"When you dream, see yourself as a ruler sitting on a throne, ruling this world. Causing ocean waves with just your words alone; all those old places with xenophobic individuals will crumble with each step you take."
"They might be rulers that stand in your way, but somewhere down the line, those rulers took out someone who sat on that throne. We are not born leaders: we make ourselves into leaders."
"To do that, we have to fight, even when the whole world goes against us. Keep fighting! Show the world the tale of someone they used to laugh at, be the one they all look up to!"
As Shinji concludes his speech, the last drops of doubt and fear in the group seem to be taken by him. This is the first time they have seen him act so bluntly without any hint of playfulness, designating how serious he is.
Furthermore, he's bold enough to voice out a rebellion against the Bushi when they can hear is something worthy of admiration... Even when cornered a Tama-Artist is a Tama-Artist, after all.
Soon, some mortals unshealth their weapons, walking toward the Tama-Artists, their faces filled with malevolence. A minute later, the others mirror their movements, including those morons who decided to help earlier.
When they reach near their location, the group encircles the Bushi, together with the muscle pumas they are fighting.
Two Tama-Artists have fortunately lost their lives while the hazel-eyed young man was talking.
Seeing the agency of the situation, Katsura pupils shrink to pin size. As a Tama-Artist —who failed his graduation— he never felt like there is value to mortal lives. After all, they're nothing but punching bags to relief his stress and rage.
When he thought about them rebelling in the past, he used fear to make sure the mortals didn't reach such a level. However, Shinji's actions —calling the beasts and instigating a rebellion— are something he never put to mind.
'I always knew that the number of the mortals here is too much...'
Cold sweat moves down the stout's face, as he gets pushed back by the muscle puma.
—We, Bushi, have to keep these mortals in check, because sometimes, the Tama we have can only amplify our abilities to reach the levels some of these mortals are.
—We should never let the mortals know our weakness, especially us who failed to be 1-Star Tama-Artist who can't move Rei outside our bodies, because of few reserves.
—I've failed the culture.
Contorting his face, Katsura curses in his mind, 'Damn it all! I Should have installed fear into them properly.'
Meanwhile, Shinji, standing behind the encirclement, coldly gazes at the Tama-Artists hopelessness. Thinking of the times they lashed him, he clenches his fist, scowling.
—If it weren't for Derniere-san who gave me a method to protect myself, I would have died in their hands!!'
"Argh!"
A sudden groan escapes his lips, as his rage makes his head boil thanks to his sickness. Taking deep breaths, he tries to calm himself, but his mind keeps on flashing unpleasant scenes...
As his temperature levels increase to the point of turning his skin red, he mutters, "Lila... Lila..."
Although his mysterious illness has no cure, it has a remedy called his girlfriend. Just the thought of her, reduces his inner rage to magnificent levels —worse, be it when she is around.
Two minutes pass, and his temperature levels somewhat drops. Taking out three arrows, he places them on his quiver, shooting toward the profound beasts.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Three puma's died.
katsura who thought he had miraculously survived is met with a loud stumping sound. Around him, the mortals are rushing over with the intent to kill him, for all the times he harassed them.
A situation of go back to sender!
His Rei is depleted, and his hope lies on the other Bushi who are on their last leg to kill a group of nearly five thousand in numbers.
As the mortals rush over to liberate themselves, Shinji's eyes are seeing a different scene:
A young boy, about seven, who begged all day for money in the streets is smiling mischievously. On this day, he got a hefty amount of kuns, and he is going to buy something warm to protect himself from the winter cold.
"Although it's been a year since I last ate, I shouldn't rush to buy food —I can live without it."
As he is about to count the kuns he got, a group of middle-aged men encircled him, taking his money.
Instantly, his frail hands grab one of the men.
"That's mine! Give it back!"
Shameless enough, the group turns around, and starts hitting him. All the young Shinji can do is protect his head, his pleading gaze landing on the villagers. However, they ignore him, laughing and chatting about their daily businesses.
Now, that child is an onlooker to the first act of rebellion, since the Age Regiments were introduced.
Hahahahaha—!
An insanely deranged laugh escapes Shinji's mouth, watching the Bushi pitifully fight for their lives like cornered rats. But unlike corned rats, they have no energy to actually pull something, inciting Shinji to recall his childhood memories.
However, he keeps on laughing in joy, instead of sadness. Although he might feel sad for others, he doesn't know how to do it for himself.
Nobody taught him how to handle such things —no one takes his problems seriously—, and he placed his 'sadness' in the category of 'fun'. In retrospect, he is doing more harm to himself than good.
A moment passes, and blood gushes out from Shinji's mouth, because of his atrocious sickness. Nonetheless, he doesn't stop laughing. He falls to the ground, but his laughter increases
When the Bushi died; now, lying in a pool of his blood, does he stop.
A guy who laughs at his pitiful young self who couldn't do a thing to protect himself; doesn't care if his body is in pain, because no one felt empathy for him when he needed it the most, that's him!
Ngirozi Shinji (Kokusei)!