"The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." -Jeremiah 31:3

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{4 Years Before Leviathan’s Invasion}

[Roronora City, 11 P.M.]

Outside one of the city’s bars in the late hours of the night, there is a group of four men in their mid 20s chatting and smoking cigarettes.

One of them looks over and points across the street to a kid walking into an 24/7 open convenience store.

Bald Man: "Aye, is that him?"

Through the huge glass window exposed to the public, is the inside of an always open shop.

An older boy with scruffy, dirty red hair is paying for something at the counter.

He dips his head in thanks to the cashier and leaves.

As soon as he passes the threshold of the door the young man races away however, as he turns the first corner...

Deep Man’s Voice: "Where are ya going kid?!"

A 13-year old Zeke, with a sweatshirt and shorts on, turns around to see the four very intimidating men are only a few yards away and quickly approaching.

A man with a cigarette in his mouth is in front of the rest and he doesn’t look too happy.

Man w/ Cig: "Was it you who beat up my brother and his friends the other night with your gang?"

The man questioning him notices young Zeke has bruises, as well as fresh cuts on his face and hands.

Young Zeke panics and starts to run away down the city sidewalk.

Man w/ Cig: "Get him!"

After turning a couple of corners, the chasing group runs by a dumpster outside of an apartment building.

The running footsteps fade away and the top of the dumpster opens just a bit.

Confident in his safety, Zeke hops out of the dumpster with a used tissue in his dirty hair.

He wipes himself off and jogs back in the direction he came from.

After a 5 minute jog through the apartment lines city, the boy stops at a certain 3 floor apartment on the corner.

He quietly makes his way to the back of the building and sees the fire escape ladder leading up to an open window on the 3rd floor. The light is on in the room and Zeke sighs in relief.

As silent as humanly possible, he climbs up the metal ladder.

On his way up, heard from outside the room, there is audio playing from a laptop speaker, of MMA announcers calling a professional match.

MMA Announcer 1: "He’s in trouble. There is a really bad laceration above that right eye.

And that landing kick earlier in the 3rd round reportedly broke one of his ribs.

I can’t believe he’s made it to the final round.

MMA Announcer 2: "Pure toughness and the heart of a champion.

Wait! Wait!

Oh my God he’s got him in the perfect spot to-."

*SLAM*

Zeke carefully crawls through the open window and into the bright bedroom.

He closes the window behind him.

MMA ANNOUNCER 1: "Oh my goodness! Suplex.

INTO THE ARMBAR!"

MMA Announcer 2: "He’s gunna tap.

There it is."

*ding* *ding* *ding*

MMA Announcer 1: "And it is aaaallll over!

With only one eye left to use, and under unlikely circumstances, the champ retains the belt and is the Featherweight Champion of the World!!"

Young Zeke turns around to see a 14 year old Jeremiah, sitting on his bedwatching the fight with the computer on his lap. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The blonde, purple eyed teenager looks up from the screen and sees his friend.

Jeremiah: "Damn, that was quick.

Did you run the way there and back?"

Zeke smiles and pulls out a small bottle of root beer soda from his sweatshirt pocket. He tosses it to his buddy and the transferred beverage is successfully caught.

Zeke: "I wouldn’t open for another few minutes."

The friend’s grip barely twists the plastic cap, stops himself and immediately seals it back up right before the carbonated explosion.

Zeke: "I had to get away from, I guess, the older brother to one of those punks who tried to jump me last night.

I could’ve took them on myself one on one, but there was four of them, and I’m too tired after training all day."

Jeremiah: "Are you sure it’s not you starting shit?"

Zeke: "It’s not me, I swear.

Those jackasses started it yesterday by talking shit about my dead ma.

It hasn’t even been a week, so I wasn’t just going to let it slide..."

There is the muffled sounds of a door closing, the creaking of the floor boards and a woman’s sigh heard coming from the other side of the door.

Both boys get alarmed.

With suspicious agility, Zeke dives and slides underneath the bedframe holding up Jeremiah on top.

With the young dirty teen completely hidden and out of sight, the bedroom door opens.

Leaning in is a very tired woman with matching blonde hair and tired purple eyes as Jeremiah’s.

