Liberating Life

The sun rises as Toshiko yawns, out of it completely. In a matter of minutes, he runs out in his black and gold Hakuryu Academy tracksuit, the same tracksuit the entire camp is wearing. Hiroshi and Kazuki aren't all that far behind as everyone slowly piles in to the middle of the camp. Sakura and Kurosawa stand in the middle, holding onto their heads. 

"It feels like I saw a Phantom last night.. My head.." Kurosawa complains. Toshiko darts his eyes away, rubbing leftover crumbs from his mouth. "Anyway... Since we aren't really feeling a big exercise, there's one thing.." Sakura adds. Kurosawa plants his feet. "First team to build a campfire will be the victor! First team is Kazuki, Hiroshi, Aya and Toshiko! Second team is Emi-" Toshiko looks at Aya, confused. She shrugs her shoulders. The four of them huddle together. 

"All I gotta do is find some big rocks? Pfft-! LITERAL child's play!" Kazuki shouts. "I guess I can find kindling on the way so I'll come with!" Hiroshi exclaims. "Eh, I'll make it look pretty. So I guess I gotta be there too! Whaddya say, Aya?" Toshiko asks. "I have an idea on how to spice things up! I'll be awhile, so I'll take that on my own. Have fun with that though, you three!" Aya proclaims, running off into the forest with determination.

 "Hm. Well, onwards!" Toshiko exclaims. While everyone scatters, being given their teams, Toshiko's group slowly walks through the forest. Kazuki finds a pretty sizable rock and points at it enthusiastically. "Dude, that rock is PERFECT! If we can find a few more of those, we're golden!" Hiroshi nods. "I'd say I'd agree.. but you think we'd get a few more twigs or ANYTHING at least.." Toshiko stops in his tracks. 

"While we're here, since this might take awhile, how'd you guys meet?" Kazuki looks back, surprised. "Hm? Didn't think you be interested in an old story like that." Hiroshi looks at Kazuki with a curious hesitance. "What're you looking at me like that for?! You know the story man, you were there! That's your job!" Hiroshi shakes his head. "I know SOME of the story, only way I'd hear the full thing is from you.." Kazuki turns to Toshiko who looks at him with a focused and expectant stare. He slumps his shoulders and sighs heavily. 

"

Fine.. c'mon, let's at least build the damn fire while I talk.." Kazuki kicks a stone before walking further into the forest. Hiroshi and Toshiko follow close behind, listening intensely. "I guess.. it was basically a year ago." The memories come flowing back as fast as a raging river. A young child stands in the middle of an empty playground, drawing in the sand. Another child tries to reach out, but an adult obscured by the darkness stands next to the child. 

"What kind of fool are you to approach the one and only son of the Tanaka Family?! Get BACK!" The man shouts. The other child runs off in distress, as the adult pats the first child on the head. "Don't worry, Kazuki-san. I'll make sure you only play with people worth your time." That particular memory turns Kazuki's face into a scowl. Toshiko looks disgusted. 

"Is that seriously how you had to live like as a kid?" Kazuki puts his hands behind his neck. "Yup, basically. What can you do though, right?" Hiroshi looks at the ground, worried. "I'd hope you'd be able to do something now?" Kazuki cracks a smile. "We're gettin' to that! It was actually almost around I met you, I dyed my hair and-" Toshiko steps back. "That's hair dye?!" Kazuki looks at him with a raised eyebrow. 

"I mean. Yeah. I don't know why you thought otherwise.. anyway, we're getting off track!" A slightly younger Kazuki steps forward in front of his shadowed Father and Mother. "We kept you out of trouble so you WOULDN'T do something like this! Why would you-?!" His father yells. "I know what I want to do, I've always known!" Kazuki replies. "You mean that manga dream of yours? Please tell me you aren't serious. You need to find something that'll make you actual money." His mother responds. "SCREW the money! If I cast aside my beliefs for money, what kind of person would I be?!" Kazuki yells. 

