Chương 15: NO. 15 - Stolen Street Cred
[You have pulled: Ryomen Sukuna's Poison Immunity! Rank: Gold.]
"Hm, an excellent pull."
"Indeed. A very useful passive."
"Gentlemen, I believe it's time."
I looked around at my four clones as we all sat on a random round table I found on someone's rooftop balcony. Zaiko sat on my shoulder as usual. A pair of Gojo's shades rested over its derpy eyes. We were all dressed in my jujutsu uniform as we looked at one another with varying expressions.
"You mean the Platinum pull." Clone A said to Clone B as he intertwined his fingers and leaned forward on the table. "Hm, a high-risk, high-reward pull. It's a risky option."
"Hah! What are you? Pussy? I say we go all in!" Clone C slapped his hand on the table as he leaned back on his chair. "So what if we lose all our points on the off chance we don't pull a reward? What life without some risk?"
"You sound ridiculous. We have a better chance at pulling for a Gold tier reward. At least with that, we have four chances to win something! Not just one!" Clone D shook his head as he crossed his arms. His, my? Expression was set in a look that said, "I can't believe we're having this conversation."
"Boss! I say we go for it!" Clone B abruptly stood up and turned to me with a large smile. "I say we do it! This could be our chance to get one of the four techniques on our wishlist! Just think about it. We have a 50% chance of pulling the Limitless, The Ten Shadows, Shrine, or Star Rage! Let's become OP!"
"Hmm." I hummed as I looked out at the night sky. The city lights in the background shined brightly. Perhaps even encouragingly. "You all had strong arguments and sound points. With all your opinions in mind, I've come to a decision, Gentlemen. I say we go for the Platinum pull!"
Two out of the four clones cheered while the other two sucked their teeth in annoyance. I reached forward and grabbed the floating Gacha machine's dial.
"Use 3500 SP."
I slowly twisted the dial as my clones stood behind me, their faces nervous but excited. We watched as the machine rumbled and glowed a bright silver as the plastic prize balls danced enticingly behind the machine's glass case. None of us breathed as we watched the lid finally snap open to reveal…
[You have pulled: Fushiguro Megumi's Cursed Technique, The Ten Shadows! Rank: Platinum.]
"Yes!"
"We did it, boys! We made it!"
"I never doubted this choice for a second!"
"Stop the cap."
Suddenly, several loud bangs shook the door behind us as we all stopped our celebration. We all turned to look at the door I barricaded with a chair.
"Who the hell is out there? I'm calling the police!" A loud, angry man shouted as he continued to bang repeatedly on his door.
"Shit, no time to experiment," I said as all my clones melted away into CE. I spun on my heel and jumped off the roof balcony as the old geezer continued to yell.
Leaping from rooftop to rooftop, my face broke into a grin as I raised my hands to make a hand seal of a dog.
"Divine dogs!"
Two loud howls filled the chilly night air as my mad laughter followed behind them. Causing dozens of once happily sleeping people to wake up in annoyance at the loud noise.
x x x
[General POV]
A man with long black hair looked around his surroundings with dry but calculating eyes. He was dressed in a black jumpsuit with a utility belt around his waist. On his feet were black boots, and a white rope-like cloth sat coiled around his neck. The man's name was Aizawa Shota, otherwise known as Eraser Head.
"Any idea on what happened here, Eraser Head?"
Aizawa turned to look at another fellow hero who had a black mask over his eyes and an attire similar to the armor Spartans would wear, including a green hooded cape and a black shirt that appeared to be stitched down the middle with a red pattern. This was the pro hero, Crust.
"A few," Aizawa muttered as he looked around the large, dark warehouse.
The abandoned warehouse Aizawa, Crust, and several police officers stood within loomed large, its weathered bricks crumbling and stained by years of neglect. Rusting metal beams jut out at odd angles, while shattered windows create a haunting mosaic of jagged glass. The air is thick with dust and blood, and the faint smell of mold lingers, hinting at the dampness that has seeped in over time.
Inside, the vast open space is filled with remnants of its former life—rows of empty shelves and scattered debris litter the cold concrete floor. Sunlight streams through the broken windows, casting eerie shadows that dance across the walls. Graffiti tags splash colors against the drab interiors.
However, what stood out the most in the warehouse were the several bloodied and bruised criminals strewn around everywhere, with even more outside being treated by first responders.
"Slowly, slowly, okay! I got him!"
Aizawa turned to see three police officers slowly bring down one of the unconscious men onto the ground. The man they had retrieved had been hanging upside down with a rope attached to his legs from one of the rafters above.
Crust nodded in approval at the officer's teamwork and walked over to one of the large tables at the center of the warehouse. Stacked neatly on one another were several bags of narcotics and stolen support gear meant for heroes. Standing around the table were two officers taking inventory and pictures of the gathered contraband.
Grabbing a bag full of colorful pills, Crust carefully inspected its contents before looking over to Aizawa. "Ecstasy." Crust said before placing the bag back. "Seeing that all this stuff is still hanging around, I'm guessing this is the work of vigilantes."
"Possibly," Aizawa said as he crouched beside two empty duffle bags. He reached into one of the bags and pulled out a 10,000 yen bill. "Hmm, a deal gone wrong, then. If this was vigilantes, they made off with two or more bags full of money."
"Eraser Head, Crust." One of the police officers, a woman with brown hair tied into a ponytail, said as she walked over to Aizawa and Crust. "One of them just woke up!"
Aizawa and Crust turned to one another and nodded before following the officer. The three walked out of the warehouse, where several ambulances were parked and paramedics were treating the recovered criminals.
The man had deep green skin and blue eyes. His hair was extraordinarily spiky and nonkept. Matching his loose attire. The man was covered in bruises and even bite marks resembling that of a large dog or wolf.
