Chapter 9

[Episode 9 SPECIAL: Dreams To Reality Part 1]

Though the trip back was silent, Seita's mind never stopped working through the information it had received merely an hour ago, feeling like it was bigger than anything else he had ever come across. The sole fact that it involved something so important like the BABA was more than enough for it to be all he could think about. He almost missed Kenny's call to Hilary, letting her know where they'd be and what had happened, although he kept most of it hidden to avoid exposing too much.

As they got to Kenny's home, the man opened the door and let the youngster come in first. Letting out a sigh of relief, he let himself fall on the living room's couch. "You can make yourself comfortable," he said while pointing at the armchair on the opposite side of a small coffee table. "Want something to drink or eat? The kitchen's through that door over there."

"I'm alright," Seita replied, feeling as if his stomach wouldn't be able to keep anything down. "Will you tell me what happened back then?"

"God, you're impatient," Kenny joked, checking his phone one last time before putting it besides him and looking straight into Seita's eyes. "I guess that's to be expected – you are Hilary's brother after all. I find it… endearing that you take so much after her." He sat straight, putting his hands together and playing with his thumbs. "Do you only want to hear about Tyson?"

"Tell me everything that could help me understand things even a bit better."

Another sigh escaped from Kenny's lips before he looked at the kid over his glasses. "It's not a short story, you know? Many things happened in our youth, things I still can't quite wrap my head around. We were barely teens and didn't really question what went on around us, though looking back on it we should've known better. Since things only progressed-"

With one eyebrow raised Seita asked, "You never thought the tournaments were weird?"

"It was more than just that. We found it necessary if anything – with beyblades' importance growing and the imminent threat some groups posed, it was the only thing that seemed appropriate." He paused for a moment, bringing one hand up to his nape and giving it a little squeeze. "We never questioned nothing the way kids these days do; maybe we should've looked for answers, try to understand why the bit-beasts were there, I never questioned why mine disappeared"

"You... had one?"

"Her name was Dizzy, heh. Those bit-beasts, their real purpose or even why they were so eager to help us, especially those that were stronger. We only started to really think about everything when… well, when that happened."

The event, as they called it, marked a before and an after in the Bladebreakers' lives.

Tyson Granger had disappeared a year prior under suspicious circumstances, that much Seita could remember – Hilary had told him about it when he caught her tearing up while looking through old photos of the Bladebreakers, and he knew that even if she didn't show any emotion most of the times she felt the sting of his absence just like all those who knew him. Even with all the evidence pointing at dubious events leading up to that moment, all that had been achieved were dead ends.

With a somber expression, Kenny continued, "He was out at sea that day. We had been careless enough to let bad people get to him is what I speculate, to let our guard down, and I can't shake the feeling that we could've done something to avoid this. It's almost like he's paying for our mistakes. I don't wanna say he's dead, but we haven't seen or heard from him ever since. I'm sure you heard the news back then; the BABA announced he'd went missing, but the family lost hope quicker than expected, and it only took them a few weeks to officially sign him off as dead."

"What was that led to that point? Who was after him?"

The man's face changed into a neutral expression and he shifted on his seat a bit to look at Seita directly. His demeanor was calm and Seita couldn't really tell if he honestly wanted to talk with him or not, but appreciated the effort nonetheless. "We need to go a little bit further back, when we were still carefree."

It had been a great start to the winter season as the Granger family welcomed more and more students into the kendo dojo, with Tyson dedicating his extra time to practice more and make sure everything was going smoothly. The inside, decorated on one side by some of the trophies won by the family's youngest in the various championships, was filled with kids and adults alike almost every day, the ever-growing popularity Tyson earned thanks to blading helping the place more than anyone could've ever imagined.

After entering high school, Kenny noted just how focused his friend had become, fully intent on getting things done in kendo without much ruckus and trying to balance his school life and his relationship with Hilary. After two years of dating and many highs and lows as things settled down around them after the last tournaments, the pair found themselves in their best shapes, with Hilary having picked up acrobatics' lessons as she discovered her love for exercise. Her talent was such that she became known across her prefecture as she participated in a national tournament on behalf of her school, earning her a solid reputation similar to Tyson's.

It would've been three amazing years with him, yet life's everything but fair to those who deserve it less.

The young teen also noticed that everything was going smoothly, with no problems in the horizon now that Tyson had called off his blading days. Kenny managed to land a part-time job at Max's father's workshop while still learning more and more about bey technology and its objective in their lives. However, there was a constant sensation in his heart that things were just too good.

That year the group had planned a small Breakers reunion for Christmas Eve, with the couple taking initiative in setting everything up. A few days prior, Tyson asked Kenny to go with him and Hilary for a last-minute shopping trip to the local mall, to which the boy with glasses accepted gladly – without notice, she had also extended the invitation to two girl classmates of theirs, one of which was Kenny's girlfriend. The afternoon went just fine between laughter and even some small arguments over which decorations would suit the dojo better, and at one point Hilary bought her boyfriend a pair of boxers as a joke. "I'm sure you'll need them," she said as the others chuckled and Tyson went red, "this color also suits you better." He snatched them out of her hands and turned around without saying anything in return.

Even when Christmas day was so close, there were many people around and the group shared a mutual agreement that last-minute holiday shopping was something they'd never do again; everyone seemed in such a hurry it was crazy, and the bad mood some people had was almost contagious. "Let's just get everything and leave as soon as possible," Hilary had said after an elderly woman almost pushed her to the ground on accident.

After getting gifts for the attendees and their guests, something caught the three girls' attention from the other side of the shopping mall – there was a small yet colorful roller coaster placed on the games' area, and everyone immediately knew what they had to do. Kenny blushed deeply as his partner clung onto his arm as they walked over there, saying nothing but noticing her cheeks were tinted pink as well. It was mostly aimed for children but people older than ten were able to get in as well, and they took turns in to also take care of the many bags.

"That was a bad idea," said Tyson as he got off the attraction in last place. Placing a hand on Hilary's shoulder, the rest could tell he wasn't feeling well despite it having been a fairly tame ride. "I think I could use some water, guys."

And that was the perfect excuse they used to make their way to the nearest food stall, where everyone except for Tyson had ordered some kind of junk food to fill their empty stomachs; the young champion had ordered just some water and fries, and it wasn't hard to tell he was regretting not getting something more consistent as he eyed the other plates on the table. Stealing two fries from his girlfriend though, he placed them below his upper lip and made weird noises, making some people who were behind them send him weird glances and even earning a soft chuckle from a nearby kid. "What are you doing?" Kenny asked with a smile as their friends laughed as well, knowing his best friend's antics to a tee.

"I'm a walrus, can't you tell Chief?" was the simple reply from the dark blue-haired young man before he maneuvered the food inside his mouth using his tongue, sending everyone a satisfied look.

"And some people have the guts to say you've matured," Hilary said with a sigh, her expression serious. "I thought you felt sick, and besides you shouldn't play with your food; don't you have better manners after all this time with me?" Hilary took one of the fries from his mouth, taking it into her own.

After he swallowed, Tyson responded, "It was only a joke Hil, lighten up." Something in their dynamic at that very moment caught Kenny's attention, though he couldn't really pinpoint what it was that felt odd. Hilary said nothing yet her grimace let the rest know that it wasn't a situation they could interfere with. "So, what do we know about the others?" Tyson continued, turning around to put his attention on him. "Is everyone scheduled to arrive on time?"

"Well," Kenny started saying, "I've talked to Ray and he told me he'd bring the White Tigers along, and Max is bringing Emily from All Stars but only her since the rest of the team will spend this Christmas with their respective families." He took out his phone and checked the time before adding, "Kai should be landing in Japan soon as well. We'll be almost thirty people according to my calculations."

"Daichi?"

The question didn't faze Kenny at all since it was expected that Tyson would be worried that something could go wrong, though he wasn't sure how the young boy's presence would do any harm other than just annoy Tyson out of his mind if pointless arguments became a thing again. "I really haven't heard from him, so it's very unlikely he'll show up." With a sigh of relief, his friend leaned against his seat with a satisfied look on his face.

As everyone finished their meals, they engaged in an animated conversation about what should be done at the gathering, with some suggesting they should just take the time to catch up with each other and others saying that activities should be on the table in case anyone wanted to partake in them. Like ping-pong or karaoke. Even with them being only five people, it felt as if it was a much larger group with the way some talked over the rest until Kenny's girlfriend let out a small gasp, catching everyone else's attention. "It's almost time for that movie I told you about Hilary!" she said excitedly, not paying attention to Tyson's hard gaze on her. "Do you think we can go today?"

And for once, they could all agree on something unanimously – it was a perfect chance to unwind for at least a while, and they were not going to pass up on the opportunity. They paid the bill and made their way to the cinema, and as they were buying the tickets a few people recognized Tyson and even went as far as to ask him for an autograph. On the other hand, a group of teens called out to Hilary, citing their admiration for the girl's performance at the national championships. "The price of fame," muttered Kenny as they regrouped and went inside to buy snacks.

"If I'm honest," Kenny said as he took off his glasses for a second time that evening, "I can't even remember what the movie was about, just that it was pretty lame. That girl of mine has some dreadful tastes when it came to films."

"What happened after that?" an antsy Seita asked, his full attention on the story being told.

The man could only smile. "It all seemed just… right. We left the cinema and then Tyson walked your sister home, and then I found out that they had spent the night together the next day. It was crazy, to say the least." He stopped and looked at the boy attentively, maybe looking for any signs that told him he wanted the story to stop, but nothing ever appeared.

Seita only quirked an eyebrow and another question left his lips, this time surprising Kenny. "What does that mean? That they stayed up all night watching TV or something?"

"Uh, we should get back to the story," a blushing Kenny replied, "We'll have time for that later… much later."

He had received a call the following day from Hilary's phone, asking him if he'd stop by the dojo to see how things were going and if preparations for the big event looked as good as they imagined. The air outside was filled to the brim with both melancholy and happiness, the usual mood for the holidays that no one could truly escape, yet Kenny felt something else – hope.

Hope that it would all come together just fine overall, and hope that Tyson could finally spend a Christmas day without worrying about anyone's safety. The streets were decorated with many colors and lights, giving the city a festive aura that only found itself amplified by the prospect of being able to share those days with people he cared for so much. It was the first time in a long time that Kenny, much like his friends, truly looked forward to December 25th.

He had texted Hilary back that morning saying he'd be around at 2pm and, true to his word, he was there as soon as the clock hit that mark. The dojo was always lively but it had a special touch that day as Hilary, Tyson and some of his relatives put several garlands along the walls and prepared a big table in the middle of the main room. "You made it!" Hilary exclaimed as soon as her eyes fell on their friend, and she went up and gave him a quick hug. Tyson came up and greeted him briefly yet happily before he went back to helping his aunt with moving a few display cases out of the way. "Just in time as well; we need someone to help with setting up the TV and projector."

"Projector?"

"It was Tyson's idea," she whispered as their gazes fell on the teen, who was now trying his best to push the piece of furniture. "He wanted to have a slideshow of our pictures as a way to… relive those moments or whatever. I don't know what's his deal though, he's never this hung up on that kind of things. You know him just as much as I do or even a little bit more, is it weird that I worry about such stuff?" Kenny had no real response for her and shrugged in response before making his way towards the devices resting on a small table, leaving a confused Hilary behind.

From the other side of the room the teen in question checked everything around him carefully, his aunt giving him a soft pat on the back. "You did such a good job," she told him with an overly sweet tone, one that he was already used to. "You kids are going to have so much fun!"

He only looked at her with a small smile, his gaze going back to Hilary mere seconds later; with her back turned to him as she talked to one of his cousins to help pile up all the chairs, she was unable to see the way the teen bit his lower lip, deeply in thought. In turn, he was unable to notice Kenny's stare on him as his friend tried to decipher what was going on between the two.

Seita coughed, causing Kenny to stop in his tracks. "Sorry," he muttered, "go on."

"Nothing much happened that day and I saw no other weird movements from them," the other guy spoke, his gaze now on the floor. His expression had shifted from pensive to a more dejected one, and Seita could only feel something worse brewing. "At around 6pm our friend Ray arrived with his friends; Tyson had left enough space in the dojo for them to sleep there and we all left shortly after 8. It was Christmas Eve's eve and Hilary had invited him over again."

A hum left the youngster's lips and he put a finger on his chin. "Wait," he started as his mind started working its gears, "I don't remember ever seeing Tyson at home during the Christmas season. Must've been the one time I was at a friend's house. How convenient of her; it would've been great to spend some time with him there." There was no ill intent in his tone and he found it amusing that his sister would bring a boy home, though he still not sure what two people could do without getting bored.

"It was very convenient," Kenny said as he laughed, but Seita thought that he wasn't feeling all that happy despite it. "Your sister knew what was good for her… or at least that's what we all thought. We didn't really stick our nose in their business though; they were old enough to distinguish right from wrong, and I'm sure that Hilary only has good memories about him."

All the talk from the past made Seita realize the man in front of him was being more than just nostalgic, but he didn't have to think much to know what was that made him that way – besides Tyson's sudden disappearance, he was sure that the Bladebreakers going their separate ways didn't alleviate that weight in the slightest. "What went down at the dojo?" Only questions could leave his lips, anxious to know every last detail of their story and unveil what had truly transpired between all of them.

He was anxious, specially, to know what had happened to the rest of the group during that time.

Gulping, a hesitant Kenny resumed his story, his words feeling a little bit drier than before. "We all gathered there at around 7pm to welcome Kai back as he finally made his appearance, but something had changed between the two. When they arrived from her – your house, none of them said much as they went to get the final touches done. They seemed angry with each other if anything, but none of us dared to say a thing as the night continued. That was our problem; we never spoke up about certain stuff. Maybe he could've said something or given us a lead that could in turn have shed some light on what happened after."

After that, silence. Seita waited but nothing else came out of him as he got up and excused himself for a moment, walking toward the kitchen with heavy steps. The boy replayed everything and tried to find any hints that could lead him to a breaking point in those events but nothing came to mind either, and he knew he'd have to talk with his sister about it all eventually and also get her side of the story.

Had Tyson wronged his sister in any way? Did an argument take place the night prior? He had so many things to ask that surely her old friend wouldn't be able to answer them all. Already dreading the talk he'd have to have with her, Seita watched as his host came back to the living room, a tall glass of water in one of his hands and a small tablecloth on the other. "Where were we then?" Kenny asked, taking a long sip before leaving it on the coffee table.

"What was he like?"

A simple question Seita thought nothing of, but the man froze in place for a second. "God, you're full of questions this evening. Only this afternoon you showed up at my house without notice and not even saying hello." If it had been a joke, the lack of response coming from Seita was more than enough of a reply. Clearing his throat in an attempt to clear the air around them, he only said, "If I were to tell you what kind of person Tyson Granger was, we'd have to stay here all night." Looking at the boy over his glasses, Seita could see his gaze was somber, which sent a shiver down his spine. "We should stay focused on the ongoing story though – there's more important matters to attend to right now."

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