"He Has a Proper Name!" - Great Encounter Battle Arc

The Man with the Snake Tongue reeled back in shock at hearing Hiroshi say his real name out loud. Other than his father, nobody else had called him that. It was always ‘monster’ or something related to a snake, aimed at hurting his feelings.

And here was this stranger, calling him by his real name.

“W-What?! How do you know my real name?!” Jeremy the Snake Man was stunned in shock. Hiroshi sighed.

“I looked at the registration book after I heard your name being called. I know you wouldn’t want to be called that. It was that stupid presenter that called you that stupid name. People like him are a stain on the human race,” he looked up at Alexander, hatred burning in his eyes.

“Are you similar to a snake, in the way that your tongue is used for smelling and other functions?”

“Umm, I’m not sure, my anatomy is more similar to a human’s. I just got the tongue from the transformation. However, it always flickers out because that’s what a snake tongue does for smelling. My nose might be able to be used…”

Before Jeremy could finish his sentence, his tongue flickered out again. As quickly as a flash, Hiroshi picked up his sword, and slammed it down, cutting the tongue clean off. Jeremy yelped in fright and felt his tongue. It was cut a lot smaller, and it would no longer flicker out of his mouth.

“Well?”

“Um…uh…” Jeremy sniffed the air, looking around the ring and the remaining opponents. He picked up something in the air. It was not a nice smell. It was Hiroshi’s sweat, dripping from the encounter they just exchanged. He was never so happy to be smelling such a putrid smell.

“I can still smell! It might not be as strong, but I can use my nose!”

“There you go! Now you can be a normal, human boy!” He stood up Jeremy slowly, standing him up straight. “Now, keep that back straight! Once you keep yourself upright, you can be human! One day, no matter what, your father will find a cure, and he can permanently fix your back too!” Hiroshi smiled a big, goofy grin at him. Jeremy looked up at him, tears in his eyes.

“Thank you, Sir,” he stuttered with a slight lisp, trying to get used to his ‘new’ tongue. He walked out of the ring, giving Hiroshi the victory.

“The victor, in unlikely circumstances, is Number One, Shinigami!” Alexander announced loudly. Hiroshi’s attention locked onto him. His blood was boiling in rage.

He was the kind of person he hated the most. Using the mistreatment of others for a kick of entertainment, to fill the own void in his life. What a sick freak.

Hiroshi walked up to Alexander with clenched fists, eyes black with rage. The presenter backed up slowly, sweating profusely.

“H-Hey now, you can sit and wait until your next match, ahh!” he yelped as Hiroshi hit him against the wall. He loomed over him, like a daunting presence. The presenter cowered in fear. He could feel as if he was going to die just from fright. Hiroshi got right beside his face, so close, that Alexander could feel the warm air of his breath on him.

It was like he was feeling death pulsating down his spine.

Alexander went to open his mouth, but no words came out.

“You scum, you’re lucky you’re presenting this damn Tournament, or else I would have already killed you. He has a proper name! You want to get a kick of using that young man’s features as a cheap gag? He might be a part snake, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. He’s more human than you will ever be. You stupid bastard!” Hiroshi backed away from the wall and pointed to Jeremy.

“Apologize.”

“Huh?” Alexander was stunned. He was expecting so much worse from the young fighter. All he wanted was an apology.

“Did I stutter, you dumbass? Apologize! Now!”

“I-I’m sorry, Jeremy. I hope you can forgive me,” Alexander gulped, giving Jeremy direct eye contact. Partly because he genuinely was affected by Hiroshi’s deep words. However, he did it mostly because he was scared to disobey Hiroshi’s command.

Jeremy looked towards the petrified presenter and gave him a small smile and cheeky wink.

“It’s fine. I forgive you. Other people called me much worse.”

“That doesn’t make it right,” the presenter grumbled.

“Don’t worry about it. You know for next time. See you around! And Shinigami? Thank you, for everything,” Jeremy smiled at his savior. Hiroshi smiled back warmly.

“Just call me Hiroshi.”

With that, the young man left the arena and ran back home, excited to show his father what he had discovered.

“What was that for, Hiroshi? You know that we vowed that we weren’t going to be kind to people anymore,” Kuro-Yami piped up from his head, slightly disappointed in his friend’s actions. Hiroshi chuckled to himself as he left the ring, finding a spot to watch the next match.

“That wasn’t my intention. Remember, humanity loves a spectacle. If they were to go around to their friends and family, they would mostly mention how I made that presenter my bitch, not how I helped Jeremy. Our evil wrongdoings will spread quickly with my word of mouth,” Hiroshi explained.

“You didn’t have to make the presenter apologize, though.”

Hiroshi sighed. He knew Kuro-Yami was right. He just couldn’t help himself. He thanked the Gods that Wisteria wasn't there to see that.

Meanwhile, two of Hiroshi’s opponents, Tomokazu and Blossoming Flower, were busy talking to one another outside of the ring. The mask of Blossoming Flower once again tilted upwards at the mouth area.

“See, Tomo? He does have a heart.”

“Never got that impression from speaking with him.”

Blossoming Flower let out a giggle and focused on Hiroshi.

“So, that is your true nature, Hiroshi?”