Kaede, hey Kaede!" – the voice echoed through the silence.
What happened? Then it hit me. So I really used it. I looked at my hand—it was trembling. I clenched it, then let go.
"Finally, you're awake." Mr. Watsukawa's voice pulled me out of the thoughts that had just occupied me. Next to him stood numbers 1, 2, and 3 from the list of the most annoying people.
"Kaede, is it true? You can use Explosion Magic too?" Riku's voice was full of excitement.
"Yeah, so what? If I'm nice now, it'll just get me more work."
"Can you show it to us sometime?"
See, my life has become a trap game. And the moment I let my guard down, I have to be nice and put in effort—but nope, no thanks. I'm still only here because of the apartment.
Then suddenly, Shiro came up to me.
"That's awesome, Kaede. Congrats!"
He took my hand.
"Well, if you ask me, it's all no big de—Aghhhhh!"
"What is it, Kaede?" Shiro asked with a smile. The others behind him didn't seem to notice a thing.
"Please let go—ahhhhhh!"
I looked at my hand. Dude, it's turning blue.
Dear God, even if I don't believe in you—hear me out. And save me.
"Well, that's enough of a reunion. You guys go back to class now. I need to talk to Kaede about something."
Mr. Watsukawa—you're my savior and the best teacher ever, I thought.
"Go now, or do I have to call Susuna?" His voice grew more serious as he dropped his cigarette. The first to run was Yuna, terrified of the pedo. Then Riku followed. But Shiro—he didn't want to let go of my hand. He stared at me... that look could kill.
"Shiro, that includes you too. Otherwise, things will get un-com-for-ta-bleee," he suddenly sang in a high-pitched voice.
"Chill out. I still have something important to discuss with Kaede."
Oh Shiro… that was a mistake. I even felt bad for him and tried to warn him with a hand signal from my free hand. But he must've taken it as provocation, because he crushed my hand for good, turning my bones into powder. Great, the one time I'm nice.
"Alright, if you say so, Shiro."
"Shockbaaaaall!" he sang in that high-pitched voice while doing some weird dance moves. What a freak.
The next moment, Shiro collapsed to the ground, electrocuted. He really got tased. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.
"So, Kaede… I assume you didn't see anything, right?"
Even I thought that was a bit much. He clearly hadn't read the school rules. Not the kind of guy I really want to cover for.
"Well, actually…" I paused. Shit.
"What was that, Kaede? I didn't quite catch that," he said, a Shockball in his left hand. His tone alone told me I really had to watch my words now.
"Ahem, ahem… So, Shiro totally tripped, and then you came and helped him."
"Yeah, that's what I thought."
He ran his hand through his yellow hair. Kinda looks like a lion on coke.
"Alright, Kaede, let me get straight to the point," he suddenly said, placing a glass of water in front of me.
"You're extremely lazy—just like I used to be—and you're refusing to use your magic for some reason."
His face suddenly turned serious, even before I could react to his rude accusation.
He leaned toward me and whispered quietly but firmly, like my life depended on it:
"Kaede, what I'm about to tell you is very important. You really can't tell anyone."
His hand moved as if he were about to grab and abduct me.
"I believe there's an organization after you. The school knows it's the M2F—but not who. As a teacher, I can only intervene if there's trouble. And I can't watch over you 24/7. I don't even know if I'm right, but I can make a compromise."
"And that would be?" I could feel the pressure, yet… it can't be what I'm thinking. My voice got a bit more serious too.
If this organization is even 1 percent of what I think it is... I clenched my fist unconsciously.
"Kaede, is it possible you know something that could confirm my theory?" he asked, staring at me like a madman. Who's the real threat now—him or the organization?
"No, nothing," I said. I figured it was a better idea not to talk to anyone about my past—especially not some random creepy teacher.
"That's a shame, Kaede. Well, since I can't watch over you all the time like I said, you'll be excused from school. On the condition that you train with me in self-defense using your Explosion Magic. That goes for your team as well," he said like it was no big deal.
Ding ding ding—jackpot. No school!
"But I don't know—"
"Deal."
"You sure—"
"Deal, deal, deal," I said and shook his hand.
Man, I'd be an idiot to turn down an offer like that. But not me. If this is bait, then so be it—I'll eat it whole.
I smiled brightly into the room. Then Mr. Watsukawa stood up, turned to me one last time, and said with a serious look:
"If anything comes to mind, Kaede, you can always tell me. I'll grab the documents now. Then you can officially withdraw with Miss Susuna. But be polite."
