Aizawa looked at the white-haired kid with a taxating look from up to down.
"Why are you barefoot?"
"I believe my equipment is taken into storage by your administration, sir." Answered the boy with a small snicker.
Aizawa furrows his brow... The kid's going to be a problem child... He was sure of that... But why was he making him feel like he knows him...? Aizawa shook his head a little. Without a good coffee, he will not think about it. He was already woken up in the middle of the night, and it was his free day... Nezu is going to pay for it... It better be a good and strong coffee.
"Let's go. The faster we come to his office, the faster I will drink a coffee."
Vesemir lifted his chin a little. Coffee... an expensive luxury, especially in the far north.
"Lead the way then. I'd like to pick up my equipment as fast as it's possible and talk about—he spread his arms and moved them a little—all of this."
Midnight came to a boy with her hands visible and said, "Are you unharmed? Do you feel any pain?"
"No, madam. I'm able to regenerate rather fast. Can you tell me who I should be grateful to?"
18 The heroine smiled. "You don't need to thank us. You saved my niece from being stabbed... but you still did a bad thing." She said the last line with a saddened expression.
"It was not my intention to cause a faux pas. Is there any way I can satisfy your demands, madam?"
Midnight puzzled, "Faux pas? That's how you call it?"
"Naturally. Somehow I have insulted your niece, and by this I indirectly insulted you, madam. It was due to different cultural norms, I presume, but I still did it, and I intend to repay your house for this insult."
Aizawa listened with a slight headache; Midnight opened her mouth a little, somehow baffled even more... until Yui took her hand in hers and said. "Auntie. He called me by my name. It's a western thing, right?"
Midnight looked at Yui, then at Vesemir, and turned her whole body to face Aizawa, who just murmured something about a troublesome child.
"Let's just go to Nezu. We will talk inside his office," answered Aizawa, under his friend's gaze. "And let's get the kid a pair of slippers." He added shortly after, looking again at the boy.
.
.
.
As Vesemir took a new pair of slippers, he was pleasantly surprised. It was made of materials he was not similar to. Firm, but able to bend easily. Trying not to show curiosity, he started walking.
Yui was walking beside him, glancing in his way from time to time. Midnight was leading them, and Aizawa decided to position himself strategically behind if Vesemir would try something sketchy.
"I'm curious about your architecture. Windows made by glass so clear and straight that it's hard to notice them. And those black half spheres on the ceiling... interesting." He tried to be polite and maybe try to gain some information. Anything that can tell him where he is exactly.
Midnight stopped and turned around to look at Vesemir again like he was playing with her. As she saw no smirk or any other evidence to support her thesis, she looked at Aizawa.
Aizawa, curious about what the kid just told, asked, "Where are you from, kid?"
Vesemir turned around and answered, "Well, it depends. I'm quite flexible about my residence, so it's hard to tell, really."
"You dodged the question, kid." Said Aizawa, with a hint of danger. Just like he acts around his students, he will make sure that this kid will not be a bigger nuisance than he would be without a little fear. It's his weapon against the students after all.
"I would appreciate it if you would kindly change your tone towards me, sir." Vesemir decided to answer 'politely.'. Standing just a couple of meters from a man, he was ready to act if necessary.
Aizawa was ready for a riposte, but Yui was faster. She touched Vesemir's arm, saying. "Vesemir-san, please. Just keep walking with us to Principal Nezu."
He turned his gaze to the girl to meet her eyes. He could say without a problem that she was troubled and waited for his positive answer. Not wanting to offend her further, he nodded. "Of course.".
.
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The door to the Nezu's office opened as Midnight entered first, saying "Pardon for intrusion", Yui was second, Vesemir behind her and Aizawa as the last one closed the door.
There were two black sofas with a black coffee table, full of snacks and with prepared tea.
"Welcome! Am I a dog? Am I a mouse? Am I a bear? That's up to you! But I'm Nezu!" Said smiling principal. "Please! Sit down, young Vesemir. We all would like to know you better!"
Vesemir was, for the first time in his life, so surprised that he opened his jaw. He looked at the rest, looking for any evidence that this is a joke, but no. They were... normal... if something like this can be called 'normal.'. Maybe he was dreaming? He looked at the white furry animal...
"I'm sorry, but... are you a shapeshifter of some kind, sir?"
"No! This is my body! Please sit down so we can have a proper talk!" Said smiling Nezu.
