The Boy Who's A True Hero

5. Helicopter

On their way to the Osaka port, Crimson keeps his eyes open in the front as Kaminari sits in the back, looking out the window like a curious puppy seeing the outside world for ht first time after being adopted. Krimson looks at the side view mirror directly at Kaminari as he drives down the road.

Krimson: "If you want to do some good on the frontlines like me, you'll have to pay attention and stick with me. I hope it's ok if I ask you this, what's your quirk?"

Kaminari opens his palm, revealing an electrical aura. The masked mercenary hums softly, keeping his eyes straight on the road as he speaks with the boy. Kaminari then asks him a question.

Kaminari: "What were you, uh, doing here in Osaka if you don't mind me asking?"

Krimson: "I live here."

Kaminari: "Like some kinda sleeper agent undercover? You wait until you're called?"

Krimson: "Not exactly."

Kaminari: "So, what are we gonna do when we get to Korea? And uh, how long are we gonna be gone for?"

Krimson: "I don't know. But when we get to Korea, we're not going head-on, I'm going to give you a bit of training. I can't throw myself out there with you alongside me, being defenceless. You'll learn the basics. Guns, knives, martial arts... Maybe we could have that quirk of your's be better."

Kaminari: "You're making this sound easy, man... Is it?"

Krimson: "Not exactly, no. You're working with elite ex-military. Trained mercenaries like me who share a past in the military. Training and all."

The boy tilts his head, curious about Krimson and he clears his throat and asks him another question.

Kaminari: "Did you imply that you were in the army? Man, that sounds kinda awesome."

Krimson: Of course. Otherwise where else could I learn to fight like how you saw?"

Kaminari: "Sounds fair. Why'd you leave the JSDF?—

Krimson: "That's something I'd rather not get into, it's...personal. Look, when we get there, do your best, alright? Remember, these are professionals, not people who joke around so often like a bunch of bar patrons."

The blonde looks back out the window like how he did earlier, looking at the parts of Osaka they're passing by. The car makes a turn down a road and begins to slow down as they arrive outside of the Osaka port.

Kaminari watches as Krimson grabs his rifle, wrapping the strap around him, steps outside, opens the door for the blonde and he jerks his head to the side doing the 'let's go' gesture. Kaminari follows through, stepping out of the car with Krimson using his keys to lock the car.

Kaminari: "You're just leaving it here until we come back?"

Krimson: "Focus, kid. Come on, look alive, we've got a job to do."

Nodding and walking behind Krimson, Denki Kaminari looks up, hearing 'chopping' in the night sky; the source of the sounds are revealed when a large helicopter descends upon the port. It turns around, revealing a ramp which descends, revealing 2 men inside wearing the uniforms belonging to US Marines. One shouts out Krimson's callsign.

U.S. Marine: "You Krimson?"

Krimson: "Hai. That's me. Plus one."

U.S. Marine: "A civilian?"

Krimson: "I'll explain it later. What's our ETA to South Korea?"

U.S. Marine: "ETA's an hour and a half."

Krimson: "Copy that. Let's roll."

He and Kaminari both step into the Kaminari, with the boy being in awe of the looks if the interior of the chopper. Krimson takes a seat and taps the seat next to him where Kaminari obliges and sits down next to the contractor. Looking at the ramp now closing up, he starts holding on to the recently buckled-up seatbelts tightly as the helicopter begins ascending.

This is clearly the boy's very first time being on board a helicopter, specifically a military helicopter. He looks out a window, watching them fly away from Osaka and toward Busan, South Korea.

Kaminari: "Is...is this thing safe to fly in?"

Krimson: "If it wasn't we wouldn't be in it, would we?"

Kaminari: "R-right...sorry."

It shakes a bit, making the boy yelp and the 2 U.S. marines on board look at him.

U.S. Marine: "How old are you, kid?"

Kaminari: "Ugh...I- I'm 15, a- actually... Whoa."

A marine glances over to Krimson who's looking at the 2 Marines.

U.S. Marines: "A kid? You're bringing a civilian who happens to be a boy? What's so special about him?"

Krimson: "He saved my ass back in Osaka. He's got a quirk too, and said that he's eager to help after what AQ did back in the city."

Kaminari: "AQ?"

Krimson: "Al-Qatala Aljhadud. Urzikstani terror organization. They're the ones responsible for Osaka. You're lucky enough to be breathing, kid."

Kaminari: "Because of you. You did save me and I saved you and...I killed people..."

Hearing the sudden change of tone in the boy's voice, Krimson looks to see Kaminari placing both hands on his mouth and he starts breathing rapidly. The man unbuckles his seatbelt, kneels in front of Kaminari and sees that Kaminari is suffering from an anxiety attack.

Krimson: "Hey, it's ok! It's ok, kid. Take a deep breath, ok?"

Kaminari: "I killed a man...I remembered that I killed someone. KILLED. Oh God, what do...what do I say to my...my parents? What do I do?"

Krimson: "Kid, listen to the sound of my voice. Now, take a deep breath in..."

The boy obliges, following his commands and he exhales. He takes one more breath in before exhaling, which puts a 'smile' on Krimson's face if it can be seen at all due to the mask he's wearing hiding not only his face but also his expressions. This makes him look stone-cold like an ice cube.

Krimson: "That's it... Good boy. All right...maybe we should have a talk when we get to South Korea, all right?"

Kaminari: "I...I think that would be great, yeah."

Krimson: "Good. Get some sleep, kid... Maybe I should stop calling you, 'Kid'. What's your name?"

Kaminari: "It's Denki... Denki Kaminari."

Krimson: "Huh, very well, Kaminari...get some rest. You're probably exhausted from all that running and pressure earlier. Save up the energy in your body for later, for training in Korea."

Kaminari: "Right."

The man sits back in his seat, leaving Kaminari to close his eyes as he sits back, falling asleep on board the helicopter while the mercenary keeps his eyes open throughout the ride across the sea.

"A mission with a child... I'll make sure he comes home, breathing... I can't have him die out here and his parents being unaware that their son is dead."