160 It's just a memory...

*Allen's POV*

"Allen, time to wake up!"

Upon hearing Aunt Natasha's voice, I fell out of bed, it hurt... after suffering a bruise, I got up and went to my bathroom.

In the mirror was a handsome boy... if you ignore that he's thin, very thin, I'd almost say he's skeletal, my god if my face didn't appear healthy, a social worker would have knocked on our door already.

It doesn't make sense, I eat plenty but no matter what, I can't get out of this lamentable build, but it's okay, it's just a matter of time before the "How to Become an Atlas in a Year" manual takes effect.

I will become a Macho!!

My aunt tells me it's a scam, but I want to trust the little man with nervous laughter and bloodshot eyes selling magical hair tonic in the park, he seems like an honorable man.

Someday I... I will be a two-meter mountain of muscles (6'7")!

I stopped thinking and got ready to go to school. In the kitchen was Natasha, my only family in this world, I have no problem with that, she was cooking with a pink apron while humming.

She's beautiful and adorable, however, what is this feeling of anxiety when I see her, I don't think it has to do with the purple smoke coming out of the pot in front of her, Hahaha there shouldn't be anything edible that releases that kind of smoke, maybe I'm wrong, after all, I'm only twelve years old and don't know everything about the world.

I don't know, but this strange shiver in my body, what is it? nervousness? maybe that's it, school is a jungle where the strong eat the weak, and well, I can't claim to be strong, it definitely isn't the toxic brew my beloved aunt is preparing!

I decided to sneak out without breakfast... not because I'm scared! lately, I feel fat and so I should lose weight... Yes, let's ignore the fact that I'm skinnier than a scarecrow, it's true! I'm a man with high cholesterol levels!

Well... I'll leave slowly... and no one will get hurt... especially me!

"Allen?!"

Shit! Think fast, Allen Walker!

"Ah!... Good morning, my dear and beautiful woman, mother, aunt, boss, majesty, sorry to interrupt, it's getting late so I'm going to school!!"

I know it sounds forced but it should work. I already feel the sweat dripping down my forehead... damn it!

My beautiful aunt looked at me suspiciously and pointed to the clock on the wall. "But it's still more than an hour..."

I should have known that fooling a super spy isn't the smartest action!! Think Allen, think! you can't eat that toxic thing or you'll end up saying hi to Mom and Dad earlier than expected.

I know, I have a plan!!

I stared at Natasha with confidence as she looked at me with disdain and underestimation.

"Allen, are you thinking of something stupid?" she said, crossing her arms.

"Hey! That offends me!"

I took a deep breath, prepared myself, and looked with unwavering determination at the most important woman in my life.

"In the window, Obama is making obscene poses!!" I shouted and ran as if a dog were chasing me, ironically that has happened to me like ten times in my life.

After creating a distraction, I ran to the door and opened it quickly to run down the hallway toward the stairs.

Finally, I see freedom!!

"You're not going anywhere, young man!"

"Ahhh!"

Natasha grabbed me by the collar and lifted me back onto her shoulder, damn it, I should have known that trying to escape from a super-secret agent woman was impossible.

"Allen, I know you don't like vegetables but with my secret stew, you'll grow big and strong," she said lengthily as she comforted me with a loving look.

"Oh, I'll die trying..." I murmured weakly.

"Ah? did you say something?!" Natasha replied as her face darkened.

Scary!

"No, nothing!"

Okay, I'm ready to die now, if the Grim Reaper takes me, let it be in a limousine!

Natasha slapped my butt as she laughed, it's humiliating, now I know how the girls in the Isekai feel when being carried by ogres.

Natasha threw me into a chair in front of the table, for some reason, the warm apartment I consider home now was as cold as an execution waiting room and I was next.

Natasha went to the kitchen, which is visible from the dining room, she grabbed a ladle and served the thick dark purple liquid onto a plate, she put it in front of me and smiled lovingly as she kissed my forehead.

"Eat, dear!"

Fuck me!

I looked at her with pleading eyes but she just smiled with love. I don't understand you, woman! your actions and expressions are contradictory, you know that?! this thing will kill me!!

As my dreams and hopes went to hell, I looked at the bubbling plate thinking, why doesn't Natasha leave? the answer was the death of my last hope, she grabbed the spoon and prepared to feed me with her own hands, if it were another type of food, this would be a happy moment that I would cherish all my life but the thing in front of me is about to melt the plate and spoon, literally.

"Nooo!!" I screamed unintentionally but quickly hid my emotions.

