hand. The situation had evolved once again only this time it appeared that the spiky-haired boy was fighting an Esper who they could not see the face of and only from a distance.
"That thing looks heavy…" Tessou murmured, examining the claymore.
"And yet, whoever is under the hood is wielding it like it's nothing. Can you get a visual on Sora?" Yomikawa asked, having a plethora of questions appearing in her head.
Adjusting the drone slightly, Tessou was able to get a clean visual of the boy which showed him wincing in pain from the attack. Yomikawa could feel her heartbeat pick up significantly while her hand started shaking slightly. It was different from being on the field compared to watching a crucial situation. On the field, she had the chance to make things right and save whoever was in danger. Right now, however, she could do nothing but watch. And that… did not sit right with her.
Suddenly, on the screen, Sora threw himself off the windshield onto the ground confusing the duo watching. But in the next second, the entire vehicle was slammed with what appeared to be another claymore. Tessou had to readjust the drone visual quickly while trying to catch what exactly was going on. The boy was once again being attacked, only this time it was from more claymores hitting the ground and causing explosions to rock the area, even tossing cars and debris all over the place.
Yomikawa was growing concerned by the second as she saw Sora having to dodge what appeared to be walls of purple fire appearing after each claymore that appeared from the cloaked individual who threw a weapon toward the teen. He was then forced to dodge as many attacks that were coming his way but that didn't last for long as the live footage being captured of the fight soon had Sora trying to engage in combat with the figure but was ultimately thrown back across the paved road and looking like he was seriously hurt.
At this point, Yomikawa was about to make a move but felt Tessou grab her shoulder which stopped the young woman from doing anything reckless.
"Yomikawa! Hold on- "
"There's no time. He's in trouble and- "
"That's precisely why we need to wait. We have no idea who this Esper is and what their power articulates around. If we go in there now, we will be causing problems for Sora-san!"
Tessou exclaimed while getting the blue-haired woman to calm down. Over the past few days, the green-haired girl had heard a great deal about this spiky-haired boy. Not the black spiky-haired boy but the one that was currently present in the fighting going on. She had also heard a few things about the other boy but that could wait for another time. However, based on how Yomikawa talked about him, Tessou could tell that she admired the boy greatly in the sense that he was out there fighting a monster that nobody had dealt with before, and yet, here he was standing up to some dangerous creatures and foes while getting dirty and hurt to make sure that nobody else had to deal with the troubles he faced. Not to mention, he wasn't exactly from Academy City in the sense that he already had a home or friends here and was doing this all by himself. Alone…
The green-haired girl couldn't imagine herself being able to do the things that Sora was capable of doing let alone being able to live and fight by himself. And yet, here he was doing that right before her eyes. Plus, from her point of view, Yomikawa could be seen as a sort of maternal figure to the boy as she briefly mentioned that she was one of the first few people to really help him get accustomed to the city. In addition, the two had also been together during the first Heartless attack and were fighting next to each other's side to help everyone get away. It was understandable that she would have a sense of wariness and protectiveness to her as she not only saw him as a student but… he was alone with no one else to truly care for him aside from his friends. But still… no real family was present or mentioned to be there for him. The thought made Tessou's chest tighten up as she realized how sad that sounded.
"*sigh* … You're right. That was stupid of me."
"No, it wasn't. You're doing the exact thing anyone in your position would want to do. Helping not only your student but your friend in this dangerous situation that they've found themself in. And we will help him… but once we make sure we know what we're getting ourselves into. You never know what might- "
Forced to stop talking, Tessou saw something peculiar via the drone caught her attention, even dragging Yomikawa to turn her head and look at the screen. The boy was now rushing right at the dark-coated figure with both of his hands on his weapon ready to clash with the unknown figure. The two Anti-Skill members could only watch as it looked like this fight was far from over.
Elsewhere in the same area a few minutes ago
Having just gotten out of ITEM's support team vehicle, Mugino, Kinuhata, and Takitsubo were now standing within District 17. However, they were as close as they could get to all the action before Anti-Skill closed off the area. Security officers were placed throughout the area as there were also other students trying to get a peek at what exactly was going on.
Brushing her hair back, Mugino pulled out her phone and began tapping away at a map she had downloaded of the district to get a better idea of where they could position themselves to see the fight up close. Her attention practically focused solely on the device in her hands and nothing else.
Kinuhata and Takitsubo were also checking the area out while the short-haired girl stuck her hands into her pocket. A sense of nonchalance filled her attitude.
"Well, where do we super go now? I doubt we can just walk up to one of the blockades and get in even if we do use force."
"I'd rather not fight" Takitsubo quietly commented.
"Why do you super say that? You never fight, Takitsubo, that's not your thing."
"You never know…"
"Are you… are you trying to be super funny for once!?"
Kinuhata was flabbergasted. Since when did the expressionless girl start to make jokes?
"…Kind of. Before we see something that's for sure going to leave me confused…" Takitsubo then commented.
"Oh. That's super something else. I can understand you on some level, Takitsubo, besides, if we just stand here and- "
"Would you two shut up! I'm working here!" Mugino screamed while having her eyes still solely focused on her phone to try and find an advantage point to the fighting going on.
At the same time, the tea-color-haired girl was listening to the dark side radio frequencies about what was going on and based on what she was hearing, it seemed like Sora was now fighting against some fucker wearing a dark coat with their face completely hidden. Not to mention, it also sounded like whoever this bastard was pulled a giant claymore out of his ass.
Again, details like this left the girl both confused and very eager to see what was actually going on down in the area of the fight. Hence, why she was hurriedly trying to find a location that-
"There!"
Catching the other two girls' attention, they walked over to Mugino who had a sly grin on her face.
"We'll head up to the fifth- no, fourth floor to get the best view of the fight going on" the Level 5 proclaimed while holding her phone for them to see where they needed to go.
"Huh. That's a super good spot to view the fight. That is if we even make it to see the fight."
"You'd better hope that we make it in time, Kinuhata."
The tone in Mugino's voice as she said that indicated that there would be heads rolling if she did not get to see the fight.
"We better go," the tracksuit-wearing girl said to move the conversation.
"Right, come on!"
And with that, the trio began running in the direction of where Mugino had planned for them to be to witness the fight currently going on. In the distance, the sounds of explosions could be heard which added to the intrigue of what exactly was going on down there where Sora was at. Just the thought of a massive fight going on caused Mugino to have a smirk on her face applied with an intense yet excited look in her eyes. A complete contrast between her beautiful, model-like appearance that so many girls wished they were born with and the dangerous, gleeful grin she had on her face.
Kinuhata stayed right behind Mugino while also making sure to not leave Takitsubo behind as she was the slowest runner out of all of them. That could be attributed to a great many reasons, enough to fill up a whole 200-page book, but alas, Offense Armor kept an eye on her friend to make sure she wouldn't trip over and pass out on the ground, and from the looks of things… that was slowly becoming a reality as Takitsubo was now jogging to keep up with them and even looked to be wobbling back and forth. This would be an arduous task for the girl who liked wearing tracksuits.
A few moments later
Having come to the front of a desolate-looking business building with nothing but glass windows, Mugino had a smile on her face as she could clearly hear the sounds of booms and crashing not that far away. Were she to play a risky move, she swore that she could have run over to get a front-row seat to the fighting going on nearby. However, that would be an unwise decision as she had no idea just what the hell was happening over there and decided taking a top-down view would be better.
Passing through the Anti-Skill security detail that had been placed around the fighting ground proved to be a cakewalk to get past as everyone seemed to have one eye and ear focused on getting civilians away from the fighting while the other focused on whatever was going on with Sora. Hence, that one blind spot was what she and the others needed to get here. Speaking of the others…
Turning her head around, she spotted Kinuhata helping Takitsubo walk as it looked like the girl was down for the count.
'Tch. Maybe if you got off your ass more, then you wouldn't be clamoring and out of breath' she thought to herself.
Nevertheless, the brunette decided that those two could catch up with her later. She needed to see what exactly was going on with all the fighting taking place right now. Breaking into a full-on sprint, the Level 5 shot forward into the building and booked it for the stairs to get to the fourth floor.
Watching as the sporty tea-color-haired girl took off without saying anything else, Kinuhata and the tired Takistubo didn't say anything as they watched their leader leave them like a young child leaving their parents to play on the swings at a park or run into a movie theater to watch the movie sooner. A sigh escaped Takitsubo's lips as she wasn't really surprised by Mugino's action. Kinuhata, however, had a different thought in mind.
"Hey, Takitsubo?"
"Yeah?"
"Mugino's super changed lately… don't you think?"
Confused by the response, Takitsubo summed it up as being nothing unusual.
"I mean, that can be argued. She's always- "
"Not super like that. I mean, her behavior has changed. Anytime the idea of Sora is mentioned, then she goes all ballistic and whatnot. Like dropping everything and going all attentive on him whenever he's mentioned. Kind of like how a gorilla goes crazy when something happens to their bananas" Kinuhata stated to the girl.
"…I think you're just letting your imagination go wild… and gorillas don't particularly eat bananas since they can't get to them" the tracksuit girl commented.
The black-haired girl wasn't sure what the short-haired brunette had to say but from how it was starting to sound, she could tell it was going to be something absurd and stupid.
"Maybe… or… super hear me out… Mugino has a crush."
"…"
Silence from the black-haired girl was apparent. Almost to the point that the distant sounds of explosions coming from the boy's fight even stopped due to the ridiculousness that was said by the Level 4 girl.
"What do you super think?" Kinuhata questioned the girl with a hint of excitement in her voice.
"…I think you've been watching too many C-classed romance movies on your days off and it's messing with your head."
An exasperated expression could be seen on the short-haired brunette's face.
"Now hang on! Don't super write me off yet! And don't diss those movies. You have no idea how bad they are so you can't say anything about them. Besides, I have some valid evidence to go with this idea of mine."
"I think I'll pass. We should probably catch up with Mugino."
Takitsubo started walking in the direction that her leader had taken off to with the Level 4 still trying to state her point.
"But think about it! You've super known her the longest compared to me or Frenda. You know what makes her tick and what doesn't make her tick that… ultimately does make her tick. Hence, you out of anyone else know how she reacts to things" Kinuhata reasoned to the girl.
"…Mugino's like that with a whole lot of other things."
"I call super bull crap on that. We both know how she can get with things that make her excited or happy and yet, whenever Sora's pulled into the picture, she goes all- "
"You're making my head hurt" Takitsubo commented.
"Just super think about it. Mugino barely shows her true feelings toward anything she actually cares about. Even I know that from what I've seen of her reacting to things. From an outfit she likes to the salmon she enjoys… she gets all interested and excited whenever it comes to Sora. There's got to be something there" Kinuhata argued.
Letting out a sigh, Takitsubo tiredly answered back.
"There is something there between them. Sora beat her in a fight. I don't know if we should count their first encounter as a real fight but she for sure lost against him once. We both know how she is when it comes to losing…"
"Exactly! There's a history between the two. That means she has to at least super feel something about him. Whether it's hate or even curiosity, there is something there for her to feel."
Hearing all that Kinuhata had to say about this topic, Takitsubo had one prevalent thought roaming in her head… this was tiring her out.
"… I think you should change up your movie genre."
"Hmph. Fine, we'll see who has the super last laugh when I'm proven right."
"Right, about what?"
"That Mugino has a super crush on Sora. Wait. Scratch that. To play a safer bet, she at least super feels something toward him that's not entirely hate or anger but something else."
The tracksuit girl felt like she was losing brain cells listening to this unfathomable conversation and figured that Mugino might have been wondering where they were… unlikely. She was probably focused solely on the fighting going on.
"*sigh* Let's go catch up with her…"
"Yep. Let's go super see what all the commotion is about. Maybe we'll also see something else?"
Not wanting to push this conversation forward, Takitsubo remained quiet as she walked on her own and right beside Kinuhata. However, a small thought began building up in her head and it was thanks to the short-haired girl next to her.
'Would Mugino even like someone… even Sora? She does seem to focus on him whenever his name comes up… but that's because she's looking forward to their next fight. She's a battle fanatic and can't take a loss at all… I've never even seen her interested in… there's no way of her liking someone… Mugino doesn't show her emotions at all… at least… not in a normal way… but she does get excited… eager and… dammit Kinuhata you and your dumb ideas.'
Takitsubo was now at odds with herself as she was also starting to put together unreasonable connections to things that made somewhat sense to things that made no sense at all. The idea that Mugino was developing something akin to a crush or fascination with Sora… She needed to stop listening to Kinuhata… but who else could she listen to? Frenda?
…That might just be an even worse idea. She would be susceptible to Kinuhata's idea even more.
Shaking her head of these thoughts, the tracksuit-wearing girl continued to make her way up the building to catch up with her leader and get a view of the fight that was happening right before them. What else could the spiky-haired boy find himself dealing with now?
Back with Sora
To say that the fight against the Mimic was going well would be… a lie.
Once he charged right at the coated figure, he was met with a barrage of slams from Saïx's claymore causing even more walls of fire to sprout out of the ground and leave scorch marks all over the place. Followed by the heavy weapon being twisted and turned at an incredible rate causing Sora to have to block or overtly roll out of the way from being hit. It didn't help that his attention was split between watching out for the fire and sudden claymores that appeared out of nowhere.
Blocking another claymore that had been sent his way, Sora ran forward for a moment before he stabbed his Keyblade into the ground and began spinning around it in a flashy manner to the point that once he picked up enough speed he shot forward letting go of the weapon and right at the fake Saïx.
Throwing his hand to the side, he summoned his Keyblade back and immediately blocked a swing of the cloaked figure's weapon before countering with a slash across its chest knocking the Mimic back a bit and allowing him to start slashing at the rest of the boy.
*Swoosh*
Strike after strike, Sora leveled his blade so that his weapon managed to cut across the Organization member's coat vertically, horizontally, and even diagonally making sure to get enough hits in before-
*Boom*
"Grrraaahhh!"
Getting launched into the air, Sora reprised himself so that he was balanced in the air before casting a glance at the area below and could instantly see what had caused him to go flying.
The fake Saïx had twirled his claymore upside down so that the heavier part hit the boy from below rather than normally from the top. The momentum of the great strike caused him to soar up into the air but that might have just given him the advantage he needed.
Recalling just how Saïx tended to be against different kinds of magic from his past fights with the Lunatic, Sora aimed his Keyblade and began casting Water spells right after another at the foe. Granted, his other elemental spells would also help him in this battle but for now, water was his best friend.
"Take th- "
Suddenly, Sora was hit by another claymore causing him to go flying to the ground and roll across the street but managed to get back to his feet quickly. A frown and glare were sent toward the Mimic as he wasn't sure just what else the dark creation had in store.
"Oh, come on. What is it with you and your creator landing cheap shots?" Sora commented with a bit of sass in his voice.
Standing in front of him, the hooded figure spun the claymore in his hand before pointing it right at the boy. With a bit of flair added to the mix, the fake Saïx held out his left hand which was free of holding the claymore, and gave the gesture of "Bring it on" to Sora.
This caused the teen to grit his teeth.
Followed by twirling his Keyblade in his hand and getting into his signature stance with his weapon at the ready. He had taken into account the being's movement and special little tricks that had been pulled right under him that he was now ready. Ready to finish the Mimic off.
Rushing at Saïx, Sora stayed aware of his surroundings and could see the Lunatic charging toward him as well while the claymore began glowing a bright purple color. The time of fighting was now.
Dashing forward, Sora swung his Keyblade right at Saïx's upper body which was easily blocked allowing for the claymore user to heave the weapon up before slamming down at Sora. Blocking the incoming attack, the teen quickly countered with a slash to the Organization member's leg, but that attack was also deflected by the claymore as it had arrived in time to meet the boy's blade. Not about to let this close encounter go to waste, he then enacted a quick slash to the Lunatic by spinning his body around while performing a clean slash to the chest. Alas, this was also blocked, and the boy's blade was shoved to the side as the claymore was shoved at Sora's face.
Forcing himself back, Sora aimed his Keyblade to shoot a fire spell at the Mimic hoping to get a reaction, but the spell was simply swatted away with the claymore. In return, Saïx hurled his claymore at the Keyblade wielder causing him to lunge to the side to avoid the burst of explosion that appeared behind him. Running up to the cloaked figure, Sora heaved his Keyblade down at the figure's head but was stopped as the claymore appeared in the Mimic's hand yet again and managed to bluntly hit him square in the chest right before his weapon could bash the foe's head.
Getting sent back, Sora let out a grunt before reprising himself back to his feet and once again charged at the Lunatic to attack again, only this time something different happened.
Waving his claymore in the air, Saïx summoned five other claymores around him that started to spin yet again only this time they took the color of a green glowing light rather than being purple or red.
Not sure what this meant, Sora stayed back and began casting a wind spell to try and disrupt the foe from casting whatever magic spell he was casting. With a green vortex starting to take form, the green glowing claymores remained afloat leaving Sora to wonder just what was going on. Deciding to take a risk, he charged forward ready to land a barrage of stabs toward the fake Organization member only to be hit with another explosive surprise.
"Gaaaaaaaah!"
All at once, the green claymores suddenly dropped from their suspended position and came crashing down to the ground right as Sora's Keyblade was inches away from slamming into the Mimic's side as he was engulfed in explosion after explosion causing him to go hurtling to the side. Rolling around on the ground and soon coming to a stop when he crashed into the side of a car, the teen let out a pained groan.
"That's new…"
Wincing, he stood back on his feet and rolled his shoulder back before examining where the Lunatic was now. To his surprise, Saïx began charging at him. Only this time, he was furiously slamming the claymore down on the ground causing a burst of fire to appear. With every slam to the ground, more and more fires consumed the area leaving Sora with but one thing to do. Use his own attack against him.
Raising his Keyblade into the air, he cast as many water spells as he could muster leaving large balls of water to have formed and come splashing right at the fake Organization member leaving him to stop thrashing his claymore around. Dashing at this time, Sora did not waste any time at all and began his attack.
Swinging his Keyblade back and forth in the formation of an X, he then switched to land a clean horizontal cut across Saïx's body before switching to a clean vertically cut that was unfavorably blocked by the claymore coming into the picture. Not about to stop there, Sora then countered the block with a heavy slash causing it to be deflected away allowing him to bash the end of his weapon into the face of the hooded figure before beginning to perform a barrage of stabs to the chest with his blade.
"Gottem!" Sora yelled out due to his attack making contact.
Stumbling back, the Mimic started waving the claymore forward at a ridiculous speed to try and slam into the boy only for the weapon to come to a standstill with the Keyblade blocking the attack. In the next instant, Sora countered the block with a quick jab at the hooded figure's shoulder which was then blocked followed by a swing at the teen's legs. Seeing this, the spiky-haired boy jumped up to avoid the attack but not before bringing his weapon to slash at Saïx's shoulder managing to land a hit. To follow up, he continued to land slash after slash taking on different angles with each strike causing the Mimic to try and block each attack but to no avail, it was not working.
Left with no other option, the fake Saïx heaved the claymore above his head before slamming it to the ground causing Sora to twist his body sideways to narrowly avoid a beam of fire from lighting him up. The sudden attack caused the hooded creation to rush at the boy while slamming the claymore back and forth causing explosion after explosion to consume the area.
Dashing away, Sora figured now would be the perfect time to switch things up as well. Saïx had also gone into a rampage, thrashing the claymore repeatedly while circling the boy. Twirling his weapon, he swung his right hand holding onto the Kingdom Key forward in front of him and let the blade go flashing in a bright light before bringing the same hand back across to his side summoning Oathkeeper in a flash of white light with the effect of white feathers appearing. Garnering enough strength within himself, he brought his left hand up to his heart before yelling out to the Organization member.
"Let's go!"
*Boom*
A blast of light consumed Sora and caused nearby debris to go flying along with a gust of wind to appear and immediately disappear. Standing there with Oathkeeper right on his shoulder, Sora twirled the blade while taking on an offensive stance with one leg back while the other was planted forward with his left hand out to his side and a confident grin on his face. He had entered his Light Form.
"Alright, let's see you catch up to this!"
In a flash of white light, he dashed right toward Saïx who had made his way back toward the boy and had summoned several red claymores to appear right above him. All at once, the two forces collided with each other as Sora shot forward and immediately cast a white bubble shield around him managing to block the barrage of slams spewing fire. With the attack ricocheting off the shield, Sora thrust his Keyblade up causing a burst of light to overtake the Mimic and send him flying back.
Wasting no time at all, he shot forward in a flash of light and once he got close enough, he heaved his weapon right into the side of the hooded figure before landing a fast-paced barrage of slashes and even took a step forward slicing through the Lunatic. Each attack managed to have some impact on the copy, but he was still standing upright.
Lifting his weapon into the air, Sora yelled out a spell that would buy him a moment before laying into the foe.
"Light!"
Suddenly, a beam of pure light shot right below the Organization member causing Saïx to flinch which allowed Sora to perform a substantial flurry of strikes. Slash after slash, the teen made sure to not let the enemy get a chance to move as he had cast a Thunder spell to paralyze the figure. Following that, he made extra sure to take this opening with much force by casting a Time spell to add him.
"You're not going anywhere! Stop!"
Slowing down, the Mimic was unable to do anything else as Sora was now treating it like a training dummy landing blow after blow with finesse and agility. With a small leap into the air and slamming his Keyblade across the foe's chest, several orbs of light appeared followed by beams of light all simultaneously striking the figure and causing him to now go flying back. Needing to slow down, the Mimic thrust the claymore into the ground to stop and ended up breaking apart the ground by lifting the pavement and making quite a mess.
Before the fake Saïx could even make another move, Sora was already there teleporting in a flash of white light with his blade slashing right at the arm holding onto the claymore. Due to the direct hit, the Mimic let go of the heavy weapon allowing the spiky-haired Keyblade wielder to do the one thing he was definitely familiar with… pick up the claymore.
With the heavy weapon in his hands, Sora flipped himself around so that the claymore was in front while balancing himself out. Getting the right adjustment on the weapon, Sora then pushed himself up off the handle of the claymore, and within range of Saïx, he started swinging away.
Taking a move out of the Mimic's playbook, he began performing acrobatic swings with the weapon managing to use it against the dangerous foe by forcing the claymore's weight to slam right into its original wielder. Bringing the heavy weapon forward and backward against the foe while making sure every hit counts against the faker.
"Not so fun being hit by your weapon huh!?"
Yelling this out at the Mimic, Sora twirled the claymore once more over his entire body before putting his all into this next attack by slamming the handle of the weapon right into the face of the fake Saïx before twisting his body around and landing a final hit causing the fake to go slamming into the ground causing a small crater beneath him.
Landing and rolling to the ground, Sora gripped onto the handle of Oathkeeper and stabbed the blade down into the ground causing a small blast of light to appear around him while also summoning several orbs of light to appear right above the Mimic. Jumping up to his feet, he dashed right at the creation while also casting another spell of light to hit the foe right as the beams of light were about to hit the fake.
With all the light-focused attacks commencing at once, the Lunatic was bombarded all around causing him to recoil back and stab the claymore down into the ground causing debris to go flying everywhere. Sora also took this chance to focus his gaze on the dark-coated figure and began preparing his Shotlock ability to launch a ranged attack that would be difficult to get away from.
"Got ya!"
*Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Cling*
Now armed with his Shotlock, Sora spun his weapon forward before a barrage of white light left the tip of Oathkeeper causing multiple white projectiles all to shoot toward the Mimic coming right into contact with its body and impacting it to the point that the hooded figure went flying back. The teen took this opportunity to prepare for the finale of this fight and ran forward while also casting several water spells one after another.
"I call Water!"
A massive splash of water hit the Mimic causing it to explode and wet a majority of the street and even staggered the Organization member which allowed for Sora to shoot forward and slam his Keyblade into the side of the fake Saïx. The feeling of a hit followed by light effects was seen but the teen's attack didn't last as he was met with a claymore blocking his way causing him to deflect the weapon and go on the assault of striking the face of the hooded figure. However, that didn't last as he had to block another attack from the Claymore user. The force of the weapon hitting him caused Sora to go flying back in the air which allowed him to quickly flip around and get centered before pushing his body forward and start swinging his Keyblade back and forth in a horizontal manner managing to get several good hits against the foe.
Suddenly hit with another blast of purple light, Sora was launched to the side and felt his head start pounding and a sense of dizziness settling in. However, he would not stop here and be defeated as he was ready to finish this fight.
Back on his feet, the Keyblade wielder decided to confuse the Lunatic by providing a distraction that would not only leave a nasty mark but allow him to get a clean strike against the menacing foe.
Raising his Keyblade up, Sora yelled out the spell that would help him now.
"BALLOON!"
The sudden appearance of several glowing colorful balloons would have left anyone confused but for Sora, he couldn't help but grin widely.
"Hope you like surprises!"
Beginning to spin around on his back foot, the boy cast a Wind spell to suddenly appear in front of the fake Saïx leaving the claymore user unsure what to do next but that's exactly what the teen was hoping for. Sora then aimed his Keyblade at the Organization member and shot a dark light right at him.
In sequential order, the glowing balloons began getting picked up by the wind and were now flying straight at the hooded figure who was ready to start destroying them by easily swinging the claymore. However, right as soon as the first balloon was about to be popped, a flash of white light appeared to dash left and then right and ultimately caused the Mimic to turn its head to the side but not as fast as it should have because another spell had been cast.
A Time spell to be specific as it had slowed the Mimic down just enough for Sora to finish it off.
"Hyaaaah!"
*Swwwwwiiiishhhhh*
*KA-BOOM*
A flurry of various colors covered the area as the balloons exploded due to Sora's influence from his clean slash against the fake Saïx. The cut had been across the being's side and right into the balloons that were close enough to cause a chain reaction leaving Sora to be standing there covering his eyes and waiting for the light to dim down.
Once it did, Sora looked ahead to see what the result was of the attack that he thought of on the spot. What he saw had him very concerned albeit letting out a sigh of relief as well.
Kneeling down, the fake Saïx still had his hood covering his face but looked to be greatly injured. To the point that Sora knew this would be his chance to end it all.
Not about to be stopped by some inconvenient situation, the boy ran forward and with Oathkeeper still in his hands performed a single clean cut right across the being resulting in him to now stand behind the Mimic.
Nothing seemed to happen as Sora swung his Keyblade from his left side to his right and stood upright while also turning his head to stare at the downed figure.
A moment of stillness was present and then…
*plat*
The hooded figure was now facing headfirst into the destroyed ground with no movement at all.
Sora had beaten him.
And yet, the Keyblade wielder had a gnawing feeling in his stomach that told him something was up.
Moving his body to look at the downed Mimic, he didn't see anything that looked out of the ordinary. Nothing was apparent on the hooded figure's body. Not even the mist of darkness appeared right next to-
"Wait a minute. That's not- "
Suddenly, the figure in the black coat was instantly clouded by a dark mist that prevented the boy from being able to see what exactly was going on. But deep down he knew that this was not spelling out a good thing at all.
Once the mist dimmed down enough for him to see what was going on, Sora saw something that left him frowning and got into a defensive stance.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
The spiky-haired boy yelled out as he now saw the hooded figure standing upright with their hands by their sides and just plainly staring at him with no reaction at all. That is until the Organization member lifted both of their hands and let a yellow trail of electricity wrap around their fingers. A woman's laughter could be heard loud and clear to the boy which made him instantly groan in frustration.
"Larxene!"
The sixth member of the real Organization XIII better known as the Savage Nymph. The closest relation Sora could put to her fighting style would be that of a ninja as she also commanded the Ninja Nobodies. Her use of lightning and rapid attacks was something that Sora hadn't exactly understood from his time fighting her in the past, but that didn't matter now.
It looked like the Mimic was far from finished.
Meanwhile, inside Tokiwadai Middle School
Sitting at a fairly large table, Shokuhou Misaki and her clique were all keeping each other company while discussing a variety of topics while having pleasantly happy expressions on their faces. Shokuhou also looked to be content as her starry eyes were focused on one of her clique members discussing what gossip she had heard being passed around the school grounds which was being listened to rather intently by everyone else. All in all, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves quite well.
Except… there was one girl who was surprisingly missing from the table. Hokaze Junko.
That girl was practically always seen by Mental Out's side no matter what the situation might be. Hence, for her not to be here right now sparked many concerns among the clique members, and even Shokuhou herself was starting to worry and thought about sending someone to go look for-
"My Queen!"
Hearing her name being called, the honey-blonde middle schooler turned her head to the side and saw the girl in question running up to her and the others.
"Oh? There you are. I was growing a bit worried" Shokuhou said while analyzing the girl's lively expression that was on her face.
"Oh! My Queen, I didn't mean to worry you at all. That also goes for you all as well but something urgent has come up!" Hokaze stated, getting everyone's attention on her.
"Hokaze-san? What's wrong?" one of the clique members questioned the girl.
Lifting her right hand and placing a tablet that she was carrying right next to Shokuhou, the blonde-haired girl was met with a screen that appeared to be showing a live feed being covered from one of the city's news stations. To say that she was surprised would be an understatement.
"Um… what is- "
"Forgive me for interrupting you, My Queen, but look again" the purple-haired girl politely demanded.
Doing as told, the Level 5 looked back at the tablet screen and waited to see what all the commotion was. Upon glancing at the screen, Shokuhou was about to say that she saw nothing new but that was abruptly stopped as she recognized a certain someone that she encountered not that long ago.
"Sora?"
Hearing the boy's name, the clique members suddenly raised their eyebrows and looked to their Queen for further clarification.
"Did you just say Sora, My Queen?"
One of the girls asked to which she received a slow nod from the blonde girl who was confused about what was going on right now.
"Is this being broadcasted right now?"
"Yes! It's all live right now. As I was returning from helping one of the girls with the sports equipment, I heard some others mentioning something happening on the news and decided to see what was going on. It was then that I saw Sora was being talked about all over the news followed by reports of him caught up in a fight" Hokaze explained to the group.
At this point, several of the clique girls started reaching for their phones and pulling up the news to see what exactly was going on. Shokuhou meanwhile was watching the screen sitting in front of her while Hokaze was right behind her with her eyes not leaving the screen at all. Her friend was in trouble, and she wanted to make sure that he was ok.
Before anyone else could say anything at the table, the sound of a news reporter coming from all the devices could be heard explaining the situation to everyone tuning in.
"…Reports are coming in that the boy who was heavily involved in the attack less than a week ago is now being engaged in- Hold on, he's… Ladies and Gentlemen, the fight looks to be over as the boy is…"
A sigh of relief could be heard coming from the purple-haired girl as she also brought her hand up to her chest and placed it over her heart.
"*sigh* Thank goodness. Sora's ok."
Murmuring could be heard from the other clique members as they also shared a sense of relief that the boy had come out of the conflict unharmed… or at the very least nothing life-threatening. The moment was met with a sense of happiness as each of the girls wore a happy expression on their faces. From their first short encounter with the boy, he had proven himself to be someone that they enjoyed being around. He was not only a good cook but friendly as well, making sure that everyone was enjoying the time they shared back at the restaurant. No doubt, he had made a good first impression on them.
However, that soon changed as the newscaster started talking again through the devices.
"Update on the current developing situation, it appears that there is no movement coming from… wait a minute. That's- Oh my- Ladies and Gentlemen, the hooded figure that was last seen on the ground is now surrounded by a dark cloud that is preventing any visibility on the situation. We are currently at a live developing… "
Listening to the newscaster say this, the happiness that was flowing through the room in all of the girls had come to a halt as they all looked intently at their screens. Hokaze who was the happiest out of everyone was now staring at the screen in front of her without even blinking. Shokuhou who watched her friend being concerned couldn't help but hope that the boy would be-
"Report! The hooded figure is now standing back up and looks to be shooting electricity out of their fingers. The boy also appears to be wearing a distraught and angered expression on his face. We will provide live updates on- *scream* What's going on!?"
The footage being shown on the devices showed a top-down view of the area where Sora was standing but it was suddenly pointed at a different position of the city leaving everyone watching to see the side of a tall building.
"Hey! What's going on?" one of the clique members exclaimed.
"The camera was moved?"
"But why?"
"What about- "
Suddenly, the newscaster started speaking again.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we apologize for the disruption but due to the ever-developing situation, we have to pull back due to safety reasons. The hooded figure that was presumed to be bested is now engaging in a fight with the boy and an electrical ability is being heavily used. We have been directed to stay…" the newscaster continued explaining the reasoning for diverting away from the commotion.
However, this just resulted in the girls commenting about what was going on and giving their own thoughts about it all. Junko on the other hand looked to be very worried and unsure what to think about what she heard. Just when she thought the fight that Sora was caught up in was finished, it appeared that something else was happening. Not to mention, hearing that electricity was being used in the area resonated a bit with the electromaster as she was unsure of the boy's fighting ability against an Esper of that kind.
Shokuhou on her part didn't know what to say or do and decided to keep on watching the live feed to listen to whatever was happening. Alas, she also had a curious thought come to mind about the current situation playing out in live time.
'Who is targeting Sora and why?'
There was no answer to this question and the only way to learn more would be to listen to the news coverage. Hokaze brought both of her hands together and clasped them while hoping that Sora got out of this problem safely. He would get out of this problem safely… right?
Back with ITEM several minutes ago
The phrase that someone says when a bunch of information or a large spectacle is happening before their eyes, and they want to record it all down hence needing a pen and paper could accurately depict the situation that the three girls of ITEM were feeling. As they had found a reasonable view from the fourth floor of the building, they were currently left with a great deal of confusion. Each of the girls' levels of intrigue was at an all-time high. Especially with the girl who had tea-colored hair.
Mugino was at a loss for words at what she had just seen. She didn't even care that Kinuhata and Takitsubo were standing right next to her. The Level 5 had a glint in her eyes followed by a devilish grin on her face. The fight she had just witnessed left her feeling a lot of things. One fact was that Sora was no pushover which resulted in him fighting unpredictably. And the other… well, that could be described in a plethora of words.
Using the enemy's own weapon against them, fucking hilarious.
Having a battle-focused face the entire time and not backing down from getting thrown around was absolutely entertaining.
Witnessing him not be a little bitch and finishing off the bastard with his weapon… just thinking about that moment again was causing her heart to swell and beat at a faster-than-normal rate. She didn't have the right words for what she was feeling but one thing was clear… she judged him wrong. How couldn't she, the spiky-haired teen himself alluded to the idea that he killed even while proclaiming that he was on the side of light. That made no sense. And yet, she just witnessed him end whoever was in the hood using the same style of fighting he used against her with the light-based attacks which gave off the idea of him using light to his side.
Mugino was not good at conveying complex emotions in public at all. Sure, showing a moment of contentment or anger was something she could do instantly along with putting on a fake smile or outright facade of a positive personality. However, the look displayed on her face right now had her grinning madly. To the point that it was starting to scare the other two ITEM members.
"Uh… Takitsubo…"
"…Yeah…"
"You should super talk to her" Kinuhata suggested to the tracksuit-wearing girl.
"No way. Not when she's like that" Takitsubo replied while glancing over at the Level 5 who still had a bright, giant predatory smile on her face.
"Then, what are we super going to do? I think Mugino's broken?"
Unsure what to do, Takitsubo had never seen her friend/leader like this before. Of course, there were other times when she wore a grin on her face in an intense battle or getting exactly what she wanted. But this was different. How different? Well, the black-haired girl couldn't exactly put into words how it was different. However, she could on good authority say that after being close to Mugino for quite a while now, the expression she had on her face was something new. Something that resonated with a different emotion on the tea-color-haired girl's face.
Alas, before either of the two girls could ponder about their leader's strange behavior, Mugino seemed to snap out of her train of thought and turned to look over at them.
"What? What the hell are you looking at!?"
Raising her hand and gesturing no harm, Kinuhata responded defensively.
"We were just… super curious about you."
"Curious? What the hell are you talking about?" she demanded from the two.
Shooting a glance over at AIM Stalker, Kinuhata seemed to nonverbally tell Takitsubo to respond.
"*sigh* You've been honed in on Sora even after the fight is over. Your expression says a thousand words, but we have no idea what they mean" reasoned Takitsubo.
"…Why the fuck do you care about what I'm thinking?" Mugino retorted, staring at the two with a pissed-off expression apparent on her face.
"You were still super staring over at where Sora is. It's only reasonable to think that you were thinking about something intently." Kinuhata said this while also deciding to play it risky and add more. "Plus, you had a scary grin on your face that is… new. To say the least…"
Folding her arms across her chest, Mugino was very tempted to do one of two things. The first was to march right up to the Level 4 girl and toss her out the window they were all standing next to knowing full well that would not be enough to kill her. And secondly, the other was to pummel her on the head for watching her and commenting on something absurd like the expression she had on her face. Either way, Kinuhata was getting hit. Besides, who the hell stares at people like that!?
"…Kinuhata."
"Yeah?"
"Choose. Option 1 or Option 2."
Unsure of what Mugino was asking her, Kinuhata peered over at Takitsubo who had a blank expression on her face taking a neutral stance on whatever was happening now. Even if she did have her own thoughts on the matter, she would keep them to herself and not face the gorilla-strength wrath that was known to be the Esper Meltdowner.
"Can I super know what each option is?"
"No."
"A hint?"
"Fucking choose, Kinuhata!"
Sporting a nonchalant look on her face, the Level 4 glanced out the window that was next to her while replying to the angered brunette.
"Ok, ok. Geez. Mention Sora and it's like I've got a bounty on my…"
The short-haired brunette suddenly stopped talking which earned a confused look to appear on Mugino's face.
"Why the hell did you stop talking?"
Raising her index finger and pointing it out the window they were standing at, Kinuhata muttered one word while still looking at whatever caught her attention.
"Sora…"
"What? What the hell about him? Are you going to keep using him as a scapegoat or something? Why are you wasting my time and just choose a goddamn- "
"Mugino."
"What now, Takitsubo!?"
The tracksuit-wearing girl also had her head facing the same direction that Kinuhata had hers only she gestured with her hand for the Level 5 to look where they were looking.
"Something's going on down there."
Seconds away from grabbing a chair and tossing it at her two teammates, Mugino was about ready to curse them until they were unable to comprehend normal conversation due to her inner sailor language ready to come blasting out of her mouth when she looked at what they were observing.
The tea-color-haired beauty bared her teeth and let out a stunned comment.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me. Didn't Sora kill that fucker?"
What she was referring to was the scene of Sora taking on a defensive stance while glaring at the hooded figure who looked to be untouched from the battle that just finished. Another thing to point out from their perspective being not that far away from the boy's location was that the body stature looked different compared to the claymore user.
"To be fair, we don't even super know if he did. We just saw him land a finishing slash right at the guy or girl while they were down. For all we know, he could have knocked them out" Kinuhata reasoned to the girl.
"He looks upset" commented Takitsubo watching the boy's behavior.
"Tsk. They're probably going to be spending the next hour talking it out since that shitty hero tends to- "
Mugino was abruptly interrupted as the scene drastically changed and played out with the hooded figure waving their hands forward with what appeared to be electricity appearing between their fingers. An electromaster.
"Whoa… wait what? I thought… what kind of Esper is he super dealing with? First that Claymore guy with his strange fire ability and now an electromaster… what's going on?" Kinuhata commented while pressing her face into the window to try and get a better view of whatever was going on.
The next thing that the girls watching from above saw was the hooded figure shoot straight at the boy while cartwheeling to his left and dashing right at him while swinging what appeared to be right at the teen's face before throwing their leg over and aiming to kick the spiky-haired boy in the chest. Sora quickly dodged to the side while keeping his guard up.
"…Or not."
"Holy sh- who super is that guy or girl!?" Kinuhata exclaimed while not knowing exactly what she was seeing.
Takitsubo on the other hand decided to make a move at this time and activated her AIM Stalker ability to see just who the hooded figure was and get a read on their AIM Field. Perhaps it was different compared to Kinuhata's idea of the claymore user being a pyrokinesist since the black-coated person was now using electricity at a rapid rate.
Seeing the black-haired girl using her ability, Mugino pulled her attention away from the fight currently going on to see what Takitsubo had to say.
"What are you getting?"
Taking a second to analyze the figure below, the Level 4 girl could detect a similar reading around the hooded figure as electromagnetic fields were identified. However, there was something else going on with the mysterious figure. It was almost as if… there was a wall hiding something else behind the faint traces of magnetic fields she could sense.
"Electromagnetic fields are something I'm for sure detecting but…"
"But?" Mugino repeated, looking eager to hear what she had to say.
"There's something else. Something that I can't really describe… no, wait. I can. It's like with the Heartless."
"Huh? But that's… that's super weird."
About to comment, Mugino was suddenly stopped as the sound of explosions started picking up down below indicating that the fighting was just still going on. Better yet, a second round was now taking place.
Back with Sora moments ago
Staring right at the fake Organization member before him, Sora was not going to underestimate the foe standing in front of him. He didn't like to admit it, but he thought he had a read on Saïx, and that perception cost him quite a few bruises and a tired body. Now, however, he was better prepared.
"Are you also going to be quiet and not say anything?" Sora questioned the black-coated figure.
Nothing was said as he figured it would be a repeat of his encounter with the Lunatic and be left in-
"Are you still a loser who can't do anything right?"
A woman's voice was heard causing the boy to go wide-eyed as he was not expecting a real answer any time soon. The hairs on his arm also became noticeable to him as hearing the girl speak forced him to have goosebumps.
"W-What? Larxene?"
Letting another laugh, the woman known as Larxene began waving her hand at the boy.
"Sadly, not the real one. But seeing how much you got thrashed around by that quiet sad sap known as the Lunatic, I figured why not egg you on a little. Besides, wasn't it boring to fight against someone who didn't say anything?" Larxene or rather, the Mimic responded to the boy while having a nonchalant tone in her voice.
"Grrr… Doesn't matter. You're going down whether you like it or not!" Sora roared back at the woman.
Still with her hood covering her face, Larxene's hand was now fully surrounded by electricity followed by the small blades in her fingers appearing to glow as well.
"Haha! Oh, this is going to be fun."
*Kingdom Hearts 3 Re:Mind DLC – The 13th Struggle – Larxene*
Letting no more words be said between the two, the Savage Nymph shot straight at the boy while performing a perfect cartwheel to his left before dashing right at him and swinging her blades fitted to between her fingers right at the teen's face before bringing her leg over and aiming to kick him in the chest. This caused Sora to quickly move to the side while keeping his guard up. Thankfully, doing that allowed him to block several strikes coming right for him from the dangerous woman from the Organization.
Abruptly stopping her attack, Larxene suddenly jumped into the air and performed a spin with her entire body before slamming to the ground causing a massive explosion of electricity to consume the area that Sora was just standing at as he barely rolled away at the last second.
Barely getting to his feet, the Keyblade wielder was once again met with the woman's small blades gunning right for his shoulder resulting in him blocking the attack with his weapon raised horizontally and with enough push, forcing the Mimic to back off with a counter slash primed right for the chest. However, that was soon thwarted as Larxene leaped backward into the air before twisting her body to throw several of her small blades right at Sora's feet. Due to not realizing what was happening, once those blades hit the ground, bolts of lighting arched around in a line managing to hit the boy and cause him to yell out in pain.
"Aaahhh!"
Having been hit and thrown back, Sora hurriedly flipped himself around to perform a reprisal back to his feet and swerved his head back to see where Larxene was now. To his surprise, he found her distanced quite away from him which left him confused by her tactics. This was not the same Larxene he remembered facing and quickly assumed that she would have complex kinds of moves compared to her original fighting technique. Similar to how Saïx used his various claymore in moves against him becoming an even bigger threat than before. Whether it was the Mimic coming up with its own moves or just performing attacks that Larxene and Saïx had not used before but amplified them up by ten, Sora wasn't entirely sure, but he needed to be extra careful as he was crossing uncharted territory.
Raising her hand in the air, Larxene's right hand shined a bright white light before she threw her hand forward, and suddenly without even blinking his eyes a row of light pillars exuding electricity across the ground shot right at the boy hitting him and eliciting a pained groan from him.
"Gaaahh!"
Forcing himself to push past the electric shock coursing through his body, the Keyblade wielder reprised himself yet again before rolling to the side and dodging another array of light pillars gunning right for him. Another array of light came shooting right at the boy causing him to roll to the left again and jump back to his feet. Seeing that he missed the attack, Sora was then met with Larxene throwing her small blades at him again forcing him to block the electrifying attack while instantly realizing that she left an opening on her side that the threw the small blades.
With the barrage of lightning hitting his Keyblade, Sora shot forward while deflecting the electricity as best as he could dodge the attack and dash forward. Having gotten enough distance with his dash, he stabbed his weapon into the ground beginning to use it like a pole to spin around and use his leg to kick Larxene in the face several times while spinning around his Keyblade. Letting go of his weapon and rolling to the side, the spiky-haired teen charged right at the electrifying Organization member but was ultimately left puzzled by her next move.
"You're done!"
Arching her body forward, Larxene shot straight up into the air but rather than seeing her body floating in the air, she had taken the form of a bright yellow light jumping from point to point leaving both trails of lighting and orbs of light behind in her wake. The girl was bouncing around the area leaving Sora to have to move his head side-to-side to keep up with her fast speed and only able to see which direction she was going thanks to the orbs of light left behind.
He had seen her, the original Larxene, use this technique before with her zooming from spot to spot and leaving nothing but trails of electricity. It was a bothersome move of hers but nothing that would prevent him from dealing with her. He would not let anyone else get hurt by the Mimic's dangerous antics and bear the burden of hurt. Moreover, Sora continued to watch the girl's movement to see what she might do next.
The Savage Nymph was seemingly moving the fight further into the district and away from the battlefield Saïx had left behind. Not about to let her encounter anybody out in the district, Sora charged right after her, managing to run and jump at one of the nearby building walls and engulf himself in blue light all around indicating that his Flowmotion ability was activated. With his power ready, the Guardian of Light began wall-running across the building to try and catch up with the dangerous woman knowing full well she would hurt anyone who got into her sight.
"Stop Larxene!" Sora cried out to the hooded woman.
The response he heard coming from her while she was still zapping from spot to spot was gleeful laughter that he easily recognized from his time fighting her before. The Mimic was really playing with him now.
"Hahaha!" Larxene smugly laughed loud enough for the boy to hear.
Grunting in frustration, Sora tried his best to lock onto the teleporting woman but to no avail, he wasn't getting a read on her. She was just too fast to read. Hence, he shot forward to another building while correcting himself to continue wall running across the building wall with his Keyblade taking the form of Oblivion. This was going to be a cat-and-mouse chase.
Returning to ITEM
Having witnessed the electrifying fight before them, the three girls were unsure what to say aside from how badass the encounter between Sora and the hooded figure was. The constant flow of energy shot from side to side while the boy did his best to match the mysterious foe's speed. It left them both in awe and intrigue by what was happening. Notes were also made to investigate who this Esper was and how they were able to manipulate not just fire and electricity.
Mugino on her part was loving everything that she just saw and couldn't help but have excitement flourish all over her face. Her eagerness to see more was reaching the skies as she started running in the direction that Sora and the figure had zoomed toward. Takitsubo and Kinuhata not knowing what to do decided to follow her as she sprinted through the fourth floor of this building.
"Hey, Mugino, what's uh… what's the super plan?"
Kinuhata called from the side while utterly confused about what the long-haired brunette was planning.
"We're not going to lose sight of those two. Which is why we are chasing after them!" Mugino eagerly responded.
Takitsubo's eyes widened as she was feeling a wave of tiredness already hit her as she just knew it would be the trek to catch up to those two.
"They're moving fast."
"Not a problem. We'll be taking a bit of inspiration from their moves."
"…say what now?"
The two Level 4's immediately glanced over at each other with looks that conveyed only one thing.
'Mugino's gone crazy!'
Running in the same direction that Sora and the hooded figure went, the three girls were now met with a window located right next to a stairwell that would take them up or down. Staring out the window, the Level 5 could see a faint glow in the distance of the spiky-haired boy getting further away. Not about to let them get too far, Mugino immediately summoned one of her Meltdowner beams and shot the window out causing the glass to go flying everywhere.
"Whoa! Mugino! Don't tell me you're super doing what I think you are!" Kinuhata shouted while pointing at the window.
Takitsubo also had gone wide-eyed and instantly knew what the tea-color-haired girl was planning on doing and it resulted in her taking the chance to go building hopping.
"Have you done this before?" she questioned the Level 5.
"Nope. First time for everything."
"Yeah, for a lot of things, but not super this!"
"Shut it, Kinuhata! Now, are you two coming with me or not?" Mugino asked the two girls.
Shooting looks at each other, the idea of them flying did in a small way sound pretty cool, but on the other hand, there was the chance of flying through the air and landing headfirst into a building or worse. They did not want to risk that even if Kinuhata could protect herself it would be a bit harder to keep Takitsubo safe though. Hence, they both shook their heads.
"We'll super catch up to you on foot" the short-haired brunette responded to her leader's question.
"Tch. You're wasting my goddamn time."
And with that, Mugino took another look out the window and looked up to see that the building right in front of her was a bit taller than expected but due to her having experimented with her Meltdowner ability in a matter of allowing her to perform high-speed evasion similar to a rocket propelling her forward or whatever direction she calculated and aimed toward. She would try to replicate that idea but by sending herself propelling upward and near the top of a building otherwise… she could kiss her life goodbye.
"Grr…"
The model-like girl spent a good minute keeping her train of thought on the exact calculations that would be needed to perform her dastardly dangerous move. Her two teammates also knew that it would be a very bad idea to interrupt her as she was scheming her plan of action and messing with her now would surely result in a hole shot through them. Moreover, she hadn't tried this before at all but… she would sadly be making the grizzled bastards up at the top of Academy City proud in her experimenting with her ability.
"Fuck it!"
Taking a few steps away from the window, Mugino waited for a good second before sprinting toward the broken window with Kinuhata and Takitsubo watching her and silently hoping that her plan worked. Coming up to the window, the Esper known as Meltdowner summoned two orbs of light right behind her and let the blast help her achieve the goal she set out to do.
From a distance, someone would see a bright flash of white light appear out of the broken window on the fourth floor of the building as well as a trail of light soaring high into the sky.
Back with Sora
Continuing to run across the sides of buildings still covered in blue light, the Keyblade wielder was now entering an open area where the ground appeared to be flat and there were no buildings nearby. It looked to be a plaza of some kind where events could be held but right now there was nothing there. Such a strange location to be found in the middle of a large scientific city…
The boy's eyes went wide as he immediately realized something to consider. The Daihaseisai Festival was coming up. That meant that the city would be focused on promoting the sports festival and all the festivities for peers and guests alike to enjoy. Alas, he could ponder that idea later as it appeared that Larxene had suddenly shot right into the middle of the open area and looked up at him with her hood still covering her face.
Pushing himself off the building side and soaring through the sky, Sora fell gracefully from the sky resulting in him simply rolling back to his feet and glaring at the Organization XIII member with his Keyblade flashing and taking the form of Oblivion.
"You done running?" Sora questioned the Mimic.
"Hmm. I don't know. Have you grown out of being a brat?"
Letting out a muffled sigh, the brunette was getting fed up with the fake Larxene.
"…Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Don't play dumb. Why are you here? Attacking me."
As the teen said this, he carefully watched the hooded figure simply take on a pose of putting both of their hands on their hips while shaking their head.
"Does everything need a reason?"
"When it comes to the Organization, then yeah, everything has a reason" he proclaimed in a serious tone.
"Bwahaha! You're right about that. Hm… Alright, I guess I could humor you and say one thing…"
Sora unknowingly leaned a bit forward and kept his ears open.
"You have no idea what's coming. Our Master has seen what lies in store for this world. The people… they are weak. Scrambling in the Light and willing ready to sacrifice themselves to the Darkness in favor of power and knowledge. That goes for both the Magic and Science Sides" the Mimic explained to the boy while extending their right hand forward.
"It… it can't be that bad? You're just messing with me now!"
"…That's your mistake. I have nothing else to say to you, well, other than this. You need to expand your horizons in this world. Get a taste of how vile it is. At this point, we won't have to do anything but watch as it succumbs to Darkness all on its own" Larxene explained in a condescending tone of voice.
"Enough!" Sora yelled out while pointing his Keyblade right at the hooded figure. "You have no idea what will happen to this world in the future. And you're forgetting the most important part of it all."
The fake Larxene now tilted her head to the side while bringing her right index finger up to where her mouth would assumedly be and questioned the boy.
"Oh? And what might that just be, brat?"
Raising his left hand to his heart and closing it to a fist, Sora spoke what his heart was telling him to say in a confident and upright tone conveying not only confidence but hopefulness as well.
"The people who live here… in this city… and this world. They will not let this world fall to Darkness!"
A moment of silence found itself between the two and it wouldn't be until the Larxene let out a joking fit of laughter.
"Ahahahah! Ohh wow, you've really turned into a big boy. Well then, Mr. Hero, let's see if your heart is strong enough to get out of this!" Larxene shouted while letting electricity flash around her fingers and blades in hand.
"Bring it!"
Sora said while getting into his battle stance while glaring at the Mimic. He would make sure to end it here and now.
Off the bat, Larxene's entire body started glowing a bright yellow color all around her leaving the Keyblade wielder on high alert as he watched what she was going to do next. He would need to be quick to adapt.
In the next instant, the hooded woman disappeared from Sora's sight before a bright reddish-pink orb of light with black tendrils surrounding it appeared right in front of him. On quick reflex, he raised his Keyblade to his face with his right hand while his left was in front of the blade. Luckily, by doing that he was able to block the sudden attack coming from the hooded figure as she had now multiplied and shot outward in various directions.
"See ya!"
Another one of Larxene's usual gimmicks was to create duplicates of herself that followed whatever she ordered them to do while also backing her up in a sequence of attacks. This technique was seriously tricky to get ahead of as the Savage Nymph tended to try and confuse her opponents with her quick speed and agile reflexives.
Spinning his body forward, Sora commenced a wide spinning attack to try and catch one or more of the Larxene clones dashing around him hoping to hit the real one but was immediately countered by another one of the duplicates that ran right up to him and performed a stylish kick right to his face while landing on her hands and flipping herself around before dashing away. The recoil of the kick pushed the brunette back a step but allowed him to roll to the side and stab one duplicate in the side causing it to be knocked off balance. Before he could land a follow-up attack, another Larxene jumped into the air and threw her small finger blades right at the boy causing him to stand with his feet spread out and right arm extended and holding out the Keyblade to block the attack while his left hand was out to the side. The blades were immediately blocked.
Coincidentally, behind him, another reddish orb appeared which caused him to swerve his head around and barely perform a block to prevent himself from being skewered by another batch of duplicate Larxene's appearing out of the glowing orb. In addition, he managed to block one duplicate coming right at him and performed a counterattack by swinging his blade upward with such force that he lifted himself off the ground and landed a finishing cut downward all in one motion. The attack defeated the duplicate marking it as one down more to go.
"Worm!"
Larxene yelled before performing a stylish flip of her body and sending a bolt of lightning right at the boy who had to block the attack and tried to narrow in on the girl only to lose the original in the wave of duplicates flooding his vision. Another array of light pillars suddenly shot toward him causing the boy to dodge the attack before carefully blocking another strike from a duplicate which resulted in him countering it with an "X" shaped slash against the copy.
Rolling to the side after finishing his attack, Sora aimed his blade toward two Larxene duplicates that were sticking very close together. In a think later act now moment, he cast several Fire spells aimed right at the hooded woman only for his magic to be swiftly discarded as a bright glow appeared right in her hands resulting in the small blades lodged between her fingers turning into long claw-like blades. Landing a clean swipe with her hands on the fire magic, Larxene then turned her entire body to look right at Sora before propelling her body right at the boy while two of her duplicates started dashing toward him.
This sudden action resulted in the boy quickly leaning to the right and raising his Keyblade to block Larxene's dash attack which consisted of her swiping her claws right at his face while watching in the corner of his eyes the other duplicates. Moreover, as soon as her attack was blocked by his weapon, she suddenly shot upward in a flash of electricity before striking the ground right where Sora was standing and caused a huge blast of lighting hitting the teen and causing him to yell out while being pushed backward.
"Aaaaahhh!"
Not letting up, Larxene then continued to zig-zag up into the air in her lighting form to once again come crashing down to the ground leaving causing another blast of electricity further amplifying the range of her attack and how much damage it was doing to the Keyblade wielder.
"What's the matter!?" the hooded woman mocked.
Forcing himself to push past the pain he was feeling, Sora rolled to the side again and readied himself to go on the offensive. Gripping onto his weapon with both of his hands, he sprinted toward the closest Larxene unsure if it was a duplicate or the real one as it didn't matter. He was still going for the attack and had swung his weapon diagonally toward her chest before finding himself in a bind with her finger blades and his Keyblade clashing against each other. Quickly pushing his weapon up, he managed to perform a counter slash right into her leg causing the hooded woman to stumble for a second which gave him the chance to strike her across the face multiple times before landing a killing blow across her chest ultimately causing the figure to disappear indicating that it was a fake.
Alas, before he could do anything else, Sora had to speedily throw himself to the ground and roll to the side before being pierced with Larxene's claw blades that were aimed right at his head.
Jumping up to his feet, Sora then blocked another barrage of lighting directed right at him causing sparks to fly all over the place. However, before doing anything else, he was struck in the back by a piercing kick from another Larxene duplicate causing him to go flying across the ground. Landing on his back, he forcefully pushed himself up to roll backward and back to his feet narrowly escaping a blast of lighting hitting right where his feet just were.
"You're getting on my nerves!" she shouted while still out of sight from the duplicates covering her.
Getting up, the Guardian of Light then charged at the closest Larxene and began barraging her with stabs all across her body forcing her to call upon another duplicate that jumped right for his head forcing Sora to turn on his heels and cast a point-blank Ice spell at her freezing the duplicate and allowing him to land a heavy strike to the shoulder causing her to disappear. He then stepped to the side and blocked another burst of electricity zapping all around him before dodging to the left and activating his Shotlock right onto the hooded woman.
*Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Cling*
With Oblivion, still in his hands, Sora threw the weapon back with it glowing a purple color at the tip of the blade, he started spinning the Keyblade right above his head several times before grabbing onto the weapon's handle and throwing his body forward while multiple dark projectiles all started barreling forward and hitting the Larxene and her duplicates head on causing some of them to disappear evening out the battlefield.
Charging forward, Sora got right in the face of one of the duplicates and slammed his Keyblade to the ground causing a bright explosion of light to throw the copy back into the air before chasing after it and performing a spinning attack with his entire body in the air but his weapon slashing against her in a repeatedly fast manner before landing one last blow that managed to kill the duplicate. Falling to the ground, the Keyblade wielder was then grabbed by his hoodie and thrown up into the air where he was met with not only a kick to the face but a pair of claws slashing right at his chest. Two Larxene's were waiting to spring their trap on him and once they did the impact of the attack threw Sora back to the ground causing a bit of crater to appear under him with the ground cracked.
"I'm gonna break you!" Larxene shouted at the boy who was down.
Having the wind knocked out of him, the teen pushed himself back up but was ultimately met with a flurry of side swipes from another Larxene who had her small blades swiping right at him. Attack after attack, Sora couldn't exactly make out her movement as she swiped one set of blades right at his chest followed by immediately throwing her body around and kicking him right in the face before another duplicate took her place and slashed right at his arms. A nonstop sequence of attacks one after another. This barrage of attacks left him unable to lift his Keyblade to defend against the attack and ultimately resulted in him yelling out in both anger and frustration.
"That's it!"
What followed next could be described as a sudden blast of red energy that threw the Larxene duplicate backward and caused her to land on her back before pushing her legs upward causing her hands to touch the ground where she easily spun herself around so that she leaned forward and landed back on her feet in one fluid motion with her small blades primed and ready to strike at the boy again.
Standing there in the middle of multiple Larxenes all dashing side-to-side and even zapping from place to place was Sora. Although the spiky-haired boy had taken on a different appearance this time around as instead of a different color palette change to his attire, he was now drenched in darkness followed by his Keyblade taking on a darker tone. However, the one feature about him that stood above anything else different was that his eyes were a bright yellow now.
Rage Form.
"Oh look! The brat's actually turning to the darkness for help!" the Mimic Larxene yelled out while still being hidden amongst her duplicates.
Teleporting in a flash, the darkened form of Sora shot right at one of the duplicates and started bashing her with his Keyblade by repeatedly swinging his weapon up and down. It didn't help that he even threw his weapon right at the fake which slammed right into her face before teleporting right behind her and slashing her to the point that she soon disappeared due to how much damage had been done.
In a fit of lightning, several other duplicates all shot forward with trails of electricity bouncing off the ground and gunning for the boy only to have him clutch his heart with his left hand causing a blast of dark energy to surround him not just one or twice but three times causing three glowing red lights to appear around him. Sora then teleported back several steps to barely miss the duplicate's assault which was then stopped as he jumped into the air and began randomly attacking them with swipes and bashes to the point that every attack that was blocked was then discarded and followed up by another slash. This tactic managed to weaken the duplicate group before the Rage Formed boy teleported right into the middle of the group and jumped up into the air and started spinning around before falling and stabbing his Keyblade right into the ground causing a massive explosion of sparks and red orbs to appear around him. The sudden attack managed to finish the duplicates and caused Sora to quickly flash back to normal while also having to dodge and roll out of the way of a sudden barrage of attacks from Larxene coming up above.
"How do you like this!?"
Now back to his feet, Sora called upon the power flowing through his heart and released it all in a blast of dark light. Spinning Oblivion forward, the boy emitted a blast of purple light around him now taking on his Dark Form which helped imbue him with a bit of darkness into his attacks. His body glowed a bright purple color for a split second before he dashed forward in a purple light where he immediately threw his hands out creating a dark bubble shield with chains all around to protect him from a sudden shot of lighting. The teen's attire had also changed to match an all-black color palette with his pants sporting a white design at his knee on both sides. Offering a sense of seriousness to him in this ordeal.
Flash stepping to the first Larxene that came close to him, Sora then thrust his Keyblade forward managing to hit the hooded woman's arm before landing slash after slash against her body while also causing beams of dark light to appear right under the girl pelting her with even more damage. His flurry of slashes did not stop there as he shot forward one more time before teleporting right above her and slamming his Keyblade down causing a massive burst of dark energy to hit her and ultimately finishing off the woman who appeared to be a duplicate.
Coming back to the ground, even though his body and powers were a bit amplified while using his Formchanges, Sora was starting to feel the effects of tiredness running through his body. Sure, it wouldn't stop him from fighting but there was the chance that if this kept up and Larxene landed a killing blow against him, then it might spell bad news for him. However, he would not let her get the chance. He was ending it here and how.
"Gotcha!"
Activating his Shotlock ability, Sora's eyes shot from duplicate to duplicate making sure to take them all into account while his power built up. Nevertheless, as time seemed to slow down for him, he noticed out of the corner of his eye one of the Larxene duplicates gunning straight for him while she teleported too fast for him to see where she was coming from. But… he was ready to counter the incoming attack.
In a burst of energy, Sora's entire body was glowing in light before causing quite the blinding flash leaving him slightly floating in mid-air while several key features were different about him now. On his left was Oathkeeper while on the right was Oblivion which was also floating as he had his hands open and extending out. Additionally, his clothes had changed color again only this time they were a mix match of black and white seemingly taking inspiration from his Light and Dark Form changes. And right below him was what could only be described as a bright yellow light with a cloud surrounding him. From a top-down view, one could even speculate that the scene below Sora was that of a galaxy…
"Dodge this!"
However, in another burst of light multiple white projectiles started targeting the duplicates leaving behind trials of light and upon impact with the duplicates of Larxene caused blasts of light to cover the entire area. Following this, Sora flipped down to the ground while the galaxy-like effect and cloud around him seemingly shrunk into nothing leaving the boy standing there in his regular outfit with his Kingdom Keyblade in his hands.
At the same time, all the duplicates had been eliminated leaving only one Larxene left who was grasping onto her shoulder while sporting body language that conveyed that she was hurt as well as furious.
"Ugh… What was that!?
Stepping toward the Mimic, Sora pointed his weapon right at the hooded figure while carefully watching her to see if she pulled off some trick to get back at him.
"What? Didn't think I'd have any tricks up my sleeves as well?"
"Tsk. You really are a pain. *sigh* I can't believe I lost… to you of all people!" Larxene yelled out.
Frowning, the spiky-haired teen couldn't help but question her.
"Why do you say it like that? You knew there was only ever going to be one outcome out of all of this."
"That's a lot of big talk coming from someone who had to result to little tricks to save their hide. I can count multiple times when I had you on the ropes" Larxene retorted against the boy.
The Guardian of Light couldn't disagree with her on that. The new fighting style she incorporated was different compared to the real Larxene's style. It was more rampage-inducing and more on the side of confusing and fast-paced.
"Even so, look who came out on top" Sora replied truthfully.
Shaking her head with the hood still hiding her face, the fake Larxene merely let out a dissing sound while scoffing at the boy.
"…I'll give you that."
A moment of silence seemed to resonate between the two foes before she straightened herself up to stand across from Sora. Her right hand seemingly glowing as well as the small blades transforming into her long claws. The hooded figure's gaze never left the boy's face who also had his blue eyes watching her carefully.
"Well then, looks like it comes down to the last straw" Larxene commented while her claws began charging electricity all around.
"Yeah, I guess it does. No hard feelings when this is over" Sora kindly responded.
If there was one thing to be made known, it was that the spiky-haired boy's last interaction with the real Larxene ended on a good note. She had been defeated in the real Organization XIII's Keyblade War by Sora. Not to mention, her last confession of only joining the Organization because she was "along for the ride" and held no allegiance to anyone. Along with her not telling Sora who she joined with leaving it a complete mystery and her secret. No bad blood was between the two and for that… he couldn't help but have a sad smile on his face.
"What the- Seriously? What's wrong with you? Why are you looking like an idiot now?" Larxene demanded to know from the boy.
"I… I know that you're not the real Larxene but still… my last encounter with her wasn't so bad."
The hooded woman merely shook her head.
"You're an idiot."
A small smile graced Sora's lips as he could accept that comment.
"Yeah, I know I am."
Not needing to say anything else, the Savage Nymph and Guardian of Light dashed right toward each other planning to end this fight with one last attack. Both sides were going to give it their all and only one person would be walking away from this fight. One fought for a hopeless goal while the other fought to protect everything around him.
*Swwwiiissssssh*
It was clear who the victor was.
Standing with his right leg forward and left leg back, Sora had both hands on the Keyblade which was now placed by his side as he looked forward out into the night sky of Academy City while he did not bother to look behind him. He knew that he was the victor.
*Plop*
The hooded figure that had taken the form and persona of Larxene had fallen to the ground not saying anything else as the Mimic's body began to exude a mist of darkness all around leaving an ominous yet peaceful sight to behold.
Sora couldn't help but lower his weapon and look up at the night sky before him. Letting out a tired and hurt sigh, the spiky-haired boy couldn't help but realize just how much had happened today. One thing after another it was starting to get to him and yet, he knew that there was still so much more to worry about. If Darkness was to be believed, then he would need to start looking into a prison of some kind and see what the Magic Side was plotting within Academy City. Not to mention, Darkness was still out there looking into a situation that would soon involve himself in what capacity, he did not know. And that fact alone left him feeling anxious. He still had a lot to learn about this world. About its secrets and the problems going on behind the scenes. Sora slowly began to realize that… he was going to need some help.
However, that train of thought would soon be halted as he heard something going on behind him. It sounded like a sort of pulsating sound getting louder and louder. Turning his head around, Sora was met with nothing happening and began to look around the entire area causing him to stay on guard.
Whatever was happening… did not spell out good news.
Meanwhile, on top of a building located near the battleground
Looking down below at the field of battle that was all charred with burn marks and parts of the overall ground destroyed was Mugino Shizuri who had so many questions bouncing around in her head.
The tea-color-haired girl wasn't sure what to think at the moment but the one thing that was prominent in her head and causing her to grin widely had to do with what she had just witnessed. And it was glorious…
The battle that Sora found himself in with the hooded figure who had somehow managed to duplicate themself into many copies all of who were working to mess with the spiky-haired boy. Not to mention, the way the boy had managed to deal with being surrounded and fighting an outnumbered fight caused her great joy in the show she was watching. Her excitement in watching the fight even got her to start thinking about different ways she could start mixing up her own technique when it came to dealing with multiple opponents.
Moreover, her interest in battling was greatly exceeded as she couldn't help but recall all the times that Sora was pushed to the edge and had managed to come out of a deadly situation with all the various tricks up his sleeve. Mugino also remembered the gleeful smile that appeared on her face as she saw the boy use darkness to his side while wielding that dark weapon of his which she realized was a key factor to his various abilities as she thought back to his white clothes and powers that he used against her.
However, when the boy was coated in nothing but darkness with red energy surrounding him and his eyes taking the color of yellow… her interest in the boy skyrocketed to a point that she thought would never be reachable. And on top of that, when he instantly flashed back to normal and went back to kicking that hooded figure's ass… her heart started rapidly beating just thinking about that part of the fight.
There was so much more she wanted to say about the boy and that figure's different fighting methods, but she stopped herself as her mind suddenly dwelled on something she was not expecting. A topic that had been mentioned to her before but was now becoming vividly relevant to her.
Sora.
The boy's past words directed to her about choosing a new path in her life. One that was not entirely of Light and not enveloped in Darkness but… something else. Something that resonated close to who she was as a person. A new path that was invested in both Darkness and Light. Her own path.
She had pushed that thought to the side and not paid it any real mind ever since Sora said that to her. Now, however, seeing the boy wield not just Light and Darkness but even taking on a whole different appearance that looked to be drenched in Darkness. He was still back to fighting no matter what form he took. That alone was enough to catch the Level 5's attention.
Actions spoke louder than words in this case, Sora showed her outright that wielding not just Darkness but also Light would not make you weak or lose yourself, and in fact, it undoubtedly made you stronger. Again, Mugino could feel her heartbeat picking up in speed at the prospect of gaining a newfound power by listening to the boy's words again. Perhaps… she would need to have another talk with him. One where she would offer to hi-
Suddenly, something caught her eye as she looked down at the area where Sora was and could immediately see that he was not alone now as several Anti-Skill officers were standing next to him followed by all of them staring right at the area where the hooded figure was lay… no… where the hooded figure was now standing upright and on two feet with their hands behind their back.
Letting out a surprised swear, Mugino's attention exploded.
"Are you fucking kidding me? No, there's no way this fucker is still standing. The first time, yeah, I'm willing to believe that. The second time, maybe, it's possible Sora didn't end the bastard right there. But now… what the hell is going on? There's no way that's a regular person… who is that under the hood…"
Ideas were swirling around the brunette's head, but nothing was really resonating as a sound answer. Hence, the only thing she could do was continue to watch whatever was going on down there. Her questions would have to wait as it appeared that something new was happening.
A few minutes before the present
Having kept his eyes darting around the place, Sora was starting to think that he might have been expressing a sense of adrenaline rushing to his head causing him to believe the idea that he heard a pulsating sound. He was so stuck in his head that he did not see the bright lights that appeared behind him followed by the sound of boots hitting the ground and making their way over to him. Anti-Skill had arrived at the scene in a mobile truck and parked their vehicle a bit away while some members got out and others stayed on standby.
Rather than shouting out at the boy or making a loud commotion, one of the officers decided to take the lead and waved her hand down at the other officers indicating to them to stand down. Taking a few steps forward, the Anti-Skill officer decided to call out to the boy since it seemed like he was in some kind of trance or train of thought.
"Sora… Sora… Sora!"
Hearing his name called, the boy quickly spun around and had his Keyblade ready to deal with whatever called his name. Upon realizing his surroundings, he was met with a face he had not entirely expected to see right now and immediately let go of his weapon.
"Yomikawa?"
Running up to the boy and grabbing onto his shoulders, the blue-haired woman began checking his head and then body for any lethal injuries that might be apparent. Similar to how a worried mother would be looking after her child after finding out they were involved in an accident.
"Sora! Are you ok!? Do you need a doctor? Do you need- "
"I-I'm good, Yomikawa. I'm… good. Just tired is all."
Letting out a relieved sigh, the ponytail-haired woman could feel her body relax.
"*sigh* That's good to hear. Are you alright? What exactly happened? Anti-Skill was able to watch most of what went down following the Lion Heartless that appeared but then things got a bit difficult to comprehend when…" Turning her head to the side, Yomikawa and ultimately Sora both glanced over at the fallen Organization member who had been unmoving this entire time. "That individual showed up and started engaging in combat with you."
"It's… a bit of a long story. Believe it or not… that person, no, that thing over there is not a real person."
"What?"
Yomikawa was at a loss for words right now. To hear that the individual lying on the ground not that far away from them was not a real person caused her to pause for a moment before immediately remembering another situation happening in the city right now with an army of cloned girls all taking on the same appearance except for a certain younger one that hilariously turned out to be the most important one of them all. Followed by another teenager who was labeled as-
"I know it might not make sense but *sigh* that's not a real person. It's something else that was created out of darkness" Sora explained to Yomikawa who had a startled reaction.
'Okay… not really correlating with the Sister clones… but still, doesn't sound good' she thought to herself while processing what she heard.
"And… I take it that you managed to beat whatever that thing was?"
Glancing over at the downed figure, Sora wanted to affirm to her that he had dealt with it but deep down in his heart, he had a feeling that there was something else about to happen.
"I… I don't know. But- "
However, before he could say anything else, a blast of darkness began appearing around the hooded figure's body causing a black cloud to prevent any visibility to the spot. This caused several other Anti-Skill members to start running up to Yomikawa with Tessou handing the blue-haired woman her assault rifle.
"Sora! Get behind- "
"Not going to happen. You guys need to go. Now!" he yelled back.
"This is- "Tessou started to say but was stopped as the cloud of darkness suddenly faded away leaving everyone present to stare in wonder at what they were seeing now.
Standing there with their hands behind their back and on two feet was another hooded figure only this time the body structure was taller than before indicating that this was a different version of the Mimic.
Summoning the Kingdom Key into his hands, Sora aimed it at the dark figure and called out to it.
"Who are you now!? I just dealt with Larxene and Saïx. Who else are you going to copy from the Organization? Sora questioned.
Not saying anything but taking a step forward, the Anti-Skill officers immediately raised their weapons at the figure with Yomikawa starting to have a bad feeling forming in the pit of her stomach.
Raising their gloved hand for everyone to see, the hooded figure suddenly summoned a pinkish light to appear in the palm of their hand. That light soon dimmed down to now being what could be described as a beautiful rose floating there for everyone to see.
The officers were a bit startled by the sudden action but Sora on the other hand went wide-eyed and could feel worry start pouring out from his heart. His heart rate started picking up as he realized how bad the situation could get in a matter of seconds. Yomikawa and the others were in terrible danger.
"You guys need to leave!" Sora yelled out.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" one Anti-Skill officer questioned.
"Are you serious?"
"Sora? What's going- "
"Yomikawa! Please! Please go. It's not safe. As much as I want to protect you all, I can't. He's too fast for me to deal with and protect you all from his attacks at the same time. You all need to go now!" Sora exclaimed while turning over to look at his blue-haired friend.
The look on his face conveyed many emotions without even needing to have a word be said. Yomikawa knew that from her past experiences dealing with dangerous situations that called for Anti-Skill's help. Sora's look also conveyed that sense of danger approaching their way along with his eyes telling her that… her life would be in danger as well.
"…Pull back."
"Excuse me? Yomikawa, you're not seriously- "
"I said to pull back! We don't know what the situation is here, but Sora does. I trust him more than my own gut at this point."
Startled by the blue-haired woman's statement, the other Anti-Skill officers reluctantly gave in beginning to take a few steps back to try and not escalate the situation. Tessou was instantly in favor of avoiding finding herself in a very dangerous situation. It especially didn't help that Yomikawa also had a worried tone of voice about the whole thing. Everyone seemed to agree on the decision to pull back… except for one officer.
"This is stupid. Why don't I make things easier and put a bullet into his shoulder to take him down?" the Anti-Skill officer who was the one that tried flying the drone earlier said aloud while aiming his gun at the hooded figure.
"Wait don't!" Sora screamed.
"Stop!" Yomikawa yelled.
But it was too late. As the officer shot his rifle and aimed for the hooded figure's shoulder for a nonlethal takedown, everyone watching the scene playout was met with an astounding sight.
The hooded figure summoned what looked to be a large, rose pink, and dark green scythe to their hand and managed to block the incoming bullet at an incredible speed. Everyone could hear the bullet deflect off the scythe and disappear to who knows where.
*Bing*
Stunned by the sudden action, the Anti-Skill officer wore a distraught look on his face before aiming for the figure's leg and fired another bullet only for it to also be deflected.
*Bing*
Shock and awe were present on the officer's face as he now looked quite troubled by the mysterious figure's detection and deflection skills. Left unsure what to do, the Anti-Skill officer started to slowly back away fearful that the scythe wielder individual would attack him at a moment's notice. To his shock, before anything could happen, Sora dashed right in front of the officer with his Keyblade raised right by his side while glaring at the hooded figure.
"Alright, I guess it looks like you could call this round 3. Are you going to say anything or stay quiet… Marluxia" Sora questioned the Organization member standing in front of him.
Marluxia, the seventh-ranked in the real Organization XIII, was also better known as the Graceful Assassin which made sense given his personality being a bit of a mystery to Sora due to his memory mishap a while back. Nevertheless, the teen's last interaction with the pink-haired man also ended on good terms since it seemed like Marluxia was regaining his old memories back right before he faded away from their fight where he was defeated.
Now, seeing the scythe-wielder standing before him, Sora was feeling a little nervous as he was starting to guess after two fights already that this fake would have different attacks compared to the real one, he fought back during the Keyblade War.
However, before Sora could ponder about the pink-haired man any longer, a chuckle could be heard coming from the hooded figure.
"Haha… Oh dear, growing tired of our little charade, Sora?"
Still with his hood on, the fake Marluxia lowered his hand that was holding onto the scythe and raised his other while summoning a pink rose in the palm of his hand and beginning to admire it.
"I've got to be honest and say yeah, I'm getting really tired of it" the spiky-haired boy truthfully shot back.
"Pity. Knowing that you have bested two out of the thirteen fakes, it does make me wonder why I don't just summon all the others. I'm sure they would be happy to see you" the pink-haired man commented while closely examining the rose in his hand.
"Sora, what's he talking about? And who are you?" Yomikawa questioned the boy and then the mysterious figure.
Eyeing the hooded man closely, Sora did his best to give a brief explanation.
"Those two other figures that I fought… they are all part of an evil group called Organization XIII. I… I can't get into all the details right now but just know that there are ten more hooded individuals that have yet to show up. Each has their own abilities and are extremely dangerous" Sora explained to the blue-haired woman.
"As for who I am, you, madam, may call me Marluxia. Though I go by many other names, I would prefer it if you addressed me by name."
"…And what other names have you been called, out of curiosity, mind you" Yomikawa cautiously replied.
Raising his hand that was holding onto the rose, Marluxia lifted it into the air before letting it go and blowing away until the rose dissipated into tiny bits of red color. He then turned to look at the blue-haired woman.
"I've gone by many but… the most common one would have to be as the Graceful Assassin."
Hearing his voice caused the arm hairs on all the officers to go up while gripping their weapons tightly. Things were not looking good. However, Sora seemed to pick up on this and turned to look at the officers.
"You guys need to leave."
"But- "
"Now. It's not safe for you here" Sora directed to the Anti-Skill officers.
"He's right you know. I'd listen to what he has to say" Marluxia added.
Having a look of regret and understanding appear on her face, Yomikawa turned to her fellow Anti-Skill officers and gestured to them that they leave. This time, all the officers went back to where their vehicle was parked and met up with the others stationed back, and watched the entire encounter go down.
Left alone with Marluxia, Sora decided to see how much he could get out of the hooded figure.
"So, what's the deal with you taking on the form of the Organization members?"
"There are two answers I could give you. Do you want the simple or complex answers?" Marluxia asked the teen.
Feeling like he wouldn't like the complex answer, Sora knew that was the option he had to go for.
"Complex."
"Hmm. Very well. Our master was adamant that we… prepare you for what's to come."
"Prepare me? What for?" Sora asked, feeling unsure about what he was hearing.
With the hood covering his face, the boy couldn't exactly see the assassin's face but knew that he was probably smirking at how confused the boy was becoming. One of the benefits of messing with the Keyblade's Chosen One.
"You've already heard what we and our master have had to say about this matter. This world is different compared to the others that you have visited. Its connection to science and magic… is basically an open invitation for Darkness to come and seep its way into everything. There are also monstrosities that you have yet to ever encounter in your life that lie dormant here in this world or with our master" Marluxia answered.
"You all keep on talking about this same- "
"Because it is the truth." Marluxia interrupted Sora and then continued speaking. "However, there are other factors that this world holds that are quite interesting to my master. In time, I'm sure you will also realize just how fruitful and ever-evolving this world truly is."
Gripping onto his Keyblade, Sora was tired of all of this and decided that he'd had enough. Swiping his weapon forward so that it was now pointing at the Graceful Assassin, the Keyblade wielder only had one thing left to say.
"You might believe that… and in a way, you're right. This world has a whole lot more to offer that I have yet to cross the surface on. But deep down, I know that in my heart, even if there is Darkness in this world, there are others out there who will give it their all to make sure this world does not fall! And you can bet on me being there to help them!" Sora confidently stated to the hooded figure.
A seemingly quiet pause took effect between the two as Marluxia raised his scythe to the side and let out a small chuckle.
"Very well then, Sora. Let us see if your heart is strong enough to prove my master wrong. It's time to finish this!"
With nothing else needing to be said, the Graceful Assassin and Guardian of Light prepared themselves for a fight that would showcase not only their wills at play but also a depiction of Darkness versus Light. Neither would back down until there was only one left standing.
*Kingdom Hearts 3 Re:Mind DLC Music – Lord of the Castle – Marluxia*
Staring at one another for a split second longer, Sora came up with a dozen different ideas for how the pink-haired man under the black coat would launch his first attack against him. However, that compilation of ideas would be utterly demolished as the scythe-wielding man disappeared right before Sora's eyes and then reappeared to his side swinging his long weapon right at the boy causing him to block the attack.
Alas, that would be his mistake as Marluxia instantly teleported out of sight and right to the left of Sora managed to bring his weapon across and slash the brunette in the side causing him to wince out in pain.
"Aaahh!"
Not stopping there, before the Keyblade wielder had the chance to make a move, the assassin teleported once again only this time right above the boy allowing him to strike Sora in the chest while his scythe left a pink trail after swinging it. This attack hit the teen causing him to go flying back while feeling the attacks start getting to him.
"Gah!"
Being thrown back, Sora rolled across the ground and jumped back to his feet before gripping the handle on his blade with both hands and charging ahead to confront the teleporting figure. Coming within reach, Sora then thrust his body forward and with enough speed, he then stabbed his weapon right in front of him before flinging himself around it like a pole and then threw himself in the direction of Marluxia. Having gained enough speed, he came right into contact with the man and bashed his Keyblade into the scythe-wielder's side causing sparks to fly.
