Taro Ayato Days

The warm sun gently slipped through the window as Taro Ayato turned in his sleep, a soft smile on his face. He was dreaming again—of the day he first met Emi, his wife.

In the dream, they were sitting under a streetlight, both younger. Emi's face was tired, her eyes filled with worry. She whispered,

"If you don't quit your job, I'll be dead before I can marry you."

Her words echoed, mixing with the sound of wind. Taro's smile faded. Then—

BEEP BEEP!

His alarm rang. He sat up quickly, sweat trickling down his temple. That dream again.

Morning in the Streets

After freshening up and giving Emi and their daughter a quick goodbye, Taro grabbed his bag and headed to the market. The streets were busy, colorful, filled with morning chatter and street vendors shouting prices.

Taro picked out fresh vegetables, some snacks for the shop, and a few candies for his daughter. Everything was normal…

Until—

CRASH!

A young girl, maybe a few years younger than Kaito, came running around the corner, bumping into Taro hard. The bags fell, food scattered all over the street. The girl's hair was messy, her eyes filled with panic.

"Hey! Watch where—"

Taro stopped mid-sentence. She looked terrified.

The Chase

Before he could say anything else, three men appeared, chasing the girl. One of them, wearing a black leather jacket, caught up and without hesitation punched the girl in the stomach. She fell with a gasp.

Taro's face turned cold.

He stepped in front of her, catching the next punch with one hand.

"You just ruined my breakfast. That was a mistake," he said calmly.

The attackers froze. They recognized his eyes—they'd seen them before. Dangerous eyes.

They backed off and called someone. Soon, Taro, the girl, and the attackers were all standing before their leader in a dark alley nearby.

The Vault Key Secret

The leader wore a white suit, with gold rings and a cruel smile.

"So, you're the one protecting the girl now?"

He chuckled. "She's nothing. Her family died for something they didn't even get to use."

The girl stepped forward, still shaken but brave.

"They killed my family… for this."

She pulled out a small, metallic key, engraved with ancient symbols.

"It opens a Vault that holds something powerful. My father died protecting it."

Taro looked at her, then at the men around them. This was no ordinary street gang.

The leader smiled wider.

"You made a mistake coming here. Boys."

He clapped twice.

Two massive, muscular men stepped forward, arms like boulders, eyes like sharks. One cracked his neck. The other cracked his knuckles.

"Kill them. Get the key."

The two towering men stepped forward like beasts, and the leader raised his hand to signal the kill.

Taro's eyes narrowed.

But then…

Smoke. Flash. Silence.

Before anyone could react, Taro grabbed the girl by the wrist, spun behind a stack of crates, and vanished into a narrow alley.

No one even saw him leave.

Hidden Shadows

They reappeared far away, near a rundown abandoned building. Inside, Kaito was already waiting, arms crossed, leaning against a wall with a half-eaten rice ball in hand.

"Yo, took your time," Kaito said casually, noticing the shaken girl beside Taro.

"Who's the new guest?"

Taro ignored the comment and turned to the girl.

"Start talking. What's in the Vault?"

The girl, still catching her breath, finally spoke.

"The Vault belonged to my father. It's hidden beneath an old train station. Inside… is more money than most countries have. And something else… something the leader didn't understand. But he killed everyone just to get it."

She pulled the key from her pocket again.

"I'm the last one who knows where it is."

A Deal

Taro looked at her silently, then turned to Kaito.

"What do you think?"

Kaito shrugged. "Sounds like trouble. Which means you're interested."

Taro smirked. Then he looked at the girl.

"I'll help you. But there's one condition."

She blinked.

"You'll work at our shop. Every day. No excuses."

"Huh?! I—wait, what?"

"My wife says I shouldn't bring home trouble unless it can clean tables," he said with a faint smile.

Before she could protest…

BOOM!

The doors burst open.

The two muscular assassins were standing there. One had torn through the wall, the other simply kicked the gate down.

"You can't run forever, Ayato."

"We'll take the key. And your heads."

Taro's smile faded.

He slowly rolled up his sleeves.

"Kaito," he said calmly, "Get the girl behind you. And don't let her touch anything expensive."

The two towering assassins blocked the exit of the old building. Dust swirled around their feet, and their muscles tensed like coiled steel.

Taro stepped forward slowly, his voice calm and sharp:

"If you want your bones not cracked, leave her and get lost."

The two thugs exchanged a glance—then laughed.

"You really think a shopkeeper can scare us?"

"Let's break him first, then take the girl!"

The second one charged first, swinging a massive arm like a wrecking ball—

But he never hit.

Taro moved like a shadow, dodging to the side, then delivered a brutal punch straight to his gut.

CRASH!

