Martin was in full tantrum mode, standing outside the gate of the Ozora Elementary School of Osaka and near two black cars on which he came here with his father, Jackson, Daniel, and Gale and some guards in black suits. The 9-year-old had his arms crossed and was putting up a fight against attending school.
He protested, "Dad, you told me we are on vacation! Then why are you making me go to school here?"
His father, Anish, stood nearby, trying his best to calmly reason with his son. "Jay, I want you to understand the environment here," he explained.
But Martin was having none of it. He clung to the car door with all his might, his lips quivering in a fake pout. The guards nearby were trying to gently pry his little hands away from the car door, but Martin was like a small, determined bull, refusing to budge.
Meanwhile, Jackson, Daniel, and Gale stood next to Martin, watching the scene unfold. They were equal parts surprised and amused by Martin's dramatic display, holding back their laughs but struggling to keep a straight face.
Anish tried again to reason with his son, his voice gentle but firm. "Jay, listen to me. This is a great opportunity for you. You'll make new friends, learn new things, and have fun."
But Martin wasn't having it. He continued to cling to the car, his pout intensifying. "I don't want new friends! I don't want school! I am on vacation."
Anish sighed, obviously trying to keep his patience. He knelt down to Martin's level, trying to connect with him on a more personal note. "Of course we are on vacation but you should do a lot of experiments during this vacation, you should experience the school here. You'll make memories here that you'll carry with you for the rest of your life."
Martin looked at his father, his eyes watering slightly. He looked like he was about to cry, but the tears weren't genuine. They were a manipulative tool to get his way. "I don't care about making memories, send me anywhere but don't send me to school, you are ruining my vacation." he whined. "I just want to stay with you, Dad."
Anish's heart melted at seeing his son's tears, but he knew he couldn't give in to Martin's demands. With a gentle touch on Martin's chin, Anish tried again. "Jay, I understand you want to be with me, and you don't like school but sometimes we have to do things we don't want to. School is one of those things."
"You are torturing me, I have to go to school in India also and when I am on vacation here, you are sending me to school here too."
As Jackson and Daniel watched the standoff between Anish and Martin, they couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and sympathy. They had never seen a kid in their own family throw such a dramatic tantrum. They felt a little bad, as they knew in reality Martin wasn't in any vacation as he was thinking to be in but they couldn't just tell him because if they tell now it would be like summoning a trouble for them and for Anish as well and they both decided to step in and try to help.
Jackson leaned closer to Martin, and with mock seriousness, said, "Hey, come on, Jay, it's not all that bad."
Daniel chimed in, "Yeah, you get to meet new friends and learn cool stuff, and maybe even have some fun."
They continued to try to convince Martin that school was not the end of the world. Between their coaxing and reassuring, they also tried to gently pry his hands away from the car door.
It was a hilarious sight, two preteens trying to reason with a 9-year-old afraid of schools.
Despite their best efforts, Martin was still in full pout mode. However, he was slowly starting to realise that no one was going to give in to his demands. And eventually, letting out a final sigh and with a pout that could melt any heart, Martin finally relented. He let go of the car door, his arms falling to his sides as he muttered a resentful, "Fine."
Jackson and Daniel exchanged an amused look. They had successfully managed to break through Martin's resolve, and their little teamwork had finally paid off. Even Anish breathed a sigh of relief, his expression a mixture of gratitude and exhaustion.
Anish placed a hand on Martin's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "There you go, Jay," he said, a hint of tiredness in his voice. "Here you will experience better and wonderful things than India and believe me this vacation will be a lot of fun for you. And you won't be alone either. Young master Jitoku Jae will be in the same class as you."
There was only a displeased expression on Martin's face as he was listening to his father.
Then Daniel shot a mocking smile at Martin and quipped, "Well, now that you have agreed, so time to enter the school, little genius. Enjoy school with the 'wise man.'"
Martin looked at Daniel in confusion and asked. "Wise man?"
