3 3. Heart to heart.
It's been about six months now since I began to train with Soga and the gang, and my fighting ability had increased by leaps and bounds, especially my sense for multi-axial combat, thanks in no small part to Koichi and Pop*Step's efforts.
Something else that had happened in this time was that I had set up Timcast style, text to speech channel about non-hero related news and a market minute section that brought me some decent revenues, allowing me to amass a neat fortune over the past year and half, though the most of it happened just in the past six months.
With the newfound wealth, I set up an overseas shell corporation which I used as a proxy to buy a small apartment in the outskirts of Musutafu.
Why? Because I had things to do here, things that couldn't be done elsewhere.
Musutafu, being the home of UA, was also rife with support companies and auxiliary business networks, making it a gold mine for my future plans.
In the meantime, I had also made a trip to Musutafu and Aldera junior high in particular to get my hands on the books of the two dueteragonists of this world.
Getting their books would help me know the right time to interfere in the Sludge Villain incident and stop that wimpy little shit from getting One For All, which would in turn be crucial to my plans in the future, when I destroy both All For One, and One For All.
All in due time though.
For now, I was back at home, and it was my birthday.
For the first time in years, my father was home.
He'd taken a day off from work for me.
"Yuji!" My father called out from the door.
"Coming!" I answered, as I walked over and opened the door, only to be greeted by a stack of boxes.
Yes, boxes, as in plural, as in exactly two of them.
One big and tall, another short and stout. From behind them peeked my father, wearing an awkward smile.
"Happy 13th birthday Yuji!" He cheered.
"Thanks dad. It's nice to see you home early." I said, with a sad smile.
"Come, take these in. I'll remove my shoes and come." He ordered.
"Uh huh." I intoned, picking up the boxes, dragging them in and putting them by the sofa as my father followed.
"The food will be ready soon. Have a seat and watch something for the time being." I said, switching on the tv as the news channel came on, reporting on a string of mysterious murders in Iwaki, and the hush that the police had placed on them.
".....the police chief has refused to comment on the recent brutal dismemberments in Iwaki.
There is no current suspect but the officers have told our ob the ground reporters that they are working hard at the investigation.
Let's hear it from our local correspondant, Yumiko.
Yumiko, what's the scene on the ground there?"
The screen switched to the local reporter as a censored image came up beside her.
"The scene here is rather tragic. An office worker identified as Kuroizawa Shigeru, a father of three was murdered in an alleyway, just before being dismembered and curiously, drained of almost half of his blood.
To add to the mystery is this footage from a nearby atm, where, just minutes after he was supposedly killed, Mr. Kuroizawa showed up in bloodied clothing and withdrew the maximum limit, in cash from his debit card, before disappearing into the night.
Authorities are still puzzled as to how he achieved such a feat or even why he did something like this.
The investigation con-.... The Eagles have scored another homerun with this...."
My father switched to the sports channel, discreetly, when he noticed me standing behind him, lost in thought.
"Yuji, listen. Don't think too much about it. Let's not ruin your birthday with such news. Come here. Have some cake. It's your favorite, double chocolate, no icing." He said, gesturing me to the couch.
"Yeah, you're right. Let me just.." I said, walking to the kitchen.
That was definitely Himiko. No doubt about it. Blood drained, body bruised and dismembered, mysterious resurrection and the debit card fraud. Hallmarks of her modus operandi.
Then, perhaps, the next step of my plan was ready.
I brought back a knife before sitting down on the couch.
"Happy birthday Yuji." My father repeated as I looked at him, raising an eyebrow.
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, before continuing.
"And I'm sorry I'm not home more often. You're a smart boy, you know that? And I'm very proud of you.
After your mother left me, no, left us all those years ago, I was broken...an-and I know that's no excuse and I know I should've been there for you and been a father bu-t, I ..." He stuttered, choking back tears.
I looked at him compassionately, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay dad. You've been here enough. And, I don't blame you or anything. You've been and in fact, you still are a very good father." I said, before giving him a hug.
I certainly don't blame him for my mother leaving. It was my request after all!
"Please don't blame yourself for anything. Because I certainly don't blame you dad. It's not your fault. It was never your fault, dad." I said, assuringly, as he sniffled on my shoulders, as if a great burden had been lifted off his own.
He'd been waiting for someone to say that, to tell him that it wasn't his fault. And he'd been waiting so long he even forgotten it was what he wanted.
He cried for nearly ten minutes before calming down.
"Yuji, I'm...sorry. I ruined the mood, and it's your birthday. It's just, seeing that man, how he died, .... I wondered how many things I'd left unsaid...how little I'd been there for you all these years.
Seeing his body, just lying there bloody, it was a wake up call, almost.
I wondered what it'd be like if it was me over there instead of him and it just reminded me of your smile, your sad smile when you greeted me at the door a-and I...." he said, grabbing my arms, as he suffered from a panic attack.
"Dad, dad! Look at me! Breath, deep breaths, come on. Take a deep breath. In , out. In , out." I shouted, waking him up from his delusions, as his panic attack dissipated.
"Yuji..I..."
"It's alright dad. Let's just have some cake, okay?" I said, handing him a slice.
He nodded tearfully, just as a beeping rang out in the kitchen.
"The rice is ready." I informed, "Do you wanna have dinner now? Or later?"
"Might as well have it now?" He replied, gulping down the cake.
"Alright then. I'll set the table and uh...you can just, um enjoy the cake..." I said, escaping the encroaching awkwardness.
After a silent dinner and delicious cake, as I uploaded my market minute to Utube, my father prepared to head to bed.
"Goodnight Yuji!" He said, patting me on the back, as I grabbed his hand.
"Dad, wait. I have something to talk about." I requested.
"Uh sure, whatever you want to talk about, dad's here to listen!" He replied enthusiastically, as he took a seat on my bed.
"Dad, can I ask you for another birthday present?" I asked.
"Besides the remote controlled drone I got you?" He teased.
The drone he had given me today as a present was expensive, that I couldn't deny. It was a top of the line model, with a 4k camera and sound recorder and a max fly height of nearly a whole kilometer!
But I needed something else, something that would be very important in dealing with a certain foe in the future.
"Dad, can I get a puppy?" I asked.
He looked at me curiously.
"Why a puppy?" He asked, curious.
Heh! Time to play up on his insecurities.
If he won't agree simply, I'll poke him in the heart toll he agrees!
"You know how you're always at the office?" I said, looking at him with a sad expression.
"I get lonely, sitting here in the apartment, all alone." I added, guilt tripping him, as his expression wavered.
"Wouldn't I be less lonely if you got me a puppy? Please dad?" I asked, delivering the final blow, puppy eyes 9000!
He shirked, and looked away, before answering.
"Alright. You're smart and mature enough. Just make sure he doesn't pee on the floor or break anything. And you'll have to train him yourself!" He replied.
"Thanks dad!" I cheered, giving him a hug, as a sinister smile spread on my face.
Time to get me an hunting dog and catch a canary!
