Act 10
Public transport heading north of the planet.
It was the weekend, our hero had accumulated enough hours at his job and decided to use 2 days off to seek out the mysterious tailor his father had indicated, his residence was very far away, practically at the end of the world. In his mind, Masayoshi only thought about what to say to this tailor.
('Good day, sir... tailor...?' No... too silly.)
('Hi, I came looking for you...' I think he'd be too scared, if he's old, he might die of a heart attack right there.)
('Pleased to meet you, my name is...' Revealing my name isn't a good idea...)
Through the window, it was visible what the outside world was like. Far from the capital, it seemed many places didn't have such advanced technology, all the best was reserved for the large dwellings of the world center, Masayoshi looked at the horizon, which showed vast vegetation, something he wasn't used to seeing.
The transport began to slow down, and the view that followed was a small town situated between a large canyon. Ornamental bridges intertwined the passages to both sides, a different choice of residence, the passengers got off, and thus Masayoshi began his search.
First, he tried to find an old craft shop described as ancient but well-known by the inhabitants of the region, walking towards the station exit, he encountered the immensity of that place, almost as if the entire town was situated in a single neighborhood. The only major similarity it had with Eden was that no human being faced hardships, basically, poverty had been eradicated for humanity, which had more privileges than the other races.
Masayoshi then began asking about the specific shop he was looking for, but many people ignored him and others simply didn't know what he was talking about. He found it strange because his father had described it on the card as a famous shop, his information was perhaps outdated, the hero then began wandering through the town for hours to find this little shop. Unfortunately, the deeper he searched, the more houses and shops appeared, as if there were houses on top of houses on top of shops on top of houses on top of shops, almost like an infinite loop of residences.
It was getting dark, and to Masayoshi's misfortune, his powers kept him rested enough to continue, meaning no procrastination. Still, he needed to eat, so he entered a place he judged to be a restaurant, the place wasn't crowded, and behind the counter, not even a barista or waiter was visible, still, he sat on a stool and called for the waiter.
"Hi... if possible, can someone serve me?"
A man with a scar on his face appeared from behind the kitchen curtains and exclaimed.
"Where did you come from, kid? You don't look very friendly."
Masayoshi:
"Well, I came from Eden, I was looking for a person... actually... for a place."
The man with the scar sizes up the young man.
"Maybe I can help you with that, I don't just know how to make food and serve people," he says with a cheerful demeanor.
Masayoshi:
"I'm looking for an old craft shop, it's almost an urgency."
The man's happy expression vanishes almost instantly. He raises his hand, pointing outside, and says.
"Get out, there's nothing for you here."
Masayoshi doesn't understand any of it and asks.
"Huh? But what did I do? I just want to eat, man."
The man then becomes enraged.
"Look here, kid, this... person you're looking for is almost like an entity in this town. The craft shop isn't exactly that, you can't find him, he finds you."
Masayoshi:
"Well... can I at least eat?"
Suddenly, entering through the front door, two tall men with a frightening physique approach the young man, grabbing him by the arms.
"Come with u..."
Startled, driven by pure reflex, Masayoshi threw one of the men directly through the window with a disproportionately powerful movement. The glass shattered with a crash.
"Oops, darn, that was an accident, what was he going to say?" exclaimed Masayoshi, genuinely surprised by his own strength.
The other brute tries to hit his face with an elbow, but Masayoshi's speed was superior, and almost comically, he remained attached to his arm, using the attacker's own momentum to unbalance him. The giant fell on his back to the floor, with Masayoshi on top of him, about to neutralize him, until another figure appears at the door and interrupts the action, it was another man, but this time not a brute, but rather a person wearing a suit and tie, like a partner. The man held a device from which a faint but audible voice emerged.
"Hello... I see you are... looking for me..."
Masayoshi gets up.
"Yeah, I need to talk to you, I don't want any trouble or anything like that."
The voice continues.
"I need to know why you came, I'm not the most generous person in the world, but I'm certainly very sought after, so I need assurance in your words."
