The Others: GUTS (Dandadan X OCs)

Gale's body ached as he slowly woke up. A low groan slipped out as he tried to figure out where he was. Everything around him was pitch black, like an endless void, except for a faint light coming from an old TV near a worn-out couch.

"This place... My dreamscape? Guess I got knocked out again, huh."

When he tried to stand, his legs wobbled, so he gave up and fell onto the couch with a heavy sigh. The familiar cushions hugged his weight as he sank in, his eyes glued to the flickering TV screen.

"If I'm here... I must still be alive...'

The TV buzzed with static, the screen alive with white noise. The crackling grew louder and faster, knew what that meant. Something was about to play.

This dreamscape was always his safe place. Every time he slept, he'd find himself here. The old TV would flicker to life, showing episodes of Kamen Rider, a show that didn't even exist in the real world.

Those dreams had shaped him into the person he was now, but they also made him an outcast.

"...But I failed again," Gale said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I couldn't save Takakura-san... It's my fault. It's always my fault... just like back then."

===

???

CRASH!

Tires screeched, and a car slammed into a wall. Metal and glass flew everywhere.

"Gale, let's help that lady!" a girl shouted beside him. Her high ponytail bounced as she sprinted toward the wreck.

"But it's dangerous! Shouldn't we get an adult?"

"Gale, don't be a coward! What would your heroes do?"

"Wait!" he called, but she was already running.

She charged toward the smashed car. The vehicle groaned as it shifted, and a power pole snapped. A live cable swung loose, sparking brightly.

BZZT.

"ULLA!"

===

The memory hit him like a punch to the chest. His breathing quickened, and for a moment, he thought he could smell the smoke again. Shaking his head, he forced himself to focus on the TV.

"No! It's okay now. She's fine... yeah..."

Gale sighed deeply, trying to calm his racing thoughts. He couldn't see her or talk to her anymore, but at least he knew she was safe, back in her home country. That was enough.

Right now, he needed to focus on what was in the present.

The static finally cleared, and the old TV flickered to life. Gale leaned forward, ready for another episode of Kamen Rider to brighten his mood. But this time, something was different.

There was no opening theme, not even background music. Instead, the screen showed a boy walking through the streets of Japan, clutching bags crammed full of stuff. His fully green-dyed hair stood out against the grey scenery.

"That's... me?! What the heck? I thought this TV only played Kamen Rider!?"

===

The images on the screen seemed to sped past, not because it actually in fast forward, it was because Gale recognized them. These were his memories, moments from just a few months ago when he just arrived in Kamigoe City.

He saw himself, back when his hair was freshly dyed green, not the faded, half-hearted attempt he sported now. That version of him was buzzing with energy, chatting away with strangers, even though his Japanese was terrible. He had been carefree then, oblivious to how awkward he sounded.

"He had no idea what was coming..." Gale chuckled. "I didn't... I really thought moving to Japan would fix everything. But nope, same mess, different country."

The memories kept rolling. He watched as his younger self met an old man and his granddaughter, both hauling boxes of books down a narrow alley.

The old man had whiter hair under his flat cap, he was wearing some sort of casual uniform. The girl had long black hair with a lily-shaped hairpin tucked into it.

She was grumbling loudly. "Why can't we just use a car? This is so dumb!"

The old man chuckled. "Carrying them is good for you. It's healthy! And you need to learn the streets if you're going to take over my job one day," then he flexed his arm, his loose sleeve suddenly tightened around his bicep. "Plus, it builds character... and muscles!"

Behind, younger Gale's eyes widened. 'What the- He's jacked!'

The girl groaned, dropping her box with a pouty sigh. "I don't wanna have muscles!"

The old man sighed "Kids these days..."

He bent down to pick up the box, but Gale beat him to it. "Here, I got it."

"Ah, thank you, young man."

The girl clung to her grandfather's leg, staring at Gale with wide eyes. "Grampa, a delinquent! Look at his hair! It's all weird and stuff!"

Gale scratched the back of his head nervously. "Me? A delinquent? No way! I'm just... not from around here. And yeah, I dyed my hair. Is that so strange?"

The old man laughed. "Don't mind her. She's shy, and a little nosy. I'm Sato, and this is my granddaughter, Sora."

"Oh, no problem. I'm Gale." He glanced at the boxes. "What's all this for?"

"They're for my library," Sato explained, pulling a book from one of the boxes. "Your Japanese isn't bad, but it could use some work. Here, take this vocabulary book."

The comment flew right over Gale's head, but he took the book with a smile. "Thanks! I'll pay for it, looks like it'll come in handy."

"No, no, just take it. Consider it my thanks for helping."

"Huh? I can't just take it for free-"

"Grampa, let's go! I'll miss my show!" Sora tugged impatiently at Sato's leg.

