Superhero Day

Superhero, a title that is given to a superpower user that fight villains and protect innocent people from harm.

Their existence brought so much impact to the world that they have their own day to commemorate. That is the Superhero Day.

There is currently a big ceremony to commemorate that day being held at Tokyo. People bustling around the place where the ceremony takes place.

Shizuka the Yuki-onna with long white hair is walking through the crowd wearing light blue kimono. It is thanks to the autumn season that the weather is not too hot for her so she can handle herself just fine within the crowd.

Then she makes an eye contact with a tall lady with long orange-coloured hair with ponytail style and fox ears. The lady is wearing a white and red shrine maiden priestess outfit. Her fox tail can be seen because her red long pants is modified to bring out her tail.

The tall lady and Shizuka meet up and walk together through the crowd. The fox-eared lady then starts talking to Shizuka.

"So you come alone again this year?"

"Yeah. Fumiko chose to stay at home."

As both of them starts talking while walking through the crowd, they see a girl wearing green jacket and short blue hair bob hairstyle. The girl is wearing a facemask. She is talking to a boy while crouching to match her height level with the boy.

The tall lady with fox ears is the first one who greets the facemask girl.

"Hi Saki, who is that kid?"

The facemask girl hears it and look behind to see the fox lady and Shizuka.

"Mirika... Shizuka..."

The facemask girl says that after looking at them.

Shizuka observes the boy and the facemask girl named Saki before talking with surprised tone.

"... !? Don't tell me... it's your kid!?"

"No, it's not! This kid is separated from his mother."

Saki quickly denies Shizuka's speculation and then focuses her attention towards Shizuka and the fox lady named Mirika.

"I see... But of course. There is no way you would suddenly have a boyfriend without telling me beforehand~."

Shizuka giggles softly after saying that. Both Mirika and Saki have mixed feelings from hearing that statement.

"No no no, why should I tell you that?"

Saki replies while looking at Shizuka.

"Ehh!? Aren't we best buds!? At least tell me so that I won't get shocked receiving your marriage invitation!"

While Saki and Shizuka are bickering to each other, the boy's attention is glued to Saki's facemask.

Then the boy suddenly pull the facemask away from Saki's left ear.

"!?"

Saki, Mirika and Shizuka are surprised by the boy's action. The boy sees a very wide mouth beneath Saki's facemask.

"Hey!"

Saki quickly wears her facemask back while the boy looks very interested in what he just saw.

"Wow! Your mouth is very wide, Miss! Amazing!"

Faced with the boy's excitement, Saki can't get angry at him.

"Andou!"

Suddenly a woman's voice can be heard. The woman who said that quickly goes to the boy.

"Mom!"

The boy looks happy when his mother comes to him.

"Geez, I told you to not wander around... Are you okay?"

"Yes! Mom, listen listen! That girl has a very wide mouth!"

The boy says that while pointing at Saki.

Saki clears her throat and talks to the boy.

"Listen boy, I am a Kuchisake Onna youkai. Youkai like me usually has wide mouth."

"... Ah!"

The boy's mother says that as she immediately understands what Saki is trying to say.

"Kuchi... Sake...? So Miss Wide Mouth likes drinking Sake?"

The boy says that with confused look.

"Pfft!"

Both Shizuka and Mirika holds their laugh after hearing the boy's statement.

"Now now, let's not bother them okay? Father is waiting."

The mother says that while urging her son to go with her.

"Yes! Bye bye Miss Wide Mouth!"

The boy says that while waving at Saki before leaving with his mother.

After waving at the boy, Saki sighs and starts talking.

"At least call me Slit-Mouthed..."

"But to think that the boy is not scared at all."

Mirika says that while looking at the direction where the boy left. Then Shizuka also talks.

"It's surprising, isn't it? In the past, people are usually scared. Even Fumiko cried really hard when she saw Saki's mouth for the first time as a kid."

"Come to think of it, where is Fumiko?"

Saki asks that question right after hearing Fumiko's name.

Few minutes later, three of them walk around the crowd while talking to each other.

"She is sitting out this year huh... but that is probably for the best."

Right after saying that, Saki the girl wearing facemask looks around and then talks again while walking.

"With many important people coming here from overseas, the number of people attending today's ceremony is no joke..."

Mirika the fox-eared lady then talks with worried face.

"You're right. Will we even make it on time to the central dome... Oh!"

Mirika stops talking the moment she sees something. Shizuka and Saki looks at the Mirika's line of sight.

Upon passing a building, the three of them can see five giant robots standing while surrounding a big dome. The five giant robots consist of a red lion robot, a blue panther robot, a yellow tiger robot, a green bull robot and a pink eagle robot.

"Found it! They said that the central dome will be guarded by Gaia Force right?"

Mirika says that with slightly excited tone towards Shizuka and Saki.

"Yeah. The dome surely stands out with those robots surrounding it huh... Well, at least they are prepared if a giant enemy shows up."

Shizuka says that while looking at the red lion robot. Saki immediately replies

"They have no choice. After all, this country only has two superheroes that can counter giant beings. And one of them is non-registered Superhero."

Both Saki and Shizuka looks at the bottom of the red lion robot. There is a black-haired man wearing black jacket being surrounded by people who desperately ask for that man's signature. The man looks very troubled as he politely refuse them.

