Russet eyes were locked down on the ground as he followed his own footsteps.

He remembers this path, it was extremely familiar to him.

Yet, instead of comfort, he felt negatively.

Seigyo stopped at once and looked up; spotting a very ruined brick house. He sighed heavily as those thoughts began to resurface.

Seigyo was here for a reason. And it was not to say hi.

This used to be his childhood home. But any good memories were overshadowed by anger and betrayal.

Seigyo was here to fight someone; his father

It was... some kind of weird ritual he and his dad would have. They didn't know why they did this every time they saw each other, but that anger builds up to violence; fists to fists till the other is beaten or stops.

Even as they keep hurting each other, Seigyo just keeps coming back.

Although... Today he felt rather lackluster.

Not as mad anymore, he tried to bring those painful thoughts as motivation and get it over right but... nothing.

He was tired.

Seigyo huffed in frustration at himself for being this way and was about to leave, until he spotted the nearby lake near his house.

This immediately piqued his interest as he see's different types of waterfowl among the area.

Pushing down his inner excitement, Seigyo eyed around for a specific spot. One where he remembered his past self sitting in to admire the birds without scaring them.

He scowled at the overgrown plants, desperate to find that special spot as he pushed away the tall grass but only finding the lakes' water flood instead.

All his hopes up for nothing.

He sees the aquatic birds swimming peacefully and away from him. He couldn't make it over to where they were, which saddened him but Seigyo digressed and returned to the path. Ready to leave...

Till... his ears catch the sound of something flapping violently in the water. He goes back to searching for the sound, excitement and a little worry rising up.

And then there, his eyes snap to a bird! With a green head, a mixture of dull colors on its body safe for its bright orange beak and feet... it was a duck. He'd seen these very often but not this close before... In fact...

When was the last time he'd ever seen a duck?

Pushing the thought aside, he quietly observed the waterfowl, seeing that it was struggling... very badly. Upon closer inspection, Seigyo spots something wrapped around the duck.

Plastic.

This angered him. Much more than before. Seigyo looked around to see absolutely no one in sight. He'd always feed birds but never rescued one, he didn't know what would happen if things went wrong.

Seigyo growled at himself, finally pulling off his school jacket, shoes and socks, as he took a dip in the cold lake.

The water chilled him to the bone and soaked his ripped jeans. Shivering, the delinquent shuffled his way through the muddy waters. Spotting the scared birds' useless attempts in flying away. He grew worried, hoping he'd reach in time as the duck was slowly sinking.

Seigyo gasped and splashed around, nearly falling as he tugged on the plastic, pulling the duck towards him. He quickly picked it up and sighed in relief. Standing feet deep in the lake, he began pulling at the ducks' restraints.

The waterfowl quaked occasionally, trying to fly away with its one opened wing as it's feathers flung around, but Seigyo did not let go as he locates the plastic and uses a hand to pull the plastic off.

This did a somewhat nasty reaction from the bird as it started harshly nipping at his pinkie.

"Hey, stop that."

Seigyo spoke with irritation, finding it hard to pull the trash off its neck.

As the duck continued to fight back, Seigyo huffs, walking back up onto the shore with the duck in his arms as he finds his jacket.

Picking it up, he manages to wrap it around the waterfowl, keeping it still and waiting for the bird to stop its panicking.

As some minutes go by, Seigyo tries to pet and soothe the duck to his best efforts. Admiring its colorful body and shining feathers, he reaches for the plastic once more, tugging it off its green neck.

He deathly grips the trash in his palm. Making sure that it doesn't leave his sight.

Seigyo exhaled softly, heart settling down to its original pace, he looks down at the duck's now calm expression. Seeing how they were both at ease... he smiles.

Lightly brushing his fingers against the birds' head.

"Soft."
His only thought.

Wind blows past them, his blonde-green hair sways and he eyes' the other ducks far across the lake. As much as he loved birds, he knew what he had to do.

Carefully standing up, Seigyo shuffles the duck in his hands as he steps back a bit, he swung his arms down once, then twice; chucking the duck free from his hold as it spreads its wings and flies off towards its flock.

His eyes follow the birds safe flight, satisfied with what he'd done, Seigyo picks up his clothes and proceeds to walk back and away from this place.

His anger had vanished, replaced with a good feeling instead. Definitely not the type of emotion he was expecting today, especially in this area.

Seigyo desperately wishes to accept this newfound happiness, but his past trauma's try their hardest to resurface and break down his comfort. Making him remember.

He shook his head, already missing those pleasant thoughts as he sped walked his way out of here.

Hoping to forget as soon as possible...

...

Funfact: "Seigyo's favorite animals are birds especially ducks!"