After I finished that big sized monster known as Razor Gram, I landed on the ground while catching my breath.
It was a tough battle, to be honest. Not because the monsters were strong or anything, but I hadn't moved my body this much since last year.
Seriously, it was tiring. I knew sooner or later I'd be fighting the monsters again but I didn't expect it would be this soon.
However, the entire time I fought the monsters I felt someone or some people were watching me.
I didn't try to look at where they were at. I was waiting for them to make their move.
So I stretched out my muscles, trying to make them to approach me.
Somehow, my silly plan worked.
Their footsteps became closer, and from what I heard, there were two different footsteps.
I turned my gaze to them immediately before one of them could speak.
One man and one girl.
The man had a surprised look on his face while the girl was...kind of staring at me for some reason.
"..."
"..."
All of us gave a silent look to each other.
When suddenly an explosion came from the building broke the silence.
The man spoke with his carefree look while rubbing the back of his head.
"Well, you took care the monsters."
Instead of giving a reply, I kept my mouth shut and drawing down my brows.
Then I wondered by the next line he said.
"I knew you could do that alone."
'What?'
By the way he said it, I began to think something I wouldn't want to think.
He knew me.
How?
Something about him just didn't feel right.
I decided to look at him carefully.
Then, as I looked at him, I felt I had seen him before.
An old acquaintance.
Perhaps someone who looked similar to him, yet I couldn't remember who he was.
The more I think it through, my head starting to feel dizzy.
"Hey, you okay?"
His expression told me he was worried. I didn't know if his worry was directed to me or not, but at least that's what his face told me.
"Yeah..."
That was my only answer to him.
Maybe I was just tired after all that fighting.
"Anyway, sorry for not helping."
With his additional sentence, I gave a sigh.
They really did just stand there and watch me.
Immediately I turned around and began my steps, leaving the scene to where I had to go.
"H-Hey!"
I didn't even bother to stop. All I wanted was to go home, to get some rest.
Good thing the residential area was located around 2 miles from where I was at. I could just take a walk instead of taking a bus or taxi.
It helped me to refresh my mind, just taking a walk back home.
As I walked to my destination, I saw some policemen were talking to each other.
I got curious, so I decided to get closer to them.
"How's the situation?"
"The monsters have been taken care of, and the civilians are safe."
"At least those two helped us to secure the civilians."
'Those two?'
"You mean that young man and girl before? Yeah, they did help us. Who knows what will happen to those people if they hadn't arrive sooner."
Guess those people weren't just ordinary people.
"At least there's nothing to worry about now."
"Not quite. The whole building is on fire, and the firefighters haven't arrived yet. Until they come, we must secure this area."
"Also I heard the one who was fighting the monsters is a girl, and she was alone. Where is she now?"
Speaking of her, I forgot she was there. She was unconscious back then, and I left her.
I wanted to go back to see how she was doing, but knowing there were those two people who I wanted to avoid, I held back my desire.
Maybe those people would help her like they did to those civilians.
So I began my steps again. Back to my place.
There was no extraordinary things happened while I was on my way back. As far as I could see, it was yet a rather calm night. Although I heard some people were discussing about the occasion of the monster's attack.
Other than that, the city was peaceful once again. I even arrived at my place without a trouble.
A two stories house. A place where me and my uncle lived in this city.
The house wasn't that big, but it was decent for us.
Looking around, I noticed the lights were still on.
He still awake.
I entered casually.
"I'm back," I said as I entered while taking off my shoes.
"Welcome back, Minato."
I noticed he was there, in the hallway, waiting for me.
His face was kind of annoying to see, and with both of his arms crossed, it made me more irritated.
"You're late."
I didn't give a respond, but I kept staring at his face.
He then continued, "Whoa, you got dirt around you. What happened?"
'Dirt?'
Turning my gaze to my body, I only noticed then.
"Ah, this is..."
The dirt was caused by the Razor's attack back then. I didn't want to tell him about it, and at the same time I felt bad for not noticing it.
Maybe if he hadn't told me, I might went to my bed without knowing it.
He approached me and put both of his arms to my shoulders.
"Go get changed then head to the kitchen after."
His stare was kind of terrifying, no matter how much I tried to avoid it. As far as I could remember, everytime he did this, I had no chance but to follow everything he wanted me to do.
"Alright..."
Before I entered my room to get some clothes for the night, I went to the bathroom.
Once in the bathroom, I turned on the water, allowing the warm, steamy drops to flow from the faucet.
Slowly but surely I washed my face, cleaning all the dirt that was stuck around.
Each flow I took to my hand and washed my face, questions appeared in my head.
'Who is that girl? Why she looked so familiar to me? Could it be...she's...'
