The night was cold and silent, the streets of Los Angeles dimly lit by flickering streetlights. Adam, still sweaty after a long training session at the dojo, walked home alone. He cherished these moments of solitude. Ever since he had started embracing Ryo's presence within him, he felt stronger, more confident, as if each step he took resonated with an inner force he was still learning to master.
But that night, the tranquility was shattered by a piercing scream that tore through the air.
Adam froze. The scream came from an alleyway a few meters ahead. His instincts—or perhaps Ryo's—urged him forward, his heart pounding in his chest.
As he approached the entrance of the alley, he saw three men surrounding a young woman. They held her by the arm, laughing among themselves as she struggled to break free.
"Let me go!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face.
Adam felt a cold rage rising within him. In his mind, Ryo murmured softly:
"Here's an opportunity. Show them what we're capable of."
Without hesitation, Adam stepped into the alley.
"Hey!" Adam shouted, drawing the men's attention.
They turned, surprised to see a teenager approaching them with such boldness.
"Let her go," Adam said, his voice firm but calm.
The men burst into laughter. One of them, a tall guy in a leather jacket, stepped forward.
"You've got guts, kid, but this isn't your business. Walk away before we break you."
Adam didn't reply. He clenched his fists, feeling Ryo's energy surging through his muscles.
"Last chance," he murmured.
The man in the leather jacket shrugged and swung a punch. Adam dodged effortlessly, grabbed his arm, and in a fluid motion, slammed him against the brick wall of the alley. The dull thud of the impact made the other two men flinch.
"You're gonna regret this, kid!" growled one of them, pulling out a knife.
The fight turned brutal. Adam dodged an attack, blocked another, and struck with precision that seemed almost supernatural. Every blow was calculated, every movement smooth, as if he had years of experience.
Ryo's voice guided his actions.
"Show no weakness. Hit hard. Hit fast."
Within minutes, the three men were on the ground, groaning in pain. One of them tried to get up, but Adam planted his foot firmly on his chest, keeping him down.
"Get lost," Adam said coldly.
The men didn't need to be told twice. They scrambled away, limping.
The young woman, still trembling, looked at Adam with wide eyes. She was beautiful, with disheveled black hair and drying tears on her cheeks.
"Thank you…" she murmured, her voice broken with emotion.
Adam turned to her, wiping a drop of blood from his knuckle.
"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"No… thanks to you."
She took a step forward, then another, before throwing herself into his arms. Adam, startled, stood still for a moment before hesitantly placing a hand on her back.
"You… you could've been killed," she whispered, looking up at him.
Adam shrugged.
"They deserved a lesson."
The young woman stepped back slightly, gazing at him with admiration.
"What's your name?"
"Adam. And yours?"
"Mayumi," she replied with a shy smile.
Mayumi insisted that Adam walk her to her apartment, claiming she didn't want to be alone after what had just happened. Although he hesitated, Adam eventually agreed.
Once they arrived at her place, Mayumi switched on a small lamp, illuminating her modest but cozy living room. She offered him a glass of water, which he accepted silently.
"I don't know how to thank you," she said softly.
Adam shrugged.
"No need. It was nothing."
But Mayumi shook her head.
"No, it was everything. You saved my life. And I… I want to do something for you."
Adam frowned, unsure of what she meant. But before he could ask, Mayumi stepped closer.
"I know this might seem strange… but I want to thank you. Truly."
She gently placed a hand on his shoulder, then leaned in to kiss him. Adam stood still, caught off guard, but he didn't pull away.
Ryo, in his mind, murmured with amusement:
"Well, here's a reward you didn't see coming."
The tension in the room escalated quickly. Mayumi, overwhelmed by adrenaline and emotion from the night's events, let herself be swept up in the moment. Adam, meanwhile, felt a strange warmth spreading through his body.
It was a moment of raw connection, a mix of gratitude, desire, and confusion. For the first time, Adam felt truly seen—not as a fragile kid or a tool for vengeance, but as someone who mattered deeply to another person.
After the shared moment, the two remained silent, Mayumi curled up against him.
As Adam stared at the ceiling of her apartment, his arms around Mayumi, Ryo's voice echoed softly in his mind.
"Do you see? This is what it means to be strong. When you protect others, when you carve out your place in this world, the rewards come naturally."
Adam didn't respond. He knew Ryo was right about one thing: strength changed everything. But he wondered whether that strength would eventually consume him or if he could truly control it.
Half-asleep, Mayumi murmured softly:
"Thank you, Adam. Thank you for everything."
For the first time in a long while, Adam felt a warmth in his heart that wasn't tied to rage or violence. Perhaps, he thought, strength could be used for more than destruction. Perhaps it could also protect.