"The Hero Association headquarters has been destroyed, hundreds of heroes defeated, three S-Class heroes severely injured, and Blast left exhausted, utterly defeated."
This news didn't just reach Fubuki; it spread like wildfire among heroes of all ranks under the Hero Association's banner.
The reactions were as varied as the heroes themselves.
Some heroes clenched their fists in frustration, their faces twisted with anger, as if ready to storm out and confront the one who'd humiliated the Association—Gaio.
Others stood dazed, their eyes vacant, still reeling from the sudden catastrophe, muttering to themselves about how the Hero Association could have fallen so far.
Some burned with rage, veins bulging on their foreheads as they shouted into their communicators, venting their fury.
And the more timid ones trembled in fear, their bodies shaking as they worried about their own safety, terrified that the same disaster might soon find them.
But no matter how intense their emotions, in the face of Gaio's invincible power, their reactions were like ripples on a calm lake—fleeting and unable to stir up any real storm.
At the ruins of the Hero Association headquarters, the NEO "heroes" who'd been pierced by Gaio's Phantom Sword endured inhuman torment for three agonizing hours. Their screams intertwined, echoing over the wreckage.
As time dragged on, most of the NEO "heroes" couldn't withstand the hellish pain and perished, filled with regret.
Especially those who'd once been criminals or gang members turned cyborgs—they'd committed countless evils in their past lives, and now, under the Phantom Sword's punishment, they suffered unbearable agony, collapsing one by one in pools of blood, paying the price for their sins.
The three S-Class heroes also pierced by the Phantom Sword—Superalloy Darkshine, Tanktop Master, and Puri-Puri Prisoner—managed to endure the soul-searing pain through sheer willpower and physical resilience.
But the ordeal affected each of them differently.
Superalloy Darkshine, once brimming with confidence in his unbreakable body, now found himself plunged into a pit of self-doubt because of the Phantom Sword's torment.
He'd always believed his body was indestructible, the source of his strength and the root of his confidence.
Yet, the Phantom Sword made him feel true fear for the first time. He began to question himself, doubting the very strength he'd always relied on.
The mental blow was far more devastating than the physical pain.
It was clear that even if his wounds healed, his power would likely diminish due to this newfound self-doubt. The once-mighty Superalloy Darkshine might never return.
Tanktop Master, though also wracked with pain, didn't crumble like Superalloy. He gritted his teeth, enduring the agony, and silently vowed to stand back up, protect the city, and restore the Hero Association's honor.
Puri-Puri Prisoner, true to his carefree nature, grumbled about eating to make up for what he'd lost while enduring the pain, as if trying to banish the gloom and rekindle his fighting spirit.
But what did any of this matter to Gaio?
The next morning, soft sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, spilling into Fubuki's room.
Fubuki stirred awake on her plush bed, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She stretched lazily, then began her morning routine with calm precision.
In the mirror, her reflection showed the sharp determination of old, now tinged with a trace of confusion brought on by the Hero Association's collapse.
Once she was ready, Fubuki studied the beautiful woman in the mirror, lost in thought.
The Hero Association was in ruins, and she had no idea what the future held for her carefully built "Fubuki Group."
Just then, a crisp ringtone shattered the room's silence.
Fubuki picked up her phone and saw the caller: Sitch.
The name gave her pause, a flicker of curiosity rising. Sitch? Is he okay?
She hesitated for a moment before answering. "Hello, Mr. Sitch."
Sitch's voice on the other end was unusually serious. "Miss Fubuki, I'd like to invite you to meet at the X Building in B City. There are important matters we need to discuss."
Fubuki's brow furrowed slightly. She fell silent, her mind racing to figure out Sitch's intentions.
The Hero Association had just been dealt a crushing blow. As a key figure in the organization, why would Sitch want to meet her at such a critical time? Was he planning to rebuild the Association?
After a moment's thought, Fubuki replied, "Alright, Mr. Sitch. I'll be there on time."
She hung up, walked to her closet, and scanned her wardrobe. Her gaze settled on a sleek, dark green dress.
She slipped it on, adjusted her hair in the mirror, took a deep breath, and left the room.
Outside, the members of the Fubuki Group were already waiting, lined up neatly in two rows, dressed in sharp black suits.
As Fubuki appeared, they called out in unison, "Good morning, Lady Fubuki!"
Fubuki gave a slight nod, maintaining her usual proud and aloof queen-like demeanor, and strode gracefully toward a luxurious car.
She slid into the backseat and issued a concise order to the driver: "To the X Building in B City."
With her command, the convoy started, speeding through the city streets like arrows, leaving only a fleeting blur in their wake.
