A Ghoul In Tempest

Chapter 8: From the Ashes

Several weeks later, Hikaru and Aiko were finally ready to go back to America. They would pack all their stuff and get on a plane. However, before they did that, they would go visit the graveyard that Daichi was buried at and mourn before leaving. They would also visit Akane and her family and thank them for everything with helping Hikaru mentally and physically throughout the times. As the plane began its ascent from Tokyo, Hikaru stared out the window, his thoughts tangled. Aiko would hug him, saying "You've come so far, my son. I know it has not been easy for any of us, but you are showing so much strength. Your father would be proud."

As the hours stretched on, Hikaru continued having thoughts of what his mom said, along with all the moments that he had with his father. For the rest of his life, Hikaru will always remember his father. Then he thought about everything Akane told him, every positive thing that helped him out of his depression. As the plane glided through the clouds, Hikaru clenched his fists lightly. A sense of clarity washed over him. He wasn't just returning to the United States to rejoin the team, he was returning as a new version of himself. A version of himself that refuses to let fear or despair define who he was. The path ahead was daunting, but he was ready to face it.

The last few hours of the flight felt like a blur. Aiko and Hikaru would return to the apartment they were renting in San Francisco and would unpack everything before going to the Shock facility. Stepping into the facility for the first time in months felt surreal, like stepping back to something he loved. He was surrounded by teammates and coaches, all welcoming him back. "Welcome back, Hikaru. We sure missed you," Coach Crusty said, giving Hikaru and Aiko a hug. "We have really struggled without you. We are right now 4-6 with Midseason Madness Qualifiers ending this weekend. We win 2 games; we qualify for the tournament," Proper added. Hikaru gave a confident smirk, saying, "I am ready Crusty."

The next few days were absolutely grueling as Hikaru threw himself into practices and scrims with renewed focus. He would study the footage late into the night, pinpointing just about every weakness with every fight, whether won or lost. In scrims, Hikaru played with a level he didn't even know he had, impressing all the players and coaches. Slowly, the team began to regain their rhythm, becoming who they were right before Hikaru's life changed. His presence brought life back into the team that was gone without him. Unbeknownst to Hikaru, his stalker would be standing outside the facility in the shadows, watching everything that Hikaru did with an evil smirk on his face.

The San Francisco Shock's return to form was nothing short of electrifying. With Hikaru back on the starting lineup with Proper, the team dominated both games they needed to win to secure a spot in the Midseason Madness tournament, with two 3-0 wins against the Dallas Fuel, who was the best team in North America and the Vancouver Titans, who were the fifth best team. Hikaru's dominant performance did not go unnoticed. His name began to echo across the Overwatch League community. The analysts praised his game sense and mechanical skill, along with praises from them and fans for his inspiring comeback. "This kid is the real deal. He is back in the race for Rookie of the Year and maybe even Most Valuable Player," Mr. X said after one of the games. For Hikaru, the recognition was only secondary. What mattered most was bringing the energy and confidence back to the team. For the first time since the beginning of the year, the Shock felt like contenders again.

As the team prepared for the tournament in Seoul, South Korea, the facility became a hive of activity again. Scrims stretched into the night and VOD reviews were intense, but educational. After a week of practice, the team, along with Aiko, would fly to Seoul to compete in the Midseason Madness tournament. After a day of rest and traveling around the city, the team would get ready for their first-round opponent, who was against the Seoul Dynasty, the second seeded team in the 8-team double elimination tournament. The Dynasty was led by Profit who was having an MVP-like season. As the team got ready to go on stage, Hikaru would make a speech. "We've got this. One game at a time. Let's show the world what the Shock are made of," he said as the team walked on stage.

