When the woman woke up, she found herself in a room—yellow sunlight piercing through the windows, illuminating the door. The room was relatively tidy, with a wooden desk, a gaming chair and setup, a clean open wardrobe and another desk with neatly stacked paper. She looked to her side to see the imprint of a person who supposedly slept next to her on the bed she was currently on. She sat up and brushed her hair to the side, looking around suspiciously she pulled the duvet off of her and put her legs over the bed to sit up. Her super suit was unchanged and as she examined herself she looked to be untouched, stretching with relief as she got up she got into a mindset of focus, materializing a bright purple dagger of Manta into her left hand as she approached the door.
She heard a knock on the door which she expected, she backed herself against the edge of the door ready to strike if needed. As the handle of the door was turned, it creaked open slowly, the air was tense as she held her breath in wait. The moment she saw movement she swung her blade forth with force, however as the person stepping into view became clear, she hesitated. It was Hiro in his Shintech uniform, he let the door run past him and close shut as he stood with widened eyes merely inches off the sharp end of her blade.
"Why am I here?" She demanded an answer in a stern tone. She got in front of Hiro to better position herself, "Well.. you were unconscious so I thought, why not bring you somewhere safe you know..?" He spoke nervously, a drop of sweat falling from his temple innocently. "Uh huh, and how do I know you're not lying and this isn't some set up to kill me like that young lady?" She pressed on, seeming to not be having any trickery. "1, I don't even think i'm physically and mentally capable of such a thing and 2, I didn't kill that girl. Please calm down.." Hiro replied, still keeping still as to not trip over her blade.
She thought to herself for a moment, looked Hiro up and down, then dissipated her blade. "I suppose nobody wearing their blazer upside down would be able to pull off such a thing. Seriously, I wasted all that time on a chump like you. What a pain." She sighed in irritation. Hiro looked down at his blazer, taking it off quickly and re-wearing it properly with a nervous chuckle. "So uh, what's your name lady..?" Hiro asked curiously looking at her with a blush on his face. She's totally stunning come to think of it.. he thought to himself. "My name huh?" She sat on the side of his bed and crossed her legs, "It's Sora." She looked at him with a tinge of exhaustion, her purple eyes beaming at him. Hiro turned away, now tomato red. He wasn't used to attention from anyone of the opposite gender, let alone somebody like her. "Uh. Are you okay? Your face is red.."
Hiro turned back to her, "Uh you should probably leave to be honest, I mean I don't think my mom would be proud if she found a girl sitting on my bed in the morning, besides I have schoo-" "Your trigger." She said, gazing at his chest. "I don't understand how you were able to do what you did last night." She stood up and etched closer to him, putting her soft hands unto his chest, examining his Manta signature. She could feel the latent power within him, as though he was being restricted by something, or that maybe he simply wasn't able to fully tap into his potential.
Hiro took deep breaths, feeling her warm touch upon him. He calmed himself down to speak once again, "Sora.. your hand is a bit close, as in touching my chest?" He let out. "Ah. I see. I'm sorry for that. Just.. curiosity." She said, removing her hand from his chest. She walked toward the window, opening it and looking out to his neighbourhood, gasping in fresh air. "Your name?" She requested as though it was compulsory. "Oh. It's Hiro.. Hiro Takamura." He answered.
Sora didn't look back, but she spoke up again, this time in an apologetic tone. "I'm sorry for inconveniencing you Hiro. If you'd like, I could teach you how to better control your power, as an apology."
Hiro's eyes widened with excitement and he dropped to his knees, clasping his hands together he begged, "Please teach me. I've totally just been winging everything thus far, really I have. When I was flying I was totally about to crash into a building or something I was not in control of anything at all." Sora looked down on him and sighed with reluctance. "Meet me at the Gai tomorrow. I don't suppose you'd have school then correct?"
"No, there's no school on Saturday's." Hiro replied.
"Great. I'll be seeing you then.. Hiro Takamura." She launched herself outside the window, Hiro rushed to see if she was okay as the drop was 2 stories, but by the time he'd looked down she was gone, as if the breeze had collected her.
He closed his window and exhaled with relief, but then he was filled with anxiety. I haven't seen my Mom in days. How's she going to react to.. how I look? He questioned himself, though he would soon receive his answer. He exited his room and made his way down the marble stairs, upon arriving downstairs he could smell the distinct smell of Tonkatsu and curry sauce, that smell that had been printed in his memory over the years.
