MPK: Hello again. This chapter's new thing: Kazuma is getting a driver costume change, So look out for that~ (It'll change in the other chap soon)

If you haven't noticed by now, there are going to be continuous gradual changes to this story. But I'll let you know what's important and what's not. I'm also planning to redo a few beginning chapters because of how painful it is for me to look at them as a competent young adult writer, so I'll let you guys know by next chapter if that happens!

"AH! An early morning hot spring bath!" Takuto lowers himself inside gently. "I told you guys spending a day at Sugata's mansion would be a great idea! This is so great!" He leans his head back, relaxing his shoulders.

"This is pretty large for a bathtub, Sugata-kun." Arata sweatdrops. "When I imagined you wanted to take a bath together, I didn't think it would be an indoor jacuzzi, especially an XL swimming pool-sized one..."

Takuto's head snaps to Arata, "What did you imagine then?" Arata waves off the redhead.

"Well, it had to be big enough for all four of us, Arata-kun. Haha..." Sugata chuckles, "Most of the baths on the island are hot springs too, not just mine."

"Really!?" Takuto blows soap bubbles, "This island is awesome!"

"I know right?" Sugata sighs, "I just wish I wasn't a Shindo. Then I could appreciate it more."

Takuto rolls his eyes, "We had this discussion already. Let's not do that again."

"Yes yes."

"Oh yeah. The water's nice and hot and the soap bubbles are abundant! It's just peachy in here~" The other three boys pick up on the whitenette's sarcasm. "So why? Why am I the only one not relaxed right now?!"

"Because you're talking?"

"Because you're not trying to relax?"

"How come? The water feels amazing~!"

"Screw you guys!" Kazuma splashes Takuto for no reason. The redhead spits out some water. "I'm uncomfortable!"

"Why?" Arata and Sugata ask in unison. Kazuma's eyebrows twitch as he eyes the muscle toned males with unease.

"Why!? I feel tiny next to you guys!" Kazuma exclaims, embarrassed. "Not too mention, you're both too close!"

Sugata and Arata look at each other. "So?"

"So!?" Takuto slides further to the far end of the hot tub to watch the scene unravel. "We're just four bros, chillin' in a hot tub..." Kazuma pushes Arata and Sugata further away from him. "Six feet apart like social distancing!"

"That can't exactly happen you know? This tub isn't that large."

"I'm pretty sure you understand what I was putting down, Arata-kun!" Kazuma growls. Suddenly Arata wiggles his eyebrows in Sugata's direction. Sugata accepts the gesture with a nod and they both look at Kazuma in unison with devilish grins.

"Oh? You're uncomfortable you say?" Sugata leans over the whitenette. He instinctively leans back.

"H-Hey, w-what's going on here?"

Arata slams a hand on the wall above Kazuma, "We know how to make you less nervous, Kazuma-kun!" At the mention of the boy's name, the bluenette and brunette hold Kazuma down and start tickling him. Kazuma, not ready for the unnecessary touching squirms like crazy in the bathwater. Takuto only blows bubbles in the water as he watches the exuberant fight with disinterested eyes.

"Don't look like that, Takuto."

"You're next!" Takuto stands up in the tub only to be carefully pulled back down in the water by Arata. Now both Kazuma and Takuto were fighting for their lives against Sugata and Arata.

The tables turn when Kazuma grabs the nearby showerhead, "Takuto! We've got to fight back!"

Takuto clenches a bar of soap, "That's right! Kazuma!" It was the other two's turn to be tackled and poked at. The boys' laughs and groans echo through the mansion.

Eventually, Tiger and Jaguar come to make sure things are alright. "Bocchama! Is everything okay in there!?" The mischievous naked teen males all freeze after hearing a girl's voice. They all instinctively separate, looking in different directions. "The girls downstairs were worried something had happened."

"Uh yes." Sugata answers, "Everything is kosher. No need for alarm."

"Very good then." Jaguar sighs in relief, "Shall we wash your back today, Bocchama?" The boys look to Sugata, who shrugs their looks off.

"No. Not today."

Takuto, Kazuma, and Arata get together on one side, "Then what of the other days?" Sugata stares back at them unbothered. They whisper, "Is it really that bad, being a Shindo?"

Sugata feigns a pout, "Yes."

"I disagree."

"Us too."

"Alright then." Jaguar responds back from behind the glass door, "What about the others?"

Takuto panics, "I'm good!"

Kazuma blushes, "Nah fam! I'm Gucci!"

Arata places a hand to his chin in thought, "Well, actually~!" Before he can get the words out, Kazuma and Takuto dunk his head underwater.

"Not on your life!" They shout, "Everyone's good!" They wait for the maids to leave to release him.

"Do that again and I'll kill you both!" Arata chokes.

"Oi!" Wako suddenly shouts from behind the glass, adding to the commotion. "Us girls have been slaving in the kitchen all morning to prepare breakfast! You guys finish up already, you here!?"

"Yes ma'am!" Kazuma shouts for the bunch.

"Kazu-kun! Was everything okay?! There wasn't an attack or anything right?!" Niika yells over Wako's shoulder as she comes in too.

Kazuma blushes when hearing Niika's voice, "No! No! We were all cool in here~"

"B-But then why were you moaning so loud?" Everyone in the room wheezes.

"I WAS NOT MOANING! WE'RE FINE!"

Takuto's eyes bulge as Wako's shadow undresses its jacket. Wako leans over Niika, "Need us to come in and check?"

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Takuto and Kazuma jump against the back wall of the bath.

Wako releases Niika, "It was just a joke..."

"She was joking," Sugata repeats.

Arata relaxes back next to him, "It was obviously a joke." The whitenette and redhead sigh in relief.

The glass door creaks open slightly and all the boys scream. "AH! Niika-chan! We weren't actually going in there!"

"Oh, sorry." Wako slides the door back closed and ushers her out. The boys pale, tense as ever.

"Oh my."

"There's no way I can relax in here!"

"That's right!"

"I'm outta here!"

"Ne, Arata-kun."

"What?"

"Don't take this the wrong way."

"What?"

"Show me your~"

One minute later...

"HOW AM I NOT SUPPOSE TO TAKE THAT THE WRONG WAY!?"

Kazuma hangs onto Arata's leg as he stomps down the hallway, "Oh come on! You didn't have to make it more awkward than it was!" The half-naked males carry on in the hallway. "Put your shirt on!"

"I will when you do!"

"I will when you let me go!" Kazuma shouts as Arata realizes he instinctively grabbed the whitenette by his leg. The short-haired brunette lets him drop like a hot potato.

Takuto and Sugata stare back at them from further down the hall, already fully dressed. "What is it now you two?"

"Kazuma asks to see my~"

"Don't say it!"

Unfortunately, the two boys figured it out immediately. "Why, Kazuma..."

"I-I just wanted to compare that's all~!"

"Compare!?" Takuto and Arata exclaim.

