The air was thick with tension as Kira and Endo locked eyes, their unrelenting glares cutting through the pounding rain. Neither was willing to back down, the animosity between them electrifying the space like the thunder rumbling above. Every droplet of rain seemed to echo their unspoken challenge, a countdown to their next explosive clash.
Meanwhile, Hikaru stood by the gate, his drenched hair plastered to his face as he removed his glasses to wipe the raindrops away. The storm blurred his vision, but he remained focused. "Okay, Ren," he muttered, shaking his head at the chaos unfolding in front of him. "Before that chick spots us, we need to figure out a plan for—"
He stopped mid-sentence and turned, only to realize Ren was gone. Panic flickered across his face as he scanned the surroundings, his sharp gaze darting upward. Then he spotted him—already atop the rooftop, moving with remarkable speed and agility. Hikaru sighed deeply, shaking his head again. "Guess I'm going along with this now," he muttered under his breath.
Up on the roof, the mysterious figure who had been silently watching Endo and Kira grew visibly irritated, shifting from passive observer to active threat. The rain masked their features, but the sheer intensity of their glare hinted at their identity. It was Kuro, still bitter and broken after losing the race to both Shoto and Ren. His fist clenched tightly, his thumb pressing so hard into his skin that a small stream of blood trickled down, blending with the rainwater.
Before Kuro could act, a flash of movement caught his attention. He turned sharply, his dark eyes narrowing as Ren appeared behind him, his breathing steady despite the cold and wet conditions. Ren had used his incredible running speed and newly discovered jumping ability to close the distance with ease, even if it was his first real attempt at scaling such heights.
Thunder cracked through the sky as the two rivals stood face to face, drenched and silent. The weight of their unresolved conflict hung between them, the storm amplifying their cold determination. Kuro gritted his teeth, his jaw tightening as he prepared to settle the score.
Back on the ground, Kira made the first move, pulling out a sleek black metal stick from her jacket. With a sharp press of her thumb, the compact weapon extended into a full staff. She twirled it skillfully, the water flinging off its surface in a mesmerizing spiral, before charging straight at Endo. Her movements were fast, precise, and filled with intent.
Endo smirked, effortlessly dodging the initial flurry of strikes. The staff whistled through the air as it narrowly missed him each time, his reflexes keeping him one step ahead of Kira's relentless assault. But she wasn't letting up. Kira spun the staff overhead, bringing it down with incredible force, only for Endo to sidestep at the last second and leap into the air.
With a calculated kick, he disarmed her, sending the staff clattering to the ground several feet away. "Nice toy," he teased, landing lightly on his feet, his grin never fading.
Kira, undeterred, charged at him with her fists. Her first punch came fast, but Endo met it head-on with his own. Their fists collided with a resounding crack, the force of the impact reverberating between them. Undaunted, they launched into a furious exchange of blows, each punch colliding with the other's in perfect synchronization. The sound of their fists meeting echoed like gunshots, their cocky grins growing wider with every hit.
They were locked in a brutal, unspoken rhythm—neither willing to yield, neither giving an inch. The rain poured harder, soaking them as they stood just inches apart, trading strike after strike, each hit drawing them closer into their deadly dance.
Finally, they broke apart, leaping back to create some distance. Endo vanished in an instant, reappearing at the door of the house. He glanced behind him and noticed it was ajar. With a quick movement, he slammed it shut, ensuring no one inside would interfere.
Kira turned on her heel, already anticipating his next move. She lunged forward and swung her fist with incredible force, aiming directly for Endo's face. This time, it seemed to connect—a sharp, satisfying impact resounded in the rain.
But Endo wasn't there.
In a blur, he teleported back to his original position, standing in the pouring rain with his hood pulled low over his face. The fabric shielded his features, but his amused smirk was still faintly visible. "Nice try," he called out, his voice dripping with mockery. "But you're gonna have to do better than that, little girl."
Kira wiped the rain from her face, her lips curling into a wicked grin as she bared her razor-sharp teeth. "Oh, don't worry," she hissed, her tone laced with venom. "I'm just getting started."
