Harmless Love
"So your back, boy...how did it go? Your match..."
"I won..."
"Well, isn't that great! We shall definitely celebrate tonight!"
"With what? Prison food?...it did not really feel like a win anyways, it felt..."
"What a party pooper you are. Also, it's been bugging me a while now, however, isn't that the eastern army jacket?...you are wearing."
"Oh, this?...someone gave it to me. Anyways you know of the former government army, old man?"
"By any chance, was it a girl? Haha...Satori, what a player you are indeed. I offer you major respect but remember having some fun is awesome but always stay safe ok?"
"What are you on about, you old fart? Anyways about the government army...can you tell me anything more?"
"Hmm, there's not much I can inform you of...but even though I have never been, I have heard that technology there is reaching impressive heights. Why don't you visit it for yourself one day?"
"Old man, have you forgotten I am... never mind. Her name is Hiriko..."
"Huh?"
"The one who gave me this jacket"
"Ah, I see...Satori, not many people will treat you with such care in this kind of world...treasure her. Even if she may be a stranger to you, her kindness is special...after all, she even gave care to a prisoner like you! Personally, I would have asked her to have married me already if I met someone like that. People like that are near to nonexistent now."
"Impossible...but...I will say this once and only once. You are not wrong there. Your point is totally valid. Also, there's this guy called Masashi..."
"Hey..hey, I don't think I want to hear about the male...instead tell me more about this Hiriko's measurements...come on."
"Measurements?Hmm, considering I am..."
"Hold on, I'm talking about....you know what, Satori, there's no point in messing with you, is there, haha!"
Weird old man.
"Old man about...Benjiro..."
"Forget that guy. He's already...there's no changing him."
"Haha, I was stubborn to say he should give up his duty and focus on that female captain Fumiko if I won. Now that I think about it..."
"You...boy, did you actually say that?"
"Yeah...why?"
"Hahaha....haha..hahaha."
He laughed... for a good while...
"Satori making that wager is pointless..."
"Yeah, your right. There's no way I could..."
"It's pointless because if you really won...you could order such a simple task with ease as the new emperor."
"Oh...so..."
"Yeah. Satori, you are one of the most amusing kids I have ever come across. Considering how long my life has been, that's a very grand statement I make."
Wow, the sudden fatigue is hitting me now. I'll get some well deserved...some required rest, I guess. This jacket truly feels snuggly...sleeping here is going to b much more pleasant...thank you, Hiriko.
"Going to sleep, huh kid...Fumiko, did you hear his last words?"
"I did, hey elder Shimon, tell me why...is this world full of such idiots."
"Haha, does Satori remind you of..."
"Yeah... my elder brother."
"Don't worry, one day they will be back, all ten of them! They only can fix this corrupted council."
"The ten icicles...huh."
"I am a selfish fool who made your brother leave in the place of my son...I'm sorry, Fumiko, truly."
"No, it's fine. My brother was always jealous of Benjiro. He's probably already delighted that he has a higher status than him."
"Hahahaha, you must be right!"
Talking? A conversation? I cannot hear any of it anyway; I feel too comforted right now. Even a prison cell could feel this homely...who knew?
"Satori Anzai...Satori...awaken at once!"
What? Oh, it's the morning already...
"You know the drill, let's go..."
No Benjiro today? Instead...
"What is there something wrong with it being me? Normally, boys your age would be overjoyed with a woman like myself accompanying you in the morning. So come on, let's go!"
What Fumiko? Did she have some personality altering? Or maybe she has a multi-personality disorder?... Whatever, at least I can lay easy I'm not going to engage in battle today.
It seems it's much less crowded than yesterday, and no one is....no one is attempting to hate against me?
A child?
"Evil... you're the bad guy! You are the one bullying our princess!"
"Hey, Haru, get back here!... I am so sorry about my son...please forgive him...please forgive us."
