A decisive meeting
Children do not understand the reasons for their first big impression. Tastes, colors, feeling, instinct and a long list of etcetera accumulate to their credit; none can give any answer without a little doubt as to their motives.
Kageno Minoru falls into that category.
From a very young age, perhaps because of some supers sentai program or a loud radio phrase from a defunct local station, he already admired the existence of an "eminence in the shadows". His childhood admiration soon turned into a boundless motivation focused on becoming one at all costs.
From manga to any narrative resource, his attention always revolved around the existence of such a role in the work. How did he act? What did he say? How powerful is he compared to the protagonists? How did he avoid being discovered? All his questions focused on that particular character.
Like every child, his imagination gave him a lot of answers to his doubts, not always the right ones of course. After all, it was just a stage in his growth; his daydreaming would be short-lived. However, that never happened.
The fantasies born of unbridled motivation drove him towards the staunchest eccentricity. That is to say, unlike children's admiration for heroes, Kageno Minoru did not take that unrealistic goal as temporary. The flame of desire was never extinguished even after passing high school and gaining so-called common sense.
His first serious steps to achieve his mission was to master as many martial arts as possible. Karate, Kendo, Judo, Boxing and more were added to his repertoire. All with the presentiment that, in the future, they would be useful for his purpose.
At school, Kageno Minoru was an ordinary, unobtrusive person. He assumed the role of the regular Mob A from some popular VN illustration or the extra C that was remembered as a curiosity in some online video. However, he only maintained that role in classes, outside of those, he continued his intense training. A rare youth.
It is, on one of the nightly jogs, that they manage to hit it off with two specimens as rare as him. Though different by his own definition. His new friends would be a lump of bulky fat next to a strange fellow of great height for his age. Alongside this comical duo, in addition to improving his motor skills, he cultivated greater expertise in gathering and methods to become a better "eminence among the shadows"; as well as better understanding other more eccentric and untapped "ideals" by the common idiosyncrasy.
As time passed, and adolescence reached its peak, doubts began to corrode his resolve. Reality knocked on his door much more frequently. In the words of General Zaimokuza, "the visions of the unholy world will twist your ideals and point your path as a failure" or, according to the great Bodhisattva, "reality is a lie, we face it with honor or die in shame."
He didn't understand much about her words, but it was support enough to hesitate to only employ physical strength as his main component.
No matter how many martial arts or techniques he taught his body, it would never rival what was required for that position, mainly because the posting genre is different; at best, his strength could cut down a small armed platoon. But nothing more. A "shadow eminence" defeated by a soldier F. What a joke. In other words, he needed to look for other alternatives to always be victorious.
That also meant stepping out of his comfort zone in terms of the "nature of a mob", not always a crestfallen role with zero presence would help his motives. Also, according to the franchises and series, the role of an extra depends a lot on the environment. The A2 mob could manifest itself in a variety of ways without drawing attention to itself despite its odd behavior and, conversely, the A1 mob would draw too much attention by being too flat. That, unfortunately, would lead him to the development of a meddling protagonist script or, worse, become one. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE for his life purpose.
And yes, Kageno, as a reward for these valuable reflections regarding his life purpose, planned to recruit them as his first subordinates to take his first official step. However, that decision was always postponed due to the clash of ideals between them. A reincarnated and forgotten god, a demonic general from the past and an eminence of the shadows: a mixture destined to multiple discussions about the modus operandi of their possible organization.
—What do I need in order not to lose to a ballistic missile?
—Oh, General Hachiman, Shadow of Twilight has started monologuing again! Although now it's out loud... should we join in his meditation?
—A super punch?a steel body?infinite endurance?powerful armor?
—Let it go, Yoshiteru, it's a necessary exercise to achieve peace with yourself.
—No, none of that works for me. What I seek is something else, a power unlike any other. Something superior to any physical attack. Yes, magic power, aura, ki, any of those things.
—Yoooooooooooooooooosh, I see he understands perfectly, divinity only limits your thoughts. Go further, Twilight-san.
—Wrong answer, Zaimokuza. I'm afraid that's not so, ShadowAre you sure you've set your priorities?
—Then what, Bodhisattva-san? The eminence in the shadows that I want to be, will never turn to dust, not even with a missile. This world does not offer many options.
—First, Shadow-san, don't reveal my avatar so easily. Second, if you can't defeat them, join them. Third, you cannot rely on unknown forces as your only recourse.
—Exceptional, as expected of a divine conscience. I regret my earlier affront against your wisdom.
—Elementary, general. Still, you always throw out comments too biting for your own good.
—Does that mean I should become... atomic?
—Your body is already made up of atoms, it is unnecessary. Isn't it better to raise all your abilities to the maximum. I think I have deja vu from this conversation, but what is the limit of your ideal?
—I believe that the power I seek cannot be attained by mere sanity, for it is surely hidden beyond madness itself.
—Impressive
—I respect your thoughts, but aren't you afraid of dying after trying?
—Kukukuku, as if death could scare me? It would simply grant me a new world to conquer!
—Oi, Yoshiteru, it's okay to say it like that, but don't hide behind me. Besides, I wasn't talking about your death. The question was for Shadow.
—Then, should I postpone the search for magic to broaden my horizons?
—Until you understand what you're up against, you will always lose. Or you can continue to perfect what little you have mastered, as well as RecklessGeneral-san.
—More imposing than any strategy, authority must always lead the charge.
—Don't join me in your incredible consecutive defeats against a mere human, Losserteru-san.
—Ha, being abandoned by a comrade is nothing new. What do you say, Shadow-san? Unlike a reincarnation, we still have unlimited potential. Join me and you'll have half the world.
—Nah, I'll pass. That's not my goal.
However, the thoughtful conversations, which Kageno Minoru looked forward to every night, came to an end at the beginning of the new school year. Their paths parted at a moment's notice. Like a bad move of fate, they disappeared after reporting certain changes in their lives. In reality, they would only change addresses.
To the misfortune of the three of them, apart from being incommunicado with any online media; Minoru did not see the importance of it, Hachiman spent his time practicing complicated kanji and Yoshiteru only bought outlandish outfits in his free time, they forgot that this would be their last meeting of the year. Consequently, they also did not say where they would be moving to. A casual sadness of many groups formed on the simple contact of common ideas and tastes.
Their destinies would not meet again until that day.
—Bodhisattva-san
For some strange reason, unknown to the young Minoru, his comrade of yesteryear froze in his presence and, as if it were the entrance to a new world, two beauties also stopped their step to turn to look at him.
—Hikki, is he a friend of yours?
—From the way he referred to you, is he another rare acquaintance of yours, Rarigaya-kun?