Chapter Seven: Don

The brats ran off spouting nonsense. It was then I began to reevaluate my actions.

...

Shit...I screwed up!!

How could I have let myself be taunted into a fight? I legit broke the kid's nose! What if he does come back? And this time with him too??

N...no, I had to calm down.

I took deep breaths and began piecing together what had happened. I was punched and I merely retaliated in self deself-defense if I thought of it that way, then I wasn't in the wrong.

True, I did break the kid's nose, but he was the one who started the fight.

Strangely enough, the earlier feeling of serenity and calmness was nowhere to be found. The feeling that I was in control of the situation vanished along with the brats.

I...in any case, I don't think they got my name so I should be safe. There were no witnesses, and I doubt they know where I live.

Convincing myself with that, I turned around to pick up the books I had dropped when I noticed the green-eyed kid who was on the floor.

And then it all came back to me, how all of this had happened and how I ended up doing what I had done.

I tried to separate a fight between two kids and interfered. And I ended up causing a bigger scene.

I glanced at the bruised kid and he started back as well. We both held each other's eyes for a brief moment.

"Are you okay?" I took two steps closer to the boy and he scurried backward.

His eyes shook as they glared and stared at me warily like he had seen an unsure entity.

I ignored this and took another step forward. I outstretched my hand only for it to be sharply swatted away.

"I didn't need your help!" the kid said with a small growl and looked away, pouting prematurely.

My left eye twitches, slightly annoyed by this ungrateful behavior.

'I put myself in the line for this ungrateful brat'

I retracted my hand and stood up straight.

"Sorry for doing unnecessary things," I said flatly before turning around.

'Screw all this. I'm going home

"Wait!" The kid called back at me.

I stopped and hesitantly looked over my right shoulder at him, directing an uninterested gaze.

"What," I said flatly, "you need me to help you up?" I said sarcastically while rolling my eyes in all possible directions.

The boy whipped the trickling blood off his face. He lifts his body as he unsteadily tried to get up. He said,

"I didn't need your help then, I don't need it now either..."

He manages to get up but quickly stumbles.

"It didn't look like it to me, though." I quickly caught the boy before he could return to the ground. I looked him in the eye and smiled gently.

The boy's face flushed red. He quickly averts his eyes and faces away from mine.

"I…I almost had him." the boy muttered a little stuttering under his breath.

'Yeah, you got him right where you wanted alright-- right on top and punching the living daylight out from you' the words were at the tip of my tongue which I managed to bite down. And instead said,

"I…I see."

Confirming he was good enough to walk on his own, I turned around once again to leave. I retrieved my books and began to head down the part I came.

One reason why I never interfered in fights; you never get anything worth it out of it. And apparently, not even appreciation.

One step, two steps, I headed back home.

"H...hey, wait! Wait up!" The boy called out to me once more.

I heaved a tired sigh and turned around. Wandering what the boy could want now.

"Hey, I said wait up." Running after me, the boy said.

...

"..." I watched silently at the boy with no particular expression. His left eye was bruised up and swollen. His face was battered and covered with even more bruises. His lips burst and we're bleeding.

This was the kid who hadn't needed my help and had the other just where he wanted him.

"What is it?" I said.

The boy shifted on his feet uncomfortably. He straightened his posture and with an *Ahem* cleared his throat in a seemingly proud and boastful manner.

"You helped me out back there, even despite the fact I hadn't needed it...but it remains a fact that you put yourself between me and the bastard, so I at least can say thank you. So...thank you...though I hadn't needed a hand."

"..."

Was that an appreciation or...

I looked down at the boy's outstretched hand. It was sullied with dirt and blood. Bruised and scratched. This little hand fought back against a bully three times his size without a hint of fear or despair.

I had a few pieces of my mind to put out, but swallowed back down the words and put down my tongue.

"Sure...no problem." I reached for the boy's hand and shook it lightly.

He winced a little from the pain but tries to hide it.

