Present time,
"What is… strength? What is... power? What is... heart?"
Surata mutters to himself, coming to a standstill in the middle of the sidewalk. The weight of his thoughts drags him down, and he can't stop asking himself the questions that haunt him.
"Why are these three things created... and why do we need them? Father says these three things are all intertwined, but... ah. I just don't understand." He lets out a frustrated sigh, gazing up at the cloudy sky.
"I know I have a good heart... but I don't have the strength that comes with it. How can I achieve that? Is it by training more? Or is there something I'm missing? I have trained for as long as I can remember, yet nothing has changed."
Surata's anger makes him want to bang his head on a wall. His bruised hands and athletic physique show off his results over the years, but he still doubts himself, beginning to blame himself for his "failures."
"Damn it. I wish I was a Shikari already. That way, I can fight alongside Father."
Feeling frustrated and powerless, he clenches his fists at his side, trying to awaken his true power somehow…but fails. He continues thinking about this with no honest answer until he arrives home.
The Aoi country. Known for being the most peaceful and free, it's one of the world's three most prominent and influential countries.
Its capital Heiwa, is no different. Since a couple of years ago, this country wasn't always as peaceful as it is now. This world had just undergone a massive, long-lasting war known as "The War of the Fallen."
It took a while for the country to recover what it had lost. Before, people were afraid to step outside, fearful of getting killed. Now, people happily come to visit; some never want to return home.
He has just left school, which is downtown. He has to walk through the downtown area to get to his house. Downtown is the liveliest yet busiest part of the country. It attracts many tourists with its retail stores, food, and entertainment. Its vibrant colors in the morning and the stunning gazing lights produced at night give a tourist a place never to forget. Surata's thoughts fade away as the sounds of cars driving past him distract him.
Suddenly, screams of people and the sound of shattering glass echoed, drawing everyone's attention to downtown's main street. Surata's curiosity is piqued, and he enters the gathering crowds to see the commotion.
He doesn't stand out much in a crowd. He is average in height, not too short or tall, with modern clothes commonly worn by the citizens. Despite being a male, His long night-black hair, pulled back into a small ponytail to keep his vision clear, often mistakes him for a girl from behind.
Squeezing his way to the front, he notices a man with a significant, buff figure, cornered by multiple police cars.
"Arji Rosin. Stop resisting. We have you surrounded!"
"Oh really? We will see about that." Arji's eyes widen as he suddenly lifts his shirt, unveiling a marking on his stomach. Surata's eyes widen in confusion, along with one of the officers who seems new to the scene.
"What is he doing?" asks the officer, puzzled by the situation.
"Oh, Officer Wilson, you're new, aren't you? Long story short, it looks like we are going to be here for a while." Another officer replies, leaving Officer Wilson even more confused.
Seeing a man randomly lift his shirt to show a mark will make any average person sit there and wonder. Maybe he wanted to show off his abs to the women watching him.
The mark on Arji's stomach and his eyes, slowly pulsates to a brown-leather color, causing the air to feel heavier. Surata can feel the intimidating aura and tension lingering around him. Arji's aura expands, and before anyone can react, he goes on a rampage, effortlessly overpowering the paralyzed police officers.
"Is this Noye?" Surata shockingly asks himself, seeking verification.
"Noye" is the technique these people use to gain supernatural abilities. Anyone can gain this technique; however, one must endure years of training to awaken it. Only a select few have successfully mastered their power.
The ability one gains is unique to themselves, as their Noye corresponds to their emotions. In theory, when an angry person has adrenaline running through them, they can temporarily perform better. The same concept can be applied to Noye. Each color represents a different Noye, ultimately granting them unique supernatural abilities.
Struggling from the immense aura, the officers become desperate as they fire their guns repeatedly at Arji. The acrid scent of gunpowder assaults Surata's nostrils and makes his heart race, engulfed in fear.
Arji utilizes his arms as a shield as he begins to defend himself. He takes multiple shots to his body, but somehow, the bullets bounce off him, inflicting no damage whatsoever. Their attempts seem to be futile, like throwing pebbles at a mountain.
"Ha-ha, that tickles," Arji laughs, mocking their pathetic attempts to defeat him.
As the shooting momentarily stops, Arji simultaneously assumes a charging stance. The chaos escalates as Anji charges toward the remaining officers, leaving Surata and the crowd in awe and disbelief. With each blow, shockwaves of adrenaline rush through his veins, and his breath caught in his throat.
"How did he just get more powerful? This is the first time I have seen Noye being used in person before. How can he still move after he gets shot? How did he gain such speed and power in seconds?"
The police realize they cannot defeat Arji, so they try to call for reinforcements. Would the situation change if more police officers arrived? Realizing the danger, the crowd begins to disperse.
The screams of the terrified bystanders echo through the air, blending with malfunctioning sirens and glass shattering as Arji's powerful blows demolish nearby police cars. Debris and smoke from vehicles being inflamed surround the arena. It's complete chaos.
"Wow, this is so cool." The corners of Surata's mouth can't stop expanding, exposing his big smile as his nostrils fill up with the smell of smoke. He can't seem to take his eyes off the action, his excitement mixed with fear. He knows he should run as the crowd disperses, but he finds himself locked in place, amazed by the emerging battle.
"Who is going to stop him, though? I would've no chance of stopping him if I went in. If only father was here-"
Interrupting his inner thoughts, Surata could feel another strong aura slowly getting closer. The aura feels powerful but calm. Looking around, he stumbles on a man calmly walking towards Arji. What is this man doing? Is he trying to get himself killed? It's too dangerous.
The man steps forward with an air of calm confidence, his baggy attire billowing slightly in the breeze. His left arm is casually resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword, with a sharp toothpick dangling from the corner of his mouth, making him stand out amongst the chaos.
Surata can't help but wonder how the aura he sensed earlier is coming from that man. All eyes, that aren't running away, shift toward the man as he approaches Arji.
"Sir, it's not safe here! Please evacuate!" one of the officers suggests. "We are waiting for reinforcements to show up."
"I am the reinforcements," the man replies, pulling out a card from his pockets. The card, containing a photo identification, reads:
Special Noye Agency
8th Division Captain
Yuki Hattori
"No way! A shikari is about to fight?!" Surata's excitement peaks, his heart unable to contain all of it. The only people with the ability and authority to confront powerful threats like Arji are… Shikaris. They are licensed hunters entrusted with maintaining peace and order in the country.
The intimidating aura surrounding Arji seems to pale compared to the composed aura surrounding Yuki. His presence alone sends a clear message: he is no ordinary opponent.
"Your little display of power is impressive, Arji," Yuki says, his smirk revealing his confidence. His words hang in the air, drawing everyone's attention. "But I understand how your ability works now."
Arji tries to call Yuki's bluff. "What are you talking ab-"
"It involves energy, right?" Yuki explains, interrupting Arji. "Your body acts like storage. If your body absorbs damage, you charge it and use it offensively."
Arji's expression quickly changes with disbelief. He truly believes his ability to be impenetrable, yet Yuki manages to decipher his ability effortlessly. The crowds hold their breath, waiting for these two to clash.
Thinking he still has the advantage, Arji laughs maniacally, taunting, "Even if you know that, it's futile. How do you expect to defeat me? I can absorb your attack."
With a subtle movement, Yuki unsheathes his sword just enough to reveal its gleaming edge. The slight glint catches the attention of those nearby, focusing on his weapon. "That's easy. I need to deal enough damage that your body can't absorb."
"Go ahead and try!" Arji charges Yuki.
In the blink of an eye, the fight… was over. It was a complete blur, unable to see with the naked eye. The sound of metal slicing through the air resonated. Keeping his composure, Yuki slowly sheathes his sword, chanting out the name of his attack,
"Repelled Wind."
Wholly paralyzed, Arji gradually stumbles backwards, his body bleeding from a deep cut on the left side of his stomach.
"Woah. That was so… fast. I didn't even see him swing his sword."
The overwhelming power that once radiated from him had vanished with a single executed strike by Yuki. The crowd is left paralyzed and confused, amazed by Yuki's instant victory. They erupt in cheers and gratitude towards the Shikari who had saved the day.
"Someone go fix him up, then throw him in jail," Yuki commands the officers. "The other escapees fled, but don't worry; they couldn't have gone far."
Yuki Hattori has solidified his reputation as an outstanding and respected figure in the eyes of the onlookers, reminding them how strong Shikaris are and how well-protected they are.
Surata can't rub that smile off his face. Completely amazed by that Shikari, that battle only refines his dream: to become a Shikari. If he can train hard enough, maybe he can become strong like Yuki. He is giving Surata more vital determination. Reinforcing his mindset, Surata hurries home.
___
Not so far from downtown, Surata arrives at his neighborhood. Looking around, the houses seem to be built close to one another. Most communities in the country look like this. With their compact style homes, this is where the middle-class lives. After a while, Surata arrives at his house. Like the other houses, their house is split-level and uses a Western-style layout. Surata walks up to the front door and opens it with excessive force.
"I'm home!" Surata exclaims with excitement.
Those words and the scenario he was in gave him a sense of déjà vu, not being welcomed home. The only difference this time is his words managed to grab someone's attention.
As Surata enters, the bathroom door slowly opens. Large amounts of steam burst out of the room. Through the mist, a young man walks out of the room, wearing a white tank top, with a towel wrapped around his neck and lower body—droplets of water from his wavy cherry-pink hair drip onto the floor.
"Huh?" the man mumbles, with a toothbrush in his mouth, scratching his head.
Surata's eyes widen, sparkling with excitement, struggling to keep the words from falling out of his mouth.
"Hey, Koroki, you missed it! There was this massive brawl downtown. A thug unleashed his Noye power and was causing chaos. But then, this badass Shikari arrived and took him out in one attack! And… Wait, are you even listening?"
With slumped shoulders, Koroki's eyes start drooping, struggling to keep them open, as he exerts a mighty yawn. "Huh? Yeah, yeah, sounds exciting. Keep talking."
Surata looks troubled, observing Koroki's behavior. "Did you just wake up?"
"Yeah. So what?" Koroki replies nonchalantly, scratching his wet hair.
Surata's frustration grows. "Seriously? It's 4 in for the afternoon, and you're just waking up now?!"
"Ok, Mom, I didn't realize I had an alarm. What's the problem?" Koroki let out another loud yawn, stretching his arms as high as he could, using all his remaining energy on that stretch. "Ah, the perfect time to start my day."
"Unbelievable! This kid does nothing but eat and sleep all day. The least he can do is work to help pay rent." Surata complains to himself, his irritation showing.
Surata sighs, feeling the weight of Koroki's presence over the years. "It's been like this since he moved in with us four years ago. I don't know the reason, but my father told me he would be living with us from now on. And since then, we've been like brothers."
Exhausted from oversleeping, Koroki makes his way toward the living room, collapsing onto the couch as if his limbs had turned to jelly. Surata stands there in awe, questioning Koroki's weird behavior.
"You've been living with us for some time, Koroki. Have you ever considered getting a job? Or going to school? You must be bored staying home all day."
Raising his head from the pillow that his face has fallen onto, Koroki uses his arms to support himself, struggling to sit up, his expression nonchalant. "Well, yeah, but why would I? I wouldn't say I like the whole work thing. And going to school would just ruin my schedule. I kinda like my current life."
That pretty much summed up Koroki's daily routine- an extremely lazy teenager who enjoys eating, sleeping, and occasionally watching TV shows. Add video games and anime to his schedule, and one wouldn't be far off labeling him as a NEET.
During their first encounter, Koroki appeared as a completely different person at that time- serious, edgy, and intimidating. Now, it seems like the opposite. He might have taken the term "get comfortable" a bit too literally. Koroki's carefree attitude has become a constant source of frustration for Surata. He hopes their relationship improves, with Koroki supporting him to achieve his dream, but it hasn't worked out.
Koroki suddenly notices that the TV remote is missing, causing a slight panic. He desperately searches for the remote, as if he has lost his favorite toy.
"Hey, umm… is Father around?" Surata asks.
"…"
Surata continues to watch Koroki, mentally sighing and palming his forehead.
"Yeah, he's in his room," Koroki replies, struggling to find the remote.
"Thaaankkss," Surata sarcastically says, stretching his gratitude as he leaves Koroki alone on his little quest while he heads off to find his father.
___
With the house's layout, all the rooms, including Ishio's, are on the second floor. Surata climbs the stairs and walks down the narrow hall to his father's room. The floor screams after each step Surata takes.
Approaching his father's door, Surata notices a dim light leaking through the cracks. To his surprise, he also hears multiple voices, slowly getting louder as he walks closer. Amongst the voices, he distinguishes the sound of paper crumbling and being tossed around. With a slow, creaking motion, Surata opens the door.
Looking inside the room, Surata stares at the back of Ishio's head, his long, straight ash-grey hair covering his back. He appears to be struggling with writing something. It seems he had left everything until the last minute, just like a student procrastinating on a final paper.
Surata is so focused on his father's frustrated expression that he does not notice the two police officers standing beside him. The officers seem in a hurry, their bodies angled towards the door as they conclude their conversation. As the officers leave, Surata pauses, puzzled, standing in the doorway as they pass him.
Is Ishio being interrogated? Is he getting arrested? To an outsider, it could appear that way.
"Hello, Father. What... was that all about?"
Surata's voice manages to break Ishio's concentration for a moment. Ishio lifts the pen off the paper, turning his head back slightly.
"Oh, hello, Surata. Sorry about that. Those guys just had some urgent information to tell me."
Behind Ishio's gentle smile, Surata could tell how frustrated he was getting.
Ishio holds a strong position in the country, not as the president or prime minister, but more like a vice president or vice prime minister. He oversees a special Noye agency tasked with tracking down and apprehending powerful criminals with supernatural abilities.
While there is a police force for everyday crimes, the Noye Agency deals with threats beyond their capabilities. In other words, Ishio oversees both the agency and the police.
More questions begin to stir into Surata's mind. Having an idea of what his father is doing, Surata can't help but wonder why the floor around them is drowning with crumbled pieces of paper.
"I'm just trying to finish writing something," Ishio explains, pausing again. "How was your first day at school?"
"Oh, it was amazing! Aside from the boring lectures and stuff, practicing Noye combat was incredible!"
"That's great to hear!" Ishio responds with genuine joy before quickly returning to writing.
Awkwardness quickly surrounds the silence. An uncomfortable feeling strikes Surata. Ignoring it, Surata decided to continue his small talk with his father, leaving a suggestion in mind.
"Hey, um… I heard from the school that you used to be a teacher there. You should join the class, Father, and teach us! I'm sure the students and staff would love to have you teach again."
Having some doubt in his mind, his father quickly hesitates.
"…I don't know, son. I am way too busy at the moment. Besides, teaching isn't really my thing anymore."
"Oh… ok."
Another awkward silence. The same feeling returns. Surata feels a sense of being a burden to his father, adding to the unease in the air. Deciding to leave Ishio to his work, Surata does not leave without addressing what he came to talk about.
"By the way, Father, can you… help me with my training today? I wanted to practice my Noye-"
"Sorry, son, I can't help you train today. I am currently trying to finish this up." Ishio gently interrupts, his attention momentarily diverted from the letter.
"…" Surata's mood saddens.
"Oh, have Koroki train with you today."
Surata thinks back a few seconds to Koroki lying on the couch. The thought of letting that lazy bone help him out exhausts his brain.
"I think I'll pass. Alright, Father, then I'll go get some groceries for dinner," Surata replies, a bit of disappointment in his voice.
Excitement suddenly sparked through Ishio, slightly breaking his current character. "Oh, what are you going to cook today?"
"Um…I don't know. Maybe some Chicken Curry?"
"Whoo! I can't wait for dinner then." Ishio exclaims cheerfully. Nothing satisfies him more than the taste of Surata's cooking. Just the thought of it instantly changed his expression. It's not like he can't cook anything. He prefers eating Surata's food since he's the better cook in the house.
"Alright. I'll be right back." Since entering the room, Ishio can hear the drastic change in Surata's voice. However, he decides to prioritize finishing his writing. Helping to train Surata would only prolong his writing, ultimately delaying his plans.
Being distracted by Surata, Ishio looks at his paper and realizes that he accidentally ruined the form. Surata walks out of his room before Ishio's rage erupts. Ishio frustration returns. He lets out a subtle scream, trying to keep his composure, as he aggressively crumbles the paper and rapidly throws it at the wall.
___
On the other hand, while Surata has his conversation with his father upstairs, Koroki finally finds the TV remote. Upon being relieved mentally, his exhausted expression stays unchanged as he turns the television on. The news channel displays a headline that reads:
"Downtown Noye Attack: 3 suspects have escaped."
That sounds like the attack that Surata was telling Koroki earlier. A book falling could have entertained Koroki more. Uninterested in the news, the only thoughts Koroki had somehow involved his stomach. The growling from his inner beast managed to drag him to the kitchen. Feeling at death's door, he rubbed his stomach, trying to tame his inner beast.
"Ugh. I'm soooo hungry. What should I eat?"
To satisfy his appetite, he decides to have a snack before dinner is ready. He pops open the top door of the refrigerator and is left ecstatic. His eyes were fixated on a popsicle box; memories of its fruity banana flavor from the popsicle flooded his mind.
Filled with anticipation, he searches through the box, only to find the box empty. Koroki flips the box upside down and shakes it violently, hoping a popsicle magically appears. There is no popsicle to be found. His ecstatic expression quickly turns into disappointment. Feeling mentally defeated, he heads back to the living room, glumly holding the empty box.
"Damn it! Why is the box in the freezer if there's none left?" He grumbles to himself as he sits back down.
Gazing at the box, a flood of memories from his early childhood reappears.
"Damn it. Why now? Why do I have to remind myself of her?"
___
In his mind, a flashback materializes. A small Koroki is seen crying on his patio for some unknown reason. His eyes are filled with water. He tried to hold it in, but the tears couldn't stop falling down his cheeks. He suddenly feels gentle, warm hands being placed on his shoulders. These hands feel very familiar to Koroki.
"Koroki, dear. What happened?" the woman asks, her face filled with concern.
Koroki turns his head to the familiar figure, an adult woman with a sincere expression.
"I-I wanted to play with the kids in the neighborhood, but no one wanted to play with me. They would run away from me like I'm… some sort of monster," sniffles Koroki.
The woman consoles Koroki, wiping the tears off his face. "Oh honey, you're not a monster. Listen, it's ok to cry. I cry too, but you just don't see it. Everyone cries. Being able to cry means that you're human."
Koroki continues to sob.
"Hold on." She slowly removes her hands from Koroki, turns around, and heads back inside the house. While waiting for her, Koroki could hear plastic being touched like something was being unwrapped. The woman walks out of the hose, hiding something behind her back. "I got something for you." She pulls out a double-sticked popsicle.
Koroki sniffs, "Wh-What is that?"
He has never seen something like that. It must be some type of food in a foreign country.
"I think it's called a popsicle. Someone was giving them out earlier. I heard it tastes like a banana. Do you want it?"
Koroki nods. Holding the end of the two sticks, she splits the popsicle in half.
Koroki's eyes lighten up with amazement as if he were watching a magician perform in front of his eyes. He grabs one of the wooden sticks. He carefully examines the popsicle, ensuring he likes its appearance.
Most kids want to examine their food before they eat it. If it look nasty, they probably wouldn't eat it. It could be something poisonous or worse- kill them. Looking closely, he finds it edible, and they both decide to take a huge bite, feeling the coldness on their teeth.
"Ah, it's cold!" they both exclaim, surprised by the icy sensation.
The woman giggles.
After a few moments of having a mini blizzard inside their mouths, the coldness faded, and they could finally savor the banana-flavored treat. Koroki is astounded by the taste, his eyes filled with joy. "Mmm, it's so good. Thanks... Mom!"
His mother smiles softly; her eyes are closed as she giggles. "Now we're both happy!"
Koroki pauses, bitten popsicle in hand, and looks at his giggly mom, puzzled. "Why are you happy?"
Her giggles continue to get louder, leaving Koroki more confused.
"Wait, what's funny? Why are you laughing now?"
He feels like he missed some hilarious joke and feels left out. His embarrassed, confused expression gradually turns into an annoyed expression.
"Ha-ha, because of you."
"Huh?"
Her words do not make the situation any better. It only makes Koroki more confused. Maybe it was a joke that a kid like him wouldn't understand.
"Ha-ha." After some time, she stops laughing. "Look, Koroki, the reason I am happy now is… because you stopped crying."
"...?"
"After I gave you the popsicle, you cheered up. And seeing you happy makes me happy."
Her explanation slowly starts to make sense.
He watches as his mother holds both sticks in each hand, visually illustrating her point. "You see, the popsicle and we are the same. This popsicle is special. It's not meant to be eaten alone. It's meant for two people." Using the sticks to demonstrate, she continues to explain. "One person can eat it by themself, but that would leave the other person upset."
Koroki nods, starting to grasp the concept. "Mhmm."
"However, if you split the popsicle into two, both people would be happy. The same goes for humans. When we hide our emotions, it eventually hurts us. Sometimes, emotions shouldn't be kept hidden. When you keep your emotions to yourself, those who want to help you can't. But, if you allow yourself to share your pain with others, you and everyone else will feel better."
She begins to stare at Koroki, smiling softly and subtly. "It's a win-win for everyone."
Those words seem to touch his heart. The young Koroki maintains his silence and stares intently at his mother. Her gaze shifts towards the clear blue skies. Her smile remains, but her eyes gradually change.
"Koroki…"
The wind becomes more vigorous, drowning out her voice. He can only see her lips moving, but the words slip from his memory.
After she finished speaking, Koroki remembers himself glancing away, staring at the far-distance view, and murmuring, "Ha, whatever you say, Mother."
___
After reliving his past, his eyes find themselves once again reverting to the box. Even with his tight-lipped smile, his eyes remain sad.