A boy was running his small feet, pounding the dirt path as he sprinted toward home. Panic gripped his chest, and his breath came in sharp gasps. "Mother! Please, be safe!" he cried, his heart racing faster than his legs could carry him. The thick smoke in the air choked him, and ahead, flames licked the sky. His home… it was burning.
As he neared, his steps faltered. A crowd of men stood in front of his house, armed and dangerous, their faces twisted in cold laughter. Some of their weapons were stained with blood. The boy's body shook with fear, but he couldn't stop now. His mother was inside. He had to get to her.
He pushed through the crowd, his small body barely making a dent in their intimidating presence. The men shouted, tried to stop him, but nothing mattered to him, he had to reach her.
Finally, he reached the door, but when he entered, his heart shattered. His mother lay on the floor, lifeless, blood staining the floor around her.
"No… no," he whispered, barely able to breathe as he dropped to his knees beside her. His hands trembled as he reached for her, but there was no warmth, no life left in her. She was gone.
Outside, the men's cruel laughter echoed through the room. "She was nothing. Just an F-class," one of them sneered. "And you're just like her."
The boy's hands shook uncontrollably. His body felt like it was going to collapse. "Why? Why did this happen?" he cried, his voice breaking as the words tumbled out.
The mocking voices grew louder. "Your father left you both to die. A coward, maybe you've been a bad boy to him, hahaha!" they taunted, and laughed.
His chest tightened, the weight of their words sinking deeper into his soul. His eyes burned, but no tears came. He couldn't breathe, couldn't move, as if the pain had stolen his very ability to exist.
Then, something inside him snapped.
The ground beneath him trembled, and the air around him seemed to grow heavier. His body shook, but this time, it wasn't from fear. It was rage. His fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms, and the earth cracked beneath him.
Outside, the men fell silent. They looked at each other in confusion. Then they saw his eyes, glowing with a strange, purple light, and a purple and black aura engulf his body, causing them to take a step back.
The boy didn't speak. He simply stood up slowly, his body trembling with fury. And then, in an instant, he moved.
The first man didn't even have time to react. Haru punched him, and the force was so powerful it ripped through him.
"You… Killed my mother…!" He slowly walked toward them, the others rushed at him, but they were too slow. He dodged, his movements too quick to follow. One by one, he struck them down, each punch more violent than the last. There was no thought, no hesitation, just the need to make them pay.
The last man, shaking and terrified, begged for mercy. But the boy was beyond mercy. He grabbed the man by the throat and with one last, brutal strike, he ended it.
When it was over, he stood alone, surrounded by the bodies of those who had taken everything from him. His body was still, but his eyes, those eyes, burned with a cold emptiness. He looked at the village below him, his heart filled with something darker than grief.
Without another word, he ran down the mountain. His power surged, uncontrollable. He crashed into house after house, tearing them apart with his bare hands. People screamed for help, but the boy didn't spare a look. His mind was a blur, consumed by the rage that had taken over him.
Every building he passed was destroyed, "Please… Atleast let my son liv—" every life extinguished, "Why… Please spare us—"He didn't care, he couldn't stop, "D-Demon, a Demo—" The world around him was nothing but ruin, "Help, please—" His once pure heart was burned, "Please, mercy!—" He killed mercilessly.
When it was over, the village lay in complete destruction. The air was thick with smoke, the ground littered with the dead. The boy walked toward the center, his body was spent. His power faded, and he collapsed to the ground, surrounded by the aftermath of his fury.
The fire had long since died, leaving the village in ruins. An old man, Nakamura Ryuuji, walked through the wreckage. He had seen the smoke from a distance and thought the village was under attack. What he found, though, was a wasteland.
Amid the carnage, he found a boy lying among the bodies, untouched by the destruction, his eyes vacant. Ryuuji's heart ached at the sight.
"What happened here?" he murmured, as he knelt beside the boy, his body still warm and had a pulse, "He's alive". Then he saw the mark on Haru's wrist, the mark of an F-class. "This boy… an F-class?" He shook his head, "If he was… Then how did he survive alone, into this mass destruction…?" disbelief creeping in. How could someone has the weakest class could survive such destruction.
Without hesitation, Ryuuji lifted him into his arms, the boy was like a ghost, lifeless and broken.
Ryuuji carried him away from the ruins, away from the destruction, hoping to give the boy a chance at something better.
