Chapter 3/transcript

## Chapter 3

 ***At ‘Weebs R Us’ , the local manga and comic store, the owner Mr. Honda wakes up in his bed upstairs. He yawns, and looks over at his body pillow ‘Mikasa’.***

 “oh herro mikasa good morning how did you sleep?”

 Mr. Honda puts on a high voice.

 “i slept sooo good mr. honda thank you for asking”

 He then returns to normal.

 “oh noooo problem mikasa!”

 Mr. Honda later emerges in the front room of his store, and gently sets Mikasa down on the counter.

 “we are all ready to open for business today!”

 Slick Tommy and two other mafia henchmen enter the store.

 Mr. Honda eyes them suspiciously, though he decides to put on a show.

 “oh herro gentlemen how may i help you today?”

 “i’m gonna put this real simple old man... your business is now under our protection, and that’s gonna cost ya”

 “i expected that sooner or later you crooks would come knocking on my door…”

 “it's nothing personal, it's just all in good business, you’ll be paying us monthly from now on, kapeesh?”

 “i do not agree to these terms, i would like to be left in peace, i assure you i am more than capable of holding my own”

 “a frail old man like you? i think those days are well and truly behind you pal”

 Mr. Honda nods slowly.

 “perhaps, i can see why you would think this, but i suppose that means you have never heard of me”

 “you think just because you were once a ninja that we’re gonna be scared of you? you’re just a creepy old perv who is living out his days with a body pillow”

 Mr. Honda looks at Mikasa.

 “you dare disrespect her”

 “alright, so we’re doing this the hard way then, are we?”

 Slick Tommy reaches for his pistol.

 In a flash, Mr. Honda grabs a bamboo fighting stick from behind the counter and hurls over it toward Tommy,
immediately smacking the gun from his hand.

 Tommy cries out in pain, holding his hand as his gun slides across the floor. The two other henchmen take their pistols out.

 Mr. Honda kicks Slick Tommy into one of the men, sending both of them to the ground. He then rushes to the next one and smacks his pistol as he fires, the bullet now piercing the roof. He smacks the man across the face with the bamboo stick, causing him to hit the floor with a thud.

 Tommy begins to crawl along the floor for his gun while the last henchman stands back up, brushing himself off.

 Mr. Honda rolls over and leg sweeps the henchman, flooring him once again. He then smacks him with the bamboo stick to keep him down.

 Slick Tommy reaches for his pistol, quickly grabbing it. He clambers to his feet and aims up. In front of him, he sees one of the henchmen knocked out cold, and the other slowly getting back up to his feet. There was no sign of Mr. Honda.

 Tommy aims around the room, flustered. He turns his back to the henchman to aim in another direction.

 Mr. Honda drops down from the roof and whacks the henchman three times, each hit immediately after the last.

 The henchman drops instantly, collapsing into a shelving unit as it topples over with him and clatters to the ground with a crash.

 Slick Tommy turns around, aiming his pistol, though it’s too late.

 Mr. Honda smacks him across the face with the bamboo stick and kicks him back to the floor.

 Slick Tommy tries once more to reach for his pistol, until his hand is stepped on by Mr. Honda.

 “prease tell mister big that i am more than capable of protecting myself”

***At The Midnight Club, Jimmy Needles and Braces are reporting to Mister Big.***

 “our boys were out all night searching for the intruder boss... no sign of him”

 Mister Big frowns while caressing a glass of red wine.

 “he tried to steal my most prized possessions… my collection of lady gaga autographs... and in handling them so carelessly... one of them now has a tear…”

 Mister Big lifts one of the posters gently, holding it in his arms like a baby.

 “shhhhh hush now... it’ll all be better when daddy fixes you…”

 Jimmy Needles cringes, and looks down at the floor.

 Braces steps forward, holding Callum’s Lollipop Hammer.

 “it's not all bad boss… he dropped this on his way out…”

 “a vigilante from the citadel on my back... what the hell could they possibly want? they should know better as to who they are dealing with”

 “i did some background research... and i tried figuring out why the local town vigilante would now suddenly be on our case... until i recalled we blew up his home, the candy store, and killed his creator in the process”

 “one stop to the mayor’s office ought to fix this… i’ll have this pathetic little candy cane stripped of his rank”

 Slick Tommy stumbles into the room, battered and bruised.

