Fujimiya Kazuki, that's the name of my best friend.
I know him since... since when? I don't remember exactly.
His parents are usually not home, so he'd always come to my house to play some games. If I remember correctly, his father died when he was six, then his mother remarried with another man and made another kid.
Kazuki was neglected by his mother since then.
He always comes to classes with a depressed look.
But now...
The Kazuki in front of me,
"Che, why did you interrupt me? Huh!?"
Depressed looking... yes, that's the past.
"Kazuki, where have you been!? It's been ten years, dude, TEN YEARS!"
In ten years, he has changed a lot. Hmm, how did he age so much? He seems to be a middle-aged man is his thirties. But his face is identical.
"Kazuki? What are you talking about?"
Is he not Kazuki?!
"Err, I-I'm Miyata, don't you remember me?"
There's no way he's not Kazuki.
"Miyata? Miyata... hmm"
"Right! Ten years ago you gave me that-"
Oh shit.
Now that I remember. Before Kazuki left the town, he said two things, things that I must definitely follow.
First, never reveal the existence of the stone.
Second, never separate with the stone.
Seeing the situation right now, it seems dangerous. Better not say anything.
"I gave you what?"
"T-the tenth volume of One P*ece, y-you remember now? I have to give it back, now that you are here."
Damnit, I was too specific!
"One P*ece? What's that?"
Ah, I was worried for nothing.
"Never mind. Now, Kazuki, get in my house, let's drink something."
"I've already told ya, I'm not Kazuki! That guy over there, he's Kazuki! Anyway, why am I losing my time with you? Get out of the way!"
The man who's supposedly not Kazuki pushed me aside, making a stride towards zombie man.
When I looked at the two, I saw a ...similarity.
Both have the same face! One is dead tired, with dead eyes, that's why I didn't recognize him! There's too much difference with the Kazuki I know.
The other one is older. With sharp eyes and a freezing aura around him.
"Humph! You probably were just a casual friend of one of us. Forget everything you saw today."
He said that and turned to younger Kazuki.
"Let's go! Our Leader won't punish you severely if we go back now, understand?"
"But, but Kazuki 11-san, I don't want to go there anymore, it's just living hell!
"Oh, boy. Don't be spoiled. We all passed through that hell, you know? If we could overcome that hardship, why can't you too? You and I are the same!"
Wait, wait, wait! Kazuki 11? Maybe... clones?! Am I involved in some sort of conspiracy here?!!
"Okay, 11-san, I'll go with you."
"Yes, that's for the best. In my time, it was worse than now, I almost lost my life, fifty times."
"Eh!? Fifty... are not there only ten stages in the training? How can-"
"Five times in each stage."
"..."
Both Kazuki ignored me and got down the stairs.
I had nothing to say.
I mean!!!
WTF!?
Is my life turning to a sci-fi show?!
I ran to them, I need to say something, I have to respond to this kind of situation!
And what about the Kazuki I know?!
"Hey, wait, you two!"
"11-san, he's following us."
"Let him be, he must have a lot of questions. It's a pity that we can't kill now, the operation is about to star tomorrow. We can't attract attention now."
Are they ignoring me?!
"Hey, wait, I said! Where's the Kazuki I know?! I have to give it back to him!"
I shouldn't say this but...
"I still have the stone!"
With the stone in hand, I waved at them. The two just looked stunned.
"How do you have it?!"
Then, both of them started to run, at me.
"Wait, guys..."
With ferocious eyes, they locked their target.
My spine shivered, and I started to run too.
"Why are you running? Was not it you who wanted to talk?!"
Gosh, if you run at anyone like this, I think they would do the same.
"If you don't stop now, I'll shoot!"
11-san said, before taking a pistol from his waist.
"That was a lie! I don't have any kind of stone!"
What am I saying here?
"You showed it to us! Give it back!"
"Why do you want it!?"
"I'll shoot! Damnit!"
Before 11 could shoot, a black car stopped in front of me.
What's this, now?
The passenger door opened, a man with sunglasses said,
"Come here, hurry!"
With nowhere to go, I jumped in the car.
"Stop right there!"
11 and the younger Kazuki shouted to me, I ignored them.
...
"Thank you, those guys were chasing me, I don't know why."
I said while looking behind.
"No problem. Now, give me the stone, Mr. Kazuki would be glad."
Huh?
"Are you... not here to save me?"
"Why would I save you? I want the stone. I don't know how and why you have it. But can you please, give me the stone?"
"Is this stone that precious?"
"Mr. Kazuki will tell you in person."
The car stopped.
"Why did you stop? Those guys will come here. Ah, I can see them!"
They are still a bit far, but soon enough, they reached us.
"Haa, haa. You, give it to me!"
11 said before the younger simply chopped his neck.
"Kuu! You-"
11 fell on the road.
"Now, everything is good. Our plan is finally in the final stage."
The sunglasses man bowed.
"Yes, Kazuki-sama. As you said, we now only need the God Stone." Then he looks at me.
Kazuki looked at me and said,
"It's been ten years, huh? How have you been, Miyata?"
"Is it really you? Why did you gave me this stone?"