Moments before Nikko arrived
"Hold up, Nikko! I can't keep up with you!" Rika yelled out.
Nikko completely ignored Rika and kept moving.
"How is she this fast... or am I just too slow?"
"Or is it her determination that pushes her..."
"Is it her love for him...?"
"Is my love not stronger—or at least as strong as hers?"
"Do I even stand a chance?"
These were the thoughts haunting Rika's mind as she looked at Nikko blazing forward to reach her loved one.
Rika had to stop for a moment to catch her breath.
"This reminds me of the day..."
"The day I fell..."
"In love..."
7 Years Ago – According to Rika
I remember that day like it happened yesterday. My friend and I were on our way home after spending the day together when all of a sudden, a huge dog appeared and started chasing us.
I was so scared. As soon as the dog barked at us, I screamed.
"Rika-chan, run!" Urami yelled as he started to run.
I started to run, but I couldn't keep the same pace as Urami-kun. I got so tired to the point where the dog gained on me. I fell to the ground, and as I looked toward the dog, I saw that it was in midair, about to sink its teeth into me.
I closed my eyes in fear.
"RIKA-CHAN!" Urami yelled.
SNAP
I opened my eyes and saw a dark-skinned boy with hair as white as snow standing in front of me. The dog had just sunk its teeth into his arm—and in that moment, he crouched down and started petting it. The dog let go, started to whine...
"Shhh, it's okay, boy," he said.
After that, the dog licked his arm, hugged him, licked his face—and left.
He sighed, turned around, looked at me, and stretched out his hand to help me up.
I felt kind of embarrassed, but grateful at the same time.
So I grabbed his hand—and the moment our hands touched, I felt this electrifying feeling, like my whole body was on fire. My heart was pounding out of my chest. I felt myself turning red.
"I'm—uhhhm, my name is—uhhhm…" I was mumbling like an idiot.
"Okay, uhhh… nice to meet you, I guess. Hahaha," he said.
"Rika! My name is Rika!" I said.
"My name is Hinto. Nice to meet you, Rika!" he said.
"Rika-chan, we have to go home!" Urami-kun shouted.
"Oh yeah, right! My parents are going to freak out," I said.
"Sorry, Hinto-kun! I have to go, but thanks again for saving me!" I called while running to Urami.
"No problem, Rika-chan. See ya!"
And as he said that, I squealed and turned as red as a strawberry.
Present
"What am I doing...? I don't have time to think about these things. I gotta catch up to them—not for my sake, but for Hinto's!" Rika started running again.
Meanwhile
"HINTO, NOOOOO!" Nikko yelled.
SHLING
She cut the facemask of the guy—revealing his face.
Hinto stood there, looking at the guy. At first, he was confused, but then—
"!?"
Hinto froze, eyes wide open.
Flashback:
Hinto was standing in the school courtyard, towering over a guy—but all the guy could see was a black silhouette with red eyes and white hair.
"Th-The... WHITE DEMON!" the guy said, cowering in fear.
Present
"What's up, White Demon? Not what you expected?" the guy asked.
"Johei..." Hinto said.
"So you do remember?" he responded as he got up.
"But I don't understand... what are you doing? Why Kokuja!?" Hinto asked.
"Oh please, Hinto… don't pretend like you don't know," Johei said.
"DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID TO ME THAT DAY!?" Johei yelled.
Hinto stayed quiet. He hadn't forgotten... he just didn't know how to respond.
That Day
I remember it like it was yesterday. I walked up to Johei while he was cowering in fear, but all I could feel was this strong, sharp, burning sensation—anger overwhelming me.
I walked up to him and started beating him.
Punch after punch—and the scary thing was, I couldn't stop. Every punch didn't satisfy my anger at all. It only made me angrier, hungrier—it consumed me. It felt like... I wasn't myself.
And then it stopped.
Well—no, I got stopped.
Present
"So we're just going to stay quiet, huh? You sure let your fists talk that day," Johei said.
"I still remember how every single punch felt—and I have this scar near my mouth TO REMEMBER IT!" he added.
"Johei... everything you did today was because of that day?" Hinto asked.
"What do you think?" Johei answered.
"..."
Hinto stayed quiet for a second, then walked up to Johei and told him:
"Let loose."
Johei punched Hinto in the face.
Hinto took the punch and stayed standing.
"HINTO!" Nikko yelled while running toward him.
"NIKKO, stay there..." Hinto said.
Johei saw this and thought to himself, "Look at this asshole trying to act cool."
"YOU EMBARRASSED ME!" He punched Hinto again.
"YOU MADE ME THE TARGET OF BULLYING" He kicked Hinto.
"EVERYTHING THAT MADE ME SPIRAL—" he dealt another punch.
"INTO THE PERSON I AM NOW!" He elbowed Hinto in the face.
"IS BECAUSE OF YOU!" Johei screamed, delivering an uppercut.
Nikko turned around, crying.
"I can't watch this…"
After what seemed like an endless run, Rika finally arrived—about 20 meters from the scene.
"Finally I arrived… but what's going on!?" Rika said.
She saw Nikko standing on the sideline, stressed out; Hinto on the ground; and Johei reaching into his pocket.
Johei, consumed by rage, Johei, still unsatisfied, pulled a hidden knife from his pocket.
Nikko screamed, "NOOOOOOOOOOO! HINTO, WATCH OUT!!"
Hinto looked at Johei, both angry and shocked.
Rika started running toward them. "i gotta stop them!" she thought
Johei charged at Hinto, screaming, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"STOOOOOOOOOOOOP!" she screamed.
Johei stopped and turned toward her and softly said, "Rika…?"
As that happened, Hinto immediately saw his chance and delivered a rising kick to Johei's chin—sending him flying.
Rika and Nikko stood there, shocked by what just happened.
"Ughhh... that shit hurt," Johei groaned.
"That was one of many... for Kazuo," Hinto said quietly.
Wait—Rika, who is he? Why does he know your name?" Nikko asked
"That guy is my former friend... Urami." Rika said
"Urami Johei."
Chapter End – Grudges