Kai
When we finally got to the apartment complex, it was quiet. "Ah... It's quiet." Ren said as he stepped off the bus first. I sighed. "C'mon, Ren. Her apartment is on the 5th floor. Apartment 290."
As we made our way up the dimly lit stairs, the smell of stale cigarettes and old carpet filled my nostrils. The building was run-down, with peeling paint on the walls and flickering fluorescent lights overhead. When we reached the fifth floor, we walked down the long hallway until we found apartment 290.
I knocked on the door, and after a moment, it swung open. Tomie stood there, her long black hair cascading down her shoulders. She'd changed a lot since the last time I'd seen her. No more piercings, and she was dressed in a simple oversized shirt and shorts instead of her usual punk attire.
"Hey," she said, stepping aside to let us in. "It's been a while, Kai."
The apartment was small but clean. There was a computer nearby that had big boxes of hardware next to it while also surrounded by stacks of papers and empty energy drink cans. Tomie motioned for us to sit on the couch as she took a seat in the armchair opposite.
"So, what's going on?" she asked, her eyes darting between me and Ren. "You said it was about your sister? And something else..."
I nodded. "Yeah, both my sisters are in some deep trouble. My little sister, Malisha...someone in the school is framing her for cheating and keeps failing her reports. And my older sister, Shaina... The boss keeps harassing her. Forcing to do things against her will and threatening her to keep her mouth shut about the abuse." I paused, clenching my fists slightly at the thought of Shaina's emotional state from earlier. "That bastard...he almost tried to rape her. It's been going on for three months and no one noticed until Shaina came home crying."
Tomie's eyes widened in horror as she listened to my words, her face turning pale. The playful demeanor from our past encounters vanished completely.
"That's... that's terrible," she breathed, her fingers tightening around the armrests of the chair. Her gaze flickered to Ren, who was sitting beside me, his expression dark and furious. "And you said this has been going on for months?"
I nodded grimly. "Yeah. Shaina was too scared to tell anyone. She didn't want to cause trouble for the family, especially with Aunt Maliza already dealing with so much. And now with Malisha being framed... it's just too much."
Tomie leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. "Okay, let's start with Malisha. Do you have any idea who might be framing her? Any enemies at school? Someone who's jealous of her grades?"
I shook my head. "No. Malisha is one of the nicest people I know. Everyone likes her. And she's always been an excellent student. Her grades have been steadily improving for years, so there's no sudden spike that would make anyone suspicious."
Tomie thought for a moment, until she then smiled softly. "Well, if you're that desperate for my help... I'd be happy to get your sisters out of trouble." She stood up from the couch. "Anything I need to know before we start?"
When Tomie asked, I smirked playfully at her. "Has cambiado mucho desde la última vez que te vi, señorita." A faint blush spread across Tomie's cheeks at my comment. She fiddled with her hair, clearly taken aback by the unexpected flirtatious remark, especially given the serious situation. "Don't...say stuff like that, Kai…"
A brief laugh escaped me at her reaction, but I quickly composed myself, remembering the weight of our conversation. "Sorry, couldn't resist. But seriously, yeah there's more. The guy who's been harassing Shaina? He's no ordinary boss. He's got connections with some dangerous people. Mafia types."
Tomie's eyes widened, a flicker of apprehension crossing her face. She walked over to her computer, typing something rapidly. "Well, that complicates things. But it's not impossible. I still have some... acquaintances in that world. They might be able to help us keep him in line."
She turned back to face us, her expression resolute. "As for Malisha, I'll need access to the school's server. If someone's framing her, there has to be a digital footprint. Emails, deleted files... something."
Ren shifted in his seat, finally speaking up. "And what about my mom? She's... she's sick. I need to come up with money for her treatment, and soon."
Tomie's brow furrowed in thought. "Well, I think I can help with that too."
Two Hours Later
After waiting for a few hours, Tomie finally stopped typing. "Holy... You know, all these teachers in the school server of Orange Star High really take their jobs seriously." I rolled my eyes in amusement. "Yeah, I know..."
