This second chapter was actually part of the first, but I decided to split them up in the end. Why? I still had a couple of sentences to finish and fix, and I didn't feel like putting everything together immediately. So nothing, enjoy this one.
As their school day at Mugen Academy had just ended, Haruka and Michiru walked side by side. The sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows on the footpath as they walked towards the park. Their conversation was hushed, laden with the weight of their recent discoveries.
"About yesterday." Michiru began. "I've been thinking about those creatures. We were able to learn they're called Daimon. From what we've gathered, their only objective seems to be finding 'what they seek for their plan', which is apparently someone possessing something they have their eyes on."
"Yeah." Haruka nodded in agreement. "But without more leads, it's all just guesswork. Plus, we still don't know what that plan is or who's behind all of this or what their supposed object should be."
"Exactly." Michiru concurred thoughtfully. "We have so few leads. We have our duties as Guardians, but our memories are fragmented. We know we must protect the world from this looming evil, but beyond that it's all murky."
"You're telling me." Haruka sighed. "Sometimes I really wish we had more solid info. We know what we're supposed to do, but the details are always just out of grasp."
They walked in silence for a moment, each lost in thought. The city around them bustled with its usual life, but they felt a growing distance between themselves and the ordinary world.
After a few more steps, Michiru broke the silence. "Oh I almost forgot. I need to go practice with the violin for my next concert." she said, almost apologetically.
Haruka nodded, with a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I know, your dedication is admirable as always, isn't it?"
Michiru smiled and looked up at Haruka with a curious expression on her face. "Speaking of dedication, are you still thinking about Mr. Kameda's proposition? Competing professionally, I mean."
Haruka sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "To be honest I'm still thinking about it." she said, almost reluctantly. "It's a big decision, I'm not quite sure if I can fully dedicate myself to it entirely, we've got our hands full already." She shook her head. "Anyway, I've got to head to judo practice."
Michiru made a nod of understanding. "Just promise me you'll consider it seriously. You have a lot of talent, Haruka. It would be a shame to just waste it."
Haruka smiled, albeit briefly. "Don't worry, I will."
"Great!" Michiru chirped with a smile. "I'll see you later Haruka."
Haruka returned the gesture. "Yeah 'later, Michiru."
As they exchanged a wave goodbye, both went their separate ways. Haruka strolled down the sidewalk with a pensive look on her face.
'Me competing professionally, huh? Mr. Kameda sure has some wild imagination...' She voiced in her mind, pausing her thoughts. 'But I guess it wouldn't hurt trying, would it? Racing's always been a passion to me after all. I mean, it's not like I can't balance it out with everything else; Michiru, fighting monsters… and our mission. Dammit, if we could just make those freaks disappear and find out their master's whereabouts…'
After several minutes, Haruka's trail of thoughts was interrupted as she sensed something strange caught her eye; a small, oval object hovering in the air. Its movements immediately drew her attention.
'What the hell is that thing?' Haruka thought, widening her eyes. She quickened her pace, determined to get a closer look. The object darted unpredictably through the air, making it difficult for her to keep track of it. As she focused on following the object, she inadvertently bumped into someone. Causing cold water to splash over his face from the bottle he was holding, soaking his shirt a bit much to his visible dismay.
'Uh? Hold on, isn't that guy I'd seen with Michiru the other day?' Haruka noted. He was as striking as she remembered their missed encounter.
Haruka studied him for a moment. His expression was a mix of irritation and indifference, which was odd, despite his annoyance his posture was casual but somehow imposing, if not intimidating. This was definitely not how she wanted to be distracted from her pursuit of the mysterious object.
Wiping water drips off his face, Kura's voice broke the silence, tinged with annoyance. "Gghn. Watch where you're going." he said flatly. There was a sharpness in his tone, but it was clear he was more irritated than truly angry.
"Ugh…" Haruka, though frustrated, attempted to keep her composure. "Sorry about that." she said, forcing herself to sound sincere.
Kura's gaze remained unfazed. "Whatever. Just try not to wander around with your heads in the clouds."
