Kaina had exited the party, leaving the company of Khay and others and every other student present, further ahead to a hall that laid about 12 meters long, his father led and he followed. But as he did, he saw someone standing, a little ahead to his left. His father passed without saying a word to the individual and when Kaina got there, the boy who was Kaina's age mate, had lean his back against the wall, suit unbuttoned and his inner shirt untucked.
"Yousef." Kaina addressed. "Is everything okay?"
"Everything isn't. You think you can just change who the Blue Peacocks are?"
"I thought you might have something to say, you sounded too quite back there. But… can this wait, I think I need to smoothen things out with my dad."
"Sure sure. Just go ahead and do whatever you want. You think I joined the peacocks because I wanted to be on the same level with those trash?" What happened to you?"
"Yousef…" Kaina knew there was a lot he had to do to help but now wasn't really a good time, he had to confront his father and as much as he wanted to talk to Yousef and try to come to reason, his father wasn't one to tolerate delays. "Yousef, I'd really like to talk this…"
"Kaina!" His father's voice came interrupting.
He hurried and caught up with him, the two stood in the hallway, far from the chattering and merrymaking of the students. In the well-lit hallway, Kaina's father stood, his back facing his son. The man wouldn't give his son the courtesy of a face to face father-son talk.
"What are you doing hanging out with peasants?" his bold and sharp voice resounded.
"They're not peasants father, you know very well. The others, Chislon and Rajagalia - -"
"I don't want to hear it. I thought I told you not to hang out with them."
His father shut him down before he could surmise a conversation. And he could only sigh in defeat.
"Is all that true?"
"It seems the news has reached you already." Kaina's gaze fell to the ground as he was met with his father's silence. "I meant to tell you on my own, rather than having you find out like this."
"News travels fast." His father nonchalantly said.
"Father. I have had something to think on. I don't want to live high and mighty over anyone. I want to put the past behind me and—"
"And what? Stop with all this nonsense and open your eyes. You're a Hikami, a family that venerates the fire god. You are destined for greatness, you are not to associate with the likes of them. Mediocre breeds mediocre. Or haven't you heard that bird of the same feather flock together?"
"Father…"
"Stop with all this nonsense, I don't know what happened to you but this isn't how I raised you to be."
"Father…. I don't want to live like that anymore."
"Open your eyes boy!" His frustration won him over and broke out loud bursting into a loud utterance. Kaina's body twitched a little, yet, he wouldn't let up. He gathered the little courage he had and squeezed tight his fist that had formed besides him as if grabbing unto the little courage he had mustered for strength. Though he had averted his line of sight from directly looking at his father but slightly to the ground with frailty and soft expression, even though his father's back was turned to him, Kaina wasn't ready to yield to his father's demands.
"If only your mother didn't die shortly after you were born." He tilted up head. "She could have given me another child, but all I'm stuck with is you." He lamented, sighing. "Fine. If that is what you have chosen to do, go ahead. Just… don't bother coming home or calling yourself a Hikami from now on. I have no use for a rebellious child who changes his ways on a whim. In the end, what is useless, ends up with what is useless."
He began to walk away, taking a step and … "That reminds me, I saw your report. To think you'd perform so poorly. I can't even call you my son. A Hikami. That all stops today." Finally walking off into the distance and leaving Kaina by himself standing in the hall. He had no words. He just… stood there.
The life of the party rushed in; chattering and murmurs of all sorts.
"Kaina's dad is probably grilling him." Kiriku said.
"Poor Kaina." Trilith sighed.
"Unusual of you." Lilith replied.
"What, I can see how things will play out."
"Hey, I didn't say you don't see it, I'm just surprised."
"What's that even supposed to mean?"
"These twins…" Mira sighed. " Oh, there he comes." Mira alerted.
"Hey Kaina, a little longer and your drink would have been too hot for me to han - -"
"Guys." He wore that soft expression with a faint look in his eyes. "I think I need to step out a bit. I should be back before they hand over the cards." He softly spoke. His entire demeanor, while he tried to hide it, showed signs that something unpleasant had taken place while he went to speak to his father and they all just couldn't gather the strength to press into it, he had had enough for one night. So they all collectively and instinctively knew to let him have his space for a while.
