Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The bold black headlines on the front page; the searing glares exchanged; the silent tears spilling from innocent eyes. It was an unforgettable experience like it had occurred yesterday. But Kit, like Honey, was a new man; having left BC Sol to return to Beyblade’s birthplace, Japan, and reconnect with their beys. The mess, the fury? ‘Let bygones be bygones’, people say, and that was exactly what their mission would be:

In order to reconnect and be renewed.

But the reconnection was not only with his bey but with a boy he had been apart from for far too long. The piercing ringtones and their tiny faces, unreachable beyond the screen, had only made the past months more unbearable.

Especially when Kit hadn’t been… in the right mindset after the shenanigans he had been through with somebody.

It didn’t matter—couldn’t matter when he had Aiger Akabane at his fingertips after a week into settling in Japan. Their relationship was being tested by the distance between them, but one that legs could easily cross, if not for their busy schedules.

None of it mattered now, with Kit promising a quiet café date to relax and talk about the bizarre things they’ve been through. Fresh from the shower and radiating scent of the ocean breeze instead of lavendar for once, he dressed himself smart yet casually for the surprise forest trek that laid ahead.

The first time they found themselves on the same street, just outside the corner of the café, Aiger dragged him into a nearby alley, gave his arm a playful punch, slipped a hand around his waist, and sealed the moment with a fleeting kiss. Kit’s breath hitched as his lips parted, his eyes blinking incredulously slow just like the smile prying its way onto his face.

“Hah—“ He breathed out, “You’re unpredictable.”

“So be it, as long as I gotcha’ to myself.”

“Wooooooow, how possessive. You sure changed a lot.” Kit teased, but truthfully, his mind was a bit muddled from everything. He hides his wide grin behind the back of his hand, barely touching his bottom lip, where the powerful kiss had enveloped his soul completely.

And so their little date began, the outdoor seats squeaking under their weight as they huddled together beneath the awning. Smiles bloomed, eyes curving like crescents, their faces glowing not from the sun’s radiance but from the warmth of each other’s caring gaze. Sure, their little outing was disturbed by some loud pings coming from Kit’s phone, but one slide on the mute switch was the solution. Kit barely missed it, but he caught the text among the lines: ‘Hope you’re having a nice date, but I thought I’d tell you something that might make you change your plans later—’

The screen instantly went black. He couldn’t afford to waste a single minute on anything else with Aiger; not when their schedules were clashing so much that these dates will become their rare, precious moments. Fingers wrapped around the cups’ broad bodies, words spilling out with boisterous passion and fire; it was the kind of day that felt like it could last forever.

But by two in the afternoon, at the height of summer’s delight, the reverie that had once held them was shattered.  Kit had found himself drenched in coffee, the liquids dribbling pathetically down the curvatures of his numb face like rainfall.

Emerald eyes wide and open, the blader himself sat still in his chair for the moment; his mind unable to comprehend the situation nor articulate the words fast enough as rivulets of the mellow coffee continued streaming down his body. His clothes and skin, sticky and glistening, were displayed in front of the streets, in front of Aiger. He blinked once, twice, and then again, his eyes burning more with each passing second; his pupils dilated with intense fervor, his gaze fixated hollowly on his partner’s stricken expression.

The ceramic cup between Aiger’s fingers sharply hit against wooden table with a resounding thud.

“What the hell?” They exclaimed in unison, Aiger’s face scrunched up almost like a crumpled paper ball at how distraught he seemed.

Kit glanced over his shoulder, his eyes sharply locked onto a pair of yellow pupils hidden behind the glaring lenses of his glasses.

“Didn’t mean’ta pour my coffee down there.”

The veins in the jut of his neck bulged fiercely as he clenched his jaw, barely enduring the venomous words that poisoned his ears. Having seen that imitated red jacket and the irritable smile etched across his face, he wasn’t the least bit surprised at the source of his predicament. Knowing this one’s terrible personality, the fact the drink wasn’t scalding his skin was a blessing of its own. He could already imagine his face would be decorated with a range of scars, becoming a poorly sewn-up toy to remind others of this wicked one’s authority. His chest, frothing and bubbling wildly, was ready to burst at any moment. Rage threatened to break free through the cracks in his soul he hadn’t repaired in time, all because of him.

But he pushed it down, enough to stay composed—even if one of his eyes had twitched while he smiled.

“Hey, it's you again!" He smiled, flicking the coffee off his face. "I'd say long time no see, but you sure do make a lot of appearances.”

It was the truth, he has seen him a bit too often these past months. “Fooled me good thinking you wouldn’t come to me. Right, Ormr, ain’t it?”

Ormr was definitely it.

It was a name unforgettable to him in the most gruelling ways. He would never forget the first time he crossed paths with him—back when chaos erupted. Honey, haunted by the very fans who consumed their content, had been hurt by the same affection they had shown Kit. The faces of thousands of viewers, once clean and white, were now stained red the moment Kit realised the gravity of the situation. There were no real faces in the crowd, only masks. Learning how such a tragedy had unfolded was both one of the best and worst things he had ever experienced. Yet it had all been for the sake of their friendship; for her heart, and for her peace.

The outcome of it all? A name—Ormr.

Pronouncing it always left a beyond sour taste on his tongue, one he can’t get rid of so easily. He let his tongue rest for a moment, letting his searing gaze do all the talk. The teenager didn’t fold under his gaze, or more specifically won’t dare to.

“You’re dripping, at least wipe yourself with sum’ tissues.” Aiger sternly reminds him, pulling Kit back into reality as his eyes snapped between the two. “You two got some history or something?”

Kit beamed, “Yeah; pretty much a friendly rival and all that. You get the vibe, right? He’s a blader like the both of us, even if his grip’s about as steady as a worn-out screwdriver.”

Hell's gaze ripped right through at him. “That’s funny coming from you, who can’t even hold a launcher without shaking like a leaf. Do you call that competition?” Ormr sneered, pulling out crumpled tissue from his pockets. He slammed the bunched-up tissues right in front of him, inadvertantly tossing the ceramic cup onto the ground with a sharp crack.

“Oi– you're going to break the cup!” Aiga exasperated, rising up from his seat. Legs drop to the ground hastily, and by the time his fingers grasp onto the handle and picked it up—it all fell little by little like the speckled of dust under sunlight. That's money out of their pocket now.

“Sorry, I was simply trying to take your advice—get him clean as soon as possible.”

“Hey, hey, relax!  Don’t get too mad.” He whistled. “Honesty is the best policy. Always what you say, right, Aiger? I mean, the evidence is right in front of us! It’s just extra proof of what we got to see one thing you’re good at—being clumsy. It’s a signature move in your blading career.”

Then the whole world went spinning, as Ormr’s arm is slapped off the table and Kit's chair screeched back. The Air Knight blader simply rose to his feet, and with measured precision, his fingers tapped twice against the wooden surface. “Let’s address the misunderstandings, yeah? That ‘shaking like a leaf’ wasn’t me cowering under your non-existent intimidation, it was me looking for a way to wipe that smirk off your face."

Ormr snapped his finger quietly by his side. He tipped his head high, "Really? You blatantly lost the first round."

“Yeah, I did. But a blader doesn't give up, and you and I saw the results. In fact, some might say it obviously couldn't be called a competition, with how easy it was to burst your bey—"

A hand flew toward him, gripping his bomber jacket with it's claws past Ormr's shoulder to his left— it wasn’t Ormr attacking him? Answers went unheard in his head, when an intruding fist was raging towards his eyes, growing larger by the second. The face once huddled behind him came into a blurry vision, body spread and arm launching behind in the air, Kit hurled his weight down to the opposite side. A sharp air Whistler past his ear. Grunts escaped his gritting teeth, bearing the gaze of a thousand blazing suns, he forcefully grasped onto the waist of his enemy over to his shoulder—the weight crushes him into a slope badkwards—sendkng them both slamming onto the table. The furniture, bursted in half with it's let's support collapsing from both of their muscles.

Aiger, having had put his hand on Ormr's shoulder as an attempt to push him out further down on the pavement, looked as bewildered as the next pedestrian walking by.

Kit ripped out a groan, his hand flying fast down to his back as he got off his cushion. "Either that table was shit or you are hella’ heavy..."

The Achilles blader paused for a few seconds, his brain loading at the moment as he dropped his hand. “That's a wildfire show... Kit, you alright there? ” He approached forward as he stretched him a hand. He accepted it, his legs pulled up from the ground as the next intruder weakly rolled off. He stared below him, his vision more than clear as ever, having found a boy around the same age as him, if not a little younger and more brusque with that belt choker around his neck. He seemed to be out of it, eyes hazy and head stagnantuntil he slowly got on his knees, staggering as he sluggishly rubbed his arms on one side. Kit almost found his heart stabbed with an arrow of guilt watching him struggle. Yet, in the end, he was the victim first..

“Seriously, you did a number of him.” The Achilles blader said, almost exasperated, though not without a hint of admiration.

Kit peered over his shoulder, “Seems like air gliding did me justice with these muscles.” He flexed his biceps. “Think your dog is ready for round two with a real fight?”

Ormr's friends stumbled back up, reaching towards for his companion only to fall short on the floor. Ormr dodged him, making space as he brushed the lingering dust off his sleeves. He scoffed, “Don’t be so crude. He was only looking for a hug, demeaning hound—"

One step took forth, "You literally watched me about to get mauled by your friend—"

Another by the other party, "And?" 

“Okay, that's it. Knock. It. Off.” Aiger snapped, wedging himself between them with hand shot out. The tight space, the crackling tension pulled out by the streams under the champion's order. Well, almost, if one was to ignore their unmoving gazes drilling into each other's foreheads.

He dragged his palm down his cheek, still alert in his  stance especially with their new guests. Cerulean eyes went jerking left and right between the table, Kit and the whole lot of mess he was somehow linked to. Aiger sighed, throwing his head back before he turned to his boyfriend. “Get a grip, Kit. You gotta stop provoking the guy, now the property is already damaged!”

“Haha, ‘get a grip’.” He snickered, “But on a serious note, are you sure you’re not giving advice to the wrong man here?”

“What’s going on here?”

Aiger’s eyes blew open as if the world had just tilted beneath him. “Uh—“

All heads snapped toward the screeching voice; a woman in a black uniform and apron, her jaw slack and her pupils blown wide. The large tray, once filled to the brim with delectable desserts, now lay in disarray on the floor; the plate having been slipped from her loose grip.

“What have you boys done to the furniture?!” She, the waitress, gasped with her hands hovering over her trembling lips. So much for trying to support a local business on one’s reunion date…

“These gentlemen here are making a fuss about coffee being spilt on them when I simply didn’t see the bin station.” The bin station was behind Kit’s chair, coloured starkly black and short compared to his stature. The Air Knight blader’s lips thinned.

“Yeah, let’s forget all the details about your friend here trying to attack us and you mocking me with your used-up tissues.”

“Dramatic, like that girl of yours.” Ormr sneered, “No wonder, you two are easy to target—“

“¡Tu puta madre! You can’t talk shit when you can’t stand alone—“

“Like you’re in any position to say that as of right now—“

“Can you guys shut up with the arguments already?!" Aiger stomped his foot down, his hands floated off his sides. The heat of his molten gaze was in level with Hell's fire, burning their insults, ready to bomb at each other, on their tongues.

Then it stunned him.

Aiger, Aiger, Aiger— His mind chanted a mantra of his name, pondering over the wide frown and irked brows pulled on his face. He hadn’t seen Aiger ever so dissatisfied with him, but he supposed there was a first time for everything now that their date was ruined and how Kit was embarrassingly dressed in front of the public eye. He could already feel his cheeks turning ruddy red, burning with shame at the realisation of what he just might looked like in front of his partner.

After all, Japan was known for its order and he truly was nothing like that.

“Listen up.” Aiger reasserted, narrowing his eyes as he crosses his arms behind his head. “You intruded, you destroyed and now you’re going to be compensating—at least for Kit. You ruined his clothes, and now he’s stinking coffee, in public.”

“Are you deaf?” He tipped his head high, “I told it was an accident, if you couldn’t hear well.”

The ridges of his neck became dangerously pronounced. “Accident, my arse. Seriously, is the prescription in your glasses even doing you any justice?”

Oh, what happened to ‘no provoking’ advice…

“My eye-sight is fine as ever; if anyone’s needs to get checked out then it’s your ears.” Ormr bit back, a hand behind him reaching for his shoulder only to be swatted harshly away. He turned back over his shoulder, “Don’t disturb me.” He sternly warned.

“It’s Aiger Akabane—the champion-“ His friend clutched onto his knee, hard.

“I know who he is, dumbass.”

“Right, from the jist of things, you’re a participating blader. We both know what the consequences are with foul behaviour. So why not give us a little alone time at the very least, and if you’re actually generous enough, then maybe some dry-cleaning money to patch things up? It’ll be easy for you and me.”

“Ahem.”

Ah, who could forget about their little witness? The waitress bent down on her knees, picking up the dirty tray with shaky hands, “So, uh– which one of you are willing to pay for the damages of the property?”

They all point out to each other. The waitress shrivelled up on sight, shoulders slumped.

“Damaged property?”

A sharp click of a heel against the concrete invaded through the thick air; their incoming voices died on cue. White Mary Janes, a tousled bun pinned loosely atop her head, and a small badge glinting against her black uniform as she balanced a serving platter—it was no normal waitress but an owner about to be intertwined in their mess. She huffed, pushing up her glasses with her index finger, “Gentlemen, it seems that you are all making quite the fuss for our customers. If you’ll excuse yourself— oh.”

