Long story short: Mob lied. (And maybe I lied too.)

No, that didn't mean Shigeo wasn't happy for me. Shigeo had always been supportive of me. He was a good brother that way. Even when I acted like a delinquent and caused trouble, he still stayed by my side. A lot of other people would walk away, but not Shigeo. And in my opinion, that made him the best brother in the world (sorry Sho, Ritsu).

Still, I suppose not even Mob can hide his true feelings forever. He's only human, after all.

You're probably wondering what on Earth I'm going on about.

Well, the story started off normally. After telling Shigeo about my plans to go to the music school (yes, I took my time with it - I was nervous, okay?), Shigeo told us (Ritsu and myself - Ritsu may or may not have been giving me some confidence) that he was going to finally confess his feelings to his long-time crush, Tsubomi.

"Smart thinking of you to get her all alone," I told him.

He smiled at me. "Thanks, sis."

I looked away, feeling tears burning my eyes.

"Y'know, you've really changed, Shigeo," I told him, my voice tearful. "You've made lots of new friends, and you're becoming independent… so, I think you'll be just fine without me here."

"What about me?" Ritsu asked.

"You've always been mature, Ritsu," I told him, rolling my eyes. "But still, I expect you to keep an eye on Mob."

"Of course," Ritsu nodded.

Mob bowed. "Thank you, sister."

"Go get 'em, tiger," I said, giving him a grin. "Go and tell Tsubomi how you feel."

"Thank you!" Mob said, waving to Ritsu and myself as he walked down the hall, preparing to leave the house.

"Don't beat up Tsubomi if she rejects him, Arashi," Ritsu warned me. He gave me a small smirk. "At least, not without me."

I gave him a smirk. "Depends if there's any of her left after I'm done with her."

After Mob left, I was preparing myself to discuss the whole issue with my other friends (i.e my band). Unfortunately, me leaving meant the band would have to disband, which put a big hole in my heart, but…

"I… I'm gonna have to tell my bandmates," I told Josh. "And my club…" I laughed. "Y'know, maybe I can reinstate Onigawara as president when I leave."

"What about the rest of the school?" Ritsu asked. "Actually, forget that. What about Mom and Dad?"

"Oh, they already know," I replied.

Ritsu stared at me blankly.

"Don't look at me like that!" I exasperated. "I had to tell them, obviously! I'm going to be leaving!"

"You told Mom and Dad before us?" Ritsu asked.

"Sho knows as well," I said, putting my hands behind my back.

"For crying out loud…" Ritsu sighed, face-palming.

"Hey, my biological mother told him, not me," I retorted.

"Just go and tell everyone," Ritsu said, shaking his head.

"I will, I will…" I said, waving my hands.

Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to. This is where things took a weird turn.

So, I decided to meet up with Josh and Daizō to discuss the whole school situation. As well as that, I had my parents (finally) tell Salt Middle School that I was officially leaving. (Yes… I was that nervous.) Of course, that meant I was going to have to tell the entire school, but I knew I'd have to eventually.

I headed on over to the train station to catch the train to Josh's house. As I waited for the train, I tried to control my breathing.

This is it, I thought, staring at the rails. This is the choice I'm going to make. I'm happy with this choice. This is what I want. Breathe, Arashi.

Oh well, at least it was peaceful. Well… it was, until all of a sudden, a bunch of people showed up out of nowhere, screaming and running for their lives.

"Everyone, evacuate the area immediately!" a group of police yelled, using megaphones.

I raised my brow. What the Hell is going on?!

I raced over to the group of police officers.

"Excuse me," I raised my voice, "but what's going on?!"

"Reports of a boy destroying residential area around Salt Block and Pepper Street have been coming in," a police man replied. "In fact, he is destroying the entire city. He is incredibly dangerous, and is showing no signs of stopping. Please get to safety as quickly as possible!"

Then I felt it. The ground trembling beneath my feet. The surge of psychic energy I knew all too well.

"Shigeo," I breathed.

"Miss, please evacuate immediately," the police man told me.

"So, this boy," I stared at him. "He's in Pepper Street, right?"

The police man frowned. "Yes, but-"

"Sorry," I said, ducking away. "I've got a brother to save."

"Miss!" the police man shouted. "Don't run in that direction!"

I ignored him, charging straight ahead. The tremors grew, and I picked up my speed.

Don't worry, Shigeo, I thought. I'm coming.

The police weren't lying about the whole 'destroyed' thing.

