The Human Torch (Fire Force) Chapter 14: Courthouse Fire

[Third Person's PoV] 


Johnny was walking back toward his desk, with Maki following close behind—blushing up a storm and glaring daggers at the back of his head.


As they passed by Captain Obi’s office, they heard Lieutenant Hinawa’s voice from inside.


“The compositional analysis of that powder the Joker scattered at the training facility is in. The main ingredient appears to be the ashes of ‘Flame People’—Infernals.”


The words made both Johnny and Maki freeze mid-step. They turned to stare at each other, silently. Johnny's expression hardened as he leaned in to listen more closely.


“Using the bodies of the dead like that… how barbaric!” Obi exclaimed, his voice thick with anger.


Before Johnny could listen any further, he was yanked back by the collar. As he was dragged away, he looked up at Maki and asked, “What are you doing? That sounded important!”


“It’s rude and bad manners to eavesdrop on a superior's private conversation,” Maki scolded.


Johnny pouted. “How boring.”


As they passed by Iris, she blinked in confusion at the strange sight: Johnny’s feet dragging across the floor as Maki hauled him along.


“Yo!” Johnny greeted, raising a hand.


“What’s going on?” Iris asked, tilting her head.


“Can’t you see? I’m being swept off my feet by my lovely Maki~” he said, placing a hand dramatically over his chest and fluttering his lashes up at her.


“Who are you calling yours!?” Maki shouted, flustered, slamming him to the ground in embarrassment.


Johnny hit the floor with a loud bonk. “ACK!” he cried, rolling around and clutching the back of his head.


Both Iris and Maki gasped, covering their mouths in shock.


“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!” Maki said, panicking as she helped him back up by the front of his jumper.


“You okay?” she asked.


“No... but a kiss might make it better,” he replied with a wink.


“You just can’t help yourself, can you!? What is wrong with you!?” Maki shouted, shaking him back and forth.


Johnny’s head flopped around, but a mischievous grin remained plastered on his face. “Heh.”


Iris chuckled behind her hand.


Just then, the door to the captain’s office swung open and Shinra walked out, deep in thought. He ignored the chaos around him and headed to his desk, where Arthur sat with dead fish eyes, the paperwork seemingly draining the life from him.


“You’ve got to stop toying with a young maiden’s heart! I can only take so much!” Maki yelled.


Johnny gave her a smug smile. “Sorry, sorry—but your reactions are just too entertaining. I really can’t help myself.”


Before Maki could respond, the phone rang.


Arthur picked it up immediately. “This is Arthur Boyle, Lord of Camelot Castle. What is your message?”


“No! Give me that!” Maki shouted, releasing Johnny and sprinting over to snatch the phone from Arthur.


“ACK—AGAIN!?” Johnny cried as he hit the ground with another bonk.


Meanwhile, Maki leaned over the phone, bowing and apologizing repeatedly. “Yes... yes... I understand... yes.”


When she finally hung up, she turned to the room.


“That was a call about a dog stuck up in a tree. Anyone want to handle it?”


Before Johnny could volunteer, both Shinra and Arthur spoke up—Shinra because his abilities were suited to the task, and Arthur simply to escape paperwork.


Maki ended up sending them both, leaving Johnny behind.


Undeterred, Johnny decided to do something more productive with his free time. He headed to the Matchstick and began tinkering with the engine, putting his mechanical skills to good use.


As he examined the engine and brainstormed improvements, the emergency alarm blared.


Slamming the hood shut, Johnny kicked his tools back into place and ran off to get changed, while Maki headed off to report to Captain Obi.


…


Johnny sat in the passenger seat beside Lieutenant Hinawa, grinning like a kid with a new toy. Clutched in his hand was the microphone, his voice echoing through the streets via the Matchbox’s speaker system.


“An Infernal has appeared! Make way! Emergency vehicle coming through!”


“Are you smiling?” Hinawa asked, frowning. “Do you find this amusing?”


“Speaking into this thing? Yeah, a little, actually. I’ve always wanted to do it since I was a kid,” Johnny replied, glancing fondly at the speaker unit connected to the Matchbox.


Hinawa gave him a brief sideways look, catching the faint smile playing on Johnny’s lips. Deciding to let it slide, he returned his attention to the road—only for his eyes to widen in disbelief.


Up ahead, both Shinra and Arthur were handing out balloons to children like it was a festival.


Hinawa’s face went blank in that terrifyingly calm way, and he snatched the mic from Johnny’s hand.


“Shinra! Arthur! You two are in the area?! Who the hell gave you permission to wander off and sell balloons?! When you get back, I’m tanning your hides so hard you won’t be able to sit down for a week!”


Shinra and Arthur froze in place as the Matchbox closed in. From the backseat, Johnny could hear Maki groaning out an embarrassed apology.


Seconds later, Shinra reappeared beside the vehicle, carrying Arthur on his back.


“You two! What the hell are you doing on a public road?!” Hinawa barked.


“No time, Lieutenant!” Shinra replied. “What’s the situation with the Flame Person?”


“At the courthouse! A murder suspect turned into an Infernal—he’s attacking anyone in sight! We need to minimize casualties at all costs!”


“On it!!” Shinra responded, blasting forward with Arthur clinging on.


“Should I join them? The more the better, right?” Johnny asked.


Hinawa stared at him for a moment, then gave a solemn nod. “If you can neutralize the target before we arrive, that would be ideal.”


“You got it, Lieutenant.” Johnny grinned, propping himself up on the open window. His fire suit was already peeled down to his waist.


“Flame on!” he shouted, combusting into flames and leaving his clothes behind on the passenger seat.


Now just a streak of fire, Johnny flew forward at high speed, arms tucked beside him as his hair whipped back in the wind. Within seconds, he caught up to Shinra and Arthur, leaving a glowing orange trail behind.


“Sup, guys~” Johnny called out.


“Johnny?!” both exclaimed in surprise.


“Try to keep up~” he teased, rocketing ahead and sending a wave of heat in his wake.


Shinra grumbled and accelerated, chasing after him. From the air, the trio could see panicked civilians fleeing the courthouse.


A towering Infernal emerged—its body dark and twisted, a wide, creepy grin on its face. Its tongue lolled out as flames crowned its head like a grotesque halo. Rings of fire spun around its wrists as it dragged a man by the mouth, scraping him across the pavement.


“Why don’t I play with my toy first~?” the Infernal purred.


Shinra and Arthur sprang into action. Arthur leapt from Shinra’s back while Shinra zipped forward, slamming his foot into the Infernal’s side with enough force to bend its body unnaturally and send it flying.


“Why don’t you play with this!”


Arthur was already waiting at the landing spot, greeting the Infernal with a backhand strike that sent it crashing even further away from the crowd.


As the Infernal scrambled to its feet, Arthur and Shinra were already on it, launching a synchronized blow that hurled it into the air.


High above, Johnny hovered, grinning as flames surged around his hands.


“Let’s get cooking!”


He slammed his palms together, unleashing a concentrated beam of flame that struck the airborne Infernal with concussive force. The impact detonated in a massive fiery explosion that engulfed the creature entirely.


A wave of heat and a mushroom cloud of fire burst outward, forcing Shinra and Arthur to shield their eyes.


But to their horror, the flames began to collapse inward instead of dispersing.


They soon realized why—the Infernal had absorbed the explosion.


Its flames now burned hotter and brighter, and the rings around its wrists solidified into burning cuffs. Smoke drifted from its mouth as it burped and licked its lips with a long, serpentine tongue.


“Thanks for the meal~,” it hissed.


“Huh?!” all three shouted in disbelief.