The Unnamed Poet : Volume 1

Chapter 7 : Sawa Koji, Let's Go Shopping! Part 2

A few years had passed since I came into contact with a woman named Kamiko. Life became effortless, and I no longer had to worry about developing my so-called blessing. I finally understood the true essence of light and could step out of the darkness. At 18 years old, I retained my last name. Despite enduring abuse from my family, an inexplicable bond still lingered within me. A trace of affection remained, although I must admit, I favor this current life.
Life itself… Life has become truly meaningful to me. I was once engulfed in despair, but now I am filled with immense happiness.
I was sitting by my own inside a room that was gifted to me through the one that fostered me. And then I heard her voice through a small hole through the door.
-Kamiko- «Hello Koji! How are you sweetheart!»
-Koji- «I’m doing well. Sis»
-Kamiko- «Wanna go shopping Koji-Kun?»
-Koji- «Yeah! It would be fun!»
Kamiko had a happy smile when Koji answered and she went ahead and took her wallet.
-Kamiko- «Time to go Koji-Kun!»
-Koji- «I’m dressed up sis. So let’s go»
Koji and Kamiko would be stepping out of the house with such excitement that it emitted from their bodies. So much that people walking past them could feel it. But well. That excitement never had to be felt. The way they walked. Those joyful cheerful reactions of theirs attracted all attention.
They could have taken the bus or Kamiko’s expensive car but it was just so nice. Walking with each other that is.
After a long thirty minutes of walking they finally arrived at the mall. Kamiko already had in mind what to pick since she took a look at their website before coming. Whilst Koji on the other hand would just wear whatever Kamiko bought him. At first she did not know what a man’s clothing was supposed to be so Koji for a few years was wearing a but more feminine clothing. Koji though never minded that. He knew Kamiko, he knew she was trying her best to make him happy. So he went along with it.
Kamiko held a pair of shoes in front of Koji asking him.
-Kamiko- «Are these good? What do you think?»
-Koji- «Yeah. They look good sis. They’d look nice on you»
-Kamiko- «Come on! Be honest Koji. You shouldn’t tell me everything looks good on me»
Koji did not respond and instead remained quiet.
Kamiko sighed
-Kamiko- «Gosh you never change. But I suppose that’s fine… hey do what have you picked to buy?»
-Koji- «Well I didn’t… you always pick for me and I am always happy with it so I don’t know why I should pick anything for myself»
Kamiko sighed yet again and then looked at Koji with a sophisticated and serious look on her face.
-Kamiko- «Koji-Kun… you shouldn’t always depend on others. You can’t expect someone to always choose how others perceive you… clothing is more than just a piece of fabric. Clothes is how you choose to be seen in society. No one should allow another person, to decide your worth and identity. Since clothing is a reflection of one’s unique essence»
Koji looked at Kamiko dumbfounded. Not only did he not have a response ready. But he could not see what she meant.
-Koji- «Sis… I don’t… I still want you to choose what I wear…»
Kamiko looked very disappointed and a bit bummed out.
-Kamiko- «Koji-Kun… we should end our shopping session for now. I’m a bit tired anyways…»
She said with a weak smile. Koji hesitantly agreed.
Koji stayed at the mall a bit more than Kamiko. She had departed earlier since she forgot to pay. Therefore Koji stayed back in order to not be forced to pay extra afterwards. Koji began walking towards his own home and for some reason he remembered his family. He questioned what was it that made him feel that connection. He brushed it off as it simply being trauma or his own blood.
-Koji- «Kamikooooo… I’m home»
It was quiet. No words were said. No response. But a feeling. Koji felt that connection to his family grow stronger. And without knowing why he rushed to Kamiko’s room.
He saw the door to her room being slightly open. Kamiko always closed her door fully since she didn’t want anyone to see her change. As he saw that he saw the lock to the door. It was broken. Someone had broken into the house and then her room.
Koji without thinking of what Kamiko would say in the case that he was wrong, he pushed the door open forcing himself inside the room.
His eyes couldn’t even bear to see what was happening in front of him. There was Kamiko with a huge wound to her heart. Koji ran to her and tried to save her but it was meaningless now. Her body… she was on the verge of death. Being stabbed so many times you couldn’t even count the wounds.
Koji held his sister in his arms and began crying and sobbing.
-Koji- «Kamiko! Sister! What happened why are you… why are you like this!»
-Kamiko- «I think it’s easy to tell… someone came here… and I felt that same thing I feel with you…»
-Koji- «What… what do you mean?!»
-Kamiko- «Kind of like a younger brother…»
-Koji- «Younger… brother?»
Koji remembered back when he was a child. When his parents chose to have another child the moment be left. He still felt love for his parents even through that. Is that it? Is that why that sense of familiarity is here?!
Kamiko slightly raised her hand and placed it on his cheek.
-Koji- «K-Kamiko onee-chan…»
-Kamiko- «Koji-Kun… you’ve grown so much… I feel so proud of you… I’m sorry… Koji…»
-Koji- «Sister don’t speak! You’re losing blood!»
-Kamiko- «Koji… i never told you but I had a younger brother growing up… he was killed during a robbery at our house… I felt so guilty… I was the one who led the robber to him… I survived… but my brother… my parents. They all died… I had to inherit everything from 16… but I felt so lonely even with all that money… I didn’t know what to do. But I one day went shopping with my friends from school. It was so nice… I felt like I met new people. I felt like I met myself… I saw what I could be like through clothes… everyone is unique through that…»
-Koji- «NO… please sis… stop talking…»
-Kamiko- «It’s time to pick your own clothing now… Koji… be sure to look pretty…»
Kamiko teared up a bit and even cried a bit. And after that. Her head fell down. Hase Kamiko. Was dead.
