After school ended, Takeshi walked away quietly after chatting with his friends. He didn't wait for his father—just like so many times before, he chose to head home on his own.
His path took him through the forest, where the air was cool and the cicadas sang. But before he could relax, a sudden barrage of metal scraps and cans flew at him.
Takeshi's instincts kicked in. He ducked and rolled to the side just in time.
"Kaito! What's wrong with you? Why are you attacking me?" Takeshi shouted, concern flashing across his face as he saw his friend emerge from the shadows with a grim expression.
Kaito's eyes burned with frustration. "Don't play dumb, Takeshi! Fight me! Don't hold back! This is the moment we finally find out who's stronger!" he roared, his voice shaking with anger.
Takeshi's chest tightened. "Kaito, we're friends. We shouldn't be fighting like this," he said, his voice steady but worried.
Kaito ignored him. He molded the scattered scraps into a heavy iron ball and hurled it. Takeshi sidestepped and charged forward. In a blink, Kaito crafted a metal bat and swung it hard, but Takeshi had already anticipated it. He grabbed the bat mid-swing, twisted it away, and drove a punch toward Kaito.
He pulled his strength at the last moment, but even so, Kaito was sent flying, crashing into a boulder. His clothes tore, dust coated his face, and bruises blossomed across his arms.
Staggering to his feet, Kaito's frustration boiled over. "I won't lose!" he shouted, forming a sharp knife and hurling it.
Takeshi, unprepared for such a reckless move, flinched as the blade cut into his arm, drawing blood. The wound was shallow thanks to his strong body, but the sting wasn't what hurt most—it was the betrayal.
He clenched his fists, anger surging through him. Kaito tried to kill me…
Fueled by that thought, Takeshi sprinted forward with all his power, ready to end the fight with a single strike. But just as his fist was about to land, he caught a glimpse of Kaito's eyes—filled not with malice, but with guilt. Kaito didn't even try to dodge. He simply stood there, accepting the hit.
At the last second, Takeshi twisted his punch away. His fist smashed into the boulder instead. The rock didn't just crack—it exploded into fragments.
The ground trembled. Silence followed.
Kaito's eyes widened, disbelief written across his face. That strength… can I ever match that? Can I ever be a hero like him? His thoughts spilled into words. "I'm sorry, Takeshi. I never wanted to hurt you. I just… I wanted to prove that I can be strong too. That I'm not afraid to jump in, to take risks, to save lives!"
Takeshi froze, stunned. He had always seen Kaito as the hard-working one—the dependable kid who never backed down from helping others. But he had forgotten that Kaito was still just a boy, desperate to be recognized, desperate to prove his worth.
"Kaito…" Takeshi's voice softened. "I never looked down on you. You're my friend—like Haru and Emi. I never thought of you as a coward."
For the first time that evening, Kaito's expression broke. His gloomy eyes lit up, determination burning through the shame. "I know now why everyone in the village believes you'll become a hero. It's not just your quirk—it's your heart. I was there, Takeshi. I saw you jump into the river to save that girl. I couldn't move. I was terrified. But you didn't hesitate, even though it meant risking your life. That's why I know—you'll be the Number One Hero one day."
He clenched his fists tightly. "But don't think I'll just stand behind you forever. I'll catch up. I'll be right behind you as the future Number Two Hero!"
For a moment, Takeshi blinked, then broke into a rare smile. He extended his hand. "Then let's promise each other—whatever happens, we'll walk this path together."
Kaito smirked, despite the pain in his body. He clasped Takeshi's hand firmly. "Deal."
The sun dipped lower, painting the forest in hues of gold. As they turned to head home, Kaito tried to walk but collapsed almost immediately, wincing in embarrassment.
"Oi, tough guy," Takeshi said with a grin. "Need a hand?"
Kaito groaned, cheeks flushing. "Tch… don't make a big deal out of it."
"Come on, hop on," Takeshi said, crouching.
Kaito hesitated, but eventually climbed onto his back. His face burned red as Takeshi carried him in a piggyback, the two walking down the forest path bathed in sunset light.
Kaito muttered, almost too quiet to hear, "This is so embarrassing…"
Takeshi chuckled. "Relax. It suits you."
Kaito buried his face in his friend's shoulder, half-frustrated, half-grateful. And as the golden rays stretched over them, a new bond between the two was forged—a vow that would carry them toward their shared dream of becoming heroes.
End of chapter
_ "I didn't make the fight too intense because they're just kids, so please forgive me if you didn't like the interaction.Also… give me a power stone!"