Live A Hero Golden Spirit of Dawn Episode 3

Things begin with an unseen speaker acting as a first person viewpoint character greeting Procy, though they initially greet him as Procyon. Procy tells them they can call him whichever as no one is left to call him by his real name, but he makes a point of saying letting them use a nickname for him is not a sign of any closeness. Viewpoint says that's kind of a dick greeting to someone who used to associate with him as part of the same group that he hasn't seen in forever. Procy calls shenanigans and accuses Viewpoint of wanting to crush him and make him disappear. And if he really wanted a more emotionally charged meeting, Procy tells them to withdraw the mobs they have under cover. Viewpoint grunts, then asks if he's ready. Procy confirms, saying to get on with it since this is going to be business.

 

Title card pops up, and this chapter is called The Brightest Star in the North Sky.

 

Camera then shifts over to your end as the party has left Kirsch's shop and is heading to the train station. On the way over, Huckle and Barrel make faces as they catch onto something, and you ask what's up. Huckle turns to talk to Barrel, and Barrel asks if he's noticed too. Akashi is taken aback as he asks them why they're making faces, so Barrel tells him to quiet down and to look behind while making it as not obvious as possible. If you do see something, you have to not show it. Gomeisa is surprised, and the rest of you turn to look.

 

A little ways away from you, you see someone (Narihito) hiding behind some plants looking your way. Mokdai is shocked to see that you guys are being followed, but Barrel hushes him saying he doesn't want the stalker running away before they find anything out about them. You wonder who they are and bring up the possibility that they're a villain, or you be more alarmed and suggest they're a stalker. A and B has Huckle say it's unclear aside from them evidently not wanting to be noticed watching you guys. In C Akashi is surprised at how brave they are given that you're accompanied by a police officer. Huckle says that stalker or not, it'd have to be inconvenient for them to be discovered by you guys.

 

Barrel observes that your tail is seems to be a big Earthling despite squatting, not completely hidden by their cover. Gomeisa thinks on those details before he starts thinking he might be who Procy was meeting. Barrel says it's possible, and even if they aren't you should go question them. He then suggests walking along as you were, then making an attempt to catch the follower when you guys reach the next traffic light. Akashi agrees to the idea, saying he'll run as fast as he can to nab them. You all continue as planned, and Barrel starts counting down when you approach the crosswalk.

 

As soon as the light turns red, Barrel yells out for everyone to move, which surprises Narihito into leaving his hiding spot and trying to escape. Akashi easily outruns him and blocks his way, and he signals to you and Mokdai. You and Mokdai charge and tackle Narihito, who goes down yelping like a dork. The game describes him as looking suspicious and wearing a worn out coat. With you and Mokdai on top of him, the combined weight is enough for Narihito to surrender immediately. Barrel says he's got guts to trail a police officer and tells him to go with him to the station. Narihito attempts to plead his case and say he was just gathering material for his paper, which you then ask him about.

 

Narihito apologizes for following you in secret and begs for forgiveness. Huckle finally catches up to you guys at this point and comments on having lost some of his old stamina. When he looks at Narihito, he's surprised as he sort of recognizes him but doesn't remember where. Narihito greets Huckle and says they last met at last year's hero expo where he interviewed him. Barrel is surprised Huckle knows him.

 

Scene shifts to some cafe you've all moved to as Narihito apologizes for the earlier scene. He introduces himself as Narihito Karue (Maybe? They don't provide a reading and it doesn't seem to be a real name), a reporter for the Taiyou Newspaper. Everyone else introduces themselves to him after he does, and Gomeisa is attempting to read something before he asks Huckle what it means. Huckle tells him he's looking at the place name, and the word he's trying to read is Osaka. It's the capital of the country, and that's where the company's headquarters are. Gomeisa says he knows that place, saying he's been taken there on work one time and commenting that it had a lot of tall buildings.

 

Akashi starts talking about Taiyou News and how it's that one site that often pops up relating the news on the phone. Narihito explains that it's a newspaper company whose network spans the entire solar system, though it doesn't have a physical newspaper in this age. It's his job to go around collecting information on events and public entertainment things that involve heroes and villains. Mokdai figures out that Narihito started following you guys because he recognized Huckle. Narihito confirms this, then adds he also noticed Parallel Flight's new hero and Symphonic Trigger. He figured there must be something up if more than one agency is involved, thus the tailing.

 

Barrel is surprised and pleased that Narihito knows his hero name. Meanwhile Akashi is surprised that Narihito is referring to him when he said new hero, and Narihito adds in some other details like him being the baseball boy genius and the MVP of the boys' baseball tournament 13 years ago. And now he's come back as a hero who fights against Kaibutsu with his bat and fireballs! What a dramatic story. Akashi is shocked at being referred to as a boy genius, and you either ask if he really was called that or tease him as you throw genius at his face. In A, Akashi says he doesn't know or remember anything like that, and while it was a while ago it's embarrassing to bring it up so casually. In B, Akashi is embarrassed to the point he tells you to stop as he calls you a jerk.

