Chapter 3: Little Pieces

The afternoon sun reflected off the rows of high-rises that reached for the sky in Tokyo, Shinjuku. Currently, the time was 1:12PM—the din of traffic, pedestrians, and construction workers resounded in the atmosphere—

BOOOOM!

A light tremor that accompanied the noise rocked the ground, but it wasn’t enough to warrant any major commotion. A few people briefly glanced in the direction of the disturbance, before redirecting their gazes back to their phone screens.

At the same time, a woman in a grey suit, wearing a slightly irritated expression, rounded a corner. She adjusted her long flowing golden hair, narrowing her crystal blue eyes.

Then, as if to irk her the more, her smartphone rang from her inner jacket pocket.

“Hello…?!” she was cut off by the booming voice of a very—very—angry individual over the call.

“Where have you been, Irina?!!”

She winced before replying, “Sorry… I had—”

“Just get your Heroic butt over here, ASAP!!!”

After that last rant, the call ended. And the one called Irina was glad it did, because it occurred to her that the whole tale of being launched to the Sahara in a single swing would only create more problems.

Until she figured out the true nature and identity of that unfathomable power, she would keep her ordeal under wraps—which was a given as she couldn’t even recall what the Demon looked like.

Irina Belova, The Hero, pouted her rosy pink lips as she made for a looming skyscraper ahead of her, fixing her hair with each step.

Though she had paced herself, her flight from the Sahara to Shinjuku took less than two minutes. As a result of such high-speed travel, her hair was a rather hot mess…

● ● ●

Kuro had finally gotten up from his bed to address his butler, Talmarius. “If this is about world domination, mass genocide, or anything else of the sort, my answer is still… No.”

“On the contrary, my Liege. I only seek to train and guide you to your utmost potential. You have the makings to become the most powerful Demon King in all of history.”

There was something about Talmarius’s words that told Kuro that he still hadn’t given up on making him into the “ideal” Demon King.

“I respect your wishes, but could you at least find it in your Demonic Heart, to grant your servant’s humble wish, and come visit the mansion for a bit, my Liege?”

After his request, he gave a humble bow as he waited for the one he served to give his benevolent response.

Kuro bit his lip and rubbed his chin, thinking of how best to respond.

A few more seconds of thought, and Kuro replied, “Sure. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to drop by.”

Straightening his back, Talmarius beamed. “How truly wonderful! You haven’t visited ever since you insisted on moving to this…”

Talmarius threw a quick glance around the room before continuing, “…modest living arrangement to start college, my Liege.”

“Y’know…being a little less formal won’t be the end of the world,” Kuro said with a lazy look in his eyes.

“I…suppose so,” Talmarius acquiesced, gesturing to Kuro’s open closet. “After you, my Liege.”

And he’s back to square one… Kuro shook his head and smiled, before walking into his closet in which its insides now resembled a rippling prismatic surface.

He disappeared into the piece of furniture.

A satisfied grin tugged at Talmarius’s lips as he was about to follow. But he spotted a contraption next to Kuro’s desk.

It was carbon black, and had a monolithic build. Two more contraptions were arranged beside it—small enough to be handheld, each bearing a circular button in their center with an S engraved on it.

He shook his head. I hope he still finds time to train in this…new environment…

After that, Talmarius stepped into the closet, sliding the door shut behind him.

● ● ●

In a large dimly lit space, two looming double doors guarded the entrance. They looked solid, steadfast, giving the impression that they were impregnable.

Then, they became distorted, replaced by a warped colorful space. A foot came through—Kuro’s left boot touched the polished floor first, the rest of his body following.

Talmarius came in right after him with a pleased look on his face. “Welcome home, my Liege.”

“It hasn’t been that long…has it?”

Kuro’s eyes wandered, taking in the spacious interior of his family home. It was a mansion, located at the western edge of Tokyo, in Okutama.

The polished floor of oak stretched into the large living area on the ground floor. A stairwell to the left with a thick glossy railing led up to the upper floors.

Talmarius now took the lead as he guided Kuro to the cushions farther down. While they walked, Kuro glanced at ornate vases that gleamed in the chandelier light, sculptures depicting mythical creatures from Japanese folklore.

