Shifting his gaze from the door handle to the mat, Hado carefully entered the house without making a sound. However, what surprised him the most was Nejire, who was sitting on the couch reading something. When Hado walked into the house, she barely noticed her tired father and then focused on the strange case in his hands. With tired eyes, she looked at him, meeting a gaze that reflected anticipation and expectation that she didn't understand. Nejire had been waiting for her father and hadn't slept all evening to talk to him about a very important topic. For her, his well-being was more important, and seeing his exhausted eyes, she got up from the couch and approached him slowly.
"Dad, are you okay?" she asked, looking at her father, who, despite his fatigue, smiled at her with difficulty. Knowing the adventures that awaited him in the coming days, related to the rising crime and the emergence of a new gang, Hado desperately tried to act as if everything was normal, but shamelessly lied while looking into the eyes of his daughter, who expressed concern for him. The terrifying fact was that he couldn't be sure he would return alive tomorrow, knowing the storm of threats looming not only over the city of Mustafa but also over Hoshy. Imagining how Nejire would mourn him at his funeral horrified Hado, picturing his sobbing daughter on her knees, with no one left but him and a friend who, like her, was too young for this world. Immersed in his fears, Hado froze, staring into space, until Nejire's persistent nudging brought him back to reality.
"Dad! Dad! Dad!" she shouted until he snapped back from his dark thoughts. Seeing the frightened expression on Nejire's face, he couldn't control his emotions; closing his eyes, he gently placed the case on the ground and knelt before her. Nejire was shocked by her father's action but didn't understand why he was doing it. Hado's heart ached, unable to contain the flood of emotions; he wrapped her in a tight embrace, trying to calm her down. He was taller than her, and lowering himself to her height, he pressed her head against his chest, gently stroking her silky blue hair.
"I'm sorry," Hado whispered, closing his eyes and stroking Nejire's back. Succumbing to her father's care, she hugged him tightly, trying to support him. She felt that he was happy to see her and tried to give care to her family. Remembering how his daughter was born defenseless and weak yet charming, Hado felt a happiness and trembling he experienced for the first time. Caring for the fragile Nejire was his lifelong vow; she grew into a good and kind girl, and knowing her kind and inquisitive nature, which hadn't changed during her separation from Izuku, he understood that she couldn't hold this smile forever on her own, and she needed attention he couldn't provide due to his busy work schedule, thus asking for her forgiveness.
Hearing her father's words of remorse, Nejire was taken aback. She tried to break free from his embrace, but he held her tightly, not letting go under any circumstances. Nejire had always adored hugs with her father, believing they conveyed warm energy to each other, but this time was far from that. She felt a longing for him and a tear rolling down her father's cheek onto her forehead, calming her with the fact that everything was okay with him, along with his slow but warm caresses. The embrace lasted for 10 minutes, and during this time, no one bothered to interrupt them. Finally, Hado released Nejire, and she, though reluctantly, let him go, meeting his gaze with her big, sweet eyes that looked at him with curiosity. Pushing away unnecessary thoughts, he warmly smiled at her, standing tall.
"How I missed you, Nejire," he said in a warm tone, approaching her while holding the case. Nejire smiled despite the fatigue in her eyes, hugging his arm.
"Dad, we saw each other in the morning and had breakfast together," she said, adorably puffing up like a hamster holding food in its cheeks.
"Am I not allowed to miss my daughter?" Hado asked, teasing Nejire, causing her to release his arm and look at the ceiling, tapping her chin with her index finger, making the scene even cuter.
"Why not? Even though we rarely see each other, we don't often get to talk so openly," Nejire quickly said, looking at her father, but she couldn't shake off the strange case that her father was holding.
"Dad, don't you want to have some tea?" Hado instantly perked up at the mention of tea, as it was his favorite drink, one he never complained about. Hearing Nejire suggest having tea together was a pleasure.
"Nejire, when did your old man refuse to drink tea?" he said in a cheerful tone, looking at Nejire's smirk as she tried to hide it but failed, making him suspect a prank on her part.
"Well, if you forgot, you've been avoiding my tea for at least a month, telling me that I put too much sugar in it," she replied, observing the shy part of her father, who scratched his head, trying to hide his embarrassment from her.
"That's also true," he answered, glancing at the impeccably clean kitchen.
"And stop calling yourself an old man; you're not that old to be carrying a belly and going bald," she replied with a hint of humor, which Hado appreciated in her; in whatever situation she found herself, she always found a reason to make a joke out of any suggestion.
"Alright, I'll stop. Let's go sit at the table," he replied, turning away from Nejire. Sensing the moment she had been waiting for, she wanted to say something important to her father, but her inner self was reluctant to voice it. Still, clenching her fist and gathering all her courage, she spoke.
"Dad," she said in a nervous tone, which made Hado uneasy.
"Yes, Nejire?" Unable to manage his emotions, she decided to change the subject to something else.
"Dad, we've run out of cookies for tea," she answered awkwardly, fidgeting with her hand and moving her foot on the floor. Hearing her, Hado paused before speaking.
"Do you want me to show you some magic?" he asked, watching Nejire's curiosity spark from his words.
"I want to!" she said, approaching him.
"Then watch," he said, opening a secret cabinet in the kitchen that Nejire didn't know about. Upon seeing the box of cookies that they both loved to eat with tea, Nejire pouted in a comical way, causing Hado to laugh.
"Ahahaha, Nejire, your reaction was priceless."
"That's not fair, you hid our favorite treat from me; that's unfair!" she said, lightly hitting her father's arm, prompting him to play along.
"Ouch, that hurts. It's fair, but first of all, I hid it from you because you always eat everything, leaving me not a single cookie, Nejire." Her father's words made Nejire feel ashamed, but Hado decided her smile was worth more than a box of cookies.
"This time you can eat it all," he said with a smile.
"Really?"
"But if you change your mind, I can eat it myself," Hado said with a smirk, not noticing as Nejire snatched the box of cookies from his sight.
"My cookies!" she exclaimed, playfully teasing her father.
Hado smiled, looking at the satisfied Nejire, who was tightly hugging the cookie box to her chest, as if afraid he would take it away from her.
"Alright, alright, you win," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"But you still need to make me a couple of cups of tea, or else it seems that without your signature 'sugar explosion,' the day will be incomplete."
"Only if you promise not to complain," Nejire said with a mischievous smile, heading for the kettle.
