Nejire did not escape. Her desire to reach the heavens would not let her rest, and her father's words that any dream is achievable lingered in her mind. She understood that his words were meant for support; of course, not all dreams are attainable, but that support still resonated in her thoughts.
The blanket touched her chin, and her eyes were fixed on the window, where a starry sky and a crescent moon awaited. In a big city, it's hard to see the stars, but the fact that they were visible tonight created an inexplicably beautiful scene. She remembered how she and Izuku used to sit late on the beach at Tagoba, gazing at the stars and creating all sorts of figures from their imagination.
****
Flashback
Having played enough and exhausted from a whole day of games, Izuku collapsed onto the sand, breathing heavily from Nejire's boundless energy. It was starting to get dark, and the sun was setting, giving way to the moon. The sky was a rosy orange, and the stars began to twinkle, creating white dots against the pink backdrop. Five-year-old Izuku was captivated by such beauty and felt it would be a sin not to share it. While he lay on the sand, Nejire leisurely approached him with a sly smile and curious eyes. She used her quirk to push off the ground and touched his forehead, saying:
"Now it's your turn, Freckle!" she exclaimed joyfully, running away from Izuku, who didn't even get up from his spot but continued to lie there. Nejire didn't like that and, puffing her cheeks adorably, walked over and poked his cheek with her finger.
"Freckle, we haven't finished our game yet, and we need to head home soon." She was indignant at her friend's behavior but kept her innocent, childlike face. Her friend often tried to chase after her, but due to the absence of a quirk, he was weaker than her, yet that didn't hinder their friendship. On the contrary, she enjoyed spending time with him. Thanks to Izuku, Nejire learned about the world and many cool things about heroes and her surroundings. Lessons with her father were fun, but she often got bored because they resembled elementary school lessons.
With Izuku, everything was different; he explained everything amusingly, and they often had to figure out certain things on their own. This was often funny, making them laugh together. Many children loved spending time with her, but outside the house, she often preferred to hang out with the "green rabbit," who went to great lengths to keep up with her. Although Nejire was young, she understood and appreciated all of Izuku's efforts. In her eyes, the aspiration to become a hero without a quirk seemed very interesting, and Izuku's personality also ignited her curiosity. Exploring the world and people was her favorite activity, and she often approached it like a game. Many didn't understand such enthusiasm, but her father was always on her side and never let her fall into despair.
Izuku didn't respond to her; he simply raised his hand, pointing his index finger at the sky. Placing her finger on her chin, she lifted her head to be mesmerized by the sky. For ten seconds, she stood over Izuku until she turned her gaze back to her lying friend, smiling.
Stretching out her arms and making cartoonish sounds, she collapsed onto the sand next to Izuku.
"Puff!" escaped her lips before Izuku, smiling, brushed the sand off her face. Like him, she gazed at the stars, trying to find something interesting in them, but after four minutes, she grew tired of this activity. Izuku remained silent, but she knew he had a rich imagination, something she couldn't boast about but desperately wanted to learn.
"Freckle, I'm bored," she said, crossing her arms and closing her eyes while listening to the sounds of the ocean a few dozen steps away. The Tagoba beach wasn't famous for its crowds. No one swam there due to the strong currents, and the children understood from their parents' words not to venture into the water. A child's mind is such that even in a hopeless situation, it tries to find a way to entertain itself.
Izuku lifted his head and gave her a slight smile, making her laugh, but she was ready to hear his idea.
Izuku slowly turned his head to Nejire, watching as she petulantly crossed her arms. His eyes sparkled — not from the moon or stars, but from a thought that had just come to him.
"Do you want me to teach you a game?" he quietly offered, brushing sand off his elbow. She loved how Izuku always found games for entertainment that made her happy and kept her from being bored. Often, her peers couldn't find her a role since she was always the center of attention due to her curious nature, which no one understood except for her friend. Many parents raised their children with caution around strangers, turning them into future introverts who didn't particularly want to socialize with vibrant personalities.
"What other game? " Nejire perked up immediately, opening one eye. Propping herself up on her elbows in the sand, she looked at the sky and began to imagine herself flying through the sky, reaching for the stars.
"A game of imagination," he said seriously, sitting up and pointing at the night sky.
"Do you see that star over there? I call it 'the giant's eye.' And those next to it — they're his eyebrows. If you connect them, it makes a face." Nejire squinted with interest, not immediately seeing what Izuku was talking about. But when he began slowly tracing a finger across the sky, as if drawing an invisible line, she began to discern the shapes.
