HeroBoy Show. The Cover and Intro.
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Nikolay Snegov stood in his office and looked at the downtown street packed with the dense morning traffic.
He was in a good mood and whistled a popular tune under his breath. Today he would have a meeting which he had been waiting for a long time. Then almost a month ago quite unexpectedly for him things took a new direction. In the wrestling match his henchman was supposed to defeat his teen opponent. Then Nikolay would easily get his own new "puppy" and use him for his subsequent gambles without any problem. But that teen won the match.
It seemed that Nikolay's plan was ruined, but really he would see a better turn of events. He knew that the public always loves winners, especially one like that teen. Nikolay knew that when the spectators loved someone they really enjoyed not his winning, but much more his falling, his beating and abuse. This would work much better with a fan favorite than with just any boy from the street. So he congratulated the kid and paid his prize winnings completely, deciding to play on his trust.
However the main objective was to get him to return as quickly as possible. Nikolay began a number of steps to have the boy lose his prize money as soon as possible and for his financial problems to bring him here to his office.
However Nikolay expected the call from the boy a couple of weeks ago. But there wasn't any call. It was obvious that he was trying to manage by himself. Nikolay tried to wait but he also forced some events to happen that would add some problems to the boy's life. Finally, yesterday he got the long-awaited call with a request for a meeting. And now, smiling to himself, Nikolay stood in anticipation of his visit.
There was a knock at the door.
"Boss, some teen boy wants to see you," the guard said.
"Let him come in!" Nikolay said and turned away from the window. "Hiro Katori-kun, welcome! Nikolay smiled broadly as he greeted the newcomer.
"Uh... it's wrong to say..." the visitor replied. He was a teenager who looked like a high school student. He had clear eyes of ultramarine color, dark hair and skin with a deep natural tan. His face was manly, but at the same time cute and boyish. He was dressed in a light yellow tank top with an almost worn out pattern, which hung loosely on his well-built muscular torso. The ripped faded jeans settled on his lean thighs, and on his feet were worn red sneakers.
He looked like a European mixed with Asian features that added refinement and beauty to his striking face.
"What is wrong?" Nikolay asked.
"You used the suffix 'kun' wrong..." the boy started but then waved his hand. "Ah, well, forget it."
Nikolay didn't take his eyes off him. He paused for some time during which the boy in some embarrassment shifted from one foot to the other not daring to get down to business. Nikolay smiled.
"Sit down, please," he pointed to the chair. "You wanted to meet with me, Hiro. I'm listening," he said when the boy sat down.
"I need money, I'm ready to fight in the ring," Hiro said looking at the floor. Nikolay kept silent some time watching the boy, then asked,
"What happened to that prize money? There was a decent amount. You and your siblings should have had enough for half a year."
"There were some problems," Hiro muttered, not taking his eyes off his sneakers.
Nikolay restrained from laughing as he watched the boy's embarrassment and remembered his undertakings to make sure Hiro had to part with the prize money.
"And now you want me to organize a fight for you so that you can earn some money, is that it?" he asked.
"Yes, but..." Hiro raised his head and looked directly at Nikolay. "But it should be an honest fight, without any perverts who want to rip my clothes off me, paw, lick me and do all sorts of crap. And without crazy spectators! Just me against the other guy, fist to fist."
"Hmm..." Nikolay paused with frustrated disappointment. "Unfortunately I don't organize just plain fights. You should look for that in the martial arts club or maybe in the underground club for fights without rules or at worst on the street. I do shows for thousands of fans all over the world, fans who can pay for my special shows."
Nikolay stood up and put his hand on Hiro's shoulder.
"So there's nothing I can do to help you, my dear."
The cheekbones of the boy's jaw tensed as he stood up. It was obvious that he had postponed this visit to Nikolay to the last. And if he still had come here, then he must have had no other choice. He was ready to enter the ring, fight in bloody bouts, perhaps even against older and much larger opponents. But to take part in a humiliating show like the one that he was in a month ago- that was too much for his fighter's honor.
Nikolay enjoyed very much watching this fight in the boy's soul. Finally Hiro squeezed out a "thank you" and headed for the door.
"You know, I had an idea for a project," Nikolay spoke when Hiro had already taken hold of the door handle. "I've put it off for a long time and now is not the most opportune moment to start it, but for your sake, in order to help your family, I'm ready to try to organize everything in the shortest possible time."
Hiro turned and Nikolay continued:
"The idea is about a show... It's more like a theatrical production where all involved play certain roles. But maybe you'll have to use your martial arts knowledge in it. Are you interested?"
It sounded good to Hiro. But the boy knew well that Nikolay had not told him even half the information about this show.
"What exactly do I need to do?" he asked.
"You know HeroBoy, don't you? Did you read those comics?" Nikolay answered the question with his question.
Oh yes, Hiro knew these comics very well. HeroBoy was the most favorite character of his childhood. He literally read those comics until the pages wore out.
HeroBoy had been an ordinary schoolboy named Jimmy who fell into a chain of accidents and became a victim of an experiment on his father's military base. He survived but received super abilities giving him great power, agility and endurance.
The world learned of a new hero, the street boy, Jimmy,who became the great HeroBoy and began to fight crime. But with his heroism he gained many different enemies: Mr. Techno, the twins Thunder and Lightning and of course the most evil and treacherous teen-villain, Adrenaline.
Hiro smiled reminiscing about all these stories and the adventures of HeroBoy. It was really great. During his childhood he dreamed of being like HeroBoy, protecting people and fighting injustice. Even now, more grown up, about the same age as this comic book hero and realizing that the real world is much more complicated than childhood fantasies, he tried to stick to a code of honor like HeroBoy's. He tried to never be tolerant of injustice and always to help others.
