The barrage of questions kept coming at him all at once. So much so that...
He collapsed onto his knees.
Both Yukino and King looked at him and then exchanged glances.
Sniffling while feeling tears welling up, Shizaki tried to talk, but his words got caught in his throat, and he almost burst into tears.
Finally, he managed to mumble, with a hoarse voice.
"I.....really....d-don't know…"
"Shizaki-kun..."
"I swear...! Please...I have no clue what's going on!!"
Ever since he received that vision, he had thought that he was able to face the trials that came with it. Yet here he was, in a groveling mess, before people who doubted him and thought that he was an enemy.
I'm....so....stupid...useless...
Yukino tried to draw closer to him, but King kept his distance and continued to speak with hints of doubt.
"I....can't believe that....how can all of these things happen to you and to us and you don't know why? The attack on Sekoto Forest, the attack on yourself in the Royal Guild, the attack on us last night because of you! Are you seriously-"
"I believe him...."
".....H-Huh? But, Yukino-kun..."
Yukino stared at the figure of Daizen Shizaki, who stooped down with his back against the wall and his head bent down, silent and shaking. Seeing him in this state made him narrow his eyes dejectedly.
"He....I doubt he would lie like this. Plus, with that attacker from the entrance at the Royal Guild, he did say that he never met him before, right?"
"Well....yeah, but-"
Yukino stooped low, beside Shizaki.
"Shizaki-kun....I.....I am very confused right now....but I trust that you would be honest with us. So please, tell me this....are you sure that there is no clue why all of this is happening in the first place?"
…'Why all of this is happening', huh?
"Because, I mean...this hardly makes any sense from a normal person's-"
"Wait....there's....one thing...."
"Th-There.....is?"
He had suddenly remembered something. Of course, it would make no sense from a normal human's standpoint, but in his case, it was a very different case.
He had a choice to make here. He had a bad feeling that they would not believe him, but maybe, just maybe…
Shizaki raised his head and stared into King's eyes, causing the latter to be taken aback.
"This is....going to sound really stupid....but I think that it's the only explanation...."
"...Fine. This better be good."
Now, he had to reveal it to King, and Yukino.
--The only sensible reason why all of these strange events were happening, was-.
"Just about a week ago, I had a vision entrusted to me."
"Huh?"
"Please...just....hear me out. Where I lived, the southern section of Sekoto Forest was present. Then, a huge explosion occurred there. I rushed into a blazing forest, believing that Alexandriya was trapped inside there. Then...."
He took a deep breath, and continued.
"The entire atmosphere changed. I felt like I was in an entirely different world. I saw a haze of white, and I saw corpses. Human corpses...as far as the eye could see. I felt a strong connection to some of those lifeless bodies...as if....as if I knew each one of them....as if they were people I held extremely close to my heart. And then..."
Yukino and King exchanged glances of confusion, but Shizaki did not stop.
"I heard a voice saying that I had to save these people. Save them and myself from a catastrophic event in the future. And then...I found myself waking up in a medical bed.That's all."
There was silence, and then King scoffed lightly.
"Are you serio-"
"I swear it! I....swear it. L-Look!"
Remembering his only piece of evidence from the vision, his left arm reached inside his pocket and pulled out a small box, decorated with minute skulls on the edges.
"What is that?"
"It's where I got the vision from. When I touched this, everything changed. In one year, everyone I know and love is going to die a horrible death, and I don't know why."
Yukino glanced at King, and then back at Shizaki before scratching his head lightly.
"Maybe....maybe that's why you are being targeted, Shizaki-kun. Although, for an unknown reason, you are being hunted in advance for what is coming."
"This is the only possible reason why these things are happening all at once, and I have no other clue as to why. I'm....sorry that you guys were nearly killed because of me....I'm so..."
"Now....we all have to be careful. King?"
Seeing that he was deep in thought, he called out to him, and the black-haired boy spoke sarcastically, still a bit tense.
"You.....had a vision of the future? How wonderful! Please let me know when I'll become rich."
"King, please-"
"Why the hell did we get targeted because of your prophecy bullshit? We almost died!!"
