[enma]

It was finally time for their second date. The first was a wonderful but emotional experience and Enma was happy that Masao wanted to keep seeing him. With everything so new, he wasn't sure what to do to maintain the wonder that captivated the two of them. What if Masao wasn't so amazed by him? What if their careers pulled them apart? These fears were typical of someone who'd never had a romantic relationship or interest before.

Washing away his fears in the shower, Enma remembered just how sweet Masao was. How she accepted him and was generally someone he could share very personal, very difficult things with. There was a reason he brought her to see the painting his sister made, and there was a reason that his heart shined for her. By now, he was able to control it but the days that were normally filled with thoughts about villain-slaying and training had become less monotonous.

She was on his mind all the time. How to impress her, what he could do to show her that he cared for her, how to protect her. A whole new fear began to settle in: what if he couldn't protect her? He was strong, stronger than most of his class. That was a fact, but the voices of his father and grandfather telling him he wasn't good enough had been barking whenever that particular fear loomed most presently over him.

Finishing the shower, he looked at the mirror and observed his scars. They weren't earned through heroism, simply being markers of his tumultuous childhood (or lack thereof). Feeling them, he reined in his anxiety by remembered what it was like to kiss Masao. To touch her...For someone of her expertise, she was so soft. So sweet. Masao... Exhaling, he would get dressed. This time, he was wearing a red turtleneck that had no pattern but was a brighter shade, duller in saturation. He wore his black slacks and some casual, spring-season geta.

Of course, he wore socks with his geto. Apparently in other parts of the world, that was frowned upon. In Japan, one who didn't wear socks were asking to not have skin on their feet. Shooting a text to Masao, he would meet her at a dumpling place in Tokyo that they'd do take-out with and go to a hill for some privacy. It was later in the evening and classes were done for the day. Feeling weird without bringing Raiju, Enma started overthinking scenarios.

Hey Masao, would you like me to wait by the UAU entrance? I hope you had a nice day. I'm excited to share dinner with you again.

Smiling at his phone, he would put it away and wait at the entrance instead of heading off to the city. He figured they could just leave the University together.

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

Enma, Enma Arashi. He had been on her mind ever since they first met, even more so since their first date. Whenever she closed her eyes she saw the way he looked at her when they sat on the bench, felt the way his lips met hers. It was enough to make her flustered all over again, reliving that wonderful moment again and again on repeat, it was almost too much for her! Focusing on homework and training had been harder than ever. She was incredibly happy, more than she had ever felt, but she was also full of questions, full of doubts. She looked at her reflection in the mirror as she used a hairdryer on her long, red hair.

Their second date was today, and because of that she hadn't been able to focus on anything else. All she could do was look forward to spending more time with Enma. Although she couldn't help but wonder... Since they had been on a date already, and held hands and kissed... Was Enma actually her boyfriend? Was she his girlfriend, or did it not count until they had been on more dates? In which case, how many dates did they need to go on? She put on a light touch of makeup around her eyes to help them shine even more, but she had to go slow as more thoughts flooded her head. Couldn't she just ask him? But wouldn't that be super awkward if they were already together? Wouldn't he think she was weird for even asking?

Did any of that even matter? She liked Enma, he liked her. They had kissed and was probably going to kiss again. What they had wasn't a spoken bond, it was something magical, something intangible. They didn't need words for what they were feeling. Coming out of the bathroom she looked at the outfits on her bed and froze, paralyzed with fear. She had narrowed it down to three possible outfits, but now that she was standing here, moments before she was supposed to get ready she wasn't sure what to go with after all. As a last minute cry for help, she texted her friend Misaki Takanashi and consulted her on what to wear, and through a quick text exchange back and forth she helped her pick something out.

As she went to grab her keys and her purse she paused in the doorframe, looking back at her sword, Rosaria. She had a feeling she should bring it, but she didn't have a license to carry weapons outside of the school, so it might just create problems for her and Enma if she got caught carrying it. Besides, she wasn't going out alone, she was going out to the city with Enma, and as far as she was concerned there was no safer trip to the city than that. As she grabbed her phone she realized she had received a text from Enma... 5 minutes ago?! And she hadn't texted back yet?! She hastily opened her messaging app to text him back.

''Hey Enma, that sounds great, sorry I was still getting ready but I'm leaving now. I look forward to having dinner with you.''

Send.

Oh, wait, he also-

''I hope you had a nice day too! Tell me all about it.''

She sent the other message right after, letting out a small sigh of relief. Closing her door behind her, she also chose to leave her weapon behind as she headed out.

As she turned a corner and got to the main entrance she smiled upon seeing Enma waiting there. ''It's good to see you, Enma-kun.'' If she thought she was flustered thinking about him, seeing him wearing a geto and looking all fancy had her heart damn near jump out of her throat. ''You look... Amazing.'' She tried to bear the blush on her face with a grin, it wasn't like she could control it after all. ''I know this is strange to say, since it has not been that long since our first date, but...'' She averted her gaze, but still sought out his hand to hold it, if he would let her. ''I've missed you.'' She herself was wearing a much more colorful outfit for the occasion. Almost as if a little part of her had opened up to him more, dared to show more of herself, and definitely gotten help from her friend Misaki. Outfitted with an emerald green blouse to match her eyes and contrast her hair, she was also wearing a silver necklace that had the same shine as the armor from her quirk, as well as matching silver earrings. Finally, and this was Misaki's suggestion, she wore a white skirt to add a touch of lightness to her outfit, but also to try and push her boundaries with her feminine side a little more. Finally, her purse was white to fit the skirt, and her nails painted red, the same color as her hair. ''Shall we get going?'' She asked with a smile.

