Night.
It's raining. Thunder cracks from time to time.
The scene shifts inside a castle's throne room — a crowned silhouette stands before us, laughing devilishly.
We're seeing everything from the perspective of a man standing calmly in front of the throne.
The Crowned Man (calmly): "You are a threat to this world. You shall die."
The man raises his sword — and the moment it touches his neck—
Kaito: "Aaah!!! What the— It was a dream? Phew... I'm saved."
Kaito Hoshino, 17 years old.
A teen who is both smart and stupid. Sometimes smart, sometimes stupid.
A knocking sound comes from the door.
Knock, knock.
Kaito: "The door's open."
Aiko: "Coming in. (Fixing his room) You were shouting, weren't you? Nightmare again? Hmm, it's almost morning — don't go back to sleep."
Aiko Fujimori, Kaito's mother — sometimes lovely, sometimes terrifying.
Even Kaito's father is scared of her when she's mad.
Kaito (yawning): "Okay, I'll be right back. Make sure breakfast has something delicious."
Aiko: "Yeah, yeah!"
Aiko leaves the room.
Moments later, as Kaito gets out of bed and opens the door to step out—
Karin: "Mud Ball!!"
SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT!
Karin Hoshino — 11 years old. Kaito's little sister.
There are three siblings in the Hoshino family, and Kaito is the middle child.
Mud splatters all over Kaito's face — Karin had filled her water gun with mud.
Kaito: "KARINNN!!! YOU—"
Karin starts running, and Kaito chases after her furiously.
She ran towards the kitchen, and Kaito followed her too. She entered the kitchen, but Kaito caught her by the back of her shirt and lifted her up.
Karin: "Hehe."
Kaito (grinning devilishly): "Hehe... Now you can't escape."
Karin (smirking): "Who told you that?"
Suddenly, from behind, SMACK! — A pan hits the back of Kaito's head.
Kaito: "Owww!! MOM!?"
Aiko: "Didn't I tell you to get ready? But look at you — rolling around in mud?
Now tell me, what do you think I should do with you?"
Kaito: "Mom, it's not my faul—"
Aiko: "Enough talking! Get ready or you'll be late. You are training before you leave — with your father."
Kaito (groaning): "Ugh… not with Dad… he always breaks my ribs. I will go train with Rin instead."
Aiko (furiously): "YOU ARE... GOING WITH... YOUR DAD"
Karin (giggling): "Hehehe."
Aiko: "I'm talking to you too, Karin! Behave properly."
Karin goes quiet and nods.
A person is reading newspaper, sitting on the sofa. He is Tetsuo Hoshino, Kaito's father.
Tetsuo: "Let's train first. Then go take a bath. I want to see how much you've improved. I will even show you my R1." *giggling*
Kaito (grinning): "R1? Now we're talking. Let's go!"
Aiko (sighing): "You two are hopeless. Don't spoil him too much."
Tetsuo: "Okay, okay."
Then Tetsuo, Kaito, and Karin head to the training yard behind their house.
The Training Begins
Tetsuo: "Come at me with everything you've got."
Kaito: "You can bet on it!"
Kaito charges at Tetsuo, shouting as he leaps forward.
He throws a powerful punch — Tetsuo blocks it effortlessly, but the ground beneath cracks under the force.
Tetsuo stomps his foot on the ground, and the cracks instantly seal back up.
Tetsuo: "Haa… You've improved quite a bit. But please don't crack the grounds. Your mom will kill me."
Kaito (grinning): "I'm just getting started! Take care of the grounds for me. Haha!"
They exchange multiple blows. Not actually. Just Kaito punches and Tetsuo blocks effortlessly.
Kaito jumps high into the air and aims a kick at Tetsuo's neck.
Tetsuo blocks again, repairing the cracked ground each time his foot touches it.
Karin watches from the side, excited.
Kaito throws another punch — Tetsuo blocks it, grabs his arm, and flings him far across the yard.
Kaito rolls through the dirt but quickly gets back up.
Dust covered around him — and when they cleared, he's gone.
Tetsuo smiles.
Suddenly, Kaito appears behind him and kicks toward his head — but Tetsuo blocks it with a single finger.
Then Kaito starts throwing rapid punches — none of them land.
Tetsuo effortlessly dodges every single strike, like Kaito's only hitting his afterimages.
Kaito (frustrated): "Dad! You're not even attacking back!"
Tetsuo: "I was just testing how much you've improved. Hmm, this should be enough for your UAA test."
Kaito (grinning): "Hehe. But Dad, you told me you will show me your R1. I want to see your Aura Flux in action. Let's fight seriously."
Tetsuo: "But—"
Kaito: "Please, Dad! I know you don't want to hurt me because I can't use Aura Flux. But one day, when I face an enemy who can, I'll still have to fight, right?"
Tetsuo (rubbing his forehead): "Fine, fine. You asked for it. Get ready."
Kaito: "Okay."
Tetsuo (teasing): "Then brace yourself. Don't wet your pants out of fear."
Kaito (annoyed): "Of course I won't!"
Wind swirls violently around Tetsuo.
His eyes shift from brown to bright blue — his clothes flutter, his hair dances with the wind,
and the ground starts cracking beneath him.
Tetsuo (muttering, glancing at the ground): "Aiko's gonna kill me for this…"
Tetsuo (looking at Kaito): "Try to block this. I'll punch you in the stomach."
Kaito (disappointed): "Aww, why spoil the move—"
Before he can finish, Tetsuo vanishes — and in the next instant, a heavy punch slams into Kaito's gut.
He's sent flying — rolling across the field until he's about to crash into a tree…
but Tetsuo catches him mid-air.
Kaito is unconscious.
Tetsuo (thinking): "Heh, maybe I hit a bit too hard. But no problem — the test's still two hours away."
Kaito wakes up later to see Tetsuo and Karin standing beside him.
Karin bursts out laughing.
Karin: "Big bro, you got cooked for real!"
Kaito (annoyed by himself): "Hmph!"
Tetsuo: "Enough. Let's get going. Your mom's waiting."
Kaito and Karin exchange looks — then start walking.
Tetsuo chuckles quietly, and both siblings glance at each other before laughing too.
A wholesome moment.
Tetsuo: "One day, you'll prove you're my son... even without Aura Flux."
Kaito (smiling): "Thanks, Dad. Because I will be the strongest person in the world."
Karin: "Keep dreaming, mister 'couldn't even dodge my mud ball.'"
Kaito: "YOU— that was unexpected, you little shrimp!"
Karin: "Who are you calling shrimp!? I'm eleven! I'll grow up one day!"
Kaito: "Keep dreaming."
Karin: "Dad! He is copying my dialogues."
Tetsuo: "Now now, stop fighting. We're home."
Aiko tosses a towel and a change of clothes at Kaito with a smile.
Aiko: "Go shower and come eat."
Kaito takes a bath and joins the family for breakfast.
The Departure:
Tetsuo: "Let's go, Kaito. The car's waiting outside."
Kaito: "Wait a Sec..."
Kaito goes inside, standing before a picture. Its his elder sister who died in an incident. She is Kushina Hoshino.
Kaito: "I'm heading off, big sis. A step forward for my dream."
Tetsuo and Aiko smiles. Kaito stepped outside.
Kaito: "Okay, let's—"
Suddenly, Tetsuo's phone rings. He picks it up.
Tetsuo: "Hello, Hachi."
Hachi (scolding): "Sir, before the UAA admission test, there's a scheduled meeting.
YOU ARE LATE... Did you forget?"
Tetsuo starts sweating.
Tetsuo: "Hehe, of course not! I'm on my way. Won't take long…"
Hachi (angry): "SO, YOU REALLY FORGOT? Why do I always have to make up for your neglect? Huh!
He ends the call.
Tetsuo: "Kaito, I don't have much time. If we go by car, I'll be late."
Orange flames flare up from Tetsuo's back — phoenix wings.
He activates his Phoenix Orb, because he's a Phoenix Mystian[1].
Tetsuo: "Hold on tight."
Kaito (excited): "Okay, this is gonna be awesome!"
Kaito grabs his father's hand, and Tetsuo takes off into the sky.
Cold wind rushes against their faces as the ground shrinks beneath them.
