Chapter [56]

Kaito's Room

It was already morning when Kaito woke up, the first rays of sunlight softly illuminating his room.

He got out of bed, feeling exhausted from the intense training the night before, but also invigorated by the progress he had made.

Kaito headed to the bathroom, where he washed his face and brushed his teeth, preparing for another day of school.

As he got dressed, putting on his school uniform, Kaito couldn't help but think about the lack of necessity to go to school with the powers he possessed. Money wouldn't be an issue, considering his abilities, and he had plans that would eventually take him away from normal school life.

'Why am I still going to school?' Kaito thought as he adjusted his tie. 'With my powers, I can ensure everything I need. But at the same time, there's something about the normal routine that keeps a sense of normalcy in my life.'

Kitchen

Going down the stairs, Kaito headed to the kitchen, where the aroma of breakfast prepared by his mother enveloped him. Miki was busy in the kitchen, while his father, Gorou, read the newspaper at the table. Asia was already sitting, looking at a plate of pancakes with a shy smile.

"Good morning," said Kaito, sitting next to Asia.

Miki smiled at her son. "Good morning, Kaito. Did you sleep well?"

Kaito shrugged, grabbing a pancake. "More or less. I had a busy night."

Gorou lowered the newspaper, looking at Kaito with a curious expression.

"Something you want to share, son?"

Kaito hesitated for a moment, his thoughts turning to when and how he should reveal the supernatural to his parents. 'Not now,' he decided. 'It's not the right time yet.'

"No, Dad. Just some concerns about school," Kaito replied, trying to divert the topic.

As he ate, his thoughts continued to race. He knew that eventually, he would have to leave home and go elsewhere. The responsibilities and dangers that came with his powers meant he couldn't expose his parents and Asia to those risks indefinitely.

'When will be the right time to tell them?' Kaito thought, biting into a pancake.

Asia watched Kaito, noticing the tension in his expression.

"Kaito, is everything okay?" she asked softly.

Kaito smiled at her, trying to reassure her.

"Yes, Asia. Everything is fine. Just some things on my mind."

After breakfast, Kaito grabbed his backpack and headed to the door. "I'm going to school now," he said, looking at his parents and Asia.

Miki approached and kissed his cheek. "Have a good day at school, dear."

Gorou nodded, a proud smile on his face. "Study hard, son."

Asia, a bit hesitant, gave Kaito a hug. "Be careful, Kaito."

Kaito returned Asia's hug with affection. "I will, Asia. Stay safe."

As he walked towards the school, Kaito pondered about his friendships. Keeping certain friends could be harmful both to him and to them. If his enemies discovered his friends, they could be used as hostages, or worse, hurt.

'I have to be careful,' Kaito thought. 'Maybe it's better to keep a safe distance from everyone, for their sake.'

The streets of Kuoh were bustling with students heading to school and people going to work. Kaito observed everyone around him, his mind still caught up in his thoughts. The safety of his friends and family was always a priority, and he knew he needed to make difficult decisions to ensure that.

Kaito arrived at the school entrance.

Seeing the students entering through the gates, he noticed a familiar figure standing out in the crowd. It was Hiro, with a wide smile on his face.

"Hey, Kaito!" Hiro shouted, waving enthusiastically. "Good to see you, man!"

Kaito smiled back, feeling lighter with his friend's presence.

"Hi, Hiro. How are you?"

Hiro approached, still smiling, but with a hint of guilt in his eyes. "Before anything, man, I need to apologize. I completely forgot about your birthday yesterday. I'm really sorry!"

"Don't worry about it, Hiro. Really, it's all good." Kaito said, shaking his head, reassuring his friend.

Hiro sighed in relief.

"Thanks for understanding. I feel a bit bad about it, but I'm glad you're not upset."

As they walked towards the school entrance, Kaito took the opportunity to change the subject and shift the attention away from himself.

"So, how are things with Ami? Are you two getting along well?"

Hiro's smile widened even more, and he scratched the back of his neck, visibly excited. "Actually, it's going really well. I... I kissed her yesterday."

Kaito stopped for a moment, surprised and happy for his friend. "Really? That's great, Hiro! How was it?"

Hiro laughed, still blushing a bit. "It was amazing. We were hanging out after school and suddenly, we were so close that it just happened. She seemed happy about it."