Haruka's eyes narrowed at his condescension. 'Is this guy always like this? Why does he have to be so insufferable?' Haruka thought, narrowing her eyes. "I already said I was sorry, dumbass!"
"Right." Kura rolled his eyes dramatically, clearly unimpressed. "Hopefully, you don't stroll around with your eyes closed all the time. Or in your case, maybe lady-boys just don't care about basic spatial awareness."
The term 'lady-boys' stung more than Haruka wanted to admit and it only fuelled her anger further. 'This guy is a complete jerk. What did Michiru find 'interesting' about this idiot, anyway?' she fumed, clenching her fists at her sides.
"Listen up, jackass." Haruka snapped. "I'm not like some girl you can just push around, got it? If you want to keep all your teeth in your mouth, you better show some respect."
Kura snorted in displeasure in response to her threat. "Respect is earned, not given. And so far, you're not doing a great job of earning it."
Their standoff drew the attention of a few passersby, but neither seemed to care. Haruka narrowed her eyes at him. 'Is he trying to get a rise out of me on purpose?' she thought in irritation. 'But I won't let this jerk get under my skin.' She shifted her demeanour, adopting a more direct approach.
"Oh, I get it. You think you're all tough, don't you?" Haruka challenged with a scoff. "Who do you think you are, calling me names and acting like a douche?"
Kura's smirk faded slightly, replaced by a look of mild curiosity. "Just someone who calls it like he sees it."
As she glared at him, her anger momentarily distracted her from the strange object she had been following. She glanced around, realizing with a jolt that the orb-like object was no longer in sight. 'Dammit! I lost it thanks to this idiot!' She tried to scan the skies, but it was no use. It had vanished.
Still maintaining his serious expression, Kura seemed ready to walk away. Refusing to let the encounter end like this, Haruka called out to him. "Hey, where do you think you're going?"
Kura's eyes narrowed slightly. "What now? I've got better things to do."
"Do you, Kura?" Haruka challenged with a forming smirk. "Or do you just like acting like a jerk and think you can get away with it?"
Kura looked at her sharply. "How do you know my name?"
"Michiru mentioned you the other day." Haruka replied. "She did point out a few things, especially your charming personality."
"Michiru huh?" Kura's expression flickered with realisation. "So you must be Haruka."
"That's right. And since you seem so sure of yourself, why don't you back it up?" Haruka's voice was firm, her eyes unwavering. "I practice martial arts at a place nearby. Care to join me for a match?"
'She could tell I practice huh?' Kura's expression didn't change, but there was a spark of interest in his eyes. "You're really confident, aren't you? But are you sure you want to take me on? You're a girl, after all."
Haruka's eyes flashed with indignation. "So what, you think just because I'm a girl I can't handle myself in a fight?"
Kura shook his head, his expression still flat but with a glimmer of challenge in his eyes. "Not that." He paused, then added dryly. "I just think you might be in over your head. Girls are usually not as strong as guys. Besides, I've got better things to do than waste my time on someone looking for trouble."
Haruka's jaw clenched at his dismissive tone. 'This guy's something else.' she thought, determined now more than ever to prove him wrong. "Wow, and here I thought you had guts. Guess all that mouth is just to cover for the fact that you can't back it up. Afraid of a girl challenging you?" She questioned with a small grin. "Or what? Still upset about a little water spill?"
"Hm." Kura's eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained calm. "Gotta say, I didn't expect that. If you're so eager to prove a point, who am I to stop you?" His tone had a hint of sarcasm, which only fuelled Haruka's resolve.
"Oh, now he thinks he's all clever huh?" Haruka folded her arms, stepping closer. "You know what, buddy? I've had just about enough of your smartass mouth. You can underestimate me all you want, but I'm not backing down from this."
'She really wants to prove a point here.' Kura raised an eyebrow, his gaze never leaving hers. 'Well, she's got guts, I'll give her that.'
Haruka's competitive smirk grew, fully ignited. "So, are you gonna keep flapping your mouth, or are we actually doing this?"
Kura sighed, clearly unimpressed but willing to humour her. "Sure. Why not?" he said coolly, slipping his hands into his jacket pockets. "If you're so eager to embarrass yourself, be my guest."
