Kousuke unlocked the front door of his house and stepped inside, immediately greeted by a shrill, excited voice.
"Onii-chan! What are you doing home?"
A tiny girl with bright energy and warm eyes sprinted toward him. Without hesitation, she jumped straight into his arms.
He caught her mid-leap and smiled faintly. "They're giving us a week off to do whatever we want. Weird school. But I decided to come spend it with you."
"Yayyy! That means you'll play with me all week???"
"Of course. What do you want to play first?"
She tapped her chin in thought, then beamed. "Ummm… superhero!"
Kousuke's expression flattened slightly. "Sis, we're demons. Demons can't be heroes. We shouldn't play that."
Riko crossed her arms defiantly. "You know my ability is Heart's Desire. And you desire to be a hero."
Kousuke froze.
"Sis…" he muttered, remembering his past words, "Don't worry princess, you'll never have to. I'll be a hero for you." Then he looked away. "I can't be a hero."
"But it'd make you happy!" she said brightly. "Fine. If you can't be a hero, I'll be a hero for you."
Kousuke stared at her for a long moment, then reached out and gently patted her head.
"The only thing that'll make me happy is you."
"Yayyy! Onii-chan, you're smiling!"
Kousuke chuckled softly. "Let's go to the park, sis."
—
The sun was setting by the time they arrived. Riko ran ahead, giggling, as Kousuke took a seat on a bench nearby. His gaze drifted until he spotted a familiar figure entering the park.
Yoko.
She looked equally surprised to see him. "Huh. This is your idea of preparation?"
He smirked. "Could say the same about you."
Yoko huffed and turned to her little brother. "Go play."
She walked over and sat beside Kousuke on the bench.
"My little brother wanted to come to the park. Wait, why are you here?"
Kousuke didn't answer.
She glanced at him. "Y'know… it's kinda weird. A guy your age, watching kids play at the park."
"Onii-chan! Onii-chan!" Riko shouted from across the grass. "Is this your girlfriend?"
Yoko burst into laughter.
Kousuke sighed. "No."
"But my abil—"
"Sis!" he interrupted. "Go play."
Riko pouted and stomped off.
Yoko chuckled. "Wow. She's full of energy. Reminds me of when I was young."
A flicker of something passed over her face, a memory. Her smile wavered.
"I hate parks," she said suddenly, softly.
Kousuke looked over.
"Only a true hero could suffer through something they hate… for others."
"Huh?"
Kousuke stood. "Sis, let's go. Time to leave."
He didn't look back.
Yoko watched them go.
"Who is he…?"
—
Later that night, Yoko was at home when the front door clicked open.
"Mother?" she said, startled. "What are you doing here? I thought you had a business trip."
Her mother entered, heels clicking against the floor. "It ended early. But I could ask you the same—shouldn't you be training for your tournament?"
Yoko brightened. "So… you've heard? Does that mean you're coming to watch?"
Her mother scoffed. "Don't tell me you need your mother to win a fight."
"N-No…"
"And why would I come watch you fight a bunch of weaklings?"
"I… I just…"
Her mother cut her off coldly. "Do you expect to lose? You're my daughter. Don't embarrass me."
"I won't lose," Yoko said quietly.
"Good. Now, since you're not training, make yourself useful and clean this place up. I'm heading back out soon."
"Yes, ma'am…"
—
Day of the Tournament
Class A stood lined up in the arena, the ceiling lights gleaming off the polished tiles beneath their feet. Tension buzzed in the air like static.
Yoko glanced to her side.
"Are you ready?"
Kousuke let out a slow yawn.
"Ready for what?"
She scowled.
"The tournament, you idiot!"
"Oh, right. Yeah… it's all you. I'll make sure to stay out of your way," he replied casually.
"Grrrr..." Yoko growled through clenched teeth.
A few steps away, Akira stood beside Koji, eyes scanning the competition.
"We should be able to win this thing," Akira said confidently.
Koji nodded. "The only real threat is Yoko… and that demon kid."
"They won't be a problem either."
Koji frowned. "What? Don't underestimate those two! I made that mistake with Kousuke."
Akira shrugged. "The way things are going, that kid might not fight at all. And the two of us should be able to handle Yoko."
Koji paused, then nodded. "You're right. He forfeited every match during the ranking rounds… but what if he actually decides to fight today?"
