At the convenience store, Daiji was watching something on his phone when someone entered the door. Daiji put his phone away then said,"Good morning sir."
Daiji got no response and he looked up to see a young Japanese man, who was rather tall and had auburn colored hair which went to about half his face and had bangs over his forehead. This young man wore a dark red short sleeved button up over a white tank top, blue jeans and light brown shoes.
"Uh excuse me sir,"Daiji said. The man looked at Daiji and he said,"Hi." with a blank expression and tone of voice. Daiji nodded, then he asked,"Do you need some assistance?"
The man nodded, then he walked up to the register and said,"I'm looking for someone who has something like this."
The man pulled out a buckle device like Daiji's, causing Daiji to look at him with shock. Daiji then said,"I have something like that. You're an avatar like me?"
"Yeah. I'm Kai."The man, now known as Kai, said bluntly with his face still showing no emotion. Daiji nodded, then he said with a nervous smile,"I'm Daiji, nice to meet you."
Kai nodded then he said,"Can you help me find a monster?"
"A monster, I dealt with that the other day.",Daiji said.
"No, this monster appeared today. Was large and came out of a bakery."Kai explained. Daiji's eyes widened, then he said,"Sato-san, I have to leave early today. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay, Daiji. Make sure you clock out and be safe with your fighting of monsters.",Sato said from the back office.
Minutes later, Kai and Daiji were walking down the street together with Daiji being noticeably freaked out by Kai. Kai looked around and then he said,"Why are you being so nervous?"
"Well besides the fact that I just met you and am still trying to figure out why I've been chosen to fight monsters and other things."Daiji said, putting his hands in his pockets. "It's how you seem to be like a robot in that you've shown no kind of emotion. Which isn't necessarily wrong but most people at least smile or something when they meet someone."
"Oh, so the usual reason people are nervous around me.",Kai said, barely glancing at Daiji.
"Wait, I'm not the first person to say this about you?",Daiji questioned.
"No. Everyone who's known me has said the same thing."
"Oh, sorry to hear that."
"Don't be. Most don't understand why I am like this and I don't care if they do or not."
"Could you maybe give me a clue as to why you act like this?"
"I'm clinically apathetic.",Kai bluntly said. Daiji raised an eyebrow,"You're what?"
"Clinically apathetic. I don't really feel emotion, haven't since I was three years old and it's why I don't have friends, only can work in the back areas of places and am usually alone.",Kai explained.
Daiji nodded, saying in his mind,"And I thought I had problems."
Kai and Daiji stopped at a crosswalk then they looked around before they crossed it. Once on the other side, the two young men continued walking and searching for the monster but then someone passed by Kai. The person then ran back around to be in front of Kai, smiling at Kai and causing Kai and Daiji to stop.
The person standing in front of Kai was a young Japanese man who had shoulder length dark brown hair that was tied into two low pig tails. He wore a white t-shirt under a navy blue button up both of which were a size too big, black pants that were baggy, and black sandals. This man also had the nails of his fingers painted pink and magenta while his toe nails were painted magenta.
"You are beautiful."The man said with an ecstatic smile.
Kai stared at the man blankly while Daiji raised an eyebrow and said,"Uh, who are you?"
The man looked at Daiji then he shook his head saying,"Oh where are my manners;"
The man stood up straight then said,"My name is Shun, nice to meet you both."
"My name is Kai.",Kai said.
"Daiji. So why are you saying Kai is beautiful?",Daiji asked.
"Because he is. It's clear that his beauty is magnificent just from the sight of him.",Shun explained with a wide smile and while motioning to Kai. Kai just kept his emotionless gaze while Daiji looked Kai up and down. Daiji looked at Shun,"You sure you're talking about this guy?"
"Yes I am. I don't expect you to understand it since you clearly cannot see true beauty.",Shun said, brushing Daiji off. He then got closer to Kai, grabbed his hand and said with a hopeful smile,"Please allow me to paint you, Kai-chan. It'd be my honor to do so."
Daiji had a baffled expression on his face. Kai just looked at Shun then bluntly said,"I can't do that right now. I am looking for a monster that escaped this morning."
"Kai, don't go telling people that randomly.",Daiji urged.
"Monster? You are an avatar as well?",Shun asked while standing up straight. Daiji looked at Shun with a raised eyebrow. Shun pulled out a buckle device and grinned in a somewhat cutesy manner. Daiji's jaw dropped while Kai said,"Oh, you have a buckle like Daiji and I. Then you can help us."
"Wait wait a second Kai. Even if Shun has a buckle, it doesn't mean he'll help us.",Daiji said.
"I will gladly help you Kai-chan.",Shun said with a smile. Daiji let out a surprised 'huh' while turning his gaze to Shun.
"However afterwards, I want us to spend more time together. Your beauty needs to be immortalized and I want to be the one to do so.",Shun said.
"I can do that.",Kai replied bluntly. Shun jumped giddily then he and Kai began walking, with Daiji following behind completely dumbfounded.
