TRIGGER WARNING: this chapter contains all trigger warnings from the last chapter, along with gore and implied sexual assault (but not described in heavy detail. Just a few sentences).

I tried to write only the absolute necessary parts of the trigger warnings. Please read these chapters at your own discretion and take care of your mental health.

*

Takuto (Midas) POV:

- thirty-three years ago continued -

My entire life changed when I accepted Mr. Charles' offer.

As he promised, our piano lessons began in the comfort and security of his home instead of his large classes at the orchestra hall.

The house rested on the outskirts of Musutafu in a quiet neighborhood. It was very small, but not for lack of funds. His house was decorated like a castle inside, with all the furniture embroidered intricately, and gold accents lining the walls.

It was the first house I'd ever been allowed in besides my own, and it was more amazing than I ever could have imagined. It didn't smell like rotten food or liquor, and none of his chairs had duct tape on them. There weren't any rats, or any I.V needles Hanako might accidentally poke her heel on.

His home was clean. So incredibly clean.

His lifestyle was breathtaking and unlike anything I'd ever seen before. And, immediately, my simple dreams in life expanded. Immediately, I wanted more for myself and for Hanako.

I wanted to live in something like this of my own.

The house was quiet, but not in an uncomfortable way. Mr. Charles had this wall clock I couldn't ever forget. It ticked steadily all day, and it was the first time I felt grounded in reality. No matter what happened, the clock continued to tick, and time stayed consistent.

He told me he lived alone, and judging from all his money and smiles, I assumed he was happy.

Regardless, I felt extremely out of place at his home during the first few visits. I took secret lessons from the man twice a week for three years, but I never thought things would progress past that. It all happened so fast, and before I knew it, I was in his home. It was a big adjustment period.

Doubt still had me worrying when he'd turn on me and claim me to have stolen one of his gilded pillows, or antique teacups sitting in the oak display near his front door.

But, he never did.

He even turned his back to me when he showed me around the place, demonstrating just how much he trusted the intentions of a poor boy to be good.

But, Mr. Charles should be careful. You can't trust anyone in this world, didn't he know that? For all he knows, I could have been a murderer who wanted to rob him. I guess it's a good thing for his sake that I wasn't.

When I sat at his cushiony white piano bench for the first time, the dirt from my pants tarnished the silk and I panicked, wondering if he'd strike me across the face like others have when I accidentally got my filth on them.

But, he never did that either.

Quite the contrary-he was the one to say he was sorry-him.

"Goodness, where are my manners? Takuto, I apologize! I was so excited to get your piano lesson started, I didn't think about much else. Let's get you washed up, of course!" He chuckled, having no problem taking my dirty wrist in his grip before gently ushering me off the piano bench.

He offered me a chance to use the running water in his bathroom and take my first shower in what felt like years.

I never realized how much ugly filth weighs a person down until the water washed away from my body in a black puddle, swirling down the gold drain and making me wish I could forget just how much disgusting ick I carried with me everyday.

Then he offered me a clean set of clothes with price tags I couldn't afford and brand names I couldn't fathom. After that, he made a meal with homemade noodles, meat, and vegetables, letting me sit at his table and eat the entire thing over a nice conversation.

Only once I was clean and my belly was full did he finally offer up the chance to start some piano lessons-almost making me forget why I came in the first place-pulling up a chair next to the piano bench so he could watch and instruct me.

Mr. Charles was the first person I ever played the piano for, and I was incredibly nervous.

I never realized how vulnerable and nerve wracking it might feel to share my songs for others, because I never thought they'd be heard. But, regardless of how stupid they sounded, or how choppy my skills were, he never laughed or chastised me.

If anything, he looked more impressed with the sound than I did, giving me a little clap of praise each time I finished. He never got angry when I made a mistake, barely lifting his finger for me to stop playing before explaining the flaw in my approach with more poise and elegance than anyone in my life.

And he was always so excited when I got it right the next time, giving me the same encouragement and compliments I always heard him give the rich kids at the orchestra hall.

"That's it, darling! The sound is beautiful!" His happy voice would carry over the sound of my playing, bringing a minuscule smile to my shy face.

Because it made me feel like I was one of his students. Like I was one of the rich kids in the orchestra hall, and my loving parents were paying hundreds of dollars for his lessons.

Mr. Charles never treated me different. He was an inherently good person, inside and out. One of the most beautiful souls I ever met. The more I showed up to his house, the more we got to know each other outside of piano work.

I found out he moved to Japan after a tragedy struck his life. His fiancée got into a car accident during a rainy day in his home country.

She was pregnant. It would have been his first child. A son.

I told him about Hanako and her illness. Then, when I got more comfortable, I told him about the mean rich people I encountered at work. And, finally, when life at home became too hard and he asked how I got the bruises on my arm, I told him about my parents.

Mr. Charles and I talked about everything. He was my best friend. My only friend. And I was happy whenever I got to escape the world and play the piano at his house.

I loved it so much, I showed up every night I could. He always had food and clothes for me, and sometimes after piano, he'd put on a movie and we'd watch it together. Or he'd take me to dinner at a fancy restaurant and teach me the proper way to sit, and eat, and how to carry myself.

We got into a routine together, and I soon found myself dreading the moments I always needed to return home. Being at Mr. Charles house....getting to talk to him and play the piano was my escape from the real world. I didn't want to go back.

But, I also never wanted to overstay my welcome, and I definitely never wanted Mr. Charles to get sick of me. I'd become too attached. I loved him how a son would love his father, and it would have shattered my heart if he ever casted me away.

I always thought my feelings to be one-sided. Why would anyone want a filthy poor kid at their house longer than necessary? Why would anyone want someone mooching off their food and necessities while giving absolutely nothing in return?

And yet, a few months after I met Mr. Charles, life finally cut me a break.

"Takuto. I...I have an extra room. You know...if you'd like to spend a little more time here." He said one day as I was leaving, causing my eyes to widen in pure surprise.

Even though it was just the two of us in his home, I had to look around and ensure he was talking to me and not someone else.

Instincts came back and I panicked, quickly blurting out my only defense mechanism left, "I can't pay for that."

And, the way he always did, Mr. Charles chuckled warmly, waving me off like he already knew that.

"You don't have to, darling. I...well.......it's quite nice to have the company of someone else here. We can consider that payment enough if it makes you more comfortable." He suggested, leaning against the cream walls of his bright kitchen.

His offer was tempting. So tempting. A one way ticket to leaving the hell that was my life.

But, I had responsibilities. And I'd never forgive myself if I ran away.

