Chapter 47

Haruka is lying on his bed in the hotel, sleeping after a night of patrolling Fawcett City.

"Finally some rest..."

Haruka's eyelids become heavy. He lets out a deep sigh, the tension in his muscles slowly melting away as he sinks deeper into the mattress. His breathing slows, and for a moment, he feels a rare sense of peace wash over him.

Haruka stirs at the sound of something tapping against the window. He forces himself up, feeling the ache in his muscles from the previous night's patrol. Peering out, he sees a familiar red Takacandroid hovering outside.

"What do you have for me?" he asks, his voice still thick with drowsiness.

The Takacandroid displays a video, showing Black Adam brutally killing a man and then opening the door to the Rock of Eternity. Haruka's fatigue vanishes in an instant, his eyes narrowing as he takes in the disturbing footage.

Haruka's eyes widen as he watches the footage. His heart races, adrenaline surging through his veins. The sight of Black Adam's ruthless display sends a chill down his spine. Haruka clenches his fists, all thoughts of rest forgotten.

"The Rock of Eternity..." he murmurs, his brow furrowing in concern. If Black Adam gains access to that place, the consequences could be disastrous. Haruka knows he must act quickly.

Haruka bursts out of the hotel, his heart pounding with urgency. The video he witnessed has set off alarm bells in his mind. Black Adam, a dangerous and ruthless being, is on the hunt for Billy, the newly empowered Shazam.

Haruka knows he must act quickly. Pulling up the map on his phone, he locates the address of the Vasquez household, the foster home where Billy lives. Without a moment to spare, Haruka hails a taxi and directs the driver to take him there.

As the car weaves through the bustling streets of Fawcett City, Haruka's mind races. He can't help but feel a sense of responsibility towards Billy and the Shazam power. If Black Adam gets his hands on it, the consequences could be catastrophic. Haruka grips the door handle tightly, his knuckles turning white with determination.

Finally, the taxi pulls up to the Vasquez residence, a modest two-story house with a well-tended yard. Haruka pays the driver and rushes up to the front door, his finger pressing the doorbell repeatedly. He can't afford to waste any time.

The door swings open, and Haruka is greeted by a warm-eyed woman – Rosa Vasquez, Billy's foster mother. "Can I help you?" she asks, her brow furrowing in concern at Haruka's frantic demeanor.

Haruka takes in Rosa's kind, motherly appearance. She has warm brown eyes that reflect genuine concern, and her dark hair is pulled back neatly. Though her face shows signs of worry, there is a gentle softness to her features. Haruka can sense an aura of compassion radiating from her, a quality that likely makes her an excellent caregiver for the children in her home.

"Mrs. Vasquez, I need to speak with Billy. It's an emergency," Haruka says, his voice laced with urgency.

Haruka's heart pounds as Rosa Vasquez regards him with a mix of concern and curiosity. He knows he must tread carefully, but time is of the essence.

"Are you a friend of Billy's?" she asks, her kind eyes searching his face.

Haruka pauses, unsure how to explain his connection to the young Shazam. "I guess you could say that," he replies cautiously.

"Rosa, is someone there?" a voice calls out from inside the house.

"Just a friend of Billy's," Rosa says, her voice gentle.

At her words, a tall, broad-shouldered man appears behind her. This must be Victor Vasquez, Haruka realizes. He has a strong, weathered face with kind eyes that crinkle at the corners, suggesting a lifetime of hard work and care. His short, dark hair is peppered with gray, and his posture is straight and confident, radiating a sense of quiet authority.

"Can we help you, son?" Victor asks, his deep voice rumbling with warmth.

Haruka swallows, momentarily caught off guard by the couple's welcoming demeanor. "I'm sorry to intrude, but I need to speak with Billy. It's an urgent matter."

Victor and Rosa exchange a brief glance, their expressions shifting from curiosity to concern. Haruka can see the unspoken question in their eyes, but they don't press him further.

"Come on in," Victor says, stepping aside to allow Haruka entry. "We'll go get Billy."

Haruka steps into the Vasquez household, the warmth of the home enveloping him. In the living room, he spots a young Asian boy hunched over a video game controller, his eyes fixed intently on the screen.

"That's what happens when you suck!" the boy shouts, his brows furrowing in frustration.