"D-Demon. It was a demon!" The green-skinned man muttered in fear as he trembled. He then to the two pro heroes with almost a manic gaze. "That thing came out of the shadows and took us all out!"
"Slow down," Aizawa said as he raised his hands to try and calm the erratic man down. "Take a breath and calm down. Now, explain what happened here tonight. Who attacked you all?"
The man held his head as his eyes began to tear up in fright and trauma.
"This wasn't how tonight was supposed to go down, man. We were supposed to make the deal and get our money. But then that thing showed up and defeated us like we were nothing." The man said as he closed his eyes as if to keep away the mysterious boogeyman. "And that laugh... that Demon was laughing as it attacked us all one by one. Like this was a game!"
Aizawa and Crust exchanged disturbed glances at each other. The nearby officers and paramedics, who were listening intently, began to grow concerned as they listened to the man's story.
"Did you happen to get a name?" Crust said softly, not wanting to frighten the scared and traumatized man any further. The man froze and turned to him and whispered.
"It-He called himself ... Sukuna. The King of Curses"
x x x
[Shimizu Souta POV]
"There's one fundamental rule for interacting with others. You know what that is, you pile of dorks?"
[13x5= +65 SP]
I threw another chip into my mouth and looked down at the pile of bodies composed of middle schoolers. They all wore the same school uniform as me, but unlike me, theirs were dirty, bloodied, and even smelled of piss.
The pile of students, some mutants and some not, beneath me all groaned and moaned in pain while a purple-haired student opened one of his unbruised eyes as he struggled to breathe from under me.
"...what are you going on about, you quirkless- Gah!"
[+5 SP]
"Shh. I'm doing a thing here." I said as my right fist found a new home in his stomach. "Now, where was I? Ah, that's right. The one fundamental rule for interacting with others is a simple one. I won't kill you, so in return, please don't kill me either. Substitute any word for kill. The point is drawing a line so you do not infringe on others. In order for both to exist together, they need to honor that... Or something like that. Do you guys get it?"
"Not really."
"I thought he was quirkless? How is he so strong?"
"I c-cant breath..."
I sighed and threw the half-eaten bag of chips at its original owner's face, who happened to be at the bottom of the pile that acted as my meat throne. "Yeah, me neither."
Sorry, Megumi. I failed you.
I stood up and climbed slowly down the pile of middle schoolers. Once I was back on the ground, I looked over at my creation and took a picture. Now, a sight like this would have normally brought attention to the surrounding student body. Thankfully, we were all on the south side of the school, away from all prying eyes and teachers.
How did things end up like this? I hear you asking.
Things 1, 2, and 3, from where I helped out Whatshisface a while back, had a bone to pick with me from when I slapped them silly. So, in retaliation, they gathered up a large group of their scummy friends to teach me a lesson.
It was a brief and easy lesson. It took all of three minutes for me to kick all their asses without sending them to the hospital. Hopefully, they're quick learners, so I didn't have to do this again.
"Oi, you three." I pointed at the three bozos from before, causing them all to whimper loudly.
"Y-yes!?" The three shouted.
[+5 SP]
[+5 SP]
[+5 SP]
"This is your last warning. Mess with me again, and I'll rip your balls off. Oh, also, don't mess with that guy anymore, either. Ka... Ka-whatever, too."
"...you mean, Kagawa?"
"Yeah, him! In fact, I better not hear you three or any of you in that pile bullying anyone in this school. Got me?!" I said in a raised voice as I lifted my pristine knuckles at the large pile of middle schoolers.
"We understand!" The loud, scared reply came from them all.
[13x5= +65 SP]
I nodded and walked away from the meat pile to begin heading to work. Unaware of the several hidden onlookers watching from their hiding areas.
As I walked, I wondered how long I would continue working for Minato. Money wasn't much of a problem anymore due to my book sales and recently acquired bags of cash, so there was little point in working for the low wage Minato was paying me. But if I did quit, then Mei and I would have less time to hang out or for me to earn some SP.
"Hm, what to do?"
I walked straight through the crowds of city folk, their bodies parting the way like the Red Sea. Confusion and nervousness were across their faces as they turned to me as I passed them.
"Eh, fuck it. I'll keep working there. I owe Minato for the chance after all." I nodded as I reached the street where Hatsume's Mechanical Repairs and Such was located.
Yeah, that's the reason. It's not because I enjoy being around the crazy tornado that is Hatsume Mei and not being alone.
Yeah, the cope is real.
I walked through the store's front door and heard the familiar bell chime. "What do we get going on today, Hatsume-san?" Minato grinned at me as he looked up from the compound motor he was working on.
"Ah, Souta. You're here. Hatake-san brought in a deep fryer from his restaurant, which has been giving him trouble. Can you take a-"
"Souta!" I brazed myself as a blur of pink crashed into me. I looked over my shoulder to see Mei's smiling face covered in dirt and grime. "It's ready! Baby #18 is ready! You have to come look!"
[+5 SP]
"Hello to you too, Mei." I said as Mei let me go in favor of grabbing my hand to pull me off towards the back of the shop. Minato sighed and stood in her way, a dirty rag in his hands.
"Not now, MeiMei. Souta has some work to do first."
"Hah? Nah! My baby is so much more interesting than that!"
"Souta is here to work, MeiMei. Not to help you invent future lawsuits."
"I resent that!"
I laughed at the father and daughter duo as they bickered about how I would spend my time today.
Mei and I were so caught up in the moment that we didn't realize our fingers were intertwined.
-
AN:
Quick question: do you all want to see Souta go to UA? I've been seeing a lot of comments suggesting he go there. Or should he take a different path?
Until next time!
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