Hiroshi walked back to the house silently, his footsteps muffled against the smooth wooden floor of the compound's corridor. The boken in his hand felt heavier than ever, as if it carried not just the weight of wood—but of guilt. His eyes remained distant, unfocused, watching the patterns of sunlight filter through the paper walls like ghosts.
He clenched his jaw.
He knew he could've won.
If he had just used his power—just let it loose for a second—he could've overwhelmed Riku. He could've flooded the courtyard with fire, scorched the ground and bent the fight to his will.
But he didn't.
Because winning wasn't worth it.
Not if it meant hurting someone again.
Not like her.
⸻
Autumn had arrived, bringing with it a crisp breeze that signaled the end of summer's relentless heat.
Riku, Midori, and Aiko were now 14, while Hiroshi had turned 15. The compound had taken on a new look with the changing season—the once-lush green trees were now a dazzling mix of reds, oranges, and yellows. Fallen leaves crunched beneath their feet as they walked, and the scent of woodsmoke from nearby houses filled the air. It was the kind of weather that made training bearable, even enjoyable.
Except, of course, when certain people decided to turn everything into complete and utter chaos.
"Riku, come on, just do it!" Aiko whined, walking backward in front of him with her hands clasped together.
"For the last time, no," Riku deadpanned.
"But why not?" Midori chimed in, smirking. "You're always showing off your lightning powers. What's wrong with using them for a little harmless fun?"
"It's not harmless fun," Riku sighed, rubbing his temple. "I'm not going to use my lightning to roast marshmallows."
Aiko pouted. "But it's fall, and fall means campfires and campfires mean s'mores. So either you start a fire, or we go find firewood, and I don't want to go find firewood."
Riku groaned. "I don't want to start a fire, because last time you asked me to do that, I almost set the training hall on fire."
"Details," Midori waved dismissively.
Hiroshi, who had been listening in silence, suddenly spoke up. "Wait, wait. Hold on. Are you saying that with all your fancy lightning powers, you can't safely start a small fire?"
Riku glared at him. "That is not what I said."
Hiroshi smirked. "Then prove it."
Midori and Aiko immediately perked up. "Yeah, prove it!" they said in unison.
Riku gritted his teeth. He hated when they teamed up on him like this.
"Fine." He sighed in defeat. "But if something catches on fire, you're explaining it to Ronin."
Midori grinned. "Deal."
They all gathered in a clearing just outside the compound, a pile of sticks set up in front of them. Riku took a deep breath, focusing as he let electricity spark between his fingertips. He carefully aimed, sending a controlled bolt of lightning at the sticks.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then—
BOOM!
The sticks exploded, scattering burning embers everywhere.
Midori, Aiko, and Hiroshi all screamed, diving for cover as Riku stood there, looking absolutely done with his life.
"WHAT THE HELL, RIKU?!" Aiko shrieked, frantically patting out a small flame on her sleeve.
"I told you this was a bad idea!" Riku shouted back.
Midori peeked up from behind a tree, her hair slightly singed. "Okay. So. Maybe lightning and fire don't mix well."
"No shit," Riku grumbled.
Hiroshi, despite having just dodged a fireball, started laughing. "Okay, but you have to admit, that was kind of awesome."
"No," Riku deadpanned. "I really don't."
Midori dusted herself off, looking at the smoldering remains of their campfire. "Well, there goes our s'mores."
Aiko huffed. "Great. Now we actually have to go find firewood."
Hiroshi stretched his arms behind his head. "You have to go find firewood. Riku and I will supervise."
Riku shot him a look. "Oh hell no, you're going too."
Hiroshi groaned but didn't argue.
So, they set off into the woods to collect firewood—Midori and Aiko leading the way while Riku and Hiroshi trailed behind.
"This would be a lot easier if someone hadn't blown up our first attempt," Aiko muttered, throwing a stick into the pile she was carrying.