"Allen?!" she asked, tilting her head cutely.

"No... it's not necessary, I'll eat it myself."

"It's okay... I know you've grown up," the beautiful woman replied with a downcast look, "It's just that, it's been a while, you're growing up, and I know there are things we won't be able to do anymore but that makes me sad."

Natasha looked down. Damn it! damn emotional blackmail!

I held her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. "Can you feed me?"

Natasha's eyes lit up and she smiled with joy as she blushed, okay, if it's for that smile, it's worth it. I closed my eyes, preparing for my death, there are times when men have to do what they have to do.

"Today I will die but my legacy will not die!" I declared to the heavens.

"Don't be dramatic, Allen, it's just vegetable stew..." said Natasha, is she treating me like a fool? this is poison!

The spoon came to me and I opened my mouth.

After the first bite, I fell to the floor with foam in my mouth, I thought this shit was only in anime, but there are women capable of creating poison with common ingredients.

"Allen?!"

...

I woke up five minutes later, I told my frightened aunt that it was too delicious and I fainted because of it, lying is wrong but I couldn't help it, I owe everything to that woman.

I left home to go to school, and I felt renewed as if I had been reborn! or survived death... Mmm, it's not far from reality.

The only good thing I got from this experience is that I've already covered my quota of bad luck for today, so I can't suffer anymore!

That's right, Allen Walker, you must be positive!

"Maybe today won't be so bad, right?"

On the way, I saw two guys cornering an overweight kid in an alley. Haa, I couldn't have a normal morning. Also, why should a guy, shouldn't I meet the school flower in danger, what a ripoff?!!... I guess I'm not the protagonist.

"Come on, Kevin, you took my money yesterday too!" the chubby kid complained, but that's foolish, it's like provoking hungry hyenas.

"Oh dear Tom, you didn't say that," the bully grabbed Tom's tie and let it go, then punched him in the face and knocked him down. Come on, man, you don't go to school wearing a tie unless you want to get beaten up, and don't challenge the bully!

I felt bad for him but it's his problem, bullies are an epidemic, but if you protect yourself properly, it will save your life.

I was about to leave but looking at poor Tom, I felt sorry, damn it!

"Don't do it..."

Out of nowhere, a little Allen with a devilish appearance appeared on my right shoulder.

"Actually, I'm not going to argue with you, you're right," I replied to the devil without expression.

"Huh? Shouldn't you be hesitating?" the devil got angry, "Haven't you seen this scene in cartoons?! you're supposed to refuse and I try to convince you that it's not worth dying for a stranger!"

I grabbed the devil in my hand with a death stare. "I'm telling you I agree with you, that's fine, right?! what's your problem?!"

The devil crossed his arms for a moment. "True, technically, you're doing what I want, but doing it without my help seems unsatisfactory to me."

"I don't give a shit!" I said annoyed and then turned around to leave.

"Wait!"

I turned around to see a mini version of me looking like an angel, he looked at me disapprovingly, here's my good side, I sighed, he'll try to convince me not to flee, and I'll try not to give in to the power of love and friendship.

"Go left, you'll get to Atlantic Avenue faster..." the angel said, pointing to crossing the street.

I grabbed the angel angrily. "Hey, aren't you supposed to prevent me from running away with some moralistic and idealistic speech?!"

The angel looked at me as if I were still stupid, I won't lie, I feel like tearing his wings off.

"Why would I do something so stupid?! if you die I die, there's no benefit in doing it," I said.

"Dude, he's right," added the devil.

I let go of the angel and watched it with a blank look. "I have nothing to argue against that logic..."

"Ahhh!" Tom screamed and I peeked around the corner to see them trying to stuff him into a trash container.

Shit...

...

"Hey, don't worry, they just smell a little bad," said the bully named Kevin.

"Next time don't make so many excuses to give us the money!" added the other bully.

They both laughed... Tsk bastards!

The devil and the angel grabbed my head as they hit me but with no real harm. I know, I know, I'm thinking of something stupid.

"Don't underestimate me, I have a plan!"

...

"Hey bastards, you sure like to harass young ones!" I said as I stepped out from the corner, I must have looked great with unlimited confidence and a side profile glance.

Both looked at me without understanding and I pointed at my phone which was recording.

"I'm sure your parents and teachers won't like to see this, leave Tom alone and I promise I won't show this to anyone," I raised my gaze arrogantly, "Do we have a deal?"

"Kevin, let's deal with this little brat..."

Huh?

Wait, that wasn't the plan!!

...