She wanted to kiss him, but she wasn't sure if she should ask him first, or if he thought kissing right in front of the school might be too scandalous. Maybe the right moment would come along, or he could kiss her? Of the two of them, she always thought of Enma as the more daring type.

enma

[enma]

Enma didn't mind waiting for Masao, it gave him time to steel his nerves and not appear to be the bumbling fool who has been falling head-over-heels for her. If he froze up and couldn't function every time he saw her, the charm would wear away quickly. Though, when he thought about Masao, he felt this warmth in his chest that has never been ignited by anyone else. Clutching his chest and reading the text, he pursed his lips and exhaled while nodding.

"Okay, she'll be a moment. I guess I will limber up in case we do a lot of walking." As he would do stretches, it passed the time and took his mind off of the strong Masao. She was a majestic knight, but today would bring another surprise. As she came to the entrance to UAU, he would take her in and the same awe that struck him on their first date would tear away any notion that he had the fortitude to not melt in her presence. It was a sight to behold.

The duality of someone's fashion really showed in Masao, and Enma couldn't stop himself from smiling. Looking forward to talking and listening to her, mostly listening, Enma gave a two-finger salute. "Masao, you're beautiful. Just...stunning. I've...I feel lucky." He felt as if this was a treat for only his eyes. He'd never seen her dress up like this and as he stepped forward into her space by instinct, he froze once more.

Did they kiss now? Were they on that level? Something was born within Enma that was almost primal. His hand would go for her arm gently and he would look up at her, eyes just peaking above her chest. "I don't know why I moved in so...suddenly. But, uh, is it okay if I..." Mustering up the courage was hard when it was the girl you were falling for. Beating bad guys? Saving hostages?

Easy work. Romantic partners? The biggest challenge in the world. "My first instinct was for us to kiss. I'd rather have your permission, dear Masao. I've missed you." Way to play it cool. Afterwards, they would depart and he would need to pull himself together. Making their way into Tokyo, they would cross the street where Enma would show the large sports equipment shop owned by his father. It was flashy and warm in its design, something that called on the locals to support.

"I figured since we're making our way to grab dinner near here I'd show you the store. You've saved me from boredom more times than I can count there." Keeping to the sidewalk closest to the road as a way of protecting Masao from falling into it, he couldn't help but take glances at her appearance. One could not tell she was a smith when dressed so elegantly. "What inspired today's outfit? Showing your boyfriend how many ways you're so beautiful?"

Where did that come from? It felt true but unnatural, pheromones taking full effect. Being connected to Masao has made him feel more human than he ever had and has grown his confidence ten-fold since they met. The idea of protecting her, feeling her, spending time with her has been blossoming in his mind for weeks now and now he's said his first overly flirtatious line. It also assumed one thing that hadn't dawned on him until he said it: he declared himself as her boyfriend.

When he realized what he had done, his eyes widened and his face went pale. Would this be the day he dies?

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

The two-finger salute earned him one of her rare chuckles, both because she found it amusing, because she was so happy to see him and to mask how flustered his compliments made her. ''The feeling is mutual, I feel like the lucky one.'' She looked into his eyes as he stepped closer, her gaze wandering to his lips. They were both thinking the same thing, but he was the first one to actually put it into words. Rather than talk, she listened to him as he talked, taking in his every word and little mannerism before putting a hand under his chin and gently tilting his head upwards while she leaned in for a kiss. Her heart fluttered and bounced in her chest, amplifying the feelings she felt for him exponentially when they were this close. ''In all honesty, I wasn't sure if you thought this place might be a little too public for kissing.'' She admitted with an embarrassed smirk. There wasn't even that many other students around, but she was just as scared of freaking him out as he was with her. ''You always have my permission, Enma-kun.'' She added while looking down at the ground shyly.

She appreciated that he took the time to show her things from his own life, like his father's sports shop. Thankfully there was no encounter with Mr. Arashi this time either, although she had a feeling that if her and Enma kept seeing each other like this inevitably they would have to confront their parents. Maybe she should make more of an effort out of showing him things from her life too... But taking him to a Ando-owned store would be risky. What if someone recognized her? And holding hands with a guy in public? It was enough to make her anxious just thinking about how her family would react. A feeling that was fleeting when she was in the company of Enma. Something about him just naturally made her calm down and feel safe. With Enma by her side, nothing could go wrong. ''It's huge, the stand at the Sports Festival pales in comparison. Does he own a franchise?'' She gave his hand a little squeeze and smiled. ''It is the least I could do.'' 'I like spending time around you' she would have said, but she hesitated and instead continued with, ''Your smile is a gift I treasure.'' She did it because she wanted to help make his day easier, but also for the purely selfish reason that she missed him and wanted to see him as often as possible without being clingy.

As she was lost in thoughts imagining each time she made Enma smile, his question ripped her right back to reality, her heart skipping a beat as she felt her face turn red. Boyfriend? Did she hear him right did he just say boyfriend? Did that mean it was official? Did he like her like that? She was so happy she could hardly process everything that was going on, and she was probably suspiciously quiet for a few seconds before she managed to scramble together a reply. ''...It is to be expected that your girlfriend would want to surprise you, right? Besides, you surprise me and bring me gifts all the time.'' She wanted to sound confident, but she wasn't used to wearing clothes like this, much less being complimented by the guy she loved so openly for taking a chance. ''As you have probably noticed already I don't dress like this often. I never had anyone I wanted to show off to, and it isn't practical for training or work.'' She snuck a few nervous glances at him, before she stopped walking. ''You're... You mean a lot to me, Enma. You make me happy, I wanted to repay the favor.'' She bowed down and closed her eyes, bringing his hand up to give it a kiss.