"Of course I know him," he replied to Nikolay. "He's my favorite character."
"Cool!" Nikolay exclaimed. He spread his hands to his sides and his face lit up with a dreamy smile. "Imagine the scene. Evildoers have kidnapped the scientist's daughter to force him to invent a new deadly weapon. You are HeroBoy and you need to save the poor little one. You duel with the villains. It isn't easy. Your enemies are strong but after going through many dangers you save the innocent child from the clutches of bloodthirsty monsters."
Hiro raised his eyebrows.
"Will I be HeroBoy?" he asked in surprise with a slight smile.
"I knew you would like the idea," Nikolay winked at him.
"Well, yes, it sounds great," Hiro responded enthusiastically. "Do I need to show my skills in the martial arts to stage those fights?"
"Well..." Nikolay said. "There's no time for rehearsal and staging. The other guys are also familiar with... the fighting. So you'll figure out what to do: who, when and how to attack. For the youngest martial arts champion it's not a problem, right? Fist to fist, as you said. You know the comics character, so you know what HeroBoy would do and say. So I'll be looking for you in a couple of days, Hiro." The boy stood up feeling some indecision as he thought over Nikolay's proposal.
"Oh I almost forgot," Nikolay exclaimed. He went to the closet in the corner of the room and pulled out a pile of banknotes and pushed it into Hiro's hand. "This is a deposit for the show. If everything goes well, you'll get twice as much."
Hiro looked at the money. It was a good amount. He had some doubt of course, but that money...
"I guess it will help to solve your problem?" Nikolay asked.
"Yep. I'll be able to pay the juvenile inspector from the orphanage today and he'll leave us alone for a long time. Thank you," Hiro said. He had made a decision.
"For you, baby I'd even get a star from the sky," Nikolay smiled warmly and patted Hiro's head. "Go and prepare for the most important role of your life. See you in the show," he said and led the boy to the door.
They stood in a row; six guys, different ages, all young, about 20 or so, athletic builds. Their faces were hard and tough. It was clear that they had had to use their fists many times. Most of them (if not all) likely had a criminal past. Nikolay walked along this row studying the guys intently. He stood next to the youngest of them. Despite his age he looked tougher than the others. He was tall and muscular with scratches on his fists. With a disdainful expression on his face he looked straight at Nikolay.
"What's your name?" Nikolay jabbed a finger at the guy.
"Do you like to fight?" Nikolay asked.
"I like to beat the other guy," Teo grinned.
"Ok, all of you, except Teo, will be henchmen in my show. Your task is very simple. You'll have one enemy. You'll have to cut it down and beat it hard without any pity. If you do all this well, you'll get an extra money bonus. I'll tell you the details later. Questions?"
"Will we have to beat him?" one of the guys asked as he pointed to Teo.
"No." Nikolay burst out laughing. He measured Teo with a glance and added: "The other teen will be younger, shorter and more likable."
"Yes but he's very good in martial arts, so do not underestimate him," Nikolay said.
"Speaking of Teo, he'll be your boss on the show and you will follow his orders. Is everyone clear about that?"
"Good. Everyone is free, except for Teo."
"Have you ever participated in school theater?" Nikolay asked the boy when the others left.
"Wha?" the guy stared at Nikolay in amazement. "I'm not some kind of faggot, man!"
"Yes, of course." Nikolay grunted. "Did you read the comics about HeroBoy?"
"I'm not a nerd!" Teo responded with a challenge.
"Hmm. It will be a bit more complicated than I imagined." Nikolay rubbed his chin.
"You must study the material and take part in our show in the role..." Nikolay started, but the guy interrupted him.
"I said I'm not a fucking faggot. I'm not going to play, dance or sing in a fucking show!"
Nikolay pressed his lower lip and looked at him with demented sympathy.
"I understand; you are a different breed of cat." He paused. "Well... then..."
With all his strength Nikolay slapped Teo in the face and when the guy unexpectedly staggered and grabbed his cheek, he hit him in the right side just over the liver. The guy howled in pain and fell to his knees.
Nikolay grabbed his chin. The guards who were standing before in the shadows approached them, but the man stopped them with a gesture and told the guy quietly, "Then I can use you in a different way. I think I can get a good amount for your young body parts. They're not yet spoiled by drugs and alcohol. Heart, kidneys; what else do you have?" There was fear in the teen's eyes. He looked at Nikolay and realized that this man was not joking.
"So, Teo, either you play the part I wish, or you leave here in several plastic bags or boxes with red crosses on them."
"I... I'll do it," the guy grunted. Nikolay let him go and with a groan the young man rose to his feet.
"What do I need to do, sir?" he asked.
Nikolay smiled and gently patted him on the shoulder.
"That's another thing," he said. "Actually there's really nothing complicated. You are Adrenaline, the main enemy of HeroBoy. You just need to remember a few phrases that your character says and then you will do what you know best: hitting hard and cruelly and enjoying it. Sometimes I'll give you directions on the earpiece. You'll be the boss in the scene giving orders to those five guys who left us some time ago."
"Yes, sir. I can do it," the guy grinned.
Nikolay nodded. Then he told Teo to go out and he picked up his phone.
"Is the hall ready?" he asked. "The screens for the viewers. How many cameras? No, that's not enough. I want the action to be shot from all possible points. The viewers must not miss a single detail. Yes! Sounds better. Yes! Oh, it will be cool; they will love it."
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