Chapter 13: What It Takes

(Kaaru was writing something on a small notebook in his room... Yeah it was a diary. He says...)

"Okay, most of you don't know much about me. My name is Kaaru Kagawa. I was born in Tokyo, the city where 70% of population have mysterious powers after a meteor crash, which we call the Manias or Manas and those people who have the Manias/Manas were called manipulators. The 30% were humans which we call them non-manipulators. I stayed with my aunty, Junri after my parents died when I was only four. After I got my Mania from an accident. Things change as group of assassins known as the Aok are after me, maybe for some reason but I don't know. My first day at Takayoshi High School, I met three friends who also have Manias and a teacher who taught me how to control these powers. I made a promise that I'm going to kill the person who killed my parents with the help of my fire mania. The world is no longer safe as manipulators misuse the powers to take advantages to the innocent people. One day, I'm going to stop all these madness and soon the world will recognize me as a true hero."

[Saturday at 02:00am, At Kagawa's residence]

(Later, Kaaru was in his room as he reads books on how to fight. He looks for some while and begins to thought)

KAARU: (Thought) I may have defeated those two siblings... but I still need more to improve more on how to be strong. Shin may have helped me. And it's not enough, there is more that is missing. (Looks at the books like there was one he looked at, the more "How to fight a martial arts") Fighting can't be the answer to this. I need to be strong, I still look weak. (Looks at his palm and clenches it. He then heard a knock at his door)

JUNRI: Kaaru, Lunch is ready.

KAARU: Okay I'll be right there.

(He kept the books he was reading back to his shelf and went to the dinning table. After dinner, Kaaru packs the plate and meets Junri in the kitchen while she was washing)

JUNRI: Thank you (as she took it from him)

KAARU: Aunty Junri, was the visitor you were expecting still come?

JUNRI: Yes. He did, he didn't talk much only drinking a coffee. You came late by the time immediately he was gone yesterday.

KAARU: Oh... yeah. (As he scratches his neck)

JUNRI: Why did you come home late?

KAARU: (Thought as he looked at his aunty) Should I tell her? No... there's no way I can tell her that I'm a manipulator, She will be worried?

JUNRI: Kaaru?

KAARU: Ah! It's nothing, Junri. I only stayed for practice yesterday.

JUNRI: Practice?... Okay (She said with a sincere smile)

KAARU: (Thought as he was relief) She believed me.

JUNRI: I know you joined the art practice session.

KAARU: Yeah, Of course I joined. Hehehe!

(Kaaru doesn't want to tell his aunty the truth that he is a manipulator and he encountered two assassins and the lightning man. He thinks that would be dangerous if she sees one like that or involved in a matter like that. And to his relief, she believed him)

(That same day, Kaaru is strolling as he stopped and looked at the shop he brought his mask the other day, he thinks of what to buy and knows it now. He opened the door and surprisedly he saw Shin and Ippei drinking together and discussing as Kaaru was surprised)

(Shin noticed Kaaru's presence and was happy to see him)

SHIN: Oh hey Kaaru.

KAARU: Good day, Shin-sensei.

SHIN: How is it going? (As he walks to meet him) Come on Kaaru, let's enjoy ourselves (he said as he puts his arm behind Kaaru's neck)

KAARU: Okay

SHIN: Well have a sit. (Kaaru sat down and looks at Ippei surprised)

KAARU: I've seen you somewhere, right?

IPPEI: (He remembers) Oh you are the guy that brought that mask the other day.

KAARU: Yeah

IPPEI: How about I make you some tea.

KAARU: Yeah thanks. (Ippei goes in to get the tea)

SHIN: You love the mask you brought.

KAARU: Yes. The design and pattern are amazing.

SHIN: Well that's how he does it. He's a great fashion designer.

KAARU: You two know each others very well.

SHIN: We were friends a long time ago.

KAARU: Really (he said as he was amazed)

SHIN: Yes. We were students in Taka high school in Sendai.

KAARU: Wow.

SHIN: Anyway, Ippei was one of the best students and I wanted to have someone who can help me with my studies, so we got to know each other and ended up getting along.

KAARU: I see.

SHIN: But one day I left Taka and went to a martial arts school. I tried to meet up with Ippei to see how things are going but the distance at that time was very far. I came to Tokyo and eventually saw him in this place and I was amazed.

(Kaaru smiled to hear such a story about two friends who have never seen each other and now they came back. Ippei came back, with a tray on it was a jug filled with tea and a mug)

IPPEI: Here is it (Pours the tea into the mug)

KAARU: Thank you. (Drinks from the cup)

IPPEI: You are a manipulator?

KAARU: Huh?

IPPEI: There's no mean to hide it. Shin told me everything about you. He said you are his favorite student.

SHIN: You don't have to say that to him, Ippei.

IPPEI: What, it's the truth.

SHIN: Anyway, I heard that you and the rest did a good job yesterday.

KAARU: Only one survive and he ran away. We were so close.

SHIN: But you did the right thing defeating the rest. So Kaaru, how is your mania now?

KAARU: Well, I have good contact with it. It can now come with ease... sometimes.

SHIN: Sometimes?