 “what the hell happened to you?”

 ***Early in the morning before school, Brock is up and training in his apartment. He is currently pushing the limit on how many push-ups he can do with a pile of bricks on his back.***

 “1302… 1303… 1304…”

 Exhausted, he continues to push himself to keep going for as long as possible, looking over at a picture frame on his shelf of him and Gay Sensei together. He could remember the day it was taken.

 In a flashback to that day, Brock is sitting at a bench in the town square, exhausted. His arm is in a cast.

 “i’m sorry that i failed you gay sensei... i promised myself i’d get all the way up to 1500 push-ups for you! there was no other way to go about it!”

 “you excelled brock, you exceeded my expectations!”

 “huh… i--- i did?”

 “you have a broken arm and you still didn’t let that stop you from pushing yourself to the limit! you’ve shown me once again you will do whatever it takes to succeed, even if you are at a disadvantage like that”

 “really?”

 “really! i’m proud of you brock, and i know you’re going to make a great vigilante one day!”

 “all the kids in school don’t think that... they all think i’m a loser, and they all call me trash can because they know my parents left me when i was a baby for being a failure... and they all say i’m a failure too and that my parents were right”

 “you remind me a lot of myself when i was your age brock... i used to get bullied a lot for my name and my ambitions, for wanting to become a vigilante without being born with any real powers or having any exceptional feats to my name... my own father was a very respected and powerful vigilante, i at least had the privilege and chance to be trained under him until he died… and he never lost faith in me despite what his colleagues said about me never being able to live up to him, and it inspired me to train everyday to become a powerful warrior like he was”

 “woah…”

 “and that’s why i chose to take you from that trash can brock... i believe everyone deserves a chance, and when i found out your parents had called you a failure before they ditched town, i was disgusted... and look at you now... you’ll be ready to go to the citadel in no time if you keep this up! you just have to ignore those who doubt you, the first step in your journey is believing in yourself, and you need to keep believing in yourself!”

 “yes! i’ll keep on training everyday, until i’m the best i can be! thank you gay sensei!”

 “no problemo!”

 Gay Sensei gives Brock a thumbs up and a sparkling grin.

 In the present, Brock has a newfound look of determination on his face, and the willpower to continue doing push-ups.

 ***In his father’s boxing gym ‘Irrumator’s Fitness Academy’, Pugnator is training late at night, beating into multiple punching bags at once.***

 He kicks into one and then jumps on top of another, battering it a few times before jumping back down to the ground and delivering a super punch to the last one. He takes a moment to catch his breath.

 He then turns to see his father Irrumator in the room, watching his performance.

 “father... you were watching?”

 “for all your big talk, that was average at best boy”

 Irrumator begins to walk out of the room.

 “no! you didn’t see it all i had some REALLY good ones you just missed them! I WAS TIRED THAT TIME, THAT’S NOT FAIR!”

 Pugnator sighs. His father had already left the room.

 “father…”

 In the present, Pugnator is fast asleep in the morning after training all night. His bed is suddenly tipped
over and he is rolled out of it as it clatters to the floor.

 His father Irrumator is in his room.

 “YOU’RE GONNA BE LATE FOR SCHOOL BOY”

 “ugh... leave me alone already”

 “there’s no room for that attitude son!”

 “i’m tired!”

 Faultina pokes her head in the door.

 “what THE HELL IS GOING ON IRRUMATOR, I JUST BOUGHT THAT FUCKING BED”

 “i’m getting the boy into routine! he’s had more than enough sleep!”

 “I’VE HAD 3 HOURS”

 “well you should’ve known that when you were training on a school night boy!”

 “IRRUMATOR, YOU HAD HIM IN YOUR FUCKING BOXING GYM THAT LATE?”

 “IT WAS THE BOY’S CHOICE, I’M NOT GONNA OBJECT TO THIS WEAKLING TRYING TO BECOME STRONG”

 “HE HAS FUCKING SCHOOL, YOU KNOW HE’S NOT GONNA DECLINE A CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF TO YOU”

 “alright come on boy, are you weak? if you’re weak stay here!”

 Pugnator leaps up.

 “no i am not!”

