Bruce's life was somewhat... predictable?
He had an abusive father and a mother who didn't know how to protect her son.
He was an only child, the sole survivor of being born a twin—the other died in the womb.
You ask how I know? Well...
"Dad! I want to become a scientist!"
"SCIENTIST?! STOP RIGHT THERE! YOU HAVE TO BECOME A DOCTOR OR A LAWYER!" His father slapped Bruce hard across the face, sending him crashing into a bookshelf.
"OH MY GAWD! STOP SLAPPING HIM! OH GAWD! OH GAWD GAWD GAWD!!" His mother rushed to Bruce, hugging him and crying uncontrollably.
The second time:
Bruce was reading a book when his father approached.
"Dad! I want to make people's lives better by creating special products!"
"HELP PEOPLE, MY ASS! YOU HAVE TO BECOME A DOCTOR OR A LAWYER!" His father slapped him again, sending Bruce crashing into the bookshelf.
"OH MY GAWD! STOP SLAPPING HIM! OH GAWD! OH GAWD GAWD GAWD!!" His mother rushed to him again, crying uncontrollably.
And the third time:
Bruce was reading a book, no longer asking his father anything.
His father approached, and Bruce looked up at him.
"READING A BOOK?! READING, MY ASS! YOU HAVE TO BECOME A DOCTOR OR A LAWYER!" His father slapped him, sending him crashing into the bookshelf.
"OH MY GAWD! STOP SLAPPING HIM! OH GAWD! OH GAWD GAWD GAWD!!" His mother rushed to him again, crying uncontrollably.
Alright, what kind of messed-up backstory is this?
[I'm surprised he's still relatively chill growing up in this family.]
At night, Bruce lay in bed, clutching his bruised cheek.
He didn't understand—how was becoming a scientist to save people any different from being a doctor or a lawyer? It might even be better.
Did his father hate his dreams? Or did he only care about those two professions, dismissing everything else?
Why? So many questions...
Bruce eventually fell asleep...
"…Okay, so that's the motivation for Bruce becoming a hero?"
[You heard it and still ask?]
"No, I'm just surprised because… I haven't met anyone normal, have I?"
[You sure about that?]
Suddenly, Bruce sat up.
"?" I looked at him, confused.
"…Protect… Bruce… Bruce hurt… Poor Bruce…" he muttered, getting out of bed and opening the door.
"…I thought gamma rays created the Hulk, but it turns out Bruce already had another personality?" I looked at him in surprise.
Later, Bruce fought with his father. Of course, being just a small kid, he got beaten badly.
Time passed quickly after that.
Bruce graduated from college and earned his Ph.D.
"Dad! I got my Ph.D.!"
"PH.D.?! CHANGE IT TO A DOCTOR'S OR LAWYER'S DEGREE!" His father slapped him, sending Bruce sprawling onto the ground.
"OH MY GAWD! STOP SLAPPING HIM! OH GAWD! OH GAWD GAWD GAWD!!" His mother rushed to him, crying uncontrollably.
I wondered when this would stop…
Eventually, Bruce started experimenting with all sorts of things—trying to build an atomic bomb, making mochi, brewing aphrodisiacs, you name it…
Until he heard about one thing:
"Gamma? Sounds interesting!"
So, he went to a radiation facility where gamma rays were stored.
"Fascinating. This stuff made a mouse incredibly strong, though it died right after," Bruce said, looking at the decomposing mouse and then at the gamma radiation machine.
Honestly, he was curious about what else this could do. After testing it on the mouse, he saw immense potential.
Maybe… maybe it could give humans super strength? But what if it failed like it did with the mouse?
That's why he hesitated to act.
"But it's weird. This thing has more benefits than risks, so why is it classified as secret information? Is the government hiding something?"
Bruce scratched his head and looked out the window.
"Phew… There are still people out there who need saving. If I could create something to help humanity, they wouldn't have to worry about their lives anymore, heh," he smiled.
Hiss…
"Huh?"
Bruce turned around, only to see the gamma radiation machine leaking.
"…Oh fuc—"
BOOOM!!!
The entire facility was engulfed in gamma radiation.
"Cough cough! Damn! Why did it break down now…"
Bruce collapsed, coughing violently, feeling dizzy, uncomfortable, and losing consciousness.
But alongside that, he felt his body growing stronger, bigger.
Gradually, Bruce's human skin turned green.
"RAGHHHHHHHH!!!!" The roar of a monster echoed through the facility.
That's when the Hulk was born…
"Wow, pretty classic."
[Yeah, though there are a few things I'm curious about.]
"Huh? You're curious too?"
[Yeah, it's the guy behind you. He's been staring at you for a while.]
"…"
I turned around and saw a muscular guy with green skin looking at me.
"…Hi?"
"Happy?"
"Huh?"
"Bruce and Hulk's memories, are you happy?" Hulk looked at me.
"…Uh, I guess?"
Hulk didn't say anything and walked over to look at the scene that created him.
…No, more like the moment "he" gained his powers.
"Bruce is foolish. Hulk always protects Bruce."
"To Hulk, Bruce talks too much, always acting smart but can't protect himself."
"That's why Hulk always protected Bruce since he was little."
I listened and looked at Hulk.
"…I'm a bit curious. You… you're not just another personality of Bruce, are you?"
"What do you think?"
"…"
Bruce had a twin who died before being born.
Could that twin's death be related to Bruce having Hulk?
Or… did that twin's body die because its soul was already inside Bruce?
"…No way, are you Bruce's twin?"
"Think what you want. Hulk doesn't care much about that."
The scene before us shifted to a beach at night.
"Hulk cares about Bruce, but Bruce sees Hulk as just a weapon."
"Bruce is fun. Hulk isn't, so Hulk is lonely."
"Sometimes Hulk thinks… Hulk shouldn't have this power and should be forgotten… so Bruce can have a better life."
Bruce sat on the sand, looking at the moon.
"…"
I walked over and sat next to Hulk.
"Hey, Hulk, do you… get mad when someone calls you Bruce?"
Hulk looked at me.
"No."
"Really?"
"Hulk doesn't get mad. This is Bruce's body too. Hulk has no right to complain."
"…"
I looked at the moonlight too.
"Hulk likes you."
"Huh?" I looked at him, surprised.
"You always call me Hulk, not Bruce. You even respect Hulk and treat Hulk as a separate person, not just Bruce."
"…Thanks?"
"Hulk should be the one thanking you. Hulk is lonely, but you make Hulk happy."
…That simple, huh? I just called you by your name.
Hulk stood up and walked toward the sea.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"Hulk will rest. Bruce's mind is being controlled. Hulk always listens to Bruce, so Hulk can't do anything."
He then looked me straight in the eyes.
"So, please save Bruce for Hulk, friend."
With that, he walked on, gradually disappearing.