Hiyori looked around at the strange bright landscape.
"Where… are we? Hey—Elsiya! Finally, you're awake. Do you feel better?"She checked Elsiya's leg—and froze.
"Wait… your leg. It's fully healed. How is that possible?"Elsiya sat up slowly."I don't know anything. But… where are we?"
Hiyori sighed. "I don't know."Behind them Raihtasu shoved Daiki aside."Daiki, move away from my face. I can't breathe."Daiki stepped aside, smiling awkwardly."I'm just… glad I'm with you. They almost killed me. Now I finally feel safe."Raihtasu clicked his tongue.Don't talk like a loser."I'm not a loser!" Daiki snapped.Hiyori glared at both.Can you both please stop?"Raihtasu looked around for the first time."Where… are we?""Oh great—now he notices," Hiyori muttered.Raihtasu spoke again."If that guy's words were right… we're trapped inside the portal."Hiyori spun toward him.
"Trapped?! How can you say that so calmly?"Elsiya blinked.
"Portal? What are you talking about?"Hiyori put a hand on her shoulder.
"I'll explain later. For now, just remember… we're trapped."Elsiya clenched her jaw."This all happened because of him." She pointed at Daiki.Daiki scoffed."If you don't have guts, then why did you come?""What did you say to me?!" Elsiya snapped.
Raihtasu interrupted.
"Stop fighting. We'll find a way out. But first—go wake up those Black Fang members. They might know something."Hiyori nodded and walked toward the unconscious enemies.
"Hey! Wake up, both of you!"The girl opened her eyes first.
"Who are you…?""Wake up," Hiyori said.The girl sat up, confused.What happened to us?"Hiyori pointed around."Looks like we're trapped. Do you know anything?"The girl hummed.
"Not much… but it seems we're inside the portal."Hiyori stepped closer. "Then how do we escape?"The girl smirked."You're my rival. Why should I tell you?"Hiyori crossed her arms.
"Because we need to make a team if we want to survive. Then we can escape this place."
The girl looked away, then nodded.
"Fine, fine. I don't know too much… only that there's a barrier. We have to break it."
"A barrier?" Hiyori repeated.
Meanwhile, Elsiya and Daiki were still fighting.
Elsiya kicked Daiki hard—he flew back and slammed into something invisible.Daiki groaned.
"Ow… it's like a concrete wall! My back!"A wall? In the ocean?" Hiyori asked.The Black Fang girl pointed."That might be the barrier I was talking about."Raihtasu walked up to it and punched.
"Yes… it's a barrier. Not solid, but still blocking us. How do we break it?"The girl shook her head."I don't know."
Raihtasu sighed.
"If we're trapped here, we need to explore the jungle. Maybe we'll find something there."
He frowned. "I didn't take that guy's warning seriously. Now I regret it."
Hiyori looked at the Black Fang girl again."You look sick."The girl swayed."I… don't know. I feel strange."
Hiyori touched her forehead.You have a very high fever. Don't move. I'll heal you… but my healing can't break the fever entirely."
The girl stared."Why are you helping me? I'm your enemy."Hiyori smiled softly."You helped us by telling us about the barrier. And even if you're my enemy… I don't forget my humanity."The girl's eyes softened.
"You… you really have a pure heart. Can I join you? I'll help you escape this place.""Wait," Hiyori said. "I have to ask Raihtasu. He's our team leader."
"Okay," the girl agreed.Hiyori walked to Raihtasu.
"Hey, can she join us?"Raihtasu nodded."Of course. We need her. If she didn't ask, I would've offered anyway."The girl bowed slightly."Thank you so much."
Suddenly Usami—Raihtasu's brother—woke up.
"Where are we? Hey, Raihtasu! You—I won't miss the shot this time!"Raihtasu raised a hand."Wait, Usami. First we escape this place. Then you can do whatever you want."Usami grinned."Fine. But make sure you use your full strength."Raihtasu clapped his hands.
"Alright, everyone. We're heading into the jungle. Stand up. We're starting a new adventure."
They began walking.Usami pointed at the Black Fang girl.
"Hey you! Why are you going with them? You're in my team. Did you forget?"Hiyori stepped between them."She joined us. And you're not coming."Usami hissed."Never."He looked at the girl again.
"If you want to go with them… I won't stop you."She nodded."Okay."Usami scoffed."Are you serious? Fine. Go." He turned away.
Raihtasu called out,"You're not coming with us?""No," Usami said, walking alone into the jungle."Leave him," Raihtasu said. "Let's go."Elsiya whispered,"He's your brother…""I know," Raihtasu replied. "He'll cause trouble… he always does."Daiki gasped.
"Look! A beautiful butterfly!"They continued through the jungle, admiring it.Elsiya asked the girl,"Hey—you. What's your name?"Hiyori blinked."Oh right… I forgot to ask."
The girl smiled faintly."My name is Yuki."Elsiya grinned."It's a great name, Yuki."Daiki pointed."Look at this waterfall! It's so beautiful!"Raihtasu looked at the sky.
"We've walked for one or two hours. Our phones disappeared, so we don't know the exact time. I think we should stay here for two days."Daiki agreed.
"Yes! The waterfall is amazing!"Raihtasu snapped.
"It's not time to enjoy! We need food and wood for a fire."
He pointed. "You and Elsiya—go find food. I'll gather materials for shelter. We don't know how long we'll be stuck here."Daiki asked,"What about Hiyori and Yuki?""Yuki is sick," Raihtasu said. "And Hiyori will watch her. Now go. We'll meet in the evening."Elsiya and Daiki nodded.
"Okay.
Scene Shift — Usami wandered alone until he found an abandoned village.
"I'll use this as my hideout for today," he muttered.Suddenly—A heavy force struck his head.He collapsed unconscious Two shadows appeared.
"Yeah," one boy said. "Our mission is complete. Take him."The second one smirked."Who's next?"The first boy answered:"Elsiya.""Alright," he said. "Let's go capture her. But first—we deliver this one to the boss."