The flag-bearer meeting had ended in a disorienting silence. No one was speaking to each other. The words exchanged were no more than formalities. Everyone had already begun to disperse, moving on with their new lives—lives that had nothing to do with Akio. Except Benny. He stood there, staring at the floor, fists clenched as he tried to make sense of everything. Frank was next to him, still trying to catch his breath from the intense duel they had just finished. Neither of them knew where to go after this, after hearing their classmates speak so indifferently about Akio.
The others had already begun to slip away into the crowd, talking amongst themselves like nothing had ever happened. They had all moved on. Benny's stomach twisted. He could barely hold back his frustration, but Threya, standing quietly off to the side, caught his eye. She hadn't said a word the entire time, just looking at the floor, her body stiff. Even her energy seemed to be drained, a stark contrast to the confident persona she'd shown when they had first met. She wasn't here, mentally. She was somewhere far off, trapped in memories.
Threya had always been the heart of their group, the one who had been a calming force, the one who cared. And yet, here she was, silent, unable to even speak up when the others had dismissed Akio without a second thought. Benny's mind flashed back to the way she had looked at Akio in the past, the warmth in her eyes when she was with him. It was that connection that had kept Benny going for all these years.
Threya's gaze lingered on the others as they left, the smile slowly fading from her face as she watched them head in different directions. They were no longer the group of friends they once were. They had been scattered by time, by ambition, by the pressure of their powers.
Benny felt the pull in his chest. Was this how it was supposed to be? Did everything they had been through—everything they had fought for—mean nothing now? It felt like they had become strangers, and the loss of Akio had fractured them in ways he couldn't explain. Benny couldn't help but wonder, what would have happened if Akio were here now?
As the others continued to walk away, talking amongst themselves in the distance, Frank nudged Benny with his shoulder, snapping him from his thoughts.
"Let's go," Frank said. His tone was steady, even though his own frustration was bubbling just below the surface. He didn't care if they were heroes now, if they were destined for greatness. He wasn't ready to give up on Akio—not like the rest of them.
Benny hesitated, glancing over at Threya one last time. She didn't look back at him. She didn't seem to notice anything. Her gaze was vacant, as though she had already walked away from all of them.
"Threya..." Benny whispered, but she didn't answer. She didn't even flinch. It was as if she had closed herself off entirely, a barrier Benny couldn't break.
Frank grabbed Benny's arm, pulling him gently but firmly. "Come on, man. She'll figure it out." His words were harsh, but there was an edge of understanding to them. He had his own battles to fight now.
"Yeah..." Benny muttered, his voice heavy with uncertainty. He allowed Frank to lead him away, his steps reluctant but heavy with the weight of what they had lost.
As they left the arena, the echoes of their footsteps bounced off the walls, drowning in the emptiness. Benny's mind raced, unable to quiet itself. He couldn't shake the image of Threya, standing alone, abandoned. He wanted to call out to her, tell her that Akio wasn't forgotten. But he knew it wasn't his place. No one else cared.
Benny and Frank walked in silence for a while. Neither of them said a word. They didn't need to. The events of the day had already spoken for them.
It was only when they reached the exit of the academy grounds that Benny spoke again, his voice quiet but determined.
"You know what, Frank?" he asked. "I can't just forget him. I can't pretend like he didn't mean everything to us. Not after everything we went through. Not after what we've become."
Frank didn't respond at first, but after a moment, he spoke, his voice low and filled with a rare sincerity.
"I know. It's messed up. But we can't force it, Benny. They've moved on. Hell, we all have. But we're the ones left behind, and that's not something we can change."
Benny clenched his jaw, his hands balled into fists once more. He didn't want to admit it, but Frank was right. They couldn't bring back the past. It was gone, and so was Akio. The symbol of hope, of their shared mission, was now nothing more than a memory.
"I don't care if they've moved on," Benny muttered. "I'm not going to leave him behind. Not Akio. I won't forget him."
Frank nodded, though his expression was conflicted. "Then let's go make sure we don't forget, together. But don't expect it to be easy. People forget, Benny. Even the ones who should remember."
The words stung, but Benny didn't back down. He couldn't. Akio had been their friend. He had fought beside them. And though he wasn't here now, Benny wasn't going to let the world forget who Akio was. Not now, not ever.
As they left the academy grounds behind them, Benny's mind was full of resolve. If the others wouldn't remember, then he would make sure that Akio's memory lived on in the fight he still had to face. Whatever came next, Benny would carry that weight—and it was a weight he would never let go of.