032 – Wound

‹Ginji›

I'll be fourth year starting today, huh…

▪ ▪ ▪

June 2017.

"My name is Ginji Satoshi and I came from Class 3-1 last year. Aside from transfer students, you already know me, so that's it for my introduction."

January, year 2014, I passed my entrance examination in Mykes School, even before I graduated from sixth grade. I was obviously set on leaving the previous school I studied at. Mykes was a smaller school, but it was way more peaceful. Having succeeded on the exams, I was granted a minor scholarship along with others, and my tuition was discounted.

I am always in Class [x]-1 whatever year it is. I started studying in Mykes as a first year in junior high, all because of wanting to breathe a fresh air after studying six years in elementary in a school who is a glutton for money.

▪ ▪ ▪

On the first day of my first year, I was immediately greeted by a classmate. He was very friendly, but at least he's not in the level of extroverts. We exchanged words, and to my surprise, we shook our hands. It was the first time it happened to me, to tell the truth. Apparently, the guy has been studying here ever since the time he started this venture that every child had to go through.

Afterwards, I became friends with two more guys. It was Nico and Iura. Nico had a wide physique ever since, and at first, I thought he was a grumpy guy because of how he looks. I am not any better as I have natural glare. Even at that time, he's a step away from marrying online games.

Iura… was and still like how he is. He's an unpredictable guy, but very easy to humor.

Regarding Shuri, we weren't friends yet when we were first year. But I was taken by surprise when I heard that she played MOBA games.

And then at the start of second semester, a new guy came. I was surprised to see that there is someone new in front of me in the line when it was the assembly. He wore glasses, and he didn't really stand out. But I became friends with him either way. He's Guren Haruno. That guy has so much energy.

However, a few months after he transferred, he had to leave again and go back to the country they moved at. After that, we lost any contact of him.

▪ ▪ ▪

Quickly, I became a second year. In Class 2-1, it's pretty much the same faces, aside from the fact that some of my classmates transferred out.

With the exclusion of Guren, our circle stayed the same. But the guy who first greeted me gradually drifted away, but we still stayed as good friends.

Along with that is the innovation of technology where messaging in social media had finally become the fad. We formed a group chat, which until today is active—it was named after a certain mafia family in an anime.

Ugh… cringe. Yeah, but we were still brats, keep that in mind. But as time goes on, I didn't regret naming our chat like that, which later became the name of our circle.

But the addition of new classmates from other classes doubled. I was satisfied with how things are last year, but problem children added up to the roster, which made things bad. The main theme of the school year was 'respect' which our class didn't have.

One thing is for sure. I can't remember how many times have our class made a teacher walk out. That was also the time when the long term drama began. So many unnecessary issues piled up that it wasn't even a controlled thing anymore.

I bore hatred. I set aside myself away from them. I thought that I will be just fine with my friends. I wasn't the nicest person either. As my second year in junior high school ended, I realized that I'm starting to not become sincere anymore. I was a bad person to blame my hatred to my classmates.

But that year… was abysmal in the eyes of anyone.

▪ ▪ ▪

Summer vacation ended, but before that, Maven Aquos was elected as the new president of the country. And after that, it's just days of thirty-eight degrees Celsius in feel.

Time passed, and I became a third year. We continued to become the so-called "worst batch." Being the quiet one for three years, I have always been observing. And thousands of words didn't manage to come out of my mouth, since I decided to shut them. It was a full year situation where if ever I spoke; I'll get on their nerves.

I'm trying to make this short, since it's not even fun. What if I told you that we made a teacher resign because of us?

Yes, that really happened.

And there's the concept of competition. We are always being compared to other classes, and we always lose. I hated the idea of competition, and there was also a time where even hearing the word 'unity' made my blood boil. Why, because it was nonexistent, of course.

Oh, and also, I became an honor student in the second semester. Little did I know that that title will be my mishap.

But on the bright side, this was the time when I became close friends with Shuri. I didn't know that she was some kind of an otaku. But hey, anime and manga really bring people together.

▪ ▪ ▪

June 2017.

