ã€ŠMHA Hope Agency: Wounds That Will Not Healã€‹


 Prologue: St Colemans

    Principal Nezu wasn¡¯t a religious man. He wasn¡¯t entirely what most would consider a man at all. But the sight before him sometimes made him wish he was. Perhaps then he¡¯d finally understand the joy his students felt when the winter greeted them at the end of the year. Or why they weren¡¯t concerned with the idea of a big, red man breaking into their house to deliver presents.

    Maybe if he got to see those flying reindeer, he could get behind the idea. It would be nice to converse with another animal with a Quirk. He could also brag about it to his students and make himself the most popular teacher at U.A. High School. The thought almost made him giggle. Almost.

    The empty hallways of U.A. magnified the echoes of Principal Nezu¡¯s footsteps. Despite the absence of sunlight as the night took hold, the school remained vibrant as ever. Its corridors were decorated with tinsel and cotton snow. Paper snowmen and Christmas tree stickers filled its plain walls. Baubles and paper chains hung from its ceiling. All done by the students and staff who embraced the Christmas spirit.

    He removed the tinsel from the door handle, and entered his office. Its vacant walls heavily contrasted the decorations outside. His room was simple. A table, a chair, and some bookshelves¡ªit only needed to hold the bare necessities. As much as he would like to have decorated, he had the image of being the Principal of the best Hero School in Japan to uphold. Perhaps that was his excuse for not finding the time this year. Or maybe he couldn¡¯t find the Christmas spirit after coming across some devastating information.

    At least a cup of tea would alleviate the buildup of stress. Putting the kettle on, he settled down. The pile of papers on his desk beckoned him. But he chose to ignore them. He had already memorised its contents, and there was no need to upset himself further. He turned his attention to pouring hot water into his teapot, before welcoming the warmth of freshly brewed tea in his hands. He was about to take a sip, when a knock at the door drew his attention. It was the answer to his problem.

    ¡°Come in,¡± he said, pouring another cup for his guest.

    The door creaked open, revealing a large, looming man. His iconic two tufts of hair sticking up from his head gave away his identity immediately. All Might ducked under the door frame; his build was too big to simply walk in. His chiselled features, which usually carried his famous smile, now held a worried expression. It was not every day the Principal called him. And it was even rarer that he called him for help.

    But Nezu smiled at the sight of one of his former students. The biggest success story U.A. had to offer. And hopefully, someone that could help him with what he had found. He offered him tea, which the Symbol of Peace gratefully accepted. As he took a sip, a small puff of smoke circled him, revealing a scrawny man who was a ghost of his former self. Or would it be more accurate to say that this form was who he really was now.

    Anxiety fluttered in Nezu''s stomach. Would it be a mistake to depend on him like this? But he shook the thought out of his head. This matter needed to be resolved. But it also needed the utmost compassion and empathy. And there was no one other than the Symbol of Peace and the Number One Hero who could do the job.

    Especially with the number of victims.

    A shiver travelled down Nezu''s spine. All Might noticed that he held his cup a little tighter. The two of them sat in silence, ruminating about the current events. It wasn¡¯t until All Might¡¯s gaze landed on Nezu¡¯s desk did he break the silence.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Did you find out more information?¡± He gestured towards the papers.

    Nezu fought the sigh that had crept up. ¡°Sort of. It¡¯s more confirmation of what I had suspected than anything new.¡±

    He got up and handed the Number One Hero the papers. All Might sieved through them; skimming through snippets of newspaper articles and police reports. Although they seemed unrelated, from missing people to pamphlets about small businesses, All Might could already see a pattern; the brewing of a criminal organisation that had begun to settle into Japan. Well, all of them followed the pattern, except for one news article.

    The Veiled Duchess Caught On Fire.

    It detailed an explosion on a ferry near the coast of the British Isles that shook the global population. Hundreds of passengers were aboard the fallen ship. A familiar headache crept up as All Might remembered the discourse.

    The tragedy led to revising an old argument, as the British Government blamed the incompetence of Vigilantes who interfered with the work of the emergency services. This led to the global debate about the work of Vigilantes, but ultimately led to harsher sanctions about using Quirks in public.

    All Might¡¯s shoulders tensed as the memories resurfaced. This was always brought up during any interview he took part in, but he always tried his best to remain neutral. He was already familiar with the successful efforts of some Vigilantes and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to discredit their work. But he understood the pain of the public who were angered by the loss of so many lives.

    But why was this with the other documents?

    Dread filled his chest as he pointed the article towards Nezu. ¡°Is this connected?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want it to be, but¡­¡± The Principal lowered his gaze. ¡°As I was analysing the activities of this new group, it led me to a similar organisation in the UK, which disappeared after the fires. I don¡¯t know if they¡¯re connected, but if another tragedy is on the coast of Japan, we need to step in before it''s too late.¡±

    All Might gulped. He couldn¡¯t imagine the weight Principal Nezu carried when he learnt about this. But for it to be connected to the Veiled Duchess, no wonder he wanted to rely on the Number One Hero despite his current predicament and injuries. ¡°What else did you find?¡±

    Principal Nezu rubbed his temples. ¡°Well, during my investigation about the incident, I found out that the ferry was actually used for human trafficking.¡±

    Nausea hit All Might like a wave as the words sunk in. There were no reports about any of this at all, even amongst the off-the-record conversations between the police and the Pro Heroes. ¡°Why would they hide something like that?¡± His eyes darkened as he spoke.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But what¡¯s even stranger was that one of the casualties was found alive in Japan a few weeks ago.¡±

    All Might¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What? How?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but it does suggest that whatever happened in the UK may already be here in Japan.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean there are others alive as well?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I am as clueless as you.¡± He sighed. ¡°The only ones that know for sure were the Vigilantes, but they¡¯ve gone missing. Probably hiding to avoid prosecution. But there was something else I found,¡± Nezu leaned in closer, almost whispering to All Might, despite the two of them being alone. ¡°I tracked the survivor¡¯s movement and found they recently visited a facility in the UK before completely disappearing.¡±

    ¡°And you need me to go track them down?¡±

    Principal Nezu nodded. ¡°I believe if we can gather more information about what happened to the Veiled Duchess, we can prevent another tragedy from happening in Japan.¡±

    All Might hummed in agreement. There was nothing more valuable than knowledge. Especially when it involved saving so many lives. ¡°So, where should I start investigating?¡±

    Nezu leaned back in his seat. The weight on his shoulders decreased with the Symbol of Peace taking initiative. ¡°Well, the last place they were seen at was St Coleman¡¯s in London.¡±

 Chapter 1: Hope Agency is Now Open!

    It was not the season to be jolly. At least not to Scarlett Hopkins. The Christmas tree decorations were slipshod. The colourfully cluttered walls were an eyesore. Especially when compared to its clinical and clean arrangement days before. It was all too much for the dark-haired girl, who slinked further into the shadows. But soon she would be free from all of this.

    Avoiding the nearby staff members, she guided herself with her luggage in tow, and made her way to the exit. With the swoosh of the doors, she was met with the biting wind of winter. Despite the sun having already finished setting, the hustle and bustle refused to cease as people prepared for the festive season. Scarlett mentally groaned. Why were there more people outside the building than inside?

    She brought her red scarf closer to her face, trying her best to avoid eye contact with anyone. The last thing she wanted was for people to see her leave St Coleman¡¯s Hospital. But of course, that didn¡¯t happen.

    ¡°Scarlett!¡± a voice called out behind her.

    She turned around to see a tall man jog after her. His jet-black hair was styled with a fringe, while a small horn protruded through. His clothes were fairly simple; a lilac shirt, dark slacks, and a stethoscope around his neck. The man flashed a smile as he halted in front of her. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re leaving without saying goodbye!¡± he said.

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d be sick of my face by now,¡± she replied.

    The man chuckled at Scarlett¡¯s retort. ¡°Well, it would be nice to never see you again,¡± he feigned contemplation.

    ¡°Hm? I guess I should find somewhere else to donate blood to in the future, then.¡±

    ¡°Scarlett!¡± His eyes began to sparkle. ¡°You were thinking of donating here after being discharged?¡± He clapped his hands. ¡°Well, of course you¡¯re welcome here anytime! Your blood¡¯s a universal donor! We could save so many lives! Actually, why don¡¯t we go back inside right now?¡±

    The girl narrowed her eyes. ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t think I¡¯m ready to be discharged Asa, you can just say¡ª¡±

    The man placed his hand on Scarlett¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m only messing with you, kid. Of course, I¡¯m happy you¡¯re leaving. You worked so hard on recovering. And I couldn¡¯t be any more prouder, not only as your doctor, but also as your friend. And if you don¡¯t want to donate your blood anymore, that¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not your responsibility. You should live your life however you want now. But try to live a life where you¡¯re not sent here again. I have enough patients as it is!¡± He shared a hearty laugh, causing a soft smile to creep up on Scarlett.

    Yeah, I should live however I want.

    ¡°Oi, oi, what¡¯s going on here, then?¡±

    In the distance, a trio of girls made their way to them. The one with short platinum blonde hair, shared a soft smile. She was much taller than the rest, towering over them by a few heads. She wore a simple white winter parka with matching earmuffs. Next to her, a girl with blue hair peeking through her white, woolly hat, gave a simple wave. She was wrapped tightly in a sky-coloured woollen overcoat.

    But the one that drew the most attention was the one who spoke. Her tawny-pinkish mane was tamed into pigtails, allowing a clear view of her cat ears. Her leopard-printed coat was usually an eyesore to Scarlett, but at this moment, she couldn¡¯t help but feel comfort at the sight of it.

    After all, these girls were her family.

    The girl with the leopard-printed coat, cocked a smile as she sauntered over to Scarlett¡¯s side. She wrapped an arm around her younger sibling. ¡°I know she¡¯s annoying, but are you really that happy to see her go, Doc?¡± A playful grin settled on her face.

    ¡°Leya, I think you¡¯re the annoying one here,¡± the blue-haired girl tutted, but she couldn¡¯t hide her smirk.

    ¡°Huh? What did you say, Zero?¡± she growled.

    ¡°Now, now girls,¡± Dr Asa Snapdragon said. ¡°This is not the time and place. You shouldn¡¯t put unnecessary stress on Scarlett.¡± He turned to the dark-haired girl, ¡°Although we¡¯re sending you back, I wanna do a check-up later this week to make sure you¡¯re settling in ok. I¡¯ll get Darleen to send the information. Make sure you turn up.¡±

    ¡°Oh, we¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s there, Dr. Snapdragon,¡± said Zero.

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll drag her here if we have to!¡± Leya tightened her grip on Scarlett.

    ¡°Uh...why are you acting like I wouldn¡¯t turn up?¡± Scarlett tensed under Leya¡¯s weight. She shared a glance at the taller girl, hoping for some enlightenment about what the other two were scheming. But the girl continued to share her soft smile, conveying a simple message.

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re just messing with you.¡±

    But Scarlett¡¯s eyes fell to see her cold, red hand clenched into a tight fist. The keys to the car peeked through her fingers. She gulped at the sight as she could almost hear another message being relayed based on the older girl¡¯s body language.

    ¡°But if we don¡¯t hurry up, I¡¯m leaving you guys to freeze.¡±

    ¡°Guys¡­I think Juno¡¯s cold,¡± Scarlett said.

    The other two whipped around to see the taller girl, before also reading her body language. They quickly exchanged goodbyes as they rushed away.

    The journey home was relatively short, but unfamiliar to Scarlett. She hadn¡¯t been to the new house yet. But growing up in the city of London, she quickly recognised the Christmas-lit streets that led to her new home. Her sisters guided her past the festive decorations to the terracotta bricks that would be her place of rest; a terrace house that matched every other building nearby. But unlike the others, this one was devoid of light.

    Leya stayed behind with Scarlett, as they unloaded the luggage, while the other two rushed off inside. Scarlett¡¯s thoughts darkened, as lights slowly blinked inside the house. I guess they didn¡¯t want the house to feel empty when I arrived.

    Although she knew she should have felt happy with their efforts, a weight in her chest returned. The last thing she wanted was for them to burden themselves with her problems. She began to gently rub her chest, hoping it would provide some form of comfort. But the idea of her sisters being all alone consumed her. Because it was all her fault¡ª

    ¡°¡ªOi, what¡¯re you thinking so hard about?¡± Leya said, almost through the front door. ¡°Come inside, it¡¯s freezing.¡±

    Scarlett shuffled to her sister¡¯s side. Leya guided her to the living room, planting all of Scarlett''s belongings there. The room held the essentials; a grey sofa, a matching coffee table and a tv. But only because it couldn¡¯t hold anything else, as a large, but bare, Christmas tree took over an entire corner and a half of the room.

    ¡°We thought it would be fun to decorate it together,¡± Zero said, appearing behind Scarlett. She guided her further into the room, where the mustard-yellow and wooden accents became clearer.

    ¡°Please tell me you got the baubles to match the room,¡± Leya said. ¡°I spent ages decorating this place, and I don¡¯t want that tree to ruin my work!¡± She plonked herself onto the sofa.

    Zero laughed. ¡°Yeah, I got the grey ones that you pointed out before.¡±

    The two continued their back and forth, but Scarlett wasn¡¯t paying attention. Her eyes trained on the barren tree. Although it wasn¡¯t as much of an eyesore as the sapling at the hospital, there was something uncanny about the naked conifer.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just decorate it without me?¡± Scarlett¡¯s voice was soft.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Leya cocked a brow. ¡°Because it¡¯s Christmas, dummy. And we celebrate together.¡±

    ¡°But you had no idea I¡¯d come back in time.¡±

    An uncomfortable silence settled between the sisters. Until Leya threw one of the cushions at Scarlett. ¡°Oi, that doesn¡¯t mean we wouldn¡¯t celebrate together. We would visit you at the hospital, just like last year, and stick some tinsel on that damn tree at the last minute.¡±

    Scarlett barely reacted to the blow. ¡°Hm, no wonder you waited for me this time.¡± She continued to stare at the tree, retaining her deadpan demeanour as she spoke. ¡°It would probably look terrible if you decorated it on your own.¡±

    ¡°You little¡ª¡±

    ¡ªThe sound of a chime rang in the air, beckoning the girls to the kitchen. A sign that Juno was calling them.

    ¡°Ha, saved by the bell,¡± Leya scoffed, dragging herself off the sofa and leaving the room.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s finally ready. Come on, June¡¯s been prepping this bad boy since this morning.¡± Zero directed Scarlett to the hallway and the both of them made their way to the kitchen.

    Just before Scarlett¡¯s foot stepped through the doorway, party poppers exploded around her. A chorus of ¡°Welcome home!¡± flooded the room. Scarlett scanned the area; banners and balloons of all sorts of colours were placed all around.

    She turned to her sisters¡¯ side, only to be met with a beautiful, but simple, decorated chocolate cake¡ªher favourite. Juno placed the treat on the kitchen counter, before grabbing the youngest sister into a firm hug.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t have a chance to say it before, but we¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± She expressed in sign language after she let go. ¡°Welcome home, Scarlett.¡±

    Scarlett¡¯s heart welled, sharing a soft smile. She also missed her family. Even though the visits at the hospital were often, it was always cut too short for Scarlett¡¯s liking. But now, she could be by their side and make it up to them.

    ¡°Ah, June, you¡¯re gonna make her cry if you keep that up!¡± Leya chuckled.

    ¡°You¡¯re right! Now¡¯s not the time to be sappy, we¡¯ve got a party to celebrate! The girls are finally back together now!¡± Zero cheered, turning on a stereo.

    The girls continued their celebration, but Scarlett couldn¡¯t let go of the heavy feeling in her chest. It was her fault that everything had to change in the first place. She must have caused them so much trouble while she was away.

    She glanced at the room. The countertops were wooden, while the cupboards held a grey finish, matching the interior of the house. Everyone continued dancing and chatting but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to join them. She stared at the slice of chocolate cake in her hands, unable to take a bite out of her favourite dessert.

    They had finally rebuilt a home, and she wasn¡¯t there to help them. Even though she was to blame for their reasons to start over, they refused to resent her. It didn¡¯t make any sense. They should have been angry and upset. But here they were, laughing and smiling at each other, like nothing happened in the first place.

    The room became stuffier as the music droned on and on. The heaviness in her heart was suffocating. Scarlett shot up from her seat and made her way to the backdoor of the house.

    ¡°Lettie, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Zero asked.

    ¡°I just need some fresh air.¡± Scarlett couldn¡¯t bring herself to face them, walking immediately through the door after she spoke.

    ¡°Wait¡ª¡±

    But the door slammed and she was gone.

 Chapter 2: Deck the Halls and My Face

    The air was brisk, as Scarlett trudged through the garden. She reached the gate that led out to the backstreet, while the winter wind beckoned her to return inside. But she refused to listen. She twisted the gate¡¯s handle; the cold metal dropped her temperature even more. But she continued to push on. The gate let out a loud wail as she opened it, welcoming her into an alleyway.

    She buried her hands in the pockets of her joggers; hoping it would help her ignore how thin her t-shirt and the bandages that covered her arms were. But as she made her way through the dark alley, the gate creaked open behind her.

    ¡°Oi!¡± a voice called out. Leya, now wrapped appropriately for the weather with her hideous leopard print coat, carried Scarlett¡¯s grey coat and red scarf in her arms. She rushed to her sister¡¯s side, passing the items to her. ¡°Can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve just come out of the hospital, only to do something this stupid to get sent back there again,¡± she tutted, wrapping the scarf around her younger sibling.

    Scarlett stood frozen, welcoming the new layers of clothes. She buried her face into her scarf, hoping her breath would warm up her face.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Her voice was muffled, but not muffled enough for Leya¡¯s Keen Senses; a perk from her Quirk. She smirked, before continuing to walk down the street.

    ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll show you around.¡±

    The two made their way, passing by some litter that polluted the back alley. A single street lamp marked the path before the two arrived on the main road. The yuletide lights were a stark contrast to where they had come from. But Scarlett didn¡¯t mind. Rather than being bombarded with flashes of bright, festive colours, the terracotta street was chastely lit. Holly wreaths marked most doors, while others had electric snowmen and miniature Christmas trees marking their entrances. Even though it seemed a little modest, it was much more pleasing to the eye.

    Leya guided Scarlett, introducing the neighbours as they walked by. ¡°Mrs S is really sweet¡ªshe feeds all the stray cats, so a lot of them like to roam around.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Scarlett hummed in acknowledgement. ¡°That explains why I see your cousin running around.¡± She pointed at a European shorthair strolling nearby, before it disappeared into the nearby hedges.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Leya growled. ¡°Not this again! I¡¯m not related to some stray cat!¡±

    She grabbed her sister into a headlock, readying her knuckles to rub against her head. But Scarlett didn¡¯t resist. Instead, she let out a soft chuckle under Leya¡¯s arm. The older sibling blinked, slowly lowering her fist at the sight. How long had it been since she heard her baby sister laugh?

    ¡°Hmph,¡± she puffed, letting Scarlett go. ¡°You¡¯re so weird.¡±

    She continued to walk on, resuming introducing the neighbourhood. She gestured at a house that stained the street. Unlike the other buildings, its walls were barely visible, as it was caged with scaffolding. ¡°A new family will be moving here, but I haven¡¯t met them yet, so I can¡¯t say much.¡±

    Scarlett stared at the renovation site. The cold winter breeze shuffled the tarp covers, rattling the railings, which softly groaned due to the shift in weight. Compared to the lights that filled the houses nearby, it was dark and decrepit; a hollow shell of its former self. But there was something comforting about it. A familiar understanding between the house and Scarlett.

    ¡°Whatcha thinking?¡± Leya asked, noticing the lack of Scarlett by her side.

    ¡°I wonder if they have a cat¡ªthen you can have a playmate.¡±

    ¡°Why you little¡ª¡±

    Scarlett power-walked past, making her way down the main road at a brisk pace. Before stopping herself. She slowly turned to her sister.

    ¡°You don¡¯t even know where you¡¯re going, do you?¡± Leya called out, causing Scarlett to bury her face more in her scarf. Leya muttered some curses as she arrived by her side. ¡°Tch, come on. I might as well show you what''s nearby.¡±

    She grabbed Scarlett¡¯s hand and guided her through the meandering streets. It wasn¡¯t until the residential area opened up, that Scarlett¡¯s eyes illuminated. Instead of buildings marking the edge of the road, a metal fence took their place, leading to a park. The sound of people chattering lured the two to wander in. It wasn¡¯t until they were deep into the park that they could see the reason behind the hustle and bustle.

    A large, arched gate stood in the centre of the park. It was completely covered in soft-yellow lights, with the words ¡®Merry Christmas¡¯ hanging from its centre. A few pedestrians with young children were still out and about, despite the drop in temperature. In their periphery, fairy lights that mimicked snowfall on bare tree branches lit a path; tempting them to follow a trail.

    Walking past the gate, the two descended, completely in awe by the bright lights that guided them towards their destination. They arrived at a tiny, wooden cabin, with baubles and trinkets decorating its wall. The sign ¡®Santa¡¯s Grotto¡¯ greeted them, as well as a young couple with their child leaving the decked-up shed. It wasn¡¯t long until the sisters were left alone with the blaring lights.

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    ¡°So, aren¡¯t you gonna go in?¡± Leya poked Scarlett towards the door. Puzzled, Scarlett turned to her sister. ¡°What? You¡¯re not gonna wish for another Godzillo teddy?¡± Leya cackled, causing Scarlett to scowl. The younger sister pushed past Leya and made her way to a bench nearby.

    ¡°Oh, come on!¡± Leya called out. ¡°We all thought it was cute when you asked for it. I¡¯m sure Juno has a picture with you with that teddy somewhere.¡± She chuckled, as she sat by her sister. But it caused Scarlett to turn away. ¡°Hey, hey, ok, I¡¯ll stop.¡± She smiled, before sharing an earnest expression. ¡°Seriously though, have you thought of something you want for Christmas?¡±

    Scarlett furrowed her brows. In all honesty, she doubted she would be home for Christmas, so she never put any thought into it. She brought her scarf to her face as she contemplated. But she came to her usual conclusion. She had everything she needed.

    ¡°Nothing?¡± Leya perked an eyebrow. Scarlett nodded in response. ¡°That¡¯s alright, we¡¯ve still got some time,¡± she continued. ¡°But if you can¡¯t think of anything, I¡¯m just gonna get a Godzillo toy.¡± Leya howled in laughter.

    Scarlett fought the urge to narrow her eyes, not wanting to alert Leya she had successfully gotten under her skin. A moment passed until Leya composed herself. ¡°Okay, okay. At least let me know what your plans are now that you''re back? I¡¯m sure you thought of that much?¡± Leya¡¯s expression softened as Scarlett averted her gaze.

    ¡°I don¡¯t plan on coming back, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking.¡± Scarlett shifted her weight in her seat. She was hoping not to have this conversation. At least not tonight. But there was a sense of relief that flooded her as she got it off her chest. ¡°But I don¡¯t have plans for anything else either. I just want to take it easy,¡± she said softly.

    ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡±

    Scarlett¡¯s eyes met Leya¡¯s. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s still a plan¡ª¡±

    Scarlett¡¯s throat began to dry up, as a nauseous knot began to form at the pit of her stomach. Was she going to be forced to return?

