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{{Neighbor Stories
{{Neighbor Stories
|s1_title = The Puzzled Weakling Hero
|s1_title = The Puzzled Weakling Hero
|s1_text  = "Heh Heh, do you still think you can stop me wounded like that?"
|s1_text  = {{Neighbor Stories/Image|Isaki The Puzzled Weakling Hero Image 01|left}}
"Evil is about to rule the world. Give up, weakling."
 
"Hmph."
"Heh, Heh... Wounded like that, and you still think you can stop me?"
"Evil is about to rule the world. Give up, you weakling."
"...Hmph."
"Oh? Still resisting, even now?"
"Oh? Still resisting, even now?"


"Well, since you put it that way... let me show you how a weakling becomes a hero!"
"If you insist... then I'll show you how a weakling becomes a hero!"
 
----


Isaki's eyes were glued to the TV screen, the ever-shifting light casting a pale glow across his face.
Isaki's eyes were glued to the TV screen, the ever-shifting light casting a pale glow across his face.
This was his favorite hero show, where the protagonist never gave up. No matter how many times the villains knocked them down they always came back and won in the end. Isaki admired those heroes deeply, perhaps because that kind of "hero" was something someone like him, known to everyone as "Weakling Isaki," could never be.
It was his favorite hero show, where the protagonists never gave up. No matter how many times the villains knocked them down, they always rose again and won in the end.
Isaki admired those heroes deeply, perhaps because that kind of "hero" was something someone like him, known to everyone as "Weakling Isaki," could never become.
 
----


"Pluck up the courage and give it a try."
"Pluck up the courage and give it a try." That was what the grown-ups always told Isaki.
That was what the grown-ups always told Isaki.
But the thing was... little Isaki had no idea how anyone was supposed to "pluck up" courage.
But the thing was... little Isaki had no idea how you were supposed to "pluck up" courage.
Where did it come from? What did it even look like?


Just walking down the street on an ordinary day, he might tremble at the flap of a passing bird. Taking a rest in the shade, he'd shiver when a fruit suddenly dropped from above.
Walking down the street, he might flinch at a bird suddenly fluttering past. Sitting in the shade, he'd startle when a fruit dropped from above.
...
...
Things like that happened all the time.
Things like that happened all the time.


Isaki's five older siblings had already found their footing in fields they loved. As the youngest, he had the privilege of being a late bloomer, and the grown-ups were ,understanding of his timid nature. He could do nothing, hide at home, and just wait each day for his favorite hero show to come on. Would it really matter if "Weakling Isaki" lived an unremarkable, aimless life? After all, wasn't it enough to have the TV heroes keep him company through life?
Isaki's five older siblings had already found their place in the things they loved. As the youngest, he was allowed to be a late bloomer, and the grown-ups were patient with his timid nature. He could do nothing, stay tucked away at home, and simply wait each day for his favorite hero show to come on.
Would it really matter if "Weakling Isaki" lived an unremarkable, aimless life? After all, wasn't it enough to have the heroes on TV to keep him company?
 
----


Was that really... enough?
{{Neighbor Stories/Image|Isaki The Puzzled Weakling Hero Image 02|center}}
As the familiar ending theme of his hero show began to play, the quiet certainty in Isaki's heart suddenly shifted into a question.


Was it because the lyrics went, "No weakling stays that way for long. Even a bug can still grow strong. With heart held high and spirit true, the hero's path is open to you"?
----
 
<i>Is this... really enough?</i>
The moment the familiar ending theme of the hero show began to play, the certainty in Isaki's heart suddenly shifted into a question.
 
Was it because the lyrics just happened to sing, "No weakling stays that way for long. Even a lowly bug can grow strong. With a heart that defies and a spirit so true, the hero's path is calling to you"?
Isaki wasn't quite sure.
Isaki wasn't quite sure.


|s2_title = The Weakling Hero and His Friend
|s2_title = The Weakling Hero and His Friend
|s2_text  = BOOM—
|s2_text  = {{Neighbor Stories/Image|Isaki The Weakling Hero and His Friend Image 01|left}}
 
BOOM—
Thunder and lightning raged outside.
Thunder and lightning raged outside.


"Weakling Isaki" buried himself beneath the heavy blanket, trying to block out the world and steady his trembling body.  
"Weakling Isaki" buried himself beneath the heavy blanket, trying to shut out the world and steady his trembling body.
BOOM—Another violent thunderclap shook the entire room, Isaki's "safe haven", to its core.  
BOOM — another violent thunderclap shook the room, his safe haven, to its core.
The things on his shelves and hooks clattered down, falling onto his shaking body.
The items on his shelves and hooks rattled loose, tumbling down onto his shaking body.


Mmph—Could this be... the end of the world?!
----
 
<i>Mmph... Could this be... the end of the world?!</i>
Isaki could only let out a frightened whimper.
Isaki could only let out a frightened whimper.


Suddenly, everything fell silent.
Then, all at once, everything fell silent. <i>Maybe... the world didn't end after all?</i>
Maybe... the world didn't end after all?
Realizing this, Isaki found a tiny spark of courage he rarely felt, and he slowly peeked out from beneath the blanket.
Realizing this, Isaki found a tine spark of courage he rarely felt, and peeked his head out from under the blanket.


