Tide Between Two Worlds

Countdown to Competition, Pt. 1

       "OHTA," Kiyoni shouted while on a video call with Shuichi and Kuronue, "OHTA IS IN ON THIS NOW?!"

       "Ikeda Kiyoni," her father chided from downstairs, "Will you please keep your voice down? You better be studying, young lady."

       "SORRY, DAD! My bad, boys. I really am supposed to be studying but...Ohta is involved now?"

       "Without question," Shuichi confirmed, "He switched both my lotion and water bottle."

       "So what does that mean for nationals? If Ohta can steal your stuff and if Kaito catches you, it's bye bye championship."

       "Have faith, Ikeda," Kuronue encouraged, lounging in his seat, "We're ready for them."

       "Eh?"

To demonstrate, Shuichi displayed his level of control over electricity a suitable distance from his laptop. Multiple currents of electricity circulated between Shuichi's hands as if he was playing a voltaic game of cat's cradle. The trick brought a satisfying smile to his face.

       "No way," Kiyoni gawked, "How did you do that?"

       "Haha." Kuronue continued, "He's Killua from HunterxHunter."

       "I needed to make time for myself for a few days," Shuichi informed, "That included asking Lady Botan to help me master this at the very least. I'm not there yet but it's enough to throw Kaito off for good."

       "So all we need is Kaito and his phone," Kiyoni concluded.

       "And since he has an iPhone..." Kuronue added, "it's as good as dead."

       Kiyoni does a quick search for Kaito's TikTok page, looking for any inkling of him following through on his threats, "Don't I feel stupid? The one time I didn't listen to my intuition... Ooh! Kuromi has a TikTok page. Following. ...AHHH! FELIX IS GOING LIVE TONIGHT!"

       "Kiyoni Alaye..." Ava shouted, also from downstairs, "you had better be off that phone by the time I come up there. You're supposed to be studying."

       "I AM, MOM! SORRY!"

       "Did I hear 'Alaye'," Kuronue asked.

       "Alaye is my...middle name that no one really knows somymomcallsmethatwheneveri'minbigtroublepleasedon'tspeakofitagain–Okay, I'm totally getting off track but...I mean, it's Felix... Okay, things look safe for now. When do you plan on getting the drop on him?"

       "Nationals," Shuichi answered, "Obviously, Kaito wants to catch me right at the peak of everything and shift the environment in his favor. That's not going to happen."

       Kuronue couldn't be more smug, "I can't wait to see the look on Kaito's face."

       Kiyoni agreed, "Neither can I."

       With the national junior high swimming championship coming within less than twenty-four hours, it's only fitting for it to take place in Tokyo. The same Tokyo that hosted the Olympic games where a few competitive swimming records were made and broken. That's what a few of this year's athletes were hoping to do.

Due to the fact that it's a first for one Meiou Academy, a noticeable amount of students were experiencing Tokyo for the first time as made evident by the amount of pictures and video that were taken. Mushiyori City may be urbanized but it has nothing on Tokyo. Vibrant signs, colors, and advertising, skyscrapers seemingly ripped from anime, tourists from just about anywhere, breathtaking landscapes, the Tokyo Tower itself. The city was a social media paradise.