"I couldn't leave Hanako." I uttered in the smallest voice possible, almost wishing he didn't hear.

Because deep down, I didn't want him to retract the offer.

And then, he surprised me even more.

"You don't have to. Bring her with, I'd love to finally meet her. And I'm sure she'd enjoy the pool in the backyard." Mr. Charles beamed, causing my eyes to widen in shock.

It's the kind of stuff you only hear about in dreams. Mr. Charles was my savior.

I ran home that night faster than I'd ever done in my life with a smile on my face the entire way.

We'd finally be getting out of that place. Away from papa and mom. Away from all the filth and ugliness of the world. No more hiding Hanako in her room. No more working sixteen hour days and getting abused by the rich.

No more hell.

My parents were too busy shooting things into their arm to notice Hanako and I walking out the door one night. It felt like an unceremonious goodbye. No one said a word. Neither of them looked our way, and they never begged us to stay.

We just left and never came back.

Hanako couldn't have been happier with the change.

Seeing her face light up when she saw Mr. Charles' castle-like home was something I'd never be able to forget. In that moment, she didn't look sick or sad. She was glowing.

She finally got to see all the things I wanted her to, right in the comfort of Mr. Charles' home.

The pool. The flowers. The dresses...

The medical treatment.

Mr. Charles became our caregiver and signed Hanako and I up with a doctor who would give us regular checkups, especially Hanako with her frail health.

We later learned through testing that Hanako had lung cancer.

It was devastating, and I cried. So did she. But, unlike before, there was someone there to comfort us. To shoulder the burden our young shoulders were too weak to carry and help us through it.

"You don't have to worry, darling." Mr. Charles coaxed Hanako, placing a gentle hand atop her head. "I'll take care of you now. Whatever you need, I'll make sure you get it."

And he made good on his promise.

She got all of it, alright. She got all of it, and whatever she couldn't reach? Mr. Charles reached it for her and made sure she had everything from new dolls she'd never seen before, to desserts after dinner, and plenty of sweet fragrances for her baths that she'd grown to enjoy so much.

It was so easy for him to get the things that were always untouchable to us, and god, how I admired it. With a simple snap of his fingers, he could make it happen. So elegantly and effortlessly. He held so much power, and he didn't even know it.

It made me realize how simple and small my dreams actually were before I met him. I'd been too sheltered from the world to even know what I wanted. To even know what was out there.

But, one thing was for certain. I'd found a new goal, thanks to him. A new dream to strive for....

I wanted to be like Mr. Charles. I wanted to be a good man like he was.

He gave Hanako and I so much happiness with a simple look in our direction, and I couldn't believe it. Never had a human being ever had that much effect on me. Never had I admired and looked up to someone so much.

He was my very first role model. And I became obsessed with being like him.

So, I made the effort to change myself. I watched him closely and began changing the way I talked to match his accent. I began styling my hair like his, and asked if I could wear the same suits he did.

He seemed more flattered than annoyed by my mockery, wanting to encourage my imagination. We'd go to the tailor together and he'd pay for my own suits because it's what I wanted.

I'll never forget the time we looked in the mirror together after getting changed. I was unrecognizable from the homeless boy I used to be. My hair was clean and styled, I'd gained a healthy amount of weight, and I was side by side with Mr. Charles, mimicking his actions and smoothing out my suit jacket.

"Remember Takuto. A man well dressed is always a man respected." He smiled at our mirror reflections, placing a hand on my shoulder.

'A man well dressed is always a man respected.' A word of advice I always remembered. When it came to Mr. Charles, I tried to remember everything and take it in.

And we played the piano together everyday for hours. Hanako finally got to hear my songs, and her favorite thing was hearing my music throughout the house as she played with her dolls. That's what she always told me.

My songs became happier, and with Mr. Charles' help, I improved a lot. Enough for him to try and persuade me to join his classes at the orchestra hall.

"I'm not like the rich kids. They won't like me." I explained at dinner one night, nudging my filet of salmon with nerves.

Mr. Charles hummed in light disdain and wiped his mouth, setting his gold cutlery down on the porcelain plate.

"You don't need to be like them, Takuto. You're brilliant. You're your own man-or-boy-or-and they need to respect that just the same. Besides, I won't let anyone talk bad to you." He reassured, grabbing a napkin and wiping the sweet potatoes from Hanako's cheek.

My little sister giggled as he did so, looking happier and healthier than she ever had in her life, even in her condition.

And, in that moment, I had an epiphany. My stresses had changed quite a bit since moving in with Mr. Charles. I was no longer worried about finding food, trying to survive, and ensuring Hanako was safe.

Now, I was a ten year old-eleven year old boy more worried about taking piano classes in front of a crowd.

The latter seemed more age appropriate. I was finally being a child and worrying about childish things. It was actually really nice.

And Mr. Charles had grown to learn Hanako and I's personalities through and through, which is why he knew my silence and food fidgeting was a sign of stress.

He hesitated on his next words, sounding nervous and soft when he spoke them.

"You know, we could....always say you're my son, or something of the sort. No one would mess with you for certain if we do that. Er-just if that would make you more comfortable, of course. I don't want to pressure you." He murmured, rubbing the back of his neck and avoiding my gaze.

My brows raised in slight surprise to his suggestion. Who would ever want a pathetic child like me as their son? Even their fake son?

But, it definitely wasn't difficult to convince me to go along with the plan.

"C'mon, Kuki. You should do it!" Hanako cheered, taking a sip of her juice.

And while I'd never thought my music would see the light of day when I first touched the piano, I felt confident with Mr. Charles by my side. I felt like I could do anything.

So I went with him to his piano classes where it all began, and finally shared my music with the world-and finally met the rich kids.

I braced myself and waited for the name calling. The judgmental looks, or things they might throw in my face like they used to do while I sold my jewels on the streets.

But, the moment we walked into the orchestra hall, Mr. Charles spoke up instantly.

"Good evening, class. This is my son, Takuto. He will be joining our sessions. You will treat him with the utmost respect, yes?" He said, placing a comforting hand atop my shoulder.

Never in my life had I been so touched by another person. Never did I realize how good the word would sound coming from his mouth.

'Son.'

A sense of belonging. A person I could count on. It felt so good to hear.

I had to hold back tears and swallow the lump that formed in my throat, nodding a simple hello to the group of children.

And once I played the piano in front of them for the first time, they finally looked my way.

I played with my heart open and my eyes closed, imagining it was just Mr. Charles and I in the comfort of his home, with the steady tick of his wall clock and Hanako humming in the background with her dolls. My soul felt like it could fly each time my fingers danced along the keys...

