CHAPTER 22 : KYOKO, ORIGIN

The phone rang loudly, waking Kyoko from her sleep, her drool still dripping from the corner of her mouth. She reached out to grab the phone ringing beside her bed but missed it several times."Ugh, so annoying!" Kyoko used her lightning powers to pull the phone towards her, but it moved too fast and hit her right in the face."Ouch..." Kyoko groaned, turning off the ringer. She looked at the screen—her phone was overheating, and the battery indicator seemed glitched."Overcharged..." she muttered before burying her face back into the pillow.Being a 'superhero' is so exhausting...Even a short break doesn't feel enough. That last battle drained a ton of my energy. My body's exhausted.How did I even get here? All because of a bad breakup...Kyoko walked towards the bathroom, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, and dark circles shadowed her eyes.My face that day... I think it looked worse.Kyoko stared into the mirror, tears still wetting her cheeks, ruining the makeup that streamed down with them. Her hair was unkempt, and her nose was runny.She left the bathroom, grabbed her laptop and phone, and began typing messages while drafting an email. Several messages had already been sent with no replies. The email she was typing was long and heartfelt.I want to do everything. Anything to make you notice me again...to get your attention back."You and I, we're done, Kyoko," said a man in a hoodie with brown hair. Kyoko froze at his words. The two stood in the middle of a bright street, with people walking by them."What?""I don't think we can continue this relationship... I'm sorry, I just don't like you anymore." The man, Naufal, averted his eyes and began walking away. Kyoko stepped forward, trying to reach him."Wait! Naufal! Nau—" Kyoko stumbled and fell, her legs weak. The people walking around her ignored her, and Naufal kept moving farther away, never looking back at her.I wasn't fast enough to chase him then."What's that?""Look at the sky...""Look, Mama! Wow!"Particles of color began raining down in the area. Some people were confused, others mesmerized, while some grabbed umbrellas and ran."Please...look back, Naufal..." Kyoko sobbed on the ground as several of the particles fell on her and absorbed into her skin. She was too lost in her emotions to realize what was happening.I met Naufal when I first came to Malaysia. He was my first friend here, and even though we were in different courses, we got close.Before we knew it, we were dating.Just a typical college love story.But I don't know why I can't let him go...Day after day, I became obsessed... I wanted him to notice me again."Something's wrong, dude?" asked one of Naufal's male friends as they walked together. Naufal stopped when he looked at his phone."Nothing. Let's go grab something to eat, I'm starving," Naufal said as he resumed walking behind his friend, sending a text before putting his phone away.'Stop messaging me, you've gone crazy.''I'm blocking you.'"No! No! No..." Kyoko panicked, sinking weakly to the floor before crawling towards her bed. She pulled the blanket over herself and bit into her pillow.I don't blame him...When I look back at those times, I have no right to judge anyone who couldn't handle the burdens they faced. I was so weak myself.Just a dumb college love that did this to me..."What's wrong with this charger? Ah..." Kyoko muttered in frustration as she repeatedly tried to charge her phone, but the cable wasn't working. She glanced at the screen—her battery was down to 5%.Kyoko ran out of her apartment, heading down the corridor and rushing down the stairs. As she hurried, she kept sending messages to Naufal from a new number.You: Please, just meet me. I promise I won't act crazy. I'll listen to whatever you have to say.You: I just need you to explain why your feelings changed. I want to understand. I love you, Naufal...You: Please, just look at me again...Her phone died. Kyoko stood in the middle of the street, illuminated by the streetlights. She pressed the phone's button several times, but the screen remained black. Her fingers began pressing the buttons faster and faster. Eventually, both hands were gripping the phone, shaking it as she frantically pressed every button available."Please... Please... Please, please, please! Naufal! Please!" Kyoko begged repeatedly. Suddenly, a small electric shock sparked from her fingers, but she hadn't noticed yet.The electric shocks continued to build until, slowly, Kyoko lifted off the ground, surrounded by a field of electricity. Lightning arced from her hands, striking her phone, and the screen lit up. When Kyoko realized what was happening, she was already floating in the air."Huh?! What?! H-Help!" Kyoko panicked as lightning kept shooting from her body, keeping her suspended in the air, though she almost fell several times.My mutant powers had activated...At that moment, I had no idea what to do or how to control it. I was stuck in