Taoreta's POV

  The meeting area

  I wasn't sure at first, but Kuma wanted Kishi and me to head to the meeting area alone.

  I asked if it was something reted to the mission, and she simply said, "Yes."

  We didn't need our Super Codes, so we decided to take a quick shower in the afternoon and change our clothes.

  I was wearing a pink hair band with two bows on top of it. Not to mention, some hairpins between each of my bangs. Mostly the third and fourth ones. I was also wearing a white long sleeve that matched Kishi's previous one from this morning. Overalls that were the color pink, and finally, white shoes to top it all off.

  Kishi was wearing another white hoodie that was simir to the one from before, blue jeans, and white shoes that matched mine.

  Funny enough, we both ended up matching to an extent, minus the pink overalls and the blue jeans.

  I asked more questions to see if there were any ulterior motives, but Kuma didn't reply.

  At first, I thought that was because she was forced to stay silent, but as we continued to walk towards our destination, Kuma said: "It's not always about the reasoning. It's how the results are made."

  With those final words, Kuma opened the door for Kishi and me, and then we both walked in. Looking behind me, Kuma smiled gently before frowning and closing the door back.

  Once inside, Kishi and I walked in unison as we moved closer to The Founder, who had a serious look.

  "Kibishi. Taoreta. Good afternoon." The Founder bowed his head at us.

  ... Something about this was... off.

  The Founder we knew was a strict person who would do whatever it took to get the job done. Not to mention, having no emotion for anything reted to retionships.

  So, seeing him like that made my skin crawl.

  "If it's about the mission, please make it brief. I don't have all day to waste time..." Kishi said coldly and then sat down on a chair. I followed his lead and nodded in agreement to what Kishi was saying.

  "He's right. We don't need another adult scolding us for what we did. We get it already..." I whispered in a soft voice.

  All of this was sort of my fault. I shouldn't have been forceful. I wanted to make sure those scars weren't wounds from the st battle. Kishi didn't push me away, but that's because we were best friends. But still, that didn't make it right.

  I apologized to him after Mato let us go to our rooms. But Kishi told me that it was alright and the gentle smile of his warmed my very soul. The cheeks of my face were practically glowing at that point. I just hoped that I hid it well enough so that Kishi wouldn't be weirded out by it.

  Still... his blushing back too was nice to see....

  "I'll be blunt with you guys," The Founder's voice snapped me out of my mini daydream.

  Probably for the better....

  "And that is?" I raised my brows.

  "... I'm the one who made Mato say those awful things to you two." The Founder said with a straight face.

  Sm!

  "What?!" I shouted.

  I smmed my palms on the table with anger in my eyes.

  "I'm the one who did that." The Founder responded without a hint of remorse.

  "Are you telling the truth?" Kishi slowly stood up with a frown forming.

  "...Indeed, I am. For you see, you two have been disrespectful to me and my rules here," The Founder leaned in closer with anger in his eyes. "You two think you can do whatever you want just because you made ONE successful run?" He raised his right index finger.

  "Just ONE, mind you?" The Founder deeply sighed and closed his eyes. He then folded his arms. "A pity, honestly. Youngsters think they can do the hell they want and get away with it. Without order, there'll be chaos."

  "..." Kishi slowly sat down and folded his arms. "Then why didn't you come to us with your compint?"

  "Yeah, Kishi's right. Even if we bought the whole 'my pce, my rules' nonsense, what he said to us is still unforgivable." I pointed at The Founder.

  "And that on its own isn't something we can simply forget just because it was an order." Kishi finished with his eyes narrowed.

  What Kishi was saying made sense.

  Even if it was orders, the way he said it was Mato's words and Mato's only. And because of that, I would never trust him OR the adults. They were trying to py us as fools.

  The Founder slowly stood up and pced his hands behind his back.

  "...Yes. He did go and say something very... unnecessary. Now, you two have become... very uninteresting." The Founder bluntly stated.

  "What does that supposed to mean?" Kishi raised his left brow.

  "I was a fool to let a young adult handle a MATURE and RELIABLE leader's job."

  The Founder started to walk around.

  "For you see, Mato is a good person. Too good for his own good. He followed my rules without a second thought. He's a bit too good at his job, and people started to hate him for it."

  The Founder stopped next to me and gave a smirk.

  "Crushing the souls of the youth isn't his strongest suit. So he practiced and practiced and practiced. I drilled it into him until he understood that my words were FINAL!"

  The Founder lifted up my chin and then turned my face so that I could look into his eyes.

  Those eyes.

  Those cold eyes.

  "If an adult like me did anything... strange, then people would look at me... weirdly." The Founder softly smiled at me.

  That sight made my body shake in fear. The way he was handling me....

  The way he was talking...

  The way he was touching me...

  It reminded me of the old days back at prison-

  "Crying, are we?" The Founder whispered to me.

  When he mentioned that, I felt tears falling. I wasn't sure how, but the tears wouldn't stop coming.

  "P-please, let... go..." I begged with sadness in my voice.

  "Hmm?" The Founder tilted his head.

  Grab!

  Kishi then grabbed hold of The Founder's hand with anger in his eyes.

