"But Dad, maybe you've misunderstood?"
"I wasn't targeting big brother at all." He tilted his head, putting on a look of innocent confusion.
The tractor rumbled over a loose stone, jolting the whole vehicle.
Locke seized the chance to snatch the copy of Vampire Hunter D from his hands.
What was he even thinking, buying this brat a book like that?
"Don't give me that. Today with the book, last week with the spider, the month before that—"
"Those were all accidents." Dio pouted, then suddenly pointed out the window. "Look, Dad! Fireflies!"
Instinctively, Locke turned his head. Sure enough, tiny green lights drifted in the grass.
But when he looked back, Dio had somehow already stolen the book back and was smugly shaking it at him.
"..."
The night breeze swept into the cab, carrying a damp chill.
"You, you…" Locke sighed suddenly. "Do you even know that big dummy Clark still thinks you're really afraid of the dark? Back when you stayed at Jonathan's place, he left a night light for you every night."
"And today he even whispered to me…"
Imitating Clark's slow, earnest tone, Locke said:
"Dio's always pulling pranks but that must be because he feels too lonely"
"?"
Under the moonlight, Dio's side profile suddenly sharpened, like strange lines had been etched across his face.
He clenched the spine of the book so tightly that the sheepskin cover gave a strained creak.
"Clark is an idiot!"
The words came out between gritted teeth, carrying a coldness completely out of place with a child's face.
But Locke, sharp-eyed, noticed that the boy's ears were faintly red in the moonlight.
Clang!
The tractor jolted down a slope, rounded the final bend, and Locke's house came into view.
"Dio, get along with Clark, alright? He's a good kid—and I think you are too." Locke rambled on, "But if Clark ever really got angry, that'd be terrifying. You wouldn't want to get punched into the sky, would you?"
The tractor rolled to a stop at the front door. Locke pulled out the keys, while Dio shoved his book into his bag, muttering something under his breath.
"What was that?"
Locke didn't catch it.
"I said—!" Dio's voice rose as he turned, eyes red, glaring, "He's the one trying to take things from me!"
The moment he shouted it, a single droplet splashed onto the dashboard.
Dio himself froze, quickly scrubbing his face with his sleeve before leaping off the still-rolling tractor and bolting toward the house.
Watching that small figure stagger through the doorway, Locke rubbed the back of his neck, chilled by the night air.
Am I really so unfair with them?
…No.
Maybe I've been so busy trying to be fair that I ignored Dio's feelings altogether.
Locke sighed deeply.
Failing to notice what was going on in his child's heart—he truly felt like a lousy parent.
...
Time slipped quietly by, carried on the golden waves of the farm's wheat fields.
Another year passed.
Locke's farm had expanded by thirty more acres. A brand-new combine gleamed in the sun, the barns were stuffed with oats and wheat, and with money flowing steadily, he'd even built a small windmill mill on the west side of the property.
The Kent farm next door remained the same modest size. Jonathan and Martha devoted most of their energy to raising Clark. Their barn had been repainted bright red, the garden was full of Clark's favorite sweet corn. They weren't wealthy, but it was enough to let that extraordinary boy grow up healthy.
Between the two boys, things seemed calm on the surface—but there was still an odd distance between them.
Maybe because Locke had confronted him, Dio no longer bullied Clark outright.
But clearly…
Such a fragile peace was only waiting for a spark to shatter it.
Like on a certain afternoon—x
Locke stood by the newly built fence, watching Dio and Clark "playing" together in the clearing by the wheat field.
If one-sided chasing could be called "playing."
"Clark! Give me back my book!"
Dio's face was flushed red as he chased furiously after Clark.
"What's so great about reading?" Clark darted nimbly between haystacks, waving a copy of Fundamentals of Physics high above his head. "Come play instead!"
"Bastard! Give it back!"
With an angry shout, Dio charged straight at Clark.
But Clark's reflexes weren't suited for tricks like that.
Dio staggered, then went down hard, hitting the ground and lying motionless.
Seeing this, Clark swallowed nervously and stepped forward to help the fallen boy.
"I'm sorry, Dio, I—"
Here we go again…
Busy mending the fence, Locke sighed, ready to intervene—until suddenly, he noticed something.
No way…?!
"Dio! Stop!"
His heart nearly burst from his chest. The wheat field blurred into streaks of gold at the edge of his vision, and in his ears he could hear nothing but the thunder of his own breath.
Locke had never run so frantically in his life!
Not far ahead, Dio staggered back to his feet, his blond hair blazing like fire in the sunlight.
His body trembled at an unnatural frequency. Behind him, the air warped bizarrely…
And then, a hulking, golden, muscular humanoid apparition materialized!
"The World!"
"Beat him up for me!"
"?"
Clark froze.
W-what world?
World what…?
But before he could think further, the golden figure moved.
It was so fast it surpassed the limits of human eyesight, leaving only a searing afterimage in the air.
Before Clark could even blink, a fist slammed into his gut!
"Ugh—!"
He was sent flying, crashing through three fence posts before hitting the ground. Curled up in the dust, Clark's face was filled with shock.
What just hit me?!
What in the world just hit me?!
Could it be…
"Dio!" He looked up in disbelief. "So you too—?!"
"Shut up!"
Dio shrieked hysterically, the golden figure behind him taking a fighting stance.
"You bastard! You always steal everything from me!"
"But now I've surpassed you! I'll teach you a lesson, Clark!"
"Punch him, World!"
Boom!
The golden fist halted right before Locke's nose, the blast of wind so strong it blew his cowboy hat off.
But Locke still spread his arms wide, shielding Clark, his eyes locked on the floating golden monster.
"Dio Kent!"
His voice was like steel dipped in ice. "Put that thing away!"
"How could you use such force against your own family?!"
It was the first time Dio had ever been scolded by his father like this.
His pupils shrank in fright. "But Dad, it's real this time! He started it!"
The boy's body trembled, and the phantom behind him began to flicker erratically.
"Damn it!"
"You've always been on his side!"
With that furious scream, the golden apparition shattered like glass, scattering into motes of light.
Dio turned and bolted, sprinting into the distance, destination unknown.
Clutching his aching stomach, Clark sat dazed, staring at the direction Dio had fled.
His blue eyes were full of confusion and hurt, the shock lingering deep in his heart.
"Uncle Locke…" His voice trembled. "Dio—what was that just now?"
Locke drew in a long breath, glancing at the purple phantom lingering behind him that only he could see.
He crouched down and gripped Clark's shoulder.
"Listen, kid. It's… complicated."
Ruffling the boy's hair, Locke softened his tone. "Are you alright?"
Clark shook his head. "I'm fine. My body heals fast."
"A little sunlight and it won't hurt anymore."
"But…" He hesitated. "Does Dio really hate me that much?"
"No. He just…" Locke paused, searching for the right words.
"…he's angry. At me." Locke sighed.
"Clark, Locke! What happened just now?!"
"I saw Clark go flying!"
Jonathan and Martha's anxious voices rang out from afar, clearly drawn by the commotion.
"Clark." Locke stood, "Go back first—don't let Martha and Jonathan worry. If they ask, just tell them Dio and I have something to deal with. You'll probably find us later at the windmill."
"The windmill? You mean Dio's…"
Clark hesitated, then finally nodded firmly.
"Alright!"