"My name is Ginji Satoshi and I came from Class 3-1 last year. Aside from transfer students, you already know me, so that's it for my introduction."

Same faces. There are thirty-nine students, and there's me. I didn't even expect anything to happen before I graduate.

But I realized, I once tried to brand myself as the 'enemy' of the class. However, it was more like my role is the antihero. The whole class didn't even know about that. I didn't even bother opposing them, though.

I continued to become an honor student, and gained the title to become a representative of the school to compete against other schools in essay writing, since they told me that I had "potential in writing." I wasn't very opposed with the thought. No, I didn’t think of it deeply with insight. Thus, I trained for it and even exempt myself in the exams at one time. But I realized that I lost something—my social interaction, even with my friends.

Finally, I broke. But in the midst of that, I still participated in the event. I came to another school which was the venue. And out of the thirteen participants, I placed tenth.

Which means I lost(?).

…

I… was extremely happy. I was so happy that I lost. I realized that I was doing something that I don't want to. It was my fault for not thinking it through from the very start.

And look, they offered another chance for me. Heck, I ain't doing that again.

I have accumulated so many wounds from these four years… and suddenly, I got myself in an accident.

It was the first week of September, year 2017. I don't remember what happened. I woke up in a hospital bed, being tended by a famous doctor, Rishou Kagetora. As I woke up, I felt the pain almost in the entirety of my body, and my temperature was high.

A few hours after I woke up, I realized that I will be confined for quite a while. I was somewhat glad that I won't be in class. I will have to admit, my way of thinking is sometimes clouded and twisted.

But that unpleasant happiness was thankfully swept away… as I discovered that I can't move my legs. I became paralyzed. Not entirely though, like I said, almost my whole body ached. That means that my lower extremity weren't severed from my nervous system. I was informed by the doctor that it was because of stress in the body that made me unable to walk.

I underwent therapy and bit by bit, I regained my ability to walk… to discover that my body became even better than before the accident. I was proud of how high I can jump, and it became drastically better. Even at 169 cm, I can reach a basketball ring. Kinda amazing, I'd say.

Well, I became able to jump a building of three floors.

~ ~ ~

After more than a month, I sadly came back to school. Rumors about what happened to me spread and I was of course unhappy with it. For more than a month, I changed and somehow lost my hatred… only for it to come back.

Thankfully, my return was at the end of October, when the first semester had ended.

Even I became confused of myself. I am always aloof, but sometimes I am delighted. For example, Guren came back to Mykes in the start of the second semester. I forgot how energetic that guy was, even when we were first years.

What's more, my first friend came to me again to seek for advice. He was a leader of the disciplinary committee, and he felt that he was lacking. I personally don't have the qualities of being a leader, and I don't want to anyway—seeing that the majority of my classmates were organization leaders.

He tried his best to become a good leader, but he always get a word from the teachers. He asked what could be dragging him down, and I responded. He thanked me for the advice I gave, and felt the feeling that I sought for so long—sincerity.

However, the year ended badly, as expected.

~ ~ ~

Apart from my friends, I cut ties with my classmates. And I apologized to my friends and expressed my untold displeases. I also told them that I will be transferring to another school, since I can't swallow being in that school anymore.

In the duration of the summer vacation, I reevaluated myself and sought to change. Doctor Kagetora, with his past made me change a lot and learned not to bear hatred easily on others. He impacted me with how much he regretted his past acts and it hit me through my heart. He displayed sincerity that I have never seen in my life.

…

I am happy that I transferred to Blue Ink High School. Finally, I found a school that greatly values the quality of being human more than the academics.

Having found arts was not a bad decision. I enjoy my daily life because I like what I'm doing.

Being a student in S1VA, I opened up to others and did not isolate myself. I made more friends, and had people that I can trust. Honestly, it is nice knowing people that are somewhat out of the ordinary.

▪ ▪ ▪

"…ji! Ginji…!"

"Uhh…"

It was not morning when my mother woke me up. But it was not any different from it with the solemnity and the chirping of the birds.

