– No! Please, anything but that!

Katsumi finally stopped screaming. Coughing up even more blood and almost choking, she turned towards Madonna with teary eyes. The titan quietly sat in her chair and watched the show, not answering to the girl.

– What is wrong with you? – Nasturtium raised his head. – You almost just killed both of us!

– I’m… I’m so sorry! I’m really-really sorry!

– What? Why are you apologizing now? You want to give up after fucking me up so bad?

– No, I can’t! – Katsumi stood up. – I have to save Glechoma and free that child!

– Then why are you apologizing now?

Nasturtium’s face became more and more red. The veins on his head thickened from all the remaining anger going through. Painfully from all the shattered bones, but he managed to stand up.

Instead of a proud giant, he was more of a fearsome beast. Broken bones and flesh hung from his limbs. Violent red engulfed his eyes.

– I… I don’t know! – Katsumi sobbed. – I don’t know anything! I just want this to end!

– Then brace yourself – Nasturtium readied his legs –, because I’m about put an end both to this fight and your entire life!

– No, please! Just give up already!

– ‘Train March’! They might shatter my bones, but never my soul!

A truly sickening attack! Broken legs and clinging arms tearing into broken assault, even if his momentum wasn’t the same, it was still a powerful attack. Katsumi had to evade this one too if she wishes to survive.

And so, she readied herself.

‘His body is way beyond broken. Now is the time to unleash my final attack! But… can I actually do that? I should just wait until he bleeds out, that way I won’t fuck things up.’

A sudden dizziness rushed through her body. She quickly extended an arms and rebalanced herself.

‘I feel… so exhausted… if this doesn’t end anytime soon, I’ll pass out! Which means…’

Nasturtium spun around, letting his once purposeful arms swing around like maces. The broken bones sticking out from his rib pierced his skin and he screamed louder than any of his previous battle-cries.

Katsumi wasn’t waiting for this maneuver which fortunately exposed an opening.

‘That’s it!’

She lunged towards the giant, but her body… suddenly recoiled.

‘I can’t! I’m not strong enough, I can’t do it!’

Bang!

Katsumi flew away from Nasturtium’s savage attack. Her body rolled around in the dust, which suddenly equipped the form of smooth, cold tiles.

As her spinning stopped, the world changed. Instead of the coliseum’s dark blue ceiling, snow white paint greeted her eyes. Below that stood a confused, seventeen years old Katsumi, worryingly observing her future counterpart.

– You’re that gal from the bathroom before. – her younger self noted.

– Gahh! – she quickly crawled away. – Don’t come any closer!

– You’re me from the future, right?

– I said, stay away!

– I read this webcomic last week… it was about a guy who goes back in time to save his past self from an evil robot his enemies sent back to the past. At the end of the comic, our main hero falls in love with the evil robot and sleeps with him, exposing his closeted side and thus saving his future self in a hot steamy scene. Truly a tearjerker.

– WHAT THE FUCK, DID I ACTUALLY READ TERMINATOR FANFICS?

– My perversions are not important as of now. Tell me, where’s the evil bad guy and how can I fu- I mean, screw- I mean, hurt him? – she raised her fist with an anticipating smile.

– You’d need a mirror for that, but… it’s not like you could do anything. You’re just a memory.

– Oh my, even future self thinks I’m not important, sob-sob. – she literally said out those last two words.

Katsumi got up and stepped closer, looking deep into her past self’s innocent eyes. They were big, something she was always very proud of, and also rather veiny. ‘Oh yeah’, she recalled, ‘I used to read tons of light novels back then. I miss those times’.

She put her hand on the young Katsumi and gently patted her orange hair.

– Yo, don’t be so sad. I walked the same path you will and trust me, you’ll do some crazy stuff. You’re anything, but unimportant! You’ll save tons of kids and shit! You’re really cool! – she raised her thumb.

– R-Really?

– Yup.

– N-Nobody ever said that to me… I know this might not mean a lot to you, b-but… Train Tackle!

– Oh fuck.

Katsumi got pulled out of the memory by a fast charging giant. He quickly spun around, his arms cutting through air like blades on a helicopter.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Her thoughts all over the place, she broke into a run instead of swiftly evading his attack. Nasturtium ran after her, violently shouting as his arms rapidly circled round and round.

– We’re playing tag? We’re playing tag again? Fine, but this time – his charge came to a halt – you’ll come to me!

Katsumi didn’t stop and ran as fast as she could, then a bit slower, then even slower, then suddenly she was going backwards. Looking over her shoulder, her her pupil shrunk from fear.

Although the giant stopped running, his arms kept spinning, but… around his entire body.

– What the shit… – Katsumi gasped, as the giant’s arms moved away from their shoulder, circling around his chest and back area.

They were spinning around so fast, they blurred into one huge circle, sucking everything inside.

– Come now, piggy-piggy! Say ‘oink-oink’ before I make bacon out of you!

Katsumi couldn’t resist the suck. She fell down to the ground and held her fist against the cold dirt.

– Spirit Pot!

As if they could feel the hurry, the blue particles dashed to serve and equipped the form of a red pot with its head stuck in the ground.

– This’ll… help me… stay here…

Wind blew through her hair, unmaking the orange buns. It became even more violent as the giant took a step towards her. Nasturtium’s power wasn’t infinite though, he could barely move with arms still spinning.

Katsumi held to the handle with both hands. She buried her face between her shoulders, hiding from the violent dust.

– Why are you hesitant?

The question came from above. Looking up, she saw a break in reality, a snow white corridor with the young Katsumi crouching in front of her.

Upon seeing which room was just behind the younger self, Katsumi tried to get up and stop the girl, but the fast wind did not allow.

– Whatever you do, don’t go into that room! Run home, change schools and never come back! Never!

– Huh? Why?