At his confusion, Jackson and Daniel both chucked mockingly.
"He means Jae, when you spend more time with him you will yourself realise that he is a wise man." Jackson clarified, his voice laced with a hint of mischief.
Hearing him Martin looked at Gale who was standing behind them. And in a blink of an eye Gale lunged forward and grabbed Martin's wrist with lightning speed, pulling him through the gate and into the school at a brisk pace after saying. "Let's go."
Martin, caught off guard, let out a startled gasp, his voice filled with a mixture of surprise and laughter. "Whoa, whoa! Slow down. I'm going to take off like a rocket here," he protested, his feet struggling to keep up with Gale's quick stride.
But Gale paid no heed to Martin's protests and kept a steady pace, the cheeky smile never leaving his face.
Meanwhile, Jackson, Daniel and Anish who were still standing outside the gate, their smiles growing wider as they watched them. The guards assigned to all four kids stood near them, their faces a mix of amusement and disbelief as they witnessed the scene. Even they chuckled, clearly enjoying the display of speed and the unexpected dynamic between the two boys.
As Gale and Martin entered the school building, Martin's feet finally touched solid ground again, and he found himself looking at Gale with a mix of surprise and relief.
"You run fast, so, so fast like a strong wind and I mean it." he managed to say, still trying to catch his breath. Gale finally released his grip on Martin's hand and placed both his hands on his hips, his chest puffing out slightly.
"I guess you could say I'm the school's track and field prodigy," he replied jokingly, a proud smirk on his face. "And yeah, there is no need to be afraid of school. Although it may seem like a prison to you at first, but when you complete school by making good memories, you will feel like staying in this prison again." His tone was like a mature one and the smile wasn't leaving his face.
Martin looked at him in disbelief. "Yeah yeah, it is as if you have experienced the future." He said in mock sarcastically, hearing which, Gale chuckled and said. "You can say that."
At this, Martin slightly shook his head.
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Daisy, Jackson, Daniel, Martin and Gale were present, practising taekwondo under their strict private coach. They all were wearing Dobok (Taekwondo uniform).
Daniel was already lying on the mat, having been kicked by Daisy in their match. The coach was scolding Daniel for not standing up and fighting Daisy again, but Daniel pretended not to hear, knowing he couldn't beat her. He didn't want to fight her again because he would just lose and get kicked again.
Watching in the background was Martin, who was sitting next to Gale was impressed by Daisy's strength. Daisy was a formidable opponent, known for her strong kicks which had already sent Daniel reeling onto his back. Martin's eyes were watching her every move with awe.
While Daisy's expression was one of pure focus, her eyes locked onto Daniel as she aimed her next attack for Daniel whenever he would get up. Daniel, meanwhile, seemed almost resigned to defeat, his own body stiffed.
The coach's voice boomed out, his frustration evident in his voice. "Get up, Daniel! You can't just lay there and let her win again."
But Daniel remained motionless on the floor, his body not responding to the coach's command. Daisy couldn't help but smirk, her ego inflated by her victory over him once again. Jackson watched with a mix of amusement and pity for Daniel, knowing all too well the power of Daisy's kicks.
The coach let out a frustrated sigh, his patience wearing thin. "Daniel, if you don't get up and fight back, you're never going to improve," he scolded.
Daniel's cheeks turned red with embarrassment, but he still refused to move. Daisy's smirk grew wider, and she mocked him with her words. "What's the matter, Daniel? Too scared to face me?"
"Yes!" Daniel's response came out straightforwardly, and his tone was like mild anger in embarrassment.
While Coach, growing tired of Daniel's stubbornness, turned to Jackson and instructed him to take his place against Daisy.
Jackson, his determination evident in his expression, stepped up to face the tough challenge. But before Jackson could even try to mount a defence, Daisy landed a powerful kick that sent him sprawling onto the mat next to Daniel. Just like Daniel before him, Jackson also started playing dead, knowing full well that he had no chance of winning against Daisy.
