The secluded block was enveloped in an ethereal mist, a hidden world where reality blurred. At its center, Raijin, vibrant with electricity, took control of Ren's body, guiding him and the other Kaiju Hosts into a dimensional rift. The air crackled with energy as they stepped into an uncharted training realm—an arena to forge their destinies anew.
---
System Analysis: Nexus Plane - Kaiju Training Arc
---
[System Function: Nexus Plane]
Type: Time-Distorted Mental-Physical Simulation
Purpose: Rapid training, growth, elemental mastery, psychological strengthening
Time Ratio: 4 Hours in Nexus = ~1 Minute in Real World
System Note:
[Nexus Plane is not real… but everything in it is. Pain, growth, and breakthroughs convert into actual EXP and stat increases.]
---
As the hosts and their Kaijus materialized, they found themselves in a vast arena amidst a swirling galaxy. Platforms of iridescent light floated around a central battleground, where the laws of physics felt elastic.
---
Suddenly, a deep, glitchy voice echoed.
---
SYSTEM:
"Welcome, Hosts. You have entered the [Kaiju Synchronization Chamber]. It exists outside time and space."
They took in their surroundings as constellations shifted, and data pulsed beneath their feet.
---
"So... cosmic gym?" Ren asked while spuinting at the System message.
SYSTEM:
"Incorrect. This is a Hyper-Isolation Realm for training Kaijus without external interference. You'll feel pain and fatigue, but won't die."
---
"So if I break a leg…?" Mika also asked out of curiosity.
SYSTEM:
"You'll feel it. Don't be foolish."
---
"What are these?" Kaede asked while looking at the floating platforms.
SYSTEM:
"Stabilization Nodes. They amplify elemental output. Be cautious; some may react violently."
---
Suddenly, a bolt of fire erupted from a nearby node.
---
"Yup. Violent confirmed." Haru said in confirmation.
---
SYSTEM:
"Training Objectives are preloaded. Kaiju must reach Sync Level benchmarks. Progress rewards experience and ability growth."
---
"Hidden data?" Ren asked.
SYSTEM:
"Classified. Progress to unlock."
---
"Who made this place?" Infernia also asked.
SYSTEM:
"Original architect: [REDACTED]. Current Administrator: Raijin."
Aqua added in after sometime, saying "If this System"
RAIJIN: (smirking) "I run things here."
---
SYSTEM:
"Begin training protocol. Good luck, Hosts... don't disappoint your Kaijus."
A flash of light formed elemental zones, guiding each Kaiju toward their unique domain.
---
"Let's see what this place can do." Ren said to Raijin.
---
System Trigger Conditions:
Kaiju Reset Event: New Host = Kaiju Level 0
Sync Ratio < 40%: Kaiju Cannot Summon Advanced Skills
Training Needed To Re-Learn Ultimate Techniques
Kaiju Stats Sheet (base)
----
System note: "Level Up ≠ Fight Only"
Leveling Up also includes:
Emotional Breakthroughs: Facing trauma or past failures
Elemental Innovation: Using abilities in new or unintended ways
Synergistic Mastery: Combining elements with other Kaijus
Puzzle/Trial Solving: Beating the Nexus's non-combat mental challenges
System Alert: Abaddon's Echo Detected
"A fragment of conceptual corruption has entered the Nexus."
A crystallized, semi-conscious entity formed from Abaddon's residual presence materialized in the arena, looming ominously as the Nexus Guardian.
Type: Reality-Level Shadow Construct
Goal: Disrupt mental and emotional growth
Ability: Mimic loved ones, self-doubt, worst fears
Weakness: Synergistic attacks, purity of intent
System Lock Activated:
"Until the Guardian is defeated, no one can exit the Nexus."
Combat System Fusion Mode (Unlocked)
After working together, Kaijus are able to enter Synergy Burst, where their elemental stats combine:
Raijin + Infernia = Plasma (Lightning + Fire)
Aqua + Zephyr = Storm Surge (Water + Wind)
Titan gains Kinetic Absorption: absorbs elemental impact into STR/DUR
These fusion states are temporary yet potent, draining energy quickly, but level scaling multiplies their effects.