Following this attack, he swung his Keyblade upward knocking the hooded figure's head before spinning his body around and side-swiping the assassin in the side again before beginning to land a barrage of stabs against the figure's chest as he was partially stunned by the sudden attacks. Sora's finish move would be to push himself off the ground and slam his Keyblade right in front of Marluxia causing an explosion of light to send the man flying back.
Quickly stepping back due to not knowing how the Mimic would react, Sora kept both of his hands ready in case he would need to block an incoming attack. As luck would have it, Marluxia regained his balance before vertically throwing his scythe causing the long weapon to start spinning at an incredible speed all while causing a trail of pink light to follow the tip of the blade making it look like a fast pink halo was zooming right toward him. Raising both hands to block the attack, the teen was able to do so but not before deflecting the scythe and watching it soar through the air and come back right to him this time in a horizontal matter. As if on cue, the Keyblade wielder blocked the attack again and saw the scythe reappear in the hands of Marluxia who had teleported right behind him.
Getting ready to block another attack again, Sora realized something was up as Marluxia flung the scythe right at him with the weapon spinning even faster than before. Instinct kicked in as the brunette rolled across the ground rather than to try blocking the vertical pink spinning halo coming straight for him. This proved to be a smart move from the Keyblade wielder as he now had gained some distance away from the assassin as they were now far apart from each other.
Watching the hooded man closely, the spiky-haired boy decided to play it safe and cast several Thunder spells to see how Marluxia would react to magical attacks.
Lifting his Keyblade, Sora began firing spells.
"Thunder!"
A sudden blast of lightning appeared right above the Graceful Assassin which caused him to swiftly raise his scythe and begin spinning it rapidly while managing to avoid being hit by any electricity. That was not what Sora was expecting. Hence, it got him thinking, and decided to straight up ask the Mimic a question.
"Hey, do you just amplify the Organization member's abilities, or do you create your own?"
"Haha, curiosity got the best of you, didn't it? To be honest, it's a bit of both" the fake Marluxia responded.
"Great to know" Sora mumbled back.
Without warning, the brunette then pointed his weapon forward and cast several Fire spells back-to-back while beginning to run around the scythe user.
"Fire!"
Each spell coming the assassin's way was immediately cut in half making it void of any danger. This also made the hooded figure watch as Sora got closer and closer to him which caused a smile to appear under the hood. Dashing forward, Marluxia met the boy halfway by swinging his scythe right at the boy's abdomen which was easily blocked and countered by a swift kick to the chest from Sora. The boy then rolled across the ground and activated his Shotlock ability to focus on the Organization member.
*Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Ting* *Cling*
Jumping right into the air and pointing his Kingdom Key right at the assassin, the tip of the Keyblade lit up in a bright light before blasting what could be described as multiple red projectiles taking the shape of hearts. Each projectile was locked onto the hooded man and hit him as he was trying to avoid the attack but ultimately failed.
This offered Sora the perfect chance of casting another magic spell at the scythe wielder, only this time he would pull a fast one on him. Pointing his Keyblade right at the Mimic, he yelled out the spell in question that would help him.
"Freeze!"
A shard of ice went flying right at the slightly dazed figure impacting him and leaving him slightly encased in ice while also leaving behind a trail of ice for him to jump onto and start sliding at an incredible speed. Once he was close enough, Sora leaped into the air and twisted his body around so that he was holding onto his Keyblade with both of his hands and spinning around while building up momentum.
"Take this!"
At the right moment, Sora slammed the weapon right into Marluxia's chest causing him to go flying back. This allowed the Keyblade wielder to roll on the ground and push off his back foot to dash right at the assassin while furiously swinging his weapon in diagonal patterns across the scythe user's chest and arms. He also followed through by landing a solid stab to the chest before his weapon was swatted away and Sora felt a slash hit his face causing him to go flying back. Reprising himself back up to his feet, Sora brought a hand up to his cheek and could feel something wet.
Looking at his hand, he noticed a small bit of blood appearing on his finger. This left the otherworldly boy to feel a variety of emotions. But the one that was most prevalent at the forefront of his mind was to be extra careful now. The other two Organization members had unique fighting styles that he hadn't seen before. It was safe to assume Marluxia would also have something up his sleeve.
Narrowing his gaze onto the assassin, Sora was about to dash toward him when all of a sudden multiple black swirls started appearing around the hooded man while a trail of red roses began floating all around the area. To top it off, Marluxia started to have a golden glow around his entire figure which resulted in him teleporting out of sight leaving the Keyblade wielder on edge.
Without any warning, Sora was then hit square in the back causing him to go flying across the battlefield and landing face first into the ground. Rolling to his side and then back up, he looked around and saw the scythe-wielder standing there smugly while also raising his free hand and causing several black orbs to appear out of nowhere.
"Ready?"
Instantly, the black orbs turned into what could be described as pink and black seeds that were aimed and primed to target the spiky-haired boy. Beginning to run to the side, the teen could see that the seeds or thorns or whatever they were had him locked into their sights. It didn't help that he had to keep watch on Marluxia who has now glowing red and-
Right in front of him now.
Rolling to the left and dodging a horizontal swipe that was going right for his chest, Sora then blocked another strike from the scythe that was primed right for his arm. Countering the slash with a quick swing to the leg, he was able to knock Marluxia back and cause him to stop glowing red. Seeing this as an opening, the Guardian of Light shot forward and whipped his blade right into the hooded figure's face before slashing across the assassin's chest and firing a point-blank Wind spell causing the two of them to go flying back due to the sudden green vortex that appeared between them now.
Having gained some distance, Sora saw Marluxia twirl his scythe in his hand while taunting him. This got the spiky-haired boy to grit his teeth and get ready to charge at him but that's exactly what the assassin wanted as the Keyblader's guard was down.
*Pweh*
"Gaaaah!"
Sora was shot in the side by one of the seed-thorn things which drew his attention instantly. At that moment, all the seeds started glowing a pink color and looked like they were going to do something. Not about to get hit again, the Keyblade wielder lifted his weapon and cast a quick Thunder spell managing to destroy them all with that one spell. However, Marluxia had now teleported right to the side of Sora and began to unleash a flurry of strikes with the claymore.
*Swwwwwiiissssshhh*
Without stopping for a moment, Marluxia's scythe cut right into Sora's chest once and then twice, and then a third time before dropping to his legs and managing to both slash and knock him to the ground. The brunette couldn't help but yell out in pain as he then felt the scythe clip onto his hoodie and throw him right into the air followed by the Organization member reappearing above him and slamming his entire body and scythe to the ground while latched onto Sora.
The impact of the boy hitting the ground immediately caused a loud shockwave to rumble the ground followed by cracks appearing all around the spot he landed.
Off to the side, the Anti-Skill members were grimacing greatly all while eager to try and help the boy deal with the hooded figure, but due to their weapons having the chance of hitting Sora and the mysterious figure being able to deflect bullets raised concern over the situation. Yomikawa on her part had a very worried expression on her face seeing Sora get thrown around easily and getting hurt all while this person or individual managed to cause the boy to get hurt. She also wanted to help but knew that when it came to Esper's getting involved in conflicts there was a chance you might also wind up getting dragged into a peculiar problem. Hence, all she could do was hope that the spiky-haired boy pulled through in this fight.
Getting himself up, Sora looked to the side and saw Marluxia standing there a couple of feet away while pointing his scythe right at the boy.
"What's wrong, hero? Sulking in defeat?" Marluxia said to the boy while having a two-fold tone in his voice.
"Grr… You wish! You're going down whether you like it or not!" Sora roared back.
"Haha! I'll scatter you to the wind! Well, what's left of you that is."
Glowing gold once again, Marluxia was about to teleport and strike the boy, but in just the nick of time, Sora dashed forward and drove his Keyblade upward managing to not only stop the assassin's attack but send him flying. Not about to stop, pushing on his back foot, Sora threw his Keyblade right at the Mimic with enough force that the hooded figure was sent recoiling back which allowed for the boy to dash right at him and perform a spinning slash right across the chest before transitioning into a full-on barrage of stabs to the arms and shoulders. Adding onto the attack, the Keyblade wielder threw himself forward and leaped into the air performing another spinning attack whereas this time his entire body was spinning around vertically and managing to whack the assassin back to the ground.
Falling to his feet, Sora looked on ahead and could see that he'd gotten a few good hits off the figure. Alas, in the next moment he had to quickly block an incoming scythe spinning right at him vertically and once the attack was blocked the weapon magically began spinning around horizontally aiming right for him. Blocking this next attack, the teen recalled this attack earlier and jumped right into the air narrowly evading another more powered attack from the scythe.
Back onto the ground, the spiky-haired brunette looked ahead and could see Marluxia standing there with his free hand waved up to the sky. The Graceful Assassin then tapped the bottom of his claymore onto the ground which caused a red light to appear right under the weapon. He then leaped right into the air while several swirling pools of red light appeared all around the area. Twisting his body around and twirling his scythe through the air, Marluxia then slammed right into the ground and seemingly disappeared through one of the red pools. Sora at this point was starting to sprint as fast as he could around the red pools making sure to not get caught in one of them.
Each one of the glowing red pools now started shooting out black swirls that were sprouting out in random patterns leaving Sora to barely dodge out of the way from being hit. The brunette then had to immediately throw his weapon to the side to block a strike coming from Marluxia who had magically appeared from one of the pools. Knocking him back with a clean slash and slam from his Keyblade, Sora pushed the hooded man back allowing for a gap of space to lie between them where he was now glaring at the assassin.
"Haha!"
Laughter could be heard as Marluxia instantly teleported out of sight causing Sora to look around the area to see if the assassin would pop out of nowhere. At the same time, red glowing petals were beginning to fall from the ground all around the Keyblade wielder making him anxious about what was going on.
Everyone else who was watching the fight could only stare in awe at what was happening. The sight of the red glowing petals falling to the ground and dissolving in light while Sora stood there looking serious offered a breathtaking sight.
However, in the next moment, everyone couldn't help but call out to the boy.
Appearing right behind Sora who was in his battle stance with both hands on the Keyblade and looking to the side, Marluxia instantly appeared right next to him and lowered his head right next to the boy's ear and whispered something. Something that no one but Sora could understand.
But as soon as Marluxia whispered to the boy, he instantly vanished while green thorns and red petals surrounded Sora while a strange glowing symbol appeared right behind him. The kicker to all this… was what was happening to the spiky-haired boy.
Sora immediately had a shocked look on his face while bringing his left hand forward and raising it in front of him while wearing a confused expression on his face. Soon after, all the petals, thorns, and glowing effects disappeared around him leaving him standing there. However, out of nowhere, Sora could see a number appearing right in front of him which caused him to look side-to-side and realize that the number was in his vision, and it read "15".
"It's time to finish him!"
Without any warning whatsoever, the area right under Sora turned black reflecting the night city buildings that were lit up along with leaving the boy sporting a grim look on his face. The area in the middle of the area had now become like a red pool with blackthorns popping out of the ground offering a menacing look to the area. About ready to start running around the area to find a weak spot to Marluxia's plan, Sora was forcefully pulled into the center of the pool where black swirls surrounded him.
Moreover, the teen was helpless as the Graceful Assassin reared his head back and twirled his scythe forward before rushing to the Keyblade wielder and landing strike after strike against his chest, arms, legs, and back with his weapon managing to throw the boy back with recoil.
Reprising himself from the recoil, Sora spun himself around and tried swiping away at the Mimic but was ultimately denied any opening as another slash of the scythe to his back shut him up. With another quick slash to his chest, Sora was sent sprawling down to the middle of the pool where he saw red glowing petals and black swirls turning into thorns surrounding the area. The brunette was then thrown up into the air while feeling massive amounts of pain in his body.
"Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!"
What had hit him left all the people watching with their mouths open.
A giant skull appeared right out of the red pool with its eyes glowing red followed by the entire area lighting up with the red petals and black thorns growing at a rapid rate. As quick as the skull appeared, it vanished without a trace leaving all the petals to start growing black and fading away. Sora soon fell to the ground while biting down on his tongue to hold himself up. Fumbling into his pocket, he reached for a potion and was about to drink the whole thing when he felt his body go flying back and hitting the ground again while dropping the potion onto the ground causing it to break and spill.
Marluxia was now standing right where Sora once was and looked over at him before once again letting out a cruel chuckle.
"The beginning of the end… Your heart will be scattered!"
*Pweh – Pweh – Pweh*
Before he could even make a move, the assassin was instantly shot back with what appeared to be a plasma blast to the chest causing the hooded figure to stumble backward while looking up at what happened.
There slowly getting to his feet was Sora who held out his Keyblade which had the tip of his weapon glowing blue. The magical spell Triple Plasma had just been cast by him. He also weakly reached into his pocket and pulled out another potion before gulping the entire thing down in one go. Almost immediately, his eyes shot open as the healing potion was working its wonder on his body now. Though his tiredness was still at play, the teen felt a whole lot better than he did a second ago.
"I've had enough of you!" Sora yelled out to the hooded man.
Still seeing the number counter in his vision, the Guardian of Light could see that it had gone down drastically and was now at the number "4". This left him feeling a bit nervous about what would happen when it reached zero, but he silently affirmed to himself that would not happen.
"Well then, do something about it, hero."
Gritting his teeth and gripping his blade's handle tightly, Sora threw himself forward to perform a sliding dash as lunged his weapon forward and managed to clip Marluxia's arm as he was also appearing to spin around and slice him with his scythe. Seeing this opening, the teen then jumped off his back foot and performed a Quick Blitz by leaning his entire body into slamming the Keyblade down at the assassin which partially stopped him. Sora then started swinging away at his head causing sparks and stars to go flying lighting up the red pool before ultimately pointing his weapon at the hooded man and firing a Thunder spell to shock him. This also allowed Sora to gather enough strength inside himself and his heart to dispel the curse that had been placed on him by Marluxia which explained what the number counter he was seeing to appear.
"Back off!"
Throwing his arms out, a blast of light faded from the boy, and he no longer saw the number counter in his vision.
"Hyah! Settle down!" Marluxia shouted before disappearing.
Feeling his instincts kick in, Sora dodged to the side managing to avoid being slashed by Marluxia's which had come at a diagonal angle and could have hit him in the side.
Glaring at the hooded man now, the spiky-haired teen was about to send another spell his way but noticed something different about the hooded figure.
Rising into the air, Marluxia then started spinning his scythe around at an incredible speed managing to not cut himself with how fast he was twirling the weapon around. The Graceful Assassin then grabbed ahold of the weapon's handle and spun himself around before slamming right into the ground causing a massive pink light to appear and start spreading out across the ground in an expanding ring. The pink light also caused many red glowing petals to appear offering yet again another beautiful sight to behold.
Sora at this point raised his Keyblade with both of his hands and brought the blade close to his right side while also having it start to glow a bright blue color. The blue light was now reflecting off the boy's clothes and face giving off a breathtaking sight for everyone to see.
The pink glowing halo was close to reaching the spiky-haired teen's blue glowing blade.
Jumping high up into the air, Sora managed to pass right through the pink light and dashed right toward Marluxia who was also starting to glow pink all around his body. The two were then met in a binding clash between the scythe and Keyblade causing a flash of light to appear. Sora immediately backed off and tried swinging at the hooded man again only to be met with another blade bind causing him to deflect the long weapon and counter-slash at the man's face. The attack was instantly blocked. He then tried again to go for the man's leg but was met with another block.
"Haaaah!
The two then shot forward right at each other with their blades both glowing different colors and upon impacting one another a bright flash of light covered the area forcing everyone watching to cover their eyes.
Diving to the ground, Sora was now glaring at the scythe user who was gloating ahead of him with his hood still up but his black coat heavily damaged. Marluxia then looked ready to throw his weapon right at the boy, but due to the Keyblade wielder's quick thinking and wits, he cast a Light spell right at the Organization member causing him to be enshrouded in light. Once the spell died down, the assassin was now leaning heavily on one side while staring right at the boy.
In an unexpected move, Marluxia suddenly started rising to the sky with his scythe floating right behind him. An ominous tone was settling in, and Sora had no idea what was happening now.
Suddenly, the Graceful Assassin disappeared leaving the battered and tired Keyblade wielder to look around the area to see where he went when all of a sudden, he felt the hooded figure's presence right next to him. It became more apparent as he heard him whisper right into his ear again.
With the same effect taking place like before, Sora waved his free hand forward dispelling the thorns and petals while seeing a number counter that read "99" in his vision. Before even thinking about anything else, the counter was starting to go down at an incredible rate leaving the boy to start worrying greatly.
"Your end… has come!"
Marluxia yelled this out as he threw his scythe right at Sora while having the bladed part of his weapon start glowing a bright pink color. Once the weapon was thrown, the assassin disappeared leaving the scythe to start spinning and leaving behind a trail of red glowing petals. The weapon was spinning so fast that it was hard for Sora to keep a clear eye on it and had to instantly dodge to the side from getting hit. Doing that just resulted in the scythe taking a wide turn and spinning right back in his direction. At the same time, the counter was continuing to go down fast.
"85"
With each second that passed, Sora could feel his chest tighten and his breathing becoming rigid as worry was flooding his head followed by making sure to dodge every time the scythe came close to him. The teen even tried jumping out of the way but the glowing scythe continued to follow him leaving the brunette to fall to the ground and grow even more anxious.
"70"
Rolling to the side and then rolling back, Sora couldn't outright attack the scythe as it was too fast for him to do anything.
"63"
Raising his Keyblade, he tried blocking the scythe which he did successfully, but it immediately disappeared and reappeared behind him while shooting straight for him. He had to once again dodge roll to the side.
"49"
His options and ideas were running out and self-doubt was starting to run rampant in his head.
"30"
At this point, Marluxia appeared right above him and summoned his scythe to his hand again while raising his other which caused the ground to explode with a giant red pool to start spewing out blackthorns and red glowing petals all over the place. The ground changing threw Sora right up into the air and caused his body to go numb for a split second leaving him worried about how much time was left.
"19"
Deciding it was an all-or-nothing situation, Sora flipped himself in the air and pointed his Keyblade right at Marluxia while screaming out a magic spell that he hoped would help him at this exact moment.
"LIGHT!"
In a blinding flash, the entire area was blinded by two lights appearing out of nowhere. One was from Sora's magical spell and the other… came from Marluxia who had dropped his scythe onto the ground and started staggering backward.
"So, this is… your heart."
Those were the last words Marluxia muttered before the entire area started returning to normal with the red pools, thorns, and petals all starting to dissolve and fade away. Leaving the once dangerous yet breathtaking scenery to now return to the plain-looking area it was before in eerie silence.
Flopping to the ground, Sora started taking deep breaths while starting to cough violently.
*cough* *cough* *cough*
Bringing his hand up to his mouth, he saw something that would have normally worried him but after all that he'd been through on this night… he couldn't help but accept it.
A small bit of blood was present on his hand followed by the realization that he should give himself a look over. Forcing himself to stand, he started examining how dirty and battered his clothes were followed by his hands looking beaten up and bruised heavily. His body was also starting to make itself known that he was tired and needed a moment before doing anything else. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled another healing potion out and chugged the whole thing leaving nothing behind.
A soothing feeling began washing over him as he felt much better compared to before. Alas, his moment of peace was soon interrupted as he heard what sounded like a fizzling sound near him. Turning his head over, the teen saw the hooded Marluxia kneeling down on the ground while his scythe was next to him.
"Color me impressed, Sora."
"W-What?"
The hooded figure let a moment of silence pass they caught their breath before responding to the boy.
"I knew that I would ultimately lose to you, but… I don't care. I was allowed to witness something extraordinary. Something breathtaking. Something… beautiful. And it was all thanks to you."
Confused by what the fake Marluxia was getting at, Sora shook his head.
"I don't understand what you mean. I didn't do anything."
"Oh. That's the best part. You didn't have to do anything. All you needed to do was… be yourself. Your heart did the rest and let me tell you… it was a sight to see."
"But you- "
"I know that I am nothing but a pawn to my master. And yet, being an entity of Darkness has not only given me a will but the chance to witness something even grander. You. A being of hope… a Guardian of Light" Marluxia or better known as the Mimic said with earnestness in its voice.
Looking down at the ground, Sora couldn't help but feel a bit distraught now knowing that the Mimic was defeated and would die as it is now. Alas, he also realized that this had to happen otherwise innocent people could have been hurt or worse.
"You know… "
Sora started to say which grabbed the hooded figure's attention.
"As crazy as this sounds… I enjoyed our fight."
"…"
A moment of silence passed before-
"Ahahahah! You are a strange one, Sora."
"I try" the boy replied with a small smile on his face.
The fake Marluxia then raised his gloved hand to see it start to dissolve into nothingness indicating that death would soon reach him. Under his hood, the fake man… the dark creation couldn't help but smirk.
"Though this is the end of me… let it be known, Sora, that what my master and I have said on this night is all true."
Sora then narrowed his eyes on the dark being.
"What… Can you at least give me a hint or something? Your master, Darkness, didn't tell me enough to- "
"He did. There is a darkness to this world…"
The Mimic didn't finish what it was saying as the entirety of its body had now vanished into thin air leaving nothing behind. The only thing there in the area was Sora who was looking up at the night sky realizing that things were not what they seemed.
Unexpectedly, Sora spotted something right where the Mimic was just at and decided to check it out. Upon coming close, the boy let out a quiet gasp as he saw something very familiar to him.
"How did this get here?"
Reaching down to pick up the item, Sora was now holding onto a Heartbinder which was a special object that let him link and summon certain allies to his side during his journey. This was another one of the items that he lost upon coming into this world. He was now having many concerning thoughts in his head followed by thinking about what the Mimic said to him earlier and now.
'I… I shouldn't listen to them. I shouldn't. But… it's true that I have only seen the Science Side of this world so far… I have no idea about the Magic Side. Where do I even start looking? Who can I ask for help? Do I even want to involve others in this problem? No. I have to at least ask the others. But who do I even ask? Touma? Index? Kanzaki? I'm at a loss…'
Sora thought all this to himself while continuing to look past the bright city buildings. He had many things to consider but the one thing that he needed right now most of all was a breather.
"Sora!" a voice called out to him.
Looking behind, he saw Yomikawa and the other Anti-Skill officers beginning to make their way over to him. He figured that they would have some questions and right now, he wasn't entirely in the mood to answer them.
Coming up to the boy, Yomikawa could visibly see that he was exhausted from the fighting as well as banged up from the looks of things. Normally, she wouldn't do something like this since Anti-Skill required a detailed report of what exactly happened tonight. But an idea did pop into her head.
"Sora, are you ok?"
"Y-Yeah. I'm good… I'm good."
"*sigh* That's good to hear" Yomikawa kindly responded, happy to hear that.
"Who the hell was that guy?" another Anti-Skill officer who appeared to be the one who shot his gun earlier questioned the boy.
"He's…"
Sora stopped himself as he glanced into Yomikawa's eyes and seemingly told her that it was a complex topic to which she immediately understood his nonverbal message and decided to give the boy some space.
"Alright! We don't even know if the area's cleared yet. Start scanning the perimeter for any unusual activity. Questions can be answered later. Let's go, go, go!" Yomikawa yelled out.
Letting out a muffled sound, the officers began to walk away from the location and investigate the entire area while leaving Sora, Yomikawa, and Tessou still standing there.
"Sora, I take it this is a complicated subject?"
"More than you think."
"Wait. What's going on?" Tessou commented.
Glancing over at her junior, Yomikawa decided to introduce her at a better time to the boy.
"A conversation we can have later. Go, Sora. I'd suggest going to a hospital to get checked up on but… *sigh* you wouldn't be the first high school boy I know that avoids going to the hospital. At least go home and get some shut-eye. You've earned it."
A small smile could be seen appearing on the boy's lips.
"Thanks, Yomikawa. I promise I'll tell you all you want to hear later. Besides, there's… well, actually, I need to look into that problem as well but I'll for sure let you know what's going on."
"That's all I ask for. Good night, Sora."
"Night, Yomikawa. And good night miss…"
"Ah! My name is Tessou Tsuzuri. I'm currently assigned under Yomikawa-san for training" the green-haired girl replied.
"Nice to meet you, Tessou. Even if it was brief, haha…"
"Not at all. It was nice meeting you as well and thank you for your help dealing with… whoever that was" Tessou said while referring to the hooded figure.
"Mm. Well, I'll see you guys later."
And with that, Sora slowly started walking away from the scene while Tessou and Yomikawa decided to join the others in making sure the area was safe again. This area would soon be used in the Daihaseisai Festival coming up shortly. That was surely going to cause quite the spectacle to see this year. Especially with Sora's involvement in her school. Yomikawa was quietly growing very excited at the prospect.
Elsewhere, on top of a building nearby
Mugino did not have the words to describe what she was feeling. That had been a common reoccurrence for her throughout the night. Her intention of witnessing the spiky-haired boy caught up in a fight and seeing what abilities he used to deal with whatever he was dueling with was her primary goal.
Suffice it to say, that goal had been demolished after witnessing the boy's first fight with the claymore user. Then when he encountered the hooded figure using electricity in their fighting style while battering him left and right and to see him use not only light but darkness. It left her reaching a level of excitement that she's never experienced before. As she was the only one on top of this building with no one else around, the tea-color-haired girl could in all honesty say that she was on the edge of her metaphorical seat. She was even silently cheering the boy on whenever he landed a hearty attack with his weapon or used such force that the opponent went flying back. Her battle fanatic side was out in the open and she couldn't help but smile gracefully while remembering how intense the battles were becoming.
And then, when he started fighting against the scythe-wielding bastard or when the hooded figure switched up weapons again which was something to take note of, she couldn't help but be entranced by it all. The quick thinking and adaptability displayed by Sora along with his confident and determined fighting style that screamed endless possibilities… Mugino could feel her heart rate start to pick up again.
Alas, there was also the other significant factor about Sora's last duel…
It was beautiful.
The mix of red being associated with the red petals floating all around the arena and how that giant skull appeared out of nowhere, Mugino was starting to think that Sora just fought and killed an Esper who dealt with creating unusual objects and attack patterns due to how drastic of a change each fight had played out. Again, that was a guess on her part but still, the sight of seeing Sora with his weapon glowing blue going against the pink halo that was growing around the area. That would forever be something that would remember.
Just thinking about the boy caused her to unknowingly smile brightly while recalling how many new ideas came to her mind. In addition, she was also growing eager to become stronger due to seeing what the boy dealt with. She would need to hone her skills and abilities more than ever before. Not to mention, the shitty hero actually killed someone and this time she saw the body disappear for good. Meaning that he wasn't completely oblivious to things like death and whatnot. His usage of light and darkness was an entire subject that she would ponder about later but…
She couldn't help but feel more and more inclined and eager to learn all that she could about the boy that… without her realizing or even knowing about it… a small tint of red appeared on her cheeks.
It was then decided that she would learn more about this entire situation from the person caught in the center of it all, Sora.
Pulling out her phone, she immediately dialed his number and waited for him to answer her call. There was also the chance that-
*Click*
He answered her call instantly.
"Hello?"
"Sora! I think you owe me some- "
"Hey, Mugino, sorry. I can't talk right now. I'm a bit… busy at the moment. I'll get back to you later" the boy simply replied.
Blinking once and then twice, the dangerous laser-firing girl better known as Meltdowner started yelling into her phone.
"What the fuck!? What the hell do you mean you're busy!? I just watched you fight that hooded bastard!"
"You did?"
"YES!"
"Oh… um… you weren't caught up in the attacks, right?"
"NO!"
"*sigh* That's good to hear. Hey, we can talk about this another time. I really have to go. See you."
*Click*
The brunette girl simply looked at her phone for a minute before slamming it to the ground.
"THE NERVE OF THAT SON OF A BITCH!"
Leaving Mugino in a mood like this was an unwise decision for anyone to make. Kinuhata and Takitsubo were now in for a world of hurt as the brown spiky-haired boy had pissed their leader off. As the old saying goes, hell hath no furry like a woman scorned.
Meanwhile, back at Tokiwadai
Still sitting around the table, Hokaze had tears appearing in her eyes while she was wiping them away with the handkerchief she always carried in her pocket. The other girls also had relieved looks on their faces as they listened to the newscaster who was reporting that the fighting had stopped and that Sora was last seen talking with an Anti-Skill officer.
"Ah… I'm so relieved that Sora's okay" the purple-haired girl said while feeling an imaginary weight lift off her body.
"I wonder what he's doing now?"
"Probably going to get some rest."
"From what we heard; I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up at the hospital."
"You think?"
"Did you hear everything mentioned about his fight?"
Discussions sprouted around the table as each of the girls had something to say about their brown spiky-haired friend and the conflict he had found himself in.
Shokuhou meanwhile was both glad to hear that the boy had survived the fighting that was going on but also growing quite curious about the situation in its entirety. Whoever had picked a fight with the boy had wanted it to not only be a spectacle but also a message. To whom? She had no idea but suffice it to say, things were becoming rather strange in Academy City. It was only a matter of time before she found herself involved in something unusual.
Elsewhere inside the windowless building
Having multiple screens pulled up and watching the boy's fight in great detail, the two individuals in the room were silent for a moment before one of them said something.
"Well now, I have to say, I'm quite speechless followed by interested in this young man."
The one who said this happened to be the golden retriever better known as Kihara Noukan.
A small bit of laughter could be heard from the man floating inside the liquid-filled tube better known as the School Board Chairman, Aleister Crowley.
"It appears that you will be a great fascination to us all, Sora."
"Aleister. Correct me if I'm wrong but, you do have a plan in place regarding young Sora's Esper status?" Noukan asked the man.
"I have something in mind. I'll be overseeing the boy's progress myself. I can spare a moment of my busy schedule" Aleister replied.
"Hmm. Perhaps I will go ahead and meet him myself."
"Do be careful that you don't scare him off. It's not every day that everyone comes across a talking animal."
Noukan seemed to let his tail slightly wag before walking toward the exit of the room.
"Oh, I'll make sure to take the necessary steps to not traumatize the young man. I look forward to what comes next for him."
And with that, Aleister was left alone in the dark room while continuing to monitor the boy's actions. Moreover, he was also expecting to hear some news on another incident occurring right now that involved another spiky-haired young man. This night was truly an eventful one…
Meanwhile, back with Sora
Having reached the train station found on the border of District 17 and paid for a ticket to ride over to District 7, the spiky-haired boy was now sitting inside one of the compartments that appeared to be empty of anyone. At first, he was worried that something else was about to happen but then it dawned on him that everyone was probably heading to District 17 to try and see what exactly was going on. A coincidence of him being alone for a moment.
Now feeling the train start to move and head toward District 7, Sora leaned back in his seat and looked at the window right next to him. Seeing all the city lights brighten the nightlife around the visible area, he couldn't help but have a tired smile on his face. It was such a relaxing and peaceful moment that the possibility of falling asleep was really high.
However, Sora decided to check something out now. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the Heartbinder he found and began to examine the item closely. He didn't notice it before but this time around, he saw that the object was completely grayed out compared to the usual colorful appearance on his old Heartbinders. This left him scratching the back of his head while unsure what it meant exactly. However, that would be a problem to solve for another time.
Putting the item back into his pocket, Sora then pulled out his Gummiphone and stared at it for a good minute. His call with Mugino earlier was sure to get him into some trouble with the tea-color-haired girl but… he would try to make it up to her later. Maybe cooking something would work? Food always manages to make a bad situation into a good one.
Nevertheless, he wouldn't be able to answer anyone's questions at the moment due to his mind being focused primarily on what Darkness had told him. The bit about a school and prison being the prime locations for something about to happen because of the Magic Side's problems with Academy City. He was still hesitant to believe anything the dark figure told him, but deep down he was thinking that it could be possible. And that caused him to feel a bit stressed due to not being completely aware of the Magic Side. That would have to change.
However, that could wait because right now, the tired spiky-haired boy wanted nothing more than to go to sleep. The injuries on his body could wait for tomorrow. He just wanted to fall right into his bed and let slumber take him. Hence, he reached back into his pocket and pulled out another healing potion, and began drinking it. Over time, he had gotten used to the taste and didn't mind how the concoction tasted now. As strange as that sounded.
Taking a minute to finish the potion off and continue to stare out the window of the train, Sora then put the bottle back into his pocket and started calling someone on his Gummiphone. Right now, the person he was calling was his best chance of getting a better idea of what Darkness had said along with if any of it would be true.
*Click*
"Hello?"
"Hey, Moogla, can you talk right now?"
"Sora! Thank goodness you're ok, kupo!" the voice of his Moogle friend cried out.
"Yeah, sorry I didn't call sooner. Things… happened. And I think it would be a whole lot better to tell you in person."
"That sounds like a great idea, kupo."
"Great. Think I could stop by your place in the morning? Or anywhere that works where we can sit down and chat" Sora asked.
"Of course! I'll send you the coordinates on your Gummiphone here in a few minutes, kupo. My base is in District 7, so you won't have to travel too far into the city, kupo" Moogla explained.
"Got it. Thanks again, Moogla, and I'll see you in the morning."
"Right! See you later, kupo."
*Click*
Now glancing down at his device, Sora could see how late it was getting and realized just how long he'd been fighting. First, the dark side operators, then the Heartless Behemoth, and finally it was the Mimic who copied Saïx, Larxene, and Marluxia's fighting style and amplified their abilities greatly.
When he started to break down the fights, the teen couldn't help but start laughing all while his sides hurt making his laugh broken but still happy. He then started looking out the window yet again to take in the beautiful view of the night city. Suddenly, without warning, music started to play inside the train compartment letting Sora further enjoy the peaceful moment because honestly… he earned it.
"Heh… what a night…"
Notes:
*A/N* - Well now, that was quite the long chapter. But before getting too deep into talking about all that, I'd like to say thanks again for checking this story out. Reading the reviews and hearing what works and what… sucks lol really has helped give this idea of a story form. Truly, thanks.
*Now, onto the meat of it all, combat. The Mimic took the liberty of copying several of Organization XIII's members and amplifying their abilities to become a real problem for Sora to deal with. Lore-wise, he did not fight the Data versions of the real Organization XIII from Kingdom Hearts 3, so this was a first-time look at buffed up versions of those members. In addition, for Larxene and Saïx I also took inspiration from Trueblade Seeker's mods for making those two have even stronger fights. Marluxia's fight was from the data fight found in the DLC. I hope the fights were written where it could be understood what was happening. The chaos that ensues in some of these fights is a bit difficult to depict in writing so I hope I did a good job of showcasing just how crazy the fights can get. And let's not forget how complex and developed the fights in Toaru can play out. The involvement of Magic and Science is bound to cross paths with the otherworldly magic that Sora has to deal with daily. Taking a bit of inspiration from the old Miki Kazuma quote, when magic and science come together, a story is to be told. Now add the nonsense from Kingdom Hearts and you get… something nobody quite knows lol.
*In addition, Sora also has a clue on what his next task will be incorporating as something seems amiss at a prison followed by knowing that the Daihaseisai Festival is coming up where things are definitely going to pick up on all sides of the city. Some obvious and familiar events correlating to the Toaru canon timeline followed by some new ones thanks to the Keyblade wielder's appearance in this world. I'm also thinking about developing a sort of friendly, family relationship with Sora and Yomikawa. Not in the sense that she'll be his caregiver or outright mother but… someone looking out for him in the same way that a mother would for their own child. It's a work in progress with how their relationship will continue to grow now that it's undoubtedly so that she has questions about the night's events. As does everyone else. Hence, the boy who connects hearts is going to have a lot of explaining to do. There's a bit more I'd like to explain but feel like that'll take up another 10k words lol.
*For now, I'd like to for the umpteenth time now, thank you again for checking the story out, and hope to see you again. Until next time, take care out there.
Chapter 15: Prelude to the Road
Summary:
Now facing a new day, Sora does a bit of reflecting from last night's encounters and realizes that there is still so much he doesn't know about. He then decides to pay a few friends a visit while explaining all that he knows or is willing to share. At the same time, forces of darkness are starting to gain traction. All the factions of this world seem to be at an impasse with the future beginning to change. Just what will the Guardian of Light have to deal with now?
Notes:
*Disclaimer* - I do not own the copyright to Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index
*A/N* - Greetings again! Hope all is well with you. Coming off the last chapter, Sora's certainly got himself a lot to think about along with what exactly is going to happen. Taking what Darkness told the boy, there is a great deal to consider along with the realization that there are other events about to take off. What I mean by that is the Toaru side is now ready to take the spotlight while we go through some of the events leading up to Endymion and the Daihasei Festival. Things are certainly going to get interesting, to say the least. Nevertheless, I'd like to thank everyone for checking this story out and continuing to leave reviews. It really does help and is fun seeing the reactions to what's happening. Plus, with how I'm approaching Endymion and the Daihasei Festival it'll be nice to hear how that change is viewed. Now then, without further ado and enough of me rambling, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and others to come as we continue Sora's time in the world of Toaru.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
*Kingdom Hearts 3 Re: Mind Final World (Yozora) OST [0:00-2:30]*
Stars… the sight of seeing so many up above in the night sky was something to be mesmerized by. There was no denying that at all. Anyone who tried to play it off was lying to themselves. However, in this certain case, things were not quite what they seemed.
Opening his eyes, Sora was now awake, and with his blue eyes taking in the sight of the night sky, he couldn't help but have a content smile appear on his lips. That is… until he realized something was not exactly right.
Without wasting another moment, the spiky-haired teen threw himself upward so that he was now sitting up and now at full attention.
"What the… why am I here?"
Surrounding the boy was clear, dark water followed by the sight of the night sky illuminating thousands and millions of stars off the water's reflection. He couldn't help but feel his breathing start to pick up followed by him swerving his head side-to-side taking in the sight before him. Jumping up to his feet, Sora immediately knew where he was and couldn't help but feel worried.
"No… I… what am I doing here in the Final World? I didn't…die, did I? No… What happened?"
Taking a few more steps ahead, the brunette folded his arms across his chest and started to speak what was currently on his mind.
"Okay… the last thing I remember… I was on the train feeling tired and listening to the music being played while my phone was going off and then… I made it to my dorm… so, I should be asleep."
He instantly recalled Chirithy's words about what the Final World was and how it was a place between sleep and death which makes it easy to access from the Sleeping Worlds and the Dive to the Heart. It was also the place where those whose hearts and bodies have perished together but have something holding them down and keeping them from dying. Such a strange and unusual place.
As Sora was thinking to himself, the sudden memory of him sloppily walking out of the train and through District 7 to get back to his dorm while somehow avoiding anyone. Granted, it was getting pretty late at night which somewhat explained why nobody was out in public. Moreover, he could faintly remember flopping his Keyblade at his door, opening it, and then closing the door before barely making it to his bed slamming right into it, and passing out.
"If that's the case, then… why am I here?"
Again, he started to take in the night version of the Final World before him and couldn't help but stare at it all in awe. The last time he was here, he didn't exactly have time to admire the sight as he ended up crossing paths with someone.
Someone that… he didn't know a whole lot about but had ended up in quite the confrontation.
Yozora.
Shaking his head from getting onto that train of thought, Sora then decided to see if anything would happen when he summoned his Keyblade. Holding his hand out, the weapon flashed into his hand leading him to start waving it around and seeing if anything would happen. After waiting for a good minute, the blade did nothing leaving him to realize that whatever was going on required him to do a bit of investigating. Hence, he started to walk forward seeing no end to the water or night sky which offered a somber yet peaceful atmosphere even though he was all alone. It was at this point that he started to talk to himself again about all that's happened.
"Right, there's a lot I've got to think about… *sigh* where do I even start?"
Turning his head to look down at the ground, Sora saw his reflection and stared at himself for a good moment before closing his eyes and then opening them. His mind was tossing around thoughts at an incredible speed, and he needed to just calm down.
"What Darkness said… I'm going to need help looking into that problem. Hmm. I think I know just the person to help. Or should I say Moogle to help?"
Bringing his right index finger to scratch the side of his cheek, he started thinking about Academy City in a broader sense.
"That leads to the problem of whatever the Magic Side is up to. Not to mention, the Heartless still wandering around the city. And the chance that there are those on the Dark Side that want to capture them."
He then moved his head to stare out in the distance of the Final World continuing to admire the sight before him.
"Plus, I did manage to put myself at the center of attention with the Behemoth and Mimic. That's going to get people wondering. *sigh* Just thinking about it all is hurting my head…" Sora said while dramatically lifting his hand to massage his head.
However, even if this was a lot of information to take in, there was the undoubted truth of the matter. While he might have a great deal of problems to deal with… he wasn't alone. He had friends in his corner to help him.
"…I'm gonna need some help. I know Moogla said she would help but… I'm going to need to talk to someone on the Magic Side… And I know just who to talk to."
Nodding his head, Sora now had a game plan in mind for what he would need to do along with who could talk to for some help. Everything seemed to be settled.
Suddenly, without any warning whatsoever, a bright flash of light appeared right in front of the boy managing to illuminate the entire area in a yellow color. Additionally, a beam of light shot straight up into the air making it distinctively visible and somewhat… warm. As if it was beckoning him to come closer.
Deciding that he didn't have any real reason to dismiss the idea, the Keyblade wielder took a deep breath before calmly walking toward the light and having to cover his eyes due to how bright it was. Once he was close enough, the teen felt a sense of daring commitment wash over him and slowly brought his hand up to touch the light.
*Woooooosh*
Everything around him immediately went dark leaving him to be covered in darkness and nothing else.
That is until he slowly opened his eyes and was now staring right at what could be described as a ceiling.
"H-Huh?"
Forcing himself to open his eyes fully, Sora was now staring at the ceiling of his dorm room. He easily remembered what it looked like as it was something he got quite used to looking at every morning. This was proven further as he turned his head and simply recognized his surroundings. While still trying to completely wake up, he started thrashing his hand around the bed for his Gummiphone but couldn't feel a thing.
Recalling that he was seriously tired last night, the boy patted down his pants pocket and realized that's where the device was. Bringing it out and checking the time, Sora let out a mumbled groan at seeing what time it was.
"6:39 A.M."
"September 9, 20XX"
'Did I even get any sleep?' he questioned himself internally before letting out a mighty yawn.
It was at this point that he was now awake and decided to get a start on the day since he was-
"What the? Why do I have so many… oh. That's why."
On the Gummiphone's screen was now a list of notifications that had been sent his way. Scrolling down, Sora could see who had tried to get in contact with him last night. There was a message left for him from Yomikawa followed by a single call from her as well. He would have to talk to her later and tell her a bit about what happened. She deserved to be in the know even if he had to condense and tell a half-truth about the Organization members and Heartless Behemoth.
Another person who had desperately tried to get in contact with him was the chestnut brown-haired girl who was better known as the fourth-ranked Level 5, Meltdowner. And she had bombarded him with messages and calls. A total of seven calls and thirteen messages had been sent his way. Seeing the two… troublesome numbers, Sora started looking at what she had sent to him, and… he could already imagine the girl's voice screaming at him through the text messages. To say the messages were worried about his well-being would be a lie. Some of the texts sent by Mugino were very brief in what she was saying to him, and other texts were outright book-length messages yelling at him for hanging up on her.
He would be getting an earful from the tea-color-haired girl the next time they talked.
Putting that dreadful thought to the side, he began looking over the message sent from Moogla which contained the coordinates for where her workshop was in District 7. He also figured that it would be common courtesy to announce that he'd be heading over which resulted in him calling her. A bite of his tongue made him realize that it might be a bit early, and she might not even be-
*ring* *ring* *ring* *click*
"Hello? Sora?" a high-pitched voice called out to him said.
"Hey, Moogla, sorry for calling so early."
"Not at all! I've been awake since we last talked, kupo."
A look of shock was present on the boy's face.
"Then, you haven't slept at all… Why not!?" Sora exclaimed into the phone.
"Well, after our call ended, I started doing all that I could to monitor how the city was faring through my various cleaner robots to see if there was any Heartless activity going on since, you know, a big fight happened which might have caused some problems to arise, kupo. Luckily, you'll be happy to know that nothing serious happened throughout the night just Anti-Skill scanning the perimeter of District 17 to make sure that no one got hurt or any Heartless were around the area, kupo" Moogla explained clearly.
"Phew. That's a relief. Thank you for that."
"Of course, kupo!"
"Well, let me wash up and grab a bite and then I'll be over to talk things through. It's looking like I'll be having quite a busy day today" Sora commented while running a hand through his spiky hair.
"Understood, kupo. I'll tidy my workshop up a bit before you arrive, and when you do make sure to send me a message that way, I'll be able to open the place up, kupo" the energetic Moogle directed.
"Got it. See you soon."
And with that, the call ended leaving Sora to move over to the bathroom and take a look at himself in the mirror. While his clothes weren't terribly damaged or even smelled, he still wanted to clean up a bit and grab a light breakfast. The events of yesterday made it abundantly clear that his life was about to get a whole lot more complicated. Touma's catchphrase was something he could say right now, and it would definitely fit his situation.
Later after cleaning up
Stepping out of his dorm, the spiky-haired brunette was half tempted to knock on his neighbor's door to see if Touma and Index were home and could help him with his complicated problem but decided to hold off. Once he was done talking with Moogla, he'd give his friends a call to talk with them and see if they could meet up and chat in person. It would be quite an eventful talk.
One that would require him to put forth an extra effort of listening in on what would be a long and complicated discussion regarding the Magic Side along with his own problems managing to involve Anti-Skill and the entirety of the city paying attention to what was happening.
Nevertheless, he began to set forth to Moogla's workshop and get her caught up to what was happening or rather what was about to happen. Checking the time, he saw that barely reaching seven in the morning which got him a bit worried that everyone would start to flood the streets heading to work or school or just out and about which might cause him to be surrounded. Not about to let that happen, he quickly started jogging in the direction of the Moogle's residence hoping to not run into any problems along the way. But with the way his life had been lately, that was anything but suspect.
The Keyblade wielder then decided it was time to start the new day and get ready to move on to the next big problem that lay in his way. Where one problem ended, another began.
Meanwhile, inside the confines of an underground laboratory at an unknown location
The sound of electronic pulsating devices and machines starting up caused quite the sound to play throughout the large room, many scientists were busy at hand carefully watching a unique specimen move back and forth inside an electrical cage that had been heavily scratched at every nook and cranny that was within reach. The specimen was keenly identified to be a Heartless. A Shadow to be more specific.
Moreover, standing right in front of the cage was an older fellow with quite a hunch, and his eyes barely showing any sign of actually being open. Not to mention, the birthmark on the right side of his temple seemed to also add an intimidating aura surrounding him.
Kihara Gensei was his name.
"Kihara-san, have you evaluated the report given by the phlebotomist?" one of the scientists said while holding what appeared to be a glass tablet.
The old man turned his head to the side managing to have a sly grin on his face.
"As a matter of fact, I have. And I have to say, it is truly an intriguing thing to see."
"H-Huh? Intriguing… Sir, I… I don't mean to sound imprudent- "
"Then don't."
"…But… are you sure you saw the report documented from the phleb- "
The Kihara now turned his entire body to face the scientist who was a middle-aged man who was starting to feel a wave of nervousness coarse through his body. Even a droplet of sweat started to flow down the back of his neck.
"Sir…?"
"Hmph. Don't be so worried. Haha!"
Hesitation was evident on the middle-aged scientist's face.
"Ha…ha…ha…"
"Now, now. What I meant by intriguing is that with all the critical hypotheses being thrown around the room, every experiment we've tried has ended up either failing or resulting in unexpected outcomes" Gensei explained.
The Kihara member took a few steps around the electrical cage while looking down at the large, yellow-eyed creature even to the point where he lowered himself right next to the cage and was only a few inches away from coming in direct contact with the Heartless.
To this end, the Shadow had moved forward to the point of being just a millimeter away from meeting the cage fence which would shock it, but ultimately, it did no such thing and simply stared back at the old man.
A grin appeared on Kihara's face before he slowly backed himself away from the cage and continued to walk around it. This left the scientist and any others in the room to nervously observe the old man.
"R-Right. We've… even tried conducting physical experiments to record the actual movement of the creature and gauge a better understanding of it but…"
The scientist said this while glancing over to the other side of the large room where a large, bulky body suit was positioned right against the wall. This suit was better known to be a standard marked power suit which was heavily battered and left with scratches all over including a significant claw mark on the head of the suit.
"…Nothing has really provided substantial results. Our next move on analyzing the creature's body of any fluids or residue left behind or secreted is still being discussed as no blood samples were possible leaving questions to be had."
"Indeed. Which reminds me of another test we have yet to study…"
"Another test, sir?"
No response came from the Kihara as he simply walked away from the scientist while bringing his hands to sit comfortably inside his jacket pocket. The ambiance of not saying a word and simply stepping away left a nauseating taste to settle in the man's mouth. When it came to working with any of the Kihara family, the one thing to expect… was the unexpected. Based on stories that he'd heard from other scientists in other departments… he couldn't help but swallow a draft of air down his throat while glancing over at the dark creature still in the cage.
Its yellow eyes were simply trained on him without even blinking or moving its entire body. Just standing there in the cage looking at him. This caused the scientist to briskly walk away and realize that other scientists in the room had merely glanced over at him but didn't utter a word or even look in his direction.
A looming sense of malevolence could be felt in the room leaving only silence to be heard as the Kihara continued onward to who knows where. Alas, let it be known that he had a giant smirk on his face as he passed through another set of security doors while entering what looked to be a room full of test tubes and screens showing data centered around the Heartless.
Several men dressed in lab coats suspected to be scientists noticed Kihara enter the room and came to full attention.
"Sir."
"Hmm. Tatsumi-san."
"Yes, sir?" one of the scientists answered.
A devilish grin appeared on the old man's face.
"Prepare the proper procedure on mark level delta for our mysterious friend in the cage."
The scientist stopped for the briefest of a moment before clarifying with the Kihara.
"Human testing, sir?"
Kihara only responded with a smirk on his face while beginning to walk toward another set of doors which were guarded by two tall-looking guards with heavy equipment almost taking the form of tactically armed robots.
"…Understood sir."
The sound of dual doors closing was the only thing apparent as the Kihara continued to walk toward another part of the lab. A sense of dramaticism could be felt within the lab as the next trial of testing had begun. And there was no stopping what was about to happen…
Back with Sora in District 7
After adventuring through the district and managing to avoid groups of students invading the streets while going about their daily lives, he finally ended up standing in front of what could be described as a short, lengthy building that was decorated in a steel gray color with barely any windows around the place. However, it managed to hold just enough of a presence that it did not look suspicious at all.
Doing as he was told; he sent a message to his Moogle friend expecting to wait a minute for her to open the door when suddenly he was forced to step out of the way as the wall, he was right next to instantly opened causing him to look in awe at the simple yet camouflaged contraption.
Before he could do anything else, a robotic hand appeared out of the side of the wall and began beckoning him to come through the open space. Figuring that this was Moogla's plan, he did so while making sure that nobody was watching.
* Whiiiiissssshhh *
Now inside the building, Sora was in amazement at what he was starting at.
The sight of robots building robots and machines moving around synchronously made his mind ignite with flashbacks to his time in Monstropolis and how Monster's Inc. had all their machines working nonstop even during the invasion of the Heartless in the facility. He also now saw what appeared to be a small cleaner bot that had a robotic hand attached to it and was the one he saw in the open space.
Waving at the hand, the robot watched him for a second before strolling away seemingly getting back to work. About to say something, Sora's name was being called out.
"Sora! Over here, kupo."
Turning to his left, he spotted the familiar-looking Moogle and started speed-walking his way over to her while making sure to not get in the robot's path.
"Hey! Moogla, good to see you!"
"Likewise! I'm glad that you look like you're okay, kupo."
A hand was brought to scratch the back of his head.
"Yeaaah… about that…"
"Oh… sounds like there's a lot on your mind, kupo."
"Yeah, there is. Do you mind if we sit down and talk?"
Sora had a readable expression that demonstrated that there was quite a lot to talk about.
"Not at all. Here, we can head down to my lab and sit down to talk, kupo."
"Down to your lab? Isn't this where you work?" Sora questioned while looking around the place.
The floating Moogle simply shook her entire head.
"Nope. This is more of a front in case someone broke into this place along with being an actual working cleaner bot manufacturing sight, kupo."
"Oooh. That makes sense. Well, lead the way!"
"Yep, follow me, kupo!"
Passing through a door that led to a lower level of the facility, Sora was now once again in amazement at what he was staring at. On the upper level was all machinery. Now, there was nothing but bottles and canisters of various liquids each with monitors and gauges around the area. He even spotted lights that were twirling around a set of glowing green bottles followed by what looked to be other equipment he wasn't too sure about.
"Whoa! This is so cool!"
"Haha, you have no idea, kupo."
Floating to the middle of the large area, Moogla waved her small paw to one side of the room.
"This area is where I work on mixing the ingredients to make the potions that you can find in stock at the Moogle Cleaner Bots, kupo. Since it's a bit hard to gather the necessary materials in this world, I had to come up with alternatives to use for the potions, kupo."
"I'm astonished. This is amazing, Moogla!" Sora exclaimed while being completely in awe at everything he was seeing.
The fact that she managed to do all this on top of using the guise of a cleaning robot facility and service to blend into the city was amazing. He was impressed with her before but now he couldn't even fathom how honored and happy he was to have her support.
"That's not all, kupo."
Moving both her head and the ball on top of her head to the side, Moogla was now pointing at what appeared to be a long workbench with various pieces of equipment and other tools he had no idea about.
"That area is for synthesizing crystals and pieces of equipment to form into a bunch of different things, kupo. The area over there is for working on electrical equipment that I come up with thanks to finding things on the internet that other scientists and professionals have created, kupo. It all comes together to help me with my creations, kupo."
"I'm… I don't know what to say, Moogla. Really… thank you for your help."
"Ah… you're making me feel all embarrassed, kupo!"
Laughing at the Moogle's reaction, Sora followed her to a cozy-looking lounge that was off to the side of all the equipment and watched as she sat down in her own tailor-made chair while he took a seat on the couch. He got himself comfy as it was going to be a long talk.
"So, where should we start from last night, kupo?" Moogla asked the boy while also getting somewhat comfy.
"Well, *sigh* I think I'll start with after I last talked to you and dealt with the dark side agents…"
And so, the Guardian of Light began to tell his fuzzy, flying friend all that occurred last night. Starting from his encounter with the mysterious being that went by the name Darkness and how they were formless along with quite intimidating. He explained all that was discussed in their first bout of chatter and how this world held quite a deal of mysterious power coursing through it on both the Magic and Science Sides, which he explained a bit to Moogla. Followed by mentioning the three different ideas that Darkness reasoned for him being here. This got the Moogle to start wondering just what else this world had in store for them in the future.
He then went into talking about the Heartless Behemoth which got Moogla's ball on the top of her head to start moving around quickly and elicited a shocked reaction from her.
"What!? You encountered a Behemoth, kupo?"
"I mean, there was another Behemoth I encountered if I remember correctly. It was back in my first adventure when I was searching for my best friends, Riku and Kairi after we got separated. But this one had a completely different appearance."
He then started going into the finer details of the Heartless Behemoth along with the various attacks that it performed, leaving him going on the defensive end for quite a bit of time. This was a completely new experience for him to deal with.
"Hm…."
"Moogla? Is something wrong?"
"No, no. Sorry. I was just thinking that the Behemoth sounded like one that one of my brother's friends encountered in another world… it might be nothing, kupo" Moogla explained.
"Ah. Gotcha. Well, after dealing with the Heartless Behemoth…"
Picking right up where he left off, he then went into detail about his brief encounter with Darkness again. What they had to say about this world and how he was given a hint on what was going on with the Magic Side. Once again, Moogla brought her right paw up to her nose and had a thinking pose while trying to figure out what was going on.
To add to the even more unusual situation, Sora now began describing his encounter with Darkness's creation which was the Mimic, and how it took the form of three members from the real Organization XIII.
"Wait? How did this Darkness even know about the Organization, kupo? You said that he wasn't the Darkness that you encountered… but he's still Darkness?" Moogla questioned him while feeling confused.
"It's… complicated. Even I don't know what exactly was going on with Vanitas and Darkness being different from each other but still calling themselves Darkness" the brunette said, planting a hand up to his head and letting out a very note-worthy sigh.
"I don't think I'll be of any help on this matter, kupo."
"That's alright. For now, I think Darkness can be put off to the side."
With that said, Sora began delving into how difficult the three back-to-back battles were and how each time it seemed like the Mimic was learning his tactics and even giving the copied Organization members more personality. Even if it was counter to the real versions which he ended up on good terms with. He also talked about what happened afterward with his run-in with Anti-Skill and mentioned Mugino calling him but not really feeling like talking with her.
"Wow… I'm kind of speechless, kupo. You seriously had a busy night dealing with not one, not two, not three, but four different fights and still having a lot to worry about, kupo."
"Ha, when you put it like that…"
A shake of his head was the only suitable response he could give. Moogla also pondered what he said about this Mugino person and took a moment to consider something before quickly floating over to one of her work areas and picking up a tablet in her hand. She then began typing away at the screen for a minute before she looked over at Sora.
"Sora…"
"Yeah? Is something wrong?"
Moogla seemed to stare at the screen one more time before looking over at the boy.
"You… Do you know who this Mugino person really is, kupo?"
"Yeah. She's the fourth-ranked Level 5, Meltdowner."
A surprised expression appeared on his magical friend's face.
"Huh… I didn't think you knew a Level 5, kupo" Moogla said in a bit of astonishment.
"She's not the only Level 5 that I know of," he said with such casualness.
"…What?"
The Moogle displayed what could easily be depicted as shock.
"Yeah, I know Misaka and Shokuhou as well," he said nonchalantly.
Moogla spent a good minute looking at the boy before shaking her head and floating back to her seat with the tablet in her paws. She could stare at the boy with wonder.
"So, you know not one but three Level 5s?"
"Yeah. Do you know any?" he asked as if it was a completely normal thing.
"Sadly, no. But with the Daihaseisai Festival coming soon, I've been hearing chatter that the Level 5s will have some kind of role to play. I did a bit of searching and found that the fifth-ranked, also known as Mental Out participated in last year's opening ceremony, kupo."
"Huh. I might have to ask Shokuhou about that or even Misaka the next time I run into them. But yeah, I've technically met about half of them now. I'm not sure if I'll be meeting anymore but if I do, then I'll be sure to tell you about them" Sora said.
"I can't wait to hear, kupo." Moogla then turned her head over at the synthesis table and lingered there for a moment before drawing her attention back to the boy. "Well, what do you think you should do now, kupo?"
A contemplative look could be seen on the boy's face as he was not quite sure now.
"Hmmm."
This is the part that was causing Sora the most pain right now. He was left with nothing but a mention of something but that something wasn't much to work with. Hence, he decided to take two considerations to heart and work with that idea.
"I think… I'll go and catch up with Touma and Index and see what they can tell me about the Magic Side along with…" He then straightened himself up and looked over at Moogla which threw her off.
"Sora?" Moogla slightly questioned.
"Moogla… this is a bit awkward, but could I ask for your help in this problem? I… I don't think that I- "
"Sora."
The boy was suddenly stopped by hearing his name called.
"Huh? Er… yeah, Moogla?"
"What did I say the last time we talked, kupo?"
He was then reminded of her talking to him on the Gummiphone about wanting to help deal with the Heartless and making sure he was safe out there while fighting. Recalling her words in clear detail, he also realized that he already had her answer, and it was clear as day. This led him to smile.
"Heh… thanks again, Moogla."
"Of course, Sora! Anytime, kupo."
A sweet relaxing tone seemed to settle itself in the room leaving the two friends to chuckle at the same time realizing that there was quite a bit of stuff that had happened in a short amount of time. However, that didn't mean it was all bad or worrisome. There was still space for fun and enjoyment to be had.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Sora informed Moogla about his plan to meet up with Touma along with elaborating that he was the first person who helped him get started in his journey through Academy City.
The Moogle completely understood Sora's plan along with telling him that she was with him and whatever plan he would come up with regarding what Darkness had mentioned to him. She also stated that she would start to do some recon and see if the cleaner bots picked up on anything unusual going on in the city which he was thrilled to hear about. All in all, Sora felt a great deal better knowing that he could talk to someone about all that he learned.
This led to him getting ready to part ways with Moogla but not before he suddenly remembered what he picked up from the Mimic last night.
"Oh! How could I be so stupid and forget!"
"What do you mean, kupo?"
Reaching into his pocket, the boy pulled out the grayed-out Heartbinder and presented it to her.
"Are you familiar with Heartbinders?" he asked.
Examining the item in his hands, Moogla took a hard long look at it before letting out a humming noise.
"Not particularly, kupo. But based on the name I have an idea of what they are supposed to do, kupo."
"Then… do you have any idea why it's grayed out? Ever experienced something like this before? The last time I had this with me it was not gray and there were multiple Heartbinders assigned to several of my friends" he explained.
"Mm. This is just a guess, but do you think it has something to do with this world, kupo? And what do you mean the last time you had it, kupo?"
Another sigh managed to escape his lips as his mind went back to the events that led him to arrive in this world.
"The last time I had all my equipment and keychains was before used the Power of Waking and saved Kairi but ended up breaking a nature taboo and vanished from my world into the Final World" He summarized his last adventure to saving Kairi.
"Power of Waking… Final World…" Moogla muttered.
Sora noticed how the Moogle had a pondering expression on her face.
"Are you familiar with those terms?" he asked, watching her reaction.
"Not really. Could you explain them, kupo?"
Sora nodded his head with an enthusiastic look on his face.
"Yeah. The Power of Waking allows one to wake sleeping hearts and restore them. It can also be used to trace the connections between people's hearts and travel to worlds connected to them. But… I ended up using this power incorrectly…" Sora said while growing quiet and thinking about his last conversation with Chirithy.
"This sounds super complicated… and how did you use it wrong, kupo?"
"Don't worry, even I am confusing myself while thinking about it deeply. But I used it wrong when I was trying to save my friends and ended up doing it seven times over. You're not meant to use worlds to reach hearts but just the opposite. Using hearts to reach worlds is the correct way."
"…"
Moogla didn't say anything and simply stared at the boy with a look that conveyed she was listening, but the understanding was a whole other sort of question.
"Confusing huh?"
"You have no idea, kupo."
A slightly awkward chuckle escaped Sora's lips.
"Don't worry about it. Like I said, even I'm a bit confused about it all but… It's a power that allowed me to get a second chance during the war to stop Kingdom Hearts. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that power, and neither would my friends" Sora affirmed with a deep level of thankfulness.
The Moogle simply shook her head before glancing back at the Heartbinder and taking another moment to think about why it was appearing in a grayish color compared to what Sora was saying about its appearance before. Suddenly, a simple idea came to her.
"Sora, have you tried using it yet, kupo?"
A stunned and somewhat deadpan expression was plastered all over his face. His stupidity was reaching levels that old folks could relate to when their television was not working, and the only viable and correct solution would be to check and see if it was even plugged in.
"…I have not. *sigh* I think I'm an idiot…"
Reaching down to pick up the Heartbinder, Sora began to look at the object and gave it another glance before bringing it close to his chest and clutching it tightly. His thoughts then began to wander to all his friends who had helped in throughout his journey. All the connections that he and his heart formed a link with. The happy, positive thoughts all came barreling through his heart with flashbacks to everyone he met.
Without wasting any more time, a sudden bright light shot out of the Heartbinder and landed right in front of him and Moogla which caused them to jolt back while staring at the strange phenomenon. Adding to the strange sight, the light seemed to pulsate and blind the two causing them to close their eyes for a second before noticing that it dimmed down. Leaving them to see what happened and be stunned at what they were seeing.
Standing there in a fashionable sense was a small yet fluffy blue and white cat with black eyes that had a yellow plus in the middle of them followed by a pink horn stemming out of its head. The creature also had a strange-looking symbol on its chest while making a cueing sound and tilting its head.
"Meow Wow!"
"Cuu? Cuu!"
Suddenly, the strange-looking creature leaped right at Sora who had his arms open wide ready to meet the little guy.
"Haha! There you are! How have you been?"
Sweetly and lovingly, the creature nestled its head into the boy's shoulder while warmly rubbing its back and laughing with joy.
"Sora, do you know this creature, kupo?" Moogla asked while watching the scene.
"Yeah! This is Meow Wow. He's a Dream Eater. And since he's here now…" The spiky-haired boy had a thought come to him. "Hey, Meow Wow, are the others here as well?"
"Cuu?"
As if understanding what the boy was saying, the Dream Eater seemed to nod its head and body at the same time before jumping off him and giving a spin of its body before a burst of light appeared all around the creature. Now sporting a new appearance, Meow Wow now looked to be a bit… bigger.
Before Moogla could say anything else, Meow Wow jumped into the air and the sound of a balloon popping could be heard. In the next instance, the sight of various colors covered the Moogle's entire vision along with many other strange creatures popping out of nowhere and immediately disappearing into light.
"…What… What was that, kupo?"
"Ha, that was Meow Wow's finishing move calling upon our other friends for help" he explained.
"Whoa… you see something new every day, kupo."
Agreeing with what she had to say, Sora looked back at his Heartbinder and could see that instead of a gray color surrounding it, the object was now displaying a colorful assortment around its body. Additionally, there was no Dream Eater symbol on the back of the Heartbinder, and instead was a crown insignia that closely matched his crown necklace.
"That's new…"
Realizing that this was an entirely new situation to be in, Sora figured he could wait to discover what else the Heartbinder could do and focus back on what he needed to do. Was there the chance that he could call upon more of his friends that he wasn't able to before?
Nevertheless, that would be something to think about later.
"Right, so Moogla, do you think you could keep an eye and ear out for anything that seems… more unusual than usual?" he asked his floating friend.
"Of course, Sora! Leave it to me, kupo. I'll keep an eye open for anything that might prove to be noteworthy or if it in some way relates back to the Magic Side, kupo."
With that being said, the boy and Moogle said their goodbyes and bid each other a good day while also realizing that they had much work to get done if they were going to get through this looming threat. In this scientifically advanced city, there never seemed to be a dull minute that passed by.
Cheerfully nodding his head, Sora could now relax as part of his plan for the day was now accomplished. Next, he could work on finding Index and Touma and seeing what they were up to. He also hoped that they could tell him a bit about this world's magic. Stepping outside of the workshop facility, he was now outside and calling his spiky-haired friend to see where he was now to talk.
What he was not expecting was to rush to the hospital due to what he had heard.
Just from the brief few seconds he was on the phone, Sora found out that Touma was currently at the hospital due to some injuries that had been inflicted upon him which caused even more questions to pop into the Keyblade wielder's head.
Not needing to say anything now, he told Touma to not move and that he would be there in a few minutes. The misfortunate boy responded that he couldn't really move but he said that in a joking manner. Sora then stuffed his Gummiphone into his pocket and began to sprint in the direction of the hospital. Seeing that he hadn't been to any other hospital in the city yet, he figured there could only be one specific place to check with a certain friendly old doctor that came to mind.
The Keyblade wielder also had the thought that he'd be coming to this hospital a whole lot more often.
Not that long later
Having reached the front of the hospital, Sora didn't have to catch his breath, but the feeling of tiredness was aching in his body as he hadn't fully recovered yet from last night's events. However, that could be dismissed as he walked through the front doors seemingly ignoring some of the glances, he was getting from people in the wait room, and strutted up to the receptionist desk where a young lady wearing a nurse's outfit noticed him.
"Oh? Hello sir, are you submitting yourself or here to visit someone?"
"I'm visiting someone but don't know where they might be."
"Could you tell me their name?"
"Touma Kamijou."
That certainly got an eyebrow raised from the nurse as she blinked once and then started observing the boy standing in front of her. It seemed that she was having a million different questions pop into her head from the way she was looking at him.
"Um… I believe his doctor is- "
"Ah. I thought that was you, Sora."
Both the nurse and Keyblade wielder turned their heads to the side when they spotted a certain friendly-faced doctor heading their way with his hands holding what appeared to be a notepad.
"Hey, Doc, there you are. How are you?" Sora asked in a friendly tone.
"As good as you can get on a busy day. I think the real question should be are you okay?" Heaven Canceller questioned the boy, looking him up and down for any noticeable injuries.
A chuckle escaped the boy's lips.
"I'm… as good as you can get," he said repeating what the doctor said.
This caused Heaven Canceller to put out a half smile while closing his eyes. That response seemed to be a reasonable one.
"It seems as if your night was quite the hectic one, no?"
"Yeah… you have no idea. I'm guessing everyone saw me on the news again?" Sora asked, already knowing the answer.
"Hm. That's hard to say exactly. Compared to your first stunt, you had the cautionary awareness from higher-ups making it, so no civilians came close to the area. And I'm sure you're already aware of Anti-Skill being in the area."
"Yep, I briefly talked to Yomikawa last night. Which reminds me. I need to call her and explain a bit about what happened" Sora said, realizing that he already forgot about informing the blue-haired woman.
Nodding his head, Heaven Canceller addressed the boy directly.
"I would do that as soon as you can. Yomikawa is a woman you don't want to anger. She can be your best friend along with your worst nightmare."
A wave of fearfulness shot right through the spiky-haired boy.
"I-Is that so? Have you made her mad before?" Sora weakly asked.
"I have not. But there have been a couple of students I've seen before mentioning what a dangerous woman Yomikawa can be. I believe even young Kamijou has said one or two things about her" Heaven Canceller explained.
This caused Sora to react with one of those "Ooooooh" kind of gestures.
"That makes sense."
"Haha, true. Anyway, I assume you're here to see Kamijou?"
"Yeah. I called him earlier and he said that he was here… again. Based on his wording I'm guessing he's here all the time" the spiky-haired brunette commented.
"You have no idea…" the nurse who had been quiet suddenly added to the conversation.
"Mm. Well, either way, Sora's fine for entry. If you'd please follow me, I'll show you to his room. We've unofficially made it a delegation that Kamijou now owns this room whenever he arrives at the hospital due to how frequently he comes here" Heaven Canceller stated while leaving Sora to go wide-eyed.
The two then began walking down one of the hallways, continuing their discussion regarding Kamijou.
"T-That often?"
"It's like the nurse said. He's here regularly once or twice a week."
Sora did not know what to say to that statement and decided to let it slip by. He was too stunned to really give a proper response. Instead, he continued to follow the doctor while recognizing a few things from his last visit to the hospital.
"Before I forget, I believe Kamijou has a guest with him. A respectful girl with her hair in a long ponytail and a strange choice of attire with one of her pant legs ripped off. Not that I'm one to comment on attire. I'm practically always wearing this" Heaven Canceller said, referring to the doctor coat he was wearing.
"Oh. I think I know who he's with now."
The characteristics made him believe that he knew who exactly was with Touma and they would also be a great help to him now.
"Thanks, doc. Will you be going on as well?"
"No, no. I already visited Kamijou earlier. I'll probably stop by before he leaves. But until then, I have a few other things to get done." The older man checked his notepad before nodding to himself. "Take care, Sora."
"You too, doc."
And with that, the teen was left standing outside Kamijou's room with the idea that he'd be getting to check up on his friend as well as asking someone straight from the Magic Side a bit more about it all. This world and the drastic conflicts arising between the Magic and Science sides to get a better idea of everything.
*Knock* Knock* *Knock*
"You can come in" a familiar voice called out.
Opening the door, Sora could have sworn that he heard a girl's voice hurriedly tell Touma that she should be taking off only for the boy to counter her by telling her to wait. Now entering the room, Sora could clearly see that he was right about his guess of who might be there.
"Hey there, Kanzaki."
Seeing the familiar spiky-haired brunette, the long-haired girl seemed to have a shift in her facial expression. One that went from being concerned to relaxed instantly.
"Sora. I had no idea that you were coming here."
"You didn't tell her?" Sora asked Touma, surprised by the miscommunication.
"I figured you would get here quickly when you heard I was in the hospital…" Touma reasoned while still sitting up in his hospital bed.
Hearing him say that Sora got right to the topic, "Speaking of, why are you in the hospital? I know we didn't see each other last night but what all did I miss?"
An exchange of glances was sent between the two black-haired individuals as it seemed like they were mentally talking to each other. It would be a second until they both nodded to each other with the same mindset in place.
"Well… last night there was a bit of an… incident if you could call it that." Touma then let out a brash sigh while catching his breath. This would be a heavy topic to cover.
Kanzaki also stayed on alert in the case that the misfortunate boy needed help explaining some things seeing that it was a more political conflict.
"So, to explain it in simple terms, there was a nun who was part of the Roman Catholic Church who found a way to decipher a mysterious book that had some grand level of power. Her name is Orsola Aquinas, and I managed to meet her by chance when she was trying to enter Academy City, but that daft carefree nun wouldn't listen to me which resulted in us running into Index who had been kidnapped- "
"Kidnapped!?" the Keyblade wielder exclaimed while taking a step forward ready to jump into action.
"It wasn't as bad as you think. Just Stiyl being an ass and getting me involved with what was going on" Kamijou clarified while lifting his hand to ease the teen.
"Stiyl?" Sora repeated in confusion.
"Stiyl Magnus. A magician and friend to Index and I" Kanzaki explained. "I don't think we've really mentioned him in-depth but he's a colleague of mine in the Anglican Church."
"Right, and so this Orsola was important?" Sora asked, getting back to the main topic.
"Yeah, basically she was a person of interest for the Roman Church because of deciphering the Book of Law which acted as a source of power that not even Index could decipher" Touma explained while making sure not to get too deep with it all. "But basically, she was on the run from another religious group known as the Amakusa during a run-in with the Roman Church and managed to almost make it to Academy City for refuge. She reached the outskirts of the city, which is where I met her, but I told her repeatedly that she couldn't get in without an entry permit. Not long after I met up with Stiyl and Index who were with the Roman Church forces. With this joint operation between the Anglican and Roman churches practically done, Orsola was supposed to be handed to the Roman church but not before the Amakusa attacked and abducted her."
Sora was now leaning against the wall in the hospital room doing his best to take in all that was being explained. Since this was his first real introduction to the Magic Side, there seemed to be a great deal of politics enamored and complex moves being played out in real-time. His focus seemed to intently increase while listening to Touma continue his explanation.
"After a few… eventful things happened…" Touma said, while avoiding talking about the incidents with Agnese and Index, he picked the story back up. "Then the assault against the Amakusa began with me meeting up with Orsola who was trying to escape and had managed to do so. I then had a run-in with the proxy leader of the Amakusa who was kicking Stiyl's ass. But that fight was stopped with Stiyl and I came up with a quick plan of canceling one attack while landing a surprise punch to the face. With that, the proxy leader and Amakusa were defeated but we came to find out the Roman Church wanted to kill Orsola because of her ability to decipher the Book of Law which would thwart the church's power."
"W-What? The Roman Church would do something like that... But why?"
"Politics and power, Sora," Kanzaki answered while folding her arms across her chest and letting out a heavy sigh. "As it turns out from collaborating our stories after the matter... The Amakusa were trying to save Orsola who at the time wasn't sure who she could trust. Hence, why she was trying to escape from them."
"But…" the Keyblade wielder was at a loss of what to say.
This world's dynamic of politics and power, whether it be magic or science was something that he had never encountered before. Let alone the fact that there was a level of complexity to it all that went beyond just the usual black-and-white title. No, this world's impression is more akin to a gray tone with no one being good or bad, right, or wrong. There was always another side, another story to everything.
"It was at this point that we heard Orsola scream and rushed back to her only to be attacked by the Roman Church forces. Once we dealt with them and met up with Index, we explained the situation of how Orsola was labeled an enemy of God and expelled from the Church which also meant she could be executed. This is where I stepped in to make things right…"
Touma said this while raising his battered right hand for the two to see as he had a small smile appear on his face. Even with his appearance matching that of a battered and injured victim, Kamijou Touma did not play the part of someone weak. Instead, his appearance could be described as one of great solidarity and determination. Along with the look that showcased how content and achieved he was in that moment.
"Since there would be ramifications of the Anglican Church getting involved, I decided to step in seeing that I'm from the Science Side and things wouldn't get as messy later. However, Stiyl had to show up with a dramatic entrance and twist of the situation surrounding Orsola."
"Huh? What twist situation?" Sora asked, heavily interested in the story so far.
"Based on what Stiyl said at the time, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church provided a cross necklace that had political ties with the church meaning that Orsola was under the protection of the Church and that her execution would be unacceptable. Hence, this is where the Anglican and Roman Church clashed and where I rushed to get Orsola out of there. Some other things happened but…" Touma shot a look at Kanzaki who shrugged her shoulders at whatever he was thinking of saying but seemed to let it roll off his tongue.
"They're something I can tell you later. But coming back to the main story, we were cornered, and Index and I figured that we could use Orsola's ability to use the Book of Law to help us in the not-so-good situation we were in. However, it turns out that the code Orsola used was incorrect and a fake was left behind by the author."
"Wait. A fake? Then wouldn't that mean that Orsola wouldn't be labeled as she was? Couldn't you explain the situation to the Roman Church?" Sora questioned, sensing an even bigger scam in this predicament.
Shaking his head while still in bed, Touma clarified the situation to Sora.
"Wasn't possible. Agnese who was leading the Roman Church forces bombarded into the room we were in and swarmed us. The others all backed out. It was at this point that I confronted her and exchanged a few words with that mulish nun. A fight broke out with her using a magical staff and dishing out attacks I couldn't see, but ultimately after getting thrown around a bit, Agnese fell right into our trap with her being surrounded and throwing off the Roman Church's forces. The final battle resulted in me and Agnese with her being defeated and me… well, in this bed."
To say that was what Sora was expecting would be an obvious lie. He in no way thought this was what Touma got himself involved in when he heard the spiky-haired boy was in the hospital. Amazement was coursing through the Keyblade wielder's head.
"I…I don't know what to say. Definitely not the story I was expecting to hear."
Kanzaki at this point decided to add her part into the story now having reached the conclusion, "That's not all. Orsola and the Amakusa have now become members of the Anglican Church and now are under protection. Moreover, Orsola's way of deciphering the Book of Law has been released meaning that she'll no longer have a target on her back."
It was at this point that Sora let out a stressed sigh and held a content smile on his face.
"That's good to hear. But there is one part of this whole story that I am not following" Sora proclaimed to the two teens.
"What part is that?"
"The Amakusa. Who are they? Some rogue magical group?"
The reaction from Kanzaki affirmed to Sora that she knew something about them that he didn't. Touma even shot the girl a glance while noticing how stiff and awkward her posture had become.
Letting out a sigh, the black-haired Saint knew that this question might have been coming or that it'll be something more commonly asked now but she decided to face what fears she may have in her heart and directed her attention toward Sora.
"The Amakusa Church is a fusion of Christian, Buddhist, and Shinto principles, creating a unique religion distanced from Roman Catholicism. Skipping a great deal of history, the group is a Christian sect based in Japan that is noted for its way of practicing magic in plain sight with everyday objects. I…" Kanzaki stopped herself before continuing, feeling that this needed to be said not weakly but in an accepting affirmation. "I am also a member of the Amakusa."
A bit of shock was evident on the boy's face.
"O-Oh? I wasn't expecting that. But. Wait. Where were you when all of this was going down, Kanzaki?" Sora questioned the girl.
Stunned by the sudden question, the black-haired beauty quickly garnered a response and then began to elaborate on the boy.
"There were some other matters that I needed to attend to as well as keeping an eye on the Amakusa. When I heard the reports from the Roman Church, I hurried back to see if the church had been led astray but found a more convoluted situation" Kanzaki explained while lightly grasping at her hand.
"I see… ha, and here I was worried about some monster terrorizing the city."
Touma and Kanzaki's faces conveyed that of utter confusion.
"Err… Sora, do you wanna run that back to us?" Touma pronounced.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"What you just said. Something about a monster terrorizing the city" Kanzaki simplified.
A moment passed before the Keyblade wielder's face contorted to total awe and bewilderment.
"Oh… you guys didn't hear, did you?"
"Hear what… why does this sound ominous?"
Debating whether to pull up his phone or Touma's to find the news report of last night or just tell them himself, Sora decided to go with the latter since it would make more sense to discuss what happened from his point of view.
"Heh… you guys don't have to be anywhere for a minute, right?" the brunette teen asked his two friends.
Kanzaki shot a worried look at Touma who also returned the gesture. What Sora was saying caused their interest to rise exceedingly. Especially with how he was presenting the situation in a somewhat curious and worrisome aspect. But knowing the cheerful spiky-haired brunette it couldn't be too drastic of an event that took place within the city during the evening hours.
Besides, how bad could things have gotten with him?
Meanwhile, inside the Windowless Building in School District 7
Aleister Crowley was not having a good day.
News of last night's events caused an uproar of emails, phone calls, impromptu interruptions, and a barrage of complaints coming from an assortment of various individuals. Some the Board Chairman was familiar with and others he hadn't the slightest clue about who they were. Just people complaining and demanding questions about what exactly happened last night.
Truth be told, even he was considerably curious about how last night's incident even occurred in the first place. Many questions popped into his head but without much fatigue, a plethora of reasonable answers soon conquered all the looming questions presented. However, that still didn't help that people were eager to know what exactly happened along with who was involved in the matter.
Fortunately, due to his exigent preparedness, Aleister had made sure to keep as minimal footage and coverage of the event as possible. Granted, there would obviously be the occasional sloppy captured video posted to the internet but that could easily be thwarted with nay the wave of his hand. He had also acquired the most detailed footage of the back-to-back conflicts and could review them with adamant eyes dissecting every single movement. This would be vital to his future safety precautions.
If this was the power of the spiky-haired brunette boy… Aleister wondered what the limit of his power would truly be. An unknown quantity that could cause a puddle to emit a sizeable wave of destruction.
He would need to increase the amount of surveillance on the boy when it came to incidents such as last night. Besides, there was a gnawing feeling eating away at him that this was only the beginning…
Nevertheless, on the topic of Sora, the white-haired man was beginning to construct plans to bypass the boy's growing attention from the half-wits who were beginning to ask questions about the teenager's power level. This was a situation that Aleister could easily cover up and say that the boy's ability was at an unreadable level hence the status title placed over him at being a Level 0. Alas, that would not work forever. Sooner or later, someone else would become interested in the boy causing an investigation to go on without his backing. Of course, he could demolish the investigation with a flick of his rest and press of a button but even that would take a moment… which was all that was needed to open an even larger floodgate of interest directed toward the boy.
'Who would've thought… a mysterious boy shows up out of nowhere with no prior involvement only to come waltzing into the city and showcase a set of magical powers I have never seen before…'
Aleister couldn't help but let out a low chuckle by barely opening his mouth. The realization that Sora might even have more tricks up his sleeve left the tall androgynous-looking man eagerly awaiting what the boy might do next. After all, the spiky-haired brunette had not even been here for more than a month. Who was to say that his appearance could cause for more unknown quantities to happen? His eagerness to meet the boy was growing by the minute.
However, for now, he would be Sora's anonymous help who covered for him when it came to the destruction left behind in his wake. Not just because of his help in protecting the city from the mysterious forces currently dwelling with it, but out of his own curiosity…
Suddenly, without any warning at all, several reports appeared right in front of him through monitor screens that had a plethora of information on them. Glancing at one report, Aleister couldn't help but allow a smirk to appear at the corner of his mouth.
