**Two Hours Earlier - The Ramen Stand**
"Hello, sir, can I have the meat lovers pork bone ramen?" Mashū asked the vendor, his stomach rumbling audibly as the aromatic steam rose from the various pots.
"And can I have the miso ramen with extra chicken?" Kamira added, practically salivating at the sight of the perfectly prepared noodles.
"Sure, coming right up!" the stall vendor replied cheerfully, ladling generous portions into large bowls.
"Man, this place is pretty big," Kamira observed, taking in the scope of the festival around them. Students from all four schools mingled freely, their different uniforms creating a colorful tapestry of guardian traditions.
"Well, if it isn't little Kammy," two voices said in perfect unison from behind them.
Kamira's entire body tensed, her hands instinctively clenching into fists. When she turned around, her expression was a carefully controlled mask of anticipated satisfaction.
"Hahaha, I hoped you two would show up to this festival," she said, though there was nothing pleasant about her laughter.
The Time twins stood before them like mirror images of cruelty—both with identical silver hair, matching Spirit West uniforms, and the kind of smiles that suggested they enjoyed causing pain. They moved with an eerie synchronization that spoke of years of coordinated bullying.
"Well, why wouldn't we? We do go to Spirit West, after all," they replied in unison, their voices carrying the casual arrogance of people who had never faced real consequences for their actions.
"Spirit West? I heard you all only have three here—the other seven are just trainees," Mashū interjected, his analytical mind already assessing the tactical situation.
The first twin—slightly taller, with a small beauty mark on her left cheek—stepped forward with predatory grace. "Well, hello! You're quite the looker. I'm Ichiji Jikan."
"I'm Tekai," the second twin added, her voice carrying the same artificial sweetness. "And what's your name?"
"I think I'm gonna throw up," Kamira muttered, genuinely disgusted by their behavior.
"I'm Mashū Mori," he replied, though his tone suggested he was already regretting the introduction.
"Wow, cute name," Ichiji purred.
"Well, I love it," Tekai added, both twins now looking at Mashū with obvious interest.
"Ew... are you two fighting over him? Typical females, I swear," Kamira said with the kind of disdain that could cut glass.
"Shut up, you ox!" Tekai snapped, her sweet facade cracking to reveal the venom beneath. "Just because you got a little bigger doesn't mean we still can't kick your ass!"
"Kam, who are they?" Mashū asked, though the tension in the air was making the answer increasingly obvious.
"Remember when I said I was bullied back then?" Kamira replied, her voice carrying years of suppressed anger.
"Yeah..."
"These are the two."
"Oh, OK." Mashū's entire demeanor shifted, his usual cockiness replaced by cold calculation. "You got this, right?"
"Get ready to remember how pain felt, Kammy!" the twins chorused, reaching for each other's hands with practiced coordination.
"TEMPORAL PAUSE!"
The world around them seemed to stutter and slow. The twins moved with supernatural speed, positioning themselves behind Kamira for what would have been a devastating sneak attack to the back of her head.
"BREAK SHOUT!"
Migan's voice cut through the temporal distortion like a blade through silk. The twins' technique shattered, and they stumbled forward, clutching their ears in obvious pain.
"Ow, ow, ow! What was that?" Ichiji whined.
"Save the fighting for the tournament, ladies!" Migan commanded, her tall frame casting an imposing shadow over the much smaller twins.
"You didn't have to almost kill us... ow," Tekai complained.
"You're so weak I was holding back," Migan replied with casual dismissal.
"Here's your food!" the stall vendor announced, apparently oblivious to the supernatural combat that had just taken place in front of his stand.
"Oh, is that meat lovers? Don't mind if I do," Migan said, casually appropriating Mashū's bowl.
"But that's mine," Mashū protested weakly.
"*One hour before the games start. All participants, please come to Arena #1 for the intro battle,*" S.E.I.D.'s announcement echoed across the festival grounds.
"I'll see you all around," Migan said, walking away with Mashū's ramen as if nothing had happened.
"Kam, can I have some of your ramen?" Mashū asked, his stomach still demanding sustenance despite the drama.
"You can have mine. I lost my appetite," Kamira replied, pushing her untouched bowl toward him.
"OK, thanks. Wait, Kam, where are you going?"
"To the arena," she said, her voice carrying a dangerous edge that suggested the twins had just made a very serious mistake.
**Meanwhile - The Bread Stand**
"Yoku, where did you see a bread stand?" Romaji asked, scanning the various food stalls with the desperation of someone seeking a particular vice.
