Garaki

Chapter 5: A Chilling Reception

The snowy clearing was full of fresh powder snow, so much so that if a snowboarder were to lose momentum when coming down the slope, they would find themselves submerged to their heads, with almost no way to escape. The snow covered the field like dunes in the desert, rolling over a once green landscape.

The sun was dimmed to an icy blue; it had no way of cutting through the vicious snowstorm that currently permeated the area with such thickness. The trees were bogged down by the sheer amount of snow and ice covering their limbs, and even the little plant life that survived the constant winters in this area can't manage this new level of cold. This sea of frost radiated around one man, who looked as if he was made of snow. He simply shrugged off the snow that was constantly settling upon his shoulders, as if it was no bother at all. It was so cold that the air he exhaled was almost solid.

The wind whistled around him, carrying the snow through the air at incredible speeds, yet despite all this chaos surrounding him, he was at home. The being opposite him, was certainly not in his element. Andeddo was struggling under the conditions that his opponent had created. It roared, its breath exuding visible steam, its mere scream shook the ground underneath it. Andeddo was struggling to move through the deep snow, his heavy body staggering, but despite this difficulty, through strength alone it swelled its legs and lunged across the clearing.

Snowman took in a deep breath, held out his hands, and sent the temperature cascading downward even further. The already intense snowstorm turning into a raging blizzard where visibility was at an all-time low, and even worse movement was becoming unbearable. Andeddo missed its target, as the Snowman disappeared into the blizzard. Andeddo grunted in frustration and jumped high above the swirling snow below. In the moment above the snowstorm, Andeddo looked for any signs of movement, determined to put an end to this battle before it turns into one of attrition.

From his vantage point, Andeddo attempted to survey the vortex of snow and ice only to find it was impossible to see through the whiteout. The Snowman was simply a rabbit in a snowstorm, white paint on a blank canvas. As Andeddo descended, Snowman once again made his move. Shards of ice hurled towards the monster, only for Andeddo to sense the projectiles and make twigs of them. Andeddo jumped towards the direction they came from, only to once again find nothing but more snow instead of the Snowman. More crystals of ice were being fired off, scattering into the ground like pikes poking out ready to impale anything which dares tread on it.

Andeddo once again tries to lunge towards the place where the icicles came from, but once again failed to reach the man behind them. In a desperate attempt to see the area, Andeddo swings its hands far apart, and with tremendous force, claps them together in a thundering boom that shakes the valley to its core. The force generated was enough for the snow to clear just enough for Andeddo to catch a glimpse of the Snowman, and the fiend lunges with such incredible speed the Snowman was unable to reapply his cover.

The beast grabs the Snowman and slams him into the ground, and even though the powder cushioned his fall, the man still gasped in agony. Andeddo intends to go for another slam but is then hit with a draining sensation as the Snowman grabs his wrist. The Snowman begins draining the heat right from Andeddo, but before he can cause serious damage, Andeddo shakes him off into a nearby tree.

"S-hit." The Russian groans.

A loud thud echoes through the expanse as the Moroz hits the tree and falls into the powder snow. The heavy snow coating that the tree was being burdened piles onto the Russian, burying him in snow. While Andeddo is nursing his own wounds, Moroz struggles to get out of the ironic predicament he has found himself in. To focus on escaping the burial, the Snowman slows the snowstorm down to manageable levels and claws his way out of the basin.

Andeddo, wasting no time now that the snow is clearing up, looks over at the tree that the Snowman was launched at. It lumbers over to go and see if he remains alive, only to be met with scorching heat. Moroz walks out of the newly formed puddle and sees Andeddo cowering back. A new strategy forms in his mind.

"You don't like fire, do you?" He murmurs, grinning in a malicious amusement as he pulls off his gloves and stuffs them in his pockets. His hands now radiate an intense heat, one completely opposite of his previous showcase of his abilities. The warm energy now was around his entire body, each step of his forming puddles beneath his feet. Moroz then sends his hands forward, shooting off heat waves that the injured Andeddo struggled to dodge. The former valley of white snow was disappearing before Andeddo's eyes.

