Soul Drive: Ignition

As the vibrant colors of the fireworks began to fade into the evening sky, Nori and Hiro found themselves standing on a small footbridge that crossed over a tranquil koi pond. Hiro's dark hair swayed gently in the cool breeze, his slim figure leaning against the bridge railing as he stared out at the swirling patterns created by the fish below.

"Hey, Hiro," Nori said hesitantly, breaking the silence that had settled between them. "We've met before, you know. Two years ago."

Hiro blinked and turned to face Nori, confusion etched across his features. He scanned his memories, trying to place where he might have encountered the muscular, shaved-headed young man before. But nothing came to mind, how could he not remember such a distinct face in the crowd? His brow furrowed, frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

Nori chuckled softly, seeing Hiro's struggle. "Don't worry about it," he reassured him. "I don't blame you for not remembering. I didn't look like this back then. To you, it must have been just another day."

"Wait, what do you mean?" Hiro asked, curiosity piqued. He bit his lip, trying to recall any significant events from two years ago.

But before Hiro could continue, Nori cut in. "That day changed my whole life," he admitted, his voice tinged with a mixture of sadness and gratitude. He looked away from Hiro, his eyes focused on the orange and white scales of the koi as they weaved through the water. "It's funny how something so insignificant to some can mean everything to someone else."

Hiro watched Nori carefully, his own thoughts racing. He couldn't help but wonder what had transpired between them that day, and how it could have left such a lasting impact on someone like Nori, who seemed so guarded and hardened by life.

"I have to know what happened," Hiro implored, his voice gentle yet insistent. "Please."

Nori hesitated for a moment, he didn't fully trust Hiro and a lot could have changed over the past two years. He weighed the pros and cons before looking back at Hiro with a somber expression. He took in a deep breath as his mind brought him back to the day that changed the course of his life forever.

Nori's voice grew distant as Hiro found himself transported back to that fateful day. The classroom was bathed in the golden light of early morning, dust particles dancing in the beams as they cut through the blinds. A younger Nori sat alone at his desk, hunched over a worn notebook, the tip of his tongue poking out in concentration as he carefully crafted the image of a fierce pirate. his messy red hair dangling in front of his face.

The door slid open with a sharp creak, and a group of boys swaggered into the room, their laughter echoing off the walls. Nori's hand froze mid-stroke, his eyes darting up to assess the intrusion. Their voices carried easily across the empty space, Nori's body tensed as he knew what was about to happen next.

"Look at him, he doesn't even greet us when we walk in. He thinks he's so much better than us just because his parents have money," one boy sneered, his gaze fixed on Nori.

"Let's teach him a lesson on manners," another chimed in, a wicked grin stretching across his face.

Before Nori could react, the first boy marched over and snatched the notebook from his grasp, tossing it to his friends at the back of the class. Panic welled up in Nori's chest as he lunged forward, desperately trying to reclaim his precious work. Each time he came close, the book was yanked away, the boys laughing mercilessly as they played their cruel game of keep-away.

"Enough!" the leader barked, "Next time when we enter the room, you show us some respect." and with a final, malicious smirk, one of the boys flung the notebook out of the open window. Nori watched in horror as his pages of painstakingly drawn manga were consumed by the rain-soaked puddle below, the ink bleeding into an indecipherable mess.

Tears blurred his vision as he fled the classroom, his heart pounding wildly in his ears. He locked himself in the bathroom stall, his sobs echoing off the tiled walls. He had poured so much of himself into those pages, and now it was all gone.

"Hey, are you okay?" a concerned voice cut through Nori's grief, and the door to the bathroom swung open to reveal a young Hiro. His eyes were wide with empathy, though they didn't yet know each other's names.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," Nori lied, quickly wiping his tears away with the back of his hand.

"Are you sure?" Hiro said, clearly not convinced. "I heard some guys in the hall talking about making someone cry. You don't have to let them get away with it. Stand up for yourself and tell a teacher, then they might leave you alone."

Nori remained silent, his emotions churning inside him like a storm. Hiro hesitated, then added, "I hope your day gets better," before leaving the bathroom.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Nori exited the stall and found himself staring at his own tear-streaked reflection in the mirror. Something within him shifted, and he knew that he couldn't continue letting them get away with this. The memory of Hiro's words clung to him like a lifeline, but he knew teachers wouldn't really do anything other than write them up.

Nori stormed out of the bathroom, his face still flushed from the tears and humiliation. He caught a teacher looking at him, but they never attempted to approach him or ask what was wrong. The anger and frustration Nori felt bubbled up inside him like molten lava, he would have to take care of the problem on his own. He clenched his fists tightly, drawing strength from Hiro actually caring enough to try to help him.

Lunchtime rolled around, and Nori found his tormentors gathered near the courtyard, laughing and shoving each other playfully. Their laughter grated on his ears, why do they get to be happy? He approached them with purpose, his eyes locked onto theirs, unwavering.

"Hey!" he shouted, startling them as they turned to face him. "You think you're so tough, don't you? Picking on someone just because they're different?"

"Look who finally grew a backbone," one of the bullies sneered, stepping forward. "What are you gonna do about it, rich boy?"

