Hi again readers! I am presenting to everyone chapter 17! I hope everyone will enjoy this chapter, because it's the chapter before the appearance of Reverse! Actually, it is after Naoki was Reversed then Aichi defeated him and turned him back to normal. The next chapter will take place in the camping trip or somewhere close. But Kourin is still not Reversed. This chapter is mostly about how Aichi stumbled upon 00 anyway, so please enjoy!
Normal POV
Everything was... kind of normal... If adding Naoki and Shingo's bickering and Ren's denseness... Okay, 00 is not so normal now.
" When will the both of them ever stop their arguing?" Takamina said
" They've been arguing for the past few minutes though." Yuuko said
" Good morning, everyone!" Ren entered and greeted
Only to trip over something again. Sweat drop.
" I guess that's another one." Kojiharu said
" Y-Yeah..."
Aichi was... looking dazed and quiet while everything was happening.
" Aichi?" Misaki ask
Kamui waved his hand in front of Aichi's face.
" Brother Aichi?" Kamui ask
Aichi snapped out of it.
" What is it?" Aichi ask
" You've been looking dazed since you woke up, are you alright?" Misaki ask
" Really? I don't know. I didn't notice either." Aichi replied
" Maybe you're just exhausted from the practice yesterday." Naoki said
" Ah, you two finally stopped." Kamui said
" Shut up, you brat!" Naoki said
" What did you say?!" Kamui said
" Don't be rude, you delinquent wannabe Ishida!" Shingo said
Three arguments at the same time. Sweat drop.
" Here we go again." Takamina said
Nagisa and the others entered too.
" Good morning!" Nagisa greeted
" Good morning!" The others greeted
" It seems lively this morning too..." Yuuka said
They looked over to Naoki, Shingo and Kamui arguing.
" Y-Yeah..."
Misaki looked over to Aichi again. He had a dazed look again.
" Maybe he's really tired. I shouldn't worry too much." Misaki thought
The morning breakfast went on with more arguing and definitely lots of trouble handling Naoki, Shingo and Kamui.
Aichi had to go complete his schedule, so he left first.
" He's really a busy guy." Naoki said
" He's really famous here. The people here adore him a lot." Misaki said
" But I'm wondering how Brother even came here." Kamui said
" You mean you don't know?" Kourin ask
" Yeah. He never mentioned it even once, so we don't really know." Misaki replied
" I don't think there is really a mystery about coming here. I mean, I don't think anything bad happened when he came here, right?" Suiko ask
Misaki and Kamui sighed.
" You don't understand at all. Brother has a target on his back everytime." Kamui said
" Target?" Asaka ask
" When he goes to a guerilla live, he needs to be careful whenever fighting. A Nova is supposed to be protected." Misaki replied
" Nova?"
" Well..." Misaki said
Before she could say anything, Tsubasa interrupted the conversation.
" Maybe I'll explain everything to you instead. How everything started." Tsubasa said
" Tsubasa-san!" Kamui exclaimed
" Well, since everyone except for Emi and Mai, I don't want the two girls to know. Since everyone is here, I'm going to explain from the beginning." Tsubasa said
~ Flashback start~
Tsubasa was at the shrine listening to what Sensei-Sensei had to say.
" Aichi... Sendou..."
" Aichi Sendou... Who is he?" Tsubasa said
" Tsubasa-san, we found a boy wandering around Akibastar. Maybe he's the one Sensei is talking about?" A maiden ask
" I'll go check. Please don't do any harm to him, just keep an eye on him." Tsubasa ordered
" Yes."
Tsubasa changed again and headed to where the maiden told her. After walking for some time, she found Aichi wandering around.
" May I ask if you are Aichi Sendou?" Tsubasa ask
" Y-Yes... W-Who are you?" Aichi ask
" My name is Tsubasa. Now then, we should get you changed. You're soaked." Tsubasa said
" Y-Yes."
Tsubasa brought Aichi to change as she continued what she wanted to say.
" Now then, may I ask why are you here?" Tsubasa ask
" I... don't know. I just went through a portal and... I ended up here. I'm sorry if I trespassed here. I should go back." Aichi said
" No, don't. It's okay. I just wanted to talk to you. Sit." Tsubasa said
" Yes."
" You see, our leader has been calling your name for some time now." Tsubasa said
" I... see..." Aichi said
" You seem disturbed, is something wrong?" Tsubasa ask
" No. It's nothing wrong. Please continue." Aichi said
" Like I said, he wants to meet you. So, please follow me." Tsubasa said
" Yes."
Tsubasa brought Aichi to the shrine. Aichi was immediately amazed by the shrine.
" Come here. He's over here." Tsubasa said
" Yes."
She took him to the cave with the crystals.
