Flickering Lights

Meanwhile in Mitaka…

Every night, for as long as she could remember, Aihana’s dreams repeated themselves.

She dreamt of a girl standing alone in an endless meadow, the grass whispering beneath a pale moonlight. Her silvery-pink dress fluttered gently around her legs, almost alive, as if the wind itself were embracing her. Behind her, blurred figures lingered—faces indistinct, voices echoing in her mind, pleading:

Don’t do it… stop… please…

The girl ignored them.

Aihana watched from a distance, a silent observer. Her chest tightened with each beat of the girl’s wings, a pull she could not explain. Who is she…? she wondered, heart racing as the girl’s power surged.

Suddenly, delicate wings unfurled from the girl’s back, pure white and catching the faint glow of starlight. A golden-white aura bloomed around her, tendrils of light rippling across the meadow like liquid energy. Aihana shivered. It’s… incredible… beautiful… but terrifying.

And then it happened—the girl released her power in a surge of raw, unstoppable energy. The earth trembled violently, cracks splitting the ground beneath her feet. Trees snapped like twigs, rocks exploded into dust, and the meadow itself was torn apart, leaving smoldering soil and shattered stone. Waves of light blasted outward, scorching the horizon, leaving devastation in every direction.

Aihana’s eyes widened in horror; the force seemed to shake the very air, bending reality, leaving a scarred, lifeless landscape where life had once thrived.

When the brilliance faded, the girl was gone. Silence reigned, the ruined earth glowing faintly under the pale moonlight. Aihana awoke with a start, heart pounding, palms clammy. The destruction felt impossibly real—and terrifying. Who is she, to hold such power?

Her alarm clock buzzed. She dressed quickly in her school uniform, tucking her hair into a loose, slightly messy bun. In the kitchen, her mother’s warmth wrapped around her briefly before she grabbed her bag and stepped outside.

The streets of Mitaka were calm, sunlight spilling across the pavement. Most of the time, everything seemed normal. But occasionally, a shiver ran down Aihana’s spine, a subtle shift in the air she couldn’t explain. A whisper of wind too deliberate, a flicker of shadow at the edge of her vision—gone before she could focus.

One moment the world felt safe and familiar: warm sunlight, rustling leaves. The next, an almost imperceptible chill, a flicker of darkness vanished before she could even blink. She didn’t see anything concrete, didn’t hear anyone—but instinct told her she wasn’t alone. Other forces brushed past her for mere seconds, like invisible fingers grazing her skin.

School — Art Classroom

The art classroom offered a fragile sense of normalcy. The smell of paint, the soft brush strokes on canvas, and sunlight spilling through the windows grounded her.

Aihana painted, colors leaping under her brush, but sometimes she felt it again—a faint hum beneath her fingertips, a soft pulse at the edge of her awareness, gone as quickly as it came. Tiny tingles ran up her arms, her heart skipped, and she had to press her lips together to focus. Miyu noticed the slight pause in her movement.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly.

Aihana smiled faintly. “Yeah… just thinking.”

Inside, though, she knew the world held more than what she could see. Somewhere, something—or someone—was stirring, brushing against reality in ways she could not explain. Tiny sparks of light seemed to curl at the edges of her vision, almost like playful fireflies—but when she blinked, they vanished.

During the short break between classes, Aihana leaned back in her chair, stretching her fingers. The faint hum of her morning sensations lingered under her skin—a familiar echo of the dreams she had almost every night. Over time, she had grown used to them; the girl in the endless meadow no longer entirely frightening, though each night the visions seemed to grow sharper, more vivid, almost tangible.

Miyu nudged her lightly, a playful grin on her face. “Hey, what do you think about going to the movies this afternoon?”

Aihana blinked, momentarily pulled from the lingering echoes of the dreams. “Movies?” she repeated softly, forcing a small smile. “Yeah… that sounds nice.”

Street After the Cinema

The street was quiet, almost eerily so, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves and the soft crunch of their footsteps. Neon reflections glimmered on the wet asphalt. Miyu and Aihana walked home after the movies, their laughter fading into the night, still tangled with the echoes of the story they had just seen. They shared the last of their popcorn, their steps light but careful.

Aihana felt it again—a subtle shift in the air, like a thread of warmth brushing against her skin. She froze, her hand tightening slightly around Miyu’s. A brief, dizzy sensation rolled through her, a flutter in her head, but she kept it to herself. Focus… it’s nothing, she told herself, pressing on.

“Miyu… something feels… off,” she whispered, her voice low, almost lost in the quiet of the street.

They turned a corner, and the alley ahead seemed darker than usual. Two men stepped out from the shadows, their movements deliberate, eyes glinting with ill intent.

Aihana and Miyu instinctively pressed closer, their hearts thudding.

