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Chapter Text

"... in ... Shin ... Shin wake up! ... "
His father's voice came from below and woke the young teenager.
Sighing, Shin opened his eyes and enjoyed the warmth of his bed for a few more moments.
"Now come on Shin!" Toru called from below again.

"Yeah!... I'm awake! ”Answered his son and sat up while he rubbed the rest of the sleep from his eyes.
"I'll be right down!" The blonde said before he slowly peeled himself on the bed.
Shin shuffled into the bathroom to get ready for the morning.
Still tying his hair, the boy went down the stairs into the kitchen, where his father had already prepared breakfast.

"Good morning Champ" he greets him with a smile. And put a plate of scrambled eggs and toast on the table for him.
"Morning Dad," Shin uttered tiredly as he began to shovel in the food.

"It's supposed to rain today," Toru began, slightly worried. He knew from the weakness of the sorcerers that they couldn't stand the rain in the Hole.
Shin usually coped with this quite well except for a few headaches or a little nausea.
It only laid him flat in particularly heavy rain.
"I'll be fine," replied the boy and stuffed the rest of the toast into his mouth.
After the small meal, the boy said goodbye to his dad, grabbed his backpack and went to school.
He sighed as he looked up at the sky. Gray. As always. Gray and dirty, as it is in the basic state of Hole. But on top of that it really looked like rain today. So he started walking to school.

A 20-minute walk and a short train ride later, he arrived in front of it.
He went to his small clique consisting of Nikaido, an easy-going and friendly person who eventually wants to own their own restaurant.
Her boyfriend Kaiman, a guy who sometimes appears quite lazy and arrogant, but who can actually be nice. When you see behind his stubborn and sometimes rude manner.
His brother Ai who is rather reserved and self-contained. The complete opposite of his brother and Shin, to be honest, who he prefers too.
And finally Risu. Often plays dumb and is a hot-headed guy. Caiman's best friend. And Shin's absolute nightmare from the troop.

Everything would be even more bearable if Caiman and Risu didn't have such an open disgust for wizards.
How many times have they had their stupid jokes about magic users, ignorant that Shin was half one too. But they didn't know any better because Shin carried this secret very close to his heart.
You couldn't trust someone. Anyone can betray you to the Militia and collect a generous reward. Money convinced many people here a lot more than friendship.

"Good morning Shin!" Nikaido greeted him first. Shin only raised his hand briefly and came over to them. "Hey, you're late!" Kaiman hung in loudly.

"Yes, the train was delayed" Without much circumlocution, Shin wanted to go straight in. He didn't feel like talking much longer today with the upcoming headache.

Ai took his backpack and immediately followed the blond one. "Hey everything alright?"
Shin looked at him as he took his books out of the locker. "Yes, just a little headache."
He liked Ai.Preferred him by everyone in the group. He didn't ask all the time and noticed, even if someone would like to be left alone. Not like the other two idiots in the gang.
"It's okay." He want to reassure his friend. “Let's go to the lesson. I can't afford to be late with old McConnor again."

So Shin prepared for a long day at school while the first raindrops slowly made their way onto the earth.

Chapter Text

Shin had now spent 9 far too long hours sitting there and supposedly learning something.
Why do you need to know about how to implement a baroque-like drawing style or the old story of how the Hole came about?
It was a shitty hole back then, it still is today and will certainly continue to do so.

Seriously ... once a year zombies even come out of their graves ?! Who can still think that this is normal?!

On top of that, he had a rather unpleasant encounter with Dokuga and his troop called the "cross eyes".
What a bullshit? Do they all smear the same symbol on their eyes and think they are now something special? A gang of poor scroungers! That's them.
Well, Shin has not fallen into the pot of gold either, but his little temporary jobs with old Mrs. Hinata who lives below them and that of his father were enough for a decent life in her own apartment.

After a little tussle with the Cross-eyes leader that was (unfortunately) ended by the teachers very quickly, Shin stepped out of the building and said goodbye to his friends because he had to go to his father's workshop.

On the way there, he noticed that his stomage made itself noteable. He skipped his lunch break today.
He went further when he found a new restaurant which must have opened recently.

"Flower Smoke?" He read out "what kind of stupid name is that?"
He stood in front of it and looked at the menu. At least that sounded pretty good and the prices looked pretty good too. His father wouldn't mind if he came a few minutes later.
With a shrug, he went in and found a free place at the counter.

The interior design took a little getting used to. It all seemed too ... noble? ... too pompous? ... at least nothing that belongs in the hole.
The waitresses looked rather strange in their masks as well. But hey, who was he to judge someone?

He was quickly greeted by a friendly guy.
He was only in his early twenties and, like everyone else, wore a suit. In addition, a half mask that was shaped like a duckbeak.
"Hello young man. What can it be?"

Shin was a little taken aback by the man's appearance for a moment.
"Uh ... well"
He glanced at the card and simply took the first thing he saw.
"The 'Chief Special' please"

The man waited patiently and barely grimaced at Shin's initial stammer. "Very well. I'll be right back to you."
With that, the duckman disappeared, leaving the blond boy to himself.

Now Shin took a look at what exactly he had ordered. Thin noodles with soy sauce, thick slices of pork meat and mushrooms that have been marinated with secret ingredients for 3 days and 3 nights.
Fortunately, he wasn't picky about food and the compilation actually sounded pretty good.

Soon the duck guy came to him with the dish and put it down. Shin thanked him briefly, manners his father had just drummed into him, and already took the chopsticks.
It was a lot better than expected. He quickly finished the portion and reached into the back pocket to get his wallet out.

Just to find the pocket empty. Shit. He felt all the other pockets. Nothing. Great!
"Those lousy fuckers of cross eyes stole my wallet ..." he grumbled sourly and looked around further.
What should he do now?

The chef seemed busy with another order. And the waitresses were also with other guests. He took a napkin and put it under the edge of the bowl as if he were pushing a banknote under it. Got up and went out. Tried not to let it show.

As soon as he was out of the door he already heard screaming from inside.
"Stop the boy !!!! He's a thief !!!"
He started running and getting away from the restaurant as fast as it could.
Hardly does he hear that someone following him.
When he thought he had come far enough away, he slowed down and stopped. Caught his breath briefly.

"Hey you!"
Called a young boy with baggy clothes and a mask. Did he belong to the restaurant?

"What do you want?" He asked disinterestedly . He was already much too late, his father would surely make him do some punishment for it. Something like sweeping the entire workshop.

"Pay off your debts when you are due!" The stranger started.
"What does it concern you!? " Shin answered simply. He wouldn’t let that guy tell him anything.
"You are also much too young to work there " he concluded.
His counterpart is not older than 14 maybe 15 years old.

"This restaurant belongs to my cousin. I will not allow such dodgers!"
He had courage. You can give that to him.
"Do you want to fight?" Shin wouldn't let a guy like that defeat him. He had already taken on a completely different caliber.

"If it has to be"
Answered his opposite and stepped closer.
"but I have to warn you ... I-"

He didn't get to the end when Shin kicked him in the back of the knee and hit the ground with a skillful blow on the back of the head.
"I haven't even said "go" yet," he muttered.
"Well ... point for me"
Shin said triumphantly to the one lying on the ground and started to run on.
"Unfortunately I ran out of time ... but maybe we'll do it again."
With that he disappeared and ran on to his father's workshop.

The boy straightened up slowly and watched Shin go. "You lousy coward!"
He tore the mask from his head and had long white hair fall over her shoulders.
Red eyes now looked furiously at the deserted path.
"Asshole! Idiot!!! Don't you dare to coming near the restaurant again! Fuck off!" She hissed afterwards.

Shin didn't notice any more of this and entered the workshop.
"I'm here! .. sorry that I'm late"
He called in and took off his backpack and jacket.

"Where have you been all this time? I've been waiting for you," said Toru sternly. "We still have a lot to do"

"Yes sorry" Shin changed quickly into some workclothes. "I was quick to eat something and was then stopped by a guy who thought he could mess with me."
He explained.
His father didn't need to know that he had kicked the bill.

"It's okay," sighed the older man and pointed to the grinding machine. "Make yourself useful and grind the parts back there," he demanded Shin, who also immediately got to work.

For a while everyone worked for themselves.
The loud machines weren't great for a chat anyway.
Hours later, which Shin had only spent with annoying wood grinding work, he felt his shoulder being tapped.
He switched off the machine, took off the headphones and looked at his father who was holding up a bag of Thai food.
"Hungry?" He asked smiling even though he already knew the answer.

Shortly afterwards they were sitting in a halfway clean corner of the table.
“How was school?” Toru has always been quite interested in his son's life. He only had him and wanted to enjoy it. Meanwhile he opened an equal portion for both of them.

"Quite ok ... pretty boring" answered the young blonde and started to eat a little. "Why can't I just work here full-time? ..It just sucks to sit there for hours and give me lectures that I don't need anyway," he grumbled in typical teenage fashion.

Toru could only shake his head with a smile. "Believe me .. at some point you will be happy that you can still enjoy school. I had to break it off early to work with your grandfather in the workshop day in and day out."

"It's annoying anyway."
Yes he understood the aspect of his father. Even if he had never met his grandfather. He just knew that this was a very strict man.
In fact, he was actually quite happy that his father was more indulgent with him

Soon this food was gone and Shin went to his detention to sweep the entire room.
After Toru made sure that all devices and lights were off, he locked the door and went home with his son.

When they got home they ended the evening together with a beer, shin a coke and a silly quiz show where they both made fun of the candidates.

Shin soon went upstairs to the bathroom. A quick shower later he retired to his room and went to bed. It didn't take long after the physical work for the boy to fall asleep.

Chapter Text

The next morning Shin was woken up by his alarm clock. He grumbled and tried to fade out the annoying noise but it didn't help. Tired, he sat up and turned off the constant beeping. He climbed out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom.
He did his business quickly, washing himself and making his hair into a simple ponytail.

Shin went down the stairs and grabbed a bowl which he quickly filled with cornflakes and milk. Then he noticed the message on the kitchen table.

'Got to work late today. Do not wait for me. I left you some money for pizza tonight and don't be up too long. Dad '

With a shrug, Shin packed the money and put the note down again. He chewed bored on his breakfast and watched a little TV on the side. It was not unusual for him to be home alone. When he was finished he put the bowl in the sink to wash it up later. Took his backpack and went to school.

School was boring as always until lunch break.
He was sitting with his gang at a table in the cafeteria, poking around the food. What kind of stuff was that? He would love to have some of the Gyoza that Nikaido had but he was afraid of losing a hand to Caiman if he reached over.
However, when he noticed the Dokuga and the rest of them also entered the canteen, he got up.

"What is it?"
Risu asked in surprised and looked in the same direction.
"Those wankers stole my wallet yesterday and I'll get it back," Shin growled angrily and set off straight away.
Risu and Kaiman looked at each other briefly before they got up as well and followed Shin. Ai and Nikaido joined them as well.
Ai wasn't exactly impressed, he knew how it would end.