System Rewards Post-Battle:
Bond Strength +15% Across All Host-Kaiju pairs
Final Scene System Message:
[System Update: Kaiju Link Protocol]
"Kaijus normally retain partial experience when reset by Host changes. Training memories may bleed into future syncs…"
"So... next time I get a new body, I won't be starting from scratch. Nice." Raijin said while grinning.
PING!
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:]
"Nonetheless, this space doesn't just respond to combat—it reacts to intent, willpower, strategy, and growth. Leveling isn't limited to brute force. It rewards creativity, synergy, emotional breakthroughs, and mastery of one's essence."
"Fighting's only one path. In here, every epiphany, every mental breakthrough—you level from learning, not just bashing skulls." Raijin added
Training Begins
"You've all reset to Level 0. That means you're infants with elemental nukes for rattles. Time to grow up."
Segment 1: Mind-Break Combat
Each Kaiju found themselves thrust into their personal fears and failures, confronting the remnants of their past battles in simulated duels.
Infernia vs. Burnt Out Village:
Infernia stood amid the ruins of a village she once failed to protect. Stone Golems rose from the charred earth, their features morphed to mock her, voices of the lost echoing in her mind. Trembling but resolute, she snapped her focus tight.
"I couldn't save them then… but I'll burn down fate itself if I have to now!" she declared, pushing her flames beyond their ordinary limits. With hands ignited, she condensed her fire into searing solar-lance beams that incinerated the advancing Golems mid-roar. Molten veins surged through her arms, and as they charged, she erupted lava tunnels—turning the ground beneath into a blistering battlefield.
"I need more destructive focus. No wild bursts. Channel the fire…" said infernia, gritting her teeth.
With laser-focused determination, her flames morphed into concentrated lances, each strike precise and lethal.
—Level Up: 3→4—
Zephyr vs. The Whispering Sky:
High above the arena, Zephyr faced ethereal Wind Spirits that danced in chaos around her, each mirroring moments of her hesitance in battle.
"Control, not chaos. That's my wind," she whispered, her voice barely breaking the stillness.
As she began to mirror their fluid movements, she struck with gusts that sliced through the air with newfound precision. Each dash was light as air, guiding her through the chaos that surrounded her. She created micro-vacuums, controlling the flight paths of her spectral opponents with calculated grace.
"Think faster. Move smarter. Every strike must count."
With her resolve solidified, she harnessed her elemental affinities, executing strikes that tore through her illusions, each flourish a declaration of her mastery over the tempests inside and out.
—Level Up: 4→5—
Aqua vs. Frozen Mirrors:
In a shimmering glass-like expanse, Aqua faced water constructs that mirrored her every move. The challenge was not only to defeat her opponents but to outthink herself, to rise above her own reflection.
"Water changes shape. And so can I." Aqua said calmly.
She took a deep breath, feeling the humidity in the air around her. With a flick of her wrist, she split herself into clones, encircling the mirror enemies. With fluid grace, she used her water manipulation to confuse and outmaneuver them, wintry torrents cascading as she struck with overwhelming force.
—Level Up: 3→5—
Titan vs. The Earth That Rejected Him:
Titan stood on unstable shifting tiles, the skeletal forms of serpentine creatures slithering up from the ground that once banished him. These entities whispered hopeless taunts with voices from the depths of his past.
"I make the ground I stand on."
He grimaced, slamming his fists into the ground and causing a quake to ripple through the arena. Instead of brute force, he adapted—fluidly moving and redirecting his energy into tectonic flows, launching the enemies off balance while regaining his footing.
—Level Up: 2→5—
Raijin vs. Electric Shadows:
The arena exploded with chaotic light as electric Wraiths formed from the clouds. They swarmed like an angry stormfront, each one mimicking Raijin's every move with unnerving aggression.
"Guess even my shadows can't keep up." Raijin said while laughing.
He began to manipulate his movements with perfection, harnessing his lightning for more than just attack. Upgrading his Aura Slash, he weaved between his foes, leaving electric afterimages that disoriented the Wraiths.