The boy was unconscious for days. The old man didn't know his name or what had happened to him, but Ryuuji cared for him as best he could.
Then the fateful day happened, the boy finally woke up and blinked, taking a moment to process his surroundings.
He looked around the room, and that's when he saw the old man sitting by his side. Ryuuji was watching him with a kind expression, but his eyes were full of concern. "You're finally awake," Ryuuji said gently, his voice warm but cautious. "I am Nakamura Ryuuji. What's your name?"
The boy's mind raced, but nothing came. He didn't remember his name, his past, anything. There was only a blank space. He swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath.
"I… I don't know," he whispered, his voice quiet and shaky. "I don't remember anything…"
Ryuuji nodded, his face softening. He could see the confusion in the boy's eyes. He didn't know who he was, or where he came from, but he could see the fear in him. And so, without hesitation, he made a decision.
"Then I'll take care of you. I'll raise you as my own." Ryuuji said gently, and asked the boy, "Can I name you…?"
"I don't care…" said the boy, then Ryuuji respond; "Alright, from now on you're Nakamura T—".
Suddenly, he woke up on his 13 year-old self, his eyes wide as he tried to shake off the remnants of a dream. The fire, the killing, the destruction. It all felt so vivid, so real, but the moment he opened his eyes, the dream faded into the light of the morning.
He slowly sat up, his hands gripping the edge of the bed. "It was just a nightmare," he whispered to himself, his voice trembling.
Ryuuji's voice boomed across the house. "TETSUYA! Get out there!"
Tetsuya came rushing out, his hair slightly messy, his eyes wide. "What? Did something happen?!"
Ryuuji crossed his arms, looking unimpressed. "Yeah. We ran out of wheat seeds. Go buy some at the market."
Tetsuya blinked. "That's it? You made it sound like the house was on fire or something."
Ryuuji smirked. "If you don't go soon, it'll be your head on fire."
Tetsuya groaned, scratching his head. "Fine, fine. Anything else while I'm out?"
Ryuuji pointed a finger at him. "Yeah, don't forget to keep your wrists covered."
Tetsuya rolled his eyes. "I know, I know. You say that every day."
"And I'll keep saying it until it sticks in that thick head of yours," Ryuuji shot back.
Tetsuya waved him off, pulling his sleeves down. "Alright, old man, I'm going. Don't burn the house down while I'm gone."
Ryuuji chuckled. "Just get the seeds and come straight back."
The village market was bustling with activity, vendors shouting over one another to sell their goods. Tetsuya weaved through the crowd with a spring in his step, occasionally stopping to glance at something interesting.
He approached a familiar vendor's stall, grinning. "Hey, old-timer! Got any wheat seeds for me?"
The seller, a stout man with a kind face, laughed. "Ah, Tetsuya! Ryuuji sent you again, huh? How's that cranky old man doing?"
Tetsuya smirked. "Still as cranky as ever. How much for the seeds?"
The seller handed him a small sack. "150 coins, and tell Ryuuji to stop sending you without giving you extra for a tip."
Tetsuya handed over the coins with a grin. "I'll let him know you're raising your prices. That'll annoy him enough."
The seller laughed. "You're a handful, kid. Take care out there."
Tetsuya waved as he turned to leave. "Always do!"
As Tetsuya headed back, he heard shouting from a nearby alley. His footsteps quickened, and he turned the corner to see a group of thugs surrounding a girl. They were grabbing at her basket, their voices loud and menacing.
"Come on, just give it to us," one thug said, smirking.
The girl held the basket tightly. "No! Please, I need this for my family!"
Tetsuya didn't hesitate. "Hey! Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
The thugs turned, sneering at him. One of them stepped forward. "And who are you supposed to be? Some kind of hero?"
Tetsuya cracked his knuckles, a mischievous grin on his face. "I'm just a guy who doesn't like bullies."
The leader of the group laughed. "You've got guts, kid. Let's see if you've got the strength to back it up!"
Before the thug could throw a punch, Tetsuya lunged forward, delivering a solid hit to the man's stomach. The thug doubled over, groaning in pain.
The other thugs charged at him, and Tetsuya quickly realized he was outnumbered. "Okay, this might've been a bad idea," he muttered, dodging a swing.
His eyes darted to the sack of seed in his hand. Without thinking, he tore it open and threw the seeds at the thugs' faces.
"Argh! What the hell is this?!" one of them shouted, rubbing his eyes.
