“Why did you join our team, Aether? What sort of motivation do you have for winning the championship?”
Aether heard Cypher ask him the above question. Chuckling to himself bitterly, he answered, “I don’t have a grand, high-sounding reason if that’s what you’re asking me for. I’m just in it for the money.”
“The credit reward?” Cypher asked, speechless.
“Yep.” Aether unashamedly nodded his head.
“Do you not want to enter Eden? Do you not have a wish that you can only see come true in Eden?”
“Honestly,” Aether looked at the younger boy, “I didn’t even know that ‘entrance to Eden’ was one of the rewards offered.”
Cypher stared blankly at the older man. “You’re joking,” he asked.
“Nope,” Aether answered in amusement. He then shrugged his shoulders and continued, “I’m one hundred percent serious. No one told me about it and I also never asked. To be frank, I don’t have much interest in Eden.”
Cypher found himself at a loss for words. Aether’s words, which he uttered very casually, seemed utterly foreign to the younger boy. With a trembling voice, he hurriedly asked, “Have you never wished for a life inside Eden? Life under the blue sky? A life where you don’t have to constantly live in fear and darkness?”
“When I hear about the rumours and accounts of how life is inside Eden, do you know what I think about them?” Aether suddenly asked.
Cypher shook his head at the rhetorical question.
Chuckling, Aether replied, “Wow, all that sounds too good to be true!~” His tone was high-pitched and his words had a mocking undertone to them.
Cypher’s eyes fiercely trembled. He looked away from Aether and blankly stared at the dark floor. A few minutes of silence later, he spoke up.
“I believe in them, you know? I believe them to be true.”
Aether looked over at Cypher. His eyes shined with interest as he asked, “Do you have a reason to enter Eden? A wish, perhaps?”
Cypher did not immediately reply. He continued to stare at the floor blankly before slowly speaking. “I…” he began, “want a life outside of the darkness. A place where I won’t feel scared or threatened. A place that I can call… home.”
Hearing that unexpected reply, Aether’s expressions grew dark and complicated. “A home, huh?” He repeated. “A home inside Eden?”
“Righ,” Cypher nodded his head. He then craned his head to look at the ceiling. “You must’ve figured this out already, but I’ll still say it.”
“My life, so far,” a bitter smile appeared on Cypher’s face, “has been nothing good. I worked a job that I didn’t like. I have nobody whom I call family. Even my formative, childhood years have been nothing but endless pain and loneliness.”
The atmosphere around Cypher became dark and depressing. The bitter smile continued to hang on his lips and the expression within his eyes had weakened.
Feeling the overall mood to have weakened, Aether opened his mouth to speak some words of strength. However, before he could do so, Cypher suddenly intervened.
His words turned sharp and hostile as he venomously spat out. “I hate this city! I hate this life! And I even hated myself!
“...Cypher,” Aether softly called out.
The hateful expression that had appeared on Cypher’s face weakened before disappearing entirely. He then chuckled weakly, and said, “You don’t have to try and sympathise with me, Aether. I know better than anyone else how bitter and unfortunate my life has been. I’m very clear on my feelings.”
Turning to stare at Aether, he continued with a smile, “Did you know? There was even a time when I wanted to kill myself. Just to stop the pain from hurting me.”
“Fortunately,” he quickly continued, “that did not come to pass. Just before I could attempt to hurt myself, I met the people whom I now call my friends.” He stared at Aether. “And I’m very glad that I did.”
“Joining this team, participating in this tournament, the daily practices, the playful banter, the stupid quarrels… all these things made this painful life of mine to be just a little more bearable. With time, I learnt to see through my hatred and to forgive myself.”
He then suddenly laughed and explained, “Don’t get me wrong. Life still sucks. This city still sucks. However, with all of you, my friends, being with me, it sucks just a tiny bit less.”
“Still.” A weary expression appeared in his eyes as he continued, “I’m tired of living in a place where I have nothing but painful memories to surround me. I want to enter Eden. Not to become rich, or famous, or be somebody important… but to get away from this place.”
Showing a relieved smile to Aether, he finished, “I want to have a fresh start, you see. That’s what motivates me to aim for the championship seat. A chance to start again, anew.”
Cypher finished pouring out all of his accumulated thoughts and feelings which he had locked away inside his heart. Aether patiently and quietly listened to him but spoke not a word in reply.
It was not that he didn’t want to say anything but that he couldn’t. All things said and done, Aether had only known Cypher for less than a week. It was not his place to offer life advice to someone he barely knew.
Aether maintained his silence and quietly contemplated his own thoughts. Cypher also did not speak any further and blankly stared at the dark ceiling.
They waited in silence for Midas to return. When he did, they showed not a single trace of their complicated emotions or their deep conversation and interacted with him as usual. The three of them hung out together, walking through the dazzling streets of the city and whiled away their time.
Eventually, as the night descended, they parted and went their respective ways. Of course, Aether did not forget to take his share of the crane game machine rewards –the cat-shaped stuffed animal– and entrusted the remainder to Cypher to give away to the rest of their teammates. Midas was exulted to receive his trophy.
