Chapter 1
Vigilante Origins! Nice Guy and Guardian Angel
Who are heroes? Chosen ones, authorized by the government to use their innate powers to serve society! But in this world, there is another sort of hero. This hero is the illegal kind, acting without ever needing the necessity to do so. But what brand of justice do they follow? Do they deserve to be heroes in the first place…?! Some time has already passed since the advent of our so-called super-powered society. Everyone being special has become the new norm.
"A villain's going wild!"
"Run!"
"Gah... my motorcycle!"
As I was walking through the streets with my best friend Koichi, screams of fear and panic fill the air as a giant bulky monster was rampaging throughout the streets, devouring everything in sight.
And bad guys are all the worse. For us ordinary people, these are battles we can't afford to get mixed up in.
My name is Hikari Amano. I am 5ft 7in tall and have platinum blonde hair, it was brown before I got my Quirk, in a side part with side fringe and gray eyes. I even had a blue-white halo hovering over my head.
My Quirk is Photokinesis. I can control and manipulate light. I can also it shape into anything I want, like basic forms (spheres, beams, and flashes) to complex physical shapes and forms (like weapons, holograms, and everyday items).
My best friend is Koichi Haimawari. He is almost 5ft 8in tall and he is slim. He also has short brown hair, large and round brown eyes.
"Teeth are life!" the giant monster growled as it chomped down on a motorcycle while the citizens ran away from it.
As things couldn't get any worse for all of us there, a certain Pro Hero arrived at the scene on time and in a dramatic fashion.
"I am here!" the Pro Hero exclaimed as he pummeled the monster to the ground.
"Whoa, it's All Might!" "That's our #1 hero for ya!" "Down in one hit!"
I just can't believe it. That Pro Hero was none other than All Might, the Symbol of Peace, the #1 Japanese Pro Hero.
"Any injuries, citizens?!" All Might asked the us as many onlookers told him that no one is hurt, which is good enough for him, "Glad to hear it! Until next time!"
He then headed off to who knows where, as the giant monster remained immobilized on the ground.
"Wow, Hikari! He's even cooler in the flesh," Koichi said to me while blushing in excitement.
"I know, right, Koichi?!" I replied to Koichi with eyes twinkling in awe and admiration. "We got to see his heroic feats live and in person."
The super people out there... they fly through the sky, hit like a ton of bricks, speed around like bullets. They've got great smiles. They tower above us all. Especially me and Koichi, who are down on the ground looking up. At least, that's what we thought.
Suddenly, our watches start to beep as we realized we are late for work. With no time to waste, the two of us headed over to our workplaces. Koichi looked around to make sure no one is there to see him.
"Okay... here I go," he said as he squatted down, placed both of his hands on the ground, and started zooming off, with me running beside him.
My friend's Quirk is Slide and Glide. To activate it, Koichi must make contact three points. He goes about as fast as a one-speed bike. He can also adjust his speed to match with mine.
People around us started commenting on Koichi's Quirk, some of them saying that his Quirk seemed handy albeit too fast while others assume that it makes him act like a cockroach (much to his dismay). I silently told him not to listen to their words since they're just opinions.
"Hey, you! You! Stop right there," A police officer called out to Koichi, and he and I stopped.
"You go on ahead, Hikari. He just wants to lecture me," said Koichi as I nodded and continued running.
'Honestly... Koichi means well but sometimes, he can be a bit dense,' I thought to myself as I stopped running to catch my breath.
Just then, I heard music nearby. I headed over to where it was coming from and saw a crowd watching two masked girls singing and doing stunts. The two girls introduced themselves as Pop Step (pink hair in pigtails, wearing a black mask, devilish themed one-piece black leotard with a heart-shaped opening in the center of the chest and a smaller one in the back, where it is located just below two bat wings, a reddish-pink bow tie, a pair of silver pearl earrings, black elbow-length gloves, a black super-miniskirt with three hearts on the belt, and black knee-high boots) and Petal Star (cherry-colored hair with pink streaks tied in low pigtails that look like leaves, wearing a pink mask, a sleeveless light pink dress that really shows off her chest with purple and red flower designs a very long skirt, and light pink shoes), with the former bouncing high in the air and the latter scattering cherry blossom petals around. I have to say, while their stunts are impressive, their singing could use a little work.
"Hey, Hikari!" I noticed Koichi walking up to me.
"Koichi, what happened to you?" I asked him. "You look kinda sweaty today."
"Well, I had to deal with some three nasty guys at a back alley. Luckily, I managed to escape from them," Koichi replied while wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Those words made me sigh in exasperation. This guy really needs to stay out of trouble if he needs to and that's it.
We then hear wailing sirens and looked over our shoulders to see a police car driving by. That was our cue to warn Pop Step and Petal Star of the approaching law enforcers.
"Hey, it's the cops!" Koichi shouted to Pop Step and Petal Star.
"You two better leave immediately," I continued and from the looks on their faces, I can tell that they were disappointed that their performance was cut short.
"See ya next time!" the two performers said as they left. At the same time, Koichi and I left the area to go to our workplaces as well.