"Romaji, it's right here," Yokudan replied, pointing to a modest stall that specialized in various types of fresh bread. "Hey! Jeremi, I see you're here also. Good to see you again, man!"
"Oh, Yokudan, yeah, same," Jeremi replied, though his usual emotionless demeanor seemed even more pronounced than usual.
"Yoku, this is the other guy that did that mission with you and Anjero, right?" Romaji asked, studying Jeremi with curiosity.
"Yeah, I didn't know you liked bread also, Jeremi. I guess we do have something in common," Yoku said, genuinely pleased to find a shared interest.
"Of course! Melon bread is a masterpiece. I'd kill for this stuff..." Jeremi's voice carried an intensity that seemed disproportionate to the topic of baked goods. "Ahem, yeah, I like fresh bread."
"Noted," Yoku replied, filing away this unexpected glimpse into Jeremi's personality.
"Yoku, they do have it!" Romaji exclaimed, spotting his beloved pita bread among the vendor's offerings.
He approached the vendor with the enthusiasm of someone reuniting with a long-lost love. "Hi, can I get all the pita bread you have?"
"Sure, that'll be 42 points," the vendor replied matter-of-factly.
"Why is it so much?" Romaji asked, his dreams of unlimited pita bread crashing around him.
"Well, the first one is free to all guardians, but we have to make a profit somehow. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know."
"But I'm on a budget right now," Romaji said, his voice breaking with genuine distress. "Fine... I'll just take... one... one for now."
Tears began to form in his eyes as the reality of his financial limitations hit home.
"Is your friend gonna be OK?" Jeremi asked, watching Romaji's emotional breakdown with concern.
"Yeah, he just really loves that bread ever since he was in middle school. I remember it like it was yesterday," Yoku began.
"Woah, woah, I don't really care about a flashback," Jeremi interrupted quickly.
"Oh, sorry. Oh, Mr. Aado!" Yoku called out as he spotted their instructor approaching.
Jeremi's head turned sharply at the name, his entire body language shifting to something resembling coiled tension.
"Well, hello, young guardians! I see you're enjoying the festivities before the events," Hajime said with his usual warm demeanor.
"Yeah, this place is huge! Why haven't we seen this place sooner?" Yoku asked.
"Well, it was just built. Well, hello, Jeremi!" Hajime's tone carried a warmth that seemed oddly personal.
Jeremi's expression darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "Hello... Uncle."
"UNCLE?!" Romaji and Yoku exclaimed simultaneously, their shock echoing across the immediate area.
Hajime's smile became strained, clearly artificial. The family resemblance was now obvious—the same sharp jawline, the same intelligent eyes, though Jeremi's carried a coldness that Hajime's lacked.
"*One hour before the games start. All participants, please come to Arena #1 for the intro battle,*" S.E.I.D.'s announcement provided a convenient interruption to the awkward family reunion.
"Yes, he's my nephew, and that's all you need to know," Hajime said with forced casualness. "Well, I'll leave you three to enjoy your time. Don't be late, though, or I'll punish you all."
"Yes, sir!" they chorused, though their attention was clearly divided between obedience and curiosity about this unexpected family connection.
"Yoku, hurry up to the arena," Romaji urged, still processing the revelation.
"OK, hold on, I gotta pick a flavor," Romaji replied, studying the bread options with renewed focus.
"Huh... He'll take garlic like he always does," Yoku said with the weary tone of someone who had witnessed this routine countless times.
"What if I wanted to try a new flavor?" Romaji protested, though his hand was already reaching for the garlic option.
"Here you go!" the vendor said, handing over the familiar choice.
"I've been getting treated so badly by my side characters lately," Romaji muttered, though there was affection beneath his complaint.
"See ya at the events, Jeremi," Yoku called out as he and Romaji headed toward the arena.
As his teammates disappeared into the crowd, Jeremi remained at the bread stand, his expression shifting to something far more serious than anyone had ever seen from him. He reached up to his ear, activating a communication device that had been hidden beneath his dark hair.
"Confirmed, Aado is here," he said quietly, his voice carrying none of its usual monotone quality. "OK, I'll start phase one."
The words hung in the air like a threat, their meaning unclear but their implications ominous. Whatever Jeremi's true purpose at this festival, it had nothing to do with competition or school pride.
The shadow user had secrets that ran deeper than anyone suspected, and as the crowds moved toward Arena #1 for the opening ceremony, those secrets were about to emerge into the light.
The festival was no longer just a competition between schools.
It had become something far more dangerous.
And none of Jeremi's supposed teammates had any idea what was coming.