"Well, it seems steps are being taken now. How will you counter against them, Sora?" Aleister said to himself while looking back at the report he glossed over.
In said report, it was stated through euphemism that the Magic Side was beginning to take great notice of what was going on within Academy City and how the concurrent sightings of the dark creatures had become a growing concern amongst several of the religious branches. The Anglican Church was apparently in the know while the Roman Catholic Church was currently suffering from last night's events as well. Though, not in direct relation to what Sora was dealing with.
Gears were turning all around on both the Magic and Science Sides. And yet, it would seem that a select few had managed to find themselves at the center of it all.
Index Librorum Prohibitorum.
Sora.
And, of course, Kamijou Touma.
Aleister could only close his eyes and prepare himself for what uncertain events were about to transpire. The hint of an intrigued smile appeared on his face.
Back with Sora, Touma, and Kanzaki
"… And that's pretty much what happened last night…" Sora finished while glancing over at his friends' faces hoping to see that they were understanding what he was saying.
What he found was that the expressions of shock and awe were engrained onto their faces as Kanzaki looked to be the most stunned while Touma had a mixed look of surprise and intrigue. The news might have been a bit too much to dump onto them all at once.
"Uh… guys? Are you okay?"
"…I think I should be the one asking you that, Sora" the dark-haired girl replied while having her eyes scan him for any visible injuries.
"Yeah, I'm good. Got a good night's rest but feeling a little sore, but nothing too bad."
Kamijou couldn't help but deflate a little seeing that he was still lying in bed having listened to the graphic details of what Sora had gone through basically hours ago. Granted, he had also found himself in quite a predicament with Orsola and Agnese with the Roman Church. However, hearing that the Keyblade wielder had not only dealt with a giant Heartless but three mysterious figures who all had been mimicking foes he fought before was wild to think about. The misfortunate boy wasn't sure who to declare as the winner of misfortune based on their stories of last night.
Alas, before he could ponder that silly thought any longer, Sora spoke up.
"I'm honestly surprised you guys didn't hear about anything regarding last night. Even with all the commotion that was going on in the district."
"Hmm. If I were to make a staggering guess, then I would think the Science Side set precautionary steps to make sure it wasn't like last time" Kanzaki reasoned.
"Yeah, that does make a bit more sense on why you guys didn't hear anything. Not only to prevent any citizens from getting caught up in the crossfire but to keep the Magic Side in the dark about what was really happening" Sora explained, starting to get an idea of how the two sides were at odds with each other.
"But I doubt the city's security was able to block everything happening" Touma added.
"Indeed. That would be a hopeless endeavor to believe in. There are eyes and ears everywhere across the city."
Sora folded his arms and realized that his fights were probably recorded or viewed by others. Mugino heavily added to that idea as she had even said to herself that she saw the fight. Hence, this probably meant that information leaks were going to happen. The one thing he was more worried about was the interaction between him and Darkness. That alone was something that he wasn't entirely sure of.
He would need to be careful now.
"Still… based on what I told you, it sounds like something is going on or is about to happen. Not to mention, the Daihaseisai Festival is coming up soon. There's going to be a lot of commotion going on" Sora stated.
The information that the Keyblade wielder had confided to the two was a brief summary of his encounter with dark side agents messing with one of his friends' robots followed by encountering a mysterious figure covered in darkness. After a tight-lipped explanation about the many different factors regarding Academy City, Sora got into having to deal with the Heartless Behemoth and talked about how it was using magic in its attacks which caused a raised eyebrow from Kanzaki who remained quiet and listened to the story. He then discussed what the dark being told him about the Magic Side getting ready to attack the city followed by his encounter with the Mimic. His bout of information stopped after dealing with the fake Marluxia and a brief talk with Yomikawa. He felt that anything else after didn't exactly apply to the situation right now.
"Right… we're stuck in the dirt" Kamijou commented while glancing out the window.
Kanzaki on the other hand had taken on a thinking pose while gathering her own thoughts about the entire situation. Magical aspects being shown out in the open should have concerned her with the relations between the Magic and Science Sides, but with the foes that Sora was facing being on neither side… it relayed to her that there were forces outside the two sides at work. A sense of worry began to settle within her heart. However, for now, she would keep a close eye on the situation playing out.
Besides, Sora was openly telling her what was going on without having to rely on guessing. This let her form her impression on what was going on followed by a way of reporting what she learned while also taking the boy's words from their first encounter to heart. How Sora trusted her due to him seeing that… Kamijou Touma trusted her as well. She would not break that trust.
"Thank you for informing us about all of this, Sora. It certainly does leave me feeling a bit worried about how things will play out now."
"No kidding. If summoning the Behemoth and Mimic were not that much of a problem for Darkness, then we really need to be prepared for what might come." Saying this, Sora took a moment to gather his thoughts on how they could stay one step ahead of the dark figure.
'Strength in numbers… I doubt the Magic and Science Sides could come together to fight against the Heartless. But… what if each side still took precautions…'
Thinking this idea out in his head, Sora decided to let this idea flow and lightly balled his right hand into his left open palm while wearing an excited expression on his face.
"I've got it!"
"H-Huh!? Why the sudden scream? I about fell out of my bed" Touma said, startled by the boy's reaction.
The dark-haired beauty had also brought a hand to her side in a maneuver that showcased her being ready in case there was an attack.
"Sorry about that. But I had an idea come to mind about how we can be better prepared for another unsuspecting attack" Sora explained.
"How so? I'm not sure a direct meeting would go as well as you're imagining, Sora" Touma weakly replied.
"But here's the kicker. I don't have to do anything. Kanzaki is the one taking charge of this situation."
"What? What do you mean exactly?" Kanzaki stammered out, completely confused about what was going on.
Sora began to lay out his simple yet imaginative plan.
"Think about it. Based on what I've learned about the two sides, Science more so than Magic, there is no way for them to work together."
Both black-haired teens nodded their heads upon hearing this. With the current standings, as they are now, there truly was no way of getting the Magic and Science Sides to come together. At least, not without a little tampering.
"But… what if we used that to start a chain reaction? If Kanzaki tells the higher-ups at the Anglican Church more about the dangers of the Heartless, then they have to at least do something. A reaction or lingering thought to act on the news they are hearing. That way, the Magic Side will slowly but gradually start better preparing for the unpredictability of the Heartless and Darkness which in turn could get the Science Side to start moving as well" Sora explained as best as he could.
Taking a second to process Sora's words, Kanzaki liked the idea as it would benefit the Magic Side not only in terms of garnering steps to better prepare for the Heartless but that it would allow her the chance to warn her friends. However, truth and realization settled into her mind the honest reaction that the Magic Side would have while learning of this information.
What she was currently thinking about saying could be considered an act against the church… but in exchange for protecting countless lives, it would be worth it. She had seen footage of the dark creatures and how intimidating they truly were thanks to Sora's wisdom. Alas, she had yet to encounter these monsters but based on everything she had learned about them, she would not underestimate them in the slightest.
"…While that is a worthy concept to consider, Sora. I don't think it's going to work."
"How come?"
"For starters, once the Magic Side hears of anything really regarding the Heartless, their first act will be to try and manipulate or capture the creatures. An unknown monster that shows up out of nowhere with no real way of defeating them aside from your weapon, Sora, and the idea that they are clearly unpredictable is honestly an open invitation to study them. Whether for good or bad intentions… I think we all know what the answer might be" Kanzaki directed to the two boys inside the hospital room.
Kamijou on his part wore a distraught frown on his face as he hesitantly realized that the Magic and Science Sides were still against each other. And now, with the involvement of the Heartless, whoever vied and obtained information on the dark creatures could use it as a weapon against the other side. Nothing was as simple as a black-and-white picture when it came to the two sides.
Sora, however, had a feeling that Kanzaki's words should have resonated with him before he came up with this elaborate plan to warn the two sides. This world was unlike any he'd ever been to before. That concept was once again repeated in his head as he was now stuck off to the side trying to find a peaceful option without really investing himself in the overall conflict. Whether it was the Magic or Science Side, darkness reigned in various ways throughout the two powerhouses.
"*sigh* Looks like that plan is a dud."
"Don't let that deter you, Sora. What you're doing is honestly more help than anyone could expect."
Hearing Kanzaki say this, the Keyblade wielder turned his head toward her seeing that she had more to say. Kamijou was also leaning his body forward to listen to the dark-haired beauty.
"Not belonging to either side and still wanting to look out for the people inhabiting the two sources of power. That alone is commendable. And yet, here you are telling us, telling me, all there is to better prepare for the Heartless. Were it anyone else with this information I can safely guess that there would be a price to pay to learn all there was about the Heartless. Alas, I too want to help share the burden you carry, Sora."
The brunette's eyes widened as he was taken aback by what she had to say.
"This fight you are fighting… You are doing it alone when in all reality you shouldn't be. Duels are one thing, but it seems like you are fighting a battle that shouldn't be fought alone. *sigh* Even saying this, I know that I won't always be there to help you in this endeavor. However, know this, given the timing or opportunity, I will be there to lend you aid" Kanzaki confidently said to the boy.
"What brought this about?" Sora asked, a bit confused about her sudden declaration to help.
"The more I hear about the Heartless… it worries me. With the Magic and Science Sides' conflict arising and gradually gearing toward becoming something else… I'm starting to imagine worst-case scenarios playing out" she reasoned to the boy.
"People's hearts…" Touma quietly commented.
"Exactly. What occurred last night with the Anglican, Amakusa, and Roman Churches was one thing. But what happens when things escalate?"
Sora knew the answer to this question. It was one that he knew quite well, to be honest.
"Darkness will arise in people's hearts. Fear. Hate. Anger. Sadness. Agony. Despair. All of it. A total war involving both sides with the high likelihood of darkness growing within people."
"That is what a fear is and why I want to do all that I can to help prevent it from spreading across the world."
Listening to Kanzaki speak so profoundly, Touma couldn't help but share his own thoughts about the matter.
"Sora… you're the only person that knows how dangerous the Heartless are. What if… what if someone decides to use them? Is that even possible?"
A somber mood filled the room as the Guardian of Light let out a shaky sigh while staring at the ground. Images and recollections of all the foes he ever fought who had tempted to use the darkness as well as Heartless to do their evil bidding. All the problems are caused because of their actions. It was something that he did not wish for this world to experience…
But that was a hopeless wish.
He knew firsthand that there were secrets within Academy City that tampered with the domain of darkness. Who knows what the rest of the world was like? This is why he was perplexed to be thankful that the Heartless had only remained in the city… for now.
"It is possible. Someone can control the Heartless with enough darkness within their heart. I don't exactly know how it works, but I've seen it countless times. Trouble would undoubtedly occur if someone did that."
"Do you think someone has done so already?" Touma asked, scanning the brunette's reaction.
Letting a silent moment pass through the room, Sora begrudgingly looked at the boy and nodded his head.
"Yeah… I think it's already been done."
His words relied on the bit of information he learned several nights ago when he encountered the dark side operators working to try and capture a Heartless. Heck, even Mugino and ITEM were working to do the same thing but were stopped due to being overrun and his involvement in defeating the Heartless. However, it would be oblivious to think that nobody achieved the goal of capturing the dark creatures.
Someone probably already had a Heartless in their hands and that thought alone made the boy's stomach churn in disgust.
Elsewhere, back within the underground laboratory
The sounds of screams could be heard as multiple scientists all stood behind a barrier of safety glass while watching the latest stream of tests play out right before their very eyes. Kihara Gensei was one of the scientists and the expression on his face could be described as disturbing. There was a glint in his eye that conveyed the sense that even with the heart-wrenching yells of agony taking place on the other side of the glass, he was enjoying every moment of it and taking it all within his mind.
Suddenly, the sound of something sharp could be heard scraping across the metallic floor leaving a screeching sound.
With the click of a button, a gunshot rang out throughout the room and the scene before the scientists were met with mumbled chatter along with tapping on tablets. There was quite a plethora of information that needed to be recorded but while that was happening, Kihara simply tilted his head and analyzed what was being played out on the other side.
The sight of debris and damage was scattered all across the room along with the cage holding the Heartless was demolished beyond recognition. Following that, the dark creature was standing next to what could be described as a tattered and heavily damaged lab coat along with something even more concerning.
Standing right next to the one Shadow Heartless was another Shadow that was very intently staring back at the Kihara with its cold yellow eyes. A stand-off was currently going on between the dark creature and the old man. Neither seemed to break eye contact for a good whole minute. A sly grin then appeared on Kihara's face as the Heartless was the first to break. It then turned its head to the side and was now staring at another scientist who came into sight.
"Sir, we… we've gathered all the necessary data on… "The scientist stumbled with her words as she wasn't sure what the hell just happened or what exactly was going on. This whole situation was not what any of them expected. Especially not…
"Excellent! I assume you have questions?" Kihara asked the middle-aged woman.
"…Yes. There are many things that I, along with everyone else, don't understand. Would it be possible- "
"Nonsense! We are only just beginning! A few simple tests are not going to provide us with enough adequate information on what these creatures are. I for one have never encountered a creature so mysterious. So… how should I put it? Ah! Influential is the word I'm clinging onto now, hahaha!"
The old man was not making any sense. This was evident by the scientists in the room all glancing at each other and not knowing what exactly was going on now.
"I-I see…"
"Alas, the questions we are searching for lie within this unique creature. And now, knowing that it can replicate itself or at the very least exhibit what is hypothesized to be a personal reality by turning a normal human being into a creature of its very same kind. The questions present are through the roof. However, let me remind you all that this groundbreaking discovery was made not with the first, not with the second, and not with the third test trial but the fourth. Meaning that there is something more to this creature's ability than we are thinking. Hence, you all know what that means…"
A startling silence echoed through the room causing sweat to drop on the scientists' necks.
"It means more tests! Now then, prepare test number five and provide the subject with a small shield. I'm curious about how this will play out given that subject four was given a small metal pipe to try and fight the creature. The behavioral traits exhibited by the subject were certainly something else" Kihara said, grinning madly as he recalled the test.
The best way to describe the fourth subject's behavior would be that they lost all sense of hope and started throwing themself at the glass wall while screaming out vulgarity and senselessness. The light within their being had been sucked out leaving the test subject to display a level of hatred and anger that was certainly chilling. However, not before long, they were cornered by the creature, and… well, it was not a pretty sight to see.
"Well? What are we waiting for? Let the tests continue!" Kihara shouted while bringing both of his hands behind his back.
An evil grin was apparent on the old man's face along with a deeper sense of thought prudent in his mind. However, only he himself would know about it and how it could be used on a fundamental level for all his projects. Both current… and future.
Meanwhile, back with Sora
After finishing up his conversation with Touma and Kanzaki, the Keyblade wielder was then greeted by Heaven Canceller who came into the misfortunate boy's room and wanted to follow up on his status. At this point, Kanzaki and Sora excused themselves and proceeded out of the hospital room and were now walking back to the entrance all while contemplating what was going to happen next.
"So, what now?" Sora bluntly asked the long-haired girl.
"I'm not sure. I think for now, I'll be taking my leave and heading back to England. The higher-ups in the Church are sure to want answers for the news of the Heartless Behemoth and the three foes you faced which turned out to be a single enemy" Kanzaki explained.
"Right… that does not sound fun."
"No… I can't say it will be."
Getting the sense that she was ready to take off, Sora quickly jumped at this chance to stay in contact with her since it seemed like things would only get more complicated here soon.
"Hey, Kanazaki, before you take off do you think I could get your phone number? I don't know what could be happening soon and… it's seemingly like I'll need all the help I can get. Both from the Magic and Science Sides. If that's not a problem?"
Becoming a bit startled by the sudden request, Kanzaki immediately wanted to say yes but realized that she wasn't as in tune with technology and debated on the kind of answer she should give to Sora. However, after being caught in a long internal monologue battle with what kind of response she would provide to the boy, the dark-haired beauty decided to just stick with a safe plan and offer the number she tended to use at the dorm for female Necessarius members.
"No, it's not a problem. Just… spent a moment considering where you should call if you need to."
"Oh? You don't happen to have a phone on you?"
An embarrassed expression appeared on her face as she couldn't help but shake her head.
"N-No. Technology is… something I'm not entirely familiar with."
The visual of a smile broke onto the Keyblade wielder's face.
"I totally get ya. I'm no expert when it comes to using different kinds of technology, but after spending some time and effort to learn it's not so bad. Besides, asking for help is more resourceful than struggling silently" Sora reasoned while bringing his hands behind his back in his signature manner.
"Ha, if only I had your optimism when it came to difficult things, Sora."
Hearing this, the teen let his eyes fall downward and couldn't help but sigh outwardly.
"Not all the time. Even I have my bad days… but that's just what makes everyone so special. Our hearts showcase what we're feeling within ourselves. No matter who you are. Human, animal, Saint… it doesn't matter."
Kanzaki couldn't help but let a small smile appear on her lips. Listening to Sora's words seemed to provide her with a sense of reassurance that there was still a lot to learn about herself which was something she was already working to master but knowing that there was always something more to learn than it left her feeling somewhat bit eager to continue down the path she was currently on. The heart was truly something new that she was learning more about thanks to the brunette's explanation.
Plus, the newfound feelings regarding her heart and the appreciation she had for a certain black spiky-haired boy caused her to feel her cheeks warm up. In a good way, nonetheless.
Hence, after exchanging numbers with Sora and parting ways with him on a good note, Kanzaki held her head up higher knowing that even with the strange and unusual situations playing out before her, there was still a sense of hope and kindness present in her heart. In addition, the discussion of hearts and how connections can give one strength caused a sense of positivity to flow through her. A sense of working to make sure problems arising were resolved in a reasonable fashion of safety and security rose in her chest. Things were looking up for once.
As Sora watched Kanzaki walk away until she was no longer in sight, he let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding onto. This newfound information regarding the Magic Side was a lot to take in. It really did paint the picture of how much he wasn't informed about what exactly was going on in this world. Hence, he decided to jump from one side to the other. That meant contacting the one woman who had graciously helped him get accustomed to Academy City's rules.
*ring* *ring* *ring* *ring*
*click*
"Hello?"
"Hey, Yomikawa."
"Ah! Sora! I didn't expect you to call this soon. It's not even… past noon yet."
"Yeah, I figured that the sooner I told you what exactly happened, the sooner you'd have a better idea of what I've been dealing with" Sora reasoned while kicking a rock with his boot.
"Well, I'm free now. Since there are no classes today, I'm just hanging around the school catching up on some paperwork. Do you mind coming over now?"
A smirk appeared on the boy's face.
"Wouldn't that make it, so you put off your paperwork?" Sora asked, having a bit of sarcasm in his voice.
"Eh. I wasn't getting much done. Come on over to the school. The front doors should be open as other teachers are still in the building."
"Got it. See you soon."
*click*
With the phone call over, Sora decided to stop by a vending machine and grab a drink before arriving at the school. From his expectation, he was getting the feeling that he would be doing a bit of explaining. Which wasn't too bad. It was just time-consuming, but it was necessary.
Hence, with a pip in his step, Sora calmly started walking toward his school while realizing that he was making great progress with gathering all his chickens in one basket and getting caught up with what exactly was happening on both sides of this world. Things just never seemed to calm down.
Later…
After having gotten himself a sweet drink and made his way to the school without drawing too much attention. Thanks to his Flowmotion allowed him to scale up the sides of buildings and stay out of the public eye. Sora was watching his surroundings while slowly making his way into the school and sticking close to the walls trying to mimic a stealth-like approach. It reminded him of a certain stealth solider that he met during his time in sma-
"Sora? What are you doing here?" a voice called out to the spiky-haired teen.
Realizing that he had been caught, the Keyblade wielder wilted like a dead flower and turned himself to see who was talking to him. To his surprise, his homeroom teacher was standing there looking at him like he had grown a second head.
"Ahahaha… Hey, Komoe Sensei. Uh… fancy running into you here."
"Sora. This is the school that I teach at."
"Right, right. That doesn't make any sense. Hahaha… I'm an idiot."
Seeing his teacher's confused expression, he figured he should just tell her the truth. Not that it mattered all that much. He wasn't exactly the best when it came to lying.
"I'm here to see Yomikawa. I called ahead and let her know that there were some things I needed to discuss with her" he clarified to the pink-haired girl.
"Oh? I didn't think that some things were challenging you, Sora."
"Well, I- "
"It's nothing related to school and more in line with the events he's tending to find himself involved in lately" a voice called out to the two.
Turning their heads to the side, both Sora and Komoe saw the tall blue-haired teacher who had a hand on her hip while flashing a warm smile at them.
"Ah, Yomikawa, there you are."
"Good to see you make it. Wish all my students were as energetic to arrive at school as fast as you did."
"Yomikawa?"
"Hey there, Komoe. Don't worry about Sora. He's not in any kind of trouble. Just wanted to talk with him about a few things that I'm not familiar with. That's all" Yomikawa clarified to the short, older woman.
Letting out a small humming sound, the pink-haired teacher simply nodded her head and figured that whatever was going on could be dealt with by Yomikawa. It seemed like she and her athletically feminine and attractive friend had their own spiky-haired student to deal with. Thinking about it like that, Komoe couldn't help but smile a bit at the chance to see what possibilities Kamijou and Sora had waiting for them.
"Don't worry, Sensei. If anything comes up that I need help with, you'll be the first person I ask."
"Hmm. Thank you, Sora. Hearing that does make me feel happy knowing that I'll be able to help a young and aspiring student in their need."
Sora then suddenly remembered how his fellow spiky-haired friend was doing and decided to do a friendly thing and let Komoe know about Touma. Hopefully letting him slightly off the hook… maybe.
"Uhm… Sensei. You might want to cut Touma some slack. I just got back from the hospital and- "
"What!? What happened?" Komoe shouted out.
"*sigh* What did Kamijou do this time?" Yomikawa asked, bringing a hand up to her head.
"He… "Sora stopped himself to make sure he told a believable story since the two teachers were probably not in the know about magic. Hence, he changed Touma's back story for ending up in the hospital. "Based on what I know, he got caught up in some kind of fight with some weirdos. I don't know the rest of the story. Maybe you can ask him?"
Striking a middle ground of saying that he did get beat up was true but mentioning that the ones who did beat Touma up were weirdos was… not exactly a lie. As rude as that sounded. In Sora's defense, the entire explanation of events that happened last night was still a bit confusing to him.
"I'll have to give him a call to make sure he's alright" Komoe commented.
"Yeah, he was awake back when I checked up on him. It didn't look like anything too drastic. At least, that's what I think."
"Thank you for telling us about this, Sora."
"No problem. So, shall we get started?" He questioned his friend and teacher.
"Yep. Might as well get to it."
"Right. Take care, Sensei, and see you later."
"Bye, Sora. Make sure you don't forget the homework assigned" Komoe cheerfully stated which caused the boy to freeze for a moment before he remembered that he had at least started it which made him relax.
The same couldn't be said about his friends who were members of the Delta Trio. That would most definitely be a problem for them later… as usual.
Entering the school's gymnasium
Pushing open the doors to the gym and spotting the mess left behind, Sora was a bit surprised that this was where he and Yomikawa were going to have their chat about what happened last night.
"Eheh. Sorry for the mess. I didn't think talking in a classroom would be all that productive. Plus, I needed to get this all cleaned up before tomorrow's classes. Heh… would you mind helping me?" Yomikawa asked Sora.
"Sure, I don't mind. We can clean and chat."
"Great! Thanks, Sora."
And with that, the two began to get to work on cleaning the gym filled with various exercise equipment. Things ranging from dumbbells to training cones and pads for hand and feet-based exercises, the gym looked to be a workshop and messier compared to the last time Sora was here.
"So, would you mind explaining a bit of what happened last night? There are some parts that I think I understand thanks to reports filed from other Anti-Skill officers, but I'm lost on a few aspects of everything that happened."
"Well, let me start from the beginning. That way, you'll have an exact idea of what happened exactly. But…" Sora suddenly stopped himself as he began to consider what exactly he could tell the blue ponytail-haired woman.
There were a lot of past details that would be needed to fully comprehend what exactly happened last night. Granted, some things could be shortened or changed to fit a better story-wise explanation. However, there were some aspects such as Darkness and the Organization members that he would need to work around. The difficulties of explaining otherworldly business. Not to mention, the idea of trying to explain to someone on the Science Side the broad terms of magic was surely something he would need to be careful about.
His supposed explanation was becoming harder to imagine by the minute.
After a moment of silence was played out between the student and teacher, Yomikawa was wondering what exactly Sora was thinking about, but she was stopped as he put down a stack of cones before clearing his throat and looking over at her. It seemed like he had found his voice now.
"From the beginning…"
And so, Sora began to tell Yomikawa a quick and brief explanation of how his night began with him getting a call from one of his friends that runs some of the cleaner robots around the city. This surprised her but she didn't say anything as she wanted to hear the rest of his story. Next, he discussed running into a cargo yard in District 17 where the cleaner bots were being messed with and began describing the event of running into a group of Dark Side operators.
Hearing that the boy had encountered the Dark Side of Academy City left Yomikawa's throat dry. During her time in the city and involved with Anti-Skill, the Dark Side was such a common recurring topic that she had no idea how in-depth it truly was. Just that whenever it came to serious committed crimes or public disturbances where people got hurt, the Dark Side was likely at play. Hence, hearing that Sora dealt with the Dark Side operators without getting hurt left her feeling relieved.
However, when he then went on to discuss his run-in with some strange individual that was covered with dark clouds all around them, leaving Sora unable to ascertain who they were, Yomikawa started to realize that this was where the real problems began for the spiky-haired boy.
Sora then began talking about the brief encounter with the figure and how they knew a great deal about him which left the spiky-haired boy confused about it all. He then described a bit more about the mysterious figure antagonizing him and trying to riddle him with various topics regarding events within the city. The brunette also mentioned the brief mention of the seven Level 5's which caused Yomikawa's eyes to widen.
"What? What else did this… person say about the Level 5's?" Yomikawa eagerly questioned the boy.
"Not much. He just mentioned them almost as if he was interested in them. But…" Sora bit his lip and debated on whether he should at the very least mention the direct mention of the second-ranked Level 5, Dark Matter.
After debating it for a millisecond which felt like a solid five minutes, Sora decided to go through with mentioning him.
"The dark figure did mention the other Level 5s and gave a little speech about each of them. However, he did linger a bit and talked about the second-ranked more than the others…" Sora replied, not feeling like repeating what he said about Misaka, Shokuhou, or Mugino.
"The second-ranked… "the blue-haired woman repeated before going quiet and gesturing to Sora to continue.
Learning this new knowledge would have Yomikawa rattle her head on what she was learning. This would require a bit of background information along with other fields of research but for now, it could be left in the backburner of her mind.
At this point, Sora mentioned how the dark figure shot at him with some kind of dark blast and was ready to fight him but not before summoning what could be described as a freakishly large lion that had been corrupted or whatnot causing it to take on the form of a Heartless. This is where Yomikawa decided to ask the questions lingering at the forefront of her mind.
"Wait… how did the lion turn into a Heartless? I thought that the Heartless- "
"I'm not sure about that part" Sora suddenly said while running a hand through his hair. "Again, there's a lot that I don't know about this figure or how they were able to pull this stuff off. The way that the… dark figure appeared and summoned the Behemoth out of nowhere is something that I don't have the answer to. However, they did it, does leave me worried."
"Behemoth… so that's what it was called."
"Yeah, and as soon as the Behemoth was summoned, the dark figure corrupted it with darkness which caused it to turn into a Heartless" Sora answered.
Nodding at the boy's answer and left to her thoughts, Yomikawa gestured for the boy to continue his elaboration seeing that there was more to get to. The way that Sora said all this with such nonchalance left her realizing even more that he had been dealing with these kinds of problems longer than she initially thought. Her perspective on the boy had changed once again.
And so, Sora picked up his story with his encounter with the Heartless Behemoth and how its moves were practically all new to him which resulted in him playing a bit defensively against the giant beast. He had encountered other monsters of great size, but the Behemoth was one that he felt indifferent toward. Hence, he continued going into detail about his fight against the dangerous beast all while Yomikawa began to realize some parts of his story interlapped with what she and Tessou saw from the footage captured from the drone.
Once that tidbit of his story was covered, Sora then talked about his encounter with the dark figure again and how they mentioned something else about the city. However, before he could get anything solid from the mysterious foe, he was shot right in the chest with some kind of attack that sent him flying back.
This part of his story caused Yomikawa to have a worried look on her face. This more she heard about this mysterious figure disappearing and reappearing only to spout nonsense followed by attacking Sora. The more she couldn't help but start to feel anxious.
However, before anything else could happen, Sora went on to describe how the figure summoned a dark orb which then caused the figure in the black coat to appear. This resulted in Sora now getting to talk about his encounters with the Lunatic, Savage Nymph, and Graceful Assassin.
The descriptions around each fight were starting to sound more and more unbelievable and yet, they all happened. Yomikawa had seen most of the fights through the eye of the drone and began to realize just how much more dangerous it was rather than just watching it all play out. The details about how this hooded figure was able to switch up not only their weapons but abilities as well. Not to mention, when Sora talked about dealing the killing blow and how the figure simply got back up it left her once again feeling disoriented about this whole situation. It felt like the moment she could get a grasp of what might be happening, something else suddenly appeared that left her even more confused than before.
And the kicker to it all was that Sora had a better grasp of everything. Not that that was a bad thing. However, it did make her feel like she wasn't exactly doing a great job being not only an Anti-Skill officer but a teacher as well. Helping the youth with the problems they were facing…
Alas, before she could ponder that way of thinking any longer, Sora continued his brief explanation of the fights and got right up to the part about Marluxia and decided to finish his recollection of the prior night's events.
"…And so, that's all that happened last night. As I said before, there's still a lot that I don't understand about the dark figure but…" Sora started saying but then clasped both of his hands before looking over at Yomikawa. "I just know for a fact that I'll be running into that mysterious figure again."
Hearing Sora say this with such affirmation, Yomikawa wanted to retort him and say not to worry since Anti-Skill would be on the case now, but that was simply a distant wish of hers. She couldn't stop Sora even if she tried. He was a free-spirited teen with interests in all sorts of things. The chances of him encountering this figure again were likely high. Besides, it seemed like she would be relying on him a whole lot more in the future when it came to dealing with Heartless sightings.
Hence, letting out a frustrated sigh, the ponytail-haired woman decided to do all that she could to help him in his upcoming challenges while being there to support him from the back. After all, he wouldn't be the only high school teenager that she was helping in their life.
"*sigh* I'm at a loss of what to say."
"Haha, I don't blame you. A lot of it doesn't make any sense whatsoever. And the parts that do make sense still manage to not make sense."
Allowing a smile to appear on her face at hearing Sora's declaration that everything was confusing now. As quick as it appeared, Yomikawa felt a stir in her heart. She suddenly felt her face fall as she randomly wanted to ask him a question that was starting to pound within her chest since it had to do with the boy's well-being.
"This dark figure… how worried are you about running into him again?" Yomikawa suddenly asked.
"I…"
Sora was at a loss for words.
This was a whole new situation that he had never really found himself in. Not even when having to deal with Organization XIII both with the original and true groups. Darkness was a being that he barely knew anything about them. Only that they were in some way related to Vanitas and that they wielded great power. It would be stupid to bolster and claim that he was not worried. Hence, Sora decided to be truthful with his teacher and friend.
"To be honest, I'm a little anxious. This is a whole new situation that I've never really dealt with before. I don't know what else this individual is planning, but it's a likely bet that we'll be crossing paths again. And when that happens…" Sora grasped at his chest while wearing a determined look on his face. "I won't be beaten by them. Or worse. There's still a bunch of things I want to do in this world. And so many people I want to meet… want to help… along with so much more…"
Sora stated this in a clear and concise tone of voice with his head held high and staring right into the Yomikawa's eyes. A sense of relief washed over her as she could tell that he meant everything he said. This resulted in her allowing a small but bright smile to appear on her lips.
Before the moment could be sweetened any further, Sora started to laugh a bit before rubbing the back of his head. Emotional moments seemed to be a thing with him.
"Ehehe, sorry for creating a moment. Think I might have a hidden talent for that kind of thing."
"Don't be sorry. It's honestly nice to hear someone as young as you speak so profoundly and determined about problems that I doubt most people would ever have to deal with. Stand tall. Let those emotional moments be something you thrive at. Everyone needs a little inspiration here and there" Yomikawa kindly replied while smiling happily at the boy.
"Hmm. Thanks, Yomikawa."
Now with a content and happy atmosphere filling up the gymnasium, the two went back to work on cleaning up the place and putting away all the left-out equipment.
"Say, how did the gym get like this?"
"I had a few numbskulls run a few extracurricular laps yesterday during detention. I planned on putting it all away but was then called in by Anti-Skill due to ruckus going on in District 13."
Sora had a feeling who she was referring to but didn't say anything and listened to her keep talking.
"And then you were called over to District 17" Sora answered, realizing where this was going.
"Yep. Which left this place a mess. I told the principal and janitorial staff to leave it as be since it was my mess. I wanted to clean it up and now we're here doing that."
Now understanding how the gym became messy, Sora didn't mind cleaning up the place. Besides, it was the least he could do for Yomikawa as she had helped him out in so many ways. She truly helped him find a new place that he could consider home now since his last home… was likely impossible to go back to.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a phone started ringing which echoed throughout the gymnasium leaving the two to chuckle at the sound.
"Sorry about that. Mind if I take it?" Yomikawa kindly asked Sora.
"Not at all. Go ahead."
Answering the call, the blue-haired teacher began speaking with whoever was on the line and kept replying with simple answers. Sora didn't want to eavesdrop and continued to clean the gym and had managed to make quite a dent in the leftover equipment leaving about sixty percent of it all to be done. It wouldn't be too long until their job was done. Moreover, Yomikawa seemed to be done with her call as she let out quite a sigh.
"Everything alright?"
"Yeah, you could say that. There's some important stuff that I need to get working on as well as figured out and it overshadows any other work I might piled up."
"Really? Was the call telling you to get it done soon?" the spiky-haired boy curiously asked.
"Soon as in right now. It's for… some personal stuff going on right now. But I told the person on the phone that I was busy with- "
"Go."
"Huh? What did you- "
"Go, Yomikawa. I got this" Sora affirmed.
Left a bit speechless, the blue-haired woman was unsure what to say and immediately felt guilty for leaving him to clean up after her. She was about to retort when the spiky-haired brunette began shaking his head.
"I've got this. Don't worry. It's just putting stuff back. Piece of cake."
"But I… *sigh* I owe- "
"Not another word. You've done a whole lot for me. Now, let me do something to return the favor even though I don't need to. I want to."
Staring right at Sora, she could see that he meant everything he was saying and didn't look to be the budging type. Hence, she began rubbing her forehead with both of her hands and mumbled under her breath.
"Sora… thank you. Truly. I'll make it- "
"Nope! Now scram… please" he added that last part to not sound rude or anything like that.
With a grin on her face, Yomikawa nodded her head adamantly before making her way out of the gymnasium and striving back to her office. There was some work she needed to get done if she was going to help another person in need. Someone who… well, was an odd case to exact. But still, someone who she would gladly help.
Now left alone, Sora realized that he could easily clean the rest of the equipment up in a matter of a few minutes thanks to using his magic. He'd make sure that no one else was nearby while he did so. Otherwise, he'd have to come up with a bunch of excuses about what he was doing.
However, seeing that he was all alone, this proved to be the best time to try something that had been in the back of his mind ever since he left Moogla's workshop earlier today.
The Heartbinder.
Based on his first go at using it again, he was able to summon Meow Wow and the Dream Eaters' help again but the special item had a different feel and design to it this time around. Pulling the thing out of his pocket, he began to examine it again and could see that it still had a bit of a gray tone to its appearance save for the strange and colorful crown insignia on the back of it. Sora was unsure what to do now given that he knew it worked but wasn't as simple as before.
Recalling his discussion with Moogla about calling upon the Links with his friends across the many worlds, the spiky-haired teen wanted to try something new. Something that… might take a lot out of him mana and energy-wise, but it would be completely worth it.
Making sure that nobody was near the gym entrance, Sora took extra precautions and stacked some equipment on a table that helped block the small opening in the doors and took to the center of the large open room. With nothing but his Heartbinder in hand, the Keyblade's Chosen One brought it up to his heart and began channeling all the energy he could into the object. Before using the Heartbinder, he had several other ones that were directly linked to specific friends. Now, however, it felt like a limitless possibility on who he could call for. So many friends came to his mind but one that lingered longer in his train of thought would be the first friend that he encountered in Traverse Town right after Destiny Islands was swallowed up by the darkness.
Deciding that this friend would be the first person to Link up with and call upon the Heartbinder, Sora calmed himself down and gave his heart the strength it needed to perform this newly-fashioned miracle.
"Hear my heart… Lend me your strength, Leon!"
*vrrrroooooooommmmm*
Around Sora, a sudden burst of wind started to pick up along with the Heartbinder brightly flashing in an array of red, blue, and green colors before ultimately settling to radiate a white color. Within seconds, the bright flash dimmed down leaving Sora to cover his eyes and feel a bit winded at the immediate excess of power taken from him. The best way he could put it was that he had just gotten done dealing with several Organization members and felt battered up but that wasn't exactly the case.
With the light dwindling, he glanced down at the Heartbinder and could see that its appearance had changed with the main color being that of a gray tone with what appeared to be a lion insignia in the middle of the object. Before he could ponder about it any longer someone called out to him.
"It's good to see you again, Sora."
Shifting his head up, Sora spotted a very familiar face staring right at him and couldn't help but let a gigantic smile resonate on his face.
"Leon!"
A smirk appeared on the long brown-haired man's face. His appearance could be summed up as him wearing black gloves with belts on them, black zipper-lined shoes, a silver Griever necklace, a white undershirt, a short black jacket with white fur around the collar, a multitude of belts around his body, a pair of black pants, and a diagonal scar bridging across his nose.
Walking up to the brunette, Sora felt a surge of joy he hadn't felt for some time now. Making new friends in Academy City was something that he treasured deeply. But seeing an old friend had a different kind of impact on him.
"H-How are you here exactly? I kind of didn't think this would work since my previous Heartbinders… never mind. But tell me, how is this possible?" Sora questioned the man standing before him.
Letting a small chuckle escape his lips, Leon extended his hand out which Sora accepted and shook back.
"First, it's good to see you alive and well."
"Well…"
Sporting a nervous bubble of laughter about to escape his lips, Sora was about to counter what Leon had said but he suddenly started speaking again.
"And secondly, I'm not entirely sure how this is working. I can say for sure that I'm not Leon."
"…Whaaat?" Sora muttered while looking completely gob-smacked.
The brown-haired man simply shook his head in response.
"What I mean by that is I'm not actually the real Leon. More like an illusion or copy of him. Thanks to whatever power you used to bring me here."
"Wait, wait. Hold up. You mean that… my power… the Heartbinder?" Sora was at a loss of words for what was happening right now.
'T-This has never happened before. Or… has it? Whenever I used my ability to call upon the Links I felt in my heart or when they were accessed through the Heartbinders… but what about when I didn't use the Heartbinder? Was I actually calling upon my friends? The real versions of them? That has to be the case. When we met Mulan for the first time, Mushu was with her, and he remembered… I think I'm confusing myself now.'
Tons of questions swarmed Sora's head as he wasn't sure what to think. And yet, the first thing that came to mind was that he had to offer a silent apology to everyone he called upon back when his ability to call upon the Links made with his friends and summon them to help him in battle. If those were the real versions of themselves, then he might have called them at rather inconvenient times. Now he felt conflicted and couldn't help but grasp his head and let out a dramatic groan.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much, Sora" Leon calmly said to the spiky-haired boy.
"Yeah… thinking about it is really starting to give me a headache" Sora comically replied.
Staring over at the older man before him, there were so many things he wanted to ask but for now, it might be best to go at it bit by bit.
"So, if you're not the actual Leon, then what exactly are you? A vision of the past Leon? An alternative Leon? A Leon that isn't named Leon? Maybe you're a Leon that…" the Keyblade wielder started barraging the man with questions.
"Again, you're going about this too literally."
"Can you blame me? I just summoned someone who I have a connection with but was never able to summon before leaving this as a first-time case. I have so many questions that I don't know where to start asking."
Folding his arms across his chest, Leon decided to help Sora clear his head by doing the one thing that would get the teen to stop with his nonsense.
*Thwak*
"Aaahh! What was that for!?" Sora exclaimed while massaging the center of his forehead as Leon had just flicked him.
"That was to get you to snap out of whatever this is. I never pictured you to be this… by the book."
A sigh left Sora's lips.
"It's probably due to everything that's happened so far in my time in this world. It's only me now and there's a lot I have to cover and learn all on my own. The Heartbinder and Summoning Links are just a few of the important things on my mind now…" the teen commented.
"I see… while I'm not entirely aware of your current situation, I'm glad to see you step up. Donald and Goofy would be proud to see you now."
A sad yet hopeful smile appeared on the teen's face followed by him wanting to tear up, but he decided to stay strong and keep his head held up high while pushing the growing wetness away and accepting that his old friend was somehow here thanks to his power.
"Mm. Thanks, Leon. So, seeing that you're here, are you able to fight? I don't see your- "
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared around Leon as his weapon was now holstered on his back and he reached for it.
"Gunblade… Oh."
The sight of a smirk appeared on the man's face, "That answer your question?"
"Ha-ha, very funny. But honestly, I am curious about who else I can call on to help me" Sora replied.
"Hmm. Then, perhaps you should try summoning others while you still have the chance. Based on where we are…" Leon then looked around and saw that they were in a gym of some kind. "You have some space to yourself."
"Right. But before that, you didn't give me an answer about who you are."
Straightening himself, Leon then stared right in the boy's direction.
"I guess the easiest answer I can give is that I'm an illusion of the real Leon, but I retain all the memories of us interacting. I remember our last encounter in Hollow Bastion right before it was changed back into Radiant Garden. We fought together when the Heartless were invading the place. Cloud, Tifa, Yuffie, and I were spread out on the battlefield and that's when you appeared" Leon affirmed to the boy.
Realization dawned on Sora as he started to get a better idea of just what was happening right now with this newfound summoning power of his using the Heartbinder.
'Wait… does that mean, this fake/illusionary Leon is from my last memory of him? I didn't get the chance to meet him after Hollow Bastion turned into Radiant Garden. That was all Riku and Mickey. Huh… so would that mean that if I called upon my connection with Cloud our last memory would be during…'
Whatever this newfound power was, Sora would need to do a bit of experimenting to get a better idea of it all. But the one thing that did catch his attention was that this power opened the door to limitless possibilities. Alas, what exactly would be the cost of using it repeatedly?
"Leon, thanks."
"For what? I don't think I did anything but flick you in the head" the man said with confusion in his voice.
"Heh, by you showing up, it shows me that my connections with my friends are still strong. And while you're not the real Leon that doesn't matter. It's good to see an old friend."
Not needing to say anything else, the black-fur-jacketed man nodded his head before beginning to fade away in a fit of light. Once the bright flash died down, Sora was left alone in the gym again. This strange ability gained with the Heartbinder was something that he'd have to slowly learn the ins and outs of but that could wait another time. Summoning Leon managed to do a number on the teen which caused him to feel a bit tired. The energy required to work the Heartbinder was exponentially more than before.
Therefore, the spiky-haired boy got back to work and continued to clear up the gym while putting the equipment away. This was the least he could do for Yomikawa.
Later, once the entire gym was cleaned.
With a final push, the rest of the equipment was put into the gym while Sora took a step back and examined how clean the place looked now.
"All in a day's work."
Suddenly, the door to the gymnasium opened revealing a tired-looking Yomikawa who looked to have gone through the ringer. It honestly looked like she had just gotten done dealing with a fight.
"Whoa. Uh… Are you okay?" Sora asked, surprised by her appearance.
"Well, *sigh* I managed to get a part of the paperwork done. The rest… I'll bother with it later. It's too much to deal with now."
A grin appeared on the teen's face. It seemed like that paperwork would probably not be getting worked on for quite some time.
"Right, well, I got it all done so you don't have to worry about it any longer."
Glancing around the gym, the blue-haired woman let out a satisfied whistle.
"Geez… you work fast."
"Eh. Wasn't that big of a deal. Besides, you helped a lot in dealing with the more complex equipment. I just got what was left which wasn't much."
"Well still, thank you, Sora. When I get the chance- "
"Don't. It's like I said. I'm happy to help. Plus, we got to talk a bit about what happened. Even if it wasn't answering all your questions…"
"That's to be expected. There's more than one thing happening at once and to be honest…" Yomikawa seemed to stop herself for a brief second before picking right back up. "I shouldn't be telling you this as you're a student, but you're also a student who is practically the only person aware of the Heartless and is actually giving Anti-Skill the needed information to deal with these monsters."
Sora simply nodded and didn't say anything as he waited for her.
"*sigh* Over the past few days, more and more activity has been going on. More than usual. Now, while this shouldn't be all that concerning given that the criminal activity rate in Academy City tends to always be high… these are not exactly normal times."
"No kidding."
"Which is where I would like to ask you about something, Sora. Or rather, I'd like for you to tell me more about the Heartless and what things I should be looking for. While you were there last night… what happens if you're not around the next time?" Yomikawa asked the teen with a concerned look on her face.
About to retort, Sora stopped midway and began to realize the justification of what his teacher was saying. It was all presented in a veil of truth. He wouldn't always be around when things got bad. Not because he'd refuse to help. Just the opposite. But if Darkness could summon a Behemoth out of nowhere as easily as they did, then what's stopping them from summoning more?
He couldn't deal with more than one Heartless Behemoth destroying the city. No matter how fast or strong he was.
"I… Because I've gotten to know you, Yomikawa, in the short time we've met I'm going to be completely honest with you. And, no lie, it's going to sound quite scary. Are you sure you want to know all that I know about the Heartless?"
Sora phrased his words into a simple statement. Based on his understanding of Yomikawa's personality and character, it was safe to say she would want to know all that she could. Even if what she needed to know did not sit well.
"…Yes. If I'm to make sure that the students and citizens of Academy City are safe, on the pledge I took when joining Anti-Skill and essentially becoming a teacher, I need to know everything there is on this new threat" she declared in an affirming tone of voice.
Nodding at her conviction, Sora decided to build upon what she knew of the Heartless already and move into the more complicated matter of it all.
The heart.
Elsewhere, with a Certain Misfortunate Spiky-Haired High School Student
Dragging his feet along, Kamijou Touma couldn't help but happily take in the sweet aroma of semi-clean air all around him. Having just been released from the hospital thanks to the doctor's quick check-up.
(Which was practically a glossover on the boy's injuries since it seemed that some of the nurses were in a hurry to come and aid the doctor in his examination of Kamijou but were turned away as Heaven Canceller said that he didn't need them this time around. This caused quite the scene of defeated nurses to begrudgingly walk back to their posts in the hospital, but the spiky-haired boy had no idea any of this was happening and merrily walked his keester out of there while dreading what his hospital bills would be looking like now.)
Now, Kamijou was allowed to return home after having quite the eventful night and morning. First dealing with Orsola, the Amakusa, the Roman Church, and the aftermath of the Magic Side's antics. And then, finding out about what Sora had to deal with while he was busy caught up in a strange situation outside of Academy City. It was seriously all jarring and complicated but at the very least Kanzaki and Sora were able to stop by and see how he was doing which was a plus that doesn't always happen. Though, Kanzaki did act a bit strange… perhaps it was all about the Amakusa situation. In that case, he could only lend her his emotional support. Even if he needed it more…
Now, the only thing for him to worry about was the tiring aspect of having late homework that still… needed… to be… Suddenly, a sense of fear crawled up the boy's arms. This immediate reaction was caused by him recalling something extremely important to the point that his knees started shaking and even locked in place.
'Gaaaaaaaaah! I forgot! Index!'
Panic began to ensure Kamijou's mind as the events of last night and now were coming into play in his mind.
'I didn't see her at the hospital nor was she with Kanzaki. This means that she might have been left at home while I was stuck at the hospital… and there's no food in the fridge! Crap. Crap. Crap. I'm doomed!'
The sheer panic emitting inside his head was at an all-time high with the gloomy darkness better known as his bottomless roommate never seemed content with the food made for her. He would have to come up with a quick solution before heading home to fight the monster nun.
"What's today? Oh! There was a special on packaged ramen going on today. It's the stale three-day-old ramen that has a bit of a weird taste but is strangely edible with no health concerns, but it'll do. How long is the sale on for?" Kamijou said all this while quickly pulling his phone out of his pocket and finding the picture he had taken of all the coupons and sales currently going on this month.
When his eyes landed on today's date of September 9th, he let out a horrified shriek.
"Shit! It ends in thirty minutes! It'll take twenty to get there and another five to wait in line. Oooh, why can't these sales ever go on for another hour?! Such misfortune!"
Yelling this out to the city and even causing some bystanders to become worried about the boy's mental state, Kamijou started hauling ass in the direction of the grocery store that was promoting the sale of ramen. With only a little bit of time left, the somewhat ordinary high school student was now facing a life-or-death situation. By his roommate no less.
Such a strange way to leave this world…
Returning to Sora and Yomikawa
The expression on the Anti-Skill/teacher's face was that of great concern and worry. Part of her wanted to chalk up what Sora had just told her as doom and gloom talk that was to scare her. However, the look on the teen's face conveyed to her that everything he said regarding hearts and emotions within a person and that helped form the heart which was not part of the actual body but something else was all too much for her to truly comprehend.
However, the one part she clearly understood was that when people became scared, angry, or malevolent they really did change. From body language to how they viewed everything around them. And now hearing that the Heartless had a liking for that darkness inside a person's heart, it was starting to make even more sense. Panic and fear lead to dark feelings swelling up and…
A sympathetic tone was directed over at Sora who knew about all of this and still worked to stop the Heartless from taking over and claiming more people. To know of such knowledge and how bad things could get all while keeping a headstrong attitude… her view on the teen continued to be exceeded and a sense of pride was present in her heart.
'To do all this on his own as well… you are truly something else, Sora…'
Now standing outside the gym after closing the doors and making sure it was good as new, Sora brought his Gummiphone out of his pocket and could see that a good chunk of time had passed with it now sinking into the evening hours of the day with the sun starting to fall from its highest point in the sky.
"Haaah."
"Hm? What's wrong, Sora? Pull a muscle?"
"No, no. I'm good. Just thinking about what I should have for dinner later" he replied.
"Heh, well, why don't I let you enjoy the rest of your day? You've done so much for me today. I- "
"Yomikawa."
"…Right. Sorry. Force of habit. Either way, thank you again for helping. I better get back to that paperwork."
A sly smirk appeared on the boy's face as he put his hands behind his head.
"That you'll be getting to sooner or later."
"Yep. Plus, I could go bother Komoe now." A content look appeared on the blue-haired woman's face before deciding to send the brunette boy away. "Take care and see you later, Sora."
"Mm. See you."
And with that, the two parted ways while feeling like they accomplished a lot which in reality they did. Hence, they both had a pip in their step as they continued to go about their ways for the day. Sora went in the direction of his new home aka dorm and began to consider what he could get for dinner. The choices were quite vast. Besides, maybe he could share a meal with his roommates.
Taking this to mind, the Keyblade wielder set off to deal against a new foe before him… grocery shopping on a hungry stomach.
At the grocery mart
Pushing around a cart while looking around the place for the things that he needed, Sora figured that he'd go on the more casual approach and just get some stuff for his place. His decision on what to have for dinner was still in the air, however, that could all change if he were to have dinner with Touma and Index… as well as Sphynx. Hence, going for a somewhat broad list of groceries was his game plan.
"Let's see… Ah! This might be a good spot for some- Hm?"
Stopping himself, the spiky-haired teen thought he saw someone familiar for a split second and was about to chalk it up as him imagining someone. But when his eyes glanced back to the area that crossed his vision, he was surprised to see that he was not going crazy.
Standing there while trying to reach the top shelf in the canned food area was a familiar blonde-haired girl with a dark hat on her head. It looked like she was having a bit of difficulty trying to reach the can in her sight.
"Frenda?"
Turning around, she immediately spotted the Keyblade wielder as her face changed from frustration to surprise.
"Oh? Sora, what are you doing here?"
Making his way over with his cart, the brunette put on a friendly smile, "I was doing a bit of shopping for my place. I let my eyes wander for a second and spotted you glaring up at the canned food."
Resorting to look a bit embarrassed about how she looked from another's perspective, Frenda let out an annoyed sigh.
"Basically, I wouldn't be looking like that if the idiot staff members didn't put the Mackerel up on the highest shelf."
Immediately, Sora shifted his head to look up at the top shelf and processed what was going on there.
"Need some help?"
"That would be wonderful! But can you reach it? It's pretty- "
With a flash of light appearing in his hand, Sora summoned his Kingdom Key and raised the weapon so that it knocked down a can of Mackerl into his hands where waved the can at the beret-wearing girl.
"High… never mind."
"Haha, sorry. Here you go."
Taking the food into her hands, the girl's face exploded in excitement before her eyes looked to be casting off little stars in her irises. For a second, she almost looked like Shokuhou.
"Say, do you want any more cans of Mackerel? I can grab some more."
Left with a frozen body, Frenda seemed to be waging an internal war within herself as she took on a deep-thinking expression and stared right at the cans of Mackerel. Whatever was going on in her head, Sora had to figure it was important. Suddenly, she looked over at the boy and let out an amused yet awkward laugh.
"Ha…ha…ha… yes, please. Basically, all of it."
About ready to repeat that last part, he figured to not pay it much mind and raised his weapon back at the top shelf and began knocking each can of food right into his hand where he placed it in his cart to hold for now. With a quick and clean job done the top shelf no longer had any Mackerl left.
"That's all of them. Want me to hold onto it for now?"
"Yes, that'd be great, thanks."
Nodding his head, Sora then realized that there were a few more things he needed to get.
"Hey, I need to pick up a few more things. Mind shopping with me?"
"Not at all. It's the least I can do after you helped me" Frenda happily replied.
"Great! Then let's head to the sauce section."
"Sauce section? I didn't picture you as a cook."
A small grin appeared on the teen's face.
"I'm no five-star chef but I do tend to cook here and there. Thanks to learning from one of my friends who worked in an actual restaurant, I managed to pick up on quite a lot in the field of cooking" Sora replied, thinking about little chef.
"Huh. You learn something new every day."
Continuing to walk through the aisles, Sora figured he'd ask the girl about some stuff.
"So, how have you and the others been?"
"Well… "
The girl's reaction spoke volumes.
"I take it not all that good?"
Frenda wasn't sure if she should tell Sora about her leader's recent antics but figured that it wouldn't hurt anyone. Besides, from the blonde's point of view, it had been several days since Mugino last encountered the boy.
What Frenda Seivelun failed to realize was that she was not present during last night's events and was spending time with her little sister. Meaning that she had no idea Mugino, Kinuhata, or Takitsubo were on the chase to catch Sora's battle. She was also unaware that her soft tea-color-haired leader had called the spiky-haired brunette, and he had essentially brushed her off. A bad situation had developed, but the blonde had no idea about it.
"Basically, Mugino's been acting funny recently."
"Oh? Is something wrong?"
Frenda's expression turned to one of caution.
"I'm not sure. She's always been a bit of a hot-headed, guns blazing, rich and flaunting it in your face, blunt and in your face, smacking you in your face, care only about facts and not your feelings type but lately it seems like that's been dialed up to ten."
"Ten as in?" Sora curiously asked.
"Ten passing the limit which was set at eight" Frenda bluntly responded.
"Oh… uh-oh."
Sora muttered that last part in his head as he realized that his actions last night were in part a likely reason for the tea-color-haired girl to be feeling quite angered.
"I mean, I encountered her this morning and thought nothing was wrong at first. But when I managed to mess up on one of my explosive devices and it caused a bit of smoke to scatter across the apartment, Mugino went ballistic and destroyed the device right in front of me along with swearing like a sailor and reprimanding me as if I had stolen her credit card and maxed it out or as if I bleached all of her dresses and left them out for her to see in pure revenge. She also threw a chair at Kinuhata who was egging her on about something, but I didn't get the chance to hear what it was about. She also called Takitsubo's tracksuit outfit the tackiest of tacky there ever existed and roasted her entire wardrobe attire. Lamenting that she would never get a boyfriend like that. Which is something else coming from her… and then she threw- "
At this point, Sora could only wince at how bad this was all sounding. Part of him wanted to wish Frenda and the others the best as he wasn't quite sure how to calm Mugino down. And the other part was starting to wonder if he should at the very least try to reach out to the Level 5 in the hope that she wouldn't turn her upfront, aggressive personality toward the girls as he had now witnessed it first-hand. He was sure the girls could handle themselves but again, Mugino's dip in attitude was likely part of his fault and he wanted to fix it as he was starting to get a grip on the girl's persona.
"I think I get the point, Frenda. *sigh* I'll shoot her a text later to see if she wants to talk. We briefly talked not that long ago but…"
"Hm? But?"
"…Some things came up and left me a bit busy and tired. Hence, I ended our brief call before it really began" he explained in a so-so kind of way.
Thinking about what she heard, Frenda began to get curious about what Sora and Mugino's call might have been about but figured she would hear about it later.
"I see, well, if you think that might calm Mugino down a bit that would be greatly appreciated. Normally, when she gets like this, we have to resort to calling into one of the well-established restaurants in the city to prepare an order of anything salmon-related."
"She likes salmon a lot?"
A teasing smile appeared on the blonde's face.
"Yep. Though, while it is good for vitamins A, D, and B12, calcium absorption, and is low in saturated fat, Mugino tends to play it safe if we go out and try to eat at a new fancy place. If the menu doesn't catch her attention, then she'll resort to her trump card..."
'Plus, she claims that it helps define her legs…' the Item member muttered in her head.
"Which is salmon" Sora affirmed.
"Exactly. Are you starting to get an idea of Mugino's character?" Frenda asked.
"Yeah, anything I can learn about my friends is a positive in my book."
"Ah. Gotcha."
Coming up into another aisle and seeing the boy pick out a few things, Frenda decided to also take the chance and ask the boy some questions.
"So, basically, how have you been doing lately? It's been a minute since we last met."
"Yeah, that is true. Well, I've been a bit… busy. You know, tracking down Heartless and dealing with them before they hurt anyone. Along with keeping up with school. The usual" Sora casually replied, not considering the drastic events of last night.
"I don't think anyone would consider that the usual."
"Eh. I'm used to it at this point. What about you?" the boy asked.
Debating on whether she should give him an answer or a real answer, Frenda decided to go with an in-between answer that was neither true nor false.
"I've been alright. Keeping myself looking as perfect as ever. Making sure the mixed life of normal and dark side doesn't bleed through all the way. Unlike Mugino, Takitsubo, or Kinuhata, I have people I care about who are not involved in the dark side. And I'd like to keep it that way."
Tempted to ask about the dark side a bit more, Sora realized that now was not a good time and simply nodded his head at her answer. He also figured that it wouldn't hurt to say something regarding her desire for protection from those close to her.
"I don't know if I have any leeway to say this, but I hope you guys will take care of each other. You, Mugino, and the others."
Surprised by his response, Frenda pushed for a bit more context.
"Where'd this come from?"
"If I were to give a straight answer, then I'd say it came from my heart," Sora said while bringing his hand close to his chest. "You guys are my friends now and while I don't exactly agree with everything you do… I do worry about you guys. Especially now that the Heartless are becoming more of a threat as the days go by. Make sure you watch each other's backs. The darkness that you're all familiar with… it has nothing on what the Heartless are truly capable of."
Hearing Sora's sudden seriousness caused the blonde beret-wearing girl to stiffen up slightly before becoming relaxed and showcasing a sense of understanding.
"… If this were anyone else telling us this, I'd probably laugh at them or make fun of how serious they sounded. But since it's coming from you, and we all saw first-hand how the Heartless acts. I'll take your advice seriously, Sora. I might even tell the others if they're feeling a bit cocky."
"Mm. I also don't know if you guys are still trying to trap a Heartless but I'd advise you not to. That's a whole can of worms that… you can't come back from" Sora said in a cold yet serious tone of voice.
This caused Frenda to recoil at how dramatic the teen had made that last comment. Would doing such a thing make him turn from their friend to enemy? That thought caused Frenda to shiver a bit.
Going back to shopping, the two continued to chat about random things about general life in the city along with mentioning some tips about traversing around the city. At the same time, Sora had finished his shopping and was now waiting in line for the cashier to scan his groceries. He also let Frenda go ahead of him as he was holding onto her canned Mackerel.
Once she got to the front and had bagged all her food, she swiftly turned to look at the boy and thanked him for the help. Brushing it off in a friendly way, Sora bid her a "See you" as she did the same before walking out of the store. This random interaction with the blonde had further brightened his mood as he now walking back to his dorm with his groceries. He'd have to see if Touma, Index, and Sphynx wanted to have dinner together. A treat with friends would be one ideal way to end the busy day.
Later, in a luxurious apartment hosting the girls of Item
Entering the apartment with her bags of canned Mackerel, the first thing Frenda saw was that part of the living room looked to have some things either burned or thrown and broken. This was likely due to her leader's temper. She also spotted Kinuhata and Takitsubo standing in the kitchen while watching a glass of some kind of substance act up.
"Basically, what are you two doing?"
"We got this super new thing that freezes your drinks at the right temperature that's right between the liquid and completely frozen phase" Kinuhata replied.
"It's pretty cool" Takitsubo added.
Somewhat curious about the new device, Frenda put her bags on the table and got closer to the duo while also pointing her head to the side to look for tea-color hair.
"Say, where's Mugino?"
"She's in her room. She was having a super migraine pop up while trying to read a magazine but couldn't exactly focus on it. So, she went to go lie down and try to stop the migraine." Kinuhata answered.
"Oh. Ok. Well, I managed to get all the Mackerl in the store this time around" Frenda replied, now watching the device work its magic and freeze what looked to be a fruity drink to the perfect temperature.
"How'd you managed that? Isn't it on the top shelf?" Takitsubo idly muttered.
Sending Takitsubo a look that basically said not to underestimate her, Frenda cleared her throat.
"Haah? Is that underestimation in your voice?"
"…"
A blank stare was sent the blonde's way from the black-haired girl. It seemed to do the trick and burst her bubble.
"Alright, alright fine. I had help."
"Figures. Your super short stature is not tall enough to reach the top shelf. What? Did you ask the staff to lend you a ladder? Pfft" Kinuhata said while breaking at the end and snickering to herself.
"No. For your information, I had help. Sora happened to be around and lent me his aid."
Saying those words and that name in particular sent cold deathly chills up Kinuhata and Takitsbuo's arms. Of all the things that Frenda could have said, they were not expecting to hear the spiky-haired brunette's name coming from her mouth. It seriously felt as if someone had immediately sent out a hit on the blonde and a red laser dot was not marked at her head with her not knowing about it at all.
"What? Was it something I said?"
"*gulp* Frenda."
"Yeah, what?"
The blonde was completely oblivious to what she just set in stone. Everyone within the entire building suddenly felt a cold chill hit their body.
"Did you just super say who I think you said?"
"Yeah? I said Sora came to help me get the Mackerel off the top shelf. Why are you both acting so weir- "
*SLAM*
*CRASH*
"…"
'Oh no…' both Kinuhata and Takitsubo said in their heads.
The door to the ever-beautiful and kaiju-destroying tea-color-haired girl's room slammed open with her hair slightly covering her face as her eyes were hidden with just enough hair to make it impossible to see her eyes. To depict what exactly was happening, a scene pulled from one of Kinuhata's C-ranked movies based on the old Western philosophy of gunslingers and one-on-one duels was taking place. However, with it being analogically based on an extremely mediocre cowboy scene, Mugino was basically readying her pistol and drawing closer to Frenda while the blonde idiotically just stood there with her hand touching her head and foot. Clueless as to what exactly was happening. It didn't help that Kinuhata and Takitsubo had taken a defensive approach and were hiding themselves behind pots and pans. Waiting for the inevitable slaughter of the girl known as Frenda Seivelun for simply uttering a boy's name.
"Frrreeeeennnndddddaaaaaaa…"
A ghostly pale glint appeared on the blonde's face as she slowly turned to look over at her leader.
"M-Mugino. H-Hey there. I-I didn't see you when I got here. How have you been?" Frenda weakly replied.
Were this any other time of Frenda getting her ass kicked for doing something stupid, Kinuhata would've comically facepalmed at what she just said. However, with the situation as grim as it was now. That was not an option. Not even in the slightest.
"Where were you?" Mugino calmly yet spookily asked.
"I-I was just out shopping for some Mackerel when I managed t-to run into Sora…"
A moment of silence seemed to pass, leaving the apartment so quiet that not even a cricket would dare make a sound. However, that soon changed when Mugino let out a burst of swearing that even shook the other girls. Heck, even a sailor who had spent his entire life out at sea and said some of the most foulish and offensive things ever would be quaking in his boots at what the model-like teen had just uttered all without even stuttering or holding back. Her tongue could never feel the effects of soap trying to wash away the cursing and in fact, would probably cure the soap and turn it into alcohol.
It was that bad.
After being traumatized and learning an assortment of new curse words to say to someone did Mugino run a hand through her hair and glared right at Frenda who immediately held both her hands up.
"I-I'm sorry… I think?"
"Where the hell did you see this fucker!?" Mugino shouted, referring to Sora.
"H-He was out shopping at some grocery mart. This was my first time going there since the store I frequent ran out of Mackerel. It was all chance that I met up with him" Frenda quickly reasoned.
The Level 5's eyes were ignited with a sort of flame to them that showed no signs of cooling down nor did the disgusted and angered look on her face. She was undoubtedly pissed.
"And what did this shit-for-stain asshole say to you when you ran into him?" Mugino demanded from Frenda.
"He b-basically said that it was a surprise running into me and asked how the rest of us were doing…"
The looks on Kinuhata and Takitsubo's faces could vividly convey the message that based on whatever Frenda said here meant that they'd get to live and see another day. Or… they were royally fucked.
"And?" the kaiju girl questioned.
"I-I told him that we were alright but…"
"But what?!"
The beret-wearing girl decided to take a leap of faith and say what exactly was mentioned.
"Itoldhimthatyouwerenotactingrightandgavehimabitofadescriptiononwhathadbeenhappeningandheseemedtorealizewhatwaswrongwithyouandwassorry!" Frenda rapidly said while closing her eyes and awaiting the usual beating for when she became Mugino's target.
However, that did not happen…yet as she slowly opened her eyes and found the brunette-haired girl staring right back at her with her eyes staring right into her own. A truly scary sight that even horror movies would be unable to convey accurately.
"…What else did he say?" Mugino asked in a matter-of-fact tone.
"He briefly mentioned that he was tired and cut your call short before it even began. He felt sorry and planned on sending you a message later to apologize. We then talked about food and… I mentioned salmon being your favorite, so he knows that now… Haha. H-He also told me to tell you all to be careful when out on missions. While he doesn't condone what we do, he is worried about our safety and is worried about the Heartless acting up. He seemed super serious about it as well" Frenda explained.
Kinuhata had a little reaction when she heard her signature word come from the blonde's mouth.
Regarding Mugino's position on everything being said, while she would berate Frenda for telling Sora anything about herself, she seemed heavily intent on whether he would message her. That would ultimately be the make-or-break moment for the boy in the tea-color-haired girl's eyes. Not to mention, in the deepest depths of the girl's heart… she hoped the spiky-haired boy would contact her. However, she could not outright forgive him for hanging up on her and would be sending him an earful to the point that it would verbally shake him to his core. She would all the more still be content that he contacted her.
This was the first time in her life that someone had bravely dismissed her in this context. Never before had this happened and the person who did such a thing had not ended up in the hospital. It should've been nothing more than brushing a fly off your shoulder. However, with the culprit behind such action being someone not entirely normal... it led to things being taken differently. Hence, her interest in the boy seemed to slightly increase while she was already planning on what to say to him when he messaged her. The concept of if he would contact her… well, she'll get there when the time is right.
Letting out a brass sigh, Mugino strutted over to the fridge and began pouring herself a bottle of wine to try and enjoy the evening. The other girls simply moved out of the way and continued to watch their leader in a strange light. They also mentally started making guesses on what décor would be destroyed by a Meltdowner beam here soon.
For now, it would seem that Item's livelihood was still standing and would continue to do so… hopefully.
However, one thing that neither Mugino nor the other girls took into consideration was that when she came rushing out of her room, the chestnut-haired girl's phone had fallen to the ground right next to her bed and some clothes on the ground making it not immediately visible. Leaving the device to be muffled when Sora sent Mugino a message not even ten minutes later.
The Item apartment suffered a great deal of damage that night.
The Next Day
Lazily opening his eyes and adjusting them to his surroundings, Sora felt that his body had gotten a great deal of rest.
Last night's events also came pouring into his memory as he recalled coming home and putting the groceries away. While doing that, he remembered Frenda's words, and his attention went toward Mugino which resulted in him sending her a simple yet friendly message. Alas, he received nothing in return and figured that she was either busy or ignoring him. Either way, he didn't let it get to him and continued to enjoy his evening finding out that Touma prepared a ramen dinner and offered to share with him. This led to the Keyblade wielder bringing some of his own groceries and making a simple meal into a feast to be shared with friends.
He also found out that Index had found out about his visit to Touma along with the rampage that occurred with the misfortunate boy practically ignoring her which resulted in a barrage of bite marks on his head. It was at this point that the three shared stories and the two spiky-haired boys confided with Index on what exactly happened during the night's events. The young nun had plenty of questions for the Guardian of Light and he did his best to give her reasonable answers.
Soon after, the tri- pair of four, including Sphynx, began to enjoy their combined dinner while sharing snippets of all that happened. Another peaceful and enjoyable night to be shared with friends.
Hence, Sora was now sitting up dressed in his night clothes while letting out a mighty yawn. He then reached over for his Gummiphone and checked the time again on his device.
"September 10, 20XX"
Suddenly, a notification appeared on the boy's phone and caused him to tilt his head in confusion. It appeared to be a message sent to him from an unknown number which threw him for a loop.
"Huh? What's that? Venus Probe Project? I don't think I've heard that before…"
Not sure what was being sent to him, the spiky-haired boy simply put it aside and set to get himself ready for the day. Granted, he didn't have a set plan for today, he would still get a head start on the day before him. However, before moving along with his sudden burst of energy, a sound could be heard coming from his Gummiphone.
Looking down at the screen, he instantly saw that Moogla had sent him a message and it was a simple line of text sent his way.
"I've got a strange hit, kupo."
That was all the Keyblade wielder needed to see before making his way to the kitchen to grab himself a quick breakfast before making it over to Moogla's warehouse.
What Sora failed to realize at that moment was that he was about to find himself in quite a magical set of problems. Just another day in Academy City.
Things were sure to get interesting.
Meanwhile, back in the underground lab
Standing there alone and observing the mess left behind from the many test trials involving the strange dark creature, Kihara Gensei had a sly and devilish grin displayed on his face. No one else was in the room with him as all the other scientists either went home or retired to another part of the facility. Leaving the old man to his thoughts which were anything but normal.
He had spent all night watching the test trails in person and collected as much research analysis as he could on how this unusual creature acted. The trial runs had gone up to sixteen with only three having shown the same reaction as the fourth trial with the individual turning into one of the creatures. This truly had the Kihara intrigued about how this creature's personal reality worked. It was unlike anything he'd ever encountered.
Alas, before Kihara could ponder about the situation any further, a strange swirling sound appeared right behind him which prompted the older gentleman to turn around with his hands behind his back. What he saw left him even more intrigued about what was going on.
There, a dark portal appeared with no one appearing to come out of it. However, that would soon be redacted as a dark figure shrouded in darkness appeared to casually walk out of the portal and take a few steps toward the Kihara.
"Well, this place is just what I expected."
"Oh? And who might you be, friend? I don't think I've ever seen you around" Kihara calmly asked while his eyes watched the unknown figure.
"This is our first time meeting so I wouldn't expect you to know me. However, I know all about you" the dark figure proclaimed.
A smirk appeared on the older man's face.
"Haha! Interesting. Now then, would you mind telling me your name?"
"..."
The mysterious figure was silent for a moment before beginning to chuckle to himself loudly.
"My name... well, this might be on the nose, but you may call me Darkness."
An amused smile was present on the man's face.
"My, very on the nose. Well, Darkness, what can I do for you? Seeing that you appeared out of nowhere and already had an idea of what this place was."
"Actually, it should be the other way around. What can I do for you?" the dark being offered.
"Hm? You're certainly piquing my interest. And what brought about this random yet generous offer?"
Darkness seemingly nodded his head forward gesturing at the destroyed test room.
"That... Is all I need to see that you're on the right path."
"The right path to what, might I ask?" Kihara questioned, becoming even more intrigued by the second.
Allowing for a dramatic pause, Darkness then replied heartedly.
"Power. Would you like to see just what else you can truly do with it?"
Nothing could have stopped the giant grin eating away at the old man's face. Where one source of darkness seemed to lurk, another soon joined in which caused the mass of darkness to grow even more. There was no going back now.
Things were just getting started.
Notes:
*A/N* - Hey there, great to see you reach the bottom. This chapter was a step down from all the chaos that ensued in the other chapter and gave a somewhat resolution to all the events happening both on Sora and Touma's ends. With the Road to Endymion coming up, things are certainly going to get interesting with how Sora's involvement will alter the course of things. While also coming across familiar territory in the Toaru timeline.
On the topic of the Heartbinder and Links being a big feature in this chapter, I want to include a sort of gimmick that will allow him to call upon the help of those he has met. I'm also thinking about not just limiting it to Disney and Final Fantasy characters but beyond that. I mean, he did manage to appear in a crossover between crossovers. A certain game series to be exact… hee hee. Moreover, I do want to get into more of the Toaru arcs to come and build upon them with Sora's involvement along with including new guest characters. I don't want the guests to overshadow the plot or Toaru characters but do expect them to show up. Something else to note for this story is that I don't exactly want to do a one-to-one reenactment of the Toaru arcs and just plop Sora into it all, but I also don't want to skip over what's going on by making him dip out whenever things happen.
So, I'll be working to find a middle ground where we can expect the Keyblade wielder to duke it out against Magic/Science Side foes which will be very interesting to see. Either way, thank you all for checking this story out and continuing to show it interest. Feedback is really fun to read and learn from and I hope this crossover is worth a read. Take care and until next time. See you.
Chapter 16: Rising Tensions
Summary:
With news of something going on from his Moogle friend, Sora is going to have to make a decision. Following this, an encounter with an old friend will let the Keyblade wielder meet even more new friends. At the same time, his daily life in the city is going to be thwarted at the hand of tension rising from the Magic Side.
Notes:
*Disclaimer* - I do not own the copyright to Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index. Nor do I own the copyright to any other series/characters/stories featured in this story.
*A/N* - You know that old saying about wishing that you had more time in a day? I seriously wish I had more time lol. Just not enough time in the day to do what you want. This chapter has been sitting in the over for quite some time now. My original plans of wanting to update it within a time frame of at least every other month or every 2 months went to crap. October caused me some time management issues. I sincerely apologize for the chapter delay. I saw the comments and understood your pain.
Either way, thanks for stopping by again and seeing how Academy City and the world of Toaru are going to affect Sora and how the ever-positive Keyblade wielder will find himself involved in a plethora of events both on the Magic and Science Sides of this world. In addition, this chapter is going to be the start of me mentioning other franchises that are related to Kingdom Hearts, and that's... going to be quite the variety lol. Again, thanks for stopping by to check out this crazy and unusual crossover between these two series along with the gradual inclusion of other series to be sure. All the reviews are great to read and fun to see people's reactions to this strange story. Thanks for the support and I hope you'll enjoy this next tale of Sora's time in the world of Toaru. Along with the many more… shall I say 'supernatural' problems that will be showing up. Hope you enjoy it.
*P.S.* - Holy crap! As of the time this chapter is coming out there is the beating pulse of Kingdom Hearts Missing Link. That new trailer has me hyped. Obviously. But I'm also very curious about any new information regarding the Keyblade and its secrets. Who knows what's to come. Also, with GT9 coming soon. Things are getting exciting!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
September 10, 20XX
The morning atmosphere was a breath of fresh air for those who managed to wake up before the day truly began. At least, that was what Sora was thinking right now.
In a frantic rush to get himself prepared and ready for the day, he had just jumped into the shower and conducted the fastest shower he'd ever had along with toasting himself a bagel and trying to get himself ready. The notification from his Gummiphone about Moogla managing to get a hit had caused him to jump into action and get a head start on the problem. She did not say anything more which caused the boy to ponder what she might have gotten, but still, it was better to have something rather than nothing.
Now set for the day, he bolted right out of the dorm room and leaped right into the open air. While free-falling, he locked his gaze with a streetlamp not that far away and immediately activated his Flowmotion by letting a blue glow appear around his body and cause him to shoot straight at the pole. Before making impact with the pole, he summoned his Keyblade and began spinning around at a ridiculous speed until he went flying forward and soon landed gracefully on his feet. He had managed to do all that without breaking a sweat.
Moreover, he set his sights on Moogla's workshop while beginning to ponder once again what she could have gotten to result in sending him a text this morning. Whatever it may be, he'd be ready to jump into action.
Sometime later…
Now standing in front of the workshop, Sora was about to start knocking where he entered the last time but was met by a cleaner robot gesturing for him to follow it. The two then made it further into the workshop where the spiky-haired boy now saw his Moogle friend floating there while holding a tablet and messing with several other bots.
"Hey, Moogla, I'm here!"
"Sora! It's good to see you. We have a lot to talk about, kupo."
Pulling up a chair and sitting next to Moogla, Sora watches as she lays the tablet in the middle of a workbench and pretty soon the entire bench starts transforming into a huge holographic map of the city.
"Whoa! What the… I didn't know you had something like this!" he excitedly said.
"It was another piece of technology part of my vast workshop that I didn't get around to showing you, kupo. There's still a whole lot of other stuff that I need to show you but that can wait, kupo."
Making a few more adjustments on her side, Moogla then beckoned Sora to look at the map.
"Last night I got a distress signal from one of my cleaner bots that's located over in District 14 which is primarily focused on accommodating other facilities for overseas students, kupo. The feed I got showcased two things, kupo."
Sora was now sitting upright and focused on listening to everything his friend and partner had to say.
"First, the cleaner bot picked up some feed of several Heartless around the district's perimeter. Based on what was clearly shown, it appeared to be only Shadows that were spotted, kupo."
"Did the cleaner bots keep a close eye on them?"
"Unfortunately, the robots lost track of the Heartless as soon as they crossed the district border into District 19, kupo."
"District 19. That place again huh?"
The sudden memory of heading toward District 19 on the first real night he spent staying in Academy City where he encountered Mugino, and the other girls of ITEM filled his head. Though he was only there for a little bit, he could easily see how that district was prone to be a Heartless rendezvous. It was practically considered emptied compared to all the other districts in this city and would be his go-to spot when guessing where the Heartless originated. Moreover, he wondered if he should pay that place another visit.
"And you said there was another thing you were alerted to?"
There was no response coming from the Gummiphone for a good whole moment until Moogla's voice came playing out.
"Yeah, but I'm not sure what it could be… maybe I'm being extra cautious from everything you've told me, kupo."
Saying this, the ball on top of Moogla's head lowered a bit showcasing how she was feeling a bit distraught about this situation.
"I'm sorry I frantically called you over here for nothing, kupo."
"Hey now. I'm not mad at all. You did the one thing that I asked and that was to keep me updated on whatever might be going on related to the Heartless or Darkness. And you did." Sora then looked down at the map once more and took a second to analyze it. "Besides, you gave me some important information about what the Heartless are up to. Now I know for sure something is up with District 19."
"Aww… when you put it like that it really does sound like I helped, kupo" Moogla said with a bit of excitement in her voice.
Sora couldn't help but have a dorky smile on his face while nodding.
"That does leave me with a bit of information to think about. But for now, I think I can cool my jets and not go rushing into anything."
"Huh. That's quite the responsible thing to say and do, kupo."
"Is it? I'm just speaking from experience." Sora replied but after processing it a moment longer, he folded his arms across his chest. "Since it's just me and no Donald or Goofy to watch my back, I have to be more careful with my actions and what's going on around me. Maybe it's because of my encounter with Darkness or that I don't completely know everything about the Science or Magic Sides. I just want to be careful."
The two seemed to share a moment of understanding as Moogla nodded her head, including her ball, and floated over to the map. Her attention was now focused on the area of District 19.
"So, what now, kupo?"
Gathering his thoughts about what he should do next, Sora wasn't sure what to say. Hence, he decided to give a straightforward answer from his heart.
"I think… the best thing I can do now is go to school and try to have a normal day. It'll be hard but we don't have anything to go from now. What will you do, Moogla?"
"Hmmm. I think I'll work on the production process for some of my cleaner robots, kupo." The helpful Moogle then floated over to another workbench and picked up what could be described as a glowing gem. "I'll also keep my eyes on anything that might be happening and let you know if it's super important, kupo."
"Got it. Thanks, Moogla. I wouldn't have gotten this far without you."
This comment got the Moogle to let out a small little giggle and began floating around in a circle.
"You're too kind, kupo."
A flare of happiness swelled from the spiky-haired boy's heart as he felt that-
"Oh! I almost forgot something, kupo!"
Confusion was now featured on Sora's face.
"Huh? What did you forget?"
Floating over to a tablet that was sitting on a stand, Moogla started rapidly tapping away and brought up a video for Sora to see. Upon closer inspection, he was a bit amazed at what he was seeing.
"Hey, that's me..."
"Yep. I managed to find this while doing a bit of scouring across the dark side web network, kupo. It was only on there for a few minutes before being taken down so it's not in clear quality but it's still something, kupo."
Processing what she said, Sora had many thoughts swirling around in his head about this new discovery.
"This might be a dumb question to ask but why was it taken down so fast?"
A look that held many thoughts in one's head was displayed on the Moogle's face before she seemingly nodded her head and… ball at the same time.
"The only reason that makes valid sense is that the higher-ups in Academy City want to make sure that nobody sees all the craziness happening, kupo" Moogla explained.
"That does make sense."
"I also think that there are things that might be causing headaches with the higher-ups, especially since you deal with enemies that wield magic and dark powers that are foreign to this world, kupo."
This sounded like a reasonable and realistic take on why the video of him was taken down so fast.
"I can only imagine someone from this world trying to explain what happened that night. Seeing a giant Heartless monster causing mayhem and then seeing a hooded figure using different weapons and whatnot" Sora replied, rubbing the back of his head.
Anyone who was trying to understand what was going on without having any knowledge would probably be having a tough time.
Nevertheless, Sora wondered if there was another reason for Moogla showing him this footage.
"Was there another reason you're showing me this, Moogla? Or was it just to let me know that you have been watching my back even more?"
"Well… it was a bit of both really, kupo." Moogla then floated down and played the video showcasing a different point of view of Sora during his fight against Larxene. "I was watching the fights and had some thoughts about it."
Tilting his head to the side, Sora wondered what she had to say.
"Oh? Tips about what I could have done better?"