Eventually, I arrived at my workplace (known as Pearlescent Café) just in time, put on my apron and hat, and started my shift. Things went smoothly from there as my coworkers and I worked together from serving the customers the meals and drinks they ordered to cleaning the tables and floors.
"Tokoha Saki! I got a triple chocolate shake for Tokoha Saki!" I called out to the customers.
"Over here," A young woman, which appeared to be Tokoha, approached the counter and received her beverage.
As Tokoha went back to her table, I couldn't help but feel suspicious. I just realized that she appears to have the same hair color as Petal Star, meaning that they are the same person. But then again, I could be wrong since anyone could have cherry red hair with pink streaks.
After several more hours, I finally finished my shift, which means I'm finally ready to start my nightly you-know-what with Koichi. Hiding in an isolated alleyway, I changed into my other set of clothes which consists of a blue t-shirt, white hooded jacket with long white wings on the back, black shorts, blue knee-high socks, and white and black shoes. Once I'm done changing, I went over to where Koichi, who is now wearing his was waiting for me. At this time, Koichi and I become Nice Guy and Guardian Angel.
Throughout the night, the two of us did simple things to help people around, like returning lost items, giving directions to wayward people, looking up what the time the last night train leaves, recycling, and taking pictures with our admirers.
"At it again tonight, Nice Guy?"
"Thanks for your help, Guardian Angel!"
"Thanks a lot, you two."
"They're so very kind."
"Good work, Nice Guy and Guardian Angel."
"Mind putting my trash out for me, Guardian Angel?"
"How about you go buy me a piping hot bento box, Nice Guy?"
Seeing all those smiling faces and hearing those comments really warms me to the very core. After all, there's nothing like doing good to make you feel good.
"All that do-gooding makes a guy thirsty," Koichi said as we walked back to our apartment.
"You said it, Koichi," I replied in agreement.
"Here ya go," two voices called out to us and gave us a bottle of water each. That was when I realized that who was with us were Pop Step and Petal Star.
"Hey, it's you two. What brings you here tonight?" I asked them.
"So, you're the guys picking up trash around town?" Pop Step asked. "What are your names again? Cockroach Guy? Gargoyle?"
"It's Nice Guy and Guardian Angel!" Koichi retorted in annoyance.
"You should try to remember people's names, if you're going to talk to them," Hikari retorted.
"Sorry, but we've been busy with our important idol work to remember names," Petal Star joined in.
"You two are the ones who told us about the police at our live show, right?" Pop Step questioned Koichi and me as we nodded.
"We came here to thank you both," Petal Star said.
"So... you followed us? In order to thank us?" Koichi sounded confused.
"We did," Petal Star nodded.
"That sort of makes you two stalkers," I noted gently.
Pop Step and Petal Star looked at me with angry looks
"Hey, we can't go into any place during the day without getting recognized," Pop Step argued.
"With our popularity, we would have been swarmed by fans before we could get the chance to talk to either of you," Petal Star pointed to Koichi and me.
"Okay, I'm sorry," I apologized to them because they made good points.
"So, you both know where we work?" Koichi asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah," Pop Step replied. "You went to your job at a convenience store and got pretty banged up by some customers, right? You were hella lame!"
"Cause I'm not good with violence," Koichi argued.
"I'm sure he did his best," I stood by my friend.
"From what Pop Step told me, I don't think so," Petal Star shook her head in disagreement, then looked at me. "You went to your job at the cafe. Working as a barista to serve the people and clean up the place. It's a little boring."
"Helping the people doesn't have to be done in a showy fashion all the time," I stated.
"Sure, sure, whatever you say," Petal Star rolled her eyes before looking at me again. "So why are you dressed like that?"
"I just want to assure the people they've always got someone to help them out," I answered proudly.
"You do know anyone can do that, right? Do you just wanna be an average guy?" Petal Star inquired.
"No, it's just to let the people know that I'm here to help," I replied.
"And you," Pop Step spoke to Koichi. "Isn't that lame All Might hoodie cosplay? But you're bad with fights?"
"This shows I'm prepare to follow his words. 'In your own way, do your best to be useful.' It has nothing to do with fighting. Koichi responded. "And it's not lame either! It's cool!"
"What's with that? Do your best and in your own way?" Pop Step questioned. "So, you're a know-your-place guy?"
"Don't scrutinize every little bit!" Koichi argued.
"Knowing your place is important," I agreed with him.
"For you two, sure, but not for us idols," Petal Star said.
"If you two get too excited with your idol make-believe, you'll seriously be caught before long," Koichi told the idols, who looked angry.
"He's right," I agreed.
"Hold on! We're not make-believe!" Pop Step shouted.
"We're the real deal!" Petal Star shouted too.
"Warning us that the cops came like today isn't enough!" Pop Step argued.
"If you both to help us, you can do more than that!" Petal Star stated.
"Like how?" I asked.
"You can give us crowd management and traffic control!" Pop Step suggested.
"Also, goods to sell and security!" Petal Star offered.
"Now you're just listing things while you pout!" Koichi argued.
"Come on! Just a widdle bit! Know-your-place-man," Pop Step teased playfully.
"You too, just-wanna-be-average-man," Petal Star teased to me too.
