THE BREAK
8:00 PM | Ren: 9 years old
(Ren and his father are going to the cinema to watch a movie, and while they are walking along the road)
Ren: I'm really excited for the movie, Dad.
Father (smiling): Yes, that's the required excitement.
Ren: But, Dad, why don't heroes die in movies! Isn't that strange!!!?
(A voice coming from behind them): You're right, little one—how strange that heroes don't die in movies!
(Ren and his father turn around but see no one! They are surprised when the person appears in front of them.
Ren's Father: Who are you!?
(The person wears clothes bearing on the chest a cross with a downward arrow and a horizontal line beneath it.)
Ren's Father (in shock, as if he recognizes him): You!
Person: I am the one who will take everything from you.
(The person uses the skill "Art of Temporal Manipulation—Time Distortion."
Ren's father's heart beats fast, holes appear all over his body, and his blood flows.)
Ren's Father (screaming loudly): Run, Ren!!!
Ren (with a terrified, shocked face): D–Dad!
Father (screaming very loudly): RUN, REN!!!!!!!!
Ren (standing with a very shocked face as tears begin to fall)
Father: Run!!!!!!!
(Ren runs back home, tears streaming down his face, his features awash with shock and fear. At last he arrives, slams the door behind him violently, then leans against it collapsed, before sitting on the floor—his face still pale and trembling, his eyes brimming with tears.)
Sister (with a worried, frightened face): What happened, Ren?! And where's Dad?!
Ren (in a choked voice): Dad… he's dead.
(His sister kneels, her tears falling onto the floor of the house, her eyes full of shock and denial.)
Sister (in a pale, broken voice): Impossible… impossible… it can't be… it can't be…
Earlier that morning:
Ren's house (Chiyoda – Kiyojibashi Street)
Ren woke from his sleep and left his room to find his father and sister "Aima" in the living room, where his father had prepared breakfast.
Father (smiling): I was going to wake you, but it seems you beat me to it. Come on, eat your breakfast before I take you to school.
Ryn (holding his schoolbag, replying coldly): I don't feel like eating breakfast.
His father noticed the sadness in his eyes, so he approached to comfort him.
Father (calmly and lovingly): I know you're upset because I didn't take you last night to see the movie "Robots vs. Zombies." Alright, tonight we three—me, you, and Aima—will go, and I'll reserve special seats for you.
Ren (with sudden happiness): Really?!
Father: Yes, of course.
Ren (turning to his sister): Isn't that great, Aima?!
Aima (joyfully, then hesitantly): Very great… but… I have a final exam tomorrow, I can't go.
Father (teasing, scratching her head): Don't be sad, sweetie. Today Ryn and I will go, and after your exams we'll all go to Disneyland.
Ryn and Aima (shouting excitedly): DISNEYLAND!!!
(They hug their father with joy and cheer: "Hooray!")
After breakfast, the father drove Ryn to school and bade him farewell with love. Ryn entered the classroom, where his friends Hanma, Iwata, and Gin awaited him.
Gin (joking): Didn't you hear the new news?
Ryn: What news?
Gin & Iwata (cheerfully): Hanma joined a martial arts academy!
Ryn (bursting out laughing): Hahaha! Really, Hanma?!
Hanma (trying to compose himself): I want to learn fighting like my hero Genichiro Yanagi.
Ryn: And who is this Zeneetsuro?!
Iwata (correcting): Genichiro, not Zeneetsuro. He's one of the judo legends in Japan.
Hanma: Not only one of the best… he's the best.
Ryn (mocking): Nonsense!
At that moment, the teacher entered, so everyone returned to their places and the lesson began. But Ryn was distracted, thinking about the movie tonight, until sleep overcame him and he fell asleep on the desk.
Teacher (angrily): How do you sleep in my class?!
Ryn (confused): Sorry, sir. I was very tired. The power went out all night…and the mosquitoes wouldn't let me sleep.
Teacher (remembering his own struggle with mosquitoes preventing him from sleeping last night): Okay, sit down.
Then to the students: Are you ready to present your research on your role model in life?
Ryn felt anxious, for he had completely forgotten the assignment. He tried to recall last week's instruction to present on their role models and why they admired them, while the students began presenting their research. When it came to Hanma's turn and he began talking about his role model, Ryn almost laughed but restrained himself and whispered, "This isn't the right time…"
(Thinking to himself): What should I say?… What should I say?…
Then suddenly he thought, "I've got it!"
When it was his turn, he stood and spoke with emotion:
Ryn:
"My father is my role model… he's who I always look up to. He taught me a lot in his own way and introduced me to true courage. I remember when I was little, how he explained life's lessons to me and faced its challenges with a smile.
