CHAPTER 19 -A Heart Not Meant to Love

A faint voice called out, "Yoto, Yoto..." The sound of his sensei's desperate cry rang through his ears, yet his consciousness wavered. His body felt numb, his vision blurred, and an overwhelming dizziness took hold. He muttered weakly to himself, "What happened to me? I can't move any of my muscles... My head feels so heavy... I just want to sleep." And with that, his eyes closed, surrendering to the darkness.

Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open. His senses returned little by little, though a dull throbbing still lingered in his head. A figure sat before him, watching attentively.

"Oh, you're awake. How are you feeling now, Mister Yoto?" the voice asked.

Yoto, his voice weak and raspy, replied, "My head... my head feels a little dizzy."

"Yeah, it will," the person responded with a reassuring tone. "You were unconscious for twenty hours."

Yoto squinted at the figure before him, trying to make out the details. "Who are you? And why are you helping me?"

The man smiled. "Oh, my apologies. I should introduce myself properly. I am Ginrou, a beastman and the general of the Beast Kingdom's army. It's an honor to meet you, Yoto."

Yoto's mind struggled to process the information, confusion settling in. Before he could ask another question, the door to the room creaked open. Yushin entered, carefully balancing a tray with warm water and a towel. The moment she saw Yoto awake, relief flooded her expression. The tray was forgotten as she rushed to his side, throwing her arms around him and burying her face into his shoulder, her body trembling as she sobbed.

"I was so worried, Yoto..." she choked out between tears.

A warmth spread through Yoto's chest, and for the first time since waking up, he felt a sense of peace. As he tried to return her embrace, he realized something shocking—his amputated arm was back, completely regenerated. His fingers flexed, his skin unmarred, but his thoughts were too tangled to focus on that. Before he could dwell on it, the room filled with familiar faces. His squad, his sensei, and even Ken Kaito had gathered, their expressions filled with concern.

Yet, amidst the crowd, Yoto sensed someone was missing.

"Sensei… where is Hayato?" His question cast a heavy silence over the room.

His squadmates averted their eyes, their faces downcast. Yoto's heart pounded, a growing unease taking root. "Why is everyone so quiet? What happened to him? Where is he?" he pressed.

Finally, Hataki broke the silence. "Why are you all hesitating? He deserves to know the truth."

Yoto turned to his sensei, his chest tightening. "What happened, Sensei?"

Hataki exhaled, his tone somber. "When we were escaping from Razor, we were ambushed. Hayato stayed behind to fight so the others could get away. He was injured in battle and is resting now."

Yoto's breath hitched. "Hayato is injured? How is he? Can I see him?"

Hataki placed a firm hand on Yoto's shoulder. "He's stable, but he needs rest. You can see him tomorrow. For now, we have much to discuss, and dinner is ready. You should eat first."

At the dining table, Yoto picked at his food, his mind restless. "Sensei, where exactly are we?"

Hataki responded, "We are on a Beastmen ship. For our safety, they are taking us to Beast Island."

"Why are they helping us?" Yoto asked.

"Because our goals align. We are fighting for the same thing."

Yoto frowned. "And what exactly are we fighting for?"

Hataki sighed. "That can wait. For now, focus on recovering."

Yoto, unsatisfied, pressed on. "Who helped us in the battlefield?"

Hataki smirked. "An old acquaintance of mine. And Ken is also fighting alongside us."

"Vice President Ken?" Yoto's eyes widened in shock.

Ken nodded. "Yes, that's him."

Before Yoto could process it all, Eiji and Akemi chimed in. "Oi, Yoto, you didn't tell us you had powers."

Hataki crossed his arms. "Yes, Yoto, why didn't you mention it?"

Yoto lowered his gaze. "I apologize, everyone. I wasn't sure if my power had truly awakened. I can only use it once, and after that, I can't access it again. I wanted to tell you when I was certain... but then you were all taken. I wasn't thinking about anything except bringing you back safely. Now, it feels like I hid something important from the people I care about."

Akemi shook her head. "No, Yoto, we're grateful to you."

Eiji and Yushin nodded in agreement. Yushin then added, "See, Yoto? In a world where most people only care about themselves, you risked everything to protect us. That's what I admire about you. There aren't many people like you, Yoto. Don't forget that."

Yoto felt warmth spread in his chest and smiled. "Thank you, Yushin. You always know what to say."

Yushin blushed and quickly excused herself. Yoto, concerned, asked, "Did I say something wrong? Should I apologize?"

Eiji held back laughter while Akemi blushed. "Yoto, who is Nishi?" Akemi asked.

"Oh, he's a parasite," Yoto replied casually.

From behind, Nishi smacked him on the head. "I told you not to call me that, idiot!"

Laughter filled the dining hall for a while as Nishi made funny faces. But then, the atmosphere shifted when Akemi stood up, her expression downcast. "I'm going to rest," she muttered before leaving.

Yoto turned to Hataki. "Sensei, where are Kaito and Ken?"

"Ken is checking our course, ensuring we take the safest route. Kaito is keeping watch. He believes we could be attacked at any moment. Given who we've gone against, he's not wrong."

Yoto stood up. "I'll take a walk on the deck for some fresh air."

Hataki nodded. "Be safe. You're still healing."

Stepping onto the deck, Yoto was met with a breathtaking sight. The full moon bathed the ocean in silver light, the water shimmering with each gentle wave. The vast sky stretched endlessly, its silence broken only by the rhythmic crash of waves. The night air was crisp and carried a salty breeze. For a moment, Yoto stood in awe, feeling insignificant beneath the infinite sky.

He then noticed Kaito standing at the railing, staring at the moon.

Yoto approached Kaito, his footsteps light against the wooden deck. The moon cast a silver glow on the sea, making the night feel calm yet heavy. He hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Sir Kaito, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Kaito turned slightly, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. "Yes, you can, Yoto."

Yoto bowed deeply. "Sir Kaito, thank you for protecting me and my sensei."

Kaito let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "No, no, it's nothing. If I can't jump in to help a friend, then what kind of friend am I?"

Yoto nodded, agreeing with the sentiment. But before he could say anything more, Kaito's expression shifted, his face turning serious as he fixed Yoto with a sharp gaze.

"Yoto," Kaito asked, his tone firm, "are you in a relationship with Yushin?"

Yoto's face turned crimson, his body stiffening at the unexpected question. "Me? Yushin? No, no… it's nothing like that…" His voice trailed off, unsure.

Kaito gave a knowing smile, almost as if he had already expected that answer. "Yeah, I know." But then, his expression darkened, his voice taking on a grave weight. "Yoto, I want you to stay away from her."

Yoto froze, his breath catching in his throat. "Sir Kaito… what are you saying?"

Kaito's voice remained unwavering, his eyes unreadable. "Yoto, let me tell you something—think of it as advice. If a man doesn't have the power to protect his loved ones, he doesn't have the right to love. Keep that in mind."

Without another word, Kaito turned and walked away, his figure blending into the moonlit night.

Yoto stood there, unmoving, his mind blank. The weight of Kaito's words pressed down on his chest like an unbearable force. His hands trembled, his throat felt dry, and then—tears. They welled in his eyes before spilling down his cheeks.

"Why… why am I crying?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the gentle waves. "I said I'm not in a relationship with her… so why does this hurt so much?"

His hands clenched into fists as he struggled to breathe. "Am I that weak? Am I that useless?"

The moon continued to shine upon him, indifferent to his pain. The night wind carried his sorrow across the vast ocean, leaving him standing there—alone, broken, and questioning everything he thought he knew.