Part 1: Daily Training and a New Order
The ringing of the phone jolted Takuto out of bed. "Alright, time for training," he muttered quietly.
He quickly put on his sportswear and headed outside to start his regimen. As he ran, his thoughts drifted. It had been a month since he arrived at The Crimson Aegis base. Every morning, he woke up at 5:00 AM, ran 10 kilometers, and did his regular exercises. I need to get stronger.
...
As Takuto returned from his training, Mika Lizumi greeted him at the gate with a friendly smile. She was a support staff member of The Crimson Aegis.
"Good morning, Takuto-sama."
"Oh, good morning, Lizumi-san," Takuto smiled. "Thank you, Lizumi-san, but please don't use 'Sama'. Just call me normally."
Lizumi chuckled softly. "If Takuto-sama insists... ahem, Takuto-kun." Lizumi smiled, and Takuto felt a little shy, but Lizumi didn't seem to notice.
Lizumi's expression immediately became serious. "Takuto-kun, Rinoka-sama asked to see you. It seems important."
Takuto (Thinking): I wonder what important matter it could be.
Shizune Rinoka was seated at a table, with Sora Rinoka standing beside her.
"Takuto," Shizune Rinoka began in a steady voice. "Because you possess a power like The Phoenix Gaze, we hoped you would always remain under our protection. However, The Shadow Syndicate will surely be watching you."
Sora Rinoka continued the conversation. "We don't want the Syndicate to assume you are hiding within our base. You need to return to your normal life. This will temporarily free you from their immediate attention."
Shizune Rinoka: "Starting today, you will return to school as normal. We will be watching over you from a distance."
Takuto thought to himself, 'Will I have to face Ayano again, the one who betrayed me because of this power?'
"Understood, Leader."
Shizune Rinoka: "I will assign Kaori as your protector. Her power is much stronger than before. If necessary, Sora will also come to your aid."
Part 2: Re-entry into Normal Life
After receiving Shizune Rinoka's order, Takuto left The Crimson Aegis base. He had to restart his normal student life. The air around him in the outside world felt lighter than before, yet his heart was filled with secrets he had to conceal.
Kaori Ichinose was constantly by his side. Due to the power she gained from The Phoenix Gaze, her every movement was swift, and a more intense strength resided in her eyes. She did not speak to Takuto but clearly guarded him closely.
"Ichinose-san, is it okay for us to proceed as before?" Takuto asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, Takuto-kun. I don't want anyone to be harmed because of me," Kaori's voice was steady, but her words conveyed the pain she had suffered because of The Shadow Syndicate.
Upon returning to school, most students welcomed Takuto as someone returning after a month-long illness. However, Ayano Daichi was nowhere to be seen.
He asked a friend...
"Ayano is still taking leave, Takuto. I heard she won't be back for the next three days."
Takuto hesitated for a moment. Part of his reason for returning was to confront Ayano. The faint shadow of the red Stellar Flow appeared in his eyes but was immediately suppressed. 'If she's not here, then all I can do is watch for the Syndicate's movements.'
Time 4:45 PM
In the evening, after school, Takuto started a part-time job at a café near Katawa Marketing, as previously arranged. He felt that engaging with normal social life helped him feel mentally stable.
Not far from this café was the spot where Takuto and Ayano had gone on a date. Takuto looked at the location and felt a pang of sadness.
Time 6:00 PM
Late in the evening, exhausted from work, he headed home.
As Takuto passed a narrow street, he saw a girl lying in the shadows. Her breathing was shallow, and her face was pale.
Without needing to use the power of The Phoenix Gaze, Takuto immediately knew she was starving. This situation reminded him of the loneliness he had felt after his mother passed away.
He offered her the bread and water bottle he had brought from the café.
"Here, have this. Eat something."
The girl looked up. Her eyes were dull, carrying shadows of fear and distrust. She immediately snatched the food and ate silently.
After a moment, she regained some strength and looked up at Takuto.
"Thank... thank you."
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Takuto asked.
"My name is... Aoi Mizuka."
Takuto (Thinking): Aoi Mizuka... what a beautiful name.
"I'm Takuto Himura."
Takuto couldn't bear to leave Aoi on the side of the road, so he led her to a bench near a park, away from prying eyes.
"This area is safer. I don't have much money, but here's a little bit to last you until tomorrow. Don't get into trouble again," Takuto said, giving her the small amount of cash he had.
Aoi Mizuka silently nodded, and Takuto felt that her eyes were concealing something deep. Takuto left her side, but his mind was heavy. Loneliness, hunger... the pain he himself had felt after losing his mother.
Takuto returned home, opened the door, and stepped inside. As he entered, "Oh, you're back, Takuto-kun." Takuto hadn't noticed. "Yes, I'm back... wait, Ichinose-san! Why are you here?"
"I have to protect you up close! I can't leave you alone, so I'm staying at your house."
Takuto in his mind: (Ichinose-san is going to be with me...)
Kaori moved closer to Takuto. "Takuto-kun, are you alright?"
Takuto felt a little shy. "Yes, I'm fine. If you're staying, the room upstairs on the left is available."
Kaori: "Yes, that's fine. I'm going to take a shower now. Where is the bathroom?"
Takuto: "Go straight and turn right," he directed her towards the bathroom.
Kaori: "Thanks." Kaori left for the bathroom.
Takuto went to his bedroom, dropped his bag, and collapsed onto the bed. He found himself thinking about the girl he met earlier that evening.