Akira's expression darkened slightly. "Even if he does, we still don't know what he's truly capable of. Just keep an eye on him throughout the tournament. As long as we stick to the plan, we can't lose."
The instructor stepped forward, voice sharp and clear.
"The first match—Koji and Akira versus Haruto and Yuto—will now begin!"
—
Preliminaries
Koji and Akira dominated their first match with ease, overwhelming Haruto and Yuto in just under two minutes.
After a string of hard-fought battles, Riku and Mei, as well as Haruki and Yui, advanced to the semifinals.
And in the second semifinal match—Yoko and Kousuke also emerged victorious… though something strange happened.
Koji stared in disbelief.
"Unreal… I knew she was strong, but wow."
Akira crossed his arms. "This changes nothing."
To single-handedly take down two opponents is one thing, the instructor thought, watching from the sideline. But to do it without a single scratch?
And that boy… he really sat through the entire match.
"Pathetic," Yoko said, glaring at Kousuke. "You're really not going to help?"
"I didn't get the chance," he replied with a smirk. "You were too strong. Took them down so fast."
"You were lying down the entire match!"
The teacher stepped forward. "Once both teams have rested, we'll begin the final match."
Kousuke stretched and stepped ahead. "That won't be necessary. I say we get started right now."
Koji blinked. "Does this mean… he's actually going to fight?"
"Fine by me," Akira said, tightening his gloves.
Kousuke flashed him a half-lazy grin. "Sure, kid."
"..."
So he's actually going to fight? Yoko thought, glancing at her partner.
The instructor raised her hand. "If both teams are ready... let the match begin!"
—
Kousuke walked straight to a corner of the arena—and lay down.
Yoko whipped her head around.
What the hell, you idiot?! You're the one who insisted we start early—and now you're not going to fight?!
The instructor sighed.
"So he still refuses to fight..."
Koji shook his head. "What a strange kid."
Yoko turned to face her opponents, eyes steeled.
"It doesn't matter. I'm Yoko Fuji. I won't lose."
Akira stepped forward. "I'm afraid your name won't save you."
Yoko smirked. "I watched your matches. You're strong, sure—but nothing special. Nothing I can't handle."
Akira grinned. "Oh? Don't think we showed all our cards."
"What?"
"Witness what we're like when we fight together."
—
Flashback
"There's no way we'll be able to overpower Yoko," Akira had said.
"So what do you want to do?" Koji asked.
Present
As Koji lunged, he suddenly leapt to the side—revealing a crackling lightning bolt hurtling from behind him.
Akira's aim was flawless.
Yoko reacted instantly, summoning an ice wall to block the blast. It crashed into the wall with a burst of steam—
But Koji appeared behind her mid-deflection, his iron fist already swinging.
Yoko twisted into the air just in time to dodge, but as she looked up—Akira's staff was already above her, discharging another bolt of lightning straight down.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted on contact. Smoke blanketed the arena in a thick cloud as the blast echoed through the stadium.
Koji landed beside Akira, retreating to regroup.
Akira lowered his rod, its surface crackling as he pulled it back to himself.
—
Flashback
Young Yoko sniffled in a corner of the park. Tears ran down her face.
Her mother's voice snapped: "Stop crying. You're a Fuji. Crying makes you weak. And Fujis aren't weak."
—
A different voice spoke in her memory.
"It's okay to cry," young Kousuke said gently. "Heroes cry sometimes too. But don't ever let the villains see you cry."
The memory faded like smoke—and when the smoke cleared, Yoko stood in the arena, breath ragged but defiant.
A few scratches lined her arms and legs, but she remained upright.
Her opponents—Koji and Akira—had just unleashed a coordinated barrage that should've leveled her.
And yet…
"You think that's enough to beat me?" she said, eyes flashing.
Akira gritted his teeth. Damn it. I couldn't use full power indoors.
Yoko raised her hand. "You'll have to try harder than that."
She unleashed a wave of ice.
Koji came from the left, Akira from the right with lightning bolts arcing through the air.
Yoko charged straight at Koji.
"I'm not dumb enough to fight you head-on," he muttered.
He punched the ground, creating a smokescreen.
Yoko leapt through it—just in time to see Akira's rod above her, lightning raining down.
"Same trick again?" she sneered. "Won't work."
She blocked the lightning with a wall of ice—but Koji emerged from the smoke with his Iron Fist.
Yoko twisted, dodging—only to see Akira below, rod glowing.
