Almost forgot to publish today. Busy reading fics. Nothing good nowadays.
The chilling sight left Aiho scrambling on her legs, once again lifting the boy into her arms. She ran like never before. "Here's the plan," She exclaims.
An explosion rang out once more. This time, it was the road on their right. She barely dodged the erupting asphalt. "They're after you, and they're not holding back at all. They..." she gulped. "They wanted you dead."
He knew that just as well as her. But it coming from her of all people made the two feel very much uneasy. "The mall is just a few blocks away. They won't catch us at this rate unless they're on foot. I'll be dropping you off in the alley," His head jerked at that. "I want you to run as fast as you can. Out of the district if possible- no, Get. Out. Of. The. City." She wasn't just telling him, she was demanding him to.
"Bu-"
"Not buts!" She screamed, dodging another explosion from a building across. "This is a matter of life or death! I will NOT let you die."
He refuted once more. "Hirano!" She screamed at him. She sounded angry. Very much so. "Do you want to die?!"
He kept quiet at that. She was being harsh for him, not on him. He knew that much. He hated this. She's done so much, but he hasn't shown much appreciation on his part. He had hoped he could've done better.
She came to a full halt, dropping him off onto his foot. She grabbed him by the shoulders. "I'm sorry I yelled at you." There were tears in her eyes. "There were so many more things that I would like for you to experience in life, and I want to witness it all. But unfortunately things didn't go my way." She wiped the trails off her cheeks.
"I want you to live a good life, okay? Start gaining some weight, don't push others away otherwise you'll feel lonely, and... and... be happy with everything you have." She was saying everything she wanted to say at that very moment. Her breath uncontrolled and the limited time she has heavily impaired her speech.
He was pulled into a hug, his head cradled by her arms. "You're the best thing that has ever happened to me." She whispered into his ears. He couldn't help but hug her in return.
Their hug didn't last for no more than two seconds before she pushed him. There was a look of guilt on her face. "Now go!" She shouts at him, pushing him again for good measure.
At that, he ran just as she had.
"Papa, I don't understand."
Shirai Kuroko wasn't given an explanation as to why she couldn't go to school that day. Her parents didn't tell her anything, all they were doing was giving her the stares.
Did she do something wrong? She must've. Otherwise, why else would she be punished? She can only wonder what she has done.
She sits in the living room, her tiny legs hanging loose on the edge of the couch; movements like they usually were. Mama was moving in and out of their bedroom, including hers. There were a lot of bags that she was bringing.
Another thing that she noticed was the anxious air her parents were giving off. It made her feel very nervous as well. The continuous cycle made her go over the edge.
She jumped off the couch, her favourite doll in hand. She approached her mama, tugging on her massive skirt. "Are we moving again?"
The older woman can only exhale before kneeling. Her hand caresses her daughter's hair. "Kuroko, honey, you have to understand. We're... me and your father are not happy here..."
That saddened the young girl. "But I am..."
Her mama visibly flinched at her whisper. She looked away, unable to meet her big eyes. Gathering up her wills, she got up and went back to gathering the clothes.
The girl sulked. Her legs went limp as she knelt down, hugging her knees. She sniffles, the mother's movements slowed, occasionally sending glances at the girl.
...
The majority of their clothings had been gathered up and stuffed into the trunk of their car. The girl stood by the entrance of their house, staring right into the grand hall of their apartment building's lobby.
Her father was still inside, supposedly making a phone call. Kuroko's favourite stuffed doll hangs just above her knees, it's hand and her tight little grip is the only thing that keeps it from touching the floor entirely.
A gentle hand presses against her scalp. "Honey?" Her mother's voice, softly spoken. "Stop doing that, please. You know how hard it is for us as well."
"But I thought you guys hated it here? How come it's suddenly hard for you?" Her mother flinched, as if realizing her own mistake.
"U-umm... Y'know..." She couldn't find a proper word for it. Sometimes, her daughter's intelligence can be frightening. Keyword. 'Sometimes'. "Just get in the car. Please?"
The girl humphed, stomping her way out. The older woman sighed. Not long after, her husband came out of the elevator, rubbing the temple of his head.
"Something wrong?" She inquired, raising an eyebrow and asking when he was within the hearing zone.
