Number 1333

White Canvas

The match keeps going accompanied by the cheers for the prisoners and Mitsuru's excited commentary. Seitarou sometimes checks if the inmate Number 33 is still there, and thanks to that, he notices that he is calmer than before, his breathing movements look almost inexistent, what the hell is he doing?

<<Ayu, are you ok?>> Jyugo is the first one who notices that since his friends are focused on the match, <<Do you need something?>>

<<Mh...? Don't worry for me.>> his reply is sleepy, but something sounds wrongs, <<My head hurts, just that, I'm used to this, enjoy the fight like everyone else.>>

<<I can't do that, you don't look good at all.>> "I want to help him, but I don't know how. Should I give him some sugar food?" <<Gu->> a hand stops Jyugo to call his friends or a guard.

<<Don't attire futile attentions.>> it was Ayu who grabbed the inmate, <<I'm fine, it will pass soon. Leave me here for a while.>>

<<.....Okay.>> the strong grip loosens and the bandaged hand falls on Number 33's lap. "What should I do? I don't know why, but I feel something for this guy. I feel closer to Ayu than the others, it's because he was never free just like me or for something else?"

<<Oi Ayu, do you know what qigong is?>> asks Rock curious since the battle is getting heated, <<Can you tell me about it?>>

<<Sorry I wasn't listening. >> Jyugo recognizes the huge difference between the voice Number 33 used before and the one he used now, <<What do you want to know?>>

<<About qigong. Do you know it?>>

<<Yeah, it's a Chinese system of coordinated body posture and movement, breathing, and meditation used for health, spirituality, and martial arts training.>> he explains hanging his head backwards, <<With roots in medicine, philosophy, and martial arts, its practice typically involves moving meditation, coordinating slow flowing movement, deep rhythmic breathing, and calm meditative state of mind.>>

<<That's sound complicated.>> comments Yamato, <<And you can use it too, Number 33-kun?>>

<<I do, but not as well as that shrimp.>> he looks at the match for a second and closes his eyes again, <<I'm like a white canvas, everyone can paint me with the colors they want.>>

<<W-what do you mean with that?>> asks Seitarou confused and a little scared.

<<It means that he can adapt himself to every situation possible. Am I right, Number 33-kun?>>

<<You look really stupid Yamato, but it seems you have a brain that works too.>>

[The fights are over!! The final event of the New Year's Tournament will be Building 13 versus Building 4! But before the match, let everyone rests for a bit! Let's meet again from 30 minutes!]

<<Someone escort me outside this place for the break.>> Ayu stands up and holds both hands forward, but he doesn't feel the handcuffs on him, so he looks at the guards, <<What?>>

<<I wasn't ready that you offer yourself to be handcuffed->> Seitarou answers uncomfortably, he isn't used to be near such a famous killer, so when he talks back, the little boy jumps a little.

<<I'll go alone then.>>

<<I'll accompany him, Seitarou-kun you watch the others.>> Yamato handcuffs Ayu and lets him lead the way, "Is he paler than before or it's just my imagination?"

They walk out from the arena and sit on a bench. Godai observes him and he notices that he's comfortable in being chained, it's because he was in a lot of prisons or for another reason? Since the officer is dense for these things, he just directly asks it to the prisoner.

<<Number 33-kun, it doesn't bother you that you're the only one chained for everything?>>

<<I'm being chained like this from when I was child, I don't even feel the weight of them anymore.>> he says enjoying the sound of the nature and the wind that gently caresses his skin, <<And I understand your position too. I'm known as the most dangerous person who can run away in a short amount of time, so it's normal that you guys always handcuff me if I need to go somewhere.>>

<<Hahaha! I thought you were a heartless person, I was wrong. I apologize.>>

<<No problem, I don't care what the people think about me, they don't even know my name, how could they know my story and the reason why I did what I did. You can keep seeing me like that, I don't mind.>>

<<Since you're honest, I'll be too, it's a little hard to understand you because you don't put feelings in your voice when you don't do something in particular. So, I'm sorry if sometimes I misunderstand you.>>

<<I told you, you look dumb and act very stupidly, but you're able to understand me better than the others, you covered me before, proving that you're more sensible. And for my voice... I'm working on it, I don't know how to use it yet.>> "Why I'm telling all these things to him? With Uno too... What's this feeling? Is for these persons or because I'm aware that I must wait for a long time before I can meet him, so I'm relaxing myself a bit? Ah, feelings are really hard stuff to deal with."

<<It's for your work?>>

<<Yeah, I started when I was little and I'm taking some days off now that I'm here.>> Ayu hangs his head back and slides down a little to be more comfortable, <<It's the same thing when an actor act too many characters for too many years that he forgot his own identity. I'm like that, maybe a little worse.>>

<<I see. Then I hope that your break will be longer. Taking a break from work once in while is a good thing.>>

<<Easy to say it. My body moves mechanically when I do something that I did for countless times, just like Hyakunin Isshu; I was so used to play card games that I scanned my opponents and used their weaknesses as my weapon. You covered me when I said that I'm a white canvas that everyone can paint with the colors they want, but you understood what I really meant.>>

<<How old are you, Number 33-kun?>> Yamato's voice sounds sadder, he starts to see that prisoner under a new light, he isn't like the rumors describe him, not even close to that.

<<I don't know my birthday and never celebrate it, so I don't know how old I am.>> he always speaks about sad and scary things with such nonchalance that is a little upsetting, is like he doesn't care about anything, not even for himself.

<<I see. You can rest a bit if you want, you don't look good.>>

<<Give me five minutes and...>> slowly, Ayu's head bends on a side, all his body relaxes suddenly, he almost falls on Yamato's shoulder but he managed to stay in place even if he's sleeping.

"He is young, I would say 18-20 years old. It's very sad seeing that people out there treats kids like this." thinks Godai looking at the sky, "When he compared himself with a canvas, he was saying that he hasn't any identity, he will become what people want the most, because that's why he was created like that; just like the white canvas is created to let people paint whatever they want. I hope he never find his target."