"And I think I might've found your suspect. The Vice Principal, Lonna Coffee, aka Ms Coffee." Tomie said, tapping on the mouse. Ren leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the screen. "Ms Coffee? But why would she frame Malisha? What does she have to gain?" Tomie swiveled in her chair to face us, a grim expression on her face. "According to what I've found, she's been having some financial troubles. And on top of that, she has a criminal record."
I felt a jolt of surprise run through me. Ms Coffee - the strict but fair Vice Principal everyone in school respected? "What kind of criminal record?" I asked, my heart starting to pound with a mix of anger and relief at finally having a suspect.
Tomie pulled up a scanned document on the screen. "Embezzlement. From her previous job at another school district. But she managed to get off with probation by making a deal with the prosecutors. It was all hushed up, of course."
Ren let out a low whistle. "Damn. And she's been hiding this all this time?"
Tomie nodded. "But why target my sister? What did she do to piss Ms Coffee off that she felt the need to tamper with Malisha's reports?" I asked, now intrigued to know more.
"I don't know about you but judging from what I'm looking at here, it seems she's just racist." Tomie said, tapping the mouse.
A wave of outrage crashed over me at Tomie's words. I shot to my feet, my fists clenched. "Racist? Are you fucking kidding me? Malisha has never done anything to anyone!" Ren pulled me back down to the couch, his own face red with anger. "Calm down, Kai. We need to stay focused. If we go in there guns blazing, we'll just make things worse."
Tomie scrolled through the files on her screen. "It's even worse than that. Look at this. She's been tampering with the grades of several other students, especially students of color. And it's not just Malisha - she's been failing them on purpose, making up false reports of misconduct..."
I felt sick to my stomach. All this time, while Malisha had been blaming herself, this woman had been systematically targeting innocent students because of their race.
"What can we do?" Ren asked, his voice shaking with barely suppressed rage. "We can't just let her get away with this."
Tomie closed the file and leaned back in her chair. "I've already made copies of everything. We have enough evidence to expose her."
"And Mr Sota? What did you find on him?" I asked, trying to keep my composure. Tomie started typing again. "As for Mr Sota... I've got some dirt on him too. He's been embezzling money from the company for years. And his connections with the mafia? Well, it turns out he owes them a lot of money which kinda explains the embezzling thing."
A malevolent smile spread across my face as I took in this newfound information. Finally, we had the upper hand. "So, what's the plan then? We can't just expose him and let him off the hook for what he's done to Shaina."
Tomie's expression turned grave. "Well, I've already sent an anonymous tip to the authorities about his embezzlement. They'll be investigating him soon. But that might not be enough. He's slippery, and with his mafia connections, he could easily wriggle out of it."
She opened another file on her computer. "However... I've also found some... let's say, compromising photos of him with one of his underage employees. He's been doing this sort of thing for a while. If those were to leak..." Ren's eyes widened in realization. "That would ruin him. Not just at the company, but in his personal life too."
I nodded slowly, considering the implications. "But how do we make sure it sticks? We can't just send the photos to the police. He'll find a way to deny it, or worse, make the evidence disappear."
"Yeah right. The police server has backup cloud storage so even if he got rid of the evidence, there would still be copies of it in the cloud server." Tomie said.
I was kinda relieved to know that the evidence would be safe but still, if Mr Sota figured out that the evidence got leaked, he would probably blame Shaina and go after her. "You said he owes the mafia money, right? Maybe we could use that against him. Take his money, make him go bankrupt. With no money to pay the mafia, they can't protect him."
Tomie's eyes glinted with mischief as she leaned forward. "Oh, I like where your head's at. But taking his money won't be easy. He's got it hidden in various offshore accounts, and he's got some serious security measures in place."