 He rushes out of the room to get ready for school.

 “UGH DON’T DO THAT AGAIN PUGNATOR, YOUR EDUCATION IS FUCKING IMPORTANT"

 ***At The Midnight Club, Fuggeda Boudett has been summoned by Mister Big.***

 Mister Big is standing looking out of the window onto the street.

 “do you know why i’ve taken time out of my busy schedule to summon you here fuggeda?”

 Fuggeda looks over.

 “it was meant to be my spa day, until a series of unfortunate happenings has required that i take action... but you fuggeda... you disappointed me... i asked for classy and sophisticated, and you brought in that disgusting criminal that made a fool out of my club! our reputation must be in the gutter, i am so-”

 “--if i may, boss…”

 “no you may not..."

 Fuggeda gulps, realising what he had just done.

 “well... assbeater420 was a massive hit…”

 “i... what ?”

 “you may have had him thrown out, but the crowd ended up loving him, he was picked up by a record label at 2am, and released his first album by 5am, which has already sold thousands of copies, the guy is a superstar now”

 “well then... it seems you got lucky... i like you fuggeda, ever since you were brought into this business as a boy. beyond the mistakes you have made, you are one of my top guys... and you’ve taken your punishments for your failures in the past on the chin, and i admire that…”

 Fuggeda looks down, hiding a frown. He keeps his eyes glued to the floor.

 “as it happens, i need to go and pay our dear mayor a visit, and it's been reported to me that mr honda is not cooperating with us”

 “you want me to go shoot up the place boss? i can get on that”

 “oh no no, unfortunately that will not work on the man we are dealing with, he’s a retired vigilante of the citadel, considered a legend for training the late ukaguf shujinko himself... he is raising the last living member of the shujinko clan here in the neighbourhood, a teenager that is almost a young man”

 “so what will you have me do about all of this boss?”

 “he’s disrespected us, and he’s not cooperating with us, it might be too risky to take him head on. luckily for us, i bought out the plot where the candy store used to be, and i’m having it all redone... we’re going to put him out of business and drive him out of town, then i’ll just buy his business when he can no longer afford to maintain it. simple.”

 Fuggeda looks up at Mister Big.

 “you’re going to find me a capable person who can run this business, a pawn of sorts, someone who can work cheap and is… impressionable. do you catch my drift?”

 “i do boss, i’ll get right-”

 “terrific, i want the shop open by noon, and it should be fully stocked, chop chop”

 Fuggeda sighs.

 ***At ‘Weebs R Us’, Mr. Honda is cleaning up the mess in the front room of his store after his brief fight with the mafia.***

 His store assistant and the boy he has raised since he was young, Jenerikku Shujinko is cleaning up the mess with him and helping return the comics to their place on the shelf that had collapsed.

 “you didn’t have to come in today jenerikku, you should have stayed at home and enjoyed a day of rest after your training yesterday”

 “sounds boring, i feel fine, i wanted to come help out, and it’s a good thing i did... and is there any chance of continuing my training today?”

 “no... your body cannot endure more intensity, you need to let it rest”

 “okay okay okay fine... so are you gonna tell me what happened?”

 “it is nothing to worry about jenerikku, i have dealt with it, just some petty vandalism.”

 “well… if you say so... you know you should really just come and stay with me in the estate, it's not like there isn’t space mr. honda, why do you choose to coop yourself upstairs here?”

 “i appreciate your offer jenerikku, but this is my home, it is cozy, and me and mikasa are very happy here. the shujinko estate is for the shujinko clan, no matter if you are the last one remaining”

 "the offer is always going to be there, mr. honda, you've done a lot for me"

 Jenerikku looks up to the roof, noticing a bullet hole in the ceiling. He eyes Mr. Honda suspiciously, though shrugs it off for now.

***During Gym Class in school, Pugnator and Brock are training for their fight.***

 Brock is pulling himself up the rope attached to the climbing frame.

 Pugnator is abusing the school punching bag.

 The Gym Teacher, Clarence, a tank infected, is overseeing the class.

 Clarence is a reformed tank, who was able to have his mind and personality restored through years of therapy and meditation, though his body remains mutated, as there was no way to reverse how he looked without killing him in the process, his body structure had already changed too drastically in his tank transformation. Occasional outbursts were not uncommon.

