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"You're still alive, Ueda-san." Takahashi looked exhausted, his face was covered in sweat and he was panting heavily. But he was as calm as ever. He walked up towards the monster fearlessly. His eyes didn't show a hint of hesitation, like all of this was trivial to him. I had always known that something was off with this person. It wasn't bravery nor compassion that pushed him to save me that day. His eyes were always empty, his words lacked emotion. Every time we spoke, I felt like he was looking right through me.

And now, his actions added fuel to my suspicion. He was connected to what had been happening in this city.

He drew his hand forward, palm pointing to the monster. His eyes glowed a bright yellow each time he summoned his barrier. A thin sheet of matter floated horizontally mid-air, before taking the shape of a single edged, curved blade. He looked at me as he said, "Listen, Ueda-san." I just noticed it, but he was carrying my sword with his other hand. "You defeated this monster and saved Yamada Kenzou and Fujimoto Mitsuki. Do you understand?"

I stared at his eyes, wanting an explanation. But he turned his gaze towards the monster before sending the blade flying in its direction at terrifying speed, cleanly cutting it in half. The upper part of the monster plopped down to the ground like rotten meat and it stayed there lifeless.

I struggled with all I have trying to defeat it, and he did it effortlessly.

He was pretending all along.

"Takahashi..." I said as loudly as I can but it sounded like a mere whisper.

"Do you understand, Ueda-san?"

My hands had clenched into a fist before I could realize it, gripping a handful of dirt and sand along the way. With gritted teeth, I looked him in the eye. "What the fuck are you on about, Takahashi?"

He returned my glare with his emotionless eyes. "You will tell people that you were the one who defeated the monster."

"And why the hell would I do that?" I ignored all the pain in my body as rage started to accumulate within me once again. "You're pretending to be weak by hiding your ability like that." I pushed myself to stand up, even almost losing my balance. But I just had to grip his collar. "You could have defeated those monsters two weeks ago. Why, Takahashi... why did you let them die?"

"I don't have an obligation to save anyone."

What did he just say?

He was serious. He could have prevented all those innocent people from dying, Masashi and Ryosuke didn't have to sacrifice themselves. He could have done it all while sitting on a chair. Yet he didn't do shit.

Stolen novel; please report.

"You've gotta be kidding me..." was all I could say. My feet took a few steps backwards. "Why?"

"I'm planning to tell you about all of it Ueda-san." he replied, handing me my sword. "Because I'm going to use you."

I felt my fist breaking when it hit Takahashi's barrier. "Fucker... Who the hell do you think you are?" I still had my left hand. But before I could use it, a familiar voice echoed through the yard.

"Ueda-senpai!" Shiho ran towards us not before Takahashi erased his barrier. "Ueda-senpai, Takahashi-kun!" she worriedly inspected us all including Fujimoto who was lying on the ground unconscious beside us. "This is bad, you're all beat up, Ueda-senpai!" she looked behind us to see the monster sliced in half. "Did you beat it by yourself?"

I looked at Takahashi who was already looking at me. There was a moment of silence. I had tons of questions for him on top of me wanting to punch a hole through his body. People transforming into mindless monsters, Takahashi's true identity, who was behind these attacks, I believed Takahashi had all the answers for those questions.

"I did." my short reply.

—————————

Shiho healed all of the injured, including me, before we were called to the principal's office for a report. Takahashi instructed me to not say anything about the information I had gathered regarding the monster for now. I didn't know why I listened to him, by I kept my mouth shut.

Hours later, I found myself at the front door of his apartment. The sky turned dark as the sun sank in the horizon.

I put my phone back in the small pocket of my blazer after telling my mom that I'll be out late. Not that they'd be worried if I didn't.

Takahashi opened the door and went in ahead, not even turning around to invite me inside. I stepped inside as soon as he turned the lights on. The apartment was surprisingly clean, all was kept neatly in their place and the furniture and decorations looked decent too.

"Sit wherever you like." he said before using his ability to close the door. I sat on the sofa by the coffee table, he sat across me. "Do you want anything to drink?" he stupidly asked.

"I don't have time for that. Talk."

"Sorry, I saw on television that you must offer beverage to your visitors."

"Are you a NEET?"

"I guess you can call me that."

I glared at him as I leaned in closer. "I don't trust you one bit. Tell me your reason for hiding your abilities and letting all those people die. If it turns out to be something ridiculous and selfish, I'll kill you in an instant."

"You're weaker than me by orders of magnitude though." he replied, not batting an eye.

"I don't give a shit, Takahashi. I'll make sure that you'll die even if it kills me."

There was a few seconds of silence, as if he was pondering his next words. He looked down before he spoke. "You must be really angered by that." he said, still lacking any emotions behind his words. "You really cherish your friends."

"Angered?" he looked back at me as I said that. "I would give everything I have to bring them back, Takahashi."

"I feel like I can relate to you, but also not at the same time. It's strange." he replied

I let out a deep breath. "Who are you, really?" For the first time, I saw him hesitate his words. It could be that he was really the stupid guy that I knew and he was just as clueless about what to do, but I needed answers. He almost died saving my life back then. He risked his life trying to keep this secret. I don't believe that letting all those innocent people could be justified, but I'll hear him out. I'll give him a chance to speak.

"For starters, Takahashi Haruto is not my real name." as he said that, my eyebrows furrowed. "We didn't have names. I was called 715."

"S-Seven one five?"

"Sometimes seven hundred fifteen. Depends on who was calling me."

"Wait.. wha.. I don't think I'm following."

He took a deep breath and sadness suddenly creeped into his eyes. "We were human experiments, Ueda-san."

[ END OF CHAPTER ]