Happy 1st anniversary, Tiger & Bunny~! If you take out the parentheses, you can find the corresponding comic drawn by my aibou here:

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It's a whispery warm autumn day, summer holding on with one last breath of warmth, and Origami gathers his fellow heroes in Central Park with a gentle hesitance that has newly blossomed into confidence.

There's a paper crane sitting on his shoulder, another in his hair, another peeking out of his pocket if you care to look, and with ninja-nimble swiftness, he folds another piece of violet paper into a crane.

Keith steps closer, the first, as always, to embrace the dreams of his fellow heroes, and with a bright smile and friendly hand to the shoulder, calms his nervousness.

Pao-lin grabs the bag of paper, pulling out a bright orange and yellow pattern and winking at her friend, for she already knows the steps.

Together with Ivan, they slow the process down until Keith can turn his large blue-swirled design into a majestic bird. The wind master is so excited that he floats all three cranes into the air, swirling them around their heads in a circle as they laugh.

Antonio is doubtful about his ability to fold the delicate paper, holding it by a corner in suspicious disbelief, and beside him, Nathan is pulling sheets out in equal amounts delight and dismay – Fuschia! Red! The patterns! – How to choose only one?

But no, there's 1000 that need to be made if a wish is to be granted, and so, in a flurry of excited chatter and laughter, they continue to fold.

Until now, stubborn Karina has only sat off to the side, watching the growing festivities, wondering if this cause is one she wants to support – after all, her eternal rival has not only stolen her crush out from under her, but bumped her place in rank! Why would she want to…

But here's Pao-lin again with a head tilt and a knowing smile, a pair of red & green cranes in her hands, and Nathan now too, holding out a sheet of icy blue and mint paper, and Karina relents.

Carried on that warm wind through the trees turning colors and up into at the wide blue sky, one crane slowly floats, poking at someone who ought to recognize this day as well. With a small smile, Yuri strolls up to the group seated in the grass of the park and despite their startled expressions, pulls a paper for himself. After all, the two being celebrated have had quite an impact on the city of Stern Bild… and maybe on his own heart too.

Unknowing, unsuspecting, the beloved wished-for pair are not far away, heads tucked close and comfortable as they chat over lunch, Kotetsu's favorite mayonnaise-smothered hot dog in hand.

Barnaby looks up first, his eyes widening in surprise, and Keith's wind, wound with the warmth of the day and the love of their friends, showers a thousand cranes upon them. Kotetsu laughs with delight as they land in Barnaby's curls, on his own shoulders, in his outstretched hand, all over the blanket and their lunch until it's a rainbow pile of shapes and sizes and thoughts from those who love them most.

It's already been one year since Tiger & Bunny first became the perfectly mismatched partners who saved the city… who changed the hearts of those around them, and of each other.

It's only been one year since everyone fell in love with their unbreakable bond, it's only a paper anniversary… but with such a heartfelt wish from their friends, surely there will be silver and gold ahead in the years to come.