"Deal. But if I suddenly feel like I'm having a sugar shock, don't be mad at me," he teased her, sitting at the table and finally placing the case on the surface, which drew her attention again.
While the kettle was boiling, Nejire, unable to resist, cautiously approached the table, looked at her father, and, frowning, pointed at the case with her finger.
"What is this, Dad? You've been walking around with it since the beginning but never told me."
Hado smiled slyly, squinting his eyes.
"Oh, this case…" he began in a tone clearly intending to intrigue her even more.
"Dad! Don't keep me in suspense," Nejire pouted, crossing her arms over her chest, showing her impatience.
"Alright, alright," he conceded. "It's something for you."
"For me?" Her eyes lit up with curiosity as she leaned closer to the table.
Hado slowly opened the case, doing it as theatrically as possible to further tease her. Inside lay an elegant, beautifully crafted violin. Its body was carved from light wood with a bluish hue resembling whirlwinds, and the strings shimmered with a soft silver light.
"Oooh… This is amazing!" Nejire whispered in awe, carefully running her fingers along the strings.
"This… It's so similar to…"
"To your energy," Hado finished for her, proudly watching her reaction.
"I ordered it from a master. In my childhood, I wanted to play the violin, but due to financial circumstances, I couldn't do it. When I finally got what I had dreamed of for so long, a divorce happened, and I never got to play it. I recently retrieved it from the old house, and looking at the old violin with new eyes, I sensed the resemblance to you, Nejire, and I think now it will become yours."
Nejire froze for a moment, looking at the instrument, and then unexpectedly rushed to her father, hugging him tightly.
"Dad, thank you! This is… this is so sweet…"
"Well," he cleared his throat, pretending to be embarrassed, though he was clearly touched, "you are my daughter. And I want you to remember: even if we don't see each other as often as I would like, you are always my number one."
"You're so…" Nejire almost teared up but quickly smiled to hide her emotions.
"So sweet, like my tea."
"Hey, that's going too far," Hado laughed. "Now, let's brew some tea. I'll enjoy your reaction to my magical cookie stash."
Nejire nodded, trying to stifle a laugh, and rushed to the kettle, still glancing at the violin that now lay on the table. Her heart filled with warmth, and despite all the difficulties, she knew that their little moments together with her father were the most precious. While they enjoyed their tea, one unsettling feeling lingered within Nejire when her father told her the story of this violin.
"Dad, is it true that you had to give up your favorite thing for my sake?" Nejire asked, taking a sip of tea and nibbling on a cookie, to which Hado smiled sadly but did not lie to her about it.
"Yes, Nejire. When you were two years old, I saved up for this violin, and during that time, our family split into two parts. I truly tried to keep our family whole, but your mother refused to support you in any way, considering you a burden. I didn't share her opinion about you and decided it would be better if you stayed with me and she left than if she stayed here taking out her anger on you, something I didn't want to even think about."
Nejire froze, gripping her tea cup. Her gaze fixed on her father's face, who, despite his sad smile, looked calm, as if recounting long-past events. But her heart felt turned upside down.
"Dad…" her voice quivered, but she quickly tried to compose herself.
"You… you gave up so much for me?"
Hado looked at her, smiling as if his words shouldn't evoke such strong emotions.
"Of course, Nejire. You are my daughter. And back then, I realized that no dream, no object or goal could be more important than you."
His words struck the very depth of her soul. She recalled how her father had always been there for her, supporting her through tough times, rejoicing in her successes, and even helping her cope with her boundless energy. He never complained, never spoke of the hardships he endured for her sake.
Nejire lowered her gaze to the violin, which now belonged to her. Her fingers gently glided over the perfectly taut strings, and tears silently streamed down her cheeks.
"You… you should have played it, Dad… You wanted to so much, and I…"
Hado immediately moved closer, gently wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
"Hey, hey, no tears. I'm happy, Nejire. And not because I had or didn't have this violin. But because I have you. You know, sometimes dreams change. In childhood, I dreamed of playing music. And then, when you came along, my music became different — it was you, your laughter, your energy, your smile."
These words finally touched her. Nejire buried her face in her father's shoulder, allowing the tears to flow freely.
"Thank you, Dad… You're the best in the world," she murmured.
He simply smiled, hugging her tighter.
"You're the best too, my girl. And you know what? Now this violin can sound like I always dreamed it would. But already in your hands. It will always remind you that you are special, that you have always inspired me and continue to do so even now."
Nejire pulled back slightly, wiping her tears, and nodded.
"Then… I will definitely learn to play. So you can hear the music you've dreamed of."
"I'm sure it will be the best melody of my life," Hado replied warmly, smiling again.
They continued their tea party, but now the atmosphere was filled with special warmth and gratitude. Nejire felt not only loved but also strong. Inside her grew an even greater desire to delight her father and realize the dreams that had become their shared ones.
"Nejire, just remember that I'm not forcing you to do this. It's your right, and you can confidently refuse it," Hado said, hugging Nejire, but she felt a pang of guilt, even though her father assured her not to blame herself for his personal life.
"Dad, I'm doing this for you, for your dream, and for Izuku. I want to express my feelings and longing for him when I see him," Nejire said warmly, both pleasing and alarming Hado, as neither of them knew what Izuku had become over all this time. The main question was whether he still remembered her. If he had become a delinquent or worse, Hado would forbid her from seeing him, no matter how warm her feelings for him were, as there was a high chance he could take advantage of her kind nature for bad purposes, tarnishing her or breaking her heart, leaving her regretting it. Before she met him, Hado needed to see him personally and find out who he had become after many years of separation.
Hado released Nejire from his embrace, but his gaze turned serious, filled with care and concern. He ran his hand through his hair, contemplating her words.
"Nejire, I'm glad you want to express your feelings. It's wonderful that you have such sincerity," he began, trying to speak softly, but a note of caution crept into his voice.
"But I must ask… Are you sure he's the same person you remember?"
Nejire hesitated, lowering her gaze to her hands folded on the table.
"I don't know, Dad," she replied honestly. "But I believe Izuku is still as kind as he was. He always cared for others, even if it caused him pain. I saw how he saved that woman from the villain, and it hurt me to see him, while instead of supporting him, people laughed at him, even All Might poured oil on the fire. Dad, he's a hero. I know a lot of time has passed, and much could have changed, but…"
Her voice trembled, and she looked at her father again.
