Kazama and Hiro faced each other across the scorched ground. Hiro's fists began to glow, shifting from red to bright orange as he cranked up the heat. His eyes locked on to Kazama. He was tracking even the slightest movement from Kazama.
Kazama had already lined up his floating metal pieces for distraction but doubt was still in his mind.
This is bad. Even though I got the better of him and his lackeys last time and it's another 1v1, he didn't have the intention to kill me. This time it seems like he is going all out but I need to stick to my no electric powers tonight to make my bluff work. Maybe I can try to exhaust his flames like last time? But that could change depending on how he uses them this time and how rage drives his powers, Kazama thought as he tried to understand Hiro's side of things.
"Here I come you bastard!" Hiro shouted, charging forward. Flames surged outward from Hiro, forming a turbulent sheath of superheated air around his body. The metal fragments Kazama had prepared were swept aside the moment they entered the thermal boundary as the intense heat created an updraft that pushed them away before they could even get close. He closed the distance in an instant.
Hiro threw a triple punch combo. Kazama bobbed and weaved, dodging each strike. He swung the metal baton at Hiro's ribs, but the instant it made contact, the metal turned soft and began dripping. Kazama jerked his hand back as the baton sagged like taffy.
No time to panic. I make a mistake and he will melt me just like this baton or maybe punch a hole through me. I need a workaround, Kazama thought as he checked his hand to check for burns. His hand was fine since he pulled out at the right time.
Kazama used his magnetic field to hurl scrap metal pieces at Hiro, trying to create distance. Hiro's superheated fists vaporized most of them on contact, but a few pieces made it through, leaving shallow cuts on his arms. Small drops of blood appeared.
Hiro gasped but kept advancing as he shouted, "I have learned from my mistakes that I made last time. I came well prepared. I know when my flames go off and where I can go all out."
This guy is out of his mind right now. If I don't come up with a plan now, he might actually burn me alive…., Kazama thought as started sweating underneath the mask. Fear was dawning on him.
Kazama kept backing up, moving toward the trucks. Hiro chased him but this time threw controlled fireballs instead of wild streams of flame, forcing Kazama to zigzag. Kazama pulled metal objects from the wreckage to create shields, but each one buckled and warped from the heat after blocking just one or two attacks.
Then Hiro stopped running. He planted his feet and created a circle of fire on the ground around the area where his unconscious friends lay. The flames rose waist-high. From his pocket, he pulled out a small metal flask and poured clear liquid over both his arms. The sharp smell of ethanol cut through the smoke.
Wait, he's been carrying alcohol this whole time? That's what he meant by coming prepared. This is worse than I thought. Alcohol burns up really quickly and it could possibly give his flames the extra juice. Just like the battery pack is giving my magnetic fields, Kazama thought as he placed his hand on the battery pack on his waist.
"There is no more running away now," Hiro said with a growl. He flicked his lighter. The flames that erupted were different. They were hotter and wilder.
To what degree will this guy flame himself up? Isn't it already too much? Also it seems like he has complete immunity to flames. He is not immune to electricity. If I don't act quickly the place would catch fire and it would spread plus there is a forest nearby. Then that leaves only one way, Kazama thought as he understood he might have to use the only way to deal with this.
Kazama dropped the metal objects floating around him. They clanged to the ground.
"Alright, you win," Kazama said with a tone which seemed like he was bargaining for his life. Muffled under the mask but understandable.
"I won't fall for your bluff", Hiro said while he was breathing heavily.
"I am not bluffing. There's just no point", Kazama said with his arms wide open. He continued with that bargaining tone.
"Of course there is no point for you. Because you are trapped and these flames are only going to get more intense," Hiro said with a smile on his face, the fire ring growing higher.
Kazama felt sweat running down his back inside the mask and over all his body due to the heat around him. "I meant there is no point in taking more lives while going after just one."
"What are you waffling about? It's only your life I am after for ruining mine. I am about to lose my job, my honor and my life. That's not fair. So yes, it's only you I want to kill", Hiro said with a frustrated tone as he frowned and gave Kazama an angry gaze.
"Then why kill your friends?" Kazama asked while looking around.
"What do you…", Hiro said but paused in between.
Hiro's eyes widened. He looked around. His gang members were still sprawled on the ground. Unconscious and inside the ring of fire he had created. One of them had flames creeping up his pant leg.