The man flew back through the air, slammed through the wall, and disappeared into the building across the street. Bricks exploded. Silence followed.

The second man blinked, then roared and rushed in—

Taro ducked, flipped, and jumped high into the air like an eagle, spinning mid-air. With a clean heel kick to the back of his neck, the man was sent flying into the metal gate with a loud CLANG!

Both assassins were down in seconds.

A Message Delivered

Taro grabbed each one by the back of the collar and dragged them through the streets like trash bags. The girl followed, stunned but silent. Kaito walked casually behind, hands in pockets.

They entered the gang's hideout again.

The leader stood up, confused, then terrified.

"You… how?!"

THUD.

Taro threw both defeated men at his feet.

"They said they were strong. I wanted to return them."

The girl stepped forward, breathing heavily.

"This ends now."

She held up the small Vault key—the one her family had died to protect—and walked to the hidden metal door behind the leader's desk.

The Vault Opens

The key slid into the lock.

CLINK. CLANK. WHIRRRR—

The massive steel door opened slowly.

Inside was a treasure hoard—piles of cash, gold bars, glittering jewels, antique weapons, and ancient documents. The glow from inside filled the room with a golden light.

Taro's eyes widened.

"That's... that's enough money to build five shops."

Kaito whistled.

"I call dibs on one gold bar."

The girl turned and smiled for the first time.

"Take whatever you want. I don't care about the money."

"I just wanted justice."

Justice Served

The gang leader tried to sneak away, crawling across the floor toward the exit.

"You brat—!"

But the girl walked right up to him and with all her anger, punched him square in the face.

CRACK!

He dropped, unconscious and bleeding. The room went silent.

Taro crossed his arms and gave her a small nod.

"Not bad. You're hired."

She blinked. "Huh?"

"You're working at our shop now. Uniform's in the back. Welcome to the team."

After dinner, the room settled into a comfortable quiet. The girl glanced around, then spoke softly, sharing pieces of her past.

"My name is Aoi," she began. "My family guarded the Vault for generations. When the leader found out, he destroyed everything… my family, my home. I barely escaped."

Kaito nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds rough. I'm Kaito. I've been working with Taro for years now. Not much to tell, but I'm loyal."

Aoi looked at Kaito, then at Taro, grateful for the unexpected safety she'd found here.

Just then, Taro's daughter, wide-eyed and full of excitement, tugged at her father's sleeve.

"Dad, can you take us to the amusement park tomorrow? Please?"

Aoi's face lit up with a happy smile, and even Kaito's usual calm softened.

Taro laughed softly and nodded. "Alright, tomorrow it is. We'll all go."

The warmth of the moment filled the room, a small beacon of hope after the chaos.

The next morning, everyone woke up early, excitement buzzing in the air. After a quick breakfast, Taro, Aoi, Kaito, and Taro's daughter got ready and set off for the amusement park. The sun was shining brightly as they entered, laughter and the sounds of rides filling the air.

They spent the day enjoying the rides, playing games, and sharing snacks. Aoi smiled genuinely, finally feeling a sense of normalcy. Taro's daughter squealed with delight as she rode the roller coaster, and even Kaito allowed himself a small grin.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A towering, muscular man appeared out of nowhere, his eyes fixed on Taro. Without warning, he charged, aiming a heavy punch.

But Taro was faster. In a flash of lightning speed, he grabbed the man's arm and twisted him around, pinning him against a nearby stall.

"Who are you?" Taro demanded, his voice steady but sharp.

The man smirked, struggling against Taro's grip. "Name's Goro. I'm here because there's a bounty on you and your friend. High pay for your heads."

Taro's eyes narrowed. The quiet day at the amusement park had just turned dangerous.

Later that day, Taro, Aoi, Kaito, and Taro's daughter sat together, happily enjoying their food from a street vendor. Laughter and chatter filled the air as they relaxed, the earlier tension momentarily forgotten.

But not far away, a tall, muscular man stood partially hidden in the crowd. His eyes locked onto Taro with a dark, burning intensity.

He muttered to himself under his breath,

"Taro... I finally found you."

His voice was cold and filled with years of anger.

"I've been waiting for this moment... to kill you."

He clenched his fists, his gaze unwavering.

"You're my old enemy. And there's a huge bounty on you and your friend."

Just then, a young woman stepped quietly behind him and slid a large poster into his hand. The poster showed a picture of Taro and Kaito, with bold letters that read:

"WANTED: Taro Ayato – REWARD: 1,000,000,000 yen"

and below it:

"WANTED: Kaito – REWARD: 20,000,000 yen."

The man's lips curled into a cruel smile.

"Time to collect."

Later, as the group wandered through the amusement park, Taro's daughter tugged at his sleeve with wide, excited eyes.

