Does Valt listen? Thankfully, for Kensuke, yes he does. It doesnāt stop the beaming smile of his and the bright expression he held.
āYeah, yeah! It was a great show. About the sun and darkness and and being kind! Hehe, it felt warm. You should do it again one day! It was so much fun to watch.ā
Heās gotta ask Gao about the Mighty Sun Fighter business later.
āValt... do you think my mom would like it enough to want to put it on for everyone else when we get back home?ā
His mother.. how he missed her. He missed all of their friends back home. Ben, team Beasts... all of them.
āKENSUKEEE!!ā Valt immediately ran over to his friend.Ā āTHAT WAS AWESOME!! IT WAS REALLY COOL! THE WAY MIGHTY SUN FIGHTER SAVED THAT KID!ā Coughs, donāt remind him that the puppet looked like him.
āV-VALT! Ssshh, ssshhh!ā Kensuke waved his puppets at him, wishing like heck the other would quiet down a little. So loud...
āIām glad you liked it that much. It was inspired... I kind of wanted to just send a message to everyone after receiving it myself.ā
āIām glad I could help. And you know? Gao was definitely enjoying it while he was watching! You should go talk to him, let him know how hard you worked on that for him.ā
āI-Iāll... yeah... I will. Iām happy he was enjoying it!ā
Kensuke had put up a makeshift stage out of a desktop entertainment center-- but it worked. The lights (provided by Tetsuya and Noboru) flickered on, and one sole puppet was standing in the middle of the stage with itās small arms going at itās hips.Ā Could you recognize the flaming hair and sun print on the shirt?
āSometimes this world can be dark,ā the puppet spoke (in what Tetsuya was trying his best as mocking the sound of Gaoās voice).Ā āIs there really nothing anyone can do? Even just lending a helping hand to others... I want to make this world a brighter place!ā
Two new puppets joined the scene-- Keru and Besu playing the role of innocent bystanders.
āSir, help!ā The brown one flailed itās little arms, the blue one crossing them.Ā āWe found a kid getting bullied... but weāre too scared to say anything to the group in case they turn on us... No one is doing anything...ā
āCan you call an adult?ā The blue, more grumpy one, stepped in front, pointing at the guest puppet.Ā āIām sure theyāre the only ones who can do something.ā
An adult, the only one who could do something...? That didnāt make much sense to our hero who stood there, contemplating the right decision-- no, he couldnāt anymore.Ā āThereās no time to think! Sometimes adults arenāt reliable. Sometimes it takes a brave kid to act!ā
The two puppets clapped and cheered, following the hero as he ran off stage.
A black curtain fell. There were a few noises of moving around and whispers until it rose once more, now the setting changed. There was a small puppet-- one that represented Valt-- and three others surrounding him, representing the bullies.
āIf you donāt give us your belongings, weāre gonna beat you up!ā Bully Puppet number one used one of his arms to nudge the victim, who had itās hands covering itās face.
Bully Puppet number two placed itās hands on the boyās shoulders, shaking him.Ā āThe longer you stay quiet and cower, the angrier we get!ā
āHEY!ā That voice.. it was the voice of the hero (who had switched to Kensuke), bellowing out from somewhere off stage. Soon he darted onto the scene, standing before the bullies with a hand pointing to them.Ā āIs that really any way to treat another kid?! Why are you picking on him? Surely thereās another way to get what you want instead of hurting someone innocent!ā
āHMPH! Donāt be stupid,ā Bully Puppet number three shouted, turning toward the hero with a seemingly violent twist (Depicting anger sure was hard, Tetsuya thought, at least with puppets).Ā āIf you get involved, weāll beat you up too.ā
That did not please the hero, to hear threats of violence directed at such a young kid, even if he could defend himself.Ā āDo you really think violence is the answer? This city is dark and sad enough as it is. Shouldnāt we all be here for each other instead of turning against one another?ā That declaration stirred something within the small puppet who had been cowering in the encircle of bullies. It peaked itās head up, looking over to the one challenging his assailants.
