"Your time starts… now."
...
"Ha!" A third-year sneered, "You think that's going to—"
WHACK
I smirked.
Aizawa, from my class, had just landed a punch on the senior's face.
That one step he took was huge. The step that no one was willing to take… which he took, right now, even though he was scared beyond his wits...
That is the step...
...
A drop of water fell onto the silent water body, sending a ripple across its surface.
...
The third year, who was punched just now, kicked Aizawa away with fury.
That will change everything.
WHAM WHACK
Two more joined in from the bystanders.
...
More and more drops fell.
...
Three more joined. Now five. Ten.
Before I knew it… everyone was rushing in with a desperation I had never witnessed in their eyes.
I stepped back, evading a sidekick from Hiro.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
Then there is you, the silver-haired king who refuses to admit his reign is over.
I evaded his straight and switch-kick combo with a turning backstep and used that momentum to land a back-kick. He doubled over, clutching his stomach.
"Why?" I asked.
He looked at me with hateful eyes.
"Just what is the reason for you to bully these students so much?!"
I had to say it out loud since my surroundings were filled with screams and groans. Hiro's gang was cooked… The ones beating them up were mostly second-year boys and girls. Some of the Kendo Club girls were showing remarkable martial prowess.
Right in the middle of this chaos, in the eye of the storm, Hiro and I stood.
Hiro laughed at my question.
"Why? WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHY?! CUZ YOU GUYS DESERVE TO!"
… Is he the stereotypical idiot villain, after all?
With new vigor, he rushed at me and I did a back-kick again.
"KEUK! Wh-What reason do you think I need to rule over the lower end of the hierarchy?! They deserve to be ruled!"
He attempted a straight punch but I slapped it away and struck his face with my elbow.
"If that is true, then what is the meaning of your current actions? I am more powerful than you—"
"NO!" He cut me off, "YOU ARE NOT!"
… This is going nowhere.
"You neither have wealth, looks, nor connections! What the fuck do you mean powerful?!"
"You are mistaken. I am fairly handsome."
He went for a wide leg sweep which I evaded with a backflip.
"In your dreams, you dead-fish bastard!" he said with pure hate in his voice.
I squared myself against him once again.
Seriously, wealth, looks, connections? What is this guy talking about—
It was then it suddenly hit me. I glanced at his cronies (most of them were knocked out cold now).
Most of them were good-looking (not on my level, but still). Could it be…
"I see now…" I said, smirking, "Someone whom you looked down upon turned out to be more powerful than you. Is our 'former' number one that upset about losing his spot?"
CLENCH
"What? What did you say, you bastard?"
His movements were mediocre now. I easily evaded his attack with my footwork.
"A piece of advice... The way you are right now…"
CRUNCH
I landed a clean uppercut on his jaw.
Hiro fell backward, with a heavy thud, blood flying everywhere.
"You will never beat me."
The surrounding students looked over at us.
"… The way I am…?"
Hiro fell unconscious.
...
I was born as the youngest son of the Hiro family. Our family ran a huge corporation called HG Enterprises. My parents, me, and my two other siblings comprise our family.
From early childhood, I realized that I was different from other kids.
"Wow, your eyes look so cool!"
"Ne, ne Hiro, want to play this new game with us?"
All our family members had a signature family trait: emerald green eyes.
People always surrounded me, craving my presence. I was handsome. I had money. I was different. I was more powerful even compared to the teachers. No one ever dared to speak against my wishes. I ruled the kindergarten with ease.
I have a brother and sister, who are 5 and 4 years older respectively, who were always buried in their study materials, competing against each other. They had excellent grades, which I never cared about at that age.
My parents were always away and I grew up with hardly any influence from my family. All my wishes and needs were taken care of by the servants.
...
Years of this boring life passed by... My parents had decided on a dream for me: to take over the family business. In other words, compete against my siblings.
… Really? That doesn't look fun though.
