#leonard wright

Keith: Phew, the Meet & Greet’s just about done. It ain’t easy havin’ to stay all stiff and proper in front of the fans

Faith: Oh yeah? You weren’t “stiff and proper” at all though

Dino: That's totally fine for Keith, though. His fans expect it ♪

Keith: Shut it. I’m tryna be a little more presentable than usual

Faith: Really?

Keith: ….Trying

Junior: Huh, that’s weird….

Dino: What’s up, Junior? You’re staring out into the audience pretty hard

Junior: Nii-chan said he'd come to watch the Easter League, but he's not here.....

Faith: That doting Onii-san didn't show?

Junior: What do you mean "doting". Lately, he keeps telling me he's got time to hang out, and then cancels at the last minute 'cause he's suddenly gotta work

Dino: Alright, just leave it to me! I'll search the crowd and find out for sure whether he's here or not!

Junior: You're definitely not gonna find him, with the number of people that're here

Dino: Oh! There he is!

Junior: What, seriously!? You’re amazing, Dino!!

Dino: Ah, sorry, he’s over there, actually

Junior: Over there?

Chris: Leo

Junior: Nii-chan ♪

Chris: Sorry I'm late. I've been watching since the beginning, but you seemed really busy so I waited until the end to come down

Junior: You didn't have to wait! You know I'm always super happy to see you ♪

Chris: You shouldn’t say things like that

You’ve got a lot of fans now. They’re the ones you should be saying that sort of thing to now

Faith: I'd expect nothing less from the original bassist from Metamorphose. I'm sure you know all the best ways to keep the fans happy

Chris: F-Faith-kun, that's a secret...?! Especially when there's so many people around....

Faith: Haha, whoops, sorry ♪

Chris: ....But, it's true that that experience means I also understand the kind of pressure Leo's under

People don't just like him because of our father's name anymore. Leo's got plenty of fans of his own now. He should make sure to treat them well 

Junior: Hmm, well if Nii-chan says so then totally it must be true

I mean, he was the legendary bassist who retired at the the peak of his popularity— MPHPH!?

Chris: L-like I said, that's a secret! It'll be trouble if someone overhears you and spreads it around

Junior: Pfwahh.... I guess I got a little too excited 

Faith: If Billy were around, I'm sure he'd be suuuper happy to get a scoop like that

Chris: Well then, now that I've had my chance to see you, I'd better head home soon

???: What, you're leaving already?

Chris: Huh?

Leonard Wright: Yo, my boys ♪

Junior & Chris: DAD....!?

Keith: Oi oi, what're you doin' here?

Leonard Wright: I came to see my son at his finest hour, of course

Faith: Naturally. Good for you, Ochibi-chan

Junior: Go home!

Leonard Wright: Don't say that～ Aren't you happy Papa came to see you?

Junior: As if that's why you're here! You just came so you could stand on stage, didn't you!!

Leonard Wright: But Chris is also standing up here and that doesn't seem to bother you?

Junior: Nii-chan's different!

Chris: I'm here as a guest. I had a ticket for the hero meet and greet

Leonard Wright: Ah, so that's it.... 

Dino: Did you buy a regular ticket?

Leonard Wright: .....About that. I was planning to, but as soon as I showed up to the sale desk, they took me straight to the reserved seating

Keith: Well yeah, it's you, course they would

Dino: It'd probably start a riot if you were in the general audience

Leonard Wright: Well, I have been getting more and more cool since my return

Junior: That's still no reason you'd need to come up on stage!

Leonard Wright: That just happens to kill two birds with one stone: I got to surprise you, and it's a little bit of promotion 

Junior: Promotion?

I’m glad he’s on top of his administrative check-ins, but I can’t even tell who’s the mentor here anymore (1)

Ehh, whatever. Better get to shoppin’—

*****

[Different Yellow West street]

???: Huh? Keith-san?

Keith: Mn?

Chris: Hello

Keith: Oh, if it ain’t Nii-nii

Chris: Nii-nii…

Are you patrolling? 

Keith: Nah, we just finished up and went our own ways. Your little bro was around here until just a minute ago though

Chris: Is that so? Thanks for all your hard work. And not just what you do patrolling the city; I’m also really grateful to you for looking out for Leo

Keith: What’s with the formality….

Chris: I haven’t had many chances to talk to you face to face up to now. I’ve always wanted to be able to thank you properly

Ah, right! Here. They’re just tickets for an upcoming event my company’s putting on, but if you’re interested, please take them

Keith: Uh… You sure?