"Oh. Oh my god. What have I done? Oh no. I can't stop this. I never thought this far. I want to save them. Please help me save them", Hiro said as he placed his hands on head and took a step back.
"There is a way", Kazama said and then continued after a small pause. "You extinguish the fire with more fire".
"What? That doesn't make sense", Hiro asked as he scratched his head. Visibly confused.
"You have to trust me. You extinguish the flames with your flames and I will get your friends out of here. I will also need your jacket", Kazama said while pointing towards his friends.
"Why would I trust you? You are the bad guy", Hiro said with anger creeping back in for a moment.
"If I am willing to risk my life and save your friends and trust you to extinguish the flames then what does that make me?", Kazama said while staring right at Hiro.
Hiro was taken aback by that statement for a moment. He stared at him for some time, then nodded reluctantly as he took off his jacket and handed it to Kazama. He spread his arms wide and released two massive streams of fire toward the burning ring.
If his power lets him generate fire, he should be able to control it too, absorb it back or at least manipulate where it goes. He's pouring more heat into it to force the existing flames to consume all available fuel faster, then pulling that energy back into himself. Basic thermodynamics. Fire needs fuel, oxygen, and heat. Remove any one and it dies, Kazama thought as he reviewed the science behind his strategy he provided to Hiro.
Kazama increased the voltage drawn by the battery by turning a knob. He readjusted the coils across his arms and legs and extended his magnetic field. He began pulling metal scraps toward himself, pieces of the truck's frame, strips of sheet metal, fragments from the cargo boxes. They assembled around his torso and limbs in overlapping layers.
Metal conducts heat rapidly. If I wear this directly, I'll get third-degree burns in seconds. I need air gaps. Air is a terrible conductor. That's why insulation works, Kazama reviewed the science behind this motion as well.
He positioned the metal pieces so they floated a few centimeters away from his clothes and skin, held in place by his magnetic field. He left gaps between the plates and vents at the top and bottom.
Hot air rises. If I create vents at the top, convection should pull cooler air in from the bottom and push heated air out the top. Not perfect, but it might keep me from cooking alive.
He took Hiro's jacket and wrapped it around his arms like thick padding, then stepped into the flames.
The heat was immediate and intense. Even with the air gaps, the temperature spiked. Sweat poured down his face. He reached the first gang member and grabbed him under the arms, using the jacket as a barrier between the hot metal armor and the man's body. He dragged him out of the fire ring.
One down. Three to go.
He made another trip. Then another. His lungs burned from the hot air. The metal plates were starting to glow faintly red. He could feel heat radiating through the air gaps.
The air in the gaps is heating up. Convection isn't fast enough. I need to rotate the metal plates and swap hot pieces out for cooler ones from outside the fire.
He started cycling the metal pieces, using his magnetic field to send overheated plates away and pull in fresh ones. It helped, but he was still cooking.
"How long do I have to keep this up?" Hiro shouted, his voice strained.
Kazama's voice came out hoarse. "Almost done".
"Hey that guy is still on fire", Hiro pointed out.
One gang member had flames spreading across his shirt. Kazama pulled him clear of the fire ring and dropped him on the ground. Then he started stomping on the burning areas with both feet hard, repeated stomps.
"Ayo he is already out man! What are you doing?" Hiro asked while he was still busy generating more flames to extinguish the fire circle.
"Saving him", Kazama replied dryly.
Kazama gave two or three extra stomps after the flames were clearly extinguished. The gang member coughed and groaned.
"He is not burning anymore damn this guy is smart," Hiro muttered to himself, not catching on to the unnecessary extra stomps.
Hiro pulled the flames back into himself with visible effort. The fire ring died down and vanished. He stood there gasping, arms hanging at his sides. Kazama let the metal armor fall away, piece by piece. His shirt was soaked with sweat and had scorch marks along the edges. His exposed skin was red but not blistered, the air gaps had worked, barely. Both Hiro and Kazama started breathing heavily.
"You helped me save my mates..." Hiro growled, planting his hands on his knees as he steadied his breath. "But it doesn't change anything."
"It doesn't," Kazama said, unzipping his jacket as steam lifted off the fabric. "I saved them. In return, you answer my questions."
Hiro wiped sweat from his brow, flames flickering faintly at the edges of his fists. "Fine," he spat. "One question. After that, you're dead."
