"It started with an offer" Hajime said as he began his story.

...

...

Hajime was walking to training as always when a man with black hair approached him.

"How would you like to become the strongest knight in all the worlds?" The man asked.

"I'm sorry, are you asking me?" Hajime asked.

"My name is Matsuda and you are Hajime hinata" the man said," right?"

"Yeah, but why do you care?" Hajime asked," I'm a reserve knight"

"I am looking for an empty shell" Matsuda said," if you accept my offer, I can fill you with more power and talent than any knight in existence".

"You're joking, right?" Hajime asked," this is just some cruel prank from the knights".

"I assure you, this is no joke" Matsuda said," it is as real as you and me"

"Fine, I'll play along" Hajime said," it's not like I'll learn anything at training today".

"Then come with me and I will show you a greater future" Matsuda said.

...

Hajime followed Matsuda to a dark isolated lab. There Matsuda pulled up a chalkboard.

"Now you know every living creature exist with a heart" Matsuda said as he drew a stick figure and a heart," it is often believed that the heart is what gives the body its strength, however in this project we will reverse the flow of strength to make your heart stronger"

"But I'm already training as much as I can" Hajime said.

"In that environment full of despair and darkness?" Matsuda asked," you'd sooner turn into a hopeless"

"What's your idea to make my heart stronger?" Hajime asked.

"By temporarily disconnecting the heart from the body, we will fill the hollow body with strength and talent" Matsuda explained," then we simply put the heart back and let the body's strength transfer to it"

"Sounds like it's going to hurt" Hajime said.

"You won't feel a thing" Matsuda said," rather you will be unconscious before and after the project"

"What will happen to my heart though?" Hajime asked.

"It will be put to sleep and isolated until the project is completed" Matsuda said," now would you like to participate in this project?"

"Give me sometime to think about it" Hajime said.

"Very well, however you are not allowed to speak of this project to anyone" Matsuda said.

"Fine" Hajime said.

...

...

"Did you seriously believe that crap?" natsumi asked.

"I was desperate" Hajime said.

"You could have talked to me" natsumi said.

"I know and I was stupid for not" Hajime said," but I just wanted to be her knight so badly".

"I wanted to be a knight along with my brother, so I get it" natsumi said before sighing," but knowing how stupid and insecure I was back then, I probably would've joined the project had they offered it to me"

"Natsumi, I'm sorry" Hajime said.

"So how did they take your heart?" Natsumi said.

"From what I remember, Matsuda took my heart by using a keyblade he had" Hajime said.

"Did your nobody disappear when you got your heart back?" Natsumi asked.

"My nobody is unlike any others due to his strength and talent" Hajime said," that or my heart is to weak to get rid of him"

"But if your nobody can stay doesn't that mean Chiaki can stay as well?" Natsumi asked.

"Izuru only exists when my heart is removed" Hajime said.

"So? Chiaki can do the same" natsumi said.

"Not when she is the nobody of a pure hearted person" Hajime said," people love and depend on Nanami because she is next in line to rule over the worlds"

Natsumi held her tongue as she looked at Hajime with hardened eyes.

"Damn it" natsumi almost cried out.

"I'm sorry" Hajime said as he tried to comfort natsumi with a hug.

"Just leave me alone" natsumi said as she weakly tried to push him away.

"We both make stupid decisions when we're alone" Hajime said as he held her.

"You're still as blunt as ever" natsumi faintly laughed as she nestled her head in Hajimes chest.

...

Chiaki woke up to the sound of natsumi and Hajime laughing. She turned her head and carefully slipped out of her hammock.

" oh hey Chiaki, glad to see your up and moving just fine" natsumi said.

"You two seem to be doing better too" Chiaki said.

"What do you mean?" Hajime asked.

"Before, there seemed to be something dividing you two" Chiaki said," tension...I think is what it's called".

"I think you were just imagining things" Hajime lied," why don't you locate the next heart fragment and then get something to eat"

"Okay" Chiaki nodded

Chiaki summoned her keyblade and located the next heart fragment just as Hajime was looking through his map.

"The world of hybrids" Hajime said.

"Sounds exotic" natsumi said.

"What's a hybrid?" Chiaki asked.

"It's an animal mixed with two other animals" Hajime explained.

"Twice the unpredictability" Chiaki shivered.

"Don't worry, if any of those freaky creatures get too close, I'll make them runaway with their tails between their legs" natsumi said," assuming they have tails or legs that is"

"Thank you natsumi" Chiaki said.

"Anytime" natsumi smiled proudly.

...

They reached the world of hybrids in a timely manner. From the look of it, the world didn't seem too unusual. It even reminded Chiaki of the jungle world and the world of beast.

"Do you think we'll transform like in that world of beast" natsumi asked.

"No, there's no forcefield" Hajime said.

"If we did transform I bet I'd be a griffon and you'd be a platypus" natsumi joked.

"Why am I a platypus?" Hajime asked.

"Cause you're both just so cute" natsumi joked.

"I've never heard of a platypus" Chiaki said," what is it?"

"No one really knows" natsumi said.

...

The trio entered the jungle to hear not a single animal make a sound.