She started typing furiously on the computer. "However... I might know a way. There's a flaw in the security system of one of the banks he uses. If I can get in, I can transfer the money to an untraceable account. But it's risky. If we get caught..." Ren rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "What if we don't just take the money? What if we use it to pay for my mom's treatment and also send some of the money to the school that Ms Coffee has been embezzling money from? It would be like... turning their evil against them."
A smile spread across my face at Ren's suggestion. "That's genius. Not only would we be helping your mom and the school, but we'd also be hitting Sota and Ms Coffee where it hurts." Tomie nodded slowly, her fingers still dancing across the keyboard.
"All I need to know is the name of the bank Mr Sota uses and then I can search through the bank server to see where Mr Sota's account is." She added. "Shaina told me a few months back that she uses West City's FNB. Maybe he uses that bank?" I suggested. Tomie's fingers paused for a second, then resumed their rapid movement across the keyboard. "West City's FNB... okay, let's see what I can dig up." The room was filled with the soft clicking of keys as she delved into the bank's server. After a few tense minutes, she let out a triumphant exclamation.
"Bingo. Here it is. James Sota's main account. He's got over two billion zeni stashed away in various sub-accounts. And look at this - he's been transferring large sums of money to some shady offshore accounts in the last few weeks." She turned to face us, her expression serious. "But getting access to this account won't be easy. I'll need to bypass several layers of security protocols. And once I'm in, I have to act fast. The bank's security system has a failsafe that automatically locks down any suspicious activity after a certain period." Ren leaned forward, his eyes intense. "How long do we have?" Tomie bit her lip, thinking. "Maybe five, ten minutes at most."
While Tomie was doing her work, I thought of something. If Ms Coffee was tampering with Malisha's reports then there's a chance she has the real reports stashed somewhere at her place. "Ren, I'm gonna need you to stay here with Tomie until I get back."
Ren was surprised when I spoke. "What? Why?"
I stood up, already heading towards the door. "I have a hunch. If Ms Coffee is framing Malisha, she might still have the original reports. And there's a good chance she's keeping them at her place. I'm going to check it out." Ren got up as well, a look of concern crossing his face. "Are you crazy? That's breaking and entering, Kai. What if you get caught?"
I shot him a confident grin. "I won't. Besides, it's not like she can report me to the cops without incriminating herself." Tomie spun around in her chair, her eyes filled with caution. "Kai, be careful. If she's as desperate as I think she is, she might be armed. And if she catches you..."
I waved her off. "Don't worry. I can take care of myself. Just focus on that bank account. And Tomie, send me the address, I'll be back before you know it."
With that, I opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, already formulating a plan in my mind.
...
"Honestly, I never thought I'd fly again after all this time..." I thought to myself as I was flying over the suburban streets. It was long before I got a text from Tomie about Ms Coffee's address, which was close to where I was flying over.
I swooped down, my ki swirling around me as I landed gracefully in an alley not far from the address Tomie had sent. The sun was starting to set, casting long shadows over the quiet suburban street. Ms Coffee's house was a modest two-story affair, with a neatly trimmed lawn and a white picket fence.
I crept up to the side of the house, keeping low to the ground. The lights were on in the living room, but the curtains were drawn. I could hear the faint sound of a TV playing. Taking a deep breath, I quietly made my way around to the back. The kitchen window was slightly ajar, and I could smell the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Cautiously, I pushed the window open further and slipped inside. The kitchen was empty, save for a half-finished cup of coffee on the counter. I could hear Ms Coffee talking to someone on the phone in the other room. "I know, right? I'm so thrilled that I'm getting this promotion soon." she said, her voice filled with arrogance. I froze, my senses on high alert. This was my chance.
Swiftly, I made my way upstairs.
My footsteps were barely audible on the carpeted stairs as I climbed. Each step seemed to echo in the quiet house. The upper hallway was dimly lit, with a single lightbulb flickering overhead. There were three doors - two on the left and one at the end of the corridor.
