Hey everybody, Happy New Year's and hope you enjoy this new beginning *wink,wink ~

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Holy fuck, what did I just do. She thought to herself while trying to come to terms with what would be happening in less than 3 hours' time. I mean I wanted this—like really, really wanted this, but… this is a lot. Too much? No, no... but also yes? No, no it's fine. Everything is FINE. We're going to have a nice dinner, talk this out, and I'll look cute and—wait, what am I even wearing? Shit. Nanami had planned to pack for every occasion, but a first date certainly wasn't one she had fathomed. Still reeling from the spontaneous confession, she'd awkwardly been avoiding Overha—no, Chisaki since they'd gotten back earlier and decided the best distraction would be finding something to wear. He thankfully had "business" to attend to for most of the day, but the weight of the current situation still loomed over her head I can't imagine what dress would be able to elegantly convey "Hey, I have a horrific past, but my tits look phenomenal. Date me pls?" but this is gonna have to work. Picking up her phone, she dialed a familiar number.

An hour or so later, a knock on the door roused her from her thoughts.

"It's about time you guys stop beating around the bush. Congrats." Kurono replied evenly, though his face was sincere as he handed her a box.

"Well hello to you too. And thanks, I guess? Still not sure how this is gonna work out anyway," she countered, laughing awkwardly, placing the box on a bench in the entrance way.

"How do you mean? You've acclimated better than most of our recruits. I doubt the way of life will become an issue now."

"No, it's not that it's just…" she pondered for a second before realizing she was talking to arguably the most fitting person to bounce Overhaul-related ideas off of. Besides, this is definitely not something that can be solved with just 2 minutes of small talk. "Can we talk?"

Sensing this wasn't just a casual request, he checked his watch and acquiesced. "Sure, I've got an extra 20 minutes or so."

"Thank you, I really appreciate it. Let's go… over here."

Even though Kurono was Chisaki's closest (and some would rightfully argue only) friend, the both of them knew it was probably unwise for him to enter his house without explicit permission. Still wanting to be hospitable, Nanami led him over to a corner of the courtyard with larger rocks that had been laid down for landscaping the garden he'd been planning recently. Ever since they'd visited with the boss at his home, Chisaki had taken a vested interest in improving his own courtyard, taking any passing recommendations Nanami gave. Kurono stopped for a moment upon seeing the transformation, the slightest smirk coming across his face.

"Sorry for taking up your time like this, I know you have better things to do than just shoot the shit with me. He's been on a gardening kick of all things for a week now so I'm just trying to find a spot to sit… Aha! One sec." Finding a suitable spot, Nanami used some of the rocks to create makeshift stools for them to sit as Kurono pulled out a thermos. "Ugh, you're the best."

"Don't mention it, I've missed our tea times this past week and most of the guys aren't particularly inclined to do casual, civilized breaks during the workday." He explained, taking cups off the top of the thermos to pour, handing her hers before continuing. "So, what did you want to 'shoot the shit about'?"

Her slight smile dropped a bit as she tried to figure out how to word her current predicament without giving the actual secret away. It wasn't as though she hadn't grown to trust Kurono, but this particular secret was something she'd hope to only repeat once and never again. "Kurono you… you've dated right?"

"This line of work doesn't usually allow for time to socialize and maintain a romantic relationship like you'd normally get, but yes, I've had partners before."

"You'd consider your work a pretty big, and probably not-so-positive secret, right?"

"Sure."

"So, how do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Tell them the secret," she clarified, already a bit frustrated that she needed help with the issue in the first place.

"Well, usually I don't. As I said, it's pretty difficult to maintain a relationship to begin with, and to add, most people aren't worth the trouble."

"Oh. I see." Her head hung a twinge lower, doubt now seeping in.

Noticing, he continued, "However, I'd say we aren't in the same position."

"How so?"

"I've had partners and kept my secret to myself, but the difference is, I've never had someone who made me want to be honest with them."

