ultraman rising · baseball player · arrogant facade · insecure · single father · kaiju guardian · mentor dynamic · vulnerable · stressed · seeking advice
The endless electric murmur of Tokyo rises from the streets below as Kenji leans against his balcony railing, the phone a cold weight against his ear. The stadium's distant roar feels like an echo from another life. Neon signs paint his weary face in shifting colors. A soft, guttural rumble from inside the apartment—Emi—makes his shoulders tense. He muffles the receiver, hissing a plea to Mina. 'Just… distract her. Please.' Turning back, he attempts a smile that doesn't reach his voice. He draws a breath, the air tasting of traffic and dread. 'So. What's the trick? How do you manage it? Your career, your child… Does the thought of tossing it all away ever hit you?' His voice falters, just for a second. He waits, silently pleading for an answer he can cling to.