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DATE:8th of June, the 70th year after the Coronation
LOCATION: Concord Metropolis
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I woke up in the hospital, possibly the same room as three weeks prior. Alice was waiting outside and jumped on me the second the nurse let her know I was awake. My ribs hurt, gorrila girl!
She was crying about how we went through such hard times together. Such a whimp. I won't act like seeing homunculi is normal, but I have seen turture session that make the idea of humanity tremble. This wasn't that different.
I could only pat her on the back for her efforts. It wasn't like she hadn't been hit, I could see quite a few bandages under her baggy clothes. Thinking about it, she also didn't have a bra. It seems like she also noticed as she futilely covered herself.
"These... These are just some clothes John picked up in a hurry!" Ok? It's not like I cared to see her washboard body. Guess now we're even with the hospital gown fiasco from last time. Sometimes I wonder how am I so repulsed when a girl this pretty is sitting in my lap. Then I remember who I am talking about.
John coming into the room and seeing us like this created another misunderstanding. I don't like these scenarios as they hardly reflect my age and experience. I feel ridiculed by the circumstances she generates. Perhaps this is why I hate her. Yes, it certainly makes sense.
Anyway, she got off me and John explained the " perilous" situation I was in.
" I can't believe you consumed both a mixture of multiple stimulants and a lethal dose of caffeine. I am frankly surprised you are still alive." I felt worse pain in my dreams so this wasn't much.
" Your heart was forced so much from said caffeine it gave up. Seriously. I had to rewire your flesh completely." Wow, that sounded bad. Surprisingly I didn't really care.
" Don't use this... Thing again. The professor calculated his dosage to not force you, but this is a much worse toll on your health than the cocaine you used to do.
Do you understand?" Yeah, how couldn't I? Without this ability we would have died, but the doctor knows best! I'm sure he was in the right so I nod in agreement. Totally not in a sarcastic way.
It seems like John didn't appreciate my sincere, innocent gest of appreciation for his concern as I could see a vein popping at his temple. Wait, did he actually care about my life? I was honestly surprised.
He then reluctantly explained how the Dead had been temporarily transfered in a special prison, that I assumed was the infamous Tartarus, and that there is an outgoing investigation by the " inquisition" bureau to determine her involvement in the terrible experiments that were found.
The inquisition is the nickname for the hero's association bureau of internal investigation. A really long name. They are an elite force composed of heroes with abilities that are hard to perceive, at least that is what I was told by some mercenaries. I never interacted with this organization personally.
"As I was saying, it is clear that you need to register yourself at the association. I believe you have enough control with your power." Great, did this mean I could leave that awful school?
"And the Academy?"
"You still have to complete two more weeks of teaching until Yonezu comes back from his Trip to Nipon. That was in your contract. I was talking about what you will do after that." What the hell? Why do I have to honor the contract made with that Dean? Wouldn't they be invalidated? I suppose not...
" Then let me get it over with." I tried to raise from my bed, but he physically stopped me. This black man was humongous!
"No, rest for today. You can return to the school in the evening."
"Why not? I feel fine."
"I appreciate your desire to teach, but your body must be in terrible pain. I even instructed the nurses to not provide anesthesia so it wouldn't spike your addiction." What is he talking about? This is nothing compared to what father does to me
John glanced at Alice before he sighed.
" We'll talk later Will." Then he left the room.
No! Take me with you Johhny!!! Don't leave me alone with this viper! But my vain prayers were left unanswered.
Why God did you leave me? As if I believed in any...
" I am glad you are all right... But there's no need to push yourself. I'm here for you!" For who? Do they honestly think I give a crap about the students? This is why they believe I work so hard?
But then I can if not for them. Then. For who did I even fight the Dean? No, that was a conjecture. If I didn't give Alice that key he wouldn't have found out about her schemes, and she also wouldn't have dragged me into this mess. Yes, it's her fault.
Always her fault.
As if. It's so pathetic of me to think like that. But I honestly don't understand this girl. How can she be so inquisitive yet so naive? It scares me. She is like a character from TV shows but in real life. How am I supposed to interact with someone like that? Could God imagine that someone's delusion turned into reality?
We were watching each other like some children. She was Lost in my eyes, making up some fantasy about the time spent together. I wouldn't be surprised if she rationalized how we investigated the school as dates or whatever hallucination was popular these days.
But I too was lost in hers. No matter what her character stood for, her eyes were beautiful. More so than I ever saw. I was deeply immersed in their unearthly clarity, in their, in there, white and gray hues. Two big moons with visible craters. My attention was captured by them and I felt like I could remain there, obzserving their majesty for hours on end.