And, practically overnight, I became a hit.

My piano playing earned me friends and admirers. It started from just the children in my piano class, but extended to their parents when they'd hear me play. They were supposed to be at the orchestra hearing their own children's tunes, yet fell in love with mine instead.

"Why can't you be more like Takuto?" Parents would say, bringing tears of shame to their child's eyes.

And, as wrong as it was to feel so validated and gleeful about that, I couldn't help it. Never in my life had someone wanted their child to be like me. All I ever received until that moment was pity and judgement. I took the praise selfishly and soared even higher.

I played my first junior orchestra concert a few months later, and gained the attention of a few thousand more. My name gradually started gaining attention by word of mouth until I'd earned myself sections in multiple papers and magazines.

Mr. Charles was there for all of it. Whether it was conducting me or watching from backstage, I'd never be able to forget the sight of him as I played.

He always wore his nice suits and gloves, crossing his arms or stroking his chin with focus as my fingers fluttered along the keys.

Hanako worked through her chemo, and it was a tough process. But, nothing could ever break her, it seems. She slowly regained her strength and appetite, and started leaving her doctor's appointments in good spirits.

She was getting better, she was healing. And so was I.

Lesson after lesson. Concert after concert, I played. The art of performing slowly melted into second nature within my instincts, and after a while I felt completely unstoppable. Especially with Mr. Charles at my side.

"My son. I am so very proud of you." He murmured one night after my biggest show yet, placing a chaste kiss to the side of my head.

And I drank up the affection like never before, basking in that foreign thing called love for the first time and hugging him tightly.

"Thank you. Dad."

*

I was only lifted higher one night. A day before my last junior concert of the season.

It had become quite a common occurrence for crowds to gather outside my dressing room after my shows. Whether it was for a picture, an autograph, or just a quick hello, there was always a mass of people awaiting the moment I'd show my face.

Still, I wouldn't call myself famous yet. Mr. Charles taught me that humility is a beautiful thing. But, I'd say I was starting to become rather well known.

"Takuto! Takuto! Can I get a picture!?" A girl my age said, causing me to chuckle warmly and smooth out the creases in my suit jacket.

"Goodness, of course you can, darling!" I smiled, having perfected Mr. Charles' accent over the last few years.

While I never really mustered the courage to channel the accent in front of Mr. Charles himself, it was so easy to pretend in front of strangers who never knew where I came from.

No one would ever recognize me as the illiterate boy who sold his worthless jewels on the street. Never again.

After pictures and autographs that night, I finally squeezed into the quiet confines of my dressing room, letting out a heavy, exhausted breath at the moment of peace.

Melting into my chair, I slumped my head against the back of it and looked at the ceiling tiredly, sighing in satisfaction at the success of another concert well done.

The silence didn't last for long as my dressing room swung open again, quickly closing once the person had entered.

I'd grown to admire him so much, I could recognize him just by the sound of his footsteps.

"Fabulous show out there tonight, son." Mr. Charles smiled, coming up behind my chair and ruffling my slicked back hair.

"You think so?" I asked knowingly, lulling my head along the back of the chair to find his presence.

I already knew what he'd say. I just never tired of gaining his praise.

Mr. Charles unbuttoned his suit coat and sat on the couch next to me, crossing his leg over the other and making himself comfortable.

"One of your best. And it seems, I'm not the only one who thought so." He raised a brow of amusement, holding up a little slip of paper between his fingers.

He tossed me the paper and I caught it, not understanding the scribbles on the page.

"What is it?"

"An invitation. From the National Music Association." He said cooly, tilting his head to the side as he watched me study the slip.

I was a bit confused on why he gave me that particular slip. I'd received many different invitations from many different places, but Mr. Charles never seemed interested. So, I didn't either.

"Who are they?" I asked, deciding to give the paper another look.

"Essentially, they are the ones who will kickstart your career in music and make you successful. It's extremely rare to ever receive an invitation like this, and those that do always end up becoming extremely famous." He said, causing my eyes to bulge out of my head.

"Really?! Famous?!" My gawking reaction was genuine.

Because truthfully, I didn't realize I'd gotten so good at playing the piano. I enjoyed it, and I continued to pursue it because Mr. Charles made it fulfilling.

But, he didn't seem surprised in the slightest, with glimmers of pride gleaming in his bright blue eyes. "Mhm. They want to see you live in action one time to ensure it's a good fit. I've arranged for them to show up tomorrow for your last concert of the season."

"Wow." I breathed out, keeping my eyes on the slip in hopeful thought.

I never thought my life would turn out this way. All of it almost feels too good to be true. But, maybe the world isn't so bad.

Mr. Charles watched my features closely, smiling softly at my obvious surprise.

"Exciting, right? Of course, there's no pressure. You don't have to do it, Takuto." His next words took me by surprise.

"Huh? But, don't you want me to?"

"Well, sure-if you want to." He emphasized, resting both of his arms atop the couch now. "However, I'd never want you to pursue something you don't love."

I met Mr. Charles through the piano. Therefore, I never thought about anything other than the piano. I never dared to consider another direction, because he took care of me, and taught me, and seeing me play the piano made him happy.

In my mind, I felt that I owed it to him to play the piano. It didn't mean I didn't love it, but still, I felt the obligation in the back of my mind. The...

The fear that maybe he'd abandon me if I ever chose something different.

"But....you took me in so I could play the piano...." I trailed off, stroking my chin in confusion.

He did his usual warm chuckle and it eased me, admiring the twinkle in his eyes.

"Yes. But, I'd say our relationship has blossomed past just the piano, right?" He mused, causing me to laugh with him lightly.

Because he's not wrong. The piano has actually become a very small part of the life we share. A life that's filled with happiness, and fun, and love.

Elegantly, he uncrossed his legs and rose to his feet, smoothing out his jacket and coming over to me.

He placed his hands on my shoulders and I felt safe, watching the two of us look at our reflection in the mirror.

"Takuto, I love you like my son." The genuine emotion showed in his soft whisper. "I consider you my son and Hanako to be my daughter. I want you to be happy. That's the only thing I care about. Do you understand?"

I felt my throat closing up from his words. They overwhelmed me, and deep down, I didn't feel worthy of them.

But, for once, I'd be selfish and take the love anyways. Because I was so starved of it. Because I absolutely needed it, and I needed Mr. Charles in my life.

"Yes." I choked out, feeling his thumb gently swipe away the tears under my eyes.