In just a few steps, Shin arrived at the Cross Eyes table.
"So .. I'll give you the chance to solve the whole thing peacefully"
He started calmly.
"Give me back my wallet and nothing gonna happen to anyone."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Dokuga said without even looking up.
Shin didn't put up with that and pushed the tray with today's lunch (which the crossed eyes wanted to share) to the floor.

"If you are looking for an fight then search for somebody else!" Ushishimada exclaimed angrily.
"I'm only here to get my belongings back," Shin said steadfastly.
Caiman and Risu, grinning, stood ready in the background.

Dokuga got up from the table and walked towards the blond. "Even if, there is nothing left in there anyway and it's long gone .. so go back again"
The dark-haired one was roughly pushed so that he fallen backwards and got to know the ground.
"Wretched parasites" Shin hissed and wanted to step on the leader when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"What?!"

Ai looked up at him. "That doesn't bring you anything" he tried to calm Shin down. "You made your point clear. Let's go back"
It seemed to help a little.
Briefly, the blonde considered his options before he came to the conclusion that it was really not worth it.
He and his group made their way back to their table. He didn't get far when ...

"At least my mother is not a wretched whore!"
...
Silence...
The entire cafeteria seemed to pause and watch the spectacle.

Shin felt his heartbeat quicken. That was clearly going too far so that a symbolic switch flipped in him and he only had one goal. Dokuga would pay for it.
"What did you say?" He growled quietly and slowly turned around.
Ai tried to hold his arm. "Shin! It's no use!"
But he didn't listend. The blood rushed through Shin's body far too much.

"You heard correctly," said Dokuga steadfastly and let his friends help him up.
But he barely had time to recover when Shin hit him in the face with his fist with full force.

Caiman and Risu immediately pounced on the other Cross Eyes to hold them back.

Dokuga quickly recovered from the blow and blocked the kick that was aimed at his side. Now went on the offensive himself and tried to hit Shin with one blow.

Shin dodged cleverly, but one hit him directly in the nose, which made a disgusting cracking noise and immediately began to bleed. The blonde looked darkly at his opponent before he threw himself against him with his full body weight, whereby Dokuga lost his balance and fell to the ground again. Shin used this chance, sat down on the black-haired man to fixate him and hit the cross-eyed boss.

Again and again the blows that Shin gave him echoed through the room. He grinned manically and felt a soothing satisfaction spreading inside him as he saw how his face was getting redder and redder from the blood. But it was nowhere near enough! He wouldn't leave it with just a few swellings and bruises. The hatred of the black-haired man was just too great to stop now.

Ai step in and tried to pull his friend down.
Shin was not deterred, however, and continued to strike. "I'll kill you!!!" He hissed and the whole room knew that Shin wasn't an empty threat.

"Caiman!! Damn it, help me!!!" Ai called to his brother. He rushed to them and pulled Shin down from the now only still lying cross-eye boss with united forces.
"Let go of me!!!" Shin tried to free himself, trashed around and it went as far as Ai got an elbow in his stomach whereupon he let go of him.
However, his place was taken over by Risu and together they overpowered the blonde.
"Calm down!!!!" Caiman tried to convince him.

"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?!!" It came from one of the teachers. One of the other students must have fetched him.
Only a few minutes later the parents had been called, Dokuga was in the infirmary and Shin was sitting in front of the director's room.

His father came through the door less than half an hour. He immediately did see the bloody nose that Shin held with a tissue paper.
"Come on in now," the director greeted him right away. "You too, Shin." He meant more strictly.
Without a word, Shin got up and followed the two adults. Leaned down in the nearest chair and stared at the floor.
Toru eyed his son worriedly before turning his gaze to the headmaster. "What happened now?"

"Well it seems your son has started a fight." Announced older one. "Dokuga is now in the infirmary with a high probability of a concussion and several lacerations. Unfortunately, we do not know more details yet."
The principal got along with such ... problem students like Shin who got easily aggressive. Saw that they needed special treatments and that you had to be considerate here and there. But he couldn't and wouldn't accept such behavior here at his school. However, he also tried to remain neutral and fair. "Do you have something to say in your defense?" He tried to animate the boy to justify himself. To tell his side of the story. Shin was silent.

"Is that true?" Now asked Toru who knew the behavior, yes ... was not strange. But also did not want it to be true. "Say something." But his son remained silent and did not meet the eyes of the father or the director.
"Well ... I am forced to suspend you for 2 weeks from today on." Clarified the headmaster. He didn't like such a solution, but what had to be had to be.
A short time later, the father-and-son team was in the pick-up truck.
"Here" Toru gave Shin a new handkerchief because what the younger one had up to now was already bleeding through completely. They could be glad that the principal avoided looking at the blood otherwise he might have noticed the black particles.

He started the car and drove out of the school grounds. "Now tell me what happened."
"Nothing has happened."Shin just continued to mutter stubbornly.
"you don't just fight yourself like that, so .. speak up"
"The guys stole my wallet and I wanted to get it back," Shin finally admitted but Toru immediately saw that there was more to it than that.
"And further?" Demanded the father. Shin just pushing around a bit and didn't seem to want to answer.
"You can tell me everything you know that"

"They insulted mother ok?! Is that what you want to hear?! They called her a slut and I didn't allow it any further!" Hissed now whose patience is probably finally broken.

Toru was surprised by the sudden outbreak and tried to concentrate on the road. He understood now.
"Well, I see ..." he sighed.
"Even if that doesn't give you the right to beat the boy in a miserable heap, I can understand it."
If he was honest with himself, Toru would probably have reacted the same way.
"I'm not angry." He said calmly. And looked briefly at his son while the traffic light was red.

Shin sat there exhausted. The whole inner turmoil had probably made him pretty down. He had drawn up his legs and just looked silently out the window.

Toru paused for a moment. He didn't see his 16 year old son, but his little boy who simply needed his mother too.
Then he drove on quietly to his home.

Once there, they got out and went inside. Mrs. Hinata was just about to sweep the hallway when the old lady saw them. She was surprised. "Toru ... what are you doing-" her look fell on Shin who was just trying to wipe the remaining blood from his nose.
"Oh my goodness! Boy what happened?!" She immediately forgot the broom and shovel and was with him.
"Come on in! I'll deal with this immediately!" She said and went back to her apartment, the door of which she left open.
"Come on now!" She exclaimed impatiently.

Shin just sighed and looked at his father.
"Couldn't I have gone to work with you?" He knew that Hinata only meant well. But sometimes she could get a bit overprotective.
Toru just shakes his head with a smile. "See this as your punishment." He means sarcastically before he ruffles the hair of his boy. "I have to go back to a customer now. See you tonight," said Toru and went back to the car.

"Where are you ?!" It came impatiently from Hinata's apartment.
The older woman was always a little impatient. She could be quite brisk and stubborn and definitely hadn't fallen on her mouth. But also had an incredibly loving nature about it. She wore her hair short and was a little on the heavier side in terms of weight. But she didn't mind. 'Old women must be plump!' was her answer. 'That shows that you can cook well!'
Her husband had died a long time ago and she had decided to rent the upper apartment because the house was much too big for her alone.
Of course she knew his secret. Knew his mother when she was pregnant with him and moved in with Toru in the apartment above her. She had taken Shin immediately to the heart as well. Unfortunately, she couldn't bear children of her own. She cared all the more for the boy.

Of course, he and Toru were safe with her. 'I'm old ... what do I want with the reward money? In addition, these bastards from the Militia are just disgusting and the people who also sell the sorcerer are no better! What do I want with money when I can have such a loving boy in the house instead?! ' Was her statement then. And that still counted today, Hinata had adopted Shin as a grandson on her point of view.

"Yeah, I'm coming!" Shin replied and trudged inside. Closed the door behind him and took off his shoes before continuing towards the bathroom.
"First wash your face and give me the bloody handkerchiefs," she said, holding out her hand. Shin did as he was told. While he was washing off the blood, she went to the kitchen stove with the tissues to burn them. The black particles would mix well with the smoke and ash so that they can no longer be detected.

When she had finished this task she came back into the bathroom and looked at Shin.
"Are you finished?" She asked calmly. Shin nodded and looked at her. "Well, you see, without all the blood around it, it doesn't even look that bad anymore."
Hinata carefully took his head in her hands so that he could turn it to a better angle. "It doesn't seem to be broken ... but we'll still put a little ice on it." She decided and went into the kitchen with him. She took an ice pack, which she always kept ready for such cases, from the freezer compartment of her small refrigerator and handed this Shin.

They sit down at the table and the teenager carefully held the ice pack against his nose, initially wincing. "Thanks Hinata," he said calmly.
"So boy, what happened?" She asked now, making tea in the meantime. She was the type of person who thinks that tea can cure anything.
“I got into a fight. Nothing much to mention” he grumbled. You can tell that he didn't want to talk about it and Hinata respected that too.
"It's okay boy, now tell me ... when was the last time you ate something real?" The old woman simply changed the subject.

"Yesterday." Replied simply. Shin knew this woman would cram him no matter what he said. And 'I'm not hungry' didn't count.
" You must eat! No wonder that you are so thin! "
at once she went to the stove. "First of all, I'll make you a good portion of Yakisoba!"

Chapter Text

Shin stayed with Hinata until late afternoon. Helped her change some lightbulbs as she didn't climb those hellish ladders. ' I am old! And I don't need a second new hip just because I'm falling off this shaky thing! ' She said upset.
He went up to the living room with a few more cookies from her. 'So that you still have something in case you get hungry. No excuses !' She said. Shortly after he was upstairs, he turned on the TV so it wasn't so quiet and planted himself on the couch.
Only now did he notice that he had some messages on his cell phone.

Nikaido: I hope you are fine. Write if you need help.

Kaiman: I heard that you were suspended. Nice job! :D

Shin sighed. Idiot. Fortunately, he had already blocked Risu after he had mostly just sent him some stupid memes or GIFs.

Ai: I heard from Kaiman that you were suspended?

He briefly wrote to Nikaido that he was fine and that she didn't have to worry, he ignored Kaiman's message and then opens a chat window with Ai.

Shin: yap, for 2 weeks.

It didn't take Ai long to answer.

Ai: That sucks .. and I told you stop it.

Shin: what should I have done? I won't let these bastards offend my mother!

Ai: But wouldn't it have been enough to strike one or two times?

Shin: ... seriously?

Ai: ...

Shin: ...

Ai: you are right.

Shin: I'm sorry about earlier that you got a hit too. I just wasn't in control of myself.

Ai: it's okay. I'll come over tomorrow to give you your homework.

Shin: good. Until tomorrow.

With that, Shin put the phone down and watched TV for the rest of the day. In the evening he ordered a pizza before retiring to his room with it.

The next morning he was woken early by his father. "Get up Shin. We have to go to work soon." Said this and gently shakes his boy's shoulder to finally get him awake.
Shin now struggled up wearily. "It's fine, I'm already up." While Toru went back downstairs to prepare breakfast, Shin did everything in the bathroom.
Then he came down with work clothes.