"And this?" she asked, pointing at a group of stars a little lower. This activity began to amuse her, and getting into the groove, she started drawing several lines with her fingers. These were a few simple shapes, but by straining her imagination, she began to create more complex yet equally beautiful creatures and forms.
"This is his helmet! And those three over there — that's his spear. He guards the star kingdom so that no cosmic monster can sneak in here," Izuku explained enthusiastically, his voice filled with such conviction that there was not a hint of doubt. Nejire's eyes widened, ignited with excitement.
"Can I come up with my own hero?" she asked eagerly, concocting more and more diverse heroes until she settled on her favorite option.
"Of course!" Izuku nodded. He enjoyed spending time with her just as much. She always brought a smile to his face, just as he did to hers, creating warm memories. His mother often teased them that they would become the perfect couple for creating charming grandchildren. When this was mentioned, Izuku didn't understand the meaning of his mother's words, but she wholeheartedly supported their friendship, just as Nejire's father did, seeing a true friend for his daughter. Tadao looked at Izuku cautiously, as Nejire could make friends with anyone without caring about who they were, and often he had to watch over and analyze to ensure that his daughter's friend wouldn't hurt her. However, after three months of their friendship, Tadao noticed Izuku's sincerity toward Nejire. It took just one meeting with his mother for him to understand that he was a worthy friend for Nejire.
"Just try not to merely connect the stars, but imagine who he is, what he loves, and why he flew to the sky. Everything should come alive in your imagination. Then even simple points will become something real." She furrowed her brow in concentration, biting her lip as she gazed at the sky. After a minute, she exclaimed:
"Look! Do you see those four bright stars? This is the 'Star Butterfly!' It flies between worlds and leaves behind pollen that helps us see dreams!" Izuku smiled broadly. It was too quick; it took him longer to learn this, while it took her only a few minutes. Izuku admired Nejire for her enthusiasm for everything new and how quickly she absorbed the information given to her.
"That's some imagination, Nejire! See, you already know how to do it!" She looked at him, and excitement sparkled in her eyes.
"Do you really think so?" she asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow, but his following words swept away all her doubts like a massive tornado destroying a small town.
"Of course. The main thing is not to be afraid of imagining. Even if no one else sees it, you know it exists... here," he pointed at her head, and then at his heart. She liked this analogy, and looking at her blue T-shirt with a smiling emoji, she began to imagine her adult self reaching for the stars.
"Izuku, would you want to touch the stars?" she asked excitedly, touching Izuku's shoulder. He, in turn, pondered her question. It wasn't his goal or dream, but he liked the idea of standing on a star with Nejire, smiling at the whole world beneath their feet.
"I don't have a flight quirk, Nejire," he said sadly, averting his gaze, embarrassed by his lack of a quirk. But instead of displeasure, he felt her hands grip his T-shirt.
"I didn't ask about quirks, Izuku. I asked if you wanted to touch the stars." In a cartoonish manner, she began shaking him, trying to extract an answer, but did not take into account that she was stronger than him and nearly sent Izuku's body into a centrifuge. From such force and speed, white foam escaped his mouth, and his eyes resembled those of a dead person. Nejire stopped, and Izuku shook his head, coming to his senses. Taking a deep breath, he answered her question.
"Yes, I want to touch them, but how can someone like me, without a quirk, do that?" Nejire giggled, covering her mouth with her hand, but she had no intention of mocking her friend. Smiling at him, she lay down on the sand, and Izuku followed her lead. But she didn't answer his question, and the answer remained open; due to his lack of a quirk, he squeezed the sand as hard as he could. Seeing that his friend was lost in thought, Nejire decided to try to cheer Izuku up. Tadao always taught her that fun should not only involve one person if she was with a friend, and taking her father's advice to heart, she grabbed Izuku by the forearm.
Izuku was surprised by this and slightly turned his head, looking at Nejire with a puzzled expression.
"Silly, Izuku, I didn't ask about your quirk. Of course, we can't do that right now; no one can, but I promise that when we become heroes, either I and you, or all together, we will go conquer the sky." Her long blue hair was already in the sand, and she actively waved her hands through her hair to shake it off. Like a cute little puppy, she shook her head from side to side, trying to get rid of it. Izuku smiled at such an adorable scene.
"And how will we take off? Do we need a plane or a rocket?" As he sifted through all the possible options, Izuku mumbled, creating an incoherent speech that only she could understand. Using her wave quirk, she flew up 1.5 meters off the ground, scattering sand all around, and some particles hit Izuku.
"See, I can fly! When I grow up, you'll sit on my back, and we'll fly together!" A little clumsily swaying in the air due to her poor control of the quirk, she was about to fall when a practiced Izuku caught her before her face touched the sand. She fell on him, smiling sweetly, but Izuku didn't care; the main thing was that they were having fun together.
