As Eichi made his way to order food, he felt Aiko following him. It had been like this for a few minutes after they'd cleaned up in their respective showers. He'd tried to ignore her, hoping she'd get the hint, but she kept trailing behind like a lost puppy. Finally, he'd had enough. He stopped abruptly and turned around. "What."
Caught slightly off guard, Aiko hesitated before sighing. "I-I just... I would like to apologize."
Eichi tilted his head, his expression blank. "About what?"
"Well, about everything, really," she said, fidgeting in place.
The fuck? Eichi thought, frowning slightly as he waited for her to continue.
Aiko, seeing his expression, looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry for my incompetence as a leader and also as a teammate."
Eichi relaxed slightly. Oh, that's it? he thought.
But then she continued, and her next words sent a shiver down his spine. "Also, I'm sorry if I didn't give the impression that we were relying on you, especially when you were fighting with Kenta."
Oh no.
"And for making it look like you weren't trying enough."
Dear Shinigami, no. Not again.
"So, I would like to apologize, and let me buy you something," she finished, bowing slightly.
Eichi's eyebrow twitched uncontrollably. Fuuuuuck... he thought, utterly exhausted by the overly social norms of this world. He wasn't built for this. He wasn't built for heartfelt apologies or class bonding or whatever this was supposed to be. All he wanted was to grab some food, eat in peace, and maybe figure out how to avoid situations like this in the future.
But Aiko was still standing there, waiting for a response. Eichi sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Look," he said, his tone flat. "You don't need to apologize. Just... don't make it a habit to rollback on your words, and we're good."
Aiko blinked, then let out a small laugh. "Fair enough. But seriously, let me buy you something. It's the least I can do."
Eichi stared at her for a moment, then sighed again. "Fine. But no small talk."
As they walked, they ran into Kaina and her group. Kenta wasn't with them—probably still recovering from the beating Eichi gave him during the P.E. hero session. Not that they needed to know.
Eichi tried to steer clear of Kaina and her group, but his luck was clearly shot today.
"Eichi? Hey, Eichi!" Kaina waved despite Eichi's obvious grumpiness.
Oh no, not again, Eichi lamented, sighing heavily.
Aiko glanced at him, then at Kaina. "You know her? The student rep?"
"Yeah," Eichi muttered. "She's in B-class, older than us, and all that. She'd make a fine hero with all that enthusiasm." His tone was dry, but Aiko caught the sarcasm.
Kaina was already making her way over. "Eichi! Didn't think I'd see you here. How's it going?"
Eichi gave her a flat look. "Peachy."
Aiko, sensing the tension, stepped in. "Hi, I'm Aiko. nice to meet you, Kaina Tsutsumi right?"
Kaina beamed, her enthusiasm dialed up to eleven. "That's me! Nice to meet you, Aiko. You're in Eichi's class, huh? How's he treating you? Not too grumpy, I hope."
Eichi's eyebrow twitched. "I'm right here."
Kaina laughed, waving him off. "Relax, Eichi. Just making small talk."
"Which I explicitly said I didn't want," he muttered under his breath.
Kaina grinned. "That's Eichi for you. All bark, no bite. Well, unless you're Kenta, apparently."
Eichi's ears perked up, and he stared at Kaina. "Wait, it hasn't even been minutes since the training finished... How do you know about Kenta already?"
Kaina's grin widened. "Oh, you know how it is. News travels fast around here. Especially when someone gets their butt handed to them in P.E."
Eichi narrowed his eyes. "Your stalking tendencies are getting the best of you, innit?"
Kaina laughed. "Stalking? Please. I prefer to call it being well-informed."
Eichi groaned. "Look, can we just drop this? I'm not in the mood for Kenta drama."
Kaina held up her hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll leave you to your brooding. But seriously, Eichi, try not to break anyone else before they make it to hero, yeah?"
Eichi shot her a glare, but she was already walking away, her laughter trailing behind her.
Aiko, who had been quietly observing the exchange, turned to Eichi with a raised eyebrow. "She's... something."
