A few days after the bridge incident, Yu Onomae, now fully committed to his role as Spider-Man, continued to patrol the streets of Naruhata, searching for the people who needed his help. He'd been focused on saving lives, just like what he had done with that boy and his mother.

But still, crimes never stop, especially in Naruhata. He dealt with them too. Petty crimes. Muggings. High-speed chases. Drug dealers. Unlike what he did before his epiphany, he made sure to be less of an avenging vigilante and more of a... friendly neighbor, especially in the eyes of the people he saved.

That's when Crawler, a member of the group of vigilantes patrolling Naruhata, was trying to track Spider-Man down. He and his mentor, Knuckleduster, and his associate, Pop Step, had been impressed by Spider-Man's quick thinking and skill during his acts of vigilantism.

Now, after deciding that he had seen what he needed to see from Spider-Man for the past few days, Knuckleduster gave Crawler a mission to recruit this new vigilante to their ranks. Still, he had to find Spider-Man on his own. And Naruhata was a large city. Well, not as large and densely populated as Tokyo, which was just a few minutes' drive away, but it was still a big city.

Spider-Man hadn't been paying attention to the heroes or vigilantes of Naruhata since he lost his father. He had heard of them, yes, but he hadn't expected to meet them so soon. And he knew the Crawler was the vigilante who would run around in an All Might hoodie. It became a calling card of sorts.

After sliding down the streets for a good couple of hours, Crawler finally found Spider-Man.

They met on the rooftop of a small building. Spider-Man perched on the ledge, mask pulled tight, while Crawler, in his All Might hoodie and with his usual relaxed demeanor, waved up at him. It was easy to gain Spider-Man's attention. Crawler then slid up the building with his Quirk, Slide and Glide, to greet the spider-themed vigilante properly.

"Hey, Spider-Man, right?" Crawler greeted, a friendly grin on his face. Yu's smile was hidden behind his inexpressive mask, but it was there. He gave the Crawler a small wave.

"A friend of mine sent me to talk to you. He thinks you could be a good fit with us. We could use someone with your skills, know? Vigilantes like us will be better together."

Spider-Man, half-expecting to be confronted for his vigilantism, raised an eyebrow beneath his mask. "Vigilantes?" he asked. "I'm not sure I work well with others."

Crawler chuckled. "Yeah, I heard you're a bit of a lone wolf for these past few days." That's true. Yu had been a vigilante ever since he started his hunt for his father's killer. And he hunted alone. A lone wolf, indeed. "But we're not just any team. We do things our way, outside the system. You've been doing the same, haven't you? How'd you like to work together?"

Spider-Man eyed him for a moment, curious but also cautious. "Work together? I've got my problems to deal with." That's also true. Yu had to balance his life as orphan who needed to support himself with part-time jobs and his newfound responsibility as a vigilante.

"I get that. But trust me, Naruhata could use someone like you," Crawler replied, his tone sincere. "Besides, I've got a feeling you're looking for the same guy I am."

Crawler then showed Yu a familiar figure in a photograph he had been carrying around with him. A figure encased in a familiar, Rhino-like exoskeleton.

Yu's eyes narrowed beneath the mask. "The man in the Rhino exoskeleton?" He was a villain. That's all he was to Yu. A possible threat, but not an active target. Still, Yu knew that if he came across the villain, he would face him down. There was no more doubt about that, especially after his epiphany on that fateful night.

Before Crawler could answer, a loud crash shook the streets below. Both vigilantes looked down to see a massive figure plowing through parked cars, sending them flying like toys. It was the man from the bridge, clad in the same bulky exoskeleton, charging through the streets with raw, brute force. This time, he had his sights on the bank located right up the street.

Of course, a man like he was couldn't possibly stand the traffic, so, once again, he got rid of the cars the only way he knew how. Wreaking havoc.

Spider-Man's senses sharpened at the sight of the same guy. "That's him. The Rhino."

"Rhino." Crawler decided to fill in the blanks in the new vigilante's knowledge of the big guy. "That's Aleksei Sytsevitch. He's a street thug slash part-time mercenary. Wears an enhanced exosuit designed to increase power and strength. He's unstoppable once he gets going," He explained quickly. "We need to stop him before he destroys the whole block on his way to the bank."

Spider-Man nodded, and without hesitation, they both sprang into action.

Spider-Man shot out a line of web, swinging down toward Rhino, while Crawler used his Slide and Glide Quirk to zip down the walls of the building, catching up in an instant. They both landed in front of Rhino, blocking his path. The massive villain stopped in his tracks, snorting angrily as he sized up his opponents.

"Who the hell are you two?" Rhino growled, cracking his neck. "Get out of my way, before I crush you. Starting with you, bug." He pointed to the obvious bug of the two. Spider-Man. The spider insignia on his suit was clear as day.

Crawler stepped forward; his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by determination. "We're the ones who are gonna stop you."

Spider-Man, standing beside him, shot webs onto the nearby debris. He aimed for bricks, newspaper stands, and manhole covers. He even ripped fire hydrants from the sidewalks and car doors from their hinges. Anything he could stick his webs on. He began hurling them at Rhino with precision, aiming right at him and trying to slow him down.

Rhino growled as the debris hit him, but the armor protected him from serious damage.

"Keep him distracted!" Yu called out to Crawler. "I've got an idea."

Crawler nodded, using his Quirk to dash around Rhino at high speed, sliding under his feet and delivering quick, calculated strikes to the exosuit. Rhino swung his arms wildly, trying to hit Crawler, but Koichi was too fast, slipping past each of Rhino's attacks with ease.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man positioned himself above Rhino on a nearby lamppost, quickly reloading a spent cartridge in his web-shooters with a new cylinder. He had to find something much bigger to toss at Rhino. He had to stun him. "I need to throw something big at him. A car, a truck, or..."

