(The next day at the park in the quirk world in orb terms).
Kanako: "My brother seems sad."
She said softly, her gentle eyes studying Amaya carefully as they sat on a park bench.
Kanako: "I'm pretty sure it has something to do with you."
She paused, her hand patting Amaya's knee comfortingly.
Kanako: "He hasn't been himself lately - crying in his room at night, snapping at everyone..."
She looked up at Amaya earnestly.
Kanako: Do you know what's wrong with him?"
Behind them, Ruby sniffed curiously at a flower bed, unaware of their serious conversation.
Amaya: "Kiyozawa kidnaps kids..."
She whispered, her voice breaking as she finally confessed the truth to Kanako. She looked down at her hands, unable to meet Kanako's gaze directly.
Amaya: "I broke up with him... even though we never really started dating."
She took a deep breath before looking up at Kanako expectantly Kanako's expression didn't change - she simply nodded slowly.
Kanako: "I know."
She said softly.
Kanako: "I've known for a while."
Amaya blinked in surprise at Kanako's calm revelation.
Kanako: "My father knows it too."
She added quietly, her small shoulders drooping slightly.
Kanako: "He always tells Kiyozawa to stop, but he never listens."
She sighed.
Kanako: "He thinks he can pay everyone out of the Demonic Category, but it's a lie. No one can buy their way out of that hell."
She looked up at Amaya seriously.
Kanako: "You did the right thing by breaking up with him."
Behind them, Ruby suddenly barked loudly, startling both girls.
Kanako and Amaya both jumped slightly as they heard Ruby's sudden bark. They turned around to see Kiyozawa standing there, his back to them as he put on a dark wig and sunglasses, obscuring his familiar features. It was clear he was trying to disguise himself - likely for the kidnapping he had planned. Amaya's heart sank as she watched him, his broad shoulders rigid with determination. She knew she should stop him, but her feet felt rooted to the ground. Kanako suddenly grabbed her hand tightly,.
Kanako: "We have to stop him together."
She whispered urgently to Amaya, squeezing her hand tightly. Amaya hesitated, torn between her instincts and the conflicting emotions swirling inside her. She looked at Kiyozawa's disguised figure again.
Amaya: "I don't know if I did the right thing,"
She admitted softly.
Amaya: "For some reason I have a feeling he would choose me more than the life that he planned to do."
Kanako nodded understandingly.
Kanako: "Then let's find out."
She said resolutely.
Kanako: "Before it's too late.."
(In the dark alleyway).
Kiyozawa: "The target, Eri, is on approach."
He muttered to himself, preparing to follow the little girl discreetly. But before he could move, Ruby suddenly appeared in front of him, her tiny body swelling to an enormous size, blocking his path. The giant pug stood firmly between Kiyozawa and his target, her massive head lowered menacingly. Kiyozawa froze, surprised by Ruby's unexpected intervention. He knew that dog loved him dearly, but she seemed unusually protective of Eri today. Something was off.
Kiyozawa: "Out of the way, mutt!"
He growled, trying to push past Ruby who was now snarling loudly at him. But before he could move forward, he felt a sudden tackle from behind. He stumbled and nearly fell as two bodies slammed into him, trying to pin him against the wall. He looked back in shock to see Amaya and Kanako pressing against him with all their might, their faces determined as they struggled to keep him in place. Ruby barked triumphantly behind them, sensing their intentions.
Kiyozawa: "Amaya!?"
He gasped out, shocked and overwhelmed to see her and Kanako attacking him. His mind raced back to their earlier argument, her hurtful words still fresh in his heart. He didn't want to believe she would actually try to stop him, but here she was, facing him down with fierce determination in her eyes. Panic surged through him as he pulled out his katana, the blade trembling in his hand. He didn't want to hurt them - not Amaya, not even Kanako.
Kiyozawa: "Out of the way, I have a job to do."
He said through gritted teeth, his voice cold and hardened. His grip tightened around the hilt of his katana as he tried to keep it steady, aiming away from them. But Amaya didn't budge - she stood her ground, her small frame surprisingly formidable as she refused to let him pass. Beside her, Kanako mirrored her stance, equally determined not to let Kiyozawa kidnap Eri.
Dabi: "Found you."
