A FEW HOURS AGO THAT DAY:
The alley was silent in the pre-dawn hours, still bearing the scars from the night's battle. Shirai Takeru stood near the incident site, checking his watch and tapping his foot with growing impatience.
"You called me, Shirai-san," Tanaka said with a modest look. Tanaka Kujou had a similar build to Shirai Takeru without his power suit. A strong and solid 6 '1 figure wearing a leather jacket with his badge which was not his official hero suit but still was enough to identify him.
Takeru turned to see Kujou Tanaka approaching through the shadows.
"You're late. I called you an hour ago," Takeru said, his voice sharp.
"Sorry, Shirai-san. I couldn't find a cab this late, so I had to jog my way here," Tanaka replied while rubbing his head. He showed no signs of exhaustion even after jogging for 2 kilometers.
Takeru pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly through gritted teeth. "There's an important meeting I need to attend. I'm assigning you a task here."
Tanaka's eyes lit up with excitement. "Woah. Really? Also, a meeting at this hour?"
"Yes, it's a... very important... and a secret meeting," Takeru stammered. "I need to leave right away."
Takeru continued without waiting for a response. "I want you to patrol this area until I am back. Set up a personal perimeter of 200 meters. No one should come here. Be wary of any suspicious activity, and report back to me in the evening when I take over."
"You got it, big bro," Tanaka said with confidence.
Tanaka seemed desperate for this opportunity. He had quick responses and didn't put much thought to his replies. Takeru noticed this and decided to add more instructions.
"Good. And do not use any powers unless absolutely necessary. I don't want this place to have more mess than it already has. If any serious altercation takes place, you call me or you call the police and wait until help arrives. Okay?" Takeru warned as he pointed out the scorch marks.
Tanaka nodded eagerly. "Also, bro... would this task help me get into the 'Inner Circle'?"
Takeru's expression shifted slightly as his eyes widened but he managed to steady himself. "It might. Some higher-ups have been impressed with your recent work."
Tanaka placed his right fist over his heart with reverence. "Thanks a lot, bro. I'll make you proud."
"And yeah, there's a specific person I want you to watch out for," Takeru said, pulling out his phone. He swiped through some photos before showing the screen to Tanaka. "Security footage from last night. Bad quality, but you can make out some details. He's about 5'10", has lean fitness, and most importantly has some electricity-based powers. If you see him snooping around, observe him carefully. Get him to reveal his abilities if you can, but don't kill him. Just... make sure he knows he's being watched. If you confirm it's him and handle it right, I'll put in a really good word to get you in the 'Inner Circle' "
Takeru described what Tanaka should look out for in particular. He had a hunch that the vigilante might come back to investigate and wanted to be sure for a day or two.
Tanaka nodded as he rubbed his hands as if he was preparing for a wrestling match. Takeru had doubts if Tanaka was fit for the task but he trusted Tanaka's abilities as a hero. Tanaka was in the top 50 in Japan after all.
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PRESENT:
Shit. I can't mess up this time. I need to catch this guy. Three people have passed through this area now. A woman with her kid and an old man. They probably live around here so they have no choice maybe ? Well with the morning headlines, most people would avoid this area. Except the person in the video as per Shirai-san's intuition. I really need to get back in his good graces after I messed up last time. Although it wasn't my fault. But this job. This job is the way to get back. And maybe the Inner Circle won't be that far, Tanaka thought as he mindlessly scrolled through his phone.
Tanaka then checked his phone for the tenth time. No calls. No messages. Takeru hadn't said it directly, but Tanaka knew this was his last chance. One more mistake, and the Inner Circle dream would vanish forever.
Kazama rounded the corner and found himself face-to-face with the hero he didn't expect to meet here. Tanaka looked at him and smiled while he put his phone back into his pocket.
"Hey there! You lost, kid?" Tanaka asked. He started observing Kazama - his height, his build and the way he responded.
"I was on my way to meet a senpai from my school," Kazama replied confidently without revealing much.
