Lee-Hann Jr still held his father's hand, tears silently streaming down his cheeks.
"Father… I don't know what to do. I tried everything. The show, the cameras, the costumes… Nothing worked. I'm still as weak as ever."
The old man looked at him with infinite tenderness.
"Lee-Hann… I have nothing left to teach you."
His son looked up, surprised.
"What? But…"
"You've mastered the technique. You know karate inside and out. You've been a black belt for years."
He coughed weakly, caught his breath.
"But strength… true strength… isn't gained in a dojo. Or in front of cameras."
Lee-Hann stared at him, eager to understand.
"If you want to become strong, you'll find the answer in the mountains to the south."
"The mountains to the south?"
"A man lives there. A great master. The only one who ever managed to beat me at my peak."
Lee-Hann's eyes widened.
"At your peak? But Father, you were invincible! You defeated Tamura Seijin, the prodigy! You…"
"Years ago, I was about to win the Martial Arts Tournament when…"
The old man coughed heavily this time.
"When I met Yu."
The name fell like a guillotine blade.
"Yu…?"
"Go find him, my son. He'll teach you what I couldn't pass on."
Lee-Hann squeezed his father's hand.
"I'll go, Father. I promise you."
The old man smiled weakly and closed his eyes, exhausted.
Lee-Hann stayed by his side for a long moment, then stood up, determined.
——
LOVE HOTEL – RED-LIGHT DISTRICT – MORNING
The room smelled of cheap perfume and sweat.
Masajo sat on the edge of the bed, shirtless, counting a thick wad of bills. 10,000 and 5,000 notes. Enough to live for a month.
A working girl, young, pretty, dressed only in a half-open robe, approached from behind. Her arms wrapped around him, her fingers grazing his muscular chest.
"Baby… why did you stop?"
She pressed against him, kissed his neck.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Masajo didn't answer. His gaze was lost in the void, still seeing Kroger's silhouette, his speed, his power.
That guy… how the fuck is he so strong?
He suddenly stood up, grabbed his clothes.
"I'll be back. Gonna buy more condoms."
He pulled on his pants, his jacket, and walked out without looking back.
The girl watched him leave, bewildered.
——
CITY STREETS – SAME MOMENT
Kotobe walked calmly, enjoying his first official patrol as a Class B hero. The streets were quiet. People went about their business.
He wished One was with him. But Captain Man had been clear: One had to wait for a message from the Association before any patrol.
"Why does he get to go and not me?" One had asked, perplexed.
"Because you're ranked C, One. And nobody understands how you work."
"…Ah."
Kotobe smiled at the memory.
Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a giant screen on the street corner.
A poster. A face. A name.
"YOUNGTHUG – THE BADASS HERO!"
Kotobe stopped.
"A thug who became a hero," Kotobe murmured. "There's hope for everyone."
He said this without knowing that the latter was patrolling in the same area.
Youngthug was walking around looking tired. Like he wanted to stop everything.
"Ahhh… fucking hell, what the fuck am I doing here seriously."
"I should be running my Crew instead of being out here patrolling."
I NEVER WANTED TO BE A HERO.
MY WHOLE LIFE, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SEEN AS THE VILLAIN.
SO I FORCED MYSELF TO BE ONE…
UNTIL THAT DAY WHEN…
I WAS JUST OUT SHAKING DOWN CIVILIANS WHEN I SAW A DAEMON ATTACKING A PREGNANT WOMAN.
I STEPPED IN IMMEDIATELY, AND IN A MOMENT OF MADNESS, I MADE A PACT WITH MY BASEBALL BAT TO PROTECT HER…
"But what the fuck was I thinking seriously!"
He was about to leave when a presence caught his attention.
A girl. Brunette, athletic, determined look. She wore a jacket with the Association's insignia.
Lina. 38th of Class A. An established heroine.
Their eyes met for a second. Then they both looked at the same point further ahead.
A man had just come out of a side street. He was walking fast, head down, jacket pulled up over his face.
Masajo.
The giant screen had just changed.
"WANTED – MASAJO – $100,000 REWARD."
The photo displayed. The same man.
Kotobe and Lina, who had just arrived behind them, exchanged a glance.
Youngthug, approaching from the other side, stopped too.
"What the fuck was that aura?" Youngthug murmured.
His Ether. I didn't feel anything, but he gives off a monstrous presence, Lina thought to herself.
Masajo, sensing the stares, quickened his pace. He turned a corner, disappeared.
The three heroes took off.
They arrived in front of a building. Old. Abandoned. Boards nailed over the windows. A half-open door.
Masajo had gone in there.
Kotobe looked at the other two.
"We going in?"
Lina nodded.
Youngthug smiled, mean.
"I've always wanted to test my bat's new abilities on someone."
They pushed the door and stepped into the darkness.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…