It was a few hours after the two incidents in Shimokitazawa, as it was now evening, and Sekinin was out shopping with Seika and her father to get the groceries that should have been brought hours ago. In retrospect, nobody could have predicted that crimes would happen in what's supposed to be a safe place.
"Hmm… Arawareru-san, all we need left are just eggs and rice."
"The two things that we could have gotten from the market, but sadly, were out of stock. We can only hope that a nearby store will have them in stock. Sekinin, Seika, do you both want anything here? I don't mind paying for it."
Seika's father asked his daughter and the boy who he saw as a son. Seika shook her head as she didn't want anything.
"I'm a good dad, plus I should really head on back soon, STARRY won't open by itself. And PA-san messaged me that you-know-who had just decided to go to STARRY and collapse in front of the door."
Sekinin shivers as he knows who Seika is talking about. The fact that the person decided to go to STARRY after what happened today was something shocking or dangerous, considering her behavior. Arawareru-san lets out an awkward laugh as he recalls meeting that person Seika always complains about whenever she decides to go to STARRY.
"Well, why don't we join you, we can just get the last two things tomorrow."
"It's fine, Dad, I'll be very careful on the way back."
Seika knew her dad was very worried about letting her go on her own after he heard what had nearly happened to her. As much as she understood a father's concern towards his daughter, she is an adult, she can take care of herself. She noticed the concerned look on his face, as well as Sekinin's expression that told her to just allow the extra protection, at least for today.
She sighs as she looks back at her father.
"Actually, I don't mind if you both accompany me back."
Arawareru-san smiled as he, along with Sekinin, walked with Seika all the way back to STARRY. Thankfully, no other attacks or anything had happened, but that doesn't mean the incidents that happened today had alerted Sekinin to hone in on his spider-sense to be alert to anything.
So far, he was alerted by birds, people either spitting or running, and the sounds of anything too sensitive to his ears. But there was something that felt off when he was walking back, something very strange that he wondered if he should be worried, concerned, or even mindful about.
He sensed a lone crow, who was just on a bench, looking hungry. Some people avoid the crow as it is known to have an omen of death whenever they see one, as well as being a pest despite having intelligence. But the fact that it looks hungry just makes Sekinin want to do something to help.
So he offers it some food and water as he had some with him, he asks Arawareru and Seika to wait for a moment while he is feeding the crow as the crow itself was surprisingly obedient when being fed. Sure, they are smart, but when Sekinin asked if it was hungry, it nodded and waited for him to bring it food. After he fed the crow Sekinin said his goodbyes as he left with Seika and Arawareru.
But not even 10 steps in, he sensed the crow watching him, the fact that it was carefully observing him just felt… Strange. Whenever he got a bit far, the crow always went to the nearest streetlight where he was currently just to get a closer look at him.
He looked back a few times as every time he did, he noticed the curious look on it, as if it knew he could sense it, even when he wasn't looking directly at the crow in the eyes. As if the crow was interested in Sekinin.
While Sekinin was busy either just letting the crow do whatever it does or just feeling a bit paranoid, the group of three reached STARRY where he and Arawareru said their goodbyes to Seika as she went inside. Not a second later she immediately made a face as both Sekinin and Arawareru knew would be either bad or at least bearable.
Arawareru felt a buzz in his pocket as he checked his phone for a moment before frowning a bit, then turned to Sekinin, who noticed his expression. While at the same time, Sekinin noticed the crow no longer followed him.
"Sorry, Sekinin, it seems that your uncle won't be able to pick us up. Ben had his car's tires pop, as from what I'm reading, a few delinquents thought it would be a good idea to mess with his car and are probably receiving the wrath of Benjamin Parker."
"Wrath? More like half an hour of him talking to those delinquents about their behavior. While also making them either regret or look back on what they are doing… Depending on what kind of delinquents he is talking to."
Arawareru laughs as he knows what kind of person Ben Parker is, a man who would not tolerate bad behavior but also helps those to at least reflect on their actions. It works almost every time, Uncle Ben has a gift of words and advice. He even focuses on responsibility, more than anyone.
"Do you think Usagi and Nijika got home safe?"
"They did, it's just your uncle was unfortunate to be outside of his car when he dropped off Nijika when those delinquents showed up."
