I'm running through what seems like some sort of warehouse. Explosions continuously go off, causing the floor to rumble. As I near a corner, a group of enemy soldiers bombard my direction with bullets. I leap behind a shipping container, barely dodging the bullets. After spotting a shipping container hanging from a metal chain, I see that it's hovering over the flank of enemy soldiers. I shoot a beam of energy at the chain and it breaks loose. The shipping container falls on top of the enemy flank with a rumbling thud and metal groan. I continue to make my way through the warehouse and push through a large door that leads outside. I pant as I glance around, seeing as there are no enemy soldiers. In the evening sky, I see an enemy plane take aim at the warehouse I'm in. It shoots a missile, causing the warehouse to explode behind me and send me flying forward as I try to make a run for it. I take a moment to recuperate and gaze up at the enemy plane that's circling the area I'm in. I raise my hand toward it, aim, and fire a beam of energy at it, striking it down. Another enemy plane hovers over me and begins to fire artillery in my direction. Charging up energy at my fists, I shoot a beam at the plane, causing it to crash land in my direction. I sprint away but the shockwave from the plane crash sends me flying forward.
"Argh!" I sit up yelling.
My breathing is quick and heavy. My mind is foggy, unsure of where I am. I begin to fire beams into the room I'm in, jumping off my bed. I figure I must be held captive somewhere.
'The enemies must've caught me after that plane crash,' I think to myself.
I continue to shoot beams left and right, the room smoldering with debris. I feel my body heat rising the more I attempt to escape this room. Suddenly, barrels appear from all over the room walls, shooting freezing liquid. I'm consumed by the freezing smoke which immediately subdues me by cooling me down. I drop to my knees as it's harder to breathe. This gives me a chance to gain clarity and remember where I am. Once I'm cooled down, the barrels cease from shooting the freezing liquid into the chamber. I can see my breath and my skin almost crystalizing in spots exposed in my black tank top. I pant as I'm holding myself up on the floor with my hands.
"What's your status, Akira?" a voice says through a speaker system.
"I'm good…" I pant with a nod.
I get to my feet as the metal doors across the room slide open, and I make my way out into the hall.
"Another rude wake up call?" Keigo scampers after me down the hall.
"When are they gonna realize that these psychotropic meds are making my PTSD worse?" I state. "This is the 20th time in a row I wake up with nightmares. If it wasn't for that freezing chamber, I'd be blowing this facility to hell."
I slowly raise my body's temperature to warm back up. Icy spots on my exposed shoulders steam away as I continue to make my way down the hall toward the shower room.
"In lighter aspects," Keigo says. "It's your birthday!"
"Psht," I scoff. "What's the point if I'm cooped up in this place?"
Keigo stares after me with a sad gaze.
"I'll meet ya after my morning shower!" I wave at him as I enter the shower room.
Keigo stares for a moment before heading off down the hall. He makes his way to the executive office, knocking on one of the double doors. He opens it and sees the President sitting at her desk reading through some documents.
"Hawks," she looks up. "Did Akira wake up with a nightmare again?"
"20th time this month," Keigo replies. "Isn't it clear that the medications aren't working?"
"We'll try a different medication."
"This is the second one…Isn't it clear none will work?"
"We'll keep trying until one does."
"Switching medications so often in such a short period of time will end up damaging her psyche more… Wouldn't you wanna try a method that doesn't have such destructive side effects?"
The President stares at Keigo for a moment in thought.
"Otherwise, you'll keep dumping money into those freezing chambers," Keigo continues. "And something tells me those won't be holding up much longer."
"What do you propose?" The President asks.
"Akira turns 18 today. I think transitioning to public hero work will help."
"Not a chance," the President quickly dismisses.
"Come on, think about it. It'll give Akira the chance to get outta this place apart from missions. That's what she needs - some fresh air! Some time to roam the city freely."
"Do you honestly think it's safe to allow a walking nuclear reactor to roam the streets of Japan like a ticking time bomb?"
"She poses the same risk here. The only difference is that she's guaranteed to blow here no matter what. And if I'm not mistaken, her time outside of the facility with the Todoroki family did help her psychologically before."
The President sits in thought at Keigo's proposal.
"I'll grant her freedom to roam the city for today," she agrees. "On the condition that you stay by her side to monitor her."
