"Alright, listen up!"
The four of us stared at Soke.
"The mission may have had some friction, but it was ultimately a success!"
"The darn friction was only because of-"
"Sorren!" Hana interrupted.
Kai stayed silent.
I did too.
"What's done is done. Don't dwell on it, Sorren."
"Rgh."
"Anyhow." Soke cleared his throat. "I did say I needed you guys to get some stuff for me."
"You were serious about all that??"
"Yep! So I'll be splitting you guys up again!"
"What are we even supposed to be getting?" Hana questioned.
"Some groceries, and training equipment. For our next missions, I'll be focusing on helping you guys form your charms."
My fist twitched.
Our charms. It has me thinking, what sort of charm would I get? Something heroic, cool, would be nice. But after what just happened. I'm starting to think.
What if I can't get something noble at all?
"Alright, Kai and Sorren, go get the training equipment, I'll text you a list of stuff. The stores should be north-east of here."
"Arright. Kai, let's go."
"Yeah.."
The two of them gradually grew distant, Soke's arm grabbed my shoulder.
"You and Hana will go get the groceries. Check your texts for the list."
Thinking about it, how does he even have our numbers?
"How do you even have our numbers?"
"You signed up for the cadets."
"Ah."
I see.
"Okay Akio. Let's go." Hana said.
I followed her footsteps as we began navigating our way towards the grocery stalls.
A few awkward minutes passed as we kept walking, not a single word said.
Things were coming back to me.
Slowly.
Irritatingly.
"You're Unstable."
I'm not.
What I did was perfectly reasonable. That was a kid.
I was just trying to look for a different way.
The way heroes would.
They need to understand that. The fact they don't is stupid. How can you press your anger against me when all I was trying to do was help a little boy?
You're wrong.
Voices blurred together around us, stalls calling out prices I couldn't focus on.
My mercy isn't 'unstable.'
It's controlled.
Soke and the others need to understand that.
That's right.
It isn't my fault. It just can't be.
"Hey, Akio..."
Hana's voice was a soft blade, cutting through the spiral of my thoughts. I blinked, the bustling market stalls of Aurelia bleeding back into focus. The scent of roasted meats and salted bread felt heavy in the humid air.
"Ah, yeah?"
She hesitated for a moment before muttering out.
"I think that. Well. What you did wasn't wrong."
I froze. The crowd surged around us, a river of strangers, but the world felt suddenly, unnervingly still.
"Wha-?"
"You just did what you felt was, well, right. It may have been selfish. But."
My hair fluttered in the breeze.
"We have that right, don't we?"
"I..."
Was she trying to support me? Help me feel better about myself?
"Sorry. It may have been a pressuring question."
"No, no. It isn't. Thank you, Hana."
Her lips traced a slow arc across her face.
"I'm only saying what I... believe."
Her voice was supportive. Emotional. Helpful.
But something underneath bugged me. It was almost. How do I say it?
Artificial.
We drifted past a row of stores, the path leading us deeper into the glow of the streets. Hana's footsteps came to a halt.
"Say. Akio."
"Hm?"
"Do you mind if I called you by a nickname?"
A nickname? What for? My name wasn't exactly hard to say.
"Uh. I guess I don't really mind."
"Okay then. From now, I'll be calling you Aki."
Aki?
I sigh.
"Well, if that's what works for you."
"Great!"
We arrived at the store, Hana scanning the shop for our items.
"Aki, can you check the list?"
"Ah. Alright."
I pulled out my phone.
A missed call from Kai. Must've been from before.
I glared at the ingredients list, calling out to Hana.
"Uh. Just grab a buncha veggies and some pasta."
"Sorry, but, maybe just a bit more specific."
I flip the phone screen, her eyes locked on to Soke's text.
She sighs. "Of course."
We ended up collecting a variety of vegetables along with the pasta Soke had requested.
By the time we stepped outside, the sun had set, the sky turning dark.
The streetlights hummed with a low buzz, casting a glow over the vibrant, swarming crowds. Hana and I began our walk back, until her footsteps came to a halt.
"Hey, Aki!"
"What is it now?"
"Over there, look."
She gestured at a busy restaurant, rushing her way over.
"Come on."