"No, no. Nothing like that, kupo. There's no way I could comment about your fighting since I'm not a fighter, kupo."
Moogla then did a little twirl in the air before floating closer to Sora.
"I'm a lover, not a fighter, kupo!" she yelled in a high-pitched tone.
"Haha! Nothing wrong with that. But it sounds like you had some thoughts. I want to hear them" the Keyblade wielder enthusiastically asked.
Clearing her throat, the supportive Moogle decided to get right to business.
"Well, first of all, your fighting is amazing that much should be obvious, kupo."
Swiping his thumb under his nose, Sora couldn't help but smirk with the praise. It was a human reaction. He couldn't help it.
"Ahaha! Thanks, Moogla."
"Of course, kupo! But that also got me thinking since it seems that you have different weapons and abilities in your arsenal… how are you in terms of fighting without any weapons, kupo?"
This question threw the spiky-haired teen off his feet as he had to give it some thought.
'Fighting without the Keyblade… I can't say that I've ever really thought of fighting without before. No. That's a lie. There was that time when Riku took back the Keyblade... or in the Caribbean with Davy Jones and Will… and back with my encounter with Yozora when he stole the Keyblade. But…' Sora's thoughts dwelled deep in his heart now.
The simple answer was this.
"I'll be honest, Moogla, if I had to fight without the Keyblade… I'd be in some serious trouble."
"I see… sorry that it's a strange question, kupo."
"Not at all! It's a question that I should've thought about a while back. And to be honest, with me getting a lot more attention in Academy City… who knows the kinds of people and monsters I might end up encountering. I think I need to start working on expanding my fighting style" Sora replied, nodding to himself about this sudden plan.
Holding a look of contemplation, Moogla then glanced back at the video playing and figured she'd ask the overall question.
"So, do you know anyone who can help with your hand-to-hand combat, kupo?"
Letting out a whistle, Sora had to give that question some thought. Who could help him improve his hand-to-hand fighting skills? The list of people within Academy City wasn't that large. The few that he knew for sure could help him were Yomikawa and Mugino. Yomikawa was self-explanatory and the same could be said for Mugino. Also, there was another person who came to mind. A certain black spiky-haired boy who dealt with the Magical side of things in this world.
However, another thought soon came to pass as he subconsciously reached down into his pants pocket and pulled out the special Heartbinder he had come to learn a bit about. This caused the gears in his head to start moving.
"I think… I might have someone in mind. Well, actually, there are a few people I have in mind…"
"Really? That's great to hear, kupo!" Moogla then out of curiosity wondered who he was referring to. "And who might they be, kupo?"
Several figures popped into the spiky-haired boy's head. Individuals whom he knew packed a punch with their hands and even legs. They were the first people to come to mind.
"Well, one person that I'm thinking of has quite the mean right hook and knows how to infuse a bit of magic into her fighting style. Plus, based on what Cloud has told me about her during our time together in Smash, she's quite good at quick thinking and moving against an opponent."
"Oh? Who is that, kupo?"
"Her name is Tifa. I met her back in Hollow Bastion before it was saved and turned into Radiant Garden. I did see… well, someone dressed as her back in Smash, but it wasn't her. Heh, I still remember seeing Cloud's confused face at seeing people wearing Tifa and Aerith's outfits" Sora explained while having a grin appear on his face.
"Hmm. The name Cloud does sound familiar, kupo… Either way, you said you had a few others in mind, kupo?" Moogla questioned Sora while sounding eager to learn more.
"The next person to come to mind is a guy named Terry. He's more adverse in fighting with his fists which can be infused with flames. I met him in Smash for the first time and even took a few punches to the face from him… ha…"
When saying this, Sora immediately recalled a match he had with Terry where the cap-wearing man landed a few jabs at his face before using his Final Smash to send him flying with a burst of fire and then an explosive punch to the gut. He lost that match but managed to make a new friend in the process.
"Whoa… that sounds kind of… not normal, kupo?"
An expressive smile appeared on the teen's face as he patted the side of his head with his hand.
"Yeah. I tend to make friends in some of the strangest ways."
Moogla could only wave her small hands in the air and appeared to be holding back a chuckle before composing herself and getting back to the topic.
"Was that all you had in mind, kupo?"
"No, there are two other guys that I have in mind. There's also another person but… I don't think he'd be all that friendly if I summoned him here with my Heartbinder" the teen replied while letting out a sigh.
The person he was referring to was someone who kind of intimidated him with how crazy his fighting techniques were. Hence, he was more interested in asking two other people he met in Smash.
"This guy you're talking about sounds… intense, kupo."
"You have no idea. But the other two I mentioned are named Ryu and Ken. They are more friendly and willing to teach me a few things about hand-to-hand fighting. Their abilities also incorporate a bit of magic or elemental powers I'm not quite sure. But as of now, these are the people I'm thinking about that could help me learn a bit more about fighting without the Keyblade."
"I see, do you think you'll need a gym to train in, kupo?"
Showcasing a puzzled look, Sora had not thought about that. Honestly, he hadn't given this whole hand-to-hand training much more thought other than thinking of who could help him.
"I… I don't have an obvious plan in mind. That's going to need to be something I think about more clearly. I didn't put much thinking into this…" he responded.
"Well, if you need a place to train then why not use this space, kupo?"
"I-I couldn't do that. You've already done so much for me. This would be adding even more- "
"Sora. It's alright, kupo." At this point, Moogla floated right up to the boy and tapped her small paws on his nose. "Besides, you said it yourself. You have no idea what kind of trouble you might encounter in Academy City on either the Science or Magic Sides, kupo."
Letting out a defeated sigh, Sora couldn't help but feel even more grateful to this wonderful Moogle standing- well, floating in front of him. He seriously would not have made it this far without her.
"*Sigh* Thanks, Moogla. I owe you."
"Nope. You don't, kupo."
"… I know. Still, thank you."
Nodding her head, the Moogle started pressing some buttons on her tablet to close the video. This peaceful moment caused Sora to turn his attention back to everything that was happening now. With the Heartless being in District 19 and Darkness's warning, Sora knew that he would need to be alert to everything happening. Alas, seeing that there wasn't anything to do now, he figured that he should go back to his ordinary day. At least, until something happened.
"Moogla, I think I'm going to head to school now. If the Heartless are moving toward District 19, then maybe I should try and learn a bit more about that District. Maybe there's some secret hidden there that someone who has been in the city for a long time would know."
"Mm. I think that's a good idea, kupo. I'll keep you posted if my cleaner bots spot anything suspicious going on that they capture, kupo."
Smiling at the support he was receiving from his friend; Sora truly did have the best support ever. He wondered what kind of power team he would have if Donald and Goofy were here. The four of them would be an unstoppable force. Would that make Moogla half of a half pint though?
"Right! Thanks again, Moogla, see you later."
"Bye Sora! Take care, kupo."
Thus, the Guardian of Light made his way out of the cleaner bot warehouse and set off to have a regular school day. Or at least… that's what he thought he'd do.
Sometime later…
Having come into an open area, Sora was minding his own business on his way to school when he spotted three individuals that he did not expect to see together. It shouldn't have been such a shock, but he seriously did not expect to see his friends with each other.
"Huh? Isn't that… Misaka? And Touma? And… Index?"
The scene in front of him could be described as confusing with three of his friends chatting with one another, however, it looked like Touma was arguing with Index while Misaka stood there looking utterly puzzled.
Wanting to catch up with them, especially Misaka, Sora now went wide-eyed when he saw Misaka start casting lighting off her body and having it fly in all sorts of directions. Worried that it would hurt Index, the spiky-haired brunette rushed forward but saw that Touma casually waved his hand in the air and negated some of the electricity without breaking a sweat. There was also that glass-breaking sound effect playing out again from Touma's ability.
"Hey, you guys are- "
But before the Keyblade wielder could finish what he was saying, the black spiky-haired boy took off without wasting another moment leaving Index and Misaka standing there and gawking at the teen.
"He left!"
"It's all your fault."
"How is it my fault?! It's that idiot's fault in the first place."
"Hm… maybe this time it is. Touma did forget to prepare me lunch…" Index muttered while folding her arms across her chest.
Coincidently, Misaka was about to question the sister about why it really did sound like that idiot prepared her meals and looked after her but felt someone behind her. Turning around, she was now in the presence of another spiky-haired boy, only this time she didn't consider him an idiot.
"Sora? When did you get here?"
"Just now. I uh… saw your… well, I saw what happened" the brunette cautiously replied.
Hearing this from the teen, Misaka felt her entire face warm up and a small whimper could be heard. She tried to get her face color back to normal but there was no use. She was as red as an apple.
Off to the side, Index had now registered the presence of a more sensible person.
"Sora! This is a nice surprise."
"Index? For some reason, it's weird to see you out and about haha" Sora commented.
"Yep. Touma forgot to make me lunch again!" the young nun roared out in fury.
Not sure what he could say in defense of his fellow spiky-haired friend, Sora decided to give a more reasonable response in his defense.
"W-Well, maybe he was running late today?"
"That's true… Touma did slam his head on the bathtub this morning."
"H-H-He did what now?" Misaka stammered to say. "A-And how would you know about him doing such a thing!?"
Before Sora could respond and say that Touma and Index lived together, Index had beaten him to saying something.
"But that still doesn't excuse Touma for forgetting my lunch! He could have at the very least made me a sandwich."
"I'm not sure Touma had the right… uh… ingredients to make you lunch… maybe?"
Puffing her chest out, Index was now of one train of thought.
"Hmph! That's fine. I'll make Touma make me something extra tonight!"
And with that, the sister nun started walking away all while slamming her feet down on the ground in an annoyed manner, but due to her size and posture, it came off as being quite comical.
This now left Misaka and Sora to just stare in bewilderment at what just happened.
"I… that was unexpected."
"Grr… Just thinking about that idiot again is making me pissed!" Misaka yelled while closing her eyes and having a tint of red on her cheeks.
Worried that he would now be hit with electricity coming from the brunette girl, the Keyblade wielder spoke fast.
"H-Hey, Misaka, friendly fire here!" Sora said while waving his hands in the air.
Based on how her Esper powers might work, he figured that she acted a bit irrational whenever annoyed greatly. Of course, this was all based on an assumption since he only saw her shoot sparks from a distance.
Still left with a red face, Misaka soon calmed herself down and had an embarrassed look on her face.
"Sorry about that. *sigh* That idiot really does know how to push my buttons."
"I can see that. Do you always shoot sparks of electricity when annoyed?" the Keyblade wielder bluntly asked.
Beginning to twirl part of her hair, Misaka gave a frank reply, "N-Not always. It's only whenever that idiot is involved…"
"I see…"
There was a lot that Sora could say in this moment but instead of going further into this topic, he suddenly realized something obvious. He was now in the presence of Misaka. The last time he and her had a conversation it revolved around the two planning a time to get together with her friends. Including the friend that he saved during the first Heartless attack on the city.
"Hey, wait a minute. Where have you been for the past week? The last time we talked, we were planning on a time for me to stop by and say hi to your friend that I saved. Even though I told you that wasn't necessary."
Sporting a shrugging expression, Misaka instantaneously recalled the past week's events and decided to give a simple answer instead of making it more complex.
"I was- well, my friends and I were all out of town on a field trip. But now we're back."
"I see, hope it went well."
"Y-Yeah… anyway why don't I call my friends now and see if they can meet? That'll be a nice turn of events."
Nodding his head, Sora figured it would cross another off the list of things he had to do.
"Sure, I'm game."
"Great! Let me call them…"
Hence, Misaka was now on the phone leaving Sora to look around his surroundings as he hadn't been to this part of the city. Granted, he probably had but at this point, he had only seen a very small percentage of the entire Academy City. If he had to guess, it rivaled that of San Fransokyo but that was only an estimated guess, and even then, he didn't explore the entirety of that city as well. Only the parts that he and Big Hero 6 roamed around.
Coming back to his senses, Sora could see Misaka nodding her head and powering down her phone.
"Alright, they said they are good to meet you now. Shall we get going?"
"Yep. Lead the way."
The duo was now walking down the sidewalk and making a bit of small talk about how the day had been so far. It was feared that it would be an awkward walk but due to Sora's open-hearted friendliness, he managed to make it a fun time.
"So, you haven't been in Academy City for almost a whole week?" Sora asked the Level 5.
"No, we haven't. Why? Has there been much action in the city? Are those small creatures still running around?" Misaka replied, tilting her head in curiosity. "Oh, right. Weren't they called Heartless?"
"Yeah, they are called that and… I think it's best I tell you when everyone's together. It's… it's a long story."
Hearing the spiky-haired boy say this, Misaka couldn't help but wonder just what he meant by those words.
'What does that mean?'
She had this thought with her as the two of them continued making their way to the location that Misaka had in mind for letting Sora finally meet her friends.
After walking for some time
Coming up on what could be described as a five-story building, Sora tilted his head and spoke out what he was thinking.
"So, this is where we will be meeting your friends?" the brunette boy asked.
"Yep. Saten and the others are on the second floor. This building here is in use by Judgment. Judgment 177 Branch Office. My friends Shirai Kuroko and Uiharu Kazari work here along with our friend Konori Mii who is the head of this branch" Misaka explained. "Though Kuroko does tend to move around the different branches at times. She has a teleporting ability that lets her traverse at incredible speeds."
"Whoa… that's so cool! I can't wait to meet her. Shall we get going?"
Nodding her head, Misaka replied by opening the front door and holding it open for him.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Though, I think Kuroko will be late. She said she had to make her rounds around the district."
"That's fair. This is a bit of a sudden get-together."
The two were now moving through the building and were on the second floor which had a closed door to what Sora suspected to be the room where her friends were at.
"Ready?"
"Yep. Let's do this."
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
"Come in!" a girl's voice called out to them.
Doing just that, Misaka and Sora entered the office and could see that it was in the form of a comfortable office structure with one area containing a few couches to relax and the rest looked to be what you'd expect. Sitting on one of the couches was a girl with black hair wearing a sailor uniform who was reading a magazine. Another girl with dark hair and what looked to be a flower headband on her head was sitting at a computer typing away, and then another older girl with dark hair and glasses was holding onto a coffee mug and was ready to greet them once they entered the room.
"Hey, Saten, here he is," the Level 5 said while referring to Sora.
Coming into the room and now having three sets of eyes on him, the Keyblade wielder awkwardly waved his hand in the air and replied with a dorky smile.
"Uh… Hi there."
This was followed by him chuckling a little bit while ruffling the back of his hair.
Jumping up from the couch, Saten couldn't help but feel her face get warm but not in the sense of having a crush on the boy, but more in the sense that she was now in the presence of the boy who saved her during that monster attack. She already had a plan on what she was going to say, however, she was now stuck with her mouth shut and only small murmurings were heard.
"I…I… H-Hi…"
Turning his head to look at her, Sora had a warm smile on his face.
"Hey there, I'm guessing you're Misaka's friend that I saved?"
"Y-Yeah! That's me. My name's Saten Ruiko. Nice to meet you, Sora."
"Same here. It's nice meeting you for the first- well, the second time, I guess haha."
At this point, the girl with the flower headband got up from her seat and started introducing herself.
"Hello there, it's nice to finally meet you. Misaka has talked about you to us for quite a bit. My name is Uiharu Kazari."
"Hey there, Uiharu, nice to meet you too. I hope nothing bad was said about me" he comedically muttered.
"Not at all! Nothing but praises really. And it's also really great meeting the hero for that monster event. That was seriously…. Something else" Uiharu added.
The next girl to make her presence known was the girl with black hair, glasses, and a… considerably sized chest.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Sora. Again, thank you for the help you provided during that monster attack. Judgment happily thanks you for your support" the glasses girl said while slightly bowing her head.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Sora felt a bit awkward at the way she was showing her thanks.
"H-Hey, it's alright. You don't have to bow, you know?"
Shaking her head, the dark-haired girl held a smile on her face, "It's simply a showing of my thanks. You really did help on that day. Both Anti-Skill and Judgment were completely blindsided by what was going on."
Sora could understand what she was getting at. That day marked the beginning of things to change for this world as it truly did seem like this was the first time that the Heartless appeared in Academy City. Everyone was surprised and unsure of what was going on.
"Ah, where are my manners… My name is Konori Mii. I'm the head of this branch."
"It's nice to meet you, Konori."
"Likewise. You also look to be around the same age as me. How old are you?"
"I'm- "
Sora suddenly stopped himself and had to give that question some real thought. Just how old was he really? This sudden thought got him thinking about everything that had happened to him ranging from his time waking up in Twilight Town, to finding Riku and Kairi for a second time, to dealing with the Mark of Mastery, and fighting in the Keyblade War. There was however an answer on the tip of his tongue but rather than voice out his supposed answer, he decided to switch it up at the last minute.
"I-I'm a student at A Certain High."
"Yep. I was right with my assumption" Konori said, feeling a bit happy to be talking with someone her age as she's usually hanging around the girls who are younger than her.
On that note, Konori did push her glasses up with one hand while a thought lingered in her mind.
"Sora, I would also like to thank you for your help the other night as well. I wasn't in the district but based on what I was hearing from my superiors and colleagues alike, things were quite hectic."
Confusion was now evident on Misaka, Saten, and Uiharu's faces.
"Huh? The other night? What are you talking about?" Misaka questioned, looking between the two.
"The other night… we were still out of Academy City, right?" Saten murmured.
"Yeah, we were still outside the city. But what happened?" Uiharu asked the two.
Sending a look to Konori, Sora began to sweat drop and let out an awkward chuckle.
"Ahaha… you think I should start from the beginning?" he asked the girl around his age.
"I think that would be wise. Plus, I'm also not aware of everything that took place that night. Only the… uh… more obvious facts about it all."
"Ok. Seriously. What are you two talking about? You barely met each other and yet it feels like you're all close with your secrets."
A small smile appeared on Konori's face as she glanced over at Sora who merely shook his head with a sly smile also appearing on his face.
"Heh, I hope you guys are sitting down. What I have to tell you will… be quite a bit."
This comment made all the girls quickly look at each other before seemingly nodding altogether and finding a comfy position while they waited for the spiky-haired boy to tell his tale.
"Well, I guess I should start from the beginning of what happened. I'll be cutting some things out if that's alright. Otherwise, we might be here for… "
Sora quickly calculated the time that it would take to hypothetically explain everything to Misaka and her friends and figured that it would take more than a week… maybe even longer.
"Uh… It'll just take a lot longer to explain everything so, I'll be trimming things down. Sound good?"
The response he got was head nodding from the four girls.
"Alright so here's how it all started…"
Several long minutes later
"And that's how I ended the night. Any questions?"
The mouths of Misaka, Uiharu, and Saten were left open as they did not have the right words to explain what their thoughts were after hearing everything they did. It was nothing like what they were expecting. Any of their expectations for what they thought Sora would say were thrown right out the window and replaced with utter awe.
"…What…"
That was the only audible thing to be said by Saten.
"I… I… How are we only hearing about this now!?" Misaka practically yelled out.
"I think I might have an idea. Granted, I already knew about a few things from that night based on the information my colleagues and friends were sending me, but to hear what actually went down is… I have no words really" Konori explained to the group.
"W-What's your idea?" Uiharu, snapping out of her shock asked.
"Well, it might have to do with how this whole monster situation has been playing out across the city. This is based on assumptions, but the higher-ups of Academy City might not want this dilemma to be spread out and be widely known. The first attack came out of nowhere so there wasn't much they could do about it being captured and viewed by everyone. However, now that they are aware of these creatures- "
"They're called the Heartless. Figured you'd like a name for them instead of just calling them monsters repeatedly" Sora added.
"Right…Heartless. The higher-ups are probably making sure that the public doesn't worry about the Heartless roaming around the city. Judgment reports have come in the past few days about more and more sightings of these creatures in various districts."
A frown appeared on Sora's face.
"I'm sorry about that."
"Huh? What are you sorry for, Sora?" Misaka was perplexed by hearing the boy apologize. "You didn't know where they would show up."
"No. But that still makes it a problem. The Heartless are- "
It was at this point that Sora decided to use a bit of knowledge he'd come to familiarize himself with that would help him explain the point of origin for the Heartless. Of course, the Heartless were born from manifestations of the heart but they were also experimented on by Ansem meaning that he could use that in his favor. Avoiding any talk about other worlds or how the Heartless were a magical enemy and whatnot. There was no way he could have that conversation here.
"They were created from an experiment driven by a mad scientist who was researching more into the heart."
"The heart? As in, the organ?" Saten questioned while tilting her head to the side.
"Not exactly. More like human emotions and the feelings that are inside of us."
The look on Uiharu's face could be conveyed as one trying to overanalyze the things she just heard.
"But… So… the heart is what was being experimented on, correct?"
"Yeah, all kinds of experiments were done. And some of them that I'm aware of don't make any sense at all."
"I've never heard of an experiment like this before. Sure, I've heard of some cardiology research evolving thanks to Academy City's technology making it easier to keep a beating heart alive way longer than anywhere else in the world, or I've also heard that some scientists were working on a machine to simulate a beating heart while an individual didn't even have a heart inside them but… this is something I've never heard of before…"
The flower band girl's head looked to be spinning with all sorts of ideas about what Sora had told her. This resulted in her friends merely smiling at her and even Saten murmured under her breath.
"Looks like Uiharu's got some homework to do haha."
"It might be a bit hard to find anything regarding the heart research I'm talking about, Uiharu" Sora confided to her.
"H-Huh? How so?"
"The heart research I'm talking about was classified as some top-secret stuff and was even forbidden to be pursued but the scientist behind it all, a man named Ansem, continued to pursue this topic. The result he ended up with was the revelation of the Heartless."
Processing this information, Misaka couldn't help but recall a bit of her own experiences with scientists pursuing research that was not ethically correct. The entire ordeal with the Sister Clones and the process it would take to reach Level 6 was something that stayed in the back of her mind all the time. She recalled how Academy City used her to create something that she now saw as a troublesome set piece along with one of the best things to ever happen in her life.
The inclusion of her now having a much bigger family than she ever thought possible… literally.
Before anyone could say anything, Konori spoke up wanting to ask a question.
"Sora, how is that you seem to know a great deal about the Heartless?"
Hearing this, Sora couldn't help but fold his arms across his chest and sigh.
"For a few years now, I've been tasked with getting rid of the Heartless and making sure they don't continue to grow and steal more hearts."
"You were tasked? You make it sound like you got caught up in something big" Saten added.
Another road to cross with how he was explaining things. Sora would once again need to twist the truth to fit what he was trying to say.
"I happened to get involved with the Heartless a few years ago after they invaded my home. I grew up on a set of islands called Destiny Islands."
"Destiny Islands? Never heard of them. Where are they located?" Misaka asked.
A weak smile appeared on Sora's face.
"You won't be able to find it on any regular map. Plus, the islands were attacked by the Heartless a while ago. That's kind of where my journey dealing with the Heartless started. I lost my best friends, Riku and Kairi, and went on a bit of an adventure to find them."
"That's… that's horrible" Konori mumbled.
"It's a long story but eventually I managed to find my friends but the Heartless showed no signs of stopping. That's also where… "Sora then looked down at his hand and summoned his Keyblade for everyone to see.
The reactions from everyone's faces were that of absolute shock. Even Saten felt herself jump back on the couch from the unexpected sighting of a giant… housekey?
"What in the world- "
"That's the thing I saw you use when you saved me!"
"I've never seen anything like that before… ever."
The only girl to have a somewhat calm expression was Misaka as she quietly observed the strange-looking weapon in front of her. Just how did it appear out of nowhere?
"Sora. What's your esper ability?" the Level 5 asked.
"My power has to do with Light Manipulation. It's… very complicated to explain but my Keyblade helps me with the heavy work. It lets me create all sorts of things as well as do things that don't make any sense at all haha" he said while chuckling a bit.
Curiosity was written all over Saten's face as she began to have a big head at all the cool things that were coming to her mind.
"Ooh! You said you can create anything, right?"
"Err… yeah?"
"Then have you ever created a weapon before? You know, you said you can create stuff. Anything super awesome you've created before?" Saten excitedly asked.
There was a glint of light appearing around the girl's eyes that Sora couldn't help but chuckle at.
"Well, for a good number of the weapons I'm able to create I need to have a little keychain charm that will help me… uh… get a feel for it. There are times that I don't even know what kind of weapon I'll be creating."
The Keyblade wielder's response to her question was the truth. He really had no idea how he was able to use all the crazy weapons he could in his different Formchanges. From giant hammers to arm drills to ice skates to staffs to even yo-yos, he had no idea how it worked. It just did.
"Huh… that's not the kind of answer I was expecting," the black-haired girl said aloud.
"Saten!"
"I-I didn't mean it in a bad way. It's just surprising is all." Saten then scratched the side of her cheek and glanced over at Misaka. "I mean, I'm sure Misaka can create all kinds of things since she's a Level 5 and whatnot."
Listening to her friend's words, the brunette-haired middle schooler couldn't help but think to herself about all the various things she was able to do with her Esper ability. During the regularly scheduled routine checkups that she had to come in for, Misaka was tasked with furthering the development of her Electromaster abilities. That train of thought made her consider just what she was able to do with her power.
"Saten… I don't think it's fair to make assumptions about how Sora or Misaka use their Esper abilities" Uiharu noted.
"I know. I know. Can't blame a girl for guessing, you know?"
A thoughtful look then appeared on the teen's face as he could see what Saten was going for.
"I didn't mind her guessing. Honestly, it feels like at times I'm not even sure how my power even works" Sora casually said.
"I don't think I've ever heard an esper say that before. On that note, what level are you, Sora?" the spectacles-wearing girl asked.
That question was bound to have an answer that would throw the girls for a loop.
"I'm classified as a Level 0."
"…"
A moment of silence quickly washed over the girls before Saten was the first to break the quietness.
"You're joking…? Oh. Ahahaha. I get it. Nice joke Sora."
The boy's face held a simple yet strained smile as he did not correct himself or counter Saten's comment.
"…Wait. You're not kidding…"
"There's no way… First that idiot and now you?" Misaka whispered under her breath.
"That can't be right. I-I saw the footage of your encounter with the Heartless. You have battle experience that's for sure, but the way you were able to- "
"And what you said about the other night when you faced that mutated Heartless lion and guy in the hood" Uiharu added.
Doing what he could to find the right response to their words, Sora slowly brought his free hand up to his chest while still holding his Keyblade in his right hand. It seemed like the more people he met in this city, the more their view of levels was at an all-time high.
"You're all correct. However, that doesn't mean I have to be classified as someone at a high level. Anyone can do the work I did. Just in their own unique way."
"What do you mean by that?" Saten asked while leaning forward in her seat. "You're saying that someone with a low level could… beat the bad guys you faced?"
"You can think that, but that's not exactly what I'm getting at. I'm saying that no matter what level you are classified at. If you're willing to follow your heart and do what you think is right in a situation that requires someone to stand up, then you're already stronger than you think. You don't need to be a Level 5 to help. You don't even need to be a Level 0. You just have to be yourself."
As Sora said these words, the four girls seemed to have somewhat shocking reactions. Granted, they weren't falling out of their seat, but they were glancing at one another with looks that could convey a thousand words. Particularly, Saten and Uiharu were glancing over at Misaka who seemed to be glancing down at the floor. The boy's words seemed to have settled into her mind and left her in deep thought. That much was evident.
Alas, in the Level 5's mind, she was seriously considering and breaking down the boy's words. A plethora of memories began playing out in her mind and all the experiences she went through to become a Level 5. She even recalled her old self thinking that her level status was so much better than everyone else's and how they presented her thoughts differently. She hated thinking about this but at the same time, she knew that it was a sour feeling she had to accept and move past. Besides, the thought of a certain spiky-haired boy popped into her mind, and how his claim of being a Level 0 with a strange power in his right hand made her face warm up.
"I… Have you ever seen someone do what you just said, Sora…?" Saten cautiously asked.
This whole startling statement about how anyone could be a hero got the black-haired girl thinking.
"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I have. I have a ton of friends who have done such things. There is this one friend of mine named Mulan and she decided to take a stand in a… certain conflict. I managed to meet her when everyone around her was either stronger or wiser, but she still held onto her beliefs and gave it her all to help so many people."
Sora's words about Mulan were trimmed down from the actual conflict that she had dealt with. But it didn't seem like a good idea to mention that she and him were pretty much involved with an army going to fight against a bad guy who was looking to take over with Heartless at his side. That would have led to the Keyblade wielder coming up with some extravagant excuses and made-up explanations.
"Her name was Mulan?"
"Yep. And she didn't have any sort of power at her side. Just her wit and determination to make a change and pitch in to give some help" Sora replied, allowing a bright smile to appear on his face as he remembered his friend.
"Wow… I wish I could meet her."
"Heh. It's been a minute since I've last talked to her. I'm sure she's alright" the teen muttered to himself.
"Who else comes to mind regarding this question, Sora?" the flower headband girl asked while leaning forward in her desk chair.
Before he could give the name of one of his friends, Sora figured he would get to learn a bit more about the girls rather than do all the talking.
"Why don't I flip the table question around and ask you that? Is there a friend of yours that fits what I mentioned? And it doesn't necessarily have to deal with their level status. It could just be a time that they helped when things were looking bad. Their support meant a lot in ways that you still remember."
Taking a second to glance over at each other, Misaka, Uiharu, and Saten could think of over a dozen names of their friends who helped them in peculiar situations. There was no doubt that the brunette boy's words had rang a bit of truth to them. It wasn't just all about what level status you were. It was about the support and initiative taken to help reach a happy end goal. Being there for your friends.
"I think I understand you a bit more, Sora" Misaka expressed while having a small smile traced across her lips.
Sora's response to this was a simple head nod while conveying a positive bubble around him.
"Something so small can lead to something much greater."
Konori had been quiet for a bit but was internally assessing a sort of understanding around the boy known as Sora. For someone around her age, the boy standing before her spoke with a sense of experience and wisdom that you would expect from someone much older. Yet, the way that he viewed someone beyond their level status and actually cared to get to know them was drawing her to want to know more about him. It wasn't every day that someone you just met would outwardly say these kinds of things.
"It sounds like you have a lot of knowledge when it comes to talking about people."
"Yep. I can assuredly say that I've met a lot of people in my life. Different views of life and getting to know more about a person's qualities. Along with becoming close to them with my heart" the Keyblade wielder replied, sporting a happy look.
"I wish everyone had your enthusiasm" Saten mumbled. "It's a bit rough at times for us lower levels hahaha…"
A frown appeared on everyone's faces, especially on Sora and Misaka's. Each had their own thoughts about what she said.
"Does it happen often? People looking down on you for your level?" Sora asked before taking on a thinking pose and asking another question. "What is your level? I don't think you or anyone else ever mentioned it."
Clutching at her left arm while feeling a wave of awkwardness hit her as she was now the center of attention, Saten let out a small chuckle.
"It doesn't happen all the time, but it still happens. And my power level status is zero."
"I see, that's not right though. People ridiculing you just because you're classified as a Level 0."
Saten simply nodded her head agreeing with Sora's statement. Although she had only experienced this kind of bullying a few times, she had borne witness to many other incidents across the city with Level 0 students being picked on by higher-level students. Seeing how easy it was for someone to be bullied and treated like nothing more than a bug in the way left her feeling upset. Of course, she had become apathetic and done something stupid with the drug known as Level Upper, but she then learned her lesson and grew to accept herself. Now, she wanted nothing more than to develop her abilities through her own work.
"It's not fair and there's only so much Anti-Skill and Judgement can do. I mean, there are over two million people within the city" Konori responded while letting out a sigh.
"*cough* *cough* T-Two million!?" Sora yelled out in utter shock.
"Yeah, it's crazy to think about that many people in the city" Misaka casually stated.
The spiky-haired brunette teen was left muttering to himself about this massive revelation. It was seriously crazy to think about. Hearing that number out loud like it was nothing.
"I-I… That's… The only place that…"
Sora was trying to find the right words but couldn't exactly finish a sentence. In his head, the only world that he visited that fit the bill for having that many people would be Hiro's world with Big Hero 6. San Fransokyo was a whole new ballpark among the other large worlds.
"I'm surprised that you're surprised, Sora" Uiharu commented, observing the boy looking bewildered.
Ruffling the back of his hair, the spiky-haired teen could only shrug his shoulders for how he would go about giving a proper explanation for his apparent surprise.
"I think it's just the overall way you casually said that there were around two million people here in Academy City."
"You get used to it."
Figuring that this conversation would keep on going in this direction, Sora quickly spotted something sitting on a table next to Misaka that would likely turn the tables and bring about another completely different conversation.
"Hey… isn't that the frog I've seen around? What was its name again…"
At that moment, the Level 5 known as Railgun turned her head so fast that one would've thought gotten whiplash. The speed that she displayed was something that shocked Sora greatly but not the other girls.
"That. Frog. Has. A. Name. And. It. Is. Gekota."
Waving his hands in the air, Sora quickly set to not get on her bad side, "Sorry! Sorry! I forgot- the name slipped my mind ahaha…ha…"
Deciding that the boy learned his lesson, Misaka's total personality went back to being relaxed and calm while also displaying a head nod of approval.
"That's fine. Just don't ever forget it again."
"Understood!" he loudly said while nodding his head.
Clearing her throat, Saten decided to step in and save the teen from the middle school girl's wrath.
"So, Sora, why did you take an interest in Misaka's Gekota?"
"Well, it just reminded me of another frog that I've encountered… in the past. You know?" Sora relayed to the girl in a somewhat casual manner.
Hearing this, the girls all seemed to raise their eyebrows and wonder if the frog that Sora was talking about was just another version of a Gekota. Uiharu and Saten could specifically recall the many times that Misaka had mentioned all the various kinds of shapes and sizes that Gekota merchandise came in.
"Hmm. Was it just another version of Gekota?"
"I'm not sure. It had- "
Suddenly, an idea popped into the teen's mind as he now sported a giant grin on his face and was rummaging through his pocket for a certain object.
"How about I just show you?"
This greatly confused the girls as they all looked at Sora like he had grown a second head.
"Uh… what do you mean by that, Sora? Do you have a picture of the frog?" Saten asked.
Obviously, the Level 5 shot a look over at her friend.
"Even better! Watch this!"
With the Heartbinder resting in his hand, the Keyblade wielder held onto it tightly and brought it close to his lips as he whispered into it.
"Please come on out. Lord Kyroo" he spoke into the item.
In a flash, the object in Sora's hand glowed a bright green color before causing everyone to cover their eyes as the light grew and grew to the point that the entire Judgment room was covered in light. Once the brightness was dimming down, another figure now stood in the room with the girls and boy. A figure that was of short height and looked to be… green? And wearing a crown on its head.
"H-Huh!? What the- How did you- "Saten was at a total loss.
"Who is that?!" Uiharu shouted while pointing at the strange-looking figure.
"I… What's going on, Sora?" Konori asked the boy while cautiously looking at the strange figure.
Misaka, however, had her eyes widened and was staring right at the figure with what could only be described as utter amazement and shock. Standing there was a frog-like creature that had a green, orange, and yellow color scheme with a hint of pink all over its body. On its chest was a strange symbol that none of the girls had ever seen before along with its weird eyes. But to add to the frog's character there appeared to be a crown on its head, and it was holding a rapier in one hand and the other held a small shield. Additionally, there seemed to be a hint of cuteness to this little creature.
"W-W-What… who is this…?" Misaka mumbled out of her stunned state.
"This is Lord Kyroo. He's what's called a Dream Eater. They are… creatures that I'm able to summon through my ability thanks to this object in my hand called a Heartbinder" Sora briefly explained.
His way of going about explaining how the Dream Eaters were a thing would be reliant on his made-up Esper ability. It was going to take a bit of imaginative explaining for something like this. Alas, Sora could bring up a point that his magical ability really did allow his heart to call upon his friends for help thanks to how the Heartbinder worked. Now, the real question of how and why the Heartbinder worked was something that he had no clue at all.
"A Dream Eater? I've never heard that before" Saten muttered.
"Me neither."
"What does the symbol on his chest- "
While the other three girls were chatting away about this strange and unusual creature standing before them along with the ability showcased by the high school boy. One specific middle school girl was left in a hypnotic daze as she continued to closely watch the frog creature as it tilted its head while looking back at her. Misaka could feel goosebumps running across her arms and neck and the excitement bubbling in her chest was at an all-time high.
Standing right before her was a creature that identically reminded her of a certain mascot that she held near and dear to her heart. Even if this wasn't outright the appearance that she was familiar with, her heart told her only one thing that mattered.
'It's… It's a real-life Gekota… Not just a copy or cheap-looking knock-off. It's a different style… I-I don't even know anymore… His name is Lord Kyroo… I've never heard of that name before… With his stylish appearance and guardian-like form… he looks to be a Gekota that stands up to evil. *gasp* Maybe he protects the other Gekotas!? I just… I just… I…'
Misaka's head was churning with dramatic thoughts at this point. Never in her life did she think that she'd meet a Gekota of this kind before. Obviously, Gekota came in various shapes and sizes along with their appearances matching themes or special events going on, but this Gekota standing before her was a totally new design. She couldn't help but feel an itch inside her ever-devoted Gekota-loving heart.
Alas, while the Level 5 was slowly getting the gears in her head to calm down, the others were still asking Sora questions.
"Is this something only you can do, Sora? You mentioned that this happened due to your ability" Konori summarized, trying to get an idea of what was going on.
"That I know of, yeah. It's been something that I've been able to do for quite a while." Sora replied while smiling to himself and remembering all the other times he used his summon ability. "You should see when I summon all of my- "
"I want him."
The brunette Level 5 said this aloud and enough for everyone to hear.
"All… of… my… what?"
Everyone's attention had now shifted over to Misaka who had a darkened expression cast over her face. A better description of her appearance would be that some of her hair was covering her eyes which held a flame within them. Ultimate determination and conviction were written all over her face.
"Misaka?" Uiharu voiced out in concern. "What did you just say?"
"What do you mean you want him?" Konori weakly asked.
"I want him."
Sora couldn't help but wonder if he didn't hear her correctly or if he missed something that she said because he was utterly confused.
"Um… Misaka, what do you mean? I'm a bit confused."
To add to the scene being played out, the Dream Eater, Lord Kyroo, seemed to let out a croak, dipped its head to the side, and seemingly lowered its rapier while at the same time raising its shield all while taking a step away from Misaka. This caused the brunette girl to look worried.
"H-Hey… what was that for? I-I didn't mean…"
"*Croak*," said the Dream Eater as it took another step away from Misaka.
Another critical hit was taken from the Level 5 as she realized just what was going on.
"N-No! Please. Wait! Geko- I mean, Lord Kyroo. That's your name, right? I'm sorry for saying that I want you. I should have considered your feelings. I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. I… Please don't leave me… I…"
Misaka was on the verge of crying with how her posture was leaning more and more toward a full-blown bow of forgiveness. Everyone else just watched as the Level 5 was pleading with the strange frog for forgiveness. Even Sora was bewildered by what he was seeing. This was a reaction from the Dream Eater that he never dealt with… let's just say they weren't buddy-buddy, but they weren't also enemies. The middle ground was met between the Keyblade wielder and Dream Eater.
Observing the girl's actions, the frog Dream Eater seemed to lower its shield and take another step toward the girl watching her for a minute. Once done, the frog let out another croak and stood in front of Misaka seemingly accepting her apology.
"T-Thank you! I promise I will protect you with my life now. Your battles are now my battles!" Misaka roared out while sporting a boost of confidence in her self-esteem.
"*Croak*"
The frog merely nodded its head before flashing away leaving the room empty of any living frog.
"Huh? Where did- Where did it go?" Saten questioned, searching around the room.
"He returned to… wherever he came from. I'm not so sure where that is actually…" the spiky-haired teen muttered.
Taking a seat, Misaka held her hands up and could feel the smile making itself apparent on her face.
"I can't believe it… I can't believe it. I met a real-life Gekota. He… Lord Kyroo… I will never forget him…"
The Keyblade wielder could only keep to himself now. If this was her reaction to seeing Lord Kyroo, then how would she react if she met Chef Kyroo? Also, what would her reaction be if he told her that he could change the color of Kyroo's appearance? Perhaps that should wait for another day…
"You good, Misaka?"
Nodding her head rapidly, the middle school girl looked to be in a complete daze. Even to the point that it looked like her eyes were watering up.
"I'm more than ok. I met an actual moving and talking Gekota. Even if he wasn't a Gekota… he was still a Gekota variant."
Saten and Uiharu could only shake their heads at their friend's antics. This must have been a somewhat regular thing for them to endure based on Misaka's Gekota fanaticism.
"You might want to give her a minute" Saten lightly said to Sora.
It would be a full solid minute until Misaka seemed to come back to her senses. It was honestly quite comedic to see a Level 5 act like this. Granted, he hadn't met all the Level 5's yet only Mugino, Misaka, and Shokuhou. However, based on his experiences with the girls, he figured that while they did appear to be at the top of Academy City's power structure, they were still girls with their own thoughts and feelings.
"Ah… I will never forget you, Lord Kyroo." Misaka said before shaking her head and coming back to her senses. "Huh? Why is everyone staring at me?"
"See what I mean?" the black-haired girl said to the teen boy who was chuckling at the scene.
"Anyone with a passion or hobby is sure to react like this. Maybe… in a different way…?" Sora reasoned.
Before either of the two could say another word, Misaka confronted the two with a very noticeable blush covering her face.
"I-I… You can't blame me for how I'm acting! I've never seen a Gekota like that before." She then directly marched up to the spiky-haired teen and had a fiery look in her eyes. "Sora. How and where did you manage to meet Lord Kyroo? And how did he even appear out of nowhere?"
These questions were somewhat answered by the Keyblade wielder already, but he figured he could spend some time clarifying them for Misaka.
"Lord Kyroo is known as a Dream Eater which are creatures that I've managed to summon and have helped me in many of the battles I've experienced. They're a special kind of creature that I'm able to summon through the help of my ability and this object is known as a Heartbinder. It helps me focus on channeling my energy and… yeah, it's kind of complicated to understand at first."
Saten simply nodded at that assessment as she kind of understood what Sora was talking about but still didn't get it all.
"Dream Eater… Heartbinder… your ability is a strange one…" Misaka muttered under her breath.
Scratching his cheek, Sora let out an awkward chuckle, "Yeah, I get that a lot. That adds to the realization that Academy City has labeled me as a Level 0 due to my power being unreadable and hard to grasp…"
Another quick made-up explanation was Sora's go-to answer, but to be honest, it wasn't that far from the truth. Just… not the whole truth.
"Ahaha. Yeah, you have no idea. But tell me, what about your ability, Misaka? I know that you're a Level 5 and you use electricity, but what else can you do?" Sora then looked over at everyone else. "And that goes for all of you guys. I want to get to know you better and that includes your Espser ability. Doesn't matter if you're a Level 0 or a Level 5. I want to know it all."
All at once, everyone grew to have a bright smile on their face at how friendly the spiky-haired boy was. Consequently, it was also dawning on the girls how easy it was to talk with Sora and how he could get along with anyone easily.
Not to mention, his gratitude and respect to Espers of any level and not really judging a person based on their power, but by how they were as a person. It would be quite a while for the group of students to spend talking to one another about a variety of topics.
At one point, Konori alluded to the idea of Sora joining Judgment and helping them out due to his versatile movement and quick thinking, but the Keyblade wielder knew better than to try and tie himself to an organization now. His reason went something along these lines…
"That's awfully nice of you to offer, Konori, but… I don't think that's a great idea."
"Oh? That's not the reaction I was expecting. Mind telling me why? I'm not mad or anything like that. But you're answering suggests there's more to be said."
Nodding his head, the spiky-haired teen began to explain, "My reasoning is that… if I were to join Judgment and I was assigned somewhere and the Heartless were attacking another location, then I couldn't exactly just up and leave. At least, that's what I'm thinking but deep down in my heart, I know for a fact that I would be gone within seconds of learning about the Heartless causing trouble. It's the restrictions in place that I know Anti-Skill and probably Judgment follow that would prevent me from acting in time."
Processing his answer, the spectacle-wearing girl couldn't argue his reasoning one bit. Even in this hypothetical, Sora was right. Judgment and most certainly Anti-Skill had rules to follow. Nobody could just come and go as they pleased. And it's like Sora said if something were happening and the superiors within Judgment assigned him to monitor one location instead of dealing with the monsters, Heartless, directly then… more lives would be lost.
"I understand. That is one dilemma with joining Judgment. You're not exactly allowed to act on behalf of your own actions. Of course, you could. But that also brings about the problem of putting your team in trouble or causing a disruption in the chain of command" Konori clarified with earnestness.
"Don't forget, there are many students who have Esper abilities that don't exactly fit right in with combat scenarios. Some have supportive powers while others might be search and rescue or even medical oriented" Uiharu added.
"Plus, you seem to have a bit of combat experience under your belt, Sora. I mean, I've seen firsthand how calm and collected you were in a tense situation" Saten proposed while recalling the Heartless attack and seeing Sora in action.
Seeing his new friends understanding his viewpoint on joining Judgment, Sora could only nod but have a content smile on his face.
"Thanks, guys. And don't sell yourself short. Even if you might not be used to fighting or have any combat experience, there are things that you're better at that I'm not. Everyone is special in that kind of way. That's what makes hearts so special. The bonds that we create to meet new people… new people that soon turn into close friends."
"Bonds that will never hurt us but only keep on building us up" Misaka reasoned with a firm nod of her head.
None of the girls could disagree with that sentimental note. The friendship they had formed with Sora after meeting him for the first time would be one that they could see being a long-lasting one. Just what else could the spiky-haired boy get himself involved in?
A few hours later
After having spent a great deal of time chatting with Misaka and the others, it was finally time for him to bounce. The variety of topics that were talked about ranged from small details regarding the Heartless to information and tips that Judgment and essentially Anti-Skill could use to their advantage. Uiharu and Konori thanked him greatly for that.
Saten and Misaka also asked him a bit more about his Esper ability and what kinds of things he was able to do with it. Relying on the façade that he'd been using since waking up in the city, Sora explained a bit about his Light Manipulation and how he could expand it to do many other things. One example was his Flowmotion and how his ability allowed him to manipulate light to course through his body and perform amazing acrobatic feats. Or the usage of different elemental abilities in his arsenal while using the Keyblade as a conduit.
All this fake information was something that he was starting to get used to saying and could honestly see himself believing that it was true. However, that probably wouldn't be the case as he still had the Magic Side to remember and how this world had a different interpretation and usage of magic in general. He still needed to be wary of that side. Who knows what they might be capable of?
Alas, here he was walking back to his dorm after realizing that he skipped the classes he had today. Part of him felt guilty but another part reminded him that he was able to make some new friends in the form of Saten, Uiharu, and Konori. Along with sharing information that could help later down the line thanks to the flower headband girl.
During his time with the girls, he had exchanged numbers with them in the event that something related to the Heartless was going on. This elated Sora as he now had more eyes in the city watching out for Heartless. Making his job a bit easier. It was also surprising to hear that Uiharu was a great hacker who could help find information that was kept secret from the public. His viewpoint of the girl was that of his friend Tron and how he was well-versed with computers and getting things done. Granted, Tron was a program inside a computer but… that was neither here nor there.
Therefore, the Keyblade wielder was heading back home when he spotted two familiar faces that he managed to see earlier in the day.
"Touma? Index?"
Hearing their names being called out, the two looked over and saw Sora standing there.
"Sora? What are you doing here?"
"I'm heading back home now. I uh… had something going on which is why I missed class today."
A small smirk appeared on Touma's face.
"You should have seen Komoe Sensei. She was devastated that you weren't in class today. Everyone was honestly surprised. You didn't seem like the type to miss class. Most of the time it's me…" he replied while letting that last part be said quietly.
"Ehehe… yeah…" Sora mumbled.
'Sorry to disappoint everyone. I doubt this will be the last time I ditch class. If a Heartless outbreak happens again, then I'm going to be there' Sora said within his head.
Clearing his throat, he figured he'd move the conversation back to his friends.
"So, what are you guys doing?"
Index puffed her cheek and pointed at her guardian.
"Touma is arguing with me about food. Food is an important thing to worry about."
"Which is why you should learn how to cook!"
"Hmph! Maybe if you expanded your grocery list, then we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place."
"That's beside the point! This Kamijou's wallet can only take so much of a beating. The groceries that I get are enough to make sure I'm not dying of starvation in the middle of the day. Just like that udon, I have. We need to eat it before it goes to waste. I'll just add a few things to give it some flavor and…"
A distraught expression appeared on the nun's young face as she narrowed her gaze on the spiky-haired black boy.
"Touma! We already had udon a few days ago!"
"Then I'll mix it up. Peppered udon? Spicy udon? Hmm. What would go with it? Chilled- "
"We had all those things within the last two weeks already!" the white-haired girl argued.
With a groan, Kamijou rested his right hand on his head, "Quit using your perfect memory! The more you do that, then the more you'll realize that you're eating the same thing repeatedly."
Sora, watching the two bicker about food, wanted to say something along the lines of eating the same food repeatedly wasn't a bad thing, but that might in some way come back to bite the misfortunate high schooler. Hence, he decided to keep his mouth quiet this time and wait for the heat to die down.
"If you remember all the meals you've had, then why don't you remember the steps needed to learn how to cook!?" Touma shouted at the nun.
"Because… Because… Because I need to keep my memory intact to learn other more important things!" Index blurted out as a weak defense.
Touma knew this to be an utter lie as Index had the magical ability to remember anything that was to be taught to her. From the simplest thing to more complex magic that would leave the common person with a migraine for days. While she acted as a library of grimoire books, one could also see her as a walking encyclopedia.
"That's a bluff if I've ever seen one. Couldn't you substitute the memory of having something delicious in place of udon and be content in your head? That would surely make things taste better."
"That's a terrible way of living Touma! That would be lying to myself and my stomach!" Index argued.
"Pfft…" Sora was on the side chuckling to himself.
Taking on a thinking pose, Touma had one thought come to him on the topic of memory. One that should be considered a benefit of the doubt.
"Wouldn't it also be possible to remember a time when you were full? I mean, the fullest you've ever been. Couldn't that memory be enough to sustain you into thinking that you are full?"
This was some next-level thinking. Kamijou was also starting to wonder if there was such a method of replacing food as thought. Perhaps he'd have to confide in his friends for such life-changing information.
"I think I've heard of something like this…" Sora muttered, making it known that he was still here. "I'm not sure where I recall hearing it, but don't some people substitute the thought of food as a source of power? Or is it a training method of some kind?"
"Hmph! You two are missing the point! Thinking about a happy time to fill in for an empty stomach will only work for so long. What if a sad person was thinking about something that made them happy? Wouldn't it be reasonable for that sad person to then go out and seek that happiness only to find out that- "
Suddenly, a bright light caused the nun to stop what she was saying and look up in the sky a good distance from where the three of them were standing. The light had gone up in a vertical manner making it very noticeable to anyone paying attention.
"Gah! Why!? That's… that's happened more than once today. What is it!?" Index asked frantically.
A deadpan expression played out on Kamijou's face.
"That was a rocket. There's a contest going on. Although, you'd think that they were being launched around District 23 with how bright and noticeable the light appears."
'Huh… rockets?' Sora wondered to himself, watching the light in the distance.
"And it doesn't bother anyone!?" Index yelled.
"Everyone in the city has known about the Venus Probe Contest going on. It's not like this is a new random thing. Besides, from what I understand it's not just Academy City launching rockets. It's happening all around the world" Touma explained.
"It is!?" Sora excitedly asked.
"It is?!" Index screeched.
"Yeah. There's been an entry page for the race. Make a right guess and you get entered into a lottery for the right to name the discovery."
A somewhat gleeful look appeared on the Keyblade wielder's face as he was starting to understand Touma's interest.
"Heh. So, you want to name something?"
"Are you kidding? Do you know how awesome that would be!?" the black spiky-haired boy excitedly replied. "Naming something like a comet or asteroid or even a constellation after you is something nobody else can really claim to have done. Imagine if I won, I'd be able to show off in front of everyone. Biri-Biri, Tsuchimikado, everyone. I'd even get a little card lamented that shows I officially got something named after me."
Sora couldn't help but wear a giant goofy grin on his face. Just the thought of Touma walking around school and slapping a card on anyone's desk to show them that he did have something space-related named after him.
This also led to another thought to appear in the Keyblade wielder's mind. This world's technology and presence were something to marvel at. While obviously more technologically advanced than other worlds that he's visited, Sora couldn't help but wonder how much more advanced Academy City was compared to Hiro's world and San Fransokyo. In addition, hearing that this world was starting to reach the stars had him wondering just how space looked given that he was familiar with traveling the stars in his Gummiship.
Thinking about it some more, Sora had to step back and realize just how crazy his life has been. From living on a small island in the middle of an ocean to then traveling through different worlds and wielding a magical weapon while stopping the darkness from taking over people's hearts and even worlds. And then getting pulled into so many more adventures to the point that he has to fight in a war between light and darkness. Along the way, there was the involvement of magic and science that let him know that there was so much more to learn in life. With all this in mind, the brunette teen couldn't help but smile warmly.
However, while Sora was having his moment, the nun standing next to him was having an existential crisis right now after processing everything she heard.
"I-I-I… You're telling me that- the Science Side has started to reach the stars!? Th-That would mean that the composition of the planet is vulnerable and… if the planet moved an inch away from its original position, then magical foundations and instruction would be destroyed… Will the Magic Side need to change their way of thinking? Their way of operation? Will we have to… reach the stars as well? A magician in space…"
Index was now lost in thought with her eyes darting everywhere while trying to wrap her head around this revelation.
Sora let out a little whistle at her comment about a magician in space. Coincidentally, with him wielding magic, wouldn't that technically make him an example of her comment?
"Index? Come back to Earth. Index?"
Touma was trying to bring the girl back to Earth, however, it seemed that Index was lost in orbit with no signs of coming back down.
"Should we bring her back down?" Sora joked.
"Eh. She'll fall back to Earth sooner or later."
Deciding to take his word for Index, Sora looked up to where the rocket was now and could see it reaching closer and closer to the stars.
"You said that rockets were being launched all around the planet, right?"
"Yeah. I did."
A curious look was now displayed on Sora's face.
"That's a lot of rockets…"
Touma, seemingly picking up what he was getting at added his own two cents.
"I get what you mean. Space debris seems like a big problem. I'm sure Academy City has safety protocols for such a thing so that nothing really happens, but I doubt the rest of the world has taken that into account."
"Yeah…"
The three friends were now left staring right up at the clear sky watching as the rocket moved further and further away from them. Into an area that none of them could safely traverse…
Later...
Suffice it to say, the issue with rockets being shot into the sky appeared to fizzle out of Index's mind as she was now walking calmly and chatting away with Sora and Touma. The trio were now on a mission to deal with the dreadful problem that sat right at their feet.
Dinner.
"How are you able to tell which stores have the ingredients you need?" Sora asked while ruffling his hair. "Don't you ever find yourself having to go to more than one store for something?"
"Thanks to the marvels of this day and age, stores, and supermarkets all around Academy City are bound to have the same kind of stock. Of course, if you're looking to get a certain kind of food from say a store, then you might run into the problem of that store running out of inventory. Which will then require you to run to a supermarket. Or it could all be vice versa, and you have to go to a store rather than a supermarket. I know I've run into that situation…" Touma explained while muttering that last part.
One example of this exact situation happening to him was when there was a once-in-blue moon limited sale going on at a supermarket with eggs being discounted at a resounding 29% off. The deal seemed too good to be true, and thanks to misfortune investing in his life, Touma missed out on the deal by a five-minute gap. This led to him having to go back to the usual routine of visiting the grocery store instead of stepping foot inside the expensive terror known as a supermarket.
At the same time, Sora couldn't help but recall a situation that happened to him recently. Granted, it wasn't him who had to go through this food treasure hunt but a certain blonde friend of his, Frenda. Her fascination with Mackerel had landed her to visit a store that she said herself that she didn't frequent. Mackerel must either be a super popular food or… one that's not popular and has a small stock in stores.
"You know, Touma, you wouldn't have to worry about food expenses if- "
"I don't want to hear that from you! Anytime I try to save up or buy in bulk, you show up minutes later eating everything I have. I still haven't forgotten the fish I had stored in the fridge" the high school boy shot back.
This comment seemed to hit the nun as she wore a slightly awkward grin on her face.
"It was good…"
"Yeah. I know! That fish was supposed to feed us for two nights. I had it all planned. Mix it one night, then eat it with seasoned sauce another night. But nope. One minute I turn my head, the next it's gone… in your mouth."
Sora didn't have any real comment, so he stayed quiet and just watched the nun don an expression of somewhat embarrassment.
"That's why I have to buy ingredients for what I'm going to eat that day on said day."
The conversation continued as the trio entered a supermarket, at the displeasure of Kamijou. Sora also caught the name of said supermarket and had to blink a few times at the name.
Nevertheless, before Sora could walk fully in with them, his Gummiphone started ringing resulting in him having to excuse himself while he took it. This left Kamijou and Index to enter while Sora exited.
"Hello?"
"Sora! Can you hear me, kupo?"
"Hey, Moogla, yeah, I can hear you. What's up?"
"I wanted to fill you in on the latest that's been going on across the city, kupo."
Widening his eyes, Sora now paid extra close attention to what his moogle partner had to say.
"I'm listening."
"Mm. There have not been any reports of Heartless wandering around the streets, however, a few robots I sent over to District 19 have spotted small groups of Shadows roaming around the area, kupo" Moogla reported to the boy.
Again, District 19 seemed to have some reason for the Heartless appearing there. It was starting to be an obvious choice as to where to find any of the dark creatures.
"District 19… Is there anything else you can tell me about what your robots have seen?" he asked on the phone.
"Nothing else has happened yet, kupo," Moogla replied. "I just thought it would be good to tell you, kupo."
"And I'm really glad you did. Thank you, Moogla. I'll need to start thinking about what to do with that District. I might take a stroll over there tonight, but… I also want to make sure I know what I'm getting myself into."
"Good plan, kupo. Well, I'll let you go now, kupo."
"Alright. Take care and thanks again, Moogla."
And with that, the phone call ended between the two. There was a lot to consider within the Keyblade wielder's mind about the numerous sightings of Heartless around District 19. Moreover, he would normally go right ahead to check the place out, but since he was alone without his friends to back him up, he would need to be extra careful.
Alas, before he could think about this any longer, he spotted Touma and Index exiting the supermarket making him realize that he had been on the phone and contemplating things longer than he thought.
"You guys done?" Sora asked the two.
"Yep. But…"
Tilting his head, Sora had to wonder what was bothering the nun, "But…?"
Sporting a disinterested look, Index looked like she wanted to say something but was stopped abruptly by someone else speaking up first.
"What the- What are you guys doing here?"
Turning their heads to the side, Sora, Index, and Touma all spotted a familiar-looking middle school girl. She happened to also be the girl whom the Keyblade wielder had gone with to meet with her friends for the first time, and coincidentally he managed to make some new friends.
"Misaka?"
Said girl happened to have one hand on her hip while the other was pointing at Touma and Index.
"Hello again, Sora." The Level 5 happily greeted the spiky-haired boy before turning her attention to the other spiky-haired teen. "And idiot, what are you doing? You're still with that nun?"
A bland look appeared on Kamijou's face as he wasn't sure what the big idea was.
"Uh… what does it look like?" he said while wagging his grocery bag.
"Excusing Sora, you were with her- "Misaka then pointed her finger at Index who simply blinked. "This morning as well as now!"
Sora was starting to wonder if Misaka had a vendetta against Index or was presented with the wrong idea. He didn't know much about what her and the others' relationship was like, but perhaps miscommunication was present.
"If you must know what we are doing, then know that we're getting groceries and talking about the idea of vegetables being able to grow in space. Along with the idea that all food might be better to eat. Hmph!"
A stumped look appeared on Misaka's face as she wasn't sure what to make of this information. She then glanced over at Sora who simply shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
"O-Oh… Wait. So, like a project for school? Then are you aware about- "
As Misaka began to delve into a thorough explanation regarding the topic of space food, Sora allowed his mind to wander and think about this entire ordeal. Given that he had been to space, he started to wonder what it was like while eating. He recalled several times when Donald would cook something delicious and that it tasted amazing. But he hadn't really given it thought like Index and Touma were.
However, the only reason Sora might have not had any problem with eating in space was because of the Gummiship along with magic. Either way, it seemed all too complicated to worry about, and would just let that complex thought sit in the back of his mind.
Therefore, snapping out of his senses, Sora noticed Misaka suddenly stop talking to the duo and reach for her phone.
"Ahh! I have to go!"
"Huh? What happened?"
"Short hair?"
"Misaka?"
With a frantic look, she turned her attention to Sora and Kamijou.
"Curfew is nearly here. I need to get back. Same goes for all of you!"
A chuckle was heard in the Guardian of Light's head.
'Curfew. Ahahaha… I've broken that like… a bunch already.'
"Look, just get back to your room. Dealing with breaking curfew is a pain!" Misaka said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Before anyone could say anything, the sight of the Level 5 rushing away was the only thing they could see. Kamijou simply scratched the back of his head.
"That girl… *sigh* just another day of her being weird." He then looked over at Index and Sora. "We should probably head back."
Nodding at Touma's suggestion, Sora did not mind returning home at all. However, Index seemed to not respond and had her attention elsewhere.
"Index? What is it?"
"I… I thought I noticed something… the thing from earlier…"
"The rockets? Turbines?"
"No. It was… Err… I don't know. It's that wind-spinning thing or a rocket, but it's… almost like I'm familiar with it…"
Confusion was evident on the two spiky-haired boys' faces.
"Familiar? What does that mean?"
Sora then had a thought come to him, "Is it magic-related?"
This got Kamjou nodding as he was starting to think that something magical was at hand. Given that Index was able to sense magic in a strange sense.
"I won't know unless I check it out. Touma! I'll catch up with you later!" Index replied before starting to run off.
"Hey! Wait! Index!"
"You can eat everything tonight! My treat!"
"Your treat!? What the hell does that mean!? I bought it! Hey!"
"Index! Wait. It's not safe to- "Sora tried saying to the nun moving away.
The young girl kept running away from the two without really giving a thought-out plan as to what she was doing.
"Dammit! Sora we can't let her go alone."
"I'm with you on that. Heartless are still around the city" the Keyblade wielder added.
"And the curfew. If Index gets caught by Anti-Skill or Judgment, then that's going to be an even bigger headache."
With a nod, Sora was on board to help his friend.
As if by chance, the black spiky-haired boy spotted a locker that could store his grocery bags. That would be good enough for him now. Running up to the locker, he quickly put his bags in there before turning to Sora and giving him a look to signify that he was ready to catch up to the nun.
This led the two teens to chase after the nun but were met with a strange sight before them. Given that he had become familiar with a multitude of strange things within the past… well, ever since… circumstances, the spiky-haired boy had come to recognize bizarre things that dealt with magic. And right now, there appeared to be something ahead on the base of a turbine's pillar. A sort of transparent film in a rectangular filter about the size of what he'd suspect to be a magazine from his point of view. However, upon getting closer, he could see that it had a pattern of some kind that spelled out a few topics in his head.
Sora, on the other hand, was utterly confused at what he was seeing on the wind turbine, but based on Touma's reaction, he figured it was something supernatural. As stated, many times now, the Keyblade wielder had familiarized himself with a bit of the Scientific Side of this world and how Esper's abilities were extraordinary. Alas, there was still much to learn about the Magic Side of things. This must be where he confronts said side.
'No doubt about it. That's magic side related!'
Touma thought to himself while continuing to identify the object on the turbine.
"Uh… Touma, what is this thing?" Sora asked, getting closer to the strange object.
"I'm not sure…" Kamijou then slowly stretched his right hand forward and inched closer to the object. "But if my guess is any good then- "
The sound of glass breaking caused both boys to go wide-eyed immediately.
"*Glass Break*"
"What the- Does that mean it was- "Sora started saying while examining Touma's hand and the base of the turbine where the object was just at.
Touma, meanwhile, was looking down at his hand and realized that something had been destroyed. Some kind of magic was at play here which meant that things were not normal.
However, before either of the two boys could react, several pillars of fire shot up from the ground around them.
"Huh!?"
"What!?" Sora shouted while instantly summoning his Keyblade at the ready.
'Dammit! Could that have been a trap!?'
The situation looked uncertain as the flame pillars began to enclose around the two leaving Sora ready to bust out of there.
"How should we get out of there? Using your hand? Or me using my magic? Do we even know who planted this trap!?" Sora rapidly questioned while eyeing his surroundings.
"No idea. But…" With a quick look at his hand, Touma had a plan come to mind. "Sora! Get behind me and get ready. I'll cancel the flames and bust us out, but I have no idea who set this trap."
"Got it. Let's do this!"
At this point, the flames had completely surrounded the two engulfing their bodies with no signs of any-
"*Glass break*"
The two spiky-haired teens burst right out of the flames with Touma keeping a crouched stance while Sora had his Keyblade right to go on defense or offense at whoever would be attempting to get rid of them.
They had thwarted whoever planned this trap.
Consequently, above them, a helicopter had appeared out of nowhere while coming to a landing that the two boys knew for sure wasn't a legal thing to happen. The first individual to appear from the helicopter appeared to be a tall man with red hair as well as dressed in dark clothes.
This man was someone that Kamijou knew and could scarcely call a friend. Furthermore, that man happened to be younger than either Kamijou or Sora. His name was Stiyl Magnus, a magician from Necessarius.
"Stiyl!? What the hell?! Was this your doing?" Touma yelled at the redhead.
Eyeing the guy named Stiyl, Sora kept his senses on high alert. Even if Touma knew this guy… that didn't mean he would be friendly off the bat. The Keyblade wielder could recall several times the Organization tried to come off peacefully only for things to get chaotic.
Besides, this red-haired man was giving Sora some slight déjà vu for another one of his friends. Perhaps it was the dark clothing, or the red hair, or a mix of both, but this guy was reminding of him a certain Organization member turned Guardian of Light, Lea. A name he now had memorized.
"You'll get no apology from me. However, do know that you weren't the target this time around. Now then, what are you going Kamijou?" Stiyl then looked over at Sora and observed him intently for a whole second before speaking up. "And who the hell are you?"
Frowning at the redhead's tone, Sora answered, "My name is Sora… I'm pretty sure you've already heard of me."
No immediate response was given from the mysterious male figure. Only a simple glare before he started speaking to Kamijou again.
"What did you know about the thing you destroyed?"
A slight tilt of the head was Touma's first reaction before replying to Styil, "Wait… you mean that clear filter? Ind- "
"That wasn't the only thing there. I used that 'filter' as a new magical circle to analyze the magic that was already installed there."
"What? That was… something was already there?" Touma muttered.
Not really having anything to say just yet, Sora was trying to rack his head around what was being said. He understood that something magical was on the wind turbine base due to Touma's Imagine Breaker being activated. However, hearing that magic was being used to check on magic… this was starting to sound like something complex.
"You seriously don't see it? You're undoubtedly an idiot." Styil said while leaving the two spiky-haired boys even more confused. "To your naked eye, it would be difficult to make out. But this is you, we are talking about Kamijou. I can't say much about you, Sora, but you're probably not that far off from him. Having said that, the perpetrator probably used ultraviolet light hiding it effectively. This is a clear violation against the treaty directed between Science and Magic" the red-headed magician explained.
An annoyed frown was expressed on Sora's face and knew immediately that he and Stiyl would not get along so easily.
Taking this information at face value, Touma took a few steps to get closer to the turbine to try and see what Styil was describing, but unfortunately, he still couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.
"And by your actions, you managed to interfere with my magical circle which was to overwrite the original magical script. I could have altered the original caster's pattern which would have changed the effect of the spell. This plan of mine would have then allowed my trap to capture this perpetrator. Well, it should have… were it not thanks to you."
Sora was starting to get an idea of what was going on. Whatever magical spell was cast on the turbine was meant to be tampered with by Styil's own magic which would then allow for his mysterious individual to be caught. But due to Touma's Imagine Breaker… that plan went out the window.
"I… Err… "
"Your idiocrasy knows no bounds, Kamijou."
"*sigh* But putting that aside, doesn't that mean the original caster is now aware of the turbine trap?"
"I feel like I'm talking to a damn wall. I've met children who had more literacy and common sense than you" Styil muttered.
To add to the redhead's frustrated state, he then pulled what looked to be a cigarette from his pocket and placed it into his mouth before waving his hand next and causing a flame to ignite the cigar.
This man's attitude was starting to rub the Guardian of Light wrongly. Sora had dealt with a variety of people throughout his adventures which allowed him to have a good idea about a person's character, and Styil was someone that-
Suddenly, before Sora could finish that train of thought, he and Touma watched as Styil finished taking a whiff of his cigar before flicking it away with his finger. However, instead of the cigar just staying on the ground and burning away, a large flame sword shot up from the ground.
"Alas, it was my own hubris and neglect that allowed for something like this to happen. I should have given more of a damn about the consequences of letting some amateur screw things up. Now it's made this whole mission complicated."
Senses were triggered as Sora had a bad feeling about what was happening.
"What? Stiyl…!?"
With the flame sword still visible and holding a menacing appearance, the red-headed magician shifted his gaze from Sora to Touma. It appeared that he had already made his decision.
"Circumstances are already bad… Nevertheless, with your idiotic actions' things have definitely become even more troublesome for me to deal with. I don't have the time to deal with any more outliers. And anyone with a sensible mind knows for a fact that you're the biggest outlier to any plan. Someone needs to beat some sense into that empty head of yours. I'll gladly be the one to do that."
Not about to let that happen, Sora took a step forward with his Keyblade brandished in his hands and now pointed at the magician. If he was looking for a fight, then he would gladly give it to him.
"You might want to change your way of thinking" Sora proclaimed right to Styil.
"…No need to tell me that. I've heard enough about you to make my own assumptions. Kamijou will always be outlier number one. Due to our misfortunate encounters together."
A frown appeared on Touma's face that spelled irritation.
"But that doesn't mean I won't count you as another outlier. Even if you claim to be neither against nor for the Science Side… you're a threat."
"The same can be said about you." Sora shot back. "How about the decency to let Touma know what's going on? The only reason he's even involved in the first place was thanks to Index realizing that something was wrong. If you had any sense, then you should have told him to avoid the turbine or asked him to help in another way."
"What are you doing? Picking fights for this moron."
Sora now wore an irritated expression on his face. This guy was seriously starting to be a pain.
"Not at all! I'm not speaking on behalf of Touma completely… You've been eyeing me from the first moment we met. I just figured that you'd be acting sooner or later. You're not the first weirdo to plan a backstab against me or my friends" the spiky-haired brunette reasoned.
Touma's first instinct was to try and bring this situation to a calm point but based on his encounters with Styil after having his memory… issue. It seemed that the only way to get Styil to see reason was to show him reasoning. In the form of action that is.
"You're wasting time, Stiyl! The longer you bicker with us, the longer you're giving the true culprit time to escape or plant more magical traps around the city" Kamijou implied to the redhead.
"That may be so, however, allowing you to simply get off the hook without facing any sort of punishment would be too good of me. Besides, beating some sense into you might be a good thing."
"Then you're going to have to deal with me as well" the Keyblade wielder countered.
"Good. Taking out two birds with a stone ought to be how this plays out. I know better than to get up close with you, Kamijou. Sora on the other hand… this will be interesting."
Before anyone else could say anything, the flame sword that had been standing by immediately swung down to the ground causing shockwaves to scatter around the area. With instincts kicking in, Touma raised his right hand forward in the event he would need to block an incoming attack while Sora dashed and dodged to the side with his Keyblade defensively raised in front of him.
A plethora of thoughts came spiraling out of Touma's head as he began to quickly scan the area before him. Knowing how Stiyl fought in combat, through past experiences, he began looking for any rune cards that amplified his spells' powers.
'Crap. The area is too thorough to look over everything. He could have placed rune cards everywhere!'
"You're quite the planner, you emo buffoon! Did you seriously plant rune cards all around the turbine?! When did you even do that?" Touma shouted to the Necessarius member.
"Do I even need to respond? The trap would have been meaningless if I didn't do such a thing. Everything was set and positioned to operate in stages. One stage to entangle the target which would have given me enough time to arrive, then the next stage would be me finishing them off. But thanks to you and that damn right hand, you've yet again managed to make my life complicated."
Processing this new bit of information, Touma now realized just how thought out this plan of Stiyl's actually was. Alas, this also meant that Stiyl was still operating by that original strategy which meant that his position would also have importance.
Verily, as Kamijou was rapidly thinking of a plan, a fireball appeared to be coming straight for him as Stiyl had acted in this moment of opportunity. However, what the magician failed to realize was just how fast the Keyblade wielder moved.
*Swish*
The fireball was now cut in half by the Keyblade wielder's weapon. Furthermore, the tip of the boy's weapon had glowed with blue light before a sphere of water was summoned out of thin air and launched directly at the red-headed magician.
Such an attack was meant to merely coat him in cold water to break his train of thought but due to the unexpectedness of the spell, Stiyl was pushed back a few feet and rolled to the ground before rising back to his feet. An annoyed and somewhat shocked expression appeared on his face.
"So, it's true."
"What's true?" Sora asked with a confused look on his face. "What are you talking about?"
Moving his hands into his jacket and pulling out a stack of rune cards, Stiyl quickly narrowed his gaze on the two boys.
"I've received nothing but reports about you and your deeds. Information spread by word of mouth indicated that you were a magician, but that you were able to cast magic at the flick of your wrist. Your spell just proved all that true."
Sora knew that his actions in Academy City were being watched carefully by the two sides. Hence, it didn't come off as too much of a shock to heart Stiyl's words. Moreover, it just meant that the Magic Side was veiled in even more mystery.
"I'm guessing you also know about the Heartless and how Sora's stepped in to deal with them" Touma added to the conversation.
"I know enough to view him as a mundane ally. However, that doesn't mean he's not also viewed as a threat. Perhaps I should test that theory now. Which side of the line you teeter towards?"
Frowning once again at the man's words, Sora knew that he would not only be getting involved in a fight but that he was also going to be judged for his actions.
This day just seemed to get even more strange now.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Academy City
Standing on the top of a train station located in District 22, a dirty blonde-haired man wearing a dark maroon-colored suit with a white collared shirt stood there. He was better known as Dark Matter. Or to the few he worked with he was known as Kakine Teitoku.
Alas, Kakine stood there with his hands in his pocket while appearing to wait for someone to arrive. An annoyed expression was present on the boy's face.
'Waste of my damn time.'
Deciding not to waste his time any longer, the teen was about to leave the train station when suddenly, a dark portal appeared right behind him with a dark figure stepping out while not having a complete form.
"You're a hard person to find" Kakine commented with a cold stare.
A steady chuckle escaped from the formless figure.
"Not entirely. All you had to do was wait and I'd get to you as soon as I could. Do keep in mind, that I'm busy as well. So much to do… so little time."
The mysterious figure known as Darkness said all this in a tone of voice that seemed to convey a sense of… purpose.
"Tsk. Wasting my damn time- "
"Oh, really? And what was it that you so importantly had to do? Sit in a sandbox and twiddle your fingers about. No real purpose going on right now."
"I'm not interested in your bullshit. You know exactly why I'm here" the second-ranked Level 5 stated.
A moment of silence passed between the two before Darkness let out a humming sound. Things were going to plan.
"About time. I've already lent some of my… wisdom to another in this city. And they took it with the utmost respect. I truly can't wait to see what they have in store…"
"Wait. Who did you- "
"Nope. Client confidentiality is something that I keep only between me and the client."
Kakine kept his eyes carefully on the dark figure as he couldn't help but ponder who the mysterious figure encountered. If true, then that meant his power truly was…
"Fine. I don't give a damn."
"Yes, you do."
"Shut up. You know why I'm here."
"I do. And I'm glad you finally came to a decision. Trust me, you won't regret it" Darkness ominously said.
Clasping his fist tightly, Kakine had made up his mind. This was something that he would go through with. The access to a newfound power given away by this mysterious figure seemed like a sketchy kind of deal. However, at the current pace, he was going with evolving his power… it would be years until he managed to knock the first-ranked off his ass. Showing him and the damn higher-ups of this city who the true Level 5 was.
"…Now what? Do I sign a contract? Offer you, my services? What sort of bullshit do you have for me?"
"Nothing. You only have to do one thing."
A sour feeling was now felt in his body. Would he regret this? Possibly. But was it worth it? Absolutely.
"What is that one thing?"
Darkness then took a step toward Dark Matter before seemingly holding up what appeared to be his hand and pointing it at him. A pulsating sound was soon heard followed by wind picking up. Within seconds, a purple dark orb appeared to float in the mysterious figure's hand.
"Open your heart."
Before he could say anything, Kakine was then hit by the dark orb landing right into his chest and causing his eyes to wide and clutch his chest.
"Gah… ha…ha… what the hell… did you do!?"
"I did what I said I would. Give you the edge you need to become stronger. Help you to see that there is much more out there… you're now on the path of true power…"
Feeling a reassortment of anger flair up in his body, Kakine raised his right hand and intended to create a sphere of energy and hurl it right at the formless figure, but he was met with total surprise.
Once he raised his arm and glanced at it, he was left with his mouth agape. On his fingertips were dark swirls of mist and energy was present. It did not affect him in a bad way, rather, he felt good. Better even.
Unsure of what this was, he raised his arm into the air and felt that by doing this… he was doing something right. He then decided to imagine a blast of energy being shot out of his hand expecting this all to be in his head and-
*Boom*
*Pwwwwwiissssshhh*
A blast of energy shot up to the sky as quick as lightning leaving him to go wide-eyed at this strange new display of power.
"That… my calculations weren't even done… I just did that. What the hell did you do to me?!" Kakine roared at the figure.
Taking a few steps to the side, Darkness kept quiet until an approving humming sound came from their voice.
"That'll do. You're on the right path now."
"Hey! You heard me! What the hell did you do to- "
"I gave you power. A boost of power if you will. Now it's up to you to solve the rest. With great power comes… well, even more power to be had."
Out of nowhere, a dark portal appeared behind Darkness creating a dramatic scene to play out. The dark misty figure was slowly walking toward the portal while the second-ranked reached his hand out in anger.
"Wait! We're not done here!"
"I'm afraid so. I have things to do and places to be. But don't you worry, I'll be back to check up on you given some time." Darkness said all this while getting closer to the dark portal. "Besides, won't it be more worth it to harness this newfound power all by yourself without needing any baby steps?"
A growling sound could be heard coming from Kakine with how pissed he was getting to be. However, what he didn't realize was that around his entire body was what could be described as dark swirls of mist coming off his body. The correct assumption for what was going on was that the essences of darkness were being excreted from him. A show of his newly gained power.
"Oh… before I forget, do take note about something. That power I gave you was merely a push through the door. You've always had great power within yourself. You just never realize the potential you hold. You should be proud of yourself, second-ranked."
Nothing was said from the dirty blonde-haired teen as he simply glared at Darkness. Many thoughts were swirling around his head. Nothing was making sense and yet… it was making more sense than ever.
"Well then, take care. I can't wait to see you next time we meet."
And with that, Darkness walked through the portal and disappeared along with the portal into thin air. This left the Level 5 alone where he simply raised both of his hands and started gathering his thoughts about all that just happened. Out of curiosity, he thought of the molecular makeup of a spear made of material not known to this world and did so, however, once the spear was created, Kakine noticed that there was a sentient yet alien feeling to it.
Raising the spear, he could see that the spear had a different color than expected and that it felt heavier than he thought. There was something more to the spear than what he could see. Therefore, he decided to see how different this weapon was by leveling his gaze toward what appeared to be an empty bus on the road with not that many people around.
In one fell swoop, he threw the spear expecting it to easily pierce through the large vehicle and nothing more.
But that… was not the only thing to happen.
*Wooooooooooosssssshhhhhhh*
*KA-BOOM*
Immediately upon impact, the spear caused a massive explosion of purple light followed by ripping the bus apart with ease and still managing to pierce through the vehicle. Once the smoke died down from the explosion, Kakine had a giant grin on his face as he as the spear still intact and heavily lodged into the ground with no damage done to it. Alas, within seconds later the spear began to fade away into nothingness leaving Dark Matter pleased and surprised with the result.
"Interesting. Hahaha!" Kakine continued laughing to his heart's intent before staring up at the city. "Maybe I judged you wrong… I'll break any expectations you had of me, Darkness!"
Upon yelling that to nobody but himself, Kakine held his head up high while letting a menacing grin appear on his face.
"I'm coming for that top spot… first ranked."
*Special Author's Note*
Yeah, this format is a bit weird but hear me out. So, while slowly working on finishing this chapter, I sort of got the fun idea to come up with two sorts of Omake shots that somewhat go along with this story. The first one has to do with the fact that the girls from Item will be having a bit of a hangout with our ever-positive Keyblade wielder. Only… it does involve a bit of playing games together.
The other omake involves a Halloween shot with Sora hanging out with Touma and Index going through Academy City with some shenanigans followed by the Keyblade wielder meeting up with the girls from Item who are having a small little hangout. The Item girls' outfits will be a bit based on some of the promotional art that came out around A Certain Scientific Railgun S. Of course, our hero will be decked out in one of his otherworldly attires. Specifically, his Halloween outfit. Touma and Index's outfits will be from their Imaginary Fest event outfits for visual appeal.
These chapters aren't really connected to the mainline story as they would not make sense and are just for fun. Feedback on these bits will determine if I'll do it again. I understand that it might be weird to go from an intense moment in the main story to the fun, ridiculousness going on with the characters, but I couldn't help it. Either way, thanks for checking the story out, and hope you'll enjoy the shots.
*Further Note * - I do not own the characters, stories, copyright, etc. for Toaru Majutsu no Index, Kingdom Hearts, Nintendo properties, and everything else mentioned and used.
Just throwing that out there… I don't know why lol.
Omake 1 – Finding Your Main.
"He's late."
"I'm super sure that he knows that he's late."
"Doesn't matter. Jackass is late."
"Ouch. Mugino's being super hard on her crus- "
"Say one more word Kinuhata and I'll make sure you have to spend the next month eating through a straw" fired the tea-color-haired beauty.
Off to the side, Takitsubo and Frenda merely looked at each other with looks that conveyed the same wavelength message.
'Kinuhata was screwed. And she was on her own.'
However, with the high school girl towering over her like a lioness getting ready to go in for the kill, Kinuhata couldn't help but realize that Mugino was just adding sprinkles to her thought-out plan to get the brunette girl to break.
A smug grin then appeared on the Level 4's face as she realized that she had just stepped on a landmine. Now, the next trick was to see if the landmine would be a dud or if it would go off leading to her supposedly eating through a straw for the next month.
"…I'm not super sure your hero would like- "
Mugino's face shifted to one that would scare the life out of anyone and leave them in fear for the rest of their lives. A murderous aura was emanating off the Level 5. She was not going to let that comment get away so easily.
"You little shi- "
*Ding-Dong*
The apartment doorbell had rung. All the girls immediately knew who was at the door.