''Does that mean I can call you my boyfriend, would you be okay with such a personal designation?'' She didn't just want to hear his response, she wanted to see it on his face. She knew what she felt for him was real, did he feel the same way?

enma

[enma]

When a sword found its forever whetstone, its blade would remain sharp for eternity. When Enma, a swordsman, looked at Masao, a weaponsmith, he felt like her forge would staunch his fears and shape his strengths into greater things. In a way, they both should feel lucky to have found kinship in one another. As Masao touched back, inviting him to kiss, they would enter an embrace that cleansed any fears he was sitting with before. In the serenity of her soft lips melting down his harsh own, he felt perfection.

As they came apart, Enma would look with glazed eyes and let out an uncharacteristic gasp. She had nearly stolen his breath, even though the lady Masao was just as anxious and ablaze from the affection. To end it with a blank check of consent on kissing, it served to allow him to learn comfort with public acts of affection and romance. "I don't want to fear others seeing, even though I'm unsure if your family would approve of me." Would they look at this scared boy from a nobody family and see greatness?

He knew she saw it and that's all that mattered. As she asked about his father's business, it made him think of the Kyoto location that failed and the robbery that surely impacted the business. The robbery that, of course, led to the demise of his mother and sister. "He's tried and eventually wants to try again, but I'm unsure if he'll go through with it. Tokyo feels like enough for him for now."

Hearing her appreciate his smile, a rare commodity that isn't shared with many, he couldn't stop himself from letting her see it. In fact, she was the only one who really was able to see him smile. He didn't count the anxious discomfort smiles. As they walked and she seemed to casually accept that he referred to himself as her boyfriend, he slowly felt the anxiety storm quell in the presence of her acceptance. A commodity that was not so easily given by people.

"I want you to be Masao, just know that. Beauty comes in many varied forms, this being one of them." As they would trade nervous glances, coincidentally missing each other's each time, she would formally ask him if she could refer to him as her boyfriend. "Masao." Feeling her take his hand and kiss it, his chest would feel on fire. She asked him out, technically, and he couldn't have hoped for any better.

"I care about you a lot, I want to be a mainstay sword in your forge. Of course, we'd be fools not to recognize the romance between us." With a humored and teary-eyed smile, he would let his arms wrap around and gently hold the two sides of the small of Masao's back. Looking up, so many thoughts passed. Good, bad, beautiful, ugly. "So that would make you my girlfriend, yes?"

In his heart, he knew it to be already true. To speak it into reality meant that he needed to sign on the promise he made with Papa Arashi. If he were to let anybody into his heart, he better be ready to eliminate the threats in their lives. Be ready for those that nestled there to be considered weaknesses, vulnerabilities to the stalwart of a cold warrior. To Enma, he didn't think she'd be a vulnerability.

She would be a shining star ruby, precious and powerful. "I used to hold my sword for protection even when I wasn't surrounded by criminals, but I feel so safe in your presence. I like being around you." The warmth was an evolution of the heart and mind for Enma. Looking up at Masao felt like looking into the heavens, almost washing away the descending assailant looking to impale the two of them simultaneously.

Fear wouldn't plague Enma, only wrath. Being fast enough to pull Masao suddenly, he would spin with her in his arms like they were to dance. With all of his muscles flexing at the precipice of a counter-kick, he would thrust his leg into an assailant with red-hot blades that protruded like mantis arms. An explosion of debris would shroud the immediate area due to the assailant being sent through a wall.

Ripples would travel through the brick of homogenized architecture, sundering it and causing part of a department store to collapse from the sheer force. Looking at Masao, hoping he didn't give her whiplash, there was something new on his face. Worry, like when a child's finger would rend a rose. "Masao. Masao, are you okay? That man...he was -- I think he was trying to kill you."

Caught by his worry, something brewed within Enma that would soon burst. His back was turned and from the cloud of dust, a figure would form. Red blades shining through the darkness, Masao would have full view of the assailant coming to pierce Helsing through his back. Could Paragon stop it in time?

---

The Assailant

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

She settled in his embrace as they kissed, that familiar feeling of intoxicating happiness and adrenaline she had been craving ever since their first date washing over her. Whether she was studying, training, hanging out with friends or by herself at the forge she never stopped thinking about Enma. She feared she might even be texting him too much, or sending too many photos, but he hadn't complained about it yet so she figured she was in the clear. She had even thought about experimenting with something she never thought she would take an interest in. Selfies. He had complimented her looks many times, so he would probably enjoy her sending selfies of herself? But how does one even take a good selfie? It was something to think about as she explored her newfound love for Enma Arashi.

''My family?'' A heart wrenching anxiety took ahold of her for a moment, but she didn't show it. While she was here with Enma nothing could harm them or get between them. ''Pay their opinions no mind. All they care about is duty, anything that does not pertain to it just gets in the way.'' She let out a small sigh. She usually didn't show her dislike for her family, but she felt so safe here with him, in their own cozy little bubble, a warm moment in time where it was just the two of them and no one else. ''My father is a fool. I hope that you don't have the displeasure of meeting him, at least for a long time.'' She caressed his cheek softly with her hand while she smiled and looked into his eyes.

She was unaware of the kind of memories she had stirred in Enma and just replied with a tiny smirk. ''That's understandable, Tokyo is plenty spacious as it is. My family does business here too, although my parents said they could never settle in this city. They are active people and require a lot of space to roam around on.'' She wasn't just from a wealthy family, but a family that lived in a mansion in the countryside. ''I have relatives here in Tokyo, but they're usually busy.''

