45 The Strength Of One's Heart

It was better to never think about it.

Giving it thought would only throw him into a world of confusion, filled with spinning spirals and turning sensations.

He had never known why exactly, if he would've given it a thought, then he'd probably found out why. But that was always out of the question.

While he was on the road to a better place, he didn't want to fall off to a side-road into despair, following the path he'd set up for himself on his own accord was all he wanted to do. In a daily life filled with an unstable ground that tried to pull him down constantly, he didn't want to fall down into that pit of darkness again. He didn't want to wallow in that depth once again.

He wanted to grasp onto that slim ledge of hope as hard as he could, when he'd finally found it.

But as he laid on the ancient bed in his bland room, that forced-upon topic was hard to avoid.

The future was always a hard subject for Kaharu Kahari.

…

~ Tuesday, the twenty-second of October, 15:21 ~

The student council room was occupied as the school day had ended and students of Akumu High School started to either go home, hang out with their friends, or attend their clubs. The spirit of youth was captured by many people thirsting for it as Melliacci and his troupe sat inside of that very familiar club room.

But the majority present didn't felt like they missed out on that precious time, Melliacci was suddenly awoken by a loud thump on his smaller desk

"Melliacci! Are you spacing out? Have you been listening to me?"

Snapping back into the situation, Melliacci suddenly started paying attention to the annoyed student council president's facial expression. It was cute, but that wasn't the time for comments like that when her face signaled that he needed to pay attention quickly. Melliacci bit his lip slightly as he scratched the back of his head, saying slowly

"Ah… No, I spaced out. I apologize, Amaimono."

Before Amaimono had the time to respond to him, Melliacci thought to himself

- What's going on with me? I've been spacing out a lot today, I need to get my act together. Otherwise I can't execute my role as vice-president properly-

He was tempted to slap both of his cheeks to really get him into the zone, but acquitted as he realized it would be strange to do that out of nowhere in public.

Amaimono, in very big and drastic moves, moved herself to the whiteboard she'd placed in front of the council and pressed against it with a pointer.

"As the Vice-president, you have to pay more attention to me, the president! Melliacci--- Uhm, I mean, Vice-president!

If you have any problems, you should consult me!"

"No, It's fine. Thank you, President."

Amaimono stared in silence at the vice-president with a gloomy look for a couple of seconds before responding

"… Good then, Let's pay attention to the subject then!

Look here, we need to press the issue of clubs to the faculty and the higher-ups! It's important for our students to spend time together, and especially to get exercise as an increasing number of people spend more time sitting!"

As Amamimono continued speaking about her point, Melliacci's eyes drifted over to the shared document on his screen that showed of the points the president Amaimono wanted to promote and enforce, he realized it was quite a list. He thought

- I guess she wants to try and do as much as she can before the re-elections start in late November. Strange time to have an election, in the middle of a school term.

Either way, it's probably gonna be impossible to get through most of these in such a short time...

I wonder if she's gonna get elected again with these enforcing policies… -

Melliacci looked away from the screen as he was still in his deep-thought, and broke that immediately again as he witnessed Amaimono by the whiteboard, her gestures, the facial expression that showed both genuine happiness and genuine worry, and the force behind her voice. Melliacci once again thought to himself

- How could I've forgotten who she was? Something must've really happened to me yesterday…

Even if it seems difficult, all we have to do is work our hardest to do the most amount of things we can and do our best to get elected again! -

Amaimono stopped her talking as she wrapped up the briefing on her policy. After she commanded Namoru, the secretary, to write it down, she brought attention to another issue as she said

"By the way, we've gotten reports of fights breaking out behind the cafeteria, some have said that there's a delinquent there who's taking on anyone who'll challenge him.

He's becoming a problem as many students have fallen to him and his doings."

Melliacci started paying more attention as he heard that, and looked more directly at the president of Akumu High School. He fixed his glasses as the was reminded of the previous delinquent he had 'taken care of' through his confrontation and raised his hand slightly as he said

"I can go and have a talk with him, if he's here at this time."

Melliacci was confident since his previous encounter with that scenario had gone well, and further, he wanted to make it up to Amaimono to a certain extent for not paying attention properly during her declaration of the policy, a separate issue he had to fix later. Amaimono changed her face from a frown to a tilted mouth as she felt a bit of worry for Melliacci, but she straightened her back as she declared

"Very well then, vice-president. You go ahead and do that if you feel that you are capable of so."