That's when he saw a kabuto beetle standing before him, head held high.The enormous moon filled the entire window, making the beetle look just like a hero's dramatic entrance scene from a TV show.
That's when he saw it.
A kabuto beetle stood before him, head held high. The enormous moon filled the window behind it, casting the beetle in a silhouette that looked just like a hero's dramatic entrance from a TV show.


Did it... protect me?
<i>Did it... protect me?</i>
 
----


"Hello...?"
"Hello...?"
It was a strange, wondrous moment. Isaki was surprised to find himself greeting someone else first, for the very first time. Where did this courage come from?
It was a strange, wondrous moment. For the first time in his life, Isaki found himself greeting someone else first. Where had that courage come from?


The kabuto beetle took a step forward. Isaki had never been this close to a "stranger" before, and his body was ready to start trembling... but he tried his best, quietly clenching his fists, and managed to stop himself from shaking.
The kabuto beetle took a step forward.
Then the kabuto beetle took another step.
Isaki had never been this close to a "stranger" before. His body was ready to tremble, but he tried his best. Quietly clenching his fists, he managed to steady himself.
Now they were inches apart.
Then the beetle took another step. Now they were only inches apart.
Isaki took a deep breath.Then, with all the courage he could gather, he reached out a small hesitant finger.The tip of his finger brushed against the beetle's horn.
Isaki gathered every bit of courage he had and slowly reached out with a small, hesitant finger. In that instant, his fingertip met the beetle's horn.


In that moment, feeling the kabuto beetle's quiet reply, Isaki smiled.
Feeling its quiet intent, Isaki smiled.
"Nice to meet you... friend!"
"Nice to meet you... friend!"
----
{{Neighbor Stories/Image|Isaki The Weakling Hero and His Friend Image 02|center}}
----


"Th-This... this is my new friend, Daikabutomaru! C-Can I keep it?"
"Th-This... this is my new friend, Daikabutomaru! C-Can I keep it?"


The grown-ups were genuinely glad to see Isaki making a new friend, and even more, to see him starting to change. But as every TV show teaches us, that's exactly when a little trouble tends to show up.
The grown-ups were, of course, delighted to see Isaki make a new friend, and even more so to see him beginning to change. But, as every TV show goes, that's exactly when a bit of trouble is bound to show up.
"That kabuto beetle... isn't that the fighter beetle owned by the 'legendary' beetle trainer in the neighborhood?"
"That kabuto beetle... isn't it the one raised by that 'legendary' beetle trainer in the neighborhood?"
"Shouldn't we check with its owner first?"
"Shouldn't we check with its owner first?"


For timid Isaki, dealing with stranger was yet another challenge. But with Daikabutomaru by his side, he felt a type of courage he had never known before.
For timid Isaki, dealing with strangers was another challenge altogether. But with Daikabutomaru by his side, he seemed to have found a kind of courage he had never known before.
Clutching the note with the trainers address, he ran straight to the beetle trainer's house and rang the doorbell without a second thought.It was something the old "Weakling Isaki" would have never dared to do.
Following the address the grown-ups had given him, he pattered all the way to the beetle trainer's house and, without a second thought, rang the doorbell. The old "Weakling Isaki" would never have had the courage to do that.


The "legendary" beetle trainer opened the doorand gave Isaki and Daikabutomaru a flat look.
The "legendary" beetle trainer opened the door and gave Isaki and Daikabutomaru a flat look.
"If you want it, keep it. I can't shelter too many 'weaklings' around here anyway..."
"If you want it, then keep it. I can't take in too many weaklings anyway..."
"...Huh?"
"...Huh?"
Isaki froze.
Isaki froze.
Of course. to a trainer like him, only the strongest bugs that kept on winning mattered. He didn't need "weaklings," and he had never cared the Daikabutomaru had gone missing in the first place.
Of course. To a trainer like him, only the strongest beetles that kept winning mattered. He didn't need weaklings, and he had never cared that Daikabutomaru had gone missing in the first place.


"Mmmrrghhh..."
"Mmmrrghhh..."
Finding his voice, Isaki let out a growl deeper than anything he'd ever made before.
The sound that forced its way out of Isaki's throat was deeper than anything he had ever made before.
"You! Listen up!"
"You. Listen up!"
"Daikabutomaru is not a weakling, and I'll train it to become the strongest fighting beetle! And beat you!"
"Daikabutomaru is not a weakling! I'll train it to become the strongest fighting beetle... and defeat you!"


|s3_title = The Weakling Hero and the Challenge  
|s3_title = The Weakling Hero and the Challenge  
|s3_text  = "Weakling." That's what people would call someone weak, someone too afraid to face challenges, too afraid to make a change.
|s3_text  =  
That was Isaki back then: a "weakling" who hid away in his room, perfectly content just watching his favorite hero shows, unwilling to take a single step toward something different.
"Weakling." That was what people called those who were too afraid to face challenges, too afraid to change.
That was who Isaki used to be: a "weakling" who hid away in his room, content to do nothing but watch his favorite hero shows, never taking a single step toward anything different.