mid-air, shooting lightning everywhere.I ended up causing the power poles around the area to explode and malfunction. I think I kept going like that for almost half an hour until..."Calm down! We're here to help you!" shouted Khalid, wearing his Beast Tiger armor. He had been teleported there by Chyou and was trying to reach Kyoko.Kyoko, confused and crying, stared at him. Her hand slowly reached for Khalid's, letting go of her phone and allowing it to fall.That's when I met them."Kyoko?" Mei looked at her in shock. Kyoko was lying unconscious in Khalid's arms, her body slightly burned from her own lightning."You know her, Mei?" asked Khalid."She's from our college. We're in the same course," Mei replied, lowering herself to check on Kyoko's condition."It's a small world, huh? Lucky we got here in time... Her body's burned from her own powers," Khalid said. Mei nodded in understanding."You're safe now, Kyoko. Just leave it to us," Mei reassured her, as Kyoko slowly opened her eyes."Mei..." she whispered weakly.I never could have imagined I'd be doing what I am now or that I'd be with these people, but this is my life now. And honestly, it's not that bad.Cigarette smoke drifted into the air. Mikael was sitting on the front porch of Mei's house, and Kyoko glanced at him, puzzled."You know we're meeting inside, right?" Kyoko asked."I'm not gonna smoke inside the house, am I?" Mikael retorted, causing Kyoko to sigh."So, how are you holding up now? Are you seriously ready after everything that's happened?" Kyoko asked, ignoring Mikael's sarcastic response."No problem. Now isn't the time for me to lie in bed crying over my past mistakes," Mikael explained, and Kyoko gave a bittersweet smile."Really embracing the superhero life now, huh?" Kyoko teased."I don't have a choice. Same as everyone else, right?" Mikael replied."Maybe." Kyoko placed her hands on her hips."Oh, hey, Kyoko," Mei greeted as she walked out of her house with a small smile. Kyoko raised her hand."Hi, Mei. Where's the boss?" Kyoko asked."He's here," Khalid followed Mei out, and they all gathered in Mei's front yard."So, our main couple hasn't arrived yet?" Kyoko asked."Main couple? Khairul and Nasuha? Hahaha... Don't let Khairul hear what you said," Khalid responded."Are they a couple?" Mei asked, confused."Not exactly, but hey, they obviously have feelings for each other," Kyoko said, and Mei placed her hand on her chin."Khairul and Nasuha's feelings... it's something beautiful. When I was inside their minds, I saw all the hardships they went through. They're younger than us, but their hearts are strong. To me, it's something beautiful. If they were to fall in love, they'd be perfect for each other..." Mei smiled, placing her hand on her chest. Kyoko gave her a strange look."I almost forgot you've seen all of our secrets, Mei," Kyoko sighed."I won't reveal the bad ones. I promise," Mei replied."Good thing you're a nice person," Kyoko praised."Uhm... So, what do you think, Nasuha? Do you think you're a good match for Khairul?" Khalid turned towards the gate with a smile. Everyone looked in that direction, and Nasuha was standing there watching them. She tensed up when Khalid suddenly addressed her."We're not like that. We're still kids, we are not ready yet for the kind of things," Nasuha said, walking towards them with both hands raised."That's right, Nasuha. Love only hurts. Don't fall in love just yet. Unless, of course, you truly love him, and he truly loves you and wants to marry you... Otherwise, it'll just hurt for no reason," Kyoko advised, gently hugging Nasuha by the neck."Eh?" Nasuha felt awkward."Kyoko... Don't dump your trauma on Nasuha," Khalid warned.Mikael just watched them while continuing to smoke his cigarette.What are they even talking about? I don't get it at all...After a while, Khairul finally arrived, and HOPE began their patrol. The first group consisted of Khalid, Mei, and Chyou. The second group was Khairul, Nasuha, Kyoko, and Mikael.Mikael created his own costume using his powers. He fashioned a black coat and a bird-shaped mask. Nasuha carried him and Khairul through the air, while Kyoko followed alongside them."Can't you create wings to fly? Your costume already looks like a bird," Khairul teased."I've tried, but I can't fly with my powers, and my costume theme isn't a bird, but a Plague Doctor; that was a suggestion from Khalid and Mei earlier," Mikael sighed."When we're not active, there have been some dangerous Strays, especially with the possibility of other Mutants out there... Sister Rose also mentioned a military group that's currently hunting for Mutants, so we need to be more careful," Nasuha explained."If we fall into the hands of the military and the government, we'll just become test subjects or weapons. I've seen firsthand what they do to the bodies of Strays they capture. This crisis is getting worse..." Mikael added."Just like what Sister Rose said," Khairul responded.If we trust Sui'ra's