This wasn't something the Snowman would do often in combat. His quirk was called Heat Drain, it allowed him to drain the heat from an area around him or anything he was touching and absorb it himself. This keeps him warm when fighting in a snowstorm. He rarely does, but he is able to use the heat offensively, not just passively.

The only positive for the monster was that its body was no longer slowed down by the effects of hypothermia it was developing. The fiend charged the Snowman ready to counterattack the now visible Moroz. Moroz then countered with a brilliant bright burst of flames rocketing out of his hands. Flames engulfed the monster, searing his flesh and forcing him to gasp for relief against the fiery hell. Andeddo then kicked the slush from the ground at the Snowman, dampening ability to produce flames for only a moment. That moment was enough for Andeddo who rushed the flame user and delivered a powerful blow that sent Moroz reeling. The force of the impact sent him cascading into the slushy snow, and the heat began fading from his body. He could feel his bones creak under pressure, and he realized that the flames ultimately hurt his chances of winning the battle.

' I'm a dumbass. I should've just frozen it solid!" Moroz thinks, lamenting his decision.

Andeddo further capitalized, lunging towards the downed Snowman, looking for a finishing strike. Moroz desperately pushed himself up from the snow, and just in time he rolled out of the way of Andeddo's punch. His body glowed a deep icy blue as he prepared a counterattack. His eyes sparkled with power, as he drained the heat from the surroundings. The air itself began to crystalize, and a cocoon of ice started to form around Moroz. The Snowman called this technique End, as it was only a move he used as a last resort, against someone who simply could not be handled through regular means.

Andeddo attempted to stop the process and aimed a punch square in the chest at Moroz, but it was too late. The fist couldn't dent the ice now forming over the Snowman, let alone shatter it. Andeddo unleashes a last-ditch effort, pummeling the protective layer that Moroz wears as a shield. From inside the ice cocoon, Moroz sighed in relief, previously unsure if the integrity of the cocoon would hold up to this beast. With confirmation, he now continued the technique to end the battle.

The air was freezing into flowers of frost, in patterns reminiscent of snowflakes. Andeddo, realizing the futility of his attacks, let out a guttural roar that shook the earth itself. It was running itself ragged, its short burst of breaths inhaled the frigid air, air that was running out. The intense cold was sapping strength even faster than before, and soon it will have no fumes left to power its muscles. The ice was creeping up Andeddo's legs and would soon entrap it entirely.

Moroz maintained his stoic demeanor in the cocoon but was in a similar state of panic. The monster was not going down as quickly as expected, and End required an enormous amount of strength to continue draining all the heat in the area. The blue light of the cocoon glowed brighter and brighter, indicating the heat energy storage was nearing its limit, and all heat in the area should be drained in moments. Visibility was gone, and Moroz couldn't confirm if the beast was truly stopped or not based on eyesight from inside the safety of the cocoon. With the pounding absent, Moroz took this as a sign of his victory.

Slowly, he let out steam, melting the cocoon from the inside. He nearly collapsed to the ground from all the effort and energy he expended during this fight, but he pulled himself upward, determined to confirm that the monster was defeated.

The battlefield was silent as the howling winds died down; the only sound was that of Moroz breaking out of the ice. As he emerged, his vision was foggy for a moment, getting used to the sight of sunlight after the clouds dissipated. The first thing he saw clearly was the inside of the monster mouth, entirely frozen over in a final scream it couldn't get out. It truly looked like a thing made from marble now, entirely white, with no blemishes anywhere on its body, the snow evening out any imperfections.

"You were a worthy opponent beast; I commend you for such strength." Victor said towards his unconscious opponent.

He then pulled out a cellphone from his back pocket, amazingly undamaged, and then dialed a number.

"Hey, its Moroz, I found the monster."