"That's terrible." She deadpanned, judging him a bit at this point.

"I think you misunderstand; I've never felt like I wanted to be in that way. I have yet to meet the person who'd make me consider putting myself on the line simply to be closer to them. The fact that you're even talking about the possibility of revealing your secret to him is significant to me. If I were you, I'd remember why you're even considering telling him in the first place and trust that feeling."

"but… what if it's too much?"

"For him, I can't imagine what could possibly be considered 'too much.' We've all got our pasts. You'll have to ask him yourself and let him decide if he wants to tell you what his is, but as for you… just know I wish I could meet someone who'd make me question lowering my guard the way you are now. He's not particularly adept when it comes to displaying emotion, but I can tell you he is grateful."

Fiddling with the cup, Nanami considered his words carefully, noting the bittersweet tone of his voice. Having already let the cat out of the proverbial bag, she knew the point of no return had long-been passed, but having felt alone in this for so long, the reassurance was invaluable. Steeling herself and her resolve, the fear was pushed aside by gratitude. Even if I'm rejected after this, at least I was given the opportunity to be honest and maybe even aton—no. There's none of that for me, not in this life anyway. But at least there's hope.

Rising from her seat, she handed her now-empty cup back to Kurono, "Well, I guess I'll have to test that theory." Thoughshe earned a groan from Kurono who'd been subjected to far too many of her corny jokes, the decision had been solidified in her mind. We'll be visiting room 1403 tonight.

Opening the box, Nanami carefully took out the dress, inspecting it one last time before getting ready. Taking a deep breath, she pulled her shoulders back and lifted her head high, remembering that confidence was key, Past aside, I'm still a catch and I've gotta act like it to work. No more weird, awkward behavior beyond this point, Watanabe. She reaffirmed to herself before hearing the contamination silo go off and immediately bolting to the bathroom to turn on the shower, hiding like a nervous schoolgirl. Ok, well, we're still working on the confidence thing, she reluctantly admitted while taking a longer than usual shower. As the room was now filled with steam, a knock on the door came.

"As much as I appreciate how thorough you're probably being during this near-30-minute shower, the reservation is at 8 pm. I'll be waiting in the living room."

Realizing she'd been caught, Nanami finally got out and began her routine of getting dolled up, though admittedly it had been a while since she'd been on a date. Putting on light makeup and the new dress she struck a few less-than flattering poses, trying to make gauge how she'd look from any angle. Well, it's showtime. Smoothing out the dress and grabbing her purse she squared her shoulders in the mirror and sashayed out of the room as being on a literal runway seemed less nerve-wracking.

Exiting the room, she rounded the corner down the hallway to see him checking his watch. She'd might even say he seemed antsy, but it was only because she'd grown to notice his very subtle ticks. To any outside observer he appeared to be the poster boy for 'calm, cool and collected' as he stood at the entrance of the living room in an all-black suit. He'd chosen to forgo a tie, opting instead for a look more akin to what he wore the night they bumped into each other at the bar. An understated gold chain caught the light as it dipped into the valley of his collarbone, resting above the lean muscle of his chest. Her eyes tried to go further but were sadly interrupted by the fastened third button of his shirt. Nanami carefully considered how upset he might be if she decided to rip all of those pesky buttons off at once, but decided to just focus on dinner first, appreciating how well he was wearing the suit.

Knowing she'd have plenty of time to properly gawk later, she decided to get his attention so they could leave. "Ready to go, sport!" What the fuck Nanami.