"I will rule the earth, and you will rule the air, Nejire." At such an idea, Nejire's eyes sparkled, and unable to contain her excitement, she shook Izuku's T-shirt again.
"That's cool, Izuku! That's really cool! You on the ground, me in the air, and together we will be invincible!" she declared, not hiding her emotions. As they both got up, they saw how the streetlights began to glow, signaling it was time to head home.
"My home is far, Izuku; can I stay over at yours?" she began to plead with cat-like eyes, and unable to resist such magic, he agreed, but even to a simple request, he would have answered positively without a second thought.
"Yes, of course." In response, Nejire hugged him tightly, slightly lifting him off the ground. She was incredibly happy to go to his house, and before they fell asleep, they told stories with a flashlight, creating a mysterious atmosphere. Izuku's mother was a wonderful woman to Nejire — kind and caring. She treated her as her own daughter, even though she was from another family. She loved Izuku's family and how warmly they welcomed her. Nejire shed a tear down her cheek from such care and attention they gave her. Because of this, she often boasted to her father about what a wonderful friend she had.
"Come on, hop on, Nejire; as long as we're on the ground, I'm the king here!" yelled Izuku, arching his back for Nejire to ride on his back home. With excitement, she jumped onto his back, raising her hand and pointing her finger toward Izuku's house.
"Onward, my brave steed; it's time to go home!"
"YEESSS!!"
****
Smiling at the memories, she tucked the blanket aside and moved closer to the window. In her room, there was a large window that was always covered with curtains. Opening it, she was mesmerized by the beauty of the stars, and a crazy yet brave idea crept into her mind. Her quirk allowed her to fly high, but could she take off and not fall? Her quirk depended on concentration and endurance, but she continued to train her quirk after school by attending her training sessions. The world seemed interesting to her, and exploring it was pure joy, like a game about cubes and miners.
Curiosity took over, and she became interested in how much she had progressed compared to the previous year. Silently sneaking to her closet, she began taking off her beige pajamas. Putting on a T-shirt and workout clothes along with her running shoes, she glanced in the mirror at her tousled hair.
"I'm irresistible!" In the next second, she realized that her father was sleeping after work, and leaving through the front door would mean a mountain of lectures from him about why she shouldn't leave the house as a minor. She exhaled and was about to take off her workout clothes when she glanced at the window. Going out the window to fly was an incredibly tempting idea, but if her father noticed her absence, it would be a disaster for her.
Hesitating for a few more minutes in the eerie silence, she approached her bed, placing a few pillows under the blanket and covering them with a quilt, pretending to sleep.
"Bellissimo!" Making a gesture, she opened the window and, looking down, was not scared at all by the height of the seventh floor. The wind blew through her long blue hair until she remembered that her face was exposed, and if someone noticed her, people would call the police. Wavering for a moment, she returned to her closet, pulling out a medical mask. Putting it on, she quietly sneezed from the antiseptic smell that hit her nose.
Climbing onto the windowsill, she looked down and saw greenery and trees below. Her legs trembled at the height, and looking at her reflection in the window, she exhaled. She had trained at heights, but not at a height of seven floors. She was afraid of falling, and more than anything, she was afraid of breaking, having a quirk that allowed her to fly. Closing her eyes to her fears and her actively beating heart, Nejire activated her quirk, levitating above the ground. Using her quirk on her legs, she awkwardly tried to find her balance but managed to stay upright.
"If I didn't forget my training, I can create jumps. Essentially, I can jump in the air. Like in games, making double jumps, but I can also avoid falling." Remembering her training sessions at the gym, she recalled how to make energy jumps. It was difficult for her because she always had to catch the moment in time, switching her quirk on and off to jump in the air.
Remembering that it was now 2 a.m., she returned to reality and realized that if someone noticed her, they would call the police for illegally using her quirk on the street.
"Come on, Nejire, you can do it!" Turning off her quirk in her legs, she began to fall to the ground, flapping her arms like a bird. After missing four floors, she panicked and used a strong wave, creating a loud sound that set off the alarms of several cars.
"I definitely woke up the neighbors." In a panic, she began to climb to the roof, now using her hands and feet to pull herself up. Using all four limbs, her control was much better, but she was well aware that her hands would be needed for fighting villains. Training was slow and often boring; she always preferred practice and the sensations it gave her.
