Warrior's Mask

10. Music and Madness

Ishido’s POV:

After a while, it was just me and Shin left in awkward silence. The rest of the prisclub members had left for one reason or another, and I think Shin’s still mad at me for not telling him where I was or warning him how late I’d be this time. But it’s not my fault. I didn’t think Yoshimura would let me actually be near him, or let us be seen in public together. I was surprised, and I think this is something that I best keep from Shin because he would not be happy with me hanging with Yoshimura. Despite being brothers, they hate each other a large amount. I know there’s this entire rivalry going on, but in my opinion, they take it to the extreme.

I gave him a curious look. I know Shin’s second-best to Yoshimura, and all that, but that’s not a reason to hate each other. Plus, they’re brothers (kinda), so wouldn’t they stick together even more because of that brotherhood? They’re in the same boat, so why not save each other from drowning? They’re not monsters, as much as society wishes they were, and they both know that. Or has it been shoved down their throat so much that it’s come to the stage where they believe everything that society tells them, even if it kills them? More of a reason for the wonder boy to go wild before saying goodbye one last time. I’m going home, and I’m bringing this hellhole of a society with me. I shrugged and turned to Shin, who was now inspecting Uduusi.

“What is it, Seiji?” He asked, not even looking up at me. How did he know I was looking at him? That’s so cool! And also terrifying, when did he learn to do that? Is that the result of societal perfection or just having me as a friend? Probably a bit of both.

“How’d you get Uduusi fixed so quickly?” I looked at his newly fixed prism in wonder and awe. It looked so amazing! Like it was brand new! Maybe now he can finally get his mojo back. He’s been in a funk for about a week now, and it didn’t fit him. It felt wrong.

“Before I came here, I went to get Uduusi fixed in case anyone wanted to battle.” He told me, giving me a small, knowing smile. He did it for me. Always thinking of others, is Shin. In a way, it’s flattering, but at the same time, I can’t help but feel anything but guilt for the person he was moulded into. I love the guy, but he never does anything for himself. It gets to me. I feel responsible. I am the wonder boy, after all. Performing miracles is what I do best. And yet this one is just out of my reach.

“That’s awesome!” I exclaimed, looking over his shoulder to get a better look at Uduusi. I’m so happy that he got it fixed, and it’s so awesome that he managed to do it so quickly!

“Do you wanna battle?” Shin asked, peering over his shoulder at me, and I frantically nodded at him in agreement. This is gonna be epic!

“Of course, I wanna battle! Dude, why would you even ask?” I ran over to the battleground and jumped up and down in excitement, my mind on nothing but the battle. “Come on, Shin! Hurry up!”

He chuckled at me, and walked over to the battleground, getting out his hatsubai on the way. He watched me dance around for a bit before commenting, “You’re way more enthusiastic about this than usual.”

“I’m just super pumped to face Uduusi again!” I told him, getting Kagemiko and my hatsubai out with a grin. I then stared at his arm for a minute. I wonder if his arm is better yet. He must have noticed me staring because he gave me a small, reassuring smile as he got out his hatsubai and loaded Uduusi into it.

“Are you ready, Seiji?” Shin asked, and I nodded. We both got into our uchiage positions. I need to finish this quickly, just in case his arm hasn’t healed yet. I need to beat Shin’s Uduusi in the first battle. I need Uduusi to faint. How am I supposed to do that? I’ve never beaten Shin before. But I’m the wonder boy for a reason. I took a deep breath, and then looked at my best friend, grinning at him. Let’s do this, Kagemiko. I believe in you.

We started the countdown, and once finished, I quickly changed to a blaze uchiage, thinking that the bolt uchiage might not make the cut this time, hoping this was going to be enough to faint Uduusi. All I can do is hope that this works out. I’m not as good at strategising as Shin, as much as I wish I was. I don’t know the optimal moves for different situations, and it’s at times like this that I regret it. Miracles can only go so far. I guess I’ll have to start paying at least some attention.

“Hikisaite mimashou!” We both launched our prisms into the battlegrounds, and when Shin saw the uchiage was going with, he stared at the battleground, confused, which he managed to use to cover up the pain in his shoulder. It might have been a brief instance, but it was still there. I have never seen him look so surprised by a turn of events. I prioritised power over speed this time, hoping that would do the trick, but Shin’s reaction was all that I needed. I don’t need to make Uduusi faint anymore, I’m happy with this outcome. I’ve already performed my miracle for the day. As long as a prism falls, I don’t care what happens. Although, performing a second miracle wouldn’t be impossible. Maybe I should try it. It would be a great way to end the day. I chuckled when Shin looked at me, shocked.