Minutes later, Kai, Daiji, and Shun were in a shopping center with Shun and Kai conversing. Shun had an intrigued look on his face as he said,"So you can't feel emotions, Kai-chan?"
Kai shook his head in response. Shun then swooned before saying,"This is perfect! It means that not only can I see your inner beauty but I could bring it out of you to show to the world."
"You can help me feel emotion?",Kai asked.
"I can do my absolute best to Kai-chan. If you'd like me to that is.",Shun said.
"I would like that.",Kai bluntly replied. Shun hugged Kai then said,"You will not regret this."
Daiji just stared at the two, completely dumbfounded by what he was seeing. He then said,"How have I gotten myself involved with these two?"
"Daiji-kun,"Shun said, catching Daiji's attention. "Who are you speaking to?"
"Daiji-kun?! Why do you call him Chan but me Kun? I'm about the same age as you.",Daiji said a bit offended.
"I am twenty four, Kai-chan is twenty four as well. You appear to be no older than eighteen and I can see you are in need of a mentor.",Shun said, he, Kai and Daiji stopped.
"What?! I don't need a mentor and I'm twenty two!",Daiji said. Shun then made Daiji stand up straight before he said,"Don't frown so much Daiji-kun. You'll get wrinkles at a young age that way."
Shun then turned to Kai and he adjusted Kai's button up while saying with an impressed smile,"Ooh, you're very fit Kai-chan. How often do you work out?"
Kai thought about it briefly then said,"Everyday. I was told it can help me feel something but all it does is make me tired."
Shun and Kai began conversing again while Daiji gritted his teeth in anger. He then let out a frustrated groan before looking elsewhere. It was then that he saw a monster crash through a store front as it was fighting another monster.
The first monster had no skin and was muscular in build. The monster also had tattered clothes on and burgundy colored eyes.
The second monster was taller than the first by a few inches and appeared more reptilian than the other. It had four arms that were covered in magenta scales as well as having wine red claws on each finger. The monster had no legs but instead had a snake's tail as its lower body. The head of this creature was reptilian with no hair and two reptilian eyes and a double hinged jaw.
Kai and Shun looked at the monsters the Kai said,"Oh, there's the monster from earlier." in his normal apathetic way.
"Ugh, those two things are absolutely ugly outside and in.",Shun said with disgust. He then took out his buckle and said,"Shall we deal with them."
Kai looked at Shun then bluntly asked,"I thought that's what we were going to do." while taking out his buckle and putting it on his waist, the black belt wrapping around him and connecting to the other side.
Shun chuckled and said,"You're amusing, Kai-chan." while putting his buckle on his waist, the black belt wrapping around him and connecting to the other side.
Kai then put his hand to his buckle and said,"Blood change." before pressing the button. This caused the eye to open revealing a red symbol that looked like a trident in a pentagon that had two lines going to the lower corners. The buckle also announced,"GATE OPEN!"
A sphere of red energy that was surrounded by surging red energy rings that were shaped like the symbol in the buckle's eye surrounded Kai. The sphere then collided with Kai, forming armor on him.
Kai's armor was red with it being on his shoulders and going down the center of his chest, with the sides of the torso armor being pink. The collar of the chest armor was gold in color and the ends of the shoulder pads spiked like bat wings. The gloves and forearm guards were red with armor being on the gloves as well. The wrists of the gauntlets were gold and jagged while the ends of the forearm guards were jagged and colored magenta. The thigh armor was red, the knee pads were magenta, the boots were just below knee height and were armored on the lower legs, top of the foot, toes and heels of the boots. The ankle of the boots were gold and jagged while the armor and boot itself were red. All this was over a pink undersuit. Kai's helmet was magenta on the lower portion and chin, red on the top with a portion going down into a white mouthplate somewhat like a nose, had two horns which curved downward slightly but the right one was broken half was. The visor of this helmet was gold and in the shape of scowling compound eyes.
"PURIFY THE LAND, AVATAR OF BLOOD!",Kai's buckle announced as a red and black pitch fork appeared next to Kai (the pole being red and black while the actual fork and top option of the hilt was completely red.)
Blood took his pitchfork then spun it over his head before brandishing it towards the monsters. Daiji and Shun looked at Blood then Shun said,"Absolutely breathtaking. I should show you mine now, Kai-chan."
Shun then placed his thumb on the button on his buckle and placed his hand over his forehead while smirking seductively.
"Beautiful change.",Shun said before pressing the button on the buckle. This caused the eye on his buckle to open, revealing a magenta colored symbol which shaped like a crystalline stylized cartoon heart. This also caused the buckle to announce,"GATE OPEN!"
A sphere of magenta energy that had several rings of pink energy around it in the shape of Shun's symbol surrounded Shun. The sphere then collided with Shun forming armor.
Shun's armor was unique in that it was an armored long coat which was primarily magenta with lime green cuffs, collar and coat tail all of which were frayed in appearance. Shun's gloves were magenta with lime green fingers which ended in claws. Shun's boots were just under knee-height, were mainly magenta with a lime green angular section going from the top of the foot to the center of the shin, were lightly armored, and had heels that were four inches in height. All of this was over a pink undersuit. Shun's helmet was mainly magenta in color save for a white mouthplate, a lime green visor which was a slash shape that curved somewhat upward, and had lime green spiked hair which went back and upward.