"Very." He stuffed both his hands into his pockets, briefly looking around the place. "Where is she?" He asked.
"In the car." He nodded. "So what was it?"
There was a pause. "We're not leaving." The woman's eyes widened. Before she could begin protesting, he raised a hand. "Not permanently, that is."
That seemed to have calmed her down, just slightly. "How come?"
"Kuroko's an Esper. A promising one at that as well. It's dangerous for her to be out there with an ability like that." He tried to explain it all as simply as he could.
"She's a Level 1. Plus she gets a headache every time she uses it. There is no way she woul-"
"I know, I know, that's exactly what I told them."
She paused. "Them?"
He nods. "The Board of Directors."
Her expression appears grim. She pursed her lips, shoulder tense. "What exactly did they do this time?" There was a slight tremble in her voice.
"They threatened us." The woman paled. "I should have known from the beginning that there was something shady when they offered us those deals." He began rubbing his temple once more.
"At least they're letting us leave at times like this." He exhales. "Let's go." He grabbed his distressed wife by the hand and walked over for the car.
A distant popping and a slight tremor from the ground had them feeling nervous. The little girl got out of the car, jumping off. "Earthquake!" She screams, rushing over towards her parents.
The two doubted that it was one. "It's here." He lifted the girl and sprinted over to the vehicle. They sped off, away from the district soon-to-be battle zone.
He was leaning on the side of the wall with his shoulder, panting. He then lets his back rest on it before letting his body slide down it. He wiped his face off from the pouring sweats.
The alley is dark and very humid. The blistering sun up above could barely reach inside the tight concrete gaps. His hoodie would have done wonders in this place.
His eyes opened as distant grumbles and blasts brought back the events that had transpired just minutes ago. They sound so close, he feels the hairs on his back stand.
The sounds reminded him of her, for what she was doing right now. He pictured her face and how grateful he was for her. Yet he regrets that he couldn't have done much more to repay her.
This act of her had solidified her position in his heart. A guardian and a mother, that's all she had been for him, and that's how he'll remember her as. Nothing would replace her. Ever.
And he began to think.
What had he done for her exactly? All he's ever done was do her bidding, which isn't that many nor are they that important to begin with. In fact, all the things he's done for her was because of him to begin with. He was wasting her money and resources.
He shook his head. That's not the kind of thing he should be thinking of the situation he has at hand, that's what she would've wanted anyway. He thought of what could possibly happen in the next few days.
Would he even survive until then? He does not know.
The more he thought of his future, the more grim he saw it. Academy City was said to be 20 - 30 years ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to education and technological advancements. Surely it is also the most powerful city in the world.
He has no real knowledge of what the outside world looks like, nor does he possess the survival capabilities to strive out there. The world is different from this city. If they somehow gained knowledge of his power, they would hunt him as well.
And who's to say that the city would not hunt him out there as well? Hell, they might as well ally with them. He'll be handed over in no time.
Then, where will he go? Can he trust anyone? Will he have to kill more people? He deeply frowned at that. He hated hurting others. It keeps reminding him of the uncontrolled nature of this power.
With the hundreds of scenarios running in him mind, all he could think of, all of them are riddled with the same problems. With him being hunted.
Is that how he's gonna live his life from now on? Be hunted, never trusting anyone ever again and always on the run? That is a horrible life, nor is it any way of living.
He does not want that.
But then again, what choice does he have?
Yomikawa Aiho's face flashed in his mind when he heard an explosion just a few hundred metres away. He kept looking in the direction.
His guardian has helped him in many more ways that he is comfortable with. He hated that he's the only one who has ever been saved and not the one who saves others.
Why can't he be more like her?
He wanted to slap himself for being so vulnerable, so fragile. If anything, it should be her in his position right now. He was the one who was being hunted, not her. She has more potential in doing good for the people, not him.
She was everything that he strives for. She was his model figure and idol. She was everything that he's ever dreamt of.
She deserves to live.
...
An idea struck his head. His emotions leaked into his face. He could do better than this. He wanted to repay his debt and he was certain this would be more than enough.
He hated the idea of not being able to repay her back, so he did not hesitate. He got up from his position and rushed back towards the direction he came from.