Using more of her strength, she sprinted to the roof, and standing there, she removed her mask, breathing heavily from the fear and joy she experienced. She had managed to fly up without anyone's help; the thrill was so strong that she couldn't believe she was on the roof, but she hadn't mastered what she wanted, namely aerial jumps. It was extremely difficult to manage such a powerful quirk without teachers, but who said you couldn't achieve anything alone? Removing the mask and wiping the sweat from her face, she looked at the starry sky and felt a wild desire to soar into the sky like a superhero who could fly.
Putting the mask back on and gathering her hair, she soared into the sky with all her might, reaching the peak of the strain on her body and endurance. The wind hit her face due to the speed at which she soared into the heavens; she felt the cold wind wrap around her like a strong embrace, taking away all the warmth from her body.
Soaring into the sky like a rocket, she didn't notice how far she began to drift from the ground. The euphoria of flying spun her head so much that she forgot about landing. Meter by meter, she rose higher and higher until she reached a flying speed of 137 km/h, which was a record for her body and endurance. This was not the limit of the young heroine's abilities, but the mere fact that a 14-year-old girl could achieve such speed on her own would impress many heroes. Yet, Nejire's endurance was not infinite, and after some time, at an altitude of 3 km, she began to feel her limbs starting to ache and tire from the physical exertion.
Pausing in mid-air, she looked down and saw the city of Hosu, filled with lights and brightness. The sight was beautiful and mesmerizing, if not for the cold and the height. Looking around, she saw the quiet night ocean, like a forbidden territory filled with darkness and the moonlight that fell upon her. Japan looked so beautiful from a bird's eye view; she hadn't had time to enjoy the view when her quirk suddenly shut off. Her hands felt like they had gone numb, and she began to fall to the ground.
"AAAAAA!!!!" — she screamed, trying to activate her quirk, but she struggled to do so as she had reached the limits of her current abilities. The fall continued; Nejire flapped her arms and regretted not bringing a parachute for the flight. Like a blue comet, she approached the ground, closing her eyes to concentrate all her strength in her body for a jump.
"Remember, Nejire, what they taught you in physics class. You need to land in a way that won't break any bones in your body. Think about where I can land?" Going through all the possible options, she began to panic as there were no soft landing spots in the city.
"Water? At that speed, I'd turn into a soup mix for cannibals.
Trees? This isn't a movie where you can safely fall into them.
Think, Nejire, think!" Going through all possible outcomes, she recalled her physics lessons and what she had learned all this time.
"I need to dissipate my speed and inertia, but how?" A kilometer remained before landing, and squeezing every bit of strength from her body, she managed to make an aerial jump, leaping into the air. Surprised by this, Nejire gasped at having been able to do this in a critical moment, but she didn't pay much attention to it, as in such critical situations, one needed to think about survival rather than what she could do a trick she hadn't been able to do before. She jumped, reducing her falling speed to 107 km/h, but then she realized one thing. Thanks to her feet, she could keep jumping, and if she repeated the movements like a ballerina, the jumps would work.
"Well, a try is a try!" Her method worked, and jumping while using a small part of her quirk, she reduced her speed from 100 to 30 km/h in 20 seconds as she fell to the ground. Nevertheless, she still needed to reduce her speed for a smooth landing, as 100 meters above ground level is no laughing matter. Fortunately, no one noticed the yellow glow in the sky while she was learning to fly. Using her last strength, she moved her legs smoothly, as if in some dance. Cutting through the air, a yellow line of energy followed her feet like a snake, and when she was ten meters off the ground, she slowed down to the desired speed. Also, using aerial jumps, she fell into the bushes near her house. Unable to rise from the bushes, Nejire tried to wiggle out in a cartoonish manner while her entire sports outfit became stained with green grass and dirt. A few leaves got stuck in her hair, and her face was covered in dust; the funniest part was that her blue hair looked like she had been struck by lightning. Her hair stood on end from the wind, and exhausted from abusing her quirk, she stood there dirty in front of the entrance. She had forgotten her keys at home in another pocket, and she didn't have the strength to climb to the seventh floor through the window, so with trembling legs, she approached the door. Before ringing the doorbell, she needed to come up with a plausible excuse for her father who was sleeping.
"What to come up with?" — she tapped her chin with her finger, pondering a lie. Finally, coming up with one, she rang the doorbell. Thanks to her father for choosing an apartment complex equipped with an elevator.
"Who is it?" — a tired voice from Tadao answered the annoying ring. Usually, Nejire answered the calls, but since she wasn't home, Tadao had to open the door at two in the morning. With his eyes closed, he waited for an answer from the caller, but in response, there was silence.
He was already thinking that it was a prank caller trying to mess with the residents, but the silence was broken by a very familiar voice of his daughter.
