The night stretched long and thin over the empty desert. Hydro lay in the dark of his trailer tent, his head tilted slightly toward the window, where the moonlight fractured through the thin fabric walls. The hum of the truck's cooling engine echoed faintly beneath him, steady… like a heartbeat.
He wanted sleep.
But sleep didn't want him.
It took him an hour before his body gave up the fight and dragged him down into that unstable, trembling dark—
And the moment he closed his eyes, he was there again.
The world around him twisted like melting glass. The sky split open, bleeding neon static. A city—his city—was collapsing in on itself, building after building breaking apart as if the laws of gravity had lost their patience. Streets folded like paper, oceans boiled upward, and the air was filled with the screams of billions being erased in seconds.
Hydro stood at the center, surrounded by chaos—alone, his body drenched in cuts that didn't heal fast enough. His breaths came fast, desperate. The ground was shaking. Lightning without thunder. Fire without warmth.
Someone screamed in front of him—
"HELP!!"
He turned—the people in the city, the ones who didn't make it. Faces flickering in and out like broken memories. "HELP US! IT'S COLLAPSING!"
Then another voice. Deeper. Closer. The one that always came last.
From the smoke, a silhouette appeared—a tall, glitching figure, veins glowing red like corrupted code. The enemy he thought he'd erased from existence. The one who'd whispered promises through blood and chaos.
It smiled at him.
"So you thought killing me would end it?" the voice said, layered and distorted, as if it came from a dying machine. "You really think peace comes after war?"
Hydro clenched his fists. "You're not real. You're gone."
The figure took a step forward. The ground broke beneath its feet.
"I am every world you destroyed to keep yours standing," it said. "I am the scream you ignored. I am the shadow that clings to your soul when no one's watching."
The air vibrated—like static crawling inside his skull. Hydro's ears rang.
"Shut up…" he whispered. "You're dead."
The figure laughed—a horrible, choking sound. "Am I?"
Then, behind Hydro, people screamed. His old team, his friends, every voice he tried to forget. Their faces melted into white noise as system warnings flashed across the collapsing skyline:
[SYSTEM WARNING: COLLAPSE DETECTED]
[MULTIVERSAL INTEGRITY—CRITICAL]
[ABSOLUTE RULE—DISABLED]
[ENTITY RESURGENCE PROTOCOL: INITIATED]
Hydro turned, shouting over the roar, "STOP! YOU'RE NOT COMING BACK!"
But the figure just raised its head, eyes glowing like two burning cores. Its voice dropped to a whisper—low, intimate, venomous.
"I'll be back."
The city folded into itself.
Hydro's screams mixed with the cries of the dying.
[SYSTEM REBOOT FAILED]
[REBUILDING MEMORY CORE…]
[WARNING: ENTITY 'UNKNOWN' REMAINS INTACT]
[I'LL BE BACK]
[I'LL BE BACK]
[I'LL BE BACK]
[I'LL BE BACK]
The words repeated in an endless, glitching rhythm as the ground exploded beneath him, light swallowing the world whole. Hydro screams.
Then, silence.
Hydro's eyes flew open.
He gasped, sitting upright so fast his head hit the tent's ceiling. "Ow!" The world was quiet again—too quiet. Sweat dripped down his temples. His heart was pounding against his ribs like it was trying to escape.
His breathing came in short bursts.
The sunlight bled through the tent walls, golden and calm.
Morning.
But his hands were still trembling.
He pressed his palms against his face and muttered, voice hoarse, almost breaking: "It's been years… and I'm still haunted by it."
He looked at his reflection in the dark laptop screen beside him—his eyes bloodshot, skin pale, and that familiar emptiness behind his stare.
Hydro swallowed hard. "I thought it was over," he whispered. "That timeline… that war… I ended it." His voice cracked slightly. "Then why does it still follow me? Why can't it just stay dead?"
He dug his fingers into his hair, breathing heavy. "That bastard's gone. He's gone. It's done."
But deep down, he didn't believe it. He could still feel the heat, smell the smoke, hear the echo of I'll be back crawling beneath his thoughts like static.