"Yes, I have him contained, but I'm not sure for how long. I'd prefer you get here as soon as possible ... yeah, yeah, you are going to need some very heavy-duty equipment to hold this boy, he is a big one."

"Where am I?" Victor looks around at his surroundings briefly before shaking his head, laughing at the absurdity of trying.

"No idea, if the weather channels picked up some giant snowstorm in the last couple of minutes near Sukpai, that's me."

"Okay... yes, I will be coming along with you guys back to make sure he stays this way yes. Okay see you in a bit." Moroz hangs up and sighs in exasperation. He promptly falls back onto the powder snow, taking comfort in its softness.

"That wiped me out, I need a nap." Victor complained as he rested, another battle won.

Andeddo remained still and beaten, though beneath the surface, he awakened from his slumber.


Shigaraki's dress shoes clicked upon the pavement as he and Uragirimono weaved through the side streets that Cherry Blossom's hideout lay amongst. The air was thick with dust, and smelt like the sharp scent of power tools that had recently been used. A construction site was a clever place to lay low, especially if the workers were willing to take bribes. Shigaraki squeezed through the small entry way, attempting to avoid his suit staining with any dirt or grime.

'A useless effort' he thought as he swiped the dust from his jacket. Uragirimono made his way in front, directing him towards a secluded area in the corner of the construction site. This was one part of a former building that hadn't been completely demolished, and Cherry had been using as a base of operations in Jaku. Shigaraki noted the ingenuity of the vigilante, but quickly discarded it as the reason for his gnawing skepticism revealed himself, they were approaching the area without any caution or stealth!

"Migite, has the vigilante already left the city?" Shigaraki's voice sharply cut toward the agent who stiffened at his tone.

"We have confirmed that Cherry Blossom fled the scene, sir." Uragirimono grimly spoke.

"Then why am I even here?" Shigaraki grumbled; irritation palpable on his face "I have better things to do than shift through evidence!"

"Because there was something here specifically for you, and I thought it warranted your immediate attention sir." The man maneuvered his words carefully.

He grumbled like a petulant child under his breath as his agent led him to the entry point. He opened the door to find a sparsely furnished room, with only a mattress on the ground, a desk with a printer and computer resting upon it, and a single padded chair in the middle of the dim room. There was a microwave that rested on a mini fridge which was continuously beeping, as if someone had recently tried to eat here. Shigaraki narrowed his eyes when he reached the chair. On the chair two things were carefully set, an envelope with designs of a cherry blossom tree, and an article printed out.

Shigaraki walked over to the chair and reached for the envelope, not yet sparing a glance towards the newspaper. The front of the envelope read, For the Thief. Shigaraki scowled as he tore it open. The same motif of a cherry blossom was printed on the letter inside, which also read: For the Thief.

Dear Shigaraki,

I understand this cat and mouse game has been frustrating for you, and you have my contempt. I don't quite like however, that you have not started on dismantling your operations, and in fact have upped them since our last communication. My promise was very real, and I don't like being taken lightly. If you haven't already looked to the article that sits beside this letter, then I am here letting you know that if my demands are not met that information about a certain hospital will be leaked to both the Japanese and Far Eastern governments about a special monster. If you fail on these promises, I shall withhold nothing, and the wrath of two nations shall befall you. I pray that you come to your senses soon or face the consequences. The clock is ticking.

Sincerely,

Cherry Blossom

Shigaraki sat down in the chair at some point when reading the letter, and looked at the article that was on the other arm of the chair. The paper was folded quite neatly, showcasing the only things that needed to be seen. The headline read: MONSTER SIGHTING IN FAR EAST! The picture below the headline was grainy and from a distance but the thing in the picture was unmistakable. It was undoubtedly Andeddo.

Shigaraki's scarlet eyes darkened to that of deep red blood. Eyes painted over with pure fury. His fists grasped the arms of the chair, ripping them off. He quickly calmed himself before he destroyed any potential evidence, taking deep breaths in... and out. In... and out. His hair had become a little disheveled, and suit crinkled a tiny bit. He quickly corrected his appearance, and focused back in at the situation.