 “now remember students, keeping ourselves fit is not only good for our body, but for our minds, it is very healthy and you will feel good, so i want to see every student pushing themselves to the limit!”

 Upon hearing this, Julian, who is sweating profusely and struggling to lift a weight, drops it and collapses.

 “no--- i can't go on any longer... i’ve fought through so much--”

 Lying on his back, he dramatically looks up to the ceiling of the gym hall and raises one of his arms.

 “i will die--- a warrior’s death---”

 Pugnator looks over from his punching bag to see Julian panting and coughing on the floor.

 “oh goddammit julian you just started a minute ago”

 “its doom slayer! and that’s not true, you didn’t see! i was at it for 45 minutes!”

 “that’s bullshit! we only started 30 minutes ago and for the first 28 all you did was cry to the coach about how you have a medical condition which means you can't take part!”

 “BECAUSE I DO OK”

 “if you wanna be as tough as the doom slayer you need to stop being all talk and actually train a ‘lil! eating muffins and watching doom slayer gameplay videos isn’t gonna do it! you can’t even lift a weight!”

 Pugnator goes back to jabbing the punching bag repeatedly.

 "god what is his deal today"

 Julian sits up and looks around, exhausted. He looks to the bleachers and spies Alsimi sitting in the shadows.

 Alsimi is sitting on his gaming laptop.

 “oh hello julian, what happened to your ambitions today of wanting to become as strong as the doom slayer?”

 Julian shrugs, playing it off cool.

 “pffft, figured i’d just do that another time, at a real gym… school is lame”

 “that i can agree with”

 “ya that's why you forget to turn up half the time”

 “well---”

 Alsimi nods to the laptop he is currently sitting with.

 “that is because i am pursuing my own ambitions too. heh. its really been working out for me, i’m going to dropout of school as soon as i can, i just have to get my uncle quenton off my back about it”

 “bro your uncle is the CHIEF OF POLICE, he’s gonna arrest you if you don't come to school”

 “well--- he just has a hard time believing that esports and streaming is a viable career path, he wants me to join the police force with him and not be like my grandparents, who really support what i am doing”

 “wow bro that's deep”

 Jerry Cuckson emerges from the shadows, wearing his ‘business’ mask like before.

 “pffft neither of you losers or your two friends over there are going down viable career paths, it's EMBARRASSING”

 “shut up cuck!”

 “oh please, you’re all just post high school failures waiting to happen, and i’m gonna enjoy watching you crash and burn! one of you thinks that GAMING is a career, one of you wants to be a vigilante despite having no powers at all, one of you is focused entirely on solving their daddy issues, and---”

 Jerry looks to Julian.

 “i don't even know WHAT you do or what your realistic ambitions are, i think you’re the most pathetic of the bunch, you’re nothing like the doom slayer!”

 Julian stands in silence, he clenches his fist angrily, adjusting his helmet.

 “fuck you BRO”

 Alsimi looks to Jerry, and then calmly speaks up.

 “well... what exactly are you doing right now jerry?”

 “hah, i’m glad you asked! i’m starting my own business, hence my BUSINESS mask... duh!”

 “a business?”

 ***At Town Hall, Mayor Rogelio Cornflakes is pacing around his office.***

 His bodyguard, Monkey, is sitting in the corner of the room smoking a blunt. He has an Uzi on the table next to him.

 “the candy store exploding... a baghead sighting... all in the same night... and all i want is to see our town thriving, i did not sign up for
this. people in the town are looking for answers from me, but what can i give them? some of them are going to start hating me more than my wife does”

 “he’s one insane n†gga, robbing the bank and blowing up the candy store, i wonder what kinda statement he was tryna make…”

 Rogelio frowns, approaching the window and looking out onto the town square.

 “what can i do monkey? the town is in a state, and all i want is to make everyone happy”

 “ah shit that sounds like a tough question my g, but don't worry, so long as you’ve got me watching your back, you gonna be just fine”

 “thank you monkey, you might just be my only true friend--”

 Rogelio’s eyes widen as he watches as a limo stops just outside of town hall.

 “oh no…”

 “huh? what is it boss man?”

