April 22nd, 2033.
Starbucks Shibuya Tsutaya.
Tokyo. Japan.
18:00.
"Yo!" "Sensei."
A clear voice, brimming with the swagger of a true player. He was a guy. A genuine street kid—or as they call it, Shibuya-kei.
He strolled in with a relaxed gait, rocking a cropped black suede Varsity jacket with a ribbed hem that hugged his waist just right, making his legs look impossibly long in his baggy Cargo pants. The straps dangling from the cargo pockets swayed with every arrogant stride. The oversized white tee underneath peeked out a good few inches below the jacket hem—layering done with absolute intent.
He casually swept back his impeccably styled hair. It was cut in a grungy Wolf-cut, dyed a dark teal with rebellious smoky blue-green hues, artfully falling across part of his forehead. The pièce de résistance was the pair of Mihara Yasuhiro sneakers, with their chunky, warped, melted soles—a piece of street art you could wear. Around his neck, a thick silver chain clinked against his jacket zipper, catching the glare of the neon signs, radiating the couldn't-care-less aura of a certified tastemaker.
"Take a seat, why don't you. Kuroda-kun."
The man with the silver-white hair tapped the high stool beside him, tilting his head toward the flamboyant young man.
His age was unreadable, but his presence was immense. The pressure he exuded commanded both fear and a strange sense of safety.
With a black blindfold wrapped around his eyes, featuring a pair of white, vacant, painted-on eyes, and a black face mask, he looked like the world record holder for having the flu.
"Have you been waiting long, Tokugawa-sensei? I got a present for you."
Kuroda Kiyotaka beamed, proudly holding up a bag with the Mihara Yasuhiro logo. His eyes were full of anticipation, waiting for the reaction of the man he called teacher.
"Huh. What's this? What for?"
"I'm giving it to you. A farewell gift, you know. It's the last time we meet up like this, right? HAHA."
"Hmm. So you've really decided to transfer to Osaka Supernatural Academy?" Tokugawa's face remained as blank as ever. He tilted his head. The fake eyes on the blindfold only made the image more unsettling. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Kuroda's voice was firm and clear.
"Truth is, I want to go there for the experience. To fight new opponents, real threats. I'm definitely going to win the All-Block Tournament again. That'll be seven in a row. And then I'll officially rank up to General. I'll... surpass you, WHITE BEAR. HAHAHAHAHA."
Kuroda puffed out his chest, laughing uproariously, every muscle fiber tensed as if ready to burst.
The excitement mixed with the insane arrogance of a guy who used to work at MAPPA Studio. A former key animator, 25 years old. Currently unemployed. Now an eighth-year Supernatural at Tokyo Supernatural Academy—Rear Guard rank, and one of the most promising, most exceptional Espers around.
He truly was a prodigy.
"Oh. Big ambitions. But why Osaka? You could do that here in Tokyo."
Tokugawa remained motionless. Like a robot.
He was reluctant to see his student go, but... he didn't really care that much either. The kid was strong. Probably second only to him.
"Of course, Sensei. That's Cinema. Pure Cinema."
Kuroda smirked, smug. "You know why I'm really transferring schools?"
Before Tokugawa could even open his mouth, Kuroda cut him off.
"First. Because I want to fight stronger, different opponents."
"Second... Because I feel like it. AHAHAHAHAHA. HO HO."
Kuroda's face was twisted in a mask of arrogant, mocking laughter. He had his legs crossed on the chair despite having no backrest, hands waving around as if sketching out a storyboard. Yet Tokugawa remained silent, eerily calm.
Despite the stares from people around them. The neon lights kept glowing. The disgusted, bewildered looks from the crowd didn't faze Kuroda as he kept cackling, while Tokugawa sat in silence, his face like a mannequin.
—This brat has zero manners!
—This is Japan, you know.
"Ahhh."
Kuroda propped his feet up on the table and took a delicate sip of his premium Starbucks Coffee.
Then.
He chugged the whole thing down like it was tap water. A true coffee annihilator.
"Ah. Delicious."
"..."
"I'm done trying to figure you out, kid. And for the record, I'm not wearing these shoes."
Mannequin Tokugawa sighed. "Young people these days are weird."
"Come on, Sensei. These are the only shoes that are Cinema. You've lived for over a hundred years, but you're not old at all. You're still young. That's right. You're part of the youth too. OHOHOHOHO. Truly Cinematic."
"..."
"Just take it. After all, this is the last time we'll meet like this... I'm gonna miss everyone, you know."
Kuroda's gaze suddenly turned oddly serious. The madness of a Cinema-obsessed lunatic had vanished, as if he'd simply taken it off.
So many memories tied to this bustling place. Standing at one of the world's most iconic pedestrian crossings, he glanced out at the chaotic yet rhythmic flow of Shibuya, where millions of people spilled onto the main street like waves rolling onto sand.
The world seemed to shrink into his line of sight. It reflected in the melancholy pupils of Kuroda Kiyotaka. A sense of transition toward a new life out west. Like the fiery red sunset burning atop the towering skyscrapers.
Although... he couldn't actually see a damn thing.
"Well, give it your best, Kuroda-kun. I hope you achieve your dream." Tokugawa took the bag containing the Mihara Yasuhiro sneakers. "Ah, no. I should call you... DYNAMITE, shouldn't I?"
"Yeah... I'm DYNAMITE."
Hehe.
"Truly CINEMATIC."
---
In a certain chat room.
--REX has entered the chat--
--ALONE has entered the chat--
[You sure about that intel, ALONE?]
| One hundred percent. That girl is exactly what we've been searching for all this time. A real gem, I'm telling you =)) |
[Good. Just stick to the plan I laid out. But I gotta ask, are you absolutely sure about your ability? Make sure it doesn't glitch out and act wonky like it usually does.]
| Boss, chill out. Our target is just some snot-nosed brat. Easy as taking candy from a baby. I've been tailing her, and she's still clueless. She's all alone right now. |
[Alone? I thought you said that ZEBRA guy was her homeroom teacher. Haha, these academy types are really underestimating us!]
|=)))) |
[I'll send two grunts over to give you a hand. You just hang back and keep watch. I might even swing by myself to see the show.]
| Oh? You're actually coming, Boss? |
[Who knows. Not sure if I'll be on patrol then, but I'll probably show up.]
| Okay. That's settled then, Boss. I'm logging off. She's starting to move her ass.]
--ALONE has left the chat--
[This is gonna be entertaining.]
--REX has left the chat--
--The chat room is currently empty--
"END"