But his plan changed as he realized what the Crawler was planning as he continued to slide close to Rhino. "Or maybe not..."

Rhino, realizing he couldn't land a hit on Crawler as he continued to slide past his attacks, let out a furious roar. "You're like a fly buzzing around! Stay still!"

Knowing that he had got on his nerve, all Koichi needed was to find a good position to bait him. As soon as he found it, he stood there, waiting for Aleksei to do something wild in his rage. "Stop wasting my time!"

With a sudden burst of energy, Rhino charged straight for Crawler, his speed surprising for someone his size. But all was according to plan. Koichi narrowly avoided the charge by sliding right between Rhino's legs, but Rhino's momentum carried him straight into a concrete wall right where the Crawler once was, leaving a massive dent and disoriented Rhino. Rhino was on his knees, holding his head as he was dazed from the hard impact.

That was Yu's moment. He swung towards Rhino and delivered a swing kick right in the head. Surprisingly, the power behind the kick, coupled with the momentum of the swing, successfully hurt the stunned Rhino. It was time to strike. It was working.

"Crawler, now!" Yu yelled. It caused Koichi to realize that attacking his head would work.

Crawler dashed toward Rhino, this time with a new plan. Using his Quirk, he propelled himself forward, right towards the Rhino. As the Crawler slid towards Rhino, he focused his Quirk on his knuckles, planning to amplify the punch. He projected several force fields on his knuckles with his Slide and Glide Quirk and weaponized them to deliver hard-hitting attacks. Powered by momentum, the Crawler leaped right towards Rhino and delivered another hit to Rhino's head, hurting him and disorienting him even more.

For the next attack, Spider-Man and the Crawler worked in tandem to pummel Rhino in the head repeatedly. Yu didn't hold back with his spider-like strength while Koichi amplified every punch with his Quirk. After doing it for 30 straight seconds, Aleksei Sytsevitch was down for the count.

Breathing heavily, Spider-Man landed right next to the Crawler, who was catching his breath. "Nice work," Yu said, his voice carrying a hint of admiration.

"You too," Crawler replied with a grin. "We make a pretty good team, huh?"

Yu looked down at the defeated Rhino and nodded. "Yeah, we do."

As the sound of sirens echoed in the distance, signaling the arrival of the authorities, Crawler turned to Yu with a knowing look. "So, what do you say? Join the team? We could use someone like you."

Yu hesitated for a moment, glancing at Rhino before looking back at Crawler. His life as Spider-Man had been solitary so far, driven by his mission for justice. But something about the way they fought together, the way they worked as a team, resonated with him.

"All right," Yu finally said, pulling his mask back over his face. "I'm in."

And with that, the bond between Spider-Man and the Naruhata vigilantes was made. It was a partnership built on trust, teamwork, and a shared sense of responsibility. Together, they would continue to fight for the people of Naruhata, even as bigger threats loomed on the horizon.

After their first successful team-up against Rhino, Crawler invited Yu to the Naruhata vigilantes' base for a proper introduction. Yu hesitated at first. After all, he had always worked alone. But there was something about Crawler that felt genuine. Perhaps, for once, working with other vigilantes like him wasn't such a bad idea.

The base was nothing grand or striking. It was just an ordinary house in the middle of Naruhata. It was a perfect cover.

As Yu stepped inside, Crawler greeted him with a grin. "Glad you could make it. Figured it was time for a more formal introduction." Crawler pulled off his face mask and removed the hood covering his head, revealing his face to the new guest. "I'm Koichi, by the way. Koichi Haimawari. Nice to meet you."

Yu paused for a moment, then slowly removed his mask to reveal his face to his new friend. "Yu Onomae," he said, his voice calmer than it had been in a while. It felt strange, to reveal his face to someone after so long, but somehow, it felt right.

Koichi nodded, appreciating the gesture of trust. "Come on, let me introduce you to the rest of the crew."

They walked further into the base, where two other vigilantes were waiting. One of them was a gruff-looking older man, his eyes sharp and assessing. The other was a young woman, energetic and full of life, despite the hardened nature of their work.

"That's Knuckleduster," Koichi said, gesturing to the older man. "Mr. Iwao Oguro. He's the one who thought you'd be a good fit with us. And this here's Pop Step," he added, introducing the young woman.

Knuckleduster stepped forward, his gaze sizing Yu up. "Heard a lot about you, Spider-Man. You've got potential, but you'll need to sharpen up if you're going to work with us. No room for half-measures in this game."

Yu nodded, accepting the challenge in Knuckleduster's words. He understood the stakes now, more than ever. He wasn't here to hunt down one man anymore. He was here to protect people, to be a hero in his way.

Pop Step smiled warmly, her bright demeanor a contrast to the serious atmosphere. "Don't mind him too much," she said with a laugh. "I'm Kazuho. Welcome to the team, Yu."

For the first time in a long while, Yu felt a sense of belonging. This wasn't just about him anymore. It was about something bigger, and he was ready to see where this path would take him.

As Yu settled into the base, taking in his new surroundings and the team he was now part of, something caught his eye. Koichi had changed into a t-shirt emblazoned with a big figure of All Might. Yu couldn't help but smirk slightly, recognizing the connection between the t-shirt and the hoodie Koichi would always wear during his acts of vigilantism.

"All Might fan, huh?" Yu asked, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "You were wearing his hoodie, and now, this." Yu gestured to Koichi's t-shirt. "You look up to him, don't you?"

Koichi scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed but smiling, nonetheless. "Yeah, you got me. All Might's been my hero since I was a kid. Wearing this hoodie kind of makes me feel like I can live up to him, you know? Even though I'm nowhere near that level. But it's a reminder of why I do this, why I keep pushing myself to help people, even if it's on a smaller scale."

Yu nodded thoughtfully. "It's good to have someone like that to look up to. I think... I kind of lost sight of that for a while." He paused before shifting his gaze to the others. "What about you guys? How did each of you start as vigilantes?"