"Dad, can we go to the haunted house next? Please! It's my favorite!"

Taro smiled warmly, ruffling her hair. "Alright, let's go."

They stepped into the dim, eerie haunted house filled with creaking sounds and flickering lights. Laughter and screams echoed, but Taro's daughter was fearless, enjoying every spooky corner.

Unbeknownst to her, lurking in the shadows just outside, several of the enemy's slaves prepared to attack. They moved quickly, surrounding the group.

But before they could strike, Taro and Kaito silently sprang into action. Like shadows, they took down each attacker one by one—disarming, knocking out, and leaving no trace of a fight.

Throughout it all, Taro's daughter laughed and jumped at the haunted house scares, completely unaware that danger had been so close—and silently defeated.

As the night wore on, the excitement and fun finally caught up with Taro's daughter. Her eyelids grew heavy, and soon she was fast asleep, leaning against Taro's shoulder.

Kaito gently lifted her up, careful not to wake her. He carried her inside a nearby building and laid her down softly in a cozy room, tucking a blanket around her.

Just then, a woman entered the room quietly. She glanced at the sleeping girl with a warm smile, then turned toward Kaito and Taro.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside. The door swung open, and a tall, imposing man stepped inside. His sharp eyes locked onto Taro.

"This is Boiled," Kaito whispered. "He's been hunting you for a while."

Boiled's gaze was cold and hard as he approached. Without a word, he grabbed Taro's arm and pulled him toward the exit.

Taro didn't resist.

Together, they headed toward the next building, the tension thickening with every step.

As Boiled pulled Taro toward the exit, the woman who had entered the room earlier suddenly turned her attention to Kaito. With a swift motion, she pulled a small, glowing bomb from her pocket and threw it at him.

The bomb exploded in a flash of smoke and light. Kaito staggered, his body freezing in place as the bomb's special paralysis effect took hold.

He collapsed to the ground, unable to move for the next twenty minutes.

From the doorway, Aoi appeared just in time. Her eyes blazing with determination, she stepped forward and said firmly,

"Fight me."

The woman smirked, accepting the challenge.

Meanwhile, in the next building, Taro's eyes narrowed as he faced Boiled.

Memories flashed through his mind — the first time they met, the bitter rivalry that had grown over the years, the battles fought and scars earned.

Suddenly, Boiled threw a cluster of bombs toward Taro. Explosions erupted all around him, trapping him in a ring of deadly explosives.

Taro was locked in place, the bombs' heat and power preventing any escape.

Boiled stood over Taro, a cruel smile curling his lips.

"My bombs aren't ordinary," he sneered. "They have auto-aim locked on you. No one escapes them—not even you."

With that, he clenched his fist, his gloves humming with energy as hidden boosters activated. The speed of his punch increased a hundredfold in an instant.

Before Taro could react, the punch struck him hard in the chest.

CRASH!

Taro flew backward, crashing into the stone walls with a deafening impact. Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface as dust filled the air.

Meanwhile, back in the room, Aoi faced the woman, eyes blazing with determination. The fight had begun.

Aoi dodged a swift strike and countered with a powerful kick, sending the woman staggering back.

The air was thick with tension — two battles raging, and fate hanging in the balance.

Aoi moved with fierce determination, every strike precise and powerful. The woman lunged, but Aoi expertly dodged, then countered with a swift punch to the ribs. The woman gasped, stumbling backward.

With a final, decisive kick, Aoi knocked her off balance and sent her crashing against the wall. Before she could recover, Aoi swiftly bound her wrists and ankles with sturdy ropes, locking her in place.

Breathing heavily, Aoi stood over her captive, eyes sharp and unwavering.

In the dimly lit room, Boiled leaned against the cracked wall, a victorious smile stretching across his face. He pulled out a large cigarette and lit it slowly, the ember glowing bright in the darkness.

"He's finished," Boiled muttered to himself, exhaling a plume of smoke.

Meanwhile, inside Taro's mind, a flashback ignited.

He remembered the early days—how he and Boiled were once close friends, partners even. They had trained together, shared dreams. Taro recalled a worn paper he'd seen back then—blueprints for Boiled's gloves and bombs, each component carefully designed.

But then the rivalry began.

Taro saw a vivid memory of Valentine's Day—Boiled watching as countless girls handed Taro chocolates, smiles lighting his way. Taro, indifferent, ignored Boiled completely, as if he were nothing.

Back in the present, Taro's true form began to reappear, his oversized clothes shifting into a battle-ready stance. His eyes darkened, voice low and deadly.

"Your bombs," he said, voice thick with calm fury, "are unstable. The auto-aim system uses outdated sensors vulnerable to interference. The explosives themselves are a mixture of low-yield compounds—powerful, yes, but predictable."