"If I don't even try, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
Hado thoughtfully shook his head, understanding how strong her feelings were.
"I understand," he finally said. "But, Nejire, you must be ready for the fact that the person you meet may not be the same as the one you remember. People change. Sometimes not for the better. I understand that he has a heroic soul, but that doesn't speak about him as a person and his character, Nejire."
"Do you think he could have become bad?" she asked, frowning slightly.
"I don't know," Hado sighed.
"But the world isn't always kind to those who stand against it. You know what he has to go through alone. I just want to make sure you don't get hurt."
"Dad," she covered his hand with hers; her voice sounded confident but with a hint of softness.
"I know you're worried about me. And I promise I'll be careful. But… I need to do this. I need to find out how he is. To find out if he remembers me. And even if he has changed, I want to support him."
Hado looked at her intently, his eyes mixing worry and pride. He understood that Nejire had grown up, that she was no longer a little girl but a strong young woman ready to follow her heart.
"Alright," he finally said, his voice softening.
"But before you meet him, I want to talk to him personally."
"Dad…" Nejire began, but he interrupted her.
"No, Nejire, this is not up for discussion. I need to be sure he won't hurt you. If I see that he's the same Izuku you love so much, I will bless your meeting. But if he has become someone else… you must promise me that you'll accept it."
Nejire looked at him, feeling excitement and gratitude at the same time.
"Okay, Dad. I promise."
Hado nodded, embracing her again.
"You're grown-up, Nejire. I'm proud of you. But I will always be here to protect you."
"Thank you, Dad," she quietly replied, leaning against his shoulder.
Hope blossomed in her heart that meeting Izuku would bring answers and possibly reconnect their paths. But she knew this road could be difficult and was grateful that her father would always support her.
Thoughts of Izuku were interrupted by a curious question from Nejire, which had arisen as soon as she saw the violin.
"Dad, can you play the violin?" she asked while her father was sipping tea, and seeing him down the whole cup at once.
"Hehe, Dad, you're like a tea monster, always drinking but never satisfied," Nejire teased her father while giggling and covering her mouth with her hand so it wouldn't seem rude.
"I can only play one piece, not perfectly, but I know a few good lessons I learned by myself," Hado said, looking at his violin, but still decided to play a piece for her.
"I'll play this piece if you pour me some more tea, but only this time with one spoonful of sugar, please," Hado said with a smile on his face as Nejire got up to brew more tea for her father.
"Now I'm going to call you the tea dragon who makes tea for the princess locked in the castle, hihi," Nejire giggled, making her father roll his eyes at the absurdity of his daughter's words, which she couldn't resist teasing.
Hado smiled, watching Nejire enthusiastically brew tea; her energy and lightness filled the room with warmth. While she was busy, he opened the case and took out the violin, carefully running his fingers over its polished body. For a moment he froze, as if recalling something distant, then began to tune the instrument.
"Get ready, princess, your tea dragon is about to show what he's capable of," he teased her, placing the violin on his shoulder and raising the bow.
Nejire turned around with a cup of tea, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Oh, Dad, I'm looking forward to it! Just don't forget that I'll be a strict judge," she said, laughing, and sitting on a chair across from him.
Hado took a deep breath as if preparing for an important moment. He gently drew the bow across the strings, extracting the first notes of Vivaldi's "Winter." The music filled the room, initially slowly and hesitantly, as if he were searching for the rhythm.
The violin filled the space with thin, icy tremors. His fingers didn't always hit the notes precisely; sometimes the sound became a bit sharper than necessary, but there was a sincerity in that. Hado played, pouring his soul into each note, and even the small mistakes didn't spoil the composition; rather, they made it alive and full of emotions.
His bow moved up and down, sometimes slowing down a bit, sometimes speeding up. As the melody reached its climax, the sounds became sharp, like a gust of cold winter wind, and at that moment, Nejire couldn't help but hold her breath.
Her gaze was fixed on her father. She saw how focused he was on playing: his eyes slightly closed, lips tightly pressed together, brows furrowed. It seemed he wasn't just playing; he was experiencing the entire winter storm depicted in the music.
As the melody slowed down, transitioning into calmer but tense notes, Nejire felt a variety of emotions awakening within her. Her heart would squeeze and then beat faster.
At the end of the composition, Hado made a final stroke with the bow, and the last sound, like a snowflake, softly melted in the air.
For a moment, silence fell.
"Dad…" Nejire whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Well," he began somewhat embarrassed, lowering the violin, "how did you like my debut?"
Nejire jumped up and hugged him tightly, almost dropping the cup of tea she was still holding.
"That was amazing! Even with a few small mistakes! You conveyed everything so… so deeply!" her voice trembled with emotion.
Hado laughed, gently patting her back.
"Well, I'm glad you liked it. This is my first grateful audience in all these years," he joked, but his eyes also glimmered with emotions.
"Dad, you should play more often," Nejire said, pulling back and smiling. "You express so many feelings through music."
He smiled back at her.
"Maybe you're right. Or maybe next time we'll play a duet, huh?"
Nejire nodded with a serious expression.
"Definitely. And I'll try to learn so I won't let you down."
Hado laughed again, looking at her determination.
"Then the tea dragon will have to give way to your talent. But I'll be more than happy, Nejire."
The room filled again with laughter, warmth, and that special, almost magical atmosphere that only they could create together.
"Dad, can you teach me this art?" Nejire asked, smiling, to which Hado yawned.
"I don't want to upset you, Nejire, but it's quite late now, and I think the neighbors wouldn't appreciate hearing violin sounds at night. But I will definitely teach you. Tomorrow I have a day off, and there will be plenty of time to teach you," Hado replied cheerfully, to which Nejire pretended to smile but accepted her father's offer.
"Okay, Dad, I think it's already late, and I'm heading to my room. And let's not overstay. Goodnight, Dad," she replied, though she couldn't reach the answer to her troubling question, she had plenty of time to say and share it tomorrow.
"And you too, my sweet."
*****
**Sunday Morning**
- Get up, chimpanzee, it's time for breakfast, and today we need to go on patrol, - Venom replied, continuing to read a book about human biology.
- I'm getting up, - Izuku reluctantly opened his eyes. Instead of sunlight, he saw the overcast weather that predicted rain and a not-so-pleasant day for him as a hero. Succumbing to the atmosphere, Izuku pulled the blanket over himself to avoid looking out the window and witnessing the unfolding unpleasantness.
