Aoki's Origin

(Meanwhile in Serpengate Valley, Vuella buys out almost every clothing shop as Aoki was walking back to the Serpent's Palace while carrying Reika's clothing who looked at Aoki with a small smile and hides it when they got back to the palace.)

"Vuella: What a dayyy!!! So much shopping, I enjoyed it all!!"
"Aoki: Yeah, even though you're buying out everything.."
"Vuella: Well Aoki! Almost every female's care in life is clothes, clothes and more clothes!"
"Aoki: Ehh..."
"Reika: Toshiharu. While we're taking this walk, would you mind if I ask? What was your life like before I arrived?"
"Aoki: ...Why you ask?"
"Reika: Last time, I was being an ass and wasn't caring. Now I'm pretty curious. You were the most unluckiest human alive."
"Aoki: Well... Vuella, you wanna hear it too?"
"Vuella: I was curious!"
"Aoki: Well.. Back on Earth, I wasn't a very important man. I was... very easy to pick on. Wait a minute... Throughout my childhood or my adulthood?"
"Both Vuella and Reika: Both."
"Aoki: Oh.. Well in that case, it started a few few years ago..."

-Aoki's Backstory-

"Aoki: I was born on the 4th of July, which in America.. was a very important day. I was the second oldest sibling. One big brother, one little sister, lived with the rest of my family in a big home. I actually was a child prodigy, I graduated middle school at age 11. But then, things went downhill when my mother became a drunkard. She was so jealous of my success, she purposely rigged my chances of ever getting into a high school for two years. Luckily, I managed to slide past one of my mother's attempts and get into a prestigious high school, a wealthy one too..! I'll tell you the rest there, on the day I passed the entrance exams..."

(After 14-year old Aoki manages to enter a high school and passes the entrance exams, he'd then was introduced to his classmates who some underestimated young Aoki's talents as two of his kinder upperclassmen were pleased on meeting him until was then interrupted by a disrespectful childhood friend of his.)

"Mon Taniuchi (Aoki's Childhood "Friend"): Watch where you're standing, asshole! I don't want your commoner stank to ruin my clothes!"
"Aoki: Oh, sorry Taniuchi..!"
"Mon: Don't bother calling me by my last or first name, it's MA'AM to you!"
"Aoki: Well, alright "ma'am." Come on, the bell's going to ring soon."

(As she scoffed and ignored him, the two sat down afar from each other as Aoki was then greeted by a new friend group who was interested in getting to know him. During Aoki's time in high school, throughout thick and thin he was supported, respected and loved by many of the academy and despite the love, he was still being pushed to try and fail every course possible.)

-Now-

(The three then stops at a teahouse in Serpengate Valley for a fresh cup and some snacks.)

"Vuella: Seems like you were Mr. Popular in high school, I'm surprised someone like you was such a prodigy..."
"Aoki: Well... If I was ever bored, I'd find something educational to do, you never know if you'll actually be asked a serious question you don't know."
"Reika: Hm... That's a valid point. What happens then?"

(Reika then sips her tea as Aoki continues the origin story.)

"Aoki: So then, the school was aware of my mother's attempts in trying to fail me so for the sake of my education, they informed the authorities of her actions and she was arrested for tampering with confidential information and school vandalization. But as three years go by, I was leaving my school for summer break then..."

-Aoki's Backstory-

"Aoki: Any plans for your summer break, guys?"
"Matsuura Yuki: Well, I might try and find a job that pays me well."
"Asaka Naomi: Going to the beach!! You gotta come with me and my friends, Toshiharu!"
"Yamane Ayano: Stay inside, curl in bed for three months and do nothing but eat and sleep."
"Aoki: I'd go but at my age, it's a little concerning... And Ayano, it's nice to get some fresh air!"
"Yamane: I know. But I don't like the sunlight, it's what separates me from my nice dark room at home and my love for the night."
"Aoki: Well, promise me you'll get some sunshine this summer, okay?!"
"Yamane: Hmph... I'll only do it since its a promise, I won't do it as a favor."