The coach watched in disbelief, his frustration mounting. And being fed up with Daniel and Jackson's drama, he turned his attention to Martin, the youngest and least experienced than them because he had taken Taekwondo training in India for only 3 years but less than Daniel, Jackson and Daisy but Gale on the other hand had the same experience as him.
"Jay, you're up," Coach said, gesturing for Martin to take his place.
Martin, who was watching Daisy's skill with a mix of awe and determination, stepped up to face her. Daisy, not expecting much resistance from the new younger boy, smirked confidently, ready to dispatch him quickly. But Martin surprised everyone, including himself, with his intense focus and skills. He launched a series of powerful attacks, each one aimed squarely at Daisy.
Daisy, caught off guard by Martin's determination, struggled to keep up with his onslaught. The two went back and forth, each trying to gain the upper hand in the fierce match.
The coach watched the match with growing excitement, his eyes wide as he witnessed the display of skill and resilience from both fighters. Jackson and Daniel, still lying motionless on the mat, but peeking at them and couldn't believe what they were seeing. Their earlier underestimation of him had quickly faded, replaced by disbelief and admiration for Martin as they all thought that Martin was a newbie for them in taekwondo.
The match reached a climax as Martin launched a final, powerful flying kick, connecting solidly with Daisy's head. The impact sent her crashing to the mat, stunned and defeated. The coach bellowed out in approval, a wide smile on his face.
"That's what I'm talking about!" the coach shouted, pumping his fist in the air. "Jay, that was an amazing fight. You proved that size and age don't matter if you have determination and skill despite having less experience."
Gale, sitting by the wall, silently looking at Martin with admiration and a proud smile. While Daisy, after sitting on the mat, had to grudgingly admit defeat.
"Not bad, Jay," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of respect.
Jackson and Daniel, still pretending to be motionless, secretly impressed by Martin's skills but still unwilling to get up due to the fear that the coach might ask them to fight with Daisy again or this time with Martin, and that's why they stayed silent.
However the coach, satisfied with the outcome of the small match, turned his head to Jackson and Daniel.
"And you two, stop pretending to be dead. You need to learn from Jay and get back up and fight no matter what." Saying this to them the coach gestured Gale to stand up for the match with Martin and then he turned his head back to Martin and said, "That was a great fight against Daisy. And now I hope you're ready for another challenge. Step up and face Jitoku Jae, see if you can at least give him a tough match."
At this, Jackson and Daniel, quickly finally sat up in anticipation, their eyes fixed on the two boys. Both of them were curious to see how Martin would fare against Gale, who was known to be incredibly powerful despite his age and experience.
Martin, still high on adrenaline from his previous victory, looked at Gale with a mix of determination and trepidation. He knew that Gale was a force to be reckoned with, but he was determined to give it his best shot. Gale, meanwhile, stood across from Martin, his expression unreadable, his eyes fixed on his opponent.
At the same time, Martin was remembering that when Gale took him for a walk outside the elementary school, hiding from the guards, then some older boys from the high school were trying to bully Martin and he himself was not doing anything because he wasn't in a mood to do any fighting on his vacation. Then Gale, in a fit of anger and in a casual way, despite being of his age, had kicked those boys unconscious in one go just in seconds. Seeing this, Martin was extremely astonished at how Gale was so powerful, because even if Gale had a lot of experience in taekwondo or any other fighting, at such a young age someone can't knock those high school students with broad shoulders unconscious. A child can't have so much power, but Gale had that unbelievable strength.
The coach, watching silently from the side, waited to see who would make the first move. The match started slowly, with both boys circling each other, studying each other's movements. Martin, feeling the pressure of having to face someone with more and unbearable power, launched a tentative jab which was easily blocked by Gale.
Now feeling the weight of the challenge, Martin was preparing to launch another attack when Gale suddenly stepped back, his expression uninterested.