“I don’t get it. You were setting yourself up for a bolt uchiage What happened?” He asked, his attention turning back to the battleground, watching the two raging prisbeasts that had emerged from their homes as he tried to figure out how I managed to change my uchiage without him noticing.

“I thought I’d change to the blaze uchiage because I didn’t think the bolt uchiage was going to make the cut this time,” I told him with a small shrug, staring at my dumbfounded friend. Dang. Is that how I usually look? It’s not a great one.

“You changed your uchiage to fit the situation, and managed to take me by surprise. I don’t know whether that was actually a strategy or whether you did that all based on instinct, but I’m impressed.” Shin told me

“Thanks… I think.” I turned my attention back to the battleground, only to see Uduusi fall out of the battleground and then collapse, returning back to his prism form. I gasped. I did it. I performed another miracle. “I DID IT! I MADE UDUUSI FAINT!!”

Shin picked up Uduusi off the floor, the massive prisbeast now a mere sphere that could fit in the palm of your hand, smiling at me, a fierce look in his eyes. “Good job, Seiji. But next time we battle you won’t be so lucky.”

“Oh yeah? Wanna bet?” I challenged, holding up Kagemiko, who had also returned back to his prism state. I secretly willed something to stop our next battle so Shin wouldn’t have to be in pain again because I can’t just say let’s not battle because you’re in pain. I’m not the kind of person to notice small details like that. Before Shin could reply, my phone started ringing. I answered it and put it to my ear. “Uh… hello?”

“SEIJI ISHIDO, WHERE ON EARTH ARE YOU? YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO COME HOME OVER AN HOUR AGO, YOUNG MAN!” My mum screamed, and I winced in pain. I now know where I got my loud mouth from. I put it on loudspeaker so I could still have my hearing by the end of this conversation, and then tried to explain.

“Mum, I’m sorry. I-”

“YOU SHOULD BE SORRY! I’VE BEEN WORRYING ABOUT YOU FOR THE PAST HOUR! GET YOUR BACKSIDE BACK HOME RIGHT NOW!”

“But mum-”

“DON’T YOU BUT MUM ME, I HAVE A RIGHT TO BE MAD!”

“Why won’t you just let me explain?”

“YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHEN YOU GET HOME!”

Shin took the phone off me, a small smile on his face as he tucked a piece of his hair behind his ear, preparing to sweet talk me out of the situation. Yes, Shin. You’ve got this, buddy. I know you do. Get me out of trouble, and I won’t ask for spaghetti for the next week. I smiled at the secret promise I made to Shin. I bet he can do it, as well. “Hey there, ma.”

“Oh, hello there, Shin. How are you?” She asked, suddenly calm, and seemingly content with me being missing for the past hour. I stared at Shin, confused about what just happened. What? How did he do that with a simple hello? That’s so not fair! He must teach me his sacred ways. I must learn how to do that. If he teaches me, I won’t ask for spaghetti for a whole two weeks.

Really?

You’re right, that’s impossible. Me lasting a week is a stretch.

How about a battle?

That’s a better idea, Kagemiko! Thanks, buddy!

*sigh* You’re welcome, young Ishido.

So, I won’t ask for spaghetti for a week, and I owe Shin a battle if he manages to get me out of this sticky situation, and if he teaches me his sacred ways. Shin smirked at my reaction as if he was mocking me, and I pouted. This really isn’t fair. Maybe it was the ‘ma’ part. Does she prefer to be called ma? I don’t know anymore. “I’m fine, ma, thank you for asking. How are you?”

“Fine now that I know my son is in safe hands.” She told him, and I almost exploded. What does she mean in safe hands? Why doesn’t she trust me? What did I do wrong?

…Actually, don’t answer that. Shin chuckled as he watched me freak out over what my mum was saying. “I’m sorry I didn’t bring him home. Seiji did tell me when he was supposed to go home, but I guess we just lost track of time.”

Go, Shin! Keep doing what you’re doing! Sadly, my mum didn’t really seem to believe him, though, which is really annoying. “Really, now? Did Seiji set you up to this?”

WHAT? Why would I do that? Why doesn’t my mum trust me? Where did I go wrong? Somebody, please tell me what happened for me to receive this mistrust. Shin ruffled my hair as if to reassure me that everything was gonna be alright. I mouthed ‘You’ve got this, Shin.’ He smiled and nodded in agreement. We are the dream team, and no one can beat us when it comes to this kind of stuff!

