Chapter 40: Aoi's Burden
Aoi sat alone in the quiet corner of the Thunder Center, his gaze distant, lost in memories that refused to fade. His friends—Senjiku and Akira—had been his world once. They were more than just comrades; they were family. The bond they shared was irreplaceable, but now… they were gone.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he thought about the cruel fate that had taken them. He remembered their laughter, their dreams, the moments they spent together training, fighting, and living. He clenched his fists, his heart aching with regret.
And then, his mind drifted further back—to the family he had left behind. His mother's warm embrace, his father's protective nature, and his little sister's innocent smile. They were his light, his reason to keep pushing forward. But now, that warmth felt like a distant dream, slipping through his fingers like sand.
Suddenly, a thought struck him. A possibility. What if… what if there was still a chance? The cublets had brought back countless people from the brink of being lost to the zombie virus. Maybe… just maybe, they could bring Senjiku and Akira back too.
Without hesitation, Aoi reached for his communicator and called Hikaru. His voice was firm yet laced with a desperate hope.
"Hikaru, I need you to teleport me somewhere," Aoi said, his tone serious.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow. "Where?"
"The school. Our old school."
Hikaru was confused. "Why? What's there?"
Aoi's voice faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "Just do it. Please."
Hikaru hesitated but ultimately trusted his friend's judgment. He placed his hand on Aoi's shoulder, channeling his teleportation energy, and in an instant, they disappeared from the Thunder Center.
When they arrived, the sight before them was haunting. The once lively school was now a graveyard of memories. The walls were cracked, the windows shattered, and the air was thick with silence. It was nothing like the place they had once known.
Aoi wasted no time. He rushed through the ruined halls, his heart pounding in his chest as he searched desperately. He remembered every corner of this school—the classroom where they used to joke around, the rooftop where they dreamed of the future, the training grounds where they pushed each other to be stronger.
And then, he found them.
Or rather, what was left of them.
Senjiku and Akira's bodies were in ruins, torn apart beyond recognition. Their remains were scattered, their bones exposed, their flesh devoured by the monstrous reptilians.
Aoi fell to his knees, his entire body trembling. His vision blurred as tears streamed down his face. He reached out, his fingers brushing against what remained of his best friends.
"No… No, no, no… Please, no…" Aoi whispered, his voice breaking.
Hikaru stood behind him, his own heart heavy. He had seen many horrors in this war, but watching Aoi break down like this hurt in a different way.
Aoi clenched his teeth, his nails digging into his palms as he punched the ground in frustration. "Why? Why did it have to be them?"
There was no answer.
Only silence.
Hikaru took a deep breath, stepping forward and placing a hand on Aoi's shoulder. "Aoi… We can't change the past."
Aoi didn't respond, just kept staring at his fallen friends.
Hikaru's mind drifted too, his own nostalgia pulling him back. He thought of Kaito, the endless chess matches they played, the way they bet on every single game, the playful arguments that followed. Those days felt like an eternity ago.
"We've lost so much," Hikaru muttered. "But we're still here. And we have to keep going. For them."
Aoi wiped his tears away, his heart aching, but Hikaru's words slowly reached him. He inhaled deeply, standing up despite the heaviness in his chest.
"You're right," Aoi said softly. "We have to keep going."
Hikaru nodded, then activated his teleportation again. With one last look at their old school—the place that held their fondest memories—they vanished.
Back at the Thunder Center, Aoi was silent. He sat down again, looking up at the night sky. His grief wouldn't disappear overnight. It might never truly fade. But he had made a promise to himself, to Hikaru, and to the ones they lost.
He would keep moving forward.
For them.
For everyone.