"I don't want to fight, it will use up my energy." he said casually, his words catching everyone off guard. The coach, Daisy, Jackson, and Daniel all looked at Gale in disbelief, as they were excited and desperately waiting to see their match.
But Martin, not willing to give up so easily, refused to take no for an answer. "Energy is definitely used in the fight, right?" Martin protested, trying to convince Gale to engage with him. Gale, however, remained unmoved, his expression bored.
"I don't feel like doing it." he said dismissively, clearly not interested in the match.
The coach, watching the interaction, couldn't help but shake his head in frustration. He knew how talented and powerful Gale was, but he also knew the boy could be incredibly lazy and dismissive at times. Jackson and Daniel, meanwhile, were watching the exchange with a mix of awe and disappointment. While on the other side Daisy was looking at them with a done face as she knew that whenever Gale acted like this, he liked his opponent and to not cause harm to his favourite opponent with his power, he used to eliminate his interest from the match.
But Martin, stubborn and determined, stepped closer to Gale, his eyes fixed on him. "You have to fight with me," he insisted. "I want to defeat you."
"Ok you have won, now bye." Saying this, Gale ran out of the room very fast, leaving them dumbfounded.
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In the grand estate, ensconced within the depths of the Jitsaki forest, the whole of Gale's family was assembling outside the sprawling, imposing gate. Servants, guards, and staff members also joined the solemn gathering, their purpose to bid farewell to Martin's father Anish. A sense of solemnity filled the air, punctuated by the sight of the small figure of 9-year-old Martin, desperately clinging onto his father's leg, desperately trying to halt his departure.
Anish, fighting back his emotions, stood beside the waiting vehicle, attempting to explain to Martin that he was only leaving for a while, But the young boy, tears streaming down his face, paid no heed to his father's reassurances.
Martin's voice, pleading with his father, was riddled with panic and confusion. "If the vacation is over, why are you leaving me here alone?" he choked out.
Anish tried his hardest to maintain a strong front. His heart ached from the sight of his own child, desperately trying to clutch onto him.
"I'm not abandoning you forever," he tried to make Martin understand, his own tears threatening to spill over. "I'll be back to see you again very soon, I promise." He wanted to soothe the boy's anxiety, but Martin was having none of it.
Just then, Gale's voice echoed from behind, his tone sharp and cutting through the conversation.
"He's lying, you know," he announced bluntly, his gaze steady and penetrating.
Martin, his father, and the rest of the onlookers all turned towards Gale, their gazes filled with a mix of surprise and apprehension.
Gale, unfazed by the collective stares, continued with a hardened expression on his face. "He won't be coming back," his words echoed ominously, the harsh reality setting in. "You can forget any hope of them ever returning."
Martin, tears streaming down his face as he looked at Gale in shock. Beside him, Martin's father slowly removed Martin's arms from his legs and started moving towards the waiting car, desperately trying to hold back his own tears. As he settled into the car and the engine started, Martin watched helplessly, his heart aching, as his father's car slowly began to move away, the reality setting in that his father was truly leaving him behind. His knees buckled as he watched his father's car disappearing in the distance, his small frame wracked with sobs when he started to run after the vehicle.
"Dad, come back!" he cried out, desperately trying to catch up. But the car's speed was too fast, and he was too small. No matter how hard he tried, he could never match the speed. He stumbled to a halt, his tiny body shaking with sobs, as he realised the futility of his efforts. Despair washed over him like a cold wave, and he fell to his knees, weeping profusely as he yelled in vain to the disappearing car. "Dad, please don't leave me!"
As his tears streamed down his face, he was suddenly jolted out of his despair by the feeling of someone's hand on his shoulder. He turned his head up to see Gale standing beside him, his deep, dark oceanic blue eyes fixed on Martin. It was as if Martin's entire life was wrapped up in those very eyes.
He could see the intensity and depth in Gale's gaze. It was as if the majestic boy could see right through him, understanding his pain better than anyone else.
