<Bright>

 

 

 

Gaming was truly something else.

“Yeah, get him!”

“Go for the finisher!”

Gripping the tablet tightly, Bright sharpened his focus.

The last stage on this level was apparently notoriously difficult. From what one of the tiny kids were saying, it took the average person multiple attempts to learn the boss patterns—heck, they themselves were yet to beat it. It being Bright’s first run of the level, you would assume death awaited… but! You would be terribly mistaken! It turns out Bright may have a knack for fighter games.

At least those with gacha mechanics, which let him ludicrously pull the strongest armour on the first try.

Honestly, with how ridiculous the armour buffs were, it wasn’t a matter of if he would win, but when. The boss was doing virtually no damage to him. Bright was merely tanking the hits while button mashing and slowly whittling away the boss’ health. It was quite a pathetic show coming from the boss. He had basically turned into a glorified damage sponge soaking in all the blows.

“Done!” (B)

Cheers erupted around Bright.

He gave a small smile and then handed the tablet back to the kid.

He may have found a new hobby to partake in.

“T-Thank you so much, Hero Bright!”

The boy softly thanked Bright while taking the tablet.

The admiration was not only in his eyes, but his sister sitting close by was blazing hot. Kids tended to be quite a bit fanatical regarding heroes. Bright was used to it… or so he believed until he saw that creepy doll the girl was carrying. A perfect miniature version of himself dressed in the grotesque armour Hero Sun had forged on the day of his ‘Claiming’.

Initially, Bright couldn’t figure out what was so off-putting about it. Sure, it being perfect in every way was disturbing, but it hardly measured up to the usual stuff he saw online about himself. No, what really put him off was the fact it existed as a concept. Someone, somewhere out there, was creating these dolls based off Bright’s image and profiting off them massively while Bright lived in poverty.

Bright couldn’t rub two pennies together, yet someone was likely making millions of credits off him!

The sheer injustice of it was outrageous!!

“Hmph! Anyone can do that. It’s not that impressive.”

A voice full of contempt sounded shortly after Bright handed the tablet back to the kids.

“Bring that tablet here. I’ll show how it’s done.”

It was Lily’s boisterous friend. Frankly, she was such a pain to deal with. Always arriving at the worst moments and never having anything good to say. Since arriving at Lily’s house, she wouldn’t let up on Bright. It felt like she was trying to find flaws in him—a hopeless task. Bright had been wearing this mask for so long it was second nature.

She wouldn’t get lucky again.

“Sister Suie, you shouldn’t be jealous!”

“Yes! It’s bad for a future hero!”

And on cue, Bright’s little defenders came.

‘She’s in the hero course, huh?’

 “It's just like Hero Bright said, ‘Heroes must never let the evils of negativity dim the light of their hearts!’"

…Was that something Bright really said? It sounded a bit too profound… Not to mention, how did those kids even understand that?

The two kids turned and smiled at Bright for confirmation.

‘Hey, hey. Why are you looking at me?’

Were they trying to make this girl his great enemy or something?

Bright awkwardly laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

It was bad enough the boisterous friend already had a dislike for him.

There was no need to make it worse considering what she has over Bright.

…He really needs to make sure that video gets taken care of soon.

The boisterous friend reached into her pockets and pulled out her phone.

“I’ll show you negativity!”

‘W-Wait, she’s not really going to!'

Over something like this!?

How petty!

Seeing the boisterous friend pull out her phone, panic quickly besieged Bright.

He could instantly rush her, grab the phone, and destroy it, but several issues would naturally emerge. Image aside, the high likelihood was that she'd already backed up the photo somewhere. Bright would destroy this single device, leaving countless traces elsewhere, and there was no telling how much damage that act would cause.

There was no right path forward.

Either way, he was finished.

‘Ah, screw this!’

That photo had remained a liability for far too long.

It was about time Bright did something about it. So what if she might have it backed up somewhere? As long as she didn’t release it, it wouldn’t matter now, would it? He would make her not want to release it. He was going to have to get a bit extreme.

…A little intimidation was in order.

Bright decided to act, but the Gods, ever in his favour, did so before him.

Lily grabbed the phone right out of the boisterous friend's hands.

She deleted the photo.

“S-Sorry, but that wasn’t right!” (L)

‘What a loyal lackey!’

Bright could’ve sworn a tear rolled down his face.