    ¡°¡ªwe¡¯re gonna celebrate Christmas together, aren¡¯t we?¡± Leya shared a tender smile. ¡°We deserve that much, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Scarlett stared, dumbfounded. ¡°Yeah,¡± she finally let out. This was a long-awaited Christmas that was needed.

    ¡°Come on, we should head back before Juno and Zero get worried.¡±

    Scarlett flinched. Worrying those two was the last thing she wanted to do. But how was she supposed to act like everything was fine, when clearly things were not? How can she pretend to go back to how things were before, when so much had changed? Her heart sank. Why was there no clear answer?

    The two rose from their seats and began to navigate their way back. But Leya¡¯s eyes never left Scarlett. She didn¡¯t need her Keen Senses to know something was plaguing her sister.

    ¡°Oi,¡± she said, stopping Scarlett in her tracks. ¡°You¡¯re allowed to take it easy, y¡¯know? I¡¯m sure no one¡¯s gonna mind, so stop beating yourself up about it.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°But what? Those two won¡¯t give you a hard time, and you know it.¡±

    Scarlett dropped her gaze. ¡°I know. It¡¯s just I don¡¯t know what to say to them when we go back.¡±

    Silence settled between the two, as a cold wind rushed by, sending shivers down their spines. Leya shared a sombre look. ¡°Lettie,¡± she finally said, before grabbing her sister into a hug. ¡°I¡¯m sure they understand¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªWould they?¡± Scarlett broke out of the embrace. Her eyes glistened with concern. ¡°You all keep acting like nothing¡¯s happened, and I just don¡¯t get it. And I don¡¯t know what they¡¯ll say when I tell them I don¡¯t want to come back.¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± Leya peered. ¡°Those two will be fine. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll understand that you want to step back.¡± She held Scarlett¡¯s hands tightly. ¡°There is nothing wrong with that, you hear me?¡±

    Scarlett nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back,¡± Leya said.

    The two continued on, weaving through the streets, chattering about anything and everything they could think of. Until they both landed on a topic that couldn¡¯t be overlooked. A topic that Leya was not ready for.

    ¡°So, where would I begin?¡± Leya asked.

    ¡°Well, the first one is such a classic. It came out years ago, before Quirks even existed, so it¡¯s kinda cool to see how it was filmed without Quirks,¡± Scarlett answered.

    ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Leya mulled over the fact. She never thought too deeply about the time before Quirks. She glanced at her hands before materialising her sharp claws; another charming point of her Quirk. Would she still be ¡®Leya¡¯ if she didn¡¯t have her cat-like abilities? She could shudder at the thought.

    ¡°I mean, you don¡¯t have to watch it, because they made a reboot,¡± Scarlett said, fighting the smile on her lips. ¡°But I really like it because it has this charm to it. But like, it¡¯s up to you, ¡®cause I think there¡¯s more than 30 pre-Quirk Godzillo movies in the franchise. I need to double-check how many they made with Quirks though¡ª¡±

    ¡ªA loud crash exploded, as the nearby wall erupted beside them. It pushed Leya back; the rubble and smoke blinded her as she crashed onto the floor. A high-pitched ringing filled her ears. The taste of iron filled her mouth. Pain raced up and down her body. Coughing and sputtering, she let out a groan, as the world refused to stay still.

    But then it came into focus.

    Drenched across a cracked wall, laid a splatter of colour. Its source was beneath it. With limbs bent and stretched at unnatural angles, was a grey coat, now soaked like the wall. Its owner was lying completely still. Her pale skin contrasted with her messy black hair, which obscured most of her face, and juxtaposed the red that surrounded her. It coated the concrete floor; thick, viscous and oozing as it continued to spread everywhere, marking its path as it split into streams.

    Leya scrambled to her feet, ignoring the shooting pain in her shoulder. She had to get to her. She had to get to her now.

    ¡°Scarlett,¡± she panted, grabbing the body. She brushed her sister¡¯s hair out of her face. But it was a mistake. Leya¡¯s eyes widened as the extent of her injuries became clear. Half of her face was sticky and red.

    ¡°Scarlett,¡± desperation coated Leya¡¯s words. ¡°Scarlett, talk to me.¡±

    But another voice answered Leya¡¯s plea. ¡°Oops, I didn¡¯t mean to catch you in the blast.¡±

 Chapter 3: Blast from the Past

    Masked from the smoke and debris, stood a looming figure at the centre of the explosion site. Beside him laid a body; a man in a dark suit. His eyes were rolled white, but he seemed to be breathing.

    ¡°My apologies, ladies.¡± The dust settled, exposing a large, bald man, with bulging biceps that had torn his dress shirt. The veins in his arms glowed orange, as he carried an arrogant smile. He had tiny black sunglasses that slid down his nose. ¡°My friend and I couldn¡¯t settle our dispute and things got out of hand.¡± The orange glow flickered as he bent down and grabbed the unconscious man by his collar.

    But the Villain¡¯s words were not acknowledged by Leya.

    ¡°Lettie, please,¡± she begged, holding her body closer.

    The man tutted at the sight before him. ¡°How unfortunate. All I wanted was to reclaim what was mine. Take back what this man had stolen from me.¡± He shook the body in his hand. ¡°But instead, I got you both mixed up in this mess.¡± He stepped over the rubble, making his way towards the girls. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m an honest man, and I¡¯ll make this as painless as possible. Can¡¯t leave any witnesses now, can we?¡±

    ¡°Scarlett,¡± the distress rose with her voice. ¡°You can¡¯t do this.¡± Leya¡¯s body was trembling. Her breathing was shaky. It couldn¡¯t be true. How could it be true? Her grip tightened. ¡°You can¡¯t tell me there¡¯s 30 Godzillo movies and just leave it at that!¡± She grabbed her sister by the shoulders and shook her.

    The man blinked; his foot remained in the air. Had this girl lost her mind? Clearly, the other girl had died. No one could survive with injuries like that¡ª

    ¡ªA soft groan escaped Scarlett¡¯s lips. She could have disregarded the splitting headache. She could have overlooked the sharp pain encompassing her entire body. But being pestered by Leya? That was too much to handle.

    ¡°Leya, please stop shaking me,¡± Scarlett groaned. ¡°You¡¯re making my injuries worse.¡±

    The man¡¯s eyes widened. How was that possible? She was caught by the blast from his Quirk. It made no sense for her to even be conscious after dealing with a heavy blow like that.

    ¡°You idiot!¡± Leya growled. ¡°Why are you just lying there?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, because I didn¡¯t want to deal with him.¡± Scarlett gestured towards their guest.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Leya slowly turned her attention to the man beside her. Her scowl refused to dissipate at the sight of him. ¡°Who are you?¡±

    A bulging vein appeared on his forehead. Had she been ignoring him this entire time? He held back his rage, as irritability tugged his mouth into a snarl.

    ¡°I think we¡¯ve passed the need for introductions now,¡± he huffed. Smoke expelled from his nostrils as his veins flared.

    Leya cocked an eyebrow. The hairs on her arms stood up, as she assessed the person in front of her. Her eyes trailed to the rubble around her and the passed out man in his hands. ¡°Huh,¡± she scoffed, understanding the situation now. ¡°What d¡¯you wanna do, Scarlett?¡±

    She turned to face her sister. Only to see the back of the raven-haired girl, who had already brushed the debris off and was limping away from the two of them. ¡°I don¡¯t care, I¡¯m going home,¡± Scarlett said, waving her hand dismissively.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Leya shrugged, before flashing her fangs with a grin. ¡°I guess it¡¯s just you and me now, big guy.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± His blood vessels brightened once again. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯ll be alright.¡± Leya stood up. ¡°I¡¯d be more worried about you though.¡± She cracked her knuckles. ¡°It''s been a while since I¡¯ve had some easy prey.¡±

    ¡°Easy prey?¡± the Villain scoffed. ¡°Either, your arrogance makes you blind, or you¡¯re too stupid to realise how much danger you¡¯re in.¡± He dropped the unconscious man. His veins now flared red in Leya¡¯s direction.

    A fluttery feeling entered Leya¡¯s stomach. She bounced on the balls of her feet. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation. With a smirk, she cocked her head. ¡°Huh? Are you telling me that you caused this mess, then?¡±

    ¡°I guess you¡¯re a little slow.¡± He chuckled to himself. ¡°But that just makes things easier.¡± The blood capillaries in his neck began to glow alongside his arms. ¡°I¡¯ll admit, I made a mistake by not finishing you off quickly. But don¡¯t worry, I can fix that. I do have a reputation to uphold.¡± He licked his teeth, before grinning. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to mess up that cocky smile of yours. Then, I¡¯ll kill you, and I¡¯ll kill her too.¡±

    Scarlett stopped in her tracks. ¡°Huh? Kill me?¡±

    She slowly turned to face the man, allowing him to view her injuries. Half of her face was crushed; the skin torn away, exposing muscle and bone. It continued to pour blood, further drenching her clothes. But she seemed unfazed.

    ¡°How funny¡­¡± she said.

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    The sound of sizzling filled the air. Despite the chilly winter backdrop, heat began to emanate from Scarlett. A swirl of steam emerged from her wound. Muscle fibres began to form in the gaping hole in her head; binding and interlacing to form and replace the missing body tissue. The scent of iron filled the air, and before he could blink, the damage to her face was undone.

    He took a step back. The moisture in his mouth had gone. A regenerative Quirk may not be common, but it wasn¡¯t unheard of. Yet for it to be done to a head injury and for it to be done so quickly, it was beyond what he considered possible. His eyes darted back to Leya, whose smile widened at his distress. With a playful look in her eyes, she stepped forward.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see here,¡± she said, shuffling through her pockets. ¡°We¡¯ve got property damage, assaulting civilians and threatening to cause further harm. And we even got a confession here.¡± She shook her head, tutting and feigning a frown. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not gonna go well with the boys back at the station.¡±

    The man struggled to swallow. There was something wrong. They should be fearing him. Begging him to spare their lives. And yet, they were both unshaken. He clenched his jaw. There must be something hidden up their sleeves. Something he didn¡¯t want to find out.

    Leya continued to walk towards him. ¡°But lucky for you, you¡¯ll be dealing with me instead.¡±

    She flashed a photocard that reflected in the streetlight. The man¡¯s eyes widened. The words on the card shone before him.

    <blockquote>

    Provisional Hero Licence

    Name: Leya McCoy

    Affiliation: Hope Agency

    Iss.: 20XX-XX-XX

    Hero Name: PANTERA

    </blockquote>

    His heart dropped. He knew that name. Or at least he knew what was associated with that name. Every Villain in the area had an idea of who she was. The up-and-coming Hero-in-training, who had begun wiping out Villains as soon as she left the provisional licence exam centre. The same girl who was supported by the newly formed, but reputable, Hope Agency.

    He gulped.

    And now, that person was approaching him.

    ¡°So, why don¡¯t we do this the easy way,¡± Leya said, twirling her licence in her hand. ¡°Just follow me to the station and no one has to get hurt.¡±

    The sound of sirens filled the air. Summoned by the blast, it wouldn¡¯t be long until the authorities arrived. His heart began to race. There was not enough time to deal with them both before the police showed up. Quickly glancing down at the unconscious body, he gritted his teeth. He had worked so hard to enact his revenge. But now it was going to be wasted because two teenagers just happened to be nearby.

    He couldn¡¯t let that happen.

    Flaring his nostrils, he brought his fists into the air. His glowing veins were now bulging as he swung his arms. Leya¡¯s cat-like agility was enough for her to dodge out of the way. But the man was never aiming for her. He brought his clenched hands down, releasing a shockwave into the ground. Dirt and rubble were flung into the air. The blast caused the girls to lose their footing. But that moment was all he needed.

    He turned on his heel and ran.

    ¡°Oi!¡± Leya called out, as she quickly regained her balance. ¡°Come back here!¡±

    She readied herself to give into the chase, before stopping in her tracks. She turned towards her sister, who was rubbing her arm after colliding with the wall.

    ¡°You good?¡± Leya asked. Scarlett groaned in response. Yeah, she¡¯s fine.

    Leya made her way towards her, giving Scarlett her leopard-printed coat. ¡°Here, take this and go home. You remember the way back, right?¡±

    Scarlett nodded, looking disgusted as she held Leya¡¯s coat. ¡°Do I have to take this?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s my favourite. I don¡¯t wanna ruin it when I deal with that guy.¡± Leya began to roll her shoulder, taking note of its injured state. But that was not enough to stop her. ¡°Let everyone know I¡¯ll be home late!¡±

    Jumping on the balls of her feet, Leya sprinted towards the direction the Villain left. Her Quirk, Cat, not only made her extremely agile, but also enhanced her speed. She bolted between the buildings and meandered through the backstreets nearby. Even if the Villain had a head start, he couldn¡¯t outrun Leya. She only needed to have her sights on him.

    Twitching her ears, Leya dashed and vaulted up a large construction site to find higher ground. She scanned the horizon, searching for a sign. But the hustle and bustle of the festive season was making it hard for him to stand out. Leya let out a curse, her eyes darting between the civilians below. Until a glint of orange scuttled by, retreating into a dark alley.

    Leya leaned forward. Her Keen Senses took control of her body. Her vision became sharper. Her hearing became clearer. She focused on the figure, before letting out a grin.

    Found you.

    She took off, leaping off the scaffolding and running on all fours. A rhythmic throb covered her ears, as her heartbeat pounded inside her chest. She hopped between the rooftops and railings. The distance between them was closing. She continued to charge forward, until he was within range and she could reach him.

    With her muscles screaming, Leya launched herself off the rooftops. She raised her fist and connected her knuckles with his back. Adding her body weight behind the strike, the Villain tumbled forward, slamming against a wall. His sunglasses shattered from the impact, while blood began to pour from his busted lip.

    He whipped around to see his attacker, before trembling and freezing in place. Leya extended her claws, placing them against his neck.

    ¡°I warned you.¡± Her voice was low. ¡°If you¡¯d listen to me, it wouldn¡¯t have gotten nasty.¡±

    The Villain snarled. He couldn¡¯t let her have her way. He flared his arms red, readying for another shockwave. But he couldn¡¯t match Leya¡¯s speed. She struck his neck with an open palm, aiming for the main artery. Before alternating with two more strikes.

    The man¡¯s eyes rolled white, as he slumped to the floor.

    ¡°Tsk,¡± Leya muttered. ¡°They never listen.¡±

    She grabbed the Villain by the collar, hoping to drag him to the nearest authority figure. But an obscure mark on his chest caught her attention. As her Keen Senses kicked in, the discolouration became clearer. It was a faded blue tattoo that resembled a barcode.

    Leya¡¯s eyes widened. Her breathing hitched. The last time she saw a similar tattoo was when she was aboard the Veiled Duchess.

 Chapter 4: Answer the Call

    The sounds of phones ringing resonated in the air. Desks were cluttered with documents. Cabinets were overspilling with files, records and reports. The hubbub of the police station was in full swing, as patrolmen rushed past, trying to make do with the increase in cases that came along with the festive season. But the liveliness was a little too much for a feline teenager huddled in the corner.

    Leya groaned, holding an ice pack to her face. How could she have been so careless? The tattoo revelation had stunned her for a moment. But that moment was enough for the Villain to regain consciousness. Although he wasn¡¯t able to use his Quirk, he was able to land a hit. She mentally reprimanded herself. If the tattoo wasn¡¯t going to give her a headache, being punched in the face definitely would.

    But at least she was able to hold him down until the police showed up.

    ¡°Here,¡± spoke a deep voice.

    Peeking through her fingers, a dark-haired man with a full beard extended his hand, offering her a paper cup of water. His dark grey suit and blue shirt were dishevelled, matching the haggard look in his eyes. Dangling from his neck was a police lanyard, informing his name as Detective Inspector Justin Wilkinson.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Leya said, hiding her grimace as she accepted the drink.

    ¡°That guy clocked you pretty hard, huh?¡± He shared a concerned look. But his eyes were trained on her, observing and judging her every move. Leya took a long sip. It made her a little self-conscious.

    The man let out a sigh. ¡°You know it was reckless to take him on all on your own, right? I don¡¯t think I should have to remind you that you shouldn¡¯t act without the supervision of a Pro Hero¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªHey, what else was I supposed to do?¡± interjected Leya. ¡°He was putting people in danger. I couldn¡¯t let him get away.¡±

    The Detective shook his head. ¡°Yeah, but a Provisional Hero Licence isn¡¯t an excuse to do whatever you want. We have rules for a reason.¡±

    Leya furrowed her brows. ¡°If I didn¡¯t step in, he could¡¯ve hurt more people.¡±

    ¡°If you didn¡¯t step in, the authorities would have handled it. We were already on our way. A kid like you shouldn¡¯t interfere with our work, especially when it''s this dangerous, or you¡¯d be no better than the Vigilantes.¡± The last word seemed to leave an acrid taste in his mouth.

    Leya bit her tongue, forcing herself to stop her rebuttal. So, you¡¯re anti-Vigilante then? Her mind flashed back to the blue barcode tattoo and the consequences that came with the fall of the Veiled Duchess. Dammit! He must be one of the stricter officers. I need to handle this carefully.

    Maintaining eye contact, Leya composed herself. ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯m not a Vigilante. I got my licence.¡± She whipped out her phone, dialling a number. ¡°But if you¡¯re still not happy, feel free to talk to my supervisor.¡±

    <hr>

    Cool air seeped into a terracotta house, as the backdoor opened. A knackered Scarlett shuffled her way into the kitchen. The idea of snuggling the warm blankets of her bed was the only thing that stopped her from dropping down and falling asleep on the kitchen floor.

    ¡°Scarlett, you¡¯re back!¡± Zero said, with Juno by her side. They both smiled with relief, before their expressions faltered. ¡°Oh my God, why are you covered in so much blood!¡±

    Zero rushed to her sister¡¯s side, while Juno began to shuffle through the cupboards. The blue-haired girl guided Scarlett to a seat, analysing her for any injuries. But Scarlett brushed her concerns away.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± said Scarlett. ¡°There was a villain attack, but I healed. Leya¡¯s also fine. She went to deal with him. She said she¡¯d be late though.¡±

    Scarlett fought back the urge to yawn. A consequence of using her Quirk was that it drained her stamina. But there were ways to manage the lethargy. Juno presented a slice of chocolate cake from earlier; a sweet treat to help replenish the drowsy girl.

    Craving the sugary burst of energy, Scarlett tucked in. The two silently watched her, relieved that she was not harmed. But something else plagued their minds.

    ¡°Scarlett,¡± Zero said softly. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright? You seemed a little upset when you left.¡±

    ¡°You know you can tell us if there¡¯s something wrong, right?¡± Juno signed.

    With a mouthful, Scarlett looked up at the other two. Their concerned faces made it hard to swallow her food. Her chest became a little rigid. The thought of having this conversation made her throat dry. She lowered the spoon in her hand. She didn¡¯t want to disappoint them. She didn¡¯t want to cause them any more trouble. She wanted to make it up to them. But her mind wandered back to her conversation with Leya in the park.

    As much as Scarlett didn¡¯t want to admit it, Leya was right. They would understand why she would want to take a step back. It was her fault their lives changed so drastically. But forcing herself to return would only lead to repeating old mistakes.

    Scarlett took a deep breath, taking a moment to collect herself. ¡°I don¡¯t want to join the agency. I don¡¯t want to be a Hero.¡±

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The girls stared in silence, allowing the information to sink in slowly. The first to break out of the stupor was Juno, who reached for Scarlett¡¯s hand and held it to comfort her. She shared a tender smile, before exchanging a look with Zero. A silent message passed between them.

    Zero cleared her throat. ¡°Scarlett, we were also thinking the same thing. We were more worried that you might force yourself to come back.¡±

    Scarlett blinked, before letting out a breath of relief. She hadn¡¯t realised how tense she had been, until the stress from her muscles began to release. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s ok? ¡®Cause if you need me to help with anything¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªScarlett,¡± Zero said. ¡°We¡¯ll be fine. Your big sisters have got this, so don¡¯t worry.¡± She gave a wink, turning on the charismatic charm that many had fallen for. ¡°In fact, why don¡¯t you head to bed, while I¡¯ll go and help Leya and show you what we¡¯re capable of.¡±

    Juno rose from her seat, gesturing to the door. ¡°I¡¯ll show you where your bedroom is.¡±

    Nodding, Scarlett followed her sister. Zero shared a smile as she watched the two leave. Their home had begun to feel complete. They just needed their absent sister. If only she knew where she was.

    A phone began to ring, dragging Zero away from her thoughts. Rummaging through her pockets, she grabbed her phone. The caller ID flashed on her screen. She let out a soft chuckle as she clicked to answer.

    ¡°Hey, Leya.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°Detective,¡± a voice called out.

    A worn-out man stood outside the police office, warming his hands with his breath. He turned to see a young woman in blue making her way towards him.

    ¡°Ah, you must be the Pro Hero, Zero, that I¡¯ve heard so much about. I¡¯m Detective Wilkinson,¡± said the man, exchanging his hand for a handshake, which Zero reciprocated. ¡°I heard your music has taken off¡ªthat must¡¯ve increased your popularity.¡±

    Zero shared a courteous smile. ¡°It¡¯s only because of people like you, that I get to have time to make music in the first place.¡± Zero peered behind him, looking for a certain catgirl. ¡°By the way, where is Pantera?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s getting patched up by the medic,¡± he replied.

    ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Zero feigned a casual expression, as she assessed the man in front of her. He seems to match the description Leya said on the phone. ¡°Um, Detective Wilkinson, I heard you wanted to talk to me.¡± Zero shared a thoughtful look. ¡°Pantera mentioned on the phone that you weren¡¯t happy with her work. Can I ask what happened?¡±

    The Detective let out a sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. She¡¯s talented. But she¡¯s very young.¡± He crossed his arms, before lowering his head. ¡°It just doesn¡¯t sit right to see a kid get involved with something dangerous thinking that they can handle it all by themselves. We¡¯ve all seen what happens when people take it upon themselves to do our work. It never turns out well.¡±

    Zero hummed in acknowledgement. ¡°I agree. Pantera is young and can sometimes act rashly. But her quick reaction is also what makes her exceptional at her job.¡± She shared a content smile. ¡°Not only was she attacked while she was off-duty, her first response was to apprehend the Villain in order to reduce more casualties. Judging that, things turned out pretty well.¡±

    The Detective met her gaze. ¡°She was lucky this time. She might not be next time.¡±

    The young Pro Hero crossed her arms. ¡°Pantera was deemed qualified to do Hero work when she got her Provisional Licence. Her work ethic is already well known to the public, who can¡¯t wait for her debut as a Pro Hero. You have to agree that we need more Heroes like her who are quick to do the right thing.¡±

    Detective Wilkinson frowned. ¡°Popularity doesn¡¯t make a Hero good at the job. It just means there¡¯s more eyes on you when you mess up because you''re being reckless.¡±

    Zero opened her mouth to counter his statement, only to close it. He wasn¡¯t wrong. But did that apply to them at Hope Agency? Before she could continue the thought, she was interrupted.

