I try.

  I put in effort.

  I show up.

  Then... Why?

  [I'm setting this here, alright?]

  A basket, filled with several pieces of fruit.

  [Okay. Thank you, Kanna.]

  The girl smiles, glancing around the dimly lit room. Dark clouds cover the sky as the soothing sound of rain reaches her ears.

  Hinozu is lying on bed, clothed in a hospital gown.

  [What did the doctors say?]

  A light flickers.

  [Nothing. Just... I'll need a few weeks. To rehalibi... Rehablitiate.]

  A soft chuckle.

  [It's rehabilitate.]

  [Whatever.]

  [Take care, alright?]

  [Yeah.]

  Steps echo on the sterile tiles as she makes way for the exit.

  [Bye.]

  The door slides open, wheels rolling somewhere on the base.

  It closes.

  If I'm a nobody...

  [I just need to become someone.]

  ——

  [Are you able to stretch a little more?]

  He leans in closer, palms pressed on the chair.

  [That's great progress, Hinozu.]

  The doctor scribbles on a sheet of paper, holding his clipboard firmly.

  Doctor: [Now, sit down comfortably. Let's do some breathing exercises. Focus, and breathe as deeply as you can, focusing on your diaphragm.]

  Hinozu sits on the chair, placing a hand on his chest and the other on his abdomen.

  Doctor: [Now, breathe in through your nose, and exhale through your mouth. As if you were blowing out a candle.]

  He breathes.

  Inhaling. Exhaling.

  Too shallow.

  Hinozu coughs as he tries to breathe more deeply, pain resurfacing on the scarred organ.

  [I c-cant...]

  The doctor consoles the boy, writing down on the paper.

  [It's alright. It can be a long process, but the results are undeniable. It's a matter of patience.]

  [Just believe in the process, and believe in you.]

  A warm smile appears on his face.

  [You can do it.]

  It won't be the same.

  The boy nods.

  But I can still do it.

  Doctor: [Very well. Now, let's try again.]

  5 minutes.

  The wide room has lit up.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Though a suffocating darkness lingers.

  Hinozu rests, breathing as well as he can manage to.

  15 minutes.

  He grips a band, pulling slowly. Rotating. Curling.

  The pain persists.

  The weakness is disorienting.

  [You know... I used to train. Every day.]

  He says, unsure as to why.

  [That's admirable, Hinozu. I'm sure you—]

  [It's frustrating.]

  [I can't with this. I'm weaker. So much weaker.]

  His vision blurs.

  [I can't even move properly. Not even breathe.]

  And I thought...

  I'd someday fight those demons.

  You really are...

  Turning into a nobody.

  Trying to be somebody.

  A soft sound snaps him back to reality.

  He had dropped the band.

  21 minutes.

  He rolls a stress ball on his palm. Squeezing, he struggles.

  Release.

  Squeeze.

  Straining.

  [It...]

  [It just had to be the right arm.]

  Hinozu tries to squeeze harder.

  He winces from pain.

  Doctor: [We can't decide these things. All that's left to do is to push forward with what we have.]

  [Right.]

  34 minutes.

  [Try walking a little. Just as long as you're comfortable.]

  Grabbing a shopper with a few items in it, he walks, stepping through the room.

  After a short while, he sets the shopper down, breathing raggedly.

  Doctor: [Well done. That's enough.]

  [Can we do it again?]

  A pause.

  [Sure. But we'll rest a little before that.]

  45 minutes.

  The pen falls on the ground.

  [Sorry...]

  [No problem. I'll pick it up for you.]

  The doctor crouches down, picking up the pen before handing it to Hinozu.

  [Try again.]

  [I will.]

  I always do.

  62 minutes.

  Sitting on the bed.

  Tuning his ears to the sound of rainfall.

  Grabbing a nearby remote, he turns on the TV.

  [...Welcome all! We've got a special guest today... 1st Rank Exterminator ...]

  [Isothe attacks seem to be resurfacing, possibly tied with the coming of rain, says investigator Hyouma. Several districts have been evacuated with the apparition of a fairly strong one.]

  His gaze drifts lazily toward the screen.

  [Exterminators have successfully dealt with the issue.]

  [Crowds of thousands of people are now marching through the streets, celebrating their courage and honor.]

  Lights flicker. Hinozu grips the sheets. As tight as he can.

  [The IEM states "Issues in management", but the Assessment date remains the same for new, aspiring recruits. Some families have already started preparations for the event in 6 months.]

  The lights go off.

  Darkness engulfes the room in a matter of seconds.

  Shortly after, they light up again.

  He closes his eyes again, breathing slowly.

  As thunder rumbles outside.

  ——

  Raindrops hit the roof, sliding down the windows.

  The seatbelt itches his neck.

  [So... Why didn't they come?]

  He asks.

  [They said they've got a surprise for you.]

  [Oh.]

  A long silence follows.

  [We've missed you.]

  [It's been a month.]

  [That's a lot of time. It might not have been that much for yo—]

  [It was. It was long.]

  [Well, we're just glad you're back.]

  Hinozu gazes outside the window, eyes following the cars passing by.

  Lightning flashes in his eyes.

  [What time is it?]

  [Um... 5:02 PM.]

  [It looks like night.]

  [It's because of the storm.]

  Wheels keep rolling on wet asphalt, stopping after nearly 20 minutes in front of the Center.

  In front of home.

  A boy stands outside with an umbrella, his features unrecognizable beneath the heavy downpour. The car turns off.

  [We're here.]

  [We are.]

  The old woman exits the car. Hinozu reaches for the handle, opening the door before stepping outside.

  It closes with a firm thud.

  [Welcome back, Hinozu. I've... I've missed you.]

  His features soften.

  Though his gaze remains fixed to the ground.

  Ayumu: [Let's go inside before you catch a cold.]

  Hinozu's eyes widen.

  He was soaked.

  In the rain he forgot about.

  [Oh, right. Let's get inside.]

  Rushing to the door, they step inside. Immediately, the old woman mutters something about paperwork, striding towards her office before shutting the door.

  A pop startles Hinozu as he takes off his shoes.

  Confetti falls all around him, clinging to his hair and sticking to his clothes.

  Kanna: [Welcome home!]

  [...Thanks.]

  He says, patting the colorful bits off him.

  Ayumu: [You should take a warm shower. Meet us at the dining table in an hour or so, we've got something prepared for you.]

  Kanna: [Yeah! I'm sure you'll love it.]

  Nodding, the boy heads upstairs, hand brushing on the wooden railing.

  As he reaches the second floor, Hinozu places his hands on his knees.

  Panting.

  He clenches his jaw tight, gripping his knees tightly. Pain spreads through his right arm, forcing him to stop.

  Then, he steps into his room.

  A sigh of relief escapes his lips.

  [Finally. At home.]

  Heading towards the bathroom, he spots a hand wrap on Ayumu's bed.

  Don't worry.

  He steps inside the shower, turning on the faucet. Warm water flows down his body.

  You've made progress, too, Hinozu.

  Once clean and dressed, he descends towards the dining room. It's empty.

  Too soon.

  Faint grunts catch his attention as he approaches the door to the backyard.

  Punches.

  Kicks.

  Hitting the log.

  Sanded.

  Cracked.

  But without a single strain.

  Fingers brush through white hair as the sound of breathing becomes louder.

  Deafening.

  [Hey there. I was just training.]

  [Sorry for the log... It seems I've become too strong for it.]

  There he was.

  Ayumu, standing.

  Training in that same backyard.

  Punching that same log.

  Breathing just as hard.

  Becoming so much better.

  Than me.