Daddy Issues

Unwanted Company

The tension in the room thickened as Enji Ikari stood with arms crossed, his amber eyes cold as they locked onto his son.

Ikazuchi scowled. "Old man, you can leave now."

Enji didn't budge. "Not happening."

Hikaru, Haruto, Moriya, and Teshii stood awkwardly to the side, watching the growing hostility between father and son.

Teshii leaned over to Haruto, lowering his voice. "So, uh… serious daddy issues, huh?"

Haruto gave him a deadpan look but said nothing.

Meanwhile, the argument escalated.

The Storm Builds

Ikazuchi clenched his fists. "You never care what I do, so why are you suddenly interested now?"

Enji's expression remained unreadable. "Because you're making a mistake."

Ikazuchi scoffed. "Oh, of course. Anything I do is always a mistake, right?"

"You don't even know what these people want from you," Enji said, gesturing toward Hikaru and the others. "You don't know what you're getting involved in."

Ikazuchi stepped forward, electricity crackling faintly around his body. "And you don't get to tell me what to do."

Enji's jaw tightened. "I'm still your father."

Ikazuchi laughed bitterly. "Oh yeah? And where was that energy when Mom was still around?"

The air shifted.

Hikaru's breath hitched. Oh no.

Haruto subtly glanced at Moriya, who remained stone-faced but clearly listening.

Teshii's eyebrows shot up. Well, this just got interesting.

Enji's face darkened. "This again?"

Ikazuchi's fists trembled. "This is why she left! She couldn't stand the way you acted, the way you controlled everything. And now you're trying to control me too?"

Silence.

Then—

Ikazuchi shook his head, his golden eyes burning with resentment.

"I'm done."

Then, without another word—he stormed out.

The door slammed loudly behind him.

The Aftermath

The room was so quiet that Hikaru swore he could hear the electricity still buzzing in the air.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Until—

Teshii casually clapped his hands together.

"Well."

Everyone turned to glare at him.

Teshii shrugged. "At least we know where his anger issues come from."

Hikaru sighed. Mei wasn't here, but he knew that if she was, she'd smack him.

Haruto rubbed his temples. Moriya just stared.

Enji's eyes flickered toward Teshii, clearly unamused.

Teshii blinked. "What? Too soon?"

Hikaru crossed his arms. "Yes."

Moriya nodded. "Very."

Teshii exhaled dramatically. "Fine, fine, I'll go check on him."

Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and walked out after Ikazuchi.

Haruto muttered, "This is going to end badly."

Hikaru sighed. "Yeah, probably."

Meanwhile, Enji stood silently, his face unreadable, but his fists subtly clenched.

There was more to this story.

And Hikaru had a feeling this wasn't over.