Burning Bright | Keigo Takami x Male Reader

Chapter 11

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(M/N) stared at the endless blue sky, not a cloud in sight. He was floating on his back, the water soothing his body. A few days had passed since the fight with the void creatures and getting transported to another planet and nearly dying and unlocking his powers. He was glad to just be able to relax-

A cold spray of water splashed over his face and (M/N) looked at the culprit in annoyance. Denki laughed at (M/N)'s expression and gestured to him to join them. Kyoka and Nemuri were having their own conversation nearby, sitting on the edge of the water bank with their legs submerged. Keigo was watching Denki and (M/N) with an amused expression. They were swimming in a lake not that far from Keigo's house. It was relatively small and well hidden so no one else ever really came here.

"Come on (M/N)! Don't be boring," Denki said. "You've been lying there for like 20 minutes now."

"It's relaxing," (M/N) huffed.

"Yeah but you look so weird just lying there."

(M/N) raised his eyebrows. "Oh, I'm weird? You're the one who's always like-" (M/N) channelled his powers, and a light washed over his body, revealing not himself, but Denki. "Kyoka!!! Come save me! I'm so helpless without you!"

Kyoka and Nemuri looked over at the sound of Denki's voice. But they quickly realised it was (M/N) and they looked at the real Denki whose face was flushed red with embarrassment.

"No I don't! Stop doing that!" Denki whined. Everyone laughed at him as (M/N) changed back.

After he returned to Earth, (M/N) spent time practising his powers and managed to understand them a lot better. From what he had discovered, he could make clones of himself that could use his powers, like the time he first created one against that monster. But they would only last for a few seconds. He also realised he could not only clone himself, but transform into other people entirely. That part was a lot harder to get used to. When he had first transformed into Keigo while fighting the monster. He was able to use his powers without really thinking, but his body was pumped up on adrenaline. He had been solely focused on killing the monster. Once he was back home and tried doing it again, it was a lot harder. He had to ask the others for help with their powers. It was almost like learning to be a Star Guardian again.

He also quickly realised that he could only transform into people he had a close connection with. At least, that seemed like the most logical thing he could think of after trying to transform into random people many times only to come up with nothing, but he was able to transform into everyone in Keigo's group, as well as his parents. He still wasn't accustomed to using the others' powers, and was nowhere near as strong as they were when using them.

"I'm still not used to that," Keigo said after his laughter died down. "It's weird looking at you and seeing myself."

"Yeah, none of us are used to it!" Denki huffed.

(M/N) just laughed and dropped back into the water. He was just happy he had finally unlocked his powers. Just moments before he did he assumed he was going to die. Thinking back on it, he was really glad he was able to pick himself up and keep going.

~

"You really are something, (M/N)."

"Well, I'm a Star Guardian, after all."

"That you are." Keigo moved forward to lift (M/N) onto his feet. "You're so reckless."

"Why didn't you help me, then?" (M/N) asked.

"I only just got here. Otherwise I would have," Keigo said. "Quite a surprise though. The last thing I expected was to see myself fighting that monster."