Her eyes swept over Kit’s meagre body from top to toe, lingering onto the stains sprawled across his white shirt with dark, glistening blotches that had soaked in from the very start. She covers her mouth with her gloved hand, “It seems an accident has occurred.”

“Yeah, and a little compensation wouldn’t hurt anyone.” Aiger emphasised.

“Compensation for the damaged property is also needed as well.” The waitress shyly added, quickly retreating behind the authoritarian.

Ormr turned around, arms crossed, “I’m not repeating myself to a parrot.”

“Cool, cool—“ Kit gently pushed Aiger to the side, “Let’s move on to the fact when you’re going to get off my ass and stop targeting me.”

“I never said I targeted you purposefully—“

The Achilles blader clasped his hands together, placing them in front of his lips, “You literally said ‘no wonder you two are easy to target’.”

“No clue but, it’s certainly not my fault that he was so close to the bin. Is it, now?”

Aiger took a step forward. “Don't go diverting the blame onto the person you just spilled the coffee on!”

“Let’s calm down, now—“ The servant raised her hand, only to be sharply cut off by Ormr.

He dryly laughed, “Money? That’s what you wanted, right? You’re the world champion; just throw your cash at this crawler sitting in front of you. It can’t be that hard now.” Ormr cocked his head. “You’re quick to blame me now, but let’s not forget—you allowed your friend of yours to break both the table and potentially my… acquaintance’s legs. Could’ve brawled your way in and avoided the situation too. Some champion you are.” Ormr seethed.

“Come mierda.” Kit furrowed his brows, “What do you take me for—a rug to be stepped on? The only crawler here is arguably you ever since you’ve been chasing me all this time.”

“C-chasing?” Aiger parroted, perplexed.

Likewise, the waitress’ eyes widen at the revelation, “Chasing? As in he’s your stalker?”

Ormr gritted his teeth, stepping forward right into Kit’s private space, “Don’t be so up in your arse! Like I’d ever want to be on your tail of all people.”

“Then why the hell are you even here in front of me? Ya’ sure you don’t miss me or is it because of that ranking of yours that got plummeted? Or maybe that ban?” Kit spat.

“So you did do it.”

“You deserved it after everything you’ve done—“ His collar was snatched, intensity radiating from every line of his face.

“Drop the collar,” Aiger commanded, his hand on the other’s wrist, “and kindly get out within our presence before things get heated.”

Brusque as his words were, they left the world suspended in a frozen time capsule, everyone locked in place. Stoic and still, the waitress let sweat streak her skin in silence. The owner frowned, passed her tray of coffee to her, pulled out her phone, and turned on her heel in another direction. Aiger’s brilliant, shameless smile spread across his face, drunk on giddy triumph as he watched his dear little enemy glower and release the jacket.

Ormr’s friend frowned, fiddling with his fingers. “Hey, I think we should get going—“

“Shut the fuck up, Piero, or I’ll make you understand why you should have been silent earlier.”

His supposed friend—Piero—immediately shuts up, his hands grasped onto his elbows as he stepped back. Kit frowned watching the boy whisk into the background once again with no say to share; he couldn’t quite believe those two were ‘friendly’ at all.

“Okay, I’m asking you all to leave the establishment as of r-right now.” The waitress eyes widen promptly said. “It seems the longer we speak, the more irritated we all grow—“

“Honestly, Kit, I didn’t expect it to be this easy to shatter your fragile ego, but I suppose I shouldn’t expect much from someone with such a low IQ.” He snarled.

“Hello?—“

“I’m an A ranked blader in a strategic sports game, what about you?” Kit gritted. “I’m starting to think Aiger’s more right than ever—you really do need your eyes checked.”

“Could we please just listen—“

“Even if you had talent, your ‘brilliant’ skills can’t save your spoiled character.” Kit eyed him narrowly, crossing his arms. “In your case, you have no skill nor personality, other than being a dog to your friends!”

“Piece of shit—“ He instantly raised his fists, and Aiger was no better than to get into his own fighting position.

“Drop your fists, now! The police are on their way. Hopefully—“ She stammered—backing a few steps away from either parties. Fighting verbally was one thing, but physically was just a whole another story he probably shouldn’t afford to be involved in, but…

The racing rush for pride and honour told him to go for it, and well Aiger never really respected rules unless needed.

“Relax, no shame needed. I’ve seen worse—barely. I’m a master of the craft, after all.” Kit grinned, “But if this isn’t working out, I can totally recommend a new career for you… ever considered being a clown?”

A white blur hurtled toward his face, and Kit barely managed to raise his arms in time to block it.

“¡Joder!"

Wrong move, or perhaps right.

In the end, his skin shrieked under the hot splash of coffee, the bitter liquid carving a sticky path as it dribbled down to the pavement. He flinched, breath catching and eyes barely tearing as the burn bloomed across his flesh for a second and onto the clothes it streamed along. The waitress stood there, aghast like Piero, among them with her tray empty without the tepid drink. Kit twitched an eye, wiping the liquid from his forearm with a rough swipe, the heat still radiating off of his skin. He locked eyes with Aiger for a brief instant, enough to see the storm of fury building behind his partner’s gaze. In one fluid motion, Aiger came forward, ripping the cup from the tray and flung the cold coffee at Ormr, striking his face with its contents in a sharp, satisfying splash.

She watched like she'd be dead on the spot, with how pale her face.

“Hey! Looks like we’re twining.” Kit joked, but then he saw the champion stare at him in numb horror.

Aiger stood his ground, his gaze clashing against Ormr’s with rising intensity. Around them on the streets and behind the cafe’s windows, the customers murmurs began to rose—low, anxious whispers rippling through the air with unease for something truly was going to happen.

He scowled. “Okay, I think you and I had our little fun now revenge been served—“

But that was all too easy to say and far harder to do, as a rough hand suddenly shoved him back down into his seat. Nearly toppling him over, down to the heaps of broken wood and shards of ceramic glass. Alas, his quick footing, and his grip on the Ormr’s hand clamped over his shoulder, kept him from falling. Though he couldn’t quite tell if having a closeup shot of his enemy’s face was better getting shards digging into his ankle. It was stinging—bad.

He grimaced, for this moment and the next words escaping Ormr’s mouth.

“Muimhneach—” He hissed, drawing back his other fist and ready to drive toward him—

Except, said fist quickly apprehended by no other than Aiger. “What is up with you? This is getting whole lot embarrassing.” He huffed, but a swift kick to his stomach has him flying a step or two back from Ormr’s space. Should’ve seen it, but a boy like him didn’t seem so dangerous after all.

It was careless thinking to believe so when the red flags were everywhere, starting back from the fact he poured coffee on him.

“You’re gonna make your prince fight.” Ormr clawed at his shoulders. “You can’t even defend yourself without having someone to play bodyguard. What happened—couldn’t grow a spine? Just had to play the same role as your shelter-bin girlfriend to handle her own online messes when she came to you for comfort?”

“Don’t even try mentioning her name.” Kit hissed, only a fist slammed into his cheekbone. The unexpected blow has him staggering back against the café’s wall and fuming with newfound boiling rage.

A razor smile played on his lips. “Think of it as ‘revenge’ then.”

The Air Knight blader gritted, his eyes were loud with rage. He swept his leg beneath Ormr’s knees, knocking him off balance and sending him crashing to the ground. Perhaps he should’ve let himself be kept at bay, but his thinning patience had already worn too thin and it just had to finally snapped. The world, the colours went into a blur instantly—from red to gray to whatever that went go spinning around in chaos like a circus. No, it was one with how he had gotten himself dragged intoa street fight, facing against hands of all like rummaging all over his body.

“Stop it now–“ The waitress called out, and he pondered just how long she stood there witnessing the horrors, “—for god’s sake– stop this instant in front of the café! Dammit!”

“Oh my god, are you okay? You're nose! And- and his cheekbone—“

“Kit— Open your eyes—“

“It seems the police finally arrived in time— Wait where’s the other boy?!”

Who's gone?  Kit’s mind raced with questions, his throat tangled with words that begged to be spoken—but not a single one broke free. The black dots at the edge of his vision consumed not only his sight but also his consciousness.

Chapter Text

It had been one gruelling day after the incident—one Kit couldn’t quite make sense of. It was as if he had almost gone too far into a silent land, his senses dead to his soul. Except it wasn’t. He remembered all the motions, the words that echoed in his head; words he could write down on paper with white ink. Oh, couldn’t forget about the sting on his ankle Ben if they wrapped up the wound.

But alas, nothing in life ever unfolds in a linear line, does it now?

Kit looked back at the mirror hung on the concrete wall to his right, hovering in a judgmental tone as it displayed his awfully blotched cheek peeking out of the bandage and the dried remnants of blood burning his fragile fingers no matter how many times he washed them. It was practically treason for his staggering brain.

Oh, and how could he forget he was wearing his coffee-dried clothes still? There’s no free change of clothes nearby it seems. His nostrils breathed in the pungent black coffee, intertwining with the scent of iron and strong fumes, almost clogging his lungs if he didn’t start thinking about something else in the next minute—

“—and you say this was all out of self-defence?” The policeman asked with his eyes more than his lips. The scratching of his pen against paper shrieked every second; it was louder than the haunting ticks of the clock in the cold room.

Kit carried the shaky plastic cup of water to his lips. “Yes, sir.” He drank it, the cool liquid parching his throat even more than before.

He tapped his pen against the table, humming lowly. “Well, yer’ lucky it’s considered proportional self-defence. It was reported that ye’ were seemingly using excessive force at some moments when the attacker was down for a bit.”

The blader tilted his head to the side, blinking owlishly. “What? You sure the sun didn’t blind the witnesses’ eyes or something? Bullshit! He's a smart guy—he’s no innocent teen like he makes himself out to be!”

Kit paused, his tongue swiped over his teeth. He narrows his eyes, seething, “I’d known that back in Spain. He’ll pretend he’s nice, normal or whatever to get peoples guard down, to buy time, and then strike back. He’s one of a kind! Weird one, if we’re really talking.” He brought the cup back to his lips hastily, sipping loudly. His hands slammed the plastic cup on the table, “I don’t wanna judge but I say it’s one of his weaker moves, besides how downright nasty he is online.”

“So you’ve previously encountered him?” The policeman raised a brow.

 “Only in the stadium, sir.” Kit gritted his teeth, bowing his head down. “He’s a tough guy! A rare opponent sought out by all, like me! A blader gotta get their fuel somehow.”

Fuel for justice, he missed out.

“The extra training to become the greatest sportsman is no joke and diversity is what helps a blader grow! I want to be just like Valt Aoi!” He enthusiastically pumped his fist. Yet, this facade of his  faded away, only to be replaced by a solemn expression plastered on his face, “But I guess his heart was a little too broken when he found he couldn’t ever beat me.” The Air Knight blader exasperated, rolling his eyes. “But if there’s one thing I've got to comment about his character then it’s that he’s unpredictable and dangerous. Didn’t think he’d wanna battle me outside of tournaments!”

The foreign policeman watched, his pupils still and intrusive, preying on a moth pinned to a board. He exhaled softly, rubbing his temple. “Ye’ seem to have a lot of hatred for that boy.”

He crossed his arms, back slumped against the chair, “After what he’s done, ruining my date! Yeah, I got a bone to pick with him.”

“Quell yer’ anger; it’s not worth going through it. Not after doin’ that stunt in a public place.”

“And it’d never happened if he didn’t harass me—”

The authoritarian peered up at the clock above, the starkly black hand pointing almost eleven. The sun has long left Earth for its slumbers.

“Let’s get this over with, and break the news. The police certainly woulda’ had him convicted of assault and sent to Juvenile Classification House, however…”

“There’s a however?!”

“Yes, there is a however.” He scolded. “The however being that the said perpetrator has already signed a pledge letter and a custody assurance form.”

Kit stared at the policeman, who returned the gaze without flinching.

“No— What do you mean?”

 “For a big offence like this to be let go means he has a bank with his name on it. Resources are limited and this is the first time all three of ye’ committed an offence.” The man huffed, kneading his forehead. “Listen here, kid. I doubt yer’ going to be kept inside the house along with ya’ partner. I can only advise ye’ put a distance from this Ormr guy for the time being. Maybe even get a restraining order, because ye’ won’t get far from here.”

“But he’s been chasing me!”

“Restraining order.”

The blader pouted, his hand naturally hovering above his face before sliding down.

“Don’t be gloomy!” He smiled gently, “I’ll be doing the same with ye’; I’ll be letting you off the hook for now. But I’m afraid this does mean the form and letter has been sent out to yer’ guardian, I’ll be needing yer’ hanko. Wait you’re a foreigner, I need your signature—“

Kit immediately dropped his head onto the table, his hands clutching his skull. His fingers tightened around his frayed auburn locks with each passing second.

Shit.

“My mother’s going to put my head on a spike, isn’t she?” He muttered softly.

“Condolences to you, son. A least you got yourself some fun, ey?”

Wouldn’t expect an outbreak to be called fun, he grimly thought. Nevertheless, he breathed out a long sigh and straightened his back.

“Anything else I’ve got to know…?”

“Apart from the digital signature… Oh!” The light bulb above his head suddenly lit up. “Ah, I almost forgot to mention that the café ye’ caused a ruckus at has chosen not to force you to pay up at all. Now extremely lucky, aren’t ya?” He grinned.

Kit almost forgot about that, and released a small sigh. A good one, far from exasperation.

“At least my wallets saved… Uh, I deeply appreciate their generosity and will ensure to keep my distance from making a… ruckus again.” The blader breathily laughed, scratching behind his neck. He doesn’t think he can look at them in the eyes after the incident he involved himself.

