The Gift - Volume #1

My Reason

Over the next couple of days, Raito had been sneaking out at night for his Gift training. The training was starting to pay off for the most part. No more did Raito have trouble controlling his super hearing and was starting to really enjoy being a Gift. One of Raito's favorite training routines was to shoot soda cans off trash cans. It made him feel like a trained gunslinger. Along with learning how to use his powers to fight. He had also been learning to manipulate sound. By accident, he discovered that he could manipulate people's speech to say whatever he wanted them to say.

"Okay, see that couple over there," Flight asked while pointing over to a couple sitting down on a bench. "Make them only say mean compliments."

"That's so mean...let's do it. Here, put these headphones on so you can hear what they're saying." Raito closed his eyes and started to listen closely to what the couple was saying. Raito could hear the man saying typical love bird compliments and even repeated some of them back to Flight. "You are the breath I breathe and the sun in my life," Raito mimicked while doing an impression of the man.

Trying hard not to laugh, Raito started manipulating the man's voice. "Your hair is as beautiful as the hair on my armpits and your teeth are as white as your pale skin." The woman in complete shock started to smack the man on the arm and head. Raito and Flight tried to contain their laughs but weren't done just yet.

Raito went on to use his Gift on the woman this time. "Those are the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me. I truly am lucky to have you." Raito stuttered, trying to hold back his laughter. The couple just stood there confused about what to say or even do.

"That never gets old, that was funnier when you made that guy from yesterday only speak in Japanese. I have to say you've gotten a lot better and controlling your powers," Flight said as he patted Raito on the back.

"Can I ask you a question?" Asked Raito.

"Over course!"

"Why was I chosen to have this power?"

"Sorry to burst your bubble but you weren't chosen as in there was a reason. I don't know how Gifts pick their vessels. My boss told me to not think about it too much. Apparently, it's completely random before we are even born. And when we die the Gift leaves our body and chooses a new vessel. That's why you shouldn't try and play superhero. Just enjoy your Gift and have fun!"

"But I can't," Raito said while making a fist, "I just feel like I need to do something that helps people. Playing around with my powers like this is fine but that's because it's helping me better control my powers. I can't use my powers for my own benefit."

"Isn't that a contradiction? You saying you don't want to use your powers for your own benefit. It is no different than you wanting to use it to fill your fantasy of wanting to be a superhero." Flight responded as he wrapped an arm around Raito, pulling him in closer. "This is the real world. People get killed trying to be a hero every day. Only a small percentage of people live to see the next day when they fight off a person with a gun or knife. If you put yourself out there. Not only will you have to be careful of the average criminal. You'll also gain Timekeeper's attention."

"Timekeeper? Who's that!" Raito asked, pushing himself away from Flight. "You tell me not to do certain things but won't give me more details. If I'm a Gift and there are other Gifts. Then I should know about this world I'm entering in! You brought me into this world by telling me I'm a Gift. It's not fair I'm in the dark, especially if my life is on the line!"

Flight knew that Raito wasn't wrong. He did deserve to have more knowledge than what Flight had been giving him. Flight slowly sat up and turned around to face Raito. With a deep sigh he agreed to tell Raito more about the world he was about to enter but stated he won't do it just yet.