"Thought it'd take you forever." Haruka smirked and motioned him to come. "Follow me, idiot."
Kura hesitated for a moment before falling into step behind her, his hands casually stuffed into his jacket pockets. "So, this is how you handle things? Whenever someone gets under your skin, you drag them into a fight?"
Haruka rolled her eyes. "Only when they deserve it. And trust me, you do." She shot him a sideways glance, her eyes sharp. "You've got a lot of nerve for someone who barely knows me."
"What can I say?" Kura followed along. "I have a gift for reading people. And from what I've seen, you're not exactly subtle about wanting to prove yourself. Especially now."
Haruka glanced back at him. "Maybe I just like knocking people down a peg when they deserve it."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night. Let's get this over with." Kura retorted.
After a while, they arrived at the dojo. Haruka pushed the door open, stepping inside the dojo with Kura right behind her. The building was a traditional structure, blending seamlessly with the modern surroundings. The wooden exterior was polished and well-maintained, with a small garden lining the entrance. Inside, the dojo was spacious and clean, with polished wooden floors.
"Alright, here we are." she said, gesturing towards the practice area. "This is where I train. If you're still up for it, let's get started."
Kura glanced around the dojo, taking in the surroundings with a detached interest. 'Not bad, she almost moves like a pro.' he thought, noting the pristine condition of the dojo. 'Definitely a step up from what I'm used to.'
The two of them stepped on it, dressed up with their own keikogi. They bowed respectfully to each other. Kura made the first move. His approach was calm, controlled, he stepped forward with a measured stride and tested Haruka's defences with a simple jab. Haruka deflected the strike easily. Without hesitation, she closed the distance and responded with a rapid sequence of punches aimed at his midsection, forcing Kura to retreat with a quick sidestep.
'Bastard's actually pretty good.' Haruka thought, her eyes tracking Kura's every movement. 'He's calm and precise, but he's not just reacting. He's thinking ahead.'
Kura's defensive stance was solid. Every block was efficient, his eyes calm yet vigilant. Haruka pressed forward, delivering a lightning-fast roundhouse kick aimed at his head. Kura leaned back just enough to dodge.
Kura was impressed by Haruka's resilience. Despite the intensity of the sparring, she kept pressing forward, her strikes came faster and with more force. 'She's not backing down, even when I push her. Not bad. Guess she is a tough nut to crack.'
Haruka took a moment to analyse his approach as she executed a spinning kick that Kura barely deflected. 'He's got a decent defence, but he's not making any aggressive moves. Is he just toying with me?' She couldn't help but let out a small comment. "You know, for someone who's so sure of himself, you're not exactly making this easy."
"Hmph." Kura let out a huff as he blocked a few of her blows. "And here I thought you'd be more focused on trying to land a hit rather than commenting on my attitude."
Haruka scoffed, clearly both irritated and amused. "Are you always this sarcastic, or is this just a special occasion? Because honestly, your humour is as lame as you are."
Kura rolled his eyes in begrudging amusement, though his face remained serious. "That so? If my humour is lame then I must be doing something right. You seem pretty focused on it."
"Ha!" Haruka retorted, giving way to a smirk of her own. "You think you're so funny, don't you? Well let me tell you, your jokes are as sharp as your moves: both equally annoying."
'Was that both a compliment and an insult?' Kura thought while evading Haruka's back kick.
As they continued their exchange, Haruka found herself both challenged and entertained. Kura maintained his defences, but he was able to counterattack and keep up with her moves. 'This guy is really getting under my skin, but he's got skills to back up that attitude at least. I'm not going to let him think he's won just because he's skilled and a sarcastic streak though.'
Dodging a new coming hit, Kura allowed what seemed to be a faint smirk to cross his face. "You know, you're really not half bad." He commented, parrying Haruka's strike.
Haruka was taken aback by his sudden praise, but couldn't help but respond with one more smirk of her own. "Well look at you, Mr. Cocky Prick." she said in amusement. "Seems like you're not a one-expression wonder, huh?"
Kura arched an eyebrow at the nickname but didn't let it throw him off... "Tsk, don't get ahead of yourself, lady-man. I'm hardly impressed." He launched a swift kick toward Haruka, aiming to test her reflexes. Haruka managed to block the kick with a decisive motion.
"Careful, Mr. Cocky Prick." Haruka shot back. "You might just find yourself in over your head." Haruka exploited the moment to raise her leg in leg sweep motion.
Kura Kura's eyes narrowed, but he moved with a calculated pace while barely dodging the incoming hit, attempting to regain the upper hand.
"Guess this one's mine." Kura's next counterattack was a swift, powerful kick that Haruka blocked just in time.
"Aw, you're so mean." Haruka chirped with exaggerated sweetness as she pushed forward. "Still with the attitude? You're quite the piece of work!" she exclaimed, immediately stepping forward.
"Huh?" Kura was taken aback by her sudden move, but didn't react in time.
With a quick and deft manoeuvre, Haruka executed a move that almost sent Kura crashing to the ground. As he landed, Kura grunted in displeasure as he struggled to maintain balance and remain on his feet.
"Well shit." He barely managed to recover, his breath coming in short bursts as he took a step back. "I suppose I really did underestimate you… didn't I?" he admitted, catching his breath. "I've got to hand it to you… you certainly can pull your punches."
"And you certainly can back up your tough-guy act." Haruka smirked, catching her breath as well. "But… don't think this changes anything. I still don't like you."
"Well…" Kura straightened with a deep breath. "I'm not here to win a popularity contest." He adjusted the borrowed kimono. Then much to Haruka's surprise, he suddenly lowered his guard and nodded slightly. "Hmm… Alright, I admit defeat."
Haruka blinked, momentarily taken aback by his sudden concession. She had expected him to keep fighting until the end, not to just give up, not after what she saw what he was capable of. "Wait, just like that? You're really giving up?"
Kura shrugged and replied with a detached tone. "You've got skill and I don't have anything to prove here any longer."
Haruka oddly studied him for a moment, still taken aback by his sudden admission of defeat. "Huh. I didn't peg you as someone who'd back down so easily."
"It's not exactly backing down." Kura corrected. "More like knowing when a fight isn't worth it. You're strong and I can respect that. But I'm not going to waste energy on a meaningless battle. You proved your point, I guess."
Haruka found herself unexpectedly impressed by his pragmatism, though she still wasn't ready to fully trust him. "Fair enough." she conceded, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "But don't think this means we're friends or anything."
Kura gave a slight nod at Haruka's words, accepting her terms without protest. "Fine by me." Without further exchange, he turned on his heel and walked towards the changing room.
Haruka let out a sigh. 'He's definitely not like anyone I've met before, he's pretty hard to read. But that doesn't make him any less irritating.'
After Kura accepted Haruka's words, he headed toward the dressing room to change out of the borrowed kimono and back into his regular clothes. It wasn't long before he finished adjusting his clothes, he stepped out of the dojo, ready to leave and return to his usual routine. But before he could walk away, Haruka's voice called out to him.
"Hey, wait a second."
Kura paused, turning slightly to face her. "What is it?"
Haruka hesitated for a moment, her eyes narrowing as if she was trying to gauge something. "I just wanted to know… what do you think of Michiru?"
Kura blinked, not expecting that question. He studied Haruka's expression, trying to decipher the intent behind her words. 'Is that...jealousy I'm picking up on? Maybe. But then again, it's not like I know her well enough to be sure. Can be something else.' He kept his thoughts to himself however, and responded with the same measured tone as he turned around to look at her.
"I don't really know her that well. We only talked once, so I can't exactly judge her." Kura finally answered.
Haruka's gaze remained fixed on him, as if she was searching for something in his response. "Only once, huh?" There was a hint of relief in her voice, though it was subtle enough that Kura couldn't be entirely certain if he was imagining it.
"Yeah." he confirmed, shrugging slightly. "I ran into her at the park, she was playing the violin, talked to her for a few minutes but that's about it."
"Yeah, Michiru told me that too." Haruka nodded slowly, processing his words. "She's... important to me. I guess you could call her the only one who can fully understand me. I care about her, probably even more than I care about myself." she admitted, though her tone carried an edge, as if she wasn't entirely comfortable sharing that detail.
'Close to her? Makes sense I guess.' Kura wasn't one to pry into strangers' business, especially when it came to personal relationships, but he could tell that Michiru was more than just a friend to Haruka. Even if she attempted to hide it. "I see." he nodded.
On the other hand, Haruka studied his face, searching for any sign that he might be withholding something. But Kura's expression remained the same.
"So that's just it huh?" Haruka asked. "You just happened to talk to her for a bit."
"Exactly…" Kura trailed off, carefully considering his next words. "Besides I'm not the best person to ask about making friends." he added, his voice taking on a slightly bitter edge, though his face remained unchanged. 'Especially since most people didn't stick around long enough. At least back then…' he thought privately.
Haruka's eyes narrowed slightly, picking up on the hint of something deeper in his words, though she couldn't quite figure out what it was. She could tell that Kura wasn't just aloof, there was something else, something darker beneath the surface.
"And why's that?" she asked, genuinely curious now.
Kura's gaze shifted, just for a moment, as if weighing how much he wanted to reveal. But he decided against saying too much. "Well. Let's just say I'm… not exactly the social, likeable type." he replied with self-awareness. "I tend to keep to myself most of the time. To be honest, it's a miracle I managed to click with a few people at all. But it can't be helped I suppose."
'So he has problems connecting with people.' Haruka cast him a long glance, almost studying his expression but she couldn't find falsehood in his words. "I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that's not exactly a healthy way of life. But you're right about that. You definitely don't make it easy for people to like you."
Kura snorted in response, but knew there was truth in her words. "Look, the point is…" he said after a brief pause. "I'm not really involved in whatever's going on between you and Michiru. Like I said, we barely know each other. So, whatever you're worried about it's probably nothing."
Haruka studied him for a moment longer before finally relaxing her stance. "Alright. I'll hold you to that." She seemed satisfied with his response, though there was still a hint of caution in her eyes.
Kura turned around. "If that's all, I'll be going."
Haruka nodded as she saw him walking away. 'Honestly this guy…' She sighed before turning around and walked back inside the dojo.
After stretching her arms and legs, Haruka wiped the sweat from her brow with a cloth, muscles still buzzing from the sparring session with Kura. The intensity of their match lingered and she couldn't help but think back on it with a smirk.
'Who knew that guy could fight like that? Cocky prick actually kept me on my toes.'
As she finished her cool-down, the door to the dojo slid open with a soft creak. Haruka glanced up, expecting one of the regulars or students, but to her surprise, Elsa Gray strolled in, her usual bright grin plastered on her face.
"Well, well." Elsa's voice rang out cheerfully. "Look who's still as sharp as ever."
"Look who's here." Haruka raised an eyebrow, smirking as she tossed the towel aside. "Elsa Gray, in the flesh. It's been a while."
"It has." Elsa replied with her hands on her hips. "I heard you've been busy, thought I'd stop by and see if you're still as unbeatable as ever."
Haruka chuckled, leaning back against the wall. "You know me. Haven't lost my touch." She gave Elsa a once-over. "What brings you by? Haven't seen you in months."
Elsa nodded, her eyes lighting up. "Yeah, I got transferred to Shirakaba High School. Still competing of course, but it's not the same without going up against you."
Haruka felt a pang of nostalgia for their racing days. Elsa had always been a fierce competitor, fast, strong and determined. Yet Haruka had always managed to stay one step ahead, a fact that had forged their competitive friendship.
"Still beating everyone else, huh?" Haruka asked.
Elsa grinned, but her expression turned slightly wistful. "Yeah, but it's not as fun. No one really pushes me like you did. I kinda miss those races, you know?"
Haruka nodded, a hint of fondness flickering in her eyes. "Yeah. Those were good times."
"You remember when I introduced Michiru to you after one of our races?" Elsa asked playfully. "I couldn't believe how well you two hit it off. I swear, I should take credit for that."
Haruka chuckled softly. "Yeah, you were right about her being talented. We've been hanging out a bit since then. But I wouldn't say we've hit it off or anything."
Elsa's eyes sparkled with mischief. "You know, for someone so dense about this stuff, you two sure have some chemistry."
Haruka rolled her eyes. "We're just friends, Elsa."
"Uh-huh, sure you are." Elsa said, clearly unconvinced, but she let it drop. "Still, I knew you two would get along. Michiru's got that grace, that elegance, kinda the opposite of us."
"Speak for yourself." Haruka quipped with a mock-indignant tone. "I'm perfectly graceful."
"Yeah, in your own smash-through-walls kind of way." Elsa teased, before softening her tone. "But seriously, I'm glad you've got someone like her around. It was crazy seeing you and her in the same room, grace meets raw speed."
Haruka let the comment slide with a small smile. "Maybe. She keeps things interesting."
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "I bet she does."
After a pause, Elsa glanced around, as if remembering something. "By the way, who was that guy who just walked out?" She asked, having seen Kura walking out the dojo.
Haruka groaned slightly. "Oh, him? That's Kura Hayama. Michiru's acquaintance and a pain in the ass, really."
"A pain, huh?" Elsa wondered. "What do you mean? What's his deal?"
"He's all serious and brooding, like he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders." Haruka mentioned, crossing her arms. "Barely cracks a smile, and when he does it's because he's being sarcastic. Let's just say he's got a way of getting under your skin."
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Sarcastic, huh? Looks like he gave you a run for your money. You two have some kind of sparring session or something?"
Haruka nodded, leaning back against the wall. "Yeah, we did. The guy's got some skill, I'll give him that. But then again he's wry, snarky and just generally irritating." She shook her head, still slightly amused despite herself. "But he can back his tough guy up at least."
"Strong enough to keep up with you? Now that's saying something." Elsa acknowledged, clearly impressed. "Sounds like you've got yourself a new rival." Elsa said with a smirk.
"More like an annoyance." Haruka replied dryly. "But something about him... I can't quite figure him out yet."
"Hm, I see. if you say so." Elsa conceded with a wave of her hand. "But... just in case, I'd keep an eye on him. You never know, Haruka. Michiru has a way of seeing things in people that the rest of us might miss."
"Yeah well, I've seen plenty and all I see with him is a guy who gets under my skin." Haruka shot jokingly. "But thanks for the advice."
Elsa chuckled softly. "No problem. Just remember, you can always come to me if you need to vent about it."
Haruka snorted, but her smile lingered. "Yeah yeah. Don't worry about me. I've got it under control."
"Anyway, I should head out soon." Elsa announced. "I've got practice later, but I'm glad we caught up."
"Me too." Haruka nodded. "It was good seeing you again, Elsa. Don't be a stranger."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Elsa replied with a grin, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "And hey, if you ever decide to come back to racing or competing... you know where to find me."
"I'll keep that in mind." Haruka said with a laugh.
Kura walked alone for a while, pondering the sparring session that just occurred. 'She hits harder than anyone I've faced in a while. Definitely stronger than most girls I've come across, which is respectable.' Despite his usual nonchalance, he couldn't ignore the impression she left on him, still feeling the residual sting from her blows.
The sparring match had been more intense than he anticipated, and he had to admit that Haruka's raw power was something to reckon with. Her strength wasn't just physical; there was an undeniable presence about her. Yet, as he continued walking, his thoughts drifted back to the earlier conversation.
'Her questioning. There was something more beneath it. She seemed genuinely concerned about Michiru and even hinted at feelings that might go beyond mere friendship.' Kura wasn't one to read too much into personal relationships, but the way Haruka's tone was more warmth when she spoke about Michiru suggested a deeper emotional investment. 'Could be she's harbouring feelings for Michiru that she hasn't yet confessed? It's hard to say, but it's worth noting.'
Just as he dismissed the thought, someone suddenly bumped into him, jolting him out of his reverie. 'Again? Seriously?' Kura groaned and looked down to see a young girl, no older than eleven, with short black hair, pale skin, and striking violet eyes that seemed to hold a world of their own. She wore a black turtleneck sweater paired with a grey skirt and black stockings, her delicate form almost lost in the oversized sweater.
"Sorry…" the girl murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she stepped back.
The girl seemed to sense his scrutiny, and she quickly looked away, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to make herself smaller. "I… I wasn't looking where I was going." she said, her voice tinged with a hint of fear, as if she expected to be reprimanded.
Kura's gaze eased slightly, though his face remained stoic. "It's alright. Just… be more careful."
Crouching down to help her pick up the scattered items, Kura's gaze softened slightly as he took in her appearance. The girl couldn't have been more than eleven, she had a shoulder-length bobthat framed her pale face and violet eyes that held a mix of fear and shyness. She wore a black turtleneck sweater, a grey skirt and black stockings. But it wasn't her appearance that caught Kura's attention; it was her eyes. There was something in them, something he recognized all too well.
'Those eyes…' He wasn't the type to get involved, but those eyes reminded him of his own. 'What's a kid like her doing out here alone?'
He handed her a slightly bruised apple, watching as her small hands trembled ever so slightly as she took it. "Are you alright?" he asked unusually gently. It wasn't often that he cared enough to ask about a stranger's well-being, but something about this girl made him pause. "Did you get lost or something?"
The girl shook her head quickly, her eyes darting away from his. "I'm fine. I'm just... going home." she whispered, clutching the grocery bag tightly to her chest. "No… those groceries are for… my father."
Kura's brow furrowed slightly. 'She looks scared.' he realized, noticing the way she seemed to shrink into herself. He wasn't used to dealing with kids, but he could tell something was off. Still, he didn't want to push her.
"If you're sure." he said, standing up and handing her a can that had rolled a little farther away. "You should be careful. It's not safe to walk around alone like this."
"Thank you." the girl murmured. She stood up as well, holding the torn grocery bag as if it might fall apart at any moment. "I really need to get back home."
Kura watched her for a moment, a sense of unease settling in his chest. It wasn't like him to feel concerned about a stranger, but there was something about this girl that made it hard to just walk away. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a few bills. "Here." he said, holding the money out to her. "To replace what got messed up."
The girl looked at the money, her violet eyes widening in surprise. "I... I can't just accept…"
"Take it." Kura insisted firmly, but not unkindly. "You don't need to go home with empty hands."
For a moment, she hesitated as if she wasn't sure whether to accept his offer. But then she slowly reached out and took the money, her fingers brushing against his as she did. "I… thank you."
Kura nodded, shoving his hands back into his pockets. "It's nothing." he said, trying to sound indifferent, though he couldn't entirely ignore the strange feeling that lingered in his chest.
As the girl finished collecting her groceries, she stood up, clutching the torn bag tightly. She looked up at Kura, her violet eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and something else, something he couldn't quite place. "I… I'm Hotaru." she said hesitantly, as if unsure whether she should introduce herself. "You have my gratitude Mr…"
Kura blinked, caught off guard by her sudden introduction. He wasn't used to people offering their names so freely, especially not after such a brief encounter. But there was something about this girl that compelled him to respond. "Kura Hayama."
Hotaru gave a small, almost shy nod. "T-thank you, Kura… Hayama-san." she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"You don't need to thank me again." Kura shook his head.
"R-right." Hotaru nodded in a shy manner. "I better get going! I-it was a pleasure, Hayama-san!"
Kura watched her for a moment longer, then gave a curt nod in return. "Take care, Hotaru." he said, turning to leave. But as he walked away, he couldn't help but glance back at her one last time.
He hadn't walked far when his phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw Hine's name flashing on the screen.
Kura answered the call. "Hey."
"Hey yourself." Hine's voice came through, light and teasing as always. "You free to talk now?"
"Yeah." Kura replied, glancing back in the direction he had come from.
"Something the matter?" Hine asked.
"Nah." Kura replied nonchalantly. "Just helped out a little girl. She dropped her groceries, so I gave her some money to replace what she lost."
"Aww, you're going soft on me, Kura! Look at you, playing the good samaritan and to a little girl to boot." Hine teased, a laugh bubbling through the line. "Who knew you had a heart?"