I couldn't help it. Her face made me think if she was the same person who I met in the past, back when we were kids, not to mention the same hairstyle. She's also a special human, even had Materia, also her weapon was a katana, the same traits she had with the girl I met in the past. It was too perfect to be called coincidence, yet...
It was just...unbelievable...
Then again, it wasn't just about her that took my attention. The guy who appeared then, he was kind of suspicious. He said he knew me, but I didn't remember anything about him, moreover if we had met before.
'Could he be lying? Although he didn't seem like it...If so, who is he?'
After many seconds had passed, I exhaled my breath as deep as I could.
I felt it was no use to think it through, knowing I didn't have any detailed information regarding them. All I could do was just to let it go for the night.
And pray that I wouldn't meet them again.
Turning off the water, I head directly to the kitchen where he had waited for me.
The moment I entered, I gave a sigh at the sight in front of me.
He was already on his seat, right palm supporting his jaw while smiling to me like he had been waiting for me for so long.
"What's with the smile?" I bluntly commented.
"Just take a seat now," he replied with a calm tone.
Once again, I gave a sigh before I took my seat in front of him.
I already knew that smile. He was hiding something behind that smile, and whatever that was, it wasn't good.
"So what is it?" I bravely asked him about what he wanted to talk about.
He exhaled his breath and eyes closed.
It was a silence for both of us, before he opened his mouth.
"You were fighting before, weren't you?"
He really went straight to it. I knew he would ask that, just by the dirt I got from the fight. Most people would think if I fell to the ground or something like that, but he wasn't included.
Not for long, he continued, "And your opponents were monsters. One Razor, even."
He already knew. News sure spread fast.
Or perhaps...
"How did you know?"
I knew I didn't have to ask, but I just wanted to make sure.
"Do you even have to ask?" he asked back with a sigh.
Thought so.
"Not really," I said with a straight face.
As I thought, he really had his contacts around the city. If something happened to some people, some places, whatever and whenever that is, he would be the first one to know before any journalist in the world know.
As expected from once an informant. A well-known one, to be precise.
"So?" he asked again.
"So?" I asked back.
"Is that true? You fought those monsters?"
"If you already know then don't bother to ask, even asking what happened when I arrived."
Once again he gave a sigh. "Well, at least you didn't take any major injuries."
I was annoyed at his respond. It felt like he thought I was wearing down for haven't taken any exercise since last year.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, don't mind it."
He was avoiding my question.
"So? Is that all you wanted to talk about?"
He opened his eyes and looked at me.
"Did you forget the mail I sent you before?"
"..."
I forgot. I totally forgot about it.
He sent me a message before that we would talk about something when I came back.
About me getting to an academy he signed me up.
Speaking of it...
"Wait, you signed me up without getting an approval from me!"
"Of course I wouldn't ask you."
I furrowed my brows in irritation.
He followed, "Asking you would get 'no' as an answer. That's why I did it without you knowing it."
"Even so...!"
"You will begin your day there as a high school student, like it or not."
Releasing my breath in desperation, I laid my head onto the table.
"Are you serious..."
"No point in complaining now, Minato."
"I know...but..."
It was all too sudden. I mean, I wasn't ready to enter that life yet. With the trauma I had from last year, it also gave me a discouragement to be a high schooler.
"I just want you to get a move on from things that happened. So please, Minato."
A good intention. I knew he just wanted to cheer me up by putting himself in trouble to sign me up to the academy, to get a new chance in life, perhaps.
It wasn't like I didn't want to accept it, but it was too sudden.
Although, he's right. I would say no if he asked me before, and I wouldn't get a chance to move on from my past.
I was unwilling to accept his offer, to be honest, but knowing the situation, he knew well what I wanted to do.
Then I looked back at him and asked, "When you mean by using my usual clothes..."
"The rules said the students will use their usual clothes however the students think fit for them," he said with a slight smile.
That smile again. I didn't even bother to thinkthe true intention of that smile.
"Is that so..." was my respond with a sigh.
"So, any other questions?"
I shook my head as a respond. "I think that's enough. I'm tired," while standing from my seat.
It was true. I was already tired from fighting the monsters, and I felt more tired after hearing all that from him.
"Right, you should take a rest now. You need to wake early for tomorrow," he replied as he stood from his seat.
I gave an irritated respond, "Isn't that what I always do?"
He laughed.
As I went to my room, I didn't wait any longer to cover myself under the blanket.
Still, I couldn't rest myself immediately.
In my mind, I was thinking many things.
Most notably what would await me when I enrolled to the academy.
Would it be days of joy? Trouble?
Just from its name alone which was...
"What was the name again...Seven Stars?"
It might be more than just joy and trouble.
Well, it wouldn't do any good if I just kept thinking it.
"Best to close my eyes now and get some sleep."