"I'll get it!" Frenda shouted while rushing over to the door and opening it to see her and the other girls' savoir.
The girls of Item had planned a sort of hangout with a certain someone based on a conversation that revolved around video games and how it was better to play as a group than alone. Hence their guest was late. It was due to him picking up the necessary equipment to make this hangout even more entertaining.
"Basically, it's about time you got here."
The blonde girl said while putting her hands on her hips and giving a frown to the spiky-haired boy standing at the door.
"Ehehe. Sorry, I'm late. I had to stop by my dorm and pick it up. I'm honestly surprised you guys don't have the game and console" replied a certain teen who wielded a giant key as a weapon.
"We've been over this before you idiot. Even if we did go out and buy a hundred Switches, we wouldn't have the version of the game that you have" Mugino replied, taking her intimidating glare off Kinuhata.
This allowed the short-haired girl to let out a quick breath of relief as she was mere moments away from being put in the hospital and having to live through a month of eating through a straw. That didn't sound like a super-efficient way to spend her time. Although, it would allow her to sit in a hospital room… sometimes the rooms had televisions in them… she could hook up a console to play some of the bad movies she had on her list… this idea was starting to sound more and more pleasing.
"Right. Well, I'm here. Does one of you wanna help me set it up?" Sora asked the girls of Item.
"I'll do it!" Frenda jumped at the chance.
"Thanks, Frenda!"
"You're welcome!"
A vein was starting to show on Mugino's face as she glared at the blonde girl. Frenda was doing a lot of kissing ass now. Something was up with that.
Takistubo on the other hand just pressed herself onto the couch and lazily sat there watching the events before her playout. She had no interest in getting involved with what appeared to be the calm before the storm. Once they all started playing… who knows how that would go.
"I still have to say, I know you girls are… rich… but none of you have a Switch?" Sora questioned.
Takitsubo simply shook her head as a form of giving a response.
"Nope. Which is super surprising. Mugino is always gaming on the down low but doesn't want anybody to know that her battle-fanatic side can also dip into gaming. Leading her to be- "
"Kinuhata. How about you shut the fu- "
"That's not all that surprising" Sora quickly commented.
A moment of silence passed before Mugino spoke up.
"…It's not?" the tea-color-haired girl asked, feeling her cheeks warm up but doing her best to have a stone-cold expression.
Shaking his head, the Keyblade wielder offered her a bright and friendly smile.
"Not at all. I knew about your desire to win all the time and when you think about it, games offer a sense of relaxation as well as fulfillment when it comes to striving for a win. I'm not that good at them but the times I have played left me wanting to be the best. Your personality is just more suited to being number one all the time."
The four girls listened to the teen's words and couldn't help but see that he made some good points. Hence, the girls of Item all glanced over at Mugino who seemed to be fighting back the urge to break out into a smile or even a grin which left her making a sour expression on her face. Kinuhata had a shit-eating grin on her face and wanted to say something but stopped herself… for now that is.
"I… You make a fair point, Sora."
"Yeah. Well, let's get this going!" He then turned to Frenda and handed her the Switch deck and cords needed to set up the console. "Mind plugging this in the back of the… large… screen…"
Sora had to wonder just how big the television screen he was staring at really was. He'd seen big screens before but having this big of a screen just sitting in an apartment was… something else.
"You got it!" Frenda happily sang aloud.
A moment later, the Nintendo Switch was hooked up and ready to play games. The game in question that the group had been discussing happened to be a game that Sora himself was involved in. A certain… party and fighting game.
"Alright! I've got four sets of controllers. So how are we doing this? Have you guys played Sma- "
"Pff. Of course, we've all played this game before. Don't you dare hold back on us!" Mugino shouted.
"Ok. Ok. Just making sure. It wouldn't be fair to play against someone that's new and hasn't played before" the teen boy reasoned.
With that said, a silent debate was going on inside the tracksuit-wearing girl better known as AIM Stalker. She had played this kind of game before. Only… it was back on the Nintendo Wii which was years ago. Which made her fall under the category of being rusty.
"…Sora."
"Huh? Yeah, Takitsubo? What's up?"
"Could I get a quick training session in before we really start playing?"
"Sure! I don't mind. I don't think anyone else will mind."
Both Frenda and Kinuhata did not mind at all. It would serve to help them as well. Unfortunately, a certain girl with features that beat out any model currently had a scowl on her face. She had prepared in private for this occasion ever since it was brought up between her and Sora. She spent the night prior watching videos on how to play as certain characters so that she could ensure total victory. Showing those bitches that she would always be number one.
It was also not because she wanted to impress a certain someone who was actually in the game… not at all. She just wanted to be good and win during every battle she took part in.
"…Tch. Fine. Take your damn time" Mugino replied while saying some things under her breath that couldn't really be heard.
With everyone agreeing to Takitsubo's request, Sora booted up his switch and started the game that everyone had agreed to play.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate.
"Alright, let me just go here and… done. Alright Takitsubo, you're up" Sora happily commented.
Now on the screen to choose her character, the other girls all spent a moment looking over the large variety of characters to play as. Some of the characters are obvious picks. While some were out of recognition or familiarity. Others were not so known about. Frenda already had a pick in mind that suited her play style which revolved around using items to her advantage while Kinuhata went for a more physical striking character that used their fists given that she was also one to fight hand-to-hand.
That left Mugino who… for simplistic and obvious reasons had her eyes glued to one character. A special kind of character that just so happened to be stan-
"Ok. I'll play as Jigglypuff" Takitsubo suddenly said while picking the pink Pokémon and progressing to the next stage of training.
"Hah. Any particular reason why?" Sora curiously asked.
The dark-haired girl simply looked at him.
"Jigglypuff is cute."
"Fair enough."
Sora seemed content with that answer while Kinuhata was watching the screen to see how rusty her ally was. Along with making some assumptions that she would be easy prey to get a win from. Mugino on the other hand didn't really care and had begun reading a magazine that she kept next to her on the couch and tried to start reading it but couldn't keep her mind on it. The teen girl's attention was being directed toward the spiky-haired boy standing not that far away from her. She had made plans for how the seating arrangement would go.
Frenda had taken a spot on a single-person seat while Kinuhata was chilling on what appeared to be a specially made bean bag that had a cup holder installed in it which already held whatever the hell she was drinking. And Takitsubo was slouching along the couch that she was stationed at and had no means of moving. This left the tea-color-haired girl with a wide-open spot right next to her that Sora would undoubtedly take once he got tired of standing. Everything was going according to plan.
After a few minutes of seeing Takitsubo practice Jigglypuff against Mario, everyone decided that they should start right off the back with Tournament rules. Frenda was the only one to argue against this plan, but her complaints fell on deaf ears leaving the blonde pouting. Furthermore, the first match-up would be Kinuhata versus Frenda. A battle that would be quite interesting given that nobody had said who they would be picking.
"This is going to be awesome! Hey, Mugino, would it be alright if I use your restroom really quick?" Sora asked his host.
"That's fine. It's the first door on the left. Can't miss it."
"Thanks."
With Sora stepping out for a moment, the girls were going to continue with their first match, but this did lead to another entertaining moment for the Level 4 girl known as Offense Armor. The character select screen.
"Alright, tourney rules are tourney rules. No bullshit. No items. No final smashes."
"Jeez. Sounds like someone is trying to super impress someone with their technique" Kinuhata commented while eyeing the older, bustier girl.
"How about you shut the hell up and choose your character already."
An even bigger shit-eating grin was plastered on Kinuhata's face as she was bound to get the Level 5 riled up.
"Oh, lighten up, Mugino. We're super getting there. But first, who are all your mains?" she asked the three other girls.
"Basically, I'm thinking of going Banjo & Kazooie for my first game and seeing if it all works out. If not, then I'll switch it up to Bowser Jr. or Mii Gunner. I've got a few other characters in mind" Frenda explained.
A dull look appeared on Kinuhata's face.
"That's super lame. You're only going for characters that have projectiles. That's weak sauce."
"It's not weak at all! I'll have you know playing the range game is what works in high-intensity matches."
The detail that Frenda would not voice out to her teammates was that she played Smash Bros. before but it was only with her little sister which… wasn't exactly a fair fight. Hence, she favored projectile characters as it made her winning seem fairer than clobbering Fremea and making her sad. Plus, projectiles fit with her personality given that she dealt with explosives and guns and whatnot.
"Hmm. Takitsubo. What about you? Do you have any super cool characters to play as? Anything will be better than Frenda's picks."
"Hey!"
Lazily moving her head to the side, Takitsubo stared at the screen once more while thinking to herself about her choices. She then had her picks ready.
"I'll stick with Jigglypuff for my first match, then I might go with Rosalina."
"Oh? Super interesting pick. Anyone else?"
"…Maybe Hero?"
Excitement appeared on the younger girl's face.
"Now there's a super complex character! See Frenda, why can't you have complex picks?"
"I do have complex picks. You'll be eating those words when I wipe the floor with you."
"Ha-Ha. I super can't wait to see you try it. It'll be taking candy from a- "
"Would you two shut the hell up and pick already!?" Mugino shouted.
The time had now come. Kinuhata was ready for this opportunity which is why she shot a glance over at Frenda who seemed to be somewhat picking up on the Level 4's plan. Offense Armor then stared comedically at Takitsubo who gave her a deadpan stare knowing full well that there would soon be property damage done to the apartment… again thanks to Mugino's Meltdowner.
"Heh… Tell me, Mugino, who are your super picks?"
"I'm not telling you shit. You'll just have to wait and- "
"Nah. It's super fine. We already know who you're main is going to be. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if you played him the entire time" Kinuhata cheekily said.
A cracking of knuckles was heard as Mugino balled up her fist and was ready to throttle the younger girl to teach her a lesson and shut her up. However, before she could do anything, the sound of Sora coming back prevented her from harming her ally who had a smug grin on her face.
"Hey, you guys haven't started yet? Is something up?" Sora voiced out.
"No, no. We were just super discussing our mains."
"Not to mention, we basically wanted to learn everyone's main picks and were just about to hear what Mugino's picks were" Frenda replied, earning a nod from her teammate.
A look of surprise appeared on the Keyblade wielder's face as he was now curious to hear who Mugino might main.
"Mugino. Who are you going with?"
Biting her tongue and wanting to give a half-ass answer, she decided to say one or two names that popped into her head while observing the screen.
"…I'll go with R.O.B. and Dark Samus."
"Of course, she would" Frenda muttered out.
The blonde's reasoning for saying that was because those characters specialized in shooting lasers. Something the tea-color-haired girl did on a daily.
"What was that, Frenda?" the long-haired girl threatened.
Before the blonde-haired girl could say anything, another girl beat her to it.
"Is that your main pick…?" Takitsubo suddenly questioned.
Frenda and Kinuhata couldn't help but realize that perhaps their tracksuit-wearing friend would help them in their assault against the girl known and feared as Meltdowner.
"Takitsubo. You're walking a thin line now. I don't need to tell you- "
"Yeah. I can see those two being your picks. Fighting against them can be a bit tricky if you're going against someone extremely familiar with their move sets" Sora said out of nowhere.
Everyone went quiet as they processed what the boy had said and could agree with his statement.
"Right… thank you, Sora."
"No problem. Now then, let's get this show on the road!"
With that being said, the girls now chose their characters for the first match which would be Jigglypuff versus Little Mac. Kinuhata's pick seemed to align with how she viewed herself and her physical combat technique. It would be an interesting match.
And as anyone might guess… it was an interesting match with Kinuhata walking away as the victor. On the bright side, Takitsubo put up a fair fight and did better than everyone expected. Now, the next match was Mugino versus Frenda which got the blonde-haired girl to feel a bit nervous at the ass whopping that was heading her way.
Mugino had put on her game face, and it did not look like she was going to let up.
With Frenda picking Banjo & Kazooie right off the bat, this left the brunette girl with everyone's eyes on her. Most people would be nervous with all the attention, but Mugino was not like most people. She was a girl that made is abundantly aware of what she wanted along with not giving a shit about what people thought. This mentality led to her deciding to make it completely aware of who she wanted to pick as her character of choice. Plus, her actions would shut everyone up.
With her cursor moving down the screen, the announcer called out the character of her choice.
"Sora!"
The relative shock was evident on the girls' faces while Sora looked a bit surprised. He then took a seat next to Mugino while looking happy at her choice.
"Oh? You're going to be playing as me. Thanks!"
"You do realize how weird that sounds?" Mugino sneered. "Aren't you even weirded out at all?"
Shaking his spiky hair, Sora had a goofy smile on his face.
"Nope. This isn't my first time being in a video game and being a playable character" he responded while recalling the games he had on his Gummiphone.
Eyebrows were raised at the claim that Sora said aloud. Each one of the girls had their thoughts about it all.
"I see… well then, prepared to be amazed then" Mugino countered with a glint in her eyes.
"I can't wait to see you in action. Which version of me are you going to use?"
Kinuhata and Frenda eyed each other with how weird that sounded.
"Hmm… let's see…"
Mugino then went through all the outfits and had some thoughts about his second outfit along with the outfit he was wearing right now. But she couldn't hold her tongue when she went back to his first outfit.
"What the fuck are you wearing!?" the tea-color-haired girl blurted out.
Staring hard at the spiky-haired boy's first default outfit all the girls narrowed their eyes and glanced at the outfit before looking at Sora closely.
"Hey! That was before I got all my other outfits" the Guardian of Light argued. "Besides, I liked that outfit."
"Dear god… whoever let you walk out of the house wearing that… "
A tint of red appeared on Sora's face as he glanced at his first adventure outfit and… could see what she meant. Still, that outfit resonated on a deep level within his heart. That outfit is where everything started.
"I… I mean, looking back… I… To be fair, it's more fitted with- "
"But this outfit is very nice" Mugino immediately said while having picked his Valor form outfit. "And the blue one I also like. The white one is very nice as well."
"Thanks…" Sora replied while grateful she moved past his first outfit so fast.
"Hmm. I'll say that your black and white outfit is cool" Frenda commented.
"I agree" Takitsubo added.
"Nah. His second outfit is super cool. It has this sort of emo thing about it."
"Emo? What are you talking about?"
"You think?"
"You're just making shit up, Kinuhata."
The Level 4's only response was to shrug her shoulders.
"So, Mugino, which super outfit are you going with?"
Taking another glance over his current outfit, the chestnut-haired girl bit her lip and chose Sora's current outfit making it a bit weird that the outfit being displayed on screen was the same one he was wearing while sitting right next to her.
"Alright! You've spent enough time ogling Sora, Mugino. It's time for you to taste defeat!" Frenda declared which earned her a death glare.
This comment would enrage the tea-color-haired girl to the point that she became tunnel-visioned and would not pay any attention at all to the commentary made throughout the match. It ended in an utter bloodbath with Frenda having taken no stocks at all from Mugino and leaving her utterly defeated. It was almost embarrassing at how badly the ass-kicking was done to the beret-wearing girl.
Frenda was now sitting in her seat frowning with a blush spread across her cheeks. It was a defeat bad enough to hurt one's ego. Kinuhata and Takitsubo didn't say anything and just focused on the next match would was set to be Sora versus Kinuhata.
Deciding to throw the girls off, the spiky-haired teen would not be playing as himself now and instead as some random choices since he knew first-hand how many of his friends' move sets worked.
"Ha, let's see what you got, Kinuhata!"
"Those are some super-fighting words, Sora. Bring it on porcupine!"
"Porcupine?"
Unsure of what to say back, Sora stayed quiet and chose his fighter.
"Joker!"
"Huh? I did not expect that. I super thought you'd pick yourself."
A grin appeared on his face.
"Nope. I'm not going to play as myself right off the bat. That wouldn't be fair."
Hearing the cocky attitude coming from Sora, Mugino couldn't help the delightful smile that appeared on her face. She liked where this was going. Competition was something that she loved.
"Oh? That's quite the pedestal you're putting yourself on."
"I know all the moves used in the game. Everything from how long an attack goes on to how it can be used in combination with another move. It wouldn't be fair to start playing like that."
"Basically, you're calling us weak."
"No! I'm not saying that. I'm just saying that- "
A sly grin appeared on Mugino's face highlighting her beautiful brown eyes and pearly white teeth. This was starting to turn into quite the leadup to a hearty competition. Her interest was through the roof now.
"You're just saying that you're better than us because you have a huge advantage over us. But let me tell you, hero, I'm ready to kick your ass. So don't you dare hold back on me."
Letting out a sigh, Sora knew that there was no arguing with Mugino out of this situation. He would just have to give it his all.
"*sigh* Alright, fine. You want me to go all out? I'll go all out."
Mugino quickly bit her lip and had an excited look on her face.
"Excellent! Now then, Kinuhata, hurry up and lose so that I can fight him."
"Whoa now. Hold your super horses! I'm not losing this fight. I'm walking away with a win on my card. And I know just who to use."
The announcer then rang out the Level 4's choice.
"Little Mac!"
"Haven't you already played as him?" Frenda commented.
"Yeah. And? It's not like we made up some super rule about having to play as different characters. If Mac works for me, then I'll keep playing him. That's the way of the ring."
A deadpan expression appeared on Frenda's face as she could not believe how cringe that comment was. She had never heard of something so stupid before. It honestly surprised her.
"Basically, I can't believe you said that. And you still happen to show your face in public."
"I super don't want to hear that from you. Pudgy thighs."
"Pudgy thighs!?"
A look of bewilderment was cast onto the blonde's face as she was trying to come up with a good comeback.
"I think you must have hit your head on our last job because you don't know what you're even talking about."
Kinuhata now had a cocky grin on her face, "I know full well the super comment I just made was true. Your thighs are starting to sag a little."
"That's a baseless lie! You're just talking out of your ass now. And even if that was true, then you'd also have pudgy thighs as well, you cutting board." Frenda shot back. "That takeout dinner you suggested we try would have also caused you to have saggy thighs."
Before Kinuhata could return fire with another comment about the blonde's body, a sudden thought seemed to resonate with her. One that… caused her eyes to go wide with worry. Even Takitsubo who had barely been staying awake listened closely to what Frenda said and realized that she might have just caused their inevitable deaths.
"What? Why are you all looking at me like- "
A malevolent aura seemed to be emanating from the living room and it came from a certain source. That source came from a high school girl with tea-color hair and her hand raised into a bone-crushing fist. When it came to the female body and sensitive topics such as saggy thighs, Mugino was a worry wort with how she examined her body. She had become rather concerned as of late due to how she viewed her body. Given her expectations for perfection and a watchful eye toward calorie intake, Meltdowner was somewhat sensitive to her body. Especially given that… she had even more reason to seek perfection.
Therefore, hearing Frenda's comment and how Kinuhata's food that she had the other day was cause for concern toward thighs… let's just say, Mugino was not in a joking mood.
"Frenda…"
"…" the beret-wearing girl went silent.
Mugino was only seconds away from causing a Meltdowner orb to appear right next to her when the sound of a certain someone caused her to lose focus.
"You're worried about what you ate? Why? You look great!" Sora easily commented.
A stark moment of quietness echoed throughout the room.
"What? Did I say something not right?" He then scratched his cheek. "You guys are worried about what you ate, right?"
A response would be given from AIM Stalker in this case.
"You wouldn't understand" Takitsubo muttered.
"True. But I don't think what Frenda said deserves… whatever you're planning on doing, Mugino."
A glare was sent to the boy who simply waved it off as nothing.
"Tsk. Coming from you that's rich."
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing! Just get on with the damn match. I'm pissed and want to kick someone's ass" roared the tea-color-haired girl.
Coincidentally, as she said this, she tilted her head to the side and brushed some hair out of her face while making sure that her hand covered a good part of her face. Hiding the fact that her cheeks had taken on a pink tint.
Additionally, Frenda and Kinuhata glanced over at each other and gave silent nods. Both were thinking the same thing right now.
'Thank you, Sora, for saving us from the Kaiju known as Mugino.'
Now that the matches had started back up, it was turning into quite the spectacle with how Sora, who played Joker, managed to leave Kinuahta, who was playing Little Mac, in the dust. Knocking the boxer up into the air before bringing him back to the ground into a devastating combo attack followed by Joker casting his Persona to battle and amplifying the attack damage being done. The last-minute had been brutal for Kinuhata as the Keyblade wielder's input combos were quick and efficient with how he merely threw her character side-to-side.
It was a total massacre.
"Game!"
"I call that super crap."
Wiping his thumb under his nose, Sora couldn't help but grin widely.
"That was a good game, Kinuhata."
"Oh please. Don't give me that super sappy friendship crap. You destroyed me and my ego. Don't make it any worse."
Deciding not to say anything else, Sora figured he'd take a win and get ready for his next opponent.
Mugino on the other hand couldn't help but have a shit-eating grin on her face from watching Kinuhata get demolished by the boy. On one hand, it was nice seeing the Level 4 get her teeth kicked in with how badly she got beat. However, on the other hand, it did show her that Sora was skilled in this game and would be a tough opponent.
Nevertheless, the tea-color-haired girl would not back down from a competition.
Sometime later
It was finally time. The explosive match-up was finally here with Sora versus Mugino. After many battles being won by the two, it was finally time for them to battle. Frenda, Kinuhata, and Takitsubo merely watched from the sidelines as the build-up to this event was one for the books. After having their behinds handed to them by the battle-hardened girl and experienced player/fighter, it was now time to see them duke it out.
"Hoo boy! This is going to be super good. Frenda! Get the popcorn ready. I'll get the snacks" Kinuhata declared.
"I'm way ahead of it! You two should start the trash-talking while we get ready!" Frenda shouted while bolting to the kitchen with Kinuhata on her tail.
Takitsubo simply sank herself onto the couch and looked at the high school teens sitting next to each other having dumbfounded expressions on their faces from the others' behavior.
"So… you guys gonna trash talk?"
Hearing her comment, Sora glanced over at Mugino and kept his eyes on her for a moment longer before saying the only thing that could come to mind.
"Uh… You're gonna lose…?"
The delivery was so weak that the tea-color-haired girl simply looked disappointed.
"Seriously? What the hell was that?"
"What? I don't exactly have anything to say regarding trash-talking."
A frown was plastered onto Meltdowner's face.
"Grow some balls! Come on. Say something. Anything. I know there's bound to be some kind of competition in that head of yours."
Letting a small humming sound out, Sora did have one thought in mind. When Mugino mentioned competition, he couldn't help but recall his best friend who he always competed against growing up. Riku and he would get into all sorts of challenges against one another. If Mugino wanted this to get serious, then… he wouldn't hold back.
"Heh… I don't need to say anything competitive. It's not like our match is going to last long" Sora said with a smug, confident look on his face.
The reaction on Mugino's face would be one for the books as the bored expression on her face immediately shifted to a bright grin. One that conveyed the sense that her intrigue and overall interest had been caught.
"Oh? That's quite the statement, but I'll let you know I'm not going to be button-mashing my way out of this. I'm going to enjoy demolishing you and claiming victory" the mature-looking girl said with her eyes never leaving his.
"Actions speak louder than words, Mugino, and based on how I've seen you play… I don't have anything to worry about."
A somewhat playful grin appeared on the Level 5's face.
"Really? So far from you, I'm not impressed. Sure, you know the move sets of the characters you've played, but I haven't seen anything outlandish. Nothing to make me jump out of my seat. Besides, you're playing against complete rookies. Idiots that are barely familiar with the game."
"Hey!" came the yell from Kinuhata in the kitchen.
Takitsubo simply moved her head and gave the laziest nod anyone had ever seen.
Ignoring her teammates' reactions, Mugino was now looking at Sora with an unimpressed expression.
"You're not all that intimidating, Sora. Honestly, I doubt this match will be difficult to win. Hell, I don't even think I'll have to break a sweat."
"Getting comfy there, Mugino" Sora replied, shooting her a not impressed look.
"Why wouldn't I?" Mugino then brushed some of her hair off her shoulder. "You're not exactly a menacing foe that I'm going to have to give my all."
The Keyblade wielder simply held a smug look on his face. Hearing Mugino's claim that he wouldn't be much of an opponent just made him even more eager to duel with her. He had to admit… on a certain level he was holding back while fighting the others. It wasn't like he was completely holding back. But it was like he said before. He had a ginormous advantage over everyone here. Given… well, the obvious.
He was involved with the game.
Alas, before he could say anything else, Frenda and Kinuhata came back into the living room, but both girls looked like the mobile vendors you would find at any sporting event selling candy, food, and drinks.
"Come one! Come all! We got snacks. We got drinks. We got food. Get your treats right here!" Frenda happily cheered.
"This is one event that you can't miss. The ever-rising hero with a house key, Sora! Taking on the kaiju known to destroy buildings, labs, cars, and even people, Mugino!" Kinuhata joking said.
The look on Mugino's face could be conveyed in one singular word.
Murder.
"Once I'm done kicking his ass…" Mugino did the usual two fingers pointed at her then the two girls. "I'm coming for you two next. Takitsubo will just be easy prey."
The tracksuit-wearing girl tiredly moved her head to just stare at Mugino. The look of fear… was not present. Truth be told, she just looked… unbothered.
Nevertheless, none of the girls cared much for the Level 5's words as the main event was right underway. The boy with the key versus the laser-firing girl. Who would win?
"Frenda, mind super handing me the popcorn."
"Sure thing! Takitsubo, care for anything before the match starts?"
"I'll take a soda."
"You got it." Frenda then looked over at the two players. "You players all ready? No last-minute reservations?"
Irritation was written all over the brunette girl's face.
"What the fuck are you saying? And why do you two sound like- "
Sora could only chuckle as he understood what Frenda and Kinuhata were doing. Honestly, he was not about to let the girls down and go easy. He would make this a fight to be watched.
"How about less talking and more fighting? What do you say, Mugino?"
Glaring at the boy, Mugino hit the button to progress the match to where they would choose who they would play as. The time for talk was over. The time for action was nigh.
"Ooh! Who will you guys pick?"
"I'm super betting that Sora will pick- "
"Sora!"
The image of Sora in his Kingdom Hearts 3 outfit was displayed on the screen. Sora had picked himself and was ready to do battle.
"Yep. Super called it."
"Then who is Mugino going to- "
"Sora!"
Bewilderment was now evident on the two girls' faces while Takitsubo simply tilted her head to the side.
"HUH!? That's not…"
"I am super shocked. I didn't think she would do that."
Mugino simply didn't say anything and kept her eyes trained on the screen. Sora followed suit but had a more relaxed expression on his face. It was evident between the two that Meltdowner was taking this very seriously which was in character for as she was a battle fanatic who strived for victory. There was no way she would mess this up now.
"Ready?" Sora questioned.
"To kick your ass? Definitely."
That marked the moment for the match to start as they confirmed their picks and started loading into the match. Since Sora chose his current form as a player, Mugino decided to go for his white Ultimate form leaving this to be a mirror match. No more words were needed as things had quieted down with the players and spectators watching the screen load up.
The time to fight was now.
"3"
"2"
"1"
"Go!"
To say that the match was boring would be a total lie. However, to say that it was turning out to be a total blood bath would be the truth. But not in the way one would perceive.
Mugino was relentless with her button inputs which were on the boarder of being button mashing. However, her movements were quick and right to the point. Alas, her opponent had a clear advantage over her. And it didn't help that he was the one commencing said blood bath in a very different kind of way. Sora's way of dealing with the battle-fanatic girl was a simple one that left quite an impact on her.
"*Block*"
"*Block*"
"*Block*"
"QUIT BLOCKING EVERYTHING YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
The tea-color-haired girl's scream was a showcase of how things had been going for her this entire match. Everything that she tried to accomplish against the spiky-haired boy was met with utter demolishment. The best way to explain what was happening would be like this…
When a younger sibling tries to surpass their older sibling at a game that the older sibling has played for years. The result is an absolute sweep leaving the younger sibling defeated no matter what kinds of tricks are being used. Knowledge and experience were some of the attributes to help seal the deal.
Hence, every move that Mugino tried to throw against Sora was met with a perfect parry. The sound effect for a parry was heard countless times by the girls of Item as they watched the match and could see that their leader was getting toyed with.
And the best part… Sora didn't even look like he was breaking a sweat.
"Nice try there. You almost hit me."
"Shut up."
"That move also has a big hitbox. Especially for characters hanging off the edge."
"Shut up."
"And when you manage to throw someone, make sure that- "
"I SAID SHUT UP!" roared Mugino.
At the same time, her "Sora" was thrown off the stage by Sora's… well, "Sora" followed by him taunting by spinning his Keyblade.
"Oof" was murmured by Takitsubo who could see her friend and leader starting to lose it.
"Mugino's only got one more stock" Frenda muttered.
"She's super screwed. Sora hasn't lost a single stock."
Normally, the mature-looking girl would have sent them a murderous glare or thrown deathly threats at them for saying such shit. However, right now she was trying to get her wits about her. All that trash talk said before the match rang in her head while she glanced over at the blue-eyed teen boy. It didn't help that when he saw her staring at him, he quickly flashed a friendly smile to her before drawing his eyes back to the screen.
She was starting to see red and could now rely on a more aggressive playstyle. The only way she could see herself winning now was to try and change up her play style. Alas, she was also in a tricky situation as Frenda's comment was true. Sora had not lost a single life and practically sat there as himself untouched.
Suddenly, Mugino was pulled out of her thought space as she heard Sora say something.
"Ready to end this?"
If looks could kill, then Sora would be dead already… or he'd be dead again… or dead-dead…
"Don't beat yourself up, Mugino." The Keyblade wielder said while letting his left hand leave the controller and be placed on his heart. "You are a tough opponent. I'm sure if you attended a tournament, then you'd be the obvious winner. However, realize that you are going up against someone who is in the game. Think about that. I'm in Super Smash Bros Ultimate. It was obvious that I would know all of my own moves. Along with every little detail about my move set. If we had rules in place for who we could play as then I wouldn't be sitting at this much of an advantage over you. Don't feel down on yourself. I'm having a lot of fun being here and playing with you. Thank you for making this happen."
Listening to Sora's speech, Mugino couldn't help but bite her tongue and keep quiet while she let her head process everything that was said. This had been the umpteenth time she heard Sora give a sappy ass speech, but even still, she could understand what he was saying. She understood the depth of his words and how true they were.
Hence, she quickly brushed a strand of hair out of her face and simply nodded. This was a fight that she would not win. No matter what she tried to do. It was better to admit defeat instead of working herself to a migraine trying to beat someone who has a drastic advantage on his side.
"…*sigh* fine. You win."
"Nuh-uh. I don't win."
A surprised look appeared on her face as well as the other girls who were watching this scene play out in front of them.
"What? What do you mean?'
A smug expression appeared on Sora's face.
"I win right…"
Immediately as he said this, Sora began to perform an astonishing combo on Mugino's "Sora" and managed to leave all the girls in awe at how precise his movements were. From the tilt attack to the combo performed to then the grab and slamming of said "Sora" into the ground and then performing a rising spiral attack and Sonic Blade combo that would end the match. This all happened within the span of a few seconds and left the girls realizing that Sora was going easy on them.
"Now."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…What the fuck?"
"THE WINNER IS… SORA!"
Swiping his thumb under his nose, the Guardian of Light had a bright smile on his face.
"Good game, Mugino. And I mean that."
Letting out a sigh, the teen girl simply shook her head before agreeing.
"Yeah, it was." She then let herself chuckle. "You know what this means right?"
"Huh? Uh… no. I don't. Care to explain?"
A mischievous grin appeared on her face now.
"We're playing again. And this time, you can't pull a bitch move and play as yourself and any of your best characters!" Mugino said with a growing grin on her face with her eyes locked onto his.
Sora could only laugh and ruffle the back of his hair. This was going to be a long hangout of Mugino trying to best him at Smash. In addition, the other girls from Item would get a kick out of seeing their leader losing her cool and getting shut out the entire time.
Overall, the hangout between the Keyblade wielder and the girls of Item managed to turn into an experience that was enjoyed by everyone. It would also be the startup to many more hangouts involving games that Sora had at his disposal. Besides, the topic of party games was something brought up and Sora knew one party game in particular that was sure to get everyone involved… along with the destruction of said host's apartment as she would lose her temper.
Omake 2 – Spooky Encounters
Halloween in Academy City was… unique to say the least. Everywhere you looked, you would find students dressed in costumes and outfits that you wouldn't normally see them in. Or you'd see students and adults call the holiday a joke and go about their day like it was nothing. But the one thing that everyone could agree upon was the usual holiday delight of receiving candy from the adults who continued to uphold the tradition.
Hence, a certain spiky-haired brunette teen was walking along the street with two of his friends. One who was usually in a nun outfit now had… well, her habit still on but this time around she had cat ears attached to the top of her hood. Followed by what appeared to be a cat tail that was attached to her back… at least that's what Sora figured. She also wore large cat gloves that were decorated with a pink bow. Index's costume fit her just right.
His other friend, however, was dressed in a purple plaid long-sleeve while wearing regular jeans and shoes. Not that much different from a usual outfit. But the thing that made his outfit special was that he had donned a set of gray wolf ears and what appeared to be arm-length hairy gloves along with a patch of fur around his chest that was held by a spiky collar around his neck. Touma's costume was definitely one that was surprising.
"Touma! Sora! Hurry! They're going to run out of candy!" Index shouted while holding what appeared to be a large basket holding some other candy.
"Index! Wait! My bag is going to rip!" Touma cried out while holding a torn-apart bag that was moments away from spilling the candy he had gotten.
Sora who had been decked out in his own Halloween costume simply laughed a bit at the sight of the cat girl hurrying up the wolf boy. Seeing his two friends having a great time was something that brought him joy.
Speaking of his outfit, Sora was wearing his dark stylish Halloween Town outfit that featured his black wings sprouting from his back and a creepy pumpkin headpiece that was covering the side of his right eye. He'd come to really enjoy wearing this outfit anytime he visited Halloween Town. Plus, with his new hairstyle, the pumpkin headpiece still sat comfortably on his head.
"Sora! That means you too! You've been just standing there watching as me and Touma are getting all the candy."
"Ahaha. I know. I know. Don't worry. I'm just letting you guys get a head start. Once I think you've gotten enough candy, then I'll catch up and surpass you two" Sora happily replied.
"Oh? Those are some fighting words I hear. Well, this Kamijou is not going to let you one-up me. Especially on this holiday. Getting all of this free food… there's no way that I'm going to lose!" Touma excitedly said.
Grinning like crazy, Sora was down to have a bit of competition for getting candy.
"Alright then, where are we heading next?"
"Hmm… How about the hospital?" Index questioned.
Touma's face had gone pale at the thought of visiting his second home. He hadn't been there in the past… 48 hours. He also had a feeling that he would be back there soon.
"I… If that's what you want… Hmm… Now that I think about it… Index! You're right! Let's go to the hospital!"
Surprised by the sudden 180 by Touma, Sora, and Index looked at each other before shrugging and beginning to walk forward. They now had a plan of action.
The misfortunate high schooler's reasoning for wanting to go to the hospital was a simple one. The chance that the nurses would actually be dressed as 'nurses' was something that he could not dismiss so easily. His teenage mind went somewhere that made him consider actually injuring himself and being admitted to the hospital… only for today though. It was a special day.
Hence, the trio began walking to the hospital with a little prep in their step. Ready to take on whatever awaited them.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the trio were met with an odd and somewhat worrying sight before them.
"W-W-What are you doing here idiot!?" yelled Misaka Mikoto who was also present.
"Short hair? You're here as well?" Index asked.
Annoyed with that nickname, Misaka simply let out a huff of air before changing her target direction to Touma.
"Hey, you're dressed as… as a… I have no idea what you're dressed as" Touma admitted.
"Hmm. I think she's dressed as an angel. Fallen angel? Is that right?" Sora questioned.
An appeased nod was received by the Level 5.
"At least one of you can see well. Thank you, Sora."
"No problem. I saw the wings and the headpiece halo. It was kind of a shot in the dark. Plus, with your black and purple dress, I just thought that."
"Ooh! Now I can see it."
A tint of pink appeared on Misaka's face as she heard the idiot say this. Even if he didn't notice what she was at first, he still acknowledged her outfit.
"So, are you here by yourself?" the Keyblade wielder asked.
"Nope. I'm here with my friends. I think they are waiting in line over there." Misaka said while nudging her head to the side. "They should be out soon."
"Huh? So, is there a line to get into the hospital? Ah! Touma! Let's go. Let's go. We need to hurry!"
Before anyone could say anything, Index sprinted right toward where the line was and stood there with a giant grin on her face. This left the two spiky-haired boys to awkwardly laugh at the nun's actions.
"Well, have you already been inside the hospital?" Touma suddenly asked Misaka.
"H-Huh?! Uh… n-no I haven't" Misaka replied with a blush evident on her face.
"Wanna go?"
"HUH!? I-I…" Misaka was looking everywhere but at the black spiky-haired boy. "I…sure."
"Great! Let's go. I can't miss out on the candy. I think I'll be saved this week. Ah… I've never looked so forward to Halloween candy before" Touma dreamily said.
Tilting her head at what she just heard, Misaka was tempted to ask him what he meant but decided not to. Instead, she glanced over at Sora and quickly spoke to him.
"Are you going to come with us, Sora?"
Taking on a thinking pose, the Guardian of Light recalled what she said about her friends getting done with the hospital and figured he could go talk to them.
"I don't think so. I might actually go and see if your friends are finishing up with the hospital. Maybe even take a walk around the place? It seems like they have a Halloween theme going on around the area."
Nodding her head at that suggestion, Misaka began to walk in line with the idiot.
"Tell Saten and Uiharu that I'm in line now and will catch up with them later."
"Got it. See you guys soon."
The sight of his two friends leaving to get in line made the spiky-haired teen wonder just who else he would see here. The hospital did appear to be a hotspot for students and adults. Halloween was in full swing.
Departing from those three, Sora was now walking to the front of the hospital waiting to see if he'd see anyone familiar. To his surprise, it didn't take too long for him to see someone familiar.
"Last Order?"
The appearance of a younger-looking Misaka caught his attention, especially with how her outfit was hard to miss given its appearance.
"Oh! It's you! Sora! The Hero says Misaka Misaka as she realizes that it's been a minute since we've seen each other."
The young girl known as Last Order happily said as she kept a bright and cheerful smile on her face.
"Hey there, it's good to see you too. I like your pumpkin outfit a lot. It suits you well."
"Thanks a bunch! Says Misaka Misaka as she is happy to hear positive feedback from a friend."
A smirk appeared on the Keyblade wielder's face as he suddenly recalled an old friend of his.
"Is your costume going for royalty involving pumpkins? You remind me of a certain friend of mine who claimed that he was the Pumpkin King."
The image of Jack Skellington popped into Sora's head as he remembered his adventures in Halloween Town both times.
"Hmm… Misaka was not quite sure what she should be positioned as. Says Misaka Misaka as she did not think this fully through."
"Why not Pumpkin Princess?" Sora suggested.
A look of utter happiness was plastered all over Last Order's face which had then turned into one of the brightest smiles he'd ever seen on her.
"That's an excellent title! Says Misaka Misaka with so much happiness!"
"Hahaha. Well, are you here alone? Or are you with your sister?"
"Misaka is with her sister. Although, her sister must be fascinated with something around here. Says Misaka Misaka as she is now keeping an eye out for her."
"I see. Well, I'm glad that you're here with someone. I'm also surprised that you aren't wearing a Gekota costume" Sora reasoned.
Placing her hands on her hips while still holding her bag of candy, Last Order had an accomplished look on her face.
"Yep! Misaka considered it at first but realized that she could wear a Gekota costume any time of the year. Says Misaka Misaka as she secretly hides the fact that she and her sisters already have Gekota pajamas."
A chuckle escaped Sora's lips as he looked around the hospital grounds and could see so many people around.
"Well, I'm going to look around. Are you going to be alright?"
"Of course! Misaka also has her guardian around here somewhere. It took some time, but he managed to finally put on his costume. Says Misaka Misaka as she's super happy to have gotten to dress up."
Smiling at her happiness, Sora figured that she'd be alright. Besides, Touma, Mikoto, her sister, and her guardian were all in the area. She would be alright.
"Ok. Well, I'll see you later Last Order. Have fun!"
"Goodbye, Sora! Hope to see you later. Says Misaka Misaka as she's happy to have seen you again."
Now in an even happier mood, Sora was coming up to the front hospital doors observing as the line was continuing to grow when he spotted two familiar girls walking by.
"Saten? Uiharu?"
Hearing their names called out, the two girls turned around and spotted the familiar spiky-haired brunette.
"Oh! Sora! Didn't expect to see you here" Saten cheerfully commented.
"Yeah. I was with some other friends and happened to come here. I still have to check out the rest of the city. There are too many areas to cover hahaha!"
"No kidding. We still have to stop by all the Judgment branch offices as they are also giving out candy. Ahh… I hope branch 13 is giving out homecooked cheesecake like last year…" Uiharu said light tone.
Saten could only chuckle at her friend's antics. Although, cheesecake did sound pretty good right about now.
"So, Sora, get any candy yet?"
"Not yet."
"Whaaaaat? That's surprising. I thought you'd be all over Halloween and candy."
"Oh, make no mistake. I'll be making my rounds soon. I'm just having a little competition with a few friends of mine. I'm giving them a head start on getting candy. Once I'm given the go…" A giant smirk appeared on the Keyblade wielder's face. "You can't stop me. I'm getting all the candy in the city!"
Both middle school girls kept their eyes on the boy as they were startled by his claim. The teen immediately started blushing a bit and laughing while patting the back of his head.
"That's… that might be a bit too much for me alone. I mean, I could cover at least three or four districts but… the entire city? No way!"
Laughter was shared by the three friends as they realized how crazy one would have to be to do such a thing. It was at this point that Sora noticed his friends' costumes and had to say something about them.
"Your guys' costumes look great!"
"Aww, thanks Sora!"
"I still think Saten's is on the nose though" Uiharu muttered.
Tilting his head in confusion, Sora gave Saten's costume another look over. She appeared to be wearing black boots with black tights that had a design on them followed by a red corset with pink fur around certain parts of her body. On the top of her head were what appeared to be two red horns along with two wings on her back. She also wore black gloves that went up her arm while also holding a cute little bag for her candy.
From what he could guess, she appeared to take the appearance of a devil of some kind. He knew that there was a name for this kind of devil but couldn't place his finger on it.
Uiharu's outfit consisted of what appeared to be an angel with the white dress she wore followed by white knee-high socks and shoes. She also had white wings sprouting from her back and a small white bag on her arm for candy. The black-haired girl also still had on her headband of flowers.
"On the nose? What does that mean?"
A sly smirk appeared on Saten's face.
"Uiharu is just upset that I haven't flipped her skirt at all today. That's all."
"That's not all! And that's what I mean. She's evil!"
"Evil?" Sora repeated.
"Evil!"
"Nah. She's just complaining. Besides, my original plans for a costume were going to be a baseball player, but I changed it at the last minute. Plus, I think the succubus look goes well with me don't you think?" Saten said while striking a cheerful pose.
"Ahaha! Yeah, you look great! I'm guessing you all helped with Misaka's outfit as well?"
"She came up with that costume on her own. We just provided a little feedback on it. That's all."
"That's so cool! You guys all have a theme going on with devils and angles."
Uiharu and Saten both looked at each other with comedic sweat beads running down their faces.
"Not exactly. We're missing one other person, and she's dressed as a… well, she's dressed as a lewd nurse."
"…Oh."
Sora did not know how to exactly respond.
"I see, well, where is she?"
"Shirai had to run back to our Judgment branch office. She was helping Konori with the homemade cookies she was making."
"Nice! Cookies sound really good now."
"Hoo boy. You're making me hungry, Sora" Saten complained.
"Ahahaha. Well, before I forget, Misaka said that she was now getting in line. I think she should be coming up shortly."
As he said this, he began looking around the line to see if Touma, Index, or Misaka were getting closer to the front.
"I see. Well, should we go and catch up with her?" Uiharu asked.
"Yep. But first- "Saten then gave Sora's outfit a look over. "What are you supposed to be, Sora? I'm not sure what your outfit resembles."
A bright smile appeared on Sora's face as he brought both of his hands behind his head.
"I'm a vampire. Can't you tell now?"
Sora then began pointing to things about his costume. The teeth. The bat wings. The dark overall appearance.
"Oooh! I get it now. Yeah, I really like your outfit. It has originality to it" Saten said while giving a thumbs up.
"I also like the pumpkin hanging on your face. It adds some fun to the overall costume" Uiharu added.
"Thanks, guys!" Sora said before looking around the area and making his decision to leave. "Well, I'm gonna keep checking around the place. I'll see you later."
"Mm hm. See you Sora!"
"Bye!"
And with that, the Keyblade wielder parted from his friends and continued to explore the rest of the area. Taking in all that he could with the Halloween spirit in full throttle.
A few minutes later
After having done a bit more exploring of the area, Sora pulled out his Gummiphone and was about to call Touma and ask him where he and Index were when all of a sudden, he started getting a call. Taking a look at who was calling him, the teen had a somewhat surprised expression glossed over on his face.
"Hello? Mugino? What's- "
"Come to the apartment. Now."
"Huh? What do you- "
"Don't ask stupid questions. Get here now."
The line then went dead with Mugino Shizuri having ended the call before he could say anything.
Left with utter confusion on his face, the spiky-haired teen wasn't sure what she meant by coming over to the Item apartment, but he figured that it must be important enough to warrant a call. He then sent out a text to Touma about meeting up with another group of friends really quick and that he'd catch up with them later.
Whatever it was that Mugino needed him for must have been important. Which is why he immediately started running through the hospital area managing to pass many students who were dressed up in their Halloween costumes. Hopefully, it was nothing too bad.
Having finally made it to her apartment, Sora was now at her front door to the luxurious living space of the group known as Item. He was about to knock on the door when it opened automatically due to a short blonde-haired girl's influence. She also appeared to be dressed up in the Halloween theme.
"Frenda?"
"Hey, you're here! Basically, you got here faster than we all thought you would" claimed the beret-wearing girl.
Taking a look at her outfit, Sora could see that Frenda was wearing a red skirt with black tights and red slip-on shoes with her beret matching her skirt color. She was also wearing a white shirt and… two horns that sat comfortably in her hair along with two small red wings on her back. He could also see a small tail appearing to come from her back.
"What's going on? Are you guys in trouble?"
"Trouble? What gave you that idea?"
Confusion was now evident on the Keyblade wielder's face as he wasn't sure what was going on.
"I… Mugino's tone made it seem like something important was happening."
A look of realization appeared on Frenda's face as soon as she heard what Sora said.
'Mugino… you really are bad at conveying your feelings. Worrying Sora for nothing. *sigh* What are we going to do with you? You can melt people into a puddle without blinking an eye, but when it comes to talking with him… you fumble and fold so easily. Wait till Kinuhata hears about this.'
With these thoughts swimming around her head, Frenda quickly shook her head and put on a truly happy smile at seeing her friend. It was strange. Considering someone of Sora's status as her friend. Someone whom many people considered to be a hero was simply staring at her with a worried and confused expression on his face.
"Well, come on in! Oh. And don't worry. There's nothing wrong."
"There's not?" Sora cautiously asked.
"Nope. It was all a bit of miscommunication. Basically, Mugino sucks at- "
"Say another word and I'll make sure you wear a black eye for Halloween!" shouted a familiar girl's voice.
Turning to the side, Sora was able to see tea-colored hair and smiled. It also appeared that she was in favor of the spooky holiday as she was also wearing a costume.
Mugino's costume consisted of black boots that went just below her knee followed by a very short black mini skirt. She was also wearing a black tank top with a yellow design that was also quite short. On her back were two large wings with a white top, and on her head were two large and pointy horns extruding from her head. They might have been part of a headband hidden under her soft hair.
"Uhm… Hey, Mugino. Is everything alright?" the teen boy asked with sincere concern.
"Everything's fine. You're the one who misinterpreted what I was saying" Mugino replied while brushing some hair from her shoulder.
"A-Ah… right. That's my bad. You look great in your costume!" He then looked over at Frenda. "And so do you, Frenda. Going for the devilish look this year?"
"Yep! Thanks for noticing!" Frenda happily replied.
Shifting her head to the side so that she wouldn't show her entire face, Mugino's face had a bit of red to it which resulted in her raising her hand and beginning to adjust her horns. This was done to hide the blush she held along with the smile beginning to break out on her lips.
"Thanks. You also look… good."
Swiping his thumb under his nose, Sora had a bright smile on his face.
"Thanks, Mugino! This has always been one of my favorite outfits for Halloween. Taking on a vampire appearance is nice. Plus, I only wear it during the holiday."
A humming sound was all that came from the Level 5. Frenda, meanwhile, had a smug look on her face. She could egg on her leader but decided to stay alive a bit longer.
"Well, I'm sure the others would like to see your outfit as well. Also, what were you doing before you came here, Sora?"
"I was over at the hospital where they were giving out candy. I went with a few friends and then managed to find even more of my friends there. I was hanging out there when Mugino called me."
"I see, well, now that you're here, stay for a while," Mugino said this before making her way to the kitchen and grabbing a few glasses.
She then reached into a special cabinet and pulled out what appeared to be a large glass of wine. The smug look she had on her face made both Sora and Frenda glance over at each other.
"Care for a glass of wine?"
"Uh… I'm good thank you."
A disappointed expression was covering the mature-looking girl's face.
"What's wrong? Scared of letting go for a bit?" Mugino tempted the Keyblade wielder. "Didn't think you would fold so easily."
Unbeknownst to the beautiful girl was that Sora had drunk stuff that hit way harder than wine could. Along with that, he had also grown to have a strong resistance to alcohol. This was discovered on his latest voyage to The Caribbean where Jack offered him some rum, and out of curiosity about the drink, he gave it a try to which he found that there was no effect on him. This was likely due to his common usage of potions and the effects given to him. It had ultimately made him resistant to such drinks.
"*sigh* I think I'm more worried about you, Mugino."
"The hell does that mean!? Do you think I can't handle my alcohol intake? That I can easily get tipsy from wine?"
"Frenda. Does Mugino get tipsy easily?" he asked the blonde.
Knowing that she was in a hard place, Frenda decided to give an answer that would allow her to be in good standing with both Sora and Mugino.
"I… I cannot say. Basically, that's not my business to share."
An appreciative hum was heard from her leader.
"Good answer."
Sora simply shook his head and figured that he could drink the wine but also keep an eye on the high school girl.
"…Fine. Pour me a glass please."
A beautiful yet devilish grin appeared on the chestnut-haired girl's face. She had gotten what she wanted.
"I always get what I want" she murmured to herself while pouring the drinks.
As she was doing this, Sora began to wonder where the other members of Item were.
"Hey, where's Kinuhata and Takitsubo?"
"Right behind you."
Surprised by the sudden voice, Sora jumped back a bit and looked around only to find the two girls chilling on the couch. Kinuhata had her legs kicked up on the couch and was holding what appeared to be a pitchfork. Her hoodie was also over her head and appeared to have two devil horns protruding from the clothing. Takitsubo on the other hand was dressed in all black with what appeared to be a black dress and black hoodie that was resting over her head as well. The Level 4 girl also had two large wings resting on her back.
"Oh. There you guys are. Have you just been- "
"Yep. We've been super listening to your chit-chat."
"Gotcha… well, good to see you again."
"Likewise. Sora" Takitsubo lazily responded.
Now having met the entirety of Item, the Guardian of Light glanced over at Mugino and could see that she was about ready to serve the wine to him. This got him thinking.
"Hey, so are you guys going to go trick-or-treating?"
"Huh? Are you trick-or-treating?"
"Yep! Ok, well not exactly. I was with my friends while they were there, but that's only because we had a bit of a competition going on with whoever could get the most candy. I was just giving them a bit of a head start. Once they get far enough, then I'll jump in and blast past them. There's no way I'm missing out on that!" Sora excitedly said while fist pumping.
Hearing the word competition got Mugino to lift her eyebrow in interest.
"That's intriguing. But for now, here's your wine, Sora."
"Thank you." He then lifted the wine and gestured to the tea-color-haired girl to share a moment with him. "To friends!"
"…To friends."
*Cling*
Mugino annoyingly replied to what he said out of her desire to not ruin this moment. And now having clinked glasses together, she enjoyed her wine even more. The taste of good wine with good company was everything she could ever ask for at this moment.
Sora on the other hand had sipped away his wine like it was water and gently placed the glass on the table. He then figured that he'd spend some time with the girls and chat with them before leaving. This also brought him to think about the whole reason for being here.
"Say, Mugino, why did you tell me to come over?"
Coming up with the first thing on her mind, Mugino answered his question.
"Why not? It's a holiday. Aren't you supposed to be surrounded by friends…"
As soon as she said this, the other three girls immediately looked at her with a deadpan expression. No other words needed to be said to know that what she was saying was complete and utter bull-
"You're right!"
"She is!?"
This was repeated two times by the girls as one girl obviously stayed quiet but tilted her head to the side.
Scratching the side of his head, Sora gave an honest response.
"Yeah, Mugino's right. Holidays are meant to be shared with friends and loved ones. That's what makes holidays so special. Being with the people you care about… people who give your heart light. Plus, you might be able to meet even more people during the holidays. It's the time when we can put our differences aside and just enjoy the day. That's how I see things."
Mugino had slowly taken another sip of her wine as she tried so dearly to hide the smile appearing on her face. Moreover, she was now on her third glass of wine. Her mood was greatly rising.
"You always manage to see things so positively, Sora?" Frenda asked.
A somewhat sad smile appeared on his face now.
"Not all the time. Even I have moments where I've been brought down. But after managing to get through all the tough times… I've come to realize that by listening to my heart, I'll find the drive to reach happiness again. Hurting is just part of caring."
The girls all seemed to take his words, well, to heart.
"…You always have something super heartfelt to say."
"Heh. I try."
The mood was heightened when everyone let out a chuckle. Even Takitsubo with her quiet and lazy attitude allowed a small bit of laughter to be heard. Mugino had thankfully been sipping on her wine which prevented her from laughing. To her benefit at least.
This left the Keyblade wielder to enjoy a bit of time with his friends within Item and chat with them about what he thought about the Halloween holiday. Everything seemed to be at peace.
Which is exactly what he needed… before Sora began his hunt. Hunt for candy that is.
*Special Author's Note* - Thanks again for checking this story out and until next time. See ya.
Notes:
*A/N* - …*cough* *cough* So… yeah… hey there. Apologies yet again. This chapter has been in the works for quite some time now. I'd say I originally had this planned to be released by the end of October but… well, it's now November. Almost December if you can believe it. Nevertheless, I apologize for the long wait, and I could see the mention of wanting a new chapter. Life got complicated, to say the least. I'll spare you the boring details. But now we come to this chapter and the events that will push it forward.
As I've mentioned before in the previous chapter, I want to get into the Magic Side of things as I feel like there's a whole other can of worms to get to. With Sora's magical abilities mixing with Toaru's magic, things are surely going to get interesting. Expect a whole lot of confusion on both parties trying to understand each other's way of using magic. Furthermore, the story is now entering the Road to Endymion arc where things will then connect to the Daihasei Festival. I want to strike for an even ground where things seem to follow with the mainline story but also splinter into newfound areas involving Sora. A bit of both is what I'm striving for as it adds unique perceptions of things.
In addition, with Darkness messing around the city and giving people unknown powers, things are surely going to get more complicated. Do note though that it's not just Science Side people that will have access to darkness but also Magic Side characters. That's going to be a lot of fun to see. Either way, thanks again for checking this story out and continuing to follow up on it. I really enjoy seeing the reviews whether they are to bash, praise, compliment, or critique the story. Adds interest to it so that it can be better. I mean, honestly, I know it could be better but… I'm enjoying what's happening so far. I also have an endpoint in mind that I'd like to reach but… oof. It's nowhere in sight lol.
Once again, thanks for checking this story out, and until next time. Take care.
Chapter 17: Magical & Scientific Issues
Summary:
With the sudden appearance of Stiyl, conflict is inescapable even with the threat of a magic cabal looking to cause mayhem to Academy City. Meanwhile, forces amongst the Science Side are starting to move along with the introduction of a new player holding his deck of cards close to his chest. Sora, Touma, and Index have their work cut out for them.
Notes:
*Disclaimer* - I do not own the copyright to Kingdom Hearts, Toaru Majutsu no Index, or any other series/characters that will appear in this story.
*A/N* - Hey… long time no see. Been a while… probably been too long. Sorry about that. I'll take the blame for this long delay. While life once again had some unexpected things pop up, most of my time in February and March was taken up by some things. *cough* *cough* Persona *cough* Final Fantasy *cough*. Nevertheless, I'm back and got some crazy ideas for the story's progression. Also, I do blame a bit of writer's block kicking in. However, it was nothing too serious, just the occasional feeling of putting off updating the chapter. Alas, enough about my whining.
This chapter will start to move things in an orderly fashion as we are still days ahead of Daihasei and there are a lot of things that take place around this time. Whether it's from the Magical Index side of things or the Scientific Railgun events, things do get quite busy. However, with Sora's inclusion in this story, things might be touched upon or might be different. So, if things don't pan out the way you're expecting then good. That means I'll have subverted expectations for better or worse. Either way, our Keyblade wielder is in for a tough yet eventful time. And with that, I'd like to thank you once again for checking this story out whether you're a KH fan, Toaru fan, or a fan of any other series I reference in this story as that's going to be a developing trend. I hope what I've done so far is at the very least fun. Feedback and reviews have also been a nice thing to read. Now then, thanks again and enjoy the next part of this story.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
No one uttered a single word.
The air surrounding the area had been consumed with a heavy sense of tension so thick that a knife wouldn't come close to cutting it at all. Moreover, it didn't help that the three individuals currently standing in the area all wielded abilities that could turn this upside down. The Keyblade wielder, the wielder of Imagine Breaker, and the formidable magician affiliated with Necessarius. Each of the boys was eyeing one another closely. Waiting to see who would make the first move.
"Tch. I'm done wasting my time."
Styil, being the one who said this, suddenly stepped back while keeping his eyes shifting from Sora to Touma, but mainly he was focused on the spiky-haired brunette.
"I'm aware of your annoyances, Kamijou. I plan on wearing you down from a distance. However, …" the red-haired magician then nodded his head over at Sora. "It's him that I'm more concerned about."
The Keyblade wielder's only answer was to glare at him while not saying anything. This entire ordeal had been a negative one right off the bat, and it was thanks to the red-headed magician's behavior toward the two.
"Stiyl- "
It was at this point that Stiyl suddenly pulled a flaming sword from his large coat and swung it forward causing a burst of shockwaves to scatter across the area.
Seeing this random attack, Sora immediately dashed to Touma and grabbed him by the shoulder before jumping right up in the air. This caused Kamijou to go wide-eyed and let out a brief yell before stopping and seeing the magician's attack cover the ground. It appeared that the attack was a wide one with the center being the hotspot to cause problems.
It was also at this point of realization that Touma could see him and Sora falling back to the ground from the jump. Questions flooded Kamijou's head for how it was possible to be this high in the sky, but then he remembered Sora's strange abilities and easily dismissed half of the questions. However, what he didn't account for was the speed at which he and Sora were heading to the ground leaving him flailing and breaking the Keyblade wielder's hold on him.
"Aaaah!"
*PLOP*
The sound of Touma hitting the ground face first was pretty rough even though they weren't that high in the air. Sora felt bad about not holding onto him tight enough and would apologize later, but right now his attention was focused on the red-haired magician who was starting to irritate him.
"Touma!? You good?"
The only response given by the misfortunate boy was a muffled, "Mm-hm."
Nodding at that response, Sora was now glaring at Stiyl.
"What's the big idea?! You were seriously going to attack us?" he questioned with annoyance in his voice.
A simple huff was Stiyl's response before pulling a cigarette from his jacket and lighting it with the use of the flame sword by his side.
"What the hell Stiyl!?" Kamijou shouted at the magician as stood back up. "You hid rune cards around the area before we even got here? How?! Why?!"
"You know the obvious answer, idiot. It's not an effective trap if things aren't already in order" the red-haired man then glanced down at the sword. "The target is restricted with the first wave allowing me to strike. Making sure to end the target while they are constrained."
Shooting his eyes around the area, Touma realized that Stiyl must have taken the extra precaution and gone about placing the runes in sweet spots. Not to mention, when it came to magicians and their casting of spells position had a whole lot of significance.
A simple charge might elicit a barrier of some kind. Probably a firewall that would prevent him from knocking the magician right on his ass. It was also smart to consider that with caution in mind, the magician's magic was amplified due to the rune cards set up all over the place.
"That's real cheap, Styil! Getting home-field advantage and being prepared for a fight" Touma yelled out.
"And what will you do now?"
Just as Touma was about to reply, Sora took a step and raised his Keyblade.
"THIS!"
With the Keyblade raised in the air, the tip of the weapon glowed a bright blue color before water appeared out of thin air. The torrent of water was then flung right at the magician.
"WATER!"
It was right then that a wall of fire shot up from the ground and clashed with the water causing a massive cloud of steam to appear and forcing Stiyl to wave the sword forward and send out another barrage of shockwaves.
Seeing this sudden attack, Touma dashed forward while also seeing Sora spin his Keyblade before seemingly casting another magical spell due to his weapon now glowing a lighter blue color.
"Stiyl!" roared Kamijou as he continued to dart toward the magician.
However, just as Touma had taken another few steps forward, a brief scoff could be heard coming from Stiyl.
"I've seen enough. You really thought that would work?"
It was at this point that Touma could feel something off about the situation and turned his eyes toward the fire while also hearing what could be described as a roaring sound growing.
*WHOOSH!*
Suddenly, a pillar of fire shot up from the ground to block Imagine Breaker's path causing Touma to halt his body and throw himself back on the ground. His eyes then scanned the pillar to see that a humanoid figure was embellishing itself in the flames while taking on a familiar form. One that he recognized quite clearly now.
This fiery figure was better known as Innocentius.
Bewildered by this new foe on the battlefield, Sora didn't waste any time and started sprinting from the side all while casting a flurry of Water spells at the scorching foe.
*PSSSH*
*ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRR*
Steam had now clouded the area leaving Touma the chance to scramble back to his feet and frantically think about what to do next. While his right hand could negate Innocentius that effect wouldn't last long due to the runes placed around the area. The regenerative power supported by the flames could cause the monster to return within seconds. Leaving this to be an unfair fight.
"Take this!"
Pulled out of his thoughts, Touma then spotted Sora blitzing right in front of him with what appeared to be a blue light coursing throughout his body. He then slammed his Keyblade right into the side of Innocentius causing the fiery monster to be pushed back causing its' attention to be directed at the spiky-haired brunette.
"What are you…?" muttered Sora as he gripped the Keyblade's handle and stared right at the creature made of flames.
*ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRR*
Innocentius then swung its left hand right at Sora expecting to either crush the boy with flames or send him flying.
However, what the monster and its master didn't account for was the spiky-haired teen able to block the attack with both his hands holding onto his strange weapon.
*DING!*
The sound of the Keyblade stopping the fire and leaving its wielder untouched could be heard and caused both Touma and Stiyl to stop for a moment.
"Ha! You're not getting rid of me that easily! Hyah!
Sora then put his weight into pushing the Keyblade off the creature's hand and started swinging his weapon right across Innocentius's hand. This caused the monster to let out a mighty roar before slamming its entire body down causing a massive wave of fire to head toward the boy.
Touma, who was not the main target now, had to throw his right hand in front of him and negate the flames heading his way. It was also right then that he shut his eyes to prevent being blinded by the bright flames. Hence, once the flames barely touched his right hand a glass-breaking sound could be heard.
*GLASS BREAK*
Opening his eyes, Kamijou could see that the flames bypassed where his arm was extended leaving the area behind him devoid of any damage, but everywhere else had been heavily torched. He then turned his attention back to Sora who was now actively battling against Innocentius.
*SWISH!*
*SWOOSH!*
*ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRR*
Dodging to the side, Sora narrowly missed being slashed by the flaming monster before casting a point-blank Water spell right at the creature causing another burst of steam to appear. It was right then that the Keyblade wielder seemed to immediately start spinning his Keyblade while also jumping back before propelling himself with Prism Wheel right at Innocentius' face.
"BACK OFF!"
Upon meeting the monster's face, blasts of energy appeared around the Keyblade which also threw Innocentius back leaving enough room for the spiky-haired teen to then start swinging the weapon up and down along its jaw. Before long, Sora then landed a horizontal slash across Innocentius' face and sent it flying back all while the Keyblade wielder did not look weakened or tired at all.
Styil's reaction to seeing his summoned monster be whacked around so easily left him gritting his teeth. It was enough dealing with Kamijou and his damned right hand, but now dealing with Sora and his unpredictable abilities was causing him quite the dilemma. This plan had not gone the way he thought it would.
It was at this point, seeing Innocentius be pushed back by Sora, that Touma seemed to realize something crucial to this entire fight. Something that could rip apart his view of Stiyl and how he fought in battle.
"Is that really the same Innocentius I fought before?" Touma said aloud for Stiyl to hear all while grinning cockily. "There's no way. Can't you power it up? Or… summon another one?"
The subtle reaction on the magician's face was enough for Kamijou to warrant his idea some more merit.
"You can't summon more than one… You've just been standing there like an idiot and not making any advances!"
A quick scoff could be heard from Stiyl while he flung his hand forward seemingly commanding Innocentius to charge at Imagine Breaker.
However, what the magician seemed to forget was that there was another here with them, and he made it quite clear not to forget his presence.
"FREEZE!"
Suddenly, several spells of Ice magic were shot right at the fiery monster causing it to be held in place due to the ice having exploded and covered both the ground and creature's body.
Given the opportunity, Touma sprinted right for Stiyl while side-stepping past all the flames that had covered the ground. Feeling the heat hit his body and seeing nothing but flames in his sight, Kamijou made sure to keep himself mobile and not get trapped by any of the flames. He even made sure to keep his right hand at the ready in case the magician laid more traps around the area.
Stiyl, witnessing Kamijou run across the torched land, activated his flame sword while also chanting an unfamiliar language to the two boys. With a heavy slash, more shockwaves were sent across the ground causing Sora to jump into the air and aim his Keyblade right at him with the weapon glowing blue at the tip. Stiyl then saw the black-haired boy coming right for him causing the sword to now be held defensively in front of his face.
Alas, that didn't matter at all as Kamijou was practically in front of the magician with his fist primed and ready to slam him right in the face. In one fluid movement, Imagine Breaker had slammed right into the flaming sword causing it to become negated, and left Stiyl completely defenseless and wincing at the impending impact from the boy's fist.
However, that impact never came.
Touma's right fist had stopped mere inches away from the red-haired man's face causing him to raise his eyebrows at the misfortunate boy.
"…What? Holding back today? Why'd you stop?"
Sending a glare at him, Touma's eyes then seemed to relax and took on a softer look and stared right at him.
"What's the point? Why… are we even fighting?"
And with that, Touma raised his extended-out fist and simply flicked Stiyl's forward leaving him stumped on what just happened. Sora, who had been watching this exchange, simply let his Keyblade go causing it to flash away before walking over to the two. But he still kept an eye on Innocentius who had now broken out of the ice and was quietly watching him get closer to the magician.
"Mind explaining what's going on?" Sora asked, seeing the two winding down. "One minute you're fighting us, the next you're not."
The entire situation had jumped from brief talking to brief fighting. None of it made sense.
Letting out an annoyed sound, Stiyl simply rubbed his forehead before waving his hands forward in a diagonal way. At the same time, Innocentius had stopped moving and started slowly fading away with the flames around its body dying off leaving only a scorched mark on the ground.
Left a bit confused by Stiyl's action, Sora was about to comment on what this all meant but was abruptly stopped when the sound of someone running toward them could be heard.
"Touma!" came the annoyed sound of Index.
Running up to the black spiky-haired boy, the young nun had what looked to be a pout on her face as well as a stern expression ready to be voiced.
"What's going on!? You and Sora left me for one minute and then you two are fighting a magician!"
"That's a lie! You're the one that left us!" Touma fired back while pointing at Index with his index finger.
"I went ahead to investigate the magic circle at the base of these windmills- "
"Turbines" Touma quickly added.
"Whatever! And now you two are fighting!"
Listening to the girl's description of events, the spiky-haired brunette decided to give his own two cents on the matter.
"You've got us all wrong, Index!" Sora said before pointing over at Stiyl. "He's the one who started the fight."
Scoffing at the Keyblade wielder's claim, Stiyl simply pulled out another cigarette from inside his jacket and ignited it with the palm of his free hand before speaking up.
"For the record, I only started it because- "
"And you! You're also part of the blame! You're a skilled magician for Necessarius. You can't be going around and picking fights with people so easily. Especially amateurs! And especially Touma!" Index proclaimed loudly.
"HEY!" shouted Touma. "Why are you singling me out? Sora is here as well."
Standing up straight, Index then pointed over at Sora who comedically pointed at himself.
"That's because Sora has familiarity with magic. More so than you at this point thanks to the Keyblade. The magic I was able to sense from his weapon gave me the idea that he's had far more dealings with magicians and other supernatural beings" she explained to the misfortunate boy.
"*sigh* That's just great…" mumbled Touma.
Seeing his friend look a bit bummed out, Sora immediately stepped in to try and help.
"Don't worry about it, Touma! If anything, you're more familiar with the kind of magic we just dealt with. I don't have a clue about any of what just happened."
Realizing that he had a point, Kamijou simply nodded and had a small smile appear on his lips. However, that quickly switched to a more serious expression on his face as he glanced over at Stiyl. This entire situation had been one mess after another. He wanted to know what was going on.
"Stiyl, what's going on? Who are you after? What's going to happen to the city?"
Shooting the black-haired boy an annoyed look, the red-headed man hastily replied.
"Why do you care? Feeling remorseful for messing up my trap?"
"No, you walking ashtray. I care because I live here. This is my city."
Sora couldn't help but stifle a chuckle that escaped his mouth as he saw Stiyl flick away the cigarette he had finished smoking. His opinion of the red-haired magician was not on the bright end of things.
"…Hmph."
Stiyl's only response was to click his tongue before glancing around the area. Once he did that, he started to speak.
"You just had to ruin my day. *sigh* The enemy I've been sent after is a magic cabal that employs Hindu mythology as their principle. The cabal is known as the Gate of the Gods Come from the Heavens. They're not that big of a group, coming to be about 40 to 50 people. However, that just means the individual members' passions won't interfere with the rest of the group. Which makes negotiating practically impossible, and it paints them as dangerous."
Taking all this information at face value, Sora was doing his best to keep up with everything that Stiyl was saying.
"The group's distinctive abilities rely on physically attuning their bodies with intense training. Pushing past the normal limit with specialized exercises, fasting for long periods, and other such things. Among other things, that's the reasoning for finding conflict with Academy City" Stiyl finished explaining to the group.
Puzzled by the magician's last bit of explanation, Touma was the first to speak up.
"Why have trouble with Academy City?"
"Did the city do something to this group?" Sora added, trying to also make sense of the situation.
Stiyl then turned his body to look at the two and even glanced over at Index.
"Academy City glorifies itself with Esper technology and the ability to test and refine a student's power. That technology encapsulates scientific training that calculates and breaks down the necessary exercise, rest, food intake, and other factors to exceed one's limit. The magic cabal sees that as an easy way of gaining strength. Viewing the city as a coward to attaining true strength."
Processing this information, Sora immediately thought of his time in Olympus Coliseum and how he had been there recently to find and regain his strength after almost becoming a vessel for the real Organization XIII. The weight that was placed on his shoulders to regain his strength in time for the Keyblade War was something he recalled quite clearly even now. But the lesson he learned while traversing the world and dealing with Hades' evil scheme allowed him to learn that strength was found differently by everyone. It was different for Herc.
And… it was different for him.
'Something to fight for… with all my heart' Sora thought to himself while recalling those same very words he said to Hercules.
"So…" Touma started saying while scratching the back of his head. "This magic cabal doesn't like Academy City's way of having people exceed their limit with ease and have snuck into the city. And now they're drawing magic circles on turbines and are somewhere in the city? This only sounds like it could get worse."
Stiyl then gave a curt nod before continuing, "I have no idea how far they've gotten, but one idea I do have is that they'll be using Agni's Festival Fire. It's the same method used on the attack at a large sports gym in New Delhi two years ago."
Hearing this, Touma, Index, and Sora all shared worried expressions. It didn't help that Stiyl still kept a casual tone in his voice and his whole attitude was unlike theirs.
"Agni, for those who are unaware and utter morons, is correlated with fire and lightning and is used by the cabal as a symbol. Fundamentally, this allows the spell to alter the outcome of electromagnetic waves. Causing a large-scale problem across one area… maybe more. If they activate Agni's Festival Fire, you can kiss Academy City goodbye as it'll have turned into a burnt crisp."
The faces of Sora and Kamijou were that of horror while Index seemed to be taking this truckload of information at face value and wore a thinking expression. The mere thought of someone trying to do this much damage and destruction to the city left the Keyblade wielder more determined to step in and stop this from happening.
Kamijou then took a step forward while gripping his right hand tightly.
"The pillars of the wind turbines… Agni's Festival Fire…is that-"
"What the cabal has placed on the turbines is only a single part of what builds to the Agni's Festival Fire spell. The connection formed by these countless circles links together to form the true identity of Agni's Festival Fire" Stiyl explained while immediately becoming irritated at the looks Sora and Kamijou were giving him.
On one hand, Sora had his arms folded across his chest and was doing his best to try and understand what was happening. On the other hand, Kamijou looked perplexed with a frown on his face. Hence, this just further annoyed the magician causing him to raise his voice.
"To put it simply for you morons, the spell's effect is to largely amplify the outreach of the electromagnetic waves. If the spell is completed and activated, then the area in its range will turn into a crisp inside an oven. It's also unknown how large the spell's area of effect is."
Stiyl then pointed right at Kamijou's face with a look of disdain before continuing.
"And that right hand of yours destroyed the trap I laid out to capture the cabal. Making the plan a complete waste and alerting them that something has happened."
Frustrated by everything that was happening, Touma then angrily shot back.
"Then we use my right hand to destroy the items that create Agni's Festival Fire!"
"Did you not just hear me? It's unknown how far along the spell has gotten. The only reason nothing has happened yet is because there are still preparations needed to turn Academy City into ash. The magic cabal is also unpredictable. If they wanted to, they could roast an entire district or two. The cabal is only holding back out of greed to see the whole city destroyed. If the symbols for the spell are being destroyed, then there's a chance the cabal will activate the spell. To them, an incomplete result is still better than no result."
Listening to Stiyl's description of this magic cabal caused Sora to ball up his fists while also gritting his teeth. So much seemed to be happening now. First, the Heartless showed up, then the figure known as Darkness and the threat they posed by summoning the Mimic, and now this magic cabal looking to destroy the city. It all angered him.
"Then what do we do? We can't just let them destroy the city!" Sora shouted, showing his concern. "If this spell is growing and getting stronger, then we have to stop it no matter what!"
Agreeing with Sora's words, Touma nodded while giving his thoughts a voice.
"This magic cabal has to be going after other turbines or energy sources. We can meet them head-on."
"No" was Stiyl's only response before he seemingly took a few steps forward and glanced at the city from his viewpoint. "The trap I laid was the most effective way of stopping them. But no thanks to your hand Kamijou, that plan went nowhere. However, that doesn't mean we're without clues. Not foolproof clues but they are still clues."
"Well, what are they?" questioned the Keyblade wielder as he looked eager to get to work.
A sly smirk appeared on the magician's face.
"I'll be using Kamijou as one of the cards in my deck. And now, with your presence…" Stiyl stated while once again pointing at Sora. "You'll be the wild card."
The reaction to hearing Stiyl's plan for how he and Touma would be used against the magic cabal left the spiky-haired brunette to utter a single word to best describe his thoughts, "…What?"
"Hold on! What are you planning? Your plan of keeping us in the dark is getting quite old" remarked Kamijou as he had a very vivid look of annoyance displayed on his face.
"I have to agree with Touma on this" Index said while looking at the red-haired boy. "How are we supposed to know when and where we should be to stop this magic cabal? And how are we supposed to- "
"You'll know when. Don't forget the plan, Kamijou" Stiyl simply said before turning to walk away.
But to make matters worse, the red-haired magician literally threw a prepaid cellphone at Kamijou landing right smack in the middle of his face. Rubbing the damage done to his face, Touma looked at the phone with a perplexed expression.
"Wait! Quit being cryptic and tell us- "Sora started saying to the magician.
However, before the trio knew it, Stiyl had walked right over to the helicopter that had dropped him off and taken his seat while the vehicle had started up. The propeller had started picking up dust and wind causing quite the noise and disobeying over a hundred regulations for its operation and parking. Before long, the magician and helicopter were now skyward and leaving the area while also leaving the trio to watch in silence.
"That bastard! What's his damn problem!? Why can't he be clear and specific about what the plan is? Where is Kanzaki when you need her?" Touma shouted.
It was at this point that Kamijou gave the prepaid phone another look over before pocketing it.
"He didn't even really tell us his plan. Just that he had a clue…" Index muttered while frowning.
With everything that had happened, the Keyblade wielder decided to take a minute and review everything that had happened from first encountering the magic circles around the turbines to coming across Stiyl to then learning about this Hindu magic cabal upset with Academy City. All of it seemed to be quite the departure from his problems with the Heartless and Darkness. However, this also seemed to present a new kind of problem. One that only he would be able to see any correlation between.
'This magic cabal… if they plan to destroy Academy City based on their notions of strength, then… they wouldn't be the only ones looking to cause trouble. The Heartless are still around and I have no idea what Darkness is planning. But… if either Darkness or the Heartless encounter the magic cabal… that can only spell bad news. For me and the others. I can't let that happen!'
Consequently, seeing that it was getting to be nighttime, Sora figured that it would be best to get home before anything else happened.
"We can think about what that guy said later. It's getting late and I don't want to jinx us and have something bad- "
"HELP! HELP!"
"…happen to us… I just had to open my mouth."
Looking for whoever was calling for help, Touma immediately took off leaving Sora and Index in the dust.
"Hey! Wait. Touma!"
"Touma! Grr! He always does this!"
The sight of Touma rushing ahead to help whoever was in need followed by Sora and Index was all that could be seen while the night sky above Academy City continued to get darker. Leaving only a somber sight to behold.
Meanwhile, inside a luxurious open apartment
The figure of Kakine Teitoku could be seen standing in the middle of a room with minimal decorations and next to a window giving him a nice view of the city. The second-ranked Level 5 was currently examining his left hand which was held out in front of him. The events of this evening were still fresh in his mind, and everything discussed with the mysterious figure enshrouded in a dark cloud still rang throughout his head.
"(That power I gave you was merely a push through the door. You've always had great power within yourself. You just never realize the potential you hold. You should be proud of yourself, second-ranked)."
Shaking his head and clutching his hand tightly, the blonde-haired man could see dark mist appearing as well as a dark material expanding along his fingers until the shape and size took the form of a spear. This spear was made of material that had not existed right until the moment he created it. Moreover, as he gave the weapon a closer look, he could see that it had a sleek design while also including a purple glow. Another significant fact about the spear was that at the tip of the weapon, a faint trace of darkness could be found. One of the many benefits gifted to him from his mysterious confidant.
At first, the powers bestowed upon him seemed like nothing more than a creep messing with him. Now, however, it was quite evident that there was more to this power. It made him feel alive. Feel energized, confident, and relaxed. The power of darkness also gave him an insight into how to construct matter with an edge. Such was the case with the spear that he was holding onto now. Even now, this spear seemed to hold the power that he created himself yet there was also unfamiliarity within it.
Alas, there would come a time later when he could fully test out his new abilities. Away from prying eyes that is.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
Letting go of the spear and having it dissolve into a purple light, Kakine then let out an annoyed sigh before addressing whoever was knocking on the door.
"Enter."
With the door to the room opening, a familiar girl wearing a pink dress and blonde curly hair stepped in.
"There you are. You've been out for most of the evening."
"And?"
The blonde-haired girl simply sighed before striding over to one of the couches and took a seat before pulling out her phone and tapping away at it.
"You missed a call with our esteemed contractor. Said School was offered a job and to tell you- "
"Tell him we're not interested" Kakine immediately countered.
The immediate reaction from the blonde-haired boy caused the girl to peer towards him and try to get a read of him. Sadly, the expression on his face even from a side glance could not be understood quite clearly. It appeared that there was something else on the second-ranked Level 5's mind.
"…That's the third job this week that you've declined. The others are starting to worry."
"How about they mind their own business? Worry about themselves. I'm fine. They should be relishing this time they have off. Go shopping. Pick up a hobby. Go to class for that matter. I don't care. Get off my damn back!"
Letting a moment of silence play out between them, the blonde girl then continued the conversation.
"Very well. I'll tell them not to worry. Want me to come up with an excuse for you? Or do you want a simple message to lay out your point?"
"…Gokusai."
"Simple message it is" the girl now identified to be Gokusai replied.
A stern glare was sent to the girl as Kakine simply stared her down for a quick moment before going back to stare at his hand. Over the past few days, it had become apparent that something was going on with the leader of School. This had been picked up on not only by his teammates but also by the contractor who informed them of dark side jobs available for the taking. Usually, the Level 5 was so adamant about taking a job if it was worth both his time and the merit received from completing said job.
However, with the blonde boy canceling jobs multiple times now it was starting to become concerning and suspicious. Moreover, based on how familiar Gokusai was with the Kakine, then she knew that his drive to gain power and overthrow the first-ranked Level 5, Accelerator, was a top priority. And yet, here he was canceling jobs and disappearing for hours on end only to show up for a moment before leaving again. None of it made sense to the girl or her teammates.
"I do have to ask something- "the blonde girl started to say.
"Don't bother" Kakine replied impudently.
Ignoring his rude comment, she continued.
"What you do in your personal life is your business alone. However, I know you…"
"You don't know- "
"I know that power is what you seek. I've been with you long enough to understand your motives and desires. Thinking of him as a rival and how you want nothing more than to beat him. Beating Accelerator and taking his fame, glory, prestige, and opportunities are all you aspire to have. But… lately, it seems that something else has happened. Something that's caught your attention" Gokusai explained while having her full attention directed at the Level 5 standing in front of her.
For a whole minute, the two blondes simply stared at one another with neither of their eyes breaking from contact. On Gokusai's side, she could feel the annoyance and anger spewing from the Level 5's eyes as it looked like he would lash out against her. Alas, from Kakine's eyes, he saw the girl as nothing more than a pain right now. So many other important things were scrambling around in his head and the last thing he wanted to do was give the time of day to her and her assumptions.
"…Tch."
The Level 5 simply scoffed before turning his body around to gaze back out at the city from the large window.
This left Gokusai somewhat perturbed about how his behavior was all over the place. More so than usual that is. She simply could not get a read on what he was thinking now.
"…Kakine- "
"Isn't it past time you left? Don't you have an old geezer to rob and date?"
Left feeling many things from what he had just said, Gokusai simply did not utter a single word and stood up from the couch and made her way out of the room. As she opened the door, the Level 5 half expected her to slam it shut, but he was mildly surprised when she closed it normally. This left him alone yet again.
