~NRK~

The drive to the Creatoria Idol School had been simple and warm, Obito's bike pulling around that familiar corner that led towards the school down the street.

[So, we're heading to Fukuoka, right?] Obito asked Ippan as they saw that large gathering of mutant-quirked women outside of the school's doors with their luggage, a large two-story bus with Habami's face and phone on its sides arriving at the same time that had a large set of railings on the roof. [... Wow, you want THAT?]

Ippan blushed before nuzzling him as they slowed down to a crawl. [Mean!] She squeaked as Obito chuckled. [W-We're going to Kyushu, it's where HKT48 started.]

[Okay, so are we just throwing letters together now?]

[Mmm, you're not up to date on idol culture.]

[I'm trying, woman, there are too many damn groups. I've read up more women's names in one team than I'm sure the Prime Minister's cabinet doesn't compare to.]

She giggled as they came to a stop by the others who greeted them excitedly.

"This. Is. IT!" Hachika cheered, wearing a white-and-pink polkadot tank top, pink shorts, and white sneakers with pink socks. "Oh yeah, we'll also be seeing Fukuoka!"

"I'm glad you're so excited," Obito said with an amused smile, lifting his helmet's visor. "Still, this trip alone is supposed to take three days?" He looked at the bus. "I wonder if the airport we're going to is special."

"Actually," Ippan said, confusing him. "Obito-kun, we're taking so long because we're coordinating with the other members of Creatoria. W-We'll see the other two!"

'And finally meet that woman face-to-face,' he'd need to be prepared for whatever Asuka might pull. "I'm glad for you."

"Thanks!"

Simply sitting there, Hachika snickering as she sat on the back of the Juubi's seat behind Ippan, they spoke about the upcoming trip.

"W-We're gonna be on a movie set, this is gonna be important from Habami-chan says," the octopus swallowed. "W-We're supposed to be getting picked for small bits, too!"

Ippan burned at the thought, fiddling with Obito's abdomen.

"Please remember that this is literally you all's first outing like this," he told them. "You've all done mostly sedentary training, now is the time for the actual experience to approach the stage."

"I-I know," his girlfriend whined, hugging him close while setting her chin atop his noggin. "I'm just nervous."

'It'd be hard to NOT notice,' Obito thought as they watched the others. "Wait, right, who exactly are we going out there to me-"

There was a series of flashes from above before a familiar Pro Hero landed on the street heavily while a large RV bearing a familiar bobcat's face came to a stop.

Dressed as usual, Sensoji nodded to the trio while having a large backpack on his back.

"So, it's gonna be the three of us guards first and foremost," the Pro said as a familiar bull man & bat woman left the Creatoria Idol School. "Hmph, I guess it's alright, I don't got a problem with you guys or Master Bam… I just really hope that we deal with Asuka last," Sensoji scoffed.

"Master Bam, ah, Takeshita-san?" Obito asked.

"Yep, he's actually not unfamiliar with bladework like you but he's more of a 'Benkei', though."

Obito could take that many a way. "He uses heavily-modified bamboo-based weaponry… Ah, right, he can do things similar to Yoroi Musha but only to organic plant matter," he remembered. "He's actually rather impressive in his weaponry."

"Gonna get into a spar with 'im? 'Cause that's actually allowed when we get to the spot, most of those sets have places for us guards to unwind," Sensoji said.

"I'm more intrigued, sure."

"Welcome!" Hosoi grinned as she popped around her bodyguard's side. "It's time for you guys to get a feel for an Idol Set."

Wearing a pair of thin auburn arm warmers, a navel-length black shirt, a pair of baggy-looking orange cargo pants, and a pair of brown boots, she finished off her outfit with a brown beret.

"H-H-Hosoi?!" Hachika choked on her breath as the grinning feline grew more smug. "W-Welcome!"

"Nice to meetcha, I see you're chummy with these two."

"Wait, you guys MET?!"

Growing flustered, Ippan nodded while Obito leaned on his handle.

"It wasn't exactly the BEST first meeting, Hachika-san," Obito told her. "But, yes, we did. They helped out with us getting to Mustafu because of a coincidence."

"A 'coincidence' where we learned her man's got skillz," Hosoi shook her head with crossed arms. "H-He took down a Pro."

"I don't think that man got his rhythm yet."

Sensoji smirked as Obito rolled his eyes.

"Nope, not getting into that but on a more interesting matter, well… How are we going to protect the whole group?" Obito asked as they spied the cheering women. "I mean, I could probably protect three… Maybe four depending on their quirks but that's 20 plus people."

"Confident, huh? Well, don't worry about it, we got a bit of extra help for this retreat of ours," the carrot top said, arms crossed as a shadow floated down from above. "Ain't no way just the five of us can do it even with Taira's security team, so we got these guys."

"Obi, dude!" Oboro grinned as he arrived on their level, a familiar man and one not on his cloud before a familiar winged young man arrived. "We got the whole gang!" He cheered as Shouta nodded while the third man on the cloud grinned.

He was a tall man, especially apparent when he departed from Oboro's 'ride', wearing orange visor sunglasses, a black one-piece jumpsuit with hard leather on his shoulders and elbow. He had a gray, neckbrace-like, set of speakers around his neck and had on black boots with fingerless black gloves that he gestured at them with.

Having slightly peach skin with a bit of a mustache above his lip, large blonde hair flared up like a cockatoo's feather crest, and green-yellow rectangular eyes with ring-like irises, his easygoing grin was rather warm and welcoming.

"So, I finally meet ya! You did our bud here a big favor, thanks," the Pro said with a smile, coming over and shaking Obito's hand. "Hizashi Yamada, hero: Present Mic, nice ta meetcha."

"It's fine, I'm glad I could help," Obito said before spying the other two. "So, this is around eight personal guards."

"Actually, there's one more!" Oboro said with a flustered grin as a sleek-looking pink car pulled up, its driver's side door opening to reveal a sleek black boot. "It's morning!"

"No~ It's MIDNIGHT~," a woman declared as she stepped out of the car with a smirk as Oboro threw her double thumbs-ups.

Obito sweatdropped as the woman that left that car grinned with a wink.

She was a moderately tall woman with white skin, long thick & spiky dark purple hair, and violet eyes that bore a beauty mark under the right one. Wearing a thick-strapped navel-length black top, a pair of black slacks, and those sleek-looking, knee-high, black boots, she was a woman who walked with confidence.

"Hello~," 'Midnight' waved with an energy as she retrieved her things from her trunk. "Now, where's the man who saved our Cloudy?"

