As Akio woke up, he glanced at the digital clock on his bedside table.
3:28 a.m.
Then he moved his gaze towards Makoto's bed.
It seems he's gotten back from Viola's office. That's good.
He groaned quietly, tossing and turning, but he just couldn't fall back asleep.
Eventually he just decided to stare at the ceiling and let his thoughts run freely through his mind.
*What happened yesterday was intense, but... I can't help but still think about the past, way before that incident. I keep telling myself I should look forward, not back, but I can't. Not yet. I still remember it clearly. The way people treated me before I was recruited here. They treated me like some kind of alien, even though I tried so hard to fit in. I've always been a failure in one way or another, haven't I?*
He turned to face the wall and stared at it, yet seeing nothing because it was too dark.
*People tried to help me. They did. It's just me who's too incompetent to be helped. It's my fault I am this way. I feel so lonely. I have comrades now, but... Did really anything change? I feel like I am still stuck in the body, soul, and mind of the person I always used to be. Everyone moved on. But I can't.*
*Maybe I should've jumped..."
Akio felt something warm and wet running down his cheeks.
He was crying.
Akio tried his best not to sob, so he wouldn't wake up Makoto.
*If only my best friend was still here... I should've passed instead of him. He was way more valuable than I'll ever be. He had more friends. More social value. A fragile heart, yes, but he was certainly an important piece to my life. I may have an ability now, but how valuable is an ability if the owner of said ability is a total wreck? I still don't understand this whole "gifted" nonsense. How can my world change so fast in just two days, yet also stay the exact same? My mind is damaged in a way I can no longer repair. No one can.*
Akio didn't move. He didn't even blink. He just kept staring at the ceiling, completely lost in his thoughts.
*As pathetic as it sounds, I regret my past decisions. I shouldn't have stayed in my room all day, I should've gone out, meet new people, and make friends. But instead, I was busy self-loathing and feeling lonely, as if I wasn't responsible for digging my own grave. I never even had the chance to get into a romantic relationship... People never liked me like that. I look average, or maybe even below that. And my personality isn't all that great either. But the worst thing is my mindset. It's practically irredeemable.*
Akio looked towards Makoto's side, checking if he was still asleep.
*What if all of this is for nothing? All this pain, this despair, all for nothing? I don't know how I'd live with myself, knowing I am unable to be saved. I hope this organization will show me the right way. Even if it's by breaking the law. I can only hope after all. Hope is all I have left... Ironic, isn't it? A suicidal fool like me still clinging to hope as a last resort. A part of me has already given up long ago, but... Another refuses to do so. I only have this life. I don't want it to be a total waste. Besides, I couldn't forgive myself if I let the hope of the innocent child I used to be die like a flame being extinguished by careless wind. This is not over. Not yet.*
Akio sighed and rolled onto his stomach, feeling his eyes now slightly droop. And with newfound determination he was finally able to fall asleep again.
As the morning finally arrived, Akio was woken up from his sleep by a loud yell.
He sat up and looked around the room frantically, as if he expected an intruder to be there.
Which was practically correct.
He felt something pressing against his legs, so he looked down and-
"Ermina! Where are you?"
That was Kouya's voice.
Akio deadpanned.
Kouya suddenly opened the door to the room 000 and poked his head through the slit, stopping in his tracks when he saw Ermina sleeping on Akio's lap.
"..."
"How dare you!?"
"Huh!?"
"Ermina, you traitor!"
Kouya quickly went to Akio's bed and lifted the stoat up from his lap, walking towards the door, before stopping again.
"Oh wait. Say Akio."
"Hm?"
"Do you know where Makoto's at? I've looked for him nearly everywhere, because Kaelis wanted to train him today, but he didn't show up."
Akio glanced towards Makoto's side of the room, noticing he wasn't there...
"Uhm no, I don't know, I just woke up," he shrugged.
"Odd. Where could he have disappeared to?", Kouya put a finger to his chin in a thinking motion, while his other hand cradled Ermina. He thought about it for a while before his eyes suddenly widened in realization.
