[Third Person's PoV]
It had officially been four weeks since Clark had taken on the mantle of Superman, and today, he was allowing himself a rare, well-deserved break. The sky above was cloudless, the breeze gentle, and the beach offered the perfect setting for some downtime—just him and his loyal companion, Krypto.
With a grin tugging at his lips, Clark lifted one leg, cocked his arm back like a seasoned pitcher, and launched a bright yellow tennis ball with such force that it cracked the air like a whip. A visible shockwave pulsed from the motion, distorting the space behind the ball as it rocketed into the sky like a comet.
Krypto's ears perked up immediately. Without hesitation, he leapt after it, launching into the air with joyful energy, his white fur gleaming in the sunlight. Clark watched with amusement as the dog shot off like a missile. Moments later, the peaceful scene was interrupted by a thunderous impact—Krypto came crashing back down, sand exploding upward in a dramatic plume.
As the dust and sand cleared, Clark narrowed his eyes and blinked in disbelief. Sitting proudly in the middle of the small crater was Krypto, tail wagging with innocent excitement and his chest puffed out triumphantly. But in his mouth wasn't the tennis ball—it was... an entire tree. Uprooted. Massive. Held delicately between his jaws like it weighed nothing at all.
"Krypto…" Clark stepped forward, brow raised. "How could this possibly be the ball I threw?"
The dog let out a series of excited barks, dropping the tree gently onto the sand as if that explained everything. His tongue lolled out as he panted happily.
Clark sighed, though a small laugh escaped. He had been getting better at reading people—and apparently animals too—ever since becoming Superman. "So, let me get this straight… The ball flew over the forest, you chased it, but got distracted by this giant tree, and decided to bring that back instead to impress me?"
Krypto barked twice and nodded as if proud of his logic.
Clark crossed his arms and shook his head, but his smile never left. "You know what? Sure. Awesome tree, buddy. Good hustle."
He crouched down beside the tree, picked up one end, and waved it teasingly in front of the excited dog. "You want it? You want the stick?"
That was all the encouragement Krypto needed. He lowered his front half into a play stance, legs taut, body bouncing slightly from side to side, eyes locked on the tree like it was his greatest challenge yet. His tail wagged so fast it kicked up tiny cyclones of sand behind him.
"Catch!!" Clark called out as he hurled the tree into the sky with all his might.
It whistled through the air like a rocket, soaring past the clouds and into the upper atmosphere. Without missing a beat, Krypto shot up after it, his body slicing through the sky with grace and power. Together, they broke through the stratosphere, the tree spinning end over end as it sailed past the moon. Krypto caught it effortlessly in his jaws and, with a swift turn, began paddling back through space with smooth, fluid motions.
Krypto landed like a meteorite, sending a shockwave through the sand as he returned and gently laid the tree at Clark's feet, tail wagging expectantly.
"Alright, alright. You definitely earned yourself a treat for that one," Clark said with a chuckle. He reached into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out a small container, popping it open to reveal some neatly packed dog treats. He crouched again and held them out.
Krypto gobbled them up in seconds, licking Clark's fingers in the process. Clark laughed and scratched behind the dog's ears, fingers ruffling his fur fondly.
There was something perfect about this moment—about being able to relax, to simply enjoy time with a best friend who expected nothing more than your presence and a game of fetch.
Clark pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Krypto's head. "I'm sorry, buddy," he said softly. "But I'll need to get back to work soon."
Krypto let out a small whimper and barked once, shifting his weight from paw to paw, clearly not thrilled with the news.
"You want to join me, huh?" Clark asked, scratching just behind one ear. Krypto's head flopped side to side from the sensation, but he nodded enthusiastically.
Clark tilted his head, considering it for a moment. "You know what? Starting next month... yeah, I'll bring you along. I could use a partner out there."
Krypto's bark grew into an elated howl, his whole body vibrating with excitement. Clark couldn't help but laugh again—but then glanced over at the massive tree lying awkwardly in the desert.
"But first," he said, eyeing it, "let's deal with this... giant souvenir you brought me."
…
Toward the end of the fourth week and as the month drew to a close, Clark soared effortlessly through the depths of the ocean, scanning the waters below with a sense of calm purpose. Suddenly, a desperate cry sliced through the ambient roar of the sea and echoed impossibly into his ears:
"SUPERMAN!! Help!!"
