Chapter 18 part I- The Reason
The bus rattled as it moved forward.
Metal creaking.
Wheels grinding against the rough road.
Leo sat by the window.
Quiet.
Watching.
Outside—
The scenery slowly changed.
Before reaching the Outskirts…
The roads were broken.
Cracked.
Uneven.
Old buildings stood on both sides—
Half-destroyed.
Forgotten.
Walls chipped.
Windows shattered.
It felt abandoned.
Then—
As the bus moved farther—
Everything shifted.
The road became smoother.
Straighter.
Streetlights appeared.
Tall.
Bright.
Strong.
The Outskirts.
The buildings were still old.
Not modern.
Not clean.
But—
There was life.
Leo rested his head lightly against the window.
His reflection stared back at him.
"…They're strong."
The image of the Ironfang Vanguard surfaced in his mind.
Their movements.
Their presence.
Their overwhelming power.
It never failed to amaze him.
"…I want to reach that level."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…No."
"…I'll surpass them."
Silence filled his thoughts.
Then—
A question surfaced.
"…When did it start?"
"…When did I become this obsessed with getting stronger?"
His fingers tightened slightly.
A memory surfaced.
Five Years Ago
A small living room.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
A young boy sat on the couch.
Bruises marked his face—faint purple along his cheek, a small cut near his lip.
But he didn't seem to mind.
His eyes were fixed on the television.
Waiting.
Beside him—
A single pack of chocolate rested on the couch.
Still unopened.
Behind him stood a simple dining table.
Old.
Worn.
To his left—
A window.
Soft afternoon light passed through it.
Beside the window hung a framed picture.
A family of four.
Smiling.
Complete.
To his right—
Two bedroom doors.
Closed.
Silent.
The boy didn't move.
He just stared at the screen.
It should start soon…
His favorite anime.
A story about a boy who wanted to become the Pirate King.
An old show—
Created thousands of years ago.
Yet even now…
So many people still watched it.
And he—
Loved it.
He never missed it.
Not once.
Then—
Click.
One of the bedroom doors opened.
A small girl stepped out.
Five years old.
Hair tied in a loose ponytail.
Still half-asleep—
Rubbing her eyes.
"Aria," the boy called softly.
"Come here. Sit."
"It's about to start—our favorite anime."
Aria slowly walked over and climbed onto the couch beside him.
Still sleepy.
Still quiet.
She noticed something.
"Brother…"
"What is that beside you?"
The boy glanced down.
"Oh—this?"
He picked it up.
"It's chocolate."
"Uncle said it's really delicious."
"You can only buy it in other cities."
"So it's expensive."
Aria blinked.
"Chocolate…?"
She puffed her cheeks.
"Brother… I don't like chocolate."
"The one you brought before…"
"…it wasn't delicious."
"I don't want to eat it."
The boy scratched his cheek.
"…Sorry."
"I thought you'd like it."
"Other kids do."
"…I do too."
He looked at it again.
"But this one's different."
"It came from another city."
He pointed at the label.
"See?"
"Not from here."
Aria leaned closer.
She paused.
Her eyes lifted.
To his face.
The bruises.
"…Brother."
Her voice softened.
"How did you get that?"
She tilted her head.
"…Did you steal it?"
She shook her head quickly.
"That's bad."
"I'll tell mommy."
The boy shook his head.
"No."
"I didn't steal it."
Aria leaned closer.
"Then where?"
He paused.
Then answered quietly.
"This morning…"
"I went out to buy candy."
"And I saw a boy."
"He was surrounded."
"By three kids
"They kept hitting him."
"Pushing him."
"He couldn't fight back."
Aria's eyes widened.
"So…?"
"…I stepped in."
"I punched them."
"In the face."
"One…"
"Then another…"
"They started bleeding."
"They stopped laughing."
"They started crying…"
"…and ran away."
Aria blinked.
"After that," Leo continued,
"The one who got bullied…"
"We became friends."
"His name is Ryndon."
"We went to his house."
"To play."
"Then later…"
"His dad came home."
"He came from another city."
Leo lifted the chocolate slightly.
"He gave me this."
Silence.
Aria's face lit up.
"Woooow…"
"Brother… that's so cool!"
Leo smiled faintly.
Then—
The TV lit up.
The anime started.
Both of them turned forward.
He opened the chocolate carefully.
They shared it.
Watching.
Quietly.
Side by side.
For a moment—
Everything felt peaceful.