"Sugata and Arata are more toned then us! Naturally, I was curious if that meant...they were bigger!"

"Are you serious!?"

"Actually that's a good question." Takuto's face contorts into disgust as Sugata finds a way to rationalize Kazuma's concerns. "The two of your body types are just more naturally leaner pretty-boy types, compared to the two of us. There might be a correlation...And hey, whoever's larger is normally dictated superior. So, I'm in." The bluenette grabs his belt, "Arata-kun, if you are larger, you'll be able to hold it over Kazuma for the rest of his life." Kazuma pales suddenly.

Arata smirks cynically, "Oh yeah? That is a pretty good rationale. Let's do it!"

Takuto pales, "That's all it took to change your mind!?" Sugata brings the redhead closer to his side with an arm around his shoulder.

Kazuma turns around, "I don't want to do this anymore..." The feeling of a strong aura and a firm grip of his right shoulder prompt the whitenette back around. Kazuma gulps as he closes the circle of beautiful men.

"It'll be quick and painless. On the count of three." Sugata undoes his belt notches. "Ready? One...Two..."

Ten minutes later...

It was dead silent at the breakfast table. Kazuma sits on its right side looking completely dejected. He sighs wishing that the last half an hour had not occurred. Nipping at a piece of bacon, Kazuma's green eyes travel around the table as he stares at each individual there.

Sugata sits at the head, being fed by Wako at his left. Next to Wako was Takuto, who was speaking utter nonsense at Niika from across the table. A seat away from the loud redhead sat Hyou, who nonchalantly made small talk with Arata across from her. And between Niika and Arata, sat the miserably lonely boy. When Kazuma grits his teeth, Arata notices.

He peers in the whitenette's direction, "What's wrong..."

"~Don't say it. Don't you dare say anything." Kazuma is quick to growl.

"What? I'm just worried about you..." Kazuma's eyes close angrily, his eyebrows twitching. Arata slowly brings his glass of orange juice to his lips. "...baby boy."

"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!" Arata burst into laughter as Kazuma furiously shakes his head with his hands over his ears. He hits the table in frustration, pointing at the brunette on his right. "This means nothing you hear me!? NOTHING!"

"Oh come on Kazuma," Takuto mutters with heavy eyes, "It's not that bad..."

"I'd agree with you, Kazuma-kun." Sugata sips his own teacup with a look of satisfaction, "However, now I am officially superior to everyone at this table. And that will not go unspoken of. You will all bow to me from now on, do I make myself clear?"

The other boys downcast their gazes, "Yes, sir." Sugata smiles and continues to drink.

"I guess this has to do with your secret escapade in the bathroom this morning, right Sugata?" Wako asks cutting into some egg on her plate.

"No no. It's really better not to get into this." Takuto mutters quickly to her on his right. The girls give each other looks but decide not to bother asking anything more.

"Ah!" Kazuma sighs loudly, leaning on his arm with his head on the table. Disrupting the flow of the table, he has everyone's attention. "It must be nice~With everyone having a partner at this table...Man, I'm so lonely~!"

"That's understandable. Is there someone you can call?" Kazuma falls out of his chair. Arata and Takuto snicker at Sugata's sincere question.

"Everyone feels that way at first, Kazuma-kun!" The redhead flicks his fork in Kazuma's direction, "You just need to find yourself a girlfriend!"

"I don't want to hear that from you." He glares at his rival. Takuto catches the whitenette secretly pouting to himself.

"Kazu-kun! I wish that you find a partner soon!" Niika claps her hands politely.

"Yes, may you find someone that can keep you from having your many..." Sugata coughs, "~mood swings."

"He doesn't need a girl. He has one already right?"

"Heh?!" Kazuma shifts to Arata again, "Who!?"

Arata sips from his orange juice again, "A girl...what was the name...oh yeah. Shiina right?" Kazuma's heart drops into his stomach. Niika gasps loudly.

Takuto spits out his drink, "No way! Kazuma had a girl!? All this time!?"

Sugata stops drinking his tea to hear the "tea", "This is an unexpected development."

"...How do you know her name?" Kazuma eyes Niika out of his peripheral vision. Niika shrinks back slowly.

Arata chuckles, "You don't need to hide it. I saw you looking at a picture of her in your wallet in the bathroom. 'Caught a glimpse of the name on the back of it when we were changing." Kazuma grows stiff. "She's pretty by the way."

"Why didn't you say anything!?" Takuto yells at him. He leans over across the table to whisper, "I thought you liked Niika-chan, you two timer~!" His mouth shuts when he sees Kazuma's somber expression. "K-Kazuma?"

"And you said you were lonely." Sugata chuckles, "What is it then? Does she not live on the island?"

"W-Wait! You guys! You've got the wrong idea don't you?" Niika speaks up. She chooses her words carefully. "Shiina-chan was Kazuma's family!"

Sugata pales, "Oh?"

"She did live here." Kazuma finally speaks, pushing his half-eaten plate away from him. The dark shadow across his face was more than obvious. "But she's dead now." Without another word, Kazuma stands up from the table and leaves the dining room.

"Oh. Oh no." Sugata places his fingers over his lips.

Arata clicks his tongue, "Crap. I've done it now..."

Sugata knocks on the door to one of the spare bedrooms of his mansion. He stands in the opened doorway, "Fujimoto-kun?" There's no response from Kazuma, who's laying on the bed casually tapping away at his cellphone. He lowers the volume of the app game he was playing after hearing multiple footsteps enter the room.

Sugata places a hand on his hip, "You've been locked in here all morning. It's time you get some fresh air, don't you think?" He asks worriedly.

"Piss off." Kazuma bluntly spat. Arata and Takuto peek from behind the bluenette.

"He's not crying?" Takuto mutters. Arata jabs him in his side lightly in response.

"Hey, Kazuma. I'm really sorry dude. I didn't know." Kazuma turns away from the boys, putting his full attention on his phone. Arata gestures to the other two boys for help when he doesn't answer.

"We're sorry as well. If we had known, we wouldn't have let things get far."

"Please believe us."

"It's not your fault." Kazuma pauses the game and lays on his pillow. "Don't worry about it." Kazuma feels the weight of someone sitting next to him on the bed. He hides his phone.

"I...didn't even know you had a sister." Arata tries to ease into the conversation.

Kazuma's eyes lower, "Did Niika tell you that she was apart of the Crux too?" The boys stiffen.

"Midori no me didn't tell us anything." Takuto frowns sitting in a chair beside the bed, "We only assumed that she was your sister since you confirmed she was family. But something like that doesn't matter, you know."

"She had white hair in the photo. I don't know why I didn't recognize the resemblance. I didn't read into it all deep enough. That's my bad."

"You shouldn't have tried to read at all." Arata nervously bows his head in shame. Kazuma is silent for a moment. "...I...look at that picture, once every morning. It's been in my routine, for a while now."

"It's like...a good luck charm." Arata rationalizes.

