Apprentice Hero's Skin

Inside Mr. Nakamura's office.

"Knock. Knock."

"Come in," said Mr. Nakamura with furrowed brows. He ordered his future son in law and his daughter to his place for a meeting. They had to discuss some things.

The door opened and Ayano and Jotaro were entering the room. On Ayano's ring finger a beautiful sapphire was twinkling. As discussed in their elevator meeting the week prior they went to a restaurant at the weekend and Jotaro asked Mr. Nakamura for his daughter's hand.

From Mr. Nakamura's point of view, Jotaro was for man years already an important part of the family. He and Ayano went first to the same school, where both of them became good friends. Later on, their relationship slowly transcended the borders of friendship and they became boy- and girlfriend. 3 years ago Jotaro started working for Mr. Nakamura.

He was incredibly talented and soon became his right-hand man. So, of course, Mr. Nakamura didn't intend to oppose the marriage.

"Take a seat." Mr. Nakamura made a gesture and indicated both of them to sit down in front of his desk.

"Ayano, I got a letter from the Agency. They wanted to remind you of your participation during the Agency's Trainees Test Camp (ATTC). You know, they need your healing powers if some of the trainees get injured?!? You still remember last year, do you? One of them nearly died if it weren't for you?!?"

"I know, father. Of course, I will be there. We planned this already months ago." said Ayano with an annoyed undertone.

"Okay, then I will answer them that everything is fine. You know normally I wouldn't have asked but after you started your new little project..." he said trying to tease his daughter.

"I will only say it once, Dad. What I am doing, I am doing not only for me but for you and the whole island." Ayano sighed. Why was it sometimes so hard to communicate with her father?

"Furthermore Dave won't be in my way if I go to the ATTC. After all, he will be there, too. He wants to join them after all."

"Ayano I know what you are planning. But if this guy really means something to you then you shouldn't push him in that direction. You know what happened to your sister!" Mr. Nakamura wasn't pleased with his daughter's decision.

"I know what I am doing, father! And I am doing this exactly for sis!" said Ayano with a grieving voice.

Mr. Nakamura looked at his daughter. Especially her neck area, where a certain something was missing, was where his focus lay.

"I see so you gave it to him. Then there is nothing left to say." Mr. Nakamura knew now that one day his daughter would have to make a decision, which would break her heart.

"Then let us continue with the next topic. The launch of our next product," said Mr. Nakamura to Jotaro, who was quizzically looking at both of them. Obviously, he didn't understand, what the conversation between father and daughter was about.

Startled awake he said, "As I told you before already this isn't something we should do."

"I know what you said but I have the okay from the agency. They told me that they can handle the aftermath. This is the reason why they are recruiting this year especially many trainees." answered Mr. Nakamura trying to disperse Jotaro's concerns.

Jotaro shook his head, "Mr. Nakamura, please reconsider, the agency's concern lies not with the safety of the civilians. They only strife for greater power and influence and they fear our island might lose its position in the International Island Alliance (IIA)."

"It is enough Takawa. You know my position. I won't discuss this any further. It is a right every person should have if he or she wants to become an ability user. Tell me is it fair that only a small elitist group of rich people have access to powers?" said Mr. Nakamura persuasively.

Ayano couldn't suppress a disbelieving snort. 'Sis asked you so many times for this and you always denied her wish. We both know that your ulterior motive is not equality for everyone. In the end, the force that drives both of us is the same.' thought Ayano.

"I, I can't..." stuttered Jotaro.

"Mr. Takawa it is enough now. I am the chairman of this company and as such, I decided that this product will launch. Keep your opinion to yourself and do your job." interrupted Mr. Nakamura Jotaro.

"I, I understand." was the only thing Jotaro answered with clenched fists and a downcast look."

"Good, then..." Just when Mr. Nakamura wanted to see his daughter and her fiancee off the door flew open with a loud bang.

"I am sorry, but you have to turn the TV on." The secretary ran into the room. The flat-screen showed a News Reporter in front of the Atlantic Bank. She was a blond middle-aged woman, who hastily narrated the situation to everyone.

"Ten minutes ago the police were informed about an armed robbery at the Atlantic Bank by some pedestrians, who heard a series of gunshots. After they arrived they positioned themselves and surrounded the Atlantic Bank. Right now they are sending a robot in to check out the situation." The newswoman stopped speaking when suddenly another series of gunshots was audible.

The police started positioning themselves near the doors to the bank their weapons always ready.

"Dear audience, after this new series of gunshots the police have no other option than to charge the Atlantic Bank. Hopefully, no one was hurt. I request everyone to send their prayers to these people inside the bank and our brave police officers, who are endangering their lives."

"Drive the robot in." whispered a policeman, who opened the bank's door. After the robot was in there the man controlling it described the situation to the other policemen. The curious woman from the news and her cameraman secretly approached him. They tried to steal a glance at the screen. Suddenly the camera was pointing directly at the screen and all the people at home could see the inside of the bank from the robot's perspective.

"What is this? the newswoman said curiously. Visible were 5 men with their pants down and black balaclavas covering their heads. Two of these had small rivulets of blood flowing down their arms. Their hands were tied together behind their backs with cable ties.

But this wasn't what the reporter meant.

"Stop it fastly, we can't show this at this time of the day." Coming back to her senses she tried to change the camera's direction with her hand.

She wasn't concerned because of the blood or possible dead bodies, no, she was concerned about the panties these guys were wearing. It wasn't allowed to show a man with a hairy ass wearing a thong in free tv at noon.

"Wait there is someone else." whispered the cameraman. He fixated his camera again at the screen. The robot showed now another area. A man with a hood stood there. He had his credit card in hand the woman behind the counter handed him some money and seemed to thank him. Then he turned around and saw the robot. He turned back to the woman again and asked her something. After that, they disappeared somewhere out of the robot's view.

Seeing this man there was one woman inside Mr. Nakamura's office with sweat dripping from her forehead. She knew this hoody after all!

'What the fuck did you do, Dave? I told you don't expose your ability!' thought Ayano angrily.

Jotaro, who was in a bad mood because of what happened before fell over because he couldn't stop himself from laughing and said gigglingly,

"I guess if they want to rob the next time someone, they will first go and buy some decent underwear." Now the others in the room couldn't hold back their laughter as well.

"Enough everyone. We still don't know if anyone died," said Mr. Nakamura, who was as the first able to suppress his laughter.

Coming to their senses everyone had their eyes glued on the TV again.

Just in time to hear the newswoman say, "Wait, look up there! What the hell is that?" The camera was pointed at the sky. The cameraman did his best to zoom in and finally, they had a clear image.

It was a man flying between the skyscrapers, he wore a typical hero suit. It was light blue colored and featured a short dark blue cloak. He was only for a single moment visible. Then he disappeared on another rooftop and was out of view.

"Dear audience I think we were just now witnessing the birth of a hero!

The reporter was so flabbergasted that she didn't even notice the policemen leading the hostages and the 5 bank robbers out of the building.

"Well," said Ayano." Seems everyone survived."

"The agency won't take this silently Ayano. You know what happened last time!" Her father darted a glance at her. Ayano somehow had the bad feeling that he was totally aware, who the so-called hero was.