Hydro exhaled sharply, trying to steady himself. He reached for a half-empty bottle of water and took a long drink, letting the coldness remind him he was still here, still real.
He sat there for a while, staring at the rising light over the horizon through his tent's thin window. The morning wind brushed through, soft but eerie—like the world itself was holding its breath.
Finally, Hydro stood. He shut his laptop, closed the tent, and climbed down from the top of the trailer. His boots hit the metal surface with a dull thud.
The desert was silent. The sky was washed in pale orange.
Hydro walked around to the front of the truck, brushing dust from his jacket. His body still felt heavy, like the nightmare had followed him into waking life.
He stopped for a second before opening the door. Looked down at his hands — still shaking faintly.
"Keep it together," he murmured under his breath. "It's just another morning."
He forced a deep breath, then opened the door. The hinges creaked, sharp and lonely.
Sliding into the driver's seat, Hydro inserted the key, his fingers hesitating for a beat before turning it. The engine growled awake, deep and powerful, rumbling through the air like a beast stirring from sleep.
Hydro stared ahead for a moment, eyes distant, haunted but steady.
The desert wind blew across the truck, brushing dust against the windshield as the rising sun began to climb higher.
Hydro shifted gears, revved the engine once — the low roar breaking the silence — and whispered under his breath, almost like a promise to himself:
"Okay... keep it together, Hydro. Just calm down."
Then he drove off into the golden light, leaving the ghosts of the past behind—for now.
MEANWHILE
The sun hadn't even reached the rooftops yet, but the Quinn household was already a chaotic storm of energy, laughter, and scattered luggage.
Atlarus Quinn was knee-deep in a pile of clothes on her bed, trying to decide which jacket gave off the perfect "I'm chill but also totally ready for interdimensional nonsense" vibe.
Terry, her older sister, leaned on the doorway with a smirk. "You know the Ohara Community's bus ain't waiting for your fashion crisis, right?"
Atlarus shot her a look. "Excuse me for wanting to look good before I'm whisked away to—whatever this mission is!"
From the other side of the room came a cheerful voice. "Yo! You still arguing about jackets?!" Bea Tsuki leaned in through the window, grinning ear to ear, backpack slung over one shoulder. Her sister, Kai, appeared right behind her, holding two energy drinks and a duffel bag that looked like it contained way too many snacks to be legal.
"Not arguing," Atlarus said, "just strategically planning my drip."
Kai laughed. "Yeah, well, strategize faster. Bus honked twice already. Nate said if you're not out in five minutes, he's sitting in your seat."
Terry chuckled. "Let him. Maybe then I'll finally have peace from your playlist."
Atlarus gasped, clutching her chest. "My playlist defines me!"
"That explains a lot," Terry said dryly.
From the hallway came the clatter of boots—Nate Grey appeared, wearing his usual dark hoodie and his "too-cool-for-this" smirk. "You all done? I swear, Bea's already claimed half the bus with her plushies."
Bea crossed her arms. "They're emotional support plushies, thank you very much."
"Yeah," Kai added with a grin, "and they'll probably handle pressure better than you, bro."
Nate snorted. "Keep talking, snack goblin."
Yurei Zeun—quiet, always two steps behind everyone else—walked in holding a folded map and a small suitcase. "I just wanna point out," she said softly, "the bus is parked exactly six meters from the gate, and it's overheating because Kai left the heater on max again."
Kai blinked. "Oh."
Bea smacked her arm. "Kai!"
"What?! It was cold this morning!"
Terry rolled her eyes and zipped up her sister's bag. "Alright, fashionista, you're packed. Move your butt."
Atlarus groaned but slung the bag over her shoulder. "Fine, fine. Operation: Leave Before They Lose Patience."
They all started heading downstairs, the sound of shoes, laughter, and teasing overlapping like a song.
Outside, the Ohara Community bus waited—a sleek, silver-blue machine with glowing insignias on the side and tinted windows that looked straight out of a sci-fi movie. The driver leaned on the horn again, less out of annoyance and more like he knew the chaos he was dealing with.