"I-I know, I'm sorry-"
"Sorry just isn't going to cut it, Shizaki-kun!"
Despite Shizaki's efforts to calm him down and reason with him, King remained stubborn. Seeing this, the former sighed in despair and laughed shamefully.
"I really am stupid, huh? For trying to make you believe me, that is."
He got up, and with a "Forget about what I said" escaping his lips, he began to walk away.
"It must be extremely hard to believe, and I have no evidence to back up my claim, but I am certain that I was given a vision....and....I wanted you to trust me."
King stared at him, and before he could exit the alley-
"Wait!"
He made Shizaki stop in his tracks before continuing:
"The people who died in your vision....are we part of them?"
"What? U-Um....well..."
If he considered them friends now, then the relationship would be even closer than ever in the future if they continued to interact.
"Most likely."
They had a choice. They could distance themselves from him and never decide to see him again to protect their own lives. Or...
"When does this so-called 'future' occur?"
"In....one year."
"One-hah. Right....of course. Just one fucking year...."
Shizaki bent his head down. Now that more than one person knew about this, it suddenly felt more worrying about aiming to accomplish the task of redeeming his future.
"Who else...knows about this, Shizaki-kun?"
"No one else."
"....Well, we can't let anyone else know about this vision of yours, for safety purposes. Let's keep this between us. Yukino-kun?"
"Okay...I agree with you, King."
Yukino nodded, and Shizaki became visibly confused.
"W-Wait...does that mean..."
"Haaaah. I can't believe I'm throwing away my life like this."
King walked towards him and extended his arm.
"I made a promise to my adoptive mother that I would protect Kamazaki's smile. If you swear on your life that what you're saying is true....then your fate is my fate.....and Kamazaki's. I am King, and my name reflects taking responsibility in any way, and that's what I'm gonna do. I'll help you."
Shizaki could hardly believe his eyes, and he could only stare at the confident figure in front of him. He turned to look at Yukino, who smiled in agreement.
"Me too. A burdened man can waver alone, but others can make him stand firm. I will do my part as well. You won't have to do this alone, Daizen Shizaki-kun."
He also stretched out his hand.
Shizaki felt that he was reaching the verge of tears once more, but tried his best to raise his head in order to stop them from flowing. With his heart finally at ease, he put the small box back in his pocket and extended both arms towards them. After a handshake with both of them simultaneously, he immediately bowed.
"I....I have no words that can fully express my gratitude. I'm eternally grateful. I swear on my life that what I said is true....and I won't let you guys down. Thank you."
Therefore, the newly-formed alliance of Daizen Shizaki, Yukikama Kawarasuri, and Satou Yukino began to walk together to exit the dark alley.
Shizaki had finally revealed what was to come to others, and it would become a secret that would be kept tightly with those three.
King spoke up, clearly bothered by his hash words from before.
"I'm....sorry about acting the way I did at the beginning. I had no clue that you were facing that by yourself."
"No, it's okay. I understand. I would have done the same thing too if I had no clue whatsoever."
"The important thing now is to get a party. Since we're all on this mission against fate together, let's form a party here. You, me, Yukino-kun, and one more person. How about it?"
"O-Oh…sounds good, but what about Kamazaki-san? You would want to take care of her, right?"
Shizaki directed this question, but King tapped his head and replied:
"Obviously, she'd be the fourth member. Oh, wait, would would want Aya-san close to you as well, huh?"
"Mhm."
"Hmm…"
Thinking about finding a solution, the trio almost did not spot the person that passed by, but then stopped and faced him with tension in the air that could be cut with a knife..
Shizaki's body became stiff, while King and Yukino shielded him while wearing angry faces.
"So, we meet again."
The person in front of them was none other than the one who tried to attack Daizen Shizaki at the Royal Guild entrance.
Now knowing his name, Yukino called out to him in a loud, agitated manner.
"You're the one who did not participate in the Selection or showed up to the Recreation Party despite being included in the new registered adventurer list…Hera Delta."
-----------------------------------------
(Chapter 38: Alliance Against the Future.)