Allowing a relieved sigh to escape his lips, Kakine then extended his hand and formed what appeared to be a sword drenched in dark material. His ability, Dark Matter, allowed him to create a blade made of metal and matter that did not exist until a second ago when he crafted the weapon and material. Even now, the sword held power only he would have a great deal of understanding, and that alone left him to peer obsessively at the weapon along with many more ideas flooding his mind. Ideas that would get him what he wanted.
The top spot in Academy City.
After having walked out of the room and made her way into another large room that offered a different angle of the night city with its large windows, Gokusai simply held a frown. What the Level 5 had said did not cause her to weep or cry, but it did cause her to think little of him. While she was aware of his ruthless and cold-hearted comments, the look in his eyes showed that she had struck a nerve. Something was not adding up. The once-determined Level 5 to seek power and one-up the current first-ranked Level 5 was nowhere to be seen. Now, standing in his place was someone who was hiding something. Something that she had no clue about but could feel that something was off.
Were the situation any different, she was almost tempted to use her own Esper ability, Measure Heart, on her leader. However, given that he has been acting rather strangely these past few days that might prove to be a terrible idea. Her ability allowed her to regulate the distance between people's hearts, essentially making it so people view her differently whether in a good light or bad light. An ability like this would make getting information out of someone relatively easy by making them see her as a trustworthy confidant. Alas, messing with a Level 5 was practically asking for a swift kick to the hospital… or worse.
Hence, with Kakine's strange behavior being something that she can't put her finger on, she'll just stay on the side and watch him carefully. There had to be a reason for his secretive act.
"Oh? Goukasi. You're still here."
Pulling her attention back to reality, she turned to see a boy sitting on a long couch looking relaxed. He had somewhat spiky hair and was wearing a puffy vest over his shirt. In addition, there seemed to be a pair of metallic goggles resting in his hands as he appeared causally. This boy was known as Yobou Banka, a member of School.
"Yobou. I'm surprised you aren't home."
"There's not exactly a place I'd call home. Besides, I had some ideas for adjustments that could be made to my goggles for our next mission. But… judging by your plain-faced expression I'm guessing the answer is no to the mission?" he asked, seemingly already knowing the answer.
A heavy nod was given, "You're right about that. He's… busy with something now. Not sure when he'll be ready to accept a mission. For now, we're on standby."
Shaking his head, Yobou leaned back in his seat and looked down at his goggles. The answer given to her was something that he guessed correctly.
"…I see… well, those are the boss's orders."
Donning a surprised look on her face, Gokusai tilted her head while striding over and taking a seat on another couch in the room.
"Oh? That's not the reaction I was expecting."
"What were you expecting? Me to freak out and rush to where Kakine is and demand that he takes a mission?" Yobou replied. "No thanks to that."
"Nothing to that extreme. But I was expecting you to say something under your breath about our leader's decisions as of late. As I said, he claimed that he was busy with something. What that something is, I can't tell you because I don't know at all" Gokuasi explained while crossing her legs and tapping away at her phone.
The dark-haired man then started tampering with his goggles while letting out a quiet "Hmm" sound escape from his lips. There was a great deal of things that had been happening lately.
"Well, let's hope whatever he's doing will benefit us in our next mission. Whenever that is…"
"You and me both," Gokusai said before glancing around the room. "Where is Rakko? I'm surprised she's not here."
Glancing up at her, Yobou then shifted his eyes back to tinkering with his goggles.
"No idea. But she asked me to text her if we did have a mission."
Nodding at his response, the girl in the dress then looked out the large windows at the night sky above the city. It would seem that nothing was going to happen tonight.
"Right… well then, I'll be taking my leave as well."
A curt nod was the response she got as she got up and proceeded to leave the room and go about her evening. While School was given the standby order there was another overlying fact going on, and that was Kakine Teitoku was up to something. What that something was, she had no idea at all. But it must have been very important for him to focus all his time away from missions. Only time would tell what the second-ranked Level 5 was doing.
Back with Sora and the others
Running across the pavement and through the grass, Sora and Index were doing their best to catch up with Touma, who was sprinting at a crazy speed. There was no doubt that Sora could catch up to him and even surpass him, but there was also the chance Index would get left behind, and that's something he didn't want to happen.
"Index! You good?" he called out to the nun.
"Y-Yeah! I *gasp* I'm good. Touma is… "Index tiredly said but kept doing her best at jogging to catch up with Kamijou.
"You don't need to finish that. I get it."
Nodding her head weakly, Index looked at Touma running ahead of them and could see him slowing down.
"Sora! Touma is slowing down!"
"I see him. Whoever was calling for help must be close!"
With that said, the two picked up the pace and were now seconds away from meeting the black-haired teen but could see that he rushed forward and lunged toward someone. Planted on the ground and raising his hands in a defensive measure, a middle-aged man was being attacked by an all too familiar creature with a dark body and bright yellow eyes.
A Shadow Heartless.
"Don't even think about it!" yelled Kamijou as he threw his fist forward and slammed it right into the Shadow's head causing it to hit the pavement.
He then didn't let up and stomped his foot on the creature's body making sure that it didn't get back up.
"Touma!" Sora shouted, seeing the boy hold down the Heartless.
Not wasting any time, Sora quickly dashed forward and summoned his Keyblade while getting ready to stab the Shadow right in the head. However, right before he could close enough a dark portal appeared right under the Heartless causing it to sink into the ground right under Touma's foot.
"What?!"
"Touma, get back!"
Doing as told, he jumped back while watching as the dark creature continued to sink into the ground before it and the portal disappeared before their very eyes. Leaving the trio and middle-aged man to keep their eyes right where the creature just was.
"W-W-What the hell was that?!"
"Sir! Please calm down" Touma tried reasoning with the man.
"Don't tell me to calm down! What was that!? I-I've got to get out of here!"
"Sir, wait and- "
But as Kamijou tried talking to the man he got up and bolted away from them leaving the three to just watch him get further away until he was out of their sight.
"That creature… Sora was that- "
"Yeah. That was a Heartless. A Shadow to be specific."
Feeling many thoughts about what Sora just said, the wielder of Imagine Breaker had to ask something that was eating away at his insides. The fact that monsters like these existed and were in Academy City…
"Have the Heartless just been wandering around the city?" Touma asked, giving the spot where the Heartless was another look over. "They just show up randomly?"
Giving him a nod with a frown, Sora clarified this a bit more.
"Pretty much. But there are times when it's safe to say that they'll show up."
"When is that?" Index inquired as she took another glance at the ground where the Heartless was just at.
"It's when- "
Suddenly, before Sora could finish what he was saying, the sound of glass breaking and feet stomping around caused the trio to look behind them at the source of said sound. Rushing over to where the sound was coming from, the Keyblade wielder had a shocked face which gradually transitioned to a battle-hardened look. Kamijou and Index simply reveled at the strange sight before them.
Standing inside a building and having broken a few glass windows stood several Heartless all dressed in strange attire. Differing from the one they had just seen, this Heartless resembled a goblin with black skin, yellow eyes, a jagged mouth, and tattered black wings. It also had on a black horned hood with red spiral patterns above its eyes along with black shorts held up by a belt. Small red and black shoes could be seen. The Heartless also had gloves with a red string wrapped around its hand and sharp red claws with two red thorny ropes crossed over its chest.
There had to be at least a dozen of these strange creatures standing around the broken window.
"…They show up?" the Keyblade muttered while not exactly familiar with this kind of Heartless.
Based on a first glance at the monster, this Heartless looked to be a Pureblood, but it was Heartless that the Guardian of Light had yet to face off against.
"Huh…?" Index muttered quietly.
As Sora said this, he wasted no time at all and summoned his Keyblade while getting into a battle stance. Seeing his reaction, Touma immediately raised his fists while Index took a step back while also not letting fear get the best of her. If anything, she wanted to learn all she could about these mysterious creatures. Hearing about them was one thing, but to encounter them was a whole new feeling.
"Heartless! Wait… aren't these different?" Touma uttered while observing the creatures in front of him.
"Yeah! These guys are also Purebloods. But... I've never dealt with this type before. We need to be careful about dealing with them."
"Huh?! What do you mean? Aren't you the Heartless expert?" Kamijou questioned while trying to piece all this information together.
"That's- Look out!"
Diverting his attention forward, Touma then narrowly rolled across the ground as he managed to dodge an attack from one of the Heartless leaping right at him. Index had backed off with enough distance between her and the Heartless. She then shifted her eyes between Sora, the Heartless, and then Touma.
Before anyone could react, Kamijou dived right at the Heartless and slammed his right hand directly into the creature causing it to crash onto the ground and disappear right in front of his eyes. He then quickly turned his attention over to Index.
"Index! Are you okay?"
"I'm good, but Touma! Behind you!"
Swerving his head around, the black spiky-haired boy could see several of the goblin Heartless rushing at him with enough time for him to move out of the way. Alas, right before he could move a slashing sound could be heard.
*SWOOSH!*
The sight of Sora in front of him with the Keyblade was the answer to the slashing sound as the Heartless were all taken out in one clean swipe.
"Get ready! There's more!" Sora called out to the two.
Pushing himself up, Touma now stood up and let his battle instincts kick in fully along with Index standing defensively between the two boys. The entire area had now been surrounded by shoes hitting the pavement along a few of the Heartless flying in the air. Before long, more and more windows in the buildings around them had been broken with the Heartless focused on the trio or rather… the Keyblade wielder.
"Don't hold back against them!"
Nodding in support of what Sora said, Touma readied himself as this would be his first real encounter against the Heartless. Index was also eyeing the monsters carefully and doing her best to stay out of harm's way.
A fight was about to break out and there would be no stopping it.
*Toaru Majutsu no Index – Imagine Breaker OST*
*BAM!*
The first one to make any sort of attack was Sora, who shot forward with a burst of blue light coursing all around his body and slamming his Keyblade right into one of the Heartless. The force of the attack threw the one monster back while also allowing Sora to start slashing right at the creatures nearby. The speed at which he was fighting was something else.
However, that didn't distract Kamijou all that much as he narrowly dodged one of the Heartless swiping its claws for his body. Stepping back, he managed to slam his fist to the side of the dark figure's body causing it to slam across the ground but not kill it completely. With his battle instincts on a heightened level, Touma then darted to the next closest Heartless before kicking it square in the face and pushing it back.
Sora on his part had dashed to the side of a Heartless and twirled his Keyblade so that the monster was flung into the air before he cast a Fire spell right at the foe killing it with ease. He then pointed his weapon at several other Heartless which were flying now. But that wouldn't be the case for long.
"Hit the ground! THUNDER!"
Instantly, bolts of yellow lighting sparked all around the area where Sora had cast his spell causing a few of the Heartless to either fall to the ground, shocked by the attack, or to have disappeared from being defeated.
In a sweeping strike, the Keyblade wielder shot himself forward and started batting away at the Heartless managing to make short work of them. From one strike to another, Sora took down their numbers with such ease that Touma and Index were letting realization dawn on them.
Sora was very experienced with the Heartless. This was plainly evident from how he was fighting.
*WHOOSH!*
After blasting another Heartless with light from his Keyblade, Sora then disappeared in a flash of light before reappearing above the one creature and kicking it right in the face. The kick had come off as a spiraling attack which ultimately killed the Heartless. He then rolled across the ground before thrusting his arms forward and stabbing another Heartless before going on a slashing onslaught against them.
Touma had also been putting in the work against these monsters with his fist slamming right into another Heartless before forcefully kicking another right in the shoulder and knocking it back. While his attacks were hard and brutal, these monsters were not going down so easily making them quite the foe. Sora was making this look too easy.
"Touma! On your left!" Index called out to the boy.
Listening to her advice, the spiky-haired teen lowered his arm and performed an uppercut right across the creature's face causing it to go flying through the air.
"Touma! Right side! Right side!"
Hearing and feeling something off, he rolled his body across the ground and to the left which was the right call as two Heartless pounced right where he was standing. Pushing himself back up, he then began swinging both his fists across the two Heartless and leaving no room for them to attack. However, this left him wide open from the side.
"Touma! Behind- "
"Gah!"
The misfortunate teen had been slashed right across his right arm causing a long claw mark to cascade down his arm. The attack also left him slightly reeled from pain but not enough to fight back.
*WHACK!*
With a solid kick to the face, Touma managed to knock the Heartless back against the ground. This gave Kamijou a moment of respite but not enough to ease up on the tension of being attacked. However, before the creature could get back up and attack the boy…
*WHOOSH!*
The Keyblade had been hurled right at the Heartless' head causing the creature's body to disappear along with the weapon to be stuck into the ground. But that didn't last long as the blade disappeared in a flash of light. Turning his head to the side, Touma saw the weapon flash into Sora's hands right before he hurled the weapon again at another Heartless managing to hit it.
"Don't let them surround you!" Sora yelled out to the two.
"Got it!"
Kamijou then got back to his feet and targeted another Heartless flying right over him and heading straight for Index. This left the young girl on edge and looking to run away.
"Oh no you don't!"
Jumping right at the flying Heartless, Touma grabbed the dark creature's foot and immediately slammed it right to the ground before angrily stomping at its head and causing it to disappear.
"Index! Are you alright!?"
"Y-Yes! I'm go- Huh!?" she cried out while pointing behind him.
Suddenly, a sewer manhole cover was shot up through the sky along with water bursting through the air like someone had added pressure to a hose. With water coating the street and ground, Touma had misfortunately managed to get hit leaving him drenched. Luckily, Index had been standing behind the boy and was fine.
"Of course…" Kamijou mumbled under his breath.
Turning his attention back to the sewer hole, what appeared to be several smaller Heartless with a strange design to them. These Heartless had black bodies with blue, zigzagging, icicle-like spikes dangling from their underbellies, small skinny wings with hands at the ends, and small blue veins on their heads. Moreover, it appeared that their bodies were covered in water. There was something odd about these creatures.
*Hyah!"
Having finished off another Heartless, Sora turned his attention back to Touma and Index while also realizing the sound of the water spraying all over the place was caused by the blue floating Heartless.
"Water cores! Touma! Be careful! They cover themselves in water to teleport and attack. You have to get that water shield off them!"
As Sora yelled this, he was engaged in battle by whacking one of the flying Heartless away before setting his sights on several Water cores that were targeting him.
Processing this new bit of information, Kamijou then began to closely observe one of these so-called Water cores and see how it reacted. Before long, a torrent of water came hurling right at him which ended up causing him to be thrown back while being even more drenched in water.
Index, who had been right behind him managed to narrowly miss being thrown back along with Touma and stood there staring nervously at the strange floating creature.
"*cough* *cough* What the hell? That hurt…"
Getting his eyesight back to focus, Touma, with staggered eyesight, could see one of the blue foes aiming its sights on Index. This was painted clear as he watched the monster's yellow eyes look directly at the young nun.
"Index! Get back!"
With a great deal of worry striking her, Index hastily stepped back but could see a torrent of water coming straight for her. About ready to do her best and drop to the ground to avoid being hit, the sound of water splashing and not hitting her caused the girl to look forward and see Sora appear. His body had once again been covered in a blue light along with both of his hands defensively holding onto the Keyblade.
"Quit messing with them! It's me you want!"
Several Water cores all fired a stream of water his way causing the boy to throw himself to roll to the side before firing several Fire spells at the Heartless. The foes that were hit by the fire had their shields shattered leaving them open. This provided Sora the chance to throw them off their game.
The Keyblade then glowed a green color before a vortex of wind appeared and threw the Water cores against one another. The vortex also pulled in a few of the other flying Heartless causing them to be thrown around in the air. Within a few seconds, the vortex came to a halt throwing them through the air where some appeared to be balancing themselves out, and others dropped right to the ground only to then disappear.
"There's still a lot of them…" Sora muttered while analyzing the Heartless around him.
It was at this point that a surge of energy could be felt in Sora's heart. The kind of energy that's hard to explain but easy to share with those around. This energy was also something that he was very familiar with as it was an ability he could use in his most recent adventure. One that was sure to be out-of-this-world fun.
"Wait. I've got it! Touma! Index! Get ready!"
"H-Huh? What do you mean, get ready?" Touma hastily asked while getting back to his feet while slightly wincing at the attack he took a moment ago.
"For this!"
Pointing his Keyblade in the air, a bright square appeared several feet away before the strangest thing Index or Touma had ever seen came from the portal.
"That's a- "
The thing that appeared from the portal was a strange-looking cart with light outlining its entire frame. Blue and yellow lights lit the cart up along with the distinctive crown insignia in the middle of it which was also lit up. Various colors could be seen, but the strangest thing to witness was the three blaster-looking weapons resting inside the cart.
Touma had one thought that immediately popped into his head at the sight of this strange thing.
'Is that… an amusement park ride?!'
The correct term for what Sora had done was to use his ability to summon an Attraction Flow which was something he gained the power for in his last adventure. This ride was better known to the Keyblade wielder as Blaster Blaze.
*Kingdom Hearts III OST Working Together*
Before he had time to say anything out loud, Sora bolted right up to the ride and flipped himself in the front seat while holding onto the blaster and smirking brightly at the two.
"Come on! Hop in!"
Not about to waste another second, Index excitedly jumped onto the blaster cart and flipped herself over while letting out a small "Oof" sound. However, she immediately popped herself up and examined the blaster weapon closely feeling a sense of magic around the cart. This was a magic that she had no recollection of in the vast library within her mind. The ability to summon an amusement park ride like this was… unbelievable!
Holding onto the handle of the blaster she was seated at; Index's weapon automatically fired a blast of light right at a Heartless almost as if it was all a game. This caused the young girl to excitedly start firing away at the monsters.
"Ahahaha! Touma! You've got to try this!"
"Yeah! Join the party!" Sora said while firing away in his seat and even twisting and turning to finish off his enemies.
Watching as the two began mowing down the Heartless in this strange yet magical amusement park ride, Touma could feel the inner thumping of excitement pulsating in his heart. It was quite unclear whether this was because of his own desire to join in on the fun. Or… if this was something the real Kamijou Touma wanted to experience as well.
A feeling such as this hadn't really ever happened to him, but it didn't matter. Because Kamijou Touma as a person no matter what version of truth he was living undeniably wanted to join in the fun.
"No way I'm missing this!"
Suddenly, a thought came to Sora as he watched Touma in slow motion rush right at the Blaster cart. The boy held a strange ability in his right hand which could negate certain properties of the Keyblade. Based on their little test back in his dorm room, it could cancel the magical weapon yet not make it disappear completely. That fact alone made the spiky-haired brunette's blue eyes perk up instantly and remind him of Touma's hand.
In slow motion, Sora waved his hand at Touma.
"Touma! Wait!"
But it was too late.
*Glass Break*
Once Kamijou's right hand touched the side of the blaster cart, the entire park ride blinked with a bright flash of light before Sora and Index fell right to the ground.
*Oof*
"Aah!"
"Bwah!"
Touma, who had only rested his hand on the side of the ride, fell right through the air and face-planted into the ground. The Attraction Flow had been canceled.
Pushing himself up, Sora immediately cast a Thunder spell to drive back the Heartless that had taken this peculiar moment to strike. The magic spell did its job while also giving the misfortunate teen and young nun a chance to recuperate.
"Touma! What was that!?"
Glancing down at his hand, Kamijou should've realized sooner that Imagine Breaker would come into play once he contacted the magical amusement park ride.
"I… That was my fault. Sorry."
"*sigh* It's ok. I was really getting into it" commented Index as she took in her surroundings and could still see Heartless around them. "These creatures don't show any signs of stopping."
Slashing through another Heartless, Sora then began to perform a Strike Raid by throwing his Keyblade forward at the incoming Heartless. Throwing his entire body forward while flipping in the air, he managed to hit another Water core straight in the center of the body killing it instantly. He then dashed toward a small group of Heartless and spun himself around before hurling the Keyblade forward. The brunette then watched it orbit around him and whack several Heartless as he just performed Circle Raid.
Having cleared a bit more space for them, Sora sprinted over to Touma and Index who had been carefully watching their backs.
"Well, that plan didn't go as… well, planned."
"Sorry about that" Touma earnestly responded.
"Heh. No worries. Besides…"
The Keyblade wielder then flashed the two a suspiciously growing smirk on his face.
"Who said I couldn't do that spell again?"
Touma and Index's eyes shot up when they heard his response eliciting an excited reaction from Index.
"You can do that spell again?! How did you even do that spell?"
Twirling his Keyblade around while also monitoring how close the Heartless were moving toward them, Sora gave a quick nod to Index.
"I can't really explain. It's just something I can do. But never mind that! Get ready!"
Left with even more questions, the two watched as Sora lifted his Keyblade in the air with sparkles of light showering all around him with the tip of the weapon glowing with a bright white light before…
In a puff of smoke, what appeared to be a glowing… teacup… appeared spinning and heading right for Sora who casually jumped in the air and landed right in the middle of it where a wheel appeared to be stationed. The spiky-haired teen then began to spin himself around before easily taking a seat in the teacup and started steering the object right into the Heartless. The Attraction Flow the Keyblade wielder had summoned was better known as the Mad Tea Cups.
"YEAH!"
The sight of Sora taking down Heartless after Heartless inside the teacup caused Index to stare excitedly while Touma was having too many questions pop into his head. None of this made absolute sense.
"Touma! Let's help!" Index eagerly said.
"Wait. Timeout. I don't think- "
*WHOOSH!*
Before he could say anything else, both he and Index were side-swiped right into their very own teacups with Index letting out happy giggles while swerving side to side. Kamijou had been thrown sideways but also made sure to keep his right hand suspended in the air without touching the magical object and negating it. He didn't want a repeat of last time.
Alas, this just made his ride even more intense as the misfortunate teen was positioned in an awkward spot with his face perched right on the teacup seat with one leg down on the floor and the other bent. Let it be known that he also had his right hand still held up while feeling the brunt of the speed and dizzying feeling of going around and around.
"Bleh! Aah! Gah! Why!? Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Kamijou cried out.
"Ahahahahahahha!" Index happily cheered.
"Let's go!" Sora excitedly chanted.
The trio continued to spin around and hit every Heartless that met the spinning teacups. Everything around them seemed to be going so slow compared to the speed that the cups were hitting. Touma could almost feel his brain rattled around. His eyesight could only barely trace what was happening aside from hitting Heartless head-on. There was nothing the misfortunate high school boy could do but scream.
"Aaaaahhhhh!"
"Yahoooo!"
With the Heartless force being drastically defeated by the overpowered teacups, Sora made sure to get one last bump against the dark foes before turning to see Index laughing merrily and Touma to be… well, hanging on for dear life.
Adding onto his fear for his life, Touma could feel the teacup lifting off the ground and continue to spin and hit the Heartless leaving him to try and peek his head up and see what was happening. Upon closer inspection, he could see Index and Sora's teacups change color every time they hit a Heartless. Now, Sora's teacup was blue, and Index's was green leaving him to try and see what his teacup color was. Managing to get a glance, he spotted a blue color to his cup, but that ended rather abruptly as his cup slammed right into Index's causing him to slam his face to the floor.
This ride was almost too much for Kamijou who was losing his head.
And yet, Sora figured now was the time to end things off with a bang.
"Index! Touma! You guys ready to end this!?" Sora asked while steering his teacup like a pro thanks to his experience in using the amusement park ride many times.
"I! Can't! Feel! My! Face!" Kamijou screamed while making sure to not let his right hand touch the teacup.
"Haha! Touma! This is fun!" Index shouted, sporting a bright smile while steering her own teacup.
"No! It's! Not!"
"Hold on! Things are gonna get crazy!" Sora yelled to the two.
"No! Please! Noooooooooooooo- "
With no time to react, the trio's teacups were immediately pulled together so that any of the Heartless that were near the teacups were dragged into the center of them. Blitzing into one another, the teacups began to emit sparks of light by hitting one another while also slamming into the Heartless throwing them around with ease.
"Faster!" Sora chanted.
"Yeah!" Index added.
"…uh…" Touma groaned.
After the longest several seconds of his life, Touma was about to lift himself and see what was happening. However, he was sadly met with the cold hard ground hitting his face as the entire teacup disappeared in a flash of sparkling light. Sora had managed to simply flip himself upside down and land on his feet perfectly while Index calmly landed on her feet. The two looked at Touma who was staggered and trying to stand up.
"I-I can't see… my head… still spinning… why…"
"Eheheh… well, at least we managed to clear the area" Sora casually said while scanning the area.
Doing the same, Index could see that there appeared to be no more Heartless around leaving them alone and victorious. This in turn caused the young magical girl to jump with joy and have stars in her eyes.
"Sora! What was that!? First, the weird cart with the even weirder guns. And then the spinning teacups. What kind of magic was all of that?"
Barely able to nod his head, Touma also wanted to know what just happened and why he could feel his brain rattling around in his head.
"That… well, it's kind of hard to explain. But with the Keyblade I'm able to do all sorts of crazy and unbelievable things. The blaster cart and teacups are just a few of what I call Attraction Flows. Magic based on amusement park rides that I can use in battle. It's sort of a random thing that I can do. I'm not sure how it all works. It just happens."
"Just a few?! And it just happens!?" Touma yelled while walking over to the Keyblade wielder tipsily. "That doesn't make any sense!"
Scratching his cheek, Sora couldn't give a solid response.
"Yeah… I get that a lot."
Sighing aloud, Touma could feel his senses getting back to normal and analyzed the area making sure to see if any Heartless were around.
"Well, at least we managed to beat them before they could cause any more trouble."
'Please don't let that be another jinx' Sora thought to himself.
Still having the strange magical rides in her mind, Index wanted to know as much as she could about this never-before-seen magical ability. Nothing in her vast library of magical knowledge could pinpoint what magic was done to perform such a feat. She needed answers.
"Sora. You said those attractions were granted to you by the Keyblade, yes?"
"Yeah? What about it?"
"…I've never encountered that kind of magic before. I… It's hard to settle on what just happened."
Understanding where she was coming from, a bit of reflection was occurring within the otherworldly boy's mind. While there were a hundred reasons for keeping the World Order intact, Sora could see that trying to understand another world's magic might leave someone dumbfounded. Such was the case with Index.
He had to make it right and calm her mind.
"Index. The magic that I use is all thanks to the Keyblade. And after having it for a few years now, there's still so much of it that I don't understand. But… I know that by following my heart I'll one day understand a great deal more. And when that time comes… I'll try and make it easier to understand. Is that alright?"
Letting what he said resonate closely in her mind, Index could only nod and smile. Perhaps one day she'd get to learn what kind of amazing magic allowed Sora to do the abnormal things he just did. But not today.
"Alright. I'll be waiting for that day. Until then… what other kinds of rides can you summon?"
She let curiosity get the best of her.
"For all we know, he could just summon a boat or a train. At this rate, I wouldn't doubt it" Touma sarcastically said.
Hearing this, Sora couldn't help but give off a cheeky grin while hiding his face from the spiky-haired teen. Perhaps it would be better to surprise Touma with his other Attraction Flows…
Turning his attention up to the sky above, the Keyblade wielder could see nightfall cascading across the city. Buildings had lights illuminating various windows and streetlamps were shining brightly. Vehicles in the distance could be seen along with sirens blaring in the distance.
"Huh. It's getting late" Sora muttered while looking at the night sky linger above them.
As the Guardian of Light said this, he pulled his Gummiphone out and could see that it was getting to be quite late. So many things happened today from learning that Academy City was sending rockets to space, a magic cabal was looking to cause trouble, and the Heartless starting to show off forms that he's never dealt with. Things were starting to get interesting.
Hence, this resulted in Sora deciding to pay a certain someone a visit.
"Hey, Touma, Index. You guys head back home. I'll catch you later."
Surprised by the sudden comment, Touma and Index glanced at one another before looking at Sora to see if something was up.
"Um… why? If you don't mind us asking, Sora" Index questioned. "You could just walk with us back home."
"With the Heartless showing up like this, I need to tell a friend of mine what's been happening. They've been helping me get accustomed to Academy City in the sense of monitoring Heartless activity. They have a bit of leeway over certain areas of the city" he explained while making sure to leave out any real detail about his moogle friend.
"Oh. I didn't know you had help like that" Kamijou responded, intrigued by the fact that Sora was getting help and not doing everything all by himself.
"Yeah. We met by chance. They're amazing. But I'm going to go visit them. I'll catch you guys later."
Deciding that nothing else could really be done now, Touma gestured to Index that they should head home.
"All right. Let us know if you encounter any more magical circles around turbines or anything."
"The same goes for the Heartless. We can't exactly let them wander around. You saw firsthand how dangerous they can get."
Glancing down at his right hand, Touma could certainly say that now. His first encounter with this strange creature forced him to have over a dozen questions pop into his head about the Heartless. But… tonight would not be the night he gets any answers. Besides, there was still that magic cabal running around Academy City. For now, a sense of security was in place for the wielder of Imagine Breaker.
Sora could handle the Heartless while he and Index could deal with the magic cabal.
"Sounds good. See you."
"Bye Sora!"
"See you guys later."
And with that, Kamijou and Index began to walk away and into the night leaving Sora to take in his surroundings. A lot had happened and unfortunately, he had a feeling that the night was not over yet.
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
*Click*
"Hello?"
"Hey, Moogla! Are you busy?"
"Sora! I'm not busy at all, kupo. I've been working on some projects and monitoring some activity across the city, but other than that I'm free, kupo" the moogle explained.
"Good. I've got some things to tell you and it isn't pretty…"
Saying this, the Keyblade wielder started walking away from the spot while still on the call with his magical friend. Leaving the once bustling and battle-rampaged area nothing but a spot with burn marks and water spots on the ground.
This was sure to spark a wild conversation.
Elsewhere within Academy City
In the middle of District 7, specifically inside the Windowless Building, Aleister Crowley remained floating inside the liquid tube with his eyes narrowly scanning the multiple screens that were displayed all around him. Each screen held a different vantage point of this evening's events recorded and played out for him to observe.
From the encounter of Kamijou Touma and Sora engaged in battle against Stiyl. Aleister watched as the duo were pushed back by the fiery creation known as Innocentius. The entire conflict seemed to be thwarted and showed the trio coming to a standstill by Kamijou's own hand. The footage then showed the Index Librorum Prohibitorum running up to them and pulling them into discussion. Having already paid close attention to this encounter, Aleister then had the recording fast-forwarded to the part of the trio caught in an engagement with the strange dark creatures.
Reports given to him about the Heartless indicated that these forms caught in the recordings were never seen. Indicating that there were more variations to these dark creatures which further intrigued the man.
Out of everything that occurred this evening, this part of the night had become the most interesting. Watching Kamijou continue to act as a bodyguard to the young girl while also witnessing Sora fight advantageously against these mysterious foes. The boy's resilience and combat skills were nothing to scoff about. He knew how to fight that much was true.
Consequently, the boy's actions and magical aptitude estimations were diminished entirely when Aleister watched as he summoned an Amusement Park ride out of a glowing square. The Board Chairman had no visible reaction to witnessing the boy pull off this feat. However, on the inside, Aleister was marveled. Magic such as this was a mystery enveloped within another mystery. The mixture of magic and science to create a park ride to act against the dark foes was something unexpected.
Furthermore, as witnessed in the recording, once Kamijou used Imagine Breaker to negate the boy's creation, he figured that such magical power wouldn't be used again. Alas, how the brunette continued to surprise him. Within moments later, Sora was able to summon teacups that he could ride and use against the Heartless. Watching Kamijou and Index join in the fun brought amusement to the Board Chairman while also leaving him with a great deal of hypotheses on what kind of magic was at play.
Alas, his time viewing the recordings was cut short when a stern knocking could be heard coming from outside the room. Without raising a finger, the monitors all disappeared leaving him alone.
"You may enter."
Opening the door, a middle-aged man in business attire appeared while holding a constrained look on his face.
"Sir, your guest has arrived for their appointment."
Knowing full well what the man was entailing, Aleister simply closed his eyes before addressing the man.
"Very well. Please escort him here. And make sure to give us some privacy."
"Understood sir. He'll be with you momentarily."
Having said that, the middle-aged man closed the door and sought out whoever had an appointment with the Board Chairman of Academy City. The entire ordeal was something not dismissed by the white-haired man. It wasn't a regular occurrence to have a face-to-face meeting with someone. Especially with someone looking to talk business regarding Academy City.
Hence, Aleister simply watched the door and waited for his *guest* to arrive.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
"You may enter."
Pushing the large doors open, a young man appeared right before the chairman's eyes. This man's features could be described as platinum blonde slicked-back hair. A double-breasted white business suit with a blue collar and a jacket folded over like a trench coat. Underneath his suit, a dark gray dress shirt with a tie could be seen along with hakama-styled pants. The pant legs have a fitted interior and a baggy exterior that skirts over with buttons down the front pleat. Several belts were draped around his wrists and waist akin to himo straps and overall suspenders, and several belts hung loosely over his long skirt. He had black fingerless gloves and black leather boots. Overall, the man appeared to be fashionable yet held an aura of respect.
This person was certainly… a mystery.
"Rufus Shinra. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
"Board Chairman Aleister Crowley. The feeling is mutual. Thank you for accepting this meeting I've requested" said the man in a confident and unwavering tone of voice.
"Nonsense. I was happy to accept your request to chat. Normally, most would deem it impossible to seek a meeting with me and simply relay a message to the board" Aleister said before letting a moment pass over. "However, you showed no sign of stopping and personally sent requests to meet. I'm honored you thought that way. And I do believe this is our first time truly meeting."
The man, now known as Rufus Shinra, simply let a smirk appear on his face.
"I'd heard talk about your… situation. But seeing it for myself now, I'm merely more curious than anything else."
Had the Board Chairman been outside of his tube and interacting like any normal person, then a grin would have been planted right along his face at that comment.
"As you should be. Most would be unable to utter a sentence at seeing a man, let alone the Board Chairman, residing within a liquid tube. Not exactly any normal circumstances."
"Naturally. Now then, Chairman- "
"Please. Call me Aleister. Given the nature and subject of our meeting, I figure we might as well become more open with one another. It'll make things seem less… infringing."
Letting his eyes closely observe the Board Chairman, Rufus seemed to have found his answer before jumping back into the conversation.
"Indeed. Then as pleasantries go you may refer to me as Rufus."
"Very well, Rufus, the reasoning behind your request to talk has something to do with your company's involvement in Academy City's infrastructure, yes?"
A showing smirk appeared on the platinum blonde's face before taking control of the discussion.
"Correct. The Shinra Electric Power Company has been of minimal yet significant importance to Academy City in recent times."
"A generation's time if I might say. It was your father who first proposed a trade in military technology. He was an ambitious figure that one. My condolences on his passing."
For a split second, Rufus seemed to allow his face to display a composed and pleasant expression. Alas, this was a blink-and-miss moment anyone could have missed… anyone but the Board Chairman.
"Thank you for your consideration. And yes, my father truly was an ambitious man. From the early days of Shinra being nothing more than a small weapon manufacturing company to breaking into a more enhanced technological company from the rest of the world… It's only thanks to the give-or-take chance you gave my father and this company."
"At that time, Academy City had already established itself as one of, if not, the strongest technological force in the world. Your father's attempt to strike a deal with industrial weapon trading was certainly something to take note of. While everyone instilled empty promises of powerful weaponry and technological secrets to bargain a relationship with the city, your father's simple yet greedy attempt to promise energy-based solutions and weaponry that were two decades behind is what won me over. And it's been a worthwhile investment" Aleister explained while reminiscing about his past encounter with the previous Shinra Company President.
"I'm pleased to hear that from you. Makes me think this meeting will benefit us both" Rufus tactfully replied.
"To a certain degree you are correct" Aleister suddenly remarked before continuing. "Your proclamation in your messages indicated that you want Shinra to take an approach to bolster the city's military might against these dark creatures that have been sighted recently… it's a high ask if you want my honest opinion."
The look a gambling man would don while placing his chips on a daring bet is the best way one could describe Rufus right now. Confidence was still evident in the man's face.
"I'll gladly take all the criticism you have. Shinra has been residing in the background of the public eye for quite some time now. I wouldn't be surprised if most residents aren't aware of our presence."
"Oh? You say that as if you'd like that to change" Aleister proclaimed while letting his voice take a jab at the man. "Would you prefer to have students wearing merchandise sponsoring Shinra? Espers promoting Shinra and their outdated technology?"
Shaking his head and letting a low chuckle escape his lips, Rufus kept a composed expression while ready for a response to the Board Chairman's far-fetched imagination.
"Not necessarily. Granted, having a bit more appreciation for Shinra's weaponry and technological support to Academy City is something noteworthy. However, that's not what I'm referring to…"
Rufus then extended his hand out to Aleister in a friendly gesture.
"These creatures being reported across the city have become a concern of mine and everyone involved in the company. There are members within the company who have many ideas on how to deal with these monsters. Were Shinra given the chance to act, I can assure you there would be no need to put Anti-Skill officers' lives on the line. Esper technology is obviously leagues ahead of the causal individual. Which is why I'd like to ask for your permission to let Shinra begin operations- "
"I do apologize, but my immediate answer is no" Aleister instantly fired back. "What you are proposing to allow Shinra to operate across Academy City is something that the board as well as myself have no inkling toward permitting. Your company has lent support to the city in ways which we all appreciate. You and the Kirijo group have provided the city with superficial amounts of innovative technology. However, allowing you to have any amount of control is something that won't be happening anytime soon."
Rather than becoming mad or distraught at what Aleister said, Rufus simply held a straight face before responding.
"And yet, the city continues to be rampaged by these monsters. Lives were threatened and even hospitalized. Property damage is at an all-time high. And no real answer has been given by the higher-ups of the city. Students' lives are in the crossfire with this developing situation. It'd be wise to seek help before things get too bad."
"You forget. You and your company are already helping Academy City. Your involvement with general weapon technology and background work already has your character be a part of the solution to stop these… creatures" Aleister claimed.
"…Be that as it may, Shinra has a lot more to offer. I'm not asking for an answer now. Hell, I'm not asking for an answer tomorrow, or the next day, or the next month. I'd rather have my offer be something you let sit in the back of your mind" Rufus offered while keeping a steadfast body language present.
"That is quite the task to take hold of. Thinking that I'll consider your offer for the future. How humorous…" the Board Chairman said while simultaneously paying not much time to the offer. "I do believe that we have concluded our meeting."
"That we have. I came here with the overall goal to say my peace, and that plan was a success. Thank you for your time, Board Chairman."
"Nonsense. I found our meeting to be… interesting to say the least. It's not every day that someone has the confidence to confront me in a face-to-face environment. You've certainly gone further than most."
"Indeed."
About ready to take his leave, there was one last thing that Rufus couldn't help but ponder upon. This topic boiling in his head was one that he wanted a direct answer to.
"Aleister. I do have one last question."
"Please. Let's hear what you have to say."
Gathering his thoughts, the current President of the Shinra Electric Power Company then said his piece.
"…These creatures… I've seen the damage done across the city. Heard many things. From a close account to distant observations… Does Academy City have a good handle on things?"
With this stark question out in the open, Aleister let a solemn moment of silence pass between them before answering in a direct tone.
"Academy City's focus is based on the development of student studies in Esper research. You already know this. There's no need to repeat the obvious. However, what I will say is that the city and its board are keeping a close eye on everything that's going on. We do not need a third party's support in the matter."
A sly smirk appeared on the platinum blonde-haired man's face.
"…Truly? Well then, that answers my question. Although, there is something that contradicts what you just said."
Reaching into his pocket, Rufus pulled out his phone and immediately displayed a picture of a certain spiky brown-haired boy holding what appeared to be a giant key as a weapon fighting off against the dark creatures.
"Care to give an answer about him?"
Narrowing his gaze at the picture being shown to him, Aleister's face showed no change or reaction at all, and simply stared at the picture and then at Rufus.
"What's there to say about him? He's a student attending one of the many schools in Academy City."
"Hm. A student… that has the power of a Level 4 while running around the city and fighting off these dark creatures. That should be all there is to him. But that's not the case" Rufus then put away his phone before continuing. "My colleagues have been keeping me up to date on all the involvements this boy has gotten involved in. It doesn't help that the public eye has been homing in on him ever since that first incident. The newsfeed and communication specialists have done an excellent job of making sure any information about him stays inside the city… for now, that is. But how long will that last? How long will you let this boy play hero? And why is it that he appears to be the only one who knows what's going on?"
"Those are all crucial and significant questions, Rufus, alas, I'm not at liberty to provide answers to any of those questions. Besides, I've already answered your question regarding the control Academy City has on these creatures" Aleister stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
Keeping a straight face, Rufus victoriously nodded his head. He had gotten his point across.
"That you have. Very well then, Chairman Aleister, thank you for your time this evening. You've given me a lot to think about. Where Shinra stands in its supporting stance to Academy City as well as the creature situation going on. I hope that the next time we meet our conversation can be as constructive and beneficial as this one was."
"Likewise. I very much enjoyed our chat. Until next time… President Shinra."
And with that, Rufus simply bowed his head to the man in the tube and made his way out of the dimly lit room leaving a sense of foreboding in his words.
Now left alone in the dark room, Aleister let out what could be described as an irritated sigh. Alas, there was still no reaction on his face. The situation was now developing in a way he hadn't exactly foreseen. While he had undoubtedly led the conversation with the most power, he also gained insight and a first impression as to who Rufus Shinra was as a person.
'…So, that was your goal all along… propose for Shinra to start making itself aware in Academy City. For what real purpose, I have yet to know...but that will change in due time. However, you also wanted to know more about Sora… You're smarter than you look, Rufus Shinra. Now the real question I ponder… how much of a problem are you and your company going to be?'
As Aleister thought this, a screen appeared right in front of him which showed a security drone's aerial footage of Stiyl Magus, Touma Kamijou, and Sora all standing next to one another. Another recording showed Index joining the group while they conversed some more. Consequently, another screen appeared but this time it showed the base of a turbine and strange-looking symbols scattered around it.
As expected, magical events were now taking place.
'I already have another problem evolving in my city.'
It would appear that the Board Chairman's peace of time would be interrupted these coming days and nights.
Meanwhile, back with Sora
Crossing the somewhat vacant street, Sora was now making sure that no one was following him before stepping into Moogla's workshop and making his way to the basement.
"Hello? Anybody here?" the Keyblade wielder called out.
"I'm over here, kupo."
Floating above what appeared to be a green electronic device, Moogla shifted her moogle body to get a better look at Sora.
"Good to see you again, kupo! Wanna help me with this motherboard, kupo? I need a light source to help me fix the problem going on with it, kupo."
"Sure!"
Summoning his Keyblade, Sora then held it above the moogle and let a white light come off the blade and act as a light source.
"Thank you, kupo!" Moogla replied while getting to work. "Now, want to give me a better idea of what's going on, kupo? You explained everything a bit too fast, kupo."
"Yeah, I can do that. So…"
A few minutes later
"And that's everything that's happened so far tonight," Sora said while having explained the entire day's events.
Not giving an instant response, Moogla kept her small hands tinkering with the motherboard before finishing up her work. She then looked over at the Keyblade wielder with a sympathetic expression.
"That's… a lot of new developments to happen in one day, kupo."
"No kidding. From learning about the Venus project to fighting Stiyl and learning more about the magic side in this world, to then encountering the Heartless with Touma and Index. There's already a lot of stuff going on in the city…"
"Hm…"
"Huh? Is something wrong?"
Placing the motherboard down on the table, Moogla then began floating over to her computer and began searching for something. The sounds of tapping from her small hands along the keyboard could be heard echoing in the room along with the machines working in the background.
"Hearing about this magic cabal looking to destroy Academy City, I wanted to check some of the cleaner bots across the city to see if they've encountered anything strange, kupo" Moogla explained while pulling up a monitor showing several different feeds from the cleaning robots. "Let's see, nothing is happening in Districts 2, 5, 8, 13, and 16… it seems like things are tame, kupo."
"For now, that is…"
Folding his arms across his chest, Sora took on a thinking pose while sorting his thoughts out. If what Stiyl had to say about the magic cabal messing with turbines, then that should obviously be the place to check.
"Are any of the cleaner bots near any of the turbines in the city?"
Back to typing away at her computer, Moogla took a moment to check the state of her robots. She then gave a small shake of her moogle head.
"No, none of the cleaner bots are near any of the turbines, kupo. It'll take a minute for the closest bot to reach a turbine, and that's without encountering any kind of problems, kupo" Moogla said before turning to look at Sora. "You might have not noticed this, but a lot of Anti-Skill officers are now patrolling around the districts due to the Heartless, kupo."
"Really? That's good… well, kind of…" Sora replied while letting out a sigh. "I'm glad the city is starting to take precautions against the Heartless. But I'm worried that they might get in over their heads and fall into a trap laid out by the Heartless."
Understanding where he was coming from, Moogla wasn't sure how to respond. That is until she had a thought dawn on her.
"Sora, what are you going to do if you encounter this magic cabal? Are you going to fight them?"
The Guardian of Light simply looked down at his hands and let her question settle into his mind. While he still wasn't sure about everything going on with the magic cabal, he knew that by letting them get away with their plans they'd attack Academy City even without the full force of Agni's Festival Fire. Moreover, based on what Stiyl had said, the cabal would still attack the city even without a powerful spell. Their hatred for Academy City was irrational and unpredictable.
"I… I'm not sure. I want to say yes, but I also know that by rushing in and fighting them they might pull the trigger and attack the city without any remorse. I think the more reasonable approach is to work with Touma and Stiyl. There's a lot I don't understand."
As Sora said this, the realization that another prevalent issue was still unsolved.
"And then we can't forget about Darkness or the Heartless. Even though things have been quiet that doesn't mean the bad guys are not plotting something" he affirmed.
"That's also true… guess the only thing we can do is wait and see, kupo?"
Pulling out his Gummiphone and seeing that it was getting late, Sora figured that he should get home.
"Yeah… we're now in the waiting game now."
Meanwhile… across the city inside a facility
The sounds of explosions rocked the facility located in District 10. The building itself was covered in what could best be described as debris and burn marks covering the ground and walls. Along the area were scattered remnants of security robots trashed and destroyed as well as the bodies of security officers. The situation was currently developing at a fast pace.
"Eh? I thought we checked that side of the building."
The person who said this was a familiar young girl with long blonde hair and a dark-colored beret resting atop her head. Her name was better known as Frenda Seivelun, a member of Item.
The dark side group known as Item was currently in the middle of working on a mission.
"We super did. But Takitsubo said there wasn't anyone completely dangerous over there" came the reply of Kinuhata. "She said it wasn't worth our time."
"Still… we should at least check it out" reasoned Frenda as she pointed at the door holding the undiscovered side of the building, they were in. "Basically, I don't want to be surprised or attacked by anyone."
"Then why don't you super check it out and- "
Before Kinuhata could finish speaking, a familiar girl with tea-colored hair stepped past them and summoned an orb of light that instantly fired right at the wall. The impact of her attack caused the wall to melt thanks to her Meltdowner and allowed for a better visual of the room.
"Or… you can super do that."
Mugino had not said anything and simply walked forward with her heels clacking across the facility's floor. Kinuhata and Frenda shot each other anxious looks while behind them they heard what could be best described as slow steps. They immediately knew who it was.
"Takitsubo. Has Mugino been- "
"Yes. She has. This entire time."
The tracksuit-wearing girl shifted her eyes to see her boss dangerously walk forward and through the melted wall she just created. The Level 5's demeanor and attitude had been a quiet one this evening. She only needed to speak when she needed something confirmed. It was quite unusual for the brunette.
"It's almost as if she's taking out her anger" Takitsubo added.
"…I guess that's one way of describing it. Even though the mission doesn't require her to go in guns blazing. So far, the job has been pretty easy. Dealing with low-security grunts and standard security robots. I'm really starting to wonder why this place was the mission's target."
What Frenda was referring to was the job offer Item had received a few hours ago. The mission entailed destroying a research facility that seemed to be holding important information within its servers. What that information was? They had no clue. It wasn't their business to know. Item's job was to make sure no remnants of any information lasted. They were essentially the clean-up crew for this mission.
"Does it super matter? We were told to just destroy the place and wipe the servers. I'm betting the scientists here were into some shady stuff. Maybe they were experimenting on animals? Mixing a panda with a lion? Experimenting on sharks and putting lasers on them? That actually sounds pretty cool!" Kinuhata said, growing excited by her dumb ideas. "Or just another group experimenting on people."
"You've been watching too many stupid movies" Frenda immediately replied.
"Yep! That's the super point. Some of the bad movies I finished binge-watching turned out to be better and worse than I expected."
As the two casually bantered, the dark-haired girl watched as Mugino was now in the other room which was the part of the building she had scanned with her AIM Stalker ability. There appeared to be no espers on that side of the building. However, there was a scientist hiding. Mugino was bound to-
"Aaaaaahhhh!"
"Mugino found him."
"So, there was someone in there! See! I told you! Someone could've sneak attacked us."
"I super doubt that. Takitsubo would've told us ahead of time if they were a threat" Kinuhata fired back.
"True" came the blunt reply from Takitsubo.
Inside the room, Mugino was glaring at one of the scientists working in this facility. The man was covered in dirt and debris with his clothes tattered and shaking all over his body. A flood of emotions was present on his face; however, fear was chief among them.
"P-Please! Please don't!" the man said while holding his hands in front of his face. "I don't want to die!"
In normal circumstances, Mugino wouldn't have bothered to let him speak anymore and would have killed him without even blinking. Similar situations in the past proved that to be a fact.
However, this time there appeared to be something different going on with the Level 5. She held her hand outward and pointed it at the man which was something she usually did before activating her Meltdowner ability. Alas, no orb of light had appeared around her…yet.
The beautiful girl's face held a concentrated glare that was aimed right at the man with her lips in a frown. But she had yet to use her ability and end the man's life. Something was happening to the fourth-ranked and it was happening internally.
In the vestiges of her mind, Mugino knew immediately what she was planning on doing to the scientist. That much was evident based on the other areas of the facility that held scattered debris and bodies. But for some unknown reason, she couldn't just eliminate the man in front of her. It was almost as if… something was persuading her to stop.
A guilty conscience? Absolutely not…
Charitable pity? Not quite…
No, Mugino Shizuri knew exactly what the reason for her sudden halt was to kill the scientist before her. The growing feeling within her chest prevented her from acting. A feeling she never had to deal with.
And it all stemmed from a certain spiky brown-haired boy and the giant key that he carried… Sora.
The words he said to her about having a choice… a choice only she gets to dictate. Creating a new path for herself… one involving both light and darkness…
"Please! Wait! I-I can forget any of this ever happened!" pleaded the scientist. "Please! Let me- "
Unfortunately, the sounds of the scientist had faded away. As did his entire body. The Level 5's Meltdowner beam had been instantly summoned and fired at the man with such speed that before he could even react there was nothing left. His entire body had been vaporized with no pain to be registered.
Lowering her head and scanning the room, Mugino then spotted another set of computer servers all booted up and transferring data through the web. Activating her ability again, she decimated the servers leaving a melted-down hunk of metal in place.
"Oh? You found another server. Nice job. That makes this side done and dusted" Frenda cheerfully said walking over to her.
The girls then looked to where the scientist appeared to be and could only see remnants of scorch marks created by Mugino's Meltdowner beam.
"You kept him super alive longer than usual," Kinuhata said while pointing over to where the scientist once was. "Did he have anything good to say at the last minute?"
"…"
Not saying anything, Mugino walked back to the door and continued to search the facility for any more computer servers that they might have missed.
"Sheesh. What's her super deal?"
Glancing down at the ground where the scientist was hit with Mugino's attack, Takitsubo had a perplexed yet disdained look on her face. Mugino's behavior had been relatively different lately, and unfortunately, she was starting to think that Kinuhata's stupid idea might have some more merit.
"…Kinuhata."
"Yeah, Takitsubo? You super need something?"
"…You might be right."
"Huh? What are you super talking about? Right about what? About my movie preference? There's no way you'd say that. Maybe you're talking about… wait… are you… are you being serious?"
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Takitsubo simply nodded her head in defeat.
"Eh? Basically, what are you two talking about? What's going on?" Frenda eagerly asked. "Let me in on the gossip."
"You were already in it. But you forgot. That means you're now on lookout duty."
"Look out? For whom? Mugino?"
A stern nod was sent to the blonde who confusedly tilted her head. None of this made sense. Deciding she would learn more later, Frenda went over to the melted door and stood outside it making sure to watch for Mugino.
"I think Mugino's behavior is thanks to Sora."
"Whoa. Whoa. I'm calling super timeout here" the short-haired girl said before collectively sighing. "Are you for sure being honest with me, Takitsubo? Do you think it's because of him? I mean, that's a dumb thing to say. I already had a strong feeling it was, but for you to start coming around to it…"
Prompting a sigh, Takitsubo adjusted her tracksuit before dealing with Kinuhata.
"I can't give a solid answer, but it's my best guess. Mugino is easily angered and wouldn't hesitate to destroy anything that gets in her way. But…" the dark-haired girl glanced back at the scientist's last living spot. "She hesitated a lot longer than normal with that guy. She didn't do that with the guards earlier. I think she had something on her mind."
"And that super something was Sora."
"Mm-hm."
Scratching her ear, Kinuhata wasn't sure what to do now with this new bit of information. Sure, she was already on board the Sora idea way back after they had their second encounter. The problem now was what to do about it. It was clearly affecting her leader's concentration.
"What should we super do now?"
"…I don't know. We could always send Frenda out as bait and see if the kaiju monster known as Mugino takes a bite" Takitsubo joked.
Kinuhata couldn't help but chuckle at her joke while immediately coming up with her own.
"While that does sound super funny, I'm worried that the Megalodon known as Meltdowner will split Frenda in half. Mugino's never been one to show her true feelings."
"…That doesn't mean she hasn't before."
Realizing that what Takitsubo said was true, Kinuhata couldn't help but agree with her.
"True. But we are dealing with a super powerful Level 5 Esper that could kick our asses. Not to mention, she slapped a tiger! Did you forget about that? That girl would dominate that new slapping sport!"
A deadpan expression made its way onto Takitsubo's face.
"You had to remind me of that."
"It's the super truth. She told us what happened and how it happened back in the Colosseum last ye-"
"The details weren't exactly explained. How do you explain killing a tiger with the palm of your hand?" the tracksuit girl asked, staring blankly at the short-haired girl.
"You're right about that… and yet, it would seem Sora's the only one to survive encountering her in the field of battle twice. A feat nobody has super yet to accomplish" Kinuhata directly argued.
"The first time doesn't exactly count."
"It super does. She fired a point-blank Meltdowner beam at him and he's still alive. Walking around and fighting those strange dark creatures."
"They have a name."
"Yeah, yeah. I know they have a super name" Kinuhata replied. "The Heartless… it's kind of catchy when you say it a few times. It's almost like one of those names given in a cheesy action story but having seen them up close and even fought them they are no joke."
Takitsubo then turned back to the melted entranceway to see if she could see Frenda but to no avail, the blonde-haired girl was nowhere to be seen. Hopefully, she was still standing guard. For their sake at least.
"Still, what should we do about Mugino? It could be that time of- "
"If you super ask me, I think playing the waiting game is the only reasonable way of going about things. If we pry too much into Mugino's love life, then we get our behinds lasered off and hung above her fireplace" Kinuhata sarcastically responded.
"…Mugino doesn't have a fireplace. We don't have a fireplace at the apartment" argued the tracksuit girl.
Clicking her tongue, Kinuhata shrugged her shoulders and gave a dumb response back.
"She's bound to have one back at her actual home. You know, she's super rich and whatnot. Don't most rich people have fireplaces?"
"You're thinking about rich people in the movies or shows."
"I doubt it. Rich people are super- "
Suddenly, before Kinuhata could finish what she was saying, Frenda rushed into the room and had an anxious expression written all over her face.
"Ah! You two might want to come with me."
"Oh, crap… did she super hear us? Are our butts getting cut off?"
"What the- No! At least, not yet. Mugino didn't come anywhere near the room. Instead, she found something else you two might want to see" Frenda clarified.
Shooting one another a glance, the two decided to listen to Frenda's words and beckoned her to lead them to where Mugino was. This started a small trek throughout the facility which led them to an area that they had checked earlier.
"Huh? Weren't we super here earlier?"
"We were. But something came up" came the reply from Item's leader.
Getting a look at her, even with dirt covering her purple dress, Mugino kept up the appearance of a mature and beautiful girl. Granted, her personality was not the best right now.
"Mugino? What did you find?" Takitsubo asked, prepared to activate her AIM Stalker ability if needed.
Brushing some hair off her shoulder, the tea-colored hair beauty nodded her head at what appeared to be a large hold in the wall. The hole was clearly made by Mugino's Meltdowner beam as it appeared just like the other room's burnt-down entrance.
"What super happened here? You encounter some kind of machine-playing defense?" questioned Kinuhata. "There doesn't seem to be any bodies around here."
Glaring at the girl, Mugino moved to the hole before responding.
"No. I just needed to take out some pent-up anger. I fired a beam at the wall expecting it to lead to one of the other rooms we checked already, but as you can see…" She then gestured to inside the room where the hole was leading. "I just found a secret room."
"Ooh! A super-secret room. That makes things a bit more interesting. Let's check it out!" Kinuhata said before jumping through the hole.
"*sigh* Does this mean that we have to start checking all the rooms in the facility again?!" Frenda complained while being dramatic and hunching herself over like a deflated balloon. "Should we have Mugino just go laser crazy?"
"I don't think so" commented Takitsubo as she got closer to the hole. "Look inside, Frenda."
Eager to see what she was talking about, Frenda stepped through the hole not having any set expectations for what she might see. This proved to be a good thing because once she was now in the secret room, she could see several large monitors along with a side door and a few computer servers all functional and booted up. It looked like the room was abandoned in a rush based on the monitors still being functional.
"Wow… this could have messed the mission up. How did we not find this room sooner? Isn't that a door?" Frenda said, pointing out the side door. "Where does that lead?"
Deciding to figure that out now, Mugino went and pressed the door open only to be surprised how the door opened right into another room. However, on the other side, the door appeared to be part of the wall. The good old-fashioned secret door.
"Dang. The old tricks are still some of the super best" Kinuhata casually replied.
"And where there's a secret door…" Mugino started.
"Then there's a secret worth keeping" finished Takitsubo.
Striding over to the central monitor, Mugino spotted a keyboard which she got right to work typing away to see if she could get access to the equipment. While Item had not been given any clearance to know what this data held, that didn't mean they couldn't let their curiosity get the best of them.
"Alright then, let's see what these bozos were working on."
Beginning to search through the computer's database, Mugino went through the most recent files that had been opened and could see that a lot of data had been erased. Remnants of files were still present, but there was nothing in those files. Tons of documents were also recorded but had nothing in them.
"Damn. Someone did manage to erase the data."
"Have you tried looking through the computer's- "
"I've tried. I'm not an idiot when it comes to working with computers" Mugino argued.
"Right, right. My bad. I forgot that you're secretly a hardcore gamer" Frenda clarified. "Hmm. Then why don't we try hooking up to the actual computer servers?"
Taking her suggestion into account, Kinuhata started pulling some wires from two of the servers and passing them along to Takitsubo who connected them to the main console. This caused a plethora of various codes and software to pop up on the console screen. A small glance into what this facility was researching.
"Oh, wow. There's a lot of… super gibberish here. I'm not seeing anything that stands out. Just a lot of boring and useless information on- "
"Are you an idiot?" Mugino bluntly said while pointing at the screen. "Are you not seeing this?!"
Unsure of what she was talking about, Kinuhata took a step and got close to the monitor to see what was up. Upon closer inspection, she couldn't help but realize that she had a stupid moment.
"Oh. Whoops."
"Moron."
Peering their eyes at the screen, Frenda and Takitsubo now realized what Mugino meant and could see that the interest in this entire mission just jumped up from a low level to a very high level.
On the monitor screen was a line of data that made things seem to go from boring to interesting.
"Is that… "
"Yeah. Files about the Heartless" the Level 5 replied while immediately clicking on the files. "It looks like most of the data was erased as well. Only small bits of information are remaining."
Looking over the information present on the monitor, Takitsubo got quite curious about a file name that appeared between several other files.
"What's that one?"
"This one?" Mugino asked, opening the file that Takitsubo had her eye on.
Once she clicked on it, several pages of corrupted information were being displayed on the monitor for everyone to see and read. Based on a glance this information was part of a codex to an even larger report of recorded information regarding the most recent observations done on the Heartless.
"It's a lot of recycled information."
"So, it's a bust then?" Frenda asked.
"Not quite."
Acting fast, Mugino pulled a USB thumb drive that she cautiously prepared and began to download as many files as she could quickly.
"You came prepared. Did you know something about this facility beforehand?" Takitsubo asked her leader.
"No. But ever since the Railgun's clone incident, I've made sure to be ready in case I come across some interesting information. Besides, it makes things a bit more exciting!"
"Fair enough."
As soon as her thumb drive had downloaded as many files as she thought necessary, she immediately pulled it out of the computer and instantly activated her Meltdowner ability. Without even lifting a finger, she fired a beam at the computer destroying it.
"Hey! Watch where you shoot that beam! You could have given us a super heads up!"
"You're fine. Look, Takitsubo knew what was coming up and moved back" Mugino said while gesturing over to the black-haired girl.
"That's only because of my ability."
"Then explain how Frenda also super leaped back in time."
Sticking her tongue out in a teasing way, Frenda couldn't help but smirk at Kinuhata's mishap.
"Basically, I just saw Takitsubo take a step back and figured something was going to happen."
"Boo. That's super cheap."
*Sshshshshsh*
Another beam of light hit the computer servers causing a static noise. The Level 5 was intending to make sure that nothing remained operational. Next, Mugino aimed at the monitor and computer and made sure it would be impossible to find any trace of a computer.
"There. Now we've cleared the entire building of computers and servers. Frenda, did you set the explosives?"
"Yep! That's the first thing I did after we cleared the place out."
"Good. Our job here is done."
"So, what're you super going to do with that information?" Kinuhata asked Mugino.
Examining the thumb drive resting in the palm of her hands, the chestnut-haired girl held a sly grin on her face. The information they had come across allowed her to realize several significant things to consider.
"We can call this job a success. So, we're getting paid good."
"Yes!" Frenda cheered.
"And we now have a bigger idea of how things are changing around the city. With the Heartless still roaming around the city and Anti-Skill unable to stop them completely. Not to mention, Sora hasn't been on the news lately… "
'And that son of a bitch still hasn't contacted me since I called him that night…' Mugino thought to herself.
"It's safe to say Academy City is making some headway into learning about the Heartless."
A look of realization appeared on one of the girl's faces.
"The only way they'd be able to make quite the progress would be if they captured a Heartless…" Takitsubo answered, keeping a plain tone in her voice. "Someone managed to capture one."
"Wonder how they did that. Maybe boxed a bunch together?" Frenda reasoned.
"I doubt it. You super saw them. They could sink into the ground and cause a puddle to appear. Perhaps an esper ability did the trick?"
"It's possible. However, it's none of our concern" Mugino strikingly said. "We did the job and got some information to play around with. I'd say we've earned ourselves a reward."
"Good! I'm starving."
"You're always super starving, Frenda."
"Am not!"
"…You can eat at any time."
"Not you too, Takitsubo!"
"It's going to go to your legs."
"Take that back!"
"You're going to become super bottom-heavy, Frenda. And not in the good kind of way."
As Item made their way out of the facility to meet up with their pickup from the support division, Mugino couldn't help but reflect on everything that's happened tonight. From her slight mishap with that scientist to discovering that research was being found regarding the Heartless. It would seem as if things were only getting more interesting.
Alas, she couldn't help but let a stray thought rest on her mind. The flashing visualization of a certain spiky-haired boy.
*KA-BOOM*
The facility they were just in had been blown up from the inside thanks to Frenda's explosives. The group had gotten far enough away and were staring at the explosion before jumping into their getaway vehicle.
All in all, Item had another successful night.
The next day… September 11, 20XX
Rushing down the street and making sure to not hit any of the students in his way, Sora was making his way to school but had slept in. After his chat with Moogla, he took his time returning to his dorm in case there were any more appearances from the Heartless or any strange activity from the magic cabal.
Thankfully, nothing happened, but that also caused him to wear himself down and fall victim to the consequences of staying up late.
"Ah! Sorry! Excuse me! Coming through!"
Many of the students along the busy streets could see the familiar spiky-haired boy rushing past them in his school attire. For some, it was quite strange and surprising to see someone recently famous just run past them like it was nothing. Granted, the Level 5s were also considered celebrities wherever they went.
"Whoa!" Sora yelped at seeing the light to cross the street turn red indicating that he had to wait.
Not about to let this stop him, he swerved his head to the side and saw that he was close enough to a wall that would give him enough push for his idea.
"*gasp* Is that him?" one girl said while pointing at Sora easily recognizing him from the news.
"Shh! He'll hear you," said another boy.
Clearly hearing them, Sora turned and gave them a friendly wave before activating his Flowmotion and causing his entire body to be covered in blue light. In the next moment, Sora dashed right at the wall and jumped at it before jumping high into the air and dashing across the street. Many of the students watching this were in awe of the boy's strange powers.
"He did that thing again!"
"What is his esper ability? I thought he used a giant key?"
"What level is he?"
"How cool!"
Once he was past the street, Sora propelled himself in the air so that he'd touch the wall of the building next to him and started wall running like it was nothing. The best way to get to class on time would be to cut the traffic and that's exactly what he was doing.
"This'll buy me some time."
And so, from one building onto the other, Sora continued to use his Flowmotion to his advantage. Making the trek to school a lot shorter than it normally would be for anyone walking.
'I wonder if Touma and Index found anything else about the magic cabal. Could they have hit more turbines in the middle of the night? We still don't know how many there are in the city' he thought to himself while leaping to another building.
Once he passed another block, he figured it would be fine to run the rest of the way. Leaping down to the ground, Sora made his spectacular movements look easy all without breaking a sweat. Nothing could stop…
*BAM*
"Ahh!"
"Gah!"
The Keyblade wielder had accidentally walked right into someone by not paying attention. Shaking his head, he quickly got himself up to help whoever he hit.
"Sorry! I wasn't paying attention."
"Don't be! I should've been looking up" came the soft reply of a boy.
Getting a better look at who he hit, the boy's appearance consisted of short blonde hair and light blue eyes. He wore a uniform that consisted of a white shirt, black pants, black gloves, a necktie, and a red cape along with a pouch. In addition, he also had a pair of glasses resting on his face. To the side of him, a few books were scattered on the ground.
"Ah. Here, let me help get those."
"Thank you."
Picking the books up and handing them back to the blonde boy, Sora offered him a friendly smile.
"Hey… you're that guy. The one from the news."
Scratching his cheek, Sora could only give an honest answer, "Yeah. You got it right. That's me."
"Oh, wow! I can't believe it. The others aren't going to believe this."
"Others?"
Right before Sora could ask who, two girls and a guy's voice could be heard calling the boy.
"Ace!"
"Ace! Are you alright?"
"Hey! Are you picking on him?"
Looking at who was calling to him, Sora quickly took in the details of the three students concerned about their friend. It was easy to see they were his friends based on the uniforms they had on which were similar.
The first person he took notice of a was mature-looking boy with long blonde slicked back hair ending in a mullet and red eyes. A white short-sleeved shirt with a black print on the side and black trim on the ends of his sleeves could be seen. He also wore a black tie, a red cape just like the other boy, black trousers, gloves, and white shoes.
The next person Sora observed was a girl with long black hair with bangs clipped back with a green barrette. Her eyes were of a violet color, and she also wore glasses. Her uniform had a black gold-lined vest with red lapels, a white collared short-sleeved shirt with gray stripes at the ends of the sleeves, a black bowtie, a black skirt with loose belts, white socks with gray stripes, and black gloves.
And the last girl had silver hair with violet eyes. Her uniform consisted of a black pleated skirt with loose belts hanging over it, gray shorts, a black vest with red lapels, a black bowtie, and black evening gloves. Out of the three uniformed students, she was the only one to not wear a red mantle, making her stand out a bit compared to everyone else.
"Wait. It's alright. I wasn't watching where I was going" said the boy with glasses.
"No. It's also my fault. I should've watched my surroundings."
Seeing that there was no animosity with the spiky brown-haired boy, the silver-haired and blonde-haired students let their faces ease up.
Rubbing his hand through his hair, the mature-looking boy spoke up first.
"Ace. Please tell me you weren't reading and walking again."
"Err…"
"*sigh* Figures."
Suddenly, the silver-haired girl took a step toward the Keyblade wielder which threw him off guard.
"Um… hi?"
"Say, aren't you that guy that's been on the news lately?"
Not being one to lie and having no reason to, Sora simply nodded his head.
"Yep. That's me. My name is Sora."
"It is you! I thought you looked familiar" claimed the black-haired girl.
The mature-looking boy took a closer look at him by stepping toward him while moving his gaze up and down the Keyblade wielder. Based on his facial expression, the older boy had a questionable look.
"Hmph. You look a bit different from the footage captured of you."
"Really?" asked Sora as he started examining himself in a comedic manner. "I don't think so. I mean, I haven't exactly seen every video of myself."
"Hm. Could you please answer a few of my questions?" the black-haired girl asked with an eager smile. "There's a great deal I want to ask you."
"I…uh…?"
"Take it easy on him guys," said the boy with glasses. "I'm sure he gets questioned like this a lot."
Understanding where he was coming from, the other students nodded their heads and began to introduce themselves.
"Right. Well, I think introductions should get underway. My name is Ace" answered the boy with glasses.
"Name's King. Thanks for stopping those creatures the other night. I had a few friends in the district" replied the mature-looking boy.
"I'm Seven. Like King said, we had a few friends out and about. Thanks for making things safer" added the silver-haired girl.
"My name is Queen. On behalf of my friends here and elsewhere we from Class Zero thank you for keeping the city safe, and for stepping up where Anti-Skill is lacking" stated the girl with long black hair.
Happy to have met several new faces, Sora had to tilt his head at what Queen said.
"You're welcome? But why do sound like you're upset with Anti-Skill?"
Clearing her throat while adjusting her glasses, it seemed that Queen had a lot to say on the matter. This was further supported by Ace, King, and Seven letting out a sigh and shaking their heads.
"Because that's exactly what I'm feeling. How can we as students feel safe with these strange dark creatures running around the city? I'm not sure if you've noticed but while Anti-Skill has increased the number of patrol vehicles across the districts, it doesn't feel as if they have a hold on the situation. Either Anti-Skill is underestimating the threat these monsters pose, or they're not taking them seriously."
"I think you might be overreacting here, Queen" Ace commented. "We aren't exactly in the know with everything that Anti-Skill does. Maybe things will get better soon?"
"Besides, we're not even really in the know. You know?" Seven said while placing a hand on her hip and directing her attention at Queen. "I'm sure Judgment has also stepped up their safety measures. You can't criticize Anti-Skill when you're not associated with the organization."
"… I think you're all forgetting a bigger part of the whole thing" mumbled King as folded his arms across his chest.
"And what's that?" Queen questioned the blonde.
With a simple raise of the hand, King pointed right at Sora who was a bit surprised and simply offered an awkward smile. Everyone's attention was now directed toward him.
"If you want to know how Anti-Skill is actually doing… why not ask the person who's been in the thick of things?"
Taking his point into consideration, Queen right away asked Sora that very question.
"Sora! In your honest opinion, how has Anti-Skill's reaction to the strange creatures been?"
Feeling the limelight put on him, the Keyblade wielder couldn't help but stutter with his sudden response.
"W-Well, I think that with the information Anti-Skill has on their hands, they're doing a great job with securing the area and making sure citizens get to safety. Plus, it's a developing situation. They might not know everything there is about these… creatures."
"Mm. And what do you know about the weaponry used by Anti-Skill against these creatures? Speaking of weaponry, what exactly is your esper ability? Based on the videos captured of you fighting the dark monsters, you always seem to be using a large key to fight" Queen explained while taking a leader-like tone.
"I-I…"
"Ease up on him, Queen. Didn't Ace just tell us to do that?" Seven said, holding onto the girl's shoulder.
"Ehem. Sorry about that."
Letting out a breath of relief, Sora shook his head.
"Don't worry. It's all good. I can tell that your questions come from a good place. And it's ok to be somewhat concerned about what's going on."
Seven couldn't help but smirk at the boy's deduction hitting close to its mark.
"You have no idea, Sora. Queen's got a bit of a class leader thing going about her. When things are rough for any of us or our friends, we turn to our always notorious and responsible Queen. Always the practical and logical one."
"You're one to talk, Seven. Everyone sees you as the big sister of the class and beyond. You're quite nurturing and that selfsame generosity always puts you in quite the dilemma. Always the reliable and caring one."
Ace and King simply looked at one another. This had been a common bit of banter shared among them. An array of similar bouts of banter could be connected between all the other members of Class Zero.
"Haha. You guys seem close. And to answer your question, Queen, I can't really give a clear idea of Anti-Skill's weaponry used in dealing with the creatures. But I know for a fact that good people are working to make sure Academy City is safe and protected. As for my esper ability, it's called Light Manipulation. I'm able to control all sorts of things with it. Also, the giant key I have helps me control my power" Sora said, doing his best to give a reasonable answer.
A look of interest crossed the girl's face.
"Interesting. And based on the video footage captured of you, what else can you do?"
"Well- "
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
"Oh! Sorry. I might need to take this" Sora said while pulling his Gummiphone out and seeing that it was a text message from Touma.
On the Gummiphone's screen, a simple message was sent to him.
(Where are you? Are you coming to class today?)
Watching as Sora's facial reaction changed upon seeing his phone, Ace was the first to speak up.
"Something the matter? Do you need to leave?"
"I… Yeah, I should probably get going."
"Hm. I see, well, it was a pleasure to meet you and strike up a conversation with you, Sora."
"Same here. Hey, let's trade numbers. That way we can all get together and chat again" the Keyblade wielder proposed to the group.
"I like that idea" commented Seven.
"Sure. I can already tell you'll get along with a few of our other friends" King said while chuckling.
"Jack?" Ace asked King.
"Jack" King confirmed to Ace.
"It'll also let me ask you some important questions later."
"Great!"
And so, the five students all exchanged numbers rather quickly before the Keyblade wielder turned to them one last time before departing.
"Ha! It was nice meeting you guys. I hope we can catch up again soon."
"Likewise. Take care."
"See ya."
"Take it easy."
"Until next time."
Giving a quick wave, the Keyblade wielder was now set to arrive at school and see how things had developed with Touma on his end of things. While the day had only just begun, there was a lot that could happen in a short time.
Later at school
"Everyone!" chimed the lively and energetic short teacher Komoe. "I'm sure all of you are aware of the difference between extrasensory perception and psychokinesis but for reassurance, I'll be going over that topic again since we have a midterm coming around the corner."
The pink-haired teacher said this while writing on the chalkboard and teaching the class the basic differences between ESP and PK. However, Touma's attention was anywhere but the board. He was still reeling from the brief chat he had with Sora while class started. Neither of the two had anything vital to report and simply were left to their thoughts about the magical problem at their feet.
'Stiyl said that Agni's Festival Fire could be used at any time and that it didn't matter if the spell was one hundred percent complete. The magic cabal would still use it to destroy the city.'
Off to the side, Sora was sitting at his desk and doing his best to try and understand everything that Komoe Sensei was explaining on the board. His desk was stacked with paper while he took mangled notes and had a disheveled and strained face. School and computers were absolutely not his best subjects. Fighting Heartless, exploring new worlds, befriending people, and flying a Gummiship were things he excelled at.
"Now, regarding thoughtography. As mentioned last week, the power allows you to learn of far or future scenes, it's seemingly categorized under the ESP class just like precognition. I don't believe precognition is a topic we need to cover in depth. Alas, the power that affects the film…"
Sora couldn't help but feel sweat trail down the side of his face. All this information was registering to him and in a desperate attempt to learn it, he pushed himself past his limits. Knowledge came at a cost.
"…So be careful! When a power sits on both sides of the line between PK and ESP, PK takes precedence in classification! Remember! PK!" Komoe instructed the class.
'Right now, District 7 could become a sea of flames. The inside of an oven at any moment. Everyone could die… burned to death. My right hand… I have the power to stop that. By destroying the spiritual items placed on the wind turbines, why am I sitting around waiting for something to happen? I should be out there!' Touma continued to ramble in his head.
With everything that had happened last night, Touma recalled that Stiyl had thrown a prepaid phone at him which meant that he was on standby until the shitty magician gave him a call. This also made the fact that Stiyl would rather go out and buy a new phone than give him his number.
"Sora-chan. I see you back there with a strained look on your face. Are you understanding all of this?" Komoe suddenly asked, focused on the Keyblade wielder's state of mind.
"Y-Yeah! I-I'm good. Just making sure my notes are good!" Sora hesitantly replied.
"That's good to hear! Let me know if you need any help at all. And that goes out to you all. Now then, moving along, analog cameras that use film exposure have been on the decline in recent times due to the arrival of digital cameras. No matter the size, digital cameras can be found almost anywhere. This has created the issue of whether espers who display the future on digital cameras should be…"
As expected, Sora continued to do his best and keep up with the advanced lesson, feeling his interest peak with the mention of cameras. Everything else wasn't sticking that well to his brain, but this topic did. Since his most recent adventure, taking pictures with the Gummiphone has become a bit of a hobby for him. There was a bunch of people he still needed to get pictures with.
'Gah! I can't focus! This magic cabal is here in Academy City. Right now! But… wait… what was their name? God's Gate? No. It was… The Gate of the Gods Come from the Heavens, right? Something like that. Stiyl said he would find them, but how exactly? What if he's lazy? What if he's an even bigger idiot than I thought? What if…?'
"Um… Kamijou-chan? Kamijou-chan!"
"Touma?"
"Huh!? Wha?!"
Pulled out of his thoughts, Touma could see Sora and Komoe Sensei staring at him with puzzled looks on their faces.
"Kamijou-chan! It goes without saying that you've not been paying attention! I've been trying to give a final review before the midterm, but… *sniff* wah! Class is over! There's still material I need to review!"
*BANG*
At the same time that Komoe complained, the door to the classroom flew open with a young girl in a nun outfit standing there with an excited look on her face.
"Komoe! Komoe! Please teach me about something called 'electromagnetic waves!"
Perplexed by the sudden and random request, Komoe wasn't sure where to start.
"Nun-chan?! What are you doing here? Why did you come all the way to school to learn about electromagnetic waves? Why do you want to learn about that? W-While I'm overjoyed that you want to learn something, I'm getting the feeling that I won't be able to extend class time!"
"Index? What are you doing here? This is odd…?" Sora said, silently jumping with joy that the nun took the attention away from the lecture. His brain was thanking her profusely.
"Sora! You're also needed for this topic!"
"What?"
Before Touma or Sora could realize what was going on, Index ran up to them and pulled them out into the hall. She also grabbed Komoe's shirt and pulled her along so the four of them were in the hall. The students inside the class were beyond puzzled by what was going on.
"Kamijou-Chan! What's the meaning of this?! You're responsible for her! And while I am going to lecture you about this more, I am also very proud of you for getting her interested in such a topic! Also! Why did you bring along Sora? And why does it feel like I'm part of your team to go on a strange journey!?"
"None of those things matters! I just need help understanding this 'electromagnetic wave' thing! Something was causing the TV to go zap zap zap and make things explode in the microwave oven! It also was mentioned on the TV!"
"Um… I don't think that's supposed to happen with a TV" Sora mumbled.
"Wait…" Touma started to say. "You had me going for a second there, Index. I thought you were being strangely quiet for something related to magic, but I guess hearing about magic that ups the output of electromagnetic waves didn't register to you. Once again, another scientific topic rattling your magic-focused brain."
Staring at Touma with saucer-like eyes, Sora wasn't sure if it was a good thing to talk about magic so openly. This assumption was based on his last conversation regarding the magic and science sides being vastly different and keeping magic a quiet topic.
"W-What? It feels like I've missed a week of lectures and don't know where to even begin understanding what's going on! And why do I get the feeling of contextual danger in your words!?" the short teacher exclaimed to the trio.
"Sensei! Please teach me! How do these waves make my sandwiches blow up!?"
Left confused by Index's words, Sora decided to sit back on this conversation and watch it proceed.
Meanwhile, Touma just watched as Komoe began explaining electromagnetic waves and how microwave ovens. Komoe was a true and honest caring person to explain this simple scientific topic to the nun.
Well, for a quick and basic introduction, electromagnetic waves are invisible waves. They have a set amplitude, so they can cause a stable vibration in very small objects. A microwave oven is a device that applies heat to food by vibrating the moisture in it at a high speed. This is why if you put a sandwich in the microwave for 30 seconds it'll be warmer than before."
"What?! Vibrating the water makes it hotter?! HOW!?"
Fascinated by the scientific knowledge being bestowed upon her, Index looked enthralled and amazed by it all. Quickly, she rushed to the nearest drinking fountain and twisted the faucet while swinging her hand through the water.
Unfortunately, she donned a pout on her face and stared right back at the teacher.
"It's not getting warm. It's cold."
Sending a perplexed glance at Sora, who had his hands resting behind his head, and then Touma, who looked deep in thought, Komoe wasn't sure how to react to the nun's action.
"Err… nun-chan? That's not exactly what I meant."
"I think you're missing part of the explanation, Index" Sora commented.
"Hmm. Komoe, I didn't think you'd mislead me about water getting hot. For being a teacher, you're quite stupid. I rushed all the way to Touma and Sora's school for help in understanding these waves and you didn't help me at all…" Index said while blankly staring at the small teacher.
"Eh!? K-Kamijou-chan! What's the meaning of this? Everything I described was correct. Do something about this improper explanation!"
"Huh? But that made sense! Even to me! Why are you asking the student for help?" Sora questioned, feeling confused about the events unfolding in front of him.
With the short teacher pleading to Kamijou for help in explaining this situation to Index, Touma felt inclined to stand aside and watch the conversation play out rather than sticking his nose in this matter.
However, one thought of his did manage to leak from his mind and mouth.
"Think of it like this, the zapping from the microwave is a type of lightning. But instead of shocking you, it burns you. It would be a big problem if everyone got burned… so, we're gonna stop them."
"Huh?" came Komoe's immediate reply.
"Oh! I see! I guess you would be burned if you got hit with lightning. With that cleared up, I can find plenty of similar descriptions in my 103, 000 grimoires! You surprise me sometimes, Touma!"
The Keyblade wielder couldn't help but stifle a chuckle at the nun's bluntness.
Overwhelmed with the strange conversation and topic happening before her, Komoe could only shake her head with a concerned expression plastered over her face.
"I…huh?! I get the feeling that you're moving the conversation along with fixing the problem, Kamijou-chan!"
"Don't worry. I'm also just as lost" Sora muttered. "But I think I understand what's happening."
Not really answering his teacher's question or comment, Touma continued to voice what thoughts were prevalent in his mind right now.
"Stiyl still hasn't called us. We're wasting time. I can't believe that I can't do anything. Even with the ability to destroy magic with my right hand. Ha…"
Seeing Touma's disdained face and the way his voice portrayed a frustrated tone, Index couldn't help but speak her mind on the entire matter.