"Alright, everyone loaded?" Terry called, checking her phone.
"Loaded, hyped, mildly anxious," Bea said.
"Loaded, and running on pure caffeine," Kai added, chugging her drink.
"Loaded and regretting my life choices," Nate said flatly.
"Loaded," Yurei said simply, "and also brought extra batteries for everyone's comms. Because I know how you all forget them."
"Legend," Atlarus said, giving her a quick high five before stepping up the bus stairs.
As they climbed in, Bea stopped mid-step, turned to look at Atlarus, and grinned. "Yo, Quinn—bet you ten credits you forget something important before we leave the city."
Atlarus smirked. "Make it twenty. I'm winning this time."
Terry laughed as she followed them in. "That's what you said last time, and we had to turn back because you forgot your ID."
"Details!" Atlarus said, throwing her bag into the seat beside her.
The engine purred to life, lights flickering softly across the dashboard. The group settled into their spots—Bea instantly taking selfies with Kai photobombing, Nate putting on his headphones, Yurei quietly reading something on her holo-screen, and Terry scrolling through the mission brief.
Atlarus sat near the window, watching the sun climb higher as the bus pulled away from the curb. The hum of excitement filled the air, that electric mix of nerves and curiosity that always came before something big.
Kai leaned over the seat. "So what's the plan once we get there?"
Terry didn't even look up. "Step one: don't die."
"Fair," Nate said.
Bea grinned. "Step two: make history."
Atlarus smirked, leaning her head against the glass. "Step three: try not to make it too weird."
Kai raised her can. "Yeah, no promises."
The whole group laughed as the bus rolled down the road—engine rumbling, sunlight bouncing off its metallic frame—heading toward whatever awaited them outside the city.
And for that one brief moment, before everything got real again, it just felt right—six friends, one mission, and way too much energy for one morning.
MICHIGAN - AFTERNOON
The afternoon sunlight spilled across the skyline, reflecting off the chrome and glass towers like liquid gold. Hydro Undergrove adjusted his glasses as he cruised through the busy streets, the low hum of his Mercedes-Benz cyber-truck blending with the noise of the city. His playlist ran soft in the background—lofi beats, something mellow enough to keep his nerves steady.
He'd been driving around for nearly two hours now, stopping by every damn mall he could find. Every poster, every bulletin board, every store clerk gave him the same answer.
"Sorry, sir, tickets sold out."
"Sorry, pre-orders only."
"Otakufest? Nah, we only have merch."
Hydro sighed, resting his elbow against the window as he looked out. "Bruh," he muttered under his breath. "You'd think they were selling gold, not cosplay tickets."
Then, just as he turned onto the highway, a giant holographic ad blinked above the city skyline.
"OTAKUFEST 2035 — FIND YOUR WAY IN!"
And below it, smaller text flashed: "Tickets Available Now at Mall of the Globe."
Hydro's eyes widened. "Finally," he breathed, turning the wheel with a smooth drift to the right. The truck's cybernetic tent adjusted automatically, metal panels sliding as the engine roared like a beast waking up.
He parked outside the massive mall—a colossal structure shaped like a globe split open, glass and neon everywhere, banners hanging down showing anime characters smiling in every direction. The parking lot buzzed with energy, people hauling props, cosplayers laughing, even a couple of street vendors selling glowing katana keychains.
Hydro killed the engine, unbuckled, and stepped out. The sound of the city hit him like a wave—honks, chatter, the faint rumble of an air tram overhead.
"Alright," he muttered, locking the truck and adjusting his jacket. "Let's make this quick."
As soon as he entered the mall, he was hit with cool air and music echoing through the open space. Screens everywhere, advertising the upcoming festival—"OTAKUFEST 2035: THE WORLD CROSSES OVER!"
Hydro scanned the atrium. There, near the central plaza, a bright sign caught his eye:
"Otakufest Tickets!! Find us!"
