PINKY PROMISE
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Her eyes so serious, her gaze so sharp.
But mine was sharper.
Who does she think she is to call me that?
"How could you?" she said, her voice tinged with anger and anguish.
"So many, Ken," she went on, her eyes still locked on mine.
"Why, Ken, why?!" Her voice climbed higher, piercing like a scream that filled the room.
I felt it. It wasn't a voice of shame.
It wasn't a voice of punishment.
It was voice of pure double-faced blade.
*Has she forgotten her own sins to judge mine?*
*Does she think she's better?*
"Why, Ken? Why kill?!"
"Is he not dead? Did he not die? So why keep going?" Her tone softened with each word, her expression growing darker.
Yet my gaze held firm—untouched, unaffected.
She caught it, and a flicker of disbelief crossed her face.
"You're just like him," she said, and those words broke me.
"What about you?" My lips finally parted, my voice deep but calm. "Do you think you're better than me?"
"I didn't kill so many…"
"What's the difference?" I cut in, nearly overlapping her.
"Do you think just because I killed more, it makes me worse?
What about you—so selfish by nature? You murdered the one who made you."
"He didn't make me!" she shouted. "He took me from my parents when I was young, Ken. He took me in and taught me death!"
"No, Nagant," I said, my voice steady, unshaken. "He Bought you from your parents."
Her eyes stayed fixed on mine.
"Your parents selfishly sold you, Nagant," I continued. "The same selfishness you inherit."
Her gaze wavered, just for a second.
"What did you expect, killing the man who supported us both?" My words turned sharp, almost cruel.
"What did you think would happen to me, Nagant?
You'd accepted your fate, and I had to clean up after you—clean up the corpse of what fed us both.
I had to deal with your mess because you couldn't handle it yourself."
"Killing the same man who brought you to where you stand," I said, "the same man who fed you, who took you in."
"So tell me—who's better?" My question lingered, heavier than I'd meant it to be. "A monster, or the parents who sold you to him?"
"Your parents sold their soul," I said, my tone shifting colder.
"And you are the soul."
She just stared, her expression twitching with something unspoken.
But before she could answer—
*KNOCK! KNOCK!*
The door cut through, its sound sharp yet oddly quiet.
She stood and walked toward it, hand on the handle.
Before it creaked open, she stopped.
"You've changed, Ken," she said, her voice now soft and faint.
"Men like him die alone. It's only a matter of time. Be careful—before the thing you own ends up owning you."
With that, the door swung wide.
She stepped out, but before she could disappear, Mei darted past her, brushing by with quick steps.
Nagant glanced back as Mei threw herself into my arms.
Her face—I could see it.
Eyes full of pity, like she knew something unavoidable was coming.
But my gaze, like always, didn't flinch.
It stayed silent, her words sliding off my watchful eyes.
And then… nothing.
*THUD!*
The door slammed shut. Mei pressed against my chest, her movements damp and trembling—she was crying.
"What's wrong?" I asked, running my hand over her hair.
Then it clicked—my clothes, this room. Of course, she'd worry.
"Wait, wait, I'm fine," I said quickly.
"Look." I lifted her head, showing her my body.
And as I expected—no wounds, no scratches in sight.
But Mei didn't care.
She just looked at me, then nestled her head back against my chest.
It was nice.
A feeling I couldn't quite understand.
So I sat there, letting it settle.
And in that moment, a strange pride rose in me—pride in what I'd just done.
Her little wet tears confirmed my ever-solid thoughts:
I had something to lose.
———[ELSEWHERE]
In a large, dark office, a woman sat with a strong drink in hand.
The TV blared, her eyes glued to its shifting screen.
["Three days ago, the former president of the Hero Safety Commission died in a mysterious fire at his home.
Now, the warehouse of the current vice president—soon to be president—has met the same fate.
Nearby residents report hearing an explosion and the sound of quirks in use.
It wouldn't be a stretch to assume a hero-villain fight took place, but no heroes have been spotted.
The fire department stationed there reports at least five dozen people deceased.
Police handling the investigation claim that—"]*
*Zzt!*
The TV shut off, plunging the room into perfect darkness.
"Is it Odin?" a red-winged figure asked, standing beside her.
"Who else would it be?" she replied, her voice cool and firm.
"Then why would he keep the deal?" the winged man asked.
She exhaled loudly, leaning back in her chair. She took another swig, downing it fast.
"He burns all the evidence we had on Mirai," she said, pouring another drink. "He has evidence against us, yet he keeps it to himself. Well…" She paused, swirling the glass.
"I have no idea. But whatever it is, it's more for us."
Silence fell, broken only by the slight smile that curved her lips after she spoke.
———[ELSEWHERE]
"So… yuh come tuh di hospital, only tuh get released afta one day?" Ethan asked, his face full of curiosity.
"Yeah," I said, feeling his stare linger a bit too long.
It made sense, though.
Nagant told the hospital I'd only fainted.
Funny enough, when she brought me in, they said I was naked and covered in mud.
I guess she used that to hide the blood I had all over me.
As for injuries? I had none—or at least, I'd healed them all.
Mei, beside me, hadn't let go of my hand this whole time.
She'd barely said a word.
"Guess with RCT, I should avoid hospital visits from now on," I thought, chuckling softly.
Mei nudged me with her shoulder, probably thinking I was laughing at her.
———[MEI POV]
I don't know why I'm acting like this.
He just fainted—so why does it feel like he nearly died?
Even now, walking back to his house, my heart's racing with pain.
Beating so fast I can hear it.
Am I scared?
Maybe. No—
Yes, I'm not scared. I'm frightened.
I don't even remember how I got here.
I don't recall getting to the hospital.
All I remember is seeing him and hearing he was fine.
And now, we just walk.
My heart's pounding so hard it's tough to speak—like I've been running for hours without stopping.
It feels like a heart attack.
Then he squeezes my hand tighter as if telling me he's okay.
In the taxi, Ethan said he had to head home since it had gotten late.
For me, it's Saturday, and my parents let me sleep over at Ken's.
If they knew his mom was almost never home, they'd probably say no.
She's the only reason they allow these weekend stays anyway.
Inside his house, I watch him move, but my heart won't calm down.
I don't know what this feeling is.
I don't know why it's happening.
But… 'I don't like it.'
———[KEN POV]
Walking in, I shut the door and headed to my room to get things ready.
But with my sharp hearing, I noticed that Mei had stopped moving entirely.
Turning back, I see her staring at the cold floor.
"Mei, wh—"
"Promise me," she cuts in.
"Promise me it won't happen again, Ken." A tear hits the floor.
I step closer and take her hand.
I lift my pinky and hook it with hers.
She lets out a small laugh.
"Pinky promise?"
I shake my head. Letting go, I open her palm instead.
From nothing as if done by magic, a black baby crow forms—its wings slightly oversized, made entirely of darkness.
"Mei," I say, "as long as this crow's alive, I'll always be fine."
The crow tilts its head at us, then rubs against her hand as if agreeing.
"So it's a pinky promise?" she asks again.
"No," I say.
"It's a binding vow."
My words puzzle her, but they carry a weight deep in my soul.
"Caw!"
The crow squawks, making Mei laugh.
"Agree, Mei," I say.
She nods, but I tilt my head, pretending I don't understand.
She laughs louder.
"Yes, Ken."
"So, what're you gonna name him?" I ask.
"…Night," she says. "I'll call him Night."
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~~~~~~~[END]
Hi, I actually edited this chapter differently, I was just wondering if u enjoyed it, if u did make sure to let me know in the comments.
And yho, if you want and extra character tomorrow, make sure to get me to 120 stones 💀 good luck