A/N: So it seems this story would reach 11 chapters + epilogue. Happy reading!

Kohime & Barnaby

Chapter 10: For Kohime & For Barnaby

Ivan Karelin, the Origami Cyclone, was unexpectedly observant. Because of this he noticed that Wild Tiger was actually a woman and—lately—how Barnaby tried so hard to make her notice that he loved her.

"What do you think, Origami-kun?" Nathan asked from his seat beside him. Both of them were watching Barnaby's another attempt to invite Tiger to a casual dinner at Sunday.

"I think…" Ivan paused for a moment to find a less hurtful word, "Barnaby-san is not bold enough…" he said finally.

Nathan snorted. "Bold enough or not, I'm starting to think that Tiger-san is worse than a clueless man in terms of love. Barnaby-kun will need to do something extreme."

Ivan agreed with that. At first he thought that Tiger was trying to ignore Barnaby's advances, but it became clear that she was just too clueless. She thought that Barnaby was finally acting like a partner was supposed to be and Barnaby was too inexperienced to see that. Ivan considered telling him, but didn't because he didn't want to meddle.

"What are you two talking about?" Keith asked, suddenly appearing between the two of them, scaring them to death.

"WAAAA!" Ivan and Nathan squealed at the same time and reflexively hugged each other.

Keith laughed at that. "Sorry, and sorry again. So what are you two talking about?"

"Uuuhh…" Ivan was not sure if Keith should be told. His eyes were reflexively directed to Nathan, who was eyeing Kohime and Barnaby. Keith quickly caught the hint.

"Oh, so you guys are talking about our tigress!" he said cheerily and four eyes immediately snapped to him.

"How do you know?" Nathan asked. Out of all people, he had suspected that Keith would be the last person to realize that Kotetsu was actually a woman.

"I accidentally saw her when I entered the gym changing room while she was chang—mmmmppphhhhhhhh!" Keith's voice was muffled by Ivan and Nathan's hand, who were now frantically looking at Barnaby to see if the blond man had heard that. It was no secret that Barnaby was easy to be jealous. Keith didn't need to receive more Barnaby's Omnious Mentally Hazardous Glare™ especially when he was still unaware that Barnaby didn't like him because he had walked in the park together with Kohime.

Fortunately Barnaby was too far away to hear Keith so they let him go.

"What was that for?" Keith asked curiously.

Ivan and Nathan nodded to each other before telling Keith about the thing that was going on between Barnaby and Kohime. When they were finished, Keith was in deep thought. It was a rare sight to see (outside their missions) so Ivan and Nathan waited until he finished thinking.

"I think and I think again, Barnaby should asked her for a date," the King of Heroes finally said.

"Yes, that's what I've thought—wait, what did you just say?" Nathan asked, unbelieving his ears for what Keith had said so easily.

"If I were in love with someone, I'd bring flowers and then ask her for a date!" Keith said excitedly, perfectly unaware that in several days, he'd find himself in trouble to do just that.

Ivan frowned, considering the idea. "But even if Barnaby-san wanted to, will they have the time to do that? I mean, we Heroes have to stand-by for 24 hours and Tiger-san went back home every Sunday…"

"I think you can leave that to me."

The three Heroes froze when they heard the unmistakable voice of their director. They turned and saw Agnes standing behind them, eyes glinting like she was planning to get her 100% rating. That guess might not be far off the mark.

"Origami Cyclone," Agnes called.

Ivan immediately tensed. "Yes Mam?"

"Go and touch Tiger. I want you to transform into her."

"Uhh…Yes?" Ivan said, half confirming. He wanted to ask, but he figured that Agnes didn't want to be questioned and did as ordered. The youngest male snuck behind Kohime and touched her very lightly so she wouldn't realize but enough for him to transform. Barnaby didn't notice him since the blond was currently looking for something in his cellphone.

Ivan immediately went back to Agnes and the others, who were now standing where they wouldn't be seen by Tiger and Barnaby.

"Ms. Agnes, if I may, what's this for?" Ivan asked.

