Prologue
Presence Erasure is one of Kazuya's Soul Seals that allows him to erase his presence an blank his mind while approaching the enemy. It was meant of silent assassination where your silence will be your ace in the battle. But it has a time limit.
Hajime uses the Presence Erasure to erase his original personality and blank his original thoughts. But it has a time limit too, the moment it reached the time limit, Hajime will show his true self.
Chapter 3
While Kazuya was observing Hajime, he has no doubts that it was Presence Erasure. Hajime was shouting all over and throwing a tantrum about Kazuya, while Kazuya himself was observing beside the door.
"I think I observed him more than enough. If he shout more than that, he might get the attention of the teachers. I guess I need to intervene."
Kazuya walked through the door while shouting "Hajime, where are you!"
It was for Hajime will knew that Kazuya didn't heard him, his unbelievable act. After noticing Kazuya, Hajime immediately stopped and waved at Kazuya like nothing happened.
With that, the 4 of them have gone to the fortune-teller. The fortune teller was in a tent with a strange eye at the top. The first to have her fortune told was Hideko:
"Young woman, look at this crystal ball."
Hideko did all of the things the fortune teller what her to do.
"Now, I can tell your fortune. I see a boy and I see you, you two are in the rooftop and for some reason, you have a chocolate, I think it was for Valentines, but suddenly... a blue light appeared... and... that's the end."
"Wait, that's it? What about the blue light? Then, Am I going to give chocolates to someone on the Valentine's Day?!"
Hideko's turn ran out, sadly, her answers couldn't be answered. The blue light seems to be something that Kazuya can't ignore, since blue light are appearing too if he summons the Tiger Saber. But he didn't heard Hideko's fortune.
Next to have his fortune told is Yuu, although the fortune teller just said that he will have peaceful life. It seems nothing special will happen to Yuu on the near future.
Hajime was next to have his fortune told, he also did all of the fortune teller made him do. Until the fortune teller, finally saw his future.
"Young man, I'm seeing you fighting with a guy barehanded. The fight was close and I can't tell who is the winner. But no doubt, you will be involved in a fight, sooner or later."
"Me? Being involved in a fight, I'm just a bread shuttle there's no way I can have that."
That ended Hajime's fortunetelling, while he has his doubts, he's actually putting up his guard and preparing for something.
Kazuya's turn to get his fortune told has. arrived, it's his first time in this kind of stuff so he's nervous but he still managed to do all of the fortune teller makes him do.
"Young man, soon but not now, you will be a man who are followed by many people. Because your kindness saved them, that's all."
Kazuya didn't understood it, but he was content since he got his fortune told. But just before he goes out of the tent, the fortune teller told him something:
"Could you give my regards to Kanzai?"
"Eh? Sure."
After that, Kazuya got out of the tent and gone home. The moment he got home, he told his Master what happened earlier, and the regards sent by a fortune-teller.
"Oh? It was Cecilia, she helped me when I was lost in this world, but how did she know that your my disciple?"
"Don't have an idea, maybe because of the fortune telling."
After a while of talking, they soon got to theor main point, the plan to extract the Soul Seal from Hajime. The two discussed the plan and it will be executed tomorrow. Kazuya don't want to make Hajime suffer more than necessary.
They reached their conclusion and soon slept. But Kazuya can't stop to think about tomorrow, he will either fail and Hajime will suffer more or succeed and put his out of his misery. Kazuya didn't slept a wink but the morning came and he's still energetic. Maybe because he's full of adrenaline, but he immediately prepared to go to school.
After he opened the door, he saw Hajime patiently waiting for him. Kazuya smiled at Hajime and they soon walked their way to the school. While in the way, Kazuya said to Hajime:
"Hajime, should we ditch school today? I don't feel like going to school."
"If that's what Big Bro wants, then I should just follow you."
The two have gone to a ramen shop to eat ramen and talk for a while. The two discussed some kind of stuff, that you don't need to know. The two was having fun while slurping some ramen and completely forgotten school.
