The constant hum of the Fortress of Justice was now the rhythm of Li Wei's life. Recovered, but his mind still processing the brutal encounter with All For One and the strange connection with Momo Yaoyorozu. He was on the command bridge, his eyes fixed on Aegis's reports regarding World 2's stabilization, when a new notification flickered.
"Commander, a direct, personal, non-military communication has arrived. Origin: Momo Yaoyorozu. Do you allow the connection?"
Li Wei hesitated. His mind, accustomed to strategy and survival, wasn't made for personal interactions, much less after the strange resonance of their last encounter. But something within him, a curiosity born from years of indifference, compelled him. "Grant the connection."
Momo's face appeared on the screen; her smile was a little shy, but her eyes shone with a quiet determination that Li Wei recognized.
"Commander Li Wei," she began, her voice more confident than before. "I know this might be unusual, but... in my world, when someone saves you, there's a way to show gratitude. A way to... honor them." She paused, taking a breath. "I'd like to invite you to dinner. As my personal thanks. If your busy schedule allows, of course."
Li Wei looked at her. Dinner. A "date." The concept was alien to him. His life had been one of contempt and, more recently, constant war. Lin Jian had always ensured he had no personal connections. But the sincerity in Momo's eyes was undeniable. There was something about her, a light, that drew him in a way he didn't understand.
"I accept," Li Wei said, the word sounding strange on his own tongue.
Momo's smile widened, genuine and radiant. "Wonderful! I can send you the coordinates and the time. It will be... a pleasure." The connection cut, leaving Li Wei in the silence of the command bridge, with an unusual feeling in his chest.
"Commander, accepting a 'date' is not within standard Helldiver operating protocols. This interaction could create unpredictable variables," Aegis noted, its voice non-judgmental, merely reporting.
"I know, Aegis," Li Wei replied, a nuance of curiosity in his voice. "But it's a test. A different one."
The Dawn of Doubt: Public Reactions
Li Wei materialized on the outskirts of Deika City, at a discreet insertion point Aegis had prepared. He wasn't wearing his full Helldiver armor, only a dark tactical suit that disguised his scars, but still radiated a formidable presence.
As he headed to the meeting point, he witnessed the complex reactions of the populace to the recent chaos and Super Earth's intervention.
A giant screen on a nearby building showed President Smith's face, his "Democracy and Freedom" speech resonating through the streets. People were divided. Some viewed him with hopeful eyes, Super Earth as a savior who had swept away the chaos. "Finally, someone who acts! These heroes only talk about rules!" shouted a man, raising his fist.
But others looked on with distrust. In a dark alley, Li Wei heard a group whispering. "They say his soldiers killed villains. Without mercy. Not like the heroes. Who are they really? Are they worse than All For One?" A woman, tears in her eyes, showed a photo of a relative, a minor villain, who had been "eliminated" by the Helldivers. "My brother wasn't good, but he didn't deserve that. They were just soldiers, not judges. They're not heroes."
The contrast was brutal. To some, he was a liberator. To others, an assassin. The line between good and evil, so clear in his mind, was blurry in this world. It was the same duality he had seen in Lin Jian, the way people worshipped him while he twisted in darkness.
The Dinner and Unexpected Trust
The restaurant was an elegant place, with soft lighting and a tranquil atmosphere. Momo was already there, sitting at a discreet table. She wore a simple yet elegant dress, her loose hair cascading down. She looked... beautiful.
"Commander Li Wei," Momo said, standing with a slight bow.
"Li Wei," he corrected. "Just Li Wei."
They sat down. The conversation began formally, Li Wei explaining Super Earth's ideals in general terms, Momo talking about her academy and her Quirk. But as the evening progressed, the formality faded.
Momo was genuinely interested in his experiences, not with morbid curiosity like others, but with palpable empathy. "Is that why you have those scars?" she asked softly, her gaze fixed on his arm, where a line of discolored skin was barely visible.
Li Wei, to his own surprise, didn't shut down. He began to speak, not of his missions, but of the pain of powerlessness, of betrayal, of the darkness he had seen in his own life. He spoke of Lin Jian, though without mentioning his world's name. He spoke of being a "scapegoat," of being "disposable."
Momo listened intently, her large, expressive eyes fixed on him. "That's... horrible," she whispered. "No one should feel that way. No one." Her hand reached out, a gesture of comfort, and gently touched his arm, right where the scars were most noticeable. It was a light touch, but Li Wei felt an electric current. A warmth that went through him to his bones, something he hadn't felt in years. It was a touch that didn't judge, only understood.
Dawn at the Yaoyorozu Residence and the Revealed Truth
The night stretched on. The conversation became deeper, more personal. They spoke of their fears, of their hopes. The connection between them was undeniable, an undercurrent of understanding forged in chaos and sincerity.
Momo, overwhelmed with emotion, invited him to her home. It wasn't an ostentatious mansion like the Lin's, but a home, albeit large, full of warmth and art. She offered him tea, and the conversation continued, flowing effortlessly into the early hours of the morning.
Tiredness overcame them both. Momo led him to a guest room. "Please, rest, Li Wei," she said, her voice soft. "Tomorrow... tomorrow we can keep talking. I have a feeling there's a lot I want to learn from you. And perhaps... something you can learn from me."
Li Wei nodded. As he watched her turn to leave, he felt an impulse. "Momo," he said, his voice hoarse.
She stopped and turned. Their eyes met. In that moment, in the quiet of the night, the barriers Li Wei had built for years began to crack. The truth, the raw truth of his existence, felt less like a burden and more like something he could share.
"I am not from this world," Li Wei began, his voice barely a whisper. "I come from another... from many worlds. And Super Earth... is my family. The Helldivers... my brothers."
Momo looked at him, her eyes widening. There was no disbelief, only astonishment. The vulnerability in Li Wei's eyes was something she had never expected to see.
"And I... I was like those you protect," Li Wei continued, his eyes fixed on hers. "A despised child, used, abandoned. But now... now I'm different. I forged myself in war. And I'm here to... to fight for everyone's freedom. And so no one feels what I felt."
Momo slowly approached, her hand reaching out and gently resting on his cheek. The contact was an electric current, warm and vibrant. Her eyes were filled with deep compassion and a strength Li Wei hadn't noticed before.
"Then, Commander Li Wei," Momo whispered, her voice barely audible. "Allow me to help you. Allow me to... be by your side. In this world, or in any other."
Momo's words, full of genuine emotion and unconditional acceptance, resonated in Li Wei's heart like nothing had before. The coldness of his soul, forged in contempt and war, began to melt. A spark, small but powerful, ignited between them. A connection that transcended worlds and traumas.