Hikaru slid out of the bathroom with a grin as he ran into the main area where Kasai, Alexei, and Alena were sitting. He immediately did a spin as he spoke: "What do you guys think?" He was still a bit embarrassed about Kasai walking in on him shirtless earlier, but it seemed like the other man hadn't been fazed at all.
"You haven't gotten any better looking, if that's what you're asking," Kasai replied, not missing his chance to pick on the other man. He leaned his face against his hand, his elbow against the arm of his chair, without looking up from his phone.
Hikaru shot him a slight glare in response to the comment but chose to brush it off, letting a soft sigh escape his lips.
"It looks absolutely amazing!" Alexei exclaimed, his enthusiasm bubbling over as he clapped his hands together, springing up from his seat with a contagious energy.
Alena took a moment to scrutinize the blue-haired man from head to toe, her discerning gaze assessing the man, before a subtle smile crept across her lips, conveying her approval.
It was a noticeable improvement compared to Kasai's response.
"Last time I checked, we're here to make some actual progress and devise a solid plan, not twirl around and play dress-up!" Kasai interjected, his tone sharp as he swiftly turned off his phone with an audible click.
He rose from his seat with an imposing presence, towering over the others. The indignation was evident in his entire demeanor.
Hikaru frowned a bit. He hadn't meant to postpone the plans or anything, he had just been excited to finally be able to dye his hair for the first time. Despite that, he knew it was important to get back on topic, so he reluctantly put his arms down, and took a seat.
"No need to be so harsh!" Alena snapped at Kasai, her eyes narrowing with frustration. She quickly pivoted to address the others gathered in the dimly lit room, the air thick with tension.
"From what you two have shared with my brother and I, it seems like SOEP is actively pursuing you?"
Hikaru's face transformed, the carefree demeanor replaced by a grave seriousness.
He rested his hand on his cheek, contemplating the implications of their situation as he nodded slowly, each movement deliberate and heavy with concern.
"My guess is that they intercepted the systems of my car," he explained, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of anxiety. "Flying cars operate on entirely different mechanisms compared to regular vehicles, so I imagine it was a straightforward task for an organization with the resources and technology of a government-backed agency to tamper with them. The announcement that played over the speakers was definitely not something either of us initiated—its content was shocking to us"
Alexei, overwhelmed by the weight of the situation, sank back into his seat, curling his knees up to his chest. The motion was instinctual, a physical manifestation of his desire to retreat into himself as the reality of their predicament crashed over him like a wave.
"And from what we've pieced together, they're planning to capture anyone with abilities and execute a purge," Alexei added after Hikaru finished speaking, a deep sigh escaping his lips that reflected the weight of their grim situation.
"To me, it sounds more like jealousy than anything else. We possess abilities that they lack, which gives us an edge they find threatening," Kasai interjected, rolling his eyes as he leaned back in his chair, his posture radiating defiance mingled with frustration.
"If that were truly the case, I doubt they would resort to throwing people into a death-match. Rather, they'd simply eliminate everyone in one swift action. My suspicion is that they genuinely believe we're responsible for the illness plaguing our society," Hikaru replied slowly, a frown of concern etching deeper into his brow.
"That's ridiculous! Those underground creatures clearly have abilities of their own! If anyone is to blame, it's probably them," Alexei argued vehemently, his face flushed with anger as he clenched his fists, unable to contain his rage.
"While that might seem logical, we have to remember that governments have a long history of using scapegoats to justify their reckless actions—especially when it comes to putting their own citizens at risk. They tend to prioritize their interests over the welfare of society," Alena replied, shaking her head as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears, her gaze shifting toward the ground as if searching for answers in the cracks of the floor.
"Wouldn't that imply that Hikaru wouldn't have been a target, though? He is, after all, the son of the most powerful man in the government. Yet, both of us found ourselves in their crosshairs when the crash happened," Kasai remarked, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
Alena turned her striking electric purple eyes toward the black-haired man, her curiosity piqued. "Hmm, I'm not so certain. We really don't have a clear picture of their history. Hikaru, how is your relationship with your father?"
Hikaru stifled a laugh that turned into a bitter snort as he raised a hand to cover the lower half of his face, caught in a turmoil of emotions.
Should he laugh at the absurdity of it all, or let his emotions take over?
Rather than venting, he decided to keep it short.