"Isn't that... the leader of Gaia Force? This is the first time I see him outside of news..."

Shizuka says that as she look at the troubled man from afar.

"Well, he always fight inside that robot after all... by the way, did you hear about that rumour?"

Saki slowly moves her head towards Shizuka's right ear after saying that.

"? What rumour?"

Shizuka sounds confused while saying that.

"The official news says that the Gaia Force's robots were invented by the Military to counter against giant beings. But there are rumours about the robots actually being part of some ancient civilization's mechanism that was repaired using modern technology."

"Oi oi..."

Shizuka looks at Saki after saying that.

"I mean... it's strange if you think about it. Out of all kinds of design that the Military chooses for a weapon to fight giant supernatural beings, they chose to create five robots with five different animal design. Don't you think it's a weird decision from a military department?"

"And how does that connect to ancient civilization stuff..."

Shizuka sounds skeptical while talking to Saki.

"There might be some kind of dealings that we were never told of, you know. For example, overseas weapon distributions are actually not that rare in the past. Especially during war-"

"Oi oi oi... stop it. What kind of rumor you're gossiping in this kind of place..."

Shizuka says that to prevent Saki from talking further.

"Well, you got my point. That rumor is going around in my school."

"That's not the problem here. What if there are people who heard that... Mirika, you tell her-"

Right as Shizuka turns her head to talk to Mirika, the fox-eared lady is nowhere to be found.

Both Saki and Shizuka look around to search for Mirika only to find that she is desperately ask for Gaia Force leader's signature along with many other fans.

"Yuuki-sama~~~ Please give me your autograph!!!"

With excited squeal, the fox-eared lady is blending with the fans.

"A- as I said before, I cannot do that now...!"

The black-haired man wearing black jacket becomes even more troubled in front of his fans.

"Oh my..."

Shizuka says that as both her and Saki are a bit turned off by Mirika's attitude.

Not too long after that, policemen come and disperse the fans. Disappointed that she cannot get the autograph, Mirika goes to the dome with Saki and Shizuka. Three of them sit at the seat section.

"Geez, stop acting like a kid. You're embarrassing us here."

"I can't help it. It's not every day that you see your favorite superhero in person."

While Shizuka is talking to Mirika, Saki is looking at the central stage within the dome.

At the central stage, many superheroes with quirky and distinctive outfits are seating in front of an empty stage. Then Saki notices Stargazer Platina is entering the empty stage.

"It's starting."

The moment Saki say those words, both Shizuka and Mirika focus their attentions towards the central stage.

Few minutes after opening statements from the female emcee, she gives Stargazer Platina the opportunity to talk.

Stargazer Platina, standing alone in the stage after the emcee go out from the stage, starts talking without a mic. And yet his voice can be heard on the speakers.

"Hero... is a title bestowed to a person admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities... Meanwhile, Superhero is a title that is given to a superpower user that fight villains and protect innocent people from harm. This is the official statement that explains the existence of Superheroes... I'll be honest here. I don't like that interpretation of Superhero."

After hearing that unexpected statements, many people starts talking to each other confirming what Stargazer Platina just said. Some superheroes sitting in front of the stage also do the same.

Stargazer Platina continues his speech regardless.

"Hero is a title not only given to a person fighting in battle but also people who greatly contributed to the society in their own way. Meanwhile, Superhero as a title is restricted towards a person with superpower fighting villain and protect people from harm..."

While Stargazer Platina is giving his speech, the Gaia Force leader is looking at his speech through a monitor inside his red lion robot's cockpit.

"I am well aware that the reason is because of the first superhero, Earth Guardian, fought against threats that can destroy Earth, And I have nothing but respect towards him."

Meanwhile, the stone-faced policeman who interrogated Fumiko before is also watching the speech since he is patrolling on the seat section of the dome.

"However, if the title Hero can apply outside of people fighting, then it should be natural that Superhero receives the same treatment where their achievements are not limited to fighting villains and saving people. And I believe that the word Super from Superhero refers not only to a person with Superpower, but also a person who is able to achieve things that is superior than what a Hero can achieve."

The crowd is getting more and more confused as Stargazer Platina continues his speech.

"Without those achievements, Superheroes are no different from Superpower User. At least that is what I think. Which led me to the next question, what kind of achievements that is worthy of the title Superhero..."

Stargazer Platina looks at the sky as he continues speaking.

"I have travelled across different countries and look at many things related but not limited to Superheroes. But I still did not find the answer. Believing that my limited knowledge is the cause of my doubts. Hence, I ventured to the outer space to broaden my horizons."

Stargazer Platina then looks back at the crowd before speaking again.

"I have seen many planets, many lifeforms and especially... many ideals that opened my eyes. Thanks to them, I have reached a conclusion... on what Superhero should achieve."

The moment Stargazer Platina says that,  he presses a mechanical device on his left wrist with his right hand.

A mechanical cannon appears from below the stage and it shoot its beam above the Stargazer Platina. However, it stops at the sky above him and it opens a big black hole. The big black hole surprises everyone except Stargazer Platina.

However, Stargazer Platina continues his speech despite everyone's reactions.

"I said this before and I will say it again. Superheroes does not defeat the villain just for the sake of it. Superheroes' purpose... is to work together with people to change the world for the better."