āThatās stupid,ā Bully Puppet number one snorted out. It was then that all three of them had their attention on the hero.Ā āAs if! Everyone knows itās survival of the fittest!ā
āThis guy thinks heās too tough for his own britches.ā
āYeah... letās teach him a lesson!ā
The hero puppet let go of a loud sigh.Ā āBut fighting is so unnecessary. I donāt want to hurt anyone.ā But it was too late. All three of the bullies were on top of him. The audience could hear loudĀ āHYAāsā andĀ āEIYāsā and one by one the bullies were getting tossed around, though not hurt in any way. The hero was merely dodging their attacks (This scene was made possible thanks to the explanation of Noboru and Tasuku, who talked to Kensuke about the motifs behind Aikijujutsu).
After a small struggle, the bullies seemed to be hunched over, huffing and puffing with the hero standing tall above them, hands at his hips.Ā āYou can keep coming if you want,ā he declared,Ā ābut I wonāt give up until you learn your lesson! This isnāt the answer.ā
āF-forget this,ā one of the bullies shouted, and soon all three of them fled the scene.....
The hero and the victim were left, and our shining star approached him with hands on his shoulders.Ā āAre you alright? Iām glad I could stop them before they hurt you.ā
āI-Iām.. Iām okay,ā the other responded, looking as if he were drying his tears off of his little puppet face.Ā āThat was so amazing how you stood up to those bullies like that. I could never do it. Iām too shy and scared, I always get walked on like that.ā
āYou know, though? Sometimes it is hard to stand up for yourself. Sometimes itās hard to rise to the occasion. But if you donāt, thereās not always someone who can save you. You have to be your own you! You have to sparkle and shine like... like the sun! Like... A Mighty Sun Fighter. Be as bright and powerful. Not just that... do things for other people, too. Did you see what I did for you today? Pay that forward. And other people will do the same because they saw you being brave enough to do it. Thatās what being the Mighty Sun Fighter means to me.ā
āWow...!ā The smaller puppet clapped itās little hands and hugged on to the hero.Ā āI can really do something like that? Can I really be like you?ā
āOf course you can! Anyone can be the Mighty Sun Fighter. Itās about lending a hand and making the world a better place!ā
Finally the curtain closes, and Tetsuya and Kensuke pop out from behind the stage with big smiles, puppets still on their hands. They waved enthusiastically.
Noboruās head tilted as he became more curious as the conversation passed. Now he was more intrigued than ever and wanted to know what Kensuke and Tetsuya had concocted, but he wouldnāt push it.
āIf youāre doing it for Gao, Iām sure itāll be perfect and amazing. He does that to peopleā¦ He drives them forward and gives them the strength to do what they need to do, you know? So donāt sweat it. Itās in the bag, man.ā
Just like the Mighty Sun fighter. Like the story Gao had told him... They were one in the same to Kensuke, and Noboru was right. Somehow, that helped the nervousness within him settle and he flashed a shy smile.
āThank you, Noboru. I think weāll be alright. We can do this! If Gao could, so could we.ā
That struck Noboru as a surprise, considering he constantly talked with Keru and Besu, and had done puppet shows with his mother back in his home world. Another soft smile as he placed a hand on his shoulder.
āItās not because of Gao, is it? You could just sit here and talk to yourself with your puppet with no particular reason and heād be amused, you know. You got this.ā
āItās because... o-of what I based my show off of.ā He could still remember Gaoās words about the story behind the Mighty Sun Fighter. It gave him such a good feeling and he wanted to reciprocate that through a good show.
āItās a surprise! But I want it to be perfect. Tetsuyaās going to help me with it, he said. He practiced this morning, but if it doesnāt go well, Iāll hate myself.ā
Kensukeās words brought a soft smile to his face as he recalled the first time he ever felt that way about Gao, a while back. Itās why the symbol of the sun suited him so well. He was bright and warm, andā¦.
Where are you? Youāre showing up, arenāt you?
āIf itās anything youāve made, Iām pretty sure heās going to love it. Even Valtās been talking about it, heās excited too!ā
For one split second, Noboru looked rather sad and it concerned him. He was always so resilient and... grouchy all of the time, so the frown surprised him. He remembered something going around about... something or other happening, but it wasnāt his business.
