Aftershock Chapter 32:
[Later – Inside Mexus's Office]
The room stood empty, the polished wood and stacked scrolls silent save for the faint creak of Mexus's chair. No Kazuishi, no Uriel—just Taro and Mexus, the air thick with a quiet intensity. Mexus leaned back, his sharp features shadowed under the wide brim of his straw kasa hat—reminiscent of Captain Shunsui's from Bleach—its edges frayed, silver-streaked black hair peeking out. His gray eyes glinted with curiosity. "So, how was it? You and Kazuishi seem to get along well enough to stay in a room without killing each other—well, especially her," he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Taro shifted, his green hair catching the golden light streaming through the window, still tousled from the day's trials. "Well, it was okay. Pretty much exciting and educating. I learned more about this world—like the weaves and the rest—but in truth, I didn't even explore the remaining five squads. Something inside me felt like that would just be a waste. 'Cause at the end of the day, I knew I'd still end up coming back here, you know?" His voice carried a mix of relief and certainty, the Reibone at his side glinting faintly.
"Yeah, I pretty much knew all that stuff," Mexus replied, his smirk widening. "My main point wasn't for you to Diddy dawdle—it was to make friends, discover people, and get connected… especially with Kazuishi. And it sure seems like that plan worked out pretty well." His tone held a playful edge, the kasa hat tilting slightly.
"This guy and his goddamn plans—why can't he just let me have one for once?" Taro grunted inwardly, but he sighed aloud. "Ha, well, I'd say it'd be a lie to think you weren't planning something underneath. It's basically your nature. You're an open book, Mexus." He tried to boast his own wit, a grin flashing.
"Woah, Taro, now there's something I didn't expect," Mexus mocked, his gray eyes twinkling as Taro smiled. "Since when did you gain the ability to read books? Your grades say… otherwise." His teasing tone danced with amusement.
"Why you son of a—" Taro lunged, grabbing Mexus by the shoulders and shaking him, the kasa hat wobbling precariously. "Hey, hey, no need for language now," Mexus chuckled, raising his hands to calm him, the hat settling back into place.
Taro kept shaking for a moment before releasing him with a sigh, the tension easing. "Ahhh, whatever. On a more important note…" His eyes lit with sudden interest. "When's my first mission?"
Mexus stroked his chin in mock thought, the kasa brim casting a shadow over his face. "For you, I think the best first mission… is to go take a break in the awake world."
Taro's smile faded, a frown creasing his green-haired brow. "What the hell, why so?"
"Taro, you've been doing excruciating training for a month straight to prevent a fate worse than doom, then went on a mini adventure—which you probably had a fight or two in, plus lots of information on top of that. Yeah, I'm brutal, not evil. I wouldn't want you on a fight mission just yet," Mexus explained, his voice firm yet caring.
"But Mexus, I literally have nothing to do there. Wouldn't that just be a waste of perfectly valuable time instead of me driving to get better?" Taro protested, his fists clenching.
"Taro, somebody who drives and never wants to stop in the name of 'getting better' is a fool. Sooner or later, no matter how good the driver is, they'll eventually crash catastrophically. So no, let's not do that—get outside your car every once in a while, you know" Mexus countered, his tone brooking no argument.
"But Mexus, I—" Taro started, but Mexus cut him off. "Hey, hey, these are direct orders from your captain. A rookie refusing their first mission? Well, this isn't gonna sound good… with the Nertis."
"Hey, hey, okay, anything but those superficial demons," Taro relented, turning toward the door. "I'll be going."
A slow creak echoed as the door swung shut behind him. For a moment, the empty room lingered in view—Mexus alone, his chair swiveling as he sank into deep thought, gray eyes distant. "I wonder, will that…" he murmured, trailing off with a soft, "Hmph."
[Awake World: Taro's Room]
Taro's body jolted awake, a surge of electricity crackling through his limbs, his green eyes snapping open in the dim light of his cramped apartment. "Whew, it's still a bit strange doing this sometimes," he muttered, rubbing the sleep from his face.
He stretched, his muscles aching from the dream world's trials, the familiar creak of his bedframe grounding him. "But I guess it is a bit good to be back here. To be honest, I kinda missed this place." Rising, he glanced at the clock—two more days had passed, the hands reading late afternoon. "So it's been five days in total now. This space-time stuff is a bit confusing. I might need to ask Mexus a thing or two about the worlds and stuff later."
