A phone rings nearby.
"Yeah…" Keigo's voice answers. "She's here at my apartment… She's fine. She had another episode…"
I wake up to Keigo talking, opening my eyes slowly. I'm facing up at the ceiling, peering through the dim room. I slowly sit up and glance around, realizing I'm in Keigo's apartment.
"She's awake now," Keigo continues to talk on the phone. "I'll call you back."
I stare down at my hands, a brief flash of blood appearing on them.
"Hey…" Keigo crouches to my right. "How ya feelin?"
"Head hurts…" I softly respond.
"Here's some water," Keigo hands me a cup.
"Thanks…" I take it.
I drink a good amount of the water, holding the cup as I stare down in thought.
"What happened?" I ask.
"You don't remember?" Keigo asks.
I shake my head slowly.
"I found you on the far end of my balcony close to 3am," Keigo explains. "You were soaked in rain…"
I glance over at the LED clock on the wall nearby, seeing it's now 4:20am. I stare down at the cup in my hands.
"You've been asleep for about an hour," Keigo says. "You don't remember how you ended up here?"
I slowly shake my head.
"Security footage caught you leaving your room back at the Commission facility…" Keigo explains. "According to a guard, it looked like you were running from something."
I keep my gaze down at the cup of water in my hands.
"Seems you were reliving a memory…" Keigo says. "The guards were honestly surprised you didn't blow up your chamber."
"I didn't?" I glance up in surprise.
"They said you just ran outta the facility and took off in the rain…Then ya ended up on my balcony."
I stare at my cup of water before finishing it and placing it on the floor. I bring my knees up to my chest as I sit in silence with Keigo sitting patiently next to me.
"Thunderstorms trigger that specific memory…" I finally say. "The night I accidentally killed a family on the battlefield…"
"This is the first I hear about it…" Keigo says.
"I haven't told anyone…it's been eating away at me since…"
"When did this happen?"
"Some months ago…the night you found me under that crashed plane…"
Keigo is surprised at hearing this. We both begin to recall that night.
An explosion goes off as I leap into a trench. Gun fire surrounds the area as the bullets are aimed at me. I try to catch my breath as I apply pressure to a gunshot wound on my left side. Lightning flashes as thunder booms afterward, the cold rain pouring down. An enemy plane above spots me and takes aim. Before it can shoot, I blast a ray of energy at it and it plummets down toward the area I'm in. With a grimace, I get up and sprint through the trench while ducking my head down as bullets spray around me. The plane crashes some yards behind me, the shockwave sending me flying across the field. I land in a pile of thick mud, the cold rain dripping down my soaked hair. The sound of enemies shouting gets louder as I hear them approach.
'I'm too weak to fight…' I think to myself.
An explosion goes off from a grenade some yards from me. Seeing as this is my only chance, I begin to charge my body and prepare to detonate myself. Before I can fully charge, a bullet hits my arm, causing me to prematurely detonate. After some moments, the cold rain hits my face and I come to, gazing around the surrounding area. About a 15 yard diameter of land has been flattened around me. The sound of men yelling in the far distance tells me there are some surviving enemy soldiers, but I can't fight in my weakened condition. I push through the thick mud and get up on my feet, running into the patch of forest. My breathing is shallow as I apply pressure to the bullet wound on my left side. I see that my detonation reached a gas tank nearby, causing it to explode and reach into the forest. The enemy soldiers continue to chase after me on foot. I reach the edge of the forest and spot what appears to be a pile of rubble. Wondering what it could be, I make my way toward it, trudging through the muddy land. Upon getting closer to the pile of rubble, I freeze at the sight of bloody legs underneath a pile of adobe and leaves. Scanning the pile more, I spot another pair of bloody legs. I glance back at the gas tank that's still on fire nearby. My detonation must've blown it up, the blast reaching this adobe home some yards nearby. I lift the pile of leaves and see a couple laying in the rubble. My breathing quickens upon realization of what's happened to them. Then I spot another pair of smaller feet closeby under a pile of leaves. My heart pounds in my chest as I slowly make my way over to it. I lift the pile of leaves and find a toddler laying in the rubble. His body is covered in his blood. I drop to my knees next to the child and take him into my arms, carefully holding his head up.
"Wake up…" I gently shake the boy.
The boy doesn't respond.
"Wake up…." I plead.