After that, the two was stuffed because they ate a bowl of ramen. The two was about to go when Kazuya asked Hajime some strange question that Hajime can't comprehend:
"Hajime, which is the real you?"
"Real me? Big Bro, what are you talking about? Is that a joke?"
Kazuya stared at the ground for a while, then continued his speech:
"You know, I heard you shouting some words along the "I hate Kazuya Satoru."
Hajime's reaction became stiff, so it indicates that Kazuya hit the spot. The execution of the plan has begun!
+++++
"What are you talking about Big Bro? There's no way I will do that."
Hajime denied it while dripping some cold sweat and scratching his cheek.
"Then, if you said that you didn't did it then I will believe that. But, who are you? Who is the real you?"
"Again with that question, your jokes are not funny at all, Big Bro, you should practice a bit."
Kazuya then took a deep breath while thinking to himself "I can do it", then continued what his saying:
"Hajime, your concealing yourself in that mask, your pretending to be someone that's not you. Hajime, release your mask and show your true self."
Let's go back to the time when Master Kanzai and Kazuya are still preparing the plan.
"Kazuya, listen, you need to make that boy face the reality of life."
"Reality Of Life?"
"Your right, you need to correct things that he's doing. For example, you need to make him stop from using the mask he's using right now."
Kazuya was a little puzzled and can't reply quickly, so Master continued his words.
"If he's going to continuously use a Soul Seal, his body will be break apart. To use a Soul Seal, you need a proper training, but someone possessed like them never had the training, so..."
"They will break apart, huh? We're lucky we managed to extract Hideko in time or else, it will be a problem."
The two reviewed the plan again, to make sure and Master repeated his words again:
"My Disciple, you need to make him face the reality! Make him understand that he can't hide with his mask together!"
Let's go back to the present time. Hajime stared at the ground, unable to counter what Kazuya said. Seeing Hajime being like that, Kazuya continued his speech.
"Hajime, it's still not too late. You can still remove the mask, life is better without hiding something! You will be free of your problems!"
"Shut up!"
Hajime shouted those words like a roar, but it looks like the only one who heard it is Kazuya. The shout has a raging wind along with it. With Hajime's piercing eyes, he stared at Kazuya, with anger and irritation along it.
"What do you know? Your just stranger, it's just 3 days since we met. Your not close to me yet. Who are you to said that?"
"Maybe I'm just a stranger to you, but in those 3 days, I already treated you like a friend!"
It still didn't lowered Hajime raging anger. The Soul Seal was overflowing, the power can't be measured. Any minute now, it will explode along with Hajime, if Kazuya didn't succeed, Hajime's life will be taken.
"Shut up! Everyone has a hidden side! Including you! You might be a kind-hearted man, but in truth, you intend to use others! They're just stepping stone for your victory, right!? Even Miss Hideko and Mister Yuu, your just using them, right?"
"Even if I said that I'm not, I don't have any proof that your wrong. But I will prove it to you that... I treated you as a friend by saving you right now!"
The two didn't spoke for a while and tried to assess their situations. But suddenly, Hajime rushed in and punched Kazuya in the stomach.
"Then, let's see you try!"
Kazuya came flying over, and landed on a car, luckily he is still alive.
"Amazing! What is this power?! In that one punch, I was able to send him flying! With this power, then... No one will use me anymore!"
Hajime immediately tried to corner Kazuya with a raging speed. Kazuya, upon seeing it, reacted to Hajime and jumped to the left to dodge the attack. Kazuya don't want to hurt Hajime, that's why he is not summoning the Tiger Saber.
He's just dodging to Hajime's attacks. But it will not last long. Although, Kazuya can keep up with Hajime's speed, Kazuya is still human who can't keep it up forever. But Hajime is different, because of the Soul Seal, his physical capabilities went up, but sooner or later he will explode.
Kazuya is now very exhausted, he can't even speak straight. His breathing was rugged and too deep. The only thing who keeps him from not falling is his determination to save Hajime.
"Why?! Why don't you go down!? You've already lost! You can't even stand straight!"