They promised it would be really fun but… seeing my siblings who seemed to be prisoners of that dream… I couldn't bring myself to believe it.
But I accepted that dream, not just to satisfy my parents but because I didn't have any other dream. The members of our family have all been excellent at business. Therefore, it is expected to use my talent to do family business. What else can a Hiro do?
It was not until I was face-to-face with danger that I realized I had an unexplored talent…
The cause of the incident was a peculiar habit of mine. Unlike other rich kids, I liked playing with the less fortunate ones. They always welcomed me with warm hands and I loved getting dirty in the playground rather than holing myself up with the study materials my parents pushed toward me.
Once, when we were playing, a group of high schoolers came to mess with us. We were just elementary kids.
At that time, something I never anticipated happened. My classmates ran away. I hadn't told them to run but they did, leaving me behind, stunned. Once I came to my senses I tried to run away too but one of the high schoolers caught me by my collar.
"Hey! I am Hiro Satoru! From the Hiro family!"
…
They laughed. They didn't believe a Hiro family's child would be playing here at the local playground. Moreover, they didn't like my attitude and one of them punched me in the stomach.
It was my first time tasting such excruciating pain.
I felt awake for the first time. The deep slumber of comfort and luxury was broken.
My heart beat at a horrifying speed. It wasn't something like the ones I got while playing. It was much more.
From heart to my fists.
From heart to my feet.
From heart to my eyes.
Something hot was flowing from my heart…
I made a fist and—
WHAM
Punched as heavily as I could at the nearest guy, in the exact spot where he punched me.
The other high schoolers were taken aback momentarily before laughing out loud until the guy keeled over. He was gasping for air and the others might have thought he was acting and laughed again, which gave me the chance to punch another guy.
By the time they realized it was not acting, it was too late.
...
I still remember my excitement when I ran towards my dad's study, with my muddy clothes and a heart filled with hope and ambition. My father wrinkled his nose upon seeing my state. I excitedly told him about the incident, about my new dream to be a fighter. I didn't want to let that burning feeling go.
But…
Instead of aiding my dream, my father gave orders to his assistant to deal with the high school boys and told me that—
"You don't have to worry about them anymore. Just focus on your studies."
...
… What?
I tried to bring up my wish again. But he ignored it.
It was like speaking to a wall.
That night, I threw a tantrum. I couldn't do anything else.
They took my PlayStation, Xbox, and PC away. I was left with the books. I was being shown how powerless I was.
A Hiro is not good at business because of their genes but because that is the only thing they can pursue. Other ambitions had no place in my family.
The fire in my heart… slowly died.
My parents didn't seem as tough as those high schoolers but somehow were far, far more powerful than them. Why? Is it money? Age? Looks?
Perhaps all of that. As days passed, I resembled my siblings more and more—empty shells training to become the next successors. Did they have different dreams too?
I never bothered to know more about them and vice versa.
...
Finally, my high school years arrived, and I joined Kuoh Academy as a freshman. My father had connections in this school and the principal was his friend. It has a high female-to-male ratio since it has been an all-girls school till recently.
Even here people were still chasing for my attention. After a week of arriving, I received more than three confession letters, some of them even from my seniors.
I had come to dislike this attention because they were not chasing after me but them; my parents. Even though many years have passed, I am still unable to see myself surpassing their power anytime soon.
But the worst things were these leeches around me who were using my name to do whatever they wanted, acting like punks. But what these annoying flies did was none of my concern. That was until they messed with a third-year… Loup Garou.
He was one of the most handsome guys I had ever seen. He carried himself with dignity and people around him seemed afraid of him, even if he was just walking down the hallway.
That person came looking for me one day.
It was my first time meeting him face-to-face. Something about him felt... off. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what.
"Are you the leader?" he asked in a cold voice.
"... Excuse me?"
"Some freshman came to mess with me. They said you were the one who ordered them to do so. Any explanations?"
"... Ah."
Those idiots… It is my fault for not keeping them in check.