"Found you," he said under his breath and started jogging. His sneakers squeaked against the polished floor as he weaved past people carrying shopping bags and giant plush toys.
Then—skrrt!
His foot landed on something slick.
Hydro slipped so hard he almost did a split. "WHOA—WHAT THE—!" He barely caught himself on a bench, breathing hard, his glasses sliding slightly off his face.
He looked down. A random coupon lay on the ground, shimmering faintly under the light.
He frowned, bending down to pick it up. "Seriously? Who leaves coupons like this in the middle of—" He stopped mid-sentence, squinting at the card. "What even is this? 'Access Pass'? Whatever, I'll check it later."
He shoved it into his jacket pocket and sprinted again, muttering, "Ain't no way I'm missing this."
After cutting through the maze-like mall—three escalators, two U-turns, and one extremely awkward moment when he ran into a store mannequin—Hydro finally found the booth.
A small desk with bright banners, cardboard cutouts of anime characters, and a sign that read: "OTAKUFEST 2035 — Official Tickets Booth!"
No customers yet. Just two staff members sitting behind the counter, scrolling through their tablets.
Hydro exhaled heavily, leaned forward, and called out, "Excuse me!" His voice came out louder than he expected, bouncing across the empty space.
Both staff members jumped slightly. One of them, a girl with pink highlights and a name tag that read "Maya," blinked and looked up. "Oh! Hi! Yes, sir?"
Hydro walked over, still catching his breath. "Sorry, I've been—uh—looking all over for tickets. I think I might've found a coupon for one?" He fished the card out of his pocket and handed it to her. "You guys know if I can buy tickets with this?"
Maya tilted her head, scanning it with her phone. Her screen beeped once, then flashed green. Her eyes widened. "Wait. Wait, wait, wait."
Hydro blinked. "Uh… what?"
She grinned suddenly. "Congratulations!"
He frowned. "For what?"
"You've been accepted as an official Otakufest Staff Member!" she said cheerfully, spinning her tablet around to show him the display. "This is an Access Staff Coupon! It's part of the internal draw we ran last week!"
Hydro's jaw dropped. "Wait, what—no, no, no, I think you got it wrong, I just wanted to buy—"
"GUYS! WE GOT A NEW STAFF MEMBER!" Maya yelled across the booth.
From behind a stack of boxes, two more organizers popped up, both wearing matching Otakufest jackets. One of them gasped. "NO WAY! YOU FOUND AN ACCESS COUPON?!"
Maya nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! Right here!"
Hydro raised both hands. "Hold up, wait—look, I think you misunderstood, I'm not—"
Before he could finish, another staffer ran up, clipboard in hand. "Oh my god, you're him! You're the guy who found the lost Access Coupon! We've been searching for this for days!"
Hydro took a nervous step back. "Lost? Bro, it was just on the floor near—wait, what are you doing?!"
"Come on! You gotta meet the head organizer!" one of them said, grabbing his wrist.
"Wait—hold up, I'm not even—"
Another staff member jumped in, handing him a lanyard with the Otakufest logo. "Welcome aboard, sir! We've been short on staff and the universe clearly sent you to us!"
Hydro tried to pull free, but there were already three of them pushing him toward the back hallway. "No, no, listen, I think you've got the wrong guy, I don't even—"
"You'll be perfect for handling stage entries!" one of them interrupted. "You've got that main character energy!"
"I'M JUST HERE TO BUY A TICKET!" Hydro yelled, but his words were drowned out by the chaos.
Within seconds, the organizers had surrounded him like an overly enthusiastic cult of con-goers, cheering, clapping, one even offering him a free badge. Hydro stumbled as they pulled him past the booth curtain.
"I don't even have experience!" he said, voice cracking halfway between protest and panic.
"That's okay!" someone shouted back. "We'll train you on the way to Nagashima Spa Land!"
Hydro's voice echoed down the hallway. "WAIT—WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN TRAIN ME—?!"
The door slammed behind him.
Outside, the empty booth swayed slightly as the mall's air conditioning kicked in, the bright "Otakufest Tickets!! Find us!" sign still blinking cheerfully.