*

And, so the night of my final junior concert came. The recruiter from the National Music Association was there, along with Mr. Charles, but he also brought a surprise.

My sister Hanako was completely unrecognizable from the sickly poor girl I always knew as she walked through the door of the orchestra hall.

She was thirteen and beaming with good health and happiness, releasing her hold on Mr. Charles' arm as she ran over to me.

"Kuki!" She still called me happily, wearing one of her favorite pink dresses.

She wore little white gloves with it and had a pretty purse. Her hair was done with a bow, and she wore that pearl necklace she loved so much. A Christmas gift last year from Mr. Charles.

She looked like a princess.

"Kiki?" I hugged her in confusion, looking from her to Mr. Charles in question. "What are you doing here?"

Hanako couldn't attend my concerts very often because of her illness. It was too much for her.

Or, so it used to be.

"The results of Hanako's scan just came back today, Takuto." Mr. Charles smiled, eyes glistening happily with tears.

I blinked blankly as I took in the words, coming to the realization as Mr. Charles and Hanako watched me knowingly.

"Wait. You're..." I said to my sister, trailing off as it felt so incredibly unbelievable to say.

With a light chuckle and tears gliding down her face, she grabbed my shoulders and nodded, saying her next words with more peace and happiness than I'd ever heard.

"Cancer free, Takuto. I'm officially in complete remission." She uttered unevenly, unable to stop herself from breaking out into a happy cry.

I hugged her tightly and cried with her, feeling all the weight of our struggles finally lifting from our tired souls.

Hanako and I have been through hell and back together. She's my best friend, and I'd give my life for her if it meant she was safe.

My sister deserves a break. She always deserved a break. She's a good person, and the world was finally finding its mercy.

Maybe the world really isn't so bad. Not with Hanako and Mr. Charles living in it.

Mr. Charles placed his hands on both of us and rubbed our backs as we cried, pulling us into his chest simultaneously.

"Always remember, Takuto. In a world of darkness, there's always something to smile about." He guided warmly, placing a kiss to Hanako and I's heads.

To say I found something to smile about was an understatement. The world was finally looking up, and I'd never felt better in my entire life than how I felt now.

The future was bright and at my fingertips.

I was on top of the world, and so was my piano playing that night. It was a full house in the orchestra and the stage lights were shining extra bright on me. I could hear the sound of my song reaching to the tips of the high ceilings and feel my body overtaken with the music.

My fingers danced along the keys effortlessly and I'd unlocked a new amount of emotion in my piano playing that I'd never reached before. I played my heart out. For Hanako. For Mr. Charles. For my happiness, that was now looking so incredibly bright.

And I got a standing ovation from the crowd-and from the recruiter of the National Music Association.

But, all I cared about in that crowd of thousands were two people in the front row, looking to them instantly with a smile as they cheered and clapped for me.

Hanako and Mr. Charles. My family. The only ones who make it worth it.

*

We left the orchestra hall incredibly late that night. Later than usual, as we had an impromptu meeting with the National Music Association recruiter.

I'd start classes at their school of music this fall, and the rest would be history, so the recruiter said.

And, even if the night had grown incredibly dark, I couldn't have felt lighter as Hanako, Mr. Charles, and I walked down the street, making our way to Mr. Charles' car that was six blocks away.

My concerts always sold out, and there wasn't ever any parking available at the orchestra hall lot. We always had to walk pretty far once the night was finished.

Usually, there were others walking around us, trying to trek to their own cars. But, leaving so late, the only people on the street were us three. It made the night feel quaint in a way, and I didn't mind it.

"That was amazing! The concert hall looks so pretty at night." Hanako fawned, walking a few feet ahead of Mr. Charles and I on the street.

Her pink dress looked so elegant in the late night. Her face looked healthy, and she was so incredibly happy. She had a whole life ahead of her now, and it was all thanks to the man at my side.

Mr. Charles hummed in agreement and walked next to me as Hanako twirled along the sidewalk, keeping his hands in his pockets laxly.

"I agree, Hanako. There's nothing quite like the magic of music on a late night. Especially from our new NMA student right here." He grinned, placing a proud hand on my shoulder as we walked.

My cheeks went a bit red at the attention and I chuckled sheepishly, feeling Mr. Charles lightly shake me back and forth a bit teasingly.

"Well, I have you to thank for that. None of this would have ever happened without you." I nodded to him as we walked, hearing his tongue click in disdain.

"Please, Takuto. You must have more faith in yourself, son. One way or another, success would have found you. You just have to believe you can do it." He said, giving me another piece of wisdom for the day.

And I soaked it up like a dry sponge, putting another one of his quotes in the back of my mind for future use whenever I'd need to hear it.

I have a lot of quotes from him. Everything he says is like liquid gold to my ears.

The three of us walked, and Hanako hummed the tune of her favorite song of mine, still strolling around in her pink dress.

We were only one more block away from the car when we passed by a dark alleyway. It was an alley I'd walked by a million times now, and nothing bad ever happened. I never expected it to either.

After all, why would it, right? I escaped the poor side of town for a better life. The 'dangerous' side, as it's been so stereotypically categorized. We're currently on the rich side-aka, the 'safe' side, right? Nothing bad is ever supposed to happen on the safe side.

But, there's a first time for everything.

And that night, I was only reminded that even the safe side is never really safe. Not when ugly people exist everywhere in the world.

Still walking a few feet ahead of us, Hanako passed by the dark space, instantly freezing in place for a reason Mr. Charles and I didn't understand.

"Hm? Hanako, dear? What's...." Mr. Charles trailed off.

He trailed off because he didn't need to ask what was wrong. Not when five big men walked out of the alleyway like a pair of looming demons.

And Hanako had froze because of the gun in one of the men's hands, aimed right at her as the group cut off our walk.

An ugly man with scratch scars on his skin chuckled at us wickedly. He had the same kind of marks my mother had after she'd started using.

"Oh? What do we have here? Always knew waiting around in one of the rich alleys would pay off." He leered, rubbing his dirty hands at the sight.

Mr. Charles' grip on my shoulder tightened quickly before he reached out and snatched Hanako's wrist, dragging her backwards to us.

One of the other four men began to circle our trio now, dragging the baseball bat he held along the sidewalk tauntingly.

"You clearly got some money." The man said to Mr. Charles once he was behind him, giving his yellow teeth a lick.

In that moment, I was terrified. Even more terrified than I was living with papa and mom.

Because now, I felt like I had something to lose.

If Mr. Charles was afraid, he didn't show it, speaking clear and unwavering in tone.