Madochika, the treasurer of the council, leaned back in the couch from sitting on its side and said

"Aaah… Talk about wasting our youth in this room. Imagine all of the great moments we could've had, like our first kiss and first romance, hanging out with our friends and doing entertaining things like bowling, or beat all of Monster Huntress in co-op."

Namoru, still typing on his computer, responded

"It would've probably been better if you focused that energy on something actually useful and productive. You have one of those rants like every week."

His serious face persisted as Madochika's face twisted in boredom as she responded

"Am I wrong though!? Like, what if you could've spent more time on something like knitting that sweater you wanted to give to your mom."

Namoru visibly gritted his teeth as he responded quietly

"… That doesn't sound that bad."

"Right?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Namoru caught the sight of Amaimono opening her mouth to counter, but Melliacci surpassed her in speed as he said

"Well, I'm heading out then."

"Y-yeah."

*KACHAN*

As the door closed, the three remaining student council members paused in silence for a moment as they commented to themselves how Melliacci seemed strange that session, but quickly shook it off as they returned to their original positions. Madochika lit up as she sat herself up on the side of the couch again and asked

"Oh yeah, prez--"

"Call me President"

"Did you hear about that speech?"

"What speech?"

"Apparently some first-year made a speech about school in their class, and some people are starting to talk about it, especially in the first year."

Amaimono grew curious as she heard about it, as Madochika added

"Perhaps he'll become a contender later."

Amaimono chuckled slightly as she responded

"I don't think so, and even if, we'll just have to win over him with our strong policies!"

Madochika sighed as she said

"Please don't include me in the next student council..."

Amaimono smiled as she exclaimed

"Of course I will! You are really great when you get into the zone! We as a team can take on any issue possible and overcome it!"

…

*Clack* *Clack*

It was easy to walk through the hallways leading to the cafeteria, the emptiness echoed in Melliacci's ears as his steps reverberated against the walls. His head wasn't filled with anything particular as he passed through the patches of orange that flowed in from the windows. He looked around casually as he found it strange that there were so few people around, as school had only ended recently.

- There's probably some event going on today… -

The fact that he wasn't aware of any event that was going on at that time reminded him of the day before as he roamed the streets, heading to the batting cages. He suddenly felt a feeling of being left out, a feeling he wasn't unfamiliar with. But it also felt scary that he didn't know what was popular at all, like the council room was the only world he knew of. It was hard to hear what people were interested in when the conversation always turned to him as he made an appearance anywhere. It was always about him, even when the intentions were good and the conversation was friendly, it was always about him.

Maybe he was flying high up in the sky above the clouds, not knowing that occurred on the ground, or he was drowning in the name of his own responsibility and will to prove himself, not seeing anything but his bubbles as he fell deeper.

Either way, he saw nothing of the actual happenings of the people he was working hard for.

But that difference would decide his justice, and self-righteousness.

The sensation of uneasiness made Melliacci stop as he had reached the door he was walking towards. Looking outside, he saw the shape of a large-built teenager sitting down on the ground with his arms resting on his knees propped up into the air. He seemed like the typical brute searching for the next fight to pump him up.

Melliacci pushed his glasses up as he fixed his dark-black hair to enter the backside of the cafeteria, suddenly catching the sight of that teenager surrounded by trashcans.

Melliacci smirked slightly as he confidently stepped towards the teenager, who raised himself slowly as he also caught the sight of Melliacci.

His expression changed back to his serious gaze that reflected his inner self, as he started talking

"You're Aoki Kako?"

"Yeah?"

"We, the student council, have heard about your---"

"Fights, yeah, I know. What about it?"

Melliacci was taken aback by the sudden interruption as he accidentally bumped his foot into pebbles on the ground that scattered across the area behind him.

Melliacci continued with his mission, although his voice had a bit more strain to it

"In the interest of student safety and health, we advise you to stop the fighting you're doing."

Aoki just scuffed at the suggestion as he cracked his knuckle and said

"Or what? Your little body doesn't seem to be able to do anything.

All of the people who I fight with have come here voluntarily, so there's nothing to worry about when it comes to 'student's safety'."