And somewhere deep in the mall, Hydro Undergrove's distant voice could still be heard—
"BRO I JUST WANTED A TICKET!!"
The echo of his words faded as the scene cut to black, leaving only the faint sound of laughter from the staff who had no idea they'd just recruited the most overqualified "cosplay staff" in history.
LATER
The sun was glowing faintly through the bus window, a soft orange hue spilling across the seats. The Ohara Community bus hummed along the long Japanese highway, engine purring steady as the group of cosplayers chatted, scrolled on their phones, or dozed off in oversized hoodies and cosplay wigs.
Atlarus Quinn leaned her head against the window, watching the road blur past like paint strokes. The view outside felt unreal — city lights melting into countryside, like Japan itself couldn't decide if it wanted to be peaceful or alive. Her reflection on the glass looked tired but happy.
Then her phone buzzed.
The name flashing on the screen made her eyes widen — Matt Tomizawa. Matt Tomizawa is a former Yakuza member of the Konohagure Clan. He has no tattoos on his body, lost a pinky, and left in the year 2030 by continuing to make music.
Her expression instantly brightened. "No way, Matty's calling!" she whispered, fumbling for her earbuds.
She hit "Answer" fast. "MATTY! What the hell, where've you been, dude?"
The other end crackled for a sec before a low, chill voice spoke — the kind of tone that could shift between menace and comedy on command. "Ayy, Quinnie! What's up, my little disaster? You still dyeing your hair every two weeks or what?"
Quinn laughed so hard Bea, sitting two seats back, turned her head in confusion. "You're still the same clown, huh? And no, this color's permanent, thank you very much."
Matt chuckled — that same deep, unbothered laugh that always gave him away. "Permanent, huh? Until you spill coffee on it again like back in 2028?"
Quinn gasped dramatically. "Excuse you, that was matcha, not coffee."
"Oh yeah, my bad," Matt said, fake-serious. "How could I forget the tragic Matcha Hair Incident."
Quinn rolled her eyes but couldn't stop smiling. "You're the worst."
"I try," he said proudly. "Anyway, what's up? You sound like you just won the lottery or somethin'."
"Almost did," she said with a grin. "Otakufest 2035! We're going, Matty! Nagashima Spa Land! Japan!"
Matt's tone perked up. "Wait, Japan? As in you're flying out?"
"Yeah, the Ohara Community's got an invite! You have to come with us!" she said excitedly. "It's gonna be huge — the biggest one ever!"
"Damn," Matt said. "You know what, I'll try finding tickets here in Hawaii. Bit busy with music stuff right now, though. Got this gig and some collabs to finish."
"Oh right, you're still on your DJ thing," she said teasingly. "Can't believe you traded swords for synths."
Matt laughed. "Hey, don't knock it. I still got both — just using 'em for different kinds of damage now."
She grinned at that. He always had a way with words — part philosopher, part idiot.
Then her voice dropped a little. "Hey, um… can I tell you something?"
Matt's tone shifted, softer now. "Yeah. What's up?"
She looked around. Terry was busy listening to music, Kai and Bea were arguing over snacks, Nate was half-asleep, and Yurei was sketching in silence.
Quinn lowered her voice. "I talked to Hydro yesterday."
There was a pause on the other line.
"…Wait. You mean that Hydro? As in, the Hydro Undergrove who vanished ten freakin' years ago?"
Quinn smiled faintly, nodding to herself even though he couldn't see. "Yup. Him. He called me outta nowhere."
Matt let out a low whistle. "Holy hell. I thought dude was a ghost at this point."
"Same. But… he's alive, he's doing okay. He said he was focusing on himself all those years," Quinn said softly. "It felt… good to hear his voice again."
Matt's voice dropped, thoughtful now. "Huh. That's wild. After everything that happened, he actually reached out."
"Yeah. And guess what?" Quinn said, her tone brightening again. "He's coming to Otakufest too."
Matt's tone cracked slightly. "You're kiddin'."
"Nope." She laughed lightly. "He said he's checking if tickets are still available. I think he'll show up."
Matt laughed once, low and genuine. "Man… if he actually shows up, that's gonna be one hell of a reunion. Haven't seen that guy since the old community fell apart."
Quinn smiled. "Exactly. It's been too long."
There was a short silence, comfortable but heavy with nostalgia. Then Matt cleared his throat.
"Well, guess I gotta finish this set before I start cryin' on my turntables," he joked, voice bright again. "Damn, Quinn, you always drop news like you're running TMZ."
Quinn snorted. "Oh please, you love the drama."
"Yeah, yeah," he said with a grin audible in his tone. "Hey, if I can score a ticket, I'll surprise y'all there. Deal?"
"Deal," she said. "Don't flake out this time, Tomizawa."
"No promises," he teased. "But I'll try my best. Alright, I gotta bounce. Got some music to finish."
"Fineee," she said, dragging the word. "Talk soon, yeah?"
"Always, Quinnie. Take care, kid."
"Later, Matty."
The call clicked off.
Quinn stared at her phone for a few seconds, the smile still sitting on her face. Her chest felt warm. For the first time in a while, things were falling into place — friends reconnecting, events lining up, the kind of coincidences that didn't feel random.
Then she heard a deep voice beside her. "You talked to Hydro yesterday?"
Quinn nearly jumped out of her seat. "Terry! Don't scare me like that!"
Her sister raised an eyebrow, arms crossed, giving that older-sister look that said she was ready to interrogate.
Quinn panicked for half a second, then quickly pressed a finger to her lips. "Shh! Keep your voice down!"
Terry's expression softened a little, but she leaned in. "Wait, seriously? The Hydro? After ten years?"
Quinn nodded and whispered back, "Yeah. But don't tell anyone, okay? I wanna surprise everyone. Especially Bea — she's gonna lose her mind."
Terry smirked slightly. "You're really gonna make that guy show up outta nowhere at Otakufest?"
Quinn's eyes glimmered with excitement. "Yup. It's gonna be epic. Like, imagine — we're all cosplaying, music blasting, lights flashing, and boom — Hydro just walks in. Everyone's jaws drop."
Terry chuckled, shaking her head. "You and your dramatic ass."
"Hey, it's called theatrical timing," Quinn said proudly.
From behind them, Kai leaned over the seat. "Yo, what you whispering about?"
"Nothing!" both sisters said at the same time, then glared at each other for syncing up.
Kai frowned. "Sus."
Bea peeked up from her manga. "Yeah, very sus."
Nate, half-asleep, mumbled, "Y'all are too loud…"
Yurei didn't even look up from her sketchpad. "You're all loud."
The whole bus burst into soft laughter.
Quinn leaned back in her seat, still smiling as the city lights streaked past the window. She could already imagine Hydro's face when he walked into that event — that blank yet quietly chaotic expression, probably trying to hide how happy he'd actually be.
She turned to Terry again, whispering, "Just promise you won't spoil it, okay?"
Terry nodded, her voice calm but fond. "Yeah, I won't. Let the dude be surprised."
Quinn smiled, eyes glimmering. "Thanks, sis."
As the bus rolled deeper into the night, laughter echoed through the aisles — the kind of laughter that hides nerves, excitement, and the promise of something big waiting at the other end of the road.
And outside, the neon signs of Japan streaked past like shooting stars, painting the dark sky with a thousand colors — all leading toward the chaos, warmth, and memories that were about to crash together again.
AIRPORT, EVENING
The night lights of the airport shimmered against the silver hull of the massive Sky Cruise, casting reflections that looked like a second city floating upside down in the clouds. The Otakufest Staff bus screeched to a stop at the terminal, everyone inside jolting forward with a collective "woaaah!"
Hydro blinked, dead inside but also—somehow—done with life. He looked out the window and muttered, "Bro… that thing's not a plane. That's a flying building."
"Alright everyone!" the coordinator shouted. "Grab your bags! We're boarding now before customs has another meltdown!"
