A Leader (1)

Chapter 16

A week had passed since Elijah's fight and his rescue of Mai.

In that time, not much had changed, aside from him joining multiple fighting clubs across the city on Kai's recommendation and signing up for a gym.

These additions to his routine had already begun to show results.

His body was becoming noticeably more toned, and his once-boyish face was taking on a sharper, more mature appearance.

Every time he glanced in the mirror, he couldn't help but be surprised by how much he had changed in just a month and a half.

What shocked him even more was how smoothly things were going.

He was making enough money that his mother no longer had to worry about food or his personal expenses.

For the first time in a long while, there was stability in his home.

At the moment, he was sitting in the school courtyard during lunchtime, across from Kai, who looked utterly exhausted, his head resting on the table as if he hadn't slept in days.

"Are you okay, my guy?" Elijah asked, concern evident in his voice.

Kai barely lifted his head and shook it weakly before mumbling, "I'm fine. Just tired."

Elijah frowned. "Why won't you let me come to that fighting club?"

Kai exhaled deeply, his voice sluggish as he replied,

"Because I wanted you to get more real combat experience before fighting those old men who don't know what they're doing."

Elijah nodded in understanding before asking, "So, what now? I've been fighting this whole week. Should I keep going?"

"Yeah, keep doing that. I'll be joining you the day after tomorrow," Kai said, rubbing his tired eyes.

"We also need to start recruiting more members. I've already got my eye on three people. If you have anyone in mind, we'll talk to them too."

Elijah leaned back slightly. "Alright. What about Mai? How's she doing?"

Kai suddenly smirked, sitting up a little as he gave Elijah a knowing look.

"You keep asking about her, man. Are you sure you don't have a little crush?"

"It's not like that!" Elijah's face flushed red as he quickly shook his head.

"I was just worried about her, especially after everything that happened. And with her father's death... I wanted to make sure she was okay."

Kai chuckled but nodded. "Don't worry. She's doing fine. She's already helping out with the gang. Speaking of which, we need to come up with a name for our crew."

Elijah forced a smile, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

'I wish I was like you, Kai. You have a goal and a purpose. Meanwhile, I'm just going along with all of this without knowing what I really want. Why am I even doing this?'

"What do you think?" Kai asked suddenly, snapping Elijah out of his daze.

"Huh? Did you say something?" Elijah asked, blinking in confusion.

Kai groaned in frustration and punched Elijah's shoulder. "Bro, I just came up with the best names ever, and you weren't even listening!"

"Argh! You should've told me it was something important!" Elijah complained, rubbing his arm.

Kai's expression turned serious as he stared straight into Elijah's eyes.

"Elijah, we're not playing around here. Mai has already stopped going to school. Lucas too. Even I'm dropping out this week. We're putting everything into this gang business until we succeed. As our leader, you need to start taking this seriously."

Elijah fell silent, feeling the weight of Kai's words settle on him.

Kai stood up and stretched, yawning. "Anyway, I'm dead tired, so I'm going to crash in the Food Club room. Maybe I'll meet my girl there."

Elijah watched Kai leave, heading toward one of the school buildings.

He sighed, leaning back in his seat and staring up at the sky.

Even in school, the presence of gangs was everywhere.

Different groups of kids belonged to different crews, and fights would break out constantly.

The only thing keeping things in check was the school's discipline committee—especially their top fighter, a student so skilled that most gang members were afraid to cross him.

Elijah had seen him fight in one of the underground clubs, and the guy was incredible.

Deep down, Elijah didn't want to get caught up in this life.

He feared that if he did, it would bring danger to his mother and sister.

Just as these thoughts consumed him, the familiar sensation of emptiness overtook him, and he suddenly found himself in that strange, blank space again.

Alter Elijah stood before him, his expression stern. "What are you talking about?"

"If I keep going down this path, I'll only put Mom and Amy in danger," Elijah muttered, more to himself than to his other self.

Alter Elijah's eyes narrowed. "Stop being an idiot. Don't you remember what that guy said?"

A painful memory resurfaced in Elijah's mind. Leo's words echoed in his head: 'You're lucky she's protected, or she might have been taken advantage of.'

Elijah clenched his fists as his face darkened.

Alter Elijah's voice grew louder. "Have you forgotten the night Mom came home bruised, crying her eyes out?"

Elijah's breath hitched. He shook his head. "No. But Leo will protect them."

"And who told you that?

Do you even know how far Leo would go for our family?

What if the people who killed our father come back? What if Leo backs down?" Alter Elijah's voice rose with anger.

"Why are you so against protecting your family yourself?

You're leaving everything to Leo while you waste time fighting weak opponents.

Meanwhile, Kai is working himself to death! What kind of leader just sits back and chills?"

Elijah snapped.

He shot to his feet, his voice trembling with rage. "Because I'm afraid, okay?!" His breathing grew heavy.

"How would you feel being pushed into a position where you're suddenly responsible for people's lives?

I know what gangs do to each other.

I don't want to lose my friends.

I don't want to lose my mother.

I don't want to lose my sister.

I don't want to lose the future members of this gang. I don't want their blood on my hands!"

Tears started rolling down Elijah's face.

He barely registered when the blank space disappeared, returning him to reality.

He was still sitting in the same spot, staring up at the sky, his vision blurred by tears.

Alter Elijah's voice echoed one last time in his mind. "But you know there's no other way."

Elijah's hands trembled. 'I just wanted to live a normal life... to play sports for a little while, to have a girlfriend, to be scolded by teachers for stupid reasons.

I wanted to play games and talk about The Core with friends without worrying about survival. I wanted to be normal.'

Alter Elijah's voice softened. "You can still have those things.

They'll just be fewer and farther between.

But the changes that will come will be worth it.

Take the leap of faith.

Stop worrying about the future.

That's Future Us's problem.

Not ours."

Elijah wiped his tears and took a deep breath.

He couldn't turn back now.