"O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies, extending to them affection while they have disbelieved in what ca to you of the truth, having driven out the Prophet and yourselves [only] because you believe in Allah(God), your Lord. If you have co out for jihad in My cause and seeking ans to My approval, [take them not as friends]. You confide to them affection, but I am most knowing of what you have concealed and what you have declared. And whoever does it among you has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way." -Surat Al-Mumtaĥanah 60:1
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Man’s Voice: "He’s never had any parental guidance or at the very least, a suitable guardian.
I’d say the boy will end up a career criminal or worse, dead by the age 18."
...
Woman’s Voice: "Ugh!
I can’t stand him anymore!
Let him run away Phil!"
...
*WHOOP**WHOOP*
Officer’s Voice: "How’s it going, I’m Officer Brady.
Do you know you’re trespassing on-.
Aye get back here!
We got a runner..."
...
2nd Woman’s Voice: "Okay Arai, this is the last chance for you at this foster ho, you need to be on your best behavior."
...
Young Arai’s Voice: "I hate everyone.
I hate everything.
...
I hate everyone.
I hate everything.
...
I hate everyone.
I hate everything.
...
I fucking hate everyone...I fucking hate everything.
...
Why was I born?
Nobody gets , and nobody ever will.
I just want to get away from them all.
...
Why do they try to help?
I don’t need any help..."
[Mount Decima Shuttle Station]
There is a *ding* to the elevator and Maniae squeezes through the doors before they fully open and he looks around.
Now that the people within the Sister Mountains have more or less migrated to the base in Erebus City, the shuttle station is empty... except for one blonde haired boy running through the empty lobby to the next departing shuttle.
Maniae: "Arai! Wait!"
Not stopping, Arai turns his torso around and grimaces, knowing exactly why Maniae is there.
Both young n are running as fast as they can for their own reasons.
Just as Maniae had told himself, he is noticably quicker while Arai is more agile in his parkour.
As proof, Arai hops the turnstiles with a flip and runs for one of the available empty shuttles.
Not too far behind, Maniae simply "fence hops" the turnstiles but once his feet hit the ground, he is quickly gaining on his pal.
There is a tone that goes off over the speakers and a robotic woman’s voice cos over the intercom.
Intercom Voice: "Shuttle for Mount. Decima Residential District to Mount. Nona Shopping and Mountain Exit District is now departing.
Last call shuttle for Mount. Decima Residential District to Mount. Nona Shopping and Mountain Exit District is now departing."
A sweating Arai gets into the shuttle and the doors start to slowly close, but not enough before Maniae jumps through, rolling on the ground.
Both boys are tired and out of breath.
Maniae is on his hands and knees, sweat drips to the floor.
Arai has his hands on his knees taking fast, deep breaths.
Maniae: "What....the fuck....Arai?!
Why...are you running away from ho?!"
Arai doesn’t answer, he just looks at his "friend" who was chasing after him, with a state of pure hatred.
Intercom Voice: "Shuttle from Mount. Decima, Residential District to Mount. Morta Governnt District/Mountain Exit.
Please makes sure to stay seated or hold on to the rails for you and other passengers safety.
Thank you, and it is always a pleasure to be able to transport all of humanity’s survivors to wherever their freedom takes them!"
Arai turns his back on his friend and looks out the window to the moving shuttle.
Maniae: "Aria?!"
Arai: "Leave alone..."
Maniae: "What do you an?
Why are you running away from a place we can both call ho?!"
The shuttle starts to move and the bodies of both boys sway but strongly keep their balance.
Arai is silent looking out the window to nothing but a grey and brown shuttle tunnel.
Maniae carefully walks up behind his friend and goes to put a hand on his shoulder.
Arai turns around and pushes away the arm.
Arai: "Don’t touch !"
Maniae’s red eyes widen in shock and takes a step back.
Maniae: "Arai, bro...what-"
Arai: "We aren’t brothers, and we aren’t friends!
None of those losers can be trusted and now that you’ve joined them, neither can you."
Maniae: "What?!"
With angry tears in his red eyes, Maniae thinks back to three years ago...
[FLASHBACK]
The young boy is running through the streets until he gets to an alleyway and ducks in between the buildings. He slides down the wall and sits on the ground, crying, while talking to himself.
Maniae: "Why did you have to go to the military, Poinai? You didn’t get to see Mom before she died and you left all alone with our drunk and abusive Dad. Why did you do this to ? Why, Poinai?"
Another young voice scares him and makes the young boy flinch.
Arai: "You too, huh?"
Maniae looks up to see another beaten and abused child, standing at the opening of the alley.
Maniae: "Wh-who are you? And what do you an by ’You too’? What, did you also get abandoned by your older brother, lose your mom and now get beaten by you drunk dad?"
Arai slowly walks over and sits across from where Maniae was on the opposite building. The blue eyes of the young boy fill up as well and tears fall to the ground below him.
Arai: "No, I just got away from so bullies I don’t even know. I’ve been from foster ho to foster ho, and every new place I go, I sneak away from. I’ve never actually had an older person take care of or show sothing interesting that I didn’t know. Sotis I wonder if I am actually just a shitty kid my parents knew they wouldn’t want."
The two kids sit in silence for a mont.
Maniae: "I’m Maniae, by the way."
Arai: "...Arai."
There’s another silence for a mont and then both kids talk at the sa ti.
Arai: "Wanna fight?"
Maniae: "Let’s fight!"
They both get shocked by the identical, unusual proposal but then they laugh.
Arai: "Co on. I know a spot we can get stronger. Together."
[END FLASHBACK]
Maniae wipes his tears away and gives a determined look at his best friend.
Maniae: "Why did you even talk to that day we t?
Why did you show your hideout to train?
If you thought I would only see you as an ally for the rest of my life, then that makes you the selfish one, in the wrong here, Arai!"
Arai’s fists clench at his hips and his knuckles crack.
Maniae takes a step closer, closing their distance.
Arai: "Just leave alone or else ’I’ll break every bone in your fucking body’!"
He pushes Maniae in the chest and without either of them having IceEyes, the red Below Sanpaku locks with the blue Above Sanpaku.
Maniae: "I’m bringing you back ho Arai, whether you like it or not.
All you’ve done is run away, but now as an oath between brothers..."
He squares up with his "brother".
Maniae: "...As an oath between brothers, I will protect you from yourself."
Arai raises his fists and the two young n ready to fight.
Maniae takes a step throws a fake left and whiffs with a right jab.
Off the dodge, Arai throws a landing gut shot, knocking back Maniae and the blonde leaves his feet to throw a spinning kick, but because of the movent of the shuttle, the kick whiffs and Arai slips on the floor.
Maniae recovers and goes to jump on top of his pal attempting to abandon their friendship.
Arai rolls away and Maniae accidentally hits his face on a seat.
Maniae: "Ahh fu-"
He quickly rembers the fight and sees a foot coming in to kick his face. He blocks it with his hand but the force from the blow still makes the back of his hand hit his temple.
He keeps the grip on Arai’s shoe, grabs the leg attached and pulls his friend to the floor now in a struggle the two roll away from each other and stand up.
From a few feet away Arai cos charging at his dark haired nuisance.
Maniae looks to his left and sees a red and yellow button covered with a hinged glass case.
He quickly raises the glass covering and presses the button, the shuttle cos to a quick stop.
The montum of the cart stopping and Arai forces the young man off balance and with his face leading the way, Arai’s face flies right into Maniae’s, connecting with a kiss...
But fortunately for the two boys they both hit the front of the shuttle, disconnecting their lip lock, and they get knocked out before realizing the embarrassing accident to their epic showdown...
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