The taste of stale popcorn still lingered in my mouth, a phantom reminder of the rom-com Diamond insisted we watch. My head throbbed, not from sleep deprivation, but from the swirling vortex of emotions trapped inside. Momo… the image of her in -another's arms. It all replayed on loop.
Diamond stirred beside me, dark hair splayed across the faded rug. We'd stayed up all night, a desperate attempt to outrun the pain. Movies, video games, endless chatter – anything to keep the silence from swallowing me whole.
"Morning," she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.
I pushed myself up, the floorboards groaning in protest. "Yeah, morning." I needed a shower. I needed to scrub away not just the dirt, but the lingering scent of her perfume, a scent that now felt like a cruel joke.
By the time I returned, fresh and slightly less of a wreck, Diamond was folding the sheets. "Hey, help me with this, would you?" she asked, her eyes bright.
I nodded, grabbing an edge of the linen. We'd done this a million times, a mundane task elevated by the comfortable rhythm of our movements. But today, the air felt different, charged. Diamond, ever mischievous, grabbed another unfolded sheet and draped it over us.
"Ghost and Human!" she chirped, her eyes sparkling with childish glee.
A genuine smile tugged at my lips. God, I loved her. Not…not that way, I told myself. We were just friends. Best friends.
The game was on. I let out a playful roar, chasing Diamond around the room, the sheet billowing around us like a spectral shroud. Laughter filled the air, a temporary balm for the ache in my chest. Then, disaster struck. My foot caught on the edge of the sheet, sending us tumbling to the floor in a tangled heap.
We landed hard, the sheet collapsing around us like a suffocating blanket. My breath hitched. Diamond was right beneath me, her face inches from mine. My heart hammered against my ribs. Her lips… they looked impossibly soft, slightly parted. A stray strand of her blue-streaked hair brushed my cheek. The tension was thick, a palpable thing that crackled in the air between us. Our lips brushed, a fleeting, accidental touch that sent a jolt of electricity through my veins.
I scrambled back, a blush burning in my cheeks. "Sorry," I stammered, my voice cracking.
Diamond's face was flushed too. She didn't say anything, just averted her gaze, a look of surprise and…something else…flickering in her eyes.
I needed to get out. Now.
"I…I gotta go," I blurted, stumbling to my feet. "Duty calls."
I practically ran out of her apartment, the memory of that near-kiss searing in my mind.
The VA common room was deserted when I arrived. I sank onto a worn armchair, burying my face in my hands. What the hell was that? Was I losing my mind?
An hour passed, filled with nothing but panicked thoughts and the frantic drumming of my own heartbeat. The other members of VA started trickling in, looking rumpled and annoyed. Weekend detention, apparently.
Simon, with his perpetually serious expression, and the ever-composed Lexi, took seats beside me. "You're here early," Simon observed, his brow furrowed. "What's wrong, Anos?"
I groaned, letting out a torrent of words, a chaotic jumble of heartbreak, accidental kisses, and confused feelings. When I finally ran out of steam, the room was silent.
Then, the advice started.
"She cheated on you? Dump her and move on," Kyto, the stoic leader of Dead Eyes, said flatly. "Waste of time."
Avis, fiery and impulsive, chimed in, "Get revenge! Key her car, spread rumors, make her life a living hell!"
"Maybe… maybe you should talk to Momo?" Takai, ever the peacemaker, suggested gently. "Try to understand why she did it?"
Jiax, pragmatic and to the point, stated, "Revenge is petty. Focus on yourself. Find someone better."
Kyu, ever the optimist, offered a gentle smile. "Take some time to heal, Anos. And if you think there might be something between you and Diamond, explore it. But don't rush things."
Lexi, her voice soft, added, "Focus on what you want, Anos. Don't let anyone else's expectations cloud your judgment."
Simon, always the voice of reason, stated, gravely, "Take some time. Don't make spur decisions just because you're hurt. But be kind to yourself and Diamond."
Even Shira, offered her input. "Don't wallow in self-pity. Use the pain as motivation. Become stronger. And if the girl is causing you problems, eliminate the problem, not the girl," she said, as sharp and concise as Eraserhead himself.
The conflicting advice swirled around me, leaving me even more confused than before.
Suddenly, a piercing red alarm blared through the building. Crime alert!
We all instinctively reached for the bracelets on our wrists, the ones that triggered our transformation sequences. Moments later, we stood in our vigilante gear, ready for action.
Shira barked out orders, assigning targets and regions. "Anos, you're on Tokyo. Nomu activity and multiple reports of arson."
Tokyo. Just my luck.
I watched as the others dispersed, each utilizing their unique abilities in a spectacular display.
Simon created a massive wave, surfing towards the docks like a modern-day Poseidon.
Lexi summoned a miniature tornado, using it to launch herself skyward towards the center of town.
Avis melted into the earth, reforming a distance away, a trail of molten rock briefly marking her passage.
Jiax shifted into a magnificent orange dragon, soaring away on powerful wings.
Kyu created a beam of pure light, riding it like a celestial surfboard.
Takai transformed into a falcon, disappearing into the clouds with a piercing cry.
Kyto simply dissolved into shadows, reappearing silently in the night.
I grabbed my mask and activated my "Dark Phantom" suit with a sigh. Time to work.
Tokyo was a nightmare. Burning buildings, panicked civilians, and three hulking Nomu wreaking havoc. Prioritizing, I focused on containing the fires first, using my Superman-esque powers to create powerful gusts of wind and manipulate the flames. The Nomu were tougher, requiring a strategic combination of super strength and speed to bring them down. It took me close to thirty minutes, but finally, the city was safe.
My comms buzzed. It was Simon. "Dark Phantom, I need assistance. Major flooding near the port. We're losing ground."
Without hesitation, I changed course. Teamwork was key.
After what felt like an eternity of battling Nomu and floodwaters, we finally wrapped up our missions. Exhausted but satisfied, we limped back to headquarters. It was too late to go home, so we were all bedding down at VA. I grabbed the keys to my room and sagged inside. It was surprisingly luxurious, more like a five-star hotel suite than a vigilante hideout. I stripped off my suit, took a long, hot shower, and collapsed onto the plush bed.
Just as I was drifting off, my phone buzzed. A text message.
From: Diamond 💎
"Hey. You okay? Wanna talk?"