The girl opened her eyes to reveal a bright yellow shine. She glanced around the room - first, the ceiling, then, around the room. She was in a hospital room. She was in a hospital room, with no one else there.

‘Did… we win? We’re… all alive?’

She attempted to access her memories prior to waking up.

‘I remember… telling someone… to not give up…’

Anna slowly and methodically attempted to lift her head, her neck-length black hair gently swaying underneath. After managing to move a few inches, she collapsed back down into the pillow.

‘This sucks… I hope everyone’s ok…’

Just as the thought cleared her head, the door opened. As she turned to greet her visitors, a tear formed in her right eye.

“Hi Anna, It’s great to see you’re awake.”

“Heya, look everyone! She’s alive!”

As Tamashi and Charlie made their way in, Anna couldn’t help but crack a tearful smile.

“I’m… so glad… you guys are ok.”

——

Episode: Agreement

——

The hazel-eyed President of Kita trekked through the maze of hallways within the underground base below Kita’s mansion.

“Madam Bri!”

Bri glanced over her shoulder as a short-statured teen girl with long, straight ginger hair and strawberry-pink eyes approached and match her pace.

“Madam Bri! Sorry it took me a bit to find you, this place can be so confusing sometimes.”

“No worries, Ashi. Do you have those reports ready for me?”

Ashi flashed a quick smile.

“I do! Where would you like me to start?”

“How about… the Max situation.”

“Right!”

Ashi removed a notebook from her backpack.

“Let’s see… Max was sent out on a mission related to the recovery of Rai, the Lightning Seishin. The details of the mission are classified. During the mission, he came across a group of high school students and abruptly decided to kill them. He almost succeeded in doing just that when he was interrupted by Tamashi Yosha, another high school teen who had managed to create a contract with Rai. Their battle commenced and continued until your arrival on the scene, Madam. After the conclusion of the battle, everyone was transported to the mansion, and Max was placed on lockdown. He is currently refusing to speak.”

“Alright, now the report on Tamashi.”

“Right… Tamashi Yosha is a 16-year-old high school student who, for whatever reason, was chosen by Rai. Not much is known about his whereabouts between his arrest and release following an accusation of attempted murder, and his arrival on the scene of Max’s rampage. All we really know is that Tamashi had contracted with Rai and managed to wield one of his powers.”

“Good to know. Now, the last report, on the other students.”

“Right! Upon your arrival at the scene, it was discovered that Max had injured a group of high school students. Charlie Senshu, Anna Himawari, and Tsuru Kyuen was recovered and treated here at the mansion.”

“Ok, that’s all the info I needed. You can take a break now, Ashi.”

“Will do! Man, I’m worn out..”

——

Tsuru’s rich brown eyes shone brightly as she leaned on the balcony railing, watching over the gardens that surrounded the mansion.

“Oh, hi! I haven’t seen you before. Are you a new recruit?”

Tsuru turned to find a woman with shoulder-length black hair and muted gray eyes greeting her. Tsuru’s natural response was turn back towards the railing and blush.

“Uh- I’m… Tsuru. I’m just visiting, that’s all.”

“Oh, really? I figured you were a recruit. You have a great build to be an assassin, after all.”

Tsuru’s face turned apple-red.

“Uh… thanks…”

“Well, anyways, I hope you’ll consider joining us. You look like someone who has the potential to become the next great hero here. But that’s just my opinion. Enjoy the view!”

As the woman began to walk off, Tsuru snapped her head back towards her.

“Hey! Um… sorry. What’s… your name?”

The woman turned back and smiled.

“You can call me Torena.”

——

Several weeks after the incident in the city, Tamashi, Charlie, Anna, and Tsuru stood in front of Bri’s desk.

Tamashi began the conversation by making a demand.

“Bri… I don’t want any of us… to have anything to do with Kita. I don’t want to see anyone here get hurt because of Kita.”

Bri leaned her mouth into her folded hands.