"BRING THEM TO THEIR KNEES, AVATAR OF BEAUTY!",Shun's buckle announced in a mature feminine voice. A double bladed battle axe appeared at Shun's right side with the axe having a black pole and two pink blades which were shaped to look as two halves of a cartoon heart and were edged on both sides.
Beauty picked up his axe then brandished it before saying,"Shall we deal with these monsters."
Blood nodded then he charged at the monsters wit Beauty following him. Daiji had a dumbfounded look on his face, then he put his buckle on and said,"Spirit change!" while charging into battle and pressing the button.
"GATE OPEN! GO FORTH, AVATAR OF SPIRIT!"
Blood used his pitchfork to vault himself towards the muscular monster, kicking it in the chest. Blood then slashed the reptilian monster across the chest twice before moving out of the way as Beauty slashed the reptile monster across its belly.
Beauty dodged two slashes from the reptile monster then he slashed the monster down the torso before kicking it in the face. Spirit jumped in and punched the monster in the face twice. He was then slashed four times before he was hauled into the air by the reptile monster. Beauty used the flat side of his axe to bash the reptile monster across the face, causing it to go flying into a bench and drop Spirit.
Beauty looked at Spirit then asked,"Why aren't you using your weapon, Daiji-kun?"
"I don't have one. How come you and Kai got one?",Spirit said.
"Hmm,"Beauty tapped his chin. He then shrugged,"I have no idea, I guess we just got them."
Beauty then moved Spirit out of the way of an energy blast which came from the reptile monster. He then charged at the reptile monster with his axe readied. Blood parried a punch from the muscular monster then he jumped back, skidding back towards Spirit.
Spirit and Blood then charged at the muscular monster together. Spirit jumped over the muscular monster while Blood slid under a punch. He then jumped up and slashed the monster three times before using his pitchfork to block several attacks. Spirit delivered a flying sidekick to the monster's head then he punched it with both of his fist. The muscular monster became dazed, stumbling around and groaning in pain.
Blood pressed the button on his buckle twice causing it to announce,"BLOOD FINALE!"
Blood brandished his pitchfork, causing the fork to turn into a spear blade that was dripping fiery blood red energy. Blood then slashed the muscular monster five times, slashing his symbol into the monster before it exploded.
"Ketsuryū: Yari ki A.",Blood said while relaxing himself.
Beauty parried an attack from the reptile monster then kicked it back. He then looked towards Blood and swooned,"Ah, so breathtaking."
Spirit charged in to punch the reptile monster but he was grabbed and slammed into the ground. He then had to hold the reptile maw back as it tried him.
"BEAUTY FINALE!",Beauty's buckle announced after Beauty pressed the button on it twice. Beauty leaped over the monster, slashing it in half with his axe that was covered in surging magenta energy. The monster then exploded as Beauty landed on his feet and relaxed himself.
The reptile monster landed on Spirit as a woman who looked like a store clerk. The muscular monster landed on the ground and was now a very skinny man.
Blood and Beauty regrouped with Spirit, who placed the unconscious woman on the ground. The three then looked up as the robotic voice said,"Congratulations Blood and Beauty; you both have been awarded points for defeating your enemies."
"Hey you again. Answer my questions!",Spirit demanded. He heard no response and he groaned in frustration before saying,"It left again!"
"What are you speaking of Daiji-kun?",Beauty asked.
"I'm trying to figure out why I have been put into these games or whatever they are!",Spirit said while flailing his arms around in frustration. Blood looked at Spirit then he said,"What emotion is this?"
"I believe Daiji-kun is frustrated.",Beauty said while gesturing to Spirit. Blood nodded then he reverted into Kai and his blank expression could be seen. Spirit reverted into Daiji while Beauty reverted into Shun.
"I think that if you want any answers, all you're able to do is participate."Shun said to Daiji.
"How are you so chill about any of this?",Daiji asked.
"Daiji-kun, you're looking at this in the wrong way. Instead seeing it as something you were forced into, see it as an opportunity to gain a new lease on life or to gain something you've desired for so long.",Shun said with a smile. He then moved to Kai's side then hugged his arm while smiling,"Like how I have met Kai-Chan and shall help to bring out the true beauty he has inside."
Kai looked at Shun then said,"You are going to help me?"
"Of course I am. We are friends now, Kai-chan.",Shun said with an honest smile. Kai nodded, then he said,"I've never had friends before."
Shun gasped,"You've never had friends?"
Kai shook his head then Shun said,"Well then, we're going to experience the beauty of friendship together. Come with me," before taking Kai by the wrist and the two began walking away. Shun then stopped and turned to Daiji,"Are you coming Daiji-kun?"
Daiji sighed then he said,"I got nothing better to do." as he followed Kai and Shun.