Chapter 78: Ryukyu's ProblemAuthor: Geraint
Taking a break from patrol, Ichika brought Ryukyu to a restaurant for dinner. As they quietly ate together, Ichika broke the silence.
"How's the food? Do you like it?"
"It's good," Ryukyu replied, avoiding eye contact.
"I'm glad. Actually, this restaurant belongs to a friend of mine. I helped fund it."
"I see..."
Her short response only deepened the awkwardness between them. After they finished eating, the two resumed their patrol.
As they walked down the street, Ichika asked curiously:
"So, Ryuko… what type of guy do you like?"
Ryukyu frowned, irritated."I told you, I'm not interested!"
"Do you swing the other way?"
"I don't!"
"Then that means you like guys—you just haven't found the right one yet."
"I don't care!"
...
"So you've never dated before, huh?"
Ryukyu suddenly halted, blushing."Shut up already! Yeah, I've never been on a date, or had any kind of romantic experience, okay?! Happy now?!" she yelled, storming ahead.
"That's surprising," Ichika muttered, following casually.
The more he tried to approach, the faster she walked.
"Stop following me!"
"But we're on patrol together."
"Uuuuugh..."Ryukyu wanted to go home. She was finally starting to understand how Mirko felt when dealing with this guy.
Suddenly, Ichika stopped and looked up toward the rooftops, a faint smile forming.
"He's here."
While Ryukyu continued walking ahead, clearly annoyed, she glanced back and—
"Huh?"Ichika was gone.
"Where did he go?"
"Gyaah! Please spare me!"
A scream echoed from an alley nearby.
"Arrrgh!"
Ryukyu rushed toward the sound—and froze. Three Pro Heroes lay bleeding on the ground. One of them spotted her and shouted:
"Ryukyu! Behind you!"
Sensing bloodlust, she jumped to the side—but not fast enough. A blade grazed her cheek.
"Who are you?!"
Standing before her was a menacing, muscular man. He walked with a hunch and had a triangular, noseless face—clearly self-mutilated—with a grotesquely long tongue and wild black hair held back by a headband and mask. Small red eyes stared at her with malice.
He wore dark combat gear with metal armor, bandages wrapped around his arms, a blood-red scarf, and carried numerous weapons.
The man licked the blood from his blade.
"Dragoon Hero: Ryukyu... another fake, incompetent hero."
Suddenly, Ryukyu's body stiffened. She couldn't move.
"What is this... ugh..."
"Resistance is futile. All fake heroes will be purged!"
As the blade approached her chest—
"Huh?!"
Someone grabbed her waist and yanked her backward.
The knife was caught and crushed in a single hand.
Stain backed off swiftly, frowning at the newcomer.
"You… Captain Falcon. The former vigilante. I never thought you'd side with Pro Heroes."
"Hero Killer: Stain... It's been a while. Still attacking Pro Heroes, huh? Even after I helped weed out the incompetent ones."
"What you did was meaningless. The fake heroes still remain!"
"People can change. Some deserve a second chance—they're trying to support All Might and protect the country."
"This is why we never agreed!"Stain charged.
"Your ideology is sound, but your methods are wrong!"Ichika tapped Ryukyu's back with his palm. Her body relaxed.
"Ryuko, I'll leave the wounded to you!"
His left hand surged with flickering lightning.
"Lightning Blade!"
Stain ducked and rolled backward, agile and fast.
"You're more trouble than you're worth," he muttered, retreating up the wall.
Ichika levitated and rose into the sky to pursue—"Like I'll let you—huh?!"
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck from above, hitting him mid-air.
BOOM!
"Waaaah!"
Ichika reverted to his younger form instantly. As he fell, he spotted a man watching from above—a pale-skinned figure with long white hair, rectangular gray eyes, and a body wrapped in sleek armor beneath a lilac blazer.
"No way... why is he here?"
Ichika was stunned.
Ryukyu dove and caught him in the alley below.
"Falcon!"
The two of them looked up—and saw Stain standing beside the armored man.
Ichika stood, brushing himself off.
"We're retreating, Stain. We've just learned his biggest weakness."
"Tch. Fine."
The two villains vanished in a swirl of black energy.
Ichika turned and walked out of the alley.
"Sorry for using you as bait. I didn't expect Stain and Nine to be working together."
"Are you okay?" Ryukyu asked, concerned.
"Don't worry. Thanks for saving me."
"No—thank you. You saved me too. I really thought I was going to die."
She walked beside him quietly.
More police cars arrived, sirens echoing.
"What now? They found your weakness..."
"It's fine. I don't like relying on this power anyway."
(To be continued.)A/N: I'll fix my mistakes later.