He slowly fluttered his eyes open. A gentle breeze brushed past him as the sun's rays warmed his fiery red eyes.
"Ah... I'm dreaming again."
He sat up, taking in his surroundings. A serene lake stretched out before him, and towering behind it was a snow-capped mountain.
Supporting himself with both hands, he settled comfortably.
"Dang... I want to climb that mountain."
Then, a thought struck him.
"Hoh! Miz-sama should be here!"
His eyes lit up as he sat back, waiting eagerly.
"It's been a while since I last saw her."
Itoshi got excited, maybe a little too excited, his mind flashed her curves.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed nearby.
"Please don't think of dirty things while we're here."
Startled, Itoshi shot up.
"Miz-sama!"
Miz let out a deep sigh.
"Jeez... I swear you used to get annoyed every time I show up... You also said you were going nuts because of me.."
She shrugged casually.
Itoshi scratched the back of his head, smiling sheepishly.
"Hehe."
She sighed again, then settled beside him. Both of them faced the mountains ahead.
"So... what's up?"
Itoshi asked.
"Hmm...? Ah..."
She exhaled softly.
"Something bad's about to happen, isn't it?"
Itoshi exhlaimed.
"What the hell! You're already jumping to that conclusion?!"
She shot back sharply.
"W-well, I guess that's true... But it's kind of my job as your guide, right? Itoshi-kun?"
"Y-yes..? Miz-sama..."
There was a peaceful silence between them as they sat together, the gentle wind brushing past, carrying the soft rustle of the grass. Itoshi took in the view before speaking again.
"Miz-sama?"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you doing this?"
He asked, his voice quieter this time.
She smiled, a calm warmth in her tone.
"If someone shows you kindness without expecting anything in return... try lowering your walls a little."
Itoshi didn't respond immediately.
"I have nothing particular to say or offer right now,"
she continued.
"I just want you to think about everything that's happened to you lately."
"Ah..."
Itoshi murmured, speechless.
"It was relieving, wasn't it?"
She asked gently.
"Y-yeah... Kara is such a fool... but I can finally say she's gotten stronger. I was scared, honestly... scared that things wouldn't go back to how they used to be..."
He paused, drawing in a deep breath.
"But thankfully, Kara has gotten strong. I'm content."
Miz's smile widened just slightly.
"That's good... A chance, right?"
Itoshi turned to her. He caught her looking directly at him, her gaze soft and unwavering. She sat gracefully in her long black dress, the grass brushing her legs.
One hand rested against her chin as she smiled.
"A... chance..."
Itoshi thought to himself.
A stronger breeze swept through the field, swaying Itoshi's deep blue hair and Miz's snow-white strands in the golden morning light.
Miz turned her gaze forward before slowly standing up. She casually brushed the grass off her dress, then looked back at him with a playful tone.
"You're feeling all well now, right?"
"Y-yeah... I guess?"
Itoshi replied, a bit unsure but more at ease.
Miz smiled brightly.
"Okay! Good! Then it's time for you to go back!"
Before Itoshi could respond, a gust of wind swept past him. The warm light around Miz began to blur.
"W-wait, already?"
"You'll be fine now."
She said with a gentle smile as her figure started to fade.
"W-wait! Miz-sama!"
Itoshi called out, reaching his hand toward her.
But she was already gone.
His surroundings started to dissolve—the mountain, the lake, the wind—until everything turned white.
And then—
Itoshi's eyes fluttered open.
Sunlight peeked through the curtains, warming his cheek. His breathing was calm. His hands were resting over his chest.
He turned his head slightly, staring at the ceiling.
"I still had questions.."
But the warmth from Miz's final smile lingered in his chest. Just for a moment, he allowed himself to relax, letting the memory stay a bit longer.
"Just who... truly is Miz-sama?"
He muttered aloud, lying on his futon as he stared at his right arm reaching toward the sky.
The morning sun brushed against his fingers as if trying to answer him—but it stayed silent. Just like always.
The warmth remained, but the questions only grew.
"Why do you keep showing up when I need it the most...?"
He thought to himself, eyes narrowing with a faint breath.
The feeling of familiarity with Miz was beginning to etch itself into Itoshi's heart.
Though a part of him wondered—half-jokingly—if he was just going insane, maybe even schizophrenic...
He chose instead to see her as something else.
Another familiar one.
His silence was quickly broken by the sound of someone clicking their tongue.
He tilted his head up from the futon—four pairs of legs stood around him.
It was Ayro, Kirashi, Ryujin, and Aldrin.
"Eh?..?"
he mumbled, still half-asleep.
"Jeez, Itoshi... Caught red-handed again."
Kirashi sneered.
"You just made up with Kara and you're already ruining it."
Aldrin teased.
Ayro clicked his tongue again and muttered under his breath,
"Hero's downfall caught in 4K..."
Still clueless, Itoshi blinked in confusion.
"W-why is my chest... heavy?"
He muttered. Then he froze. He slowly lowered his gaze.
And there she was—Jayu, sound asleep on his chest, peacefully sucking her thumb like a baby squirrel.
Itoshi's soul left his body.
"WHAT THE HELL!! NOT AGAIN!!"