 “nothing nothing… just... wait here…”

 Rogelio exits his office and steps out of town hall, approaching the limo slowly and discreetly.

 Rogelio is forcefully pulled into the limo and sat between two bulky mobsters.

 Mister Big is seated across from him in a relaxed manner. He leans forward.

 “good morning mr mayor, lets go for a drive”

 Rogelio gulps.

 Mister Big was now being chauffeured around regularly by Rajeesh Pardeep.

 Rajeesh slams his foot on the gas and the limo speeds off. It drives in a circuit around town.

 “we uh---- we shouldn’t be breaking the speed limit…”

 “ah don’ worry my friend! i am very good at this driving!”

 “you see? nothing to worry about, rogelio, you have other things to be dealing with, after all, it’s been a day now and you’ve still given no statement to the town about baghead’s sighting”

 “well--”

 A loud thud is heard, accompanied by a woman’s scream while Rajeesh speeds down the street.

 Rogelio looks on, alarmed.

 “why don't you stop worrying about what’s happening out there, mr mayor, you need to be focused”

 “i just ask that you do not endanger the people of this town like this, please... slow down”

 “very well, i’m a reasonable man... rajeesh slow it down”

 Rajeesh slows the limo down, now driving the speed limit.

 “thank you…”

 “you are very welcome, and now that i have helped you, you are going to help me, mr mayor…”

 “and... what might that be with?”

 “my club was broken into last night... i had a trespasser attempt to steal from me... none other than a vigilante from the citadel... the candy cane”

 “and what do you want me to do about this?”

 “i want you to MAKE HIM PAY... he thinks he can break into MY club and steal MY possessions? vigilantes are meant to protect and serve, and yet the one in our town is a criminal”

 “well... i can only imagine he’s onto your case after what you did to the candy store…”

 “excuse me? don't you mean what baghead did to the candy store? we all know it mr mayor, don't you dare accuse an esteemed businessman such as myself”

 “why are you doing all of this? why have you been eating our town up for so many years?”

 “doing what?”

 “no... cut the nonsense... why are you targeting our town... why are you ruining it? you have been slowly taking out every business that isn’t your own-”

 “i’m sorry... did you just say our town? this is my town you dirty little fucking spic... i saw an opening all those years ago… and i took it… the shujinko clan is no more, their righteous protection program and way is no longer in operation... my one is”

 “so it's all for self gain… you just want to exploit the community for every cent, is that it?”

 “there is no greater taste than the sweet, delicious treat that is power. i’m not just going to exploit the community, i’m going to milk it fucking dry of every last dollar until its all mine… now i notice you’re challenging me, why don’t you quickly get off your high horse and go back to being a good puppy”

 “what you are doing has gone on long enough, i ask that you please stop this”

 “are you forgetting your position rogelio? you have nothing to bargain with... and if you ever go against me, your wife at home, your three kids, your sizable house and comfortable income will vanish overnight... do you understand me?”

 Rogelio frowns.

 “you’re just a browbeaten weakling, so prove you’re still useful to me and get that awful vigilante stripped of his titles and banished from the town for his misconduct”

 “i... i will see what i can do... i am already in talks with the grand master about reinforcing the town with additional vigilantes to search for baghead-”

 “oh hell fucking no, you aren’t bringing more of them here... we have a police force, that is more than enough. so go on out and address the town, tell them there’s nothing to fucking worry about except this corrupt vigilante and to move on with their lives… baghead passed through town, and has left”

 “but--”

 The limo comes to a stop outside of Town Hall.

 “do not disappoint me rogelio, think of your children”

 Rogelio is pushed out of the limo and left on the side of the street.

 Rajeesh speeds off, hitting a stop sign and causing it to topple over in the process.

 ***Jenerikku is standing at the counter of ‘Weebs R Us’ idly waiting for a customer to enter. He looks out of the window, seeing a pretty girl walk past the shop window.***

 “woah... she’s beautiful”

 Another passes by shortly after.

 “woah... she’s beautiful”

 Mr. Honda is bulking up the shelves with new stock while he daydreams.

 Jenerikku notices yet another girl passing by the store.

 “woah she’s beaut-”

 The girl takes a sharp turn and opens the door to the comic store, stepping in.

 “oh fuck”

 She (cutely) approaches the counter.

