Choices We Make

The atmosphere in Master Ho Dieng's home was heavy with tension. The faint scent of herbal medicine filled the room as the master meticulously tended to Hayato, who lay unconscious on a futon. Hayato's face was pale, his breathing shallow but steady, as bandages wrapped around his bruised torso and arms spoke of the severity of his injuries.

In the adjacent room, Yuki knelt beside Remond, carefully dabbing a wet cloth over the cuts and bruises on his face. "Hold still," she said softly, her voice laced with concern.

"I'm fine," Remond muttered, though the wince that followed betrayed his words. He glanced toward the room where Hayato rested, his jaw tightening.

Sid paced back and forth, his expression a mix of guilt and frustration. His glasses were slightly askew, and his normally collected demeanor was fraying at the edges. "This shouldn't have happened," he muttered under his breath, but loud enough for the others to hear.

Yuki shot him a sharp look but remained silent, her focus returning to Remond's injuries.

---

The Confession

Finally, Sid stopped pacing, turning to face the others. "You all deserve an explanation," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "Hayato and I… we've been working as vigilantes for the past few days."

Remond's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. "You what?"

Sid adjusted his glasses, his hands shaking. "It started as a small thing—stopping petty crimes, helping those in need. Hayato wanted to make a difference, and I… I wanted to be part of something bigger. We thought we could handle it."

"And look where that got him," Remond said coldly, his voice cutting through the room like a blade.

Sid flinched but pressed on. "We didn't anticipate some hitman will show up. We've been careful, calculated. But this… this was different."

Remond stood, his fists clenched. "You dragged Hayato into this? You let him risk his life for your stupid crusade?"

Sid's face flushed with anger. "It wasn't just me! Hayato wanted to do this! He believed in it as much as I did. And if you had agreed to join us—if you had shared our vision—maybe none of this would have happened!"

---

"That's your excuse?" Remond shot back, his voice rising. "You think I'm the problem because I didn't enable your reckless behavior? Hayato could have died, Sid! And it would've been on your hands!"

Sid took a step forward, his own frustration boiling over. "Don't act like you're so perfect, Remond. You've got your own secrets, don't you? Your own powers? You could've helped us, but instead, you chose to sit on the sidelines and judge us!"

Yuki stood between them, her hands raised in a futile attempt to de-escalate the situation. "Stop it, both of you! This isn't helping Hayato!"

But neither boy listened.

"This isn't about me!" Remond shouted. "This is about you putting your selfish ambitions above the safety of your friend!"

Sid's voice cracked as he retorted, "You don't understand! This was about more than just me—it was about doing something meaningful! About being more than just some kid who watches the world fall apart!"

"And what about Hayato?" Remond demanded, his voice breaking. "Did you ever stop to think about what this would do to him? To Yuki? To me?"

---

In the other room, Master Ho Dieng quietly worked on Hayato, his calm demeanor betraying the intensity of his thoughts. He could hear every word of the argument, but he chose to remain silent, letting the emotions play out.

As he finished wrapping a fresh bandage around Hayato's arm, the boy stirred, a soft groan escaping his lips.

"Easy," Ho Dieng said gently, placing a hand on Hayato's shoulder to keep him still. "You're safe now."

Hayato's eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first but gradually sharpening. He winced as he tried to sit up, only to be held down by the master's firm yet gentle grip.

"Don't move too much," Ho Dieng instructed. "You've been through quite an ordeal."

Hayato's gaze flickered toward the other room, where the raised voices of his friends reached his ears. He frowned. "What's… going on?"

"They're worried about you," Ho Dieng replied simply. "And each other, in their own way."

---

Hayato closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his strength before speaking. "I need to talk to them."

Ho Dieng hesitated but eventually helped Hayato sit up, supporting him as they moved toward the other room.

The argument between Sid and Remond had reached its peak, their words echoing in the small space.

"Enough," Hayato croaked, his voice weak but firm enough to cut through the tension.

Both boys turned to see him standing in the doorway, supported by Ho Dieng. Their anger melted into concern as they rushed to his side.

"Hayato, you shouldn't be up," Yuki said, her voice filled with worry.

Hayato managed a small smile. "I've had worse." His expression turned serious as he looked at both Sid and Remond. "This… this is on me. I made the decision to become a vigilante. Sid didn't force me into it."

"Hayato—" Sid began, but Hayato held up a hand to silence him.

"I knew the risks," he continued. "And I accepted them. But I also underestimated the danger. That's on me. If anyone's to blame for what happened, it's me."

Remond's shoulders slumped, the fire in his eyes dimming. "Hayato…"

"Look," Hayato said, his voice soft but steady. "We've all made mistakes. But if we keep tearing each other apart, we'll never move forward."

---

Moving Forward

Master Ho Dieng finally spoke, his voice calm and authoritative. "Hayato is right. What's done is done. The question now is, what will you do next?"

Sid lowered his gaze, his fists unclenching. "I just… I wanted to do something good. To make a difference."

"And you still can," Ho Dieng said. "But not without understanding the consequences of your actions. If you wish to continue down this path, you must do so with wisdom and caution."

Remond nodded, his voice quieter now. "We'll figure it out. Together."

Hayato smiled faintly, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. "Thanks, guys."

Yuki placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression softening. "Just focus on getting better, okay? The rest can wait."

"Master you can't be serious. Those Axiom Syndicate members out their if they find out Hayato they will certainly come for him. And you are encouraging them in this?" Remond says in disbelief.

"Remond! This is their to make choice. They know the risk. Let them be." Master says.

"Thank you." Both Sid and Hayato says.