His menacing voice suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere as blue flames erupted behind Kiyozawa. Before he could react, Dabi's attack hit him squarely in the back. Kiyozawa cried out sharply as pain lanced through him - but miraculously his black wings instantly shot out defensively, blocking most of Dabi's flames from reaching him directly. The sudden appearance of Dabi caught everyone off guard - Amaya gasped while Kanako yelped.
Dabi: "I'm here to kill you for killing three members from the league."
He growled, his blue flames dancing menacingly around his fingers.
Kiyozawa stared at the stranger, completely unaware of who he was or what he was talking about. This sudden attack caught him off guard - he was supposed to be kidnapping a little girl, not fighting some random guy with blue flames. His wings remained spread protectively, shielding himself from further attacks. Beside him, Amaya and Kanako exchanged confused glances.
Kiyozawa: "Stay away."
He commanded, trying to sound threatening despite the confusion and pain clearly written across his face. But Dabi didn't listen - instead, he used his blue flames again, launching them directly towards Kiyozawa. The flames were hot and powerful, designed to burn through anything in their path. Kiyozawa's wings instantly sprang into action once more, blocking most of the flames from reaching him. However, some still managed to get through, singeing his clothes and leaving painful burns on his skin.
Kiyozawa's scream echoed through the air like a devastating sonic boom as he unleashed his energy defensively. The powerful sound waves slammed into Dabi with incredible force, sending him staggeringly backward. Dabi immediately clapped his hands over his ears too late - blood began trickling from them instantly as Kiyozawa's scream ruptured his eardrums painfully. The sudden turn of events shocked everyone present.
Dabi, enraged by the pain and humiliation of having his ears damaged, unleashed his full power. A massive inferno of blue flames erupted from his hands, engulfing everything in its path as it surged towards Kiyozawa with devastating intent. The flames roared loudly, consuming the black face mask Kiyozawa wore and revealing his face.
Kiyozawa smirked slightly as he prepared to unleash another devastating sonic boom. Amaya's eyes widened in horror as she realized the full extent of what was about to happen - if Kiyozawa screamed again at full power, it would not only destroy Dabi but likely everyone and everything within a massive radius. Panic surged through her as she understood that this confrontation could end in a catastrophic disaster.
Amaya: "Kiyozawa, stop!"
Dabi's instincts for survival kicked in as he realized the true power of Kiyozawa's scream. Without hesitation, he turned and ran as fast as his burned legs could carry him, putting as much distance between himself and the impending doom. But for those unlucky enough to be within range, there was no escape. The sonic boom ripped through the air with a force so immense that it shattered windows, collapsed buildings, and killed countless innocent people instantly. The ground trembled, and the sky darkened with debris and dust.
As the dust settled and the screaming stopped, Kiyozawa slowly turned his head to survey the destruction he had wrought. His eyes fell upon the tiny, lifeless body of Eri lying on the ground amidst the rubble. Realization dawned on him like a physical blow - in his rage and carelessness, he had killed not only his target but also countless innocent bystanders, including a defenseless child. Horror and guilt washed over him as he stared at Eri's motionless form, understanding the true extent of his actions for the first time.
Kanako: "Brother..."
Her voice was barely a whisper, laced with shock and disbelief as she saw the devastation around them. As the older sister by five years, she had always looked out for Kiyozawa, but this... This was something else entirely. The sight of Eri's body, the destroyed buildings, the blood and debris everywhere—it was too much to process.
Kanako: "What have you done?"
She choked out, her eyes filling with tears as she turned to face him.
Kanako: "You killed her."
Kiyozawa: "Shut up!"
He snapped back defensively, his voice cracking with emotion and guilt.
Kiyozawa: "You two weren't supposed to be here!"
He shouted, gesturing wildly at the destruction around them.
Kiyozawa: "If you hadn't interfered, she would still be alive!"
Even as the words left his mouth, he knew how cruel and irrational they sounded. The blame wasn't on them - it was solely on his own careless use of power.
Kiyozawa: "Go home."
He said abruptly, his voice numb as he scooped Eri's small body into his arms carefully. He couldn't bear to look at her lifeless face anymore - the guilt was eating him alive. Without another word, he turned and started walking away from the devastation he had caused.
Amaya: "Kiyozawa! Where are you going with her?"
She called out sharply.
Kiyozawa: "None of your business."
