MPK: Hello Hello if you're reading this~ Chapter 1 has been redone and I'll be editing 2-13 at will over the next few weeks~ (FINALLY FINISHED EDITING YAY)

Here's chapter 14~

CLANG!

"STRIKE! BATTER OUT!"

"This is bad." Arata grips his white and teal shirt. He pulls down his pink cap with a sigh. "There's no doubt about it now." Leaving the metal bat at home plate, Arata saunters off the baseball diamond. "If even I couldn't stop him, that guy is definitely..."

"That guy is definitely cheating."

Arata lets loose a low growl, "...Go figure, Anaki."

Before he can reach the dugout, Kazuma passes by Arata with a blank look on his face. As potentially the last person up to bat, if he was nervous it didn't show. His poker face was strong.

'I wonder if Kazuma's figured out something's up. I should still try to warn him.' Arata thought in the millisecond before they would reach each other. "That pitcher...is cheating." He speaks in a soft whisper as they pass each other. Without any sort of hesitation, Kazuma continued towards the umpire unfazed by Arata's words. "His expression didn't change." Arata placed his hand on the dugout's fence, "Damn, he didn't look at me at all. Did he hear me?"

"No way!"

"He even shut Takashiro-san down!"

"We're doomed!"

Takuto sits back in his seat with his arms folded, "Kazuma's batting is about average. We still have a chance."

"If you couldn't win it for us Sexy Blue Eyes, we have no chance. You're the team's ace after all." Kanako caresses her freshly combed, long green locks halfheartedly. Her subordinates, Takashi and Simone, let out a collective sigh.

Inside the dugout, Arata lifts his cap to wipe the sweat off his brows. "I'm flattered, Watanabe-san."

"It was amazing! Three consecutive home runs! How do you do it?!" Wako asks.

Arata smiles, "Hand and eye coordination is key. I have the boxing club to thank for honing it."

"Them and me! Lucky for you, I get to share with you one of my special moves! My gift of slow-motion sight!" Anaki shouts. Arata boredly watches the game without a response. "HEY DON'T IGNORE ME! YOU TOTALLY USED IT!"

'...I have no idea what you are talking about.'

"Regardless, Arata can't carry us every time. If only a few of us could've picked up the slack to match him! This game is good as done." Hiroshi slumps in his seat.

"We need an out of the park. One good home run and all three of our runners on the bases come home." With arms folded, Arata joins the others on the dugout bench. He purposely sits between the redhead and his little sister, who is focused on trying to understand the game. "Unfortunately, it's not as easy as it sounds."

Takuto shifts over in a panic, "It's a pinch..." He mutters with a sweatdrop.

'With the other class's pitcher cheating...and Kazuma's batting average...that's next to impossible. The only real way he can win this for us is if he can intercept that ball before that pitcher can fix the throw."

"...and somehow also score a run. You guys are doomed."

"Come on, Kazuma. Realize before it's too late." Arata mumbles quietly.

Kazuma kneels down, using the bat for upper body support. He seems to be eyeing the distance between the pitcher and himself. With a heavy sigh, he then stands, shifting to a proper batting position. The Twober Fighters pitcher throws the ball. Almost at the catcher, it makes a sudden curve to an extreme right, missing both Kazuma and the catcher entirely. Kazuma doesn't even flinch.

"BALL!"

"Huh?" Arata sits up on the dugout bench. The catcher steps away to throw the missed ball back to the pitcher.

Niika worriedly eyes the pitcher's mound, "That last ball...fell to the ground kind of weird, right?" Arata sneaks a glance at Niika who verbalizes his suspicion well. Takuto's face tightens up from his usual lackadaisical smile.

'Then they see it too...The ball looked like it was straight for the catcher, but changed flight in mid-air, and never made it to the catcher's glove...Did Kazuma notice after all?'

Kazuma rolls his shoulders with the same blank expression as before. He lifts the bat back to position to receive the next pitch. The pitcher decides this time to throw a straight right down the middle of the strike zone. The ball doesn't change course. Yet, Kazuma once again does not move.

"STRIKE!"

"Come on Kazuma! What are you doing!?"

"Hit the ball!"

"It all comes down to this! If he doesn't hit a run, or get another ball we're cooked!" Hiroshi cries slapping his forehead, "Fighto! Kazuma!"

"Let's go Kazuma!" The Onederberry Stars dugout collectively shouts their last words of encouragement. Suddenly Kazuma's blank face is filled with nervousness. Arata swears he can almost see a single sweatdrop falling down Kazuma's left cheek.

"He looks like he's struggling. This is not an easy position to be in." Arata puts his hands around his mouth to shout. "You got this Kazuma! Bring Sugata and the others back home!"

Kazuma drops to one knee again, digging the baseball bat back into the ground. This time, instead of eyeing the field, it looked like he was eyeing the pitcher. The Twober Fighter pitcher looks at him dead on as he collects the thrown-back ball. Kazuma hurries to stand up before he can miss his window to swing. He lifts his arms, squeezing the bat tight. The pitcher throws another straight his way. Kazuma gives a hard squint, already leaning back to hit a hard swing. The pitcher smirks.

"Kazuma!"

Arata squints just as hard. The shouting around him becomes faint and muttered. The actions in front of him get slower and slower. In slow motion, he sees Kazuma slowly gearing up into a large swing. The pitcher's straight flies directly across the field in one smooth direction. However, as soon as it reaches within inches of Kazuma's bat, the ball slightly curves upward. Anxiety rushes across Kazuma's face, but before he can turn blue he closes his eyes.

