I was at the station waiting for the train to City Z; I thought I'd at least have a week off. I'd already been working for different companies for two weeks, getting things... or stealing them. To be honest, I'm more like them than I care to admit, even if I deny it. "I don't want to do this," I muttered, staring at the ground, "but I need the money so we can live in peace." That was another reason I didn't take the hero job; imagine if they found out a hero was a thief. It sounds stupid... but at the same time, awful. On the train, I was going over all the information they'd sent me. "It's a huge building; it seems only wealthy people can get in. What else does it say?" I started scrolling down with my thumb, searching for information, and began reading aloud. "Apparently they have parties and meetings; plus, there are always people working around the clock, how boring." I sighed, leaning back in my seat. "Just this one mission, and then I'll find another job."
As I tried to sleep, some young people were talking nearby, reading the newspaper. "Did you see? The hero Silver Fang took down a kaijin in seconds!" one said excitedly.
"And not only that," the other replied, "the hero Metal Bat defeated three Ogre-level kaijin." As they continued talking, I glanced at them. "S-Class Heroes... Ha, good thing I didn't run into them on missions." I closed my eyes and turned my head toward the window, trying to sleep.
Back at my apartment, I started eating the lunch Marci had prepared, a delicious miso soup; it was perfect, I couldn't stop eating it. Then I glanced at her; she was calmly washing her plate, so with a sigh and a forced smile, I said, "I'm working as a waiter tonight. I just got a job at the last minute; I might be late or even tomorrow. So don't wait up for me, okay?" She looked at me, put down her plate, and knelt down at the table to look me straight in the eyes. "What's wrong?" I asked, feeling awkward. "I'm not lying to you." She narrowed her eyes, doubting me. I put down my small bowl of miso and stood up. "It's great pay," I insisted. "If I do well, we can move out of this apartment. Wouldn't you like to live in a bigger or better place? With neighbors, with space... Besides, we could take a vacation." Marci slammed her fist on the table, annoyed. Then she puts her hand to her chest, pointing at herself. I know what she's trying to say, but this time I glare at her. "That's enough!" I yell. "We've already talked about why you can't get a job." I sigh. "Not everyone is like Fubuki. There are bad people out there, and I know you're strong, but I hate it when people make fun of those I know." I smile a little, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm going to work tonight, and I promise we'll go to the beach." I cross my arms. "You always say you want to go there, don't you? I know it's far, but it'll be worth it. We could even spend the night there." I smile more excitedly. "Wouldn't you like that, Marci?" She crosses her arms, lowers her head, and lets out a small smile. "Besides," I add, smiling more sincerely, "you're better than me. Even kinder. Never forget that."
CITY A
TOKAI BUILDING: 10 PM
"Welcome to the place where dreams come true." The Tokai towered over the city like a colossus of steel and glass, so tall it dwarfed even the Hero Association headquarters. From the loudspeakers of the enormous Tokai building, a male voice resonated with an artificial, almost hypnotic elegance. "Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer continued, "you have been chosen for this night of unbridled lust and boundless pleasure."
As that voice blared from the loudspeakers, I finished getting dressed in an abandoned house a few blocks away. I adjusted my t-shirt and loose pants, trying to ignore the icy wind that seeped through the cracks. Around me, the walls were covered in graffiti and dust, and the silence was broken only by the distant hum of the building. When I looked up at the massive building, it dominated everything; it was literally like staring at a steel wall that, besides inspiring awe, is also frightening when viewed from the outside.
"A night where you'll enjoy a grand party you'll never forget, where every floor of the building has been designed to satisfy the most exquisite whims of our guests. And for the singles... don't worry, we have some truly luxurious guests who will make even the married ones green with envy."
As he said that, in a luxury car that had pulled up to conceal the event, Daz and another companion were finishing their tuxedos, meticulously attending to every detail. The fake invitations rested on the back seat, ready to pass inspection. Daz adjusted his shoes, smoothed his jacket, and looked out the window at the procession of wealthy people moving toward the main entrance. Amid laughter, expensive perfumes, and jewelry that glittered brighter than the lights of the venue, he made a contemptuous remark. "Idiots..." he muttered with a cynical smile. "You have no idea what you're really celebrating."
"Remember, in Tokai there are no limits... only the price you're willing to pay to cross them, and only the strongest will survive until dawn.