Both Kira and Endo charged at each other like two storms colliding, fists flying in a relentless exchange of blows. Each punch connected not with flesh but with the other's fists, creating a rapid rhythm of violent impacts that echoed through the damp air. They moved like wild animals locked in combat, neither willing to back down or give an inch. The rain, now beginning to lighten, seemed to mirror their fury.
Finally, Kira ducked low, her eyes gleaming with determination as she swept her leg forward in a sharp kick. Her boot connected with Endo's chest, the force sending him flying backward. He crashed against the wrought-iron gate with a resounding clang, his momentum almost driving him to one knee. For a moment, it seemed as though he might collapse, but Endo steadied himself, rising with an eerie calm.
His eyes darted past Kira, locking onto Hikaru, who was hiding just behind the gate. A wicked smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Let me guess," Endo sneered, brushing himself off, "you were planning to use me for one of your little schemes?"
Hikaru's heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened as if Endo had plucked the thought directly from his mind. "How did he know I have a plan?" Hikaru whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the patter of rain.
Hidden beneath Hikaru's school jacket, Neko, the talking cat, listened intently. His tail flicked nervously, brushing against Hikaru's chest.
Endo tilted his head toward Hikaru, lifting a casual hand to point at the rooftop. "Don't worry about Ren," he said with a smug confidence. "He'll be fine. Consider that a little spoiler."
Hikaru followed his finger, his gaze snapping upward to the rooftop where Ren and Kuro were locked in their own tense standoff.
Without missing a beat, Endo shifted his arm, now pointing toward Kira. "As for the little shark-teeth girl over there… she'll be defeated in five minutes. Tops. Call it déjà vu—I've done this rodeo before, ten years ago."
Both Hikaru and Neko froze at his words, the implications hitting them like a freight train. Endo's voice carried an unsettling certainty, as if he were speaking less from confidence and more from some inexplicable knowledge.
Before Hikaru could respond, Endo's hand came down in a brisk pat on his shoulder, and then—without warning—he vanished. The air where he had stood shimmered briefly, leaving nothing but the faint sound of his voice lingering: "That dumb cat has one arrow left… wish I could stick around to see how that plays out."
As the rain began to ease, the clouds broke apart, allowing beams of sunlight to pierce through. A golden glow fell upon Endo, spotlighting him as he walked back to where Kira had knocked him down. With deliberate slowness, he reached up and pulled back his hood, revealing his messy, emo-style hair now slightly tousled from the fight.
Kira's lips curved into a bright, wicked smile, her razor-sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight. From her sleeve, she produced a small, gleaming needle, identical to the one she had used before. Without hesitation, she hurled it toward Endo's face with deadly precision.
Endo vanished just as the needle was about to strike, reappearing an instant later directly in front of her. His fist drew back as though to punch her, but Kira anticipated the move. She swung her own punch, aiming to meet his head-on.
But just as her fist was about to connect, Endo vanished again.
Her eyes darted wildly as he reappeared behind her, then disappeared once more. Over and over, he blinked in and out of sight, teleporting around her in an erratic, disorienting pattern. Each time he appeared, it seemed as though he was about to strike, but before Kira could react, he was gone again.
It was like being surrounded by ghosts. Kira's confidence faltered, replaced by rising panic as she screamed in frustration. She swung blindly behind her, only to find empty air. When she spun around to face him, Endo materialized right in front of her, delivering a powerful punch directly to her stomach.
The impact drove the air from her lungs, and her eyes widened in shock before rolling back. She crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Endo stood over her, rain no longer dripping from his clothes. The rapid teleportation had somehow dried him, leaving him looking pristine in contrast to the chaos around him. With a smooth motion, he ran a hand through his now-dry hair, revealing the faint elegance of his boyish features. For a brief moment, he looked less like a fighter and more like a serene 16-year-old enjoying the quiet after a storm.
He glanced toward the sun, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I'll leave the rest to you, Kazam—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a loud poof echoed through the air. A sudden cloud of smoke enveloped him, obscuring his form. When the smoke cleared, Endo had changed. The once-confident and battle-ready teen was now a small, unconscious six-year-old boy lying on the rain-slicked concrete near Shoto's house. His tiny frame curled up on the sidewalk, defenseless and vulnerable.
The scene grew still, the rain now reduced to a faint drizzle as sunlight spilled over the aftermath.