Concrete jungle where dreams are made of.
The song bounced in Hero's head as the taxi rumbled over a pothole, jostling him and Morgana in their seats.
He gazed out of the window, soaking in the atmosphere. This city was alive, thriving in chaos. Skyscrapers stretched endlessly into the sky, their glass exteriors gleaming in the midday sun.
Brief glimpses of Central Park in the distance, a patch of green sandwiched between the concrete giants, dotted with joggers, dog-walkers, and tourists snapping photos.
Sidewalks overflowed with people, business types rushing to meetings, street performers entertaining clusters of tourists, and vendors hawking everything. Steam billowed from the grates, a reminder of the labyrinth of activity happening beneath the surface.
Hero leaned back, letting the city's energy seep into him. "New York," he murmured. "It's something else."
"It sure is a concrete jungle." Morgana peeked from the window. His feline ears twitched as he observed the bustling streets. "But a jungle has its predators too."
Through the open cab window, snippets of conversation from the crowded streets floated in:
"Fifty bucks for this? You're robbin' me blind!"
"Yo, I told you! Fifth and Broadway, not Fifth and Madison!"
"Get your hot dogs here! Best in the city!"
From outside, Hero caught snippets of conversations, some mundane, some absurd.
"Did you hear about the subway rat carrying that pizza?" one man said to his friend, both laughing as they crossed the street.
"Subway rat? Nah, I'm more worried about the mayor's next screw-up," another replied.
A kid zipped by on a skateboard, nearly colliding with a suited businessman who shouted, "Hey! Watch where you're going!"
And then, of course, there was the New York moment. A cab narrowly missed a pedestrian, prompting the man to slam his fist on the hood.
"I'M WALKIN' HERE!" he bellowed, his voice echoing across the street.
Hero smirked, pulling his blazer tighter. The city had a rhythm, a cadence unlike Tokyo's orderly chaos. Where Tokyo's streets pulsed with precision, New York's beat was wild and untamed, a symphony of ambition, struggle, and grit.
Morgana perched on his lap, his tail flicking as he peered out at the urban jungle. "This place has personality," he said, his voice audible only to Hero. "It's got a vibe, but there's an edge to it. Don't let the shine fool you. There's darkness here too."
Hero nodded, his gaze following a scuffle breaking out on a nearby corner. Two men argued over what looked like a counterfeit watch. A police officer approached, but not before one of the men pocketed the item and slipped into the crowd.
"See what I mean?" Morgana added.
The taxi driver, an Indian man with a lively expression, caught Hero's eye in the rearview mirror. "First time in the city, my friend?" he asked with a grin. "Welcome to New York! You're lookin' at one of the best cabbies in the city."
Hero raised his brows, smiling at the man's bold confidence. "Well, I'll take your word for it."
The man turned his head briefly, grinning. "Ah, New York! What do you think, my friend? Love it already?"
Hero glanced out the window, where a glitzy fashion ad played on a massive screen, while just below it, a man in a tattered coat rummaged through a trash can. "It's... something else," he replied.
Morgana, perched on Hero's lap, let out a low purr. "This city's got a lot of layers, huh? Bright and shiny on top, but underneath… I can feel it. Corruption, shadows, things lurking where no one's looking."
Hero nodded. "Feels familiar, doesn't it?"
Dopinder caught Hero nodding in the mirror. "Are you talking to your cat?"
Hero scratched Morgana's head casually. "Thinking out loud."
Dopinder's brows furrowed in thought. "Huh. You know, I've heard of therapy dogs, but therapy cats? You're ahead of the curve, my friend."
Morgana huffed. "Therapy cat? Really? Tell him I'm not just some ordinary feline."
Hero smirked but stayed silent.
"Heroooo!" Just a meow was heard.
"I'm Dopinder," the man introduced, reaching an awkward hand back for a quick shake. "And you are about to get the best taxi tour of New York City anyone has ever had!" Dopinder gestured out the window.
"There! You see? That's Madison Square Garden—world-famous, my friend. And soon, you'll see Times Square—oh! And Empire State! Wait, wait!" Dopinder drove in what Hero could only describe as a veryenthusiastic manner, pointing out landmarks as they passed.
Hero chuckled, trying to keep up with Dopinder's relentless enthusiasm while sneaking glances at Morgana, who was peering out from Hero's lap, taking in the scenes.