"This is just warm-up, you know that, right?" he shouted, the thrill of chaos electrifying his every fiber.
—Level Up: 6→8→10—
Segment 2: Elemental Mastery + Strategic Trials
As the core of the Nexus Plane shimmered like a shattered mirror, the platforms shifted and morphed around them, presenting new challenges. Gravity felt reversed; this was not a battlefield for brute strength but for strategy and intellect.
A disembodied voice, ancient and layered with echoes, resonated through the realm:
"To grow beyond your element… master yourself."
The silence stretched as a new wave of trials began.
Trial One: Element Reversal – Breaking Limits
Each Kaiju stood on shifting platforms. Their elemental powers were inverted, confronting them with unfamiliar constraints.
Infernia – Cold Flame Trial:
An icy blue fire flickered from her hands, chilling rather than burning.
"Tch... fire that doesn't burn? Might as well slap me with water." Infernia said.
Mysterious enemies of molten origin emerged, immune to her typical heat. Fueled by determination, she fused her cold flames with red-hot fire, creating a spiraling helix that defied comprehension. The implosive heat vacuums created surgical strikes that shattered the resistance of her foes.
Zephyr – Still Air Trial:
In a realm devoid of movement, she found herself enveloped in perfect stillness.
"No air, no flair." Zephyr said with a nervous laugh.
But rather than falter, she compressed the stagnant air into powerful, invisible waves, wielding silence as her weapon. Each slice cut through the stillness, revealing that inaction could be just as potent as a tempest.
Aqua – Oasis Trial:
Caught in a blinding desert with a shimmering oasis at its heart, Aqua faced the task of removing the water without disturbing the land's integrity.
As she knelt and closed her eyes, she felt the moisture in the air. With a focused mind, she began to condense the vapor into super-dense water spears, piercing precision born from her understanding of water itself. The oasis remained untouched, but the enemies that emerged from its depths were swiftly dealt with.
Titan – Fluid Tremor Trial:
Titan stood on floating stone tiles that trembled with every movement he made. He knew he couldn't rely on sheer weight to conquer this challenge.
"A mountain must learn to bend…" Titan grimly said.
He began to absorb the vibrations of the ground beneath him, redistributing that kinetic energy in harmonious waves. Each pulse redirected the attacks of his enemies, his movements graceful rather than destructive, a dance of resilience rather than brute force.
Raijin – No Lightning Trial:
Raijin found himself stripped of his electric powers, forced to face mirror clones of himself that were amplified with electricity.
"This is insane… but kind of genius." Raijin said while panting, dodging a plasma blast in the process.
He adapted quickly, understanding how his speed generated heat rather than relying on lightning itself. Focusing on friction, he formulated Ghost Dash—a blinding move that allowed him to teleport based on the friction between surfaces.
Conclusion: Evolution Through Constraint
As each Kaiju conquered their respective trials, the voice echoed, impressed by their growth:
"To conquer others, command your power.
To conquer yourself, abandon it."
With the platforms aligning to reveal the next gate, a new phase awaited—the Synergy Gauntlet. The real battle was only just beginning.
Segment 3: The Synergy Gauntlet – Simulated Abaddon's Shadow Army
The Nexus Plane trembled violently, rippling with unrestrained energy as Abaddon's Shadow Army emerged: grotesque silhouettes forming from shattered remnants of once-familiar worlds, each one adapting mid-battle to counter the Kaijus' elemental affinities.
Raijin and Infernia – Plasma Duelists:
Together, they raced to the forefront of the battlefield, a breathtaking fusion of lightning and flame. Sparks twisted into plasma lances, blinding and deadly.
"New move—Hellstrike." said Raijin while grinning widely.
"Trademark that later. Burn first." Infernia said while cracking her knuckles.
They flung the searing lances into the throngs of shadows, each impact detonating into molten rifts that warped the fabric of the arena. As the enemies adapted with armor designed to withstand their assaults, Raijin and Infernia recalibrated their approach, supercharging each other's attacks with pulses of unstable energy, creating an elegant cycle of destruction.