His brow furrowed and she could tell he was going to rightfully judge her for the out-of-place Dad™ lingo but stopped short upon seeing her in full. She'd chosen to wear a rather form-fitting bustier dress with off-shoulder sleeves. It was similar in color to her hair, stopping just below the knee, accentuating her toned legs and, as Nanami would put it, absolutely snatched waist. Her hair was swept to the side as it cascaded over her defined shoulders, framing her face. She was certain his jaw had slackened behind the mask as he unabashedly took her in, stepping closer without thinking. Shifting her weight nervously, he leisurely brought his eyes back up to hers making a couple inappropriate pit stops on his way up, "You certainly are." He finally let out with a content sigh, his voice a bit huskier than usual, sending shivers up her spine. Continuing to take her in, he noticed she had worn matching gloves, undoubtedly for his comfort, "… I appreciate your outfit. Or rather your choice of accessory—not to say that the rest of your ensemble isn't thoroughly appreciated." Realizing he was borderline babbling, he recomposed himself a bit he cleared his throat, motioning for her to go ahead of him towards the door, Nanami's ego being thoroughly stroked at seeing him a bit flustered, noticing his head tilt ever-so slightly as she walked by.

They stepped into the car out in front, Chisaki smoothly opening her door for her before taking his spot in the driver's seat, having fully recovered from the brief lapse in his cool façade.

"So, where to? I thought I still had another three days of isolation left," she asked, her voice coming out a bit more shakily than she would've liked.

"Don't worry, I figured something out. I know how much you've enjoyed being alone these past couple weeks," He noted sarcastically before peeling off.

"Well, you were there with me, so it pretty tolerable all things considered." She responded plainly without thinking, almost immediately regretting it.

"Oh?"

"Tell a guy you like him once and it goes straight to their heads…"

"So, you like me now?"

"You know what, I'm just going to stop talking..."

"For someone who talks so much, you certainly use that threat often."

"Nope. This time I mean it. You'll finally be free of my running monologue." She explained in a pout with her arms now folded across her chest, "Besides, hearing people speak in general seems to annoy the living hell out of you anyway."

"Definitely, but with you it's 'pretty tolerable, all things considered'." He intoned, glancing to gauge her reaction from his periphery. Satisfied with seeing her now-flushed face as she focused her gaze forward, they sped off, up into the mountains.

With the compound being closer to the nature surrounding the city, they arrived at their destination in short time. Parking, Nanami was pleasantly surprised to find themselves in front of one of her favorite restaurants. Though she'd usually treat herself every blue moon with a decadent dinner, she was so busy with work and the lab in the past couple months that she hadn't found the time to go. Besides their exquisite fare, they had something else she was certain had caught his interest: a discerning, yet interesting collection of matcha and matcha-inspired dishes.

"This is perfect, Chisaki." She beamed as he took a mental picture, secretly hoping to have enough for a collage someday.

"Of course, I figured you would enjoy a place like this. Let me know if anything isn't to your liking."

"Though I know you probably tailed me for this kind of intel, this is my favorite place. I highly doubt anything won't be to my supreme liking…including the company," she spoke the last part with a tone of sweetness he hadn't been treated to before, causing an almost indiscernible shade of pink to rise up behind his mask earning a giggle from his passenger.

Exiting the car, Nanami noticed a marked lack of other vehicles. It was supremely odd as the place was a household name in the city and on a Saturday, it was always, without fail, packed. The confusion was quickly resolved as they passed the foyer and entered the dining room, finding all the tables empty except for one that was set for two. "I thought you said we had a reservation at 8pm," she quipped, a bit peeved, remembering how he had rushed her like they'd lose their spot.

"We do have a reservation; I didn't say anyone else had them though."

"Show off."

"Always."

Rolling her eyes, she couldn't help the smirk that came across her face. Though Nanami could be classified as a hopeless romantic, she always imagined scenes like this to be supremely cheesy. However, being on the receiving end of such a gesture left her reevaluating her stance. Chisaki could rightfully be perceived as cold and uncaring, but moments like this reminded her of why she'd found herself falli—nope. This is just a first date. None of that falling business yet. He still doesn't even know about… we'll get to that. For now, you're on a wonderful date with a guy you've been crushing on for almost a year. Let's just enjoy it… while it lasts.