"Gentlemen, please. There's no reason to get hostile. If it's cash you want, then I'll give you-"

"In the alley." The man with the gun cut him off, looking at me and Hanako now. "All of you."

Hanako whimpered fearfully and cowered closer to me.

Mr. Charles breathed stressfully now as he tried to reason with the criminals, "I will go. But, at least, let the kids go-"

The cock of the gun was an answer in itself, with the sound causing my sister to cry again in fear.

"All of you." The man with the gun repeated, using the weapon to wave us towards the dark alleyway.

Mr. Charles' jaw tensed as he looked around the empty, eery street, seeing we were alone and incredibly outnumbered.

There was nothing he could have done.

"Shit." He breathed out, forcibly herded into the dark shadows with Hanako and I.

It was the first time I ever heard him swear. The first time he ever sounded....afraid.

Maybe it was because he knew exactly how things would end.

His sweaty hand tightened on my shoulder to a degree that was almost painful as we walked, pulling me back slightly to his level.

"Takuto, listen to me. When I give you the signal, I want you to take your sister and run-" His voice came out in a hoarse whisper before the man with the gun nudged him in the back.

"Hey. No talking."

Hanako scooted closer to me as the man with the baseball bat used the weapon to graze the ends of her dress, giving a disgusting hum of satisfaction.

"Pretty dress you got there, honey." He mocked, using the bat to barely flick the bottom hem up a few feet.

"Leave her alone-" I grit my teeth before Mr. Charles pulled me back again.

"Takuto, please. Let me handle this. Trust me."

'Trust me.'

In a world of seven billion people, there were only two that I trusted. Mr. Charles was one of them.

So, I said nothing more as the five men lined us up against the dirty brick walls, dreadful and afraid of how the night would turn out.

A tense silence fell over the group before Mr. Charles spoke again, trying to keep things as non confrontational as possible.

"Alright. Here we are in the alley. So, if you'll just let me hand you my wallet-" He said, attempting to reach into his pocket before the man with the gun spoke.

"No sudden movements." He said, turning to his lackeys with an order. "Restrain his arms."

Fear began to bubble inside me as two men were on Mr. Charles in an instant, pinning his arms behind his back before yanking him away from Hanako and I.

My sister sobbed quietly as Mr. Charles' pockets were searched, clinging to me tightly.

"Jackpot." One of the men said when they pulled out his wallet, emptying all of the cash and cards inside onto the floor.

"Hey!" I exclaimed, about to move a single step before Mr. Charles spoke calmly.

"Leave it, Takuto. They can have it, you understand? They can take all of it. It's just material things." He reassured, keeping his gaze neutral and to the wall ahead.

"Hey, you got a funny accent." One of the robbers said, starting to get physical as they shoved him in the back.

Mr. Charles didn't react as the men began to taunt him, only starting to become nervous when two hovered closer to Hanako and I.

"What about you, sweetie? Do you have a funny accent, too? Haven't heard much outta that pretty mouth yet. I'd like to change that." One of them said to Hanako, giving her shoulder a nudge until she cowered into the brick wall.

"Leave the children out of this." Mr Charles said a little lower, starting to get visibly angry. "I'll give you anything you want, do you understand-"

"I think everything I want is right here." The man with the bat laughed, causing Mr. Charles to raise his voice now.

"I have connections in other countries! I can get you all the money you want! I won't even tell a soul about what happened here tonight! Just leave the kids alone!"

It's the first time I heard about his connections in other countries, as he called it. I was too young and unknowing to ever ask how Mr. Charles got his money. He never bragged about it, and it never came up.

But, whatever power he might have had fell on deaf ears as the robber with the gun tilted his head mockingly, smirking wickedly as he said, "And what if I don't?"

The man with the bat grabbed Hanako by the arm, and Mr. Charles' face had paled now as the situation grew more dire. The adrenaline and fight or flight response had his body shaking and breathing ragged, but somehow he still looked calm.

He looked more composed than Hanako and I, turning to us with softening eyes and a small reassuring smile before exhaling a deep breath.

"Then I suppose...there's nothing left I can do." He said, looking towards the ground like he was giving up.

Except he didn't. It was a ploy to make the robbers lower their guards-and it worked, giving our father figure the time to cause a distraction.

Acting quickly, Mr. Charles ripped his arms free and punched one of the men in the face, tackling the other one to the ground.

"Agh!!! Hey!!!" The man with the bat spat, losing hold of his weapon as he went crashing to the ground.

An opening had been created and Mr. Charles turned to my sister and I immediately with a desperate order.

"Takuto! Hanako! Run!-" His voice sounded panicked, barely able to finish his sentence before the world fell apart.

BANG!

A loud gunshot rang throughout the cruel night. But, I saw it before I really heard it.

Still looking right at me, Mr. Charles' head whipped back as a bullet was shot right between his eyes, accompanied with a bright splash of blood.

No...

It felt like life was going in slow motion as I watched his soul disappear from his body. His normally warm gaze went wide and lifeless. His smile was replaced with permanently parted lips.

And his strong body fell to the dirty ground in a dead heap of trash, lying on his back and staring up at the black sky vacantly.

Just like that, he was dead.

Mr. Charles....my role model...my only conception of a father....was dead.

Before I even had a chance to blink my eyes, my entire life had shattered.

There would be no more piano at his house. Or movies with popcorn on his couch. There'd be no one to tell me how proud they are of me, and how much they wish for me to be happy. There'd be no one to take care of me, or give me advice about how to conquer my fears.

My devastation was overwhelming, but numbed with adrenaline for the time being as my brain went into autopilot. I grabbed Hanako's hand and made a break for the exit with the look of a stunned bird on my pale face.

I didn't want his sacrifice to be in vain. How tragic would that be? To have Mr. Charles give his life for absolutely nothing because Hanako and I got caught.

But, it seems life had a cruel sense of humor.

Because, we didn't make it more than a few steps before the man with the gun yanked Hanako backwards, causing me to stay behind by default and try to pull her back.

"Hanako!!!" I shrieked, feeling her wrist slip through my grasp.

I tried running after her before my arms were restrained by someone much stronger and larger. They slammed their foot into the back of my knee and brought me to the ground, pulling on my arms so hard, I thought they'd break free from their sockets.

It felt like I was being pulled apart, but I didn't care as I heard my sister scream like she did every night in my nightmares.

"Takuto!!! Please don't let them hurt me. Please!!" Hanako sobbed, reaching out for me before the man with the gun kicked her to the floor.

No. No. No.

It's happening. Oh god, it's happening...

