The sky is devoid of light, except for the soft glow illuminating from the moon. Daiki and Amane lay side by side, staring up into the endless sky. This is kinda awkward… Daiki slightly jolts when Amane starts to speak. "How did you know I like stargazing?" Daiki seems to choke on his words, looking for the right thing to say. "When you were looking at the chicken in the 7 eleven." That doesn't even make sense- "I guess you could say I was gazing at those too." Daiki relaxes a lot more. Holy shit she bought it. Daiki shifts uncomfortably as he tries to find a way to continue the conversation.
"Sorry about today, I wasn't in my best mood."
"I could kind of tell…"
"The motive of this trip was to cheer me up?"
"I guess you could say that."
Daiki looks slightly stumped. From Rei to Amane… am I really that predictable?
"I didn't hate it too much."
"I'm glad to hear that."
…
"What happened between you and Nora today?"
Amane's expression darkens, a bit of frustration evident.
"Her thought process is that due to the fact she's the strongest, you should be honored if she does anything for you. I did not need her pity, so I told her to head back to the cabin while I hunted. She refused. That's all."
"I got another question for you then…"
Amane seems to be opening up. This is the perfect moment.
"Why do you kill people?
Silence.
A sigh breaks the silence. "Daiki, I don't apologize that you freaked out that day. Actually, I wish you had apologized to me."
…
Huh?
Daiki rebounds back to reality
"WHAT??"
Amane chuckles a little bit. Daiki is taken aback, knowing that the first time he heard her laugh ever.
"I wish I were joking."
Amane relaxes into the ground more.
"My gift is a curse."
"I get the ability to recall souls that I've absorbed. I can only get these souls by eating the heart of a subject. It is not like I do not feel guilty too."
Daiki seems to be relieved in a way. To know that she doesn't kill to enjoy puts him at ease.
"However, the drawback to having this gift is that I must eat. I do not need normal food to live, and consuming it tastes like a rag soaked in sewage."
"I can only consume flesh. Whether that be the flesh of a human or animal. But if I do not consume a soul every 21 days, I will lose my life."
Daiki seems intrigued. "That seems a little… odd. It just doesn't seem natural."
Amane sighs, avoiding the subject. "It's just a burden I must have, and the barrier between me being a genuine human."
…
"I can't relate at all."
"Of course you couldn't. You could still walk around smiling and carefree."
"But that also doesn't mean I haven't gone through bad shit before."
"And that is?"
"It's a bit of a long story, so don't sleep on me."
"I'm listening."
Cars whizzed past the lone laundry bucket on the side of the road. Inside, the cries of a baby could be heard. Suddenly a car slowed down and stopped in front of the basket. Two massive, intimidating men walk out the car. "Holy shit, yer right! It was a baby!" The other man scratches his head. "It was s'posed to be a joke!" He shakes his head. "So what are we gonna do with him?" They both wake back to the car. "Raise him to be superman!" "Quit jokin like that or we'll find a space pod 'round here somewhere." The driver revs the car as they match the speed of the other cars in the road. "So what should we name him?" The driver says. "Ion know. We'll name him after you, Daiji." His laugh booms. "Kid's gon be humiliated once he finds out what that means! Sounds like some sloppy love off rip!" The baby's wails have seemed to have ceased. "And plus, I changed my name so I wouldn't have that filthy last name anymore." A chuckle rips through. "Right, right." He looks down at the baby. "Alright lil' kid, My name's Preston, and that ugly driver's Camden." Camden laughs. "Ugly? Don't make me crash this bucket o' bolts right here!" Preston continues. "From this day on, you're gonna be our kid!"