"Yup," Eichi muttered, rubbing his temples. "Something annoying."
Aiko chuckled. "Come on, let's get that food before your luck gets any worse."
Eichi sighed but followed, already dreading whatever social landmine was waiting for him next.
---
The cafeteria buzzed with the usual chatter of students unwinding after a long day, but one table was louder than the rest. Kaina's group had claimed their usual spot, their laughter carrying across the room. At the center of it all was Kenta, slouched in his seat with a scowl on his face as his friends took turns ribbing him.
"Come on, Kenta," one of the boys said, grinning as he elbowed him. "You're telling us you got taken down by that guy? The one who looks like he hasn't seen sunlight in years?"
Kenta's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond, instead stabbing at his food with more force than necessary. Another girl at the table chimed in, her tone teasing. "I mean, I get it. Eichi's got that whole 'mysterious and brooding' thing going on. Maybe you were just intimidated by his vibe."
"I wasn't intimidated," Kenta snapped, finally breaking his silence. "He just got lucky, alright? I wasn't ready for his tricks, and it wasn't just me. Haru, his own teammate, was scared shitless even before the session started."
"Tricks?" Another boy, Kato, raised an eyebrow, his smile playful. "From what I heard from Class C-1, he was pretty straightforward. You just couldn't keep up."
The table erupted into laughter, and Kenta's face turned red. "Shut up, Kato! You weren't even there."
"I heard enough," Kato shot back, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. "Three times, Kenta. He put you down three times. That's not luck—that's skill."
While Kaina was laughing, she suddenly paused, her brow furrowing. "Wait, why did you say Haru was scared again?"
Kenta clicked his tong, his frustration bubbling over as he slammed his fork down on the table. "I'm telling you, Haru was acting weird even before the test started. He was all jumpy, like he'd seen a ghost or something. And when Eichi showed up, Haru looked like he was about to piss himself. I don't know what that guy's deal is, but he's got Haru spooked for some reason."
The table fell quiet for a moment, the teasing atmosphere giving way to curiosity. Kaina's laughter faded, her expression shifting to one of mild concern. "Wait, seriously? Haru was scared of Eichi? Like, actually scared?"
"Yeah, scared. I don't know why, but Haru was acting like Eichi was some kind of monster. He was making a scene about his scars or something in the locker room—I mean, sure, he's got one on his face and maybe a couple on his hands, but that's it. It's not like he's covered in them or anything. But Haru was freaking out like he'd seen something worse. And honestly, after what happened during the test, I'm starting to think he might've been onto something."
Kato leaned forward, his playful grin replaced by a more serious expression. "What do you mean? What happened in the lock's?"
"Alright, look. You know Haru's Quirk, right? His eyes—he can see through illusions, cast his own, and all that. Well, apparently, Eichi's got some kind of illusion thing going on too. Haru said he saw sum in the locker room we couldn't see. He said Eichi's covered in scars—like, covered. Not just the one on his face or his hands. And hey, maybe I even lost because of that. It must be a second Quirk or something."
The table fell silent. Kaina's eyes narrowed, her curiosity piqued. "Wait, so Haru saw through Eichi's illusion? I mean, are you sure he even has one? Last I checked, his file only listed Enhanced Strength as his Quirk."
Kenta sighed. "Yeah. And Haru said Eichi didn't even flinch when he called him out on it. Just stared him down like he didn't care. Then, bam—Haru looked like he'd seen a ghost. I don't know what Eichi did, but it freaked Haru out so bad he wouldn't talk about it after."
Kato whistled low, leaning back in his chair. "Damn. So Eichi's not just strong—he's got some kind of illusion Quirk too? And he's hiding scars? What's his deal?"
Kaina frowned. "If Haru's Quirk lets him see through illusions, and Eichi's got one strong enough to... rattle haru. Most, if not all, illusion Quirks don't work on Haru. Whatever Eichi's doing, it's on another level."
