[I'll always feel that way.]

  [Until it finally happens, of course.]

  The car passes through the gate and drives through a vast garden.

  [I've never seen someone this excited about meeting my parents.]

  [Can't I be eager to know the parents of the person I love most?]

  [Depends on how much.]

  I feel her fingers tousling my hair, white locks swaying between them.

  [You really took the time to get ready today.]

  [Unlike you, who doesn't even bother to comb his hair properly.]

  The car comes to a stop.

  We both exit the car, standing in front of the gate. I quickly fix myself, brushing a hand through my clothes.

  She knocks on the door.

  [Ready, Exterminator Ayumu?]

  A smirk appears on Anise's face. I sigh, smiling.

  [Ready as ever, Exterminator Anise.]

  A click. And then, the door opens.

  A man stands, a wide grin on his face. Wearing a beach shirt and simple, black shorts, he signals us to follow him.

  [Welcome, welcome! Come inside.]

  [It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Angell. I'm Ayumu Alabaster.]

  I raise my hand, fingers trembling slightly. He eagerly takes it, shaking up and down.

  [It's a pleasure. You can call me Caden. So, you're the guy who's with my precious little girl?]

  [Dad.]

  [Sorry, sorry. Let's go inside.]

  I step inside, staring ahead.

  A rosewood tree, its branches stretching and twisting below the transparent flooring. A few withered leaves hang onto it, still.

  Caden: [Amazed? It's a hell of a decoration, eh?]

  Ayumu: [It is.]

  I say after some thought, hiding my displeasure.

  [I haven't seen anything like this before.]

  Anise: [I remember I used to read here as a kid. I was probably 12 years old, then.]

  Caden: [And you would also take the bark off.]

  Anise: [That's not really important now, is it?]

  Caden: [Not at all. Well, less waiting and more following.]

  The man leads us to the dining room. A woman stands up, walking over to us. After placing a kiss on Anise's cheek, she turns to me.

  I pay close attention to my eyelashes, keeping them away from narrowing.

  [My, what a handsome young man you are! I'm happy Anise found someone worthy.]

  Caden: [Come on now, you're making him uncomfortable, Alma.]

  I chuckle.

  [Not at all. I do think I've been lucky to find her.]

  Anise blushes slightly, stepping closer.

  [I'm grateful for him too.]

  Alma: [That makes me really happy.]

  Caden: [Well, sit down. Let's eat, talk, and enjoy.]

  Anise: [You can sit anywhere at the table.]

  Caden: [Preferably close to us.]

  Ayumu: [Might eat alone.]

  Caden laughs, sitting down at the front. Anise's mother sits to his left, while Anise sits to his father's right.

  I grab the chair next to her.

  Sitting.

  Naturally.

  Servants fill the table. Roasted meats, vegetables, some fishes.

  After everything's been served, they start to eat.

  I look around, serving myself anything.

  A strange cold rushes through the nape of my neck.

  Caden: [You two met at the Assessment, right?]

  Anise: [Yeah. He was the one who approached me, and then... We started talking and...]

  Ayumu: [And ultimately, we decided to be together.]

  Alma: [Kids grow up so fast these days...]

  Caden: [They do. I still remember babbling like a baby in my twenties. Isn't that right?]

  He jokes, laughing by himself. Alma shoots him a killer stare.

  Conversations flow naturally as we eat. For a few hours, we enjoy the moment.

  Or at least, I try to.

  Fed up with the act, I place my utensils down, faking satisfaction. I glance at Anise, who converses with her mother.

  [Let's go out to the garden. For a walk, eh?]

  I turn to the man, nodding before I stand up.

  With slow steps, we head outside.

  Caden's hands travel to his pockets. I watch closely.

  With a straight face.

  [You're crazy, boy.]

  I raise a brow, walking behind. A small, confused smile spreads through my lips.

  [What do you mean?]

  [You know exactly what I mean.]

  He halts. I stay back, keeping distance.

  [Do I?]

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  A soft breeze brushes through. A stray leaf plasters over my face.

  I wipe it away.

  Caden: [You're ambitious. I'll give you that. But also... Really reckless.]

  [To come here and show your face, to me. So? What do you want?]

  [Revenge?]

  [Peace?]

  [Justice?]

  [Something else?]

  I feel the gears on my head turning.

  Finally, I gather my words and speak.

  [A friend of mine has cleared my head up a little. Saw him.]

  [And all I thought was...]

  I brush my foot on the grass blades.

  [It's unfair.]

  [People like you and me... we're just born, educated. Taken care of. Once we grow up, it's all handed to us. Fame, money. Opportunities.]

