The business days of Leblanc were as followed: weekdays 7 AM – 6PM, and weekdays and holidays closed. There were days where Leblanc would be randomly closed; however, the chalkboard sign outside the store being the only fair warning for the sudden lack of business. Many speculated on why the store randomly closed, but there were never concrete answers as to why. Whenever the subject was touched upon, the owner would always just give them a smile, saying he had business outside the store to attend to and nothing else. Some thought he was telling the truth, others thought he was hiding something. Either way, the store closed at random occasions, never in pattern yet always a few times in a month.

Just what was so important that it took priority over Leblanc?

[April XX, 7:30 AM]

She walked towards her destination, her first day as an assistant. Anxious would be an understatement for what she felt, fear would be the least of her worries. At least she wasn't alone on her first day, that would be horrible. She was an extremely nervous person as it was, so thank whoever for him giving up his time for her.

"Todoroki-san, do you have any more questions?"

"None!" She, too nervously, shouted. "Thank you for recommending me; I'll do everything I can to live up to your expectations!" She saluted. "Thank you for your service!"

"…" Did she say something wrong…? What was she talking about, she just saluted him… She felt like crying. "Todorki-san… You're too nervous. They'll eat you alive if you hesitate."

What did he just say, was she mistaken? Eat her alive…? What?! Didn't he say that the children here were good kids earlier?! "Senpai, what do you mean…?!" She was panicking now, what does he mean by that, why did he look like he was sending her to the shark tank?!

They were nearing their destination, a woman probably around their age in front of the door that led to it, a teacher perhaps. Fuyumi would've felt better at seeing what she supposed was her superior if it weren't for the fact that the woman looked like she was going to cry at any moment, body trembling, frantically looking side to side. Fuyumi noted she looked like a nervous wreck.

She was not in any position to compare.

"Amamiya-san!" The woman eyes locked onto them, Fuyumi had the instinct to jump away from the woman's speeding path, despite not being between them. The woman's body barrelled onto her guide, body sliding down until she held onto his leg for dear life. It looked pitiful… "You're here to help?! You're really here to help?! Thank you, thank you so much…!" Fuyumi was confused, scared. Was the woman just like that or did something happen to her? She didn't know.

Her senpai did, though. "Ikoma-san, this is Todoroki Fuyumi." Completely unfazed by the being suffocating his leg, he continued his introductions. "Todoroki-san, this is Ikoma Komari. She's a new teacher here; you'll be assisting her. Don't mind, she's just prone to crying."

Fuyumi didn't like that, she didn't like that her superior was prone to crying a lot. She was the one who wanted to cry.

"Also, because I don't work around here anymore, I'll have to leave you two." He gave them a thumbs up. "Good luck, try not to die."

Die?! Did he say die?! "Are the rumors true then?! That the students of this school are actually villains in disguise?!" She didn't like this, she really didn't like this.

"Nooooo…! I'm begging you, please don't leave…!" Komari tears doubled, hands unwrapping around his limb and grabbing onto his shirt, effectively acting as an anchor. "Please, just stay for the day, just this once…!"

The two women were frantically pleading, one asking panicked questions, the other bawling as incomprehensible sentences left her mouth. There seemed to be no end to their panic, Fuyumi was sure she would never recover from this panic. She was going to run away and tell the world it wasn't worth the mental torture, but Ren managed to walk over to her, Komari dragging beside him. He put a hand on her shoulder, causing her to stiffen at the sudden contact, a hand was on the crying teachers head, patting it as he spoke.

"Calm down, you'll be fine."

She saw a glow for a second, probably her seeing things in panic. Fuyumi would have retorted at his comment, maybe proceed to panic some more. She was sure Komari would have done the same as well, only cry instead. For some reason though, she never did. In fact, she did calmed down, her mind cleared like never before. Komari got it together, too, the teacher now just tearing up as she stood, hands rubbing the tears away.

Fuyumi still didn't like that her superior was prone to crying. Again, she was the one who wanted to cry.

"Now then," Ren put his hands in his pockets, a phone pulled out. "you two have a class to teach." She and Komari just nodded in response. Ren gave them a happy smile. "Good. Good luck, you two. I'll be taking my leave now."