He spat back over his shoulder, not slowing his pace. He didn't want to talk to anyone right now, especially Amaya or Kanako. They would only judge him, and he couldn't handle their disappointment on top of his own guilt and horror at what he had done. Behind him, Amaya exchanged a worried glance with Kanako but didn't argue further. Ruby whined softly, wanting to follow Kiyozawa but couldn't.
(An hour later in Orb World in Orbxico in Middle Corporation).
Ashton: "I'm surprised you came to see me so I'm assuming it has something to do with that child."
He said calmly, his voice muffled behind the black gas mask that covered his face from nose to mouth. He was a tall man, green piercing eyes that seemed to bore into Kiyozawa's soul.
Kiyozawa: As a favor since I kidnap children for you. I want you to bring her back...
Ashton: You want me to bring her back?"
He asked, his tone calm and almost indifferent.
Kiyozawa: "Yes..."
He confirmed, his voice barely audible.
Ashton reached into his jacket pocket smoothly and pulled out a syringe filled with a strange, swirling liquid that seemed to glow faintly in the dim lighting of his laboratory. The sight of it made Kiyozawa's stomach churn uneasily - he knew that the syringe contained something powerful and likely dangerous.
Ashton: "This will revive her."
He explained calmly, examining the needle closely before looking back at Kiyozawa expectantly.
Ashton: "But there might be some side effects."
His tone was casual.
Kiyozawa: "I don't care as long as she's alive."
He said flatly, his heart heavy with guilt and desperation. He just wanted to see Eri moving, breathing again - anything to undo the destruction he had caused. Ashton nodded once, accepting Kiyozawa's reckless attitude towards potential side effects.
Ashton: "Very well."
He murmured before carefully injecting the glowing liquid into Eri's lifeless arm. For a long, agonizing moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, her chest began to rise and fall with shallow breaths.
Ashton leaned against the table, his arms crossed as he observed Kiyozawa's unusually guilty expression - something he had never seen before in all their years of working together. The cold mask didn't hide the curiosity in his eyes as he asked.
Ashton: "I've never seen you like this before... It's quite strange. I'm assuming it has something to do with Amaya?"
His voice was low and probing, trying to understand what could have shaken Kiyozawa so deeply that guilt was etched across his face for once instead of indifference or cruelty.
Kiyozawa: "Ugh, yeah."
He muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
Kiyozawa: "I don't know why, but I still have feelings for her."
He looked away from Ashton, unable to meet his gaze as he admitted something so vulnerable out loud - something that made him feel weak and exposed.
Ashton: "Feelings?"
He repeated slowly, surprised by Kiyozawa's admission.
Ashton: "You mean like love?"
His tone was skeptical yet curious.
Kiyozawa: "Yeah."
He snapped softly.
Kiyozawa: "Like fucking love."
Ashton: "Interesting."
He commented, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and amusement.
Ashton: "So she brings out your orbmanity, huh?"
He pushed himself off the table, walking closer to Kiyozawa with a thoughtful expression.
Ashton: "I never thought I'd see the day when someone could make you feel anything beyond cold calculation and disregard for others."
He studied Kiyozawa's face, searching for any sign of weakness or emotion there.
Ashton: "She must be quite special."
Kiyozawa: "Well, she is."
He agreed grudgingly, his expression darkening at the mention of Overhaul.
Kiyozawa: "But I have to do this job for that asshole who looks like me."
He spat bitterly.
Kiyozawa: "I don't know how that's even possible - we're identical in appearance, but our personalities and powers are completely different."
He clenched his fists in frustration, torn between his loyalty to Overhaul and his growing feelings for Amaya.
Kiyozawa: "It's messed up."
Ashton: "I'm interested in this person Overhaul."
He said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and a hint of danger.
Ashton: "I shall meet him. Let's go."
Without waiting for a response, he abruptly grabbed Kiyozawa by the arm and scooped up Eri's unconscious form with his other hand. His strength was immense as he dragged Kiyozawa towards the exit, leaving him no choice but to follow or be pulled along roughly.
Kiyozawa: "Wait, Ashton!"
He protested, trying to wrest his arm free.
Ashton: "My interest is peak."
He murmured, his voice almost gleeful as he activated the teleportation device. The room blurred and warped around them, and suddenly they were standing in a different world entirely - the Quirk World in Orb World terms, where Overhaul resided. The device hummed quietly before fading away, leaving Ashton standing there with Kiyozawa and Eri in tow.