"Way to where? Judging from your uniform, you're from Tokyo Super High, which is on the other side. Wouldn't you find your senpai there ?" Tanaka said, tilting his head.
He caught me off guard. I need to come up with something, Kazama thought instantly. Also is he looking for something or is he just being professional ? Did he get stationed here for questioning people or perhaps looking for the vigilante ?
"I am meeting my senpai for combat prep," Kazama replied smoothly with a confident lie. "Entrance evaluations are coming up. He lives around here somewhere. He has a personal training area which seems a better option for private one on one combat sessions. I find it better than the one at school".
"Oh, is that so," Tanaka replied, nodding slowly while scratching his chin.
Seems like a valid answer. But he fits most of the description. This kid is around 5'10" and has lean fitness. The only thing left is that electricity thing. If I can somehow draw him out to use his powers, then maybe I can confirm my suspicion, Tanaka thought as continued to observe Kazama.
"But still since you are up and running this early, you must have seen the headlines somewhere right? That this is an active crime scene and you must avoid this area?" Tanaka fired back with a tone which suggested as if he was on to something. He had his left eyebrow raised and his arm raised with a gesture which wanted answers.
"I am sorry sir but I missed the morning headlines before coming here. I didn't see any warning signs or police tapes so I didn't know if this area was part of any active investigation. I would have surely avoided this area if that was the case" Kazama replied confidently to avoid any suspicion. Each sentence had weight behind them as he spoke them which sounded quite convincing.
This kid is clear on all bases. Today could be a long day. But there's still hope. One last card to turn it around, Tanaka thought as he had a smile on his face while thinking about his final option.
"If there's nothing else, sir, I should get going. My senior doesn't like being kept waiting," Kazama said as he was about to take another step.
"Ah yes there isn't anything else. I don't think we should have your senpai waiting" Tanaka said.
"Thanks. Wishing you a good day" Kazama replied as he turned his back to Tanaka and took a step.
"I am curious about one thing though. You are from the top school in Japan right ? What are your abilities ?" Tanaka asked with a confident smile with hands on his waist.
Kazama's eyes widened. He didn't expect that
My powers ? He probably got briefed about the incident last night. Saying electricity now would only throw me into more trouble, Kazama thought as he slowly turned to face Tanaka once again.
"It's related to close quarter combat. There is an unofficial term for it but for now CQC is what the school has marked in its systems" Kazama said while making a casual smile and putting his hand on the back of his head. Shit. This is the best I could come up with ? Kazama instantly knew he had fumbled the response.
CQC? Seriously? That's the worst lie he could've come up with.Tanaka's eyes narrowed. There's no registered ability in Japan that matches what he's describing. And there's definitely no "unofficial term" floating around. I would know about that. His gaze hardened, every instinct telling him that Kazama was hiding something.
"Oh, speaking of that... you know, I'm pretty good at hand-to-hand myself. You wouldn't learn anything from your senpai that you couldn't pick up from me. I am a pro hero, after all." Tanaka said with a creepy smile after finishing his bit. His smile stretched a little too wide, the corners of his mouth pulling higher than they should've, as if his face hadn't learned where to stop.
What? Why? That smile is really creepy. I know the lie was bad but now he wants to fight me ?This is bad. I need to get out of here, Kazama thought as he knew the situation was taking a wrong turn.
Kazama forced a polite smile and took a small step back. "Oh, I wouldn't want to bother you. Plus I gave a commitment to my senpai."
Tanaka closed the distance in a single casual stride, cutting off any escape route. His positioning was deliberate, one step to the left or right, and he'd intercept. Any attempt to vault or run would put Kazama within grabbing range.
He's boxed me in. If I try to run now, he'll know something's up. A hero doesn't corner students like this unless he's already suspicious. Besides, even if I do run, he would report me and book me officially which would be even more troublesome , Kazama realized as he loosened his bag straps a bit. He wasn't really prepared for a fight but that casual stride made Kazama instinctively be prepared for the worst.
