Leader of Lightley - Another World Arc

*Tomorrow, I will release the Christmas Special as part of a separate novel! Stayed tuned from the One Shot Christmas Special!*

Both absolutely exhausted after their day’s events, Hiroshi and Wisteria stumbled back into Lightley, where all the villagers were waiting for them. A crowd had gathered at the welcome sign, and a man and woman rushed out. The man had brown hair and glasses and seemed very timid and shy. The woman had long, brilliant purple hair, very similar to Wisteria’s. Both seemed to be in their late forties.

“Oh my god, Wisteria! We were so scared you had run off!” the woman cried out, giving her a tight hug. The man followed suit, and the three of them embraced in a tight group hug.

“I’m ok, Mother and Father! See? Not a scratch on me! I went to run after the man that saved us, but a group of bandits intercepted me! Just as they were about to kill me, Hiroshi came back and saved me!” she gasped out in rapid fire breaths. Wisteria’s father looked up from their embrace at Hiroshi.

“Is this true, young man?” he asked in such a low voice, Hiroshi almost couldn’t hear him. Hiroshi stuttered in confusion. That’s not how the story went at all.

“She saved me! What is she doing?” he thought to himself. Just as he was about to tell them the true story, Wisteria nodded at him, as if to say “Just go with it. Trust me.”

Trust. Hiroshi couldn’t remember the last time he had trusted anyone.

“Yes, it is true. I saved this woman in peril,” Hiroshi smirked. “You were very silly, running after me like that! I was sprinting after those wretched bandits, but they must have hidden themselves in the trees and took advantage of my lack of knowledge of the terrain!” he laughed loudly, putting on a bravado for the villagers.

A cheer came from the crowd. They were overjoyed with their new savior.

“What’s your name, young man? We are at your command for saving us from that beast, and most importantly, bringing my daughter home safe!” Wisteria’s mother said triumphantly, with a big smile on her face.

“My name is Hiroshi Akuma! I will become your new leader! If you do not obey my commands, I will kill you,” he growled, frightening some of the villagers. “Firstly, I want a house built for me, and just for me only. On top of that hill, if you don’t mind. Pronto!”

The villagers nodded and ran off to get their work done. Wisteria’s parents walked up to Hiroshi with big smiles.

“Thank you so much for saving our darling daughter. She means the world to us and I’m glad she is safe because of you,” Wisteria’s mother said.

“Don’t mention it. She shouldn’t have followed me. You should look after her better,” Hiroshi retorted, pushing back Wisteria’s parents with a shove and he walked into the tavern, which was now barren. He looked at his hands.

“Well done, Hiroshi!” Kuro-Yami piped up from Hiroshi’s inner conscious. “Superb! Not only do they fear our power, but we also have our very own village to rule! They will do our bidding with a snap of our fingers! Isn’t it great, friend?”

Hiroshi didn’t answer. He had no idea what to do. No idea how to act. No idea on what to think. Without a word of warning, he screamed. He held his head in his hands and yelled as loud as he could. He still hated humans. He never wanted to do anything nice for them. Not after all the bad things they had done to him. However, now people were finally being friendly to him and accepted him and his actions. Being evil didn’t seem so fun now.

Wisteria stood at the door of the tavern and gave Hiroshi a minute to himself. After his screams ended, she knocked on the door and came in. Hiroshi was sitting at the counter, his head in his hands on the hard oak.

“Hiroshi? You alright?” she asked him out of concern.

“Yes, I’m fine, just tired. What do you want?” he asked rudely. He had to push her away. He didn’t want her to share the burden he carried.

“I was just wondering if you were alright.”

“Yeah, thanks…why did you change the story? You know that’s not how it happened, and you hardly know me. There was no reason to defend me at all.”

“Because you needed it. I see it in your eyes. You’re hardly my age, seventeen, and yet it seems as if you have lived a thousand lives of pure hatred. You need to be cherished and loved.”

Hiroshi grumbled. She was right. That was how he felt, but he hated to admit it. He looked dead ahead, not even giving Wisteria eye contact. To him, he felt as if he didn’t deserve love and affection. Just then, he felt warm arms come around his shoulders and pull him tightly. He blushed slightly. It felt lovely, like a pillow was snuggling into him. Supporting him. Cherishing him. Loving him.

“What are you-”

“Just shut up and enjoy it, alright?” Wisteria smiled. Hiroshi could feel himself melting in her embrace. All he wanted to do was open up to her. Tell her that he wanted to live a normal life of love and hope, with family and friends. But he was in too deep now. If someone was to be hated in the whole world, it would have to be him. Hate and selfishness were the two things he hated most, and he had to become them to take away everyone’s burden. He hated humans, but he hated nobody more than himself. Not to mention of all the innocent lives he had taken mere minutes after appearing in this new world.

“I want to become stronger, Wisteria. I want to kill all the Gods in the world and rule the lands, making sure nobody is selfish or hateful again,” he admitted, and that was all he was going to give her. Saying that was too much as it was.

“A fascinating goal. Have you ever heard of the Great Encounter Battle Tournament that happens every year in the capital?”

“No? Why do you ask?”

“If you want to kill the Gods and get stronger,” Wisteria stated, “You need a mentor.”