𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 | 𝙱𝙽𝙷𝙰

3

"First tell me, what is he to you?" the officer asked, pulling out a small notepad and clicking his pen as if he were preparing for an important examination.

"He's my mentor," I replied, my voice steady but laced with an underlying tension. The officer nodded, scribbling down my words as if they held some profound significance.

"How long have you known him?" he inquired, his eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned forward, eager to capture every detail.

"Since I was five," I responded, my gaze fixed on a spot on the wall, avoiding eye contact with anyone in the room. I could feel the weight of their stares, judging and analyzing every part of my response.
"Where were your parents during that time?" he pressed, his tone neutral but his curiosity undeniable.

"I don't know," I said, a bitter edge creeping into my voice. The officer paused, his pen hovering above the paper, confusion flickering across his face. "You don't know?" he repeated, almost incredulously.

"I can't remember, okay?" I snapped, irritation bubbling to the surface as I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. The question hit a nerve, one I'd buried deep over the years.
The officer regarded me with a mix of sympathy and disbelief, his brow furrowing. "That's a long time to not know. How does someone just... lose track of their family?"

"I thought we were discussing Toma, not me," I shot back, my voice edged with irritation. The officer leaned in closer, undeterred. "True, but let's start with the basics. What's his Quirk?" He poised his pen over his notepad, ready to jot down whatever I divulged.

I hesitated for a moment, weighing my words. "His Quirk is called Echo Pulse. It allows him to use echolocation to navigate through environments and detect movement. He can also distort sound waves to disorient opponents and create sound barriers for protection." I spoke in a hushed tone, the seriousness of Toma's abilities settling heavily between us.

The officer's brow furrowed as he processed the information. "And how effective is it in a fight?" he probed further, his pen hovering, eager for more details. I could feel the tension in the room, the pressure of the situation coiling around me like a tightening noose. "It's powerful," I replied, my mind racing back to the times Toma had saved me from tight spots using his Quirk. "He can turn the tide of any battle with the right sound. It's not just about offense; it's strategy, too."

The officer nodded, seemingly intrigued. "Sounds like he's more than just a mentor to you." There was a hint of understanding in his voice as if he recognized the bond we shared. I met his gaze, the weight of loyalty and secrets heavy on my chest.

"What other questions do you have?" I snapped, my patience wearing thin. "Just stop trying to get under my skin."

The officer leaned back slightly, recognizing the shift in my tone. "Fair enough, Bunny," he replied, his demeanor softening just a touch. "I'm not trying to push you. I just need to understand the full picture. How involved is Toma in this underground fighting ring? Is he one of the key players, or is he more of a mentor figure to fighters like you?"

I narrowed my eyes on him. "I don't know. All I know is that he helps people like me navigate this mess."
The officer scribbled in his notebook, clearly intrigued. "And how many others do you think he's involved with? Are there any other fighters we should know about?"
I hesitated, thinking about the connections I had seen Toma forge over the years. "I don't know everyone he works with, but there are a few—people I've seen him help. But they're not the ones you're after. They're just trying to survive."

He nodded, sensing my frustration but pressing on. "I understand that you care about him, but if he's involved in something dangerous, that puts you at risk too. You're only fifteen. This isn't a game; it's your life."
"I get that," I shot back, my voice rising. "But Toma isn't the bad guy here. You don't understand the situation. He taught me how to fight, and how to survive. He gave me my purpose."
"Okay, kid, let's move on," Officer Nakamura said, his tone shifting to something more measured, almost paternal. "Take a breath. Ah, I'm Officer Nakamura, by the way. I probably should have introduced myself earlier." He offered a small, almost reluctant smile as if trying to ease the tension in the air.