"I didn't order them," I said, "but… yes, I was aware that they were using my name to do as they please."
For some reason, I felt like I shouldn't lie.
His brows furrowed.
"... Come with me, I will teach you how to manage your subordinates."
...
WHAM
It was the second time I got hit in the stomach since my elementary school year. But… I never remembered it to be this excruciating.
The senior named Loup Garou had dragged me towards the back of the gym, so at least there was no one around to see me kneeling on the floor, clutching my stomach.
"Irresponsibility is not an excuse. Be glad that I am ending this matter here. Manage your underlings better next time."
He turned to leave but—
GRAB
I grabbed his leg. He narrowed his eyes and shook his leg off my hand. I got up in a swift motion and tried to do an overhand punch but—
...
"...nt...?"
I couldn't make out what he said.
...
The next thing I knew I was lying in a hospital bed, with him at my bedside, staring at me.
My body felt sore.
"Hiro Satoru, was it?" he asked, with folded arms.
"Y-yes."
"Are you interested in pursuing a career in combat sports?"
It felt as if time stopped for a moment.
I turned my head away.
"... I appreciate the offer but it is impossible due to my family circumstances."
"What I want is your answer. Do you wish to learn combat sports?"
A vein popped out in my forehead.
"Excuse me, things are already worse right now. Do you even know who my parents are? I cannot even guarantee you will be unharmed—"
The door creaked open. It was my parents.
"... Ah, you must be Loup Garou."
... Why is Dad speaking so politely?
I took a glance at the senior.
"You still haven't answered my question," he said, ignoring my dad.
THUMP
This c-crazy idiot! Dad is not gonna let this slide—
My eyes went wide. My dad was giving him an apologetic smile, right now. Hiro Shunichi is making that face...
I turned towards the senior with amazement and... hope.
Maybe...
"Y-yeah, I want to," I said.
His presence, his demeanor, his looks, and that strength he displayed earlier...
Just maybe...
"Which martial arts are you interested in?"
I had barely any knowledge about combat sports.
But...
"Boxing...?"
That time, when I defeated those high schoolers, I only used my fists.
"... I guess it suits you," he said, getting up, "Meet me after class every day."
He left without another word, ignoring my parents standing near the door. They seemed wary about offending him...
There is no doubt. He is stronger than them.
Maybe I can dream once again.
...
Now that I think about it, those days that followed were when I was the happiest. Turns out the senior was from an influential family with a global presence. Weird, I had never heard their company name before.
They have now become one of the largest shareholders of our company.
But the arrival of this senior in my life was... a relief. We borrowed the school gym (which was very spacious) every day for practice. My goal was to perform well in the upcoming National High School Boxing Championship and prove to everyone that my path was the right one.
Loup Garou was a strict teacher. He sparred with me every day. He said it is always better to spar with someone than to hit a bag.
I must say this, this guy is a monster. Even though I don't know much about fighting, I know he is no joke.
He was also a quiet person. As days went by, I started admiring him more and more. I stopped the guys from using my name to do whatever they wanted.
A few months went by. I had built a good physique and battle sense from sparring with my master (that's how I refer to him now) every day. I dyed my hair silver to match his.
For the first time, I was starting to see a different set of stairs for a career other than business.
Like a child, I climbed them with excitement.
...
DING DING DING
"Hiro Satoru has won the final round!"
Another step! Another step!
step step
...
DING DING DING
"The super rookie has taken the spotlight again!"
No one can stop me now!
step step step
...
"Oh My GOD! Can you believe this sixteen-year-old!"
I can do it! Two more rounds and it is finals!
step! step! step!
I climbed the stairs towards my dream rapidly. I know it is going to be really hard but if I become the champion... then, yes... I can finally prove that I am powerful without my family name and my family's money. Maybe I will challenge Master after all this, haha.
YES! I, Hiro Satoru, will finally be free—
DING DING DING
"IS THIS THE BIRTH OF A NEW STAR?!"