Tetsuya used the distraction to grab the girl's hand. "Run!"
They sprinted away, leaving the thugs cursing behind them. When they were far enough, Tetsuya stopped to catch his breath, laughing. "Man, that was close!"
The girl looked at him, her eyes wide with gratitude. "Thank you… I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't shown up."
"Eh, it's nothing," Tetsuya said, grinning. "I couldn't just stand by and watch."
The girl bowed slightly. "My name is Shirasaki Aiko, you?"
Tetsuya rubbed the back of his neck. "Tetsuya, guess that makes us even now, huh?"
When Tetsuya returned home, Ryuuji was waiting outside, his arms crossed. His stern expression faltered when he saw Aiko.
"And who's this?" Ryuuji asked, raising an eyebrow.
Aiko stepped forward, bowing politely. "I'm sorry for intruding. Tetsuya helped me when I was in trouble."
Ryuuji sighed, looking at Tetsuya. "What did I tell you about bringing trouble home? If you get caught up in something, she'll be involved too."
Aiko quickly interjected. "It's my fault. I wasn't paying attention and couldn't defend myself."
Tetsuya waved a hand dismissively. "Don't apologize. It's no big deal."
Ryuuji smirked. "You like her, don't you?"
Tetsuya froze, his face turning red. "What?! No way!"
Aiko tilted her head, clearly hearing the comment but choosing to stay quiet.
"So, how'd you meet her?" Ryuuji asked, grinning.
Tetsuya explained the situation, though he left out the part about throwing the seeds.
Ryuuji frowned. "Wait… where are the seeds I sent you to buy?"
Tetsuya hesitated. "Uh… about that…"
Ryuuji's eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me—"
"I had to use them to blind the thugs!" Tetsuya blurted out.
Ryuuji groaned, slapping a hand to his forehead. "You threw wheat seeds at them? Do you know how expensive those are?!"
Tetsuya shrugged, his grin returning. "Hey, if it weren't for those seeds, I wouldn't have saved her!"
Ryuuji sighed, shaking his head. "Unbelievable."
That afternoon, Aiko stayed to help on the farm, proving to be surprisingly handy.
When it was time for her to leave, she smiled and waved. "Thank you for everything. I'll come by again soon."
Ryuuji waved back. "Take care, Aiko!"
Tetsuya grinned. "See you around!"
As soon as she was out of sight, Ryuuji turned to Tetsuya with a smirk. "So… when are you marrying her?"
Tetsuya's face turned beet red. "What are you talking about?! No way!"
Ryuuji laughed. "You almost said yes!"
"I did not!" Tetsuya snapped, still flustered.
Ryuuji chuckled, patting him on the back. "Whatever you say, kid."
———————————————————
As Tetsuya and Aiko strolled through the lively village streets. The area was filled the sound of merchants calling out their wares and children laughing. Despite the bustling surroundings, Tetsuya's expression was unusually serious.
"Hey, Aiko," he began, his tone uncharacteristically hesitant.
"Hm?" she responded, glancing at him curiously.
Tetsuya stopped walking and looked around cautiously before leaning in closer. "Promise me you won't tell anyone about this. Not even my dad."
Aiko blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"
Without answering, Tetsuya unwrapped the bandage around his wrist. His movements were slow and deliberate, revealing a faint, glowing mark. The letter "F" stood out clearly against his skin.
Aiko gasped, covering her mouth. "Tetsuya… that's…"
"I don't know what the hell this is," Tetsuya interrupted, his voice a mix of frustration and confusion.
Aiko's mind raced. If this is really an F-class mark… how was he able to strike down the thug leader so easily? He should've felt pain just doing that.
"That's an F-class mark," she finally said, her voice trembling slightly.
Tetsuya tilted his head. "F-class? What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's… a power," Aiko explained, pulling back her sleeve to reveal her own mark. The glowing letter "B" was engraved on her wrist, surrounded by an icy blue hue. "Mine is B-class. Cryomancy."
Tetsuya's eyes widened. "Okay, what's with the letters? What's the difference?"
Aiko hesitated, then began explaining. "Classes are ranked from F to S. F being the weakest, S the strongest. But there's more—beyond S, there are Awakened ones who've achieved SS, SSS, and even SSS+."
Tetsuya whistled, clearly impressed. "SSS+? That sounds insane. So… why's my dad so worried about this?" He gestured at the F-class mark on his wrist.
