Rain pounded his room, thunder crashing like explosions.
Kazuma lay on his bed, hair messy, eyes devoid of hope, as if he was losing his mind.
A thunderclap filled the room with light—Kazuma trembled, grabbed his head, clenched his teeth, and squeezed his eyes shut.
A fly buzzed toward him. Startled, Kazuma jumped, flipped in the air, then fell back onto the bed.
Kazuma (taking a deep breath):
"I have to calm down… there's nothing dangerous… just breathe…"
But his breathing quickened, anxiety creeping in.
He stared intensely and rubbed his eyes, both clouded and weak.
He opened his mouth to scream, then closed it to avoid waking Tien and Rin.
He stood up, scanning the room through the fog in his vision.
Kazuma:
"What's happening to me? I'm going insane…"
He collapsed to the floor, unable to see.
His eyes closed slowly and the world went black.
A voice echoed in the darkness:
Voice:
"Wake up, Kazuma! Time's up, get up!"
His eyes opened. Rin shook him.
Rin (angrily):
"We're late, you idiot!"
He stood dazed, rubbing his head.
He put on blue shorts, a white shirt, and picked up his satchel.
Tien (surprised):
"Why aren't you wearing your usual clothes?"
Kazuma's face was pale, dark circles under his eyes.
Kazuma:
"I don't know… I just felt like wearing these."
Tien (laughing):
"Haha, do what you want—but go to class!"
---
In class, Kazuma sat spaced out while the bald teacher lectured.
Teacher (loudly):
"Hey you, sleeping in my class?"
Kazuma wasn't sleeping—he was sad, staring at the window with dark circles and a pale face.
Teacher (angrily):
"Why are you ignoring me, you fool?"
The class laughed.
Kazuma lifted his head wearily.
Kazuma:
"Sorry… please continue."
He glanced at Rin. She folded her arms and sighed, then looked back at the board.
Kazuma placed his left hand on the side of his head, staring out the window.
Kazuma (thinking):
"I'm not okay… I feel scared… but why?"
---
After school, students streamed out. Kira walked past the gate.
Kazuma (loudly):
"Teacher—wait!"
Kira stopped. Kazuma ran toward him.
Rin saw them and raised an eyebrow, resting her chin on her hand.
Kazuma (eyes pale):
"Sir, I wanted to ask… I don't feel well. Do you know why?"
Kira (laughing):
"Haha, I'm not a doctor. I don't know."
He walked away. Kazuma lowered his eyes and walked off.
---
At home: Tien and Rin sat; Kazuma was in the bathroom.
Tien:
"So… how are school and studying?"
Rin looked gloomy, her right hand against her cheek.
Tien:
"What's on your mind?"
Rin (softly):
"I think… Kazuma has changed."
Tien (raising his brows):
"Explain."
Rin:
"He's acting strange."
Kazuma emerged from the bathroom. Fog covered his eyes and he collapsed. Tien and Rin heard the fall and rushed in.
Kazuma crawled across the floor like a child.
Tien (shaking him):
"Kazuma, answer me! What's wrong?"
Kazuma:
"The fog… it covers my eyes."
Rin (hand over her mouth):
"What do we do?"
Tien:
"We need to take him to a doctor!"
Tien carried Kazuma in his arms.
---
In a white room: Kazuma sat in a chair. A doctor in a white coat held up his fingers for an eye test. Kazuma just stared—he couldn't see.
The doctor sighed. Outside, Tien and Rin sat on blue chairs in the tiled hallway. The doctor returned.
Doctor:
"Kazuma is under severe psychological stress."
Tien:
"But he didn't go through any trauma."
Doctor:
"Maybe you're too far to notice. I heard he's been ostracized from his village."
Rin glanced at Tien. He nodded.
Doctor:
"Because of his thoughts, his blood pressure spiked. That caused his vision loss. He needs glasses."
Tien:
"Does that mean he'll never see normally again?"
Doctor (serious):
"Listen, both of you—if you don't support him now, you never will."
---
At home: Kazuma wore medical glasses.
Kazuma (clenching his right fist):
"I've decided something that will help me."
Tien:
"What? Tell me."
Kazuma:
"Since I lost my Shin, I've felt ordinary."
Tien (jaw dropped):
"Lost your Shin? Why didn't you tell me?"
Kazuma:
"I didn't have the time."
Rin:
"Is that a problem?"
Tien:
"Some people never get it back—they're not worthy. Shin tests its owner."
Kazuma:
"It doesn't matter—I've decided to live normally, forget Jin… let him do whatever."
Tien (laughing, relieved):
"That's the right choice!"
Kazuma (looking down):
"I wasn't born to fight—I was born for a peaceful life.
You guys take the tournament; I'll just live my childhood and forget about power."
He tossed his satchel and jumped on the bed.
Kazuma (sighing):
"What do I do now that I stopped?"
He lay staring at the ceiling.
Kazuma (softly):
"Now I'll seek a peaceful life… study… grow up… become rich… marry… have kids… grandchildren… and die a normal death.
No Jin. No Taroli. No crazy ideas."
He paused, staring up.