Melliacci scratched his forehead quickly as he said

"Well, it's an ugly sight and a bother for the students to have to see this, and know about this happening. Even then, you're hurting students in general, this is serious stuff, Aoki!"

Aoki looked visibly more upset as he retorted with

"You guys sure like to talk about the 'general students' like I'm not a part of it.

Well, whatever. I've grown tired of this conversation, I'm about to deal my first non-challenger blow to show you the result of this thing."

Melliacci furrowed his brows as he took on a confused face in the weak shadow of Aoki Kako. A quick wave of doubt flew through Melliacci as he looked up slowly.

*BAM*

Feeling a sense of deja vu, Melliacci was quickly blown back a couple of meters as Aoki threw a punch, landing on his upper torso. He thought his heart stopped for a minute as the punch had hit very close to it. Suddenly finding himself on the floor, Melliacci felt even more confused as he touched his cheek to find the dirt that had suddenly accumulated there.

- Did I just get…? -

In the midst of Melliacci's confusion, Aoki stepped forward and spoke

"Mr. Guy from the student council, why do you think people fight?

To get stronger, right?

That's wrong, it's to protect one's code of morals.

You seem to have a strong sense of justice and conviction, but where's the strength to back it up?

You see..."

*BAM*

Melliacci was punched another time as he fell more backward, Aoki continuing with

"I can this easily erase your justice, if I wanted to."

His teeth would crack if he were to have bitten them any harder as he looked up at the imposing figure of Aoki. What he saw before him was something far stranger than he'd seen when he first caught sight of him by the door leading to the back of that cafeteria.

By every word he uttered, Melliacci's perception painfully changed from the simple view he had first. Grabbing the grass below him, Melliacci thought to himself

- Why am I down here right now?

If I'm strong in conviction, then why am I being beaten right now?

If I'm good at talking, why did it turn out like this?

If I'm just, then why am I losing?

If I'm leading the truthful and right cause, then shouldn't the road be cleared for me? -

Aoki relaxed his shoulders as he continued talking

"So, you're not even going to try?

How pitiful.

You'll have to excuse me breaking my fight-streak with challengers only, I just have something strong against people who try to go against my code of morals without the true conviction behind it."

*Screeeech*

Melliacci ignored the sound he heard from his left as he focused on the current situation. The thought of him being similar to the brute he saw in front of him made him frustrated inside. The answer he gave Kaharu flashed through his mind as the thought cemented itself.

He was too similar, for Melliacci's liking.

*BAM*

A third punch made Melliacci's world spin, physically and mentally as he managed to somehow land hunched over on his feet. He thought to himself

- I'm like this now… because I'm too weak?

In order to advance my ideals, I need strength to enhance them? I need violence to enforce and protect them?

But that's exactly why I… -

As he thought to himself, he wanted to curse Aoki as much as he could. Just as much as he wanted to curse the reason he entered that back-place in the first place. Without it, everything would've been fine.

But now, he sat there, bent over as his usually clean face faced up toward the sky with his shoulders slanted down without effort and an unintentionally empty expression on his face. Without preparation, the shock of the situation seemed overbearing. That sense of futility was rare for Melliacci, to be in a position where he was unable to fight, in any way, was unusual for him.

Aoki prepared to launch another punch as his passion hadn't subsided at all, but was blocked by a shaded-out figure. Melliacci was unable to properly see the person, before they landed on the ground after forcing Aoki back a bit. Moments before seeing the face of the person, Melliacci heard

"What's going on here!?"

He was quickly surprised as he saw the face of one of the students at Akumu, the delinquent of class 1-2: Onata Kakiwaru.

Her pose was slightly slanted as she faced Melliacci and asked with a faint smile

"Are you okay?"

"Ah! Yeah…"

Melliacci nodded his head as he responded. His eyes were filled with surprise as he had really thought the end was near at the lowest of lows. Like an awestruck child, Melliacci wasn't able to pull out any more words, but that wouldn't be necessary either as Aoki drew attention to himself by kicking a bush nearby him.

With her unexpectedly long skirt fluttering in the wind slightly as her rough hair followed the wind in its direction. Aoki chuckled as he said

"You sure you wanna take his side? He doesn't take too lightly to delinquents like us."

