Clearing the Air

"Teshii. Look. I want to apologize about what I said earlier…" Hikaru said, standing in front of the mirror in the safehouse's bathroom.

He shook his head at his reflection.

No! That won't do. It doesn't even sound like I meant it.

He looked directly into the mirror, determination flashing in his eyes.

"Okay… let's try this again," Hikaru muttered.

The moment he opened his mouth–

CREAAKKK!

The bathroom door slowly swung open.

It was Ikazuchi.

He looked like he was in urgent need of the facilities.

"Man… what a time to need the bathroom. I seriously gotta go!"

Ikazuchi stopped mid-step and froze when he saw Hikaru leaning in toward the mirror.

He narrowed his eyes, then pointed a finger at him.

"Were… you about to kiss your reflection in the mirror? Because if you were…" Ikazuchi said, "…what a f*cking narcissist!"

Hikaru quickly raised both of his hands in front of Ikazuchi, waving them in denial.

"No! I'm not trying to kiss myself in the mirror. I'm practicing!"

Ikazuchi raised an eyebrow.

"Practicing? Practicing for what?"

"For my apology to Teshii," Hikaru replied.

"Uh-huh…" Ikazuchi said flatly. "If that's the case… THEN GET OUT! I need to take a Number 2!

"O-oh, sure!" Hikaru stammered, quickly stepping out of the bathroom so Ikazuchi could go in.

As Ikazuchi shut the door behind him, he muttered under his breath:

"Weirdo."

After failing to practice his apology to Teshii, Hikaru stepped into the living room and made his way to the couch, slumping into it with a frustrated sigh.

"What's wrong, Hikaru?"

Hikaru turned his head to the right.

"Huh?"

Beside him sat Haruto, still holding his book, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

"Haruto?"

Haruto smiled gently, not even looking away from his book.

"So… did your apology training go well or go horribly wrong?"

"G-Gone wrong…" Hikaru muttered.

"I see." Haruto closed the book and turned to face him. "Do you want my help?"

Hikaru raised an eyebrow.

"Help?"

"Yeah," Haruto nodded. "I can help you with your apology."

Hikaru sighed and looked away, eyes staring blankly ahead.

"I really appreciate it, Haruto. But…" Hikaru paused, "…I don't think Teshii will forgive me."

"How come?" Haruto asked.

Hikaru leaned back into the couch, gazing up at the ceiling.

"I said some really awful things about Teshii's family. And Teshii… he really took it personally."

"Is that so?" Haruto narrowed his eyes. "What made you say something like that in the first place?"

"Because…" Hikaru said quietly, still staring at the ceiling. "…Teshii and my sister are dating."

"Hikari?" Haruto asked.

"Yeah." Hikaru nodded.

"Still," Haruto said, "even if they're dating now, what made you say those kinds of things? That's not like you."

Hikaru sat up straight, turning to face Haruto.

"Me and Hikari have been close ever since we were born. And it was just… shocking. Seeing her have a boyfriend – especially Teshii."

"Shocking?" Haruto raised an eyebrow. "C'mon, Hikaru. Everyone knew those two were going to end up together eventually. It wasn't exactly a secret."

Hikaru glared at Haruto, unamused.

"The point is… I got jealous. I didn't expect it to hit me that hard, and I took it out on Teshii. I ended up hurting him."

"Is that the only reason?" Haruto asked calmly.

"No." Hikaru admitted. "He constantly flirts with Hikari and even my mom. And somehow, he always finds a way to annoy me and my dad."

"Hikaru." Haruto said his name softly.

"What?" Hikaru asked, slightly defensive.

"By any chance… do you like competing with your sister?"

Hikaru blinked.

"Y-Yeah. All the time."

Haruto crossed his arms, nodding thoughtfully.

"Maybe that's it." Haruto said. "You and Hikari are always competing. And when she started dating Teshii… you didn't just see it as a shock – you saw it as a loss."

