Location: Los Angeles, California – Electplant Agency
Time: Morning
Morning sunlight hit the breakroom floor. Five young sidekicks crowded around a large flat-screen television mounted on the agency wall.
They stared at the live morning broadcast.
[BBC News Anchor: Footage from the Houston Science Expo is going viral this morning. A hostage situation was entirely dismantled by a single civilian tourist.]
The screen switched to a shaky cell phone video recorded from the floor of the museum.
It showed a man in a white polo shirt stepping directly into a group of armed guards.
The mercenaries fired their suppressed rifles. The man bent his spine backward, twisting his torso to avoid the bullets by mere millimeters.
He kicked a heavy rifle magazine off the tile floor, caught it, and threw it with a violent flick of his wrist.
WHACK.
The heavy metal box curved a full ninety degrees through the air and knocked a hidden guard unconscious.
Pro Hero Electplant stood near the doorway holding a cup of coffee. He wore his yellow and green hero suit. He watched the screen closely.
"I didn't know he can fight so well," Electplant told his lead sidekick.
The sidekick tapped his keyboard. The video looped back.
"I really don't get it," the sidekick said, scratching his head. "I knew he was strong boss, after all I saw his video fighting against an A-rank villain together with some pros in Japan. But how did he managed to turn the magazine behind the column? As far as we know Golden Manager's quirk was not combat related."
Sip.
Electplant took a sip of his coffee. He watched the man on the screen hit the final mercenary in the chest with two fingers, completely paralyzing him.
Electplant corrected him casually. "That is pure physical skill and martial arts."
The sidekick looked away from the monitor. "Are you sure, boss?"
Electplant nodded and pointed at the television.
Electplant explained. "I met him personally last time. His demeanor was very simple. And do you know one pro in Japan named Snipe?"
The another sidekick's jaw dropped slightly. "I remember them. That pro hero and his sidekick can curve bullets."
"Yes, it should be a trainable skill," Electplant said, genuinely impressed. "That guy really does know everything. He managed to pass his technique from other people."
Electplant walked over to the desk and set his coffee cup down.
"Look up Arisaka Consulting," Electplant instructed. "This time don't ask for online contract. I wanted his 3-month contract."
"Right away, Sir.." the lead sidekick agreed, quickly opening a new browser window.
CLICK.
...
Location: United States Air Force Base – Hangar 4
Commander Agpar stood near the heavy landing gear of a parked fighter jet.
Three of the Bros sat on a stack of wooden cargo crates. The pilots wore their green flight suits.
They watched the exact same BBC broadcast on a portable military monitor.
The news anchor stopped talking about Kaito.
The screen shifted to display the red tactical suits and grey respirator masks worn by the arrested mercenaries.
[Authorities have officially identified the attackers as members of a mercenary syndicate led by the underground villain, Wolfram. The US government has now elevated Wolfram to a priority S-Rank threat level.]
One of the Bros laughed and slapped his knee.
"Did you see that spin kick?" the pilot cheered. "Kaito completely wrecked those guys. The man is a genius."
Ethan Drive added with a grin. "Those mercenaries never stood a chance."
Agpar crossed his arms. He didn't share their excitement.
"It is great that he can defend himself," Agpar stated seriously. "But this is a political nightmare for us. Arisaka is a highly protected VIP for the global hero industry. Wolfram accidentally attacking him on US soil just made the entire American government furious."
The pilots stopped laughing and nodded, realizing the severity of the security breach.
"With the League of Villains gone, these smaller syndicates are trying to take over the market," Agpar continued, looking at the arrested men on the screen. "Military intelligence is already tracking a dangerous organization called Humarise moving through Europe and Egypt."
"The group led by Flect Turn?" the third pilot asked.
"Yes," Agpar confirmed. "Flect Turn used to be a high-ranking member of the League. Now he has a worldwide WHA wanted notice on his head. We cannot let Wolfram build his organization to that same threat level."
Agpar turned away from the monitor and looked out at the open runway.
"We need to hunt Wolfram down immediately," Agpar ordered. "We find his hideouts and arrest his crew before he recruits more members."
...
RING. RING.
Kaito lay on the bed in his Houston hotel room. He stared at the ceiling.
He reached over to the nightstand and picked up his phone.
[Unknown Number] flashed across the screen.
"Hmm?"
Kaito swiped the green button and held the phone to his ear.
"Hello?" Kaito answered.
[Hi. Is this Kaito Arisaka?] a woman's voice asked nervously through the speaker.
"It is," Kaito confirmed. "Who is this?"