"Basically," Kazuma mutters. "Shiina was my whole world."

"She must have been really important to you...Could her death be part of the reason why you hate cybodies so much?" Kazuma stays silent, but his silence confirms the answer to Takuto's questions. "Oh. I see. Ahh~! No wonder you complained about being lonely. That has to suck..." He trails off after receiving a glare on all sides. He was only trying to lighten the mood.

Arata leans back on the headboard, "Something tells me, this is too touchy of a subject to ask about yet. Am I right?"

"I'd appreciate it if you don't." Kazuma folds his arms and sighs.

Sugata sneaks a glance at Kazuma's tear-stained, yet nonchalant looking face. He leans against the wall on Kazuma's visible side and offers him a handkerchief when the other two aren't looking. "The best way of getting over someone is to meet someone new." He says. Kazuma accepts the cloth and wipes his face quickly. "Locking yourself away in this room is counter proactive. You're only wasting the day away. You need to get out. Get some fresh air and meet some new people."

"But this is what I'm used to doing. Besides, who am I gonna meet new on this island?" Kazuma scoffs, "I know just about everyone in this town and in school. And no one really visits here, especially around this time of year."

"I disagree. Takuto and Arata here are proof enough." Sugata says to him, "As someone you can call a friend, Fujimoto-kun, I'd advise you to trust me on this."

"We can go for a walk. Just for a little while." Takuto suggests, "Or maybe even ride into town for a bit."

"That's a good idea." Arata praises, "The girls actually want to try making some new recipes for dinner tonight, so they need some ingredients. We can make this trip productive and run some errands for them."

"Ew, work? Arata-kun, we're trying to make him feel better, not worse!" Takuto complains.

"Someone has to go get them." Arata shrugs. He shakes Kazuma's shoulder. "Come on Snow White, let's take a trip into town. You're the main one who knows where the supermarket is anyway..."

Kazuma sighs dramatically. Just the change in topic was enough to take him out of his slump. "Alright fine." He sits up against the headboard too. "I'll go."

"Cool."

"See? This will be fun Kazuma!" The redhead tells him, "Much more fun than this anime game you're playing~!"

"HUH!?" Kazuma looks to see his cellphone had been swiped from underneath him. Takuto was peering down at the screen, sitting on the edge of the bed, back facing the whitenette. "Hey! Give that back!" Takuto holds it up away from him so Kazuma can't reach it.

"What kind of a game is it?" Arata leans on Takuto's shoulder, blocking Kazuma's view. The brunette pushes Kazuma back so he can't grab the device back.

"I thought it was some kind of rhythm game for girls, but I'm not hearing any music. But there sure are a lot of anime girls..."

"Stop this! I have a right to some privacy!" Arata playfully holds the male back.

"That, my friends, looks like what you would call a dating simulator, or dating sim rather." Sugata leans over them to stare too. "It looks like your boy has been romancing all of these women in his spare time."

"They're all pretty cute," Arata admits over Kazuma's whining. "Hey, Kazuma. Which one is your type?"

"Oh shut up!" Kazuma pouts embarrassed. "Leave me alone!"

"No for real. I'm seriously asking." Kazuma stops squirming in Arata's hold.

Embarrassed enough, he answers honestly. He hesitantly points, "That one. She's my favorite."

The boys lean in. "The bar is the most filled on this girl, so he's telling the truth," Sugata says tilting his head to the side. His amber eyes then grow dull, "...But she...has no boobs."

"Barely anything at all. Is it a trap?" Takuto's red eyes were just as dull, "And she's so small..." He analyzes, "Don't tell me...he's into...lolis?"

Arata rubs his chin, "Lolicon?"

Sugata and Takuto nod, "Lolicon."

Kazuma turns red, "I DO NOT HAVE A LOLI COMPLEX! AND SHE'S NOT SMALL! SHE'S FUN SIZED! I JUST THINK SHE'S COOL!"

The boys yawn boredly, "Yes. Sure you don't."

"You jerks!" Kazuma squeals hitting them all with a pillow, "You guys are the worst friends ever! I hate you all!"

"Kazu-kun!" Without warning, Niika runs into the room. "Are you okay!?"

In frantic mode, Kazuma is thrown off by Niika's presence yet again. "AhHH! Niika! I'm okay~!"

"But you were making those weird noises again..." Niika pouts. The boys don't hide their laughter.

"I DID NOT MAKE ANY~TCH!" Kazuma huffs loudly. "You know what?!"

Arata smoothly slides off the bed towards his sister. "Little Sister, let's go into town today. What do you say?"

"Really!? Okay!" Niika runs up to Kazuma. "You'll come too, won't you? Please come with us, Kazu-kun!"

Kazuma turns away shyly, "Y-Yeah."

"Alright, I'm only going to say this once. Everyone stay close and don't wander off, or I'm putting you guys on a buddy system." Arata says as he, Takuto, Niika, and Kazuma venture off the bus.

Kazuma squints, "Who are you? Our mom?"

Takuto bounces excitedly, "Ooh! Does that make me the oldest child?!"

"Tch!" Kazuma folds his arms, "There's no way I'm younger than you."

Takuto squints, pointing at him, "...But you act like a middle child."

"NO I DON'T!"

Arata pats the whitenette's head, "Don't worry Middle Child, I won't forget you on the way back home."

"ARATA!"

"Hahahahahahahahaha!" Takuto laughs, "He confirmed it! So Midori no me really is the baby of the family!"

"What are you talking about? I'm not a baby." Niika pouts, puffing her cheeks.

Takuto laughs at her as well, "Don't worry! At least you won't be forgotten." Takuto mocks with a light snicker.

"Why do you all have some kind of stigma against me today? What have I done to you guys!?" Kazuma cries. Arata holds him around the shoulders with an arm as they approach the store.

"There there. It's all jokes here." Arata assures the whitenette. "Grab a cart for me, Middle Child."

"I will end you all." Kazuma peers down the street at the metal baskets. He shakes his head to calm himself, "So...Niika. You've been to a supermarket before at least, haven't you?"

"Oh, I think so." Niika taps her chin, "It's the place where you buy a bunch of stuff, and there's a small man to ring it up for you before you leave. So that you don't steal anything!"

"A small man?"

"Yes! That man was so nice! He gave me free candy before we left each time! Even though his store barely had anything in it..."

Arata sweatdrops, "Even I don't remember this."

"Midori no me, could you be talking about..." Takuto swallows, "A convenience store?"

"Yeah! I thought it had another name!" Niika claps. The boys fall over. "W-What? Is it not the same thing?"

"No no no!" Takuto insists, "A supermarket is much bigger! With a bunch of people! And tons of food left and right!" The redhead finds himself drooling. "But you can only eat the things you pay for."

"I-It has...a bunch of people?" Niika repeats quietly. Arata's eyes lower.