His scream pierced through the entire apartment complex like a battle cry from hell itself.
Ayro, already walking off, groaned.
"Every single damn morning... I swear I'm gonna start sleeping on the roof."
Kirashi leaned to Aldrin, whispering with a grin,
"Y'think we should sketch this in the records? Or just draw it later for the laughs?"
Aldrin smirked.
"We should hang it in the war room. Title it 'The Hero's Curse.'"
Ryujin silently turned away, rubbing his temple.
"This is why I gave up on peace and quiet."
Meanwhile, Jayu clung tighter to Itoshi's shirt, still deep in her dream.
"He-ro... warm..." she murmured with a soft smile, nomming on her thumb like a toddler.
Itoshi stared at the ceiling with the dead eyes of a man who had lost the war before it began.
"This is my punishment. I just know it."
The door creaked open, and Kara stepped inside.
"Good morning, everyone!"
She greeted cheerfully, her usual energy shining through.
Everyone replied in unison,
"Good morning!"
Some voices were bright and energetic, but the two leaders kept calm and steady.
Kara was back.
While she was distracted, Itoshi quietly pushed Jayu away from him and turned his back.
"Please don't notice, please don't notice, please don't notice..."
The words echoed in his mind like a frantic chant.
"Oh, by the way... is Jayu still sleeping?"
Kara asked casually.
"The scarecrow forced a little kid to sleep next to him."
Kirashi pointed out casually.
"I did not!"
Itoshi bolted upright, pointing an accusing finger at Kirashi.
And then... time slowed.
Itoshi's pants slipped down.
Before he could pull them back up, everyone's eyes landed on his underwear.
Aldrin and Kirashi burst into laughter, their chuckles bouncing off the walls.
The two leaders exchanged soft smirks, while Kara quickly retreated outside, shutting the door firmly behind her.
"His belt is unbuckled!! He did something!!"
Itoshi scrambled to pull his pants back up, cheeks burning bright red.
"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!!!"
Ryujin pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly exasperated.
"Itoshi... that's a child, not some random stranger."
Ayro crossed his arms and shook his head.
"This is going to taint our squad's reputation. We're supposed to be professionals."
Kirashi smirked, folding his arms.
"Yeah, real professional—caught red-handed with a kid asleep on your chest and your pants down."
Itoshi's eyes darted around frantically.
"I swear, I was just resting! Jayu fell asleep, and I didn't notice!"
Aldrin grinned wide, teasing mercilessly.
"Sure, sure. 'Just resting.' Next time, maybe try not to end up in a scandal, hero."
Itoshi groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"Please, can we not make this into a thing? I'm already paying for it in embarrassment."
Ayro chuckled,
"Embarrassment is only the beginning. Wait till the rumor mill gets going."
Ryujin sighed,
"Alright, enough. Let's just get breakfast before Itoshi accidentally falls asleep with someone else."
They all laughed as Itoshi shot them a pleading look, the tension breaking into genuine camaraderie.
After Itoshi finally got himself together and dressed properly, the others nodded and opened the door to let Kara back inside.
She stepped in, her eyes immediately landing on Jayu, still curled up peacefully next to Itoshi. She smiled softly but her voice carried a hint of concern.
"Last night... she couldn't fall asleep. She said it was really cold."
Everyone quieted down, listening intently.
"I told her to cuddle with me, but she was still cold... It was strange. Her skin felt colder than usual."
She paused, glancing toward Jayu and Itoshi.
"So, I suggested she sleep next to Koya just for the night. That seemed to do the trick."
Itoshi scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed but relieved.
"Yeah... I guess I was just lucky she chose me."
Kirashi snorted, Aldrin smirked, and even Ryujin gave a slight grin.
Kara reasoned.
"Well... Koyaa, you're Gifted with flame.. Your body's warmer than most of us."
Itoshi let out a deep sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Next time, please warn me..."
"Ok!"
She nodded firmly in agreement.
Aldrin clapped his hands once, breaking the moment.
"Well then! Let's have our breakfast!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, quickly prepping themselves for the meal.
The month of June passed like it was only a week. Every incoming Seele was met with fierce resistance. Itoshi's rhythm improved steadily; his training was starting to show its effects, though mastery still eluded him. He hadn't yet regained the full stability he once had.
Meanwhile, the kunoichi was always present during the battles, her mask firmly in place as she gradually adapted to everyone's fighting styles.
She still hadn't spoken to Itoshi—still gathering the strength she'd need for the final boss.
Several battles played out under the watchful eyes of the public, with the kunoichi and the scarecrow stealing the spotlight every time.
With each victory, they felt a sense of satisfaction. But from the perspective of other squads, frustration brewed. Many believed this duo wasn't taking their missions seriously enough.
"Damn Ryujin... and his squad... They're really not taking this shit seriously."
The squad leader of Segment 97—commanded by the Trochanter Nali—was a woman. She slammed her table, sending cups crashing to the floor.
"People are dying out here!"
Meanwhile, the scarecrow's flame rapidly gained worldwide attention. Alongside the news and the thousands of whispered thoughts about this mysterious vigilante, one peculiar name kept popping out: Ryo-Ryo Mukori.
~~~To be Continued~~~