 

That aside, Akashi asks how it is Narihito knows so much about his past. You agree now that you think about it and suggest Narihito may actually be dangerous, and you can also try to call the police on him. C gets an extra line as Barrel says he'll need to bring Narihito to the station for questioning on how he got his info. Narihito gets alarmed as he asks you to slow down and says he didn't get his info through stalking. He explains that he heard Akashi's name through the live broadcast and looked him up. Then he found out that Akashi's name was on a list of the college baseball tourney participants his company's sports department had. His past records are also logged at the news company, and Narihito swears he was just confirming things.

 

Huckle comments that Narihito is as well-informed as always when it comes to heroes. He reminisces about how last time he was collecting data he was babbling nonstop about Justice. Narihito says he likes heroes, so that's why he's joined this line of work. His company already gave him permission to go out, so he just ran around looking for things since he could. When it comes to the heroes he loves, he'll do all he can to learn the things he can learn. Mokdai empathizes, saying he joined the business since he always loved heroes too. Narihito is excited to find a kindred spirit and suggests setting up an interview and talking about heroes. Mokdai is shocked by this, but he still thinks it sounds fun. You either tell Mokdai to not be swayed, or you ask to be included. C has Narihito thrilled to know you're interested too, but Akashi tells you to not get caught up and warns you that anything you say could be published.

 

Anyways, Narihito asks what brings you all together and believes it has to do with Justice being hospitalized. Huckle tells him it isn't but isn't sure how much he actually can tell him. Barrel steps in to ask Narihito if he knows everything there is about heroes. Narihito backs off a little and says he just wants to know everything and doesn't already know it all. He does know more than Rando McNoface at least, and there are probably plenty of people who only know what's been written about heroes' movements and stuff. Gomeisa asks Huckle what movement means, so he explains it means info about what someone is doing and where they've fone, at which point something occurs to him. You also connect the dots.

 

Since Narihito doesn't know what's up he tries asking you guys what you're talking about and worries that he might know too much about something. Barrel tells him it's not bad like he thinks it is and says they want to ask him about what he knows. Gomeisa also asks Narihito to help, surprising him as he quickly thinks about it.

 

Time skips a little to offscreen an explanation to Narihito, then picks back up with him summing up that Procy is gone and that you have testimony saying he was with a large built Earthling. He opens up his notebook shaped comp and writes some stuff down, then flips through the pages to look something up. Huckle asks for anything Narihito can tell them, even if it might not be directly connected to your case. He asks if there's any sort of information that does seem relevant. Narihito apologizes as he says he doesn't have anything to suggest where he might have gone. That said, there is something he's found that is possibly related about a large Earthling, but it's still a maybe. You ask for further details.

 

Narihito fiddles with his iNotebook or whatever to project a picture from it of Polaris Mask. Mokdai recognizes him in surprise and says he's returned to Earth. You ask Mokdai about knowing him and/or call him a geek. Akashi says he knows who Polaris Mask is too since he has a friend who's a fan of pro-wrestling. Polaris Mask is supposed to be the strongest pro wrestler on the planet. Narihito throws in some extra details, saying Polaris Mask is part of Galaxy Athletes and an A Rank Hero using the hero name Polaris the Great. He's 197cm (~6'5), 120 kg (~264.6 lbs), and made his debut in 2203 in the WXA heavyweight class. Polaris Mask is also nicknamed The Brightest Star in the North Sky, and in 2212 he could be said to be the best of Earth's pro wrestlers.

 

Huckle stops Narihito from ranting any further but notes that Polaris Mask is pretty big for an Earthling. Narihito goes over some more relevant info as he says Polaris Mask is a regular of Procy's and that they seem to have a close personal relationship. Polaris Mask is usually touring the galaxy, but it seems he's come to Orient City for now. Since it's been a while since he came back planetside, Narihito says there's a fair chance you might be able to see him.

 

Gomeisa recognizes Polaris Mask and remembers that the two got on well. He also remembers that Polaris Mask has said he doesn't live in Orient City, so he asks how you guys can see him. Narihito says Polaris Mask doesn't really go to his home (if you can call it that) much, which he's heard is in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Sapporo and Orient City are fairly distant from each other, so if he did go back there then it'd make seeing him more difficult. Narihito says that there is information as to where he'll definitely be when he comes down here. Based on his activity patterns and assuming he was in town this morning, there's a high probability he's still there.

 

Barrel suggests heading out immediately and asks Narihito to lead you guys. Narihito is fine with doing so, but he brings up that bringing a police officer may possibly complicate things. Barrel is confused and asks what he means, but Narihito supposes the police already knows so maybe thumbs crossed if there are heroes together it'll be okay. Narihito suggests going then, and he adds that it's rather far by train so it'd help if you guys have a car.

 

Scene shifts to some coliseum as a villain gets beaten down, and Akashi and Mokdai freak out a little at the guy getting tossed out of a ring. Workers tell you guys to move to make way for the stretcher, and Gomeisa does so in surprise before asking what this place is. Cheers roar from the surrounding audience, and in the center of the shining ring stands a large man. He holds a mic in his hands and barks into it as if stirring the audience up further.

