"Go on a date with me!" Hikari blurted out.
Teshii blinked.
For once… he was genuinely caught off guard.
"…Huh?"
"Go… on a date with me," Hikari repeated, this time much softer – her eyes looking away, cheeks burning as she tried to hide her blush.
Teshii scratched the back of his head, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
Wow. What a turn of events.
He noticed how hard she was trying to hide her embarrassment – and it only made him smile more.
"I didn't think you'd be the one asking me out again, Hikari."
Hikari looked up, surprised. "Huh?"
Teshii's smirk softened into a gentle smile.
"If my beautiful volleyball queen is asking me out on a date… how could I say no?"
Hikari's eyes widened.
"Wait… is that a yes?"
Teshii nodded without hesitation/
"Yes, it is, my queen."
Hikari's face lit up, her smile as bright as the sun.
"I-I'll send you the time and place, Teshii!"
Then – without another word – she turned around and began to walk away, clearly flustered.
"Wait!"
She paused and looked back. "Huh?"
Teshii grinned and pointed toward the 7-Eleven behind him.
"I was about to head to 7-Eleven. Do you, perhaps… want to grab some mochis with me?"
Hikari stared at him for a second – then smiled sweetly.
"I'd love to, Teshii."
Teshii nodded.
"Let's go."
"Yes," she said with a light laugh.
The two walked side by side toward the convenience store – just a simple walk, just some mochis…
But for Hikari Nozomi, this was the start of something special.
And just like that – Hikari had a date with Teshii.
The Next Day in the Safehouse…
The Elements – Hikaru, Haruto, Moriya, Ikazuchi, and Reito – were all gathered in the meeting room. Standing before the main monitor were Satoshi, Reina, and Teshii.
Satoshi spoke first.
"There is a possibility–"
"Possibility?" Teshii interrupted, arms folded, eyebrow raised.
Satoshi shot him a glare but let out a deep sigh and turned back to the team.
"We've found the Element of Earth."
Haruto's eyes widened.
"Element of Earth?"
Satoshi nodded. "Yeah." He turned toward Reina.
"Honey, show them."
Reina gave a quick nod and tapped a few keys on the control panel. The monitor lit up, revealing the now-familiar image: sand floating mid-air, swirling unnaturally. In the centre stood a lone figure.
Moriya raised an eyebrow.
"Sand?"
"Yes," Reina said, gesturing to the screen. "The image shows someone manipulating sand. Based on the seismic readings and this footage, we believe this person is the Element of Earth."
Hikaru leaned forward, studying the grainy footage of the sandstorm and mysterious figure.
"So… the Element of Earth is at the beach?"
Teshii smirked.
"Not exactly, Sunshine."
Ikazuchi, seated with his arms crossed, narrowed his eyes.
"If they're not at the beach… then where else in Japan has that much sand?"
Teshii turned to Satoshi, who gave a single nod – granting permission.
Hikaru's eyes suddenly lit up with realization.
"Wait! Could it be–"
"The Element of Earth is in the Tottori Sand Dunes," Teshii announced, cutting him off.
There was completely silence.
Until–
"WE'RE GOING TO THE TOTTORI SAND DUNES?!" Hikaru suddenly shot up from his seat, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Teshii froze, genuinely caught off guard.
"Damn… I didn't think you'd get this excited just from going to the Tottori Sand Dunes."
"Of course I would!" Hikaru beamed. "I've always wanted to go to the Tottori Sand Dunes!"
"Eh? Why?" Ikazuchi glanced at Hikaru like he was crazy. "It's just… sand."
Hikaru turned to him with a sparkle in his eye.
"Because the Tottori Sand Dunes are one of Japan's most unique natural attractions."
"What's there to do?" Moriya asked curiously.
Hikaru smirked, raising a finger as he began listing the things to do in Tottori Sand Dunes.
"We can hike up and down the dunes. We can ride camels. Enjoy a horse-drawn cart ride."
He stepped forward dramatically.
"We can go paragliding over the dunes for amazing aerial views. And we can even go sandboarding."
Ikazuchi raised an eyebrow, finally intrigued.
"Sandboarding? Okay, that actually sounds fun."
Hikaru nodded excitedly.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! And the most fun of all… the Sand Museum!"
Silence.
Ikazuchi blinked slowly.