Riku sighed. "Yes, Aiko. I'm very aware."
Midori smirked. "He's never gonna live that down, huh?"
"Oh, absolutely not," Aiko grinned.
Riku just groaned, already regretting everything about this day.
After an hour of gathering wood—and dealing with Aiko and Midori getting distracted by literally everything—they finally managed to get a fire going the normal way.
They sat around it, roasting marshmallows as the sun dipped below the horizon. The flames crackled, the warmth a welcome contrast to the cool autumn air.
Midori leaned back on her hands, looking up at the stars. "You know... despite almost dying via lightning explosion, this was actually kinda nice."
Aiko nodded, chewing on a marshmallow. "Yeah. I mean, we should probably not let Riku near fire again, but other than that..."
Riku rolled his eyes. "I really hate you guys sometimes."
Hiroshi smirked, clapping a hand on Riku's shoulder. "Nah, you love us."
Riku huffed but didn't argue.
The fire crackled, laughter echoed through the clearing, and for a little while, everything just felt... peaceful.
As the fire crackled and their laughter faded into the crisp autumn air, Hiroshi stretched his arms over his head and smirked at Riku.
"Hey, it's been a while since we last sparred," Hiroshi said, rolling his shoulders. "How about we go a round before heading inside?"
Riku raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You finally think you stand a chance against me?"
Hiroshi scoffed. "You talk like you've never lost a fight before."
"Because I haven't," Riku grinned.
Aiko and Midori groaned in unison. "Oh, here we go," Aiko muttered.
Midori shook her head. "You guys are such meatheads."
Ignoring them, Riku got up and walked over to grab his bokken, but Hiroshi held up a hand.
"No weapons," he said. "Hand-to-hand."
Riku smirked, tossing the wooden sword aside. "Fine by me."
The others backed up, giving them space. The fire cast long shadows as Riku and Hiroshi squared up, each watching the other carefully.
Then Hiroshi struck first.
He lunged forward, throwing a quick jab, but Riku dodged with ease, sidestepping and countering with a sharp kick to Hiroshi's ribs. Hiroshi grunted, but he had been expecting that—he twisted midair, landing on his feet before immediately driving forward again.
This time, Riku didn't dodge. He blocked Hiroshi's punch with his forearm, the impact sending a small shockwave between them. Hiroshi grinned.
"Not bad," Riku admitted. "You've gotten faster."
"And stronger," Hiroshi added, throwing a feint before aiming a real punch at Riku's stomach.
Riku caught it, twisting Hiroshi's arm and flipping him onto his back in one swift motion. Hiroshi groaned.
"Guess not strong enough," Riku teased.
Hiroshi growled, rolling back to his feet. "Don't get cocky."
They clashed again—fists flying, dodging, countering. Riku was faster, but Hiroshi had always had raw strength on his side. Each blow they exchanged sent small gusts of wind into the cold night air.
Then it happened.
Hiroshi threw a punch aimed at Riku's face. Riku moved to block it, but just before Hiroshi's fist connected—
FWOOOM!
A bright blue flame erupted from Hiroshi's hand.
Riku barely had time to react. Instinct took over, and in a flash of lightning, he teleported several feet back, just barely avoiding the blast.
The fireball shot forward, dissipating into the night air, leaving behind a faint heatwave.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Hiroshi stared at his hand, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His fingers trembled as blue fire still flickered at his fingertips.
"What... the hell was that?" Riku asked, his eyes wide.
Hiroshi didn't answer. Instead, he clenched his fist, trying to summon it again. A second later, the flames reignited, dancing across his knuckles. His eyes widened.
Aiko and Midori, who had both ducked for cover the moment the fireball appeared, slowly peeked over from behind a tree.
"Um... did Hiroshi just shoot fire out of his hand?" Aiko asked.
Midori blinked. "I think so?"
Hiroshi turned his palm over, the fire still burning steadily. His mind was racing. He had dreamed of this moment—of being like his brother, of wielding some kind of power. But this...