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The sun slowly began its descent below the horizon, bathing the scenery in its golden hue. Martin, feeling a deep sadness in his heart, stood perched atop the terrace of the grand mansion, the boundary edging his only companion.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps shattered the silence, and Gale appeared, munching on a handful of peanuts. As he took in the sight of Martin standing on the edge, he showed no signs of surprise or panic. Instead, he casually made his way towards Martin, his expression betraying no reaction.
Martin, too absorbed in his own melancholy, barely noticed Gale's arrival until he was standing near him. Neither spoke, their eyes fixed on the breathtaking view of the forest in the time of sunset.
Then, without warning, Gale climbed up to sit on the edge of the terrace, directly beside Martin. With a casual air, he resumed eating his peanuts, his gaze directed towards the ground far below. The ground was far, far away. But curiously, Gale didn't seem to be afraid. Without a hint of hesitation, he sat comfortably, as if the possibility of falling was utterly inconsequential to him.
The silence between them hung heavy in the air, punctuated only by the gentle sound of Gale munching on his peanuts and the distant chirping of the birds.
Then, after a long pause, Gale spoke up first. "The height is quite high," he said, "If we were to fall, we'd go straight to the top."
Martin remained silent, listening intently. Then, with a slight smile, Gale spoke again. "I wonder what it feels like to experience death," he mused. "What does it feel like? And what happens after that? I'd really like to find out," he said, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Let's take the risk together."
Hearing that, Martin finally spoke up. "I'm not stupid enough to jump and die just because my dad left me forever," he retorted.
Upon hearing this, Gale turned to him, a surprised smile on his face. "Oh, so you're not trying to die?" he asked, an amused look on his face. "I also wondered how did you get the idea of dying at such a young age just because your heart was broken. I suppose it's a good thing you're not." And with that, he turned back to eat Peanuts, his gaze returning to the long forest below. And once again, both boys fell silent, watching the beautiful sunset together.
The silence was shattered once again as Martin spoke up, his voice filled with a mixture of sadness and disbelief. "So you were telling the truth," he said, his eyes fixed forward.
"You didn't believe me?" Gale asked, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Martin stayed silent, still struggling with the hurt he felt at being abandoned by his father. Then, in a voice filled with pain, he asked, "But why did my dad sell me to your family? Why did he leave me here forever? He loved me, right? And mom, did mom also know everything?" he paused, a look of realisation on his face. "Yes she did, the way she said goodbye to me was as if I would never meet her again."
Listening to him, Gale stayed silent for a moment. Then, without looking directly at Martin, he spoke out. "They needed a lot of money to continue an ongoing illegal human experiment, and since you were chosen to be my shadow because you were born at the same time as me, so when my dad approached them for you, they agreed to sell you for the money."
Martin felt a deep hurt upon hearing those words, and he struggled to control his emotions in front of Gale. Gale glanced at him, sensing the pain that his words had caused Martin. He knew that Martin was trying his best to keep his emotions in check in front of him after his trust was broken by his own people at such a young age.
Without waiting for a response, Gale continued, looking away once more. "People are strange creatures," he said thoughtfully. "They prioritise their desires and goals like they're levels in a game, and they're willing to sacrifice anything from the past to reach the next level."
There was a sense of detachment in Gale's voice, as if despite his young age he was speaking from a place of experience. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, adding to the already tense atmosphere between the two boys.
Suddenly Martin asked a question that had been on his mind. "What does it mean to be someone's shadow?"
Upon hearing this, Gale chuckled faintly, a small smile on his face, and breathed deeply before responding in a soft tone. "The concept of being someone's shadow originated from my family, during World War II." Gale paused momentarily, contemplating his next words. While Martin finally sat.