He drew a deep breath and walked toward the kitchen, which was situated inside the living room in a corner of the large room. Gliding across the hallway he finally reached the door, turning the handle and stepping inside. He pushed the door open, stepping into the room he saw his mother by the stove surrounded by ingredients. "How did the interview g-" She stopped in the middle of her sentence as she turned to the door while stirring.
"Hey mom.." Hiro said, breaking the awkward silence.
"Hiro..?" She stepped closer, holding the long wooden spoon as a make-shift weapon.
"Yes mom. Listen I-"
"Where is my son?!" She attempted to whack this Tall young man by his head repeatedly, although her attempts were for nought as the spoon eventually broke under Hiro's skin as he stood there awkwardly.
Hiro sighed, he'd have to prove himself to be her son. "Dave's Diner.." He said in a quiet tone, hoping she would recognize what he was saying. Dave's Diner was the restaurant Hiro's parents used to take him to all the time when he was younger. She stopped with the aimless whacking and dropped the handle of the broken spoon, holding her hand up to Hiro's cheek she would tilt her head, trying to comprehend his new appearance. "Hiro. What happened to you?" "Listen Ma it's a long sto-" She interrupted Hiro, slapping him across the face, "Have you not been eating?! Why did you dye your hair?! And contacts?! Why are you so Tall?!"
Hiro, having not been affected by the slap, looked to the Tv playing in the background. On the Tv, the JBC (Japanese Broadcasting Corporation) showcased the blackouts across Shinjuku that occurred 2 days ago. Hiro, obviously being the perpetrator, sunk into embarrassment. As Hiro's mom continued to lecture him, Hiro ignored it, instead he paid attention to the Tv which continued to showcase other Manta related events. However, nothing was shown about the explosions that occurred that night 3 days ago when Hiro collected the vial. What really happened that night? He pondered in his mind. But that was a question for a later date. He looked above the Tv to the clock, then verified the time by pulling his iPhone out of his pocket and checking the time. "Shit!" He yelped. "Sorry ma! Got to go! Love you!" He shouted from outside the room as he sprinted out and towards the front door.
"Hiro!" His mother roared from inside the house but Hiro couldn't hear her, he was already outside, now with his bag on his back he launched himself into the sky. That golden aura formed around his body again as he thrusted through the air with extreme velocity.
He focused all of his mind into controlling his flight, and to make it safer he ascended further up and away from residential buildings. After a minute or two, Hiro saw the main building of Shintech High down below. He dived down to the ground at the back of the building so as to not draw attention, landing soft on the ground he felt pleased with himself after his first successful flight.
After arriving at the front of the school Hiro entered the main building . Whilst he ambled down the long corridors anxiously, he could hear the chatter and staring at him, all asking who this new kid was. But Hiro wasn't new, it's just that he looked so different now. Eventually he reached his classroom, he took a lungful of air and mustered the courage to enter the room. Upon his entrance, the entire room developed an air of tension.
"Excuse me.. I think you have the wrong class, young man." The teacher stated slightly annoyed at the sudden appearance, yet in awe.
"No I uh.. It's me, Hiro." He would reply shyly.
The whispers surged through the classroom as his profound claim to be the short fat Hiro Takamura filled everyone with surprise. The teacher's eyes widened in disbelief. "Hiro Takamura..?"
"Yes sir. I'm so sorry I've been off for these past few days, I had.. serious family matters to attend to." He'd lie, ignoring the pressure of a thousand eyes that was rubbing against him.
Hiro would go to his seat and sit quietly without fuss, expecting his teacher to carry on with the lesson. From the other side of the classroom sat those 3, Tanielu, Ant and Kazumi, all sat in descending rows. The others were filled with fear, turning their heads away from Hiro in shame, but Tanielu held the same twisted smile he had 2 days ago. His eyes aiming in on an unknowing Hiro's throat with bloodlust, he didn't care about anything else in that moment. It was only revenge.. revenge, revenge. He had been planning how he'd destroy Hiro ever since that day, but right now he was too weak, but soon, very very soon that wouldn't be a problem.
After class and proceeding the academic day, Hiro was exhausted from the constant staring. The setting sun painted an orange theme on the empty streets—a gentle breeze wafted Hiro's gold hair. He walked without haste, not like Mom was making some special meal, and Dad hasn't been at home in a week. Come to think of it, Hiro wondered where his Dad was with finding his new job. He said he was 'Going on a journey cross country to receive employment!'
"I hope you're doing okay.. Pops." Hiro was worried, but he was also excited. The future was looking up..