Preston and Camden enter the orphanage. "Yo, Huby!" A man with a thick beard starts to walk down the stairs. "Preston and Camden. You boys need something?" "Yeah, we just stole a kid off the road, so-" "I'm not taking in some random kid, Preston. That could've been someone's." Preston is still smiling, knowing this is a battle he can win easily. "That dog won't hunt. He was in this basket right here on the side of the road. The bucket and the baby are as dirty as a pig in mud!" Camden jumps in. "Lend us a hand, Hubert. We really need this." He rumages his hand through his hair. "For fucks sake, fine." Preston looks at the baby. "That's Hubert. He's as sharp as a marble. He was 'bout to deny taking you into an orphanage!" "I can hear your dumbass, Preston!"
"Y'all… Y'all…" "WOAH! CHECK IT CAMDEN! HIS 6TH WORD!" Camden sighs. Preston looks back. "What's all that hot air for?" "You been teaching him new words for three hours straight. Where's the fun in that?" Preston's eyes gleam. "That ain't worth a hill of beans! He's already said our names a billion times!" "A billion too many. Yer pushing him." The baby starts slapping the ground repeatedly. "Y'all… Y'all…" Preston is still glued to Daiki's speech. "Oh man, he's gonna learn a thing or two today! Now, say your name!" The baby blanks out for a bit. His name… "Daiki! Daiki!"
"Blow out them candles, Daiki!" Camden sits to the side and can't help but smile. "Nine years huh? It's been a bit." Preston laughs. "Nine whole years. How do it feel, Daiki?" Daiki smiles. "It feels pretty good! That means I can leave the orphanage now, right?" Preston continues to laugh. "Not yet, champ. You just need another nine years under your belt." Hubert enters the room. Camden looks over. "Here for the cake?" Hubert laughs. "Always something to say. I got a gift for Daiki." Daiki lights up instantly. "A gift??" Hubert stands near him and hands him a slap bracelet. Camden can't help but laugh. "Cheap bastard. You got a moth eaten billfold or what." Hubert walks away. "It's the thought that counts. I don't see you giving him a present." Camden doesn't say anything back. "He got you there, Camden!" "Hush! I don't see your present anywhere too!" Preston shakes his head. "I got one right here!" He turns to Daiki, listening to the whole ordeal. "Look Daiki, I've heard you scrap 'round with people you don't like!" Daiki listens closely. "Causing a ruckus may be fancy and cool, but don't go poking the bears! Fight when you must." Camden is shocked. "Well I'll be. But I got one for him too." Camden stands and faces Daiki. "Preston hit that nail on the head. But there's more to it. Fighting is never that serious. You must brawl to neutralize. Don't go borrowing trouble. And never take a man's life out of rage." Daiki seems to listen but questions. "But what if-" "No if, ands, or buts about it. You should never take a life." Preston chuckles a bit. "As if sweet lil' Daiki would kill! Just let him rattle on. Happy birthday, Daiki."
"Wow, Daiki, you're really fast!" Says a kid in awe. "I know right! I'm the fastest here." A close friend of Daiki, Crown, comes up to Daiki. "Fly too close to the sun and you'll get burned. Let's go back inside and play some cards." Daiki tries to ignore him. "I know you can hear me, Daiki." "Ugh, I'm not going to play cards with you! You always win." Crown smirks, knowing that would be the answer. "That's why I said we should. And plus, you owe me from yesterday when I came outside." Daiki sighs, "Fine! Let's go inside!" They start walking toward the door. "Hey, Crown." "Hm?" Daiki stares up at the orphanage building. "Once we both get really really strong, are we going to meet up again one day?" Crown laughs. "No way! You don't even have a gift like me. You're just a musclehead." Daiki hates it when he brings up his gift. "Well my gift-" "Is being fast? You've said this a billion times already." "Well you can't name the exact number!" "You said it sixty seven times." Daiki sighs and looks away. "I'll give it to you since you said it so confidently."