"That growing out of the couch is Eugene," says Rosa, a fond smile playing on her lips.

Suddenly, a blur of energy darts towards Haruka, and he finds himself enveloped in a tight hug. Glancing down, he sees a young girl with dark, curly hair and bright, curious eyes.

"Hi, I'm Darla!" she exclaims, her voice brimming with excitement. "Are you a friend of Billy's?"

Victor approaches, placing a gentle hand on Darla's shoulder. "Now, Darla, don't overwhelm our guest. This is..."

Haruka hesitates, unsure of how to introduce himself. "I'm Haruka. It's nice to meet you, Darla."

The young girl beams up at him, her smile radiating warmth. Haruka can't help but feel a tug of affection for this vibrant child.

Haruka's gaze shifts to the kitchen, where he spots a chubby boy standing in front of the refrigerator, his eyes downcast. This must be Pedro, another of Billy's foster siblings.

Victor approaches the boy, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Pedro, this is Haruka. He's a friend of Billy's and needs to speak with him."

Pedro looks up, his round face and gentle brown eyes conveying a quiet, reserved demeanor. He gives Haruka a silent nod in acknowledgment, his expression neutral.

Haruka offers a polite smile, sensing the boy's shyness. "It's nice to meet you, Pedro."

Haruka sees a woman his age walking into the room, busy with a phone call. The woman was currently busy with a college application interview. She has long, dark brown hair and a mature, thoughtful expression as she paces the living room, speaking into the phone with a confident, articulate tone.

"Yes, I understand the importance of this opportunity. My experiences as a foster sibling have given me a unique perspective that I believe would benefit the program..." Mary pauses, listening intently to the interviewer on the other end of the line.

"Absolutely. My role as the eldest in the family has taught me the value of responsibility and leadership. I'm confident I can bring those skills to this internship." Mary nods, her brow furrowing slightly as she considers the next question.

Haruka listens, impressed by Mary's poise and articulate responses.

Haruka watches as Mary ends her phone call, her expression brightening with a smile. "I think I got in," she says, her voice filled with quiet confidence.

"Mary, that is great news," Victor says, a proud smile spreading across his face. He extends his hand, and Mary eagerly meets it with a fist bump, their shared excitement palpable.

Rosa turns to Haruka, her kind eyes crinkling at the corners. "Mary, this is Haruka. Billy's friend," she says, gesturing towards him.

Haruka steps forward, offering Mary a warm smile. "It's nice to meet you, Mary," he says, his voice sincere.

Mary's gaze meets Haruka's, and he notices a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. "It's nice to meet you too, Haruka," she replies, her tone slightly bashful.

Haruka can't help but notice how Mary's eyes linger on his face, her expression softening. There's an undeniable charm to her that catches him off guard, and he feels a flutter in his chest that he can't quite explain.

Before Haruka can say anything else, the sound of thundering footsteps echoes from the staircase. Moments later, a young boy with a mop of brown hair appears, followed closely by another boy with a cast on his leg.

"Whoa, who's the new guy?" the boy with the cast asks, his eyes widening with curiosity.

Haruka watches as Billy and Freddy descend the stairs, the latter using a crutch to support himself. The two boys eye Haruka curiously, unsure of who he is.

"Billy, your friend came to visit," Rosa says, gesturing towards Haruka.

Haruka feels all eyes on him as he stands in the Vasquez household. He takes a deep breath, knowing he must deliver his urgent message quickly.

Haruka studies Billy, noticing the lack of recognition in the boy's eyes. "I don't know—" Billy starts, but Haruka quickly interrupts.

"Billy, Freddy, it's good to see you. We need to finish the project we're working on. Come on, let's go to your room." Haruka gently places his hand on Billy's shoulder, his expression urgent. He glances at Freddy, silently willing them to trust him and follow.

Without further explanation, Haruka ushers the two boys up the stairs, leaving the rest of the Vasquez family to exchange perplexed looks. As they reach the room, Haruka closes the door behind them, his mind racing. He knows he must tread carefully, but the threat of Black Adam looms large.

///

Give Power Stones so I can continue to write this story. If it does not gain any interest, I will drop it.

Advance chapters on my P@tE0N Najicablitz, which is also the best way to support me.