"I insist. How about you call him here, or we can get him here together? You guys can 2v1 against me. It would be fun. Besides, I got a bit rusty these past few months. It would be a good training session for me too," Tanaka proposed as he raised his fists as a gesture for a bout.
Kujou Tanaka. He's ranked 47 in all of Japan. If he gets serious, he could beat me to a pulp. But if push comes to shove…, Kazama thought with conflicts in his mind. No, no, no. My ideal approach should still be getting out of here without any conflict.
"What do you say? You and me then?" Tanaka asked sarcastically. "If you don't want to see your senpai getting embarrassed."
Kazama tried to be careful with his next words. "I appreciate the offer, sir. But I don't fight when I don't have to. I choose my sparring partners carefully. That's rule number six at Tokyo Super High. Don't waste your strength. If there is nothi ...."
Without warning, Tanaka swung with his right arm. Kazama quickly ducked. Tanaka followed up with an uppercut with his left, which Kazama sidestepped before hopping back to create space between them.
"Not bad, kid. I was expecting to land at least one of those hits. Your ability to read what's coming next is really good," Tanaka said, rolling his shoulders.
"What is the meaning of this ?", Kazama asked with his eyes widened in surprise, muscles freezing for a split second.
"Not everything needs to have a meaning. Come on now. It's your turn to come at me," Tanaka said with a grin as he prepared himself for another round.
"There is….." Kazama tried to speak up again.
Tanaka exploded forward like a coiled spring. His right fist cut through the air with a whistle, followed immediately by a left hook that forced Kazama to twist his torso. The third punch came fast and Kazama barely stepped back in time.
Tanaka immediately went for a chop with his right arm. Kazama's instincts screamed. He caught the descending arm with both hands, the impact jarring his shoulders. Using Tanaka's momentum against him, Kazama pivoted on his heel, swung around the hero's body, and shoved hard before releasing his grip.
Tanaka stumbled forward two steps before catching himself, his eyes bright with excitement. He didn't expect a teenager with Kazama's build to counter and swing him like that.
"Not bad! Haha! Not bad at all for a high schooler!" Tanaka said, scratching his head. "You surely have my attention now! Your ability to read, move, and analyze situations has highly intrigued me! I think it's time for me to get a bit more serious."
I don't think I can hold him off for long. I barely dodged all of his attacks, but exhaustion will soon catch up to me… Kazama thought even after going toe to toe with the recent set of moves, he knew Tanaka could tip the scale at any moment. Kazama dropped his bag now for extra mobility. He was not being given enough time to come up with words that could stop Tanaka.
Tanaka launched himself forward again, this time like a boxer who'd found his rhythm. His fists became a blur with right, left, right, left, each punch carrying the weight of professional training. Kazama's arms burned as he blocked some strikes, his forearms taking hits that would leave bruises tomorrow. One punch slipped through his guard but he ducked immediately to avoid a punch to the face which could potentially knock him out.
Kazama gave ground, step by step, dragging the fight across the street. His back hit a wall. He used it as a springboard, pushing off to change angles and slip away from Tanaka's reach. He also managed to slip in that shiny thing across the street which he had noticed right before encountering Tanaka. Tanaka missed this movement as he thought Kazama placed his hand on the ground to find balance.
I got to pick that shiny thing up but it's not the concern right now. I shouldn't use my powers in any case here. It would only make things messier. Maybe riling him up will reveal who he really is, Kazama thought, trying to weigh in on other options.
Tanaka leapt again at Kazama. He wouldn't have stopped at anything until Kazama revealed his powers.
"Come on, kid! I know you have it in you," Tanaka called out between punches. "You can't just bob and weave forever. Show some fight."
Kazama decided to pull the trigger as he made a large step backward. "Some hero you are. Hunting students in alleys at dawn. You should be ashamed of yourself."
Tanaka's smile vanished like smoke.
His next punch carried real force, enough to break bones. Kazama slid right. The fist crashed into the concrete wall, leaving a crater the size of a dinner plate. Chunks of concrete rained down.