This was real.
His heart pounded as he turned to Riku, his expression a mix of excitement and disbelief. "I have powers."
Riku nodded, still in shock himself. "Yeah. No kidding."
Hiroshi took a deep breath, focusing. He closed his eyes, trying to channel the energy again. The flames flared up instantly. This time, they didn't flicker randomly—they were controlled, steady.
Midori and Aiko cautiously stepped closer, watching in awe.
"So you have blue fire?" Midori asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Hiroshi opened his eyes, grinning. "Looks like it."
Aiko's face lit up. "That's so cool! Oh my god, now you and Riku are both overpowered freaks!"
"Hey," Riku muttered, crossing his arms.
"Wait," Midori frowned, her excitement shifting to concern. "How the hell did that happen? Riku was born with his powers, but you've never had anything like this before."
Hiroshi's grin faltered slightly. She had a point. This had come out of nowhere. He had trained his body his whole life, but nothing like this had ever manifested before. So why now?
Riku studied him carefully. "Have you ever felt anything like this before? Even a little?"
Hiroshi shook his head. "Not once. I mean, I've wanted powers since we were kids, but I just assumed it wasn't gonna happen."
Aiko nudged him. "Well, congratulations, dumbass. You just leveled up."
Hiroshi smirked, looking down at his still-burning hand. Then he suddenly threw a punch forward, sending another fireball shooting into the sky.
Midori yelped. "HEY! WARN US NEXT TIME!"
Hiroshi let out a triumphant laugh. "This is amazing!"
Riku, despite himself, couldn't help but smile. "Yeah... yeah, it kinda is."
But in the back of his mind, something still didn't feel right. Powers like this didn't just awaken out of nowhere—especially not in someone who had never shown any signs before.
He glanced at Hiroshi, who was still marveling at his newfound ability.
Whatever had caused this... it wasn't random.
The next few days were... eventful, to say the least.
Hiroshi had become insufferable.
Ever since his powers awakened, he strutted around the compound like he was some kind of untouchable warrior. His usual confidence had twisted into pure arrogance, and it grated on Riku's nerves.
It wasn't just Riku who noticed, either. The other kids in the compound—many of whom had already treated Riku like an outcast—now turned their disdain onto Hiroshi. The irony wasn't lost on him. The same people who had once shunned him for being different were now treating Hiroshi the same way.
The difference? Hiroshi deserved it.
Riku had never looked down on anyone because of his powers. He had never acted superior. He didn't think being stronger made him better than anyone else.
Hiroshi? He basked in the attention. He mocked the kids who couldn't keep up with him in training, taunted them when they failed to land a hit on him during spars. He even started treating Aiko and Midori with a level of casual dismissal that really pissed Riku off.
At first, Riku let it slide. Maybe Hiroshi was just excited. Maybe this was just a phase, a high from finally getting what he'd always wanted.
But as the days passed, it only got worse.
Riku wasn't the only one getting sick of it, either.
"Man, I liked Hiroshi better before he got his stupid powers," Aiko grumbled one afternoon, kicking a rock across the training yard.
Midori nodded. "I know. He's so obnoxious now."
Aiko huffed. "He used to be funny. Now he just acts like he's some all-powerful chosen one or something."
Midori crossed her arms. "I swear, if he calls me 'weak' one more time, I'm gonna—"
Before she could finish, Hiroshi sauntered past them, loudly cracking his knuckles. "You guys talking about me?"
Aiko didn't even try to hide her annoyance. "Wow, great observation, genius. Maybe your fire powers also give you super hearing."
Hiroshi smirked. "Jealous?"
Aiko let out a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a scream.
Riku, who had been standing a few feet away, clenched his jaw. This was not his brother. This wasn't the same person he'd grown up with, fought beside, struggled with.
Hiroshi had always been hotheaded, but this? This wasn't him.
