Chapter 1- Life's a Hike, Literally

[ A message from the Author — Thank you. If you're reading this, it means you've made it to the second volume of this wild ride. The first volume might've been a whirlwind of battles, chaos, and some seriously questionable decisions, but hey, we're still standing, right? I hope you're as ready as I am to dive into the next chapter of this journey. So buckle up because things are about to get... well, let's just say, interesting. Let's go! ]

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Four months later, the city is finally getting back on its feet. The streets, once cracked and filled with rubble, are smooth again. Buildings stand tall, and the chaos from before feels like a distant dream. People are back to their routines—laughing, working, living. But, honestly, the scars are still there, you know? It's in the way people flinch at shadows or glance up at the sky, like they're afraid something might come crashing down again. It's quieter now, too—like the city itself is catching its breath.

And me? I've been trying to help wherever I can. Cleaning up, rebuilding, keeping an eye out for any weird Oscuro activity. The usual Vorixa stuff. It's not much, but it feels good to do something. Even if Shizuka-san scolds me for "lifting rocks like a reckless hero" every other day. (Her words, not mine!)

It's been months since Crimson attacked, but there's something off that's been nagging at me. No one remembers him. It's like he never existed—just gone, wiped from everyone's minds. The chaos he caused? It's still fresh in my head, but for everyone else, it's like it never happened. It's almost as if he did something to their minds, messing with their memories or maybe their brains, erasing any trace of himself from their thoughts. I mean, it's just... too strange. The only ones who still remember are the Vorixas. We're the only ones who know the truth. And that... makes things feel heavier, like we're carrying this unspoken burden while the world moves on as if nothing ever changed.

Anyways,

Looking at the school in front of me, everything seems calm. It's hard to believe that just a few months ago, we were fighting off a giant Oscuro here. Now, the school's all patched up. Walls fixed, repainted, and if you didn't know about the chaos, you'd think it was just another ordinary school day.

I give a small sigh. Everything seems so... quiet. Hayato's probably in the kendo dojo again, getting all serious with his sword stuff. Hana's probably somewhere close by, her head buried in a book, or maybe secretly glancing my way again. I wouldn't be surprised. She does that.

Tanaka-sensei's still teaching her usual stuff. Honestly, I don't really know why she's so dedicated to making us learn stuff that'll probably never matter in the grand scheme of things. But hey, I guess she's just doing her job.

Anyway, life's settled into a rhythm again. Or at least, it seems that way.

The bell rings, and the usual chaos of homeroom settles in. People are chatting, laughing, and some are even snoozing. I'm sitting in my seat, waiting for Tanaka-sensei to get to the point. She's been teaching Japanese for the past hour, and I'm pretty sure most of us have lost track of the lesson. Not that I wasn't paying attention, but... okay, maybe I wasn't.

Anyway, Tanaka-sensei's standing in front of the class now, adjusting her glasses and giving us that "I'm about to say something important" look. I sit up straighter. Yeah, I'm ready for this.

She clears her throat, tapping her pen on the desk. "Alright, class," she starts, her voice sharp but with a little spark in it. "I have an exciting announcement for you all."

There's a weird energy in the room now. People are whispering, leaning in. What's going on?

"We're going on a school trip!" she announces, and just like that, the whole class goes wild. Everyone's talking over each other, but I'm stuck on two words: school trip.

Wait... we're really going on a trip? Like, one of those fun trips where you leave the school, get out into the world, and forget about homework for a while? I feel a grin creeping on my face.

Tanaka-sensei holds her hands up. "Settle down, everyone. We'll be going to Hokkaido the next Monday! It's a hiking trip!"

The entire class freezes for a moment. There's a mix of excitement, confusion, and... a bit of hesitation in the air.

Hokkaido? That's cold. And there's mountains. Hiking?

A few people in the back start high-fiving, while others look at each other nervously. I mean, it's not like I don't like a good challenge. But hiking? It's gonna be freezing up there, right?

Tanaka-sensei starts laying it out. "We'll be spending a few days hiking, doing team-building exercises, and—yes—appreciating nature. I hope you all are ready to get your hands dirty!" She says the last part like it's some kind of joke, but I'm getting a feeling she's serious.

Hana, who's sitting next to me, suddenly looks at me with those wide eyes. "A trip to Hokkaido? Really? I've always wanted to go there!"