[This is Meryl Hope. From the BCD News Network. We met yesterday at the Space Expo. You saved me.]
Kaito sat up on the bed.
"Ahh, I remember now," Kaito said. "How did you get this number?"
[I asked Cow Lady for it before she left the scene yesterday,] Meryl explained quickly. [I hope I am not bothering you. I just really wanted to call and say thank you properly. You saved my life.]
"You don't need to thank me," Kaito replied casually.
[You kicked villains down and saved countless people,] Meryl laughed lightly. [You did a lot more there, even if you're not a pro. Listen, I want to treat you to lunch today. No cameras, no interviews. Just a genuine thank you.]
"..."
Kaito looked at the clock on the wall. It was almost noon.
He didn't have any plans for the afternoon anyway.
"Sure," Kaito agreed. "Where do you want to meet?"
[I will text you the address. See you in an hour!] Meryl sounded extremely happy.
BEEP.
Kaito hung up the phone and tossed it onto the bed. He grabbed a fresh shirt from his suitcase.
...
CHATTER.
CLINK. CLINK.
The Tex-Mex restaurant was packed. Waiters walked past the tables carrying hot, sizzling plates of meat and peppers.
The smell of grilled onions filled the air.
Kaito sat in a booth near the window. He wore a simple black t-shirt and his usual glasses.
Meryl sat across from him. She wore a casual blue blouse.
A few people at the other tables kept looking over at their booth.
Some locals whispered to each other, clearly recognizing Kaito from the viral video going around the internet.
A waiter set a massive cast-iron plate of sizzling beef fajitas down in the center of their table.
"This smells amazing," Kaito said, grabbing a warm flour tortilla.
"It is the best spot in the city," Meryl smiled, picking up her fork. "I come here every time I visit Texas for work."
Kaito loaded his tortilla with beef and salsa. He took a bite.
"You were right," Kaito nodded, grabbing a napkin. "The food here is great."
Meryl took a sip of her iced tea. She looked at Kaito across the table.
"I did some research on you last night," Meryl admitted. "After the police let us go, I went back to my hotel and looked up your name."
"Did you?" Kaito asked, taking another bite.
"I review the footage from Japan," Meryl said, leaning forward slightly. "The video of you fighting that guy named Muscular. You fought a villain the size of a tank with a flip-flop."
Gulp.
Kaito swallowed his food.
"He was very slow," Kaito replied calmly. "And I have some help with Water Hose hero duo."
Meryl laughed out loud.
"Hehe... You make it sound so easy," Meryl shook her head. "I was terrified yesterday. When that guard ran at me, my legs completely froze. Then you just spun out of nowhere and knocked him out."
"Adrenaline does weird things to people," Kaito told her genuinely. "Freezing up is a completely normal reaction."
Meryl smiled. She really appreciated that he didn't make a big deal out of it.
"My boss at BCD was thrilled," Meryl joked. "He said the ratings for the morning broadcast broke a ten-year record. He actually asked me if we could hire you as a permanent security escort for the field reporters."
"I think my rates are a bit too high for a news network," Kaito joked back.
Meryl laughed again. She picked up a piece of grilled chicken with her fork.
"Haha.. Well, if you ever visit Washington, let me know," Meryl offered warmly. "I owe you a real dinner in my city next time."
"I will keep that in mind," Kaito agreed, grabbing another tortilla from the basket.
...
SLAM.
Wolfram hit the rusted metal table with his fist.
He stood in the center of his underground warehouse. He wore his red suit. His metal mask covered his face, hiding his absolute fury.
Swordkil and Daigo stood on the other side of the table. They stayed completely quiet.
"A whole squad," Wolfram said coldly. "We lost trained operatives to a civilian in a polo shirt."
"But he wasn't a normal civilian," Swordkil replied, his voice rough. "He is the Golden Manager from Japan. He took out Nobu and the others without quirk."
"I don't care who he is," Wolfram snapped. "We look weak. The entire country saw my men get humiliated on live television."
Daigo helplessly raised his arms.
"We secured the energy condenser, Boss," Daigo pointed out. "We secured the technology. We just need a scientist to put the pieces together."
SIGH.
"This won't happen again. You hear me!?" Wolfram sighed and looked down at the blueprints unrolled across the table.
"David Shield is our priority target," Wolfram muttered, tracing a line on the paper. "But he is currently in Japan. We cannot touch him there."
Swordkil leaned over the blueprints.
"What about his other assistants?" Swordkil suggested. "The second-lead researcher on I-Island. He knows all of Shield's designs."
Wolfram stared at the map of I-Island.
