How can he sleep like that? Miyu tilted her head, staring down at her friend. She was planning to go out to practice her jumps and try to get in some training on her own, but had to stop in her tracks when she saw the way Garou was sleeping.

It started to rain just as they got to the hotel and she knew he was probably sleeping on the street so she had insisted on him staying until the storm ended. Unfortunately, or fortunately in his case, it seemed to last forever so he just slept in the hotel room after she patched up his wounds. Curled up in one of the chairs like a contortionist with a spare blanket Miyu had asked for at the front desk.

He really looks like his spine is kind of…broken? She stepped back quickly when he half-opened an eye. Is he awake or-?

"What're you doing?" He yawned and pulled the blanket around him tighter.

"I'm going for a run," she explained. Seeing him start to get up, she shook her head. "No, it's okay. I can go on my own. Er…well, you kind of seem like you need the rest so…" Miyu rubbed the back of her neck and turned her head to the side.

"Nn? Okay. If that's what you want." Garou moved a little, curling up on his other side in the chair, and closed his eyes. "If I'm still asleep when you get back, wake me up, got it? And try to stay outta trouble."

A half-smile tugged at her lips and she nodded. "I'll get some breakfast on my way back."

Miyu set off to try to find somewhere private to try her jumps. What she really wanted to test today was whether she needed a running start to be able to super jump. It would be a lot more impressive for her test if she could manage to just abruptly jump super high instead of having to explain she needed to gain up momentum first.

Where can I practice, though? It's pretty crowded around here and I don't really want people staring at me. It would be different if I was already a hero. Miyu walked with her head down, absently playing with a strand of her hair as she tried to think of a good spot.

The warehouse would be an okay location, but then she worried about someone spotting her since it was so close to the shopping district. What would be really embarrassing is if her coworkers or boss saw her try to jump and end up falling on her face. The attention they gave her was already enough to make her get flustered.

She paused at a crosswalk, keeping her head down to hide her left eye. When I go back to work, I should probably get a patch, she decided. I know it looks pretty bad. If a customer sees it, they might think there's something wrong with me and…Miyu's mouth fell to a frown and she sighed to herself. Is there something wrong with me? There has to be. Right? It's not normal for someone's eye to turn red and suddenly they have this kind of leg strength.

A shiver ran down her spine and Miyu cautiously lifted her head. Goose bumps rose on her skin and she got an electric sort of feeling. The vision on her left started to distort as a reddish tint fell over everything. Her gut twisted and she felt all of her muscles tense.

I'm being watched. But why? This sudden feeling…it's like I want to start running. But why, though? Is it a monster? Her nose twitched and she crossed the street with the rest of the crowd of pedestrians, being on high alert. The feeling persisted and when her instincts screamed at her, she went with it.

Miyu dodged to the left and turned sharply to find Sonic reaching out a hand toward her. The girl's face started to rapidly take on a pink tint and she covered her mouth. Bowing, she blurted out, "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to startle you!"

He blinked in surprise and looked down at his outstretched arm before drawing back. "That was impressive. You have sharp reflexes."

"I'm sorry," she repeated. The warmth of a blush spread across her face to her ears and she started messing with one of her ponytails. He doesn't have a crush on me. Why would he? He…barely knows me. But I still feel nervous. Miyu glanced toward him briefly before looking away again.

"You don't need to apologize. I was just surprised." He flashed her a half-grin as he began walking next to her. "I thought that I was being stealthy. Normally, it's not a problem. If I sneak up on someone, they can't tell I'm there until I want them to know. You don't mind if I walk with you, right?"

"Oh! Where are you going?" She decided to try to push past the awkwardness of the situation and hope that she could stop blushing before he pointed it out.

The young man shrugged. "Nowhere, really. I just wanted to look for some entertainment. I was awake, I was bored. So I thought I might as well go outside."

"Do you live around here?"

He tensed for a moment and then sighed, looking away as he rubbed at the back of his neck. A very faint hint of pink spread across his cheeks. "I live in a little rental room. I don't need much so it works out. Not to mention the perks. It's close to everything I want and gives me a great view."

"That sounds really nice! Which building are you in?" Miyu thought it was a pretty innocent question since he knew where she lived.

Sonic paused and leaned down, taking her chin in his hand and bringing his face a few inches from hers. "Your eye is still red? Did you try eye drops?"

She turned red when she realized her gaze was focused on his lips and she shifted her eyes to the side. "I did. It didn't change anything."

Shift P.O.V

That boy didn't leave the hotel room last night. So what exactly happened? You don't seem like the kind of girl that would do something like that. Sonic wanted to sigh in frustration, but instead he leaned closer. Pausing for a second with his lips so close to hers that he would just need to lean in another inch to feel them.

Drawing back, he saw how red her cheeks were turning and he gave her a small smile instead of his natural grin. She looked so cute when she blushed. He wanted to get closer, but he still maintained a little distance to remain professional. Even though he had managed some insane mental gymnastics to justify to himself just earlier that morning that there were ways he could get close to her without breaking his professional contract as her bodyguard.

"So where are you going? I thought that the udon shop was still closed."

"I'm trying to find somewhere to train."

"You're training today?" Sonic immediately felt his pulse skip when she gave him a curious look and he forgot whether she had ever mentioned her hero aspirations to him before. "Udon training?" he tried to joke.

A smile bloomed on Miyu's lips and she quickly lifted a hand to smother a laugh. "No. It's kind of complicated. I'm not sure if I said it before, but…I'm training to take the test for the Hero Association."

