Help from Hidden Writers

The Truth behind Konju Rudi, Part 1

Requester: kwhel22 ; Prompt: Konju's backstory, his first fight, how he coped; Note: This happens 5 years before he meets Aruke

To  Konju Rudi, Montreal was his world. 

He loved the beauty of his hometown. How the sea air wafted through the air into his nostrils, giving him energy to smile at life's unfairness and thank it for teaching him everything.

His parents were supportive too. They loved watching him dive into the clear blue sea, giggling whether he surprised them out of nowhere.

Konju had never contemplated even leaving his hometown until a very odd question on a cool evening. 

That time, he had been sitting near the sea, watching the full moon with a smile as serene as the calm waters that hit his legs gently. He had just finished his mountain of homework, which relieved him and gave him a headache at the same time. That's why he chose to go out to the beach for some fresh air. So he could clear his head from the stress it had been put through. 

Konju wasn't the smartest kid on the block, but his energy and determination made up for it. He managed to score high enough to pass his tests, and his teachers were always happy to accept help from him. His friends looked up to him for that, saying that he was so kind to help them. 

But in reality, Konju didn't feel as proud as they thought he did. 

To be honest, he just didn't have that feeling of accomplishment. 

Somehow, he felt like he could help more people. 

He knew of poverty. Of crimes. Of the unfairness in this world. He knew all that. 

He wanted to help oh so much. He wanted to show them the truth. To fight the unfairness. 

Yet he couldn't. 

He couldn't make himself do it. 

It was like he had been bound to not help. 

That made him feel helpless. Weak. 

And Konju hated that feeling. He despised it. It made him remember all the negativity he had bottled up inside-

"Hey there, kiddo. What's a ten-year-old like yourself doing out here?" 

That voice made Konju jump slightly and turn around to look at the person, blinking all the while. 

Caramel brown eyes looked back at him as a jet-black male sat beside him, a thick wool jacket surrounding his pale skin, as if expecting an answer. 

"Nothing much," Konju chose to reply after a while. "Just enjoying the view after homework." 

"Eh... That sounds nice. I miss those days, to be honest," the male laughed slightly, broken shards briefly seen in his glazed eyes as he looked up to the sky. "I haven't done homework in a LONG time." 

"Is it nice being an adult?" Konju asked the mysterious male, feeling curious over the fractured comment he had gotten. 

The male just shrugged nonchalantly, "Reality is not nice. Not nice at all. You shouldn't look forward to it at all."

"O-Oh..." Konju looked down. "I-I'm sorry for asking..." 

He laughed, sounding a bit like a jingle, "It's fine. I'm Miguel Rivera, but you can call me Equestro. Everyone does!" 

"I-I'm Konju Rudi! Nice to meet you, Equestro!" Konju smiled slightly as he held out his hand to shake the newly-known Equestro, who shook it as well, "Same here, Konju!" 

The two then fell into comfortable silence, looking at the stars as they twinkled innocently in the sky. Equestro had a peaceful look on his face seeing them dance in the sky without a care, like frolicking children in a picturesque flower garden, which allowed Konju to understand how tired Equestro looked. 

"Hey, you okay, Equestro?" Konju asked the older male once more, making Equestro blink as he looked back at Konju. 

"Yeah, I am. Why're you asking?" Equestro looked at Konju. 

"Well, you just looked like you haven't been in peace for a long time..." Konju replied, a bit worried that Equestro would take offence. 

But he didn't. Instead, he just laughed, "Yeah, I get that a lot, Konju. I'm surprised you caught that. You must be the perceptive type, eh?" 

"Not really," Konju shook his head. "I just notice stuff that tells me when someone's not happy." 

"That's good," Equestro smiled. "It proves how much you care for others." 

"I do," Konju nodded. "But... But I feel like I can accomplish more that this. I mean, I feel like I can do more to help combat the darkness in this world." 

Equestro blinked slightly looking at this, "... I see..." A smile curled up on his face, "Say, Konju, you up for something tomorrow? There's something I really want your help with." 

"M-MY help?" 

Equestro nodded, "Yep! You up for it?" 

Konju grinned hearing that, "Of course! I always try to help others no matter what!" 

Equestro patted him on the head before getting up, "So, it's a deal right?" 

"Yeah it's a deal!" Konju smiled at the adult. 

Equestro's only response was a "Great!" before he told Konju that he had to leave. 

Konju watched Equestro as he walked away, feeling a bit glad to have made a new friend. 

A smile was on his face upon returning home, which his parents found weird, but didn't question.