"Fine, fine. Come on, Gale."

"But the book-"

"Just take it!" Sato and Sora said in unison, the former sounding tired of Gale's reluctance and the latter just being impatient.

"O-Okay?"

The three of them walked toward the library, with Sora dashing ahead and yelling for them to hurry up. Younger Gale had no idea then how important these two would become. They'd end up being his only company in Japan. Eventually, he'd help out at the library and even tutor Sora, though he never really thought of them as friends. The age gap didn't quite fit his idea of friendship.

====

Back in the present, Gale leaned back on his sofa, expecting the TV to shut off. It was almost 24 minutes already, usually how long an episode is.

"Weird... Why this TV shows my memories? It usually only shows Kamen Rider Episodes. Hmm...."

"WATCH OUT!" A loud shout tore through the screen, snapping back Gale's attention.

On the TV, a truck swerved out of control, veering straight onto the sidewalk. The girl stood frozen in its path.

The old man, carrying a heavy stack of boxes, was too slow to react. Younger Gale dropped everything, his bags, the box he was carrying, and dashed toward the girl. He managed to push her out of the way just in time.

But not himself.

CRASH.

===

BZZT!

The TV shut off, plunging everything into darkness.

"No! NO!" Gale yelled, jumping to his feet. "This isn't real! That never happened!"

He lunged at the TV, desperate to see more.

"Wait! Come back!"

===

(???)

"Do you know what you are? You brought an array of tragedy to yourself and those around you. Once a plague, always a plague. Misfortune Anchor."

===

Snap!

Gale's eyes snapped open. He gasped for air. Pain flared in his shoulder, He winced, struggling to steady his breathing as reality came rushing back.

He wasn't outside anymore. He was in a dimly lit room, surrounded by dark wooden walls adorned with strange talismans and protective charms. The faint scent of incense lingered in the air.

He then realized he was shirtless, his torso wrapped in bandages, and his body was tied securely to a sturdy wooden chair. Thick ropes, reinforced with talismans, bound him tightly.

'What is this place, Some kind of storage room?'

Before he could process further, a voice broke the silence.

"Awake, I see."

Gale's head snapped up, his gaze landing on a figure in the shadowy corner, a girl about his age with white hair and striking red eyes. She wore a maiden shrine outfit and leaned on a sleek, modern forearm crutch, its design resembling a long stick with a tonfa-like handle and a cuff wrapping around her forearm.

"Who...?"

The girl tilted her head, a curious smile lighting up her face. "Ni-san! He's awake!" she called out cheerfully.

Almost immediately, the wooden door behind her slid open, revealing another figure that looked almost identical to the girl, with matching white hair and crimson eyes. Dressed in a simple black-and-white yukata, the newcomer's expression was calm and unreadable, a stark contrast to the girl's bright demeanor. Gale guessed it was a guy because she called her twin, brother.

'What in the world...?'

===

The tension in the dimly lit room was awkward for Gale. The girl hummed a tune with a cheery smile, while her brother leaned against the door, glaring daggers at him.

'Why are they just standing there... menacingly?!' Gale thought, beads of sweat forming on his brow. 'Are they waiting for me to speak first? Should I? This tension is going to kill me if I don't.'

Gale sighed, "Uh... Why am- "

Before he could finish, the girl cut him off with a grin. "Hey, hey! Are you wondering why you're all tied up?"

"I mean... yeah?" Gale replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, it's because-"

"Hold it, Shiroko." The boy interrupted her. The brother's face was calm yet, somehow, Gale could feel a faint confusion from him "We should take this slowly. Remember?"

"Oh, right!" Shiroko nodded enthusiastically. "Well, how about introductions?"

She pushed herself off the wall with the help of a crutch, limping to the center of the room. Her movements were surprisingly graceful, and she twirled lightly on her good leg.

"My name is Shiroko Suzushina. Shrine maiden of Suzushina Shrine and your rising local idol! Yay!" She struck a pose with a giggle.

"Uh..." Gale blinked

Shiroko continued, pointing her crutch toward the boy at the door. "And that's my brother, Shinjiro Suzushina. Shrine guard and bearer of the Suzushina Cursed Katanas!"

Gale turned his head toward Shinjiro, whose cold gaze hadn't wavered. Shinjiro pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh before looking back at Gale.

"Now that we've done introductions, how about-" Shinjiro began, only to be interrupted by Shiroko.

"You can call me Shiro, and my brother Shin if our names are too long!"

Shinjiro's glare turned toward her. "What do you actually want, Shiroko?"

"Teehee~" Shiroko giggled.

Shinjiro straightened and walked toward Gale, who noticed a katana at his hip. "Now that introductions are over, it's your turn. What's your name?"