"Why, you ask. It's... because... I want to save... you."
Hajime's face was filled with anger, until to the point that his glasses broke apart.
"How long are you going to keep up that act?!"
Judging from Hajime's current state, Kazuya only has 3 minutes to save Hajime. Or else, he will explode and die, will Kazuya succeed or will he see his failure?
+++++
"Hey, You should go study some more, your grades are falling. You will fail and repeat."
"Yeah, I think so."
Yes, back then, in my second year of middle school, my way of speaking are sarcastic, but as far as I remember, my intentions are good. I want to help my friend to pass, that's why I'm helping him in his studies.
"Hajime, how do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Your way of speaking is like a gangster, but your grade are high!"
I scratched my cheeks for a bit, because I think it was a compliment. Our days just passed on, with happy smiles on our faces. But that days ended that day. My friend, gotten hit by a group of gangsters. They're asking him to give them money.
"Let him go!"
The gangsters became more angry than it used to be, maybe because of my sarcastic way of talking and rugged voice. They didn't took our money anymore but they beaten us into a pulp.
I thought I protected my friend, but he shouted words that my heart and mind can't process.
"You useless! Your only use to me is to protect me and teach me to study, yet you can't even do that! Your worthless!"
"Hey, aren't we friends? It's bad to say something like that you know."
"Friends? I never said that were friends. Why should I become friends with someone who has a voice like a gangster? I'm just near you so you can teach me since your the top student."
At the end, because of my voice, no one befriended me, and when I thought that I finally found a friend, I found out that he was just using me. What a terrible life this is.
The moment I got in high school, I was immediately avoided, so I flunked my chance to get new friends. In the end, a group of gangsters said that they were my friend, but I'm not shallow-minded to think that it was true. They're just using me as a bread shuttle.
I tried to eliminate the things that I thought made me suffer, like my way of speaking, my voice, but it only worsen me. Even though my voice is different now, I can't stop to think If someone found out my mask. The anxiety is killing me! I'm keeping my mask so no one would hate me anymore, but is it really necessary?
This guy, Kazuya Satoru, said that I should take off my mask. Why, though? Are you still by my side the moment I take off my mask? There's no guarantee! In the end, everyone will avoid me, or if not, they'll just use me!
Just because of this voice, that I need to use a mask just to conceal every part of myself.
"Why? Why? Why?!"
Why don't you go down?! Kazuya Satoru! Show your true colors! If you don't, I will... I...
+++++
At the present, Kazuya can't even stand properly and only 3 minutes remained to save Hajime.
"Hajime! Prepare yourself! I don't have any choice but to fight you!"
In the end, Kazuya decided to fight to Hajime with his Tiger Saber.
"Oh, The Great Tiger, Respond to my call. Those who stand in my way will face the The wrath of a Tiger! Come, Tiger Saber!"
A blue light enveloped at Kazuya's hands. It was the Tiger Saber. So he was serious in fighting Hajime.
"What is that blue light again!? And what with that knife do against me!?"
Hajime just laughed at Kazuya while He holds the Tiger Saber. But Kazuya just stared at Hajime.
"What are you looking at?!"
Hajime rushed in again to attack Kazuya, but for some reason, Kazuya rushed in too towards Hajime. The two was about to crash to each other.
"This is the end! Kazuya Satoru!"
"First Soul Seal! Dead Calm!"
The two just get past each other, but it's clear that someone landed a hit. After some seconds, Hajime gone down and he can't move.
Kazuya was the winner of this fight. Kazuya immediately hide his sword and gone to Hajime's location. Hajime was just unconscious.
Kazuya used his First Soul Seal, Dead Calm while Hajime was full of adrenaline so the moment he calmed down, he fall asleep immediately.
Kazuya carried the unconscious Hajime and gone to his house. Kazuya don't have the slightest idea where is Hajime's house so he just took him into his house to be checked by his Master.
"My Disciple, for now, the Soul Seal has calmed down. But you can't rest easy yet. Even though it calmed down, it doesn't mean that it stopped from explosion, it only slowed down. You only have 1 hour until then, make sure to convince him.
