[@banjoanjo][@chukklehed][@Suku][@Mistress Dizzy][@demonspade64]

[B]School Side (Saturday Morning - 11am) - NPC: Kaede Yamamoto[/B]

Weakness. The word echoed through his mind, even as he rose from the pathetic kowtow. It was true that he had been weak, lacking the power to save his friends from their horrible fates. It was why he needed the power everybody else possessed, so that he could triumph over his own weaknesses and rescue his club. It was a selfish desire, and the reassurances that were sent his way nearly made him choke out a ragged laugh. They were good people, willing to throw their weight and strength behind a cause that should have been his and his alone, willing to find worth in somebody who could never be worthy.

Maybe, once, he too would've had pride to lose. He once would never have thought to beg. But his friends, the people he had failed, needed his help. Needed somebody - somebody stronger than him - to save them. For them, there was nothing he would not do. Even if it cost him everything else.

"Thank you," he whispered as he found himself on his feet once more, yet his drained voice was still audible to them all.

The haggard boy pushed his bitter smile away, doing his best to instead display a warm smile ([i]fake, glassy[/i]) towards Jin. They had chosen to enthusiastically stand by his side without any protest. They were so free with praise. They were a good person.

He hated having to rely on them, but he wanted, [i]needed[/i] their power. He needed to concentrate them all against whatever obstacle stood in the path of him and his friends. It would have been simpler if he had not required the assistance of these good people.

Life wasn't like that.

"We'll have to go to the clock tower," Kaede continued spiritlessly, glancing past the gate between them and the courtyard. "I ... I don't really know what to say, but ..."

He hesitated.

"Thank you again."

It was time to go.