Obito raised a brow before sweatdropping at Oboro & his blonde friend's pointing fingers at him. "Really?" He asked.

"Yep," the two said with a hi-5.

"They are 'men', right?"

"Ooh, a little boyish charm never hurt no one," Midnight grinned. "Kazama Nemuri, 'Midnight' as ya now know, thanks for helping out our pal."

"Like I told them, it's fine, I'm glad to have helped," Obito said. "Obito Uchiha, personal bodyguard to this young woman here, my girlfriend, Ippan Josei," he presented the blushing fox with a fond smile.

"Ohh~ A little romance? What's this, young lady?" Nemuri snickered as she nudged the flustered fox. "I gotta say? 'Nice', tsk tsk, prrr, Me-OW."

Obito looked utterly baffled while the Pros laughed at him, Sensoji included.

"Christ," the Uchiha said before hearing some giggles.

"We're all here!" Habami declared confidently.

Wearing a thigh-length white shirt, gray shorts, a pair off straw sandals, and her usual little accessories, the bat woman grinned behind a set of shades.

"I'm liking, I'm liking it. Hachi-chan, polkadots, pink ones, are definitely you."

"Yes," the octopus woman fistpumped.

"Obi-kun, hmm, hmm, hmm, delicious," the idol grinned. "I knew we'd get more skin-tight boys on this trip!"

Looking down, Obito looked back up in confusion. "What?" He asked, looking at the sheepish-looking Shinji. "... Really? Is she always like this?"

The bull man was wearing a skin-tight black muscle shirt, a pair of brown athletic sleeves over his elbows, a pair of brown cargo shorts with a black ribbon tied around his left thigh, and brown sandals.

"She's been psyching herself up for this," Shinji said.

"Of course."

"And Ippan-chan, you're ready for this weather!" Habami cheered with the fox, octopus, and Nemuri. "Wait, you're that fashionable heroine I've been seeing lately! I'm glad you made it!"

"Ah, shucks!" Midnight grinned.

They had a little chat for a bit before moving over to the Idol Bus.

"Alright, listen up!" Hosoi shouted to the others, gathering them up. "You all know the plan so remember that we'll have itineraries on the bus! Make sure to scan the QR Code before we hit our stops!"

"Yeah!" The women cheered as Hosoi shook her head.

"This is the second time this has ever happened for me."

"You came before Nagabiko-san," Shinji shrugged. "It's not that surprising."

Watching them begin to get on the bus, Obito hummed. "Are you fine with driving with me, Ippan-chan? You could get some interesting tips from them if you got on the bus."

"I'm fine, we'll have time to speak over the month," Ippan smiled at him and Obito rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, it's definitely not as spacious but I'll be glad to drive you."

"Alright, boys, what are your plans?" Nemuri smirked at the Pros.

"I'll drive with ya!" Oboro said excitedly. "That BMW is beautiful," he said with an awed expression that Hosoi agreed with.

"Hehe, the Luscious ain't a simple lady, she's got the curves, sleek angles, and COLOR of a goddess," Nemuri said proudly. "Which is the total contrast to yours, bud! Monstrous, powerful, and black as pitch as night itself!"

"The Juubi is certainly most of those things," Obito smirked. "Never did get the world's black paint for it, it'd be too much hassle."

"It's still beautiful, man!" Loud Cloud cheered. "It's so damn SEXY."

"I know people say that about vehicles but I'll never get it," he said as Ippan giggled.

They sorted out their rides before getting behind the Idol Bus.

-Alright, you guys know the first stop- Habami said through a walkie-talkie that all vehicles had. -Remember, no informing anyone else-

The bus started up before they drove away from the idol school.

~NRK~

Their travel had them going south and on a rural road.

"Whoa…" Ippan looked around them with wonder as they drove at a leisurely pace, the smell of farmland, sight of animals, and those homey-looking houses had her smiling pleasantly. "It's so nice out here."

"It is, I've never been this way but farms are rather nice to wake up on," Obito said.

"Right, you worked on one. What was it like?"

"Well, for one, a lot more fights for 'king' than I'd have expected."

He revealed his experiences, the ones with the bulls getting more than enough laughter out of his girlfriend, as they reached more normal roads again.

Eight hours since this little trip of theirs started, they made their first rest stop.

~NRK~

Ippan looked out around them in awe as that huge modernized cable car moved over several of the curiously-shaped buildings of Kobe.

"This is crazy," she said as Obito leaned on the railings, eying the rooftops they passed. "Have you been here, Obito-kun?"

"Nope but I do know that they have amazing marbled beef here, we should try some before we leave," he smirked as her stomach growled, his girlfriend looking embarrassed. "Expected, you like a lot of meat dishes which isn't surprising."

"W-Well… Giant kitsune."

"Yep."

"Wait, kitsune?" Habami asked from beside them, Shinji looking up from a series of heavy bands he'd wrapped around his arms. "I thought you were a fox?"

"Well, after looking at how I interact with a few things, Obito-kun realized that it might be that I have a Kitsune quirk," Ippan said.

"There are too many odd consistencies," Obito said.

"What kind?" Oboro asked, flying next to them. "I mean, she's got no tail which could be a nogitsune thing?" He directed at Ippan who shrugged.

"I mean… I don't know," she said.

"Can ya do kitsune stuff?" Hosoi asked excitedly. "Like use fire?!"

"N-No! I don't really do those kinds of things, I-I'm just extremely conductive to things like electricity."

"As far as we know," Obito said, gaining their attention. "Like I told Tsuyu from Nagano, reading up on everything you know about your animal-based quirk is going to be how you use your quirk. There's likely more to do with that conductivity, it just depends on if you WANT to make something of it."

"He's supportive," Hachika told her, looking pleased by the humid atmosphere of Kobe.

"I am for anything she does but it's still her decision."

"I-I'm glad you're so open about it," Ippan said, thoughtful. "I-I've never… Well, you know."

"We do," both of them said as she blushed. "But still…"

"They've got a point," Nemuri said from beside Hachika. "Besides, you never know, what if you can make something flashy with your quirk?" She grinned as Ippan froze, eyes wide. "Ya see~? You've never thought about it before, not sure why but you're missing out on some prime potential idol flashiness."

'I-Is that true?!' Ippan thought in shock as Obito blinked.

"Huh, I guess that makes a lot more sense the more I think about it," he realized, cupping his chin. "The thing is, you don't know what your limits are. What if you can actually absorb enough electricity to gain a strobe effect?" Obito offered her. "Or, potentially, by abiding by more supernatural intent, you could create quite a 'Spirit Show' with the right sorts of props and supporting lights."