Kenta crossed his arms. "Yeah, and that's not even the worst part. During the test, it was like... he wasn't even trying. He moved faster than anyone I've ever seen, and when he hit me, it felt like getting hit by a truck. And the way he looked at me—like I was some kind of a dumbass. It was... unsettling."
The table fell silent again. Kaina's gaze drifted to the stairs leading to the first-year dorms. She couldn't help but wonder what it was about Eichi that had Haru—and now Kenta—so rattled.
Kato broke the silence, his tone half-joking. "So, what? We've got some kind of secret ninja in our class? What's next—he starts throwing shurikens and disappearing in puffs of smoke?"
"Maybe," she said quietly.
Kenta leaned forward, his voice low. "You think he's dangerous?"
Kaina hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't know. But—"
Before she could finish, Kato interrupted. His usual laid-back demeanor was gone, replaced by an uncharacteristically serious expression. "Wait, do you remember the incident at District 69 some days ago?"
The table froze. Kenta's eyes narrowed, and Kaina's head snapped toward Kato. "What about it?" she asked, her voice cautious.
Kato leaned in, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You know, the one where those two red-haired guys showed up out of nowhere and started fighting that group of five? The news said they had crazy Quirks—wind, fire, gravity, all that stuff. And then... one of them blew himself up. The other one got away with a baby."
Kato cut Kaina off as she was about to say something. "Think about it. Eichi shows up out of nowhere, right after that incident. Yes, he's got black hair now, but it could be dyed, no? He's freakishly strong, moves like a pro, and now we find out he's got scars all over him that he's hiding with some kind of illusion. And Haru's scared of him? Come on, it adds up."
Kaina's pieces of the puzzle stated clicking into place. The timing, Eichi's skills, his scars, his attitude—it all fit. But she wasn't ready to jump to conclusions. "That's a huge leap, Kato. We don't know if Eichi's connected to that. It could just be a coincidence."
Kato shook his head. "Coincidence? Seriously? You think it's a coincidence that a guy like him shows up right after something like that happens? And don't forget—Haru saw through an illusion. What if Eichi's not just hiding scars? What if he's a villain?"
Kenta's fists clenched on the table. "If he's one of those guys from District 69... that means he's dangerous. Those guys leveled a whole block. And if he's the one who got away—"
Kaina held up a hand, cutting him off. "We don't know that. And even if he is connected, we can't just accuse him without proof. For all we know, he's just a guy trying to start over."
Kato raised an eyebrow. "A guy trying to start over doesn't show up with scars he needs to hide and skills that make pros look like amateurs. Face it, Kaina. There's something off about him, and we need to figure out and let the hero's know before it becomes our problem."
"And what if he's not a threat? What if he's just someone who's been through hell and is trying to rebuild his life?! We can't judge him based on rumors and speculation. If we start treating him like a villain without proof, we're no better than the people who probably made his life miserable in the first place!"
Kenta leaned back in his chair, his expression conflicted. "I get what you're saying, Kaina, but come on. You can't just ignore the signs. He's too strong, too skilled, and way too secretive. If he's not dangerous, then why is he hiding so much?"
Kaina sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'm not saying we should ignore it. I'm saying we should be careful. If he's hiding something, we need to find out what it is—but we can't just assume the worst. Maybe he's scared. Maybe he's protecting someone. We don't know. And until we do, we should give him the benefit of the doubt."
Kato crossed his arms, his tone skeptical. "Benefit of the doubt? After what happened in District 69? That's a big risk, Kaina."
"And treating him like a criminal without proof is an even bigger one! If we push him away or accuse him without knowing the truth, we might just create the very problem we're trying to avoid."
If Eichi was connected to the District 69 incident, then he wasn't just a transfer student with a tough past. He was someone who had been through hell—and survived. Someone who might still be running from something, or someone.
"So, what do we do? If he's that dangerous, we can't just sit around and wait for him to do something."
Kaina hesitated, then nodded. "We keep an eye on him. But we do it carefully. No accusations, no confrontations. If he's hiding something, we'll figure it out—but we'll do it the right way. Agreed?"
