Sensationalist? (1)
1000 Words
Inspired by the news anchors he watches every night after going home from school, Valerio Kooken had only one career choice in mind: To become a journalist.
To excel in his future career more, he started young. Starting from elementary school, he was the consistent editor-in-chief of his school department's student newspaper. And in college, he underwent on-in-job training as a personal assistant to one of KTRM News's famous news anchors, Meredith Gottwald. It was a dream come true for him – working alongside one of his most favorite news anchors in the flesh.
But that dream, however, had to come to an abrupt end.
While working on his thesis papers inside the offices of KTRM News, another on-the-job intern named Nellie Asakura accidentally deleted those papers of his, which were on his laptop, while he was away for a bathroom break.
Valerio's bright future came to a screeching halt as a result, and his life was absolutely ruined by the seemingly insignificant actions of a single woman.
When he came to, his face was full of despair and rage, that he'd wanted to do anything to get his much-needed revenge on her.
One night, after his shift...
Valerio is on his way home when the hooded figure comes up to him.
“Hello there. You certainly have rage bottling inside you. You wanted to take revenge on the girl who ruined your career and life.”
“How'd you know?”
“Intuition... and a little investigation.”
“So what can you do in order to have my revenge on that disgusting, poor excuse for a woman named Nellie Asakura?”
“This.”
The hooded figure presents the object and lets the energy from it transmit into him, turning him into a yellow-robed humanoid with a warped version of a baby face. He comes complete with a video camera on his left hand and a microphone on his right.
The hooded figure then declares...
“Alright. I now baptize you... The Yellow Gonzo.”
“Darn right!”
He them presents himself as a reporter, holding his mike near his mouth.
“Listen here, folks. It's an exclusive report from The Yellow Gonzo himself. Nellie Asakura's life is about to be ruined due to this single yet greatest mistake she has committed in her entire life! Her career will descend into a downward spiral! The details of ruining of her life will come right after these messages.”
The hooded figure reacts...
“Excellent reportage! I knew you still had it in you.”
“Much obliged.”
It's another work day at the hospital.
Interestingly enough, there are no transcription jobs available, as the hospital has already discharged a bunch of patients and is not receiving any new ones today.
This is one of the few days where I get paid for doing absolutely nothing.
And that's not bad in itself, since the hospital is most likely loaded enough to pay us employees decently, not to mention all those juicy benefits such as paid sick and vacation leaves, plus the obligatory free hospital stays and the accompanying compensations.
And out of the blue...
...this day of inaction turns into a day of action.
The clock ticks 12, and lunch break starts.
Once I try to leave the hospital for my usual at the cafe...
I see some breaking news of a girl being harassed by a yellow-coated creature being broadcast on the outpatient department waiting lobby's television.
“You ruined my thesis, so I'll ruin your life!”
The creature declares thus as he harasses a girl with glasses, who is clearly distressed and is pleading for help.
The two are surrounded by many onlookers who gather here at the facade of the KTRM News building, doing nothing but watch the developments.
“This is the exclusive footage no one in Rain Marginal will ever forget! Haha!”
No sooner does he raise his microphone and release a sound wave from it, which then goes to her mouth.
The girl, despite her loud cries, doesn't make any sound at all.
She is inflicted with silence.
The first thing that goes to my mind is...
Where are the cops when the girl needs them the most?
Ah! Here's the answer!
The camera pans to another corner of the facade, and I can see some cops who are veritably blinded and unable to do anything.
Alright, then. Time to be the hero once more!
I go to an empty part of the hospital's vicinity, ensure that no one else is around, bring out the five magical ladybugs, swallow them, flail my arms slowly , and...
“Gjallarhorn... Gjallar-form!”
OK! Now to save the girl!
In no time, I end up at the site.
There's the girl with the glasses, and she can't speak despite opening her mouth.
An onlooker explains to me...
“Hey, Gjallarhorn! Can you save Nellie Asakura from that yellow monster?”
Ah, so that's her name.
“Of course.”
The yellow fiend obviously hears this brief conversation, and thus quips to me in the style of a reporter.
“Look here, folks! The armored hero (or so does he think) named Gjallarhorn shows up in the nick of time to challenge yours truly, The Yellow Gonzo! It's inevitable that a battle will take place right here in front of a packed audience! Will that pretend hero save that wretch of a woman named Nellie Asakura from The Yellow Gonzo's plans? We'll find the answer right after this battle!”
I respond...
“Come on! Enough with this sensationalism! If we must fight fair, we must do it without anyone else around!”
“Sounds interesting enough, folks! The battle will be held at the KTRM News building's parking lot instead! For you folks who are watching us at the facade, you can watch our battle using the giant screen in the building instead!”
The Yellow Gonzo and I then run towards the parking lot.
Once we both land here, he drops his reporter facade.
“I go 'brrrt brrrt'!”
From his camera, bursts of rapid bullet fire emanate.
With my innate dodging skills, I evade them all.
More 'brrrt brrrt's, more evasions.
He's understandably upset that I'm merely dancing to his motions, like a really really really bad dancer in the house, yo.
“Let's see how you go up close and personal, twinkly-legs!”
He then raises his microphone and uses it to try to hit me with great prejudice.
Of course, with my parries and evasive rolls, his bludgeoning does diddly squat on me.
- Writer