Koichi leaned back, ready to share his story. "For me, it started pretty simply. I didn't think of myself as a vigilante at first. I'm just a college student who wants to help out when I saw people in trouble. My quirk isn't flashy or powerful like the other Pro Heroes, and I missed an opportunity to enter a hero course, so... I never thought I'd be a real hero. But I do what I can to help people whenever they need it. And then... well, things kind of escalated for me, and I found myself caught up in this world." Koichi chuckled as he remembered the first time he met his master, and his subsequent entrance to the Naruhata Vigilantes. "Next thing I knew, I was working with these guys."

Pop Step chimed in next, leaning forward with a bright expression. "I used to be an idol, doing street performances as Pop Step," she explained, "but after I was saved by these two, I realized that couldn't stand just being a performer when people out there needed help. I wanted to do more than just entertain, I wanted to make a real difference. So, I took my talents to the streets. I still perform, but now it's with a different kind of stage."

Yu raised an eyebrow. "An idol turned vigilante. That's... not something you hear every day."

Pop Step grinned. "Yeah, I like to keep things interesting."

Finally, Knuckleduster spoke up, his tone gruff but filled with experience. "I was a Pro Hero once, but that was an old life. A long time ago. Things... didn't go as planned, and I ended up leaving that world behind. But just because I'm not wearing the official badge doesn't mean I stopped fighting for what's right. Being a vigilante, doing things my way, it's how I can keep pushing back against the real threats in this world. No red tape, no rules holding me back."

Yu listened intently, realizing how different each of their journeys was. But despite their unique paths, they all had one thing in common. Each of them wanted to help. Whether they had a hero license or not, they were fighting for the same cause.

"I see," Yu said, absorbing their stories. "We all got here in different ways, but I guess in the end, it's about the same thing. Protecting people, no matter the cost."

Koichi nodded in agreement, a determined look crossing his face. "Exactly. We might not be legal like the Pro Heroes, but we do what we can."

"And sometimes..." Oguro walked towards Yu to say his piece. "Sometimes the people need heroes who are... ordinary, just like them. Ordinary people who are just trying to do the right thing. We are living proofs that you don't need a Hero License to make a difference. To save a life. To do what's right."

"And now, you're part of that too, Yu." Kazuho wrapped everything up.

Yu felt a sense of solidarity building between them. For the first time in a long time, he wasn't alone in this fight. They were all in it together, each with their strengths and struggles, but united by a shared purpose.

A few months had passed since Yu joined the Naruhata vigilantes, and during that time, the group had formed a strong bond. They operated in sync, helping the people of their neighborhood while continuing to grow as a team. Yu, especially, had found a sense of purpose beyond vengeance, learning more about his responsibility as Spider-Man.

One day, as they regrouped after a long night of patrol, a news broadcast caught their attention. The screen flickered to life, showing a special interview on one of Japan's major news networks. The interviewer was Makoto Tsukauchi, the sister of Naomasa Tsukauchi, the detective who they made their acquaintance, who often worked alongside heroes and some vigilantes like them. But what made the broadcast significant wasn't Makoto. It was the guest sitting opposite her.

A man, tall and impossibly strong, with a regal yet humble presence, sat calmly in the studio. He wore a red and blue suit, a bright red cape draped across his broad shoulders, and on his chest was an unmistakable symbol, an "S" shaped like a shield.

Yu, Koichi, Pop Step, and Knuckleduster stared at the screen, captivated by the new hero. They had never seen anyone like this before. The world had never seen anyone like this before. This is a man who could fly through the skies, lift entire train cars, and save lives with powers equivalent, if not superior, to All Might himself, and yet, he's humble.

Superman's voice was calm yet commanding as he introduced himself as Kal-El. He was born on the planet Krypton, but he was raised here on Earth. He told the world that even though his origins were extraterrestrial his heart belongs to the world. And that he's here to help and protect.

Yu could barely believe what he was hearing. An alien hero, someone who wasn't just strong but came from another planet entirely. The implications were staggering. He glanced at Koichi, who had a wide-eyed, amazed expression on his face.

"Wow... Superman," Koichi whispered. "Can you imagine what it'd be like to have someone like that on our side?"

Knuckleduster crossed his arms, studying the screen with a furrowed brow. "He's powerful, no doubt. But power like that... it can be dangerous if it's not kept in check."

Yu nodded in agreement but couldn't help feeling a sense of awe. Superman wasn't just powerful, he seemed noble, the very definition of what a hero should be. It was clear that this moment would change everything. The world was no longer just a place for quirk-powered heroes. Superman's arrival marked a new era.

For the Naruhata vigilantes, this was a moment they would never forget. A new legend had arrived, and his presence would shake the very foundations of the hero society they knew.

Over a year after Superman's arrival, the world faced an unimaginable threat. A massive meteor crashed into Earth, unleashing a beast unlike anything they had ever seen, Doomsday. Its destructive power was so overwhelming that it drew the attention of the world's greatest heroes. All Might was the first to engage the beast in the heart of Tokyo, battling with all his might as the city trembled under Doomsday's power.

Spider-Man, Crawler, Pop Step, and Knuckleduster knew they were outmatched in terms of raw power. They couldn't take on Doomsday head-on, but that didn't stop them from playing their part. Their focus was on saving civilians, pulling people out of collapsed buildings, and evacuating the streets as the battle between titans raged in the city. Even Yu, as Spider-Man, felt the weight of responsibility more than ever. This was about saving as many lives as possible.

The three youngest vigilantes were already in the city, awaiting Knuckleduster's arrival from Naruhata. They coordinated through their comms as distant roars and explosions echoed across the skyline.

"Alright," Knuckleduster's gruff voice cut through the static. "Yu, Koichi, focus on getting people out of the buildings. Kazuho and I will handle street-level evacuations."

