A Ray of Sunlight

Chapter 19 - The Big Coward (Haruto's POV)

"Yukio, you're still young. Word of advice from your senior, don't take on the battle you can't win." I woke up to Katsunori's laugh.

Yukio was kneeling down, blood dripped down onto the dirt floor from his nose and head. His helmet laid beside him, cracked. "Where's Mr Kaito, Katsunori?!"

"Don't worry about him. Worry about yourself first, Yukio." Katsunori's hands glowed a dangerous blue. I could see Yukio trying to stand up but failing.

Yukio was in a serious situation. I can't just lie here and do nothing. I stood up and ran over to Katsunori.

"You fucking scumbag!" That was the first time I cursed in ages. I pushed Katsunori. He stumbled but quickly regained balance with an elegant twirl and a disgusting smirk. "How could you destroy everything?!" I ran towards him, but he caught my arm and threw me to the ground, my face meeting the dirt ground.

"Oi, Haruto, be careful, you don't want to end up like your instructor."

I bit my lips and got up. "Katsunori! Why?! What did this planet ever do to you?!"

"What did this planet ever do to me?" His eyes widen and a smile spreads across his face. "What did this planet ever do to me? What did I ever fucking do to anyone?!"

I ran forward and punched his face. He only laughed, only this time it was different from his usual laugh. It was sad.

"This isn't fair! You shouldn't hurt people just because you're mad nothing went your way and shit like that. You'll be okay if you just stop!"

"Fair? Fair?! What do you know about fairness?! All you know is everything's positive. That everything will be okay! I hate that word! I fucking hate it! I fucking...fucking hate it! What is okay?! Is okay just a construct in people's minds? When will I know things will be fucking okay?!" He shot a beam of laser towards my chest and my chest instantly tightened in pain. My knees fell to the muddy ground, splashing mud on my dirty armor. The blue and red don't shine anymore. They're now covered in a layer of dirt and mud. I stared at my reflection in the puddle of water. My head was bruised and bleeding and my face was smeared with dirt and tears. "Haruto. Please tell me what okay means." I looked up at his psychotic smile. "Does okay mean anything? We're all not okay. If okay means no worries, then okay means death." his hands rise and aim it towards my head. "I'll make everything okay. I'll do it. I'm sure. I'll...I'll...I'll..."

My body ached in pain. I cannot move anymore. This was my limit. My head swirled colors and all the blood on Katsunori's face and armor looked colorful like a rainbow. I looked towards my reflection again.

"Goodbye, Haruto." Katsunori said but before he could end my life, he heard his old friend. My father.

"Katsunori. I...I...we can make this okay."

"Please Kaito...let me be." Katsunori's hand dropped and I looked at his tired eyes. "Kaito..."

"Katsunori...please...I swear...we can make this okay."

My head felt like it was made of lead and dropped to the ground. I can't go to sleep yet. Not yet. Father might be in danger. Not yet...not yet. He walked in front of Katsunori and stopped there.

"Kaito. I'm sorry but you can't make things okay." Katsunori placed his hand on father's forehead. Father stood there motionless, staring at him with his tired eyes. "Are you not scared of death?" Katsunori said, smirking. "You still have so much to live for."

"What's the point?"

"You have changed, Kaito."

"So did you." Father pushed away Katsunori's hands and took it off his mask, dropping it to the ground. "Why don't you believe me?"