Chapter 1: Robot Battle.
February 25, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Chapter 1: Robot Battle.
San Fransokyo, the world's largest high-tech city. A major event took place in one of the alleys—an illegal robot fight. A punk girl was battling a big guy and his samurai robot with her clawbot. The samurai robot made a few successful moves, but the clawbot hit him with an uppercut, apparently knocking him down. While the punk girl was readying her robot's claws to finish the job, the samurai robot rebooted and grabbed the clawbot by the arm. The samurai robot's shield transformed into a saw, bypassed the clawbot, and sliced it in half, much to the poor punk girl's surprise. The spectators cheered, collecting their winnings. Leader Girl: (gestures at the winner) Total annihilation. The winner is... Yama! The scene cuts to a rugged man in a blue tracksuit or something like that. It was Yama. Yama: (speaks loudly) Who's next? Who's brave enough to stand up to Little Yama? ?: Can I try? Yama turned around and saw a fourteen-year-old boy, but in reality, it was a girl, and this is what she looked like. She had unruly black hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a red T-shirt, a dark blue sweatshirt, long light green shorts, and brown sneakers. This teenage girl's name was Hana Hamada. And next to her stood a little five-year-old girl, and this is what she looked like. She had long, dark blue hair, tousled, her bangs neatly pinned back with a white clip. She wore a red headband with a daisy and blue eyes. She wore a warm, knee-length white sweater with yellow stripes and slightly longer sleeves, black tights, and white ballet flats. The girl's name was Fiona Hamada, and she stood behind Hana, clutching the fabric of her sweatshirt with both hands and peeking out timidly and shyly at the man. Hana: (male voice) I have a robot. I made it myself. She showed off her robot. It was assembled on magnetic hinges and had a yellow, smiling face. Yama and everyone else laughed, but Yama stopped laughing when he noticed Fiona and looked genuinely surprised. Leader: (explaining to her) Back off, kid. There are rules. You have to pay to participate. Hana: (clarifying) Is that enough? (she said, handing him a handful of crumpled bills.) Yama: What's your name, boy? And that sweet little one with you? (He said, lost in thought.) And he brought a child here? (He thought, looking questioningly at Hana, then at Fiona.) Hana: (Introducing herself) Hiro. Hiro Hamada. She took a half-step to the side to introduce Fiona, but first Hana winked at Fiona, and Fiona nodded. Hana: (Explaining) Her name is Fiona Hamada, and she's my little sister. Fiona looked shyly at Yama and waved hesitantly. Fiona: (Uncertainly) H-hello. (Stuttering.) Yama ignored her, then looked mockingly at Hana. Yama: Get your bot ready, Zero. He and Hiro placed money on the Instigator's tray, Hiro adding a few more coins, placed their robots in the ring, and sat outside. Meanwhile, Fiona sat down next to her "older sister" and placed her hands on the fabric of her white sweater, her eyes simultaneously expressing concern and interest in the fight. Fiona: (thoughts) I hope Aunt Cass won't scold us too much for taking her money without her permission. (She thought, hoping her "sister" would win this fight.) Yama cracked his neck, and Hana pretended to do the same. Leader: (explaining) Two robots enter the stage, only one may leave. She shields both robots with her umbrella. Leader: Are the fighters ready? Fight! (she shouts) Little Yama prepared for battle when Hana's robot lumbered toward him. Little Yama tossed the poor robot into the air and chopped it to pieces. Hana stared in shock at her little robot, and Fiona covered her eyes with her hands and, after a moment, hesitantly lowered her arms. Hana: (asking) That was my first fight. Can we do it again? Yama: Learn to lose, boy! Go home. And take your sister. Just as he was about to collect his winnings, Fiona cautiously approached the robot leader, who looked at the little girl. Fiona: (hopefully) Aunty One-Eyed, can you give my big brother a second chance? He's just getting