"Alright buddy." Khay responded. "Just… don't be too hard on yourself."
"Sure." He responded.
"And Kaina, you've come very far, you know." He grinned and chuckled.
"Thank you Khay. I shouldn't be gone too long."
And they watched him head to the second floor and jump his way down from the balcony.
"You just had to go say something huh?" Lilith smacked Khay on the arm.
"Ouch." He cried. "I couldn't help it."
"Let's just hope he'll be alright." Amine added.
"He's finally on the right path, but he doesn't seem to be having it any easier." Mira commented.
"Yeah, it's just one thing after the other." Trilith responded.
Meanwhile, outside and under the quarter moons faint light, Kaina had begun to stroll around the Hoffers Mansion compound.
He sighed out loud, breathing a sigh of relief as he stood atop the green trimmed grassland, hand in pocket and looking up to the skies. "I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but… this is too much." He said, sobbing. His left hand went up and his index finger and thumb stretched over both his eyes and gripped at the corners of his eyes, wiping away the little tears that had escaped his tear glands.
Of course it wasn't going to be that easy.
Kaina raised his head in suspicion, he looked around but found no one. "Who is there?" he called out, but there was no respond. "Maybe I'm so stressed I'm thinking out loud."
He shrugged it off and found himself at a bench under a tent a bit further ahead, there, he sat down and let himself relax with a deep sigh.
"I knew some people weren't going to be happy with my choice. And some not so welcoming and that turned out to be true." He sighed. "I want to see this through to the end. 'Don't come back home, don't call yourself a Hikami' Father isn't in support of my decision." He lamented.
Of course he won't be. Who would be happy to raise a disappointment of a son as yourself? Your old man put all his hopes on you and you went and threw it all away on a whim?
A voice spoke out once again.
"Who are you, show yourself." Kaina cried out.
I am your consciousness, crying out for dear old Kaina. Can you see your consciousness? You dumb brat! HAHAHAHAHAHA! But then again you're not that much of a capable person. Those good for nothings beat you to the mark and even past it in the tests. A Hikami, bested on Beast integration strain test by people who aren't even destined for greatness. Such an eyesore you are!!!
"Stop it." Kaina's voice shakingly expressed.
Then instead of doubling down and showing them who is boss with all that anger and ambition, you went and got deflated by that annoying brat and his friends. Poor old Kaina found a savior and he wants to be a goody two shoes now. NO! That's not how it works, you don't just start something and drop it half way, I won't allow you.
"Leave me alone!" Kaina screamed and tossed, falling down to his knees. "What did I ever do to you? All I want is to be good."
"You are good…at being a prideful brat. Come on, let me help you. Regain your honor and pride. See how they all looked at you when you were telling them how you want to change?" the voice protested. And his banter caused Kaina's mind to flash back; he remembered how they backed away from him when he had arrived at the party, how they resisted him when he was expressing his new found path.
"Let's show them Kaina, let's show them you're not to be messed with. That you are the best."
Kaina writhed in pain on the ground, his mind rolled out against him and agreed with his consciousness.
"No!" he found the courage to deny even as he could barely hold himself together.
"Oh that's how you want to play? Stubborn one aren't ya?! HAHHAHAHA You're a real failure. You don't even have the courage to show them whose boss AAHAHAHA!" the voice ridiculed.
"All I'm saying is, let's show them, let's show them you can get the best BIS scores." Flashes of images went through Kaina's mind as the voice spoke. He had been taken over, but was in control.
"Yess!! Think of all the power you can get from that monster. You will be in control. It would make history, Hikami Kaina, your father would be proud. Think of all the good you can do with that strength, you won't be a weakling in anyone's eyes."
"No. W..w..why?"
"Cos I'm you and I want the best for you, for us."
Then, silence reigned, the voice had stilled its banter and for a few seconds, it was silent. Then, Kaina broke the silence saying; "Yeah, let's show them." And the voice smirked and chuckled in response as Kaina got up from the floor.