"Shouldn't you be going to the hospital by now? You better not make the doctor wait."

"R-Right…"

It is an afternoon which is nowhere near the twilight yet. But the sky is starting to turn orange.

It seems that I fell asleep for almost two hours… and had an extremely long dream.

Either way, what my mother mentioned about hospital is just a minor checkup. Nothing really big or problematic.

It was no way faster than the speed of sound, but I quickly changed to outdoor winter clothes and immediately walked out of the house.

"I'm going now."

Speaking of winter, it has been the second time snow fell in this country. Heck, this country is a tropical one, so how come the seasons became four?

I pondered on the thought until I had to turn to Cerulean Street. Inevitably, I will be walking by Gin's house before turning.

"…

'Try not to become a man of success, but try to become a value.'"

The snow started falling down, and so I began walking with my hood on.

~ ~ ~

"Hi, Doc. Sorry I'm a little late," in no time, I reached the family hospital and inwards to his office.

"I hope that you're feeling fine, Ginji."

"Same as always."

The check-up was really nothing significant. Thus, it ended without detail.

"As expected, there's nothing worth noting. Are your motor movements improving?"

"So far, a small increment. I’m working on my running as of lately."

"Hmm… That's good to hear."

"Excuse me~ Dr. Kagetora, are you here?" a voice beyond the door asked.

"Please come in.

Oh, Ken. It's been a while since I last saw you." Unnecessarily, the doctor picked his way of greeting and addressing carefully.

That person, or who was called as Ken then had a long look at me.

"Oh…? Are you… Ginji Satoshi, by any chance?"

"Ah- Y-Yes, that's me. But… do I know you?"

"I'd say, no. But I've heard a lot about you from Eiji.

Ah… Eiji, I mean Gin Sakato."

"I see. So you're friends with him.

…!

I get it now. You're 086—Ken Ichikawa."

"Ohhh… So you know about the Medical Children Program. I guess that saves up a lot of explanation.

Well, let me introduce myself. Ken Ichikawa, also known as Code 086; a dead man."

"I've heard."

"Now that we're in the topic, how are you faring lately? I don't even know where you stay now, then you just appeared out of nowhere," the doctor complained.

"Pfft… Sorry. I can't help but laugh a bit."

Ken Ichikawa… he looks cheerful in the surface, but something is telling me that he has mystery all over him.

"Ah, please don't look at me so suspiciously, Ginji. I bear no ill intent.

Learning from Eiji really has its convenience, huh."

"He saw through me…?"

"Hahh… 027 really is amazing…

By the way, surely you've heard of what happened to him?"

"Well, yeah. I've heard that he suddenly disappeared for a month. But I guess we don't need to worry about him. That guy's got an insanely strong will."

"…!

086, can you repeat what you just said…?"

"Huh? What part, Doc?"

"N-No… nevermind. It's just that you reminded me of someone's voice…

…

086… Don't tell me…"

"You would have won if you didn't move the rook."

As if I'm not used to it, the doctor is once again in a great state of surprise. He vigorously stood up as his shaking eyes stared at Ken. But even before he threw a fit, he sighed and calmed down.

"I get why you can't tell me where you were going. I respect your decision now…

But this world sure is small."

At this point, I have lost track of their conversation. But one thing is for sure… Ken Ichikawa is no ordinary person.

"So then… were you also here at that time when the three came?"

"Ah, no. I wasn't anyone in that group. I'm always doing research and I was also watching over him."

"You… You're an Exile, Ken…?!"

This time, I had to use much more of my brain cells to come to a concrete conclusion. But even with my somewhat provocative tone, he did not react.

As if he played a mind game, I was the only one feeling disturbed out of us three.

Without waiting for an answer, I asked another.

"Do you know the Exile who prevented a C4, then?"

"Obviously. I was in the Square when it all happened," he said while wearing his white mask. "Anyway, I came here to ask you something, Doc."

"And that is…?"

"I maybe a faceless, but I still have contact with Eiji. Are you really going to admit the program to the public?"

In much surprise, I turned around and asked, "You're confessing, Doc?"