    ¡°Zee!¡± Leya called out, exiting the police station and jogging towards her sister. Her face was bruised and her arm was in a sling. But she didn¡¯t seem to be suffering from any major injuries. Zero couldn¡¯t hide her look of relief.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you can still stand,¡± said Zero. ¡°I heard that you got banged up pretty good that you needed a medic.¡±

    Leya made a face. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just sprained my shoulder and got a smack to the face. This is nothing.¡± She gestured to her injuries, causing Zero to chuckle. She opened her mouth to continue talking, only to close it as Detective Wilkinson came into her view.

    Zero maintained a neutral face as she noted Leya¡¯s apprehension. ¡°Alright then, how about we head home?¡± She gestured towards the policeman. ¡°I¡¯ll see you around, Detective. And I¡¯ll make sure to keep in mind what you said.¡±

    Detective Wilkinson nodded, as the two girls left. They walked in complete silence, waiting until they knew they were far enough away to be heard. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zero asked.

    Leya lowered her gaze. ¡°The guy tonight¡ªhe had the tattoo.¡±

    ¡°Tattoo?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, a blue barcode on his chest.¡±

    Zero did a double take, scanning Leya¡¯s face for sincerity. But the younger girl would never joke about something like that. Zero gulped. ¡°Did you tell anyone about it?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± said Leya. ¡°I didn¡¯t want people to dig up dirt on us.¡±

    A moment of silence passed. Leya¡¯s eyes filled with concern, as doubt entered her mind. Had she done the right thing?

    Zero laid a hand on Leya¡¯s uninjured shoulder. ¡°That was a good call. Most officers who worked on the case resigned, so there aren¡¯t many people who can connect the two.¡± She leant down, meeting Leya¡¯s eye level. ¡°That means you bought us a little more time.¡±

    ¡°Time? What do you mean?¡±

    Zero exhaled. ¡°A tattoo isn¡¯t enough evidence to be linked to the Duchess. We need to investigate it further. And who knows, if this is linked to what happened on that day, maybe we can figure out the truth and clear our names.¡±

    Zero shared a reassuring smile, which Leya reciprocated, before her expression soured. ¡°Wait, if we need more info, then that means we have to see him.¡±

    Zero chuckled. ¡°Yeah, we do.¡± Her affirmation caused Leya to groan in repulsion. ¡°So, get ready early tomorrow. We¡¯re gonna give Archie a visit.¡±

    <hr>

    Hope Agency Hero Notes:

    Villain Name: Fission Fist

    Quirk: Shock Wave

    Fission Fist is not naturally bald. He decided to shave his head because he thought it would make him look more intimidating. Although he finds it annoying to shave his head every day, he thinks he looks super cool now. His mother disagrees.

    Furthermore, his Quirk has nothing to do with nuclear fission.

 Chapter 5: Archie

    The sound of a lorry reversing made it through the thin walls of a rundown and boarded-up building. In the makeshift loft above, wires criss-crossed and cluttered the floor. Stacks of boxes labelled as delicate, created a maze that navigated to an old mattress in the corner of the room. To its side was a wall of computer screens, all currently switched off.

    Huddling an electric heater nearby was a young man wrapped in a blanket, munching on a bowl of stale cereal. His mop of orange-brown hair had been styled by his bed. A pair of oversized glasses sat on his nose, which had been taped in a few places, but remained functional. His clothes were dishevelled and stained. A busted stereo and dissected PC towers were by his side. But he elected to ignore them. There were other pressing matters to deal with first.

    He reached for the nearest box, careful to open its folds. With a tender touch, he grasped the item inside, revealing a pink book cover, with the words ¡®The Princess Demands Sugar,¡¯ written in beautiful, golden calligraphy. It was the deluxe edition of an ongoing webnovel that had begun publishing physical copies. He owned all previous instalments. But now they were releasing new versions; rare issues he had to collect.

    His fingers grazed the book cover. The artwork in these deluxe volumes was done by none other than the author, Leyette Lei; an individual who remains to be unknown. The series itself was a light-hearted fantasy, slice of life, with little to no controversy. So it brought to question the reasoning behind their secrecy.

    Were they a Villain with a secret hobby? Or perhaps the mystery helped with the sales. Maybe there was a deeper conspiracy he hadn¡¯t thought of yet. If only he could discover their identity and uncover the truth as to why they wish to remain anonymous. Heck, there may even be a clue hidden in the book in his hands¡ª

    ¡ªA knock at the door dragged him from his thoughts. Who on earth could be disturbing him at a time like this?

    ¡°Oi, Archie! Open the door, or I¡¯m gonna kick it down!¡±

    The man gulped. How did she find him already?

    The banging continued outside. His heart began to race. Maybe he could jump out the window and escape? But his eyes darted back to the boxes that littered the room. What about his precious books¡­

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother running away. You can¡¯t outrun me anyway.¡±

    The man bit his lip. Dammit, she¡¯s right.

    The door reverberated as the knocks became more erratic and aggressive. It was a surprise that the brittle wood hadn¡¯t caved in yet. But if she continued, it wouldn¡¯t be long until it fell off its hinges, and that would be a pain to fix¡ª

    The door whipped open, revealing a bruised tawny-pink-haired girl in a leopard print coat, with her fist hanging in the air. Besides her was an older blue-haired girl, who flashed a surprised look at the sudden permission to enter.

    ¡°Why are you so loud so early in the morning?¡± said the man named Archie.

    Leya narrowed her eyes. ¡°What do you mean? It¡¯s almost midday.¡±

    She stepped inside the loft, only to recoil as the stale stench of the room became evident. Zero soon walked in behind her, seemingly unfazed by the odour. Her eyes scanned the room, before settling on the wall of computer monitors.

    ¡°Oh God! Learn to open a window, Archie.¡± Leya held her nose in disgust.

    ¡°What?¡± rebutted Archie. ¡°And freeze to death because I let all the warm air out?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll die from suffocating on this smell first.¡± Much to Archie¡¯s dismay, cold air rushed into the room as Leya opened a nearby window.

    ¡°Archie,¡± said Zero, her eyes finally leaving the screens and meeting him. ¡°Sorry for barging in, but we have a favour to ask.¡±

    The man frowned, before crossing his arms. ¡°It''s always like that with you two. What do you want?¡±

    ¡°We need information. We found a guy. And he might have something to do with the Veiled Duchess.¡±

    Archie¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wha-What do you mean?¡±

    Zero flashed her phone, revealing a mugshot of a bald man with tiny sunglasses. ¡°Do you know this man?¡±

    ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa.¡± He held his hands up in defence. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about anything these days. I left that all behind me now. I¡¯m clean, I promise.¡±

    Leya cocked her head with a frown. ¡°That doesn¡¯t answer her question.¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t know him!¡± The inflexion in his voice couldn¡¯t hide his earnestness.

    But Leya narrowed her eyes, unconvinced by his tone. ¡°Come on, Archie. Don¡¯t tell me you forgot how you¡¯re linked to the mess that was the Duchess. If we go down, you¡¯re coming with us, so just tell us what you know.¡±

    ¡°I am! I don¡¯t know anything.¡± His eyes darted between the two, as he took a step back. This could be bad. He needed to be careful.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Leya¡¯s frown deepened. Her eyes scanned the room for some aid. Until her gaze landed on a pink book nearby. She leant down to pick it up; her claws grazing the cover. Archie gulped. This is very bad.

    ¡°What¡¯s this, Archie? ¡®The Princess Demands Sugar: Special Edition,¡¯ eh?¡± Leya said wryly. She glanced around the room, noting all the other boxes. ¡°Your collections¡¯ gotten bigger since the last time we saw you.¡±

    She opened the book, flipping through the pages in an abrasive manner, barely registering its contents. Flip. Flip. Flip. Archie winced with each page turn.

    ¡°Leya,¡± said Zero, noticing the anxious look in Archie¡¯s eyes. But the girl didn¡¯t stop.

    Archie wet his lips as he watched. His breathing became shaky. She was going to shred the book at this rate. He needed to stop her. But how? What could he do to make her put the book down?

    He glanced back to Zero, who held her phone in her hand. ¡°Sh-show me the picture again.¡±

    He extended his hand. Zero passed him the device. With his other hand, he snapped his fingers, turning on the broken stereo. The gentle sound of 90s UK pop began to play. He tried his best to hide his embarrassment, but Leya¡¯s snickering made it difficult to do.

    As the music continued to play, the phone screen began to flicker under his touch. The light reflected in his glasses. He snapped his fingers twice more, turning on the wall of computer monitors, as well as the PC towers nearby.

    Muttering to himself, Archie moved his attention to the wall. Waving his hand around, he controlled the screens from where he stood. The two girls watched as windows popped up on the computers. Social media pages, documents, pictures¡ªpeople¡¯s entire online lives were on full display. The information flew by, moving at an alarming rate, almost disorientating them. Until one caught their eye.

    A picture of the bald man leaving a club.

    ¡°Ok,¡± Archie heaved, wiping the sweat on his brow. ¡°This is all the information I could find on him.¡± He enlarged the image, alongside some documents. ¡°He goes by the name Fission Fist and was one of the leaders of a gang.¡±

    ¡°Was?¡± Zero asked.

    ¡°Yeah, he was until he left. It¡¯s hard to say why, but from what I could glean, I think he was overthrown because the gang has a new leader now.¡± Archie flashed the same image of the club, but this time a different man was exiting. Leya¡¯s eyes widened in recognition. It was the same man that was found unconscious when they had met the Villain.

    ¡°Well, that explains what happened that night,¡± she muttered to herself.

    Archie raised an eyebrow at her comment, opening his mouth to question her further. Only to be interjected by Zero. ¡°What else did you find about him?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Archie scratched the back of his head. ¡°Well, when he was booted out, there¡¯s some records that show he went to Japan and that he stayed there until recently.¡± He expanded on the documents, highlighting the flight details.

    Zero and Leya shared a concerned look. How was this linked to the Veiled Duchess?

    Leya stared at the image of Fission Fist. There was something off about it. She leaned forward, comparing the image before her to the man she saw yesterday. Her eyes scanned his face. He still wore those ridiculous sunglasses. Then she examined his clothes. But the image version was wearing a full suit, covering his arms. She bit her lip hard. What was different?

    Her eyes gleamed over his figure, until she landed on his hands. She turned to the man beside her. ¡°Archie, can you show me older pictures of this guy?¡±

    The technician nodded, displaying an array of photographs. An unsettling feeling rooted itself in Leya¡¯s stomach. She pointed at the screen. ¡°His hands aren¡¯t glowing.¡±

    Zero perked up. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    She gestured for Archie to put the mugshot onto the monitor. Other than the whirling sound of the computer, they sat in silence as they compared pictures. But the answer was clear. Before he left for Japan, his arms did not glow. So why had this changed?

    Zero let out a frustrated sigh. What was she missing?

    ¡°Archie, do you still have information about Aidan Murray?¡±

    Archie released a lip trill, blowing air out from his lips. ¡°The name¡¯s not ringing a bell. Who is he?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s the missing person case we were working on,¡± Zero answered. ¡°The one that led us to the Duchess. And you.¡±

    Archie gulped, while Leya shared a glance at Zero. ¡°What¡¯s Murray got to do with this? His case is nothing like this one.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± said Zero. ¡°But he was on the Duchess. So, maybe we¡¯ll find a connection.¡±

    ¡°Oh man, it might take a while though. If he¡¯s the one you were looking for during that massive spike in cases, then it''s gonna be annoying trying to find info on him again.¡± Archie stretched his neck, before blitzing through information on the screen.

    Zero could feel a headache creep up as she recollected the sudden rise in missing people¡¯s cases during her investigation of Aidan Murray. The police and Pro Heroes were stretched too thin and struggled with the abrupt quantity of cases. And it wasn¡¯t helpful that they shared no patterns with one another. Just a sharp increase of people disappearing with no clues left behind.

    She rubbed a hand across her temple. ¡°I really hope the number of cases have dropped these days,¡± she muttered to herself.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Archie raised an eyebrow, still not looking away from his work. ¡°I can find out if you like. I mean, you can take a look at the figures while I¡¯ll get Aidan¡¯s info for you.¡±

    He twirled a monitor towards the two girls, before presenting the data. Zero and Leya''s eyes widened as they stared at the graph. A knot began to form in the centre of their stomachs. The number of cases had started to diminish. But only after the Veiled Duchess had burnt down.

    ¡°What does this mean?¡± Leya asked, tilting her head as she stared at the screen.

    Zero studied the information in front of her. If there were other missing people like Murray aboard the Duchess, then it could mean that whoever was responsible for operating the ferry was probably linked to the increase in cases.

    She surveyed the former gang boss; their current and only lead to the Duchess, before focusing on the reports in front of her. This is a stretch but if he was in Japan, then maybe¡­

    ¡°Archie,¡± said Zero.

    ¡°Yeah?¡± His eyes never left the monitors.

    ¡°Can you see if the cases of missing people have increased in Japan? And bring up recent cases as well please?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Archie shared a perplexed look, even though he had already begun completing the request. ¡°Why? People go missing all the time¡ª¡±

    His mouth hung open as he displayed the data from Japan. Reports revealed a sharp incline of cases in recent months. But what grabbed their attention was the latest news article. It reported a man had gone missing from his home. His picture showed that his arms were glowing.

 Chapter 6: Face the Truth

    Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

    The clock on the kitchen wall filled the silence, as three cups of tea turned cold on the dinner table. Both were unheard and untouched by the three sisters who sat in reflection. The revelation from earlier today echoed in their ears, casting a heavy weight on their shoulders.

    Leya gritted her teeth, as she leaned back in her chair. She let out an exasperated sigh, as she stared at the ceiling. It didn¡¯t make sense. How could any of this make sense? There must be something they could do. Something that would help give the full picture. Something like¡ª

    Leya sprung up, catching the attention of the other two. ¡°Maybe we can interrogate the bald guy?¡±

    Zero frowned, while Juno shook her head. ¡°That could backfire and raise suspicion on us,¡± she signed.

    ¡°I agree with Juno,¡± said Zero. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t be able to question him properly because we¡¯d be under police observation. And even if we could plan a way around that, showing too much interest would alert them about us and we can¡¯t risk that. Not if we want to get to the bottom of this.¡±

    ¡°But there must be something we can do, right?¡± Leya sank back into her chair, waving her hand in frustration. ¡°I mean, this doesn¡¯t make sense. How can missing people from Japan be linked to any of this? Heck, why Japan of all places? Like come on, just because stuff¡¯s happening at the same time doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s related.¡±

    ¡°Hm, you¡¯re right,¡± nodded Zero. ¡°Correlation doesn¡¯t mean causation. We need to know more.¡± She crossed her arms, tilting her head back in contemplation. ¡°But the only thing I can think of is visiting Japan and tracing that guy¡¯s footsteps.¡± Her frown deepened as she continued her thought. ¡°But what happens if we¡¯re just being paranoid and this has nothing to do with the Duchess? I don¡¯t wanna accidentally put a target on our backs just because we couldn¡¯t look the other way.¡±

    Zero¡¯s words hung in the air. The implications of an investigation laid heavily on her chest. Was it a good idea to go around and poke their noses into this? There was nothing concrete that this was their past coming back to haunt them.

    And prying for an answer would come with a vicious risk. The lives they had rebuilt could become undone if they weren¡¯t careful. If the public found out about their association with the Veiled Duchess, there would be a manhunt for her and her sisters despite what the truth entailed. They will always be seen as the perpetrators that botched the operation and nothing more.

    She pressed her lips into a slight grimace. It was understandable that people still needed a place to direct their pain. But did it have to be aimed at her family?

    ¡°Better to be safe than sorry,¡± Juno signed.

    Zero blinked. ¡°Are¡­you saying I should go to Japan anyway?¡±

    Juno nodded, continuing to communicate. ¡°Like you said, we need more information. And we don¡¯t know anyone in Japan who can help us. So, just go. If we want to be secretive about it, we can say you¡¯re there for your music career instead of Hero work.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± added Leya. ¡°And I¡¯ll come with you¡ªyou¡¯ll probably need the extra pair of hands.¡±

    Zero took a deep breath, deliberating the decision. The cover-up was tempting. Everything could be easily arranged if she went under the guise of her secondary career. And adding the bonus that Leya would be there to help, eased the lack of confidence that began to build inside her.

    But a nagging feeling fluttered in her stomach as she thought about a certain dark-haired girl, who was still sleeping the events of yesterday off.

    ¡°What about Scarlett?¡± Zero shared a concerned look. ¡°She¡¯s just gotten out of the hospital, and something like this might stress her out. Especially if it¡¯s what we think it is.¡± She shook her head softly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to interfere with an investigation knowing it could affect her recovery.¡±

    Their unspoken worry remained heavy in the air. They all had too much to lose. But if they turned the other way, and the people who were responsible for the Veiled Duchess had returned, then they would be failing the lives that were lost that day, including one of their own.

    Zero pushed the thought away. This was not the time to grieve. They had to think. How were they going to navigate the situation without compromising Scarlett¡¯s wellbeing?

    ¡°How about we don¡¯t tell her anything?¡± offered Leya.

    Zero shared a blank look. ¡°You wanna hide this from Scarlett?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± She shrugged. ¡°The way I see it, the less people that know about this, the better.¡±

    ¡°I dunno.¡± Zero shook her head. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem like something we should keep from her.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying we never tell her. Just keep it low until we can confirm this is what we think it is,¡± said Leya.

    Zero turned to Juno for some guidance. But the oldest sibling shared a content nod as she considered Leya¡¯s words. ¡°It¡¯s like the Doctor said¡ªwe shouldn¡¯t put unnecessary stress on Scarlett.¡± Juno moved her hands with resoluteness. ¡°We should wait until we are sure this is linked to the Veiled Duchess and then maybe decide to tell her.¡±

    Zero began to chew the inside of her lip, weighing the option in front of her. The idea of hiding something seemed wrong, but the consequences of telling their youngest sister the truth seemed just as unappealing. Zero took a deep breath, straightening her posture. Protecting her family should come first.

    ¡°Alright, we won¡¯t tell Scarlett.¡±

    ¡°Hiding stuff from me is not going to help with anything,¡± a tired voice called out.

    Three pairs of eyes widened, as an exhausted Scarlett trudged her way into the kitchen. Yawning, she made her way to the kitchen counter and put the kettle on.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Closing her gaping mouth, Zero broke out of the stupor first. ¡°How-how much did you hear?¡±

    ¡°Bald guy was in Japan and might be involved with the Veiled Duchess.¡± Scarlett¡¯s back remained turned to them as she continued brewing herself a cup of tea. She grabbed the milk from the fridge, while the others shared glances at one another, unsure of how to proceed.

    Sensing their unease, Scarlett let out a sigh. She turned around, holding her steaming cup of tea as she leaned against the kitchen counter. Her drowsy vision remained on her sisters, as she profiled them.

    Leya and Zero¡¯s faces were the easiest to read. The former shared a grimace, unable to look Scarlett in the eye. The latter looked flustered, unveiling the emotions she often censored in front of others. Juno, on the other hand, seemed to be studying Scarlett in return. Her eyes shone with concern at the youngest sister¡¯s response.

    An uncomfortable feeling settled in her chest. They were still anxious about her and that was the last thing she wanted. ¡°Look, don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Scarlett said. ¡°Do what you need to do.¡±

    ¡°Scarlett,¡± signed Juno, with a worried frown. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡±

    Scarlett clenched her mug a little tighter. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m not that frail. If I was, I don¡¯t think they¡¯d discharge me from the hospital.¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± Zero¡¯s voice was coated with remorse. ¡°It¡¯s just that you¡¯ve been through so much already, we didn¡¯t want to throw this on you as well.¡±

    Her words caused the guilt to bubble in Scarlett¡¯s chest, pressing itself onto the back of her throat. Will she always worry them? Will she always be in the way for them? Or was this the aftermath of failing to meet their expectations?

    Scarlett swallowed, hoping it would push down the pangs of guilt that were beginning to surface. Was there nothing she could do to help them? She had already declared her resignation from the agency. Maybe she should come back? But the chances of history repeating itself made the skin underneath her bandages ache.

    Scarlett shook her head softly. They shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions. At the end of the day, people were disappearing and there was something they could do about it. She took a deep breath.

    ¡°Look, if something is going on, we need to check it out. But if you''re still worried about me, then how about we all go to Japan? You could probably use the help.¡±

    Three incredulous stares answered Scarlett¡¯s proposal. However, an unnoticed tender smile tugged at Juno¡¯s lips, as a remnant of the old Scarlett resurfaced in front of her.

    ¡°What?¡± Scarlett furrowed her brows. ¡°You think it¡¯s a bad idea?¡±

    ¡°N-no,¡± Zero shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­I thought you didn¡¯t want to be a part of the agency anymore.¡± She shared an apprehensive smile.

    ¡°Yeah, you don¡¯t have to force yourself to help us,¡± Juno signed with an understanding expression.

    Scarlett gulped. The kitchen counter pressing against her spine was a reminder she couldn¡¯t back away. Biting her lip, she lowered her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯m coming back.¡± I would probably get in the way and make more of a mess than how things are now. ¡°I just think it¡¯ll be easier for everyone if I was there with you.¡±

    ¡°Scarlett, you¡¯re not a burden.¡± Juno rose from her seat to wrap an arm around her little sister. She gave a reassuring squeeze as she embraced the shorter girl.

    ¡°Yeah, Juno¡¯s right.¡± Zero followed suit, joining the hug. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for wanting to hide this from you. I just didn¡¯t want to overwhelm you.¡±

    Scarlett remained still, the best she could muster to accept the affection. But a line appeared between Leya¡¯s brows, as she leaned back and searched for any telltale signs to indicate what the dark-haired girl was thinking.

    ¡°You¡¯re not gonna pull something when we get to Japan, are you?¡± Leya asked.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Scarlett broke out of the hug.

    ¡°I¡¯m just saying,¡± answered Leya. ¡°If you''re gonna come along because you want revenge or something then I¡¯m not against it.¡±

    ¡°Leya!¡± chided Zero.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound very heroic.¡± Scarlett narrowed her eyes. ¡°Is that what you¡¯re planning?

    ¡°Hey look, we made a promise, and if taking those bastards down means we can keep it, then it makes no difference to me.¡± Leya shrugged.

    ¡°Whoa,¡± Zero held her hands up, stepping in between the two. ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®revenge¡¯ happening here.¡±

    But her words brushed past Scarlett¡¯s ears, as she thought back to the childish promise they made forever ago. All they wanted to do was help those the Heroes couldn¡¯t help; be a source of reassurance when society was too busy to listen. And repay those who had saved them.

    But that was a promise that Scarlett failed to keep.

    A familiar pain clutched her heart. There was nothing she could do to fix what had happened. She would only make the situation worse the more she got involved. Why did she even offer to go to Japan with them in the first place? Did she want revenge? Was Leya seeing something in her that she couldn¡¯t see in herself?

    Scarlett hardened her expression. ¡°You¡¯re wrong. I don¡¯t want revenge. I¡¯d rather not be involved in any way. But let¡¯s be real here, that¡¯s not important.¡±

    The air became taut. Zero turned to Juno for some support, but the blonde was monitoring the situation carefully. Juno''s eyes bore into Leya¡¯s, as a silent message was shared between them. Understanding Leya¡¯s behaviour, she let out a sigh.