Venom irritably slammed the book shut and tossed it onto the nightstand, causing Izuku to flinch under the blanket.
- Coward. Do you think the rain will stop criminals? Or will your whining make you stronger?
Izuku didn't respond; he just wrapped himself tighter in the blanket. Venom, unable to hold back, materialized a black tentacle-like appendage that yanked the fabric off his head.
- Get up, chimpanzee. I told you: breakfast and patrol. Or I'll eat all your chocolate stash.
Izuku sighed quietly, looking at the gloomy window. Raindrops tapped against the glass, adding to his melancholic mood.
- You don't understand anything. The people there don't want me to save them. They hate me. Every day I have to hear it... see their looks.
- Let them hate. That's their problem. Our problem is to do what needs to be done. Are we here for them?
- Aren't we?
The answer hung in the air. Venom fell silent for a moment, then partially materialized, wrapping around Izuku's right arm as if hugging him.
- We are here to survive. You're with me — I'm with you. Everything else is just noise.
Izuku laboriously got out of bed, dragging his feet to the closet to get his uniform. Venom vanished back inside him, continuing to grumble on his own wave.
- That's right. Move. At least pretend to be a hero. Otherwise, these idiots will stop fearing us altogether.
Izuku barely managed to hold back a retort, but still threw on his uniform over his t-shirt, glancing at his reflection in the mirror. Dark circles under his eyes showed the signs of perpetual sleep deprivation, and his gaze looked tired.
- Pathetic. Want some inspiration? I could tell you a couple of stories about yesterday's incident...?
- Please, no.
During the day, they would patrol the outskirts where thefts occurred most frequently, but right now, all Izuku cared about was finding the strength within himself.
The rain only emphasized the weight on his shoulders, but deep inside, a small flame still burned. Even if his powers were questioned by those who should support him, he couldn't just give up. While making breakfast, Izuku occasionally encountered Venom's displeased objections about vegetables, but he couldn't do anything about it, as eating healthy, though unpleasant, would do less harm than if he only ate meat.
In the kitchen, Izuku focused on chopping vegetables for an omelet, trying to distract himself from thoughts about the upcoming patrol. But Venom was relentless.
- Why are you doing this? Vegetables aren't food. It's punishment.
Izuku sighed wearily, continuing to chop bell peppers.
- We've already discussed this. Healthy eating will help me stay in shape.
- In shape for what? A salad? Look at me. I'm the perfect being. I don't need vegetables to be strong. Meat, Izuku. Real food.
Izuku raised a piece of pepper and held it up to the light.
- You like meat, but I like being alive. So for now, I decide what to eat.
- That's outrageous. You know what else helps you stay in shape? War. Hunting. Not this pathetic squeaking with eggs and grass.
Izuku ignored the sarcastic remark and cracked the eggs into a bowl, starting to whisk them with a whisk.
- Suit yourself. But know that when I see a steak, it will be mine.
As the omelet cooked in the pan, Izuku thoughtfully gazed out the window, where the rain had turned the yard into a shiny canvas of water. Memories of a recent conflict surfaced, when a crowd accused him of "getting in the heroes' way." Even All Might had turned away from him.
- Why has everything become so complicated?
- Because you want to be good. It's exhausting. And pointless.
Izuku flipped the omelet, trying not to respond. He knew there was some truth in Venom's words, but accepting them would mean giving up.
After a few minutes, he sat at the table, placing a plate in front of himself.
- Come on, eat. I like how you suffer.
Izuku took a couple of bites and put down his fork, rubbing his eyes. Tiredness hit him again.
- I just want all this to be for something.
- Then don't stop. Do your job. And forget about them. They don't matter. We matter.
Izuku silently nodded. Deep down, he understood that this strange symbiotic bond was his only support. Even if it was prickly and full of contradictions.
When breakfast was over, he cleaned the dishes and began to get ready.
- Come on. Show this rainy day who's boss.
But Izuku's words were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell, which disrupted his thoughts.
- Who would show up on such a rainy day? - Venom said menacingly, reaching for the doorknob, but Izuku wouldn't let him open the door.
- Don't rush. Whoever it is, I don't like it, - Izuku said, slowly approaching the door. As he walked, the ringing became more persistent, irritating both him and Venom, who was already contemplating a taste of human flesh. Looking through the door's peephole, Izuku saw two people: a woman dressed in a business suit and a man in casual clothing.
- Who are they? - Venom asked suspiciously, glancing at them.
- I don't know who they are, but be prepared; they might be spies. - Hiding inside Izuku's body, Venom was ready for a fight, and preparing himself, Izuku turned the knob and opened the door.
- Oh, hello, Midoirya Izuku, right? - the woman asked in a friendly tone, fake smiling, while the man behind her clearly had a poor opinion of him, evident from his facial expression. Meeting the woman's gaze, frowning, he replied.
- Hello, yes, that's me, - he answered cautiously, looking at both of them. With tired eyes, he glanced at them, and the woman, with her infectious energy, smiled at him.
- I told you he lives here, - the woman said in a cheeky tone to her colleague, to which her partner sighed.
- Oh, ahem, where are my manners? I'm Saiko Matsumoto, we're doing interviews with stars and hype people for our social media channel. - Hearing the word "interview," Izuku immediately sensed something was off and prepared to slam the door, but before he could do that, she prevented him.
- Please don't close the door; we have a business proposal for you, - the woman pleaded, trying to prevent him from shutting the door. Surprisingly to Izuku, she was stronger than she seemed at first. Exhaling, he let the door go, allowing her to stand fully.
- Recently, on the show "Light of the Sapphires," Re:Destro was a guest, and we would like to record an interview with you to draw attention to the Quirkless. In that interview, Re:Destro didn't speak highly of you or the Quirkless, and we want to record an interview emphasizing that Quirkless also have the right to express their opinions. For the interview, we will generously reward you and possibly invite you for future interviews with the same fee. Are you interested in this? - Hearing this, Izuku felt a surge of anger, while Venom was trying not to dismember them both at that moment.
- They will use us, Izuku; don't agree to this, - Venom advised in his head, but using all his restraint and maintaining his composure, he uttered what they never expected to hear.
- No, I'm not interested. - Shoving the annoying reporter away from the door, he forcefully slammed it shut in their faces.
- There you go. Slamming the door in their face is already better than letting them in.