"Well then..." I retracted my arm and was about to turn around to leave.

"U..uhm...how...how did you do it..." the boy said something I couldn't grab.

"Sorry, I didn't get that. Could you repeat it?" I turned around once again and requested the boy was.

The boy's face was just slightly flushed red from embarrassment. He raised his head and looked me straight in the eyes with a burning light in his. I reflexively winced back just slightly.

"Th-the way you dealt with those bullies was cool!" his green eyes shone in deep respect and admiration as he said this to me.

The light in his eyes was in similarity to the light a kid his age would direct his favorite superhero on Tv.

"A... actually, I'd like to know that as well." I was beginning to feel slightly awkward and uncomfortable. The light in his eyes... they're too bright!!

This couldn't be the same kid from a few moments ago...

He seems so innocent now...

"W...was it though?" I formed a sheepish smile and said, awkwardly scratching the side of my face.

"Are you kidding?! It was crazy?!" He leaned in and nodded firmly.

His eyes though bruised shone brightly. His lips elongated into a wide smile.

His expression boiling with admiration, the kid closed the little distance between us and shoved his face into mine.

"So, how did you do it? Do you get some special training or something?" without traces of height in his eyes dying out, the boy persisted.

No seriously, what is going on? The kid is suddenly at face value with me. What's with him? Hasn't he ever heard of personal space before?

I began to panic slightly. I had never been subjected to such attention before. I was slightly uncomfortable. The pressure from the boy drained me.

The boy momentarily stops and observes my expression. Probably judging my state, he backed off and apologized.

"O-oh! sorry about that," He said.

He shifted in his feet and straightened his posture. Fixed his composure and once again cleared his throat. Stretching out his hand, he offered me a handshake.

"I'm Don, Don Reil...pleased to meet u. And you are?" He said politely, in a manner I couldn't imagine it was him.

He was suddenly so formal, it made me cringe a little. He suddenly became so formal.

I reached out for his hand awkwardly,

"Reo Bellar. Same here." Replying in kind, I said.

_______________________________________________________

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After getting acquainted with Don, I spent the next fifteen to thirty minutes with him.

"But man, you are strong. The way you took care of those bullies was something." Don reached out for a stone on the ground. He swung his arm hard and threw The stone. It glided and whipped through the air before touching down against the lake.

It skipped along the lake with three *plops* before finally sinking at the fourth.

Watching this, Don flashed a smug grin.

"You think so?" I too picked up a rock.

I managed the strength in my hands and threw the rock at the lake. It spun through the air and split apart the surface of the lake in two, causing massive waves and ripples.

Don's jaw dropped at the sight. His eyes widened, stupefied.

Despite trying to adjust the strength in my arms, this still happened. I have to be careful. This body was born with a crazy amount of strength.

The waves and ripples soon died down, it was then the triumphant, smug look on Don's face melted. With twitchy eyes and a sheepish smile, he mutters,

"N-not bad."

"Guess there was no need for me to have held back against you after all. Well, whatever the case, I'll let you have this one. I was just about getting bored of this anyways." He added.

Dear God, this kid just can't accept defeat, can he? I stared at Don and wondered. My attention was then drawn to the bruises and wounds all over his body. He refused to stay down when he should have and instead gathered more bruises.

...

I observed Don's face for a little while.

"Why didn't you just stay down," I asked as I began to wonder why.

"Hm?" Don glanced at me.

"Why did you refuse to stay down? You would have gotten off with a few fewer bruises, you know." Appraising his bruised covered body, I said. "Doesn't it hurt?"

Don takes a moment...

A grin flashes up on his face

"Hm? I don't feel a thing- back!" Trying to put up a front, hit the right side of his chest, and udoubledooverin pain.

"So what happened, how did you end up in a fight with those guys?" I dismissed Don's groan and moved on with a different question.

His pain-crumpled face fixes up at my question. He raised his head. A different light flashed in his eyes and he stared at the surface of the lake, his image reflected against it.

