The Origin Of Joichiro Hyakuzawa: Part 23

*Joichiro Hyakuzawa's POV*

//January 15, 2037//Thursday//

A lot happened after I defeated 49 prisoners inside the Cafeteria after I got here.

Everyone is treating me like a king that you shouldn't fuck with.

But every one of these fuckers is just the same people who were just licking my ass just to get spared.

I learned a lot in my time here at the prison.

I started to have trust issues with a lot of people, and I stopped relying on someone else.

All of these people are pieces of shit who will stab you in the back.

Just like before… This society that we are living in is truly a disgusting place…

I got stronger physically, but I am aware that I am destroying myself mentally.

"AAAAAH!!!"

Every night, I always have a nightmare where I witness the death of my little sister a few months ago. It feels like it was haunting me in my dreams.

And every time I dreamt about that one tragic day, I could always hear Rui's words before her death.

"Hey… I know it will be hard at first… But hang on tight… Be strong… You are the strongest person I know…"

I'm not as strong as you think, Rui.

Even now…

"RGHAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

I'm still crying every night because I couldn't save you that day.

//April 9, 2040//Monday//

Three years have passed, and I got out of prison.

I thought that getting out of prison would make me happy, but I felt lost.

A lot of things have changed, but I still couldn't find a reason to move forward with my life.

I don't have anything anymore. I don't have any loved ones to visit nor a house to live in because it was owned by someone else now. Even the opportunity to go to the NBA G League was useless at this point.

I am already 21 years old, and I feel like I don't have anything to do anymore with my life especially since I don't have anything at all.

What is the point of starting over again if you don't have a path given to you in life?

"Bonjour, Monsieur!"

Suddenly, after I left the prison. A tall handsome slender man who was dancing approached me.

I was quite surprised by his height since he was taller than me. If I have to guess it, he might be someone who is standing two meters tall.

But…

"How are you doing, Monsieur?"

His accent, and the way how he acts were annoying the fuck out of me.

"THE FUCK DO YOU WANT WITH ME?!"

I grabbed his collar and lifted my fist at him. But right after I blinked, I was shocked at what happened next.

The man vanished into thin air, and I was left dumbfounded by what happened.

Nobody has ever gotten out of my grip before. Who could this man be?

"Do you want to start your life again with a great future ahead of you?"

I heard his voice from my back, and I immediately turned behind.

The tall slender man was there holding what it seems to be an envelope.

"People like you are an extravagant masterpiece! The director has his eyes on you, monsieur. I'm giving you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change your life!"

He reached his hand towards me with the envelope that he was holding. The tall slender man bowed down slightly just like a butler serving his queen with proper etiquette.

"Do you want to take my offer, monsieur?"

I grabbed the letter from his hand and opened it.

"I hope the best of luck to you. Au Revoir!"

Right before I started reading the letter, the tall slender man suddenly vanished into thin air nowhere to be seen again.

I started reading the contents of the letter which seems to be an invitation from a school.

"Saitei University?"

I learned that Saitei University instantly became popular after a year. Students who got picked were considered the best students here in Japan.

And the invitation that the man sent me was an invitation for me to get enrolled in the Physical Education course at this school from the director himself.

And that course is where I excel at.

I thought about it a lot, but I have decided on it. I accepted the man's offer, and four days from now will be my first day at that school.

I thought that I was given an opportunity to fix my life despite what happened to me in the past.

But as soon as I entered Saitei University, I was wrong. The letter that was given to me was an invitation from another tragedy all along.

//July 22, 2040//Sunday//

"As soon as the diagnostic test ended on that day, my classmates approached me and tried to beat me up. After I defeated most of my classmates, I thought I would be in another position to dominate this school."

While Sasaki was listening to my story, I clenched my fists when I remembered that horrifying scene back then.

"But when I witnessed how the director of this school, Ichi effortlessly killed my classmates, and that guy with a laptop back then, I was terrified. I don't care about the prize money, To be honest, I don't want to dirty my hands anymore. But, I want my freedom back again. I want to live a normal life. Every time I see you convincing me to help you people, I was scared, and I was putting a tough act in front. I was afraid to trust someone again."

I looked down and continued what I am saying.

"Everything that I have been through, Sasaki. It hurts… Even now I still regret all the things that I haven't done on that day. I am always thinking what if I did this? What if I did that? What if I just fought back to prevent the death of my little sister? I'm pathetic…"

I finished telling my past to Sasaki. She was not saying anything at all. When I looked at her, I couldn't see her reaction since she was looking down.

"I-I'm sorry… I know what I did to all of you is unforgivable, and even with all of the things that I have said to you about my past, it is not a reason to do those things to all of you."

Sasaki lifted her head up, and I was surprised by what she did.

I thought that she would get frustrated with me because of what I did to her. I thought that she will look at me with resentment for treating them badly because of my past. But I was wrong.

Instead, she gently stuck her forehead to mine. It is exactly like what Rui did to me before.

"It was painful, wasn't it?"

"What are you doing, Sasaki?"

Sasaki lifted her head up and looked at me with a gentle smile on her face.

"I just felt like doing it. I think you are yearning for that kind of feeling for a long time."

I held my forehead, and I remembered that warm feeling that Rui gave to me in the past.

That comfort when you are falling apart. That feeling when someone shows their concern for you.

"Yes… Up until now, I am yearning for it…"

Damn it… What am I doing here inside all this time? Why have I turned a blind eye to these people? After I showed hostility, after I almost killed someone, Sasaki… She is one of the people who is trying to help me.

"I know how it feels, Hyakuzawa. People also look at me differently because of what I am capable of. People tried bringing me down because of their jealousy towards me. I always ask myself, what have I done wrong to deserve this? It's unfair, it always has been. It scares me."

I continued to listen to what Sasaki is saying. When I looked into her eyes, I was convinced that she really felt the same way as I did in the past.

How did I know you may ask?

It's her eyes, that sorrowful eyes of hers while telling her experience to me.

It's the same eyes that I have when I remember those tragic encounters in my past."But you know, I realized. Not all people treat you poorly despite what your potential may be. Not all people are evil, Hyakuzawa."

I know… I know that… But it is hard…

"I am afraid to trust you people, I don't want my life to get ruined by someone else. I'm tired of it… No, I am sick of it…" I uneasily said.

"After we fought to stop you. After Kanade treated your injuries. Do you still think that we are people who you can't trust?"

I thought that my lack of trust in people wouldn't disappear anymore. But, how? How can her words reach me despite what has happened to me?

"Give us that chance to show you that we are people you can rely on."

I looked back at all the things that these people have done to me. Why would I even suspect them after everything that happened?

"I know… I was wrong… I should have trusted all of you in the first place…"

But…

"But after all the things that I have done, I think I am more of a threat than a help to all of you. I am weak, and unstable, Sasaki. After what happened between us, and after this talk that we had, I think that I can trust all of you. But I don't think people will give me that chance to redeem myself after everything that I have done."

Yes, that's right… What I have done is unforgivable.

"I think I don't have the right to say this to you since you still don't know me that well yet, Hyakuzawa. But, I think that someone needs to say this to you at least."

After what I just said, Sasaki stood up and walked slowly towards the exit with her hands in her pocket.

"I will take what you said as a yes. If you let yourself trust us now, then let the people who are here give you that second chance as well."

Sasaki stopped walking as soon as she reached the door towards the exit, and turned behind me with grace.

"From what you told me about your story, I think that you are underestimating yourself, and your little sister knows your worth more than you do."

"You're wrong! I'm weak! I have a lot of regrets! If I didn't hesitate to fight back, maybe Rui is still alive!"

Tears suddenly formed around my eyes as I clench my fists, and gritted my teeth.

"I'm pathetic…"

Because of the things I have done in the past… I have done a lot of things that ruined my life… I am weak…

"HOW CAN YOU CALL YOURSELF A WEAK, AND PATHETIC PERSON IF YOU ARE STILL ALIVE AFTER WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH!!!"

Sasaki suddenly yelled at me, and that caught my attention because of her sudden shift in tone.

"Can you still call yourself weak after you give a big smile to your sister every day despite having that harsh treatment that those people gave to you in the past?! Can you still call yourself pathetic after you continued to protect your sister until the end after your parents died? The people who are trying to ruin someone's life are the pathetic ones! People who live on, People who still think of how they will go on with their lives despite what happened just like what thought about getting out of prison, People like you who still move forward with your lives!"

Sasaki pointed her finger at me and continued talking.

"You are not weak! You are not pathetic! I don't know how close your sister is to you, but the two of us agree on one thing that she said! People like you who have survived, and endured a tragic situation in your lives are the strongest people in this world!"

At that moment, all of the things Rui said to me before she died flashed through my mind.

"You are the strongest person I know."

I started crying as I listen to what Sasaki was saying.

Mom… Dad… I'm sorry for breaking my promise to you… I'm sorry for using my strength for violence…

Rui… I'm sorry if I didn't believe you at first…

"You don't need to tell everyone about your past, but if you let yourself open up to us, surely they will accept you just like how everyone accepted each other despite the situation that we are in. So let's go!"

Sasaki reached her hand to me with determination, and sincerity on her face.

"You are stronger than you think!"

Rui… Maybe this is what you are talking about all along…

"But I know… that there will be someone… There will be someone other than me… Someone who will genuinely lend you a hand…"

"Believe in yourself, Joichiro Hyakuzawa."

"Someone who is willing to be by your side…"

******** TO BE CONTINUED ********