āTh-thank you, Noboru... I hope Valt likes it too, b-but Iām... Iām a little nervous.ā
āIām happy to hear that.ā Poor Kensuke. This shy kidā¦ they were all going to be the death of him, werenāt they?Ā āYou really like Gao, donāt you? I overheard you were working on a puppet show just for him. Iām actually kind of excited to see it myself!ā
āI-I just...! When we talked, even though he was sad... he was really warm, I could tell he was a good person. Then he told me about something important to him, so I... I really wanted... to impress him with it!ā
āThat mustāve been really embarrassing, having him announce you like that in front of everyone! Seriously thoughā¦ I saw your stand. Did the lights Tetsuya and I get for it work out alright?ā
ā.....ā M-maybe a little.... Good thing no one saw him duck and hide behind Shuu and Valt when he heard his name. Did he really have to announce him...?
āOh! Y-yes, actually. They were perfect. Thanks for helping me out, Iām really excited to put on this show. I hope Gao will like it...ā
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Party at the Card Games Mansion!
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The living space had become void of furniture and in the front, something totally spectacular set up! Two large stereos stood on either side of a young Tetsuya settled at a DJās station, headphones propped over his ears and a finger reaching over to turn on his beat box. In just seconds some feel-good, raring-to-go music blasted and filled the room with itās good vibes, and before it continued any further, there was a record scratch. Voices spoke into microphones, loudly booming toward the participants of the bash.
āWelcome to Tets and Daiās Spectacular Super Fun Whatever You Wanna Do dance party! Brought to you by your lovely hosts, Demon Lord Asmodaiāā
āAnd Kurodake Tetsuya, yo! Good evenā folks! First Iād like to give a shout out to a few people. I wanna thank Noboru for helping me set everything up and buy what I needed. Heās the real MVP, what with havinā to follow me around town and all! Next up is Gao, who picked out the music for this fine event. Thanks a lot yo, you picked some killer tunes!
āOur little puppeteer Kensuke came up with a great idea for entertainment. In a couple of hours, watch the stage for whatās gonna be the most happening puppet show in the history of ever~.ā
āNice to meet you Kensuke! Iām Kurodake Tetsuya. Iām actually a friend of Gaoās too!ā He snapped his finger as if to emphasize his point and smiled wide, but at the mention of a puppet show, something in his head rang like a bell.
He hatched an idea. This is the entertainment he had been looking for!
āYo, youāre really working on one, right? Well.. Iām throwing a party this coming Saturday! Do you think thatās enough time to finish it up?ā As if it would help convince him, he added,Ā āGao will foā shoā be there though, that I can promise you!ā
He was throwing a party, and he wanted Kensuke to have a puppet show there? Tetsuya hardly saw his skill and he was already asking for such a hefty favor, and he felt his entire face glow bright red. So they were friends too... This banana headed stranger knew Gao a lot more than him, didnāt he? He would never say it out loud, but--
Kensuke wanted to know more about Gao, to get closer to him. He was so bright and warm--
"Heās going to be there?ā He inquired softly, wide eyes blinking. Saturday. That gave him four days to finish orchestrating the show he had been wanting to put on, and he wanted Gao to see it.
ā............... I..... g u e s s I could............ā So easily swayed...
This kid was making the puppet talk without moving his mouth, and it was so super cool! Tetsuya smiled wide and clapped, amazed at such a featā¦ and forgetting the shyness of the guest.
āHeās actually chillinā somewhere else for now! He hasnāt come home yet, sorry.ā
He was pretty sure the strange kid wanted to turn around and leave it at that, but he couldnāt help himself.
āHey, can I ask you a question? Howād you get so good at the puppet thing? Do you like.. play with puppets or are you some kinda ventriloquist?ā
āOh...ā Kensuke was aware that Gao wasnāt in a good place, but were things so bad here that he had to stay away for so many days? He couldnāt seem to run into him by chance anymore and this was the one place he knew of, by Noboruās and Valtās words. His expression fell as well as his puppets and yes, he did want to leave, feeling a little irked that the other boy was trying to keep up a conversation.
āPractice.ā Besu decided to speak this time, representing the more grumpy side of itās master.Ā āWe put on puppet shows and the likes with mom back home, so weāre pretty good at it. Itās my dream to make my own. Iām kind of working on one right now. The big guy is Midorikawa Kensuke. Iām Besu. Thatās Keru.ā