A short time later they were sitting together in the truck.
"Are we going to the new assignment today?" He asked interested.
He was very fond of outside jobs that weren't in the workshop. A break from everyday life.
"Yes, exactly." Replied Toru, "In the central hospital, an old ward is to be converted into another." His father explained briefly
and drove to the hospital. "What's that guy like?" Shin asked calmly and looked out the window.
"very nice. very understanding"
After all, Toru had to get away from him yesterday because he was called to Shin's school. Shin was silent. He had noticed this allusion but he wanted to leave it alone and looked out the window again.
He watched for a while as the houses passed them.
“Ai wants to come over later and bring my schoolwork over with me.” The younger one then informs him.
"Yes alright," replied his father. He liked Ai too, he was a decent boy who often helped Shin out of anger.

When they arrived they went straight in to meet their client.
Already in the entrance hall they met a dark-haired young man with a lab coat and several tattoos.
Toru went straight to him.
"Dr. Kasukabe hello!" He greeted him. He seemed happy to see Toru. "Hello!" He greeted both of them in a friendly manner.

"May I introduce" began Toru and put a hand on his boy's shoulder. "This is my son Shin," he introduced him to the doctor.
This leaned down a little. "ah ... the little troublemaker huh?" Didn't mean this in any way malicious. More like amused. "Dr. Haze Kasukabe" he introduced himself and held out his hand to Shin who shook it.
"Come on then," said the doctor resolutely and went ahead.
Shin looked at his father skeptically before the two followed.

"At the time, this wing was the children's ward which has moved. That leaves the wing free for the ward for the victims of magic users." Kasukabe explained calmly.
However, this made Shin look up and take notice. "victims of the magic users?" He asked.

"Yes" answered Kasukabe and seemed really happy to be able to talk about his area of expertise. "Many of the sorcerers come here from their world to the Hole to practice their powers and we take care of the victims of their experiments as well as we can. You know. I've been doing research into magic users and for a very long time all the stuff that go with it. If you like, I can show you something later, ”he finally said in a friendly manner.

Shin nodded. Was there really such a thing as sorcerers research? But what was the guy doing? Should he be careful? Not that, in the end, he himself ended up being an experiment by himself.
"Here we are!"
Kasukabe opened the doors to a now abandoned hospital wing.

Toru had already got a big overview yesterday, but today he wanted to see more precisely what was possible. Kasukabe wanted to have a little more space here. A few walls away ... put up a few other walls there. Really nothing too much to ask for.
Toru went through exactly what should be done with the doctor. Marked walls here and there with a pencil.

Shin, meanwhile, left this all to the adults. Why was he here when they were just going through theory today?! ...how boring.
Anyway, he went around to look around a little. It was empty and shut down yes. But the hospital itself still worked and so it was not like in typical horror films or lost places as one usually imagines it. Well, the cleaning lady hasn't been in here for a long time. Dead plants, dust, parked equipment, wheelchairs and hospital beds that stood on the sides and in the rooms. All in all, it looked more like a storage room for medical equipment than an infirmary.
The blonde finished his tour and came back to his father.

Toru looked at him. " well? Found something conspicuous? ”He asked teasingly.
"What do you expect? someone still lying around here?" Shin replied sarcastically. "Have you come to an agreement?"
"Hehe, I hope not and yes but we still need totalk about some details." said Toru with a smile and went with Shin into a room at the end of the corridor, which is probably the doctor's room.

Inside at the table there was also a somewhat fat man with a tattoo(?) That looked like tire marks.
"This is my colleague Dr. Vaux. ” Kasukabe introduced him to the two carpenters. "Have a seat," he indicated and just picked up a teapot. "Hey," he greeted the bald man them both calmly.
Shin and Toru did so immediately and introduced themselves to the other doctor.
Soon the technical talk continued about how they imagined the new wing. And Shin got more and more bored. He was more of the artisan type than the theorist.

After what felt like hours, the two doctors and Toru decided to take a break. Shin was almost dozing off when his dad tapped him.
"I'm awake!" The younger uttered, startled.
"You looked like you were about to fall asleep" said Toru, amused. "I just rested my eyes," the teenager muttered and crossed the arms.
"It's okay boy," said Toru with a smile. “I think it will go on like this all the time today, do you want to go home? Ai should show up soon with your homework. ”He wasn't a big fan of the preliminary talks either. But they were important for the job and well, he had to make money after all.

Shin didn't let himself be told twice and got up. "Is that really ok?" He asked again to be on the safe side.
"Yes ... now get out of here and have a nice afternoon. Tomorrow we will start with the dismantling work and Ai has to go to school again tomorrow so don't be up too late.” He suggested to his son.

"I will" assured his son before he said goodbye to Kasukabe and Vaux. Before anyone could change his mind he was out of the hospital.

Kasukabe sit down at the table with a few snacks and a cigarette. "You have a good boy there, Toru." Said the doctor friendly.
"Thanks ... but in the end it's quite a handful," laughed Toru. “Definitely as a single father”, Vaux added calmly.

Shin did take a shortcut through the back alleys with the hands in the pockets.
"Hey you!" Suddenly someone called after him.
When he turned around he found the boy with the mask he had fight a few days ago.
"What do you want again? Revenge? “He insists with disinterest. "You don't think you have more chances this time."

“Last time you were unfair! This is the case in which I am aware of!"
"Leave it alone, it won't do any good." He wanted to go further, but he couldn't get rid of the masked boy that easily. "You're annoying! Get out of here! “He meant louder.
"Not before you've paid your bill!" He was stubborn.
"Watch out, kid, I didn't want to just run away, ok? That day my wallet was stolen and I only noticed this when it was too late. Shit happens and now piss off! "
Shin found he had now made enough of his statement clear and did start to go again. But he felt a hit of a small stone on the back of the head.
The boy jacks up.

"Ok you didn't want it any other way ..." Shin growled and ran up to the stranger to give him another rub. Only this time he dodge. Before Shin could hit him in the face, he suddenly crouched down and with a skillful kick he kicked the blonde in the side of his leg.

Shin stumbled back but he didn't let that stop him. He was about to strike again when his attack was blocked. Suddenly the stranger grabbed his wrist, turned around and with a jerk he was thrown over his shoulder.
Before he could recover, his arm was turned back uncomfortably and the boy sat down on his lower back.
"Give up!" Shouted the boy, holding him fixed. "Never," Shin growled and tried to throw the guy away from him, but he pulled his arm up further. With the next jolt, an incredible pain went through his entire arm and shoulder.

"Argh!" He knew that he could not free himself from this grip. "Ok! Ok, you won! "He was reluctant to admit." Let go of me! "
"Are you going to pay your debts?" He asked, confident of victory. "Yes .. yes I will! And now let go. "
Soothing relief went through him when he was finally released and sat up.
"Not that bad for a kid like you," he had to admit.
"You're not much bigger either!" Mucked the smaller one. "But thanks" he held out his hand to help Shin up.

Shin rubbed his arm and looked at him. "Hey around the corner in a food truck with Taiyaki, are you hungry? My treat. ”He suggested. The boy's mood immediately brightened. "Yes, sure!"
Then they went there together. "I've never eaten Taiyaki before!" He admitted.
"Oh then you missed something. Wait here."
Said this when they got to the booth. He got them both a portion filled with egg, cheese and ham.

"Wooow!" Said the boy enthusiastically when Shin handed him a portion. "That looks like a fish!"
Shin laughed. "Take off your mask so you can eat it too."
"Oh right," he said and took off the mask. Long white hair fell out and a beautiful girl emerged from the avoidable boy.

Shin was shocked. "you are. A. Girl?! ”Noi laughed. "Yes of course!" She said and blew on the hot dough bag to cool it down a little.
The blonde completely forgot about his own snack and just stared at her, he was defeated. From a girl.
Noi took a bite and she seemed to like it very much. "is something wrong?"
she asked after the staring for a while.
Only then did the boy pull himself together again. "No. No of course not.” He now bit into the fish himself. "My name is Shin by the way."

She was smiling and held out her hand again to shake it. "Noi."
Shin smiled at her just as warmly and and shakes her hand. "Nice to meet you." They both ate in peace.
Noi got up and put her mask back on.
“What's that supposed to do with the mask? You could almost think you were one of those magic users "

Noi looked at him in amazement. "well, I am."

That was the second shock of the day. "Eh?! Don't you know how dangerous that is?! If the militia finds out you are dead! "
"Oh nonsense. Nothing happens to me. Thanks for this strange fish. It was really delicious! I have to go back then! "
and before he could say more she was gone.

"A girl and a sorcerer ..." he muttered quietly to himself and couldn't believe it himself. Yes, he often saw someone or small groups walking around around here wearing masks. But he didn't know that this was a kind of magician district.
"At least she forgot the debts from the ramem shop," he said with a shrug and looked at the clock. " Oh shit I'm way too late! ”He quickly made his way home.

Ai was already crouching in front of the door when Shin arrived. "Hello Ai. Sorry I missed the time. Have you been waiting a long time? ”Shin greeted him as he walked up to him. He quickly fished out the house key.

Meanwhile, Ai got up. "No, it fine. I just had to leave home. ”Together with the blonde they entered the apartment. "Risu came over and you know how he and Kaiman can be together."
"You don't need to say anything else," laughed Shin.

They later sat together in Shin's room and played a video game together. Shin, however, was quite distracted so she didn't just lose once.
"Ok what's wrong?" Asked Ai after his friend missed the mission again.
The blonde put the controller aside and sighed. "I'm sorry. I had an encounter with someone today and I just can't get them out of my head. "
"Something bad?" Ai asked quietly, pausing the game.

"No no, nothing dramatic." But this Noi just couldn't get out of his head. Was she really a magic user? And what was she doing here? Did that mean she was practicing on people here too?
Shin got up. "Just go on playing alone, I'll order something to eat." With that he went down to the kitchen to take care of dinner.

Ai looked after his friend with concern. He had known Shin long enough to see that something serious was on his mind. Shortly afterwards he got up and followed his friend down. "I can see that something is bothering you." He asked again and leaned against the wall. "Who was that guy?"

"The guy was a girl." Shin confessed. “She has a lot to offer, in a fighting sense, but it doesn't really matter now.” He wanted to end the subject with that.
“A girl ... have you fallen in love? Or even a girlfriend I don't know anything about? "Ai teased him.
"Don't be silly!" Shin reprimanded him immediately. "She's just someone who messed with me and I thought it was a boy."
"Did she defeat you?" Ai asked surprised, who could count one and one together.
Shin was about to start defending himself when the doorbell rang with their food.
Soon everything was open for the two of them.

“Can I actually spend the night here? I really don't feel like going back home to the two shitheads. ”Ai asked after a while what Shin nodded. "Fine, but I have to get up early tomorrow." He knew that his father didn't mind. Probably even glad that Shin didn't always have to be at home alone.
"That's not the problem, I'll have school again tomorrow anyway," Ai said calmly and continued to eat with him.

Shin was glad that the ominous girl topic had finally been dropped.
The boys then only watched a few bad horror films for the rest of the evening before going to bed.

Chapter Text

Days passed and together with three workshop helpers the dismantling work went well.
Toru was talking to the two adults about a few blueprints which steps they would probably take next. While Shin and her apprentice were removing a few remnants from the torn walls. Shin sighed and rubbed the sweat from his forehead. The fact that it started raining again and again over the last few days made the whole thing even harder. Toby, the trainee, filled the last stones and into a wheelbarrow for removal.