" Wow! It's beautiful." Aichi said
" He's been brought over." Tsubasa said
Aichi looked at the giant lake in front with the crystal. He approached the lake and touched it. The lake glowed in response.
' What a brilliant glow!' Tsubasa thought
" S-Quadruple? I see. Your name is Sensei-Sensei." Aichi said
' How did he know?!' Tsubasa thought
" Um... How did you...?" Tsubasa ask
" This lake told me along with these little ones. Oh yeah, it also said it wants me to join 00... What is that?" Aichi ask
" I'll explain to you about it soon. But I think Sensei-Sensei wants you to join this shrine, would you accept?" Tsubasa ask
" If I can find a way back home, I'll do it." Aichi replied
" Then, welcome to AKB0048. I'll introduce the girls to you tomorrow, alright?" Tsubasa ask
" Yes!"
~ Flashback end~
" Well, that's mostly it. I don't think I need to explain the rest." Tsubasa said
" Wait, Tsubasa-san. Then does that mean... Is that why Aichi looked so tired today?" Misaki ask
" Really? He looked tired today?" Tsubasa ask
" Yeah. Dazed and tired." Kamui replied
" I think I'm going to have an urgent call soon." Tsubasa said
" Huh?"
A call really came in.
" Hello? Yes. I see. Again, huh? Don't worry, you don't have to. I'll look for him alone. Yes, don't worry, I'm sure nothing is happening to him. I'll contact you when I find him. Just tell everyone to continue their work. Got it. I'll call you later. Bye." Tsubasa said
Tsubasa sighed.
" Tsubasa-san, what is it?" Kamui ask
" Aichi went missing again." Tsubasa said
" What?!"
" T-Then we should ask for a search... or..." Naoki said
" There's no need for that. It should be time too. I know where he is. Besides, it's not like he wanted to miss his schedule." Tsubasa said
" Huh?"
" There's another thing about him. Follow me." Tsubasa said
She led them to the shrine.
" This place is beautiful." Rekka said
" I didn't know there was such a place here." Kourin said
" We're here." Tsubasa said
They stopped walking.
" The wind..." Leon said
" Leon-sama?" Jillian ask
" Over there." Ren said
The familiar figure in the distance on top of the lake, leaning his head against the pillar below the crystal.
" Hey, Aic-!" Naoki shouted but was stopped
" Wait, let him be. Don't disturb him." Tsubasa said
" But what's with this place?" Shingo ask
" It's pretty!" Sharlene said
" That's one big crystal." Suiko said
" That's called a dualium." Tsubasa said
" Dua... wha?" Naoki said
" Dualium. It's like the reactors for the Kiraras here." Tsubasa said
" But what is Aichi doin' there?" Naoki ask
" This happens usually once in a month. During that time, he's not supposed to be doing anything, it'll be even more chaotic if DES suddenly attacks too." Tsubasa replied
" What does he do exactly?" Misaki ask
" The Nova gate... It'll open during this time, but nobody is allowed to enter it for some reason." Tsubasa replied
" No way, the Nova gate?!" Kamui exclaimed
" And, wait a minute, how is he standing above water?!" Naoki exclaimed
" He's moving. Let's go." Tsubasa said
Aichi lifted up his head and walked deeper into the cave, they followed Tsubasa and ended up further underground.
" Where is this now?" Kamui ask
" I also recently discovered it after Aichi stopped the praying and came down here. It was a really amazing place. The lake here, it froze from time to time whenever Aichi enters here." Tsubasa said
They were nearing a light.
" But it's as if he was controlled or something, that's why he acted the way you said it this morning. A really different person at this time. The only time he turns back to normal is when the Nova gate closes." Tsubasa said
" When will that be?" Naoki ask
" Usually after he sings a mysterious song, that song will close the gate after that." Tsubasa replied
" Song?"
" But if it is sang in front of people, I'm afraid the Kiraras and gate will follow him, so it was always best not to bring him out at this point of time. Even if the gate is unable to be entered, there's always a way." Tsubasa said
Music was suddenly filling the cave.
" This music... It's starting." Tsubasa said
~ Gift song start~
" Open the world hello baby future."
" Heart no doorbell narasu."
" Love in this rain, passion through shining hope and more prism rainbow color of dream."
" Over the line, image, goodbye tears."
" Daremo ga minna motteru."
" Jibun dake no special address kitto todoku nanatsu no gift."
" Mayou nara michishirube, sagashi ni ima koso wa."
" Kuyashisa he nukumori wo, hohoemi kara hoshizora."
" Meguru meguru deai wa, kawaru kawaru otozure."
" Yagate subete no keshiki furikaeru yo."
" Sekai wa saku warau yo umarekake no miraitachi."
" Ima no asu wo jibun wo shiri watashi no senaka wo osu."