    She placed a consoling hand on Scarlett¡¯s shoulder, before signing. ¡°If that¡¯s what you really want Scarlett, then I don¡¯t see a problem with you sitting out, so don¡¯t force yourself.¡± She shared a sympathetic look. ¡°But I would like it if you were in Japan with us. Even if you¡¯re not helping out, a change in scenery might be nice. Plus, I¡¯ve always wanted to celebrate Christmas in another country.¡±

    She gave a heartening smile, which softened the apprehension on Scarlett¡¯s face. She hadn¡¯t thought about that before, but celebrating the festivities together on a different continent would be pretty cool. And how could she ever say no to Juno?

    ¡°Alright. Good thing I haven¡¯t unpacked yet,¡± Scarlett said, causing Juno to beam.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m gonna need some help packing, so why don¡¯t you run upstairs and start helping me out,¡± expressed Juno.

    Scarlett nodded before the oldest sister ushered her out of the room. Waiting until her footsteps could be heard above, Juno¡¯s face dropped. She glared at Leya. ¡°There was a better way to approach that.¡±

    Leya held her hands up apologetically. ¡°Sorry,¡± she signed back. ¡°It was the only way I could think of to get her to back off.¡±

    ¡°Back off?" mouthed Zero, completely lost at what they were implying. Her eyes darted between the two, as she frantically signed back. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Leya raised an eyebrow at Zero. ¡°Come on. She¡¯ll say she won¡¯t help, or come back, but we all know she¡¯s gonna do just that. And once she starts helping, she¡¯s just gonna take everything on by herself again.¡± Her gestures and expression made it seem like it was the most obvious thing in the world. ¡°Like you said, we shouldn¡¯t overwhelm her and this definitely will. Whether it¡¯s the same guys or not.¡±

    ¡°Plus, asking her to come with us means we can keep an eye on her,¡± Juno signed.

    Zero stared at them both. She had been completely caught off guard that she hadn¡¯t thought about the consequences. Zero bit her lip. There were still many ways she was lacking. But now she had a chance to make up for it.

    ¡°I guess we¡¯re all going to Japan, then.¡±

 Chapter 7: Starting Line [Scarlett]

    The scent that surrounded them was unfamiliar; cedar-like with a hint of mint and the soft musk of leather. The air also tasted different as mild notes of citrus grazed them by. The chattering of excited travellers filled their ears, while the movement of the crowds ushered the girls forward. Shuffling along, they navigated their way through the modestly festive airport terminal.

    Groggy and adjusting to the new time zones, they made their way through immigration and customs, before locating their luggage. With the painful cost of losing their sleep, the girls were able to expedite the process and arrive in Tokyo, Japan in a little over a week.

    Leya let out a large yawn, while Zero scouted the area, directing her sisters through the terminal. Grateful that the signs had some English written underneath the Kanji, the girls made their way to the train station that was attached to the airport. One last short trip to reach the outskirts of Tokyo where their bed-and-breakfast resided. Although it made their wallets unhappy, it was a miracle they could find one on the periphery of the capital city under such short notice.

    Buildings whizzed by, as Scarlett gazed out the train window. Her tired eyes drifted above. Despite the temperature being similar to London, the late morning skies were much clearer overseas. She never thought she¡¯d missed the grey overcast so soon.

    But she knew the endeavour would be temporary, as their trip to Japan would be over once her sisters completed their investigation. It was a shame they couldn¡¯t stay within the boundaries of Tokyo for long, as their long-term residence was located in the city of Musutafu¡ªcourtesy of Zero¡¯s music label. However, it would not be ready for them until a few days later. Maybe this would give Scarlett a chance to explore the capital city, while the others were off on their adventure.

    But that was something to think about after a well-needed nap.

    Opening the front door, the apartment was smaller than what they were used to. The living room and kitchen were combined, while the two bedrooms were off to the side. One for Juno and Zero, the other for Leya and Scarlett. The home was furnished with simple timber furniture, with pale blue and grey accents. It was minimalistic, and its well-kept appearance reminded Scarlett of show houses used to sell people manufactured homes. But at least the neighbourhood seemed quiet.

    As they shuffled into the small abode, it wasn¡¯t long until all four girls crashed into their beds, losing their fight against their jetlag. It was only several hours later did they stir awake when Zero had to answer an urgent phone call. Although the conversation was hard to make out through her sleepiness, Scarlett was sure it had something to do with her secondary career.

    She rolled over, returning her head to her pillow and hoping sleep would take her once again. But her stomach had other plans. It grumbled loudly, demanding food this instant. Scarlett groaned as she rose from her bed. She was so tired, she had completely forgotten to check if there was any complimentary food in their bed-and-breakfast. But there was no better time to check than now. Rubbing the sleep out of her eye, she made her way to the communal area.

    Already in the foyer, Juno and Leya began to wrap themselves warm, readying to leave and greet the cold weather. Before their eyes shifted and landed on the sleepy girl nearby.

    ¡°Good morning, sleepyhead,¡± Juno signed after adjusting her white earmuffs.

    Scarlett yawned a good morning back, before asking, ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve got a potential lead we wanna check out,¡± Leya answered, zipping up her leopard-printed coat. But before Scarlett could inquire more, Juno continued explaining.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she expressed. ¡°It¡¯s probably nothing, but we just want to make sure since we¡¯re already here.¡±

    A small frown surfaced on Scarlett¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m not worried¡ªhonestly, I¡¯m hungry if anything.¡± The monotone delivery made the other two smile and laugh.

    ¡°Well, Zero did say she was gonna get some food,¡± gestured Juno. ¡°But if you¡¯re hungry, why don¡¯t you grab something light to eat at the shop nearby.¡± Juno began to rummage through her matching ivory bag. She brought out her purse, pulled out a couple of Japanese yen notes and handed them to Scarlett. ¡°This should be enough for some snacks.¡±

    ¡°Oh, if you¡¯re going to go to the shops, get something for me too.¡± Leya had already put her shoes on and had one foot out the door.

    ¡°But make sure you don¡¯t spoil your appetite.¡± Juno followed Leya¡¯s lead. ¡°Zero said she wouldn¡¯t be long anyway.¡± The oldest sister flashed a smile and waved goodbye before she rushed out the door, leaving Scarlett all alone in the apartment. She stared at the money in her hands. So, there were no complimentary snacks.

    ¡°I guess I have no choice then,¡± she spoke to the empty air around her, as a small prick of being sidelined scratched at her chest. But she pushed it aside.

    Adorning her grey coat, Scarlett set out to locate the aforementioned shop. Meandering her way through the half-lit and narrow streets, she passed by a young child with a blue headband and matching blue coat. He had an anxious expression as he wandered on his own. His gaze seemed to be fixed on the ground, looking for something. But Scarlett continued to walk on by, making a passing note as she scanned the location. But the area showed no signs of a shop.

    Scarlett frowned. Why were there only residential buildings around here? Had Juno been wrong? She pushed the thought away and grabbed her phone. Hoping it would provide some answers, she typed ¡®shops near me¡¯ into the internet search bar.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    And it did, pinging onto her screen the convenience stores within the neighbourhood. The only problem was that she had gone the wrong way. Scarlett¡¯s ears reddened.

    Flushed but grateful she was alone, she turned around before realising she would have to walk by the young boy once again. She internally groaned, lowering her gaze as she walked past. But now the child seemed preoccupied, cuddling a large white animal wearing a grey trench coat.

    Maybe he looked sad because he was looking for his teddy bear.

    Although Scarlett didn¡¯t think too much about how he lost something that was almost the same size as him. Continuing on, a building with a metal cage caught her eye in the far distance. An old red brick structure that stuck out compared to the concrete-grey establishments that surrounded it. Its tower was highlighted with spotlights, illuminating the clock faces that resided near the top with a copper glow. Judging by the appearance of the light scaffolding, it must have needed some minor repairs.

    She glanced at her phone, zooming in on the map. Okay. I¡¯m in the right area. There should be a convenience store somewhere here... Searching for it, a small fluorescent sign tucked in the corner of the street caught her attention. She had found it.

    With her stomach growling to remind her how empty it was, she entered the convenience store, only to be bombarded with the choices that were available. Unable to read any of the packaging, she had to rely on her phone to translate, as well as search the internet for popular snacks. But something peculiar piqued her interest. A leopard-printed sleeping mask hidden away in the toiletries section.

    She thought back to Leya¡¯s request. Her sister never specifically asked for any food. A smile gently tugged at Scarlett¡¯s lips. If anyone could style this in confidence, it would be Leya. She placed the item into the basket and moved on. Would there be something else like this here for the others as well?

    Searching and grabbing what her sisters may like, she swiftly moved to checkout. While the cashier finished scanning the items and began bagging them, Scarlett pocketed the mask. She wouldn¡¯t want Leya to find it while she was looking for some snacks. That would ruin the surprise. A subtle smile danced on her face. One Christmas stocking gift was ticked off her list. Now she had to try and find something for the others. Contemplating what to do, Scarlett paid the cashier, while muffled shouting could be heard outside.

    Glancing through the window, a large rag-doll-like figure descended from the rooftops, while a voice in the far distance yelled out. The doll wore a burlap sack as a face mask, which contrasted against his dark clothes. Two orange orbs were ablaze underneath the mask, forging the illusion of eyes. Crosses were hand-stitched across its face to imitate a mouth. Although it was a little jarring for the festive season, their overall appearance held a scarecrow-like quality.

    Squinting her eyes, a green silhouette appeared. They continued to give chase, but it was clear they were too slow for the dark figure.

    Scarlett¡¯s mood soured. This was probably a chase sequence between a Pro Hero and a Villain. And it was just her luck she had to be nearby when it happened. But at least someone was trying to stop them. Even if they weren¡¯t fast enough.

    But her eyes widened as the Villain continued to run by. The child from earlier and his plush toy giggled to themselves as they entered the street, completely unaware of who they were about to intercept. Scarlett¡¯s heart dropped. This was not going to end well.

    CRACK!

    The sound of a whip echoed, as a warning shot left a dent in the pavement nearby. The young boy screamed, ducking behind a lamppost and clutching the animal close to his chest. The Scarecrow pivoted around, panting heavily as a man in green landed a short distance away.

    The Hero had dark hair, with a relatively handsome face. A few green scales highlighted his cheekbones, while his green costume had two white lines running down his torso. A large white ¡®W¡¯ in a circle was printed on his chest. In his hand, he held a glowing whip.

    Scarlett glared at him. Why would you aim so recklessly?

    ¡°That¡¯s far enough!¡± the Hero bellowed.

    The Villain shook his head. ¡°No...¡±

    Unable to understand their exchange, Scarlett edged closer to the scene, ignoring the cashier who had asked her some questions. Her eyes shifted between the two men and the young boy. He had slowly moved away and hidden himself behind a nearby car. But a nagging feeling fluttered in her stomach. Neither of them had noticed him yet. But there was nothing to guarantee it would remain like that.

    ¡°How did you know where to find me?¡± The Scarecrow¡¯s voice trembled.

    The Pro Hero chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s not important right now. What matters is that you answer to your crimes!¡± He raised his whip once again, causing the masked figure to whimper and cower.

    Damn it Green Guy, stop antagonising him. You¡¯re gonna make him desperate.

    ¡°Tch, not gonna answer?¡± the Villain hissed. ¡°You¡¯re just gonna drag me away, and lock me up?¡± The masked man began to scratch his face, tugging at the threads of the burlap sack.

    The Green Hero¡¯s face dropped. ¡°You put innocent people¡¯s lives at risk.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t call them that! They¡¯re not innocent!¡± The Scarecrow gestured to his face in distress. ¡°They did this to me. They deserved it!¡±

    ¡°Setting their homes on fire doesn¡¯t justify what happened to you.¡±

    The masked figure took a step back. He stared at the person before him, searching for a sense of understanding. But there was nothing there. A moment of stillness brushed by, before he muttered to himself. ¡°You¡¯re the same. You¡¯re just like them.¡±

    With a shaky breath, the fabric on the Villain¡¯s back twisted and shifted. Fluttering from his torso, three large crows of black smoke and glowing orange eyes emerged. They circled around him, forming a protective barricade.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong!¡± He raised his voice in desperation. The scratching became feverish.

    Scarlett pressed her lips together. Great. Now it¡¯s escalated. A small scowl appeared on her face, as she watched the Hero raise a hand defensively. Please don¡¯t provoke him further.

    ¡°You can¡¯t escape this!¡± the Hero called out. ¡°I¡¯ve already alerted my colleagues. Do you really think you can take us all on?¡±

    The Scarecrow''s eyes widened. Like a blackbird, his head jerked side to side; surveying the area for further threats. But instead, his eyes landed on the child and the white animal in his hands. The boy¡¯s face ashened.

    Oh, God.

 Chapter 8: Up Against the Clock

    The Villain¡¯s orange eyes flared. He charged towards the boy, alerting the Hero of his presence. With his whip in his hand, he sent a strike to the Scarecrow. But a fume of black smoke dispersed from the impact, as the barrier of crows impeded his effort. The remaining two birds circled around the boy and their masked master.

    ¡°Stay away from me, or the boy gets it.¡± The Villain¡¯s voice quivered from stress. He held the boy in a tight grip, causing him to cry out. It triggered the child¡¯s eyes to flicker; glowing a deep purple. The Scarecrow¡¯s eyes followed suit, reflecting the young boy¡¯s. The white plush he was holding was now gone. Presumably dropped during the scuffle.

    The man in green gritted his teeth. His knuckles turned white as he clenched the weapon in his hand. ¡°Let him go.¡± His voice was low. ¡°This is just between you and me.¡±

    ¡°Not anymore it isn¡¯t! You dragged your Hero friends into this!¡± Desperation coated the Villain¡¯s words. ¡°Call them off as well!¡±

    ¡°I¡ª I don¡¯t¡ª¡± The Pro Hero stuttered, before another voice spoke out.

    ¡°I understand that you¡¯re upset, but maybe we can talk this out.¡±

    Scarlett¡¯s eyebrows rose as a stout figure in a grey trench coat appeared by the Villain¡¯s side. He had slanted ears on the top of his head and an elongated muzzle. A large scar marked one of his circular black eyes. Scarlett couldn¡¯t pinpoint his appearance, as he looked to be an amalgamation of multiple animals.

    But one thing was clear. He was not a stuffed toy.

    ¡°I¡¯m not listening to anything any of you say anymore! You¡¯re all the same!¡± The Scarecrow screeched, hurtling one bird towards the Green Hero, and the other towards the individual in grey.

    The shorter figure flashed an alarmed look. He was much closer to the Villain than the Pro Hero. Meaning the bird would strike him first. And his build hinted that he may not be fast enough to dodge, or strong enough to deflect the attack. The Hero grimaced; conflicted about what to do. He could dodge the attack aimed at him. But there was no way he could angle his whip and counter the other bird at the same time. Nor could he close the distance between himself and the stranger before it was too late.

    Scarlett¡¯s muscles tightened. Her legs moved on their own as she rushed out of the door.

    She darted to the newcomer¡¯s side, as she was the closest to him. Her arms extended, shielding him with her body as she grabbed him out of harm''s way. A plume of smoke ruptured behind her, while the Pro Hero yelled out. His hesitation cost him as a crow slammed into his sternum. It covered him in smoke, burning his lungs and stinging his eyes. He fell to his knees, coughing and sputtering.

    The Scarecrow took a step back. A moment of clarity engulfed him. His eyes widened as the sound of choking filled his ears. His mind raced to justify his actions. But no argument could defend him. Not when the world adored the concept of Heroes and despised anything that threatened that.

    A lump formed at the back of his throat. No, there was nothing he could do. He let the child go, turned on his heel, and ran.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Scarlett called out, as she helped the individual she saved to his feet. He offered her his thanks. But Scarlett paid little attention to it. Her gaze shifted between the Scarecrow, whose figure became smaller as he fled, and the man in green. A grimace plagued her face as he struggled for air.

    His coughs were jarring. His eyes were bloodshot. His breathing was hoarse. But a decision had to be made. Which one should she go towards?

    Damn it! She clenched her jaw. But the choice was simple.

    Fumbling for her phone, she dialled for an ambulance; something she had only memorised after Zero nagged her to learn the emergency services phone numbers before they landed in Japan. But the man let out an anguished groan, clutching his chest and tumbling forward.

    ¡°Oh, God!¡± Scarlett ran towards him. ¡°Hey, Mister, w-what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Help me sit him down and clear the smoke surrounding him.¡± The mouse-like person spoke perfect English, almost causing Scarlett to do a double-take at his American pronunciation. But she waved the observation away. Now was not the time to dissect that not only could this animal talk, but was bilingual as well.

    The two offered relief by moving the man to a seating position. Scarlett took off her grey coat, using it as a fan to waft away the remaining smoke that surrounded him.

    ¡°Can you call an ambulance?¡± he asked, gesturing to the phone in her hand.

    Scarlett nodded, before she stopped herself. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know how to speak Japanese.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s alright. Hand me your phone.¡±

    He took the device, before directing the emergency medical services to the area and narrated any advice the operator could offer them. But now it was a waiting game. Putting her coat back on, Scarlett scanned the horizon for any signs of a vehicle with blaring lights. But instead, her eyes landed on the young boy.

    Taking a moment to look at him in detail, he must have been around five or six years old. He sat on his heels. His cheeks were soaked. He hiccuped with each silent sob. But his eyes retained the purple hue. His gaze focused on the direction the Villain went.

    Glancing back and noting there was nothing more to do for the Green Hero, Scarlett headed towards his direction. Careful not to spook him, she gently knelt beside him.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Scarlett tried to make her voice soft. But the child recoiled, flinching immediately as he noticed her presence. Scarlett raised her hands and slowly backed away. Oh no, what do I do? Zero¡¯s the one that usually handles this stuff¡­

    Her mind raced to find a solution. But she hit a standstill. Would she be able to communicate with him? Or would the language barrier make the situation worse? She tried to think back to what Zero would do, but Scarlett internally frowned. There was no way she could display tenderness and compassion to the same level as her sister. Not with her stiff expressions.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    She shared a glance with the individual by the Green Hero¡¯s side. A silent plea for his aid. His eyes shifted to the child, before he gave a quick nod and made his way over.

    ¡°You know, the Villain¡¯s gone.¡± He spoke in Japanese. ¡°He can¡¯t hurt you. You¡¯re safe now.¡±

    The shock of the ordeal broke away with the sound of his words, causing the child to cry out, wailing loudly in the middle of the street. A small paw wrapped itself around him, bringing him into a much-needed hug. The young boy trembled in his arms, his sobs muffled by his coat.

    Unable to stand idly by, Scarlett headed back to the convenience store, only to reappear with a white carrier bag. By the time she made it back to their side, the cries were replaced with an occasional sniffle. She set the bag down, presenting snacks and knick-knacks, and offered them to the boy. With encouragement from the mouse-like individual, he hesitantly took one of the juice boxes.

    But their attention shifted, as the blaring sound of sirens announced the arrival of the ambulance. The paramedics rushed to the Green Hero¡¯s side, while the trenchcoat-wearing chimaera conversed with them. But Scarlett stayed with the young child. His line of sight seemed to be focused on something in the distance. Following his gaze, she examined the skyline before her eyes landed on a building that stood out. The boy was staring at the clock tower. Huh.

    ¡°Is that clock tower special?¡± asked Scarlett.

    ¡°Hm?¡± The individual perked his ears, turning around to face her. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­he keeps staring at it.¡± Scarlett said, directing his attention between the boy and the tower.

    The stout figure arrived by the boy¡¯s side. He shared a gentle smile as he spoke to him in Japanese. ¡°Do you like clock towers? Do you wanna go and see it up close?¡±

    Alarmed, the young boy shook his head. ¡°No¡ªthat¡¯s where Mr. Scarecrow is.¡±

    The expression faltered on the individual¡¯s face. ¡°Mr¡­Scarecrow?¡± He shared a glance at the tower. ¡°How do you know that?¡±

    ¡°Um, ¡®cause my Quirk lets me know.¡± The boy pointed to his glowing eyes. ¡°It makes me connect to people and then I can see where they are for a little bit.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s he saying?¡± Scarlett asked, noting both of their expressions and gestures. The individual in grey shared a brief explanation, while Scarlett¡¯s lips pressed into a line. Her eyes shifted between the boy and the clock tower. Well, that¡¯s not good.

    ¡°How long does his Quirk last?¡± Scarlett stared at the tower, estimating the distance to reach its walls. He relayed the question and received a reply. But the figure in the trenchcoat gently shook his head.

    ¡°Unfortunately, considering how young he is, I¡¯m not sure he understands how to measure time just yet.¡±

    Scarlett let out a soft sigh. She didn¡¯t want to do this. But the situation left her little choice. Stretching her back, as well as her leg muscles, Scarlett began her warm-up routine; the same one she used to complete while she was more active. The stout figure lifted a quizzical brow in her direction.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Well, it might be a good idea to have a visual on him before the timer on that link runs out. Plus, I don¡¯t wanna drag a young kid into this by overwhelming him with lots of questions,¡± Scarlett answered.

    The individual¡¯s beady eyes widened. ¡°Wait, so you¡¯re going to go yourself? But that¡¯s dangerous!¡±

    ¡°Waiting around for another Hero means we could lose this lead,¡± said Scarlett. But a firm grasp from a furry paw stopped her in her tracks.

    ¡°Do you have a Provisional Hero¡¯s Licence?¡± he asked. Silence was his answer. The figure gave a stern look. ¡°Then, you can¡¯t go. It¡¯s simply too dangerous.¡±

    Scarlett shared a discontent expression, before pointing at her palm. A small graze marked her hand from her little tumble when she pushed the mouse-like individual out of harm¡¯s way. ¡°Look,¡± she said as steam emanated from the wound before it healed completely. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. And anyway, I¡¯m not going to confront him¡ªI¡¯ll leave that to the professionals. I just want to help out by making sure we don¡¯t lose sight of him. Being a witness isn¡¯t a crime.¡±

    The figure in the trenchcoat sighed in defeat; there was little he could do to convince Scarlett not to go. ¡°Just wait a moment,¡± he said, before sharing a quick exchange with the child. Whatever they spoke about caused the figure to place his paw underneath his chin as he contemplated to himself. An assured look settled on his face before he spoke again. ¡°Alright, if you¡¯re going to do this, I¡¯m also coming with you.¡±

    Scarlett¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°With all due respect, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. If anything happens, I can heal myself. But I can¡¯t heal you.¡±

    A glint of amusement and recognition danced across his eyes. ¡°Well, if what you said is true, and you¡¯re not going to confront him, then there should be nothing to worry about. And anyway,¡± a confident smile danced across his face, ¡°I know how to contact the Pro Heroes.¡±

    Scarlett pressed her lips into a slight grimace. He had a point. And she didn¡¯t like it. She didn¡¯t know how to tell the Pro Heroes about the Villain¡¯s location, or have any way to update them. But she wasn¡¯t a fan of him tagging along either. What if something were to happen to him? She shared a glance at the clock tower. They were wasting time.