Shin was removing a wheelbarrow full of rubble when he came across something on the way back.
A door was slightly open to a kind of laboratory but what was interesting were the specimens and records inside.
"What the? .." Curiosity overcame him and the blonde entered the room.

Different parts of the body hung in a kind of foil on the wall. Some more and less recognizable. Many have been cut into pieces or dissected in various places. Shin stepped closer to what was once an arm. Several places on the severed body part were marked, with 'smoke channels' written underneath.
The teenager looked briefly at his own arm. Did he have such channels? Although he has never given off smoke in any form. Maybe he was too human for that?

He walked around the room a little further to the desk. Here, too, were two smaller bags with creatures that looked like little devils. One was barely recognizable, this one was so torn and broken. The other was better preserved, but the little creature had clearly been killed.
He noticed an open notebook and without further ado he looked into it.
"Tumor-like beings that look like little demons or devils were in both brains of subject K-294 and J-930 ..."
He read softly. Again his eyes fell on the two bags on the table.
He just wanted to read a little further, but was interrupted by a voice at the entrance.

"Hey Shin. What are you doing here?" Kasukabe asked who was now walking in the room. "Your father is already looking for you." He added kindly.
Shin was startled and looked up. "T..I'm sorry! I didn't mean to snoop around."
"Ah okay." The doctor waved it off. "It's my own fault if I don't close the door."

The younger one calmed down quickly when he realized that he was not getting into trouble. "Is it all part of your research?" He asked curiously. Kasukabe nodded and replied with a smile. "Exactly. I secretly recover the dead bodies of the magic users before the Militia can finally destroy them."
This amazed Shin. "Isn't that dangerous? What if the Militia finds out about it?"

Shrugging, Kasukabe went to his desk. "They don't really care what happens to their bodies. Is this path ... well ... less work for them to remove." It sounded harsh, but that's the way it was. And good for Haze and his research.
"So are these all magic users here?" Shin asked and looked again at all the specimens on display. "Well, at least what's left of them." Kasukabe answered calmly.

Another dizzy spell came over Shin, had to close his eyes and leaned against the table for a moment. However, this did not go undetected. "Hey, are you okay?" Kasukabe asked immediately and was at Shin's side. "You look a little pale."
"Yes yes, don't worry," replied the teenager and looked at the doctor. "I'm just a little dizzy, I'll be ok again in a minute."
“That doesn't sound good. Do you want me to examine you? ”But Shin shook his head.
"It's okay. I must have just overworked a little earlier. A bit rest and everything will be fine again. ”He lied. He couldn't let the doctor know that it was the rain.

"Shin! Where are you?" A voice came from outside. "You should maybe go back before there is trouble. I can show and explain more tomorrow if you want to." Kasukabe said calmly.
Shin nodded. "Yes ... I'm sorry again that I just walked in here," said the younger one calmly, which Haze only waved friendly and then disappeared from the room.

The doctor watched the teenager go out. "That's really very interesting," he muttered to himself with a smile. He had a suspicion about the boy.

Toru was waiting for his son who was just walking towards him. "Where have you been again?" He asked the younger boy and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Sorry, I looked around a bit and then met Dr. Kasukabe. We got into a conversation and well ..." Shin shrugged. "I'm here now .. what is it?"
"Kuroda and the others will finish the rest. We have to go back to the workshop to get the first cladding done for the walls." The older one explained and went back to the truck with Shin.

Shortly afterwards the two sat in the car and drove off. Shin watched as the raindrops collected on the window and slowly made their way down the path. "Are you all right Shin?" His father asked worriedly. His son just nodded and continued to watch as the rain formed small rivulets through the wind. "Should I take you home?"
"It's okay, Dad." He muttered and closed his eyes.

He must have fallen asleep because when he opened his eyes again they were already there. Toru smiled warmly at him. They went into the workshop and Toru explained to his boy what they still had to finish today. Shin went to work right away.
But the older one kept an close eye on him. He feared that Shin's condition would worsen. After all, his son was sensible enough not to go into the heavy machinery.

Shin tried his best to fight the occasional nausea and dizziness. He often had to take a little break before damaging the project. Toru could not watch this for long, however. "Ok, that's enough," he muttered to himself and approached the boy. "Hey Champ. Let it be for today, yeah?"

"But dad!" The boy protested at once. However, he met granite. "It doesn't do any good if things go badly. Come on, I'll take you home, you rest and if you feel better tomorrow you can come back with me." He did not allow any arguments.
"Hmpf" Shin was clearly in a bad mood. He took his jacket and put it on. "all right, I'm walking!"

Toru sighed. "Shin now don't be like that. It's raining like buckets outside. With your condition-"
"It's not a condition! It's just rain!!! Stop treating me like a little kid!" With that, the teenager made his way outside.
"Shin. SHIN!" But the slammed door only proved that the conversation was over for his son. He knew his boy enough to know that running after them didn't bring anything but more trouble.
Sighing, the father sat down on the chair. "Oh Mayu ... what should I do with him? He's just as stubborn as you." He murmured softly.

Shin was completely drenched. After about 15 minutes of walking in the pouring rain, he regretted his decision to just storm out. But of course he would never admit that out loud. After half an hour in the rain, at least it finally arrived. He took off his shoes at the door and padded towards the bathroom.

Once there, he turned on the shower and slowly peeled himself off his wet clothes. Carelessly he simply threw it to the ground. His limbs ached from the cold. He urgently needed to wash off the rainwater and warm up.
No sooner had he got rid of the last item of clothing than he immediately got into the shower.
For a good 10 minutes he just stood there and let the hot water patter down on him. He leaned against the cold tiles and closed his eyes. After what felt like an eternity he stepped out, dried himself roughly and tied a bath towel around his waist. He put a smaller one around his shoulder so that your wet hair didn't drip all over the place and slowly went back downstairs to the kitchen.

A quick look in the refrigerator told him that they really had nothing left except a little leftover pizza or things that had to be prepared first. He didn't feel like doing any of this. So he just grabbed a bottle of water and retreated back into his room, where he put on a simple band shirt and loose sweatpants.
Fed up of the day, he climbed back into bed.
When Toru checked on him later that evening, he was deep asleep.

The next morning Toru went up again to his son's room to wake him up. He went to the bed and gently shook the younger man's shoulder. "Shin ..." he said softly but only got a pathetic grumble in response. The boy looked up wearily, and Toru noticed that Shin didn't look too good. "Hey .. everything ok?" He asked calmly and put his hand on his forehead. "Oh dear ... you're burning up there." He said worried.
"I don't feel so good." Came the sick man's response in a scratchy voice. "The best thing is to stay in bed today. I'll get you something for the fever and fresh water." He explained shortly before he left the room again.
Of course, Toru reproached himself for having let Shin walk in the rain despite everything.

"Well done Toru ... Father of the Year ..." he scolded himself sarcastically as he got the medicine from the bathroom cabinet. With a fresh bottle of water he went back to his boy's room and handed both to him. He helped Shin up a little.
He drank greedily on the cool water. "Don't you have to go?" He asked calmly.
"I don't want to leave you alone," he replied. But Shin shook his head slightly. "It's okay ... I'll just lie around for the day anyway. If something is wrong I can still call you and Hinata is also there, ”argued his son. "The job is far too important."

Shin was right. They haven't had such a big project in a long time. He struggled for a while before deciding to leave. But he would leave earlier today. "good. But report immediately if something is wronge. "
He covered him back up and gently stroked his hair until Shin had dozed off again before he went downstairs to get ready. On the way outside he made a short stop at the apartment of the elderly to explain the situation to her.
"The poor boy. Don't worry Toru! I'll take care of him, ”she reassured the carpenter. "Go before you are late!" She chased him out. She closed the door and immediately went into the kitchen to prepare a hearty chicken soup for her little patient.

Not too late, Toru arrived at work and went straight to it to get as much done as possible right away. During his break, Kasukabe came up to him. "Hello Toru" he greeted him with a smile. "Is Shin not here today?" He asked calmly. The father shook his head. "No, he's sick," he said calmly.
"What a shame ..." said Kasukabe and stood next to him. He looked out the window at the dark clouds that were just waiting to fall down on the world.

"It's the rain, isn't it?" The doctor simply asked out after briefly making sure that no one was within earshot. "Huh?" This one perked up. He had to be very careful with what he said now. "You know" the black-haired man continued without looking at the other man. “Sorcerer can't stand the rain. I think it's because of the different smoke particles from the different magic user who practice here. It's not raining in their world. ”Now he looked for his father's gaze.

Toru was rigid as a stick. If he had to, he would defend his son by all means. Kasukabe noticed the tension and raised his hands reassuringly. "Do not worry. I won't betray him. ”He said calmly in his friendly tone. “These guys of militia are just a group of retarded fanatics in my opinion. I'm much more interested in his kind of magic. "
"He's not a guinea pig," countered his father stubbornly.
"Oh don't get me wrong. I didn't mean that at all “Kasukabe scratches the back of his head, embarrassed. “I would just like to ask him a few questions. Maybe a little blood sample or two. Of course only if he agrees."

Toru didn't know not to think about it. Could it really be trust the doctor?
"We ... will see." He said finally. Then straightened up. "If even one word comes to the Militia, you will regret it." He warned the doctor before the carpenter went back to work.

Kasukabe watched him with a smile before he went back to the doctor's room. Toru's behavior was confirmation enough for him. Great! Finally he had the chance to do research on a living, healthy magic user. Well, half a sorcerer it seemed. But it was better than nothing.

As so often, Vaux sat at his table and looked up from his magazine. "are you alright? You are so charged with energy ”he said to his colleagues.
"Yes, everything is very well. I've taken a huge step in my research, ”said the tanned doctor to his friend before moving on to his own laboratory.

"Why do I have the bad feeling that everything will backfire?" the bald man says to himself.A beeper went off and small look is enough for the chubby man to get up with a sigh. "well. Work calls. " And with this he leaves the room to look after some patients.

Chapter Text

The two week suspension flew by and Shin was on his way to school. It had finally stopped the constant rain, which improved his health considerably. He was sitting in the train and looked tiredly out the window as the houses passed by.
Toru had offered to take him with him on the way to work but Shin had declined. 'I have to get up sooner then,' he said indignantly. His sleep was a little more important to him and if it was only half an hour longer.

Soon the computer voice of the train announced its stop. He shouldered his backpack and got out. On the way he met Ai and Nikaido who both greet him warmly. Shin joined them and asked where Kaiman and Risu were.
"Kaiman stayed at Risu's and they both totally overslept." Ai explained to him.
Shin smiled at that. "Idiots"
With that the three-man team went to the entrance of the school. "Is there something new?" The blonde then asked.

Nikaido nodded. "Yes. We have a new student in our class." Announced them with a smile. "a nice girl with long white hair."

Long white hair? Is it maybe ...? No. He should finally knock the girl out of his head a few days ago. What should a magic user do here at his school?
So he went to the classroom with his two friends. Without further ado, he sat down in his regular seat in the back rows with Ai next to him. Nikaido sat on the other side of him and pulled out her things.
Ai nudged him. "Look over there," he said calmly and pointed to a girl in the front row. "That is her."
Shin froze. It really was! Noi was sitting in front. But what was she doing here ?! He would have to ask her urgently, but classes started in a few minutes and Mr. McConner was pretty strict about that.