Dad… he's an honest, brave, and loyal person. He bears responsibilities with an open heart and pursues his dreams without stopping.
I love you, Dad… because you taught me how to be a human being. Because you were always by my side. Thank you for everything. I'm proud of you and hope to be like you one day."
(A silence fell for a moment, then the classroom erupted in applause. The teacher wiped a tear from his eye.)
Teacher: Truly moving words.
Iwata (mocking while wiping his eyes): You've matured, Ryn…
Hanma (nodding)
The school day ended, and Ryn returned home excitedly awaiting the moment to watch the movie with his father.
Ryn entered the house and found his sister.
Ryn: I came back early! How was the exam?
Aima (confident): I finished it in fifteen minutes. Now I'll study for tomorrow's exam.
Ryn (in a low voice): Of course… you do nothing but study…
Aima: What did you say?!
Ryn (running to his room): Nothing!
Aima (mocking): Dummy!
Ryn looked at the clock: 1:00 PM.
Ryn: Eight hours until the movie… What do I do with all that time? Study? Impossible! I haven't opened a book since the beginning of the year…
(Then he imagines sitting next to Hanma during the exam, imagining Aima studying constantly.)
Ryn (laughing): No problem… I'll just nap anyway…
He fell asleep. When he woke up, he found his father in front of him.
Father: Do you want to miss the movie?
Ryn (surprised): Dad!… The time is… 7:30?!
Father (smiling): Hooray! Time flew by… thanks to the mosquitoes!
His stomach growled from hunger.
Father (laughing): We should eat first!
Ren: Okay!
After they finished eating and got ready to go out, Ryn turned to his sister teasingly:
Ren: Okay, little genius, we're going now. Are you sure you don't want to come?
Aima (throws tissues at him, he dodges laughing as he runs outside.)
(Father watches them with pride and love, saying to himself, "They've really grown," then gently to Aima: "Goodbye, Aima, take good care of yourself.")
Aima (smiling): I will.
Present time:
Ambulances and police arrive and take Ren's father's body. Ren and Aima scream wanting to reach their father's body but the police stop them as they scream. Ren is collapsed and doesn't know what's happening around him until Ren's father is buried. Ren returns home in the pouring rain, soaked in confusion and shock. When he reaches home, his neighbor is in front of the door and tells him, "Aima and I are inside the house, and we want you and Aima to live with us, and we will take care of you both." Ren doesn't pay any attention to his words, being drowned in his grief and with a shocked face. He enters the house, locks the door behind him. The neighbor knocks on the door and calls out to Ren, but Ryn doesn't respond.
"The darkness envelops the place, and the rain pours heavily, like the tears of the sky that never stop. Ren's face is pale, his eyes soaked in sorrow, as if he lost a part of himself. He closes the door behind him and leaves the outside world behind, drowning in his silence, trying to find meaning for what happened.
In his room, Ren collapses, screams with all his might, his tears pouring like rain, and he says, "Why! Why did this happen to my father?! There were so many things we had to do together; I never told him I loved him; why did this happen to him, Dad? Didn't you say you wouldn't leave us? Why, why did you leave?" (He says this both inside and out.) Then his eyes turn red as he screams, "I will not forgive you… I will kill you… I will find you wherever you are… I will definitely kill you, I will never forget your face." Then he pulls a blade from his drawer, cuts his hand with it, draws the emblem that was on his father's killer's clothes on his wall, and screams with tears flowing from his eyes, "I will not allow you… I will never forgive you," then he loses consciousness from crying and screaming too much and falls to the ground like a lifeless body.
At that moment, it seems that time stops and the whole world collapses. Ren screams from inside, screaming with all his might, trying to find an answer to the question that haunts him: Why? Why did all this happen? Why my father?"
A full week passes and Ren stays in that state of grief and despair, not knowing what to do, but as days go by he regains his strength.
After a week:
Morning comes, Ren opens his eyes with despair and sadness. It's a beautiful morning but with a broken spirit; he leaves his house and goes to school without uniform or bag. Hanma waits there. When Hanma arrives and sees Ren's new broken face and that he's not wearing school clothes, he's surprised and says with concern: "Ren!!! Are you sick today?! Where have you been all last week?! What happened to you?!"
Ren: I want to join the martial arts academy you're in.
Hanma: Why do you want to go there? What's wrong today, Ren? Answer me.
Ren: (a tear falls from his eye) Please take me there.