As the game started, the crowd erupted in cheers. Hikaru and the Shock showed everyone that they were back and better than ever, winning the first two maps with ease. The Dynasty would fight back, winning the third map in close fashion, but the Shock would dominate the fourth map, winning the series 3-1. After handshakes and shows of respect, Profit and Hikaru would hug it out, giving signs of respect between competitors. The next day, the Shock would play against the third seeded Hangzhou Spark. Hikaru and Proper, along with the tank player Junbin really showed up, dominating the series 3-0. Hikaru became the talk of the tournament, putting him in talks for not just tournament MVP, but also Rookie of the Year and regular season MVP. But the tournament was not over yet. Sunday, they would have to play the number one seed Dallas Fuel, who they previously beat to make it to the tournament. The match was extremely close, exchanging maps. 2-2, they would play the fifth map, which was Busan. Hikaru would have his best map of the series and carry the Shock to win the series 3-2 and make it to the Grand Finals of the tournament, with the crowd erupting in cheers and Aiko crying tears of joy.

As the crowd cheered for the Shock following their semifinals victory and chants of "MVP" for Hikaru, a dark shadow loomed in the venue. Akira would watch from the stands in anger and jealousy. Every cheer and chant for Hikaru felt like a dagger to Akira's pride. His hands clenched tightly, his eyes never leaving Hikaru as he celebrated with the team and shook the hands of the Dallas Fuel players. What really angered him the most was the interview that Hikaru did. "I would like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting us and supporting me. I am truly thankful." The Shock's run was the talk of the tournament, but for Akira, it was a bitter reminder of everything he believed Hikaru didn't deserve. Beneath the roar of the surrounding crowd, Akira's resentment began to bubble into something darker and more sinister, his thoughts consumed with ways to bring Hikaru's rise to an end.

The Midseason Madness Grand Finals started as the Shock were playing against the Shanghai Dragons, who made a miracle run through the lower bracket. The crowd was electric the entire series as the teams went back and forth. The seventh map was Colosseo, the same map Proper lost in the World Championship against the Dallas Fuel in 2022. The Shock, led by Proper and Hikaru, would clutch up the last team fight to secure the win and the Midseason Madness championship. The Shock players would celebrate with each other, with the crowd erupting. Aiko, who was standing the entire match in the front row, cried tears of joy and hugged nearby fans as she watched her son win her first championship as a professional player, giving her memories of Daichi's win in Tokyo. The teams would give handshakes and bows of respect. "The San Francisco Shock are your Midseason Madness Champions", Mr. X and Legday announced as the team lifted the trophy, surrounded by confetti. Hikaru was presented as the tournament MVP. During his interview, he would thank the fans along with thanking his father, with tears in his eyes.

Backstage, the team celebrated as Aiko hugged Hikaru from behind. "I'm so proud of you, Hikaru. Your father would also be so proud of you," Aiko said in tears. Hikaru joined her, saying, "Thank you mom. I love you so much." Hours later, long after the celebrations were over, Hikaru would grab his stuff and walk outside, the cool night air brushing against his face. Exhilaration and exhaustion controlled his body as he replayed the night in his mind. The moment of reflection would quickly shatter as a figure emerged from the shadows of the alleyway. The figure, cloaked completely in black, stepped into the dim light, his face covered by the hood. "Enjoy this victory while it lasts," the figure said, full of malice. Hikaru froze as Akira took a step closer. "You took everything from me. I'll make sure you lose it all," he finished before fading back into the shadows. The threat continued to flood his mind as he stood there shaken and furious. Fear clawed at him; thoughts of the past returned to his mind. But beneath it, a burning resolve began to form. He was not going to let this stalker win.

Hikaru stood in the silence of his hotel room later that night, the weight of the evening pressing on him. The joy of the victory was still there, but it was overshadowed by the fear the stalker caused. He was debating on whether to tell someone- Aiko, his teammates, anyone. But the fear of provoking the stalker into something even worse kept him very silent. Instead of telling anyone, he would begin to sketch out a plan to keep the team and his family safe from the stalker. As he stared out into the midnight sky, a chilling thought entered his mind. This was no longer about just his career; it was about survival and Akira was not going to stop until something broke.