I pressed my ear against the first door. Silence. The second door emitted a soft humming sound, perhaps from a computer or a printer. That had to be it. I slowly turned the doorknob, wincing at the faint creak it made. The room was a small home office, filled with shelves of books, a desk, and a towering filing cabinet. Moving quickly, I went through the desk drawers. Nothing but papers on school policies and memos. I turned my attention to the filing cabinet. As I pulled open the top drawer, my heart leaped. There it was - a folder labeled "Malisha - Orange Star High."
I yanked it out, eagerly flipping through the contents. The original report cards, unblemished by any false marks, stared back at me. Just as I was about to stuff the folder into my jacket, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
Quickly, I placed the folder back in the desk drawer and closed. Rushing towards the closet, I opened the door and hid inside, closing the door behind me. "I swear that teachers have no taste when it comes to good students..." It sounded like Ms Coffee was still on the phone when she walked in the office and started looking through her desk drawers. My heart sank when I peeked through the blinds and saw her take out Malisha's folder. "I mean, seriously... This half-alien student thinks she's better than everybody else just because she's got 'amazing' grades. Ugh, please... And don't get me started on her parents who just came to see me earlier this morning. Her father looks even worse, the way he looked, I mean seriously... What kind of a guy wears earrings? And on top of that, that mohawk is just too much for my taste." Hearing her insults, I knew who she was talking about. She was talking about my father.
A seething rage consumed me as I listened to her venomous words. My father - a kind and gentle soul who had dedicated his life to protecting the universe - being mocked by this pathetic excuse of a human. I balled my hands into fists, struggling to keep my ki under control. The last thing I needed was to blow my cover by accidently setting off a power surge.
Ms Coffee rummaged through the folder for a moment longer before slamming it shut and tossing it back into the drawer. She let out an irritated huff.
"And to think her aunt had the audacity to demand I fix this," she continued into the phone, her voice dripping with disdain. "As if I would ever waste my time on someone like her. No, this little project of mine is far too enjoyable to stop now..."
Footsteps approached the closet, and for a split second, my heart stopped. But then she simply walked past, heading towards the bookshelf. "Oh, and wait till you hear about how I handled those two. I gave the father some attitude and then he practically cried when he left the office. And the aunt just sat there and watched him squirm... I mean, seriously. The mother has no taste in men, it was pathetic."
My ki flared slightly, my anger boiling over as I clenched my fists, ready to confront her. But I couldn't. I couldn't risk her seeing my face... So I decided to use my powers just this once. When she stepped in the center of the office, I focused on the blood flow inside her body. The sound of her heartbeat, the pulsing in her veins... Then I found it. Without thinking, I triggered a flush in her body. "Ugh, I know... Total losers. Anyway-Uh!" Suddenly Ms Coffee clenched her stomach as blood started dripping down her legs. "What... What the? Why am I getting cramps all this sudden? Is it that time of the month already?" She murmured to herself when she saw the blood on her legs.
A harsh smile spread across my face within the closet as I continued to control her internal systems. The flush turned into a full-blown fever, her body temperature spiking rapidly. She stumbled backward, crashing into the desk as she gasped for air.
"Hello...? Are... are you still there?" she stammered into the phone, her voice quivering. The receiver slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor. I intensified the impact, making her muscles contract violently. She collapsed to her knees, sweat pouring down her face as she tried to grasp what was occurring. The irony of it all - this woman who had been causing so much pain and distress, now writhing in agony because of me.
"Oh... god... please..." she whimpered, reaching out blindly.
I maintained my focus, pushing her to the brink. It would be so simple to keep going, to make her suffer even more for what she had done to Malisha, for the way she had spoken about my father. But I knew I had to stop.
"Fuck, this period is killing me... I need a hot bath." Ms Coffee said as she picked up the phone and slowly got back on her feet. "I'm sorry, I... I'm gonna have to call you back. My stomach is killing me..." She hung up the call and walked quickly out of the office, shutting the door behind her.