Clark's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed. That voice had traveled an incredible distance—far too far for any ordinary human to hear, let alone respond to. But Clark wasn't ordinary. Without a moment's hesitation, he rocketed upward, the water spiraling off his form as he shot into the sky, breaking the sound barrier in a thunderous boom. His silhouette became a blur streaking toward the source.
Within moments, he arrived back in Japan. His keen hearing guided him to an open field on the outskirts of a secure zone. There, a small device was raised in the air by a man wearing camo green, surrounded by a full military entourage. Tanks, jeeps, and fighter jets formed a perimeter. Dozens of soldiers stood at the ready.
The audio device was in the hand of a stern-faced military general.
"So, the rumors were true," the man said calmly, bringing his arms behind his back. "You really do respond when someone cries for help."
Clark hovered briefly above the ground before descending gently, landing with practiced ease just before the assembled force. His sharp gaze flicked to the insignia on the general's coat.
"You could've just asked for a conversation," Clark said dryly. "General."
The man offered a faint nod. "Call me General Kenzo."
Clark raised his hands slowly, offering no resistance.
Kenzo's expression twitched. "What are you doing?"
"Complying," Clark replied with a cool tone. "Let's not pretend this is just a friendly chat. The tanks and jets suggest otherwise."
At Kenzo's signal, a tall woman in uniform stepped forward, holding a pair of reinforced restraint cuffs. She approached cautiously and locked them onto Clark's wrists. Despite their design, the cuffs seemed almost ornamental on someone of his strength.
"You are being brought in for questioning," Kenzo declared. "Your repeated acts of vigilantism—while perhaps well-meaning—have sparked serious concerns regarding international security, jurisdictional overreach, and unauthorized intervention on foreign soil."
Clark gave a faint nod, remaining calm as two soldiers stepped beside him.
They escorted him to a large armored military transport vehicle parked nearby. Clark climbed in without complaint. The heavy doors slammed shut with a mechanical thud, and the convoy began to roll forward across the rugged terrain.
As the engines rumbled, Clark leaned back in his seat, visibly relaxed despite the tense environment and armed soldiers around him.
"For the record," he said, his voice cutting through the silence, "this isn't foreign soil to me. I've lived here since I was a baby. I'm just as much a Japanese citizen as anyone else here."
A few soldiers glanced at each other, brows raised in curiosity. General Kenzo's piercing gaze settled on him.
The woman who had cuffed him—Major Sayori—turned slightly, her tone skeptical. "So you're saying you're human? That you're not some alien pretending to be one of us to earn our trust and then turn against us and conquer us?"
A younger soldier nearby couldn't hold his tongue. "Were you made in a lab or something? Like some government project?"
Clark smirked and rolled his eyes. "You've been watching way too many sci-fi movies," he said. His dismissive tone drew a faint blush from Sayori, though she quickly recomposed herself.
"And for the record," Clark added, "I never claimed I wasn't an alien. I only said I was raised here."
Sayori scoffed. "So you are extraterrestrial. My skepticism wasn't entirely misplaced."
Kenzo leaned forward, voice firm. "Do you have a name? A real one? I'd rather not keep calling you Superman."
Clark hesitated a moment, then answered. "My birth name is Ka-El. Ka-El is fine."
A heavy silence fell inside the vehicle as it hit a series of bumps in the road, the suspension creaking under the weight of armored steel.
"Well?" Clark asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Well what?" Kenzo replied.
"I introduced myself," Clark said, his tone a bit sarcastic. "Common courtesy would be for you to do the same."
Kenzo regarded him coolly for a moment before nodding. "Very well. I am General Kenzo Jun'ichi. The woman who placed the cuffs on you is Major Sayori Lane—"
"Lane?" Clark interrupted, his brow rising as he turned to Sayori with mild surprise.
"What?" Sayori asked, returning his gaze with suspicion. "Why do you say it like that?"
Clark awkwardly cleared his throat. "Ah… nothing. Just didn't expect a name that sounds so… English."
'Please, no. Don't tell me she's this world's version of Lois Lane. I'm not even in the DC universe! The last thing I need is that kind of mess…'
Sayori tilted her head slightly. "My husband is American."
'Hallelujah,' Clark thought, suppressing a smirk. 'She's married. Not my circus, not my problem!'
Clark nodded, visibly more relaxed. Kenzo continued introducing the rest of the officers on board, each giving a brief nod in acknowledgment as the convoy rolled toward the heavily fortified Japanese military base on the horizon.
Despite the tension, Clark stared out the small armored window, his thoughts churning.
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