I laugh. "You better be ready to hike up some crazy mountains, Hana!"

But deep down, I'm thinking... obstacle course, right? Hiking's gonna be easy—the problem is...the cold. I can't stand it, I mean I feel dizzy whenever it gets cold. That's something obvious if you know about my power. Anyways, If I can get past the cold there, I'll show these guys how hiking's done.

Tanaka-sensei cuts through the chatter. "Alright, I want everyone to start getting ready. Warm clothes, sturdy boots—don't forget your sense of adventure, alright?"

She adds, "And no slacking! This is going to be a trip you'll never forget. Be prepared to get involved in everything—don't just stand around and stare at the mountains."

"Yeah, yeah, we got it, Tanaka-sensei!" I call out, giving her a thumbs up.

Tanaka-sensei then left the classroom, finally. I turn to Hana, who's scribbling something in her notebook.

"This is gonna be fun, huh?" I say, nudging her.

She looks up, smiling. "Definitely! Hokkaido is amazing, isn't it?"

I glance up at her, already smiling. "Amazing? Sure, if you like freezing your nose off. I'm more worried about turning into a popsicle than enjoying the view."

She giggles, leaning slightly closer. "You're so dramatic! It's not that cold this time of year, you know."

"Right," I say, leaning back in my chair. "Just wait until we're halfway up a mountain, and I'm crying because I forgot gloves. Then we'll see who's dramatic."

Her laugh is so genuine it pulls a few glances from the other students. Hana's one of those people who makes everything look effortless—her cuteness, her friendliness, even her laugh. It's no wonder half the class practically worships her.

"Well," she says, tapping a finger to her chin, "if you forget gloves, I'll let you borrow mine. But only if you say, 'Hana-sama, you're my hero.'"

I snort. "In your dreams, Hana-sama."

She grins triumphantly, clearly pleased with herself. "Fine, but don't come crying to me when your hands freeze. I'm going to pack extras, just in case. You should too!"

"Extras? What, like backup gloves for my backup gloves?" I tease.

"Exactly!" she says with a nod, completely serious. "I'll make you a checklist if you want. You know, so you don't forget anything important, like, I don't know, socks?"

"That was one time, and it wasn't even my fault!" I defend, but I can't help laughing. "You're not gonna let me live that down, are you?"

"Never," she says with a wink.

As she straightens up and adjusts her bag, her expression softens just a little. "But seriously, Hinoyama-kun... I think this trip is going to be really special. I mean, it's not every day we get to go on an adventure like this with everyone."

"Yeah," I agree, her words striking a surprising chord. "It does sound kind of cool... in a not-literally-freezing way."

She beams, the kind of smile that could make anyone forget the world outside. "Let's make some amazing memories, okay?"

"Okay," I reply, grinning back. "But don't blame me if I eat all your snacks on the bus."

"Oh, please. Like you could even find them in my bag," she teases, sticking her tongue out. Then, She waves me a goodbye, heading outta the class.

As I watch her go, I can't help but shake my head with a small smile. Hana's energy is contagious, and for all my complaining, I'm starting to think this trip might not be so bad after all.

As soon as Hana walks out, Ren and Daichi show up. Ren practically throws himself into the seat next to mine, grinning like he knows something I don't.

"Oi, Hinoyama," he says, leaning in way too close. "You and Hana-chan, huh? What's the deal there?"

I blink. "What deal?"

Daichi adjusts his glasses, clearly unimpressed with my response. "He's asking if you're dense, Hinoyama. Which, for the record, you are."

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" I snap, glaring at both of them.

Ren smirks, resting his chin on his hand. "It means Hana-chan's got stars in her eyes every time she looks at you, and you're out here pretending it's nothing. Classic clueless main character energy."

"First of all, I'm not clueless," I say, crossing my arms. "Second, Hana's just… Hana. She's nice to everyone."

Daichi sighs like he's dealing with a toddler. "Right, because she waves goodbye to everyone like that, right?"

Ren chuckles. "I mean, she practically shines when she talks to you, dude. It's like a cheesy romance manga, and you're the guy who doesn't get it until volume 38."

"Okay, now you're just making stuff up," I say, waving them off. "Besides, we've got bigger things to think about. Like this hiking trip. What if there are bears or something?"

Ren snorts. "Oh, sure, let's ignore the cute girl for bears. That's totally normal."