Hydro dragged his duffel bag out of the bus, still half in disbelief. He looked up at the enormous structure again—an airborne hotel, glowing with neon edges, engines humming like an entire orchestra under the stars.
Then a staff member jogged up beside him. "Hey! You're that Hydro guy on Facebook, right? The one who used to post those fire cosplay edits? Chihiro Rokuhira from Kagurabachi, Yuta Okkotsu from Jujutsu Kaisen—that's you, right?"
Hydro blinked twice. "Y—yeah. I'm pretty sure I haven't forgotten my cosplays… or my sanity yet."
"Daaaamn!" the staff dude gasped, nearly dropping his luggage. "You've been offline for, like, ten years! Your final post is still dated 2025! Bro, that's like a fossil in internet time."
Hydro raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. "Yeah well, I went through… some stuff. Not exactly a vacation though."
The staffer laughed nervously, clearly not expecting trauma to peek into the convo. "A-anyways! Guess what plane we're riding?"
Hydro shrugged. "Don't tell me it's some budget line that gives you one peanut packet for a 12-hour flight."
"Nope! It's The Sky Cruise!" the guy said dramatically, arms wide like an anime salesman. "A proposed nuclear-powered flying hotel promising to give a resort-like experience for over 5,000 guests while flying above the clouds! Crazy, right?!"
Hydro's jaw literally dropped. "Wait—Sky Cruise? Like that plane based on a concept by Tony Holmsten and produced by Hashem Al-Ghaili?"
The staff nodded fast. "YES, THAT ONE!"
Hydro stared blankly. "...We're gonna die in style, huh?"
"Yup!"
Suddenly, the head organizer yelled, "STAFF! WE'RE LATE! MOVE YOUR BUTTS!"
A wave of chaos exploded. Cosplayers in half-armor and wigs bolted through security lines, lugging boxes labeled "Props (Definitely Not Real Weapons)" while Hydro ran behind, out of breath.
"Why do y'all run like you trained for the Olympics?!" Hydro shouted.
"Because we missed last year's plane, bro!" one of them yelled back.
At the ticket gate, the attendant scanned everyone's QR codes while Hydro fumbled with his ID. "Sir, this says 'ACCESS STAFF'?"
Hydro wheezed. "Yeah… long story short—I slipped on my career path."
The attendant just blinked, shrugged, and waved him through.
"LUGGAGE CHECK!" another voice barked. Staff tossed in bags, boxes, and props, one dude's fake sword got stuck halfway, and Hydro's duffel was thrown on top like it owed money.
Then came the final call:
"Final boarding for Sky Cruise Flight 001 to Nagashima Spa Land!"
Hydro sprinted like a man possessed. The runway wind slapped his hair, the massive turbine glow lighting him from behind. As he reached the ramp—
the doors started closing.
"WAIT! HOLD THE DOOR!" he yelled.
One of the cosplay girls yelled from inside, "HE'S WITH US!"
Hydro jumped, barely squeezing through the gap as the pressurized door sealed behind him with a psshhkkk! sound.
He hit the floor, gasping. "Never… running again…"
A staff member patted his shoulder. "Congrats bro, you just entered heaven's equivalent of a Comic-Con."
Hydro looked up—his eyes widening. The inside of the Sky Cruise was absolutely unreal. A freaking floating city: glass elevators, gardens that defied gravity, LED panels simulating night skies, holograms of stars above the lobby.
"Holy crap…" Hydro whispered. "This is like if Tokyo and the future had a baby and it learned luxury."
"Welcome aboard!" the flight attendant said cheerily. "Your rooms are located on Deck 22, cosplay division! Try not to duel with lightsabers near the pool again."
Hydro raised a brow. "...Again?"
Everyone laughed. Hydro half-smiled, still catching his breath, thinking: Guess I'm really doing this… not as Hydro the fighter—but Hydro the cosplay staff.
He wandered deeper into the floating resort, the hum of the engines beneath him sounding less like machinery… and more like fate revving up again.