Chapter 9: Smog Warning

As soon as school started the next day, something strange happened.

"Alright, class. A smog warning has been issued so you must keep your masks on at all times," Mrs. Sakura announced.

"What are you talking about, Mrs. Sakura? It's clear outside," I asked, looking out the window.

"It may be clear now, but it's going to get worse. All of the factories in the area have suddenly started releasing a lot more smoke than usual."

I put my mask on, still looking outside. It has to be them. Only they could be the cause of this. I have to get out of class somehow.

"Um… Mrs. Sakura? May I use the restroom?" I asked, creating an excuse to leave the classroom.

"Is it an emergency?"

"Yes! I can't hold it much longer!" I exclaimed, feigning desperation.

"You may go, but don't take too long."

I quickly walked out of the room and down the hall. When I exited the building, I started sprinting to the nearest factory. I have to find out what's going on.

When I got there, I noticed that the building was releasing a lot of black smoke and that the plants around the building were dying. I was about to enter the factory when I heard a raspy voice.

"May I help you, Hana Kojo?"

I turned around to see a large, smokey monster.

"Don't you love what I've done with the place?" it wheezed.

"Who are you?" I asked while reaching into the Pocket.

"Oh! I'm so very sorry. My name is Kemuri. It's a pleasure," the monster rasped, smiling.

I threw up a seed and hoped for the best. Akino appeared beside me, raring to go.

"Do you think that measly girl can stop me? Don't make me laugh!" Kemuri wheezed.

"You want me to fight?! Yay! Too bad it's not a dance fight!" Akino exclaimed excitedly.

She leaped toward Kemuri and let off a bolt of electricity. Unfortunately, the bolt went right through his body.

"Oh! Too bad. Try again next time!" Kemuri rasped.

Akino continued to fire bolts of electricity at him. I noticed that whenever the bolts got close to his upper chest, he would move his hands to block the attack. That gave me an idea.

I reached into the Pocket and pulled out Yoko's seed. I hope my idea works. I threw the seed up. When Yoko appeared, I whispered my plan into her ear. She nodded and walked over to Akino. Once she told Akino the plan, Yoko walked closer to Kemuri.

"Do you really think you can beat me? You can't even touch me!" Kemuri wheezed, laughing.

Yoko said nothing and summoned some vines. The vines wrapped around Kemuri's hands and pulled them away from his chest.

"What are you doing? It's not going to help."

Once his hands were away, Yoko nodded to Akino. The latter shot a bolt of electricity at a dark spot on Kemuri's chest. Instead of going through his body, the bolt struck the spot. Kemuri cried out in pain. Akino continued to fire until Kemuri broke free of his restraints.

"YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS! THE MASTER'S PLAN HAS ALREADY BEGUN!" he shouted as he floated away.

Soon he was gone. The girls walked over to me, uneasy.

"What did he mean? What plan? What's going to happen?" Akino asked, frightened.

"I don't know, but that fight seemed a little too easy. Something else is bothering me too. How come the factories haven't gone back to normal yet?" I asked, pointing at the factory, which was still releasing lots of black smoke.

I was afraid of what this meant. Did it mean they were planning their invasion of Earth? If that's the case, I'm the only one that can stop them.