Kazuya stared at Hajime's sleeping face and hesitantly tried to wake him up. Kazuya shouted "Wake up!" and Hajime sprung from the bed and stood. Hajime tried to assess his situation right now, but in the end, he just shouted:
"What in tarnation happened here?!"
+++++
"Say, could you please explain? Why am I in your room?"
"You collapsed and I don't know your house so I took you here."
It seems that Hajime understood it by Kazuya's explanation alone. Kazuya was a little fazed by Hajime's voice and way of talking. This is Hajime's true form. A question, popped out of Hajime's mouth after that.
"Then, what do you mean when you said that you'll save me and that I have to take my mask off?"
Kazuya took a deep breath. His heart is beating so hard and he is nervous, nervous enough to even forget to breath. It's only natural, Hajime's life is in his hands. One wrong move, and it's the end. Time is of the essence too. There's so many things pressuring to him, but it does not stop him from saving Hajime.
"Your wearing a mask, right? Your personality before is not your real personality. Your personality right now, is the real one."
Hajime just nodded in response. It indicates that Hajime understood him. Without further ado, Kazuya continued his explanation.
"I know, I know the feeling of being needed to conceal your true personality. It seems necessary if it's wrong, but there's nothing wrong with your original personality! So why do you have to conceal it!? Your just going to suffer, thinking everyday who found you out. Living in fear that someone might abandon you if they found out that your personality is a fake one, I know that feeling!"
Hajime just stared at the ground unable to reply at Kazuya's words. That words pierced through Hajime's heart, but it's still not enough to extract the Soul Seal. Kazuya continued again at his words:
"That's why don't be like me! You still have a chance to remove your mask! Having no secrets to keep are a lot better."
Hajime was only staring at the ground but his knuckles are shaking so much. He asked a question to Kazuya:
"Then, If they all left me because of my true personality, what will you do?"
"I'll still be your friend. Not only me, Hideko and Yuu will surely accept you. They're good persons, they will definitely not judge you just from your voice."
Hajime was touched by those words. Unable to hold back anymore, his tears let out. While muttering to himself:
"If only... If only... If only I met you sooner... this would never happen to me!"
After those words are spoken, Kazuya felt a Soul Seal came back to him. With that, Hajime's case has been resolved. They both had a hard time on their lives.
Hajime lived his life full of lies and mask, to conceal himself because he is afraid that everyone will left him again because of his voice. Kazuya on the other hand, did experienced something similar to Hajime. But that's a story for another time.
+++++
"Then, Kazuya, why the hell can I use superpowers? Earlier, my body became light, as If I can fly, and my strength are not like that before, why is that?"
Some spike pierced Kazuya's head, he can't hide the truth now since Hajime saw it himself.
"I guess I have no choice. I don't have any reason to don't tell you. In exchange, don't tell anyone about this."
"I see, all right, I won't tell anyone."
Kazuya told Hajime all of the explanations needed. About the Tiger Saber, Soul Seals, Extracting From Human Body, all of it. Hajime took it as a joke at first, but looking at the evidences again, he can't deny it.
"Then, your a samurai from Edo Era, that explains why your accent are old-fashioned."
"Got a problem with old-fashioned?"
The two stared for a while, but after a minute they just laughed it off like two idiots.
"Soul Seals, huh? How many are they?"
"There are 16 Soul Seals in total. Each Soul Seals have different capabilities. It doesn't mean that a human has a Soul Seal, he can use it's powers, only if their depression reach a certain extent like you."
"I see"
Hajime thought for a while before replying to Kazuya. It seems his thinking deep, because even his eyes are closed.
"I understand, I will help you! I will help you cure their depression and retrieve Soul Seals, in short, I'm going to be your assistant!"
"Huh? You don't have to do that, you can just enjoy your peaceful life."
"I want to repay you! And I don't want anyone being depressed like me."
"But someone depressed don't have Soul Seals all the time."
"It's okay, I want to help you out."
