I'll never forget that feeling… That summer day so many years ago. It was so hot and I had run as far as my legs could take me.

Away from a house so devoid of love. Away from a life I was barely living. I had collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. The sidewalk burned my legs and my heart beat so loudly in my ears I barely heard the screaming around me. I realized only after someone tripped over me that a battle had begun in the nearby street.

Smoke rose in the air and rubble came down like a harsh, punishing rain. While the others ran I stayed there on my knees in the middle of the sidewalk. What use was there in running any longer? No one could see me. No one could ever see me. I was cursed with a quirk that removed me from sight. Anything I touched… everything I wore… just vanished. Only a handful of people knew of my existence, but to the rest of the world… I didn't exist.

I sat there, defeated and alone, as the villain rounded the corner. The heroes came running close behind. Kamui Woods stretched his arms out as far as he could to catch him but he was too fast, hopping up onto one of the buildings and grabbing a handful of glass and concrete before throwing it in their direction. Edgeshot, who was close behind, unraveled himself and flung his companion out of the way.

"Eraser! Put a stop to him!"

Just to my left, the Dragon Hero dropped a man to the ground before flying back into the air. As he stood, he quickly looked to the villain clinging to the skyscraper, but it was too late to disable his quirk. He had already been spotted and a large chunk of bent metal was hurtling his way.

Our way.

As he turned to jump out of the way, the red glow of his eyes connected with mine.

I'll never forget it.

The sudden fear in his eyes… and the feeling of being seen. Of truly being seen for the first time in a very, very long time. It was as if the hollowness inside was suddenly filled. A heavy burden lifted from my shoulders.

But as he closed his eyes and dove, wrapping me in his arms, I could feel myself disappear.

The glass shattered around us as the projectile crashed to the ground.

"Eraser!?" His companion yelled out again before turning back to the battle. She did her best to draw the villain's attention.

Eraser opened his eyes and patted my arms to ensure I was really there. His eyes darted around in confusion as he was holding someone he could no longer see without his quirk. "Are you okay?"

I sat up and looked at him in surprise. Before I could form any words I could see the red glow return in his eyes and my reflection returned within them. Before I could answer he was running off to rejoin the fight.

And that was that.

I looked down into my hands to find they were gone again. My body was back to normal. Completely see through. The strange feeling was gone, but something still lingered… A soft, special feeling… Peaceful and exciting. I slowly got to my feet, trying to decide whether to stay or to return home. I hugged myself close and smiled.

'He saw me! He really saw me..!'

The fighting around the corner had stopped and I feared what kind of questions my rescuer may have had for me. Or what kind of scolding I would have received. I turned and ran in the opposite direction.

I decided to return home that day but now I wish I hadn't. At that time my encounter with the #8 hero, Eraser Head, instilled me with enough courage and willpower to continue on with the life I had been living before. A life that made me feel empty and without control. Without purpose. He was the first person to ever see me and I thought that I could replicate that feeling with the man I was being forced to marry.

But it was just a false hope. The man I was to marry at first spoke to me with smooth promises, but after it was done he became violent and controlling. I had hoped that he could see me the same way the hero had… but he couldn't. His eyes never met mine. He never looked at me with kindness or care… In his home I felt just as invisible, but this time I couldn't hide.

His name is Keiji Gokudo and his quirk allowed him to see people, near and far by the heat that their bodies generated. This meant that he could see me. I couldn't escape his gaze unless he was far away.

"How lucky you are my dear…" He said, "That someone in this world is able to see you! I am the only man on this earth that can gaze upon your body and enjoy your company!"

He would go on about how poetic and romantic it was… That with his wealth he could give me a comfortable and easy life, but still, it came with a price.

My father's business was heavily indebted to the Gokudo family and they grew tired of asking for the payment they never received. In order to cut the debt in half I was married off to the first son of that family. My father was expected to pay the rest on the wedding day, but he never showed. Keiji never let me forget how my family had wronged him. He took his anger out on me whenever he hit his limit. After all, no one could see the bruises on my skin.

Even still, who would have cared or dared to challenge the heir of the Gokudo family?

Occasionally he would take me outside of the compound for a dinner or meeting or for me to secretly eavesdrop or keep an eye on someone for him.

I knew it was dumb… but still, I hoped that I would see him again… To at least catch a glimpse of that hero. I dreamed of our eyes meeting. Starving for the feeling of that peace... Maybe he would look at me in that same way again… So full of worry and care.

So gentle, yet intense.

But no…

I never saw him again.

つづく