... Eh?
"Hiro Satoru has WON the championship! What a remarkable performance!"
When the referee raised my hand to declare my victory, I felt something was wrong...
Surely, it isn't supposed to be this easy... right?
...
"Keuk!"
I fell on my butt.
"That's enough. Why are you pushing yourself to this extent right after your match?" Garou asked.
We sparred once again and... I lost, pathetically.
I lay on the floor, panting. A ringing sound filled my ears.
...
""Congrats, Satoru!""
My parents held a party to celebrate my victory.
"..."
... What is this?
Just... what is this sense of discomfort?
"We always supported his passion," my mom was bragging, "He brought fortune to us in the most unexpected ways too."
"No doubt, to think the Garou family invested in you," my aunt said, "I wish my son was interested in boxing, hahaha!"
...
I see...
I never got powerful... I could only follow my dream because of the huge investment from my Master's family...
They gave it to me like giving alms to a beggar because of the benefits they would receive in return. Even this party is nothing but a facade to broadcast that... the company has the backing of the Garou family...
The noises in the hall died out. I couldn't hear anything except for the ringing sound of despair.
I have become the national high school boxing champion, a dream that took a huge amount of hard work, a milestone I set as my first goal to become powerful...
step... step...
I stopped climbing the stairs and stood still.
I looked over my shoulder. Despite defeating all these people behind me... despite becoming the national champion...
I looked up at the steps.
They are so far in front of me that I can't even see them...
Money, connections, and looks... It is still far stronger than me.
I finally understood why my master was so strong. Even stronger than my parents. He had more money, his family was more powerful, and had international connections. Without them, he wouldn't be powerful...
The flame in my heart... died, once again.
...
"You are not focused at all," Garou said, smacking my hand away.
"..."
Since that day... I have been unable to reignite the flame in my heart anymore.
"Has winning a single championship made you this complacent?" he asked with a disapproving look.
"..."
...
"Hiro! You are amazing, dude!"
Everywhere I go, everyone wants to start a conversation with me.
"I heard the school is planning to present you with a cash prize, next week!"
Cash prize, huh? ...I'm sure the school is returning a small portion of the huge donation money my family gave them. Even more likely, it might be under my father's request, so that I not only become the face of the family but also the face of Kuoh Academy, the 'role model' for these students and 'encourage' to strive for similar achievements for the school.
They are not only using me as a social pawn... but also as fertilizer for these...
... Clueless morons.
I don't understand. Why do these idiots always look so happy? Or could it be that, just because I wear the same uniform as these idiots, they think we are on the same level?
"Mom gave me extra lunch money, today!"
I paused. Two guys passed by me.
"Today, I will finally get to try that dish!"
"Hey~ We are bros, right? You will share, right?"
"In your dreams, haha!"
GRIT
"Hiro, what happened?" one of the guys asked, "Why did you stop?"
"..."
...
WHAM
WHAM
"P-pl-please! Wh-Why are you doing this to us?!"
WHAM
"N-No!"
WHACK
"O-oi, Hiro!" the guys who came with me seemed terrified.
Huff Huff
I stood there panting, behind the school gym, as the two guys from earlier struggled at my feet like bugs.
I snatched their lunch money.
"Know your huff… fucking place…"
I gripped the money tightly.
I am more powerful than these idiots. Learning boxing wasn't a mistake.
It isn't a mistake.
It isn't a mistake!
It isn't a mistake!
I will prove that I can become powerful with the way I am! My path is not wrong!
I handed over half of the cash to the idiots who followed me here.
I will prove… just how powerful I am… to everyone.
Ever since that day, I started to steal money from the students. At first, people didn't believe it when others said that I was doing such things. But they soon did when they became the targets themselves. At first, the idiots who followed me seemed hesitant but soon got used to it.
The students who wouldn't stop yapping at the sight of me started avoiding meeting my eyes.
… Those eyes. Yes. That's how it should have been from the beginning. They are all fearing someone powerful. They fear me.