Time passed, and Aether returned home.
---
20:12:23
Siblings Apartment.
Hanging up his mask at its intended location, Aether trudged up to the living room with the cat-shaped stuffed animal in his hand. There, he found Mei lazily seated before the centre table, concentrating on her studies.
“You’re late,” His little sister immediately reprimanded. She then turned her head causing her sharp gaze to fall on the item in his hands. “What is that?”
“I stuffed animal,” Aether cheerfully replied. “I bought it because it reminded me of my precious little sister.”
Hearing his answer, Mei immediately scoffed. She then turned away, returned to her studies, and harshly said, “What a waste of credits.”
A playful smile floated up to his face. Aether raised the stuffed animal in his hands, hid his face behind it, and began his puppet show. “Aw~ Why would you say that, Mei? I thought we were best friends!’
Seeing his sister ignore him, Aether walked up toward her. He then kneeled next to her, brought his puppet close to her face, and continued with his play-acting.
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“I thought we’d go on adventures, form precious bonds, separate sometime later cause our paths diverge and because we get into a huu~uuge quarrel. Then, we’d meet each other once again way, way, way in the future, tens of years later. We would then reconcile, realise our feelings for each other, get married, and live happily ever after!”
“Don’t tell me that I’m the only one who gave our friendship such deep thought, Mei.” He sounded angry.
Mei looked at Aether as if she was looking at a crazy madman. She then glared at him, pointed the sharp end of the writing tool at him, and threatened, “Do you want to die?”
Aether took note of his sister’s incensed reaction and felt inwardly satisfied. However, he showed none of it on his face and instead, clicked his tongue. “Tch. You’re no fun. Fine, if you don’t want it, I’ll keep it!”
Before he could move away, Mei suddenly flashed forward with her hands and grabbed the stuffed toy from Aether.
“Hey!” he cried. “Give it back! That’s mine!”
Hiding it underneath her legs, Mei returned to focusing on her studies. She, however, did not forget to reply to Aether. “I thought you bought it for me?”
“I thought you didn’t want it,” Aether rebutted.
“Doesn’t change the fact that you bought it for me,” she smoothly replied.
“Doesn’t change the fact that you still didn’t want it,” he answered, the corners of his lips twitching.
“When did I ever say that?” Mei sharply questioned.
Laughing a mirthless laugh, Aether replied, “You called it a waste of credits just a few seconds ago.”
“So?” asked Mei. “I never said anything about not wanting it.”
“This little…” The veins on Aether’s forehead pulsed with anger. He then caught sight of the smirk on the corner of her thin lips. Realising that she was trying to anger him and not wanting to give her the satisfaction, he replied, “Fine, take it! Take it, you ungrateful brat!”
“I will. Gladly.” Mei cheekily replied.
Stomping away, fuming, Aether asked after a few minutes. “Have you eaten?”
Mei shook her head. “No.”
“Did you buy dinner?”
“It’s your turn to buy dinner today,” she pointed at the calendar hung near the kitchen wall.
“Oh, is that so?” Aether noted the day and realised that it was true. Turning around quickly, he headed outside once again. “Wait here. I’ll go buy it now.” He quickly left.
Left all alone, Mei continued to focus on her studies for a few more minutes. She then retrieved the cat-shaped stuffed animal toy from underneath her and intently examined it.
After perusing it multiple times, she suddenly snorted and said, “How does this look like me? He must be blind.” Although she spoke such harsh words, a smile inadvertently appeared on her lips. She then gave it a tight hug before standing up and walking into her room with the toy in hand.
Mei carefully placed the stuffed animal toy into her personal chest inside her cupboard, alongside the various other toys and items that Aether had given to her throughout the years. It was her precious personal collection that she kept hidden away from her older brother.
---
Thirty minutes later.
While the siblings sat around the centre table in the living room gorging on their meal, Aether, who looked to be lost in thought, looked at Mei and suddenly asked, “Say, if you ever had the chance to enter Eden, would you do it?”
“Where is this coming from?” asked Mei, surprised at the question that seemed to have come out of nowhere.
“Nowhere. Just answer the question,” urged Aether.
Shooting her stupid older brother a suspicious look, Mei slowly answered, “...Sure, I suppose. Why wouldn’t I?”
Aether’s eyes widened at her reply. He seemed to be genuinely surprised.
“Why?” he asked, unable to understand Mei’s answer.
“Well, it’s just that I’ve heard so much about it, you know? It sounds like an amazing place.”
Unconsciously growing serious, Aether asked, “What if it’s not an amazing place? What if it’s the same as this city?” His tone grew heavier without him realising it.
Aether’s tone caused Mei to subconsciously stiffen and made her back away. She then furrowed her brows and said, “What’s with the sudden thought experiment?”
Catching notice of Mei’s furrowed brows and threatened stance, Aether hurriedly curbed his emotions which he had lost control of. Rubbing his face, he restored the smile on his mouth and casually asked, “Curiosity.” He glossed over his previous mood shift.
