“Just being strong isn’t enough, don’t forget kindness…”
“Eh…?”
Both brother and sister looked at Phi, surprised when he whispered this.
And as they looked at him, he talked about what he just said.
“My big brother said that’s one of the hero conditions. Maybe it’s rude, but I feel like I’ve finally understood what that really means.”
“What it really means…?”
Yui reacted like she did not understand, and Phi continued in front of the siblings while looking at his small hand.
“I always thought it meant you should use the power you have right. No matter how strong you are, if you misuse that power, you’re no different from a monster armor beast or Zaraki. So don’t forget kindness… That’s what I thought, but…”
“…But what?”
“There’s another meaning to it. Don’t forget the strength to be kind.”
Phi raised his head and looked at Ryuuga.
He looked back at the frail boy looking straight at him, and listened.
“Your feelings of wanting to save Raiha and wanting revenge are clashing inside you. Vengeance and kindness are mixed together, and it’s hard to choose one. I know when thinking about you and Yui the answer isn’t simple, but… I hope you don’t forget kindness, Ryuuga.”
“…”
“If you were a cold person that only thought about revenge, you wouldn’t have come back. And you wouldn’t be struggling with your choice. You’re a kind person… and that’s why you’re wavering.”
Phi stated the indecision and pain inside Ryuuga stemmed from the fact that he was a kind person.
He listened quietly to Phi, who said how he felt with a trembling voice.
“You have to be strong to stay kind. My big brother knew you’d waver, and he believed. He believed you were a strong person that would stick with the kindness inside you…!”
“Strength to stick with kindness…”
Ryuuga looked at Phi’s face that was filled with tears as he pressed both tightly clenched fists against his chest, and then at the sleeping Yuugo, as he whispered.
That kindness was inside him, and his partner believed it would not be held back by the chains that were his past.
And so, he left everything to him, with a smile on his face.
The word believed echoed in his heart several times as Ryuuga closed his eyes, but then they heard nurses outside with hurried tones.
“Prepare to treat them quickly! The wounded are being brought over!”
“Even guards and magic knights together didn’t stand a chance…!!”
“Are we all right? If he comes back and attacks the city, the damage will be…”
Zaraki’s damage continued to expand. Guards were going down one after the other, and more and more were wounded.
Marcos and the others who went to save Raiha could be among them… Phi and Yui’s faces were filled with worry as both had the same bad feeling, but two large hands tapped their shoulders to reassure them.
“Yui, Phi… Don’t worry about a thing.”
“…!!”
His voice encouraging them and the strength in the hands touching their shoulders made Phi feel something similar to what he did from his older brother, and he opened his eyes wide.
Ryuuga passed by them and grabbed the doorknob, and Yui spoke.
“See you later, big brother.”
“Yes… I’ll show there’s more than one hero in this city.”
Said Ryuuga without turning around.
He left a quiet thank you, opened the door, and left the room.
“…Thanks, Phi.”
“You don’t need to thank me. Ryuuga is just the strong and kind person my big brother believed he was.”
Phi and Yui spoke quietly. The anxiety they were feeling not long before was now completely gone.
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