"…Touma?"
"Yes?"
"Now that I think about it… is this Stiyl magician really the type of person to keep his word? Would he even call you if something came up with the cabal?"
Hearing this simple statement be replayed in his mind, Touma couldn't help but imagine a bell going off in his head. Index's statement rang so much truth that the black spiky-haired boy clenched his right fist rather tightly.
'…You've got to be kidding me!'
Consequently, while Sora had only had one real encounter with Stiyl, he could for sure also believe that he was the kind of guy to do things on his own. Or that he would not alert them to anything going on regarding the magic cabal. He didn't seem like a team player.
"Touma…"
"That ashtray bastard! How could I be so stupid!? Did he seriously have me waiting around for his call in order to keep me from doing anything!?"
Komoe couldn't help but just watch her student come to a groundbreaking revelation while still standing in the middle of the hall. It also appeared that Sora had the same reaction but was more reserved about it.
"Hmm. He did say your right hand and presence do get in the way."
Annoyance was the first emotion to bubble in Kamijou's mind.
"He went out on his own and we don't even know how many enemies we're dealing with! This is no time to be worrying about trivial matters! Index, help me out here. We need to find out where that red-headed bastard is!"
A look of bewilderment was now placed on Index's face before she had a more irritated look.
"Touma, I don't think you have any right to complain about someone being reckless."
"Sounds like we're on another goose chase" Sora casually commented, seeing where things might be going.
In an attempt to calm things down, Komoe waved her hands rapidly in front of her body to get the two boys' and nun's attention. The situation was developing too fast for her.
"Err… um… Kamijou-chan? Sora-chan? Nun-chan? I must remind you that such serious problems should be taken up with adults. Everything you've been talking about sounds very dangerous, and I don't even understand half of it. Maybe if you slow down and help me understand- HEY! How can you start leaving school right in front of your teacher!? Wait!"
Breaking into a sprint, Touma and Index beelined their way out of the school with Sora following behind them.
"Sorry, Komoe! Something's come up! See you!"
"WAIT!"
The pink-haired teacher could only watch as the three individuals got further away from her and basically left the school right in front of her.
Outside the school
Rushing out the main doors and into the front of the school and down to the street, Touma hastily turned to Index for help on what they should do next.
"Argh, we don't even know where to go!? Index, can you use your magical knowledge and pinpoint where the cabal or Stiyl could be?"
"Hmm… The fastest way to find either of them would be to investigate the magic circles making up Agni's Festival Fire. If we find either one of them, then the other is bound to be close" Index reasoned.
"Yeah, but those circles are being placed on turbines across the city. How are we supposed to figure out which one Stiyl or the cabal will be at?"
"I could make a quick call. Get eyes on areas across the city" Sora offered. "We could learn what's happening across the different turbines."
"That could work. However, even with all those circles being made, the number of magic users is limited" Index suddenly. proposed
"Wait. Really?" the spiky-haired brunette muttered.
"Mm. There's sure to be a center controlling all the other circles that function as terminals. Anyone who wants to control Agni's Festival Fire will head to the center" the nun continued to say.
"Ah. So, it's something like a host server?"
"A host?" Index asked with a great deal of confusion on her face.
The information being presented offered Touma and better understanding of what was happening. However, if all the circles set up around the city were controlled by a single point, then every single terminal needed to be connected to that center point. Finding the center's location could be done by investigating the terminal.
"Hold on. This isn't like the internet. How does the center send commands to the terminals?"
"…Hm. Let me investigate the spiritual item in question."
Watching as Index started directly at the base of one of the wind turbine's pillars, Sora easily guessed that she was using the knowledge bestowed on her.
On the base of the turbine, a magic circle was supposedly drawn there using the fading effect of an ultraviolet light. Something that Touma and Sora couldn't see the difference in, but that was something she noticed.
"Stiyl said that we're dealing with a Hindu cabal, and it appears this is related to Shiva at the root."
"Shiva?" Sora questioned.
"Huh?" Touma muttered.
Seeing the two boys confused, Index explained, "Shiva is said to be the god of dance that creates everything that flows through the universe. It is said his great power disturbing the great universe is what causes the stars to move."
Crossing his arms, Sora couldn't help but let that information rest in his head. It was certainly interesting. Especially the part about mentioning "the universe" along with Shiva's power disturbing the universe is what moves the stars.
Information such as this caused the Keyblade wielder to suddenly start considering the deeper root of his situation. He knew that he was in a whole new world that he'd never been to before. However, the likelihood that he might be in a whole other universe was something he was starting to sort in his head. He still wasn't completely aware of everything that entailed the Power of Waking, but what he did know was that misusing it caused him to vanish from his world… and quite likely his universe…
However, this was a topic he'd need to sit down and contemplate for quite a while. Now was not the time to be dealing with such trivial and complex issues. He had more concerning things to worry about.
"So does Agni's Festival Fire use some kind of light or power related to the universe as a communications signal?" Touma questioned while trying to make sense of this information. "Or is it related to the moon and sun? Maybe it uses solar winds or gravity? *sigh* Why do I feel like the scale of this situation just inflated?"
"No, Shiva is a god that rules over everything that flows, whether it's small or large. He is related even to everything nearby such as smoke and water."
"That… really makes things more complicated," Sora said, feeling the weight of this entire problem growing exponentially.
"The things that flow nearby…?"
Processing this, Touma had a sudden thought come to him. Something wasn't adding up. The magic cabal was drawing their magic circles on wind turbines… wind turbines.
"Does it use the flow of wind!?" Kamijou eagerly asked.
"Yes! The movements of all the turbines lined up along here are somewhat different. And Shiva has a strong connection to Rudra, a god of roaring wind. The center and the terminals all likely use the flow of the wind to communicate" Index quickly explained.
"Then that's it! Index, can you determine the location of the center from the movements of the turbines?"
"Yep! Leave it to me!"
"Let's- "Sora started to say but was abruptly interrupted by the sound of something familiar.
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
"Huh? Who's calling now?" the Keyblade wielder asked while reaching for his Gummiphone.
Touma and Index simply watched from the side as they saw him answer his phone.
"Hello?"
"Sora! Heartless have been sighted in District 7, kupo!" Moogla immediately said. "A group of Heartless was just reported by Anti-Skill, kupo."
The expression on the Guardian of Light's face had shifted to a more determined one. This was seen by the two standing next to him.
"Keep me posted. I'll be right there."
With a quick tap, the Gummiphone was pocketed while Sora had a combat-ready expression on his face.
"Heartless have just been reported in District 7."
"Are you serious!? Now!?" Touma exclaimed. "We're so close to finding this cabal."
"How many were reported?" Index asked, trying to get a better picture of the situation.
"I'm not sure. I was just told that the Heartless were seen and reported to Anti-Skill."
"…That's just great."
Seeing the situation get flipped on its head, Sora knew what he had to do. It was quite obvious. The Heartless were his problem. There was no way he'd just let them wander around the city and cause trouble.
"…Touma. Index. You guys go on ahead. I'll stop the Heartless while you guys stop the magic cabal."
"Huh? Are- "
"I'm sure. Besides, you guys are more familiar with magical problems of this nature. My expertise is with the Heartless. We can't have both the cabal and Heartless causing mayhem in the city."
"No… no we cannot."
The line was drawn. Now, it was up to them to keep things from getting any worse.
"Keep me updated on what happens with the cabal. Once I deal with the Heartless, I'll catch up with you guys" Sora reasoned. "And see if you can find Stiyl. Wherever he is."
"That seems like our best bet" Touma hesitantly said before nodding his head. "All right. Take care and see you soon."
"Yeah! See you soon."
"We'll let you know what happens!" Index chimed in.
Not needing to say anything else, Sora took off to the left while Touma and Index took off to the right. One heading off to fight back against the Heartless, and the other following the trial to find the center point for Agni's Festival Fire.
The situation was a developing one.
But…
It was one that the Keyblade wielder was undoubtedly unprepared for.
Elsewhere…
Standing in front of a large monitor while being surrounded by other scientists working around him, Rufus Shinra was watching live alerts be notified to the screen before him. Things were escalating by the minute.
However, before anything else could happen, a man in a professional uniform stood behind the current president and garnered his attention.
"Sir. I take it you've seen the reports coming in?"
Turning around to greet the voice, Rufus nodded his head with a pleased expression.
"Tseng. I have. I also take it that your task is complete?"
"Indeed. We managed to retrieve the artifact you asked us to fetch."
"Good. Make sure it gets down to R&D. We need to have work get started on our project."
The man now known as Tseng had the appearance of a 30-year-old man with a slim build, tan skin, straight long black hair, dark brown eyes, and a bindi accessory on his forehead. The man's professional attire would leave some to think of him as a businessman. However, that couldn't be farther from the truth.
"No need to worry, sir. It's already been delivered" Tseng said while pulling his phone out and sending a text to someone.
As this was happening, Rufus glanced back at the monitor and continued to observe it closely. More reports were coming in from his sources currently in District 7 and were addressing the issue that the strange dark creatures were appearing.
Putting his phone away, Tseng then turned his attention over to Rufus who seemed to be transfixed on the screen and watching it with a tempered expression.
"…How well did negotiations go with the Board Chairman?"
A soft sigh escaped the president's mouth before he walked back to his desk which had a clear view of the city.
"As well as we expected. Shinra does not have clearance to act upon Academy City. The Board Chairman did offer his thanks to the company for its work and cooperation over the years. Even gave me a bit of insight into my father's actions."
"A successful task then?" Tseng asked, carefully observing the blonde-haired man's reaction.
Leaning back in his seat, Rufus had a smug smirk on his face.
"Precisely. I was expecting a harsher response from Aleister, but things turned out to be much more in our favor. With the proposal's rejection, this has given us the chance to move about and proceed with our goals."
Sporting a straight face, the black-haired man couldn't help but ponder something crucial in this entire matter.
"Sir, if I may, permission to speak freely…"
"Permission granted."
"…Wouldn't having the Board Chairman's eye be placed on Shinra's actions be… contrary to what we are trying to achieve?" Tseng freely asked knowing he had permission granted to him to speak. "Whether he knew what Shinra's plans were before… he's bound to know soon."
Resting his hand against his cheek while leaning in his seat, Rufus donned a serious look.
"It's not a question of when Aleister knew of Shinra's plans. I can say undoubtedly, he's known since the start. Even before my father's passing, he probably already had an idea of what was going on in the depths of the company. It would be ridiculous to think that anyone could keep a secret from that man much less in his own city."
"In that case, do you suppose he will act against the company?" Tseng asked.
"If Aleister had any real concern with Shinra, then he'd have taken out the company from the inside and then the outside all at the same time. He would have knocked the company and my father down years ago. He could do so much more without even lifting a finger. No… I believe I've gotten a slight read on that man…"
Intrigued by this statement, Tseng listened closely while making sure to cancel out the noise surrounding them from the other scientists working.
"Aleister wants Shinra to conduct its… projects. He views the company as nothing more than a bug on the wall. Not necessarily viewing the company as a problem unless it directly affects his plans" Rufus explained. "After all, the only concerns that have been made obvious to him are my interest in Shinra's expansion, the situation regarding these strange creatures, and… the boy with the key."
"…Do you expect a direct retaliatory attack from him if the company does intrude on his plans?"
"That… I'm not sure. He could easily get a dark side organization to strike against Shinra, or even call upon his favorite Level 5. Or he could even act on his own. He has his ways. No one truly understands Aleister Crowley except himself. Moreover, I'm willing to bet that he's interested in seeing our goals achieved."
At that moment, a joyous cheer started echoing in the room as several scientists began to act excitedly. The sudden change in tone caught the attention of both Tseng and Rufus as one of the scientists rushed up to them.
"Sir! You need to come see this. We managed to make a stable connection!"
Sitting up in his seat, Rufus hastily followed the scientist with Tseng following right behind him. The two were then led into another part of the room which showcased a dozen monitors all showing statistics, graphs, and programs centered around one display in the center.
"We managed to stabilize the synthesis of materials already shown to react to our experiments. Thanks to the artifact delivered, we were able to add a new element to the project which prompted- "
"In simpler terms if you will" Rufus stated.
"It works, sir! The connection works! The weapon successfully gave a positive reaction!"
Hearing nothing but good news, the current Shinra president nodded his head with a pleased smile.
"I expected nothing less. Take five everyone. You've earned it. I expect grand progress soon."
"Yes sir!"
Given the moment to celebrate, most of the scientists made their way out of the room while others kept on working. Seeing this reaction, Tseng then took a glance at the main monitor.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
"I have my assumptions, but… sir, what exactly am I looking at? I've heard mention of what it is, but don't have a clear answer as to what it is. Mind clarifying."
An impressionable smirk appeared on Rufus's face while he pointed up to the monitor.
"This… is Shinra's ticket to gaining a better tomorrow. As you're aware, the weapon project Shinra is currently working on behind the scenes is centered around this…"
As he said this, Rufus pointed to the monitor which showcased a strange and unusual schematic with basic blueprints scattered all over the project. The main schematic showcased what appeared to be a large humanoid model with bolstered shoulders and feet that were wide and heavily armored. Along its arms were metal designs followed by long claws in place of its fingers. And above all, the head of the humanoid project sparked a sense of intimidation.
The title given to this project was labeled: Ruby Weapon.
"As soon as R&D continues to receive positive tests with the experimentation around the magical artifact, progress will begin on the other sub-projects" Rufus then took another glance at the weapon project before confidently smiling. "This will be quite the task in creating a Magitek Weapon."
Rufus Shinra, the current President of the Shinra Electric Company, knew very well the existence of magic in this world. How couldn't he? With an upbringing of wealth and power, it was only a matter of time before his interests expanded beyond Academy City and into the world. An insight that he used to propel his company where others in the city dare not proceed or even consider. A combination of science and magic… such a recipe.
"I see… has progress already started then?" Tseng questioned, getting a better idea of everything being discussed.
"Not quite. Here soon, I'll be attending a meeting with representatives of MAR to see how Shinra can improve and extend its working hand relationship with the city in a more emergency-focused way."
Keeping a straight face, Tseng had grown curious about what was just mentioned.
"Academy City's active rescue organization… they're presence in the city has been quite high, due to what's been happening as of late."
"They're also quite adept at the construction and development of mechanical mobile suits. Striking an even stronger deal with them could be of great help to our project."
"Quite the task you have on your plate, sir" Tseng admitted to his boss.
"Yes, well, I've made sure to also strike a deal with a certain someone who holds a great deal of knowledge over the research sitting around MAR's entire organization. She has recently reached out to me out of curiosity… It seems a little bird told her about my meeting with the Board Chairman."
A look of intrigue leveled on Tseng's face.
"Who, if I may ask?"
"…A certain member of the Kihara family. One who was in control as both the captain and head researcher of MAR before being locked away. Granted, she's anything but locked up."
Realization crossed the man's face.
"Therestina Kihara."
A nod was given by Rufus before he continued.
"I'll be seeing her soon to discuss how the Kiharas and Shinra can come to a sort of… agreement if you will. While they hold much power in the city, there are still fields of research they have not mastered."
"That's a very- "
Suddenly, before Tseng could finish what he was going to say, another barrage of reports hit the screen in front of Rufus eliciting him to pay attention. More reports were coming in from Shinra's sources and detailing the appearance of more strange creatures. This caused Rufus to start making his way out of the room.
"Tseng. Prepare the Turks for a reconnaissance mission. I want eyes and ears on that boy. You know who I'm talking about."
Knowing exactly who he was talking about, Tseng only gave an understanding nod.
"I'll alert the team now."
"Good. Let's see how much more potential he has to show…"
Meanwhile… within the confines of an underground laboratory
Standing in front of a large glass window, Gensei Kihara stood with his hands behind his back and was smiling devilishly at the sight before him. On the other side of the glass window was a team of military personnel and scientists all experimenting on several captured Heartless. Taken from the last experiment he conducted, the hunched-over old man couldn't have been happier.
Well, that wasn't true.
"Quite the visceral way of performing an experiment," said a voice standing behind the old man.
"Mm. Yes. One would think so. However, you don't have any say, my friend, for you basically trump any sort of understanding of mine. Which, I daresay, makes you even more interesting. Wouldn't you agree, Darkness?" Gensei said to the mysterious figure.
Standing behind the older man, the dark figure better known as Darkness did not reply and simply stepped to the side of the Kihara and watched as the Heartless was being experimented on.
"Well, you wouldn't be the first in my recollection of memories to experiment on the Heartless. Besides, it's not like I'm impressionable on the matter. It is, after all, your concern."
"Oh? You make it as if you want nothing of the sort to do with me."
"Nonsense… I'm very eager to see what you do with the insight I've given you. You have already gotten to work on your experiments" As Darkness said this, the mysterious being started walking away from the Kihara. "Besides, you're not the only individual I've helped."
"Oh? Color me surprised. I would have never thought that you'd have favorites" Gensei replied, keeping a greedy expression wrapped around his wrinkled face. "You must be a charitable individual."
A low chuckle could be heard coming from the mystified being.
"I wouldn't phrase it like that, but… I do believe that sharing one's discovery and talent is something to admire in oneself. Plus, the individuals I've encountered are sure to put their newfound knowledge and skills to show. And there's certainly more people I have yet to meet" Darkness clarified in a rather suspicious tone.
Before Gensei could respond, shouts inside the room broke his train of thought as he watched the scientists fight back against the strained creature. Even though it was locked down and unable to attack, the dark creature was still in control over everyone in that room. The same goes for the other creatures locked down and monitored.
"…I don't believe you've had a proper introduction to them, haven't you?"
"No. I don't believe I have. Care to give me a proper introduction?" the Kihara said while holding a creepy smile on his face. The look of elation was purely evident.
"Hm. They are called Heartless. They come in many forms… many sizes… differing from one another. You're bound to see more variations in the days to come."
A look of genuine intrigue crossed the old man's face. Things were just becoming more interesting by the minute.
"Well, well. These past 24 hours have just become some of the best I've had in a long time. Haha! And I have to thank you for it. Not just for sprouting this newfound information on me, but for much, much more…"
As Gensei Kihara said this, from another's perspective it looked as if the old man had a strange aura around him. Almost as if… something was off about him.
"No need to thank me. I'm merely just spreading a bit of information to those I see potential. What they do with that potential is up to them. I only ask to see a good showing" Darkness said aloud. "Leave all doubt."
"Haha! Oh, I intend to. Your help will greatly support me in my goal!"
Sporting a maddening look on his face followed by the sheer excitement in his voice, Gensei nodded to himself almost as if he was pleased with something.
"Perfecting the chance of reaching limitless possibility… reaching Level 6! And you've helped me, my mysterious friend!"
"Glad I could be of help. Unfortunately, I can't stay and watch you get to work. I'm needed elsewhere" Darkness calmly replied.
A sense of mystery could be heard in the figure's statement.
"Is that so? Well then, I shall not keep you any longer. Until next time!"
"Likewise."
Suddenly, a dark portal appeared right behind the strange formless figure, but not before Darkness glanced back at the old man. Perhaps… things could become even more interesting…
"One last piece of advice."
"Oh ho?! You're really spoiling me!"
"…There is one person you should be wary about. Someone that could put you and your goals to rest."
Unaware of what the dark figure was talking about, Gensei merely listened. This bit of information was very important. Undoubtedly, the most important information to settle on.
"The boy with the key… you've seen him on the news lately. His name is Sora… Be prepared…"
And with that, Darkness stepped through the portal and disappeared leaving the Kihara member to ponder about what he had just heard.
"…Sora…"
More eyes than ever were now on the Keyblade wielder.
*Special Author's Note*
I've also come up with another Omake this time around that'll be quite the chase lol. Feedback on the last chapter seemed to like this, so I figured why not continue it? This time, it'll also include a Final Fantasy character causing quite the ruckus with Sora being involved along with others. Hope you'll enjoy it and take care!
Omake – Alpha's Guardian of Light Caught in a Stitch I
"Are you sure this is going to work?"
"Of course, it is, kupo! We just have to make sure the process doesn't get interrupted, kupo."
"Okay… that part makes sense. However, the part I'm more worried about… is who you're summoning!?"
The situation currently at hand could be described as strange as Sora and Moogla were currently sitting in the moogle's workshop and discussing a topic that sprouted from a single question.
"Moogla, I've never questioned your ideas in the time that I've met you, but…" Sora couldn't help but fold his arms across his chest and sigh. "I've got a bad feeling about this."
"How so, kupo!? You've managed to do this before and even used their aid to fight, kupo" Moogla argued.
"It's different!"
"How, kupo?"
The issue that was being talked about revolved around allowing Moogla the chance to use Sora's Heartbinder to summon someone that she had encountered in her travels before. This entire subject stemmed from Sora recalling his Heartbinder and how he was able to call upon friends from other worlds to help him. In addition, the inclusion of Leon was the lynchpin for pushing the moogle's interest up a notch. The Heartbinder was truly a unique item.
"I've never really seen anyone else use a Heartbinder before let alone mine. And on top of that, being able to summon Leon which I've never been able to do… this Heartbinder is something special…" Sora clarified while examining the powerful object. "Which is why I'm not sure about this idea."
"Sora, you worry too much, kupo. We're only going to be doing a little test on your Heartbinder, kupo" Moogla said before floating to the center of the room. "Besides, don't you want to learn more about this new version of your magical device, kupo?"
Seeing that the moogle showed no signs of giving up on her idea, the Keyblade wielder simply let out a frustrated sigh. This entire ordeal was something he'd never had to deal with. Guess there was a first for everything.
"All right. Fine. Let's just see if this works."
"Great!"
And so, Moogla gently held onto the Heartbinder with both of her small hands and waited to see if anything would happen. Both she and Sora watched with close eyes.
"…Huh…"
"One way the Heartbinder works for me is if I think about someone and the bond our hearts have. Even if it's a new bond, that still matters a great deal. Try using that to your advantage. You said you wanted to summon a friend of yours" Sora explained.
Taking what he said and projecting it on her own life, Moogla began gathering her thoughts on the first connection that came to her mind. A certain small individual was the first one she thought of.
"Okay… I think I've got it, kupo."
"Great! Let's see who shows up" Sora enthusiastically said.
Floating in the middle of the workshop floor, Moogla then began to hold onto the Heartbinder and held it tightly with both of her small hands. The suspense of waiting for something to happen went on for a good whole minute. Alas, nothing happened leaving Sora and Moogla to simply stare at one another.
"Uh… is something wrong?"
"I-I don't know… nothing seems to be happening, kupo."
Curious about what was happening, Sora walked over to Moogla so that he was right next to her.
"Hmm. You said you have someone in mind… do they happen to be… big? Or small?" the Keyblade wielder questioned, trying to wrap his head around this strange occurrence. "Would it be hard or easy to find them?"
"No, no. The individual I'm thinking about isn't that big but also not that small, kupo" Moogla replied while examining the Heartbinder. "They're a bit small but hard to miss given their unique appearance. I met them some time ago and we managed to hit things off. They are also not a regular person and more on the side of being an animal."
"I see… then maybe the connection is taking longer than usual? When I used the Heartbinder the last time, Leon appeared but it wasn't really him. It was more of a memory-given form but very realistic. But… this could be all thanks to being in this world. I never really gave it much thought before on summoning my friends to help me in battle. It's still a confusing topic, but I know that by relying on the bond you share with them you'll be able to call upon them" the brunette explained to the listening moogle.
With a quick pat on the back of his head, Sora continued, "I still have a lot to learn. I hope this didn't sound as confusing as I think I made it. Eh…"
Shaking her head adamantly, Moogla gave her own two cents on the matter, "I don't think you made it confusing at all, kupo! It's more of an understanding if anything… everyone is different and has bonds that we cherish differently, kupo."
Another glance was given to the Heartbinder in her small hands.
"I think I know what to do now, kupo."
Raising the Heartbinder close to her chest, Moogla closed her eyes and began thinking about the special someone she would've liked to see again. Her counter with them was surely one for the books.
After a good moment, nothing seemed to happen…
However, what both Sora and Moogla didn't realize is that behind the Keyblade wielder a crystalized light appeared out of nowhere but quickly faded away before anyone could blink. On the workshop floor now stood a certain individual who happened to be the friend Moogla was hoping to see.
Alas, neither the Keyblade wielder nor moogle paid any attention and didn't realize this.
Moogla's friend's appearance could be summed up to be that of a short yellow bird with a large orange beak a proportionally larger head and blue eyes. The yellow bird also had two feet which were typical for a bird and a body with yellow feathers and skin. Moreover, a unique aspect about this bird was the black, white, and blue jacket wrapped around his body along with the pair of goggles resting on his head. And above all, the bird had a bright and excited expression written on its face.
"Huh… nothing is happening, kupo" commented Moogla, feeling a bit down.
"Maybe… the Heartbinder is a Keyblade wielder thing?" Sora suggested. "Again, I've never really had anyone try to use it aside from me."
"… maybe, kupo."
Seeing how down Moogla was feeling, Sora walked up to her and patted her on her head.
"Hey, we'll figure this out. Mind if I see the Heartbinder?"
"Mm. Here you go, kupo."
"Thanks."
Grasping the object, Sora let his thoughts wander about until a certain someone popped into his mind on first thought. This someone had helped him in his adventures along with being part of another Heartbinder originally. Now, the question of whether he would appear was residing inside the boy's thoughts.
"All right. Let's try this out! Stitch!"
Within the blink of an eye, a bright flash of light and stars appeared right in front of Sora and Moogla causing them to shield their eyes. Once the light dimmed down, they easily spotted a peculiar sight before them. A small creature with blue fur with darker patches on the back of his head and on his back as well. A domed nose rests in the center of his face, between large black, tear-shaped eyes. Sharp teeth resided in the creature's mouth along with a long pink tongue. Claws on his hands and stubby legs that have shorter claws and a small tail on his rear. The one significant feature of the creature was that its entire body was glowing in a bright purple color.
"Sora!"
The creature better known as Stitch immediately started crawling up the Keyblade wielder's leg and then his arm until he was now sitting on the boy's shoulder. Sora instantly started patting his head.
"Hey! Long time no see! You're looking good!"
"Fren. Sora!" Stitch said aloud before licking him across his face.
"Gah! Ahaha! Yeah, thanks for that."
Watching the two friends interact, Moogla caught the attention of Stitch who simply pointed at her.
"Achi-baba?" Stitch said while pointing his finger over at the floating moogle.
"Huh? What does that mean?" Sora asked.
"Achi-baba?"
"Hmm. Sora, this might be a guess but is your friend calling me a toy, kupo?" Moogla questioned.
"Naga! Achi-baba?" Stitch replied.
"Uh… I don't think so. I think he means something else."
Left with the two staring at him, Stitch could only tilt his head and take on a thinking pose before having an idea come to him. This was evident based on how his face lightened up.
"Eh. Sora. Fren" Stitch said while pointing at the boy. He then pointed over at Moogla. "Fren?"
"Ooh! He's asking if you're a friend" Sora clarified.
"That makes sense, kupo. Well, yes, I am a friend, kupo."
Confused by that term, Stitch repeated what Moogla had said.
"Kupo?"
"Yes, kupo."
"Kupo?"
"Kupo."
"…Kupo?"
"Err… Stitch, that's what she says" Sora explained to the blue creature.
"Ah! Fren!"
"Yep, my name is Moogla, kupo."
"Moogla… fren… kupo?"
A chuckle escaped the Keyblade wielder's lips.
"We'll have to work on it. Haha."
Before either of the two could say anything, Stitch then turned himself around while still being on Sora's shoulder and pointed down at the ground behind him.
"Fren?"
"Huh? Friend? It's only the two of… us… Moogla."
"There shouldn't be… wait…. Huh?!"
Standing there with a happy smile on its face was the yellow bird just casually listening and watching the conversation play out without having made a peep of noise this entire time.
"When did… how did… who…?" Sora was fumbling to say something.
"That's him, kupo! That's who I was trying to call out to… "Moogla then floated down to meet the yellow bird. "It's really you Alpha!"
The yellow bird now known as Alpha raised his head happily before letting out an energetic sound.
"Kweh!"
"I didn't even see him! Where did he come from?!"
Hearing the boy's question, Alpha raised his arm and pointed with his feathers at the Heartbinder which was still in Sora's hand. This elicited him to look down at the object and smirk.
I guess it can work with others. It's not just a Keyblade wielder ability.
"We still aren't sure about that, kupo. It could be very well that the Heartbinder works for anyone but can't exactly use the same properties compared to you, kupo."
Processing what she said, Sora began to consider a few things while glancing between Stitch and Alpha who seemed to take an interest in one another.
The blue alien then crawled down Sora's body until he was at eye level with Alpha who curiously looked back at him.
"Fren?"
"Kweh?"
They seemed to understand one another before Stitch let out a hearty laugh and showed excitement on his face.
"Fren! Alpha!"
"Kweh! Kweh!"
"Huh. Those two seem to have hit it off fast" Sora idly commented. "I guess we can call this test a success then?"
Twirling around in the air, Moogla nodded her head.
"Yep! It's a full proof of success, kupo!"
Excited about the possibilities that could come from the Heartbinder while also realizing that the energy needed to summon Stitch wasn't as bad as calling upon Leon, Sora pondered something while observing Alpha and Stitch interreacting.
"Say, Moogla, what is Alpha? I've never seen anything like him before."
"Really? You haven't, kupo?"
A shake of his head was the reply he gave.
"Huh. I would have thought given you travel across worlds that you would have seen a creature like Alpha."
Giving this topic another thought, Sora was immediately hit with a wave of memories flooding his mind. A certain memory of visiting the secret place on Destiny Island came to mind. He recalled seeing it the last time he visited that place which feels like a lifetime ago. He also wasn't sure who drew the bird in the first place. Another vivid memory he also recalled was receiving a keychain back in Olympus Coliseum after he beat Cloud in the Hades Cup. The keychain featured a small yellow bird as the charm.
"Actually, I take that back. I think I've seen glimpses of birds like Alpha, but I've never encountered one like him before in person" he clarified while sorting his memories out.
"That's really strange, kupo. However, Alpha is a bit of a special case. He's not like other chocobos, kupo."
"Chocobos…" Sora muttered.
"His situation is a bit… complicated to say the least, kupo."
Realizing that there was a bit of baggage to the topic, Sora decided to ease things up.
"Hey, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you managed to summon him here and it looks like Stitch and him are getting along well."
As he said this, the two glanced down at Stitch teaching Alpha a hand trick while accommodating for the small bird's feathers.
"Besides, it's not like he's causing any trouble. I'd like to get to know Alpha a bit as well."
"I'm sure Alpha would love… that… Sora…"
Confused by her sudden change in tone, he replied.
"Yeah?"
"Where's Alpha and Stitch, kupo?"
"Huh? They're right behind- "
Turning around, Sora saw that neither of the two were behind him.
"…Oh no."
Hearing a door slam shut, Sora bolted upstairs while Moogla floated over to her computer to activate a cleaning robot to operate outside of the workshop.
Rushing upstairs, Sora could barely see the back side of Stitch riding on top of Alpha while the two scurried away leaving them in the dust.
"Moogla! They left!"
"I'll only slow you down, kupo! Go after them, kupo!"
Not about to waste any more time, Sora dashed out of the workshop while slamming the door and trying to catch up to the tag team leaving the premises. He could see in the distance how fast Alpha was while Stitch seemed to be steering him in the right way.
This led Sora to sprint and try to keep up with them all while making for a comedic scene. The boy looked like he was chasing after his pet dog all while onlookers watched him with amusement.
"Wait! Alpha! Stitch! You're going to get lost!"
The chase for the chocobo and alien had just begun.
Meanwhile, inside Joseph's Coffee and Restaurant
"Oooh! I'll take the chocolate cheesecake please!"
"I'll also have the same as her!"
"Okay. And for you miss?"
Grasping onto the menu for dear life, Mikoto Misaka was doing her best to pick what kind of dessert she wanted. While there were many viable and delicious options, she decided to play it safe.
"Hmm… Er… No… Yes… I… Uh…"
"Misaka? Having trouble there?" came the reply of Saten as she watched the Level 5 struggle with such a decision.
"Give her a minute, Saten. You didn't spend any time thinking" said Uiharu as she aided her friend.
"That's because what you ordered sounded really good!"
"Err…. Um…" Misaka was still fighting to make an order.
Seeing the young girl stuck at a crossroads, the waitress decided to speed things along.
"May I make a recommendation?"
"Uh… S-Sure…" Misaka weakly said, blushing at her inability to order.
"I'd recommend the Gekota Ice Cream Sundae. It's fairly new to the menu and- "
"I'LL TAKE A DOZEN!"
"I think what she means is that she'll have one" Saten clarified.
"Great! I'll have those orders ready in a minute" said the waitress before walking away.
"Thank you!"
A starved and animalistic look appeared on the Railgun's face as she was now even more eager to try out her dessert. How had she never heard about this dessert before?
"Earth to Misaka. Hello?"
"H-Huh?! What?"
"There she is. We lost you for a second" Saten cheekily replied.
A blush had begun to spread on Misaka's face at her Gekota fever antics.
"I-I'm sorry. You know how I get."
"That does make me wonder. I'm surprised you weren't aware of the Gekota special dish?" Uiharu asked.
"That's what I'm saying! Oh, man! I can't wait to see what it looks like!"
Seeing the happiness written all over Misaka's face, Saten had a smug look on her face.
"If Shirai knew about your reaction, I'm sure she'd be foaming at the mouth."
"Too bad she was called in on some Judgment business."
"Speaking of, why aren't you with her?"
A dumbfounded look appeared on Uiharu's face as she adjusted her flower band.
"I told you already. It was only for active members who were on the field. I'm not combat fit!"
A sly smug appeared on the long black-haired girl's face.
"I bet you can fight anyone, Uiharu" Saten replied. "Here! I'll pick someone and we'll discuss if you can beat them in a fight. Sound fair?"
"Are you really going to do this? Misaka, please calm her down and- "
"Oh! What about her, Saten?" Misaka said, pointing at an older girl. "If a situation came up and neither Saten nor I were here, would you be able to calm her down? Maybe even fight her?"
"Not you too!"
Examining the girl Misaka was referring to, Saten shook her head.
"Eh? I don't think Uiharu has that much of a reach" she bluntly said.
"You don't know that!"
"Mm. Fine. How about… HUH?!" Saten drastically said.
"What? What's- eh?!"
Startled by why they were reacting, Uiharu turned to the window next to them and saw a strange-looking creature licking the window next to them. The creature had blue skin and was licking a poster that had a cake being advertised. This left the girls utterly confused.
"What is that?!"
"I… I don't know!?"
"Misaka! Go check it out!"
"Why me!?"
"You're the strongest one here! You go check it out!" Saten shouted while pointing to the creature.
"I'm not going to- "
Before she could finish speaking, another strange creature appeared to be speaking near the blue one. Peering out the window, the girls now spotted a yellow bird with a blue and black jacket calling out to the strange-looking creature.
"Kweh!"
"Gaba ika tasoopa," said the blue creature.
"Kweh? Kweh!"
The three girls kept watching the two strange creatures talking to each other seemingly understanding what the other one was saying.
"T-They're speaking!? What are they saying?" Saten asked, watching the two closely.
"I don't know!" Misaka exclaimed. "I've never seen animals like them before."
"Are they someone's pets?" Uiharu asked.
Getting a good look at the two animals, the girls didn't realize how fast the blue one was because before they knew it, he crawled right up to their window and stared at them.
"Eeek!"
"Misaka! Do something!"
The blue creature's only response to seeing the girls stare at him was to wave his left hand up and start waving at them.
"Hi!" the blue animal said casually.
"…"
"…"
"…"
None of the girls knew how to react.
"Kweh!"
The three girls' attention was now on the yellow bird.
"Kweh! Kweh. Kweh!" the yellow bird said while bowing its head.
Only one thought occurred in the girls' minds as they watched the yellow bird speak to them.
'Cute!'
'Cute!'
'Cute!'
The entire situation was a wild one. From the strange blue creature that was licking the window to the more refined and polite yellow one. Things were becoming strange.
However, before anything else strange could happen, a familiar boy with spiky brown hair appeared while looking tired from running.
"There you two are! I-I thought I lost you on that corner!"
"Sora!?"
Hearing his name called, the boy looked up and could see Misaka, Saten, and Uiharu all standing there and looking at him through the window.
"Huh? Misaka? Uiharu? Saten? Uh… this is strange? Haha."
"What are you doing here? Are these your pets?" Misaka asked through the glass getting the attention of other restaurant attendants.
"Er… kind of. They're friends of mine."
"You're friends with these guys?" Saten said, referring to the blue and yellow animals. "That's… strange."
"I didn't know you had pets?" Uiharu muttered.
"I don't. They're… just visiting! Yeah! Visiting the city."
"Pets can visit the city?" Misaka questioned.
"I… I mean, well, no. It's… "Sora was fumbling his explanation for Alpha and Stitch's strange appearance.
"Kweh?" Alpha asked.
"Huaa awazi," Stitch said.
Glancing at the two, Sora mentally face-palmed himself as he remembered something from earlier. Another encounter with a creature that he befriended and used the Heartbinder to bring to Academy City as well.
"They're like the Dream eaters!" Sora clarified while patting himself on the back for thinking about them. With so much happening, it was easy to forget some things.
"I can use my ability to summon them. That's why Stitch is glowing."
"Stitch?"
"That's his name."
Having eyes on him, Stitch simply waved at the girls again.
"Hi!"
"Hello!" Saten enthusiastically replied.
"Hi there!" Uiharu greeted.
"H-Hey" Misaka responded.
"And this guy is Alpha. He's also a friend that I'm working on summoning and whatnot."
"Kweh!" Alpha greeted happily.
Watching as the yellow bird moved about happily, the girls had another thought be shared unconsciously.
'You have a strange power, Sora.'
Alas, before any of the girls could say something, Stitch started waving both his hands at Sora before jumping away from the window and pointing to the city.
"Goobaja! Goobaja!"
"Huh? Stitch? What are you- "
"Kweh! Kweh!"
Before he knew it, Sora watched as Stitch jumped onto Alpha and the two hightailed it out of the area leaving Sora and the girls to watch in bewilderment.
"Oh, c'mon! You have to be kidding me!"
"That did not just happen. Haha!" Saten muttered.
"*sigh* Great. Looks like I have to go. I'll see you guys later!" Sora quickly replied before running off.
"Bye!"
"See you!"
"That was… weird," Misaka said, sitting back down.
"Eh. Was it really? If anything, that seemed totally normal" Saten fired back.
"Honestly, I have to agree with Saten. Strange things have been happening in Academy City for a while. It was nice to see something somewhat normal happen for once" Uiharu explained.
"Yeah… you raise a great point."
It was right then that Misaka could see the waitress coming back with their desserts and could feel herself drooling over getting a quick glimpse of the Gekota-themed dish. It was an ice cream bowl with vanilla ice cream and a green decorated Gekota cookie on top.
The Level 5 was now on Cloud Nine.
The other two were excited to try their dishes out.
The blue alien and yellow bird continued their adventurous spree of exploring Academy City.
And the Keyblade wielder was left chasing after them.
What a way to start a new reckless adventure.
*Special A/N* - Thanks again for checking this story and Omake out. Until next time. Take care!
Notes:
*A/N* - Whelp. Sora's screwed lol.
*Hey there, thanks for reaching the bottom of the chapter. Quite a few things are starting to happen and evolve. Both on the Science and Magic side of things in the world. Sora's in for quite the laundry list of problems to deal with. In short, thanks for checking this story out and for giving it the time of day. I know that the update frequency on this story is… jumpy… to say the least. The time from this chapter to the last is entirely my fault (the same goes for my other stories) and I'm sorry about that. I'm a slow cook. Either way, thanks again for checking this story out and let's get to the niftier details of what the heck happened.
*The inclusion of other series characters and whatnot also comes from the idea of Kingdom Hearts using characters in a new light. I wanted to start doing that and showcase a few Final Fantasy characters in the story. Obviously, there are a ton of characters already involved in the story, so some might not be around as much, and vice versa. Furthermore, I'd like to include other easter eggs and the involvement of other series/characters but also make it seem natural to the story. Fanfiction shall give me the sense of making no sense lol. (My story doesn't make sense in the first place.)
*Final Fantasy – Yes, I did include quite a bit of Final Fantasy stuff in this chapter and story. The decision to do so comes from a close inspection of what's going to transpire with Sora in later chapters. With Toaru having so much happening all at the same time within the Index, Railgun, Accelerator, and other stories, I wanted to start laying down the foundation for parts that will include Sora as well as the other characters. Shinra was one of those elements that just screamed perfect for this story. Granted, for those familiar with FF7 you'll know Shinra utilizes technology a great deal. Obviously, with Remake & Rebirth out, things get crazy. And given Academy City's focus I figured that things could only get crazier. Furthermore, I also intend to have Shinra implement and further introduce Magitek into the story to help build and lead to challenges for Sora to face. I hinted at a couple of challenges along with an obvious easter egg to come in time. Also, I thought it'd be fun to include Final Fantasy Type 0 characters in the story. They do have an alternate ending that features them as regular students. It just fits.
*Persona – For those who did or didn't catch the easter egg, there was a reference to the Kirijo group. I'll be looking more into including that group and affiliated characters in the story. As mentioned before, Kingdom Hearts versions of characters and stories don't exactly have to match. Leaving me with some fun to be had.
*Now, about where this lies in the Toaru timeline of things. This chapter takes place at the tail end of Road of Misfortune Chapter 1 and covers the events of September 10th and 11th. A good chunk of the chapter follows the light novel with Sora's inclusion. I didn't want to do a one-for-one progression of the chapter, but I feel like I still did. Granted, there's a lot to cover in Toaru and I hope to mix things up a bit. Something to be aware of is that Sora won't be tagging along with Touma or Index the entire time. He will at times but expect him to be busy with other things as well.
*Item's inclusion in this chapter was another point that I wanted to include out of fun. There's not a lot of information on their daily activities like there is for Touma or Misaka. Hence, I'll be giving them more spotlight in the story while also making things quite interesting between Sora and Mugino. As mentioned before, her character arc won't be the exact same as the actual Toaru story. Things will change. Which is something I've aimed toward with the entire story. Sora's actions and presence cause both consequences and reactions. Positive and negative. This will undoubtedly make for many trials to overcome in the future.
*I'll stop the notes here as I could spend another ten pages discussing all that's happened in this chapter and what will happen later. I'd just like to say thanks for checking this story out and for the support it has gotten. Both good and bad reviews I take into consideration and enjoy reading them. Also, I'm not going to stop writing/updating the story. Even if things are slow like they have been, I'm still working on it. Granted, I wish I could write faster but… that's life. Either way, thanks again for checking this strange and fanfiction out.
*TLDR* - Sorry for the long wait. Easter eggs galore, other series and characters to be involved in a new telling, and Sora's in for a rough time. Thanks again for reading and until next time!
Chapter 18: Dark Dilemma
Summary:
With events happening developing on the spot, Sora will need to deal with one foe before getting to the bottom of what's happening. However, there's more at play involving Darkness. This results in various eyes all focused on the Keyblade wielder and what trouble he attracts. Along with a critical revelation about a certain place in this world. How will things play out?
Notes:
*Disclaimer* - I do not own the copyright to Kingdom Hearts, Toaru Majutsu no Index, or any other series/characters in this story.
*A/N* - Kept you waiting, huh? Hello again and thanks for checking this story out. Apologies for this being a late update. Life is unfair, and I had some other issues arise causing the delay in this chapter to grow from days to weeks to months. However, in return, I got even more inspiration for this story in many forms. And one of those forms is thanks to everyone who gives the story a chance and checks it out. Feedback has been a joy to read whether it's good or bad reviews on the story. I take it all at face value to improve the story. Now then, things are building up heavily in the story and things might not be progressing the way you originally thought. The way I laid out the story changed around this chapter's development, and I think it might be a curveball. Things will be different but the most important thing is that Sora is bound to experience some sort of misfortune. Thanks again and I hope you'll enjoy it!
*P.S*. - Kingdom Hearts 4 was not shown at the Game Awards. I truly don't know what happened to the game. Maybe the true Kingdom Hearts 4 was the friends we made along the way… lol. But we did get some interesting information directly from Nomura regarding the significance of crossroads throughout the Kingdom Hearts series which is extremely interesting. So, maybe we'll get something new? Also, ITEM light novel volume 4 is coming in March so that's going to be fun to read.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Rushing as fast as he could, Sora kept his eyes in front of him all while trying his best to not run into anyone down the street. Hence, he immediately had to sidestep a group of teens walking down the sidewalk.
"Hey!"
"Sorry!"
"What the heck!?"
"Watch where you're- "
Sora couldn't hear what else was said as he continued to move at an incredible speed. His focus was on reaching the designated area within District 7 as Moogla had reported to him. Anti-Skill was currently dealing with them, and he had a feeling that they'd need his help.
"Bwah! I need to go faster!"
Glancing ahead, Sora spotted a road that led onto another stretch of highway that also had railing along the side. This was exactly what he needed now to go faster.
"Ha!"
Leaping forward, the Keyblade wielder was now sliding along the rail while blue energy had coursed around his body. This was thanks to his Flowmoiton coming in clutch.
*WHOOSH*
At a constant rate, the spiky-haired brunette was speeding along the highway while sliding along the railing. People driving along the road were bewildered and shocked by the sight of the Keyblade wielder zooming past them. The sight of a teenage boy gliding along the railing with a strange glowing blue light around him all while getting further and further away from them was a sight to behold.
From Sora's perspective, his eyes and ears were moving back and forth to watch for anything that might lead him to where the Heartless activity was taking place.
Anything at this rate would be beneficial to him.
*BANG!*
*BOOM!*
*POP!*
The sound of gunfire drove him to turn his attention to the right, and he was lucky to do so as he spotted the tail end of an Anti-Skill vehicle making a turn to the left. That was his cue to move.
Jumping off the railing, the Keyblade wielder's body shot forward which allowed him to reach the side of a building. Immediately, Sora set forth to run across the building with his Flowmotion still allowing him to do such a thing. He continued to follow in the direction that the Anti-Skill vehicle went and was now staring at a developing situation for the worse.
Down on the ground were several Anti-Skill vehicles with their sirens blaring and flashing brightly while multiple groups of Anti-Skill members were all armed and firing against groups of Neo Shadows. And from the looks of things, it was not going well for them.
Propelling himself off the building, Sora shot forward and aimed his sights at the closest group of Heartless and Anti-Skill members and shouted with all his might.
"Get back!"
Confused by the sudden voice, a few of the Anti-Skill members instantly looked around before one glanced up in the air.
"What the- "
"Move!"
*WHOOSH!*
*BOOM!*
The Keyblade wielder had summoned his weapon and slammed himself right on top of the Heartless group causing a substantial shockwave and managing to kill the Heartless. Sora then started slashing away at a few of the Heartless before casting a Thunder spell and causing bursts of yellow lightning to scatter across the area.
A few of the Anti-Skill members were perplexed by the sudden action and were now even more on edge. One member in question began to display body language that meant he was about to aim his weapon at the spiky-haired boy, but he was immediately chastised by another member.
"The hell are you doing!? The higher-ups have him marked as a friendly!"
"T-That's him!? I… He's just a kid?"
"Yeah, well, that kid is making the entire force at the moment look like a joke" came the reply of another Anti-Skill member.
"No kidding. Yomikawa has put out special privileges on him. That's not like her to take favorites."
Another Anti-Skill member spoke up after hearing this.
"Considering what that kid has done… you'd be stupid to mess with him."
Hearing the talk about him, Sora looked over at the Anti-Skill members and shouted out at them.
"Hey! What's going on here!?"
One of the Anti-Skill members stepped forward. This member had a strange-looking sleeve on their shoulder which made it seem like they were different from the other members.
"Groups of Heartless appeared out of nowhere. Several citizens reported the incident, and a few nearby members were able to get the civilians to safety. However, two didn't make it."
Frowning at this news, Sora was about to say something but felt something off. Turning his head quickly, he spotted a Heartless making its way toward them. This forced him to twirl his blade and then perform an instant Strike Raid at the incoming Shadow Heartless that was trying to get the drop on them.
*WHOOSH*
*WHACK*
The Heartless was easily defeated while Sora simply extended his hand and summoned back the Keyblade. He then looked back at the Anti-Skill member without even batting an eye.
Amazement was the expression plastered over the officer's face as he was left bewildered by what he saw. Espers were truly something else.
"Did you guys manage to close the area off? Are there more Anti-Skill members coming?" Sora asked, shifting his focus to the special officer.
"Yes, more Anti-Skill forces are arriving on the scene around the surrounding blocks. Thankfully, the response team was fast and direct."
Nodding at this new bit of information, Sora then turned his attention to the Heartless and Anti-Skill officers engaged in combat. It easily reminded him of the battle that took place at Hollow Bastion with the Heartless invasion. Seeing all his friends engage in battle and doing their best to push back the advancing Heartless force. He couldn't help but smirk a bit at that excitement-filled memory.
"Got it. Leave this area to me. Make sure all the civilians are safe and sound."
Out of nowhere, one of the Anti-Skill members let her inner thoughts get the best of her and voiced what she was thinking after hearing the boy's claim.
"And what exactly can you do?"
Twirling his hand out and summoning the Shooting Star Keyblade in his hand, a burst of energy then exploded around Sora causing the officers to cover their eyes for a moment before staring in awe.
The boy's clothes had taken on a blue theme with what appeared to be stars aligned around his jacket. Even his boots had taken on a blue color now leaving everyone in shock. Adding onto this, in the spiky-haired boy's hands were two unusual guns. The design was anything but normal. However, in the brunette's hands, a sense of confidence could be felt just by how his eyes appeared determined.
"Making sure nobody else gets hurt."
And with that, Sora dashed forward and began laying fire onto the Heartless with his Shooting Star blasters. Streams of blue light could be seen slamming into the Heartless as well as Sora using his agility to dodge any that got close to him. Bursts of various lights could also be seen thanks to his usage of different elemental magic with the guns.
*BOOM*
*PEW*
*PEW*
*PEW*
*PEW*
*PEW*
"Hyah!"
"Come and get me!"
Watching as the Keyblade wielder engaged in combat while also looking like he was simply messing with the Heartless, the Anti-Skill members were left with their mouths open. Those who didn't entirely believe the boy's exploits or feats that others promoted were now of a different mind. Sora's abilities were something never seen before.
A few of the officers even began to murmur among themselves and started discussing what Esper level the brunette was. Questions were flying and the attention on the boy had grown exponentially.
"Alright! Let's get moving!" the special officer shouted getting everyone's attention.
One by one, the Anti-Skill officers all bounded in various directions while the special officer shot the Keyblade wielder another look followed by a nod before departing away.
It was his battlefield now and there was nothing that could stop the Guardian of Light.
*Super Smash Bros Brawl – Battlefield OST*
*BAM*
*FWOOSH*
*PEW*
*PEW*
Dashing forward, Sora's assault of gunfire from the two Shooting Star guns was at an all-time high. Followed by his accuracy being on the dot when it came to targeting the attacking Heartless.
*PEW*
*PEW*
One by one, any Heartless that tried to get close to him was met with a barrage of light bullets barraging them and ending their existence. This was also followed by bursts of various lights coming from the blasters thanks to Sora's use of elemental magic infused with the guns.
"Take this!"
Streams of red light were sent out thanks to a Fire spell and were successfully hitting groups of Heartless which caused substantial burning damage to them.
"Hah!"
Blue twirls of water shot forward from a Water spell cast and were soon colliding with the squads of Heartless leaving them primed and ready for the Keyblade wielder's next move of attack.
"You're gonna like this!"
Yellow bolts of electricity from a Thunder spell could be seen spiraling through the air and immediately hitting the Heartless already covered in water.
To make things even more drastic for the dark forces, Sora sprinted to the nearest pole and leaped at it which caused his entire body to start spinning at an incredible speed. Letting go of the guns, he now donned his original Keyblade along with his clothes going back to normal. His entire body was also glowing blue due to Flowmotion coming into effect.
*WHOOSH!*
Before long, Sora had flung himself forward and heaved the Keyblade from the side managing to perform a wide spiral attack which dealt the killing blow to the previously attacked Heartless. He then lunged forward and rolled out of the way of an incoming Neo Shadow that tried to gouge his shoulder out.
However, in the nick of time, he avoided the attack and stabbed the Heartless through the head causing it to be finished instantly. He then quickly raised the Keyblade in the air and cast a Thunder spell to shoot bolts of yellow lighting across the area. Many of the Heartless were taken out or stunned by the sudden attack which let him act.
"Hyah!"
With agility on his side, Sora leaped from one Heartless to another finishing them off with ease. The situation was a dire one which meant that time was against him and as he told the Anti-Skill officers… he would make sure that no one else got hurt.
*SWOOSH!*
Directing his attention to a Shadow Heartless that was beginning to leave the area, Sora set his sights on the dark creature and Airstepped right at the foe before killing it with a slash across the body.
Just as he was about to target another Heartless, his instincts screamed at him to move.
"Gah!"
Throwing himself to the ground, Sora narrowly missed a car being thrown right where he was just standing. Swerving his head to the side, he was left utterly confused and in shock at what he saw.
"That's- "
*BAM!*
*CRASH!*
Tilting his body to the side, Sora dodged another car being hurled right at him. He then prepared himself to deal with this familiar foe before him.
The culprit who was throwing cars at him was none other than a Metal Troll Heartless. A massively large armored Heartless that wielded a giant red and yellow axe while being covered in strong gold armor and huge shoulders that gave off an intimidating aura. The face of the Metal Troll was small and hanging near the center of its entire body while having a Heartless insignia at the top of its body.
Furthermore, the thing that puzzled Sora was the fact that this Metal Troll was an Emblem Heartless which held a great deal of importance.
This Heartless was not a Pureblood due to the noticeable insignia on its body. Meaning that this Heartless was originally part of Xehanort's experiments with the heart. However, Xehanort was gone, and Sora was in an entirely new world that hadn't dealt with the Heartless before. At least, from what he knew that seemed to be the case. This left the Keyblade wielder with so many questions.
*BOOM!*
Alas, that would have to wait as the Metal Troll had just flung another vehicle right at the boy. This time, a large bus was coming his way.
Rather than avoiding the large vehicle, Sora simply stepped forward at the last possible second and performed a single, clean strike through the bus.
*SWISH!*
The bus had split into two parts while leaving him unaffected. Sora then set his sights on the Metal Troll and needed to defeat it before it could cause any more trouble for him or the buildings around.
"Hey! Quit throwing things at me!"
*CLANG!*
The Metal Troll's heavy axe came crashing to the ground as the massive Heartless started making its way right to the boy. Seeing this, Sora had a few ideas pop into his head on how to deal with this enemy. One idea gleefully resonated in his mind which caused him to meet the Heartless head-on.
*BAM!*
*CLING!*
"NGH!"
Holding his own against the large weapon, Sora had no choice but to break away from this bind by throwing himself to the ground and dodging out of the way. The Metal Troll's axe came slamming down onto the ground causing debris to go flying along with the ground to be damaged.
Sora then skipped back a few steps before casting several Ice spells at the large foe's crucial body parts which included the arms and legs. This was to give him a proper chance at striking back.
"Grr! Hyah!"
The first slash went across the Metal Troll's hand that was wielding the axe before Sora slammed the Keyblade down along the Heartless' chest. With a point-blank Fire spell, flames covered the metal foe's body leaving quite the sight.
*WHACK!*
*WHOOSH!*
*SWISH!*
Not letting up for a single moment, Sora continued to dash around the Metal Troll's frozen body parts and did as much damage as he could against the Heartless. Alas, this didn't last long. The ice covering its body began to crack and break. This forced the brunette to jump back to avoid being slapped away from the heavy Heartless.
Picking up the axe, the Metal Troll began swinging the deadly weapon wildly causing Sora to switch up his battle tactics.
*FWOOSH*
Flicking his wrist, he let go of the Kingdom Key and summoned back his Shooting Star blasters which also switched his clothing to a blue theme. With a quick twirl on his back foot, Sora was now sprinting ahead while firing his guns at the Metal Troll causing the Heartless to become irritated.
*PEW*
*PEW*
*BAM!*
Debris soon exploded from the ground as the Metal Troll slammed its axe and started angrily chasing after the Keyblade wielder.
With its large hand, the Heartless grabbed another vehicle and hurled it right at the boy which caused him to leap into the air and narrowly miss the metal mass. He then twirled himself in the air and continued to lay fire into the armored Heartless as well as firing several dozen bullets at the troll's face.
Once enough bullets hit the Metal Troll's face, Sora dashed forward and set his sights on the closet building to him. Enough energy had been stored up for his next plan of attack.
Slamming his two guns together, a blast of blue light could be seen around the spiky-haired boy before he was now seen holding what appeared to be a strange-looking rocket launcher. The second level to his Elemental Formchange with Shooting Star.
"You're too slow!"
Not sure if the Metal Troll understood what he said, Sora could still see the armored Heartless hightailing it toward him which was exactly what he wanted.
Turning tail and sprinting to the nearest building, Sora's entire body glowed once again thanks to his Flowmotion, and once he got high enough along the building…
He propelled himself backward and off the building.
*WHOOSH*
Flipping his entire body back while soaring through the air, Sora gripped onto the rocket launcher and set his sights right on the Metal Troll which had leaned its body back to look up at the boy. A sense of urgency came into play as the armored Heartless instantly reached for a vehicle.
However, Sora would not let things get out of hand and came up with a clever solution to stop the rampaging Heartless.
Smirking to himself, he aimed down his sight onto the Metal Troll and fired a sphere of light right at the foe causing an explosion of light and sparkle effects to consume the Heartless. This was soon followed by another sphere and then another. Within seconds, a barrage of exploding spheres hit the Metal Troll causing quite the light show.
"See ya!"
*PEW!*
*BOOM!*
The next sphere to be shot from the weapon took a red glow before hitting the Heartless and being coursed with fire. This was soon followed by blue, green, and yellow spheres hitting the Metal Troll and being affected by Water, Wind, and Thunder spells. Each spell weakened the armored being to the point that it was time for Sora to finish it off.
"Have a blast!"
*KA-BOOM!*
The front of the rocket launcher seemed to spin at an incredible rate before a large sphere shot forward and directly hit the Metal Troll in the largest explosion to hit it yet. Dust had smoke had covered the area leaving Sora unable to get a clear view of the Heartless. This was thanks to Shooting Star's explosive finishing move.
As the dust settled, the Guardian of Light let out a satisfied sound as the Metal Troll was no more. He had defeated the intimidating foe without letting it rampage any longer.
Checking his surroundings, Sora also saw that there weren't any Heartless. This was a good sign.
"How did that Heartless come to be?"
Alas, that positive attitude soon diminished as another thought wormed its way through the brunette's head. One that also soured his positive mood.
'That Heartless… It was of the Emblem kind. That shouldn't be possible… right? Xehanort's experiments are what created the Emblem Heartless and Purebloods… are different. So… how was that Metal Troll able to be here?'
While still deep in thought, Sora failed to realize a Corridor of Darkness appeared right behind him which was soon dismissed as a dark figure had now materialized.
*Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover - Foretellers Case OST*
"Careful now. Wouldn't want to hurt yourself thinking too hard."
Snapping out of his thoughts, Sora swerved his head around to see who had just spoken. There was nothing in front of him so the obvious answer would have to come right behind him.
"Huh!? Darkness!"
The dark being did not react and simply stepped toward the boy causing him to raise his Keyblade defensively.
"What are you doing here!?"
"Relax. I'm not here to fight… not yet at least."
"Grr. Start talking! Did you cause that Emblem Heartless to appear?" Sora demanded of the mysterious being.
Without giving an immediate response, Darkness moved what appeared to be its head around and began giving the area a look over. This was all speculated based on the darkness surrounding its entire body and leaving only a brief outline of a human-like body.
"Tell me, since our last encounter, have you learned anything new about this city? About this world?"
Taken aback by this question, Sora didn't know how to respond and held a perplexed expression on his face.
"What…?"
"I'll ask again. Have you learned anything new at all?"
Keeping a leveled frown upon his face, the spiky-haired brunette decided to not answer that question.
"I see… guess it's true what's been said about you."
"You're not making any sense! What are you talking about?"
"It's been said that you can be quite… stupid. Needing a push in the right direction to get things moving along" Darkness responded with a hint of mockery. "You wouldn't get far unless you had a hint of where to go next or what to do next."
"Is that all you're going to do? Insult me and not answer my questions!"
A scoff could be heard coming from Darkness as the mysterious being appeared to take a few steps forward. Sora responded by aiming his Keyblade at the figure.
"If that were the case, I could happily do that all day. However, no, I'm not here to do that. I'm merely asking an informational question. Have you learned anything as of late?" the dark being asked.
Biting his tongue, Sora narrowed his eyes and gave a blunt response.
"…I don't have to answer you."
"*sigh* You've learned nothing. Figures."
"How about you start talking and quit dodging the question!" the Keyblade wielder fired back.
Giving the boy another look over, Darkness stopped moving and silently observed the boy for what felt like an eternity. Alas, it was only half a minute before anything was spoken.
"As I told you before, my interest pertains to the possibilities surrounding the seven Level 5s in Academy City. That much is still true. However, something else has piqued my interest as of late."
"And that is?"
Suddenly, Darkness raised its hand and summoned a dark orb that soon glowed purple and began to float in the air. A sense of uneasiness settled into Sora's chest.
"This world's magic is unique. I have visited countless worlds with their own basis for magic. Magic used in unthinkable ways or spells that would be hard for your mind to comprehend. However, this world is different. The magic here is indistinguishably complex. Systems of disciplines, traditions, and arts that are difficult for some to understand and impossible for most. The manipulation of reality through the lens of one person compared to another being misled… Such is the magic of this world. On this topic, you should have some inkling of understanding. Right, Sora?"
Making sure to truly get what Darkness was saying, Sora began to think about Academy City and the Espers inhabiting the city. Based on what he had learned thanks to Komoe, the idea of a personal reality was something that he still didn't know one hundred percent about but knowing that it had something to do with reality is what he focused on right now.
"…Yeah, you're right about that…"
Darkness then let go of the dark orb and continued talking.
"Hmph. Based on your tone of voice it suggests that this topic is something you have not given much thought about…" Darkness replied in a condescending tone. "Some hero you are. Dealing with forces you don't have a clue about."
Glaring at the dark being, Sora was becoming fed up.
"Supernatural phenomena. Are you certain that you have not come across anything of the sort in your time within this world?"
Putting his thinking cap on, when Darkness put it that way… he certainly did encounter supernatural phenomena while within Academy City.
The situation regarding Agni's Festival Fire and how Touma along with Index were in a rush to try and find this magical cabal and stop them from taking their anger out against Academy City. With everything that's happened, he still wasn't entirely sure how this magic spell worked, however, knowing that it took both time and effort to get it working properly did make Sora rethink what Darkness said.
"…I have encountered something like that."
"Ah. The Guardian of Light finally gives a useful response."
Another frown worked its way across Sora's face as he annoyingly stared at the mysterious being.
"Now that we are on the same page, the seven Level 5s and the magical foundation found in this world have greatly caught my attention. I'll let you know that I've been quite busy with things behind the scenes. I don't spend my whole time messing with you" Darkness elaborated to the boy.
"What? I don't get it. Are you saying that you… but that… no way…"
A solemn realization hit the Keyblade wielder as he began to think about what was just said.
"I know what it is that you're thinking. And the answer will not be a pretty one."
Knowing he might not like what he was going to hear, Sora swallowed this hard pill and trudged forward to find the truth.
"The Heartless that have been wandering around in the city… was it you?"
"…"
A staggering and worrisome silence enveloped the empty street that they occupied. This caused Sora's right hand to twitch slightly in the event that he would need to dive straight into action.
"…What do you think?" Darkness spaciously muttered.
"Grr! Enough! Just give me a yes or no."
"Very well. My answer… is both."
"Huh? Both? That's not an- "
"It is. Yes. And no."
Stunned by this response, Sora started to think about the answer on a deeper level.
'Wait… does that mean that Darkness is causing these Heartless to appear? If so, why wasn't a simple yes said? Could that mean that… someone else is at play? Academy City is dealing with problems on both the Magic and Science Sides… that could be something. Or maybe… Darkness is still involved in whatever is going on…'
After a moment passed, Darkness let out a disappointing sigh.
"You really need me to spell it out for you?"
Frowning at the being's response, Sora begrudgingly nodded his head. The most important thing that mattered right now was finding the source of the Heartless.
"Yeah, I do. I want a clear answer. No more beating around the bush. I want answers."
"…Heh. Is that conviction I hear coming from you? It's about time."
Another glare was sent toward the dark figure which caused him to chuckle.
"Very well. Here is your answer. I was not the one to summon the Heartless here…"
"What? You… You weren't?!"
"But…"
"Grr."
"I did have a hand in the Heartless being here."
With this newfound information at hand, Sora's mind was filled to the brim with questions now bouncing around. The situation had now gone from bad to worse. Darkness was growing his influence which could only mean one thing.
"You… *gasp* You- "
"That's right. I told you before. I've been quite busy. Many individuals in this city show great potential. That potential is enough for them to learn just how influential darkness can truly be."
"Training people to use darkness and call upon the Heartless is the worst thing you could have done!"
Yelling this out, Sora instantly got into a fighting position.
"Do you believe that? Off the top of my head, there are over a hundred different things I could have done to these people with potential. Things you can't even comprehend. Things that would leave you in shock and recoil in fear. If anything, I'm doing them and you a favor."
"Me? What are you talking about!?"
Striding past Sora, Darkness was now facing away from the Keyblade wielder and not giving a direct response.
"Hey! What do you mean?"
"I think I've said enough. It's up to you to solve the rest. However, knowing how slow your brain works, I'm willing to bet that I'll be explaining things to you once more soon."
"Oh, no you don't! You're not getting- "
Turning his clouded body, Darkness now stood face-to-face with the spiky-haired boy and interrupted Sora. A burst of dark energy appeared around the dark being which caused Sora to step back and be prepared for an attack.
Alas, nothing happened and Darkness seemed to send off a warning.
"Moving on… Tell me, have you even looked at all this world has to offer?"
"Huh? You're not making any sense! You can't just flip flop between- "
"I can and I will. Moreover, there is a certain place in this world that I've taken quite a fascination with. A city that's not that far from Academy City."
Becoming interested in what Darkness had to say, Sora remained quiet and listened.
"What city?"
"Tokyo."
"Tokyo?" Sora repeated while not being familiar with that city. "Is that… near Academy City?"
"Hmph. Seems I was right about you not looking beyond Academy City. Well, for your sake, yes, it is close to Academy City. It's another large metropolis with a massive population. However, within Tokyo are several districts. One of which is where my interest lies…"
Based on how Darkness was speaking, it was easy for Sora to tell that something significant was in this Tokyo district.
And this thought worried the Keyblade wielder to his core.
"A district by the name of… Shibuya."
"*gasp*"
In that split moment, Sora's body had become rigid and stiff to the point that he wasn't sure he could move a finger if anything were to happen. His thoughts came to a halting stop while he could feel his heartbeat pick up exponentially. He could also feel his vision becoming blurry with the various emotions hitting him all at once.
Out of all the things that Darkness could have said in this single moment, the name of the place where Neku, his new friend gained during the Mark of Mastery, said he was from was blurted out.
Sora did not forget for a single moment his promise to meet Neku, Shiki, and the others in Shibuya.
"Shibuya… did you just say- "
"Yes, Shibuya. Heard of it? Well, that's the place I have my eyes set on. It could be nothing, but I have an inkling that something is there. What that something is… we will have to see."
"We?"
"Oh, don't give me that. You have curiosity etched across your face. You don't do a good job at hiding your emotions. I can tell you have some sort of connection to Shibuya. What that connection is, I have no clue. But we both know that you won't sit and wait. There's too much at stake."
Unsure of what to say next, Sora kept quiet and waited.
"Well then, I'll leave you to process everything that's been said. Oh. Rather than that, I'd be more than happy to give you a… breakdown of what it is I want."
"Wha- "
Without even processing what was happening, a dark mist had worked its way all around Sora and managed to grab hold of his arms and legs making it so he could not move at all. This also forced him to drop his Keyblade and watch as it flashed away.
"Ngh!"
Struggling with all his might, the Keyblade wielder could not break free from whatever kind of magic ability Darkness was using right now. The situation was not in his favor.
"Now, let's take a look at your heart…"
Hearing Darkness say this, Sora immediately summoned his Keyblade in his right hand and twirled the blade, so he was holding it from the bottom and slashed the dark mist holding his right arm. He then slashed at the mist on his left side and was about to make another move when…
*WHIRL*
*WHOOSH*
A flash of purple light hit his chest causing him to flinch and wince in pain.
"Agh!"
"Hm. Let's see… what is it that you fear most?"
*WHOOSH*
The purple light continued to hit his chest and the pain he could feel was unlike anything he felt before. It wasn't a life-threatening pain he was feeling. Rather, it felt like his head was hurting tremendously while flashes of memories began playing out in his mind.
Memories of all the difficult situations and critical fights he's experienced throughout his past adventures. All the intimidating individuals and creatures he fought against as well as his deep feelings of worry come bubbling up in his head. The distinct visuals of Ansem, Xemnas, and Xehanort could be seen and felt in his heart. Furthermore, the appearances of the Lingering Will, which was now known to be Terra, the One-Winged Angel, Sephiroth, and the many mysterious figures in black coats could be seen and felt by him.
However, there was one memory that made the hair on his neck flare up. The speed of his heartbeat also rapidly increased while a sense of uncertainty and anxiousness spiked throughout his body and mind. This memory also happened to be one that happened recently. A fresh memory.
"Oh? That's very interesting."
"Gah! W-What is?!"
"This memory… it's fresh. It's still on your mind. Even though great joy and happiness are swarming around your heart, I can sense this memory is something you don't want to think about all too much. It's quite the memory."
"Get. Out. Of. My. Heart. And. Head!"
*BOOM!*
In a flash of light, Sora's entire body exploded while casting the dark mist that was holding him had now been dismissed leaving the Keyblade wielder in his Second Form.
Sora then started looking for Darkness and couldn't find the dark being anywhere.
"I must thank you for letting me do that. A look at one's memory is always a joy" Darkness said while appearing behind him.
Jumping back, Sora now had his Keyblade ready to strike.
"I've had enough!"
Dashing forward, Sora swung his Keyblade right at Darkness in a horizontal slash expecting to hit nothing because of his previous experience with Young Xehanort phasing out of the way.
*CLANK!*
However, that wasn't the case this time.
The Keyblade was defensively met with Darkness's arm acting as a shield to counter the attack. There appeared to be no blade or shield at all. Just a mass of darkness preventing the blade from striking the dark being.
"So, that's how it's going to be, huh?" Darkness chided coldly.
Not backing down, Sora readied himself and got into his signature battle stance. No matter what would happen, he wouldn't let Darkness get away.
*WHOOSH*
Suddenly, a Corridor of Darkness appeared right behind Darkness which left the Guardian of Light confused about the developing situation.
"Unfortunately, I have no desire to fight you at this moment. My interest in Shibuya overshadows any interest in fighting. I'll be seeing you there shortly. Make no mistake of that."
And with that final statement said loud and clear, Darkness disappeared into the Corridor of Darkness. Leaving Sora alone with various thoughts and too much to contemplate. He needed a minute.
"Shibuya…"
Several minutes later
After clearing the area for a second time, Anti-Skill officers made their way back to the Keyblade wielder who seemed to have a distant look on his face. Compared to the confident and brash boy that appeared when the Heartless were recking havoc, this boy looked utterly lost and deep in thought. Something had happened to him.
"Hey, kid. Are you alright?" one of the officers spoke up.
"He doesn't look so good. Did he get hit?"
"Doubt it. There's not a scratch on him. Maybe he heard some bad news?"
"What could it be?"
As the other Anti-Skill officers were talking amongst themselves, the unique officer walked up to the spiky-haired boy and coughed into his hand to get his attention.
"*cough*"
"H-Huh? Oh. It's you guys."
"Right… I take it things are good over here?"
Slowly nodding his head, Sora held a visible frown on his face as he looked ready to say something.
"Yeah… things are fine here. There shouldn't be any more Heartless."
"That's good news. Though, I can't say the same for the area…"
As the Anti-Skill officer said this, the two glanced around at the post-battle scene before them. Multiple cars were upside down and debris was scattered across the ground. Pieces of the road had been broken apart with large gashes present. This was thanks to the large weapon used by the Metal Troll. Overall, it was quite clear that things got hectic here.
"Never mind. It doesn't matter. You got rid of those monsters. That's all that matters."
Not giving the officer an immediate response, Sora simply nodded his head while turning his head away.
"Yeah…"
It was easily noticeable that there was something wrong with the teen.
"Hey, are you- "
"Let Yomikawa know that things should be good here. I have to go."
"Wait? Where- "
Before the officer could get another word in, Sora had sprinted away without a moment's notice. Whatever he was dealing with must have been regarded as very important. Either way, the officer could only sigh and get ready to make a report of the entire situation.
Based on how things had turned out in District 7, there was no time to rest easy.
A few moments later
Coming across a small bench positioned under a set of trees, Sora plopped himself onto it while letting out a heavy sigh. There was so much contemplation on his mind right now that he wasn't sure where he should start with it all.
'Shibuya…'
That place had now scaled its significance factor by tenfold. Being mentioned by Neku is one thing but to have Darkness mention it as well as it being in this world shocked him. There was no way he could ignore this subject now.
Even now, Sora could recall Neku's words about seeing him in Shibuya. How the carefree and happy offer was now riddled with concern. Darkness had now left the Keyblade wielder doubting himself and what he was feeling now.
'I… I didn't even know Shibuya was a place here in this world. There's still so much to see in Academy City, my focus has only been here…'
As Sora continued to contemplate with himself, he subconsciously gripped onto the. Keyblade's handle tightly. A sense of the unknown could be felt wrapping around his head.
He was in totally new territory yet again.
"I know what I have to do… but how do I just let go of one thing and chase after another?" He asked himself while staring up at the city buildings around him.
The feeling of being small was alleviated greatly at this very moment. Surrounded by giant structures while also comparing them to the problems he was facing now.
After staring at the buildings for a few more minutes, Sora let out a tired sigh and reached for his Gummiphone while pulling up a certain someone's number.
*Ring*
*Ring*
"Hello?" Came the voice of another spiky-haired boy.
"Touma. You guys good on your end?"
"Err… we're…. Getting there. What about you?"
An audible sigh could be heard across the phone call.
"Things have gotten… complicated."
"Complicated how?"
"Well, I might have to leave Academy City…"
As this sudden news bomb processed inside Kamijou's mind, he would ultimately respond in what could best be described as a tonal shocked tone.
"…Huh? You might have to leave?"
"I had a run-in with the guy who might be in control of the Heartless or at the very least is part of the reason why they keep showing up" Sora explained.
"And this guy showed up after you took out the Heartless in District 7?" Touma asked, trying to keep up-to-date with events.
"Yeah. He also mentioned something that might spell trouble."
"Like?"
Sora couldn't help but lower his head and frown while responding.
"He said… Shibuya was a target of his."
A gradual gasp could be heard from the other end of the call.
"Shibuya?! What did he say would happen there?"
"I'm not sure. Just that he had a newfound interest there. And I can't let him get away with whatever he has planned" the brunette replied with determination present in his voice. "But that also leaves me with a problem. How am I going to be able to help- "
"You don't have to worry about that, Sora."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"Leave the magic cabal to me and Index. And I guess Stiyil but who knows how helpful he really will be?" Kamijou said in what sounded like a reassurance.
"But- "
"It's alright, Sora. Leave the magical problem to us while you go and deal with this Heartless and bad guy problem. And honestly, now that we know what the magic cabal is up to with Agni's Festival Fire, we can be ready to stop it. However, with that guy having a hand in the Heartless showing up, we have no idea what he could be up to. But you do."
Listening to Touma break down the situation, Sora was starting to see things differently. Whereas before he felt obligated and stressed by having to deal with so many things, now he had a solid goal in mind. Stop Darkness from causing trouble in Shibuya.
"You're right! I'm the only one that can stop this guy. Just like you and Index and I guess Stiyil are the only ones who can stop that magic cabal."
"Right. You do what you need to do."
"Got it. I'll call back once things are good in Shibuya."
"Good luck."
"Thanks! You as well. Wait. Speaking of Shibuya, what can you tell me about the place? I know it's somewhere in Tokyo. That's about as much as I know. Think I could get a heads up about the place?" Sora eagerly asked with a bit of excitement in his voice.
However, unbeknownst to the Keyblade wielder, the wielder of Imagine Breaker was in quite a peculiar and misfortunate predicament. Kamijou Touma was dealing with a problem that only he and one other person knew about and it all had to do with a memory-related issue.
It was a problem so grand and impactful on the boy's life and yet he continued to trudge through what was his new life. Alas, this also came with many setbacks and forced him to learn new things on the fly. The topic of locations outside of Academy City was something he didn't pay much mind to, and in this case, he couldn't give Sora the help he asked for.
"I… I'm sorry, Sora. I'm not that familiar with Shibuya…" Touma responded while silently hoping that he gave a reasonable answer.
"Oh. That's okay! No worries. I'll figure something out. Maybe ask another one of my friends about what I should expect when I get to Shibuya."
Feeling relieved from how Sora took his response, Touma let out a good-hearted chuckle.
"That'll probably help you out more. Either way, take care over there."
"You too. See you!"
*BEEP*
The line went out leaving Sora to take in his surroundings once more. The feeling of being overwhelmed had now become less overwhelming since he didn't have to worry about the magic cabal.
His attention was now focused on stopping Darkness and getting to Shibuya.
Speaking of Shibuya, Sora was now left dumbfounded on what he should do next.
Obviously, he would contact Moogla and let her know his new game plan for stopping Darkness, but would she also know about Shibuya?
There was a chance that she might not know given that she was from another world and whatnot. With this in mind, Sora began to ponder on who might be familiar with Shibuya and help him.
'Yomikawa? No, I don't want to involve her in this. She's already dealing with enough thanks to the Heartless showing up across the city. Misaka? Maybe…'
As he continued to rattle his brain by going down the list of friends he had, a certain girl's name came to mind. Someone that might have an idea of what to expect there. And given her personality, it was safe to say she might be his best bet.
'Should I give her a call? We… haven't exactly talked since she called me that night. I also kind of hung up on her when she started asking questions about the Mimic… I just know that I'm going to get yelled at.'
The girl that Sora was considering calling was none other than Mugino Shizuri.
Having gotten a somewhat better understanding of the Level 5 girl, she seemed like the right person to call to learn more about Shibuya. Besides, he also had not talked to her lately. Now seemed like the right time to fix that.
Granted, he also began to worry for his ear's sake.
"*sigh* It's now or never."
Pulling up her number, Sora's thumb hovered over the call button with an anxiousness present in his body language.
Who knew that the boy who fought monsters and villains seeking to destroy the worlds was feeling more scared to talk to a temperamental girl?
Meanwhile…
Resting her feet above the rim of her bathtub, Mugino Shizuri was at peace.
After having to deal with Frenda's usual nagging about random things, Kinuhata's stupid obsession over shitty movies, and Takitsubo's bland reaction to everything, she needed this right now.
The warm water surrounding her naked body along with the towel wrapped around her neck and cut cucumbers resting on her eyes. She was currently living on Cloud Nine.
"Ahh~ I needed this."
Splashing her feet around in the large, luxurious tub, Mugino couldn't help but smile to herself.
"No Frenda."
*SPLASH*
"No Kinuhata."
*SPLASH*
"No Takitsubo."
*SPLASH*
"And no So- "
*RING*
*RING*
*RING*
The sound of her phone going off forced the Level 5's mood to take a swan dive off a cliff. One by one her cucumbers fell into the tub and floated atop the surface of the water. Her hair was all wet and weighed down on her shoulders. And above all her peacefulness was gone.
Reaching for the stand next to the tub, Mugino aggressively checked to see who was bothering her.
"Who the hell… is…calling…me…"
Mugino's voice had faded away as she saw who exactly was calling her.
The very same person she was about to say.
Unsure of what to think or how to act, the tea-color-haired girl lowered herself into the water until her nose was poking out. Her eyes gleamed along the water's surface as she continued to observe the call status on her phone with a simple name shown.
Sora.
Part of her was ready to ignore his call and pretend that it didn't happen. Another part of her wanted to answer and start yelling at the spiky-haired idiot for hanging up on her. Additionally, another part of her was tempted to answer and then hang up out of pettiness.
However, a small part of herself could feel her breathing pitch up while a warm feeling washed its way across her face. Normally, a reaction like this would never happen. The fourth-ranked Level 5 Meltdowner blushing like a schoolgirl gushing over stupid feelings. That thought deserved to be tossed in the trash by all her accounts followed up by being blasted by her Esper ability.
And yet, Mugino couldn't dismiss what she was feeling.
Alas, as soon as that feeling appeared in her heart and head, it was soon thrown to the side for a more balanced reaction. One that encapsulated her furious response while also taking into account this… different side of herself.
Answering the call with a light tap of her finger, Mugino slowly brought the device up to her ear while still sitting in the warm tub of water. As stupid as it sounded, part of her was excited.
"…Hello."
"Err… H-Hey, Mugino, long time no hear…"
"…"
"Ah. Right."
Doing her best from blaring into the phone with nothing but swears, the brunette girl bit her tongue and responded in what could be described as silent fury.
"What do you want? I can tell this isn't a friendly check-up call."
A brief pause was drawn on Sora's side before he spoke up while awkwardly chuckling to himself.
"Aha…ha…I'm sorry about that. Our last phone call ended- "
"Abruptly by you hanging up on me!" Mugino aggressively countered.
"…Yeah. I'm really sorry about that. Things have been pretty wild for me."
"Cry me a river."
A sigh could be heard coming from the brunette boy.
"I'll say it again, I'm sorry for hanging up on you. I'm sure you've got many questions."
"No shit."
"Well, I'd like to say that we should catch up and I'll tell you all you want to know" the Keyblade wielder reasoned. "I bet your questions are tough ones."
Processing the boy's response, Mugino couldn't help but snort while having an intrigued look on her face. Alas, she was still quite pissed at him but wanted to hear a bit more of what he had to say.
"I can tell you're about to make some kind of sad excuse for why that won't be happening any time soon. So… out with it."
"*sigh* I need your help."
A flash of surprise covered the girl's face before morphing back to an annoyed tone.
"Color me surprised. You think just because you beat in a fight that you can boss me around and spout some sort of bullshit on me?! Or that you can call me out of the blue like we're jolly good friends!"
"No! I didn't- "
"I don't need to hear any more of your shit, Sora. You can kick dirt for all I care!"
"I called you because- "
"That's where you messed up in the first place. Don't ever call me aga- "
"I called because I need your help! You're the only person I could turn to!" Sora frantically shouted into the phone.
Taking a second to let his words register in her mind, Mugino looked down at the tub holding her body and began to consider her next choice of words carefully. The fact that Sora thought of her as a crucial source of help for whatever reason jolted her intrigue even more.