"That's why it's important you stay near me okay? We'll make our trip quick, for your sake." He taps his sister out of her thoughts. "I'll protect you." Kazuma catches on to the weird aura in between them.

"Don't worry, Niika. The supermarkets on the island are never really populated a lot at one time. So it should be fine." The whitenette tries to comfort her.

Niika smiles weakly, "I hope so."

Takuto blinks, "Am I missing something?"

"Yeah, the cart. Go get it!"

"But Arata told you to get it Kazuma, right Arata?!"

A bright yellow aura of dominance engulfs Arata, intimidating the two boys. "If I don't have a cart in front of me in the next five seconds, I'm going to send you guys home with nothing but my bare fist." His smile was cruel. Kazuma and Takuto held each other.

"How can he get scarier than you!?"

"He's not being scary! I just fear for my life!"

Arata's smile lowers, "One..."

"WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK!" Like that, the two disappear and reappear with a cart, positioning it correctly in front of Arata.

"Good works boys." The short-haired brunette praises. "See? It pays to listen to Mommy." Arata embraces his dominant status amongst the group, "Now, Kazuma. You drive this thing." He ushers Niika inside the supermarket.

"Why me?" Kazuma cries.

"See? Middle child." Takuto answers with a smile and rushes in the store before Kazuma could run him over with the metal cart.

Inside the store, the close group dynamic quickly goes to chaos. Luckily, Kazuma was right about it mostly being empty. However, as soon as they spotted the fully stocked aisles Takuto and Niika were in heaven. "Look at all this stuff!" Takuto shouts immediately, "Midori no me!" He grabbed her hand, "Let's go exploring! Ne?"

Niika blushes lightly, "O-Okay. Let's go!"

"Wait! You guys!" The two run away before Arata can stop them. "Damn. Have they already forgotten why we're here!?"

"So much for being the dominant mommy figure." Kazuma laughs. Arata smacks the back of his head.

"Oh yeah? Well, guess who's left to help me get groceries?"

"AH! I've been punked!" Arata laughs half-heartedly like a maniac. "That's unfair!"

"I brought Niika along because we knew what she needed," Arata says as they travel along the first two aisles. "But luckily for her, Hyou made a list of what we needed." He puts the first few items in the cart. The third aisle doesn't have anything they need. But the forth...

"Hey, there's only one left of these."

"Yeah." Arata grabs the box and slings it in the cart skillfully. "Now the real battle begins."

"Battle?"

Arata smiles to himself, "When I was little, my dad once taught me that you have to really hold onto items that are scarce in your cart. Because you never know who might sneakily take it out when you're not looking." He chuckles, "It's a battle to get it properly bagged and get it home safely. He actually told me to think of protecting Niika that way..." He trails off.

"I heard your dad passed away." Arata's eyes widen but lower sadly.

"Niika told you?"

"Mentioned it briefly to us in a conversation once." Arata turns away awkwardly as he scans the next aisle. "He gave you your mark?"

"Wha? No."

"That's strange. I thought that's what that redheaded idiot told me. That and Niika got her mark from your mother. At least, that's what she believes."

"Well, he's wrong. It's the opposite."

Kazuma stops the cart, "The opposite?!"

'Heh? Wouldn't that make his father...Galaxy Star Boy?' He thought but kept it to himself. 'Lol.'

"I guess I have to clear things up soon since she remembers wrong." Arata stops too, "But yeah. Our father gave Niika her mark. And our mother gave me mine...just before she died." Arata sighs uncomfortably, "She held on long enough to transfer it to me. Dwelling back on it, makes me feel guilty. I feel responsible for making her suffer longer than she needed too..."

Kazuma's gaze downcasts, "I know how you feel." Arata looks to him, "Sometimes...I still harshly remind myself that Shiina suffered in this life too." He squeezes his eyes shut, "Although, Shiina's death plagues me more than anyone will ever know."

Arata swallows, "...Because?" Seeing the darkness surrounding Kazuma, he backs up a few inches. The whitenette takes a long steady breath. His eyes open again. For a few seconds, Arata can see the lack of color in Kazuma's irises making him shiver.

Kazuma closes his eyes again, pointing a weak smile in Arata's direction. "It's just something I have to deal with."

Arata leans on the shelf further away from Kazuma, "I guess, we all still have inner demons, haunting us."

"Seems like it." Kazuma blinks a couple of times, "Hey! Didn't you bring me out here to cheer me up!? You're doing a terrible job!"

"Kazuma..."

The whitenette slaps Arata's back, "Fork over that list! I'm going to challenge myself to grab everything before you can shout Mississippi twelve times!"

Arata sweatdrops, "Why twelve?"

CRASH!

The two boys look down at the other end of the aisle. Niika was frantically wailing her arms around as she uncontrollably whined at a supermarket clerk. Takuto had fallen into a display tower of tomato soup cans and was practically out of commission, leaving Niika to solely explain herself. "I'M SO SORRY!" They hear her yell.

"AH! What the heck happened!? What were they even doing?!" Arata panics. He points dramatically at Kazuma. "Stay here! And watch the cart!" The brunette goes to handle the issue, leaving Kazuma by his lonesome.

"Yesssss Mom...I mean you're not my mom!" Kazuma grits his teeth, "Screw Arata! I'm stashing some sweets in here before he even notices!" The whitenette wheels the cart away to a nearby aisle. Kazuma stares down all the sugary goodness before lifting a jumbo of candy into the metal cart. "I mean, we are spending Sugata's money so..." He drops a couple more boxes in and buries the products underneath the other items inside. Kazuma suddenly stops the cart after catching a glimpse of a certain brand on the nearby shelf. He picks up the box of sweets and frowns, "This...was Shiina's favorite..." He absentmindedly moves away from the cart and pulls out his wallet in the middle of the aisle. There lied the picture that Arata had mentioned earlier. It was a fairly recent photo, a year or so ago in date. Both in casual clothes, the long white-haired girl towered over her younger brother, an arm slung around his neck and her left hand pulling on his left cheek. Kazuma was being forced to smile for the photo, while Shiina leaned behind him with a smile as bright as day.

Had he had known it would be one of the last photos they would ever take together, Kazuma wouldn't have hesitated to smile.

"Not a day goes by when I don't think about you." Kazuma tears up, "And I don't just miss you because I'm lonely, for the record...So stop laughing at me, up there..." Not use to crying for a while, Kazuma's face contorts weirdly. He brushes his eyes quickly, staining the rim of his white jacket sleeve. "I can already hear you...calling me a cry baby..."

"I'm not calling you a crybaby."

"Yes, you are."

"Nuh-uh! It's only natural to cry!" Kazuma blinks. He looks to his right before falling into the shelf at his back. The items on the shelf trickle slowly down onto the floor. "Hehe. What are you doing silly? You're going to knock over all the food!"

"WHO ARE YOU!?"

"Me?"

"YES! YOU!" Kazuma calms himself, "Ahhh, I almost had a heart attack."

