Burning Bright | Keigo Takami x Male Reader

Chapter 28

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I'm still getting used to the phrase 'my team'. But if my team is going to be effective, we need one more person. Someone else who has been around for a while. Exposed to all the hard truths of being a Star Guardian.

On a far away planet, a young male with spiky indigo hair stood by a lonely tree in an endless grassy field. He was talking to himself, as if he was introducing himself to someone.

"Hello. My name's Tamaki... I, um..." he stood frozen for a few seconds before turning around and hiding his face against the tree. "This shouldn't be so hard."

From further down, (M/N) was laying in the tall grass on his stomach, watching Tamaki through binoculars.

"So... what exactly am I looking at here?" Mirio said from beside him, scratching his head. "Is he practising how to talk to people?"

"I guess so," (M/N) said.

They watched Tamaki continue to try to make conversation, but he would get embarrassed and try to hide away against the tree every time.

"I've never seen anyone so socially awkward before, especially not a Star Guardian," Mirio said.

"There are many different types of Star Guardians it would seem," (M/N) said. "He was the only other Guardian I had any information about alongside you two, anyway. There is no one else that can help us."

Except for that outer Guardian, but he could be a million light years away for all I know, (M/N) thought.

He was intrigued, however, as to how someone who could barely hold a conversation with himself had been given the duty of protecting the universe from evil. There must have been something about him that made the First Star decide he would be a good candidate.

"He's so cute! Can we go say hi yet?" Nejire said from behind them.

"A little less loud?" (M/N) tried to hush her.

Suddenly Tamaki looked around, alarmed.

"I think he heard us," Mirio said.

But then (M/N) pulled his gaze upwards and saw what Tamaki was looking at, a portal was opening in the sky. "No, I don't think it was us."

"Uh, do you think that chaos portal is where the void monsters keep coming from?" Nejire asked.

"Void monsters usually come from portals," (M/N) said.

"This one is different. I can tell," Nejire added.

(M/N) looked closer and could see a glimpse of vibrant colours on the other side, nearly impossible to get a clear view on from this angle, though. His heart skipped a beat at the familiarity that tiny sight gave him. Memories of his year on the run flooded his mind. If it really was what he thought it was...

"Keigo?" he stared up at the portal in shock. It felt familiar, it had to be Toga's realm.

"(M/N), what's wrong?" Mirio asked.

"Is it showtime?" Nejire said excitedly.

(M/N) was already running down the slopey hill towards the portal and Tamaki before they could await a response.

Tamaki was startled by his presence. "Who are you?"

(M/N) ignored him, reaching towards the portal. "Keigo!"

He has to be in there.

(M/N) didn't register the muffled shouts coming from his new teammates, instead the wind was knocked out of him as a void hound lunged forward and grasped onto him, propelling him into the ground.