"I'm preparing for it. Moreover, I've already burnt all of the necessary data of the children. I only left the proof of the program existing.

The government is behind all of this anyway… because we're under political dynasty. And I'm doing this in the hopes that President Maven will put the rotten legacy of Aquos family."

"Hmm… politics, you say. Then it's not our business anymore."

"Hahaha. I figured you would say that, 086.

…

It's for the best. I don't want this happening to any children anymore. I'll fight against the criticisms, and I will find a way to discover an alternative if ever an epidemic occurs again."

"Hahh," Ken chuckled. "Hearing your answer, I guess I'll go now. I'll exit through the window, Doc."

"I doubt you can do that, but go on."

Exiles are so weird.

"And Ginji, if you're bothered by that, don't worry. I've already forgiven that guy.

Well then-"

"Oh, the data from your injury last year finished printing. Should I put it in an envelope?"

"No need. I brought mine."

Ken's foot was already stepping on the windowsill, but he suddenly stopped, having a look on the paper work that was being given to me.

"What?!" he suddenly screamed.

I don't know what kind of face Ken was making behind that mask, but he came down and borrowed the data. Having a clear look, he tightly placed his trembling hands on my shoulders.

"How did this happen…

Ginji… What exactly happened to you?!"

▪ ▪ ▪

Just like that, I turned 17 a few days ago. But the thought of Ken's reaction about my injury remained in my memory. It brought me anxiety, having no answer to his distress.

He didn't seek an answer, and he jumped out of the window after clicking his tongue. It has been two weeks, and it made me worried.

"Oh, Ginji. That drawing is so realistic. Have you seen an Exile before?" Yui suddenly appeared on my back as she looked closely on my drawing.

"Just in pictures. But I would say that I'm quite intrigued with their existence."

"Wha- I can't believe I'm hearing that from you of all people, Ginji."

"Oi. Even though I may be one of the most uninteresting guys in the world, this is normal. I'm hurt you know."

"Ahahaha. Sorry, sorry. But don't say that you're the most uninteresting guy! Your silence is like a perk to you, you know."

"…!" slightly, I got flustered. "Well, I'm a bit flattered."

"Ah, PE is next period, huh. Ugh… it's so cold today."

"It's badminton today. Have you already made a pair, Yui? If not, then let's play together."

"Ah, sure."

…

"Hey, Gin. Don't get late in PE again," from the distance, Nagi teased.

"Right, right."

"You too, G! Don't be late," he followed up.

"Hahh… You don't have to remind me."

Ever since the start of the school year, I always try my best not to be late in PE classes. It's not because I'm not athletic. Like I said, I can jump pretty high. I have my reasons.

But I have also observed that even Gin sometimes gets late in PE classes. It's not very frequent, but just like right now, he separates from his guy friends and other classmates, and leave the classroom alone when it's time to change.

Maybe he has an abdominal bazooka…

…

I suppose not.

~ ~ ~

The dressing room has finally become quiet, and everyone already went out.

"I can finally get changed. Those guys are really slow…"

I'm proud with the unusual speed and precision of how I change clothes. I guess I've practiced myself to do that for the past year.

"Heh…"

But then, an echoing voice and sound of footsteps came closer to the dressing room.

"Ugh… I forgot my headband…"

"Crap… I didn't lock the room! I'll be found out…!"

As much as I changed clothes quicker than anyone… I guess Gin simply moves faster than me.

The door was immediately opened by him, seeing my bare torso—which I've been hiding for so long.

"Calm down… Knowing him, I'm sure he'll not take much notice of it…"

Not.

Gin stood still, unlike a statue, his whole body trembled hard along with the bitter look on his face.

"Ginji…" surprisingly, his weak voice called out my full name.

For all the times someone have seen me in this situation, they have a look of disgust or pity. This is the first time… that I have seen someone look so frightened after seeing me.

"Who are you really…? How did you get that huge scar…?!"


Chapter Message:

That concludes 032!

This is where I ask myself "What in the world is going on?"

Thanks for reading!

Next

033: You, me; me, you.