[In the Bathtub Taking a Bath]
Steam curled around Taro as he soaked, the warm water easing his tension. "I wonder if there are other worlds, ones besides the dream world and this one," he mused, stepping out and grabbing a towel to dry his green hair, the damp strands clinging to his neck. "I have so many questions now that I think about it."
He slipped into fresh clothes—dark jeans and a green hoodie—and laced up his sneakers, the apartment's stale air replaced by a crisp outdoor breeze as he stepped out, closing the door with a loud thud.
**[Outside]**
Taro wandered the streets, his thoughts racing unchecked. "Also, Mexus's squad—why are all his rankers only female? Kazuishi,Uriel and that Yaburu girl I mean I'm not sexist or anything, but that kinda looks like a pattern, hmmm." Lost in his mind, he didn't notice the path ahead, colliding with someone. A sharp thud echoed as they both fell, heads bumping briefly, a jolt of pain shooting through his skull.
Taro snapped back, rubbing his forehead. "Ugh, I'm sorry, it was completely my fault." He extended a hand to help the person up, his green eyes meeting a girl with long, dark silk hair cascading over a cute, adorable face. She wore fashionable white clothes—a flowing blouse and skirt—and clutched a bag, her expression shifting from surprise to a warm, "pleasantly surprised" smile.
"Thanks, it's okay, really," she said, accepting his hand, her touch light as she rose. Then her eyes widened. "Taro, is that you?"
"Um, do I know you?" Taro asked, confusion wrinkling his brow.
"How cruel," she said, as if struck by a blade, turning away for a second before refocusing on him. "I'm Aoki Nodoka from your class—basically the only person who'd ever try to have a conversation with you without immediately subconsciously or actively judging you."
"Nodoka? Huh?" Taro's memory flickered, then lit up. "Oh, I know—she's the kind lady who'd always talk to me every once in a while about something… But I was too worked up back then to ever give her the light of day."
Nodoka tilted her head, noting his distant expression. "Um, did you always have a thing for making weird expressions on your face while thinking?"
Taro jolted back. "Damn, I need to stop doing that." He grinned sheepishly. "My bad, yeah, I remember you now. Sorry for being a dumbass and totally forgetting one of the kindest and most genuine people in our class."
"Hah," she sighed faintly. "Well, at least you learned some low-tier flattery while your eye was gone." Her tease hit like a quick bullet to the chest, given their distant familiarity.
"Uh… thanks," Taro managed, masking the sting.
She picked up her bag. "Hey, would you like to walk with me? Well, if you're not busy, that is."
"Um, sure, why not!" Taro agreed, a bit too eagerly.
She raised a brow. "Really? You usually never come—you'd refuse, sometimes not even answer, and then continue your loner act. Don't you remember?"
[Flashback: School Cafeteria]
The cafeteria buzzed, seats nearly full. Nodoka, surrounded by friends, waved politely at the stressed Taro searching for a spot. "Hey, Taro, over here!" she called, her dark hair bouncing.
"Hey, stop inviting that freak over here," one friend muttered.
"Stop it, you don't know that," Nodoka snapped, waving again. Taro's green eyes caught her gesture, but he sensed the hostility from her group. "Nah, no thanks," he said, walking away.
"Ahh," Nodoka gasped, shocked by the letdown. "You see, the freak let you down," her friend taunted.
*Nodoka grunted,* her smile crumbling slowly.
[End of Flashback]
"Remember that?" Nodoka asked as they walked, her tone light but probing.
"Yeah, I do," Taro admitted, his head dipping in a quiet "uh oh."
Nodoka giggled, then shifted to a more serious note. "Also, Taro, why weren't you in school this week? I know you're not really attached and all, but are you really skipping or…?"
Taro's expression faltered, a hesitation flickering. "Well… I was just kinda… busy, I guess."
"Since when did you become that busy?" she pressed.
"Well… I guess it just kinda happens… you know," he hedged.
Nodoka studied him, her dark eyes searching, then closed them, stretching her arms behind her back. "Well, if you say so, I guess I'll trust you."
