Somewhere in a high school in Yamaguchi Prefecture, a lone young man stared blankly at the board as he solved the equation his teacher had written. After circling his answer, he let out a quiet yawn. At the front, his female math teacher nodded in satisfaction, her glasses catching the light as she adjusted them with a practiced motion.
The young man's name was Inuyama Hideo. He was a brilliant yet bored student.
"Very well done, as usual, Inuyama-kun," the teacher said, her tone pleased. Around him, his classmates—mostly girls—offered light applause.
Hideo made his way back to his seat at the very back, by the window. Dropping into his chair, he turned his gaze outside as the wind brushed through his hair. Closing his eyes, he let the gentle breeze wash over him, as if it could cleanse even a fraction of his lingering boredom.
"Psst."
The soft call broke through the quiet.
Hideo's eyes snapped open. He frowned slightly and turned to the girl beside him, who was already grinning.
"Do you need something, Konomi?" he muttered, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb the class.
"Give me a pencil please~" she asked, clasping her hands together. "I'll just borrow it for a bit—don't worry, I'll return it right away."
"You always say that, but you never give it back," Hideo deadpanned, resting his chin on his hand.
"Come on, I won't do that this time, Hideo," she said with a playful grin.
Shaking his head, he pulled out his pencil case and unzipped it. Taking one of the shorter pencils, he held it out for her to take.
"Thanks." She winked.
Hideo immediately looked away, letting out a small huff. It might have seemed rude to anyone watching, but it was anything but that.
Just because they had known each other for so long didn't mean his guard around her was any lower. If anything, that unchanging poker face was necessary—his last line of defense to maintain his sanity whenever she was around.
"Damn it… why is she so cute?"
A faint blush crept onto his face as his thoughts drifted.
Tatara Konomi was his childhood friend since kindergarten. In Hideo's eyes, she was undeniably pretty. Her shoulder-length reddish hair framed her features perfectly, and her athletic build reflected her dedication as a martial artist. Not that he'd ever say that out loud. Her chest was modest, but it suited her well, completing a figure that was both balanced and striking in its own way.
She was also a fellow disciple under their current martial arts master. She had also been scouted by the Defense Force, and if her words were to be believed, she'd be joining them as soon as next month.
"…," he remained silent, his thoughts drifting to the Defense Force, that familiar, ugly bitterness creeping back into his chest.
Peaches.
Something most women in the world had consumed. In exchange, they were granted a wide array of abilities—ranging from the mundane to overwhelming combat prowess. Like many others, Konomi had taken one herself, and she belonged to the latter.
Men, on the other hand, gained nothing from them, even if they tried. The balance of the world had long since shifted in favor of women, and men simply had to accept it. After graduating high school, they could go straight into the workforce.
Alternatively, there was college—pursuing a higher-paying career. That was the path Hideo planned to take. It had always been his goal to become a doctor and attend a good university to make it happen.
And yet, despite that dream, he felt bored with his life. He wanted something exciting to happen. Something more than the quiet expectation that he would one day marry Konomi and kiss her—
"What the hell am I thinking?" He shook his head quickly, cutting off the thought before it wandered any further.
Right on cue, the bell rang, signaling the end of math class. The sound of students stirring for lunch soon filled the entire school.
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Sitting on the rooftop floor, Hideo ate his lunch while Konomi chatted with her friend.
"Listen here, Ema, I was—" Konomi said between bites of chicken.
"Seriously? That's hilar—" Ema chuckled.
Hideo didn't interrupt them. He simply enjoyed the meal he had prepared, chewing slowly as he sipped from a box of mango juice. His gaze drifted into nothingness, occasionally landing on other students eating on the rooftop.
[Found you~~]
Hideo stiffened. The voice echoed in his head. He glanced around, searching for any sign of where it came from. He kept his composure, unwilling to embarrass himself, but inside, his thoughts raced.
"What was that?!"
He turned his head left and right, his chopsticks slipping from his fingers.
