Chapter 3: Shadows and Truths
The day at the orphanage was like any other: predictable and monotonous, marked by dull lessons and fleeting glances. Yet for Shin, every moment seemed heavier than the last.
Sitting on the back steps of the orphanage, he stared at the horizon, his eyes lost in thought. The cold bit at his bare hands, but he remained still.
— "Still sulking, Akira?"
The deep, slightly mocking voice of Takashi pulled him from his thoughts. Shin looked up to see the older boy descending the steps, arms crossed over his chest. Takashi, tall and muscular for his age, had an imposing presence that silenced whispers in the orphanage halls.
— "What do you want?" Shin replied coldly.
— "You're just annoying, that's all. Always playing the loner, acting like nothing ever bothers you." Takashi sat down heavily beside him, his stern expression contrasting with a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
Shin turned away, ignoring the provocation.
— "You should go back inside," he said flatly.
Takashi let out a low chuckle.
— "You know, Hiwari worries about you. Raiden too. Me? I just find your attitude irritating."
— "Then why are you here?" Shin shot back, his tone sharp.
— "Because I can't stand people like you. People who think they can face everything alone."
A silence settled between them, broken only by the biting wind whistling through the orphanage walls.
— "Got nothing to say, huh?" Takashi continued, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Haven't you noticed everyone's scared of you?"
Shin clenched his fists but kept his composure.
— "What does it matter to you?"
Takashi sighed, an unexpected seriousness flickering in his gaze.
— "Because it pisses me off to see someone waste their life being trapped in their own head."
Shin stared at him, caught off guard by the honesty. Before he could respond, Raiden arrived, his hurried footsteps breaking the tension.
— "Hey, everything alright here?" he asked, his eyes darting between Takashi and Shin.
— "Nothing unusual," Takashi replied as he stood. "Akira's still playing the mysterious shadow."
Raiden raised an eyebrow but chose not to engage. Instead, he placed a friendly hand on Shin's shoulder.
— "Come on. Hiwari's waiting for you."
Without a word, Shin stood and followed Raiden inside. Takashi remained on the steps, hands in his pockets, watching their silhouettes disappear into the orphanage's halls.
— "That kid really is a mystery," he muttered to himself.
In the common room, Hiwari sat near the window, waiting. When she saw Shin enter, she stood, her smile soft but tinged with concern.
— "Got some fresh air?" she asked gently.
— "I'm fine," Shin replied as he sat down.
Raiden took a seat across from him, crossing his arms.
— "Takashi was giving you a hard time again, wasn't he?"
— "Forget it," Shin replied curtly.
— "He acts tough, but he's not a bad guy, you know," Hiwari added. "He just doesn't know how to express himself."
Raiden nodded, his expression serious.
— "And you don't know how to ask for help," he said, staring directly at Shin.
— "Stop it, Raiden," Hiwari interjected.
— "I'm just telling the truth. But don't worry, Shin. If you need someone to keep Takashi in check, I'm here."
Shin didn't respond, but an unreadable glimmer crossed his eyes.
Later that evening, Shin returned to the orphanage rooftop, seeking solitude. The voices in his head returned, louder than before.
— "They don't understand you. They never will."
He took a deep breath, trying to silence them.
— "You can fight all you want, but you know I'm right."
The shadows around him began to shift, taking on a more defined form. The towering, monstrous figure that haunted his dreams materialized before him, its eyes glowing with malevolence.
— "It's useless to resist, Shin. But if you accept… I could give you the strength you seek."
— "Leave," Shin growled.
The monster chuckled, its voice a chilling hiss.
— "Not yet. But soon, you'll beg me to return."
The shadow vanished in a burst of smoke, leaving Shin alone under the starry sky.
Below, Takashi watched him from a window. His hard expression softened slightly.
— "What's wrong with you, Shin Akira?" he murmured before closing the curtains.