Keigo is walking down the hall of the Commission facility early in the morning as usual.
'It's been a week since Akira kissed me…' Keigo thinks to himself. 'And she still has no recollection of it.'
Keigo continues walking through the facility, his mind recalling the kiss on New Year's by the fireworks.
'It's no surprise she doesn't remember,' he thinks. 'She experiences a lot of brain fog…the alcohol didn't help, either.'
Keigo heads down the hall to the freezing chamber. The sliding metal doors open, but the chamber is empty.
'She musta gotten up earlier today…' Keigo thinks.
After walking down the hall again, Keigo then turns the corner and heads to a bedroom, knocking on the door. To his surprise, there's no response. He opens the door and finds the room also empty.
'She's not here,' Keigo thinks as he glances at his phone. 'It's barely 8am…Where could she be this early?'
Keigo makes his way through the facility to the executive office. He pokes his head in, and to his surprise again, the President isn't in her office either.
'What the hell?' Keigo thinks.
A guard turns the corner, about to enter the executive office when he's surprised to see Keigo.
"Hawks," the guard says.
"Hey," Keigo greets. "Any idea where Nova might be?"
"She's out on a mission."
"A mission?" Keigo is surprised. "And nobody informed me?"
"You didn't have a role in the mission she's been assigned."
"No role, huh… What kinda mission is it?" Keigo pries.
"It's confidential under the President's orders," the guard firmly replies.
"Where's the President now?"
"She's off under Commission affairs in the city for the day."
"Right…" Keigo already knows the guard is hiding something. "Welp, I'll be at my agency if I'm needed!" he turns and waves.
Keigo walks down the hall as he gazes ahead in deep thought.
'That's odd…' he thinks to himself. 'Normally, I always accompany Akira on missions… And whatever mission she's on, it's being kept confidential, even from me.'
Keigo continues to make his way out of the facility.
'I'm sure everything is fine,' he thinks. 'I'll just continue working at the agency for now.'
Keigo is standing at the window in his office, a hand over his mouth as he reads a book on childhood neglect.
'I've been researching this topic closely for the past few years…' Keigo thinks to himself. 'Ever since I saw Akira experience PTSD episodes…and after realizing my true feelings toward her the night she attempted suicide.'
Keigo flips a page and scans his notes.
'There's no doubt many of these symptoms can be found in us both,' Keigo thinks. 'Akira and I experienced neglect…but she had it much worse.'
Keigo continues to skim his notes carefully.
'Experiencing no emotional support and affection since she was an infant…' Keigo thinks. 'That caused a detrimental effect on her physical and psychological health. The result is Akira being estranged and detached to those around her, even with those she's close to. The Todoroki family came into her life when she was four…but by then, the damage caused so early couldn't be undone. Sure she improved by experiencing what a family was like, but it was short-lived. Based on what Akira shared with me, even the Todoroki abode wasn't the healthiest environment, it seemed… And then there was Touya.'
With his gaze still on the book, Keigo walks over to his desk and takes a seat on his office chair. The laptop on his desk displays brain scans, Keigo's eyes studying them for a moment. He leans back and rests his feet on top of the wooden desk.
'Akira and Touya experienced traumatic childhoods,' Keigo thinks. 'They bonded over their trauma…Forming a sort of attachment disorder. This explains Touya's unhealthy obsession with her and Akira's unwillingness to let go of him, even after his death. His death was so sudden, not allowing her full closure… Akira would've bonded with anyone she'd met first, due to her trauma. It could have easily been me if the Todoroki family had never come into her life. Touya was the first friend she ever made… Touya just got lucky.'
Keigo studies the notes in the book as he rests a finger over his mouth.
'But the same could be argued in my case,' he thinks. 'Say the Todoroki family never got involved…and I met Akira first…Without a doubt, it would've been me she would've fallen in love with…both of us bonding over our trauma…But would it have been genuine love? Or would it have turned out to be an obsessed love like Touya's?'
Keigo flips a page, recalling a jealous young Touya.
'No, it would've been genuine love,' Keigo thinks. 'I can feel it in my soul...Our relationship has become emotionally intimate over the years…But due to Akira's trauma and condition, she doesn't perceive my love for her the same way I do…Not being able to pick up on my romantic advances is further proof of that…Perhaps it's her mind subconsciously protecting her from any more pain… My love for Akira isn't the same as Touya's…because I love her so much that I just wanna see her happy…even if it means letting her go.'