"Hit." "IMMA HIT TOO!" Crown is getting slightly annoyed. "You don't have to hit when I hit, y'know." "HIT! ONE MORE!" Daiki flips his eight cards to see that he, in fact, has gone over twenty one. Camden walks past the two, looking over. "Holy shit Daiki, sixty one? A few less and you would've got blackjack." Daiki's eyes light up. "Really?!" Crown laughs as he and Camden both splash the cold truth in unison. "No." Daiki slumps. Crown is still amused. "Well I got a blackjack score, it's 21-0." "One more! One mor-" The door bursts open, as the three can hear it from upstairs. "What the hell? I'll go check what happened." Camden walks out the door, leaving around ten kids alone in the room. "What's happening?" A kid asks. Daiki bolts to look out the window. There's about 30 men below, all dressed in black. A yell for help could be heard as it was cut short. Daiki's eyes widened. "Hubert. That's Hubert's voice." Crown instantly picks up on what's happening. "We're getting raided. Everyone lock the door and move the tables to barricade them." The kids start to cry and panic, as Crown and Daiki stand with composure. "These idiots. Muscle freak!" Daiki starts moving the tables slowly. "On it, but I need some help." Crown nods "Everyone, help him!" The door breaks down, revealing three men in black. "Hey, Hey, Hey."
Daiki runs straight toward the men. They kick him, their foot sinking into his liver. "Move it, shrimp. We don't want you right now." Daiki is winded. All of his fights have been so one sided or easy to win, but now against a monster like this triple his size. "Crown… use it…"
…
"Crown, hurry!"
He slowly turns to see him.
Captured.
Their last hope was caught.
Daiki is out of plans. The kids are all screaming. "That kid's the one with the gift right?" One of the men said. "Yeah, we don't need the others. Burn this room down." One of the men seems surprised. "Burn? Why dont we just shoot all of them?" The kids start to cry at the thought of being shot. "Burning is more efficient. We'll get rid of the evidence sooner. And with your gift, the smoke shouldn't alert the people nearby." One of the men takes off his glove. "True, this place IS on a mountain." Suddenly, a frenzy of fire appears from his hand. As they walk out. The man, while holding Crown, walks out of the room and creates a force field that keeps the kids inside. The door shuts, leaving the kids in the burning room. "CROWN! NO! GIVE HIM BACK!!" Daiki slams against the door trying to open it but the force field stands behind it, actively locking the door. The flame rages as all hope is burnt.
Damn it… DAMN IT! I can't do anything! Daiki rams himself toward the window. It won't budge. This stupid power! Open the window! He looks around but can't find anything. Daiki is now isolated, the fires surrounding him. He runs toward the corner then he starts to panic. The other kids have already passed or have been consumed by the fires. No, No, NO! I need to escape! I need to! How… can I… Tears start to roll down Daiki's face, which reach the floor, only to dissolve instantly. "I'm not going to die here! I'm going to become strong! Stronger than Crown! Strong enough…" A few sparks fly. The fires close in on him. Daiki starts to yell at the top of his lungs. The sparks for more evident and rampant, chipping away at the wall. "I'M NOT GONNA DIE HERE!"
A huge boom could be heard from the room. The man holding Crown starts to pale. "What's wrong dude?" One of the men asked. "My force field. It broke." The other two's eyes widened. They look up at the building, rubble flying everywhere. "HEADS!"
"Then what happened next?" Amane asked. Daiki shrugs. "Don't remember. It all just happened so fast, and by the time I realized it, I was wandering down a forest for weeks on end." Amane sinks back into the ground, looking up at the stars once more. "What happened to Crown?" Daiki shrugs. "Don't know. He's probably dead. Just the cycle of life." Amane's expression slightly softens. "I find that ironic from the person who doesn't like death." Daiki laughs slightly. "Is that a back handed compliment?" Amane smiles a little as well. "Nowhere near." A silence grows but is instantly broken by Amane. "I'm inspired. We may have different stories but we've both had to go through it." Daiki is comforted but surprised. You have to eat people for a living and you put me on your level, why do I feel slightly honored- Daiki shakes that thought off. "We should probably find Rei soon." Amane stands up. "You're right." They walk together toward the train station. "Thanks." Daiki looks over at Amane, who has a genuine smile on her face. "No problem."