The Brick Wall - The Butterfly Effect Arc

Counter slowly trudged his way out of the alleyway, carrying Katsu on his back. The little boy held onto the man’s shoulders. They felt very firm, and it was clear that Counter had been working out for a long time. He seemed to be in very good shape.

“He carries me with such ease. I know I’m very light, but he’s carrying me as if I was a feather,” Katsu thought to himself. He didn’t mind though. Counter could have been a father figure or a role model. Safety looked to be his main concern.

Counter took a left out of the alleyway, walking the opposite way from Katsu’s family home.

“We will come back soon, young Katsu, I promise,” Katsu said with a smile, looking up at the young boy. “We all loved your Dad, kid. He will get the proper respect, eventually. For now, we got to get you somewhere safe.”

Katsu nodded his head, looking straight ahead. He didn’t want to go back to that house. The child shut his eyes. He couldn’t go back. It was too traumatic.

A few older women gave a wide smile to Counter, waving at him. Katsu couldn’t tell why. Was it because he looked charming? Or did they just find comfort in the brotherly bond that they didn’t really have? Katsu always found social situations confusing and awkward. He kept his head low, almost lying on Counter’s own temple.

A left through one dark alleyway.

A right through a small street. Another right. Another left. Katsu was beginning to lose track. He was slowly losing consciousness again. All Katsu wanted to do was to go to sleep, but he was scared that if he closed his eyes, he wouldn’t open them again.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Katsu’s eyes bolted open. Counter was knocking at a random, red brick wall. They were in an extremely small backstreet, which was hardly big enough to fit two people side by side. Concrete was chipped away off both walls, and the smell was rancid, similar to the trash bin in the alleyway beside Katsu’s family home. The small boy, now shivering, kept his head down.

“C-Counter?”

“Don’t worry, kid. I got you. I haven’t gone crazy, I promise. Watch this!” Counter exclaimed, pointing at the brick wall, his eyes wide and goofy. However, the door did not open at all. The wall did not move.

“Give me one second, Katsu, sorry!...Sushi, I swear to God if you do not open this door right now I will...”

Just before Counter finished his sentence, presumably full of profanities, the brick wall creaked and grunted. A column of bricks slowly began moving to the right, light beginning to peak through. Katsu looked up in awe and wonder as Counter gave a big smirk.

“See?! I told you! I’m not crazy!” Counter laughed as he stepped inside. “It’s time you meet some of your new family, Katsu. Don’t be shy. I promise you, they are all very friendly...”

“Counter?! What the hell happened to your hands?!”

A small boy popped in front out of nowhere, just in front of the door. He couldn’t have been any more than five feet tall. The boy had a very enthusiastic face, and was bouncing around all over the place. He wore a long, dark yellow coat, which seemed to act more like a cape. A simple, white shirt accompanied it, and a warm-looking grey, worn scarf wrapped around his neck. It was clear that this young boy didn’t care much for appearances, as his, short, curly brown hair was messy, and random tuffs poked out all over. Brown eyes, soft and gentle, matched the crazy hair.

“Nothing about it! I’m fine!” Counter waved his hands at the child, chuckling to himself.

“Shut up! Leader or not, I need to know about your injuries! Please, let me look at them!” the boy huffed at Counter, who just crossed his arms, enjoying every bit of it.

“No. Right now, I need you to look after this boy. His name is Katsu...Katsu Aikawa,” Counter slowly laid Katsu down, and he slightly stumbled, trying to keep his eyes open. “Can you do that for me, Bento?”

“Aikawa? Counter...is this Sensei’s...?”

“Yes, and I need you to heal him. Now. No questions, yet. I can give you answers when you’re back.”

“Roger!” the child called Bento jumped to action, allowing Katsu to lean on his shoulder. “Dammit, Counter, what is this ass job? Is this toilet paper?!”

“There were no bandages on hand!”

“Not good enough! I’ll fix this boy up in a jiffy! Come on, little Katsu, let’s go. Good boy. Can you walk?” he asked, a small smile etched on his face.

“N-not really,” Katsu replied, holding his stomach in agony.

“Here, use me,” Bento slowly pulled Katsu closer, allowing him to put his whole weight on him. “You are going to be just fine now, don’t you worry. You are in the best hands.”

Counter watched as Bento and Katsu slowly made their way to the infirmary. The man sighed. No child deserved to be hurt like that.

“If only I could take your pain, Katsu,” he sighed to himself, before immediately switching emotions as another young man walked towards him. This man had much nicer clothes than both Counter and Bento, with a lovely, crisp grey shirt and smart black, cargo pants. His black jacket was wore over his right shoulder in a very casual sense. His eyes were so blue, you could see the ocean in them, and his wispy black hair had the tips dyed red. His hands, deep in his pockets, signaled a casualness, which made Counter feel casual too.

“What’s up, Counter?” the boy asked, trying not to laugh.

“Not much, but clearly the door is not working, Sushi,” Counter smirked, holding up his cupped palm to the man who pranked him. Sushi cackled as he smashed his palm into Counter's, making a huge noise, echoing over the building.

“Hey, it’s funny every time.”

“Not for me, it’s not! It’s freezing outside!”

“That’s what makes it funny!” the men laughed together, before Sushi spoke up, more sad this time. “He’s gone, isn’t he?”

“I’m sorry, Sushi,” Counter sighed, covering his face with one hand. “I was too late. It’s my fault...”

“Stop that shit, Counter,” Sushi told Counter, putting a firm hand on his shoulder. “You saved all of us. We weren’t to know...what happened? Can I ask or is now a bad time?”

“It was Toxicity...”

“F*cking bastards!” Sushi yelled, taking his hand back. “Dammit!” The man turned away from Counter, trying to keep himself together.

“Hey! Language!” Counter told Sushi off.

“Sorry...I...we were so close, I could feel it!”

“I know, Sushi, but we aren’t going to let his death be in vain. For us, and for his child.”

Sushi spun on his heel to face Counter again, before spurting out in shock, “Katsu survived?!”

Just as Counter was about to respond, a booming voice came over an intercom that rang over the whole building.

“Counter, Rank Five, in my office! Right now! That’s Counter, my office, now!”

The voice cut off. Counter looked towards a camera, that was spying on him from afar. He stuck his middle finger up at it in frustration.

“Hey, language!” Sushi smirked.

“I didn’t say it, I used my actions,” Counter responded smoothly. “What does that worthless slug eater want now?”

“I don’t know, but you had better go now. He sounds pissed!” Sushi reasoned, and Counter nodded his head.

“Yeah yeah yeah, alright, Dad, you can’t tell me what to do...I’m going because I have to, not because I want to, by the way.”

Sushi laughed. “See you around, Counter, and good luck up there. Although, something tells me that Baldy is going to need it more than you,” he added, before walking down the path to the infirmary. Counter sighed one more time, before beginning his long walk to the Leader of the Survivalists' office.