Satoru fell.
Again.
The sidewalk was uneven. The wheel caught. His bike skidded, and his patched-up knee kissed the pavement for the third time that week.
His helmet clattered across the ground.
Kana burst into laughter.
> "Oh my god, that was pathetic."
He winced, sitting up, inspecting the scrape with a resigned sigh. "Yeah, yeah."
She sauntered up, arms crossed, smirking.
> "You going for a record or something? I swear, you're the only so-called hero who needs a first-aid kit more than a sidekick."
> "Guess that makes me memorable."
> "You're memorable the same way a bad smell is. Doesn't mean anyone wants to be near it."
He grinned through the sting, wiping his hands with a rag.
> "Still watching though."
Kana rolled her eyes. "Only because I'm waiting for you to actually break something important. Like your spine. That'd be funny."
Satoru stood slowly, brushing off dust.
> "Glad I can provide comedy relief."
> "Don't flatter yourself. I just like seeing someone more hopeless than the rest of this city."
She stepped forward, picked up his helmet, and handed it over like she was tossing trash into a bin.
> "Seriously, what's wrong with you?"
> "Lots."
> "No, I mean—you know this is pointless, right? You've got no quirk. No status. No backup. You're just... wasting time trying to be something you're not."
He looked at her.
> "And what should I be?"
> "Normal. Invisible. Like everyone else who doesn't matter."
> "But I do matter. At least to the people I help."
> "They probably laugh behind your back."
> "Maybe. But they're safer. That's enough."
She was quiet for a beat. Something flickered in her expression—discomfort, maybe. Then she snorted.
> "You're such a loser."
> "I know."
> "That smile's not fooling anyone."
He slid the helmet back on.
> "It's not for anyone else."
---
Later, Kana sat on the curb alone, watching the faint red blink of his bike light disappear down the road.
She crossed her arms tighter.
> "Stupid helmet freak."
But her voice wasn't as sharp this time.
---
Satoru's notebook entry:
> "Fall during patrol. Minor injury. Kana present. Continued verbal attacks. New insight: Her words are armor. Like mine. Difference: I still want to protect. She doesn't want to feel."
He underlined the last sentence. Then smiled, quietly, in the dark.