Kazuya thought for a while, having no choice and can't deny, he just chose to accept Hajime's decision. He just nodded to Hajime as a response. After that, Hajime returned to his house. They actually ditched school today. Feeling exhausted, Kazuya lied at his bed, and slept soundly.
+++++
Having a good sleep, Kazuya rises from the bed. Doing his everyday preparedness for school. Toothbrushing, taking a bath, eating a breakfast and wearing uniform. Kazuya became used to this as of now.
After he confirmed that he was ready, he opened the door, and saw Hajime's face so early in the morning.
"What? Got a problem?"
Hajime's former greeting was "Hello, Big Bro, Let's walk to school!" having replaced that with "What? Got a problem?" immediately gave chills to Kazuya. But they still walked to school. They encountered Hideko at the riverside.
"Good morning, Hideko."
"Yeah, good morning, Kazuya."
Hideko was about to say good morning to Hajime when Hajime greeted first.
"Good morning."
Hideko became scared at Hajime's voice and whispered to Kazuya:
"What happened to Hajime's voice? Does he have a soar throat?"
"No, It's his original voice."
Kazuya told Hideko Hajime's situation. As if Hideko relates to him, she immediately patted Hajime's shoulders, while saying:
"You've work hard, you can relax now."
A tear in Hideko's left eye can be seen. Hajime just didn't mind it and let her do as she please. After walking again to school, they encountered Yuu. Yuu was terrified too at Hajime's voice, but after hearing his story, he patted Hajime's shoulders too but he was crying too much, and it creeped Hajime so Yuu stopped.
Hajime's life was starting now, his life behind the mask is now over. No one knows if he will come to a point where he needs to wear it again but... the truth stays that Hajime doesn't need it for now.
+++++
Hideko Side Story: A Shopping Date
"Hideko! Could you please go shopping for dinner? We're having curry tonight, so I wrote the ingredients in this sheet of paper."
Said by my sister, Himeko. My sister is beautiful and she has confidence in it. Me on the other hand, doesn't have any confidence on myself, I have confidence on painting, and being calm, but that's the only thing I'm good at.
"All right, Big Sister, I should head out now."
I said with a smile on my face, my big sister sent me off with a smile too. I got out of the house and gone to the direction of the shopping district. As I walk towards that place, I encountered the riverside when Kazuya and I first met.
"Feels nostalgic."
I muttered. After staring at it for a matter of seconds, I walked again towards my path. Only 45 minutes of walking and I reached my destination, the shopping district.
"Let's see"
I looked at the ingredients list that my sister gave me, and it stated the following:
"Potatoes, Pork Meat, Carrots, Curry Mix(Spicy)."
It's not that much, I could buy them all in a short time. First, Potato huh? I guess I should go to the Vegetable Section. I've gone to the vegetable section of the shopping district. It was in the far left so it will take some time for me to go there.
The crowd are not much, so I have a breathing here. If only all of the shopping districts are like this. While I'm daydreaming, I stumbled upon a tower of canned goods.
I immediately apologized to the merchant and picked the canned goods to make a tower again. But a hand other than mine are picking the canned goods too. This person is helping me to make the tower.
I didn't raised my head so I didn't saw his face. The tower was finished and we both took a sigh of relief. I was about to look to the person who helped me when he asked me something:
"Are you okay, Hideko?"
This voice, It was someone I know. He is... Kazuya!
"Kazuya, I am okay."
After I confirmed that I am okay, we both left the canned goods store. This is embarrassing! If only I knew that he would come, I should have dressed better! No, why am I conscious about him!?
"What a coincidence, Hideko. I'm actually going to the vegetable area too, then since were together now, let's shop ingredients together."
My heart skipped a beat at that moment. My cheeks became red, and it's like a tomato. But I immediately regained my composure. I'm confident at becoming calm at times like this.
Seriously, why am I like this? Is this really love? True, Kazuya is a good-looking man and he is kind too, but that can't be enough so I can fall in love with him. At the end, Kazuya is just a close friend.