Keigo lets out a deep sigh as he rubs his face, staring up at the ceiling.
'After the President's threat to send Akira overseas…' Keigo thinks. 'I can't initiate a romantic relationship, no matter how much I want to…I'd rather put up the facade of a sibling relationship than risk losing her by force.'
Keigo's eyes stay glued to the ceiling in thought. He presses his index finger on his lips, recalling the rose-pink lipstick stain from New Year's night a week ago.
'But I'm determined…' he thinks. 'I'll use the Commission until I fulfill my goal…I'll hold off on confessing my love to Akira again. I'll make it a reality, as fast as I possibly can. I'll strive to make the world a better place, freeing us from our shackles…where Akira and I can live together happily…and nothing can ruin that.'
Keigo checks his phone, no returned calls or texts.
'Still no sign of Akira today…' he thinks.
A knock at the office door interrupts Keigo's thoughts.
"Come in!" Keigo keeps his feet on his desk.
"Hawks," Minoru opens the door.
"What's goin on?" Keigo slips the book into his drawer.
"I was gonna ask you the same thing. You've been cooped up in this office all morning…It's unusual of you…Are you going out on patrol at all today?"
"Hm. You're right," Keigo locks and closes his laptop screen.
Keigo stands and stretches, his wings fully expanding out. He makes his way to the door and walks with Minoru.
"Everything okay?" Minoru glances at Keigo. "You seem awfully pensive, more than usual."
"Maybe I need some food in my stomach," Keigo fakes a smile. "Let's grab some lunch!"
Keigo heads out of the agency office with Minoru, masking his emotions as usual.
It's late in the evening. Keigo and the rest of the agency are out at the end of their patrol.
"It's so hard keeping up with you, Hawks," Yamato says. "You stop some criminals, and before we even clean up, you're already after the next!"
"He's the man who's too fast for his own good!" Hiroshi exclaims.
"No need to flatter me!" Keigo laughs.
"The only one who can keep up is Nova."
"Say, where is Nova, anyway?" Yamato asks. "She hasn't been around all day."
"She's taking care of some business for the Commission," Keigo replies.
"Hm? Without you?" Minoru questions.
"I'm just as surprised as you are, to be honest."
"That is really odd… I wonder what she's up to."
"I'm sure everything's fine," Keigo seems carefree as he rests his hands behind his head.
"Some business she's taking care of," Yamato says as he gazes off in a direction.
"Hm?" Keigo turns in that same direction.
The gang turns their attention about a block down. Exiting the front entrance of an expensive restaurant, they spot Akira alongside another man.
"What's Nova up to?" Hiroshi says. "And why is she with the CEO of Atsushi Tech?"
"Hideki Masahiro, the CEO of Atsushi Tech," Yamato says. "One of the top support tech companies of the hero industry in Japan. He's definitely rich and known to be a womanizer."
"He did say he was crushing on Nova in a recent interview."
"But I thought you and Nova were together," Minoru turns to Keigo.
Keigo gazes in disbelief, his wide eyes locking on the silver haired man as he holds Akira close to him by the waist.
"He's got silver hair," Yamato has a raised brow. "But he doesn't look old."
"Don't let that fool you," Hiroshi says. "He's actually 26."
"26 with good looks and that rich? How lucky can ya get?"
The group watches as Hideki escorts Akira into a black limousine and it drives off.
"You guys go on ahead to the agency," Keigo hovers some feet into the air.
"Do you know anything about this?" Minoru asks.
"No…" Keigo's eyes focus on the limousine. "But I'm gonna find out."
Keigo darts into the direction of the limousine in aerial pursuit, keeping his distance to not be spotted, swerving and navigating around buildings.
'What's Akira doing with that guy?' Keigo thinks. 'Is this why she hasn't answered my calls or texts?'
After pursuing for a few minutes, the limousine pulls up to a fancy hotel. Keigo perches on a pole of a building ledge nearby, observing closely from afar. Hideki helps Akira out, chuckling as he pulls her close to him. Judging by Hideki's flushed face, there's no doubt he's intoxicated. Keigo watches as Hideki hugs Akira from behind, pecking the side of her neck. Keigo's heart races as he glares at Hideki still nibbling at Akira's neck with her giggling. In a split second, Keigo catches a glimpse of disgust on her face.