"Where'd this come from?" Habami asked, intrigued. "Hehehe~ Producer-to-be?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

"No, I'm more than comfortable where I am, bat woman."

"Darn, I'll get you ONE DAY!"

Obito smirked before shaking his head. "I think combat-minded but it's not that hard to apply 'combat' in a 'flashy' fashion. Of course, what I'm offering could be used as defensive or offensive skills," he admitted with a sweatdrop. "I'm not exactly a normal person if you get my drift."

"I do, Boss man, that Saturday showed me a lot about how 'not normal' you are, speaking of, are you a boss of some kind?" Habami asked with a grin as Obito's eyebrow trembled, flat expression on display. "I mean, ya had all those folks calling your name, your emblem, those fashionable coats."

"What are we talking about?" Oboro asked, intrigued.

"It's nothing, that's just extended family," Obito shook his head. "What you saw that day, for lack of a better word, is a meeting of friends of my granducle's era… They just think I'll supersede him one day, no more, no less."

"In what?"

"His granduncle owes a couple companies," Ippan smiled as Obito shrugged. "A-And seeing how smart he is, I'm not surprised."

"It's all about the study, there's nothing more to it," the quirkless man said.

"You're a rich kid?" Hizashi asked.

"No, my family is just vast."

"That's a weird way to put it," another woman said.

"It's honestly the best way to put it for my circumstances," Obito shrugged once more. "It's just how my family works, there are many who've been friends for over two decades, trust me; Those people are basically 'Family' as far as my granduncle considers it."

"You keep talking about just your grandunc… Ahh," the producer said.

Obito shrugged. "Never knew 'em," he told them, startling the group. "Only found out some… Way ahead information about them but that trail's done."

"... Oh shit," Oboro winced at that as Shouta crossed his arms while looking sympathetic. "Geez, sorry."

"Like I said, I didn't even know them. I've been in my granduncle's care for all my life, there's nothing there for me to mourn."

"Geez, you're one of those tough types."

"I'll take the compliment even if I'll say outright, I suck at emotions," Obito said flatly as they gawked at him. "My current relationship is a miracle in and of itself, don't ask to reproduce it, I'm not that good."

"With those looks?!" Hizashi gawked.

"Looks?"

"Oh my God, he's a natural magnificent bastard!"

Nemuri smirked. "Jealous?" She flipped her hair as the blonde wheezed. "You can't keep looks like ours in normal categories, it's bound to leave you depressed."

"B-Bite me, my looks are fine!" Present Mic yelped.

"Yes, yes, cockatoo~."

"!?"

Obito smirked before his smile relaxed at Ippan's leaning nuzzle, her head placed against his.

"I'm fine, I mean it," he whispered as Oboro grinned, getting a small huff and blush out of the Uchiha.

~NRK~

Reaching one of the large viewing areas of Kobe had come with another couple surprises.

"Hehehe~," Hosoi looked proud as Sensoji nodded. "I set this up while we were comin'. Figured we could enjoy the view and the beef!"

Seeing the many set-up stalls beckoning them over, the idol group spread out around that large forested hill.

Walking to one stall, Obito retrieved two large shish kabobs of grilled beef before handing one to his hungry-looking girlfriend & Hachika.

The two mutants bit in before looking euphoric while Obito got himself a stick.

Finding some stone seats, they ate the rather delectable meat kabobs.

"These are amazing!" Ippan squealed while Hachika looked like she'd ascended. "Mmm!"

"I knowwwwwww~," Hachika moaned before eating more. "Mmm!"

Obito wasn't as vocal about it but he did find this grilled food downright top-grade.

He blinked as his phone rang, the quirkless male pulling it out and looking at the sender. 'Jiji,' Obito got up. "Be right back," he told the women who nodded to him before hurrying back to that stand.

Walking only a bit into the trees surrounding that medium-sized clearing, minding those around him. "... Hello, jiji?" Obito answered, leaning against the back of a tree with closed eyes.

His soul throbbed before he embraced it and felt those unique existences around him in a small three-meter radius.

One of the things he'd learned how to do in the past month.

-Obito, how's the week been treating you?- Hokei asked.

"It's going well, we've finally gone on the retreat as of this morning," Obito said, looking out towards that lowering sun. "Eight hours in, no problems."

-Good, I'm glad to hear you and your girlfriend have had more time to bond-

"Yes… Well, that's true… She chose to ride on my bike with me instead of the clearly accommodating idol bus so that's working."

His granduncle's laughter had him smiling.

"What's going on?"

-Oh, boy, I'm glad for ya, I really am. It's why this is a bit awkward- Hokei admitted with a few sheepish chuckles. -So, you said you were going to Fukuoka, right? Kyushu specifically?-

"Yes… Ah, do you need me to 'meet someone'?" Obito asked.

-Hmm, it's a bit more exciting than that-

The quirkless man's eyes widened at his following words.

-Your grandfather's reached out and said he was so impressed by your performances, your clear attendance at one of those hero-run dojos have seemingly won him over a bit. He wants you to look into a person who's likely going to help you in the future- Hokei said. -His name is 'Kowamaru Awase'. He's the man who made your swords-

Obito released a small gasp. 'I see,' this was interesting news. "Where is he?"

-That's the thing, he'll be in the mountains near your girlfriend's movie set-

Now, the Uchiha was just confused. "Wait, what? Isn't that a bit convenient?"

-Not really, after all, Kowamaru is an old-fashioned guy from what my brother says and the blacksmith lives near a lot of villages-

Obito considered it before nodding. "Very well, I will find him. We're supposed to be at the set for over three weeks, I'll find the time," he told him. "Still, I wonder what this will lead to. My grandfather's clearly setting something up."

-I'd suggest preparing for a fight- Hokei chuckled. -Your grandfather's very old-fashioned and I'm sure there will be some form of 'Guardian' awaiting you, you have your equipment so be assured of your abilities-

"I will."

~NRK~

Following behind the bus seven hours later, their walkie-talkie sparked to life.

-Alright, guys, we're resting in those fields on our left- Habami said with a loud yawn. -M-Mmmmm~ I-I know you guys gotta be tired-

Ippan nodded with a soft hum by Obito's ear.

"Alright," Obito answered.

-Gotcha- Nemuri responded.

Pulling off to the side by a half-beaten path, they turned into a moonlit field with a series of hills sporadically spread throughout the horizon.