After a moment, he forced himself to calm down. It had to be nothing more than a brief hallucination—just his mind warning him that he needed rest before he drove himself into instability.
Yeah… that had to be it.
"I'm really losing my mind…" he muttered, massaging his forehead as he let out a quiet sigh.
Noticing his behavior, both Konomi and Ema paused their conversation and looked at him with concern. He was acting off—more than usual that is.
"Is something wrong, Inuyama-kun?" Ema asked, her voice laced with worry.
"Nah, it's nothing serious. Just lack of sleep, I guess." He smiled, trying to reassure them.
Konomi narrowed her eyes, frowning as she turned fully toward him. She grabbed his face, inspecting him closely.
"Be honest with me, Hideo. What's wrong?" she asked in a firm tone, clearly seeing through him.
"Like I said, nothing to worry about." He sighed and gently swatted her hand away.
Still unconvinced, Konomi eventually shrugged it off. A moment later, she stood up, excusing herself to go to the bathroom.
Now alone with Ema, a brief silence settled between them before she suddenly grinned. She scooted closer to Hideo and nudged him with her elbow.
"So… how's it going?" she asked, her tone teasing.
"What do you mean?" Hideo replied, avoiding her gaze.
"Don't play dumb with me," she said, leaning in close to his ear, her voice dropping into a mischievous whisper. "I'm talking about you and Konomi."
She smirked.
"So… are you finally making a move?"
"…"
"Yes or super yes?"
Hideo frowned. Without a word, he raised his hand and flicked Ema on the forehead.
"Ouch! What was that for?" Ema complained, rubbing the spot he hit.
"Like I told you, Makura, there's nothing like that," he sighed, calling her by her family name. "We're just close friends. Nothing more."
"Boring~~" Ema sneered playfully. "You're like an open book, Inuyama-kun. It's obvious you have feelings for Konomi."
"I won't deny that." He raised his hand in surrender. "But I won't ruin what we have by going in that direction."
As their conversation continued, Konomi returned from her break and sat down beside them, casually biting into a piece of bread.
"Another one?" Hideo deadpanned, eyeing her after everything she had already eaten.
"Can't help it, I'm a growing girl. Besides, I need energy for my lesson with Master later." Konomi giggled, tapping her stomach before tilting her head. "Aren't you coming to the dojo with me later?"
"Nah. I've got my own thing this afternoon. Besides, I'd like to avoid that old demon for a bit after the beating she gave me last time." Hideo shivered at the memory. "I haven't touched my bow in a while, so I'll take it out and make sure it doesn't gather dust."
"Now that you mention it, you do archery," Ema said, popping open a can of orange soda. "You were really into it back in middle school too. Why'd you slow down? You used to be glued to it."
"Just lost my passion for it. Not a big deal." Hideo shrugged, scratching his nose. "These days, I just use it to cool down from stress."
He reached for his phone, but something caught his interest instead. Turning, he lightly tapped Konomi to get her attention.
"I'm curious, Konomi."
"Mm? About what?"
"You're going to be part of that old demon's squad in the Defense Force."
"And?"
"What do you think about it?"
"…."
Konomi paused. She leaned back against the bench, tilting her head as she thought it over. After a moment, she straightened up.
"Afraid and excited at the same time. That's how I'd put it," she said, crossing her legs as her eyes drifted shut. "I mean, yeah, I'm scared. I'll be staying in Mato, after all. And I don't want to disappoint Master—she expects a lot from me."
Her lips curled into a grin.
"But at the same time, I'm excited. I'll get to fight, to train as much as I want, and beat up those Shuukis!!"
She sprang to her feet, raising her hand high. Her energy flared—literally.
The shockwave knocked both Hideo and Ema off the bench, sending them tumbling onto the grass behind them.
"Don't use your ability, dumbass!" Hideo snapped, pushing himself up and dusting off his uniform. He stepped forward and chopped her lightly on the head.
Ema groaned but couldn't help the wry smile on her face, clearly used to Konomi's bursts of enthusiasm.
"…Tehee~"
Konomi shut one eye and stuck out her tongue playfully as Hideo's hand landed on her head.