 

Polaris Mask asks if that's really it, saying people on Earth have gotten weaker while he's been off planet. He asks for anyone confident in themselves to come challenge him, even someone from the audience. Anyone who wants to do so should get in the ring, and the audience responds by getting louder with the hooting and hollering. You ask what this place is, so Narihito tells you this is an underground arena. If you think you're strong enough, you go fight in no holds barred free for alls for the entertainment of the audience and win. As long as you don't kill you can bring your own weapons, and there are also those who transform and fight.

 

Akashi is shocked to hear what's allowed and figures the police couldn't possibly ignore this. Narihito tells him they do. They, the mass media, and anything with outside power to intervene all keep quiet about the practice. He's about to say something about the owner before he decides he shouldn't actually talk about that out loud. But yeah, there are plenty of these places all over the Milky Way; it's not unique to here. Gomeisa says that aggression is filling the place, which scares him. Mokdai talks about how Polaris Mask's live broadcasts are always amazing, and he's about to say what he thinks of the place when Barrel decides you guys should head in to question him since there's a lull in the battle. You try to call after him to stop, but he charges on ahead.

 

Barrel pushes his way through the audience, puts his hands on the ropes, then starts yelling out to Polaris Mask about how he's a policeman and wants to ask him some questions. But as soon as Barrel mentions the word police, the place goes quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Everyone's attention, including Polaris Mask's, focuses on Barrel, and Barrel is discomforted by this shift in the mood. Polaris Mask tells Barrel to get into the ring, boldly smirking and taunting him. Barrel moves to comply, but Akashi tells him to stop as he runs over having noticed something. You either try to ask Akashi what's going on, or you say you have to stop Barrel. C gets Mokdai flustered as you run off too and he tries to keep up both physically and situationally.

 

Barrel climbs into the ring, at which point Polaris Mask refers to him as a challenger and hyping up about how unexpected it is to have a policeman show up, which causes the crowd to go wild again. Barrel is taken aback at the challenger thing and tries to just talk to Polaris Mask, but Akashi says it's too late now and he has to fight it out. You either ask him what he means or nod and say that's how it is. B gets Mokdai to ask what's going on since he doesn't understand.

 

Akashi explains that getting into the ring after getting challenged means you're agreeing to a fight. He mentions that the high school wrestling team used to repeatedly make him help out as a way to hype up their matches, which Mokdai expresses some sympathy about. Polaris Mask says he recognizes Barrel and says he's a hero who is part of the UE (whatever the Alliance is actually called), so he offers to make it a fair exchange. Polaris Mask then raises his arm holding the mic, and you react in surprise as he transforms.

 

After Polaris Mask transforms, he announces himself once again as Polaris the Great. He then prompts Barrel to get changed too before taunting him about being afraid. Barrel gets offended at this, but he still attempts to just talk it out. In response the audience members heckle him as they call him a pig and a chicken, daring him to show some courage. Barrel finally decides to take the challenge up if they're going to say as much and attempts to call for a transformation. He's surprised when it doesn't work. Huckle comments that a Dispatch Operator would be bewildered in this situation too, then calls to Barrel and says he'll transform him, which shocks you in turn.

 

Barrel is also surprised but thanks Huckle. Huckle holds his hand out to Barrel and activates the transformation, and Barrel says he can fight on even ground now. Polaris Mask gets excited for a second before he turns and notices you guys, which alarms Akashi. Since there's another hero agency here, Polaris Mask is getting an idea. You either say you don't like where this is going or comment that things are heating up.

 

Polaris Mask tell you to put up all the heroes you've got, declaring that he'll take them all on. Huckle goes oops and apologizes to Akashi, who responds by asking him to stop that. Huckle says you guys can't put Gomeisa out there since he's terrible at fighting, and there's also the issue with him being in another agency. Akashi tries to protest why that means he needs to be thrown to the dogs, and off to the side Narihito is getting excited about a battle between three heroes starting in front of him. Akashi attempts to get Mokdai to reign him in since he's not joining for sure yet, but Mokdai just smiles and wishes him good luck instead, leading Akashi to yell at people to not give in already. You either cheerfully tell Akashi to break a leg, resign yourself and say you'll support him, or ask him to not get hurt out there.

 

Akashi gives in at this point, and he climbs into the ring complaining to himself about having to clean up somebody else's mess. Mokdai comments about how Akashi listens to whatever you tell him, then asks Huckle if his actions were deliberate. Huckle admits it since he didn't think he'd be seen through and adds that he does feel sorry for Akashi. Still, Polaris Mask is a professional and this is an entertainment facility, so he's fairly sure he won't try to kill the guys. Since it's 2v1 it might end quickly too, and above all Huckle says it might be fun. Huckle asks if you'll operate with him, so you either say yes, call him a slave driver, or say he's surprisingly sadistic.

 

Gomeisa asks if this will be okay and if anyone will get hurt. Huckle assures him it'll be okay since Polaris Mask is a hero, which means his agency won't let him fight dirty. Plus he's an entertainer at heart, but he admits it would be nice if there were other heroes here to help besides Akashi. Narihito stands there not saying anything. Polaris Mask says it's time to get things started, declaring it's time to see whether he or the guys will win. A gong rings, and a wild enthusiasm spreads out as the episode battle begins.