Chapter 47: La Brava
Author: Geraint
(MC's POV)
After rescuing Gentle Criminal from Tartarus and La Brava from police custody—
"Can you at least be gentler with me?! You freaked me out when you suddenly dragged me from behind!"
La Brava was furious after I snatched her from the cops.
"That was a great reaction! When you screamed, 'Kyaaah~!' Hahaha!"
"Grrrrrr! Because of you, Gentle and I got arrested!"
She grit her teeth and glared at me like she wanted to punch my soul out of my body.
"If you're looking for Gentle Criminal, he's over there—watching himself get famous on TV."
"Eh?"
Gentle Criminal was smiling, watching a news segment where his image was shown. They were calling him a hero for leaking the Hero Public Safety Commission's corruption.
"This isn't bad at all. I like this! My dream of becoming famous is coming true!"
He said that while sipping tea, clearly enjoying his new-found fame.
"Everything's going according to Falcon's plan."
La Brava ran up to him, looking worried.
"Gentle! Stop listening to this guy! His plan is actually going haywire!"
"But I like the result. Look at this, La Brava! I'm famous on TV!"
"We're branded as criminals, Gentle! Some of his crimes are being pinned on us! Please, listen to me!"
Things would've progressed smoothly if not for this battle-junkie father of mine. He just wanted to fight heroes to satisfy himself... Roboco explained through my computer.
I instantly felt guilty.
"Ugh... I'm sorry."
Don't just apologize to me! Apologize to Mirko. She's the one hurt the most by your foolish actions. You really made us all worry!
"Okay, okay... after I deal with Re-Destro."
"Then what about me?"
Behind me stood Kaina in her hero costume: a dark bodysuit with armor plates under her chest and knee guards. A lightning-bolt-shaped scouter covered her right eye. She wore boots, a sleeveless dark dress, and a metallic utility belt where she stored her bullets.
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She had just bathed and changed into her hero gear.
"It's not time yet for you to come out," I said. "We're working on removing the criminal charges against you—self-defense will be our argument. Same for Gentle Criminal. As for La Brava, she's a minor, so she'll be fine."
"What are we supposed to do until then?"
"My subordinates will come fetch you guys. In the meantime, lay low while we finish dismantling the Commission."
Father… Re-Destro has received your message. Roboco reminded me.
"Thanks. It's time I made my move."
"Huh?"
Everyone stared at me, confused about why I'd sent a message to the enemy before attacking.
I ignored them, yawning as I pulled something from my pocket and opened a wormhole to the rooftop. The sun was still high—it was midday. I figured I'd rest up before my move.
"I guess I'll go tonight. Until then, I'll nap."
I took a deep breath.
"SHAZAM!"
Lightning struck me, and I transformed into a child.
Still yawning, I returned to my workshop, where everyone was waiting.
"Huh?"
They all looked stunned, seeing my real form for the first time.
"When I joked that the old man Captain Falcon might be a child… I never expected it to be true," Gentle Criminal said, twirling his mustache.
"Eh?! That means Fujiwara Ichika is younger than me!?"
La Brava twitched.
"Cute..."
I flinched. That came from Kaina.
She gave me a focused, intense stare.
"Tell me! Is that your real form? Or is the adult-looking one your real self?"
I felt pressure. A lot of pressure. She sounded… desperate?
"U-Um... Kaina? Please calm down—"
She stepped forward and grabbed my shoulders.
"Hurry and answer me! This is important!"
I was sweating bullets, my eyes darting all over.
"Eh… Well… This is my real form."
She shook me again—violently this time.
"HEY!"
(This woman is terrifying!)
"Are you sure?! You're not some old man in disguise or anything?"
I scowled, insulted.
"Who are you calling an old man?! I'm a 10-year-old boy who got adopted from the orphanage! All Might and I are not the same age!"
"I see… that's a relief! Hahaha!"
Kaina let me go and laughed, but now I was suspicious.
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As I tried to sneak away, she grabbed me from behind and lifted me into her arms.
"Hey!"
"I've been surrounded by nothing but smelly old villains in prison..."
She looked around and sat on a chair, pulling me onto her lap and hugging me tightly from behind.
"Lady Nagant… Eh?"
"Just let me borrow you for a little while."
She closed her eyes, snuggling up to me like a stuffed animal.
Seeing how comforted she looked, I just sighed and patted her head.
"You've done enough, Kaina. It's time for you to rest from work."
While I did that, I noticed La Brava staring at me with an indifferent expression.
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I frowned.
"What?"
"What's with this illicit relationship I'm seeing?"
"Huh?! Look in the mirror before saying that, you Loli!"
"Did you say something, Shota? I may look like this, but I'm already 16 years old."
She puffed her chest proudly.
"Well… even I can turn into an adult!"
"Oh? Do I look like a child with this huge chest?"
She posed dramatically, bouncing her breasts like she was summoning Exodia.
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"Shut up! You're just a NEET! A Loli-NEET!"
"You bastard Shota!"
We glared at each other.
"Grrrrrr..."
"You know, Gentle Criminal… I don't understand kids these days."
"What a coincidence. Me neither. But these two understand each other. It's the first time I've seen La Brava act like this. It must be fate that they met."
Kaina and Gentle commented while watching us with a weird kind of awe.
La Brava panicked as she realized what Gentle meant.
"Hey, Gentle! It's not like that! He's just annoying! That's all! Like a little brother! Yeah, he's like a little brother!"
"It's fine. Don't worry. Hehehe..."
Gentle just smiled warmly at her.
"Uuuu..."
La Brava teared up as she glared at me.
"This is your fault! Now Gentle won't look at me the same way! He's treating me like a child!"
"I missed the part where that's my problem."
"Damn you, Shota-jiji!"
"Bring it on, Loli-baba!"
I jumped off Kaina's lap and grappled with La Brava, the two of us pinching each other's cheeks.
"These two really get along."
"Yeah, you said it. La Brava finally found a real friend."
Lady Nagant and Gentle watched us bicker with soft smiles on their faces.
(To be continued.)
A/N: I'll fix my mistakes later.
(Doo-bee-doo-bee-do-bah)(Doo-bee-doo-bee-do-bah)(Doo-bee-doo-bee-do-bah)(Doo-bee-doo-bee-do-bah)(Perry!)