Koji was crying his eyes out. He had never felt such sadness in his life. Not even through his father. He felt like he could die.
And then a noise was heard behind Koji…
-???- «I’m taking a wild guess here. Is your name Sawa Koji?»
Koji felt malice behind him. Koji was certain it was him who killed Kamiko. But he wanted to make one last thing sure. So he stood up after slowly leaving her body down.
-Koji- «Your name. What is it»
-Tomio- «Sawa Tomio»
Koji had never even heard of that name before. But he knew his parents saved up that name. It was that scum who obtained the ability.
-Koji- «You… you little…»
-Tomio- «What? Cat got your tongue?»
-Koji- «… no. It’s simple really. I was just raised at a better household»
The man who was accepted by light. Was against the one rejecting his own.
Koji turned around and raised his hand.
-Koji- «Shadow Veil!»
-Tomio- «The Ship of Theseus paradox. Rebuild»
The Ship of Theseus Paradox: The Ship of Theseus is a thought experiment that raises the question of identity and change over time. It asks: If all the planks of a ship are gradually replaced, one by one, until none of the original planks remain, is it still the same ship? If we take all the original planks and reconstruct the ship, which one is the true Ship of Theseus? This paradox challenges our understanding of personal and object identity.
This paradox ability allows for its user to manipulate the body of their opponent down to their last atom. Reconstructing their whole mind, memories and body to the point where they won’t recognize their own self. Their own sense of identity. Then taking everything that was taken from that person and putting then together creating a clone that can’t move. Can’t talk. And then at that moment. Because of how the ability affects the opponent directly the thought is created in their mind. Who am I?
The paradox has two possible outcomes…
-Koji- «What am I thinking… (who am I?)»
A clone was made and Sawa Koji felt completely different. He saw someone else over at the corner of the apartment. It felt exactly like what he felt like. Koji could not answer the question of who am I.
The first outcome is when you cannot give the answer. At that time your soul will be unable to take in that it exists at two places in the same time. And the body would freeze completely for 5 minutes. Until it would take in whatever had happened.
Koji was not moving. So Tomio went ahead to stab him as he took out a small hunter knife. He went to kill Koji with a slice in the throat.
And then. At the last moment. The second outcome would arise. A hand grabbed Tomio’s attack.
-Koji- «Who I am. Doesn’t matter. All I know. Is that you dress like shit»
He then pulled Tomio close making sure he can not stab or slice his side. Pulling the hand behind him. And then giving him a right hook to his jaw. Tomio dropped the knife and Koji turned invisible right after that. His eyes the only thing being seen. He swiftly rushed onto Tomio and threw a punch at him. Another right hook and an uppercut. Afterwards a punch to the gut and to finish it off. Koji threw a roundhouse kick at his opponents jaw.
Tomio was in pain and looking at him with anger.
-Koji- «Seems like my pain in the ass father trained me better than you»
And as Koji as ready to finish him off he grabbed the hunter knife that was on the ground and tried to stab him. But he was shot in the shoulder in the last minute. The police had arrived. Who called them? Koji whilst curious and clenching his shoulder he fell down and saw a phone near Kamiko’s lifeless corpse. She probably wanted to protect him. Koji turned back at his brother and he wasn’t there. He had escaped. The cops arrested him and they were starting to push him towards the exit door of his own apartment.
Koji felt such despair in that moment. Such anger that he was ready to bite his tongue off. It was then when a voice was heard.
-???- «All of you. I’ll take care of that man. Return to the precinct and start working on the paperwork»
It was a female voice. She sounded around thirty.
Every last one of the police officers left the apartment and left it to the person they referred to as sergeant. When they all left the voice of hers was suddenly one of a young girl. Around puberty.
Koji was surprised but he did not care anymore. Well. Not for long. The officer went behind and held his cuffs. He heard the voice speak.
-???- «Sawa Koji. How would you feel working for me. And in return. I’ll liberate you from your shackles»
Koji not feeling anything he agreed.
-Koji- «I agree… miss?»
-Boss- «Call me boss. Or ma’am is that okay?»
-Koji- «Yeah…»
She then let the handcuffs fall to the ground. But right after that. The person walked in front of him. Her beautiful well taken care off hair and her elegant expensive clothing. Koji felt magic. And suddenly he knew what his sister meant. You can indeed know everyone. Through the clothes that they wear.
-Koji- «Ma’am…»
-Boss- «Yes Koji?»
-Koji- «I… swear loyalty… i have nothing right now and I don’t know why but… I feel something I’ve only ever felt for one other person. And trusting that person was the best choice I ever made. So I swear loyalty ma’am. I’ll forever respect you»
The girl laughed it off and looked at Koji.
-Boss- «You’re such a pure and kind soul Koji-Kun. I hope you do not regret your decision. And since you want to pledge your loyalty to me. I’ll become your savior. Sawa Tomio. He will die by your hands one day»
Koji was satisfied with that answer. But he would follow orders even if she never made that agreement. Koji from that day would always dress a but too much. As he finally understood it. He now knows how he wants to be seen. He now knows. How to pick his own clothes.