Seeing Ren in that state, Hanma grows more tense and worried; Ryn sits on a schoolyard chair, and Hanma sits with him, holds his hand and says: "Please tell me what's wrong, I'm very worried about you, please Ryn."
Ren: Dad…
Hanma: Your father Silva!! What's wrong with him? Is he ill?!
Ren (with a broken heart): Dad… he died.
Hanma: The news hits him like lightning: "Your father… is dead?"
Ren: (tears flow from his eyes) tells him that a man killed his father right in front of him yesterday.
Hanma: "Impossible!?" (tears fall from his eyes) Hanma says, and Ryn comforts him: "I'm so sorry, I didn't know. Your father was like a father to all of us."
Ren: Please Hanma, take me to the martial arts academy now.
Hanma: What about school?! The place isn't far; we can go after school.
Ren: Please take me now. Hanma cannot refuse and says to him: I left the academy because its training is very strict, but I will take you there. He goes with Ryn.
They arrive at an ancient Japanese-style castle, grand and majestic, with "Zev Fighting Academy" clearly written on its façade.
Hanma is about to enter with Ren, but Ryn stops him, saying:
– It's okay, you should go to school; I don't want to hold you up.
Hanma says hesitantly:
– Bu… but…
Ren firmly:
– I told you it's okay!
Hanma steps back quietly:
– O… okay. Are you sure you'll be fine alone?
Ren enters the academy gate confidently, while Hanma stands outside, looking at him with sorrow and pity, and says to himself:
"Ren… he loved his father so much… he took care of him since childhood, and he knows nothing about his mother…
With a sad face, memories overwhelm his heart, and he recalls their times together. He murmurs to himself:
– I hope he overcomes this ordeal soon… although I don't know why he wants to join this academy so badly.
He suddenly looks at his watch and says:
– I'm really late… I must go.
Ren enters the academy hall, where he finds an old man in his seventies, with commanding presence and strength, sitting on an old Japanese cushion.
The old man stares at him deeply and asks:
– Who are you?
Ryn answers firmly:
– I'm Korosaki Ryn, and I want to train under you.
Zev studies him and says calmly:
– Your body won't withstand the harsh training here… you're still very young.
Ren recalls Hanma's words about the difficulty of training here and says resolutely:
– I can endure… I want to become stronger.
Zev interrupts sharply:
– If you think you're capable, prove it.
Zev stands majestically and begins walking toward Ren, saying:
– We are not a gym… nor an amusement park for children.
Ren feels short of breath and collapses to his knees. Zev says coldly:
– I don't want to teach a child who doesn't know how to breathe in my presence… Go away, I won't train you.
Ren raises his sharp eyes to him and says determinedly:
– I'm not leaving… I want to train with you now.
He rises standing with full resolve.
Zev looks at him with interest and thinks: "He's interesting… completely different from Hanma."
Then he says aloud:
– If you insist on staying, you must prove to me that you're worthy of training.
Ren answers:
– I am.
Zev says:
– I'll give you a test… If you succeed, I'll accept training you. If you fail, you must leave the academy forever.
Ren nods confidently and says:
– Agreed. What is the test?
Zev smiles faintly and suddenly delivers a powerful punch that sends Ren flying from his position, then says to him:
– You won't achieve anything by pretending to endure… you must have something to fight for.
Ren remembers his father and sadness seeps into his heart, but quickly that sadness turns into resolve, so he stands up with blazing determination:
– I have a reason indeed!
But Zev delivers another punch; Ren raises his hand attempting to block it, but it's faster and stronger than he expected. He takes the blow on his face and falls again.
Zev says coldly:
– It seems you're not ready.
Ren stands again, in pain but not giving up, and says:
– Not yet… it's not over! I'll try again!
Zev looks at him smiling and says:
– Very well, let's see if you can learn from your mistakes.
Before Zev can deliver another punch, Ren surprises him with a punch to his face.
Zev stops in astonishment, then smiles and says:
– You really are interesting… Very well, you've passed the test.
Ren says in amazement:
– I passed? So quickly?
Zev places his hand on Ryn's chest and says:
– True strength… resides here.
Zev sits on his cushion and motions Ryn to sit before him:
– Anyway, today is a rest day.
Ren exclaims:
– A rest day?!
Then he thinks to himself:
"Hanma that idiot… he must have forgotten," and imagines Hanma's head as a trash can.
At that moment, Hanma arrived at school, only to discover that today is a holiday. He feels foolish and says:
– I'm really a fool…
Zev said:
– Don't worry… since you've endured all that, I'll train you today.
Ren replied:
– Alone?
Zev said:
– Yes, for I have nothing else to do… I feel a great emptiness.