Kato sighed, clearly still skeptical, but he nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But if he does anything suspicious, I'm not waiting around to see what happens."
Kenta nodded as well, though his expression remained uneasy. "Alright, fine. That's good enough."
"That's all I'm asking. Let's just... give him a chance. If he's here to start over, he deserves that much."
The group fell silent again. Kaina's defense of Eichi had shifted the dynamic, but the unease remained. Eichi might have seemed like just another student, but now there were too many questions, too many pieces that didn't fit. And as the evening wore on, the mystery of Eichi Uzuchi only deepened.
---
The day after, a tired Eichi walked out of his room, his steps slow as he made his way toward his class. The bags under his eyes were darker than usual, and his shoulders slumped slightly in exhaustion. His black hair was disheveled, as if he'd run his hands through it too many times in frustration.
Last night, like every night, had been the same. Nightmares had jolted him awake, his body drenched in cold sweat, his heart pounding as the memories of Uzushiogakure burning flashed before his eyes.
The explosions, his brothers voices, the screams, the blood—it was always the same. The images were seared into his mind, as if his subconscious refused to let him forget.
And every time, he'd forced himself out of bed, his body moving on autopilot as he trained.
Push-ups, sit-ups, Seal studies, chakra control exercises—anything to keep his mind occupied, to keep the memories away. But no matter how hard he pushed himself, the nightmares always came back.
His routine had been the same since he first stepped onto the battlefield as a shinobi of Uzuchio during the war, before being recalled to protect the Uzumaki heir. Train, wake up from a nightmare, train again.
Sleep was a luxury he couldn't afford, not when every moment of rest brought the risk of those haunting visions. Four hours of sleep—if he was lucky—was all he allowed himself.
But even that was starting to take its toll. His body ached with a deep, persistent fatigue, and his mind felt like it was constantly on the edge of collapse.
As he walked down the hallway, the faint buzz of chatter from other students filled the air, but Eichi barely registered it. He'd pushed himself harder than usual, his body screaming in protest, but it still hadn't been enough to quiet the storm in his head.
His movements felt sluggish, his reflexes dulled, and he knew it was only a matter of time before it affected his performance in class.
His body was a machine running on fumes, and even machines broke down eventually.
As he reached the classroom door, he paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
He couldn't let anyone see how tired he was, how close he was to breaking. He straightened his posture, masking his exhaustion with the same stoic expression he always wore, and pushed the door open.
The classroom was already half-full, students chatting and laughing as they prepared for the day. Eichi ignored them, making his way to his seat in the back of the room.
He slumped into the chair, his eyes scanning the room out of habit, noting the exits, the potential threats, the faces of his classmates.
Aiko glanced up from her conversation, noticing the faint shadows under Eichi's eyes. She frowned slightly, but she didn't say anything. She knew better than to push him, at least not in front of everyone.
Eichi leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the window as he tried to ignore the growing ache in his muscles and the fog in his mind. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, not even for a moment.
But as the minutes ticked by and the teacher began the lesson, he found it harder and harder to focus. His eyelids felt heavy, his thoughts drifting despite his best efforts to stay alert.
The teacher's voice droned on, a monotonous stream of information that Eichi struggled to follow. He blinked hard, trying to shake the fog from his mind.
His notes were sparse, the words on the page blurring together as his hand moved sluggishly across the paper. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this drained—this human.
"Looks like someone partied too hard last night," Said Kenta, smirking. "Guess even the mighty Eichi has his limits."
Kato chuckled, but his eyes flicked to Eichi, curious. "Or maybe he's just not as tough as he pretends to be."
Eichi heard them, of course. He always did. But today, their words barely registered. His mind was too preoccupied with the heaviness in his limbs, the way his thoughts kept slipping away like water through his fingers.
The teacher's voice cut through the haze. "Eichi. Can you answer the question?"