Masayoshi:
"Mr. Saba sent me, he's my father, he said you would help me with a... thing... but I really need you to help me with this."
Nothing more came from that device. Only the man holding it said.
"Ahem... alright, sir, kid, I need you to come with me, Mr. Hightremur requests your visit."
Masayoshi then looks with an expression of astonishment but nevertheless follows the security guard, after all, it would be very difficult for any of them to cause him any harm.
Inside a discreet vehicle, they descended down winding roads into the depths of the canyon, the lower they went, the more isolated the environment became. The vehicle finally stopped in front of a small, reinforced door, almost camouflaged in the rock, upon getting out, Masayoshi was met with a heavy atmosphere, with artificial mist hanging in the air, clearly used to hide the interio, burly, armed guards stared at him with hostility, as if their hatred was ancient.
The following corridors were a labyrinth of maximum security, more resembling a military bunker than a residence, finally, they arrived at a massive door of pure steel, which only opened from the inside. Behind it revealed a vast room, filled with strange technological artifacts, exotic weapons, and equipment that bore no resemblance to a sewing workshop.
And in the center of the room, a short man, of an extremely fragile and pale appearance, seemingly very old, was supported by an intricate exoskeleton on his spine. He looked at Masayoshi and smiled, a simple gesture.
"So, Saba's son needs me, it is a great honor to serve the person who helped me maintain my safety for so many years."
Masayoshi is surprised by the man's appearance but still says.
"Thank you, sir... but I need to find a famous craft shop."
The little old man then laughs.
"It's funny of you to mention that, looking for a craft shop is a code. Word of mouth in the town is very common, so news travels like water in a river, if they ask about that shop, it means they are looking for me."
Masayoshi, a little embarrassed.
"Ah... I didn't know, haha... so I'll get straight to the point, I need you to create a uniform for me."
Hightremur picked up an old kettle, starting to prepare tea with movements that, despite their shakiness, were precise.
Mr. Hightremur:
"So tell me, young man, a uniform... that's not a very common idea these days, people want clothes that hide them. A uniform... that suggests you want to show yourself, what exactly do you intend with this?"
Masayoshi took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the question.
Masayoshi:
"I want to be a symbol of justice, Mr. Hightremur, this world... it's sick, people have lost faith in each other, in a better future, I want... I need... to try this."
Hightremur stopped what he was doing and stared intently at Masayoshi.
"Justice, faith.... Dangerous words. I used to manufacture armor for the Resistance, you know? Clothes made to survive plasma blasts. But the most difficult armor to forge... was the one that protected the spirit, many ended up failing, giving up, or even turning and succumbing to the enemy side, how can I be sure you are different?"
Masayoshi:
"I... can't prove it with words, all I can say is that I saw kindness amidst the darkness. People who had lost everything still reaching out a hand, they saved me, Idon't want to fight for revenge, I want to fight to protect those who can't. I witnessed terrible moments, studied histories that would make anyone want to vomit."
Hightremur remained silent for a long moment, observing the sincerity on the young man's face.
Mr. Hightremur:
"Saba was always a good man of character, a uniform... it won't just be fabric, it will be a second skin, a promise. It can't just be functional, it must be inspiring, the colors... they need to mean something."
He picked up a pencil and paper to start sketching.
Mr. Hightremur:
"Tell me, young man, when you imagine this hope... what colors do you see?"
Masayoshi thought for a moment.
Masayoshi:
"I see... the white of peace, of what should be achievable for everyone. And... blue... like a sky."
Hightremur smiled.
Mr. Hightremur:
"Blue for hope, White for peace. A good start, now, about protection... perhaps a tight mesh, something that disperses energy... yes, I have some special fabrics I can order."
Masayoshi felt a wave of relief.
Masayoshi:
"Thank you, Mr. Hightremur, truly."
Hightremur looked up from his sketch, his gaze serious.
Mr. Hightremur:
"Don't thank me yet, boy, forging the symbol is the easy part. Being the symbol... that is what will test your soul, remember: these clothes won't make you invincible, they will just dress you for the battle. Now, let's get to the details, I need your measurements, exact ones."