"Ah, that's a good question." The pink-haired girl in front of the boy says.

"Don't play dumb!" Kazuma points an accusing finger, "And don't sneak up on me like that! What are you doing here?!"

"Ah, that's a good question too..." The short girl's face contorts in thought. "But I think none of that matters right now! Teehee!"

"Teehee!?" Kazuma is confused by the girl in a white long sleeve shirt and blue overalls. "You~?!"

"It hurts, doesn't it?" Kazuma freezes as this random girl just wipes away the last tear in his eyes. She touches his forehead and closes her eyes.

"Wha~what are you~?"

She hums to herself a bit before chanting, "Itai no Itai no, Tonodeke!" She lifts her hand and puts it back again. "Itai no Itai no, Tonodeke!" She repeats her actions once more, "Itai no Itai no, Tonodeke!"

"E-Excuse me?" Kazuma is almost speechless, "W-What is going on here? A-Are you, chanting some spell?"

"Yup! The Pain, Pain, Fly Away spell! I use this one a lot!" Kazuma tilts his head. He wasn't expecting her to admit it. "I came in here looking for my friend, but then I saw you crying! I figured you were in pain, so I had to help!"

"Hehhhhh." Kazuma sweatdrops. He sighs, "I appreciate the sentiment, little girl."

"Hey!" Her pink hair bounces in its bun as she puts her hands on her hips, "I'm not little! I'm fun-sized!" Kazuma freezes again, blinking. "Don't disrespect me, fool!" She folds her arms playfully. A twinkle develops in Kazuma's eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Queen!" He feigns a bow, playing along.

"That's more like it, teehee!" She points at him, "And you're not crying anymore! See?! My spell worked! Yet again! Yes!" Kazuma touches his cheek and he was indeed not spilling any more tears.

"I-I guess you're right. T-Thanks." He stutters.

"I guess my job is done here!" The girl spins around, "Bye-bye!"

"Bye...Wait!" He stops her before she can leave. "I don't think we've met before. What's your name?"

"My name..." The girl ponders, "Oh my name! My name is...Cawbert!"

"Cawbert? How strange..."

"No no!" The girl spins Kazuma around, "My friend Cawbert! Look!" She points to the top shelf of the next aisle down. A black crow stares back down at Kazuma, peering into his fragile soul.

His eyes widen, "Your friend's a bird!?"

"Yup! I'm here on a play date with her!" The girl grips his white jacket, "Cawbert and I were playing hide and seek when I saw her fly in here!"

"Uh-huh..." Kazuma gulps as the crow seems to mouth, "Foolish mortal" to him. "Am I dreaming right now?" He mutters to himself. Just then the crow flys away down another aisle.

"Ah! Cawbert no fair! She got a head start again!" The pink-haired girl exclaims. "She says she wants to play tag now! We've got to chase her!"

"Ch-Chase her? In the supermarket?"

She doesn't hesitate as she climbs into Kazuma's cart. "Come on! We gotta move it! Quickly!"

"Why in the cart!?"

The girl points where Cawbert went, "LET'S GO GO GO!" Feeling sudden anxiety, Kazuma swallows hard before getting behind the cart, wheeling her down the aisle. "Not this speed! Go faster!" Kazuma's walk turns into a light jog as he hits the corner. "Faster!" His jog turns into a run as he hits another corner. "Ah! She's flying so fast! That's Cawbert for ya! Faster! Faster!"

"Excuse me, please! Out of the way please!" Kazuma skillfully maneuvers around other shoppers in the big store. Finally, at a sprint, he hits another corner dodging a display that came up too quickly. He loses control and slows down before he can crash. "WHY AM I EVEN DOING THIS!?"

"Aw come on!" The girl pouts, "You aren't gonna let a bird, beat you in a race, are ya?"

"It's a bird!" Kazuma exclaims. His lips then curl, "But no!" He grips the handlebar of the cart and whispers into her ear. "HOLD ON TIGHT." The gleam in Kazuma's emerald eyes makes the girl blush slightly. Kazuma suddenly zooms around the corner. Picking up speed at sprint level, he jumps on the back wheels of the cart and moves to only maneuvering the cart around with his hands. The adrenaline had completely got to him.

"WHEEEEEEEE!" The girl screams closing her eyes. At some point, they had passed Cawbert and was just zooming around every aisle like a race car. To everyone else in the supermarket, they were just a blur.

"KAZUMA!" A loud yell brings Kazuma out of his daze.

"ARATA!?" Kazuma swerves to an abrupt stop, but not before toppling the cart because of his weird foot placement. He and the pink-haired girl, who's still all smiles, fly into the air heading for a large shelf of canned cat food. Kazuma quickly shifts into his first phase to fix their horrible collision course. He has more than a few seconds to readjust himself to fall into a nearby pile of marshmallow bags near the front doors instead. Quickly acknowledging that his first phase was starting to last longer, he moves to hold his new companion around the waist. "Whoa..." He still has time to think, "Her frame really is...tiny..." He blushes as time restarts. Somehow not ready for the impact of the fall, he awkwardly skids across the floor. "Ahchachacha..." He rubs his back with a hand. "Oi! Are you okay down there!?" He asks checking the girl underneath him.

"THAT! WAS SO MUCH FUN!" The pink-haired girl lifts her arms up, bursting into laughter. After a blink, a snicker escapes him and it isn't long before he laughs along with her. She tackles Kazuma around the shoulders sliding her cheek against his and he blushes a deeper shade of red than before.

"Yeah. It was~!" Kazuma was tearing up again, but this time with tears of joy.

"Mizuno! Mi-zu-no!"

"Ah! Big sis!" The girl then rolls off of the whitenette's lap. She stands up, brushing herself off quickly. She fixes her hair and overalls. "This is bad! I have to go now!" She gives him a salute, "Bye-bye now!"

"WAIT!" Kazuma reaches out, still slumped over the bags of marshmallows. His voice cracks unintentionally as he frantically panics as the girl skips further away from him. His yell is so loud it echos through the whole store. "What is your name!?"

The pink-haired girl spins in his direction, "Who? Me?"

"Yes." He sits up, "You."

She gives him a warm smile. Her violet eyes glimmer as she points to herself. "My name is...Mizuno. Teehee!" The wind that comes in the store via the sliding entry doors blows through her hair. "See you tomorrow, Kazuma!" She then quickly runs through the open doorway and it slowly closes behind her. Kazuma leans back against the bags still in pain. But the pain of his spine was the last thing on his mind at that moment.

"So her name...was Mizuno..."

Kazuma's normally pale face had finally completely turned red. "Mi-zu-no." The whitenette's head was far away in the clouds as he positions the back of his head on a marshmallow bag like a pillow. The reprimands of the supermarket clerk, nor Arata's scolding could reach Kazuma's thoughts.