Vesemir forgot about the etiquette and just sat on the couch in the center of it. Yui sat beside him. Her action was noticed but also passed over in silence by her aunt, who sat next to the principal. Aizawa at first decided to stand, but an aroma of hot coffee, right on the table, convinced him to pick it up, but he still decided to stand with his back leaning on the wall.
"I'm... honored, sir, to be a guest in your domain." Said Vesemir, with a slow nod of his head, trying to regain composure.
"Domain? So polite! You know how to talk to people, I tell you that. We will be able to start shortly. We just wait for one special person, aaaaaaandddd..."
The door opens, and Tsukauchi Naomasa enters the office. "Damn it, Nezu. Next time give me a little more time. It's the middle...of...a...night...uffff." Said detective, trying to catch his breath. "Is this... the boy we talked about?"
"Yes, he is!" How about you join us, and we can start?"
The detective sat down and looked at the boy. "Hello, young man. I'm detective Tsukauchi. I work for Musutafu Police."
"Good night to you, sir. My name's Vesemir." TRUE
Naomasa nodded to Nezu, confirming that he can start and that the boy told the truth.
"Okay then! I'm sure you have many questions, but first let us ask some. Maybe during our talk you will find answers for some of yours?" Told Nezu with his smile.
"It's your domain, sir. I'll be glad to satisfy your curiosity." Words of the young man made Nezu beam with happiness.
"Great! Then please start with your full name and surname."
"Just Vesemir. The Witcher" LIE
Naomasa looked at the principal and slowly nodded, in that way informing him about a lie.
"Witcher. What does that mean?" Questioned Midnight with a worried look, as she also understood Naomasa's nod.
"A Witcher is a monster hunter. Witcher is faster and stronger than a normal man. Can endure more pain, heals quicker. Is able to use magic." TRUE—Vesemir decided to tell them what they could already deduce after his show of skills during the fight and his healing.
"Can you tell us who trained you?" Asked Aizawa, drinking his coffee.
"My grandfather. Geralt is his is also a Witcher." TRUE
"How did you come to Japan?" Asked Yui
"I have no idea" HALF TRUTH —Naomasa, of course, gave the teachers and principal a proper nod.
"Yui, please. Let us handle asking the questions," said Midnight with a soft voice. Yui just nodded.
"Why do you have two swords?" Asked Nezu
"One is made of steel. The second one is covered with silver. Server for monsters. Steel for... other kinds of them." TRUE
Aizawa decided to pry a little more. "Have you killed anyone?"
"Yes" TRUE
For a moment there was a silence in the room. Yui was feeling guilty that he did kill those villains, but only to protect her. He even stopped when she asked him to do so. He can't be a bad person.
Midnight came right after the fight, but Yui told her what happened.
Nezu lost his smile in a sadness for a boy who lost his innocence.
Aizawa was looking at the boy with anger... not for him but for a man called Geralt... who the hell teaches a child to kill...?
Tsukauchi Naomasa, as a true detective, decided to continue. "How old are you, son?"
"I'm 14, sir." TRUE
And Tsukauchi just felt sadness... A boy who broke a law. Killed villains. He is still a kid... 14 years old... but he had to continue.
"How many people have you killed?"
"I don't know. Many." TRUE
"Four?"
"No, sir. More than four "TRUE
"Can you tell us approximately?" Asked Nezu, anger rising inside him, but his voice was still gentle.
"Not really, sir... I never counted. But... approximately? I'm quite sure that more than fifty? Sixty?" Wondered Vesemir. TRUE
Yui grabbed his arm with her shaking hands and started silently crying. He used his free hand to pat her hands, trying to bring her some comfort.
Midnight held back her tears. Barely, but she held them. She had to ask... "Why? Why did you kill them?"
"They were a threat to your niece, madam. I had to defend her. It was my duty." TRUE
Yui covered her mouth with her hand. Trying to not let any sound from her throat.
"Madam. I believe that you should escort your niece to rest, as my answers made her uncomfortable." TRUE Vesemir said with shame, as he believed that he was the cause of Yui's tears.
"No! I can…..t….. take it!"
*Yui, maybe I ta..."
*No, auntie! I'll stay!...I...must stay...please..." Yui looked at Nezu with teary eyes. The principal gave her a box of tissues.