And he did just that. Fuyumi and Komari watched his back until he turned a corner. Gone. Amamiya Ren was now gone. Class was about to begin, and the young man was no longer in sight… She didn't mind, for some reason or another, didn't mind him abandoning her just like that. She felt much more better than she did a few seconds ago, her mind cleared from any distractions. Fuyumi didn't know whether that was a good or a bad at this moment.

Fear, after all, was an important factor for survival.

"Ummm… Komari-san, shall we… go inside?" She thought that was a good way to start, at least until she heard the sniffling. "Komari-san?"

The response she was given was a crying woman, openly bawling in the hall they were standing in. Fuyumi could only hear fragmented sentences from the woman, "He left again" and "I want him to come back" being the only things she could pick out. Nonetheless, the crying woman led her to the door of the class, opening it for the two—

"It's them! ATTACK!" She didn't have time to react, neither of them did. So, that's what he meant when he said, "don't die". She should've known… This was Masegaki Primary school. It only made sense…

She had a long day ahead of her, it seemed.

[June XX, 12 PM]

"Angel-san, can you help me with this?" She pointed towards the bouquet, the one she was working on. "I don't know which flowers to put…"

"Ibara-san… how many times do I have to tell you that I'm not an angel?" He already had the flowers ready for her, passing it to her. "Here you go."

She didn't believe his statement, it was a lie. "You truly are amazing. Truly a divine being brought to the motal realm!"

He sighed shortly after her saying htat, but she was sure he was just tired, not because he was annoyed with her. He was, after all, an angel in disguise, one who only sought the happiness of others at the expense of his own. Oh, what a sin it was for such a heavenly being to walk this earth, bounded by chains of flame and unjust. This world was truly sinful, wronging such a being—

"Shiozaki Ibara! How many times do I have to tell you not to bother Amamiya-san while he's working?" Oh, how cruel her mother was. She would not be forgiven despite bowing to an angel. "I'm so sorry about her behaviour, she's young, so I'm sure it's just a phase of hers."

Phase? Her mother calls her new way of life a phase? How dare she? "Mother, I must protest. This is by no means a "phase", this is my new way of life, a way to redeem myself for my sinful past." Ibara put her hands together, chanting a prayer telling for the lord to forgive her mother, a thousand lashings be brought upon the hag.

The hag, her mother, didn't like that.

"Shiozaki Ibara! Enough with your silly nonsense!" Her mother pulled her to the back of the shop, a staircase leading to their home above. "I'm so sorry, Amamiya-san, but could you man the store for a while? I need to teach my daughter some common sense again…" How rude, she had plenty of common sense! Forget a thousand lashings for her mother, may she burn in the after life for her wicked deeds. But first, she must be restrained before she commits anymore.

"Don't you dare use your quirk to—mmmphhh!" Ah, much better. The sinner was dealt with, the vines happily wrapping around the woman, effectively gagging and silencing. How beautiful, her mother was now truly one with nature. She walked up to her angel, basking in his presence. How divine.

"Please forgive my mother for her foolishness." She could hear the woman's cries from where she left her. The staircase now abundant with noise, vines peeking through. "She simply does not understand the path of virtue I have taken."

"That's great and all, but you should look behind you." Hmm? Behind her? "Your mother looks quite mad." Nonsense, she just tied her—

"Shiozaki Ibara! How dare you use your quirk like that on your own mother like that!" Ah. It seems the sinner had escaped her punishment; how shameful. She would've restrained the heretic once more, but her hair was being pulled now, her body being dragged by the heretic's strength. "You are in so much trouble!"

"Angel-san, please, save me!" Her arms reached out to him, her saviour just out of reach. "Save me from this sinner's unholy judgement…! I beg of you!"

She saw him move his hand from his pocket, it seemed her wishes will be granted. Instead of him reaching out to save her though, he just waved, telling her good luck, before helping a customer who walked into their store. Oh, how cruel he was, but she could understand. She understood very well.

He was testing her strength of will, testing whether she could endure or not. How wise. She would live up to this challenge, meet his expectations.

"I swear… why do you call him an angel anyways?" Her mother asked. "What could possibly prompt you to think that? I just don't understand…"

Oh, mother… Do you not remember? The fire which burned, the wounds you sustained? Do you not remember the white wings, the miracle he made? Did she truly not remember his divinity and selflessness, his power to heal, and to save?

How disappointing and sad.

Ibara clasped her hands together, her eyes closed. An image of the past as clear as day and vivid in detail popping up in her head.