"Uragirimono." Shigaraki lowly mumbled.

"Yes sir?" Uragirimono responded with some hesitation.

"Get people in here to examine everything. If they can find anything of use to find this bastard, I want it." Shigaraki furiously ordered.

"Will do sir." Uragirimono fumbled as he pulled out his phone; he stepped outside the little hideout, leaving Shigaraki to figure out his next move.

It was truly a disaster in the most literal sense. If any word got out about where Andeddo came from, Garaki would certainly be arrested, and with that the board of directors would be pressured to squeal on him too. Cherry Blossom would have all the evidence he needed between Furonto and Saba to bury him and make him a man on the run. He collapsed further into the comfy, armless chair. Cherry Blossom's discovery would only be a problem if either government actually had the beast, so the only thing left to do was to make sure the beast never fell into the hands of the Far Eastern government. He needed to either extradite Andeddo alive and get it back to Japan, or he would kill it and dispose of the evidence.

Either way would be nearly impossible with how he couldn't beat the beast last time, Shigaraki grappled with the gravity of the situation. If he couldn't beat it in raw strength, he would need a cunning strategy to get it back. Shigaraki looked around the narrow hideaway, and focused on the microwave, food still slightly warm.

'By how much did we miss him by? If the food is still warm then he had to have been warned beforehand. By who?' Shigaraki reasoned that someone had betrayed him. He had already suspected as much, with how Cherry Blossom was stealing his targets before he could get to them, but this was next level.

'It couldn't be Uragirimono, could it? He might be falling off in usefulness, but he is too obvious to be a spy. He would have nervous breakdowns if he attempted it.' Shigaraki smirked, laughing to himself the comedy of it.

'I'll cross him off my list then, I kind of wish it was him though, with how easily he would be outed.' Shigaraki couldn't contain his laughter any more, and openly laughed at the pathetic image he conjured in his mind. At this, Uragirimono re-entered the room.

"Is there something you need sir?" The man still had his phone up to his ear, but asked anyways.

"No, keep doing what you are doing, I need a moment to reflect." Shigaraki grinned.

Uragirimono then went to leave again, only for Shigaraki to stop him. "Wait I do have something for you to do Migite."

"What is it sir?"

"Please book me a flight to the Far Eastern Republic, I'll take some men with me, you will come also."

In that dark, dusty corner of the construction site, Migite Uragirimono almost had a mental breakdown.


Hours after Shigaraki had ordered an expedition to the Far Eastern Republic, Uragirimono called a certain vigilante.

"Cherry, I have good news and bad news." Uragirimono breathed out.

"Bad news first? Okay sure, I-wait actually its easier if I tell the good news first..." He stumbled over his words.

"Look I'm nervous man, don't blame me! Okay, so our plan worked, Shigaraki was in tatters and has ordered a trip to the Far East immediately, so there's the good news, he won't be in our backyard for a little bit." He took a breath in-between then continued. "He has ordered me to go with him." Uragirimono paused, waiting for the response.

He listened to Cherry over the phone, and his face fell comically. The longer he listened the more his face fell.

"Wait what do you mean that's also good news!? He is certainly close to figuring me out! Why else would he want me to go with him for this? I am no good outside the homeland! I couldn't survive the frigid conditions in the wilderness! And don't give me crap about how the Far East is a modern country with cities and the same amenities as we have! You know we won't be in the city! I couldn't function in such a place!" He finished his rant, his face nearly red, only to catch his breath but before he could continue rambling, Cherry stopped him. Uragirimono listened intently.

"I mean, he hasn't given too much direct indication that he thinks I betrayed him, but he threatened my life if I failed again! He is ready to dispose of me! You know that one saying right? The one that's... um, give me a moment... uhm, oh yes! Keep your friends close and your enemies closer! That's it! Well, he is keeping me on a tight leash is what I'm trying to say." Uragirimono stopped talking waiting for Cherry's response.

