A new day, Karasu didn't get any sleep all night after what happened last night. He is still thinking about the way his mother betrayed his trust. That's one of the worst things she could have done. He doesn't understand the point of doing all that. It doesn't make sense. He could get killed if people found out his identity. Yes, if people truly believe that he killed 2 people even if it's false, he would be executed on the grounds of, "You are mutant and decided to use those powers to kill people."

He knew his parents were never exactly fond of him and he didn’t really care about it but now it's just going over the top. He's wondering if he should even stay under the same roof as them. Should he leave and live somewhere else if they hate him so much? Even if he does leave, where will he go? Should he just go and jump in front of an oncoming train? These are not the thoughts that a 5 year old should be having. Should he live with Kyoko and her parents? They definitely appreciate him being around their daughter as they have been friends for a long time. What if they saw the news last night and decided to believe it? Wait, they were there trying to help the victim of the stabbing last night. Karasu was trying to save the same stabbing victim.

Karasu stops wondering about these things and deems it as a time-waste and gets off his bed. He brushes his teeth and goes about his day as he normally would, while pretending that nothing happened last night. It's hard to do that when his mother is just staring at him as if she can look into his soul. Karasu is disgusted and unnerved at the same time. He wonders what will happen at school… will people and children there recognize that video and connect that to him. They don't know about his abilities. If they did recognize him in the video will they hate him and distance themselves further or will they start bullying him or will the principal expel him? There're way too many possibilities going through his head. It's overwhelming.

Karasu tries his best to keep a straight face but he doesn't fully succeed. His emotions still show through a little bit. Karasu decides that from today onwards he will learn to make a poker face. At least that way people wouldn't know what he's thinking about and use it against him. He also thinks about how he can hide his face from others, especially when it comes to helping others like he did yesterday. It's fine if people call him names, hate him, or whatever, but if they don’t know his real face and don't have a way of finding out his real face, he won't be bothered and worried in his real life. Yes, he can wear a mask to his face, along with a hood to shroud his face in shadow removing even more details and give lesser information about his face to anyone that tries to find his identity.

Karasu eats his breakfast, but he doesn't feel good. He is uneasy. His mother has been staring at him the whole time maybe even without blinking. This is too unnatural even for a mutant like his mother. He leaves after eating his food but he doesn't feel full at all instead he feels sick, sick to his stomach, as if he would throw up right now, but he doesn't because doesn't want to be hungry for more time than necessary. He decides to wear a mask as he decided before with a black shirt and trouser as that will be the most unremarkable outfit. He chooses such an outfit as he doesn’t attention drawn to him. As he is walking out of his house's gate, he sees Kyoko waiting for him. She is wearing a sleeveless blue button up frock with a yellow pattern on the torso part. Karasu mentions that it suits her. She is happy get complimented by her and blushes a bit, she is also happy to see him and hugs him when he gets close. Karasu is happy to see her and hugs her back tightly. Kyoko says, "Karasu, you are hugging a bit too tightly. I can't breathe." Karasu lets go instantly and asks if she's okay. She just laughs it off, "Don't worry I am fine. Let's go, we shouldn't be late for school." Kyoko starts dragging him along. Karasu is keeping up with her but he feels uneasy. Kyoko never stands by his gate like today. He asks himself why she might have done it?

He shakes the thought out of his head, and as they are getting close to a space between 2 houses. She starts walking faster. When they get to that empty space she drags him into the small alley. She then pins him to the wall and looks him in the eyes and asks, "Did you see the news last night?" This is an awkward situation. Kyoko is flustered, embarrassed and worried. Especially because she tries to look imposing and get answers out of Karasu but it's not the case as Karasu is taller than her and he just finds the situation to be weird and puts her hand down and asks her why she is asking that question. She says that she is worried about him and that her dad told her what he saw on the news after she had gone to sleep. Karasu tells her not to worry about him and focus on spending some quality time with her older sister who arrived yesterday after leaving for college for a long time.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Karasu knew that if Kyoko found out about the news, she would worry about him and he blames it on her father. He's annoyed because of it, but without saying much else he tells Kyoko that they should leave for school. Karasu starts walking away but Kyoko holds onto his hand and hugs him again with tears in her eyes and tells him that he can tell her if he gets into any trouble and she will help him. Karasu tries to act like everything is alright and doesn't show much emotion, while he pats Kyoko on her head and then he holds her hand, "What are you crying for, idiot?", he says calmly. Kyoko puts on a mask as well just like Karasu. Where did she get that from? Did she have it with her? No idea. After this, they both walk to school together and as soon as Karasu is close to the gate, he can feel the stare of many people on him. Is it because of his outfit? But he tried to choose the most unremarkable outfit he can find, then why?