Eichi's head snapped up. The question was written there in bold letters, but the words swam in front of his eyes. He hesitated, his mind scrambling to catch up. For a moment, the room felt impossibly quiet, every pair of eyes fixed on him.
Aiko shifted in her seat, her hand twitching as if she wanted to raise it and answer for him. But before she could, Eichi spoke. "The answer is situational awareness. In a hostage scenario, the priority is to assess the environment and identify potential threats before engaging, like you said yesterday Sensei."
The teacher nodded, seemingly satisfied, and moved on.
Kenta rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath, while Aiko let out a quiet sigh of relief. Eichi, meanwhile, leaned back in his chair, his heart pounding from the brief moment of scrutiny. He hated feeling this vulnerable, this exposed.
"Fuck..." He needed sleep—real sleep—but the thought of closing his eyes and facing the nightmares again was enough to make his stomach churn.
The bell rang, jolting him out of his thoughts. The classroom erupted into chatter as students gathered their things and headed for the door. Eichi stayed seated for a moment, his head bowed as he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
Aiko noticed, of course. She lingered by her seat, watching him with a mixture of concern and frustration. "Eichi," she said finally. "You look like you're about to collapse. Need anything?"
He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "I'm fine," he said, his tone flat. "Don't worry about me."
She frowned. "You say that, but you're clearly not fine. You've been like this since day one, and this one's the worst ye—"
"I said I'm fine," he interrupted, his voice sharper than he intended. He immediately regretted it when he saw the hurt flash in her eyes, but he didn't apologize. He couldn't.
Aiko stared at him for a moment, then shook her head. "Fine. Have it your way."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he stood, his body protesting every movement. The hallway outside was bustling with students, their laughter and chatter grating against his frayed nerves. He moved through the crowd like a ghost, his mind already elsewhere.
As he reached the stairs, he paused, leaning against the wall for a moment to catch his breath. His vision blurred at the edges, the world tilting slightly as his body screamed for rest.
He endured, step by step, until he finally reached the roof access door. The area was restricted, but he didn't care. He just needed an hour of sleep—just one hour of peace before he had to face the rest of the day.
He pushed the door open, the cool breeze hitting his face as he stepped onto the roof. He found a secluded corner, hidden from view, and slumped against the wall, his eyes closing almost immediately.
But just as he began to relax, he felt it—a familiar chakra signature approaching. Kaina. Of course. He'd memorized her signature after their last encounter, determined to avoid her at all costs. But today, it seemed, luck wasn't on his side.
Eichi's eyes snapped open, his body tensing as he pushed himself upright. He couldn't afford to be caught here, especially not by her.
Kaina stepped out. She had that determined look on her face, the one she always wore when she was on a crusade to help. 'Eichi' cursed under his breath. Why was she here? Had she followed him? Or was this just another one of her coincidental "helpful" interventions?
"Eichi?" she called out. "I know you're up here."
He stayed silent.
But Kaina wasn't one to give up easily. She walked further onto the roof. "Look, I get it. You're not exactly the social type. But you can't just disappear like this. People notice, you know. And if you're up here skipping class, I'm going to have to report it."
Eichi closed his eyes, his frustration mounting. Of course she'd use that against him—Wait, did she say I was skipping classe? Class is an hour away.
With a sigh, he stepped out from behind the ventilation unit. "I'm not skipping class," he said, his voice flat. "I just needed some air."
Kaina turned, frowning. "Some air, huh? You look like you haven't slept in days. What's going on with you?"
Eichi's patience was wearing thin. "I don't need you to analyze me, Kaina. I'm handling it."
She took a step closer, her hands on her hips. "You keep saying that, but you're clearly not fine. You're exhausted, you're skipping class, and you're hiding on the roof. That's not exactly 'fine' behavior."
Eichi sighed, running his hand through his hair. "You know, I keep having the same conversation since I came here. First you, Aiko, then Haru. Who's next, fucking All might? Everyone's so concerned about me, but no one seems to understand that I don't need saving. I'm not some broken project for you to fix."
Kaina's expression softened slightly. "We're not trying to fix you, Eichi. We're trying to help. There's a difference."