Bringing his bike to a halt by Nemuri's car, he locked it up before getting off with a stretch and working as Ippan's steadying 'post' when she got off.

Obito grunted softly before looking a bit embarrassed as she squeaked softly, the feeling of her arms around his waist and chest to his back causing his mind to 'roam'.

"S-Sorry," she said embarrassedly, letting go of her boyfriend.

"It's… It's whatever, let's get our supplies, yeah?" He offered her a 'way out' that she took instantly.

They got their things out of the side compartments of the Juubi before putting in their helmets.

Turning to the others, they walked with the bodyguards towards the center of the small clearing.

"So, roughing it under the stars? Sounds good," Nemuri noted with interest as Hizashi looked around. "For an idol group, this is pretty down-to-earth."

"Hey, it's not like we're the weirdos," Hosoi shook her head as Sensoji rolled his shoulders once he, too, left the bus. "No, that'd be Taira and Asuka."

"Wait, I'm not sure who the other two's names are but I do remember that you girls got a Lizard Idol, doncha?"

"I'm guessin' it's because you guys are connected on the hero sites and stuff?" She asked her bodyguard who shrugged.

"That's about right, heroes are gossips, too," he said as she snickered.

Getting their sleeping bags set up in a large circle, half the guards decided to go search for firewood while the other half stayed behind with their charges.

Obito slid to a stop from his run before shattering a large bush.

'That'll be enough firewood for at least two hours,' he thought, gathering up the broken foliage before hurrying back.

When he returned, Obito nodded at a quick flash of light before getting within range.

"Got it," the carrot top told him as a few of the others returned, too. "We'll keep 'em in a pile. When Loud Cloud's finished with the perimeter, we'll stay up in two-hour shifts."

"Understood," Obito, Shouta, Nemuri, and Shinji said.

"We've got a decent team set-up," Shouta considered. "Obito, myself, Oboro, Keigo-kun, and Shinji-san are close-range, Nemuri, Oboro, Keigo-kun, and you have good utility like flares or haze traps, and then long-range is you, Shinji-san, Keigo-kun, and Hizashi. Honestly, kid," he turned to the winged boy who wore a sheepish expression. "Your quirk is so versatile and unique."

"Aw, thanks!" Keigo grinned, relaxed in such a way that Obito was very aware of him. "I mean, I'm trying my best to also rep the PHSC."

It'd been Sejijou's idea for him to be here for Ryuuki's eventual arrival… Alongside the Commissioner's interest in Obito's abilities.

He'd been rather intrigued, too, but the old woman's interest just outright shocked him at times.

'I wonder what's gotten into her head,' Keigo thought. 'Remember your mission, protect Ryuuki Tsuuka and monitor Obito-san.'

"Hmph, you are good but don't get too ahead of yourself," Sensoji said as Habami hurried over. "Alright, what's the event?"

"Good thinking, Soji-kun, it's time for some singing practice!" The bat declared, a remote in her hands. "We can rest later, for now? Girls, it's time for some practice!" Habami declared to the startled idol trainees.

"R-Really?" Ippan asked as she finished making a large mat-like futon. "Right here?!"

"Yep, you girls are gonna have this large space be your theater. So, we'll be practicing. Producer-san!?"

"I'm coming," the blinged-out man said with a large manilla file in his hand, flipping through it with a twitch of his eyes. "Ah, here we go. Our song 'The Life Spirit' is currently the one we've been handling."

"Then, we'll be starting with that," Habami said. "So, everyone of you get up, take off your shoes, and stand before us, we've gotta start singing!"

The trainees looked excited and anxious before Ippan stepped forward above anyone else.

"L-Let's do this!" She said with as much courage as she could muster, Obito smiling proudly as Oboro returned by lowering down to his level. "S-Still, um, I-I'm more of a dancer than singer."

"That's fine, it's all about practice and confidence," Hosoi grinned as the others scrambled over with Hachika snickering at Ippan's side. "Still, singing's kinda important, ya know?"

"Y-Yeah, um, being just a dancer isn't something I'm afraid of."

"Ya need more confidence than that!" Habami declared. "You gotta want it-W-What I mean, is, you better show your best 'you'," she coughed. 'Dammit, I'm getting caught-up!' She was sure to give encouragement but not THAT much!

She wanted out!

Standing before the lining-up trainees, Aki nodded to the bodyguards.

"This group has a lot of potential even if, well, I haven't found all of their right spots, yet," he told them, Obito nodding at his word. "Your girlfriend is the hardest to place, I mean, she just stands out. I'd like for her to try to be front and center but…"

"She's not good at that, Ippan-chan is someone who's fine with being in the background," Obito sweatdropped. "Despite how impossible that is for someone with her frame."

"Yes, you understand."

"She is pretty tall," Keigo said. "I mean, I thought she was a lady already!"

"Yes, she gets that a lot, too," Obito said as Sensoji grunted. "She's only '18'."

"Wait, seriously?! Hold on, how old are you again?!" Hizashi asked.

"The same age."

"What the?!"

"Ya got mature looks, it's not surprisin'," Hosoi told the confused Uchiha. "Yep, I guess a 'growing fast' duo would get together," she cupped her chin while whining in jealousy. "Ah, man, I just need to get that and shove it into Taira's face."

Watching the trainees perform was an interesting thing.

"Hachika's actually pretty good at this," Aki noted with pleased expression. "In an odd way, she sings with a slight 'siren-esque' quality., it echoes ever so slightly."

"It's true," Hizashi chuckled. "It's also slightly deeper than her regular voice but it gives her singing a bit more 'Oomph'."

"You can tell?" Keigo asked, surprised.

"Yep, I have to balance out my hearing, too. My quirk's not exactly 'quiet', after all."

"Yeah, actually, that makes sense."

Listening to them once more, Obito paid attention to Ippan's singing and couldn't help but feel something off.

It wasn't necessarily 'bad' so much as 'weird'... Ah.

"She's not singing that loudly," he realized as Nemuri raised a brow.

"Oh yeah? Well, she's not exactly loud but her voice is rather high-pitch, ya know?" She offered him as Obito frowned softly. "From how she acts, I guess she's more than a bit insecure about more than her quirk."

"She is," he sighed softly. "How do we fix that, though?"

"Ehhh, you might be thinking about it too hard."

"Huh?"

"You strike me as a guy who pushes his limits to max his stats."

"... If I understand that terminology correctly, yes, I am?"

