The next day, Vanco walked Akio to school. As they passed the garden, Vanco asked seriously:
"Akio… which students dared to hit you yesterday?"
Akio raised his hand eagerly, pointing at Kora, who was playing with some kids. He smiled brightly:
"That's my new friend!"
Vanco froze, then slapped a hand to his forehead in disbelief:
"My god… how can he be this stupid?"
But his anger took over. He marched straight toward Kora, glaring with fiery eyes:
"So… you're the brat who dared to hit my son?!"
Kora froze in place, panic gripping him. Before he could escape, Vanco lunged and punched him in the face. Kora burst into tears, struggling to get away, while Akio watched from afar, eyes wide in confusion.
Vanco grabbed Kora by the collar, lifting him slightly, his eyes sharp and cold.
"Listen carefully, boy… If you open your mouth and tell anyone about this, I'll make sure you regret it. And more importantly… stay away from Akio. Don't even think about going near him again, understood?!"
Kora nodded frantically, tears streaming down his cheeks. Vanco released him, letting him drop to the ground. From a distance, Akio waved happily, proud of what he had seen, while Vanco muttered under his breath:
"My god… where will this boy's stupidity lead me?"
Back home, Vanco slouched on the couch beside his wife, arms behind his head as he yawned lazily. She looked at him with a mix of exasperation and annoyance:
"Don't bother pretending, Vanco. I know exactly what you were thinking."
He smiled indifferently, eyes closed:
"Of course. You know I'll never hesitate to protect my son, Nuria."
She huffed, turning away sharply:
"I wasted my youth marrying a fool… raising foolish children!"
Vanco ignored the insult, staring at the ceiling with unusual seriousness:
"Nuria… kids these days are shallow. One mistake is enough for everyone to unite and hate you. Akio carries a mark that draws attention. And on top of that, he's a child with no known parents. That's why I had to raise him this way from the start. I don't want him to live in sadness or weakness. He needs to be strong, social, and unaffected by people's words… someone who surpasses them with his smile."
Nuria gave him a mocking look:
"Big words, coming from a man who still gets beaten by me every day. But… you're right. I don't want to see Akio break under the cruelty of children."
[At school]
Akio sat at his desk, listening intently to the history teacher. The woman with tied black hair stood before the wooden board, her voice steady as she began:
"Students, the history of our continent, Valoria, began three hundred and seventy-five years ago. Before that, we have no clear records or documents telling us what happened. What we all know is that our ancestors found themselves in this land, with no memory of who they were before.
From then on, humanity began building civilization anew. Kingdoms and provinces were formed, order and authority established. The largest kingdom is the Great Kingdom of Kaji. Beside it are ten scattered provinces under the rule of Emperor Makia. Then, there are the three islands that live outside the kingdoms' control. And finally… the Empire of Zitara, where we live. It is the only one that preserved its ancient traditions and never bowed to any invasion."
"As for what lies beyond the borders of our continent… no one knows. The transparent wall surrounding Valoria keeps us from crossing it, hiding from our eyes whatever may exist on the other side. That is why, all we truly have is this land, and this history built with sweat and effort over three centuries and seven decades."
When the teacher finished her explanation, she pulled a paper picture from her bag and held it up before the students. The image showed a young man in his early twenties, with pale skin, hair as white as snow, and eyes red as blood.
She paused for a moment, then said in a voice filled with awe:
"This is the former Shogun… Shiro. He was a symbol of strength and order in his era. Thanks to him and his family, our continent remained stable for many years. He sought to unite people under one banner. But his life ended in betrayal… he was killed treacherously before he could complete what he started."
Slowly lowering the picture, she added:
"Even though he died twenty-seven years ago, his name still lingers in our history, remembered as one of the greatest leaders Valoria has ever known."
Her gaze remained fixed on the picture as she continued:
"Shogun Shiro was unbelievably kind and powerful. He possessed extraordinary strength, but he never used it to dominate or control. Instead, he used it to protect people from those with wicked hearts. He always stood with the weak, defended the innocent… and for that, everyone loved him, young and old alike."