"My name's Gale, Gale Johnson."

"Oh, a foreigner~!" Shiroko chirped from the corner

"Shiroko, focus." Shinjiro looked at his sister

"Aww..."

"Now, Gale, do you remember what happened before you passed out? Don't lie. We'll know if you do." Shinjiro asked

"You bandaged me, right?" Gale said defensively. "Why bother helping someone just to interrogate them like-"

Shinjiro's hand shifted, partially drawing his katana. The blade's edge gleamed, catching Gale's eye.

"Rotten luck..." Gale muttered. "Can we just like... chill?"

"Chill?" Shinjiro repeated, his brows furrowed. "Do you want me to make the room colder?"

Shiroko giggled behind her hand. "Pfft, he means calm down, nii-san."

"Ah... Well, Gale, I am calm. Now answer the question."

"Fine." Gale sighed. "I was trying to help my friend. He got possessed by Turbo Granny, so I challenged her to a game of tag. I planned to lure her away from Shono City, where she'd be weaker, and then defeat her. Unfortunately, I lost. That's it."

The twins exchanged a glance, their expressions skeptical.

"You lost to Turbo Granny?" Shinjiro repeated slowly.

"Yes?" Gale replied, confused.

"And you're fully conscious right now?"

"Uh-huh?"

"You don't feel... off?" Shiroko added

"Other than being tied up? No."

Shinjiro's expression darkened. "Last question."

"Sure...?"

"How are you alive with no aura?" Shinjiro asked firmly

"Huh? I mean, I'm completely-" Gale froze mid-sentence as an icy shiver ran down his spine.

Shinjiro's scowl deepened, but what really terrified Gale was Shiroko's smile behind Shinjiro. It stretched wider, unnaturally so, her crimson eyes glinting with something sinister. It seemed Shinjiro was completely oblivious to it.

"Shiroko, can you confirm?"

"Sure thing, Ni-san." Shiroko approached, her grin shifting back to normal.

"Wait, wait! What's happening here?!" Gale protested.

Shiroko leaned close to Gale "Yup, totally null! I can only see Turbo Granny's aura"

"Then let's start the exorcism. Can you give me a little initiator here, Shiroko?"

Suddenly...

GONG!

...Shiroko's palm connected with Shinjiro's cheek, yet what Gale heard was a gong sound?. For a moment, Gale saw a flicker of silvery aura ripple across Shinjiro's face and flow down to his sword.

SLASH!

Shinjiro's blade flashed in an instant. Gale's instincts kicked in. He stomped on the floor and tipped the chair back, narrowly dodging the strike. The sword cut through the ropes binding him, but-

WHOOSH!

A surge of wind from the slash slammed Gale into the wall behind him. "ARGH! What the hell was that for?!" he glared at the siblings.

Shinjiro approached, his katana gleaming ominously, while Shiroko stood behind him, an innocent smile plastered on her face. Gale wasn't buying it.

"We can see through your act, Turbo Granny." Shiroko said, her tone mocking. "You don't need to pretend anymore, you pervy old hag."

"What are you talking about?! I'm not-"

"You reek of her aura. "Shinjiro pointed his sword at Gale "You're trapped here. And whether you're her in full or just a fragment, killing you will weaken her."

"Wait, you've got it all wrong!"

"I trust a shrine maiden over a possessed vessel."

"I'll activate the domain, Ni-san. Cut her into shreds." Shiroko cheered.

Shinjiro nodded, Shiroko tapped her cane, both twins' eyes glowed red, and the small wooden room began to shake.

The talismans on the walls flared with light, and the space warped, expanded, twisted. Walls came out of nowhere, floors expanding, transforming into a corridor that resembled the inside of a Japanese castle.

"What the-" Gale tried to find his balance as the room changed but then-

WHOSH!

A sudden gust of wind roared through the room, splintering the wooden wall behind Gale. The force sent him tumbling backward, but he caught himself mid-fall. His eyes flared green.

The swirling wind around him responded, bending to his will as he extended his arms. Gale reached into the gust, catching it like a physical thing, and channeled its energy into himself. The force shoved him back a step, but his body now swirled with the wind.

Shinjiro stepped through the hole in the wall, calm as ever. His red eyes glowed, fixed on Gale, as he walked toward him slowly, his katana gleaming dangerously at his side.

"What kind of ability is that? Are you using the power of your vessel?"

Gale balled his fists, the wind around him whipping into a frenzy. "I told you that I am still alive! There is a misunderstanding here!"

Gale had no clue how this fight would go, but one thing was clear, staying alive was all that mattered.

'Just my luck. First, I deal with some alien girl trying to mess with my head, then I can't save my new friend from a yokai, and now I've got these twins trying to kill me right after I wake up? Rotten luck!'