She has medical scrubs on.

The boy mutes his laptop audio and looks up at her.

Jeremiah: "Hey Mum."

Jeremiah’s Mum: "Hi Honey.

Did you eat?"

The respectful son nods and his mother smiles at him.

Jeremiah’s Mum: "Okay, well I’m off to bed. I have to wake up early again tomorrow."

The work stressed mother sniffs the room once and plugs her nose.

Jeremiah’s Mum: "Ugh, it smells like a dumpster in here.

If there food in here?

Did you shower yet?"

Jeremiah: "Uhhh, no...

I’ll wash up once this round is over.

I promise."

Her loving smile transforms into a stern scowl. Telling the boy she means business.

Jeremiah’s Mum: "You better Jeremy, I mean it.

I don’t want it stinking in here when I wake up. Got it?"

Jeremiah: "Yes Mum."

Jeremiah’s Mum: "Good night."

Jeremiah: "Night, Mum."

She backs away and slowly closes the door, her shuffles across the creaking floor gets further away.

Jeremiah (whispers): "Ight, she’s gone."

Zeke shimmies his way out from under the bed and ha has a dust bunny on his shoulder.

He picks it off, letting it float back to the floor.

Zeke(whispers): "That was too close.

Are you sure you’re okay with me sneaking in and sleeping here without your mom knowing?

I don’t want to get you in trouble."

Jeremiah(whispers): "Don’t worry about it bro.

She works three shitty jobs so she’s basically never home."

There’s a look of pity on the guest’s face.

Zeke(whispers): "Why does she work so much?

It can’t be that expensive to live in this city."

Jeremiah cracks open his soda without a mess, and takes a couple swigs, softly burping into his fist before answering.

Jeremiah: "Unfortunately, she’s a single mom like yours was because our DoucheDads abandoned us.

I’ve heard from Mum talking to her friends, it was most likely because she didn’t tell him until after the first trimester.

After I was born, she became an alcoholic and now she has to pay legal fees to the person she paralyzed while drunk driving."

The snuck in friend sits down on the only chair in the bedroom.

Zeke(whisper): "Oh, damn..."

Jeremiah(whispers): "Yea.

I believe, it’s impossible to absolve one’s self of their regretful past mistakes.

That is why I want to help her, but I’m not allowed to get a job for another two years.

Shit sucks."

Zeke’s brown eyes move to the laptop screen, grow wider, and he moves the desk chair closer to the bed without making noise.

Zeke(whispers): "Oh, the next fight on the card is about to start."

Jeremiah smiles and turns the muted audio back on as one of the fighters is making his entrance to the ring.

The two of them admire the muscular, tatted man confidently strutting to NuMetal music.

Jeremiah looks over at his friend. The way his best bud is watching the screen, is the same way, all the way in Hanabi City, Katsu watches anime with overexcited fanatic energy and star eyes.

The home’s host looks back at the screen but not for too long until...

Zeke(whispers): "That will be us someday Jeremiah."

The young man’s purple eyes move back to his friend sitting in the chair, no longer with a silly expression, but Zeke’s eyes are locked on the small personal computer screen with a Below Sanpaku.

Zeke(whispers): "As long as I keep getting stronger, and with you as my personal trainer, I’ll only continue to get closer at becoming the greatest fighter ever.

I won’t let anyone shit talk you or me ever again.

Everyone will know we are a team, and nobody will pick on us like they do now."

The personal trainer chuckles at the selfless words.

Jeremiah(whispers): "Thanks Broski."

But the aspiring MMA fighter isn’t done with his declaration.

Jeremiah: "Like you said, it’s impossible to absolve one’s self, and even if she doesn’t know she’s currently doing it, someday I’ll keep winning enough money and become famous to help you help your Ma pay off her fees."

Announcer 2: "These two modern day gladiators are known for fighting until the very last second of the last round.

This, in my opinion is gunna be a good one!"

Jeremiah chuckles once more and goes back to watching the professional fight with his best friend.

Jeremia(whispers): "Thanks...Brother."

*ding* *ding* *ding*

Announcer 1: "And here. We. Go!"