Zephyr and Aqua – Precision Killers:
Meanwhile, Zephyr and Aqua moved as if dancing through chaos, lethal and surgical in every strike.
Zephyr controlled the battlefield with rotating winds, creating vacuums that destabilized enemy structures. Aqua followed suit, unleashing pressurized jets of water into those whirlpools, forming hydro-blades that tore through the air with deadly precision.
"Tornado Surge ready." Zephyr said midway flip.
"Executing." Aqua said while maintaining a focused gaze ahead of her.
They synchronously launched their spinning combo attack, trapping enemies within a tempest sphere while Aqua flash-freezed the interior. With a flick of her hand, she shattered the ice, leaving behind only steamy whispers of vapor.
Titan – The Unstoppable Wall:
Titan was the immovable force, engulfed in shadows as aberrations closed in, armed with chaotic weaponry. Rejecting the urge to evade, he tapped into Kinetic Reversal, his armor glowing as he absorbed each incoming strike.
"Too light. Hit harder."
With a deafening roar, he unleashed the stored energy, a shockwave rippling outward like a nuclear blast, vaporizing the surrounding entities and creating a crater of silence amidst the din of chaos.
Team Synergy – Raw But Rapidly Evolving:
The battle was a tumult of energy and elemental forces, yet the synergy among the Kaijus began to crystallize into something greater. Instead of acting as individuals, their movements became intertwined, flowing together in a symphony of destruction. Plasma lances ignited hydro-blades, wind currents flared into firestorms, and shockwaves threw enemies to their doom. Each moment of instinctive teamwork reshaped the very essence of their combat.
In this space, their bonds grew stronger, nurturing not just their powers but their collective identity as Kaiju and Hosts united in purpose.
Unexpected Obstacle: Nexus Guardian Appears
As they celebrated their initial victory, a massive crystalline guardian descended from the fractured sky, looming over them menacingly.
"That wasn't part of the plan." Raijin said, suddenly being all serious.
The Guardian wasn't merely a test of strength; it sought to uproot their mental and emotional foundations. It morphed into visions of lost loved ones, manifesting their deepest fears and self-doubt, its presence an echo of past heartbreak.
Titan hesitated, trapped in a torrent of guilt as phantoms of lost kin emerged from shattered shards.
Titan's Trial – Guilt of Survival:
"You lived… while we turned to dust." The whispers penetrated his heart, a painful reminder of his solitude.
"I had no choice…" a trembling Titan said.
But then, a surge of determination coursed through him. Slamming his fists into the ground, he erupted a quake, shattering the illusions around him.
"I survived… to protect what you couldn't!"
The Guardian shifted, its attack not one of brute force but of psychological warfare, manifesting mirrored shards that honed in on each Kaiju with heart-wrenching illusions.
Zephyr's Trial – Fear of Emptiness:
Surrounded by an oppressive void, Zephyr found the air suffocating, an absence of self.
"Nothing…" Zephyr said in a whisper.
Her past failures echoed in the silence, the weight of despair threatening to crush her. Yet from that silence, pressure built until it erupted into a sonic vortex that shattered the darkness around her.
"Even silence breaks if you scream back!" Zephyr said with a playful grin.
Infernia's Trial – Ashes of Home:
In an apparition of her unburnt homeland, Infernia faced reflections of her family, alive and vibrant.
Illusion:
"You let it all burn."
Infernia felt the wildfire rage within her, igniting her worst fears. But instead of succumbing, she fused her cold and hot flames, channeling them into a torrential blaze that incinerated her guilt and transformed it into determination.
"I'll carry it—but I'll keep burning forward!" Infernia said back.
Aqua's Trial – Drowning in Doubt:
In an abyss of dark waters, Aqua was confronted by her reflection, taunting her strength.
Reflection:
"You call that strength?"
But Aqua was no novice to overcoming hardship. She summoned her resolve and erected a hydro-barrier, pushing back against the rising tide.
"Still waters break nothing… but they break through anything." Aqua said while being completely calm.
Raijin's Trial – The Girl He Couldn't Save:
The Guardian's illusions manipulated his deepest regret, drawing forth a scene from his past—a ruined city draped in rain, facing a girl from his memories.