The body was a curious thing. The kind of rapid heartbeat she had once correlated with being in the middle of a fight, or intense training session, suddenly set in when she looked at Enma and awaited his response. ''We would be.'' She smiled, blinking her eyes as tears snuck up on her when she saw him tearing up. She hugged him back as he wrapped his arms around her, squeezing him in a embrace tighter, closer, than she had ever hugged anyone before. ''It would appear so. I'll take good care of you, Enma-kun.'' Her tone was a lot softer than usual, her stoic facade melting away only when she was alone with him. As they stood there, she got a bit self-conscious about how loudly her heart was beating, and the fact that his head was right by her chest. Could he hear it? Could he hear how much she liked him? Leaning in a little closer she used her height to her advantage and gave him a small peck on the forehead.

''Selfish as it may be, I don't suppose that means it is unreasonable of me to want to spend more time with you going forward?'' Hearing that he liked being around her, that he felt safe in her presence, made her feel so impossibly happy, valued and loved. He felt safe with her, and she with him. Theirs was a pact between warriors, a bond between training partners and a promise between lovers. She was so distracted looking at Enma, thinking about what to say next, how to express her feelings and how important he was to her that she was caught completely unaware.

''What is..'' She muttered as she was suddenly spun around, held in his embrace and out of the corner of her eye she saw him kick someone away into a nearby department store. ''Enma?'' She asked in a haze of confusion looking at him with mounting fear in her eyes. ''I am okay...'' She gave a small nod and looked past Enma, trying to catch a glimpse of the attacker. ''Kill me?'' It was true that she was from a prestigious family, but for most of her life it had kept her safe. It was one thing to be related to heroes, her father was a first generation hero and the first to put on the armor for the sake of justice. To try to kidnap her would be putting a target on your back, but to make an attempt on her life? Never before had something like this happened. ''Are you hurt, Enma? Did they get you?'' She brought a hand up to squeeze his shoulder, seeking reassurance in his red eyes.

This time, she saw the figure approaching. Red blades? It didn't ring any bells, not that she had much time to think in the split second it took for her to act before the figure could attack her boyfriend. She wasn't as delicate as Enma had been with her, but it was out of worry for his safety that she quickly pulled Enma aside. Normally she was a stickler for rules, and a model student at UA. She had been for years, but all it took was one threat to Enma and in a flash, she activated her quirk without a license. The armor shone brightly for a brief moment, before settling. ''State your business! Who are you and what do you want with us?'' She made no attempt to avoid the red blades, trusting in her quirk to be durable enough to simply take the hits. If she got the chance to, she would also reach out and try to punch the assassin when they got within range.

enma

[enma]

The romancing of their hearts had created a beautiful silence between the two just before the terrifying attack. Enma had found someone he could be forthright with, expressing emotions he'd never grown up around. Love wasn't present in the Arashi home, he could feel the same, albeit different, issue having been present for the Ando's. In the moment they had together, there was a beautiful luminescence to Enma's chest once more as his feelings elevated.

It didn't matter who would judge them, Enma had found someone he wanted to grow close with. It didn't matter who would try to tempt them, Enma found someone who he could have unyielding loyalty for. It didn't matter who would try to harm them, Enma had found someone he would protect with all he had. Masao was a stalwart unlike any other, but could she fight? From what he recalled, she needed to polish her skills and that meant that he needed to be her sword.

At the very least, she could be his shield. Could she handle the parts of him that she didn't know? The darkness, the rage, the need for vengeance. The dark parts that no hero should cling to, yet here he was. As she moved him behind her and they both stared down their assailant, Enma let her take the lead and felt such regret over not bringing his sword. Had he known that a villain could attack them at any time, he would've held it.

But he wasn't on-duty as a hero. In fact, did Masao have her license? She was using her beautiful quirk, but if they engaged in a calamitous battle then it could spell consequence for her. "Masao...do you have your license?" The assailant snickered, a snake-like tongue whipping from his mouth. A blood orange visor was shattered, revealing the serpentine features that stared back at them.

He wasn't truly a snake, but that was the closest kin to the snake of a man who dared attempt to take Masao's life. He whirled his blades, clearing the dust and pointing one at Masao. "That was a fuckin' rough kick, kid. Alright, let's not get ourselves in trouble now. Let me just slide my blade in your collar bone and I'll be on my damn way." The threat wasn't just seen, it was heard. Enma felt something crawling through that had taken a moment to weave through the soft emotions radiating through his heart.

Enma felt rage. Enma felt regret over not being in this very place the last time an Arashi had a run-in with an assailant. He felt like it was his duty to make up for being in Kyoto, for being useless to his mother and sister. To him, they'd want him to destroy anybody that try to take his love from him. With a darker tone and an angered voice, Enma stepped past Masao. "Masao. Unless you have your license, I need you to step back."

This wasn't Enma, this was Helsing. Monster-slayer. Taking a defensive pose, the assailant would scoff at his short stature and would ready to lung. "See, I know you're one beefed-up short-stack now. Not such an easy target, still such a cute little protector for this princess here!" With crimson eyes, there was an unnerving stare that seemed to briefly make the assailant freeze. Lunging while mumbling expletives, the mantis-armed man would slash diagonally twice in a closing X.

Enma trained for this. He tore muscle after muscle and wove them back together through his discipline and hard work to be able to thwart threats like this. Nobody he loves would perish ever again. Ducking back, he would narrowly dodge before swinging back forward with his body. Head-butting with great might, the assailant would go rolling back before crashing again into the building. Without hesitation, the maniacally laughing killer would come diving in.

