???

"Things start getting complicated now-"

"I have to erase some more data- the rainbow bars keep showing up..."

"Shall we play Toqger?"

....

_______________________________________

Hikari stands at the end of the train cart, sighing as he watches the others fuss over the group of teenagers who claimed they were the next Toqger.

"We're the Next Toqger."

Was it true?

"What's it like in the future?"

"What year are you all from?"

"How is the food in the future?"

Okay, we're getting off topic...

"Enough." The girl with the pony tail, Kei, rebuked. "I know you have more questions, but we're running out of time-" Kei points to the window of the train cart, "Another Time Paradox will open in four days, and those ninety six hours we have are not enough."

Kei looked familiar to Hikari- where has he seen her before?

Actually, the group before them did seem oddly familiar- but why?

"Neesan's right- that paradox is the only way back home," Haruki, Kei's twin brother added. Hikari felt most allured with Haruki.

"Hopefully, we won't have disappeared by then..." Mitsuka mumbled. Tadashii flicked her forehead,

"Don't speak like that dummy- we're going to make it."

"As long as we're by each other's sides, and that they're on our sides."

"Don't worry minna, we will go back home."

Home.

A word all too familiar to Hikari and the others.

As much as Hikari didn't trust them, he knew one thing-

They all wanted to get back home.

"Though, it's only if you're all willing to..." Kirato bites his lip, darting his eyes to the ground. Signs of sadness were evident on his features.

"You have families back home waiting for you guys, right?" Hikari speaks up, coming up from his post. The room went silent- it was as if Kirato and the others had lost their voices. They traded nervous glances. Hikari wasn't usually very good at pursuing these kind of situations. Just before Hikari could take back his words, Haruki nods.

"We do."

That was all Hikari needed for convincing. They all had the same goal- to get back home to their families. Maybe they should-

Maybe they could trust them after all.

"If you're really from the future- then you probably already know that we have a hometown we want to get back to- we have families there waiting for us. If we do as you say, will it help bring you guys back home?" Hikari asks Haruki. The other green clad broke into a smile,

"It really will- in fact," His eyes trail over to Kei, and then to Kagura, "It'll save our family." Haruki says, his voice low. Hikari couldn't read his face, and he was aware that Haruki was glancing at Kagura- but he chose to shrug it off.

"If you all are truly genuine about your intentions, then I don't see a reason for us to stop going down the rails." Hikari gave a simple nod towards Right's direction, who seemed lost in his thoughts.

"Right?"

Right pursed his lips.

Right mumbled out words that were almost inaudible, but Hikari managed to catch onto them,

"I almost couldn't see it..."

"We'll do it!" Right clasps his hands, surprising everyone,

That's not the Right Hikari knows.

"Well- I'm not exactly sure what you're going to do, but I trust you- we trust you all." Right concludes as he received a series of nods in agreement. Hikari could've sworn he heard Akira mumble, "Thank god."

"We'll help save your family-"

"We'll help you get back home."

"All aboard!"

__________________________________________________

- Next chapter -

| Chapter 5: Lost town |

P R E V I E W

"We are approaching the next town, Ushinawaretamachi."

Mio:

"Wait- what is this town?"

Tokatti:

"Doesn't it feel.. familiar?"

Mitsuka:

"Are you sure this is the right place?"

___

???:

"Toqgers... How much are you going to risk?"

Kirato:

"We'll show you our imagination-"

___

Right:

"This town... it looks exactly like our hometown!"

Yan:

"No! It's a trap!-"

__________________________________________

All aboard the next train. See you on the next station.