Aero (a BNHA OC story)

Chapter 70 *

...

"Shin," Kenzo began softly, his voice tinged with regret. "I'm back."

Shin's gaze flickered up, his expression a tumultuous mix of anger, confusion, and sadness. "Kenzo," he muttered, his voice tight with emotion. "Where have you been? What happened to you?"

Kenzo swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Shin's words like a physical blow. "I was in Hakune. The place where my mum was born. I'm sorry, Shin," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I thought I was doing what was best."

Shin's eyes narrowed, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "What was best? Leaving me and everyone else here to worry about you in the middle of a war? Wondering if you were ever coming back? Wondering if you were still alive?"

Kenzo's heart twisted with guilt at Shin's words as he sat on the chair opposite his friend, the pain in Shin's voice like a knife to the heart. "I know I messed up, Shin," he admitted, his voice thick with emotion.

Shin's shoulders sagged slightly, his anger giving way to a profound sense of sadness. "I missed you, Kenzo," he confessed, his voice barely a whisper. "I missed you so much."

Kenzo felt a lump form in his throat at Shin's words, his own emotions threatening to overwhelm him. "I missed you too, Shin," he replied, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm so sorry."

For a moment, they simply sat in silence, the weight of their shared pain hanging heavy in the air. Then, slowly, tentatively, Kenzo reached out, his hand resting gently on Shin's shoulder.

"I promise I'll make it right, Shin," he vowed, his voice filled with determination. "I'll do whatever it takes to earn back your trust."

Shin turned to look at him, his eyes searching Kenzo's face for any sign of insincerity. Finding none, he nodded slowly, a flicker of hope igniting within him.

"I want to believe you, Kenzo," he said, his voice soft but resolute. "I really do."

With that, Kenzo pulled Shin into a tight embrace, holding him close as they both let out a shaky breath. In that moment, amidst the chaos of their emotions, they found a glimmer of solace in each other's arms.

"Do you want to talk about why you left?"

Kenzo hesitated for a moment, the weight of Shin's question hanging heavy in the air. It was a topic he had avoided for so long, burying the memories deep within himself in an attempt to forget. But now, faced with Shin's unwavering gaze, he knew he couldn't keep running from his past.

"I... I don't know if I can, Shin," Kenzo admitted, his voice wavering with uncertainty. "It's... it's not something I'm proud of."

Shin reached out, placing a comforting hand on Kenzo's arm. "Kenzo, you don't have to go through this alone," he said gently. "Whatever happened, whatever you did, I'm here for you. We'll get through it together."

Kenzo felt a lump form in his throat at Shin's words, the warmth of his friend's support washing over him like a lifeline in the darkness. He took a deep breath, steeling himself to confront the demons that had haunted him for so long.

"It started about four months ago," Kenzo began, his voice barely above a whisper. "The Hero Commission... they... they blackmailed me into doing their dirty work. They had evidence of things that could ruin me, my career, my reputation..."

Shin's grip tightened on Kenzo's arm, his expression a mixture of sympathy and anger. "Those bastards," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.

Kenzo nodded grimly. "I had no choice, Shin. I had to do whatever they said, or else..." His voice trailed off, the unspoken threat hanging heavy in the air.