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Later that evening, the sky turned pitch-black and the full moon was hanging high above. After finishing dinner with his dad and taking a bath, Hideo sat in his bedroom, pen in hand as he wrote in his notebook.
The steady motion of his pen, the music playing through his headset, and the cool air from the air conditioner—everything blended into a quiet ambience.
"…."
After a while, he set the pen down and stretched, loosening the tension in his body.
His thoughts drifted again.
That voice from earlier.
"…I was definitely just imagining it," he muttered, shaking his head.
Wanting to clear his mind, he took off his headset and stepped out of his room. Heading downstairs, he informed his dad that he'd be heading to the nearby court for a bit. Since it was Friday and there were no classes the next day, his father allowed it.
"Just be careful," his dad said, absentmindedly changing the TV channel and waving him off.
"I will." Hideo nodded, returning the gesture.
Stepping outside, the cool night air brushed against his skin. Above him, the sky stretched wide and clear, scattered with stars that shimmered softly beneath the glow of the full moon.
As he walked through the streets, he passed houses with their lights still on. He greeted a neighbor's cat lounging lazily by the gate, then idly kicked a loose rock along the pavement. Hideo busied himself with small, absent gestures until his feet carried him onto the familiar path leading to the basketball court.
To his surprise, he was not alone.
A fairly tall man stood on the court, a fedora perched neatly on his head. He dribbled the ball with ease, then sent it arcing cleanly through the hoop before jogging to retrieve it. As he turned, he noticed Hideo stepping onto the court. A smile spread across his face as he tipped the brim of his fedora and gave a slight bow in greeting.
"Quite a lovely night we have, kid," the man said casually, resuming his dribble. "Don't mind an old man like me playing alone out here."
"No, not at all. Please, go ahead… Mr.?" Hideo replied, lifting a hand in reassurance. Not knowing the man's name, he let the question linger as he spoke.
"Call me Apple," he said with a smile, spinning the ball on his finger.
"Apple? That's a peculiar name for a japanese,"Hideo thought, though he kept it to himself, unwilling to sound disrespectful.
"What about you, kid? What's your name?"
"Me? I'm Inuyama Hideo."
As they talked, Hideo found himself slipping easily into the rhythm of conversation. He explained that he had only recently transferred to the area and had been wandering around when he happened upon the empty court and the stray ball.
"Yeah, this place is quite lovely compared to my old city," Apple said, scratching the back of his head with an embarrassed smile. "My former place was pretty rowdy, I'd say."
"Where did you live before, Mr. Apple?"
"Nothing too special. My hometown was called Zawame City." He shrugged when he saw the confusion on Hideo's face. "You probably haven't heard of it because it's not exactly well known."
Apple smirked and tossed the ball toward Hideo. "Alright, enough chitchat. Why don't we have a friendly one-on-one match, Hideo-kun?"
"I mean, if you're okay with it, I'm in," Hideo replied with a grin. "I don't have anything better to do anyway."
"That's the spirit," Apple said, his smile widening.
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Losing track of time, Hideo found himself genuinely enjoying the game. To his surprise, Apple kept up with him effortlessly. Despite not looking particularly athletic for a middle-aged man, he matched Hideo's pace with ease. They traded points back and forth until, eventually, both silently agreed they had played enough.
"I had a great time," Apple chuckled. "You're good, kid."
"Right back at you, old man. You're seriously fast and strong," Hideo replied, sweat dripping down his face, though a satisfied smile remained.
Apple rose from the bench and walked over to a nearby vending machine. He slipped in a coin and returned with two cold bottles of water. Tossing one toward Hideo, he gave a short nod.
"Catch."
"Thanks."
They opened their bottles at the same time and drank deeply, finishing them in one go. A long, relaxed exhale followed from both of them.
After a brief silence, Apple spoke again.
"I'm going to ask you something a little personal, kid. You don't have to answer if you don't want to." He turned his gaze toward Hideo. "Are you happy?"