words, then no matter how many Stray bodies the government captures, they won't fully understand the Mutant Cell.There will come a time when the Mutant population increases, and hiding will no longer be possible. At that point... what will become of this world?"Other Mutants? Hahaha, there are actually a lot out there. That's just the ones I know; there are also those I don't know. If you ask me, probably two percent of humans in Malaysia are Mutants now, while three percent have already become Strays..." Sui'ra said to a girl with black hair streaked with green and a guy wearing a gray jacket."Do you know about HOPE? They are a group of Mutants out there who are eradicating many Strays and helping the authorities. I know them; they're my friends," Sui'ra added."I've seen videos online. So they really do exist," said the girl with the streaked hair."Who cares? As long as they don't bother us, they mean nothing to me," replied the guy in the gray jacket as he walked away, leaving Sui'ra and the girl with him."Syakir!" the girl called out."Hurry up, Lilly," Syakir replied, gradually disappearing from sight, and Lilly let out a small sigh."Anyway, I suggest you join HOPE; they can help expand your Mutant abilities," Sui'ra suggested."I don't think Syakir wants to team up with anyone..." Lilly sighed."But he's with you?""I'm just his tool..." Lilly turned her gaze away, her eyes growing sad."Humm?" Sui'ra watched her, then leaned her head back on the sofa."Uh... Thank you, Sui'ra... for telling us about that group of Mutants," Lilly said, and Sui'ra looked back at her with a smile on her face."You're welcome, friend. See you again," Sui'ra replied. Lilly walked away, quickening her pace to catch up with Syakir. Sui'ra rested her hand on her chin, contemplating Lilly's words."I'm just his tool..."Is she really satisfied living like that? Humans are strange.Khairul and Mikael were battling a Stray that resembled a human but exhibited crow-like traits. It repeatedly attempted to peck at them quickly, but Khairul and Mikael managed to dodge each of its attacks.Mikael caught the creature's head with his shadow powers, allowing Khairul to decapitate the Stray.Meanwhile, Kyoko and Nasuha were also battling a Stray that resembled a caterpillar with a round mouth full of sharp teeth. Kyoko pinned the creature against the wall with her lightning, and then Nasuha used her Star Slash to cleave its head, killing it instantly."Huh..." Nasuha exhaled deeply, looking uncomfortable at the blood splattered on her costume."These two Strays... It's like they were working together; it's terrifying," Kyoko remarked as Mikael and Khairul approached them."You guys... What the hell-," Khairul pointed out, his face showing fear as he turned to look. Everyone followed his gaze and saw several corpses nearby.They were in a building still under construction, and the bodies were those of construction workers."Huk!" Nasuha nearly vomited, while Khairul continued to assess the situation as Mikael and Kyoko examined the bodies."If I'm not mistaken, that bird-like Stray was shouting something like 'Do your job better! You're all lazy!' It's possible that Stray was their supervisor and killed the workers..." Mikael explained, and Kyoko let out a small sigh."No wonder there's been a strange smell for a while... This kind of thing often happens with Strays; if one is dissatisfied or too angry, they lose themselves and kill those they're mad at," Kyoko said."Are you okay?" Mikael asked."I'm fine... It's not the first ti—" Suddenly, Kyoko fainted, and Mikael caught her before she hit the floor."Kyoko!" Mikael exclaimed, shocked."Let's get them out of here, now!" Khairul commanded, lifting Nasuha, who looked nauseous and weak.Khairul jumped from the building while Mikael created a large umbrella, allowing him to glide through the air. They landed on a nearby building, with Khairul gently setting Nasuha down while Mikael laid Kyoko down carefully."I'm sorry... I... couldn't handle looking at that..." Nasuha sighed."It's okay, I'm here. Just relax; we're away from there," Khairul reassured her, placing his hand on her back."Ergh..." Kyoko regained consciousness as Mikael checked on her."You fainted," he said."Yeah, I know... Ah... I'm dizzy... Let's take a break, time off," Kyoko requested."Alright." Mikael walked away from Kyoko, pulling out his cigarette box, taking one out, and lighting it."Khairul, are you okay?" Nasuha asked."I'm fine, just felt a bit nauseous earlier," Khairul replied, a bitter smile on Nasuha's face."You're lucky to be strong... I'm sorry for being weak and not handling that well," Nasuha said."Your reaction is more normal than mine," Khairul sighed.Mikael observed them from a distance, sitting at the edge of the rooftop and exhaling cigarette smoke.It doesn't matter if this fight might be in vain. This group is home for them, and for me now...I won't repeat my mistakes again. I won't abandon those who need me anymore.