I waited a few moments, listening intently to the sounds of her retreating footsteps and the distant running of water. That was my chance. Bursting out of the closet, I made a beeline for the desk, yanking out the folder containing Malisha's original reports. I shoved it into my jacket, making sure it was securely hidden. As I turned to leave, something caught my eye - a small notebook tucked away in the back of the drawer. I flipped it open, scanning the pages. It was filled with names, dates, and notes - a record of all the students Ms Coffee had targeted. This was even more incriminating evidence. I slipped the notebook into my pocket, then paused. Glancing around the room one last time, I spotted a picture frame on the desk. It was a photo of Ms Coffee with her family - a husband and two children. A wave of disgust washed over me. How could someone who seemed so normal on the surface be capable of such cruelty?
I exited the office, closing the door behind me as quietly as possible.
Soon after I left the house, my phone started ringing. I took my phone out of my pocket and saw Tomie's ID on the screen. I quickly answered the call, keeping my voice low as I made my way down the street. "Yeah, I got it. Both the original reports and something even better - a notebook with all her dirty little secrets. What's the situation on your end?"
Tomie's voice came through the speaker, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "Heh, I managed to bypass the security system on Mr Sota's account. I've transferred all of the money into a non-traceable account and it's ready for transfer."
A triumphant grin spread across my face as I ducked into the alley where I'd landed earlier. I took to the skies, the wind rushing past me as I soared through the gathering darkness.
"Great job, Tomie. Now, here's what we do. Split the money into three parts. One for Ren's mom's treatment, one for Malisha's school, and the rest we keep. Just in case either of them tries to come after us."
The city lights twinkled below me like a sea of stars as I flew towards Tomie's apartment. I could hear her fingers flying across the keyboard in the background. "Consider it done." Said Tomie. Just as I was about to hang up, she then added. "Oh, and Kai... There's something else. I did some more digging on Ms Coffee and it turns out, her daughter goes to the same school as Malisha. Three months ago, she won first place in a special science project at the school and Ms Coffee's daughter won second place... I guess she probably took that loss personally."
A cold chuckle escaped my lips as I soared higher into the night sky. The pieces were finally falling into place. "So that's what this is all about? Jealousy? Because her precious daughter didn't win first place?" The wind whipped through my hair as I clenched the phone tighter. "I don't know about you but aside from the racism, that's what it's starting to look like." Tomie said.
A fierce determination surged through me as I continued to fly. "Well, she's going to regret ever messing with my family. I'm on my way back. Get everything ready. When we expose her and Sota, there's no telling what they'll do." The cityscape below transformed as I made my way towards Tomie's apartment. The buildings seemed to stretch out like giants, their windows shining like beacons in the darkness. I thought about Malisha, Shaina, and Ren's mom - all the innocent people who had been hurt by the greed and prejudice of these two individuals.
"I'll be there in five minutes," I informed Tomie, my voice steady and resolute. "And Tomie? Make sure you have a backup plan in place. Just in case things go south."
The sound of typing continued on the other end for a moment before Tomie responded. "Already ahead of you. I've got multiple contingency plans ready. We're not going to let them get away with this, Kai." As I approached Tomie's building, I could sense a shift in the air - a feeling of anticipation mixed with dread. The next few hours would decide everything.
…
After I got back, Ren was already thrilled when Tomie transferred the money to his account, as well as sending some to the school's main account. As for the rest, well... I was given some of the money as payment and Tomie got to keep a lot of it. Just in case of any loose ends. "I can't believe this... I... I actually got 5 million zeni. This is enough to last me and my mom a whole year!" Ren said, his voice filled with excitement and gratitude. "Tomie, thank you so much."
Tomie chuckled. "Don't thank me, thank your best friend. It was all his idea."
A warm smile spread across my face as I watched Ren's elation. It was moments like these that made everything we'd done worth it. "It's no big deal, Ren. I just wanted to help your mom. After all, she's like a second mom to me."
I leaned back against the couch, exhaustion finally catching up with me. It had been a long and eventful day. But we weren't done yet. "Alright, now that the money's sorted, we need to focus on the next step - exposing Ms Coffee and Sota. Tomie, do you have everything ready?"