----
{{Neighbor Stories/Image|Isaki The Weakling Hero and the Challenge Image 01|left}}
"Come on, Daikabutomaru! Time for strength training!"
"Come on, Daikabutomaru! Time for strength training!"
"Next up, endurance training!"
"Next up, endurance!"
"Watch closely and dodge my mattock swing! You can do it, Daikabutomaru!"
"Watch closely and dodge my mattock swing! You can do it, Daikabutomaru!"
"I can run even faster now, so you've got to fly even faster too!"
"I'm running faster now, so you've got to fly even faster!"


Training alongside Daikabutomaru, Isaki has clearly changed. He was now doing things he used to avoid out of fear. In fact, he often did them better than most grownups expected.
Training alongside Daikabutomaru, Isaki was changing. He was taking on the very things he once feared, pushing himself further each time. And more often than not, he surpassed what the grown-ups thought he could do.


As Daikabutomaru worked to overcome its weaknesses, Isaki was overcoming his own.
As Daikabutomaru fought to overcome its weaknesses, Isaki was doing the same.


No weakling stays that way for long. Even a bug can still grow strong. With heart held high and spirit true, the hero's path is open to you."
----
Isaki, out of breath from training, murmured the line to Daikabutomaru, who was now resting on top of his head.


"It's my favorite line from the song," he said looking up at the endless blue sky.
"No weakling stays that way for long. Even a lowly bug can grow strong. With a heart that defies and a spirit so true, the hero's path is calling to you."
After their intense training, Isaki, still catching his breath, murmured the line to Daikabutomaru resting atop his head.


"I didn't really get it before. But now I&mdash;no, we, we've actually made it, Daikabutomaru."
"It's... my favorite line." Isaki lifted his gaze to the endless blue sky.
"Come on. Let's go challenge the world!"  
 
"I didn't really understand it before. But now I — no, we, we've actually made it, Daikabutomaru."
"Come on. Let's go challenge the world!"
 
----
 
{{Neighbor Stories/Image|Isaki The Weakling Hero and the Challenge Image 02|center}}


|s4_title = Weakling Hero, Move Out!
|s4_title = Weakling Hero, Move Out!
|s4_text  = "Kabuto beetle showdown, begin!"
|s4_text  =  
"Beetle battle... begin!"


"Go, Daikabutomaru!"
"Go! Daikabutomaru!"
There's no need to be afraid, no need to panic, no need to run away.
There was no need to fear. No need to panic. No need to run.
The Isaki of today didn't even stop to wonder, not even for a second, what would happen if they lost.
Not even for a single moment did the thought of "what if we lose" cross Isaki's mind.
He knew they would win.
<i>We're going to win. No doubt.</i>


"Winner of the showdown..."
"And the winner of the beetle battle is..."
"Isaki and Daikabutomaru!"
"Isaki and Daikabutomaru!"


"Congratulations, you won."
----
Isaki blinked in surprise. The "legendary" beetle trainer, after losing the match, was actually extending a friendly hand to him.
 
{{Neighbor Stories/Image|Isaki Weakling Hero, Move Out! Image 01|center}}
 
----


"But... didn't you look down on Daikabutomaru just because he was a 'weakling'?"
"Congratulations. You won."
"Hahaha, not at all. Every bug is a cherished comrade to me. However, beetle battles carry a high risk of injury, and that risk is even higher for 'weaklings.' That's not something I ever want to see. So when I come across one I believe to be too fragile... I usually let it return to the wild."
Isaki froze for a moment. The "legendary" beetle trainer, despite losing the match, was actually reaching out to him with a friendly hand.


"But this time, I was wrong."
"But... didn't you look down on Daikabutomaru for being a 'weakling'?"
The seemingly stern and rigid bug trainer suddenly broke into a smile. He crouched down and placed a hand on Isaki's head, gently ruffling his hair.
"Haha, not at all. Every bug is a cherished comrade to me. But beetle battles carry a real risk of injury, and that risk is even greater for 'weaklings.' That's something I never want to see... So when I judge one to be too fragile, I usually let it return to the wild."
"You and Daikabutomaru are both incredible. You're heroes."


Isaki had never imagined that one day, he'd hear praise like that.
"But this time... I was wrong."
The beetle trainer, who had always seemed stern and rigid, suddenly broke into a smile. He crouched down and placed a hand on Isaki's head, gently ruffling his hair.
"You and Daikabutomaru are both remarkable. You're heroes."
 
----
 
Isaki had never imagined that one day, he would hear words like that.
"So? What do you say? Ready to take the next step... and win the real beetle championship?"
"So? What do you say? Ready to take the next step... and win the real beetle championship?"


His eyes sparkled with something that could only be called hope. He went quiet for a moment, then gave a firm, determined nod.
Something lit up in his eyes. It could only be called hope. He fell silent for a moment, then gave a firm, determined nod.
"Yes!! can do it! Definitely!"
"Yes! I can do it! Deeeefinitely!"
 
----
 
{{Neighbor Stories/Image|Isaki Weakling Hero, Move Out! Image 02|center}}
}}
}}
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