Pushing Masao away, Enma would barely dodge the blade impaling the ground like it was butter. Pulling it out, the assailant attempted to blind Enma with dust to no avail. Through a flurry of slashes and stabs, Enma did great with not getting hit before using his palm to push the flat of one of the blades away. Burning him, he would just stare at the assailant and thrust his fist into the man's gut.

Pure metal collided with pure knuckle, indicating that this person was a sort of cybernetic amalgamation. As the assailant was launched, his ankles opened up and tore through the suit he wore to counter the momentum back with jets. "I guess I'll have to amp it up! You're first, boy." Enma balled his fist, feeling melted flesh but the pain of his past burned hotter.

"I know your armor is strong, but his blades are heated. Masao, I need you to go get me a bat from the store. I'm sure they see us by now, they must've heard us." The two would continue a game of trading blows, this time Enma losing the exchanges through his less refined unarmed style. Cut and seared in a few places, his shirt would eventually burn away and reveal the muscular perfection of his scarred body.

He's held back, but only in fear of letting the assailant through to Masao for being reckless. Or maybe it was fear of scaring her and this was his first fight with a villain. Maybe he was afraid...of what beast he was uncaging. Would she still love him then?

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

The blissful warmth of the love that was blossoming between them was fleeting, replaced with a cold harsh reality as a mysterious assailant descended on them. Someone who wanted to kill them? But why? Who had they made enemies of? They weren't exactly pro heroes yet, and as far as she knew Enma wasn't all too active in the field either despite possibly having a quirk license. Still, that didn't stop her from what she needed to do as she blocked the blade hits with her armor. ''Of.. Of course not, but that doesn't matter!'' It very well might, but her emotions had gotten her swept up in the moment. Enma could have died if she didn't act, and she would rather get scolded, or even kicked out of hero school if it meant the difference between life and death for the one she loved.

She did notice the snake tongue and considered whether he might be some kind of mutation, maybe hiding a secret weapon? ''Lay down your swords and surrender now.'' She ordered the presumed villain, but she probably came across as a whole lot less threatening without a weapon and just her fists. Besides, she was a support student. Most of her classmates were never going to be out in the field fighting criminals up close like this. When Enma suddenly stepped in front of her she looked doubtful, scared. ''But, Enma, you don't...'' She wanted to mention how he didn't have a weapon, but cut herself off since their opponent might not know that Enma was a swordsman. ''I cannot let you fight alone, you'll get hurt!'' She protested, knowing full well that her blocking the blades earlier had been a fluke. She wasn't fast enough to keep up with this assassin's attacks and any attack too complicated or too quick could easily break through her guard.

She almost couldn't look when he started attacking Enma, fearful that every strike swung at him might be the one that takes his life. She wanted, needed to intervene, and yet she was frozen in place, watching from the sideline like she was nothing more than a helpless civilian. Somehow, through some miracle or no, Enma's training was paying off. Somehow he was managing to avoid getting hit and then he delivered a resounding blow to the assailant, only for the shocking reveal that he had punched metal. ''E-Enma!'' She had never felt so scared before, never heard her voice shake with that kind of terror. When the blade tore into him, she felt equal parts fear, sadness and anger.

Even now, suffering in her stead, he was still thinking about winning the fight. Bat. Right, a weapon, she needed to get him a weapon. She didn't say anything, she just nodded her head and dropped her armor to conserve her power as she rushed to the store in question. If they weren't going to give her weapons to use, she was ready to commit more crimes and just bust the windows, but thankfully that looked like it wouldn't be the case. The authorities were being called to their position now too, but the seconds felt like hours with a killer like this on the loose. ''Was that kick earlier a fluke or what? Feels like you're slowing down already, boy. Don't tell me you're a support student like your princess.''

Adrenaline was pumping through her body as she turned back to the fight. ''Enma!'' She called out, more determined this time, taking a page out of his book. She couldn't stand around and get emotional, there would be time for feelings once all this was said and done. She wasn't just carrying one, but two bats. At this point there was already eyewitnesses that had seen her use her quirk to defend herself so there was no point even hiding the rule breaking anymore. ''Eyes!'' She called out, hoping Enma would catch onto what she was trying to do and cover his eyes.

Her quirk was not meant to hurt people, it was made to protect, to nurture. Even when exploring the possibilities for her super moves it was clear that her quirk wasn't one that brought destruction. When figuring out how to use her ultimate move she had discovered something special. The light that normally manifested for a short time when she summoned her armor endured for a little longer, just long enough that it could potentially blind someone if she caught them off-guard. Was it a fully-fledged ultimate move? Nowhere near it, but in this moment, it might be able to help them get some breathing room.

It was almost poetic that her growing emotions for Enma was what had awakened this new facet of her quirk, and now she was using it to try and save him. She wished he could see it, how the blinding light not only engulfed her body, but how it centered on her chest and beat to the rhythm of her heart, lighting up in a way that paid homage to the first time Enma's quirk showed her all the colors of the world. If they lived through this, she would have to show him.

''Divine Aegis!'' She called out the ultimate move anyway, despite not managing to manifest any armor moments after using it. It also made her a little more tired than using her quirk normally, but it was worth the risk. ''Here, I got you a weapon.'' Worry was plastered all over her face as she handed Enma one of the bats, but she couldn't allow herself to hold him back now.

''Now isn't this touching, are you dying together?'' The assailant cocked his head to one side as he grinned, his snake-like tongue licking his lips.

enma

[enma]

Should Enma stop her from using her quirk? It was just armor, radiant armor at that. Masao needed to protect herself as she was the target of this assault, yet the law was the law. Not that he fully agreed with it, but he didn't want this to somehow cause her to be expelled or prevent her from getting proper licensing. The pressing threat was this assailant, whose mantis blades had threatened to cleave through anything that dare slow them down.

The pain of repelling them was outweighed by the pain, the fear of losing Masao to this man. An unhinged assassin who was clearly employed to slay the Ando inheritor. Without his sword, it would be more difficult. That wouldn't stop him from fighting until his body wouldn't let him for the sake of protecting the person who put color back into his life. "I don't think he's going to surrender."

As she ran to get the bat, the battle would rage on. Machinery would come alive as red arteries on the surface would show off the cybernetics as they glowed. The assassin's eyes glowed the same color, indicating that something came alive. "Princess and the Pauper, full of bravado and stubborn student heroism! It's perfect, I was looking for an excuse to use these modifications."

Stabbing in a flurry, Enma wove around each blow that seemed to increase in speed further and further. Kicking with his geta, the heat of the blades would burn the surface as they sizzled together. His kick overlapped the assailant's arms and created an opening. Thrusting his fist into what felt like a metal skull, there was a concussive burst from the sheer force. The assailant went tumbling and Masao returned from the shop, the employees having recognized Enma just outside.

Crashing into a car and crumpling it, the assailant would cleave it into pieces and cause the gas tank to explode. Shrapnel fired all around, nothing hitting the two but causing more environmental damage as a fire began to spread. "Maybe that kick wasn't a fuckin' fluke, but you're still holding back! Oh, and what's this? Hoping for a homerun?"

Looking directly at her, the assailant would raise a brow at the growing luminescence of Paragon's armor. Enma would cover his eyes as light filled the area. Those afar seemed to be fine, but the curious assassin would stagger from the pain in his eyes. Moving to Masao, he would gladly take a bat. Gripping it tightly, he would pour his anger into it through his quirk. Normally, Raiju and the sword she made for him would be the only ones he could use his quirk on.

Whether it be Masao's life being in danger or it coming from her hands, something satisfied the subconscious terms of his quirk. The Journey would enchant the bat with a black energy that had red undertones. Spikes would grow from the bat, giving it a more devilish look. "I can't wait to cut you up, you bitch!" The villain was right about one thing: he was still holding back.

Looking at Masao with bat in hand, he was still nervous. "I won't tolerate those words, cretin." As he stepped forward and saw this as the person who took his family away from him, who dared take Masao away from him, he let the spikes towards the tip of the bat drag through the ground. Carving through concrete, he would let the assassin come, who sprung once more from the corona of fire around him.

The bat swung in a crescent and Enma slid along the ground, smashing the tip of the enchanted weapon into the chest of the assailant. Before he could launch away, Enma grabbed his ankle and tossed him into the ground with such sheer force that it would crater the ground and once again fill the area with dust and debris. One-handed, he would begin pummeling the assailant and burying him deeper into the ground.

"You'll regret ATTACKING...THREATENING...INSULTING my Masao. Pathetic monster. Pathetic villain." You won't hurt anyone ever again. As the assault came to an end, the assassin looked up with blood running from the corners of his mouth. "H...hey, you're crazy kid! I didn't think I would need it..." As the assassin's skin scintillated, a hex-pattern of grey and black outline would overtake him. The light in his eyes faded, which befuddled Enma.

What Masao saw next was a plume of concrete bursting from the ground, With glowing metal fists, the mantis blades retracted and the assassin's fists expanded and gripped Enma's throat. Throwing him into a car, Enma would feel the wind get knocked from his body. Landing on the ground, it seemed that the jet ankles were disengaged and the assassin's facial expressions shifted from serpentine to chunky and more gorilla-like.

Looking at the Ando girl next, he would run more sluggishly and try clobber her. This form was slow, but it was stronger than before. Could her armor outlast the added might? Meanwhile, Enma stumbled off the vehicle and felt himself trapped by the blunt force and the voice of his Papa Arashi.

Love is a sickness of the heart. If you succumb to it, then all of the things that you let into that same place will be consumed. Was he right? Would he simply fail Masao because of his arrogance and raw emotion? He just...needed a moment.

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

As much she hated to admit it, Enma was right here, this guy wasn't going to surrender. Maybe the reason she kept trying to make him surrender was because she was scared what might happen if the fight dragged on. If Enma got cut more times, or if this killer got the chance to unveil some secret weapon, whether it was gadget or supermove related. Every second spend locked in a fight with this cybernetic nightmare they lost more and more of their advantage.

For one, they were both more adept at wielding blades than blunt weapons, and then there was the case of Enma's quirk. Would it even work on a bat that had randomly been picked out in the spur of the moment? She didn't know the intricacies of his quirk, but she knew he bonded with the objects he managed to take on a journey. ''Enma, careful you're already hurt.'' She handed him the bat, concern filling her eyes and shaking her to her very soul. If something happened to him... She couldn't even fathom what she would do.

For a moment, she watched in shock and awe as Enma's quirk poured into his bat, it looked so... Spiteful, vengeful and angry. It was almost like a completely different quirk than the one he first showed her, at least aesthetically. When the assailant spoke up again, Masao raised her own bat. She couldn't afford to let her guard down and be dead weight. She took a step forward, but before she could even step in to back him up, Enma's quirk did things she had never seen it do before. It even seemed to change Enma himself, or was he truly in control? The rage on display was something else, a side of him she had never seen. Gradually, she lowered the bat she was holding and just stared in abject horror as he seemingly made short work of the villain.

Was this the man she loved? Did he have something else going on, a darker side to him he wasn't showing her? She felt naive and stupid. She had kissed him so carelessly, promised to protect and take care of him and yet there was so much she didn't know, so much power she didn't possess. He was putting his life on the line for her, incurring several injuries in her name while she stood here, frozen at the scene that was playing out in front of her.