"KAZUMA THERE YOU ARE! I FORGOT ALL ABOUT YOU! YOU RECKLESS MANIAC!" Arata lifts the dazed boy in the air and onto his shoulder. "I CAN'T LEAVE ANY OF YOU ALONE FOR TWO MINUTES!" The brunette was left shirtless after letting Takuto borrow his dark blue polo with a rainbow collar. The redhead quietly holds a plastic bag containing his tomato stained red midriff as he drowns in Arata's oversized clothing. The army tags that are normally hidden under his clothes jangled around his neck as he continues to yell. "LOOK AT ALL OF THIS MESS! EVERYTHING IS EVERYWHERE! I'M NEVER BRINGING YOU GUYS OUT AGAIN!"

"Sir, please stop yelling in our store..." The supermarket clerk is scared.

Arata ignores him and points to Takuto and Niika, who's in tears. "YOU TWO! CLEAN THIS UP THIS INSTANT!"

"Yes, Momma~" Niika whimpers with a tear in her eye, hiding behind Takuto.

"Ehhhh?" Takuto complains, "But it's Kazuma's fault that all that is on the floor..."

"I SAID NOW!"

"YES, MOM!"

"AND YOU!" His aura of dominance engulfs the store clerk, "DON'T JUDGE THE WAY I PARENT!" Arata practically roars. "I'M A GOOD MOM! NOW RING US UP! WE'RE BUYING EVERYTHING ON THE FLOOR!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Kazuma winces in pain, "I'm still in pain!"

"Well serves you right. No one told you to drive a cart around a store like a maniac." Arata carefully reapplies bandages to Kazuma's waist the next day during lunch. The main gang is eating outdoors and taking in the midday breeze.

"I don't mean back pain. I mean pain in my heart! It hurts so much I can't even stand up straight!" Arata gains an anime vein mark and slaps him in the back when he's done. "OW OW OW! Arata what the heck!?"

"You owe me for all those marshmallows we were forced to buy."

"Hey! How was I supposed to know that Sugata only gave you a small bit of cash?!"

Sugata drank from his bottle of water, "If I had known you needed more, I would have just lent you my card."

"That's not the point I'm trying to make Sugata-kun! You're not helping!" Arata returns to scolding the whitenette, "You shouldn't have been rolling around like that in the first place! And just because of some girl..."

"She wasn't just some girl!" Kazuma grabs him by the collar when they sit back down at the table. "She was really pretty! And funny! And fun-sized! And a little childish...But it was cute! Like REALLY cute!" He doesn't hesitate to gush.

"Uh, Kazuma?" Takuto whispers, "I hate to tell you this, but from what you're saying...I think you've fallen in love."

"DAMN RIGHT I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE!" Kazuma shouts at the top of his lungs, "I'VE PRACTICALLY MET MY DREAM GIRL IN A SUPERMARKET!"

Takuto sweatdrops, "Well, I guess it's safe to say he's not interested in Midori no me anymore..." He mutters to himself. "Well, I'm glad you've found a girl you like, Kazu~!"

"YOU SHUT UP! YOU DON'T GET TO SAY THAT! YOU BASTARD!"

"Why can't I be happy for you!?" Takuto cries and Kazuma glares at him. The whitenette folds his arms and glances at Niika for a second.

He sighs heavily, "I hate to admit this, but when I look at her now, it just isn't the same as before. I'm practically a changed man." Kazuma slams on the table dramatically. "Niika! I hope you find the love of your life someday!" He pauses for dramatic effect. "Anyone but Takuto!"

"Oh come on!"

"How about neither of you?"

"Yare yare."

"Oya Oya. What a turn of events."

"T-Thank you?" Niika sweatdrops confusingly.

"That man...it can never be me! Not anymore!" He turns to her deadpanning, "My heart now belongs to another! This random girl I haven't met until now!" The blush glides across his face and he goes cross-eyed entering deep thought. "Mizuno-chan..."

"Ew." Arata stands up, "I don't want to sit with this weirdo anymore."

"I am not a weirdo!" Kazuma shouts exiting his mind quickly, "Right Hiroshi!?" Their classmate Hiroshi is asked as he is randomly walking by.

Hiroshi crosses his arms, "Nah, I don't think so."

"Oh hey, did you see the trailer for the new anime series for Shingeki no Kyojin?"

"Dude yeah! The intro is sick!"

"Sie sind das Essen und Wir sind die Jaeger!"

"No way! You know how to actually pronounce it already?!" Hiroshi smirks, "Dude, you're such a weirdo for that haha!" Hiroshi walks away from him laughing.

"Wait! No, I'm not! That doesn't make me weird, I just like the song! Hiroshi? Hiroshi!" The boy is already back inside the school before Kazuma can finish vouching for himself. He pouts, "Who doesn't sing a song they know the right way?"

Arata slides next to Sugata on the opposite side of the table, making everyone scoot over. "See? Weirdo."

Sugata chuckles, "Looks like you took my advice and met someone new. I told you it would work, Fujimoto-kun."

"Yeah, it worked. For a moment." Kazuma sighs and leans on the table. "Now it's not. I've realized the mistake I've made and now the spell is broken."

"Spell?" Niika questions.

"What mistake?" Wako questions too.

"She's obviously a tourist since I've never met her." Kazuma buries his head in his arms, "I don't even know her full name. I'll never see her again." The table gets quiet. They all knew that no matter what they would say Kazuma wouldn't leave his current funk.

"Pretty, funny, fun-sized, and cute." Takuto suddenly repeats, "Hey Kazuma?"

"What idiot?"

"Stop that!" Takuto pushes him, "What color hair did your dream girl have?"

"It was a luscious light pink. And she had bright violet eyes."

"Childish looking face?"

"But kawaii as an angel."

"That's her then. Isn't it?" Kazuma's head flew up. His pupils grew large at the sight before him.

"M-M-M-M~" The boy couldn't speak. In front of them under a tree, cuddling a tiny bird was indeed a pink-haired girl with violet eyes.

"Oh. She's adorable." Sugata says, "Not bad."

Wako pouts, "She's not all that..."

"That's her?" Arata asks, "She's so small, in more places than one..." Wako smacks him on everyone's behalf.

"Hey, I think I've met her before. Wasn't it on the bus?" The blonde nods to Niika.

"That's her alright. I was afraid that's who you were describing." Wako sighs, "That's the first year witch of class 2."

"Witch?"

"She's no witch. She's an angel." Kazuma gets out flawlessly, "A-And don't even tell me her full name. God has taken pity on me, so I'll take this chance and ask her myself!" The whitenette stands up. He is stopped by Arata and Sugata.

"Hold on, player. Take another look."

"There's a boy with her." A lavender haired male was indeed next to her. The boy seemed to poke at her endlessly. "He might be her boyfriend."

"No way! He's acting so friendly with her!" Takuto exclaims, "Ouch Kazuma! That's got to hurt...Kazuma?"

