Akira, now at the first level of Qi training, had naturally heightened senses, and as he overheard the professional Heroes discussing him, his expression darkened.
"Damn, are they actually trying to arrest me?" Akira muttered, frustrated. He had barely arrived in this world, and he was already getting targeted by professional Heroes. This was starting to feel too much like a bad plot twist.
He needed to leave quickly. If some high-level Heroes arrived, escaping would be a lot harder.
Akira glided swiftly toward the river where he had been earlier, knowing the isolated area would make for an easy escape route.
But just as he reached the riverside, a dark figure lunged at him. Akira swiftly adjusted the airflow around him, dodging the attack. When he landed, he recognized who it was.
"Kamui Woods?" Akira's eyes widened in surprise. "Why is he here? Is he somehow connected to that Hero from earlier?"
"Suspicious individual, surrender and come with me," Kamui Woods commanded, standing tall on an abandoned ledge.
Akira held his ground. "Excuse me, but have I done anything illegal?"
Kamui Woods hesitated, caught off guard by the question. "Well... no. You haven't done anything harmful, but you seem suspicious and need to be investigated."
"Sorry, I can't comply with that." There was no way Akira could go along with them; he'd be exposed instantly.
"Then don't blame me for using force," Kamui Woods responded, leaping forward with his hands extended. Dozens of wooden vines burst out, aimed to ensnare Akira.
"Fine, if you want to go first," Akira muttered, countering with his **air manipulation**. He swept his left hand forward, creating an invisible barrier that solidified the air in front of him.
Kamui Woods' vines halted in mid-air, immobilized by the dense airflow.
Kamui Woods' eyes narrowed. "What is this ability...?"
Akira noticed more figures approaching from the distance. He couldn't afford to linger. The longer he stayed, the harder it would be to escape.
"Not so fast!" Kamui Woods shouted as Akira turned and dashed toward the river, diving into the water with incredible speed.
Once submerged, Akira manipulated the surrounding air and oxygen, enabling him to glide through the water like a fish. His **air manipulation** wasn't just limited to airflow—he could also control elements within the air, like oxygen, nitrogen, and even trace gases.
Kamui Woods and a group of Heroes, including Death Arms, stood by the riverbank, their gazes fixed on the water's surface.
"Did he get away?" Death Arms muttered, frustrated.
Kamui Woods crossed his arms, looking perturbed. "He was incredibly strong. My vines were completely ineffective."
"Whoever he is, he didn't actually harm anyone. But we need to find out who he is," Death Arms replied, signaling the others. "Let's report this immediately and alert the other Hero agencies. This could be a problem."
---
Half an hour later, Akira emerged from the water in a deserted area. He was completely dry, as though he hadn't been underwater at all.
"Close call," Akira exhaled, annoyed. "All I wanted was to do some good, and now I'm on a Heroes' watch list. Perfect."
However, the outing wasn't without reward. He received 50 **Rescue Points** for assisting "Tengcha Zuo Er," likely the man he'd subdued earlier, and another 50 points for "Kayama Nana," presumably the woman who'd been robbed.
Akira grinned. "Guess my little act of justice was worth something."
---
He made his way to his favorite ramen place, "Qianweimen Ramen Restaurant." Taking off his cloak, he settled into his usual seat, his stomach rumbling.
"Boss, a bowl of three-delight ramen!" he called out.
"Got it!" the burly owner greeted him with a grin. "Haven't seen you in a few days. Was starting to think you ran off."
Akira chuckled. "Classes at U.A. just started, so I didn't have the time."
The owner looked impressed. "U.A. High School, huh? Guess you weren't kidding about getting in there."
"Of course! What, don't I look the part?" Akira joked.
The owner pretended to size him up with mock seriousness. "Eh... maybe if I squint?"
"Keep squinting while you make the ramen," Akira replied, rolling his eyes.
The owner laughed heartily and soon brought over Akira's ramen, loaded with juicy shrimp, tender pork bones, and the perfect blend of seasonings.
"Here you go, my best customer," the owner said, setting down a drink as well. "Consider it on the house, a little congratulatory gift."
Akira dug in eagerly, savoring the rich flavors. But even as he enjoyed the meal, his mind drifted back to Kamui Woods. The Hero was stronger than he'd anticipated, and though Akira had managed to counter him with **air manipulation**, it had been a close call.
"Maybe it's time I come up with a better disguise," he mused between bites. If he didn't want to attract too much attention, he'd need to avoid unnecessary conflicts with Heroes. Otherwise, the next time might not end as easily.