The night carried on effortlessly; the initial jitters brought on by their shift in relationship washed away by their easy back-and-forth. Though they'd often lapse and embarrass themselves by flirting, finding themselves scooting closer together without thinking. Nanami tested the waters, letting their thighs brush up against each other, discovering he seemed to enjoy the proximity. Though the butterflies endured, it felt nearly as comfortable as before now that one of the elephants in the room had been addressed. Now focused on the menu, she considered her choice carefully before deciding, sure that he would be waiting on her. Looking over she saw his brow furrowed as his eyes hopelessly bounced between two options, obviously agonizing over the decision.

"Miso Green Tea and Ginger Zucchini Noodle Soup."

"A touch late to be creating our own code language."

"Ha ha. I meant that's the better one of the two.

"I can make my own decisions, thank you."

"Fine then. Didn't know you'd like eating messy finger foods over the neat, aromatic mélange, but what do I know?" She quipped, sipping her wine, though she maintained a pointed look in his direction as she drank.

Narrowing his gaze in annoyance, he waved down the waiter, "We'll take the miso green tea and ginger zucchini noodle soup and the matcha gnocchi with ginger, please."

"Yes, sir. We'll have that out shortly." The waiter replied evenly before disappearing.

Reappearing soon after with the respective dishes and leaving them to eat, they both said thank you for the food and began eating after their sanitation routine. One of the reasons Nanami loved this place was the ambiance which was helped by their great taste in music. A particularly groovy song came on just as she was in the thick of enjoying her meal and a natural impulse took over her.

"… What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"That little… wiggling you're doing in your seat. Why is it happening?"

Her eyes squinted in confusion for a second before realizing she'd been caught, "Nothing."

"It's obviously not if you're trying to hide it."

"Like I said, nothing to hide because it's nothing."

"Hm. I suppose 'the whole honesty thing' isn't as important to you as you made it seem."

"… you're the worst."

"I certainly hope so, or else business would be terrible. So, explain the wiggling."

She indignantly answered, "I… It wasn't wiggling. It was a 'happy dance'."

"A happy what?"

"You know, a happy dance. It just happens out of habit and by the time I realize it I've usually embarrassed myself."

"That you have." He said teasingly, sipping his wine.

"Oh, so this is how you treat the people you go out with. You're supposed to make me feel better about this," she pouted.

"Is that an actual requirement to being your boyfriend or did you just make that up?" He said coolly though he was intently waiting to gauge her reaction to the obvious insinuation.

Chewing her bottom lip, she contemplated how to answer, "Nope. Firm requirement. You enjoy structure, you should be happy."

"I just might be." He responded a bit too sincerely as she felt her face warm. Determined not to lose this interaction, she rose, smoothing out her dress and adjusting her gloves. She stretched out her hand towards him, now more confident that he was comfortable with touching her hands, at least if he had been able to witness her sanitize them first.

"Perfect! Then you can start making up for it now. Dance with me."

"Absolutely not." She deflated a bit at his answer, just enough for him to notice. After studying her for a bit, he let out a tiresome sigh before carrying on, "I have never had a reason to dance. The responsibility will be on you to teach me if you want it to happen."

Face lighting up, she quickly bounced back," But of course! You'll be in good, germ-free hands."

Grasping her hand, he got up as she led them to an open spot in the room. Unsure of what to do, he waited anxiously for her to decide, the feeling of not being in complete control being foreign to him now. Just as he was about to complain, she began, gently raising their joined hands before glancing down at the other hand he kept at his side, "So, first we keep our hands held together like this to provide direction, then you… take your other hand and put it on my waist to help lead me."

Never one to miss the chance to get the upper hand in their never-ending game of cat-and-mouse, Chisaki swiftly entwined his hand around her waist, catching her off-guard, "And then?"

"Um… and then you start by taking a step forward and I'll take a step back. It's like stepping around in a box formation."