Soon the teacher closed the door and the doorbell rang. No sooner had this happened than you heard someone running in the hallway, the door opened and two deposed teenagers entered.
"Sorry ... sorry that we-" Kaiman started to apologize, out of breath, but was interrupted.
"You are too late." Said Mr. McConner in his stern undertone. "You know that I will not tolerate this. So get out."
"But Mr. McConner, the doorbell just rang." Risu tried his luck but fell silent when he saw the teacher's gaze.
"Exactly. The doorbell rang! So the lesson began. Get out of here! You know the rules!"
The two boys had to admit defeat. "It's all your fault." Caiman grumbled.
"My fault?!!!" Risu asked indignantly. "You really wanted to see the film marathon over!" With that, the two made their way back outside.

McConner turned back to the whole class. "So! Now that the troublemakers are out, let's start repeating last week's formulas."
Shin blocked that out now and stared at the girl with the white hair. What was she doing here? Why was he seeing her all the time lately? He was completely lost in thought until he got hit by a piece of chalk. The blonde was startled and first looked at the projectile before his eyes quivered at the launcher. "You should be especially attentive now! Your two-week neglect will not make up for itself!" The teacher warned.
"Yes, sir!" Shin replied. "Please forgive."
Many of the students had turned to face him. Noi too. Ruby eyes met sky blue for a moment. A slight smile played around her lips as she apparently recognized him and then turned back to the front before she was the next target of the chalk.

The lesson seemed infinitely long until the ringing finally released the students. Nikaido got up. "I'm going to see Caiman and Risu. Not that they hit their heads" with that she was gone.
Ai stayed next to him and finished his report. He didn't even notice how the new girl approached.
"Shin! I didn't even know that you were going to class here" she exclaimed joyfully so that the black-haired one looked up too.

"Hello Noi. Yes, I've been suspended for the last two weeks," the blonde told her with a shrug.
"You know each other?" Ai asked now. Shin nodded. "Fleeting. We met a few days ago." Ai eyed her briefly and then looked at him. He quickly combined one and one. "is she the one who defeated you?" He asked calmly.
Shin sighed and nodded curtly. Noi grinned broadly at that. "And rightly so!"
That astonished Ai after all. This little tender girl beats someone like Shin? She then held out her hand to Ai. "I am Noi!" She said with a smile. Ai took her hand hesitantly and shook it briefly. "Ai."

Shin wanted to change the subject. He looked up at her. "What are you doing here, Noi?" Without further ado she sat down next to him on the place where Nikaido was first. "It's part of my training." She explained briefly. "I'm an exchange student, so to speak" Shin noticed that there was more to it than that, but she couldn't talk about it. Ai also got this with whom, however, preferred to remain silent.
Shortly afterwards Nikaido came with the two boys. Of course, they noticed the strange girl at Shin's.
"Hello!" Nikaido said friendly at first. "I'm Nikaido .. and these two sleepyheads are Kaiman and Risu" she introduced the two boys at the same time. Noi greeted her and seemed happy to have made friends. The first few days were rather boring without someone to talk to.
Soon, however, the lessons continued so that Noi went back to her place.

Soon the lunch break came and Shin came to Noi. "Do you want to sit with us?" He asked calmly. Noi nodded. "Gladly! Go ahead and I'll find you guys," she pointed to the books in her hand. "I'll just take them away quickly." Before he could answer, she was already on the way to her locker.
As soon as she had closed it, a few guys stood in front of her with the same cross symbol on their eyes.

"Hey you're the new student, aren't you?" The plump little man asked at once. "Um .. yes." Answered Noi. "What is it?" She asked. She didn't want to stay here too long. If only because this guy was pretty unsympathetic to her.
"You have to excuse my friend." Another of them meant. He was taller but also more huge built. "My name is Ton and that is Ushishimada, Saji and Natsuki" he introduced and pointed to the respective person.

Ushishimada wanted to continue talking, but was interrupted by Saji before he chased the young student away with his quick temper.
"Anyway, we saw that you were talking to this Shin and his group and wanted to warn you."
"Warn me? Why is that?" Noi asked in surprise.

"This Shin is not a good company." Saji continued.
"He is dangerous!" Now added Natsuki as well.
"He beat up our poor boss Dokuga just two weeks ago!" Ushishimada dramatically added. "He's still lying there wrestling with his life!"
"... is that so?" The white-haired woman said skeptically.

~ * ~ meanwhile in a shabby apartment ~ * ~

"Hatchi" sneezed Dokuga. He was in there apartment with Tetsujo.
Who smiled "there is probably someone talking about you" he pointed out the old prophecy.

Tetsujo dropped out of school to get a job. After all, the apartment didn't pay for itself. But he did not allow the others to do the same.

Dokuga was still on sick leave. Use this break to bring a little bit of money into the household budget.
"Yes, perhaps." He meant monotonously.
Together they were going through magazines for coupons.

~ * ~ Back to school ~ * ~

Of course, Noi saw through this soap opera straight away. "Ok boys .. thanks for the hint, but I'll get my friends out myself!" With that she walked through the group.
Soon after, Noi came to the cafeteria. She got some sandwiches and looked for the table with her new friends. She soon saw this and stepped up to it.
Shin looked up and made room for her when she got to her table.
"It took a long time. Were you lost?" He asked jokingly.

"No. Some idiots stopped me." She explained calmly. "Idiots?" Now asked Nikaido. Noi nodded. "Yes. They all had crosses on their eyes." With that the group knew. "What did they want?" Shin wanted to know now.
"Oh, just how dangerous you are and I should stay away ..yada yada... but I told them right away that I can take good care of myself," she said with a grin, which made the group laugh.
"Oh man ... can these losers sink any further?" Risu said on that.

After lunch they all had physical education together.
It had to be her lucky day because her actual PE teacher was sick and the representation decided that it was a "free activities" class.
Without further ado, Risu decided to play basketball with Kaiman and Nikaido. "Hey Shin! Noi! Join us!" Nikaido called to the two who were still undecided. "The more the funnier," added Kaiman. Ai stayed out of it. He wasn't a sports guy and was more likely to sit on the bench on the side. Would score points and referee for the group.

"Don't worry little one." Risu said to Noi with a grin. "We're not going to be too hard on a little girl like you."
Noi eyed him briefly. "Oh, I'm not worried about it either."
It also showed quickly that you didn't have to wear velvet gloves with her, she was at least as tuff as Nikaido. At the latest when she knocked Risu down with her full body weight because he tried to block her, this was clear. Ai now understood too well why Shin could lose to someone like her.

After exercising, they still had math which Shin rather spent with cat napping. He was shaken awake by Ai after the school bell announced the end and went out with his group. As luck would have it, Shin and Noi also have a bit of the same way home. So they said goodbye to the rest and left together. "Do you want to go out to eat something?" Noi asked after a few meters. "My cousin's restaurant is near here."
Shin nodded. "In itself yes, but only if the boss won't make out of me the special, because I'm going back in."
Noi laughed at that. "Don't worry ... just do the bill today."
Ok that was fair. So he agreed and they went together to the ramen shop.
Soon afterwards they were also sitting in the "Smoke Flower".

"You're training to be a devil?!" Shin asked surprised after Noi had explained everything to him. Could you be trained to be a devil?
Noi nodded. "I've already passed the entrance exam. Now I'm in the first part of this." She said calmly.

The waiter came with her food. Fortunately for Shin, not the one with the duck mask from last time. This one wore a simple black one with a rose pattern.
"I don't have to worry about the chef spitting in on me or something?"
Noi laughed. "Don't be ridiculous! .. En would probably kill him because of something like that. Bad reputation and so on" she said and picked up the chopsticks.

"So ... back to your education." Shin wanted to know more about it. He also began to take chopsticks and to eat.
The white-haired woman chewed a piece of pork and swallowed it quickly before she began to explain everything. "So in the first part I am supposed to get to know a 'new culture'. Something like 'that I broaden my horizons' or something like that and that my cousin has opened his restaurant here was a very good fit.
"So are you pretending to be a normal human?" Shin asked.
She nodded again. "Exactly," she replied with her mouth full.
"And how long do you have to go under cover, so to speak?" He took the bowl and then drank some of the broth.
But then she shrugged her shoulders. "To be honest, I don't know. Dustin, my instructor, will let me know."
Soon they both finished eating, Shin paid for them both as promised and they left the restaurant. Together they walked a little longer until Shin turned into the train.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said goodbye to her.
"Yes until tomorrow!" We waved to him and then went her own way.

Shin made his way home. On the train he was still thinking about her. She was fascinating. A kind of its own if you will. Maybe a little naive but that would be overwhelmed by her nice manner. She was also very strong for a petite girl like her. She was pretty too.

Wait ...What kind of thoughts did he have?!
Briefly he shook his head to get rid of it. He dug his headphones out of his backpack, which he put in his cell phone in order to bring himself to other thoughts with music.
However, he was less able to do this. Sighing, he decided to get out a little earlier to go to his father's workshop.
The work would surely distract him.

Chapter Text

Shin and his friends were at school as usual the next day.
There was a new poster on the notice board, which Noi did not miss.

|| Night of Living Dead

Give no quarter! Exterminate them!

Also this year we are looking for young motivated exterminators to take care of the living dead.
Register today!

There are many different prizes to be won again! ||
And below that there were things in the small print like that you can only register from 15 with the consent of your parents. There are no refunds or the like for accidents. The whole legal process.

"Night of living dead?" Read them out. She scanned the text and then turned to Shin who was packing his books in the locker. "What do they mean by that?" She asked curiously.
Shin looked at what she meant and now noticed the poster. "Is it again?" He asked himself before closing the locker and turning to Noi.
"That night the concentration of the smoke of the magic users peaks and causes distortions. As a result, the dead magic user sacrifice or those who have come into contact with magic rise from their graves." He explained briefly.
"So zombies?" She asked incredulously
"Yes zombies. In any case, sirens sound at 11 o'clock in the evening to ensure that civilians go home and barricade themselves. Then there are volunteers called 'exterminators' who then take care of the zombie problem."

Noi nodded as a sign that she understood. "And what do you mean by prices that are on it?" Now she wanted to know.
"At the funerals, plates are put around the neck of the corpses. These can then be collected and exchanged for prizes from the monks. But don't get your hopes too high. the good stuff is extremely expensive. "

Together they went back to class. That's when they met the others too. Noi has meanwhile swapped her seat and that now in front of Shin next to Kaiman and Risu.
"Are you going to that living dead night thing?" She then asked the group.

"It sounds like a funfair to you," Shin commented.
"Well ... there are prizes to be won," argued Kaiman with a shrug. "And free food," added Risu.
"But and to answer your question Noi. Yes, we're all going." At least cleared up Nikaido.

"Well ... all but the little coward here!" Kaiman said teasing and pointed to his twin brother.
Ai just sighed. "That has nothing to do with cowardice if I don't want to fight senselessly with the brain-dead." He was used to such comments. They always said that he just got the brain where Kaiman got the muscles.
"Great, can I come with you too?!" Noi said enthusiastically. Not going into detail on the taunts of the brothers.

