After parting ways with Akio and Sorren, Soke, Hana, and I took to the rooftops, eyes peeled for any sign of the thieves.
"So, how exactly do you suppose we go about this, Mister Soke?"
"Just look around for anything unusual, the task itself ain't hard."
Looking around, the capital had everything necessary. Almost too much.
"Say, Soke, could we get a chance to explore the capital after we complete the mission?"
"I was planning from the start to make you guys buy some stuff for me, so actually, that works out great."
Seriously?
Hana let out a sigh.
Just then, Soke's sparks accumulated in an instant.
"There."
He made a 90 degree turn, bursting towards the buildings on the other side of the street.
"Ah- Did you find them!?"
"Just follow!"
Hana and I burst toward Soke, my own sparks flickering with a certain disurbance. Tch. Suppress it. Forcing a steady release, we began leaping between buildings in a blur of speed. As we pushed further north, Soke raised his arms, yellow sparks crackling with intense, heavy fluctuations. Despite the power, his control was precise; as if nothing but the situation at hand was on his mind.
Just then, a black blur stopped in its tracks. When did he even-?
Soke released.
The thief was caught in the blast, body crashing down next to a fish market.
We land on the ground next to him.
"Sorry boss. Just had to catch this lil guy." Soke apologized.
The owner looked at him in disbelief.
"Argh. It's fine. Long as you do your jobs."
Soke returned a smile.
But still... so fast. I hadn't even noticed we were chasing the thief yet, and yet Soke had already narrowed down his location and knocked him out.
Soke grabbed the figure by his arms, wrapping him around his shoulders.
"Mister Soke! Up there!"
My gaze drifts upwards as I see a brown haired boy dashing across buildings.
"Sorren!"
Sorren's movement came to a halt as he slid down the roof.
His sparks dissolved as he slammed against the ground.
"Urgh.."
"I said you two were to stick to the floor."
"Agh.. sorry Soke. We spotted a thief and Akio suggested we take different heights."
"And where's Akio now?"
"Prolly still chasin' the guy."
Akio was chasing after the thief by himself? That could be bad. We don't know how many accomplices the thief has, Akio may be outnumbered.
I don't hesitate, grabbing my phone to dial.
No response.
"Soke-"
"You go after him, Kai."
My chest tightened.
"Sorren, is Akio heading the same direction you were?"
"Yer, most likely."
"Alright then. Head over to support Akio, Kai. The three of us will keep looking for other thieves."
"Mister Soke, do you still think there are more?"
"I'd say one more. We'll check it out." He turns towards me. "Now go."
I gave a sharp nod, vaulting onto the rooftops to search for any sign of Akio.
Distant crackling echoed nearby. There.
I move toward it, bridging the gap between buildings and landing low. Below, the alley narrowed into a dead end, and at the far corner, I could make him out.
Akio.
He stood over a figure slumped against the wall, one hand raised, white sparks crawling unsteadily across his fingers. The mask was off. Whatever was underneath had stopped him.
He wasn't moving.
I stood still. That boy... that's the thief? He looked no more than 13, and yet he's a criminal? My eyes lock onto Akio.
His hands retreated.
Did he choose to spare the boy? It's risky, but it's possible.
I wouldn't want to apprehend a kid like that either.
"Hey. Let's just have a-"
Just then, the boy's knee drove into Akio's stomach.
Shit. This could get bad.
The boy dashed across the street, taking an elderly woman hostage.
No!
Akio.
Do something.
"You already know what I'm gonna say. Leave."
Akio regained his posture.
"I said leave! Stop!"
Come on.
"Just wait, I'm only trying to-"
Come on.
"Just listen to what I'm-"
"STOP! I SAID STOP!"
COME ON.
Akio took a step forward.
The boy's knife began tracing a slice.
Just then, unconsciously, my body lunged.
Save.
I have to save her.
Otherwise, it'll never be enough.
In a blur, I slammed into the boy, pinning his arms behind his back before he could blink.
"Sorry. But I can't have a citizen dying on us, Akio."
Looking ahead, Soke and the others had returned. Seemingly with the last thief.
I haul the body over to him.
Akio's gaze was locked on to me.
Confused.
I meet his gaze. Worried.
"Akio."
"Soke. I was just-"
Soke's eyes move between us.
Then-
"You're unstable."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...Unstable?
What's unstable?
Me?
Like then?
"Akio! Why did you do that!"
"Do what?? I was just-"
"You're unstable! You're wrong! What the hell is wrong with you!??"
Back then.
"No! I'm just like them, Dad-!"
"Akio!"
My mind returns.
I don't want to remember.
Not that.
Sorren grabbed me by the collar as he pushed me against the wall.
"What the hell was all that!?"
All that?
"I...I was just trying to reason with him."
"You're reasonin' with a god damned thief!?"
"Sorren! Stop!" Hana interjected.
"This guy almost let a bystander just die!!"
Then Soke.
"Sorren. Stop."
"Ghh!"
My body sat against the wall as Soke approached.
"Akio. Why did you let the thief go?"
"Thief? That's a kid! I didn't want to just hurt a boy like that-"
"You, are a kid. What are you, 17? 16? Likely the latter, right?"
My tongue clicked.
"You're not focused. Your mind is drifting, indecisive. That's why your sparks are irregular."
"Of course I'm indecisive! That's just a boy-!"
"Choose. Akio. You need to make a decision."
"..."
"If you want to live in this world. If you want to be a cadet. Then you need to choose."
Following his words, Soke turned around, Sorren irritatedly following.
I glance at Kai.
"Do you feel the same..?"
"I..."
"Come on. Just tell me... please..."
"I don't know. Akio."
Wind brushed against my face.
"The help you need. Or if you even need it."
His back turned to me.
"I just don't know."
Kai too, soon grew distant, in the shade of the rest.
A soft palm tapped my shoulder. Eyes dashing across.
It was Hana.
"Come on, Akio. I know you're not just going to calm down after all that."
I stare.
"But still. We need to keep going."
Keep going... I suppose. Next time. Next time it'll be different. We did it. We completed the mission. Just think about that.
"I know. I know. I'm coming."
I didn't know.
"Hey, Akio. Soke said we'd have the chance to look around the capital after the mission. At least for now, stop thinking. Please."
Her voice was soft, almost reassuring.
"Fine. Let's just go after them."
After them. Following. Would I stay like this forever? Will I never be able to take my own path?
This mission. It's meant to be a success. We caught them. Our first rookie success.
So why..?
Why do I feel so dissatisfied?