A roar of voices cascaded through the massive arena as the crowd packed the stands in anticipation. Daylight glinted off polished armor, and banners emblazoned with the Kingdom of Radiance’s crest waved in the breeze. High above, an announcer’s voice boomed: “Prepare yourselves for the next matchup! Team A: Shunjiro, Itsuki, and Yoshinori! Versus Team B: Sora, Lars, and Ryota!” A swirl of excitement rippled through the assembled recruits. Shunjiro could feel the hum of adrenaline under his skin as the names echoed in his ears. So it’s official, I’m teamed up with Yoshinori. He glanced across the field, where a lean figure with jet-black hair and a calm demeanor stood near a tall flag, Yoshinori. By reputation, Yoshinori was quiet, brilliant, and reputedly fierce in combat. Shunjiro had watched him fight once and recalled the effortless control he displayed. A flutter of relief filled him that they’d be on the same side rather than facing off. Before the call to begin the match, Shunjiro and Itsuki headed over to greet Yoshinori. The closer they got, the clearer Yoshinori’s features became: a reserved tilt of his chin, eyes that flicked attentively between them, and a tense posture that suggested he wasn’t used to friendly small talk. “Hey,” Shunjiro said, giving a friendly wave. “Looks like we’re all on the same team.” Yoshinori nodded curtly. “Yes. Let’s do our best.” His voice was soft but precise, like each word had been carefully weighed before speaking. Itsuki beamed at him. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Yoshinori. I’m excited to see your skills up close.” For a moment, Yoshinori’s gaze dropped, something thoughtful flickering behind his eyes. Shunjiro took the chance to speak from the heart. “I’m, uh… really glad we’re teaming up,” he said, a nervous laugh escaping him. “I’ve seen you fight, and honestly, you’re super strong and cool. It’s good we’re on the same side. I’d hate to go against you.” Yoshinori’s mouth parted slightly, as though words had failed him. A faint flush colored his cheeks. He bowed his head, trying to hide the sudden blush. “T-thank you,” he managed, unaccustomed to such open praise. Shunjiro only grinned wider. “We’ve got this, right? With you and Itsuki on the team, I’m sure we’ll do great.” Something in Yoshinori’s posture softened, just a little. “Let’s focus on the mission. I’ll hold down our flag if you two want to push forward.” Once the match began, Shunjiro and Itsuki set off into the forest to capture the enemy’s flag, leaving Yoshinori behind at their own base, a modest clearing marked by a tall pole bearing their banner. He inhaled deeply, taking in the sounds and scents around him. He’d always been a keen observer, methodical in his approach. Even now, standing guard, he was analyzing everything: the direction of the wind, the rustling of branches overhead, the faint snap of a twig that could indicate an approaching foe. But part of his mind drifted elsewhere. If Father’s theories are right… if there really is more to this world than the kingdom’s borders… A flicker of worry pinched his brow. I have to get stronger, to prove what he always believed- Yoshinori quickly pushed those thoughts aside, refocusing on the task at hand. Protecting this flag was crucial, and he couldn’t afford distractions. However, the swirl of emotion remained in his chest, a hint of longing, a desire to see the world his father had described. The forest teemed with life: chirping birds, the low hum of insects, the stir of leaves under an unseen breeze. For most, it might have seemed tranquil. To Yoshinori, each sound was a data point. Focus on your breathing, he reminded himself. Don’t let them catch you off guard. Minutes passed in uneasy silence. Then, he heard it: soft footfalls, stealthy but discernible to his trained ear. They’re here. He steadied himself, feeling the flicker of electricity dancing under his skin, ready to manifest. Yoshinori couldn’t help a quick thought: Shunjiro, Itsuki, hope you’re okay out there. Two figures emerged from the shadows between towering trunks. One was Sora, wearing the same confident smirk Yoshinori had seen before. The other was Lars, tall and broad-shouldered with a calculating glint in his eye. Sora sauntered closer, hands in his pockets. “Well, well, well. Looks like we found their little guard dog.” He cast a sidelong glance at the flag fluttering behind Yoshinori. “Care to hand that over, or do we need to do this the hard way?” Yoshinori kept his face expressionless, though inside, tension coiled like a spring. “Talk all you want,” he said quietly, “but you’re not getting this