And as I said that last sentence, I was already on the roof of the abandoned house, looking up to see the top of the building at a moment when it literally seemed endless; even the clouds obscured it. I crouched down, resting my elbows on my knees, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves. Then, the communicator in my ear beeped. "Yes, hello… I'm in position," I said. From the other end, Daz was answering as he and his partner blended into the elegant crowd in front of the entrance. "Listen carefully: you'll have to go up to the rooftop. It's eighty-nine stories, and at the top you'll find a hidden package…"
"Wait, wait," I interrupted. "If they could have left a box on the roof, why do I have to climb? Wouldn't it have been easier to jump out of a plane or a helicopter?" A long sigh came from the other end, followed by the sound of a palm hitting a face. "Listen to me, idiot," Daz retorted, barely containing his rage. "First: we're sending him with a drone. Second: stop talking nonsense. And third: we won't communicate until we're closer. Remember this: you'll be on the eighty-ninth floor, we'll be on the twenty-third, where the party's happening. When we get to the eighty-fifth, I'll give you the signal to meet up. Good luck... if you survive." The connection cut off. I stared up again, searching for any place to put my feet, but the Tokai was a perfectly smooth steel wall. "Great..." I muttered sarcastically. "Who designs something so damn perfect?"
Daz and his partner moved through the crowd, blending in with the guests as if they were one of them. As they approached the main entrance, Daz pretended to check his watch, lowering his voice just enough for his partner to hear.
"Three guards, all Class A heroes…" he murmured, scanning the surroundings. "A thousand people, maybe a few more. I don't see anyone Class S. Looks like it'll be easy." But before he could finish his observation, the soft roar of a luxury engine broke the calm. A black limousine pulled up right in front of the red carpet. One of the hosts hurried to open the door, bowing respectfully. As the figure stepped out, Daz felt his blood run cold. "She…" he whispered, his eyes wide. "What's she doing here?"
We moved back a bit and focused on three wealthy individuals still in the parking lot. One of them was a tall, blond young man wearing a sky-blue tuxedo. "So, Dad, there won't be any Class S guards watching over us? That's not their job." The father, gray-haired and wearing a black tuxedo, sighs in annoyance. "I'll complain to the Association later. We're the ones who bring in the most revenue, and yet they don't assign us a Class A or S guard for our safety." "Useless!" The other boy, a redhead in a black tuxedo, also sighs and looks at his older brother. "You can tell your useless companion to hurry up." The boy laughs and looks at him. "Jealous because you haven't met anyone." The young man looks at him. "Do I need a woman who charges so she can think she's your girlfriend?" The older brother laughs. "Calm down. With a couple of drinks, she'll be mine all night." He walks to the car and bangs on the roof. "Hey, young lady, every hour costs money." "Can you hurry up and come with me already?" The girl with blue eyes, blonde hair, and a black dress closes her trunk and approaches her date, smiling. "Excuse me, I couldn't find the right heels..." He just smiles and forcefully raises her arm, making her wince. "Listen, little girl, I'm not in the mood for your stupid games. I paid for your services, and that means you're going to be mine all night. UNDERSTAND?!" The woman quickly nods her head, as he's still pressing on her arm. "Y-yes... excuse me, please." The man lets go of her and straightens his tuxedo. "Dry those tears and move quickly." The young man returns to his father and younger brother. His brother looks at him. "I never thought I'd see you like this." The older brother doesn't even look at him and walks straight ahead. "It's not my fault. She charges for her services... and I'm just doing my part."
While everything below seemed normal, I was on the eighty-seventh floor, cheering myself up with every meter I climbed. The walls were smooth, so I had to scratch with my fingers, searching for imperfections to move forward; every movement was a small act of destruction. "Come on, J, two more floors, two more floors, just don't look down. Is that a bird?" At that moment, a bird flew past, brushing my face: a clear sign that I was too high up. For a second, the city ceased to exist beneath my feet; I couldn't see the ground or any other houses. My throat closed up. I took a deep breath, counted to three, and kept going. The wind buffeted me, carrying the smell of hot metal and wires. I lay back, panting. "Yeah," I said through gritted teeth. "After this, I'm getting another job." As I sat up, I noticed a small box on top of a ventilation grate. I grabbed it. Inside was just a note: WEAR IT. I opened the box: an immaculate tuxedo, black and perfectly folded. I grimaced. I've never liked tuxedos. —Daz, if we survive this, I promise I'll kill you. —I looked for cover: a large, rusty ventilation duct. I crawled behind it and started changing.