Neaf's vision was blurred as he desperately scanned the area for the person who had just given him a command.
"Run faster, Neaf," Axtral suddenly appeared beside him, flying effortlessly.
Startled by Axtral's sudden appearance after three days of absence, Neaf was taken aback. "You didn't show up for three days, and now you're here out of nowhere," he exclaimed.
"I thought I'd come and support you since you seemed to be missing me so much," Axtral said with a smile, effortlessly matching Neaf's running pace.
Neaf rolled his eyes at Axtral's comment, refraining from saying anything that might provoke him. He felt frustrated that he couldn't even curse Axtral in his own mind without the risk of him reading it. There was no privacy at all.
"I do give you privacy, you know. I have no interest in watching you do your business," Axtral commented.
Neaf was left speechless, feeling increasingly embarrassed the more he dwelled on the situation.
"How's it going for you? Enjoying yourself? And what about that girl, Vastuna? Isn't she beautiful?" Axtral inquired.
Neaf stuttered, remembering the feeling of Vastuna's chest against his own. "There's no way..." he began.
Shaking off the memory, Neaf pushed himself to run faster, determined to leave the embarrassment behind.
"Seems like a shy boy. Are you going to die a virgin in this life too?" Axtral matched Neaf's running pace once again.
"Virgin?" Neaf's face turned beet red from exertion, but Axtral's words made him feel out of place.
He had no interest in pursuing a relationship with any girl, but the question lingered in his mind. He had died a virgin at 17 in his previous life, but that was underage, so it didn't seem so bad. "What about this body? Did he have sex before?" Neaf asked, considering the possibilities.
"How would I know? I don't interfere with privacy," Axtral lazily replied.
"Then why did you put me in this body if you didn't interfere? It seems like you only interfere in sending dead souls into different worlds and bodies," Neaf taunted, sprinting away from Axtral once more.
"Why are you running so fast, huh?" Axtral complained as he caught up to Neaf again.
"I don't want to waste the whole day running," Neaf sighed, feeling exhausted from the constant pursuit.
"I came here for your benefit, but it seems like you don't want to leave this world. You seem to be enjoying it too much. You're the only person I've helped to enter another world after death, and I've even preserved your dead body. It seems like you don't need it now," Axtral explained.
Neaf slowed his pace, feeling a mix of confusion and frustration. "Why did you bring me here if you're just going to mock me?" he demanded, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"Let's get this straight. I have a task for you. If you can accomplish it, maybe your chances of returning to your world will increase," Axtral said, brushing off Neaf's objections and presenting his offer.
"Chances? I don't even want to go back to my world. I just want to find peace in death. I have no desire to live. Let me be," Neaf clarified, feeling adamant about his stance. The idea of returning to his world held no appeal for him whatsoever.
"We can discuss that after you do what I'm asking of you," Axtral smirked, observing Neaf's sudden interest in the offer.
It was time for an intriguing turn of events.
Neaf could see the calculating glint in Axtral's eyes, and it sent a shiver down his spine. He had learned the hard way that appearances could be deceiving, and even the smallest actions could have life-altering consequences.
"I want you to have a little fight with your coach," Axtral said. "If you lose, there will be consequences. But if you win, you'll have the chance to see your grandparents."
The mention of his grandparents drowned out everything else. Neaf didn't want his old life back, but the thought of seeing his grandparents again tugged at his heartstrings. Just once, he wanted to see how they were doing.
"But at what cost?" Neaf asked, his mind grappling with the moral implications of Axtral's request. The idea of fighting his coach, let alone causing him harm, felt inherently wrong to Neaf.
"Remember, Neaf, sometimes the ends justify the means. If you want something, you can't always achieve it by doing what's considered 'good.' Sometimes, embracing a evil path is the only way. It's up to you, but make sure your coach ends up with at least one broken bone. He's only human; it shouldn't be that difficult, especially with your half-robot body. Enjoy," Axtral said before disappearing, leaving Neaf to grapple with the weight of his decision.
Neaf stood there, feeling the weight of Axtral's words pressing down on him. The conflict within him raged like a storm. On one hand, the prospect of seeing his grandparents again filled him with an overwhelming longing.
As he grappled with his inner turmoil, memories of his grandparents flooded his mind. He remembered their warm smiles, the stories they used to tell him, and the unconditional love they had always shown him. The thought of being able to see them again, even for a fleeting moment, tugged at his heartstrings.
"It's not like this is your body, so why worry about it?" his conscience spoke.
That's correct. This coach is not his, he is not the owner. By raising a hand on the coach, it means nothing now because it's not his hand; he is just inside the body.
"What are you doing there, Neaf? Why have you stopped? Run!" the coach's voice pierced through Neaf's thoughts, jolting him back to the present.
As the coach's words echoed in his ears, Neaf felt a surge of determination wash over him. With his grandparents' faces etched in his mind, he pushed aside his inner turmoil and began to move forward, his resolve firm and unwavering.