First Step

As the day progressed, he reveled in the joy of being surrounded by friends, laughing and sharing stories. He knew that soon enough, he would have to face the storm brewing on the horizon, but today, he was going to enjoy every second of this fleeting happiness.

With a heart full of hope and a spirit ready to embrace the challenges ahead, Ethan decided that today was a day worth celebrating, no matter what tomorrow might bring.

As Ethan stepped through the front door of his room, with a smile plastered on his face, still radiating the glow of joy he had. He was humming a cheerful tune, the melody light and carefree, a stark contrast to the heaviness he had felt just days before. The warmth of the day lingered in his heart, and he couldn't help but smile as he recalled the laughter and camaraderie he had shared with his friends.

But just as he was about to lose himself in the joy of the moment, a voice broke through his reverie. "Fun day?" Kai's voice echoed from behind him, startling Ethan.

He nearly jumped out of his skin, the sudden reminder of his ghostly companion sending a jolt through him. Caught off guard, he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm his racing heart. "Yeah, I had a fun day. I made sure I enjoyed every bit of it," he replied, trying to keep the cheerfulness in his tone.

Kai nodded with a smile on his face, although it was just a little act of speaking. He didn't fail to notice that Ethan spoke with a bit of normalcy just now, a hint of confidence that had been absent before. "That's good to hear," Kai said, his tone softer than usual. "You deserve to have days like that."

Ethan felt a strange mix of emotions. It was odd to hear Kai acknowledge his happiness, especially when he was usually the harbinger of gloom. "Thanks," Ethan replied, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his voice. "I really needed it."

For a moment, they stood in silence, the air thick with unspoken words. Ethan could sense that Kai was about to say something that might dampen his spirits, and he braced himself for the inevitable shift in mood. 

Ethan decided to break the silence. "You never did tell me what I had to do"

Kai was startled for a moment, never expecting the kid to speak up first. He gathered himself the next moment, his expression shifting to one of seriousness. "Yeah, I didn't. The first step is pretty obvious though: you need to join White Tiger."

Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Join White Tiger?" The words hung in the air, heavy with implications. Although he had known deep down that he would eventually have to join the gang, hearing it out loud felt like a punch to the gut. No matter how brave a front he put up, he knew he wasn't ready. In fact, he didn't know if he would ever be ready. But it didn't seem like Kai cared whether he was prepared or not.

"Yeah, join White Tiger. Wasn't that obvious? How else would you find my killers if you weren't part of the gang?" Kai's voice was steady, but there was an edge to it, a hint of urgency that made Ethan's stomach churn.

"But what if I don't fit in? What if they don't want me?" Ethan stammered, his bravado faltering.

Kai's expression hardened slightly, a flicker of impatience crossing his features.