"A SMART person. Listen, just don't fall in with the wrong crowd at Hakuryu. I don't care otherwise right now." His father continues. Kazuki scoffs, turning on his heel. "Don't fall in with the wrong crowd.. I'll become the wrong crowd, you old bastard!" He exclaims. Hiroshi looks visibly saddened, rubbing his arm. "I didn't think it was this bad.. you told me bits but.. man." Kazuki finds a big rock and climbs up on it, looking forward as he slowly pulls up a comically long scarf. "...you don't look too upset telling us about all this.." Toshiko responds. 

"Yeah, well.. Now that I'm saying it out loud, I'm not really upset! It's just the sum of my parts, after all, it's just the past ain't it?" Kazuki retorts, looking forward with a smile. "C'mon, Hiroshi. You know the rest, isn't you?" Hiroshi looks surprised, before nodding. In a time that feels like it was ages ago, a younger Hiroshi wanders the halls of the school before finding a young Kazuki placing a box of fireworks down. They stare at each other for a second. "Never seen you around.. wanna set off these fireworks with me?" He asks. 

The younger Hiroshi freezes up, but something about the warmth of his words enthralls him. Past Hiroshi nods as only moments later, they run away from the explosion laughing all the while. As the memories of the past fade away, Kazuki and Hiroshi stand in the present. "You did a lot for me, Kazuki. If it wasn't for you, I don't think I could've been anything like that I am now.." Hiroshi replies.

 "That's my line man! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been able to be me at all! I put on the mask of someone with confidence at first, but it just became who I am! Watching you grow inspires me, you've always been my inspiration." Kazuki explains, his scarf actually flowing thanks to a gust of wind. The crimson red and orange gradient catches their eye with swirling flames along the length of the scarf, dragon's fly above the flames as the bright tassels on the back shine brightly in the sun's rays. 

"So then, what're gonna do?" Toshiko ponders. "Pretty obvious I thought. I'm gonna keep being me, duh! After all, I'm Kazuki Tanaka, Hakuryu's one and only menace!" Kazuki yells. Toshiko clears his throat. "Nah, you're washed up man. You haven't done something wild in a bit." Kazuki responds, smirking. "When we get back, you're on." Toshiko retorts. "Speaking of, we're in the middle of a challenge.. you're lucky I still remembered to gather everything.." 

Hiroshi responds, carrying a pile of materials. "Nice job, man! Alright then, move out!" Kazuki shouts, hopping off of the rock and making his way back to the camp. Toshiko and Hiroshi nod at each other before following his lead. Elsewhere, Aya strolls through the forest before spotting Emi with her group. Aya jumps on Emi's back, holding her close. "Hey, we didn't see each other for a little bit! Are you okay?!" Emi exclaims. "Oh, yeah! Don't worry about me!" Aya proclaims. Emi raises an eyebrow. 

"Speaking of, where did you go last night?" Aya breaks into a nervous sweat. "U-uh... I legally cannot explain." Emi sighs. "You're starting to sound like Toshiko.." Emi's body jumps upon mentioning his name, as she turns to Aya with a curious look. "You've.. started spending time with him, right? Didn't you hate him?" Aya thinks on it for a second, before looking at the sky. 

"I don't know why but.. he just has this infectious energy.. I wanna hate the guy, but there's something that just.. makes you want to root for him. It's hard to explain.." Emi internalizes it, but shakes her head. "Doesn't matter, c'mon! You better hurry and find that wood you want." Aya nods, smiling. "Already knew huh? I'm not even surprised at this point!'

Minutes later, the group reconvene at the middle. They throw together the campfire, while Aya comes in just at the right time and places some wood in the middle. The flame burns a bright blue, surprising everyone. Kurosawa smirks, overlooking the multiple group campfires. 

"Now that I'm back to full strength, you won't be catching a break again! I decided I'd warn you, tomorrow is more logic based. Get ready to think, or else things might just not go your way! HAHAHA!" his voice echoes across the camp, as Toshiko body clenches his fist, ready for whatever comes next.

Chapter 15 - The End.