He… shrank back.
As Noah Vale's body returned to normal size, Tatsumaki felt a flicker of relief she didn't want to admit.
At least the overwhelming, monstrous version of him was gone.
But relief quickly gave way to something else.
Opportunity.
If he's weaker now… maybe I can kill him.
Her eyes sharpened. Psychic energy stirred again, coiling, waiting for the right moment.
Noah noticed.
Of course he did.
"You still don't get it," he said calmly. "Even like this, the gap between us hasn't gone anywhere."
He glanced at her, tone almost casual.
"And just so we're clear… if you push this, your sister becomes part of the equation."
The threat hung there, quiet but heavy.
Tatsumaki's jaw tightened.
She didn't believe him.
Or maybe she refused to.
Either way—
She attacked.
Her psychic power surged forward in a concentrated burst, tearing through space itself. This time, she didn't hold back.
For a split second—
It worked.
Noah's body was torn apart at the head, disintegrated under the sheer force.
Tatsumaki's eyes widened—
Then narrowed.
"It's over," she said coldly.
But before the thought could settle—
"…you really don't listen."
The voice came from behind her.
Tatsumaki froze.
Noah stood there, whole again, as if nothing had happened.
No blood.
No damage.
No sign he'd even been injured.
"How—"
She didn't get to finish.
Noah moved.
This time, there was no restraint in how he handled her resistance. He shut down her attacks again and again, breaking her rhythm, overwhelming her attempts to regain control.
The fight dragged on.
Minutes stretched.
Then longer.
Every time she tried to push back, he answered immediately—faster, sharper, more precise. Not enough to destroy her… but enough to wear her down.
Piece by piece.
Until—
She couldn't keep up.
Eventually, Tatsumaki collapsed to one knee, breathing uneven, her psychic output flickering.
Noah stood over her, expression cool.
"I warned you," he said. "You should've stopped."
She glared up at him, anger still burning—but now mixed with something else.
Frustration.
Exhaustion.
And the faint edge of helplessness.
"What do you want…" she muttered.
Noah didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he turned as if to leave.
"Guess I'll pay your sister a visit," he said lightly.
That did it.
"Wait!"
Despite her condition, Tatsumaki forced herself upright, psychic energy barely holding her in the air.
"You're not going near her," she snapped, though the strength behind her words had thinned.
Noah glanced back, unimpressed.
"You're in no position to stop me."
She knew that.
That was the problem.
Her fists clenched.
For the first time since this started, she hesitated.
Then—
"…I'm sorry."
The words came out strained, like they didn't belong to her.
Noah raised an eyebrow.
"That's new."
She didn't look at him.
"Just… leave her out of this."
Noah studied her for a moment.
Then stepped closer.
"You're really willing to swallow your pride for her," he said. "Interesting."
He crouched slightly, bringing himself level with her.
"Alright," he continued. "Then here's the deal."
Her gaze flickered up.
"When I decide to settle things… you step in instead. You take responsibility. You handle it."
His tone was calm, almost conversational—but there was no mistaking the weight behind it.
"No excuses. No backing out."
A pause.
"Can you do that?"
Tatsumaki's hands trembled slightly.
She hated this.
Hated him.
Hated the position she'd been forced into.
But—
"…fine," she said quietly. "I'll do it."
Noah held her gaze for a second longer.
Then nodded.
"Good."
He straightened.
"For now, that's enough."
By the time they returned to the Hero Association headquarters, night had already settled in.
Staff rushed forward the moment they saw him.
"You're back—are you alright?" one of them asked quickly.
Noah didn't slow.
"I'm fine," he said. "Just handled a situation."
Only then did they notice the figure he carried.
"Tatsumaki…? She lost?"
Noah shrugged slightly.
"It took some effort."
He kept walking.
"Send food to my room. I'm hungry."
The staff exchanged glances as he passed, none of them daring to question further.
Upstairs, in his room, Noah set Tatsumaki down carefully.
She stirred slightly, still exhausted.
"Eat something," he said. "You'll need it."
She opened her eyes just enough to glare at him.
"…are you always like this?"
Noah smirked faintly.
"Only when necessary."
She didn't respond.
Didn't argue.
For now, that was enough.
Outside, the Association continued running as if nothing had changed.
But behind the scenes—
Everything had.