Part 1: The Bruised Hero
When Takuto and Kaori stepped inside the house, they were immediately met by the piercing gazes of Ayano, Aoi, and Hana, who were waiting in the living room. Everyone was stunned to see a prominent red bruise—the clear mark of a punch—on Takuto's cheek.
Hana: "Onii-chan! What happened to your face? Were you in a fight? Who dared to lay a hand on my brother!"
Hana rushed over in concern, cupping Takuto's face to examine the injury. Beside her, Aoi discreetly activated her Void Oculus, scanning for any lingering traces of an enemy's power.
Takuto: (Awkwardly scratching his head) "Ah... no, it's not that. It was just... an accident during training..."
Before he could finish, Kaori averted her eyes, muttered "Idiot" under her breath, and bolted into her room. Seeing her reaction, everyone immediately realized that something unusual had happened.
As soon as Kaori disappeared, Ayano's eyes lit up with mischief. She stepped forward, cornering Takuto. Hana crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes suspiciously, while Aoi leaned in, her curiosity piqued.
Ayano: "Now then... Takuto-kun. Tell us the truth. Why was Kaori so embarrassed that she had to punch you? We know it wasn't just 'training.'"
Hana: "Exactly, Onii-chan! You did something, didn't you? Otherwise, Kaori-san wouldn't be this angry."
Breaking into a cold sweat and realizing there was no escape, Takuto squeezed his eyes shut, took a deep breath, and confessed in a low voice.
Takuto: "It's... we both fell while training. And... my hand accidentally... because of the momentum... I ended up grabbing her... right breast."
The living room fell into a dead silence. Aoi's face flushed bright red as she looked away, but Ayano's eyebrows arched, and her expression instantly shifted into a seductive grin.
Ayano: (Leaning closer to Takuto with a smirk) "Oh... so that's how it was. Honestly, Takuto-kun. Was it really worth getting punched for a 'mistake' like that? If you wanted to touch someone... you have me right here. I'd even let you do it for free..."
She traced her fingers lightly across Takuto's chest and gave him a playful wink. Takuto's face and ears turned a deep shade of crimson.
Suddenly, Kaori, who they thought was hiding in her room, flung the door open. Having overheard everything, her face was a mix of fury and embarrassment. She lunged at Ayano and delivered a swift chop to her head.
Bonk!
Ayano: "Ouch! That hurts, Kaori!"
Kaori: "You perverted woman! What do you think you're doing, seducing him?! And you're just as bad... both of you are shameless!"
Fuming, Kaori dragged Ayano into her room. Watching them go, Hana asked with pure innocence, "What's wrong with touching, Onii-chan? It's just skin contact..."
Takuto could only sigh, unable to find an answer.
Later that night, long after the girls' voices had faded, Takuto found himself unable to sleep. To clear his mind, he stepped out into the quiet street.
The air was cool and the surroundings silent. However, his nerves tightened instantly when he spotted a figure standing under the shadow of a tree at the end of the road.
Takuto: "Who's there!"
Takuto immediately braced himself and activated Step 1: Phoenix Gaze. His eyes glowed a vibrant red as he pierced through the darkness to see the stranger.
The figure stepped into the light. It was Ryu—the youth with white hair and crimson eyes. Carrying a backpack, he walked toward Takuto with a calm demeanor.
Ryu: "Your senses have improved quite a bit, Takuto. But I'm not here to fight."
Takuto: (Keeping his Phoenix Gaze active) "Who are you? Why are you following me?"
Part 2: The Cryptic Warning
Ignoring the interrogation, Ryu spoke in a cold, steady tone.
Ryu: "Within the next week, you and your family must stay extremely vigilant. The Fallen Eclipse won't give up easily. They have found your weakness."
Takuto: "Weakness? What do you mean?"
Ryu offered no answer. Instead, he looked up at the brilliant full moon. For a moment, a trace of melancholy flickered in his red eyes as they reflected the moonlight.
Ryu: "The moon is beautiful tonight... take a look."
Drawn by Ryu's strange behavior, Takuto reflexively glanced up at the sky. It only took a second, but when he looked back down...
The space in front of him was empty. Ryu had vanished. Not even a footprint remained—only the sound of the wind whispering down the street.
Takuto: (Deactivating Phoenix Gaze) "That guy... who is he really? And why is he helping me?"
With a heavy heart and lingering questions, Takuto looked at the moon one last time before heading back inside.
As Takuto retreated into the house, he didn't notice a curtain on the second floor flickering shut.
Hana stood in the dark, her amber eyes glowing. She had witnessed the entire encounter between Ryu and Takuto.
(Hana's Thoughts): 'Ryu... so you warned Onii-chan too. Next week... we don't have much time left. We need to prepare.'
Back in his room, Takuto pulled out his smartphone. He opened the encrypted communication app used by Crimson Aegis and sent a message to Mika Lizumi.
Takuto: "Lizumi-san... I received a warning from a strange person tonight. The Fallen Eclipse will make a move within a week. Please inform Shizune-sama. We will be ready on our end."