KAARU: Yes. Anytime I try to produce a fire it doesn't come out on time. You said I should forget my emotions and focus on the one that will keep me close to my mania. What do you mean by that?

SHIN: Manias come through your emotions while some come through their thoughts. Some produce it without emotions. Let's take example of Yuuto. He has negative emotions and negative emotions will lead to the extent where you will feel exhausted. Because of that he doesn't use emotions like that but concentration. It helps you reduce your emotions.

KAARU: So you are trying to say that without concentration it doesn't work.

SHIN: Yes.

KAARU: I see (He said as he thought)

IPPEI: I also have a question.

KAARU: What is it?

IPPEI: What will happen if you use too much of your negative emotions?

SHIN: A sudden death.

KAARU: Sudden death?

SHIN: Especially anger, once a person consume that kind of emotion, it will affect him physically. I know Yuuto is like that but it will take time for him to wear off.

IPPEI: Oh that's it?

SHIN: (looked at Ippei) You are not a manipulator. So why do you asked that question?

KAARU: Seriously, you are not a manipulator? (He said as he was surprised)

IPPEI: I know I'm among the 30% of them. I wish I could be, but that's impossible.

KAARU: Imagine if you want to be, what type of mania will you like to have?

IPPEI: I'll love to have fire. Does it really suit me?

KAARU: Hmm (Said as he touches his chin to think and observed his appearance. He thought and goes to his hair) He has a messy gray hair due to the overwork he does. (Goes to his eyes) He has a black eyes. Look like he hasn't had a good night's sleep. That is to say he has a sleepy eyes. (Goes to his height) He is tall like 176cm and also thin, but has a good shape (So he tells him) Yeah, it really does.

IPPEI: Cool. Look like you were observing me.

KAARU: Sure I did. (Hiro came out of a door)

HIRO: Kaaru (Was surprised to see him)

KAARU: What Hiro, how do you...?

HIRO: Relax. It's through the secret hideout.

KAARU: Secret what (Looked at Ippei) You have a secret hideout in here?

IPPEI: Yeah. That's where Shin and the rest stay to have crucial meetings.

KAARU: (Thought) The rest?

HIRO: Shin why didn't you tell us that Kaaru was here. We have been waiting for him.

KAARU: For... me.

HIRO: Yeah, let's go. (Hiro drags Kaaru to follow her)

KAARU: Hey, take it easy Hiro.

(They went inside the door and inside it was stairs, they went down and finally made it. She opened the door and made room for Kaaru to enter to see who was inside. He was shocked to see Yuuto and especially Eito, who looks like he doesn't know anything about Shin. The two saw Kaaru's presence)

EITO: Oh hey Kaaru.

YUUTO: You are late.

KAARU: What's going on? I didn't know you guys were here.

YUUTO: We will tell you if you only sit down.

KAARU: O-Okay

(Kaaru sat down while Hiro sat in another couch same with Eito and Yuuto sat in the stairs inside the room)

EITO: Kaaru, I want to inform you about something.

KAARU: Go on (Looks at him waiting for what he has to say)

EITO: I want you to never expose yourself for non-manipulators not even your mask.

KAARU: (Shocked) What, why?

EITO: There is something that is going to happen, one day this world is going to be a difference between manipulators and non-manipulators... because of you.

KAARU: (Shocked and didn't know what to say)

HIRO: Eito knows what he saw that is going to happen in the future.

KAARU: Why are you telling me this now?

YUUTO: Tomorrow might be too late. I know you want to go out, fighting bad guys and go after the person that killed your parents.

KAARU: Yes and why are you trying to stop me for that?

EITO: Being a hero is a good thing, but saving yourself is for your own good.

KAARU: (Looked at the floor and was sad) What's going to happen to you guys?

EITO: I can't tell you.

KAARU: Then you don't understand what I'm doing.

HIRO: You have a good heart, Kaaru. But your emotional suffering is consuming you like this.

YUUTO: At least he's not like me, whose really pissed off all the time. (He said while crossing his arms)

EITO: You need protection. You know the Aok are still after you.

KAARU: I can't let those humans stay where some manipulators are terrorizing the place. That's what Nate was trying to do. He said he wants to protect his sister and his father from those people.

YUUTO: You mean those two siblings from Aok?

KAARU: Yes (And clenches his finger) Someone must have used them. (Looked at the three of them) You see this is what I'm trying to do. Don't you guys get it?

(The three were silence and didn't have any contribution to say to him. So Kaaru left the room and Hiro was worried about him)

HIRO: You shouldn't have tell him now Eito. We made a mistake. He wouldn't listen.

EITO: Well I don't care. The past doesn't go by the way.

YUUTO: What do you mean it doesn't go. He is always like this? And he is taking this assignment seriously for himself.

HIRO: We should just let him be.

EITO: You all are in support of him.

HIRO: It's just his choice. Everyone has his own life to live and forget about the future because one day it will change you see.

EITO: (Sighed) Okay. I've heard you.

(Kaaru brought what he wanted to buy and it was a jacket which was plain black. He looks at it and thought)

KAARU: (Thought) I'm not going to give up on this