"I need all the help I can get. I can't take on those two alone." Mightyfly eyed the brothers' gauntlets, recognizing the danger. Their weaponry reminded him uncomfortably of the advanced tech from I-Island—lethal, efficient, and far above standard criminal gear.
Sebastian stared at him, stunned. Mightyfly was offering him superpowers. He'd watched countless videos of former kamikotized heroes explaining that they were chosen because their emotions and desires burned intensely.
If Mightyfly was offering it to him now… that meant his emotions must be powerful enough.
"I can sense a strong positive emotion in you," Mightyfly continued. "You want to be a hero again, don't you? I can feel the regret lingering in you—regret for leaving your city and choosing a normal life. But after tasting heroism, a normal life can't satisfy you anymore. Am I right?"
"What is he talking about, Sebastian?" Kagami asked, bewildered.
Sebastian stayed silent for a moment before exhaling. "I'll tell you later. But… yes. He's right. I've been pretending to be someone I'm not—running from my past with a smile. And watching those new heroes in Paris reminded me of the good old times."
Mightyfly released a Kamiko. "Fly away, my Kamiko, and magnify the glimmer of hope that shines in Sebastian Keynes's heart."
The Kamiko darted forward and slipped into Sebastian's bowtie, its light fading into the fabric. Kagami watched cautiously, keeping her guard up around Mightyfly.
"Sparrow, I am Mightyfly," the hero introduced, spinning his cane in a seamless blur to deflect a barrage of energy blasts from the first Domino brother. "I grant you the power to become a hero once again, amplifying your very physiology with new abilities. With this gift, you will feel once more the life you tried to leave behind—and remember that the heart of a hero never disappears, even when you try to bury it. Do you accept this gift?"
Sebastian wanted to refuse—at least, his mind did. But his heart made the choice for him. "I do, Mightyfly."
Sebastian transformed into Sparrow. He stood tall in a sleek, form-fitting bodysuit of electric brown, the material etched with sharp, gray accents that traced angular paths across his frame. A high-tech mask concealed the upper half of his face, its amber visor glowing with quiet intensity.
From his back unfurled two grand, wing-like appendages patterned with elegant black circuitry. His gloves looked ready to channel power, his boots reinforced for impact, and a segmented, flowing cape drifted behind him.
"Hm…" Sparrow examined his new appearance. "A bit too high-tech for my taste. But at least it's different from my cousin's, so that's a plus. What do you think, Kagami?"
Kagami stiffened. "Good. I… I don't know."
The second Domino brother barked a laugh. "You think some fancy suit's gonna save you? You're sorely mistaken."
"Then I'll simply prove you wrong," Sparrow replied, his voice firm with resolve. "Mightyfly, may I handle these two?"
"As you wish. I'm still not much of a close-quarters fighter," Mightyfly admitted.
Despite his miraculous enhancements, he remained painfully untrained compared to opponents with real combat experience.
"Be careful, Sebastian. I don't want you injured because of me," Kagami said, anxiety slipping into her tone. "Mother wouldn't forgive me if her personal bartender returned home hurt."
Sparrow chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Kagami. I've dealt with worse—two years ago, in fact."
With calm confidence, Sparrow approached the Domino Brothers, who erupted into mocking laughter at the supposed foolishness of his courage. The moment the first brother fired a powerful energy blast, Sparrow spread his wings. They absorbed the attack seamlessly, leaving the brothers stunned.
Sparrow shot forward at a speed that blurred his outline, seizing both brothers by the neck and carrying them upward. He decided immediately that the fight needed to move outside.
As soon as they cleared the museum entrance, he dropped them onto the pavement below with enough force to crack bones. Then he hovered above them, wings humming.
Civilians scattered in panic, though a few lingered, captivated by the sight of yet another superhero battle.
Sparrow rolled his eyes—some people never changed. Their annoying fascination always made it harder for heroes to protect them.
"Don't think you're something special now!" the second Domino brother roared as he launched himself into the air.
Sparrow merely tilted his head, bemused by the man's recklessness, and shifted a step to the side—just enough to let the attack sail past harmlessly.
Then he summoned a storm of glowing boomerangs, an infinite barrage that pelted the second brother relentlessly, earning a chorus of enraged snarls from the villain.
"Get back down here!" the first Domino brother yelled, unleashing another volley of energy blasts.
"Okay then." Sparrow descended in a controlled crash, landing with enough force to release a compact shockwave—energy he had quietly stored earlier.
The blast sent the first brother flying across the pavement.
As Sparrow folded his wings away, the second Domino brother lunged forward with a flurry of punches. Sparrow dodged each strike with almost lazy ease, then formed a circular energy shield to absorb the kinetic impact.
With a sharp downward slam, he discharged the accumulated force into the ground, creating another shockwave that knocked the second brother off his feet.