'There!' Keigo observes with his keen eyesight. 'Her expression just now…something's not right.'
Hideki leads Akira into the hotel that reaches about ten stories higher than the building Keigo is on right now. Keigo can spot Hideki still hugging Akira in the glass elevator that's going straight up. Hideki continues to peck at her neck, causing Keigo's feathers to stiffen and flare up.
"Looks like they're heading to the penthouse," Keigo observes as the elevator stops at the top floor.
Hideki drunkenly pulls Akira out of the elevator, and that's where Keigo loses sight of them.
"It's taking every ounce of self-control in me not to barge in there…" Keigo clenches his jaw.
Inside the penthouse, Hideki barges into a bedroom, hugging and pecking at my neck and shoulder as he towers over me at six feet tall. As he hastily slips our jackets off, I'm disgusted at him touching me, smelling his warm breath that reeks of liquor.
"Mm, you have no idea how much I fantasize about you, Nova…" Hideki slurs.
"Don't you…wanna take things slow?" I suggest.
"I'm a busy man. I move on fast when it comes to my women," he smirks.
"I'd like to see how your quirk works…" I try not to shutter.
"Oh, I'm sure you would…" he chuckles into my ear.
Hideki scoops me off my feet, heading further into the bedroom and tossing me on a queen size bed. I'm wearing a knee length, satin silver dress with spaghetti straps, my four-inch heels still on my feet. Hideki hastily takes his shirt off, revealing a muscular upper body.
"You said you'd show me some of your tech," I say.
"I'll be showing you more than just my tech…" Hideki's steel blue eyes hungrily gaze at me.
Hideki climbs on top of me, forcing me down on my back with him between my legs. His mouth roughly kisses down my neck as he tears one of my spaghetti straps. I furrow my brow as I close my eyes shut, turning my head away from Hideki as he licks up my neck. Squinting an eye open, I spot a black briefcase on a coffee table nearby.
'There it is!' I think.
Hideki continues sucking at my neck, working his way to my cleavage. Not able to handle anymore of this, I ball my fist into his chest and blast him with energy. He flies across the room, crashing into a bookshelf. I approach him with my charged fists, seeing that he's knocked out.
"Gotta find the key to his briefcase…." I dig into Hideki's pockets.
Not finding any, I scurry across the room to the black briefcase on the coffee table. My feet hurt with these tall heels clacking around.
"These heels are so annoying…" I mutter. "With no key," I examine the briefcase. "I'll need to bust it open."
I concentrate energy at the tip of my index finger and hold it against the keyhole, breaking it open with a tiny blast. Inside the briefcase, I find a laptop and folders of documents with support item designs.
"I've got the briefcase," I speak into my hidden earpiece. "It's got a laptop and documents inside. There's definitely enough evidence to prove Hideki is selling support items in the black market," I flip through the documents.
"Secure the briefcase and Hideki," the President orders.
"Copy that."
"You sneaky little bitch," Hideki's voice grumbles.
I glance over to Hideki across the room and see he's fumbling to his feet in the pile of the broken bookshelf.
"Here I was, thinking we had a connection after spending a whole day sight seeing Kyushu…" Hideki is sarcastic. "I shoulda known you had other plans in mind…You are the Public Safety Commission's pretty, little weapon, after all," he grunts.
"Stand down and turn yourself in," I stand firm.
"Sure, and you hand me that briefcase," he snarks.
I glare at him, standing ready to engage.
"Say…you wanna see how my quirk works, don't ya?" Hideki grins. "Allow me to show you."
Hideki creates silver colored armor around his upper body and head that forms from his own flesh.
"Machine manifestation," Hideki explains. "My quirk allows me to form weapons from my own body."
"Again, stand down and turn yourself in," I firmly state.
"Sorry, not in my plans for tonight," Hideki pushes a button on a detonator in his hand.
The sound of beeping and clicks go off around the room. There are devices planted throughout the suite with red lights beeping. The devices explode as I grab the briefcase and shoot out the glass window behind me with energy at my feet. I land on a nearby rooftop, my bare feet glowing as I melt the concrete and snow while sliding back to a halt. The cold wind blows right through me with this skimpy dress as I breathe a misty cloud.
"Hand over the briefcase," Hideki hovers over in a jetpack protruding from his back. "I don't wanna hurt that pretty face of yours."