Gale moved first, launching himself forward with a gust of wind. Twisting his body mid-air, he kicked a stack of wooden plank walls toward Shinjiro. The debris flew like a storm, slamming straight at him.

But Shinjiro didn't dodge. He didn't flinch.

"Pointless"

Just as the woods almost touched Shinjiro...

GONG!

...they stopped mid-air as if hitting an invisible barrier.

"What the-?" Gale's eyes widened. A faint silver glow shimmered between Shinjiro and the wreckage. The glow traveled to Shinjiro's katana and then shot back toward the planks.

Then the planks blasted back toward him with terrifying force. The energy had reversed, the debris splintering into sharper shards as it flew.

Gale ducked and twisted to avoid the bigger pieces, the smaller ones grazing his arms and face, leaving shallow cuts. But the wind swirling around him softened the blows, deflecting most of the shards just enough to keep him standing. Blood seeped through the bandages on his arms, but he pushed the pain aside.

'There's a pause when he reflects the attacks... Maybe I can use that,' Gale thought, eyes narrowing.

He stomped the ground, channeling wind into his legs. With a sudden burst of speed, he launched forward, zipping across the room in a blur.

Shinjiro didn't move, his crimson gaze fixed on Gale.

"RIDER PUNCH!" Gale threw the signature wind-enhanced punch. But just as his punch was about to connect...

GONG!

...he hit an invisible wall.

"What-?!" Gale was caught off guard as his momentum vanished and he froze mid-air. His punch stopped a mere inch from Shinjiro's face. It felt like slamming into solid stone.

Shinjiro's silver aura flared, rippling outward in a wave of energy.

Before Gale could react, the force knocked him back, sending him tumbling. Pain shot through his arm, which now felt numb and useless from the backlash.

"I told you, it's pointless-"

A sudden gust of wind whipped across Shinjiro's face, cutting him off mid-sentence.

Gale smirked. He had gambled on how Shinjiro's ability worked, the barrier stopped anything that got too close, and then the katana would absorb its momentum to reverse it. That explained the pause before it fired back.

By timing his next attack to hit himself instead of Shinjiro, the reflection would rebound inward. And it worked.

Shinjiro looked stunned, blinking in disbelief. "What's that..."

"Like hell I'm gonna tell you!" Gale pointed his finger at Shinjiro.

Shin blinked at Gale"...Very well then. You asked for this." His stance shifted, katana raised. It wasn't casual anymore, but his expression stayed cold and distant.

With a swift slash through the air, his blade left a shimmering silver aura that hung in the space for a split second before unleashing a razor-sharp gust of wind.

"Oh, come on!" Gale yelled, twisting his body just in time to avoid the strike.

Each misstep cost him, fresh cuts appearing as the sharp winds sliced by. The swirling air around him softened the blows, but it wasn't enough to stop all the damage. Blood dripped from his gashes, the stinging pain biting at every movement.

'Why doesn't he look serious?' Shinjiro's face wasn't tense or focused. If anything, he looked disturbingly calm, like he was just waiting for something. As Gale staggered to his feet, he caught a glimpse of Shinjiro's eyes. They weren't fixed on him directly. Instead, Shinjiro seemed to be glancing at different points in the room, his gaze shifting subtly every few moments.

'What is he... looking at?'

The thought distracted Gale for a fraction of a second too long.

Shinjiro closed the gap in an instant, his katana grazing Gale's side with a quick, precise slash. It wasn't one of his ranged wind strikes. Shinjiro had used the stored energy in his legs to launch forward, faster than Gale could react.

Pain flared in Gale's side, sharp and hot, but he twisted away, sending a powerful gust of wind to force Shinjiro back.

The blast made Shinjiro stop, his katana raised defensively to absorb the force. Then, just like before, GONG, the reflected wind came rushing back at Gale.

"Urghh!" Gale grunted as he hit the ground hard, pain shooting through his battered body.

He forced himself to his feet, gasping for air, his broken right hand hanging uselessly at his side. Every movement screamed in protest, but he couldn't stop now. Across the room, Shinjiro stood motionless, head tilted slightly, watching him with that same eerie calm.

'He's not even breaking a sweat...' Gale's thoughts raced.

He bent the air around him and launched himself backward, trying to put as much space as possible between them. Fighting wasn't working. His body was too beaten, too weak. Maybe running was his only option.

Without hesitation, he turned and bolted, using the wind to propel himself faster.

The corridor stretched endlessly ahead, its twists and turns like a maze. Gale took the first path he saw, hoping to shake Shinjiro. But as he rounded the corner, Shinjiro was already there, standing in his path.