"Yeah, New York is definitely… different," Hero muttered.
"Oh, man," Morgana replied, just loud enough for Hero to hear, "the energy here is unreal. It's got the same vibe as Tokyo, but it's... messier. Tokyo hides its secrets a bit better; New York's got it all spilling out on the sidewalk."
Hero nodded, watching as a man in a suit sprinted across a busy crosswalk, nearly missing a cyclist. The shouting match that followed was pure cinema.
Dopinder, catching Hero's expression, grinned. "You'll see plenty of that, friend! We New Yorkers, we're tough, but we're all heart. Not everyone's as lucky as me, though. I get to meet interesting folks like you every day!"
"Oh?" Hero asked, intrigued. "So, who's the most interesting person you've met?"
"Ah, there was this one guy," Dopinder started, a gleam in his eye. "Real character. Covered head-to-toe in red spandex, had some... unique ideas. Anyway, enough about him! Let me tell you about my Gita."
"Gita?" Hero asked, looking amused.
"Yes! The love of my life. Beautiful, perfect Gita… who, sadly, is now with my cousin, Bandhu. Can you believe it?" Dopinder sighed, catching Hero's eye in the mirror with a look of deep sorrow. "But I will win her back!" He flashed a grin that made Hero both concerned and entertained.
Hero chuckled. "Love's tricky like that," he said, thinking back to Sojiro's advice. "Look, maybe don't focus on trying to win her back. Be the best version of yourself, for yourself. Women can tell if you're being genuine. Trust me."
Dopinder looked impressed. "Wise words. You're like Yoda! Small and mysterious—oh, except you're not small. Or green."
Hero laughed, waving him off. "Let's just say I've had a good teacher."
He glanced out the window again, taking in the bright lights of Times Square as they passed. Screens covered every surface, flashing ads for everything from sports drinks to Broadway shows to financial firms.
Finally, they pulled up in front of an understated building tucked between two taller, newer ones. The exterior was plain, almost nondescript, but it held a charm that caught Hero's attention. This was the spot the future home of his café. A part of him tingled with anticipation.
Dopinder parked the taxi, leaning over with a friendly grin. "Alright, my friend, here we are! And remember, it's Dopinder—the best cab driver in New York! Anytime you need a ride, I'll be around."
Hero smiled, handing over the fare with a wink. "Thanks, Dopinder. And… be careful with the advice from masked strangers."
Dopinder chuckled. "Noted!" He gave Hero a thumbs-up before pulling away, weaving into the chaos of the street.
Hero stood on the sidewalk, eyes tracing the brick facade. It wasn't towering compared to the glass giants around it, but the four stories gave it presence. More importantly, it was theirs, every floor, every room.
"Nice spot," Morgana commented. "You picked well. Not flashy, but enough foot traffic to blend in. Perfect for our kind of work, don't you think?"
Hero's lips curled into a sly grin. "Exactly. Café downstairs, base upstairs. A cover and a base rolled into one. No one suspects a coffee shop."
Morgana's eyes gleamed. "And when the team arrives, they'll have a place to crash. Futaba will probably turn the top floor into a command center. Ryuji will hog the couch. Makoto will keep everyone in line. And Haru…" Morgana's voice softened. "She'll love the café. It's everything she dreamed of."
Hero nodded, pride swelling in his chest. "Yeah. She always wanted a place like this—warm, welcoming, built from the ground up."
He glanced at the door, imagining the future. The Phantom Thieves gathered around mismatched tables, plotting their next move. Laptops glowing, maps spread out, Morgana pacing with his usual dramatic flair.
"Short-term," Hero said, unlocking the door, "we get the café running. Blend in, build connections, keep eyes on the city. Long-term… the heist. And when the team comes, we'll be ready."
Morgana smirked. "International expansion."
As he unlocked it and opened the door, a soft light burst from the inside. He instinctively shielded his eyes, stepping back as the glow faded, leaving… a strange floating system screen.
[ Cafe System Initialized ]
Hero stared, eyebrows raised, as translucent letters floated in the air, the screen casting a warm glow across the room. Morgana looked up, his tail twitching.
"Well," Hero said, taking a deep breath, "looks like New York has a few surprises of its own."
=====
Hello! I'm alive!
Writing motivation is really hard to capture, but found my spark again with Pokémon! If you are interested in Kingdom Building in a new world with Pokémon, then please give it a read.