"How?" Koichi asked, uncertainty creeping into his voice.

The roar of a powerful engine shattered the tense silence. A heavily modified black muscle car roared down the street. The muscle car was covered in armor and built like a battering ram. It screeched to a halt before them, belching smoke from the jet exhaust on the rear.

"This is how." Knuckleduster slapped the car's roof with a grim smile before turning to Pop Step. "Can you drive?"

"Yeah... but..." Kazuho hesitated, eyeing the nearby abandoned school bus Knuckleduster was pointing at. "I've never driven anything that big."

"You will." Knuckleduster's voice softened. "Get civilians on that bus, as many as you can fit, and drive them out of the danger zone. I'll clear a path for you."

Kazuho's heart pounded. She hated how her hands shook. One mistake, and those people would die. But she couldn't let her friends and the people she was protecting down. Not now.

"Understood." She clenched her fists, swallowing her fear.

Knuckleduster nodded approvingly. "Good. We don't leave anyone behind."

Suddenly, Yu's Spider-Sense flared violently. He snapped toward a damaged skyscraper nearby. The top floor. The sky bar. It wasn't clear.

"Koichi, with me! Top floor!" Yu shouted, launching a web toward the towering structure.

"Good luck!" Koichi called back to Kazuho and Knuckleduster before propelling himself forward, sliding across the ground with precision.

They raced toward the crumbling high-rise, knowing every second counted.

Reaching the base of the building, Koichi activated his Quirk, Slide and Glide, zipping up the glass facade while weaving between shattered windowpanes. Meanwhile, Yu sprinted alongside the wall, launching web-lines at precise intervals to propel himself upward.

As the first to reach the top, Yu leapt away from the building before using his webs to zip back towards the window. He made good use of the momentum he gained and slammed both feet into the thick sky bar window, shattering it in a rain of glass. Koichi entered through the window shortly after.

Inside, fourteen terrified civilians huddled beneath overturned tables, shielding themselves from falling debris. The stairwells were gone, destroyed by shockwaves from Doomsday's distant blows. The elevators were dead as the city's power was down.

They were trapped. There was no time. No way down.

Yu's mind raced. "We need a plan."

Koichi nodded, eyes narrowing as they prepared for the impossible.

They weren't just vigilantes. Not anymore. They were the only hope these people had.

All Might fought valiantly, but his time as the Symbol of Peace was coming to an end. He had exhausted the last of his Quirk in the fight for his life. But it wasn't enough. Just as it seemed that Tokyo would fall, Star and Stripe, America's strongest hero, arrived to take over the fight. Her ferocity in battle was unmatched, and for a moment, it seemed like she might turn the tide. But even she struggled to bring the unstoppable force to a halt, even with the help of her Alpha and Bravo Squadrons.

Then came Superman.

He descended from the sky like a savior, his presence radiating strength and hope as he clashed with Doomsday in a battle that shook the very foundations of the city, including the high-rise Yu and Koichi were on.

The rectangular skyscraper groaned under the relentless tremors before tilting dangerously to the left. Its structural supports finally gave way, and the entire building began its inevitable fall.

"Oh, no."

Yu reacted instantly. He grabbed the oldest civilian and secured him on his back. "Hold on!" With a powerful leap, he burst through the window he had broken earlier, web-swinging to a nearby rooftop, out of the building's path.

Still inside, Koichi knew he couldn't carry all thirteen remaining civilians. Desperation forced his mind into overdrive. His mind then thought of something crazy. He just hoped it would work. After all, desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Everyone! Run to the right!" he ordered. The civilians sprinted as the building continued its slow, horrifying collapse. They started to run on an incline as the building started to topple. Koichi purposely ran along with them instead of sliding on the floor, prepared to save the ones who slid back to the falling side. Thankfully, all thirteen reached the edge without falling back to the left side.

Acting fast, Koichi slid past the thirteen runners before getting back on his feet, and unleashed a repulsive force blast from his hands, shattering the windows on the right side. "Jump! Now!"

Terrified but determined, the civilians obeyed.

There were thirteen civilians sliding down the tilted facade toward the shattered edge below them. As he slid with them, Koichi prayed Yu would return quickly. He needed him for what happened next.

"Spider-Man! I need your help!" Koichi shouted into his comms through the earpiece on his ear.

"I'm on it!" Yu's voice crackled back.

Before he knew it, Spider-Man used his webs to hoist a man up to his back and swung him away from the building. Koichi decided to do what he could. He hoisted a small child onto his back, reassuring him with a steady voice. "Hang on tight!"

He slid toward the edge with the child clinging onto him, building momentum with his speed. Just before the drop, he unleashed a burst of repulsive energy from his hands and feet, launching them both into the air. With his powers, Koichi enveloped his body in repulsive force mid-flight, which allowed him to glide toward the closest rooftop.

Eleven more to go. But he still had Spider-Man's help. It would be easy as...

"Crawler! You save the rest! I'll focus on the people in the building's path!" Yu's voice came through the comms. Koichi knew that Yu had detected their presence with his... spider sense.

Koichi's heart pounded. It was up to him now. He was on his own. With his heart pounding quickly, time seemed to slow down. This... won't be easy.

He stared at the collapsing high-rise, knowing there were still eleven people needing him. He knew he couldn't hesitate, not when lives were at stake. But he didn't know if he could save them by simply sliding with his Quirk, Slide and... Glide.

His Quirk was never meant for something like this. Or was it?

In that moment, Koichi understood what he had to do.

He focused inward, channeling the repulsive force around his entire body, just like what he had done earlier to levitate. The familiar hum of power coursed through him as he levitated just slightly above ground. He used the repulsive force on his hands and feet to stabilize himself, which also raised him a bit further above.

"Okay. That's a start." Koichi knew that his plan was mad, and he knew it would take some practice before he could perfect it, but... this is an emergency. He had to do it. Eleven people still needed him. It's now or never.