"It's Nice Guy!" Koichi shouted
"And Guardian Angel," I clarified
"Hmph! Even though we came all the way to thank you two, this is how you treat us," Petal Star said as both idols were leaving, looking back at Koichi and me.
"And even though we thought we'd give you some stuff to do 'cause you both seem like softies," Pop Step shouted.
"We aren't your slaves? And you two didn't even thank us, right?" Koichi complained.
"Those two really are something," I commented.
Just as the idols were on their way, Koichi and I saw that Pop Step bumped into someone.
"Hey, watch it, pal! Get out of my way!" Pop Step yelled at the person.
"What's up?" the person turned to hear her. He happens to be a man with menacing yellow, eyes, sharp front teeth, and spiky turquoise hair. He also appears to be flanked by two cohorts: one having dark brown skin and a wisp of flame on his head, the other looking like a humanoid lizard.
The spiky-haired man and the man with the head flame pinned Pop Step to the wall.
"What's this? Hot stuff, under that coat!" the spiky-haired man said as he and the flame man inspected Pop Step's outfit.
"Some sort of freak, I guess!" the lizard man commented with a chuckle.
"Wait, I've seen her before," said the flame man. "She's a high-schooler famous for flashing her backside on the internet."
Pop Step tried to talk to them that everything about her identity but the men refused to relent.
"Hey, are those the three men that beat you up at the convenience store a while ago?" I asked Koichi and he nodded.
"Well, whoever they are, we can't let them humiliate Pop Step any longer," Petal Star said as she beckoned me to fight alongside her. "Come on, Guardian Angel."
"Got it," I replied as we tried to fight the flame man and the lizard.
"Ugh! What is wrong with these two?" the flame man asked in annoyance as I hold him off.
"I'm not sure. But I feel like they're in the way of our plans," said the lizard man while Petal Star tried to pin him down.
"Um... uh... can you three please stop?" Koichi asked frantically and nervously.
"This is not your problem, pal," the lizard man turned to Koichi.
"Get lost," added the flame man. "You and your lame hoodie are not allowed here."
"No... it's not lame, actually." Koichi retorted.
The spiky-haired man turned to where my childhood friend is standing, and I can tell that Koichi is intimidated by his sharp front teeth.
"R-Right. Not my problem... Sorry to bother you," Koichi stated before he decided to run away.
Wait, run away?! That's cowardly of him.
"Hey! Nice Guy, you can't leave us like this! Petal Star and I are not gonna take you leaving lightly!" I yelled at Koichi and berated him for his cowardice.
"Besides, do you think leaving us and Pop Step will make us and her happy, don't you?! She needs you now. We need you now!" Petal Star added.
Apparently, our words have finally reached him. Koichi finally became serious, and I can tell that he was finally stepping up his game for tonight.
"My hoodie is not lame... and I'm not 'Know-His-Place' Guy," Koichi said as he readied himself and put on his mask.
"What are you talking about...?" the flame man asked as he threw me aside while the lizard man pinned Petal Star on the ground.
"I'm the guy who can't pass by a person in need. Mr. Nice Guy!" Koichi finished.
He then tried, and I mean tried, to stop the three goons but was caught immediately by the flame man and thrown not far from me.
"Nice Guy!" I called out to him out of concern.
"Hold on a sec. I know that face," the spiky-haired man realized as he apparently knew Koichi from somewhere. "It's the cockroach kid, playing hero! Look who's crashing our party."
He then attempted to hurt us with his shoe, which apparently has sharp spikes sticking out of the front. Koichi and I dodged the spikes, albeit receiving wounds from them.
"Dirty trick there," I muttered to myself.
"That does it. You ain't getting away with just a simple beating. We're gonna crush you and that store of yours," the spiky-haired said to Koichi before to turning to me but still speaking to him. "After I'm done with you, your friend will be the next to be destroyed. Then, those little skanks are gonna show off all their good stuff to the world! After we have our way with them!"
"D-Don't you think that's too much?" Koichi asked as he stammered.
"This is all happening 'cause you had to go and piss me off!" the spiky-haired man exclaimed in rage as he brandished spikes at Koichi.
The goons even tried to mock us by calling All Might or the police because, even if we are in big trouble, even the Symbol of Peace and the law enforcers won't intervene in a fight in a back-alley.
I thought Pop Step, Petal Star, Koichi, and I will be done for if it weren't for someone literally dropping in on us, landing in a pile of trash.
"You punks... Did I hear mention of All Might?" the burly man asked. "Well, he ain't coming. But... I'm here!"
Judging from what happened to the man, he didn't really stick the landing but at least he wasn't even hurt due to the trash pile.
From what I can tell, he is a tall and heavily muscled man when he stood up. He wore a simple wrap-around black mask tied over the top of his head, a tight-fitting dark shirt, jeans, boots, and a long hunter green trench coat. On his hands, he wears a pair of dark gloves topped with a pair of brass knuckles. Also, it looked like he has a scar on his left cheek.
"Huh? What's this geezer going on ab-" the spiky-haired asked before he was interrupted by a sudden punch sent by the burly man.
This clearly brought me, Koichi, and Petal Star by surprise.
"Who goes and does that?!" the flame man asked in shock.
