I ran like I never had before. The cold breeze stiffened my skin, brushing away my tears. My legs grew numb, but it didn't matter. My bones felt as if they might break, but that didn't stop me from moving forward. The air in my lungs threatened to burst from my chest, but I knew my body would carry on.

I didn't feel fear anymore. The weariness was gone, completely erased. There was nothing inside me but a cold, empty numbness.

I wanted to convince myself that it was all just a nightmare, that my brother would wake me up any moment now. He would be there when I opened my eyes, offering the comfort I so desperately needed. But with everything that had happened in the park earlier, I knew it was nothing more than wishful thinking.

Traitor! Coward! Selfish fool! These words echoed in my mind, relentless and cruel.

I wanted to scream to release the agony that consumed me, but it felt as though my throat had forgotten how to make a sound.

Eventually, my weary body surrendered to exhaustion, and I stumbled into a puddle of rainwater. A sharp pain shot through my right knee and both arms as I slammed into the wet pavement. Lying flat, facing the empty ground of the once-busy street, I let the freezing water and the damp concrete envelop me.

I felt more useless than ever. This was the same feeling I had when my parents died. It was happening all over again, and the most painful part was that I could do nothing but wait for the tragedy to unfold.

For the first time, I hated myself for being just a boring, average 15-year-old high school student. In that crucial moment, I wished I was someone extraordinary. I wished I had the strength to protect the people I loved most. I hated that I was a worthless coward, running away at the first sign of danger.

I wanted to curse myself for being so weak.

With that thought, a loud scream finally escaped my throat, raw and jagged, and I broke down in tears, pounding the innocent walkway in frustration.

Maki, don't cry. Everything will be alright. I will always be here to protect you. I promise you that.

I froze as my 10-year-old brother's voice echoed in my head. I remembered the kid who tried so hard to comfort me during our parents' wake—the kid who sacrificed his childhood to grow up fast, just to support his helpless younger brother. The kid who would have given anything to comfort his self-serving sibling. And here I was, wallowing in self-pity, running away to safety, while that same kid died alone.

Under the radiant light of the unsuspecting moon, I looked at my reflection in the murky water. I stared hard at the image in front of me, wiping the tears from my face. Then, I stood up with renewed determination, gripping my trusty weapon tightly.

I'll be the one to save him this time!

I knew the thoughts racing through my head were bold and impulsive, but I felt more determined than ever before. I was going back to save my brother. This time, I wouldn't run away.

All I could think of was that it was better to die alongside my brother than to live alone in this world, burdened by endless regret and misery. A part of me wondered if this was a suicide mission, but deep down, I knew it was the right thing to do. There was no other choice but to return to him.

This time, I wouldn't let my brother bear all the pain. I would stand tall and take responsibility for myself. It was time to let go of the weak version of Makisig Kagiwa. A stronger version would emerge tonight, and I would do everything in my power to make things right.

With this newfound resolve, I sprinted back to the children's park, determined to save my brother. I knew he wouldn't be pleased to see me again tonight, but that was a concern for later.

Because, for the first time in a very long time, I had never felt so certain about myself.