“Seiji didn’t set me up, ma. I promise. I wouldn’t do this to you if this wasn’t genuine.” Shin said, a kind smile on his face. It was so pretty. He should smile more often. It’s a shame this world doesn’t give him much of a reason to smile

“Alright, I trust you. Just bring him home safely, Shin.” Mum said, tiredness laced into her voice. I shoved my hands into my pockets, fumbling with Kagemiko. I should probably stop doing this as much as I do. She doesn’t deserve this.

“Of course, ma. We’ll be back soon, I promise.” He told her, and she let out a relieved sigh. Am I really that bad? I feel kinda guilty now. I’m just a burden wherever I go.

“Bye, sweetie. Seiji, I expect you home in half an hour.” And with that, my mum hung up the phone. What was that about? Why was she so mad at me? I didn’t do anything wrong that time!

Shin handed me my phone back and smiled, his features lighting up. It brought a sense of warmth to me, better than any praise. He doesn’t smile often, so it’s a gift when he does, and it is the best gift ever. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

I sighed before giving him a small smile when I noticed his smile turning into a slight frown. He was scared that his smile was an insult to people. He’s a monster. He’s not supposed to be happy. I slung my arm over his shoulders, trying to be careful of his bad one. “Alright then, let’s go.”

We both started walking towards my house, a comfortable silence falling over us. Shin started humming a song, and I bopped my head along. When I realised what the song was, I started humming along with him. And then it turned into a full-blown show. I don’t know how, it just happened, and I am not complaining. It was the greatest thing ever. Soon, we arrived at my house after singing and dancing the whole way. We had people joining in, and bystanders watching and recording us, some even shouted out suggestions for us to sing next. When we finished, stopping outside my house, the whole crowd erupted into cheers and applause. We looked at each other and smiled. That was fun. And the only time everyone appreciates us. When we sing.

“Where have you boys been?” My mum growled, slamming the door open, a frustrated look on her face. I forgot that I had already upset her.

“Mum?” Both Shin and I turned around, confused. We weren’t prepared for her to come out and talk to us. We both looked at each other. Who was gonna talk us out of this one?

“I’ve been waiting for you two for ages.” She told us, and we both tried to hide behind each other. She’s Shin’s mum as much as she’s mine, he can finish what he started.

“Do another song!” Someone shouted, and everyone started cheering in response. They want another song? Shin and I smiled. Music brings this divided world together, just like the thought of having a monster inhabit the world tears this place apart. I looked at Shin, who seemed so happy to just be. This is one of the few times he’s accepted for being… him.

“What are they talking about?” Mum asked, giving us both a look like we’d done something wrong. I am, for once, innocent.

“Here,” A boy stepped forward, offering his phone to my mum. It had a video of me and Shin singing and dancing on it, the crowd also a part of the action. She took the phone and watched the video, and her expression seemed to soften. She looked at Shin, and I think she saw what I did. That sense of freedom that he rarely gets to express. Mum looked at me and nodded, giving me the OK for being late as she gave the boy his phone back. She understood what this meant to Shin, and how little acceptance like this came around for him.

“I’ll forgive you two on this occasion.” She told me, and I fist-bumped the air. Today has turned out to be a good day so far.

“ALRIGHT!” I exclaimed, and then shook the boy's hand. “Thank you, man. You saved me and my friend!”

“You’re welcome. The name’s Shishido, by the way. Yoshiyuki Shishido.” He told me, a small smile on his face. He reminds me of Shishido. And that’s when it clicked. I am so stupid sometimes. Why am I meeting so many relatives today? I guess I’ll have to call them by their first names as well; it’s just easier.

“I’m Seiji Ishido, and this is Shin Hattori.” I pointed at Shin, and Yoshiyuki narrowed his eyes at Shin. I stood there, uncomfortable, but Shin continued, unfazed by it all.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Shin said, and then tilted his head to the side in curiosity, as if he was trying to figure something out, but couldn’t quite place his finger on it. “Did you say your last name was Shishido?”

“Yeah, why?” He asked

“Do you happen to have an older brother called Terao Shishido?” Shin narrowed his eyes at the boy. They were both trying to figure each other out. This is making me really uncomfortable.

Yoshiyuki nodded, and a full wave of understanding seemed to hit him. But he still played by the script. It was like he was trying to get Shin to admit to something. What exactly was he trying to figure out? “Yeah. Do you happen to know him or something?”

Shin smiled at him, not noticing how the boy was playing him, and only wanted a confession of some sort. I’m not really sure how to phrase it. He didn’t really care if we knew Terao or not. I looked back at Yoshiyuki, who had a kind of… manipulative aura around him. He was a backstabber; a traitor, if you will. Why can’t Shin see that? Has it really been that long since someone has shown him any sense of kindness or humanity that he’s willing to take anything? “Yeah, I do know him. He’s-”

“Yoshi, what are you doing here?”