The Raven Dark Hero 5

Chapter 5 : The Ruthless Confession

TL:SummerPeanut

Special thanks for ko-fi: Seiso-Idol

Author’s note:

※Fixed the type of barcodes as the proof of a specialist

※Some of Hiro's conversations have been slightly modified.

"Kouki~ let's go home together~!"

After school. As usual, Hiro called out to Kouki while Kouki felt he’s annoying in his heart.

Kouki and Hiro have been childhood friends since kindergarten.

In the past, Kouki used to help Hiro who was timid and bullied often.

Even from back then Kouki would always openly say that he wanted to be a hero by being a specialist in the future. To him, it was only natural to help Hiro.

It was in the sixth year of elementary school that this relationship began to change little by little. It all started when Hiro awakened to his gift.

Hiro's gift would become a very amazing ability as long as he grew up, and a certain military officer from the National Defense Force guaranteed he would join the National Defense Force in the future. Not to mention Hiro had always been good looking so his reputation suddenly changed.

In the beginning, Kouki saw the manifestation of Hiro's gift as a source of inspiration for himself. But as he saw his friends around him one by one awakened their own gift, he began to feel impatient. And even at the age of 15 which would have been his last chance to awaken his gift, he was not able to do so.

When he started high school, he found himself in a class full of non-gifted people whereas Hiro was in the A group, a class for those who have promising futures.

In addition to his two cute girlfriends, Hiro is the object of admiration for many of the opposite gender, he is also well-liked by those of the same gender, and he has a promising future.

Meanwhile Kouki has no gift and no girlfriend. His impatience from not being able to awaken his gift had led him to become curt in his dealings with others. Thanks to that he has no one that he could call as a friend other than Takahiko... For Kouki who has nothing, Hiro is no longer just his childhood friend but also someone he can’t deal with the most.

And despite so, Hiro treats him like he used to.

To be honest, Hiro’s actions are nothing but nuisance to him but whatever leftover of his pride prevented him from hitting Hiro with his real feelings.

“What is it? You are not with Azusa and Haruka(the troubles) today?”

“...yeah, I told them I had something important to talk about with Kouki today so I asked them to go back first.”

"Important talk? What is it about?"

"That is... Let's talk about it over a cup of tea."

A coffee shop in front of the station. Although Kouki wondered if it’s appropriate for two guys to enter together, he was curious about the important talk Hiro mentioned so he had no but to follow him.

In front of him was a melon soda that he ordered even though he wasn't very thirsty.

"So, what's the big deal?"

"Aah, actually......."

......Hiro seems to be having a hard time not knowing how to start the conversation, but it also feels like he really wanted to say it that he can’t not do otherwise. Seeing him like that, Kouki had a bad feeling.

When Hiro makes this gesture, it's usually something that Kouki doesn't want to hear.

Just like when his gift manifested, when his ability was evaluated, or when he got allocated to A group.

Hiro had always reported the first thing to Kouki. He always had that same apologetic but happy vibe around him with an innocent smile on his face that he is showing right now.

"Actually......I joined the National Defense Force!"

......Kouki’s eyes turned black....

Why? I should have already given up everything from the moment my gift didn’t awaken.

Why? No, really, why? Why would the man in front of him take everything he ever wanted? Those words were the only thing swirling around in Kouki's head.

"Although it's unusual for a high school student to join them, they said that to expand my potential it would be more beneficial for me to train in the National Defense Force rather than school...since three months ago."

...As he said this, Hiro showed Kouki the barcode that was engraved on his left wrist.

That barcode is only allowed to be engraved on specialist, the mark of specialist.

In order for the government to distinguish between a specialist and an illegal gifted(filth), it is compulsory for all gifted to have this barcode engraved somewhere on their body.

By reading the entire body with a special infrared reader, the barcode will give a response. From that response, it is possible to determine whether the person in question is a specialist or a filth. Furthermore, the barcode can determine what kind of job you have.[1]

"It might not be obvious since it looks just like any barcode but if you decipher it, it is properly stated that I belong to the National Defense Force. But since I'm technically a student, I've been told to keep the fact that I'm a member of the National Defense Force a secret. That’s why I'm allowed to go to school normally.

      But I've been thinking that I should at least tell Kouki about this. This is because the National Defense Force, the symbol that protects the peace of this country, and it is what you have always admired."

......Does this man ever think about other people's feelings? Hiro knows that Kouki has longed to be a hero since he was a child. That the shortcut of being a hero is to be a member of the National Defense Force and that was Kouki’s long-time dream.

Even though he had already accepted that this dream would never come true, he couldn't help but wonder why Hiro was able to talk so happily about being chosen in front of him who is still trying to get his mind straight. This is the first time Kouki had ever thought of killing Hiro.

“But really~, I never thought a child who was bullied in the past can join the National Defense Force today. Maybe I will become the hero that Kouki kept talking about when we were still children?”

How nice would it have been if these were sarcastic words that belittled Kouki. He would just beat him up until he can’t stand up if that was the case but he could only swallow a few mouthfuls of his drink. Unfortunately from what Kouki knows about Hiro, he is not that kind of person. He is someone who can’t read the atmosphere at all. For Kouki, he is the worst kind of person.

Kouki took a deep breath.

"...I see. Good for you. Congratulations."

I wondered if I was able to smile properly right now? While trying to hide that kind of concern, Kouki stood up from his seat.

“It’s not really surprising that you got invited by the National Defense Force or become a hero in the future, right? If that's all you want to talk about, I'm leaving.”

"Eh? Oh, ...Kouki?"

“By the way, this is your treat alright…”

“Wait..Kouki!”

He did not look back.

After leaving the store, the emotions he had been suppressing overflowed.

There was not a single speck of him that felt joyous for Hiro. There is only enormous jealousy.

"...Hahah, I’m not sure if I was able to hide it properly but at least I managed to laugh..."

His own dream. A dream that he gave up long ago. But someone close to him is about to make that dream come true.

"Somehow...I feel like...destroying everything..."

At this moment Kouki finally, in the true sense of the word, gave up on the idea that he could be a hero.

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Probably not the confession you expected, right?

TL’s note:

1. I'm not clear whether the ‘job’ here refers to profession or classification of the ability. Could be both I guess.