On most days, Felix took the train home from school. It was a great way to familiarise himself with this world so that he could blend in more easily. But this time, he needed the fresh air to clear his head. He thought it was apt, given that it was the last day of school before what was essentially a week-long vacation for him.

His feet carried him along the side pavement on automatic, past the colourful shops and cafes. There were not many people walking along with him, but their appearances were still as diverse as those in the average peak hour crowd.

The people of this world were very much like his own, in terms of supernatural abilities. The only difference was, eighty percent of the population had a meta ability in this world, whereas it was only twenty percent for his home world.

This world also ran on something called ‘electrical energy’, as opposed to ‘arcane magic’ for Felix’s world. Not like he could wield any of that magic directly though; he was part of the unfortunate twenty percent who were only imbued with rigid supernatural abilities instead.

His dull apartment door greeted him loudly, shaking him out of his mindless stroll. Felix pulled the gate testily. It was unlocked, which meant that his roommate was at home for once.

“Yo, Felix! I didn’t expect you to be back so early.”

“I can say the same for you, Jin.” Felix grinned at the ash blonde man. “I thought you’d still be out looking for a job. What gives?”

“Bah, you know what it’s like out there.” Jin rolled his eyes. “No one’s gonna accept someone with a criminal history like me. I gave up a long time ago.”

A familiar sight caught Felix’s attention.

“Damn it, Jin. You went stealing again?” he said, throwing his school bag on the floor. “You won’t get away with this forever. One of these days, the constables are going to catch up to you and throw you in gaol.”

“Well, I’m sorry for trying to fend for myself! What, you’re gonna call me a criminal now like the others?” Jin snapped sarcastically. “Oh look out. It’s Jin Bubaigawara, the cloning villain! Spare me your lecture; not everyone is lucky enough to get a clean slate like you!”

Felix fell silent in response, picking up his school bag to unpack his things. Jin chose to sulk by himself beside the array of his stolen goods.

The air simmered with tension for a few minutes.

“Hey, I’m sorry for overreacting.” There was a gentle tap on Felix’s shoulder. “I just… I just thought you’d be happy to see me, man.”

“I am happy to see you.” Felix looked at his roommate, who had sat himself down beside him. “I’m sorry for being insensitive… I just didn’t want to see you get hauled away.”

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily, little bro.” Jin ruffled his hair affectionately. “Besides, I’m sure you’d be able to do something even if that happens. You’re a hero in the making after all, right? Your words are sure to hold some weight.”

“You know very well my identity in that school is fake.” Felix chuckled dryly. “It’s only a matter of time before they find out who I am.”

Jin relaxed his body, leaning back with his hands supporting from behind.

“You’re a good friend, that’s who you are.” He sighed wistfully. “And to think we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Giran. I guess destiny really has a knack for bringing those who share the same fate together, huh?”

“Yeah…”

Felix cast his gaze downwards, recalling the circumstances of their meeting.

~ ~ ~

The boy panted, collapsing to the ground. His legs had finally given out, but not because of exhaustion.

Felix pounded the soil, sobbing loudly at the betrayal and hopelessness of his situation. He screamed at the heavens, not just for abandoning him to his fate, but also for keeping him alive to witness his own pathetic state.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

And so he sat by himself at the edge of the cliff, looking at the people pouring out of the derailed train. Discordant lights blinked in the distance, cruelly reminding him of his own world which would never take him back.

“Hey there. Need a buddy to accompany you?”

A shadow loomed over Felix as a man sat beside him. He was dressed in a white tank top, and a long scar ran along the centre of his forehead.

“Who the hell are you?” Felix blurted out rudely. It was nice to see that he had at least fallen into a civilised world, but he was in no mood to be friendly at the moment.

“Just a lonely man who’s hit rock bottom,” the man said. “And I’m guessing you shared the same fate, friend.”

“How would you know that?”

“Why else would you come here as well?” He sighed wistfully. “It’s a great view to spend your last moments, that’s for sure.”

Felix released a small chuckle, realisation dawning on him.

“Jin. My name is Jin Bubaigawara.” The man broke the silence. “What’s your name?”

“Why does that matter if you’re going to end your life?”

“It’ll be nice to know the name of your companion on the road to Heaven.”

The small smile remained on Felix’s face. He had no intention of jumping off the cliff to end his life— that wouldn’t work anyway— but it was refreshing to talk to someone so open and honest, at least.

“Felix Pagonis,” the boy said. “I’m… not from around here.”

“Does it really matter if we’re bound for the same place? We may be playing on different tables, but life has dealt us the same cards.”

“I was… exiled.” Felix surprised himself with his honesty. “For trying to save my family. It didn’t matter how much good I had done for society. They didn’t care that the man I killed had killed hundreds of people himself. All they saw was a criminal who broke the law. A criminal that has no place with them.”

“We are lonely brothers of fate, you and I,” Jin said. “People are so quick to condemn another for a single mistake that they would cut them down without hesitation. The roots of our hero society are too ingrained in self righteousness. And us, the nobodies? We’re not even afforded the luxury of comfort when we need it most.”

The man stood up with a refreshed look on his face. He stretched, letting out a loud sigh of relief.

“You’ve won!” he shouted to no one in particular. “But I have the last laugh! I finally made a friend. I won’t die a lonely man anymore. What right do you have to look at me and call me unlucky?”

Felix closed his eyes. Jin was right. Society had won, and he was nothing but an insignificant cost of its victory. But who were they to condemn him? Who were they to decide if he should live or die?

“Goodbye, Felix.” Jin waved to the boy with a wide smile on his face. “I’m glad to have met you. I’ll see you on the other side.”

He leapt off the cliff.

Pink flooded Felix’s body immediately as he stretched a hand out, his face a picture of willful determination. He lifted his hand, slowly pulling up a struggling Jin back into view.

“W-what’s happening?” the confused man exclaimed.

“I’ve made up my mind. I won’t admit defeat to society so easily,” Felix said as he put Jin back on the ground. “So what if society rejects us? We’ll just form our own. We may be weak and lonely by ourselves. But together, we will forge a path forward to show them who we are!”

The boy stretched out his hand to Jin.

“I could use a friend, Jin Bubaigawara.” Felix smiled warmly at him. “Will you join me?”

A slow clap interrupted him. The two of them turned around as a bespectacled middle aged man walked out of the bushes.

“Well said, boy. My name is Giran, and I think I have a proposal that you’ll be interested in.”

~ ~ ~

“So, may I ask?” Jin probed. “Why did you accept Giran’s offer to work with All For One? Isn’t he a reclusive villain? Now that you’re a spy in UA High, you will never truly belong to a family.”

“My family is dead,” Felix replied nonchalantly. “You’re the closest thing I have to a family now. That’s all I need.”

“Your country will never know what hit them.” Jin smirked, patting him on the back. “I saw your performance during the sports festival. Greece made a huge mistake making an enemy out of you. I hope All For One helps you get back at them.”

A dark look crossed Felix’s face. Although Giran had already given him a crash course about how this world functioned, there was still much he had to learn if he wanted to navigate its shadows without assistance.

This world was complex, but its idolatry of heroes was as clear as day, as was its hypocrisy. Beneath the gilded hero society lay nothing more than just another means to trample on the weak and different. It seems the world he was thrust into was not that much different from his. Just like his own society, it was all a mere golden sham.

“One step at a time,” Felix muttered to himself. “People fear gods because they fear that which they cannot hope to control.”

“So I’ll prove them right.”