"What the-?!" Gale spun and darted down another hall, zigzagging through the labyrinth of corridors. No matter which direction he turned, Shinjiro was always there, waiting, like a ghost haunting his every step.

"This doesn't make sense!"

Then Shinjiro's voice calmly echoed through the space "This place is a domain made by my sister. You can run as far as you want. It won't matter."

Suddenly, Shinjiro appeared out of thin air. No, it must be the domain that warped Gale's perception. Shinjiro, using Gale's own momentum, kicked Gale.

Gale slammed against the floor, dazed and coughing. For a moment, he caught Shinjiro glancing somewhere, as if confirming something unseen. Then Shinjiro nodded to himself.

"Well," Shinjiro said, his voice detached and emotionless, "I guess it's time to end this."

A pulse of silver energy rippled out from his body, the aura radiating with lethal intent. His crimson eyes flared, leaving trails of red light as they locked onto Gale.

"Say goodbye, Turbo Granny."

Before Gale could even process the words, Shinjiro vanished in a blur of silver light.

The room fell silent, save for the thunder of Gale's pulse in his ears.

For a fleeting moment, he was completely alone. And then-

White.

Gale's entire vision was filled with that single color. He froze, unable to move or react.

"Am I... dead?"

...

...

...

A familiar voice broke through the void.

"Oh, it seems I was wrong, Ni-san." Shiroko lightly said.

Gale blinked, his vision clearing. He saw Shiroko standing between him and Shinjiro's Katana. She wasn't the least bit frightened, smiling as if the whole ordeal was nothing but a mild inconvenience.

"You were wrong?" Shinjiro asked

"Yup!" Shiroko nodded cheerfully.

"Explain."

"He's not possessed. He just has a really, really small aura. As small as an apple seed."

"Oh." Shinjiro paused, his expression neutral. Then he sheathed his katana smoothly.

'Just like that?!' Gale was at loss of word

Shiroko clapped her hands together, and the warped, endless domain dissolved in an instant. They were back in the dimly lit room, the talismans no longer glowing.

"Sorry for that!" Shiroko said, tapping Gale on his bandaged shoulder playfully. "You must've been so scareeeed~"

"Ouch-ouch-ouch! Hey, stop that!" Gale protested, wincing as she poked him.

"Hehe, nii-san, can you cook us some lunch while I treat our guest?"

"Sure." Shinjiro turned and walked out of the room without another word.

Gale slumped against the wall, staring at Shiroko in disbelief. "What just happened...?"

Shiroko grinned, leaning in close with a wink. "Welcome to Suzushina Shrine, foreigner!"

"Yeah, yeah, no biggie. I just fought a shocker girl with a conqueror complex, got humbled by Turbo Granny, and woke up only to fight twins who thought I was possessed. Yup, no problem, just my luck," Gale muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Shiroko giggled, her unsettling cheeriness undimmed. "Hehe, don't take it to heart, okay?"

She raised her hand, a soft silver glow radiating from her palm. The light washed over Gale, and as it did, the aches and pains in his body melted away. He could move his right hand again.

"Healing magic?" Gale asked, blinking in surprise as he stretched his fingers.

"You could say so." Shiroko shrugged casually.

Gale's gaze flicked to her limp leg. 'If she can heal like that, why doesn't she fix her own leg?' The thought stuck in him, but he kept it to himself. There were bigger questions on his mind.

"All done!" Shiroko announced with a cheerful clap, stepping back with a satisfied smile. "Now let's get out of here and grab some food. You've gotta be starving."

She turned toward the door, gesturing for him to follow.

"Wait, hold up. I've got questions," Gale said cautiously.

"Shoot." She glanced over her shoulder.

"First, where am I exactly? Location-wise."

"You don't know Suzushina Shrine? I'm offended! All that promotion I did as an idol, and you've never heard of me?"

"Never. And I'm not into idol culture," Gale said flatly.

"Aww, you're missing out!" She pouted. "Anyway, it's in Daija City, not the town. People always get that mixed up."

"Okay, and... one more thing."

"Yeah?"

"You planned this whole thing, didn't you?"

Shiroko froze, then slowly turned to face him fully. A chill ran down Gale's spine.

That smile.

It wasn't her usual playful grin. It was the unsettling expression she'd worn earlier, the one that made his skin crawl.

"Why do you have to be sooo perceptive?" she sweetly mocked. "Couldn't you just accept my heartfelt kindness? I was trying to save you from my scary big brother, you know."

Gale sighed, rubbing his temples. 'What is it with me and crazy girls? First Terra, now this.'

Gale stared her dead in the eyes and said "What do you want from me?"

Shiroko tilted her head, her unsettling smile deepening. "I don't want anything from you, particularly... I just want to be everyone's a####"

The rest of her words faded into an unintelligible murmur.