"It sound fun… until you mentioned the museum. I've already lost interest."
"What's wrong with museums, Ikazuchi?" Hikaru asked with a frown.
"Museums are boring, Hikaru. You walk around and read stuff. Not my thing."
Then – Teshii chimed in.
"C'mon, Zeus! Museums aren't that bad."
Ikazuchi turned to him, skeptical.
"You like museums too?"
"Nope!" Teshii replied immediately. "Way too informative for my brain!"
"At least someone agrees with me." Ikazuchi smirked.
Ahem!
Satoshi cleared his throat, trying to reel the conversation back in.
The Elements turned to him.
"Let's get back to the subject," Satoshi said firmly. "The Element of Earth is located in the Tottori Sand Dunes."
Hikaru clapped and pumped his fist into the air.
"I can't believe I'm actually going to the Tottori Sand Dunes!"
Teshii grinned.
"Yes, Sunshine. I hope the five of you have a great time in the dunes… and that you find the Element of Earth."
"Huh?"
Hikaru turned to Teshii, confused.
The other Elements also turned, eyebrows raised in unison.
"You're… not going, Teshii?" Hikaru asked, his brow furrowed.
"Unfortunately, I won't," Teshii replied, arms crossed casually.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
Teshii stretched his arms lazily and shrugged.
"Ah, you know. Got… other plans."
Hikaru's eyes narrowed.
"What plans?"
Teshii smirked.
"Can't say."
Hikaru folded his arms tightly.
"You're hiding something."
Teshii gasped dramatically.
"Never!"
He whistled and looked away, clearly avoiding eye contact.
Hikaru stood up, leaning in closer; his tone sharp and demanding.
"Tell me."
Teshii rolled his eyes behind his crimson sunglasses.
"No."
Buzz!
Teshii's phone vibrated in his fleece pocket.
He pulled it out and glanced at the notification.
"A voicemail from Hikari?" he said aloud.
He pressed play.
Hikari's cheerful voice echoed through the meeting room:
"Teshii! I can't wait for our date later!"
Silence.
The room fell completely still.
Teshii just stared at his phone.
Satoshi and Reina slowly turned and looked at each other.
Moriya and Reito exchanged confused glances.
Haruto sighed and faceapalmed.
Ikazuchi was shaking, trying his absolute best not to burst into laughter.
And Hikaru?
He stood frozen, staring at Teshii.
His eyes said everything.
Then – he spoke, voice eerily calm:
"You–"
"Sunshine, I can expla–"
"YOU'RE GOING ON A DATE WITH MY TWIN SISTER?!"
Hikaru's rage erupted like an inferno. His fists clenched. His aura flared with blazing frustration.
Teshii smirked.
"I mean… you already knew I like Hikari. And she likes me. So… yeah, I'm going on a date with her."
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Hikaru roared as he lunged at him.
Before he could land a punch, Haruto and Ikazuchi grabbed him from behind, holding him back as he flailed wildly.
"LET ME GO! I SWEAR I'M GONNA END HIM!" Hikaru shouted, yelling incoherent threats as they dragged him back.
"Relax, Hikaru!" Haruto said, trying to pull Hikaru back.
"Yeah. Just let Teshii go on his date with your sister." Ikazuchi said, still trying to hold back his laughter.
Reito blinked, stunned.
"I'm… so confused."
Moriya nodded solemnly.
"Welcome to the Order, Reito."
Teshii flashed a grin, completely unfazed.
"Well then… have fun on the mission while I have fun with my queen, Hikari!"
With a wink, he turned and strolled out of the meeting room.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, TESHII!!" Hikaru's voice echoed through the entire safehouse.
Then–
Hikaru found himself on a bus with the others, headed toward the Tottori Sand Dunes.
He sat beside Moriya, who was quietly looking out the window, admiring the passing landscape.
Across the aisle, Reito and Haruto sat together. Behind them, Ikazuchi slouched in his seat, arms crossed, looking as restless as ever.
There were other passengers on the bus too – tourists and travelers heading to the dunes for their own reasons.
"Can't wait to arrive!" said an excited girl sitting just in front of Hikaru.
The rest of the Elements – aside from Ikazuchi – seemed to share in that excitement.
All except for Hikaru.
He sat stiffly, arms crossed, his face a mixture of frustration and simmering rage.