"It's because he's an angel. One who grants second chances."

[August XX, 3:30 PM]

"You… you have got to be kidding me…" It didn't make sense, this was where he disappeared to? "Why in hell's name are you working at a convenience store? This is where you disappear to when you close the store?"

"I needed a change of pace."

"And how does working at a convenience store change that pace?" Sekijiro didn't understand him at all, this made the least amount of sense. "I could have enjoyed a nice drink to soothe my nerves this morning, but you decide to deny all your customers because you wanted to work here?"

"To be fair, I wasn't working here at the morning." The clerk said. "I had other things to do."

Sekijiro didn't like how casual he was about this. What was wrong with this young man? "You own a business, and you decide to run off doing who-knows-what, and work at a convenience store? Just what is wrong with you?"

"Excuse me sir, but I'm afraid there are customers that need to purchase some things." Sekijiro knew the young man was right, there was a line waiting behind him. Ren's hand gestured to the exit, a wonderful customer service smile plastered on his face. "If you're just going to bother me while I am working, I am going to have to ask you to leave. Next customer, please!"

"Wha— Hey, don't just brush me off!"

"Next customer, please!"

"Hey, don't you ignore me!" He wanted answers, damnit!

The clerk grabbed a phone from underneath the counter he was behind, dialing a number and putting it to his ear. The voice he spoke with was serious, merciless. Sekijioro didn't like that. "Excuse me, is this the police? I have a man here who's bothering the employees at—"

"Don't go calling the police!" He couldn't believe what the young man was doing, had he no shame? The Boss was clearly joking (he hoped), yet there was definitely a voice at the other end of the line…

Who in the world calls the police on a hero?

"Yes, please come right away. I feel that he may harm the customers at this store. Yes, he has white hair and x-shaped scar on his—"

"Don't go starting scandals, you damn idiot!"

[December XX, 11:00 PM]

She was a celebrity among celebrities, a hero no less. At the end of the year, she was invited to party after party, hundreds of invitations in the form of letters and emails sent to her in waves. However, she turned them all down; she wouldn't attend their events.

Uwabami had other plans.

She was just like that. The last month of the year was her time, the month where she took off from both modelling and her hero duties, unless there be an emergency. Instead of going out to insanely large celebrations, she chose to isolate herself from the world, get a nice drink to warm her up on the inside. What better way to do that then at a small-time bar, hidden away from the world, one where she could sit back and relax without worrying about any kind of media to bother her.

It certainly helped that the bartender was someone she trusted; a dear friend of hers. She knew him for about three years now, and she couldn't be any more content. At face value, he was a plain looking man – teenager back then. She knows never to judge a book by it's cover now, though; he taught her that all too well.

Who knew that she, Snake Heroine: Uwabami, would befriend such an individual? Most would assume that he would be the one blessed to know someone like her, but it was the opposite. She was the one lucky enough to have him enter her life.

She was grateful. Truly, truly grateful.

"Join me for a drink already." She sat on a stool right in front of him, leaning onto the counter while giving him her most charming smile. Her eyes fluttered, her legs crossed sensually, she tilted her head just a bit, her whole being alluring—

"Yet, a famous celebrity like you walks in here." He was completely unaffected by her charms, only entertained by it. "Besides, you know I don't drink. You did plenty of that for me already."

That jab was a low blow, she didn't like that. She pouted. "Rude. And you treat your customers that way?"

"Business is still running." She pouted harder, watching him as he just put her order in front of her. "I'm only joking. Don't look at me like that." She didn't listen to his request, she kept on looking at him like that, eyes scorching a hole through his glasses, eye contact never lost. She never pouted for anyone but him, yet he still resisted her charms. Guess that's what she gets for trying to abuse it all the time against him.

Shame, it worked all the time too.

"I swear you're spoiled." She was, but that was only because he spoiled her. She watched the all too familiar path of him going to a switch to the back, the sound of it being flipped indicating the store's neon sign turning off, the place was now closed. She grinned savagely as he walked towards the front entrance, locking the door to ensure no one bother the two.

Her feminine wiles triumph again. She truly was a temptress. No one could resist.

"No, you're not." He said, walking past her, reading her mind. He went back behind the bar counter once more, grabbing himself a drink. Water, she presumed. "I'm not drinking. Heaven knows how smashed you'll be by the time you're done."