“Atta, boy.” The policeman winked at him, having stood up don his seat. “I’ll have ye' and the other one discharged. Ye' get your freedom and so do I.”

“Thanks, I guess…” He hummed.

“I say ye' should be. Don’t do it again.”

The next moments at the police station went by in a blur. Kit couldn’t recall everything clearly, but the cold metallic surface of the pen, radiating between his burning fingers, made him grimace. His signatures grew more sprawled and unsteady with each paper he was handed. It had been an unsightly time, but when he finally passed through the glass doors, descended the concrete staircase outside the police station with its windows firing blinding lights, and let the night wind skim across his skin, he felt free at last. He licked his lips, pulling out his returned phone to find multiple missed calls coming from Honey and Valt from hours and a day ago. His heart sank as he imagined his friends’ faces contort, particularly Honey now that she was all alone back in the shared hotel. After the incident, she never dealt well travelling alone and now that Ormr was back in town, it’ll be a lot worse for her.

Worse, the fright on her face when she receives the news about the digital copies of the papers.

He tapped the WhatsApp icon, then Honey’s profile, and let his thumb slide across the screen. Message after message flew out at his face, each one heavier with feelings and words she shouldn’t have to bear, so different from her normally bright, happy chats. But there was one that caught his eyes:

‘Hope you’re having a nice date, but I thought I’d tell you something that might make you change your plans later. I got word from Nika that Ormr is back in town, near where the cafe is located. I don’t mean to bother, but it’s best if you went on that forest trip you planned as soon as possible.”

Well, that was nice; if only Kit had actually read it instead of being all lovey-dovey in the moment. Now, it’s just a hurricane of texts regarding if he was either being okay or his whereabouts due to his startling absence at the hotel. He tipped his head back, letting the pulsing heat of his phone warm his cool skin. He hated it, but he couldn’t move his hands from his face, not when he was deep in shame. Not when he was deep in… whatever it was with his heart stumbling over its own rhythm.

He wanted to go home. But no, he couldn’t.

Now all he could do was bd stuck with migraine, thinking about it all until a light kiss on the back of his neck made him forget it all.

 “The fuck?” Kit pivoted on his heel in a full circle, his sharp eyes, once harboring hatred from the long talks about that despicable teen, suddenly melting away as they recognized the cerulean pupils before him. “Aiger, you’re here.” He said out loud.

The other only smiled wider, his eyes crinkling like crescent moons. “Did I give ya’ a little surprise?”

“I’m not that much of a scaredycat.” Kit bit back with a matching smile, though to his boyfriend of all people, the expression fell flat.

Aiger shook his head gently, placing a hand on his shoulder and kneading the skin beneath the layer of fabric. “Give your mind a piece of rest. I’m fine. You’re fine. Is there anything to be really worried about?”

“Yeah; your nose.” He hissed, pointing his index finger at the big white plaster obviously hiding the bruise on Aiger’s nose. With how large the bandage was, there was no doubt he must’ve trickled a little bit of blood out of his nostrils.

“Just a punch or two; nothing I can’t deal with.” Aiger shrugged it off.

“Huh, well you look even more ridiculous wearing five plasters on your head.” Kit snorted. “Hey, you kinda look like Honcho as well…”

“Seriously? Honcho of all people?”

“Well, he’s a pretty good mentor to Hizashi brothers!” He raised his hands to his head in a sloppy gesture, his chest still shaking with laughter.

“That’s true, he did make them two become something brilliant.” Aiger nodded his head. “It’s kinda crazy how quickly they became the number one and two A ranked bladers in a short time.”

“Didn’t you become a world champion in like a couple of weeks?” Kit deadpanned, not that he was going to discredit the Hizashi brothers and effort but their extraordinary rise to fame wasn’t something abnormal. He sighed, tipping his head. “One day, I’ll get there and defeat those brothers before I come for you.”

“Mmm, surely this time it won’t out of jealousy or anything?”

Kit threw his head back with groan. “Don’t even mention that; I told you I’m over it. That was before we were a thing!”

“Oof, but you were seething so hard back that you almost broke Hikaru’s bey! Didn’t you burst Fubuki’s as well, somehow?” Aiger rambled on, pushing his face into Kit’s space. “That gotta be one of your cruelest and best highlights I’ve seen! Who knew jealousy could’ve fuelled something great in you.”

He slapped a hand over his face. “I didn’t mean to make Hikaru almost cry! I dunno, I guess I thought I was losing you, even though he had Reina… And- And Fubuki—it wasn’t jealousy, it was totally just the heat of the moment. I had to prove to myself I was just as capable as him, and well those were results!” Kit clicked his teeth, “Pretty sure he’s fine… I think.”

“Oh, Fubuki’s fine— except for his ego since you did that in front of Shu. Hikaru? Yeah, that was pretty wrong of ya’ to do, but at least you helped him back on his feet quickly. But can’t deny it, your possessive streak was kind of cute while it lasted.” Aiger teased, his index finger curling one of his auburn strands of hair nonchalantly.

The Air Knight blader instantly rolled his eyes, he couldn’t continue this conversation.

“Whatever. Speaking of others, did you hear back from—“ The phone in Kit’s hand buzzed boisterously, sharp and sudden. It buzzed again, cutting through the silence hung over the duo’s head. The contact name ‘Kana Akabane’ in bold lettering was the first thing caught both of their eyes.

“Oh, it’s mum.” Aiger’s lips thinned as sweat started to bead on his forehead profusely. “Wait, she’s calling you?!”

“I’ve always had her in my contacts, dumbass. She’s probably going to ask about you.” Kit sighed. “Better to go about answering her than Honey. I can hear her chiding already.”

“Honey’s…?” Aiger raised a brow, shuffling near to his side. His body heat radiating onto him—he liked it. “What about Ange’s?”

“Ah- My mum can be pretty scary, but Honey… She’s someone you don’t want to get on your bad side, for sure.” Kit shuddered, before tapping onto the green button on his phone screen abd putting it on speaker.

“Hello? Kit?”

“Uh, hi there, Mrs. Akabane!”

“Oh, thank goodness you answered! I was trying to reach out for the both of you but none of you answered until I got a call from Valt!”

“Ahah, yes, we were doing stuff… at a police station.” Kit mumbled out, getting a glaring side eye on the side of his face.

“I’m aware from the envelope I’ve been given and a little disappointed that you two got yourselves involved in a fight. I won’t blame you entirely, since it seems the boy you were fighting was looking to stir up trouble in the first place.”

Kit pinched the bridge of his nose, “Yes, I’m sorry—“

“No need to apologise; as I said, I know you’re not responsible for this incident. Valt filled me in about the situation. But please, tell me you know where Aiger is?”

“I’m here, mum.” Aiger said loudly into the speaker.

“Aiger, you’re here! Why didn’t you answer any of your calls?” Kana chided, her voice slightly strained over the voice speaker.

“I would if my phone wasn’t purposely smashed by him.” He pouted, running his fingers over his bandaged knuckles. A long scar peeked out from beneath his plaster, likely caused by ceramic shards digging into his skin during their pummeling.

“It’d be nice to have gotten a call even from a telephone pole, especially when you're hurt already! It’s past your curfew, boys! I’m expecting you two to come home promptly this instant.”

Damn, he still had a curfew? Still, Mrs. Akabane had a point. It was dark out here, with the streetlights’ illumination barely reaching the edges of the sidewalk and the shadows of the buildings draping the world in black. Even the moon itself was slightly hiding behind a rows of clouds, leaving their vision almost gone.

 “Alright, how about you let me pay for the cab?” Kit offered, running his fingers through his hair. “It’s the least I can do after our date got ruined.”

 Aiger stood there, a little aghast at him. “The cab? What about you—where are you going?”

“Home?”

“Home? At this time of hour?” Kana interrupted.

Kit blinked slowly at their little enquiries. “Yeah, at this hour. I think I’m pretty good at travelling across Japan, Mrs. Akabane. I’m supposed to go home, right?”

Aiger, on the other hand, didn’t seem to agree, latching onto Kit’s shoulders with one arm looped around neck, “Hey mum, did you know that Kit got humiliated in public with coffee dunked on his head from top to toe?”

“What?!” She gasped loudly. “I knew you were assaulted and hurt, but this way? This is unacceptable— the doctors treated your skin, right?"

“It wasn’t scalding coffee, Aiger!” Kit corrected him, irked. “Listen, I’m fine, really. Jus’ a little… Ergh. By the cheekbone and maybe my back. That's kinda hurting too...”

“You were suppose to go back home at five o’clock to finish training yesterday. Just come home with me and have a sleepover.” He deadpanned.

“I’m 17, have you forgotten about that? I can’t barge into your family house anymore like a little kid—“

Kana hummed through the voice bank. “I think it’s a brilliant idea.”

“Sorry?”

“Come join us for tonight, Kit. I did say come home quickly.”

“Any last words before we get going?” Aiger raised a brow, his hands on his hips. The smirk on his face was all telling that he had gained victory. Kit was not about to have it.

He tch’d. “Well, even so—“

“Kit.” The Achilles blader cuts in. “Just come with me and run with it.”

He flickered his eyes between the phone screen and Aiger, seemingly finding himself cornered by the Akabanes. With nothing else to choose, he huffed a smile. “Alright, I’ll join in.”

“Great, you boys come as soon as possible. Kit, I’ll have clothes, towels and a bed prepared for you. Any requests?”

“Any spare food?” Kit sheepishly asked, scratching the back of his head.

“Plenty.”

“We’ll see you then, Mrs Akabane.” And the phone call ended abruptly as soon as his thumb hit the red button.

Silence hung between them, one that was comforting under the sparse skies full of clouds. The overcast sky stretched above like a quiet witness to their little world, the clouds drifting slowly in no hurry to leave just like them.

“Looks like you and I are going to be sleeping in your bedroom.” Kit started the conversation, languidly wrapping his arm around Aiger’s waist. It felt normal and right to do so to let happiness breathe in their faces.

“Oi, don’t go thinking funny now!”

“Yes, yes. You know I’ll be pushy for everything but that.” He smirked. “It’s just— Eh, it’s kinda been long since I slept over at your home. You know?”

“Maybe if you didn’t keep refusing these past few years, you’d be saying something else.” Aiger flicked the other’s forehead gently, earning a yelp. “On the bright side, I get to see you in my clothes so I’m not complaining here.”

“Pervert.” Kit laughed.

Aiger shot his hand up. “Hey, I’m just saying my fashion taste is great! Wear more red; it looks good on you.”

“Really?” He never quite thought about red being his colour. “I mean sure, but I thought green looked better?”

“Well, duh, the green looks nice—but the red will make the green pop, especially for your eyes. Not to mention red is my colour.”

Kit tapped his finger against his chin.

“I’d never take advice from you about fashion, but I guess I might think about it…” Nika definitely had part in making Aiger’s taste buds defined, no doubt of it.

“Mhmm, think whatever you want—but how about we get moving? I’m pretty sure I can whip up some killer hot chocolate… unless Naru raided the chocolate cabinet again.”

“I never say no to hot chocolate, you know that!”

Chapter Text

Rivulets of water ran through his auburn strands, his head damp and stubborn as ever, while Kit worked the bundled locks with a fresh cotton towel. The warm fluorescent light overhead cast a gentle glow across his face, his skin now a vivid red in stark contrast to the pallor he had worn only minutes earlier upon arriving at the Akabane home. The sight made him pause, briefly considering if it was his schedule and the scant rest he had allowed himself during his stay in Japan thaf made him look abhorrent.

Doesn’t matter.

With renewed resolve, Kit pressed the towel more firmly into his mop of hair, letting it absorb the remaining droplets from his shower. Truly, it was refreshing to be smelling of lemon and lavender instead of acrid coffee barraging his nostrils. It was also, Kit smirked, rather amusing to discover that Aiger, who had always insisted on smelling fresh yet scentless, kept a bottle of lavender oil at his disposal. He could spend all day spinning hidden reasons for its presence, but the three sharp knocks on the other side of the door suggested otherwise.

“Oi, Kit! Are you sleeping in the tub or what? I don’t wanna walk into a crime scene and find you having drowned in my bathroom!”

He sighed heavily, his head bowed down, “Are you always this attention-starved?! Give me a minute; I’m trying to look good.” Kit hushed the other boy, quickly picking up his raglan shirt and slipping into it easily over his head.

Aiger huffed quietly, “Come on! It’s nighttime, not daytime. There’s no occasion to be at, anyways.”

“Is it bad to look presentable?” He squeezed the last dripping water of his hair ends into the cloth.

“No, but it’s useless. Pretty sure nobody cares how you look by now.” Kit heard a muffled, exasperated sigh behind the door, inciting him to roll his eyes.

He huffs, flicking his damp hair to the side, “You’re right, I am pretty gorgeous! But wouldn’t you want to take the chance to comment on my handsomeness?”

A loud bang on the door incited him to jump. Was he that desperate for his company?

Kit yanked open the drawer, grabbing the first box he saw and fiddling with the packaging. Successfully—he opened it, pulled out the elastic bandage, tore it free from the paper, and pressed it lightly against his bruised cheek..

“I’m not going to humour your words… Come on, Kit! Or I’m leaving you for the hot chocolate before it gets cold!”

Kit slammed the door open, nearly colliding with Aiger nose-to-nose. His smile, vivid and bright, while Aiga froze for a moment, caught between being abashed and astonished.