"If she proves to do well today, then you'll agree to assign her as a pro hero in public," Keigo insists. "She'll have the same freedom as me."
"You're too good at negotiating," she's a bit annoyed.
"That's why ya got me, right?" Keigo sheepishly smiles.
"You're dismissed," she returns to her work.
Keigo exits the office and heads down the hall. I'm walking toward my room while drying my hair with a towel. I see Keigo heading over with a pep in his step as he looks eager.
"You look accomplished," I notice Keigo's excited demeanor.
"Suit up!" he says. "We're goin on patrol in the city."
"In the city?" I'm surprised. "Does the President know?"
"Just got her approval! I'll explain later! Now go get suited up!"
Keigo and I stand on the roof of a skyscraper. We peer down into the streets under the late morning sun. There's a nice breeze blowing up here. Keigo hands me an earpiece as he puts his own on.
"Figured my hometown would be the best place for your first city run," Keigo says.
"So what did you tell the President to convince her to bring me out here?" I put the earpiece in.
"I hit her with some facts," Keigo shrugs. "Clearly the meds have only been making your condition worse."
"Attempting suicide by falling off a facility building is what got me medicated… You'd think that bringing me on top of a skyscraper would be the last place to bring me," I joke.
"I trust you," Keigo gazes below into the streets. "Do you trust me?" he gazes back at me.
I stare at him for a moment in thought.
"Come on, I'll show ya around!" Keigo puts his visors on.
He leaps off the building and falls below. I peer down at him and see him wave me to follow after him. I jump off head first and catch up to him.
"Don'tcha just love free falling?" Keigo is relaxed.
"Now I do thanks to you," I reply. "Afterall, you did help me learn how to fly."
"Oh yeah! Let's see how much you learned!"
Keigo suddenly spreads his wings and darts in a different direction. I grin a bit and chase after him using the energy emitting at my feet. I speed through the air, following Keigo as he loops around a building. After a few seconds, I catch up to him as the both of us fly side by side closer to the streets. People down below wave and jump in excitement at us, a parallel to people running away from me on the battlefield. I'm amazed at how welcoming the people are, the fresh air not smelling like gunpowder or burning bodies. This is my first time soaring through a city at home. I shoot straight up, gaining some distance from the ground below. After I'm high enough above the tallest skyscraper, I stop the energy at my feet in a slight twirl. The clouds look beautiful up here as I let gravity stop my flight. I can even catch a glimpse of the ocean. The warm sun kisses my face as I take the beautiful scenery in. Taking in a breath of fresh air, I spread my arms and legs as I free fall facing up.
"Enjoying it, eh?" Keigo free falls next to me.
"Very much!" I exclaim.
"Just promise me that you'll always come back up."
My gaze meets Keigo's as I know he's referring to the night I attempted suicide a month ago. He eagerly waits for my answer, clearly still shaken up from that night. I reach out for his gloved hand and hold it.
"I promise," I reassure him.
Keigo's brows rise a bit, and then he smiles warmly at me before we take off in flight.
After a long day of patrolling the streets, Keigo and I are sitting on top of a skyscraper as our legs dangle at the ledge. We peer down at the streets lit up by the city's nightlife. We're eating away at some dango and kushiage Keigo bought at his favorite restaurant.
"How's this for a birthday dinner, eh?" Keigo munches away at his chunk of beef. "I got three trays of different kinds of dango and kushiage for you to try."
"It definitely beats the facility cafeteria by a long shot," I reply.
"I love watching the city's nightlife from up here," Keigo chews.
"This is your favorite spot?"
"Yup. Has been for the last couple years or so. So don't try to steal it," he jokes.
"It's all yours," I laugh.
"But of course, you're always welcome to be here with me."
I peer down at the night lights of the streets below while munching on some fried meat.
"Am I the first person you bring up here?" I ask.
"Yeah, actually," Keigo replies. "Can't bring just anyone up here. Otherwise, the spot won't be special anymore."
"Sorry it's lost its value," I joke.
"Nah…" he chuckles. "It's actually more valuable now…" he almost mutters.
I continue to gaze down at the streets while munching away. There's a moment of silence as I'm thinking, some strands of my hair fluttering with the wind. I slowly turn my gaze over at Keigo who's been apparently staring at me. His warm gaze seems to be in a trance as I see he doesn't realize it.
"What?" I blink at him.
"Huh?" Keigo snaps out of it. "Sorry, I was spaced out…" he quickly turns away.
