An Akihabara Wink

The weight of sharp thorns centered inside his chest—Without a doubt the fastest and unimpeded he has ever ran. Hyperventilating from the sting in his lungs was like a warm bath compared to the wicked, oppressive pain of his own eye popping out of his skull.

Barely able to kick his shoes off, and still too many thoughts to comprehend. Getsurin could only look outside into the sky and gaze at the still glowing black cloud hovering over Tokyo, like an omen of the end time. As if god gave up on a grand painting, discarding the paint brush directly onto the canvas.

The streets were nearly empty from activity, a haunting sight considering the perpetually lively streets of the Electric Town. On the upper floors of his apartment complex, he’s able to see a fair amount of Tokyo, however, he’d wish he was on the lower floors as the damage from the shrapnel shed signs of smoke in the distance.

A heavy sigh escaped from Getsurin. One for the powerlessness of the situation, and the realization that he has his own new set of problems to cater to. Quickly finding a jar and filling it up with water to then mix it with rubbing alcohol. Getsurin dropped his eye into the solution.

“That should work for now…”

Getsurin faintly recalled that for preservation of organic… Parts… He needed just water and isopropyl alcohol. However, this will have to be temporary as this won’t perfectly preserve his eye. If he ever plans to place it back where it belongs.

“Hu? Oh, duh, the whole world probably knows about this by now.”

“Hey, mom.”

[Getsurin! Thank the heavens you’re okay! My boss called me right in the middle of a meeting and told me what happened… Are you okay?!]

“Uh, yeah, mom, I’m fine… it sounds like most of the havoc is happening far west of Akihabara.”

[Good—I mean, not good, it's terrible… I’m just relieved you’re safe. And, I’m getting ready to come home.]

“No—! I mean, I’m fine, everything is fine, just relax and come home at the end of the week like you planned.”

[Are you sure?]

“Yeah, I’m sure, we should just take it easy for a few days anyhow.”

[Oh, you’re probably right… I think I’ll be traveling by boat for a while… Well, alright then, good night. Love you!]

“Night, love you too.”

His classic sigh escaped once more. As he now has to either explain the eye to his mother or keep it a secret. Sensing the sheer distress in his mother's voice is one that he’d hope to never have to hear again. He then realized that it was probably a good thing that his mother wasn’t home as the blood was still stuck on his face, cold and crusted. With that thought he quickly went to the shower to cleanse himself of the madness.

“It's like… Identical…” He whispered, studying his eyes in the mirror and one in the jar. The eyes in his head, and the one in the jar are completely indistinguishable from one another. To further confirm that he wasn’t losing his mind, he dug up several photos of himself. No matter what eye he looked at, each matched, but he knew that one eye was different.

Getsurin then shrugged off the madness and fashioned himself a fast meal for the evening, avoiding any unpleasant lingering thoughts. Focusing on a plan to act on before mother comes home. Still pretty early… Whatever. He thought, staring at the clock. Mind and body clearly exhausted from the day, but refused to drift into a much needed rest. The moon now peaking through the window, the night continues with Getsurin unable to close his eyes and sleep.

⦷ ⦷ ⦷

One last glance at the clock—6:12—Dawn was fastly approaching. Without even realizing it, Getsurin hadn’t slept a wink the entire night. Mind racing from the several hundred outcomes and scenarios of what his new eye means and the relation with the plane. Further wondering if this restlessness is from the eye or yesterday's unexpected madness. Maybe even a personal aspect hidden is the spaces of his mind.

“—Officials have yet to confirm the death total of yesterday’s devastation, experts are speculating in the hundreds with injuries potentially reaching one thousand.”

“All from one plane?” Getsurin expressed with a low tone, almost skeptical that that much damage was created. He then cycled to more new stations to see different perspectives.