"Nah, it's fine, that's a GOOD trait but you're thinking about it like everyone can do everything, buddy," Nemuri winked with a tutting finger. "Think on it, I'm sure you're smart enough to not fall too deeply into that trap."

"What trap?" Obito asked flatly. 'I'm thinking too hard?' That didn't make sense to him.

How did fixing one's weaknesses be thinking too hard?

They continued watching the practice for the next hour before the trainees were resting.

Sitting next to his girlfriend, Obito was still puzzled by Nemuri's words.

"Hmm? Obito-kun?" He heard from his side before blinking, looking at Ippan as she tilted her head at him. "A-All well?" She asked him.

"Yes, well, I… I suppose they are," he said unsurely, confusing her. "... Ippan-chan, am I pushing you too hard?"

"What?"

"I just… Midnight-san says that I'm someone who thinks too hard and I can't fathom what she meant but she said it in context with me thinking about how to help you sing with all your heart."

Ippan looked down, bashful, as she intertwined their hands. "I… I-I don't really see it," she admitted. "You support me, you're always thinking about how to beat some flaw in both our armor, I f-feel happy knowing that you think about me so often."

Seeing the blushing young woman had his own cheeks coloring.

Obito pressed his thumb to Ippan's own as their hands clasped more solidly. "I don't know, either, I thought that's what boyfriends did from what I researched."

"Y-You researched it, too?"

Obito shot her a look of confusion as she smiled shyly. "Wait…"

"I-I also looked it up," she admitted. "I didn't want to mess this up," Ippan raised their hands.

"I don't either," he responded in kind, "I'm just worried about what I might potentially bring upon you."

"Then, we should always be open about that."

Obito suddenly grew nervous as she beamed. "I… I hope I can be with you," he said weakly. 'She can never know.'

One month. It took him one month to fall so deeply in love that it was almost hilarious.

But it wasn't. If anything, Obito felt like it was terrifying.

"I'll try my best."

"Me, too!"

Four hours later, Obito stood awake with Sensoji.

"How's it looking?" He asked the bigger man through their walkie-talkies as they stood at the edges of their perimeter.

-All clear on my end. I'm not surprised, though- Sensoji said.

"How so?"

-Despite what Habami said in the beginning? We're gonna get found out, not just because we all know over 20 women can't keep their mouths shut but also because the fans are monitoring their every move. Likely, things are gonna go to shit the moment we get Taira… Fuck, we're gonna get him tomorrow, God above-

Obito was surprised by this. "That sounds problematic," he told him. "Are there any fans I need to be on the lookout for?"

-Crap, I don't know if Shinji gave ya the 'Black List'- Sensoji groaned. -Dammit, look, I'll send it to ya when we're done with our shift. You might not be able to get 'em all but there is a 'Get the Fuck Out of Here' List-

Obito frowned as the older man explained.

-If you can't get 'em all? There are three ya gotta be on the lookout for specifically- Sensoji said. -One of 'em is a real nerd, total idol geek with a Flashing quirk-

Obito stared into the sky.

"... What?" He asked, alarmed.

-Yes, I know, I hate it. Freaking weird-ass people I do NOT want to be near in any kind of vicinity but that guy, ridiculously, is mostly harmless. Nah, the other two are worse. One of 'em, the less 'worse', is part of an association that likes causing a lot of noise where we are. The irony is the guy's a fan, decent fan, but he rides with a crowd of fun-hating bastards-

Obito was still rather bothered by the 'Flasher' idea. "Yes?"

-I know the Flash guy is getting to ya, I'm sorry but them's the breaks. Now… For that last fucking guy-

The Uchiha frowned before he sighed. "What is it?"

-He's a rich guy, there's no ifs, ands, or buts about it. He's a rich bitch with an obsession with Creatoria- Sensoji growled vocally. -I'm going to be honest, Obito, never let your girl leave yer sight. That guy's not a smoothtalker by any imagination but he's a forceful man who knows how to grease some pockets to do his bidding-

The night filled with silence even as the air throbbed for a single moment.

A single wrathful moment.

"... I see."

-Do not attack him, I fucking KNOW where your head is at and I'd freaking do it myself but he IS a rich guy. He could make all our lives a living hell if he gets his fifis hurt. I'm sure she knows better but let her know, try and stick together the whole way, and maybe just dodge him as best ya can-

"We will, thanks, Sensoji-senpai," Obito grunted.

-I'm the older guard here, I am the one who should know better-

~NRK~

The following morning, Obito awoke with a warm chest.

His eyes cracked open and saw that long blonde hair he'd become familiar with over the past month.

'Ippan,' he looked around, holding his girlfriend closer. 'What time is it?' Obito observed the still orange skies of morning. "... Around six? Maybe even five o'clock?" He'd really not gotten a lot of sleep.

He was fine, mind you, a single night of 4-5 hours of sleep wouldn't kill him.

Still, he questioned what he should do with his current predicament. 'I don't want to wake her,' Obito thought softly. 'But I do wish to do a bit of training,' it'd certainly make him more active in the morning. "Hmm."

"Thinking?" Came Nemuri as she sat up from beside the two. "You're lookin' comfy~," she grinned as Obito huffed, the man's cheeks red.

"I am but I'm debating getting up," he whispered, minding Ippan's sleepily flicking ears. "I'd like to do some training while the day is young."

"Hold your breath, alright?"

Obito blinked before doing as asked.

The next second, a small pink haze left the woman's exposed forearm and covered the two teens.

"Come on out before I cut it off."

Obito nodded before gently removing himself from Ippan's warm embrace and tucking her in as she released a small moan in her sleep.

He smiled as the haze halted before getting up and walking away, his coat underneath Ippan's sleeping form.

Obito waved away any leftover haze before taking a deep breath, shaking off the slightest bit of drowsiness. "Thanks," he said quietly to the thumbs-up-giving heroine. "Hmm," Obito lifted his right foot.

Nemuri blinked as he tapped the gray band on it before gawking at it releasing a series of heavy straps that thumped against the floor once they were expelled from it.

Obito put on his limiters with a stretch. "These new ones are definitely heavier," he said as he flexed his hands, the tight bindings squeaking at him as he did. "I'll be back."

He picked up Butsuri from beside his & Ippan's connected futons before walking a good bit away near the road.

The heroine hummed in interest as Obito went through 200 reps per a large variety of slashes.

Very few of those moves were similar as he moved onto the tenth form before the other guards began to awaken with Shinji coming back to the group in a light jog.

"Hmm? Ah, he's training," the bull thought before nodding. "He's dedicated, I can say I understand completely," Shinji smiled as he stretched before moving to the other end of the area. "I'll follow his example and keep the perimeter."