The face of the girl sitting on a chair in front of me was red like a masterfully polished Ruby. I? I was pale. I was scared of those eyes. Of that vision that could see right through me if she wanted to. I was scared of Alice. If she was just a bit more mature, just a bit, I would have died. Either that or been imprisoned for life. I was terrified because Alice is had the intelligence to have my fate bound like a string at her fingers. I wasn't afraid that she was dumb, I was afraid she chose to be. Because at any moment she can decide to open her eyes. And who will she see? A killer. The one who killed her mentor.
That power of hers that held the entire ceiling of the laboratory could very well be used to squeeze me into the size of an ant. At any time she could make me a paste of blood and flesh, just like I did with the monster, forcing my body to the limits. But for her it's not an effort. With simply a matter of action.
How could I not be scared when I'm constantly faced with death? With my death? With an inevitable death? Why would I ever want to spend more time with someone who could kill me at any time?
None realize when they think of power that it can be used against you not only to help you.
I was mesmerized by her eyes my body was shivering.
And death? She came to my side to hug me.
Nothing is more terrifying than that.
Not Father's torture, not any horror movie on this Earth. The idea that this cheerful personage could change at any time...
Why couldn't she? She is hailing from the same school as Blazer. I'm not sure if this is inherent to the school or just abilities in general, but she has the potential.
Every human has the potential to hurt, but these powers.... These unholy alteration of the rules of our world... They have the potential to destroy everything that was built on the thousands of years humans existed.
And I just killed the hope against this change.
The one man who could keep in line any superpowered hero.
Yet I don't regret that. Not one bit. A job is a job after all. If I did so for every killing I did, I wouldn't raise out of bed from shame but at this point I'm just repeating myself.
I could feel the heat of this delicate girl hugging me, but I was cold.
She kept rambling on for an hour or two about forming a superhero team. It made me so tired, much more than anything I did yesterday so Alice let me take a nap.
But I didn't sleep. I dressed in some clothes John left me and went to the Central Hospital's private library to use a computer.
I was curious what articles were made about what happened yesterday. Surprisingly few considering the street was closed and an earthquake affected the whole area. I guess the inquisition censors were hard at work.
I got bored so I went for a walk in the hospital. It was very modern, the pinnacle of luxury for Concord's best. I'm glad I didn't see the slums.
When I was in an older wing of the hospital I saw a pink haired girl fall in front of a shelve so I went to help her stand up.
I don't know much about what was wrong with her, but I can see its effects: weakness in her limbs, a faintness in her breath.
I kneel beside her, gently placing a hand under her arm, offering support. She glances up at me, eyes filled with a mixture of pain and defiance. "I... I'm fine," she murmurs, though it's clear she's far from it.
With a firm but compassionate grip, I help her to her feet. Her legs wobble, and for a moment, I think she might fall again. But she steadies herself, drawing strength from somewhere deep inside. Despite her condition, there's still a flicker of a strength she used to have—a glimmer of resilience in her weary gaze.
"Thanks," she whispers, the word barely audible, but her gratitude is clear. I get the sense there's more to her story than a simple fall, but she doesn't offer any details, and I don't ask. It's not like I care.
A nurse sees us in that hallway and rushes to get this girl to her room. I remain there, observing the shelf she was looking at. It was a picture of many people. A graduation photo? I don't see this youngster in it.
Just as I wanted to leave the nurse returns and thanks me for helping that girl. She says the pink haired teen suffers from some disease I didn't bother to remember.
I went back to my room. Honestly, is compassion really a thing in this world?
As I was taking calculated steps, searching my way back through the giant hospital, I realize that girl might have been a hero. Yes, that glimpse of unnatural strength, she was surely a hero. But at her age?
Whatever. Her life is none of my concerns. I found Alice on one of the hallways leading to my room and left the hospital with her. Apparently she didn't take back her car from the underground parking since she first came here to see me three weeks ago. So lazy!
The superhero's car is a sleek Mazda Miata, about five years old but still in pristine condition, showing off its timeless design. The body gleams under the light, a metallic blue that seems to shift shades depending on how the sun hits it. Despite its age, the car looks almost brand new, well-maintained, with only the slightest hint of wear on the edges of the wheels-a reminder that it's been some high-speed adventures.
It's clear that Alice barely drove it outside when she actually needed to. I don't remember her using a bike, and also never saw her doing sports, so how does she maintain such form?
Heroes are out of my understanding.
She drove quite boldly through the busy streets of Concord, passing between columns of cars at high speed. I didn't expect her to be a speed demon.
On the way to the academy I remembered I had to meet the changeling at the cafe so I asked Alice to let me go there. She thought I wanted a tea like I usually got and to wait outside for me, but I made up an excuse that I wanted to take a walk and think about stuff.