Shin shrugged. "Sure ... but you need parental permission."
She nodded. When she got home she would go straight to the En to get it. Unfortunately, he was named as her guardian. Well, yes, he had taken her into his home and was already something like that. Even if his way sometimes went mightily against the grain and he is very related to himself, he still tries his best possible. And even if he hadn't gotten her, she'd persuade him to let her take part.
In the worst case scenario, she would simply forge his signature.

As expected, it wasn't a problem to get her cousin's signature. Of course there was a little bit of instruction that she should take care of herself and the like. But she hardly listened, if at all.

Shin's father back then, had initial concerns about letting his son take part in such an action. But after he promised that he would stay with his friends and repeatedly told him that he didn't have to worry, he agreed. Since then he has been there every year. It was a good outlet for his aggression.

Soon the ominous night came and the sirens sounded punctually at 11:00 p.m. As a sign for civilians to leave the streets and barricade windows and doors. It was also a sign of the so-called exterminators to meet at the shopping center.

Noi got there just as the sirens faded. She quickly found her group and greeted them. "Hey guys!" She said a little excited. Shin greeted them with a nod. " Super! You made it here too, ”she greeted Nikaido.
"Ready to slaughter zombies, little one?" Risu asked with a grin and put his arm around her shoulders. Noi shook it off quickly, however. "More than what you could ever do," she said with a grin.
"Let's take a look at the prices before we really start." Said Kaiman and made his way to the price booth with them. The rules and plans that the monks just explained on the stage were ultimately the same every year. Even if they said that one should listen carefully, most of them were more concerned with other things.

Shin looked around as well. But there was nothing useful for him. He went to the white-haired woman. "And something for you?" He asked calmly. Noi seemed enthusiastic about everything there was here. "I really want to have this shirt there!" She said and pointed to a simple black one on which was a comic-striped zombie who says "I survived the night of living dead" in a speech bubble. "But what kind of currency is this Pt?"

"Plates," Shin replied, after looking at the t-shirt she wanted, she worried about her taste. But hey. For just 20 plates, that's really no problem.
"Where do I get these plates from?" She then asked Shin. But a man in a white robe, One of the Monks, answered for him. "The plates were placed around their necks during the funeral of the corpse." he said calmly and assumed a praying posture. "May luck be on our side," he prayed for the two young teenagers.
Shin bowed respectfully, which Noi imitated immediately. "Thank you very much," they both said. " You're welcome. You can count on us to spread the purifying salt. ”Said the holy one before he went on.

Caiman came up to them. "Guess who I've just seen," he started right away. "Who?" Asked Noi immediately. “A couple of the losers from cross eyes!” He said at once.
“They come every year to dust off a few pathetic prices and eat for free,” Risu added.
"Have you found what you want?" Noi asked now and didn't want to talk about the hostile group but to enjoy their evening. “Yes, Nikaido wants a meat grinder. It's not cheap with 180 plates. But Risu and II collect for her too. ”Kaiman explained.
"She can have mine too." Shin added with a shrug. Shortly afterwards the blonde came to them. “I really want this T-shirt!” Explained Noi.

Soon more sirens sounded which made it clear that it was now midnight. "Then get ready." Said Nikaido. "And try to stay alive until dawn." The friends didn't have to worry because they had each other's backs free.

Shortly afterwards you could hear the rumbling, groaning and shuffling of the undead who fought their way out of their graves to take revenge on the people and sorcerer who once did them harm.
Of course, the night made victims again. Zombies ate their fill of corpses and it was pure bloodshed.

"Watch out!" Shin said and hit one of the undead aside who was just about to nibble on a piece of Noi. "Thank you," she said, out of breath. The whole thing was more exhausting than expected but they made good progress with the elimination. They took care of the western district of the city. Nikaido, Kaiman and Risu were taking care of the main street while Shin and Noi were walking around the side streets. They were a well-rehearsed team but they decided to take a short break after two and a half hours.
"13 ... 14 ... 15 ... 16 ... Four more plates! Then I'll have everything together! ”Noi counted proudly.
"It's great," Shin praised her calmly. "Let's slowly get back to the others. I'm getting really hungry. ”He explained. Noi's stomach growled too, so she happily agreed. Maybe on the way back she found four zombies whose badges she could remove.

They were briefly inattentive and did not notice that a zombie was sneaking up from behind. Shin turned around quickly when he heard the typical rumble. He was about to strike with his knife but the zombie managed to knock it out of his hand and pounce on him. "Argh!" The blonde tried to push him off but zombies were stronger than you would expect from dead meat. He pushed it away enough to at least not get bitten but got some of the drool from what the zombie was secreting.

"Shin!" Noi was of course immediately at his side and kicked the zombie from her friend. However, the model had been lying a little longer, which meant that it was particularly moldy and muddy.
In the end they defeated the zombie, but were full of blood, mud and substances from top to bottom, which neither of them wanted to know what it was.
Shin tore off the plate, growling, and handed it to Noi. He continued counting “17” for her. She accepted it with thanks and put it in the pocket with the others.

4:30 a.m. Nikaido, Risu and Kaiman were back at the shopping center. One of the monks just pure hot water on cup with ramen. "Take a little break and strengthen yourself for the second round." The robe wearer said calmly and handed each one better with disposable chopsticks.
The three thanked them and found a quiet corner to eat. "I wonder where Shin and Noi are." Nikaido said, slightly worried. They were separated earlier in a larger group of zombies.
"They'll both be fine, don't worry." Kaiman calmed her and put an arm around his girlfriend.
"Yes," Risu agreed with his mouth full, then slurped the ramen. “They are still together and neither should be underestimated. Nothing will happen to them "

Nikaido now ate something too. But you could tell that she was still a little worried about her friends. Yes Shin was strong and Noi was not to be underestimated either. But she would never forgive herself if something happened to both of them.
"Hey ..." Caiman said calmly to her. He had finished his CupRamen and thrown the cup away. "If it calms you down, we can look for them when you've finished eating." He suggested, "They can't be far away." She nodded. "Thank you Kaiman"

Meanwhile, Shin and Noi were on their way back when they heard cries for help. Immediately, of course, they made their way to these. After all, it could be a civilian who got caught in all the zombies. They ran to the street where it came from but when Shin saw what was going on he grabbed Noi and pulled her back into the alley.

There were Militia. At least 5 or 6 of them who surrounded a young man. " Please! I beg you! ”He shouted. "Got you sorcerer!" Exclaimed one of the Militia men. “I didn't do anything! I swear! I was just on my way home! Please you have to- Argh !!! ”He couldn't get on when the uniformed man hit him with a baseball bat.
The others just laughed and soon started beating the helpless man.

Noi couldn't watch that. Magic user or not! But that was just unfair. She wanted to approach the guys. "HE-hmpf!" She started to shout but Shin covered her mouth and pulled her back.
"Shut up!" He whispered and pulled her further into a darker corner where he crouched with her behind a dumpster.

"Did you hear that too?" Asked someone with the number 24 on his uniform. "What?" Asked another.
The Sorcerer just lay on the floor and gave low whimpers and wet rattles. But the Militia weren't done with him yet.
#24 Walked a little in the direction he thought he heard from. He stood up next to the dumpster and looked around the alley. Was there still a magic user here? Maybe a friend of that lousy rat they just arrested?

Noi wanted to protest from this halt. But Shin had her tightly pressed and continued to cover her mouth. Only now did she feel how much he was cramped. How much he was shaking and panicking trying to keep his own breathing under control. He also held his breath when he heard the Militia man's boats on the asphalt beside him. He closed his eyes tight and prayed to a god he didn't even believe in.

"Come on now! We're done here! ”Shouted one of the group and the one with 24 shrugged his shoulders. He went back. Shin didn't dare breathe yet. It was seldom that he felt such a crippling fear. But he knew what these guys were capable of.
Noi looked up at him. What was the matter with him all of a sudden? She just knew that it had to have something to do with these guys.

#24 rejoined the group. "What did you have?" Asked the leader of them. "Nothing ... was just a cat or something." He looked miserably at the bundle that was lying there and choked on his own blood. “What do we do with him now?” “We'll take care of it tomorrow. Come on, we have to go on. "
With that, the so-called night guard set off again to find more victims.

Only when Shin was quite sure that they were gone, his grip loosened and Noi tore himself away. "What was that supposed to mean? !!" She asked loudly, of course.
"Those guys ..." Shin started. However, he had not yet made up his mind that he could explain something big. He let Noi help him up and went out of the alley with her.
They both looked at the corpse. You could hardly identify him anymore so this one was battered. Bones peered out from different parts of his body. Blood and organs were all around him; the Militia had really taken off from him. The bastard was better off being dead now.
Noi had the feeling to throw up at the sight. “Why are they doing this? ..that is terrible. “she said calmly. Slaughtering zombies was one thing. But that? That was just disgusting. She knew that the hole was not exactly a paradise, but to do something like that without a reason?!

Shin tried to show at least a little respect and put a cloth over what had once been the young man's face. Shin didn't answer her. They then went on.
But Noi didn't want to just let it go. "What kind of guys are they?! Shin! Why did they do that? "
"Because he's a Sorcerer," he said curtly. “What does that mean?!” she pestered. Shin sighed and began to walk calmly with no aim. “People here won't simply be used as experiments by magic users. Some oppose it and form a kind of resistance. These guys are called Militia. They are dangerous. In any case, stay away from them! They make hunt for magic users. ”He explained calmly.

Day was slowly beginning to break in the background. They were both exhausted and just looked disgusting. Noi looked around. They were far from the city center and at that time there was no public transport. It would take her hours to walk home.
Shin looked at her. Noticed the internal commotion. "Hey, I live near here ... Do you want to go home to mine and rest first for the night?" He asked calmly without thinking what he was inviting her home. But now he had made the offer and could not withdraw it. She nodded with a smile.
They went on side by side.

Noi was still very busy with his behavior from earlier. "What was wrong with you earlier?" She asked softly. Everything seemed so quiet momentarily around them in the early hours of the morning. "You were frozen earlier."
“The Militia. If they find out that I am half a Sorcerer, they will hunt me down too. And nothing just that, including on my family ... My friends ... Anyone I might have come into contact with. Those bastards are merciless sadists. ”He growled at the end.

"It can't go on like this!" Said Noi angrily. "You have to be able to do something about these guys"
"You just don't understand!" Shin snapped back. The adrenaline still high in his veins. “What is there not to understand? What kind of a life is it just in fear and always having to hide! Why should you want to live like this? "

"Because I've already lost my mother to them and don't want to lose another loved one to these rats!" He hissed at her.
She stopped and stared at him for a moment. He then went on, however.
"That .... Shin ... I ..." she lacked the words. She quickly caught up with him again. "I did not know that. I'm sorry. ”She said calmly and looked at the floor.

