Truth

A Long-Awaited Apology

The battlefield was eerily silent.

The wind rustled through the trees, carrying away the remnants of dark energy.

Yami stood before Hikaru, his violet eyes filled with guilt.

"…I owe you an apology," he muttered.

Hikaru blinked, surprised. "For what?"

Yami clenched his fists.

"For being distant. For not trusting you. For getting caught up in my own obsessions… and for siding with Mind."

Hikaru sighed, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah, that last part was pretty bad."

Yami winced.

"But," Hikaru continued, his tone softer, "I'm listening."

Yami exhaled deeply.

"There's something I need to tell you. The reason why I started investigating… everything."

The Truth About Hinote Kanashii

Yami turned his gaze toward the darkened sky, as if searching for the right words.

"It started when I found a photo album in my house," he said.

Hikaru tensed.

He knew exactly what photo album Yami was talking about.

"My mother, Misaki, had a picture of herself, your mom, and another woman," Yami continued. "She was holding a baby."

Hikaru nodded slowly. "Yeah… I saw that picture too."

Yami looked at him, his expression serious.

"That baby's name was Hinote Kanashii."

Hikaru felt his heart skip a beat.

Hinote Kanashii.

That name… it felt important.

Significant.

Yami's voice lowered.

"When I found out about him, I became obsessed with finding him."

Hikaru frowned. "Why?"

Yami took a slow breath.

"Because my mother—Misaki—hasn't smiled in years."

Hikaru's stomach twisted.

Yami's mother had always been distant, reserved, carrying a sadness that never faded.

Yami clenched his fists.

"I thought if I found Hinote, if I brought him back… maybe she'd smile again."

Hikaru's breath hitched.

Yami looked away.

"I just wanted to bring my family back together," he admitted. "Even for a little while."

Suspicions About Teshii

Yami sighed.

"But then… I thought Hinote might be Teshii."

Hikaru's eyes widened.

"Teshii?"

Yami nodded.

"He looked like the baby in the picture. And Teshii… there's something about him that doesn't make sense."

Hikaru thought back to everything about Teshii.

The way he always avoided questions about his past.

The way he never spoke about his family.

The way he always carried a knowing smirk—but had a sadness in his eyes.

And now—he was a mutant.

Hikaru exhaled.

"…You thought he was the lost baby."

Yami nodded.

"But when I confronted him," Yami continued, "he told me that investigating his identity would only ruin everything."

Yami's expression darkened.

"And… he was right."

He clenched his fists.

"I almost lost you. I almost lost Aoi. And for what? A search for someone who may not even want to be found?"

Hikaru was quiet.

Then, he smiled softly.

"You're an idiot," he said.

Yami blinked. "Huh?"

Hikaru placed a hand on Yami's shoulder.

"But you're my idiot."

Yami's breath hitched.

Hikaru's grin widened. "Of course I forgive you."

For the first time in a long time—

Yami smiled.

"I'll apologize to Aoi too," Yami said.

Hikaru chuckled. "Yeah, you should. She's probably worried sick."

The moment was calm.

For the first time in forever, everything felt okay.

Then—

The ground shook violently.

The Island is Collapsing

The sky darkened further.

The trees trembled.

A deep rumbling sound filled the air.

Hikaru and Yami staggered backward.

"What's happening?!" Moriya shouted, trying to keep his balance.

"The island—it's shaking!" Haruto gasped.

Hikaru turned his gaze to the distance—

And his eyes widened in horror.

The ground was splitting apart.

Large cracks formed across the island, swallowing trees, destroying the land.

Reito's face paled.

"…The island is collapsing."

The Island's Collapse

The ground trembled violently, splitting apart beneath their feet.

Hikaru and the others ran through the crumbling chamber, dodging falling debris as the entire island threatened to swallow them whole.

"We need to get out of here—NOW!" Haruto shouted.

The walls began caving in, sending a storm of dust and rubble crashing around them.

As they neared the exit, Hikaru's eyes widened.

Through the thick smoke and devastation, he could see what remained of the battlefield.

The army of mutants that Teshii had been fighting…

Were all gone.

Their bodies nothing but ash.

But Teshii was nowhere to be seen.

Hikaru's heart pounded.

Teshii…?

Where was he?

Had he…?

No.

Hikaru shook the thought from his mind. Teshii wouldn't go down that easily.

But then—where was he?

Reaching the Helicopter

Bursting out of the chamber, they ran across the collapsing landscape.

In the distance—

Sasuke was already inside the helicopter, its blades spinning to life.

"HURRY!" Sasuke called out.

The Elements didn't hesitate.

One by one, they jumped aboard.

The helicopter lifted off, rising above the crumbling island.

They made it.

They were safe.

But something wasn't right.

Hikaru's breath was ragged. His mind raced.

He turned—searching the ground below.

And then—

Moriya pointed. "THERE! It's TESHII!"

Teshii Refuses to Be Saved

Hikaru's heart leaped in relief as he spotted Teshii standing among the destruction.

"Dad! Get us lower!" Hikaru shouted.

Sasuke gritted his teeth but nodded, steering the helicopter toward Teshii's location.

As they hovered just above the collapsing ruins, Hikaru leaned out, reaching his hand toward him.

"Teshii! Come on!"

But—

Teshii didn't move.

Instead, he just… stared at them.

His golden eyes were cold.

Disappointed.

Hikaru's stomach twisted.

"Teshii! Let's go!"

Still, Teshii didn't move.

Then, slowly—he turned away.

And walked in the opposite direction.

Hikaru's chest tightened.

His throat felt dry.

"TESHII!"

He shouted—but Teshii didn't stop.

Didn't look back.

Didn't even acknowledge him.

He simply disappeared into the smoke.

Hikaru reached further, desperate—

But Sasuke pulled him back.

"We can't stay here!" Sasuke yelled.

Hikaru struggled. "But—"

"The island's going down!"

The ground beneath Teshii collapsed, swallowed by the destruction.

Hikaru could only watch in horror as Sasuke turned the helicopter around and flew away.

They had no choice.

They had to leave him behind.

A Shadow in the Ashes

The island burned.

The waves crashed violently against the sinking land.

And in the middle of the devastation—

Teshii still stood.

Unmoving.

Unbothered.

As if none of it mattered.

His expression was unreadable.

Then—

A presence stirred.

Teshii's golden eyes slowly lifted.

A figure emerged from the shadows, stepping onto the broken remains of the island.

Teshii's lips curled slightly.

"…Took you long enough."

The figure didn't respond.

Instead, they simply approached.

And the moment they did—

The screen faded to black.