"Not to mention," Daichi adds, "we're going to Hokkaido. The biggest threat isn't bears—it's you getting lost on the trail."

"Will you both quit it?" I groan, throwing my hands up. "I'll be fine, okay? I'm not a kid."

Ren grins wider. "No, but you sure act like one."

Daichi smirks. "Just try not to embarrass yourself in front of Hana-chan, alright?"

These two are impossible.

Ren's the type of guy who treats everyone like his lifelong buddy—even if he just met them yesterday. He's loud, borderline obnoxious, and somehow the glue that keeps our group together.

Right behind him is Daichi. Daichi's Ren's polar opposite—quiet, thoughtful, and always two steps ahead of everyone else. But don't let his calm demeanor fool you. The guy has a wicked sense of humor when he decides to show it.

But despite that, they're the ones I proudly call my friends. It doesn't matter who they are or what they're like; they're my friends, and that alone makes them invaluable to me.

Ren leans back in his chair, throwing his arms behind his head like he's the king of the class. "So, Hinoyama, got your hiking boots ready? Or are you just gonna wear those beat-up sneakers of yours?"

"Hey, my sneakers are fine," I argue, pointing at my shoes. "They've been through everything with me. They're, like, battle-tested."

Daichi raises an eyebrow. "Battle-tested? More like barely holding together. One wrong step on the trail, and those things will disintegrate."

Ren laughs. "Yeah, can you imagine? Hinoyama slips, the sole comes off, and he tumbles down the mountain like some cartoon character."

I roll my eyes. "You two are so supportive. Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"Anytime, buddy," Ren says, grinning. "But seriously, you might want to invest in some new gear. It's Hokkaido, man. You don't want to be the guy who slows the group down."

Daichi nods, adjusting his glasses. "And considering your luck, you'll probably attract some wild animal. Like a fox or something. They'll think you're one of them with that messy hair."

"Messy?!" I touch my head in mock offense. "It's called natural volume. You wouldn't get it, Mr. Perfectly Combed Hair."

Ren bursts out laughing, nearly falling out of his chair. "Natural volume! Man, you kill me. Just admit you woke up late and didn't bother fixing it."

"Okay, first of all, I didn't wake up late. Second of all, this is just how it looks!" I defend, feeling my face heat up.

"Yeah, yeah," Ren says, waving me off. "Just don't scare Hana-chan with that wild mane on the trip. She might think you've gone full mountain man."

"Will you two give it a rest already?" I groan, slumping in my chair. "This trip's supposed to be fun, not a roast session."

Daichi smirks. "Oh, it'll be fun. Especially when we get to watch you try to pitch a tent or start a fire. That's going to be comedy gold."

Ren grins. "Don't worry, Hinoyama. We'll be there to document every embarrassing moment."

"Fantastic," I mutter. "I can't wait."

Next,

We leave the classroom together, Ren and Daichi already talking a mile a minute about the trip. The air outside feels fresh, the kind that makes you want to stretch your arms and shout for no reason.

Ren, as usual, can't keep still. He spots a stray soccer ball rolling near the school gate, probably left behind by some juniors, and immediately kicks it into the air.

"Goal!" he yells, pretending he's in a stadium.

"Uh, Ren," I point to where the ball's heading.

It sails clean over the fence and into the principal's flower bed. Ren freezes mid-celebration, looking as guilty as a kid caught sneaking cookies.

"Nice shot," Daichi says dryly, crossing his arms. "Maybe next time aim for an actual goalpost?"

"I panicked!" Ren whispers, his voice hushed. "What do we do?"

"Nothing," I reply, trying not to laugh. "Let it rest in peace among the daisies."

But Ren, being Ren, insists on retrieving it. He's halfway through climbing the fence when the security guard appears, glaring like he's caught us plotting a heist.

"Oi! What are you kids doing?"

Ren nearly slips in his rush to get down, and Daichi and I bolt, laughing so hard we can barely breathe. Ren catches up to us a block later, red-faced and panting.

"You abandoned me!" he accuses, pointing a finger at us.

"Correction," Daichi says between laughs, "we saved ourselves."

We keep walking, the conversation bouncing from random jokes to trip plans, with Ren occasionally muttering about "true friends" under his breath. It's moments like these—simple, chaotic, and completely unnecessary—that make life feel lighter.