Hikaru narrowed his eyes.

"What are you trying to say, Haruto?"

Haruto gave him a calm smile.

"What you need, Hikaru… is a girlfriend."

"W-What?!" Hikaru blushed deeply.

Haruto placed a thoughtful hand on his chin.

"And I know the perfect girl." He turned to Hikaru and smiled.

"Mei Tomita."

Meanwhile…

Teshii and Daichi were seated at a table in the university cafeteria.

Daichi's eye twitched in frustration.

"Um, Teshii?"

"What is it, Terra?" Teshii replied casually.

"How long are we going to be here?" Daichi asked, his patience thinning.

Teshii smirked.

"Until I finish going through the list of girls who could potentially become your new girlfriend."

Daichi gave an awkward, angry smile.

"Like I said before… I don't need you to find me a new girlfriend."

"Nonsense!" Teshii chuckled. "We've already gone through seven girls. Only five more left!"

Then–

SLAM!

The cafeteria doors burst open.

A blonde-haired girl stormed in – Run Uehara, one of Hikari and Mei's volleyball teammates.

Her eyes scanned the room until they locked onto Teshii. Without hesitation, she made her way to their table.

"Teshii," she snapped, holding up her phone directly in his face. "You better have a good reason for making me come all the way here!"

Displayed on her phone screen was their text exchange from earlier:

Teshii: Blondie!

Teshii: Blondie!

Teshii: Blondie!

Rin: WHAT?!

Teshii: Can you meet me in the cafeteria of the university?

Rin: Why?

Rin: WAIT?!

Rin: YOU BETTER NOT BE TRYING TO CHEAT ON HIKARI WITH ME, TESHII!

Rin: CUZ IF YOU ARE, I'LL BEAT THE SH*T OUT OF YOU, FOR HER!

Teshii: Me?! Cheat on Hikari? Never!

Teshii: I would never do that to her.

Teshii: I've already planned our future together.

Teshii: Like the names of our future children!

Teshii: Just come to the cafeteria, thank you!

Teshii completely ignored the phone and stood up with a bright grin.

"Blondie! You finally made it! Please…" he gestured dramatically toward the empty chair across from Daichi, "…have a seat!"

Rin narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously, but with a reluctant sigh, she pulled the chair back and sat down.

Daichi, meanwhile, looked like he was bracing for disaster.

Rin glared directly at Teshii.

"So what's this about, Teshii?"

Teshii smiled, unfazed by Rin's sharp-tongued attitude.

"Blondie, meet Terra–"

"Daichi," Daichi cut in.

Teshii cleared his throat, blatantly ignoring the fact that Daichi had interrupted him.

"Once again… Blondie, meet Terra." He turned his head to Daichi. "And Terra, meet Blondie."

Rin turned to Daichi.

"Nice to meet you."

Daichi gave a small nod.

"Likewise."

Rin turned her head back to Teshii, still glaring.

"I still don't understand why you wanted me here, Teshii."

Teshii smiled and adjusted his shades.

"Easy. I'm trying to find Terra a new girlfriend!"

A light flush of pink appeared on Rin's cheeks.

"W-What? A new girlfriend?"

"Yeah," Teshii nodded. "I'm trying to help my friend Terra find a new girlfriend. Your other teammates were here earlier."

Rin raised an eyebrow.

"Other teammates? Like who?"

"Mio and Kayoko were here earlier," Teshii said.

"They were?" Rin asked.

"Yep," Teshii nodded.

Then–

Daichi suddenly stood up from his seat.

Teshii blinked behind his crimson shades.

"Terra?"

"This is just a waste of time, Teshii," Daichi said, already beginning to walk away from the cafeteria. "Sorry, Teshii. I appreciate the help, but I still love Yasuka.

"I… simply can't move from her." Daichi said, his expression darkened.

As Teshii and Rin watched Daichi leave the cafeteria…

THUDD!

Teshii slammed his head down on the table.