    ¡°Do you have a plan? Or is there a different reason you wanna join?¡±

    The chimaera blinked, almost surprised that she caught on. ¡°Well, I have half a plan. But I need to see the clock tower to refine it. I¡¯ll tell you more about it once we get there.¡±

    Knowing they were up against the clock, Scarlett pushed aside her reluctance and agreed. Being caught up in all that must not have been nice. Maybe he wants to tag along so he can get back a sense of control. Isn¡¯t that what Juno said about witnesses and victims of crime? If that¡¯s the case, at least an extra pair of eyes will be helpful.

    She repeated the thought to further convince herself as she let the mouse-like individual climb up her shoulder. Once they were ready and ensured the little boy would be alright in the hands of the emergency services, she bolted towards the red brick building. Her last-minute hitchhiker helped her navigate the way as she raced through the streets and arrived at the clock tower. Upon seeing it up close, it was clear that the repairs were not as minor as she had originally thought.

    The clock tower itself stood well over 30 metres tall. And while the clock faces were untouched, with light scaffolding securing its form, the main building that was attached to the tower was enclosed under a mesh fencing. She could make out the skeleton of the infrastructure under the dim streetlights; its metal bones peeking through the translucent material, before her vision cut off at the bordered wall.

    As the two continued, Scarlett¡¯s newfound companion pointed to one of the panels of the barricade. She followed his direction, squinting her eyes, before she too also saw it. One of the wooden boards was out of place. If the Villain was inside, they had found a way he had accessed the building.

    Squeezing through the borders, they both entered the premises. The odour of wood and metal was strong. Piles of red bricks, stacks of wooden planks and bundles of steel rods littered the ground. But what caught Scarlett¡¯s attention was the crimson building itself.

    While most of its walls were obstructed with scaffolding, the elegant masonry continued to peek through, as the different tones of bricks created patterns on the walls. Arches were carved into the stone, while intricate domes roofed the main building. It was jarring to see a structure that looked very similar to the old buildings in London on this side of the world.

    Scarlett could almost envision how beautiful the tower would have looked, as the copper lights on the clock faces accentuated the warm undertones in the red brick. But she pushed the thought away. Right now, she had a job to do.

    ¡°So, do you think your plan could still work?¡± asked Scarlett.

    She turned to see the chimaera''s eyes darting across the infrastructure, as he devised and revised his initial ideas. She could almost hear the cogs whirling in his mind. It wasn¡¯t until a few seconds had passed that he nodded to himself, satisfied with the scheme he had conjured.

    ¡°Oh yes, it¡¯s going to work.¡±

 Chapter 9: Hickory Dickory Dock

    ¡°Care to fill me in?¡± She shared a sceptical look in his direction. What was he seeing that she couldn¡¯t?

    The mouse-like individual jumped off Scarlett¡¯s shoulders and landed softly on the ground. ¡°Well, before we left, I asked the young boy if he knew the Villain¡¯s exact location, and he replied saying he was hiding in the clock tower. And judging by how fast we got here, it would be simple to assume that he¡¯s still inside.¡± Unconvinced by his own words, the small chimaera shook his head. ¡°But just to be sure, I should go and investigate the building to see if he¡¯s still there¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªWhoa,¡± Scarlett blocked his way before he could run off. ¡°Why are you the one that has to check out the building? What happens if he¡¯s inside and still hostile? If anything, I should be the one that goes¡ªI mean, it¡¯s not like he can hurt me.¡± No one really can.

    The stout figure shared a tender smile. ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you. But I need to do this.¡± He placed a hand over his chest. ¡°I know I might not look like much¡ªsome may even call my appearance strange¡ªbut I am also a Pro Hero.¡±

    Scarlett stared in disbelief. Animals with Quirks were rare. But animals being Pro Heroes was something she never heard about. She blinked. ¡°You¡¯re a Pro Hero?¡±

    The figure in the grey trench coat chuckled. ¡°Yes, I am, which means I can¡¯t endanger a civilian by letting you do my job, even if I am currently off-duty.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­what?¡± stammered Scarlett. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for individuals to want to regain their agency after dealing with a Villain attack. Scarlett assumed this was the case; that he wanted to help out so he could take back a sense of control. Not because it was an obligation. ¡°Is this why you came with me?¡±

    A nervous smile settled on his face. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re already aware, but time was of the essence.¡± He gestured to his short legs. ¡°And unfortunately, I can only run so fast, so I thought it might be quicker if we travelled together.

    ¡°But what¡¯s more important than that is the fact you seemed very determined and would probably run after the Villain no matter what I said. So if I came with you, not only could we save time, but I could also make sure you didn¡¯t get hurt in the process. I know you can heal, but it¡¯s always better to be safe than sorry.¡±

    Scarlett gaped at him, unable to find the words to voice her muddled thoughts. It caused the figure to share an apologetic look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. ¡°I knew I shouldn¡¯t have dragged you into this. But you said you wanted to help, and now you have. All you need to do now is leave the rest to me.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªDon¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already notified the other Pro Heroes while you were at the convenience store. I just need to update them about our new position.¡± He reached into his trenchcoat¡¯s breast pocket, revealing a small electronic tablet. It must have been a newer model, as Scarlett didn¡¯t recognise the sleek design. He began to tap away at the screen, before a golden logo with the letters UA, flashed on a map. A GPS signal for the rest of the Heroes to find them.

    He looked up and scanned Scarlett¡¯s face. The disbelief had dissolved and was now replaced by a look he was all too familiar with¡ªa desire to help. An innocent wish he was now denying. He let out a soft, resigned sigh.

    ¡°Here,¡± he said, handing the tablet to Scarlett. He maintained eye contact, like a coach instructing their player before a match. ¡°If you still want to help, you can guide the Pro Heroes to come here if I haven¡¯t come back in 15 minutes.¡±

    Scarlett pressed her lips together. She never liked the idea of splitting up to accomplish goals. But what more could she do? She didn¡¯t know this individual. She didn''t know what he was capable of. And it wasn¡¯t like she had a Provisional Hero Licence that could excuse her involvement. She shouldn¡¯t even be here.

    He was right. She was a civilian. And she wasn¡¯t acting like one.

    Scarlett let out an agitated sigh. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stay out here. But at least tell me what you¡¯re gonna do if Mr. Scarecrow is inside.¡±

    ¡°Well, if he¡¯s inside, I guess I¡¯ll make a mousetrap.¡± He smiled with a wink. His words did not fill Scarlett with confidence.

    But she did her best to nudge her feelings aside. She was already pushing her luck by making it this far. There was no need to upset the local authorities by interfering with their work. Especially when it hadn¡¯t been 24 hours since she had landed in this country.

    A familiar ache returned. The weight of the matter threatened to crush her. But she took a deep breath to steady herself. She wouldn¡¯t let history repeat itself. She just had to trust him to do his job.

    ¡°Alright.¡± She stood back, allowing the mouse-like individual to pass through. ¡°Just stay safe out there, okay?¡±

    His expression warmed before he gave a reassuring nod. He darted towards the clock tower and disappeared behind the construction materials nearby. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t take Scarlett¡¯s apprehension away with him.

    Now alone, her thoughts nagged at her, while she tugged at the frayed ends of her bandages that peeked through underneath the cuffs of her coat. She should have been the one investigating the clock tower. Not him. Her regeneration abilities meant she was a good candidate if she stumbled across any danger.

    But here she was, put to one side, while someone else was potentially risking their life when they didn¡¯t need to. She couldn¡¯t understand it. Was she sidelined because of the morality of the situation? That involving a young teen like herself would threaten an honour code, even though it was the best course of action?

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    Scarlett shook her head at the thought. Heroes were always fickle like that. Each of them had their own way of approaching problems and their own set of principles they could never stray from. But unfortunately, it always led to casualties slipping through the cracks between the differences in views. It¡¯s what brought her and her sisters to make that silly promise in the first place. A promise they hoped would help change the world for the better. And now her sisters were on the path to becoming Pro Heroes; people who could make a difference.

    But what was Scarlett doing with her life?

    She didn¡¯t want to follow that path anymore. It was too painful. But here she was, hoping to help and be of service to a world that hurt her in a way that she couldn¡¯t undo. The weight between her ribs gripped her tightly, as the skin beneath her bandages throbbed. Was fate pulling her towards this direction? Or was she simply betraying herself?

    No.

    Scarlett pushed the thought away, soothing the pain in her chest by rubbing her sternum. She may have rejected the idea of becoming a Hero, but she was raised to never ignore someone in trouble.

    Inhaling deeply, she steeled herself. Her family taught her how to be a decent person, but she knew better than anyone that being decent wasn¡¯t good enough to become a Pro Hero. You needed the basics: strength, courage and a sense of justice. But you also needed the competence to do your job and be a figure that promoted a positive change in the world.

    Scarlett Hopkins failed to meet those standards.

    She did not have the makings to be a Hero. She was doing the world a favour by turning away. And she should continue that courtesy by letting the professionals handle the situation. She turned to leave, wanting to start her search for the Pro Heroes that could be a genuine source of support for the peculiar individual she met today.

    But a loud crash stopped her in her tracks. She spun back around, scanning for the source. A section of scaffolding on the first floor had collapsed. And from its wreckage, a ragdoll-like silhouette with two smoking bodies flying around them emerged, running away and ducking into the building¡¯s upper floors. His exit below was seemingly blocked by the fallen rails and pipes.

    A few floors above them, a smaller silhouette, with slanted ears and an elongated muzzle, came into view, darting between the scaffolding and the main building. He seemed to be tampering with the steel poles on the third floor, before disappearing behind some tarp. The words he said before he left echoed in Scarlett¡¯s head.

    Well, that¡¯s one way to create a mousetrap.

    Despite the commotion, a moment of stillness passed, before more and more crashes erupted from the building site. The ragdoll-like figure leapt between the platforms, but the paths he could take to escape became limited as the metal bars fell. The only way to avoid the falling scaffolds was to continue up the main building that had now become a vertical maze.

    But as he scaled the structure, something caught his eye inside the building. He directed his birds towards it. Scarlett moved to get a better view, only to glimpse at a grey trench coat hanging on a wall before it was stained with soot. Its owner was nowhere in sight.

    Scarlett stared in disbelief, her eyes shifting between the panting Scarecrow and the trenchcoat. Everything was so quickly coordinated to not only get the Villain out in the open, but to also trap him and tire him out by the time the other Pro Heroes arrived. Scarlett blinked. Maybe she shouldn¡¯t have underestimated the mouse-like Hero as much as she did.

    As she shook off her doubt, the burlap masked man reached the roof of the main building, while another section of the scaffolding collapsed on the flight of stairs beneath him, condemning him to remain on the rooftop. He let out a frustrated growl, summoning another crow in his desperation. Although, this one appeared to be much smaller than the ones he had created before.

    Twitching his head side to side like a bird, the dark figure turned his attention to the clock tower and began to ascend. Scarlett pressed her lips into a tight line, searching for any signs of the small Hero. She hadn¡¯t seen him anywhere near the tower, giving her little hope that he had crafted another distraction, or trap. Which led to the question, why was the masked man heading up there?

    The ragdoll-like individual continued to climb, while the rest of the scaffolding remained steady and still, confirming Scarlett¡¯s concerns. Her eyes remained trained on the silhouette arriving above the clock faces. A sinking feeling churned her stomach, as the copper lights illuminated the dark figure with a burlap mask. He wobbled along the planks and teetered towards the edge, glancing down to the world below.

    Scarlett¡¯s expression went pale. She did not like where this was going.

    The distant whistle of a faint draft passing through telephone lines, picked up speed at the top of the tower. It rustled the figure¡¯s clothes as he stepped closer to the lip of the raised platform. Wanting to seek refuge from the wind, the small crow perched itself on his shoulder. But the man grabbed it; almost smothering its existence between his palms.

    His attire shifted and fluttered, with smoke billowing from underneath. The fumes funnelled to his clasped hands, causing the tiny bird to swell with size. Its body became darker, as the smoke was densely compressed into its form. Compared to the other crows, this black bird had trails of smoke emanating from its wings, while its orange eyes deepened into a dark red. It continued to grow, becoming larger than the man himself.

    But with its growth, its body flickered as it seemed to struggle to maintain its form. Scarlett wasn¡¯t sure if it was due to its size, or the Villain¡¯s fatigue.

    It swooped into the air, before rushing down and grabbing the Scarecrow by his shoulders. Beating its wings, the bird attempted to lift him from where he stood; the smoke rapidly expelling from its body. It shook under the stress of his weight, staggering as it tried to fly up.

    Scarlett refused to blink. If the Villain took to the air, she doubted the mouse-like Hero could give chase. As much as he had surprised her, there was nothing to indicate he also had the ability to fly. And what could Scarlett do? The best she could do was follow him on the ground, but how far could she go before he entered an area that she couldn¡¯t?

    She glanced at the tablet in her hands. They needed assistance.

    She tapped the screen. Was there a way to communicate with the Pro Heroes? Or a way to show how long they were going to take to arrive? She tried to navigate herself through the tablet. But flashes of pop-ups, and menu panels in a language she couldn¡¯t read, obscured the map and froze the device.

    Why was technology always so complicated? Scowling, she continuously tapped at the screen. But the display didn¡¯t change. Scarlett let out a harsh exhale. She didn¡¯t have time to figure this out.

    She shared a quick look back at the tower. The Villain rose, flying several feet higher than the roof of the tower. Fumes of smoke poured out of the crow as it strained itself to fly higher; its shape flickering with the loss of structure. The masked man continued to channel smoke into the bird.

    But the crow had reached its limit.

    As the clock struck the hour and the tower''s bells reverberated, the bird¡¯s form diffused into a large cloud of smoke. And with nothing keeping him in the air, the man fell.

    Eyes widening in horror, Scarlett¡¯s heart lurched. She stuffed the tablet into her pocket and bolted towards the red building. One thing racing in her mind¡ªthe promise she made as a child.

    We¡¯ll save everyone within our reach.

 Chapter 10: Red and White

    With his arms and legs flailing in the air, the man continued to plummet. He expelled as much smoke as he could to push himself towards the clock tower; a desperate attempt to cushion and slow his fall with the nearby scaffolding.

    CRASH!

    He cried out as he slammed into the metal framework surrounding the tower¡¯s roof; bouncing off the wooden planks and tumbling down. As he continued to fall, his arms reached to grab something, anything he could hold on to. But he failed to grasp the steel bars to stop his fall, continuing to nosedive halfway down the tower.

    But a rope of wires whipped in his direction, as the mouse-like Hero rushed to bring the cords to his side. Fumbling, the man¡¯s fingers grazed the cables, until he was able to wrap his hands around the wires. He yelled as the sudden stop yanked his arms; the angle implying that they were out of place.

    Panting heavily, his legs dangled in the air as he gripped the electric cables as tightly as he could. The Pro Hero tried to help, pulling the cords to lift him to the platform. But judging his frame, there was only so much strength in his small body.

    The masked man tried to climb; using his dislocated arms to pull himself up. But he couldn¡¯t. He remained dangling from the wires. His adrenaline and desperation were the only things that superseded his fatigue and stopped him from letting go. But there was only so long he could hold on for, before his exhaustion got the better of him.

    Yet those few seconds were crucial, buying Scarlett enough time to try and reach them.

    She continued to race towards them, darting past the debris and construction material that littered the ground. Her gaze flickered upwards. The collapsed scaffolding was going to be a problem. But maybe there was a way around it.

    She took a deep breath, expanding her lungs until they were almost bursting. Heat began to emanate from her skin as her Quirk, Blood and Bone, was activated. Without her usual tools at her disposal, Scarlett bit down on her hand as hard as she could. Despite the numerous nerves in her hand, the pain was negligible; a result from intensive training with her Quirk.

    Steam poured from the wound, while blood pooled between her fingers. But it never dripped onto the floor, as she willed it to remain in her hand. She forced the blood to create interlocking rings that were larger than her face, fashioning a liquid crimson chain.

    While she continued to lengthen the blood chain, she suppressed her displeasure and yanked out the only bones she had access to¡ªthe molars in her mouth. She always hated using fresh bones. But she didn¡¯t have a lot of options, considering she never thought she would need to carry extra bones with her to use her Quirk today.

    With blood in one hand, and her teeth in the other, Scarlett willed them to change their form. A torrent of scalding steam erupted from her palms. Her teeth merged, shimmering as they crystallised into a jagged bone hook with three claws, while her blood solidified into a similar crystal-like substance.

    She connected the two, forming a crystal grappling hook with a chain instead of a rope. The weight of the crystallised blood and bone was familiar as she swung it above her head; her body remembering the previous times she had performed this as she built momentum. It allowed her to release the chain without much thought, causing the hook to affix itself onto the scaffolding railing a few metres above her.

    Taking another deep breath, she willed the large links of the blood chain to shrink. For a brief moment, the chain returned to its liquid form, before rapidly decreasing in size. With steam swirling around, the chain grew smaller and smaller, becoming condensed and compacted, before immediately crystallising and pulling Scarlett towards the higher platform.

    Her heart hammered in her chest, while blood rushed past her ears. The wind and heat whipped at her face as she ascended. She rolled as she landed on the wooden planks, before continuing her sprint upwards. As she ran, she readied her hook and chain once again, enlarging the links before swinging it above her head and launching herself upwards. She repeated the process again, and again, and again; careful to pass over the fallen metal bars as she climbed.

    Black spots appeared in her vision. Her body was sticky with cold sweat. Her muscles screamed at her, throbbing as she continued to push herself. It had been a long time since she had used her Quirk multiple times in a day, never mind several times in a row. And it would demand its payment soon. But until then, she should try and help those in need.

    She leapt over the railings, tumbling as she arrived by the Hero¡¯s side. His face had turned red, while the sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled up. His arms and legs were shaking as he gripped the cord tightly; a struggling attempt to lift the man up. Scarlett tossed her chained grappling hook to the side, and grabbed the wires that were closer to the edge. Using her adrenaline to ignore her growing fatigue, she pulled the cable. Together with the mouse-like Hero, they dragged the masked man to the safety of the platform.

    Breathing heavily, the man collapsed onto the wooden plank; his body exhausted from the ordeal. Scarlett followed suit, dropping to her knees as she tried to catch her breath, while the increased pressure at her temples threatened her with vertigo. The only one who refused to take a breather was the small Hero by her side.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± He panted. Scarlett nodded her acknowledgement, continuing to take deep breaths to compose herself.

    The Hero turned and made his way to the Scarecrow to assess him and his injuries. Judging the way they were interacting, they didn¡¯t seem to be too severe. Once satisfied with his observation, he shuffled through his pockets and took out a couple of zip ties that he must have scavenged nearby. Minding the state of his arms, he carefully bound the Villain to the railings, stopping him from escaping. The masked man had no energy to resist, simply accepting his fate as he laid there.

    He then seated himself next to Scarlett, glancing down at the world below. ¡°You know,¡± he said, still a little out of breath, ¡°this is the second time you¡¯ve helped me today. I don¡¯t think I can ever thank you enough.¡±

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Scarlett barely registered his words, as the edges of her vision darkened. She readjusted her sitting position, placing her head between her knees, and took plenty of deep breaths. The headache from overexerting herself continued to throb, forcing her to wince.

    ¡°Oh, dear.¡± He shared a concerned look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she said. ¡°I just used my Quirk too much. I¡¯ll be fine in a few hours.¡± Maybe.

    The Hero looked worried. ¡°Your Quirk?¡±

    Scarlett gestured to the crystallised grappling hook to her side. The mouse-like Hero reached for it, inspecting its structure as a glint of recognition flickered in his eyes. But Scarlett paid little attention to him, flexing her arms and making fists in order to raise her blood pressure. The last thing she wanted to do was pass out on top of a tall building.

    ¡°This is your Quirk?¡± he asked when the colour slowly returned to Scarlett¡¯s face.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Scarlett nodded. ¡°My Quirk isn¡¯t regeneration. It¡¯s crystallising my blood and bones. I only regenerate because I can¡¯t absorb it back.¡±

    Her words sparked curiosity in him, prompting him to question the design and applications of her ability. Scarlett did her best to explain the grappling hook and how shortening the chains allowed her to quickly arrive by his side. A hyperfocused look settled on his face as he studied the crystal chain; silently noting down details that were invisible to the young girl. A part of Scarlett wasn¡¯t sure if he was even listening to her until she finished talking. But at least the conversation helped ground her a little more, allowing her some time to replenish her blood and regrow her missing teeth.

    ¡°That¡¯s an impressive Quirk,¡± he commented. ¡°But only because you¡¯re so innovative with it.¡±

    An uncomfortable prick tugged Scarlett''s chest, but she forced a half-smile at the compliment. She had heard those empty words multiple times. But she now knew better than to fall for them. ¡°Thank you,¡± she mustered, unable to look him in the eye as she tried to rack her brain for another conversation topic.

    A moment of silence passed. The Hero continued to stare at the grappling hook, seemingly arguing with himself the longer he looked. Until he shook his head slightly and sighed, clearly unsatisfied with the outcome of his internal exchange.

    ¡°You know, as grateful as I am for your help today, using Quirks in public is not allowed, especially without a proper licence.¡±

    Scarlett flinched, pressing her lips into a slight grimace. She knew that. Everyone knew that. But most people didn¡¯t enforce it, especially from what she learnt about in Japan. Quirks were such an innate part of an individual that it would be exhausting to try and regulate the use of them. The general notion was that as long as you didn¡¯t harm anyone, most would look the other way. Or so she thought when she and her sisters were preparing for their trip.

    The only ones she knew who were uncompromising with using Quirks in public were the police force in the UK. But that was only because of the new regulations placed in the last year or so. Even if she wasn¡¯t actively thinking about it when she ran up here, the severity of those laws didn¡¯t exist here in Japan. But was she wrong?

    ¡°And even though most argue that Quirks used for self-defence could be the exception, that doesn¡¯t apply here since you weren¡¯t in danger. And he wouldn¡¯t be considered a random civilian that was being unlawfully attacked and needed to be saved.¡± He gestured to the Villain, who remained dazed and did not respond to their voices at all.

    A sour taste coated Scarlett¡¯s tongue. She didn¡¯t like where this was going.

    ¡°Do you know why we don¡¯t allow Quirks in public?¡± continued the Pro Hero. ¡°It¡¯s because they can be used as weapons, but not every weapon would be the same.¡± He paused for a moment, ensuring the information had time to sink in before elaborating further. ¡°Some Quirks can easily overpower people, while others can only be used in specific situations. Things could take a turn for the worse, if people decided to use their abilities. They could hurt themselves as well as each other, just like they did in the past. But these laws help everyone remain as equals without the threat of constant violence.¡±

    Scarlett¡¯s throat began to dry up. In other words, he was telling her there were going to be consequences for her actions. Was she going to be convicted? What would that mean for her sisters? How would it affect their investigation? Had she ruined everything for them? Scarlett did not like the answers she was coming up with.

    He held a pensive expression as he continued to stare at the chained grappling hook. ¡°Some people are not going to be happy about this.¡± He spoke more to himself than to Scarlett, returning to quietly thinking to himself. The silence was overwhelming.

    Scarlett wasn¡¯t sure what to do, as he sat there debating to himself once again. She tried to scan his face to ascertain what he was thinking, but all she could tell from the furrow in his brows was that he was worried. That wasn¡¯t a good sign.