"Hmph, all these handsome men training in skin-tight clothes," Nemuri said in interest. "And these guys didn't wanna be heroes," was it odd?

Yes, yes it was for her, the heroine. Nemuri understood, she did.

She didn't have a mindset unaffected by biases, she saw herodom as the 'prime occupation' for such efforts. So, for her, such training, those skills, their magnificent bodies?!

It was truly something herodom should have in her mind.

'He beat Shouta, that's not bad either,' a quirkless person who, as her friend would explain, only bore a normal weapon at the time. 'Good weapon knowledge, hand-to-hand skills, and cunning fighter ain't something you hear outside of guys with quirks.'

Ugh, she needed to widen her horizons! She was getting a showing of that not being the case!

Nemuri got up and stretched as she looked at the still-asleep trainees and Idols before noticing more movement.

Hosoi yawned as she sat up while Sensoji grunted while sitting up against the Idol Bus.

Then, she looked at that flying figure who'd come down from above with a stretch as Oboro descended with a yawn on a cloud.

"Wwwwweee up?" The cloud man asked, wiping his eyes. "Who's… Good?"

"It seems like most of the guards are awake," Keigo said with another stretch. "... hmm?" He looked on both sides of the group where he found Shinji & Obito training in their own ways. "Damn, they get up to it early."

Watching Obito huff on one end without his shirt showed that older teen's years of experience, his scars a myriad amount that actually had Keigo doing a double-take.

'Oi, wait, why's he got so many of those?!' Was Obito Uchiha not a simple genius?

Was he actually something 'different' from what he'd been told?

Keigo flew over to the swordsman to find him flowing through kicking forms that sent his body down, up, sideways, and in the air.

And he accomplished them perfectly, the Uchiha's body very clearly at its peak and capable of more flexible skills than Keigo had expected.

Obito landed from a jump kick before wiping his cheek with a bare hand, his gloves & shirt folded near Ippan. "Keigo-kun," he nodded to the younger male who looked sheepish. "You just awoke, no?"

"Yeah, I was just watching over the area from above with Oboro-san before I fell asleep during my shift," the bird boy looked bashful. "Dammit, I'm supposed to be better than that."

"Keigo-kun, you're literally, what, fifteen?"

"Fourteen."

"I see. The thing is, why would anyone expect you to be able to do stakeouts like that? Did you not find it curious that we had you working alongside Oboro and Hizashi?"

Keigo froze, jaw dropping as Obito nodded while wiping down with a towel.

"You're still young, you might be here on the Commissioner's word but you're still getting into the swings of your career, I assume," Obito said. 'He's likely been taught to be an agent from a young age,' from their few moments of conversation?

Obito figured that Keigo didn't know much outside of his job despite being fourteen as he'd just admitted.

'Oi?!' H-He was supposed to be the agent here!

Why was he being mentored by, no offense, normal people?!

Keigo slumped as Obito retrieved his blade before hurrying over to his clothes. "Ugh," he groaned as the older male chuckled before finding his shirt and gloves.

Then, Keigo looked at him in confusion as Obito took off his straps.

"Wait, when did you have those?" He asked.

The man demonstrated by pushing the limiters into his gray bands.

Keigo's jaw dropped once more.

"I've got my Equipment," Obito explained as he put on his shirt. "Now, I need to look over that list Sensoji-senpai sent me," he said, pulling out his phone as Keigo perked up before coming over to look down at his cellphone.

"Wait, what list?"

Explaining that idol groups had a series of 'troubles' had Keigo taken-aback.

"Hey, hold on, just get the police involved," hell, get him involved.

That sounded like an actual serious threat!

"I know but clearly it must not be so simple if they haven't done anything yet," Obito sighed as he flicked his thumb through the list. "I'm going to be sticking to Ippan heavily during that portion of this trip. The last thing I need is for her to be dealing with a pushy nobody who's only claim to relevance is his money," the quirkless man's eyes had slowly narrowed.

Keigo had flinched at that abrupt 'heat' coming from him before clearing his throat and peeking at the Uchi- "What the hell?" He stared for a moment as Obito raised a brow at him, 'that thing' going away. 'Was I seeing things?' He was sure he'd just seen something in the man's eye.

"Keigo-kun?"

"Nah, it's… It's nothing, senpai, I just thought I saw something."

Obito looked behind him towards that ever-expanding horizon. "... We'll keep an eye out," he told the younger man as the women began to awaken, Ippan blinking awake before she clutched her pillow.

"Obito?" She sat up, confused, before he waved at her with a smile. "O-Oh, you woke up first. Um, h-how did you…?" Ippan blushed, tapping her claws together.

"I didn't want to wake you so Nemuri-san helped us out. I just got some training done for the past hour," he explained, kneeling by her seated form before the three looked out towards the others. "Our next stop is Hiroshima, we need to be awake for that since we'll be resting there a lot longer than last time."

"We gotta shower," Keigo said, arms crossed. "And then just dealing with the road daze ain't great, either."

"W-We're usually fine on the Juubi," Ippan said.

"That sick bike is WAY more exciting than the bus despite how big it is. Honestly, that thing is sick."

Looking at the O-Dai had Keigo whistling in awe.

Ippan giggled as Obito smiled.

~NRK~

-We're pulling up to Hiroshima- Habami said. -This oughta be where we'll meet Taira-chan-

"Affirmative," Obito responded. "Is it just her?"

-Good question- Shouta said. -It's already been a day now, are we going to meet them all during transit or some at a different location?-

-I know that Nagabiko-chan will be at the location, that's where she's from- Habami explained.

Obito relaxed. 'More time to not see her,' but he knew better, this was only more time to overspeculate.

He was a shinobi before, dammit, he couldn't let his mind play tricks on him.

They drove over a large bridge, eyes going to the gleaming sun reflected in the waters below.

-We're gonna enjoy this location while cooperating with Taira-san- Aki explained. -So, prepare your swimwear-

-YES!- The collective cry from the women in the bus had Ippan giggling while Obito's mind… Oh boy.

It went ELSEWHERE.

'She's going to be in a swimsuit,' he thought with red cheeks. 'God, come on, you're more man than 'boy',' even if he'd never dealt with these kinds of situations before. 'Focus, Ippan is beautiful to you but you've been around more than enough beautiful kunoichi and now women in this current life,' Obito was sure he could do it.

~NRK~

Turns out, nope, he wasn't prepared for it.

