I arrived at school at the exact time I planned—the time when Onishima shouldn't be anywhere near the gates.
But as luck would have it— Or maybe fate hated me— He showed up at the very same time.
I was walking peacefully, admiring the trees like some old man on a morning stroll, when a cold shiver ran down my spine.
An eerie aura—familiar yet terrifying.
Before I could even react— A hand clamped onto my shoulder.
I turned around— And there it was.
That face.
Onishima Ao's terrifying expression burned itself into my brain so deeply that even on my deathbed, I'd still remember it.
My legs trembled so violently I couldn't even command them to run.
Too scared to flee. Too scared to avert my gaze. In the end, I just obeyed whatever he said.
"Hey… Nerd."
"Y-Yes…?"
"Come behind the building. I've got something to talk to you about."
The whispers around us were full of pity—
Pity for me, the chosen victim.
But deep down, I knew they were relieved it wasn't them.
I followed him like a cow being led to slaughter. When we finally reached the back of the school building, my brain completely shut down.
All I could do was pray he wouldn't snap and kill me.
But then— Silence.
Onishima didn't say a word. He just looked around and inhaled deeply, as if waiting for something.
…Did he want me to offer him money so he wouldn't have to openly extort me?
That's even worse than straightforward bullying!
I panicked, desperate to get the situation over with, and reached into my wallet to offer him some cash.
But then— I saw his smirk.
That mocking smile— Like he saw me as nothing more than a walking ATM.
Like I was disposable.
Anger surged through me. I squeezed my wallet so hard the metal clasp dug painfully into my fingers.
Someone like him was just like the villains I'd seen in my childhood shows.
And villains— Villains must be defeated by heroes of justice.
The more I thought about how easily he made money off people's fear, the more it disgusted me.
He sat on a throne built entirely from intimidation— Exactly like the antagonists I used to hate.
And then— My fear vanished.
My trembling stopped.
I looked him straight in the eyes, planted my feet firmly on the ground—
And challenged him to a duel.
When the fight began, I poured every drop of mana I had into my Water Bullet spell.
I didn't care if I exploded. I didn't care if I passed out.
I needed— I desperately needed— To prove that my belief in justice wasn't wrong.
I ignored control, ignored efficiency— I only pushed for more power, more mana, more force. I screamed as I cast it.
My hands and legs went numb. The numbness crawled up my body until my knees nearly buckled.
But I clenched my teeth and forced out every last drop of mana.
My vision blurred. My stomach churned.
But I kept focusing— Until—
I lost.
Instantly.
Everything went dark.
No pain. No feeling in my arms or legs. Just emptiness.
When I eventually woke up, the duel was already over— And I had lost miserably.
I punched the dusty ground again and again until my hands almost broke, sobbing uncontrollably.
All the effort I had built up— Crushed before it even meant anything.
I'd convinced myself I was stronger than everyone else— Only to be destroyed by the villain in my story.
The belief I tried rebuilding shattered instantly. Like some invisible force was mocking me— Swallowing my convictions whole.
And that force was the truth.
The truth that I might never reach my dream. The truth that I could never beat Onishima. The truth that I alone could never uphold justice.
I was just a delusional fool.
Like someone drowning, flailing despite having a life jacket in hand—
An idiot refusing to save himself.
After that day, I locked myself in my room. At school, I went through the motions. Then came home to rot in the same loop.
Nothing got better. In fact, everything got worse the more I stared at myself in the mirror.
I was burying myself alive without even moving.
Before summer break, I went to school like usual—
Just wanting the day to end quickly so I could continue rotting.
Then—
That familiar aura appeared behind me.
Onishima.
At first, I thought he would do what he always did. But instead—
He held out an envelope. Inside was the money he took from me.
It looked like he was genuinely returning it. Like he had only "borrowed" it.
But what shocked me wasn't the money—
It was him.
When I looked up at his face, I realized…
"This isn't the same Onishima."
Something about him had changed completely.
And when I saw that— I finally looked back at myself.
I hadn't changed at all. I blamed everything but never tried to fix anything.
I kept repeating the same patterns even as the world changed. I never adapted. Never moved forward.
But Onishima— He chose to change. He chose to move forward. He chose to keep fighting.
Meanwhile, I gave up after one small setback.
From that moment, I decided—
I would stand up again. For myself. For my dream. And for the people I always took for granted—
My family.
I returned to training seriously. Studied sincerely. Researched magic again as if I'd been reborn.
Onishima—the one who shattered everything I believed in—
The one whose face, voice, and footsteps I never wanted to hear—
I finally understood.
He wasn't a delinquent who bullied others.
He didn't fight to dominate anyone.
He fought so he could keep moving forward.
He was the one who gave me the strength to walk again. Who showed me change was possible. Who reminded me not to run away.
I don't know if I'll ever become a hero.
But at least now—
I won't run anymore.