“—I think it's clear that this was a form of an attack, we know that the plane’s flight path was from the US to Shanghai, but a path such as that should not have flown anywhere near Tokyo—Even so that’s a bold claim that such an action would occur, especially originating in the States.” The panelist discussed. “Then why has the Prime Minister assigned the Minister of Foreign Affairs alongside the Minister of Defense?”

Getsurin heard enough, the news wasn’t going to enlighten him on the questions that he’s most concerned with. Now moving on to his daily routine, however the destination is different from school. To take matters into his own hand, he figured it be best to see some kind of specialist, an optometrist should know something, anything.

“That can’t be right.” Staring in the mirror, Getsurin noticed something about his glasses. “I know they’re old but they were fine yesterday.” He remarked in confusion as he cleaned his lenses. Soon testing his left eye by covering it, then the same with the other eye. Looking at several things at various distances. “This isn’t making any sense—What am I saying, none of this makes any sense!” He exclaimed with an odd frustration. From those small experiments, Getsurin’s vision has improved to an express degree. With his left eye he’s able to see with clarity akin to a bird of prey.

Nevertheless, he still wore his glasses and went to the doctor.

⦷ ⦷ ⦷

“I just have to get to the doctor and everything will make sense… This is crazy.” Getsurin sped to the train station with the same pace many would have if they were late for work.

Surprisingly busy as usual, considering what had just happened. Streets full and animated as ever, growing with energy with every passing hour. Thousands of souls are ready to continue their weekly commute, showing little concern for the immediate lives of others. The train station was no different: taking the same time to get to the train, and crowded as usual. As if nothing had ever happened, everyone is back to normal, as if the masses express a sync callous motivation.

“Hey, man…”

“Can I help you?” Getsurin replied to a rather feeble looking middle aged man, tapping him on the shoulder with slight aggression. Adorn with a style only found in the deep end of late night bars of busy cities like Akihabara, with damaged sunglasses on top of his slick yet messy hair.

“I, need that…” Struggling to maintain focus as he gazed at Getsurin, hands shaking as he pointed to Getsurin’s face.

“Need what? Money?”

“Listen, man, I don’t know why but give me the thing that’s on your face!”

“My glasses-Sure, just leave me be.” Getsurin agreed as he removed his glasses.

“I’M NOT PLAYING MAN!” Angrily striking Getsurin's hand, sending his glasses into the crowd, causing dozens of people to move away from the two. “Just give me that thing you have and we’ll be good, okay?!”

“Listen guy, I don’t know what you want!”

“This is your last chance, I’m a goddamn black belt!!!”

“I’m not playing, I don’t know what you want—!”

The man lost his balance, as his fist flew with crazed anger. He looked at Getsurin with confusion as he regained his fighting stance, both realizing that he had missed because Getsurin dodged the attack.

Equally confused, Getsurin raised his hands as if trying to calm an enraged dog. “Let’s just drop this before someone gets—”

Another fist flew to Getsurin and just as before he dodged with surprised ease. The man quickly followed with several more swings, in combination with forceful kicks. Each failing to reach Getsurin, as if they were opposing magnets, they couldn't touch each other.

“Wait?” Getsurin pondered as the crazed man flung his body towards him.

What's going on? He wondered, as the crowd circled around the two. Why am I able to keep up with him? As his confusion continued, he realized something about the man. Not only that... his movements, there... sloppy!

The crowd fell silent, and so did the man, as his fist was carefully caught in the palm of Getsurin. The man forced more rage to maneuver his body to break free from Getsurin and launched himself in the air for a powerful strike. But Getsurin was somehow more than ready, as he glided the man’s leg away to calculate a swift kick of his own!

Now at the feet of the crowd, the man hastily stood up and clutching his abdomen. Huffing in the continued rage, he began to march to Getsurin but instantly ceased in an uncontrolled shock, and quickly fell to the floor. The local police had arrived and tased the deranged man. Followed with a sigh of relief from Getsurin as he raised his hands upward and he slowly approached the police.

Not even realizing that this was his first fight, and one that ended with a victory.