And what was really getting under Riku's skin was the fact that Hiroshi's powers didn't make any sense.
Riku's own lightning abilities had awakened in a moment of desperation—when he had been seconds away from death, when he had risked everything to save his older brother from a pack of starving wolves. That fear, that need to survive, had unlocked something inside of him.
Hiroshi, on the other hand? His powers had just appeared one day. Out of nowhere.
And that wasn't even the weirdest thing.
He and Hiroshi had always healed fast. Too fast.
Bruises vanished overnight. Cuts closed in minutes. Even broken bones barely took a day to mend.
That wasn't normal.
A regular person didn't just shake off injuries like they were nothing.
So what the hell were they?
That question gnawed at Riku's mind, keeping him up at night. He had never put too much thought into it before—he had just assumed it was part of his abilities. But Hiroshi didn't have powers before.
So if they both had insane regeneration... what did that mean?
Was it something else? Something neither of them understood?
Or worse—something being kept from them?
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.
And Hiroshi's attitude wasn't making it any better.
Then came the final straw.
It was late evening, the sun dipping below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the compound. Riku had been making his way back from training when he overheard Hiroshi talking to Midori and Aiko.
Or rather—talking down to them.
"You two wouldn't last five minutes in a real fight," Hiroshi scoffed. "If you don't start training harder, you're gonna get left behind."
Midori's fists clenched. "Excuse me?"
"Did I stutter?" Hiroshi smirked. "I mean, let's be real. If you had to fight someone like Riku or me, you'd lose instantly."
Riku stopped in his tracks.
Oh, hell no.
Midori took a step forward, eyes blazing. "You arrogant asshole—"
"Alright, that's it," Riku growled, storming up to them. He grabbed Hiroshi's shoulder and yanked him around to face him.
Hiroshi frowned. "The hell's your problem?"
"My problem?" Riku's voice was dangerously low. "I'm sick of your bullshit."
Hiroshi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You mad 'cause I'm stronger than you now?"
Riku laughed. It was sharp, humorless. "Stronger than me? You're not fooling anyone, Hiroshi." He narrowed his eyes. "Where are you hiding it?"
Hiroshi blinked. "Hiding what?"
"Whatever the hell you're using to fake your powers."
For a second, Hiroshi looked genuinely offended. Then he smirked. "Ohh, I get it. You're jealous."
Riku's patience snapped.
In an instant, lightning crackled around him. He surged forward, grabbing Hiroshi by the collar. "You don't have powers," he growled. "You never did."
That was all it took.
Hiroshi shoved him back, flames erupting around his fists. "Screw you!" he snapped. "You just can't handle that you're not special anymore!"
And then—
They clashed.
Lightning met fire in a chaotic explosion of energy. Hiroshi swung first, a flaming punch aimed straight for Riku's face. Riku dodged, teleporting behind him in a flash of purple sparks, aiming a lightning-infused strike at Hiroshi's ribs.
Hiroshi twisted, narrowly avoiding the hit, retaliating with a blast of fire. Riku barely managed to deflect it, sparks flying as their attacks collided.
The fight was brutal, raw emotion fueling every strike. Neither held back.
Then—
"STOP!"
Midori.
Riku turned just in time to see her step between them.
His eyes widened. "Midori, get out of the—"
Too late.
Hiroshi's next attack was already in motion—a fire-coated punch meant for Riku's chest. But Midori had moved into the line of fire.
"MIDORI!"
The punch connected—right against her side.
She let out a strangled cry, stumbling back.
Everything froze.
Hiroshi's breath hitched, his face paling as he realized what he'd done.
Riku was at Midori's side in an instant, catching her before she fell. "Midori! Hey, hey, stay with me!"
Midori groaned, clutching her side. The burn wasn't too severe, but it was enough to hurt. Enough to shake Hiroshi out of his anger.
Hiroshi stared at his hands in horror. "I... I didn't mean to—"
A shadow loomed over them.