Despite my nudges, there's no doubt this boy is dead. My face scrunches up at the realization as I see the boy's blood now in my hands and arms.
"What have I done?" I mutter in horror.
A bullet zips by as I lower myself. Enemy soldiers have spotted me. I take one last glance at the little boy and trudge away in the pouring cold rain, thunder booming. I'm too weak to detonate myself, so I continue to make a run for it. Shots hit trees on my left and right as I hide behind one. I peer from behind the tree and see there are a handful of soldiers left chasing after me. After catching my breath behind the tree, I take off and lower myself to dodge the barrage of bullets. I blast one enemy after another with some struggle as my aiming is a bit off. After blasting the last one, I trudge back to the open field where a handful of planes crashed into the ground. Bodies are scattered about, but my mind can't get rid of the image of the dead child in my arms. As I struggle to walk in the cold rain, I try to activate my GPS tracker. The light blinks, but I see it's been damaged as it sparks. I'm not sure if the signal will go through, so I make my way under a crashed plane and take shelter there. I drag my battered body through the thick mud, the plane covering me from the rain as I lay on my back. I let out a yelp as I writhe in pain.
Meanwhile, on a helicopter some miles away, Keigo is standing at the open door.
"Any news on the situation?" Keigo asks the pilot.
"There's nothing yet after that explosion from Akira," the pilot replies.
"It's been a good while since she last detonated herself," Keigo notes.
Keigo stares off into the distance where clouds of black smoke trail into the sky some miles ahead. Suddenly, a beeping goes off. Keigo looks at the screen of a device in his hand.
"It's Akira!" Keigo exclaims. "It's a distress signal!"
"Her location isn't clear," the pilot says.
"Her tracker must be damaged! We gotta go find her!"
"We haven't received confirmation of the enemies being neutralized."
"I'm not gonna sit around and wait!" Keigo prepares to fly.
"Hawks!" the pilot yells after him.
Keigo jumps out of the helicopter as he races through the air in the pouring rain. After reaching a heavily damaged area, he scans the land seeing the aftermath of explosions. He sends dozens of his feathers out into the field below.
"Sense her…" he says. "Screams, breaths, clothes rustling, any vibrations…Find her!"
After some time, the search continues to no avail. Keigo panics a bit the more time passes. He continues to scan the area from above. Suddenly, a feather of his senses shallow breathing nearby. He wastes no time and zips through the air toward a crashed plane about half a mile away.
"Akira!" Keigo desperately yells. "Akira!"
Keigo swiftly lands next to the airplane, running up to it as he spots a glimpse of a hand.
"Akira!" he finds me underneath.
Keigo carefully pulls me out from under the plane. He scans my bloody and battered body and notices I'm bleeding out from my left side.
"I need a medic ready now!" Keigo frantically speaks into his earpiece.
Keigo lifts me and takes off into flight back toward the helicopter.
"Akira, stay with me!" Keigo pleads. "Hang in there for me!"
Keigo flies as fast as he can toward the helicopter as I fight to stay conscious.
Keigo's eyes furrow after remembering that night.
"I thought I was gonna lose you…" Keigo says.
"To be honest…" I say. "I thought that you should've left me there to die after what happened to that family…to that little boy…"
I hold my knees closer to my chest as I stare down in thought. Keigo glances out the glass windows as thunder continues to boom outside with lightning flashing.
"So thunderstorms trigger your memory of that night, huh…" Keigo says.
I tighten the hold around my legs as thunder continues to boom.
"The thunder…" I mutter. "The lightning…it brings me back to that night…"
Keigo stares at me for a moment. A feather of his brings his headphones over and he holds them over my head.
"Here…" Keigo holds them. "These will muffle the sound of the thunder."
Keigo carefully places the headphones over my ears, and I apply pressure to them to further muffle the sounds of thunder. This gradually helps me feel better as my eyes water a bit.
"I'm sorry for being such a burden to you…" I say. "I disturbed your sleep by coming here…After waking up from that memory… I just didn't know where else to go…"
Keigo reaches for the headphone on my right ear and gently pulls it off enough for me to hear him.
"I'd rather you come here…than be off somewhere alone," Keigo reassures me. "You're safe here with me."
I gaze up at Keigo's warm expression at me. My eyes begin to tear up as I can't help but feel comforted by him.
"Thank you, Keigo…" I close my eyes and bury my face in my knees.