"Is there?" he shot back. "Because from where I'm standing, it feels like everyone's just poking their noses where they don't belong. I don't need your help. I don't need anyone's help. So just... Let me live in peace."
Kaina sighed, already having enough of his bullshit. "You say that, but you're up here hiding from the world. You're exhausted, you're pushing everyone away, and you're acting like you're the only one who's ever had a hard time. Newsflash, Eichi—you're not. We've all got our struggles. But shutting people out isn't going to make them go away."
"Alright, look, Kaina. If I was shutting people out, I wouldn't speak with Aiko, Kenta, and you. And if I really wanted to, you would never find me."
Kaina raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Oh, really? That's why Aiko said you were a rude prick, and Kenta said you looked at him like some kind of moron?"
Eichi blinked, caught off guard for a moment. He hadn't expected that. "I don't look at him like a moron," he said, his tone defensive. "I just don't have time for his nonsense."
"And Aiko?" Kaina pressed, crossing her arms. "What's your excuse for being a 'rude prick' to her?"
"I wasn't trying to be rude. I just... don't know how to deal with her. She's always asking questions, always trying to get involved. I don't need that."
Kaina's smirk faded, her expression turning serious again. "She's just trying to help, Eichi. We all are. But you keep pushing us away like we're the enemy. We're your classmates. Your friends. And whether you like it or not, we're here for you."
Eichi stared at her, his fists clenched at his sides. He wanted to scoff when she said friends. Part of him wanted to argue, to tell her she was wrong, that he didn't need anyone. But another part—a smaller, quieter part—wondered if she was right. If maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to do this alone.
"You forgot something important, Tajima!"
A smaller, younger voice screamed in his head. He winced, the memory hitting him like a punch to the gut. Of course, he remembered those times—his embarrassing days as a child, the lessons he'd learned, and the motto of his clan that had been drilled into him since birth.
"Love, Family, And honor!"
The words echoed in his mind, a bittersweet reminder. The Uzumaki clan was gone, reduced to ashes, and with it, the ideals they'd held so dear. Love, family, honor—what did those words even mean now? They felt hollow, like relics of a time that no longer existed.
He sighed yet another time, the amount of sighs he'd made in a single day in this world could topple the ones he'd made back in his own. "Look, Kaina," he said, his voice softer now, almost weary. "I appreciate your help, really, I do. But there are things in this world that no one can help with. Some battles... you have to fight alone."
Kaina opened her mouth to retort, her determination unwavering, but Eichi raised his hand, cutting her off before she could speak. "Not even the government could help in my situation," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "However, if you're so persistent, I'll trust you with something."
He sat down on the edge of the roof, his legs dangling over the side as he stared out at the horizon. The city stretched out before him, bustling and alive. Kaina hesitated for a moment, then sat down beside him, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
Eichi didn't look at her as he spoke. "Touch my hair."
Kaina blinked, caught off guard by the request. "What?"
Kaina hesitated for a moment, then reached out, her fingers brushing against his black hair. At first, nothing seemed unusual. But as her fingers moved closer to the roots, she felt it—a faint, almost imperceptible shift. The texture changed slightly, and when she pulled her hand back, a single strand of vibrant red hair clung to her fingertips.
Her eyes widened in shock. "Your hair... was it...?"
Eichi nodded, still not looking at her. "I dye it. Every week. Where I come from, this hair color marks me as a target, this is all you need to know for now."
She remained silent for a moment, still in shock. She had her suspicions, but she didn't want to believe them. However, the revelation about his hair—combined with his cryptic words—confirmed what she had feared. He was one of the red-haired duo fleeing from District 69 with a newborn baby.
Eichi knew that she had her suspicions. After all, he'd spent the whole time spying on Kenta and the group to see what they'd talked about the day before. He'd heard their theories, their questions, and their growing unease.
And now, with this small but significant revelation, he'd confirmed what they'd only guessed at. It was bound to come out eventually—he'd known that from the start—but he hadn't expected it to happen this soon.