"Wait... Akio, follow me."
"What, but-"
"No buts, just follow me."
Akio was confused but did as told and followed the shorter man (and Ermina) out of the room.
Kouya's pace was fast despite his height. Akio could barely keep up with him.
"Where are we going?", Akio asked, almost out of breath.
"The prison area."
"The what..?"
"The guy we abducted yesterday is chained up in there and I dread Makoto might be in there.", Kouya explained.
Akio looked slightly overwhelmed.
"Why would he be in there?"
Kouya didn't slow down his pace, a serious expression on his face.
"I don't know, but I have a feeling he is."
They soon stopped at a door labeled "Prison". Kouya turned to Akio with a serious expression.
"Most prisoners in there are gifted people with dangerous abilities. They are in so-called ability-restriction cells, which nullifies their abilities to some extent. Of course there are some loopholes, but I'm not going to get into detail. Just follow me, and don't talk to them."
"Uhm okay..."
"Good."
With that Kouya opened the usually locked door. It seemed someone really entered before. Someone who had a key.
Once they were inside, Akio tried to ignore the prisoners. Some tried to talk to him, asking him for help, wanting to gain his sympathy, others wanted to manipulate him in other ways. He didn't react, obeying Kouya's orders.
As they turned a corner they finally saw Makoto, metal key in hand, in front of a cell, talking to one of the prisoners. It was the man they kidnapped the day before.
"Makoto," Kouya called out. "What are you doing here? You are not allowed to enter this area. You should know that."
Makoto turned around and held his hands up in surrender.
"Chill, shortie, I just talked to the guy. Wanted to interrogate him, you know?"
"Shortie!? Be careful who you mess with, you- you ginger!", Kouya then calmed down by petting Ermina and put on his stern expression. "You shouldn't go in here alone, especially as a newbie. Do you even realize how dangerous this area is?"
Makoto looked utterly unfazed to say the least.
"I just asked him about the organization he's in. He's been truthful so far."
Akio stayed quiet as he watched the exchange.
"And what did he tell you?", Kouya asked.
"Their organization is called "Revenant Forge". No idea why. The members consist of assassins, professional abductors, and human traffickers who remove and sell organs. Quite gruesome compared to us."
"I see. And what did *you* want to know from him?", Kouya didn't look at all fazed by this revelation. Compared to Akio, whose mouth was now wide open in shock.
Makoto stayed silent for a moment before answering.
"Well, I asked him if he knows something about a girl called 'Yuuma Yakedo', but he doesn't."
"Who's that?", Kouya asked.
"My little sister. She disappeared a few months ago and since that organization specializes in human trafficking, I thought this guy might know something. Guess not...", Makoto looked rather down while saying that.
Ermina then jumped out of Kouya's arms and nuzzled against Makoto's leg like a cat.
"I see... But that doesn't make it okay for you to just steal keys and waltz in here without a hint of shame!", Kouya yelled.
"Right. Sorry."
Makoto didn't sound sorry at all. He simply picked up the stoat and put her in his hood.
"Whatever. Let's just get out of here before someone catches u-"
"What are you doing in here?"
Kouya shrieked like a little girl, startled by Katsuko's sudden appearance.
Akio had shut down completely while Makoto stayed as unbothered as ever.
"These guys were just looking for me. This is on me. I'll take responsibility."
Katsuko seemed rather unimpressed, with a lit cigarette settled between her lips.
"No need. Kouya was here after all. He's responsible enough to make sure you two newbies don't cause mayhem. Besides, I'm too tired to care."
"Anyways, Makoto, Akio, it's time for your training with Kaelis. So come", Katsuko commanded.
Makoto nodded and followed, Ermina still hidden in his hood. Kouya rolled his eyes but then did the same.
Akio soon went after them as well, still thinking about what Makoto said.
*His little sister disappeared... That must be terrible for him. He has a good reason to be devastated, but... I don't even know why I am so sad constantly. I have a loving family at home, so there's no reason for me to be so desperate for love all the time...*
*... I am utterly selfish.*