Chapter 80 : Between Shadows and Laughter

That day, they had all slept at the hospital.

The next morning, they left together, still looking tired but relieved.

Yuki had moved a little away, alone, his eyes raised toward the sky. He seemed lost in thought.

Sakolomé noticed him and approached hesitantly.

Sakolomé:

Uh… Yuki?

Yuki turned around. A few minor scars marked his face, but he seemed fine.

He said nothing.

Sakolomé (embarrassed, lowering his head):

Uh… Yuki, I'm really sorry for what I did yesterday. I want to sincerely apologize…

Yuki kept looking at him, coldly, silently.

Sakolomé resumed, voice trembling:

Sakolomé:

I care deeply about my family, you know… Just imagining losing one of them breaks me. Yesterday, when I hit you… I wasn't myself. It was as if… vulnerability, sadness, and despair had taken over. I was in pieces and—

Yuki interrupted him, placing a friendly hand on the side of his neck.

Yuki:

I completely understand you, Sakolomé. That's why I didn't fight back.

Sakolomé raised his head. Yuki smiled at him.

Yuki:

For some, family is sacred. But me… I don't really care about it.

Sakolomé:

What?

Yuki let go of him and took a few steps forward.

Yuki:

Honestly, I've never felt much affection for my family. But… does that mean I don't know what true affection is?

He lowered his eyes, thoughtful.

Yuki:

No. For me, my family is you, Grafay… and Nairo. I think true bonds, true feelings, are sometimes found elsewhere. Family isn't necessarily about blood, right?

Sakolomé (intrigued):

Nairo? Who's that?

Yuki:

He's a guy I met in prison, two days after you left. He's cool. I'll introduce you, don't worry.

Yuki turned back to him, his gaze more sincere.

Yuki:

Sakolomé… meet us on 6th Street, near the garage, this afternoon. It's important.

Then he added, a slight smile on his lips:

Yuki:

And if you can, bring Salomé. I adore your little sister.

Sakolomé smiled in return.

Sakolomé:

This afternoon, huh? No problem. Besides, it's been a while since I've seen Grafay.

Yuki (laughing):

He hasn't changed. Always getting fired up over nothing, hahaha.

Sakolomé laughed too, then took a more serious tone:

Sakolomé:

Yuki… can I bring Sally too? She's a friend. She's great, I'd like you to meet her.

Yuki:

No problem. Bring whoever you want. What matters is that you're there.

He slowly approached Sakolomé, rummaging in his pocket.

Yuki:

By the way… I'm leaving now. But before that…

He pulled out a wad of cash — 423 GKM — and handed it to Sakolomé.

Yuki:

Give this to Salomé. Tell her it's from me. She'll understand.

Sakolomé gave a surprised smile.

Sakolomé:

That's the money you owe Madame Yuna, huh? Haha! I didn't even have time to laugh when you told me about it yesterday. But 423 GKM, aren't you overdoing it a bit?

Yuki:

Meh. I don't give a damn about money. I barely ate for 39 GKM there, so the rest… Salomé can do whatever she wants with it.

Sakolomé took the money. Yuki turned on his heel.

Yuki:

Like we said, Sakolomé…

And, in the blink of an eye, he disappeared.

Sakolomé stayed there, alone, staring into the void, his heart a little lighter. Proud.

The sun gently pierced through the clouds. Sally walked the hospital corridors, looking worried.

Sally (looking around, frustrated)

Where on earth could he have gone?

She continued her search and, circling the building, found Bakuzan leaning against the outer wall, motionless, his dark gaze fixed on the ground.

Sally (approaching softly)

Uh... Bakuzan... hi. Have you seen Sakolomé by any chance?

Silence. Bakuzan did not react immediately. The atmosphere seemed to freeze.

Bakuzan (deep, distant voice)

Sally... imagine your family is the most precious thing you have in the world. But the world, this damn world, keeps persecuting them... again, and again, and again...

Every day, you wake up fearing this world will destroy them.

What would you do, Sally?

He now fixed her, eyes heavy with contained anger.

Bakuzan

Would you try to reason with those people? Talk to them, naively hoping they'd understand?

Even if they never bothered to listen to you, or to yours...?

Or maybe...

He paused. His gaze suddenly became inhuman. A chilling shiver passed through the air.