Tomie nodded, her expression turning serious. "Yep. I've set up a secure website where we can upload all the evidence - the doctored reports, the embezzlement records, the compromising photos, and Ms Coffee's notebook. I've also drafted an anonymous email to send to the media, the school board, and the police." She pulled up the website on her computer, revealing a simple yet professional layout. "Once we hit the upload button, there's no going back. It'll be public knowledge within hours. But we need to be careful."
I consented, "Yeah, send it now."
Tomie's fingers danced across the keyboard, the soft clicks filling the room with a sense of finality. The upload bar slowly inched its way to completion, each percentage point bringing us closer to exposing the truth. Ren leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the screen with a blend of anticipation and anxiety.
"It's done," Tomie announced, hitting the enter key to send the email. A moment later, a confirmation message popped up on the screen. "The evidence is out there, and the email has been sent to all the relevant parties."
The screen flickered as the confirmation message appeared, and a sense of relief washed over me. "It's done. Now, we just wait."
The next five hours seemed to stretch on forever. Tomie, Ren, and I sat in silence, eyes glued to the news channels and social media feeds, waiting for the story to break. The tension in the room was palpable, each of us lost in our own thoughts about what the future held.
Then, after long hours of waiting, it happened. A breaking news alert flashed across the screen. "Breaking: Major Scandal Uncovered at Orange Star High. Teacher Accused of Racism, Fraud, and Embezzlement." Ren let out a whoop of joy, jumping up from the couch and pumping his fists in the air. Tomie grinned widely, her eyes shining with satisfaction.
"I'm getting messages already," she said, scrolling through her phone. "People are sharing the website like crazy. The school board is in an uproar, and the police are launching an investigation."
I leaned back, a sense of pride swelling within me. We'd done it. We'd taken down two corrupt people and helped those who had been wronged. But I knew our work wasn't over yet. "What about Mr Sota?"
Tomie's smile turned into a sharp grin as she refreshed the browser. "Oh, he's already in the spotlight. The sudden disappearance of his funds has sent shockwaves through the business world. Look at this - the business news channels are having a field day with it."
She turned the computer monitor around to show a live news report. The anchor was speaking in a tense voice. "Renowned entrepreneur James Sota is at the center of a major financial controversy. Multiple sources confirm that a significant portion of his personal wealth has vanished from his accounts. Authorities are currently investigating the matter, with speculation rife about possible embezzlement or fraud."
Ren let out a low whistle. "Damn, he's finished. And to think he was planning to expand his influence at the school." Tomie nodded, her fingers flying across the keys. "And it gets better. I've just received word that his business partners are turning on him. They're scared of being dragged down with him. His whole empire is crumbling as we speak."
"We did it," I murmured. "We dragged those bastards down in the dirt like the disgusting monsters they are."
Tomie turned off the computer, a satisfied sigh escaping her lips. "Yes, we did. But we should stay on high alert. People like them don't go down without a fight. They might try to come after us."
Ren sat back down, his expression turning serious. "Tomie's right. We need to be careful. Ms Coffee and Sota still have connections. They could try to frame us or something."
I ran a hand through my hair, a determined look crossing my face. "They can try. But they won't succeed. We have the evidence, and the truth is on our side. Besides, they wouldn't stand a chance now that they are exposed for being rotten human beings."
The sun fully rose now, casting a warm glow over the city outside. The first day of a new chapter had begun - one where Malisha's name would be cleared, Ren's mom would get the treatment she deserved, and justice would be served. I sighed. "Well, now that Mr Sota and Ms Coffee are done for, we keep a low profile until things cool down."
Ren checks his watch, only to be surprised to see that it was already morning. "Holy... Geez, we've been so caught up in this that we forgot about time. It's already 5:30 in the morning."
I agreed, "Yeah, we should probably get going. My father and aunt Maliza are probably worrying about me already."