He saw some kids staring at him. They are his classmates… why are they staring so intensely? Do they connect him with that video? Will they point it out to the teacher? He tries to mask his feelings. He tries to act sick so that no one will ask him about the mask. He feels everyone's eyes boring into him as if they can see through him. He doesn't make eye contact with anyone and just walks away. Kyoko follows him. They both reach their classroom and they see the teacher waiting to start the lesson. Karasu and Kyoko go to their respective seats. Karasu stills feels uneasy. He can hear their whispers. This is deafening. He will go crazy. He tries to focus, to not think about the "unnecessary" things. He can't do that. He tries to listen to the teacher attentively but he sees the other children looking at him and whispering. Are they gossiping? Is it about him? Do they know? He hopes not. The teacher is also looking at him now. What is it, huh? What do you want? Karasu can't take it anymore he gets up, looks the teacher in her eyes and asks if he can go to the bathroom. The teacher allows him and he leaves. In the bathroom he looks at himself in the mirror. There're bags under his eyes. Are they too obvious? Yes, they are… Oh, no… DAMMIT. He looks sick as well. Wait… maybe people talking about him because he looks sick and still came to school. He didn't look like that a few days ago. He takes his mask off and washes his face. He looks inside all the stalls to make sure no one Is in the bathroom.

It's clear. No one's here. No one to see what he's about to do. His anger and frustration is overflowing. He needs an outlet. He starts using his telekinesis to tire himself out. If he's tired his anger will decrease. He stays in the toilet for around 5 minutes using his power. He's tired, very tired. He wipes his face, puts his mask back on and walks back to class. The teacher asks him why he was so late. He thinks… what should he say?… right… He started chasing a cat. The teacher finds that odd, but she believes him and tells him to go back to his seat. Karasu walks back to his seat. He is sweating; profusely. He puts his all into focusing on the teacher's lecture. It's hard, but he can do it. If he has the capacity to save a person's life while putting his own on the line he can bear this.

After a few hours go by the bell rings signaling a recess break and all the children run out excited to play with their friends, but not Kyoko… She's worried. Will he be okay? He is still sitting at his seat looking at his note. He usually calmly leaves after the bell rings, but not today. Today he doesn't want to leave. It's too tough. Kyoko goes to his desk and sits beside him. "Are you okay?" she asks. Karasu says, "Yeah, I am fine. You go eat your lunch." "Are you not going to eat YOUR lunch?" she asks him again. Karasu looks at her, "Look, I will do what I can, so don't bother with me today. You can leave me alone and stop worrying unnecessarily." "Are you serious? Unnecessary? How the hell is it unnecessary?" she snaps back.

Karasu puts his hand on her head, "As I said, I will do what I can or what I have to. You don't have to worry." Doesn't matter how many times he tells her not to worry, she can't shake the feeling that something really bad is about to happen, either today or sometime in the near future. The school day ends without anything getting worse, but Karasu is looking lifeless. He has always been a cheerful guy. It breaks Kyoko's heart to see him like this, but there's nothing she can do. She feels powerless because she can't help her dearest friend. What should she do? Should she leave Karasu to suffer alone? She loves him, she can't do that. Should she tell her parents? But, what can they do? She doesn't want to make them worry just like Karasu wants her to not worry. She… can't… do ANYTHING… Wait… There is something even she can do. She can be by his side and be ready to support him emotionally whenever he needs it. Yes, that's what she should do.

Karasu is walking back home alone, she sees him and runs to his side. She talks to him with a smile. Seeing her smiling makes Karasu feel better. They both walk home holding hands, as usual. Karasu is a bit more at ease. He drops off Kyoko and walks back home with a smile. "How long will this last? How long… will this torment go on?" He asks himself.