"Sister?" Miko called, her voice echoing down the hall as she walked.
"Nee-san?" She glanced around, peeking into open rooms. "Are you there?"
Laughter and cheering came from the common room. On the large screen, a high-speed racing game was in progress. Two cars, one green and one white, zoomed along an elevated track. The green car blocked every attempt by the white car to pass. Shoto and Dynamight sat on the couch, GameStation controllers in hand, their faces revealing who was winning.
"You think you can pass me, but you can't pass me!" Shoto said confidently. Suddenly, his expression faltered as Dynamight smirked.
"You passed me!" Shoto exclaimed.
"Tighten the turn…jets…and nitro!" Dynamight shouted, jumping up in victory and breaking into a triumphant dance as Shoto slumped back, defeated. Moments later, both were back in their seats as Miko approached.
"Hey, have either of you seen Kitsune?" Miko asked.
"Foxy? She was just here," Shoto said, distracted as his focus snapped back to the game. The white car on the screen hugged the edge of the track and nudged the green car aside, taking the lead.
"Back on top!" Shoto cheered, laughing as he reclaimed his victory.
"Can I play?" Miko asked.
"Winner takes on Kitsune," Shoto said without looking up.
"Yeah, she's unbeatable at this," Dynamight added with a grin.
Miko sighed, her shoulders drooping. "I see." She walked off, her steps echoing down the hallway.
Xxx
As Miko wandered further, she noticed shadows cast on the gym wall: Kitsune and Deku, practicing together. They were close, and Kitsune was guiding Deku's posture with precision.
"That's it, Deku," Kitsune instructed.
Miko's eyes widened as she overheard.
"Hold steady…and—" Kitsune said.
With a sudden move, Kitsune flipped Deku across the room. He landed with a loud thud on top of a set of weights, dazed but amazed.
"Learned that move from a daiyokai in the Demon World," Kitsune said, helping him up.
Miko stepped into view, trying to keep her composure. "Hello, Deku…and…my sister. Am I interrupting?"
"Not at all," Deku said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Kitsune was just teaching me some yokai martial arts. How come you never taught me moves like these?"
Miko hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
"Probably because she doesn't know them," Kitsune interjected smoothly. "I was always the better fighter. Miko chose magic and the Lotis Path over combat." Kitsune led Deku out of the gym. "Come on, I'll show you a technique I once used to stop a hunter."
Miko stood in the gym, eyes wide and heart heavy as she watched them leave.
Xxx
All the heroes, except Miko, lounged on the couch as Kitsune sat nearby, reading a book.
"Friends!" Miko called out, entering the room with an armful of snacks—buckets of popcorn, candy, and stacks of DVDs.
"Let's have a movie night! I brought snacks and movies. What should we watch?" Miko said, her hopeful smile bright.
"Action," Deku said without hesitation.
"Comedy," Dynamight added with a smirk.
"Sci-fi," Shoto chimed in.
Miko blinked, caught off guard by their different choices. The stack of snacks and movies wobbled in her arms before slipping and scattering across the floor. "Maybe a double feature?" she offered, her smile faltering.
"Forget the movies, everyone," Kitsune said, standing up with an effortless grace.
Miko turned, surprised. Kitsune was wearing a short, stylish kimono that hugged her figure.
"We're going out!" Kitsune announced.
"We are?" Miko echoed, confused. Kitsune walked past her confidently.
"Why are you dressed like—"
"A hero?" Kitsune interrupted, flashing a grin. "I wanted to try it out." She turned to the rest of the team. "There's a party downtown, cool crowd, hot music."
"Yeah!" Dynamight shouted, fist-pumping the air.
"I'm in," Shoto said, already getting up.
"Why not?" Deku said, giving a nod.
One by one, Miko's friends filed out of the room.
"Woo!" Shoto said as he left.
"I am a party bomb!" Dynamight declared, causing blast sparks for effect before following the others out.
Kitsune was the last to leave, glancing back at Miko. "Hope you don't mind me borrowing the hero look," she said with a playful wink. "I just wanted to fit in, ne?"
Miko stood among the scattered snacks and DVDs, watching as Kitsune closed the door behind her, taking the team's attention with her. Her heart sank. "Why not?" she whispered. "You've already borrowed my friends."
The room felt colder as she stood alone, surrounded by the remnants of her abandoned plan for a night with her team.