“So, whatcha’ saying about hot chocolates? Or was that bluff?” He tilted his head, and the Achilles blader snorted, shaking his head as he guided him by the arm gently towards to his bed full of fluffy cushions and a thick blanket to share thanks to Naru.

Kit’s feet froze at the edge of the bed, resisting the invisible pull, as confusion flickered across Aiger’s face. The Air Knight blader promptly crossed his arms, blinking rapidly that feigned innocence. “Woah, there! In bed, already? I thought you were insistent on keeping us pure.”

“You? Pure?” Aiger cackled, dropping himself onto the mattress. “Any other jokes to pass around?”

Kit squawked, “What’s that supposed to even mean?! I’m very pure inside and out: I literally made myself good-looking for you!”

“Do you really need to make an effort? You look good either way.” He grinned, stretching his arms languidly until his hand suddenly gripped onto Kit’s forearm.

“Huh?” Famous last words—especially when Aiger bared his fangs in his milli-second flash of a smile.

With a swift tug, Aiga shouted, “Now stop being difficult and get iinnnside!” He yanked Kit into his new slumber home on his stomach, straddling his back and pressing a pillow firmly over his head to muffle his protests.  A gleeful mirth bubbled up in his chest, causing him to throw back his head and laugh with unrestrained joy. Unbeknownst to hiim, however, was that he was no winner.

Beneath the pillow pressing Kit’s head into the mattress, his face wore a secret smile, hidden from any eyes. He clicked his tongue, counting down from three.

3…

2…

1…

He rocked backward, his shoulder colliding with Aiger's body and sending him sprawling down onto the bed behind him. Snatching the pillow that he was abused by, he twisted himself and smacked it squarely into Aiga’s face.

“Awh, yeah! Gané!” Kit cheered too soon before a sudden force pushed back against him, overpowering his strength.

He glanced down, astounded, just in time to see the Achilles blader slip free of the pillow and seize him by the collar. A sly grin tugged at his lips as his eyes lingered, memorizing every detail of his face. At some point, Kit realised belatedly that Aiger’s fingers had found their way to a lock of hair at the back of his head. Aiger opened his mouth wide, probably ready to say some other goading comment right before he scrunched up his eyes, clasping over his nose. His fingers lost from his hair, ghosting over his bandage.

“Gah–! ‘Fink you’ve put a bit much pressure on me...” He pouted.

Kit sucked in a sharp breath, flinching back as his heart burned from the other’s confession. His agile fingers around his shoulders carefully pulled Aiger upright on the bed. He watched him, a bead of sweat blossoming on the side of his cheek. “Argh, sorry— sorry– Wait, are you bleeding? Is it bleeding?” A thumb traced Aiger’s cheek, caressing back and forth as he leaned closer, their breaths mingling in shared heat.

“I’m not a fragile feather.” The Achilles blader reminded, grabbing onto his hands, “My nose is fine, just stinging.”

“Oh—huh, okay.”

No, it kinda wasn’t. Not when the memories of the past event was flooding into his head.

“If you keep staring at me like that, I might really pull you into a deep kiss.”

Kit flushed, brushing his fringe back across his scalp as he glanced downward. He’d almost forgotten how romantic the boy could be in their private confines. Aiger was always flirtatious and bold when they were alone, yet subtle before others. But here? Now? He could hardly comprehend the words spilling from his mouth.

Didn’t need to anyway, really. He could use this distraction right now.

The Air Knight blader huffed, his shoulders shaking in time with the rhythm of his laughter. With one hand hooked into the collar of his shirt, Kit reeled Aiger toward him, his other hand brushing along his chin, eyes half-lidded.

“Right, and what’s really stopping us from getting on with it?”

Aiger hummed, scanning him top to bottom. He smirk grew wider until it stalled at one particular area—his ankle. Kit turned around, his curious eyes having Lao laid upon his bandaged foot. Although not wrapped perfect, it was most definitely passable and not sloppy.

“Is it ugly or something?”

“Nah, it’s just– We’ll have to skip this one out; I don’t wanna stress your body any further.”

“Let me reiterate a sentence you’re familiar with: ‘I’m not a fragile feather’.” Kit taunted. “Besides, it’s just my cheek that is really affected.”

Aiger frowns, cutting the romantic air in half in one swipe with his lips. He placed his hands carefully on his bandaged cheek, finger pads brushing past the elastic material. “Don’t wanna hear anymore excuses—no kisses.”

Kit slumped down against the pillows behind him, his head hitting against the headboard, “No es justo…” He mumbled to himself. So much for romance.

The Achilles blader darted him an apologetic look, eyes running over his body from top to toe until he caught another item in the vicinity of his bed. He picked up the towel that was once around the other blader’s neck.

“You know, your hair is still a bit wet.” He squeezed the damp cloth, “You’re gon’ get  yourself in trouble.”

“Whaaaaat?” Kit blinked incredulously. “Don’t leave me on a cliffhanger!”

“Well that’d ruin the suspense! But if you really say so, then you better prepare yourself for a small, blue fae to tackle you down the stairs to the dryer.”

“Dang, you’re saying there’s a monster inside Naru this whole time?“

Aiger hummed positively, “Hey, don’t worry too much about it. You’ll be alright by the end of it; assuming you won’t fight back.”

A sharp crack split the wooden board, echoing through the room. At first, silence followed, but soon faint rumblings rose, spilling from the staircase. Each thudding step fell in rhythm, pounding louder and clearer in their ears. This was no mere noise; it was a war horn, sounding the battle the Air Knight blader could not avoid. The distant rumblings of footsteps echoed through the room, their sound growing steadily louder as they ascended the stairs. The rhythmic thump of each step added an ominous undercurrent to the already tense atmosphere.

Kit snapped his neck at Aiger, a dark glint in his irises.

“Pass me the bag I gifted you from Christmas.”

He raised a brow, slowly lying back down on the bed, “You mean the hideous red one? It’s in the drawer next to you.

He pulls it out the drawer. Unzips the ugly bag, and there it was; a humongous hairy spider. He cackled loudly, excitement brewing wildly inside his chest. It was everything he loved about it; it has eight spindly legs, coated in a nightmarish bundle of fuzz and starkly crimson beady eyes to radiate intimidation like those sharp canine fangs. He held it up, grinning. It was a masterpiece.

“I hope you know mum nearly burnt the kitchen seeing it.” He warned, giddily.

Kit nodded mindlessly, rolling up the web string attached to the spider’s back onto his fingers, “Right, right. Even better! Sounds like it’s in perfect shape and ready for action.”

He looked around the bedroom, a cozy sanctuary wrapped in chaos adorned with trinkets and various plants by the windows. There were tangled bed linens, a cluttered desk, and a soft, worn carpet underfoot. But there was one thing that attic out to him right in the corner of his eyes:

A stool.

He stood up, dragged the stool to the entrance behind the door, and climbed onto it. Aiger shot him a questionable look, “What are you even doing?”

“Friendly fire.” Kit answered, “Wanna join?”

“Couldn’t make me say no in a million years.” He grinned, getting up from the mattress onto his two feet.

The door swung open, hitting against the stool with a soft thump. He hitched his breath, biting down his lip hard as he successfully focused on maintaining his balance.

“Hey, someone ordered biscuits and I—“ Naru paused, looking at her brother’s odd expression.

She squinted, “What’s up with that smile?”

The spider drops.

She let out a high pitched squeal, sending the tray of biscuits flying skyward in her panic as she stumbled backward. Quick as ever, Aiger flew across the floor, arms flailing, yet miraculously caught the tray and every single biscuit midair before they exploded. Meanwhile, Naru collapsed onto the floor, her body sprawled like a starfish. The result of it all? One empty body without a soul and a successful prank to celebrate with delicious biscuits.

“Haha, it worked! Didn’t see that coming now, did you, Naru?” Kit burst into hearty laughter, hopping off the stool and poking his head out the doorframe. He glanced at Aiger, who was clutching the tray of biscuits against his heaving chest, “Nice work. Guess your talent comes in handy in more ways than one!”

The Achilles blader blinked at the handful of biscuits before him then at Kit. He grinned, “Well, I guess that makes two of us caught by surprise.”

Kit finger-shoots, beaming with mischief, “Now thats what a real prank looks like delivered by the master himself— wuoooah!”

He collapsed to his knees, legs buckling beneath his weight. A hiss escaped his lips. His legs quickly folded together and rubbed soothed at the ache with his careful hands. The Air Knight blader pouted, brows furrowing at the sight of a gleeful Naru before him.

“What, c’mon! What was that for?”

“A little payback for nearly destroying those hard-worked biscuits.” Naru exasperated, sluggishly sinking in her seat. “I forgotten you had a mischevious streak inside you…”

Aiger cackled, “Not a drop of mischief left from the day we met. Man, sometimes you got me thinking what would happen if you and Pheng ever pulled pranks together.”

“Don’t give him that idea!”

“Okay, fine—“ Kit clapped his hands together, “It really is my bad; I didn’t know you were coming in with biscuits— But it was funny!”

“I guess it was a little, but eurgh…” Naru squinted, picking up the spider doll next to her between her two fingers. “This is  a nightmare.”

“Why not snag it from Aiger and prank a bunch of other dudes? I bet you 1000¥ it’ll go splendid.”

“Getting my revenge on you would be better, but I’ll take that advice too. Why not?” She threw away the spider across the bedroom,

“Oh-ho!” He whistled. “Keep your eyes open, Kit. Things about to get rowdy when Naru strikes at ya’.”

“And everything’s gonna be a-okay, ‘cause nobody can beat me! Well, at my pranks, for now.” Kit side-eyed the tray between the other’s arms, “Speaking of a-okay… those biscuits aren’t broken, right?”

Aiger peered down, “They look pretty awesome to me. Mm… smells like there’s hazelnut in here.”

The Air Knight blader crept up behind him, inhaling the scent as the warm air beat across his face. “Oo, it’s warm too! Naru, did you make a fresh batch?”

“I only helped a bit, but it’s really all thanks to mum.” She sheepishly beamed:

The sharp slaps of a pair of slippers halted in front of the widely open doorway of Aiger’s bedroom. Admist the little chaos made, all three looked up to find Kana looming over them, two steaming cups of hot chocolate held in both of her hands. Her expression was  one Kit never seen before with her lips formed into a muted ‘o’. She raised a single eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe, “I heard myself being called out. Everything alright in here?"

“Well if it isn’t just perfect timing!” The Air Knight blader bounced back on his two feet, “We were talking about the biscuits you made, Mrs. Akabane. They smell super goood!”

“Yeah, yeah, super good,” Aiger cut in, “but all this talking’s gonna make the biscuits go cold!”

“Biscuits— cold, augh… I think I’m gonna take a long break after whatever happened.” Naru slowly clambered back on her feet, mumbling some other words under her breath while she shuffled her way out of the door towards downstairs.

“Yikes, didn’t think I did a number on her that much…” He muttered under his breath until his head jolted up, “Ah, I nearly forgot but thank you for your kindness, Mrs. Akabane! I’m sure the biscuits will be tasty as always!”

Kana drew out a short breath, a soft smile dancing on her lips as she pushed the cups onto each of boys’ hands. “Thats sweet of you. No need to thank me; I’m always here to help.” She reminded him lightly.

Once the hot chocolates were secured between their fingers, Kana took a few step backs exiting the bedroom, her hand on the door knob, “Now I’ve given you your snacks, you boys can go have fun and rest, but don’t stay up too late.”  Before she could take a further, her eyes simply had caught something. She studied their faces, the corners of her eyes crinkling the longer she looked not at the wrongly colorful patches marking their skin, but at Kit, dressed in borrowed smiles. Kana shook her head mentally, “Make sure to have proper sleep, your faces are in dire need of healing right away.”

“The bruise went down a bit, it’ll be fineeee.” The Air Knight blader poked at his bandage, his fingertip hovering just above it.

“Just change your bandages on time,” she instructed sharply. “Now, I’ll be off. Knock on my door if you need me; I’m the only one available tonight. Aiger’s father won’t be back until tomorrow morning. Alright?”

“Yes ma’am!” Kit saluted, as Aiger nodded.

“Alright then.” She exhaled. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight!” They said in unison.

A resounding click reverberated in the room once the door latched shut. The sound of Kana's slippers faded step by step down the hallway, drowned by the silence of the household. It was only Kit and Aiger, standing beside each other under the lingering scent of hot chocolate and hazelnut biscuits in their wake.

The Achilles blader’s shoulders immediately slid down, “I’m locking that spider away.”

“That’s just injustice—“

“Don’t wanna hear it.”

“Cruelest man of earth is right in front of me.”

“If being evil does more good for us, then might as well go for it—beats me.”

“Aren’t you the one supposed to have the stronger moral compass here?”

“Aren’t you the one supposed to be in bed, restin’?” Aiger shot back.

“We didn’t lay out the tatami mat—“

“My bed.” He corrected, pushing his shoulder gently toward the bed, “Still wanna name me the cruelest man of earth?”

The boy hummed, idly tapping his chin before he shrugged his shoulders, “I think so.”

“Alright, get in.” He ordered, “Place your hot chocolate on the side table.”

“Aye, aye. Your words are at my command.”

Kit placed his hot chocolate on the side table. So does Aiger, along with the tray of biscuits. He set his ceramic cup down on the bedstand, its base wobbling before settling forth on the surface. A faint, grating scrape sneered against their ears as he dragged it quickly into place. He let go, and sat down on the edge of the mattress.