"Well anyways, I am sacrificing myself for your operation, so you better make it worth it!" He said with a hint of sadness to his jovial tone.

"You need more information about Jaku General Hospital? Dr. Garaki specifically? I can get it to you, though I would need some time, and I leave tomorrow... here's an idea, just confront him yourself. He might have some additional security provided from Shigaraki, but that shouldn't be too much a problem... no, I will not be calling them off for you! I've incriminated myself enough, this would be the nail in the coffin, you can handle them, they aren't that tough." He brushes off the issue of security.

"My stutter? It's only a habit of nervousness that developed recently. Thanks to you!"

"Really? How are the kids doing by the way?"

"I know you don't want to talk about it, but if this is going to be one of our last chats before I am outed, I would like some more normal topics!" Uragirimono listened then sighed loudly at the response.

"Ah okay, if that's how it has to be then, goodbye Cherry. Hopefully I get to talk with you again." He wistfully said, tears in his eyes.

He then hung up the phone, looked at the black screen that reflected his image, and snapped it.


Shigaraki updated me on the situation developing in the Far East around the same time I was made aware of it. The monster was not really international news, but if you were monitoring it closely, information was abundant. Plenty of speculation, and plenty of conspiracies that were surprisingly close to the truth of the situation were in the air. These internet comments were unimportant of course, but I still was concerned when I read some very intuitive individuals comment their mind on public forums for all to see.

Shigaraki himself was going to the Far Eastern Republic to retrieve Andeddo, and he left me with security personnel in case anyone would come against me while he was gone. I sat in an unfamiliar office space, courtesy of mine blowing up in a blazing inferno, and attempted to regain a sense of normalcy in my new work area. It wasn't all terrible, the same AC unit whirred, I still heard the same clunking and clattering from a floor above, and the occasional scream of a patient out of their mind. It wasn't much, but it was familiar. The real thing I was getting used to was the security personnel outside my temporary space, a constant reminder of the perilous position I was currently in. I could hear their constant murmurings, much to my annoyance, through the thin door than separated us. I attempted to block out their whisperings by focusing back on my work.

I was currently trying to figure out how to revamp my quirk copying technology, which was again, all wiped out when the fire happened, but it was proving to be tedious. My mind would constantly wander to Shigaraki's expedition to the Far East. To my creation. I dearly missed Andeddo, the product of my labor, even though I spent but a fleeting moment with it before it almost killed me. What would he do with it? Kill it? Find a way to transport it back here? However he did it, I had no say, though it seemed to me in his writings that he favored retrieving it intact.

I shook myself out of my daydreams and forced myself to focus back in on work. I soon managed to block out the constant droning of the guards outside, and I entertained myself with the daunting tasks ahead of me. I soon was very focused, and stopped hearing the voices outside, to my pleasure, and continued my toil.

This all stopped when the door creaked open slowly, the clear attempt to be as quiet as possible thwarted by the old door. I was less irritated due to the intent to keep quiet, but I still glared at the man who entered. While I expected a security guard, I gasped when I saw a man in all black from head to toe enter the sterile office space. I quickly looked outside to the guards, who were no longer there.

This figure stalked through the door quiet as a church mouse, and he glided through the room like a phantom until he stood imposingly above me in my desk. I shuddered with dread, at this eerie assassin, in his full ensemble. His dark eyes assessed me, looking up and down, looking for any potential threats no doubt. He the slowly reached over to the phone that was on my desk and disconnected it. I remained silent in shock, wondering if I should scream for help or do... something to get me out of this room.

He then broke the silence that had become extremely uncomfortable. His voice sounded smooth, and too calm for the situation. "Dr. Kyudai Garaki..." his words dripped with an air of mystery, an unsettling calm, and I couldn't help but shiver. "I hope you are doing well. It was not my intention to scare you, but I needed to talk to you, one on one." The man's voice sounded rehearsed, lacking any real soul to it. It terrified me to my core how anyone can be so effortlessly scary.