Akio suddenly raised his hand and stood from his seat, his golden eyes shining with childlike curiosity:
"Teacher… what happened after Shogun Shiro died? Did another Shogun come after him?"
Kora tried to suppress his laughter, while the teacher smiled faintly at Akio's innocence before answering, her eyes returning to the picture:
"After Shogun Shiro's death, Valoria fell into chaos for a time. No other Shogun appeared with his name or authority… but power did not vanish completely. Over the years, new rulers rose—like King Cirrus and Emperor Makia—each one trying to impose his own rule. And so, instead of uniting, the people of Valoria were divided."
Akio lowered his head, his golden eyes glimmering with sadness as he whispered aloud:
"That's so sad… If Shogun Shiro were still alive, he would have fulfilled his dream and made Valoria a happy place for everyone. I wish I could have met him… maybe he would have been my friend too."
Silence filled the classroom for a few seconds, then most of the students burst into laughter. Some banged their hands on the desks mockingly, others whispered among themselves:
"His friend? Does he think he's the hero of a fairy tale?"
"How stupid… he wants to be Shogun's friend!"
Akio's face turned red with embarrassment, but as always, he clung to his smile, unaware that his honesty and innocence were what made him the target of ridicule. The laughter only grew louder, until the whole class was filled with it—until the teacher slammed her hand on the desk and shouted angrily:
"Enough!"
The students went silent at once, though some still stifled their giggles. The teacher turned to Akio and spoke in a calmer tone:
"Some may laugh at what you said, Akio… but the truth is, your words hold a deep meaning. Shogun Shiro truly dreamed of making Valoria a better place for everyone. If he were alive now, maybe he would have achieved it. But perhaps his dream will be fulfilled in the far future… by someone else."
Akio was still standing beside his desk, his hands resting on it. Suddenly, he raised them in excitement, sending his papers and notebooks flying into the air as he shouted with all his heart:
"I'll be that person! I… will become the future Shogun!"
The classroom erupted in laughter again. Kora rose from his seat, sneering as he spoke loudly:
"Did you hear that? This fool wants to be Shogun! Maybe he'll rule Valoria with his stupid smile!"
The laughter swelled, but Akio did not flinch. He stood firm, fists clenched tight, his smile still shining on his face despite the mockery.
The noise faded little by little, replaced by the sound of Akio's footsteps echoing in the school corridor. He opened the bathroom door and slipped inside, shutting it tightly behind him. He sighed as he looked around… then his eyes widened.
On the white walls, messy scribbles covered every surface, filled with cruel words:
"Akio the Fool"
"The Smiling Idiot"
"The Laughable Shogun"
"Street Rat"
He froze in place, staring at the insults surrounding him. For a moment, it felt as if the laughter from the classroom still echoed in his ears.
Suddenly, footsteps approached, followed by the voices of classmates barging into the bathroom, talking loudly. None of them knew he was behind the stall door.
"Did you hear what he said? He wants to be Shogun!"
"Ha! I heard he's adopted. That explains his stupidity. His real parents probably didn't even want him!"
"What an idiot… just a stray orphan!"
Akio clenched his small fists, trying to endure, swallowing the words that cut into his heart. His golden eyes stayed fixed on the scribbles on the wall. He slowly lowered the toilet lid and sat on it, curling into himself, hugging his knees to his chest.
Moments later, a lump rose in his throat. He had held it in too long. Without realizing it, tears welled up, spilling down his cheeks. In his broken sobs, scattered thoughts echoed inside him:
"Did I say something wrong?"
"Why… doesn't anyone like me?"
"I just… wanted friends…"
With a trembling hand, he wiped his tears and raised his head. He tried to force a smile… but it was crooked, fragile, weighed down by pain. A smile that convinced no one—not even himself.
In the rusty mirror before him, the reflection of a boy with tear-stained golden eyes appeared. A boy desperately trying to look happy… while his heart was breaking in silence.
To be continued…