In The Academy As Sukuna

Ch 67 - God's Subject

"To love is to wait, to suffer, and to believe—even when the world gives you every reason not to."

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(POV: Liam Amadeus)

(After the Tournament...)

"Black Flash!"

My eyes suddenly opened, my heart beating in my chest. I was in a dark room, a constant beep resounding in the silence.

My gaze went down to my hand, placed on the armrest of the wooden chair, placed next to a bed, I was sitting in. It was trembling.

Perspiration coated my forehead, the scene from the Tournament replaying in my mind endlessly, like a demonic chorus in my mind which I couldn't stop.

Sukuna.

The one who defeated me. It was the first time I had lost in a long time.

I sighed, leaning back on the chair, my eyes closing again as I tapped the armrest with my fingers, the sharp taps echoing in the confines of the room.

I had forgotten the feeling of losing... of being defeated... of not being the strongest. And it was weirdly... inspiring.

The way he moved, the way he attacked, the way he dodged, it was so... beautiful, almost as if he was not of this world.

That's right... he's not of this world. By this battle, I know... there are some heights that I will never reach.

"I lost," I muttered, leaning forward in the chair, my eyes slowly opening as I gazed at the person lying on the bed. "I lost, Sachi."

She didn't give any reaction, her body as lifeless as her eyes were. I could tell, even though they were closed.

Her skin was pale, but still beautiful, the intricate curves of her lips, the softness one could feel just from looking at her... it was all the same.

Men would kill for such a beauty, but obviously, I would feed them to eagles if they even dared to look at her.

She looked even more beautiful today... no, it was the whole world that looked more beautiful, more colorful.

That's not it either... it was my vision that had changed. I was... happy?

My hand went to her side, lifting the blanket slightly and groping its way to her hand, holding it tightly.

Our fingers interlocked... they were cold, so cold that one would mistake her for a corpse. Seeing her in this state, usually, sent a pang of pain through my heart. But today, I was excited... too excited.

"Your brother lost, Sachi, I was beat easily!" My voice rang out, echoing in the silent room.

The beeping of the machine connected to her was constant like always, her body motionless. But I knew she was listening... I knew.

"I fell to the ground helpless, while he stood there like he was swatting away a fly!" My grip on her hand tightened, my toes curling and uncurling in excitement as my face got closer to hers.

It was as if I was seeing the world in a new light, as if all the responsibilities placed on me were crumbling away.

"When I fought him..." I said, leaning away, pushing my excitement back down. "...I didn't think of you, nor did I think of anything else. I just fought."

My hand caressed hers like I usually did, as if trying to wake her up.

"I had fun," I muttered, a smile... a genuine one, forming on my face after a long time.