A Battle Within

Akio finally stood before Kevin. All the rumors, the humiliation, the endless taunts—they had led him here. Deep down, he had always known. Kevin was the source of everything weighing him down. Yet now, standing face-to-face, Akio's hands trembled. His anger burned, his pulse raced, and the words of his friends echoed in his mind: "This won't help, Akio." But the voice that had always been with him drowned out all others.

"It's your right, Akio. Let them feel it."

Akio breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling unevenly. The pain of the past weeks boiled inside him like lava, and he couldn't suppress it anymore. His gaze fixed on Kevin, who sneered at him mockingly.

"What are you standing there for, frozen like a tree? Huh?" Kevin taunted. "Still can't recover from my kicks?"

Akio clenched his fists but said nothing. Instead, he closed the distance between them in a few short strides and threw a punch with all his strength. The blow landed on Kevin's cheek, causing him to stumble slightly. But Kevin's smirk didn't fade.

"You idiot!" Kevin spat. "Think that hurt me? Try this!"

His punch struck Akio square on the nose. Pain exploded like lightning through Akio's face. He staggered backward, lost his balance, and fell to his knees. Clutching his nose, he felt the warm, thick blood pouring from his nostrils. It dripped onto the dusty ground, leaving dark stains on his shirt.

"That's what a real punch feels like, you loser!" Kevin jeered, laughing along with his friends.

Akio slowly raised his head, his vision blurred. His entire body screamed in pain, yet he struggled to his knees. The scrape on his arm from his first fall burned and throbbed, and his knees bled from the jagged gravel that had torn through his skin. Every breath was labored, and the words he wanted to say caught in his throat.

Tears welled in his eyes, uncontrollable and unavoidable. The pain wasn't just physical; it was the humiliation, the feeling that all his efforts had been in vain. Kevin was stronger, faster, and—worse—he was enjoying every second of this fight.

"What's wrong with you?" Kevin asked, his voice almost disgusted. "Did you really think you'd accomplish anything here?"

Akio said nothing. His eyes filled further with tears, and then... silence. A strange, crushing silence settled over his mind. He closed his eyes, and it was as if he were being pulled into an endless darkness.

When he opened them again, something had changed. His posture straightened, his breathing steadied. His gaze was no longer confused or vulnerable. It was as though the person standing before Kevin wasn't Akio at all.

"I'm done with you," Akio said, his voice low and even.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kevin asked, though his voice wavered slightly. He stepped closer, reaching for Akio's collar, but hesitated. Something felt off.

"He's asleep now," Akio said. "So I'll handle you."

"What's wrong with you?" Kevin scoffed, though his laugh was tinged with nervousness. "This guy's having a breakdown, guys. Total freak!"

"You'll regret this soon enough," Akio continued, not even looking at Kevin.

"Regret what? Your empty words? Ha..." Kevin tried to mask his unease with mockery, but it didn't quite work.

Akio slowly lifted his head, his eyes unnaturally void of emotion. His voice dropped, each word thickening the air around them.

"Earth and nature brought into balance…" he began, his words like an unfamiliar melody.

"What are you babbling about?" Kevin asked, laughing again, though it sounded forced.

"…held together and separated…" Akio continued, his empty gaze piercing through Kevin.

"Are you reciting poetry now?" Kevin stepped closer, his hand twitching toward Akio's collar, but he stopped short. "You're bleeding, you freak."

"…death comes to those who can't endure the weight," Akio finished, his voice reverberating in the air.

The air grew dense, as though an unseen force weighed it down. Kevin hesitated, his laughter faltering. His friends shifted uncomfortably, and one of them stumbled backward, as if the pressure itself pushed him.

"What are you going to do? Kill me?" Kevin's tone sharpened, laced with uncertainty. "Is that your big plan? Pathetic… come on, let's get out of here."

But before Kevin could turn away, Akio spoke again, his voice suddenly commanding, almost otherworldly: "FREE ME FROM ALL THAT BURDENS ME."

The ground beneath them began to tremble. At first, it was subtle, but the shaking quickly intensified. The earth seemed to pulse, and the plants around them bent as though under an invisible force. The pressure Kevin and his friends felt became unbearable. Their knees buckled, forcing them to the ground. Kevin's hands clawed at the dirt, desperate to steady himself.

"What… what are you doing?" Kevin gasped, his voice filled with panic.

Akio slowly rose to his feet, the ground beneath him completely still. The pressure crushing Kevin and his friends seemed to have no effect on him. Without a word, Akio turned and began walking away, his steps calm and deliberate.

Kevin called after him, his voice weak and cracking: "This… this isn't you…"

Akio stopped but didn't look back. The voice within him whispered softly, almost soothingly: "See? With me, you'll never be weak."

Without glancing over his shoulder, Akio continued walking. Once inside the school building, he slumped into his seat, his bloodied nose no longer bothering him. Resting his head on his arms, he whispered softly, barely audible and disturbingly content:

"What… was that dream?"