I'm a hero!!

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"HOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!"

The overweigthed dealers laughed.

"Give me a hug, bro!"

"I love you, bro!"

Both smugglers hugged each other tightly as they laughed.

"So did you bring the goods as we agreed?"

"Of course." He opened the back doors of the truck. "Here are the two boxes of grenades you ordered."

"Yeaaaahh... they're perfect, bro." He said as he analyzed one of the grenades.

"Then bro, let's make the payment and get out of here as soon as possible. I don't want the police or any of those Asu's to find out about this."

"Alright, for all of this, it will be 600,000 yen."

"No way. We agreed it would be 400,000!"

"Yes, you're right. But I had to spend more so that our calls wouldn't get traced."

Then bring it down a bit. A difference of 200,000 yen is too much."

"How about 500,000? Neither for you nor for me.

"All right, prepare the Net Share. I'll transfer it to you right away."

Both subjects connected a cable running from a port on their forearm to another port on their temple. The operation is simple. The Net Share is connected to the government's global network. That way, people can make payments and transactions wirelessly without the need for cash. These two guys also possessed brain technology that allowed them total control over what they did on their Net Share. In other words, it is a very common anti-theft system in suburban communities where security is lousy.

"Brother, have you made sure to comb the area well? I don't want a ghost robbing us."

"Yeah, don't worry. We even have disruptors. Any ghost outside these abandoned warehouses won't be able to interfere."

The young boy detected the transfer instantly with his new PDA. With no problem at all and with total security, he was able to jam the transaction without leaving a trace. The plan was a success, except that he didn't set up the payment decoy properly.

"Well, I've already made the payment to you. Did you get it?"

"Wait 5 seconds. It usually takes a while to process the payment."

*COUGH, COUGH*

They waited immobile for the payment to be made. After 10 seconds, there was still no confirmation. As a cool breeze rang in the air, they realized that the money had been intercepted.

"GHOOOOOOOOOOOOST!!!!!!" They yelled.

A ghost was a third party interfering in a negotiation without being present. Calling it out meant two things. First, that the ghost was in a remote location far away. Second, that it was nearby. All the men there raised their weapons and began searching for the ghost.

Time for plan B.

Ano realized that he had been spotted. His first plan was to wait for them to leave. But he foresaw that something could go wrong. After all, he was going to rob them. He prepared an escape plan in advance.

Time to fly, Z-910!!

The young inventor got on his Z-910, which was facing a clumsily constructed ramp. As soon as he started his motorcycle, the roar of his engine alerted the armed dealers, who pointed in unison in his direction.

*VROOM!!!*

Ano accelerated, crossed the ramp that was destroyed as soon as he flew off, and went through the glass window of the warehouse where he was hiding.

The guards shielded themselves from the falling glass as Ano fell to the ground making a dangerous slide with his faithful steed of steel. Without losing his balance, he accelerated towards the exit path that had not been cut off.

"IDIOTS, SHOOT!!!" Said one of the brothers.

A hail of bullets began to hit the young inventor's motorcycle. Bullets were raining down from multiple directions. Then, just as he rounded the corner to the exit, a bullet grazed Ano's cheek, which caused a slightly deep wound.

"CHASE HIM, SCUM!!!" Said the other brother.

The young boy had cleverly escaped through the busiest road at the time. Thanks to his PDA, he was able to check the traffic situation in real time and analyze the optimal escape route as he was being chased.

The chase didn't last long and was hardly complicated. The speed of the Z-910 and the advantage he had gained were enough to reach the congested highway, where, thanks to the maneuverability of his motorcycle, he managed to lose the chasers instantly.

"Did anyone see what model that motorcycle was?"

All the men shook their heads.

"SHIT!!!"

****

Without further complications, Ano arrived back at his new apartment in Asu Industries. He entered without anyone seeing the wound on his face and hid in his room.

After cleaning his wound and healing it with a special healing gel from the medicine cabinet in his room, the young boy began to think about how dangerous it all was. Dangerous, but exciting.

"I can't believe it. I won!"

But this has taught me a good lesson. I can't just go around going crazy. I need a weapon for extreme situations like these!

Far from feeling fear or regret, the young inventor was eager to return to give the bad people of his beloved Neo Shibuya their comeuppance.

The next morning, while he was going about his daily chores and stealing parts to build his weapon and various other utensils, Miss Inui appeared at the young boy's stall and informed him of the decision Yu had made.

"Ano-san. Starting next week, you will be working on the project B.U.T.H.O. Later, your schedule and other details will be sent to your Cyber Hut." Without another word, Yu's personal assistant left.

That same week, the young boy would be working on what he had always wanted. 

I can't believe it!! I reached my ultimate goal in just a couple of days!! But why? 

He thought his results from yesterday were perfect, and the notes he made on his suit certainly impressed his boss.

Later that night, when he returned to his room, he reviewed the details of his new job. With that done, he built from scratch a retractable pistol that he could carry in his pocket. 

"YES!!" Finally, I finished my first weapon prototype. It only shoots one bullet though. I need to use it just in extreme situations!!" 

Immediately afterwards, he finished a textile hologram that he had almost completed. This technology projects a hologram directly on top of the clothes of the user. 

"With this, I will be able to change my appearance without having to change my clothes physically. I'll become the master of disguise!!" 

The next day, the young boy found out that an illegal shipment of gold had been stolen by some third-rate criminals. Without much trouble, the young boy managed to snatch part of the shipment. Some ingots and jewelry that later that night he would sell on the black market. From the loot he got that day, he kept a gold ring in the shape of a star.

