.

.

.


Heroic Daze


"..."

"..."

"...You bribed my uncle didn't you." Ayaka is completely confident in her blunt statement.

Genos didn't answer, but gave Ayaka a short glance as he makes their breakfast, indicating he heard it.

If Saitama could hear from living room, he's not giving any answers either.

Ayaka's eyes narrowed at the back of her uncle's head.

'Is he sweating? In an air-conditioned room?'

Shrugging it off, Ayaka went to get milk from the fridge before she sat down near the table.

Genos moving in wasn't hard to find out. If a really large bag trapped between the doorway isn't enough clue then it would be that Genos is already in their house first thing in the morning.

Genos never stayed overnight afterall, and Ayaka is always the ones who opens the door during mornings for Genos.

Briefly, Ayaka thinks about the impossibility of her uncle being able to teach Genos complicated techniques or battle-related theories.

She doesn't really think her uncle has any complicated moves.. He just..fights.

Yeah, it's pretty weird to see someone being able to beat opponents without breaking a sweat.

Like really surreal.

But Ayaka simply accepts that, because she'd rather not short-circuit her brain from dissecting miracles.


Heroic Daze


"Have you heard? There's a guy around town with a really creepy face on wearing a strange yellow costume. He's running really fast."

Ayaka tried to push away that dead, hollow, and blank look she made at the memory of seeing her uncle running throughout the town, not even noticing her as her mind screamed at her unintelligible things.

It was explained by Genos last night but.. really, that expression he wore still burns in her mind.

She tried to calmly sip her drink, listening in to the strangers gossiping inside the Dark Shop. (It's more like a Dark Cafe at this point really.)

The usual dim orange lighting from the shop seemed to brighter, but it only served to make the shop more creepier, with the dark wooden-looking interior of the shop complementing that.

"I heard he's the one who kicked Sonic's balls! Literally."

Ayaka choked on her drink.

What.

"So he's crazy strong?"

"Pfft, I got fresh news for you guys then. Apparently the guy even got Sonic arrested!"

What.

Ayaka's coughs got spurred on, this time it was because she's giving supressed, choked laughs.

"Ei-sama."

Ayaka straightened up, looking at Gale with a neutral expression. The only hints of her previous humour were the strange twinkles in her eyes, almost like her purple ayes would glow like amethyst gems any moment.

Gale would only call her that on extremely official businesses

The server stood by Ayaka's booth with poise, before Toshi seemed to sigh and moved to Ayaka's side of the table. Gale sat down across them in one fluid motion.

"We have a mission for you."

Ayaka's lips pursed for a moment, perplexed.

"I'll refuse if I have to mass murder or something. I'm refraining from that and I'm currently on a..tight.. surveillance. I'm also pretty limited right now." Her main concern about that is Genos, who's a rather really perceptive cyborg.

Gale smiled, 'reassuringly'. As reassuring as a fox-faced man can be when smiling that is.

"It merely involves infiltration and information gathering. ..mostly anyway. But we want you to disable someone too."

"Hmm.." Ayaka started tapping on the table, with the other hand petting Toshi, who's perked up and alert. He seems to be really interested.

Ayaka's pretty sure that's because he wanted to beat up some guys once again. Morning exercises weren't really cutting that thirst of action he's into. Toshi's even been disappearing lately, no doubt already on the hunt for small fries.. but Ayaka doesn't think that's enough too.

Maybe they need this.

A time to get in action again. Just the two of them.

Ayaka's mind raced, already coming up with various plots and personas, along with backgrounds and disguises.

But...

"What do I get?"

Gale's smile stretched even more, this time looking pleased.

"Should you both accomplish it with satisfactory results.." Gale stood up, already on the side of the booth again, he bowed.

"We'll owe you a favor... within reason of course, but a favor nonetheless."


Heroic Daze


A favor. From the DS to boot. Whatever information they need to gather must be something important. And that involved needing some harmless looking person for the job.

Or do they just need someone mobile and small?

Whatever it is, if Ayaka completes that job, they'll owe her a favor. Something she can take any time. Whether it was information or equipments.

Ayaka doesn't have any use for that right now but it'll sure come handy when they need it.

It definitely looks more and more appealing the more she thought about that.

She looked around the city.

It's getting really dangerous around this place.

A huge meteor just about barely hit them, one with a possibility of wiping out the whole city and kill every being in it.

Her uncle managed to stop that. He leapt up from almost the bottom of the C-class to top five pretty quick from that. Genos moved up to by one, and also some S-class guy.

"..Is it just me or does the humans around here seem like dense idiots?" Ayaka turned to Toshi, pouting. "Saitama-nii's so amazing he should have been moved around S-class!"

Toshi gave a bark in agreement, wagging his tail.

"Righ-"

Ayaka stopped dead in her tracks, suddenly hearing an angry crowd.

There was quite a fuss that he couldn't possibly ignore.

Toshi growled, calming only slightly when Ayaka placed a hand on his head.

Give what up?

The pair ran closer, Ayaka's eyes widening when she saw it was her uncle in the middle of all the angry chanting of the people.

They were blaming him, for the meteor.

For saving their lives?

Ayaka's fists clenched, and she felt a hot, raging fury the moment she saw the two culprits who started it all.

Yes she saw the destruction from the meteor separating itself to smaller pieces and hitting the town.

BUT WOULD THEY WOULD PREFER BEING DEAD OVER THIS?

She wanted to beat them up.

She wants to shout at these stupid, selfish people.

Ayaka was about to just about that, and more- when Toshi blocked her way, putting a paw on top of her foot. His eyes held an emotion of something strong.

It felt as if cold water was washed over her.

It would have been so easy, just a light choke around their necks.. or maybe slice wounds around their body with poisoned blades..

But there's no point in that.

Her uncle, as far as she's concerned, is strong. Stronger than her, stronger than anyone. Physically and mentally.

He doesn't really need any protecting, Ayaka acknowledged that. She wants to interfere, badly. But she...

She trusts him.

Ayaka bites down on her lips, edgy. She stayed in the shadows, hugging Toshi for comfort as she watches the event unfold.

At the moment, she feels so useless.

Stupid.. mob mentality. Stupid people. They-

"Why would I give a crap about your problems?! Tell that to the meteor idiots!"

She jolted, surprised. Fondness filled her as she looks at her uncle. He's unnafected by the crowd and unafraid to speak up.

"I do it because I want to! So if you wanna blame me, go ahead! You baldies!"

"..You're the baldy here"

"WHAT'D YOU SAY?!"

...

Ayaka laughed, burrowing her face onto Toshi's fur.

..Really, what a cool guy.

Even if everyone hates her uncle.. Ayaka will always..

Ayaka will always want to stand by his side.

She's currently powerless in her current state. Out of shape. She wouldn't even stand a chance against A-rank heroes or any monsters around Dragon level threats.

Like putty before them.

Ayaka clenched her hands.

Being too young isn't an excuse.

She'll raise her expectations up high, and she will match up to them.

And this time, it's her own choice to get stronger.


End of Chapter 9


AN: As of now the story currently has 142 favorites and 201 followers. READERS. I LOVE YOU ALL. I want to thank you all for reading and supporting my story until it made it this far. I seriously wouldn't be able to do this without you. Cheesy as this is you guys are the reason I even wrote this far. Thank you so much, you all are wonderful! ;w;/

Stay awesome! Ciao!