Chapter 3

The 16-year-old Andy was aggravated and with a good reason.

His youngest brother, John, the youngest he knew at least, was up to some bullshit. In short, he was in love with the latter's girlfriend, Mai Shiranui.

This was what the memories told old John Castle at that moment. Now reborn as John Bogard and fifteen-year-old resident of Central City. (not Dc's central city)

John knew the Bogard family. Terry, Andy. Those two siblings with contrasting personalities were characters from a fighter video game called Fatal Fury and even had anime adaptations.

However, some things seemed to have changed in this new life where the Irish appeared. Those changes included his birth, the birth of a third brother, and the absence of any adoptive father figure.

What they had that Andy knew was a mother. One that lived with them, actually.

Now what they had that Andy didn't know was a father. One John never thought would be theirs in this new life.

"Mai will know how to choose," John smirked and retorted to his aggravated sibling. Continuing with advice that he didn't mean when he recalled how hot the young girl was, "Take care of your girlfriend better if you don't want me to snatch her away, hehe."

She was too good for that idiot Andy.

"Haha, snatch her away? Like you can do it?" Andy laughed amusingly and said. Then he mocked again, "Lil Johnny, mind your business if you don't want a severe beating."

Ignoring his older brother, 'Lil Johnny' walked off.

The former didn't care where the small devil was going. In fact, seeing him leave, he was somewhat relieved.

Though he was the youngest, he was really very popular with girls...

XX

In that lower-class neighborhood, John was in his own garden. Andy didn't think to ask where the boy was going, even if the night was falling.

At that time of day, it was downtime from work for ordinary folks. Late downtime, to be precise.

In his previous life, John had never gone to New York. But walking through busy streets, the hustle and bustle of Central City, John felt it was too similar.

The man had seen a lot of American movies.

The lower class areas like this one also had that homey and 60s to 70s air. If it wasn't for the higher crime in the area, John would think they lived in a satisfactory place.

In this world, there were people called mutants. About 1 person out of 1000 could become one, and many of those mutants were criminals.

It could sound rare, but those were just the general and estimated odds; that number had no meaning. 1000 mutants could live in the same neighborhood. Or there could be no mutants at all in another place.

Every humanoid had latent mutant genes, and opportunities to awaken them. Not just the tradtional way. Yet it wasn't easy to awaken those...

...Not even in the same family.

Walking silently to a hidden place, John finally stopped. His eyes peeking at a back alley behind a bar, he listened intently to two blonde young men discussing something.

"Congratulations, Terry. You finally fulfilled your wish and got the qualifications to catch that man's attention. I'm sure you'll regret that soon, though..." A youth looking to be 17 said. John recognized him, not just thanks to the memories. And the former's tone was ridiculing.

"We'll see about that, Rock. You might not like our mother, but we're all siblings. Why do you always have to be such a killjoy? Did you come all the way over just to tell me this?" Terry Bogard, a youth of the same age, which just awakened his mutant genes and a power yesterday, said. Frowning a little.

Yes, that youth was the Bogards' oldest brother in this new life, or half-brother, to be correct. His name was Rock Howard.

...The reason they didn't share his name was simple but not something John liked to recall.

"I only came to give you my last reminder. By the time you understand, it will be too late. Father seems to finally have noticed you after all." Rock Howard turned his body with the intent to leave the alley and said.

"He knows?" Terry asked with surprise. Then recalling something, his sudden excitement toned down, and he uttered, "...Of course, he would."

What Terry was referring to was a mysterious technology. One which allowed people to survey their relatives' awakening.

For rich men like the Bogards' father, it was easy to know which of their children unexpectedly awakens mutant genes...It wouldn't take a minute to find out.

"Hmph. See you around, Terry. Though not around the manor for your sake." Rock Howard said and left the alley.

Thankfully not from the end where John was hiding, so he didn't get caught spying.

"..."

Seeing his oldest brother, at least from the Bogard side, being silent and pensive, John worried a bit.

Once Rock was totally out of sight, he walked by and said:

"What are you doing here alone, Terry?"