Boiled's confident grin faltered.

Taro stepped closer, the air around him charged with quiet power.

Boiled's eyes widened in disbelief as Taro stood tall before him, his oversized clothes now falling perfectly around his true form—calm, sharp, and deadly. His presence alone shifted the air, heavier… colder.

Boiled took a step back.

"H-How can this be possible…? I crushed you… You should've been out cold!"

His fear twisted into rage. With a furious roar, he activated his final weapon—

"500 auto-lock bombs!"

Tiny glowing orbs surrounded Taro, every one locking onto him from every angle.

BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—

Explosions filled the air, ripping through the walls and shaking the entire building.

Smoke covered everything.

Boiled fell to one knee, panting.

"No one can survive that… No one."

But then…

Through the smoke… a figure stepped forward.

Untouched. Unshaken. Unmatched.

Taro Ayato.

He walked slowly, not a single scratch on him.

His eyes locked onto Boiled's.

His voice cold, deep, and unforgettable.

"You will remember this name forever…

Taro Ayato."

Boiled's heart dropped.

Suddenly, Taro moved.

CRACK!

A brutal uppercut launched Boiled into the air.

In mid-air, Taro appeared again—striking him with a spinning knee, then a crushing elbow. Boiled had no time to react.

"HAAAA!!"

Taro roared as he unleashed a fierce roundhouse kick, sending Boiled flying across the amusement park sky—

SLAM!

He crashed hard into the side of a massive giant wheel, metal twisting under the impact. Blood dripped from Boiled's mouth as he slumped against the wreckage.

He looked up weakly…

Standing calmly beside the mangled metal, not even breathing hard, was Taro Ayato.

Unharmed. Unshaken.

A true ghost from Boiled's past.

Now turned nightmare.

Boiled groaned, struggling to move as blood dripped from his lip. The pain was unbearable, but what hurt more was the realization—

He never stood a chance.

Taro stood over him, his eyes calm but firm.

"I'm not going to kill you," Taro said quietly.

Boiled blinked in confusion.

Then, to his shock… Taro reached out his hand.

Boiled hesitated, then slowly grabbed it. Taro pulled him to his feet.

"Why…?" Boiled muttered. "After everything…"

Taro looked him in the eye.

"Because I don't kill trash."

Boiled coughed out a weak laugh, then looked down.

"You really haven't changed... but listen, Ayato. That bounty on your head—1 billion yen—it's not just random. Other assassin organizations are coming for you… the kind that even I wouldn't face."

Taro's expression didn't change.

"They'll come after Kaito too. And that girl… she's already in it."

Suddenly, the woman from earlier appeared beside Boiled, helping him stand. Without another word, the two of them disappeared into the shadows, leaving nothing behind but their warning.

Back near the entrance of the haunted house, Kaito stood frozen.

He had seen everything—Taro's true form. The speed, the power, the cold fury he hadn't seen in years.

"That… was really you," Kaito said, almost in awe.

Beside him, Aoi stared at Taro, stunned speechless. She had never imagined the quiet shopkeeper could become something so terrifying.

Taro turned to them, voice low and dangerous.

"You saw nothing. You say a word… I'll kill you myself."

The tension in the air was thick. But Kaito simply nodded, understanding completely. Aoi swallowed hard and said nothing.

The group quietly gathered together, and under the soft lights of the amusement park, they walked home—

The laughter of earlier now replaced by silence…

Because they all knew—

this was only the beginning.

As they walked home under the quiet night sky, the air still tense from what they had witnessed, Taro finally broke the silence.

He looked over his shoulder at Kaito and Aoi and said in a low, casual voice:

"Don't worry. That wasn't even close to my full strength."

They both looked at him, confused.

"What…?" Aoi asked softly.

Taro's eyes narrowed, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"That was only 5% of my true power."

Their eyes widened, stunned.

Kaito couldn't even form a sentence. Aoi's legs almost gave out from the shock.

But Taro just kept walking, hands in his pockets like nothing happened.

The next morning…

Kaito walked into the shop, yawning—still thinking about last night.

Then he froze.

There, behind the counter, was Taro Ayato—chubby, slow-moving, wearing a too-tight T-shirt, and lazily sipping tea with a sleepy face.

"Good morning," Taro said with a mouthful of rice crackers.

Kaito blinked. "What… happened to the guy who kicked a man into a giant wheel?"

Aoi peeked in, saw him, and her jaw dropped.

"Is that really the same guy!?"

Taro just burped and scratched his head.

"I'm on break now."

The two stared in disbelief.

The ghost of last night—the deadly Taro Ayato—was gone…

And the chubby shopkeeper had returned.

Taro said "I don't want to show all of you ,my true form so I eat a lot and get fat like before".