The rest of the day was like a single, golden and precious second. Everyone kept talking about Haruki and all eyes, for once, were on him. As for the "Expressionless Dork", as he was often called, his discomfort quickly transformed into a sense of ease, even pride in himself, something he hadn't felt in basically forever, or at least he had refused to acknowledge.
Akira didn't talk. That wasn't very surprising. What was surprising was that Haruki could feel that his friend really wanted to tell him something, but also that it was not information he wished other people to know. So, after letting himself be covered in praise, especially by Sakura, once the bell signaled the end of all courses he looked at Akira.
"Should we head back home so you can tell me what's on your mind?"
"Well that depends... is this enough of an ego stroke?"
"That's not very nice of you."
"What I want to tell you isn't going to be particularly nice."
"Have I done something wrong?"
"No, this is your chance to do something right... but let's not get over ourselves." Akira commented and pointed at the exit.
They started walking a bit in the park around the school.
"First things first, great job today. I have no idea what motivated you to try that hard, but it was pretty awesome, to say the least."
"T-thanks, it really means a lot... did you expect I would be... that strong?"
"Honestly... no. You surpassed all expectations I had for you. But that's fine. That's even better."
"So you weren't... scared?"
"Not really, mostly just surprised. Compared to other things in this world, this doesn't even approach 'scary'."
"Is that right? I'm glad..."
"Well, don't get ahead of yourself, as someone about to graduate, that was a shameful display."
"W-what?"
"Your control over the massive reserves of magic energy you had was incredibly sloppy. If he were just a bit more powerful, or even worse, if he had the same amount as you, he would have completely recked you."
"But I was stronger and faster than him by a longshot!"
"Yes, but of the energy you accumulated to hit him, only around 35% actually formed your attack. Meanwhile, his efficiency approached 90%. You usually have an efficiency of 77%, which is already slightly below average. Furthermore, you moved around all your energy without care."
"Huh?"
"When you were attacking, almost all of your magic was accumulated on your arm. Your body was almost completely undefended. A single blow would have been enough to severely injure you."
"H-hey, wait a minute, why are you on my case so much? I won, isn't that what matters in the end?"
"I'm just saying, against more competent or more powerful opponents, you will have a much harder time. You're strong Haru, but you're not efficiently strong."
"Ok, I get your point, but... why are you telling me this? Who in this school is stronger than that guy? And when will I need to fight someone stronger than him? Do I look like the kind of guy who wants to join the military?"
"No, it's not that... Haru."
"Yeah?"
"What's your objective in life?"
"What kind of question is that? Are you a teacher?"
"Just answer the question."
"Well, it's not an easy question."
"..."
"... fine... I guess that, starting from today, I want to challenge myself a bit, challenge the world a bit, challenge the boundaries I set for myself, challenge the good old tale that if I hide problems under a rug they will disappear.
I want to face my problems, I want to become someone better, someone happier, someone that is... free. D-does... does that sound silly?"
"No. No, it's just the answer I was expecting. Haru."
"You're kind of scaring me, Aki."
"I have faith in you. Not just as a friend, but as a person, as a human being. I believe people like you, if guided to the right path, can help set this rotten world straight."
"T-thank you, Aki, but really, aside from a few things, I'm quite average. Kindness and goodness are innate to everyone of us.
It's just that sometimes we have to hide them or suppress them because being kind or good in that moment would just bring more pain later. Just like that phylosopher, ehm... Vakopa, right?"
"Vukopa."
"Vukopa."
"Well, whatever you might think, I believe you have potential. Are you free tonight at 9 pm?"
"Are you asking me out on a date? Listen, Aki, although I always suspected it, I'll have to decline. I'm not attracted to boys, and I see you as my best fr-"
"You moron! Shut up! ... so, are you free?"
"I-I guess..."
"Then meet me at that time under the bridge close to the park where we used to go when we were little."
"O-Ok..."