Girl:
"You said you'd protect me."
Raijin remained unmoved, frozen in time as her disappointment hung like a cloud over him. For the first time, his lively facade showed cracks. But amidst the downpour, a flicker within him began to stir.
The Guardian amplified the pressure, framing his guilt into a cage. Yet rather than fall, Raijin simply stood there, a statue of stillness amidst the storm.
Infernia, watching from the edge of the battlefield, frowned.
"Why isn't he out yet?" Infernia said softly.
"Something's different with him." Titan said with a voice heavy with concern.
Uncertain, Infernia hesitated before stepping forward, wresting control from her instincts. She knew better than to rush in blindly; intuition told her that Raijin needed to confront this on his own.
"He'll come back when he's ready." Infernia quietly added.
Inside the Illusion – Raijin Alone
The girl walked away, her figure flickering like a projection on the verge of collapse. The rain continued to pour, each droplet echoing the quiet of lost promises. Raijin remained still, lost in the moment, caught in the undertow of his own thoughts.
Girl (echoing):
"I trusted you…"
Raijin stood motionless, the sound of the storm engulfing him. As her words faded into the echo of thunder, he allowed himself to feel every ounce of guilt, every moment of regret. The storm around him intensified, but rather than breaking him, this confrontation forged his resolve.
A surge of energy welled up, and for the first time in an eternity, Raijin closed his eyes and felt the essence of the storm swirling within. Not as a source of chaos, but as a wellspring of strength.
After a beat of silence, Raijin inhaled deeply, his fists tightening. A single spark escaped his fingertips, and it lit the darkness like a beacon. In that moment, the illusion imploded, shattering reality around him.
Raijin Returns
A shockwave rippled through the Nexus as Raijin reappeared in the arena, lightning dripping from him like rainwater cascading off a rooftop. No dramatic flair accompanied his arrival. Without a word, he walked past his teammates, his demeanor calm yet unreadable.
The words "You good?" escaped through the lips Zephyr was biting nervously
"Was just thinking." Raijin replied her with a flat and steady voice.
He offered no further explanation, and his silence settled like a heavy mist over the group, but no one pressed him for more. Instead, they exchanged glances filled with both concern and understanding, collectively recognizing the unspoken weight he carried.
As he passed the shards of the Guardian, one remained faintly glowing, revealing the silhouette of the girl who had haunted his memories. Raijin didn't look back.
But even then the air still buzzed with anticipation, the battlefield of the Nexus Plane shift and morphing into a realm yet unseen by the Kaijus. They could feel the intensity in the atmosphere—a promising portent of the formidable trials that lay before them.
---
System: "Final Trial Initiating… Loading Environment...
The air in the Nexus cracked open as the simulated Illusion Fragment of Abaddon descended—its colossal form draped in shadows, glitching like broken data. Though only a 6% replication, its presence was overwhelming.
Nexus Plane – 18 Hours into Training
Raijin was the first to strike, lightning bursting from his body as he launched forward with a high-speed blitz. The illusion didn't move—it absorbed the lightning like mist, then retaliated by warping space, redirecting Raijin's own attack into his flank. He was slammed into the ground, leaving a crater.
Infernia roared in next, twin streams of hot and cold flames spiraling into a vortex. Her attack collided with the illusion's palm—but instead of impact, it reversed, spiraling back at her. She spun mid-air, absorbing her own attack and redirecting it to shatter one of the summoned gravitic pillars.
Zephyr created a sonic boom barrier around the team, deflecting Abaddon's gravity pulses. She looped into the air, launching sonic knives toward its core—but the illusion phased out briefly, letting the knives hit Titan instead, destabilizing their formation.
Titan absorbed the impact, roaring with fury. He punched the ground, sending seismic waves that caused the arena's floating debris to surge upward. Abaddon caught the debris midair and reshaped it into razor-sharp spears, hurling them at blinding speeds. Aqua stepped in, creating a tidal wave shield to block the barrage.
