After a couple of days, Keiko returned to the school, his clothes torn and ripped all over. His usual blue hue had returned, though he looked worn out. As soon as Finn saw him, he ran over, pulling Keiko into a tight hug.
"Man, don't scare me like that again!" Finn's voice trembled with emotion.
Tears welled up in Keiko's eyes as he clung to Finn, finally breaking down, sobbing uncontrollably. They stood there for a few minutes before heading back to their room.
Once inside, Keiko quietly used his energy construct ability to fix the damage he had caused earlier. They both sat in their pajamas, the room now restored, but a thick silence hung between them. Keiko was the first to break it, awkwardly mumbling.
"I'm sorry..."
Before he could continue, Finn cut in, his tone mixed with concern and frustration. "Why did you do it? Was it like... the thing Oshime told me about? That time during the entrance test where you almost killed some kid?"
Keiko averted his gaze, guilt clear on his face. "Sometimes when I push my ability to the max, I black out... and this... older, red version of me appears in my dreams. He gives me these ultimatums. 'I'll give you my power,' he says, 'or you'll stay weak. A loser.'"
Finn listened intently, his heart aching for his friend. Without a word, he ran over and embraced Keiko tightly. "I'm sorry, Keiko. I didn't know."
Keiko wiped his eyes and, with newfound determination, declared, "I'll never rely on my Overdrive form again."
He then yawned and stretched, the exhaustion of the past days catching up to him. "Now, can I get some sleep? We've got a mission tomorrow. Our first mission."