Chapter 51: Hero Candidate - D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. ④
The second game went about the same.
In other words, there was no doubt about it—Yukiya had real talent for bowling.
"So, what was your mom like, Yukiya?"
"She was a Hero."
Yukiya picked up a ball a little heavier than the one he had used earlier, muttered "Ah, I see," and bowled another strike before walking back. Guess the saying’s true—“a master makes the tools work, not the other way around.”
"Oh, not a metaphor for ‘she was an amazing person,’ I mean it literally. Being a Hero was actually her profession. Not legally recognized in Japan, but in Italy it was."
"...For real!? That’s incredible!"
Don’t kill people on my account— I remember him saying that. What kind of life makes a mother feel the need to drill that into her child? But of course. A Hero. A job where you could be killed at any time, by anyone.
"I met Nemunemu through my mother’s connections. I was the one who introduced her to Hina-san too."
"...Wait, hold on. Does that mean she makes costumes for overseas Heroes as well!?"
"Seems like she does."
So maybe Nemunemu really does hold the No.1 market share in Hero costumes. I had no idea. I thought she was just some weird talking stuffed animal.
"That’s why my mother was targeted by D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E.—by Delta. I mean, my mother was strong. Even though she’d retired, the thought that she might come back one day would’ve made her a threat. Fighting her head-on would be tough. If I were Delta, I’d want to take her out early too."
Yukiya spoke of it matter-of-factly.
Comparing himself to Delta and calmly considering his own mother’s assassination—that’s something I could never imagine myself doing.
"My mom... think of her as a high-end version of me. Take away all my weak points, double the power of my ice and snow—she was that kind of Hero."
"That’s almost too much for me to picture."
Yukiko has already settled in as a Hero.
Since me, there haven’t been any accidents where someone got frozen by mistake.
Back when he used to joke about it—about accidentally plunging the whole city into an ice age—I didn’t really take it seriously. But now... now I can see it. If he wanted to, he probably could. That’s how strong his ice powers are.
And his mother had twice that.
Just how strong would that be? Strong enough to freeze the entire planet, maybe?
"So that’s why, even though you’re talented and humble, you never seem satisfied with Hero work. It’s because you’ve seen higher—your mom. I always thought your big goal was Raiden, but turns out your benchmark was much closer to home."
"Yes. She’s the person I admire most. Of course I look up to Raiden too! But he and I have different strengths. As long as we each do what only we can do, that’s enough, I think."
"And with your mom it’s different?"
"Yeah... since our abilities are so similar, I can’t help but compare myself. I keep thinking, ‘If it were her, she would’ve handled that better.’ So I’m constantly reflecting. But in a way, that’s useful too. I can simulate. ‘My mom would do it this way. I’m not fast enough, so what should I do instead?’—and calculate from there."
Yukiya’s clumsiness stands out, but it’s not like he lacks foresight.
He often panics and gets flustered, but he knows his own flaws. That’s why he tries to anticipate things ahead of time, to be ready no matter what happens.
He came back from landing another strike as naturally as breathing, and muttered, almost to himself:
"We’re both so good at bowling, it doesn’t even get exciting anymore, does it?"
"Yeah. Switching off every ball like this, it’s hectic but... once you’re used to just throwing strikes, it feels flat. And cheering over spares doesn’t really feel right either."
As expected, a small gallery had started to gather.
Even the part-time staff who had been resting backstage came out, peeking at our game from the reception area.
Good thing this wasn’t a popular bowling alley. If more customers had been around, this might’ve turned into a real commotion.
"Alright, I’ll do a one-shot gag. I’m going to say something that D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. would totally never say," Yukiya announced.
"Huh?"
No, that’s usually something you’d set up as a penalty if you miss a strike—before I could even think that, Yukiya’s eyes suddenly went wide.
His blue pupils darted around. I wondered what had come over him, but of course—it was him mimicking D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. When a handsome guy does it, it feels completely different.
No matter what, a beautiful face is still a beautiful face.
"Don't Expect Tomorrow, — Order's Not a Thing Enforced Here."
"WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Caught off guard, I literally fell over.
Clutching my stomach, shouting with laughter, I couldn’t stop.
"Ah… this is too funny! Yukiya, you had this kind of talent?!"
"I thought it was funny myself, but it’s way funnier than I expected—I’m honestly a bit confused."
"HAHAHA, my stomach hurts!!"
Gasping between laughs, I managed to speak:
"You look like someone who’d follow every rule, like you only do what you’re told."
"I don’t know if I look like that, but yeah, I wouldn’t say it out loud."
I threw my ball while still laughing my head off—and guttered it spectacularly. No way—I’m way too weak-minded. If I get this affected by emotions, I’d never become an athlete. Not that I would.
"If D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E. ever needs a body double, just call me. I’ll pull it off completely."
"If you try to mimic me like earlier, people will just go, ‘Nope, don’t want this D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E.’"
"This kind of D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E.? No thanks. Doesn’t tell the truth, says stuff like, ‘Don’t Even Think Of Naming Any Truths Except mine.’"
"HAHAHAHAHA! I’m dying laughing!!"
"Don’t die!"
"HAHAHA!"
It was hilarious how seriously Yukiya seemed worried about my life.
I could even see the staff at reception, staring wide-eyed at how loud my laughter was. Trying to calm myself down and stop laughing turned out to be ridiculously difficult.
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