Chapter 55 : Preparation for a Meeting and the Whisper of Two Souls

The dawn that broke after my confession felt like the beginning of an entirely new world. The exhaustion I felt wasn't just physical; it was the emotional fatigue from releasing the burden of a secret I had carried alone for so long. Walking out of Ryukyu's office that morning, I felt lighter, but also more vulnerable. I had placed my fate entirely in my mentor's hands.

News of the change in plans spread quickly among the core team members. Ryukyu gathered us—me, Nejire, Uraraka, and Tsuyu—in the main operations room. She didn't reveal my entire truth, of course. That was a secret too dangerous to share. Instead, she presented a narrative we had crafted together.

"Based on Tatsumi-kun's analysis and some new intelligence that I cannot disclose," she said in a calm voice that left no room for debate, "we've concluded that this 'Ghost' may not be an enemy that can be defeated with force. There's a possibility she is a victim of a larger organization, and might be open to dialogue. Therefore, our objective changes. We are no longer hunting to capture. We will attempt to make contact."

The reaction in the room was a mixture of confusion and relief. Uraraka and Tsuyu looked at each other, clearly still trying to process this drastic change in direction. Nejire, on the other hand, looked at me with a new, intense curiosity. She must have sensed that something much bigger was happening behind the scenes, but she was smart enough not to ask about it in front of the others.

"The plan is as follows," Ryukyu continued, displaying a map of the secluded park on the main screen—the location indicated by Akame's wooden token. "Tatsumi-kun, with his sensory connection, will go to this location alone to try and open a line of communication. He will act as our envoy."

"Alone?!" Uraraka exclaimed, clear worry in her voice. "But that's too dangerous! What if it's a trap?"

"He won't be alone," Ryukyu answered firmly. "I, Nejire, and the other pros will be on the outer perimeter, hidden and undetected. We will be the safety net. But it's crucial that the 'Ghost' believes Tatsumi-kun is coming with good intentions. That's why he must appear to be alone." She looked at me. "This is a reconnaissance and dialogue mission, not a fight. If the situation deteriorates in the slightest, you are to retreat immediately. Do not engage in combat."

I could only nod. The weight of responsibility felt immense on my shoulders.

The next two days were spent in intense preparation. But this time, my training was no longer about combat. Ryukyu took me to a different training room, a smaller, quieter space designed for meditation and mental training.

"If you're going to meet her, you have to be able to control the resonance between you," she explained. "You can't let foreign emotions or memories flood you at a critical moment. And more importantly, you must learn to conceal your own 'echo.' You have to be able to approach her without setting off alarms within her."

This training was the most difficult of all. I spent hours sitting in silence, trying to feel my dragon's heartbeat, then consciously trying to dampen it, to hide it, to wrap it in a cloak of mental silence. It was like trying to hold my breath underwater; my instincts wanted to release that energy, but I had to suppress it.

It was during these sessions that the strange dreams returned, clearer and more frequent. I saw myself—or rather, him, the original Tatsumi—training with a sword under the gaze of a purple-haired man. I felt the electric shock from a belt-shaped Teigu. I felt the warmth of a community, a family found in the midst of war. And I constantly felt Akame's presence beside me, not as a threat, but as an anchor, as my most trusted comrade-in-arms.

These emotions began to seep into my waking consciousness. When I saw Nejire cheerfully devouring her lunch, I was reminded of Leone. When I saw Tsuyu's pragmatic calmness, I was reminded of Najenda. And when I was alone at night, I felt a deep sadness, a longing for faces I had never met in this life.

This internal conflict began to affect me. One afternoon, while we were doing some light exercises in the gym, Uraraka approached me. "Tatsumi-kun," she said softly. "You seem... different lately. Quieter. As if something is weighing on you."

I tried to smile. "Just a lot on my mind."

"We're here for you, you know that, right?" she said, her large, brown eyes looking at me with sincerity. "We're your friends. If you need someone to talk to..."

Guilt hit me again. I desperately wanted to tell her, to tell them all. But how? I looked at her, a kind and optimistic girl who believed in a bright world of heroes. How could I tell her that this world was just a story to me, and that I was struggling with the ghost of another life inside me?

"I know," I replied, my voice softer than I intended. "Thank you, Uraraka-san. That means a lot to me."

The night of the meeting arrived quickly. I stood in front of the mirror in my room, wearing simple civilian clothes—a black hoodie and jeans. I carried no weapons. My only 'equipment' was a hidden communicator in my ear and the wooden token in my pocket. I looked at my reflection. This face was my face, but sometimes, I felt like a stranger in it. Who was I, really? Was I the person from Earth trapped in this body? Or was I the successor to the soul of a long-lost warrior?

'You are both,' a voice whispered in my mind. The voice wasn't mine, but it felt incredibly familiar. It was the echo from my dreams. 'You are the bridge between two worlds. Do not be afraid.'

I flinched, staring at the mirror with wide eyes. Had I just... had a dialogue with my other self?

"Tatsumi-kun, it's time." Ryukyu's voice from outside the door brought me back.

I took a deep breath, calming my pounding heart. I walked out and joined the team. Not many words were spoken as we headed to the location. The tension was palpable. They were all placing their trust in me, in a plan based on my most insane story.

When we arrived near the secluded park, the van stopped. "Remember the rules," Ryukyu said, looking at me sharply. "This is a dialogue. Not a confrontation. If she shows the slightest sign of hostility, you pull back. I will give you the signal if we have to move in. Do not act rashly."

I nodded. "I understand."

I stepped out of the van alone, the door closing behind me, leaving me in the silence of the night. I walked down the dimly lit path toward the park, every step feeling heavy. I could feel the presence of my team hiding in the distance, but here, under the pale moonlight, I was completely alone.

I arrived at the open area in the center of the park, the same place where we had met before. I stood there, waiting, trying to muffle the Incursio 'echo' within me, making it as quiet as possible. I didn't know if she would come. I didn't know if she would trust me.

A few minutes passed, which felt like an eternity. I began to think this was a mistake. But then, I felt it. Not a sharp echo, but a silent presence. I turned, and she was already there, standing under the shadow of a large tree, as if she had become a part of the night itself.

Akame.

She looked at me, her red eyes showing no emotion. But I could feel it through our strange connection. She wasn't here to fight. She was here for answers, just like me.

"You came," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

"So did you," she replied curtly. She stepped out of the shadows, the Murasame sword still strapped to her back. "You came alone."

"I kept my promise," I said. "Now it's your turn. Let's talk."