Book Writing

Character Development Problems

Saving the world, huh?...

I pondered on that as I lied on my bed, staring at the ceiling of my room after dinner. Konju's last words before we separated still echoed in my head.

"We'll have to keep a low profile about this, Aruke. No one knows about this war."

I understood that perfectly, of course. The main problem was my feelings.

Eeh? Are you sure you can do it, Aruke? My inner voice taunted. I mean, you're just a shadow, a side character, an NPC. No one wants to look at you or even be near you, so what makes you think that you can save the world, cause a hero is someone who is loved by everyone, but you aren't even a main character. Face it, you have always and will never be a 主人公 「しゃじんこう」(shujinkou/protagonist). 

S-Shut up... 

I'm only saying the truth. Why are you denying it? 

I gripped my fists. I-I-I....

You what? Are you going to retaliate over how you may not deserve it, but you're still going to try? What a joke. That's a pure cliche, Aruke. 

Shut up.

You can't tell me to shut up! I AM you!

I-I-I-I-I.... 

YOU WILL NEVER BE A PROTAGONIST. NEVER. SO JUST GIVE UP ALREADY. 

At that, I slumped on the bed. 

My voice was right. I was just a side character, so what hope did I have to ever be a main character? I was just chasing fantasies again. There was no guarantee that I would be able to keep my mouth shut if I continued down this path. I knew that I was arrogant, and that was another thing that had been used against me. What if the Dark Balancers decided to get to me using my weaknesses? I had a lot of them, which only begged the question of which one they wanted to use against me. 

I... 

I really don't deserve this at all. 

I looked down at the Fluctuation Artefact in my hand. 

After a while, I sighed, "I'm so sorry, Fluctuation Artefact. I think you have the wrong guy. I'm just a shadow, so what makes you think that I can do this?" With that, I gently placed it on my bed side table and curled up in bed, ready to sleep.

Well, READY to sleep.

Just then, I heard a familiar scream of pain, making my eyes widen in panic as I shot up from bed. 

Konju?!  I grew worried for him, so, as if on autopilot, I hopped off and quickly put on my usual outfit before I grabbed the Fluctuation Artefact plus my house keys and rushed out, locking my door behind me. 

Dad's head whipped over to look at me as I jumped down the stairs and sprinted for the door, quickly calling out, "いってきます！(Ittekimasu! = I'm leaving!)" 

A confused "いーいってらっしゃい？(I-Itterasshai? = S-Safe trip?)" was the last thing I heard before I opened the door and ran out into the cool Canadian night. 

I didn't care about the cold air as I slid through all the Yukoners going home from work. I was just focused on pinpointing the source of the scream. 

All right, so since I could hear it pretty clearly, that means that he's nearby. The only places close to my house that Konju could be in would be the abandoned warehouse near the treehouse. Oh, Konju, please be okay...

My pace quickened, and I kept my worry down as I rushed to the abandoned warehouse, quickly apologising to anyone I had bumped into, managing to arrive at the warehouse in 5 minutes or so.

The warehouse built with maple tree trunks loomed over me as I got closer and closer to it, and, consequently, so did my self-confidence. So much that by the time I reached the door, I had stopped completely.

One part of me was hesitant to go in, scared of what I was going to find. I was unarmed and only had my martial arts skills to rely on.

But at the same time, I also knew that someone I cared for was in danger, and I had a device which could help me save him.

I looked at the Fluctuation Artefact.

I don't deserve you, Fluctuation Artefact, but I must use you to save my friend. I hope you don't hate me or anything. I thought in my head.

With that, I gathered up my courage and kicked the door down.