Clash of the Mind (Part 2)

Toshiko's group is in the lead, but Emi's group follows closely behind. In front of them, they find a wide raging river. Toshiko and Hiroshi stop in their tracks in front of the water. "I can NOT jump that." Toshiko says. Why would you TRY?" Hiroshi contemplates. "Just WATCH!" Kazuki yells, using his built up momentum leaps a far distance over the river. He grabs a tree branch just barely and holds on. 

"You should've gone for it! Cowards!" He shouts. "...I swear, that guy is Insane." Toshiko whispers. Aya blazes past them, smiling. "Two can play that game, buddy!" She yells, leaping over the river and grabbing Kazuki's scarf. "Ack-! Hey, this thing ain't cheap! Get off!" Kazuki shouts. Hiroshi looks at Toshiko and they both immediately smile. Toshiko scatters around, looking for something. While he does this, Hiroshi draws something in the dirt. Emi and Haruka stand confused. "There isn't much we could do to get over this.." Haruka ponders. "What are they planning...?" Emi thinks. "Toshiko, can we even do that?" Hiroshi asks. 

"We'll find out! Just don't worry about it!" Toshiko replies. Haruka hits her palm with his fist after pondering for awhile. "I think the best bet is to either walk around the river! It's way too dangerous otherwise! And it's probably what they'll do!" Emi shakes her head. "No... You don't know them like I do. In fact.. I got an idea." She replies. Kazuki and Aya still struggle on the tree branch in the distance. "Let GO! You can't cheat off of me!" Kazuki yells. "Cheat?! All's fair in camp! Plus, you would've done the same thing!" Aya retorts. Kazuki pauses for a second. "Yeah, fair enough."

The loud sound of footsteps catching both of their attention. "Hold onto somethin', cause we're making a SPLASH!" Toshiko shouts, as a big log splashes into the water. Him and Toshiko jump onto the log. Not too long after their big plan, Emi and Haruka do the same. "How'd you even guess?! Get your own idea!" Toshiko shouts. Haruka barely manages to stand before pointing directly at him. "T-That's just how predictable you are!" Toshiko looks at her with genuine confusion. "For some reason, I don't believe you." Hiroshi taps Toshiko's shoulder. "Sorry to burst the banter, but we're going down stream!" He yells. 

"Damn it, I have to hurry! Fine, come with me!" Kazuki yells, yanking his scarf onto land. Aya faceplants into the dirt as Kazuki hops down from the branch. "if you weren't the enemy, I'd apologize! But right now, see you later!" Kazuki shouts, running off and laughing into the distance as if he was a Sun God. Aya lifts her face up, frustrated. Toshiko and Hiroshi quickly jump off of the log, but the others stumble a bit. Hiroshi and Toshiko outstretch their hands to help, but the log rushes down the stream. they yank the two off of the log and Haruka lands on top of Toshiko.

 He immediately stands up and dusts himself off as Emi stands herself up from the ground. "You're WELCOME, by the way." Emi scoffs. "Screw you." Haruka curls up and inaudibly screams before clearing her throat and standing up as well. "Thank you for the assistance. I a-appreciate it.." Hiroshi smiles happily. "It's not a problem, it's called good sportsmanship!" Toshiko snatches his arm and they take off. "Except you're in the dirt, literally and metaphorically! Try and catch up!" Emi and Haruka run after them, meeting with Aya half way. 

"They're running circles around us, what do we do?!" She yells. "...They only get far because they're unorthodox! We just have to think like they do!" Emi yells. "Hehe, I already do!" Aya retorts. "What's the difference between me and Hiroshi...? Why can't I..?" Haruka ponders. "You'll have time to think later, just keep up after them!" Emi exclaims.

Not too long after, the next challenge comes into view, a long bridge over a chasm. "Okay, this can't be legal." Toshiko says. On the other side of the bridge, Sakura waves to them. "Hey! Welcome to the next challenge! You have to answer 10 questions right to move forward, only one person needs to get it right so just do your best!" Emi's group gets there just in time. "Haruka, you got this!" Emi exclaims, patting her on the back. Hiroshi and Haruka step up to the front of the bridge.

 "Come on my brother, you're gonna do good!" Kazuki exclaims. Hiroshi and Haruka step forward at the same time. Sakura nods happily. "Let's start simple! I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I don't have a body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?" Hiroshi scoffs. "Seriously?"

"An Echo." Haruka and Hiroshi say unison. Sakura claps in excitement. "Correct!" They all take a few steps forward. "Question 2, what has keys but can't open locks?" Haruka and Hiroshi shout together. "a Piano!" They all manage to go forward a bit again. "Rapid Fire! I'm full of holes but still hold water, I am not alive, but I grow; I don't have lungs, but I need air; I don't have a mouth, but water kills me and I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What do you think I am in these questions?" Haruka looks at Hiroshi with determination and anger as he looks back at her with a similar expression.

 "a Sponge, Fire, Seven!" Sakura looks pleasantly surprised. They all get halfway across the bridge at this point. "You're on fire brother! You'll beat her!" Kazuki yells. "c'mon Haruka, do your best!" Aya shouts. Sakura clears her throat. "Well, this seems like it's been easy for you, so here's some that are a little bit harder!" Hiroshi and Haruka relax, the tense atmosphere being alleviated. "In quantum mechanics, what is the concept of "superposition," and how does it challenge our understanding of reality?" Sakura says. Kazuki blinks, in pure shock. "Yeah, we're finished."

"Superposition is the ability of subatomic particles to exist in multiple states simultaneously until observed!" They both shout. Sakura jumps in happiness. "Nevermind, we're back on baby!" Kazuki shouts. "Explain the "Grandfather Paradox" in the theory of time travel and the philosophical debates it raises regarding causality and free will." Sakura states. "Oh, shoot...! Time travel was never my strong suit.." Hiroshi whispers aloud. Before Haruka can answer, Kazuki perks up. "Oh, isn't that the scenario where if you go back in time to make your grandparents never meet, it would cause a contradiction to where you would never have gone back in time in the first place! ...Right?" 

They all stare at him, dumbfounded. "What? Last game I played had a time travel twist!" He shouts. At this point, they all reach the tail end of the bridge after a few more questions. "Final Question! Here's a little curve ball for you! What's the name of the company that employs the Blood Fiend and the Chainsaw Devil?" Sakura asks. Toshiko goes deep into thought. "Damn, I was meaning to read that soon! Kazuki, you caught up?" Kazuki shrugs. "I don't even know what she's talking about." Aya and Emi shrug their shoulders as well, mostly stumped. However, when they look at Hiroshi and Haruka, all they can find is a big smile on their face and stars in their eyes. 

"It's Tokyo Special Division 4! They become Public Safety Devil Hunters and-!" Sakura coughs. "No need for details. there's a lot you could've spoiled... Anyways, you may pass! Congrats! You're almost at the end!" Hiroshi and Haruka look at each other happily and high five. "You're on opposite TEAMS!" Toshiko and Emi yells. Suddenly, they're brought back to reality. The groups run ahead as Kazuki pats Hiroshi on the back. 

"Good going! You killed it!" He shouts. Hiroshi gives him a return death stare. "You don't even know a manga THAT popular? And you call yourself a future mangaka? I'm disappointed." Kazuki laughs it off. "Fine, fine. I'll read it after! We're at the final stretch!"

Chapter 17 - The End.