In the effort to keep my identity under wraps I'm forced to live a somewhat nomadic lifestyle. I engage in short term leases only, moving to a new apartment every 6 months, always using an alias. My dear friend Tsukauchi in the police force is a huge asset in this process.
Recently though, I've been getting tired. To be completely honest, it's starting to feel that being tired is my default state. Any flicker of energy is fleeting these days. It's been this way since my battle with All For One four years earlier. There is no rest for the wicked though. So that means that as the number one hero there is no rest for me either. This world needs a symbol and symbols don't get to sleep.
That being said, after a day of moving I really could use a rest. If it was just taking furniture from point A to point B that would be one thin, however, throughout this whole ordeal I'm ducking out to fight villains. Further to this, due to keeping the change of residency on the down low there are minimal people involved. So majority of the work is still falling on me. Not that it's physically tiring as such but it's tedious. If only I could be in two places (or seven) at once. The mental energy expended is too much for one man, symbol of peace or otherwise.
I finished bringing in the last of the boxes to my new apartment. It was in a quiet area an hour out from Roppongi. The building itself was plain, nothing much special to it all. It's just a standard six story apartment building in the suburbs. The room itself is also simple. It's spacious enough but nothing fancy. It's nothing that's worthy of attention. Honestly it's exactly how I liked it. Out of the way and out of the eye of the public. I place the last box down. My side aches. Maybe I can sit down a short while. I collapse onto my couch, letting my head rest against the back.
There is no solace though. My phone buzzes. I grimace as I pull it out. Shit. There's been an incident in central Tokyo. Best Jeanist is requesting assistance. It looks to be gnarly confrontation with a villain. I can't ignore a request from the number 4 hero. I push myself up off the couch. I open my apartment door and rush out, slamming it as I go. I need to get some distance away before I transform into my muscle form. The last thing I need is for people to know where I live. I dash around the corner of apartment halls to the stairs but nearly knock over one of my new neighbours in the process.
"Sorry!" I say, stopping just in time. The neighbour in question, a young woman, steps back and nearly falls over. I reach out, grabbing her shoulders to steady her. She looks momentarily stunned but she recovers quickly with a grin.
"Oh! Pay it no mind. Thanks for catching me," she says. I'm briefly taken by the warmth of her smile but I don't have time to be polite. I awkwardly side step around.
"Sorry I'm in a rush," I say, leaving her as I leap down the stairs. Once I've got coverage I transform into my muscle form and kick off.
—
I'm back later that night. During the fight I used up all my time in my muscle form for today. At least now I have an excuse to rest. I'm starving as well. I guess I'll get inside, change and muster the energy to pick up something to eat. There's a convenience store nearby. I'll pick up a bento box or something easy I suppose. I climb the stairs to my apartment.
I feel around my left pocket for my key but I don't find it straight away. Maybe it's in my right pocket. No, it's not there either. Did I drop it somewhere along the way back? I rack my brain, trying to think where I would have lost it.
Then it dawns on me. I didn't drop the key. I had it balanced on the last box I was bringing in. It's inside my apartment. I've locked myself out.
"Shit," I murmur. I lean my head against the door.
This is the last thing I need. Normally in his type of situation I'd go crash back at the office but I don't think I even have the energy to get back to Might Towers right now.
"Hey neighbour, locked yourself out?" I hear someone down the hall say. I look up. It's the woman I'd nearly knocked over from earlier. She's clad in a pair of sports leggings and jacket, apparently having just come back from exercising.
"Yeah," I say. My stomach gurgles. The woman laughs. It's a pleasant, friendly sounding laugh.
"Wow, hungry and locked out. What a terrible combination. Wait here, I'll be right back," she says. She unlocks her own door which is a few down from mine. A short time later she emerges with tupperware container and glasses case. I step back as she approaches me.
"I've learnt a thing or two from some of the local kids," she says cheekily. She kneels in front of my door, placing the tupperware container down next to her. She opens the glasses case. Inside there are a number of small tool: tweezers, pins, screwdrivers etc. I watch her pull out a few of the implements and push them into the lock. With a few wiggles and careful positioning the lock clicks. She tries the handle and the door swings open.
I stare, mouth agape, amazed this small unassuming woman just broke into my apartment. She winks at me, holding a finger to her mouth.
"Keep this between us okay? The landlord won't be impressed if he hears I've done this again," she whispers grinning. She pockets the glasses case and picks up the tupperware container as she stands.
"Ah," is all I can manage to say. This building was supposed to be fairly secure but she's just broken into my apartment in a matter of minutes. Just who is this woman?
"This is for you. It's nothing special. Just a curry and some rice. Consider it a house warming gift," She says. She passes the container to me. My stomach rumbles hungrily. She laughs lightly.
"Ah, sorry," I murmur. She grins.
"Not a problem! I hope it's satisfying. Just leave the container out the front of my apartment whenever you're ready. I live three doors down. No rush returning it though, take your time to settle in," she says cheerfully.
"Thank you," I reply. She rocks back on her heels.
"See you later then!" She says. She start walking back to her own apartment. Before she enters she looks back.
"Oh, my names Kiritani Kei, by the way," she calls out.
"I'm Yagi Toshinori," I reply. Shit, I just gave her my real name, not my alias. No harm done, I'll be gone in six months anyway. Not to mention she doesn't exactly look like the villain type... Although she did break into my apartment.
"It's been lovely to meet you Yagi-san. Have good night!" She says. She disappears through her door.
I enter my own apartment, the tupperware container in hand. Boxes are still scattered around. There's still a lot of unpacking to do but that can wait until a later time. For now I just want to eat. I place the container on the dining room table. Now just where had I packed my cutlery?
I look to the box that had my keys on top. That's where they are. A wave of frustration rushes over me. I can't believe I made such a rookie mistake of leaving my keys behind. I set the keys aside and open the box, pulling out a spoon. This will do.
The rice and meat are still warm. Had Kiritani heated this up for me as well? I suppose if I set my frustration aside this has been a favourable result. I no longer have to go to the convenience store at least. I dig into the meal. It's delicious and homely. Now that I think of it when had I last eaten a home cooked meal?
As I eat I think about the encounter with Kiritani. I typically make a habit of not getting close to my neighbours but as an exception I should at least give her my thanks, right?