Moriya, still gazing out at the scenery, finally turned to him.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked bluntly.
Hikaru grit his teeth.
"You seriously don't see the problem?"
Moriya tilted his head, confused.
"Not really."
Hikaru groaned.
"Teshii is on a date. With my younger twin sister. And if it goes well…"
He clenched his fists, the very thought making him tense up.
"That means Teshii… will literally become my brother."
Moriya blinked.
"And?"
Hikaru stared at him, stunned.
"And?! You don't see what's wrong with that?!"
Moriya shrugged calmly.
"No."
Hikaru looked like he was about to scream, but instead, let out a long sigh.
A few minutes passed.
Then–
Ikazuchi's voice rang out behind them, loud and irritated.
"This is so boring!"
Hikaru turned his head slightly.
"What do you want us to do? We're on a bus."
"I just want some excitement. Some action. Violence." Ikazuchi said with a deadpan glare.
"Of course you want violence," Moriya muttered, still looking out the window.
Ikazuchi narrowed his eyes at Hikaru, clearly itching for something to break the silence.
Then–
Hikaru's expression changed. A spark of mischief lit up in his eyes.
"I have an idea," he said, turning toward Ikazuchi.
"Ikazuchi… do you have any stories about yourself?"
Ikazuchi raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing much about myself," he replied bluntly.
Hikaru crossed his arms and smirked.
"Well then… listen to this."
12 Years Ago…
Back at the Nozomi household, a younger Sayaka was tucking in an 8-year-old Hikaru for bed.
She leaned in and kissed his forehead gently.
"Goodnight, my baby boy," she whispered, her eyes gleaming with warmth and love.
"Good… night, mommy," the young Hikaru murmured sleepily, his eyelids growing heavy as they began to close.
Sayaka smiled one last time before turning off the lights and quietly leaving his room.
Now alone, the young Hikaru lay sound asleep in the dark.
A few minutes passed…
And all that remained–
–was silence.
Until–
"Hi… ka… ru… Hika… ru…"
A voice called out softly.
Hikaru stirred, his eyes fluttering open. Something… was calling him.
He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes and looking around the room.
Everything was where it should be: his wardrobe, his desk, his toys.
Nothing out of place.
But then–
"Hikaru…"
The young boy froze.
"Hikaru…"
He swallowed. "Lu… ci?" he muttered under his breath.
"Hikaru…"
He looked around in confusion. "Where are you, Luci?"
His eyes slowly drifted toward the wardrobe.
"Hikaru…"
The voice – It was coming from inside the cabinet.
Trembling slightly, Hikaru slid out of bed, his small feet padding softly against the floor.
He crept toward the wardrobe, heart thudding in his chest.
And when he stood right in front of it…
He slowly reached out for the handle.
Back in the Present…
"And then… once I opened the cabinet…" Hikaru leaned in, lowering his voice dramatically.
"…it was completely empty!"
He sat back, satisfied with the conclusion of his story.
"Empty?" Moriya raised an eyebrow.
Hikaru nodded seriously.
"I was definitely hearing voices coming from the wardrobe – but no one was there."
Reito turned toward Hikaru from across the aisle.
"And who's Luci?"
Hikaru just shrugged casually.
"Oh, Luci? Just my imaginary friend!"
Reito narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I see…"
Then–
Hikaru turned around to face Ikazuchi, who was seated behind him.
"So… Ikazuchi. What did you think of my story?"
Ikazuchi didn't respond immediately.
He was shaking.
Not from anger.
Not from excitement.
But from fear.
"…Ikazuchi? Are you okay?" Hikaru asked.
"Yep," Ikazuchi answered quickly, voice clipped.
Hikaru tilted his head.
"Did you get scared from my story?"
"Nope!" Ikazuchi snapped, abruptly looking away and pretending to stare out the window.
Hikaru chuckled.
"Okay then… whatever you say."
Suddenly–
SKRRRTTT!
The bus screeched to a halt.
The bus driver turned around in his seat with a big grin.
"WE HAVE ARRIVED, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"
One by one, the Elements and the other passengers began filing off the bus.
As the team stepped out onto the ground, they raised their eyes and looked ahead–
Because standing right in front of them…
Was the Tottori Sand Dunes.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!