9 Years Earlier
In a small, ordinary house, Yuto sits in the corner of a living room, tears streaming down his face. A blonde-haired man with brown eyes approaches him and gently places a hand on his shoulder.
“What’s wrong, Yuto?”
Yuto sniffles before collecting himself. “It’s those bullies. They keep messing with me. I want to fight back, but they said they would kill me.”
“Did they, now? Yuto, as long as you’re scared, they’ll keep bullying you. You have to show them how strong you are.”
“But… even though I want to fight back, I’m not strong. I don’t know how to fight. I don’t have any strength. I hate that. Why can’t I be strong? Why can’t I have the power to fight back?”
Suddenly, a black-haired woman with deep golden eyes comes down the stairs.
“Did those bullies hurt you Yuto?”
“No, mommy, but they scare me.”
“Well I’ll make sure they’re dealt with.”
“But, I want to be strong enough to handle them myself. AHH WHY AM I SO WEAK? WHY CAN’T I BE STRONG? IT’S NOT FAIR.”
“Oh, Yuto, don’t you remember your favorite show, The Brave Knight?”
“Of course, I do, Mommy!”
“And do you remember what The Brave Knight said about strength?”
Yuto’s mom clears her throat and gets ready to perform her best Brave Knight impression.
“Harken, young one! Strength is not just for knights or those who fight with swords. Thou dost not need to be a warrior to be strong. A strong soul is one who keepeth trying, even when things are hard. 'Tis someone who never giveth up, no matter how tough the path may be. And sometimes, true strength is standing up for what is good and right, even when it seemeth scary or trouble may come. That, dear child, is what it means to be strong!”
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Yuto’s dad stands up and joins his mom, helping her with his own Brave Knight impression.
“Be strong, young one, in the way that feels right for you. Strength isn’t just about muscles; it’s about trying your best and not giving up. Remember, you only fail if you stop trying, so keep going no matter what!” they both say simultaneously.
“But… those bullies are also strong in their own way. I don’t want to be like them.”
Yuto’s dad places a hand on Yuto’s shoulder and kneels in front of him.
“Don’t worry, Lira, I got this,” he tells Yuto’s mom.
“Okay, Yuki.”
Lira walks away, leaving Yuki and Yuto to talk alone.
“Yuto, there’s not much difference between good people and bad people. The difference is small, but it’s still there. That difference is what we won’t do versus what they will do. There’s a line bad people cross that separates them from good people.”
“You mean… killing?”
“No, not necessarily. Killing isn’t always bad. Sometimes, people have no choice. But a bad person would kill as their first instinct. A good person will use all other options before they have to kill. And even when they do kill, unlike a bad person, a good person will regret it.”
“Ohhh! I see now, Daddy. In that case, I’ll make sure to become as strong as possible!”
Yuki chuckles and smiles proudly at Yuto.
“That’s my boy!”
***
An ominous veil of darkness surrounds Yuto. When it disappears, Yuto finds himself standing on a dark street in the dead of night. To his left, his parents' bloodied bodies lay lifeless.
“M-Mommy? D-Daddy?”
Yuto looks up and sees two figures cloaked in shadow.
“No survivors,” one of the silhouettes says.
Suddenly, the other silhouette charges toward Yuto.
“AHHH, NO! PLEASE DON’T!”
***
9 Years Later Present Day
A pitch-black night swallows the sky of Daimon Island. Yuto stands in front of the apartment complex, his vigilante suit blending into the darkness. The gray armor plates across his chest and limbs shine faintly under the dim light, his black hood and cape flow in the night breeze. His fists tremble with rage as he glares ahead, his body tense and ready to strike.
“Shunji, I’m here.”
“Alright, Yuto. Be careful, there are other people around. If he does turn out to be the one who killed Yuki and Lira, what will you do? Remember, the choice is yours, whether you’ll be like your dad or just another criminal.”
Yuto pauses for a moment, his rage rising slowly but surely.
“I’ll do what I must!”