    But his ears perked up, as he arrived at a sudden conclusion. ¡°But maybe no one has to know about this.¡± He turned to face Scarlett. His face was a little more determined than it was a few seconds ago.

    ¡°W-what do you mean?"

    ¡°I¡¯m saying that I¡¯ll keep this a secret between us.¡±

    Scarlett¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I¡ª what¡­why?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± he gestured to the jagged hooks, ¡°although this could be used as a weapon, technically you didn¡¯t hurt anyone with your Quirk. And I don¡¯t know the specifics, but since you can regenerate to some degree, you didn¡¯t seem like you were putting yourself in danger either.¡± He shared a reassuring smile. ¡°If anything, you¡¯ll probably get a slap on the wrist because of the outcome of the situation¡ªyou did help save a life, you know?

    ¡°And anyway, if you do get into trouble, I will help and bear the responsibility, because it was for my own selfish reasons that you were here in the first place.¡± Despite smiling, his eyes were apologetic.

    Scarlett rapidly blinked a few times. This was too much to process. ¡°But¡­I was the one who suggested to come here.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but I also agreed to it, so I guess we¡¯re both culpable.¡± His smile widened into an uplifting grin. But Scarlett wasn¡¯t comforted.

    ¡°What about him?¡± She pointed to the Villain. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll keep this a secret.¡±

    The Pro Hero shifted his attention to him, speaking briefly in Japanese. The man only grunted in return, making Scarlett question whether his injuries were more severe than what she originally thought. But the mouse-like individual was unfazed.

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t speak English, so it¡¯s unlikely he understands what we¡¯re saying. And I doubt he¡¯ll complain after you helped save him.¡±

    Scarlett took a moment to digest what was happening, but the feeling of unease refused to step aside. Her careless actions almost cost her and her family everything. But now this individual had decided to look the other way. It was too good to be true.

    But the sound of an electronic device buzzing reverberated in the air, directing her wariness away from him. Scarlett reached for her pocket to where the noise was coming from. The tablet was pinging off notifications, while the golden emblem on the map continuously flashed. She handed the device back to the Hero, who accepted it gratefully before scrolling through the screen.

    ¡°Well, I guess we¡¯re out of time to think of anything else.¡± He swiped away the notification. ¡°The Pro Heroes will be arriving any moment now.¡±

 Chapter 11: If You Ask No Questions, Youll Hear No Lies

    Everything was a blur. Red lights painted the neighbourhood. Police sirens rang through the streets. And the Pro Heroes arrived in a frenzy of colours and shapes, attracting a small crowd of civilians with their presence. The one that garnered the most attention was a Heroine who resembled a chameleon, and a blond Hero who could elongate his limbs. The two collaborated their efforts to help Scarlett and the rest down the construction site.

    As soon as they touched the ground, the Villain was apprehended and taken to the nearest police station, while a couple of police officers swarmed Scarlett and the mouse-like Hero. Their words were disjointed as they questioned the two, prompting them to give their initial statements about the events that had occurred.

    At least, that¡¯s what Scarlett believed was happening. Why else would they want to talk to her?

    She stared hard at the officers, doing her best to ignore the persistent throb behind her tired eyes and pay attention to them. But it was a lot more challenging than she thought. Although she was able to steady herself somewhat beforehand, there was little she could do about the lethargy from using her Quirk. Sometimes a snack would help, but that was only a temporary boost in energy. A nap would be better. Yes, a nap would be great right now¡­

    Scarlett blinked, pushing the thought away. No way was she going to pass out in front of all these people. Not after the fuss that happened the last time she did. No. She was better than that. She could withstand their questioning.

    Scarlett suppressed the urge to yawn for the fifth time, noting the harsh gaze and tone of voice from the policemen in front of her. She didn¡¯t need to understand the language to know they were unhappy with her embroilment tonight. But the small Hero by her side kept his promise, acting as a translator and ensuring they understood it was his idea to bring her along, all while apologising profusely for it. He even made an effort to hide the full extent of Scarlett¡¯s abilities, telling the officers that she could regenerate to some degree, and that she was not in immediate harm¡¯s way when she came to help.

    Scarlett was unsure how that would help her case, but it seemed to quiet their disapproval for the time being. A passive Quirk, like healing, seemed to be a lot more acceptable in their eyes. But it made her wonder what would happen if they had found her crystal grappling hook.

    Her fingers gravitated to her coat pocket. The condensed crystallised bone softly clinked under her touch, muffled by the sleeping mask she had bought earlier. Before the authorities had arrived, the mouse-like Hero instructed Scarlett to compress the crystals as much as she could to be able to hide them away. And while she could keep the crystallised bones inside her pocket, the blood chain and its length were going to be a problem.

    But Scarlett did what she was told, using the rest of her stamina to shrink them all. Pushing and enforcing her will on her blood, it grew smaller until she could wrap it around herself, hiding it under her coat as a makeshift belt for her joggers. It was the best she could think of in such a short amount of time. And as long as the police found no reason to search her, she should be in the clear.

    Scarlett realigned her focus back onto the officers. If the worse case scenario played out, maybe she could lie about being into fashion?

    She forced her hands away from her pockets. The idea of trying to convince the police that her blood belt was a fashion statement sounded like it would use too much energy to pull off. It¡¯d be better if I could completely avoid it.

    But her chance to plan a strategy was interrupted by the arrival of a red Heroine with horns, and a bat-winged Hero. As they were brought up to speed, they reacted just like the mouse-like Hero had said. Those who were displeased, such as the red Heroine, simply told her off¡ªpointing out that despite her Quirk¡¯s abilities, she should have left everything to the professionals. Others, like the long-limbed man, chalked it up to the immaturity that came with her age.

    Scarlett ignored their comments, simply too exhausted to defend herself against them. It would have been arduous to do so, especially with a language barrier between them as well.

    But much to her surprise, some Heroes, such as the chameleon-like lady and the large bat-winged Hero, were impressed by her quick thinking and the potential use of her Quirk. They bombarded her with the idea of becoming their sidekick when she was older. But their words and overenthusiasm failed to pass through the hazy fog that obscured her tired mind.

    Noticing how she recoiled into herself at their increased liveliness, the small Hero by her side guided Scarlett away from the hustle and bustle around them. He helped Scarlett settle down on a stack of wooden pallets, before leaving to return with a bottle of water and a warm blanket. He handed the bottle to Scarlett, which she gratefully accepted, while he wrapped himself up with the blanket as his coat was taken away to be used as evidence.

    Using the moment of respite to take a sip, Scarlett¡¯s eyes wandered to the Pro Heroes, who began to clear and reassemble the collapsed scaffolding.

    A crimson-red energy surrounded some of the steel pipes as the red Heroine moved her hands, commanding the metal beams to slot themselves back into place. But it seemed she could only control a few at a time, leading to the other Heroes, such as the chameleon-like lady, the bat-winged Hero and the long-limbed man, to manually reconstruct the fallen scaffolds. Climbing, flying, stretching, they all worked in tandem, using their Quirks to ensure the old red brick building was not damaged during the ordeal. It was almost like a performance.

    But Scarlett looked away, glancing down at her hands. While the bite mark had stopped bleeding, her palms were still red and raw from swinging the crystal grappling hook and pulling the Scarecrow-like figure up. She replayed the scenario again and again, encouraging the tightness in her chest to continue to grip her. While she had only used her Quirk a handful of times, her stamina had almost been completely drained.

    She clenched the bottle in her hands a little harder. The time she had used her Quirk to recover her injuries from the incident with the bald man was different. Those wounds were extensive enough to require every ounce of her energy to heal. But today, there was no excuse. Using her Quirk as much as she did today should not have exhausted her this much. Scarlett¡¯s gaze hardened as she stared at her hands. Her fraying bandages continued to peek through the cuffs of her coat. Was this the extent of her capabilities now?

    The thought gnawed at her, forcing Scarlett to turn away, unable to face the Pro Heroes who flaunted their expertise over their Quirks in front of her. Maybe the fatigue was making her more grouchy than usual. That had to be it. Or why else would she want to make up for the difference in skills between them and herself?

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°How are you feeling now?¡± asked the mouse-like Hero, breaking Scarlett away from her thoughts.

    ¡°A little better. But I¡¯ll be fine once I sleep.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good. We should be finished here shortly, so you can head home soon.¡± His eyes scanned the flashing police cars. ¡°Do you need a ride back? I¡¯m sure I can ask one of the policemen to offer to take you home.¡±

    ¡°Ah, no, that¡¯s alright,¡± she said, already imagining the horror on her sisters¡¯ faces if she arrived in a police car, instead of bringing back the snacks like she had promised. Scarlett stiffened. Oh no, the snacks! I left them at the convenience store! She silently groaned, rising from her makeshift seat. ¡°Actually, I need to run a small errand, so if we¡¯re done here, can I leave?¡±

    A look of hesitation flashed on his face before quickly disappearing behind a smile. Scarlett rubbed her heavy eyelids. She must have imagined it. ¡°Sure thing,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s see if the officers are okay with that.¡±

    The small Hero helped Scarlett leave the construction site. He made sure the officers were satisfied with her departure, ensuring there was no reason to keep her around. Once that was resolved, she left with little issue, other than a final comment to not make a habit of interfering with Hero work. Scarlett forced a smile to convey her agreement as she made her way to the entrance, while the stout individual was not far behind her.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind,¡± he called out, ¡°could I tag along for a little bit? There¡¯s something I wanted to ask you.¡±

    Scarlett¡¯s mouth curled with apprehension. ¡°Um, alright, then.¡±

    Brushing past the small crowd, they both slowly made their way back to the convenience store. But Scarlett¡¯s eyes never left her last-minute companion. She surveyed him as they walked, trying to ascertain what he was thinking. But his face remained neutral.

    A simple thought tugged at her tired mind. Could this be about the deal they made? I mean, there¡¯s no other reason for him to want to talk to me, is there?

    ¡°Sorry to bother you when you have things to do,¡± he said after they gained some distance, ¡°but I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what were you going to do now.¡±

    Scarlett furrowed her brows slightly. ¡°I just need to collect my stuff from the convenience store. Is that a problem?¡±

    ¡°What? No, no, not at all.¡± He waved his hands apologetically. ¡°I meant to say what are you thinking about in the long-term, like what are your plans for the future?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I was just thinking about what Chameleon Girl and Nocturne were saying when they asked you to become one of their sidekicks¡ªI mean, you¡¯re still so young, but have you considered becoming a Pro Hero?¡±

    Scarlett paused. Her stiff expressions became useful for once as she did her best not to frown. ¡°Not really,¡± she lied.

    It didn¡¯t feel good. It never did. But she knew how weird it would be if she blurted out the truth after going out of her way to help someone. And she didn¡¯t have the energy to deal with more questions. She would rather drop the conversation altogether.

    The Hero raised a brow. ¡°Well, maybe you should consider it. I know the deadline for applying to Hero Courses in Japan is approaching soon. Unless you¡¯re not planning to stay in Japan for that long?¡±

    His inquiry caused Scarlett to tense. It was a simple question. But Scarlett had no answer. She had no idea how long she and her sisters were going to stay in this country. ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t¡ªwait, what makes you think I won¡¯t be here for long?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t want to assume, but considering your accent and unfamiliarity with Japanese, I thought you might be a tourist,¡± he said. ¡°But please correct me if I¡¯m wrong.¡±

    ¡°Um, actually¡ª¡± Scarlett yawned, before taking a left as they continued walking back, ¡°¡ªmy family and I only moved here recently.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really?¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah, it hasn¡¯t been that long though.¡± There was no need to bore him with the details. The less the authorities knew about her and her family, the better.

    ¡°Well, if you¡¯re staying here for the foreseeable future, maybe you should think about applying.¡±

    ¡°The thing is¡­¡± Scarlett hesitated, her sleepiness now slowing down her ability to conjure up an excuse. ¡°I think¡­I need to see more of Japan to make a decision like that.¡± Can we please talk about something else?

    The Hero offered a warm smile. ¡°Well, if you need to look at some schools, can I interest you in applying to U.A. High School?¡±

    ¡°U.A.?¡± As the letters left her lips, the golden emblem on the tablet screen flashed in her mind.

    The stout figure softly chuckled. ¡°Ah, yes, you see, I actually work for U.A.¡ªin fact I¡¯m the principal.¡±

    Scarlett almost tripped over her own feet, before stopping in her tracks. ¡°You¡¯re the principal?¡±

    He let out a soft laugh. ¡°That reaction never gets old.¡± He turned to face her, placing a paw over his heart. ¡°Yes, I am Principal Nezu, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Miss¡­¡±

    ¡°Um, Scarlett.¡± Her name escaped her lips before she had a chance to think about the implications.

    ¡°Well, Miss Scarlett, it would be great to have someone like you at our school. We even take international students as well, so there is plenty of available help for you and for others who are learning Japanese.¡±

    A frown settled on Scarlett¡¯s face. She stared at the so-called principal, trying to make out what his true agenda was. But his face remained unreadable. ¡°You¡­want someone like me? Even though you saw me break the law?¡±

    Principal Nezu offered a soft, but reassuring smile. ¡°Well, that¡¯s only if people find out. I¡¯m sure I can pull a few strings to make sure it isn¡¯t known to the public. It¡¯s not much of an issue as I have plenty of experience in dealing with students who are over-enthusiastic about being Heroes.¡± His gaze flickered to a distant billboard of a large muscular man in a blue and red Hero suit, with two tufts of blond hair sticking up from his head.

    But Scarlett¡¯s gaze did not follow. She continued to tentatively stare at him, hoping to find some form of reasoning hidden behind his expression. But her efforts were empty. ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡± Her voice was quiet. ¡°I¡¯m not even one of your students, so why are you doing this?¡±

    Principal Nezu shared a tender look, before it melted into a gentle smile. ¡°Well, you made a reckless mistake with good intentions, and I don¡¯t believe something like that should ruin your future, no matter what career you decide to choose.

    ¡°You see, I¡¯ve seen many students want to do the right thing, but end up fumbling when they try to do so. But I¡¯ve always believed that you learn the most when you make mistakes. So, if I can help a little by reducing the repercussions, then I can call myself a teacher and say it with pride.¡± He let out a half-chuckle. ¡°Or maybe my old age is getting to me and I ramble too much these days.¡±

    Scarlett¡¯s apprehension began to fade, but she couldn¡¯t shake it off entirely. It was still too good to be true. She shuffled her weight between her feet, looking down at her hands as her fingers grazed the bite mark. ¡°I¡­need to think about it some more and talk to my family first.¡± Another lie. And it tasted much more bitter than the last one.

    ¡°Of course, you shouldn¡¯t rush a decision like this,¡± said Principal Nezu. ¡°But I should let you know that U.A. applications close soon, so you should apply while you still can.¡±

    Scarlett forced a nod, before resuming their walk back to the convenience store. Their footsteps grew distant as the red clock tower loomed behind them; a warning that both would be unable to turn back after tonight.

 Chapter 12: Decisions, Decisions

    ¡°She says he¡¯d frequent a few bars here and there, and that all he ever did was brag about being a big shot while harassing some of the girls.

    ¡°Eventually, he ended up here, but the manager had enough of him, so she kicked him out. She then told her to warn the other hostess bars nearby because he was being such a nuisance.¡± The honey-haired bartender shook her head as she translated her wolf-like colleague¡¯s version of events into English. ¡°But after he left, she also heard that he went to Musutafu and bothered the girls over there. Sorry, but that¡¯s all she knows, so I don¡¯t know what else to tell you.¡±

    Juno nodded, while Leya thanked them for their time, before they both turned to leave. As they exited the doors, the younger sister let out a curse. This was their third hostess bar, and their late night excursion to gather more information was slowly proving to be unsuccessful. But at least they could confirm what kind of person the bald man was. It was a shame they couldn¡¯t do more with this information.

    The two stepped aside, as a pretty woman with jet-black hair, and simple dark winter clothes, walked past them to enter the building they had just left. Whether it was because of her Keen Senses, her jetlag, or perhaps a mixture of the two, Leya winced as the streetlights flickered in the woman¡¯s eyes. The light reflecting and refracting in the molten glass that filled her eye sockets was so harsh that Leya couldn¡¯t help but turn away.

    She rubbed her eyes, cursing again once the lady was out of earshot. The last thing she wanted was to be reminded of her fatigue on top of tonight¡¯s failure. She clenched her teeth as she thought about the next step forward. But her mind was blank. What were they going to do now?

    Juno placed her hand on Leya¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± she signed. ¡°We knew this wasn¡¯t going to be easy. But at least we can confirm he was in Musutafu. Maybe we¡¯ll find something there.¡± She offered a reassuring smile, encouraging a sense of calm to wash over Leya. She was right. It wasn¡¯t over yet.

    The two made their way back to the bed-and-breakfast, only to arrive at the same time as Zero, who held bags of takeout in her hands. She shared a smile as the two came into view.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back already?¡± said Zero as she pushed open the front door. They all exchanged quick greetings before filing into the kitchen-living room area. Zero placed her bags down on the kitchen counter, before turning to continue. ¡°How was it?¡±

    Leya groaned in frustration, while Juno filled her in.

    Zero nodded, humming with acknowledgement as she took the information in. ¡°Well, it could be worse. But at least there¡¯s another source telling us he was in Musutafu,¡± said Zero, recollecting the nightlife pictures from social media that Archie had scavenged. ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can push us to move there ASAP.¡±

    The two agreed, shedding their coats as Zero updated them with a quick rundown of projects her label wanted her to complete now that she had arrived in Japan. While it wasn¡¯t ideal to direct her attention elsewhere, she couldn¡¯t neglect her work as a musician if she didn¡¯t want to rouse any suspicion. But all of that could be tackled another day.

    The three sisters settled down, preparing the small dining table for their first meal in Japan¡ªa warm bowl of gyudon. The idea of stuffing their bellies with hot, steaming rice and thin slices of sweet and salty beef hastened their footsteps. But as they gathered around, the empty chair next to them left an unsavoury taste in their mouths.

    Zero reached for her phone, while the other two filled her in on Scarlett¡¯s pursuit for snacks. As she listened, their words couldn¡¯t quell the small tug of unease pulling at her. Scarlett hadn¡¯t gotten lost, had she?

    She quickly typed a message, asking Scarlett if she needed to be picked up. But as her fingers clicked send, the front door opened, revealing a haggard dark-haired girl carrying a white carrier bag.

    ¡°You¡¯re finally back, then,¡± Leya called from the dining table. ¡°We were about to send a search party ¡®cause you took too long.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, I got held up.¡± Scarlett yawned, placing the bag down near the dining table, before gazing at the food in front of her, her mouth salivating at the sight. ¡°What takeout did you guys get?¡±

    Hurrying to remove her coat, Scarlett took her seat, while Zero began explaining the dish, going into great detail about the history of gyudon and why she added it to the list of things to try while they stayed in Japan. But being no stranger to Zero¡¯s long-winded expositions, Leya ignored her, tucking in before the rice beef bowl had gotten cold.

    Juno shook her head, silently chuckling to herself, before a pink box inside the bag Scarlett was carrying caught her eye. She shifted her attention to the cute bunny character on the box, before noting the other colourful packaging that filled the snack bag. A small frown settled on her face as she assessed the contents a little more. Most of the chocolates and crisps had been opened and eaten.

    Juno grabbed an empty wrapper and placed it near Scarlett. ¡°I thought I said not to spoil your appetite.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Scarlett spoke midway through chewing a spoonful of rice.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t?¡± Zero got up and looked inside the carrier bag, taking out some more empty snack packets, before sharing a curious look at Scarlett.

    ¡°Oi, there better be something left for me to try.¡±

    ¡°There is. I left some for all of you,¡± Scarlett avoided eye contact, shovelling more food into her mouth. The older sisters eyed their youngest; their gaze wearing down Scarlett¡¯s resolve.

    ¡°What?¡± Scarlett said through another mouthful of rice. ¡°It was an emergency.¡± She internally recoiled as soon as the words left her lips. The look on her sisters¡¯ faces twisting into a concerned expression tightened her chest.

    ¡°Emergency?¡± Zero tensed up. ¡°What do you mean? What emergency?¡±

    Scarlett grimaced. As much as she hated worrying them, it wasn¡¯t like she was going to hide what had happened this evening from them. The consequences of doing so would only result in increasing their problems, and they already had so much on their plates.

    But Scarlett had hoped to let them know after they had eaten and gotten over their jetlag a little more. At least then their emotions wouldn¡¯t be as heightened and they would be less likely to overreact. But considering everything that had transpired tonight, Scarlett had probably used up all her luck today.

    She sighed a little before asking everyone to settle down, beckoning them to continue eating as she recounted the events that unfolded during her little outing. As the words left her lips, a small part of her wasn¡¯t sure if they would believe her as she almost didn¡¯t believe it herself. But they all nodded their heads and asked questions when they needed further elaboration.

    And when they pressed her about why she ate all the snacks, Scarlett justified her actions explaining she had used her Quirk too much and needed to replenish her lost calories; otherwise, she would have repeated what happened during Halloween a few years ago and passed out on the streets. It seemed to have appeased Leya¡¯s discontent about the missing treats, while the other two looked like they still needed convincing.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ¡°And you think this¡­Principal Nezu will keep everything a secret?¡± Zero frowned, not noticing Leya reaching across the table to grab her phone.

    ¡°I mean, he did help when the police were questioning me,¡± answered Scarlett.

    ¡°And he definitely asked you to join his school¡ªU.A. was it?¡± prodded Leya, unlocking Zero¡¯s phone. Scarlett simply nodded in response.

    But that only caused Zero¡¯s frown to deepen. There was something too good to be true about this. Or was she simply being paranoid? She had met her fair share of eccentric figures throughout her work as a Pro Hero, and maybe he was one of them. But in this instance, the person in question wasn¡¯t even a person. Was it fair to judge him the same as everyone else? Zero rubbed her forehead. What animal was he supposed to be again?

    ¡°Whoa, this looks legit!¡± Leya exclaimed, as Zero finally registered her phone in Leya¡¯s hand. She took the device, causing the feline teen to call out. ¡°Hey!¡±

    ¡°You have your own phone.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but I don¡¯t wanna go to my room and get it.¡±

    Zero refused to glare at her, instead focusing her attention to the webpage Leya had opened. Her eyes widened as a large headline filled half the phone screen.

    ¡®Top of the Class: U.A.¡¯s Heroics Department Tops Japan¡¯s School Rankings Again.¡¯

    It was an article published a few months ago, with a picture of the principal that matched the description Scarlett had given. Zero furrowed her brows as she continued to read.

    ¡®As the annual rankings for schools are released in Japan, it appears that no other institute is able to match the excellence of U.A. High School with regards to its Hero Course. Renowned for producing multiple Pro Heroes who rank in the top 10 of the Hero Billboard Chart JP, U.A. High School has carved its name as one of the most prestigious schools in the country.

    ¡®But how have they managed to achieve such consistent success?

    ¡®The school principal comments that their rigorous training and their innovative curriculum, as well as the dedication and talent of their students, are the sole reasons behind this¡­¡¯

    She stared at her phone, silently mouthing the words to help process the information in front of her. She had heard of acclaimed schools all over the world, but never paid much attention to them. And why would she? It wasn¡¯t like she, or anyone else she knew, were going to study abroad. And with her and her sisters being homeschooled their entire lives, it wasn¡¯t something she ever considered looking into either.

