"Even with a Guin like this... even with ripping out spines... can I still become like you?"
"Your Guin is... Huh? Wh-what? What did you say, your guin is..?!"
---
Mr. White often reminisces about that day and says this:
"If we don't make that kid a hero, things are gonna get *very bad*."
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"Ah... I did it again."
That day, Takumi Kurata walked home, reflecting on his actions after turning his classmates (excluding Ozawa) and teacher into severed-head-and-spine ornaments. How many times had this happened now? He sighed as he continued walking, estimating that he might have gone past the triple digits in executing his "Severed-Head-and-Spine Ornament Punishment" on his classmates.
Ever since his Guin manifested, Takumi had been called "Villain's child" and bullied relentlessly. Not every Guin leads to good outcomes—sometimes, terrifying appearances and overly destructive abilities become objects of fear and discrimination. Takumi had been a victim of such prejudice.
At the same time, however, he had also become an offender. Initially, it started as a retaliation against his bullies—he'd ripped out someone's spine in a fit of anger. He still remembered when the police were called. Later, he discovered that if he reinserted the spine in the frame, the victim could be revived. This saved him from harsher punishment and left him with a strict warning.
From then on, Takumi had lived a life close to isolation. His Guin, capable of killing people with ease, became a symbol of fear and awe among his peers.
Still, his admiration for Mr. White and the dream of becoming a hero remained steadfast. Takumi worked hard at his studies, earning a reputation among adults as "a good kid, as long as you don't touch on that particular topic." This understanding came, of course, after their own encounters with his Dominion Guin.
Even so, there were always those who joked or teased him. Throughout his three years of middle school, Takumi punished such individuals—along with their teachers—by enforcing his "Severed-Head-and-Spine Ornament Punishment," establishing a reign of terror in his school.
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"With a Guin like this, becoming a hero might be impossible... hahaha..."
Takumi gazed at his hands with self-mockery. He knew he was at fault. Still, he thought, wasn't it cruel for others to mock him or call him a villain?
As he passed through a tunnel on his way home, a whisper came from behind him.
"A perfect fit... my little prey..."
Before he could turn around, something liquid-like engulfed him. An enemy? To think he would be targeted like this—Takumi flailed, struggling against the unexpected attack.
"Relax... I'm just going to take over your body. It'll only feel suffocating for about 59 seconds. You'll be fine soon."
"Mmmph?!"
"There's no way you can grab me! I'm liquid, after all!"
The sludge villain mocked Takumi as he desperately flailed his arms, trying to grab onto something. Until that day, Takumi had dealt with anyone, bully or not, by ripping out their spines without hesitation. But now, he realized—against a liquid or fluid-like opponent, his Guin was useless.
"Maybe it's for the best... A villain candidate like me should die here..."
Realizing his Guin's limitations, Takumi thought it might be better for someone like him, with such a dangerous ability, to disappear. Maybe in his next life, he'd have a more manageable Guin. Just as he resigned himself to death—
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"Fear not, young man! For I am here!"
Hearing a voice of someone he might know for a long time, Takumi lost his consciousness.
---
"Agh.... Huh! Where am I?" Takumi questioned himself after regaining consciousness while looking around.
That's when he saw a man with black edged mask and covered in a white robe.....
His eyes glowed like eternal stars as he realised who that might that person be.... It was...
"Mr. White?!" he shouted in excitement.
"Oh, young man you're finally awake..."
"Mr. White i-is it you who saved me from that sludge villain?!"
"Yes I was the one. Actually that villain was running away from me and since he was exhausted, he tried to swallow you to get in a new body and refresh his power!"
"Uh-oh.."
"I'm sorry for the trouble young man but now I have to go!" as Mr. White was getting ready to launch and fly, suddenly..... His toe struck with a stone on the field and he tripped off...
"Aa- Mr. White...."
"I'm okay kid, I just didn't notice that rock on the field!" said Mr. White while smiling and scratching his head.
Mr. White was getting ready to fly again, this time totally prepared but as soon as he was about to launch....
"Mr. White!" Takumi screamed using the full power of his lungs.
The scream again disrupted Mr. White's launch..
"I want to talk to you about something!" Takumi said while kneeling on the field, in front of Mr. White.
Mr. White, seeing Takumi's seriousness, also stopped for a moment.
"What about it young man?"
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"So... you're saying your Guin lets you rip out the spines of any creature with a spinal cord, killing them instantly?"
"Yes... and because of that, I've been labeled a villain since I was a kid."
"That's... certainly difficult—"
"That's why, whenever they bullied me, I retaliated by ripping out their spines... sometimes their parents' too. Occasionally, even their entire extended family. But if you put the spine back in, they revive, so I didn't actually kill anyone..."
"Oh-uh!?"
After being rescued, Takumi explained his Guin and life story to Mr. White—how he'd been bullied for his Guin, how he retaliated, and his regret for his actions. Listening to this, Mr. White's usual smile grew visibly strained.
"Well, um... How should I put this..."
"Listen young man, any Guin can become a force for good or evil, depending on how you use it... So as long as you use it correctly, you'll be totally fine!"
"Really...?"
"Don't let it get you down. Though... you might want to work on your temper. A hero falling to anger and turning to the dark side? That's not exactly cool, is it?"
Thinking about it, Takumi realized Mr. White had a point.
After saying this, Mr. White looked up at the sky and said,
"Young man, everyone is a hero from inside, just nurture that inner hero of yours and everyone will accept you as a hero!"
"Ca-can I also become a hero like you, Mr. White?!" Takumi said while looking up, towards Mr. White with glowing eyes....
"No..." said Mr. White while crossing his arms.
"Wh-at? But you said I can also become a hero..." he said while collapsing into the ground, saddened.
"You don't need to become a hero like 'me'. You can become better then me if you try!" said Mr. White while smiling.
Takumi looked towards Mr. White and couldn't believe that these words were coming from someone he idolised for his whole life...
As Mr. White said that, he pointed a thumbs up towards Takumi, while smiling and he launched in the sky, immediately disappearing in the vast sky, leaving behind a white-glwoing trail.
Watching Mr. White disappear in the sky, Takumi felt a new sensation... He found a new meaning in his life... He can also become a hero like "Mr. White"!
But to do that, he needs to control his anger first! So, Takumi decided to head back to school, revive everyone and also apologize to everyone for what he did.
"I guess I'd better go return the spines and apologize to Ozawa and everyone else!"
Muttering this, Takumi turned back toward his school, where 29 bodies and 29 heads awaited restoration. He knew he had to fix everything and apologize properly.
He ran towards his school, looking bright and motivated, in an unending stamina.
While, Mr. White, watched Takumi from the sky and smiled and fled in the vast sky again..