"You can stay, but remember. You can leave at any moment, young Kodai." Said Nezu to the girl.
"So... Vesemir... Why did you kill the rest? We mean before yesterday," asked Nezu.
"It depends, sir. Some tried to kill me first. Some tried to kill someone I cared for. A couple of them I knew by the name. Most of them I did not know. Couple... died because they killed somebody important to me... and some I killed just because we were in battle... and fate made us enemies..." TRUE Vesemir said with sadness. His gaze went down at the table.
"How old were you when you...first time...took a life?" Asked Detective.
Vesemir looked and saw Yui crying, and he answered.
"I believe that Lady... Kodai should be escorted to her quarters for rest. These informations are taking a toll on her." TRUE
"No, no! I can take it! I want to help you. It's a hero's job to help."
"Excuse me, but it's not about being a hero." Vesemir turned his head to Nezu and said, "I shall not answer any more questions as long as Lady Kodai remains in this room. I'm worried about her health." TRUE
Midnight stood up, walked around the table, and hugged Yui. "Let's go, Yui... you need to rest. I'll tell you everything later. I promise.
"B...but...but"
"No buts... come with me... I'll take you to bed, and I'll soon join you as fast as we finish here... okay?"
Midnight gently pulled crying Yui from the couch and walked out with her in the corridor.
Three men and the boy left in the office. For a moment, nobody said anything. Nezu smiled gently at the boy and told. "Vesemir? Please drink some tea. It's my favorite blend." Nezu poured a mixture into the cup and gave it to Vesemir. He took it and drank a warm brew.
"It's delicious, sir. Thank you. Should we wait for Madam... forgive me, but I don't know her by her family name. Is it Kodai as her niece?"
"For now just call her Miss Midnight, young man. It's her hero name." Said Nezu.
"I heard that before. What do you mean when you say 'hero'?"
"You don't know?"
"No, sir. I do not." TRUE
"Hero is a job that we gave to people who acquired a hero license. Their job is to save people and arrest villains. Some heroes are better at fighting. Some are great in rescue. Others are able to fight off the natural disasters. It depends on their quirk."
"What is a quirk?"
Aizawa looked at the boy. "Wait. You don't know?"
"No, sir." TRUE
Aizawa and Nezu turned their heads at Naomasa, who was as surprised as them. The boy told the truth...
.
.
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After some time, Midnight returned, and this time, she sat beside Vesemir, placing her hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Vesemir... you can tell us now..."
"I was eight." TRUE
"EIGHT!?" Screamed Aizawa. "WHO THE HELL FORCES AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY TO KILL!"
"Aizawa, calm down." Said Nezu. His fury is visible for everyone who knows him well. "Can you tell us how it happened, Vesemir?"
"I can't tell you that." TRUE
"Why not?"
"Because my grandfather told me so." TRUE
"Okay... let's just sit down for a minute and talk about what you told us. You see Vesemir. Detective Tsukauchi has a very special quirk. A quirk is a special power that almost everybody has. His power can tell if you lied to us or not. You told us a couple of lies. I would like to ask you those questions again. Okay?"
Vesemir looked around at their faces. He looked back at Nezu and said, "And why should I believe you?"
Detective responds. "We can test it. Tell us something you are sure we don't know. I will tell if you lie or not."
'Hmmm... I'll play your game. I got a kiss on the cheek from an empress." TRUE
"H..he.…the answer is true...but who? How?" Asked baffled Trukauchi
"So you really can check if I say the truth... I must say, I feel betrayed by your actions. All of you."
"It was the only way to check who you really are, kid. And now. Answer us. What is your real name, kid? We will not harm you. I swear," said Aizawa.
Nemuri gently moved her hand on Vesemir's upper back in an attempt to calm him down. "We are sorry, Vesemir, but we had to check if you are a villain. Some quirks can change people's age and appearance, even turning them into a whole different person. Can you please answer us?"
"The thing is. I have two sets of names. The one I go by Sir Vesemir of Rivia, crest of Bridge." TRUE
"Why do you have two sets of names?" Asked Aizawa.
"To protect myself and those around me" TRUE
"Can you tell us your real name then? I promise that it will stay in this room only." Said Nezu
"My name is Vesemir Gwasend Mwairkid Aeldwes var Emreis. Crowned prince of the Nilfgaard Empire. Duke of Attre." TRUE
The room went silent.
End of Chapter 6