Chapter 3 - The Meaning of Miracles

The Zanshu chuckled to himself. He looked almost... pleasantly surprised.

“How curious… it seems like you aren’t affected by my gift,” he murmured, “While I have no time left… Please, show me just how special you are.”

He turned on his heel and simply faded into the shadows of the alleyway. As soon as he was gone, the oppressive gravity vanished. The three of them gasped, sucking in air they had no idea they'd lost.

What… the heck is a Zanshu?! What is going ON?!

“Here, hold my hand.”

Akari blinked in confusion, The green-haired girl from earlier was offering her a trembling hand. She took the hand as a warm hum of green light instantly washed over her, lifting the heavy fatigue from her muscles.

“Whoa… I feel so light! You’re amazing! Who are you?”

The girl returned a soft smile. “My name is Ami. Ami Setsuna. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Akari-chan!”

“Aw, c’mon! No need to get all formal. Nice to meet you too! Although... I can’t blame you for being scared.”

Rika stood off to the side, muttering furiously and gnawing on her thumb nail. “This can’t be right... judging from the reaction, the energy signature...”

“Are you gonna share with the class, Rika?” Akari elbowed her with a smug expression growing on her face.

Rika snapped her head up with wide eyes.  “That was a Zanshu, Akari!” 

“...So?” 

“It’s like Lady Lumen said on the broadcast! When a human is afflicted with the Blight, they become a Zanshu… But how did one get in here? This is a secure exam!”

Ami clutched her head, imaginary question marks practically spinning around her. “But, this is Amatsu! The Blight getting here would mean the defenses failed, or...”

“Agh, this is too much thinking!” Akari rubbed her temples furiously. “What’s the point here?!”

Rika sighed, mere second away from palming her forehead through her skull. “The point is, something big is happening. Something dangerous.”

“None of that matters! What matters is-!”

The hairs on the back of Akari’s neck stood up. Years of primal evolution screamed at her to move. She jerked her head to the side just as a blast of pressurized water pulverized the concrete wall behind her at subsonic speeds.

…Too close.

“What is your problem?!” Akari shouted, “That would’ve killed me!”

Yuto strode out of the dust, with Kana trailing behind him, looking bored.

“My problem?” Yuto retorted charging up his next vitriolic statement. “My problem is that a nobody like you thinks you can be something. I am the one ordained to lead the next generation, and you think you’re special?”

 “...Who are you?”

Yuto stumbled back from shock. “You don’t know me?! First you have more points than me, then you insult me like this?!”

Kana stifled a laugh, turning away to hide her shaking shoulders.

“Is something funny to you, Saito?” 

“Nothing, nothing…” she responded, whistling innocently at the sky.

“I haven’t done anything! What do you mean I have more points than you?” 

Right on cue, Bolt’s voice boomed from a nearby monitor. “By the way, currently in the lead is Akari Hoshizawa!”

Akari froze. “…Could be anyone with that name.”

The monitor switched to a close-up photo of Akari, taken by a drone, mid-sneeze. It was arguably the least flattering photo in human history.

“That’s uh… My cousin.”

The monitor switched to a live feed of Akari, filming her from directly behind.

“Oh, goddamn it! Get out of here!” She snatched a rock and hurled it at the hovering drone, sending it retreating with a sad whir.

Yuto adjusted his collar with a sigh. “Like I said. If I want to win, I have to take you down. So I’ll be merciful and allow you to give up.”

Akari grinned, dropping into a stance. “First rule of being me: I’m not that easy. You’re gonna find that out right now.”

Suddenly, the ground pitched sideways. It felt like the earth itself was being torn asunder. Heavy, footsteps shook the district as a massive beast—taller than the skyline—stepped forth. It was a nightmare. A beast of white scales and dead eyes, straight from the deepest pits.

“Holy… this isn’t part of the test, is it? It can’t be…” Lumen gasped over the intercom.

“There’s still five minutes left on the clock… Get those kids out of there NOW!” Bolt shouted.

The massive monster screeched like tearing metal. From its jaws, a black, ashen energy spread like a plague.

“This… it’s Aether..?! A Daiyo… I’ve never seen one in person before…!” Yuto could barely speak.

