Burning Bright | Keigo Takami x Male Reader

Chapter 14

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(M/N) laid on a towel against the sand in his swim shorts. The sun peeked through the leaves of the palm trees above him. They were currently at the resort, and had the rest of the week there. (M/N) got permission from his parents to go - though he had told them he was just going camping - and they obviously made comments when they found out he was going with Keigo. They just wouldn't let it go.

That was the least of his problems, though. He kept replaying the events of last week in his mind. When he encountered that creature on his way home from school. He hadn't told the others about it yet. He was still trying to understand it, so he didn't really know how to articulate his thoughts to the others. He wondered why he didn't mention seeing the creature in the school as well. He planned to tell the others when they met up, yet it completely slipped his mind, no matter how hard he tried to remember. He assumed it was the creature's doing. He wouldn't just forget something like that. If it could make him feel enough fear to stop him from summoning his Star Guardian outfit, it could probably manipulate his thoughts. It was just a guess, but it wasn't one he wanted. If it could manipulate his thoughts, could it touch his memories? Could it corrupt him? There were a lot of things he wanted to know. He already knew it was intelligent, perhaps more so than that void monster he killed a few months ago when he unlocked his full powers. He was assuming it was also the cause for those void creatures acting strange on Crystalis, so it had to be powerful.

(M/N) heard the others shouting around the beach. They were currently playing volleyball, clearly having a lot of fun. (M/N) didn't want to ruin that. Maybe it would be best to wait until after the trip to bring it up. He had a feeling Keigo had something planned afterwards, anyway. Probably related to Star Guardian activities.

This resort was quite impressive, which led (M/N) to question how they were going to pay for it. But Keigo said the manager knew about Star Guardians, and had known for a long time. Apparently, decades ago, the man and his family were saved from void creatures by Star Guardians, and he had been helping them when he could ever since. He knew that their group were Guardians, and let them stay here for free. (M/N) wondered about the Star Guardians the manager met. Were they still around? If they were then they had to be pretty old. It was wishful thinking, though. Really he assumed they were long gone.

He let out a sigh and closed his eyes. Relishing in the serenity this place brought him. The rustle of the leaves. The waves crashing against the beach. The cool breeze against his face and bare chest. He stayed like that for a while, until eventually he heard someone walking towards him. He opened his eyes to see Keigo standing above him with his hands on his hips. He also wasn't wearing a shirt, so (M/N) closed his eyes to avoid getting... distracted.

"Can I help you?" (M/N) said.

"We're gonna go swimming," Keigo said.

(M/N) hummed. "That's nice. Have fun."

"All of us," Keigo insisted. (M/N) could practically hear his grin.

"Just let me relax here for a bit," (M/N) said.

"You sound like my old man," Keigo sighed.

"I might as well be, with how much I have to babysit you."

"Not even," Keigo said. "Come swim."

(M/N) waved his hand. "Later."

Keigo didn't respond for a few seconds, and (M/N) thought he had some peace again. Then he heard Keigo walk closer.

He opened his eyes again. "What are you-" He didn't get to finish as he was lifted up and over Keigo's shoulder, who began walking down the beach. (M/N) struggled and told Keigo to put him down. He did, but not until they were in the ocean.