Aqua, calm as always, launched hydro spears wrapped in pressure bombs. She aimed not at the illusion's body—but at its shadow. The shadow twitched—then screamed. The Kaijus realized it was vulnerable through dimensional weak points.
They regrouped. Zephyr slowed the air, giving Titan time to leap into the sky. Infernia ignited his fists mid-air with fusion fire. Titan came crashing down like a meteor.
Direct hit.
The illusion shattered in half—but reformed instantly, stronger. It now wore masks of each Kaiju, twisted and broken. It began copying their moves, launching corrupted lightning, flame spirals, seismic punches, and sonic bursts—back at them all at once.
Notwithstanding, Zephyr stood ahead of the team, spinning her scythe in hand, her usually smug grin replaced by narrowed eyes.
Raijin's voice echoed from behind, "Zephyr, don't engage yet—!"
But she was already gone.
A blur of green and white streaked through the air, wind carving sharp tunnels as she zipped past the Replica's shoulder and slashed.
Nothing.
Her scythe passed through it. No resistance.
Raijin muttered, "Oh no."
Zephyr skidded to a stop mid-air, blinking. "Uh… did I miss—?"
Abaddon's Replica twitched.
A black, vertical eye opened along its chest, and an unseen force snatched her from the air. She was flung downward with crushing gravity, like the universe itself yanked her soul straight toward the ground.
"Zephyr!" Infernia shouted, too late.
She hit the ground like a meteor.
The impact carved a crater the size of a school gymnasium into the Nexus terrain, dust and debris spiraling skyward as a low, echoing boom cracked across the dimension.
Infernia facepalmed. "She got clapped."
Inside the crater, a muffled voice croaked, "I'm... okay."
Raijin's eye twitched. "No you're not."
Zephyr's hand slowly emerged from the rubble like a flag of surrender. "I wasn't expecting... conceptual gravity... ow…"
The Replica floated above the group, void tendrils starting to rise again, forming weapons out of warped space.
Raijin stepped forward once again, eyes glowing. "Alright. No more goofing around."
Now it was chaos.
Raijin broke through with a lightning-speed feint, Aqua flanked with hydro chains, Titan used it as cover to punch its core again, and Infernia burned a hole through its back with blue inferno. All this created and used with high energy output.
They overloaded it with simultaneous elemental overload.
The illusion roared—then imploded into static.
System: "Final Trial complete… Loading Environment: ALL HOSTS/KAIJUS DISCHARGED."]
The sky fractured like glass above them, cracks of energy twitching in the void as the 6% Replica of Abaddon collapsed into itself with a final, haunting screech. The air buzzed with leftover chaos—dark tendrils evaporating into nothingness, gravity slowly realigning after the clash.
[TIME TAKEN HERE: 24:00:01]
Ren stood at the edge of the battlefield, barely holding himself upright. Though he hadn't landed the finishing blow—his Kaiju had—it still felt like the breath had been knocked from every part of his soul. Sparks flickered across the battlefield where Raijin stood in human form, arms folded, faint scorch marks across his sleeveless cloak.
"That thing… was only six percent?" Ren asked, voice hoarse, sweat dripping down his brow. His daggers hung loosely in his grip, shaking ever so slightly.
Raijin stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"Yeah," he said flatly. "And even then, it folded Zephyr."
A groan echoed from a crater where Zephyr raised a trembling hand. "I was fine…"
"Fine and almost flattened," Infernia snapped from a ledge nearby.
Raijin let the others bicker in the background before glancing at Ren. "Training's over for today."
Ren blinked. "Wait, that's it? We still got—"
"You already forgot, didn't you?" Raijin cut in, sighing like a disappointed dad. "One day here is six minutes out there. You've been here for twenty-four hours and two minutes."
Ren's brain stalled. "...Oh no."
Raijin tilted his head mockingly. "Yeah. That means six minutes passed in your world."
Ren's eyes widened. "That's just about returning right when I left Rika. I told her today would be her day…"
A beat.
A longer beat.
Raijin squinted. "Bro, she's gonna kill you. Feels like you lied."
Raijin stretched his neck, lightning crackling at the joints. "Look, you trained hard. You've fought smart. You didn't die. That's a win in my book."