– You don’t need to know! Just run, run as far away as you can! If anyone tries to contact you, even if that’s a teacher or an old friend, don’t answer to them!

– What are you…

– You don’t need to know! I don’t have much time left, but whatever you do… just don’t be so fucking harsh to yourself, man! You’re a great person and you don’t need others approval to know!

– That’s your biggest flaw.

– What?

Those eyes weren’t that of naivety anymore. The sun of courage shone behind her, illuminating the determination in both green eyes. This wasn’t the Katsumi she remembered.

– You always go above and beyond to cheer up others, yet never do the same when it comes to you, yourself. Why’s that, huh? You think you’re a bad person? Someone that doesn’t deserve love? What, you think you’re too ‘weird’ to have the same value as others?

She was getting scolded by non-other, than her past self.

– I just…

– I know you. I know you more than anyone and I can tell, that even as we speak, you’re fighting for not yourself, but others. And honestly dude? You’re frickin’ amazing. I mean, just look at that beast, what the hell is that? – she chuckled, to which Katsumi raised her head with confusion.

Purple particles appeared from the sky and fell on young Katsumi. They violently flashed with light, slowly eating up the rest of the hall.

But not her.

– H-How can you see Nasturtium?

– Nasturti… what? Is that the name of that huge-ass giant? Wait, were you the one to beat him up so bad?

She quietly, almost shamefully nodded.

– Holy shit, bro! That’s like… you’re like a real superhero! Do you have superpowers too?

– Something like that…

– Which means… I’ll get my own superpowers too! Damn, and you don’t want me to walk the same path as you did? How greedy of you!

– Trust me, this shit isn’t worth it! I’ve had my eye ripped out while trying to defend someone, then a plant almost digested me! This world is full evil! It’s totally not worth it! Just go and run away! The trauma beyond that door is not worth any of this… besides… I’ve been trying to forget it for years without any success. It won’t go away and years have passed. Are you sure you want this?

Surprisingly, her younger self still had a smile on her face. Not a childish one, but rather…

– So this bad experience will result in me going down the path of righteousness?

She wasn’t waiting for this question. Deep down, she knew what was about to come. After all, she was talking to herself. With mouth trembling and a single tear running down her dusty face, she gave a determined answer.

– Yes.

– Then – the young Katsumi smiled – it’s worth it.

For years now, she’s been trying to make sense of what happened. She blamed others and then herself, she tried to find a meaning, a purpose for why things let up to that, but in truth…

As she looked in her calm eyes, a small beacon of light cracked through the darkness festering her mind. It wasn’t a sunshine that burns away all evil, but rather… a glitter of hope, a flare of moving on. It wasn’t great enough to light the way out the black mist, but it was something to build upon and Katsumi was more than happy.

The purple particles came at her even more violently, forcing their way to cover as much of the girl as they could. Small strikes of lightning struck her skin, but she seemingly felt and saw none of them.

– Well, both of us have stuff to do, so let’s make this quick. I have some shit to live through and also get a scolding from the teacher, teehee ~.

– Wait what? I don’t remember getting scolded by anyone.

– Well that’s because you prooobably didn’t break the mirror in the classroom.

A small piece of glass appeared from her pocket. She held it just before Katsumi, who could see both her surprised face and something really important.

Nasturtium broke into a frenzied laughter.

– Ehahehahehaheha! Ahahaha! Can you hear me, Madonna? Can you see your loyal finger fight? Can you feel his love? I love you! I love you, my guiding hand!

There was an opening in the vehement windstorm. Nasturtium’s face was now visible to her, which meant she could see the blood leaking from his nose. She watched as Nasturtium maniacally cried to the skies so that even his lover could hear. With each word spoken, more and more blood came out.

– I can’t hear him, what is he saying? – young Kats worried.

– That… it’s time for me to accept the facts and act responsibly.

– Hell yeah, he’s right! Or… wait… that’s not what he actually said, is it?

– Thank you for everything! Please, whatever may come, stay true to yourself.

– Noted. You do the same! – she raised a thumb.

– But before you go, let me show you a snippet of just how cool you’ll be! – she took one of her orange sport shoes off.

– Uh… I’ll develop a foot fetish?

Young Katsumi’s question remained unanswered, as old Kats turned towards the giant.

– Hey, fuckface! Last chance to surrender!

– Hahaha! What’s that, piggy-piggy? I don’t understand your squeals! Ehaheha!

– Alright then! – she threw her shoe towards the giant and shortly after let go of the pot. – Take this!

The shoe hit Nasturtium straight in the head, blinding both of his eyes.

– Is that all you got? Ehahe-…

– ‘Justice Kick’!

Following the shoe came Katsumi, kicking the giant right in his nose. The impact pushed off the blinding garment and she could see Nasturtium’s red veiny eyes again.

– You really thought such a weak attack would defeat me? Eha-

– ‘Justice Suck’!

As she said it out, blood suddenly got sucked out Nasturtium’s nose through Katsumi’s bare leg. He could feel something change in his body, a pain way worse than any he’s experienced yet. He tried to grab Katsumi and threw her off, only there was one problem with that: his arms suddenly became numb.

– What are you…

Before he could say out those words, his nose broke off and liters of blood rushed out in a second, engulfing Katsumi’s body as a liquid armor.

Not like that could’ve been of much use. More and more blood followed, turning the giant’s skin paler by each millisecond, before eventually there was nothing more to come.

And with the blades of this morbid helicopter finally coming to a halt, Katsumi fell to the ground, the stolen blood soothing her fall. After that, she pointed her finger at a nearby wall and shot all the red off of her.

She looked over her shoulder to see her younger self. She wasn’t there anymore. That wasn’t such a bad thing though. In the end all this came down to was a singular reassuring fact…

Nasturtium is finally dead.