Midnight Arcadia

Chapter 6

‘It started with that damn punch.’ Chiyoko thought to herself as she was sent flying into the tough concrete wall. She fell to the ground barely able to catch herself while landing on her hands and knees. She could help the guttural feeling rising as she spit up blood. She was struggling to breathe as she shakily stared at her palm that is now covered in her own blood. She couldn’t even begin to understand how this could have happened. Being… being beat by a Veinless. She heard voices of what was probably her classmates as the boy who sent her flying in the first place came to her aid, attempting to prop her up on his shoulder. She couldn’t even think straight, continuing to stare at her bloodied palm. Sky had tried to say something to her, but she could barely even understand it. “I… I didn’t…” he tried to say, stumbling over his words worried that he actually wounded her. She was lost in thought. Her family had always relied on the truly Veinless, as their blood was the only suitable for blood transfusions and for the medicine that her family had produced. But her father viewed them merely as tools. She had been raised this way for years, thinking that the Veinless were meant to help further those with Veins. Yet here she was having suffered a defeat by a boy that her father would view as less than useless. She never truly hated the Veinless, like her father did but she certainly did view them as people that should understand their place. But here she was, having been hit by a technique that not even the great Nova Koizumi can consistently execute. What would she say at the end of the day? Her father was going to expect a report from her, she can’t even imagine how he’ll react at the news she lost to what was a Veinless boy. Nova had come over and began to congratulate Sky, in his supposed second time landing a Spark. She put her hands on Sky and Chiyoko’s shoulders as she began to speak but Chiyoko wasn’t listening that closely. Her injuries began to disappear, no doubt to the healing output from Nova. Of course, she was jealous of that too. Her Vein was powerful but her manipulation of her energy within her body was exceedingly poor. She couldn’t perform reinforcement, and she absolutely did not have the energy reserves or energy manipulation required for even just self-healing, which that in of itself was something only the top 0.2% would ever be able to perform. Many expect that she has excellent energy control due to her Vein-type but in truth she got lucky due to her blood. Her aura being able to be projected outwards over an area is exceedingly difficult for normal people and most will never be able to perform it even if you are high ranking amongst the Agency. She even began to fool herself into believing that. She was lifted up off the ground by Nova and placed onto her feet. “I knew I could see it in you. This will be a great starting point to see if we can get that Vein outta you.” Nova said to Sky, patting him on the back in the process. Chiyoko slowly turned her eyes towards Sky and could see the faint outline of an aura. The warm white glow of energy. It was much weaker than even her own, but she could definitely tell that it was not present in their earlier scuffle. Even this boy was beginning to outgrow her, and it was still just the first day. This made her stomach turn as she could already see the look on her father’s face. Sky began to inspect his arms, which had once again been healed. He learned that it was a property of the Spark no doubt, it only happened after he landed one both times. The light amount of energy that surrounded his body shocked him. He couldn’t believe what he was looking at. It quickly dissipated but it became a familiar sensation. He could replicate it without a Spark he thought to himself. “Though I can see the energy I can’t see the Vein underneath it all. You likely still haven’t obtained the power of your Vein but being able to produce energy is a start. It’s like there is a dam around your Vein and the Spark put a crack in it and now energy is leaking out. We’ll pull it outta you somehow! Sorry to use you as a test dummy, Oshiro. The emotion had to be real!” Nova explained to Sky and then apologized to Chiyoko as she shrugged with a goofy expression on her face. While Sky was in awe of his new power, Chiyoko’s eyes widened as she looked towards Nova. ‘I… I was made his sparring partner on purpose… I was used like some sort of dummy?’ Chiyoko thought to herself. Sky turned to face Chiyoko and put a gentle hand upon her shoulder. “I’m still so sorry Oshiro… I had no idea that was her plan, I’m surprised she even thought it would work! I’ll make it up to you somehow, I promise.” Sky said to her. She swatted his hand off her shoulder. “Don’t touch me.” She said in a quiet voice before walking off. Her embarrassment and world view being shattered in one fell swoop was like salt in the wound. Nova watched as she began to walk off. “Hmm… She’ll come around eventually. Anywho! That’s all for today, everyone. I will see you all tomorrow.” Nova said to everyone as she turned with her hands together and a smile. Everyone began to get up and walk towards the gate. Sky stayed for a moment and stared towards Chiyoko, feeling bad for what he had done even if it was accidental. He lets out a sigh before turning around and beginning to walk out of the gate alongside Ayumi and Akihiko. Chiyoko gathered her bag and began to walk out of the gate on her own and purposefully attempted to drag her feet, scared of the interaction that will happen once she arrives home. The sound of her steps against the concrete was the only noise she could focus on as she walked through the crowds of people. She finally arrived at the massive building that she looked up towards with a worried expression. ‘Oshiro Corp.’ it was labeled. She took the hesitant first step into the door and into the lobby that was full of businessmen and women. She was greeted by the woman behind the desk. “Welcome back Ms. Oshiro.” She said in the same tone that she had always heard since she was little. Chiyoko didn’t respond back and went directly towards the elevator and hit the top button. The elevator ride to the 125th floor where her home resided was particularly grueling today as her thoughts were flooded by what she was going to have to tell her father. Finally, the bell rung and the big metal doors began to slide open, bringing the lavish and comfortable penthouse into view. She was greeted by a tall man with short brown hair, glasses, and a tuxedo vest with the undershirt sleeves rolled up her forearms. “Greetings, Miss Oshiro.” He said as he extended his arm forward, wanting to take her bag. She planted her bag within his gloved hand. “Thank you, Enmei.” She said in a flat tone. She took off her blazer and placed it within his hands as well, who quickly folded it and placed it over his forearm. He took his thumb and middle finger with his free hand and corrected his glasses. “You seem down today, Miss Oshiro. Is there something you wish for me to do?” Enmei quickly said in his always polite and refined tone. Chiyoko relaxed her shoulders a bit more, Enmei may be young, no older than his mid-twenties, but he had always made Chiyoko feel a bit better. She was able to smile lightly for the first time in what felt like hours. “It’s no worry, Enmei. It was just… something happened today at school. It has really shaken me.” She said, confiding in Enmei. He listened intently as she began to recite what had happened at school earlier today. “I see… well that is quite the shocking development. It will be okay, Miss Oshiro. I’ll see to it that your favorite is prepared for dinner tonight.” Enmei said while readjusting his glasses once again with a small smile on his face. Chiyoko was able to smile back before she heard the voice she was dreading to hear since this afternoon. “Chiyoko, you’ve returned. How was your first day at Himeji?” A man said in a cold and intimidating voice. Enmei quickly stood up perfectly and bowing his head while Chiyoko stood at attention. “Father…” she said as the man with an intimidating build and blue hair similar to Chiyoko’s, though adorned with grey hairs, stepped into the room with a folder of important company documents he was reviewing. Chiyoko couldn’t help but gulp in intimidation as her father walked in. “We began on Energy Reinforcement today…” Chiyoko said meekly. Her father closed the folder and began to look towards Chiyoko. “So I take it Koizumi had you all spar. She hasn’t changed a bit since she became a teacher.” Her father said. Chiyoko could feel her stomach churn. “Yes, father…” she said once again. Her father was quick and calculated with his responses. “The results?” he asked, his tone not leaving room for lying. “A… a loss. A Veinless boy landed a Spark against me. It was a ringout.” She meekly said defeated. Her father gave her a glare as if he had misheard her. “Himeji let in a Veinless boy? He even landed a Spark and you lost to him?” he asked once again. Chiyoko gulped once more before answering. “Yes sir, he was picked by Ms. Koizumi.” Chiyoko said in clarification. Her father gave her a look of disappointment and anger all wrapped into one. “Do not let it happen again.” He said before he walked off. Chiyoko finally let out a breath, like she could finally breathe again. She looked meagerly towards Enmei before walking off towards her room for the night, no longer wishing to speak. Enmei placed the bag and blazer in their proper places before walking towards a secluded room. He took out a phone and began to dial a number. “…Andrea. This is Enmei. The boy he asked you to look out for has landed another Spark.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

To Be Continued