He took a deep breath... and made the leap. "Here goes nothing..."

After a few seconds, with no time to lose, he decided turned it up a notch. Increasing the repulsive force on his hands and feet, he used the blast to propel himself upward.

The air split with a thunderous crack as Koichi soared through the air. No more sliding. No more limits.

He was flying.

With newfound purpose, he streaked toward the skyscraper. Civilians clinging to the edge gasped in awe as he appeared like a guardian from the sky. Latching onto the glass facade after landing, Koichi grabbed another person before taking to the air with them in tow, rocketing them toward safety. He went back and forth. Again, and again. He kept increasing his speed each time he returned, until no one was left sliding on the building. Spider-Man had assisted him by saving the people in the building's path, but the Crawler did most of the heavy lifting for the ones sliding down the building.

With Yu's web-slinging precision and Koichi's newfound ability of flight, they rescued every last civilian. Finally, Koichi caught the last person on the building, a trembling teenager, just before the building collapsed onto the ground with a deafening crash. All thirteen people were saved.

Yu stood on the nearby rooftop, breathless after clearing everyone on the building's path, watching Koichi descend gracefully with the final civilian on his back. His eyes widened with astonishment.

"You can fly!"

Koichi landed, setting the civilian down gently. "...Yeah, I can fly." His voice trembled. Not with fear, but with pride. He clenched his right hand, still tingling with residual energy. "I knew I could... I just thought it was limited."

Yu smiled knowingly. "Mental blocks can limit your powers sometimes, if not nullifying them outright. It's all in your heart and mind." He stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Koichi's shoulder. "Sometimes, it takes a moment of desperation to realize that... you're much stronger than you think you are."

"You're right." Koichi couldn't help but feel the familiarity behind Yu's words. He nodded in agreement as a quiet determination settled over him.

He had always been the Crawler.

But today, he became something more.

He became the Skycrawler.

Knuckleduster gripped the steering wheel of his heavily modified muscle car, his eyes burning with fierce determination. Tokyo's shattered streets were a maze of collapsed buildings, burning vehicles, and fallen debris. But none of that mattered.

He slammed the accelerator. The car roared through the ruined streets like an unstoppable force. His car crashed through wreckage with a metallic crunch, its reinforced chassis and bumper destroying everything in its path. It helped him clear a makeshift path through the devastation for the bus behind him. Behind him, Kazuho struggled to keep control of the school bus, filled with terrified civilians clinging to their seats.

"Good work, Kazuho." Knuckleduster whispered to himself. "Just a little further."

Kazuho's knuckles were white as she gripped the massive steering wheel, sweat trickling down her face. Every bump and sharp turn sent the bus rocking dangerously, but she refused to let fear take over.

"Everyone, hold on tight!" she shouted over the deafening noise of the roaring engines and distant explosions. The explosions were not coming from explosives, but from two pairs of powerful fists.

The bus hit a fallen light post during a sharp turn. It jostled violently, but, thankfully, it stayed upright. Gasps and cries of fear came from the civilians, but Kazuho quickly righted the vehicle, her eyes blazing with determination.

As they drove down the streets, Doomsday's titanic roars echoed through the city, shaking entire blocks. Each punch from both Superman and Doomsday rippled through the ground, threatening to shatter what little remained of the crumbling streets.

Knuckleduster swerved around a collapsed bridge, narrowly avoiding a fiery wreckage blocking it. He knew he had to find a bridge that would get them to the other side. Most of them were out, collapsed during the titanic struggle. Thankfully, there was one. Its concrete supports were visibly damaged, but it would have to do. They had no choice.

But then, through his reinforced windshield, he spotted a set of concrete cylinders strewn along the last bridge, right next to a toppled flatbed. The flatbed wasn't a problem, but the concrete cylinders were blockingthe only viable escape route left.

"Not today."

Taking a deep breath, Knuckleduster shifted gears and floored the gas pedal. The car's modified engine gave out a banshee-like roar as the afterburner on its back came to life, spewing flames from the main jet exhaust as the car sped right towards the concrete cylinders. It crashed into the concrete cylinders at full speed, shattering the concrete in its path.

"The path's clear!" he barked into the comms. "Keep moving, Kazuho!"

Kazuho's breath hitched as she saw Knuckleduster's reckless maneuver. He's insane... but it worked.

With no time to hesitate, she gritted her teeth and steered the bus through the newly cleared passage. The civilians held on for dear life as the bus lurched forward, escaping by inches.

A sudden shockwave pulsing from Doomsday's distant battle rippled through the street. The shockwave destroyed the bridge's concrete support, causing the bridge to collapse behind the school bus.

"Go, go, go!" Knuckleduster shouted.

Kazuho pushed the pedal to the floor, adrenaline surging through her as she tried to beat the collapse to get to the other side. The bus barely escaped the collapse. The rear wheels scraped the edge before finally landing on solid ground.

Knuckleduster skidded to a stop at a safer distance, slamming the brakes with a growl. The muscle car's hood was smoking, the afterburner was overheating, and its armor was barely dented, despite the numerous collisions. And the car was still running.

Moments later, the school bus pulled up behind him, wheels screeching to a halt. Kazuho's hands trembled on the wheel as she exhaled a shaky breath. Even though it was over, her heart was still pounding like a war drum.

The bus doors hissed open, and Knuckleduster stalked over her, who was still on the driver's seat. His face was as hard as ever, but there was a flicker of approval in his eyes.

"Good work, kid."

Kazuho's breath hitched as she tried to catch her breath. "Thanks."

For the first time in her life, she felt like a true hero. Not because of her Quirk or her performances as Pop Step, but because she had saved lives through sheer grit and determination.

She wasn't just running from danger. She was fighting to survive. And she was winning.