Kaito patted Hiro on the back, feeling genuine joy for his friend. "I'm happy for you, man. Ami is an amazing girl. You two make a great couple."

Hiro nodded, looking satisfied. "Yeah, she really is. I feel like we have something special."

They continued walking together towards the classroom, the conversation flowing naturally.

Hiro continued to talk about the moments he had spent with Ami, each detail filled with enthusiasm and happiness.

Kaito listened attentively, happy to see his friend so content.

'I don't have the right to involve Hiro in my problems,' Kaito thought. 'With who I will face in the future, any involvement could be disastrous for him.'

When they reached the classroom, the conversation stopped naturally. Hiro patted Kaito on the back before sitting in his chair. "Talk to you later, Kaito. See you."

Kaito forced a smile, sitting in his place. "Sure, Hiro. See you."

As the classes went on, Kaito barely talked to Hiro. He was absorbed in his thoughts, thinking about the difficult decision he needed to make.

'I have to push Hiro away to protect him,' Kaito concluded. 'Making this decision alone might seem selfish, but I'm half-Devil. Maybe being selfish is part of who I am now.'

Hiro, noticing Kaito's distance, occasionally looked at him with a concerned expression, but said nothing, respecting his friend's space.

When the recess bell rang, Kaito took a deep breath, deciding it was time to act. He approached Hiro, who was packing his materials. "Hiro, can I talk to you in a more private place? I need to discuss something important."

Hiro, surprised, nodded. "Sure, Kaito. Let's go."

They walked together through the crowded corridors until they found an isolated corner of the school courtyard, where they could talk without being interrupted.

Kaito turned to Hiro, his heart heavy with what he was about to do. "Hiro, I need to apologize. This isn't easy for me, but it's necessary."

Hiro frowned, confused. "What are you talking about, Kaito? Apologize for what?"

Kaito sighed, placing a hand on Hiro's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Hiro. You're a great friend, but for your own good, we need to distance ourselves."

Before Hiro could react, Kaito placed a finger on Hiro's forehead, concentrating on his magic. A soft glow emanated from his finger, and Hiro stood still, his eyes glazed over.

Kaito used his magic to modify Hiro's memory, making him see Kaito only as a schoolmate, not as a close friend. He knew he was being selfish, but he believed it was necessary to protect Hiro from the dangers that would inevitably come.

When he finished, Kaito stepped back, watching Hiro regain his senses.

Hiro blinked, looking around confused. "What... what was I doing here?" he asked, with no memory of the previous conversation.

Kaito, keeping calm, smiled slightly. "You were going to talk to Ami, remember? Taking the break to spend some time with her."

Hiro, now with a smile of recognition, nodded excitedly. "Oh, right! Thanks for reminding me, Kaito." He walked away, already thinking about the conversation he would have with Ami. "See you around," he said, waving casually as he headed to meet the girl.

Kaito watched Hiro walk away, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. 'He's safe now,' he thought, satisfied with his decision, although he knew he had lost a precious friendship.

With his mind still heavy, Kaito decided it was time to focus on other matters. He needed to keep his own routine and continue learning about his powers and responsibilities.

Determined, he headed to the Occult Research Club, where he knew he could find answers and perhaps a bit of peace.

On his way, Kaito spotted two boys he didn't recognize, trying to peek through the crack of the kendo club door. They were crouched, laughing and whispering as they tried to get a better view of what was happening inside.

'Those boys must be newcomers, trying to spy on the girls from the kendo club,' Kaito thought, rolling his eyes.

Determined to teach them a lesson, Kaito approached silently. When he was a few steps away, he acted quickly, pushing the two boys into the kendo room and closing the door behind them with a swift move.

*BAM!*

The boys were caught by surprise, falling awkwardly onto the kendo room floor. The girls from the club, who were training, immediately stopped and looked at the intruders with expressions of shock and irritation.

"What are you doing here?!" one of the girls shouted, holding a shinai and approaching the boys with a threatening expression.

The boys stammered, trying to explain as they got up from the floor. Kaito, on the other hand, was already walking away quickly, hiding behind a nearby tree and watching the scene with a satisfied smile.

'That should teach them not to spy on the kendo club,' Kaito thought, pleased with his action.

He continued his way towards the Occult Research Club building, keeping a neutral expression, as if nothing had happened.

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