It's close to 9pm. I'm making my way up to the main office of Enji's agency, exiting the elevator. I've got some stuff of mine packed in a maroon backpack. As I expected, the office is empty now that it's closed. I firmly open the door to Enji's office, the large black envelope in my hand. Enji is surprised at my sudden arrival as he stands from his chair, ready to leave.
"I didn't expect you here at this time," he says. "You called in sick again."
I don't say anything, only opening the large black envelope and taking out my parents' headshots. I place them on his desk. A look of complete shock washes on Enji's face, as if seeing ghosts of the past.
"Where did you…" Enji trails off.
"The Paranormal Liberation Front," I reply. "Re-Destro...he told me everything."
Enji gazes down with a look of guilt.
"Please…" I say. "Tell me what happened the night my parents were killed."
Enji closes his eyes for a moment as he gathers his thoughts, slowly taking a seat.
"The Commission ordered an ambush attack on your parents," he explains. "The night of December 26…the day you were born."
I remain quiet and listen.
"A squad was sent in to plant bombs throughout the area of the warehouse your parents inhabited…" Enji continues. "They assembled a group of heroes should they need any backup to fight against your parents…We watched from a hidden tent a mile away through the surveillance the Commission setup in the perimeter. Your mother was the first target seeing as she was the most dangerous because of her quirk. Your father was returning from a supply run when he was ambushed by grenade launchers. Your mother heard the commotion and ran out to his aid… She killed nearly the entire platoon of Commission soldiers when she realized she and your father were under attack. A soldier was able to detonate a bomb that was close to your mother, which killed her instantly. Your father was seriously wounded, holding your dead mother in his arms. Enraged, he seemed to have a quirk awakening, which allowed him to emit nuclear energy like you… He blasted the remaining soldiers, running back into the warehouse. That's when the group of heroes were sent in to pursue him. I was the first to engage, following your father into the warehouse. Crashing through the window, I found him lying on the floor next to a crib...all bloody and at the verge of death. In his arms was something wrapped in a red blanket. I reached and unwrapped it, seeing a newborn child. It was you, Akira."
My eyes begin to tear up as I continue to listen.
"Your father coughed up blood as he was dying…" Enji continues. "The bombs were exploding due to the detonator being damaged. The warehouse we were in was due to explode any second. With the last bit of strength that your father had...he raised you up to me. His dying words were… Her name is Akira...Born today… Please tell her to forgive us...Knowing the warehouse was about to explode, I quickly took you from him and flew out the window, the warehouse exploding seconds after."
Tears flow down my face as I continue to listen, confirming what I saw in the warehouse footage with what Enji is telling me.
"20 days prior, Fuyumi had been born…" Enji continues. "As I held you in my arms, I couldn't help but be reminded of her when I gazed at you...with your white hair… My fatherly instinct made an instant bond with you."
My eyes blur with tears as I come to understand Enji's feelings toward me all these years.
"When I took you to the tent where the President was…" Enji continues. "Everyone was shocked... They had no idea an infant was present at the site. They later gathered the supplies your father had, finding infant formula, clothes, and diapers. Everyone remained silent, realizing the situation at hand. The President took pity and decided to take you in under the Commission's care... And I insisted that she allowed me to remain close to you. As you grew older, you started to look more like your parents...The President was bitterly reminded of them, especially of your father with your white hair and golden eyes. The hate that she harbored for your father she directed to you...and it was further amplified when you manifested your quirk. Blinded by the betrayal of your father, she grew to resent you, leading to the harsh treatment and lack of trust in you… You were deemed dangerous and thought to end up like your father - a traitor."
"So the President took her hate for my father out on me…" I cry, to which Enji nods.
"She kept you isolated from the outside world. She didn't want any influence on you, other than what the Commission presented. When I found out about the nuclear chamber training, I was horrified. I was afraid that the harsh treatment you underwent would cause the exact opposite of what the President intended...that you would grow to be a cold mindless killer. Seeing as you weren't making much progress a couple of months after your quirk manifested, I proposed an idea to the President… You lacked social interaction, affection, love...so I proposed that I introduce Touya to you. You needed to experience some form of connections in order to ease your distress to better control your quirk...and to prevent you from becoming a cold person. Soon, you developed a bond with my family...which proved to be helpful and made you able to control your quirk as you grew."
I wipe tears from my face but they continue to pour down.
"I was afraid…" Enji continues. "That if you were ever to find out the truth...you would resent me for not helping you...and for being a part of your parents' deaths…"
"But you did help me…" I say through tears. "As you said...if it wasn't for you, I'd probably end up a mindless killer...a villain… You actually saved me, Enji...you and your family did."
Enji looks up at me in awe, meeting my teary gaze.
"Despite all I've found out…" I say. "I don't have any hate in my heart… I want to end the chain of hatred…" I clutch my stomach.
"Akira…" Enji is in awe.
