WebNovels

Chapter 26 - sad past

Akaza stood upright in front of Rengoku, on the riverbank, his eyes shining with a calm smile that revealed little of what was inside him.

Rengoku was the first to break the silence, speaking with a face full of joy:

Rengoku: "Hello Akaza… Have you adapted to life as a Hashira?"

Akaza lifted his head slightly, a faint smile appearing on his face, then replied in a calm voice:

Akaza: "Adapted?… Perhaps…"

He paused for a moment, his eyes turning to the flowing river.

"Tell me, Rengoku… what is the real benefit of all this? Risking your life for others? What do you gain in the end?"

Rengoku's features stiffened, but he did not get angry. Instead, he laughed a short, clear laugh, then looked directly into Akaza's eyes and said:

Rengoku: "What do I gain?… I gain the honor of being the shield that protects those without strength. I gain a meaning to my existence! Our lives are not ours alone, Akaza… We exist to give others a chance to live."

Akaza did not respond immediately. He ran his hand over his arm thoughtfully, then shook his head slightly:

"Beautiful words… but humans always weaken. Today you save one, tomorrow another falls. Isn't this pointless? In the end, no one remembers what you did… you die, and they continue their lives."

Rengoku stepped forward, his voice rising, full of unwavering faith:

Rengoku: "Even if they forget me… even if no one remembers my name… the important thing is that I am the reason they smile another day! That a child lives with their family, that a girl laughs with her friends, that a young man grows up dreaming of his future… that is enough for me!"

Akaza's eyebrows rose, his eyes showing something closer to surprise. He laughed before speaking:

Akaza (in a low voice): "I expected you to say that."

Rengoku smiled his usual wide, bright smile, then raised his hand and hit Akaza's shoulder with brotherly strength, causing his body to shake slightly.

Rengoku: "Ha ha ha! I may be strange… but this is the path I chose. And if you are a Hashira, you must also find your own answer… what do you fight for, Akaza?"

Akaza remained silent, his gaze returning to the flowing river before them. This time, his smile was faint… but it was not sarcastic.

"I don't think I'll ever be like you."

---

Akaza stood, looking at the flowing water in front of him, but his mind wandered… far, far away.

Old memories, deep in his heart, began to flood relentlessly.

Before he manifested in this body…

Evening crept slowly, the weary sun disappearing behind the low rooftops. On the dirt road, a small boy walked, his steps faltering, his tattered bag swinging on his thin shoulder. There was no sparkle in his eyes, only a heavy silence dominating his features, as if a little old man had been born from the womb of pain.

His small face was covered with blue bruises he tried to hide with an old scarf, but the marks were clearer than could be concealed. His breaths were short and broken, as if he were bracing for something inevitable.

He reached the door of his house… an old wooden door, edges worn, as if it had witnessed the screams of the years. He placed his small trembling hand on the handle, pushed slowly… and the sound of shouting exploded in his ears like a slap:

"Where have you been?! You worthless fool!"

Heavy footsteps approached. His eyes widened… then—

Slap!

His small body hit the cold wall, then fell to the ground.

Before he could catch his breath, his father's hand rained down on him, strong, angry, hitting without restraint.

"You are a disgrace to me! You can't even bring anything useful!"

Every word was a knife piercing his young heart.

Akaza did not cry. He no longer had tears. His body trembled, his lips quivering, but his eyes remained fixed, as if the pain had become a natural part of his existence.

From the corner of the room… the mother sat, her body frail, her face pale, her eyes teary but powerless. She placed her hand over her mouth, stifling sobs, as if she even feared crying.

"Enough… please…" she whispered in a broken voice.

But the father did not listen. He grabbed his son by the collar, lifted him off the ground as if he were a piece of cloth, and threw him harshly. Akaza's head hit the wood, a muffled sound echoing in the room.

The boy swayed, trying to get up… but fell again. The floor felt to him like a cold, merciless embrace.

He closed his eyes for a moment, wishing only to die and escape this torment.

Hours of the night passed slowly. Silence fell after the storm, and the father sank into deep drunkenness.

In that dark corner, Kim lay on the ground, his chest rising and falling with difficulty, his breaths burning with each inhale. Beside him, his mother sat, touching his forehead with a trembling hand, tears falling on his face.

"Forgive me… forgive me, my little one… I couldn't protect you."

He opened his eyes slowly, looking at her, saying nothing… just giving a faint smile, as if consoling her, even though he was the victim.

That night… was the beginning of the end.

---

On a dark night… young Kim returned to find his mother lying on the ground, her body motionless, blood staining her simple dress. His father sat there, eyes red, breaths broken, staring at the void.

"You… you killed her." he muttered in a cold voice.

Something in Akaza's heart changed.

A scream tore from his throat, his eyes burned with tears he had never seen before. He grabbed a heavy stone… and struck his father until the latter lost his breath.

"Nooooooooo… my moooom"

He was no longer a child after that night. Something had broken… and he was no longer salvageable.

The boy continued to embrace his mother, tears completely covering his eyes.

"Mom… my father is gone, we can live in peace from today onward."

"Wake up, mom… it's not good to sleep in this filthy place."

"Please, mom… cry."

That day, Kim lost the meaning of emotions.

Years passed, and Kim was no longer that torn boy. He became a fighter in the ring, a boxer without mercy. Every strike was an outlet, every fall of his opponent was his way to shout to the world: "I exist… I am no longer weak."

In that atmosphere full of blood and sweat, a girl approached him. A clear smile, her eyes full of warmth he had never known. For appearances, he promised her, but he did not actually care about her feelings. Her words pierced his heart only superficially:

"I… like you."

He fought stronger, but not for love, only to maintain appearances in front of her. He believed the world was not completely dark… but it was just a stage.

And when she betrayed him, found in the arms of another man, he did not care. He did not scream, did not get angry… he only laughed, an empty laugh, not even in his dreams had he laughed so much, especially seeing the man she chose, before dying from a stab in the stomach.

His consciousness gradually returned to the riverbank. Rengoku was still standing beside him, smiling with his usual determination.

Akaza smiled faintly, but it was extremely sad.

"I don't think I'll ever be like you… I lost my reason long ago."

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