"Are you absolutely certain that splitting up is the right move?" Alexei asked, his voice trembling with anxiety. Hikaru caught sight of the flame haired man wringing his hands, a clear sign of his distress.
"While I have my reservations about whether this is truly a wise decision," Hikaru replied gently, his tone soothing, yet firm, "You and Alena are twins. The bond you share runs deeper than the bond between any of us. You've known each other longer than anyone else here. It makes sense to stay close to those we know best. Besides, we'll all end up in the same place eventually."
Alena nodded in agreement, her expression a mix of determination and concern, yet Alexei still appeared unconvinced, doubt shadowing his features.
Kasai, leaning against a nearby pole with an air of nonchalance, rolled his eyes slightly in irritation. He turned to face the rest of the group, his voice dripping with a casual arrogance. "Why does it even matter? We'll be fine. We're all grown-ass adults here, we're very capable of taking care of ourselves."
Hikaru shot him a warning glare, silently urging him to tone it down, but he knew better than to expect any change from Kasai. The man had a knack for being abrasive, his harsh nature often overshadowing any sensible discourse.
Alexei's expression flickered, and for a moment, it seemed he was about to break down in tears. But, before Hikaru could muster the patience to snap at Kasai without using profanities, he felt a sudden, crushing, warmth envelop him.
"Be careful… and promise me that you'll find us again!" Alexei's voice was muffled as he clung to Hikaru, his grip like a vise. The intensity of the embrace made Hikaru wince, and it felt like his ribs might crack under the pressure.
Hikaru steadied himself, trying to provide some comfort in the face of Alexei's obvious nervousness. "I promise, Alexei. We won't lose each other," he assured, feeling the weight of the moment and the responsibility he bore for his friends' safety.
As the vice-like grip finally loosened, and Alexei began to leave, Hikaru offered the twins a small wave, a warm smile of encouragement stretching across his face. He watched carefully as they took off in a sprint toward their car that was parked a few meters away.
Their plan was simple.
Hikaru and Kasai would board the Northbound train toward the Capital, while Alexei and Alena would drive to the nearby protest.
Their strategy was to wreak havoc, utilizing Alexei's ability, and ensuring that security would have to intervene and capture them.
Regardless of what routes they took, both pairs would ultimately converge in the Capital; they just needed to create enough distance between them to avoid raising suspicions about the established bond of their friendship.
This deliberate distance would allow them to forge a stronger alliance within the games that lay ahead, with the game masters not knowing that they had past ties.
Hikaru let out a soft sigh as the bitingly cold air whipped against his cheeks, leaving them tinged with a rosy flush that felt like a hornet's nest had attacked him.
Beside him, Kasai appeared to be wholly unaffected by the frigid wind, his coat flapping slightly, but his expression remaining stoic—a fact that only served to irritate Hikaru more.
As the duo began making their way toward the light-rail station, a faint tapping sound caught Hikaru's attention.
Curiosity piqued, he turned his head to find Kasai once again engrossed in a hologram, his fingers deftly clicking and swiping through swirling images and data. "Kasai?" Hikaru whispered questionably, his tone laced with intrigue. "If we're about to throw ourselves into the lion's den, it's best we come prepared," Kasai's voice was blunt and unwavering.
"Why didn't you think to do this when the twins were still here?" Hikaru murmured, confusion evident in his furrowed brow.
"It's just… if I'm being honest, I still don't fully trust them," Kasai admitted, his voice steady yet edged with uncertainty.
Hikaru studied his comrade's face, searching for any hint of deceit, but finding only a depth of sincerity in those sharp, focused eyes.
"They literally saved us and nursed us back to health for months, yet you still don't trust them?" Hikaru pushed back, his tone laced with incredulity and accusation. Kasai's jaw clenched imperceptibly, but he chose not to respond, redirecting his attention to the hologram glowing before him, casting soft blue light on his features.
"What are you even doing…?" Hikaru inquired quietly, curiosity tinged with concern.
"Dark magic," Kasai replied bluntly, his expression serious, and to Hikaru's surprise, devoid of sarcasm this time.
The air between them felt charged, heavy with unsaid words and unaddressed fears as they continued onward, the distant glow of the station flickering like a beacon in the cold night.
"And what exactly is this so-called 'dark magic' supposed to do?" Hikaru muttered incredulously, his brow furrowing as he adjusted his bangs, which had been tousled by the wind for what felt like the hundredth time.
