The dojo's quiet, welcoming atmosphere contrasted sharply with the weight of what Gen was about to share. As Taehyung busied himself brewing coffee, Gen stared at the steaming mug in his hands, his thoughts racing. He had been carrying the truth about his father and his powers for far too long. But it was time to let it out. No more secrets.
Keiko sat across from him, her eyes attentive but confused, waiting for him to speak. The weight of their stares felt like a physical thing, pressing down on his shoulders.
Taehyung turned, holding up the two mugs of coffee and handing one to Gen. "Here. You've been through a lot today."
Gen took the cup, the warmth of it offering some comfort as he sipped. His throat felt dry, and the mug almost felt heavier than usual. He placed it down, suddenly more aware of the gravity of what he was about to reveal.
"Keiko, Taehyung..." His voice was quiet at first, but the weight of the words he was about to say made it feel louder in the room. "There's something I need to tell you. Something about me... and about my father."
Keiko furrowed her brows, her gaze searching his face. Taehyung, ever the calm one, crossed his arms and waited. Both of them were waiting, but there was an unspoken tension between them. They didn't know. They didn't know about Crexa or the powers that Gen had, and he couldn't blame them for not understanding.
"I wasn't always like this," Gen began slowly, staring into his coffee. "I didn't always look this way, or have the... strength that I do."
Keiko blinked, leaning forward. "What do you mean?"
Gen's hands gripped the edge of his seat as he finally made himself look up at them. "I used to be... different. Ugly. I was fat, I was bullied. People made fun of me. I didn't have any friends. And then one day... my father left us. Left me and my mom. I thought he just disappeared, that he abandoned us. But the truth is, he didn't leave us for a normal reason. He's a person called Crexa. The one who gives people powers, the one who controls the game."
Taehyung's eyebrows shot up, and Keiko's mouth opened slightly in confusion. Gen felt the need to explain everything from the beginning. The longer they didn't understand, the more difficult it would be to explain.
"Wait, the game? What game?" Keiko asked, her voice edged with confusion.
Gen sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "I didn't have powers before. But Crexa—my father—gave me this ability. He gave me a power to transform, to change the way I look, to become... something else. I didn't want to be this way, but the game, the powers that I possses—they come with it. And now I'm trapped in it."
Taehyung leaned back, processing the information. "So, your father is some... sort of god-like figure who gives people powers? Is he behind everything that's happening to you? And you're saying you didn't want any of this?"
Gen nodded, his eyes lowering. "Exactly. It's not just physical. It's... everything. People with abilities like mine are part of a game he created, a twisted game where everyone fights each other for dominance. But there's more. He's not just some person pulling strings from behind the scenes. He's the creator now. He's in control of everything. And he—he doesn't care about us. He only cares about the power. He left me and Mom to fend for ourselves while he played god."
Keiko looked between him and Taehyung, still processing. "Wait, you mean... your dad gave you these abilities so you could fight in some game? And now you're... stuck?"
"Yes," Gen replied. "And the worst part is, I can't just leave. He told me I could delete my account, go back to normal... but that was a lie. Henever meant for me to leave. Once you're in the game, there's no escaping it. Not unless I defeat him. But I don't even know how to get to that point."
"Defeat him?" Taehyung repeated, a mixture of disbelief and concern in his voice. "How are you supposed to defeat someone like that? You said he was like a god... How do you even fight against that?"
Gen clenched his fists. "I don't know. I'm still trying to figure it out. But it's not just about me anymore. It's about everything that's happening in this world. People are getting dragged into this game, people are getting hurt, and it's all because of him. He's using the game to gain control over everything."
Keiko finally spoke, her voice softer but firm. "That's... that's insane. You've been trapped in this aforsaid game without even knowing it? And your father... he's part of it all? Why didn't he just stay with you and your mom, then? Why do all of this? Why didn't he come back?"
Gen's eyes burned, and for the first time since the crash, he felt the weight of everything crashing down on him. "Because he didn't care anymore. He got lost in the power. The game became everything to him. He became the Creator, and to do that, he had to let go of everything else. He couldn't come back. He didn't want to. I... I wasn't enough for him anymore. The power consumed him."
There was silence in the room, the only sound the faint hum of the coffee machine cooling down in the background. Taehyung and Keiko exchanged looks, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Keiko's face softened, her eyes full of empathy.
"Gen..." Keiko started, her voice quieter now. "You don't have to do this alone. We're here for you. We'll figure this out together."
Taehyung nodded, his usual calm demeanor unwavering. "Whatever you need, we've got your back. You're not in this by yourself."
Gen looked at them, a wave of relief washing over him. For the first time, he wasn't carrying the weight of this burden alone. He didn't have all the answers, but with Taehyung and Keiko by his side, maybe—just maybe—he could find a way out of this game.
The path ahead was unclear, and the dangers were still looming, but Gen knew one thing for sure: he wasn't going to let his father—or the game—define him anymore.