“I can’t agree to that.”

“Why the hell not?!”

“Well, there’s multiple reasons. First of all, everyone here has witnessed both you and Max use the elements, and as a result, they are all now aware of the existence of the Seishin. I won’t just release anyone aware of the Seishin into the streets, especially since they will now be targets of Minami.”

“I can protect them, Bri. No one here needs your-“

“Second, the families of everyone here have only been told that their loved ones have been missing thus far. If everyone suddenly reappears unexplained, there will be questions. Questions are risky for Kita. So, the best course of action would be to declare that everyone here to be presumably dead, except for you Tamashi.”

Charlie, Anna, and Tsuru all maintained looks of shock and astonishment, but they all chose to not speak.

Tamashi responded to Bri’s second declaration with anger.

“DECLARE EVERYONE DEAD?! Why are you trying to mess with their lives?!”

“It’s unfortunate that they had to come into contact with Kita in this manner, but this is reality now. I cannot allow anyone here to leave this compound now without permission, including you, Tamashi. Now, here’s the decision all of you have to make: everyone here is welcome to remain as guests to Kita, or you guys can choose to become assassins. Those are your only choices.”

“DAMN YOU, BRI! YOU CAN’T CONTROL US!”

Tamashi slammed his hands down into Bri’s wooden desk.

“Watch me.”

Bri rose from her seat and met Tamashi at eye-level.

After an intense battle of staring, Tamashi was interrupted by a touch on his shoulder.

“Hey, Tamashi, we should all talk this over without Bri. Let’s go somewhere else.”

Tamashi turned to meet Anna’s eyes. She flashed a smile as Charlie showed a look of encouragement and Tsuru turned away.

Tamashi then turned back towards Bri.

“…We’re all gonna talk, Bri. Excuse us, oh great Madam.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll learn to respect me soon enough, Tamashi.”

The teens turned to leave the room. Tamashi, who was last out, turned back just as he was exiting through the door.

“One more thing. ‘Everyone except for you.’ What did you mean by that? Why wouldn’t you have to tell my brother that I’m dead?”

Bri’s face formed a subdued smirk.

“Why don’t you ask your brother sometime?”

——

Bri stood in front of a hallway window, watching the gardens as the shining sun made its way through the clear sky.

She glanced to the right as Tamashi approached.

“Let me guess: you’re speaking on everyone’s behalf?”

Tamashi ignored her question and turned to the window. After a brief period of silence, he began to speak.

“Charlie and Anna are declaring that they wish to become assassins. Tsuru wants to remain as a guest. As for me…”

Tamashi turned his ocean blue gaze to meet Bri’s hazel glare.

“I’m going to join your stupid gang in order to protect my friends. I’m not gonna let anyone die.”

Bri smiled and turned back towards the window.

“That’s a smart decision, Tamashi. I guess it’s time for me to say this: Welcome to Kita, future Riyosha of Lightning.”

——

The sun shone brilliantly as Tamashi trudged along the paths through the gardens.

‘This all started because of one stupid date. A date that my best friend set me up on. That same woman later accused me of murder, for no good reason. She tried to recruit me, but I said no. I didn’t want anything to do with her gang. But then my friends got attacked. I also discovered that I had an annoying spirit with some awesome powers hiding within me.’

Tamashi stopped to look up towards the sky. He spotted a flock of birds flying through the sky, soaring towards the south as the November days continued to cool.

‘I used those powers to save my friends, and I’ll do it again in a heartbeat. Which is why I joined Kita. I’m not fond of their leader, but I’ll have the opportunity to protect my friends. Especially now, since I have a spirit inside of me, that everyone around me will be targets. So, I’ll take this stupid job and use it to become someone that everyone can trust and rely on.’

Tamashi lowered his head and continued his walk, forming a confident look on his face as a gentle breeze rustled his hair.

‘I’m going to become… the Lightning Assassin!’

——

Framed Perspective: End