Ronin.
His expression was unreadable, but his voice was firm. "Enough."
Both brothers flinched.
"You both will answer for this," Ronin said coldly. "Tomorrow morning. Training hall. Do not be late."
Riku gulped.
Oh, shit.
Ronin stood before them, arms crossed, his expression unreadable—but the tension in the room was suffocating. He had never looked this angry before.
"You could have killed her!" His voice boomed through the training hall, making both brothers flinch. "Is that what you wanted?!"
Hiroshi looked down at the ground, fists clenched, shame radiating off him in waves. He didn't say anything. He couldn't.
Riku remained silent as well, his jaw tight, electricity still crackling faintly around his fingertips. He wasn't sure if it was from anger or guilt. Probably both.
Ronin took a step forward, his piercing gaze locked onto Hiroshi. "Do you understand what you've done?" He didn't even wait for a response. "You lost control. You let your emotions dictate your actions, and because of that, Midori got hurt."
Hiroshi's breath hitched.
"That fire punch wasn't meant for her, was it?" Ronin demanded.
Hiroshi swallowed hard. "N-No."
"But it hit her anyway. Because you weren't thinking." Ronin's voice was sharp, cutting through the heavy silence like a blade. "You let a stupid fight get out of control, and now, she's lying in the infirmary because of you."
Hiroshi squeezed his eyes shut, shoulders trembling. He knew it was his fault. He didn't need to be reminded.
"And you," Ronin turned to Riku, who stiffened. "You were just as reckless. You let your anger take over. Instead of walking away, instead of de-escalating, you engaged."
Riku didn't argue. He couldn't.
Ronin exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Midori passed out from her injuries. She still hasn't woken up. I hope that weighs on both of your consciences, because the next time you let your pride get in the way of your judgment, the consequences could be far worse."
With that, he turned away. "You're dismissed. But don't think for a second that this is over."
The moment they were out of the training hall, Hiroshi turned to Riku, guilt evident in his eyes. "I—"
Riku shoved him. Hard. Hiroshi stumbled back, barely catching himself before falling.
"Don't you dare come near her," Riku snarled. His voice was low, shaking with barely restrained fury. "You don't deserve to."
Hiroshi didn't fight back. He just stared at the ground as Riku stormed off toward the infirmary.
Days passed. Midori still hadn't woken up.
Riku barely left her side. He sat by her bed, arms crossed, watching her breathe. She looked so small, so fragile. Every time he saw the bandages around her side, a fresh wave of guilt crashed over him.
Then, on the third day, Hiroshi walked in.
Riku shot to his feet, fists clenched. "I told you to stay away—"
"I'm not leaving." Hiroshi's voice was firm. "I need to apologize."
Before Riku could argue, a weak voice cut through the tension.
"Could you guys not fight in the infirmary...?"
Both of them froze.
Midori was awake.
Relief hit Riku like a tidal wave. His legs nearly gave out as he stumbled toward her, barely managing to choke out, "You idiot."
Then, to his utter shock, he started crying.
And then Hiroshi.
And then Aiko, who had just walked in.
Hiroshi dropped to his knees beside Midori's bed, his face buried in his hands. "I'm sorry." His voice cracked. "I-I didn't mean to—I was stupid—I never should have—"
Midori blinked at him, then at Riku and Aiko, who were both equally emotional messes. "Wow," she mumbled. "This is... a lot."
Riku let out a choked laugh, wiping at his face. "You scared us, dumbass."
Midori managed a small smile. "Sorry about that."
Hiroshi sniffled, looking at her with pure regret. "I really am sorry... not just to you, but to all of you. I was an asshole—I don't even know why I was acting like that. I just... I got these powers, and I thought..."
Midori reached out, weakly poking his forehead. "You're an idiot."
Hiroshi let out a watery chuckle. "Yeah... yeah, I know."
For the first time in days, things felt okay again.