"W-What's your problem?!" the lizard man asked as he was equally shocked at the sudden outcome.
"The name's Knuckleduster. And it's my job to take out the trash like you!" the burly man, now named Knuckleduster, introduced himself before asking. "But I've got a question, too. Any of you gentlemen high on drugs tonight? Like the new one that's really bad news?"
He then checked the tongues of the lizard man and the flame man, but it turns out both were clean so he beat them into submission.
"So much time and energy for a bunch of dead-enders..." Knuckleduster said before he turned to me and Koichi. "Help me out, kids."
"W-We swear we don't do drugs, mister," Koichi said out of fear and unnerve.
"Relax, Nice Guy," I reassured him. "He's probably helping us."
"You two got promise. And I need an assistant or two," said Knuckleduster. "So, help me out on the job. I'll make you two true blue heroes."
Okay, that clearly got me off guard. But still, I can't let an opportunity like this pass by.
"Sure thing." I replied as I wait for Koichi's answer.
"Ah. Um... not interested. I'll just be... leaving now."
'Of course, it wasn't what I expected as Koichi would likely avoid a fight,' I thought as I sighed in exasperation.
"Liar," Knuckleduster stated, causing Koichi to flinch. "Your friend here is eager to help me apprehend these three but you? You respect All Might and you make a hobby of doing good deeds with your friend here. You expect me to believe you are not willing to do hero work?"
"Excuse me, sir, but I believe that my friend here doesn't think he's pro hero material," I defended him.
"Yeah," Koichi agreed with me. "With my goofy Quirk, I just don't think I don't have the stuff to go pro."
"And why not?" Knuckleduster growled at us. "Strong quirks? The stuff to go pro? That crap's got nothing to do with true justice. In that moment, when it's clear what's gotta be done, do you act or don't cha? All you need to be a hero is the right answer to that question!"
Wait... from what he just said... this man... he doesn't have a license like any Pro Heroes...?
Just then, we notice the spiky-haired man has finally had Pop Step held at knifepoint, or rather, spike-point.
He growled, "Making a chump out of me... What do you know about justice, you old fart?"
"Let her go? A hostage will not weaken my blows? " Knuckleduster stated.
"She's not a hostage! I'm going to mess up with her face with my spikes!" the spiky-haired guy yelled.
"Don't you dare!" Petal Star shouted.
Before Petal Star and I do could something, I saw Koichi use his Quirk to quickly reach the spiky-haired guy and tackle him down.
When that happened, Pop Step jumped out of the way in time.
"Pop Step, you okay?" Petal Star reached her performance partner, who landed on the ground.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Pop Step smiled.
"Great job, Koichi," I cheered for him.
"Thanks," Koichi replied, still crouched on the ground as he looked at me.
"Well done, young lad," Knuckleduster thanked Koichi as he punched the spiky-haired guy into a pile of garbage.
Then Knuckleduster approached the spiky-haired guy and took his id from his wallet for some reason, which made Koichi and I sweat-drop.
"What do you think, young lads? It's just as you both saw," Knuckleduster looked at Koichi and then at me. "There's more hero work worth doing than what the world says. Striking down evil-doers is more refreshing!"
Koichi spoke up first as he said, "I ... I completely refuse."
"What?" I gasped as my best friend got up and walked away.
Despite what Koichi said, I was still on board with helping out.
"Look, Koichi might not be in, but I sure am. Who knows? Maybe you and I convince him otherwise," I said to the burly hero.
"Excellent," Knuckleduster gave me a thumbs-up. "What's your name, and where do you two live?"
"I'm Hikari Amano. Koichi and I live together in what you could call a penthouse," I explained. "Take a five minute walk from Higashinaruhata Station, and on the roof of an old beat-up building, you'll find an old, beat-up apartment that was lazily annexed on. That's where our house is."
"Great. I'll see you two lads tomorrow morning," Knuckleduster left as well.
Just as I was about to catch up to Koichi, I decided to see if Pop Step and Petal Star were okay. Though those two were nowhere in sight.
'I guess they left while Koichi and I were talking with Knuckleduster,' I thought as left to catch up to Koichi to go to our home.
The next day, Knuckleduster came knocking at our door just as Koichi was in the kitchen making breakfast. I let in Knuckleduster just as we were about to eat. Koicihi was surprised to see the burly hero, but then I told him I invited the hero over. Koichi didn't like it, but I convinced him that we should listen to what Knuckleduster has to say because he came here.
Koichi decided to listen, but he told me his still didn't want to be his disciple. Knuckleduster sat down and waited for Koichi and me to finish eating. After we finished breakfast and washed the dishes, we prepared to listen to Knuckleduster.
"Koichi Haimawari and Hikari Amano, you're both 19 years old and freshmen at Hitonami University. I'll just call you two Koichi and Hikari. "Or would you two prefer "Nice Guy" and "Guardian Angel"?" Knuckleduster started.
"WHA... That's my college id! Better yet, my wallet! C'mon, don't go looking through my stuff as you please!" Koichi complained.
"You really should ask first," I told Knuckleduster.
"Feel free to call me "Master"," Knuckleduster ignored what we said.