"~He's not being friendly with her." Kazuma moves away from the table, a sharp glare on the sight before him. "He's bullying her." Before anyone else can say anything, Kazuma's feet move on their own until he's in front of the lavender-haired student. "Hey! What are you doing to her?!"

"Huh? Another lower classman? Ah no, it's the Kendo club vice prez..." The male eyes Kazuma. His eyes widen then lower, "This matter is between me and the witch of class 1-2. It doesn't concern you. Go away, Fujimoto Kazuma-kun."

"I can't do that. You're clearly bothering her and I'm not going to stand for it." Kazuma stands firm as a breeze blows through the tree's leaves. Kazuma's open white button-up flaps away and his hair rustles from side to side.

"K-Kazuma-kun?" The whitenette doesn't take his eyes off the bully even as the girl utters his name.

"You're in my club aren't you? You've been gunning for the prez's spot for a while now. Bullying an underclassman isn't going to get you up in the ranks, Senpai." Kazuma glares.

"Shut up! You don't know anything about swordplay! I could beat you any day! Fujimoto!" The upperclassman grits his teeth, "You're nothing without your pretend wooden sword! If you don't go away, I'll make you go away!"

"Big talk." Kazuma's bangs drape over the right side of his face. "Do it then. Senpai." He stands straight, challenging him.

"Cheeky brat~" Before the lavender haired student can lay a finger on him, Kazuma has him in a protective hold. He pulls on his the male's arm behind his back, his chest practically in the ground. "How!?"

"I wouldn't be Vice Prez if I couldn't do this much without a weapon." Kazuma releases him but not before kicking him away. "Stay away from her! Or next time that arm will be in a sling, if not gone!" The whitenette growls.

"Tch! You'd never beat me in an official match!" The salty upperclassman yells.

"I'll take you on any time. Scum." Defeated, the lavender-haired student runs away, leaving Kazuma alone with the girl. "Oi, you alright down there?" Kazuma speaks out of habit. He blushes, "I mean...damn, that wasn't very cool of me~Aaah!"

"It's you!" She leans against the boy's chest, carefully not to crush the bird in her hands. "You saved me again...thank you!"

Kazuma swallows hard, "I thought I'd never see you again..."

"I told you I'd see you tomorrow didn't I? Teehee!" The pink-haired girl smiles.

"So it really is you...Mizuno-chan." Kazuma finds himself lost in her eyes.

"I guess I should introduce myself properly now." Mizuno glides a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm Yo Mizuno, from class 2."

"I-I'm F-Fujimoto K-Kazuma, f-from c-class 1." Kazuma was a stuttering mess, completely swayed by the girl.

"Caw!" The two are interrupted by the baby crow in between Mizuno's hands.

"Is that?"

"Cawbert's baby." Mizuno looks up at the tree at their side. "He fell out of the tree, and I had to jump out of the boy's bathroom window to catch him. Tsukihiko-senpai happened to already be in there and tried to stop me, but I pushed him away."

"The boy's bathroom?" Kazuma sweatdrops.

"Mmhmm." She points to where a branch was broken off. "When it broke, I fell. And Tsukihiko-senpai immediately ran outside to scold me."

"For pushing him? Or doing something reckless?"

"Both. He wouldn't leave me alone...But then Kazu showed up! And saved us!" She smiles, "Cawbert and her son are really grateful! See?!" The baby bird stares into Kazuma's soul along with its mother. Kazuma sweatdrops, "Now I just have to put him back...but I can't climb..."

"Honestly." Mizuno looks to Kazuma. He sighs placing his hands on his hips. "You're always this troublesome, aren't you? Little Mizuno-chan of class 2."

"N-No! I just, I-I just..." Mizuno stutters.

"It can't be helped." Kazuma kneels, "Sit on my shoulders, I'll lift you. That should be enough height." He then looks to the side. "I promise I won't look or anything." Mizuno doesn't hesitate to sit on Kazuma's shoulders. Without much more communication, the whitenette lifts the pink-haired girl up, and she places the baby crow in its nest with his mother. Kazuma drops her back down on the ground gently. "See what happens when you just ask for help? Hehe." He jokes.

Mizuno's violet eyes waver, "No one else would want to help a witch like me..."

"You're wrong." Mizuno looks up and Kazuma pats her head softly, "You're not a witch. You're more like a fairy. A really cute one. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Kazuma cringes at his own corniness. "Besides, you have me to ask for help now. So just don't run away from me anymore? Okay?" He smiles awkwardly.

Mizuno tackles Kazuma around the waist, "You saved me twice. You're even cooler than I thought you'd be. Kazuma-kun." She nuzzles into his bare bandaged chest. He turns completely red for the second time.

"N-Nah. I'm not that~" Kazuma blinks. Out of nowhere, time stops. Mizuno is frozen against his body. Did he use his first phase by accident?

He looks to his right to see his friends at the table moving. Their cybody marks all glowing. "Zero Time..." Wako mutters.

Niika stands up with glowing emerald eyes, "The door to another dimension has been opened."

"Fujimoto Kazuma! I was quick to call you back for a rematch!" The driver shouts inside the new cybody in Zero Time. "In this space, I, Tsukihiko Bou will never lose to you!"

Niika, Takuto, and Arata stand behind Kazuma as he harshly spits, "What did you do? Teleport to a cybercasket? Pathetic!"

"My great leader, Miss Manticore of Vanishing Age! Please allow me to fight Alphonse today!" The driver yells. "I shall show you the strength of Fujimoto Kazuma-kun, the Galactic Man of Mystery!"

'Manticore?' Kazuma glares up at the Crux, 'I've never heard of her...'

"Measuring the enemy's power is a worthwhile battle. You're authorized!" A long dark pink-haired woman in her Crux uniform yells out loud, "Go and fight, Stick Star!"

"I understand!" The driver yells, "Foolish woman." Bou then mutters to himself. "Phantom! Old buddy! Accept my challenge! We'll settle this, once and for all!"

"If this is the game you want to play. I accept." The other star drivers clear the way. "You'll pay for bothering Mizuno~!" Kazuma's uniquely uppercase A-shaped cybody mark starts to glow violet, "APPRIVOISE!" Kazuma disappears. A huge circle opens up in the sky, moving downward toward the ground. A midnight black cybody with sliver trim is revealed. Similar in frame to its companions, the cybody differs with its helmet-like head and metal plates covering all its joints. Violet energy wheels develop on its boot-like feet. Standing tall, a white orb develops in its chest area. Kazuma appears in the shadow of its brilliant light. "Ready for Battle!" A black vest appears on Kazuma's body over a white rolled-up long-sleeve button-up and white tie. White knee-high boots slide on his feet and a silver sash wraps around his waist. Black belts with silver buckles accent his fit from head to toe. They even hold in place the silver plates that decorate Kazuma's joints, mimicking his cybody. "Galactic Man of Mystery!" A green tint glazes Kazuma's white hair, and a cracked mask hides a little more than half of his face. A dark violet full-body cloak shuns his clothes. Kazuma's black-gloved left-hand slides to his hip as he sassily smirks underneath his mask. "Rise, ALPHONSE!" He holds his right arm out, the cloak flaring out with the gust of wind that hits his body. His cybody, Alphonse, copies his pose. "This is our fight!"

