Pride

It took some time to retrofit one of the secret cells in the top security area with metal and other strange materials he probably wouldn't know. Finally after Gaia finished that, she returned, and using my powers, I teleport all of us to it, not wanting to risk him attempting to run again.
Gaia quickly throws him into the cell and locks the door, before she turns to look at me.
"Kazu, make sure to stand behind me."
She then turns back and begins the interrogation.
"Now, lets start with your name. You mentioned it wasn't Katsuya?"
He keeps looking down at the floor, where a nice carpet was placed so that he couldn't see the floor beneath.
"I... Uh... Y..."
"Out with it."
After a small yelp, he finally blurts it out.
"Y-Yes! It... isn't..."
Gaia keeps staring at him, waiting for him to continue, while he keeps struggling to talk at a normal volume, speaking only in a soft voice.
He quickly glances up at Gaia, causing her to immediately warn him.
"Don't bother, if you attempt to get close to the bars I will immediately make sure your legs stop functioning, and given your magic, you may not be able to get help from a nurse."
'Get close? Is that what he needs for part of his magic?'

He looks back down as he curls up into a ball before continuing.
"P... Pride..."
"Pride? What about it?"
"My name..."
we stare at him for a while before Gaia suddenly blurts out.
"That's your name?! That's..."
'The guy who always speaks in a soft voice is named Pride?
...Did he choose that name in hopes that he would get it?'
"Funny... I know..."
'He's starting to look more depressing...'
Gaia sighs and continues.
"Whatever. Was that you trying to access our servers?"
I turn to her before asking.
"You mentioned that before. What's that about?"
She quickly replies without turning away from Pride.
"It's the reason for the half day, if you remember. It seems someone keeps trying to access our stuff, yet every time I went to the computer the access was coming from, no one would be there and no one could remember anyone being there."
I turn back to the cell as Pride begins speaking.
"Yes... Me..."
"Now we're getting somewhere. Why were you doing that? What is your mission?"
"...No... Can't say..."
Hearing that makes Gaia mad as her eyes narrow.
"Huh? You clearly already forgot how scary I can be. Are you using your magic on yourself or something?"
"AH! ...No..."
"TELL ME!"
The shout causes him to get scared, with him crawling slightly away from the bars as he finally manages to blurt out information.
"You're not scarier than her! I'm sure someone els-"
"Her? Someone else? How many is your group?"
"Ah! I'm... not supposed to...
Stupid... Stupid... Stupid..."
He suddenly starts lightly smacking his own head as he keep uttering that word, making Gaia get an awkward look in her face.
"Ah, I didn't mean to..."
Gaia sighs before continuing.
"We won't be getting more out of him right now. But we did get something."

We quickly leave the area, but not before Gaia tells one of the guards to make sure there's a constant watch on him.
"Pride is not to get close to any of the walls, he must remain in the center."
"Understood!"
After that we keep walking until we reach the lobby where she then patches the hole using her magic, and as she does it she begins talking to me.
"Be careful."
"Hm?"
"Pride mentioned "Her" and "Someone else", which means there might be a group. I don't know their purpose, so make sure you stay careful."
"Ok..."
'She's really worried... I don't think I'd be a target though...'
"You've progressed a lot in your training, I think you should be able to start using your teleportation regularly again."
"Really?
...I might try to keep walking for now though."
Gaia chuckles before finally finishing the patchwork. The floor looks weird and uneven with all sorts of rocky materials clearly not matching the rest of the floor, but at least there wasn't a huge hole there anymore.
"Anyway, I already told glasses and flower girl to leave and leader boy to go home early, so how about you do that too? Get some rest, a REAL free day. Meanwhile I'll have to clean up my mess... And make sure everyone's altered memories are fixed too."
I nod.
"Alright then, cya. Good luck with that."
She waves me goodbye with a smile, as I leave the HQ, and head home.

...