"Thanks… I guess," Taro said, his attention shifting to her bag. "Also, what's in the bag?"
Her head tilted toward it, her expression saddening slightly. "Oh, this—it's just some medicine. My parents aren't all too well."
"Oh, my condolences," Taro said softly, his voice gentle.
She smiled faintly. "No, it's okay, really. They're getting much better. As a matter of fact, you can see them—my house is right ther—" Her bag slipped, her face paling, voice deadening.
"Huh, what's wrong?" Taro asked, following her gaze. His expression turned grave, green eyes widening.
Before them, Nodoka's house blazed, flames licking the sky, smoke billowing from shattered windows—not just any house, but her home.
Nodoka screamed, tears streaming. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! Mother!!!!!!! Father!!!!!"
Taro stepped in front of her, raising a hand. "You should stay here. I'll go save them," he said, moving toward the entrance, but her hand gripped his arm, stopping him.
"No, Taro, I refuse to be some damsel in distress. They're my parents—I'll save them too," she insisted, her voice trembling with resolve.
Taro grunted, assessing the growing fire. *Damn, I don't have all day, and she could help since she knows the house.* "Fine, you can come along," he relented. "But be careful."
He took a deep breath, exhaling sharply, then charged, using his head to smash the door open with a resounding *boom*, rolling inside as splintered wood flew. "Quick, get in before the fire covers it up!" he shouted.
Nodoka nodded, rushing in as flames engulfed the entrance behind them. *Well, that's just great—there goes the exit!* Taro thought, rising to his feet, the heat searing his skin. "Okay, Nodoka, where are your parents?"
She pointed upstairs to the second room, the staircase a roaring inferno. "Right there in that room," she said, panic edging her voice.
"Damn, what are we gonna do?" Taro scanned the burning house, the smoke stinging his eyes, but then he spotted the table. "Aha, Nodoka, we could use the table!"
"As a shield," she finished, rushing to the table's end while Taro grabbed the front. "Alright, let's carry it!"
"Right!" Nodoka exclaimed. They heaved the heavy wood, muscles straining, and dragged it to the staircase's base.
Taro paused, sweat dripping down his green hair. "Okay, Nodoka, from the looks of the stairs, they won't hold much longer after one step—they're breaking. We gotta do this rhythmically, step at the same time, so don't stop. You got it?"
"Understood," she replied, her dark hair clinging to her face, determination blazing.
Taro flipped the table, gripping his edge. "Ready?"
"Let's go!"
They screamed, charging up the stairs. Each step cracked and burned to ash behind them, the table shielding them from falling debris as they ran, the heat blistering their skin. With a final heave, they smashed the table into the room's door, splintering it open.
Inside, Nodoka's parents stood—elderly, frail, their gray hair disheveled, eyes wide with fear and confusion. "Mom, Dad!" Nodoka cried, rushing to hug them, tears mixing with soot.
"Nodoka, are you okay?" they asked, their voices weak with worry.
"I'm fine, Mom and Dad," she sobbed, clinging to them.
Taro propped the table against the door, blocking the spreading flames. "Alright, please get down—you two are old; the smoke will kill you faster than the fire." They nodded, crouching low.
Taro scanned for an exit, spotting a window barred with reinforced iron. "Ahhh," he groaned. Turning to Nodoka, "Is there anything I could use to break those bars?"
She tilted her head, her expression grim. "No."
"Damn it," Taro growled, rushing forward. "Then I guess I'll just have to punch my way through!"
He unleashed a relentless barrage on the iron's edge, fists slamming with bone-jarring force, blood trickling from his knuckles as he ignored the pain. The metal groaned, and with a final, desperate "Ahhhh… (pants) Yes!" the bars loosened, clattering to the floor.
Nodoka rushed to the window, throwing it open. "Now, Mom and Dad!" But as her parents rose, time seemed to slow. *Boom!* An explosion ripped through, flames erupting, reducing them to ashes in an instant. Nodoka's outstretched hands grasped at nothing, the blast hurling her and Taro out the window.
They landed hard outside, the fully burnt house crumbling behind them. Taro's vision blurred, his body too weak to move, blood pooling beneath his fists. "Is this… the end?" he whispered, the world fading to black.