Arca was thrown far away. At the same time, Aswa, who was facing forward when attacked from behind, managed to grab Celsi’s leg. Although he was also hit, it didn’t send him flying.
Then he pulled Celsi’s leg.
"You... can see my movements?" Celsi looked slightly surprised.
"Hehe, this is called prediction… I knew you would appear behind me, so I attacked using my leg to keep my hands behind me… Then, I guessed that since Arca was behind me, you would most likely dodge. At that moment, I stood upright slowly but left my hand behind… because the most advantageous position for you was attacking from between us." —Aswa.
"You… Not bad, kid." —Celsi.
"Thanks, ma’am. Hehe." Aswa replied teasingly.
At that moment, Celsi's vision turned white. Once again, she saw someone in Aswa—smiling at her while hugging her.
Without realizing it… Aswa launched an attack at Celsi’s face.
Bhuakk!
Celsi countered with her other leg, kicking Aswa hard into the ground.
Shushh! A brick flew toward Celsi.
She tilted her head, avoiding it. At that moment, Arca dashed toward her.
Seeing this, Celsi reacted immediately. She was already above Arca, positioning her feet over his shoulders and supporting herself with both hands.
Then, she performed a backflip while gripping Arca’s shoulders tightly, throwing him away.
Both of them lay motionless.
Celsi stood still for a moment, facing the sky as the heavy rain poured down.
Behind her, Aswa lay unconscious. That moment brought back an unforgettable memory.
Celsi’s vision turned white again.
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"Stop it, sis! Why are you doing all this?" —Someone.
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"No… I’m fighting for us." —Celsi, years ago.
"What do you mean? Weren't you fighting for us, for our people, to keep us safe? We've been safe for a long time! But now, what are you doing? You're the one destroying our people!" —That person, crying while hugging someone covered in blood.
"No… Rui, I will make you feel safer than ever. That’s why… follow me!"
[Rui, Celsi's younger brother]
Rui ran aimlessly, passing through the gang members.
Celsi ordered them to find him and put up posters, but Rui was never found.
Six months later...
Bhuakk!
Rui punched a gangster.
"Give me back my sister!"
But his strength didn’t even faze the gangster.
He wasn’t alone—other ragged children stood by his side.
"Why is it so noisy here? Have you found Rui?" Celsi arrived, dressed in a black suit, her hands in her pockets.
The sky looked gloomy, strong winds blew against her, making her coat and hair flutter.
"Rui!... Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you!!"
Celsi signaled her men not to attack.
"Don't act like you care about me! You're probably just going to throw me away like the others!" —Rui.
"What are you saying? I would never—"
"SHUT UP!!! Enough of your nonsense!" Rui's friends charged at Celsi.
Celsi tried to reach Rui, but his friends clung to her, preventing her from getting close.
She pushed them aside.
Again and again, they kept blocking her.
Celsi tried to be gentle with Rui.
Her longing for him was overwhelming, but at that moment, she couldn't even touch him.
His friends kept stopping her.
Little by little, it made Celsi lose control.
A voice inside her head kept repeating, "Hug him! Hug him! Over and over! Again and again!"
Until finally… she couldn’t take it anymore.
She wanted to embrace Rui.
Celsi lost patience.
She finally used her strength—disappearing behind the children.
Then…
Bhuakk!
Without realizing it, she struck them down.
Then she froze.
Her pupils widened.
Her eyes and lips trembled.
The children lay unconscious, blood everywhere—including… Rui.
tik...tik...tikk
The rain began to fall, drop by drop, mixing with Celsi’s tears.
She held Rui in her arms.
Her body and face were now covered in his blood.
She rushed him to the hospital.
Upon arrival, Rui was immediately taken into the operating room.
The doctors worked tirelessly.
Meanwhile, Celsi sat in the waiting area, her head down.
Her body was drenched—rainwater mixed with blood.
Tears flowed from her eyes.
"Damn it! Damn it!" Celsi cursed in her heart.
And then…
"Beep... beep... beeeeeeeeeep—"
(The heart monitor flatlined.)
A doctor walked out of the operating room.
"I-I'm sorry… the patient is alr—… huh? Where did she go?"
Celsi ran outside.
She kept running.
The sound of heavy rain was nothing to her now.
Then she stopped.
She stood in an empty field, her arms weak and lifeless.
She lifted her head, staring at the raindrops falling from the sky…
Tears continued to flow—falling to the ground along with the rain.
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[Back to the Present]
She stood in the same spot, looking up at the rainy sky.
"Rui! If you're still alive! What would you say to me? Let your sister hear your voice this time!" —Celsi.
Aswa’s fingers twitched.
—TO BE CONTINUED—