The sun rose high in the clear morning sky as a new day began.
The Nozomi household was as peaceful as ever – the familiar smell of breakfast drifting through the air.
Sayaka stood in the kitchen, humming softly as she cooked, while Sasuke sat at the kitchen table, reading the morning newspaper.
Well…
It was peaceful – until a certain someone moved in.
In Hikaru's bedroom, sprawled across the floor like a starfish, lay Teshii, still fast asleep.
He stirred, groaning as he sat up and stretched his arms lazily and picks up his crimson glasses beside him and puts it on.
Normally, the first thing a person would do is get up, brush their teeth, and head to breakfast.
But the word "normal" and "Teshii" didn't exactly belong in the same dictionary.
Without hesitation, Teshii crawled toward Hikaru's bed.
Smirking mischievously, he crouched like a predator.
As Hikaru slowly opened his eyes–
BAM!
Teshii jumped on him.
"GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE!" Teshii shouted gleefully.
"GET OFF ME, YOU PSYCHO!" Hikaru gasped, flailing.
The two wrestled on the floor – knocking over a chair, narrowly missing a lamp, and making enough noise to rattle the walls and wake the entire neighbourhood.
Back in the kitchen, Sasuke sighed heavily behind his newspaper. "It's hard to believe they're both in their twenties," he muttered.
Sayaka just chuckled softly as she flipped a pancake.
"Yeah."
Sasuke shook his head, turning a page.
"I blame you for letting Teshii live here."
Sayaka smiled, unfazed.
"Come on, I think it's nice to have someone like Teshii around."
Meanwhile, in Hikari's room–
It was peaceful.
She slept soundly, still exhausted from her match the day before. Soft snores filled the room, and once in a while, she mumbled in her sleep–
"Teshii…"
Her room was immaculate unlike Hikaru's – her bed neatly made (before she collapsed into it), her desk organized to perfection, her clothes folded neatly in her cabinet.
On her desk sat a framed photo of her family, smiling warmly.
And right beside it…
…lay two amusement park tickets, given to her by Mei.
After finally peeling himself off the floor and escaping Teshii's morning ambush, Hikaru stumbled into the kitchen, grumbling under his breath. He dropped into a chair like gravity had personally offended him.
Across from him, Teshii was already seated, acting as though he hadn't just tackled Hikaru to the ground in an impromptu wrestling match.
"So, Sasuke," Teshii started cheerfully, glancing at the man across the table, "how was the–?"
Sasuke lowered his newspaper just enough to glare at him.
Teshii blinked. "Uh… Mr. Nozomi. I meant Mr. Nozomi. Aha…"
Sasuke grunted, returning to his paper. "Flight was fine. Qatar was hot, the plane was cold. Jet lag is hell."
Teshii nodded quickly. "R-right. That makes sense. Perfectly reasonable. Understandable, even."
Hikaru, sitting beside him, snickered into his glass of water, enjoying every second of watching Teshii flail in front of his dad.
Then–
Hikari walked into the kitchen, still in her volleyball jacket, arms stretching above her head as she yawned. Her hair was slightly tousled from sleep, and her steps were lazy, relaxed.
Teshii immediately perked up.
"Well, well, well… if it isn't my favourite volleyball queen."
Hikari raised a brow, a small smirk forming. "Favourite, huh? Does that mean I get special treatment from you?"
Teshii leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin like a philosopher. "Depends," he said, flashing a grin. "How special are we talking here?"
Hikari's eyes widened slightly.
This is it. This is the perfect chance. Ask him out. Do it. Now.
She slid into the seat beside him, leaning in just a little closer than necessary. Her voice dropped to a playful whisper.
"Let's find out. You and me in the amu–"
SLAM!
Two fists pounded the table in unison.
"NO!" Hikaru barked, eyes blazing.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Sasuke roared. "NO SPECIAL TREATMENT FROM HIM!"
Teshii and Hikari both blinked, stunned.
Teshii slowly raised his hands like he was surrendering.
"Um… what? It's not like we're going to a love hotel or something."
The death glares that followed could've turned him to ash.
Teshii froze. "Right. I'll just shut up now."
Then–
Sayaka approached the table with a warm smile, setting down a plate stacked with perfectly golden pancakes. "Alright, here you go! Breakfast is served!"
All three young adults lit up with delight.
"Amazing!" Teshii beamed.
"As expected of our nutritionist mother!" Hikari added proudly.
"THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD!" Hikaru and Teshii chorused, already digging in.
As the three of them began eating, Sayaka stood back and watched quietly – her eyes drifting to Teshii.
She watched him devour pancakes, bicker with Hikaru, and flirt with Hikari all at once – with his usual chaotic energy.
And then–
A flash.
A memory.
A younger version of herself, smiling as she fed a giggling baby with red hair…
Hinote.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Hinote?" she whispered under breath.
Sasuke, noticing her dazed look, glanced up. "Sayaka? You alright?"
She blinked, snapping out of it, and gave him a soft smile.
"Yes, darling. I'm fine."
Once they had finished their breakfast, both Hikaru and Teshii changed into their clothes.
Hikaru wore his usual university attire, while Teshii slipped on his famous orange-red fleece. They were just about to head into the safehouse.
Hikaru turned to both Sasuke and Sayaka, who stood by the door to see them off, as Teshii put on his shoes.
"Mom! Dad! Teshii and I are heading off now."
Sayaka waved cheerfully. "Okay! Bye, Hikaru! Bye, Teshii!"
Sasuke simply nodded, arms crossed.
