Aftermath

Returning to the Safehouse

The helicopter landed softly outside the safehouse.

No one spoke.

The weight of what had happened on the Island of Mystery still hung over them.

As they stepped out, Hikaru felt his chest tighten.

They had won.

They had stopped Mind.

They had saved Yami.

But—

They had lost Teshii.

And it was their fault.

The others felt it too.

Moriya clenched his fists.

Haruto looked at the ground, ashamed.

Ikazuchi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Reito exhaled sharply, his face hard to read.

Even Sora—who always had a joke—was silent.

Tetsuya, normally unreadable, was gripping the hilt of his sword so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

As they stepped inside, the first thing they saw was—

Hikari.

Hikari's Realization

Hikari had been waiting at the safehouse with Mei, Satoshi, and Reina.

The moment Hikaru walked through the door, she ran to him.

"You're back!"

Her eyes scanned the group, searching.

And then—

She realized someone was missing.

"…Where's Teshii?"

Hikaru stopped moving.

The others tensed.

Hikari's smile slowly faded.

Hikaru took a deep breath.

"Hikari…"

His voice was heavy with guilt.

"Teshii's gone."

Hikari's eyes widened.

She felt her stomach drop.

Hikaru clenched his fists.

"He left the team."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut.

Hikaru continued.

"Teshii… he was a mutant."

The room fell silent.

Hikari's breath hitched.

Suddenly, everything made sense.

The way Teshii reacted to her words before.

The anger.

The pain in his voice.

She had called mutants disgusting.

And Teshii—her Teshii—was one of them.

Her eyes burned.

"…I hurt him," she whispered.

She finally understood.

Why he had been so distant.

Why he had been so cold.

Why he left.

And then—

Hikaru spoke again.

And it only made it worse.

"Hikari… we don't even know if he's alive."

Her legs felt weak.

Her breath came out shaky.

"…What?"

Hikaru swallowed hard.

"We left him on the island."

Hikari felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs.

She shook her head, stepping back.

"No… you're lying."

"Hikari—"

"NO!"

Her voice echoed through the safehouse.

Her hands trembled.

Her heart pounded painfully in her chest.

He was alive.

He had to be.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"I never got to apologize..."

Mei placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, but Hikari barely felt it.

She had lost him.

And she had no idea if she'd ever see him again.

Sinister X's Message

Before anyone could say another word—

The screen in the safehouse flickered.

A video call began.

Static filled the air.

Then—

A dark silhouette appeared.

A smooth, sinister voice echoed through the room.

"Ah… so you've finally returned."

The screen cleared.

A man in a dark mask leaned forward.

Sinister X.

The Elements tensed immediately.

Sinister X chuckled.

His voice was calm. Amused.

"I hope you're ready."

His masked face tilted slightly.

"Because everything you know is about to change."