Aiger frowned but followed suit, setting down the hot chocolate and tray of biscuits quicker, if anything. Not another heartbeat to spare in their sparse time, the Achilles blader grabbed both sides of his waist, drowning him deeper into the addicting warmth of sheets scented with pinecones and hazel. He inhaled the narcotic scent—it drags him to euphoria, drawing small huffs of excitement from his lips.

He could just close his eyes, let himself be enebeloped in the warmth…

No.

Kit threw his hands up, towing the other’s upper body off with his flexing arms for a minute; it was silent competition through muscle against muscle, breath against breath with neither willing to yield. He rolled, he gently kicked, but eventually, he gave up. The Air Knight blader sank reluctantly into the sheets, auburn locks fanning out like a crooked halo, catching the light that glowed behind Aiger’s head. His arms finally gave out, chest crashing against his, in a wave of heat, almost surging their bodies with excruciating intensity.

Kit hissed, clutching onto his chest, “Can’t you be just a lil’ careful?”

“Mmh- sorry.” He exhaled, short of breath. Probably because of the nose, he thought; there was no way the world’s No. 3 blader could get this tired so quickly. His thoughts went silent as a soft touch of lips traced against his forehead, his nose then his lips, his chin, his neck. A little bit more on his neck, he realised.

“You’re lingering.”

“Don’t like it?” He whispered, pressing his lips softly against Kit’s cheek.

“No, no— Continue. I’m just—“ He chortled “Very, very curious. That’s all.”

The Achilles blader frowned. “Don’t I kiss you often?”

“I never said that, coconut head. Never seen you take this long.”

He twitched his eye, looming over Kit’s face. His gaze hollow, his expression suddenly dark. The smile on Kit’s face nearly wiped off.

“Fine then, I’ll stay even longer.” Aiger dived in, his lips opening the bud of his mouth. The space, the tension, the heat; it all melded into one, exploding inside their skulls. His hands clasped behind his head, pressing deeper into the cavern of his mouth the treasure it held—his pleasure, soft gasps, and giddy chuckles. In that moment, he belatedly realized how long he had been starving for this, starved under the shudders that had wrecked both their bodies. Then their lips parted, puffs of breath radiating warmth across their faces. No, his face was already warm, burning with passion and something deeper.

Aiger dove once again, but this time, a hand enveloped his eyes in darkness, making him halt.

“Okay that’s enough.” He could feel the coil in his gut tightening, persistent like the ache of his bruise. “Damn these bruises.” Kit muttered to himself.

Aiger obliged, backing up and settling more comfortably against his pillows, while Kit grabbed the pillow he had previously used as a weapon. He sighed, arms behind his head, “Knew it wouldn’t last that long. Hey, you better not sleepy now though. I’ve got plenty of films and games to share with you.”

He carried the tray of biscuits and settled between them on the cover, passing the hot chocolate towards Kit.

“Fine by me.” He does an ‘okay’ sign with a smug face, “Heads up, I’m not going to chill out even for a second if we’re playing games.”

“Bold words coming from you.”

“Uh-huh, my skills in board games can defeat you in any day.”

“Board games it is?”

“Right now.”

He immediately jumped off the bed, pulling out a variety of game boards from under his bed frame for them to share. Dust motes floated up into the air with each box he grabbed, but he hardly noticed, too busy grinning as he laid out their options for the night’s entertainment. And so the night went on with some expressions tinged with sorrow, others with celebration. Most of the joy came from Kit, loud and genuine, but one couldn’t deny that Aiger’s tactics were clever. Minute by minute, the biscuits disappeared, leaving crumbs scattered across the tray, while their beverages were slurped to non-existence in one playful little competition between the two. The reward for the winner? Two lips meeting, melting into each other– fitting together like puzzle pieces for a fleeting moment.

Minty, chocolatey, and sweet.

By the time the fun had faded, the sky had transformed into a celestial map, stitched with stars shining lustrous as pearls. Yet in the vast expanse above, it was the moon’s radiant glow that drew everything together that pulled the landscape together into one renaissance painting worth gazing upon.

“Okay, I think my eyelids are getting heavy.” Kit yawned, his head hitting back on the pillows. The Achilles blader hummed in agreement, blinking sleepily as he shuffled out of bed, his feet padding against the wooden floorboards before he flicked the light switch off. The Air Knight blader blearily opened his eyes as the wooden boards groaned under shifting weight, then the mattress dipped beside him. He heard a muffled thud landed close to his head. He shuffled his head on the plush pillow, a short breath escaping his lips caught by surprise of one arm flung tightening over his ribs.

“Uh oh.”

Aiger peeled an eye open lazily, “What’s up?”

“Just realising this might be a mistake.”

“In what way?”

“You’re going to kick me off the bed sooner or later.” He replied, slowly wrestling his way out of the other’s grip.

“No I won’t.” The grip around his torso tightens, pulling him back into place “The worst possible thing that could happen is me passing out like a starfish.”

“You always sleep like one—“ A palm slapped over Kit’s lips.

“You, me, this bed—together.”

Kit obliged. He listened to the calm, labored breaths brushing the nape of his neck. The rhythm lulled him toward sleep. Penny for his thoughts, a dollar for his soul; wherever the boy’s heart led, he’ll follow, because it was made out of gold. A path Aiger led him down opened to a peaceful sanctuary known as slumber; one he had missed so dearly, and finally realised he had truly belonged.

“Aren’t you gonna knock yourself out?”

He flickered his eyes open, head turned to the only blader he could admire outside the stadiums.

“I was about to get my beauty sleep.” He chided, weakly. “You simply interrupted me.”

Silence befell them, clogging their throats and hollowing out the spark of romance that had once ignited between them. His brown brows furrowed in response, unable to ignore the eerie echo reverberating in his mind as a chill snaked up his spine.

Aiger’s face? It was… off.

“Oi, you trust me. Right?”

One eyebrow slid up his forehead, “Why is that even question?”

His underlying question goes unheard, as the teen moved on, suddenly intertwining their fingers into one lock. Both fingers were bruised and calloused from the heavy grip on their launchers and the training they had endured, respectively. The lines, the edges– they spoke of honour and hard work thst could never be obtained so easily.

Nevertheless, as loving as the expression was, it remained as an anomaly in the blader’s eyes.

“Cool.” He abruptly paused, “Don’t mind me shooting something sensitive then—“

“¡Por el amor de Dios! Spit out!”

“I’m tryna not to be a dick and be pushy, dumbass!” He groaned aloud. “Fine, let’s rip the bandage off. You weren’t yourself at all the day before yesterday— You’re always the one to stay within the lines when you sense real danger, but you just went haywire! What’s even between you and that guy? Or… Ormr, was it?— that made you lose your cool?”

Oh. Sleep unraveled from his eyes, baring him to dread.

Aiger got up on his elbows hurriedly, “I can see your body becoming ice.” He frowned, “If you aren’t comfortable, then I’ll drop it. You don’t have to answer, you know? I’ll face the other way and we can forget this even happened—“

“I’m not uncomfortable.” Kit brushed his hair back, “Didn’t think it’d be brought up but I guess I owe you an explanation.”

“Nah, don’t bring those words here. You owe me nothing.”

“I hurt your nose, your hands, your legs, even your eyes… It’s kinda all because of me.”

“No.— Well, a bit of yeah, but that’s only because you’re my boyfriend.” The Achilles blader stressed, “You think I’ll sit back and watch without calling anyone out for attacking you?”

“No? Yes– okay, no. Still-”

“Listen to me, loud and clear, I’m not gonna force you to open up, but I’m not gonna laze around to see you blame yourself. You want a hundred reasons why I think you aren’t in the wrong? I’ll say it.”

“I know I’m not in wrong, but it’s still because of me.”

His hand slammed down beside Kit’s ear, his face hovering inches above his, “You say you aren’t at fault then say you are. I don’t get it; you’re just spitting nonsense.”

“Of course, you wouldn’t. Sometimes you being an airhead makes me so…”

“So what?”

He placed a hand over Kit’s cheek, unharmed, porcelain hiding a crack, “What are you feeling?”

He closed his eyes, “You still my thoughts, leave me obsessed with your heart, and so, so fucking envious of your life.”

“You wanna be a champion that bad?”

“No, I wanna be just some normal, happy kid like you.” He shifted slightly, leaning into the warmth of the Achilles blader’s hand.

The other watched him in silence, the cog wheels in his head worn from decoding that one simple answer.

“You are one?” Aiger insisted, albeit weakly.

“No, not after all these months, I’m not one—not yet. I wish I could feel normal, already.” Kit tugs at the baby hairs at the nape of his neck, freshly cut and clean yet they feel so rugged and ruined.

He continued, “I wasn’t lying when I said it’s all because of me. Probably should zip it up before I blabber on—“

“I still wanna hear it.” The other barged in, “even if it lasts hours on end.”

Kit laughed dryly, then glanced at his phone, the camera catching the light just as it always did whenever Honey began recording their countless videos. They had meant to share the joy of Beyblade, yet somehow, it ended up spreading their pain instead.

“I use to regular blog about Beyblade, and it was successful, uh, by my small standards.” He started, pupils dropping to the floor. “You’re a popular guy, and I already knew that fame came with its consequences. I thought I was ready to face the internet, seeing how you, Valt, and Shu managed it just fine, but I was wrong.”

Kit exhaled, “I don’t know when it started but when it became obvious, I realised there was always these group of users oddly obsessed over me…”

The difference was straight up day and night, what used to be to be an audience full of equally passionate bladers brimming with voices thundering raw, spirits high, and energy flowing contagious among them. It was an atmosphere to live in, until he noticed the world he built become a dim echo. Only to watch some brights minds slowly succumb to a disease preached by a growing group of fervent people, lead by one certain girl—his admirer.

His eyes closed shut, clutching his forearm hard that his fingers dug crescents into his skin. He remembered himself, a year ago, scrolling down the social media and there it always was. Sometimes it’s what peoples words that touch more than our hands, that truly hit Kit in the abdomen.

Scoring bursts so easily like it’s just a breeze. No wonder he can burst himself straight into my heart. He truly is a man under all that pressure and stress. A masculine sport for an equally masculine man.

It was… fine, he supposed. But then there was these specific comments not to him but to…

‘Honey this, Honey that’. Shut it, I don’t care if they’ve been friends since childhood. I’ve been in love with him since the first time I laid eyes on him so shove it.

Why is she always in the pictures? Someone tell her to get out, or at least crop accordingly. I’m here for Kit.'

The first time he read it, his shoulders shook with laughter because it was just funny. A so-called glamorous prince, tattled on by a group of youngsters obsessed with his looks. Petty jealousy and flimsy, witless speeches. Wasn’t that normal for any type of creator?

It should’ve ended there until the same messages started spamming not only his comment sections, but his DMs and even his email. His private email. Had he even told anyone his email?

Kit didn’t—at least not publicly to random strangers. He knew online safety rules from the tip of his tongue.

User? Promptly blocked.

The small button should’ve allowed him to continue his prospering journey as a passionate blader bearing an online presence. Yet the ‘block’ button did more harm than good. His teammates were harassed so much, they were pushed to overburden annoyance that the matter even was brought up over dinner. His grip tightened until it split skin, shame flooding his face as his teeth ground together.

“Couldn’t get past the pressure on top of my head when everyone’s eyes turned to me.” Kit confessed, eyes falling upon the ceiling.

It didn’t end there. Then came the flood of comments under his videos once more painting him as some charming hero, words irrelevant, meaningless, drowning out everything else that should’ve been the topic! The Air Knight blader, for the first time, felt frustration boil in his head.

But what truly snapped inside him was a memory lodged in the corner of his mind: the time he stumbled across those poetic ramblings on his screen, words carving into his eyes about the relentless dreams of meeting a hypothetical man she had named “Kit.” The so-called grace of it all, delivered in an endless stream of receipts too many to count, only made him gag. Maybe he was fumbling not accepting someone wanted him romantically and so passionately but how could he choose it over someone like him? When he listened to Aiger’s laughter and boasts, it felt like a meteorite blazing across the sky, burning with a beauty no one could ignore.

These DMs? Emails? Comments? He went extinct like the dinosaurs, abandoning every account, because even the slightest trace of him was enough for her to find him. He didn’t know how—didn’t dare question further because at last, he had managed to weave a world of quiet corners where he could escape.

“Jeez, what a nightmare…” Aiger scrunched up his nose, but his expression softened as his fingers gently pried at his forearm. “Hey, you’re gonna hurt yourself.”

Kit looked away, eyes darting to the phone to the entrance to the carpet—

“Am I?”

Yes, he was—the beads of blood pooling at the edges of his ruined, trimmed nails. Maybe it was better to distract Aiger with his attention, because he wasn’t sure he could voice the aghast shock clawing at him; the horror of watching the same girl who had haunted his shadow manifest into a real, breathing being before his eyes. Coincidence? Perhaps. But after living in a world of peace for so long, what else could possibly go wrong?

Her crimson curls bounced behind her as she sat in front of him with a smile. “It’s great to finally see you! I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long and I— Wait, do you remember me? You must remember me, right? Of course you do, I’m—“

“Hold it,” Kit choked out, “…You’re here— you’re here. How did you even find me?”

“Ah, from the cupcake! Some friend suggested you would definitely be here.”

A cupcake?

It all derived from one picture of a cupcake he posted minutes ago on his social media for the first time? He couldn’t repeat the mistake three times. With that being spoken out loud, Kit dug his head back deeper into the cushions, his calloused palm dragging across his face. “Thank god, never met her again after that somewhat. Social media such a fucking sore.”

The Achilles blader gawked at him for a minute, then laughed incredulously out on the moment, “From a cupcake! She— Ormr found you from just a cupcake?”