The pavement was still warm from the sun as I trailed behind her, the weight of the grocery bags pulling at my shoulders.
"Shouldn't we get back to the others..? It's pretty late."
"Just call saying we're eating. It'll be fine. I'm sure they'd do the same anyway."
"Euhhh, fine."
I brought out my phone and had a brief call with Soke and the others.
We seated ourselves near the corner, a waiter approaching us at a steady pace.
"Hello, what would you two like to order?"
"I'll get... a pizza!"
"Alright, and what about you sir?"
The waiter's focus directed to me.
I stared at the menu. Pasta. Pizza. Burgers. Curries.
"Ah.."
For some reason, I couldn't find something to say.
"He'll share with me, you're fine with that, right Aki?"
"Oh. Sure, pizza's fine."
"Alright then, it'll just be a minute."
I shifted in my seat, looking around. The room was bustling with people, every one of the dozens of tables occupied. Above us, elegant chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their light shimmering as the swell of classical music filled the air.
The waiter soon arrived with our pizza.
"Finally. You ready to eat? Oh, and don't worry about the money, I've got it."
"Oh. No, it's fine-"
"Be quiet and eat."
"Ah."
She wasn't exactly one to reason with. I thought back to Kai's missed call. I'm assuming it's from the chase. I wonder, if I picked up. Just took the time to wait and see things together.
Would things have gone different?
No. I don't think so.
I would still have spared the boy.
I would still get scolded by Soke. Threatened by Sorren.
And I'd still be here, eating pizza with Hana.
It's no use.
"Well? Are you gonna take a bite?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'll get to it."
Hana set down her slice.
"Hey. Can I ask you for a favour?"
"What is it?"
"Forget."
Forget? Does she know I'm still thinking about before?
"Forget what?"
"You know what I'm talking about. But, right now. What I want for you to do is, to grab a slice of pizza, and eat it."
She does know.
I reached for a slice, the melted cheese stretching in a long, golden string as I brought it to my mouth.
A salty taste dissolved in my mouth. It was really nice.
"Now."
My eyes drifted back on to her.
"Savour that taste. Hold on to it, and forget."
My eyebrows rose.
"Right now. I think, that's what you should do."
Savour that taste.
Frankly, it was kind of unsettling how she knew what was on mind.
But somehow...
I feel comforted.
I let out a small smile.
"Alright then. I'll do just that."
***
We came back together with the others late at night.
"Oy! You two are darn late! Kai, Soke and I have been waitin' here for hours!"
"We just got here too Sorren." Kai said.
"Ya shut up and let me complain!"
Somehow, things seemed calmer. Sorren was back to his loud self.
Not angry, just loud.
Kai too, looks like he was in a better position as well.
I gazed at Sorren, and found myself wanting to say something.
"Sorren-"
"No, Akio."
He approached me slowly.
"It's not like what I think you did wasn't stupid. But. You just tried to do something your way. I can't be mad at something like that."
My eyes widened.
"I'm sorry." His palm extended.
My own met his in a humble shake.
"I'm...sorry too."
"Hana, hand me the groceries I asked for."
Hana passed the bags on. "You mean the buncha veggies and pasta?"
"Sorry, lazy habit of mine."
"So, what are we going to do now? It was a long day." Kai asked.
"Err, I guess the four of us are gonna head back to the dorms."
"Ah! I almost forget to tell you guys!"
Our faces turned to Soke's, puzzled.
"I'll be staying with you guys now! Till you complete all five rookie missions!"
"HUH." The sound escaped all of us at once, our eyes widening in synchronised surprise.
"Hahah!"
"Oi now, if this oaf's stayin' with us, we gotta make a bunch of room!"
"Forget room, Mister Soke can sleep on the floor."
"Does he even have to stay with us? I mean, come on." Kai muttered.
"Too bad, it's cadet regulations. You're stuck with me."
Soke let out a light chuckle.
Then Sorren.
Kai.
Hana.
Again. That strange feeling. That indescribable lightness.
As if the weight of the mission had already disappeared. We were here, in this moment. Having fun, being with each other.
I guessed I had found myself a strange bunch.
Soon enough, I found myself chuckling among the rest.
I...
I wished this feeling would stay for just a bit longer.