Tech Hero in Another World
Chapter 120: [119] Kiriya dan Wendy (2)

Chapter 120: [119] Kiriya dan Wendy (2)

Kiriya let out a long sigh, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Haah... So it was all for nothing that I came here," he muttered softly, staring at the glass before him, now holding nothing but the remnants of water. He had known this trip would be exhausting, yet his heart felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment—because in the end, all he did was meet, listen... and leave.

Wendy’s eyes followed Kiriya as she gathered her words. "Really now, what made you chase after him like that?" she asked gently, her voice warm but full of curiosity. She understood well—chasing an old friend to the ends of the world was no small matter.

Kiriya took another sip of water, holding back the unease in his chest. "It’s just... I was more interested in following him than staying in the capital of Eldoria," he answered calmly. He weighed the difference: the capital, glittering with lights and crowded with noise—while adventure brought stories, danger... and a reason to keep living.

Wendy raised an eyebrow, the joy in her voice showing clearly on her face. "Eeh? Isn’t living in the capital safer and more refined than being a wanderer?" she asked, trying to make sense of Kiriya’s thinking. It was a simple logic—but in her heart, she knew: Kiriya’s spirit couldn’t be chained.

Kiriya gave a slow nod, looking at Wendy standing behind the counter. "I know your business is doing pretty well," he said casually. He was impressed—how the pizza Ren had once created, now run by Wendy, was so warmly received here.

Wendy smiled proudly. "Yeah, it really is... because people around here had never seen food like that before," she said lightly, her eyes sparkling with pride. To her, pizza wasn’t just food—it was a symbol of the warm friendship she had with Ren.

Kiriya furrowed his brow, then asked seriously. "I’ve always wondered... Do you really know we came from a different world?" he asked, staring at Wendy with sincere eyes. He felt a little sullied every time he heard the word "hero," but it always stuck to him.

Wendy swallowed, then let out a soft chuckle. "The whole hero summoning thing is kind of... weird," she said quietly, thoughtfully. Her voice lowered, as if carrying secrets from the past. "Every kingdom in the West has summoned heroes before—but most of them vanished or died on the battlefield." She looked down, nervously rubbing her fingers as she recalled those dark stories.

Kiriya watched her closely. "This is the first I’ve heard of that... So we weren’t the first?" he asked. He felt moved—and a little afraid. What did his existence mean, if countless other heroes had fallen like some kind of procedure?

Wendy nodded slowly, letting out a deep breath. "As far as I know, it stopped in my mother’s time... but now, in this era, the summoning has returned," she said softly. Her eyes searched Kiriya’s face for a reaction.

Kiriya took another sip of water, staring at the floor. "I... I’m not a hero," he whispered. "I’m just an ordinary person caught in this current, trying to find my way home."

Wendy gave a sympathetic smile. "You sound honest."

The two glasses sat side by side, leaving behind the warmth of a long, quiet conversation.

"Alright," Wendy finally lifted her head, offering a gentle smile. "I want to know about Ren’s past—about what he was like in your world," she asked.

Kiriya hesitated, then let out a deep sigh. "Ren... he’s hiding a bitter, embarrassing past," he said quietly.

"Hee... Just how embarrassing is it?" Wendy asked, growing more curious. They’d only been in the bar for thirty minutes, but the atmosphere felt warm and full of curiosity—the night was still young, time seeming to slow.

"You really want to know? Then order something to eat here, and I’ll tell you over dinner," Kiriya replied confidently. His tone was light, but there was a seriousness behind it that he couldn’t hide.

"Oh my, you sound like a guy asking me out on a date," Wendy teased, smiling shyly. Her eyes sparkled, her twin ponytails simple, but the night made her look almost elegant.

"Is that so? Well, then I guess I’m doing something right," Kiriya replied, sipping his water. Truly, the night was filled with small jokes and a warm atmosphere—but the story he was about to share was far from light.

---

Their past began with a single moment—when Ren and Kiriya first met as kids, two little boys fighting over a simple playground in the park. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the tips of oak trees, casting long shadows over a wooden bench.

"You nerd! Aren’t you ashamed of stealing my playground?!" shouted the boy in the red T-shirt, his cheeks flushed and his eyes burning.

The boy, around the same age, wearing a light blue checkered shirt, dusted the sand off his hands and clothes. "Why should I be ashamed? This is a public space. Anyone can play here," he replied bluntly, unfazed.

They were both around eight years old—thin, energetic, and full of fire. One was loud and impulsive, the other quiet but sharp. That small park was their childhood battlefield, where courage was measured not by words, but by presence.

The quarrel quickly escalated. The boy in red shoved Ren, daring him. "Get outta here!" he shouted. Ren raised a hand to block the push—their eyes locking in defiance.

"I’m not leaving," Ren said softly, but his voice was firm. His heart raced, but he stood his ground.

Without warning, the troublemaker swung a fist. "Arrgh!" Thud. Ren stumbled back, his cheek red from the hit.

Their small bodies crashed into the sand, and a small explosion of dust marked their scuffle. Arms flailed, feet kicked—an emotional, messy brawl between boys who didn’t know how else to settle things.

They wrestled fiercely. Ren tried to defend himself, but the other boy was quicker, stronger. He yanked Ren up, taunting him for relying on brains instead of brawn.

"Stupid nerd!" the wild boy shouted again, his sharp voice echoing through the park as the empty swing sets and nearby trees stood witness to their little war.

Though clearly outmatched in strength, Ren tried to hold his ground. He took a deep breath, trying to speak with reason. "Enough... Let me go," he pleaded.

