33 Discord

-Takashi's POV-

It's been a few hour after Arthur's.....breakdown. None of us knew nor understood what had happen, Saya is calling us to a room for a discussion. After Arthur fainted, Souichiro-san had his men took him to the makeshift infirmary in a separate wing of the estate, Shizuka-sensei is currently with him checking up on his health.

I see Alice walking next to me feeling melancholy...I sigh as I have no clue how to cheer her up. As we walk outside the backyard, we eventually see Teshima-san and Kyoko-sensei walking together, both of them are carrying boxes to the other side of the estate.

"Yo! Takashi..how you've been? we heard the news...is the little rascal alright?"

Teshima-san smiles at me Kyoko-sensei is currently chatting with Alice to check up on her....but it doesn't appear that she's cheering up.

"Arthur...he's fine, he's sleeping. When he wakes up, he'll be his old snarky kid again."

I laugh it off..Teshima-san smiles warmly while rubbing my head.

"That kid...he's gone through a lot didn't he. I don't think he had a normal childhood while growing up. Something bad must have happened to him. Takashi...as his friend we must take responsibility in caring for the boy. I feel he lacked love he once had."

His word struck me...love, now that I think about the only people he seem attached to is Shizuka-sensei and Alice...there are times Saeko-senpai would support him emotionally and that's about it...huh. When was the last time I truly helped him?

Shit... now it's not the time to think that way. He needs us more than ever to support him, we can't show fear.

I nod to Teshima-san word with resolute eyes...seeing this he smile and ask Kyoko-sensei to move to their destination, after we waved goodbye I look towards Alice.

"Alice...listen to me, you're big brother is currently sick...and he need us. So let's support him alright, after everything he did for us...we owe it to him."

Alice after hearing my words brighten up and smiles. She nods and we made our way to meet up with the others...I look up to the sky to see the clouds had turn grey and I hear thunder from a distance.

"Looks like a storm is coming."

-Souichiro's POV-

"How's the boy?"

I ask the doctor who's tending to his wound..sitting next to him is his supposed elder sister Shizuka Marikawa...from what I heard from Saya, she's the closes to him out of everyone...meaning he can be reign in case he loses control over himself...I need to keep his younger sister with him at all time as well when he wakes up. It seems that he stop his attack after being confronted by her....if she hadn't stood in front of...I might have died.

"The boy is stable...his wounds..it's a miracle Souichiro-san. His wounds recover almost under an hour. What is he? there's no way he's normal. Is he the special guest you mentioned to me?"

"Yes...fast recovery speed huh? I shudder by the thought that he can keep on attacking me without hesitation and not care for his wounds."

"Ara! that's rare to hear that from you darling. You hold the boy at a high regard, well what he did was unique."

My wife Yuriko, enters the room smiling while checking my face.

"He definitely did a number on you...when was the last time I've seen you covered with this many wounds...are you alright?"

I immediately held my wife's cheek while smiling.

"I'm fine love, compare to me. He's the one suffering the most, you saw it didn't you?"

"Yes...those things that emerges from the shadows...like hidden monsters waiting to pounce on us...those suffer by it are still driven mad darling..we had to put sedative on them to put them to sleep."

"I see. Doctor what do you think?"

"Hmm..if what you say is true..then my best guess would be the boy must have had done a psychological attack on all of you in order to break your spirit."

"Spirit..now that I recalled, the boy was upset when you were not affected by it darling."

My wife looks at me while holding her chin. I on the other hand close my eyes and felt shame.

"I was affected by it...it was a dreadful feeling when he targeted me with his psychological attack, all of you were collateral. I was affected by it...but I didn't showed it on my face."

My wife then hold my face and kissed me.

"My brave man, how foolish of you?..but that's one of the reasons why I fell for you."

I smile and look towards the boy lying in bed....the Antichrist huh....damn is all of this a sign of the end to come?

-Saya's POV-

I'm currently waiting for Takashi and Alice to be here...Zeke has been lying asleep after the dojo incident...I clicked my tongue as I'm disappointed in my self...how could I let myself be so weak. Arthur-chan...what happen to him scared me to wits end. I mentally sigh as I see Rei and Saeko-senpai siting next to each silently.

Then I heard the door open, I quickly turn to see Hirano having that stupid smile on his face while chuckling lightly..Chiaki-san...well after a few failed attempts in contacting her father...it had left her dispirited. She's currently sitting down reading a book.

"You're late."

"Sorry I was maintaining our guns."

Ah..I'm giving him a hard time again...he's the same boat as us. He too was trembling in fear.

"Forget it..just sit down, we're waiting for Takashi and Alice."