All he needed to do now was minimize the collateral damage while keeping a façade of trust.
"You're... you're one of them, aren't you?" she said slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "The ones from District 69. The ones who fought those people... the ones who disappeared after the explosion."
Eichi didn't respond immediately. He just stared out at the horizon.
Finally, he said, "It's not that simple."
Kaina's mind worked overtime, recalling the news reports she'd seen. The chaos, the destruction, the red-haired boy who had carried a baby and fled while his comrade—Tajima—sacrificed himself in that explosion.
Eichi's jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it. "I didn't have a choice," he said quietly. "I had to protect the heir. I had to survive."
Kaina's eyes widened further. "The heir? You mean the baby? Eichi, what are you talking about?"
He turned to look at her then, his eyes dead. "I'm someone who's lost everything. Someone who's trying to protect what little I have left. And that's all I can tell you—for now."
Kaina's brow furrowed, her concern deepening. "Eichi, if you're in danger, we can help."
Eichi felt his blood pressure rise after she said that. He didn't know why, but her words grated on him like nails on a chalkboard.
Was it the way she said it—so casually, so confidently—as if helping him was as simple as lending a textbook? Or was it the underlying assumption that she, a stranger, could swoop in and fix everything because she wore a hero's badge?
This world, with its glorified police force and its shiny, sanitized version of justice, seemed to thrive on this kind of naive optimism. Teenagers here rushed to help strangers, calling them sworn friends after a single act of kindness, as if the world were some kind of feel-good drama where everyone got a happy ending.
He shook his head, his voice hollow. "Kaina, let me ask you a question, and if your reply satisfies me enough, I'll let you help me."
Kaina, seeing an opportunity to help the boy barely older than her younger brother, readily accepted. "Of course, ask away."
This time, he looked at her, as if looking deep into her soul. "Imagine this: you're a hero, sworn to protect the innocent and uphold justice. You're faced with a villain—someone who's caused unimaginable suffering, who's taken countless lives, and who shows no remorse. You have the chance to stop them, but the only way to do it is to kill them. No arrests, no trials, no second chances. Just you, them, and a choice that will define who you are forever. What do you do?"
Kaina froze, her breath catching in her throat. The question was brutal, unflinching, and it left no room for easy answers.
She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. How could she answer something like that? How could anyone?
Eichi continued. "Do you take their life to save countless others, even if it means betraying everything you believe in as a hero? Or do you spare them, knowing full well the blood that will be on your hands when they kill again? And if you do kill them... how do you live with yourself afterward? How do you reconcile the fact that you've become the very thing you swore to fight against?"
Kaina stared at him. The question pressed down on her, suffocating and unbearable. She wanted to say she'd find another way, that she'd save them all, but the look in Eichi's eyes told her he'd already lived through this scenario—and it hadn't ended well.
Finally, she whispered, "I... I don't know."
Eichi nodded, his expression grim. "That's the problem, Kaina. The system, the rules, the regulations—they all sound good on paper. But when you're out there, face-to-face with someone who's done unspeakable things, the rules don't always work. Sometimes, the only way to stop them is to break the very ideals you've built your life around. And no matter what you choose, someone gets hurt. Someone dies. And no matter how much you tell yourself you did the right thing, it never stops haunting you."
Kaina's hands trembled as she clenched them into fists. "Eichi... is that what happened to you? Did you... did you have to make a choice like that?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked away.
When he finally spoke, his voice was hollow, devoid of emotion. "I've made choices I can never take back. Choices that cost lives. And no matter how much I tell myself it was necessary, it doesn't change the fact that I failed. I failed them. I failed myself. And now, all I can do is keep moving forward, because stopping means letting their sacrifices be for nothing."
Kaina felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away. She wanted to say something—anything—to comfort him, but the words wouldn't come.
How can i possibly respond to something like that? How could anyone?
Standing up, he said. "That's why I can't let you help me, Kaina. Not until you find the answer to my question."