His strike connected.
Yoko flew back, skidding across the ring.
The teacher whispered to herself, "They're overpowering her. Alone, they can't win—but together…"
Yoko stood, slowly, trembling.
"I can't lose," she whispered. "I won't lose."
—
From the corner of the ring, he watched her stagger, arms trembling.
Tch. This again? Kousuke stretched.
"Looks like you're having a rough time, princess."
Yoko didn't answer.
He walked over casually.
"How about I bail you out just this once and tag in?"
She looked up. "Don't underestimate them. Together—"
"I'll handle them," Kousuke said. "You just take notes."
Koji clenched his fists. "You may have beaten me one-on-one, but not this time. We're unstoppable together."
Akira narrowed his eyes. "Not even Yoko could stop us."
The teacher leaned in, intrigued.
So he's finally decided to fight… I wonder why.
Kousuke raised a brow. "Is this a debate… or a fight?"
"Let's go," Akira growled.
Koji lunged forward.
Akira threw lightning.
Kousuke dodged everything—gracefully, effortlessly.
Koji appeared behind him with a fist cocked back—only for Kousuke to turn and casually catch it.
"So predictable."
Koji's eyes widened. "He… stopped my Iron Fist with his hand!?"
Lightning came from above.
At the last moment, Kousuke pulled Koji into its path.
The explosion rocked the arena.
"Koji!" Akira shouted.
Kousuke dashed forward.
He threw a right hook.
Akira ducked—but Kousuke followed through with a spinning kick.
His foot connected with Akira's jaw, knocking him off balance.
Akira stumbled.
Kousuke moved like a ghost—silent, precise.
Koji regained composure and charged again.
"Is charging and punching all you know how to do?"
Kousuke didn't even move.
He blocked every punch without shifting his stance.
One strike.
Two pressure points.
Koji dropped.
"And the winners are Yoko and Kousuke!" the teacher announced.
Unreal, she thought. He beat two opponents Yoko struggled with—without a scratch.
Yoko blushed faintly.
"Thanks for helping…"
"No need. Your smile is reward enough."
—
Flashback
Young Kousuke: "A true hero doesn't need a reward—or even a thank you. The smiling faces of the people he saves should be enough."
—
Present
Kousuke turned to leave.
"Wait!" Yoko called.
He stopped.
"You're that boy from the park, aren't you?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
He walked away.
—
Next Day
"You're really strong," Yoko said.
Kousuke shrugged. "They underestimated me."
Koji clenched his fists. "We didn't hold back."
"You used the same strategy you used on Yoko," Kousuke said calmly. "I saw it. You assumed it'd work on me."
Akira said nothing.
"If you'd changed your plan, you might've beaten me."
"You're full of surprises," Yoko admitted.
The teacher stepped in. "Good morning, class. Because of your hard work, you'll get a few days off before the next round of events. But first, meet our new transfer student."
A girl walked in.
"Hello everyone," she said sweetly. "My name is Rei Ito. I hope we can all get along."
Koji gawked. "She's beautiful…"
Yoko beamed. "And super nice!"
Kousuke didn't move. "I'd stay away from her if I were you."
"What?" Yoko frowned.
"We grew up together. Anybody who can fake a smile that flawlessly… should be feared."
Koji scoffed. "You're just mad she's out of your league."
"You've been warned."
Yoko grinned. "She must've rejected you in the past."
Rei's voice rang out. "Koshi, is that you?"
Yoko blinked. Koshi?
"You know Kousuke?" the teacher asked.
Rei smiled. "We're childhood friends."
"Take the seat behind him."
Rei walked past. "Koshi. Long time no see."
Kousuke stood up and walked out the door.
Yoko tried to save face. "Sorry about him. He's a bit… shabby."
Rei giggled. "Oh no. Kousuke's always been like that. Tough on the outside… but soft when he cares about someone."
Yoko tilted her head. "Him? Care about someone?"
Rei turned. "What's your name?"
"Yoko Fuji. You're really pretty."
"You're the real gem," Rei said with a wink.
Koji waved. "I'm Koji."
"Nice to meet you. I hope we can be great friends."
Yoko asked, "Why do you call him Koshi?"
"I had a speech problem as a kid. It was all I could say. It just stuck."
"Awww," Yoko smiled.
Rei grinned. "Hey, we should go out sometime."
Yoko nodded. "Yeah sure, that sounds fun."