Kazuma (quiet sigh):
"But I always wanted heroic adventures… revenge… to crush my brother's face."
---
Kazuma got up to clear his mind and decided to take a walk.
---
He ran out:
Saw two thieves kicking someone in a dirty alley. He turned away, walked on.
An old woman had her wallet stolen. She shouted, but Kazuma ignored it.
---
In class: The physics teacher with brown hair and green eyebrows asked a question.
Kazuma answered correctly.
Teacher:
"Well done, my favorite student!"
The class applauded. Kazuma smiled for the first time in ages.
---
Kazuma visited a psychologist.
Doctor (grinning):
"Kazuma is much better than before."
Rin:
"That's great news."
Tien:
"Happy news!"
Kazuma walked out, genuinely happy—for the first time.
---
Two days later, Kazuma walked through school halls with Kiura.
Kiura (mocking laugh):
"You've changed."
Kazuma:
"I feel happy—for the first time."
Kiura leaned close and inspected his silver eyes.
Kiura:
"I never thought your silver eyes were so beautiful."
Kazuma blushed and scratched his head.
Kazuma:
"Thanks… thank you for the compliment."
Kiura:
"You looked handsome, but those glasses ruin your charm."
Kiura:
"Want to walk outside?"
Kazuma (fake smile):
"Sure."
They strolled through the green schoolyard to a wooden bench.
Kiura (hesitant):
"Bold question—have you ever been with a girl?"
Kazuma:
"In my life, I never thought of a girl or love… I was only thinking of revenge."
Kiura:
"But why?"
Kazuma (looking up):
"My brother always said girls are weakness—enemies of strength.
Sorry… I considered girls only obstacles."
Kazuma:
"But old Kazuma the fighter is gone… I've forgotten my past and accept your idea now."
Kiura:
"Do you love your brother?"
Kazuma (calmly):
"I don't know… maybe I'll forget what he did. I'm trying to rebuild myself."
He stood and offered his hand. Kiura was surprised but shook it.
Kazuma:
"Thanks for this chat."
She smiled and took his hand.
---
Outside the school: Kazuma left alone; Rin stayed inside. People were rushing with buckets of water.
Kazuma:
"What's happening?!"
He saw a house on fire.
He prepared to leave—until he heard an old voice. He turned to see his old self.
Old Kazuma:
"You've tarnished my name."
Kazuma stayed silent.
Old Kazuma (taunting):
"Look at you—glasses, soft clothes—a kid who can't survive in this merciless world!"
Kazuma:
"I just wanted to change."
Old Kazuma (yelling):
"You insult yourself! You've become trash without power—worthless. Do you think power's not everything?"
---
Kazuma sprinted into the burning house like an arrow.
He covered his face, searched for the girl, but gas and smoke choked him.
His clothes and face were covered in ash.
He heard a child crying. He found a bed. Heavy wooden boards fell on him.
He shifted to try escaping.
He saw the crying girl under the bed, tears streaming.
Outside, her mother and father cried while watching helplessly. Rin stood frozen.
---
Kazuma closed his eyes, expecting death.
Kazuma (voiceover):
"I was wrong to say strength doesn't matter… That's proof I'm weak."
He remembered his old self's words.
Kazuma (fierce):
"The world needs me. Losing my power isn't an obstacle."
His muscles strained, angry and determined. Veins bulged.
Kazuma:
"A true warrior doesn't need power… he needs will and determination."
A transparent aura surrounded him. He yelled:
Kazuma (shouting):
"I am the strongest—even without power!"
He broke the wooden board, glasses falling off. He grabbed the girl and ran toward the broken window, aura glowing.
He shielded the girl with his body.
Crowd watched in shock, Rin trembling.
He twisted his entire body toward the sky, left palm raised—the wind lifted them gently toward the ground.
He lost control, and they fell. Dust filled the scene. People rushed; Rin ran too.
Kazuma raised his right thumb, cradling the girl on his chest. Her mother rushed in and took her.
Kazuma sat as the crowd gathered. His face and hair covered in ash.
Father (voice trembling):
"Thank you, young man… You saved her life."
Kazuma lowered his head, hair over his forehead, and offered a small smile.
---
Outside gate, Kiira and Kiura watched Kazuma's rescue.
Kiura (softly):
"He regained his confidence."
Kiira:
"He's someone you can count on… he never gives up."
Kiura (smiling):
"I trust he'll change everything."
---
As sunset fell over distant misty hills, Kazuma stood on the edge of a cliff above a foggy forest. Silver hair and shining eyes, hope lighting his face.
Tien (calling loudly):
"How are you now?"
Tien wrapped his arm around Kazuma's shoulder, playfully tousling his hair.
Tien:
"You scared us, you dummy
!"
Kazuma laughed.
Rin:
"Have you regained your Shin?"
Kazuma:
"It returned in the fire… but even without it—I'm strong."
They stared at the glowing sunset.
Kazuma (raising his voice):
"I feel reborn. I realized I wasn't born for a normal life—I was born to save people."
He clenched his right fist, planted his feet firmly, and leapt into the sky.
Kazuma (shouting):
"Adventure awaits me!!"
[THE END]