" Kimi wa saku kimi no mama hakanaku moto moto hibi."
" Ryoute hiroge uketomeru no itsuka todoku nanatsu no gift."
~ Gift song end~
The others including Tsubasa were surprised by the giant pure white transparent butterfly wings with rainbow aura on Aichi's back.
" Hey..."
" No... This is my first time seeing those wings too." Tsubasa said
" What kind of wings are they?" Kamui said
" Butterfly wings?" Shingo said
The Nova gate closed and Aichi descended. He noticed the others but his eyes were not blue anymore, there was a rainbow aura in his eyes.
" He's a totally different person for sure." Naoki said
" I thought you said he'll turn back to normal after closing the gate?" Kourin ask
" I think he wants to say something to you guys. Judgement time, he calls it sometimes." Tsubasa said
" Judgement time?! We are not in a court here!" Naoki said
Aichi pointed to them. They flinched.
" Your hearts are not connected yet. Your Kiraras cannot glow if your hearts are not connected." Aichi said
" Hearts?" Miwa said
" Not connected?" Ren said
" I don't get it." Misaki said
" An evil form is coming soon. Connect your hearts and work together." Aichi continued
" Evil form?" Naoki ask
Suddenly, red and black lightning strike above them, they shield their eyes from the flash of light. When they opened them again, Aichi was trapped between the lightning.
" Aichi!"
The wings disappeared and lightning strike on Aichi and he screamed, the ice started to crack and Aichi fell into the water.
" Aichi! Damn it!" Naoki said
He took off his coat and jumped into the water. Naoki swam in the water and found Aichi sinking inside the water. He grabbed his arm and pulled him to surface.
" Hey, help me!" Naoki said
" Yeah!"
They pulled Aichi up and Naoki came up.
" How is he?" Naoki ask
" Don't worry. He's just knocked out by that lightning and exhaustion." Tsubasa replied
" We should bring him up." Ren said
" There's a bed here in the temple. We'll just wait for him to wake up there." Tsubasa said
Everyone nodded.
They carried him to the bed in the temple. There was a small shrine with the bed.
" But... what was that lightning? It was unusual for it to be there." Kamui said
" You're right. That's what I don't understand, why would there be lightning in a place like that? Unless something invaded that place for only a moment to stop Aichi." Tsubasa said
" And those wings... It was even more mysterious." Misaki said
" That's why I've never seen him go out of this temple when that time comes. I bet he was worried of whatever evil form he was talking about and stayed here to prevent anybody from taking him and using him for evil. But that lightning confirms that somebody has an evil intention in their mind and want to force him to open the gate." Tsubasa said
" And you're tellin' us that the gate is opened by Aichi for every once in a month. If it happens in our world, it will be chaos." Naoki said
" I can agree to that. No matter what, the Nova gate must be protected. Along with its guardian." Tsubasa said
" Maybe we can now finally understand why Aichi came here in the first place. A chosen guardian of the Nova gate." Misaki said
" What is those Novas you talk about anyway?" Kamui ask
" Center Nova. People who have the same brilliance as a Center Nova... In recent cases, on their graduating performance, they suddenly disappeared in their last performance and was never found again." Tsubasa replied
" Disappeared without a trace..."
They heard grunting noise behind them. Aichi was starting to wake up. He opened his eyes, it was back to blue.
" Aichi, are you alright?" Naoki ask
" What happened to me? And why am I in the shrine?" Aichi ask
" T-That's... a long story..." Misaki replied
" I felt like I was hit by something hard. Did something happen?" Aichi ask
" Not.. really..." Shingo replied
" Anyway... Wanna play?" Ren ask densely
Sweat drop.
" Hey. Aichi needs to rest. You can ask him to play when he is not tired, alright? And how did you even get things out of nowhere?" Misaki ask
" I don't know. I just pick them up sometimes." Ren replied
Sweat drop.
" But Misaki is right. Right now, you should rest, Aichi. Don't worry about other problems, I'll handle the schedule." Tsubasa said
" Ah! What time is it now?!" Aichi ask
" 5 in the afternoon." Shingo replied
" I need to- Ouch!" Aichi said
" That's why I said to rest. Your body is already tired, I'll handle the schedule and shift them on some other day, alright? So just rest." Tsubasa said
" Yes..."
Naoki and Shingo settled him down again. The others were told to leave so that Aichi could rest up, only Misaki, Naoki, Shingo and Kourin were left.