"Dad, it's me, the tea princess, open the door!" Tadao instantly snapped back to reality upon hearing this. Now, in his opinion, Nejire was sleeping in her room, and this girl knew her nickname, which he often used.
"Just a moment, my daughter is sleeping in her room. Who are you?" — frowning, Tadao assumed a serious expression before heading to his daughter's room. Opening the door, he entered the room, and approaching the bed, he realized that the caller, who sounded suspiciously like his daughter, was indeed the real Nejire. Quickly heading to the intercom, he pressed the button to let the resident in. Tadao was troubled by the fact that in his daughter's room, a window was wide open, which put him on edge. He began to suspect that she had sneaked out while he was sleeping.
As Nejire rode up in the elevator, she sat in the special seat for the elderly, exhausted from the fatigue her body was experiencing. But when the door opened on the seventh floor, she was greeted by an upset father with a frown on his face.
The sight of his daughter made him anxious as she was covered in dirt with disheveled hair and looked as if she had been running away from someone or something. Her entire sports outfit was stained with dirt and greenery and smelled like grass, which led him to think that she had slipped down a hill, rolling like a ball. Knowing Nejire, she would definitely pull something like that off.
"Do you care to share where you managed to go at such a late hour?" — he looked at his daughter tiredly, and she awkwardly smiled at him, scratching her head. Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose, knowing what it could mean.
"Troublesome teenagers," he thought to himself.
Nejire tried to stand up, but her knees trembled, and she would have fallen if Tadao hadn't caught her and lifted her into his arms. Nejire smiled, knowing what awaited her at home, especially at such an hour.
"Lady, you will tell me everything from start to finish." Swallowing a lump, they entered the house, and exhaling from what awaited her, she didn't even try to lie to him.
**After a long explanation**
"Wait, are you serious?" — Tadao asked in disbelief, placing a spoonful of sugar into his tea.
"Yes, I'm not lying, Dad. It was my foolishness, I'm sorry." Like a guilty child, she lowered her head, unable to overcome her shame, but before that, she heard him place the cup with tea down.
"Am I understanding correctly? You climbed out the window, flew up into the sky, and nearly broke your neck, miraculously surviving and returning home?" With a headache and lack of sleep, Tadao took a sip of chamomile tea, trying to calm down, but the blue comet wouldn't let him.
Nejire just nodded, and a silence arose between them that neither dared to break. Nejire was waiting for punishment, and Tadao was waiting for further explanations.
"Did you not think about waking me up so we could train together?" Nejire looked back at her father, and her face displayed sadness and shame for her actions.
"You came home from work and were fast asleep, so I didn't want to disturb you." Tadao sighed, setting the cup down on the table. His fingers were slowly tapping on the ceramic, and his gaze was cast aside, out the window, where the stars still twinkled.
"You could have broken your neck," he finally spoke softly, and there was no anger in his voice — only fear. The fear of a father who nearly lost his most precious treasure. Nejire clenched her fists on her knees, feeling a lump rise in her throat.
"I know…" she whispered, and seizing the moment, she wanted to show him what she had learned, but her body still throbbed from fatigue.
"But I… I just wanted to…"
"To test what you are capable of?" Tadao finished her sentence, and a shadow of a smile flickered in his eyes. She nodded, unable to withstand his gaze.
"I wanted to know what I could do. You spend money on me, enroll me in gyms, and I wanted to show you the results," she quickly said, as if she were afraid he would say that word.
"I can't just stand still. I wanted to show you that your efforts are not in vain, Dad!" Tadao closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then stood up and approached her. Gently, as if afraid she would crumble at a single touch, he placed his hand on her head.
"I don't care about that money, Nejire. Money for me is just dirty paper," he said, not hiding his feelings about material values.
"By your words, you have achieved amazing results, but tomorrow you will show me what you can do and what you have achieved during all this time of training." Nejire looked up at him. Tadao was not angry, but the concern did not leave his face.
"You… aren't angry?" she whispered, not believing her ears.
"I'm not angry or upset with you, Nejire. I'm slightly disappointed that you didn't tell me, but the most important thing is that you are alive and unharmed." He placed his hand on her head, gently smoothing her hair, as if comforting her.
"Really?" She perked up, not believing what she was hearing, but Tadao's following words made her realize that she would have to show what she could do beyond her cute face.
"Tomorrow we are going to the training ground. Together. And you will show me what you can do. And I will teach you what I know." A fire ignited in her eyes. An opportunity had presented itself to prove and show what she had learned all this time. Impressing her only parent was a point of pride for Nejire. He valued her and gave her everything she wanted, but love cannot go in only one direction. Knowing how Tadao risked his health for her, she was not going to sit on his neck like many spoiled children would.