“Yeah, pretty unpredictable. Never thought she’d be sorta into stalking or something— Guess those hopes to come back was for nothing.”

“Glad to see you’re online again, then. I saw you and Honey rampage on about a battle you saw with this talented newbie.."

“Mhmm, I’ll be posting a new video analysing over it! Video making was my lifeline for having fun; it was only thing making me active than being stuck in WhatsApp or LINE…”

“You didn’t take the chance to appreciate Mother Nature’s green earth?”

“Did that too!” He chuckled, “I just… wished I wasn’t so focused on my happiness, my freedom.”

The Achilles blader blinked owlishly.

“What?”

He turned his face away, “Because I didn’t use social media anymore, I passed the responsibility of overlooking our shared beybrand account onto Honey.” He sucked in a sharp breathe.

He remembered it like it was yesterday—the moment he finally understood the weight of her searing words and her chosen silence. He could still see her eyes, once curved with joy, now drooping with exhaustion, when he chased her all the way to the USA. After their argument at BC Sol. After she left the team for another sport. After he stood victorious at the European Championships, knocking down other bladers like a line of dominoes. That was the departure of their friendship for a moment in their lives., And like Kit, she also disappear from social media as well. The difference? She erased herself everywhere.

Her phone number. Her profile. Her damn private email. A ghost, never to be seen, and it worked on everyone—Shasa, Valt, Kit—everyone except the reappearance of his ‘dearest’ fan. Could he remember her name? No. But one thing stood out: she was as passionate and bold as her fiery red hair, fiercely competitive and confident. She was undeniably admirable, if not for the paths she chose to tread.  To cut Honey’s hair, breaking their one-year promise to grow it out together, left a harsh scar along her neck as a cruel reminder. Then there was her desolate demeanor; her happiness now shone in bleaker ways than before. But when he chased her across America to her volleyball practice, he finally glimpsed the fragility she tried to hide, a sadness that threatened to break her just a little. He let the rosebud of her youth and whimsy bloom, unfurling in her throat, open wide for the first time in a long while.

Only for a blink of an eye, in front of everyone, she would draw an invisible line, segregating their existences. She became quiet and aloof in her responses, dry and measured, her usual joyous optimism restrained even when it had slipped through. All under prying eyes, full of hers, and belatedly, a his. Time passed by in a blur as he worked to rebuild their bond. Before he knew it, she spilled a love confession once again, and he rejected it just as firmly as before. But he did agree to one thing for her—a date in exchange for information. After all, a maniac fan like her would always kiss the dirt laid out by her idol than some havoc-wrecking user.

His sweet promise brings out the revelation one that can ruin the holiness of thou wirds, of her maniac obsession, her envy of Honey and her trade for his love. Mirth and chaos traded for coordinates and a band of merry-men, delivered by one and only—Ormr.

This time, he listened. The blader finally felt all the puzzled clicked.

He was the one that wedged a wall between them. When the world couldn’t see Honey and Kit together, she would collapse to the floor, babbling and sobbing hard like hailstorm hitting against earth, fingers raking at the green bow tied tightly around her neck. The one gifted by the same fan; a gift of mockery, driving his best friend down the rabbit hole. Never had he seen any redder marks than the ones on her skin from her frantic scratching, leaving the knot untouched.

“I’m not your girlfriend. I’m not some home wrecker. I’m no princess needing saving. I’m a capable blader with my own name— Why can’t they all just stop it?!”

And when the moment of sorrow hadn’t fell upon their heads, they still can’t express themselves because—

“What if they sees us?” She whispered in the alleyway, clutching onto her neck as she surveillances the area.

At the very least, Honey spoke to Kit, but so did the other girl. He realised later that he now had to fight in a tug of war between them two, each balancing the others out without creating disorder. Should’ve ditched her, should’ve dropped her. But she was the key to the problems wrecking their lives, one Honey realised before him.

Did she stay there willingly—?

A little trick was all they needed to do to bring out the real villain to their doorstep.

“You made use out of that crazy girl?” Aiger eyes opened wide, baffled. “And here I thought the path to the resolution couldn’t get anymore weirder.”

“Talented, I know—“ The Air Knight waved him off, “but the situation had to end somehow, get me? Maybe, eh, I was a lil’ desperate, but—“

“No need to give me any reasoning. I know you’re not in the wrong.”

Kit licked his lips. “Right, right. Yeah— sure, okay.” He quickly replied, silence seated above their heads for a moment. He continued the story, buried from his heart.

Although never questioned, Hoey dropped a shocking confession he didn’t know could be possible. Or maybe could, since his admirer was able to track him down…

Ormr’s presence in Honey’s life slipped beyond the confines of the online world only once, he learned from her lips. What happened between them, she never said with her face remained hidden. Honey unravelled before him time after time, he finally grasped the stories behind her complex words entirelysilently. Nevertheless, whatever she had trodded through, her decision to use herself as bait, taunting and goading his ego and thirst for power, was what finally drew him into a battle. He couldn’t quite remeber the flurries of beys crashing against each other or the misogynistic insults hurled at her. His eyes could only watch, frigid in midst of the battle. Because all of the lost moments of whispering joys in their lives seemed to ignite again, reborn in a rush of fire the instant he saw those purple irises spark a whole new surge of light something he could call hope. Knees bent, voice cracking as it rose, Honey unleashed her winning roar and shattered her opponent’s arrogance against the ground.

Ormr stood there, frozen.

“Y-you cheating bitch! I want a rematch, you obviously did something wrong to get that burst!”

He cheered not because not only did she get her small revenge against the boy wreaking havoc in their lives, but because it was the confirmation she still had passion for Beyblade all this time. Four words, ten flowery sentences, not even a thousand languages could ever capture his delight. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, letting the warmth between them speak the only truth that mattered: he was proud of her.

It was the brilliant moment to basked themselves in glory, before Valt and Shasa would be involved to take over the situation. Punishment? A temporary ban from the current leagues, causing his ranks to plummet to the ground like a row of dominoes. It was hilarious to watch a maniac fall down on his knees, but it wasn’t enough for Kit. Honey was too nice for her own good.

Or maybe she was scared of the past repeating again. Who knows. Either way, while it didn’t deliver the exact revenge he wanted, it offered him a new opportunity laid before him to destroy him. When his soles step forth the arena with Air Knight between his fingers bouncing  energy flowing through him. His stance locked, his face set in stone—he wasn’t aiming to break his opponent’s Bey into pieces, nor to leave it scattered like glass. No, he would grind it down to dust, the fine remains of something too unstable to endure him. One strike to his chest was already a blow. Twice on the same wound? A brutal kill, especially when he’ll have this show down in front of his peers, praising him crazy before his downfall to come.

“Awh, yeah!” That’s what he should’ve said, but there was only one sentence his mouth begged to speak of.

So he bent down on his knees, levelling at the same height as Ormr, who was shambles on the floor:

“Sigue llorando, me alimenta.” (“Keep crying, it feeds me.”)

It should’ve landed as a joke, but the coldness bled through his words. After that, the radio went silent and he could only hope their lives would never be torn apart like that again. Pain couldn’t truly be put into words, but it could be forged into something greater. A motivation not only to become the best bladers but to build an even stronger bond made out of steel among himself and Honey. Kit blinked, and the colours, the touch, the sensations slipped from the tip of his tongue as reality grounded him. His green eyes flicked toward the window, where the moon, once regal on her throne, now sank behind a veil of clouds. With how detailed he had described everything, it felt as though the two of them were going to be trapped forever in his memories.

Well, he guessed he was wrong; he was the only one stuck in the past. Honey… all alone, fearful of him— He nudged her to the path of doom.

He felt his chest cinch until each breath became thin. Too hard to breathe.

He shook his head, ruffling the locks of hair in front of his face away.

“And there– there you have it.” Kit grinned, chest puffed like a proud peacock, his eyes no longer burning holes into the furniture but locking one-to-one with those clear, unflinching pupils. “Karma was served on a plate, one he had to swallow on screen.” He cackled dryly.

Aiger gawked at him, straining to recall ever seeing anything like it before. The other two bladers he’d watched him crush hadn’t been this bad at all. Aiger wasn’t exactly tech-savvy, but he remembered it vaguely; the collective shock sprouted from everyone’s mouths in the living room of the Akabane house.

“That’s brutally cold.” he whistled, “Aye, the bastard reaped what he sow. No?” He laughed, hitting back his neck against pillows.

“…I don’t usually get nosy but how long did this happen.”

“Oh, it got real, real bad around for two to three months in the middle but it lasted for six to seven months—“

“Half a year.” Aiger blurted.

Kit nodded. “Yep.”

The Achilles blader ran hand over his face, “The hell—  No wonder, you crashed out. Should’ve went all out in the moment and got him by the throat!”

“What— you told me to control myself!”

“Hey, I’m human. I make mistakes!”

“Love knowing you’re supporting me all this time after the fight—real nice.” He humoured themselves, rolling his eyes.

Kit smiled, and so did Aiger, as he fell back against his pillow. Silence draped over them like a heavy mantle, wrapping them in its cool embrace. One that surely comforted the boy and his suddenly heated skin—when was he so hot?

“What are you gonna do now?” He asked.

“I’d say sleep, but I don’t think it’ll be coming anytime soon…”

“I meant the situation.”

“Oh.” The Air Knight blader didn’t think that far, scrubbing his right bottom eyelid.

He stared up at the ceiling above them, the popcorn texture offering none of the comfort it usually did. Plain, white and mundane. Oh, it’s mundane. How he wished he could live like that with boring thoughts.

“I was told to get a restraining order for good measure.” Kit confessed, brushing his fingers against themselves.

“Ever thought about therapy as part of your list?” Aiger half-joked.

“Betcha’ I did; I just forgot. I’ve been forgetting things a bit lately.” He prattled.

“Close your eyes then, clearly I dragged the conversation over your limit.”

“Awh, you’ll miss my voice. Plus, I’m 99% sure I can still go on—“

“I can do that too, but it’s hard to have a fun conversation when there’s only one blabbermouth around. Sleep.”

“Hmm.” Kit replied bleakly.

“…Your eyes are open.”

“So are yours, but more importantly, where is my tatami—“

“Somewhere else. Sleep.”

“In your bed?”

“Yes, now sleep.”

“Do I have to?”

Aiger grumbled, exasperated. “Yes, how else can I battle you tomorrow morning?”

Kit hummed, “Makes sense… Still, isn’t funny how we’re totally different today? The roles are supposed to be you annoying me and me tryna get you—“

Aiger promptly strangled his head with his pillow.

Chapter Text

Buried beneath thick blankets over his shoulders, not a single embrace of warmth swatted the chilling cold sitting deep in the marrow of his bones. Guilt sat heavy and unyielding in his heart, clinging to his insides with a grip he could hardly bear. And so the parasite remained, killing the peace once set in stone in his body. The world quaked, his lungs spasmed wildly, the weight of his mistakes and regrets threatening to suffocate him.

Why linger at the valley of grief, when a hand is on his back?

Because for the hand that brushed delicately against his shoulder blades would be the very hand his soul would chase away, full of caution, whether he meant it or not.

What else could he do? Time could slip past from his hands like sand, the frost over his knuckles could be melted by the red rocks by the fireplace.

But in the end, his lungs will be flooded with salt water, mind drowning in guilt forever. The sea of memories swarmed before his eyes as tears pooled down against the cotton fibres of his pillow. The accumulation came slower than a snail’s shuffle, each tear fell like a light drizzle; but still, it was indeed a tear which had slipped past the bridge of his nose. It grew harder to breathe, to move, to think—to do anything at all.

A drop of water trickled onto his nose, and his eyes snapped open. He was saved, silently gulping for air.

“You’re awake.” A pause sat in between. “That’s good.” 

Those words were far too pitched to belong to a boy he had known for so long. The blur cascaded over his vision upon returning to reality faded away. The colours of blue and violet formed into someone familiar… a beloved friend he had known all along: his dearest companion, Honey Guten.

He stilled his breath for a moment, pupils lingering far too long on her hair fanning above her shoulders; it was a welcoming change Kit appreciated from that pixie bob Honey had to bear with months ago.

She crinkled her eyes, her lips gently curling upward. He eased himself onto his elbows, slowly pushing up from the mattress. As he rose, his vision expanded across the bedroom’s horizon, not another soul in sight, with the exception of the indistinct, muffled shouts of a woman beyond the open window.

His back hit against the board. The Air Knight blader’s drowsiness was slipping from his eyes, but what lingered instead was the quickly drawn scowl across Honey’s face. Not a second to ponder on the situation, her mouth cracked open.

“You shouldn’t have kept me waiting.” She chided, rising from her knees as she moved to sit upon the edge of the bed.

She grimaced, “Everyone thought you were hurt… and you are hurt. Aiger and Ms. Akabane filled me in with everything, but I want to hear your side of the story.”

“What else do I have to say?”

“Your face is destroyed, Kit!” She huffed, crossing her arms. “I mean, how rude of him to barge into your one and only day out! I didn’t expect anything less from him, but—“

She snapped her neck at him. “You never got yourself involved in violence.”

“Hey, never said I will support violence, and I'm pretty sure I won’t be going back to another street fight, but it has to be done.”

“That’s true, he never knew when to stop… Still, it landed you and Aiger on a trip to the police station. Ange and Valt aren’t happy at all.”

“I already know that, no need to remind me.” He grumbled, his back sinking further against the wooden crevices of the bed frame. It stung, burning his skin in the sweetest manner he could imagine. 

“Ugh,” Honey bowed her head, burying her face in her hands as the veil of her hair curtained her and put her in a room full of darkness of her thoughts. 

The enthusiastic chortles of the morning bird and the mellow rustle of trees swaying in the wind filled the awkward silence draped over the room. A contrast to their dwelling thoughts poisoned by their past.

An audible sigh ripped from Honey’s throat once more, “Aren’t you just a little bit scared?”

He shrugged, “I mean…”

“Not even a tiny-little bit?” Her head rose up, “I find it hard to believe, after everything.”

“I’m not as shaken as you, Honey. You’ve been trampled and run over for so long, while I’ve only just been stomped once or twice at the bare minimum. That’s a biiiiig difference right there.”

“But we’re still in pain, either way. Is it really that different?” She kicked her feet gently up and down, scraping softly against the wooden floorboards.

“No.” Kit blinked sombrely, “I guess we are.”

“Maybe, we should go back to Spain then.”

His eyes widened, his pupils scavenging something from Honey’s placid face, “… What happened to all that talk about stealing every opportunity we can find?”

“I’m not saying I’m opposed! Even with a bit of energy, I’ll still hop onto any chances I get!” She tipped her chin up proudly, and before his eyes, a glimpse of her old optimism flickered back; a piece of something finally, blessedly, normal, “But— But not when we’re going to get hurt… That’s too risky, and I don’t want anything worse happening to you.”

‘…or to me.’ Her final words went silent.

Well there goes his little comfort of normalcy.

“I get it, really. But I haven’t been here enough.” He pouted, “You got that, right? It’s been ages, Honey.”

Honey rolled her eyes, putting her hand on her hip after he stood from the mattress, “So those long phone calls you always had at night were simply nothing?—“

“They were phone calls—“

“… Oh-ho, I see…. so you wanted real intimacy?” Honey wriggled her brows, “Kit, you clingy boy! Now you’re making me blush for you—“

Kit’s fingers latch onto her skin, pinching gently on her shoulder as a squeal made its way out of her lips.

“Hush, shush, shush—! Let’s just head for breakfast and get this conversation over with!” He squawked, heat crawled up from his neck to his cheeks, colouring them crimson red like roses. 

The girl’s shoulder shook as each giggle wrecking her body built up a tear in her eye. She hugged her stomach, the grin he once knew and loved—warm, inviting and impossible to ignore—appeared like an angel before his eyes.

Her chuckles simmered down, leaving her face glowing even away from the blinding window full of sunlight.

“Well, I’m glad to hear. But, it’s lunchtime now.”

“What?”

“It’s lunch. It’s nearing half past one—“

“Half past one?!” He kicked off the blankets, swivelling his legs off the edge. “I’ve been snoring this whole time?! What- What happened to the morning battle I had with Aiger?”

Honey shrugged nonchalantly, standing up as she stretched her arm, “Not sure, but I think he made the smarter decision to keep you in bed, if anything. You were out cold all this time I was poking your face, you know! It was pretty funny, but also a lil’ concerning…”

“Huh, that’s why my face feels soft...” The Air Knight blader murmured to himself, his fingers kneading his better cheek. But his vision soon turned black as he felt his face draped with something heavy. The pad of his fingers hovered over the cotton fibers of the fabric—soft and thick. His nostrils inhaled a deep wave of pungent rose and golden orchids. Its fragrancy and touch could only lead him to one conclusion—a towel.

“How about you take a shower? I bet you’re a bit drowsy without your prince, sleeping beauty.”

The towel slowly dragged off his nose bridge, pooling down onto his lap into a frivolous mess. He scooped it into his arms firmly, before standing alongside with his best friend.

“Good suggestion. I need a bit of a wake up call anyways.”

Honey nodded enthusiastically, shuffling towards the entrance way. The door knob twisted open for her to slip her body through the frame, until she stalled in the middle of her movement. She looked over her shoulder, “I’ll be waiting by the staircase, okay?”

“Loud and clear. Thanks, Honey.”

She exited the room, the sharp click of the door behind her sealing the bedroom with a firm confirmation that Kit was alone.

With one conversation down, there was a shower to tackle now. One quick shower was all he needed, to let the piercing silence rotting in his head be washed away by the boisterous noise in the bathroom.

So he planted his feet onto the tiles, hands firmly gripped in twisting the metal knob to one side until a cold downpour slammed against his unruly mop of hair, washing it flat against his scalp. The rainfall of water sprayed against his skin, gleaming under the pale lights like a translucent crater.

His palm pressed against the plastic bottle of shampoo harshly, a white ribbon of cedarwood mixture spilling into his open palm. The scent was brisk and richly resinous, bearing an underlying smokiness. It was almost as if he was breathing in Aiger with how robust the scent was; overpowering, intoxicating, aggravating his senses in the most delightful ways.

He scrubbed quickly, fingers rasping over his scalp in tight circles until the lather frothed thick between them. Rinsing took seconds, as the water melted the bubbles but the scent? It lingered sharp as the dark coffee, clinging onto his skin like armour. His source of comfort, at last, would be forever with him through his six senses.

Like the haze swallowing the mirror, Kit’s own head turned murky, and his time in the shower dissolved into a muddled blur. He lathered the soap, rinsed, dried off, pulled on his clothes, cleaned the bathroom and stepped out. 

The stifling scent of cleaning supplies was gone, replaced by the crisp bite of fresh air. The room and world seem skewed, even when the leaves still swayed away to the daytime’s harmony. He rushed towards the door, slamming it behind as he sprinted down the hall to the stairs to only see Honey sitting on the step.

“Hey—“

“Shh!” She jabbed her index finger onto his lips, He peeked out of the stair railing, only to catch sight of Aiger in the living room, knees pressed to the floor. His heart dropped down to his stomach, pupils shaking as he heard a rich baritone muffled far from his current sight.

“Shit, what’s going on?” He silently sat next to her, “Is Mrs. Akabane at his throat?”

“Mr. Akabane.” Honey corrects, “Me topé con él mientras te buscaba en el bosque. Supongo que está...” (I ran into him while I was looking for you in the forest. I suppose he 's…)

“Scolding? Eso es injusto!—“ (Scolding? This is injustice!)

“Solo había una cierta cantidad de tiempo antes de que él lo atrapara.“ (It was only a matter of time before he caught him.)

“No fue su culpa, ni siquiera era su pelea…” He scoffed. (It wasn’t his fault, it wasn’t even his fight.)

"Los escucho a los dos." (I can hear the both of you.)

They both froze, their eyes landing on Taiga Akabane leaning against the armchair of the cushioned sofa, arms crossed, “I didn’t expect you two to be into playing spies, especially with how quiet you usually are around me.

She glanced at Kit beside her, face stone cold and neutral yet the rubbing tips of her finger pads told another story. He huffed, rolling his shoulders as he picked himself up, a hand held out, floating in the air. In the shadow they hide, Honey’s freckles stemmed to become a star constellation in their little universe. Brightening up like her eyes, once she clasped her palm over his, pulling her weight up..

The heel of each foot let out a sharp screech against the wooden stairs with every step downward. By the time they were at ground floor, Aiger had already found himself standing straight behind his father, eyes diverted to the window of two birds cuddling against each other.

Within the grip between Taiga’s fingers, the ivory paper was clutched tightly, written with printed words—each arc of the inked letters blatantly pointing wrong fingers at their names. Kit frowned, only to be awakened back to reality by a small nudge from Honey's knuckles against his shoulder.

“..one right?”

His head jolted, “S-sorry, what did you say again?”

Mr. Akabane raised a brow and folded the paper in half, both bladers’ eyes fixed on it, “Have you rested well?”

“I—“ He paused, glancing at the Achilles blader still dozing off somewhere, hands in his pockets. Had he ever seen him put his hands in his pockets?

Kit frowned, “We aren’t getting serious, are we?”

“Nothing serious between me and dad; I just gave an apology.”

“An apology?!” They both stammer out.

“Hey, you can drop those scary looks!” Aiger scratched the back of his neck, “I said sorry on my own terms, not by anyone else. Dad didn't tell me off or anything.”

The duo’s once tense shoulders immediately released all the stress and knots of tension they had been holding. The rapid, shallow breathing he bore dissipated, rewarding him with worthy gulps of oxygen in his lungs.

He licked his lips, “I guess I’ll join in then. I did kinda crash in without an invitation and brought papers in the first place.” Kit chuckled dryly.

Just as he was about to bend over ninety degrees, a broad hand caught him mid-motion, holding him firmly. His head stirred up, vision shadowed yet drawn in by Mr. Akabane’s gentle smile.

“No need.” He reassured, ebbing away any more doubts once seeded in his head.

“There is no need for any apologies, not after Honey Guten’s retelling of her rather… tragic experiences.” He explained.

“However,” He pulled out his index finger, “You two have engaged in an act of violence against another person beyond self-defence. One that wasn’t needed at all and shouldn’t been the opportunity for you to stoop down on the same level as your perpetrators… but I guess a warning should do it.”

Aiger pouted, lips pressed in defiance, while Honey’s hand came to rest gently on Kit’s shoulder.

“Speaking of which, regarding this perpetrator, I’ll have his position as blader fully revoked.”

Such a speech screeched a halt inside the Spaniards’ heads, narrowing all the empty noise in his head down to a single word.

“Hold up, you mean like fully banned?!” He cocked his head, “No more tournaments for him?!”

“If Honey is correct about the temporary ban, which clearly didn’t do anything to correct his behaviour, then WBBA has no other option but to eject him from the stage. We cannot encourage further physical assaults.”

“Sounds good to me.” The Achilles blader folded his arms behind his neck, “I neva’ want to meet that dude ever again.”

“Awh yeah! Finally I can get a break around here!” Kit cheered, hopping on the spot. Elation washed over his body, drugging him with euphoria. He supposed everyone would share the same opinion but…

“It’s no use to be celebrating over.”

All heads spun towards the faint, frugal voice belonging to no other than Honey, beaded tears on guard by the rim of her round eyes.

“What– Honey? Why with that attitude?” He reeled in astonishment inside, while he asked.

“You have forgotten already? He literally attacked you during his temporary ban! At least before he was caught, he never laid a hand on us. But if he gets fully banned… you see where I’m going.”

“He won’t—not after what I shown him–“

“You humiliated him, yet that just made him more seethful. Look at what happened now.” She clasped her hands together, her almond nails digging into her flesh hard enough to leave more than just indents, he feared.

There was a moment of silence which hung over their heads, “… Youre right, I can’t say anything against that.”

“Kit…” The Achilles’ blader’s eyes softened.

“These are valid reasons to be concerned, but there’s really no need to overthink such complications. The WBBA is a powerful organisation that will handle your case deftly as you enjoy your holiday here in Japan. Having already a case against your perpetrator strengthens your credibility.”

“Uh-huh, and I bet you Wakiya won’t let it slide! He’ll crack him down in no time with his influence and money.” Aiger fingershot with a wink, prying a smile on bleunette’s lips.

“But, of course, this experience must be traumatising, especially in a foreign country. I can buy both of you the tickets to return back to Spain.”

“I feel great like it’s another Sunday to wake up to. I’m still holding onto my hopes.” He turned to his best friend, “How about yourself?”

Honey pressed her index finger against her knuckles, a crisp crack ringing in her ears.

“He’s still here.” Her eyes roamed over the floorboards.

“He left.”

“Left?” Honey’s eyes hurled upwards, brows narrowed. “When and where to? I wasn’t told—“

“Dunno, and I sure don’t care. He’s probably off to America, where the shenanigans of his first undoing against us happened.”

“So much for keeping tabs on him then…” She sighed, rubbing the tip ends of her hair locks; her rough mannerisms were practically mangling her naturally straight strands.

Honey looked between Aiger, the empty sofa to the windows and then back to Kit. Face stone, and incomprehensible. She slowly nodded, “If you’re here, then I can definitely be here too. I just think I’ll need to get a distraction to keep my head busy from everything happening again… you.”

The hinges squeaked in their pitched protest, a screech tearing through the air without warning. By the time everyone swung their heads around, the door clicked shut softly behind a young girl carrying a box of stored milk.

“Hey, you’ve hit the jackpot! Naru’s been dying to find a friend after everyone’s been busy with the upcoming tournament as the adverts!” The blader pulled out a thumbs up, before he waved at his little sister. “Naru, why don’t you come over here.”

Naru deftly placed the milks onto the ground where no feet could trip over and then jogged towards the living room, “Hiya, probably didn’t see me since I’ve been working all morning.” She rubbed the back of her crossed arms.

Honey blinked slowly at her, eyes trailing from head to toe before a soft chuckle slipped past her lips. 

She waved her palm in front of her face, “No, not at all! A little sneak peak of your smile and hand wave was more than enough for me.”

“Hehe, good to know I didn’t offend anyone. You’re… not Hannah, but you do start with a H…”

“Honey Guten!” She posed, “A blader on her way to rising through the A-ranks!”

“That’s so cool! Even more impressive that you’re the anchor holding things steady in whatever mess you’ve got to deal with next to you.” She side-eyed the auburn head, coming closer to Honey’s ear even though she said it loudly. “You must be one tough cookie to put up with his tactics!”

“You mean his games? People definitely seen better days, but I don’t think I’ve ever been the target of any—“

“What??” Naru pouted, her fists balled, hovering in front of her chest. She groaned quietly, her body slackening in the spot with, “I can’t believe I’m hearing this—you play favouritism?” She asked, deadpan.

“No, no, no— Well yes, but first no! You just threw slander right to my face as a conversation starter!”

“You’ve got a pretty interesting character. Not as wild as Bel or the others, but definitely enough to make people stop and stare.” Aiger smirked.