Since I'm going to do it, I might as well do it right. Isn't it? Hana...

****

The young boy finally got a day off after several days of executing petty theft to gangs of the bunch. That day, with the money he had made from robbing thugs, he bought food and goods to take to the people at the shelter who were taking care of his friends. But mostly for Hana.

The great war of The Division reduced the living space as well as the space where crops could be grown. Ingredients such as rice, some vegetables and fruits were not so expensive. About 90% of the unbuildable land was used for cultivation. However, the other 10% was used for livestock and small mammal farming. 100% of the meat consumed in the suburbs was out of date and synthetic meat. Even in the metropolis, 80% of meat sales were not expired synthetic meat.

The vegetables, rice, and fresh fruit he brought for the hostel were not much of an expense considering it was a week's supply. However, the young boy bought real meat. He bought 2 kilos of chicken meat for which he paid 2 million yen. He was left without a single yen of everything he had that week.

"Ano-kun, this is amazing! Thank you so much! Please come in and eat with us." Said Hana excitedly.

The place was a large common space for many things. There was a single kitchen where everyone could cook their own food. There were honest and kind people in that hostel; however, they were not always willing to share their food with Ano's little friends. After all, the [V-pills] only nourished the body, but did not give the necessary energy that someone who works needs.

After cooking a tasty curry with his young friends, they all went to sit on Hana's bunk to taste that delicacy. As they all ate and enjoyed the food with smiles on their lips, a pleasant warmth flooded their hearts.

"You know, I got Yu Asu to let me participate in the development of his... MY SUIT! I start in 2 days!"

"That's great, Ano-kun! I knew you would make it! You're already closer to fulfilling our dream of creating a happy world!" His childhood friend said, smiling.

The young boy smiled. He knew the world was a dark place. However, at that moment, he felt that life was a beautiful thing. 

I need to protect everything I have. I have to protect the people that I love!! I have finally found a place I can call home and people I can call my family. This is my place on earth!

After finishing the dinner they had prepared together that special Saturday, Hana threw herself on her friend and gave him the most comforting hug he had ever received. His friend's head was sunk into Ano’s chest, which made the words she would say next make the young inventor's whole body vibrate.

"It was already clear to me that I wanted to marry you, Ano-kun. But right now, what I want is to be with you all my life." She said slowly and tenderly.

The young girl raised her head and looked her friend into his eyes. Hana's big smile lit up the dark inn in just a second. 

If Hana-chan, who lives in such pitiful conditions, can smile so kindly and warmly, I have no right to complain until I fulfill my dream. If I can see Hana-chan's smile every day, it will be reward enough for me. If I have to, I will even give up my dreams to protect her smile!

****

Once he had left everything ready for his friends to eat for the rest of the week, the young boy headed for the exit, accompanied by his fiancée. Once on the street, the young inventor put his hand in his pocket with the intention of taking something out.

I should now give her the gold ring I stole from those jewelry dealers. All right, then. On the count of three. One... two... thr...

Hana took a step towards where Ano was standing, and with a worried face, she said.

"Ano-kun, please stop. Stop doing this. It's dangerous. We don't need you to risk yourself for us."

Hana pointed to the visible wound still on her dear friend's face. The young girl was no fool. Despite having barely gone to school, she was a logical person who was well aware of the world she lived in. Her friend definitely had to have done something dangerous to get all that food.

"Don't worry, Hana-chan. I'm doing it to protect the neighborhood just like you."

The young boy took his hand out of his pocket without taking out the ring. Instead, he reached into another of his pockets to pull out the key of his Z-910. He got on the motorcycle and before starting it, he heard some words coming from Hana.

"...a game." Whispered.

"What did you say?"

"IT'S A GAME!!! WE NEVER PROTECTED ANYONE!!! I WAS JUST DOING IT TO GET YOUR ATTENTION SO YOU WOULD THINK I WAS COOL!!!"

The young inventor fell silent. His proud friend gave up what she had been saying all her life. Ever since the day they fought on the hill outside District C, the image of that little girl playing with him had begun to fade. But now it was about to disappear completely to transform into that of someone much more mature.

"I already knew it was a game! But this is different. I'm doing this for my dream, to improve people's lives, and for you guys." Said Ano wistfully.

"Then if it is for us, stop doing it! I don't mind being poor; I don't mind going hungry everyday; and I don't mind wearing dirty clothes for the rest of my life either!" Hana's voice cracked. "ALL I CARE ABOUT IS FOR YOU TO BE HAPPY FOREVER!!!"

Both young friends fell silent looking each other straight into the eyes. Hana, trembling, scared and worried, broke that silence with a few last words before her friend left.

"Please, I can't protect you. I don't want to lose you. You are the most precious thing in my life." Tears welled up on the young woman's grief-stricken face.

"I don't need you to defend me anymore." Ano proclaimed flatly.

Ano started the motorcycle and was lost among the streets of the district. Hana stood motionless on the spot for 10 minutes, crying alone and inconsolably, before she returned to the safety of the shelter where she lived.

****

Meanwhile, Yu Asu and his secretary, Inui, were talking in his magnanimous office.

"That's right, Mr. Asu."

"Then remember it. Tomorrow at 18:00 sharp. No delays. The spy will be out if we take away someone precious to him."

The serious and calculative Yu was contemplating the city from the large glass window in his office. To him, the lives of the people outside danced in his hands.

"So shall it be done, Mr. Asu."

****

The next day, in the afternoon, while the young boy was in his apartment in Asu's building, improving and building new artifacts, he heard a voice inside of his head.

*Ano-kun. Save me!*