"I don't purport to be an expert in fun, but this does not sound like it."

"Well like you said, gotta leave that up to the experts, right? Lucky you, there's an expert in-residence right here. Now, let's begin."

Huffing at her relentless corniness, he obliged, earning an "ouch" here and there as he tried his best to develop a sense of musical rhythm on the spot. Alternatively, he earned a "yeah, just like that" when he'd make a correct step or get into the groove of things, finding he liked hearing her say that much more than he'd anticipated.

Falling into a steady pace, they swayed to the music gently playing in the background. As they both went to speak, her neck craned upwards and his downward, and a vacuum was seemingly created as a familiar moment came upon them. They seemed to recognize the mutual shift as their holds on each other became firmer, Nanami's lips parting slightly in anticipation as his hand slid upward, pulling her in closer though he made no moves to initiate the imminent. His hesitation was minute, but duly noted. Not wanting to push him too far too quickly, she slowly rose on her tippy toes to reach. As she was close enough to feel his soft breaths on her face, a knock came, snapping them out of the moment.

The waitstaff was out of sight for the majority of the night, only appearing when Chisaki put his mask back on and made a signal for them to come back, but they hadn't heard anything from them in some time and decided to check on them; a considerate albeit very ill-timed move in Nanami's opinion. He noticed her tense slightly when they entered the room and explained in the hopes of getting her to relax again, knowing what lied ahead at the end of the night would be anything but.

"The owner of this place is close friends with Pops. The people that work here are fully aware of the level of discretion that is expected of them," he noted before thanking one of the waitstaff who refilled their glasses, their sleeve raising ever-so-slightly to reveal the edge of a familiar tattoo. "Besides, they can't hear a word while we're in this room."

She tried to focus on his words, but her heart was still beating a mile a minute as she came down from yet another close call, noticing he was obviously irritated by the interruption too judging by the flushed hue persisting on his face. She meant what she said earlier that day; she wanted to get closer, to hear him rant about absolutely trivial irritations, to taste the foam when he got a bit too focused on their conversation and made it too thick, to feel his skin on hers… but that would come in time. Nanami knew when she started that this wouldn't be like her other relationships; predictable, linear, but that was ok. As much as she wanted to in her words, climb him like a tree, she knew it was ok. The moment he would decide to let his guard down would be worth it. I can wait. Reining herself in, she readjusted, responding as though nothing had happened, hoping he wouldn't feel pressured.

"Oh. Got it. I mean, not that I think you would do something like this without thinking it through, but it's still good to know."

"So, you trust me then?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

There was a heavy silence as he gave her a look that meant they'd reached that point in the night. It was time. He waited patiently as her face became pensive, a familiar, forlorn look in her eyes. "It… would be better to show you."

"Understood." He rose, helping her out of her seat as they exited the restaurant. Silently reentering the car, they both knew the time for light conversation was over.

"Take me to the hospital. What we need to discuss is there." She explained evenly though her gaze was fixed on that same, dark horizon as that fateful morning.

It was late when they arrived, as they entered the building and Nanami waved politely and said hello to various colleagues on the nightshift as they went. Her face immediately dropped after each interaction, the slivers of her good mood now a fading façade. He followed silently by her side as they arrived on the 14th floor. A familiar voice called to her as they exited the elevator.

"Dr. Watanabe, you're back! How was your trip?" Mrs. Ito inquired from the front desk.

"Oh, it was—is pretty great. I won't be back for real until next week, but I'll be sure to bring some souvenirs for the floor," she responded as sincerely as she could manage, throwing on a smile for good measure.

"I bet it is pretty great," she quipped, winking at an embarrassed Nanami as she glanced over to Chisaki before continuing, "but what are you here for on a Saturday night?"

"I just… wanted to check on them again. Make sure they're ok."

Mrs. Ito gave her a rather sad smile before nodding, "They've been just fine. You know, it's so wonderful you come to check on them. They did so much yet have no other visitors; I know they appreciate it."