"As I've been saying, I have no intention of becoming your disciple," Koichi stated annoyed.
"I still want to," I said.
"More importantly, can you please go home already? This is our house," Koichi pointed to himself and me.
"Koichi, don't be rude to him. He just got a little while ago," I told my friend.
"Whaddaya got in your fridge? Barley tea? That's it?" Knuckleduster ignored us again while looking in our fridge. "Hm?! There's beer in here! That's inexcusable for minors like you two! Confiscated!"
'Okay, so he might be difficult to talk with,' I thought.
After Knuckleduster took a sip of soda, he began to talk to us again.
"The drug I'm searching for is called "Trigger". It gives a significant boost to the user's Quirk, while simultaneously weakening their sense of reason. In short, it's a drug which turns regular citizens into villains. At this rate, the town will be overflowing with these impromptu villains. And I'm not about to stand by and let it happen," he explained, finishing the drink and crushing the can in his hand.
"Ok, but, uh ... can't we just leave stuff like that to the real Pro Heroes, or the police? I'm sure they'll catch 'em sooner or later," Koichi said.
"I wouldn't expect much from them," Knuckleduster stated.
"Why?" I wondered.
"Unlike the traditional villains who around brandishing the Quirks they were born with, it's impossible to distinguish these "trigger junkies" from the masses, except for when they're acting out. Both the police, and Pro Heroes.. they'll always be one step behind those bastards."
"Ahaa... so they're harder to pick out than normal villains... I see," Koichi understood.
"That can be a problem," I commented.
"And that's where we come in," Knuckleduster continued.
"Um... did you just saw "we"?" Koichi asked.
"He did," I confirmed.
"The three of us will confront all the suspicious riff-raff and check their tongues," Knuckleduster explained.
"Tongues?" I was confused.
"Trigger addicts suffer a side-effect from over-use. Their tongues change color. To a hideous black, at that," he revealed. "We'll beat the crap out of 'em on the spot, question them for information about their dealer. And we cut off the circulation of the drug right from its roots!"
"Eh... we're gonna hit them even though they haven't done anything to us?" Koichi questioned.
"That doesn't seem heroic," I commented.
"Victory goes to the one who makes the first move! You never know when a cornered trigger junkie will shoot up and start going on a rampage. In the first place, asking for people to just show us their tongues, I can't help but think we'll get refused. If they're suspicious, we beat 'em up! That's all there is to it!" Knuckleduster reasoned.
"Hahaha ... Again with the hitting... You're taking this whole joke a little far," Koichi got worried.
"I don't think he's joking," I told my friend.
In the city, Koichi and I were riding on Knuckleduster, who was running through as he wanted to find any trigger junkies, scaring away people in the process. Koichi was on his left arm and I was on the his back, holding onto his neck.
"You really weren't joking!" Koichi realized.
"Told you so," I replied.
Koichi and I got off Knuckleduster and tried to find trigger junkies in a different way.
"Excuse me, everyone! Just a little is fine, so stick out your tongue!" Koichi asked.
"Just show us your tongues, please!" I asked nicely.
Though the people ignored us or were too scared to listen.
Suddenly, Koichi and I heard the sound of a step above us and felt a little breeze behind us.
"What's this all about?" a familiar voice asked.
"What have you gotten yourself into now?" another familiar voice asked.
Koichi and I looked up and saw Pop Step standing on a lamp post and Petal Star riding on what looked like a giant cherry blossom petal made up of smaller petals.
"Ah! Pop Step!" Koichi was surprised.
"And Petal Star!" I was equally shocked.
A little later, Koichi, Pop Step, Petal Star, and I went to a park. There we found Knuckleduster sitting on bench, taking a break. Koichi and I sat next to him as we explained to the idols what we were doing.
"Hmmm... So you're searching for junkies and their dealers, is that it?"
"It is," I nodded.
Then both idols looked at Knuckleduster with angry looks.
"Ah... thanks for yesterday. But don't think I'll forget that you just went and abandoned me like that, old man!" Pop Step angrily stated.
"Yeah, you went to talk to these two guys instead of checking on my friend after you punched that jerk," Petal Star pointed to Koichi and me, and then Pop Step.
"Do whatever you want, Sweet Cheeks and Flower Power," Knuckleduster ignored both girls.
"You seriously want to help this guy, Guardian Angel?" Petal asked me.
"I do," I nodded. "I get to help with hero work. Oh, and you can call me Hikari."
"Okay then, Hikari," Petal Star said.
"So Nice Guy," Pop Step started.
"Just call me Koichi," he said.
"Oh, is that your real name? All right then, Koichi. What're you and your friend thinking, associating with a guy like this?" Pop Step pointed to Knuckleduster. "Especially when you're so weak in a fight."
"She's right about your friend," Petal Star told me.
"No, she isn't," I refuted nicely.
Instead of answering, Koichi took a long sip of his drink.
"What's with that long pause?" Pop Step asked.
"Ah ... no, it's just ... if Hikari and I left this guy to his own devices, he would be one-sidedly beating passersby to a pulp, so..." Koichi started.
"We decided to go with him to stop him from doing that," I finished.
"That's not a good idea," Petal Star commented, and her friend nodded in agreement.