Having gone to their hotel, rested, and then came to the shoreline surrounding Hiroshima, Obito's eyes took in every single inch of Ippan in a swimsuit.

'Goddammit, I'm a sap,' his smile was embarrassed outright. "... Y-You look amazing," Obito said.

Ippan burned but smiled all the same.

Damn his heart, it was NOT doing great right now.

Wearing a pair of black tight swimming pants, a tight elastic blue crop top, and a white beach coat, Ippan gripped his claws behind her back with another shy smile as her hair was styled reminiscent of when this whole mess had started.

Obito nodded stiffly at her very feminine midriff.

Wearing a pair of dark blue swim trunks, an open beach hoodie of a similar color, and black swimming gloves, the similar-aged teen presented a torso of powerful athletic muscles with powerful shoulders that she steamed at the sight of despite having seen it twice now.

'I-It's nothing weird, I've seen this before!' Yet, her mind betrayed her.

A single month into this relationship of theirs and she was a mess of hormones already? S-She'd known he was strong, known he was handsome, known that her boyfriend was nice and firm.

Yet, in this context, she was completely embarrassed by it all alongside her own body.

"Look, I…" Obito tried to find the words. "... Your body is very attractive?"

His girlfriend hit a new 'stride' of red before holding her cheeks as Obito tried to quell his own embarrassment.

"SUP?!" A hand slapped Ippan's back and had her jumping with a stumble.

Obito saw the oncoming chest and realized this was his 'fate'.

He caught Ippan, merely stepping back once with his hands around her waist and his eyes peering over her shoulder with a trembling brow to see a fistpumping Hachika.

"Yes," she cheered.

Wearing a pink and white bikini, pink for the top white for the bottom, Hachika had on white sandals with floatation device-like accessories on the sides.

"H-Hachi-chan?!" Ippan squeaked, a vicious bright red even as her body warmed pleasantly. 'T-This feels different!' She didn't understand but her body seemed to!

Obito grumbled something before holding her more securely. "Ha-Chi-Ka-saaaaann?"

"I-I'm just helping you two!" The octopus squeaked.

"Hmph," the man muttered something before leaning back a bit. "Sorry," he told his red-faced girlfriend. '... Yep, that's cute,' Obito thought flatly.

"I-I-It's fine!" The kitsune squeaked, hugging him closely. 'W-We've been hugging for a bit!' Ippan felt euphoric but this was also grounds for more embarrassment if they didn't stop.

Parting reluctantly from him, she fiddled with her claws as Obito released a breath he hadn't known he was holding.

"..."

"..."

"... Are you guys serious?" Hachika asked before wrapping her arms, surprisingly at that, around both their waists and urging them towards the others already situated on the beach and having fun. "You two need to get more comfortable, I know ya just saw each other in swimsuits but this can't be as enticing as the hot springs part."

"Why… Why did you bring that one up?" Obito asked.

"It was the most obvious!"

"What's this about hot springs?" A voice said from behind, Obito's eyebrow trembling. "Ohhhhh! You two got all warm and steamy at the FIRS-"

"H-Habami-chan?!" Ippan squeaked.

Turning their heads, they saw a familiar bat idol & bull bodyguard.

The bat woman looked awed and smug in a normal-looking black bikini with a small gray skirt around her hips while the bull man had worn a full-body black swimsuit with silver accents.

Shinji raised a brow at Obito's red-faced groan, the man's white surfboard held against his back through the crux of both of his elbows. "I'm guessing all is well?" He asked.

"Yes, Shinji-senpai, things are," Obito stressed as Habami snickered, her camera in her hands taking a picture of the trio. "Ugh," he gestured to the beach as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "Let's go this way before I'm 'on air' for too long."

Ippan nodded rapidly before the two walked off, her hand coming up to wrap around his side.

Habami grinned as she pulled out her phone and checked her livestream. "It would seem that this beachside fun is going to be quite fuzzy! We've got a budding couple currently going through the throws of their bodies!" She colored a bit. "But gooooolllleeeyyyy I'm not surprised!"

"That man has gunshows for days," Hachika nudged her as Habami gasped. "And then Ippan-chan? That's a power couple."

They hurried ahead, leaving behind an eyebrow-raised Shinji.

"She's certainly getting her mileage out of this," he shrugged.

~NRK~

Meanwhile, with the embarrassed couple, they found themselves by the waters with warm sand covering their toes.

"S-Sorry, she means well," Ippan pouted.

"It's fine, in a way, it's her support," he rolled his eyes. "Onto less maddening topics, can you swim?"

"I-I'm actually really good at it! Um, my claws," she gestured bashfully, holding up those large white limbs. "They 'grab' water well… I-I wonder if this is more 'kitsune' stuff?" Ippan blinked, alarmed, as Obito smirked. "I'm not, that is, I-I'm trying to pay attention to it now!" She squeaked embarrassedly.

"I'm glad, your quirk's a real marvel, Ippan-chan."

Obito pat her back once before shifting off his coat, Ippan's eyes snapping to him as those powerful arms of his 'coiled' to remove their covering.

She burned bright at Obito's half-naked form, the quirkless student rubbing the back of his neck before running his hand through his hair as those black wrappings around his neck emphasized his pectorals.

"I'll need to cut this soon," he most likely said to himself, combing through his spiky locks to grip the edges of his bangs that now hung to his brow.

Ippan was more taken-aback by Obito's pure unknowing allure throughout the whole duration.

She steamed as he stretched.

"Hm? Ippan-chan?" Obito called out, startling her.

"?!" She jumped before covering her nose.

"Is everything alright?" He asked in concern, a frown on his face.

"Y-YEP! It's FINE!"

Now confused, Obito rubbed the back of his head. "Alright, well, how about we go and enjoy the waters?" He offered.

Ippan nodded stiffly before blushing up another storm as she gently grasped his coat's edges.

Obito looked away from her in a fond yet redundant kind of way that he never usually did, surprising her before Ippan gathered her courage.

She gently undid her coat before dropping it next to his. "Y-You can look," she told him, completely and totally red-faced.

'Wait, I'm looking away?' Obito only just now realized how ridiculous he was being before turning around and trying to find his center.

He didn't.

It wasn't like he'd not already known what was beneath that coat, it'd been fucking open so it's not like she'd hid her chest… But all of that logic went out the window as he cleared his throat, eyes trying to be polite.

They failed at half-accuracy so that should tell you how out of his mind he was.

Ippan fiddled with her claws, head down but eyes peeking up as if to gauge his reaction.

