As expected, after using his electricity to stimulate her body, the unconscious girl's complexion began to improve slightly. However, the wound on her side continued to bleed heavily.
"Kyoka!"
"Bandage her up! We can't let her keep bleeding!"
Kyoka nodded and hurried over. But as she knelt beside the girl, she looked at her empty hands, her face scrunching with frustration.
"What should I use to bandage her?"
Kaminari scanned the area quickly and noticed a piece of black cloth lying on the ground. It had previously been used to cover the jewelry stall. He grabbed it without hesitation.
Thwap!
He shook the cloth vigorously to remove the dust and debris, then pressed his hands against it, releasing a controlled amount of electricity.
The cloth began to steam as the heat from his electricity sterilized it, at least to some degree. He wasn't sure how effective it would be, but it was better than nothing.
Rip!
With brute force, Kaminari tore the cloth into long strips and handed them to Kyoka.
"Use this."
"Got it!"
Kyoka's expression was serious as she crouched next to the injured girl and began bandaging her wound. She moved quickly and confidently, her hands steady. Basic first aid techniques were part of their Hero training, and it was clear she remembered them well.
Meanwhile, Kaminari turned his attention to the stone man, who was still struggling to regain control of his body. The man's glare was fierce, his eyes filled with anger and frustration.
"You said your daughter is in the city hospital, right?" Kaminari asked, his voice calm but direct.
"What's her name? How old is she?"
The stone man's eyes widened, and his demeanor changed instantly. His expression twisted into one of desperation as he shouted, "What are you trying to do?! This has nothing to do with her!"
Kaminari sighed, realizing there was no reasoning with him in this state. Without another word, he stepped forward and slammed his fist into the man's face, his knuckles sparking with electricity.
Crack!
Boom!
The impact sent the stone man sprawling back onto the ground.
"Calmed down now?" Kaminari asked flatly, staring down at the man who lay groaning at his feet. "Then shut up and listen."
He crouched down slightly, his tone softening just enough to convey sincerity.
"You're not going anywhere near the hospital, not today. But if your daughter really is in critical condition, I can go check on her. If there's anything I can do to help, I will."
The stone man's lips curled into a bitter sneer.
"Help? You? A hypocritical 'Hero'?" he spat, his voice thick with venom. "I've seen what people like you are really like. I'd rather my daughter die than let her fall into your hands!"
His voice cracked, and his sneer turned into a grimace. "If I can't save her myself, then what's the point? I'll follow her to the next world. At least we'll be free from this cruel place together."
Kaminari stared at the man in silence for a moment, his expression unreadable. He could see it now, this wasn't just desperation. This was someone who had completely given up on society, on the world itself.
It wasn't just sad—it was devastating.
"Kaminari! Kyoka!"
The voice of Midnight rang out, cutting through the tense atmosphere. The pro Hero arrived in a police car, with two others pulling up right behind her.
She stepped out, scanning the scene quickly. Her gaze landed on ROPE-MAN, who was still lying on the ground, and her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Wait, did this villain take him down?" she muttered under her breath, surprised that someone with ROPE-MAN's reputation had been subdued so easily.
"Actually, no—"
The younger Hero who had been accompanying ROPE-MAN stepped forward, eager to explain. He spoke quickly, glancing nervously between Midnight and Kaminari.
"Ah, I see," Midnight said after hearing the full story. She turned to Kaminari, her expression unreadable, and then to Kyoka, who was still tending to the injured girl. Finally, her gaze fell on the unconscious ROPE-MAN.
"Good work, Kaminari," she said firmly, nodding in approval. "You made the right call prioritizing the injured."
Kaminari met her gaze and gave a small nod in return.
Midnight's tone turned sharper as she addressed the situation further. "In my name, Kaminari has the authority to act. If anyone has a problem with how he handled this, they can take it up with me."
Her words left no room for argument.
"Sensei," Kaminari said, gesturing toward the stone man, who was now restrained by two police officers with special handcuffs. "He says he has a daughter in the city hospital who needs emergency surgery. That's why he resorted to stealing the jewelry. He couldn't afford the operation."
The stone man flinched, his body going stiff as the officers began to lead him away.
Hearing this, Midnight turned her full attention to him. "What's your daughter's name?" she asked, her voice calm but firm.
The man hesitated, his lips pressing into a tight line. His distrust was palpable, but Midnight didn't push him. She simply waited, letting the weight of his silence hang in the air.
Finally, he broke.
"Youmei," he whispered hoarsely. "Her name is Youmei. She's in Room 605 at the city hospital. Please… please save her."
"Youmei?" Midnight repeated, her brow furrowing. "What's her last name?"
The stone man shook his head, his voice trembling. "She doesn't have one. I… I found her in a garbage dump five years ago. I named her Youmei because I wanted her to have a future… a name she could grow into."
He lowered his head, his voice cracking. "I didn't think… someone like me… someone with no home, no future… should give her my name. It wouldn't mean anything."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Kaminari, Kyoka, Midnight, the police—everyone stood frozen, processing what they had just heard.
This man, this so-called villain, had risked everything, not for himself, but for a child he had no blood relation to.
The weight of his words pressed down on Kaminari like a boulder. A single thought echoed in his mind: Every villain is a Hero in their own story.
He didn't regret taking action against the man, but…
He exhaled deeply, his voice quiet as he spoke. "I'll go check on her."
***
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