"What...the...hell?" Arata is completely dumbfounded by what happens next. As if there's a shift in the universe, suddenly Kazuma's bat is inches backward inside the motion his swing is about to complete. It somehow was now able to directly clash with the flying ball, unlike the flight path from before. Force does the rest.

"HOME RUN!"

Arata's eyes fully open again. Both teams are awestruck, with jaws drops and silent screaming. Sugata swiftly jogs from third to home and the two other runners follow in behind him.

"First-year class 1's Onederberry Stars win 8 to 6!"

"Oh my god!"

"Kazuma!"

"Let's go Fujimoto Kazuma!"

Kazuma falls backward to the ground in pure disbelief. Everyone in Class 1 rushes over to Kazuma to congratulate him on their win. They grab the whitenette and start to throw him into the air. Even some of the Twober Fighters jump over to cheer as well.

"What the hell!?" The Twober Fighters's pitcher throws off his glove and storms away from the pitcher's mound. Arata jogs over last, still reeling from the entire sight that he saw. He couldn't put his shock into words, or actions.

"No way! That son of a gun! I knew he had it in him!"

At Anaki's voice, Arata rolled his eyes before reaching the group. The class sets Kazuma down right in front of him. "Damn Snow White, you actually...did that?" Before he can even finish his phrase, he notices Kazuma's nose bleeding. "Kazu-?" In an attempt to grab Arata's shoulder for support, Kazuma falls right past it. The brunette quickly catches him before the boy can eat dirt. Kazuma passes out cold.

Later...

Running a rag with cold water at the sink, Arata tends to a barely conscious Kazuma. "Once again your nickname changes to Sleeping Beauty. Rise and shine, my darling."

"If I...could feel my face...I'd insult your entire existence, Arata-kun."

"Aw...that's too bad, Dear. I was hoping for one of your carefully crafted sonnets about me." A growl quickly turns into a groan from Kazuma. Arata sits on the cot Kazuma is laid in. "No come back? At all? Jeez, you really are out of it." He lays the rag on Kazuma's forehead before he can complain of the coldness. "Did the nurse give you drugs or something?"

"No, I wish." Kazuma rubs his face, "I think I...overdid it, this time."

"Overdid..." Before he can finish repeating, Arata catches himself. "Your first phase. So you did use it."

"Longer than I should have." Kazuma groans again this time in real pain. His normally pale skin was flush red in the cheeks. Arata flips a bang out of Kazuma's face, feeling his forehead with the back of his hand.

"Overdone isn't the word. Like Hiroshi said earlier, "You're cooked, son." Burnt even."

"...Never become a doctor. Or a therapist. Not even a comedian either." The weakened boy makes Arata smile.

"Sorry, it's funny teasing you like this. 'Cause you can't retaliate." He hands him a glass of water. "Drink up." Kazuma sits up, to drink slowly.

"Everything hurts. My head..."

"Want me to kiss it and make it better?" Arata's joke is met with the sharpest glare Kazuma has ever given him. "Wow, you almost scared me with that one. Almost." Arata stretches his right arm, still sore from swinging. "Fine, I'll stop. Offer's still on the table though." The glare intensifies but Arata ignores it. "If you were gonna be in that much pain afterward, you could've just thrown the game."

"I didn't want to let the team down. Especially after you warned me about the pitcher cheating."

"So you did hear me. Why did you just ignore me and look so empty at the plate then?"

"Empty? I was just trying to keep a poker face. I mean, I didn't want him to know I figured out his trick before he could throw for me."

"Smart. But the pitches...he fixed them twice, right? The first and the last ones...Did you stop time for both instances?"

"Yeah...the first time I just wanted to see what I could do. But fast flying projectiles...are harder to manipulate than I thought."

"That's why the ball dropped to the ground weirdly. Luckily everyone else didn't really notice." While scratching his forehead, Arata's eyes glanced at the door to the infirmary. He notices a shadow move away from in front of the glass. "Areh?"

"I can usually pace myself...when it comes to my first phase. I thought I'd only use it once, but I did it twice in a row for longer than usual. I guess I'm still not ready to hold out in quick back-to-back interv~" Arata suddenly covers Kazuma's mouth, making him tense up.

"What kind of anime nonsense are you spouting now huh?" When Arata gives him a fake smile, Kazuma chokes. He tilts his head towards the door at Kazuma and relaxes his shoulders. "I'm not gonna listen to your anime fantasy dribble even if you're unwell." He frees his hand from Kazuma's face.

"...But when else...will I get you to listen to me? Arata-kun."

"Well, play your cards right...and maybe, never. Boop." Arata boops Kazuma's nose. This is the last straw for the unwell patient. He holds out his hands as if ready to squeeze Arata's neck.

"-Excuse me." Whoever is at the door finally decides to come inside. They are met with the sight of the brunette holding Kazuma's wrists inches away from his face. "Oh...am I... interrupting something?"

"Oh god...no." Kazuma turns away from Arata completely.

"Sorry, my friend becomes like a feisty kitten when he's ill." Arata plasters another fake smile on his face. "It's good to know for the future."

"Go to hell!"

Arata turns in the newcomer's direction, "Ah Mizuno, you came up to see your boyfriend, huh?"

"...Mizuno doesn't have a boyfriend."

"Yikes." Arata feigns surprise, "Okay, no need to disown him completely. I was just joking."

"Ehh!? Marino-chan?!" Kazuma's face reddens, "W-W-When did you get here!? W-Why are you here!?"

"...Marino?"

The girl with long dark pink locs saunters over to Kazuma's cot, ignoring Arata. "I came to see how you were doing. The nurse told me to give you this." She drops on the table an unknown bottle of medicine. Kazuma's face squinches up. "Okamoto-sensei is tending to some students outside on the field, and won't be back for a while...Also, my sister was worried about you."