Bakuzan (terrifying)

Or... would you choose to kill the entire world, to protect your family?

Sally stepped back, shocked. Her heart raced. The Bakuzan she knew seemed to crumble before her eyes.

She asked herself a thousand questions: Is this really him? Is he sinking?

Then, slowly, Bakuzan resumed a neutral expression. He detached from the wall and silently walked toward Sally, passing her without a word.

Bakuzan (calm)

Don't take what I just said into account...

And as for Sakolomé, he's on the other side of the hospital.

He kept walking. His steps were heavy, his aura dark. A deep unease filled the air. Sally shivered, then turned, her throat tight.

Sally (hesitant)

Ba... Bakuzan...

He stopped, back turned. She gathered all her courage and spoke, voice trembling but sincere.

Sally (moved, trying to reason with him)

You say you want to protect your family... but if you do that... if you go after the world...

Do you really think they'd be proud of you?

Do you think that's what they would want?

And you? Will you still be able to look at yourself in the mirror after that?

You say the world doesn't understand... but then what will you do? Become exactly what it forced you to hate?

A silence. Heavy. Dense.

Bakuzan remained still for a moment. Then, without turning around:

Bakuzan (calm, almost sad)

...Maybe you're not wrong, Sally.

But you know... I've already thought about all that.

He resumed walking, disappearing into the pale morning light.

Bakuzan (distant voice)

Thank you, Sally...

Sally circled the building. She saw Sakolomé sitting on a low wall, playing with a stone with the tip of his foot. The atmosphere seemed peaceful, but a weight still lay on his shoulders.

Sally (slightly tense voice)

Ah, there you are... I've been looking everywhere for you.

Sakolomé (looking up, slight smile)

Yo, Sally. What's up? You here to give me another lecture on why cornflakes are a diabolical invention?

Sally smiled faintly but did not laugh. She approached, arms crossed, avoiding eye contact.

Sally (trying to be casual)

Tsk. Stop saying nonsense. Just... they want you for a routine medical check. Nothing crazy.

Sakolomé squinted slightly at her. His smile remained, but his tone grew more attentive.

Sakolomé

You okay, Sally?

You look weird today.

Sally lowered her head, her arms tensing a little.

Sally (evasive, curt)

What exactly do you mean?

I'm fine, idiot.

Sakolomé (raising hands with a playful smile)

Alright, alright.

It's just that you looked like someone who wants to... destroy the world, you know?

Sally froze. The words pierced her.

She slowly lifted her head toward him.

But in Sakolomé's friendly eyes...

She saw something else.

A shadow. A silhouette.

Bakuzan's.

Cold. Detached. Terrifying.

Her mind wavered, and her hands began to tremble.

Sally (trembling voice)

Sakolomé...

I have something to tell you...

Sakolomé raised an eyebrow, surprised but curious.

Sakolomé

Oh yeah? And what is it?

Sally clenched her fists.

Bakuzan's gaze, still there, in her head.

The heavy words.

The tension.

Then, a breath. She lets go. The choice of silence.

The mask of everyday life returns.

Sally (playing along, teasing)

Actually... it's...

It's nothing at all. Just that... last night, while you were sleeping, I think you swallowed a cockroach that was passing by.

I always tell you to stop sleeping with your mouth open, seriously!

Sakolomé (disgusted, eyes wide)

WHAT?!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

He started coughing uncontrollably, arms flailing, as if an invisible cockroach was stuck in his throat.

Sakolomé

That's disgusting, Sally! Ew!

Are you serious?!

I'm not an insect vacuum cleaner!

Sally (bursting out laughing)

Ahahaha! Look at that!

The famous Sakolomé, shadow exterminator… reduced to a nocturnal cockroach eater!

Sakolomé (muffled voice, rubbing his tongue)

I'm gonna puke. You're crazy. Really.

Sally (still laughing)

We should call you Mister Munch-Munch Cockroach now! Or Cockroach Cruncher, that sounds cooler.

Sakolomé (groaning)

I swear if it's true, I'm gonna do a soap purge...

They continued to bicker, Sally's laughter covering Sakolomé's outraged complaints.

But behind that laughter... a worry remained lurking.

The image of Bakuzan had not disappeared.