Envy

It's the next day. Slowly I wake up as I roll over to check the time.
'Noon... It's been weeks, if not more, since I've been able to sleep in.'
I slowly stood up. Gaia had given Tarou and I a free day because of what happened. That's all Hiro had told me yesterday.
I had decided to just go home so he delivered the message Tarou sent him.

I walk downstairs and see no one around, so I go over to the kitchen and make myself some food.
'I guess Gaia didn't tell him. He would probably not dare leave the house, or me, for the next week if she had.'
I finish some basic sandwiches and turn around, stopping when I look at the couch.
Yesterday I had just thrown the phone onto it before quickly heading to bed.
A moment later I walk over and sit, eating as I watch some anime I catch on the TV.

After some episodes, I sigh and finally grab the phone, turning it on and reading the messages.
'Some from Shin and Hiro... Oh, the group chat with Tomo and Aya is absolutely spammed, I really worried them.
I got some from Gaia too...
I should apologize when I see her, I guess she didn't want to wake me up.'
Finally I scroll and see the last person that sent me messages.
'Tarou... With hundreds... I'm slightly surprised it didn't crack a thousand.'
I grin for a moment when suddenly.
Ping!
'...Another one from Tarou.'
"Hey! I don't know if you're awake yet, so I'm sending yet another message. Do you want to hang out? We got a free day so meet me at the park! ...I've been here quite a while now, so hopefully you read this soon..."
'...'
I stand up and look at myself. There was still some blood on my shirt, but luckily nowhere else.
I throw my shirt in the laundry machine in the bathroom and quickly grab another from my room as I look at myself in the mirror.
'I had almost forgotten I still had the necklace. It's helped me with focus a lot... But it's not going to help if I lose control...
I guess I need more training.'

I quickly shake my head and put the shirt on before heading out of the house.
'Let's just hang out with Tarou.'

...

It takes me a while, but when I reach the park Tarou is still there, waiting for me.
"Kazu! Hey there! I got your message."
"Yeah... I slept in, sorry."
"Nah, no worries."
I look around and see a bunch of groups hanging out together.
Friends, couples.
Families.
'...'

"What do you think?"
I snap out of it when Tarou asks me that and I look over.
"Uh... Sorry, I was distracted."
He sighs before repeating himself.
"I asked if you wanted to come over. Me and my mom thought about doing a little competitive cooking, but I wanted to hang out with you. I figured why not both!"
'What even is competitive cooking...?'
"I'm not sure what that is but... Sure."
Tarou laughs as we head out of the park.
"It's basically an excuse to create a buffet for ourselves, you'll love it! Or at least you'll love the food!"

...

"I'm home! I brought a friend ready to compete!"
Tarou runs inside as I slowly walk behind.
"Hello... I'm Kazu."
"Oh! My little Rou has spoken about you many times!"
'I can't believe I've never been here before...'
I walk over to the kitchen and see his mom.
She was slender and had her dark brown hair in a ponytail flowing over her shoulder. She was barefoot and wore a yellow tunic top over her big chest, with some blue sweatpants.

She looks over at me and says.
"Hey there, come over. Can't really compete if you're not in the kitchen. Hahah."
Tarou and her let out a small laugh together. I shyly join them, deciding to do one of the few things I know.
'Hopefully they don't mind sandwiches...'

...

We spent the whole afternoon cooking. Making cakes and sweets, all the way to spaghetti and pizza, and my sandwiches. Afterwards we put it all on the table, and sat down.
"...My sandwiches don't look as good."
Tarou's mom turns towards me before saying.
"Nonsense! Who could turn down sandwiches?!"
Tarou chuckles and says.
"My mom loves sandwiches."
We all clasp our hands together and say.
"Thank you for the food!"
I look up at his mom, she seemed to always have a gentle smile on.
'His mom is super nice...'
My thoughts get the better of me as memories start to appear.
'Tsk.'

I look over at Tarou and can see him rub his hands together as he says.
"Finally, my favourite part of cooking competitions! Eating!"
'That reminds me of how he used to be chubby, but now his muscles are starting to show. Training is paying off great for him.
Training hard isn't bad.'
I look over at all the food we made and smile.
'Now's not the time to be thinking of training.'
I grab a couple of things and start chowing down.

...

"That was great..."
Tarou looks over at me with a smile when I say that.
"Starting to feel better?"
I look at him before looking back at the ceiling.
"...Maybe."
I think for a moment and suddenly remember, as I look back at Tarou and ask him.
"Hey, how's... Uh..."
Tarou's smile fades as he finishes the sentence for me.
"You talking about yesterday? She's fine. It was... Fixed."
I nod and look down when a flash of what happened yesterday appears in my mind, making me look back up again.
"I'd like to see her."
Tarou's eyes widen, causing his mom to look confusedly at both of us.
"Who are you both talking about?"
He quickly turns to her.
"Just... Somebody we helped. Yeah."
"Oh! My little hero!"
Suddenly she brings him into a hug, burying his face in her chest, making him blush.
'...For some reason that makes me annoyed...'

