Before defeating that person, he told Arashi, "Our organization is targeting you and some others. You're not normal. We've uncovered many of your plans."
Arashi responded, "What organization are you talking about?"
But before the boy could answer, he suddenly lost consciousness.
Arashi stood there in front of Rin. Deep inside, he was afraid… but on the outside, he didn't show anything.
He thought to himself, What is this strange feeling inside me?
For the first time, Arashi was feeling fear… anxiety… tension. These emotions were mixing together in a way he had never experienced before.
Before I had this power… I never felt like this. What changed?
Did I… become emotional?
Back to the present.
Arashi was walking down to the school garden after classes ended. The afternoon sun was strong, its heat falling directly on his face, yet that strange feeling still lingered inside him.
He placed his hand on his face, his expression as indifferent as ever. He didn't even go to work that day. He stayed unusually quiet.
"The weather is warm… it looks like a nice day," he said calmly.
Despite everything he had been through, Arashi felt more satisfied with his life now. He truly believed in this life, whether it was small or big. He just wanted to live happily… to feel that there were people who truly cared about him.
"If I lived for two good, bright years… that would be better than living seventy years in misery."
"When I was young, I used to see children with their parents… while I was always alone. Maybe people don't realize the value of someone until they're gone."
"People always think I'm easy to take advantage of… easy to hurt, just because I'm quiet. I don't like that… but there's something inside me that pushes me to act this way. Like it's not even under my control."
"I don't understand these feelings… unless I face them alone. Because no one will listen to all of this… I didn't even have a brother or sister."
"Maybe… all of this will lead to something greater."
In reality, Arashi was sitting there, eyes open but unfocused, staring at nothing.
He heard footsteps.
Then he saw Rin standing in front of him.
She looked at him for a moment, then said with an annoyed tone, "Why are you sitting here?"
Arashi let out a small laugh. "Haha…"
She frowned. "Are you making fun of me?"
"No," he replied, "I was just… wasting some time."
"What do you mean? Aren't you going to study? Midterm exams are close."
She sat beside him, opened her small bag, and took out ice cream. She handed him one with a gentle smile.
Arashi was looking down at the ground… then he slowly looked at her face… then at the ice cream.
"Aren't you going to take it?" she asked softly.
He took it. "Sorry… I was just thinking about something."
They both started eating.
After a moment, Arashi said, "What's your story?"
He hesitated slightly, then added quickly, "If that's too personal… you don't have to tell me."
Rin shook her head. "No… it's not a problem."
"I was born into a rich family… very rich. I'm the oldest among the children in my family. In our family, the oldest daughter is supposed to inherit the public image, because we're very well-known in media."
"When I was five years old… I was the most cared for person in the family."
"Then my sister was born."
"She was more beautiful than me… and slowly, my family started caring about her more."
"They rewarded her… even when she hurt me. And if I tried to defend myself… I was always the one punished."
"I started hating my family more… every single day."
"When I turned fifteen… my father forced me to move to Tokyo. He sends me money every month… just enough to live. He said I was causing trouble… even though I don't understand how."
"So I came here… and I'm living on my own."
Her eyes almost filled with tears, but she held them back.
"I'll keep living… no matter how hard it gets."
Arashi looked at her… and felt something.
"You've really been through a lot… Rin."
She looked back at him. "What about you?"
Arashi stayed silent for a moment… then spoke.
"I was born into a middle-class family. We didn't have much money. My father worked a lot… just to provide us with a simple life."
"I was okay with that… until I turned eight."
"That's when everything changed."
"We were about to travel outside Tokyo. Before we left, my father gave me a box and told me… 'If anything happens… open it.'"
"We got into the car… and less than a kilometer later…"
"A huge truck crashed into us."
"The car was completely destroyed."
"My parents… died in that accident."
Rin's eyes widened.
Arashi continued calmly.
"I opened the box later. It had enough money to keep me alive for two or three years."
"I started working… even though I wasn't old enough. A lot of things happened… until I finally made it to high school on my own."
Rin couldn't hold back anymore. Tears fell from her eyes.
"How did you endure all of that…? You're strong… you've gone through so much…"
Before Arashi could respond—
A body suddenly dropped in front of them.
It looked like it had been thrown from a great distance.
Dead.
Rin screamed loudly.
Arashi stared at it in shock.
Then… more people began descending.
"…What the hell is this?" Arashi muttered.