There was an uncomfortable silence between the two that no one really knew how to fill. Noi dared to catch a glimpse of him. Were there tears in his eyes? "How was she?" She then asked calmly.
"I was very young when she was murdered." His voice barely louder than a whisper. "I hardly remember her."
Noi noticed the small breaks in his voice. It hurt her to see him suffer like that. Without further ado, she stood in front of him and hugged him tightly in her arms.
Shin was startled by the sudden touch. He didn't know what to do and just stood there before he slowly relaxed a little and rested his head on her shoulder. "I miss her so much." Now he gently put his arms around her and couldn't help but sob softly. “Dad never talks about her. And we can't even put up a fucking picture of her because someone could find out that she was a magic user. "
He also didn't know why he was telling her everything. Why he opened up with her. But he knew that it was good to be able to finally let out everything that he had locked up for years.

Noi stood patiently. Held him in her arms and let him cry. She had never known her parents and did not mourn them. For her, En, Chota, Turkey and Shou were her family and that was enough for her. She could never imagine losing any of them. She gently stroked his back and hoped to be able to relieve him of at least a little bit of pain.
After what felt like an eternity, Shin had calmed down and broke away from her. Wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket and they walked on together. Noi made sure that she walked close to him and that her arms and hands met here and there.

"We couldn't redeem your plates at all." Shin stated after a while. "I didn't have enough anyway," she replied calmly. She couldn't care less about the t-shirt at the moment. She smiled up at him. “Let's just say you owe me the next meal for that. And next year we'll buy two shirts! Partner look! "
Now Shin had to smile a little too. Her positive nature was just infectious.

They got to his house and he unlocked. "Is it really okay that I just come to you?" She asked calmly and Shin nodded. “Dad's not there for the night anyway. He's helping out a friend and most of the time I'm alone here anyway. Except for Hinata. She lives below us but she is sure to be asleep at this time. "
Together they went up to the apartment. Noi poked up before wrinkling her nose in disgust at herself. "Do you mind if I take a quick shower at your place?" She asked calmly. “Be my guest. The bathroom is upstairs on the left. ”He threw two frozen pizzas in the oven.
Started briefly and prayed again to some god that his father had taken care of the bathroom.

They usually took turns doing housework. But well, it was a male household where one or the other of the cleaning stuff got lost. Then came the next one. Noi had no change of clothes. He went up to his room. Rummaged out a shirt and a pair of sweatpants. Both were too big for her but it would be enough for the night. He went to the bathroom and could already hear the shower. He blushed a little and then shook his head. Pull yourself together!!! he though. "Noi! I'll put a few things here that you can wear there for a while. ”After he got a“ is good! ”Back, he went back to his room.

Never before had he cleaned up so quickly in his life until he heard the bathroom door open and close again. He would of course let her have the bed and took out a futon that he usually took for Ai who spontaneously stayed here every now and then. Changed the bedding until Noi came out of the bathroom. "Thanks for the things" she said with a smile.
Shin felt her face flush again as she came out of the bathroom in his clothes. "Uh .. as ... no cause," he quickly turned away. "Make yourself at home. I ... I'll get the food quickly ”With that he disappeared down into the kitchen.

They ate together and watched one or two more zombie films until Noi fell asleep. Shin watched her for a while. She looked so peaceful. If he'd been just a little too slow earlier, there probably wouldn't be just one sorcerer's body lying on the street.

He sighed softly and thought about what had happened today. It was just pathetic how weak he was.
It really couldn't go on like this! They had to pay! But in this form he couldn't do much against them. If only he had witchcraft too. Maybe then he could protect his family.
He had to talk to Dr. Kasukabe. Maybe there is a way to ... activate it?
Anyway, he knew those bastards from Militia would pay for what they did. He has now firmly resolved to do this.

Chapter Text

Shin slept badly all night and was up relatively early. He got up quietly so as not to wake the sleeping Noi and padded into the bathroom. After completing his morning routine, he went back into the room.
Noi sat in bed and stretched extensively.
"Oh! Good morning Shin!" She greeted him with her smile which the blonde replied immediately. "Morning. Uh ... the bathroom would be free if you like." She nodded and got up. "Yes, thank you!"
"I'll be downstairs and make breakfast." He explained to her shortly before he went down the stairs.

Startled he stopped because he noticed that they weren't alone here. A quick glance confirmed his suspicion. Damn it.
His father was standing in the kitchen to cook breakfast himself. He turned and saw his son. "Good morning Shin!" The older one said in a friendly manner, which Shin acknowledged with a nod.

"What are you doing here?" The boy asked now what made his father a little suspicious. "Well. It might not always seem like that, but I live here." Toru replied teasingly.
"That's not what I meant." Shin just grumbled. "I thought you were with the Gordons?"

"I was too. I'm just back this morning and-" He looked at the stairs when he heard someone coming down again. "Huh?"

Noi came down the stairs smiling with a bundle of clothes under one arm. She was still wearing Shin's clothes as hers needed a wash first. "Oh good morning. I'm Noi" she said surprised to the older man who was probably just as perplexed as she was. Toru caught himself quickly and greeted her with a smile, "My name is Toru. I'm Shin's father. Have a seat. Breakfast will be ready soon."

Meanwhile, Shin had fallen into a kind of paralysis in the background. That was exactly what he wanted to avoid.

Noi saw the whole thing calmly. "I'm sorry, but I have to go home. My cousin is probably going crazy because I wasn't there this morning." She explained. "It was nice to meet you!" She said goodbye and made her way to the door.

"Uh .. wait!" Shin followed her and took her to the door. "I'm sorry. I didn't know he'd be there that early." He said embarrassed. Noi, however, waved it off. "Oh no, he looks very nice and I would have really liked to stay! But I don't want En to send search parties for me. Thanks again for being able to stay here and for the clothes. Oh yes. I'll bring them to you tomorrow washed up with. Mine are just plain disgusting. " To reinforce her argument, she held up the bloody and mushy bundle that she had worn yesterday.
"See you tomorrow!" She said goodbye and started walking. "Bye" said Shin and closed the door. He paused there for a moment and sighed. Prepared for the upcoming conversation.

When he made his way back to the kitchen, his father smiled warmly at him. "Is there anything I should know about?" He then asked. Did Shin secretly have a girlfriend? He would of course be happy if his son found someone and she looked decent.

"No!" Shin answered maybe a little louder than expected before he sat down at the table, grumbling. "She is just a classmate we were with yesterday at the living dead night ... it was getting pretty late and it was too far for her to go home so I suggested that she stay with me. Nothing more! " He explained shortly.
Toru laughed softly and had seen through his son. But he left it at that and introduced his son to breakfast.

Shin didn't shovel this into himself as usual but just poked around. That was really noticeable. " Something wrong?" The older one asked worriedly. His counterpart did not answer for a long time. "Shin. What's wrong?" Lately it has always been so closed in on himself. He was slowly running out of advice. But didn't want to force his son to talk either.

"We met a group of Militia." Shin said monotonously without looking up. Toru looked at him with concern. Militia always meant bad news.

"They didn't see me." He reassured his father. But his tone betrayed that there was more to it. "They were way too busy beating up a sorcerer. He didn't do anything, he was just on his way home and those lousy bastards just beat him to death." He growled. "Oh Shin." The older man put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder, but it was stripped off and Shin jumped up angrily. "I'm SO sick of it!!!" He hissed suddenly.

"Shin! Now calm down!" His father corrected him, but he just didn't want to hear. "No!" Shin mauled on, however. "That guy I could have been him! I'm tired of always being so helpless!"
"And what do you want to do ?! A one-man army against the Militia ?! That's crazy!" Toru tried to appeal to his son's sanity but continued to fall on deaf ears.

'What kind of a life is it, just in fear and always having to hide?! Why would you want to live like this? ' Noi's words from last night echoed through his head and she was right. Yes. She was so right about it!
"If I have to ?! I will no longer stand by and watch these bastards do what they want!"
"It's better if you keep yourself covered. If they get wind that you have something against them, they'll immediately denounce you as a Sorcerer," Toru argued.
"I AM A SORCERER! Should I rather continue to watch how they can do what they want?"

Toru sighs exhausted. "That's not what I mean. Where does all this change of heart come from? So far everything has been good. Is it because of this new girl from earlier?"
"You just don't get it!" Shin growled. "And that has absolutely nothing to do with Noi!"
Angry, he left the table and wanted out. He had to get out of here.

"Shin! Where are you going now ?!" Toru asked for him but got no answer. He circled the table and followed his son. He held his arm before he left the house. "Now wait a minute!" He meant sternly. "NO!" Shin tried to pull away but Toru was stronger. "First you explain to me what's going on with you lately!"

"You wouldn't understand anyway!" His son continued to yell at him. "Then try to explain it to me so that I can understand it!"
"Every day! Every damn day we have to hide. Duck when the guys look at you stupidly and what for in the end? Only that they beat you to death anyway! It annoys that nobody does anything about it! There are also good magic users! Mother for example! Or Noi! " He hissed and finally tore himself loose when he noticed that Torus grip was getting softer.
"I will not allow them to continue as before, even if I have to become a complete sorcerer myself!" He growled and finally ran out. Left a perplexed father.

Toru stayed back and looked at the now closed door. Of course he felt a hatred of the Militia too. But what Shin was up to was pure suicide.

The door further down the hall opened and a tired looking older woman came out. "What kind of noise is that early in the morning?" She asked the younger man.
Toru looked at her and immediately she saw that something was wrong. "Oh dear. Come in first and then tell me what happened." She said calmly and went in to make her miracle cure-for-anything tea.

Toru sighed again and calmly walked in after her. He closed the door and followed her into her small living room where she already put two cups on the table. She let Toru gather in peace for now and disappeared back into the kitchen to fetch the hot water.
She poured him a cup. "Now tell me. What happened?" She spoke in a calm voice.

"Thanks" he said for the tea. "it's .. it's Shin. I just can't get to him anymore." He started calmly. "Yes. He's growing up slowly." She continued and smiled. "He just has to find his way."
"And that's exactly what I'm worried about. He ... he's set out to become a sorcerer."

Hinata hardly shocked anything but that stopped her briefly. Then just kept smiling and drinking her tea. "Somehow I already suspected it."
"How?"
"Grandmothers have a flair for that," she laughed. "but yeah it's worrying with the circumstances he's living in. Do you know what he's up to next?"
Toru just shook his head sadly. No. Lately he hardly knew what was going on in his son. When did it all change so drastically? Where had he done something wrong that his son thought he could no longer come to him? He had failed as a father. He was startled when he suddenly got a rumbled newspaper like a dog.

"Stop it now!" Hinata meant sternly. "It's not your fault! Teenagers rebel! That's the way it is. You don't even want to know what grief I caused my parents back then!" The old woman tore him from his dark thoughts.
"What is important now is that you are there for him especially now, but not press him." She said and sit back on her seat.
"You're right. But I'm just worried about him. It's not as simple as that he secretly tries to smoke or something like that. He can explore his witchcraft side all he wants, but especially with the Militia it's just too tricky . I don't want anything to happen to him. I can't lose him too. " The carpenter explained.

