Ervin crouched down again in front of Kato, his expression calm but his eyes sharp.
Ervin: Alright, Kato… I'll tell you what happened to you. But I need you to listen carefully.
Kato swallowed hard, his fists tightening at his sides.
Kato: I… I'm listening.
Ervin nodded and began, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of truth.
Ervin: Over the past few decades, certain groups like the one that kidnapped you, have been trying to manipulate shadow energy for their own purposes.
He paused, letting that sink in.
Ervin: Shadow energy… it isn't just a force. It's alive in a sense. It can bond, grant power, or… destroy its user if they aren't careful. But the human body isn't naturally compatible with it. If the process isn't done right… you die. Or worse....
Kato's face still looked displeased.
Kato: I know all this. Shadow monsters are humans who couldn't handle the energy. If the person's body or soul can't handle it, the energy consumes them entirely, turning them into something… unrecognizable. They taught us that in school. But that doesn't explain why I'm an exception to this.
Ervin leaned closer.
Ervin: You… you survived because you were a conduit. That's why you're different.
Kato: Huh? A what?
Ervin: A conduit is usually the child of a Shadow and a human, or a Clarion and a human. When they're born, they inherit only a tiny fraction of their parent's energy, so small it often goes undetected. Most of the time, it fades away as they grow. My theory? You survived the shadowfication process because of that small trace of shadow energy inside you.
Kato fell silent as Ervin's words sank in, as a sudden realization crashed into him after hearing the explanation of shadowfication.
If his mother wasn't compatible, if the shadow energy had put her in a coma then the only person he could have inherited that trace of shadow energy from was his…
He stopped himself from arriving at the conclusion as it was one he wasn't ready to focus on at all..
Kato: But... What about my mother? They said she was in a coma. I need to see her.
Ervin's eyes darkened slightly.
Ervin: I'm afraid that's not possible.
Kato: Huh?! Why not?!
Ervin reached into his coat and pulled out his phone. Without a word, he held the screen in front of Kato.
The news broadcast had gone live an hour ago.
Kato's breath caught as he read the headline.
"MISSING STUDENT KATO HAMURA DECLARED PERSON OF INTEREST IN MULTIPLE SHADOWFICATION INCIDENTS"
Images flashed across the screen, his school photo, blurry surveillance footage, distorted shots of the arena raid. A reporter's voice echoed coldly:
"Authorities have confirmed that Kato Hamura is suspected of involvement in several shadowfication cases over the past few months…"
Kato's hands began to shake. Then the screen changed again as the reporter continued:
"Sources also report that Hamura attempted to forcibly turn his own mother into a Shadow. The victim, Korra Hamura, is currently in a coma at Benville Central Hospital. Doctors state her survival chances are critically low."
Kato felt like the ground beneath him had vanished.
Kato: My mom… is going to die? (shakes his head desperately) Why is this happening? This doesn't make any sense! If anything, I'm the victim here! I was kidnapped... (grabs his head) And now I'm a countrywide threat?!
The phone slipped from Ervin's hand as Kato staggered back, his chest tightening and acheing with each breath.
Isaiah: The world sees Shadows as evil. And now that you're one of us… you're being judged the same way.
Kato rose to his feet and began pacing around, staring at nothing, his reflection in the dark glass of the building's windows.
Kato: (broken whisper) How did it come to this?
Kato's chest suddenly heaved, each breath coming in short, sharp gasps.
Kato: No… no! This can't be happening! This isn't real! I didn't do anything! My mom… she's… she's…
He stumbled backward, clutching his head as panic spiraled inside him. Words blurred into a chaotic cacophony of guilt, fear, and outrage. His vision swam; the rooftop, the city below, everything began to tilt.
Kato: I… It's not fair! I… I didn't do anything wrong!
He fell to his knees, hyperventilating as the air burned his lungs. His hands clawed at the ground, searching desperately for some kind of anchor in the chaos.
Ervin stepped forward, calm and steady.
Ervin: Kato…
Without warning, he placed a single hand lightly on Kato's chest.
A strange warmth spread from the contact. The rapid pounding of Kato's heart began to slow. His struggles weakened. His body sagged.
Kato: W-what… what…
The world blurred. The city lights faded into silence. His mind grew heavy, his eyelids drooping like stone.
And then darkness took him.
He collapsed onto the rooftop, unconscious once more.
Ervin lowered his hand, kneeling beside him, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Kato's prone form.
Ervin: His body hasn't fully recovered from the fight earlier. He needs rest.
He turned to Mira and Isaiah, who had watched the entire ordeal unfold, their expressions a mix of worry and guilt.
Ervin: We're taking him back with us. Mira… when he wakes, I want you to talk to him. Can you do that?
Mira's gaze softened as she looked at Kato, his chest rising and falling gently. Memories of school days, of laughter with Takimo, and of the moment he asked her out just two days ago, flashed in her mind.
Mira: Yeah, I can. (pause) No… I will do it.
Isaiah: What if he starts yelling at you again?
Mira's eyes returned to Kato. The thought of his confusion, his fear, and the injustice he now faced steeled her resolve.
Mira: It's okay. I know what I'm going to say to him.