 “hehe… hello…”

 Jenerikku just stares at her.

 “i was hoping for some help in looking out some comics so i can put them in my background so all of the horny boys watching my stream think i’m a nerdy cutie who likes the same things they do so that they want to give me more donations as a result... can you help meee?”

 She strokes the counter once genty with her left hand, brushing Jenerikku’s finger in the process.

 “YES”

 “omg thank you soooooo much... you’re soooo good to me hehe”

 Mr. Honda ignores the idle chit-chat while he continues to fill the shelves with manga.

 Jenerikku begins to show her to a few spots in the store with different comics and manga.

 “ohhhhh... I thought this comic store would have different stock to the last one…”

 Mr. Honda spins around at the speed of light.

 “the... the what?!"

 “yessss… i thought i’d be spoiled for choice having two manga and comic stores in the town... but the other one has everything this one has and more…”

 Mr. Honda’s squinted eyes widen.

 “show me…”

***After school, Julian, Alsimi, Pugnator and Brock arrive at the new comic store in town. Standing outside of it, Alsimi looks in the window.***

 “woah…”

 Brock looks up at the sign, which reads ‘The Real Weebs R Us’.

 “how is that even allowed!”

 “this place is just a total ripoff of weebs r us... that’s lame”

 Jerry appears in the doorway, and smugly looks at Alsimi and Julian.

 “so you losers couldn’t resist coming for a look at the store i’m now running after all!”

 “no... we just didn’t believe you would be able to run a business you stupid twig”

 “now come inside and see the new and IMPROVED comic store in town”

 “bro you dont even read comics”

 “but i know how BUSINESS stuff works”

 Jerry leads the boys into the store’s grand front room, with shelves and shelves of comics.
The boys all look on in awe.

 Pugnator stubbornly crosses his arms.

 “ha… now you all get to watch and see how successful i’m going to be”

 “grrrr how the hell did YOU even get to become the owner of this?”

 “because i know business, and mister big wanted ME to run the store he envisioned setting up”

 “ah screw this, you suck, i’m going home to train”

 Pugnator walks out of the store. Brock follows him.

 “pugnator! i just wanted to say, that i hope your training is going well, and that our fight will be a good one! i hope that both of us will get the chance to put our skills to the test with a worthy opponent!”

 Pugnator looks back at Brock.

 “pfft yeah yeah, i already know i’m more powerful than you!”

 “maybe that will end up being true, but i will never give up, i will make gay sensei proud and i will achieve my dream of becoming a vigilante!”

 “it's a lame dream. the citadel sucks. i want to be free”

 “but then what do you want to do pugnator? you could make a fine vigilante if you weren’t so negative and cynical about it. you are not currently free living in your father’s shadow! i know why you are always so angry!”

 Pugnator walks off, trying to ignore the last comment.

 Mr. Honda looks on at the store from across the street with Jenerikku.

 “i know who is responsible for this…”

 “who? what is going on mr. honda?”

 “come back to the store... i will tell you everything”

***That night, Pugnator is eating dinner with his family.***

 “after dinner pugnator i want you to do your homework, no excuses this time”

 “but i’m going to be training tonight!”

 “you’ll do your homework”

 “ugh i hate that you are a teacher”

 His older sister Velma leans forward.

 “ew pugnator, why don't you stop throwing your life away and actually try to get an education!”

 “you women have it simple velma, us men have to find our own path in life... i’ve never felt as free as i did when i ran away from my family to live in the woods for a while…”

 “ugh you tell us this all the time”

 “don't listen to him velma, your father is a school dropout who beat his teacher up on his last day… the only thing he sees value in is fighting people and punching things…”

 “that’s not true! i want to see my daughter grow up and become successful, and marry a cool guy that i approve of”

 “you beat up my last boyfriend! he was hospitalised for a month!”

 “i didn’t approve of him. he was weak, like pugnator”

 “I’M NOT WEAK, I’M THE STRONGEST KID IN SCHOOL.. AND I’M GONNA BE HAVING A FIGHT SOON”

 “a fight?”

 “oh no you are not! you are NOT getting into a fight! absolutely-”

 “SILENCE WOMAN… let the boy talk”

 “with my friend brock!”

