Sacrifice

Ria: "Put your hands up where I can see them."

Ria pressed her revolver to the back of Zafkiel's head. She was a short woman in a gray military uniform and hat. Her hair was short and also gray. He held up his hands.

Ria: "You have 5 seconds to explain what you two are doing up here."

Zafkiel: "We were skydiving."

Ria: "And? Why land here?"

Zafkiel: "It's an open and safe area. Plus, the scenery is beautiful."

Ria: "Because of bums like you, I have to work overtime. Get out of here or I'll shoot you both."

Zafkiel: "I'm sorry, Ria. We were just leaving."

They got into the elevator to leave. Because of the camera, they had to whisper and not look at each other.

Caliel: "She didn't recognize you?"

Zafkiel: "I'm not that big of a fish. Let's just respect her and stay out of her radar."

Caliel: "Got it. Are you going to school tomorrow?"

Zafkiel: "Of course. We should remain silent for a moment, so that the authorities can calm down a bit."

Caliel: "I'm always ready for a new adventure. And remember, I'm always with you."

After another paranoid night, nothing important happened. They returned to school and sighed with relief when they were reunited.

Yuuwaku: "You lost your phone yesterday."

Michi: "Don't worry, I got another one. I just didn't have to text you. I'm glad it was the same for you."

Yuuwaku: "I felt lonely, but it was good preparation for this moment."

Michi: "Just as hunger is the best seasoning, loneliness and paranoia are the best happiness inducers when we are together."

Yuuwaku: "What about that other happiness inducer? What do you say about quitting it?"

Michi: "I've tried several times, but my body betrays me. But if it's for you, I can do anything."

Yuuwaku: "Then promise me that you will quit all harmful addictions."

She extended her pinky to him. He giggled.

Michi: "Quite the challenge. I like challenges."

They intertwined their pinkies.

Ria: "Arata Michi, hard man to find."

She was pointing her revolver at his head again. Beside her was a tall, muscular man. He had red hair and green eyes.

Zafkiel: "Why are you here?"

Ria: "I knew you were familiar on the rooftop. Your companions turned you in for their absolution. Of course they won't get away, but it helped."

Zafkiel: "Am I being arrested?"

Ria: "After all the crimes you've committed, I'd rather kill you, but since you haven't resisted yet, I don't really have a reason."

Caliel: "This is unfair!"

Ria: "Is she with you?"

Zafkiel: "No. I'm the one you want."

Caliel: "He doesn't deserve to be in prison. He can do community service!"

Ria: "That's not how it works. Just leaving you two alive is exhausting for me. I'm being merciful."

Zafkiel: "I surrender. But keep her out of this."

Ria: "She's an accomplice. She's coming with us."

Zafkiel: "Wait, then... can you at least listen to my request?"

Ria: "And waste even more time?"

Exwind: "Please, Ria. It's not like he can try anything."

She felt disgust and impatience.

Ria: "Make it quick. I have important things to do."

Zafkiel: "I want to have lunch with my girlfriend for the last time."

Exwind: "See? Since we're a couple too, we can spend time together!"

Ria: "A waste of time."

Exwind: "It's not a waste. You need to rest, and they are satisfied."

Zafkiel: "Exwind, can I talk to you for a second?"

They booked lunch at a 5-star restaurant. Ria and Exwind sat next to each other, while Zafkiel and Caliel did the same at the same table.

Caliel: "Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

Zafkiel: "Being alive is a good sign. They don't want to kill me."

Ria: "I do."

Exwind: "I don't. They're people like us, Ria."

Ria: "Scummy people."

Caliel: "Then let me go with you!"

Zafkiel: "Are you listening to yourself? Life in prison is never worth it. You have a future, I don't."

She slapped him across the face.

Caliel: "Stop belittling yourself so damn much! You mean everything to me and you think sacrificing yourself will make me happy?"

Zafkiel: "It's not about making you happy. It's about not making you suffer unnecessarily. We wouldn't even be at the same prison."

Exwind: "We can make that happen."

Zafkiel: "My point still stands. I can't protect you without my gadgets."

Caliel: "I will learn to protect myself!"

Zafkiel: "What about the powerful prisoners?"

Exwind: "Don't worry about them. We can isolate you two in another cell. Our goal is to stop you from committing crimes, not to make you suffer."

Zafkiel: "Were it so easy. The guards wouldn't take kindly to it."

Exwind: "I can knock some sense into them."

Ria: "You're going too far, Tetsushi. If we did that to every single prisoner, there wouldn't be any room left. Why do you think prisons tend to be so narrow?"

Exwind: "We can always find a way out. With technology, maybe?"

Ria: "And spend so much on inferior humans?"

Caliel: "Hey!"

Zafkiel: "It's okay. Caliel... no, Yuuwaku, I want you to promise me one thing. Don't follow my path. I will get out of prison one day."

Ria: "Your charges are enough to last a few lifetimes."

Michi: "We can meet on holidays. My point is: live your own life. I'm not telling you to forget me. I'm asking you to make the right choice. You will be much happier that way."

Yuuwaku: "It will never be true happiness!"

Michi: "Then... I don't know how to make you happy. What I do know is that you're not prepared for this kind of suffering."

Ria stood up and pointed her revolver at his face.

Ria: "I'm tired of this depressing shit. If you want to trauma dump, do that in prison."

Exwind: "Ria."

Ria: "I won't ask you twice. Either you come with us and cooperate willingly, or I'll shoot you in the face right here and now."

Michi: "Yuuwaku, please promise me that you'll quit this life. For me. I'll be much happier knowing that you're safe."

Yuuwaku: "You... I can't undestand you..."

Michi: "Ria, Exwind, please leave her out of this. Add her entire sentence to mine."

Yuuwaku: "You can't do that!"

Exwind: "We can. Of course pal, we'll let her live a normal life."

Ria: "If she gets in our way, she's dead."

Michi: "Good to know."

He clapped his hands and jumped towards Yuuwaku, hugging her on the floor and under the table. Suddenly, all the other customers opened fire on Ria. All the shots ricocheted off the barrier and returned to their senders, killing them.

Michi stood up, confirming that his plan was doomed to failure from the start. He raised his hands in surrender. Ria shot him in the head. He fell dead to the ground. Yuuwaku stared at his corpse, terrified.

Ria left, unfazed. Exwind crouched down and placed his hand on Yuuwaku's shoulder.

Exwind: "I'm sorry, little one."

He handed her a doll of Michi.

Exwind: "He asked me to give you this, in case he didn't make it."

He left them alone. Yuuwaku hugged his body and cried for a very long time.

Hatred, trauma, happiness, anger, sadness, everything contributed to one's physical and mental growth. They also manifested themselves in supernatural powers that defined the heroes.

Hero was a profession and had lost its original meaning. Achieving goals was easier through the hero association. Yuuwaku, no... Caliel finally saw a reason to become a hero.