Another Dimension

Unseen, hovering above the quiet streets of Mitaka, Akihiro traced the invisible cracks between worlds. Every sense was alert. He knew that time was slipping through his fingers—the Fifth Guardian had yet to awaken, and with each passing night, the world grew more vulnerable.

A heavy weight pressed on his shoulders. Where could she be? Which street, which alley, which moment would reveal her? Each unanswered question gnawed at him like a persistent wind against stone.

"We’re running out of time," he thought, jaw tightening. She is out there. We have to find her before something happens.

The city felt alive in ways no one else could sense: neon signs flickering in minor synchrony, distant electrical hums vibrating through the pavement, the soft stir of wind brushing against corners where no one was standing.

He hovered a little lower, feeling the ebb and flow of unseen currents. His mind raced through possibilities, trying to map the pattern of the Guardians’ awakening. Every detail mattered—the slightest anomaly, a flicker of light, a sudden shift in air.

And then… he sensed something. And he flew to the alley. And saw them...

Two girls, terrified. Two men approached them. Suddenly, the air around the girls began to shimmer with a soft, radiant light, curling gently like living threads. The alley felt constricted, shadows flickering unnaturally.

Aihana’s pulse quickened, a subtle dizziness rolling through her, but she stayed silent, gripping Miyu’s hand. The light wrapped around them in a warm, protective glow, faintly pulsing in response to their presence.

The neon lights along the street flickered once, then again, their glow uneven, as if the electricity itself hesitated. A gust of invisible wind danced past, rustling leaves and loose paper. Street signs quivered faintly, and the shadows of the alley seemed to twist subtly, as if alive.

The two men lurking in the alley paused, a visible shiver running down their spines. The air itself pressed against them, thick and insistent. One muttered, “What the hell…?” as the light around the girls brightened slightly, casting them in a calm, even glow. Fear replaced malice. Finally, they bolted into the night.

Miyu shivered. “Aihana…”

Aihana shook her head, and opened her eyes. “We must run toward home. They can return.”

And then Aihana stopped. She sensed something else… a presence.

Akihiro froze. One of the girls wielded a hidden power, its presence radiating faintly in the surrounding light. And one was attuned to realms beyond ordinary perception, sensing currents that bridged dimensions. Somehow, she could feel him.

At that moment, their eyes metaphorically locked. Aihana did not consciously see him, but the pulse in her chest surged violently, her heart racing. He felt her too—a subtle recognition of extraordinary energy, his pulse accelerating in response.

Miyu tugged her hand, and they ran.

Arriving at Miyu’s Gate

Miyu’s father waited, tall and reassuring. Miyu dashed into his arms.

He turned to Aihana. “Let me escort you home. It’s late, and the streets aren’t safe.”

Aihana nodded, smiling softly, unaware that the subtle shift in the alley had already marked her as someone extraordinary. She brushed a hand over her head, still feeling a faint flutter, and walked beside him.

Akihiro lingered in the shadows, watching silently. One of them could be a Guardian… but which? One has the special power to sense other dimensions…

Back at A-Academy

Upon returning, Akihiro gathered his four captains: Ayame, Rei, Kaito, and Daichi. His voice was calm, measured, but carried weight and concern.

“In Mitaka, I witnessed an unusual surge of energy,” he began. “Two girls were in danger, and one of them activated a power that protected them. I cannot say which one, but… the presence of one felt extraordinary.”

Ayame pressed her lips together, nodding. “If one of them is a Guardian, we must protect them.”

Akihiro nodded firmly. “We cannot wait any longer. I, Rei, and Ayame will go to their school—discreetly. Our task is to observe and protect the girls… until the Fifth Guardian awakens.”

Rei smirked, lightening the tension. “Fieldwork among humans. This will be fun. I’m in.”

Akihiro raised an eyebrow. “We must be careful.” He turned to Daichi and Kaito. “You two will oversee the training of the other Guardians.”

Daichi cracked a confident grin, slapping his hands together. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure they’re ready for anything. No excuses, no mistakes. They’ll be unstoppable.”

Kaito raised a brow, calm as ever, his hands folded behind his back. “Unstoppable? Or reckless? Discipline matters more than brute force. They won’t step out of line under my watch.”

Daichi shot him a teasing smirk. “Reckless? That’s just another word for ‘creative’.”

Kaito’s lips twitched in the slightest hint of a smile. “Creative, sure. Until someone gets hurt because of it. I prefer controlled power.”

Akihiro gave a small, approving nod. “Good. Keep them sharp. I don’t care which method you prefer, just make sure they’re prepared. We cannot afford mistakes.”

Daichi leaned back with a mock sigh. “Fine, fine… I’ll let Mr. ‘Controlled Power’ handle the lectures. I’ll handle the fun stuff.”

Kaito rolled his eyes, muttering, “Fun isn’t the point…”

To blend in, Akihiro, Rei, and Ayame assumed “false identities,” appearing as exchange students from the A-Academy. Their mission: observe, protect, and wait.