"Really?!" she asked incredulously, to which he ruffled her hair harder.
"Yes. But on one condition."
"No more night flights." Nejire thought for a second, then nodded sharply. This was the first and only time she had taken such an initiative on her own. To avoid disappointing him, she wouldn't repeat this again, as her father's opinion and approval were very important to her.
"Deal!" she replied without delay, smiling. Tadao smiled back and patted her head.
"And now go take a bath; you smell like grass and dirt." She wanted to protest, but she caught a whiff of herself and sensed the smell of grass.
"Okay…" she stretched as she stood up.
"Good night, Dad."
"Good night, star." She was already walking toward her room when he suddenly called her.
"Nejire."
"Yes, Dad?"
"Did you really fly in the air?" She turned around, and the proudest smile of the entire evening blossomed on her face.
"Yes. It was… *incredible*." Tadao shook his head, but his eyes sparkled with the same pride, sincerely delighted at Nejire's success.
"Go wash up, champion." Shaking his head at the headache, Tadao quietly chuckled. After all, this was the first sign of teenage rebellion. Now knowing what Nejire was capable of, he no longer doubted that such incidents would repeat with regularity. He couldn't forbid her to act on her own, as it was a stage of growing up that couldn't be limited.
"Troublesome teenagers." And when the door to her room closed, he sat in the kitchen for a long time, staring out at the dark window and thinking about how quickly wings grow for those who want to reach the sky.
****
The next day at the training ground.
Standing on the field, Tadao watched as Nejire began to warm up before using her quirk. They were both dressed in their sports outfits for training, but Tadao had removed his top, remaining in just a t-shirt. It was 2:48 p.m., and the birds were still singing, creating a calming atmosphere. No matter how light the day was, he had a feeling that something was about to go wrong.
"Ready?" Tadao asked, hiding his curiosity, but seeing Nejire's determined gaze, he already had no doubts about her strength.
"Yes!"
"Just remember to start with a small output, and then you can increase it," he instructed. In Tadao's mind, it was hard to comprehend how in half an hour she could soar three kilometers above the ground.
"Come on, Nejire, you can do it!" Internally encouraging herself, she directed energy to her legs and flew up five meters. Depending on the percentage she used, her spirals could be seen. The longer the spiral, the more power she was using. If the spiral was small, it meant less power.
Tadao noticed how Nejire flew comfortably without any strain, maneuvering effortlessly. Analyzing all her movements, he concluded that she needed to be able to maneuver in the air so as not to become a target for villains.
"Excellent, but Nejire, can you do flips and other acrobatic moves?" Nejire immediately grasped this idea and performed several somersaults, twists, and acrobatic movements. Tadao was quite satisfied with this, and on top of that, he wanted to see what she had learned from her suicidal stunt.
"Show me your aerial jumps." Flying a bit higher, she turned off the energy in her legs and began to fall, but after three seconds, she directed the spiral to her feet, turning her quirk on and off as if pushing off a trampoline. It was clear to Tadao that the yellow spiral of energy appeared and disappeared. This technique was excellent for maneuvering and stealth in an urban environment amid buildings. All that was left was to develop her properly and work on her speed.
"Great, and show me a safe landing." Doing a flip, she spun 360 degrees while controlling the energy in her limbs. The spiral began to transform into long ribbons of yellow energy around her, as if they were obedient animals. Controlling her quirk, she descended smoothly. Tadao watched her results, and as soon as she landed, he ruffled her hair, not hiding his delight.
"I can't believe that in just two months, you've progressed so much in controlling your quirk. I'm impressed!" Nejire jumped from the praise, nearly knocking Tadao off his feet. Sometimes he was amazed at how such a girl could hold so much strength to knock an adult man off balance.
Nejire was genuinely happy to hear such words directed at her, especially from the person who had raised her and given everything for her. Tadao smiled but let her go to show her something she had never seen.
"Nejire, do you want to see something cool?" She looked at him with surprise and curious eyes. She nodded eagerly, and Tadao began taking off his shoes, standing on the grass with bare feet. Nejire didn't understand what this was about, but she was genuinely curious about what would happen next.
In the next moment, a bright blue glow started to emanate from Tadao's feet, not in the form of a spiral but as a concentrated mass of energy that allowed him to hover above the ground. Seeing this, Nejire gasped, unable to close her mouth, for Tadao had never shown her that he could fly. Directing more of his body's energy, he soared ten meters higher and, smiling at this, Nejire also flew up to his level to enthusiastically declare:
"Now, officially, we're a flying family!!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, which brought a smile to Tadao's face. Nejire flew even higher, trying to see the city with her father, but Tadao stopped at a height of 15 meters, unable to fly any higher.
