Tamashi’s eyes opened to the view of the Void’s breathtaking painting-like sky.

“You’re running out of time, Tamayo. What are you gonna do now? Show me some of those fancy moves the old man taught you!”

‘Shit, what am I gonna do now? I can barely move. Wow, this really hurts. I might actually die. What now?’

Each step of the Seishin of Lightning produced thundering claps that echoed into the vast expanse.

By the time Tamashi had managed to slightly raise his head, Rai had arrived at his feet, grinning from ear to ear.

“You look really pathetic just laying there like some helpless kid, you know that? I expected more from you, Tamayo.”

‘Wow, this sucks.’

“Hmm, I’m actually thinking about ending this now. Why should I give you the chance to come up with some half-assed plan?”

‘That makes sense. I guess you should just end it, then.’

“Hmm… Nah, I’ll just let you lay there. Why waste more energy? Am I right?”

‘Wait… what? Why wouldn’t he just end it now. What’s the point of waiting?’

Tamashi carefully observed Rai’s face as he slowly turned his head to check the diminished ring of lightning.

‘Wait, his life energy… It almost seems like…’

“Wow, time’s really slowing down. There’s still 15 seconds left.”

‘Huh? Only five seconds passed? That doesn’t sound right. Unless…’

“Hey, Rai.”

Rai returned his gaze to Tamashi’s position.

“What do you want?”

“Why are you trying to avoid killing me?”

Upon processing Tamashi’s question, Rai reacted with a shocked look.

“Your face says it all, Rai. Considering you’re supposed to be some sort of big-shot god of lightning, you have a really readable face.

Rai converted his shock into a wave of anger.

“Who… do you think… you are?! DON’T YOU DARE MOCK THE SEISHIN OF LIGHTNING!”

Lighting formed around Rai’s body as his hair began to float. He shifted back his right fist.

“You know, I’m not trying to say I want you to kill me. But I’m sure you probably will eventually. Since I’m about to die, can I make one last request?”

Curiosity began to surface within Rai’s facial expression.

“What’s your request?”

A repressed smirk appeared within Tamashi’s mouthline.

“I want you to give me one more shot.”

“Hell n-“

“Don’t jump to conclusions, Sparky.”

“WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST-“

“Anyways, hear me out. I want you to let me take one more swing at you. You can just stand there with your hands in your pockets, and I get to attack in any way I like.”

“Why would I-“

“Because, for whatever reason you have, you won’t just end this now. So, this will fill the time.”

Rai released the armor of lightning he had formed and placed a hand on his hip.

“There’s no need to fill time, dumbass. Your time is just about up.”

Tamashi turned his neck towards Rai’s electrified timer.

“There’s still, maybe, 13 seconds left? Time sure is moving stupidly slow. It almost seems as if you’re slowing it down.”

“WHAT?! I am not-“

Rai abruptly halted his response. His expression appeared to lose its emotion as he converted his thought into a question.

“You don’t realize it yet, do you?”

“What don’t I realize?”

Rai began to respond before catching himself. He then began again.

“Never mind. I’ll honor your last request, Tamayo. I don’t think this will do anything to make the wait any easier for you, though.”

“Oh, don’t worry, this’ll be exciting for me. Time will pass at light-speed.”

“Yes, I’m sure it will.”

Rai placed his hands in his pockets and assumed a shoulder-to-shoulder stance.

“Alright, Tamayo. come get me.”

Tamashi and Rai locked eyes with each other as a slight breeze presented itself to the area. All that could be heard was the rustle of the hair of both boys.

‘Alright, Rai. I need to just focus on my face.’

Rai integrated a sarcastic undertone into his next line.

“Wow, Tamayo, this is really exciting. I feel like I’m about to lose. Oh no.”

“You do realize that you could speed up the time here, right? I think you’re just stalling since you actually believe I’m going to lose.”

“What do you mean by “actually” and “believe”? I already know you’re going to lose…”

‘Come on, Rai. Just lower your guard a bit.’

“Rai, you know damn well as I do that I still have a chance at winning this.”

“What makes you say that?! My win is guaranteed!”

Rai’s deep blue eyes filled with bubbling anger.

‘You’re almost there, Rai. Just let loose a bit.’

“Your win is not guaranteed. Do you want to know why, oh great Seishin of Lightning?”

Rai’s irritation made its way onto the surface of his face.

“Tell me why, Tamayo.”

Tamashi’s smirk expanded into a grin full of teeth.

“Because you’re the most useless Seishin of all.”

‘Bingo.’

Rai’s mouth slowly fell open.

‘THERE! His focus is diminishing.’

Tamashi’s heart began to pound to the limits of his chest cavity. At the edge of his peripheral vision, he noticed that the timer had increased its speed exponentially.

‘This is it’

TEN SECONDS REMAINING.

‘Now’s my chance.’

SEVEN SECONDS REMAINING.

‘He’s still has his guard up on my chest area. But, near my legs…’

FIVE SECONDS REMAINING.

‘I know what I’m doing. Alright, here goes nothing.’

FOUR SECONDS REMAINING.

In that moment, Tamashi thought back to his training with Sensei.

“Why are you always dodging, Jiji-sensei? Are you trying to run away?”

Sensei continuously avoided Tamashi’s swings at light-speed as he explained his technique.

“Every living thing has what’s called “life energy.” This concept is just as the name implies: living things give off energy that can become important information.”

“So what does that have to do with dodging?”

“Tamashi, I’m reading your life energy. I’m successfully predicting every move you make. It’s as if I’m three steps ahead of you at all times.”

Tamashi continued to swing at Sensei to no avail.

“That’s great and all, but I’m supposed to learn how to fight, right?”

“If you’re implying that this technique is simply a glorified defensive tool…”

In the blink of an eye, Sensei lowered his stance and swung in fist into Tamashi’s gut. The power of his shot rippled the skin on his hand and arm as Tamashi collapsed.

“… you’re sorely mistaken.”

‘Thanks, Jiji-sensei. It turns out that training won’t be for nothing.’

THREE.

Tamashi forced his elbows into the ground with enough power to reveal his veins.

TWO.

Tamashi focused all of the energy he had into his right leg.

ONE.

As Rai began to recover from his state of shock, he glared at Tamashi, who returned a grin.

A grin of satisfaction.

At the drop of a pin, Tamashi’s leg swung up at an incredible rate of speed. Just as the last spark of the lightning ring began to fade, Tamashi’s foot connected with Rai’s mouth with such force that Rai was lifted off his feet.

‘Watashi no kachi.’

——

Savior: Original Story by OneSevenEight

Episode: Framed Perspective - Part 26