Meanwhile, in a spacious, brightly lit meeting room in the X Building in B City, the atmosphere was heavy with tension.
Sitch, Zeddinger, Sweet Mask, Blast, Blue, Bang, KING, Atomic Samurai, Child Emperor, Genos, and Saitama—who was idly flipping through a magazine in the corner—were all gathered.
"Are we really sending that little girl Fubuki to get close to Nero?" Bang broke the silence, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Yes. Because of Macoy, the Hero Association was destroyed by Nero, and our relationship with the Jujutsu world has soured as a result," Zeddinger said gravely.
At the mention of Macoy, everyone's expressions shifted slightly. That sudden disaster had plunged the Hero Association into ruin.
"Tch, I never would've guessed that guy helped us out before," Blast said, rubbing his cheek with a mix of frustration and reflection.
"No matter what, rebuilding the Hero Association and repairing ties with the Jujutsu world is urgent," Sitch said firmly, his gaze sweeping over the group. "We can't let the corrupt actions of a few in the Hero Association make us abandon our mission for justice. Heroes are meant to protect this island and its people."
Everyone nodded, their faces serious. The collapse of the Hero Association was a shock, but the fire of their convictions still burned.
Though the number of monsters had drastically decreased, with ghost-level threats nearly extinct, everyone knew this was no time to let their guard down.
The mysterious mechanics of monster creation meant they could emerge from fallen humans, or even from the earth, forests, or oceans—anything tied to this world could become a breeding ground.
In the corner, Saitama, bored out of his mind, flipped through his magazine. Listening to the serious discussion, he was utterly confused.
He set the magazine down and leaned toward Genos, whispering, "Hey, who's this Nero they're talking about?"
Genos turned, straightening respectfully, and answered earnestly, "That would be Lord Gaio. Nero is his other name, much like how heroes in the Hero Association have their own aliases."
Saitama's mouth formed an "O" as realization hit. "Oh, him! He's the one who trashed the Hero Association?"
Genos nodded solemnly, adding, "Yes, Sensei. We mentioned it yesterday at Master Bang's dojo."
Saitama scratched his head, vaguely recalling the conversation but admitting he hadn't paid much attention.
Just then, a soft knock came at the meeting room door. A staff member hurried in and whispered something to Sitch.
Sitch nodded and addressed the group. "Miss Fubuki has arrived downstairs. Let's get ready."
Guided by a receptionist, Fubuki entered the spacious meeting room.
The moment she stepped inside, her expression froze briefly as her eyes scanned the room full of heroes.
These were powerhouses who rarely gathered like this, except when summoned by the Hero Association.
Among them, Fubuki was only familiar with Saitama, Genos, KING, and Bang.
Sweet Mask was a lone wolf, always mysterious in his actions, and Blast, the elusive top hero, she was seeing in person for the first time.
Sitch and Zeddinger stood to greet her warmly, inviting her to sit. Once she was settled, Sitch cleared his throat and began the critical discussion.
"As you all know, the Hero Association has been devastated. Rebuilding is our top priority. Our initial plan is to use Blue's NEO as the foundation and recruit former Hero Association members to join."
Sweet Mask snorted, his usual arrogance on display. "Recruiting is fine, but we need strict vetting. We can't let those who've tarnished the hero name with their crimes slip back in."
His eyes burned with disdain for corruption, reflecting his high standards as the Hero Association's "GG Tower" and special advisor.
"Sweet Mask's got a point," Atomic Samurai nodded, gripping his signature katana. "The corruption in the old Hero Association was part of why Nero acted. This time, we have to make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Exactly!" Child Emperor piped up, swinging his short legs from his hovering chair, trying to look serious.
"For the new Hero Association, I think A City is still the best location. It's the symbol of the Association," Bang said, stroking his beard. "It'll show the public our resolve to protect the city and turn over a new leaf."
"A City's basically a wasteland now. The costs would be astronomical, and we're short on funds," Zeddinger said, shaking his head with a troubled look.
"We could crowdfund," Genos suggested calmly but firmly. "I believe the public will support us."
The discussion grew heated as everyone chimed in with ideas for rebuilding the Hero Association. Fubuki sat quietly, listening intently but wondering, Rebuilding the Hero Association? Why am I here for something this big? Are they banking on my influence among B-Class heroes?
As time passed, the group reached a consensus.
The new Hero Association would be established in A City. Though the area was in ruins, it carried the legacy of the Association's past glory and held a special place in the public's heart.
It was also decided that Sweet Mask and Blast would lead the effort to rally heroes scattered across the twenty-odd cities, leveraging their prestige.
They drafted new hero regulations to eliminate the corruption that had plagued the old Association, aiming to return heroes to their core mission of protecting the people.
