Together, Not Alone

“Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap!”

My fingers raced through my hair as my nails began to dig into my skull.

My lungs burned and refused to open. I collapsed onto all fours, choking on nothing, each breath shallow and frantic as my body seized up.

“Oi!”

Dammit! Why didn’t we consider that before we brainlessly accepted the deal?

“Oi!”

We only have one chance. One slip-up…and that’s it. We won’t exist anymore.

“Oi! Taro! Pull yourself together. You’re embarrassing yourself in front of Izumi,” Ren delicately whispered to me, a smile tugging at his lips.

I appreciated his calmness. If only I could have matched it.

“We have nothing to worry about,” he said reassuringly.

As he brought me back to my feet, he continued, appearing far more optimistic than I was.

“Think about it. Your worrying just tells me that you don’t believe in me. Eh, Taro? You know I’m…we are going to do whatever it takes to bring Junpei back together.”

He was right. When was the last time Ren had let me down? I couldn’t remember. It must've been so long ago that it slipped my memory.

“Let’s get going. And Taro, don’t forget, I’ll always have your back.”

I uneasily nodded, and followed Ren’s lead.

A rough numbness consumed my lip. Had I really been biting it that hard without even realising?

Although what he said made me feel better, it didn’t stop me from thinking about what this could mean for everybody else back home.

Our ignorance…how could I let this happen? It’s not like me to make such a stupid decision.

What would this do to them–Mum, Dad? If we fail, we die…and they’d never know what happened to us. They’d think we gave up, and that we took our own lives.

And after that, they’d search for our bodies in vain, clinging to hope, never knowing it was hopeless from the start.

Mum, Dad–I’m sorry–

Izumi abruptly broke my train of thought with a motivating declaration. They were obviously words she had been programmed to say, but that didn’t take away what the words meant to me.

“I’m happy you two answered my call to come on this journey. Without us fighting together, we’d have no chance of getting my sister back. But with our combined strengths, nothing will stop us from saving her. I know it!”

Maybe her words meant more to me because it was her who said them. Either way, she reminded me that none of us had to do this by ourselves. As long as we had each other’s backs, we’d make sure nothing happened to one another.

So far, anytime Izumi spoke, I found what she had to say was very interesting. So I waited to see if she had anything else to say. Unfortunately she didn’t.

Coming to think of it, I wonder what the backstories of our characters are. Izumi clearly seems to know Khrom and Sabar personally.

Perhaps our characters were once romantically aligned.

I began to blush a little, but luckily, being at the back of the line meant I could hide my embarrassment. I shook my head so my entire face shifted to red, rather than just my cheeks. Ren didn’t turn around, but if he did, at least he wouldn’t have discovered my blushing.

But it makes sense, right? There’s two of us, and two of them – Izumi and her sister. It’s certainly a possibility. Izumi and I fall for each other, while Ren, or Khrom I should say, falls for the sister we rescue.

I thought about asking Ren, but I don’t think the results would be satisfactory. He’ll probably end up giving me a vague answer.

Besides, won’t it make me look a little weird and unserious? I can’t let Ren think for one moment I’m a liability.

“Taro, why are you blushing?” Ren asked.

My face froze. I had to think of a believable response.

“I’m not blushing. I–I–I’m just nervous, that’s all.”

Ren gave me a confused look, clearly unconvinced, then turned away and kept leading Izumi and me.

“Right, whatever. Well, don’t shy away from asking me anything if you’re nervous. Oh, and Taro.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“You should practice using your fire-power. You know, get used to it a little. You’ll have to use it soon.”

I nodded. “Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”

I slowed my pace, letting my hands hover out in front of me. I focused. Not too hard, just enough. I sensed the heat rising from my skin and the energy coursing through my body.

And just like that, flames flickered to life. No sparks, no mistakes, just fire dancing across my fingertips. At one point, my excitement got the better of me and I aimlessly discharged a weak ball of fire, nearly hitting Ren.

He dodged effortlessly, however, without even having to look back at me.

I found it strange that I didn’t have to do much to become proficient in using the fire. It really was as easy as they make it look in movies.

Well, I guess, after all, I had borrowed Sabar’s body and abilities.

Soon, I could feel my body starting to tire.

I curled my fingers slightly and watched the fire twist around them in obedient coils, then dismissed it with a simple thought. While the warmth lingered, it wasn’t painful. An essence of feeling powerful prevailed.

Ren looked over his shoulder with a polite smirk. “Not bad, fire-boy.”

“Shut up,” I said with a half-smile.

The path ahead narrowed, the trees darkened and the silence grew heavier the closer we got to the first mission. But for once, that heaviness didn’t weigh me down – not just yet anyway.

I glanced at Ren. He looked sharp, focused, and prepared for whatever was going to cross his path. His armour complemented his toned and masculine face, while the poise in his steps proved he was fit to lead us.

Izumi, too, carried herself with determination, her silhouette glowing faintly under the pulsing sky.

And me?

Although I couldn’t say much for myself, I was going to make sure I didn’t hold them back.

A chill ran through my arms as an unfamiliar tingle shot through them, making me shudder with excitement.

We looked like a real team. Powerful. Motivated. Ready to take down anything.

For the first time in my life, I felt like I was part of something cool…

…Something that meant I wasn’t alone.