(As Yamane playfully pouted, the three laughs at her as Aoki looked in the sky and noticed a shine in the distance. As Aoki kept walking, he was then unaware that he was struck by a sniper bullet on the side of his head after a loud gunshot was heard and forces the students to panic along with Aoki's friends as he was bleeding out and unconscious from the impact of the bullet as the sniper immediately ran off. After weeks goes by, Aoki was living from that day with fear on the fact he almost died and manages to focus on high school but was forever a cowardly introvert instead of being extrovertedly open to people.)

-Now-

"Aoki: I went from being an open door to everyone to shutting myself away from everyone."
"Reika (Thinking): ...If I knew he had friends, I would've spared them..."
"Vuella: Did you ever get a chance to see them again?"
"Aoki: Only a few times. But when I started working in office corporations, Yuki became a popular cook, Ayano became a world traveling poet and Naomi became a professional surfer. I was trapped in hell."
"Reika: I'm sorry that happened to you. But I'm sorry I destroyed your friends too..."
"Aoki: Well, I kind of messed up when I told you to leave me alone. So it's my fault."

(As the silence was loud, Hu-Mai approached the table the three were sitting at, mainly looking for Aoki.)

"Hu-Mai: Toshiharu, we're needed by the empress."
"Aoki: Already?!"
"Hu-Mai: Yes. Its urgent."
"Aoki: Alright, I'm on my way."
"Reika: Should we come with?"
"Aoki: No no, you ladies enjoy your evening.."

(As Hu-Mai then accompanies Aoki back to the palace, where Eterne awaited the two in fear for the future of her region. After a few moments, the two arrived with Elvire and Lou already awaiting their teammates arrivals.)

"Eterne: Thank you all for coming."
"Elvire: No worries, empress. Tell us, is it another Interregional issue?"
"Eterne: Fortunately, no."
"Lou: An unknown traitor hidden within the walls of Serpengate Valley?"
"Eterne: Not that either...
"Hu-Mai: Is it a horde of curses?"
"Eterne: No... A Category 0 Phantasm has been released."

(As the four was in shock to hear of a Category 0, it means the potential destruction of the entire Spirit Region.)

"Hu-Mai: ...It's been 14 years ever since we dealt with a Category 0..."
"Elvire: But we almost died the last time... Could it be him from before...?"
"Eterne: Unfortunately it is. The last time he escaped, he avoided every exorcism attack. If we don't put him down soon, he'll destroy the Spirit Region entirely."
"Lou: ...As much as another fight with him is scary-"
"Hu-Mai: -We have to give it everything we got."
"Aoki: So uh... who is this Category 0..?"
"Eterne: Balgora. The Phantasm who nearly decimated the entire Spirit Region Phantasm Hunter Force. Three hundred forty seven souls, lost at the hands of that cold-hearted bastard...."
"Aoki: ..."
"Lou: He's immune to most attacks and not even Hu-Mai's exorcism technique worked and he's the strongest out of the both of us!"
"Elvire: ...He almost caused an interregional war... Because he felt like it... He's terrifyingly strong and with the numbers we have now, it'll be more difficult to even try and fight him..."
"Aoki: ...He's that strong...?!"
"Eterne: Yes. As much as we want to avoid this, we can't. Its all or nothing in this fight and we'll die if we don't defeat Balgora."
"Hu-Mai: How long until he strikes?"
"Eterne: He'll strike tonight at midnight."
"Hu-Mai: That's definitely not enough time to train, we're going to have to prepare with strategy. Aoki and Elvire, you two are going to have to work together, Lou comes with me."
"Lou: I'll go anywhere with you, commander~"

(Hu-Mai slaps Lou as he then walked off to prepare for the battle against Balgora. Meanwhile, a regionwide announcement was made by the empress, Eterne.)

"Eterne (P.A System): ATTENTION! This is NOT a drill! There has been confirmed signs of a Category 0 Phantasm! All civilians are to evacuate to the lowest levels of Serpengate Valley!"

(As she repeats the announcement once more, Vuella and Reika finished up their talks and rushed to the Serpent's Castle to meet with the preparing Aoki and Exorcists as they have two hours until a battle that determines the lives of thousands in the Spirit Region.)