I see how it is... In the people's eyes, I am now a vile demon in which they fear. So I am the villain to the kids in the city? How amusing...but I cannot say I prefer it.
"Come on, don't feel too dejected now... it's only a child, and naturally, you cannot blame him. By the way, I am also to be held accountable after all the frustration I let out on you, Satori. Also, however, the people may despise, as long as your a winner, they cannot say or do anything."
"Say, Fumiko...captain Fumiko. Do you think I will ever be offered freedom?"
"Well, that's, all I can say is... it's too early to give in. The truth is once the council...they probably knew you had no part to play during the kidnapping. And they won't change their stance. It would be much too embarrassing in their reputation. This is why...why I despise their ways so much, sitting within the walls laid under the safety of the icicles! With it also this damn tournament! Like they have given up on them!... I said too much, sorry."
The Icicles again?... Captain Fumiko went her separate way leaving me to head in towards the participant seating.
Is that? Yeah, it's Masashi and the others...leaving Hiriko at the intersection of the three entries. I'll catch up as well...
"Hey, Hiriko! Hey..."
She was in tears. The others did not take notice as they had already departed to their seatings, but I was just approaching my way towards the despairing Hiriko... By the time I had collided with her presence, she had already wiped off most of the tears...
"Sa...satori, what are you doing here...I mean, it's good to see you...what am I even saying? I'm sorry."
"Does it hurt somewhere?"
"What do you mean..."
"Your bodies biological reaction in response to a pain stimulation...your tears, why are they?"
"So you saw me?...in all honesty, I don't want to fight. I hate violence. I hate pain. I hate inflicting it even more. Inside I wish I could drop this match right now."
"Then why don't you! What are you even fighting for! You heard general Genkei yesterday. He gave you a choice, so why do you still..."
"For peace!"
"Huh?"
"If I don't do it, the next person will. Once this is over, we can all be one step closer to a tranquil life. Like how it used to be..."
"Hahaha, don't make me laugh. Peace? How did it use to be? Do you even hear yourself? I despise those who never accept reality the most! Suffering will always exist as long as power does. As long as authority roams, there is no peace! What was so good about life before? Do you honestly think everyone enjoyed that kind of way of life? Some people...some people are better off..."
Just like Aina and her family situation... Just like princess Yukina who was homeless before... Just like me?
No, this is completely wrong... Aina lost her vision... Yukina lost her freedom... I lost my mortality and many others had lost too much...
The Sano family...Mai. Masashi and Mizuki. Daiki and Emika. Benjiro and Fumiko Kenji Yajirushi. And also Reo.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have... but I still stand strong in one fact..."
"Peace is unfeasible."
In shame, I walked away...abandoning the silenced Hiriko.
"That wasn't very kind of you, immortal idiot."
"What are you waffling on about... you're an immortal too, Mizuki."
Why did...How did Mizuki...
"Wondering what I'm standing here for? I was about to go talk to the crying maiden over there until some gloomy bastard had to interfere. I have sharp senses, one of my very qualities of a vampire."
Makes perfect sense.
"Oh, and she's gone, Just sensed her leave inside. We better head to our seats as well."
"Right"
"Aren't you going to rub it in...?"
"What are you talking about?"
"How I pathetically lost after all my presented conviction."
"Can I be frank with you?"
"Go ahead"
"I felt contented..."
"Yeah, makes sense."
"I felt contented you did not lose your life."
"Yeah..yea...huh? What did you just say?"
"Let's hurry up and go...we don't have much time to chat."
"Wai...wait. Ah damn, forget it."
But she had smiled so much to a certain degree that even her sharp pure, forcefully hidden white vampire teeth were revealed in that very moment.
"I can't die. You should know, first hand! But...but..thank you, Satori."
Her smile retreated to a calmer phase...and she became blushful.
I really am glad she came back. Now Masashi doesn't have to worry much about this naive little sister of his.
"Satori, Mizuki! over here!"
