Chapter 1: The World of Hearts
In the world of Heartbound, four teenagers shared a small, rented room.
Shichiro was passed out on the floor, snoring softly beside Rokuro, who lazily flipped through channels on the television.Katsu sat by the window, surrounded by notes and half-empty cups of coffee, scribbling plans for when they'd inevitably run into trouble.And Kentarō... was staring at a wall.
"Bro, why are you staring at that wall?" Rokuro asked, eyes still glued to the screen.
"So it doesn't move," Kentarō replied flatly. "We kinda need it."
Katsu looked up, unamused. "It's a wall. Of course it won't move."
Kentarō turned to both of them, barely holding in his laughter."Yeah… because I'm staring at it."
Rokuro sighed, pure disappointment in his voice."Was that supposed to be funny to you?"
Before Kentarō could respond, the television flickered static filled the room.
Then a voice.
"Breaking news."
The room fell silent.
"A powerful new villain has taken out five of the top-ranked heroes. Witnesses say he's absorbing their Hearts... and reanimating their bodies. The fallen heroes have been seen attacking civilians no light left in their eyes."
The static buzzed louder for a second, then cut.
Shichiro's eyes opened. He sat up slowly, the light from the screen reflecting off his face."...Yo," he muttered, voice suddenly serious. "No more goofing around. Let's move."
Katsu pushed his notes aside. "I just heard this the same time you did. I can't plan for something I don't know yet."
Shichiro stood, grabbing his jacket."Then we find out. Someone's gotta stop him before the whole city turns Heartless."
The others exchanged a glance half fear, half determination.
Rokuro groaned, standing up reluctantly. "Guess nap time's over."Kentarō stretched his arms, smirking. "Finally. I was getting bored of walls anyway."
The four of them stepped out of the apartment, hearts beating as one.And somewhere far away, a single word echoed across the broadcast frequency
"Bellerophon."