Endless Pain Chapter 1: Page 5. The Truth.
"Nilos, why did you say that Ryoto died when it's you?" Silvia is confused which I can't blame her for. I purposely did not tell her.
"Hahaha, you are funny Ryoto…you lied to your friend about your identity." Satomoto is amusing himself, chuckling like there is no tomorrow.
"She is not my friend and neither are any of you," I tell them straight.
"Now if there is nothing left to say I'll take my leave."
"Is it about that day?!" Seikrei calls out from behind Satomoto.
"That's something you can figure out Seikrei." She is asking me that question knowing the answer.
"You have become cockier in the last 4 years." She may think that but to me, I have always been that way.
"Think what you want I'm leaving." I walk away intending to leave for good this time.
"You think you can just leave? What about my apology?" Hiroshi grabs my shoulder preventing me from leaving.
I turn my head behind me looking up at Hiroshi's smug face.
"Hey, this is the second time you have stopped me from leaving," I tell him calmly most people would get frustrated which is normal behaviour.
"I won't let you leave until you get on your knees and apologise to me." Hiroshi is firmly demanding.
"Alright, that's enough," Satomoto calls out to Hiroshi.
Hiroshi turns his head to face Satomoto who is standing behind him.
"Hiroshi, it is time for you to leave. We have some things to discuss which don't concern you." Satomoto's words leave Hiroshi in silence.
From Hiroshi's reaction, it is abundantly clear that Satomoto is controlling Hiroshi with no resistance from him.
"Fine…" Hiroshi lifts his hand from my shoulder and walks away from the park.
Hiroshi is gone from the park which means that there is one less nuisance to deal with.
"Silvia, why are you still here?" Satomoto shoots daggers at her, intimidating her.
Silvia looks away from the group, especially Satomoto playing with her fingers.
Many people play or doodle with their fingers when they are nervous.
"I will take my leave…" Silvia says quietly, almost whispering.
Although I do prefer her to leave not hearing the upcoming conversations between me and the others, something doesn't sit right with me.
"Silvia," I am calling out to her.
"Don't feel the need to leave because you have been told to."
I can see that Satomoto is being caught off guard not just him but also Yotsuba, Seikrei and Silvia.
"What do you mean by this? Are you trying to pick a fight with me?" Satomto says with anger and frustration.
Part of what he said is true. I do want to pick a fight, not physical but rather about him telling me what to do and the people who are on my side.
"Satomoto, I don't care if you tell your lackeys what to do but I won't allow you to do the same to Silvia."
"Well well well, looks like Miho was right. You have become more cockey since the last time we saw you 4 years ago."
"Just tell me what you want to talk about." I steer away from that topic and try to get to the main topic of why I am here.
"It's getting late and I'll worry my family if I don't get home soon," Silvia says. It's 5 pm (17:00) what she says makes sense but part of me also thinks that she is uncomfortable being in this situation which her tone of voice fails to hide.
"See you tomorrow." Silvia waves goodbye and leaves for her home.
"Goodbye," I reply to her.
Now it is just me, Satomoto, Yotsuba and Seikrei in the park with the sun setting slowly.
The sky has become orange as a result.
"Now that we are all alone let's begin our deep conversation." Seikrei and Yotsuba walk closer to me standing next to Satomoto.
"How have you been?" Yotsuba questions me with a tone of concern.
Satomoto only is here to mock me to prove that he is superior. This behaviour has not changed since he was a child.
Seikrei also has a dominating attitude but her tactics for establishing her dominance differ from Satomoto. Rather than mocking people, she straight up looks down upon them viewing those who she deems as inferior as insects.
Yotsuba is different from them both. She never views anyone as inferior and respects people but she is not all perfect in my eyes. She has done things toward Ryoto that I will never forget.
"I've been fine," I reply.
Yotsuba is upset and unable to establish eye contact with me.
"Where have you been the past 4 years? No one saw you after that night." Seikrei questions with a firm tone.
'That night' she refers to is the most horrific and tragic event in Ryoto's life.
"After that night I was taken in by someone and have remained until now," I tell them. I am giving them precise and direct answers to get this behind us so that I can leave.
"By who?" Satomoto is asking curiously.
"I am not allowed to say." I have promised my master to never let anyone hear his name.
"It doesn't matter….All that matters is that we can go back like we were before." Yotsuba cuts in before Satomoto can reply.
Satomoto is angered by her cutting in like that but remains silent.
"We cannot go back to the way things were," I tell them I saw them betray Ryoto and I will certainly not make the same mistake.
"Ryto, is it about me setting you up!?" Yotsuba questions with tears running down her cheek.
She feels regret for what she has done that much is certain but it doesn't undo her mistake.
"I am no longer Ryoto…He died 4 years ago together with them. I am Nilos now and will only respond to that name." I tell them directly what needs to be said.
"Whatever…but mark my words no one can escape their past. No one." Satomoto tells me to intimidate me.
"I'm not running away, I am moving forward."
Satomoto stares intensely at me.
"Did you visit your family?"
I stare intensely back at him.
"I have no family."
"Well, I can't argue with that." I look toward Seikrei and Yotsuba.
Seikrei has no expression on her face which is the polar opposite to Yotsuba who is on the verge of tears.
"What will you do from now on?" Seikrei is asking me coldly.
"I thought of going home now."
"U-Uhm…" Yotsuba is trying to grab my attention.
"If you need someone to talk to I will always listen to you." She offers me an ear to speak to, after what she has done to Ryoto there is no chance that I will come to her with any issues of mine.
I give her no reply.
"Will he be okay?" (Yotsuba) I hope he will be alright. It was nice seeing him but he seems different now.
He discarded his name and past which I am unable to blame him for after that night and our treatment of him.
I deeply regret the role I played. If I could make it happen I would do it in a heartbeat.
"Akene." Satomoto is calling out to me.
"He has completely changed whoever he was is now gone."
"He has no place for us in his life," Seikrei tells the both of us.
It upsets me deeply what they say but deep down I know it to be the truth.
I hope that he will be okay on his own…
(Nilos)
I arrive at my apartment complex, it certainly has been an eventful first day of school.
What will the remaining 2 years of my school life unveil?
I don't look forward to finding out.
I press the button to call the elevator.
"Nilos?" A female voice calls out from behind me.
I turn around to face Katherine holding hands with a child. They look similar in hair colour, eye colour and facial features. It is obvious they are related.
"Hello"
"How was your day?" She is asking me with a smile.
"It's been fine." I am telling her.
"How was your day?" I am asking her out of respect since she asked me.
"It's been alright." She replies, working in an office doesn't sound pleasant. I wouldn't have expected anything beyond 'alright'.
The elevator comes and we three enter the elevator.
The elevator door closes and we head for the fifth floor.
"This is my younger sister Charlotte." My hunch was right about them being related.
"Say hello Charlotte."
"U-Um Hello." She says standing behind Katherine.
"Hello. My name is Nilos. It's nice to meet you." I think that my introduction was friendly enough but I can't be the judge of that.
We arrive at the correct floor, the doors open and we exit the elevator.
We walk past the apartment where the college students live. The lights are off inside which I can tell by no light shining under the door.
They aren't home which I can also tell by no sound coming from the apartment.
"Good night Nilos." Katherine and Charlotte are standing in front of the door.
"Enjoy your night." I unlock my door with my key, Katherine and Charlotte do the same.
I enter the apartment and close the door behind me.
"Finally home."