Aiko's expression darkened. "Because… F-class is seen as unworthy. Weaklings that shouldn't exist."
Tetsuya's eyes widened in shock. "Shouldn't exist?" he repeated. The words struck a strange chord within him. He rubbed his temples, whispering, "Why does that sound familiar…? Like I've heard it before…"
Before he could dwell on it, Aiko suddenly poked his forehead hard with her pointy finger.
"Ow!" Tetsuya exclaimed, stepping back and rubbing the spot.
"You were too quiet, so I had to do something!" Aiko said, grinning mischievously.
Tetsuya grumbled but couldn't help laughing with her. The tension between them eased, and they continued walking.
———————————————————
As they passed a bakery, Tetsuya noticed a young boy acting suspiciously near the stall. The boy waited until the vendor turned away, then quickly grabbed a loaf of bread and slipped away unnoticed.
Tetsuya blinked. "Did he just…?"
Aiko gasped. "He stole that bread!"
Tetsuya rubbed his chin, looking impressed. "Not bad, though. Didn't even get caught."
Aiko smacked his arm lightly. "Hey! That's not the point!"
The two followed the boy discreetly, watching as he slipped into a narrow alley tucked between two houses. It was barely more than a crevice. They peeked inside and saw the boy kneeling beside a frail woman lying on a makeshift bed of rags. He broke the bread into small pieces, feeding it to her gently.
Aiko's heart softened. "He's stealing to take care of her…"
Before they could pull away, the boy noticed them. His eyes caught them and he stepped outside. "Who are you? Why are you spying on me?"
Tetsuya raised his hands in mock surrender. "Whoa, easy there, kid. We're not here to cause trouble."
Aiko stepped forward, her tone gentle. "We just saw what you did, and we wanted to help."
The boy's stance didn't relax. He raised his wrist, revealing a glowing "A" mark. "Flame Surge!" he shouted, releasing a spiral of fire toward them.
Aiko reacted instantly, raising her hand. "Cryo Wall!" she called out, forming a barrier of ice that blocked the flames.
Tetsuya stared in awe. "Why didn't you do that against the thugs earlier?"
Aiko glanced at him. "They were above B-class. I wouldn't have stood a chance. Plus, they were about to cast a spell on you when you threw the seeds, so we got lucky."
Tetsuya scratched his head, looking sheepish. "Great… I feel even more useless now."
The boy's jaw dropped. "You… you blocked my spell?"
Aiko lowered her hand, smiling kindly. "We're not your enemies. My name's Aiko, and this is Tetsuya. We just want to help."
The boy hesitated, his cautious demeanor softening slightly. "…Shikoru Haru," he said finally. "That's my name."
Tetsuya grinned. "Nice to meet you, Haru. Think you can help me carry your mom to my house? My dad might be able to help her."
Haru looked at his mother, then back at Tetsuya. His eyes were filled with doubt, but after a moment, he nodded. "If you can help her… I'll trust you."
———————————————————
Back at Tetsuya's home, Ryuuji was surprised to see them arrive with an unconscious woman.
"Tetsuya, what is this?" Ryuuji asked, his voice stern.
"She needs help, right now," Tetsuya said firmly.
Ryuuji stared at his son for a moment before his expression softened. He placed a hand on Tetsuya's shoulder, smiling. "You're a kind kid, you know that?"
They brought the woman inside and laid her on a bed. Ryuuji knelt beside her, placing his hands over her chest. A warm, golden light emanated from his palms as he cast a healing spell.
Tetsuya watched in amazement. "Wait… you're a healer? Since when?"
Ryuuji paused, his expression flickering with hesitation. "I used it when I found you—" His voice trailed off, and he quickly changed the subject. "F-Focus on the woman for now."
Tetsuya frowned, confused, but didn't press further.
After a few minutes, Ryuuji leaned back, wiping his forehead. "She's recovered. All she needs now is rest."
Haru's eyes filled with relief and gratitude. "Thank you… thank you so much."
Aiko smiled. "We're glad we could help."
Tetsuya clapped Haru on the back. "Guess that makes us friends now, huh?"
Haru chuckled softly. "Yeah… I guess it does."
As the three bonded, Ryuuji stood silently, watching them. His expression was grim as thoughts raced through his mind. "If I told him everything… there's a chance he'd remember. And if that happens… it could trigger it. I have to be careful."
And so, a new friendship was born, but shadows of uncertainty loomed over their growing connection.