    She scrolled back to search for more information about the school. But everything she could find seemed to measure up with the article¡¯s claims. Zero bit her lip as the situation sunk in.

    U.A. High School, one of the best academies for training Pro Heroes, had scouted her baby sister after she got caught up with helping the principal with his Hero duties. She gently shook her head. This was not part of her itinerary for their stay in Japan.

    She handed the phone to Juno, who was patiently waiting to read what all the fuss was about. With one sister on each side, Scarlett and Leya leaned over Juno¡¯s shoulders to also examine the details on the phone screen. But as the three of them absorbed the information, Zero took a moment to chew on her thoughts.

    As grateful as she was, there had to be another reason behind this Nezu figure helping to hide the full extent of Scarlett¡¯s involvement. Why else would a principal of an esteemed Hero Academy not adhere to the law? Was it because he thought he was above them after all U.A. had achieved over the years?

    Or perhaps he was more interested in Scarlett¡¯s Quirk and wanted her to apply to U.A. without any issues? I mean, it is quite a versatile Quirk and seeing what the school has accomplished with their students, he must have figured out that much, right?

    But from how Scarlett spoke about the situation, it didn¡¯t seem like he held himself in extremely high regard, nor was he pressuring her to join. He just didn¡¯t want her punishment to be too severe. And from the look of things, he got his way.

    So, if it wasn¡¯t for these reasons, then why would he do such a thing?

    Zero pressed her lips together. She was thinking in circles. And ignoring an important aspect of the situation¡ªScarlett.

    She glanced up, noting the subtle frown on Scarlett¡¯s face as she finished skimming the information in front of her. ¡°So, what do you think, Scarlett? Do you want to go to U.A.?¡±

    She knew the answer, but she still had to ask. She could spend the whole evening ¡®umming¡¯ and ¡®ahhing¡¯ about Nezu¡¯s hidden agenda, but none of that would be much help to them. But if she could confirm what Scarlett wanted, that could push them towards a goal. But only until she could figure out the truth.

    Scarlett crossed her arms, casting her gaze towards the floor. ¡°I¡¯d rather not.¡± Her voice was quiet. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t want to be a Hero, so it wouldn¡¯t make any sense for me to apply.¡±

    Zero shared a supportive smile. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s one thing settled¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªHang on,¡± signed Juno, after handing the phone to Leya who was still reading. ¡°What about their General Education Course?¡±

    Zero raised an eyebrow. ¡°General Education?¡±

    Juno nodded. ¡°Yeah, there are other school departments, but those are still centred around different aspects of heroics. But the General Education Department might be something worth looking into.¡±

    Zero held a pensive expression. That was an option. And a good one too. In fact, having Scarlett go to any school would be nice. Everyone would be able to direct their full attention to the investigation. And as long as the schoolwork wasn¡¯t too overwhelming, it could keep Scarlett preoccupied instead of involving herself when she shouldn¡¯t have to. Maybe, she¡¯ll make some new friends too.

    Zero relaxed her posture. ¡°What about going to General Education, then?¡±

    Scarlett furrowed her brows, twirling one end of the frayed bandages between her fingers as Zero¡¯s question weighed on her. But the corners of her mouth turned down as she found her answer. ¡°It¡¯s still a Hero School,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m sure the General Department will still teach some Hero stuff.¡±

    ¡°That could be true,¡± replied Juno. ¡°But let¡¯s not make a decision based on an assumption.¡± She turned to Leya. ¡°Leya, if you could¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªAlready on it,¡± she answered, taking a moment or two before presenting the phone screen to everyone. ¡°It¡¯s their online prospectus and from the looks of it, the department is all about getting students into good unis. They even claim they¡¯re one of the best in the country to do so.¡±

    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, I definitely shouldn¡¯t apply.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± challenged Juno. ¡°Dr. Snapdragon said you stayed on top of all your schoolwork during your time at the hospital. And I remember some of the staff telling me you were excelling in your studies too.¡±

    Scarlett¡¯s cheeks matched her name. She thought back to her time at the hospital and how she didn¡¯t want her sisters to worry too much about her, so she put all her effort into her studies. It was a taxing process, demanding so much of her while she recovered. But the look of pride on their faces made it worthwhile. However, keeping up with her schoolwork was nothing compared to meeting the standards to get into an academy like U.A.

    Scarlett¡¯s gaze returned to the ground. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean my grades are enough to get in.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know that until you try.¡± Juno shared a warm smile, melting the frown on Scarlett¡¯s face. ¡°I mean, yeah, from the quick look online, it¡¯s clear their education is top-notch, so their expectations for students are going to be high. But if you live a life with no ambition, you¡¯ll miss so many cool opportunities. Just imagine what you could do if you went.¡±

    Scarlett continued to look at the floor. If she was completely honest, it wasn¡¯t appealing in the slightest. Joining an esteemed school sounded stressful. And with the added pressure to meet everyone¡¯s expectations, she couldn¡¯t help but want to avoid it.

    But Juno¡¯s words pulled at something inside her.

    She thought back to her conversation with Leya at the park near their house in London. She told her she had no plans. And it was true. She had no idea what she was going to do after being released from the hospital. And tonight, she was confronted with the frustration of being purposeless when Nezu left her alone at the clock tower.

    But maybe it didn¡¯t have to be like that anymore.

    A weight that persistently pressed down on her chest began to loosen its grip.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Scarlett looked up. ¡°I¡¯ll go to school. But no Hero Schools. I don¡¯t want to go to U.A.¡±

 Chapter 13: Strength in Sisterhood

    While Zero lathered up the sponge in her hand, Juno gathered the rest of the dishes. Scarlett had turned in for the night, while Leya had an urgent phone call to answer, leaving the older sisters to wash up in the tiny kitchen of their temporary abode.

    With the sound of cutlery softly clinking, alongside the rushing sound of water from the kitchen tap as their only company, the two made quick work. However, Zero paid little attention to the task at hand, as her mind replayed the conversation they all had at dinner. There was something she couldn¡¯t quite figure out.

    She turned towards Juno, handing her a bowl to dry with a tea towel. ¡°You were unusually pushy about Scarlett attending U.A.¡± she finally said. ¡°What was up with that?¡±

    Juno shared an apologetic smile. ¡°Sorry,¡± she signed after she placed the bowl down. ¡°I wasn¡¯t too bold, was I?¡±

    Zero shook her head. ¡°No, I just wanted to know what you were thinking. I mean, it was obvious she wouldn¡¯t want to go to a school like that.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± expressed Juno, causing Zero to raise an eyebrow. ¡°I just wanted her to take the initiative and think about what she wants to do. Apparently, she told Leya she hasn¡¯t got any plans now that she¡¯s been discharged from the hospital, and I thought something like this might help push her to decide.¡±

    ¡°How did you know this would work?¡±

    Juno silently laughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±

    Zero almost dropped the spoon she had been rinsing. ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± She quickly recomposed herself, returning to a calmer tone of voice. ¡±What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Well, what else was going to happen?¡± Juno shrugged. ¡°Either she agrees to go to U.A.¡ªwhich was unlikely but still a possibility¡ªor she decides that she wants to go to another school. Both options seem to be fine because we both know an environment like that would be good for her.

    ¡°Alternatively, she could flat out reject the idea, which also is fine because that just opens the conversation about what she wants to do. Either way, it was a conversation we were gonna have at some point.¡±

    Zero remained silent for a moment, staring at the blurry reflections in the spoon. Like a funhouse mirror, the curved surface distorted her image, warping it into something that barely resembled herself, while the soapy suds completely covered Juno¡¯s visage from her view; a reminder that no matter how much she twisted and contorted herself, she could never imitate Juno when it came to her perception and understanding. Especially when it came to stuff surrounding Scarlett.

    Zero refused to frown.

    ¡°I¡ªWell, damn, June. That¡¯s really smart.¡± Zero forced out a breathy laugh. ¡°I was so busy thinking about this Nezu fellow, that I didn¡¯t even consider that.¡±

    ¡°I mean I don¡¯t blame you,¡± reassured Juno. ¡°When you¡¯re in ¡®detective mode¡¯, you tend to focus on how things connect together. It¡¯s what makes you so good at your job as a Pro Hero. But if you¡¯re too busy with that, I¡¯m happy to take care of things at home¡ªI mean, we are a team, after all. It just makes sense.¡±

    A smile returned to Zero¡¯s face. ¡°Well, since we¡¯re a team, I wanna know your thoughts about this Principal Nezu.¡±

    ¡°Honestly? He looked adorable in that photo we saw of him.¡±

    Zero stared at her, taken aback by her answer, before laughing. ¡°That¡¯s all you have to say about him?"

    The older sister shrugged. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t have much else to go off of, do I? I¡¯ve never met him.¡± But a soft frown settled on her face. ¡°Why are you so worried about him anyway?¡±

    Zero sighed. ¡°I dunno, June. I just don¡¯t trust him. I mean, think about it. It¡¯s just too good to be true¡ª¡±

    Juno held her hand up, cutting Zero off. ¡°Listen, this is not the first time some random teenager tried to help a Pro Hero, and it definitely won¡¯t be the last. Kids do these things all the time¡ªheck, even we did when we were younger. But we were alright.

    ¡°If this was a major issue, the police would have arrested Scarlett instead of letting her go. But that¡¯s what happened. They probably have seen plenty of kids pull even worse stuff than what Scarlett pulled tonight.¡±

    Zero¡¯s frown reappeared, unveiling the tired look in her eyes. ¡°I get that. I just can¡¯t shake this feeling that there is something more to this, y¡¯know?¡±

    Juno gently rested her hand on Zero¡¯s arm. ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve had the least amount of sleep compared to the rest of us. Why don¡¯t you go and get some shut eye and I¡¯ll finish the dishes. If this is something we need to be worried about, it¡¯s better to do so after getting some rest.¡±

    Despite the blue-haired girl¡¯s protest, Juno shut off the tap, shooing Zero away from the sink. ¡°Go and rest,¡± the older sister expressed firmly. ¡°And also let me handle everything with Scarlett. I¡¯ll help her find a school she likes, and if the police call her for further questioning, I¡¯ll go with her as her guardian.¡±

    Zero¡¯s eyes softened as she smiled. ¡°We can both do that, y¡¯know?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s true, but I¡¯m not a problem-solver like you,¡± signed Juno. ¡°I won¡¯t be much help when it comes to investigating things. But let me help with Scarlett. We always told each other that we would divide the work between us, so let¡¯s just do that.¡±

    Zero shared a grateful look. ¡°Thanks June. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do without you.¡±The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°We¡¯re a team,¡± she repeated, before softly tapping Zero¡¯s forehead; a sign for her to drill the idea in.

    She giggled at the gesture, before agreeing and wishing Juno goodnight. The tension between her brows from the near-constant frowning began to melt, as a soft, genuine, smile found itself on her face as she got ready for bed. Maybe she would finally have a good night of rest for the first time this past week.

    <hr>

    As midnight approached the Love Drop Lounge, one of the many hostess bars in Tokyo, a honey-haired bartender tapped her well-manicured fingernails against the polished mahogany counter of the bar, as her phone rested beside her.

    A text displayed itself on its screen. An apology sent by one of her regular customers, who had cancelled on their plans last minute. It was something about their boss dumping a load of work on them so they wouldn¡¯t be able to come tonight, but she didn¡¯t press for details. She didn¡¯t really care. But a simple heart emoji and a message saying she¡¯ll miss him should be enough to convince him otherwise.

    Setting her phone down again, she scanned the club. Her eyes landed on the crushed velvet magenta booths, where most of their clientele resided. The loudest group held her dark-haired colleague with wolf ears, who playfully traced her fingers on an older gentleman in a business suit. She leaned in close, and judging by the smile playing on her lips, she was whispering sweet nothings in his ear. The man took a moment to consider before simply nodding, erupting a cacophony of cheers.

    Judging by the sound, it was clear she had convinced him to buy another bottle of champagne. It was his third one this evening. And at this rate, she was going to beat her with sales for the entire week by this one evening alone.

    The honey-haired bartender sighed. Maybe she could score a couple of sales if she sauntered over. But first, she should get a drink.

    Turning around, she began to assess the beverages in front of her. Each glass bottle caught the soft pink light differently, creating a kaleidoscope of hues that danced across the room. Their labels were written in many different languages she couldn¡¯t read, but they sounded expensive, so that¡¯s all that mattered.

    Now, which one of these would appeal to that group?

    She rested a hand on her hip, carefully weighing the options in front of her. Until she heard someone drag one of the barstools back.

    With a curious look in her eyes, she turned to meet a woman with black hair and black clothing. She was nothing but plain, someone easy to miss in a crowd, other than the fact the pink lights flickered in the clear molten glass that were her eyes. It was almost mesmerising.

    Despite looking a little gaunt and not like the regular clientele that frequent the area, the bartender couldn¡¯t help but smile. A customer is still a customer after all.

    ¡°Well, this is a lovely surprise,¡± she said sweetly. ¡°We rarely have women visit our establishment.¡± She leaned in close, a playful look on her face. ¡°So, what do I owe for the pleasure of your company this evening?¡±

    ¡°I¡­uh¡­I was actually hoping you could help me,¡± she said.

    The bartender tilted her head curiously. She took a moment to take a closer look at her potential patron¡¯s appearance. It was clear that dark circles were beginning to form under her eyes and her clothes had been repaired a few times. The honey-haired woman leaned back, dropping the flirting facade and opting for a more sympathetic look; a simple change in strategy.

    ¡°Let me pour you a drink first,¡± responded the hostess, turning to scan the drinks behind her.

    ¡°W-wait!¡± the woman called out.

    The hostess froze, raising a curious eyebrow at her guest. ¡°Wait? Wait for what?¡±

    The woman scrambled to get her phone from her pockets. ¡°I was wondering if you¡¯ve seen this man?¡±

    On display was a photo of a large, bald man, with tiny sunglasses, wearing a dark suit as he was leaving a club. The bartender¡¯s brows slowly furrowed, before releasing. This was the second time she had seen a picture of this man this evening, although the previous image of him was his mugshot. Just who was he?

    ¡°Man, this guy must¡¯ve upset a lot of people,¡± she said. ¡°You''re the second person to ask me this.¡±

    The woman blinked. ¡°Second? Who else was asking about him?¡±

    ¡°Just some Pro Heroes¡ªfrom what I heard, the guy was a nasty piece of work, so it¡¯s not surprising that the authorities are looking into him.¡±

    The woman with dark hair pressed her lips into a fine line. Her brows drew closed together in a furrow, as if she was struggling to process the information. ¡°What¡­were they asking about?¡±

    The hostess looked away, her mind wandering back to her earlier conversation. ¡°Just mainly his whereabouts and what he got up to when he was in Japan. Why¡¯d you ask?¡±

    The woman opened her mouth, only to close it once again. ¡°I¡­just have some questions for him.¡±

    She withdrew into herself, casting her gaze downwards. Whatever was going on, it was clear that it was a weight on her shoulders.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re gonna have a hard time with that,¡± answered the bartender. ¡°Apparently, he got arrested abroad.¡±

    The hostess wasn¡¯t sure if she was being cruel, or kind. But the look in the woman¡¯s eye was too familiar, something she often found when she gazed into the mirror. It was better for her to cut her losses early and save herself the heartbreak. Especially if this guy was as bad as everyone was telling her he was.

    But the woman¡¯s glass eyes widened. Her mouth fell agape. ¡°What? He was arrested abroad?¡±

    She scanned the hostess¡¯s face, searching for an ounce of a lie; anything she could grasp to tell herself to keep hope. But there was nothing there.

    Her face contorted into a pained grimace. Her head bowed. Her shoulders slumped. The hostess couldn¡¯t tell if she was crying or not. But the lack of trembling indicated otherwise. Either way, it would be difficult to get her to buy a drink now.

    The honey-haired woman sighed. With a few swift clinks of glass, a drink slid across the counter, causing the woman to look up.

    ¡°It¡¯s on the house,¡± she said, her eyes genuinely softening as she took in the woman¡¯s plight. The glass-eyed woman smiled weakly, sharing her gratitude for the drink, while the hostess began to clean some glassware from the other patrons, with a single thought running through her mind.

    I¡¯m really bad at this job, huh.

    <hr>

    Hope Agency Hero Notes:

    Civilian Name: Archie Webber

    Quirk: Control Machine

    With a Quirk that allows him to manipulate electronics within his sight, without having to lay a single finger on any of the devices, Archie is well-versed when it comes to technology.

    However, his Quirk can only be activated when he is listening to music, as it allows him to process information much quicker than the average person, although this heavily depends on the genre of music.

    As far as the Agency is aware, 90s pop music has shown to be the most effective with increasing information processing, while classical and jazz have shown to be the slowest (despite the fact he prefers those genres the most).

    Regardless of his affinity towards technology, Archie prefers to spend his time collecting and reading books. While this can border on slightly obsessive, this is a much better pastime than his former hobbies¡ª

    [INFORMATION HAS BEEN REDACTED.]

 Chapter 14: Against Principal

    Opening the glass doors of the police station, Scarlett and Juno left the premises, welcoming the cold, late morning air. The youngest sister had been called to answer some further questions about what had occurred at the clock tower. And with Zero and Leya busy preparing the move to Musutafu, Juno offered to accompany her.

    However, judging how quick the process was, it seemed like it was more for formality¡¯s sake than anything else. And with a few days passing since the incident, Scarlett had a much easier time keeping her story straight when she wasn¡¯t fighting fatigue from over-exerting herself, allowing her to be out and about in no time.

    Grateful that it was over, and hoping they could put the entire situation behind them, the two continued on. They had made some last-minute plans to treat themselves to some baked goods at a local cafe, before beginning their journey to buy whatever they needed to celebrate the holidays in their new home. But as they entered the busy street and walked past a few pedestrians, Scarlett soon stopped in her tracks.

    A familiar individual, with an elongated muzzle and slanted ears, sat upon a stone bench nearby. He was wearing a black trench coat this time, with a grey scarf wrapped around his small frame. His dark beady eyes were trained on the small mobile device in his paws, while he buried his face a little into his scarf as a biting winter breeze passed by.

    ¡°Principal Nezu?¡± Scarlett called out.

    The mouse-like individual perked up at the sound of his name. A smile returned to his face as he turned to her, before he stepped down from the stone bench.

    ¡°Ah, Miss Scarlett, what a lovely surprise.¡± His eyes flickered to the tall, blonde woman by her side. ¡°And you must be¡­?¡±

    ¡°My sister, Juno,¡± answered Scarlett, while Juno gave a short wave; her smile widening in the presence of the small Hero. Scarlett raised a curious brow in her direction.

    ¡°He¡¯s so much cuter in real life!¡± she signed, continuing to beam. Scarlett repressed a giggle. Of course, she would find him cute.

    ¡°I see,¡± replied Nezu. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Juno.¡± His gaze drifted towards the direction they had come from. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you were at the police station? Was this to do with what happened at the clock tower a few days ago?¡±

    Scarlett nodded. ¡°Yeah, I was just answering some more questions, but I couldn¡¯t tell them anything new.¡±

    Nezu shared a knowing smile, seeming to understand what Scarlett was implying, while Juno reached for her phone. She unlocked the device, opened the text-to-speech app and typed her words quickly.

    ¡°I heard you were very helpful with what happened. Thank you for that.¡± An electronic female voice spoke out from her phone.

    Nezu¡¯s expression softened. He placed a paw over his chest. ¡°It was the least I could do. Your sister helped me tremendously that night. It was only right that I returned the favour.¡±

    Juno continued to smile as she typed. ¡°I think you did more than that¡ªI heard you even suggested that Scarlett should apply to your school after what happened.¡±

    Scarlett stiffened. Oh, please don¡¯t make me have this conversation right now.

    Nezu let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Yes, I did. We¡¯re always looking for students, like Miss Scarlett, who are ready and willing to do the right thing. And she would be a wonderful addition to have at U.A.¡±

    Heat crept along Scarlett¡¯s back, while her stomach almost churned at the thought of stepping into that world. It was like he knew how to twist the knife.

    While she kept her word to Nezu about speaking to her family about U.A., she had decided not to apply in the end. It was a choice that didn¡¯t need much thought. But she couldn¡¯t say that to him. It didn¡¯t feel right. Not when he went out of his way to help her and she couldn¡¯t be bothered with indulging his request to apply. No, it didn¡¯t feel right at all.

    Scarlett lowered her gaze.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s nice to know.¡± Juno beamed, delighted at the compliments directed to her younger sister, while Scarlett readjusted her scarf. She silently laughed at the gesture, before returning her gaze to Nezu. ¡°I think we need to look at some more schools, before we can arrive at a decision, though.¡±

    ¡°Of course, this is not a small decision to make after all,¡± affirmed Nezu. ¡°But if you are still looking at schools, can I interest you with visiting U.A. at some point?¡±

    Juno raised an eyebrow. ¡°You want us to visit your school?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Nezu chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t want to assume, but in case you didn¡¯t know, many schools across the country allow potential students to visit their campuses in the summer, and U.A. is no exception.

    ¡°However, Miss Scarlett mentioned that you all moved here recently, so it¡¯s understandable that you may have missed an opportunity like that.¡± Nezu smiled with a gleam that reached his eyes. ¡°But I¡¯m happy to arrange a visit for you to ensure that you have that same chance.¡±

    Scarlett tried her best not to frown. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± he answered, before laughing. ¡°But to answer your question, I understand that education can be very different across the globe, so things of this nature can easily be missed which can be frustrating at times. But I¡¯m more than happy to help.¡±

    Juno¡¯s smile remained, not alerting the individual in front of her. But Scarlett knew her sister. She could tell how her eyes were scanning the Pro Hero, searching for something, although Scarlett wasn¡¯t sure what. But whatever she was thinking about, she kept to herself, as her expression reverted to one that was bright and cheery.

    ¡°We appreciate the gesture, but knowing how prestigious U.A. is, this is a little above and beyond what we were expecting.¡± Juno shared a glance at Scarlett, who held a look of reservation. ¡°Is there a particular reason for this?¡±

    Nezu¡¯s smile faltered, before he lowered his gaze to the ground. ¡°To be honest, Miss Scarlett may have mentioned this already, but it was my fault that she got caught up with what happened at the clock tower. I felt so bad that she was involved when she didn¡¯t have to be.¡± He bowed his head. ¡°I just want to make it up to her and apologise for causing so much trouble and allowing this to happen in the first place.¡±

    Scarlett blinked, unsure how to proceed, while Juno¡¯s eyes remained trained on him; a look Scarlett did recognise this time as Juno carefully examined him in search of true sincerity. Her eyes softened when she found her answer.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright,¡± the electronic voice said. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so please don¡¯t beat yourself up. It¡¯s this one that should say sorry¡ª¡± Juno gently nudged Scarlett, causing her to look flustered, ¡°¡ªI doubt she¡¯s even thanked you for all that you¡¯ve done for her.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡ªuh¡­y-yes. Thank you so much for your help,¡± Scarlett said, racking her brain to find the memory of her thanking him, but coming up embarrassingly empty.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°And you know what?¡± continued Juno. ¡°Once we¡¯re done settling into our new house, we would love to take your offer and see the school.¡±

    Scarlett almost did a double-take, before stopping herself. She stared at Juno, trying to ascertain what she was thinking. But the older sister was too hard to read.