Ami shuddered, watching the ash rain down. “We have to run now! This much Aether… It’ll blight everything! We’ll die here!” 

Akari stared up at the beast. Any hint of fear replaced with pure excitement.

But if we kill this thing… It’d look really awesome! I can’t let Mei down!

“We’re taking this down, right now!” Akari yelled, pointing a finger at the towering monstrosity.

Yuto stared at her as if she was mad. “But we can’t! And even if we could, there’s almost no time left!” 

Akari flipped her pink-and-orange hair back. “Then we just gotta take it out in one shot.”

Rika chuckled and shook her head in disbelief, but a smile still broke through. “You’re insane… But I can trust you.”

Yuto stood with his mouth agape. “Seriously?! You trust this garbage gutter rat?! Even you must have some doubts, Saito.”

Kana smirked, crossing her arms. “Why not? If we stand a chance, then I’d wanna see it. Miracles don’t happen everyday. Loosen up already, rich boy!”

He grumbled something under his breath, looking away, but didn't run. He couldn't.

“What can we do to help?” Ami questioned earnestly.

Rika stared the beast up and down, the intricate network of energy being revealed to her. “...Its head dispenses all of its Aether. If you can disable the head, it’ll crumble. But... you would need enough energy to wipe out basically this entire arena to do that.”

Akari nodded firmly. “Then good thing I’ve been storing my energy for a while. Just get me up there! Do anything you can!” She instantly took off running.

“Damn it, you moron! Think of a plan!” Yuto shouted, before rushing into action.

The metal from the surrounding skyscrapers groaned and twisted as Kana yanked with all of her might. Piles of steel rebar crunched around the monster’s feet, binding it in place. Kana visibly strained, veins popping on her forehead as the metal tightened, causing the creature to roar and expel more of its deadly Aether.

“Please, hear my plea in my time of need. Everyone needs to see eye to eye, grant us your blessing!” Ami chanted while a green glow spread across her allies.

Woah… My mind is a lot clearer! Everyone… I can hear them!

“My arms can’t handle this for too long! Go already!” Kana screamed through gritted teeth.

Rika catches Akari and binds her in string from her fingertips, wrapping up Yuto as well.

“And we have… LIFTOFF!” Rika tossed them into the air with a massive spin. They shot up, but only reached the creature's chest.

“We need more height!” Akari yelled almost inaudible against the rushing wind.

“Just do your damn job and stop worrying about us!” Yuto roared. He fired a blast of pressurized water beneath them, launching them even higher like a rocket.

They broke through the cloud layer and for a split second, they saw the horizon and the setting sun. A flood of memories burst forth, meaningful and nonsensical, too scattered to make sense of it all. Whatever the case, the sight made Akari’s blood burn hotter than fire itself. Her spirit ignited even further.

Yuto pressed his hands together, his face contorted in focus. He fired a condensed lance of water at the monster, crushing the scales on its head to expose the soft flesh beneath.

Akari takes in a deep breath, a burning breath that sets her lungs ablaze.

I’m sorry, mom… I know I said I’d never push myself too hard but… I can’t help it! I.. want to be a HERO!

Akari vanished in an instant. She became a burning pink and orange blur, a human meteor barreling towards earth with a shining light civilians from all over could see.

She slammed through the Kaiju’s head with her foot and with a resounding crack, she pierced it clean through. The monster roared one final time before its head exploded in a blast of light that could be seen for miles. The shockwave threw Ami back and dropped Kana to the floor, exhausted.

“Who.. is this girl..?” Kana whispered to herself.

She blinked to life, seconds later, Akari woke up in freefall feeling as light as a bird.

Can’t move…! But that was so COOL! If I die, that was totally worth it!

She hits the ground, but bounces up into the air and softly lands into a pool of water. She stares up at the sky with a goofy grin that wouldn't stop.

Yuto sighed, walking up to the pool like a soaking wet cat. “You’re lucky I landed first. I oxygenated the water just before you landed and softened the surface tension. I’m a merciful ruler, I know.”

She chuckled weakly. “Yeah, I woulda been screwed without you! Thanks, Yuta!”

“Yuto, you dumbass!”

“Is everyone else okay Yuya?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care, my name is-!”