I took in a deep breath to calm my nerves before answering. "You could have filled out an appointment." I calmly say, a comedic line that will hopefully push him off guard.

"This is too urgent for an appointment... those take, too much, time." He wistfully whispers, as if every word was important for me to understand.

"Who are you and what do you want?" I ask, getting to the point.

Instead of responding in words, he produced the petal of a cherry blossom from his pocket. It's delicate pink hue contrasting terribly with his all-black attire. He sets it down gently on my desk, and then looks at me.

"If you understand what this means," he leans forward on the desk, "you'll understand why I am here." he near whispers, his face opposite mine.

I paled the realization that this is the man Shigaraki was trying to protect me from even in his absence. How foolish it was to think mere guards may subdue this man, for he is ultra experienced in the realm of infiltration and takedowns, he is a man of infamy which I researched to no end in my youth, the vigilante Cherry Blossom.

He continued, noting my fearful expression. "I won't harm you Dr. Garaki... that would be an insult to all my previous work... of which you seem... familiar." I audibly gulped at his words, my own breath escaping me.

For a long moment, a thick and unbearable silence hung between us, suffocating me while his words ring true in my mind. Me, the accidental architect of his first defeat. I looked to the window, the door, the walls, the ventilation, anything I could use as an escape, for this man would surely tear me to shreds, not just my body, but my mind and heart will not leave this room intact. The walls were closer in on me in this blank sterile space, and the man responsible for such panic continued to examine me like a moth pinned to a wall.

"Your research," he finally continued, his soft voice hummed, "has attracted mine... and the attention of many others." His eyes seemingly enhance onto me. "You've already had your crowning achievement... this early in your career? How does a doctor... with such high praise and esteemed credentials... become interested in... manipulating quirks?"

I could feel blood draining from my face, I feel even more dizzy than before, my palms are clamming up, and I feel something coming from my stomach. How does he know so much? Shigaraki said he would be hiding this away, and he did! There were no news reports on Andeddo when they fought initially! My heart beat was that of a drum, thrumming away rapidly.

"I'm... a doctor." I finally mustered up the courage to respond, my voice cracking. "My research is for the betterment of society, f-for the advancement of science."

He shakes his head at my response. "Is that the reason doctor?" He takes a notebook from my desk and opens it. "Oooo~rrr~rr... is it because you?" His sing song voice cuts a knife through my ears. He stares down at the notebook, flipping the pages as if he is looking for something.

"I have a theory... that you are going mad." He looks up from the notebook, apparently pleased with his findings, my brows furrow, unsure of his meaning.

Sensing my confusion, he then puts the notebook face down. "You are a brilliant man Dr. Garaki... but we all know the line between science and madness is a very thin line, no?" He leaned closer, so that only I may hear what he is to say.

"I think experimenting with the dead is past the line Garaki." He enunciates normally, his voice clearer than ever before. His sudden tone shift gives me a shock, but his words cut even deeper.

"There are two choices before you Dr. Garaki," he says, holding his fists out in some farce relation to 'The Matrix'.

"You go further down the path you have set yourself. It is one of despair and depravity, as you explore the uncharted waters of which the evil will corrupt your curious mind, and the monsters you create will become nothing compared to your darkened soul from which only madness remains. Or you may walk in the path of pain, which will have you atoning for your sins, you will bear a cross so heavy you might not be able to stand. Even if that path is painful, it is the path of redemption, one in which you find greater wisdom than anything you may find on the first path. The choice is ultimately yours, though I think it is fairly obvious which choice is correct." He finishes his monologue and stares at me intently.

His words hung in the air, a dark cloud casting a shadow over my very soul which he condemns. I could feel the weight of his gaze as his eyes still were upon me. I wiped my brow to find the large sum of sweat that accumulated there during my panic. I pushed myself up from the slump in my seat, and weakly met his gaze with whatever confidence I still had.

