Just an Update Chapter (Not Dropping Story)

Hey guys! It's Valentine just letting you know why there hasnt been any uploads recently. Right now I am enjoying my vacation and will be on it until mid July where I will go back to posting Izuku Legacy and Duet of Destinies. I have also considered making a novel but I'm not sure, I really got hit with a big dose of inspiration during one night and whipped up this chapter. If it wouldn't bother you any, the first chapter of it will be just below so please, give me your thoughts! Anyways I will see you guys in about two weeks with new chapters for both series! 

Chapter 1: Mana and Monotony

The shrill ring of my phone cut through the bustling street noise. I fished it out of my pocket, glancing at the caller ID. Yuki. My sister never called during school hours unless it was important.

"Akira! There's a Gate opening near Shibuya Station!" Yuki's voice crackled with excitement. "It's all over the news. They're saying it might be B-rank!"

My heart raced. A B-rank Gate in the middle of Tokyo? That was rare. Dangerous, yes, but also a chance to see top-tier Hunters in action.

"Thanks for the heads up," I said, already changing direction. "Stay safe, okay?"

"You too, big brother. Don't do anything stupid!"

I hung up, pocketing the phone as I broke into a jog. The crowd around me thinned as I neared Shibuya Station, then swelled again as I hit the gathering throng of onlookers. Police barricades held back the masses, but people pushed and shoved for a better view.

I elbowed my way through, muttering apologies. A gap opened up, and I slipped through to the front. The scene before me was chaos.

The Gate hovered about twenty feet off the ground, a swirling vortex of blues and purples. It was bigger than I expected, maybe forty feet across. Energy crackled around its edges, sending shivers down my spine. Even from this distance, I could feel its pull.

My eyes darted around, taking in details. Crushed cars littered the street. A nearby building had a massive hole punched through its side. And there, in the center of it all, stood a Hunter.

She was tall, easily over six feet, with bright red hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. Her armor gleamed silver in the afternoon sun, etched with intricate dragon designs. In her hands, she held a massive war hammer, its head crackling with electricity.

I recognized her immediately. Ryuko "The Dragon" Tanaka, A-rank Hunter and one of the top members of the Azure Dragon Association. Seeing her in person, I understood why she was so feared by Villains.

A roar shook the ground, and from behind an overturned bus emerged the Villain. It was massive, easily fifteen feet tall, with gray, leathery skin and a head that looked like a hammerhead shark. Its arms ended in wicked claws, and its mouth was filled with rows of jagged teeth.

"Holy shit," I breathed. This was no ordinary Villain. Its mana signature was off the charts, pulsing with raw power. If I had to guess, it was at least a high C-rank, maybe even low B.

Ryuko didn't seem fazed. She twirled her hammer, electricity arcing between her and the weapon. "Come on, ugly!" she shouted. "Let's dance!"

The Villain charged, its footsteps shaking the ground. Ryuko stood her ground, hammer at the ready. At the last second, she sidestepped, bringing her weapon around in a vicious arc.

The hammer connected with a thunderous crack, sending the Villain flying into the side of a building. Concrete crumbled, and dust filled the air. For a moment, everything was still.

Then the Villain emerged from the rubble, shaking off the blow like it was nothing. It let out another ear-splitting roar and charged again.

This time, Ryuko met it head-on. Her hammer clashed with its claws, sparks flying. They traded blows at a speed I could barely follow, each impact sending shockwaves through the air.

I watched, transfixed. This was what I dreamed of. The raw power, the skill, the courage to face down monsters from other dimensions. But I knew I'd never be able to do what Ryuko was doing.

My hand unconsciously went to my chest, where I knew my Hunter's Mark lay hidden beneath my shirt. E-rank. The lowest of the low. No special abilities, no enhanced strength or speed. Just a regular guy with a bit more mana than the average person.

A particularly loud crash snapped me back to reality. The Villain had gotten in a lucky hit, sending Ryuko skidding across the pavement. She rolled to her feet, but I could see she was favoring her left leg.

The crowd around me murmured nervously. If an A-rank Hunter was struggling, what chance did we have?

But Ryuko wasn't done yet. She slammed her hammer into the ground, and lightning erupted from the impact point. It raced across the street, enveloping the Villain in a cage of electricity.

The monster howled in pain, its body convulsing. Ryuko took advantage of its momentary weakness, leaping high into the air. Her hammer crackled with energy as she brought it down on the Villain's head with all her might.

The impact was deafening. A shockwave rippled outward, shattering windows and setting off car alarms. When the dust settled, the Villain lay motionless on the ground, and Ryuko stood triumphant over its body.

The crowd erupted in cheers. This was what real Hunters could do. This was the power I'd never have.

As the adrenaline faded, I noticed my phone buzzing insistently in my pocket. I pulled it out to find a barrage of missed calls and texts from my boss at the convenience store. Shit. My shift had started ten minutes ago.

I cast one last look at the scene. Clean-up crews were already moving in, and Ryuko was talking to a group of reporters. The Gate still hung in the air, but I knew it would be closed soon enough. Other Hunters would make sure nothing else came through.

Sighing, I turned away, pushing through the dispersing crowd. As I jogged towards work, my mind raced with what I'd seen. The raw power, the skill, the bravery. Everything I wanted to be but couldn't.

But dwelling on it wouldn't change anything. I had responsibilities. A job to get to, bills to pay, a sister to take care of. Dreams were nice, but reality was what mattered.

I arrived at the store out of breath and fifteen minutes late. My boss, a portly man named Tanaka, was waiting by the door with a scowl on his face.

"Kantaro," he growled. "You're late. Again."