"...Sister...Oh?"

"Takashiro Arata of Class 1...meet Yo Marino of Class 2. Mizuno's identical twin sister."

"Whoa. So you're the star athlete everyone's been recently talking about...You two look just alike!"

"That's the definition of identical twins, Arata." Kazuma sweatdrops, "Besides, we played against her in the baseball game today! She was the ace of the enemy team! Ring any bells?"

"Kind of...Sorry, it's not you're fault. I was just focused on the game." Marino lets out a "hmph" noise.

"You mean you were focusing on keeping Niika and Takuto apart...This guy."

Arata takes a moment to analyze the pink-haired girl. Her long hair and dark purple eyes were both a darker shade than Mizuno's and her height was much closer to his. But the biggest difference was her demeanor. With a first impression of stoicism, her attitude was completely opposite to the aloofness of the witch of Class 2. Looking at her now, Arata could tell she was a different person altogether.

Before he can comment on his discovery, the infirmary door flies open and Arata is bulldozed aside from behind. "KA-ZU-MA!"

With joy, he squeals, "My lovely fairy!"

"Kazuma-kun!" Kazuma screeches in pain when Mizuno tackles him. "Don't worry! I brought all the magic that will make you better!"

"Huh?"

Mizuno grabs his cheeks, "Katami, Wakachita, Yagadanse!" Marino folds her arms.

"Tatami...what?" Arata and Kazuma mutter in unison.

"Katami, Wakachita, Yagadanse! It's the "it'll be okay" spell!" She places her forehead against his, closing her eyes with a smile. "Katami, Wakachita, Yagadanse. Everything will be okay." Kazuma's already flush cheeks redden even more.

"...W-Well wouldn't you know? I feel better already!"

"Really!?" Mizuno squeezes his shoulders. Kazuma shouts in pain.

"M-Maybe not 100%..."

Mizuno settles in the cot next to Kazuma. "Then, I'll stay with you until it does!"

"M-Mizuno-chan!" The teary-eyed whitenette cries.

"Kazuma-kun!" Mizuno answers back, smiling bigger than before.

Arata begins to feel like a third wheel in the room. "Well. I'm gonna let you two be then. Something tells me that spell will be less potent the more people are in the room."

"I agree..." Marino sweatdrops.

"Bye-bye! You two have fun!" Mizuno waves leaning forward before grabbing hold of Kazuma's left arm.

"Let's go, twin of Yo Mizuno." Arata gestures for Marino to exit first. With a hmph, she walks out and he follows behind her. When Arata closes the door, both of them watch Mizuno and Kazuma through the glass, smiling and laughing together. "They look comfortable with each other."

"Tch." Arata makes note of Marino gritting her teeth. "Don't project lies or they'll become true."

"It's not a lie, the proof's right there." Marino turns away from the door. Arata follows her as she practically stomps down the hallway. "Both of them talk about each other every day. They cling to each other like magnets." Marino's expression turns colder and colder, intriguing Arata. "So you don't like Kazuma and Mizuno as a couple. But it's not a lie that they enjoy being together." Reaching the wide hallway overpass of the school, Arata stops her. "They actually seem to make a nice couple. If they make each other happy, why not try and root for them?"

Finally, Marino glares up at the boy. Her face was calm, but her amethyst eyes were fuming with rage. For a second, Arata is captivated by them, blushing ever so slightly. She points out the overpass's open window. "...Would you root for them?" Arata reluctantly breaks eye contact with the girl to look outside. Down below, field day was occurring, and many events were taking place. But amongst the chaos of hundreds of students, two particular people catch his eye. Niika and Takuto are sprinting across the yard. Takuto grabs her left wrist leading her across the grass, as she starts to trail behind him. At first, she seems flustered but begins to smile just as brightly as he does. Arata's blue irises narrow. The hitch in his breathing said it all. "...I didn't think so." Marino slaps the baseball cap she had been holding on her head and storms off by herself. Arata is left standing there, gawking at the scenario below.

"...They actually seem to make a nice couple. If they make each other happy, why not try and root for-?"

"Shut the hell up...Anaki..."

"You're a hypocrite you know that."

"Nobody asked you!"

Arata finally makes it outside of the building, behind the school. He stomps over to the row of outdoor faucets. Tired from running, he runs the cold water over his face and hair.

"Why are you mad? I only repeated what you said."

"Refering to a completely different situation!" Arata shouts under the water.

"...Is it though?"

Arata flings his head back up, "You know, I am seconds away from jamming a glass shard into my head!"

"Please don't. That'd be really painful. Also if you die, theoretically I could die."

"That's the point!" The male's outbursts cause passing students to walk by faster. Those beginning to approach want to avoid the angry boy at all costs.

"...I think you have a problem, Arata-kun."

Frustrated, Arata slams the faucet knob off. "You're my problem! Anaki!"

"...I'm going to choose to ignore that sentence because I know you're just angry right now. Just breathe, alright?"

"UGHH!" He grabs his head, "Your stupid voice is gonna drive me insane!"

"...Is it really that bad to think of your sister hanging out with another guy? I mean, you were just trying to convince Marino-chan to be okay with the same thing with her sibling. If they're happy..."

"You don't know anything! Niika isn't happy! She doesn't even know that guy!" He shouts, "The only person Niika has ever been happy with is me!"

"..." Hearing the crack in Arata's voice, Anaki was silent for a moment. "...You're not the only person in this world, Arata-kun." Squeezing his eyes shut, the brunette male slinks down to the ground. "You may think she's been happy, but what if she's actually been miserable? It's not a far-fetched idea, right? Especially with everything in your past."

