"Who are you?"
Looking at the newcomer, Jessica asked with a frown, covering her mouth and nose.
"He's a member of the Vongola Family," Luke said solemnly. "The day before yesterday, they were fighting with other gangsters on the street. I saw him in the Vongola's ranks."
"That's right. I'm Takeshi Yamamoto, the Rain Guardian of the Vongola Family!" Yamamoto wore a perpetually cheerful smile, giving off a warm feeling like a friendly older brother.
But the people present didn't dare underestimate him in the slightest.
Descending from the sixth floor at high speed, then splitting a trash can in half with one slash without letting the contents spill out... Honestly, this kind of performance was terrifying.
Rain Guardian?
Was it a simple code name, or did it mean something?
Jessica was puzzled but asked calmly, "What are you doing here?"
"Strange. We don't seem to know each other!"
Takeshi Yamamoto had a confused look on his face.
"We don't!"
"Then why would I tell you?"
"It's because we don't know each other that I have to ask! If we were close friends, you would have explained yourself." Jessica was making sophistry she didn't expect to work.
But unexpectedly, Takeshi Yamamoto seemed a bit... not very bright. He clapped his palms as if suddenly realizing something. "That's right!"
Then he confessed, "Because I was worried that Hibari would cause trouble if dispatched alone, the boss asked Chrome and me to come provide support."
"..."
Everyone was speechless.
But they immediately realized the other name the man had mentioned—he wasn't alone. There were accomplices in the dark.
Daredevil activated his radar sense and soon heard breathing from atop the building on the left.
Then he froze in place.
"What's wrong?"
Noticing his companion's abnormality, Danny asked with concern.
Daredevil shuddered and came back to his senses.
He first glanced at Danny and shook his head lightly, indicating he was fine, then looked toward the top of the building on the left.
The rest of the group also realized that "Chrome" hidden in the dark was hiding there.
"Yamamoto, you did that on purpose!"
It seemed she knew her position had been discovered. Chrome no longer hid and walked out openly.
She stood on the edge of the rooftop, frowned, and stared at Yamamoto with dissatisfaction. "I don't even know what's going on yet, and you exposed me. Keep your eyes open next time!"
"Well, didn't they ask?"
Takeshi Yamamoto didn't seem to realize what he'd done wrong and looked blank. "Ah, I understand! You're afraid that if a fight breaks out later, the ambush effect won't work!"
Is this guy really an adult?
The members of the Defenders were speechless.
At this moment, they no longer doubted whether he was mafia, but whether he was a child who'd taken too many growth hormones.
However...
"Ah, don't worry. I can handle it by myself anyway!"
The expressions on the Defenders' faces stiffened slightly.
Only then did they realize the other party wasn't genuinely naive or stupid, but had absolute confidence in his own strength.
"How arrogant!"
Jessica cracked her neck, clenched her fists, and walked slowly toward Takeshi Yamamoto.
The rest of the Defenders didn't stop her.
Although they just wanted to confirm the situation, not fight, all but Danny had grown up in this city of sin. They knew how to deal with gangsters—show your strength before talking.
One step, two steps, three steps...
Jessica came right up to Takeshi Yamamoto and looked at him from very close range.
Takeshi Yamamoto still had the same smile on his face, holding his sword on his shoulder, waiting for his opponent to make a move.
This guy is crazy!
Jessica became even more upset and sneered. "With such big talk, let me see what gives you the right to be so cocky!"
Having said that, she threw a punch.
Jessica hadn't seriously studied martial arts, so this punch had no technical finesse. But her strength was so powerful she could easily lift a car and throw it a dozen meters away.
With such tremendous force suddenly unleashed, her punching speed was much faster than top professional fighters.
Takeshi Yamamoto didn't move. He still kept that cheerful smile on his face, as if he hadn't reacted.
It wasn't until the moment when the fist was about to touch his nose—less than a second from impact—that he began to dodge.
No, it should be called a defensive counterattack.
The moment before being hit, Takeshi Yamamoto stepped back with his right leg, his body shifted, and he evaded the fist by the slimmest margin. At the same time, he raised his right leg and delivered a knee strike.
Boom!
The knee connected, striking Jessica's lower abdomen accurately. The powerful force made her slide back two or three meters, then she covered her stomach and vomited.
"Jessica!"
Luke ran over with concern, while Daredevil and Danny stared at Takeshi Yamamoto with solemn expressions.
Especially Daredevil.
His special perception made him keenly aware of the details of the previous exchange between the two. Being able to act in that extreme state and complete both evasion and counterattack was terrifying.
Takeshi Yamamoto shook his head lightly, as if feeling somewhat regretful. "Such a pity. To have such powerful strength but only be able to simply throw punches."
"...After all, I'm not a trained fighter!"
After vomiting for a while, Jessica, whose stomach felt much better, stood up again and looked at Takeshi Yamamoto with undiminished fighting spirit.
She took a deep breath and continued, "But amateurs have their own fighting styles."
After speaking, she raised her right leg and stomped down.
Boom!
With violent shaking, the ground cracked into a spiderweb pattern, and a dozen pieces of rubble broke loose.
At that moment, Jessica transformed into a soccer player and kicked out the stones one by one.
Under that inhuman strength, the stones flew like cannonballs toward Takeshi Yamamoto.
"Your power is so incredible!"
Takeshi Yamamoto exclaimed, but his hands weren't slow.
With the help of his ring, he ignited blue water-like flames, then attached them to his katana and slashed lightly at the incoming projectiles.
Whoosh!
The water-like flame was thrown from the blade like liquid, forming a transparent curtain of fire that flowed like water in front of him.
The cannonball-like gravel smashed into it as if truly falling into water. It met great resistance, slowly decelerated, and finally stopped completely.
Whoosh!
The flames receded, and the gravel fell to the ground.
The Defenders were stunned.
What was this?
Superpowers?
"Hahaha..." Takeshi Yamamoto laughed heartily. "It's just the tranquil effect of Rain Flames. Don't be so surprised!"
"Tranquil?"
The Defenders came back to their senses and looked at him in disbelief.
And Takeshi Yamamoto, like a kind-hearted older brother, explained to them, "The Dying Will Flames that our Vongola Family possesses have seven attributes, each with different effects.
And the nature of the Rain Flames that I possess is 'Tranquility.'
They extinguish other flames, suppress enemy attacks, reduce and halt bodily functions, causing people to fall unconscious or die.
Well, to put it simply, it's the process of transforming motion into stillness."
Character Notes:
Takeshi Yamamoto - From: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
Rain Guardian of the Tenth Generation Vongola Family Wields a katana and uses Rain Flames with the Tranquility attribute Despite his cheerful, easygoing personality, he's a highly skilled swordsman
Chrome Dokuro - From: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
Member of the Tenth Generation Vongola Family Uses Mist Flames which specialize in illusions Often works alongside other guardians on missions
Kyoya Hibari - From: Katekyo Hitman Reborn! (mentioned)
Cloud Guardian of the Tenth Generation Vongola Family Known for being a lone wolf who prefers working alone Extremely powerful and territorial
Dying Will Flames - From: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
Special flames with seven attributes used by the Vongola Family Each attribute (Sky, Storm, Rain, Sun, Lightning, Cloud, Mist) has unique properties Rain Flames have the Tranquility attribute that halts and weakens attacks
The Defenders - From: Marvel Comics/Netflix
Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Daredevil (Matt Murdock), and Iron Fist (Danny Rand) Street-level heroes protecting New York City