With the agenda settled, the debate wound down.
Fubuki, assuming the meeting was over, began thinking about how to integrate her Fubuki Group into the new Hero Association.
But then, Sitch cleared his throat again, his face growing even more serious as he fixed his gaze on Fubuki.
The other heroes turned their attention to her as well.
Caught off guard, Fubuki straightened in her seat, meeting their eyes with confusion.
Sitch leaned forward slightly. "Miss Fubuki, you must be wondering why we asked you to join such an important meeting."
Fubuki nodded, her eyes searching for answers.
Sitch took a deep breath and continued, "Nero—his power is overwhelming. None of us here can confidently say we could stop him. You've seen it yourself: he helped the Hero Association destroy the Monster Association for justice, but then, because of Macoy's disrespect, he turned and demolished the Hero Association in a fit of rage."
"His actions are unpredictable, like a ticking bomb. We don't know if he'll destroy the new Hero Association we're trying to rebuild over some sudden whim."
Sitch paused, glancing at the others before continuing, "So, after discussion among the S-Class heroes, we've decided we need a safeguard. Something to help us if he decides to destroy again."
Fubuki blinked, still not grasping his meaning.
Sitch exchanged a look with Blast and the others, their expressions tinged with resignation.
With a soft sigh, Sitch said gently, "Miss Fubuki, that safeguard… is you."
Fubuki's eyes widened, her mouth falling open in disbelief.
"Me?" she blurted, shaking her head. "I'm just a B-Class hero! How could I possibly be a safeguard? That's ridiculous!"
Atomic Samurai chuckled lightly at her shock. "Miss Fubuki, have you forgotten? Back at the hot spring inn, Nero himself said he was pursuing you."
Fubuki's face flushed bright red, like a ripe apple.
She hadn't expected them to pin their hopes on her because of that.
The other heroes smirked teasingly, their eyes flicking toward her.
But the lighthearted moment didn't last long. Their expressions soon turned serious again.
Zeddinger stood, bowing deeply to Fubuki with sincerity. "Miss Fubuki, we know this puts you in an awkward position. But we're out of options. We're asking you to consider it—to at least remind Nero we're not his enemies if he gets angry again."
Fubuki froze, flustered by the sudden gesture. She stood, stepping back instinctively, her eyes filled with conflict and hesitation.
Her mind flashed back to Gaio saving her from the Monster Association. That moment, like a radiant star, was etched in her heart as an unforgettable memory.
Sykes's words echoed faintly in her ears, painting a tantalizing picture of a future with Gaio, as if it were a match made in heaven.
Fubuki couldn't deny it—Gaio's strength and charisma were magnetic. Deep down, she'd always admired the strong, and Gaio was the strongest she'd ever seen.
If he pursued her genuinely, she'd likely fall into his arms without hesitation, reveling in the warmth of being protected by such power.
But this? Being asked to approach him strategically, to use potential feelings as a tool—it was a moral hurdle she struggled to cross.
As Fubuki wrestled with her thoughts, Saitama, who'd been silent, spoke up, scratching his bald head in confusion.
"Why do we have to do it like this?"
All eyes turned to him. Saitama continued, "Fubuki, we're not exactly friends—more like acquaintances, I guess. But I think you should follow your heart. If you like Nero, go for it. If you don't, then don't. Heroes should be straightforward, right? Using sneaky tactics isn't what heroes do."
His words hung in the air, silencing the room.
He was right. They'd just been talking about making the hero profession pure, yet here they were, resorting to manipulation. It contradicted everything they'd said.
Bang was the first to react, standing and bowing slightly to Fubuki in apology, admitting he'd been misguided. Blast followed, then Sweet Mask, Atomic Samurai, and finally Sitch and Zeddinger.
Seeing their apologies, Fubuki pressed her lips together and said something that stunned them all.
"I understand how you all feel. The Hero Association's been hit hard, and you're desperate to find a way to balance Nero. I get that urgency."
Her gaze swept over them, steady and resolute. "But I won't force myself to do something against my heart just because the Hero Association asked. I've been thinking about Gaio a lot. He's powerful, mysterious, and… I'm not entirely unaffected by him."
She paused, her mind drifting to Gaio again, a ripple of emotion stirring in her chest. "When he saved me from the Monster Association, I felt his strength and reliability in a way I'll never forget."
"So, I've decided to reach out to him, to get to know him—not as a safeguard for the Hero Association, but to give myself a chance. A chance to pursue my own happiness."
Fubuki's face flushed slightly as she finished, but her eyes shone with newfound determination.
The heroes smiled, relieved that the matter seemed resolved.
But just as the mood lightened, a woman's voice cut through the room with a sharp cry.
"I object!!!"