His advancing foot sank deep into the soil. Garou took long, slow breaths, barely managing to suppress the urge to attack stirring in his heart.
The pressure Josen had exerted on Garou a year ago remained fresh in his memory even now!
He lowered his head and thought for a moment, realizing that the man before him felt just like the old geezer-someone he had little confidence he could beat.
Having reached that conclusion, Garou suppressed his instincts and restrained himself, asking calmly, "Did you... need something?"
Sensing the instantaneous shift in Garou's aura, Josen couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
It was rare for someone his age to understand that discretion was the better part of valor. That alone put him ahead of Atomic Samurai before his beating.
The still-unconscious Atomic Samurai: Ahem, could we not bring that up...
At that thought, Josen chose to tell Garou the truth. "I just happened to be passing by. When I saw someone training hard in this heat, I stopped by to take a look."
-Really? I don't believe you!
Josen was indeed telling the truth, but Garou wore the same skeptical expression as a certain female television host.
He thought, I've run so far away, and you still just happened to pass nearby?
Who are you trying to fool-a ghost... no, a wolf?
Josen shrugged, his expression serious. "That's all there is to it. I'm a Hero. I have no reason to lie to you."
"Wh-what?"
Hearing Josen deliberately emphasize his identity as a Hero, Garou's heart lurched, and the knuckles of his clenched fists cracked.
Their eyes met. Garou's expression gradually darkened, and a trace of suspicion and alarm flashed in his eyes.
-Could this man know something...?
Before he could speak, Josen suddenly raised a finger and lightly tapped his