She tried to remember this last time. She couldn't. She hesitated. "It wasn't that bad… It wasn't that bad, right?"

"Compared to when we first met? No, no it wasn't." She was relieved. Thank goodness, she thought. She didn't like causing too much trouble for him, she'd done that already a long time ago. "It was still pretty bad. You vomited all over the place, WHILE trying to strip me."

Never mind. It was just as bad.

"Uwah… I'm sorry… Still, you should have told me then…"

"You were so happy, I didn't want to rain on your parade." He gave her that look "Besides—"

"You can rely on me, right?" She finished that sentence for him, preventing what was to come from happening. Still, it happened somewhat, the mere memory making her look anywhere but at him. She hadn't even taken a sip of her drink, yet she was going a bit red. Stupid guy and his innocent words, a pure maiden would be lovestruck by him if they weren't careful. Still, she couldn't help but think back. Back to those times.

Rely on him... Just how many times had she, her eyes became distant as she thought about it. Three years she'd known him, yet it only took one for him to change her. Whenever she was down, he would somehow be there, waiting to help. It was always scary how perceptive he was, and it was completely unfair how selfless he could be.

She didn't think she's ever done anything to repay him, not once. Now that she thinks about it, the only thing she actually knows about him was his name and number, nothing more. He worked at this bar, that was obvious. His birthday was… He liked to… His favorite color is… Favorite hero… Oh, crap, she didn't know. Realization dawning on her.

She was a really shitty friend. Oh god, she didn't even know how old he was… Early 20's, obviously, but she did not have the knowledge of the exact number. The only way to tell her surprise was her eyes widening a bit, but that was more than enough for him to catch on.

He was just that good.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing! Nothing is wrong!" She hid her worries with a smile, being a celebrity and hero teaching her that. She could tell he wasn't impressed with that, though. "Really, nothing is wrong."

Besides her being a shitty friend that is.

His frown only made her feel worse, she made him worry. "If you insist." She cringed at that, he only said that when he didn't believe her. Most of the time he was right not to.

"Do me a favor." He said, his eyes hidden from her own somehow. The light doing it's tricks again with his glasses.

"Hmm? What for?" She did what he asked, a playful tone to her voice in hopes of tricking him and herself to stop worrying. "Trying to steal a kiss from little ol' me?"

"Put your hand on the table, palm facing up." He didn't miss a beat, not affected in the slightest by her little jest.

"Oh? You want to hold my hand? How bold." She felt something placed on it. Not a hand, definitely not a hand. An object of some sort. What was it?

"Open your eyes."

She did just that. And she couldn't suppress the sound of surprise she made when she saw what was on the palm of her hand. A small box, which probably held some kind of jewelry, was on her hand, a little ribbon wrapped around it and turned to a bow on top. She knew why he was giving it to her, she told him about it last year. She just didn't expect him to actually give her something. She told him many times that her fans and directors give her too many gifts already, he may just get her something she already had.

That didn't seem to stop him.

"You shouldn't have…" She was smiling, bad thoughts about herself forgotten. "You're too sweet."

He really was the best kind of friend to have.

"Happy Birthday, Uwabami. Congrats on making it this far." He put his glass up, a gesture given. "Cheers."

"Cheers!" She hadn't smiled this wide in a while, happy to be alive. She raised her drink and their glasses collided. Toast, to the two.

Honestly, she was really lucky to have met him.

Amamiya Ren friend was the best thing to happen to her life, and nothing would change that. Be it a fight, a war, or even the apocalypse, Uwabami would always consider him her friend. Absolutely nothing could changer her mind.

She owed him that much at least.

[?]

The store was closed, yet it acted as a home for him. To the back of the restaurant led some stairs which ultimately led to a large open space.

Exactly the same to the original.

Was he chasing phantoms, was he stuck in the past, or was it a way to cope? Either way, this was his home, a decision he made.

Just not the one he wanted.

It was early in the evening, yet the sun was already down. He left his residence and took the train to a more commercial district. Night had taken over, yet the city would still be alive. People would still line the streets, shops would still be open, the city would never sleep.

Neither did the those who would wrong others, take advantage of the night to do so. Guess it was time— time to don the mask once more, just like all the other times he's been here.

He could use a patrol. He hadn't done one in a while since the store opening.

Time for the show to begin.