…
I sat on the stairs and looked down upon the people I had surpassed.
I can't believe these idiots dare to act like they are free in front of me, someone who is nothing compared to my family, relatives, and my master.
These morons are beneath all that, even beneath me.
They flashed their annoying smiles.
… I will show them their place.
...…..
But the problem was…
SMACK
My master.
"I can't believe you," Garou said.
He slapped my face again.
"The moment you became slightly powerful, you start tormenting others? So, if I had trained you more, you would have killed others too?"
WHAM
He punched my gut, and I doubled over, clutching my stomach.
"… I will become powerful," I said.
He lifted me up by the collar.
"Don't tell me this is your idea to become strong," he said harshly, "What does this have to do with anything with becoming-"
"EVERYTHING!"
That was the first time I raised my voice at my master.
His grip on my collar tightened. This was my first time seeing him that angry too.
After a brief silence, his eyes widened and he let my collar go. I slumped on my knees.
"… I swear, I will become more powerful than all of you…"
He didn't say anything and left the gym, leaving me alone there.
Ever since that day, my master and I never sparred again. A month later, he graduated from college and went to college under the Kuoh Academy. We talked less and less. I had lost my courage to ask for teaching.
But despite all this, I pursued power. The whole school was now under me. Teachers, non-teaching staff, and even the principal were dancing at my fingertips.
But two girls have been gaining fame in the academy ever since they transferred. I was so engrossed in boxing earlier that I never cared, but it was different now. I decided to check them out—
WHOOSH
I was blown away by the beauty of one of the girls. A red-haired foreign girl, with blue eyes… I have never seen such a beauty in my life. She was surrounded by these pests just like I am… drawing power simply through her looks! She is a… I want her!
Her name was Rias Gremory. The first girl I was ever interested in. She was the embodiment of my ideal power. It seems like her family is rich too. Perfect… someone capable of matching my status.
She became the object of obsession, just like power.
But first… I have to get rid of the flies.
I targeted students who were asking her out. I met some surprises there; these imbeciles, despite knowing I was officially going after her, still dared to ask her out.
I didn't show anyone mercy.
By this time, I was already in my second year.
I rose steadily in power. My crew grew to 40 guys, who I handpicked. Most of them were from rich families or were above-average looking.
Things were going nicely when… suddenly the second girl, Sona Sitri rose to become the student council president. Unlike the previous president, she wouldn't listen to me. It irked me, but I held back because she was Rias' friend.
But that's where things started getting weird. Unlike last year, this year's first years were different. Many good-looking and seemingly powerful students joined. I managed to recruit some into my crew to make up for the third-years graduating this year. But two of the most attention-grabbing ones joined the student council. One was a guy called Hyoudou Izo, the other was named Genshirou Saji. There was another one who joined Rias' club called Yuuto Kiba and… I found his gentleman-idiotic smile frustrating, and the fact that he was close to Rias wasn't something to be thrilled about. But I am not low enough to be bothered by such stuff. It is only a matter of time before she says 'yes'.
But the real problem was Hyoudou Izo. He dared to hit my men. I was not going to let it slide. Rias' friend or not, I don't care—
"Don't fight, Hyoudou Izo."
… Eh? It has been months since my master talked to me and… what is he even saying?
"Wh-why?!"
"Just don't. I am saying it for your sake."
GRIT
Does he think I am that weak?!
Sure, that bastard has got looks but he— huh?
At that moment, I felt a disconnect in my thought process. My master left without saying anything else.
Even though it was embarrassing, I obeyed my master's words. Some idiots even spread rumors that I am scared of that bastard Izo…
One day I will show them, for sure.
However, in the second half of the semester, his brother joined, Hyoudou Issei.
But… he looked really pathetic and weak. He neither had his brother's good looks nor seemed to be on good terms with him. When he joined the perverted duo, I lost interest in him and labeled him as another weakling in my mind. I didn't want to dirty my or my crew's hands by dealing with low-class, ugly perverts.
