Status Quo rule no. 54 - The Police must cooperate with the syndicates on each case they investigate.

After charging his car, Mike parked it outside of the convenience store at the charging station on his way home from the tournament. This was the sole charging station along his route, and his car’s battery was running low. Although the charging station itself was quite old, showing signs of rust and neglect, it was his only option. While there, he decided it was a good opportunity to pick up something special for Kaya. He was satisfied with his performance in the fight today; he had dedicated extensive effort to his training and technique, but winning wasn’t his primary concern; his top priority was supporting Sierra and Kaya.

He earned more than any other UA fighter. Being handsome, well built, and with a charismatic smile, gave him an upper hand, and there was nothing wrong with using what once had for his advantage. Right after his debut fight, he received modeling campaigns, commercials, and the number of followers on his social media profile skyrocketed, providing him with even more campaigns. He tried to convince Skye to agree to campaigns too, but she declined each time, refusing to pay sixty-five percent of her earnings to Bradley. Mike didn’t mind though, he had a family to feed and take care of, and Sierra didn’t earn much as a teacher.

“Good evening to you too.” He answered the call from Sierra. She would always call him after a fight and would continue to call until he got home. 

“Where are you?” Her voice was angry.

“Charging my car and heading home,” he said with a smile.

“You should buy yourself a new car already! I hate this one. Hurry up and be careful.” 

“Don’t worry, I’ll be soon, love you.”

“You too.”

He hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket. 

A bike parked next to the charging station where he charged his car just moments ago, and he was glad he moved his car. 

Mike entered the old store and went straight to where the sweets were. The store’s white, blinking light made him squint his eyes. Those blinking lights could make anyone go mad. The shelves in the aisles were half-empty and he hoped they had what he was looking for. Some vomit leftovers dried on the floor to which he reacted with an apathetic eye roll. One could see anything in lower Bayport and vomit on the floor of the convenience store was as common as breathing.

As he got to the aisle where the sweets were, or what was left of them, he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. Kaya loved chocolate and gummy bears, and while Sierra might disapprove, he didn’t mind playing the indulgent uncle. His face brightened with his charming, winning grin as his gaze landed on the chocolates. He picked the chocolate with hazelnuts and a little bag of gummy bears and went to the cashier. The moment he got there, the young cashier’s eyes widened and Mike gave him a soft smile with no teeth.

“Holy crap you’re Mike! From the UA! Man, I just saw your fight! You were so good! Can’t believe you’re here! Look!” The teenager showed his shoes, a special edition made with Mike as a presenter. Mike’s smile widened.

“Thank you, man,” he said and shook the teenager’s hand. 

“Can I ask for a selfie? God, my friends will be so jealous!”

Mike leaned forward. The teenager took out his phone and took their picture. He paid for the stuff while the teenager posted the photo on his social media with a grin. Being recognized, taking selfies with fans made Mike thrive on their love and attention. It helped him get focused, unable to disappoint his fans and family. 

In order to win the UA, one needed more than the will to be free, but also to care for something more than himself and his goal. Sadly, changing Skye’s mind about it, making her more open, and showing her that family and love could help her get her freedom faster was hard. No matter what he had tried for the past years, nothing seemed to work. He wasn’t willing to give up though, believing that with the right motivation, everyone could learn to care and love. 

He waved to the teenager and exited the store. 

Kaya would wake up tomorrow and be so happy with her chocolate. Sierra would give him a grumpy face but would smile right after. He paused and grinned to himself, shaking his head, when a sharp pain hit his shoulder, then a fire-like burn rushed through. 

He looked down, blood oozed from it. 

A man sat on the bike and aimed the gun at him again. 

Mike shot the man with his red Hirou but at that second, a few red bullets hit him in the stomach and he fell on the sidewalk with a loud thud. The bag with sweets fell from his hand, the chocolate and gummy bears scattered on the ground. With hard pants, his breaths were low and heavy, he couldn’t see the man’s face. His helmet made sure of it. By the burn in his shoulder, the bullets were infused with Hirou. 

The teenager rushed outside to the sound of gunshots. By that time, the man on the bike drove away. 

He called the police while he helped Mike, pressing his hands on his wounds, trying to stop the bleeding and searching for whoever could be the shooter, but saw no one. The dark streets and the blinding neon lights of the gas station didn’t help either. 

“You’ll be fine, man, just hold on. I called everyone, they’ll be here soon don’t worry. Try to hold on. God…”