I bowed deeply. "I'm sorry, sir. There was a Gate incident near Shibuya Station, and I got caught up in the crowd."

Tanaka's expression softened slightly. "Ah, I heard about that on the radio. Nasty business. Still, you should have called."

"You're right. It won't happen again."

He sighed. "See that it doesn't. Now get to work. We're short-staffed as it is."

I nodded, hurrying to the back room to change into my uniform. As I tied on my apron, I caught sight of my reflection in the grimy mirror. Dark circles under my eyes, hair a mess from running. I looked like hell.

The next few hours passed in a blur of restocking shelves, ringing up customers, and mopping floors. It was mind-numbing work, but it paid the bills. And on slow nights like this, it gave me time to think.

My mind kept drifting back to the fight I'd witnessed. Ryuko's power, the Villain's ferocity, the raw energy of the Gate. It was all so far removed from my mundane life, yet it was the world I desperately wanted to be a part of.

But wishing wouldn't make it so. I was E-rank, and that wasn't going to change. No matter how much I trained, how much I studied, I'd never be able to stand toe-to-toe with monsters like that.

A customer's voice jolted me from my thoughts. "Excuse me, where can I find the instant ramen?"

I plastered on my best customer service smile. "Aisle three, on the left. Let me know if you need any help finding a specific brand."

As the night wore on, the store emptied out. By the time my shift ended at 11 PM, I was dead on my feet. I changed back into my street clothes and headed out into the cool night air.

The streets were mostly empty this late, just a few late-night revelers and the occasional salaryman stumbling home from a long night of drinking. I walked quickly, keeping my head down and my senses alert. Even in a relatively safe neighborhood like this, you could never be too careful.

My apartment building came into view, a dingy five-story walk-up that had seen better days. But it was cheap, and the landlord didn't ask too many questions. For Yuki and me, it was home.

I trudged up the stairs to the third floor, fishing my keys out of my pocket. As I opened the door, I was hit with the smell of instant curry and the sound of the TV.

"I'm home," I called out, kicking off my shoes.

Yuki poked her head out of the kitchen. "Welcome back! There's curry if you're hungry."

I managed a tired smile. "Thanks. How was school?"

She shrugged, following me into the living room. "Same old, same old. Oh, but did you see the news about the Gate? It was amazing! They're saying it was one of the biggest B-rank incursions this year!"

I nodded, collapsing onto our worn couch. "Yeah, I saw it. Got caught up in the crowd on my way to work."

Yuki's eyes widened. "Really? What was it like? Did you see the Hunter fight the Villain?"

For a moment, I considered downplaying it. Yuki always got so excited about Hunter stuff, and I didn't want to encourage unrealistic dreams. But the look of eager anticipation on her face broke my resolve.

"It was... pretty incredible," I admitted. "The Villain was huge, like something out of a monster movie. And the Hunter, Ryuko Tanaka, she fought it like it was nothing. Her hammer was shooting lightning, and she was moving so fast I could barely keep up."

Yuki listened with rapt attention, hanging on my every word. When I finished, she let out a wistful sigh. "Man, I wish I could've seen it in person. Ryuko's one of my favorites, you know. Did you see her dragon armor? They say it's made from actual dragon scales!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Dragons aren't real, Yuki."

She stuck out her tongue. "You don't know that. There could be dragon Gates out there we haven't found yet!"

I chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. She ducked away, giggling. For a moment, it felt like old times.

But reality had a way of creeping back in. I glanced at the clock and frowned. "It's late. You should be in bed. Don't you have a test tomorrow?"

Yuki's smile faded. "Yeah, I know. I was just waiting up for you."

Guilt gnawed at me. I knew she worried when I worked late shifts. "I appreciate it, but you need your rest. Can't have my little sister falling asleep during her exams, can I?"

She rolled her eyes but stood up. "Fine, fine. Night, Akira. Don't stay up too late, okay?"

"I won't. Sleep tight."

As Yuki disappeared into her room, I let out a long sigh. The apartment felt emptier without her energy filling it. I should go to bed too, but I knew sleep wouldn't come easily.

Instead, I pulled out my battered laptop and opened up the Hunter Association's website. The homepage was dominated by news of the Shibuya Gate incident, complete with shaky cell phone footage of Ryuko's fight.

I clicked through to the training section, scanning the list of upcoming seminars and workshops. Most were way out of my price range, but there was a free lecture on Gate theory next week that looked interesting.

As I read through the description, a familiar ache settled in my chest. This was as close as I'd ever get to the world of real Hunters. Watching from the sidelines, dreaming of what could have been.

But dreams didn't put food on the table or pay Yuki's school fees. I had responsibilities, and I couldn't afford to chase impossible goals.

I closed the laptop with a snap, rubbing my tired eyes. Tomorrow would be another day of work, study, and taking care of Yuki. It wasn't the life I wanted, but it was the one I had.

As I got ready for bed, my gaze lingered on the small shrine in the corner of the room. Photos of our parents smiled back at me, forever frozen in happier times. I wondered what they'd think of me now. Would they be proud of how I'd stepped up to take care of Yuki? Or disappointed that I hadn't lived up to their legacy as Hunters?

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. It didn't matter. They were gone, and I had to focus on the here and now.

As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the memory of Ryuko's fight. The power, the skill, the sheer exhilaration of it all. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to imagine what it would be like to wield that kind of strength.

But reality was waiting just around the corner. In a few short hours, my alarm would go off, and I'd be back to the grind. E-rank Akira Kantaro, student, convenience store clerk and guardian of one teenage sister.

It wasn't the life I'd dreamed of, but it was mine. And for now, that had to be enough.