Afterwards Tarou walks me outside, the evening having just begun.
"Are you sure about that man?"
I look up at the dark sky.
"Yeah... I guess..."
I look towards him.
"I don't know. Call it wanting to make sure she's fine, or maybe I'm just trying to continue my help against that group."
Tarou stays silent for a while and then pulls out his phone.
"Alright, I trust you."
He sends out a message then looks up at me.
"I told coach that you were feeling better after spending the afternoon in my house, and that you were wanting to see her."
I raise my eyebrow, confused, and say.
"I could have done that myself you know."
He shakes his head.
"She's also worried about you. About how you were feeling. So I don't know about that."

I sigh.
'Makes sense.'
"Thanks."
"No problem man."
We wave at each other, before setting off towards the hero HQ.

...

I walk into the lobby and see Gaia waiting for me there. With a worried look she asks.
"Are you sure? I don't know if-"
"I am. I don't want to... Keep thinking about what happened. I guess."
Gaia nods and I continue.
"So what did happen to her? Tarou said it was... Fixed?"

Gaia motions to follow her and we both start walking.
"It was honestly a surprise when I got there... I saw all the blood and you nowhere there, I almost went crazy."
She chuckles at herself.
"Tarou explained though. After that we already had a bunch of heroes with healing magic, and her hand was right here, so we attached it as best we could and rushed her here. Nurse Ruby's healing magic is honestly incomparable.
She's resting there right now, I haven't even interrogated her."
I nod along with the explanation and we finally reach the infirmary.

We walk in to see nurse Ruby talking to Envy laying on the bed who looks towards us, and upon noticing me, immediately screams as she pulls nurse Ruby with one arm to hide herself, closing her eyes.
"I-I Was C-Captured! Y-You... YOU CAN'T HURT ME!"
Gaia immediately steps between us and says with a serious face.
"You have nothing to worry about. I wouldn't let him even if he tried."
Envy opens her eyes again and slowly looks up at us, quickly looking away when we make eye contact, and loosens her grip on nurse Ruby.
'...It really looks completely normal...'
I could now get a better look at her hand, it was attached to her arm as if it had never been anywhere else but there.
Gaia looks back at me and notices me staring before saying.
"I told you. Incomparable."
She then quickly gives nurse Ruby a thumbs up, to which she chuckles.

"Anyway, Envy."
Gaia steps closer to her when nurse Ruby says.
"Ah, please don't do too much, she's still healing. So at the very least could you keep the conversation short?"
She beams a smile at both of us, and we can't help but nod as Gaia continues.
"Right, sorry...
Envy. I want to ask a couple of questions."
Envy looks at her up and down before glancing at me and immediately looking away.
"Okay..."

Gaia then spends some time confirming a few things. She is indeed the Envy we were looking for, and part of the same group as the others. As well as confirming Vice Chairman's theory.
"So it really is to finish his training..."
Gaia looks over at nurse Ruby who still has a smile on her face, though she tilts her head to the side as her eyebrows turn as if apologetic.
"One last question before we let you rest. I want you to tell us where else another one of your group may be at."
The moment she says, she glances at me and then immediately looks away, before slowly turning her head towards nurse Ruby, as I notice her start to shake slightly.
"I... I don't..."
She struggles to speak, before nurse Ruby turns towards her as she slowly pats her head. When she does it, Envy's eyes widen and she relaxes a bit more.
"How about I get you something to eat?"
Nurse Ruby turns around and grabs a bowl of candy from the cabinet, bringing it to her which finally makes Envy blurt out an answer.
"G- Gluttony! I'll... I'll tell you about him...!"

'Kind enough to obtain information from even her... Nurse Ruby is impressive.'
Gaia stares at her, waiting for her to continue, which she quickly does.
"He's... Honestly creepy. Always communicating in roundabout ways... He can also control you! Or... Some people at least."
I look at Gaia as she nods along, paying full attention.
"None of us have ever seen him, but from some rare descriptions the big guy has mentioned, he sounds... Disgusting."

We wait for a while in silence, expecting her to continue, which she doesn't, so Gaia asks.
"...Is that it?"
Envy looks up at her with a tear appearing in her eye.
"Yes! We've never seen him or known where he is, I'm not lying. Now... Please get him away from me!"
Gaia sighs and nods at her, before turning around and putting her hand around my shoulder as we both walk out of the infirmary.

We walk to the lobby in silence, and when we reach it, Gaia finally speaks.
"That's what we're working with. Some disgusting, creepy guy that communicates in roundabout ways..."
She looks at me with a smile as if to mock the information, while her eyes showed how tired she was.
"Not much to go off of huh?"
I nod and she continues as her face turns more serious.
"Magic that controls people though... We'll need to be careful."
I let out a small chuckle under my breath as I look at her.
"Like always then?"
She turns to me and laughs.
"Like always! Now go on and rest. I'll need to think about this for a good while."
I nod, and head out of the building.

...

It's night as I'm laying in my bed, thinking about everything.
'I've been working hard... I guess I took down Envy technically... Though she didn't give much towards Gluttony...

I should work harder.

Becoming as good at healing as nurse Ruby would be quite nice... I wonder if she would be good enough to help mom?
Mom...'
I think back to my time in Tarou's house.
'Such a nice and kind mom he has...

Must be nice.

Well, mom is nice and kind too, she's just...'
I take a few deep breaths and bring my hand towards my chest, holding the necklace beneath my shirt.

After a moment I let my arm fall to my side, as a thought suddenly pops into my head.
'I need to keep practicing.'