The other boy laughed and twisted Ren’s sleeve hard. "Think you can win?"

Then, all at once, Ren stood up, grabbed the boy’s wrist, and slammed him to the ground. It was instinct—an unexpected burst of strength he didn’t even know he had.

The boy hit the ground hard, grimacing—but he didn’t back down. Again and again, he rose, refusing to admit defeat—his small body burning with stubborn determination.

Finally, as their little bout drew to a close, the boy stood once more in front of Ren, panting hard. "You’re... stupid," he muttered between breaths. "But... you won... you won."

Ren gave a faint smile, still catching his breath. "We can take turns playing here, even if I still prefer my shed..." he said quietly, sincerely. He extended a hand in peace.

The boy in the bright blue shirt fell silent for a moment. His eyes caught the sunlight behind Ren’s head, creating a strange aura in his tousled hair. Slowly, he reached out and accepted Ren’s hand.

Ren helped him up and said gently, "You shouldn’t fight like that. Is that how you talk to your parents too?"

The boy snorted and crossed his arms. "Huh... Don’t act like you know everything..." he grumbled, but his tone had changed—no longer aggressive, just tired. The kind of tired only kids could feel after a proper scuffle.

Ren took a deep breath and looked around the small park: empty swings, fallen leaves, a stack of bricks from a nearby renovation. He smiled and said, "Alright, alright... By the way, I’m Rentaro. Rentaro Takamura. I just moved here from Shizuoka Prefecture."

The boy turned to him with mild surprise. "...Kiriya... Kiriya Asano," he replied softly.

They stood beneath a small sakura tree in bloom, though its leaves were still sparse. A spring breeze drifted by, carrying the sweet scent of flowers. The air felt calm now, even after all the pushing and punching.

Ren patted Kiriya’s shoulder in understanding. "Well then, new friend—how about we start over?"

Kiriya gave a small nod. "With clear rules."

"Deal," Ren replied, and he reached into his pocket, pulling out a set of colorful cards featuring cartoon monsters—his birthday present he hadn’t shown anyone yet.

"Card game?" Kiriya tilted his head, intrigued. "You carry that around?"

Ren smiled meaningfully. "Yeah. It’s my favorite game—’Shadow Monsters.’ Wanna try?"

Kiriya looked at the cards, decorated with vibrant colors and strange symbols. "What are the rules?"

Ren crouched down and laid out two cards on the ground. "We each draw five cards. The goal is to beat your opponent’s monster with the highest total power. But there’s a special card—the ’Shadow’ card—it can double your power in the second round."

Kiriya stepped closer, his eyes now sparkling. "Okay, let’s play!"

And just like that, they played together—and grew closer. There weren’t many kids in the area, so the park always felt a little too quiet. But for those two, it became the start of something unforgettable.

---

A month had passed when Ren came home to find Kiriya swinging alone in the park. They went to different elementary schools, and the truth was, Kiriya had a reputation—he was the troublemaker. Most kids avoided him after getting into fights. All except for one: Ren. Even after being teased as a nerd and getting punched, Ren still chose to accept him.

"Kiriya?" Ren called as he walked closer.

"Ah... Ren." Kiriya jumped down from the swing.

"Why the gloomy face?" Ren asked.

"None of your business..." Kiriya grumbled. Truth was, he was still bitter after being left out of a ball game at school earlier that day.

"Alright, I won’t push," Ren said. "So... wanna come over to my shed?"

"Shed?... You talk about that a lot. What’s in it, anyway?" Kiriya asked, curious.

"Hehe... You’ll see for yourself. So, wanna come?" Ren offered again.

"Hmm..." Kiriya hesitated, but Ren chimed in with a teasing tone.

"Don’t take too long. I’ve got something to test today..." Ren said.

"Testing? Alright, alright, I’m coming," Kiriya replied.

Ren nodded happily and led the way to his house. They walked along the edge of a small, traditional Japanese-style home, weaving through short shrubs and small trees in the backyard. At the far end of the garden stood an old gray shed with a sliding door that creaked slightly as Ren opened it.

"Go on in. Don’t be scared," Ren said as he stepped inside first.

Kiriya cautiously stepped in, expecting piles of dusty tools or old cardboard boxes. But instead, he was met with a shocking sight—a spacious room lit by DIY LED strips, a long metal table cluttered with wires, circuit boards, a custom-built computer, and even a half-finished robotic arm.

"Whoa..." Kiriya froze at the doorway, eyes wide. "This... is a shed?"

Ren chuckled as he slid the door closed behind them. "Yup. My secret base. I spend all my free time here."

Kiriya walked in further, eyes darting around at all the unfamiliar gadgets. Mechanical diagrams hung on the walls, technical books and scattered notes lay across the workbench. In the corner, a large monitor displayed fluctuating graphs of temperature and electrical current.

"I thought you were just a bookworm... but this is insane," Kiriya muttered, awe and disbelief mixing in his voice.

Ren nodded proudly. "Right now I’m trying to build a new cooling system for my laptop. But I’ve got other projects too. Today, I’m testing a piezoelectric material—and tadaaa—you’re my assistant!"

Kiriya stared at him, confused. "Piezo... what now?"

Ren grinned wide. "Don’t worry, it won’t explode. Probably."

"Probably!?" Kiriya shouted.

They both burst into laughter—and in that moment, Kiriya felt something for the first time: comfort. He wasn’t being judged. He wasn’t being pushed away. Just two boys from different worlds, yet somehow finding a place where their differences fit perfectly. And that was the beginning of a bond that would last a lifetime.