[Little Jin]
"How did all of this come to pass? How did circumstances spiral into such chaos? My thoughts are a jumbled mess, and I feel utterly drained; regardless of how many times I call out to them, there is no response. They remain there, like lifeless statues with wide, astonished eyes, tainted by a splotch of cursed blood."
I nudged my sister playfully, as I often did when we engaged in our usual games, but now she lay unresponsive. She collapsed on the ground like a lifeless body; indeed, she is a body now.
They're all the same. My father, the strongest individual I have ever known; yes, he was a remarkable man in my eyes. I remember seeing him once as we walked along the sidewalk, running with an almost supernatural speed, like a beam of light, rescuing a little girl who was on the verge of being struck by a car. I was left in awe, thinking: "Oh my God, Dad, are you actually Flash?!"
I looked up to him as my ultimate role model, imploring, "Dad, please teach me how to do that!"
He responded with a warm smile, saying, "One day, you will learn how to do that, and even more. Don't forget, you have the same gifts as your father, just as your mother does."
"Really, you mean it, Father!" I gazed at him with innocent wonder, excitement igniting a flame in my chest!
But now... he's gone, vanished as if he had never existed. Who will bring back those days so that I can urge him to teach me how to accomplish what he did?
I glanced beside him, and my mother was present, her eyes reflecting a glimpse of regret that spilled forth. I couldn't fathom why, but at that moment, I felt like I was at the center of it all.
"Mom, I truly love you. Why did you leave me all alone, wandering and hopeless?"
The anguish is tearing me apart now. I know my mother is extraordinary as well; I witnessed her using her mind to bring things from afar, claiming it was her mental power. When I confronted her, asking to be taught, her response echoed that of my father: "One day, you will learn how to do that, and perhaps more than anyone else."
I recalled those moments as tears streamed down my cheeks, flowing like a raging river that burned my eyes. Within me, I felt something extraordinary—a surge, or perhaps a small explosion of emotion. My eyes sparkled for an instant and then settled. What a mystery it was, akin to a special effect from a television drama.
I didn't dwell on it much because I was engulfed in sorrow, consumed by grief from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.
I scanned my surroundings and spotted a knife with a drop of black blood beneath it, adorned with a shimmering letter "D" and a flickering lightning motif. I realized it could be a clue, so I concealed it in the garden, digging a hole to place it in and covering it up, promising myself to retrieve it later.
When I called the police, they arrived promptly. I feigned innocence, aware that what could be more unsettling than a child speaking like an adult? They might suspect I was the one responsible for this tragedy.
This incident quickly turned into a widely publicized crime, with news reports surfacing from every direction.
The government compensated me with a reasonable sum, which was deposited into my father's bank account, subsequently transferred to me, granting me ownership.
I engaged a high-profile lawyer to gather all of my father's assets, ensuring that I could write them in my name and claim them once I turned fifteen, before the government could seize them for its own purposes.
Thus, the planning for my future concluded after the funeral, where I witnessed people coming and going from my home, their eyes brimming with tears. I understood that for them, it was merely a moment, but for me, it represented a lifetime—four stories had come to an end, or rather, been cruelly snuffed out. I had spent countless nights afterward, imprisoned by sorrow in my room, unable to bear the sight of that cursed space again.
Days passed, filled with doubt, sadness, and anger. As time wore on and things settled, I began to organize my thoughts and delve deeper into planning...
"This body requires building, proper nutrition, and diligent care in education and school until I can reach university. I need to seek employment to access my father's funds, which are withheld from me until I reach adulthood."
And finally, "I must hunt down the wretched individual responsible for this crime."
He penned these thoughts while gazing at the knife in his hand, exploring it thoroughly yet finding nothing remarkable, save for that drop of blood and the dull edge of the blade. This led to the lingering question: how could one commit such a grievous act with a dull knife?
The question echoed in his mind, remaining unanswered...
A year after the incident, as Jin returned from his job—yes, a child working—he pondered how one could rely on someone they do not trust. Even if he did trust someone, that person was not truly there to depend on...
Jin worked as a translator for a well-known magazine in the city of Mori, earning a respectable salary of 1500 U.
On his way back from the grocery store, he stumbled upon a pitiable, drenched cat beside a trash bin. He took it home, bathed it, sheltered it, and warmed it until it regained its health. He named it Muse, reflecting his love for literature and poetry.
The cat was white with a black tuft on its forehead, medium-sized, and slightly thin. He provided it with water and food until he could secure some cat food later, then he settled down for the night.
The following morning, he awoke, took a shower, enjoyed breakfast, and found Muse sleeping peacefully, exuding an aura of innocence and kindness; he found himself truly enamored with it!
He opened his drawer, retrieved his notebook, and wrote the following:
"To maintain a fit and robust physique, I need to start going to the gym while practicing some karate, taekwondo, and judo. Alright, let's embark on that journey today!"
He gathered his belongings, took a bit of money, and headed to the gym, where he signed up and began rigorous training under a strict coach. Although it might have seemed like he was struggling, the reality was quite the opposite; he was lifting far more than an ordinary child could manage!
This was because he was not an ordinary child, like his father and mother...
Once his training concluded, he made his way to the martial arts studio, and here is where the real excitement began!