Opening his eyes, Yamikuro felt a sharp pain at the back of his head.
What just happened?
Did he just get captured? Are the others okay? And Kaminari... Where is he?
But Yamikuro stopped himself before spiraling out of control in his mind.
He couldn't afford to overthink. First, he needed to figure out where he was.
A room with white walls all around and a blue electrical fence blocking his way out.
Hopping off the bed, which was attached to a wall with no blanket or sheets and only a pillow to rest on, Yamikuro tried to see outside. His hands were in cuffs, nullifying his abilities. His previous clothes, given by Kazuhiko now an all white outfit.
He was imprisoned. But who would have gone that far?
Yamikuro peeked through the bars. This wasn't a normal prison.
He saw corridors with the same white walls, and what seemed to be more cells next to him.
But suddenly, a strong presence appeared near him. Yamikuro has never been able to sense the presence of others, but there was someone next to him.
"Trying to look for a way out?"
That voice sounded familiar, that calm yet irritating tone.
The person stepped in front of the cell.
A man, his hair slicked back, in a black suit, stood tall in front of him.
Lucian Daichi.
"Yamikuro Asaki. You have caused me a lot of trouble in these past few years."
Yamikuro didn't say anything. Lucian now had a reason to capture him, not for defending himself against hunters but for being a Resonant.
"What's with that look? You should be grateful to me, you know." Lucian smirked.
Remaining quiet, the word 'grateful' stuck in Yamikuro's mind.
What could he have possibly meant by that?
"Hadn't I messed up, you wouldn't be alive right now."
Yamikuro's eyes widened, his heart raced, and he wanted to break free from the cuffs more than anything. "You don't mean..."
"Yes, that's right."
"I killed your parents."
The time slowed down as the words rang in his ear.
Lucian Daichi, the man Yamikuro wanted to kill for hurting Resonants, was the person who killed his parents.
Lucian had framed Yamikuro as a killer without evidence. But he knew the truth the entire time.
"You knew the truth, so why?! Why...!"
Out of frustration, Yamikuro hit the electric fence, electrocuting himself. He ignored the pain while taking a step back.
"Why?!" Yamikuro yelled again. It was like he saw the world shatter in front of his eyes. "Why would you do something like that?!"
"It's simple...-"
Suddenly, two hunters rushed to him, interrupting Lucian.
"The other kid we captured has managed to escape!"
Lucian's face and tone changed.
"Escaped? The hell is that supposed to mean?!"
The hunters bowed, lowering their heads.
"He somehow broke free from the cuffs. We're truly sorry, sir."
"Fools. All of you." Lucian managed to control his anger, calming down by letting out a sigh.
"As long as I have Yamikuro Asaki executed, it's going to be fine."
Yamikuro backed against the wall behind him.
"Executed? No-! I won't let you...!"
Lucian turned off the electric fence and walked inside Yamikuro's cell.
"S-stay back!" Yamikuro yelled.
His hands in cuffs, there was nothing Yamikuro could do. Lucian's physical power was unmatched.
But he had to at least try. Surrendering without attacking Lucian would be dumb.
So that's why Yamikuro clenched his fist and threw a punch without thinking twice.
Lucian was fast, with just a finger flick, Yamikuro's hand flew backwards.
"Go, you two. I'll handle this myself." Lucian said, holding up Yamikuro by his cuffs.
Yamikuro could only groan from pain.
Lucian then threw Yamikuro outside the cell, against the corridor wall.
Yamikuro wanted to cry. He wasn't able to do anything, accepting the attacks from Lucian.
"Alright, I've had enough."
Lucian forced Yamikuro to his feet, pushing him toward the door at the end of the corridor. "Go on, move."
Yamikuro walked, Lucian behind him. He didn't want to, but he couldn't fight back.
Seeing other Resonants, trapped in the cells like him, he tried not to look at them. He wasn't able to free them anyway, so what was the point?
They reached the end of the corridor, and Lucian opened the door by scanning his hand.
Two elevators were in front of them, with one opening just as the door opened. And Lucian pushed Yamikuro inside it.
Meanwhile, in The Hideout.
Kazuhiko stood before Kendra Monroe, the head of The Hideout.
"Yamikuro Asaki, and Kaminari Indy have been kidnapped... And we have the suspicion that it was Lucian."
Kendra jumped up from her chair.
"Lucian?! There's no way... We formed a pact, and he has respected it for twenty years now."
"That's only a hunch, there are no actual leads as to who it was."
"Lucian... What are you thinking...?"
But that's when Kendra's eyes widened.
"If Yamikuro by any means decides to attack Lucian, the consequence would be... his execution."
Kazuhiko felt a chill run through his body. As someone who would do anything for his students, he wanted to defend Yamikuro... But there was nothing he could do.
"Yamikuro, and Kaminari... Please don't make a scene."
Yamikuro and Lucian reached the highest floor.
It seemed odd that he'd be brought there, but that's when the sun blinded him from one of the windows. They were on the first floor, meaning there was an entire secret Resonant prison underground.
And that was yet another reason for Yamikuro to hate Lucian.
Deep down, he wanted to kill him; he couldn't get rid of that feeling, despite how much he hated the thought of it.
Lucian pushed open the big door in front of the elevators and threw Yamikuro in the middle of the room.
There he stood, in front of an execution platform.
Yamikuro thought that he was going to die, for real this time.
His physical skills were nothing compared to Lucian's, and his powers were suppressed.
He hated how weak he was, but it was too late for regrets.
Letting out a gulp, Yamikuro slowly made his way to the stairs.
But that's when a figure blocked Yamikuro's way.
"Reach out your hands so I can free you, dude."
Yamikuro's gaze instantly shot up, and in front of him stood Kaminari.
He couldn't help but smile at him.
But Yamikuro followed the introductions without needing to be told twice, he reached out his hands.
Kaminari's fingertips zapped, and he reached towards the cuffs.
And just by touching, they deactivated, and Yamikuro was free. A sudden boost of power made him feel like he had been punched in the gut.
They both, without needing to say a word, ran to the edge of the platform. They stood above Lucian, staring down at him.
Lucian raised his hand to head level.
"Hunters! In position!"
An army of Hunters rushed in, surrounding the platform.
Yamikuro felt nervous. He didn't know if it was a good idea to fight.
But Kaminari's grin grew into a full-blown smile. He pointed his finger at Lucian.
"We're going to beat the living shit out of you!"