The three cushions in the living room had a grand air around them, sporting curled handles of polished mahogany and exotic tanned leather finishing. Kuro awkwardly sat on the smallest of the set.

Above the one hundred and fifteen inch flat screen at the far end of the space, a giant portrait was hung. Kuro's gaze was deeply immersed while he studied it.

A ten-year-old Kuro, wearing a miniature version of his current white “PEACE” t-shirt over a pair of black shorts. He was surprised at how small he used to be. He thought he was rather cute.

Behind young Kuro, two individuals loomed over him. The one to the left—a man who looked like he was in his late twenties—had hair almost a dark as Kuro’s, but his eyes had fiery redness to them. His lips were coiled in a subtle smirk, framed by his acute jawline.

The man was dressed in an ash colored suit, with a velvet dress shirt underneath—the collar buttons undone.

Kuro’s eyes drifted to the woman on the right. She had blonde, wavy neck-length hair. Her brows were pleasantly full, like thick, intentional brushstrokes.

Her face was shapely, to the point one may call it unfair to have such symmetrical features. Clear amber eyes, bright as the sun. A soft smile graced her tender lips.

She was wrapped in a stunning, porcelain empire style gown that airily draped to her legs, with gold tracing swirls along the sleeves of sheer fabric.

The sight made Kuro smile unknowingly as he thought to himself, Mom. Dad. I’m home…

Talmarius strolled up to where Kuro sat before speaking. “I’m sure your Father and Mother would have been overjoyed with your visit, my Liege.”

“Yeah, I’m sure they will—” Kuro quickly scanned the room then asked, “Where’d all the maids go? The other staff as well?”

He was referring to the workforce of thirty who’d normally be seen lining the rooms, or racing across the halls maintaining the mansion.

“The majority are currently in their private quarters, and the rest are outside.”

Kuro nodded understandingly before reclining in the couch, focusing back on the portrait. “How long has it been since I left again?”

“About a year, my Liege.” Talmarius’s tone had an unapproving edge to it as he continued. “A year since you insisted on living on your own, preparing yourself for, ‘college’.”

Kuro had never received institutional education during his stay at the mansion. Rather, with the guidance of Talmarius, he was taught everything within the general curriculum according to his grade level at the time—through the assistance of the mansion’s massive library.

“Well, I had to see the outside world eventually. Couldn’t stay cooped up her forever, right?”

Talmarius's shoulders relaxed and his expression softened. “I know the loss of your Father was quite unfortunate, but—it was his proud duty as the former Demon King—!”

“Again with this Demon King talk… All that’s in the past. I’m moving on with life.” Kuro thought for a moment before he muttered, “I wonder how things would’ve been if Mom was still around back then…”

● ● ●

Irina pushed through the gold-adorned revolving doors guarding the ground floor of the skyscraper. Many sharply dressed men and women in suits walked across the ground floor, handling what was presumably paperwork.

She took a deep breath, then slowly navigated through the thick crowd of office workers. After skillfully avoiding any collisions with any of the workers, Irina arrived at the front desk.

“Top floor, Yui,” Irina said to the receptionist wearing round spectacles, and dark-brown hair tied in twin ponytails. She also wore a black suit similar to the one everyone was wearing—almost like a dress code.

Yui’s glasses glinted silver as she flashed a coy grin, before she replied, “Yes, Lady Irina.”

Then, Yui whispered something into the communication device on her ear. A loud shout erupted from it as she smiled nervously at Irina.

Yui conspicuously motioned with her head to the elevator on the left. Irina nodded, heading for the glass doors with similar golden finishing.

From the numerous cluster of buttons she selected the one to the sixtieth floor—the highest floor of the building.

Ascending through the glass-walled elevator, Irina gently observed the passing floors as they passed by. The action had a calming effect on her, until her brow suddenly knit as she remembered the matter at hand.

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened to reveal a wide, executive office. Several papers were scattered across the massive mahogany desk.

The entire office was enclosed in glass, allowing a full view of the bustling city below. There was a single chair in front of the desk, then a couple of black couches in the corners of the room.

Behind the desk, a—comically large—high-back office chair backed Irina, facing out toward the city.

Irina heaved a heavy sigh, almost deflating physically, as the large office chair…slowly began to turn to face her. She braced herself!