"I'm only beatin' the bastards who look suspicious is all!" Knuckleduster joined in. "I'm starting with them and working my way down!"
"You're kidding, right? That's like, so-hit-or-miss," Pop Step said.
"It really is," Petal Star nodded.
"Did it ever occur to you guys to actually use your heads?" Pop Step suggested.
"Our heads?" Koichi was confused.
"How?" I wondered.
Both idols sighed as they took out her phone and showed Koichi and me something.
"When villains appear around town, there's always someone who snaps pictures of 'em!" Pop Step showed Koichi on her phone.
"If you run a search for "villains seen for the first time," "sudden villain appearance" and stuff like that, you can easily pinpoint the locations where those kinda guys are likely to appear," Petal Star showed me on her phone.
"Don't you think it's more productive to start questioning after narrowing it down like that?" Pop Step asked Koichi and me.
"Oohh! That's clever!" Koichi commented.
"You two are good," I told the idols.
"Thank you," they both responded.
Though Knuckleduster wasn't listening.
"Hey, you! Over there! Show me yer tongue!" he started to go after a salaryman clutching a briefcase.
"Oh man, not again!" Koichi complained.
"Were you even listening to me, old man?!" Pop Step was angry.
"We better go after him," I said.
"Oh boy," Petal Star rolled her eyes.
Koichi stood in between Knuckleduster and the salaryman as the idols and I watched.
"W-wa-wait just a minute! No matter how you look at it, this guy is just our everyday salaryman! And he's not "loiterin' around" at all!" Koichi tried to persuade him.
Though it didn't work as Knuckleduster reached for the salaryman. Koichi blocked Knuckle duster's hand with his arm, but accidentally hit the salaryman's arm. That made the salaryman drop his briefcase and something fell out as it opened upon hitting the ground.
"Ah... I'm so sorry!" Koichi apologized to the salaryman.
What fell out of the briefcase looked like dolls of Pro Heroes.
"Dolls? Are those ... figures made for children?" I asked.
"What did I tell ya? This guy's suspicious no matter how you look at 'im! No adult would be walkin' around town carrying a suitcase full of dolls without ill intentions!" Knuckleduster said.
"Oh come on! There's like, lots of maniacs like him all over the internet!" Pop Step complained.
"Yeah, this guy could just like toys a lot," Petal Star agreed.
"Umm... I'm actually in the business of selling toys, you see..." the salaryman admitted.
"See? Like I was saying, he's nothing but a serious, hard-working person!" Koichi stated.
"They're right, Knuckleduster," I agreed.
"I'm gonna confirm that here and now! First things first, you better give in to my demands, obediently!" Knuckleduster ignored us, getting ready to punch the salaryman.
"WAAAAAH!" Koichi screamed in panic.
"Don't do it!" I yelled.
Suddenly, a gauze of bandage come out of nowhere and wrapped around Knuckleduster's wrist, pulling back his arm and fist. It surprised us all as we saw who it belonged to.
"So you're part of the whole "villain outbreak". That's been the talk of the town these days, eh? Acts of violence in broad daylight with all eyes on you. Now that's not what I call gentle," the man in black clothes with bandages wrapped around his neck and with groceries in hand.
Knuckleduster knew who he was, "You're the "Eraser Hero" Eraser Head, huh?"
"A hero? You two ever heard of him?" Pop Step asked Koichi and me.
We both shook our heads, meaning no.
"I'm off duty today, you see. Just another "virtuous citizen", as it were," Eraser Head said.
"Seems like we'd get along just fine. As it happens, so am I!" Knuckleduster responded.
"Huh? Could this possibly mean.. we're being treated as villains?!" Koichi was concerned.
"This isn't good," I was a little worried.
"No way! I'm not with them, I swear I'm different!" Pop Step said.
"Me too!" Petal Star agreed with her friend.
A battle between Knuckleduster and Eraser Head began right away, which shocked us.
"Aaaaaahh! Now he's picked a fight with a real hero!" Koichi was surprised.
"Hey, this old man has more than a few screws lose, don't you think?!" Pop Step asked.
"This might not end well," I said.
"Yeah," Petal Star nodded.
Then Koichi and I saw that the salaryman was still here, and Koichi went up to him.
"I'm.. I'm so sorry! I offer my sincerest apologies for frightening you. So with that in mind, could you please explain to that person that we really aren't suspicious figures?! I beg of you!" Koichi pleaded, pointing to the two fighting men.
"N... No , I'm in a hurry so... no way in hell!" the salaryman quickly left.
"Well... that's no surprise, I guess ..." Koichi commented.
"Maybe we should help Knuckleduster," I suggested.
"I don't think so," Petal Star disagreed.
"Hm? That guy.." Pop Step started, taking out her phone. "Now that I get a look at his back, I feel like I've seen it before."
"Me too," Petal Star agreed as she got out her phone too.
"Just as I thought! That guy always shows up in pictures of villain disturbances!" Pop Step figured it out, seeing him in the pics.
"You're right!" Petal Star agreed.
"Koichi! Hold on a minute! We think we have something on that person!" Pop Step said.
"Huh?" Koichi was confused.