Later that morning, Keigo is standing in front of the President's desk in her office.
"I'm not sure if I can trust Akira being out in the city after running off early this morning," the President says.
"It's better than blowing up the chamber she calls a bedroom," Keigo responds. "I'd say that's a sign of progress."
"The fact that she showed up at your apartment is what's preventing me from locking her up here. If she'd gone missing, I'd have banned her from further activity in the city."
"She was going through a PTSD episode. She subconsciously made her way to my apartment, somewhere she feels safe… Isn't that proof enough that this place is what's triggering her episodes?"
The President stays silent.
"It's just been one night," she responds. "It's not enough to prove anything."
"It's enough to prove something," Keigo retorts. "Why can't you just admit that Akira is better off outta this place?"
"The public is better off with her here. What if she has an episode in the middle of the city and she blows it half to hell?"
"It won't happen. She'll get better. She already has been."
"Just what makes you so sure about that?"
"Because I'm an optimist to a fault…and I believe in Akira… And so should you."
The President remains silent as she sternly stares at Keigo.
"You have less than a year to prove me wrong," the President says. "If Akira doesn't show improvement by then, she'll remain here at the Commission."
"That's more than enough time," Keigo turns to leave.
Keigo grabs the door knob and stops.
"Akira will get better…" he keeps his back toward the President. "I'll make sure of it."
Keigo opens and closes the office door after him.
I'm sitting at my desk, staring down at my cell phone. Still no sign of any calls or texts coming through.
'I guess I really need to get more contacts on my phone…' I think to myself.
Just then, my phone rings and vibrates, and I quickly pick it up.
"Hello," I say.
"Hey there!" Keigo's voice comes through.
I turn around and see him smiling at me from the doorway.
"Am I in trouble?" I hang up.
"Nah! You're good!" Keigo reassures me.
"The President wasn't too happy about me disappearing so late at night…"
"Never mind that! Let's go out into the city on patrol!"
I stare at Keigo's reassuring face and finally nod.
Keigo and I walk through the streets late in the morning, crowds of people bustling around at this time.
"So far so good!" Keigo says. "No sign of any trouble! Great start to the day!"
I'm staring down in thought, and Keigo takes notice.
"What's goin on in that head?" Keigo interrupts my thoughts.
"What do you think…" I begin to say. "If I reach out to Fuyumi and her family?"
"Hm? The Todoroki family?" Keigo raises a brow.
"It's been so long since I last saw them…Now that I've got more freedom to wander, I've been thinking of visiting the Todoroki abode."
"You really think that's a good idea?"
"I know it may bring some sad memories…but I figured it would be good closure. I think it would be a good step toward healing."
I keep my gaze ahead in thought and then glance at Keigo.
"What do you think?" I ask.
Keigo stares at me for a moment and then his gaze drops down.
"I just wonder if the President would allow me to go out of the city…" I say.
"Doesn't hurt to try," Keigo finally says.
"I just don't know how to bring it up to her…"
"I'll figure it out."
"You'd do that for me?"
"Sure. Anything to help you heal," Keigo smiles warmly at me.
I give him a small smile as we continue walking down the street.
Keigo is flying through the city late afternoon as he holds his phone up to his ear.
"So you're asking permission for Akira to visit the Todoroki estate?" the President asks.
"It's what she wants…" Keigo replies. "It'll bring her some closure after being separated from them those years ago… It'll be good for her healing."
"I'll grant it so long as you watch her. She can't know that you're keeping an eye on her."
"She won't. I'll be observing her from afar. Spying is my expertise, after all."
"Report your findings to me as usual."
"Gotcha."
Keigo hangs up and slips the phone back in his pocket.
"Hey!" I fly toward Keigo. "You disappeared on me for a while."
"Ah, sorry about that!" Keigo says. "Had to check in on some of my sidekicks nearby."
"Everything ok?"
"Yup! Let's head down for something to drink. I'm parched!"
Keigo and I fly down to the nearest convenience store.
"You mind goin in to get us something to drink?" Keigo asks.
"No problem," I nod. "The usual?"
"You know I love some canned iced coffee!"
I make my way into the store and head to the fridge section. I scan the canned coffee drinks and spot Keigo's favorite one. I grab a can of FOX coffee and then reach for a can of matcha tea for myself. After closing the fridge door, I make my way to the register in line with a few people in front. I hold the can of coffee for Keigo.