A moment later, a brief reply came from Mika.
Mika: "Received. I will inform the Leader. Takuto-sama... please take care. Guardians will be positioned near you."
The next morning, despite the pleasant sunlight, a strange tension hung over the breakfast table. Takuto, having lacked sleep, had dark circles under his eyes and was lost in thought.
Ayano watched him while eating her toast. She suddenly smiled mischievously.
Ayano: "Oh my, Takuto-kun. What were you doing so intensely outside last night to look this tired? Or... were you just daydreaming about your 'accident' with Kaori?"
Kaori's face reddened. "Ayano! Just eat your food!" she snapped, though she, too, looked at Takuto with concern.
Aoi: (Softly) "Nii-san... is something wrong? Can we help?"
Takuto: "Ah... no. I just couldn't sleep well. Don't worry about it."
Though Takuto tried to hide it, Hana continued eating her fried eggs as if she knew nothing. However, beneath the table, her hand gripped her phone tightly, waiting for a signal from Ryu.
After breakfast, as they prepared for school, Takuto pulled Kaori aside.
Takuto: "Kaori... keep a sharp eye on everyone today, at school and on the way back. I feel like something is coming."
Kaori's expression turned serious. "Understood. I'll signal you immediately if I notice anything unusual."
The five of them headed out, but beneath the surface of their daily lives, a massive storm was beginning to brew.
Part 3: The Throne of Shadows
The scene shifted to the desolate and perpetually dark secret base of the Fallen Eclipse. In the center of a grand, somber hall, the leader, Kage, sat upon a stone throne, his presence shrouded in chilling shadows.
Standing before the throne was Shina, her Electro Flash Eye flickering with faint blue sparks. Beside her stood a man as massive as a mountain.
This was Baltos (The Stone Eye). His grey eyes were as cold as lifeless rock, and every step he took made the floor tremble.
Kage: (In a voice that commanded fear) "Lyra's failure is a loss. But we cannot falter in our quest for the 'Eternal Darkness'."
Baltos: (His voice booming) "Don't worry, My Lord. I will turn that boy Takuto and his friends into stone statues with a single glare. Their Stella Flow will be a feast for me."
Shina: (Frowning) "Baltos... you're too impulsive. Crimson Aegis is protecting that boy. You must be careful."
Baltos: (With a mocking smirk) "They should be the ones being careful. You know no blade can pierce my stone body."
Kage: "Enough! Shina... continue your surveillance at the school. Baltos... prepare to eliminate them all within the week. To break Takuto's spirit, target his sisters first."
Baltos let out a terrifying laugh that sounded like stones grinding together, his grey eyes filled with bloodlust.
As they spoke, the massive iron doors of the hall groaned open. A cold draft swept in as two figures emerged from the shadows. They had just returned from a high-priority mission.
Kage: "You've returned at the perfect time... Ren, Zero."
The first was Ren (The Silent Blade). She was slender, dressed in sleek black leather. Long hair covered half her face, but her visible eye was as sharp and cold as a predator's. A katana, longer than average, hung at her waist. She was an assassin who could move as silently as a ghost.
Behind her was Zero (The Brute Force), a man who hardly looked human. Standing over seven feet tall, his bare chest was covered in countless scars. His arms were as thick as tree trunks, and the floor cracked under his weight. He used no weapons, relying on his bare hands to crush steel into powder.
Zero: (His voice like heavy thunder from underground) "My Lord... we have returned. Whose bones shall I break this time?"
Ren: (Coldly stroking the hilt of her blade) "My blade is thirsty. Is this boy who defeated Lyra truly that strong?"
Kage: "Do not be careless. Within that boy's eyes lies the 'Unfettered Darkness' we desire. Baltos will lead the frontal assault. You two will observe and capture his sisters when the opportunity arises."
Ren gave a slight nod and vanished back into the shadows. Zero slammed his fists together, creating a sonic pop in the air, and turned his menacing gaze toward the city where Takuto lived.
Amidst the tactical discussion, Shina stood to the side, a strange smile playing on her lips. She had no intention of truly helping the others. What she wanted was to defeat Takuto herself, to see him kneel at her feet, and to claim his brilliant eyes for herself.
Ever since her last encounter with Takuto, the intensity of his Stella Flow had left her heart racing. She had decided then that she wouldn't let him fall into anyone else's hands. She would capture him and pull him into the darkness herself.
(Shina's Thoughts): 'Takuto... I won't let anyone else kill you. Your power, your pained eyes... they must belong to me. I'll bring you into the shadows before Baltos and Ren even get the chance.'
Small sparks of blue electricity flickered in her Electro Flash Eye. She bowed to Kage and left the hall ahead of the others.
Once outside, Shina looked at the sky, refining her plan. Though a member of Fallen Eclipse, her personal ambition was far greater.
Shina: "Next week... you will finally be mine, Takuto-kun."
She vanished into the dark forest with the speed of a lightning bolt. Behind her, the terrifying auras of Baltos, Ren, and Zero were already closing in on Takuto's peaceful city.
[END OF CHAPTER 29]