Different colors

A faint memory plays:

"N1-Red, are you sure they'll let us go?"

The worried voice of a child echoes.

"Yes… I trust that they'll let us go. Not just us, but everyone else too…"

The memory fades, and Raiko is seen on the bus, staring out the window.

"Raiko!" Gael calls out to him.

Raiko snaps out of his thoughts and asks what's happening.

"We're about to arrive. Also… I've been telling you a bit about my past. Have you been listening to me?" Gael asks, sounding slightly annoyed.

"…Yeah. You failed to rob a bank and almost got caught. Pretty short story, honestly."

Gael, taken aback, stares at him in disbelief and says, "That's not what happened! If you weren't going to pay attention, why did you even ask me to tell you about my past?"

"I paid attention to the part about your past, but the robbery from a few weeks ago? Not interested."

"Huh?! You were the one who brought it up!"

As they walk, Raiko suddenly brings up something important.

"Hey, Gael… We're 17 years old… but I can't remember anything that happened to me more than 10 years ago. Why I am the way I am."

Gael, startled but slightly saddened, replies, "I can't remember either… I've tried, but… nothing."

Raiko, trusting his words, continues, "I once asked Osmerd about it, but he didn't know anything about me either. He'd always just tell me the same thing about my purpose in life and the goal I should strive for: making the city a better place... by eliminating those who bring darkness."

Gael reflects for a moment and thinks, "His purpose is noble… but his goal? Isn't that too much?"

He then asks Raiko, "Are you sure you want to go that far? We are not responsible for this city being like this, and we're not immortal. We could die trying."

Raiko grows serious, lowers his head, and comes to a halt.

"Tell me, Gael, even though we have nothing to do with what's happening… do you like seeing others who are just as innocent as us end up dying?"

Gael turns around. "What are you getting at?"

"I'm talking about those innocent people who end up as victims of robbery, sometimes even losing their lives," Raiko says, recalling his first mission. "Those people were fine until someone with bad intentions appeared, they robbed him and took his life.. And in doing so, brought darkness into their family's life."

Gael, confused, wonders, "Who is he talking about?"

Raiko continues, "Honestly… yeah, I'd like a more normal and peaceful life. But we were dealt this hand, living with colors different from everyone else's. These gifts that no one else has—I want to use them to do what few can: bring justice to innocent victims."

Gael reflects further: "The city doesn't have an effective system to punish those who commit terrible acts. In most cases of robbery or murder, people only spend a little over a year in prison. Obviously, that doesn't solve anything…"

He then says to Raiko, "No matter how hard you try, there are millions of people in this city—and not to mention, the entire country. Your purpose will destroy you. It's you against thousands, including the police and society as a whole."

Raiko finishes with resolve, "If you don't believe in me, no one else will. But you, just like Osmerd, they believed in me. And I know I can do this. I was ready to do it alone—in fact, I was doing it alone before I met you. You know as well as I do that if I hadn't been there that day, you wouldn't be here right now. I know I can save those who are on the brink of death," Raiko says confidently.

Gael, with a slight smile, starts walking again. Raiko assumes he doesn't care, but Gael suddenly says, "I knew this was going to be better than stealing. Let's go. We need to plan what we'll do from now on."

Raiko, happy and confident, continues their walk.

Later that night, Raiko and Gael are at home, planning their next moves. Gael explains the layout of the city using the TV screen:

"Currently, the city of Neonvale is divided into four zones: North, Central, East, and South. There's no West zone, obviously, because of the ocean. Each zone has four districts.

The Northern Zone (upper class): Komalix, Lyvox, Indarix, and Caraylon.

The Central Zone (upper-middle class): Centrix, Brelux, Magdalen, and Prybol.

The Eastern Zone (lower class): Cienovik, Athenix, Molinaris, and Agustion.

The Southern Zone (middle class): Corsu, Cobarran, Flomirares, and Zhorion.

We're currently in the Cobarran district in the south of Neonvale."

Raiko raises his hand and asks, "And where are you from?"

Gael replies, "Thanks for the question, even though it has nothing to do with this… I'm from Athenix… or maybe Agustion. I don't really remember."

"So, you're poor?" Raiko asks bluntly.

"No, I'm not… well, maybe a little… but no. The thing is, those districts are home to the industrial zones, where I spent most of my childhood. Then I moved to Flomirares, but I realized the rent was way too expensive… so I started stealing to afford it."

"And why are you here now? Are you stingy?" Raiko asks.

Gael, incredulous and slightly annoyed, mutters, "Seriously… this was supposed to be better?"