Operation "Hero of Justice" (清麿、正義の味方 Kiyomaro, Seigi no Mikata, lit. "Kiyomaro, Ally of Justice") is the first chapter of the Zatch Bell!/Konjiki no Gash!! manga series by Makoto Raiku, published on May 18, 2001 in Japan and August 2, 2005 in the U.S. in the first volume.
Summary[]
A boy flies on the talons of an eagle mentioning the eagle will get something to eat soon. As dawn arrives, Kiyomaro thinks about what to do in bed as his mother, Hana wants him to come down for breakfast. Kiyomaro wonders what his life's purpose is as his mother asks if he's going to skip school. Kiyomaro yells back that he doesn't want to be friends with low level people. The boy flies in on the eagle with a fish strapped to his stomach. Kiyo thinks he's dreaming until the boy comes in through the window blowing everything away.
The boy introduces himself as Gash Bell and that he was entrusted to Kiyomaro by his father Seitaro Takamine. Gash gives Kiyomaro a birthday letter from Seitaro to Kiyo. The letter explains how Seitaro found Gash dying in a forest in England and took him home. Gash promised to repay him and Seitaro suggested that Gash find Kiyomaro and make him stop being a 'sissy.' The note also mentions that Gash lost his memory and wants Kiyomaro to find a clue that could get him back home. Kiyomaro doesn't want to be trained by a brat like Gash and tries to punch him. His spellbook glows as he holds onto it and Gash let's out a bolt of lightning destroying the room.
As Kiyomaro eats breakfast, Hana says Kiyo has to take care of Gash if he's staying home. When Kiyomaro tries to tell him Gash can shoot lightning, Hana doesn't believe him, and Gash seems to deny it as well. Kiyomaro then leaves taking the spellbook with him. Hana apologizes to Gash saying Kiyomaro doesn't have any friends. Gash promises to get Kiyomaro a friend by the end of the day making Hana very happy.
As Kiyo looks over the spellbook at school, Gash follows Kiyomaro and observes while he studies. Kiyo notes that he can only read the letters in red ink. When asked a question by the teacher, Kiyomaro answers it flawlessly. His classmates whisper on how Kiyomaro should go home if he's so smart. As the lunch bell rings, Kiyomaro begins leaving which Gash notices as odd. Suzy Mizuno asks Kiyomaro why he's leaving and suggests that he tutor her if he finds classes boring. Kiyomaro refuses saying that she'll be rejected if she hangs with him. Suzy tries to complement Kiyomaro's smarts but he brushes her off. Gash yells that she stopped him because she cared. Kiyomaro freaks out that Gash is there, and people begin whispering.
Kiyomaro pulls Gash to the school incinerator at the back. Gash is glad that there are people that don't hate Kiyo and comes up with a plan for Kiyomaro to beat the delinquents to help those in need. Kiyomaro doesn't like that plan so Gash decides to go with the second plan to beg people to be Kiyomaro's friend. Kiyomaro decides to go with the first plan and comes up with something.
Gash goes to the rooftop after school as Kiyomaro mentions that there was a guy named Kaneyama who called people to the roof to bully them. Kiyomaro also said he had something to do at the office after school so it would take him a while to get there. Gash finds Kane picking on Suzy on the roof. He demands that Kaneyama drop Suzy and that he'll be his opponent until Kiyomaro arrives.
Kiyomaro picks up his shoes at the school locker relieved to be rid of Gash. He overhears some students mentioning how Suzy was looking for money for tickets to the concert the school choir was going to put on. Kiyomaro waves it off saying Gash can shoot lightning from his mouth. Gash still lingers in his mind though and goes to check on the rooftop.
Kiyomaro peers from the door looking onto the roof to see Gash beat up. Suzy wants Kaneyama to stop beating on Gash, but Gash isn't worried as he believes Kiyomaro will come to save him. Kaneyama kicks Gash down saying that Kiyo was lying to him, despises everyone other than himself, thinks everyone is garbage and how he even looks down on the teacher. In the shadows, Kiyomaro agrees and wonders why Gash won't run away if he knows that he's been dupped. Kaneyama adds that no one wants him at school and Kiyomaro feels those words sink in. Gash yells that Kaneyama doesn't know anything, that Kiyomaro is not at fault and it's why he came. Gash mentions how Kiyomaro played with friends like a normal elementary school kid but how everyone got jealous of him when he entered middle school. Kiyomaro didn't change but the people who surrounded him did. Gash asked what Kiyomaro did other than show up to school as Kiyomaro begins to cry. Gash then yells that Kaneyama shouldn't come to do and dares him to mock Kiyomaro again. Gash then guesses that Kiyomaro is late because he went to the bathroom. Kiyomaro wipes away his tears saying no one goes to the bathroom like a goldfish as Gash was remarking.
Gash is happy to see Kiyomaro and calls Kaneyama a blockhead. Kiyomaro is ready to rumble but gets beat up by Kaneyama. Kiyomaro thinks the plan didn't work but Gash disagrees as Kiyomaro's face is full of life now. Suzy is also happy Kiyomaro came to save her. Gash calls the plan a success, but Kiyomaro isn't convinced until he sees his sweaty hands. Kaneyama kicks Kiyomaro again and says he's not playing around. Kiyomaro remembers the lightning from earlier that morning and how he read that one sentence. He also mentioned that Gash agreed with his mother saying that Gash wasn't doing it of his own will. Suzy is about to give Kaneyama the money when Kiyomaro pulls her back, opens the spellbook and lets out the phrase:
The lightning blast is bigger than the one in the morning. There's an inner monologue of Kiyomaro thanking his father for his fourteenth birthday present and how he wonders what Gash could be.
Appearances[]
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