Arata drops his hands from the back of his neck. "So you want to be a therapist all of a sudden."

"More like a voice of reason." Arata lets out a "Tch" noise. "I've been with you for a long time. I know who you are, and I've seen what you've both gone through. I would even argue...that you're not happy." Folding his arms, he opens his eyes. "You've made your world small, Takashiro Arata. Maybe it's time that both of you hang around someone new."

"Tch," He wipes his forehead, "...You make it sound so easy."

"I think it's easier than you think it is." Arata takes a deep breath, "You have a right to be wary about the outside world, but I hope you take some time to think about what I said."

"...We'll see." The brunette lets out a soft sigh, "I'll stop acting pathetic now. Just, since when did you care so much?"

"You're my driver. It's my job to worry about your well-being. Besides, you have no one else to talk to."

Arata staggers back onto his feet. Before he can give one last retort, he is distracted by a voice nearby. "Do you want something from me?" Turning around the corner, two figures stare at each other in total silence. They then shout at each other.

"Glittering Star!"

"Glittering Star!"

A girl with dark pink hair spoke first, "I knew it. You're Sword Star?"

The strawberry blonde male in front of her creepily smirks in her direction, "I figured you were probably Manticore, too. What a coincidence."

"It's Marino and that pitcher...Takeo? What's going on?" Arata decides to get closer, "That chant...I think I've heard it before."

"Arata! I think it's The Crux!" Arata shhs Anaki before he goes to lean in from behind the closest tree.

"You used your first phase on the last few pitches. Didn't you?"

"So what? I thought it would be dull to lose to Galactic Man of Mystery's side, even at baseball." Takeo admits to Marino, "But what did it matter? They still pulled off a win...He definitely used his own first phase to do it."

"That tears it! Those two are members of The Crux!"

"So Takeo did fix the game first. I knew it." Arata mutters, "What a petty reason to use your powers."

Marino folds her arms, "So what you're admitting to me is, even in a cheaters' game, you'd still lose?" Takeo's smirk falls instantly. "Thanks to your antics, Galaxy Lying Eyes noticed your blunders and warned him. Man of Mystery injured himself to stop you."

"That's a good thing, isn't it? One down, three to go." Takeo shrugs, "Oh what? Are you mad that I roughed up your sister's boyfriend?" Marino closes her mouth. "Yo Mizuno, is really into Fujimoto Kazuma, huh? It must be tough to have a sister like that." Takeo slinks forward toward her, "It's almost like because of that, you have a soft spot for him. Please tell me I'm wrong about that...The new leader of The Crux, temporary or not...is actually worried about the enemy?"

"Leader? Temporary?" Arata blinks, connecting the dots. "But...Mizuno's sister...she can't be..."

"Hold on! If Mizuno's sister is the current leader, then doesn't that mean Little Niika was able to put the old leader out of commission?"

"Sounds like it. But still," Arata grips the trunk of the tree, "Marino being involved in all this... It doesn't sit right with me."

"If you think even for a second that I'd authorize you for battle, you're crazy." Marino stands her ground in front of her taunter. "Keep going with your insults. With your mistakes today, I'll make sure you'll never get to drive a cybody, Sword Star!"

Takeo grabs Marino by her right arm, "I'm the best driver you have. You will respect me!" He hisses, "You'll benefit from being on my good side Leader, before you're thrown to the wolves alone." He held her right hand to his lips, "If you tell on me, I'll tell on you. Manticore."

"That's it. I'm cutting in."

"Wait! Arata-kun!"

"Only the guilty speak like that, Takeo-san." Marino and Takeo whisk around to Arata who emerges seemingly out of nowhere. Surprised at being spied on or interrupted, both go completely silent. "What? I can't have scared you guys that bad." Both refuse to speak another word, now that an outsider has joined the conversation. "Well, seeing as to how uncomfortable I've made you guys, let me clear the tension for you." Arata lifts a peace sign to his face. "Glittering Star!"

"Glittering Star!" The two instinctively mimic Arata's gesture. They reel back defensively.

"Huh? You? You're not Crux! Y-Y-You're the enemy!" Takeo stutters.

"Um. I know what I am more than you would." Arata puts a hand on his hip.

"Oh yeah? Then what's your codename? And what division are you from? Galaxy Lying Eyes!"

"The answer to both of those is simple." Arata gives them a smirk of his own, "None of your business." Takeo lets out a loud "Tch!" noise. "What should be your business, is the way you're treating your new leader." Arata goes to stand beside Marino, who only glares in his direction. "How dare you speak to...Manticore, that way. Treat her with respect!"

"Listen here Lying Eyes! I'll treat anyone in my organization how I want. Manticore has no authority, she's just for show." Marino's glare changes direction, "You'd know that if you're really loyal to the Crux. Stay out of our business, you fake!"

Before Takeo can snatch Marino away Arata steps between them. He grabs Takeo's extended arm and skillfully pins it behind his back. "Now you listen here, Cheater." Arata's normal demeanor darkens. "I may not play a "hands-on" role in your organization, yet...so I'm sure my words mean nothing to you right now. But, if you take away anything from this conversation, let it be this. Today, not only did you foolishly use your powers to unnecessarily injure the Galactic Man of Mystery, but you also dared to disrespect your newly appointed superior. You've officially pissed me off." He tightens his grip on Takeo's arm, "...Insignificant Cur. From now on, you better keep both of their titles out of your pathetic piehole, if you want to appease me. Which is what you will do. Because if you don't, the person I will fight next in Zero Time, will be you." Takeo starts to retort but Arata pins his arm harder against his back. He holds back a groan of pain as the brunette finishes. "And trust me, if I fight you, I won't just make sure Manticore sees to it. I'll personally make sure you'll be stripped of your badge in the most humiliating way. You can count on it."

Though wincing in pain, Takeo laughs, "Takashiro Arata, you're a fool! You've only driven a cybody once! You think I'm afraid of the likes of you!?"

The tone of Arata's voice sharpens, "You Should Be." A chill goes down the strawberry blonde's spine. Arata turns him in Marino's direction. "Now apologize for your insolence."

"As if!" Takeo tries to wriggle away from Arata's hold. In doing so, he accidentally peers into Arata's face. He turns as pale as a ghost. The brunette male's blue eyes were as cold as ice, dark as night. The sheer horror of looking at a face with no shine to their eyes makes him cower in fear. Before Arata can press him again, Takeo reluctantly gives in on the spot. "Okay! I'm sorry for fixing the game! And for insulting you! I'll respect your position! Just don't let him hurt me!"

Arata threw Takeo away from him, "Dismissed. Loser."

"Takashiro A-Arata of class 1! You'll pay for this!"

"NOW." With gritted teeth, Takeo scurries away back towards the festivities.

"...Wooo! We need to get you a spot in the Drama Club's play, Arata-kun! What an act that was! Bravo!"

"Who said it was an act? I meant what I said, every word." Anaki gulps at his driver's words. "Marino-chan? Are you alright? Sorry. I stole away your chance to scold him. Don't think of me as white knighting, okay?" Marino's stare is cold and rigid. "That guy just really gives me bad vibes, you know? I have a habit of being extra cold to people I don't like. I hope I didn't scare you too bad." The girl's glare intensifies.

'...And I just ruined that potential friendship.'

"...You didn't." Arata hears Marino's faint response. "But-" Her tone of voice loudens, "I don't believe you." Before he can ask why, Marino folds her arms. "You're the enemy. Your driver's name is literally Galaxy Lying Eyes. You might have fooled him, but you won't fool me."

Arata visibly freezes, taking a moment to ponder his next response. "...Ah. I've been found out." He decides not to even try defending himself. "Really, if it was that easy to figure me out, you'd think he'd realize I was just spouting nonsense. But he was really scared haha. Only proves that he wouldn't last 10 seconds against me...if I was serious."

Marino scoffs, "Whatever you heard today, forget it."

"And what if I can't do that?" Marino stares daggers into Arata, who combs a hand through his hair nonchalantly. "Honestly, you'd think that if an outsider shows interest in your organization, one should be trying to recruit them right? Especially someone "supposedly" as "formidable" as myself, no?" Mid-sentence, Arata decides to get testy, stepping uncomfortably close to the girl who ever so clearly despises him. "I don't see a reason not to try and become your friend here. We could work well with each other."

"You're the enemy!" Marino shouts. Arata matches her harsh stare, tit for tat.

"Only because you make me out to be." Up until now, it had felt as if Marino could hold her ground in the conversation with Arata. However, once Arata locked eyes with her, like before with Takeo, the girl became uneasy. His uncanny blue eyes which held no shine, evoke an emotion she rarely felt. Fear. "Trust me, I wouldn't just say this to anyone. Maybe you should heed my words before you never get the chance again, Manticore." But unlike before, just as quickly as Arata let lose his terrifying face, it loosens into an easy-going smile. "But you're fierce. And I like that...So maybe I will offer you more chances than most. Who's to say?" Marino's expression fills with confusion and slight panic. "Let's table this for now. First, I need you to trust me, so I can trust you. In fact..." Arata finally cuts away from her to eye a nearby refreshment stand. "You want to get some popsicles?" Marino instinctively leans backward, "What? Too sudden? I promise I won't eat you." He jokes as innocently as he can muster. When Arata touches her shoulder it's met with a light static shock. He doesn't care. "I feel like you need a venter. And I want to get to know you better...So let's talk."

The males of the usual group all line up against the counter of the Southern Cross Isle ice cream shop in town near Kazuma's place. They one by one take turns buying their preferred scoop flavor. While waiting, it is he, who decides to start the male gossiping session. "So you mean to tell ME...That you, the hottest guy in our year, went on a date, UNPROVOKED, with THE hottest girl in our year?" Kazuma turns to his right, "No offense, Sugata."

"On behalf of my fiance, I'll respectfully agree to disagree with that statement. For my own wellbeing." The bluenette nonchalantly swallows his scoop of strawberry.

"And well...Niika's her own category of cute...right Takuto-kun?" Arata shoots a glare his way and the redhead decides to plead the fifth, devouring his scoop of vanilla. He bites his spoon, getting a brain freeze. Kazuma is handed his own scoop of chocolate with sprinkles. "Marino is practically THE most sought-after girl at this school. Aside from Ms. Watanabe of course. But she's too easy..."

Arata digs at his scoop of mint chocolate chip. "You're praising this girl an awful lot. Is she really that popular all of a sudden?"

"Dude have you seen her?!" Kazuma laces an arm around Arata's shoulder, "She smart. She's athletic. She has a nice body..."

"But she also has no boobs." Sugata is lightly whacked on the back of the head by Arata.

"And to top it all off, she's got tsundere vibes. Wife material."

"Tsun-what?"

"She's all hot one minute and cold the next. All the best waifus are."

"Well if this girl is such a catch in your eyes, why not go after her instead of her sister?"

"Oh don't dare misunderstand! A Queen worthy of respect is worth the appreciation. But in my eyes, there's only one for me. Thou finds that he needs not a Queen, but a fairy who's far more worthy of protection!"