Nejire returned to her father, not understanding why he couldn't fly higher.
"Is he afraid of heights?" she asked, circling around him to understand what limitations could be fixed.
"My quirk doesn't allow me to fly higher than 15 meters, no matter how hard I try," Tadao said slowly but smoothly, beginning to descend as controlling his quirk consumed much energy and calories.
Nejire landed alongside him and hurriedly began to put on her shoes. His quirk was so powerful that no shoes could withstand its energy on his feet. He always smiled at this, knowing that in the police academy, he often had to change his shoes during quirk tests.
"Do you know, Dad, with such a quirk you could become a hero named 'Blue Comet?' No, no, 'Blue Energy.' No, that doesn't fit. Wait, I've got it: 'Energy Sensei.'" It was amusing to hear all the possible heroic names, but Tadao didn't like a lot of attention from the public. He didn't enjoy wearing tight spandex and running around saving people. Tadao was an advocate for an older generation, a measured and steadfast man. While training at the police academy, he understood that without police, heroes would have a tough time, and while heroes had to catch criminals, without the police, heroic work would be much more complicated.
"I'm sorry, but I prefer a quiet life, Nejire. I don't really like it when the whole country is watching me." He smirked, putting on his socks. Many teenagers found it strange that their parents didn't particularly like flashy images when most people wanted to become them with unremarkable quirks.
"But you could really become a cool hero, saving many lives!" Standing tall, Tadao straightened up; he knew that one day Nejire would ask such a question, but for this case, he always had arguments ready.
"Nejire, I'm raising you, and if I become a hero, I won't have time for you. Yes, being a police officer isn't as respected compared to heroes, but let's not forget that there are no bad professions." He argued, to which Nejire seriously pondered, and her smile faded as she understood the meaning behind his words.
"All professions are important, but the collective mindset is such that people prefer bright packaging over real deeds. The police work with heroes as a whole; it's hard to imagine the entire mechanism without one."
"Wait, do you have to put criminals in jail while heroes bask in the glory?" Nejire pouted at this thought, but Tadao shook his head as if to deny it.
"If that were the case, no one would want to work in the police." After a brief pause, he headed toward the car, and Nejire followed him to avoid being alone on the training grounds.
"A hero is a bright image of a good person so that people do not lose faith in good and hope. We, as police officers, must fulfill our civic duty by helping the population. We often investigate cases related to complicated crimes, while heroes are the executors." Like many others with unremarkable quirks, many chose to work in the police. Without a strong quirk, they helped people no less than heroes, but much closer to the public, without heroic phrases, fulfilling their duty without boasting.
"Police stations and hero agencies closely cooperate with each other, sharing data about crimes. By working together, we maintain order and peace." After finishing his lecture, they reached the car, got in, and drove home when Nejire touched on a topic that had become a problem for Tadao.
"What about Silent Phantom, Dad? He's also a kind of hero who helps people." Tadao groaned at the mention of this topic. Although he was in Hosu, the police and heroes from Mustafu insisted on investigating and capturing the vigilante who was causing a stir in the hero world. Tsukaichi sent data about incidents involving him, and often where this vigilante appeared, there were many victims, mostly criminals and villains.
"Do you admire him?" Tadao asked with concern, but Nejire shook her head in denial.
"No, I just often sit on the internet and see how people write about him. Opinions vary: some say he's a hero, while others say he's a villain who doesn't comply with the law. What do you think about this?" Without taking his eyes off the road, Tadao turned the car to the right but answered Nejire's question.
"For me, he's just another civilian using his quirk illegally. Yes, he helps people, and I've seen him save lives, but we don't know what he's planning." Tadao grunted, continuing to drive home, but on the way, there were some accidents involving drunk drivers. Heroes and police promptly arrived at the scene to resolve the situation.
"Perhaps his kindness is just a distraction. He doesn't make contact, and when we try to catch him, he keeps escaping. He has three murders on his record, Nejire." Nejire paused, hearing her father's words. She had always admired heroes, but now, when it came to Silent Phantom, her feelings were mixed. On the one hand, she understood he was doing something good, but on the other hand, she didn't like that he was breaking the law.
"But if he helps people, shouldn't we support him?" she asked, genuinely wanting to understand Tadao's point of view.
"Helping is good, but everything done outside the law can have consequences. We, the police, must maintain order. If everyone starts acting on their own, we will soon find ourselves in chaos," he replied, trying to explain to her how important it is to follow the rules.