"Tomorrow morning, I'm going to see the President."
"She'll be far too busy. The Commission has organized an assault on the Paranormal Liberation Front bases."
"What? When?" I'm surprised.
"First thing early morning. I was going to inform you today but you didn't come in… The President wished to keep you away from it all."
I think about what Enji is saying and further confirm my decision.
"I'll see the President first thing early tomorrow morning," I say. "Meanwhile...you stay strong during your mission to raid the Liberation base…" I gather everything back into the large black envelope.
"You said Re-Destro told you everything about your parents…" Enji says. "Why?"
"He and the Paranormal Liberation Front proposed to recruit me last night."
Enji is surprised.
"They tried to use what happened to me and my parents to sway me to their side," I explain. "So that I could seek vengeance… but that's not what I want. As I said, I'm going to end the chain of hatred."
I tuck the large black envelope into my backpack.
"Because I told the Liberation I would join them," I continue. "I can't return to my apartment. They know where I live…I have no doubt that they'd look for me there. I'm going to stay somewhere else tonight until I see the President in the morning."
"You can spend the night at my estate," Enji suggests.
"No," I shake my head. "I'm not risking the safety of you or your family. They know my connections with you all… I'll be staying at a hotel tonight."
"Can I at least drive you there?"
"Not even that. I don't want to risk being followed. Someone from the Liberation could be watching me as we speak."
Adjusting my backpack straps after putting it on, I stand in thought.
"What exactly is the Safety Commission planning?" I ask.
"The objective is to take the members and associates of the Liberation all down at once," Enji replies. "Groups of heroes have been arranged at the locations we're set to attack: the Liberation Front Mansion, and Jaku General Hospital as the main objective."
"Where will you be?"
"I'll be leading the group assigned to raid Jaku General Hospital. The evacuation of citizens will begin at the same time we engage."
I take mental note of the details Enji is telling me. My fists clench at the thought of not being able to help.
"I'll head to a hotel on my own," I head to the door.
"Akira…" Enji calls out.
I turn and see Enji approach me. To my surprise, he embraces me.
"I'm proud of you," Enji says. "Despite all that's happened in the past...you're truly your own person… Please…be careful."
Knowing this may be the last time I see Enji, my tears swell up as I hug him back tightly.
"Please be careful, too…" a teardrop falls from my eye. "And thank you...for everything."
Later that night, Touya enters the apartment through the fire escape window. He notices how quiet it is and starts to look around, finding the apartment empty. The time on the nightstand shows 11:23pm.
'Where the hell is she?' Touya thinks as he stands in the bedroom.
Touya heads over to the nightstand, opening the drawer. To his surprise, the black photo album isn't there. The only thing he finds is a letter. He grabs it and begins to read it.
'Touya - I knew you'd come tonight to find me after last night at Deika…' he reads in his head. 'There's a chance someone else from the PLF might look for me at my apartment too…so I'm staying somewhere else. Even after all that Re-Destro revealed to me, I won't be joining the Liberation. You should've expected that from me. I'm dangerous even if I don't join them because they'll find a way to use me and my quirk. I'm better off not involving myself - even with the heroes… It breaks my heart that if I continue as a hero, there's no doubt I'll have to face you as an enemy. And I know I don't have the heart to do that. I don't want to get in the way of your goal. I've come to realize that you're focused on your goal that involves your father. And it's clear that your goal is greater than your love for me. I only hope that you come to realize that the hate you harbour will only bring you more suffering. I'm not giving up on you… I'm still deeply in love with you. But you're not my priority anymore. From the bottom of my heart, I'm so sorry. You won't see me again. Love always, Akira.'
Touya sees there are dried up tear drops on the paper at the end. He holds the letter in his hand, staring down at it. Just then, the sound of the sliding glass door opens in the living room. Touya pays no attention to it as he's still processing the letter.
"Oh, hey," Keigo is surprised to see Touya here. "Looks like you beat me to Nova's apartment… Did Re-Destro send you?"
Touya keeps his back facing Keigo.
"Hm. Looks like she's not even here…" Keigo observes. "That's strange…"
Touya feels a drop of blood drip down from his purple skin under his eye.
"Did you find anything that might help us find her?" Keigo asks from the doorway.
Touya wipes the blood off with his thumb as he incinerates the letter in blue flames.
"No…" Touya turns and heads out of the bedroom.
Keigo and Touya stand in the living room for a moment in thought.
"Looks like she's made a run for it…" Keigo concludes. "Re-Destro's not gonna be happy about that!" he shakes his head.
Touya stands silently in thought.
"Hm? You alright there, Dabi?" Keigo asks.
"It's nothing…" Touya responds.
"Alright. I'll search the area to see if I spot her," Keigo heads to the balcony glass door. "I'll see you back at the base."
Touya stares after Keigo's back, his anger only fueling more. He knows Keigo didn't come here under any orders. He did so on his own.