" I wonder if he is alright. It seems like the lightning really strike him hard." Kourin said
" I don't know either. But all we know is that he's a chosen guardian of the gate but it is also unknown to him. My guess is that's why the portal opened in front of him." Misaki said
" Center Nova and Dimensional Nova. I wonder what could it be that DES want to obtain just getting him." Naoki said
" But our first priority is figuring out exactly he was talking about and make sure that evil form doesn't get him. I know that the Nova gate is just something that doesn't have a value in our world, but I've got a feeling that maybe it is something someone would want to obtain." Misaki said
" And the first problem is that if the gate somehow opens in our world, that evil form will come. And in order to close it... We need his song. That's the key to closing it. But that gives me a question, how does the gate open?" Shingo ask
Tsubasa came back at that time and heard the conversation.
" Before he prays, he goes down there to open the gate by singing a different song. Then he comes up to pray or find information from that pillar. Then, the rest is what you observed." Tsubasa said
" From what I'm hearing, it seems that the gate only opens in that area." Kourin said
" No. Once, it opened somewhere else before." Tsubasa said
" Seriously?!" Naoki exclaimed
" Yeah. After his debut, he was really famous, but that time... He disappeared in front of me." Tsubasa said
" Disappeared?" Misaki ask
" Yeah. That's how he comes here unnoticed. He reappears in the temple and does what he has to do." Tsubasa replied
" Then what happened that time?" Shingo ask
" Well..." Tsubasa said
~ Flashback start~
It was nighttime and everyone was asleep. But Aichi and Tsubasa were discussing about something when suddenly...
" Aichi?!" Tsubasa exclaimed
Aichi was suddenly disappearing. Kiraras were around him.
" Aichi?!" Tsubasa exclaimed
Aichi completely disappeared. Tsubasa stood up.
' I shouldn't disturb the others. I'll go look for him on my own.' Tsubasa thought
Tsubasa walked all around the deserted streets of Akibastar as she went to look for Aichi.
' Where could he be?' Tsubasa thought
Suddenly, she heard a sound of laughter and song. She immediately ran towards the nearby lake.
' That's...'
From a distance, a gate opened in the sky. She immediately ran towards there and found Aichi gliding around on the water and singing a song. Dancing while singing and glowing a light she had never seen for a long time.
' What a brilliant light!' Tsubasa thought
She shielded her eyes as the light grew stronger and Aichi approached her.
" Don't search anymore. Acchan will always be in your heart, no matter where she is." Aichi said
" Aichi?"
" Don't continue your search for answers. The answers will come to you soon enough. When the time is right... you'll know the answers you need." Aichi continued
" What do you mean?"
" Continue your job and stop searching. Acchan won't like it if you keep searching for answers to her disappearance. If you keep searching, your heart will continue to waver. Just wait for the right time and all the answers will be told in time." Aichi said
The light disappeared and the gate also disappeared. Aichi fainted as Tsubasa caught him.
' What was that? It definitely wasn't Aichi talking. Why? How did he open the gate?' Tsubasa thought
Tsubasa carried Aichi to his room and settled him in.
' What are the answers? Why would he tell me that?' Tsubasa thought
The night deepens and Tsubasa went back to her room for sleep.
~ Flashback end~
" He told you that?" Naoki ask
" Yeah. And then, the next day, Sensei-Sensei said something about 'guardian' 'gate' over and over again while showing Aichi's picture. That made me come to a conclusion that Aichi is the guardian of the gate, although, he doesn't know a single thing." Tsubasa said
" Then if that is true, then..." Misaki said
" Yeah. The gate can open in your world too. I'll give you a clue. Whenever there is a gate opening, Aichi would always be gliding above waters. You will also be able to hear sounds of laughter and songs." Tsubasa said
" Thank you, Tsubasa-san. Hopefully, it will be a case where it will never happen." Kourin said
" But sometimes, it's not once a month. When Aichi is in danger, he would also suddenly disappear and reappear above the lakes. So it's always better not to endanger his life, otherwise, the guardian will surface and open the gate." Tsubasa said
" So there's no way but to make sure nothing happens to him then." Shingo said
" I'm leaving him to you in your world, remember, it might not be a Center Nova gate either. He might also open the gate to our world, and you know very well that if your world is in danger, so will be ours." Tsubasa said
" Yeah. Leave it to us!" Naoki said
" Oh yeah. The signs when you know it is coming is when he looks really dazed and not concentrating, he will also be really silent before disappearing." Tsubasa said
" So it is the signs. I was wondering why he was so dazed and quiet for the whole morning." Misaki said
" That locket that he has. Make sure he has it all the time. If he still hasn't open the gate yet, use the melody to stop him. That's why I gave him the locket." Tsubasa said
" Yes!"
Aichi woke up and they proceeded back to their rooms.
The next day
Aichi opened the portal and they headed back to their world after saying their goodbyes. But... they don't know that they might be too relaxed because evil has finally approached and the first Reversed fighter will be born.
That's all for this chapter! I hope everyone enjoyed it! Sorry for the late update! I'll see everyone in the next chapter! Bye bye!