"I understand, Dad. But he's not a villain," Nejire retorted, unwilling to abandon her opinion. She had always liked the idea that everyone could become a hero, and she couldn't accept that someone who did good could be condemned.
"Maybe he's not a villain, but his methods raise questions. He doesn't always think about the consequences of his actions," Tadao said, and there was bitterness in his voice. "I've seen how such actions lead to trouble, and not everything can be fixed." Nejire was silent, pondering his words. She knew that police work was important and that Tadao had a lot of experience, but deep down, she was still looking for justification for Silent Phantom.
"But, Dad, maybe he just wants to be heard? Maybe he's trying to draw attention to problems that nobody talks about?" she asked, hoping her arguments could change her father's mind.
"Maybe, but that doesn't justify his actions. If he really wants to help, he should work with us, not against us," Tadao replied, and there was determination in his tone. "I know you want to be a hero, and I want you to become one. But remember that true heroes act within the law."
"I'll try to remember, Dad," Nejire quietly replied, realizing that her dreams of heroism might require more from her than she thought. She understood that in the future, she would have to make tough decisions and that she needed to figure out how to be a hero without breaking the law.
"Dad, is it true that they'll catch him soon?"
****
Sitting in his apartment, Stain was nursing his wounds from the last encounter with Silent Phantom. His photograph hung on the wall, and with hatred, he threw a knife at the head of the figure in the image.
"This time you defeated me, kid." Repeating the motion, he hurled the knife again, this time aiming for the throat of the photograph.
Stain had a broken left arm, four fingers on his hand, two ribs, and one knee from the fight with Silent Phantom. He had underestimated the kid's skills and how fiercely he would fight against an experienced bounty hunter. He had to flee from the fight, a shame on an unprecedented scale. If he had fully followed the Bushido code, he would have committed seppuku long ago. The job from the Miyamoto family was a failure, and for that, he received no money, only damage to his reputation.
Pulling out his sword, he began sharpening it with a diamond whetstone to achieve a perfect edge. He realized that the kid was extremely impulsive and prone to emotions. Next time, he would take full advantage of this weakness.
"Enjoy your life, kid. Soon, your happy life will come to an end." Grinning maliciously, he retrieved the poison he had prepared for special occasions.
"Even hunters can become prey."
****
In the spacious corridors of a high-rise building, filled with darkness and despair, a hero in his brown jacket with a cutout for wings on the back walked. The panoramic windows of this building overlooked a city living its life. He smiled at the sight, but the upcoming meeting in the office with higher-ups who dictated their conditions to the entire hero world filled him with tension.
He knocked on the door, and before entering, he took a deep breath to prepare for the impending tense conversation. The door opened on its own, revealing two men dressed in formal suits with a panoramic view of the city of Mustafu.
"You called for me, Mr. Chairman?" They said nothing in response, giving him a stern look.
"There is a new assignment for you and the hero society." Keigo tensed at this offer. A mistake in an assignment from the hero commission meant heavy sanctions, causing him anxiety.
"Inform all hero agencies and the police to increase security on the streets during the nighttime." Keigo suspected this was related to the incident involving Silent Phantom, who had injured three heroes in less than five minutes, but there was something else to fear.
"Is this related to Silent Phantom?" he asked in a businesslike manner, but received a gaze that seemed to look into his soul. HPSC had many levers of pressure on heroes, and if one did not fit into their world, the consequences were severe. Many young heroes often did what they were not supposed to do, and because of that, some had gone missing, while others had been killed to avoid being a nuisance.
"Yes and no." Their statement made him uneasy; cold sweat trickled down his forehead from the chill in their tone and the atmosphere they were in. It wasn't dark, but the lighting was so dim that it was hard to remember the faces of these two.
"Three hours ago, a head of one of the Yakuza families died of old age. Throughout the month, funerals will take place across Japan, and during this time, you must secure the streets from villains and criminals." Within the Yakuza hierarchy, there were several families, including the Miyamoto, Tokugawa, Yotsushima, and Yaoyorozu families, which had rights to the leadership position.
The Yakuza were deeply integrated into the ordinary world of people. No matter how hard the government fought, activating the organized crime task force, it was all in vain. However, the state and Yakuza had reached a truce, allowing them to conduct business legally.
"Day and night, you must strengthen patrols, and regarding Silent Phantom, bring him in alive. We have sent Lady Nagant to spy on Re Destro, and to expedite the capture of our vigilante, we decided to reinforce the hero patrols." Realizing this, Keigo swallowed hard but pretended that everything was fine.
"It will be done, sir, in the best way possible."
To be continued.