Panacea

Panacea Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I certainly don't own Scarlet Nexus or any of its affliated properties.

"Scarlet Nexus": Speech (Bold for yelling or Boss level creature)

'Scarlet Nexus': Thought

Scarlet Nexus: Memories

[Scarlet Nexus]: Brain Talk

'I have to talk to Tsugumi about what Karen told me and Kasane. He's my role model and all but something seems off about him these days...' Hikaru mused as he was travelling towards Yuito platoon's hideout using coordinates he got from Seto a few hours ago. While he was passing through the area close to Mizuhagawa however, he suddenly felt a sharp jolt of pain coursing through his body.

"Ahh! What is this pain?!" Hikaru exclaimed as he fell to his knees behind a massive construction truck, the pain travelling throughout his body starting from his torso and focusing on his limbs and head. 'I can't even move my fingers and my head feels like it's about to split at the seams!' He grunted as he passed out holding his head while unknown to him, his crimson aura started leaking out of his body, the energy slowly turning yellow as white particles appeared to coalesce around his body.

"Karen? Did you find something?"

"Just some brat-found him dumpster diving when we were fighting some Others."

"...he has the Genesis power?! Why didn't you tell me this Fubuki?"

"...he's a lost cause. All that power and the brat can't even use it without hurting himself."

"So what if I can't use SAS?! I will help! Just you watch-I will show all of you just what I can do!"

A cold wind passed over the Mizuhagawa construction site as Hikaru came to, his bleary eyes focusing on the time displayed on his brain messaging interface. "Sure felt like the head trip lasted for much longer than just a few minutes." He grumbled, putting a hand on the back of his head and rubbing a knot hidden in his hair. "It's been a while since I took a trip down memory lane-I didn't think I'd remember stuff that far back."

He then made to rise to his feet and grinned as he noticed that his body seemed to have healed completely despite all the abuse he put it through on such short notice. It was a matter of personal pride to Hikaru that he would be as self sufficient as possible. Back when he was scouted for the OSF by Karen, he was first put on a pedestal because of his standoffish attitude (being street rat and all) as well as being Karen's pet project (because of his massive latent power). When he failed his first SAS mockup tests in basic training however, the floodgates broke and the whispers turned into jeers; the wonderboy somehow being a failure, unable to coordinate with SAS or even use his power without exhausting himself or hurting others with his power runoff. He ended up being ostracized, the kid adopting a stonewall personality to block out all the 'extras' that somehow had the gall to make fun of him. Hikaru reminded himself that he wasn't weak he as he trained and flexed his power on the other cadets.

Unfortunately, all the casualties he caused caught the attention of Fubuki, who tried to counsel him and get him to let up on his fellow cadets. The Major General also introduced him to Arashi and Kyoka in the hopes that they would be able to teach him or find a way he could use his power properly. Later on in the midst of training, Hikaru found Tsugumi as the girl appeared to be lonely just like him. They had a shaky start to their friendship but in the end, the girl's honest and adorable nature wore down his walls and they became close. They then met Kagero after they finished training, the Adult sliding into their group as the rest was history.

"So this is the hideout Yuito offered to the platoon? Looks pretty standard for the blueblood variety." Hikaru said as he entered the hideout, the somber mood immediately apparent as he could see the aftereffects of Seto's advice on fatality rates as an OSF member. 'It's always tough losing a team member-I remember Seto giving me a speech about death after Miyuki passed away.' He mused as he went and sat near Tsugumi, the girl wordlessly moving over on the couch.