"Oh, what's this? It's rare to find you two together like that...don't tell me..."
"Brother, shut up right now, or I will seriously..."
"Ok, ok, ok, anyways, did Hiriko go in fine?"
"More or less, she will be alright."
"Masashi about the one she's facing..."
"We have no idea Satori. But if as that Raiden individual mentioned...if she is truly part of the dark army. We will have Hiriko surrender at once."
"General be more confident in Hiriko after all..."
"Yeah, I know that girl's ability..."
I did not pry on what Hiriko's ability was. I just simply chose to believe in her.
In all of them.
Before we knew it, the match had begun...
No time was wasted.
"Are you my little rat's friend?... if so ill give you one hell of a fun time."
"Are you referring to Satori, don't disrespect him. Out of everyone he has...he has suffered the most! He's execrated by all around. He's caught up in several atrocities. He's even falsely accused of..."
"So?"
"It might not mean much. But even I cannot allow as you sully his name over all the agony piled upon his mentality! He may not accept me...he may never accept me. However, even so, I want to keep trying. That's right. It's as all would think...I am...am in love with Satori Anzai!"
Silence bestowed the crowds...the royals...the participants...all of us.
"What?"
It was as it looked. As it sounded. As it felt...
A public confession of love.
"What, Hiriko? No way...who would have thought, hahaha. As much as I wanted it to be...no, things are different now. Mizuki has lost."
"Wow, I did not expect that from Hiriko...she had those kinds of feelings? For the period of charge I have taken in this squad as the general...not once has she...I was worried for her. Thank you, Satori."
"Is this for real...I mean, damn Oda, it's..."
"Don't worry about it, Mizuki. It was going to happen eventually. I knew. I knew she bared such indomitable fro Satori. But I felt frustrated!...so jealous...jealous of you, Satori! So much envy, I had no option, however, to forward it via resentment. So forgive me, Satori!"
Is this the first time Oda...
He's crying?
Why?
Furthermore, regarding the statement Hiriko made?
In love?
I can't decrypt its meaning no matter how much I try.
Love...Love...Love...
what is this unfathomable concept!
Damn it.
"This is marvellous. Hahaha, so very great! Hahaha. Keep it going! I get to...I get to...exterminate my rat's admirer...But it still pisses me off just a tiny bit. What a repulsive display of human emotions."
Hannya promptly dived into Hirikos side, attempting to strike her with her bare fist.
I became anxious even in that instantaneous moment...my heart pounded with sizeable adrenaline to the display...
I was severely worried.
My consciousness doesn't wish to see Hirko in any sort of agony.
"Satori, Hiriko won't fall..."
Masashi words were perfect.
What looked like a metre before interacting.
Was intercepted?
Hannya...
Had repelled back so unimaginably swift it looked as a calmly travelling bomb had gone off. The speed of Hannya's deflection was ten times as much as her acceleration! What did Hiriko do!
There's no way she could have survived that...
I spoke too soon. Hannya was barely even scathed.
"What the hell did you do! You damn insolent little bitch!"
Hannya charged in...
again and again and again
She did not falter no matter how much she repeated the cycle, but nothing would change?
Hiriko was unbeatable...or so we thought...
"Hahaha, I take back my anger from earlier your quite entertaining. But unfortunately, all fun times come to an end..."
What is the end exactly?
An end of one life? An end of a species? An end of all life?
No, in my reasoning, it was the end of existence...
Because as long as matter flows, the end is...well, endless.
Hannya switched her target.
To who?
The immortal scum sitting right near...that's who.
Me.
Was this heavens blessing?
Is Shes actually targeting a viewer? And will be disqualified in response...a viewer who is immortal!
That's the end of Hannya!
Wrong. Incorrect. False
Her strike again against me failed. No interaction was made, but...
hahaha, heavens blessing?
More like hell's condemnation.