Which was why Arawareru was here with them in the first place, to make sure that Sekinin and Seika are safe and protected in case another crime decides to happen. Uncle Ben was with Arawareru as he was dropped off by Uncle Ben. And that to drop off the girls so that they would get home safer and quicker.
Sure, they could have taken the car home together while getting the groceries, but there is a reason why the quote "hitting two birds with one stone" exists. Having two things done at the same time, which would have been possible had Ben's car tires not been popped. Still, the two of them will go home by using the train at Shimokitazawa Station.
It was a quiet way back but it was pleasant as the sights of Shimokitazawa will always be amazing. Sekinin was texting Nijika as she was messaging him that his uncle was able to talk to the delinquents about their actions and even felt remorse. He smiled as he knew his uncle had done his magic once again.
He then heard the speaker as the train had arrived at the destination that he and Arawareru needed to get off at. Once they got off, it was a walk from home; neither Sekinin nor Arawareru had said anything, not until…
"Thank you Sekinin, for saving Seika."
He spoke with gratitude, which caught Sekinin off guard. He knew that he had already said that, but this time it was face-to-face.
"You're welcome, Arawareru-san. I am glad that I was able to stop that American Foreigner from…"
"Which is why I'm thanking you again, you stopped that man, stopped him from taking away my daughter, a murder that we all would not have known about until the police called us."
He looked Sekinin in the eyes, he didn't look away until he smiled.
"It is astonishing that children take on their parents' appearance. It was only yesterday when I saw you that morning, a smart young kid with a bright future. And look at yourself now, a stunning image of Richard."
Sekinin just smiles, though he commented in his mind that it was yesterday when he was bitten by that spider and grew. Still, he nodded as he had already heard that from his uncle.
"I remember when you first came to Tokyo, when you and your family moved to our neighborhood. You were so shy and scared of everything."
Sekinin just smiles sheepishly as he somewhat recalls his first time when he set foot in Tokyo. At first, he wanted to know everything about a whole new place that he wasn't used to, but quickly grew scared as it wasn't exactly like New York City.
"When we first greeted you all, I can still remember your first question: whether Nijika was an angel. A unique question that you ask."
"Gosh… I did?"
Sekinin immediately blushed as he didn't remember that, but suddenly he did, back then, at the time he didn't know that Japan had a whole different language from English. And that the moment his eyes met with Nijika, he felt safe and protected as if he was seeing the very divine being his mother told him about when reading him bedtime stories.
Nijika, at the time, didn't know what he asked and was confused by what he said, as all she knew was Japanese. Only Arawareru, Senatsu, and Seika knew what he asked and were amused by his question.
"Seika told me in the past, those years ago, that she should have told Nijika what you asked on that day but decided not to ask. And we did the same as we all knew that she would have a struggle to answer your question."
Sekinin just let out a sigh as he agreed with his words. Nijika would have definitely struggled with answering his question as he had just met her at the time.
"Well… At least…"
Sekinin was about to say something else as he felt his spider-sense was alerting him. Something very dangerous. He was immediately on high alert as he wondered if it was another attack and was finding out who was in danger.
He also noticed that time was still going, as if the previous spider-sense alerts were just pure chances of alerting him perfectly and effectively. He searched around, ignoring Arawareru's confusion at his sudden seriousness.
Sekinin continued to walk but his eyes were looking all over the area. But couldn't find the target of the danger or what the danger was. It was beginning to worry Sekinin as what he sensed was very dangerous, and he couldn't even find anything wrong.
His eyes locked onto people in his view, some were just ordinary citizens, some businessmen and women, school boys and girls still out instead of going home, anyone in the area that had alerted him.
He wondered if his spider-sense had somehow malfunctioned, or maybe was just him being very paranoid. But something immediately caught his eye.
He saw two figures, both of them in disguise, one with sunglasses, a hat, and a mask, while the other was wearing a black hoodie covering their face. He couldn't tell which one was either male or female or both the same gender. But the moment he locks onto the black hoodie individual, his senses immediately focus on them.
Sekinin immediately guessed that the person was dangerous, and whether the other person next to them is also dangerous is left unanswered, as his senses just focus on the person he has his eyes on.
He and the black hooded figure were just across the street. Sekinin just focused on not looking suspicious while looking at the danger with his eyes. He immediately moved his eyes away as his senses were telling him that the danger was about to lock eyes with him.
It seems that the hooded figure felt that he was being watched, as after waiting for a moment, he walked away with the other person. Sekinin carefully looks back to ensure that the person is walking away.
