Chapter 51: 51: I have a date don't I?
Aiden was startled awake by the shrill sound of his alarm clock. He groggily reached over and silenced it, blinking into the darkness of his room. As he sat up, he rubbed his eyes and froze, feeling something strange in the air.
The room around him was in complete disarray. His once neatly organized desk was now covered in scattered papers, and the walls, which were usually pristine, now had strange scorch marks and cracks. The atmosphere was thick with an almost oppressive energy.
He looked down at his own body, still feeling groggy. His mind felt foggy, and for a moment, he couldn't shake the feeling that something profound had just happened to him, though he couldn't remember the details. As he stood up, the sense of unfamiliarity only deepened.
A soft knock at his door interrupted his thoughts. Elara's voice followed, "Aiden, are you okay in there?"
Aiden quickly stood up from the bed and opened the door. His maid looked concerned, though she was trying to hide it behind a calm expression. "You were unconscious for a while," she began, stepping inside the room. "We... weren't sure what had happened. There was a strange shift in the air. The room was, well, something else entirely. It's like you were… surrounded by electricity and steam."
Aiden's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't noticed any of that, but now that she mentioned it, the air felt thick with something unexplainable. "Did I do something?" he asked, trying to make sense of it.
Elara nodded, a small furrow on her brow. "It seemed like you were… activating some of your power in your sleep. The room was shifting and changing around you. I'm not sure what it all means, but we all were a bit concerned."
"I'm fine," Aiden said, though his voice lacked the usual confidence. His hand instinctively moved to his chest, as though reassuring himself. "Just a strange dream."
He noticed a flicker of concern in Elara's eyes, but she didn't push him further. "You should get ready for today, Aiden. You have that date with Toru."
The mention of Toru brought Aiden back to reality, and he smiled softly. "Yeah. Thanks, Elara."
After a brief pause, Elara hesitated before speaking again. "You may want to check your reflection, Aiden."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, not understanding what she meant. Elara seemed to know exactly what she was talking about. Without another word, she stepped back to give him space, and Aiden walked to the bathroom.
He closed the door behind him, flipping on the lights as he moved to the mirror. At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then, as he leaned closer, his reflection caught his eye.
His pupils were no longer the deep brown they had always been. Instead, they were a vivid, glowing combination of blue and gold. He blinked twice, unable to believe what he was seeing. The blue was deep and radiant, while the gold shimmered faintly, like twin stars burning from within. It was as if his eyes were staring back at him with a power that was both alien and familiar at once.
Then his attention shifted to his physique. His body looked different too. More defined, stronger—his muscles were now clearly visible, defined with chiseled precision. Yet his form was still lean and athletic, as if the power flowing through him had only enhanced his natural build, giving him an imposing presence without sacrificing speed or agility.
Aiden reached up, lightly touching his face, almost to test if this was real. His hand lingered on his jawline, marveling at the changes that had happened so subtly, yet so dramatically.
"What is going on with me?" he muttered under his breath.
He was startled by the sound of his phone vibrating on the countertop. It was a message from Toru.
Hey, I hope you're still up for today! I can't wait to see you.!
A smile tugged at Aiden's lips. Despite everything, he felt a flutter of excitement. He quickly dried his face and changed into some nice casual clothes—a simple black t-shirt with a jacket and some fitted jeans—before heading downstairs.
Elara was already in the living room, and she gave him a concerned but knowing glance when he entered. She didn't say anything about the earlier scene, but Aiden knew she was keeping a watchful eye on him.
"Ready for your date?" she asked casually, though there was a certain tenderness in her voice.
"Yeah," Aiden replied, straightening up, though his mind kept returning to his strange awakening. "I'm all set."
Aiden strolled into the sleek garage, his golden-trimmed royal robes brushing against the pristine floor. Rows of luxury vehicles gleamed under bright lights, their metallic bodies reflecting his faintly glowing blue and gold eyes. After a moment of consideration, he picked out a deep emerald-green sports car with golden accents—a perfect mix of sophistication and flash.
Sliding into the driver's seat, he tapped the controls to adjust it to his comfort. Just as he revved the engine, a thought struck him. "Oh snap, almost forgot!" he muttered. Without another word, he hopped out, dashed back into the mansion, and bolted up the grand staircase to his room. His lean figure moved with such precision and speed that Nimbus, lounging on his bed, merely blinked at the disturbance.
Rummaging through his workbench, he picked up a small, wristband-like gadget with a faintly glowing crystal embedded in the centre. The device was sleek and custom-built, designed with Toru in mind. He called it the Refractive Harmoniser. It worked by emitting a controlled electromagnetic field tuned to subtly alter light wavelengths around a person, making them visible without interfering with their environment. "Toru's gonna love this," Aiden whispered with a grin before sprinting back to the garage.
Once seated again, Aiden peeled out, the car's engine roaring as it sped down the sleek streets of Paradis. The drive to Toru's house wasn't far, but it gave him time to hum along to the music playing softly in the car.
The gates of Toru's house were imposing yet elegant, painted in a soft white with gold filigree. An elderly butler, dressed immaculately in a black suit, stepped forward as Aiden's car rolled to a halt. His expression was calm but welcoming.
"Master Fritz, I presume?" the butler inquired, his voice steady and formal.
"That's me," Aiden replied with a casual wave as he exited the car. "Call me Aiden, though. Master Fritz sounds way too stiff."
The butler allowed himself a polite smile. "Very well, Master Aiden. Please, follow me. Miss Toru is expecting you." He gestured toward the entrance, his steps measured as he led Aiden into the house.
The interior of Toru's home was just as elegant as the exterior. Soft pastel hues adorned the walls, with tasteful artwork and floral arrangements placed strategically to complement the décor. Aiden couldn't help but let out an impressed whistle.
"Nice place. Definitely not what I expected for Toru, though," Aiden remarked with a grin.
"Miss Toru has a unique spirit," the butler replied cryptically, opening the doors to a spacious sitting room.
Inside, a man and woman sat waiting. Toru's father, a dignified man with salt-and-pepper hair and a sharp suit, stood as Aiden entered. Her mother, a graceful woman with Toru's same expressive green eyes, smiled warmly.
"Ah, you must be Aiden," her father greeted, extending a firm handshake. "I'm Hiro Takahashi, and this is my wife, Emiko."
Aiden returned the handshake confidently. "It's great to meet you both. Toru's told me a lot about you."
"All good things, I hope," Emiko said with a chuckle, motioning for Aiden to take a seat.
As they settled into the plush chairs, Hiro leaned forward slightly. "So, Aiden, Toru mentioned you're quite the inventor. What brings you here today?"
Aiden pulled the Refractive Harmoniser from his pocket and held it up. "Actually, I made something for Toru. It's a gadget that'll let people see her true form without her quirk being active. I thought it might come in handy."
Hiro raised an impressed eyebrow. "That's remarkable. You built this yourself?"
"Yeah," Aiden said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "I tinker a lot in my free time. Toru's helped me with ideas before, so I figured I'd return the favour."
"How thoughtful," Emiko said, her voice warm. "Toru's always spoken highly of you. It's wonderful to see how much you care about her."
Aiden smiled. "She's one of my closest friends. I cherish her dearly."
Before the conversation could continue, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. Toru burst into the room, her green hair bouncing as she grinned widely. "Aiden! You're here!"
"Of course I am," he said, standing and holding up the gadget. "And I brought something cool. Want to try it out?"
Toru's eyes lit up with excitement, and her parents watched fondly as the two teens began discussing the intricacies of Aiden's invention.
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