"The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes."

- Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles

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THE COMETS ARC

Valt Aoi made his way to "The Comets" base, his heart heavy with the weight of his mission. The WBBA had inserted a tracker in his phone to detect the strong signal of Dark Resonance. While it couldn't pinpoint the exact person and was not real-time based on satellite data since it was still in a trial stage, it had led him to this place.

The outside beach and scenery were beautiful, like the calm before the storm. His mind flashed over to the Hizashi brothers. Valt took a deep breath, feeling a pang in his heart knowing that some innocent kids might get infected by Dark Resonance. Lane Valhalla's strong dark flare and bitter rivalry with the sun siblings worried him. One of them might get affected due to high exposure.

Honcho, their bey club coach, was not here-probably with his family. So, he expected the kids might be inside, playing Beyblade and having fun together with their teammates.

"Yo!"

As Valt entered the base, he saw Hyuga battling Guy and Hikaru battling Chuck. They stopped what they were doing and greeted Valt happily after recovering from their shock while ignoring the fact that one of them almost fell in shock.

(It's not his fault he subconsciously developed Free's odd habit of appearing out of nowhere)

"You're here!!!"

Valt grinned. The scene was way too innocent.

(If only they knew.)

"You guys don't mind me hanging out, do you?"

"Of course!" they all cheered and started taking a break by drinking water in the nearby chairs.

Valt looked over the Hizashi brothers, and as he narrowed his eyes...they seemed fine. Thankfully, nobody noticed the grim expression on his face. But he remembered that the world was full of deception; he couldn't let down his guard.

(The last time he did that, he made the biggest mistake of his life.)

*Flash*

Valt blinked multiple times when a blinding light flashed before him. He looked over to see Reika taking a picture and smiling like a die-hard fan.

"OMG! The Miracle Boy is here!" she squealed with a high-pitched tone that made the other males laugh awkwardly or sweatdrop.

"Hey, I got an idea! Since Valt-senpai is here, this calls for a party. I'm telling Dad to make special pasta for us!" Hikaru exclaimed, and Hyuga grinned happily. "Yes! Party time! Bang! Bang!"

And in the blink of an eye, they vanished, running while screaming for some reason.

Valt laughed at their enthusiasm, thankfully nothing changed over them. "Hahaha, they make the atmosphere more fun and interesting."

Guy nodded. "I agree. We're lucky that they joined our club and reignited it."

Chuck smiled. "Yeah, dude, I thought our club was bound to be doomed that time!"

Reika, who had been quietly watching, sighed tiredly. "Yeah, those bitter memories are going to stick with me."

Valt's eyes furrowed. He almost forgot this bey club had a history. Thankfully, Honcho tried to strengthen it somehow. He had to give a round of applause for that amazing coach. But now was not the time to dwell on these things; they had a party after all!

The kids ran around, preparing decorations, and Valt couldn't help but smile at their energy. He joined in, helping to set up tables and hang streamers. The innocence and joy in the air were infectious, yet he couldn't shake off the lingering concern about the Dark Resonance threat.

As the sun set, the base transformed into a lively celebration. The aroma of Hizashi's dad's special pasta filled the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses and munching noise of snacks and chips. Valt hangs out with the kids, listening to their funny (embarrassing) stories.

"Alright, everyone, dig in!" Hikaru announced, setting the trays on the table.

The group gathered around, plates in hand, eagerly serving themselves. Valt found himself surrounded by the Comets, their faces alight with excitement.

"T-thanks for joining us!" Guy said, his eyes shining with admiration.

"Yeah, it's not every day we get to hang out with the Number One blader!" Hyuga added, grinning from ear to ear.

Valt chuckled, ruffling Hyuga's hair. "I'm just a blader like you guys. But I'm glad to be here."

As they ate, Valt observed the interactions around him. The friendship and bond within the club were strong, proof of Honcho's efforts in keeping the team together. Yet, he had to stay vigilant.

After lunch, the group moved outside to the beach. The kids played games and teased (bicker) with each other, which echoes into the day. Valt watched, a smile on his face, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

Hikaru approached him, holding two bottles of soda. "Hey, Valt-senpai, you okay? You've been a bit quiet."

Valt accepted the bottle, taking a sip before replying. "Yeah, just tired of travel from Spain to Japan." He lied.

Hikaru nodded, understanding in his eyes. "I see...I get it. But today, let's just enjoy the moment. We don't get many days like this."

Valt smiled, appreciating the sentiment. "You're right. Thanks, Hikaru."

(Hikaru is such a mature kid.)

The blue porcupine smiled and went back to his friends and to see if his brother was doing anything stupid.

As time went on, Valt felt a sense of peace wash over him. The beach, the laughter-it all felt so right. But he knew this was just a brief relaxation. The real challenge was still ahead.

As the small party ended and the kids began to rest for a while some taking a nap (Hyuga), Valt found himself alone in the white sand, staring into the bright blue sky. He thought about the Hizashi brothers, Honcho, and the rest of the team. They deserved to be safe, to enjoy their innocence without the shadow of Dark Resonance hovering over them.

Valt made a silent vow. He would protect them, no matter what it took. The WBBA was counting on him, and he wouldn't let them down.

The calm before the storm was ending. Valt stood, brushing sand off his pants, and looked out at the horizon.

He still can't sense the dark resonance among them... And yet his tracker says there's one.

Then his mind drifted to a certain kid who stood out the most earlier.

It's just a theory but it's worth looking for.

He's starting to get nervous thinking this would change everything for The Comets.

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Azul: What's your theory minna-san?