"What are you talking about?" I was also confused.
"That guy might have something to do with the villain disturbances!" Petal Star explained, pointing to the salaryman, who was now running away.
I saw Pop Step jump after him and Petal Star ran behind her.
"Look, he's running away! Pretty suspicious!" Pop Step shouted.
"We have to get him!" Petal Star told me.
"Eeeh?!" Koichi didn't understand.
"Let's follow them," I told him as I ran after the girls, and so did Koichi.
While the four of us were chasing the salaryman, Koichi tried to ask him nicely to stop.
"Um, excuse me! If I could just check your tongue, just in case," he asked.
"He won't stop for that!" Petal Star complained.
Suddenly, we were stopped when a wing came out in front of Koichi and stopped him in place.
"Yo... we meet again," We heard a familiar voice.
We looked and saw it was the spiky-haired guy from last night and two his pals. Except the two guys seemed different. The flame guy was now a little bigger and had flame wisps on his arms as well as his head. The lizard guy was also a little bigger and had wings.
"Hey, Hikari. You and your friend have got them covered right?" Petal Star asked me.
"Okay. Pop Step and I are going to go after the salaryman," she said, not giving me a chance to answer as Pop Step kept jumping to catch the salaryman.
Petal Star used her Quirk to make the cherry blossom petals from some nearby trees come to her by moving her hands. Then she used them to make a giant cherry blossom petal that she can ride on to fly after the salaryman with Pop Step.
'I guess Koichi and I will have to fight them,' I thought as the three guys got closer to us.
"Ah... you're the guys from yesterday..." Koichi recognized them.
"Keh! I just can't stand being made a fool of by a loser like you, y'hear?" the spiky-haired guy said to Koichi and me. "You and your friend are going down!"
The spiky-haired guy took out a device and injected himself with it, making spikes grow out of his back and his body. Even his hair got spiky.
"How's this?!" the spiky-haired guy taunted Koichi. "I'll pay ya back ten-fold for last night, punk!"
"What we do know, Koichi?" I asked.
"We should... RUN," Koichi got on all fours and glided away.
Just as the three punks were getting closer, I made a hoverboard out of light and followed after Koichi. Soon enough, we were being chased by the punks.
"Villains! Villains have appeared!" We heard the people shout as we were fleeing from the punks running after us.
"You're good at running away, as usual!" the spiky guy taunted Koichi. "Just try and dodge this."
Suddenly, the spiky guy had spikes all over his body, rolled into a ball, and went after Koichi.
"Koichi, look out!" I shouted.
It was too late as the spiky guy hit Koichi, sending him to hit a wall.
When I saw the fire wisp punk about to attack Koichi, I was about to fight him, but the flying lizard punk caught me with his feet and lifted me into the air, which made my hoverboard disappear.
"Hey! Let me go!" I shouted as I squirmed in his feet.
Then I was carried off by the flying lizard punk somewhere else. In the air, I saw Pop Step and Petal Star chasing after the salaryman from before. For some reason, the flying lizard punk went after them, with me still caught in his feet.
Soon, the flying lizard punk threw me at Petal Star.
"Look out!" I shouted to warn her.
I was too late as I crashed into Petal Star, we crashed into Pop Step and the salaryman, and we all fell onto the ground.
"Ow," I felt pain from the crash.
When I got up, I saw Petal Star also getting up from the crash.
"Are you okay?" I questioned.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, dusting herself off and then looked at me angrily. "Next time you're going to crash into someone, try to be faster with your warnings!"
"Okay, and I'm sorry about the crash," I apologized.
"Wha?!" We heard Pop Step shout in concern.
Petal Star and I saw Pop Step looking at the salaryman. For some reason, his tongue was long, and he was holding one of his dolls. It turned out to be a shell for something he injected himself with.
Suddenly, the salaryman grew into a bald and big creature, as tall as a building, with four arms.
He used three of his hands to grab the flying lizard punk, Pop Step, and Petal Star somewhere as he started walking away.
"Hey! You let them go!" I shouted to the giant, but he didn't listen.
I used the light from a streetlamp to make a hoverboard and followed after the giant, whose rampage worried the people. I got concerned when the flying lizard punk, Pop Step, and Petal Star screamed in pain.
Just as I was following them, I saw Knuckleduster swing on a rope and hit the giant's cheek with his feet. Though the giant slapped Knuckleduster away, sending the masked vigilante falling to the ground.
When I followed to where Knuckleduster was falling, I saw Koichi running to him.
"Ma ... Master!" Koichi yelled.
"Koichi, you're okay," I was glad, as I rode my hoverboard to meet up to where Knuckleduster was.
"Hey, Hikari," he greeted.
"What happened to the punks you were facing?" I questioned.
"Long story," Koichi responded.
"Kyah!"
"Aaah!"
Koichi and I heard some familiar voices screaming. Up above, we saw the giant's hands opened as Pop Step and Petal Star were both falling.
"Pop!" Koichi shouted.
"Petal!" I shouted.
"Koichi, we have to save them right ..." I started, but then I saw Koichi already on the move.
Immediately, Koichi used his Quirk to glide to a building and then up the same building to where Pop Step was falling.