One? That's less than the number of idiots I just pulled out of your firestorm. But if he's willing to answer even one, I need to make it count…, Kazama thought as he was annoyed by Hiro's reply.
Kazama tightened his fist, forcing himself to focus. He lifted his gaze. "The Kurotsuki Mafia. What do they actually do? What's their objective?"
Hiro raised an eyebrow. Then he laughed after a pause. "That's what you wanna know? Seriously? That's your big question? Hahahahaha. Man! I was thinking something like what was in the shipment that just got burnt to a crisp. Hahaha. Maybe I shouldn't laugh about that. But you are much simpler than I thought!". His laughter had a strange edge to it with equal parts dark humor and carelessness, as if the destruction he caused moments ago was just another joke to him. He forgot about the consequences he was about to face after hearing Kazama' simple question.
Kazama didn't react.
Hiro shrugged. "Fine. The Kurotsuki Mafia does what every mafia does. Money. Control. Influence. Smuggling. Transport. Protection. Black markets. Corruption." He gestured lazily. "Pick whichever sounds coolest to you."
"That's vague," Kazama said sharply.
"That's all you're getting. Your question's done."
Hiro turned away slightly, rolling his shoulders as heat built around him again.
But he paused.
"…Tell you what. Since you saved my friends and you had such a simple question, I'll give you one more," Hiro said, almost annoyed at his own generosity. "Make it quick."
Kazama's mind raced. He couldn't ask the real question.
I can't ask him about my parents. Even though there could be many children that these guys have already orphaned. They could still track back to me and if that's the case then that also puts Hana-nee in danger. I can't take any chances. I can't underestimate these guys.
But there was something else. Shirai's reaction that night. It flashed across Kazama's mind. The sudden tension the moment Kazama mentioned his guardian's name.
I don't know why Shirai reacted like that. But if I have a chance right now to clear this feeling, then I must take it.
Kazama exhaled, forcing the words out calmly. "How is Takahashi connected to the Kurotsuki Mafia?" He didn't just ask it as a question. He presented as if he already knew that Takahashi had some history with Kurotsuki Mafia
Hiro froze. The explanation that Shirai Takeru gave him flashed across his mind.
"…Who?" Hiro frowned, trying to act confused.
"Takahashi," Kazama repeated, stepping forward. "Don't tell me you didn't react when—"
"I don't know who the hell that is," Hiro cut him off, irritation sharpening his tone as he continued with a hasty reply. "I've only been with the Kurotsuki Mafia for, like, two years. And I don't deal with the higher-ups. I'm nowhere near that level."
Kazama narrowed his eyes. "You really don't know?"
"Why would I lie?" Hiro snapped. "I don't know him. Never heard the name. Never seen the guy. Never had anyone called that in any briefing."
Kazama clenched his jaw. The frustration built in his chest. He pushed again, voice low. "Think. There has to be something…."
"No." Hiro straightened, rage flickering back to life in his eyes. "That's it. That was your last question."
Hiro charged. No technique this time, just exhaustion and desperation. Kazama spotted the metal chain he'd taken from a gang member earlier, lying nearby. He pulled it to his hand with his magnetic field, wrapped it around his fist, picked his target, and threw a single punch. It connected cleanly with Hiro's jaw. Hiro's eyes rolled back and he collapsed.
Kazama dropped to one knee, gasping. His vision swam. His clothes, still covered in ash. The whole fighting and saving was finally taking a toll on his body.
He forced himself to stand. He walked over to Hiro and pulled the phone from his pocket, looking down at the unconscious Hiro.
"It's 2-0 now…. I beat you twice ... I don't need a third. Stay down...Don't ever show your face again. And for the rest of your friends I am just getting started. You guys enjoy tormenting other people, huh? The hard working people in this country. The good and honest people who were just trying to do the right thing ? You just take them away right? And don't think about how it affects people around them? But you will pay. I will make you pay. One day. For everything you guys took from me!"
Kazama's rant faded into the stillness of the night. He hadn't meant to let so much emotion slip, but it came out anyway. The memories of that night, that dream about how he and Hana were cowering in fear in the attic while their parents were murdered, flashed across his mind for a moment.
He wiped the sweat under his mask while he slowly got over his emotions and pocketed Hiro's phone. He walked away into the darkness, leaving the wreckage and unconscious gang members behind.