flag.” “Huh. Strong and silent, is that it?” Sora chuckled darkly, cracking his knuckles. “Lars, want to give him a warm welcome?” With a low grunt, Lars lunged. Light shimmered around his fists, electromagnetism made manifest. He hammered down, aiming to break Yoshinori’s guard in one powerful strike. Yoshinori reacted in a flash. He sidestepped the first blow, letting it crush the ground where he’d been standing. A spray of dirt and twigs exploded upward. Lars swung again, but Yoshinori ducked low and retaliated with a sharp kick to the ribs, sending Lars stumbling back. “You rely too much on metal,” Yoshinori murmured, noting Lars’s attempt to draw metallic particles from the soil. “Doesn’t help much in a place like this.” Lars glowered, veins bulging with anger. He forced a few scraps of ore from a nearby rock, hurling them in a high-velocity scattershot. Yoshinori’s eyes narrowed. He raised a hand, summoning a crackle of lightning that disintegrated the shards mid-flight. Sora is watching, Yoshinori realized, conscious that the second foe was just biding his time. Sure enough, Sora stood at a short distance, studying the fight with calculating intensity. “Not bad,” Sora remarked. “But you’ll have to do better than fancy footwork if you plan to beat me.” Yoshinori clenched his jaw, ignoring the provocation. Lars attacked again, this time with a feint. Yoshinori dodged left, only to realize a split second too late that it was a trap. Lars sent a shockwave of electromagnetic force from the opposite angle. It rocked Yoshinori off balance, pain biting through his ribs. “Got you,” Lars growled, stepping in for a finishing blow. But Yoshinori recovered with startling speed, channeling a jolt of electricity down his arm and into Lars’s chest. The beastly fighter gasped as energy crackled through him, then dropped to one knee, panting. “That’s enough,” Yoshinori said, voice tight. “Walk away.” His expression was calm, but inside he felt a tremor, both from adrenaline and from the suppressed worry about his father. I can’t lose here… Not if I want to see what Father believes is out there. Before Lars could decide whether to flee or stand, Sora finally stepped in. “Don’t be so eager to celebrate,” he said softly. His stance shifted, muscles coiled and ready. “I learn from every move my opponent makes. Let’s see how you handle me.” Sora’s first strikes were quick, almost testing. Yoshinori deflected them, noticing how each new attack came at a slightly different angle, as though Sora adapted on the fly. He’s already reading me… In response, Yoshinori began charging up a significant amount of energy, sparks dancing across his fingertips. The air hummed with static, and the faint smell of ozone wafted around him. I need to end this fast or risk Sora adapting to my powers. With a tense breath, Yoshinori unleashed a powerful lightning bolt, the clearing lighting up in a flash of white-blue brilliance. Sora’s eyes widened an instant before impact, he tried to twist away, but the bolt caught him head-on, blasting him to the ground. Yoshinori watched Sora slump in a smoking heap, chest heaving for breath. For a moment, everything was silent except for the fading crackle of electricity. Lars, still on one knee, stared in disbelief, sweat beading along his brow. Whatever bravado he’d had was gone. Wordlessly, he turned and fled into the deeper forest, leaving Sora behind. Yoshinori waited, lightning still dancing faintly around his hands, in case Sora tried to rise again. But the smug fighter lay there gasping, eyes glazed with pain. Satisfied that the immediate threat had passed, Yoshinori finally let the excess energy dissipate. He turned toward the flag, still fluttering proudly at his back. Safe. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Shunjiro… Itsuki… we’re holding on here. The tension in Yoshinori’s muscles ebbed, the adrenaline wearing off. For a second, he found himself thinking again of his father, too frail to continue his research, but never short on faith that the world was bigger than anyone in the Kingdom realized. Father, I promise I’ll keep your dreams alive… He inhaled slowly, savoring the quiet that settled over the clearing now that Sora and Lars had been repelled. The job wasn’t over, but at least for the moment, their team’s flag was safe. With one last glance at the unconscious Sora, Yoshinori shifted back into his vigilant stance, mind already filtering every sound in the forest. He was bruised and exhausted, but still standing, and determined more than ever to carry on, for the sake of his father’s legacy and the teammates who’d placed their trust in him.