Just as quickly as it had appeared, her unsettling demeanor vanished, replaced by her usual sunny cheerfulness.

"Anyway! Let's grab some food. You can even pick what we eat~"

'Rotten luck' Gale thought, shaking his head.

"Then could I get something fresh?"

===

Moments later

"I said I wanted something fresh... Not raw." Gale muttered, eyeing the wet sashimi with a mix of suspicion and mild regret.

Gale found himself sitting cross-legged on the floor, a low table in front of him covered in various dishes, wearing a casual dark green Yukata because his earlier hoodie was kinda shredded.

Across from him, the twins sat facing each other, their chopsticks locked in a chaotic battle over a particular plate. On the corner of the room were unhealthy boxes of canned black coffee

"YOU! DON'T TAKE ALL MY SUPAI SHI TSUNA MAKI!" Shiroko yelled, using her chopsticks like weapons as she lunged at Shinjiro.

Shinjiro, calm and monotone as ever, leaned back just enough to dodge her strikes. Without even glancing up, he plucked another piece of the contested dish from the plate and popped it into his mouth.

"You're so annoying, Grumpy!" Shiroko shouted, her voice rising as she swiped again.

"Annoying? I'm just eating, Shiroko." Shinjiro was dodging her attacks with a deadpanned expression.

"ARGHHHH! WHEN I GET YOU!" Shiroko shrieked, abandoning her chopsticks in favor of a bare-handed grab.

From his corner of the table, Gale watched the scene unfold, his appetite dwindling further. 'These two were trying to kill me not that long ago, and now they're bickering like an actual pair of siblings. It's... honestly kind of terrifying.'

The twins continued their war, oblivious to Gale's presence. He glanced at the untouched food in front of him, his stomach growling.

'Guess I don't have a choice,' Gale reluctantly picked up a piece of sashimi. He held it up, staring at it like it might come alive and bite him first. He had personal trauma with raw food and would throw up whenever he ate one ever since. With a resigned sigh, he popped it into his mouth.

Instantly, his whole body recoiled, barely managing to keep himself from gagging. 'Mental barrier such a bitch. It's not even that bad...' he told himself, though his scrunched-up face said otherwise.

Across the table, the twins were taking their chaos to a whole new level. Shiroko lunged over the table with a war cry (TOH!) and went straight for Shinjiro's neck.

Shinjiro, unbothered as always, leaned slightly to the side, avoiding her grasp with ease. He calmly plucked another piece of sushi from the plate and ate it, his expression utterly blank.

"STOP DODGING!" Shiroko grabbed a bowl as if it were a weapon.

Gale, still chewing and trying to make peace with the sashimi, suddenly found himself on high alert.

"Are you serious right now?!" Gale muttered as he scrambled to rescue the dishes in the line of fire. He juggled plates and bowls like a desperate waiter, trying to keep the food from falling victim to the sibling brawl.

Shiroko was relentless, clawing at Shinjiro with pure fury. He, on the other hand, remained as calm as ever, casually evading her grabs while continuing to eat. Every now and then, he'd pluck another piece of sushi from a plate, as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.

'Why are these two even like this?' Gale thought, ducking as a stray chopstick whizzed past his head. He glanced at the food he'd managed to save so far. 'I'm too broke for this. If even one plate gets ruined, my heart won't survive.' a desperate cry of a broke unlucky student.

"You grumpy! Stop stealing my food!" Shiroko screeched.

"Why so dramatic? I'm just eating." Shinjiro popped another piece of sushi into his mouth.

Finally, Gale had enough. "THAT'S IT!" he roared, standing up so fast that the table rattled.

In one swift motion, he brought both hands down on their heads. THWACK! THWACK! The sound echoed through the room, snapping both twins out of their brawl.

Gale stood over them, his patience completely obliterated. "If anyone wastes even one more grain of rice. I'm gonna-"

He froze mid-sentence, catching the direction of their horrified stares.

"N-no way..." "This is a tragedy." Both twins murmured

Slowly, Gale looked down. "What's wrong with you two."

Under his foot were untouched Supai Shi Tsuna Makis. Given how these two had somehow avoided destroying them during all the chaos, it was obvious they had been saving them, probably their favorites.

For a moment, the room was silent.

Then...

"YOU WASTED IT!" both twins shouted in perfect unison, their anger now united and laser-focused on him.

Gale raised his hands in defense, backing up. "W-Wait! Rotten luck!"

===

Later, the table was spotless. Gale sat across from the twins, a few new lumps on his head the only sign of the earlier chaos. Shiroko rested her chin on her hands, with an innocent smile while Shinjiro sat straight-backed, arms crossed.