"Your head is always in the clouds, huh?" I tease.
"Yeah…" he nervously rubs the back of his head.
A cold gust of wind causes me to shiver a bit. Keigo immediately takes his black jacket off and puts it over my shoulders.
"It's really warm and cozy," I slip my arms into the jacket's sleeves.
"It's my hero getup," Keigo says. "Though I'm due for a new look soon."
"What do you have in mind?" I chew.
"I'm really feelin the color tan," he chews.
"Tan will suit you well. It'll bring out your golden eyes."
"Ya think so?"
"Definitely."
"Then tan it is. I'll get a custom outfit made to make my debut when I open up my own hero agency."
"How's that going?"
"Goin well! Just gotta wait until I'm 18 to move things more smoothly once I'm a legal adult."
"Wow…your own hero agency…and you'll be 18 in a couple of days. You're moving fast!"
"That's just how I like it," he tears off a chunk of meat from a stick.
"So how's the custom hero getup gonna look?"
"Tan jacket with a high collar…gotta have white fur on the inside to keep warm during flight…Same with the pants…and black shirt with golden patterns on it. I'll keep the gloves, boots, visors, and headphones the same."
"I'm glad you're able to have your clothes custom made to accommodate your wings."
"It's definitely a lot easier when I've got my own money."
I immediately know he's referring to the poor conditions he used to live in with his parents.
"Do you think about them?" I ask before biting into a chunk of meat.
"Nah. What good will that do?" Keigo shrugs. "The Commission buried my connection with both my parents… It's best if it stays that way. Wouldn't want people knowing my father was a murderer. Would definitely taint my hero image."
"Well…I'm glad you're above that," I give Keigo a warm smile.
Keigo stares in thought at my warm smile. Curiously, I reach out and gently hold his chin.
"Uh…" Keigo is a bit nervous.
"You're growing out your stubble," I point out.
"Seems you still gotta work on your personal boundaries…" Keigo pulls back while covering his face with a hand, a slight blush at his cheeks.
"Hm? It's not weird because we're like siblings, right?"
Keigo looks a bit surprised at my words for a moment.
"We're orphan siblings," I say.
"If that's what makes you happy," Keigo looks down.
I take a bite of some three colored dango. The sweetness is enough to make me blush a bit.
"Mm! This one is really good!" I chew. "What is this?"
"That's the sanshoku dango," Keigo replies.
"It's so good…" I tear up with a smile as I chew.
"I don't wanna brag, but I make some great chicken kushiage," he chews.
"I forgot you cook at your own place…"
"When you get approved by the President to do hero work in the city, maybe you can come by my place for my birthday. I'll make some kickass kushiage of different kinds!"
"That's if the President allows me to…"
"She will. After today, I know it! Once you're good to be out in the city, maybe you'll be able to visit my place more often… I'll cook all kinds of food for you. You want some sweet dango, then I'll make it!"
"I'd like that," I'm excited.
Keigo swallows the chunkful of meat as he places the empty stick on a tray. There's a moment of silence as we stare out into the city.
"Um, Akira?" Keigo says. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," I nod.
"Are you…" he struggles to say. "Are you…uh…"
I patiently wait as I munch on my dango. Keigo rubs the back of his neck in thought before he lets out a deep sigh.
"Are you gonna eat that?" he finally says while pointing at the last stick of fried chicken kushiage.
"Nah, it's all yours," I giggle. "You do love chicken after all."
"Thanks…" Keigo takes the stick and sits in thought.
I take in a deep breath of fresh air while gazing out into the distance as Keigo does the same while he eats.
"Thank you, Keigo…" I say. "For saving me that night…and for always being there for me."
"Don't give me all the credit," he replies. "You saved me, too."
"Hm?" I raise a brow.
"You're my first best friend. You let me know what love is like."
"Guess we showed each other love in a hopeless place, huh," I joke.
"Even if it means that you only see me as a brother…" Keigo stares off into the distance. "I'd rather have that than not have you at all."
Keigo's cell phone suddenly rings.
"Yeah," he answers. "We're finishing up some food. I'll bring her back as soon as we're done."
My gaze lowers seeing as it's the Commission.
"Time to go, huh…" I say.
"Another five minutes wouldn't hurt," Keigo tries to cheer me up.
My disappointed face turns into a small smile.