The café is nearly deserted, the soft hum of the espresso machine the only sound breaking the quiet of the late hour. Outside, the streets are dark, save for the occasional flicker of passing headlights. I step in and immediately spot her. She's sitting by the window, the dim light casting deep shadows across her face. That blood-red dress she wears catches what little light there is, almost glowing in the gloom. The matching red choker around her neck looks like a warning, a symbol of danger I know all too well.
Her eyes flick up as soon as I walk in, and for a moment, we both just stare. The tension between us is palpable, born from this absurd scenario, and something about the nearly empty café makes this encounter feel even more charged. We are both wanted men, sitting here out in the open. Hilarious.
She sits back in her chair, crossing her legs casually, but there's nothing relaxed about her. I can almost see the subtle ripple in her form, the faint shimmer beneath her skin that betrays her readiness to shift. Her smile is slow and knowing as she lifts her cup to her lips, taking a sip as if she's completely at ease.
"Late night, isn't it?" she says, her voice as smooth as ever. There's a quiet amusement in her tone, as if she finds the whole situation amusing. But I know that it is a false statement. Yesterday, her desperate worried version was the real one. This one? Just an excuse, to keep appearances. I'm sure the chain link is embarrassed to be honest in my presence.
I walk over, keeping my movements calm, measured. Sitting across from her, the air feels thick with unspoken tension. The café may be empty, but with her here, it's anything but peaceful.
"You never did like crowds," I reply, leaning back in my chair, matching her posture. Her eyes flicker, and for a brief moment, I think I see her features shift ever so slightly—the curve of her cheek, the color of her eyes—but it's gone in an instant, leaving me questioning whether it was real or just a trick of the light. I can see how she changes. This isn't just something you pick up.
"Maybe I've just been waiting for the right company," she says, that playful smirk never leaving her lips. In the near-empty café, under the quiet hum of the late night, the question lingers: how long before this fragile peace shatters?
" It's not nice to keep ladies hanging."
"Whatever."
" I heard about what you did yesterday, even if this is also powerful censors erased the truth. Honestly, I didn't expect you to be capable of that." She let go of the cup and dragged one of her nails along her cheek.
"Of what?"
" You made that hole right? Only someone as crazy as you would have bombs in the middle of Cordon. You changed. You weren't this bold before." She giggled with a surreal tone.
" You also changed. I didn't think there would , time where you would be the one asking me for help."
" Yes about that, I think we should discuss it on a walk. What do you say?"
" Sure."
As we left the cafe, Sophia clung to my side, interlocking her hand with mine, but I pushed her away. I wouldn't approach this disgusting body even if I died. She giggled from my apprehension.
" So what is the plan Sophia? Or did you you search for me under the presumption that I would have?"
" Not much of a plan.... We need to infiltrate the Donn's hideout right? I get us in. You kill him. Do we need to discuss more?"
" We both know it's not that simple...."
" Why don't you use your little girlfriend to help us? Maybe her friends also will. From their perspective it wouldn't be bad if they got rid of the old boss."
" I don't have that level of trust yet. I'll start my career as a "hero" in 2 weeks. Perhaps after that."
" You? a hero?" She laughed maniacally, but I covered her mouth. We didn't need this kind of suspicion. She on the other hand drag me closer enclosed her hands behind me.
" It's not like I want it, but I need to keep my cover."
She my hand making me, making me let go of her, but she still held me by my waist.
"Surely!
Next, we will have you in a magical girl outfit and say you are fighting the demon King in another world!"
I gave the thing a soccer punch to the face making her stumble backwards.
" What the fuck!?"
" Don't touch me."
" Shit, but why are you always so violent!" She was having a hard time maintaining that false composure.
" You.... You abuser~" She pressed her face and any bruise I inflicted disappeared. But it wasn't gone, just covered up like a pattern of makeup. Who knows how many scars this thing has, just out of sight. Sometimes I wonder how disgusting the changeling's main form is. Maybe it even forgot it? I doubt it.
" I don't know what little Lillian sees in you. You were always very brutish. And British men get old real fast."
" Apparently she is more naive than you thought."
" Say you two didn't bone yet?" She covered her mouth with her hand as if embarrassed to ask.
" What kind of question even is that? Me? with a hero?"
"Hehe, I thought you finally graduated Puberty."
" With a girl that barely reaches my chest? No way."
" Sometimes I wonder what your perfect girl is."
" Look we didn't meet here to discuss that. What is the larger picture here? What happened since UltraMan died? I am basically caged in that school so I got left behind with the news."
" Not much, the Cobalt gang has resurrected and the heroes are currently busy fighting them. Most of the factions are on the edge, not wanting to commit first less they be taken out by the others." So I didn't miss much.
We continued to work until we reached a park that was without any lights. This certainly was suspicious.