My worst fear had already begun, and it showed no signs of slowing down as I was forced to look at Mr. Charles' lifeless body in the corner, and watch two men start circling around my slumped sister like vultures.

In a matter of seconds, my dreams were destroyed. How fragile was that shaky foundation of happiness I'd managed to build, now completely blown off its hinges in a matter of seconds.

I was wrong. God, I was all wrong and so stupid to think I could have something as stupid as hope. That's what you get for hoping and trusting the world. Now my life was ruined because of it. All because the world is ugly and absolutely disgusting.

All because the world never cuts good people a break.

Mr. Charles was an amazing man. He's the kind of man that every man should strive to be. He died in vain. He died for nothing, and now his dead pockets are disrespectfully being picked by strangers who will walk away successful.

What kind of a world is this? What kind of a horrible fucking world is this? Where the evil, ugly things win? It makes me sick, and I'm so tired of it.

My vision began to spin and vomit lurched in my throat as I wrestled with the man restraining my arms, numbed like a frozen fish, yet still trying to fight my way to my struggling sister.

One of the men searching through Mr. Charles' pockets gasped a few moments later as he held up a piece of paper, looking to the man with the gun in surprise.

"Shit. Do you know who you just killed?! Apparently this guy was the son of a duke, or something. Was here on a visa, it says."

"Don't matter now, do it?" He snickered, pinning my sister down roughly before getting on top of her. "Chop up the body and get rid of it. Don't wanna leave evidence."

"D-Don't touch them." I choked out through crazed, catatonic eyes, desperately trying to fight my shaking my body towards Hanako and Mr. Charles. "Don't...don't....."

But, I couldn't do a thing. I couldn't ever do a thing, and I couldn't save anyone.

I was weak. Completely powerless and at the unforgivable fate of evil.

They forced me to watch it all. The horrific mutilation of the man I loved like a father. The unspeakable, retching violation that my frail sister endured repeatedly. A child.

It was too much. God. All of it was too much. The sawing of limbs and the tearing of clothes. The smell of blood and the sound of my sister's agonizing shrieks.

It was the worst sound I ever heard in my life. A sound that makes my blood curdle and my stomach turn. A sound that lives in my traumatized brain, refusing to leave my ears and driving me off the edge of sanity.

No matter how much time passes, I can still see her. Poor Hanako. Just like that. Every time I try to remember her, that's the only thing I can see. Every time I try to remember Mr. Charles, all I can picture is his dismembered body in my nightmares, and every night, I cry.

I don't even have the luxury of getting to remember them, because it hurts so much.

The world is disgusting. It doesn't matter where you go, or how far you try to escape it. It's an ugly place where only the evil win, and the good suffer for it.

And I hate it. I absolutely hate it, and I'm tired of sitting by and doing nothing about it.

Why do good people....never win?

It's a question I never learned the answer to.

I'd passed out from the trauma at some point in the night, and woke up in the hospital. The nurses told me some "Good Samaritan" called the police, but where was this person when Mr. Charles was being hacked in half? Where was this person when poor Hanako was bleeding and shrieking to death?

Aside from a few cuts and bruises, I'd somehow come out of the incident unharmed. Perhaps, it was because I passed out and the robbers lost interest. But, my sister wasn't so lucky.

After beating lung cancer and finally having peace in her life, my sister was taken advantage of repeatedly and stabbed thirty-two times in that alleyway. Now, she's dying.

On the morning of her death, I stood over her hospital bed with a grave face, unable to savor the final moments of her life.

Because once again, she looked broken. She was born in suffering, and she will die in suffering, too. She never got to grow up. She never got to experience the simple joys that other ungrateful people will. She never got to be happy, even though she deserved every right to be.

Her body trembled in the bed and her eyes looked delirious and fading. The oxygen mask on her mouth worked overtime to provide her with her final moments of cruel life, only keeping her around longer to suffer even more.

She held my hand weakly, gently stroking her thumb along my bruised knuckle.

"Live a good life and change the world, Kuki. Make it a place for others like Mr. Charles made it for us. Make it a place we could have lived happily in. Make it beautiful." She breathed out hoarsely, slipping into the depths of eternal sleep where I'd never be able to reach her again.

Just like that, she was gone. And I was alone in the world with nothing or no one.

I failed at protecting her. Hanako, I'm sorry for it every day.

But, still, her final words never left my ears or my heart, playing through my head on a loop.

'Make it beautiful.'

Twenty four hours a day, I heard her voice speaking those same words. I couldn't sleep or eat without hearing them, and eventually, it felt like I'd lost my mind. I started seeing hallucinations of her and Mr. Charles. Dreams mixed with reality, leaving my conscience muddled and unforgiving.

From that day forward, I couldn't ever rest because they simultaneously haunted me and lit a fire in me all at once.

But, the more time I had alone...the more time I had to hallucinate, and lose sleep, and feel my traumatized brain rotting away....

The more everything started to make perfect sense.

Yes, I get it now. I was stupid to not think of it before. But, now I understand...

If the world was filled with a bunch of Hanakos and Mr. Charles', there'd never be another crime again.

Everyone would finally be safe. They could walk the streets at night and be fine. They'd never have mean papas or coked out moms, and there'd never be any suffering.

'Make it beautiful, Kuki.'

You're right, sweet Hanako. That's what I must do. For you.

Anyone who doesn't fit the standard of Hanako or Mr. Charles will die by my hand. Because they deserve it. Because they don't deserve to live peacefully when my family couldn't.

Taking one's peace for granted is fucking disgusting. It's ugly, and no one should be allowed to rest easy and not understand how lucky they are every minute of the day.

Mr. Charles' body was never found.

But, regardless, his murder had somehow been found out and reached word in his home country. After that, his house in Japan was seized and all of his belongings were taken away by foreign guys with his similar accent.

It left me without a home, but I didn't care anymore. With the two people I loved most in this world gone, I didn't have a home anymore regardless. Material items meant nothing to me.

I'd build my own home-my own empire and be just like Mr. Charles. I'd fix all the evil in this world and make it beautiful for Hanako. Just like she wanted.

All the ugly people in this world deserved to fucking suffer, starting with the ones I hated most of all.

*

A few days after my familys' murder, I went back to the alleyway and waited for the killers.

It was a tedious process. They didn't show up that night, or the night after that-or the next thirty-four days after that. But, I was persistent, restless, and so angry. I'd been around enough greed and selfishness in my life to know they'd be back after finding so much success in hurting my sister and Mr. Charles' overloaded wallet.

The ugliest people always follow greed, no matter the cost.