 “oh its with your friend, so its not a REAL fight… a real fight ends with your opponent’s BRAINS SPLATTERED ON THE FLOOR, or their face beaten to a pulp!”

 “he’s one of the strongest kids in school too! we’re gonna test who’s stronger!”

 “ugh that’s so uncivilised”

 “pugnator you are not getting into a fight, i don't know why you’re so adamant on making your entire lifestyle all about pleasing your father and living up to his stupid, ridiciulous standards, he should learn to love you regardless of that!”

 Pugnator looks over at her for a moment, genuinely listening.

 “so instead, get your school books out and do exactly what i want you to do, and join the science club after school too!”

 “i hate you both!”

 Pugnator runs upstairs, leaving his family at the dinner table.

 “that was your fault”

 “EXCUSE ME? THIS WAS ALL YOU”

 Pugnator enters his room and slams the door behind him. He begins to beat into his punching bag, hearing his parents yelling at each other downstairs while he does. He does his best to stop his eyes from watering.

***At ‘Weebs R Us’, Mr. Honda is sitting with Jenneriku.***

 “i knew something had happened when i saw that bullet hole in the ceiling earlier”

 “i’m sorry i did not tell you before, but i knew you would get worked up about it, that you wouldn’t understand…”

 “what is there to understand? the mafia are doing bad things, they shouldn’t be allowed to do that and they should be stopped, it's simple!”

 “it is more complex than that jenerikku. i knew they would come for me eventually. the mafia want everything in town, they aren’t going to stop until mister big has comprete control of the neighbourhood, and that means control over all of the local businesses

 “but how is this possible? how can they get off with this? why haven’t enough people reported them to the police? why haven’t they been stopped?”

 Mr. Honda crosses his arms, and looks to Jenerikku with a frown.

 “well it should seem that simple, yes… but... they appear legitimate, as obvious as their criminal activity may
seem, mister big is a master manipulator, and he’s already rooted himself deep enough within the town these last ten years to where he is an essential part of it… he is a man of great fortune, and he is relied on…”

 “i have the entire fortune of the shujinko clan, what can i do to stop this? i bet my fortune rivals his! they need to be stopped, we cant let them do this to our town, he’s exploiting people out of their hard work, and now he’s come to get you too!”

 “unfortunately it just isn’t that easy jenerikku, he has the town in the palm of his hand”

 “my father would never have allowed this to happen! he’d be ashamed, what happened to doing what was right?”

 “you are right, your father would have never allowed this jenerikku, and now that he and the clan are gone, mister big has been able to take over. it is an injustice that few have the ability to make right. the shunjinko clan were a beacon of hope for the neighbourhood, they kept the town safe, and it was a peaceful era... people look back on the memory of the shunjinko clan longingly…”

 “you yourself are remembered as a legend of the citadel! why cant your influence help us here? why cant he be stopped?”

 “berieve me jenerikku, it pains me just as much to have seen mister big take control of the town like this over the years, you must remember i was your father’s trainer for his time at the citadel before he left to focus on his clan and legacy here in the neighbourhood, it is why i am remembered as a legend, it is why i could not stand to see you left alone after your family…”

 Jenerikku looks down at the floor.

 “...went out beyond the wall and never came back”

 Mr. Honda nods his head sorrowfully.

 “you are the last of the legendary shujinko clan, and perhaps one day you will restore you clan and retake the neighbourhood if i can train you to that point... or perhaps you may finally feel ready to go to the citadel…”

 “no… no not yet… no way… i haven’t thought about anything like this yet... i just want to see mister big and his stupid mafia get taken down…”

 “without proof mister big is untouchable, and even with substantial evidence he’d still find an explanation for it… but you must come to a decision jenerikku, you are the last surviving member of the shujinko clan, whether or not you want it, you have a far greater destiny ahead of you than idly training with me and working at a comic store”

 Jenerikku thinks to himself.

 “you have the ancestral sword of the shujinko clan, the one your father held proudly before you and his father before him... perhaps it is time you are finally trained to hone the power of the sword and begin your journey…”

 “i’m ready to try, to make my clan proud"

 “we will begin your training at first light tomorrow, and then we will consider your options with the citadel... get some rest jenerikku, we have a lot of work ahead of us”