"Tell me again why we hang around you to hear your nonsense." As they all ready themselves to exit the store, Arata pushes down on Kazuma's head with an elbow. "You sound ridiculous, you know that?"

"Besides, he could never bag Marino. She'd reject him before he could open his mouth." Takuto mutters with his spoon still in his mouth.

"You shut up! I like Mizuno! End of discussion!" Kazuma exclaims, "My point is...today's little surprise hangout is probably the start of something great! I can feel it! Everyone was talking about you two, coasting all over the field day zone together. Y'all looked official!"

"Ugh. We just getting acquainted. Why does it have to mean a date?" Arata groans while politely holding the door for the bros. "You live for the drama."

"Uh uh! I'm serious! As much as I hate the thought of you suddenly getting close to my girl's twin sister, I think the two of you go well together. You're each other's match! Parallels!" Kazuma holds up his arms in an exaggerated gesture. His ice cream dangerously leans to one side of his cup. "Back me up on this, Sugata."

"He has a point. You both have quite a bit in common. In the end, though, it is your choice, Takashiro-kun."

"Then you guys can put a pin in it. I'm not planning to date Yo Marino." Arata finishes his cup and drops it in the trash can outside. "The only one I need is already right by my side." The three other boys look at each other in confusion before sharing a look of realization and then sporting bored frowns.

"Sis con."

"Sis con."

"Sis con much?"

sukitooru kisetsu ga suki

kaze ga mata netsu wo tsurete kuru

nansenkai mo megutte, nanmankai mo kagayaku

sou yatte hikari ga umareru

FAR AWAY...

"Wait! Sword Star!"

"I'll show you, woman! This fight is mine! Open the cybercasket! APPRIVOISE!"

Walking over to the bench where the girls were, Takuto squeezes the trash in his hands. "Being able to banter like this...does this mean we're boys now?"

"Boys? As in friends?"

"Yeah."

"Friends..." Arata mutters. He suddenly stops in place. Kazuma, who was behind him drops his ice cream when colliding with Arata's back.

"Dam-mit..." His curse trails off as he notices time seems to be still.

Everyone's marks glow. Arata pats Kazuma's back, "I'll buy you another one."

"Zero Time." Wako mutters, letting Niika lean on her shoulder as she clutches her chest. Niika's eyes glow a bright green.

"The door to another dimension...has been opened."

"That is one, UGLY cybody."

"What do you mean? Nothing wrong with a little chub."

"You guys are fools for this one."

"Huh? But I think this one looks like the coolest one yet though?"

"Niika-chan, don't compliment the enemy." The four legendary star drivers stare up at the large black, metal fortress of a cybody towering above them.

"So who has dibs this time?"

"Just who's inside that thing?"

"Does it matter?"

"Bastard!" A loud shout echoes from the enemy driver. "I, Sword Star, am here now! Come out and face me! I'll prove how much of a coward you really are! Right in front of Manticore!"

"Manticore?"

"Who's that?"

"I thought that name was on reserve...Could they have really added a new driver?"

"...We'll see about that." Hiding his face, Arata unintentionally cracks a wide, creepy-looking grin when he tries to hide his laugh. "He's mine!" A golden light emits from Arata's mark. The other three clear the way. The light shines brighter, "APPRIVOISE!" Arata quickly disappears within it.

BOOM!

An earthquake occurs in the ground below.

BOOM! BOOM!

Seconds later with a sudden jolt, a balled fist emerges from the cracks in the floor, followed by an arm and a body. A cybody. The cybody struggles slightly to push its body up and out of the hole but stands tall after letting the debris settle. With a similar thin frame as the other legendary cybodies, this one is bright gold and shimmers with silver accents. It deconstructs itself in the places it needs to unfold. A long metal tail unravels from behind. Sharp metal claws protrude from its hands and feet, preventing the cybody from standing flat on the ground. Silver plates appear on the cybody's shoulders and chest. A red orb appears in the center, revealing Arata as he transforms. "A Roaring Gateway!" Contrasting with his cybody, a white bullfighter-like outfit with silver trimmings generates onto his body. At the flick of his hand, he brushes away an orange side cape pinned to his left shoulder. "Galaxy Lying Eyes!" He combs his hair back in one swift motion, his brunette locks becoming completely golden blonde. His hands glide across his face in opposing directions. A silver-and-gold accented, orange masquerade-like eye mask frames his irises and Arata gives a small wink. "Join me, ANAKI!" Arata lifts his white-gloved fist in the air, and the cybody strikes the same pose. Its blue glowing eyes blaze like a fire.

"Aw man! It feels good to be back!" Anaki's voice resounds through the space, "You'll pay for challenging my driver, Peasant!

"Well said, Anaki." Arata says in agreement. "His name was Sword Star, was it? How lame..." He raises his fists so that the cybody appears ready to fight. "Prepare to be humiliated!"

"You smug bastard." Sword Star growls from inside his tin can behemoth of a cybody. "Star Sword, Grenat!" A gold energy sword materializes in the cybody's right hand. "Let's do this Zayinas!"

Arata throws out his left hand at his side. "Prism Orb, Aka!" Red energy travels in a spiral down his arm, forming a sphere around his left hand. It brightens with a gripped fist. He throws out his right arm, "Prism Orb, Orenji!" Orange energy travels in a spiral down his arm, forming a sphere around his right hand. It also brightens with a gripped fist. Arata bangs his fists together. "Do your worst!"

"Don't get so cocky, Arata-kun!" Kazuma shouts from above in a harsh tone.