I don't know if it was due to those rumors or if one of the pests couldn't understand their place, but a second-year challenged me for a one-on-one fight. His name was Tamura Hayato. He was obviously from a poor family and didn't even have the looks to back up his challenge.
CLENCH
… I will make an example out of him.
...
Huff Huff
What…?
That dreadful ringing noise filled my head again…
I stood looming over his unconscious body. He… how is he…?
I had scratches, cuts, and bruises all over my body. I had somehow barely managed to knock him out… He had the upper hand for almost the entirety of the match.
...
… I wasn't able to hide this from my family and my father used his connections to… expel him.
… I don't understand.
How was he able to fight so well…? He… he isn't even from a big family or has connections, looks, reputation, or any valid status… how is someone like that…
For the first time, I doubted my actions.
Could it be that I… I am—NO! I AM NOT WRONG!
I started practicing every evening with a punching bag.
IN THE END, I STILL BEAT HIM! I WAS JUST OUT OF PRACTICE! TH-THAT'S ALL!
Boom BOOM BOOOOM BOOM BOOOOOM
The punching bag shook in its chains.
... why do you need to practice if your strength is—STOP IT!
I… was afraid to complete that line of thought. I felt like if I stopped to think everything out for a second… I would disappear.
I started conditioning my legs and practicing kicks too.
The incident with Hyoudou Izo was embarrassing. But the one with Tamura Hayato was… several times more humiliating. The glaring fact that he was expelled due to my family made me feel like a sore loser, despite winning the fight. It gave me an immense sense of discomfort.
...
My last year of high school arrived. Nobody, not even the student council messes with me now.
Rias Gremory still hasn't accepted my countless number of proposals…
I… was feeling more and more unhappy every single day. Something was lost.
Something which no matter how much money I received, no matter how much I practiced, and no matter how powerful I became in this school… didn't go away.
"Boss! Did you hear the news?!"
What now…
"Rias Gremory has decided to go out with Hyoudou Issei, that loser!"
"…"
GRIT
I need to show them… who I am.
...…..
"Don't fight with Hyoudou Issei."
… you gotta be kidding me…
"… Wh-what are you saying?! He stole my girl—"
"I understand that you must be feeling frustrated but don't fight Hyoudou Issei."
"… Are you sure this isn't a mistake? His brother is one of the strongest Sophomores, their names are similar too, perhaps you mistook him—"
"I am not talking about Hyoudou Izo. I am talking about Issei. Hyoudou. Issei."
"But why?! He isn't even in the rankings!"
"Hiro Satoru. Do not test my patience."
I shut my mouth tightly.
"… Just know that I am saying this for your own good."
This again! This is not like last time with Izo; Hyoudou Issei is threatening my whole reputation by going out with Rias Gremory…
That wasn't a situation where I could mess up…
I confronted Hyoudou Issei.
'Rias Gremory was trying to use this pathetic existence to push me away,' that was my thought process until I spoke to him.
No one has ever dared to provoke me so openly, before...
But what I didn't expect was that kick. His eyes… and that high-speed kick… I couldn't even react to it…
With that one kick, Hyoudou Issei broke my sandcastle…
After that, it was me trying fervently to reclaim my status. Using the Kuoh Academy's forum I called him to fight so that I could defeat him in front of everyone.
It's fine.
It's fine.
I wasn't ready last time.
I am stronger than him.
I am definitely stronger than him.
… Another surprise was yet to come. His two pervert friends. Motohama and Matsuda. I couldn't believe it when they took down my men, one by one, fighting like mad hounds.
That despairing ringing sound was filling my head again. I turned my face away from the fight, pretending to be disinterested.
They are proving me wrong…
But they eventually fell and I breathed in relief. Kenji finished them off.
Their biggest mistake was hitting Kenji's face, which he despised—
My eyes went wide.