  "Back. Off." Kishi then yanked The Founder's hand to the side.

  "Trust me, I'm not THAT type of guy. Nor am I the type that allows such behavior." The Founder ughed.

  "But bravo on doing that, Kibishi. You stopped an adult from treating your friend like garbage. But me?" The Founder turned serious. "I would've killed them on the spot the moment they TRIED to touch any of the youngsters in this city. You have my word on that."

  Coldly, The Founder stared daggers at Kishi as a sign that he was serious.

  "I can handle criminals, but those types are the worst. It's best to get rid of them like the fucking pieces of shit they are." The Founder continued to walk around.

  "But anyway! That disgusting topic aside, Mato isn't like me or any of the adults. He's only 23 years old. A young man with a bright future!" The Founder stopped in front of his desk. "I don't give a damn about how anyone treats me. But that boy... he's..." The Founder frowned. "... He doesn't deserve the hate. I'm the one who made him do it..."

  My eyes widened in shock.

  Wait.

  Was this The Founder? The same Founder who was cold to others? The same one who was willing to let us die out there if it would bring victory to the human race?!

  That Founder?

  "You two can hate the way I'm doing things, but I don't like it when people take the fall for something I did." The Founder slid on top of his seat.

  "You see, I'm the type of leader who takes credit when credit is due. And I'm taking this credit as well. You both don't HAVE to forgive and forget his actions, but don't forget where you are. You're in MY city. And what I say, goes. Remember that." The Founder slowly stood up again and scoffed.

  "Honestly, you two need to understand that rules are made for a reason. The next time you see Mato, tell him that the jerk face Founder was the one who forced him to do that cold task."

  Sm!

  The Founder smmed both hands on the table in anger.

  "I may be a rotten adult to you guys, but I thought you two were better than this. You should be ashamed for not at least trusting the good side of Mato. I'm not saying to talk to him right away, but don't you DARE bme him for something that wasn't in his control. You're dismissed."

  With that, The Founder stood up and slowly walked away with his fists formed in anger.

  This was the first time that The Founder had been this angry. And it wasn't because of the progress or the mission.

  "Wait!" I raised my hand at The Founder.

  The Founder grabbed the doorknob before turning his head slightly.

  "Why are you doing all of this? I thought you didn't care as long as you made progress?!" I shouted in confusion.

  "Tao..." Kishi whispered.

  "You called us for something reted to the mission and now you're walking away? What kind of leader are you?!" I felt tears in my eyes once more.

  "..." The Founder grunted.

  He slowly turned the knob.

  "... I don't want children to give out hate without a valid reason. I allowed you two to curse me out and speak your mind. But with Mato,"

  The Founder turned his face to us.

  "He doesn't deserve the hate when it wasn't his fault. I may be a horrible leader to the young like you. But I would do ANYTHING for those who are close to me. He's like a son to me. And that is the undeniable truth about me."

  Sm!

  With that, The Founder smmed the door, leaving both Kishi and me in silence.

  Creak...

  Suddenly, the door opened again.

  "Talk to Yosei about what happened, Kibishi. I'm sure you want to know what happened after you were knocked out." The Founder said coldly to Kishi.

  Sm!

  With the door smmed once more, the room remained silent.

  So silent that it was creepy.

  I was still trying to process what had occurred. The Founder was showing genuine feelings about something. He wasn't like when we first met him. Did that mean what he'd been doing was all an act? Or was this just a soft spot he never showed unless he needed to?

  Did that mean that Mato really was like a son to him, and he wanted him to have a good life?

  I didn't understand what was going on anymore...

  I felt a hand resting on my orange hair. I looked and saw Kishi. He seemed conflicted about this whole thing as well.

  "... Wow. I guess... he can show feelings, huh." Kishi whispered softly.

  "Yeah," I slowly nodded.

  "Still, what Mato did wasn't cool," Kishi whispered in sadness.

  "But The Founder was the one who set him up to do it, right?" I tilted my head.

  "..." Kishi grunted and then wrapped his arm around me.

  "Kishi?" I whispered.

  "Let's think about it while you try to calm down." Kishi smiled at me.

  "Huh?" I blinked.

  "It seems like The Founder triggered something, right? Your body reacted based on his actions. So let's calm you down before heading back to Yosei for some expnation, okay?" Kishi said sweetly.

  As if my body had a mind of its own, I rested my head on Kishi's shoulder.

  "... Okay," I whispered back to him.

  My body temperature rose once more. I could feel his own as well. It seemed like something good had come out of this, after all.

  At first, I thought it was all a trap to force us to work more or even pile up more punishment for what we did.

  But in the end, it was a scolding and a sign to show that Mato didn't mean what he said.

  But even still, what he said to us was unforgivable. I doubted I could really forgive him for that.

  But.

  I would think about it some more while keeping some distance. So if he ever tried to approach us, we should at least hear him out.

  After all, deep down, I always knew he was a good person. But my emotions had clouded my judgement.

  It seemed like it was the same for Kishi as well.

  I wondered what we would do from here.

  I slowly wrapped my arms around Kishi's own. I needed to keep feeling this way while I thought about my next course of action.