When she came to, the fight that had appeared to be over, was seemingly just beginning. The villain's hands grew dramatically and he retracted his mantis blades. Adaptive weaponry? She could hardly take it all in when her emotions came to the forefront. ''Enma!!'' She screamed as she saw him get grabbed and thrown into a nearby car. She wanted to take him and run, get out of here, but they weren't fast enough to get away from this guy.

As the villain turned his attention towards her she steeled her nerves and stared back at his twisted, gorilla-like features. In that moment she prayed to whatever god was willing to listen to her, that her quirk would hold up, that she would be able to summon the strength required to save Enma.

Even if it meant killing this villain with her own hands.

''My armor doesn't just make me tough!'' She lifted her bat again, dodging his blow before taking a swing at his head, trying to slam him as hard as she could. ''It also makes me stronger!'' She felt the rage swirl around inside her, a delicate rose with thorns stained in blood, but she couldn't afford to let it control her. If she lost sight of her love, she might lose control of her quirk too. She would die for him, she would kill for him, but she had to remember that she did this out of her love for Enma, out of her love and willingness to protect, not out of hate, or a need to destroy. ''Come at me, villain! No attack of yours can harm me.'' She almost felt dirty like this, expressing a kind of deeply unsettling anger she hadn't since her fight with Ylva during the Sports Festival. She had sworn to never lose control of her emotions like that again, to always remain level-headed, keep her composure and fight like a true hero.

But it wasn't just her anymore. With Enma here, now that he was a part of her life and there was a real chance she could lose him, she was willing to do anything to save him. Even relinquish the Ando name, or fight like a vigilante or villain would. Being a hero meant nothing if she couldn't save those she loved. ''Count yourself lucky if you survive this night.'' Hate coated her every word. He had harmed her man, and he was going to pay for it.

enma

[enma]

In a daze, Enma would subconsciously reach for a Raiju that wasn't there. The sword that had made him feel so protected was missing, those that worked for his father seeing the boy in action for better or worse. Eventually, as he came to and found the bat, hatred would emanate in the form of that dark energy. The bat would not permanently transform, so it had reverted to its normal form while he was disconnected with it.

As that energy soaked once more and turned it into its twisted form, he would look onward to the growing calamity of their battle. Enma was ashamed that he had been cast aside so easily by the enemy, showing that there was more powerful foes than he could anticipate. He was ashamed that he couldn't control his emotions and his quirk didn't make it any easier. The truth of what Masao saw was his trauma finally releasing.

Still, hatred coursed from his flesh into the metal of the bat. Reinforcing it, it would turn the basic sports good into a weapon of great fury. Recovering from the blunt trauma of the assassin, he watched as Masao bravely evaded and fought against the gorilla-armed man. As she would strike against the assassin's head, he would recoil and use it as an opportunity to sent a concussive blow straight to her body.

If she didn't evade, it would launch her into a car much like the assassin did to her newfound love. Seeing the danger in this, Enma chose not to think of this as saving people who had long since died, but save the person threatened in the first place. Kicking off the wrecked car, it would explode behind him from the gas tank being compressed. Wielding the bat with one hand further down its length, a crushing blow would be dealt to the assassin's midsection.

Metal crunched and buckled, prompting him to flick the bat upwards and launch the stunned assassin. Swinging homerun-style into the assassin's side, that vicious crunch would happen again. Chasing the flying gorilla man down, he would spring up and drag them along the surface of the building. Concrete would crumble as a rough line was drawn. Kicking off the building into a spinning motion, he would send the assassin like a missile into the ground.

With a delay, Enma would drop. Holding the bat upside-down and bringing in his legs, he would drive it down intro the ground and attempt to bury the assassin. Barely dodging, the assassin attempted to shift back into the quicker mantis form, but the damage to his systems made audible noises of denial. Enma stepped out of the crater, staring them down with sheer presence and waiting for Masao to pull herself together.

"You made a mistake."

"Jeez, you're a damn monster!"

"To be a slayer of monsters, you must know what it is like to be one. I am not, and I am not lonely like one." Using their brief dialogue as distract, he would use his words as a cue for Masao to strike a blow against the sundered armor of the assassin. Whether she was able to or not, Enma would prepare for his final assault.

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

She saw the assassin recoil, but was unable to dodge his incoming blow in time, opting instead for tanking it with the aid of her armor, bracing herself as she got sent flying backwards and slammed into the side of a nearby car. Dazed from the hit she took a moment to catch her breath, noticing blood leaking from the corner of her mouth. Her armor was so heavy, it shouldn't be possible to launch her like that unless the enemy was freakishly strong. ''Enma...'' She wiped the blood from her face as he leapt back into the fight, but before she could get up to her feet she felt her legs give in under her as her armor began to blink and fade out of existence. ''N-No... Am I really so hurt already?'' She collapsed and rolled onto her back as her quirk's drawbacks started to set in.

Once more, all she could do was watch. Enma didn't just put his life on the line, he was fighting fiercely to protect her, even as it revealed the darker sides to his power, even as rage consumed him in the process. She clenched her teeth as she tried to move, her entire body screaming out for a break. He was counting on her. No matter how that assailant saw it, calling her the princess and Enma the pauper, the fact of the matter was she didn't see them that way at all. Her and Enma were a team, he wasn't lesser to her for not being born rich, or for having a troubled past or being riddled with scars. If she was a princess, then he was her dark prince, simple as that. Slowly but surely, she made her way back up standing again. As she took a step forward she realized it wasn't just her quirk drawbacks that had kept her down, it was the pain of getting hit by such powerful attacks.