'He must need this coffee after I woke him up so early today….' I think to myself. 'I really feel so bad…'
I sigh and glance up at the glass window. Through the busy crowd of people, my eyes land on Keigo who's standing deep in thought, a hint of sorrow on his face as his eyes are to the ground. I stare at him for a moment, wondering what's on his mind.
"Next in line, please!" the cashier calls out.
I snap out of my thoughts and realize I'm next in line. I pay for our drinks and head back to Keigo. His expression has completely changed from his sorrowful one moments ago.
"Thanks!" Keigo smiles as he takes the can from me. "How much do I owe ya?"
"Don't worry about it," I reply. "I owe you since you probably need it after I woke you up so early today…"
"Hey, don't worry. Nothin I'm not used to!"
I stare up at his reassuring smile. With that, we head out back on patrol.
It's late in the evening. Keigo and I are sitting at his favorite spot on top of the tallest building in the city. We're enjoying some dango to finish off the night.
"Nothing but a few minor criminals today!" Keigo exclaims. "Not too bad, huh?"
"Nope!" I smile.
I happily eat my dango as I dangle my legs over the ledge with Keigo a few feet next to me. A moment of silence follows as we enjoy our dango.
"Keigo?" I say.
"Mm hm?" he responds.
"You really don't think about your parents? At all?"
Keigo finishes chewing and is in thought for a moment.
"What's the point?" Keigo replies. "Thinking won't change the past."
"I know they weren't the best parents…" I say. "But they're still your parents… You don't miss them? Even just a bit?"
"Can't say that I do… Most of the memories I have are of my father beating me and my mother calling me a good for nothing… Who'd wanna miss that?" Keigo chuckles a bit.
"I guess so…" I nod. "Sorry I asked…"
"Don't be. It makes sense considering you didn't have your parents from the beginning. I probably sound like an ungrateful brat by just forgetting about my parents."
"No, you don't!" I shake my head. "I understand why you feel that way… You didn't deserve to grow up with such a harsh childhood."
"Well, I'm sure of one thing."
"Hm?"
"You know I'm an optimist to a fault…so the silver lining in my tragic past…is having met you."
I glance over at Keigo's warm expression at me. I stare at him for a moment, and he glances away.
"Hey, about you visiting the Todoroki estate…" Keigo breaks the silence.
"Hm?" I raise a brow.
"How about you pay them a visit tomorrow?"
"Did the President approve it?"
"Yup."
"Really?" My eyes widen a bit in surprise. "I…I don't know what to say…"
"Say you'll visit them tomorrow morning!"
"It's Saturday… I don't want to intrude on their weekend…"
"I'm sure they'll be happy to see you."
I stare down with a look of uncertainty.
"Thank you, Keigo…" I say. "You advocate so much for me…"
"I do have a way with words," Keigo says with a smug smile.
I giggle a bit as I continue to eat my dango. Another moment of silence ensues.
"Akira…I've been meaning to ask you…" Keigo says.
"Yeah?" I continue to chew.
"Are you…still in love with Touya?"
My brows rise at this question as my gaze lowers in thought.
"My heart hasn't forgotten him…" I finally reply.
"Hm…" Keigo responds.
"Why ask?"
"I just wonder…if going back to the Todoroki estate would bring back any sorrow for you…"
"To be honest, it will…but I'm using it to heal…something you taught me," I smile warmly at Keigo.
Keigo stares at my warm smile for a moment before glancing away.
"Say you heal from your past…" he continues. "Is there any chance of you moving on from Touya?"
"I'm not so sure…" I reply. "He and I devoted ourselves to each other…"
"You've gotta move on in order to heal, don't ya?"
"Perhaps only time will tell…"
I finish the dango and stare at the stick in my hand.
"Why ask that?" I turn to Keigo.
"No reason…" Keigo replies.
"Knowing how your mind works, there's a reason."
"I just…wanna make sure you're okay."
I keep my gaze down for a moment.
"After all…I'm like a brother to you, right?" Keigo asks.
I give him a slow nod.
"It's better than nothing…" Keigo gazes down into the city streets.
I wonder about his words when my phone suddenly rings, and I answer it.
"You're due back at the facility," a Commission officer says.
"I'll be on my way…" I respond.
I hang up and gaze down, the wind and noise of the streets below filling in the silence.