"You're going to help me choose clothes for Tiger to wear for the date."

"Oh…" Ivan said, before his eyes widened when he realized what that meant. "No…"

He never tried stripping when he transformed, but he knew it was possible. So was Agnes. This meant he was going to see Tiger's nude body and if Barnaby found out…

I'd be dead.

"That's incredible! Let me help!" Nathan said excitedly. Agnes happily agreed.

"I-I can't! This is a breach of privacy!" Ivan said, instinctively covering his—err—her chest. She even sounded like the Tiger's female voice.

"If you don't do as said, I'll cut your air time," Agnes said with a sharp glare.

"But…"

"Origami-kun, I know you are not heartless. Please help Handsome-kun chasing his love!" Nathan said with the most heart wrenching female voice she could muster.

Ivan looked to Keith, giving the Hero his best 'Help me' look. It was a look that could rival Puppy John's and he expected Keith wouldn't be able to refuse to help him.

But he was wrong.

"Origami-kun, a Hero must help those in trouble, no matter how hard it is. This is a thing that only you can do. I know you can do it!" Keith said with his most encouraging voice, obviously thinking that Ivan was just not confident to do the task at hand..

Ivan really wanted to cry. "Sky High-san, not you too…"

"Let's not waste time then! Saturday is only less than two days from now!" Agnes said as she grabbed Ivan's arm and started to pull him with a force that could rival Tiger's & Barnaby's hundred power. Nathan mimicked her and started to talk about what they'd need.

"Yes, we have so many things to buy. Dresses, accessories, shoes…do we also need to choose the underwear?"

"Of course! Tiger MUST be perfect for our boy star's first date!"

Ivan struggled so hard. But he was no match to the excited ladies. He could only scream in terror as they dragged him away.

"NOOOOOOOOO!"

Saturday 9.00 A.M

"Good morning, Sternbild! Today we're going to have a special LIVE episode of HERO TV: A Date with Barnaby!"

"Eeeh! Barnaby is going to date someone?" Kaede exclaimed and stood up so quickly, knocking the chair in the process. At the same time, Sternbild was shaken with multiple screams as thousands of girls reacted the same way as Kaede.

"Calm down, Kaede-chan," Kohime's mother chided, but it fell to deaf ears. HERO TV had Kaede's complete attention.

"Today our favorite Hero, Barnaby Brooks Jr., would date one of the ladies he had rescued in the past!"

Kaede suddenly got excited. She had been saved by Barnaby! Did it mean that she had the chance?

Her reaction was a contrast from uncle, who suddenly got this bad, bad feeling.

"Without further ado, let's introduce the lucky lady! There she is; Kaburagi Kohime, the first person Barnaby had rescued!" as the announcer said that, Kohime appeared, smiling sheepishly and goofily.

"EEEEEEEHHHH! MOM? HOW? That's so UNFAIR! YOU TRAITOR!"

Muramasa's reaction was a stark contrast to his niece. The man set his rice bowl down very slowly, as if trying not to break it, then took his cellphone out of his pocket and dialed his sister's number.

At her broadcasting van, Agnes took a look at Kohime's ringing phone and decline the call. After that she turned off the cellphone. Those actions earned a stare from her assistants.

"No phone calls at work," she said before barking orders like usual.

The same thought ran inside her assistant's heads: Isn't this supposed to be a date?

Back at Kaburagi residence, Muramasa was this close from decapitating his phone. Luckily for the phone, his focus of rage switched to his own van when it refused to just start up.

It would be a while before Muramasa could reach Sternbild, but a while was all it took for Barnaby to confess his feelings.

At least, that was what Agnes thought.

Omake:

"By the way, producer, are you sure this is a good idea? If Barnaby ended up with Tiger, won't he lose his female fans?" Cain, the afro hair director asked.

"They will wept for a while, of course. But after that, the ratings will go up."

"Why?"

"Because girls love drama. They'd jump for any juicy gossips so they can talk about it."

"…"

And once again, Cain had to admit his inability to understand female's logic.