    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± said Nezu, elated, before prompting the two of them to exchange contact details, while an uneasy weight settled in Scarlett¡¯s stomach as she couldn¡¯t stop them.

    ¡°Well, I look forward to hearing from you and arranging a date to see the school,¡± Nezu said as he was about to put his phone away. However, the device started to ring as someone called him. The Pro Hero politely excused himself, before exchanging goodbyes with the two sisters and leaving them to complete his errand as he made his way to where Juno and Scarlett had come from.

    As the two were left alone, Juno began to head towards the cafe they had spoken about. But Scarlett¡¯s feet remained planted. Her eyes never left Nezu¡¯s back as he became smaller and smaller in the distance.

    ¡°Why¡­did you agree?¡± Scarlett finally mustered. ¡°Why did you agree to see the school?¡±

    With a curious look on her face, Juno stopped in her tracks and turned back. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she signed.

    ¡°I told you I didn¡¯t want to go to a Hero School, never mind U.A., so why did you arrange a meeting with him?¡± She wasn¡¯t upset. But it bothered her more than she thought it would.

    ¡°Oh, Lettie,¡± expressed Juno, noting the subtle frown lines on her younger sister¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to make you uncomfortable.¡± She stepped towards Scarlett and wrapped an arm around her, before letting go to sign once again. ¡°I just thought how helpful it would be to see the top facilities of a great school. Like, if you knew what the best was offering, it would help define what you want in a school.¡±

    Scarlett couldn¡¯t find any fault with that argument, which made the heat pressing down on her worse. How could she make her understand that avoiding U.A. would be for the best? And how can she say it in a way that wouldn¡¯t worry her?

    Scarlett averted her gaze, before turning to leave. ¡°We should see that cafe and finish shopping before worrying about that.¡±

    She walked off, leaving Juno to follow her. If the older sister had anything else to say, she chose not to. Instead, she made light conversation as the two continued on to the cafe.

    <hr>

    ¡°Well, in that case, you¡¯re in luck¡ªeven though we¡¯ve charged him, we had to delay his transfer to the detention centre until tomorrow morning. But if you drop by today, I can¡¯t see a problem with you questioning him here at the station.

    ¡°Although, I should warn you, he¡¯s barely said a word since his arrest, so you might not get much out of him.¡±

    Principal Nezu followed a plain-looking officer further into the police station, as he recounted the detective¡¯s words from the phone call earlier today. It was illogical to believe in luck, but he couldn¡¯t deny the timing of his request.

    With the transfer date set, who knew when the next opportunity to ask questions would present itself once the individual was on remand. The situation could escalate before he could be granted permission to conduct an interview at the detention centre, rendering the information he could gather redundant.

    No, he had to take preventative measures and get some answers today.

    And considering he had already lost one lead, he couldn¡¯t risk losing another.

    Nezu suppressed a sigh, wishing he had a cup of warm tea to alleviate the tension pressing on his temples. But he dismissed the urge. There was no need to exhaust himself over matters beyond his control, not when there was still a chance he could further his investigation.

    Continuing their walk, Nezu internally rehearsed the information in the file he held, ensuring he had committed its contents to memory one last time. He also visualised asking questions he had prepared beforehand, and was able to cycle through everything once, before the officer stopped in his tracks, explaining they had arrived.

    The policeman pointed to one of the two adjacent doors, detailing that the individual was in that room, while he would be keeping watch next door. He also reminded Nezu to call for him if he needed anything.

    Nezu expressed his thanks, before the policeman left to enter his room, leaving the small Hero all alone in the hallway. He glanced at the file once again. No matter how many times he had done this, there had always been a part of him that would worry if he had prepared enough.

    But just like he had told many students in the past, preparation may be key, but adaptability is what separates the good from the great. And Nezu was a great Pro Hero. He just hoped he wasn¡¯t out of practice now that he often spent most of his time as a school principal rather than someone carrying out their heroic duties.

    He filed the thought away for now. The negative talk was not going to help him get the job done. And he wasn¡¯t in a position to delay things either. He had to do this now.

    Taking a deep breath, Nezu entered the room.

    Like many in the building, the room was well-lit, simple and small, with plain blue carpet and white walls. Although, one wall had a mirror affixed to it, bordering the current room and the room the officer had stepped into. The only other furniture was a table sandwiched between two chairs, as well as a clock on the wall.

    Sitting in one of those seats was a man in dark clothes, with both arms bound in slings. His head hung low. His gaze was distant. And his burlap mask was gone, revealing the layers and layers of bandages wrapped around his face, almost obscuring his visage completely. Only his orange eyes and his mouth were visible.

    Nezu approached, sitting in the chair opposite him and placing the file on the table. He waited a moment for the Villain to look in his direction, or a sign that he acknowledged his presence. But there was no response.

    ¡°Hello, Tabahara Usaburou,¡± he said, undeterred, ¡°my name is Nezu¡ªwe met at the Memorial Clock Tower a few days ago.¡±

    The man¡¯s orange eyes remained glazed over, his expression impassive to Nezu¡¯s voice. That wasn¡¯t a good sign. But it was expected. The detective had already warned him, and Nezu had read the police reports as part of his preparation. But reading about the Villain''s injuries beforehand was not enough to stop the pangs of sympathy emerging in his chest as he laid eyes on him.

    Nezu lowered his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m actually not here to talk about what happened at the clock tower,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m here because I need your help with something.¡±

    He opened the file and slid papers across the table, delicately laying specific pictures in the Villain¡¯s line of sight. They were two mugshots. One was of a large, older man, wearing a turquoise bandana and a dirty tank top. His messy silver hair and stubble highlighted his unkempt appearance, while his grin was too sharp and too pointy for his face.

    The other mugshot was a spitting image of the older man, only with less wrinkles, dirty blonde hair and no bandana. Anyone could have assumed that they were the same person, with their photo taken at different points in time. But the date on the placard revealed they were taken on the same day.

    Their names, Kibayama Ginjirou and Kibayama Kinji.

    Brothers.

    And the leads Nezu had been trying to locate as part of his investigation, before he found that they had succumbed to their injuries in the fires set by Tabahara Usaburou. He had targeted them specifically after he was brutally attacked by the two brothers.

    ¡°Do you recognise these two?¡± asked Nezu as he glanced up to the Villain; his eyes scanning for a flicker of anger, or perhaps some remorse in Tabahara¡¯s eyes. But there was nothing.

    Nezu wasn¡¯t disappointed though. Despite hoping the images would elicit a reaction to help guide the conversation, Tabahara must have been shown their pictures several times since he had been in custody. Perhaps he was numb to it by now. Or maybe his injuries were too severe for him to respond.

    But either way, approaching him through this method was not working.

    Nezu refused to frown. Instead, he grabbed a document from the file and traced his digit across the page. ¡°According to police reports, these men were your former bosses. Is that true?¡±

    No reaction.

    ¡°Can you tell me what line of work you were all in?¡±

    Nothing.

    Nezu maintained steady eye contact. But it was clear he was following the same old dance as the police officers in this building; a dance that Tabahara was familiar with. If he wanted something new, he needed to change things up.

    Nezu softened his demeanour, placing his arms on the table and leaning in close. ¡°I¡¯m not here to bring up difficult memories. I know how they both mistreated you. But I need your help. Do you know this man?¡±

    He shuffled through the file once again, before placing another image on the table. It was a candid shot of a man outside of a building with a sign that read St Coleman¡¯s Hospital. A cigarette hung loosely from his lips, while he ran a hand through his warm-brown, windswept hair. His periwinkle shirt and dark slacks were well-tailored, highlighting that he wasn¡¯t a patient. Perhaps he was a staff member, or even a doctor, on a smoke break, but there wasn¡¯t enough information to confirm.

    Nezu¡¯s senses sharpened as he laid the paper down in front of Tabahara.

    A glint of recognition. A slight widening of the eyes. It was subtle and easily missed, but it was all Nezu needed. If it was illogical to believe in luck, it didn¡¯t matter anymore. He got his attention. And Nezu could work with that.

 Chapter 15: Forward Without Choice

    Nezu gave Tabahara a moment to collect himself, straightening himself in his seat. Even though getting answers was his utmost priority, it would be unwise to bombard him with continuous questions. He had to consider the extent of his head injuries and the effect it would have on his ability to respond. In other words, he shouldn¡¯t rush this opportunity.

    But Tabahara did not speak.

    Nezu maintained a neutral expression. ¡°Apparently, he was seen with your former bosses,¡± he added after some time. ¡°Can you tell me anything about that?¡±

    His question was met with more silence. Although it was different this time, as Tabahara¡¯s gaze shifted to a different area on the table, avoiding the image entirely.

    Well, that¡¯s interesting.

    Nezu thought back to the contents in the file, as well as the police reports he had read previously. As far as he could tell, the police had not brought up the man in the photo. They had no reason to, considering he had nothing to do with the fires. In fact, Nezu was sure they didn¡¯t even know this man existed.

    But Tabahara did.

    Nezu cocked his head to be in the periphery of his vision. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for an answer, Tabahara.¡±

    The man wet his cracked lips. His orange eyes flickered between the different sheets of paper in front of him, before he shrunk into himself.

    ¡°N-no comment.¡± His voice was hoarse.

    Nezu¡¯s features drew in curiosity. His gaze sharpened as he observed Tabahara. In his experience, while most Villains in this situation would be nervous, almost all of them would act towards their best interest. If this were the case, then Tabahara¡¯s deflection would follow the lines of self-preservation, especially as he had already been charged.

    So, why would invoking the right to remain silent help him?

    ¡°Tabahara,¡± Nezu said softly, ¡°I''m sure you are aware that the accusations against you are quite serious. But I¡¯m not here for that. I¡¯m just trying to find this man and I think you may be the last person who saw him. Are you sure you can¡¯t tell me anything?¡±

    It was half of the truth. As far as Nezu could tell, there was no other association between Tabahara¡¯s offence and the disappearance of the man in the photo. But he also couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility of a correlation.

    Tabahara stared at the photo for a moment or two, his expression unreadable under the layers of gauze and cloth. ¡°W-why are you trying to find him?¡± he finally said.

    Nezu made a quick calculation on how much to tell him. It made sense he would be curious. And there was no immediate harm in answering him, especially if it could keep him talking. Satisfied with his conclusion, he answered swiftly.

    ¡°I think he¡¯s in trouble.¡±

    The dark hairs of Tabahara¡¯s eyebrows peeped underneath his bandages as he lowered his brow and frowned. He glanced up, but did not meet Nezu¡¯s eyes, as his gaze fell on the buttons of Nezu¡¯s black coat. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    Nezu kept his composure intact. He had seen this ploy before. It was obvious he was trying to ascertain a specific kind of information, usually the kind that tended to be something incriminating. But Tabahara had already been charged. So, what else was there?

    Nezu gestured to the mugshots, but kept his eyes trained on Tabahara¡¯s face, ready to analyse any micromovements he would make. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you were already aware of your former bosses being Villains,¡± he said, while Tabahara remained unaffected by his declaration.

    He then grabbed a document he had memorised from the file and pretended to read from it. ¡°According to police records, they were money launderers¡ª¡± Tabahara remained the same, allowing Nezu to continue ¡°¡ªand had known connections to human trafficking operations.¡±

    There.

    The corners of Tabahara¡¯s mouth tightened, pulling downward into a strained line. Nezu didn¡¯t say anymore, letting the silence do the work for him. It was a simple trick he had learnt; people hated a conversation going quiet and were often enticed to continue it. So, Nezu placed his paws in front of him, and waited.

    He didn¡¯t have to wait long though. Tabahara swallowed thickly, ¡°I¡ªI wasn¡¯t involved with anything like that.¡± His voice quivered under the weight of the implication. ¡°I was just their errand boy.¡±

    Nezu thought back to the background check he conducted on Tabahara when he learnt his arson attack had taken the lives of the two people who were crucial to his investigation. But with both police records, and his own work, there was a lack of evidence for Tabahara being associated with trafficking. But a lack of evidence did not necessarily mean there was no evidence. It could also mean he hadn¡¯t found it yet.

    But he set the thought aside for now, despite a part of him wanting to press Tabahara further. He had not examined all the current information about this potential association in detail, and to question it without preparation would be ill-advised. He also couldn¡¯t risk diverting the conversation. No, he would come back to this at a later date.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright,¡± feigned Nezu. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to accuse you. I just want to know if you¡¯ve seen this man with your former bosses.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with anything?¡± Distress coated Tabahara¡¯s voice. His fingers twitched, grasping for something to fidget with but unable to under the constraints of his slings.

    Nezu paused. Despite assuring him, Tabahara was still worried. If this wasn¡¯t about incriminating himself, then what could it be about?

    Oh. He doesn¡¯t know.

    Nezu lowered his gaze, unable to hide the bitter taste on his tongue as his expression shifted to a grim one. ¡°He¡¯s a trafficking victim.¡±

    Wide orange eyes, filled with horror, met beady black ones.

    ¡°W-what?¡± Tabahara¡¯s voice trembled under revelation. ¡°W-what do you mean?¡±

    A flicker of unease crept through Nezu¡¯s stomach, before he gestured to the brown-haired man¡¯s photo. ¡°He was a missing person from an old case I was looking into and was last seen with your old bosses,¡± he explained. ¡°Considering what is now known about Kibayama Ginjirou and Kibayama Kinji, it seems like they may have been involved with his initial disappearance.¡±

    Tabahara¡¯s mouth was agape. ¡°I¡ªI didn¡¯t know.¡±

    He returned his attention back to the photo, but this time with a tender look in his eyes. Nezu wasn¡¯t sure what to make with that expression, so he remained silent until Tabahara was ready to speak up.

    ¡°He was so nice to me,¡± he finally said, his voice now missing the coarseness from earlier and replaced with a gentleness that was not expected. ¡°He helped clean my face up when those monsters were done with me. I thought you were trying to lock him up as well. I had no idea he was another one of their victims.¡±

    Nezu leaned in close. He was finally getting somewhere. ¡°Do you know where he went?¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Tabahara remained trained on the image, motionless as he gathered his thoughts, before gently shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know,¡± he said, almost in tears. ¡°I only met him that one time.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Nezu couldn¡¯t hide the hint of desperation in his voice. ¡°Any clue, no matter how small, would be helpful.¡±

    Tabahara stared at all the photos on the table, his eyes flickering with concentration as he thought things over. But a defeated look settled on his face as he met Nezu¡¯s gaze once again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t think of anything.¡±

    Nezu stifled a sigh as best as he could. But the disappointment was too much. ¡°That¡¯s alright,¡± he finally forced himself to say. ¡°Thank you for talking with me. Um¡­¡± He reached into his breast pocket, pulled out a small metallic case, and opened it before handing Tabahara a card with his number. ¡°If you can think of anything, please don¡¯t hesitate to contact me.¡±

    Tabahara nodded, and it wasn¡¯t long until the plain-looking officer entered the room to escort him away, leaving Nezu all alone. He leaned on the table once again, rubbing his paws across his face as if he could wipe away the dejection that threatened to consume him.

    Another dead end. Another reminder of how far he was from the truth. Maybe luck did exist. And his was just rotten.

    But Nezu couldn¡¯t give up. If he couldn¡¯t go anywhere with this, he would look elsewhere for a lead. And there was something recently that had been lingering at the edge of his thoughts. It wasn¡¯t much¡ªperhaps calling it conjecture would be kind¡ªbut he couldn¡¯t deny the scarlet-red thread woven into his path by mere coincidence.

    Call it luck. Call it fate. It didn¡¯t matter. There was still something he could do.

    He glanced at the clock on the wall, quickly assessing the difference in time zones before grabbing his phone to call All Might.

    <hr>

    The next few days were a whirlwind¡ªfilling out forms, travelling back and forth, and emptying their bank accounts to pay the security deposit, the key money and the estate agent fees. But eventually, the girls ticked every box and made all the necessary arrangements to move to their new residence in Musutafu.

    With the hum of anticipation lingering in the air, they gathered their belongings, checked out of the bed-and-breakfast, and stepped into the taxi Zero had hired to escort them to their new home. Zero sat in the front, ready to guide the driver to the new address, while Scarlett found herself squashed between Juno and Leya in the back.

    But Scarlett didn¡¯t mind. She was too busy trying to calm the restless flutter in her chest. She wasn¡¯t sure if she was excited, or worried. All she knew about the house was that it was a temporary home. A building that was relatively old compared to others, but happened to be furnished; a rare find with monthly rental homes in Japan, but a necessary one considering they didn¡¯t know how long they would be in the country.

    However, she was the only one that hadn¡¯t seen the house yet.

    And it wasn¡¯t because she didn¡¯t want to. In fact, she often volunteered herself to go with her sisters when they went down to complete last-minute preparations¡ªthe latest effort being with helping Zero sort out the utilities and some paperwork. But like the others, she lovingly declined, telling Scarlett she had to concentrate on her entrance exams if she wanted to study in Japan. It was mildly frustrating, but Scarlett couldn¡¯t argue that she, or any of her sisters, were wrong.

    So, when she wasn¡¯t busy trying to find schools, or understand how the education system worked in this country, she would find the time to go shopping with Juno and Leya. It was mainly focused on scoring deals on household essentials and a couple of appliances that did not come with the property. And while it wasn¡¯t much work in Scarlett¡¯s eyes¡ªconsidering the other two had found the deals and made the arrangements to collect the items¡ªit was the only way she could help with the move.

    And she was very grateful to be involved. It wasn¡¯t every day that she would have a chance to make up for her past shortcomings and help them build a home, even if their accommodation was short-term.

    Maybe, there¡¯ll be more stuff I could help with when we arrive?

    She gazed through the car window, mulling over how else she could be helpful, while concrete buildings and glass towers grazed by. It wasn¡¯t long until the car drove under an overpass and merged with the expressway that her thoughts shifted to the hope of returning one day, as they left the Tokyo cityscape behind them.

    Despite directing most of their efforts to the move, there were moments where they could sightsee and enjoy what the city could offer. Petting Hachiko in Shibuya with Zero, window shopping the latest fashion trends in Harajuku with Leya, and marvelling at the view from the top of Tokyo Skytree with Juno¡ªit was incredible.

    And while she loved spending time with everyone, their adventure in Tokyo ended before she could do what she had wanted¡ªexplore the capital of niche interests, Akihabara. Apparently, it was the place to go for some exclusive Godzillo collectables, and Scarlett couldn¡¯t help but be tempted to visit the area. But time was not on their side.

    Maybe there would be some goodies in Musutafu?

    She doubted it, but that didn¡¯t mean she wouldn¡¯t look. In fact, she wasn¡¯t sure what Musutafu could offer. There didn¡¯t seem to be anything remarkable about the smaller city, apart from one of the high schools.

    A hollow feeling settled in Scarlett¡¯s stomach. It didn¡¯t connect immediately that U.A. would be in the area they were moving to. But once she learnt about it, she always avoided thinking about it. It was the only way she could keep herself calm. But soon they would arrive, and there was no way for her to escape what was coming.

    Scarlett could picture it: the city teeming with would-be Heroes, their determination unrelenting, and their ambition infecting every street corner. The thought made her skin crawl. There was no way for her to simply exist in a place like that; it would demand too much, and expect too much out of her. Every glance and every conversation would carry the same unspoken question, ¡®what are you doing to make the world a better place?¡¯

    It would be an inquiry that would follow her in every street and every avenue; something she couldn¡¯t avoid. How was she supposed to navigate herself in a city that thrived on dreams she didn¡¯t want to chase?

    A gentle hand pressed on Scarlett¡¯s shoulder, snapping her out of her thoughts. Scarlett turned to meet Juno¡¯s worried gaze.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± she signed. ¡°You look a little pale.¡±

    It was all Scarlett needed to realise what had happened. She mustered a smile. ¡°Yeah,¡± Scarlett signed back, not wanting to alert the others in the car. ¡°I just feel a little car-sick.¡±

    The worry lines on Juno¡¯s face deepened. ¡°Wanna stop the car and take a walk? Some fresh air might be good.¡±

    ¡°No, no, that¡¯s alright,¡± replied Scarlett. ¡°I think I wanna sleep it off.¡±

    Juno¡¯s concerned expression remained, but she dropped the matter. ¡°Okay, but let us know if it gets too bad.¡±

    Scarlett nodded, before closing her eyes and resting her head on Juno¡¯s shoulder. She took a moment to observe her own physical state. Her heart rate was slightly elevated, and her breathing was a little shaky. She hadn¡¯t realised how worked up she had gotten. She almost reprimanded herself, before stopping as Dr. Asa¡¯s words echoed in her mind from her time back in St Coleman¡¯s.

    So, when your thoughts are getting a little too much, I want you to think of someone dear to you saying the same thing.

    Someone dear? Like my sisters?

    Sure, let¡¯s go with that. If your sisters said the exact same thing you were thinking, what would you say to them?

    Scarlett paused, noting the rumbling of the car engine as she returned to the present. If her sisters had the same thoughts about Musutafu and U.A., what would she say?

    A school doesn¡¯t have that much control over a city, even if it¡¯s a famous one.

    And like a room filled with dense smoke, her simple answer opened all the doors and windows, allowing the suffocating thoughts to dissipate in the air. Scarlett relaxed a little.

    She was right. There was no way an environment like that would spread and encompass an entire city. It would probably only be local to U.A., and other Hero Schools alike, which was all the more reason for her to avoid them. But she couldn¡¯t dare to say it out loud, not without burdening everyone.

    And then, there was that school visit Juno arranged¡­

    Scarlett tried to rack her brain to formulate a plan, or an excuse, to avoid going but was unable to come up with anything. Maybe she could think of something later. It wasn¡¯t like her trip to U.A. was set in stone. She still had some time to think things through. And she should use it wisely.

    She wasn¡¯t sure when, or how, but Scarlett drifted off to sleep. It was only when Leya exclaimed that they had arrived, did she stir awake. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she glanced at the neighbourhood they were currently driving through.

    The area was very different compared to Tokyo¡ªgone were the high-rise apartments and crowded streets. Instead, everything was softer and quieter under the crisp, winter sky.

    The buildings were smaller and more spread out. Houses lined the narrow and cracked roads, while a couple of humble storefronts were scattered between. One that caught Scarlett¡¯s eye was a modest flower shop, as its windows were filled with bright bouquets. The pavements were decorated with parked cars and potted plants; some still clinging onto their leaves in defiance of the December cold. A group of people bundled in coats walked by, with a cheerful conversation playing between their lips.

    Despite the area being worn with age, there was a charm to it, as if the years added character to the place, and everyone here lived in their own rhythm, rather than compete with each other like they would in the bustling big city. Even if there was nothing to do here like in Tokyo, it was peaceful and Scarlett couldn¡¯t help but be endeared.

    The taxi took a turn, before slowing down as the sat nav pinged, announcing the journey had ended. Zero perked up and spun around to face the others.

    ¡°This is it,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡±