Those few days passed and Saturday came around before John knew it.

He finished up his outfit: A light-blue button-up left unbuttoned, showing a black shirt underneath, and dark blue jeans with black shoes. He figured he'd try to do better than a tank top and shorts while covered in sweat.

His dad was out for the day, dealing with whatever authors deal with before releasing a book.

I hope his book does well. It could really open up the views of others, and help people see there's a better way to live than the hierarchy.

When he was ready, he set off for U-Mart.

"Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voi—"

John ended the call, leaning on the nearby bike railing. He's been trying to get ahold of Adrion for the past 10 minutes yet all of his calls have gone to voicemail.

Did something come up?

"John?"

The voice of a girl calls out. He tenses. It's a voice he's all too familiar with, just as familiar as her appearance as he looks up.

Her bright green hair was cut shorter, barely making it to her shoulders. Her eyes were as apple-red as they always were. She wore a brown cardigan, with the sleeves rolled up, atop a light blue shirt with a little white bow tied onto it, and light blue jeans.

She was taller as well, now only a couple of inches below his height.

"Claire?"

John noticed his breathing was beginning to get shaky and did his best to control it.

The girl before him had narrowed her eyes, John noticed her moving her foot back like she would be ready to turn away at a moment's notice.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, her tone clearly sounding unpleasant.

"I—"

"Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voi—"

"shudafukup." John muttered, having not noticed he tapped his phone to dial Adrion again. He looked back up at Claire to see her staring at him confused, one of her eyebrows cocked.

"I...M-Me and Adrion were going to try some new Boba after his shift ended. I've been trying to get ahold of him but he isn't picking up."

Claire's eyes widened. "Seriously?!"

She mumbled something under her breath, then looked back at him.

"That's what we were supposed to do today..."

John was confused. "So that means—"

"That means that he must've done this purpose. Adri probably thought it'd be difficult getting the two of us to see each other if we knew about it beforehand." She explained.

Adri? John was perplexed at the nickname. She never called Adrion that before.

Claire sighed, holding her phone up. "I haven't had any luck getting ahold of him either."

Their shared concern over Adrion grew, just as the awkward tension did as well. Just then, John felt someone's aura activating nearby. Then it was two. Then three.

The third was reminiscent of someone he knew.

John's worry skyrocketed. He pushed off the railing and walked past Claire, pulling her behind him by the arm. "Come with me!"

"What the―Get off!" Claire angrily pulled her hand away from John's grip. "Why would I follow you?!"

John stopped, realizing his action. "Fuck, I...I'm sorry. But I felt a few peoples' auras activating. One of them was Adrion, I'm sure of it."

Claire had a begrudged look but nodded. "Fine, lead the way."

It wasn't too far away, at the back of the U-Mart. John's hunch was right. They took a peak at the scene unfolding.

Adrion was on the ground, covering his face with his arm. It looked like he had already been bruised up, blood was dripping from his lip and there was a small bruise on his cheek.

"Dumb kid, the hell were you thinking trying to fight back? You already know we're stronger than you." A man who looked early mid-aged spoke. He had dark blue hair, and wore a plain orange shirt with black pants, Jared.

There was another man, with green hair, a grey shirt, and a blue blazer with jeans, Kenneth.

"No, not those jerks again." Claire mumbled.

John looked back at her, "You know these guys?"

"Adrion told me about them, they loaned his mom some money a couple times and now they won't stop hounding her for it. I guess they started going after him too." Claire scrunched her nose in anger.

Adrion stumbled, but he got up on his feet. "Just leave us—"

Adrion was too slow. Kenneth sent a powerful punch right to his gut, knocking Adrion down to his knees, clutching his broken ribs with a pained gasp.

"Fucking punk. You don't get to tell us shit. All we wanted was a couple U-Plus memberships but then you had to go make this sooo difficult."

On instinct, Claire tried to get closer, but John put his arm in front of her.

"Adrion needs help! I need to get him out of there!" She whisper-shouted.

"If you get involved, you'll end up injured too!"

Claire was surprised. There was...concern in his voice.

John looked back at the scene and took a deep breath. "I'll take care of it."

Claire wanted to stop him but...this was John, he wouldn't stop just because of her. She resigned herself to waiting for an opening to get to Adrion.

"Hey!"

The two men turned their heads in the direction of John's voice. "Huh? The hell do you want kid?" Shouted Jared.

"John?!" Adrion called out.

"Ah. So, he's a friend of yours?" Kenneth smirked.

John narrowed his eyes at the two. "They've already given back what they owed, so leave them alone and fuck off!"

The two men smirked and began to take steps toward John.

John studies their aura.

Adrion's mind was racing. John needs to get away from these guys! if he loses his temper...

"You okay, Adrion?" Claire asked, kneeling beside him as she went through her purse to grab some first-aid tools, a standard for her.

"Claire? You're here too?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Wasn't that the plan, genius?" She shot back, sarcasm dripping in her tone. She flicked his forehead for good measure.

"Ow... Y-Yeah, this didn't work out how I wanted it to..." He chuckled painfully.

Claire sighed, cleaning off the blood from his lip with a wipe. "You're such a goof sometimes." A small smile crept on her lips.

Adrion turned his attention back to John, he's about to speak up, but Claire stops him.

"You told me about how he's changed, haven't you?"

Claire recalls what bit of conversation Adrion brought up about John in their conversation from a few days ago, regardless of how out of the blue it felt.

And...how John spoke to her just a moment ago, the way he used to back in middle school.

She looks at the scene of the three.

"Then we should see if that's really the case."

Green-Hair...his ability is purely focused on Power...his aura is flowing the most into his fists. Blue-Hair...some sort of defensive ability...he can take a punch.

They're weaker than me in my first year at New Bostin.

"Ohhh, a busybody huh? What are you gonna do about it if we don't?" Jared taunted.

John sees Claire tending to Adrion. Good, their attention is focused on him.

It's my ability. I'm in control. I can determine how much force is needed to stop something.

"I'm giving you one chance just to walk away."

"Ohoho, scary!" Kenneth teased before pulling on John's shirt, pulling him closer. "As if! If you got a weakling like that as a friend, you can't be much better!

"Take this!" Kenneth pulled his fist back and aimed for John's face.

John activated his ability, copying Jared's.

Faster than Kenneth was expecting, John blocked the attack with his forearm.

What the hell? This guy didn't even budge—

His thoughts were interrupted by John gripping him by the jaw. He pulled Kenneth away from him, lifting him off his feet.

Holy shit! This kid's strong!

"Hey! Let him go you brat!' Jared yelled.

John glared at the man, causing him to stiffen. He copied Kenneth's ability.

"I gave you a chance."

He slammed his fist into Kenneth's guts, the kinetic force sending the man a good couple of feet away from him.

Jared's disbelief was soon replaced with anger, "Fucking brat! I'll teach you a lesson!", He yelled as he dashed towards John.

His moves were predictable and his aura was easy to read; The punch he aimed at John was deflected to the side, leaving him open for a counterattack. One strike was enough to bust his nose.

"Gah! Fuck!"

John wasn't done. The other man was beginning to recover, so he gripped Jared by his shirt and used his arm as leverage. With a turn and twist, he threw the man over to where Kenneth was.

For good measure, he caught up to Jared as he collided with Kenneth and slammed his foot into the man's stomach, sending both of them back down to the ground.

A part of John didn't feel satisfied. It's telling him to do more: Break bones, knock out some teeth, shatter their skulls—

No.

This...This was enough.

"Sh-Shit!" Kenneth muttered, fear entering his eyes as he saw John look down at him. Jared was already out for the count. "W-We're sorry, okay? We didn't know you were this strong! We'll leave! We won't mess with him anymore!"

John pulled the man in by the lower half of his face.

"Wa-Wait! Please!"

"Shut up and listen." His eye contact didn't waver as he stared at the man.

"If I hear about you fucking with Adrion and his family ever again, I'll find the hole you low-lives crawled out of and make you leave permanently!"

Kennethputhis arms in front of him out of here, cowering below John. "Okay! Okay! Please let us live!"

John dropped the man back to the ground, then pointed at the blonde-haired boy, whose phone was shattered. "You owe him a new one."

Kenneth fumbled around with his blazer for a second before finding his wallet and throwing out all the cash he had to John, a couple hundred.

John motioned his head towards Jared.

Kenneth went through Jared's pockets, another couple hundred.

John picked up the money, keeping eye contact with Kenneth through all of it, he didn't dare look away.

"Now get the fuck out of my sight!"

Kenneth pulled his friend up and left as fast as they could.

John made his way over to Adrion and Claire. He took notice of their expressions, Adrion's looked akin to amazement while Claire looked noticeably surprised.

He leaned forward, handing the money over to Adrion meekly. "H-Here, for the phone. Hope it's enough."

"O-Oh, thanks! This is more than enough, might be able to get one of the newer models with this!"

Claire looked like she wanted to speak up, but the pained expression on her face showed she wasn't comfortable with it.

Adrion pushed himself back up. "You were seriously cool right there, John! It felt like a victory, like back then before—Gah!" Adrion moved around too much, his ribs were starting to hurt again. "Crap..."

"We should get you to a clinic." Claire suggested, getting up as well.

Adrion waved her off. "A-Actually, we got a healer treatment service here at the U-Mart, I can use some of this money for that." Adrion started walking to the backdoor.

"I-I can help you in." John tried to follow after but Adrion stopped him.

"No no no, I'll be fine! It's closer to the back of the store, won't be too much trouble! I'll be back in like 10 minutes!" Adrion went inside.

John and Claire just stood there, Awkward glances in each others' directions.

...

Adrion quickly came back out.

"JUST TALK ALREADY!"

He went back inside.

"He can be surprisingly stubborn when he wants to be." Claire noted.

John hummed. "Yeah." He remembers when they got into an argument over whether it was Neopolitan Ice Cream, John's thought, or Neapolitan Ice Cream, Adrion's.

...

Adrion was right in the end but still.

"You've...learned to stop." Claire mumbled, not sure what else to say.

John scratched his neck. "Took me long enough, didn't it?" He tried to joke.

It didn't land.

"Claire, there's a lot I need to tell you."

Claire glanced at the backdoor of the U-Mart, a defeated sigh leaving her lips before she made a swiping motion with her hand. "We have the time, I suppose. The floor is yours."

"There's been...a lot I've had to think through. I've finally realized what was going on around me and how much the two of you tried to help, but I just wouldn't listen. There's...so much of me that I hate from back then and I'm doing whatever I can to not go down that road again, to be better.

John's amber eyes glowed. He could see Claire freeze up just a little from the corner of his eyesight. It pained him.

"This power that you helped grow, that you helped me master, I want it to be seen as something good. Something I can be proud to have and something you could be proud of for helping."

It pulled at Claire more than she expected.

Damn it, she had been proud of it, one of the only things she could've felt pride in before it turned into regret and pain.

"I'm sorry for what I did to you. I want to make up for it in any way I can."

"You..." She had to take a breath before continuing. "What happened back then can't be made up for, John. For more than a year, I tried so hard to get you to understand you were going too far, and every time I was blown off without a second thought. You were arrogant, violent, and completely unhinged."

The memories of those events pained Claire deeply, and tears began to form as she continues. "For all this time after what happened, I just wanted you to stay away from me for the rest of my life..."

John clenched his fists and bit the inside of his cheek. It hurt to hear her say that, but he couldn't tell her she was wrong, she was far from it. He should've known he had done too much to—

"And yet, I can't tell you that now," Claire said.

John stumbled in his thoughts hearing her say that, looking at her.

Claire continued to speak, trying her best to keep her voice steady. "You showed concern for me and for Adrion. You protected... and you stopped when you had taken those guys down. And you've learned your mistakes..." Claire moved closer, making a fist and lightly bumping it against John's chest. "If this John can stick around, then maybe..."

Claire turned away, hands over her eyes.

"Claire? Are you alright?" John asks, a bit frantically.

Claire let out a laugh mixed with a gasp, caused by the lump in her throat.

These damn tears sneak attacked me again.

"Adrion was right", She wiped away the tears from her eyes, turning to John. "You really have changed." She spoke.

The biggest weight on John's shoulders was lifted at that moment.

"Thank you, Claire. Hearing you say that... makes me really happy." John spoke in gratitude.

She forgot how infectious his smile was. Soon enough, she was smiling as well.

Curse you, John Doe.

"Soooo, everything okay now?"

Adrion popped back in.

John gave him a smile. "Yeah, I think so."

"Pretty convenient timing, Adri." She crossed her arms and gave him the look.

"T-There wasn't a line! He's a really good healer!" Adrion frantically shook his hands in front of him, John found it pretty amusing.

"I'm still a little irked you did this without telling either of us." She poked at his chest.

"W-Well." Adrion shrugged in defeat. "All's well that ends well?"

Claire rolled her eyes, with an endearing smile on her face.

John smiled at the two. He may have blown it with her, but at least the only two friends he's ever had were happy together.

"This thing you two have is nice. Very...cute." John commented.

"H-Huh, how'd you know?" Adrion wondered.

"No one I've met has ever called you Adri, Adrion. Ever. She didn't even call you that when we were friends" John waves his hand around. "Clearly, there's been a change in your relationship."

Claire let out a small giggle. "You could always pick up on the small details...whenever you weren't out of your mind, of course."

John sighed. "If only that translated to my studies."

"Are we still all good on the boba trip?" Adrion asked.

John glanced at Claire. Sure, they've made up, but he didn't want to intrude on something Claire thought was just between her and Adrion.

But seeing his look, she just shrugged with a small smile. "I'm still up for it."

John warms up a bit before he nods toward Adrion. "Let's try some new boba."

"I have the best boba palette for boba flavors, anyways." He notes on their way to the boba shop.

"You literally only ever had Mango Boba." Claire quips instantly.

"Exactly, you can't improve upon perfection."

"I still think Pineapple Boba's pretty good!" Adrion added

John half-heartedly groaned. "Oh god, you're as bad as my old man."

Notes:

Name: Jared
Ability: Durability
Level: 2.7
[Power: 2 Speed: 1 Trick: 1 Recovery: 2 Defense: 3]

Name: Kenneth
Ability: Heavy Fist
Level: 2.6
[Power: 4 Speed: 1 Trick: 1 Recovery: 1 Defense: 1]

Name: John
Ability: Aura Manipulation
Level: 7.2
[Power: 6 Speed: 1 Trick: 15 Recovery: 2 Defense: 4.5]
Abilities Copied: Durability + Heavy Fist

A/N: Feedback is always appreciated!