I was hiding in the shadows once they finally reappeared one night, eyes glazed over with lethal intentions and dead of any feeling.

It was all five of them back again, and this time, I wasn't scared one single bit. I didn't feel anything.

The five men laughed like a couple of best friends as they ran into the alleyway. Their clothes were bloody and they held wads of money and jewelry, laughing to each other about the success of tonight's bust.

Keeping my blank, bloodshot eyes on the man with the gun, I slowly walked out of the shadows, intentionally showing myself to the crowd.

I didn't care if I died anymore.

The chatter stopped once one of them noticed me, shoving the man with the gun in the back so he'd turn around and face me.

"Oh? What's this? What do ya want, kid?" He said, more interested in counting whatever cash he'd stolen from a stranger.

I looked at him emptily, seeing his eyes filled with unknowing question that made me seethe.

"You.....don't remember me?" I asked lowly, feeling my blood starting to boil.

You're telling me....this man ruined my life and murdered the only people I ever loved-and he doesn't even remember it?

He pursed his cracked lips mockingly and shrugged his shoulders.

"Nah. I don't remember most people." He chuckled lazily, turning to his buddies as they laughed with him.

I didn't laugh though, keeping my sunken face stone cold in a way that I knew had the evil man unsettled.

He coughed a bit at my maniacal blood lusted stare, turning to the man with the bat, "Hey, Po. Get rid of him. The kid's creeping me out."

The man known as 'Po' cracked his knuckles and walked over, looking completely apathetic as he prepared to murder a teenager without mercy. Another one, I should say.

My pulse buzzed faster and faster as the man with the bat walked forward, allowing me to put a name to the face of the man who stole my sister's innocence first.

Po.

It was in that moment, something snapped within me and everything changed forever.

When the man came close enough, I quickly lifted the bottom hem of my shirt and pulled the knife I'd concealed in my pants, not allowing myself a moment to think as I jabbed it straight into his stomach.

It's a weird sound, you know-hearing someone get stabbed. It sounds like a bag of water being popped open, but wetter and worse. It's even more odd when you know you're the one who caused it.

Po's eyes screwed up in surprise for the hit, stunned by the bold actions of a small teenager. He prepared to scream in pain, but I never gave him the chance.

I was completely overtaken, almost possessed by the vengeful ghosts of Hanako and Mr. Charles. My body worked on instinct. Before Po could even make the sound, I ripped the knife out of his side and lunged it straight for his upper half, stabbing it right through the side of his neck.

It was the first person I'd ever stabbed, so the hit was sloppy. But, it was enough to knock the man off his feet with a wheezing cough and give me the extra opening I needed.

Seeing nothing but searing white within my vision, I grit down on my teeth and plunged the knife through the man's eyeball with overflowing vigor. Then his cheek. And finally, through his jugular.

More....more........more.

I felt a new sense of something exciting when he looked up at me with fear, garbling out a whimper and a drowning pool of blood before the light faded from his eyes.

This...is justice.

With a splash of blood splattering my face, I yanked the knife back from his body, panting heavily as my muscles trembled with adrenaline.

I glared up at the other four men who watched in shocked silence, not believing their friend had just been murdered by a mere child.

"H-Hey. What the fuck is up with that kid, man?" One of the robbers uttered to the man with the gun, quickly pulling a switchblade from his pocket with hesitation.

"Don't know. But, I ain't about to waste bullets on him. Take care of it." The man ordered hoarsely, pushing his lackey forward to try and take me down.

Not even bothering to wipe the blood from my face, I stood up, furious and delirious as another criminal came towards me with the switchblade in hand.

I wasn't a fighter. I've never been a fighter, and I didn't miraculously learn how to fight in the month I was on my own.

Instead, I just had time to get angry and completely lose my mind. In my case, it was enough.

Without hesitation, I sprinted towards the murderer with the switchblade and crashed into him. He clearly wasn't expecting the head on charge from a kid, dropping his weapon as he was slammed straight back into the concrete wall.

I attempted to take my bloodied knife and drive it through his side, but another guy came up behind me and ripped me off him, trying to get his hands around my neck for a clean snap.

Fury welled up higher inside me until it was bubbling over. My pupils felt hot and the world became brighter in my vision, almost convincing me that my eyes had started glowing for the first time.

My body felt different than it ever had. It felt like I was about to use my quirk, but the feeling was maximized by a million, backed by a new power I'd never unlocked before.

Rather, a piece of my quirk I never knew existed.

I always thought my jewels were useless things, nothing more than a show of something pretty.

But, in the face of emotions I'd never felt so strongly in my life, I realized....I couldn't have been more wrong about my abilities.

On instinct, my hand came up and my jewels came out of my palm, only, something happened. Something I'd never seen before.

The jewel was green and went straight for one of the bad guys, slicing straight across his neck and lobbing his head off completely.

Everyone including me was surprised, getting sprayed with a copious amount of blood from the murder of their friend.

"What the fuck was that!??" The man trying to choke me screamed, instantly releasing me in fear.

I couldn't control my body after that. It felt like my own jewels were eating me alive, but I didn't care. Quite the contrary, I actually enjoyed it. Being out of control. Being destroyed from the inside out from my own quirk.

My eyes started to glow and my quirk overtook me, feeling jewel after jewel spill out of my palm with utter vengeance.

All different colors. All different powers. My jewels worked in tandem with each other, shaky and sloppy in some areas, but with an end result I absolutely admired.

Slicing, exploding, choking, destroying. They did it all for me, greedily taking something from my body in return.

The loss of something within myself was more noticeable with the addition of actual powers behind my jewels. It wasn't just a little piece of skin on my toe, or a headache, but a piece of my humanity instead. A piece of empathy from my brain, and even a little bit of common sense.

In other words, things I already greatly lost during my mourning of Hanako and Mr. Charles. Things I surely needed to hold onto in order to ensure I didn't fly off the deep end.

But, it was too late and I didn't care.

My jewels took away the part of my brain that should feel bad about what I'd done here tonight, leaving me to stand in the alleyway and blankly look at the massacre of blood and limbs that now splattered the walls and floor.

For her. I did it for her. Hanako. Because that's what she wanted.

And I'd do it again. I'd continue doing it until all the ugliness of this world was eradicated.

I inhaled the scent of blood and closed my glowing eyes, losing myself to whatever demon had surely possessed me.

"One step closer to making our dream come true, Kiki. Just you wait and see." I whispered, tossing the dulled, bloodied knife into the abyss of murder.

*

But, I didn't stop there.