Luckily, with his hair dyed, cut differently, and his eyes obscured by contact lenses, it was highly unlikely that he would be recognized.
He had carefully followed several semi-permanent makeup tutorials to transform his appearance, altering his softer features to give him a slightly sharper look. By elongating the lower outer corner of his eyes with a delicate application of henna, he had managed to create an illusion of larger, more expressive eyes.
"It's quite straightforward, really. It essentially grants us a series of 'buffs,' similar to those found in video games. We'll experience enhanced stamina, strength, speed, and even accelerated healing for any injuries until we manage to bring Alena back into the fold," Kasai explained, his tone casual.
Hikaru's jaw dropped slightly at this revelation, uncertainty flooding his mind. "Are you absolutely sure this won't just… screw up our bodies? I mean, dark magic was banned for a reason," he sighed, stepping onto the escalator alongside Kasai, his mind still swirling with apprehension.
"There's no definitive answer to that, but we need every advantage we can get until we have our healer back. You never know what challenges we might come across on the way to the games. From what I've gathered through my research, they're going to be assessing our elemental capabilities with AI. Luckily, considering our elemental strength, there's no way we wouldn't qualify for those games," Kasai replied confidently.
Hikaru nodded reluctantly, stepping off the escalator as they arrived at the waiting area adjacent to the train track.
He glanced around the station, marveling at its gleaming white tiles and cleanliness; it was almost… sterile looking.
As he shifted slightly out of the way of a cleaning bot whirring past, he caught sight of Kasai, who was dressed in sleek tech wear paired with a cropped leather jacket. Kasai eyed the robots with disdain, as though they were something unpleasant stuck to the sole of his shoe.
"Train is approaching: Matrix, station. Matrix, station," a robotic woman's voice announced over the loudspeaker, echoing through the pristine space.
"What's up with you?" Hikaru teased, poking Kasai gently in the arm, amusement dancing in his eyes. "This place is about as dull as a hospital, and it's the same color as one too," he continued, evident distaste coloring his tone.
Hikaru was on the verge of laughter, but before he could articulate his thoughts, a powerful gust of wind swept through the station as the train barreled past, slowing to a halt at the platform.
Hikaru had always known trains could be fast, but this one seemed to defy all standards he was accustomed to hearing about.
"Woah…" he breathed, desperately fixing his hair once more, the wild strands barely complying. This time, even Kasai remained oddly quiet, a hint of intrigue lighting up his usually stoic features as the corners of his lips quirked upward.
Was that… a smile?
Once the train finally screeched to a complete stop for them to hop onto, the sudden halt sent a ripple of anticipation through Hikaru, who bounced excitedly on his tippy toes, his wide eyes reflecting the thrill of a new experience.
It was a stark contrast to the customary luxury of being chauffeured by his family's royal drivers.
As the excitement welled over, he instinctively hooked his arm with Kasai's, who, to Hikaru's surprise, didn't pull away.
As they navigated through the bustling crowd to find some open seats, they braced themselves for the journey ahead, the faint hum of conversations and the scent of metal and polished marble swirling around them.
A jerk, a creak.
"Did you hear that..?" Hikaru leaned closer to Kasai, whispering as the train lurched forward, his brow furrowed in concern. He could feel the vibrations beneath his feet, and a sensation that felt distinctly off.
"I did… This thing is supposed to be known for being a smooth ride. Something feels off," Kasai replied, his voice low and tense as he fished his phone from his pocket, fingers deftly tapping the screen to search for information about the train's reliability.
The moment was shattered when the train jolted violently, and Hikaru's heart raced. "What the hell was that!?" he exclaimed, his voice rising in shock as the passengers around them exchanged bewildered glances, a murmur of worry spreading like wildfire. People hastily pulled out their phones, some fumbling to make urgent calls, while a sense of unease pervaded the air.
Hikaru grasped a nearby pole to steady himself as the ride became increasingly erratic, the train shaking as if it were a leaf caught in a storm. "I don't like this," Kasai growled, his eyes narrowing as the lights flickered ominously above, casting unsettling shadows on the faces of their fellow travelers. The scent of anxiety hung heavy, mingling with the metallic tang of the train, and Hikaru's stomach twisted in apprehension, knowing instinctively that something was very wrong.