Though unconvinced at his flimsy answer, Mei still replied, “...I’d still want to enter it.”
“Why?” This time, Aether sounded genuinely curious. He also looked calmer.
“I don’t know. I just want to,” Mei replied. Feeling her answer lacking, she thought for a moment before continuing, “It just… feels like it will be an exciting place. Oh, and I also want to see if the talk about the skies being blue and clear is true. I get that the sky above here looks very grim-dark and atmospheric. But honestly, I could do with the silence.”
She then hurriedly scarfed down the rest of her dinner seeing Aether engaged in deep thought. Getting up from her seat, she asked, “You done?”
“Hmm?” Startled out of his thought, Aether saw her outstretched hand reaching for his empty food box. “Yes. Thank you.” He handed it over to her.
Mei received his empty food box and walked over to the kitchen. After cleaning the remains from both the dinner sets, she closed it and kept it ready to be thrown out tomorrow morning.
Done with her duty, Mei walked to the living room and announced, “Anyways, I’m going to sleep early today. I have to go to school early tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“To study. My friends and I have borrowed the school’s lab to run and tabulate some experiments,” Mei explained while heading toward her room.
“Sounds fun,” Aether smilingly said. His tone, however, lacked its usual high energy. Mei noticed it.
Feeling strange but not showing it on her face, Mei stood at her room’s doorway and said, “Well then, don’t stay up too late. Good night.” She turned off the lights, closed the curtain and headed inside.
“Good night,” he reflexively answered before sinking into his thoughts.
Aether’s usually bright and cheery eyes were darker and heavier than usual. The smile on his face was absent, instead replaced by a grim, expressionless face. His forehead was furrowed and his fists were tightly clenched together.
Midas’ conversation. His conversation with Cypher at the store. His most recent talk with Mei. These three conversations kept replaying within Aether’s mind. His exceptional memory allowed him to recall their words, tones, and expressions with utmost clarity.
Before he knew it, Aether’s mind was filled with thoughts about Eden. His facial expression turned more and more ugly while his fists tightened to the point of drawing blood from his palms.
Sitting alone in the darkness with his face hidden behind shadows, Aether softly and hostilely spat, “...never.”
A baleful aura formed around his body.
---
The next day.
In a particular street inside the richest residential area in District 4.
Sitting atop her motorbike, Fox leaned on the helmet resting before her in boredom. She kept impatiently tapping her boots against the ground while continuously clicking her tongue. “Tch, tch, tch, tch…”
A few minutes passed and she was unable to reign in her impatience. Slamming the roof of her helmet with his hands, she yelled furiously, “Where is he!?”
She then tapped the device mounted above her right ear and spoke, “Call Vix.”
[Calling…] A robotic voice answered followed by the sound of ringing. The call rang for a few seconds when the person on the other side answered.
Not giving him a chance to explain, Fox quickly screamed, “Where the hell are you!? I’ve been waiting outside your house for twenty minutes!!” Fox spitefully glared at the tall gates of the opulent manor that lay before her.
[Crystal Manor] as the signboard adjacent to the gates read was the residence of Team Fox and Friends’ resident Cursemaster and strategist, Vix.
[I’m coming! Jeez, could you be any more impatient!?] came the reply. Vix sounded just as furious as Fox.
“Impatient? You dare call me impatient!?” Fox positively fumed. “I’ve been waiting outside for TWENTY MINUTES!! At least, invite me inside, you stupid idiot!”
Startled by Fox’s explosive temper, Vix calmed down. [I know. I know.] He still seemed unresigned as he quietly inserted. [...who asked you to arrive so early?]
“What was that?” Fox’s tone suddenly turned cold.
[Nothing! I’m outside! There! I can see you.] Vix quickly placated the temperamental girl.
Seeing the tall, handsome boy running towards the gate with a large box in his hands, Fox’s rage seemed to quell a little. She then watched him order the guard to open the gates before seeing him exit.
Vix ran up to Fox with his large box and announced, “There. I’m here.”
“Humph!” Snorting coldly, Fox turned her head away and mounted her helmet. Seeing the girl act up once again, Vix quietly sighed before walking up and mounting behind her.
Adjusting the large box to not poke the slender girl, Vix sat comfortably and asked, “Where’s my helmet?”
“Latecomers don’t get helmet privileges,” Fox coldly replied. She then leaned forward, almost prone, and grabbed onto the handlebar. Activating the motorbike and revving the engine, she warned, “Don’t fall off.”
“Wait, wait, wait, WAIT–!!” Unfortunately for Vix, Fox did not, in fact, wait. Turning a deaf ear to his cries, she quickly accelerated.
With one boy crying for dear life and one girl giggling at the former’s pleas, the duo raced through the streets and headed towards their home base.
The next round was five days away, and their next opponent was no longer simple. A match that would test their brains and brawns was upon them.
The real Ascenders Cup begins now.