Kyokai of Truth: Flames of the Forgotten

A dark figure sat hidden in the shadows of an unlit room, his features cloaked in darkness.

“What? Jigoku was defeated?” His voice resonated with disappointment. “Pathetic. He truly was just a rookie.”

A butler stepped forward, hand respectfully placed over his chest as he bowed slightly. “My lord, is there any step you wish to take? He’s merely a child.”

The shadowed figure hesitated, then spoke calmly, “Fine. Send Ryujin.”

Kaminari screamed as he plummeted through the air. “AAAAHHHHHHHH—wait, why is this grass so soft? Did I land on a pillow?”

Sumire stood nearby, arms folded, her expression serious. “Kaminari-kun, there’s something important you need to know.”

“No, there’s something I need to know!” Kaminari protested, getting up. “Why didn’t you tell me you knew my mom?! Are you secretly my aunt or something?!”

Sumire blinked, clearly confused. “What? No! I was her subordinate. Like…side character number six. Not exactly a close comrade.”

“Still! That’s classified-level stuff! How could you hide it?”

“We literally just met! I planned to tell you eventually.” She sighed dramatically. “Fine—I’ll explain everything clearly, but in your style.”

“My style?” Kaminari tilted his head curiously. “What, like food analogies?”

Sumire shook her head and opened a dimensional portal with a wave of her hand. “Welcome…to Sumire’s Exposition Playground!”

Kaminari’s eyes widened in amazement as their surroundings transformed dramatically. “Wooooah! What the hell is this?”

“My playground!” Sumire declared. “A powerful dimension called Kyokai. Only powerful beings have access.”

Kaminari nodded eagerly, absorbing every detail as their surroundings morphed into rivers of lava and levitating stones.

“WHOA!” Kaminari exclaimed, glancing down nervously. “Did I eat something weird? Why is the floor on fire?!”

“It’s not fire, Kaminari-kun,” Sumire said patiently. “It’s dramatic storytelling.”

“Oh, cool.”

“Your mom was an absolute legend,” she began, eyes serious. “She had a lava aura. Touch her without permission—boom—crispy chicken nugget.”

Kaminari swallowed nervously. “Wait…how hot exactly?”

“She could turn Hawaii into a jacuzzi. Entire planets too.”

“My mom was a lava warrior queen?!” Kaminari’s eyes sparkled.

“Yup. Blonde hair, glowing red eyes, deadly aura—literal goddess vibes.”

Kaminari’s eyes filled dramatically with tears. “My mom’s a glowstick of death!”

“Exactly,” Sumire continued. “She even defeated the 16th Devil King, the insane one who ate planets for lunch.”

“That’s…actually metal as hell,” Kaminari admitted, sniffling.

The dimension shifted, turning completely white as five massive pillars rose around them—four white and one red.

“The gods?” Sumire gestured. “Absolute drama kings. They control everything but fight over territories like toddlers over Legos.”

“Are they strong?”

“Ridiculously strong. Legends say one person will rise to stop their madness, restore balance, and fix the universe’s Wi-Fi, metaphorically speaking.”

“That’s gotta be me! I knew it! I’m totally the main character!”

Sumire sighed. “Your mother once fought a god for twenty-nine days straight. No bathroom breaks, just fists.”

Kaminari’s jaw dropped. “She had lava-aura fists?!”

“Exactly,” Sumire nodded. “And even the Executioners—the ultimate warriors—fell to the 17th Devil King. Only your mother survived.”

Suddenly, the Kyokai dimension trembled violently, fracturing like glass.

“AHHHHH! Why’s your explanation dimension breaking?!” Kaminari panicked.

“Too much plot dump! System overload!” Sumire shouted.

They fell helplessly through the glitching void.

“I blame the exposition—!” Kaminari screamed as reality twisted around them.

Back at Kaminari’s home, Sumire lay collapsed on the floor, exhausted. “Kyokai…too much aura…need cookies…”

“Don’t die on me!” Kaminari shouted, quickly scooping her into his arms.

Sumire’s face flushed deep red. “N-No! I’m just low on aura! Definitely not blushing!”

“Aura makes you blush? Weird side effect,” Kaminari muttered, genuinely confused.

Sumire, flustered, tried weakly to escape his grip. “Put me down—I’m fine!”

Ignoring her protests, Kaminari carried her gently to the bedroom and placed her down carefully.

Sumire felt her heart pound rapidly. (He’s so handsome!) she thought, overwhelmed. Unable to contain her embarrassment, she fainted.

Kaminari confused but then his expression hardening with determination.

“I will avenge my mother,” he vowed firmly, eyes burning with newfound resolve.

—To be continued.