She said it herself. To be a good boy. And that's what he's gonna do. She deserves it.
But there's one problem.
The alley has collapsed. There were more than half a kilometre of rubble directly in front of him. This was done deliberately and not some buildings caught in the midst of battle.
His eyes twitched. He'd begun to assume that these soldiers are mercenaries of some sort. Nobody would do this to their own country.
He clicked his tongue. How is he supposed to get over there now? No way he's gonna climb these mountains of rubble. He'll be spotted immediately.
He looked around for a second. "Oh," he'd forgotten that these walls were actually buildings and that they have doors. He tried opening it, but it was locked. Grimacing, he kicked it open.
Nobody was inside.
Not only the roads, but also the buildings. They must've been evacuated before all of this. This entire thing has been planned. The only people capable of orchestrating a city-wide manhunt like this are the higher ups.
He frowned. Suddenly the bright idea looked so grim. Was the penalty for injuring civilians always this severe?
He looked out the window. Surely enough, there were several of the heavy machineries. Most are passing through. Several of them, smaller than the rest and lacking the distinctive long barrel all of them have, were parked outside of the shopping mall. For once he felt glad seeing the building so close and so quickly.
Making sure nothing or no one was around, he got out and rushed into the massive place.
Not even a week ago, he had explored the place with several others. It was lively and filled with people. Now it was left barren and all broken up. Bullet holes and broken glass littering the place.
His frown deepened when he heard grunts and groans in a far left shop. Many racks of clothes on hangers were displayed, varying in colours and sizes. It was the place where he'd gotten his first article of clothing.
On the deeper end of said place were several people, all armed and donning urban camo armours. One of them was smoking a cigarette, sitting on a chair, reading a magazine he'd found on the floor. The guy smoking was left alone when the others laughed and entered the back room.
The source of the noises were coming from the same back door.
He picked up a small pebble near his feet, and threw it as hard as he possibly could.
It hit him directly on the temple. If it wasn't for his helmet, it would've left a hole in it. But the force, amplified with his ability, had been strong enough for it to snap his neck.
He'd hoped that he would live through that. But upon closer looks, he doubted it. He let out a shaky breath at the sight of the body, his hands quivering. He looked away. It was a necessary evil, he thought. He bids his apology and opens the door.
And he was just in time for his eyes to catch something shiny. It was long, and he knew that it was hard. His eyes widened.
The thing swung and made a noise that will forever be playing inside his head. It's sight ingrained in his mind, never to be forgotten. The chair fell on the side. Red and blue don't mix so well, and there's a lot of them.
Momentarily, everything stopped moving. All he could see was her, there. All he heard was the crunching noise when the thing connected. When the red flies off, so does the hope he has.
Along with it were the limitations that he'd impose on himself.
The people turned around when he let out a gasp, both men and women alike. His mind went blank. In one second, they were aiming at him. Next, the storage room was painted red.
He didn't remember when, but he was kneeling, carefully untying a knot. He saw bruises around her wrist. Her neck was marked with blue imprints. And her face, riddled with cuts and swells. Red flows freely from her head.
She looked so peaceful, even in such a terrible state. She's not gonna make it.
Knowing that hurts the most it has ever been, inventing a new definition of what hurting truly means. All he could do was hoist her on his back gently whilst keeping her blood flow balanced. Her heart beat on his back soothes him, reminding him that she still has some time.
He was slow in his pace, making sure she wasn't awoken on the way out. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't. What use is his tears when it wouldn't do nothing but stain whatever things it touches?
So he kept it to himself. The rage he felt was restrained. He did not feed into it. He had the tendency to clutch his hands when does it. Right now he is holding her. To do that would mean to hurt her. She's gone through enough pain already.
Though his eyes were down on the floor, he could hear the rumbling engines just outside. Their boots slammed against the hot asphalt and their guns cocked. He bit the side of his lips.
They didn't do anything, fortunately. Out the front door, he lifted his head. They were surrounded. Everyone and everything that is opposing them is facing them. Not once did he think of ever coming out of this unscathed. Not if he could end it all right then and there.