"Alright, now that we're all fed and happy," Shiroko began with a tone as if she were hosting a game show, "let's talk business!"

"Bussiness?"

"Yes, business," Shinjiro cut in, "You've had your meal. Now we'd like some answers."

"You called that chaos a meal?"

"I want answers."

Gale sighed. "Didn't we already go through this during your whole 'let's beat him up in a domain' thing? Thought you already figured I'm not possessed. What else do you want from me?"

Shiroko giggled. "Oh, we know you're not possessed, Gale. But you're still... unusual."

"Unusual how?"

"Your aura," Shinjiro said bluntly. "It's faint. Only people on the brink of death have that."

"And," Shiroko added, her eyes gleaming with curiosity, "your wind power! What's up with that? You're not using ki at all. Everyone uses ki to do supernatural stuff."

"I don't know... The first time I used it was when I moved to Japan. It just... happened."

The twins exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting from curiosity to something more thoughtful. Shiroko leaned forward, and her smile returned. "So you're telling us you don't even know what you're doing, huh?"

"Pretty much, I'm winging it half the time."

Shinjiro's gaze lingered on Gale. Finally, he asked, "Why can't Shiroko read your mind?"

Gale's head snapped toward Shiroko, who waved cheerfully. "Wait, what?! Did you try to read my mind? Ever heard of privacy?!"

"We're the ones asking the questions here. " Shinjiro ignored Gale's outburst.

Shiroko shrugged, her smile unapologetic. "It's faster to know what happened to you by reading your mind. Saves time, you know?"

Gale groaned. "Do you ever ask permission for anything?"

"Tee-hee~"

Gale pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't know why you can't read my mind. Maybe it's because of my power too?"

"Wind manipulation and mind resistance..." Shinjiro eyes narrowed. "What is your power, really?"

"I'm not sure myself... (It can't be the seed of agito from my dream, right?) ...but I met someone last night, a girl with this... conqueror complex. She said I have something rare inside me. A gemstone, or something like that."

"A gemstone?" Shiroko's interest visibly skyrocketed as she leaned so far forward, her face almost touching Gale's. "Where is she now?"

Gale raised a hand to push her face back. "It's... complicated."

===

Gale recounted his encounter with Terra, leaving out her alien origin. He explained how they made a deal to save his friend, how he failed to save Takakura, and how he ended up unconscious on the road, where the twins found him.

By the time he finished, both twins were silent, processing the chaotic series of events.

"How elaborate." Shinjiro commented,

"You really are unlucky, aren't you?" Shiroko added, her sympathetic tone undercut by a teasing glint in her eyes.

"You don't need to rub my rotten luck in my face, thank you." Gale sighed.

"Gale, are you sure you're not cursed? I'd advise to check it up." Shinjiro said

"Yeah! Especially because I'm here!" Shiroko posed.

Gale's eyes squinted at the mention of being cursed. Voices from the past echoed for a second.

Gale ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Alright, I've told you everything. Now, if you don't mind, I'm leaving. My friends might still need my help and thank you for the lunch."

Shiroko tilted her head and grinned "Oh, you can try to leave, Gale. But you won't get far."

"What does that mean?" Gale turned, his eyes narrowed at her.

Shinjiro adjusted his posture. "You're under Shiroko's spell. It was a backup plan if we died and failed at exorcising you back there. Your body won't be able to leave the shrine as it keeps getting purified inside the shrine until midnight. But you're apparently not possessed so..."

"Great. Just great," Gale muttered, rubbing his temples again.

Shiroko gave him a mock pout. "Aww, don't be like that, Gaijin-kun. We were only being hospitable."

"Hospitable? This whole day has been a nightmare, and now I'm a prisoner?"

"Not a prisoner, a guest." Shiroko corrected.

Shinjiro gave her a side-eye. "Guests usually leave willingly, Shiroko."

Ignoring her brother, Shiroko added, "Why not relax? Midnight isn't so far away~."

Gale groaned and pulled out his phone, its screen cracked from his earlier ordeals. "Forget it. I'll just try to contact my friends. They might be wondering what happened to me."

He fiddled with the phone, squinting through the spiderweb of cracks as he dialed Ayase first. No answer. He tried Okarun next. Still no answer. Terra? Nothing.

Shiroko peeked over his shoulder, mockingly putting on a sympathetic face. "Aw, no one's picking up? Poor Gaijin-kun."

"Not helping." Gale rolled his eyes

A ring suddenly broke. Gale glanced at his phone, but it wasn't coming from his cracked device. The sound was coming from Shiroko's phone.

Shinjiro turned to her instantly. "Who is it?"

Shiroko glanced at the screen and grinned. "Oh, it's the idol agency. I've got a schedule."

Gale groaned, slumping back into his seat. "Of course. Lucky you."