I planned to get revenge on everyone I could. Everyone who had contributed to making this world so ugly for Hanako. Everyone who wasn't like Mr. Charles.

I'd be strong like him. I'd be elegant and beautiful about it, and get everything I wanted with the utmost ease. I'd make people admire me and love me for my generosity.

He'd be proud of me. For following in his footsteps, he really would. He'd love the man I'm becoming, because I'm simply becoming him.

Down the road of my old, beat up home I went later that night, not missing the side of town I grew up in one bit.

Along the way, I encountered a man pickpocketing a woman who was at a food stand, so I followed him into the shadows and took his life.

Why wait for justice when I'm the only one who delivers it? It's incredibly ugly to pickpocket people, so he didn't deserve to live.

Anyone who commits crimes....anyone who isn't like Hanako or Mr. Charles would be destroyed.

Five years after I took Hanako away from here and moved in with Mr. Charles, my old rundown house was still here, somehow looking even worse than before.

But, this time, I was no longer afraid.

The door was so decayed, it was easy to kick it in with my foot, walking into the disgusting place with judging eyes.

That familiar smell of liquor and rotten food burned my nostrils again, but instead of making me scared the way it used to, I was angry.

Angry enough for my eyes to start glowing again. Just like they did in the alleyway.

And there he was. Oh, there he fucking was. The demon who started it all. Or, one of them anyways.

Papa was exactly where I left him five years ago. In the chair with the duct taped legs, watching the broken television produce static. The only difference was that mom was no longer at his feet like the dog she made herself be.

She was in the corner-or, what was left of her, anyways. Lying face up on the ground with blue lips and decaying skin. Her muscles were rigid and her midsection was decomposed and leaking rancid fluids, leaving me to believe she's been dead for at least a few days.

I have no sympathy. She deserves it.

And papa paid no mind, snorting up the substance on the counter with a new woman I'd never seen before.

He was so out of his mind, he didn't even hear me come in, hacking wetly and wiping the powder from his nose once he'd had enough.

I kicked the needles and broken liquor bottles out of the way loudly, finally grabbing his dazed attention.

Surprisingly, he recognized me, burping and grunting wretchedly as blood started dripping out of his coked out nose.

"Oh? Look who finally decided to come crawling back. What is it, Takuto? Finally learned the grass ain't greener on the other side?" He snickered, leaning back into his creaky chair with victorious satisfaction.

With a lethal calmness, I walked in front of the broken television without a word, letting my hands hang at my sides a bit crooked and eerily.

"You're absolutely disgusting. Do you know that? You don't deserve to live when good people are dead." I murmured out lowly, becoming annoyed with the bitch next to him who was snorting so loudly.

Papa opened his mouth smugly before I raised my hand, instantly shooting a silver jewel straight at the woman next to him without hesitation.

The force of my hit propelled her off the couch and sent her flying into the kitchen. She shrieked as her spine produced a bone crunching snap from slamming into the wall before crumbling to the floor.

Papa's eyes widened in shock, instantly standing up from his chair and turning to look at the woman.

Perfect timing. I want him to watch.

Squeezing my hand into a fist with an overwhelming rage, the silver jewel plopped down atop the woman before exploding loudly, taking the roof of the house off its hinges.

The power of the jewels took another piece of myself away. This time, it was another piece of my soul. Once again, I lost the ability to care.

Papa screamed now as pieces of the woman splattered onto him, scrambling backwards before tripping over his own chair.

It was only now that his drugged out state registered the dried blood on my vacant, psychopathic face, coming to the realization that it clearly wasn't mine.

For the first time, he looked terrified. It only made the moment sweeter that he was terrified because of me.

Once again, it's justice. It doesn't come naturally because the world is shit, so I guess, I just have to manually deliver it myself to everyone.

I slowly walked towards him as he crawled backwards, watching him whimper as my eyes began to glow again.

"T-Takuto-wait, Takuto!" He held his hand out once his back hit the wall, starting to tremble violently as I loomed over him. "I-I'm your dad, remember?! Right?! I-I took care of you. You're not really gonna kill your daddy, right?"

In response, I loomed over him and aimed my hand straight at his face, speaking low and vacant of feeling, "My dad died saving me. He was the best man I ever knew, and a better person than you've ever been."

Papa looked at my hand and began to cry now, feeding my satisfaction so wonderfully.

"The world has no room for people like you. Worthless, ugly, disgusting voids who waste space. I will kill everyone who's like you." I stated.

His spine melted into the wall as he tried to get further from me, but it was no use. He was completely at my mercy, and I'd enjoy every second of it. My only disappointment is that his pain won't last longer. I'd torture him forever if I could-lock him in a room and spend the hours making him wish he was dead.

But, this will have to do.

"So, go ahead and rot, 'papa.' Finally get the justice you fucking deserve." I smiled, causing him to scream loudly.

"Please!! Takuto, please!!-"

Another jewel came from my hand and this one was purple, instantly touching the skin of that horrible man and surprising me with its power.

The moment my quirk made contact, his body instantly began to sizzle. His shrieks were loud as his insides began to melt out of his body, his incoherent garbles and rambling pleads let me know he was completely conscious for all of it. For every single bit of pain.

I kneeled down to his level as he continued to die slowly, feeling a light smile slowly curl onto my cracked lips as his intestines melted in a puddle at my feet.

Slowly, his skin began to marble over into something beautiful. A glossy, sheen of crystallized jewels, starting from the bottom of his feet before slowly making its way upwards.

And then, he looked at me one last time with a million regrets behind his eyes before the jewels covered them, completely killing the monster and turning him into a spotless statue.

The ghost of his screams lived in the rotten walls of his ruined home as I stared at his new state, still not satisfied as I grabbed onto his crystallized head.

More jewels flowed from my palms as I ripped the head of the statue off, using my glowing hand to crush it in my grip before it disintegrated away.

Just like that, the monster was gone. But, a new one had been born in its place, only just getting started with new plans.

The dust of papa's jeweled ashes dissolved amidst the ocean of liquor bottles and trash. The sight was haunting as I rose to my feet, standing in the middle of the ruined home of corpses at three in the morning like a demonic monster.

This was the beginning of something incredible. I could feel it.

With the roof destroyed, I looked up at the moon, allowing my hallucinations to run wild as Hanako and Mr. Charles congratulated me for my efforts.

"It's time to change the world, Kiki. I'll do it for you. Just wait and see." I smiled, excited to begin my new journey.

A journey of justice. A world where Hanako could have lived freely. That is my goal.

For Her, I will win. I will succeed.

And I refuse to let a single person stand in my way.