Snap 18: Another Side.

It's hard to come to terms with all that's happened these last few weeks. First day of school, and a boy was hospitalized when he saved an old woman. Hearing that made me wonder what kind of guy it would take to be so selfless. And then I, Ai Akemi, met him. He seemed very normal. He liked music, games, was playful. But, in particular, something about him was, warm. During our group project, I got to learn more about what happened. When he saved the old lady, his arm's bones were completely shattered. And he somehow recovered. Such a thing shouldn't even be possible. My sister was his doctor, and I learned much of the story from her.

I'm... not like him. I'm not good with people. I just can't understand people. I can empathize and sympathize, but certain things I just can't get. But he, he was able to understand me. On our "date" I remembered him saying:

"Y'know, lots of people think I'm some social butterfly. That I'm the creme de la creme of small talk. But to tell you the truth, I don't get people. Or at least didn't. When... when I learned my Mom had been dead for a while, I couldn't talk. I made a mental wall that there were circumstances as to why she wasn't here. And when that wall was broken, I broke. But, some time after that, I realized why talking is valuable. 'Cuz if you don't now, you might not be able to do it when you're able later, y'know?"

That advice is really sticking to me. I've started looking up to him. I've always been too shy. I always wanted to talk to everyone. But I couldn't. But now, now I'm growing able to talk to who I want.

I don't know why, but I feel like this, this strange situation is what I need. To be who I want to be. And I know they'll guide me there. I'm not strong like he is. So I'll try as hard as I can. To walk with him, side by side. ...Why am I so interested with this guy?

"Training time!" Hollered Mars.

"Good luck!" Said Venus. She would be watching from the sidelines.

"Alright. First things first, let's see how you do without any spells." Mars said.

"Hmph!" I said, striking a battle stance.

I was taught a bit of Martial Arts at home. Those action shows really influenced me.

Mars shot out several bullets.

I dodged a few, but I was grazed by just as many. I don't have abilities like he does. How's his training doing? Shoot, focus, focus!

I focused more. Since I couldn't dodge too well, I tried the old brute force method: punch them away. The bullets burned my hands initially, but after a short time, I barely felt them touch my hands.

"Not bad! If you can't dodge, then blow 'em away!"

I then noticed a gap between the bullets. The condition to "win" so to speak, was to get a good clean hit.

I went for the blow.

"Foolish!" Mars shouted.

She was about to strike back when I blacked out entirely.

I woke up inside of a special space. It was completely black, bespectacled with stars. I heard the voice of a man.

"Ah, so it's about that time." He said to me.

"Huh?!"

"Pardon me, young one. I am Chronos. God of time."