"Mitch and his friends are the village's local bullies. I came across them picking on some other kid, so of course, I intervened."

It was a similar situation to mine.

"So you tried to help out a kid getting bullied, and ended up getting trashed yourself?" The vicious irony of life...

just like me, he looked his nose into a fight that had no concern with him and ended up paying the price.

"But why did you? Did you personally know the kid getting bullied?" I asked, growing a bit interested.

I couldn't understand why people usually did that. It's a familiar trope in novels and shows too. Why would you get yourself in a fight with others? I might not be in a place to be asking this as I recently joined the group tho.

"Why did you intervene though it's not your business?" I said.

Don's expression flickered a bit.

He said quickly,

"What are you talking about? Why wouldn't I!? I see a helpless kid getting picked on, what kind of hero I would be if I didn't help!? I mean, you tried to help me, though I didn't need it…"

"You really shouldn't put me in that category..." I said wryly.

Din looked slightly bewildered as he looked directly into my eyes.

"Tell me, Reo, why did you decide to help me?" He loses this question to me.

I blinked my lashes twice, bewildered and a little baffled at the question. But then I thought it through. The meaning of the question...

....Why had I helped him?

"...I...I...you was getting beat up pretty badly. If it had gone on longer...best case, you would have passed out..." As I said each word, I began to question myself.

"But even still...why help someone you've never seen before? It's not like the outcome it would have affected you in any way. You could have just turned around and continued, pretending you never came across such a scene. But yet you stepped in and placed yourself in between the bastard and me. Why?"

Why had I done it...

I didn't do it for the sake of playing hero, and neither did I want him to owe me a debt or anything...

At first, I had whined about how troublesome it'd have been to interfere. I spoke about just turning around to leave, but yet I stayed and watched. I watched and watched as Don was getting pummeled. As the blood escaped his lips along with painful groans. As his bruised face swole with every punch thrown at him...

And then I did something I never could have imagined...

I interfered in the fight...not for the sake of debt or anything like that. But because...

As I pondered, I was conflicted about the question, and slowly I began to realize...

"It...was the right thing to do...?"

I couldn't believe I had said that and stared blankly.

Don before me nailed brightly, as I f satisfied with my answer, with pride.

"Exactly," get said, his warm smile still glaring under his bruised sullied face. It was influencing.

"…so, what happened to the kid you tried to help?"

"O-oh…uh, I-I bought time for him to get out"

I see.

In other words, the kid probably went to go get help as he watched Don try to brawl it out with Mitch.

"You said something about a hero?" I glanced at my reflection against the lake's surface and said.

"Hm? Yeah, I did. My dream is to become a great hero. One whose mere name only can save lives." Don said with a clear light in his eyes. Their ambition, kindness, and determination were clear in them.

"You see, I look up to the hero, the one who vanquished the Chaotic Demon Lord, four hundred years ago."

The Legendary Hero of Four hundred years ago. I recently learned about him today. The one who was supposed to have defeated the Corrupted Lord of Chaos, the Demon Lord, well at least that's what the book said.

I still however find it hard to believe in the tale. There's no possible way someone as strong as the Demon Lord could exist, and even more so, no way could he have been beaten.

But then again, I guess it was a children's book.

Don however doesn't seem to think so...

"Four hundred years ago, the hero was the one who took out the Demon Lord, the vile lord of chaos; and saved the world!" Don said with boasting pride and pure admiration.

I still don't get how the demon lord was killed, but it's just a children's…

"The hero had a strong sense of justice and wouldn't hesitate to help anyone in need. I want to be able to help and save anyone and everyone...no matter who or where they are" Don clenched his right fist and firmed a determined smile.

"And besides, the hero is very cool and also the most popular. Not to mention, he gets to carry around this sweet-sweet cool sword, a holy sword that can vanquish all evil!" he began to swing an imaginary sword through the air while making *woosh* and *wish* noises with his mouth.