Izuku exhaled heavily, leaning against the door. Outside, the ringing had finally stopped, but he could hear the muffled voices of Saiko and her colleague.
- We'll be back! You're making a mistake, Midoirya-san!
Izuku ignored her words, closing his eyes and trying to calm down.
- They just wanted to use me. Like everyone else.
- Of course they did. These people are parasites, worse than us. At least I'm not lying to you about my intentions.
Izuku silently stepped away from the door and headed towards the window. He pulled back the curtain to confirm that the reporters had left. They stood in the rain, arguing with each other before heading to their car.
- Re:Destro... They're trying to drag me into yet another scandal.
- And you did the right thing by refusing. But, Izuku, they won't stop. People like them are like rats. They always find a crack to slip through.
- Then I just need to make sure they have no reason to come to me.
- Oh, that sounds harsh. I like it. What are you planning?
Izuku paused for a moment before taking his phone to check the latest news. His name popped up in dozens of discussions; everywhere, people were talking about Re:Destro, his "ideology of Quirk supremacy," and his latest attacks on the Quirkless.
- For now, nothing. I just want everyone to leave me alone.
- You're too soft. I'd go to them and make them regret breathing at all.
- That won't solve anything.
Venom chuckled softly but decided not to continue the argument.
- You'll regret refusing. Those people didn't come for no reason. If they can't lure you in with sweet words, they'll dig under you.
Izuku looked at his phone, closing the news, and wearily sat on the couch. He felt the rain outside intensifying, as if emphasizing the weight of the situation.
- If they want to dig, let them dig. I don't have time to play their games.
- Fine. But I warned you, - Venom said, grinning wickedly.
Izuku lay down on the couch, closing his eyes, but sleep wouldn't come. He knew Venom's words were true. These people wouldn't stop until they got what they wanted. But right now, under the sound of the rain, he just wanted to momentarily forget about the world that was constantly against him.
Once the reporters left, Izuku prepared for his last patrol of the week and decided to go out during the day, as it was the perfect time to return at night and rest. But if he had known that this patrol would become a turning point in his life, he would never have agreed to it.
Putting on his hero costume and stepping onto the roof, Izuku jumped off into the rainy day. Despite the discomfort, he walked towards his goal of becoming a true hero. Though he didn't expect fame, unlike the official heroes, he did what he deemed necessary, albeit with contradictions. But Izuku didn't consider himself a hero until he accepted the reality in which he lived. It pained him to realize he was alone, hated by everyone on both fronts: from the side of Izuku Midoriya for his Quirklessness and from the side of Silent Phantom for not fitting into the conventional understanding of a hero.
Izuku stood at the edge of the roof, rain running down his face and soaking his hair. His coat slapped heavily against his legs from the water, but he didn't even try to adjust it. The mask fit snugly on his face, and the glass lenses of his eyes sparkled from the light of street lamps, blurred by the raindrops.
- You're taking too long. Come on, jump!
Izuku rolled his eyes but stepped forward into the void. The wind instantly hit his face, mixing with the rain. For a moment, he felt free fall before Venom's tentacle shot forward.
The black mass stretched for dozens of meters, grabbing hold of the building's cornice across the street. The movement was smooth and swift: they soared upward like a pendulum, describing an arc over the street. Cars flashed beneath them, their headlights smeared in the wet sheen of the asphalt.
- You could at least warn me when you're about to yank like that.
- Where's your sense of risk? This is fun!
They continued to speed ahead, the tentacles alternating, grabbing walls, antennas, and even lamp posts. Each movement was precise and powerful. The tentacle would retract, pulling them closer to the point of capture, then shoot forward again, giving them new momentum.
The rain fell so heavily that the outlines of the buildings merged into a blurred gray backdrop. Water streamed down Izuku's face, seeping behind the collar of his costume, but he was accustomed to discomfort. His hands instinctively moved, balancing their trajectory while Venom controlled the flight.
On one of the swings, the tentacle suddenly released the building a little too early. Izuku shot through the air, his heart dropping.
- What are you doing?!
- Testing your reflexes.
At the last moment, another tentacle shot forward, grabbing hold of a drainpipe. They soared up again, as if there had been no danger at all.
The movement was continuous: the tentacle would grab a new object, push them further, and so on, again and again. Sometimes they descended low over the ground, allowing Izuku to see the faces of passersby, sheltering under umbrellas. They either averted their eyes in fear or watched in horror as the black figure raced above their heads.
- Do you see their faces? They're afraid of us.
- They should be. The more fear, the fewer questions.
Izuku didn't respond. He knew Venom was right, but he felt the bitterness rising inside him again.
The tentacle suddenly pulled them up onto the roof of a skyscraper. Izuku landed on the wet surface, sliding a few steps before coming to a stop. He breathed heavily, surveying the city.
- We're here like outsiders.
- No. We're here as masters. You just don't understand that yet.
The rain continued to pour, washing the city of its colors, leaving only gray and black tones. But for Izuku, this flight was both a liberation and a burden. Every move forward was a step further from humanity, but he couldn't stop.
As he continued to jump between buildings, Izuku heard a cry for help in one of the alleys and saw three people surrounding a young guy lying on the ground, beaten in the rain, soaked and bruised, having lost all hope, pleading for help, trying to call someone, but no one could hear him over the cacophony of the downpour.
- You can scream all you want, no one will help you, - said the villain with a smirk, trying to hide his sense of superiority over the pitiful guy lying on the ground, collecting raindrops with his face.
- What are they messing with? Let's quickly take his money and head to the bar, - said the second, cracking his fingers.
- Hurry up; it's getting cold, - replied the third, standing behind the group, uninterested in the process.
- Please, don't! It's my last money! How will I pay for my apartment? - the young man said with a pitiful voice, having been punched in the face, pressing his face into the asphalt.
- We don't care about that. If you want to keep your limbs intact, hand over the cash, - said the robber casually. Losing all hope for help, the young man, trembling, opened his wallet, pulling out his last money.
- Here you go, - he extended to them, prompting the two fakes to smile until they heard the sound of splashed water from behind. Turning their heads, they saw a black figure with white pupils staring at them contemptuously.
Without losing a second, Izuku grabbed one robber by the neck with a tentacle, pulling him towards himself. Grabbing him by the throat, he lifted him above himself, squeezing his neck with his hands, looking into his eyes filled with fear before the hero. The villain desperately tried to break free from the hero's grip but to no avail. Izuku, looking at both, threw the villain into a trash bin with all his might, causing him to lose consciousness from the impact.