That was a monumental achievement for the vigilante named Pop Step, Kazuho Haneyama. Some may see her heroics as mundane or generic, especially during the time of amazing heroic acts by powerful Pro Heroes, with powers way beyond hers. They face danger instead of running away, unlike what she had done.

But, to the vigilante named Pop Step, saving the civilians on the school bus was a monumental victory. And that means a lot to her. It gave her the strength to stand up.

Some of the passengers got off the bus and thanked her personally. It took everything she got not to tear up as she heard the kind words coming out of their mouths and feeling the numerous pats on her shoulders and back. Even a few children, short ones, came to her just to give her an embrace. She let a few tears slip out of her eyes at their kind gesture.

Still, it took everything she got to stay on her feet after everything she had been through. The adrenaline was still in her system, even after it was over.

Then, her head turned towards the direction of the city as she noticed something. There were no more shockwaves after the last one. There was only silence. The battle seemed to be over.

"Is it... is it over?" Kazuho asked. The question wasn't directed at anyone in particular. Knuckleduster didn't answer. Even he was unsure. The silence could mean that the battle was over. Either Superman had won, or the beast did.

Kazuho's question was finally answered by the timely arrival of Yu and Koichi. Yu was swinging from his web, as he had always done, but Koichi... he was flying with Slide and Glide. Flying. He wasn't sliding anymore.

"Koichi, you can fly!" Kazuho exclaimed in excitement at the sight of Koichi's newfound power, but she was only met with silence as both Koichi and Yu didn't say a word. They were still. They both had a look of disbelief on their faces. A sign that they had seen something they wouldn't forget anytime soon.

Kazuho, scared of what she would hear from them, demanded answers. "Guys, what happened?"

Some of the passengers gave out a sudden cry, saying Superman was dead as they stared at their phones. Kazuho didn't dare to believe it. People hear a lot of things from the internet. Not all of them were true. It was unbelievable.

But a part of her drove her to ask her friends. "Did Superman...?"

Koichi shook his head. Shortly afterwards, Knuckleduster showed her the live footage from his phone.

Kazuho finally walked away, leaning with her back on the bus. She slid down and landed on the ground as she finally teared up.

When the dust finally settled on Tokyo, the world seemed to freeze as the world saw Star and Stripe cradling Superman's lifeless body in her arms. Crawler, Spider-Man, Pop Step, and Knuckleduster, who had been frantically saving civilians in the crumbling city moments before, now stood in stunned silence from a nearby building. The impossible had happened. Superman was gone. He had won the battle at the cost of his life.

Yu, still in his Spider-Man suit, felt a heaviness in his chest that he hadn't experienced since his father's death. This was different, though. Superman wasn't just a hero. He was a symbol of hope, of something greater than any one individual. Watching him fall had shaken something in Yu, a deep sense of loss that mirrored what he had felt the day his world had changed.

"He's really... gone," Yu whispered, barely able to believe the words. His fists clenched, and for a moment, he felt that familiar pull of anger, the same anger that had driven him to become a vigilante in the first place. But it wasn't just anger anymore. It was grief, sorrow for a man he had looked up to, even if it was from afar. Superman had shown the world what it truly meant to be a hero, and now that world felt emptier.

Koichi, standing beside him, had a similar look of disbelief on his face. His usual smile, the optimism he carried, had faded into a mix of sorrow and fear. "I can't believe it," he muttered, staring at the fallen hero. "Superman was supposed to be the one we could always count on... How do we go on from here?"

Pop Step, usually so full of energy and life, was uncharacteristically quiet. Her hands were still shaking from the residual surge of adrenaline as she wiped away the tears forming in her eyes. "It's not fair," she said softly, her voice barely audible. "He gave everything to save us, and now..."

Knuckleduster, the most experienced of them all, stood with his arms crossed, his expression hard. But even he couldn't hide the sorrow that lingered in his eyes. It was all too familiar to him. "That's the cost," he said in a low, gruff voice. "No matter how strong you are, no one's untouchable. Even the greatest heroes fall." The man named Iwao Oguro remembered his loss of his Quirk, which forcing him to abandon his work as the Pro Hero O'clock. The loss of his Quirk was a terrible loss, but it didn't deter him from doing what he did. "What matters is what we do now."

Yu looked at Knuckleduster, his mentor in this world of vigilantes, and then back at Superman's body. The weight of the moment crashed down on him, not just because they had lost a hero, but because of what that loss meant. This wasn't about vengeance anymore. It was about stepping up, about carrying the legacy forward.

The world seemed to stop at that moment. As the dust settled, another hero emerged. It was All Might. But this time, he wasn't in his powerful, muscular form. He was frail, his weakened true self exposed to the world as he stood before the crowd, addressing them with the last of his strength.

"Now... it's your turn."

His words were a passing of the torch, a declaration that the next generation of heroes needed to rise and continue the fight. Yu, Koichi, and the others felt the weight of that moment. All Might's retirement, the death of Superman, marked the end of an era.

"He gave everything," Yu finally said, his voice firm but quiet. "Just like All Might said... We're next."

Koichi nodded, his usual playful demeanor replaced by determination, despite wiping tears from his eyes at the sight of his weakened hero. "We have to keep going. We owe it to him, to everyone."

The Naruhata vigilantes stood together, the grief still raw, but a new resolve forming in their hearts. Superman had given his life to save them, to stop a threat no one else could face. Now, it was their turn to protect the people left behind. They couldn't be Superman. They couldn't be All Might. But they could still be heroes.

And now, they understood more than ever. The world needed every hero, vigilante or not, to step up and carry the mantle forward.

And they would fight together to live up to the legacy those heroes had left behind.

Back at their base, the Naruhata vigilantes were quiet, still reeling from the events of the day. Koichi, Yu, Oguro, and Kazuho sat in reflective silence. The world had changed with Superman's death, and they all felt the weight of that loss. But Kazuho seemed particularly distant, her hands fiddling with something in her lap.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kazuho finally broke the silence.

