Why they became heroes

Chuan Wenwu lay back down on the bed, scratching Bruce under the chin as he sorted through the information they had gathered.

The others seemed to be doing the same, and silence settled over the room again.

After a while, Motoyasu Kitamura's cheerful voice broke the silence. "Oh, right, Wenwu. I meant to ask earlier, but I forgot. What's the deal with your dog? How did you bring a pet here too?"

As he spoke, Motoyasu Kitamura shuffled over to sit on Chuan Wenwu's bed. He tentatively reached toward Bruce, but seemed a little afraid to pet him.

Only after getting Chuan Wenwu's permission did he relax and enthusiastically rub the dog's head. "Wow, wow! You've taken such good care of him. His fur feels amazing!"

Seeing this, Ren Amaki, who had been trying to cultivate a cool, aloof persona, couldn't help speaking up. "I want to pet him too."

Itsuki Kawasumi raised his hand as well. "Me too, me too!"

Chuan Wenwu gave each of them permission. Watching Bruce being passed around between the three with a look of utter resignation, he couldn't hold back his laughter.

A moment later, he stopped laughing and thought back to what had happened earlier. Then he began slowly, "Before I was summoned here, Bruce and I were taking a walk in the park. Suddenly, he ran over to the roadside and dug up a black-bound paperback novel called the Four Holy Weapons Book."

"I just flipped through it, but then the book suddenly flew up and started glowing. I tried to run, but I couldn't outrun it. It flew straight at me and clamped itself onto my forehead. Maybe because I was still holding Bruce's leash, he got transported here with me. Still, I'm glad he came along. He's my best buddy!"

"So that's how you crossed over. Sounds pretty uneventful."

"But that Four Holy Weapons Book you mentioned sounds like it has a lot to do with the world we're in. Could it be a record of our exploits?"

Chuan Wenwu waved a hand, looking thoroughly annoyed. "Don't get me started. That book really was connected to this world. I was even wondering earlier whether I'd crossed into a novel. But before it happened, how was I supposed to know a book dug up by the roadside would send me to another world? Besides, the writing was mediocre, it had an ensemble cast, the plot jumped all over the place, and everything was painfully clichéd! So I only skimmed it. Whatever I read was like knowledge entering my brain and sliding right back out along its smooth grooves. I didn't remember anything useful."

"An ensemble novel with bad writing?" Ren Amaki considered that for a moment, then immediately shook his head. "That really does sound awful. Constant viewpoint changes, a disjointed plot... I wouldn't even be able to get through it."

Itsuki Kawasumi held his chin. "It was probably a book about the Four Holy Heroes before us, right? Finding a particular book and being chosen as the next hero is pretty common."

Motoyasu Kitamura patted Chuan Wenwu on the shoulder and laughed cheerfully. "Then it sounds like you missed out on a fortune! Your world doesn't have a game resembling this world like ours do, and you were chosen as the Shield Hero, too! I bet that book might even have been meant to make up for that by giving you more information about this world. But you thought it was boring and didn't remember a thing. What a shame! Hahahaha!"

"Gloating isn't very nice... Hindsight is twenty-twenty. If I'd known I was about to cross into another world, I would've memorized every single word! Too bad there are no do-overs..."

Chuan Wenwu smacked his lips and turned to the others. "What about you guys? Tell me how you crossed over."

"Ahem!"

Ren Amaki cleared his throat twice, drawing everyone's eyes to him.

"On my way home from school, I had the misfortune of encountering the killer from a murder case that had already caused an uproar throughout the city. To save my childhood friend, I fought desperately to restrain him. I held out until the police arrived, but I'd been stabbed several times and lost consciousness from blood loss."

"When I came to, I found myself in this world."

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

Chuan Wenwu was the first to applaud, giving Ren Amaki an approving look. "Then you really are brave. Finding the courage to stand up for someone vulnerable and stop a crime... That's impressive. If this hadn't happened, you might have become an outstanding police officer or soldier someday."

"You flatter me. Upholding justice and punishing criminals was always my dream. Even though it nearly killed me, I have no regrets." Despite his efforts to contain it, an irrepressible smile tugged at Ren Amaki's lips.

"It's not flattery. Maybe you were chosen as the Sword Hero precisely because you have a righteous heart, so you could wield a sword of justice to punish evil and uphold what's right in another world-just don't let it go to your head!"

"I won't!"

"My turn, my turn!" Seeing how warmly Chuan Wenwu had praised Ren Amaki, Itsuki Kawasumi eagerly began his own story. "I was walking home from cram school when I saw an out-of-control truck about to hit a little girl crossing the road. In that split second, I instinctively rushed forward and pushed her aside. Then... I lost consciousness."

Motoyasu Kitamura muttered, "Well, you did get hit by a truck..."

Itsuki Kawasumi ignored him and looked expectantly at Chuan Wenwu.

Even if you look at me like that, I can't...

Chuan Wenwu grumbled inwardly, but gave it some thought and offered his praise. "I've read plenty of novels where the protagonist dies saving someone from a truck and ends up in another world, but you're the first one I've actually met. That's impressive. Fearless, brave, decisive. I wasn't there to see it, but if you'd hesitated even a second, a living, breathing person might have vanished from this world. That was an incredibly decisive choice!"

Yet Itsuki Kawasumi didn't seem particularly happy about the praise. Instead, he said dejectedly, "But even though I saved that little girl, I put myself in danger. If I hadn't been summoned here, I'd definitely be dead, right? Until now, I was so excited about coming to another world, but thinking about it now, I feel like what I did was completely meaningless..."

One life traded for another. The meaning of life has really gotten this kid down.

Chuan Wenwu considered it. "Why do you think you became the Bow Hero?"

"Because I'm brave and willing to stand up for what's right?"

"That only explains why you became a hero. What about the 'bow'?"

Itsuki Kawasumi was stumped. He shook his head, admitting he didn't know.

Chuan Wenwu said, "I noticed you mentioned you were on your way home after cram school, right?"

"Yes."

"Then let me make an educated guess... I don't know much about Fusang in your world, so I can only go by historical accounts from mine. The fact that you attended cram school suggests your family took your education very seriously. Otherwise, they wouldn't have signed you up for extra classes."

Itsuki Kawasumi silently nodded. "Mom wanted me to get into the University of Tokyo..."

"Mm, an ambitious goal." Chuan Wenwu understood. "As I recall, you have a relaxed approach to education over there. Classes are easygoing, but that also means you barely learn anything useful, so you need extra tutoring. But you still have to attend regular school, which means cram school can only happen after school and on weekends, right?"

"That's right."

"It felt suffocating, didn't it?" Chuan Wenwu asked softly.

"What?" Itsuki Kawasumi looked confused.

"Getting into the University of Tokyo wasn't your dream. It was the fervent hope your mother placed on you. What you wanted was to play with other kids your age and enjoy games together, but you didn't dare tell your mother. You were afraid of disappointing her, afraid of making her sad. So you buried those feelings and forced yourself to study to fulfill her hopes. You only had the tiniest scraps of time for the games you loved. Day after day, year after year."

"The crushing pressure left you unable to breathe. Your mind was like a taut bowstring, stretched almost to breaking."

"Did you ever think about suicide?" Chuan Wenwu asked abruptly. Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "Of course you did. But you didn't dare, again because you were afraid of disappointing your mother and making her sad. You could only grit your teeth and keep going through the exhaustion, until you came across an opportunity..."

Chuan Wenwu didn't continue. He looked at Itsuki Kawasumi, whose head was bowed and whose body was trembling slightly.

"That's scary."

"Definitely."

Motoyasu Kitamura and Ren Amaki stood some distance away, whispering to each other.

Itsuki Kawasumi murmured quietly, his voice full of self-reproach, "...Yes. When I rushed over and pushed that little girl away, putting myself under the truck's wheels, I felt free. It wasn't suicide. I was saving someone. Even if Mom found out, she wouldn't be disappointed..."

Chuan Wenwu said, "Your bravery and kindness gave you a target: the little girl in danger. Once an arrow is loosed, it can't turn back. You used your strained mind as the bowstring and yourself as the arrow, saving the little girl and freeing yourself."

"..." Itsuki Kawasumi remained silent, seemingly sinking into genuine despair.

Chuan Wenwu gave his shoulder a firm slap and raised his voice. "An arrow can't turn back once it's loosed, but what fine bow in this world can fire only once? Heaven has already given you a second chance. So this time, where will you send your arrow?"

He tugged at the bow in Itsuki Kawasumi's hand, reminding him that he was now the Bow Hero.

Come to think of it, do Japanese characters all have to sink into despair before seeing the light?

Spurred on by Chuan Wenwu's words, Itsuki Kawasumi seemed to come to a sudden realization. He murmured, "So... this is why I became the Bow Hero..."

Clarity returned to Itsuki Kawasumi's eyes, and he declared resolutely, "Then I'll make myself an arrow and aim at every injustice in this world, at every calamity that harms people!"

"Good! That's the spirit!" Chuan Wenwu applauded, feeling both a little awkward and a little relieved.

Itsuki Kawasumi thanked him sincerely. "Thank you, Wenwu."

"No need to thank me, Taro... Itsuki." Chuan Wenwu corrected himself just in time.

"Wow, you're really eloquent. You sure know what to say." Now that things seemed to have settled down, Motoyasu Kitamura quietly sidled over, nudging Chuan Wenwu in the waist with his elbow as he marveled.

Ren Amaki egged him on from the side. "Motoyasu, we've both told our stories. Shouldn't you tell us how you crossed over too? Wenwu can explain why you became the Spear Hero while he's at it."

"Well, um, how about we skip that?" Cold sweat slid down Motoyasu Kitamura's cheek. He stammered awkwardly, reluctance written all over his face.

After all, he had already heard how Ren Amaki and Itsuki Kawasumi had become heroes after sacrificing themselves to save others. Compared with their deeds, he felt embarrassed to bring up his own.

"We can't skip it. Everyone else has told us. How is it fair if you don't? We need to stick together!" Sensing some juicy gossip, Itsuki Kawasumi quickly pulled himself together and dragged Chuan Wenwu over to surround him.

"Fine, fine! I'll tell you!"

Cornered by three people and a dog, Motoyasu Kitamura couldn't resist and had no choice but to haltingly explain.

"Well, I had a lot of girlfriends..."

The moment Motoyasu Kitamura began, everyone lost their composure.

"Wait, wait, wait. Don't tell me you crossed over after one of them took a cleaver to you?" Ren Amaki interrupted incredulously.

"...That was all because of a few little accidents!" He didn't deny it.

"We don't even need Wenwu to analyze this. I already know why you're the Spear Hero. It's definitely because you used your 'spear' too much before you died!" Applying Chuan Wenwu's reasoning about himself to Motoyasu Kitamura, Itsuki Kawasumi arrived at an explanation for why he was the Spear Hero, and it made perfect sense...

"What kind of ridiculous explanation is that? Yes! The reason I crossed over wasn't as noble as yours, but I'm still a hero! There has to be a legitimate reason!"

Motoyasu Kitamura protested loudly, then turned a hopeful gaze toward Chuan Wenwu. "Come on, Wenwu. You're so good with words. You understand me, right?"

Fuck!

Chuan Wenwu looked troubled. "Even if you say that, I've never had a single girlfriend. Asking me to relate to someone juggling women left and right in modern society... That's a bit much!"

To his surprise, all three of them exclaimed at his words-

Motoyasu Kitamura said, "You're kidding, right? You're so good-looking and handsome! There's no way you've never had a girlfriend!"

Ren Amaki said, "Even I've had two girlfriends, though we've broken up now. I can't imagine why you've never dated anyone, Wenwu."

Itsuki Kawasumi said, "I never dated because I was under so much academic pressure, but quite a few girls gave me love letters. I just turned them down. What happened with you, Wenwu?"

You motherfuckers, keep talking! (Points accusingly.)