As the two departed, Sasuke turned to Sayaka. "Sayaka, tell me… what's wrong?"
Sayaka blinked. "What do you mean, darling?"
"You looked down during breakfast," Sasuke said, his tone gentle but firm. "You kept glancing at Teshii."
Sayaka didn't respond, unsure of what to say to her husband.
"You told me earlier that you were fine, but I wasn't convinced. So… please, tell me. What's wrong?"
She stared at him, turn, lips slightly parted as she struggled to the words.
"Is it… is it because Teshii looks like Hinote?" Sasuke asked softly.
Sayaka looked up at him, eyes wide. "Huh?"
"I know you loved that little boy dearly," Sasuke continued. "You helped Hana take care of him like he was your own son."
"Darling…" Sayaka murmured, voice almost trembling.
"Ever since Hana died… and Hinote disappeared… it's affected you deeply."
Sasuke stepped forward and wrapped his arms gently around her. "I know it still hurts. That they're not here with you. But please, tell me what's really wrong. I'm your husband, after all."
"Darling…" Sayaka whispered, sighing. "Okay… I'll tell you–"
Suddenly–
Running footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Sayaka and Sasuke turned toward the sound.
It was Hikari, slightly out of breath, clearly looking for someone.
"Has… Teshii left already?"
"Yes, dear. Why?" Sayaka asked.
Hikari pouted.
"Awww…" She pulled something from the pocket of her volleyball jacket – two amusement park tickets. "I guess I'll have to ask him out later when he gets back here."
Sayaka raised an eyebrow. "Ask him out?"
She turned to Sasuke, whose eyes were wide and jaw slack.
"A-Are those amusement park tickets?" he asked, stunned.
"Yeah. I was planning to go with Teshii."
Sasuke's expression shifted into one of horror.
"No, no, no! Not on my watch, you're not!"
He lunged toward Hikari, trying to snatch the tickets from her hands.
"Dad! Don't you dare!" Hikari shielded the tickets protectively.
Sasuke's face darkened, clearly not pleased with the idea of his little princess going on a date – especially not with Teshii.
"I absolutely forbid you from going on a date with him!" he snapped.
"Darling," Sayaka interjected calmly, "Hikari is at an age where should be thinking about dating… even with marriage in mind."
"No! I won't let any man – especially Teshii – go near my little girl!"
Hikari clenched her fists, furious.
"I HATE YOU, DAD!"
She turned and bolted up the stairs, her footsteps thundering all the way to her room. The slam of her door echoed through the house, leaving silence in her wake.
Sayaka placed her hands on her cheeks, blushing slightly as she let out a dreamy sigh.
"My baby girl is finally growing up…" she whispered proudly.
And Sasuke?
He dropped to his knees, heart shattered.
"M-My… little princess… hates me," he muttered in disbelief.
Sayaka turned toward him with concern.
"Darling, are you okay?"
But Sasuke didn't answer. He just kept repeating the words his daughter had yelled at him, his voice a broken whisper.
In the safehouse…
Teshii sat down with Satoshi and Reina in the meeting room to discuss their next move.
And Hikaru and the others?
They were in the living room of the safehouse, just chilling – trying to get along with the newly-recruited Reito.
Reina laid a map out across the table, pointing at a desert region.
"Tottori Sand Dunes, huh?" Teshii said, adjusting his crimson sunglasses.
Reina nodded. "Yeah. There have been reports of seismic activity there," she explained. "Strange tremors, unnatural shifts in the land."
"And if you look here…" Reina zoomed in on the map, focusing on the heart of the Tottori Sand Dunes.
The image showed sand levitating – unnaturally suspended in the air. In the middle of the vortex… was a human figure.
Teshii narrowed his eyes behind his glasses. "Is that… a person?"
Satoshi nodded. "Yeah. That person could be an Element. More specifically, the Element of Earth."
Teshii placed a hand on his chin, thinking. "I see… though, I do have a question."
Satoshi glanced at him. "What is it, Teshii?"
"How'd you get this picture?" Teshii asked, raising a brow curiously.
Satoshi smirked. "I have my ways."
Teshii stared at him in disbelief.
"Damn… you're starting to sound like me."
POW!
Teshii winced, holding his head. "OW! What was that for?!"
Satoshi's expression darkened as he held out his fist. "Don't you dare compare me – a soldier – to yourself, Teshii."
"Okay, okay, sorry, bossman," Teshii muttered, still rubbing the side of his head.
They both turned back to the map as Reina spoke up again.
"Back to what we were saying… we're suspecting that this person–" she zoomed in further on the figure "–is the Element of Earth."
She looked at Teshii. "I want you and the others t–"
"Check it out and recruit him," Teshii said, cutting her off.
Satoshi nodded. "Yeah."
The three of the glanced toward the window of the meeting room, where they could see Hikaru and the others trying to bond with Reito in the living room.
They all smiled.
"We've found five Elements so far. Just five more to go," Satoshi said.
Teshii nodded. "Yeah."
Then–
"Teshii!" Reina suddenly called out.
He turned to her, one eyebrow raised. "Huh?"
"I have a question for you." Reina folded her arms.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Why are you still staying at Hikaru's house?" she asked bluntly.
Teshii blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Actually… I'm curious too," Satoshi chimed in. "Hikaru has control of the Element of Light now. You don't need to supervise him anymore."
"Hikaru's more than capable of protecting himself from threats," Reina added. "You could come back and stay at the safehouse like before."
Teshii just stared at both of them for a moment.
Then – he smiled.
"I have one reason."
TO BE CONTINUED!!!