Tomie chimed in, "I can drive you."
I shook my head, stretching my sore muscles. "Thanks, Tomie, but I think I'll fly. It's quicker, and I need the fresh air to clear my head." Standing up, I walked over to the window and opened it wide, the cool morning breeze rushing in. "Plus," I added with a smirk, "Flying gives me a chance to enjoy the view. It's not every day you get to see the city waking up from this perspective."
Ren clapped me on the back. "Alright, man. Just be careful. And let me know if you need anything. I owe you big time." Tomie stood up as well, a hint of exhaustion in her eyes. "I'll start monitoring the situation closely. If anything happens, I'll let you two know right away."
I stepped out onto the ledge, the city lights below twinkling like diamonds. Taking a deep breath, I launched myself into the air, my ki flaring around me. As I soared through the sky, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.
An Hour Later
Upon softly landing on the pavement, I decided to quietly sneak my way to my room. Opening the front door and shutting it softly, I walked quietly through the front room. "Where were you really?" Suddenly the light flicked on, revealing my dad standing close to the couch with his arms crossed, looking at me with a serious expression.
My heart skipped a beat, but I held his gaze steadily. There was no use lying to him - he could always see right through me. I took a deep breath, letting my shoulders relax. "I... I'm sorry," I apologized, rubbing the back of my neck. "I just... I got caught up with stuff. Nothing serious, okay?"
"You've been gone the whole night, Kai." my dad said firmly. I couldn't talk about what I just did. About Ms Coffee and Mr Sota... He'd probably lose it if I did. "Dad, I'm sorry," I apologized again, this time while taking off my jacket and holding it. "Ren and I... We just lost track of time. But I'm back and... I'm okay." Just as I was about to walk away, my dad pointed his finger at me. In that instant, my shirt suddenly disappeared, revealing the scars all over my body and my arms. "Dad! What the hell!?" I yelped, dropping my jacket on the floor.
A look of absolute horror and disbelief crossed my father's face as his eyes took in the sight of my scarred body. His mouth fell open, and for a moment, he seemed completely speechless. When he finally managed to speak, his voice was trembling with a mix of anger and worry.
"Great galaxy… I knew it…" He took a step forward, his hands reaching out as if to touch the marks but stopping mid-air. "Tell me the truth, right now," he demanded, his voice firm but filled with pain. "You've been using your powers, haven't you? And not for training."
My eyes widened, and I instinctively stepped back, my heart pounding. "Dad... I... It's... It's not what it looks like. I just..."
"Tell me the truth, Kai. Don't make me have to read your mind to get the truth out of you." Hearing my dad's words, my heart sank. I couldn't let him know... About what I did. But I knew deep down, he would find out about everything. So, I told him. "I... I've been doing underground fight clubs..."
A tremor of anguish crossed my father's face at my confession, and his hand abruptly flew up to cover his mouth. "Kai... why? Oh my dear Kai, why?"
My father sank down onto the couch, his shoulders slumping. For a long moment, there was nothing but silence in the room. Then, he looked up at me, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "Underground fight clubs... How could you be so reckless? Do you understand the sort of people who are involved in those things? The risks?"
He stood up abruptly, pacing back and forth across the room. Every now and then, he would stop to look at me, his expression a mix of rage, sorrow, and disappointment. "Do you have any idea what would have happened if you'd gotten hurt badly? If you'd... if you'd died?" He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands in frustration.
I clenched my fists, my voice steady but filled with defiance. "I had to do something, Dad. We needed zeni, and Shaina's job alone isn't enough to pay the bills. I had to do something... Anything."
"By risking your life?" My dad stopped pacing, his concerned gaze not leaving mine. "Kai, you can't just gamble with your life like this!"
"I was trying to help!" I snapped. "I mean, seriously! Maliza has to sit here at home and worry about when you're coming home while Shaina has to endure harassment every day by that creep of a boss of hers and Malisha literally has to deal with racism by someone who is bigger than her! Meanwhile, I literally had to fight my way through to earn money to help us! And what do you do!? You don't work! You don't know what living on Earth feels like everyday because you're always up there in the World of the Kais!"