Kaito (eyes wide): "Woaaah!!! So you get to see this view every time you fly?
It must feel amazing!"
Tetsuo (smiling): "Maybe..."
Kaito: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Tetsuo: "Nothing."
He smiles quietly — feeling a strange nostalgia,
In Tetsuo's mind,
It's tetsuo's childhood, He is riding behind his father's back.
Tetsuo (excited): "Dad! Do you like flying?"
His father: "Maybe..."
At present,
Tetsuo: "Kaito, we've arrived. Sorry, I don't have time to land properly."
Kaito: "Huh!? (Panicking) No, don't...Not again..."
Tetsuo: "Goodbye, All the best, son."
In midair — at least fifty feet above the ground — Tetsuo let go of Kaito's hand and flies off in another direction.
Kaito (falling): "AAAAAHHH!! HELP MEEE!!!"
He crashes into the ground, rolling painfully until he stops right in front of the academy gate.
People glance at him... then just ignore it.
Kaito (dizzy, eyes spinning): "Oww... oww... oww…"
A girl's voice calls out.
Girl: "Whoa! What a landing! Superhero landing, huh?
Here, take my hand — get up."
Kaito looks into her eye first. Then Kaito grabs her hand and stands.
Kaito: "Thanks a lot… (angrily looking at the sky) that old man!"
Girl: "You're welcome. And uh… which old man are you talking about?"
Kaito: "Forget it. I'm Kaito Hoshino."
He extends his hand. She shakes it.
Surume: "I'm Surume Hachikawa. Nice to meet you, Kaito.
You're here for the admission test too, right?"
Kaito (nodding): "Yeah. You too?"
Surume: "Yep!"
Kaito: "Then let's head in together. One of my friends is also joining today."
Surume: "Oh, that'll be fun. One of my friends is here too. Let's meet them."
They start walking into the main hall together.
Surume: "Hey, don't mind me asking but…"
Kaito: "Hmm?"
Surume: "I can't feel any aura from you. Why's that?"
Kaito: "Oh, that's because—"
A loud voice interrupts.
Someone: "KAITO!!! COME HERE!"
Kaito (looming at him, excited): "RIN! I'm coming! (turns to Surume) That's the friend I mentioned —
super smart and strong."
Surume giggles. They walk toward Rin.
Rin: "What's up, Kaito? This is Naoki — just met him. He's from our area too."
Kaito: "Hi, I'm Kaito Hoshino."
Naoki: "Hello, but—"[2]
Kaito: "This is Surume. I just met her too — she's also here for admission."
Surume: "Hi."
Naoki (frowning): "but Wait… Why can't I sense any aura from you? Am I going to be in a team with him? You're just an ordinary person, aren't you? Why'd you come here? To die?"
Kaito (lifting his head): "You maybe wrong about me." (smiles)
Naoki: "Like hell I'm wrong. Hmph."
Rin (interrupting): "Stop, you two. I know Kaito is strong. Its enough for now. Or if you can't agree with me then you can go with another team." (To surume) "And sorry, Hello, I'm Rin — Kaito's best friend."
turns toward Kaito with a mischievous grin
Rin: "Kaito? Hmm? What's going on here? Are you fallen in love? I have never seen you with a girl before." (Devilishly smiling)
Kaito (panicking): "What are you looking at?! It's not like that! We just met!"
Surume: "Yes, that's all! We just met! And I'm not in a team right now, so... can I join your team? I heard the first round needs a team of five. I have a friend and she will also be with us. I can be quite useful — I'm from North Locas."
She instantly regrets revealing her location.
Kaito: "Ohh, you are from North Locas!? judging by your looks... you're a royal, aren't you?"
Surume: "Please, I'm not like other royals who look down on people.
You three are nobles too, right? Then don't treat me differently."
Naoki: "Hmm. Yeah, we're nobles — otherwise we couldn't even apply here."
Rin: "But are you sure your friend is not in a team?"
Surume: "Of course, I know."
Rin: "Okay, enough chit-chat. Let's head into the arena.
We already have four members — now we just need one more."
To Be Continued…
[1] I will explain it later.
[2] Because he also couldn't sense his aura.