Chapter 79: Friend's Little Boyfriend
Author: Geraint
After the incident, Ryukyu returned to her Hero Agency office with Ichika, still in his younger form, after they finished reporting the Pro Hero attack to the police. The three fatally injured Pro Heroes had been safely transported to the hospital, and they were informed that all of them had survived and were now in recovery.
Feeling extremely tired, Ichika hopped onto the couch, lay down, and closed his eyes. With a deep breath, he quickly drifted to sleep as Ryukyu watched him doze off in her office.
Ring! Ring!
Suddenly, Ryukyu's phone rang. She picked it up and answered.
"Hello?"
Ryukyu, I heard you were on patrol with Ichika today. How's he doing?
It was Mirko.
"..."
Ryukyu went silent, her mind drifting back to the events of their patrol.
Huh? Ryukyu, are you still there?
"Sorry, Mirko... It's just that..."
He didn't do anything strange to you, right?
"No, nothing like that. It's just that... he's kind of annoying. Dealing with him is exhausting."
Yeah, I get that. Especially when he's in adult form—he's super annoying! Every time we talk on the phone, he keeps trying to flirt with me. I hate it!
"Mirko... he's your boyfriend. Isn't flirting kind of normal?"
I don't even know anymore. When he's in adult form, he feels... empty, lonely. Like he's not really himself. Honestly, I think he's stronger in his younger form.
"So in other words, you prefer him as a teenager? Are you a shotacon, Mirko?"
I'M NOT!!
"Just returning the favor from your boyfriend."
Then take it out on him instead!
"He's the president of the Hero Commission."
...
Mirko went quiet on the other end.
Anyway, Ryukyu. I'll leave him in your care. Thanks.
Beep... beep...
The call ended.
Ryukyu leaned back in her chair and sighed. Her eyes drifted to Ichika's sleeping face. Curiosity got the better of her, and she walked over, squatted beside him, and stared at him with an annoyed expression.
She pinched his cheek, but he didn't even flinch.
"You're so annoying... but I can't deny it—you're cute. Why can't you just act like a normal kid, Falcon?"
"...Ryuko... you're so beautiful..." Ichika mumbled in his sleep, making her blush.
Then, the kicker:
"But... it's such a waste because you're single."
Her expression twisted in fury, a vein popping on her forehead.
"Damn you, Falcon!"
Now she understood just a little bit of how Endeavor felt.
One year later.
At a training facility owned by Yamagi Industries, Ichika stood in front of Nejire. She wore a gym uniform: a white shirt with a red collar and black spats. Ichika, still in teenage form, wore a white sweatshirt, long black pants, and running shoes. He had large weights strapped to both arms and legs.
"You still have one month before the UA High entrance exam. Today, we're focusing on stamina. Hit me with everything you've got, Nejire-senpai!"
"You sure you'll be okay, Ichika-kun?" Nejire asked, getting into stance.
"I'll be fine. It's not like you're gonna hit me anyway."
"That arrogant attitude... I'll make you regret that!"
Nejire launched herself forward, releasing powerful spiral shockwaves from her hands.
"Nejire Wave!"
Nejire's Quirk, Wave Motion, lets her convert her stamina into energy and release it as spiraling shockwaves. Since the energy spirals, it's not very fast.
Knowing this, Ichika had been training her stamina to overcome her Quirk's drawback—overusing it drained her quickly. His goal was to toughen her up so she could last longer in combat.
Ichika smiled and casually walked forward, dodging her attacks with subtle movements of his upper body.
"Huh?"
Nejire couldn't believe he dodged her so easily—even with heavy weights on.
She fired again, increasing the output.
"Again—what?!"
Ichika yawned, eyes closed, dodging her attacks effortlessly.
"Eh?! This guy is ridiculous!"
"Focus! Again, Senpai!"
"O-Okay!"
Thirty minutes later.
Nejire lay on the ground, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily. Every single shot missed. Ichika hadn't even broken a sweat.
"Let's take a break."
Pant pant.
"I'm done, Ichika-kun... I can't even move!"
Ichika squatted next to her, staring at her flushed face.
"You just gonna lie there all day? We've got more to do."
"No, I want you to carry me... like a princess, Ichika-kun."
"Huh?"
"Sometimes, you should be considerate of a girl's feelings... I gave it my all and now I can't even move." She looked away, face red and pouty.
Ichika sighed.
"Nejire-senpai... don't expect a villain to stop and give you a break just because you're tired. In a real fight, they won't spare your life. And the worst..."
He paused, not wanting to say it.
"You can't rely on anyone but yourself when things get desperate."
"But I know you'll come and save me, right?" Nejire smiled.
"...Yeah. No matter what, I'll come save you."
"Hehehe..."
"But!" Ichika's tone darkened as he grinned devilishly.
"Eh?"
Nejire turned pale.
"Before that happens, I'll make sure you become someone who doesn't need my help at all! You're going to be a hero, and your job is to save others—not wait for someone to save you! Let's grind more, Nejire-senpai!"
"DEMON!!"
Nejire endured a few more hours of training under Ichika's relentless regimen. And so, her final month before the entrance exam began...
(To be continued.)
A/N:Fixed.Umu x∞