"Well, looks like we won't have to deal with any rowdy hybrids" natsumi said.

"we'll probably have to deal with a hopeless" Hajime said," we just need to find it"

Just then a nearby bush started to rustle.

"Looks like we found it" natsumi said as readied her spear to fight.

"Stand back Chiaki" Hajime said as he too prepared his weapon to fight.

However, what appeared from the bush was not a hopeless at all. It was the polar opposite as it hopped out and twitched its nose.

"A...bunny?" Natsumi asked in disbelief.

"A rabbit mixed with bird" Hajime said as he looked at the rabbits bird wing ears.

"Will it hurt us?" Chiaki asked.

"No, rabbits are pretty harmless" Hajime said.

"Tell that to my brother who got bite by one" natsumi said.

The rabbit extended its large wing ears and started to fly before flying past natsumi and Hajime to land on chiakis shoulder. Chiaki shivered as the strange creature sniffed her face.

"It's okay" Hajime said," its just trying to learn who you are"

The rabbit proceeded to lick chiakis chiaki before curling up on her shoulder.

"Looks like it likes you" natsumi said," peko would be jealous".

"What should I do?" Chiaki asked.

"It seems to be docile towards you so you can pet it if you want" Hajime said.

Chiaki raised her hand and let the rabbit sniff it before stroking the rabbits back. The rabbit returned the gesture by rubbing its head against chiakis neck.

"As much as this scene is adorable, we should probably get moving" natsumi said.

"What about the rabbit?" Chiaki asked.

"You can bring it" Hajime said.

Chiaki nodded before following natsumi and Hajime.

...

As the three traversed the jungle, they came into an open field. There the rabbit started to thump its tail.

"What's wrong with bun bun?" Natsumi asked.

"Looks like its nervous" Hajime said.

Just then a a loud roar echoed on the wind. The roar was followed by the appearance of a manticore hopeless. It had the body and head of a lioness, fangs of a saber tooth tiger, wings of a bat, and a scorpions tail. The manticore hopeless stood on its hind legs like a bear, revealing its claws and red heart insignia.

"How the hell are we supposed to restrain that?" Natsumi asked.

"If we stay on our guard and just protect from its attacks we can wait till it has no energy left" Hajime said.

The manticore hopeless raised and lunged its tail at Hajime in response only for natsumi to shield the attack with her spear. Angered, the manticore hopeless raised its paw and swatted natsumi and Hajime away. It was about to attack Chiaki when the rabbit caught its attention. The rabbit hopped off of chiakis shoulder and onto the manticore hopelesses paw.

When the manticore tried to catch the rabbit with its other paw, the rabbit hopped out of the way. Again the manticore hopeless tried to catch the rabbit only for it to simply hop out of the way. The manticore hopeless used its teeth, tail, and claws, but the rabbit still dodged them with ease. Finally the manticore raised its paw to claw the rabbit only to grow weak and fall over from exhaustion. Seeing the manticore hopeless panting and tired, Chiaki took her chance and walked up to the fallen beast. Laying a delicate hand on the heart insignia, Chiaki stared into the manticore hopelesses red eyes.

"You must be tired of being a hopeless" Chiaki said as she stroked its chest," don't worry, I'll find a way to return you to your original form so you can be with Nanami and all your friends".

The manticore hopeless purred softly before devolving into shadow. Chiaki raised her keyblade and absorbed one of the freed hearts. She looked down at the rabbit as it panted a bit, before scooping it up into her arms.

"Thank you for helping us" Chiaki said as she stroked the rabbit behind the head.

"I can't believe Fluff ball here saved us" natsumi said.

"Guess we better work on our reflexes" Hajime said.

Once chiaki finished petting the rabbit, it stretched out its wings and flew away.

"So much for goodbye" natsumi said.

"It's probably flying back to its burrow or nest" Hajime said," maybe it's going to find its friends"

Just as soon as the rabbit flew away, it came back holding a heart fragment in its paws. The rabbit landed on chiakis shoulder and nuzzled its nose against her face.

"How did it know we were looking for that?" Natsumi asked.

"Probably because it recognized her scent" Hajime explained.

"Thank you rabbit" Chiaki said as she took the heart fragment.

"Maybe we could keep it as a mascot" natsumi said.

"No, we should let it stay in its home now that it's free from the hopeless" Hajime said.

"That's a good idea...I think" Chiaki said," goodbye rabbit"

The rabbit gave chiaki one last lick before flying away for good this time. Chiaki held the heart fragment and accepted it before fainting.

...

'Nanami, I have a gift for you'

"A rabbit"

'That's right, I figured she could keep you company'

"Her fur is so soft and white"

'It seems she's taking a liking to you as well'

"I love her so much. Thank you mama"

'We've prepared everything she needs to live here, but she needs a name'

"Then I'll call her usami"

...

As Hajime and natsumi boarded the boat, something watched them in the distance. Hajime turned his head to see a figure in a black hooded cloak watching him.

"Hey what's up?" Natsumi asked causing Hajime to look at her.

"I though I saw something" Hajime said.

"It was probably a hybrid" natsumi said.

"Yeah" Hajime agreed as he looked to see that the mysterious figure had disappeared," I think you're right".