“Nice try, but that award goes to you.” The Air Knight blader wagged his finger. “If you’re really so ‘interested’ then be better ready to stick around for the chaos when my body toughens up.”

“After fighting with that annoying stray cat with you? My feet deserve to kick back on the table, thanks. I already have 7 years of experience with you beneath my belt anyway.”

“Cocky much.” 

The air between the two flared with unspoken electricity, sparks charged, alive and going haywire from one to another behind big grins. A current full of energy, yet it was one laced with affection that could test the boundaries of physics if they stood any longer.

Mr. Akabane coughed shortly into his fist, “It seems I have done my duty for today. I’ll be helping your mother out now, so keep your friends in good company, alright?”

“You got it!” The siblings enthusiastically nodded. With no words to exchange, the head of the Akabane home promptly exited the house to the outdoors his wife lingered at.

While everyone’s eyes laid upon the door screeching against the ground, his emerald pupils flicked straight at Honey, then at Naru. After that, once again at Honey, who regained her focus on the current situation, much like Kit.

“So, what’s the plan for today?…” She jollily asked, a curled smile worn a bit thin. 

Aiger barged in, shrugging, “Do we need a plan? Just go with the flow and have fun, isnt that what life is all about? Hey, since Naru is here, why don’t you two make those harm bracelets. Nothing speaks colourful than those beads.”

“I almost forgot about my kit!” Naru lightly gasped, “Heh, It’s been long since I made one with anyone else. I wouldn’t mind making one with you, if you’re up for it?”

“A custom bracelet?”

Her word crackled a spark inside her– More like a storm rapping up a million ideas of the accessories in her head, but it’s still the sweetest storm she’ll ever have. A storm worth being wrecked by, without anxiety and paranoia gnawing her head like a brain-eating amoeba.

She danced back and forth on his toes, almost hovering on the floorboards, “I have no complaints at all! I’ve been looking to add something to my wrists.”

“Let’s go upstairs then to my bedroom! I have way more charms than I need—we can put it all to good use!” Naru pulled her by the arm gently back towards three stairs. Stars shimmered in both their eyes, only for their steps to falter as they stalled midway on the staircase. “We’re going to start building the bracelets, do you two wanna come?”

“You can make a couple bracelets.” Honey teased, “Red and green, polar opposites destined to fit like puzzles!”

“Mhmm! Though you might want to choose blue for Aiger; the green will definitely clash against his clothes.”

“Ooh, good point.” She tapped against the bottom of her lip, but her face refocused onto the boys standing before them. “Come on, guys! I don’t think I’ll be able to stand here longer.”

“Nah, I’ll miss out this time.” The Achilles blader waved off.

Kit tilted his head slowly, gently knocking his head with his fist, “Eh, if I’m not out cold soon, I’ll probably end up at your door.”

Naru shrugged, “Well, you heard them. To my bedroom we go!”

The two girls rush upstairs, footsteps creaking.

But now, in Aiger’s presence, the noise dissolved into silence. Hearts beating in sync, finding comfort despite the space between them. The warmth they shared travelled deep into their bones, a sweetness they knew would linger, even through the winters that might keep them apart. 

“Just you and I all over again, huh.” 

“I don’t know how the heck you did it.” Kit clutched onto his shoulder, slowly approaching his partner. “You’ve got guts– My stomach would’ve been doing back flips if I was in front of Mr. Akabane.”

He snorted. “Come on, it’s nothing serious like that.” 

“Yeah, yeah. My head is about to explode from all the pressure I built up.” He dropped his head down, massaging his temples. A migraine must be coming anytime soon.

“You know, I wasn’t being light about therapy.”

“Which I’ll get soon enough with Honey.” Kit emphasised, going around the Achilles blader to plop his arse back against the cushioned sofa. Head tilted back, his trapezius loosened, and his constricted chest, at last, let loose and breathed in the rich, grounding air. “For now, hanging around you’s about as close to therapy as I’ll get. Can’t think of anything more comfortable than that.”

Aiger barked out a short laugh, as he leaned onto the sofa’s arm right beside the curious Air Knight blader. He shifted his lower body onto the arm, positioning himself to face Kit with a chaotic intensity, leg locking the teen in his seat.

“What the—“

His hand rested on Kit’s prominent collar, coarse pads tracing the curve of his bones, it punched small gasps straight out of his burning mouth. 

If these cerulean eyes couldn’t allure him, then the fingers trailing against the edge in a morbidly slow motion was just the thing to crack him. For the final piece to the little game Aiger led, he slotted their lips in one piece carefully, savouring the closeness in the perfect moment.

Kit thought his words couldn’t have been any truer, because nothing had ever made him feel more alive in his own skin than the touch of Aiger’s hands, the press of his chest, the graze of his hair and lips against him.

If he was ever to be swallowed up or to have his pulse ripped, he thought he would gladly accept it. When their lips parted from one another, he felt the affection linger in his veins, intoxicating him in a haze he knew would come back to taunt him; a core memory to jitter and dangle like keys in front of his sleepless eyes when the coming days arrived. He would starve himself in that absence until the moment he could be fed again.

Then it all was pulled apart, when he parted his lips from his.

Aiger rubbed his knuckles gently into his cheek, “Aren’t you a smooth talker? As long as you find a therapist after.” 

“I’m a smooth talker? Then you’ve got to be one smooth handler to get me all tranced out. But if you’re insistent on helping me, what about another kiss?” He winked, “Maybe it’ll cure me this time.”

Aiger quickly nudged his lips against his, only for a second before ripping away, “Alright, we had your fun. Any more and you’ll maul me alive.”

“Where did you get that idea from?! That’s not true!” The Air Knight blader frowned. 

“Sure it is, because my ears are never deaf.”

Perhaps, destiny was on his side after all, as a deep growl rolled through his stomach rather fiercely. His guts churned, stabbing his insides with a sharp punch. What should’ve been a knell loud enough to wake the dead instead felt like the toll that would send Kit straight to his grave.

“Oh, I forgot about eating breakfast.”

“Brunch, now.” He got off, rolling his shoulders. “Well better be best prepared to savour my awesome food!”

“Can it beat your mum’s katsuki sandwiches?”

“Okay, fine. Maybe not first, but I can be second– Actually no, third since dad’s cooking is pretty neat, but so is Naru’s… Hey, about we ditch the details? Just trust me! The food won’t be burnt with me, at least.”

“Make it edible as well. I don’t think I’m over Valt's jam spaghetti from a month ago.”

Aiger turned around, “With jam? Like strawberry jam?”

“Gooseberry jam! Oh, he also used Carolina reapers as well to ‘balance’ it out—he practically burnt everyone’s tongue off! I’ll tell you how bad it is; he’s been banned from the kitchen until next year.” Kit shook his head, “Crazy guy.”

The other cackled as he missed to grab onto Kit’s hand, which the Air Knight guessed he didn’t really need anyway. The boy promptly got up from the sofa, flicking him on the nose gently as he yelled, nudging him toward the open kitchen counter.

“Knock, knock! Don’t you think we’re forgetting something?” 

Aiger heaved, straightening up, “Beats me, I’m too busy making sure my breath is taken away with that one of a kind combination! Valt is some work— Remind me to visit BC Sol; I need to see what he is cooking up there.”

“Big talk for someone that could do any better.” He crossed his arms. “By the time you’re there, Shu will have his wrists in cuffs before he can grab onto any spatula!”

“Hey, sounds like a win to me! I get too much on Shu’s delicious cooking in the end. Speaking of cooking…” Aiger mumbled under his breath, treading toward the stovetop as he lifted the lids off a few pots and pans. Then his cerulean eyes trailed to the counter next to him, a bowl of mixed and colourful vegetables trapped beneath the cling film protecting them from the air. 

He clicked his tongue, “Lucky, aren’t you? Mum made some leftovers of miso soup and pickled vegetables, but I’ll have to cook some rice. I can probably whip up some tamago kake gohan quickly with it.”

“Oh, classic dishes!” Kit’s eyes sparkled, jumping beside him with a hand on his shoulder, “Go on, show off unless you want me to step in before you drop a plate and ruin your big debut.”

“I’m working on the show! And again, I’m no way Valt’s mirror.” He gently kicked him by the shin.

“The hell, Aiger!”

“It’s what you were gonna get!” The Achilles blader tipped his head high, as he opened a cabinet above, pulling out a pot. “Didn’t even try a taste of my food and you’re already judging.”

“It doesn't take a genius to know your mother’s food will be heaven.

“You’re right, it’s rad and you’re going to sit down and enjoy it with my simple dish. What are you waiting for? Sit at the dining table!” He ushered, using his shoulder to push him out of the kitchen.

“I’m going– I’m going! What’s with the pushiness?!”

“Now you taste your own medicine! It was time I was pushy anyhow.”

And so Kit obliged. His slippers rustled softly against the wooden floorboards as he pulled a chair out and sat down, resting his chin in his hand atop the table.

His nose lips slipped behind his palm, his eyes seamlessly having laid upon the actual existence of the wooden furniture he sat at. It had always seemed ordinary to him, plain even, with nothing remarkable about its appearance. Yet now, more than ever before, he found himself changing his mind. There was something deeper about the furniture, something breathtaking. The grain patterns caught his eyes, weaving a story as they merged and split apart like acrylic pours. Elongated shapes and lines stretched into a sea of paths, which his fingers traced from base to edge within reach. They overlapped like waves, fanning out like galaxies. It was pure, real wood beneath the glazed surface, gleaming faintly under the pouring sunlight.

No doubt, this is was the product of Mr. Akabane’s artistic hands. He could hear his inner soul chuckle, because how lucky was Aiger to have a father who bore skills of all of the talented.

Maybe, that’s why he was talented too. It explained a lot for his rise to championship. Also explained his luck among other things, to live out a peaceful life.

His gaze drifted from the walls to the bright glow of the kitchen, where Aiger stood at the sink, the sound of the tap water pattering against the metal basin steadily. The hum rang loud in the ground floor as he rinsed dishes in a systematic pace, bubbles frothing at the edge of the ceramic plates he held onto. Just a cabinet away, a bowl of vegetables sat quiet in the shade as the nearby pot of rice simmered softly on the stove. 

Sunlight streaming through the windows, water murmuring softly the birds jollyfully chirping. He briefly wondered, ‘Is this what euphoria was?’

To simply live in a mundane world he could live forever in peace? It’d make sense, even with the thrill of Beyblading or the rush of travelling the world in his pocket.

His trance snapped once the plate sharply sat against the wooden surface, his neck craning at the food served before him.

Miso soup, raw yolk on top of a bowl of rice and some pickled vegetables.

“Hey, this looks pretty good!”, He took the chopsticks from Aiger’s giving hand, “Thank you for the food— the food is calling me.”

“Yeah it is, because I deliver only the best. Now my workout is done, put a spoon in ya’ mouth. 9/10 chances you’ll be ascending to heaven because of it.”

“I’ll be the judge of that!” Kit grinned, quickly giving his thanks before he twirls the chopsticks in his grip and gently broke the yolk’s golden membrane, its rich creaminess bleeding into steaming rice. He stirred it briskly, mixing it well until the soy sauce evenly coated the grains among the pieces of scallions. One swift chunk of the rice in his mouth, and his tongue is attacked by a flavour bomb of the silky egg turning into a river’s course with umami salt and sharp greens. His tongue swiped forth against his front teeth, 

Growls erupt from his stomach, yearning more for the warmth, the freshness, the love woven into every dish. Each bite carried the lingering taste of bonds, of care folded into flavor and memory alike.

So his hands hastily held the soup between his deft fingers, pulling it near to his chest. Its earthy sweetness bevvied his control as each second slipped away. With a bouillon spoon rapidly grasped within his hand, he breached the boundary between air and broth, watching the miso particles dance excitedly around the white curve.

He picked it up, pressing the cutlery against his lips. It’s wonderful contents of the broth once again exploded in his mouth with a slight brine, some dissolved tofu passing through his throat like ice floating on water. Each swallow he took, every chew he diligently made; it all was worth for the food that would pool low in his stomach heartily.

“Well, how was it?”

“It doesn’t kill you to be a little patient?” Kit grunted, but such expression couldn’t held for a second longer when elation was him every time. He gulped his food again, his gullet bobbing as it travelled to his guts. “I’m busy appreciating here.”

“I gave mum a big helping hand; I gotta hear some opinion or criticism from your mouth!”

“I’d be willing to make out with you all night long.” 

Aiger looked at him funnyly, “That really doesn’t narrow anything down.”

“Whatever you got up your sleeves, there’s way more potential than Valt with whatever abomination he cooked up in BC Sol!” The Air Knight blader scraped the bowl with his cutlery. “Maybe I’ll convince Kris’ to throw him back to the Aoi Bakery; let him see what real cooking looks like if family is all it takes!”

“That’s more like it!“ He cheered on, pulling out a chair beside Kit, the furniture promptly sat on. He leaned back, eyes switching between the food and Kit himself.

A gaze which moved a part of his heart, one not a single soul could do prior to him.

“Hey, the food isn’t going to run away. If you ask for seconds, I’ll get them for sure; you and I are going to be battling for a long time.”

“I better reap the rewards like a billionaire with the food on my stomach.”

“Keep your feet on the ground, that’ll only happen if you can lay a hit on Achilles.”

They both laughed, watching the day drift on with its own rhythm.

There was something Kit had found… Something like solace in the simplicity of the moment, just by knowing he could find normalcy with Aiger willing to see his wound be mended from now on.

Always magically twisting his lips into the smiles he deserved to wear.