Arca was flung far away. At the same time, Aswa, who was facing forward when attacked from behind, managed to grab Celsi's leg. Even though he also took the hit, it didn't send him flying.
After that, he pulled Celsi's leg.
"You... can see my movements?" Celsi looked slightly surprised.
"Hehe, this is called prediction... I knew you'd appear behind me, so I attacked using my leg to keep my hands behind me… Then I guessed that since Arca was behind me, you'd likely dodge. That's why I stood upright slowly but left my hand behind… because the most advantageous position for you was to attack from between us." Aswa
"Hmm... not bad, kid." Celsi
"Thanks, ma'am. Hehe." Aswa replied mockingly.
At that moment, Celsi's vision turned white again. Once more, she saw someone in Aswa—someone smiling at her while hugging her.
Without realizing it… Aswa threw a punch at Celsi's face.
Thud!
Celsi countered with a kick from her other leg, sending Aswa crashing hard to the ground.
Whoosh! A brick flew toward Celsi.
Celsi tilted her head to avoid it. At the same moment, Arca sprinted toward her.
Seeing this, Celsi reacted instantly. She was already above Arca, positioning her feet on his shoulders while balancing with her hands.
Then she performed a backward roll while gripping Arca's shoulders tightly, throwing him into the air.
Neither of them moved.
Celsi stood still for a moment, gazing up at the sky, where heavy rain poured down.
Behind her, Aswa lay unconscious. The scene triggered a memory—one she could never forget.
Her vision turned white again.
"Stop it, Sis! Why are you doing this?" Someone cried out.
"No... I'm fighting for us." A younger Celsi.
"What do you mean by that? You fought for us, to protect our people, right? But we've been safe for a long time, Sis. Now look at what you're doing… You're destroying our own people!" The voice trembled with tears, hugging a bloodied figure.
"No... Rui, I will make you feel even safer than this. So, follow me!"
[Rui – Celsi's Younger Brother]
Rui suddenly ran off without direction, weaving through the gang members. Celsi ordered them to search for him and put up wanted posters, but Rui was never found.
Six months later.
Thud!
Rui punched a gangster.
"Give me back my sister!"
But his punch was too weak to even make the gangster flinch.
He wasn't alone. By his side were ragged, starving children.
"Why is it so noisy here? Did you find Rui?" Celsi arrived, wearing a black coat, her hands in her pockets.
The sky was overcast. A strong wind blew, making her coat and hair flutter.
"Rui! Where have you been? I've been looking for you!"
Celsi signaled her men not to attack.
"Don't pretend to care about me! You'll just throw me away like you did to the others!" Rui shouted.
"What are you talking about? I never wanted to abandon y—"
"SHUT UP! Enough with your lies!" Rui's friends charged at Celsi.
Celsi tried to grab Rui, but his friends clung to her, stopping her from reaching him.
They kept blocking her, again and again. Celsi tried to remain gentle with Rui.
She missed him so much. She wanted to hold him. But right now, she couldn't even touch him. His friends stood in the way.
The more they obstructed her, the more restless she became. Her heart kept screaming, Hug him! Hug him! Over and over. Again and again.
Until finally, she lost control. She just wanted to embrace Rui.
Celsi snapped. She used her ability—disappearing behind the children—then...
Thud!
Celsi unknowingly struck them down.
She froze for a moment. Her pupils widened, her lips trembled.
The children lay unconscious. Blood was everywhere, including... on RUI.
Drip... drip... drip...
Raindrops fell, mingling with Celsi's tears.
She held Rui tightly. His blood covered her hands and face.
She rushed him to the hospital. The doctors worked tirelessly in the emergency room.
Meanwhile, Celsi sat in the waiting area, her head lowered. Her body was soaked in a mix of rain and blood. Tears streamed down her face.
"Damn it!... Damn it!" she cursed internally.
Just then...
"Beep... beep... beeeeeeeeeep—" (The heart monitor flatlined.)
A doctor stepped out of the operating room.
"I-I'm sorry... The patient is alrea—... Eh? Where is she?"
Celsi was gone.
She ran outside.
She kept running through the pouring rain. The sound of the storm meant nothing to her.
Eventually, she stopped.
She stood in an empty field, her hands limp at her sides. She lifted her face toward the sky, watching the rain fall... Tears mixed with the raindrops, dripping to the ground.
[Back to the Present]
She stood in the same place, staring up at the rainy sky.
"Rui... If you're still alive, what would you say? Let your sister hear you this time." Celsi whispered.
Aswa's fingers twitched.
-TO BE CONTINUED-