The man tried to rise, but Sparrow planted a foot firmly on his chest. The villain froze as he looked up into Sparrow's eyes—sharp, predatory, and far more reminiscent of an eagle than a sparrow. A single kick sent the gauntlets skittering across the ground.
"That was disappointing," Sparrow muttered, a tinge of frustration in his voice. "I was really in the mood."
For a moment, Sparrow allowed himself to savor the rush coursing through him—the thrill he had once lived for. Leaving New York was a choice he didn't regret, and he had never begrudged his cousin for continuing the Sparrow legacy. But he did regret abandoning heroism entirely.
Even if he wanted to forge his own heroic identity in Paris, he lacked the funding, and his aunt would certainly not bankroll him after he'd stormed out of her home like a tantrum-prone teenager.
"I really hope neither of them realize I'm Sparrow right now," he murmured, lifting off the ground.
He swooped toward the first Domino brother and effortlessly tore off the remaining gauntlet.
"And by the way, baldy—I have very good hearing. You're out of options."
"Damn it…" the first brother hissed.
Sparrow conjured energy handcuffs and bound the brothers together before flying back to the glass pyramid, where Mightyfly and Kagami waited. He approached them with an awkward shuffle.
"Um… thanks for giving me the chance to be Sparrow again," he said to Mightyfly.
"You shouldn't hide your desire, Sparrow," Mightyfly replied gently. "If you want to save people and stop criminals, then don't suppress that calling—embrace it. I know a boy who dreamed of becoming a hero his entire life, yet everyone mocked him for being powerless. But you were already a hero. You should continue if your heart still longs for it."
"I suppose you're right. I did miss the feeling." Sparrow exhaled. "Looks like I'll be getting back to my old training regimen." He turned to Kagami. "And Kagami… please don't tell your mother. I still need my job, and she's the only one paying me fairly."
Kagami smiled softly. "Don't worry. I won't say a word. Besides, even if Mother found out, she wouldn't let go of her perfect bartender."
Sebastian snorted. "Yeah, well, my mixing skills are top-tier."
"I'll be off now," Mightyfly said. "I'll release the Kamiko if you'd rather keep your identity private." He paused briefly and glanced at Kagami. "You're really pretty."
Kagami flushed faintly as Mightyfly vaulted effortlessly toward the rooftops.
Sparrow ducked behind cover to transform back into Sebastian and returned moments later—only to see Kagami still staring in the direction Mightyfly had gone.
"Oh? I thought you liked Adrien?" Sebastian teased, making Kagami jolt. "And now you like Mightyfly too? Sounds like we've got a little love square."
"What are you talk—?" Kagami began sharply, then faltered at the last part. "What do you mean by love square?"
Sebastian chuckled. "That green-haired Japanese guy we met—Izuku Midoriya. I could tell he had a crush on you. Love at first sight. But what do I know? Seems like you're into both Adrien and Mightyfly now."
"What!? No, I'm not!" Kagami blurted, then immediately caught herself, lowering her voice in fear of disappointing her mother. "Stop teasing me. Mother will be here any moment, especially after hearing about the incident."
—
At the top of the Eiffel Tower, Izuku Midoriya sat at the edge while Nooroo nibbled on a slice of shokupan bread.
A quiet, simmering embarrassment churned inside him as he replayed the moment he had somehow managed to compliment Kagami without stuttering or tripping over his own nerves—at least not until he transformed back.
Did the Miraculous of the Butterfly stabilize emotions as well?
Even so, he could hardly believe he had complimented a girl for the first time in his life. He had always been interested in girls, but he was too preoccupied with his dream of becoming a hero to pursue anything romantic.
And back in his own world, no one wanted to date a Quirkless kid. But here… maybe he actually had a chance. After all, Paris was known as the City of Love.
"I can sense an emotion of love, Master. And I think that's a good thing," Nooroo said warmly, pleased that Izuku was experiencing something as gentle as affection. "But love can also be dangerous if our enemies learn about it. For example, the wielder of the Peacock Miraculous."
"Yeah… Are you sure your former master, Gabriel Agreste, doesn't have the Peacock Miraculous?" Izuku asked, genuinely curious. That information would at least narrow down the suspects.
Nooroo shook his head. "No. He only used me recently, and I told him some secrets—until I realized, too late, that he intended to use the Butterfly Miraculous for evil. And then, when he finally decided to create chaos to expose the holders of the Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses, you crashed into his mansion and knocked him unconscious, Master. You saved me—even if it was unintentional."
"I forgot about that…" Izuku muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as a nervous laugh escaped him. His embarrassment faded into disappointment. "It just sucks that we can't arrest him. We don't have any physical proof that he was planning to use your Miraculous for something evil. The public doesn't even know about the Miraculouses yet. And he's an influential rich man with a model for a son. Why does he even want the Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses?"
Nooroo hesitated, unsure if he should reveal the truth—but in the end, he trusted Izuku. "To grant a wish, Master."
"What?" Izuku's eyes widened in shock.