After some walking, we reached the vegetable area. Bought the one we needed while talking to each other. I bought Carrots and Potatoes, while Kazuya want to buy Cabbage but he picked Lettuce. It was a mistake so we apologized to the merchant and replaced it with a cabbage.
I like Kazuya's clumsiness sometimes. We gone back to the supermarket to buy the Curry Mix and Pork Meat. Apparently, I learned many things about Kazuya today. It seems he likes Japanese History, he got good grades in that subject and he's always talking about it.
But while we're talking about it, I'm also seeing his sad and gloomy face. It seems he likes Japanese History but a there's a dark past along with it, so he's getting sad. I decided to not pry over it and move onto a new topic.
I asked Kazuya about his parents, but unfortunately, his parents dies because of an illness. That's really sad. He said that he is now living with his Grandpa. He said "Master" first but later on, replaced it with "Grandpa", is his Grandpa his Master too on some sort of sport?
Time past while were talking, and before we knew it, we reached the supermarket. I bought the Curry Mix and even checked if it was spicy or not. I bought the Pork Meat too. My shopping is now done.
I accompanied Kazuya in his shopping too. We've gone to the clothes section, it seems Kazuya needs some clothes. So he came to buy some clothes, while having the cabbage in tow, he picked some clothes, and entered the dressing room.
The moment he slides the curtain, he was wearing a kimono and a hakama. It was a yellow kimono and a green hakama. He bought that and we prepared to go out.
While were in the way to go, we saw a pedestrian lane. A woman on his eighty's was trying to cross the lane but it seems she can't because of the cars that is not stopping. I was about to help her cross when Kazuya suddenly ran and helped the grandma cross.
He said his goodbye's to the grandma after we crossed and we continued on our way. Kazuya is really kind, isn't it? It wouldn't be strange, if this strange feeling was love. But I'm certain that it's not love, really!
We continued on our walk but we encountered a foreigner, that's having trouble speaking with a Japanese, and it seems he wants to know some directions. Again, Kazuya approached and spoke with him.
"What is the problem, Mr."
"I actually want to know the way to the nearest Train Station."
"The nearest station is on the north, go left then north again."
"Thank you, young man. No one understands me, so I'm a bit in a pinch. Good thing, you helped me, Thank You, again!"
I didn't understood it since It was English, but it seems Kazuya gave the direction he wants.
"Kazuya, where did you learned English?"
"I just studied it, that's all."
"But your so fluent with it, there's no way you just studied that. It's like your tongue is not even Japanese."
Kazuya thought for a while, then gave me an answer.
"I don't know, though."
Since even Kazuya himself, don't know, I didn't pry any further. Maybe he's a half-japanese?
We continued on our way again. But a child who is crying, was before our eyes. It seems his ice cream was spilled. I thought Kazuya was going to help the child, but he just continued on his way and didn't looked back.
I was a bit disappointed in him though. But he already spent so much time, so I guess his grandfather will worry if he don't come home soon. I approached the child and tried to make him happy but it seems he's not even paying it any mind and just continued to shed tears for the spilled ice cream.
As I was about to give up, Kazuya came back, having an ice cream cone on his left hand. He kneeled to the ground, gave the ice cream to the child and said to the child:
"You should smile. You are handsome if you smile."
The child smiled at us before we left while happily licking the ice cream. I see, Kazuya saw the child's situation, and has gone to the ice cream shop to buy ice cream.
Yes, this is the man, who saved me. He made me realize something, and because of that I'm enjoying my school life more. I'll be indebted to him.
We continued again on our way and I finally reached my house. Kazuya is still a few walks away from here, so he still walking when I took my eyes off him.
I entered the house and gave the ingredients to my sister. I told my sister, everything that happened.
"Then, you went to a shopping date?"
"Date? It's not like that!"
I told my sister.
"Oh, but your blushing."
I can't deny that.
"Did you have fun?"
I closed my eyes and recalled everything that happened and said with certainty:
"Of course! I enjoyed it!"
END OF CHAPTER 3