started. (asking her permission) The leader looked first at Yama, then at Hana, and then back at Fiona. Leader: (sighed and crossed her arms) Does your brother at least have any money left? Fiona nodded, and Hana came over and placed a few bills on a plate, then Fiona looked at Yama. Fiona: (looking at him uncertainly) You don't... mind? Yama: (he looked surprised at first, but then sighed heavily) Okay, let's do it again. Fiona looked a little happier and sat down next to Hana again. Leader: Ready, fighters? Engage! (she shouted) While Little Yama was preparing for battle, the parts of Hana's robot folded and reassembled, reassembling it. Fiona: (mentally counting) 3, 2, 1. (She knows her "sister" will win, but she's still afraid Hana will lose.) Hana: Megabot... (she holds out her controller) Destroy. (she said with a smirk on her face.) Megabot's face turned red. Yama was confused. Little Yama tried to strike the robot, but it easily dodged. Yama tried with all his might, but Little Yama couldn't land a single blow. Megabot split into three parts again, climbed onto Little Yama, and tore off one of its claws. Fiona watched intently and with admiration as Hana's robot fought Little Yama. Megabot climbed onto Little Yama's head. It struck Little Yama on the head, then grabbed it tightly, squeezing so hard that the head was torn off. Yama, the leader, and the crowd were shocked by what had just happened. When Megabot landed, his face lit up with a joyful yellow smile once more. Having finished, Megabot bowed respectfully, and Fiona rose and began jumping happily, celebrating Hana's victory in this battle. Fiona: (happily) Brother, you've won again! Hana: (proudly) I know, sister. Little Yamu is no more. (She collects her winnings.) Yama: (shocked) W-what? That's impossible! (he exclaimed, holding his robot's head in his hand.) Hana: I'm as surprised as you are. Beginner's luck. Yama's gaze changed. Yama: (thoughts) That boy lies like he breathes. His sister just let it slip that this isn't his first victory. (He began to get angry at Hana, not Fiona.) Hana: (asks him) Want to do it again, Yama? Hana noticed Yama standing before her, and Fiona suddenly felt a slight fear for her "sister" and for herself. Fiona: (cautiously and fearfully) Uncle Yam... Yama, furious at Hana, pins her against the wall, and Fiona tries to gently stop him, but just as Fiona's hand barely touches Yama, the leader of the Robo-Fighting Club gently pulls Fiona away. Fiona looks at the woman in surprise and suddenly remembers something. Fiona: (thoughts) She reminds me of someone. Does she have a twin sister? (she thinks, her eyes a mixture of fear and surprise) Yama: (he yells at her and snatches Megabot from her hands) You don't mess with Yama! Hana: Ouch. Give her back! (she protests) Yama: (imperiously) Teach him a lesson. (He suddenly remembered Fiona and froze.) At that moment, Fiona ran up to Hana and hid behind her, clutching the fabric of Hana's hoodie and looking frightened. Hana glanced at the frightened Fiona, then at the boys, with a displeased expression. Hana: (displeased) Are you serious? In front of a child? (Her voice turned icy.) His thugs were unsurprised by her words or tone, continuing to advance. One of the thugs cracked his knuckles, preparing to strike the teenage girl. Yama's eyes widened in surprise at Hana's cold tone, then shook his head and ran his hand over his face. Yama: (thoughts) This guy's right. I'd understand if he were alone, but right now this is too much. (He sighed heavily.) But just as the bandits were about to reach them, and Yama was about to say something, a beam of light fell on them. A young man of about twenty rode up on a scooter, pushed the bandits aside, and they tripped over Yama and fell. It was Tadashi Hamada, Hana and Fiona's older brother. Tadashi: (shouting) Hiro! Fiona! Get in! Hana: Tadashi! Fiona: (shouting happily) Uncle Tadashi! They run up to him, and Tadashi quickly places a white helmet with a dark green stripe on Hana, then hands her a pink helmet with white flowers. Hana crouches and carefully places the pink helmet with flowers on Fiona. Tadashi notices Yama and the