"It's the least I can do." Nanami replied, with more candor than most.

They continued down the hall, Nanami knowing the path by heart. Overhaul undoubtedly had questions, but the air was so thick he wisely withheld them. Arriving at the door, he saw her shoulders rise and fall as she forced her lungs to fill with air, as she tried to steady her hand to open the lock. The door slowly creaked open, the hum sounds of various monitors and machines filling the otherwise silent room. In two beds sat next to each other, an older couple in their 50's laid in what appeared to be a deep slumber. As he took in the room, Nanami went about what looked like a long-solidified routine of checking their charts and conditions while she finally spoke, "These people were renowned scientists, you know. Some of the best quirk researchers of their generation, to be frank." She spoke matter-of-factly, giving their charts another once-over," Noa and Naomi Fukumoto. Ever heard of them?"

"Of course, I've referenced some of their studies before."

"Hm. Which ones?"

"There was an interesting one on regenerative quirks. Where other researchers stopped short, they somehow found a way; obtaining hard data such as regeneration times, efficacy, which quirks provide the most holistic version of regeneration. It was remarkable to find such comprehensive data sets."

"Do you know how they got it?"

"Volunte—"

"Captives." She turned to him, though she could only meet his gaze for a moment. She walked over to the side of the bed where he was standing, looking down at the old man with an indiscernible expression.

"I see. You were one of them."

"I was the worst of them." His eyes narrowed as he waited for her to clarify. Clearing her throat, she continued, "I was their daughter. After the accident with my childhood friend, they were angry—furious even. That is until they found a 'purpose' for me. Their research had been good, but I… I made it 'brilliant'." He had never heard the word brilliant spoken with such terror, as he stood captivated.

"Tell me more."

She reached down to move a hair from her father's face," You know, there's only so much that can be accomplished ethically; only so much one can do by following the rules. Take self-righteousness out of the equation and that's what makes heroes weakest, unfortunately, they play by the rules. My parents realized this not long after discovering the extent of overhaul. Before then my childhood was wonderful, we were a true family. They saw how I lit up when I could work in the lab with them, even if it was just helping clean up or unpacking supplies. They had taught me a lot about the sciences and research and before it was just pure fun… but then they found a real use for me.

It started out with small requests like 'make an incision here' or 'take a blood sample from an unruly test subject there', but then it escalated. The next thing I knew, day in and day out I would take people apart and put them back together again. Innocent people and children my age, sometimes younger."

"…Exactly how old were you when this first happened?"

"10." She said in a near-whisper before continuing, "They would get 'subjects' through their donor, trapping them in the real laboratory like animals, testing theories, drugs and any other manner of cruelty you can imagine, while showcasing their PG lab to the world. I used to hear tours of people laughing and marveling at their work above me while I…" She paused, gathering another bout of strength, sniffling a bit," Sorry. It was both horrifying and normal to me. I've… overcome the fear a great deal, but if I ever decided I didn't want to play their game anymore, I'd be put into inhibitor cuffs and locked away too. Eventually they didn't need cuffs anymore. They broke me, making sure their reality was the only one I experienced and so I resigned myself to it. "

"Until one day, you didn't." He reminded her, seeing the painful memories bubbling to the surface to drag her away from him.

She nodded, regaining a bit of her composure, "Until one day, I didn't.

They brought in a man. Most of them might as well have been lab rats to me at this point. I had become jaded selfishly to protect myself from feeling and acknowledging the pain I was causing, but I couldn't with no.1403. He was one of the first people to see me. He was my father's age and when everyone would spit, hiss, and show me the cruelty I knew I deserved for being so weak, he showed me kindness. With his compassion, he politely spat in the face of all my expectations, my waning self-worth, and saw me. I was purposefully kind to him, choosing others to be tested in his stead, though he protested, saying he could take it. He was the father I wish I had had. But, as I'd learned early on, that kind of happiness wasn't meant for people like me. My parents discovered I had a weakness and exploited it, using him as a tool for motivation when I'd gotten too used to their normal abuse or began to question them.