"…You have thirty seconds. If you don't give me a good enough reason to listen, then I'm hanging up and blocking your number for good."
Through the phone call, Shizuri could hear the boy let out an audible sigh which caused her to smirk knowing that she was causing him trouble.
"Ok. To keep things short, I ran into this guy who might have a hand in why the Heartless have been appearing all across Academy City. After we had a little chat, he mentioned going to Shibuya which is in Tokyo, but I don't have a single clue as to how to get there. And I wasn't sure who I could ask for help… you were one of the first friends I thought of to ask for help. That's what's going on right now, and again I'm sorry for hanging up on you…"
Without giving an immediate reply, Mugino could feel the side of her lip tilt up into a sly smile as she couldn't help but feel vindicated. Even with her anger still directed at the spiky-haired boy, she felt very smug.
"…Well, you passed the test. Barely might I add" she said in a teasing tone.
The instant response she heard from the phone was Sora letting out a huff of air for managing to not mess things up now. This added to the Level 5's smug attitude.
"So, what do you want to know exactly?"
"Shibuya. How do I get there?" Sora asked, now taking a serious tone in his voice. "I heard it was a district in Tokyo… What can you tell me about that district?
Confused by what he was asking, Mugino donned a perplexed expression while still in the bathtub and holding the phone up to her ear.
"Why are you making it sound like you've never even heard of it before? Let alone the fact that you sound quite unsure about Tokyo."
A moment of silence passed before it clicked in Mugino's head.
"You're kidding me? Are you seriously telling me that you've never been to Tokyo?"
"I wouldn't be asking for your help if I did," argued the Keyblade wielder.
"How is it even possible that you've never- "
"Look, that's not the point" Sora countered before continuing to get back on track. "What can you tell me about Shibuya and Tokyo? It's really important. I need to know what to expect there."
"First off, before you can even think about leaving, how do you expect to leave Academy City?" The Level 5 asked in a stagnant tone.
Confused by what she meant, Sora's voice came back through the phone call in a puzzled tone.
"…What do you mean?"
"You colossal idiot! Do you not even know about Academy City's strict monitoring system? The controlling access governed by the Board of Directors!" Mugino answered back.
Hearing all this official talk, Sora didn't immediately answer back which gave her the realization of what she was dealing with.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Screamed Meltdowner while slamming her free hand into the bathtub, sending water everywhere. "What the hell were you planning on doing? Leaving the city on a bus or train?!"
"Well… yeah. That was one of my plans. The other was to run to Tokyo. But I don't know exactly how to get there or where Shibuya is" the Guardian of Light truthfully replied.
Mugino could not believe what she was hearing.
"You have got to be fuc-"
"I have to stop whatever could be happening in Shibuya! It doesn't matter if I have to run there, I will get there no matter what."
Realizing that Sora was serious about this, the tea-color-haired girl simply brought a hand up to her face and began thinking to herself.
"Even if that means getting into even more trouble… I need to make sure that I'm prepared for…" Sora continued to mutter to himself while still on the phone.
She didn't have to deal with this. There was no reason for her to waste any more time on this matter. Her best bet would be to end the call and block his number. He was giving her a migraine already just by dealing with his stupidity.
And yet, curiosity was etched into her mind already.
There was no turning back now. She had that chance just before hearing him ask her about Tokyo and Shibuya. Having now learned that there was some kind of connection to the Heartless going on in Tokyo led her interest to become enlightened.
Past all the insults and swears she wanted to unleash on the spiky-haired boy now, she was unable to end the conversation.
"…I have no idea how the hell you're going to be able to leave the city without the higher-ups stepping in and locking your ass up."
Scoffing at this entire conversation, the Level 5 continued.
"It's not like you can just walk out of the city or catch a ride so easily. If even a Level 5 like me has trouble dealing with the higher-ups, then I don't see how you'll get anywhere."
"I'll think of something. Besides, I've dealt with worse situations before. Nothing new to me!" Sora confidently remarked with a smug voice.
Shaking her, Mugino could just imagine the look on his face now. It irked her to no end.
"Cocky bastard. *sigh* Fine. Academy City is located in the Kanto region of Honshu, Japan. It is situated between Tokyo and other regions. If you want to get there quickly, then the most direct route would be to take a train or bus through the city of Kasukabe and then into Tokyo."
"Kanto region…" Sora mumbled.
"Don't tell me you're already confused!? Are you seriously that much of an- "
"No! I'm just making sure I remember where to go. I've got a lot to think about, but… Thanks for this, Mugino. I'll be sure to get there in time."
"What? Wait, you idiot! I'm not done giving- "
"I know! But I've got to get a move on. Time is not on my side right now."
"Cut me off again and I'll make sure you walk around with a hole in your body from my Meltdonwer!"
"Got it. Thanks again, Mugino! Once things calm down we will have to meet up and chat. The others are also welcome to join us. See you!"
*BEEP*
Before Mugino could scream back at the Keyblade wielder for nonchalantly dismissing her deadly threat, he had ended the call. This both angered and annoyed the brunette girl while also leaving her with some thinking to be done.
Knowing that he was heading to Tokyo on the hunt for someone who had connections with the Heartless further piqued her interest. Now she also wanted to know what was happening there.
Stepping out of the warm bath, Mugino was now staring openly at the bathroom sink mirror and dialing another number on her phone.
*Ring*
*Ring*
"Ah. This is quite an extraordinary surprise. The young lady- "
"Stop with the introduction" Mugino huffed out.
The very person that she had called happened to be her family's personal butler, Mujinayama.
"Mm. Very well, millady, what sort of trouble do you need help with?"
"Information. Tracking. Observation."
"Simple ends. Might I suggest more informative tactics for whatever it is that you need?" Mujinayama added casually.
"The situation doesn't call for anything more than what I said" Mugino declared while grabbing a towel in her bathroom and beginning to dry herself.
"I see. Very well, milady, it will be done. I'll have a spy or two available in Academy City to- "
"I don't need the help in Academy City."
"Oh? Do clarify, milady."
"It's Shibuya. Someone- I got word that an interesting person will be heading to Shibuya soon. Within the day might I add. I want him tailed."
"I presume you wish to keep tabs on this individual?" Mujinayama asked, making sure to multitask and get the young lady's request done.
"You can say that. This guy's a total mystery. And I can't exactly leave the city to go and follow him" the tea-color-haired beauty said while beginning to dry her hair.
Processing the young lady's request, the older gentleman on the other end of the call simply listened.
"No, that would not be the easiest of actions to do. Academy City's surveillance of students is highly proctored. But… if I may, young lady, I do have a question."
Startled by the sudden question, Mugino wrapped a towel around herself and responded.
"What kind of question?"
"Well, it has to do with this… boy. You said yourself that following him would be highly difficult for you. Hence, the calling for someone to spy on him. However, you didn't necessarily clarify if he was a student or not."
"Huh. Must've missed that. Yes, he's a student" Mugino answered while grabbing another towel and beginning to dry her hair.
An affirming hum could be heard coming from the older gentleman.
"I see, it is quite unusual for you to take such interest in someone unless they pose a threat to you and your team. This boy must have some sort of importance around him."
"You have no idea…" Mugino idly muttered. "He's a complete mystery. Even though I've met him and talked with him for some time… there's so much about him that's hard to find."
"Hard to find you say… In what way, milady?" Mujinayama asked, making sure to listen closely.
Letting out a mildly annoyed sigh, Mugino placed her phone down on the bathroom sink and began to wrap the towel around her head to dry her hair. At the same time, she put the phone on speaker and continued.
"I've already had a few sources run background checks on him and to no avail, nothing solid is brought up on him."
"Hmm. I assume you took selective actions to find information on him?"
"Obviously. You make me sound like an utter idiot."
"I meant no offense, milady. It's just that with situations like this, the simplest error might be the one causing quite the conundrum" Mujinayama clarified in a supporting tone. "This is certainly not your first time encountering a challenging task of finding information on someone."
A satisfied hum could be heard coming from the Level 5.
"You're right about that. But I have a feeling that there's something more to this boy… perhaps he is being protected."
Hearing this, Mujinayama began to ponder just how vast and complex this situation truly was. The young lady was quite the information seeker on her own within Academy City. So, if she was having trouble, then this might raise the stakes surrounding this mysterious boy.
"If I may ask, milady, you haven't said what this boy's name is."
Rather than blurting out his name, Mugino feigned a moment of silence as she observed herself in the bathroom's mirror. A sense of frustration swelled in her chest as she recalled all her previous encounters with the spiky-haired boy.
She couldn't help but respond in a heightened tone.
"His name is Sora."
"Sora? Hm…"
"What? What's with that suspecting tone?"
"Do dismiss my unnatural tone, milady, I'm merely pondering the name."
"Tch. Yeah, well, that's the bastard's name. He's the one who'll be heading to Shibuya soon. I want him tailed. Anything that happens to him or around him or even involves him… you tell me right away!" the Level 5 girl demanded without sparing a breath in her words.
Making sure to let the young lady's words be impactful, Mujinayama let a moment pass before speaking up again.
"Very well. I'll see to it that all information whether it be small or insignificant is discussed. As well as giving full detail on anything more significant of nature."
"Good. I better have it all" Mugino declared.
"I do have one question, milady."
Annoyed with the last-minute request, she groaned into the call.
"What is it now?"
"Just what sort of details shall I have our spies be on the lookout for?"
With one final glance at the mirror, Mugino's stern face became solely focused.
"Everything."
Inside the Windowless Building
Sitting afloat in the liquid-filled tube, Aleister Crowley quietly remained while watching a large screen that showed a familiar spiky-haired boy running across the city's streets.
Being the Board Chairman of the city, there wasn't much that he did not know about. Aside from the cameras and drones positioned across the metropolis, Aleister had literal eyes and ears everywhere. Meaning that he knew exactly what was with the boy who wielded the mysterious key.
*Step*
*Step*
The sound of someone coming into the room caused the chairman to nonchalantly tilt his head up and automatically open the doors. An amused huff could be heard coming from the individual who was now passing through the door.
*To Aru Majutsu no Index OST 2 - Zetsubou*
However, instead of a human passing through the door, it was a four-legged being with what appeared to be a brown backpack wrapped around its body. Along the side of the pack were what appeared to be robotic arms idle but ready to move.
A golden retriever could be seen casually strutting through the doors which had now closed on their own.
"Thank you for that" came the response from the golden retriever. "I see you're quite busy today."
"When am I not busy?" Aleister replied in a friendly tone.
"True. But nowadays it seems like quite a lot is happening across the city."
Strutting up to the liquid tube, the golden retriever sat himself right in front of the screen displaying the young man rushing across a street and avoiding traffic.
The golden retriever was better known as a friendly pup that could be encountered across the city. But for those in the know of his identity as well as the position of power he held, they would know him as Kihara Noukan.
"Mm. Tell me, old friend, what brings you to my esteemed estate?"
Tilting his head from the screen to the long-haired man in the tube, Noukan licked his bottom lip before giving a response.
"Can't an old friend visit?"
"…"
A remedied silence worked its way between the two leaving Noukan to quietly grunt.
"Fine, fine. You've got me read."
"Play enough games of chess and you'll be able to read your opponent in general better" Aleister replied with a hint of amusement.
"Noted. Alas, you are correct. I'm here to do a bit of digging and learn what exactly is happening across the city. Having been busy with my projects, I haven't been caught up with all that's happened as of late" Noukan explained while shifting his eyes from Aleister to the screen.
The Board Chairman easily noticed this.
"And I'd take a grand guess as to say that this boy has something to do with everything that's happening…"
"To make a rather long explanation short, yes, you are correct. This young man appears to be at the center of everything new. He has also managed to encounter a certain someone involved in my plans."
Hearing this, Noukan let out a chuckle.
"Young Kamijou…"
"Right on your first try."
"When it comes to someone important to your plans, he is always the first person to come to mind."
"Quite so. This boy's name is Sora, and he has quite the situation surrounding him now" Aleister said while seemingly summoning several other monitor screens to appear out of nowhere and showcase videos involving Sora. "He's quite the impressive individual on his own."
Observing the screens and seeing the brunette boy perform spectacular feats while fighting against mysterious dark creatures with large yellow eyes, Noukan was left in awe.
To think that while he was busy with his work, this boy was out there dealing with an unusual situation.
"How long has this Sora been involved with these strange creatures?" Noukan asked with great intrigue.
"Unclear. His appearance is recent and I'm still learning all that I can about him."
"Huh? What do you mean… he appeared recently?
Shifting his eyes to look at the golden retriever, Aleister simply closed them.
"It is as I have told you. He only appeared recently in the city and since then, things have been anything but quiet."
Left aghast at this admission, Noukan took another look at Sora on the screens. Many questions flooded Kihara's mind about this strange boy. Just who was he?
"Tell me, what is his Esper level and power?"
"…Haha…"
A stark fit of laughter could be heard coming from the man in the tube. It wasn't very often that Aleister laughed. There weren't that many that could recall hearing or seeing such an event. Hence, Noukan was left startled when he heard the old magician laugh.
"My friend, he has no Esper ability."
"…What?"
"You heard me right. Sora does not have an Esper ability."
Processing this monumental news drop, the golden retriever quietly uttered a response.
"Is he a magician?"
"…Not quite."
"*sigh* What do you mean by that?"
Suddenly, another screen appeared and displayed Sora using his weapon which had the appearance of a giant key. The boy was using what appeared to be various forms of elemental magic at his will while performing extraordinary actions.
"Sora does use magic, but it is unlike most forms of magic that I am aware of. The same will probably go for you" Aleister said. "He is, in simple words, a wild card."
Noukan now donned a strained expression along his golden retriever face.
"This is rather… complicated. How is he accommodating to being in Academy City?"
"Ha. That's where things get even more interesting. Sora fits quite well in the city lifestyle. He has a certain someone vouching for him and built a susceptible lie around his persona. A fake Esper ability has also been accustomed to fit his magical abilities" the Chairman elaborated to the Kihara.
"Using magic under the pretense of an Esper ability… how fascinating!" Noukan happily commented. "How has that worked for him?"
"Simple investigations into his character have been done. Anything more extreme has been met with… formidable resistance."
"Ah. The classic hold of information. How long do you intend to keep a watchful eye on him?"
"Long enough."
"Fair. However, this certain someone vouching for him, I take it we know this person?"
"Mm. Quite well actually. He has an impressive title when it comes to helping young Kamijou."
A look of realization worked its way onto Noukan's face.
"Ahh… I see. Sora is very fortunate to have made him a friend."
"Yes, well, there are those who are becoming more curious about Sora. I may have to send a stark message to them…" Aleister whispered to himself.
"I'm sure there's another story to be told there, but may we go back to Sora and his situation as a whole? These dark creatures I've heard about and am now seeing on the screen are new. What are they?"
Allowing a momentary silence to envelop the room and add to the seriousness of things, Aleister soon responded.
"These creatures, or rather, these beings are known as the Heartless."
"Heartless?"
"Yes, they are a rather odd predicament that I am dealing with right now. As Board Chairman of the city, it's my job to make sure I know the ins and outs of everything transpiring on a daily. However, these Heartless are quite fascinating."
A stricken look of confusion worked its way up Noukan's face.
"Do tell. I'm not sure that I am following all that well, old friend."
"To give a rather mundane run down of their presence, they do not pose any threat to my plans. Everything is as it should be. Alas, these creatures can appear at a moment's notice. Without any warning whatsoever. And to top it off, their existence flickers with a hint of magic as well as something more…"
Based on how Aleister's intrigue sounded, Noukan wasn't sure if that was a bad thing or a worse thing to happen.
"What's more, Sora seems to be leaving Academy City."
"…I assume you'll step in and stop him? An individual like him who is unpredictable in nature would be put under strict- "
"No. I am not stopping him."
A surprised expression painted itself all over the golden retriever's body. This was not the reply that he was expecting from the Board Chairman.
"That's quite unexpected. Academy City's policies for the leaving of any citizen are rather complicated. This is further expanded upon for Espers of a higher caliber. Level 5s are quite complex cases that have an entire library worth of policies dedicated to themselves.
"The only Level 5 who has shown interest in leaving Academy City would be Misaka Mikoto. She has already shown evidential proof of wanting to return to the city should anything happen. Whether it is for her sisters or friends, she will return. As for the only other Level 5 who would seek to leave is Mugino Shizuri."
"Ah, Miss Mugino… quite the convoluted young woman. If she wanted to leave the city, she would have done so by now. Be it through force or sheer legal action."
"While that may be true in theory, I believe that Meltdowner knows the consequences of doing such an act. After all, she's already had a run-in with the hidden authority residing in Academy City. I doubt that's a situation she would want to deal with again."
The situation Aleister was referring to had to do with a certain event that transpired over a year ago during the end of last year's summer. An incident involving Item that resulted in them being placed on a hit list. This event was a stark reminder of the depths within Academy City and how the light side and dark side were not only separated but also intermingled on a greater level.
"Yes, that was quite the incident. Though, it was merely one of many in a long list of violations occurring in the city. There are still many who cause trouble behind the shadows."
"…"
"…Aleister?"
Unexpectedly, the Board Chairman had gone silent in thought and was merely processing whatever idea had come to him. This left Noukan to wonder just what was going through the chairman's head.
Suddenly, Aleister replied in a distant tone.
"Those that linger throughout the dark side of Academy City… I wonder how it could all be connected…"
"Connected? You've lost me, old friend."
Out of nowhere, multiple screens showcased pictures of Sora in different scenarios.
One of the pictures was of Sora holding his key-shaped weapon while another picture taken in the nighttime had him holding two strange-looking guns. On another screen, the boy's clothes had taken a different color scheme while he was holding his unusual-looking weapon. A few more of the screens had recorded videos of Sora battling against the Heartless.
It would appear that Aleister Crowley held some sort of interest in this boy.
"Do tell me, Noukan, how much crime do you think is documented in a day across Academy City?"
Tilting his head, the golden retriever couldn't come up with a truthful answer. However, an estimate would be the next best thing to present.
"Hmm. If I were to give a loose estimate… 50 percent of crime is unreported across the city."
"Sadly, my friend, you're off the mark by just a bit. The total identified crime on all monitoring systems across the districts comes up to 75 percent. I should also add that the incidents occurring in the dark side are also not accounted for."
"Such a large number… and yet, a great deal of incidents is covered by Anti Skill and Judgment."
"With this topic in mind, now consider the increased sightings of these Heartless."
As Aleister said this, several monitors appeared next to Noukan which displayed a holographic model of Academy City and all the districts. The map was then spotlighted with hundreds of dots scattered across the city.
"Are these…"
"Yes, they are. Sightings and encounters with the Heartless. All reported by Anti Skill… just from yesterday."
A staggering bundle of emotions hit the golden retriever as he was unable to give a thoughtful response. The realization that all these sightings and encounters were just in the last 24 hours was something to be taken seriously.
"…This is worrying."
Suddenly, another spotlight appeared on the large-scale map displaying green dots in various locations.
"I assume this is who I think it is…" Noukan asked, already knowing the answer.
"You assumed correctly. These are all the locations that Sora has managed to hit and deal with the Heartless. It's quite impressive."
Examining the map closely, Noukan had to wholeheartedly agree with Aleister's statement.
"Sora covered all this area…"
"Cast your eyes to the broader picture."
Doing just that, Noukan began glancing around at all the other districts and could see just how many green dots appeared across the city. Sora had left quite an impact across the city in just a short amount of time.
"Either he must've had quite the method of transportation to get around or some sort of trick."
Sporting a faint smirk along his face, Aleister shifted his eyes which seemed to cause another screen to appear which played a video of Sora running across a street in haste. In the next moment, the video managed to capture a strange blue light glowing around the boy followed by him shooting forward and spinning around a pole before being launched at the nearest wall and beginning to run across it with ease.
This answered the question of how Sora was able to get from one place to another in such a short amount of time. Such a feat was quite an abnormal sight, but in a city filled with limitless potential, something like this was possible.
"… I'm beginning to have every expectation around Sora be shattered the more I learn about him" Noukan enthusiastically commented. "So fascinating…"
"There is a great deal I wish to learn about him. Which is why I will not be doing anything and let him leave Academy City. Not to mention, he isn't technically an Esper and has no real ties to Academy City."
"Truly a wild card then."
"But… therein lies what I would starkly call the start of a grand plan."
"Hm? A grand plan… another one of your complex foreseen schemes?"
"Yes. Alas, this time things will be different. My plans will undoubtedly be under my watch. However, with Sora's influence, I wonder just how this city of darkness will change once he becomes more involved…"
Noukan couldn't help but be curious about what was being said. It all sounded… mysterious.
"I take it this goes back to your connected comment?"
"A valid assessment. I wish to see how quickly these Heartless and Darkness continue to spread across Academy City. Making sure those who reside in peace stay in peace, but those in the dark are met with a darkness that overshadows what's been stained."
"Pitting the dark side against this… newfound darkness?"
"That's one way of putting it."
A simple glance at the various monitors let Noukan understand just what Aleister meant now.
"Along with having Sora deal with the mess?"
"Precisely."
"And what purpose does this solve? People will get hurt."
It was at this moment that Aleister Crowly had the perfect response.
"Then we are lucky to have a hero in our midst."
*BEEP*
Appearing on one of the maps, a notification caught both scientist's attention.
"What's that?"
"Our wildcard is nearing the outskirts of the city which leads to Tokyo."
Noukan couldn't help the surprised expression on his face.
"Well, I'll be… Sora's moving fast."
Examining the screen closely, Noukan could see what Aleister meant. The interesting young man was moving incredibly fast and heading to a train station.
"You're truly not going to do anything?" The golden retriever carefully questioned.
"Why should I? Our friend is clearly moving with a goal in mind. If anything, I'm rather curious as to what has him acting this way. Perhaps there is something to be concerned about?" Aleister countered.
"True. Besides, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about what was happening."
Content with this answer, Aleister soon focused on the screen to see what the young man would do next.
Meanwhile, with Sora…
Rushing through the closing doors, the spiky-haired teen had to catch his breath. He didn't know how fast or long he had been running, but all that mattered was that he was here now. Sitting on a train heading to Tokyo.
Leaning back in his seat, he tiredly lifted one eye to see who else was on the train with him and found only a couple of people. A few students and adults were all separated and kept to themselves offering a tempered atmosphere.
A pleasant sense of peace was what he had found.
'I made it… I didn't think I'd catch the train in time…'
Thinking back to what happened after he ended his call with Mugino, Sora hastily sprinted off in the direction of Tokyo. Once there, he could work on finding Shibuya. One problem at a time.
The rest of his trip was a haze at this point. Running down the streets and using his Flowmotion to spin around poles, run along walls, or slide down railings. A true showcase of how well he mastered the abilities around Flowmotion.
Closing his eyes and feeling his body relax, the Keyblade wielder had no idea how long this train ride would be. Hence, he figured a nap would suit him best.
Besides, who knew what trouble would await him in Shibuya…
Some time later…
Feeling his body be pulled forward, Sora snapped his eyes open to see that the train was slowing down which meant that it would soon stop. It had felt like no time had passed at all from when he rested his eyes to now opening them.
Checking his surroundings, he was surprised to see more people had boarded the train making it quite compact. The space had gotten to the point that it was hard for him to see the exit from where he was sitting. Various people could be seen all around the compartment. Ranging from students dressed in their school outfits to middle-aged people dressed up casually, to older folks trying their best to have enough room. One elderly couple in particular caught his attention.
"Excuse me, sir, miss, would you like to take my seat?"
Surprised by the sudden question, the older couple glanced at one another before speaking to the Keyblade wielder.
"Oh? There's no need to- "
"Don't worry! It's alright. If I wasn't passed out, then I would have given my seat to you two sooner" Sora reasoned while offering a friendly smile.
"Ahh. Such a kind young man. I wish more young men had your kindness" the older lady commented. "Kids nowadays are so self-absorbed. Only thinking about themselves."
Not quite sure how he should respond, Sora simply scratched his cheek.
"Y-Yeah… But anyway, please take my seat."
Getting up and making room for the couple, he helped them sit down and could see their bodies relax a bit after getting comfortable.
"Mm. This is really nice. Thank you, young man," said the older gentleman. "Are you sure that- "
"I'm sure. Besides, I think my stop is coming up."
"Hm? And where are you heading off to?"
*PING*
Just as Sora was about to respond, a voice coming from an intercom not seen could be heard making an announcement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now arriving at Shibuya Station. I repeat, we are now arriving a Shibuya Station."
Utter shock could be seen on the brunette's face as he was not expecting to easily get where he needed to be. His initial thoughts for getting to Shibuya included a long mess of train hopping or even walking on foot to get to the area. This was a total surprise.
"Deary? Are you okay? You look displeased?" the older woman said.
Pulled from his shocked state, Sora shook his head.
"No, no. I'm alright. I just… figured it was harder to get to Shibuya."
"Ah. Is this your first time?" the older man asked.
"Yep!"
"Well then, I hope you're ready to deal with the crowds. Everywhere you go, there's going to be a line of people waiting. Whether it's for food, shopping, or just waiting for transportation, the lines get hectic."
Making a mental note of what to be prepared for, Sora nodded his head while feeling the train coming to a stop.
"Right. Thank you for the heads up."
"Also! Make sure to carry a map with you. It's relatively easy to get lost across the districts" the older lady added. "Shinjuku, Akihabara, and Kichijoji are also lively locations. Those are must-go places."
"Will do. Thank you!"
"No, thank you for giving us your seat. Take care now."
Waving at the older couple, Sora made his way off the train and was now standing in quite a mess. All around him, people were walking back and forth with no trouble whatsoever. Before he knew it, he was being pushed from all sides as people were trying to either board the train or exit.
Deciding that he couldn't stay here, he made his way forward and up a flight of stairs. His amazement continued to grow as stared at the underground structure surrounding him and allowed people to enter from different points.
Continuing to move ahead, Sora viewed various shops selling all sorts of things ranging from flower shops, coffee shops, toy shops, and shops that he didn't have a clue about. It was also a bit confusing to navigate his way around. Hence, he was left wandering along the narrow halls of the train station.
'Ugh… where is the exit!? I thought the line that I passed was the exit, but it was just a restroom. Maybe if I keep going up?'
Left in his thoughts, he continued to stride up the stairs before finding even more people moving along the station. To get out of here, he would have to put his agility to the test.
Weaving through the crowds of people, Sora did all that he could to get past the intimidating wave of people. Before long, he soon found himself seeing sunlight in the distance.
'The Sun!'
Pressing himself forward, the Guardian of Light soon found himself standing at the top of the train station and out of the underground maze. A sigh of relief hit him as he missed the Sun's light.
"Whoa…"
Keeping his head on a swivel, Sora tried to take in all the new and exciting sights before him. Buildings that went high into the sky followed by countless windows spread across the structures, countless people moving in various directions while all having unique appearances and features, and the noise.
*BEEP*
*CHATTER*
*HONK*
*DING*
*STEP*
*STEP*
A lingering thought presented itself to Sora as he took in the city's features.
If he had not visited San Fransokyo before coming here, then he would have had a brain malfunction. The same could be said for when he woke up in Academy City.
Granted, waking up on the ground in a strange new city dealt with different circumstances. Plus, it was night at that time. If he awoke during the day, then things might have been different.
Timidly stepping forward and beginning to head into the unknown, Sora kept an eye on any sort of landmark or building that was unique or had an unusual design. He also made sure to prepare himself for anything that might happen.
Darkness was still on the loose and he had no idea where the mysterious being was.
"Hey! You! Spiky!"
Startled by the sudden shouting, Sora spun himself around to try and find out who was calling out to him.
"Huh? Who…"
"Behind you!"
Turning around, the blue-eyed boy soon found himself in an odd situation.
*PING*
Walking over to him and now standing in front of him, a girl around his age had her hands on her hips with a mixed expression. The girl's appearance was that of short dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a black and red sleeveless hoodie. She wore a red and black tartan-pattern miniskirt with black heeled boots that had red soles. And to top it off, she had a friendly smirk on her face.
"You're new here, right?"
"Err… how did you know?" replied Sora.
Wiggling her finger at him, the girl couldn't help but giggle.
"Because you look like a chicken without its head."
Sora couldn't help but utter a single word to encapsulate the confusion swarming around his brain.
"Excuse me?"
"You look lost. You've been standing still for a good five minutes straight. Everyone's been looking at you weirdly. And to be honest, I am too."
Feeling a wave of embarrassment hit him, the Keyblade wielder could only scratch his cheek while letting out an awkward laugh.
"R-Really? Hehe… I guess I was deep in thought then…"
"You have no idea haha. I'm Iris. Iris Amicitia."
"Nice to meet you! I'm Sora."
Nodding her head, Iris continued.
"Well, Sora, do you need help with something? You mentioned being in deep thought. Maybe I can help?"
Realizing that this was his chance to get some help, Sora gladly jumped at the opportunity.
"Actually, I do need help."
"Great! What's the problem?"
Giving the surrounding area another glance, Sora came up with what he wanted to ask.
"Is there any sort of special place around here that I could get to?"
Tilting her head, Iris could only laugh at the boy's bizarre comment.
"Uh… Sora, you do realize that we're in a city. I could name over a dozen special places around here."
"I know that. But maybe something that will help me…"
"Help you? With what?" Iris asked with a hint of concern.
Not wanting to involve her in his mess, he shook his head and scrambled his brain for a decent response to her question.
"I… I'm new to Tokyo! And new to Shibuya and just wanted to know of any cool places to see nearby. Maybe do a bit of sightseeing?"
Keeping a hard stare at the boy, Iris could obviously tell something was up, but with due respect for him, she decided to take it at face value.
"I see. Well, there are a couple of sightseeing spots that most tourists want to capture. To list a few, we have Hachiko's Memorial Statue, Togo Shrine, Dogenzaka, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya Scramble Crossing, and- "
"Wait. Go back. What did you just say?" Sora eagerly asked. "That place…"
"Shibuya Crossing? Is that what you're interested in?"
Nodding his head, Sora kept his response direct. However, on the inside, he was currently bouncing around thoughts in his head.
'Shibuya Scramble Crossing… Neku mentioned Shibuya back in Traverse Town. So, that must mean it's important or somewhere he might be familiar with. I still need to find out where Darkness could be… Maybe I could do two things at once?'
"Huh… Well, you don't have to worry too much about finding it. See that road?"
Iris was now pointing in one direction.
"If you just head that way, you'll see a lot of people waiting at several crosswalks for the light to turn green. That whole area is known as Shibuya Scramble Crossing. You probably get the idea of where its name comes from. It's also a good spot to see the ten *BZZT* building."
Sora's eyes shot wide open.
Something was not right.
"Huh? Iris, what did you say about the building?"
"Eh? Did you not hear me? I said it's a good spot to see the ten *BZZT* building."
Without a doubt, Sora knew something was off. Mishearing her once was something he could admit, but to hear the same thing again was not ordinary.
Making sure to not scare her, he kept as calm of a face as he could and simply put on a happy-go attitude.
"Oh, man! I've heard of that building before. That's gotta be my first spot to go!"
Perplexed by the boy's sudden burst in emotion, Iris decided to play it cool.
"Is that so? Well then, I'll leave you to it! Good luck, Sora! And maybe I'll see you around?"
"Maybe. See you!"
Dashing away without saying another word, Sora headed in the direction that Iris pointed to him. His mind was set on finding this Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Once he got there, then he'd work on what to do next.
Watching as the spiky-haired boy got further and further away, Iris couldn't help but get the feeling that there was something odd about Sora. Either way, she wished him the best of luck.
Turning away from the station, Iris began to walk away to meet up with some of her friends.
Coincidentally, a slim man wearing a professional dark suit was seen walking in the direction that Sora had taken. The man had a tilak with long black hair coursing along his back. A serious atmosphere could be felt around him.
Pulling his phone out, he made a call while walking at a steady pace.
"Sir, I have eyes on the boy."
"Good. Keep a close eye on him. Our spies in Academy City saw him rushing to the train station. Something must be going down in Shibuya."
"Understood, sir."
"Oh, and Tseng?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Have Elena watch him from a distance. Knowing what he's capable of, it would be wise to have multiple eyes on him."
Glancing over his shoulder, Tseng could see a young woman with a slender physique, fair skin, brown eyes, and neck-length blonde hair. She was dressed in a dark uniform just as he was. A stern and bored expression could be seen on her face.
"Already on it, sir."
"Hm. Keep me posted then."
Click*
The call ended as the blonde-haired girl better known as Elena let out an exasperated sigh.
"*sigh* Are we seriously watching some kid run around the city?"
"You've read the reports and seen the recorded footage of him in action."
"I know that! I'm just saying… it's going to be boring until things happen."
"…"
Tseng gave no response and simply stared in the direction that Sora had gone.
"Elena, watch him from a northern point. I'll take the South."
"*sigh* Fine."
With nothing else needing to be said, the two agents moved swiftly and followed the aimlessly wandering Keyblade wielder.
A few minutes later
Coming into a large crowd of people, Sora couldn't believe his eyes.
Before him, a sight that resonated deep in his heart as well as ignited a memory of a devastating duel. He could not fathom what he was seeing.
"No way… it looks… exactly like my dream…and…"
Around him, the sight of Shibuya Scramble Crossing was on full display. From where the crosswalks intersected to the building placements, he could easily see that things were busy.
Then again, busy was an understatement.
Advertisements were showcased along all the buildings that he could see. Posters of food, clothes, or people could be seen. Not to mention, the people all around him were moving like ants. One after another waiting to walk across the street or minding their own business. He felt like he could be swept away in the wave of people.
Scanning around for anything that would serve as a place to scout out the place, Sora began walking along the sidewalk until he managed to join the mass of people moving away.
As he walked across the street, a sense of heavy Deja vu began to settle in his mind.
'I… I was here… in this exact spot…'
Turning his head and looking up at the buildings around him, Sora could easily recall the sensation of familiarity hitting him. It was as if he had jumped into his dream. Or at least the faint memory being played out in his mind.
'I was in Shibuya… when I fought Yozora? But how? He said that wasn't the real world, but that doesn't make sense. I also remember looking up at the building… '
From the buildings and structure of the roads, Sora wasn't sure what to think. But just as he was about to look at the building where he fought the mysterious boy, something felt off.
*PING*
Just as he was about to look at the building, his vision began to distort. The number sitting near the top of the circular structure was phasing in and out of reality. There was no concrete way for Sora to describe what exactly was happening.
*Step*
*Step*
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a voice called out to him.
"Careful not to strain yourself, my boy."
Immediately knowing whose voice that belonged to, Sora swung his body around and had his Keyblade already summoned and pointed at the familiar foe.
"You!?"
*Kingdom Hearts 3 - Organization XIII -Mark of Fate- OST*
A sly grin appeared on the individual's face.
"Come now, is that any way to greet an old friend?"
Sora didn't reply and simply continued to glare at the person.
"Haha. It's nice to see that you're taking no chances. Shows a bit of character development."
"Quit it."
"Quit what?"
"Using others' faces... I know you're not the real Master Xehanort!"
Standing there with a gleeful yet chilling grin was an older bald man with thin eyebrows and a curled silver goatee. His ears were pointed and his eyes were cold with an amber color. He appeared overall as a somewhat feeble old man, certainly deceiving given his immense power. His clothing was composed of a white and black coat with a red inner lining, which was worn over a white shirt with two thin black belts, as well as white gloves and calf-high black boots.
"And what makes you say that?" Xehanort questioned while grinning madly.
"I watched Xehanort…" Sora said, gritting his teeth as he recalled the last passing moments of the actual Seeker of Darkness. "I watched him pass on. Peacefully."
"Mayhap I survived?" The old man coyly replied.
Feeling his blood boil, Sora wanted to yell at the foe before him but realized that was exactly what he wanted.
"…You're wrong. I know in my heart that Master Xehanort, even with all the bad things he did in his life, his last moments were of peace. And you show up here looking like him is just wrong, Mimic."
A dark chuckle escaped the fake Master Xehanort's mouth.
"I am pleased to see that you are taking the time to analyze the situation and not jump straight to aggression. You're building character, Sora."
"Quit with the compliments! Tell me why you're here. And where is Darkness?"
"Darkness is all around us. You know that much is certain."
The annoyed expression on Sora's face spoke volumes.
"Mm. Tell me, hero, what do you think of this place?"
"What? What are you- "
"Shibuya. Such an interesting place. Where many hearts all come together. You're bound to find someone out of the ordinary here. Hearts of light or darkness. This city is truly unique."
"Is this why Darkness is here?" Sora asked, making sure to pay attention to whatever might be said. "And why are you back? I thought I beat you?"
"Did you really? Or is that what you think?" the Mimic sweetly retorted.
"It's a fact."
"Well now, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you merely destroyed a Mimic. Quite the double act, wouldn't you say?"
As Sora processed this information, his expression switched from thoughtful to full-on irritated.
"Grr. Then I'll just beat you again!"
"Not a care in the world. Do you even realize your situation? Better yet, your surroundings."
Glancing around, Sora immediately realized that something was not right. Around him, people were continuing to go about their business and not notice the confrontation that was going on. Even with his Keyblade out, nobody paid him or the fake Xehanort any mind.
"What did you do?"
"I merely made it so we could chat with no distractions. Besides, we both know where this conversation is heading. Are you sure you want innocent civilians caught up in the crossfire?"
Knowing that the fake Xehanort was right, Sora huffed some air before taking another look around. Everyone continued to keep to themselves. It was almost as if he was invisible to them.
Casting a glance up at the circular building, Sora continued to have his vision messed with as he couldn't tell exactly what numbers were displayed on the building's side. From the looks of it, only two numbers could be seen.
'One… zero…'
Realizing that he was getting nowhere with that, he turned his attention back on the disrespectful copy of Xehanort.
"What are you and Darkness plotting here? Why Shibuya? Why now? And why can't I see that building clearly!?'"
Raising his gloved hand, the fake Master Xehanort chuckled grimly.
"Qwell your frustration, hero. Otherwise, you'll be overtaken by the amount of questions lingering in your heart."
"I wouldn't be so frustrated if you just quit being cryptic!"
"If you think I'm being cryptic, then you are in for even more pain. This world is riddled with questions. Complex dilemmas that revolve around science and magic. Even now, you chose to leave Academy City while leaving the magical problem to your friends. Quite selfish if you ask me."
An annoyed sigh left Sora's lips as he continued to stare down at the old man.
"You keep saying this world is this or this world is that. I get it."
"No… you don't. Soon enough you will be met with grievances that are almost too much for you to handle. Things are not as simple as you once thought. Hearts are not coated in light or darkness here in this world. Even a gray tone would not do it justice."
"It doesn't matter! I'll continue to follow my heart and do what I believe is right."
"Even at the cost of a friend?"
Taken aback by this sudden statement, Sora weakly responded.
"What…?"
Crossing his arms behind his back, the fake Master Xehanort held an aura of superiority above the Keyblade wielder. Whatever the old man knew, it wasn't good.
"There are many in this world that do not walk the fine lines of light or darkness. Sooner or later you will encounter someone's resolve that rivals your own, and yet, you may have to be the one to destroy their ambition to save the lives of others."
"That won't happen!"
"How can you be so sure? You have made it here and now by listening to your heart. But what if someone else's heart has them walking a dark road? Will you prevent them from reaching their goal? Taking away their purpose?"
Gritting his teeth and feeling his head throb, Sora didn't know how to respond. The idea of having to stop someone to save others should have been a no-brainer answer.
However, if he had to stop a friend… this made his stomach churn and feel anxious. In the short amount of time that he'd been in this world, he knew that things were much different. Even though he had not seen everything, he knew the darkness here was something much more malevolent. Not to mention the many people who could use powers.
What the Mimic was saying had some merit.
"…It doesn't matter. If my heart tells me to step in and stop someone from hurting others, then I'll do that. And more! I'll save everyone!"
"Boundlessly heroic as always, Sora. That's why you're so special."
Sora frowned at what was being said but didn't interject.
"The bonds you create with others and utilize to become stronger… such a simple aspect yet given enormous form. Darkness will have to take notes."
"Enough! Where is he?!"
"Right behind you."
Feeling goosebumps scour across his body, Sora immediately flipped himself around and expected to see the dark mysterious being known as Darkness. However, he was met with something more… painful.
*BOOM*
*THUD*
Being sent hurtling along the ground and landing in a crowd of people, Sora hurriedly got back to his feet only to be met with a tense situation.
*SCREAM!*
Everyone had seemingly begun running away in droves causing mass panic and even vehicles to crash into one another. Swerving his head around, Sora could not tell what just happened. Only that something bad was here.
Turning his attention back to Darkness and the fake Master Xehanort, he could see the dark being say something to the Mimic before it nodded its head and began fading away.
"Hey! Where are you going!?"
"Don't worry. It'll be back soon" Darkness coldly replied. "I hope this little trip has been eventful for you."
"It would if I didn't have to deal with you!" Sora fired back. "What are you planning!?"
Raising his head to see the people continuing to run away, Darkness let out a faint chuckle.
"I told you before. This world has many mysteries. Sources of magic and power. Shibuya was but one of many sources. Alas, it's also a stark reminder of how vast reality and unreality truly are."
"You're not making any sense!"
"Good. If I was, then we'd both be losing our minds. So, let me make things easier to understand…"
Suddenly, several dark orbs began rising from the ground until they started circling the Guardian of Light and Fragment of Darkness.
"Shibuya is a beacon or a landmark. Whatever term is easier for you to latch onto. It's an imaginative point where hearts are conjoined. Whether it's from this world and events that have happened here or will happen… or events that have happened in another Shibuya…"
Doing his best to understand what Darkness was saying, Sora began considering the topic closely.
"What's happened in this Shibuya… or another?"
"Correct. Before you confuse yourself any further, consider this, you have already dealt with multiple realities revolving around one space. May I remind you of the Mark of Mastery?" Darkness proclaimed to the boy.
Immediately realizing what Darkness was getting at, Sora had to agree.
During his previous adventure, he had to partake in a test to become a true Keyblade Master. However, he and Riku were separated into two different versions of a single world. The first world they traveled to was Traverse Town which is where he met Neku and his friends as well as learning about Shibuya. Two Traverse Towns existing at the same time yet dealing with different situations helped him better understand what Darkness was saying.
"Yeah… I get what you're kind of saying now. So, does that mean there are multiple Shibuyas?"
"…"
Darkness did not respond and simply shifted his attention out to the city. People could still be seen running away along with screaming being heard. No one knew what exactly was going on and that bred the perfect recipe for things to come.
Fear had taken over.
"Hey! You didn't answer me!"
"And I don't need to. This ideological point was something that I raised. You will have to find the answer out on your own, Sora."
Gripping onto the Keyblade's handle, Sora was not going to take that response.
"That doesn't matter! What matters is stopping you and whatever you have planned now."
The dark being then appeared to shake his head before turning his head to look at the Keyblade wielder.
"I'm afraid that won't be in the cards. You're going to have your hands tied."
"Yeah right! You're not going anywhere!"
Before Sora could sprint right at the dark foe, something unusual happened.
"I have some other business to look into while I'm here. Don't worry. She'll keep you company…"
"Who?"
Within a split second, Sora felt someone appear right behind him and walk to his side. Upon a better look at the person, he could see that it was a girl.
This girl's appearance was that of shoulder-length black hair with an unreadable expression on her face. While she was beautiful, she was wearing a strange militaristic outfit featuring a mix of blue, white, and black colors. Covering her left shoulder was a white jacket that went past her hand and ended with a feather outline. A pair of dark shorts could also be seen as well as a white belt holding various items. Black boots could also be seen laced up and reaching to the middle of her calf. Another stand-out feature of this girl was the blade resting on her hip.
"…"
The girl said nothing to Sora and simply waltzed past him until she was several feet away.
"Who are you?"
"…"
"What's wrong? Why aren't you talking?"
Witnessing the boy's frustration growing, Darkness let out an amused chuckle.
"I wouldn't worry too much, Sora. Besides, the only thing you should be worrying about… is how you're going to fight back" Darkness cryptically announced.
"Huh? What are you- "
*FWOOSH*
Out of nowhere, the mysterious girl pulled out her blade and pointed it at Sora. Additionally, a strange-looking hat that covered her eyes and went past her nose with weird designs was now resting atop her head. The hat was black and white with glowing outlines that formed a strange symbol.
Sora wasn't sure what to think about this sudden change.
"Hold on! You don't have to do this!"
"I'm afraid she does, Sora. Her name is Sari Nijiima. Well, the actual her might I add."
"The actual her… then…"
"Bingo. I asked the Mimic to take on a new form. Someone you've never dealt with. I figured a challenging new foe would put you in your place."
Brandishing her weapon and now pointing it at the Keyblade wielder, the fake Sari held a cold glare in her eyes.
*DING*
Suddenly, the girl's eyes, hair, and even clothes glowed a vibrant blue color. It was almost as if she activated a power boost to herself.
"Well then, depending on if you make out in one piece, I'll be seeing you back in Academy City."
"Wait! You're not leaving!"
"Afraid I am. I've got a few more things to investigate here in Shibuya. Make no mistake. I'll be back. But for now… May your heart be your guiding key…"
*WHOOSH*
A Corridor of Darkness soon appeared right before Darkness. With one final nod of acknowledgment, the mysterious foe walked through the portal and disappeared. The portal immediately closed.
Now, staring down at the fake Sari Nijiima's blade, Sora knew a fight was going to happen no matter what.
Meanwhile, up in the air.
Hovering directly above the Keyblade wielder and adjusting itself for a better view, a drone could be seen capturing the events happening below. Furthermore, this drone was sending a live feed directly to the Board Chairman and the golden retriever watching the confrontation live.
"Things are getting out of hand fast," Noukan grimly remarked. "Are there plans to cover this up?"
"Depending on how things proceed… that can be arranged. However, I'm intrigued by how things will play out. It seems we're in for quite a show" Aleister Crowley responded with a great hint of intrigue.
"What about public consumption? Aren't you worried about footage of magic at play being recorded?"
"If I weren't worried, then I wouldn't have caused the mass panic to ensue. Letting Sora deal with this… unusual individual."
A look of surprise appeared on the golden retriever's face.
"Oh? That was you? I figured with Sora being thrown back that people were fleeing due to the heightened confrontation."
"That could have garnered enough reason to leave the area, but I figured a simple little message appearing on everyone's devices would give enough incentive to leave hastily."
Appearing in front of the two was a screen that showcased a simple message.
BOMB IN THE AREA. EVACUATE NOW!
"Simplicity to its fullest."
Just as Aleister was about to respond something was beginning to take place on the screen focused on Sora.
"Hm. It would appear that the show is about to begin."
Both Aleister and Noukan's attention was directed at the scene ready to see what would happen. Things were getting interesting by the minute.
A few minutes before
Sitting inside one of the buildings with a direct line of sight to Shibuya Scramble Crossing was a middle-aged woman minding her own business. At least, that's how she wanted to be viewed. In reality, she was keeping an eye on the events unfolding down on the ground.
Shifting her gaze between the bomb warning sent to her phone and the many people running around her to get away, she was tasked to keep an eye on the spiky-haired boy. No matter what was going on, her mission was to report everything that happened around him.
Reaching for her phone and calling up a number, she began to see movement on the ground as the other end of the line picked up. A direct line to the Mugino family butler.
"Sir, I have a live report. You're going to wanna hear this."
Back to Sora.
Twirling his Keyblade, Sora stared right back at the fake Sari and wanted to tell her to stop this. Alas, he remembered that this wasn't the real Sari and just another imitation presented by the Mimic.
He would need to fight to end this charade.
*Reynatis - Suppression of Magic OST*
Without missing a beat, Sari lunged her blade right at Sora causing him to block the attack. But before he could react, she had already pulled her weapon back and began stabbing at his torso. This forced him to instantly block the attacks.
*SWISH*
*TING*
*SCHLING*
"Gah!"
The fake Sari did not say anything and simply stared at the teen coldly.
*WHOOSH!*
Breaking away from the blade bind, Sari swung her blade right at Sora's shoulder causing him to block the attack. Unfortunately, that was exactly what she wanted.
*WHAM!*
"Agh!"
*CRASH*
Being kicked directly in the chest, Sora was sent flying back and landed on the side of a parked car. The door had been completely dented while the brunette was wincing in pain.
Suddenly, Sora could see Sari dashing right at him with tunnel vision on her face. This resulted in him flopping to the ground and rolling back to his feet. He was then met with another barrage of stabs coming his way which were all blocked in perfect succession.
*DING*
*WHOOSH!*
*BAM!*
Blocking each stab directed his way, Sora deflected Sari's katana-looking blade while trying to find an opening. Alas, that proved to be a waste as his foe was quick on her feet and even quicker with adapting.
"Hyah!"
*CHING!*
Flashing away, the Mimic then appeared right above Sora and tried landing an overhead slash on him, but he threw himself backward and managed to avoid the attack.
Crawling back to his feet, Sora tried casting a Wind spell to throw her back but was sadly mistaken for a faint attack as she soared right into the air and came diving down at him.
*WHOOF!*
*WHAM!*
"Ngh! Grr!"
Having the Keyblade held in front of him, Sora managed to mostly defend himself from the brunt of the attack, but there was still quite a bit of debris that had appeared around the two.
Seeing him block the attack, Sari teleported away and soon reappeared high in the sky. Her blade then began to glow blue before she sent slashes of light right at him.
Sora wasted no time in dodging the projectile attacks and having his vision be lopsided from all the rolling.
After the third roll, the teen decided to try something new and immediately tried casting a Triple Plasma spell at the flying adversary. However, this proved to be difficult as Sari had once again teleported away and then reappeared in front of him.
*BANG!*
*TING!*
Before he could react, the Mimic had teleported high into the sky and slashed her sword down at the Keyblade wielder causing slices of light to soar through the sky and at him.
"Whoa!"
Dodging the light attacks sent his way, Sora was then forced to block one of the attacks head on causing a small explosion to occur.
*BOOM*
"Nice trick. But that's nothing!"
The Guardian of Light then dashed right at Sari and met her head on in another barrage of strikes.
*DING*
*WHOOSH!*
*BAM!*
*SWOOSH!*
The two continued to duel it out with a constant flurry of attacks being blocked on both sides. Whenever Sora would try to land a direct attack, Sari managed to deflect his attack and counter with her own. However, he would do the same. Leading to a back-and-forth situation to take place even making sparks from the two blades clashing against one another.
After having another attack blocked by Sora, Sari leaped back and raised her blade into the air. At the same time, her body began glowing blue just like the first time causing a bit of concern to grow in Sora's chest.
With quick thinking, Sora pointed his Keyblade at her and began casting several Blizzard spells right at her.
Seeing this, the Mimic simply sidestepped each ice spell before lunging forward with enhanced speed. Sora didn't have enough time to act and was hit.
"GAH!"
Out of instinct, he countered by reprising and casting a Thunder spell right at her.
*BOOM*
A strike of yellow lightning hit Sari causing her to wince at the attack but not before rushing at him. The magical attack managed to hurt her but only a slight bit.
Not about to let a little wound set his back, Sora countered this move and also dashed right at her. But he had a trick up his sleeve.
"Come on!"
Once the two were inches away from having their blades clash together, Sora acted fast.
*KA-BOOM!*
An explosion of light consumed the area and sent Sari flying back so that she landed hard on the ground a bit away. As she regained her vision, the fake girl could see the spiky-haired boy now in a different light.
Sora's attire had changed to a black tone with a mix of red, yellow, and white all over his clothes. Another standout feature of him was the confident smirk on his face. Something that conveyed how he truly felt.
Second form was now in play.
"You're done here!"
Charging forward, Sora wasted no time and went on the offensive.
*BAM*
*BANG*
*SWOOSH*
*CLING*
*CLANG*
*WHAM*
Rolling to the side, Sora fired several Fire spells at the Mimic, but most of the attacks were dodged. One of the spells was deflected by Sari's weapon and hit a parked vehicle causing it to explode. Whether it was due to the spell's power or something else that remained to be seen.
*BANG!*
*CLASH!*
*WHOOSH!*
The two continued to duke it out with their weapons. Sora even tried pulling a few of his own tricks against the formidable foe by performing a Strike Raid at her.
*SWOOSH!*
*FWOOSH!*
Every time the Keyblade was hurled right at it, Sari managed to dodge each attack by either leaping high into the air or completely phasing out of the way.
This forced Sora to keep changing his way of fighting. Seeing that this was his first time ever fighting against this Sari individual, even if it wasn't the real version, he still needed to be alert.
*BAM!*
*TING!*
*CLING!*
*CLANG!*
*SCHING!*
*WHOOSH!*
At an incredible speed, the two were appearing and disappearing followed by bursts of light flashing. An even display of swordsmanship was being projected by the two as the fight continued.
*BAM!*
Sora was sent flying back from a swift kick.
However, that would not stop him.
Twisting his head to see what he was going to hit, a light pole was the first thing to catch his eye. This caused him to smirk while simultaneously coming up with a plan.
Flipping himself around effortlessly, Sora's entire body was soon glowing blue thanks to his Flowmotion activating. He then maneuvered himself to hit the pole straight on which gave him the advantage he needed.
*WHOOSH!*
Immediately, his entire body was spinning around the pole and gaining tremendous speed.
The fake Sari wasn't sure what was happening, but before she could even react, she was launched backward and slammed right into the closest wall causing dust and debris to go flying all over the place.
*BOOM!*
Sora was now standing right where the Mimic just was and could see her shrugging off the attack. A calculated glare appeared on her face as she stared daggers at the Guardian of Light.
"What? Not feeling like talking this time around, Mimic?" Sora asked, antagonizing the Mimic.
"..."
"The last time we fought, you wouldn't stop talking while using the faces of Larxene and Marluxia. What happened this time?"
"..."
"Don't feel like talking?"
"..."
Just as Sora was about to say something else, the fake Sari took off her hat and stared at it for a split second before letting it fall to the ground.
*DING*
Repeating what happened before, Sari's hair, eyes, and outfit glowed a bright blue color as she prepared her blade to strike.
"..."
Realizing that she wasn't going to say anything, Sora huffed out some air before getting into his signature battle stance.
"I'm not losing!"
With one final breath, the two charged right at one another and continued to be locked in a tight duel of blades. Sparks were flying all over the place along with Sora's elemental spells either being deflected or dodged.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing had now turned into a battleground with fire, ice, water, damaged vehicles, and debris scattered all over the place. Sirens roared in the distance and not a single person could be seen in the area.
At least that's how it appeared.
However, several individuals continued to witness the fight and take note of everything that was happening. Different powers that be were all keeping an eye on the developing situation, and it all centered around a certain someone.
That someone being the wielder of the Keyblade.
*Special Author's Note*
In the spirit of Christmas having come and gone already, this omake will be centered around Christmas and a bit of mayhem that Sora manages to stir up with the others. Hope it'll be a fun read!
Omake - The Key to Christmas Mayhem I
Feeling a slight breeze brush past him, Sora glanced up at the bright and clear sky before him cascading across Academy City and beyond. The winter holidays were beginning to take effect, and it was obvious with all the Christmas decorations now being placed on doors and windows. The joyful holiday was nearing.
However, a certain statement continued to bounce around his head.
"I don't believe in him."
That was the staggering announcement coming from the young girl dressed as a nun, Index.
Even now, as Sora was making his way to another one of his friend's places, he couldn't get that groundbreaking statement out of his continued to rattle him as he replayed the events that led up to that bold and hazardous announcement.
A few minutes earlier
Sitting around the small table inside the Kamijou apartment, Sora was hanging out with Touma, Index, and Sphynx. Kamijou was currently busy preparing a light breakfast while the other two humans were chatting about the topic of Christmas. Sphinx on his part was being manhandled by Index.
"Wait… so you're telling me that Santa- "
"The thought process of Santa can be traced back to the real-life 4th-century Christian saint, Saint Nicholas. The legend of Saint Nicholas is a key part of Christmas traditions" Index explained.
"…I see…"
"What's wrong, Sora? You look more confused than upset. You do know that Santa Claus isn't real."
"Meow?"
"I hear ya, Sphynx. She might be on the naughty list" Sora replied to the calico cat.
"Excuse me, but I don't see how what I'm saying is wrong. And how would you know that?" Index argued while folding her arms. "Santa Claus is not real."
Scratching his cheek, Sora could argue that he definitely knew Santa Claus was real. He even got to talk with him and help him deal with a bubbling was without a doubt a Santa.
After being asleep in a pod for over a year, Sora, Donald, and Goofy went back to Halloween Town to catch up with their old friends. But things are never too simple as they were soon forced to deal with the Heartless showing up and causing a ruckus. This soon led him through a Christmas Tree door that took him to a snowy place. It was there that he managed to meet Santa and learn the harsh truth of the world.
He was put on the naughty list.
All thanks to him and his big mouth for telling everyone when he was younger that Santa Claus was not real. That's what landed him on the naughty list.
He would not be put back there again.
"I'm sorry, Index, but he is real."
"No, he's not."
"Yes, he is."
"No!"
"Yes."
"No!"
"Mm-hm. He's real."
"No!"
"Yep."
"Meow."
"Grr. Touma! What do you think? Is Santa real or not?"
Finishing up on breakfast, Touma stepped out of the small kitchen and held a strained look on his face.
"Well…that's kind of complicated for me to answer."
"Complicated? How?"
Regarding Kamijou Touma's current predicament, he wasn't exactly clear on how he used to view the whole Santa Claus debate. Before his memory loss, he could have been the biggest Christmas hater around, or he could have been one of the jolliest people to be around.
Either way, the current him viewed the holiday in a different light. To him, Christmas was the time to be around those you cherish and be thankful for all that's happened. When it came to him and being thankful, he was lucky that misfortune continued to plague him daily and not anyone else. The joy and happiness seen on others' faces were more than enough for him.
"I… I think I'm a bit in between on the matter."
"Eh? Really?"
"Touma!"
"Meow?"
Raising his hands to defend himself, Kamijou set out to explain his reasoning.
"I only say that because… I don't really remember how I was… err… last year. Besides, a lot has changed this past year."
"You could say that again" Sora mumbled.
"I've gotten to meet so many wonderful and amazing people. And then there are some people that… I hope they trip, fall, and eat- "
"You're talking about Styil, huh?"
Kamijou immediately nodded his head.
"Yep! But I hope everyone has a good time during the holidays no matter what you've done. Now, about Santa… I don't want to outright say he's fake or doesn't exist. However, I do think the idea of him is great. And what he represents should be looked at and appreciated while also looking past the gifts. As mushy of an answer as that was."
Touma then spent a solid moment contemplating something before breaking into an awkward laugh.
"Even though… I don't think he's left me gifts before…"
"See! Touma doesn't think he's real!"
"I didn't say that!"
"You basically did!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"No, I didn't!"
"Grr! Sora!"
"Y-Yeah?"
"Did Touma admit that he thinks Santa isn't real?"
Glancing over at his fellow spiky-haired friend, Sora wasn't sure what to say. Kamijou had taken a stance both in favor and against Santa. But the holiday spirit was still involved.
"Touma said that he believes in Santa. That's a yes from me."
"Bleh! You're not going to get anything this year."
"Who would've thought that a sister of the church would be so against Santa being real?"
"That's because the fictional character of Santa Claus is a derivative of Saint Nicholas."
"…That still has to count for believing in Santa."
Index couldn't help but glare at Kamijou with a hungry look in her eyes. Seeing this, Touma jumped up and hastily got her breakfast ready.
Sora, watching this play out, couldn't help but laugh at the comedic exchange. It also warranted a thought regarding his other friends and the entirety of Santa Claus.
"Do the others believe in Santa?"
Back to the present
As Sora crossed the street and stayed deep in thought, he soon felt a small tug on his jacket which forced his attention up and around. However, he didn't see anyone close to him.
That is until he looked down.
"Hiya! Says Misaka Misaka as she gets your attention."
Standing there wearing a fur coat around her shoulders and dressed a bit differently than the last time he saw her, Sora had now encountered Last Order.
"Last Order? What are you doing out here?"
"Haha! This Misaka wanted to get out and enjoy the festive mood, says Misaka Misaka as she is also hiding the other reason for being out and about."
Tilting his head, Sora was about to ask her what she meant but was soon surprised to see another familiar face.
"Misaka?"
"Greetings, Sora. This Misaka is looking for the smaller Misaka unit, says Misaka as she spots the gremlin."
"Gah! Help! Says Misaka Misaka as she cries out for a hero to help her!"
As the younger Misaka leaped behind the Keyblade wielder and used him as a shield to prevent the older Misaka from nabbing her, Sora got a better idea of the situation.
"Ahh. I see what's up."
"Misaka thanks you for your astute observation of the situation, says Misaka happy that you're a quick learner."
"Err… you're welcome? But why are you running away, Last Order?"
"Misaka was told by a certain someone to always have someone around. Misaka 10032 was assigned to watch over me, says Misaka Misaka as she begins to pout."
"To clarify, the control tower needs to be watched at all times otherwise she will be easily captured or hurt, says Misaka in an authoritative tone."
"Ah, that makes sense. Last Order, you need to listen to your sister and whoever told you to have a guardian" Sora replied with genuine concern. "The city is a busy place and filled with all kinds of dangers."
Left defeated, Last Order let out a defeated sigh.
"*sigh* Fine. Misaka will make sure to keep a guardian around. Whether it's another Misaka model, the savior, the hero, or Accel- "
"Insufficient. You will always keep a guardian around you, says Misaka with a big sisterly tone."
Sora couldn't help but chuckle at the two sisters' behavior. He could only imagine if Mikoto were here to argue with her sisters. That would be quite a comedic sight to Misakas arguing with one another.
What a unique family.
"Nuh-uh! You can't always stick by me, says Misaka Misaka as she continues to dismiss your rules."
"Hey, I've got a question for you two," Sora said, pulling the two girls' attention.
"Oh? What's the question, Sora? Says Misaka Misaka as she leans forward earnestly and out of curiosity."
"Yes, what is the question lingering on your tongue, says Misaka as she listens intently."
Folding his arms across his chest and coming up with what to say exactly, Sora decided to just ask the question.
"…Do you guys believe in Santa Claus?"
The two Misaka clones glanced at one another before Last Order was the first to jump up with joy.
"Who is this, Santa Claus? Says Misaka Misaka as she can't ever remember meeting or hearing about Santa Claus."
"Correction. In the control tower's case, she is, and I quote still too young to understand who this Mr. Claus is, says Misaka as she clarifies the situation."
"Hey! I'm not too young! Says Misaka Misaka as she is offended by that statement."
"Counter correction. You are indeed too young, says Misaka with a smug tone."
"Hmph! Sora! What do you think? Says Misaka Misaka as she wants to hear what you have to say."
Nodding his head, Sora's take on this point was obvious.
"I have to agree with Misaka. But that just makes learning about Santa Claus even more special."
Last Order's face switched from frowning to now genuine interest in Santa Claus. Furthermore, she was becoming giddy with excitement.
"Hmm. Ignoring the undeniable fact that I am a younger Misaka unit, please tell me more about this Santa Claus. Says Misaka Misaka as she is invested in learning more about this individual."
"I concur. Says Misaka as she takes a step forward and listens intently."
"Wait. Misaka? You don't know much about Santa?"
"Correct. I have a very basic understanding of this Mr. Claus, but I would like to learn more says Misaka as she is now paying close attention."
Happy with the interest shown for Santa, Sora happily jumped into the details.
"Alright! Where to begin… Uh… Hm. I'll just start with a simple explanation. Every year during Christmas, it's the time to be around those you love and care about. Making it all about appreciating kindness. As for Santa, he gives presents to show the spirit and joy of Christmas to good kids. But you've been naughty, then you'll either get coal as a present or nothing at all."
"Question. Why coal of all things to give to naughty children? Asks Misaka as she is quite confused."
"Yeah! That seems like an unfair thing to give. Says Misaka Misaka as she is now starting to worry if she's been good."
"Err… I'm not totally sure why Santa gives out coal to bad kids. But if I had to guess, then it's to let kids know to be better behaved next year" Sora reasoned as he also didn't know why coal was used.
"But! What counts for being naughty? Does it mean if you do something really bad? Or something small can still be counted as being bad? These are very important questions. Says Misaka Misaka as she begins to reflect on herself this past year and realizes that she might be on the naughty list" Last Order said while grasping onto her head and wearing a defeated face.
Misaka 10032 also displayed a dismayed expression as she had a concentrated look on her face. Emotions were flipping across her face.
"If we are looking at the past year, then this Misaka unit will, unfortunately, be placed on the naughty list as she remembers acting quite naughty toward her big sister. Says Misaka as she can't help but grin at remembering what she did to the original Misaka. Heh."
Hearing this, Sora couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of the two Misaka sisters. This also made him consider another vital question.
Would Mikoto Misaka be placed on the naughty list?
Meanwhile, at Tokiwadai
*ACHOO!*
Sitting at a table and having a cup of tea, Mikoto Misaka couldn't help but sneeze suddenly causing a bit of her tea to go flying from her mouth.
Across from her was Shirai Kuroko who was startled by the Level 5's reaction.
"Onee-sama? Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah. I'm good…. I think?"
"Did something just happen?"
Staring down at her tea, Mikoto was trying to come up with a reason for her sudden sneeze.
"…Hey, Kuroko?"
"Yes?"
"What's that saying people say when you sneeze? Someone is thinking about you?"
"Hmm. I believe that's the one. But why do you ask? Do you think someone was thinking about you just now?"
Shaking her head, Mikoto held a frown, "I don't know. But I think someone is thinking about me now…"
The third-ranked Level 5 stared right out the nearest window and had one immediate thought come to her.
*ACHOO!*
'It had better not be that idiot!'
The idiot she was referring to had black spiky hair and held an unusual power in his right hand. He was also someone who made her heart hasten and fluster her to no end.
Just thinking about him now caused her to start sending small trickles of electricity around her body. Additionally, a bright blush could be seen covering her entire face. This caused Kuroko to jump up in her seat.
*STATIC*
*BZZT*
"O-Onee-sama!?"
"Gah!"
"Watch your electricity!"
*BZZT!*
*SHOCK!*
"THAT IDIOT!"
Back with Sora
"So, this Santa Claus, what kind of gifts does he give to children? Asks Misaka Misaka as she wants to learn all that she can about this Mr. Claus."
"Well, normally, kids make a list of things that they want and send it through the mail for Santa to get the list."
"Question. There are many discrepancies that I am finding with this explanation. Are you telling us that Mr. Claus can review every single letter coming around the world as well as ensure those lists are fulfilled? Asks Misaka as she struggles to understand this whole Santa dilemma."
Dumbfounded was the best way to describe what Sora was feeling right now. He could only stammer to get out a response.
"I-I… I don't know how- "
"Or does this Mr. Claus manipulate the mailing system so that all the letters from children reach him at an increased rate? Fundamentally speaking, it still does not make sense. Unless Mr. Claus is positioned on the wealthier side of things, which would make sense considering he's able to distribute toys across the planet. Says Misaka as she tries to analyze the situation."
"I think you're overanalyzing it all!" Sora exclaimed.
"I think not. Says Misaka as she stands by her confusion."
Donning sparkles in her eyes, Last Order began hyping herself up.
"Ooh! This Santa Claus sounds like a really nice guy! Says Misaka Misaka getting all excited!"
"He's a nice and jolly kind of guy. I got to meet him once."
"YOU DID!?" Last Order shouted excitedly.
"Do tell us more, asks Misaka in a very eager tone as she would like to hear more about your encounter" Misaka 10,032 said aloud.
"Yep! My friends and I got caught up in quite the situation where we had to deal with some… troublemakers making things harder for Santa."
Amazement could be seen written all over Last Order's face. If there was ever a time to witness someone's faith in something jump from a low point all the way to near full believing, then she just showcased that jump.
"No…way! This Misaka can't believe it! Says Misaka Misaka as she is beyond excited and can't come up with the right words!"
"Haha! Yeah, it was so much fun helping him out. But you know what that means, right Last Order?"
"Eh? What does that mean? Asks Misaka Misaka as she is switching from excited to concerned."
Sora was now sporting a smug grin.
"That means that you have to listen to your sisters and guardians. If they tell you something, then you gotta do it. It's only to make sure that you're safe and sound."
The younger girl's face morphed into a battered and wincing one as she realized the further implications of what Sora was saying.
"Bwah! This Misaka understands. She'll listen to the others… says Misaka Misaka as she waves the white flag in rebellious defeat."
"Heh."
Misaka 10,032 was enjoying this perhaps a bit too much.
"But! If that means that Santa will visit us, then this Misaka will be the best Misaka! And that starts by getting him into the Christmas spirit! Says Misaka Misaka as she runs back to spread the joy of Christmas with a certain grumpy person."
Taking off without letting anyone else speak, Last Order was bolting away leaving Sora utterly helpless to get her attention.
"Don't worry about her. This Misaka will make sure that she gets home safely. Replies Misaka as she feels a headache appear… or rather a bug form inside her programming."
"Hehe… good luck with that. And I feel a bit sorry for making things… complicated on your end now. Christmas and Santa are kind of hard things to explain to someone who has never heard about him."
"It is quite alright. You might have made not just her day, but others as well. Thank you for that, Sora. Says Misaka with genuine appreciation."
"You're welcome, Misaka."
With a simple nod, the older Misaka sister took off and began chasing after the younger Misaka leaving quite the comedic scene for Sora to process. He was happy to know that someone new had found the joy and excitement around Christmas. Granted, that wasn't the only reason to celebrate it. The time shared amongst family and friends as well as basking in the kindness shared by others is what truly made the holiday a special time.
However, he had to wonder if his other group of friends had that same understanding. Or if they believed in Santa Claus himself.
Not long later…
Sitting down on a luxurious couch and staring at a tea-colored-haired girl, Sora could feel his nerves telling him to brace for impact. This was further elevated when he could see the scowl appear on the girl's face immediately after he asked her the million-dollar question.
"Are you kidding me!? What the hell do you take me for? Believe in Santa? Give me a fuc- "
"Hmm. If I'm being honest, then yeah! I still believe in Santa."
Mugino's sailor mouth had come to a halt as she could not believe Frenda's candid answer.
"Frenda! Don't tell me you believe in that overweight creep."
Shrugging her shoulders, Frenda gave her honest opinion on the topic.
"What can I say? I still believe in him. I mean, part of the reason is because of my little sister, Fremea, but even then, growing up we didn't have much. So, whenever Christmas came up, I would do my best to make sure that Fremea believed that by being a good girl she'd get presents."
A slight break in her annoyed expression could be seen on Mugino's face before she then huffed.
"But you never did get anything on Christmas."
"True. But I made sure to do my best to get Fremea something so that it appeared like Santa gave her something. No matter how small it was, she appreciated it. I think she even has some of that old stuff still around… I'll need to ask her… and maybe clean it up" Frenda said while donning a thinking pose.
Taken aback by the blonde's story, Sora couldn't help but smile sadly at her story. While it involved a bit of strife growing up, he was elated to know that Frenda did all that she could to make her sister happy. A feat that he could respect greatly.
"But even now!? You still believe in the lie!" Mugino remarked with her right eye twitching.
"I know that Santa isn't real. But the idea of him still makes me want to be extra… chipper during the holidays! I make sure to donate a bit of my mission earnings to the orphanages around or make sure Fremea is happy and healthy."
Sora's face came crashing down as he heard what she said.
"Err… Frenda…"
Considering that he knew the truth, there was no easy way for him to put this. Thankfully, in the ITEM apartment, it was only Mugino and Frenda. Takitsubo and Kinuhara had gone out to get some groceries.
"Yeah, Sora? What's up?"
"I… how do I put this…" Sora contemplated on how to respond. "Hm…"
"Just spit it out!" Mugino snapped. "If you're going to stumble over your words then it's a wonder how you stumbled here!"
"Aren't you the one who invited him over?" Frenda asked the Level 5.
"Shut up."
A grin began working its way up the blonde's mouth.
"Also, weren't you extremely happy that he was coming over?"
"Frenda."
"Annnd if I recall right, you even wanted to- "
"That's it! You're- "
"Hold on! Before anything gets broken, I should say this loud and clear. Santa Claus is real."
"…"
"…"
The two members of Item stared at the spiky-haired boy with puzzled looks on their faces. Granted, Mugino was staring at him like he just said the dumbest thing ever while Frenda was looking to see if he was joking with them.
Once a stagnated moment passed, the two could see that the Keyblade wielder was serious.
"…You have got to be kidding me."
"Hang on, Mugino. Just think about- "
"You believe that he's real. You're not messing with us. You actually believe that he's- "
"Where's your proof? Frenda questioned while looking skeptical. "Claiming something like this requires a lot of backup. So, where is it?"
Realizing that he was going to have quite the uphill battle with these two, Sora let out a sigh and prepared himself as best as he could in a split second.
"Well, I can vouch that I've seen him before."
"Oh, yeah?" So, have I. I saw the old geezer at the mall the other day" Mugino countered.
"Not like that. I mean I've actually met him before."
"Could it have been an excellent cosplayer?" Frenda questioned. "That would technically count."
"No! It was the real Santa."
"Again, where's the proof?"
"It's… I… "
"Hm? Where? I don't see it."
"I'm with Mugino on this one, Sora. Unless you give us some kind of proof, then it just sounds like you're making it all up."
Left with no direct response, Sora's attempt to explain to them that Santa Claus was real began to crumble. He didn't have any sort of picture or memento regarding his time in Christmas Town, so he was basically spouting nonsense.
He had no way of proving it.
"I…"
*WHOOF*
Suddenly, a bright door of light appeared out of nowhere and phased into reality right next to Sora. This random occurrence caused Mugino to summon several of her Meltdowner orbs while Frenda instantly pulled out several grenades. At the same time, Sora summoned his Keyblade and had it ready for whatever might come from the mysterious door.
*TAP*
*TAP*
"Sora? Is that you?"
"Huh!? I recognize that voice. Jack!?"
"Jack?"
"Jack?"
What happened next left both Mugino and Frenda utterly speechless and frankly made their blood run cold. Even as operatives of the dark side of Academy City, what they were witnessing now made no sense at all.
Stepping right out of the door of light was a tall yet thin man with white and black attire. The only problem was that this man was dead, or rather he was a giant skeleton.
"Jack Skellington!?"
"Sora! My friend! How are you?"
"H-How are you here!? Did you put that door of light here? I'm so confused!"
"Haha! Patience my friend. We have a lot to talk about. But before that, I need your help."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Rubbing his skeleton hands across his round skull, Jack let out a tired sigh.
"It's Sandy Claws. Something strange has happened again."
"Sandy- "
"Claws?"
Mugino and Frenda were completely lost.
"Santa? What happened? Was it the Heartless? Did Oogie Boogie return?"
"No, that sour Oogie Boogie hasn't returned. And I'm not sure about the Heartless, but Sandy Claws is dealing with something else" Jack explained.
"Something new? Say, why are you helping Santa again? Were you causing trouble again?" Sora asked with a light-hearted tone.
"What is going on...?" Frenda muttered while watching this strange exchange.
He could easily recall the first time that Jack had a fascination with Christmas Town.
"No, no. It's nothing like that. I merely went with Sally to pay Sandy Claws a visit. A friendly visit. That's all. But when I got there, I found him in quite a mess. Sally is there with him trying to help things calm down. It was then that he told me of a way to reach someone no matter where they are as long as they believe in him and Christmas!"
A look of bewilderment and irritation appeared on Meltdowner's face.
"You have got to be sh- "
"And that's how you're here… "Sora said before looking at the door of light.
"Yep! Because I knew you were the first person to turn to for help."
A look of appreciation and sincere happiness crossed Sora's face before it fell and the events of his recent adventures settled into his mind.
"Jack… I… a lot has happened…"
"Then I'm all ears. Even though I don't have any" Jack replied while tapping his skull.
"Hehe. Right. Thanks!"
Sora then turned his attention to Mugino and Frenda who continued to stare at the boy and tall skeleton with wide eyes.
"Haha… you guys probably have questions."
"Yeah…"
"You have no idea…"
Awkwardly laughing at their stunned reactions, Sora knew what he needed to do.
"Mm. Well, when I get back, I'll explain it all to you. I won't leave a single detail out."
"I'll be holding you to that."
"Don't worry. I promise!"
Giving the girls a firm nod, Sora then turned his attention to Jack.
"I'm ready!"
"Then onwards! To Halloween Town!"
Jack then dashed right to the door of light before disappearing. Sora gave the two girls a nod and wink of the eye before leaping through the bright doors.
Alas, once he was through the doors, they closed immediately and flashed away leaving the Item apartment void of any supernatural glowing doors.
Mugino and Frenda spent a whole minute just basking in silence while trying to process what just happened. The soft tea-colored hair girl strutted straight for the kitchen and grabbed a wine glass before reaching into her pantry for a specific bottle.
Frenda watched as her leader and friend began pouring a large amount of wine into her bottle before she set the wine bottle aside and grabbed her drink. She then watched Mugino down the liquid in one go and it spoke volumes for how much this must have been for her.
Watching the boy she had growing feelings for walk through strange doors while being accompanied by a tall and frightening Skellington. Frenda couldn't blame her.
Once Mugino put down her empty drink and stared at Frenda blankly for a split second, she then reached for the bottle again.
"I need another drink…"
It was at this point that Frenda wondered if she should have one as well.
Today was beyond weird.
*A/N* - Thanks again for checking this story out! Again, sorry for the delayed release. I wanted this to be out before Christmas, but I let other things take over as well as life being life. Hence, this omake being a Christmas one. Expect future chapters to be a bit shorter but not as short as the early chapters. Take care and I hope you have a great day!
Notes:
*A/N* - Long time no see. There's a lot to discuss, but before I get to that I just want to come out and apologize for the long wait. I know I said that things would be different and that I'd get chapters out sooner. But that promise went right out the window lol. A lot has happened to me this past year. I won't bore with the details but I did have a bit of Writer's Block which is quite the hole to get out of. Nevertheless, I don't have any plans to stop with any of my stories. Things may be slow and chapters will take a minute to get released, but I have no intention of dropping or stopping things randomly. I am thinking about dropping shorter chapters. Either way, thank you for checking this story out whether it was out of curiosity or you're a fan of Kingdom Hearts or Toaru Majutsu no Index. All reviews are a joy to read and learn from. Thank you!
Now then, onto the chapter. Shibuya. Since the start of this story, I always wanted Shibuya to play a role in Sora's adventure. I wasn't sure how it would happen, but with where the story is now, I have a better idea of things. Fortunately, Shibuya is featured in Toaru later in the Genesis Testament series, and it will come back into play later on. Nonetheless, Shibuya has so much potential to be used in various ways. This is also why I included Reynatis and Final Fantasy XV in this chapter.
For those not familiar with Reynatis, it's a game developed by FuRyu and Natsume Atari. It takes place in Shibuya and also features a few key notable individuals who have worked on Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy before. I wanted to have an easter egg or reference to the game and figured Sari Nishijima would fit nicely. I really like her design. Consequently, if you're not familiar with the series then that's alright. I won't be utilizing it a great deal past this chapter or next.
However, I can't promise that same point when it comes to FFXV. For those unfamiliar with the game and story, Iris Amicitia is a character from that game. She's Gladio's little sister and a friend of Noctis Lucis Caelum. Her age in the game is about 15 years old making her around Sora's age in high school. I just wanted to include a small Final Fantasy character easter egg in this chapter. The story elements of FFXV can be traced back to Final Fantasy Versus XIII which is a whole other can of worms I don't want to open here. There are so many cool story beats and fighting elements that I'll be using as inspiration, so that's going to be fun to see soon.
The different powers are all keeping a close eye on Sora now. We have Shinra, Rufus, and the Turks in this universe (AU), Aleister Crowley, essentially the Science Side, and the Mugino family. Each has their own goals and reasons for wanting to know what Sora is up to. Things are going to get more difficult for him as more and more people realize that he's a complete wild card. Unpredictable yet easy to predict due to his nature.
Mugino Shizuri. At this point in the story it should be obvious I like including her and ITEM into the story lol. As of this chapter coming out, the fourth volume of the ITEM light novel will be released in March sometime which is exciting. I am not sure when it takes place throughout the timeline, but like the other volumes, I'll continue to use what new information or character development is presented in the story. Mugino is always a joy to work with seeing that some view her as just a cold, violent character. However, since she's not featured as heavily as Misaka, Touma, or Accelerator that gives her a blank slate of things to do. Expect her to show up more and interact with Sora. Don't worry. I have a plan for her involvement to grow in the story as well as her bond with him.
Touma and the others. The departure in this chapter might have surprised those familiar with the main timeline of the Toaru Old Testament story. I originally intended for Sora to help Touma with solving Agni's Fire Festival situation, but I didn't want to make it all copy and paste for the side story. The chapter originally had Sora stick with Touma for the majority of it all, but after a while, I decided to change things up. Hence, Sora leaves for Shibuya while Touma and Index continue to solve that problem back in Academy City. The Toaru story has so much depth to it that it's sometimes intimidating to deal with. So… expect a mix of me staying close to the lore and then breaking out into something original. I think this will offer a sense of newness and familiarity with the story.
To conclude this author's note, I want to once again thank you all for checking this story out and ask that you stick around for the next chapter. I'll say this once more. I am a slow cook. I will try to be better and get things out faster. Alas, expect shorter chapters to come now. All feedback is read and taken to heart. I want the story to turn out good as well. Until next time!
Abyss_stag on Chapter 1 Mon 26 Jun 2023 09:31PM UTC
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NightmareKnight on Chapter 3 Fri 17 Jan 2025 09:27AM UTC
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Captain Imagination (Guest) on Chapter 6 Sun 01 Jan 2023 11:10PM UTC
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Captain Imagination (Guest) on Chapter 6 Sun 01 Jan 2023 11:20PM UTC
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Captain Imagination (Guest) on Chapter 6 Sun 01 Jan 2023 11:23PM UTC
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Stars (Guest) on Chapter 7 Thu 23 Mar 2023 11:16AM UTC
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KHVSFF on Chapter 7 Thu 23 Mar 2023 04:31PM UTC
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Abyss_stag on Chapter 10 Sun 09 Jul 2023 12:47AM UTC
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xlbingo10 on Chapter 10 Sun 25 Feb 2024 05:03AM UTC
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Abyss_stag on Chapter 11 Sun 09 Jul 2023 05:45AM UTC
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xlbingo10 on Chapter 11 Wed 28 Feb 2024 06:14AM UTC
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xlbingo10 on Chapter 12 Wed 28 Feb 2024 06:58AM UTC
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Abyss_stag on Chapter 13 Mon 17 Jul 2023 01:33PM UTC
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xlbingo10 on Chapter 13 Wed 28 Feb 2024 09:30AM UTC
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Abyss_stag on Chapter 14 Fri 28 Jul 2023 04:25AM UTC
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xlbingo10 on Chapter 14 Thu 29 Feb 2024 06:49AM UTC
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Guest (Guest) on Chapter 17 Mon 13 May 2024 04:28AM UTC
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KHVSFF on Chapter 17 Mon 13 May 2024 05:24AM UTC
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Zeima (Guest) on Chapter 18 Tue 09 Sep 2025 03:20PM UTC
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