Ikazuchi and Teshii

A Storm of Emotion

The city streets were quiet, save for the distant hum of traffic. Teshii walked slowly, his eyes scanning the alleyways and rooftops, searching for one person.

He eventually found Ikazuchi sitting alone on a rooftop, leaning against an old metal railing. His golden eyes burned with frustration, his body still sparking faintly with residual electricity from his earlier argument.

Teshii took a breath and walked over.

Ikazuchi didn't even turn. "If you're here to tell me to go back, don't waste your time."

Teshii plopped down next to him, stretching his arms. "Nah, not here for that."

Ikazuchi finally looked at him, suspicious. "Then what?"

Teshii smirked. "Came to talk about family."

Ikazuchi's expression darkened, but he didn't tell him to leave.

So, Teshii took that as a win.

A Mother's Story

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Then, finally, Ikazuchi broke the silence.

"My mom," he muttered. "She was the only one who ever understood me."

Teshii listened quietly as Ikazuchi continued.

"She was smart, strong, and… she didn't take crap from anyone. Especially not my old man." He scoffed. "She was the only one who ever stood up to him."

Teshii could hear the pain in his voice.

"What happened?" he asked.

Ikazuchi clenched his fists. "She left. One day, she just… disappeared. No goodbye. No warning. Just gone."

Teshii watched as Ikazuchi's fists sparked with static energy, the electricity flickering like his emotions were bleeding out.

"I always wondered if it was because of me… or because she just couldn't stand my dad anymore."

For once, Teshii had nothing sarcastic to say.

Instead, Ikazuchi suddenly turned to him.

"What about you?" he asked. "What's your family like?"

Teshii's Truth

Teshii's usual grin faltered. Just for a moment.

"…Didn't really have one," he admitted.

Ikazuchi frowned. "What do you mean?"

Teshii leaned back, staring at the night sky.

"My mom was murdered when I was a kid," he said, his voice shockingly casual for what he had just revealed. "And I never even met my dad."

Ikazuchi's eyes widened. "Wait—seriously?"

Teshii shrugged. "Yep."

Ikazuchi immediately looked regretful. "Shit, man. I—I didn't know."

Teshii chuckled, waving him off. "Nah, don't worry about it. You weren't supposed to."

Ikazuchi stared at him for a moment. Then, hesitantly, he asked—

"…How the hell do you still smile after all that?"

Teshii froze.

The smirk on his face? The one he always had? It didn't fade completely, but it wavered—just for a split second.

Then, he simply looked away.

"…Who knows?"

Ikazuchi didn't push.

But somehow, he knew Teshii was hiding something.

Meanwhile…

Back at Ikazuchi's home, Hikaru, Haruto, and Moriya were left with Enji, still awkwardly standing in silence after Ikazuchi's dramatic exit.

Haruto leaned toward Hikaru and muttered, "This is getting uncomfortable."

Before Hikaru could respond—

A gust of wind blasted through the area.

Something—someone—rushed through the room at an impossible speed, knocking over a chair and sending papers flying.

Moriya's eyes narrowed.

Enji tensed.

And then—

The familiar blur of motion stopped just a few feet away.

A smirking figure stood before them, cracking their knuckles.

Velocity.

"Well, well," Velocity grinned. "Looks like I found you again."

Hikaru's heart pounded.

Not now.

Not while Ikazuchi and Teshii weren't here.

Velocity flexed their fingers and took a step forward.

"Hope you guys are warmed up."

And then—they charged.