Hero of all Worlds- Worthy

Kuro left for the park mentioned on Pride's note. The date was three days after he discovered the note. On closer inspection, the meeting place was a secluded roof park in the wealthy part of town. It's pretty far away, but actually pretty close to Kuro's old apartment. 

"Mom, Dad? I'm going over to our old neighborhood to see a friend. I'll be back in the evening" Kuro calls, gathering his things. 

"Of course buddy," His dad's voice comes from his office. "Take your hover bike, I don't want you taking the light rail that far."

Kuro grabbed the hover bike keys. "Sure thing dad. Love you!" He had gotten his small vehicle license last year because he couldn't walk very far anymore. Kuro hurried to start his bike. It was already 9:30 and daylight was wasting. Pride wrote to meet in an hour and Kuro hoped he would have enough time to look at his old building before heading to the park. 

The park is mostly empty as if it wasn't there to be used, just for decoration. The grass is well manicured and even the birds looked fed and content. Kuro had to park his bike outside the park; there were signs against motor vehicles in the park and he didn't want to be that one guy who thinks he is better than rules. Kuro's legs ache and begin to cramp with the little bit of walking he's doing. He sees a lion sitting on a bench. 

"Hey kid, you actually came." Pride identifies Kuro before Kuro could even see him. 

"Of course I did sir. Why wouldn't I? You're giving me a second chance." Kuro trots up to the bench where Pride was sitting. He wasn't in his hero form so he looked mostly normal. 

"You don't have to call me sir, kid. Anyways I wanted to talk to you more. From just a little visit with you I could tell you were passionate, and after seeing what you did I was sure that you are worthy to inherit my talent." Kuro stuttered a thank you before Pride asked, "What do you think a hero's job is? And don't just give me a textbook definition, I want to know what it means to you."

Kuro scratches his chin in thought, "I guess a hero's job is to protect. Sure taking down crime is one of the big parts of the job, but a hero's job is based on protecting people, order, and peace." He hoped his answer was satisfactory. Pride is interviewing him and he wants to do well. 

"Okay sure. So you think a hero should be proactive in fighting crime?" 

Kuro had done a few debates in school so he figures out what was going on pretty quickly. "A hero should be proactive in as far as the rules allow. We should work to stop incidents before anyone gets hurt or is endangered but we should never rage ahead. The days of vigilantes are far behind us and a hero should never act like that. You know what I mean, sir?" 

"Yes, young Kuro! What a perfect answer! Especially in today's pro hero field, if you aren't on top of things someone else will beat you to it. I meant it when I said you didn't have to call me sir. It makes me feel so old!" Pride chuckles. Even without his golden flowing mane and perfect shiny teeth, he still looks every bit of the hero to Kuro. Pride actually was quite old for a hero, he made his debut as a solo hero thirty five years ago. He still looks exactly the same in hero form. It must be another facet of his power.

They sit for a moment of awkward silence. 

"Kuro, I want to train you. To test you. To make sure you're ready for my power. I can recommend you into any top hero program you want, but you'll still need a lot of training to place in as a second year, unless you want to go back to first year. I guess I mean to ask if you're up to the challenge." Pride rambles. 

Kuro always wanted to go to a hero school and train with the pros and finally achieve his dream, but for so long it wasn't possible. Now it is. "Of course I'm ready and willing. It's what I truly want and I'm not giving up now that it's actually possible! It's going to be hard but I won't give up I promise! I'll place into the second year on my own."

As expected, Kuro's resolve impresses Pride. He isn't sure whether the kid is determined or slightly crazy. He'll have to be a bit of both to pull this off. "That settles it. I'll train you for this year, give you my talent, and then recommend you into a hero school. We'll have to set up a schedule and I'll see what I can do to train you without pushing your body too much. I'll keep in touch." Pride puts his number into Kuro's phone. 

"Thank you so much sir- I mean Pride. You don't even know how much this means to me! Thank you!" Kuro actually has his hero's number. Like wow. He has the #1 hero's contact. That's so cool to his little 14 year old mind. 

"Don't worry, I'll see you soon." Pride glances around quickly before shifting into his strong hero form. "Do you need me to take you home?" 

Kuro declines, he has his hover bike to take him home. It wouldn't be the last time he saw Pride. In fact it's just the beginning.