Hurt - Great Encounter Battle Arc

Hiroshi sat down, his back against the wall, and he took a sip from his drink that was provided to him. He took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes. He could just about make out Tomokazu on the other side of the stadium, also staring at him. He had regained that smile that Hiroshi couldn’t stand looking at. He clenched his fists tightly. He had to win, to prove to the world that he wasn’t some pushover.

Suddenly, Kuro-Yami spoke up.

“Hey, Hiroshi?”

“What’s up?”

“This Tomokazu guy is pretty strong. We need to go all out. Are you ready to do anything to beat him?” Kuro-Yami asked, fiddling with his thumbs inside of Hiroshi’s mind. Hiroshi thought for a moment in silence.

“Yeah, I suppose I am, why? Do you have a plan in mind?” Hiroshi needed something. Anything. The closer the fight became, the more confidence Hiroshi lost. Seeing Tomokazu fight Bibi made him realize that this new world had levels, and those levels had a humongous gap. Whatever Kuro-Yami said, he was going to go along with the idea.

Just as Kuro-Yami was about to tell Hiroshi what his plan was, Wisteria spoke up, causing Hiroshi to jump.

“You talking to someone?” she asked politely, a big goofy smile on her face.

“Hey! You startled me!”

“O-Oh sorry!” Wisteria started waving her hands frantically. “I didn’t mean anything! Will I leave you alone?”

“No, come sit down beside me,” Hiroshi responded, shaking his head and patted the ground beside him to show her that it was alright. Wisteria’s eyes opened wide, and she giggled, and sat excitedly beside him. “Thank you again for stepping out of the ring. I appreciate it.”

“No, it’s alright! I didn’t really want to be mentored anyway. Sure, it would have been helpful, but to be honest, Tomokazu would just steam roll me,” she admitted, sighing to herself in disappointment. “But I know you can beat him,” she continued. Hiroshi looked for signs of lying or betrayal. However, he couldn’t find any.

She was genuinely truthful. She believed he could win.

“Well, I will try my best. I’m determined to win, but I could barely keep up with you. If you think that you wouldn’t stand a chance, how would I beat him? He can fly, for flip’s sake! What chance do I have,” Hiroshi laughed. Although he was determined to win, he couldn’t overlook the fact that Tomokazu seemed unbeatable, even with Kuro-Yami on his side. Wisteria leaned across Hiroshi’s body, and pointed to his chest.

“Because you have that,” she smiled at him. Hiroshi could feel his cheeks getting red. He shook his head to prevent him from fully blushing and pushed the feeling down into his core.

“What, a heart?”

“Yeah. A big one too. Here’s the thing, Hiroshi. I don’t understand why you want to be this villain so badly. You saved our village from the corrupt army. You stood up to that stupid presenter for Jeremy. You’re a good person,” Wisteria comforted Hiroshi. He could feel his heart breaking inside him. He couldn’t remember the last time he could talk to somebody so openly.

“Wisteria…I assume this world has books and stories. What makes a hero’s story interesting? Sure, their objective and backstory may be compelling. However, you want to see the protagonist kick the antagonist’s ass. If I were to kill these Gods, it would label me a villain, since people are too blind to see the corruption, and they hold them in high regard. I will either succeed as a villain and turn the world into a perfect reality of laughter and cheer, or I will die a villain, and be laughed at and jeered for eternity. I’m not a good person. I do everything for my own purpose. Me and the demon I have inside my head. It’s better if you don’t get too attached to me. I don’t want to see you hurt,” Hiroshi explained to Wisteria bluntly. He was determined not to let anybody else down.

“It’s your fault!” That memory came back to haunt Hiroshi once more. Just as Wisteria opened her mouth to respond, Alexander got on a podium and announced the Final match. Saved by the bell.

“And now, everyone in the audience! It’s the moment you have all been waiting for! Please welcome our two finalists to the arena! Firstly, we have Tomokazu Onuki, the man born from the Gods, the next generation of heroes. And look at that smile! Is there anything this man can’t do?!” The crowd cheered as Tomokazu took to the arena. He waved and smiled at everyone. Hiroshi hated how fake he was.

“He will fight a very challenging foe! A man that nobody had ever heard of until today! The darkness follows him wherever he goes! I think this match will be quite even! Give it up for Shinigami!” The crowd booed and jeered Hiroshi as he got up from his seated position. He grinned to himself in delight and rage.

That was more like it.

“Hiroshi, if you start to struggle, let me know. I have been building up energy this whole time. I think I can perform a move if I try hard enough,” Kuro-Yami advised, much to Hiroshi’s joy. Just as he was about to enter the arena, a soft hand grabbed his own. He turned around and looked down. Wisteria.

“Please, try not to get hurt,” she smiled at him. Hiroshi almost managed one back but kept it down.

“Thanks, I’ll try my best,” he responded coldly.

“Please save me!”…that memory again.

Wisteria looked at Hiroshi’s back. She clenched her fists. She was upset that Hiroshi had dark secrets he wasn’t telling her. She knew just through his eyes, and in his soul. She wanted to learn more about him, and the demon he supposedly talked to in his head.

She wanted to save him.

“Do your best, my star,” she whispered. “Oshi…”