Chapter 28: Letters and Meetings in the Greenhouse

That morning, the students came like fish in the sea. As soon as the first bell rang, everyone immediately entered their respective classes like little fish returning to coral crevices to learn survival techniques from their parents.

The same went for us, naive youths with little knowledge but plenty of arrogance and ego. School became one of many ways for us to get to know the world. Although it didn't mean that succeeding in school would guarantee success in conquering the world, school was still a place to transfer knowledge that had survived for thousands of years, a place for students to learn to interact with others, and a place to hone most of their other talents through various extracurricular programs.

When I and Rena entered, at least seventeen people were already sitting neatly in our classroom. Of course, this was class A, and in one of Japan's best schools, of course everyone here was brilliant.

Some might have been born from the upper class, others crawled purely from the bottom hoping to get a decent life in the future after graduation. That's why this place was so neat, elegant, and orderly.

But somehow... it felt boring to me. Even before I became an incarnate, I was sick of the monotonous view that was too neat. No explosions, no deviations, no conflict. Everyone just focused on themselves and didn't want to interfere with others' affairs.

Ah... peace is so boring.

I glanced at Rena beside me.

If she weren't there, I might be just like them, trapped in such a boring routine every day. So static, so orderly, no conflict, no battles, and no challenges.

I admit, deep within me, I still hated the organization for being negligent to the point of failing to protect Sakura during the Hyakki Yagyo incident. But on the other hand, I also couldn't ignore the excitement I had been getting all this time—an explosion that others trapped in monotonous daily lives like my classmates before me might never experience.

She seemed to notice my gaze. Turned and tilted her head.

"Is there something on my face, Yuuki-san?"

"No. Forget it."

I just smiled faintly, then walked in lightly. As soon as I entered, one Mitsuki Yamazaki, one of my friends, waved and greeted warmly.

"You look happy, Shinohara. Did a watermelon fall on you today?"

"No watermelon rolls for free on the street, Yamazaki."

"Oh, yeah? Have you checked under your desk?"

"Huh?" I furrowed my brow.

But seeing the suspicious grin on his lips, I immediately returned to my seat and checked the lower drawer of my desk. My hand felt around, there was something there. A paper, I didn't remember leaving my desk dirty. I pulled the object out and found a letter already in my hand.

"What do you think it is?"

"Probably a challenge letter."

Yamazaki stood and wrapped his arm around me, starting to tease me. "Listen, I was bored and came too early only to accidentally catch someone, a first-year I think, coming here and placing a letter under your desk drawer."

"Who?"

He shrugged. "I only saw them briefly and they ran away in a hurry." A mischievous grin spread, his fingertip deliberately pressed against my cheek just to tease me. "Look at this Handsome Guy. You have two very beautiful underclassmen, close to the most popular girl in our class, and now you even get a love letter. Oh, how lucky it is to have a handsome face. If only you were a little more perceptive..."

So annoyed by hearing that, I squeezed his fingertip until he winced in pain.

"Hey-hey, that hurts, buddy! I was just joking. Joking!"

I sighed and released him. "Next time don't make me angry."

"Seriously, your attitude like that makes it hard for people to approach you, you know," he sighed, then glanced at the letter in my hand. "Why not try reading it? Come on, I promise I won't peek at all. Besides, even if it really is a challenge letter, you'd better read it anyway so you know the place, right?"

I told him to turn around before opening the letter. Actually, I was a little reluctant, but somehow my instinct felt this would really lead me to something. That's why I also called it a 'challenge letter' from the start.

Srek.

I took out a folded piece of paper inside and read it carefully. My jaw clenched after reading the entire contents. I folded it and put it back into the envelope.

I accidentally glanced at Rena. I didn't know why, but she seemed to be looking at me with one cheek puffed out big like a squirrel storing nuts in its mouth.

What's wrong with her?

*****

I walked to the back of the school, exactly as written in the letter. As soon as I arrived, my mouth hung half open in amazement. That place was like a world separate from the school, surrounded by concrete walls wherever the eye looked.

An open plantation bathed in abundant sunlight without any obstruction. The plants were arranged neatly, grouped by type. Fruits and vegetables were the main commodities, looking fresh and shiny. While the rest were filled with small clusters of flowers and miniature trees with neatly arranged leaves.

Right in the middle of the garden, there was a greenhouse containing some other plants. Inside, I could see a small, slender boy standing while tending to a small tree with dense leaves. Garden shears in his hand gently cut the protruding, untidy leaves.

I entered and approached. He noticed my presence, then turned and greeted with a warm smile.

"You really came, Senpai!"

"So it really was you who wrote the letter, huh? No wonder Yamazaki misunderstood."

He scratched the back of his head. "That's how it is, Senpai. If you just look at the face and don't focus, anyone would think I'm a girl."

I chuckled softly. "He'll be shocked when he finds out you're a boy."

Haruki laughed too, even his laugh sounded feminine.

Slowly, our laughter faded along with the passing wind that happened to blow by. We fell silent, staring at each other emptily. Our mouths locked, neither wanting to start the next topic. However, waiting wasn't the answer for us.

But before I could actually open my mouth, Haruki did it first.

"This is the first time we've met without interruptions, isn't it, Senpai."

I nodded without a word.

He just smiled, then stroked the head of the miniature tree that had been neatly trimmed with his small hand. "Hey, isn't this beautiful? A world without anyone oppressing? A place where everyone can live without fear. A place where no one tries to act arbitrarily on the weak?"

I didn't answer. Looking down at where I stood.

Silence greeted us again after that. We were like two fools who didn't know how to start a conversation. Strangely I wanted to shout at him, even though my mouth ultimately remained tightly shut. But once again, silence wasn't an option.

I took a deep breath before starting.

"Is this what you want?" I asked, seriously.

"Something like that," he answered briefly, then approached until our faces were almost touching. "I'm grateful for everything because you helped and made me realize what I had to do."

"I never suggested it," I answered, flat and bitter.

"Be strong so you won't be trampled."

"But that's not the way."

"This is my choice. Respect my way and I'll respect yours. If you can't respect my way, then I'll also respect you."

"Such a copycat." I turned my face away.

I sighed softly, releasing my grip on his shoulders.

"I'm not a hero who happily helps everyone," I said, trembling while holding back bitterness. "But... your choice isn't the right thing to me."

"Someone told me that justice is relative."

"Indeed, but sorry. I can't let someone's life be taken."

"Because you're a hero?"

"No. Because I am me."

I exerted all my strength to push Haruki until his body almost hit the glass. But as I suspected, the glass didn't shatter, instead it swallowed him whole, creating ripples on its calm surface.

I activated Hero's Incarnation and followed him inside. There, in the mirror world full of bias and mystery, we would settle everything. In our own way.