On a weekend morning, Takuto was doing his regular running and exercises at The Crimson Aegis training grounds. Kaori was by his side, watching his face intently.
"Takuto, you seem off," Kaori whispered. "You didn't sleep well all night, did you?"
"It's nothing, Ichinose-san," Takuto replied. "I was just thinking about how the Syndicate will move while Ayano is away."
However, Aoi Mizuka's pale face kept replaying in his mind. 'She definitely needs help. But I can't do anything more. My situation is more important.'
Ayano continued to take leave from school, and Takuto began receiving secret training guides from Sora to practice his Phoenix Gaze power. Living a double life—a normal student by day and a Stellar Flow user by night—was mentally taxing.
In the evening, after his shift at the café, Takuto was careful not to look towards the old street. He walked his usual way home. The air was quiet, and only shadows moved beneath the streetlights.
Suddenly...
Takuto felt The Phoenix Gaze within him vibrate spontaneously, without him projecting any power outwards.
'This... what is this?'
An abnormal, extremely dark and cold Stellar Flow energy began to spread through the air. This energy flow emanated hatred and pain.
Takuto immediately followed the energy source and found Aoi Mizuka again, sitting quietly near the street bench where he had left her last night.
This time, Takuto clearly saw deep shadows of a dark blue Stellar Flow swirling around her. That shadow was even more intense than The Shadow Syndicate's Black Aura, filled with destructive intent.
'This girl... she's not normal! What is she!?'
Takuto's entire body tensed up. Just then...
Part 3: The Shadow of The Void Oculus and the Beginning of the Attack
Two people, exuding Black Aura, suddenly appeared in the quiet alleyway. It was Kaito and Leo. Their eyes held expressions of intense dislike for Takuto.
Kaito (Syndicate): "We've found you! Owner of the Demon Eye (Void Oculus)! You'll live if you come with us."
Aoi Mizuka remained silent, her head bowed. However, the dark blue shadows around her gradually started to coil, becoming more intense.
Leo (Syndicate): "Hey, you! Get out of the way! Don't interfere in our business, outsider!"
Seeing The Shadow Syndicate agents begin to gather their Black Aura power, Takuto stood in front of Aoi Mizuka. For the first time, he felt anger rather than fear towards these powers.
Takuto: "Don't even think about hurting this girl."
Upon hearing Takuto's words, Kaito sneered and prepared to unleash the Black Aura in his hand.
Kaito (Syndicate): "Hilarious! Does a mere student think he can stop us!"
At that moment, a bright red glow erupted from Takuto's body. His eyes suddenly changed to a focused, Fiery Crimson Red. The power of the Cosmic Red Stellar Flow silently pressed the air, swirling around Takuto like a small storm.
The faces of Kaito and Leo were immediately overcome with shock. They felt the overwhelming aura of the Cosmos' power, which surpassed the Black Aura they possessed.
Aoi felt Takuto's Stellar Flow energy. She looked at Takuto with surprise.
In her mind: (Is that the person from the other day? If I remember correctly, his name is Takuto Himura. Is he also like me?)
Kaito (With a trembling voice): "This... this is! It can't be! The Phoenix Gaze!"
Leo: "Stay calm. This kid hasn't had the power for long. There are two of us, and he's just a child."
Kaito and Leo drew their daggers and prepared to fight.
Takuto prepared to defend Aoi. His eyes were red, and a faint red Stellar Flow was streaming around him.
At that instant, with a flash of red light, Kaori arrived and swiftly incapacitated both Shadow Syndicate agents in moments.
"Ichinose-san? Why are you here?" Takuto asked in surprise.
"Why? Because I have to protect you! Why are you wandering around, Takuto-kun!!" Kaori seemed angry.
The two Shadow Syndicate agents got back up from where they had fallen. Leo: "She's strong. We can't win like this. Let's retreat."
Kaito agreed, and the two fled into the distance.
"Hmph, cowards," Kaori walked over to Takuto. "Takuto-kun, why are you here? It's dangerous to be alone!!"
Kaori noticed Aoi Mizuka. "Who is she?"
"Oh... she's Aoi Mizuka."
At that very moment, Takuto, Aoi, and Kaori all sensed danger. Takuto: "Ichinose-san, be careful!!" Before he could finish his warning, a man with an extremely fast yellow lightning wave struck Kaori, sending her flying far away.
Immediately after, he kicked Takuto. Takuto managed to block, but the attack was so fast that he couldn't shield himself in time and was sent flying backward.
Kaori ran to Takuto and helped him up. "Takuto-kun, are you alright?"
Takuto: "Yes, I'm fine." In his mind: (What about that girl?) Takuto looked around and saw Aoi Mizuka not far away.
In his mind: (Wasn't she with me a moment ago? What happened?)
Kaori: "Who are you!?"
The man's eyes were glowing yellow, with small flashes of lightning emanating from them.
Kaori: "Those eyes... Amber Flash?"
"It seems I'm lucky tonight. The Phoenix Gaze, and the Void Oculus," he said, looking at Aoi Mizuka.
Kaori was astonished. "Void Oculus? That girl is..." She looked at Aoi Mizuka.
Aoi Mizuka's eyes changed to a deep dark blue, and black line markings appeared under her eyes. She was ready to fight.
Aoi Mizuka's Demon Eye (Void Oculus) seemed prepared to fight a Shadow Syndicate agent possessing the Yellow Eye (Amber Flash). On the other side, Takuto and Kaori were also ready, watching the situation.
The impending battle in the quiet evening became intriguing.
[END OF CHAPTER 3]