Chris: Of course. I’ve heard from Leo that you like to drink. The event’s for a game, but they’ll a beer tent, so please, feel free

Keith: Now ye’ve sure caught my interest. Don’t mind if I do

Chris: Please continue to take good care of Leo from here on out

Keith: Y-yeah…

*****

[Yellow West shopping mall]

Keith: I’m grateful for the tickets, but havin’ him bow that deeply to me’s a little…. Hmn?

That guy sure stands out. Don’t tell me….

What’re ya doin’?

Leonard Wright: Oh? Well now, if it isn’t Keith Max

Keith: Ya stand out so much I could see ya from half a mile away. Ya don’t really look like ya belong here. What’re ya doin’ around here?

Leonard Wright: ? I could ask you the same thing. What are you here for?

Keith: I just came to do some regular old shoppin’

Leonard Wright: Then it’s not so strange that I’m here too, is it? I might’ve retired, but I’m still a hero just like you, after all

Keith: Nah, that’s not really what I meant…

Leonard Wright: I come here pretty often actually, even if I don’t need anything. I’ve always liked bustling places like these, where lots of people gather

Keith: Heeeh…? Guess I’ll leave patrolin’ this area to you from now on then

Leonard Wright: Haha, don’t say that. But if something does happen, of course I’ll take care of it

So? Is Leonard doing well?

Keith: Ah, yeah. He sure is a lively kid

Leonard Wright: Good. Thanks for always taking care of him

Keith: …Not the first time I’ve heard that today

Leonard Wright: Well then, are you finished what you came for? Just headed back to the Tower now?

Keith: Ah, yeah. I don’t really got anythin’ else to do, so—

Leonard Wright: In that case, why don’t you join me for a drink?

Keith: Eh

Leonard Wright: I’ve heard from Leonard that you’re a big drinker. I’ve always wanted to go out for a drink with you and get to know you a bit better

Do you drink wine?

Keith: Ah, yeah, I do, but…

Leonard Wright: Then you’ve gotta come with me! I’ve got such a weakness for wine, you know. And there’s a really great place right around the corner

Think of it as thanks for always taking such good care of my son. Today’s on me ♪

*****

[Yellow West living room]

Keith: I’m home～

Junior: Ah, you’re back!

Keith: Uwehhhh, I made it back～～～

Junior: Uwoh– You’re drunk as hell! Did you go out drinking!?

Keith: Yeah, I drank a whooole lot. With yer dad… hehe ♪ 

Junior: Eeh!? With my old man!?

Keith: Uu～ Yer voice is as shrill as always…. Lower the volume a bit….

Junior: No wait, how did you end up drinking with my dad!? 

Keith: Mn～? Well y’see, first this happened, and then that, and somethin’ else, and…. Yeah.

Junior: YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW!!!??

Keith: Urk….. So loud….

Junior: What’d you and my old man talk about!? You didn’t tell him anything, did you!?

Keith: I didn’t, I didn’t…. I mean, I don’t really remember….

Keith: Ah, I remember this though～ ….Papa’s always wanted to drink with ya too

Junior: Hah!?

Keith: Don’t say you don’t wanna, ‘kay～?

I kinda get what he’s sayin’, y’know…. Yeah

I’d be real happy gettin’ to drink with ya… I think, even without any sorta fatherly bond, I’d be happy

Junior: ….I don’t really get it

Keith: Ah, that’s right, I ran into Nii-chan today

Junior: Nii-chan too!? How!?

Keith: That’s what I wanna know…. ‘S like the Wright family put some kinda curse on me today. I’m sure of it

I was just standin’ around talkin’ with Nii-chan a little bit, but he went bowin’ super low askin’ me to look after his little brother

Junior: Eh– He didn’t have to do that…

Keith: Whattaya mean. It’s proof he cares about ya

*****

[Flashback – Bar]

Leonard Wright: Please keep watching over my son from here on out, too

Help him follow in my…. No, help him become the kind of cool hero who can surpass even me someday

*****

[Yellow West living room]

Keith: Father and son, I’m gettin’ pressured from all sides…

Junior: Ah? What the… Hey!

Don’t fall asleep there, Keith!?

Keith: Can’t help it, I’m lookin’ after ya～…

Junior: Uh no, I should be the one saying that!!!??

And anyway, don’t make me look after you! Take care of yourself on your own!

Keith: Cause I’m yer mentor～....

Junior: I DON’T WANNA HEAR THAT FROM YOU——!!!

*****

(1) Keith actually refers to Horenso, a Japanese business culture thing that the west doesn’t really do. It’s an abbreviation that stands for Report, Contact, and Consultation, and the basic idea is that you’re supposed to check in with your superiors and communicate objectively. You can read more about it here