Hirano nods and walks towards an empty seat....a few minutes after that Takashi and Alice enters the room.

"Sorry we're late, we bumped into Teshima-san and Kyoko-sensei."

"Whatever just sit down already."

Alice and Takashi chuckles and look at each other...I too smile towards them. It seem that Alice has cheered up. Saeko-senpai then ask a question.

"We're here to discuss what had happen to Arthur am I correct?"

"Yes...as you all know, this is the first time we've seen him this way. Usually when he uses his powers he still retain his sanity...but for some reason he lost control..what do you guys think?"

I look towards them. Rei then raise her hand and spoke.

"I don't know about you guys...but It felt different..usually when Arthur uses his powers we don't feel any malicious intent..could this be the first time we experience such thing?"

I place my hand on my chin.

"Hmm..I don't think it's that simple...let's recall what had happen. Arthur was fighting one of my father's men..he didn't once use his powers an overwhelm him."

Everyone nods as they recalled it.

"After that, my father challenged him to a duel with their katana."

Saeko-senpai then does a follow up.

"Yes..your father challenged him and to no surprise Arthur was push back because of your father physical advantages."

I nod to her assessment.

"Yes...by right Arthur should have lose..and yet."

I recall back his face...his face turn monstrous...his voice..there were multiple voices that was heard by us. Alice..then raise her hand highly.

"Saya-nee...what's an Antichrist?"

When Alice spoke that taboo word it cause the others slight discomfort.

"Alice..do you know the name of the son of God?"

"Yes...umm Jesus Christ."

"Yes, A Christian's belief that Jesus Christ also known as Jesus of Nazareth was the son of God. He was a prophet to many of his devotee and is still worship to this day, it's just that in Japan the religion can be considered a minority..but that's beside the point. Jesus Christ is the awaited messiah..umm that means he is someone that can save many people Alice. He also to have been believed that he's capable of performing many miracles."

Alice turn her head cutely trying to understand

"Miracles?"

"Jesus had powers that heal and save people."

Alice then smile brightly. Her eyes sparkles.

"Saving people..then isn't Arthur one?...He saved many people using his powers...so is he a son of God."

Everyone in the room turns quiet and look away from Alice..I tried my best to smile at her question...but for some reason the idea that I might break her heart after telling the truth would kill me on the inside. Saeko-nee then looks at her and said the truth.

"Arthur is not the son of God..Alice...I'm sorry."

Hearing this Alice's face drop..tears starts to form on her eyes.

"What do you mean by that Saeko-nee?"

Saeko-senpai close her eyes as she explain to her.

"Like Saya-san said...Jesus was the son of God..and a Prophet to many. But where there is good...there's evil Alice."

*Rain starts pouring slowly*

"Evil?"

Saeko-san opens her eyes and look at Alice with serious expression.

"Tell me Alice what did you felt when those shadow engulf you?"

Alice pupils widen at her question..she recall back the feeling of helplessness and the lost of her parents..especially her father.

"I recall the feeling when dad left me...I thought it was the end of the world."

Saeko-san then smiles at her answer.

"End of the world huh?...that's exactly what everyone inside and outside the dojo felt...the sense of despair and hopelessness in the world."

My pupils widen as her words....she's right...it made sense.

"The Antichrist is the opposite of Jesus Christ...it's what we call a false one."

"Then...is Arthur...evil?"

Saeko-san then stood up and walks towards her...she rubs her head and smile.

"Arthur is not evil...if he was, he would have killed you when you tried to stop him from killing Saya-san's father. He didn't hurt you because he loves you Alice....So believe in him...believe that Arthur is a good man."

A good man...is that how she see him...not a child but a man.

"So what's wrong with Arthur Saeko-nee? Is he sick?"

I cough and try to answer her question.

"I don't believe he is sick...but he's under a possession..ah it means demons are trying to take over his body. Think back when he lose control, he did use his time stop ability didn't he...yet we felt nothing when he uses his powers without being possessed....that means being the Antichrist and Arthur's powers are two separate thing."

I push my glasses back as I spoke out my reasoning. Rei then nods her head in agreement. Hirano then spoke out quietly.

"Then...what's the solution Takagi-san? How can we help Arthur?"

His question cause everyone to sigh quietly as we have zero clues how to help Arthur.

*Rain continues to pour*

-Arthur's POV-

I slowly open my eyes to see an unfamiliar room....I slowly turn my head and see Mari-nee sitting next to my bed. She's currently sleeping, she must be tired after everything I put her through. I slowly stand up and soon received a notification.

[Hidden Quest Complete: Accept Your Demons.]

Seeing this left a bad taste in my mouth.

To Be Continue...