Chapter 29: Central City

Mid-June is the busiest time in Central City, located in Missouri, USA. Once a top contender among major cities in the country, Central City has long been recognized as a hub for commerce, architecture, and the arts, earning the title "The Gem of the Midwest." However, with the continuous development of the economy and the redistribution of resources, the city has lost some of its former glory. Still, Central City retains its unique advantages, including Central City University—one of the best universities in the DC universe—and Central City Medical School, both adding vibrancy to the area. Furthermore, the S.T.A.R. Labs branch also operates here. Most importantly, this city serves as the home of the Flash, the fastest person in the world.

"Wow, it's so cool! It's really different from what I saw on TV; the Flash truly represents Central City," a teenager exclaimed, standing in Central City Airport. He carried an oversized backpack that nearly reached his height and wore sunglasses while holding a map adorned with a lightning bolt logo. The road signs outside, all featuring the Flash symbol, only added to his admiration.

They say that the DC universe has a dark and gritty style, but Kaito Haruno felt that seeing it firsthand was the real truth. At least in Central City, the city that the Justice League hero, the Flash, called home, he couldn't spot any darkness. A place where even the city logo bore the Flash's symbol couldn't possibly harbor resentment against its hero. Seriously, what a lousy director for turning the Justice League movies into his own style, he thought sarcastically about the director who adapted the Justice League films. Finally, Kaito boarded the airport shuttle to his booked youth hostel.

"Hello! I booked a room online from the 15th to the 28th. Here's my ID; could you please check it?" Kaito asked as he got off in the downtown area, following the navigation to a duplex apartment building. He opened the door, smiled at the receptionist—a pretty girl at the front desk—and handed her his ID.

Kaito couldn't help but notice the effectiveness of the three types of Haki—Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's Haki—he had learned. Observation and Armament Haki offered excellent assistance during his daily tasks, while Conqueror's Haki, which could intimidate low-level foes and clear out large areas, didn't seem very useful. However, he noticed a significant effect when interacting with the opposite sex.

The receptionist was a typical American girl, slightly older than Kaito, with some freckles still visible on her face. According to Kaito's aesthetic sense, she had a nice figure and charm, barely scoring a 75 out of 100. Upon seeing Kaito's smile, her cheeks flushed, and she shyly accepted his ID. After confirming his reservation on the computer, she handed it back along with a complimentary bottle of soda.

Hey, how much does soda cost? What does this free drink mean? Am I overthinking this? Holding the bottle of soda, Kaito's thoughts took a detour for a moment. After a while, he snapped back to reality, politely declined the receptionist's offer to help, grabbed his large backpack, and headed to his assigned floor.

The room was clean, situated in a youth hostel within a three-story duplex. Kaito stayed in a single room on the second floor, and from his balcony, he could see a swimming pool below, accompanied by a spacious courtyard furnished with several tables and chairs for smokers, plus a barbecue grill for parties.

Compared to those so-called star-rated hotels, Kaito preferred youth hostels like this one, where travelers from all over gathered to share stories about their hometowns, experiences, and amusing anecdotes. If he got hungry and disliked the hotel's food delivery, he could simply head to the supermarket, buy his favorite ingredients, and prepare a meal himself. He could even invite others to join him, without worrying about whether he knew them or not. They might part ways after a night together, each taking their own paths toward their next destination.

"This city is filled with sunshine! I think I'll take a nap first." Enjoying the sunlight streaming down, Kaito remarked on the weather in Central City before settling onto a lounge chair on the balcony and drifting off to sleep.

When he woke up, it was already 7 PM. The common area on the first floor was bustling with noise; it seemed that June was a popular time for everyone to come out and enjoy life. The influx of guests also explained why this hostel had good reviews online. After tidying up briefly, Kaito prepared to head downstairs for some food.

"Hey! Still on duty, huh? Looks like business is booming!" Kaito greeted the receptionist from earlier, who was still at the front desk.

"Yeah! It's the holiday season, so many people are coming to visit," she replied cheerfully, her face lighting up at Kaito's friendliness.

"I haven't eaten yet; I'm about to look for something. If that doesn't work, I can cook myself. By the way, do you have any recommendations for good places to eat around here?"

"Is this your first time in Central City?"

"Yes! I've heard it's a sunny city."

"Absolutely! We have the superhero, the Flash, who always appears when you're in danger."

"Just like Superman?"

"Exactly, just like Superman!"

Kaito and the receptionist chatted about their respective cities' culture and customs. As a newcomer to Central City, Kaito learned a lot from her that he hadn't known before.

Central City had once experienced an explosion of superhumans, making it nearly as chaotic as Gotham. It wasn't until the Flash collaborated with the Star Labs and the Central City Police Department that the city returned to its current state. During that period, the Flash gradually earned the citizens' trust.

The particle accelerator explosion! It looks like this Central City aligns with the TV series about the Flash, but only partially. Based on the storyline he had seen, aside from the origin story being similar, everything else was quite different. At least he hadn't heard any news about Reverse-Flash from the receptionist, nor had he come across any reports about Harrison Wells, indicating that the Reverse-Flash storyline simply didn't exist.

This realization eased Kaito's mind. If he had known that Reverse-Flash still existed here, he would have turned around and left without a second thought. A villain capable of reaching speeds multiple times that of sound and skilled in various killing techniques would surely be over his head.

"I guess you're here to see the Flash Museum, right?"

"Huh?" Kaito, lost in thought, didn't catch what the receptionist said. He looked up at her in confusion.

"The Flash Museum! It's the most famous building in Central City, on par with Central City University as one of the best sights in America."

"Yeah, I'm definitely interested in a museum dedicated to the Flash."

"You're in luck! Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of the Flash Museum. You might even get to see the Flash himself!"

"Wow! That's amazing news! Thank you for the information. See you later!"

"See you!"

End of Chapter