"Sekinin?"
Arawareru asks Sekinin as he sees his expression, which tells him that an attack was just about to happen. Sekinin carefully looks at Arawareru, still on alert.
"Sorry for my sudden behavior. Did… Did you happen to see two people hiding their identities?"
"Oh, those two? Well, they did look suspicious, but then again, they could have been celebrities hiding their faces. Then again, hiding your identity like those two would get people to wonder who they are behind the mask and sunglasses."
Arawareru looked at the two who were still walking in the opposite direction, then, with no warning, he immediately followed them as Sekinin was confused by his sudden actions. But at the same time, he felt very concerned.
"Arawareru-san, why are we following them?"
"The person in the black hoodie has a knife holster on his back. The sweater is hiding the holster."
This got Sekinin even more alert; his eyes locked on the person's back as there was indeed a knife holster. The fact that it looked well hidden made Sekinin immediately wonder if that was what had alerted his senses.
Sekinin and Arawareru silently followed as the two went to an alleyway. The two quickly approach the alleyway, but don't go. Arawareru carefully peeks to see anything suspicious, only to immediately move his head away and look at Sekinin.
"Sekinin, call the police, the hooded person is threatening the other person!"
He whispered as Sekinin immediately took out his phone to call 110, but his spider-sense alerted him again. But this time…
"Arawareru-san, we have to leave now!"
But Arawareru didn't move or heed Sekinin's words.
"If we leave now then that person's life will be in danger. If we leave and the person is killed then our choice of leaving will be the reason why they are dead. Our choices will affect the action of what is going to happen. We have a responsibility, Sekinin, and right now it is my responsibility to ensure that person's life will not be taken."
Sekinin was affected by what he said, then, with no hesitation, he called the police. He quickly moved away as he told the police of the situation and location, and he was told they'll be on their way.
Once he was done he turned back only to find Arawareru was nowhere to be seen. Worried, Sekinin immediately ran into the alleyway as he saw Arawareru confronting the hooded person with the knife.
He notices the person who is threatened is shaking in fear, but looks hopeful when Arawareru shows up. He also noticed that no one had noticed him, and he immediately hid behind a dumpster. He listened in as he looked around to see what he could do to help Arawareru.
"Well, what do we have here? I was wondering who was watching me."
The hooded person spoke in the calmest voice that anyone has heard. So calming that it makes it more tense for everyone.
"Watching you? Your disguise is what makes you suspicious."
Arawareru spoke as he was stalling for the police to come. Sekinin immediately noticed how dark this alleyway was, and the sun was setting, so it was a bit hard to see because of the lack of light in this particular alleyway. Then, after hesitating a few seconds, he decided to climb on the wall and quickly climb towards the hooded figure.
"Listen, I don't know what your deal is with your companion, but whatever it is, isn't this a bit too much?"
The hooded person said nothing, just silence. The other person tried to slip away, only for a hand to stop them in place. Then, suddenly, a small laugh was heard, a laugh that no one expected to sound so sinister, low, cold, and uneasy. That very laugh caused Sekinin's spider-sense to go off once again as a ringing was heard.
"Trying to play the hero, huh? Instead of ignoring the scene here instead of saving yourself, you decided to meddle. Naive people and their sense of actions."
The knife was creeping close to the person's neck as they were trembling in pure fear. But before anything could happen the person with the knife was jumped by Sekinin. He landed on the person's shoulder as they both fell. With no hesitation, the other person quickly ran behind Arawareru as Sekinin quickly got off of the person as the figure got back up.
"So you had someone with you? Damn you both!"
The hooded figure's words were cold, with no emotion, just hollow rage and anger. Sekinin immediately was on guard of the person in front of him.
But once more, his spider-sense reacted; the target was the other person and Arawareru! The hooded figure immediately charged at the two as Sekinin immediately grabbed him with his hands, holding onto the figure's arms that held the knife.
It was very easy, then again the figure didn't have that much strength and expected to easily do an assassination, cocky to believe that he would—
BANG!*
Suddenly a shot was heard, and someone immediately fell to the ground. Everyone immediately turned, and Sekinin cried out in horror. Arawareru was shot in the stomach. Sekinin immediately kicked the hooded figure's other arm which held a gun. The force was enough for him to drop both weapons as the figure yelled out in agony from the impact of his arm.
Sekinin immediately ran to Arawareru's side as the other person was shaking so much that she just stared at Arawareru.
"H-He sh-shield me! H-He bl-block the bu-bullet for m-me!"
The person with a tone of horror, along with a female tone, which indicated that she was a girl, as she tried to explain, but was shuddering as if she had just seen their entire life flash before her eyes.
"Arawareru-san! ARAWARERU-SAN!"
Sekinin cried out as he tried to stop the blood that was flowing out. But he suddenly felt something as he quickly turned to see that the hooded figure had already gotten up and had quickly run away.
"H-HEY! GET BACK HERE!"
Sekinin immediately gave chase. He quickly tried to catch up, but the alleyway turned out to have so many things as obstacles, while it was hard to see, and the hooded figure immediately used that to his advantage. But Sekinin wasn't about to give up, he immediately jumped over the obstacles and used the wall to his advantage.
Unlike his room, a small space, he was outside with a long, wide wall, and the moment he stuck to it, he quickly ran while sticking. What was more shocking was how quickly he adapted to wall running but immediately focused on the hooded figure.
The moment he was in their range, Sekinin didn't hesitate to use both of his wrists as webs shot out. Like web shooters. But neither web caught the hooded figure. Sekinin immediately fired more but each shot missed like the last few.
Then the hooded figure turned to another pathway as Sekinin immediately thought of jumping to the other wall on the other side but quickly got a new idea.
He aimed his right arm at another wall and shot a web as he made the range of a rope. In a desperate decision, he jumped off the wall and felt the stretch of the web as it carried him. At that moment, he felt like he could swing by using his webs.
But sadly, he nearly crashed into the wall as he immediately caught himself before crashing. But he didn't have time to think about it, he still had to…
"WHERE IS HE!?"
Sekinin shouted to no one as he didn't see the hooded figure, as if they had vanished in the dark of the alleyway, and that there were other pathways that they could have gone. He was angry at himself, angry for not planning sooner, thinking that he could swing like an expert and make a reckless move that made the hooded figure escape.
Before he could do anything, he heard sirens; the noise of them reminded Sekinin that Arawareru was bleeding. He immediately rushed back, hoping and praying that the man, the father of his best friend, the second father figure of his life, was still alive.
He quickly made it back, he quickly got to his side again, and he could see the pain and agony Arawareru was feeling.
"Arawareru-san! It's going to be okay! Everything is going to be okay! Help is here! H-Hey! Please tell them to call an ambulance! P-Please!"
The girl in disguise quickly nodded as she rushed to the police officers who were rushing to the alleyway. Sekinin was holding on to Arawareru, his hand holding on to the man he looked up to, along with his uncle; pain and regret were on Sekinin's face.
"S-Sekinin…"
"You're going to be fine! You're… You're… I'm sorry! I couldn't catch him… He got away, and… And I had the power to stop him, and yet I let him get away. I'm so sorry!"
A tear fell from his eye, but it was slowly wiped away by Arawareru, who was using his strength to wipe the tear away.
"N-No! Save your energy! I said you're going to be okay!"
The man looks at Sekinin's blue eyes.
"Sekinin… I don't think… Please… Take care… Of my family… Don't make… The worst choice."
He gave Sekinin one last smile, a smile that showed that he knew the boy he viewed as a son would make the right choice. Then he closed his eyes, never to be open ever again. His body… No longer moving.
Sekinin felt his heart stop, his lungs suffocate, and more tears began to flow out of his eyes.
"N-No! Please! Arawareru-san! P-Please wake up! Please! A-Arawareru-san!... ARAWARERU-SAN!"
He sobbed, the pain he felt when he heard his parents were dead, a scar in his heart was reopened.
The area was soon closed off, and people who gathered to see what had happened were immediately sent away by the police. From their perspective, they saw a son losing his father to a murderer; they comforted him, but they knew that the way he cried, the man was someone who could never be replaced.
Sekinin didn't remember after a few minutes, but he acknowledged that he was in a police station. Dried tears are on his face as he is being comforted by a police officer known as Yuri Briar. The moment he heard Sekinin's last name is Parker, the officer immediately made sure to comfort him the best way he could.
When he heard of what happened to Arawareru Ijichi and what he was like to Sekinin, the officer couldn't believe how much pain and suffering he had already gone through. As if he already knew Sekinin or knew his surname.
Sekinin didn't know why, but he was glad that there was someone he could let out his pain to. After he had exhausted himself from the crying and somewhat calmed down. He gave out his statement of what happened along with the girl who was there, who turned out to be an idol.
From the idol's statement, she and a young man who was the hooded figure were dating, and today was supposed to be a nice relaxing afternoon only for him to threaten her life with a knife, and he made sure no one would notice what he was about to do until Sekinin and Arawareru showed and everything was history.
When Yuri asked the idol about the young man's name and what he looked like, the girl did everything with her memory to explain what he looked like as another officer was making a sketch of what he looked like. Once she finished, the officer showed the sketch as the idol commented it looked like him, but at the same time, for some reason, it didn't look like him.
Sekinin thought that the sketches of the supposed young man looked oddly familiar. Blond, good looking… But what else…
When being asked about anything else the young man had or looked like, the idol thought really hard for a moment; she didn't want the guy she dated, who was close to killing her, to remain roaming on the streets of Tokyo, so she thought long and hard.
"AH! There was something else, he had this charm that made me believe I was special and valued, like he was a guiding light for my darkness. But after what happened, after what I saw… I only saw a demon, and his eyes… I thought they were eerie and creepy, like faint black stars that were slowly appearing."
Sekinin's blood went cold, faint black. His fists clenched, his breathing became heavier, he KNEW who she was talking about, and that he saw the bastard at Ozukōpu Industries yesterday. YESTERDAY! The young man whom Sekinin felt was strange and creepy, even before getting his spider-sense.
With no hesitation, Sekinin spoke up, telling the two officers of the image of the young man, whose name, according to the idol, is Hikaru Kamiki. Once the officer makes changes to the sketch, he finishes as he shows the two of them Hikaru, and both of them confirm that it is Hikaru as Yuri nods.
"We'll make sure to find this man and bring him to justice. Miss Lass, I believe we need to have you put on witness protection, as this man clearly knows you and possibly everything else about your life. We think— No, he will come back to finish you off after what happened."
The idol name Lass nodded as she knew she and her family were in danger from her now declared ex-boyfriend. She was led to another room where she could call her family about what had happened, but before she could do that, she turned to Sekinin as she hugged.
"I'm so sorry… I'm sorry that my naiveness caused all of this. I hope they find him… I hope… Everything will be okay."
Sekinin just nodded, but the girl knew that everything was never going to be okay. Once she exits the room with the other officer, Yuri approaches Sekinin as he puts a hand on his shoulder.
"You need to call your family as well as the Ijichi family. I know it hurts to do this… But they must know."
Sekinin nodded as he opened his phone, but the moment he was about to press Senatsu's LINE number, he froze. He couldn't do it… He… He didn't want to let her know that…
"How about I call your aunt or uncle… I know them…"
Sekinin just gave a simple nod, not acknowledging what he said as he was thinking about Hikaru Kamiki and his own failures of not saving Arawareru. The man, the very person whom he now hated, saw him on that field trip, looking back to that smile of his, a smile that makes Sekinin wish he had punched him when he first saw him.
And at the same time… He felt worthless, he had the powers of the spider, and yet he couldn't stop an ordinary guy who murdered Arawareru and allowed him to escape. He had the powers to stick on walls, make webs out of his wrist, and increase speed, but none of that saved him. And his spider-sense didn't tell him that Hikaru had a gun, it only sensed the knife.
Sekinin couldn't help but think of many scenarios, different choices, many what-ifs, and wonder which one could have actually managed Arawareru's survival. He also looked at his wrist; he only had these powers for one day, and what he tried to do shows just how inexperienced he was.
And it cost him the life he couldn't save. If he had them like a week earlier, had he learned and self-trained to master them, then… Then…
Suddenly, a loud noise was heard, so loud that it snapped Sekinin out of his thoughts. He didn't see Officer Yuri until he saw him behind… Seika! Who had just entered the police station. Sekinin noticed that the lighting was bright, which shows the lights inside were turned on; he wondered how much time had passed during his deep thinking.
The moment he saw her, the tears he thought had already dried out were refilled; he even saw the tears in her eyes, locking onto him, showing that she hoped that what her mother had told her was wrong. But when she saw Sekinin's tears, she couldn't hold back as she immediately ran to him.
The two of them cried as they hugged each other. Nothing was ever going to be the same ever again.