Eisei Gakuen's Hissatsu

The Swap

(In Tatsuya's POV)

"I am you... In my world, I am called Hiroto..."

Those words echoed in his ears.

He didn't want to believe it. He was not going to believe it. But the more Tatsuya looked at him, the less his resolve became.

The other was gauging Tatsuya's reaction. Gauging the shock on Tatsuya's face and thoroughly enjoying the confusion.

None of what this person said made any sense to him. What did he mean by "my world"... was his world different from Tatsuya's? Tatsuya wondered. He looked curiously at the new person.

As if understanding his thoughts, the person said, "I come from another world... another parallel universe or alternate reality... whatever you want to call it".

Tatsuya took in what the stranger said... "another world". It confused him. But what worried him most was the casual matter-of-factly tone with which the other explained things. As if it was normal for other worlds to exist. He gave it some thought. It was possible that other worlds existed and after the last couple of days, he was willing to believe anything.

When Tatsuya seemed unresponsive, he continued, "I realize your Hiroto is still alive... I came to meet him... to meet father's real son. I have been travelling to a few worlds to see if I could catch a glimpse of him, see what he is really like", he said wishfully.

Hiroto is still alive? What was this guy talking about? He didn't like the sound of this "other world" anymore.

He tried to remain calm. He thought about it logically.

He asked, "Let us say I believe you – not that I do. But let us assume I do. If that were so, how did you even get here?"

"The Aliea meteorite of course" the other said without skipping a beat.

"The Aliea meteorite of different worlds acts as doorways between the worlds... of course, with the right kind of equipment that is". The other replied as he mysteriously gazed at a black and white soccer ball which was neatly hidden under a nearby bush.

The soccer ball looked different from regular soccer balls. It looked like the ball in his nightmares... the ball used by Aliea Academy. He gasped as the realization struck him and another flooding of memories came over him. He remembered how the weapons facility run by father had invented a device that could teleport people.

But then... that would mean that his memories were real and that this "other world" and all the things that happened there were real... all the good things... but all the horrible things too.

Shock settled on his face as this realization hit him. He looked at the other in front of him. "Gran" he said.

A sad smile settled on the other's face as he replied, "Nobody has called me that in a while"

Gran thought for a while before replying, "Please, call me Kiyama". Tatsuya nodded.

"I'm glad you remembered", said Kiyama.

"But how?" Tatsuya asked a bit confused, "Why can I remember? Why only me? Nobody else seems to remember what happened to themselves in other worlds"

Kiyama responded, "I am here aren't I. Normally it takes a while for the memory flow to start. But, I suppose, as both of us are in such close proximity to each other and the meteorite, the process sped up. What you are seeing, it's my memories... Just like I have been seeing yours..."

Tatsuya thought about everything that happened in the past few days. He remembered what Kenzaki said about the lake.

He asked, "In this world, did the meteorite really land in the lake?"

"Yes. The spot is almost identical to where it landed in my world too" replied the other.

Tatsuya looked into the deep waters of the lake as he asked the next question,

"Did you drown?" Kiyama just laughed at that question. However, seeing Tatsuya frown, he replied, "I appeared on this bank. Not in the lake. The essence of the stone is what matters. Not the stone itself. The essence of the stone is a part of the nature here just like it is back in my world where the stone itself was destroyed"

The essence of the stone is a part of the nature here. As the words rang in his mind, Tatsuya remembered how he had felt much more energized after his dip in the lake on the first day of camp.

"The essence of the stone strengthens us as well, doesn't it?" he asked back.

"Yes", Kiyama replied. "The reason all of you were able to level up quickly while training here is partly because of the amount of training you put in and partly because of the power of the rock that is infused in and around this camp grounds. It gave you strength even when you had nearly reached your limits. The rock also connects you to other versions of yourself who has come into contact with the rock; imparting some of that strength through synergy. That's why all of you could master the same moves as in my world... the same moves you know them capable of through my memories" Tatsuya nodded understandingly.

Tatsuya wondered if some of the other combination Hissatsu moves from Kiyama's world would work too. There was a really cool one with penguins from space that he wanted to try with Yagami and Hiroto.

He smiled at the thought of Hiroto throwing a tantrum about using Penguin moves. He could almost imagine Hiroto's aggravated ranting, "I am not using Penguins... it will look like I copied Haizaki and Haizaki will never stop bragging about it... NO PENGUINS FOR ME. NO THANK YOU. I AM THE GOD STRIKER AND I SHALL BOW TO NO DEVIL".

Tatsuya wasn't sure how to convince Hiroto to try Space Penguin. Haizaki didn't have a monopoly on Penguins but convincing Hiroto wouldn't be easy either. Seeing Tatsuya's smile, Kiyama looked questioningly. Tatsuya shook his head, smiled more and said, "Hiroto and Space Penguin". The other seemed to understand and started smiling too.

"I could teach them space penguin", Kiyama said, a new glint in his eyes.

Tatsuya laughed and replied, "I think they would go mad seeing two of me".

"They don't have to know who I am" Kiyama said with an almost maniacal smile on his face.

Tatsuya got chills from the smile the other was giving him. He was starting to see vestiges of Gran he had seen in his dreams and it was scary. The aura of confidence and power the other boy exhumed was a lot stronger than his own.

The other said, "Let's swap for a day. You take my place in my world and I'll take your place here. I want to meet Hiroto and maybe teach the rest of the team a thing or two".

Tatsuya worried. He wasn't sure he wanted to leave his team in this guy's hands. But he wanted to see the other world too. It would be really interesting to meet the other Midorikawa and Saginuma and Nagumo and Suzuno and Reina and the rest.

Seeing Tatsuya's expression, Kiyama said with a softened tone, "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to them. I almost lost them once in my world. I promise to keep them safe in yours"

His words were genuine. Tatsuya knew that. He didn't need Hiroto's memories to feel the sorrow, pain, regret and shame the other felt about certain past events.

Tatsuya gave in. It would be fun to check out the other world after all.

Kiyama took the black and white soccer ball from behind the bushes and gave it to Tatsuya, quickly explaining how to operate the device. It was much simpler to use than Tatsuya had imagined. Tatsuya and the other boy swapped clothes and as the sun set beyond the mountains; Tatsuya waved goodbye as he activated the device, vanishing along with the ball.