Meeting the eyes of the boisterous friend as she reeled in shock, he shot her a quick, wicked grin.

She flinched.

The cards were in his hands.

“~It’s alright, Lily.~” (B)

Getting off the couch, Bright went and grabbed his already packed things.

“I should probably head back.” (B)

The guilt trip train was leaving the station.

“Y-You are leaving already? Stay a little longer, please!”

The little girl threw herself in front of Bright while her brother rushed to support, nodding in quiet agreement. They definitely didn’t understand what the boisterous friend had done, but they could at least deduce it wasn’t something good. By the time Bright was back at the house chilling in his room, they would still be blaming the boisterous friend.

He suppressed the smile threatening to bloom on his face.

Everyone would blame the boisterous friend for his leaving… fitting payback for someone who dared to try and blackmail him.

“B-Bright, please stay…. (L)

The door to the parent’s room abruptly opened as Bright started making way.

“…Yes, dear. Please do stay. We’ve already made an order for dinner.”

The parent duo, who had cowardly slinked away after an awkward greeting with Bright, stood blocking his way. The mother offering a hand while the father gave a gentle smile. From what Bright could deduce from them, they were the stereotypical kind parents who seemed very supportive of their child. To the point they would inadvertently cripple them by supporting bad habits.

…Bright couldn’t be more jealous.

Truthfully, he wanted to stay. In fact, he would have loved it if they had adopted him instead of the corrupt hero duo. Alas, fate wouldn't grant him everything. Even now, far away from them, Bright was suffering under their tyranny. Despite striking a deal and selling out an entire Saturday, he only had two hours to hang around before he was expected to report back.

5:35 pm was the latest he could arrive for training.

‘…wait, what’s the time right now?’

As Bright politely declined the invite for dinner and said his goodbyes, he peeked at his phone.

The one given to him by Hero Yuki—now aptly taking the position of “work” phone.

7:10 pm.

…Bright’s steps faltered as he neared the door.

He turned off the screen, then on, and checked the time once more.

7:11 pm.

Bright sighed as he put his phone away.

They don’t make them like they used to. Back in his day, high-end phones weren’t so flimsy as to break down and show the wrong time.

“Are you okay, dear?”

Seeing him abruptly stop near the exit, the concerned voice of the mother reached Bright’ ears.

“…Okay? Yes, I’m always okay!” (B)

Bright turned back smiling.

The flood of missed calls and messages under the time were just a trick of the light.

“~I think my phone may be acting up though… Please, help me with the time?” (B)

 “Sure, dear…. It’s about 7:11.”

The mother looked at her phone and then held her head.

“Wow, it’s gotten quite late. Do you perhaps need a lift home, dear?”

“No, no. It’s fine.” (B)

Bright stared at the door.

He was so dead.

The only home Lily’s mother should be dropping him at is a funeral home. Not only was he late, he was late by two hours. Practically skipping the entire time left for training. Training administered by the one and only Hero Yuki. The second strongest hero in the world and a known menace.

Options ranging from running away to begging for mercy flashed in Bright’s mind before he quickly dismissed them.

Such pathetic actions wouldn’t work on her.

The only thing he could really do was postpone the inevitable.

“~Y-You know, I think I could stay for a while.~” (B)

He doubled down.

Ding Ding Ding

The sound of the doorbell going off caused Bright to shudder.

“Oh, how lovely for you to stay! And, on cue, the food has arrived.”

He felt his eyebrow twitch as he gazed back at the door.

…Surely, she shouldn’t come, right?  She was a very busy person after all. Being the second-ranking hero naturally meant—Ah, who was Bright kidding? It was definitely her! Just like the last time he disappeared without her approval, she was coming to drag him back. A sudden shame assaulted Bright as he relived the old memories. Leaving the orphanage with her carting him along had been quite the ego hit. He looked too much like a misbehaving child being disciplined.

‘This is too much!’

Lost in thought, Bright failed to notice the subtle shift in the room.

‘What the—?'

The unnatural darkness hiding in his shadow gave way, and suddenly… he was falling.

Plummeting through a sea of unending darkness before abruptly slowing down.

Trapped in the darkness, he wasn’t spared a moment to act before something wrapped around his waist and pulled.

Suddenly, he was back at the house.

In the arms of a not-so-pleased Hero Yuki.