In a state of shock, the robbers tried to flee the alley, but Izuku, extending his tentacle, caught them both and, applying great force, threw them against the nearest wall. Rushing at them, he knocked them out with two powerful punches before they could recover and, glancing at the first villain who was coming to, he pulled him towards himself. Seeing the still terrified eyes, Izuku said in a threatening tone:
- If I see you or your friends robbing people in the alleys, be sure that next time you'll return home in a zinc coffin. Did I make myself clear? - he said ominously, terrifying the robber to the core. His eyes met the white lenses expressing murderous intentions, and the villain obeyed his words, albeit reluctantly, but he wanted to live just like everyone else.
- Alright, alright, I won't do it again, - the villain quickly replied, but Izuku didn't like his tone and decided to knock him out quickly with one punch, throwing him back to the other impostors.
- Are you alright? - Izuku asked in a calm tone, to which the young man flinched, seeing his white lenses.
Izuku froze in place when the young man, trembling, began to back away, refusing his outstretched hand.
- Don't come near me! - he shouted, grabbing a pipe lying on the ground and holding it out in front of him like a weapon.
- I... I was trying to help, - Izuku said, trying to speak gently so as not to scare the young man even more.
But the young man stepped back even further, gasping from a mix of fear and rage.
- Help? You almost killed them! Did you see what you did to them? This isn't heroism, it's... it's something terrible!
Izuku wanted to argue but found his words stuck in his throat. His thoughts raced around the accusation. He looked at the unconscious robbers lying on the ground and suddenly realized how it must look from the outside. His anger, his methods... they really seemed too brutal.
- They deserved it, - he finally said, trying to justify himself. - They would have killed or injured you for money.
- And how are you any better? - the young man exclaimed, his face contorted with pain and rage.
- I called for a hero, and I got a monster! Heroes don't scare people to death, they don't threaten with coffins! You're no different from those bastards!
These words hit Izuku harder than any physical blow. He wanted to say something else, but he realized that every word would only make the situation worse. The young man dropped the pipe and, staggering, ran away without looking back.
Izuku stood there in the pouring rain. The raindrops streamed down his mask, but he knew it wasn't tears. He was too tired to cry.
- I just wanted to help, - he whispered to himself, but the rain drowned out his words.
He looked at his reflection in the puddles. The black coating of his costume, the white lenses, the dark coat flowing in the streams of water... it really looked frightening.
- Maybe he's right, - a thought flickered in his mind. At that moment, something stirred inside him. Venom, who had been dozing until then, finally spoke up:
- He's just weak. You did everything right. Those scum should be afraid. This way, they won't dare to hurt anyone again.
Izuku remained silent. Venom's words sounded logical, but... he looked again in the direction the young man had disappeared and felt the weight growing in his chest.
- If even those I save start hating me... then who am I? - he asked himself before vanishing into the city.
As he flew further, his gaze fell upon an intriguing scene: in the middle of the road, a huge villain was fighting two heroes. Izuku wouldn't tolerate this and, lowering his tentacles, landed on one of the roofs to watch the unfolding events. One hero was thrown off the battlefield, while the other was barely holding his ground against the giant. After a few blows, he fell to the ground, unable to rise.
- Well, hero, don't you have the physical power for the fight? - the villain sneered, raising his fist to finish off the hero who was kneeling. A tentacle grabbed his hand, preventing him from striking further, and with another tentacle, Izuku seized his neck, throwing him over himself, cutting through the rainy air before slamming him down onto the ground with a crash. Without losing a second, Izuku sat on his stomach, pressing down with his knees on the ground, unleashing a flurry of blows to his face, painting it a bloody burgundy color. All he could utter after all this was:
- I give up, - he whispered before reverting to his human form, deflating like a balloon. He was alive but beaten to a state where responding was difficult. Police sirens could be heard, and while he was getting up from the villain, someone threw a tin can at his head. Looking around, he saw an angry crowd.
The crowd surrounded the battlefield, paying no attention to the pouring rain. People shouted, their voices merging into a chaotic noise, filled with hatred and contempt.
- Get out of here, monster! - someone shouted, throwing a plastic bottle at Izuku.
- What, do you think you can do whatever you want? - another voice rang out. - Heroes don't act like this!
- You're not a hero; you're just another monster! - a woman shouted, shielding her child from the sight of the beaten villain lying on the ground.
A tin can flew at Izuku, then a piece of cardboard, and then something heavier—a rock that struck his shoulder with a dull thud. He didn't flinch, only slowly turned his head towards the crowd. His silence, white lenses, and motionless figure emphasized his ominous appearance, which only fueled the crowd's fear and anger.
- What, nothing to say? - shouted a man.
- Do you think you can do anything you want just because you're strong? You're worse than those villains!
- Let them arrest him! - a woman shouted. - He's a danger to all of us!
The sirens grew louder until police cars finally stopped at the edge of the road. Several officers jumped out of the cars, holding weapons and handcuffs. One of them, a tall man with a loud voice, shouted:
- Silent Phantom, surrender! Raise your hands and lie on the ground immediately.
Izuku slowly stood up, ignoring the painful hits from objects still flying his way. He looked at the approaching officers, then at the fallen villain, and then back at the crowd.
The officers began to surround him, preparing for possible resistance.
- We won't repeat ourselves! Lie on the ground, or we'll be forced to use force!
The crowd shouted even louder, urging the police on:
- Arrest him! Lock him up! - echoed from all sides.
Izuku didn't say a word. His gaze was directed somewhere into the distance, as if everything happening no longer mattered to him. He took a step back and, with his tentacles, snatched the weapons from the officers, throwing them aside and leaving them in a state of shock. Then, with another step, he climbed to the edge of the nearest roof and in the next moment, his silhouette disappeared into the night, leaving the police and the crowd bewildered.
- He escaped! - one of the officers shouted.
- See? He is a criminal! - someone from the crowd yelled.
- We told you! A monster! - others chimed in.
As the noise of the crowd grew louder, one of the heroes involved in the battle attempted to rise, leaning on his arm. He looked in the direction where the mysterious defender had vanished and quietly muttered, almost inaudibly:
- But he saved us...
These words drowned in the chaos of anger and hatred, like a drop in a raging ocean.
