Images of Touya flash in my mind. His younger self is bloodied up and bandaged as he tugs at his white hair. His wide eyes turn toward me as a crazed smile spreads across his face.
I open my eyes and stare up at the ceiling through the dimly lit room. Once again, silence welcomes me in the late of night. I begin to recall images of Touya back then when he was in desperate need of help. This was some years ago by now, but it seems like only yesterday. I sit up on my bed unable to return to sleep. Staring down at my bare feet, I suddenly remember the enemy officer I had melted under them some days ago. His scream of agonizing pain echoes in my head, gradually with a chorus of the many people I've killed. I shake my head a bit to silence them, getting up and making my way down the dark hall of the facility.
'What could I have done?' I think to myself. 'What could I have done to better help Touya?'
As I'm passing the gym room, I spot the dent in the wall I made yesterday with the punching bag. The screams return to echoing in my head, and I continue down the hall. Eventually, I make my way up to the roof of the facility. I stand some feet from the ledge, staring ahead with a blank gaze.
'What good am I?' I think to myself. 'I'm only used as a weapon…only meant to cause harm…'
I make my way toward the ledge of the rooftop, peering down at the thirty-story building. My gaze then turns up to the sky.
'They keep me here for fear of causing destruction…' I think. 'How can I be a hero when I'm a risk to everyone?'
As I'm staring up at the starry night sky, I feel some cold drops freckle my face as it begins to rain. Thoughts of my life with Touya and his family play in my mind as I yearn to experience that again. Enji fully gave me up to the Commission, returning me back to square one. My days are full of robotic tasks and missions.
"How can I become a hero…" I say to myself. "When I couldn't even save one friend?"
I stand on the ledge of the rooftop, once again peering down to the bottom at pavement. At seventeen years-old, this is what my life has come to. Holding my arms out to my sides, I lean forward and free fall off the ledge. My hair flutters off my face as I drop front-first below.
'This is for the best…' I think. 'For me…for everyone.'
As I'm nearing the bottom, I flip over with my arms still out on my sides. The whirring of the wind is all I hear as my tears mix with the rain drops in the air. Closing my eyes, I see a young Touya smiling warmly as I prepare for my sudden end.
"Akira!" A familiar voice interrupts my thoughts.
I'm suddenly caught in mid air. My eyes open in confusion as I look up to Keigo as he carries me in his arms.
"What the hell is the matter with you?!" Keigo glances down at me.
I remain silent. Keigo flies back to the rooftop of the facility and lands, carefully setting me down. I sit as he kneels in front of me while I avoid his gaze. Keigo pants in desperation.
"I saw you…fall off the ledge…" Keigo is in disbelief. "I thought for sure you'd fly back up… But you kept falling… Something told me to get up…I had a feeling to check on you…"
My eyes stay lowered in shame.
"What were you doing?!" Keigo is panicked. "If…If I hadn't woken up…you would've…you would've…" he can't even bring himself to say it.
"I'm better off dead," I respond.
Keigo stares down at me in shock.
"I'm better off dead and you know it…" I continue. "I'd be doing the President a favor…I'm done with the sleepless nights, Keigo…with the voices and screams in my head… I figured…if I was dead, then all my heartache would go away…"
The both of us sit in silence as the rain continues to pour down.
"I have nothing to live for…" I gaze down.
"Yes you do…." Keigo's voice shakes. "You have me!"
My gaze shoots up at Keigo. Tears roll down his eyes as he looks at me with heartache.
"My father's locked up in jail…" Keigo continues. "My mother abandoned me…If you were to die, I'd truly be all alone…You're the only person I have left!"
I gaze up at Keigo with wide eyes, realizing the loss I would have caused him if I died.
"I lived in fear while being abused by my father…" Keigo trembles. "I've looked at danger in the face countless times…But seeing you fall off that ledge…was by far the scariest moment in my life."
Keigo trembles as he wipes tears off his face, but they continue to pour out with the rain.
"My own parents didn't even want me…" Keigo continues to cry. "Since I was born, I felt unwanted…until I met you…"
I stare up at Keigo in awe.
"I can't stand losing someone else…" Keigo continues. "I don't wanna be alone…not again… I know what that feels like…and I don't want you feeling like that to the point you have to end your own life… I promise… no matter what, I'll always be there for you… I'll always love you."
