by Ash Masters
Kouji watched attentively as the people passed him by, the nurses, the doctors, the patients be it walking groggily past, IV drips hanging from poles on wheels; in wheelchairs or in the few cases on a bed. One turned to look him in the eyes but appeared to Kouji as soul-less as every other adult he saw.
He had a few stitches on his right temple and surgical tape to keep a shallow cuts together. In his hand the golden bullet dug into his skin, designed like screw with protrusions twisting down the body – a strange design but a design that probably allowed it to inflict that damage that it did; penetrating Mr Tetsuo in the skull as well as the student passing by.
Kouji couldn’t help but wonder what kind of person the nameless girl was. From their brief time together he knew that she would have been one of the kindest people he would have known if only she had lived further.
But, what if she were a Ghost? What if I had spoken to her already or passed her in the corridor? What if she had spoken to me and I ignored her? Kouji rested his head in his hand wearily. Damn you Kioshi, for pulling me into this with your words.
Kouij was aware of the fact that he was entering a new and dangerous world, a world where the true nature of the Akira’s world will reveal itself in all of it horror. There would be no turning back now. He knew that who he was a person would be tested to the limit.
‘I can see her whenever I see you Kouji. You share the same eyes, the same determined eyes.’
His father sat calmly in his wheelchair staring out of the tinted window. He was an only in his late forties but a strange sickness ravaged his body, making him appear significantly frail. ‘You are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that this company succeeds and I appreciate that. But to be a successful and respected businessman you need more than determination and smarts. You need compassion, empathy and a heart that resonates with the people.
‘All those people down there, they are living, breathing people, not just clients. Can you look me in the eyes and tell me that you genuinely care about them. If you can show me with your heart that you can look after these people then you can have this company when I die.’
‘I am those things father.’ Kouji said.
His father shook his head. ‘It is not enough to say so, Kouji. And it’s not enough to act. The heart needs to be there otherwise everything will be an empty gesture for the sake of spite.’
‘Then what can I do?’
‘Live, Kouji. Live and experience what life has to teach you. The man I am here – in my entirety is because of what I have experienced growing up.’ Kouji’s father gave him a weak but warm smile. ‘There is no one route to travel. You must be weary, Kouji.’
Compassion, empathy... Qualities that make me a decent human being... Kouji thought. ‘I witnessed first-hand the lengths people will go to numb the pain in their hearts. We’re so miserable that we turn to hurting each other just to feel better about ourselves. And then there was me who said it’s irrelevant.’
Kouji bit his lip again.
If every day you open up the newspaper or turn on the television only to read or hear about people killing themselves then it starts to become irrelevant. Be thankful that by the time you have to get a job you’ll have more of a chance. Kouji had said selfishly.
‘And there I was standing there as Kioshi stood up for what he believed in. He was right, it’s because of people like us that Hatsuo Seiya and that girl died.’
Hido and Miyako appeared in front of Kouji. ‘How’s your head Miyako?’
‘Fine. The doctor didn’t know what was wrong – it’s not like he didn’t try his best.’ Miyako folded her arms.
‘It makes you think.’ Said Hido. ‘If he is running things,’ he cautiously looked around. ‘He wanted to make the perfect society right?’ He continued in a hushed voice. ‘Part of that would mean that all of these organisations would have to be high tier – I mean really effective and efficient.’
‘You mean like how the teachers were?’ Miyako thought back to the rows of teachers in the immaculate staff room, working methodically, systematically, all straightening and looking at them like robotic slaves. She shuddered.
‘Exactly. And we really need to talk about this, do you think what Mr Tetsuo said was true? Do we have special abilities? Are we Keys? Miyako may have the ability to look into people’s hearts and see who they really are and me? Maybe enhanced hearing?’
Kouji resisted the urge to snort. ‘There’s no way to tell for sure yet.’ He said. ‘Anyway, this bullet.’ A doctor passed, eyeing Kouji for a moment, forcing him to hush momentarily.
‘Any idea what we do now Kouji?’
‘I was thinking about that... I know someone who can help.’
Miyako and Hido looked at Kouji with wonder. ‘And who would that be?’ Hido asked.