Izuuku was in turmoil from conflicting thoughts, and every word aimed at him echoed in his head. He had no one to support him in this difficult moment. Even if someone tried, they did not know the whole truth hidden beneath the mask of Izuku Midoriya. He sought support, but no one offered it. Perhaps he was not a hero at all, just imagining himself as one while performing such deeds. Doubts peaked as he looked at his clenched hands, while Venom tried to calm his host down to prevent him from losing control due to his own anger.
Izuuku dashed through the city, moving between rooftops like a shadow, dissolving in the rain. His long coat flapped behind him, and thoughts tormented his mind.
"Monster… Beast… You are worse than villains…" These words shouted by the crowd echoed in his mind, hindering his focus.
He landed on one of the skyscrapers, stopping at the edge. The city below was bathed in the light of street lamps, blurred in the rain, turning into chaotic glimmers. Izuuku held his head in his hands, trying to drown out the inner voice.
"This is ridiculous," a voice sounded in his head. Venom's voice was calm, almost mocking. "You saved them, and they hate you. Is that fair?"
"Shut up," Izuuku whispered, but the voice wouldn't relent.
"You did everything to protect them. You defeated the villain. You freed them from danger. And what did you get in return? Stones, hatred, contempt. Are they really worthy of that?"
Izuuku clenched his fists, looking down at the bustling streets. People with umbrellas hurried to their affairs, some sought shelter from the rain under the eaves of buildings. It seemed no one noticed his presence; no one even suspected that he was here, in the shadows.
"Maybe they are right," he finally spoke, breaking the silence. His voice was quiet but filled with bitterness. "Maybe I really am a monster."
"Don't be a fool," Venom interrupted sharply. "You are stronger than all of them. They fear you because they know they can't control you. Is that so bad? Let them fear. Fear those who can protect them."
Izuuku shook his head, feeling the burden on his soul becoming increasingly unbearable. He remembered the terrified face of that guy in the alley, his words full of horror: "You're not a hero, you're a monster!"
"But I don't want to be feared," he whispered. "I wanted to be a hero… like All Might. For people to believe in me, for me to be a symbol of hope, not an embodiment of fear."
"All Might?" Venom's voice sounded with a sneer. "The same All Might who humiliated you in front of everyone? Who turned away from you like you were dirt? Forget about him, Izuuku. You are no longer that helpless boy. You are stronger. And you need to use that strength."
Izuuku fell silent, looking at his hands. The black surface of the suit glistened in the rain, droplets running down his fingers. These hands… they saved people. But now he saw something else in them—something he found hard to shake off.
"Maybe I've gone too far," he said, turning away from the edge of the roof and stepping back into the shadows. "Maybe this is no longer the path of a hero."
"The path of a hero?" Venom scoffed. "Heroes are weak. You are something else. You can change everything without following their rules. You can be the one who will truly bring order."
Izuuku didn't respond. He jumped off the roof again, dissolving into the night, and only the rain accompanied him like a faithful companion in this endless search for himself.
****
Above the river in the city center stood a large bridge in Mustafa, symbolizing the prosperity of this city. This majestic bridge towered over the river, indicating to nature that man stood at the top of the food chain in this world, which greatly pleased the locals who happily drove across the bridge, enjoying the quality of work done by local builders and engineers. But on this rainy day, there was heavy traffic that halted the movement of all drivers. Someone was late, trying to speed things up, honking their horns, but received nothing more than irritation in return. Among this sea of cars stood one vehicle, a black luxurious foreign car with tinted windows and a matte finish that emphasized the owner's wealth.
The back seat passenger sat unhappily, complaining to his driver. An elderly man, also a prominent member of the yakuza.
"Check what's going on; we're late for a business meeting," the man said nonchalantly to his driver, who in turn got out of the car into the pouring rain to investigate the situation.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
With a whistling sound, a rocket flew by, exploding cars in the vicinity. Panic spread across the bridge, and residents hurried to escape, abandoning their cars. The important yakuza member tried to get out of the car, but the doors were locked from the inside. When he attempted to open the door by pressing the button in the driver's seat, a few meters from his car, a rocket exploded, stunning him. The car remained intact, as it was armored, but it couldn't withstand the blast wave and threw the passenger against the passenger seat.
The explosions suddenly ceased, and chaos erupted with screams, exploding cars, and rain that intensified with each second, turning into a downpour. A massive muscular man, calling himself "Muscle," walked towards the important yakuza member, throwing cars into the river below. Muscle approached the car and, not knowing better, hurled it into the water, where a five-year-old child sat in a car seat, left behind by his parents. Lifting the car with ease, he tossed it into the water, but as it fell, the child screamed.
"Ahhh!!!" He thought he would die, drowning in the water, but suddenly the car stopped in mid-air as if someone were holding it. Turning his head towards the rear window of the car, he saw white pupils staring at him; it was him, Silent Phantom, about whom rumors had spread. Terrified, he screamed for help, believing the villain had come for his soul and was trying to kill him. Izuuku, who was holding one car and had grabbed the bridge with a tentacle, watched the panicking child.
"Help, help!!!" the child cried, but besides Silent Phantom, there was no one else; they were alone.
"Don't scream; I've come to help you," Izuuku said kindly, but the child didn't believe him, looking into his terrifying white lenses. Izuuku, summoning a tentacle, ripped off the rear window and tried to calm the child with all his might, but it was difficult.
"I don't believe you; you're a villain trying to kill me!!" The boy didn't believe his words, frankly thinking he was just like them, except he wore a mask.
"Andy, take off the mask," Izuuku said in a commanding tone, to which Venom grumbled, unwilling to remove the mask.
"He'll recognize our face, and our hero work will be over. Think about it; what will he tell his parents when we save him?" Venom logically summarized, but the host's will pressed down on him even more.
"It doesn't matter what people think of me. I will take responsibility for my actions; I'm ready to sacrifice my anonymity for the life of a person. It's my duty," Izuuku pleaded to do it, for who was he to selfishly think about saving another person's life.
"Be it your way," the tentacles slowly began to withdraw from Izuuku's face, revealing him to the child. The boy, seeing his savior's face, calmed down and did not recognize him.
"Look, I'm just an ordinary kid, just like you. What's your name?" Izuuku asked, and focusing on the child's seat, he saw the name "Kota."
"Kota, that's your name, right?" The child perked up, and his trust in Izuuku increased.
"Y…Yes," he mumbled, looking at the green-haired guy.
