Benny and Frank walked toward the group of flag-bearers, their footsteps slow and heavy after the intense battle that had just taken place. The cheers of the crowd were still echoing in their ears, but the adrenaline that had fueled their fight was starting to drain from their bodies. Sweat dripped down their faces, and their muscles ached from the effort, but there was a different kind of exhaustion weighing on Benny's heart. It wasn't the physical kind.
It was the kind of exhaustion that came from realizing things had changed, and the people he had once called his closest friends had grown into strangers.
The other flag-bearers were standing in a small circle, their faces illuminated by the harsh lights that cut through the night air. The arena was quiet now, the deafening applause having faded into an eerie calm. Their eyes, glowing with the pride of their newfound power, looked at Benny and Frank as they approached.
Toma stood at the front, his icy demeanor still present despite the warm temperature of the night. His silver hair gleamed under the lights, and his piercing gaze swept over Benny and Frank without a hint of emotion.
Kenya stood beside him, her ever-present earphones plugged into her ears, the soft beat of music pulsing faintly from them. She gave a lazy smile as Benny and Frank joined the group, but her eyes were distant, almost bored.
Montiro leaned against a pillar, his hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket. His usual smirk was nowhere to be found, replaced by a hard expression, like the weight of the world had settled onto his shoulders. Emi and Paul were chatting amongst themselves, exchanging quiet words as if nothing had changed.
Benny felt an uncomfortable tightness in his chest. This wasn't the same group he had trained with, fought alongside, and lived with. This was something else. Something foreign.
Frank noticed Benny's hesitation and clapped him on the back, knocking him out of his thoughts.
"You alright?" Frank asked, his voice low.
Benny didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned his attention to the rest of the group. They had all changed. Their bodies had grown taller, more powerful. Their faces were harder, their eyes sharper. But most of all, it was their attitudes. There was an air of arrogance now that hadn't been there before. They had all become people Benny didn't quite recognize anymore.
"So," Toma began, his voice cutting through the silence. "It's been three and a half years. A lot's happened in that time."
Benny nodded, though his mind wasn't entirely on the conversation. He could hear snippets of their stories—the missions they'd been on, the battles they'd won, the fame and glory they'd accumulated. Each of them spoke with a confidence that Benny hadn't heard in their voices before, as though the weight of their power had already gone to their heads.
Kenya spoke next, her voice as carefree as ever. "I've been training and getting better at summoning spirit animals. I've had some pretty wild battles, but I'm just getting started. I'm planning on taking on some higher-tier monsters soon." She gave a lazy shrug, as if slaying monsters was just a casual hobby for her now.
Emi chimed in, her voice steady. "I've been working on my lance skills. I can manipulate it better now. I've also been on some missions with high-ranking heroes. They're tough, but I can handle it."
The others spoke similarly. Montiro talked about his newfound skills with his magical guns, Paul mentioned working with new magic, and Frank bragged about how he was able to take on C-tier monsters with ease. The group was full of confidence, and their words were laden with pride. Benny couldn't help but feel like an outsider as they talked. It was like they had all moved on, and he was stuck in the past.
Finally, Benny couldn't hold it in any longer. He spoke up, his voice trembling slightly.
"What about Akio?" he asked, his words loud enough to draw the attention of everyone in the group.
The moment the name left his mouth, the group fell silent. They turned to him, and for a split second, Benny thought he saw a flicker of discomfort in their eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it came.
"Akio?" Montiro said, his tone flat. "We don't talk about him anymore."
Benny's heart sank. He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, Frank spoke up.
"That's not true," Frank said, his voice firm. "We should still remember Akio. He was our friend. He died for us. He—"
But Frank was cut off by Toma.
"Akio's gone, Frank," Toma said coldly. "It's been three years. We've moved on. It's time to focus on the future, not the past."
Kenya glanced at Benny, her expression unreadable. "He was a symbol. He was strong. But he's not here anymore. We can't keep dwelling on it."
Benny's heart felt like it was being crushed. He didn't know what to say. He had hoped that maybe, just maybe, his friends still remembered Akio. That they still cared. But instead, they had all moved on, as if he never existed. As if Akio had never been a part of their lives.
Frank stood beside Benny, his expression grim. "But he was one of us," Frank muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "We were supposed to stick together."
Benny clenched his fists at his sides, the anger and frustration building up inside him like a tidal wave.
"No," Benny said, his voice shaking with emotion. "We can't forget him. He fought for us. He died for us. And now you're all just... just moving on like he never mattered."
The group shifted uncomfortably at his words. No one spoke. They just looked at him, some with indifference, others with subtle discomfort.
But Benny didn't care anymore. He couldn't care. His heart ached too much. Akio had been his friend, and Benny refused to let him be forgotten, not while he was still alive.
"I won't forget him," Benny said, his voice quiet but resolute. "Akio was one of us. And I'll remember him, even if no one else will."
With that, Benny turned and walked away, leaving the flag-bearers behind. He didn't care what they thought. He didn't care about their fame or their power. All that mattered to him was the memory of Akio and the bond they had shared.
As Benny walked away, he heard Frank's footsteps behind him. He didn't look back. Frank didn't have to say anything. Benny already knew Frank was with him.