"He will have to do," Wolfram decided. "We infiltrate the island next week. Grab the him and let him to build the machine. No mistakes this time."
Wolfram turned around and walked toward his private office in the back of the warehouse.
THUD.
He closed the heavy metal door behind him.
He sat down at his desk and pulled a secure, untraceable satellite phone from the drawer.
He dialed a long sequence of numbers.
BEEP. BEEP.
The line clicked open.
"Flect Turn," Wolfram spoke directly into the receiver.
[Wolfram,] the leader of Humarise answered. His voice sounded completely calm and detached. [I saw the news. Your operation in Houston was very messy.]
"We got what we needed," Wolfram shot back, annoyed. "I am calling about our arrangement. You promised me access to your suppliers."
[I did,] Flect Turn agreed.
"I want the God Serum," Wolfram demanded. "The exact same quirk-awakening drug the Gollini mafia used during the raids in Europe."
Flect Turn stayed silent for a few seconds.
[That serum is rare,] Flect Turn warned him. [It alters the genetic structure of the user. It is not a simple strength enhancer.]
"I know what it does," Wolfram said coldly. "I want my metal manipulation quirk to awaken. Can you get it or not? I know this was circulated by the league in the past."
[I did not create the serum,] Flect Turn replied smoothly. [I am merely acquainted with the man who did.]
"Then call him,"
[I will speak to the doctor,] Flect Turn promised quietly.
"I want the serum," Wolfram hung up the phone.
He leaned back in his chair.
If he could amplify his quirk with the machine and awaken it with the serum, it would be a good news.
...
Location: Texas – Kemah Boardwalk
Time: Three Days Later (Morning)
SPLASH.
CAW. CAW.
A large pelican dove straight into the water near the wooden docks, catching a small fish before flapping its wings and flying up into the sky.
Kaito walked down the wooden planks of the Kemah Boardwalk.
The morning sun beat down on the water, making the surface sparkle.
'It's good.' He held a paper plate carrying a massive, powdered funnel cake, taking a bite out of the sweet fried dough as he walked.
"Hey! Are you that guy from the news?" a local Texas teenager yelled from a nearby bench, pointing straight at him.
Kaito stopped walking and swallowed his food.
Two other locals, a man and his wife, stood up from their chairs and walked over.
"Man, we saw you on the morning broadcast," the dad laughed, holding his phone out. "You took down a whole crew of armed guys at the space museum without even using a quirk. That was insane."
"It was just a normal day," Kaito joked, smiling back at them.
"Do you mind if we get a quick picture?" the wife asked, holding up her camera. "My brother back in Austin wouldn't believe we ran into you."
"Sure, go ahead," Kaito agreed, stepping closer to them.
The family posed next to Kaito while the dad snapped a few quick photos.
"Thanks a lot, man," the dad shook Kaito's hand firmly. "You showed those villains they can't mess around in Texas. Enjoy the this state!"
"Thanks. Have a good one," Kaito waved, continuing down the wooden walkway.
He actually enjoyed the boardwalk.
RING. RING.
Kaito pulled his phone out of his pocket.
He checked the caller ID. Sir Nighteye.
Kaito swiped the green button and held the phone to his ear.
"Hello, Mirai," Kaito greeted him, pulling a piece of powdered dough off his funnel cake.
[Kaito,] Nighteye's voice came through the speaker. [Are you currently securing our agency seats for the second-year stadium? The opening ceremonies begin in two hours.]
Kaito stopped walking. He looked out over the open ocean.
"Huh? What's gong on? I am currently eating a funnel cake in Texas," Kaito laughed.
Nighteye went completely silent on the other end of the line.
[Texas?] Nighteye asked.
"I am on vacation, Mirai," Kaito reminded him casually.
[I'm just reminding you. The sports festival is today.] Nighteye insisted. [Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire are competing in the second-year bracket today.]
Kaito smiled. He remembered all the hours they spent at the Nighteye Agency.
He fixed Mirio's permeability timing. He helped Tamaki figure out his food intake for combat. He taught Nejire how to control her output.
"I know they will win," Kaito said. "They are the strongest students in that school right now."
[Yes, they're already like a pro.] Nighteye agreed. [The sports network is broadcasting the matches live.]
Kaito brushed powdered sugar off his fingers.
"Don't worry," Kaito promised. "I wouldn't miss their matches for anything."
Nighteye replied [Enjoy your vacation, Kaito.]
"See you, Mirai."
BEEP.
Kaito put his phone back in his pocket. "Already a year had passed since those three guys got my individual quirk development plans."
...
Support the journey here:
patreon.com/Dr_Chad
(9 Advanced Chapters)