"Damn it…" I grit my teeth. "I can't let any damage happen to the evidence inside this briefcase."
I quickly concentrate energy at my index finger again, melting the briefcase shut to ensure nothing falls out. Hideki shoots missiles from his armor at me, but I run and leap to another rooftop. He's about to pursue me until a pair of red wings zips past him, the front of his helmet broken off with a hit and revealing his face. Keigo lands some feet to my left on the rooftop, wielding his feather blades in both hands.
"Are you okay?" Keigo asks me.
I turn to Keigo and see him furrow his brow, his golden eyes peering at my neck. I glance down and see some dark purple and red marks tracing from above my cleavage up to my neck, along with my torn strap. Returning my gaze at Keigo, I see his eyes glaring fiercely up at Hideki.
"Ah yes, the feathery boyfriend," Hideki taunts. "Not happy at the marks on your girl's neck, eh?"
Keigo's widened gaze hardens more at Hideki. A black military helicopter is seen approaching our way, catching Hideki's attention as he lets out an exasperated sigh.
"Take the briefcase to the helicopter," the President says into my earpiece.
"Copy," I respond.
I keep my watchful gaze up at Hideki as he readies himself to engage. My body shivers as another gust of wind blows through me.
"Go!" Keigo says to me. "I understand what's happening now! Get to the helicopter! I'll handle this bastard!" He grits his teeth.
Keigo takes off in flight at Hideki, battling it out in the air. I keep a tight hold of the briefcase as I fly toward the Commission helicopter that's heading my way. When I finally reach it, I hand over the briefcase to a Commission officer after landing at the opening.
"Now neutralize Hideki," the President orders through my earpiece. "With the amount of evidence we've obtained against him, bring him in - dead or alive."
"Copy that…" I respond.
Once I ensure the briefcase is secured, I jump off the helicopter and land on a rooftop. I see Keigo is having some trouble with Hideki's offensive attacks but has managed to break off some of his armor. As I make my way over to support, I see Keigo attack Hideki, even managing to cut him up throughout his exposed limbs.
'Keigo…' My eyes slowly widen.
The look on Keigo's face as he continues to viciously attack is of pure rage: his eyes are wide open, almost in a focused trance as he continues to strike at Hideki. By now, media attention is covering the scene in a hovering news helicopter. After Hideki is leaking blood from his open wounds, Keigo manages to get an open shot at his chest, aiming his feather blade.
"Keigo!" I yell.
Shooting through the air with energy at my feet, I manage to tackle Hideki out of the way, barely missing Keigo's strike. I carry Hideki away swiftly over some blocks of buildings before dropping him. He lands on another rooftop, bouncing a few times on the surface. Blood drips from his limbs as he staggers to get to his feet, desperately attempting to form more armor on his body. Every piece of armor he forms I shoot beams at and shatter. He forms what appears to be an armored gun and prepares to aim it at me. I charge at him in flight, destroying the gun off his hands with another beam. As I reach him, I knee him in the chin, lurching him back some feet before pushing him down. As he lays on his back, I place my knee on his torso, pulling back my glowing fist.
"No! Please! I give up!" Hideki wails.
I punch down at him with a blast that causes a cloud of cement dust and snow. After the dust cloud clears, I see Hideki frozen in shock at the crater to the left side of his head.
"You-You…" Hideki stutters as beads of sweat roll down his face. "You didn't k-kill me?"
"You're not worth it," I firmly state while glaring down at him.
I strike with a chop to Hideki's neck, knocking him unconscious. The news helicopter hovers nearby as they aim their camera at us. Keigo lands on the rooftop, his feather blades ready in his hands as he marches over.
"He's down," I get to my feet.
Keigo keeps his widened gaze focused on Hideki.
"Keigo, he's done!" I hold him back.
"He forced himself on you," Keigo clenches his jaw. "He has to pay."
"He's not worth it!" I block him.
"I won't let another guy get away with it!" Keigo attempts to get past me. "Not this time!"
"Keigo!" I pull him back and hold his face. "Please!"
Keigo halts at seeing my eyes water.
"I don't want you ruining your hero image…" I mutter. "Especially not for me."