Melliacci bit his lip as he took another arrow to his heart, although Onata simply lifted her shoulders quickly in a careless manner and said

"I don't really care, I saw someone in need of help, so I came to the rescue. That's all."

Aoki sighed in disappointment as he commented

"So you lack a proper code of morals? Ironic that you two have the opposite problems.

Well, it's a shame that I'll have to beat two people today like this, especially such a beautiful girl. But I suppose you could be counted as a challenger, given the situation."

Onata, keeping her faint smile, proudly and loudly exclaimed

"I wouldn't be so sure of your victory! I got a whole 11 hours of sleep last night after all!"

Both Melliacci and Aoki broke their concentration immediately as they commented

"What!?"

Aoki shook his head as he entered his battle-stance again, ignoring the statement Onata made, he said

"Whatever, show me what you got!"

Aoki immediately charged against Onata as he prepared a heavy hook to end the fight quickly, but as he approached her, Onata decided to not back away or evade the attack. Instead, she turned around quickly with her body and as Aoki approached her, she twisted her right leg in a perfect arc that followed the horizon as she screamed

"HORIZON SLASH!"

*KA

DOOOOOOOOON*

It connected fiercely with Aoki's left torso as he was blown to the ground, and downed in the eyes of boxing, leaving a gust of wind behind the impact.

Onata cracked her fingers as she said

"Don't underestimate 11 hours of sleep!"

Melliacci sat in awe once again as the person who'd punched him so many times was taken down in one kick by an unrelated student at the school. She turned around slightly as she pulled her fist down in a celebratory manner, saying to herself

"Now we're even…!"

Melliacci grew intrigued by that introspection as he tried to stand up. Successfully standing on his two feet, he asked

" 'even'?"

Onata blushed slightly as she responded

"Oh, you heard me?"

She then put a faint smile on her face again as she continued with

"There's this annoying blonde delinquent in my class that saved me once on a day where I hadn't slept enough. Now when I've saved you, we're even in a sense.

Although the ultimate victory would probably be saving him from something."

Melliacci stood quietly as he looked at Onata's face, thinking

- Same class…?

Is she talking about…

Kaharu? -

Before leaving the scene, Onata had a face signaling she suddenly came up with something. Without a thought about her position or place in that situation, she said with a finger lifted in the air

"From what he said, I'm guessing you were trying to make him change his morals or something. But if you don't want it to turn out like this again, you'll have to get stronger.

If not, I'll just save you when I see you in trouble."

Although it was said with the best of intentions and in a positive tone and spirit, Melliacci's eyes darkened as Onata waved goodbye on her way away from that scene and onto her home. At least his glasses were spared from destruction, that he could find solace in.

…

His footsteps once again felt heavy against the asphalt on top of the riverbank. His mind was filled with thoughts that dragged on him. More undesirable thoughts had cemented themselves in his head to the point that even his head seemed heavy as he walked.

Even the person who'd saved him had told him to go down the route of physical strength, of getting stronger to back his ideals.

As he continued walking, he thought to himself

- Do I have to get stronger to get a larger voice?

Do I really have to do that…?

The whole reason I became this was to avoid that…! -

Memories quickly flashed through Melliacci's head, images that brought back the sensation of sitting on the dry sand pellets slowly making a dent in the hand, consumed by the shadow of those above. The view of the one who'd won the fight standing on top of one, the experience he'd felt that day was similar to his past. Could he truly create the ideal environment he'd desired when he sat on that sand, or was that pipe hole dream only the purity of a child could conceive an impossibility he had to accept?

- It always comes back to violence, doesn't it? -

Just as much as he cursed the person named Aoki Kako, he cursed that thought.

- Are we that weak that only the complaisance from a fist can convince us? Do my words have no impact? Do my words mean nothing?

Do I… mean anything?

Usually, I would easily answer that with a strong "yes"

But, now, I'm so unsure.

What has happened to me these two days that has made me this weak?

Who did this…? -

Melliacci was left to his own thoughts as, like the hallways he'd walked down with confidence before, his surroundings were empty.

But his own voice whispered back an answer after moments of contemplation. Nodding to himself with a twisted smile, his eyes seemingly spun around as he continued his walk home.

He pushed up his glasses as he combed over his dark-black hair to the side.

…