CHAPTER 19: BEST FRIENDS

Iwo falls due to exhaustion and Rinka grabs him, unsettled.

Rinka: Minaro?

Doa turns the lights on, now all is illuminated.

Rinka: What the hell are you doing!?

He softly puts Iwo down, and angrily moves over to Minaro, who's got his common, bored expression.

Iwo: … He - he killed Kuwi and Rasshu.

For a moment, Rinka is hit with gloom. Anger returns right after.

Rinka: … Why'd you kill them? When I told you not to!

He attempts to grab Minaro's shirt but has his own wrist caught instead.

Minaro: Because I have my own plans.

Minaro lets go, pushes him aside, and proceeds towards Iwo. Rinka quickly grabs his arm, stopping the move.

Rinka: Stop. Why'd you kill them, Minaro? You're a murderer now!

He sighs.

Minaro: Skills. I wanted more. If there are powerful, evil people coming after us for our Black Blood. We should get stronger.

Rinka: You didn't need to kill them. There are other ways to get stronger.

Minaro: It was the easiest option.

Rinka: … They lost their lives! Their dreams! Their everything!

Minaro: They did. And I don't care. I don't care about the lives of people I don't know, Rinka. It'd be stupid to care.

He jerks Rinka's grip off and proceeds in a different direction. Suddenly, he turns and dashes; his fist stops right before Rinka's face.

Minaro: I won't hesitate to hurt you just because you're my best friend.

Minaro meant those words, his fist was supposed to connect. But in the split second he dashed, Rinka whipped out his katana, pointing it right at his chest. Any further movement would have caused impalement.

Rinka: I won't either.

They stand apart.

Rinka: … You know what? Let's fight! I really feel like beating the shit out of you right now!

Minaro: I'm down.

Minaro summons a rift that launches several rocks at the wall, creating a big hole. He then quickly grabs Rinka and hurls him outside, following after. Rinka stands up, throws his weapon on the floor, and puts his dukes up.

Minaro: … We're actually doing this? Even though you know I'm better than you? I've won every fight we've ever had.

Rinka: Man, I don't give a shit! Also, you've never won. It was always a tie cuz I'd never give up.

Minaro: Right, It was really annoying… You're not gonna use your katana? That's a pretty big disadvantage.

Rinka: Don't wanna cut you.

Minaro: … But I used to cut you all the time whenever we fought. With my nails. You'd get stubborn and not give up, even though you were clearly losing. So I would dig my nails into you to try and get you to stop, but it never worked.

Rinka: Yeah, cuz I refuse to let you win, Minaro!

The others are looking at the scuffle through the hole.

Minaro: … I'm not holding back. You better not hold a grudge against me when I beat the shit out of you.

Minaro rushes, he attempts to punch Rinka, who dodges it and goes for a kick. Minaro catches his foot, raises his own, and hits Rinka in the chin, causing him to stumble back. Minaro then quickly strikes him in the stomach, he's launched. But stands shortly after.

Minaro spawns an enormous, moving wave of ice. Rinka turns into lightning and appears beside him, Minaro reacts speedily and throws a punch. Rinka avoids, and tackles him to the floor.

Rinka: … So Minaro, you plan to get stronger by continuing to kill and take Skills?

He bashes Minaro's face. Minaro quickly, vigorously, in the same spot, strikes back, blasting Rinka away. He rises right after, rushes again, and prepares to kick Rinka anew. Who evades and punches him in the gut.

Minaro: … Getting more Skills means getting better, that's just how it is.

Rinka: No. That's not how it is at all! You don't have to kill anyone to get better! The Skills we're born with, we're supposed to use them, develop them to their full potential!

Minaro releases a big block of ice that smashes into Rinka, pushing him to the ground. However, he immediately gets up and runs towards his buddy.

Rinka: … You literally have a Skill where you bring powerful shit from space! Hone it, dumbass!

Minaro: … But I could be even better, stronger with more Skills. No one would wanna fight me! No one would try to kill us!

Lightning falls behind Minaro, Rinka swings at him, and he dodges it, uppercuts Rinka afterwards. 2 rifts open up around Minaro and several boulders fly out of them, making haste to Rinka. Who turns into lightning another time, goes over the stones, and reappears.

Rinka crashes his fist into Minaro's stomach, he's slung far away. But while moving, shoots out a rapid string that enfolds Rinka's wrist. Rinka's yanked, promptly receiving a good deck, and a good kick.

The others have gotten closer to the hole, they're a little uncomfortable with what's occurring.

Imma-Ite: … Are these two actually best friends? Cuz they're really fuckin each other up!

The two pals run at each other.

Rinka: You don't need more Skills, man! You're strong!

Minaro swings, Rinka side steps, and punches him in the head.

Rinka: … Why'd you kill those Skillers, Minaro!?. I don't want you to be a murderer! Or a greedy bitch who wants more Skills when he already has, like, one of the best ones!

Minaro darts, and hits Rinka's hip, he's shoved far away. Minaro sprints.

Minaro: I already told you, I did it so that we wouldn't have to worry about any enemies!

Rinka avoids an attack from him, and strikes him in the side. Next, a kick comes out, but Minaro avoids that and hits Rinka's chest. Suddenly, the two shift, and end up punching each other in the face at the same time. However, blood leaks only from Rinka's. They stumble.

Rinka: … Don't you see how strong you are, man? You don't need more Skills!

Minaro: … This doesn't show me anything. You're just weak.

…

Younger Rinka and Minaro are in the middle of a friendly scuffle. Rinka has both of his legs locked around Minaro's neck, while Minaro's kicking his face.

Minaro: Give up already! You know you're losing!

Rinka: Nope.

Minaro takes a hold of his legs and starts digging his nails into them.

Minaro: … Give up!

Rinka: Nope.

…

Minaro pops up in front of Rinka, and so Rinka tries to sucker-punch him. It misses. Minaro swings back, misses too. Next, a kick, Minaro dodges that and biffs Rinka's chest again, pitching him back.

Rinka: … Minaro… Did - did you even get the Skills?

Minaro: … No. That's why I killed the ones you helped.

Rinka: A- and you got their Skills?

Minaro shakes his head.

Rinka: … Wow, so the killing was fuckin pointless!

Minaro: … It kinda was, so what? I'll just keep killing. Kill until I get a Skill.

Rinka: … You don't need to kill, dude! You literally have the only Skill you need!

Minaro: Sure, but having more Skills would be better.

Rinka's very irritated.

Rinka: Oh my god, fuck you, bro!.. I need you to do something for me… I need you to use the full power of your rifts to attack me. Everything! Just launch everything at me!

Minaro: … That would kill you, so no.

There's a serious, menacing expression and look on Rinka.

Rinka: Do it, bastard!

The ones behind the hole look nervous. A rift opens, and in an instant, legions of rays, flares, and small asteroids come forth. What's more, it is all ignored. Lightning crashes down in front of Minaro, and Rinka manifests.

Rinka: That's it?

Minaro is powerfully punched to the floor.

Rinka: … You know, I was expecting some other, more insane, space shit… Can you bring out black holes?

Minaro … No. Not yet at least. It uses way more energy than I have.

Rinka: … I'm telling you, bro. Just get better with the rift Skill and you'll be unstoppable! You won't need more Skills when you can literally create black holes!

Minaro slowly stands, and attempts to hit Rinka, who promptly counters.

Rinka: You've gotten slower. Using your rift got you pretty tired, huh? I don't know why you listened to me, I thought it was obvious I was just trying to waste your stamina!

Minaro swings his leg, Rinka blocks and strikes the lower limb, prompting a stumble. Minaro reacts quickly, swinging his fist this time. It connects with Rinka's belly, and another one rapidly connects to the face.

Rinka bumps into the floor and is shortly kicked. But he's not launched away due to the fact he decides to hold onto Minaro's leg with as much strength as possible.

Minaro lifts his other foot and begins to repeatedly stomp on Rinka's head.

Minaro: Let go, Rinka.

Rinka: No.

The stomping doesn't stop, little tears come out of Rinka's eyes.

Minaro: I'm not gonna stop until you admit defeat, Rinka. If you die, it's your fault!

Rinka swiftly removes one of his hands off the leg and shields his head with it. The stomping intensifies.

Minaro: Let go! Give up!

Rinka: No! Not until you understand you don't need more Skills!

The stomping slows down but gets stronger.

Minaro: … I understand, so please give up.

Rinka doesn't say anything for a few seconds, then the stomping ceases.

Minaro: … Whatever. I give up.

Minaro stares, Rinka moves up and takes a seat.

Rinka: … Fuck man, you could have given me brain damage!

Minaro: Would have been your fault.

Rinka takes a deep breath.

Rinka: … We should just move on, right?.. I don't really care about this situation anymore to be honest… You should reflect on what you've done or something.

…

It's around 2 AM now. Rinka's on a moderate, bare balcony, limbs perched on the ledge, staring at the full, radiant moon. Doa emerges under the entrance.

Doa: … Why are you out here?

Rinka glances at her.

Rinka: … Just thinking.

Doa: Oh… About what?

It's silent for a bit.

Rinka: … Nothing. I don't know. I'm not even thinking actually. I'm just out here.

Doa laughs a little.

Doa: Is it okay if I'm just out here too?

Rinka nods. Doa walks and settles right beside him, shoulders touching. And for a while, they stare at the moon, silently, pensively.

Doa: … Wow. Dude. The moon looks amazing.

Rinka: Yeah… Makes me wish I really had a telescope right now. That'd be so fuckin cool.

Again, Doa laughs. And then another silent, pensive while goes by. Until she fidgets, and takes a deep breath.

Doa: … Rinka.

They lock eyes.

Doa: … Um. Do you happen to remember helping a little homeless girl with Black hair when you were younger?

Rinka: … Little homeless girl?.. I'm pretty sure I do. How do you know about her?

Doa: … I was that girl.

Blank stillness, till Rinka finally understands what was said. He's shocked.

Rinka: … That was you!? What the hell!? You look so different now!.. We really met again, what are the chances?

Doa is overjoyed, her face is kinda flushed too.

Doa: … I don't know. I'm just really happy we did.

Rinka: Me too!.. I'm glad I finally found out you're actually doing okay!

Blank stillness again, but the feelings in the air, bubbly. Even so, Doa's start to become uneasy.

Doa: … Uh, I have another question for you, Rinka. But It might be really, very personal.

Rinka: … What is it?

Doa: … It's about the incident where you killed your family. What was that? What happened?

Rinka looks scared, later mellows out.

Rinka: … I don't know what happened. One moment, I was enjoying life with them, no worries in the world. The next moment, they were all dead, and it turns out I'm the one who killed them. But I have no recollection of it, and I would never do that. I seriously don't know what happened.

Doa: That's awful… But I'm really glad you don't know what happened, rather than you just being a psychopath. A little part of me was worried you were, but deep down I knew you'd never be that.

More stillness, now melancholic.

Doa: … What happened after the incident?

Rinka: … Nothing, really. I just went to live with Minaro, and let my hair grow, cuz I hate having short hair… Would you agree with the statement that I used to look like a brown egg?

Doa cracks up.

Doa: … No?

The mood's bubbly again.

Doa: … So you weren't arrested?

Rinka: Nope, all they did was put me in an asylum for like a month.

…

The two are back inside now, near the bedrooms. Doa cutely waves goodbye.

Doa: Goodnight.

Rinka: … Goodnight.

She enters her room, and Rinka goes into his.

"... Tomorrow, I'll try to get everyone to help me with Iwo's mission."

TO BE CONTINUED...