I didn't sleep at all.
Nana-san scolded me nonstop in my head, her voice sharp and relentless.
And Kurohane Rika…
What is her deal?
She's been toying with me ever since that incident.
A year ago—
Back when I didn't have my quirk, yet I was still doing hero work anyway.
---
Flashback
I was on patrol.
That's when I saw it—
A woman being cornered in the dead of night.
I reacted instantly.
This suit really is good…
Thrusters ignited, and I shot toward her.
The moment the thugs noticed me, they scattered without hesitation.
"Are you okay?" I asked, turning to the woman.
She was wearing glasses, looked to be in her mid-twenties.
"I'm okay, Hero-san," she replied.
Her voice felt strangely familiar.
Maybe I'm imagining things.
"Ah…?" she shifted slightly.
That's when I noticed it—
Her leg was bruised.
Damn it. Ever since All Might retired, crime rates have been rising.
I really should find a way to get One For All back…
"It looks like your leg is injured, miss," I said.
"It does…" she replied softly.
"My home is quite far from here… and there's no one else who can help me."
…She was clearly asking for help.
Of course I would.
"I'll help you," I said, reassuring her.
"…My, how cool and dependable," she said with a smile.
"Overdrive-san."
Did I mention my name?
Maybe she's a fan. I do have quite a few.
I took her bags and asked her to hold onto my back.
She did—without hesitation.
We moved from building to building, thrusters carrying us through the night.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yes, Overdrive-san," she replied.
"It's really nice spending time with you."
"Ah—are you a fan?" I asked.
"You seem to know a lot about me."
"I know quite a bit," she said.
"About a UA hero who sacrificed his quirk to save a girl he didn't even know… simply because she was suffering."
Her expression darkened slightly as she spoke.
"…They say a hero's body moves on its own when they see someone in danger. Is that true?"
"It depends," I answered honestly.
"But for me… I've always been like that. Even before I had a quirk—ah, sorry. Forget I said that."
She smiled faintly.
"So… where do you live, miss?"
She gave me an address.
Then I went to the place she mentioned.
She was surprisingly easy to talk to.
As we approached, I finally realized where we were.
A five-star hotel.
"…Is this the place?" I asked.
She lives here…?
She must be pretty rich.
"…Yes," she said calmly.
"As a token of my gratitude… please take this, Izuku-kun."
She held out a chocolate.
"…You don't want it?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Thank you, miss," I said as I took it.
Right on cue, my stomach betrayed me.
Grrr.
She laughed softly.
"Ah, sorry, Izuku-kun. Please come inside," she said.
"I'll make you something."
"Ah—sorry, miss, but I should really go home," I replied.
"My mom will be worried."
"Don't worry," she insisted gently.
"It won't take much time. Just dinner."
Then she added, almost casually,
"Also… you should remove your costume. You might end up in a scandal."
She wasn't wrong.
I removed my suit and stored it in the case.
It really is easy to equip and remove—technology in this world is incredible.
I stepped inside deliberately.
Is this okay?
I just entered a woman's house alone.
If the girls find out, I'm completely screwed.
But I don't have any ulterior motives… so it's fine. Right?
I was hungry.
I unwrapped the chocolate and ate it while waiting.
Soon, she returned with omurice.
"I hope it suits your taste, Izuku-kun," she said as she placed it in front of me.
I started eating.
She sat beside me.
A little too close.
The distance between us kept shrinking.
Is she trying to seduce me?
Even for a fan, this feels like too much.
"I'm sorry, miss," I said carefully.
"But I already have a girlfriend."
"You misunderstand, Izuku-kun," she replied slowly.
"I just… want… you… to—"
My nerves were on edge as she spoke.
I wasn't sure I could keep my composure if a cute girl like her really offered herself so boldly.
Then—
"—sign this autograph."
She held out a paper.
…Thank God.
A true fan to the core.
I took it and began signing.
"Ah—what's your name, miss?"
"Kurohane Rika," she said with a smile.
The moment I wrote it—
A sudden chill ran down my spine.
"…Kurohane?"
I stood up immediately, turning toward my suit.
"Izuku-kun," she said calmly.
"I really am a fan."
"Are you kidding me?!" I shouted.
"You're a villain!"
"The truth is…" she said softly,
"I really like you, Izuku-kun."
"…Eh?"
"Ever since the moment I met you, you've been on my mind," she continued.
"Please… accept my love."
"…"
"Oh, and by the way," she added lightly,
"I'm not taking no for an answer."
Something was wrong.
That chocolate—
The omurice too—
My vision blurred.
My body felt heavy.
"Izuku—"
She was suddenly beside me, catching me as my legs gave out.
My head rested on her lap.
"I really, really like you, Izuku-kun," she whispered.
"You already have three other girls, right? Why not accept me too… I'll make you happy."
Her lap was warm.
My thoughts faded.
And then—
Darkness.
---
I woke up the next morning.
Kurohane was beside me.
"My head…"
"What happened last night?"
"You don't remember?" she said teasingly.
"Even though you were quite intense."
I jolted upright.
"Kurohane Rika—what did you do?!"
She sighed.
"I'm sorry… Izuku-kun," she said quietly.
"At first, I planned to test you. To train you… to turn you into my pet. To offer you to master."
She hesitated, then let out a small, almost embarrassed laugh.
"But instead… I fell in love with you. What was I supposed to do?"
"Every time I see you, my heart won't calm down. You're kind. You're gentle. You treat me like a person—even knowing I'm a villain."
She kept talking, words spilling out faster and faster.
"And you're so unfair," she added.
"Your presence, your scent… even the way you carry yourself. You're stronger than you realize—in more ways than one."
Her gaze flicked downward for just a second before she smiled again.
"You really don't leave me much room to think straight."
"Kurohane," I said firmly, forcing myself to meet her eyes.
"This is wrong. I have a girlfriend."
"So what?" she replied without hesitation.
"You're already UA's notorious womanizer, aren't you?"
"Add me to your harem too."
Then she leaned closer, grinning.
"And I want to be the first wife. I'm not settling for second or third."
That was it.
I grabbed my suit and ran.
I was scared of what I might do if I stayed with her any longer.
Scared of my resolve breaking.
Scared of hesitating—just for a moment.
So I ran.
Behind me, I felt her watching.
When I finally glanced back, she was smiling.
But it wasn't playful.
It was the kind of smile that hurt to look at—
like she was forcing herself to be okay with being left behind.
I turned away and ran faster.
Not looking back again.
Behind me, she laughed.
"…Izuku," she called softly.
This time, her voice had lost its playful edge.
"I wish I'd met you earlier."
There was a faint tremble when she continued.
"You would've saved me, wouldn't you?"
"Like you always do… like a real hero."
There was grief in her voice.
Quiet.
Real.
Heavy.
---
Flashback Ends
After that…
She started appearing in my dreams. Every week.
At first, I thought something was wrong with me.
That I was sick—for dreaming about a woman who had tried to kill me.
But she was really there.
There's something sad about her smile.
About the way she looks at me—like she's already lost something precious.
I can't quite put my finger on it.
That aside…
I really hope Dad doesn't start moving and turn everything into a bigger mess.
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang.