Using my personal funds, I bought two bowls of ramen from the school's lunch counter and proceed to the rooftop to the west side, where freshman and junior classes are. I climbed the stairs while ignoring onlookers and their snide comments.
I reached the landing and open the door. Light came like water and my eyes adjust their vision.
Rika Matsushima is standing there with her back towards me. Her expression hidden.
When the wind pick up, the smell of lavender and iron fill the area. Her scent cause me to silently gasp and brace the wave of dizziness. After a few minutes, my vision cleared and I walk to her, carrying the tray of ramen with me.
She turns to me, her cold expression remaining the same.
"Here. You're food."
I gave her one of the bowls and sit down on the silver benches, facing the nauseating city I desperately want to leave from.
I use my chopsticks and was about to take a bite when she made a sound. I turn to her. She made a scowl.
"What's wrong?"
"Ramen? Really? This?"
She doesn't like it.
"This is what I can afford. Eat or leave it. I don't mind having seconds."
She sat down, facing away from the city, and slowly ate her food.
Seeing her no longer complaining, I ate mine.
There was deafening silence. No other sound can be heard but us.
The heat from the sun is non-changing, the smouldering rays that always reside here, even in the winter.
In the winter, the snow barely made its mark, leaving no trace behind.
...as if summer rejected it's counterpart...
As if the physical laws of this world follow this formula of despising their twin for countless generations.
I grit my teeth at this thought.
*Clank*
I turn to see her bowl empty. She had set the chopsticks down.
She turn to me and open her mouth.
"I want to warn you. Listen carefully. Understand?"
I nodded.
She close her eyes and took a deep breathe.
She open them slowly and say her words.
"The king as gave a warning to the public last night. To the Talentless. He wants to purge them."
My lips tighten.
... A purge...
"Do you know why?" she asked.
"No. I don't."
She glare at me.
"You don't have a phone? It's on the news. Surely, you must have seen it."
I was worn out from last night's incident. The use of blood cause fatigue and exhaustion. I must have went to bed that night.
"I have a phone, of course. I went to bed early."
She gave a intense stare and look away.
"Well, the King's daughter...was killed."
"?!"
The King's daughter? That priestess? How....
I can only struggle to remain calm. I have an ominous feeling of why he decided on this rash decision.
It's starting to get cold. I began to shiver slightly.
"How is that so? She is a powerful magician. Her status is ranked First. How can she be killed?"
Rank First is the highest rank of all. It only applies to the Regency.
"No one knows why," She responded, "They all considered that she was killed by someone above rank first. They even came to the conclusion that it's the same person who assassinated the founder of Miyama City. Do you know the letter on the rank chart? The letter at the very bottom?"
I swallow my saliva. My mouth became dry.
What is she trying to say?
"...X..."
"Exactly. They did not mention the name. They assumed that a Talentless, who is actually a Cursed Blood, murdered her. To find them, they plan to execute any Talentless who is deemed suspicious, unworthy and unnecessary. They plan to start at the Slums. Do you understand, now?"
My blood has gone completely cold. There is many Talentless there in the Slums. However, there is one Talentless who is there every week: me.
I will easily become the first to be reported.
"...I... understand now..."
"Good. I suggest you watch you back from now on."
She got up and head to the door. She stopped and turn her head slightly in my direction.
"Thanks for the meal. It was delicious."
She is gone.
A cold wind blow from the east. A chill went down my spine as I held my breath.
Who saw me that night and any of the nights I was there? Any people came to mind?
...
Two people came up.
The people that came from that shop. It was dark then. Did they caught a glimpse of my face?
Fatigue and stress overpower my mind.
I should just go home after dealing with Kanjiruo.
I took the bowl she left behind and put it on the tray. I lift it up and leave the rooftop, pondering about my next move.
...
...
After getting beaten by Kanjiruo and his gang, I head straight home. My home is nothing more than an abandoned building from years ago. I remembered that it was used to be an orphanage for the Talentless who was abandoned by the public. The government saw it as a nuisance and forced it's closure. The children that was left all died of starvation and the elements. The only survivor was me.
When I arrived, I found an old woman who is sitting on a wheelchair by the entrance.
She wheel herself out the way.
I was about to enter when she spoke.
"Are you the one who's been living here?"
I stop and turn to her.
"Yes?"
She scoffed.
"Well, I suggest you find another place to live. The king wants to use this place as a base for the purgers. I advise you to gather your things and leave tonight. Don't bother coming back here."
...
Why is my luck so bad?
"Thanks miss. I'll take it to heart."
She did not answer and wheel herself away.
"Honestly. Why do I even bother? You'll just be dead soon anyway..."
She muttered those harsh words as she disappears behind the corner.
"..."
I went inside and went to my old room away from the sunlight.
I close the door behind me.
Not caring about the noise I made, I smash my fist into the wall and screamed.
"Aaaaaaaaaaa!"
My blood boils tremendously as my anger topples over. I already hearing the steam rising from my body.
I grab the table and toss it to the wall. It smashed to pieces.
"Why?! Why do you bother telling me that?! You should have kept you mouth shut! You mind you business and walk away! The nerve!"
I already feeling myself shattering apart. This world is breaking me, crushing me and squeezing the life I have. I put on a show like I care, yet I don't. I don't care about this system at all. I believe it hinders any goal I want to achieve in this world.
"...I just want to be myself! Why can't I have that at least?! Those wretched dogs!"
I kick the wall with full force.
It crumbles in the dust. The dust flied everywhere.
"Just leave me alone!"
I hate them. I want to destroy them. Every last one. They think they can get away with this? Just see! I'll find your weakness and expose it. I'll burn it to ash!
After gasping for breathe, the pain subsides as I compose myself once more.
After a few minutes of silence, I sat on a pile of blankets and sigh.
I wipe my face and look aroun the room.
I will not be seeing this room again....
....
I need to go going. Staying here will only make it worse....
...
After few minutes of packing, the sun began to set.
I turn and look around the room. After burning the memory in my mind, I open the door.
"Goodbye, I'm sorry..."
I walk out the mansion and look at the sky above. The clouds obscure the sun, casting a shadow over the city. A sense of unease clouded my mind.
It looks like it'll rain.
"Tomorrow will be different.... It'll be challenging, but I'll manage."
I walk away, not going anywhere in particular.
Little did I know, that the difference tomorrow will grant my wish... in the most terrifying way possible...