Chapter 13
One day, during a mission far from Tokyo, Tomura's mother died. A report had come in about a demon-possessed boy who was on a rampage, killing indiscriminately. To protect her client, she had bravely put herself in the path of the demon, sacrificing herself to save others. The demon escaped, never apprehended.
Upon hearing the news, Tomura's father suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with severe mental health issues. He blamed Tomura for his wife's death, his grief warping into irrational anger.
Tomura would often argue with his father, sometimes running away to Shinjuku Station, sometimes seeking refuge at Hinata's house. Hinata would always take him home, apologizing to his father, who would sometimes accept her apologies, sometimes angrily chase them away. The doctor explained that his condition caused him to forget these events, requiring Hinata to reintroduce herself and Tomura each time. This became their daily routine.
One night, a particularly violent argument erupted between Tomura and his father. It concerned Tomura's application to the ASE academy in China, which his father had angrily torn up. Tomura, consumed by rage, yelled that he wished his father had died instead of his mother, then stormed out.
Hinata, whose window faced Tomura's house, had overheard everything. Knowing he would likely go to the station, she decided to find him there.
When she arrived, she saw Tomura with someone else, someone she sensed was a demon. She remained hidden, observing from a distance.
The demon sat beside Tomura, and they spoke for some time. The demon then presented Tomura with a bottle, which Tomura drank in one gulp. The demon then melted into the shadows. Hinata approached Tomura, her heart pounding.
"It's none of your business, Hinata. Why are you always worried about me?" Tomura asked, his voice cold and distant.
"You're my friend, and I can't leave you now that you need me most," Hinata replied calmly, trying to maintain her composure. She noticed the empty bottle on the ground—an unusual, transparent glass containing a deep red liquid. "Tomura, what was in that bottle you just drank?" she asked, pointing to it.
"It's nothing," he replied dismissively.
"Don't tell me it's nothing. I know that the person you were talking to was a demon," Hinata insisted, her voice trembling slightly.
"Oh, is it? I didn't realize. You can sense it from that far," Tomura said, his tone laced with a strange mixture of indifference and arrogance.
"Don't tell me…you…you made a pact with a demon. You know what happens after; they come for your soul after you fulfill your wish. What did you wish for?" Hinata asked, her fear growing.
"I wished to be all the things I can't be and to do all the things I can't do," Tomura replied, his eyes gleaming with a disturbing intensity.
"What do you mean by that? What do you think your mom would say if she saw you?" Hinata asked, trying to appeal to his remaining sense of morality.
"My mom is dead!!" he spat out, his voice devoid of any emotion. "I'm glad she's dead; if not, I'd never be able to do this. She couldn't see the truth, and she died because of her foolishness."
"I can't believe you would say such a thing," Hinata whispered, her heart sinking.
Tomura's skin began to crack, revealing red scales beneath, forming a distinct pattern. "You better get out of here; I don't want you to be the first person I kill," he said, his voice chillingly calm.
"But where are you going?" Hinata asked, her voice trembling.
"To find the demon who killed my mother, and when I find him, I'm going to make him pay," Tomura replied, his eyes burning with cold fury.
Before Hinata could respond, he vanished. Suspecting he might go home first, she raced to his house.
…
…
…
She arrived to find his father dead, the house ransacked, a window shattered.
Hinata went home, pretending everything was normal. But weeks later, reports of missing people began to surface, along with disturbing evidence—traces of blood and scattered human remains.
PRESENT
"I'm sorry; I kept this away from you. Please," Hinata sobbed. "I knew if I told you, you would have reported it to the academy. And I just don't want Tomura to die."
"You should have said something earlier," Kakashi said, his voice firm but laced with understanding. "He might be your friend, but he's now a demon, and he's killed a lot of people."
"Kakashi! You don't need to say things like that," Ayaka reminded, her voice softer than usual.
"It's alright; he's right. A lot of people died because I wanted to save him. It's my fault," Hinata confessed, her voice breaking. "But please, please, save Tomura. He's the only friend I have. Please."
"I'll try," Kakashi said, squatting in front of her and gently patting her head. "But he's not your only friend. I'm also your friend, aren't I?"
"Yes. Yes, you are. Thanks," she said, a faint smile touching her lips.
"Sorry about my partner," Ayaka said, addressing Amai. "We'll be taking our leave."
"It's fine; what he said was right," Amai replied, her expression somber.
"Okay, I'll walk you to the door," Hinata offered.
As they stepped outside, Yaze was waiting by the road. Ayaka rushed towards him. Kakashi started to follow, but Hinata gently held his arm.
"Hmm, Kakashi, I need to ask you a favor."
"What is it?"
"Please…next time you come to visit, will you stay longer?" she asked, her eyes hopeful.
"Of course. I'll even take you somewhere special, just for both of us," Kakashi smiled warmly.
"I'll be looking forward to it," Hinata said, her smile radiant.
"Kakashi, we don't have forever," Ayaka called out, her voice urging him to hurry.
"I'm coming!" Kakashi said, patting Hinata's head one last time before walking away. He turned back to see Hinata waving at him, her smile a bittersweet farewell.