Chuan Wenwu gave them a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Can't help it. People back home aren't as open about these things as they are in Fusang. My family is pretty conservative too, so I'm not allowed to have improper relationships with women. Otherwise, they'll break all three of my legs."

"Gulp. Just asking, but what counts as an improper relationship?"

"No fooling around before marriage. Oh, and by the way, the legal marriage age for men in Huaxia is twenty-two. I'm eighteen."

"That's so strict!" Motoyasu Kitamura was frightened enough to take a step back.

"Right?"

Chuan Wenwu shrugged. He didn't actually think there was anything wrong with it. He had always favored that healthy, normal outlook on romance, while the excessively freewheeling attitudes of Motoyasu Kitamura and the others made him uncomfortable.

"Still... since you called me handsome, I suppose I'll have a little chat with a guy who's got it all."

Chuan Wenwu sat on the edge of the bed with a grin, holding his chin in one hand and supporting that arm with the other. He mused, "When you say you had lots of girlfriends, you mean you were secretly dating several girls at once, right...?"

"Not at all!"

It had only been an offhand question, but unexpectedly, Motoyasu Kitamura objected loudly. "Before I start dating a new girl, I always tell her the truth about my other girlfriends. I only date girls who can accept the others, okay?"

"Holy shit!" ×3

"Woof!"

Even Bruce, who had been quiet for a long time, was startled by that outrageous declaration.

Ren Amaki looked utterly shocked. "Th-that takes real courage. You really deserve to be a hero!"

"I can't compete with him." Itsuki Kawasumi admitted defeat.

"Woof!! (Same here.)"

Chuan Wenwu kept patting Motoyasu Kitamura on the shoulder and said solemnly, "You're a man who follows his heart, brother. What else is there to say? You were born to be the Spear Hero!"

"Think about it. What are a spear's defining qualities? Straight, firm, and sharp, right? Now look at you. Upright! You never hide the existence of your other girlfriends. Sure, you have a few too many, but that's a symbol of your boundless love! You stand firm: if a girl won't accept your other girlfriends, you absolutely won't date her! And as for sharpness... you always get straight to the point. Isn't that sharp enough?"

Chuan Wenwu spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face, leaving the already none-too-bright Motoyasu Kitamura utterly spellbound.

When Chuan Wenwu finished, Motoyasu Kitamura excitedly threw an arm around his shoulders. "You understand me! Brother, you really understand me! I just want to give lonely girls a home. What's wrong with that? I'm openhearted, and I care about the whole world's beautiful girls. So I have a little more love to give. What's wrong with that? You really get me, Wenwu! Say no more. From now on, you're my buddy. If anything happens, I've got your back!"

Who the fuck understands you? I was making it all up!

"Then, Wenwu, why did you get the 'shield'?"

Chuan Wenwu paused and looked down at the Legendary Shield on his arm, still in its small-shield form. After some thought, he answered, "Probably because I wanted to become a soldier who could defend the people and my country. The reason I went to Fusang before crossing over was that I'd been admitted to the Huaxia National Defense University Fusang Branch, so I went early to get a feel for the place."

"Oh! In your world, Huaxia even established a national defense university in Fusang? I'm so jealous. The Huaxia in your world treats Fusang so well!"

I'm begging you, stop talking!

I really can't keep a straight face much longer!

After chatting and joking around together, the four heroes from different worlds quickly grew familiar with one another, calling each other brothers and discussing the fantastical adventures they might encounter in the future.

When dinnertime came, an attendant led them to the dining room.

The other world offered all kinds of delicious food, and it tasted excellent. All four heroes ate to their hearts' content.

After the meal, Chuan Wenwu naturally remembered to ask an attendant for a plate and pack some food to take back to Bruce, who had stayed in the room. He had no objection to letting Bruce eat at the table, but they were on someone else's turf. The knights who would be eating the leftovers afterward objected, so he could only let it go.

(The heroes ate first. Only after they finished were the members of the Knights Order allowed in to eat.)

With their stomachs full and the hour already late, the four men and one dog soon climbed into bed and drifted into their first sweet dreams in another world.