Ren asked in surprise:
– Don't you have a family?
Zev answered quietly:
– I had a wife and two sons… but they died twenty years ago.
Ren felt sorrow and bowed to him saying:
– I'm sorry… I didn't know.
Zev replied with a sad smile:
– It's okay, they're in a better place anyway.
Ren thought deeply about that phrase: "a better place"…
Zev said:
– Very well, how old are you?
Ren answered:
– I'm nine years old.
Zev said:
– It's the perfect time to release your power and discover your ability.
Ren replied enthusiastically:
– Yes, I want to become stronger… I want to protect my sister and friends.
Zev said:
– As you know, there are many abilities in this world… but most people are born without them. They're called the ordinary.
– Born without abilities?! How?
Zev said:
– Strange you didn't know. Despite the spread of abilities, only one percent of humans possess them.
– Only one percent? That's very few!
– Yes, but still a large number… out of eight billion, eighty million have abilities.
Ren said with concern:
– But… ninety-nine percent have no abilities? How do they protect themselves? How do they live safely?
Zev replied:
– That's why the Hero League was established… to protect those without abilities.
– The Hero League?!
– Yes, Ren, listen carefully…
People are born with different spirit cards that grant them the ability to control their powers. But there's a big difference in energy level between individuals, depending on bloodline strength and skill refinement over time. To control your spirit energy, you must first learn to release it and then develop your own techniques.
But before that, we must know: do you have an ability at all?
This news struck Ryn like lightning, making him flustered and anxious, but Zev calmed him:
– Don't worry; abilities don't awaken on their own until the age of ten… but we can force them out with external energy if you have a strong will.
Ren regained his composure and said confidently:
– I'm ready… all I want is to become stronger.
Zev said:
– Very well, I can help you release your power… are you ready to endure it?
Ren, remembering his father's face, answered firmly:
– Yes.
Zev placed his hand on Ren's heart and sent a wave of energy into him, saying:
– If you have an ability, it will awaken now… if not, it will cause you pain that may last for months.
Ren's body trembled, and a powerful aura burst from him, pushing Zev's hand back, to the old man's astonishment, while Ryn screamed in agony.
Zev said:
– Imagine yourself in a calm place… imagine the energy flowing through your body, then release it around you.
Ren focused deeply, banishing all thoughts, and the energy began to flow around him, and he controlled it.
Zev thought in amazement:
"He learns so quickly… no, I've never trained someone as gifted as him before!"
Zev said:
– Open your eyes slowly.
Ren opened his eyes gradually.
Zev said:
– Now, can you release it into the surrounding area? I want to know your ability type.
Ren released his aura, and small objects began to float around him. Zev felt the aura's power and said in astonishment:
– I don't believe it!
Ren stopped, caught his breath, and knelt from exhaustion.
Zev, amazed, said:
– Among all abilities, there are seven rare ones: Light, Darkness, Summoning, Supreme Healing, Gravity, Dark Magic, and Space.
– And you, Ren… possess one of them: the Legendary Gravity Power.
Ryn smiled and felt happiness for the first time since his father's death, saying joyfully:
– I will become stronger… stronger… I'll protect my family and friends… and everyone!
Zev warned:
– Don't get carried away by your enthusiasm… the rarer the ability, the harder it is to master.
Ren clenched his fist and said with determination:
– I won't give up… I'll become stronger and stronger!
Zev smiled and said:
– I like your enthusiasm… right, I want to ask you about your parents' abilities.
Ren hesitated and did not tell him about his father's death, and said:
– Actually, I don't know anything about my mother… but my father told me he had the "Seal."
Zev showed strangeness, shock appearing on his face:
– Are you sure about your father's ability?
– Yes, is something wrong?
– No… no, I was just asking.
Then he added:
– Very well, training starts tomorrow. Training will be on four days: Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday from six in the morning until ten.
Ren thought to himself:
"Didn't he say he would train me today?… Oh well."
As he was about to leave, Zev said:
– I can train you alone every Monday starting next week.
Ren smiled and said:
– Really?
Then he remembered money and said:
– But… about the cost, I can't afford it.
Zev said with a smile:
– Don't worry… you're very talented. I'll train you for free.
Ryn rejoiced greatly and said:
– Thank you so much, Master Zev… I don't know how to thank you.
Zev replied with a warm smile:
– It's okay… I consider you like my own son.
Ren smiled with a warm feeling, then left.
As for Zev, he remained in his place, thinking deeply, and said to himself:
"I don't know who this boy is… but it's impossible that someone with the Seal ability fathered a child with Gravity ability… the genes are completely mismatched!"