The next morning at the Hawks Agency started with the usual — reports, coffee, and Kenta trying to recover from yesterday's secondhand embarrassment.
He was halfway through typing an incident summary when Hawks walked in, humming cheerfully and wearing the same daisy Aerith had given him behind his ear.
Kenta looked up.
> "Morning, boss. Nice accessory. Trying to start a new hero fashion trend?"
Hawks grinned.
> "Maybe. Think it suits me?"
> "Oh, it suits you," Kenta muttered. "Right along with that velvet box you forgot to hide."
The hero froze mid-step.
> "Ah… you noticed that, huh?"
> "Noticed it? Aerith noticed it!" Kenta exclaimed. "You're lucky she didn't open it, or else I'd be filing engagement paperwork today!"
Hawks chuckled, waving it off like it was nothing.
> "Relax, Kenta. It's not a big deal."
Kenta stared at him, slack-jawed.
> "Not. A. Big. Deal?"
> "Nope." Hawks leaned against the desk, sipping his coffee like this was just another Tuesday. "Just a small thing. An investment for the future."
> "There it is again!" Kenta threw his hands up. "Stop calling everything an investment! You've got a house, a garden, and two rings! That's not a portfolio, that's a life plan!"
Hawks laughed, that easy, teasing laugh that somehow made everything worse.
> "What can I say? I like to plan ahead."
> "You planned ahead before she even said yes to dating you!"
> "Hey, I just knew she would," Hawks said with a wink. "Optimism's part of my charm."
Kenta groaned, rubbing his temples.
> "No, what's part of your charm is driving me insane. You know the Hero Commission would lose their minds if they found out you're planning all this off-record, right?"
> "Then it's a good thing they won't," Hawks replied smoothly, tapping the side of his nose. "That's what my trusted sidekick's for."
Kenta gawked.
> "No. Nope. Don't you dare dump this on me again. I am not covering for your love life anymore."
> "Too late," Hawks said, smirking as he slid a folder across the desk. "Already marked you down as 'public relations manager.'"
Kenta opened it — and nearly dropped it.
> "This is a date itinerary!"
> "Exactly. Thought we could do something simple this weekend. Park, maybe coffee after."
Kenta pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering,
> "I didn't sign up for this job… I signed up for hero work."
> "You're still saving lives," Hawks said with a grin. "Just saving my love life."
Kenta gave him a deadpan look.
> "You're lucky I like her. Otherwise, I'd let the Commission find that velvet box and watch the chaos unfold."
Hawks chuckled and stretched, heading for the door.
> "But you won't. Because deep down, you're rooting for me."
> "Rooting for your retirement, maybe," Kenta shot back.
As Hawks waved lazily on his way out, Kenta muttered to himself,
> "He says it's not a big deal. Sure. And I'm the Number Three hero."
He looked at the empty desk, the sunlight glinting off the edge of the forgotten ring box.
> "Not a big deal," Kenta said softly. "Yeah right."