bandits begin to rise and realizes his little sister won't rush because of Fiona. Yama looks at Hana, who raises her hand, giving him a minute to wait, which further surprises Yama, and Tadashi crosses his fingers behind his back. Yama gestures for his friends to stop, and they exchange glances, giving their boss a strange look. Hana: (whispering in her true feminine voice) Fiona, listen. We're going to get on your uncle's scooter and go home fast. And those bad guys won't touch us. Got it? (She calmed her down, placing her hands on her shoulders.) Fiona: (whispering so only she and Tadashi could hear) Yes, Mommy. (She said this and nodded.) Hana smiled tenderly and flicked two fingers to her forehead, and Fiona giggled and smiled. Fiona hugged her mother around the neck. Hana stood up, holding Fiona in her arms, then placed her daughter on the scooter. Then she sat down too, and Fiona wrapped her arms around Hana's waist. Tadashi wasn't surprised when Fiona called Hana "Mom"—it was a long story. At that moment, they drove off, leaving a surprised Yama watching them, and then one of the bandits spoke up. Bandit: (confused) Boss? Why did you stop us? Yama: (He lowers Megabot to the ground and smiles softly) You'll understand if you have younger sisters, brothers, or children. (He said this, and the bandit looked surprised.) The three of them drove quickly through the night-time San Francisco, and Fiona looked at the night city with a smile on her face and childish curiosity, hugging Hana around the waist. Tadashi: (asking them) Are you both okay? Hana: Yes. Fiona: I'm fine, Uncle Tadashi. Megabot returned to Hana, and Fiona's smile faded slightly, realizing Tadashi was angry with her and her mother. Tadashi: (continues asking) Are you both hurt? Hana: No. Fiona: (uncertainly and stuttering) N-no... Tadashi: (he lightly hit Hana) What were you even thinking, you idiot? (he exclaimed) This startled Fiona a little and she buried her face in her mother's hoodie, continuing to hug her around the waist. Pulling up to the dumpster, he turned and looked at Fiona, who looked at him uncertainly. Tadashi: (he said to her) Fiona, I'm not mad at you if that's what you're asking. Fiona: (carefully) Really? Tadashi nodded, and Fiona sighed with relief, but that wasn't all. Tadashi: (looking at the road) Your mom graduated from high school at 13, and she's doing this. (he exclaimed with disappointment) Yama: (shouting) There they are! At that moment, they saw Yama and his thugs ahead. Tadashi: (shouting) Hold on! He rode his scooter up the curb and jumped over them. Hana waved at her reflection in the window, and Fiona closed her eyes in fear before landing. Tadashi: Bot fighting is prohibited. You'll be arrested. (he exclaimed) Hana: (starting to explain) Actually, robot fighting is allowed. Fiona: (she continued hesitantly) Uncle Tadashi... I understand, but I like these robot battles... but using our aunt's money for inserts is a bit much. (she looked at her mother) Mom, won't Aunt Cass be mad at us for this? I'm glad you won as usual, but what if you lose her money one day? Hana: (looked at her daughter) Fiona, don't worry about it... (she was interrupted) Suddenly, Tadashi stopped his scooter. Tadashi: (worried) Oh no. The police arrived, and Fiona was startled. The officers got out of the car, first handcuffed Yama and his friends, then looked at Tadashi and motioned for him to come with them, and the three of them got into the car. Fiona was startled, and her breathing became heavier than usual. Hana quickly, unnoticed by the police, pulled her inhaler out of her sweatshirt pocket. Yes, Fiona had asthma, but a mild form, and only Tadashi, Hana, and Aunt Cass knew about it. Hana quickly and carefully began using the inhaler on Fiona, then put it back in her pocket, noticing that Fiona felt better. Hana then motioned for her to count to three, then take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Fiona did so, and she felt much better. They all ended up at the police station, and Fiona sat on a chair at the table, anxiously and patiently waiting for them to be released. Continued in Chapter 2: Aunt Cass.
