Ultraman: Rising Fanfic

31 | Mine

At some point, they took breaks to hydrate and share brief moments of respite.

"This new Ultraman just doesn't cut it," one volunteer gossiped.

"Ruining things," another complained. The grumbling sparked an annoyance in Ken, his shoulders tensing. 'I did my best,' he argued internally. But they wouldn't know, how could they? The world didn't know Ken Sato was Ultraman. "I—Ultraman did his best," he muttered.

"And you would know, trash Sato?" scoffed an older man.

Ken was ready for a fight, just like in those many baseball games, but a soft hand on his chest stopped him. Amari.

She took his hand and led him away silently to a shady area. Ken knew she didn't like it when he fought recklessly. She didn't voice it, but her eyes grew sad at the bruises he returned with.

"Amari, I swear—" his words were cut off by the finger she placed on his lips.

Ken realized they weren't far from the Ultraman haters, who shortly resumed their dirty talk.

"I say, he leaves and lets the KDF handle it. They do better anyway," one said.

"Ultraman saved the city in the best way possible. It is far better than last Tuesday's damage," a younger voice argued. "Instead of the whole building gone, only a piece was demolished."

"And the casualties have been zero since the Ultraforce stepped up too," the younger voice added.

"So what," the older man retorted.

"It's better than the KDF, who nearly killed the last Kaiju. Their attempts injured some people, mind you," the younger voice countered.

Those words made Ken's tense body soften, pride swelling within him. Having many haters and now more as Ken Sato had deflated his pride at times, but it felt good to hear something positive.

His eyes shifted to meet Amari's, who stared at him with a knowing look behind those golden-rimmed glasses.

"You made a big difference, Ken, and just as much being Ken Sato too," Amari silently reminded him. "It may not be the biggest impact as a giant, but it's still something."

Ken raised a brow, not quite understanding. "Go on," he said, enjoying the praise.

Amari raised his gloved hands, showing how dirty the new pair had become.

"Being Ultra is something else. Damage can easily be done, and you barely have time for anything besides a Kaiju fight. Today, you took the time to show you care, even if they don't know it's you."

In that moment, Ken saw the dirty gloves as proof.

"It's proof you can be Ultra without being a giant," she smiled, seemingly reading his mind.

Now her motives made more sense, and it felt good to be part of something positive.

In that moment when his eyes met her, he saw it. The way the light shimmered on her skin, making it as gold as her glasses. Her soft smile, which was just for him. But this time, it was different because his heart wasn't racing like those times before. It felt at ease.

Sometimes it isn't the one who takes your breath away, but the one who reminds you to breathe.

The day concluded with a group picture for Amari's movement. However, Ken just couldn't take his eyes off her.

By midday, the volunteers had made significant progress. The once chaotic site was becoming more organized, with piles of debris sorted and cleared away. They ended for the day, with much more planned for tomorrow.

Back home, after a quick check on a peacefully sleeping Emi, Ken and Amari found themselves in the living room, fresh from a shower.

"You know," Ken said, breaking the comfortable silence, "I didn't think I'd enjoy this as much as I have."

Amari, seated on a chair and smiling from all the positive feedback the charity run received, snorted at his comment. "Is that a disguised thank you I hear?"

Ken chuckled, walking over to her. With a single tap on her thigh, she parted her legs, allowing him to come closer. Ken rested his rough hands on her thighs, looking down at her with a mix of affection and seriousness.

"Amari," Ken called softly.

"Yes, Kenji?" Amari responded, switching off her phone to give him her undivided attention—a lesson learned from past experiences.

He appreciated how she always gave him her full attention. His eyes took her in, feeling a swell of emotion. Amari Sato—she might as well be since that was what he was planning on changing.

When did she become his everything?

She was the air that filled his lungs, the reason excitement filled him each morning when he knew she’d be right by his bedside. She was his kryptonite and the fuel to his fire.

He fell in love with her the way one would fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.

He fell in love with her. It was an excited, heart-racing love that slowly turned into a comfort and warmth so foreign, so new, but felt so right that he just couldn’t imagine what life felt like without her.

"Ken?" Amari called again, a bit concerned by his prolonged silence.

"How would you feel to be mine?" he asked softly.

"Yours? How so?" she hummed, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

"Body, heart, and soul."

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