Kiyozawa: "No need to pull me."
He said through gritted teeth as he stumbled forward, his eyes scanning the familiar landscape of the Quirk World. Everywhere he looked, he saw the aftermath of his own destruction - broken buildings, twisted metal, and the occasional body lying limp on the ground. It was a stark reminder of the devastation he had caused with his sonic boom. Ashton released his arm abruptly, stepping closer to examine Eri's unconscious form.
Ashton: "She's still alive."
He noted softly.
Kiyozawa: "Yeah, I know."
He replied grimly, his gaze lingering on the destruction around them.
Kiyozawa: "But I guess I'll take you to Overhaul since he's waiting for Eri..."
He started walking in the direction of Overhaul's headquarters the Shie Hassaikai's hidden headquarters, his steps heavy with reluctance and dread. Ashton followed closely behind, cradling Eri gently in his arms despite his usual roughness. As they approached the massive, imposing building, Kiyozawa could see Overhaul standing at the entrance, his arms crossed and a smug smile on his face.
Overhaul: "What took so long?"
He asked Kiyozawa sharply, his eyes flicking between him and the tall man in the gas mask. Ashton stood quietly, his gaze sweeping over both Kiyozawa and Overhaul with intense curiosity. The resemblance between the two was uncanny, like looking at identical twins separated by circumstances rather than genetics.
Overhaul's smirk faltered slightly as he noticed Ashton's interested stare.
Overhaul: "Who's this?"
He asked Kiyozawa suspiciously.
Ashton: "My name is Ashton."
He introduced himself smoothly, his voice carrying an air of authority despite the gas mask.
Ashton: "I'm the Middle Corporation Leader in Orb World."
Without warning, he tossed Eri's unconscious form towards Overhaul, who caught her effortlessly with one hand. Overhaul's eyes widened slightly behind his mask as he processed Ashton's title and sudden action - throwing Eri like a package instead of handling her gently as Kiyozawa would have done or he thinks he would have.
Overhaul: "Interesting."
He said.
Ashton: "A small child named Eri was killed."
He stated coldly, his eyes flicking between Overhaul and Kiyozawa.
Ashton: "So I brought her back to life."
He said it like it was the most normal thing in the world - reviving a dead child with some kind of mysterious Orb World technology. Overhaul's grip on Eri tightened as he processed this information.
Overhaul: "Oh, I see."
He responded, a note of intrigue creeping into his voice as he examined Eri's revived form more closely. Suddenly, Ashton's head snapped towards the shadows where a figure was moving - a female sidekick from the Night Eye Agency with blue skin. Without hesitation, Ashton unleashed his disease energy in a wide arc, instantly paralyzing the unsuspecting hero sidekick. Her body went rigid before crumpling to the ground unconscious.
Ashton: "Someone's watching us."
Overhaul: "How dangerous indeed."
He muttered to himself, his eyes widening slightly as he realized the true extent of Ashton's power. To paralyze a skilled sidekick like that effortlessly spoke volumes about his abilities - and the fact that he could revive the dead only amplified his danger factor. Overhaul couldn't help but feel a shiver of unease run down his spine - having such a powerful ally could be beneficial, but having him as an enemy would be disastrous.
Overhaul: "Ashton, how about you join the Shie Hassaikai?"
He offered smoothly, his voice carrying a hint of enthusiasm.
Overhaul: "With your help, we could do anything."
Ashton's gaze shifted between Overhaul and Kiyozawa, who simply shrugged nonchalantly. The gas mask didn't hide Ashton's thoughtful expression as he considered Overhaul's proposal.
Ashton: "What's in it for me?"
He asked bluntly, his disease energy rippling around him threateningly.
Overhaul: "Power? Wealth? Women?"
He smirked slightly.
Ashton: "I'll tell you when."
He replied cryptically, his smirk growing wider beneath the gas mask. It was clear that he had some ulterior motive or plan in mind, but he wasn't ready to reveal it to Overhaul just yet. Everything fell silent for a moment as Overhaul studied Ashton carefully, trying to decipher the masked man's intentions. Kiyozawa remained silent and unreadable beside them, his arms crossed as he observed the exchange between them.
This will continue in the next chapter.