He was gonna make the first move, now that all hope is gone. But the shallow breathing on his shoulder keeps him from doing so. There was a light squeeze from her hugging arms as he coiled it around his neck, holding onto it. He wanted to think that it came from her, and not just him.
It was at that moment did he realize that he might still have a chance just yet.
His original plan was to run away. But with her in the state she is in, doing so would mark her for death. Something that he is trying to avoid at ANY cost.
"Put your hands up where I can see them!" One shouts at the very back of the line. "You have been completely surrounded! Stop resisting and give it up!"
He puts his gaze directly on the person. They didn't flinch, instead walking closer, their right hand sitting on top of his holster. He stopped just a few alligator lengths away from them.
The man was gonna say something, but he wasn't gonna hear any of it. "I have a proposition." He didn't know why he sounded so blank when he had intended it to be as serious as he could.
Nevertheless, the man snickers. "You?" He replies, almost mockingly. "Kid, can't you see that you're in no position to make any propositions?" The man bents, staring directly into his eyes.
A mistake. His glare sent him back into straightening his back. He scowled. "I could end you all right here, right now." Hirano's tone was just as dark as the clouds that were brewing several districts away. They were surprised to see the boy capable of mustering such terrible murderous intent.
The man scowled. He was gonna pull out his gun when the wind picked up. The whirling rotors and its razors of a descending carrier helicopter broke the man out of his anger. He walked back, visible sweats coming from his forehead.
It landed on the side not far away from them. When the double doors opened, they were met with a toothy grin. Malice seeps off from the man, unrivalled in its horrible aura.
Its gloved hands held onto the door as he walked down. He was a man in his middle ages, nearing his old age, but his bleached hair made him appear more like a common punk. Yet the thing that stood out the most from his features was the tattoo on his face. Hirano knew not to fuck with him.
He did not say anything. Just stepping closer and closer. Hirano never felt more intimidated until the man stopped right in front of him, towering him over enough to block the sun.
"You've been a baaaad booooy, Accelerator." Was all he said.
There was a small beep. and then a force on the side of his face. And everything turned dark from then.
Yomikawa Aiho was helpless.
She couldn't open her eyes, but when the smell of dust filled her nostrils instead of the familiar scent, she immediately knew something was terribly wrong.
She couldn't hear, but she could feel. Her eyes are shut, unmoving. Her mind foggy, almost as if she was underwater.
She wanted to move, but no matter what she did, her body wouldn't heed her command. Her head aches so much, even more so when it's inside feels itchy.
She was cold for a moment and then warm the next. And not long after, it was all cold again. The ground felt harsh, unlike the feeling of elevation from earlier. There was something poking at her side, round like a rock.
She stayed there, praying to God for the safety of her ward. She did not know what had happened, but she was certain he was near her.
Was it just in her head? Maybe. She couldn't tell anymore. Her thoughts are becoming more and more abstract, and her ability to think was slowing down.
What is happening? Why did it feel as though she was flying? Did the ground feel soft all of a sudden? Why is the ground shaking? And why is there a pricking in her wrist?
...
What is going on?
His eyes snapped open. A loud gasp coming from his mouth. Hirano tried jumping, but he couldn't. Something is holding him down.
Suddenly his eyes started to hurt from the bright lighting. He wanted to shield them but he couldn't, his arms were bound to an armrest.
He tried to focus his mind into it, calculating to rip it off. "No, no, don't do that, or else I'm gonna have to knock you out again." A certain voice from his front.
His head faces over. That man again, sitting cross legged across the table. He seemed very calm to be in a room with him. He recalled the last event. Then his eyes furrowed.
"You're thinking about that bitch, huh? How cliche." The man commented, getting up. "The bitch is fine, just some piercings in the brain and a rupture on the skull, nothing life threatening."
His eyes widened even more, opening his mouth. "God damn it, you deaf or sum? She'll be fine." He exclaimed with an annoyed sneer, inching closer towards him.
Hirano feels very much agitated. "How are you so sure?"
"Because she's still breathing and not 6 feet under, you retard." Slapping a file on the desk right in front of him. A picture and a medical report.
She's in a coma.
His head jerked from the file towards the man again. "Bring me to her." There was a hint of desperation in his voice.
"No." Was all he said.