"You look attractive," he uttered with a grunt before smiling awkwardly. "I'm sorry I'm not sure what else to say."

"T-That's fine!" She said in a higher pitch than even her normal pitch. "T-T-This is normal! N-Normal people do this," Ippan tried to assuage his worries.

And all she did was make him worry about hers. "Okay, look… I meant what I said," Obito found his feelings and words, arms crossing as he made sure to lock eyes with hers that'd bewitched him a month ago. "I do think your body is womanly… It's curvy, you clearly take care of yourself," oh boy, was he taking this conversation in the 'right' direction? "Even if that wasn't the starting point… I'm serious."

Seeing Obito try to take charge of his embarrassment had made Ippan feel more embarrassed but then she watched how he tried to put his feelings into words.

The quirkless male fumbled for one of the few times she'd known him and Ippan had long since realized he was a straightforward no-nonsense type before knowing him more personally.

So, she tried to take charge as well. "I-It's fine, I… I-I wanted to be accepted, g-generally! Not, um," Ippan's claws fiddled faster. "W-What I'm saying is that I get it," she mumbled. "... W-Wait, um, what was your 'starting point'?" Ippan realized he'd said something that actually sounded downright amazing to her.

Obito wheezed out a breath. 'Oh shit, that's right,' Ippan had enhanced hearing! "Ahem, well, that is… D-Despite how our in-person meeting started, that wasn't… It was pleasant! But, that is, it wasn't how I…" come on, man!

Find your fucking tongue!

Ippan hung onto his every word as Obito finally made it to his 'conclusion'.

Obito struggled before slumping. "You're very physically attractive but, despite my being bad at it, my feelings don't bend for something so carnel," he held his noggin while facing the ocean. "... Before I asked for your feelings," he said slowly. "I wasn't sure what I wanted, romance-wise, but your…" Obito burned something fierce. 'Kindness! Just say KINDNESS!' He roared in his heart but it failed to get out.

"M-Myyyy?" Ippan tried to 'help'.

"... Eyes… Oh God, that sounds like I'm jumping back to physicality but that's not what I'm trying to get across. That said, your eyes were my focus from our very first meeting."

The kitsune was caught off-guard by that. 'I-It's obvious he meant to say something else…' But that 'eyes' comment had her feeling butterflies regardless.

"You have amazing eyes, I can't find my other words," Obito said. "And eyes are said to… Inform you of the person so…"

"... Thank you," Ippan smiled from the very depths of her heart and the former shinobi was woefully-stricken by his emotions once more. "I… That's the first time I've ever been told that."

"You deserve it, I mean that."

She smiled.

And then there was clapping before the two froze and mechanically turned to their cheering 'crowd'.

"You got this, man!" Oboro cried manly tears of joy as he held up cloud-shaped fans?! "Speak from the bottom of your heart!"

"Oh… Oh my God," both teens reddened like tomatoes as Habami kept on grinning like she'd won the world's lottery while Hosoi looked defeated on all-fours.

"I-I want that," the bobcat woman beat the sand. "Damn it ALL, I want that!"

Sensoji looked unsure before shrugging at Obito's gawking while Nemuri cheered with the other trainees. "I got nothing."

Shouta looked incredibly awkward while Hizashi jostled his shoulder.

"Your new male best friend just worked his heart out, cheer!" The blonde laughed.

"My what?" The brunette hero's mouth dropped.

~NRK~

Taira trembled in shock, nay appallment, a-at this lovey-dovey confession!

She steamed in a pit of gloom as she watched Habami's livestream while they reached Hiroshima.

"T-That's not fair!" She howled loudly. "Geten-san, t-this isn't fair!"

That male figure currently seated behind her large tank of a travel car tilted his head.

"Not… Fair?" He asked, voice slightly deep but soft. "Ma'am, that wouldn't make sense. For all intents and purposes, unless I'm wrong, they've been in a relationship long before you grew… Interested? Um, unsure?" 'Geten' said with just as much confidence.

He was a moderately-tall 'man', she wasn't sure, wearing a thick light blue parka that was closed all the way down to his knees with white-furred trim on the coat and around his raised hood. Having only-visible blue eyes, fair skin from his uncovered hands, black pants, and off-white boots, he was one of her father's co-worker's hired help.

Tomoyasu Chikazoku, IT Head of Good Feels Inc, had reassured her that 'Geten' was an incredibly powerful man who was younger than even her 22 years of life.

"You don't understand! That hottie is going around with that kitsune woman like her Prince Charming! Where's my Prince?!"

As the woman whined, Geten mumbled.

"Re-Destro, was this part really necessary?" He asked him.

Sure, his great leader had told him this was to not only widen his horizons but to also expand his network & potential variety in opponents.

'She's crazy!' Geten whined.

~NRK~

"T-That's so cute!" She squealed at the screens, big pink eyes closing in joy as she posted her own 'happy couple' in the livestream chat. "They're totally Yin and Yang!"

She giggled to herself, spinning in her modified chair as her mind filled with her own version of those 'fluffy' images.

"I know we can do this, too, Gentle," she beamed at the other monitors in her room showing a map, the location of the idol group, and a man. "W-We won't ruin anything a-and we might even be able to give them a romantic moment! Imagine it!"

-Egads, we could get views and make VIEWS?!- The man on the screen looked shocked at this 'opportunity'! -La Brava, more snooping! We'll find our chance for ACTION!-

"Yes, sir!"

~NRK~

Himiko's eyes widened at her screen, seated in her family's car in a white ballet dress she really wished was a different color.

Still, those two things were ignored as she gasped at that livestream.

"Ya-huh-huh-HUH! We've got lovebirds on the beach! One, a mutant woman with a shy disposition and the other a no-nonsense quirkless man whose feelings are hard to breach!" The bat idol grinned as the two-in-question sputtered under the cheering or jokes of those around. "Man, hottie lovers! Who'd have seen that coming?!"

Himiko turned the livestream's video settings back and replayed the two's self-focused atmosphere.

'He liked her eyes?' The girl was honestly surprised.

Did he not fear her? He'd said he found her very attractive but it was her eyes?

Himiko remembered them a bit from earlier in the stream. 'They are a pretty color,' she thought but did boys like 'pretty'? She'd always thought they disliked 'girly' stuff. '...' Himiko listened in.

To that man clearly trying to pour his heart out but coming away with difficulty.

'I wonder if he doesn't know how to say 'I love you'?' She wondered with a pout. 'I mean, I bet it's not rare,' after all.

Her parents didn't know how to say it.

~NRK Out~