Kura smirked faintly, though his expression remained mostly impassive. "Don't get used to it."
"I won't, I won't." Hine chuckled, before her tone shifted slightly, taking on a more serious edge. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something. I visited Mugen Academy today, just to check it out."
"Mugen Academy?" Kura asked, not expecting the sudden information, remembering her conversation with Michiru about it. "What were you doing there?"
"Just following up on some things I've heard." Hine replied, her voice dropping a notch. "You know, there are rumours floating around, turns out that it's not just an ordinary school as we expected. Some people say it's a place for sorcerers, that the students there are… different."
Kura frowned slightly, his mind sifting through the information. "Sorcerers, huh? You sure about that?"
"That's what the whispers say." Hine continued, her tone growing more thoughtful. "But here's where it gets interesting, the owner of the school is a guy named Souichi Tomoe. Ever heard of him?"
The name struck a chord with Kura, though he couldn't immediately place it. "Sounds familiar."
"Yeah. Apparently, he's a world-renowned instructor and on top of that, he's a scientist specializing in bio-engineering and astrophysics. And that's not all. Tomoe was expelled from the academic community a while back. Something about unethical practices. Nobody's really clear on the details, but there's definitely something shady about this guy." Hine explained.
Kura's pace slowed as he absorbed this information, his mind already working to connect the dots. "So, we've got a disgraced scientist running a prestigious school with rumours of sorcery floating around." he summarized. "Sounds like a bad horror movie. Guess you were right about that, maybe it is worth checking out." Kura nodded to himself, feeling a familiar sense of unease settle in his gut.
There was a brief silence on the other end before Hine's voice came through again, this time with a hint of mischief. "You know Kura, if you're really that curious, you could always get closer to Michiru for more intel. Maybe ask her out or something?"
Kura snorted, the suggestion so far removed from his usual behaviour that it was almost laughable. "Yeah right. Not interested. Besides, I think there might be someone else she's interested in."
"Oh?" Hine's curiosity was clearly piqued. "Who's that? You got some insider info I don't?"
"It's just a hunch. I'm not entirely sure myself." Kura replied, his voice still steady and indifferent. "And even if she wasn't, I'm not looking for that kind of complication."
"Complication, huh?" Hine mused loudly. "Well alright, if you're not going to ask her out, why not at least make up your mind and go to one of her concerts? It wouldn't kill you to have a little fun, you know? You might discover a side of yourself you didn't know existed."
"Again with this stuff?" Kura asked with exasperation. "Why do you, Motoki and Reika keep insisting on this? You'd think you were all getting a commission for selling tickets."
"Maybe we just want to see you loosen up a bit and experience new things." Hine replied lightly. "You're always so serious, Kura. It wouldn't hurt to take a break from being… well, you."
Kura shook his head, though there was a small, almost imperceptible smile on his face. "Yeah, don't hold your breath."
"Meh, if you say so. But don't come crying to me if you end up missing out on something interesting." Hine said with mock annoyance. "And hey, if you get into any more trouble helping little girls or investigating mysterious schools, give me a call. I might need a good laugh."
"You know…" Kura couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You can be such a pain sometimes, Hine."
"Right back at you, Mr. Soft-Heart." Hine teased back. "Just think about the concert thing, it's not like it would kill you, 'kay?"
"Whatever you say." Kura muttered with a sigh. "Thanks for the info by the way."
"Aw, no prob, softie." Hine laughed through the phone. "Gotta go now. Talk you later, Kura."
"Yeah, see ya, Hine." As the call ended, Kura pocketed his phone and continued walking.
Ah, the comedy in Sailor Moon. The 90s series was very much based on that, and although I find some of the gags repetitive and annoying, I have to admit that watching it again made me crack a laugh.
And that's something they definitely overlooked in Crystal, besides the fact that the pacing is much faster and more immediate. But, on the other hand, they got rid of the most annoying aspects of each and every character. (yes, I'm looking at you, Haruka)
And speaking of Haruka, hope you liked her interraction with our boy Kura.
Anyway, that was the second part. Review if you want.
Hasta la vista, amigos.
