Around three days passed after the incident and all I was able to do was the same thing, train and learn. But, then arrived a day that was quite different from the others.

  When I was leaving the city to go back to the shack I saw a brawny looking guy standing next to a jeep made for exploring the terrain. So, without knowing why he was there I approached him, knowing how most likely it was going to turn out.

  When I approached him he was going to give a call to his friends inside the jeep to try and jump me, “just great…” I say to myself, sounding tired. So with no intention of taking the long way to my shack I decide to approach the man with confidence in my skill and then I go past him.

  He then says, “Are you the guy?” In a very monotone voice as if he were trying to talk to me privately. And I responded to him with a “What if I am…” He then told me “thank you.”

  Boggled out of my mind I turned around to see him lifting his shirt with a scar on his body and many stitches, that’s when it clicked. So, I tell him, “are you the guy that was shot?”

  He replied with an enthusiastic “yes” followed up by another comment saying he wants to repay me. And so I took the opportunity to tell him to take me where I lived, Showed him the map and everything in detail to arrive.

  At first he seemed confused because he would’ve not expected someone to live that far out and walk back and forth to the city but in minutes he asked me to get into his jeep with more of his words saying that, “Alright kid I’ll take you over there to repay my debt.”

  I went into his jeep right next to the driver's seat and he told me, “What’s your name kid.” I quickly responded to him, “I thought adults had more brains to know that if they ask for a name they should introduce themselves first…”

  He laughed at the question and responded with, “ I like you kid, you really are straight forward, I like that, my name is Kobadera Sukehito.” I stared at him and grinned telling him, “my name is Sora Sanano.”

  I asked him with a grin, “What type of American name is Kobadera Sukehito? It doesn’t really roll off the tongue like any normal American name.” He quickly responded with “Same to you, Sora S-…” I then told him before he could finish my name “don’t even try it.” He then looked at me with a grin and started the car and went to my shack.

  Around thirty minutes the silence in the Jeep was gone when he told me, “What brought you to the middle of nowhere like this…” I stared at him and he glanced briefly towards me saying with an understanding voice, “you don’t have to tell me anything kid if you don’t want to.”

  I look down to my hands shaking and think to myself, “I don’t need to hide it, it’s not going to affect me too much, but why- why am I still this afraid...” I start nervously talking away, “ My family died in a fire about a year ago because I couldn’t do anything to save them. It started…”

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  I stopped for a second to catch my breath and he told me to “Stay calm and say it slowly, you don’t have to rush an explanation.” I took a deep breath and said that it started in my room, “it was a normal day until that point, I smelled fire… I- I woke up and all I could see were my parents, just lying there I tried my best to help them, but…, the flames consumed everything, because of my weak mind and body I couldn’t do anything to save them… I couldn’t, all I could do was scream and plead for help…”

  After that sentence, memories started to flood in and I started to cry like before and continued, “ I was useless! I really couldn’t do anything, my friends tried but they couldn’t change the past.” As I continued he stared at the road with a serious expression and told me “kid…” I stopped and he said, “how old are you,” I told him I was 16 with weakness in my voice.

  Soon after, he told me “you don’t have to say anything else, because I know how it feels like. The inability to save anyone, being too weak to do anything…” I stop and look at him and ask him, “What do you mean?” He pushes the breaks and stops the jeep abruptly and says,

  “The other day when you rescued me, that guy that you took down was able to take a shot on his actual victim, it was a young lady… at the time I was walking to a shop to get some materials when I heard a gunshot with distant screams and cries then a thud as if someone hit the ground.”

  I ran towards the screams to see what was going on thinking about what I could do, but as soon as I arrived, I hit a cold realization… I couldn't do anything…

  I couldn’t give her first aid and when I called for help no one knew what to do, I didn't even think about using my phone since someone had already called the police and ambulance.

  So, in an act of revenge I tried to catch up to the guy to fight him and turn him in so the authorities wouldn't struggle but before I knew it I became another victim, he realized he was being chased, turned around with his gun then shot me.

  Without any strength left in my body I was forced to do nothing, that’s when you came in, I could barely see it…

  You took him down easily, made use of your surroundings and even personal belongings to save me or at least provide first aid to a gunshot wound until the ambulance carried me onto the stretcher.

  Before I knew it, I was discharged and asked questions on the second day after that. They asked me if I knew the girl, and of course I had to say no, but soon after the question I responded with is she okay, and they said that she passed away…

  A brief moment of silence filled the atmosphere and at that moment you could hear the clenching of Kobadera’s hands on the leather.

  At that moment I was so angry at myself, so pissed that I really couldn’t do anything to stop what was happening.

  However, kid, listen to me, the past is the past and the future is also influenced by the past, but, if you do things in the present to try and make that future brighter, for me that's enough atonement for what has happened.

  I mean, look at me, a 37 year old man with a scar from a gun wound now. Although I couldn’t do much, I at least tried. But look at you, in one year you spent all this time trying to make the future better for everyone and even your friends that you couldn’t mention.

  That alone proves how strong you are and with a mind made of steel to boot.”

  As Kobadera started up the Jeep again, I stared at him and said quietly, “thank you” . Still listening to the jeep roaring engine he asked Sora “Yes kid?” As if he didn't I then reply with a happy smile and say, “don’t worry about it.”

  Then right before he starts to drive he looks at me with a grin and looks back at the road driving towards my shack.