The familiar buzzer rang out again. Bolt cleared his throat over the intercom, his voice shaking. “I.. can’t believe it! The test is over, and… we just saw something no one would ever believe! Zap that doubt indeed, because we just witnessed a miracle!”

Kagemura appeared next to Akari in a flash of blue static, looking down at her with a smile. Something new to Akari. “Put on a helluva performance, eh?”

“Like a Lucent should! If you can’t look cool and save the day… Why even be a hero?”

Kagemura goes silent for a moment, gaining an expression of longing.

 “Why do you want to be a Lucent, Akari?”

“I want to change the world. No, the universe! I wanna be everyone’s light, and take the blight away forever! Like I’ve been saying, I want to be a hero! THE hero! Even bigger than The Imperator.”

He nodded slowly. “That’s a dangerous thought, you know. Gunning for the Imperator’s seat could get you killed.”

Akari rolls her eyes and scoffs. “Nah, we’re the heroes. No one even died in this test anyway! Everything is safer here.”

“Miss Hoshizawa, may we speak for a moment?”

A gruff voice spoke from the shadows. Akari raised her head to see a man wearing a pristine white button-up coat, a long crimson cape billowing behind him despite the lack of wind. He wore an eyepatch over his right eye, and held his hands behind his back. His presence spilled an aura of absolute dominance—a man ready to strike down anyone in his path in an instant. 

“I’m the Principal of this Institution, Ryunosuke Kageyama. It’s a pleasure.”

“Thanks…? Did I do something or…?”

Kageyama chortled heartily, the intimidating demeanor fading ever so slightly. “Absolutely not! Come with me, will you?”

Yuto stepped forward, “But sir—!” Instantly cut off before the water could drip down his chin. 

Kageyama glares at Yuto, and he freezes. His blood ran cold, and his senses went haywire, screaming that death would follow the next movement. The Principal only gave him a patient smile.

“I may speak with you later, Hayasaka. Come, Akari.”

She stood up, following him, with Kagemura trailing closely behind. They entered a massive metallic door that opened on its own. The pristine white halls droned on for what felt like forever, walking past multiple TV's all displayed blank white. 

“Do you know what the mission of the Lucents is, Akari?” Ryunosuke asked.

“Destroy the Blight and give hope to the people, right?”

“Half right. To achieve anything meaningful in this world, you need overwhelming power or smarts. In whatever you may lack, you are surely the most powerful candidate we’ve seen in a while. What is your Anima power, exactly?

“Ah, what was it again…? I build up kinetic energy from moving a lot and can transfer it back out. It makes me a whole lot stronger!”

He tapped his chin, thinking. “Haha! With a power like that, I can see why you’re the sole winner.”

Akari’s smile instantly faded. “...Sole winner?”

He turned around, looking puzzled. “Yes. The showing you displayed was so impressive, there’s simply no need for any of the other children. They’ve all failed. You alone can ascend. There can be no greater congratulations than that.”

She planted her feet down, glaring at him. “Hell no! Pass my friends, or else I’m out of here!”

“Friends, you say? You’ve only just met. You would risk this dream of yours for a fleeting relationship?”

“I’m not as dumb as I look! Mister Zip-zap over there said that he’d be screwed if I didn’t perform, so he bet it all on me! So I’m guessing you need me too! Pass my friends, or I’m walking.”

“Teacher Kagemura said that, did he? We’ll have to have a long talk then.”

Kagemura feels the hair on his neck stand up.

Dumbass…! I’m dead…

The principal sighed, waving a hand. “In any case, I’m sure you’re exhausted from using so much energy—”

“Me? Tired? As if!”

And on cue, within that same breath, Akari passed out, hitting the floor with a thud and snoring rather obnoxiously...

Kagemura lifted her up, carrying her on his back. “I’ll take her back to her room… Please excuse me.”

The Principal’s eye sharpened, stiffening up. “If she wasn’t a valuable asset, you’d be dead where you stood. Understand? You, her, and every last person she met. I hope you understand the position you’re in.”

…

“Loud and clear, sir.”

Kagemura instantly zapped away, leaving the principal alone in the hallway, contemplating with nothing but the low hum of the air conditioning.