Remembering that Petal Star was also falling, I rode my hoverboard to where she was falling. Luckily, I rode underneath her, catching the idol in my open arms, almost bridal style.
"Huh?" Petal Star said, confused by why she stopped falling.
As I neared the ground where we can land, I asked the idol, "Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah, I'm fine," she answered.
Once we were at the ground, I helped Petal Star out of my arms to the ground and then I got off my hoverboard, which disappeared.
"I'm glad I caught you in time," I told her.
"Yeah," Petal Star said, before looking to the sky and pointing. "Hey look."
I saw Koichi about to catch Pop Step in the air, but she jumped off him to the top of building, sending him falling.
"What?" I was shocked.
"I had a feeling she'd probably do that," Petal Star said.
Koichi's yelling alerted the giant of him. Petal Star and I saw the giant was about to grab him, but Koichi used his Quirk on the giant's open hand to change his fall to someplace else.
Then Petal Star and I saw the giant was about to crush Koichi with his fist.
"Koichi!" We both yelled.
Luckily, the giant started shrinking back to normal size and was wrapped in bandages because of Eraser Head.
After that, Petal Star and I met up with Koichi and Pop Step in an alleyway.
"Koichi, are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine," he responded.
"You're not hurt from the fall?" Pop Step questioned.
"Just a bit tired is all," Koichi answered.
"That's a relief," Pop Step said.
"Man, I'll say, but I had no business doing something heroic when I'm not accustomed to it at all," Koichi explained. "Strutting around acting like a hero under false pretenses... I'm just not cut out for it, you know? In the end, I just fell flat out of the sky... haha, I really thought I was dead back there."
"Don't say that," I interjected. "You did what you could to save Pop Step. Even if she did jump off you to save herself."
"Hey!" Pop Step shouted.
"I'm sure it was just her instincts," Petal Star defended her friend.
"You know," Pop Step started, but then has a serious look. "Hearing that kinda stuff from you, Koichi, is super annoying. Making excuses for every little thing? What is that your idea of being humble or something? Either way, blabbering on like that... it's pointless, so would you just, like put a sock in it already?"
"Huh?" Koichi was confused.
"What?" I was also confused.
Pop Step turned away from Koichi before speaking again, "I was going to say thanks, but ... you're annoying me, so I changed my mind."
"Hikari," Petal Star said as I looked at her, but she wasn't looking at me. "I just wanted to say thanks for saving me."
"Oh, you're welcome," I grinned.
"Koichi and Hikari, you both did great out there," We all saw Knuckleduster approaching us as he spoke. "Koichi, nice try with saving Pop Step and yourself from the giant. Hikari, good work with saving Petal Star."
"Hikari, you did a good save, but there's much more I can teach you. Koichi, allow me to teach you exactly why you fell," the masked vigilante continued. "It's because you jumped! All you gotta do now is work on that landing. You did well to absorb my technique of falling on the garbage pile, but there's plenty more for you and Hikari to learn from here on out, got it?"
"Uh, no. Like I've been saying, why have you started treating me like your disciple all of a sudden?" Koichi inquired.
"I know Koichi is still unsure, but I still want to be one of your disciples," I stated.
"Excellent to hear," Knuckleduster gave me a thumbs-up, before looking at Koichi.
"You called me 'master' a just a while ago, didn't you?" Knuckleduster reminded him.
"That was just something I said in the spur of the moment without thinking. And 'Old Man Knuckle' is kinda hard to say," Koichi said.
"That's exactly why!" Knuckleduster stated, which surprised Koichi. "Your spontaneous words and actions, which you write off as 'spur of the moment', deep down those are your true feelings! It's about time you became conscious of it. Your aspiration to be a hero!"
"No way, that logic is a little forced don't ya think?" Koichi replied.
"Actually, I think it's great," I responded. "Come on, Koichi. Let's be heroes, so we can help the people."
Koichi sighed and then said, "Okay, fine."
Then almost all of us started to leave the alleyway. Knuckleduster was swinging away on his rope, Koichi was gliding on ground, and Pop Step was jumping away.
I tried to look for a light source to use my Quirk, but there were none. Then I saw Petal Star moving her hands to use the cherry blossom petals from some nearby trees to make a giant cherry blossom petal to ride on. Petal Star then looked at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Aren't you going to make your hoverboard?" she questioned.
"I can't. I need light to use my Quirk and there is none here," I answered.
Petal Star sighed, stood on the giant cherry blossom petal, looked at me, and said, "Get on."
"Really?" I was surprised, and Petal Star nodded.
As I got on, she told me, "Grab onto my shoulders."
I did that, and she looked away from me and continued, "Just so you know. I'm not doing this because I want to. I'm just repaying you for saving me."
"Well, thank you," I said.
"You're welcome," she responded.
Petal Star and I then flew away on her giant cherry blossom petal along with the others.
For Koichi and me, today was the first day of our new lives.
A/N: It's TGRickel, in the hizzouse! Here's is the first chapter of the Vigilantes story my good friend johannvanguard and I are working on. It's about the lives and times of best friends Koichi and Hikari who are college students by day and Vigilantes by night. I own Hikari while johannvanguard owns Tokoha.