The most popular, huh? I wouldn't be quite sure.

The Demon Lord is the one who was said to have been the one closest to bringing the world down to its knees, according to the story; should be considered the most popular throughout history and the world, right? The hero on the other hand merely latched until the fane of the Demon Lord.

If it weren't for him, he wouldn't be considered a hero after all.

Again, not to be a wet blanket, but I don't think it's possible to save EVERYONE. I mean, you could try… and as for the rest, I'll keep it to myself.

"The hero is that amazing, huh?" I say enjoying the view of the sunset on the lake.

"Of course he is!" Don quickly hit back like it was obvious.

I remember when I used to look up to a cartoon character, but eventually found out in the harshest of ways he was just some hopeless idiot, forced to play the character for a pitiable income... I was broken and devastated for days and became shut-in.

Within that time I realized, not just cartoons, but the whole world was a lie.

But enough of my shattered childhood back in my past life on earth.

The sun was finally set for the day. I had successfully spent my first day outside.

" I should better return home too. Wouldn't want to get my parents worried." I turned around to say to Don with a clean smile.

Frankly, I had a lot of fun spending time with Din today. Though we might have gotten off on the wrong foot, he's a pretty good kid. Interesting too.

"Guess so. Oh, right, almost forgot," Don's eyes flash for a second, "I don't think I got where you live." He said.

"Oh, uh...I live in the house up on the hill, the one closer to the plain." I said giving a relatable description.

Don places his hand against his chin and goes "Hmmm..." For a few seconds.

"But isn't that where old man Cliff stays?"

"O...old man Cliff...?" I muttered.

"Yeah, you know, the untalented blacksmith," Don said.

"Untalented...? Yeah, he's my father." I nodded firmly at the precise description.

Don let out a small "Eh" escape his lips

"H-he's your dad!?" he said, seemingly surprised.

"I see. I guess that checks out your last name, Bellar. I thought maybe it was some kind of coincidence, but to think you're his son?" he said, his green eyes in the light. "I honestly didn't know old man Cliff had a child, much less a son." Saying this, he put an arm to his chin.

Who knew, Cliff who spent most of his time in his workshop was quite popular. It's a small world I guess. "Okay, it's settled!" Don said as if making a conclusion and declared aloud in an overly exaggerated voice,

"Reo Bellar, from now on, we're friends!" He flashed a wide smile.

….

Huh!?! Friends? What is he saying? It hasn't been a full day since we met; I could be some criminal or an impostor for all he knows (though I'm not). I took a look at Don.

He seemed to have made up his mind. Friends, huh? I never really had much or any friends in my past life.

I spent most of my time alone and saw others as people who just happened to be there--people who just happened to be in the same school and all--second-string characters. It's not like I ft the whole world revolved around me though. Quite the opposite.

I just never really considered anyone as friends, I never really thought of them at all.

Everyone is a main character in this story called life, and in a story, there are always side characters—characters who just happened to be in the background, kind of like NPCs in an RPG.

Even I was just another background character in another's story. That's how it was and that's how I felt.

And besides, my idea of friends isn't exactly the purest.

I see them as parasites and lists which just live off you and discard you when they're done with you. They call you friends on the outside but see you as fodder on the inside and when worse comes to worst when you truly need them, they deny you.

But I suppose I shouldn't let that one experience change my entire view and ideology of that one word. Don might be a bratty kid who's hard-headed and dense and probably falls under the kind of people I can't handle well, but he's a good kid inside and doesn't seem like the kind who would leech off of you. He just likes putting up a tough front, that's all, but at the same time doesn't seem like it'll be boring around him.

"Hm." I give Don a firm nod with a smile and Don returns with a toothy smile of his own. "Well then, I guess I'll be off now. See you next time." I said my farewell before turning around to leave.

"Tomorrow, that is." While waving back, Don said something I didn't quite understand, but just gave a nod and followed the path leading away from the lake.

I made my first new friend in my new second life. With that thought, I head home.