Hyoudou Issei was at the entrance… what's up with that expression…?
I felt a chill emanating through my body.
… what happened next was… a massacre.
If the perverted duo were mad hounds… This guy was a monster.
Even Kenji was defeated…
The guys were looking at me for help…
I gritted my teeth, got up, and landed a flying sidekick on him.
He went flying.
It's okay! I still got this!
That optimism didn't last long.
Except for that sneaky sidekick, I couldn't land a proper blow on him.
I… was completely outclassed… He is just like my master…
"HYOUDOU!"
"HYOUDOU!"
"HYOUDOU!"
… He has successfully stolen it from me… My power... I… what do I amount to right now…?
This… this isn't fair…
Why? He is clearly stronger—
NO, he is… he is…
… Is my path… really wrong?
Is it really true that a Hiro is born only for business…?
…
…
"Just stop living in others' heads already."
Hyoudou Issei's voice echoed through my mind.
"Answer me… why exactly do you fight?"
…
Why do I fight…?
Of course… to prove myself, to gain power—
The disconnect was becoming clear to me…
For the first time… I let that uncomfortable line of thought speak.
If strength is your power, why are you chasing after looks, money, and status? Since when did your strength become a slave to them?
Since when did power become money, status, and looks?
… My dream… what was it, again?
The stairs broke and I fell into the abyss.
...…
I saw myself struggling against my master when I met him for the first time.
… It was surely a rough first meeting.
I saw myself getting up again from the ground and attacking my master despite the appalling difference in power.
*THUMP*
My heart started to beat faster.
My master kicked the old me away.
"… Intent?"
He said in disbelief. I have never seen that look on my master's face before.
What is this 'intent', exactly?
...The scene changed.
I was sparring with my master…
...The scene changed.
I was becoming better and better…
That happy expression on my face…
*THUMP* *THUMP*
An ember sparked in my heart.
...The scene changed...
Huh?
It was the old scene from the park…
Me against the high schoolers.
The place where it all began.
I saw myself throwing that first punch.
*THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP*
*THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP*
*THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP*
…
Even though I pursued a different career, my concept of power remained the same. The same as that of a Hiro's.
I was just thinking like a Hiro.
That's not the strength I pursued!
*WHOOSH*
I found myself standing on a new set of stairs.
Huh?
Just a step below me, Tamura Hayato was looking at me with a solemn face.
This is…?
All the guys I defeated in a fight were looking at me.
It turned to look up the stairs. Motohama and Matsuda, the two of them were a few steps in front of him… above them…
There… several steps above Hyoudou Issei, and my master, Loup Garou, was looking down at me.
I looked back at those behind me.
… What am I even doing?
I… am not a Hiro…
I turned once again, to face the huge number of steps that were there for me to climb…
The green flame in my heart… ignited once more.
I am… Satoru.
*step*
...
...
"Just stop living in others' heads already," I said.
I said it because I felt like this guy was too much worried about what others think of him but…
I prodded his legs with my feet. No response.
Is this guy even listening?
Damn, this is getting awkward… I glanced at those around me.
The remaining guys in his crew were all down. Most of them were held down by students.
Everyone was looking at me and Hiro. Many were panting from physical exhaustion or excitement… but I felt kinda weird seeing them like this.
Uh…
I guess there is nothing else I can do here.
I turned and took a few steps towards the entrance. The students parted to let me through. Some started whispering about what to do with Hiro.
Phew. Finally—
My eyes went wide. I turned around just in time to barely block a heavy blow. But I wasn't able to get a solid footing and-
*BOOOOOM*
….
Issei was sent flying towards some cafeteria furniture.
*CRASHH* *CLANG* CLATTER*
The students backed away in fear.
*Huff* *Huff*
Hiro Satoru stood there, with his fist outstretched, panting.
From heart to my fists.
From heart to my feet.
From heart to my eyes.
Satoru's eyes glowed emerald green.
That's all for today. Did you like the chapter?