My Lost Light

Chapter 2: The Archer

My childhood best friend and the most famous and talented archer, none other than, Kokoro Kaida. Kenji and I had started to walk through the forest. This dress is not really suited for traveling and I don't have a hair tie on me. I don't really know what to think of my looks. I'm sure I would probably be classified as pretty, as I've had multiple people say it before. I'm tall, maybe just a foot above average. I have a slender body; I've had people tell me I seem a little underweight but in the past doctors have said there's no issues. I have short black hair that fades into red. With messy bangs that fall straight across my forehead that do the same. My eyes are an emerald green. The dress I was wearing is emerald, green too.

After what seemed like a short walk, we arrived in Isdom. Kenji had advised me to lead the way to where we need to go. That's how we ended up in front of an archery range.

"An archery range? Is your friend an archer?" He asked.

"Yeah." I replied. I then opened the door, there she was Kokoro Kaida. She was average height probably around 5'4-5'5 with short light blonde hair that reached her shoulders. She had brown eyes. She was wearing her archery advised uniform. She stood with perfect posture, focused on what was the sight of her arrow and the target. You could see her take a deep breath and shoot. Hit right in the middle of the target that had gone through 2 other arrows that ended up in the middle as well.

"Kokoro." I called out to her. Her head immediately shot over to look in our direction.

"Senshi!" She called out in joy. She ran over hugged me and started jumping up and down.

"It's been so long! How have you been? Have you been letting your hair grow out? Who's this guy? Is he your boyfriend? Why Didn't you tell me you had a boyfriend?" She started asking all these questions.

"One question at a time Kokoro. I've been fine. My hair looks the same as usual. This is Kenji Kosuke. No, he's not my boyfriend. I legit just met him." I answered all her questions. Kenji was oddly red faced when I looked over at him.

"That's disappointing." Kokoro stated and sighed.

"Kokoro when is the last time you had a boyfriend?" I had blatantly asked her she had soon responded with a whiny tone.

"Come on you don't have to be so mean."

"For some reason I'm told that it's my job to be like that." I mention sarcastically.

"So, what are you doing here?" Kokoro had asked me.

"Well, we're currently going on a journey technically-" 

 "Senshi that shouldn't be technically" Kenji had jumped in.

"We legit just started traveling together so I mean it's still kind of technically" I had responded.

"you guys are traveling together Oh my God let me let me come let me come let me come let me come" Kokoro had start a begging.

"That's not really my decision to make." I had partially declared, and I looked over at Kenji looking for approval.

"The more the merrier. You can come." Kenji approved with a smile on his face. I didn't understand how he could be so overly happy all the time.

"Thank you! Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Kokoro Kaida it's a pleasure to meet you!" Kokoro had introduced herself to Kenji.

"The famous archer?!" He questioned in surprise and looked over at me.

"You're friends with the best archer known to man?!" Kenji asked still in shock.

"Yes, I am." I responded nonchalantly.

"Well, let's go!" Kokoro exclaimed excitedly.

"Kokoro." A man in the shadows presumably an RSO (range safety officer) called her name.

"Yeah?" She asked. He just looked at her and she nodded her head.

"Give me five minutes guys." Kokoro told.

"She's quite...uh...hyper." Kenji commented, seemingly hesitating a times when speaking.

"She's always been like that." I responded with a shrug.

"I see, well, this should be interesting." He implied.

"Okay we're good. Let's go." Kokoro exclaimed and started to push us out the door.

We ended up doing a bit of shopping which I didn't mind as I needed a few things such as: hair ties, some outfit to hold me until we get to a shopping district, probably a few other things.

'Eri, what's the estimation on how long this will take?'

'Response; approximately one hour.'

We're going to be here for a while. I was forced into a few stores and forced to try on some clothes. I got what I needed, and I think everyone else did.

"Let's go!" Kokoro exclaimed after we finished shopping.

"Calm down." I told Kokoro.

"Fine, fine." Kokoro followed.

"Actually, I think you need more enthusiasm, Senshi." Kenji had stated.

I didn't respond to it. Kokoro looked back at me and threw a bow at me.

"You want to spar?" I asked her. My expression couldn't be read but I've been told often that I seem very emotionless.

"I'm gonna win this time." She declared with some enthusiasm.

"We will see." I replied.

"Don't hold back." Kokoro demanded.

"Wouldn't dream of it." I announced.

We both jumped back. Having a forest surrounding is both an advantage and disadvantage to the attacker. Especially in a one-on-one. There were already arrows being fired in my general direction. Despite Kokoro's mannerisms and little care, she has more spatial awareness than anyone I've ever met. She's always been good at archery. I mainly started with being on the more defensive side, reminding myself of her techniques and strategies.

"Fight back already!" Kokoro shouted demands.

I finally decided to take a shot. I focused my visions on Kokoro's preferred area. I then determined the density of the wind in specific areas. Then determining Kokoro's specific whereabouts through my own spatial awareness. But, I realized, something was off, very off. I pushed it aside for a moment. We are being watched. They're good at concealing themselves. I wanted to finish this battle as soon as possible. I focused my arrow and shot it, Kokoro barely avoiding. We took some more shots. I realized this said person was getting closer. I needed to finish. I took a deep breath, drew back my arrow, and aimed, when I fired, the arrow barely scrapped Kokoro's cheek but didn't cause any bleeding.

"I win." I declare.

"And I thought I'd win this time too." Kokoro whined.

"Maybe ne- "Kenji started but I cut him off by putting my arm in front of him. Everyone paused.

The aura kept getting closer and closer. I looked over to where it was coming from. Next thing I saw was someone flying out of the woods with a camera in hand.

"Ah-"The person screamed just as they fell into the bushes.

"Huh?" we all noised, confused.