The following day, Izuku and Rumi continued their intense routine — training at dawn, patrols by noon, and more patrols deep into the night. Together, they caught purse-snatchers, stopped two robberies in progress, and even talked down a man standing on a rooftop ledge. By the time the city lights began to glow against the violet dusk, both of them were exhausted.
Now, the two sat side by side on an old swing set in a quiet park. The metal chains creaked softly as they swayed, the cool evening breeze brushing against their sweat-dampened faces. The faint scent of rain hung in the air, mixing with the aroma of their takeaway coffee. The world around them had finally gone still — a rare moment of peace.
"It was honestly way livelier than usual today. Wonder why," Rumi muttered, leaning back slightly on the swing. Her white hair, tied messily behind her, fluttered with the wind. "It's been months since I've had to deal with this many things in one day."
"Probably a villain group operating somewhere in the city," Izuku said, his tone calm but thoughtful. He took a sip of his coffee, eyes scanning the skyline where a few red warning lights blinked on distant rooftops. "We'll have to stay vigilant. Guess no good night's rest today."
"Yeah, but there are heroes in charge of stuff after hours," Rumi replied, stretching her legs and yawning. "I'm not one of them, but if you want, we can stay a little longer. Make sure everything's great." She downed the last of her coffee in one gulp, then tossed the empty cup toward a trash bin a few meters away. It landed perfectly with a soft clunk.
"I don't mind," Izuku said, his voice steady. He crumpled his empty cup and flicked it — the paper arcing cleanly across the entire park before dropping straight into a bin on the opposite side.
"Show-off," she said with a grin, her ruby eyes narrowing in mock irritation.
"You did it fir—"
CRASH!
A thunderous impact echoed through the night, cutting him off mid-sentence. The ground beneath their feet trembled, scattering a flock of birds from the nearby trees. Streetlights flickered.
Izuku and Rumi instantly rose from their swings, their instincts kicking in. Rumi's sharp gaze darted toward the source — a few blocks away, where smoke began to rise above the rooftops.
"South district," Izuku said, already cracking his knuckles.
Mirko grinned, her crimson eyes gleaming with excitement as the ground beneath them vibrated from another distant crash.
"Guess our break's over. Let's go!" she said, voice brimming with adrenaline.
Before Izuku could even respond, she was already sprinting down the dimly lit park path, her powerful legs kicking up dust as she bolted ahead like a cannonball.
Izuku smiled faintly and rose into the air, his feet leaving the ground in a soft hum of energy. Within seconds, he was soaring above her, wind rushing past his face.
"You can fly!?" Rumi shouted, tilting her head up in surprise, still keeping pace with a grin.
"Oh yeah, I thought you knew," Izuku replied with a teasing grin.
Before she could say another word, he swooped down, scooping her effortlessly into his arms. Her eyes widened as the sudden burst of acceleration lifted them both high into the night sky.
"Hey! You could've warned me!" she shouted, gripping tightly around his neck as the wind whipped through her hair.
"Where's the fun in that?" he said with a smirk, shifting his trajectory toward the smoke-filled intersection.
The city lights blurred below as they streaked through the air. Within seconds, they arrived above the scene — a huge beer truck overturned across the busy main road, its metallic frame crushed against a lamppost.
Broken bottles and golden liquid spilled everywhere, the strong stench of alcohol filling the air. A group of masked criminals were busily looting crates of beer and snacks, laughing as they loaded them into stolen vans.
Izuku sighed. "Couldn't they have just robbed a tavern or something?" he muttered as he gently dropped Rumi to the ground.
She landed in a smooth roll, the asphalt cracking under her feet, and immediately dashed forward like a blur. Izuku touched down beside her, his boots hitting the pavement with a heavy thud.
"Alright guys, fun's over," Izuku called out, his tone calm but commanding.
The group of thieves froze for a moment, then turned to face him — and instantly burst out laughing.
"Who even are you, broccoli head!?" one yelled.
"Yeah! You probably got a green thumb or somethin'!" another added, snickering.
"Yeah! WhatApp Man!" a third chimed in, howling at his own joke.
Rumi didn't even wait. "No time for reasoning," she said flatly — and then vanished.
Her kick came like a bullet. One criminal went flying into a pile of crates with a crunch, bottles shattering everywhere.
The others barely had time to react before she slammed into them, fists and legs moving in a brutal rhythm.
'Damn... WhatsApp Man,' Izuku thought dryly, glancing at the one who said it. His eyes glowed faintly.
ZZZZT!
A sharp burst of electricity shot out, striking the guy's feet.
"AAHH!!" he screamed, dropping to the ground and rolling in pain.
Izuku cracked his neck, stepping into the fray. Energy flared around his arms as he moved, deflecting a metal pipe swung his way and countering with a quick jab to the attacker's chest. Within seconds, he and Rumi had the entire group subdued — groaning and tangled in steel restraints Izuku formed from the truck's guard rails.
Silence fell. The only sounds were the faint crackle of electricity and the hum of passing traffic.
Izuku lifted the overturned truck effortlessly with a wave of energy, setting it upright again. The terrified driver, who'd been hiding behind a nearby car, peeked out in disbelief.
"It's all right now," Izuku said gently. "You're safe."
Rumi walked over, stretching her arms and brushing dust off her outfit. She glanced at the pile of unconscious criminals, then at Izuku, a teasing smirk playing on her lips.
"Looks like one of those insults hurt you," she said, elbowing his shoulder as she leaned against him.
"Hurt me? Nah, I'm immune to insults," Izuku replied, scoffing as if unbothered — though the faint twitch at the corner of his eye betrayed him.
Rumi chuckled, her laughter soft but genuine. "If you say so. Come on, let's go home," she said, hopping effortlessly into his arms.
Izuku shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. "You really like this princess carry thing, huh?"
"Shut up and fly, WhatApp Man," she teased, smirking.
He groaned, but couldn't help laughing as he blasted off into the sky, the city lights shrinking below them as the cool night air rushed past.
TO BE CONTINUED