"During the conflict," Gale continued, his voice tinged with a hint of irony. "The United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima to end the war with Japan. On August 6, 1945, the inhabitants of the city were caught completely off guard by the attack. The sudden explosion caused a devastating destruction and confusion,"
Gale continued, his voice growing more intense. "Not only did it shatter buildings and infrastructure, but it also unleashed immense heat and radiation. The heat from the explosion was so intense that even shadows of people were burned onto the ground, creating a haunting and permanent reminder of the tragedy. Ever since then," he paused a second and then continued, "my family since the time of my great grandfathers has believed in the theory that the shadows of people remain in this world, even if they have died painfully."
"My family has come to view shadows as a sort of shield, and they believe that the head of each generation of our family should have a shadow in the form of a human being. The shadow is born at the same time as its owner, and it receives the same amount of respect and honour as its owner. However, if the owner dies, the shadow is inevitably doomed to die with them, whether it wants to or not. But if the Shadow dies first then there is no replacement for it."
As Gale explained, Martin was immersed in a vivid mental representation of the war's destruction, followed by the subsequent theory's origin. The depth of the concept dawned on him as he listened intently.
He couldn't help but feel a growing sense of admiration and fascination. Not only did the concept of shadows as shields intrigue him, but he also found himself reflecting on the deep bond and tragic fate shared by owners and their shadows. Yet, deep down, an unsettling thought tugged at the edges of Martin's mind. He wondered as he himself was assigned to be a shadow and carry the burden of being one. The weight of that seemed unimaginable, especially for someone so young, like him.
As Gale continued to speak, he added, "My dad also has a shadow, which happens to be Daniel's father Enzo Valente. The primary job of a shadow is to take on all the burdens and sufferings of its owner, functioning as a shield of sorts."
Finally Martin expressed his disbelief, stating firmly, "This theory makes absolutely no sense, it's like some nonsensical fantasy story that lacks any logic."
Gale listened attentively to Martin's opinion, his deep, dark oceanic blue eyes widening slightly in an amused manner.
"You think so, too?" he asked. "To be honest, I feel the same way."
Hearing him, Martin realised that they shared a similar perspective on the illogicality of the theory. He looked at Gale with a mix of confusion and curiosity, waiting for him to say more.
As the conversation continued, Martin suddenly became aware that the pain of his father leaving him forever had momentarily faded into the background due to Gale's presence. It felt as if Gale had a different sort of impact on him, almost as if he wasn't entirely human. Martin found himself struggling to put his finger on it. The more he observed, the more he felt compelled to uncover the mystery behind Gale's enigmatic aura.
"Do you know," Gale said, "They say that a shadow can be inexplicably drawn towards its owner against both the shadow and owner's will? It's as if some invisible force binds them together for as long as they both live."
Martin was surprised as he listened intently to Gale's words, realising that he could relate them to his own experience. He had felt a connection to Gale, a strange sense of closeness that seemed to grow stronger each day. It was almost as if some unseen power was drawing him closer to Gale, strengthening their bond.
Then he hesitated, a mixture of curiosity and trepidation in his eyes. "Um, if I'm your shadow," he finally asked, "Does that mean after you die, I'll have to die too, even if I don't want to?"
Gale's expression strangely grew serious as he listened to Martin's words and he responded without looking directly at Martin, his gaze fixed ahead. "Not at all," he said firmly. "Even if I pass away, you will remain alive."
Martin's confusion grew, and he asked, "But why?"
Gale's gaze intensified as he looked directly into Martin's eyes. "Because you're My shadow." He replied confidently, emphasising the word 'my', a hint of certainty in his voice.
The evening sky had now turned into night. The night was in full swing, and the moon was making a rare appearance through the night sky. The subtle glow from the moonlight illuminated Gale's face, causing his eyes to seem magical and more mysterious, his long, layered onyx black hair flowing gracefully with the wind of the beginning night.
Martin couldn't help but be captivated by the way Gale's gaze seemed to penetrate his soul, as if he were trying to decipher his very essence. Martin stared back at Gale's eyes.
The intensity of the moment left him feeling both intrigued and a little intimidated.
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