"This is only his second time driving. Based on his confidence, you would think he's a pro." Takuto sweatdrops.

"Oh Onii-chan..." Niika can only mutter.

"This isn't the baseball field!" Sword Star drives Zayinas, making the first move. With star sword in hand, he takes a swing at Anaki. Anaki immediately blocks with its fists. "In Zero Time, anything goes!"

"It's a shame really." Anaki breaks contact with Grenat with a medium jab. "No rules are stopping me from embarrassing you!"

"We'll see about that." Zayinas slides backward from the force of Anaki's counterattack. It steadies itself. "Zayinsphere!" A red ball of light appears in front of the larger cybody. It maniacally starts flying around it in a circle, gaining speed with each lap it makes.

"There it is. Zayinsphere, Sword Star's one-trick pony party trick." Kazuma grunts with folded arms, "Be wary, Arata! That thing can reach an insane speed!"

"Would you relax, Little Kazuma?" Anaki babbles, "He's my driver. You think he's gonna let one little ball take him d-TEHEH! AaaAh!" Zayinas uses Grenat to bat Zayinsphere forward as a shooting projectile. It hits Anaki right between the eyes. "Zayinas! That hurts! Apologize!"

Arata grunts as Zayinsphere makes another sharp smack into Anaki. "I don't think he's going to answer you. Get a grip on yourself, Anaki!"

"The guy apprivoised just to pilot a cybody that won't listen to his own commands! What was he thinking?" Takuto mutters.

Wako looks behind her towards Sugata, "Don't even think about using the King's pillar! Besides, first-phase powers can't defeat Cybodies."

"I wasn't." Sugata insists, "I believe in my friend. The power of friendship is all he needs."

Takuto gives his side eye, "You aren't going to let that go, are you?"

Anaki attempts to block Zayinsphere from the front, but the ball changes course and instead attacks Anaki in the back. Taking advantage, it bangs the cybody all around like a ragdoll. "It's really moving around on its own! Like the baseball from earlier today!"

"Duh! That's how telekinesis works, Arata-kun! And you were telling me to get my head in the game!"

"Ugh!" Anaki is knocked down on one knee. "Without a body, I really can't tell where it's going at all!"

"Watch me, Manticore!" Sword Star shouts, "He's nothing but a fraud! I'll finish him right here and now!" Without warning, Zayinsphere multiplies into 4 different red energy balls.

"There's more of them!?" Takuto shouts.

Sugata claps his hand in prayer, "The power of friendship..."

Arata does his best to counter with even fewer openings to attack. He returns one ball, sending it flying, and defends against another. But the other two only knock into him, knocking Anaki off balance.

"It's no use. Arata's swinging too wildly with no clear target!" Kazuma stretches out his hand and his mark glows purple, "I'll have to take over~"

"Wait!" Niika's Zero Time bubble connects with Kazuma's, "Give my brother a chance!"

"Arata isn't driving Anaki right! At this rate, the force of Zayinsphere in its prime form will rip Anaki to shreds!" Kazuma shouts back, "He's a natural mark user. He'll die Niika!" Niika let out a gasp as if she hadn't realized the risk. "I'm not gonna let him die trying to be a show off in front of this jerk!"

The bluenette prays harder, "Friendship...Friendship..."

"Sugata-kun..."

The unrecognizable masked girl from before, Manticore, opens her fan and lifts it to her face. "Are you done? Is that all you've got, Galaxy Lying Eyes? Disappointing."

"Stupid human! I want to see them try to dodge all these damn balls!" Anaki whines.

"Heheh! Had enough of being embarrassed?" Sword Star sends Zayinsphere plunging into Anaki from multiple angles—the balls bounce Anaki around like a pinball. Anaki flies backward yards away from Zayinas. Not once had it had a chance to attack Zayinas itself. "If I knew it would've been this easy, I would've proposed defeating you, then capturing the South maiden!"

"You'd have to deal with us first! You bully!" Niika shouts, "Shut up! My brother will beat you!"

"Just keep your eyes on the opponent in front of you!" Kazuma hisses.

Arata gasps. It was as if a lightbulb lit inside his brain. "Yes...Keep your eyes...in front of you..." Anaki raises his left fist. Prism Orb Aka resonates around it. "...Katami, Wakachita, Yagadanse."

"Huh?"

"What?"

"The heck?"

Manticore physically takes a step back in her bubble, "W-What did he say?"

"The "it'll be okay" spell. My friend's girlfriend taught it to me." Arata tilts his head to the side, "Katami, Wakachita, Yagadanse. Everything will be alright~"

"He's lost it."

"He's cracked."

"It's over."

"Ehehehe."

"Kazuma! Thank your girlfriend for this one! I've figured out what I wanted to do! Thanks for waiting patiently, Sword Star!"

"Enough of this. Smash him to pieces!" Sword Star growls. The 4 red balls charge toward Anaki again, all traveling in parallel paths.

'All I needed was to calm myself down and reassess. He's gonna get it now.' Anaki points in Zayinas's direction. A blue sparkle shines in its eyes, "You lost the moment you made this a battle of the mind~" Before Zayinsphere could attack again, Anaki seems to phase out of view in mere seconds. The balls stop in place, having lost their target.

"He vanished!?" Everyone thinks in unison. Some say it aloud, some don't.

"Where did he go!?" Sword Star looks around. "Going for a sneak attack? Well, I'll just have to defend you from all sides! Zayinsphere!" The balls fly to surround Zayinas. Each at a different angle, they all travel in circles, creating four separate rings of protection. "Try plowing through this!"

Arata's voice echoes throughout Zero Time.

"Katami, Wakachita, Yagadanse."