On our way home, we spot someone by the river, swinging a bamboo sword with perfect precision—Hayato Shō.

"Ugh, it's him," Ren groans, crossing his arms. "Can't we just walk faster and pretend we didn't see him?"

Daichi snorts. "Yeah, I'm not in the mood to watch Mr. Perfect over there show off. He probably has girls lining up to cheer for his practice swings."

I roll my eyes. "Oh, come on, you two. He's not done anything bad."

They both glare at me like I've committed some kind of betrayal.

"Not done anything bad?" Ren huffs. "Do you know how many times I've overheard girls saying, 'Hayato-san is soooo cool'? Meanwhile, I get, 'Ren, move out of the way.'"

"And don't forget the 'Hayato-kun, your hair is amazing,'" Daichi adds mockingly. "Meanwhile, no one even notices my new haircut."

I laugh and nudge them forward. "Alright, alright, quit whining. Let's just go say hi. What's the worst that could happen?"

Ren groans louder. "Humiliation. Public defeat. A reminder of our irrelevance."

Ignoring them, I wave and call out, "Yo, Hayato!"

He pauses mid-swing, turning his head slightly. His expression is as cool and unreadable as ever, like we've interrupted some secret warrior training montage.

"What do you want?" he says, his tone flat but not rude.

Ren mutters under his breath, "See? He's not even trying, and it's cool."

I shoot them a warning glance before stepping closer. "Just heading home. Thought we'd say hi."

Hayato lowers his bamboo sword, resting it against his shoulder. "Hi."

Ren and Daichi exchange a look, clearly unimpressed. "Wow, such depth," Daichi mutters.

"Practicing for something?" I ask, trying to steer the conversation.

Hayato shrugs. "No. Just keeping my form sharp."

"Of course," Ren mumbles sarcastically. "Wouldn't want to dull the edges of perfection."

Hayato glances at him briefly, then back at me. "Is there something you need?"

Ren bristles, but I wave him off. "Nope, just thought you'd want to know about the Hokkaido trip. You're coming, right?"

Hayato looks at me for a moment, like he's debating whether to answer. Finally, he says, "Yes."

Daichi whispers to Ren, loud enough for me to hear, "Obviously, someone has to keep the girls entertained."

Hayato hears it too, of course. He doesn't react, just picks up his bag and slings it over his shoulder. "I'll be leaving now," he says coolly before walking off like he owns the planet.

Ren throws up his hands. "See? Even when he's leaving, he's cooler than us!"

Daichi sighs dramatically. "And I thought today couldn't get worse."

I laugh, shaking my head at them. "You guys need to chill. It's not a competition."

Ren glares at me. "That's easy for you to say, Hinoyama. You're not stuck in the shadow of Hayato 'Prince Charming' Shō."

"Yeah," Daichi adds. "The guy probably doesn't even know what rejection feels like."

I grin. "You two are ridiculous."

And with that, we keep walking, Ren and Daichi grumbling the whole way.

When I finally reach the Hyakuren HQ, my so-called home, the first thing that hits me is the mess.

The place is a total disaster. Scrolls are scattered all over the floor, empty cups and bowls are abandoned on every available surface. The sofa looks like it's been through a war—cushions missing, one armrest duct-taped together, and something suspiciously sticky glistening on the fabric.

Then the smell...A weird mix of old socks, burnt paper, and...is that leftover curry? I pinch my nose and step inside, kicking aside a pile of books stacked haphazardly by the door.

"Seriously?" I mutter, stepping over what I can only hope is a discarded towel and not something alive. "We're supposed to be a legendary clan, protectors of the balance and all that...but we can't even balance a broom long enough to clean up this dump."

I head to the kitchen, hoping for some water, only to find the sink piled high with unwashed dishes. A lone spoon sits at the very top, teetering like it's daring me to touch it.

"Great," I sigh, grabbing a rag from the counter to wipe a chair before sitting. "Guess I'll be the one cleaning up again. As usual."

The place used to feel alive, bustling with people and purpose. Now it's just a mess, both literally and figuratively. Four months after Crimson's attack, and we're still picking up the pieces—not just in the city but here too.

I lean back and stare at the ceiling, where a spider's web is glinting in the light. "Yeah, we're definitely killing it as the Hyakuren," I mutter sarcastically.