MHA; I'm Batman

*Chapter 6: The Awakening*

The morning light filtered through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over the small table where Rentaro and his mother sat. Between them lay the black briefcase, its surface gleaming faintly under the sunlight. The air was thick with tension, the weight of unspoken questions hanging heavily between them.

Rentaro's mother stared at the briefcase, her hands clasped tightly around a cup of tea that had long gone cold. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of confusion, concern, and something else—something Rentaro couldn't quite place. Fear, perhaps. Or disbelief.

"Explain it to me again," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "Slowly this time."

Rentaro took a deep breath, his fingers tracing the edge of the briefcase. "It's a suit," he said, his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest. "A high-tech suit. Dad sent it to me. It's... it's like something out of a comic book. It has a mask, a cape, tools—everything. And it's designed to adapt to the person wearing it. To me."

His mother's eyes narrowed. "A suit? Like... like Batman?"

Rentaro nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the gravity of the situation. "Yeah. Like Batman."

She leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable. For a long moment, she said nothing, her gaze fixed on the briefcase as if it might suddenly come to life and explain itself. Then she shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is insane. Your father... I haven't heard from him in months. He doesn't answer his phone, and now he sends you this? What is he thinking?"

Rentaro hesitated, then reached across the table to place a hand over hers. "Mom, Dad's a scientist. An inventor. You know how he gets when he's working on something big. He probably just got caught up in his work. He's fine. I'm sure of it."

His mother's eyes softened, but the worry didn't leave her face. "And what about you? What are you supposed to do with this... this thing? You're just a boy, Rentaro. You're not a superhero."

Rentaro's smile faded. He looked down at the briefcase, his fingers tightening around its edge. "I know," he said quietly. "But this isn't just a toy. It's... it's a chance. A chance to be something more. To protect people. To make a difference."

His mother sighed, her shoulders slumping. "All of this because of those comic books you read. That man who fights criminals without any superpowers. Is that what this is about?"

Rentaro nodded, his voice firm. "Yes. Batman's just a man, but he stands up for what's right. He doesn't back down, no matter how hard things get. I want to be like that. I want to help people."

His mother studied him for a long moment, her eyes searching his face. Then she reached out and cupped his cheek, her touch gentle but firm. "Just promise me one thing," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Promise me you won't do anything reckless. You're not invincible, Rentaro. No matter what that suit makes you feel."

Rentaro met her gaze, his heart swelling with a mix of love and determination. "I promise," he said. "I'll be careful."

---

The next morning, Rentaro woke to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. The sun was just beginning to rise, its golden light spilling across his room and casting long shadows on the walls. He lay there for a moment, savoring the quiet before the chaos of the day began.

As he got ready for school, his mind kept drifting back to the suit. The way it had felt to wear it, the power it had given him—it was intoxicating. But his mother's words echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the responsibility that came with it.

The walk to school was uneventful. The streets were quiet, the air crisp and cool. Rentaro kept his head down, his hands stuffed in his pockets as he made his way through the familiar route. But despite the normalcy of it all, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change.

---

When the lunch bell rang, Rentaro found himself dragged to the back of the schoolyard by Kenta and his gang. The usual crowd gathered around, their smirks wide and menacing. But this time, Rentaro felt different. He wasn't the same boy who had cowered under their taunts just days ago.

"Look who's back," Kenta sneered, shoving Rentaro against the wall. "Still playing dress-up, loser?"

Rentaro's heart raced, but he forced himself to stay calm. He reached into his bag and pulled out the mask, his fingers trembling slightly as he held it up. "Listen," he said, his voice shaking but firm. "I'll forgive you if you just leave me alone. Okay?"

For a moment, there was silence. Then Kenta burst out laughing, his voice loud and mocking. "What is that? A Batman mask? You think you're some kind of hero now?"

The others joined in, their laughter echoing across the yard. Rentaro's cheeks burned, but he didn't back down. He slipped the mask over his face, the lenses flickering to life as the AI's voice filled his ears.

"User authenticated. Systems online."

Before Kenta could react, the suit began to spread across Rentaro's body, the black material flowing like liquid shadow. The cape unfurled behind him, its edges shimmering faintly in the sunlight. The other students stared in stunned silence, their laughter dying in their throats.

Kenta took a step back, his eyes wide with shock. "What the—?"

But Rentaro didn't give him a chance to finish. The suit's power surged through him, filling him with a confidence he had never known. He stood tall, his voice steady and strong. "I said leave me alone."

For the first time, Kenta looked uncertain. But then his fear turned to anger, and he lunged at Rentaro, his fist swinging wildly. The suit reacted instantly, the padding absorbing the blow as Rentaro countered with a punch of his own. Kenta stumbled back, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The other students gasped, their voices rising in a chorus of shock and awe. Rentaro stood there, his cape billowing behind him, the mask's lenses glowing faintly. He wasn't just Rentaro anymore. He was something more.

And as the crowd watched in stunned silence, he knew that nothing would ever be the same.

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