"I warn you. What you will witness will shock you. It might ruin you. It might ruin our friendship. It might ruin your whole life. It will be a lot to take in. Do you think you can handle it?"
"Are... you... trying to make me join a cult?"
"Can you be serious, please?!"
"Well, what can I say, you suddenly start to talk very cryptically and saying misterious and weird things, it sounds like you want me to join a cult!"
"You moron, do I look like someone who is in a cult?"
"Everyone looks like someone who could be in a cult, that's how cults stay hidden!"
"Well, when you put it like that, I guess you're not too far off from the truth..."
"... wait a second! You want to sacrifice me!"
"Oh, for f- ... listen very closely, Haru. The freedom you felt before, did you like it?"
"... yes, yes, I really liked it. It made me... complete."
"Would you like to always feel like that? For other people to feel like that?"
"I see no reason why I wouldn't want that."
"Would you be willing to fight for this idea?"
"... w-well, I guess it depends who I'd have to fight."
"People who believe the opposite you do. People who want to keep others imprisoned, stuck in a life they don't want to live in that way, who want to kill all freedom."
"They want everyone to live as slaves?"
"Yes, but not literally. Slaves to routines, slaves to society, slaves to ignorance, to war, to conflict, to separation and segregation. They want to force people to live... like you forced yourself to live for so long."
"..."
"So, what do you say? Would you be willing to fight those people?"
"Well, if you put it like that... yes, yes I would fight 'those people'."
"I would too, if that would allow me to show off my muscles!"
"Ahhhh!!!" Haruki screamed in fear as he hid behind Akira, who for once was just as surprised as him.
"Kinniku from 5B, what the hell were you doing? Eavesdropping?"
"Oh please, drop the formalities. I'm Raiden, as you already know. And these are my awesome biceps! My tremendous triceps! My sculpted abs! My toned glut-"
"Haru, let's go."
"Y-yes."
"Hey, wait! As I was saying, I was trying to find that wimp and when I saw him, I could tell he looked troubled, as if he had seen a ghost. So I got closer and heard you speaking all this nonsense about freedom and fighting and cults."
"W-why were you searching for me?"
"Mmm, I was still unsure whether to compliment you or to punch you... well I guess punching you could count as workout..."
"Ahhh, save me, Aki! This guy is nuts!" Haruki yelled as thousands of little purple tsunamis came out of his body.
"You're interrupting a private discussion we were having, please go away."
"Y-yeah, exactly, go-"
"AWAY!!! GET OUT OF MY SIGHT, YOU USELESS SHIT!!!"
A deep, terrifying voice yelled at Raiden. But it didn't come from anyone present. It came from inside him. From his mind. His memory.
His eyes widened and he shivered ever so slightly. He tried to speak, but he couldn't move his tongue.
Haruki was surprised by this unexpected reaction. He tried to mutter something he felt would make his word less harsh. It was as if he could feel that what he said had hurt him.
"...please...?"
"S-sure."
"Let's go, Haru."
Haruki and Akira turned around and started walking away, as Raiden was left alone, thinking, reflecting deeply on what to do.
Maybe, just maybe, this was his chance. His way to escape.
"W-wait!" He shouted.
The two boys turned around, looking at him inquisivetely.
"You said you had some kind of shocking and incredible meeting, right? Let me come too."
"Absolutely out of the question."
"... please, just... just give me a chance."
"Aki, give it a try. I still don't know what this is all about, but I feel like this guy understands what we were discussing. He is also someone willing to fight for freedom."
"..."
"Please, trust me, as your best friend. If you can't trust my advice, how can you trust me enough to tell me something that could ruin my life?"
"... fine. You can come too. Then meet us under Henka bridge at 9 pm. Don't be late."
"Y-yes. Thank you! My muscles are also very grateful, every last one of th-"
He looked up and saw that the other two had already disappeared.
He sighed.
"I suppose it is time... perhaps I can stay here a bit more... not like he will mind."
He started walking again. He remembered it was leg day. Maybe he could hit the gym before going back to that place.