Dancing with Certainity - Hero's Lies Arc

“He said that, did he?” Hiroshi asked Wisteria, downing another shot of sake. A day had passed, and the Love Crystal had been retrieved by Kage, now safely in his own hands where it wouldn't be misused. It had taken most of the previous day for both Tomokazu and Hiroshi to heal from their wounds. Hiroshi had reluctantly agreed to go for some drinks in the local tavern with his new partner, who promised that it wouldn’t be like last time.

“He did. He senses a darkness in you,” Wisteria nodded, taking her own shot of sake, her fourth of the night. “Is there something you are not telling me? You know you can trust me!”

“Of course, Wisteria, I trust you because I love you, but I genuinely have no idea what Kage meant. I assume he means Kuro-Yami? Why didn’t you ask him?”

“I did, and he mentioned Kuro-Yami's power, yes, but I wanted to make sure my boyfriend wasn’t being bothered by anything else mentally,” Wisteria comforted him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“I...I suppose I’m scared too. Having friends is...new,” Hiroshi gulped, ordering his fifth sake shot of the night. “I want to make you and Tomo and Bibi feel safe with the power I have.”

“You don’t have to shoulder that burden, Oshi,” Wisteria hugged Hiroshi’s shoulder, who blushed slightly. “A problem shared is a problem halved.”

“Thanks, Babe,” Hiroshi said with a smile, and after a moment, Wisteria went back to ordering another sake shot.

“It sucks we can’t have any more days out for training, since we would be recognized. Your huge stunt put us on the map,” she smirked at him, plaguing Hiroshi with guilt.

“Sorry,” he responded in a sad monotonous voice.

“Don’t apologize. It’s my fault, saying all those mean things. I suppose that’s why communication is important, right?”

“Right.”

For a while, Wisteria and Hiroshi sat in total silence, both having three more shots each. After seventh shots, Wisteria put her hand on Hiroshi’s hand, which was resting on the polished oak counter.

“Let’s dance,” Wisteria slurred her words.

“Fine, but only because I’m slightly drunk,” Hiroshi stumbled with his words.

They both got to their feet, stumbling slightly. Wisteria giggled cutely, taking her hands in Hiroshi’s. She took him onto the main floor. The music was nice and quiet. Wisteria laid her head on Hiroshi’s shoulder and gave him a cute smile.

“These next few months are going to be even tougher, won’t they?” she asked Hiroshi, who swayed to the music with her.

“Yes. I will be working on my analyzing of opponents, you are working on your flying, Bibi is developing light speed technology, and Tomo is working on a little bit of everything. Not to mention, we all need to learn how to use light speed,” he sighed. “But we have each other. We can do this.”

“Yeah,” Wisteria hiccupped, before pushing Hiroshi away, and bopping her body up and down, flinging her arms in the air.

“The hell are you doing?”

“Dancing!”

“That’s not dancing!” Hiroshi laughed. “Watch me!”

Hiroshi reached down, putting his hands on the floor, spinning around, and began breakdancing.

“What the hell?! You said you couldn’t dance!” Wisteria blushed.

“I had a lot of free time. Along with learning parkour, I learnt how to breakdance!” he said, jump up and down in a squat position, kicking out one leg at a time and clapping.

Wisteria giggled, and Hiroshi got back up. They smiled sweetly at one another, before bringing themselves into a soft kiss.

“Love you Oshi.”

“Love you more, Wisteria.”

“Hey, no fair! I love you more!”

“Nuh uh!”

During this small lover's disagreement, Bibi was talking to Kage.

“I understand, Bibi. If you can get to your old home, would you be able to develop that tech?” Kage asked his young student.

“I think so. It might take me a few months, though. Would that be alright?” she asked, looking at her mentor with hope in her eyes.

“Yes, it would be totally fine. I want to see how much you can progress. I will have Hiroshi ask to have a building built for you, so you can make your inventions here.”

“Great thank you!”

“I’ll help you move your stuff too, if you need?”

“Yes please!” Bibi beamed. She was finally going to be able to catch up with the others with her new invention.

Tomokazu kept training in his own circle, swinging his sword wildly. He had to get stronger. To protect his friends and his girlfriend, and to make sure that he could stop Hiroshi if he ever went haywire again. He finally understood what it was like to feel as if you had nothing at all and wanted to take that burden away from everyone.

Meanwhile, Zetsubo Onuki was plotting something in his office. He yawned, bored out of his mind. A knock came to his door. He asked them to come in, in a monotone voice. The man was Anwir, the scientist that worked under him. His lab coat was pristine as always.

“Will they be ready, Anwir?” Zetsubo asked, his feet up on his desk.

“Yes, they will be deployed six months from now, as requested, Zetsubo, one hundred percent guaranteed,” the scientist told the God, who gave him a friendly smile before looking out the window again.

“This will destroy the hero, Hiroshi’s, image. We won’t even need to kill him. The public eye will. You would be surprised at how easy it can be. Then, we Gods find the real Hiroshi, kill him, and show the world how real heroes operate. As I said, there is no point in ruling a world with nobody to worship you. We might as well just kill everyone,” Zetsubo said solemnly.

“You are right, Zetsubo. Can I ask, where do you plan to deploy the Desecrators?” Anwir asked, a puzzled look on his face. An evil grin came from the God of Hope.

“The second edition of The Great Encounter Battle Tournament.”