"Great! Let me help you. I'll grab you, and you try not to scream, okay?" But Izuuku felt something was off; the tentacle that was holding the car was losing grip due to the gravitational force and the weight of the car, which was not good.
The tentacle slowly crawled to Kota, and Izuuku unbuckled the seatbelt; suddenly, the rear bumper of the car came off, and the car fell into the water. Izuuku couldn't grab Kota, and letting go of the hand he was holding onto the bridge, he dove into the water for Kota. Stretching out his hand to grab him, Izuuku summoned a tentacle and caught him, pressing him to his chest.
"I've got you," he whispered, hugging Kota tightly, not letting him go for any reason.
"Thank you," Kota was grateful to Izuuku and for his strange cap with two protruding spikes on the forehead.
"Are you okay?" he asked Kota, who was still in shock.
"Yes, I'm fine," Kota clenched his wet fingers, refusing to let go of the coat that sheltered him from the rain; Izuuku's heart was warm, and he squeezed him in his chest, seeking warmth. Izuuku slowly rose towards the bridge, troubled by the fact that this was the first person to see his face.
"Kota, let's make a deal: you won't tell anyone that you saw my face, and I won't tell your parents that you screamed when I saved you," Izuuku proposed a deal, but what Izuuku didn't expect was Kota's tears, which he was holding back.
"I don't have parents; they all died saving me," Kota replied in a sorrowful voice, making Izuuku regret mentioning his parents.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up," Kota squeezed him tighter, sobbing, but Izuuku felt uneasy seeing the child cry before him, and instead of comforting him, he merely regretted his words.
"I… I'll keep your secret, but promise you won't forget me like everyone else," the words he heard shocked Izuuku, but he understood him well and decided this would be a minor issue for his anonymity.
"I promise," he said, but as they approached the bottom of the bridge, Izuuku saw strange devices at the ends of each bridge that were blinking. Sensing something was wrong, he needed to check what it was, but most importantly, he had to get Kota to a safe place.
"Kota, we're going to go up, and please, run as fast as you can. I need to finish something very important."
Izuuku carefully climbed up to the bridge, holding Kota in his arms. The rain was pouring harder, and the wind cut through to the bone. The boy still clung to him, unwilling to let go, but Izuuku understood he needed to act quickly.
He looked around and noticed a small sheltered area under one of the nearby buildings—a small awning where Kota could hide from the rain.
"Kota, listen to me," Izuuku gently began, lowering him to the ground. "I'll take you here. You'll stay here until I get back. Okay?"
The boy looked up at him, filled with doubt and fear, but seeing the seriousness in Izuuku's eyes, he merely nodded.
"Will you come back?" he quietly asked, gripping the edge of Izuuku's wet jacket.
"Of course," Izuuku said confidently, carefully brushing a wet strand of hair from the boy's face.
"I always come back."
Izuuku led him to the shelter, trying to protect him from the rain. He took off his long coat and draped it over Kota's shoulders.
"It will keep you warm," he said, straightening up. "Stay here and don't go out, no matter what happens. Understood?"
"Yes…" Kota nodded again, clutching the coat.
Izuuku didn't hesitate any longer. He returned to the bridge and looked up at the strange devices attached to its ends. Venom's lenses narrowed, and the symbiote's voice echoed in his head.
"These are magnetic bombs," Venom reported. "Primitive but effective. If they go off, the bridge will collapse like a house of cards."
"And how much time do we have?" Izuuku asked, extending his tentacles and climbing onto the metal structure.
"No more than three minutes. That should be enough if we hurry."
Izuuku climbed to the first device, ignoring the piercing cold of the rain and the slippery surface. He reached the bomb and began to study it.
"How do I disarm it?"
"Let me do it," Venom said calmly.
The black tentacles began to wrap around the bomb, slowly penetrating the mechanism. Izuuku felt the symbiote scanning the device, then there was a click, and one of the bombs was disarmed.
"First one's ready," Venom reported. "Three left."
Not wasting time, Izuuku moved to the next bomb, his movements quick and precise. Another click—second bomb disarmed.
When he reached the third, movement in the distance caught his attention. Visibility was poor due to the rain, but he could make out a figure standing on the other side of the bridge, watching him.
"We have guests," Venom noted. "Looks like this isn't a random witness."
"Let them watch. We need to finish the job," Izuuku replied, focusing on the third bomb.
The tentacles penetrated the mechanism once more, and after a few seconds, the third bomb was disarmed.
"Last one," Venom said.
Izuuku headed for the fourth bomb, but at that moment, the person on the other end of the bridge pulled something from his pocket. A bright red light flashed in his hands.
"That's a detonator!" Venom exclaimed. "If he presses it, everything will blow up!"
Izuuku dashed forward, shooting a tentacle to grab the detonator, but the stranger was quicker. He pressed the button, and red indicators lit up on all the devices.
"We have less than a minute!" Venom shouted.
Izuuku didn't hesitate. He shot two tentacles, grabbing the last two bombs at once.
"Venom, do something!"
"This is risky, but we have no choice!" the symbiote replied. The tentacles began to draw energy from the bombs, trying to suppress the explosive charge.
Izuuku felt his body tense to the limit, but he kept holding the devices. Finally, with a dull click, both bombs stopped glowing.
"Done," Venom exhaled.
Izuuku looked around, but the figure on the other end of the bridge had disappeared. Whoever it was clearly didn't want to be caught.
"I need to check on Kota," Izuuku said, jumping off the structure and hurrying to the shelter.
Reaching the spot, he found the boy still sitting under the awning, wrapped in his coat. Kota looked up at Izuuku and smiled with relief.
"You came back…"
Izuuku just nodded, lifting him into his arms again. Now he was sure the boy was safe. But somewhere inside, he knew this battle was just the beginning.
A huge explosion thundered near the car. The disoriented head of the yakuza was still sitting in his vehicle, and as he stumbled out, he was dazed.
"Did you find him?" a woman whispered into a microphone for Muscle, who was searching for his prey. Since the bomb under the bridge had been disarmed, they were now relying solely on the brute force of Muscle and the other goons.
"Not yet, but the bombs were disarmed. Silent Phantom is somewhere on the bridge. Try to take him out as well," said the third goon, watching everything from above.
"Rest assured, when I find him, I'll crush him like an ant," Muscle said, searching for his target.
"Looks like I found the target," Muscle said, grinning maliciously at his discovery.