The whole city looked like Godzilla himself had gone through it. Straight through the centre was a massive pathway carved through the ground. The road had been cut up into pieces of rubble, and buildings were half-destroyed. Cars had been crushed like nothing. I saw smoke trailing into the sky, and people in a panic.

Mob, did you really do this…? I thought.

For a brief second, my heart leapt into my throat. I was terrified. This was how dangerous Shigeo really was.

No, I have to find my brother, I reminded myself. I have to save him.

I followed the trail of destruction. I kept blinking and pinching myself, not believing that my brother, the kindest person I knew, was responsible for all this. Something a monster would do.

He's been possessed, or something, I thought.

No, you've seen what he can do, another part of me said. He's the most powerful esper you've ever met. He could destroy the whole world if he wanted to.

But that's not something he would do, I retorted. He could do it, but he wouldn't. Never.

How do you know that? The voice asked. Or maybe… he's finally lost control of his powers. He's kept them locked away for so long, and they've come back at last.

He would never… I replied, clenching my fists.

You're doubting yourself, the voice said. Of course you are. You've always been scared of him deep down. On the surface, you try to act like the more powerful one, but in reality, you're weak compared to him. You depend on him. But not only that, you depended on his kind nature. And now…

Now it's all coming undone. He's lost control of what grounds him.

Stop it, I thought. You're wrong.

No, you know I'm right, the voice said. No wonder you couldn't tell him the truth for so long. I bet this is why you were scared. This is what you've always been scared of.

STOP, I thought, clutching the sides of my head. Fire began to flicker around my form with a burning pain.

What will he do when you leave? The voice taunted. Will he tear apart every friend you've made until you come back? Will you stand idly or will you stop him? No, it's not like you can stop him.

I was able to stop Himiko, I retorted.

But she's not Shigeo, the voice said. She was a girl who was a part of your silly band for a little while. And besides, she's still alive. You couldn't even kill her.

I could never kill anyone, I replied.

Because you are a coward, the voice said. Face it, Arashi: you are a coward. You couldn't let your brother go because you were scared of him losing control. But it's too late now. Your cowardice has turned him into a monster.

NO, I screamed, internally.

It's all your fault, the voice taunted.

I screamed in the real world, agonising pain coursing through me. Fire built around my form, and I turned into a blazing inferno. I was the fire angel once again, but this time, I couldn't control the storm.

This is… the end…

I am a coward.

You will suffer.

This is your fault.

"No… not you too…"

I blinked, turning to see Teruki crawling towards me. He was completely naked, and semi-bald. His body was covered in burn marks. I got some heavy deja-vu from when I first met him.

Everything is burning.

"Arashi… please…" he pleaded. "Control it…!"

I blinked, forcing myself to re-open my eyes. The fire began to simmer down, just slightly.

Coward…

"Teruki…" I whispered, fire choking my lungs.

Liar.

"Wake up, Arashi…!" he shouted, getting onto his two feet. "Your brother is out of control, and you're the only one who can save him! Because if you can't…" he laughed. "Then no one can."

Monster.

"Shigeo…" I thought of my brother again.

This is all your fault.

"The world needs a hero!" Teruki shouted. "It has to be you, Arashi Kageyama!"

…

"A hero…?" I asked, the fire burning bright.

"Sister!" another voice called out.

Familiar. Warm.

It was my twin brother, Sho Suzuki. He was wearing a skeleton shirt, and had concern all over his face.

"Sho…?" I asked.

"What happened to you?!" Sho asked, eyes wide.

Demon.

"My fault…" I whispered.

"She's losing control of her powers, just like Shigeo is," Teruki answered.

Sho gave him a weird look. "Who the Hell are you? And why are you naked?"

"Doesn't matter right now," Teruki panted. "You have to help Arashi-chan!"

This is the end.

"Sister…" Sho turned towards me, desperation in his eyes. "Please, just…" He spat on the ground. "Snap out of it! You're acting like our piece-of-shit dad!"

I felt my heart skip a beat.

… hero…

"No, screw that!" Sho shouted. "You're acting like that Himiko girl!"

"I'm not… like her…" I growled, clenching my fists until my nails drew blood.

Hero…

"Are you sure about that?" Sho asked. "Because you're acting a lot like her!"

"NO!" my voice boomed. "I'M A HERO!"

SAVE THE WORLD.

Everything shuddered. I raised my fists, the fire obeying my will. I was back in control. I was the fire angel, Arashi Kageyama.

"I WILL SAVE HIM," I boomed.