"Koichi," she began softly. Her voice was hesitant, almost nervous, which wasn't like her at all. "I... I've been meaning to tell you something for a long time."

Koichi looked at her, confused. "What is it?"

She took a deep breath, and, from her lap, she held up a familiar piece of clothing, the old Silver Age All Might hoodie that Koichi hadn't wore for a long time. His eyes widened in surprise, recognizing it immediately. He hadn't seen it in years.

"This... where did you...?" he began, but Kazuho cut him off.

"I've had it for a while. You... gave it to me," she said quietly, her eyes locking onto his. "Back then, when we first met. Do you remember?"

Koichi blinked, the memories rushing back. It was a few years ago, back when he had just been another kid, nervous about his future, hopeful to pass the entrance exam to join a Hero course. But on the day of the exam, he had come across a child drowning in a river. Without thinking, Koichi stepped in; he jumped in the river and pulled the child out of the water. Before he left the child, he gave the child the Silver Age All Might hoodie he was wearing to keep the child warm. By the time the rescue was over, he had missed his exam.

"You... were that child?" he asked, the realization dawning on him. All these years, and he had never put the pieces together. And he had initially thought that the child he saved was a boy. He never knew that it was a girl he had saved.

Kazuho nodded, looking down, clearly feeling guilty.

"I've always felt bad about it," she admitted, her voice small. "I didn't even get to thank you back then, and because of me, you missed your chance to become a real hero. I thought about it every time I saw you out there, wearing that hoodie. It's why I became a vigilante... I wanted to help you, even if I couldn't make up for what happened. Even if I wasn't a hero."

Koichi remembered his words as he told the story to Knuckleduster and Pop Step for the first time. Koichi remembered telling them about his hopes that the "boy" he saved from the river would grow up to be a hero, hoping that his ideals would reach him through the hoodie he had given him.

Oh, if he had known that the "boy" he saved was actually a girl who became an idol, one who would perform shows on the streets of Naruhata without a permit... she knew he would be disappointed. She was no hero.

But she inadvertently met Koichi once more after he tried to save her from some thugs in an alley. Knuckleduster came shortly afterwards to finish the job. That rescue started the chain of events that led to both of them being recruited by the experienced vigilante.

Koichi stared at her, stunned by the revelation. It all made sense now. The reason she had joined him and Knuckleduster on this path, why she became so close to him, and why she always seemed to care a little more about his path as a vigilante. She had been carrying this guilt with her for a while, and now, finally, she was letting it out.

Because there was no telling when someone's time would run out, especially in their line of work.

For a moment, Kazuho hesitated. "I'm sorry, Koichi," she whispered, her voice filled with regret.

But Koichi shook his head. "Don't be."

Kazuho looked up, surprised.

"That day changed everything for me," he continued, his tone soft but firm. "Yeah, I missed the exam, but if I hadn't saved you... if I hadn't missed it, I wouldn't have ended up here. I wouldn't start helping the people in Naruhata as a vigilante. I wouldn't have met Knuckleduster, who recruited me after saving you. I wouldn't have met you as Pop Step... and you wouldn't have joined us. It wasn't what I thought my life would be, but I don't regret it. Not one bit."

He smiled at her, the easygoing, warm smile that had become his trademark. "You don't have to apologize for any of that, Kazuho. It's because of you that I found this path. We saved each other."

Kazuho's eyes filled with tears, but this time they weren't tears of guilt. They were tears of relief. She smiled back, handing the hoodie to Koichi. "Thank you, Koichi."

Koichi took the hoodie, holding it for a moment before putting it back on. "Looks like it still fits," he joked, lightening the mood, and Kazuho laughed softly, wiping away her tears.

After hearing Kazuho's words, Koichi thought that it would be fair if he told her his secret.

"I have something to tell you too. Superman's death... made me think."

"What did you think?" Kazuho asked.

"As you all know, I'm a university student. Well, I had plans to retire after I graduate and receive a full-time job."

It was a shocker for Yu, Kazuho, and Oguro, but Kazuho was the most vocal of them all. She frantically asked him the reason why, not knowing that he had changed his mind already after Superman's death.

It was true. The events in Tokyo had made Koichi think. Koichi had initially planned to retire from vigilantism after he graduated from university and received a full-time job. But what happened in Tokyo, everything he had done in the city, and the death of Superman... made Koichi realize that the world needed him as a vigilante.

And maybe, just maybe, who knows, he would be an official hero. Maybe all of them would be official heroes.

Kazuho pulled Koichi into an embrace after that. She was relieved from the news that he's not leaving anytime soon.

In that moment, they both felt something lift between them, an unspoken connection that had always been there but was now fully realized. They weren't just partners. They were friends who had shaped each other's lives in ways they had never fully understood until now.

And together, they were ready to face whatever came next.

As night fell over Naruhata, the city lights flickered to life, casting a warm glow over the streets below. Yu swung effortlessly through the air, his webs shooting out with precision as he glided between buildings. Koichi, who went right above him, used his newfound power of flight to take to the air. Kazuho leaped from one building to another, her Leap Quirk allowing her to cover great distances with a single bound, while Knuckleduster trailed behind them on his trusty bike, revving the engine as he weaved through the empty roads. The car would be too conspicuous.

They had become a tight-knit group after a year of hard vigilante work in Naruhata after Superman's introduction, and tonight, just a few days after the death of Superman, they needed this. Just a simple patrol, no battles, no disasters. Just the vigilantes and the city.

After a while, they came to a stop on top of a tall building, where the view of Naruhata stretched out before them. Yu landed first, gracefully pulling himself up the building and sit on the edge of the rooftop. Koichi slid to a stop behind him, stopping the momentum from his flight, before sitting right next to him. Kazuho landed not far behind, smiling as she caught her breath, sitting right next to Koichi. Yu didn't fail to notice Kazuho resting her head on Koichi's shoulder. Knuckleduster arrived last, parking his bike below before using a makeshift grappling hook to join the group at the rooftop, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Nice night," Koichi said, looking out at the twinkling lights of the city below.