She nodded understandingly. "You're right. But he should get to know this side of himself too. You can't wrap him in cotton forever. Shin is clever. He wouldn't make such a serious mistake and get caught." She reassured the worried father. The blond took a sip and seemed to be in thought. "he looked desperate." Did he mean now that someone was reflecting the conversation in his head again. Sighing, he got up and thanked her again for the tea and the conversation. "I ... will try again to talk to him calmly when he comes back." He made his way to the door. " do that." The older one encouraged him and picked up the dishes. "and Toru?" Did she stop him again. "Talk to him about Mayu. He's old enough to know the full truth. Even if it's hard." Did she give him good advice with which he acknowledged with a small nod before leaving the apartment.

Meanwhile, Shin was walking aimlessly in the streets. Why couldn't his father understand that it couldn't go on like this ?! It was pointless!
Unknowingly, it came to the place where the Militia had killed the magic user yesterday.

The corpse has finally been cleared away, but there was still a pool of blood on the spot. It was just like that in the Hole and the rain would take care of it.
He stopped for a moment and looked at the blood. Like small black particles drawn up in it and scattered in the air.

Black particles ...

He had read about it in Kasukabe's laboratory! If only he could produce some smoke. Maybe he had a useful skill? There is only one way to find out! He had to somehow find and activate his smoke channels! But how? He would have to visit the hospital again.

The teenager was determined to make his way there.

Chapter Text

When he arrived at the hospital, he snuck in unnoticed. He quickly found the laboratory again. The blonde checked that no one was around before trying the door. Locked. Damn! Of course, the doctor had to think about it today. However, this was not a problem for Shin and he picked the lock in a few minutes. He quickly let himself in and closed the door behind him.

It took a while to find the right records for smoke production and ducts. “Due to the different parallel incisions and older scarring, it can be concluded that victims J-234 and B-210 inflicted these on themselves in order to search for the longitudinal canals in their arms. It is now to be speculated whether the smoke production has increased after these operations. ”He grumbled while reading everything carefully.
Self-inflicted scars to increase smoke production? Was that possible? He looked again at the diagrams on the walls and the points drawn.
One small cut and it would be able to produce smoke? Was that really all it cost?!

Without further thought, he picked up the scalpel which was still on the desk next to a few disassembled pieces of research. It looked clean enough. There was enough disinfectant in a hospital. After small preparations, he sat down with his instruments in a corner and looked at the diagrams.
He hesitated. Should he really do this? His heart was pounding hard and he was undecided. Was it worth it? If something went wrong now he would bleed to death faster than expected. But well... He was in a hospital. In an emergency he would be able to find a doctor who would patch him up.

Shin looked at his hand and put the sharp scalpel on the first finger. Another hesitation as the blade lightly touched the skin. What he was doing here would change everything. He swallowed and heard the blood rush in his ears. He took the knife away again and let out a breath he hadn't even noticed he was holding. His gaze fell on the many sorcerer sacrifices that were hanging here in various preparations.
No! It couldn't end like this. He applied the scalpel again. He gritted his teeth and made the first cut.

Blood immediately seeped through the wound. He held the aching finger tight for a moment. But apart from the red juice of life gushing out of him there was nothing. "Fuck!" He growled and looked around desperately. What should he do? Wasn't it deep enough? After all, it was just a simple cut.
Again he looked up at the now blood-smeared diagram. Many places were marked where the canal could be. He couldn't give up now!
Again he used the knife. But no matter how often and deeply he cut. He couldn't find the canals. Adrenaline pumped all over his body, numbing his pain. Blind anger and desperation clouded his mind and his gaze landed on a laser in the corner. That was it. He walked towards it with a manic grin.

~ * ~
Vaux and Kasukabe were just on their way to their well-deserved evening. The rebuilt station for magic user sacrifices was well attended and there were new cases every day. They helped where they could even when it was exhausting.

"Urgh ..."
Kasukabe stopped and looked at his colleague. "Did you hear that too?" He asked quietly, and Vaux just shrugged his shoulders. The two doctors stopped to pay more attention to unknown noises.
Again a painful groan came to the ears and they set off to find out the reason for it.

“It comes from your laboratory!” Said Vaux suddenly and went there with his colleague. "Can't be, I took extra care that it was locked." He replied, but he couldn't deny that the noises came from there. He took out the key only to see that the door was actually open.
They entered and what they saw left both of them standing in shock.

Shin sat in the corner and tried to tie the stump of the severed arm with a string to stop the bleeding. "What the?!!" Vaux uttered in shock.
"Hey Doctor." Shin grumbled between the teeth that held the string in place. "I once borrowed your stuff."
"Are you crazy boy?! What are you doing there?! ”cried Vaux. Kasukabe remained calm and approached Shin.
"Did you try to find your smoke ducts?" He asked calmly, who had recognized the situation immediately. "Lots of young magic users do this."
Vaux only looked back and forth between Haze and the boy. He knew the nature of his colleague, but that he could stay so calm at the sight ?! It amazed both him and Shin. The boy had cut his arms off for heaven's sake !!! That was a completely new number, even for the conditions in the Hole.

"Shall I help you find them?" He asked the youthful looking doctor, which puzzled Shin even more. "If you're kidding me here, I'll kill you!" Shin growled defensively, but Kasukabe's smile stayed the same. "Oh no! I would just be fascinated to have a living specimen. "
Vaux and Shin both seemed to shudder at the same time. But the blonde then agreed. What else did he have to lose?

Soon after, Shin was sitting on one of the medical tables and had the doctor do the work. "You have smoke channels in both of your arms," Kasukabe explained and showed him them. Shin nodded and watched him. "Are you sure you don't want anesthetic?" Vaux asked worriedly as he filled a syringe with an antibiotic. It must hurt like hell. "I think it's too late for that now," Shin replied monotonously. He had the antibiotics injected at least. "We'll have to contact your father," said the bald man then.
Shin looked up. "What?! Why? ”A deadpaned look from Vaux was answer enough. Shin sighed. That could be a great conversation.

“What should we do with the rest of your arm pieces?” Vaux finally asked while looking at the severed limbs. "Just sew them back on." Shin grumbled now.
"You know, that they won't grow back on their own, right?" Shin just shrugged his shoulder that wasn't worked on and looked at the floor. Better hanging there than no arms at all, right? “They will rot on you,” explained Vaux further. “I heard that there are sorcerers who can heal all sorts of wounds. Maybe I'll find one.” Said the boy, slightly optimistic.

Vaux let Kasukabe handle the rest and then notify the parent. It ... wasn't exactly funny taking over the phone service.
Shin and Kasukabe then talked for a while about the motives for the younger man's behavior.

After the whole operation, Shin was lying in one of the single hospital rooms and looking out the window. Now that the adrenaline was down, the pain came out. He suppressed any sound of pain down to a small whimper which escaped him.
Tears welled up in his eyes and he wondered if it was really worth it?
He literally threw away all of his previous life here.

But now it was done and there was no way to undo it. So he endured the pain and made himself ready inwardly to meet his father who was certainly already on his way here.

Kasukabe was waiting for Toru in the entrance hall. This arrived soon after the call. "Where is he?! Where's my son ?! ”he asked the young-looking doctor angrily.
"Good evening Toru." He greeted him but he didn't seem to think about the polite phrases at the moment. "Where is he, damned ?!"

"I have to ask you to calm down before you go in to him." Haze said calmly as always and started walking with Toru. He wanted to talk to him before he met his boy.

"I think that Dr. Vaux informed you what happened? ”He asked calmly and Toru nodded. "How could that happen?! How can a boy just walk in here and get hold of machines like this ?! ”he asked angrily. "I know this shouldn't happen." Haze started. "But what he did is a common technique among young sorcerers who can only produce little or no smoke-"
he was grabbed by the collar and pressed against the wall. “I don't care what other young witchers do! It's about my son! If you hadn't put images like that in his head with your stupid research, it wouldn't have happened in the first place! ”Toru yelled at the doctor.

Kasukabe remained calm and let the father getting out of his anger. Was even glad to have Father's wrath before he went to Shin with such wild feelings. In such a situation he liked to be the sacrificial lamb, after all, his patients were important to him. And Shin in particular.

"Toru. Just think about it. No matter how, he would have found a way to activate his sorcerer powers. I admit that my research may have been an incentive, but his hatred dates back a long time and in the worst case scenario he would have looked for other magic users who sell illegal implants or even perform backyard operations for expensive money. Believe me. I've seen all of this before. Despair drives you so far. Here we could at least help him and operate immediately before he would have completely bled out. ”Kasukabe explained everything to the bigger one and was slowly let go.

“Shin's heart is in the right place. But his anger and despair made him blind with hopelessness. He knows he made a big mistake. Believe me he knows! But go in there now and see yourself ”he pointed to Shin's hospital room. "And just pointing out more to him brings nothing but more grief."

Toru looked at the door as if it were an impenetrable barrier. "What should I do?" He asked the doctor now. “Show understanding. Show him that you are there for him anyway. That he is not as alone as he feels right now. ”Kasukabe tried. "He needs you now more than ever"

Toru nodded and headed for the door. He prepared himself before knocking and opening the door. He stopped at this and looked at his son. He had expected a lot but not with this sight. Shin's arms were completely bandaged from the shoulder to the hands. His heart literally broke into a thousand pieces. "Shin ..." he breathed calmly.

Shin lay there like a pile of misery. He had tears in his eyes from hurting but he didn't dare say anything. His gaze was lowered and he didn't dare to look at his father.
Toru continued inside and closed the door behind him.
He walked slowly towards the hospital bed.

"I know what you want to say." Shin said in a low, scratchy voice. "I know what a disappointment I must be for you now." He sobs softly and could no longer suppress the tears.
"Shin no..." Toru said in a calm voice. "You are not a disappointment!" The older man bent down to him and hugged him tightly but carefully so as not to cause him more pain. He stroked his hair and let his son cry. He spoke gently to him soothing words and how much he loved him.

After what felt like an eternity, Shin slowly calmed down. He was visibly weakened and Toru laid him gently on the pillows. The older one sat down on the chair near the bed and looked at him. "I'm not mad. I just want to know ... Why? "

Shin knew he was accountable to his father. The younger one gathered shortly before he began to talk quietly. “I didn't know any way out. I ... I thought ... I just thought that if I could produce smoke like the other sorcerers ... And had a reasonable power ... that I could protect everyone. ... you, my friends ... Noi ... just everyone. I don't want to see anyone die anymore because a group thinks that all magic users are the same. "

Toru nodded. He understood the aspects of his son. There was silence in the room for a while. Everyone lost in their own thoughts. The father then looked at his boy and eyed him as he lay with half-open eyes.
"You know. You remind me of your mother more and more every day." He said softly, which made Shin look up. "Huh?" He looked into his father's face.

Toru smiled slightly. “You may look more like me. But you are 100% her in character. "
Shin was a little surprised. "You never speak of her." He made it clear.
Toru nodded. "That's right." He closed his eyes briefly in resignation before looking at the floor. “Despite all these years it hurts a lot to talk about her. Even just thinking of her. ”Now he looked into the sky-blue eyes of his son.
"But you finally deserve to find out everything about her."

Shin returned the look and listened closely to what his father had to say. Too often questions went unanswered or there were evasive excuses.
He understood the pain. But he wanted to know more about her.

"It all started when Mayu and I were looking for a new apartment ..."
His father started to tell.