"Warning. Warning. A monster has appeared in District X, Sector Z. Estimated threat level: Tiger or higher."
"C-Class heroes are advised not to engage. B-Class teams with fewer than five members should avoid confrontation."
The alert echoed across the city.
Inside a high-rise in Z-City, a bizarre creature stood at the center of a shattered lobby. Its head resembled a massive industrial fan, metallic blades spinning with a low, menacing hum.
A group of B-Class heroes surrounded it, tense but determined.
"Fubuki isn't here yet?"
"Doesn't look like it. We're on our own."
"It's just a wind-type monster. Tiger-level, tops. The Blizzard Group can handle this."
They moved in, confidence masking the unease creeping into their bones.
Then the creature moved.
A violent gale erupted from its spinning head.
The force hit like a freight train.
The heroes were slammed backward into the reinforced walls behind them, pinned in place by crushing wind pressure. Their bodies lifted slightly off the ground, held there like insects caught in a storm.
"Damn it—this is way beyond Tiger level!"
"Hold on! We just need to wait for Fubuki!"
"I can't move—this pressure is insane!"
Against a Demon-level threat, their resistance meant nothing. Within seconds, they were completely overwhelmed.
Then—
A blur cut through the storm.
No slowdown. No hesitation.
Just a straight line toward the monster.
"Boom!"
The impact thundered through the building.
The spinning stopped.
The wind died instantly.
Noah Vale lowered his fist.
What remained of the creature was barely recognizable, reduced to fragments scattered across the cracked floor.
"It's him… S-Class Rank 3… Noah Vale!"
The B-Class heroes stared in stunned silence, watching his long hair settle as the air finally stilled.
Another Demon-level monster erased.
Another mark on his record.
Noah glanced once at the aftermath, satisfied, then turned to leave as if he'd just handled a minor inconvenience.
At that moment, a figure descended from above.
A young woman floated down, lifted by psychic force. Her form-fitting coat swayed as she landed, her presence commanding attention even before she spoke.
"Damn, we missed it," one of her subordinates muttered.
But Fubuki ignored them entirely.
Her eyes locked onto Noah.
"Hey. Wait."
Noah stopped and turned, mildly puzzled. He didn't recall having any real interaction with her.
Behind her, her team exchanged uneasy glances.
That's an S-Class hero… not someone you pick fights with.
Fubuki stepped forward, her gaze sharp. "What's your relationship with my sister?"
Noah blinked.
Your sister?
For a moment, he actually thought about it.
And that turned out to be a mistake.
A flood of memories surfaced—none of them exactly… presentable.
Balconies. Rooftops. Elevators. Cars. Offices. Places that definitely weren't meant for anything resembling normal conversation.
Not a single wholesome moment among them.
Not one.
Noah exhaled slowly.
"Well," he said at last, meeting her eyes, "you could say we're… physically close partners."
Fubuki's expression didn't change. If anything, it sharpened.
"Partners?" she repeated. "Then why are you constantly seen together in public?"
She remembered a late-night call with her sister—background noise that definitely didn't sound like casual conversation or exercise.
Given her sister's personality, there was no way she'd spend that kind of time with someone she didn't trust.
Or want.
Noah shrugged. "We work closely. Same rank, similar responsibilities. It's natural we cross paths a lot. Not really something a B-Class hero needs to worry about."
Before Fubuki could respond—
"What exactly are you two doing?"
The voice cut in like a blade.
Fubuki turned.
Tatsumaki was already approaching, her expression dark with restrained irritation.
"Big sis?" Fubuki frowned, confused by the hostility.
Tatsumaki didn't answer her.
Her eyes were locked on Noah.
Noah raised a hand casually. "Relax. I was leaving. She's the one who stopped me."
He gestured toward Fubuki, who looked momentarily thrown off.
Tatsumaki's gaze shifted.
The look she gave her sister was… complicated. Like watching someone walk willingly into a minefield.
"I just wanted to understand your relationship with him," Fubuki said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"That's none of your business," Tatsumaki replied flatly. "Stay out of it."
That tone only made things worse.
Fubuki's temper flared, but before she could push back, she noticed something strange.
Tatsumaki leaned in slightly, whispering something into Noah's ear.
Whatever it was, his eyes lit up, and he nodded without hesitation.
"Sounds good."
Then he straightened and waved casually. "Family matter. I'll leave you two to it."
In the same motion, he grabbed a couple of stunned Blizzard Group members and vanished from sight.
Once they were alone, Tatsumaki's expression went cold.
"I don't care what you're thinking," she said. "You're staying away from him."
Fubuki's patience snapped. "Why? You can be around him, but I can't?"
"You don't know what he's like."
Tatsumaki hesitated.
Because explaining that wasn't exactly simple.
Meanwhile—
Elsewhere in the city, Noah walked down an empty street when someone stepped into his path.
A young man with sharp features and a feral edge to his presence blocked the way. His stance was relaxed, but there was tension coiled beneath it, like a predator sizing up prey.
"You're Noah Vale, right?"
His eyes gleamed with intensity.
"Didn't expect to run into the S-Class Rank 3 this soon… but I won't let the chance slip."
He grinned.
"I'm Garou. The future symbol of fear. Once I take you down, the Hero Association will know exactly who I am."
Noah looked at him for a second.
Then sighed.
"What are you supposed to be, exactly?"
Garou's grin widened. "A monster."
Noah tilted his head slightly, unimpressed.
"If you're a monster," he said, voice flat, "then prove it."
A pause.
Then, casually—
"Go kill someone."
Garou blinked.
"…What?"
For the first time, he looked genuinely confused.
Wasn't this guy supposed to be a hero?