He feigned surprise and let her continue to explain about the physical test and the written test. Of course, he knew all about it. Watching her pretty much all day, every day, he knew more about her than her friend. Probably more than her own family. It was because he knew her so well that he fell for her so hard.

Honestly, it was becoming a little bit of a struggle for him. With each day, his desire to get closer grew stronger. He wanted to walk with her and spend time with her the way that pale-haired punk did. Right now, hanging out with Miyu and listening to the excited tone of her voice as she talked about becoming a hero, was the highlight of his week.

Sonic separated from her after around fifteen minutes with the excuse that he was going to get groceries. Putting distance between them, he watched her intently. She was able to sense me earlier, he thought as his heart pounded. I wasn't trying to hide myself as well as I usually do because I was trying to be casual, but I was still being careful so I could surprise her. I wonder what else that red eye can give her.

Following her, he felt his pulse speed up a little as she entered the ghost town of City Z. On one hand, this could be perfect. It was basically deserted so she could train without worrying about someone bothering her, but at the same time she was likely to come across at least one monster. Hopefully something she could handle on her own. The ninja would, of course, be ready to leap in and defend her if it came to it.

He was still bothered by what happened the previous night. Sonic had attempted, multiple times, to injure her friend badly enough to keep him from following her. The teenager managed to dodge so that he took only minimal damage while still fixating on Miyu. The wounds he did get seemed to not bother him.

I like a challenge, but I'll only put up with this for so long. His mouth drew into a pretty unprofessional grin. If he gets any closer to her, I might have to get involved. After all, he might be a threat. I'm sure her father would think he was a threat. Sonic's grin spread even further.

If he could talk, he would probably agree with me. Maybe I should have waited to take out his tongue after he answered some questions. I want to know why Miyu's eye turned red. I know that he has to know something about this. I guess he can still answer me in writing…as long as he has his hands.

Shift P.O.V

Miyu listened to the echo of her footsteps along the empty streets of the ghost town, trying her best to walk quieter. Excitement ran through her veins like electricity as she tried to pick up the sounds of a monster. Not that she was hoping to come across one, exactly. It would just give her an opportunity to practice with her newfound abilities.

Okay. I'll start small, she decided. Turning her attention to a short building, Miyu curled her hands into fists and made her way over to it. Staring up at the roof, she felt her stomach churn with nervousness. It's going to be okay! It isn't very high. And even if I can't reach the roof, it's not like I'll fall very far.

Miyu rubbed at her left eye as she got close and blinked in alarm. It was like a red, sheer curtain was falling over the world just on her left. The muscles in her legs twitched a bit as she shook her head. I can do this. I can do this! Alright! Let's do this!

She crouched down and her legs forced her back up. The girl was sent into the air and touched down on the edge of the roof with a quiet grunt. Amazed, she turned to look over her shoulder with wide eyes. I did it? I did it! Okay, so a one-story building isn't a problem. How high can I-?

"You. Master Saitama called you "Miyu" before. I'm sure of it. Miyu. Why are you in the ghost town?" The voice came from above her on a higher rooftop.

The girl looked up and found Genos on the edge of the next roof. Clothes tattered with some holes in them from a recent fight. She frowned and adjusted her ponytails, trying not to let him see how startled she was. "I'm training."

"You are training in the ghost town alone or were you planning to try to grovel to my master to train you? Master Saitama is busy and he does not have time to waste on training an udon shop employee how to-"

"I'm training alone," she interrupted. Miyu held his gaze; not backing down. She remembered how he had treated her before and she wanted to prove him wrong about her. She wanted to show him that she was strong and capable of becoming a hero, too.

"I see." Genos leapt down and stood with his arms crossed as he scrutinized the pink-haired girl. "Your vertical leap is above average. I would say that the height of this building is at least fourteen feet. You cleared the height of this building without issue, but you struggled in your fight against the salamander monster. Have you been hiding your abilities to garner sympathy from my master?"

Fourteen feet? Really? She looked down to the ground again before walking toward Genos. "I wasn't able to jump this high at that point," she argued. "And…when Saitama-san turned me down, I didn't push him. I didn't try to bribe him with rent money or…force my way into his apartment."

His eyes narrowed and the cyborg's hands settled on his hips in the sassiest pose that Miyu had ever seen a guy make. "I am serious about becoming stronger and my persistence is what persuaded Master Saitama to take me on as his student," he argued. "I have been searching for the rampaging cyborg that destroyed my home for the past four years and working stronger for the day that I find him to avenge my family. Master Saitama's guidance is going to help me reach this previously unattainable goal. He is too busy training me to act as your teacher as well. I don't care what your backstory is. Master Saitama is firm in his decision and his will is unshakable."

Miyu stared up at him and abruptly became aware of the fact that Genos was standing absurdly close to her. Blinking up at the hero, she tilted her head slightly. This reminds me of something from high school. When two girls were arguing over one of the popular boys. Before she could stop herself, she blurted out, "I'm not going to fight you for Saitama-san!"

"Uh…what? Were you fighting over me?" The bland voice came from the side and made the two teenagers turn to find Saitama standing on the edge of the roof. He scratched at his cheek a little, looking almost awkward. "Sorry, Genos. I'm not into dudes. And, Miyu, you're kinda young for me." He gave them both a thumbs up and a dopey smile. "But there are plenty of fish in the sea, you guys."