Rin raised an eyebrow as she watched Teshii slamming his head on the table.

"Teshii?"

"I'm simply the worst," Teshii admitted.

"You really are," Rin said, arms crossed. "Anyway… who was that guy?"

"Oh, Terra? He's just a friend of mine," Teshii said.

Rin narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Uh-huh."

"What? You don't believe me?" Teshii asked.

"No, it's not that," Rin replied. "It's just hard to believe you have other friends besides Hikaru."

"That… really hurt," Teshii muttered, clearly taking the dig to heart.

"Anyway…" Rin stood up from her seat. "I must go. I have… um… something to do."

As Rin was about to leave–

"Blondie!"

Rin turned around to Teshii.

"Sorry." Teshii said.

She raised an eyebrow.

"For what?"

"For wasting your time. And… thank you for coming," Teshii said, his head still resting on the table.

Rin made a small smile.

"You're welcome, Teshii. Tell Hikari I said hi."

As Teshii watched Rin leave the cafeteria, he let out a huge sigh.

2 Hours Later…

Teshii found Daichi near a vending machine, casually sipping a drink.

"TERRA!" Teshii called out, running toward him.

Daichi turned his head.

"Teshii?"

Teshii reached him, breathing heavily.

"Look… Terra… I apologize… about earlier… I should have… considered your feelings."

Daichi raised his hand calmly.

"No, it's okay. I appreciate you trying to help me.

Then–

"DAICHI! TESHII!"

Both of them turned toward the voice.

It was Hikaru.

Behind him were the others – Haruto, Moriya, Ikazuchi, and Reito.

"Guys…" Daichi muttered.

Teshii just stood there, silent.

"Finally… we found you." Hikaru said, breathing heavily.

"What is it, Hikaru?" Daichi asked.

Hikaru took a deep breath and turned to Teshii, who was glaring at him behind his crimson sunglasses.

Teshii's silence was tense.

Hikaru flinched, staggered slightly.

He's still pissed at me!

From behind, Haruto placed a hand on Hikaru's shoulder. Hikaru glanced back. Haruto nodded.

Hikaru turned back to Teshii.

"Teshii…"

Then – he bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry!"

Teshii raised an eyebrow, arms crossed.

"I'm sorry for what I said about your mother. The truth is…" Hikaru looked down in shame. "I was jealous of Hikari."

"Jealous?" Teshii said.

"Me and Hikari have been competing since we were kids. When you two started dating… I took it as a loss and took out my anger on you. I'm truly sorry, Teshii!"

Silence…

Teshii just stared at Hikaru, still arms crossed.

Then he stepped forward, right up to Hikaru.

CHOP!

"OW!" Hikaru yelped, grabbing his head in pain as Teshii karate chopped it.

And then–

Teshi immediately wrapped Hikaru in a big, warm, tight hug.

"T-Teshii?" Hikaru muttered.

"Oh come on, Sunshine! I know you didn't mean any of those things. Babe already told me you were jealous of her."

Teshii grinned.

"I'll tell you what – how about I help you hook up with Rich Girl? How does that sound?"

Hikaru, now struggling to breathe in the tight hug, muttered:

"Y-Yeah… I'd like that."

The other Elements laughed and smiled as they watched.

Teshii finally let go, and Hikaru inhaled deeply, trying to catch his breath.

Hikaru looked up at Teshii.

"So… are we friends again?"

Teshii smiled.

"Always."

Then–

"Um… excuse me?"

Everyone turned toward the voice.

A grey-haired boy stood nearby, green eyes shining beneath his red and blue hoodie.

Teshii narrowed his eyes.

"Who are you?"

The boy smiled.

"My name is Sora. Sora Arashii."

Hikaru tilted his head.

"Sora?"

"Yes," Sora nodded. "And… I'm the Element of Air."

Everyone's eyes widened at Sora's sudden confession.

TO BE CONTINUE!!!