"Katami, Wakachita, Yagadanse."

Anaki seems to appear from above about to slam downward into Zayinas with his fists. "You crazy fool! I'd like to see you crash right into Zayinas now!"

"No, you idiot!" Manticore screams, "He's not above you!" Sword Star flinches.

"Katami, Wakachita..."

In a flash, Anaki phases out from view once again. Arata chuckles in a soft voice. "Look out below." Zayinas's head turns to the ground, and Anaki's shadow completely engulfs the ground beneath it. "YAGADANSE!" Anaki's arms erupt from the ground, dragging Zayinas thick pillars for legs into the Zero Time floor.

"What the hell!?" Now stuck, Sword Star was too absorbed with the state of his cybody to even think of defending himself with Zayinsphere. "He was in the ground?!"

"Never trust your eyes when it comes to me." Arata puts a finger to his cheek, "Don't you know who I am? It's in the name."

"Do it now Arata!"

Anaki plunges out of the ground high into the air, "Galactic...Rolling Thunder!" Slamming its hands together, Anaki bangs its fist into the ground with a loud boom. The space in the direction Anaki was aiming became a violent wave of vibration in the ground shattering Zayinas into pieces. As he turns away from the mess, an explosion erupts. Anaki looks back at the scene just before Zero Time disappears.

"Oh thank god." Wako grabs her chest in relief. "What does yoga dancing have to do with it though?"

"The power of friendship wins again." Sugata claps. Takuto sweatdrops.

"Seriously? It doesn't get more showoff than that." Kazuma briefly seems to crack a smile at Arata's antics. Niika stares down at Anaki in awe.

"You're so cool, Onii-chan!"

The next day, Kazuma walks through the back of Southern Cross Island Library. He stops upon seeing the brunette male lying on the ground with a book on his face. "Is it my turn to call you Sleeping Beauty?"

"Only if you want a jab to the face. And don't even think about kissing me."

"I-!" Kazuma jumps back defensively, "I WAS NOT GOING TO-"

A laugh erupts from under the book. Arata pulls it away from his face, "It was a joke. Will you relax?" Arata's blue eyes open, "You clearly won't let me rest until you say what you want. Go on already." He says, insisting with a shooing hand.

"...Mizuno told me about Sw-...Takeo bothering Marino. I put together that you chose to pay him back by beating him in Zero Time right?" Arata looks up at the ceiling without a word, "What you did yesterday...was completely and utterly unnecessary." Kazuma's eyebrow twitches, "Nonetheless, you won. Just don't do flashy anything like that again. Zero Time isn't a game. You were way too reckless!"

"You're one to talk."

"I-! Well-!" Kazuma falls short of finishing that sentence. With a sigh, he plops down beside Arata. "I'm serious. You barely know what you're doing. If you hadn't pulled it off today, you could've been severely hurt or worse! You have to take driving a cybody more seriously!" Kazuma hesitates and his eyes grow cold. "And don't listen to Anaki. Even if it is super loud and annoying you. Trust yourself over that thing. I don't want you to end up dying because you lost control."

"...Losing control huh?" Arata briefly looks over at Kazuma from the corner of his eyes. "You know, Anaki talks a lot, but it really does feel like it knows what it's doing." He looks back at the ceiling before Kazuma can turn to catch his gaze. "To you guys, it seems to babble on and on about nothing. I feel that way too most of the time. But, at least in Zero Time, it feels like their more focused than I am. I'm the one, who has to get it together and get things done." Arata props his hands behind his head. "I'll tell you a secret. The truth is a lot of the time, Anaki is actually pretty quiet deep down inside my head. The one... always provoking a response from him, is me." Kazuma's green eyes fill with concern. Arata suddenly sits up. "I guess he and I just need to learn to be on the same wavelength or something like that. Right, Anime Boy?" He slaps Kazuma on the back, expecting him to be caught off guard and screech. Instead, the whitenette's eyes fall in shadow behind his bangs.

"If he gets to be too much for you...will you at least tell me?" Arata lets the moment linger before giving an answer.

"Sure thing, Snow White." He ruffles his hair. It's then Kazuma cracks a smile.

"So... "friend's girlfriend". We are technically friends now yeah?"

"Huh? Who said that?" Arata checks the time on his cell phone. He stands up offering a hand to Kazuma.

"Uh, you did. In Zero time." Kazuma takes it and stands beside him.

"No. Not sure that occurred." Arata claims while stretching.

"Well, we all heard you. You even shouted at me!"

"Picture or video, or it didn't happen."

"What! That's not fair!"

"Alls fair in love and war."

"What does love or war have to do with this?!"

Arata laughs, "Who knows." He says with a smile.

Kazuma slaps his forehead in frustration, "Just...Thanks for defending Mizuno's sister's honor. Even if she may or may not know it."

"Nah, I just did what I wanted. That's all." Arata chuckles some more, "Let's get out of here~"

BZZZZT! BZZZZT!

Arata's phone rings. "That's strange. No caller ID."

"It's that the burner phone you got from Sugata?"

"Yeah, no one else should know this number." Arata swipes left, accepting the call. "Hello?"

"..."

"Hello? Sugata?"

"...I'm on my way."

Arata stops breathing.

"...I'll be there soon. Finish making the preparations. Be ready when I get there."

Not waiting for Arata's response, the call ends without another word.

"Who was it? Arata-kun?" Kazuma turns to face the frozen brunette. "Hey, you okay? You're pale as a ghost!"

"Yes...Everything...will be." Arata reluctantly mutters, letting his eyes fall shut. "Katami...Wakachita..."

"...Yagadanse."

And so the adventure of life goes on.