*Joichiro Hyakuzawa's POV*
"Hey, Big Bro… Thank you for being there with me even after our parents died… Thank you for protecting me… Thank you for leading me on a brighter path despite the past that we have to deal with… Thank you… I love you, brother… Thank you for everything…"
That was the last conversation I have with her. A painful farewell that I still can't accept.
After what happened, I was blinded by darkness, and I started using my strength for my selfish deeds.
But every time I think about doing something good for once, my mind refuses to do it. It felt like I was trapped in a bottomless pit where it was telling me that I couldn't change into a good person anymore.
I am sorry… I truly am…
//July 22, 2040//Sunday//
I could feel my body lying down on a soft surface like a marshmallow. I slowly opened my eyes, and the light that was above me was gleaming bright. It was blinding me, but my eyes started to adapt to it, and I could clearly see where my head was facing.
My head really hurts, and I was feeling weak. My body was aching, and I could feel some stitches that were on my wounds.
"W-Where am I?"
I checked the room around where I was, and when I looked beside me, there was someone treating my right hand. But one thing stood out from that person.
"Rabbit Ears?"
The girl beside me heard what I just said, and she was startled when she looked back at me. She was flustered, and her rabbit ears were twitching.
If I remember correctly, her name is…
"Kanade, how was the treatment?"
Suddenly, another person approached the girl with rabbit ears, and that person is someone who I know very well.
"Big Sister… Ummm… Hyakuzawa is awake."
Sasaki looked at me with a face that showed relief.
I am starting to recall the things that happened before this. I remembered that I crushed her windpipe, and gave her a beating when we were fighting against each other.
But I was surprised that she looks fine, and well without any injuries all over her body.
That's a relief. I really don't want to kill anyone here.
I'm so pathetic.
That's right, I went into a rampage because of some substance that was put inside me by that little midget.
I almost killed half of the people here inside for the sake of getting out of this place.
I really want to take back my freedom again, but after what happened, I just don't know.
They should have killed me when I was unconscious since everyone who is here inside knows that I am a huge threat to them.
But it turns out that I was saved, and it looks like I was treated by this girl with rabbit ears.
But why did they save me?
"Kanade, can you leave the two of us here inside?"
"O-Okay, Big Sister!"
The girl with rabbit ears carried the medical tools she used for treating my wound on my right hand and left in a hurry.
"Can I sit down?" Sasaki asked.
I nodded my head, and she proceeded to sit down beside my right leg which was resting on the bed.
I tried sitting up straight to face him like a man rather than laying down while she was looking down at me.
"You shouldn't push yourself."
She was right. When I started moving, I started to feel a sharp pain in some parts of my body. Luckily, I managed to sit up straight and looked in front of her.
"How long was I asleep?" I asked.
"Five days." She replied.
From what happened between the two of us before. I assumed that I would recover for a longer time than just five days. But based on my observation, it feels like 70% of my body was already recovered.
"Kanade treated our injuries. Kei and the others were now fine as well. The reason why you woke up later than us is because of how severe the damage you have taken, especially since a lot of your vital points were damaged."
"I see…"
I remembered that Sasaki was targeting all of my vital points from the start of our fight. Even if I was stronger than her, it is a different story when my chin, and the other parts of my body which can be considered fatal when hit can make me unconscious. She outsmarted me in a fistfight, and I am completely defeated.
I do not know what to say anymore. There was a long silence between the two of us. I couldn't look at her in the eye because I was feeling this guilt from what I had just done.
"IS THIS WHAT YOU TRULY WANT TO DO?!"
Even if I managed to break her windpipe, she didn't hesitate to yell as loud as she could.
I looked down and clenched my fists out of frustration.
"GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!!! JOICHIRO HYAKUZAWA!!!"
Damn it… Those things she said to me… I'm aware that I don't know what I am doing anymore. What am I even doing with my life?
"I'm sorry for what I did, Hyakuzawa."
Sasaki bowed her head down in front of me while asking for forgiveness. I was surprised at what she did, and the guilt to myself was starting to build up.
I was just pissed at myself.
"Why are you the one apologizing?"
"I was desperate to defeat you and did some things that can be fatal. Fortunately, Kanade is a great doctor, and she treated all of your injuries with ease. Her medicines are really advanced, and she took care of your injuries without any problems."
Sasaki lifted her head up with a worried look on her face. I can't blame Sasaki for what she did to me. I was not in the right mind, and I had that drive to kill someone five days ago. In fact, I am thankful for what she just did. Even if I know that I am hostile towards others, I can't bring myself to kill someone with my own hands.
"I am the one who should be sorry, Sasaki. I am also grateful for what you just did."
She nodded in silence at what I just said. When I looked at her, there was something that I wanted to ask.
"When we were fighting, you were talking to me like you know something about my past."
"Kei told me everything about your past life since he learned about your case a few years ago."
"You mean Kei Machida?" I asked.
She nodded in silence again and continued talking.
"Kei was really furious about how the government handled your case, Hyakuzawa. He tried fighting for you against the government's decision, but just like what you have experienced. The government can't do something against someone who had a higher position than them."
What Sasaki said happened to me a long time ago. Learning from her that a cold-hearted person like Machida was fighting for my case was something that I wouldn't expect to hear.
"One day, there will be someone who will lend you a hand."
I remembered the words that my little sister said to me once again.
"Did the two of you know something about my little sister as well?" I asked.
Sasaki nodded in silence and avoided eye contact.
"I'm sorry…" She said.
Based on her reaction, she also knew something about my little sister. Sasaki took a short sigh and looked at me with a concerned look on her face.
"I want to hear your story, Hyakuzawa."
My eyes widened, and Sasaki continued talking.
"When I learned about your past, I was thinking. How can I make you listen to me? Someone strong like you wouldn't listen to someone inferior, especially with the hostility you are showing towards us. That is where I thought of proving myself to you in a fistfight. I wanted to show you that I… No… That we are on equal ground with you."
She was looking at me with those eyes filled with hope, and a showcase of determination on her face.
"I wanted you to give us a second chance. It's fine by me if you don't want to tell everyone what you have been through."
I looked down, and tears were forming around my eyes. Damn it… Why am I like this?
"Let me know what you have been through. Let me know you better. Can you tell me all the things related to your past life before all of this happened, Joichiro Hyakuzawa?"
I clenched my fist really hard, raised my head slowly, and looked at her.
"My past life… I was…"
******** TO BE CONTINUED ********