Shiroko ignored his sarcasm and tossed a bag to Shinjiro. "Nii-san, help me pack. Grab my bag while I get ready!" Without waiting for a response, she disappeared into another room.

Shinjiro stood up and started gathering their things. At first, Gale found it amusing to watch the stoic twin efficiently pack clothes, a water bottle, and some snacks into the bag. Then Shinjiro pulled out a stack of canned black coffee.

And another.

And another.

Gale's eyes widened as the tower of cans grew. "Wait, wait, wait! You can't seriously be packing all of that! Is caffeine your family religion or something?"

Shinjiro glanced at him, completely unbothered. "It's normal for us."

Gale rubbed his temples. "No. It's not."

Shinjiro kept going, unshaken by Gale's complaints. After packing enough caffeine to fuel an office building, he zipped up the bag and slung it over his shoulder.

As Shinjiro finished up and started to leave the dining room, Gale stopped him. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

Shinjiro paused, looking over his shoulder.

"Why is Shiroko," Gale scratched the back of his head. "I mean, why's she an idol? Not saying she can't be, it's just... with her leg and all, it's kind of unusual."

Shinjiro paused. His hand hovered over the door before he glanced back at Gale. "Shiroko has... a delusion," he said quietly. "She believes her kindness is the best kindness people can receive. She goes out of her way to create problems she can solve herself, all to make it easier for people to accept her kindness."

Gale frowned. "So that's why..."

"She sees it as part of her image. A way to draw sympathy and make people rely on her more. Being an idol helps with that, it gives her the stage to spread her kindness to a broader audience."

"That's... intense."

Shinjiro sighed, briefly closing his eyes. "I'm working on it. Trying to change her, little by little, before she goes too far."

Shinjiro straightened and added, "I'm sorry again for attacking you earlier. I only followed her lead. I wouldn't have killed you, even with that final strike."

Gale crossed his arms. "Didn't seem like you were holding back."

"That's the point. And I'm sure you noticed my lack of focus"

Gale shrugged "Maybe I did."

Shinjiro adjusted the strap of Shiroko's bag on his shoulder. "Anyway, you've got permission to explore the shrine while we're out. No one else is here, so if anything breaks..." He gave Gale a warning look.

"I get it. You'll know who to find."

Shinjiro nodded, then stepped out. The door slid behind him with a quiet thud.

Gale lay on his back with a heavy sigh. Staring at the ceiling, he muttered "Such misfortune."

After a moment, he pushed himself up, brushing dust off his clothes. His cracked phone buzzed as he tried calling his friends again, still with no luck.

"Figures."

He wandered the shrine, eventually deciding to look for the highest point, his favorite. Maybe he could get a signal or clear his head above, together with the winds.

===

(Meanwhile)

On the other side of the phone call, a ringtone, along with a regal cane, echoed uselessly on top t ten-foot-tall alien with a sumo wrestler's stance.

"""GYAAAAAA!""" Okarun, Terra, and Ayase screamed in unison, running for their lives through a dark domain shrouded by black mists. The massive creature's arm swung behind them, the sheer force of the swipe kicking up a gust of wind that sent them flying. They tumbled and ran into Ayase's house, using its walls for cover.

Panting, Ayase shot a sharp look at Terra. "Aren't you some kind of powerful alien nobless or whatever? Beat that thing already!"

"I would if my cane wasn't stuck on its head!" Terra snapped back, crossing her arms in frustration.

"HUH?!" Veins practically popped out of Ayase's forehead.

Crouching beside them, Okarun said nervously. "That thing's a Flatwoods Monster. Ten feet tall, spews poisonous mist, and-"

"AND WE'LL DIE FROM THE POISON IF WE DON'T BEAT IT?!" Ayase cut in, panic written all over her face.

"Ugh," Terra groaned, shooting the distant alien an annoyed look. "It's just a shrimp to me. If I had my cane, I'd squash it already."

"How did it even get on its head, you useless nobless?!" Ayase fired back, her forehead vein twitching.

"For the record, I saved both of you last night with my UFO!" Terra shot back, sounding equally irritated.

Ayase scoffed. "We saved you from getting abducted!"

"Uh, guys, maybe we could-" Okarun tried to cut in.

"WHAT?!" both girls yelled at him in unison.

Okarun froze, pointing past their hiding spot. "Is that... another one of those Flatwoods Monsters?"

Both girls peeked around the corner, their faces falling at what they saw.

Standing in front of them was another towering alien. It had one fewer eye than the first, but it was no less intimidating.

Its glowing eye narrowed as it raised its arms and roared "HAND OVER YOUR BANANAS!"

"GYAAAAAAA!" The three screamed again, diving further into the house for safety.