"If you don-"
"If I don't what? You gonna kill me?" The man mocks. Tilting his head with a scornful grin. "I know you, Accelerator, and you haven't been yourself these past months."
Hirano flinched at the name, scowling all the more. That only seems to encourage the man, as he leans over his seat, the same expression only getting sharper. "You're all soft and shit, all pampered by her and those little groups you call friends. You're a fucking pussy."
Hirano clenched his fist, his breathing beginning to get uneven. His stare turned into a glare. The man pulled something out of his lab coat just as the straps began to lose its grip.
The noise hurts his ears. He screamed as he felt the inside of his ear canal ring. It didn't stop for a few seconds. And all those few seconds, he focused his entire brain on getting his hands free and getting the sound waves away from him.
But even though he had recalculated it all at least 100 times, it simply does not work.
When it stopped, he was gasping for air. There was something leaking from his ears, as his saliva ran down his mouth. And then there was a step. He didn't get to see, but it pulled his hair.
"You wanna try that shit again, punk?" He was now grinning from ear to ear. "You didn't think I was gonna read your file, didn't you? Your vector control can't do shit against me, remember that before you try anything else." He let go.
It took him a while, but Hirano finally got his bearings. The man scoffed before heading back for his chair. "If you get up from this chair again, I'll make sure it's the last thing you'll ever do." The boy has a bad feeling about those words.
There was a noise up above. A woman. "Kihara Amata," she sounded angry. "try not to hurt the boy too much you dumb fuck.Wouldn't want to break the subject just yet." The man merely clicked his tongue.
Kihara. He recognizes that name. How could he not? That name was the most infamous name in the whole of the dark side of Academy City. The most respected and the most feared family name, possibly in the entire world. Whenever you think of the combination of geniuses with boundless lust for knowledge and the lack of morality and remorse for humans, you think of this name.
The woman then took in a deeper breath, letting it all out in one go. "Now. As you have said it yourself, you have a proposition that you want to make." He nodded. "Alright, let us hear it."
He pauses a little. "You let me and my guardian go."
"Or?" She replies.
"Or I destroy this whole city."
The Kihara can only laugh, quite possibly the hardest he's ever been, as even the woman could be vividly heard chuckling.
"I have just demonstrated a way to nullify your ESP. And aside from that, all you're good for is doing 1, 2, and 3s." Kihara clutches his stomach from the laughter. Hirano averts his gaze. He's never felt so humiliated before. "So really, you have no power here!"
The boy averted his gaze, looking down in a frown. They continued to laugh at him for several more seconds before the Kihara started again. "How about this, I offer you a better one instead." He got up again. "You hand over your whole life to us, and we may or may not keep the bitch alive."
Hirano was gonna protest, but the man's hand held him by the throat. "You see, your citizenship has been revoked, your monthly allowance has been stopped, and your bank account has been seized. Everything regarding you has been erased. So as far as I am aware, you don't even exist."
Hirano paled considerably. The man leans in, whispering into his ears. "And don't forget, the woman's life is in our hands. All I need is to just say the word and poof, she's gone."
He retracts back, another grin etching back onto his face. "Unless, of course, you give us your full cooperation. As a Level 5, you are entitled to payments for every project you're directly involved in. And that money will be transferred for your Guardian's medication. Sounds good?"
Hirano knew what was gonna happen if he said no, the man had vividly explained it himself not even a minute ago. And what choice does he have exactly? Say no and have her dead and be brought back into his old world? Or say yes, keep her alive and still be brought back into his old world?
It's not a hard decision, the option is very clear. "I'll take it." He glued his eyes onto the table. Why did things never go his way?
"Great. Then I must welcome you back, into the Project Accelerator, Yomikawa Hirano-san. We will be under your care from now on." The man very roughly ruffled the top of his head.
"Now, bring him to his room." Two men in black came into the room, unstrapping him. This was the perfect chance, Kihara had his back turned.
He wanted to seize him so fucking bad.
But how could he? Just like he said, Aiho would fucking die even if he made it out. What the fuck can he do? Nothing.
Yomikawa Aiho had raised him from an abandoned pup into what he is now. And with this last moment of freedom, he thanked her for the last time.
New Shit Next Week!
