The awaited day had finally come. My team—my long-dreamed, carefully selected team—was finally coming together. Just as it said on the invitation, we were to meet at my father's old house near the woods. It looked more like a vacation home now, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that everything was falling into place.
I was just finishing up preparations when my phone buzzed. Caitlyn.
I picked up instantly."SAM!" she shouted so loud I think my ears are still ringing."Geez, Caitlyn," I winced, pulling the phone away from my ear. "Are you trying to make me go deaf?""Sam, don't be so rude," she huffed, "I'm just excited to see you tonight!"
I sighed. Classic Caitlyn. But I had to stay focused. I reminded her of the plan and added something important.
"I'll be undercover," I said. "I'm going by the name Kuroki Naisho—a guy with no powers, but highly trained in weaponry."
There was a pause. Then I heard a soft laugh.
"So, you're going to be a boy," she teased. "Let me guess... a ninja? Well, I won't question your methods. See you tonight, Sammy." Click. The call ended before I could say anything back.
I double-checked my gear and glanced at the screen tracking my team. Good—Visor was on his way. A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. One down.
The others were en route, too. Except for Zack, of course. He'd texted me earlier, cocky as ever:
"I'll be there at exactly 10. Don't worry—my speed's got me covered."
And Bubble Girl was moving steadily toward the location as well.
I checked the time. 6:00 PM. I had to get moving.
Oh—right. You should probably know something. I'm not just some team leader.
I'm the heir of the Sato Clan.
Yeah. That Sato Clan.
It's a secret I have to protect with my life—for now. That's why I'll be showing up tonight as Kuroki Naisho, a skilled boy with no powers, just weapons. I need to know if this team is truly loyal, if I can trust them before revealing who I really am.
I slipped into the Kuroki disguise, pulled on my helmet, and mounted my sport motorcycle. The engine roared to life beneath me, like thunder waiting to strike.
As I raced down the road, the wind rushed past me.
Tonight, everything would begin.
The moment I arrived at the location, I could already see the bubble girl standing outside the house. She was waiting, her hands clasped together, looking lost in thought. Zack stood next to her, looking like he had just arrived a second ago, his eyes scanning the area. I glanced around and noticed Alex, sitting high up in a tree, his gaze darting around as if searching for something—or more likely, someone. It didn't take long for me to realize who he was looking for. It was me.
But there was one thing that stood out. I couldn't spot Visor anywhere. Just as I wondered where he could be, Caitlyn appeared out of nowhere. She flashed us a smile and, with a voice that rang with authority, said, "Welcome, Team."
At her words, all of them instantly dropped into combat stances, ready to face any threat she might pose. I couldn't blame them. Caitlyn had an aura about her, a powerful presence that made the very air around her seem heavy. Even I felt a little tense.
She smiled at them, calm and assured. "Easy," she said, raising a hand as if to soothe them. "I'll be your team captain. You can come inside."
At that, they all relaxed, but stayed alert, as if expecting the unexpected. Without a word, they moved forward, heading toward the front door. I followed them, my curiosity gnawing at me.
Caitlyn, of course, walked with pride, her every step showing how confident she was in the team she had gathered. I had to admit—she was good at putting on an act. But as we reached the door, her expression changed. She suddenly raised an eyebrow and called out, "Who said you could enter the house without my permission, Visor?"
The front door creaked open, and there he was—Visor. He stepped forward, a sly grin on his face, and said simply, "Welcome."
We all walked inside behind Caitlyn, the house oddly quiet, just like it always was. Once inside, she gestured for us to sit down. We did, and she wasted no time. A flicker of energy surged from her, and a massive hologram materialized in front of us, floating in the air. I had almost forgotten that Caitlyn's powers were technology-based—everything modern, every gadget, every system, she could control with ease. She called it "Tech," and from the looks of the hologram, she wasn't just good at it—she was amazing.
With a flourish, Caitlyn began her introduction, speaking with an air of someone who knew exactly how to command attention. When she was done, she pointed at Visor, signaling him to introduce himself next.
Visor stood up, his posture relaxed, but his presence undeniable. "I am Visor Vale," he said, "But if the public needs a name for me, it will simply be Visor. My powers are... well, they're like Umbrakinesis," he added, before sitting back down, as casual as ever.
Caitlyn nodded, signaling for Alex to introduce himself. Alex stood, his movements confident, and spoke clearly. "I'm Alex Stone. Publicly, I'll be known as Beast. And my powers… well, they're also Beast," he said with a grin.
I couldn't help but be impressed by their abilities. This was shaping up to be a powerful team. But as I looked out the window, the world outside was dark, the night having fully settled. A thrill ran through me. I wanted to fight them soon—test my own abilities against theirs. The thought lingered, a spark igniting in my chest.
The story had just begun, and I couldn't wait to see how it would unfold.