When it came time to end his trial, as a trade for my continued cooperation, they promised to let him go. And so, they did. It wasn't long after he had thanked me and was running to freedom that he collapsed. They knew the damage they had done—that I had done was irreparable. Even with overhaul, I couldn't reassemble what wasn't there. It was like… like they thought they were putting down a pet in front of me, hoping I would see things their way. But the opposite was accomplished. They hadn't put down a dog, but an entire person. They killed the person who made me see the good in people. My expectations of life had risen. I had tasted hope and I found myself unable to accept anything less after that point. I pretended to be cooperative, biding my time for the next week. They took me out for ice cream and decided not to lock me up that night. After all, how much harm could a broken little 12-year-old do? They closed their eyes that night and haven't opened them up since… I made sure of it.

After that I checked them into the hospital nearby. They lied about my quirk on my government paperwork so to the police I was just a sad kid whose parents had a freak accident. After high school I changed my name, speed-ran med school and put them here. I made them… vegetative that night, but I still feel the need to keep an eye on 'em, silly as it is. Now I'm just Dr. Watanabe, who happens to check in on some lonely patients"

A heavy silence came over the room as she finished her thought, gulping as she came back to earth with the realization that she had finally spoken the truth aloud. After having suppressed the memories for so long, she was beginning to spiral, facing her actions once again. She turned to look at him more cautiously than she had done in her life, terrified that yet another person who truly knew her would disappear. She found him reaching to her before being crushed to his chest in a hold that almost felt frenzied. This was undoubtedly the first time, he had attempted such a gesture on anyone, but it felt as though he was sating a deeply held yearning by holding her like this. Her vision began to blur as she shuddered, silently sobbing. Through the tears, she could hear his heartbeat rising and his skin became hot to the touch. He spoke evenly though the rage felt palpable, "You've done enough, Nanami. Let me finish them."

A flurry of emotions and adrenaline coursing through her as the moment set in. She had been accepted, vindicated even. Before she could fully immerse herself, she registered what his very sincere request as he began to reluctantly pull away from the embrace, removing a glove, "No wait, you can't—it's not right."

"'Not right'? After all that these creatures have done to you, you're going to save them. Didn't you just say yourself the definitive reason why heroes always lose?"

It would have felt so good to see them writhing in pain before being turned into nothing, but she knew it would only be for a fleeting moment. And in the subsequent, lingering moments she would cease to be herself, undoing years of growth. Nanami remembered who she truly was in that moment, the person she had painstakingly molded herself to be after being taken apart so many times, "I did. But I don't want to be a hero, I just want to be me. This…" she looked between her parents and his ungloved hand. She grasped it in both of her shaking palms before gently sheathing it back into his glove, craning her neck to meet his gaze "this is what they would do, and I don't play by their rules anymore. I know it must not make a lot of sense, and I'm a huge hypocrite to demand more of you in my position, but if you still consider me your partner, respect my decision. Please."

The scowl on his face dimmed after a beat, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he reluctantly accepted her plea. She was right, it didn't make sense. In his mind, the correct course of action would have been lengthy torture before swift annihilation. He found it silly to keep such enemies alive, especially out of mercy. However, that was what he found so pleasantly perplexing about Nanami. With her, there were new paths that were also correct, and though he was always biased to his own version of the correct path, he found himself considering hers firstly more and more. What he heard was grotesque, but ultimately explained a great deal. He would have to take time to make sure any lose ends that may threaten them in the future were tied up, but of one thing he was supremely certain. As he stared down at her trembling, but defiant form, she was the most fearsome person he'd ever met. Whether it was his lifelong lust for power or the whisper of tolerance that had grown into the overwhelming feeling crowding his chest, her place was solidified by his side.