"W-what do you want from me?" My voice was barely that of a whisper, a cry for help, one of desperation and fear.

Though I couldn't see his face, I could tell his lips curled into a smile at my response. "I already told you Dr. Garaki~ a decision. I am giving you a choice, and I want a decision. Do you not see?" His hands went to the sides of him, as if he was asking for a hug.

"Your actions affect the lives of thousands! A scientist as brilliant as you should have conceived of the notion independently, but it appears I must teach you a lesson Dr. Garaki!" Cherry Blossom's words pierced through the fog of my fear, his enthusiasm unsettling. It was as if he was lecturing a wayward student rather than confronting a man who had spent his life on the edge of moral boundaries. His tone was almost patronizing, as if he believed he could guide me back to some path of righteousness with a few well-chosen words.

The room felt smaller, his presence more imposing. I swallowed hard, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. "A lesson?" I managed, my voice trembling despite my efforts to steady it. "What do you mean by that?"

He stepped closer, and I instinctively recoiled, the instinctive fear gripping me tighter. "Yes, a lesson," he repeated, his voice soft but firm. "You see, Dr. Garaki, science is a tool. It can create wonders or unleash horrors, depending on the hands that wield it. You, unfortunately, have lost sight of that balance."

"I have lost sight of nothing!" I protest. "I am trying to extend human life, to prevent death! Quirks are the solution to the problems of mortality, and I am not intending to trample on the lives of others just for fun! If you don't think that these rewards are-"

"Rewards?!" He interrupts with a sharp tone indicting I had overstepped. "Do you think that you are God? Meddling with life and death? Are you a fool?"

"I am no fool! I will bring about great wonders with this technology; I will save people!" I argue back, my resolve trying to stand firm.

"How many people will you trample upon first? Do you think the lives you could potentially save justify the death of whoever you need?" Cherry Blossom rebukes me.

"The many or the few? This is a simple math equation; one does not amount to one hundred!" I fire back, unwilling to show anymore weakness.

"And now you understand..." He stops arguing in his serious tone, and returns back to his crawling way of speaking. "The lives you hold in the balance... do you now understand... Garaki?" His melodic voice hums.

I look back at him in shock again, he led me to an answer I wouldn't have come to if things went on as they were.

"I see, every great scientist has pushed the bounds a little bit, I won't be the first to do so, do not condemn me like you wish to." I point at him, regaining a bit of my confidence.

"And... like every great scientist..." he frowns under his mask, "you not will certainly die. A victim of your own arrogance... a fool who does not understand what wisdom really is... you despise wisdom." He sounds somber as he shakes his head at me.

"I don't wish to condemn you here Garaki, for that is not my judgment to make. Truly I tell you, I want you to make the correct choice. I don't wish to be your enemy, which is why I walk away from here, leaving you be for now." The man sighed; he seemed so much smaller now.

"If you ever do feel bogged down by your decisions, you will be able to find me." Then he was gone, like a ghost his presence whisked away by the shadows, leaving me in suffocating silence that was even more heavy than when he was here.

I looked around the room, noticing the time that had gone by, I realized the notebook I was using was not where I last placed it, only to remember Cherry Blossom having picked it up for a moment. It was face down on the opposite side of the desk, its rings glistening some strange light reflected from who knows where. I flip the notebook over, to see what was written on the page. I shook as I looked upon the words that were written in red ink, splattered like blood across the page.

CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING, NIIGATA. TWO WEEKS, 12:00 PM, ONLY SHIGARAKI

I jumped out of my chair when I heard it was only then that the door slammed shut, and I realized how close to death I had just come. I trembled in my chair, my skin crawling with the weight of the decision I now had to make, heaved upon me like death itself had come knocking.


Shigaraki is forced to go to the Far East to retrieve Andeddo, Uragirimono thinks the walls are closing in, and Garaki is confronted by Cherry Blossom, who's personality is completely different when in costume. I went back over the first few chapters and revised somethings I didn't like, so reread those if you wish.