Hideo raised an eyebrow, then casually tossed his empty bottle into a nearby trash can.
"What brought that on?"
"Like I said," Apple continued, "are you content with the way your life is right now? Peaches giving advantages to the opposite sex, while your own efforts get crushed because of it."
"…"
"And then there's Mato," he went on, his tone quieter but steady. "That world where the Shuuki roam. The chances of being sent there are slim, but never zero."
Apple opened his hand and stared up at the stars, the faint smile on his face never fading.
"We just sit around, waiting for the Defense Force to save us like helpless puppies." He let out a soft breath. "Doesn't seem fair, does it?"
Hideo lowered his gaze to the court, his thoughts drifting. Without realizing it, his fist tightened at his side. That familiar, murky bitterness crept back in, settling heavy in his chest.
It was true. He envied how women were treated in this world. Just like everyone else, he accepted it as reality, but that did not mean he had to like it.
"Yeah… it's not fair. I've thought about that plenty of times." Hideo let out a self-mocking smile, the feeling tugging painfully at his chest. He drew in a slow, steady breath.
"But that doesn't mean I'm not content… or happy." He smiled, even as a trace of that negativity lingered in his eyes. "Sure, I get bitter. I get jealous seeing others have what I don't. I think, why not me? But in the end, I just call myself an idiot for thinking that way."
"Hoh?" Apple's interest sharpened, his gaze fixed on Hideo.
Hideo stood up from the bench, slipping his hands into his pockets as he faced the court once more.
"The illusions I chase and the reality that hits me," Hideo said quietly, "I mix those together to shape who I am now."
His dream of becoming a doctor had never been something that came out of nowhere. His late mother had been one herself. She chose never to eat peaches, simply because she did not want to.
He remembered the joy in her eyes whenever she saved someone. That quiet, genuine happiness had always stayed with him. So that is why he want to follow that path.
He loved her deeply.
But two years ago, everything changed. A Shuuki took her life after an unexpected mishap during one of her trips outside the city. The memory still lingered, heavy and unkind.
Hideo had fallen into a deep depression after that. Days blurred together, and nothing seemed to matter anymore.
Until Konomi showed up.
She had quite literally broken down the door of his house just to drag him back to his senses, refusing to let him stay lost in his own thoughts any longer.
"I just have to do what I can," Hideo said, a small smile forming as the weight on his shoulders began to ease. "Keep going through the hard parts, accept myself, and find hope where I can. That's what I stick to." He let out a quiet breath. "And… I've got my first love to keep me motivated, so there's that too."
"…" Apple studied him for a moment, then gave a faint, approving smirk. He scratched the side of his head. "I like your view, kid. Your mindset too."
Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a small black box. For a brief second, he simply stared at it, as if weighing something in his mind. Then he extended it toward Hideo.
"Since I liked your answer, I'll give you this. A little present."
Hideo blinked, taking the box. "What is this?"
"Just open it."
"…Alright."
He unlocked it and slowly lifted the lid. Inside rested a strange black object, sleek and unfamiliar. A hollow space sat at its center, while a blade-like shape extended along one side, giving it a sharp, almost ornamental look.
Curious, Hideo picked it up and raised it into the light, examining it closely.
"Sengoku Driver. That's what it's called," Apple said, crossing his arms. "With that, Shuuki be damned. You'll be able to cut them all down with it in your arsenal."
Before Hideo could even form a question, Apple reached into his bag again and pulled out another box. This one was transparent, allowing Hideo to see its contents immediately.
Inside were several locks.
But they were unlike any locks he had ever seen.
Each one bore a distinct, almost intricate design:
Banana.
Strawberry.
Mango.
Pineapple.
And lastly—
Orange.
They resembled fruits, yet each carried a strange, embedded code, their surfaces gleaming with an unnatural precision.
"Lockseeds," Apple explained. "These are going to be your main weapons. The Sengoku Driver is basically incomplete without these.
(To be continued)
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Author's Note:
Not canon. I repeat, not canon to the main story… well, I guess you could call it a parallel world.