Swords of destiny

The school bell rang, signaling the start of another day at Sakura High. Hotaru took a deep breath, steeling himself as he stepped through the gates. Despite his harrowing escape from the Dominion Division's clutches, he knew he had to maintain a sense of normalcy.

His fingers twitched, swords threatening to materialize at the slightest provocation.Hotaru walked with measured steps, keeping his head down to avoid drawing attention. "Just act natural, Hotaru. Blend in, don't let anyone suspect anything," he told himself.

As Hotaru rounded the corner, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him. "Hotaru! Over here!" It was his friend Mei, waving enthusiastically. Hotaru forced a smile, approaching her cautiously.

"Hey, where have you been? I was starting to worry!" Mei asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Oh, you know, just dealing with some family stuff," Hotaru replied, trying to sound casual.

Mei studied him for a moment. "Everything okay? You seem a little on edge."

Hotaru shook his head. "No, no, everything's fine. Just tired, that's all." He glanced around nervously, hyper-aware of his surroundings.The last thing he wanted was for his Innate Resonance powers to accidentally flare up and draw unwanted scrutiny.

"Well, I'm glad you're back! Come on, let's get to class," Mei said, leading the way inside.

As they walked through the corridors, Hotaru's fingers twitched involuntarily. With a mere thought, he could summon razor-sharp blades from thin air - a gift that had become as much a burden as a blessing.He clenched his fist, willing the swords back into dormancy before anyone noticed.

Mei chatted cheerfully beside him. "So, you're coming to the club meeting after school, right? We've got a big kendo tournament coming up!"

Hotaru winced internally."Uh, about that... I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it."

"Aw, come on! You've been skipping out a lot lately. The team needs their ace swordsman!" Mei pouted.

Avoiding Mei's gaze, Hotaru felt guilt and dread welling up inside him.While his Sword Birth ability would make him a natural prodigy at kendo, the risk of losing control was far too great. "I'm really sorry, Mei. I've just got a lot going on right now. Maybe next time, okay?"

Mei sighed. "Alright, if you say so. But you're missing out!"

As they reached the classroom, Hotaru took his seat, staring down at his hands. The swords lay dormant, but he could feel their restless energy humming beneath the surface, eager to be unleashed.

Hotaru took a deep breath, determined to make it through the day without incident. But the fear of his powers betraying him lingered, casting a shadow over his every move.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Hotaru lingered behind, hoping to avoid the crowds. But as he stepped outside, he saw a group of students from a rival school surrounding Mei.

"Well, well, if it isn't little Miss Perfect. Where's your knight in shining armor today?" one of the bullies taunted, shoving Mei.

"Bet he's too scared to show his face, just like you," another one sneered.

Hotaru's eyes widened in terror as Mei cowered.He could feel the swords straining to materialize, his emotional control slipping. Hotaru knew that if his powers were discovered, he would be marked for termination by the ruthless Dominion Division. The stakes for maintaining control were life and death.

"No, stop! Get away from her!" Hotaru cried, but it was too late. With a surge of power, Hotaru's Sword Birth erupted, blades lashing out in all directions.The bullies never had a chance, cut down in an instant.

Hotaru stared in horror at the carnage, unable to comprehend what he had done.Mei's screams pierced the air as she scrambled away, terrified.

Just then, a lone figure emerged from the shadows - a Dominion Division agent, come to eliminate the 'uncontrolled' IR user.

"There you are. Time to put an end to this," the agent said coldly.

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