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Left or Right – Part 04

The pile of wood gazed at him coldly. You can’t do it, it seemed to say. You’re not the same as before. You’re no longer the fearless boy you once were. A harsh storm and the passage of time have changed everything about you.

“N-No,” Kazuya muttered, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. He reminded himself that grown men shouldn’t cry, but tears welled up against his will.

Was resigning himself into praying all he could do now?

Am I too powerless to help her alone? Victorique!

He fell silent, staring at the towering obstacle before him. Suddenly, he was addressing the people that knew her.

Your daughter…

The Gray Wolf dancer lost in the war in the Old World.

Your sister…

Victorique’s half-brother, who had extended her a helping hand right at the very end.

Your precious student…

The teacher who had shown kindness to both Victorique and Kazuya.

Your friend…

To his own irreplaceable friend from the past.

I don’t care about myself. Victorique… Together, with everyone… We’ll save her.

He lifted his head and fixed the woodpile with a sharp stare.

I won’t let her die alone. I will never give up.

But none offered a response. In this new land, Kazuya was utterly alone.

Concerned, Troll prodded Kazuya’s bottom. Mary watched him with worry etched on her face. Kazuya turned around with a start. They tapped his shoulder and nodded.

“We have to do something,” Kazuya said.

“Yeah!”

“Y-Yes, absolutely.”

The three shared a determined look. Then, a loud noise came from above.

Kazuya’s gaze flitted upwards. Astonished, Troll and Mary listened intently.

Footsteps echoed down the stairs. For a moment, Kazuya felt as though his prayers had been answered. But, of course, it wasn’t the people he had addressed in his thoughts. It was the second wave of evacuating employees.

“Who the hell was that guy with the mask and cloak?” one said.

“He actually pushed us!”

“Wait, there’s something here. Wood maybe?”

“How do we get past it?!”

“Let’s try getting in.”

“Are you serious?”

“The explosion damaged the elevator, remember? We can only use the stairs.”

“I’m pretty sure there’s a dumbwaiter on this floor that’s used to deliver food.”

“Oh! We can use it to get down one floor.”

A door opened, and their hurried footsteps faded.

Kazuya turned to Troll and Mary. “Did you hear that?” They nodded in unison.

Kazuya pushed open the emergency staircase door and rushed into the tower.

“Linlin,” Troll muttered anxiously, following closely behind. Mary, deep in thought, trailed after them.

The tower’s corridors twisted like a labyrinth. It was hard to tell which path led to where. Kazuya remembered talk of a dumbwaiter and dashed down the hallway, straining to hear any signs of movement.

Then, they spotted employees hurrying down the corridor. Kazuya called out, and the men turned in surprise.

“What are you guys doing here? You need to get out, fast!”

“We’re… trying to head up… to help the people on the top floor…”

“What? Are you nuts? Forget it! There’s a fire up there!”

“Wait, hold on. You guys came down from above using the dumbwaiter, right? Where is it? How do we use it?”

“We don’t have time to give you directions. Go find it yourselves! Going up there is a death wish!”

Ignoring Kazuya’s pleas and questions, the employees hurried away. “Wait, please!” Kazuya called out, reaching out desperately.

But they didn’t stop. They bolted into the distance, down the stairs. To survive.

Kazuya deflated. Then, a man carrying a child on his back and holding a slice of pizza in his mouth dashed past, casting a curious glance at the chaos. He stopped and looked back.

Running in place impatiently, pizza in hand, he said, “Hey! What in the world are you doing here?”

Kazuya raised his head. Troll and Mary eyed them both curiously, wondering if they knew each other.

He was an Italian man with a beard. Kazuya cocked his head, feeling a flicker of recognition. He had just arrived in the New World today, not knowing a soul, but this man seemed oddly familiar… And the child he carried…

Memories of the baby crying on the ship flooded back. Leaving Ellis Island’s immigration office, arriving at New York Harbor, passing the baby to someone…

“My son… Welcome to America.”

Kazuya recalled the man’s teary face.

“This is a city where dreams come true. We’re going to work hard!”

Kazuya’s gaze locked onto the man. The beard, the determined look… Of course, his name was…

“Bearded Joey!”

The man nodded enthusiastically, pizza still in hand. “Yeah! That’s me!”

“Who would’ve thought I’d run into you here?” Kazuya stared at Joey’s face.

“You can say that again,” Joey replied. “What are you doing here? I don’t get what’s going on, but let’s get moving!”

“Right. When we spoke at New York Harbor last night, you mentioned you worked at the Apocalypse. You said you had a shift today too.”

“Exactly! It’s a bit challenging with my kid in tow now. Look.”

He proudly showed off the sleeping child on his back. Even amidst the chaos, Joey’s son slept soundly, mouth agape.

“See you later, then!” Joey turned to leave.

“Hang on!”

“What is it? Let’s get out of here, quick!”

“Um, could you point us to the dumbwaiter and explain how to use it? Please!”

“Huh? What are you saying? Are you planning to go up there? I don’t get it! Just get out of here!”

“We’re heading up to help the people on the top floor.”

“What’s that about? I’m lost, but it’s none of my business. Me and my son come first. I don’t care about some moguls I don’t know personally. In the new world, you have to look out for yourself and your family first.”

Joey attempted to leave once more, but Kazuya followed, pleading.

“You’re one persistent fellow.”

“She’s still up there!”

Joey stopped and looked back. “Who?” His face stiffened. “Wait, are you talking about the girl who took care of my son from the ship to the harbor and brought him to me? That little girl with a hauntingly beautiful face? No way! She’s on the top floor? How did that happen? You just arrived here, and got invited to the party?”

“Things happened.”

“Ah, she’s a goner! Damn it. Caught up in an accident on the very day she arrived in the new world. Talk about bad luck!”

“I want to go help her.”

“Do you wanna die? You’re an idiot. If you go up there now, you’re not gonna make it out alive. I can’t with you! Sorry, but I have my hands full just trying to save my son. So long!”

Joey shook his head and started running again, disappearing around the corner without stopping.

Kazuya slumped as he watched the man go. Tears brimmed in his eyes.

Then, footsteps echoed from the same corner. Joey, wearing a sour look, came running back at full speed. Kazuya was taken aback.

“They say the beginning of a family’s history is important.” Joey stomped his feet, groaning. Glancing at his sleeping son, he said, “Argh, fine! Starting today, I’m a father. I have to help you. Today is the first day, which means it’s very important. Even if I’m poor, if I were a noble man, my son and his son after him would surely find the strength to work hard. We owe that girl a huge debt.”

Joey stomped his feet vigorously, hesitated for a moment, then groaned, “Whatever! Let’s go!” He grabbed Kazuya’s hand and ran.

They dashed down the corridor like two boys of ten. The child on Joey’s back woke up and started giggling. Troll and Mary exchanged looks before following the two.

“What kind of girl is she for you to risk your life like this?” Joey asked as they ran.

Kazuya was about to say something about her brilliant intellect, her fearsome Gray Wolf nature, or some demonic aspect of her that he couldn’t quite grasp, but he stopped himself. It seemed like those things didn’t matter anymore during the precious time they spent together.

Kazuya cast his gaze down. “There’s only one of her in this world,” he said in a barely audible voice.

Joey briefly turned to look at the giggling baby on his back. Then, he looked somewhere far into the distance. His eyes moistened.

Joey nodded emphatically. “I get it.” He turned the corner. “Take good care of her!”

“I-I will!”