Then, softer—like a rare flash of actual wisdom leaking out—Raijin added, "But all the power in the universe won't matter if you keep losing what grounds you."
Ren froze at that, meeting Raijin's eyes.
"Go be a brother before you become just another weapon," Raijin said, turning away as the other Kaijus gathered around him.
Ren gave one last nod and activated the return glyph.
As the light engulfed him, he heard Zephyr's voice echo in the distance, "Tell Rika we said hiiii—wait, no, don't, she's scary when she's mad—!"
---
Real World – Takahashi Residence
6 minutes later.
Ren reappeared just outside the front door, stumbling into the early morning breeze. His shirt was half-shredded, hair messier than before, and his entire body screamed fatigue.
The sun had barely shifted in the sky.
He stared at the door.
"...Yup. I'm dead."
Ren cautiously opened the front door.
The house was eerily quiet. Not the good kind. The ominous kind.
He tiptoed inside like a ninja with sore feet. His clothes still bore battle damage, and his hair looked like he lost a fight with a Tesla coil.
Then—click.
Rika sat on the couch. Arms crossed. Eyebrows furrowed. A fresh cup of tea steamed beside her. She looked… calm.
Too calm.
Ren smiled weakly. "Heyyyyyy, lil sis…"
She didn't move.
"...You know, time dilation was wild where I went. Only six minutes passed for you. For me, it was a whole day. Kinda crazy, right?"
Still no response.
Raijin's voice echoed faintly in his head. "As I said , she's gonna kill you."
Ren sighed and plopped on the floor in seiza. "I'm sorry, okay? I've probably lost my mind. Like—actually lost it. In a black hole. With a cosmic horror punching me through metaphysical walls."
Rika sipped her tea slowly. "You tried sneaking out this morning."
Ren winced. "...Yeah."
A pause.
Then Rika reached into her pocket, pulled out a folded note, and flicked it toward him. Ren caught it, unfolded it—and read: "Spend the day with me. No training. No excuses." Dated: Yesterday.
Ren lowered the note. "You planned this out, huh…"
Rika stood up, gave him a death glare... and then booped his forehead. "Lucky for you, I waited for just 6 minutes. But you're mine for the next twelve hours." Ren wore fresh clothes this time—no battle damage, no scorched sleeves—just a casual hoodie and joggers, trying to blend back into normal life. Rika, still a little grumpy but clearly content, carried a small tote bag swinging at her side.
Their first stop? Breakfast. Well—attempted breakfast.
Ren insisted on cooking, claiming he "used to make pancakes like a pro." Reality begged to differ. Within five minutes, smoke wafted from the stove, a rogue egg rolled off the counter, and a spatula somehow melted. Rika stood arms-crossed in the kitchen doorway, one brow raised like a disappointed chef judge.
"You're banned from ever calling yourself a pro again," she deadpanned, stepping in to salvage the situation. With practiced precision, she flipped golden-brown pancakes onto plates, humming to herself while Ren watched, defeated.
"I loosened the batter for you," he muttered.
Before she could respond, Raijin materialized in the hallway in his human form, sniffing dramatically. "Smells like mediocrity and shame," he said, reaching for a pancake.
WHACK.
Rika smacked him with the spatula faster than lightning could save him. He phased out of the room, grumbling something about "hostile breakfast environments."
They ate on the balcony, legs dangling over the edge, syrup dripping as birds fluttered past. It was quiet, peaceful. Normal.
Next up was the arcade, the moment Ren and Rika stepped inside, they were hit by a wave of sound—8-bit music clashing with dance beats, flashing LEDs flickering across multicolored walls, and the metallic clatter of coins feeding hungry machines.
Rika's eyes lit up.
Ren groaned. "You're already plotting something."
She grabbed a stack of tokens and tossed half into his hands. "Damn right I am. Let's see if you're still a legend or just all bark and thunder."
They started easy—classic rhythm game. Ren picked the hardest difficulty, cocky grin loaded.
The music dropped.
Tap. Tap. Slide. Hold.