Sophia wanted to sit down so we picked a bench near the only light source, a colored fountain.
" So what do you want to do after we are done with this?"
I could see her facade fading as she was much more depressed. She wanted to reach out to me but stopped herself from doing so. Then I saw a tear streak down her eye. It was red, bloody. Those were the only honest tears the changeling could summon.
" How.... Do you live like this?"
" What do you mean?"
" Empty... Alone... With the only Gold bean to take revenge? I think about what I will do afterwards but I can't find any reason to leave. Losing my family, it broke me..." I could see more tears on her face. This blood she was bleeding was breaking her shape-shifting, revealing more skin underneath them, a process in constant motion, trying to reset the changes.
" How do you live so empty? I had friends, people I loved, this is how I got through all that suffering each and every day. But you don't have anyone. You don't care about anyone. How.... How do you live like that?" That was a bit arrogant for her to say, but it wasn't entirely wrong. I didn't get the nameless moniker by having relations with others. In this line of duty you can't afford to have a family, to have friends and people you love. That is what she doesn't understand. If she wanted such a privilege, she should have quit earlier. The arrogance to want a normal life as obviously been punished, and who is to blame for that? Only herself. But it's not like she would understand that if I said it.
" In the first place, I don't want to take revenge. It would be better if I could just run away and leave this whole thing behind." She turned to me with a surprise expression. No, I wouldn't say surprise, she was petrified by my line of thinking.
" Yes in the first place. I don't really care about the Donn wanting to kill me. It was strange for a man with such renown to do that, but it's not like it surprised me. We are killers. Isn't it only right in this world that if you put your hand to hurt others, you expect for others to do the same?"
I took my hands out of my pocket and raised my head to look at the sky. There was no moon, but the stars were so beautiful.
" It's not like I believe in karma or anything like that. I'm just realistic."
Sophie, let out a drowned chuckle, More so scared kind of laugh. She grabbed her head with both her hands. And committed a very strange combination of laughter and crying. I have no idea why she is so affected by my words. In the first place why would she ask me for emotional help out of anyone? She probably has no associates anymore so he could make sense but it was still foolish nevertheless. I wouldn't afford her the same sympathy I did for Alice. Why would I be scared of her? The changeling was still stronger than me physically, but there was no reason to think I would be attacked here.
I am sure someone like her would find this line of thinking horrific. Probably my reaction is the reason she is having a breakdown right now but that isn't really my problem is it? Did he honestly think there would be a good ending at the end of this path? That the killing would ever end? There isn't. Not for our kind. I stood near this creature losing its mind apathetically. I barely even heard it's cries.
The sky.... It was so beautiful.
But at some point her snorting got annoying.
"Aren't you done?"
"W-what? Now you want to say something?!"
"Bitch I asked if you are done. Do you think I came here to see you crying like this? Do you honestly expect me to care? I should have left you here to kill yourself if you are this weak. Why don't I just give you a rock to get this over with?" The change link went silent but I don't know will if it was out of surprise or something else entirely.
" You go on about how your life is over and whatever. If you want to end it, just kill yourself, don't bother me with your useless emotions." I turn to her, letting her see my eyes.
"We aren't Friends. We aren't companions. We are just two killers that were fucked over. So get your head out of your ass if you are serious about getting that revenge you talk about."
A smile slowly formed on her now disfigured face.
" How come you are seen as a hero when your eyes are so empty? You are living corpse....
Why do you continue living?"
I didn't really understand her question.
" What other purpose is there to life other than living? If I was meant to not exist I wouldn't have been born."
She bursted in another laughter, but this one wasn't out of sadness. I must have somehow appeared comical to her.
"Yes! You are right. I will do just that!"
"Do what?" She raised from the bench, came to my face and bended so that we could see each other on the same level.
" I came here thinking I could make a new life with your help, But you are right. Life is not fair. If I work to honor the lives of the ones I lost I first need to respect myself. Thank you, Zaun." I'm not sure how she came to that idea but at least this is over.
She then started walking away, but I called her out.
" Wait, this is all?"
" Uhhh, yeah! What is there more to say? Well, we'll start putting our plan into action when you get your license as a hero. I'll put my number in your room." Then she left, and I remained on the bench looking at the fountain.
To make a new life with me... As in together? I don't think the changeling was foolish enough to believe I would make some kind of emotional connection with it just because we went on a few missions together. Or maybe he was. Or perhaps it was the circumstances where it didn't have anyone else to contact. Yes I do hear that in such situations the perceived connection maybe thought of as higher than in reality. Like how people who came from families were they don't have one of their parents are more emotionally dependent on their partner.
In this case it could be a sense of kinship, but we are nothing alike.
I returned to the dorm and went straight to sleep.
I was so tired.