I ended up beaten and thrown inside the container with Tom, note to self, when you threaten a bully in an empty alley, make sure you're far enough to escape.

"Are you okay?" he asked me with a swollen cheek, he had black hair and blue eyes, wore round glasses, and was overweight, a delicious combination for bastards like Kevin.

"It hurts... so I don't think I'm okay," I replied as I sat down. Once you get used to it, it doesn't smell so bad.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault..."

I looked at the dejected Tom and lightly punched him on the shoulder but my injuries acted up so I came out losing. We both groaned in pain and then chuckled without looking before laughing.

"I did what I did, by my own will, don't worry Tom..." I smiled slightly.

He opened his eyes and then lowered them. "You're strong..."

"Heh, if I were, I wouldn't be in a trash container..."

"You're strong."

"What?" I asked confused, not knowing what he was talking about.

"People like Kevin think they're better because they're bigger than us, that's luck, but..." he looked at me with a slight smile, "You're strong here," he put his fist on my chest. "That doesn't come with luck hehe"

Tom withdrew his fist and I looked at the sky thankful that Kevin would not close the container.

"Strong... huh," I remained silent for a while, "it's just that I think we live trapped within ourselves, your hands are your hands, your feet are your feet, your face is your face, your heart, and soul, we don't choose anything but it is ours"

"I don't understand..."

"What I mean is that those idiots just want to annoy us, scare us, and maybe hit us but that's it, they don't steal anything important from us, and they can't hurt us, I'm not strong, I just value some things above some punches."

"... I knew it, you're strong and cool."

"Heh shut up man... I'm Allen."

"Hahaha, I'm Thomas."

We greeted each other and got out of the container, I didn't feel like going to school smelling like garbage and neither did Tom, so we didn't run away and played all day, at the arcade, at the park, baseball, it was a lot of fun for me, who always avoided people and especially kids my age.

Yeah, I guess I had fun with my first friend, we talked about many things, and I found out that we shared several interests.

In the end, Tom turned to me, "Thanks, Allen, it was an amazing day!"

I punched him on the shoulder, "Haha, don't worry!"

That day was the last time I saw Thomas...

A week later, I received a letter from him, and his glasses.

[Hi, I'm sorry I can't play with you again, yesterday I had fun like never before, my father left me when I was younger, my mother died of illness, and I live with some relatives who mistreat me... I'm someone weak... don't worry there was nothing you could do... I'm just going to see my parents... but I'm glad I spent the best day of my life before that... Allen, I'm sorry I won't be there when you become someone incredible, although I doubt if you'll be a mountain of muscles... I know you'll be someone incredible and kick bullies like Kevin's ass!... hahaha... I don't know what else to say, ah! I leave you my glasses, you can use them to have a secret identity, like Superman, that would be great!... Well, thanks for everything, my first and last friend]

I fell to my knees as I listened to Natasha's screams, she comforted me for hours...

I didn't realize...

I had so much fun finding a friend that I didn't realize he was broken inside, could I have done more?

Maybe if I had reached out my hand, I would have caught him.

Fool!

Why do you give up?!

Damn it!...

...



...

For a second my mind lost focus, what am I doing?! it's suicide to do that in front of this monster!

But, really, what am I doing, I'm fighting against a monster like this, I'm hurting people who matter because of my ego?!

You're a fool!! Yet at times like this, I wonder how I would regret less, if I had fled and left this world, would I feel better or regretful?

Hey Thomas? Do you think I did the right thing? Mother... father... am I doing okay?

I don't know... I'm just moving forward in an absurd life full of dangers and problems but surrounded by people who love me, I guess it's only fair.

Superman was coming towards me again...

Clark, do you know? there was a boy who loved superheroes, one who hoped to be saved but it never happened.

He never blamed anyone for his misfortune, however when I see you in this state it makes me sick.

He would be disappointed to see you like this!

I know it's not your fault... but I don't like seeing that symbol stained with blood!

...

I could feel it, the cursed techniques are developing a changing and evolving path, that's what Gojo sensei said, so theoretically there should be something beyond the purple. Maybe it's a fantasy or my hallucinations but I think I found it.

"White!"

A flash as bright as the beginning of the universe blinded everyone, as it cleared I looked at Superman who was suspended and amazed unable to understand why his right arm was destroyed.

"What's wrong Clark?" I smiled exhausted and haggard "Is that all you got?"

I could feel an emotion beneath that mask of indifference, it was anger, rage, fury, disbelief...

===

A/N: Sorry for the delay I had a migraine and couldn't do anything, but I'm feeling better now :3

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