Kazama's blood ran cold. He's not holding back anymore. He got goosebumps out of both fear and shock but quickly steadied himself in case Tanaka went after him again.
Tanaka lowered his stance, and the tone of his voice got colder and more sinister. "What do you know about being a hero? You wear a uniform and ace a few drills, and suddenly you think you understand justice ? You think I am ashamed ? You think something as trivial as shame matters to a pro hero ?"
"I know this isn't it," Kazama shot back loudly. "Attacking students before sunrise... That's not justice. That's an abuse of authority. What did I even do for you to come at me like this ? "
"Authority?" Tanaka laughed bitterly. "The system only listens when you break it hard enough." Tanaka ignored Kazama's question to push his own agenda.
"What system? You sound like a hero who went rogue because he couldn't fix things on time." Kazama replied while clenching both his fists. He was able to hide his anger but got his point across.
"Maybe that's what you're supposed to see," Tanaka replied, his voice taking on an edge of genuine belief. "Maybe I am that type of a hero. Not because I didnt fix things on time. But because I am desperate to get the job done."
That tone... he believes in something twisted. This isn't just about me. Maybe he's connected to last night, but someone else is pulling his strings. Kurotsuki Mafia ? Kazama deduced.
"So who exactly are you fixing things for, Tanaka-san? Or are you just clearing a path for someone else?" Kazama asked, trying to test his theories.
"You're smarter than you look. But being smart doesn't matter if you can't survive the next minute." Tanaka began unrolling his cuff, his eyes slowly beginning to glow amber. "I gave you chances. I wanted to see what you'd do under pressure. I wanted to see if you were him."
Him...? He wasn't just testing my strength. He was matching me to a profile, Kazama thought and realized that things were going to get a lot worse. He definitely knows about last night. Maybe the mafia sent him to sort me out ?
"You've got control. Discipline. I respect that. But you've reached the limit of my patience." Tanaka said after he was done unrolling his cuffs.
"You're not just after a fight, are you?" Kazama asked, still trying to reason.
"I couldn't draw out your powers the easy way. Now it's time to test some new ones." Tanaka said with absolute determination. He was ready to break the one rule that Takeru had bestowed upon him. Desperation got the better of him.
Shit. He is not in the mood of answering questions anymore. I don't know if I can outrun him or whatever he is going to throw at me without relying on my powers, Kazama thought as he looked around for routes to escape through and slowly took a few steps back.
"Now let's see you dodge this without your powers," Tanaka said, his expression twisting into something predatory.
Tanaka charged his right hand. The ground beneath him cracked and buckled. A chunk of asphalt tore free, spiraling upward in a vortex of debris. The road fragments fused with his arm, which began glowing molten red. Steam hissed from the superheated surface.
"BLAZING FIST!"
He leaped forward with killing intent, his blazing arm cocked back. The heat was so intense Kazama could feel it from meters away, he could smell burning air and asphalt.
This isn't a test anymore. He's actually trying to kill me. If it has come to this… Kazama thought as he knew he was out of options. Except one, to use his powers as self defence and reveal what his powers actually are to Tanaka.
Kazama's hand slipped behind his back. Blue electricity sparked and crackled between his fingers, growing brighter.
"ENCHANTED FORCE FIELD!"
A translucent dome of shimmering energy materialized around Kazama. Tanaka's blazing fist collided with it in an explosion of light and sound. The force field held, but cracks spiderwebbed across its surface. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward.
The shockwaves were felt by people even 300 meters away from that area. Windows wobbled and water in glasses rippled. The cyclist who was saved from a fall by Kazama stopped his bicycle and started dialling to report these unusual shockwaves.
Kazama whipped around, eyes wide with surprise. Electricity still danced across his fingers, barely contained.
Tachibana Takemi stood about ten meters behind him, her light blue eyes completely white, both hands extended forward. Her light blue hair whipped around her face from the residual energy of her force field. Sweat beaded on her forehead from the strain of blocking such a powerful attack.
"What..." Kazama started, his mind racing to process what just happened.