"Done with your flashy intro? This is your last chance to back out. You'll be facing the 11th cybody, Lamedhos!"

Kazuma folds his arms with a high and mighty attitude, "I believe it is you, who's now delaying this fight. Show me what you've got already." He shouts in a deeper tone than normal.

"Fine! No more warnings! Let's get this started, shall we?" The driver's cybody holds its hands in front of itself. "Star Sword, Sardonyx!" A golden energy sword appears between them. The cybody stands ready to fight. "Today I take you down once and for all, Phantom!"

"Phantom huh?" Kazuma closes his eyes. "I'd really like to forget that name."

Alphonse jumps over Lamedhos in time to dodge its incoming attack. The driver inside falters, "What do you mean?" Alphonse kneels with its back to Lamedhos.

"I think it's safe to say, I'm not the man I use to be. The person you truly wish to fight, Phantom, died a long time ago." Kazuma tells him, "The one that stands before you now, is the Galactic Man of Mystery, Fujimoto Kazuma! He shall bear no other name!"

"Tch! You're starting to piss me off. Come on and fight me already!" Alphonse turns in time to lean back skillfully each time Lamedhos swings his star sword at him. "You expect us to just forget the past? Your previous mindless behavior?!" Bou asks him, "The brutal assaults? The aggressive attacks? The crushing defeats? It's what made you, you!" He yells, "It doesn't matter what name you go by! You'll always be the same ruthless fighter you've always been! Phantom!" Alphonse backflips further away from Lamedhos before he can drive Sardonyx into its chest.

"It figures he used to watch me." Kazuma clicks his tongue. "So this is what it means, to be the better man..." Kazuma eyebrows twitch with irritation. He calms himself, "This is just a new feeling I have to get accustomed to." He grips fists, "I'll prove to you I've changed, Stick Star! I'll prove it here, with everyone as my witness! Even your precious Manticore! All while making you look like a fool! Through battle!" Alphonse lifts his left arm. "Cross shield, Aegis!" A dark violet energy shield forms on Alphonse's left forearm. He holds it close, "This...is all I'll use to fight with you."

"WHAT!?"

"IS HE INSANE!?"

Bou becomes crossed, "You dare insult me!? KAZUMA!" Lamedhos starts to shake with rage.

"What? If you think you can beat me, this should be an easy defeat! Ne?!" Kazuma readies his shield, "Come at me!"

"AAARRRGGHHHHH!" The Crux driver roars. The giant black opposing cybody glides over in full force. Alphonse stands steady, embracing for impact. Lamedhos swings its sword directly into the energy shield. "You cheeky BASTARD!" He swings again aiming for Alphonse's head but hits the raised shield instead.

'Stay passive.' Kazuma tells himself, 'For once, stay passive. This guy's not worth using my full power.' The goal was to challenge himself, and he was tackling it head-on.

"He's toying with him. How amusing." President snickers. The other section leaders of the Crux agree.

"Grrrr! If you're going to be this way then~" Lamedhos throws Star Sword Sardonyx into the air.

'He's open. I could easily finish him off right now.' Kazuma lowers his shield in thought. 'But I won't. I'll let him fight until he deems it pointless.'

Lamedhos generates a metal staff and swings it to a vertical position. The falling star sword sinks into the tip of it and fits like a glove. "I'll end this foolishness of yours with my classic spear attack! Get ready! Galactic Man of Mystery!"

"Let's do this, Stick Star!" Alphonse readies up again. "Aegis, power up!" The shield glows brighter than normal as the cybody channels the majority of its energy into it. Lamedhos's armor flairs upward as it strikes Alphonse's shield with its newly developed spear. It pokes Aegis at lightning speed hoping to pierce through. But Aegis is strong enough to hold. Kazuma's aggressive side starts to show a little as he uses Alphonse to start pushing forward into Lamedhos's attacks. The two cybodies clash for a second, pushing against each other. "Is this all you've got? I haven't even broken a sweat yet." Lamedhos's driver growls loudly. He pushes the cybody back, breaking the clash. "You're not even worth 2% of my real power. I guess there is an advantage to holding back. I can see how truly weak my opponents are!"

Lamedhos swings the spear downward, "SHUT UP~"

"NO, YOU SHUT UP!" Aegis full counters the force of the incoming attack and sends it back twice as strong. Lamedhos is stunned for a short amount of time. "I'll be ending this now. You ever think about touching Mizuno again, your cybody's limbs won't be the only ones I shred to pieces." While overwhelmed, Alphonse spins Aegis to a specific speed. "Galactic! Final Oblivion!" Alphonse glides forward at full speed and hacks Aegis like a frisbee towards Lamedhos. It rips through the cybody before landing into Alphonse's right hand. Lamedhos explodes behind it as Alphonse strikes a kneeling pose.

"Incredible," Niika hears Sugata mutter.

"Damn~He's really good! But still a little reckless." Takuto remarks.

Arata smirks, "Well I'll be damned. Maybe that girl did change him..."

"Uh, Hell yeah!" Anaki throws in.

Alphonse stands up straight again. Kazuma points up at the group of floating Crux members, "Think twice next time before you challenge the Galactic Man of Mystery!" Alphonse's violet eyes glow. "Don't waste my time again~!"

Still in their school uniforms, Kazuma and Mizuno take a walk in the forest alone once it gets dark that day. Arm and arm, they already seem closer than ever. Even though they just met, they can't help but be drawn to each other. That's at least how Mizuno described it. Only after discovering his name did she feel compelled to find him. And it was the same for Kazuma after meeting her. Whether it was something about her eyes, her childish character, or her kindness, he did not know. To be next to her, just felt right.

"Hey, Mizuno."

"Yes, Kazuma."

"I know we just met...but will you let me protect you?" He asks.

"Even then though I'm a freaky witch?"

"Don't listen to those jerks at school. You're not a freaky witch. You're a magical fairy. A kind and caring one. One that I wish to keep at my side." Mizuno blushes, "So. Will you let me?"

"...Yes."

"Okay." He squeezes her arm as they near a bridge. Mizuno stops him once they're standing in the middle of it.

"...Hey, Kazuma."

"Yes, Mizuno."

"If you will protect me..." Mizuno looks up to the whitenette, "...I'll do my best to keep you smiling."

Kazuma's face turns completely red for the third time that day as she hugs him around the waist. "However did I get so lucky?" He hugs her back around the shoulders. "I think if she's with me, I can stay at peace. Do you approve, Big Sister?" He mutters softly. "I hope this new feeling doesn't end..." His smile fades. "...too quickly."

And the adventure of life goes on.

MPK: Read and review, and I'll get back to ya~ See ya next chap!