"Yeah, got it."
"Good then."
He turned and left the room.
Yeah, right… Miss Susuna is about to get humiliated like never before.
Evening:
The room was pitch black. No candle burned, no light from outside filtered through the window. Just silence—and the black walls that seemed to swallow the tiny room whole.In the midst of the darkness sat Kaede on the floor. Knees pulled to his chest, forehead resting on them. Hardly a sound could be heard, except a faint whisper drifting like a curse through the room.
"I'm sorry… Mother… Father…" he breathed.
His voice was barely audible. Fragile. Full of guilt and shame.Tears ran down his cheeks, dripping silently to the floor. The shadows around him seemed to breathe, to watch him—or mock him.
"I should've been stronger… I should've saved you…"
He clenched his fists, nails digging deep into his skin. But the pain wasn't enough. Nothing was."Because of me... everything turned out like this. If only I hadn't been there… if only I… didn't exist…"
He sobbed. Trembled. His body felt heavy, like it was being crushed by an invisible weight."I can't do this anymore. I can't keep playing this… game. This smile, these fights, this life… I just wanted… to be left alone."
A laugh escaped his throat. Dry. Bitter."What a joke… 'to be left alone'… Life had other plans, didn't it?"
He lifted his head and stared into the darkness. But there was nothing. Just emptiness."I'm tired… so tired…"His voice was barely a whisper."Why me? Why did I have to survive… and not you? Why… is someone like me still alive?"
He pressed his hands to his ears. As if to silence the thoughts.But they only screamed louder.His breathing grew erratic.He slowly collapsed to the side, now lying on the floor, eyes wide open—yet without light, without hope.A black case lay a few centimeters beside him. Almost unnoticeable. Yet his gaze was fixed on it. Frozen
Suddenly… a whisper. Kaede lifted his head slightly.It wasn't his own. It sounded… familiar.
"Kaede…"
He held his breath. The voice was soft. Female. But it was… strangely familiar.Then came the second voice—deeper, harsh, bitter."What kind of son are you…?"
Kaede flinched."No… that… that can't be…"
"How could you…? How could you use Explosion Magic?"The words pierced into his mind like daggers."You forgot about us…"
"NO!" he screamed—but only in his mind. His mouth wouldn't open. His throat felt sealed shut.He could only stare.
"It's your fault, Kaede. All your fault… You should've saved us…""You failed.""You lived… and we… died."
Kaede's body shook. He clawed at the blanket, pulled it over his head, as if it could protect him from the voices. But it didn't help.They kept whispering. Every night. Every morning.Always the same coldness in their tone. Always the same accusation.
And then… came the howling.
Not from outside. From within.A deep, desperate howl rising from his heart—as if the child in him were crying out."I just wanted to make you proud…"
But no answer. Only laughter. Mockery."Proud? Of a coward like you?"
Kaede barely slept. And when he did, it was restless.His gaze was empty. The shadows under his eyes grew darker by the day.Even Riku and Shiro noticed something was wrong. But Kaede answered no questions."Go away.""Leave me alone.""What do you want?"That was all they got.
His mood was awful. Every movement seemed like too much. Even breathing seemed to tire him.But in truth… it wasn't exhaustion. It was despair.
They spoke with Watsukawa but he said Kaede will watch us at the moment even Watsukawa was worried about Kaede.
A week later:
Kaede sat by the window. Like every night.
But this time…Nothing.
No voices.No accusations.No tears.Only silence.
Kaede waited.For minutes.
But there was nothing.
Slowly, almost in disbelief, he whispered:"... Mom? Dad?"
The darkness stayed silent.
He stared out the window. The first rays of sunlight painted the horizon a warm orange.And Kaede?He didn't smile.But his breathing calmed a little.
The voices were gone. But what they left behind wasn't peace.Only emptiness. He clenched his fist, his body surrounded by shadows, his eyes slightly purple."I'll avenge you… at any cost."A final tear fell. Then everything vanished—the shadows, the purple eyes, even the sorrow.
He looked out the window. And stayed silent.This must never happen again. I lost control.His hand trembled.Then he put his usual grumpy, bored expression back on.
Then the last daek Shadow behind him also disappeared
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This Chapter Marks a very Important point than it shows us that Kaede still is unstable and even a tiny connection to his past can get him crashout. Now like he did before he seeks for revenge.
If he is already broken now how will it be when war breaks out. This was just the start of the brutal story war lord Kaede from now on we see the comedy vanish and the darkness rise.
Yet no one knows what happend during the 10 years earlier