"I wouldn't exactly call it functional, if that makes any sense. To put it bluntly, we don't get along, and quite honestly, I have no desire to change that." He let his gaze drop, a familiar ache throbbing in his chest as he reflected on the strained bond that defined his upbringing, feeling a mix of anger and longing swirl inside him.
"You definitely give off the vibe of someone who has daddy issues," Kasai remarked bluntly, a hint of smirk playing at the corners of his lips as he turned back to face Alena, his expression a mix of amusement and challenge. "There you have it. I guess he's no good as a human shield either, is he?"
Hikaru's eyes widened at Kasai's audacious comment, frustration flaring within him at the starkness of his words.
He stared at the man, feeling caught between annoyance and disbelief.
What was he even supposed to say to that?
It felt like Kasai had just pulled off a double kill with those words.
"I'm going to pretend like you didn't just say that…" Hikaru started, his voice laced with exasperation. "Anyway, what's the plan? We can't just stay down here forever. Sooner or later, we're all going to lose our minds, and we'll have to restock our supplies before long either way," Hikaru continued, casting a sweeping glance around the group, gauging their reactions.
"Why not use ourselves as bait?" Alexei chimed in with unwarranted enthusiasm, bouncing slightly in his chair as if he were sharing the best idea ever.
"Are you completely out of your mind? No way!" Hikaru shot back, incredulous.
"That's actually brilliant! Yes!" Kasai and Alena shouted simultaneously, their voices colliding in a chorus of unbridled optimism.
Hikaru's jaw dropped in disbelief.
Was he the only sane one in this room?
"Think about it," Alena began, her tone shifting to one of serious consideration as she addressed everyone with newfound fervor. "If we can get ourselves into the games, we would not only witness the chaos firsthand, but we'd also gain access to crucial insights into how everything operates. That information could be vital for our plan to infiltrate from within. It's a fight to the death, right? I'm assuming the winners end up on government grounds."
Hikaru's expression shifted from disbelief to a begrudging understanding, albeit still tinged with skepticism.
"I think I'm starting to see your point… as crazy as that idea sounds, it might actually hold some merit." He paused, taking a breath as he sought the silver lining in their reckless proposal. "You're a healer, after all, so I guess we won't have to worry too much about injuries. That definitely takes some of the pressure off," he added softly, finally giving a reluctant nod to the possibility.
"Exactly. My sister is really cool!" Alexei exclaimed, his enthusiasm evident as he gave a playful double thumbs-up, his bright eyes sparkling with admiration.
Alena waved her hand at him dismissively, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Focus, Alexei," she murmured, rolling her eyes slightly.
"So the plan is to let ourselves get captured?" Kasai questioned slowly, his brow furrowing in deep thought. He leaned back against the sleek wall, clearly intrigued by the proposition.
"That's what it sounds like," Hikaru began, his voice steady yet tinged with unease. "If we hang out in the city where they can find us, it's only a matter of time before we're rounded up. I can't recall how long it's been since the announcement, but I wouldn't be shocked if they've already started rounding up Elementalists like livestock," he continued, his words hanging heavy in the air.
He ran a hand through his thick blue hair, a slight smile quirking up the corner of his mouth. "At least now I'm less recognizable."
"We could always check TikTok for updates!" Alexei suggested with a cheeky grin, excitedly pulling out his phone as he tapped on the screen, eager for information.
"That still exists...?" Kasai interjected in surprise.
It felt like a relic of the past, something that had faded into obscurity long ago.
Hikaru nodded slightly, a wry smile playing on his lips.
Hadn't it been around for over a thousand years now? It really was impressive business management.
"Apparently! I guess it was successful enough to be preserved through the ages," Alexei chimed in, his fingers flying over the screen as he searched for any SOEP (Society of Elemental Prosecution.) updates.
The other three began to crowd in, their curiosity piqued as they leaned in to peer intently at his phone.
To their astonishment, the app was indeed still alive and buzzing with activity.
Not only that, but the feed was rife with alarming footage of Elementalists being tear-gassed and captured by military forces in a chaotic frenzy.
"At least we have our answer," Kasai replied with a resigned sigh, leaning back as he folded his arms tightly across his chest. The tension in his posture betrayed his growing frustration. "Alexei, you grab the bags, and let's start packing. We don't have time to waste."
"I can't believe you're not questioning it this time," Hikaru said with a hint of amusement, accustomed to Kasai's habitual skepticism.
"I wasn't trained to be soft," Kasai shot back, his voice blunt. "Honestly, anything is better than being trapped in here for much longer. This place reeks of chemicals, and I'm becoming sick of it."