Staring up at Keigo, my lips quiver and I lurch forward and embrace him. Keigo and I continue to embrace tightly as he shields us from the rain with his bright red wings.
I open my eyes and gaze around the room. It's the middle of the afternoon as I glance at the clock on my nightstand. Remembering my dream, I reach for my traceless cell phone and dial Keigo's number.
"Yello," Keigo's carefree voice answers.
"Keigo…" I'm relieved to hear his voice.
"Akira. I'm glad to hear from you," he sounds relieved.
"S-Sorry to bother…"
"You sound flustered. Everything ok?"
"Yeah, I just…had a dream."
"Hm? What about?"
"The night you saved me from suicide."
"Oh…" Keigo suddenly sounds more serious. "You doin ok?"
"Yeah, yeah…it's just…I wanna make sure you're alright. Had a late afternoon nap, it seems."
"Afternoon, huh?"
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
"Nah, you're fine. Just finished a meeting with the heroes."
"What's going on?"
"There's been a lot of careful planning… We're ready to move in and strike AFO and the PLF."
"It's not too soon, is it?"
"We can't afford to wait around any longer. It's now or never."
I clutch my shirt for a moment in worry.
"Please be careful, Keigo…" I plead. "I'm afraid of losing you, too…"
"Don't worry about a thing," Keigo reassures me. "Remember what I told you that night on the rooftop?"
I close my eyes for a moment as I recall his words.
"I'll always be there for you," Keigo reassures.
I let out a smile.
"Listen, Akira…" Keigo lowers his voice. "I wanna ask you something…"
"Go ahead," I say.
"About Touya…Are you prepared to handle how it ends for him?"
I remain silent for a moment in thought.
"He's already proven he's not goin down without a fight…" Keigo continues. "I need you to stay strong…no matter what happens."
"I know…" I nod. "I've come to terms with that."
"And there's something else…"
"Sure, go ahead."
Keigo lets out a sigh as I wait for him to continue.
"It's nothing…never mind," Keigo brushes it off.
"Please tell me," I plead.
"I'd rather tell you in person…If I ever get the chance…"
"And you will," I'm optimistic.
There's another moment of silence from Keigo.
"We'll get this whole mess situated in no time. Don't worry about a thing," Keigo reassures.
"We're reconvening," Enji says in the background.
"Got it!" Keigo responds to him.
"Keigo…" I say.
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"Yeah…I love you, too…" Keigo's voice is soft.
With that, I hang up and place the phone on my lap as I stare down at it. There's a knock at the door.
"Akira?" Chiyoko peers in. "Are you awake?"
"Yes…" I nod.
"I made some soup for lunch earlier, but it seems you fell asleep."
Chiyoko enters the room with a tray of food. She places it on the table stand next to my bed. I keep my gaze down in thought while Chiyoko prepares the food.
"Are you alright, dear?" Chiyoko sees my worried face.
"I just got off the phone with Keigo…" I reply.
"Is everything alright?"
"They're plotting to move in…to finally put an end to the whole mess."
"Oh dear…"
"I know I'm not supposed to worry so much, especially for the baby…" I place my hand on my stomach. "I just…had a dream…"
"What was your dream about?" Chiyoko sits on my bed.
"It was a memory of the night I nearly committed suicide… Keigo saved me…"
"He really loves you, doesn't he?"
"He does…" I stare down in thought.
For a moment, I wonder what Keigo wanted to tell me over the phone.
"After that dream…" I continue. "I just wanted to hear Keigo's voice and make sure he was ok… At least to wish him the best before things get worse."
"I'm sure he appreciates your words of encouragement," Chiyoko nods.
I nod with a warm smile and begin to eat my soup.
"And what about Touya?" Chiyoko asks.
I lower my gaze, unsure of how to answer.
"I'm…not even sure, to be honest…" I reply. "I understand that Touya has to be stopped…I only hope that everything resolves as best as possible."
"You and I both, dear," Chiyoko replies. "Now eat up. I'm sure your little one is hungry after that long afternoon nap."
"I think so," I laugh a bit. "They'll be addicted to your cooking, too."
"I'm sure of it," Chiyoko laughs.