My father stood there, stunned by my outburst. His face paled, and for a moment, he seemed to shrink into himself. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely more than a whisper.
"You're right," he said, his shoulders sagging further. "I... I haven't been here. Not in the way I should have been. I've been so caught up in my duties as Supreme Kai, trying to protect the universe, that I didn't realize you all were struggling."
He took a step towards me, his eyes filled with remorse. "But Kai, fighting in those underground clubs isn't the answer. There are other ways. I should have been more aware of the struggles you all were facing. I should have been... I should've been better."
The anger in his voice had faded, replaced by a deep-seated pain. He reached out, placing a trembling hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry. For everything. But please, promise me you won't go back to those clubs. Promise me you'll find a safer way to help."
I scoffed bitterly, "You… Did you forget? My life is over, I can't get a job anymore! Everyone thinks I'm a monster because of something I didn't do! The only people I have in my life are my friends and my family! Don't you get that?"
I pushed his hand off of me, "You said you're trying to make things right with me, yet you're marrying mom's sister out of your own guilt! Did you even think about how we felt–" A sharp intake of breath cut off my words as my father's expression morphed from remorse to raw agony. His hand dropped to his side as if it had been seared.
"I... I thought it would bring some stability, some... continuity," he stammered, his voice breaking. "I was so lost after your mother passed, and Maliza... she was there. She understood the pain because she shared it. I never meant to make you feel like it was out of guilt."
He sank back onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. "I've made such a mess of things...and I know that... Which is why I'm trying my hardest to make up for it."
A long, heavy silence filled the room. I could hear my father's ragged breathing as he fought to compose himself. When he finally looked up at me, his eyes were red-rimmed but filled with a new determination. "Tomorrow," he began, his voice unwavering despite the emotion in it, "I'm going to take a leave of absence from my duties as Supreme Kai. I'm going to be here, for all of you. I'll... I'll find a way to make things right with you."
He stood up slowly, walking over to where I was standing. This time, when he placed his hand on my shoulder, I didn't pull away. "I know it's not going to be easy. And I know I can't make up for all the years I've been absent just like that. But I'm willing to try. Will you give me a chance?"
I hesitated, then finally nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Look, I get it. You being our dad... I know that it's hard being a dad and a Supreme Kai at the same time but... Sometimes I feel like being your son is even harder."
A tear rolled down my father's cheek as he pulled me into a tight embrace. His arms trembled around me, and for the first time in a long while, I felt the warmth of his love and the weight of his remorse. "I know, Kai," he murmured. "I almost lost you once… I'm not ready to lose you again. You're my son - my only son."
He held me at arm's length, his eyes searching mine. "I'll talk to the other Kais. Explain the situation. They'll understand. And until I figure out how to balance both roles better, I'm here. For you, for your sisters, for Maliza."
The first rays of dawn peeked through the curtains, casting a soft glow over us. It felt like a new beginning - a chance for us to finally heal the wounds that had been festering for far too long.
"Heh, I... I think I should probably go to bed. I've been up for so long that I've forgotten about time." I said, letting out a soft chuckle.
My father managed a small, weary smile, his hand lingering on my shoulder for a moment longer before he let go. "Yes, you should get some rest. We can talk more later. There's... there's a lot we need to discuss." As I bent down to pick up my jacket, he added, his voice gentle but firm, "And Kai? No more underground fight clubs. Promise me."
I stood up straight, meeting his gaze with a newfound resolve. "I promise, Dad. No more." He nodded, clearly relieved. "Good. Now go on, get some sleep."
As I made my way up the stairs, I couldn't help but glance back at him. He was standing in the middle of the room, bathed in the morning light, his expression a blend of hope and determination. For the first time in ages, I felt a glimmer of optimism - not just for myself, but for our whole family.
To Be Continued