After a while I reach home and head inside.
"I'm home."
'"Ah, welcome! How was your day?"'
I look over at the empty couch.
'Dad's still at work, and...'
I clench my fist.
"One day."
I sigh and look at the ceiling as I think on what to do.
'Having to wake up so early... It's still morning, what am I gonna do today?'
I sit down on the couch and bring my hand to my chest, touching the necklace beneath my shirt.
'Maybe I shouldn't be wasting time and keep practicing.'

Ping!
Before I can figure out what to do I get a message and check my phone.
"Heyyy, you free? After that craziness we wanted to talk about it.
Meet me in the usual café ok? I'll see you thereeee~"
'A message from Aya. Basically telling me to be there...'
I look down and think about it for a moment.
'Well, it would be nice to hang out with her. And Tomo too I guess...'
I chuckle to myself before getting up and heading back out.

...

I sit down at the table after entering the café and Tomo doesn't hesitate and asks.
"So, that guy, is he in jail now?"
"Yeah, yeah! Who was he?"
'Wasting no time...'
"He's Pride, that's his name."
I notice they stay quiet as they expect me to continue.
"That's basically all he said, though probably not his real name."
Both of them begin discussing his magic, and about the situation in general, when I receive a message.

I quickly check my phone and sigh when I read it.
"Kazu you ok? Tarou just told us what happened, that must have been crazy!"
'Just a message from Shin in the club chat.'
"Yeah, I'm good."
"I told you he was fine, you gotta stop worrying so much."
"Yeah, well you got to stop being so lazy! We're at the park, come join us already! What about you Kazu? You joining?"
"Nah, I'm busy."

Afterwards I look back up and continue listening to the discussion with a smile.
"Still that's crazy! I've never seen any magic like that... What about you Aya?
Hm?"
Tomo notices my smile and turns to me.
"What's up?"
"Nothing, it's just a nice moment"
"Hmmm? Ah, I get it.
Heh, you were appreciating her weren't yo-"
Suddenly I grab the salt and dump it all on the food in front of him.
"Hey! What the hell?!"
"Sorry, my hand slipped."
I begin laughing, to which both of them join in. I spend a good amount of time hanging out with them, appreciating this nice moment after watching that battle with Pride.

Finally, a few hours later, the two of them have to go, and I wave them goodbye, as I too head back home.
Soon enough I reach home and head inside, going straight to my room, before sitting on the bed.
I look over at my computer as I begin thinking.
'A free day huh... I guess I could go online.'
I stare at it for a few moments before once again looking down, and touching my necklace.
'...Or I could practice...

Right.'
I get up and look around the house until I find a plant that looks worse for wear.
'It'll do.'
I grab it and place it in a more open area, as I begin practicing my magic.

...

The next day Tarou and I show up, ready for the training, and Gaia welcomes us in.
"You boys ready?"
'Actually...'
"I'm curious, did you find anything more from Pride?"
Gaia looks at me with a determined face.
"How about we save that for the end of training, call it an incentive."
'Incentive... Whatever, I'll just wait until then.'

The training goes well, Tarou mostly stuck with trying to master Tornado, as well as doing some Air Blasts so he didn't get rusty. He had already mastered Air Blast and no longer needed to shout it out.
Meanwhile I did my best to revive some dead plants, until the training finally finishes.
"Good job little Kazu."
I take some deep breaths as I finally get to rest and head to the nearby seats.
'Was that a trick of the light? I swear they seem slightly greener... I think I'm getting better.'

As I'm resting, Gaia walks up and sits beside me.
"So you wanted a little update right?"
I look at her and nod, curious about what more he could have said.
"Well, not much. Nothing at all really."
"Not even accidentally?"
Gaia chuckles.
"Actually he almost did once, but he caught himself in time and is now refusing to talk completely."
She looks at me as she continues.
"I guess he's not a complete idiot. Just a shy one."
"...So what now?"
Her face gets serious when I ask that, and she looks forward again.
"Now... We wait and remain vigilant. Pride will still keep being interrogated. But unless he starts talking, we'll just have to be ready at any time."
She looks back at me, still with a serious look but mixed with a hint of worry.
"In case they attack."