She watched in awe as Enma pulled off feats of strength she didn't even know he was capable of. She couldn't help but feel motivated and inspired to do better herself, and of course, she was so very proud of her boyfriend. Her expression hardened as she spat out a spittle of blood, before reactivating her quirk to tear a bench off its hinges. Since this place was already wrecked it surely didn't matter. Spinning it over her head like a bo staff, she walked towards Enma and the assassin with determination, putting her in the perfect position to strike once Enma had the villain distracted. With a yell, she lunged forward, slamming the bench down on top of the cybernetic animal hybrid monster's head, hopefully leaving him stunned for Enma to finish the job.

enma

[enma]

This assassin made a grave mistake by choosing to go after Masao. Enma knew that there was going to be a hard conversation later with whoever found out that she used her quirk, but he needed her and she needed him. That was what the assassin didn't prepare for, just the extent that this boy was ready to go for the person cradled by his heart. The sickness that Papa Arashi had spoken of, that villains had thought love as, it wasn't real.

If it wasn't for Masao being present, Enma might've dealt a killing blow. Without speaking the words, he felt the conflict of her seeing his true capabilities. The warrior was capable of tearing apart concrete with ease, dancing with the body of whomever fell victim to his terrifying might in ways unimaginable to the average person. In the wrong state of mind, this could have been an execution. Still, they couldn't hold back.

As Masao smashed the dazed villain's head with a bench, it opened him up to what would be the final blow of their encounter. For all the fury and shrouding darkness in his head, Enma knew they'd survive and that this bastard would be arrested. Pointing the bat like a sword held in line with his shoulder, he spun once and swung. In a homerun shot, the bat would collide with the assailant's head and a burst of force would crack the weakened ground around them.

The assailant might've been presumed dead with how his head whipped in response, but it was only just enough to finally knock him unconscious. Standing within the bastard between them, Enma looked at Masao. Blood trickled down his chin from the blow he took prior, his shirt torn completely. Dirt and scrapes adorned his body. As the energy faded from the bat, he would drop it and make way for his love.

If she wouldn't stop him, his first response would be to embrace and kiss her. Words were hard after such a battle, but instinct was easy. Sirens grew louder in the distance from both police forces and emergency medical teams. If Masao was too injured to keep standing, he would hold her up. When he could muster the words, he kept his eyes locked on hers in a way that made the ruined world around them fade away.

"We did it. You're...okay. You're okay, Masao."

What came next would be a blur to him. They'd eventually be separated and evaluated for any injuries. The haze of being asked questions, having field evaluations done like putting a light in his eyes and other such routines would follow. The only thing clutching Enma's heart was the fear that Masao would be punished for being the target of such a horrid assault. What would have happened had Enma not been there?

She was strong, but she was someone that he cared about. That made the fear of losing her much stronger than his respect for her abilities. Sitting at the tail of the ambulance, he looked over at her with a soft smile. She was there with him still, even if they were both injured. A medic tried informing him that he had broken ribs, but he didn't care. Enma saw Masao, beautiful and mighty, and it showed in his expression.

Love was a cure for a hurting heart.

Masao Ando

[Masao Ando]

Dropping the bench after smashing the villain over the head with it, all she could do was breathe and feel the pain surge throughout her body as it cried out for a break. She had trained until she felt sick before, but she had never had to fight for her life like this. By the time Enma finished the fight all the world was a blur. She practically dropped the armor the moment he approached her, but it wasn't necessarily because she wanted to, she was just spent completely. Falling into his embrace, she wrapped her arms around him, her heart aching. He was hurt, but he was okay. He had to be okay. She closed her eyes and kissed him back. The fight was over by the adrenaline was still fading from her body.

''You're hurt...'' She wanted to cry but she couldn't bring herself to. Maybe she wasn't as in-tune with her emotions as she thought? She hugged him a little tighter, careful not to squeeze too hard. ''I am... Sorry. Sorry for all of this...'' Was all she could muster through a weak, wavering whisper. It was her fault. Their perfect date had been ruined because an assassin had been sent after her. She appreciated that he helped support her, as her quirk drawbacks made it impossible to stand on her own for the next little while, doubly so because she had pushed herself beyond her limits and tried to use a prototype version of her ultimate move. When he looked into her eyes and she locked with his, all she could do was send a silent apology. Apology for being who she was, for being so weak...

Much like Enma, the next hours were a blur as they were tended to and approached by different officers. She was recounting what had happened, but she wasn't even really in the moment as she was doing it. All she could think about was what she had seen tonight. Who Enma was or rather, what he could become. ''A phone call?'' Someone who would be unfamiliar to Enma, but very familiar to Masao walked up and handed her a phone. They weren't with the police, but rather, someone working for the Ando family. The voice on the other side of the phone made her expression change, turn paler, made her a lot more nervous.

''Lady Masao, take care.'' The person bowed to her before making a hasty exit.

When Enma smiled at her she tried to smile back, but it probably came across as more sad and tired than anything. She was nervous. Not for what awaited her in terms of a punishment, but at the information she had just been given.

Whenever she could reunite with Enma she would reach out for his hand. ''Is it bad? Are you going to be okay?'' As silence fell over their conversation again after his reply, she let herself buildup the courage to say what she had to next. Leaning on his shoulder, she looked ahead of them with a defeated look on her face. ''Enma-kun... My father is going to visit me at campus soon.''

enma

[Jinx]

☆ MISSION SUCCESS ☆

Intense. Yet a worse confrontation remains...
Great thread you two!

+ 7,500 EXP!!

Masao: 15,500 // 23,000
Enma: 12,500 // 20,000

tag: Masao Ando,enma