Keigo stares down at me, his wide eyes slowly becoming softer at me before he glances up at the news helicopter. Another Commission helicopter descends, causing a gust of wind to blow through us. Officers move in to secure an unconscious Hideki and restrain him. Keigo keeps an arm around me as I rest my hands on his chest while he glares at Hideki being carried away. I lower my head as I shiver, my breath creating a misty cloud in the cold air. Keigo shakes his head and returns his focus on me, slipping his tan jacket off after dispersing his feathers. After helping me put his jacket on and buttoning it up, he holds the sides of my face.
"Are you alright?" Keigo gazes down at me with a furrowed brow.
I give him a nod as I continue to shiver.
"Nova," a Commission officer approaches us. "The President orders you back to the facility."
"I'll take her," Keigo gives the officer a firm gaze.
After scooping me up, Keigo takes off into flight.
A crowd of people are gathered under a large screen on a building as it displays breaking news. There's an aerial shot of a rooftop where an unconscious man lays on his back near a crater in the concrete.
"As you can see," the news reporter says. "Hawks and Nova have put a stop to a villain. It hasn't been confirmed who the villain in question is, but we're relieved it's been resolved!"
The crowd watches in awe as Hawks holds Nova's face in his hands. He slips his tan jacket on Nova, buttoning it up and keeping her warm.
"They're so cute," a woman comments in the crowd.
"Right? If only they'd come out publicly as a couple, already!" Another woman says.
"Everybody in Fukuoka knows they're a thing."
"They're the power couple of Fukuoka!"
A man wearing a black hooded jacket and jeans stands near the two women talking. He gazes up at the screen, the news aerial shot showing Hawks carrying Nova away in his arms. His lidded turquoise eyes bitterly watch as Hawks carries Nova away before they disappear from the camera's view.
Keigo barges into the executive office, a stern stare at the President as she sits at her desk.
"Thank you for assisting tonight," the President keeps her gaze at her computer. "We were able to seize enough evidence to put Hideki Masahiro behind bars."
"Why didn't you tell me about Akira's mission?" Keigo demands.
"Were you really going to agree with it if I told you what it was?"
"Akira was sent in to infiltrate. You coulda sent me instead."
"When Hideki revealed his infatuation with Akira, I figured it would serve a better advantage in our investigation - which it clearly did, resolving matters in a much faster timeframe. Remember - introducing Akira to the public was your idea."
"It isn't right to put her in situations she doesn't understand!" Keigo firmly states.
"Akira is the Commission's secret weapon," the President gives a stern gaze. "And we will use her for the better gain of the public as needed."
Keigo clenches his fists at his sides.
"You're awfully worked up about it," the President observes.
"Of course I am. Akira and I are like siblings, remember?" Keigo bitterly says.
"Siblings…right," the President eyes Keigo. "Well, now that you're here, I might as well inform you that the vacant building you found is ready and fully furnished. Akira can move in whenever she'd like."
"And the conditions?"
"Same as usual. Akira has a curfew to be at her new abode no later than 10pm. A guard will be stationed outside the property 24/7. As you'll see, a specialized, 20 foot, thick metal wall is built around the property. In the case she detonates, the wall should contain the explosion within its perimeter and shoot straight into the sky."
"It's settled then. She'll move in by the end of the week."
Keigo turns and heads for the door.
"Remember, Keigo…" The President calls out to him. "Should I come to find out of an inappropriate relationship between you and Akira, you won't see her again. She can just as easily disappear like she did today."
Keigo stops at the door after hearing this, holding his tongue back as he exits the office a few seconds after.
It's late at night. Keigo is striking at the hanging punching bag at the corner of his loft with his bare hands. He breathes heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead and his shirtless upper body.
'The President didn't just use the mission to arrest Hideki,' Keigo thinks. 'She used it to flex her power, showing how easily she can make Akira disappear without me even realizing it.'
Keigo continues to strike at the punching bag, his gaze focused as he's in thought.
'If the President ever thinks I've crossed the line,' Keigo thinks. 'Akira will disappear…just like that.'
Thuds continue loudly as the punching bag swings from the exposed beam above.
'She's really pinning me into a corner by preventing me from being with Akira…' Keigo continues to think. 'I'll just have to continue putting up the sibling facade as I planned…using the Commission to fulfill my goal…to finally be with Akira.'
Keigo releases hard continuous strikes as he heaves.
"I'll make it a reality…" he breathes. "As fast as I possibly can!"