Nori didn't hesitate. With a swift punch, he sent the bully reeling backward, his nose bleeding profusely. The others stared, dumbfounded, before they rushed at him. Nori fought back with fervor, holding his own against them. His rage fueled every blow, every kick, until they lay battered and bruised on the ground, for the first time he felt truly happy with himself.

"Maybe now you'll think twice before you try shit like that again," Nori spat, his chest heaving from the exertion.

-----

The headmaster's office was cold, much like the man himself. As Nori sat there, waiting for his parents to arrive, he contemplated the consequences of his actions. The only people he truly feared were his parents, their detached and uncaring gaze was the only look he could ever picture on their faces.

His parents entered the room, their expressions blank. The headmaster explained the situation, and Nori braced himself for their fury. Instead, they simply offered the school a large sum of money for a new gymnasium. The headmaster accepted the offer with a greedy glint in his eyes and let Nori off with a warning. His parents never said a word to Nori or even looked in his direction, they just got up and left when it was all over.

As Nori walked home, anxiety gnawed at him like a relentless beast. He recalled the last time he had cost his parents money; they had cut his grocery budget so severely that he nearly starved. This time, the amount was much larger, and the impending punishment loomed like an ominous shadow.

Fear consumed him as he approached a bridge over a river. The water's dark surface seemed to call out to him, promising a solution—an escape—though not without a price. He climbed onto the edge, his heart thundering in his chest. As he teetered on the brink, a new fear gripped him—the fear of dying. He didn't want to jump, but neither did he want to face the wrath awaiting him at home. He felt trapped, caught between two equally horrifying fates.

Nori's breath hitched as a strong grip yanked him away from the edge, pulling him back to solid ground. Disoriented, Nori found himself staring into Hiro's wide eyes, fear etched across his face—an emotion that mirrored Nori's own.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Hiro demanded, his voice shaking but stern. "You could've fallen!"

Nori fought to control his racing heart, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I... I was just trying to see the bottom," he lied, but the words tasted bitter and hollow on his tongue.

"Are you insane?" Hiro scolded, releasing Nori's arm. "It's way too dangerous to be up there like that!"

"I know," Nori admitted with a defeated sigh. "It was stupid."

"Promise me you won't do something like that again," Hiro insisted, searching Nori's eyes for sincerity.

"Okay," Nori agreed reluctantly, feeling an unfamiliar warmth fill his chest as he realized that Hiro—cared about his well-being.

"Good." Hiro rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Haven't I seen you at school? don't we have English together?" Hiro seemed to be analyzing Nori on the spot, "Oh yeah, we do. I sat behind you one time, your doodles are amazing."

"Really?" Nori couldn't help the surprised joy that bubbled within him at the prospect of having a friend, but he had to be sure Hiro actually wanted to be his friend. "Would you maybe want to hang out, I can show you how I draw them."

"Definitely." Hiro smiled, extending his hand. "I'm Hiro, by the way."

"Nori," he replied, shaking Hiro's hand firmly. Hiro gave him one last reassuring smile before taking off, leaving Nori to continue his walk home with a newfound sense of hope.

But as he stepped through his front door, his heart sank. His parents stood waiting, suitcases packed and ready to go.

"You really screwed up this time, I mean seriously how dare you make us look like bad parents!" His mother hissed, but Nori's eyes couldn't leave the bags by the door as fear crept into his mind.

His father followed his gaze, "Yes those are your bags, this is the last time we will be helping you out. You have shown us you don't deserve our generosity." He coldly informed Nori. "You are going to Tazo's military academy, at least there you may have some value."

"Please," Nori begged, desperation clawing at his insides. "I just made a friend—"

"Enough!" his father snapped, silencing him. "don't you dare speak to us that way. Get him out of my sight!" Two men entered, in military uniforms, and dragged Nori and his belongings to the waiting hover car. He struggled, but it was futile.

His parents didn't even say goodbye as they turned their backs on him, leaving him with the crushing realization that he might never see Hiro again.

-----

The koi pond shimmered in the twilight, and silence filled the space. Hiro stood on the footbridge beside Nori, his heart racing as the weight of Nori's story settled heavily within him. Anger and sadness mixed within Hiro, creating a storm of emotions as he tried to find the right words.

"God, Nori," Hiro breathed out, shaking his head in disbelief. "I had no idea you went through all that. I can't imagine what you must have gone through there."

Nori gave a bitter laugh. "Yeah? Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had stayed at the school... but there is no use dwelling on it." He leaned on the bridge railing, gazing down at the water. "You always try to save people, Hiro, even now you are trying to save people who don't deserve it." The implication wasn't lost on Hiro, who tensed for a moment before relaxing with a sigh.

"Maybe, but how do you know you can't save someone unless you try?" Hiro said, turning to face him with determination in his eyes. "Everyone deserves a chance to change."

Nori studied Hiro's face, his own expression softening. Hiro hadn't changed and he knew his feelings about Mach 1 were right, no one else was that relentlessly optimistic. Without warning, he leaned in and caught Hiro off guard with a perfectly timed kiss. As their lips met, Hiro's thoughts were momentarily silenced—his mind filled only with the sensation of Nori's warm breath and the gentle pressure against his mouth.