Three notes in, Ren was flailing like a dying jellyfish. Meanwhile, Rika danced through the screen like a practiced ballerina crossed with a gamer demon, her hands a blur as she hit every combo.
"Yoooo what?!" Ren yelled, missing another slide.
"Should've practiced on this too!" Rika taunted.
The score popped: Rika – 98% Perfect. Ren – 23%.
Ren stared at it like it just insulted his ancestors.
Next round: Air Hockey.
Ren cracked his knuckles. "Now this I can win."
The puck dropped. Five seconds later, it was in his goal.
Rika smirked. "What was that about winning?"
Ren growled and went full sweat mode—sliding, diving, even using lightning reflexes for real.
SLAM!
The puck shot off the table, bounced off a pinball machine, ricocheted off a wall, and hit a plastic prize shelf with a loud CRASH.
An employee popped his head out. "What the hell was that noise!"
Ren held up his hands innocently. "Nothing but... total physics."
"Physics my ass," Rika muttered, laughing as she claimed another win.
Then came Dance Battle.
Rika picked a K-pop track. Ren groaned.
"Bro. I can't even two-step."
"Figure it out," she grinned.
He tried.
There are no words for what Ren did on that stage.
Arms flailed. Legs spaghetti'd. The screen read "Combo Lost" so many times it started glitching. Rika was mid-spin when she saw his flailing shadow and laughed so hard she almost fell.
Some kid walked by. "Is he okay?"
Rika: "We're still trying to figure that out."
Finally, Ren called his redemption shot—Basketball Challenge.
As soon as the timer started, he was in the zone—shoulders square, arms moving like muscle memory from the court kicked in.
Swish. Swish. Swish.
The counter ticked up faster than anyone else in the arcade.
Rika tried to match him. She got a few in. Then a few more. But Ren's shots were relentless, perfect arcs over and over again.
The machine blared a high score sound.
Ren – 248 points. Rika – 143.
Ren dropped the last ball and struck a pose. "You can simply call me the best."
Rika scowled. "Okay, fine. You got one."
He grinned. "Gotta let the older sibling win something. It's in the rules."
"You're only older by like two years!"
"Still counts."
They ended up in the prize area after, bickering over what to get with the tickets. Rika chose a plush frog wearing sunglasses. Ren picked a cheap toy dagger and named it "Mini-Raijin."
They ended up at the park just after noon, laying out a small picnic under a wide cherry blossom tree still stubbornly holding onto its petals. Ren flopped onto the grass dramatically, arms splayed, and Rika sat beside him cross-legged, munching on a rice ball.
"Remember when I used to ride on your back everywhere?" she asked suddenly.
Ren smirked without opening his eyes. "Yeah. You were, like, five."
"You didn't complain then."
"You didn't weigh as much as a tonne then."
Rika elbowed him. "You're the worst."
And yet she leaned her head against his shoulder anyway. He didn't move.
Afterward, they wandered into the mall, more for the A/C than anything else. Rika dragged him into a clothing store—one of those pastel-colored ones with soft music and way too many mirrors. Before he could protest, she shoved a hoodie into his arms.
It was pink. With cat ears.
Ten minutes later, Ren stood in front of a mirror, dead inside. Rika burst into giggles behind her phone, snapping pictures like paparazzi. Somewhere deep in his head, Raijin cackled through the bond link.
"Don't even think about showing this to the others," Ren warned.
"No promises."
Evening – Rooftop
They sit watching the sunset over the city.
Rika's voice softens. "You scare me sometimes, y'know?"
Ren glances at her.
"All that power. Those things you fight. I pretend I'm okay with it... but I'm not. I'm scared you'll go too far one day—and won't come back."
Ren stays quiet. Then: "I'm scared of that too."
He turns toward her, his expression serious.
"But you? You're the only thing that keeps me... me. If I lose myself, I lose this. And I'd never trade this."
Rika smiles, punching his arm lightly. "Better not."
---
Night – Home
Rika's asleep on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her. Ren watches her for a moment, then turns toward the window, staring up at the stars.
Raijin's voice pops in again. "You did good, Takahashi."
Ren smirks. "Yeah. I needed this more than I thought."