Ei

"Y/N, we've talked about this already."

You

"... Alright."

You kept eating while gazing down at your meal.

Ei

"Well..."

You shot your head up, looking at Ei. 

She stood up, walked to her bedroom, and returned with something.

Ei

"If anything happens, you shoot this up into the sky. I'll come right for you."

You saw that she had just handed you a flare.

You

"Wait- So I can?..."

Ei

"Of course. I've locked you up in Inazuma city, you deserve to go out there. Just be careful, and promise me you'll make use of the flare."

You

"Yeah... I promise I'll use the flare if anything happens."

Ei

"Be careful. The last thing I'd want is seeing a single scratch on you."

You

*Chuckle* "Yeah, I know... I'll go out tomorrow. And I'll be very sure to bring this with me."

As usual, you slept very little, and you left early in the morning. You left a written note for Ei at the dining table to make sure she didn't freak out. The finest sensation ever was taking a breath of fresh air that wasn't from Inazuma City.

.

.

.

Bang!

.

.

.

???

"What a shame."

You

"..."

???

"And all those rumours told me you were so much better than this... I was expecting more."

You were lying on the grass after being struck in the head by a heavy object when blood began to pour from your head, staining the colour of the grass.

???

"Oh shit... Why'd I do that?"

You

"..."

???

"If I'm going to be completely honest, I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do. I just hit you in the head because I thought it would satisfy me, but you didn't really put up a fight. Disappointing."

You

*Pant*

???

"I don't get it... I was here first."

You

"... Wha... What?"

They crouched to your level and stared directly into your face as you lay on the ground.

???

"I was here first. Me. So, why is it that she treats you more like her kid when I'm the one who deserves it?"

You

"Who..."

???

"Tell me!"

You

"Your hair..."

???

"Eh? What about it?"

You

"... It's..."

???

"..."

You

"It's really..."

???

"..."

You

"Your hair's really fucking ugly."

???

"... What?"

You

"Ah... You heard me."

You rose off the ground, but not without effort. You stumbled a little, they really banged your head hard. It felt like you were sweating, but the sweat stings were unbearable, and your head felt much heavier. 

Uncomfortably, blood was trickling from your head down your face.

???

"Hm..."

You

"Ouch... My head feels like it's about to explode. What'd you do that for, Kunikuzushi?"

???

"What?!"

You

"Ah- No. It's Scaramouche now, right?"

Scaramouche

"How the hell..."

You

"I know tons of stuff about you. I never thought I'd be out here in Kannazuka with Ei's son."

Scaramouche

"She isn't my mom. I'm not her son. I hate her, she hates me."

You

"Yeah, no shit. So- Let me get this straight, you're short ass is heated up because I'm being treated better than you, and your mommy issues are just getting to your head. Is that right?"

Scaramouche

"Hey!"

You

"Well uh... It really isn't my fault that Ei sees me as her own child. Sorry to disappoint you."

Scaramouche

"You bitch..."

You

"Well, Ei gave me this flare thingy to shoot up into the sky if I was ever in trouble so... How do you feel? Excited to see mommy again?"

Scaramouche

"What?! Stop! Shoot that flare and I'll fucking kill you!"

You

"Yeah, yeah, enough with the threats-"

.

.

.

He wasn't joking.

Without a second thought, you fired the flare into the sky, and the result was a bloody mess. As deeply as he could, Scaramouche plunged a dagger into your hip before fleeing. 

Ei assembled a large number of her soldiers and hurried out of Inazuma City when she saw the vibrant smoke filling the sky. Again, you were laying in the exact same place. You were bleeding from both your hip and your head at the same time. 

Even breathing was difficult, let alone moving. The last time you felt like this was months ago, you hated it.

You dragged yourself up off the ground while a familiar voice shouted your name constantly, oblivious to the fact that you were basically bleeding to death here. While drawing your sword, you started to back away from them like you were ready to tumble over yourself. 

As you pointed your blade towards them, you took heavy breaths.

???

"I've never seen them this hurt!..."

???

"Y/N put down the sword, we're here to help."

You backed away, your footing unsteady from the headache that was worse than before, and when you couldn't take it anymore you dropped to your knees. You put both of your hands on your wounded hip as your sword thudded on the floor.

???

"Kazuha, get back! It might be one of their tricks!"

???

"That's ridiculous Gorou, they're bleeding to death!"

The same individuals who loathed you the most were the people who had come to save you.

Kazuha

"Come here-"

When Kazuha approached you, he welcomed you with open arms, and all you did was signal him to back off.

Kazuha

"Y/N- We don't have time for this! You're hurt, badly, you need to come with us!"

You

"Raiden..."

Beidou

"Yeah- Well your saviour isn't here buddy, so you'll just have to deal with what you have right now."

You

"No-" 

Kazuha

"Y/N, stop being so stubborn! Let's go!"

He grabbed you and bolted. He took great care not to aggravate your injury in any way, therefore he was really cautious. He heard the voices of the Tenryou Commission soldiers and turned to look behind him. He realized he needed to move more quickly.

Ei

"Where... Y/N! Y/N?"

.

.

.

-A FEW HOURS LATER, WATATSUMI ISLAND-

Kokomi

"... I'm afraid that's not going to work, Y/N."

You

"... Was this really necessary?"

Kokomi

"I mean- Considering the fact that you're insanely powerful, yes, it's necessary. Very."

You

"You're a real pain in the ass, you know that Kokomi?"

Kokomi

"I could say the same for you."

You were lying on a sleeping bag and now, more than ever, you yearned for your bed at home. Your hip wasn't doing any better, and your head was still in excruciating pain. The bleeding had, at least, ceased. Your hands, however, were firmly restrained with rope.

Gorou

"This is such a nice sight to see, ah."

You

"Gorou, are you into that kind of shit?"

Gorou

"Huh? Into what?"

You

"Seeing people tied up, helpless."

Gorou

"No! Since when did I ever-"

You

"That's actually pretty kinky, Gorou. I didn't know you were into that kind of thing."

Gorou

"I'm not!"

You

"Please, don't lie to me."

Beidou

"Hey, how are you doing?"

You

"... Huh?"

Beidou

"I... Asked you how you're doing."

You

"No- Who are you?"

Beidou

"Captain Beidou. Never heard of me?"

You

"No, I was too busy bullying training dummies. My bad."

Beidou

"Hah, I like you!"

You

"I don't feel the same way for you, never will."

Beidou

"Ooh, you're a tough one!"

You

"Don't do that."

Beidou

"What?"

You

"Talk to me as if we're friends. You're siding with that stupid red-streak hair boy and with the Watatsumi Army, you're my enemy."

Beidou

"Yeah, yeah, I'm your enemy... And... Stupid red-streak hair boy?"

You

"Yeah."

Beidou

"Haha, are you referring to Kazuha?!"

You

"Who else here is stupid and has a red streak in their hair? I mean- Gorou's stupid, but he doesn't have a red streak in his hair."

Beidou

"Ah. You still haven't answered my question."

You

"Huh?"

Beidou

"Did you forget that easily?"

You

"I dunno, maybe I did."

Beidou

*Sigh* "He'll end up asking you the same question, so I won't even bother. I'll see you later, N/N."

The moment Beidou stepped outside the tent, your stupid red-streak hair boy entered the tent.