Over a thousand vines demolished their way from the underground, each and everyone passing through...
Hiriko.
It looked like a...
Thousand threads piercing through a soft a fragile fabric surface, all in the colour of bright crimson red.
Why...why...why....why.
Did she choose to protect me at the cost of her life?
I'm...I'm...an immortal, for heaven's sake! Damn it!
Why?
Masashi say something. Why do you look so surprised?
"Masashi, don't you even dare hold me back...I can't...can't control myself...it was fun with you guys..take care of your sister Mizuki...and farewell."
"NO, ODA, DON'T!"
Oda came into physical contact with Hannya...
grasping onto her.
"I'm...I'm...I'm gonna self destruct and take...take you with me, you damn demon. I can't forgive you. You are the devil's reincarnation. Die. Die. Die hahaha"
"Are you sure you want to do that? Look at the people around us. Do you think this girl who protected a damn immortal would want that?"
"Huh wha..."
Oda's head was rapidly sliced off in his bated distraction...
With nothing but tears...
and tears...
and tears,
He's looking at me? Yeah, I fully understand he is pleading...for revenge.
Lip syncing every word.
"STOP, MIZUKI, STAY PUT...IF YOU TOUCH HER, SHE HAS A RIGHT TO...TO RETALIATE AND..."
"Let go, general Genkei...don't you hear it? Oda is crying for help! That bitch wait till..i...damn it all."
Mizuki was beginning to go crazy, and all she could do was weep in sorrow...in...
"Mizuki Sakai...by order of the rules, I will be asking you to stay put!"
Oh, I hear Benjiro as well?
"Where is Satori?"
"Damn it, don't tell me that boy!"
"Satori, he's already...."
"The hell, How did get there so fast?"
Too late.
Where was I?
Where else?
Then making my way to the absolute...
Heinous...
depraved...
diabolic...
degenerate...
Black-hearted Sin that lay before me.
"STOP, SATORI, GET BACK HERE!"
"DON'T DO IT, SATORI!"
"Quite down, or...ill terminate every one of you...Benjiro, Genkei and Masashi. Right now...I don't care who interferes. Try to stop me...ill come back crawling with no legs if I must. I'll get back by slaughtering anyone who approaches me!...and now most of all, I'm going to annihilate you Hannya break take out every repulsive organ from your cursed body, slice every unforgivable limb...all while preserving your conscious brain for last. I'll tear you up... 'll break you down... 'll make you agonise so much you...hope to be deprived of your very existence!"
"Hahaha...that's it. Keep coming, my obedient little rat...because the moment you touch me...you will be all mine!"
Yes, I can feel it again...
The coldness...
The swift acceleration...
and the foreordained pure superiority I have over everyone...over all matter.
"Hahah I'm going to....hahaha..I'm going to...corrode you away ...fro.."
It's getting harder to breathe?
What is this? I can't gasp for any air...
Shit, I need to...
I dropped, unable to do anything.
But look at the corpse of Hiriko beside me.
The first day we met...you got covered in my lifeblood.
The day we now depart...I'm covered in yours.
Voices started to grow faint...
"Sister Chiharu, why did you lower the oxygen content around him? Are you actually..."
"Nothing more than savouring my own opponent."
"Oh, that's a shame...rats going to take a nap. And This girl is the most unintelligent creature around. Her ability to purely protect the thing she cares for the most.What a terrible matchup for one should only care about themselves to make use of it. Not some immortal vermin.Love huh? how nauseating."
Homura passes as the now-deceased Oda was disqualified for intruding...
Hiriko...
Block B has ended.
Block finals:
Block A: Chiharu vs Satori
Block B: Hannya vs Homura
Block C: ??? vs ???
Final match:
A: ??? vs B: ??? vs C: ???
What goes up must come down.
What starts with blood ends with blood.
The girl cried for peace. Satori cried for her.
-Do you believe?-
To be Continued in the Next Chapter...