  [And yet, we still find a way to take from others.]

  [You took from me.]

  [I took from my best friend.]

  [We take from the whole world, just to benefit ourselves.]

  [And I had never realized.]

  [People around me took way longer to achieve than I did.]

  [So I regarded them as waste.]

  [I still do.]

  [That's our flaw—]

  A clap startles him.

  [Where are you even going with this?]

  [Right.]

  I sigh deeply, gathering my thoughts.

  [I want to kill you.]

  [You? Really?]

  Finally, he turns.

  Facing me.

  [It'd be enough for you to throw me in jail.]

  [Reveal the truth, make sure everybody knows. About how I planned to wipe out the Hagen family.]

  [But...]

  A stinging sensation sets over.

  Like unseen blades poking each pore of my skin.

  [I guess you're forced to. As nobody would hear from you.]

  [That's true.]

  I meet his gaze. Staring.

  [And in a fight, I won't have any chance.]

  [Because I'm probably the only one from the Eight that can't use Ruddii.]

  My mind freezes. Slowly, I close my mouth, watching as time passes by in silence.

  The moon.

  [Is my still mother alive?]

  [Sanya. You'll find her there.]

  My eyes widen. For a while, at least.

  [Help me.]

  [To what? Find your mom?]

  My eyelids narrow.

  [We'll wipe out the Families.]

  The words hang in the air, heavy.

  [I'm not strong enough for that, boy.]

  [We don't need strength. You've got authority and power. I've got standing in the IEM. It shouldn't be too hard.]

  Caden taps his head.

  [You're crazy.]

  I tap my head.

  [This world is.]

  [I'm just trying to fix it.]

  [Both of us.]

  The man furrows his brows.

  [Ayumu. And Sigerd.]

  [You're far more twisted than I expected. But I won't answer you yet. Go see your mom first, will you? After, come back to me, and ask me again.]

  [Nothing will change my mind.]

  Caden nods, walking over to me. His palm sets on my shoulder, squeezing before he walks back inside.

  A drop of blood runs down my neck.

  I wipe it away with my thumb.

  Good.

  ——

  The empty street whispers ahead. The pavement crumbles at my feet, the sound mixing with distant screams.

  People in bars laugh and yell, spending the night.

  Vandalized walls, litter, run-down buildings.

  Ugly.

  I spot an open store and make way towards it.

  I nod at the cashier's quiet greeting, looking around.

  With nothing to be bought but dusty items, I leave.

  Cold, rough fingers wrap around my ankle.

  Bloodshot eyes stare into mine. A mangled expression tries to mimic a smile.

  An old man, lying on the ground.

  [What's a rich guy like you doing here? Wanna disappear from society, too? Fed up with all of it?]

  [Not at all. Let go, please.]

  [You could at least give me some money. You look like you have lots of it! It's been long since I haven't had—]

  [Here.]

  Retrieving some bills from my wallet, I throw them on the ground next to him.

  [You'll use this for food, won't you?]

  I ask, a slight frown forming on my face.

  [You won't ever know, so it doesn't matter. Not like guys like you care for petty, lowly beings like me. You'll just toss me around until you're bored, and then slam my face into the ground before leaving me to die.]

  [Won't you?]

  The man scans my expression before he bursts laughing. I shift, growing irritated.

  [All I want is to do good to the world.]

  I blurt out, unsure of my own words.

  He laughs even louder, tears welling up in his eyes. Forcing himself to breathe, he calms down.

  [You are no good. Nobody is.]

  [The people who throw coins at us are no different from the ones who don't.]

  [After all, we'll live and die the same. Under a bridge, on the side of the road, or beaten up by gangsters or police.]

  [Our limp bodies shameful, disposed.]

  [The good are the ones who allow us to live. And even, make it easier.]

  He grins widely, yellowed teeth showing.

  [Give us jobs and teach us to try again.]

  [But of course, we don't deserve that, do we?]

  [Because we failed.]

  Pride courses through my veins.

  [I will fix that. Get rid of those who make it impossible for you to live again.]

  [Try how long you want. You won't achieve anything from shedding.]

  Cold grips my ankle.

  The old man lets go, closing his eyes to sleep.

  I step away, searching through.

  An hour.

  All it takes for me to give up.

  A high-pitched scream catches my attention.

  Jerking my head towards the right, I rush towards the home, kicking the door open.

  [What's happen—]

  My words fall short.

  A woman, with tape around her mouth, hung from the ceiling with her own hair.

  Long, dark, charcoal hair.

  Laughing.

  I run.