"Yeah, it is," Yu agreed, pulling off his mask and letting the cool breeze hit his face. He reached into his bag, pulling out a few cans of coffee he had brought along. "Thought we could use a break. Coffee, anyone?"

Koichi grinned, taking a can and popping it open. "Thanks, man. I could use the caffeine."

Kazuho grabbed a can as well, her eyes sparkling in the city lights. "I can't remember the last time we just hung out like this," she said, taking a sip. "Feels good."

Knuckleduster took his can and sat down on the edge with a grunt, his usual gruff demeanor softened by the peacefulness of the night. "It's about time we took a break. Always running around, putting out fires... we got to appreciate the quiet moments too."

The four of them sat together on the rooftop, sipping their drinks and admiring the view. For a while, they didn't speak, content to just enjoy the stillness of the moment. The city buzzed beneath them, alive with energy, but up here, they were removed from the chaos, just four vigilantes watching over the city they protected. Their responsibility.

"You ever think about what we're doing?" Yu asked suddenly, breaking the silence. His eyes were on the horizon, but his thoughts were far away. "I mean, we're not Pro Heroes. We don't have licenses or official recognition. But we're still out here, saving people. Does it ever feel... strange to you guys?"

Koichi thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. "It used to," he admitted. "But not anymore. We're helping people. That's what matters. I think... we do what the heroes can't sometimes. We are where they aren't."

Kazuho nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "It's not about the recognition. It's about the people we save, right? At least, that's how I see it."

Knuckleduster grunted in agreement. "The world needs people like us. We're not in it for the fame. We do what needs to be done. That's all there is to it."

Yu smiled at that. He had come a long way from the boy who only sought vengeance. Sitting here, with these people who had become his family, he felt something he hadn't felt in years: contentment. "Yeah," he said quietly. "You're right."

"But, guys, have you checked the internet lately?" Kazuho asked as she brought out her phone. Between the vigilantes, she was the last to miss out on the latest information. "They were thanking us. Thanking Spider-Man and Crawler for saving the people on the building, Knuckleduster and... me, for saving the people on the bus."

"Well, I guess we are one step closer to being official heroes," Yu observed the news on Kazuho's phone. "Well, not official Pro Heroes, but... heroes, in the eyes of the people."

"That may be true, but for now, we must remain cautious." Oguro spoke up on that matter. "We know that despite some people seeing us as heroes, there are still others who are still opposed to vigilantes. Even a few Pro Heroes are still gunning for us. Minds don't change in a few days, you know. It takes time."

"What if we gain the people's attention? How about we get involved in something big? Something... more important?" Koichi thought.

The Crawler grabbed a vial he kept in his bag along with the coffee cans he had given to his friends. The liquid was all too familiar. Trigger. Koichi pulled it out for a little show-and-tell. It was a stable variant, not the one forcefully turning users into Instant Villains or Next-Level Villains.

"Something way bigger than this?"

The year after Superman's introduction was a busy one. No big threats, but the number of thugs and gangs on the street kept the small band of vigilantes busy. Despite the Naruhata Vigilantes' efforts to stop the flow of Trigger, which had already started even before Spider-Man was recruited into their ranks, the drug kept flowing into Naruhata. Times change, but the only difference about Trigger across those times was the ever-changing producers, dealers, and customers of said drug.

The Trigger in the vial Koichi was holding was much newer, more refined and stable, especially compared to the variants produced by the first villain organizations who produced Trigger. The new variant of Trigger would enhance Quirks without the grotesque transformations of previous variants. The aforementioned first villain organizations were dismantled in a matter of months, in the year that followed after Superman's introduction. But there were still so many of them out there. The vigilantes knew that Naruhata was a big city, but the organization couldn't possibly be confined in a single city.

"Are you..." Kazuho opened her mouth to ask, only to be instantly interrupted by Koichi.

"Don't worry." Koichi then stood up from the edge and walked behind them, causing the three other vigilantes to turn to see him. "I'm not using it."

Koichi tossed the vial of Trigger to the air, and, as it fell to the ground, shattered it with a single repulsive shot from his hand. The demon in that little vial was... very tempting.

"It could work." Kazuho voiced out her thoughts. "Us getting involved in something more important. It could make us heroes in the eyes of the public."

"Yes, but we still have to make sure that we won't bite off more than we can chew." Oguro warned the younger and eager vigilantes. "Still, we should start keeping an eye out for threats. With Superman gone, there will be new threats on the horizon."

"Yeah... we'll be ready for them." Spider-Man stood up as he spoke with determination.

"But, for now, we take a break. You've been working hard, Spider-Man." Koichi held Yu's arm, pulling him back down. It prompted Yu to sit back down.

"Okay." Yu relented. He continued to look down at the city. Enjoying the moment as he drank his coffee. "But when big threats come our way, we'll face them."

"Agreed." Koichi agreed.

"Right." Kazuho followed suit.

Knuckleduster gave out a little grunt in agreement.

For a few more minutes, they just sat together, enjoying the peace and the view of the city they had sworn to protect. It wasn't a glamorous life, but it was theirs, and they wouldn't trade it for anything.

"Alright," Knuckleduster said, standing up and stretching. "Break's over. Let's get back to it."

Koichi laughed, finishing his coffee and standing up. "Right behind you, old man."

Kazuho leaped to her feet with a playful grin. "Race you to the next building, Koichi."

Yu, already pulling his mask back on, smirked under it. "Try to keep up," he teased, shooting out a web and launching himself into the night.

And just like that, they were off again, the Naruhata vigilantes back on patrol, keeping their city safe one night at a time.