  Towards her, fumbling as I try to untie her.

  Too high.

  Looking around the whole room, I find a knife thrown at the corner. It's covered in fresh blood.

  Without thinking, I cut her hair. The woman falls down with a loud thud.

  I crouch down.

  Avoiding my gaze at her face.

  [Are you alright?]

  No response. Only laughter.

  I grab her by the shoulders, growing anxious.

  [Stop laughing. Are you okay? What's happened?]

  I ask.

  My heart races.

  My heart denies.

  [Are you... Are you Katarina?]

  I close my eyes.

  Hopeful.

  For...

  Laughter.

  Louder, now.

  My mind freezes.

  As if shut down.

  With trembling hands, I set her on the ground. She squirms before collapsing.

  I step back, staring wide-eyed. Or through half-closed eyes.

  With only one thought in mind.

  ——

  [Could... it be all for nothing?]

  [There's little time left. I already know everything.]

  [It's my body that's still lacking.]

  A hand pats his back.

  [You're still just a young man, Hinozu. A boy. You'll become better. Stronger. But that will take more time than you have at your hands right now.]

  [I don't know. I still feel the need to improve, even if we're just a few months ahead.]

  [What you need right now is to stay at your best. As your coach, I tell you... Your technique is way better. Your stamina is great, and your reflexes too. Whatever, just... Focus on consistency.]

  [So... There's nothing I can do to improve...]

  [That's the reality. For now.]

  Hinozu scoffs.

  [Unfortunately. Well, I guess it's almost like a rest.]

  [That's right. A light jog can go a long way. Sprints come after.]

  [Of course.]

  After a quick nod, he heads towards the exit, stepping around scattered equipment.

  [See you tomorrow, Hernan.]

  [Sure.]

  Pushing the door open, he steps outside.

  The chirping of crickets can be heard, as well as the faint sound of music from afar.

  Through empty streets, his thoughts start to wander, shoulders slouching as he walks absentmindedly.

  It's alright.

  It's okay if I'm not enough yet.

  Because I'm not who I am. I am what I do.

  A deep sigh.

  So as long as I do something, it'll all be alright.

  A scream from behind pulls him out of his thoughts.

  Turning around, his eyes are blinded by a bright light.

  He sees a car passing by, with several arms sticking out the windows.

  [Woo!]

  The driver waves. Hinozu chuckles, returning the gesture.

  With a smile still plastered on his face, he starts walking again.

  Arriving at the Center, he sees a silhouette next to the entrance. Approaching it, he recognizes it.

  [Sorry to come this late.]

  Unruly hair. Dark bags under his reddened eyes.

  [Could've messaged me first, Ayumu.]

  [Really busy nowadays. So, um... have you decided yet?]

  [I won't take it.]

  ~~Ayumu's~~ My expression remains the same.

  [But... why? It's what you want, right?]

  [What, be an Exterminator?]

  [Of course. This is the chance you've always wanted! It's assured!]

  Brushing a hand through his hair, Hinozu smiles, shaking his head.

  [These past years, I've realized something.]

  [I didn't really want to be an Exterminator. Or anything like that.]

  [I just... I don't know.]

  [Guess I wanted to feel good about myself. Never really seen much of the world. Wasn't born rich, didn't go to school until, well... The old woman decided to take me in, educate me.]

  [It was just an itch. To be able to live as I saw on TV. Have what others used to brag about. Cars, expensive restaurants, clothes, all that luxury.]

  [But come on. My sister used to wear the same clothes every day. Ate cheap noodles from a dusty store. Forget about a car, even.]

  [Me? No one. Poor kid smiling at some bullshit of a life I had. Dreams about fighting Isothes to seem cool. Provide for my sister, live happily ever after.]

  [... Do I still think I'll be an Exterminator? I do. And maybe that's the bad thing about me.]

  [After everything I've suffered and done... I still come back to the same place, looking for something new. Something different.]

  [But I don't really know why I'm in here. Sister's dead. Work isn't paying off. Watching from below as you all rise. But I'll still be there. Because I started it. And can't get it off my mind.]

  I tap my fingers.

  Growing tired.

  [So... You'll take the Assessment?]

  [I will. And this time, you'll see me pass, right?]

  He chuckles.

  [Or not, who knows?]

  His face straightens.

  [It's been disappointing all the time. Can't take it anymore.]

  He lets out a long exhale.

  I sigh.

  [Does that mean...]

  [You're done... with all?]

  This was all you could do?

  Hinozu: [I'll definitely get a cold tonight.]

  [Doesn't matter, though. Does it, Ayumu?]