A Certain Flying Head in MHA

"People are not inherently weak! We all have power within us! And what we hope to demonstrate with our revival party... Is that the good people and their meta abilities can triumph over evil! We all have heard of the great tragedy that has befallen multiple wards over the Tokyo metropolitan area. Plenty have fallen victim to the disasters that have been prevalent during those times. And yet! Even at their darkest of times, there were those that were not heroes, but brave souls that took matters into their own hands! Those who were not afraid to do the right thing! Through their innate power, life will prevail!! We call for the dissolution of your league!! Now, my fine people, liberate them!! Combine your powers and open a path to the coming era!! Show the world that, yes, everyone is a hero! And at the same time... No one is!!!"

"***And those, ladies and gentlemen, are the words of Koku Hanabata, the leader and representative of the Hearts and Mind Party that had recently gained more traction in the political field. Back to you, Sakurajima.***"

"**Thank you for that input, Takazumi. With the increasing voices of dissent following the events of last two months, the crime rates have shown significant rise in both quantity and severity.**"

"*That's right. In addition to almost doubling the amount of villainous acts throughout the country, the amount of heroes being laid off and having their licence revoked have also been seen. Investigations have been lead to believe that a majority of those arrested 'heroes' have been involved in less than savory crimes such as forced coercion, sexual assault, blackmail, stalking, and so on, with some of them started as far back earlier on in their careers.*"

"**This revelation has spread discourse through the nation. People are voicing their distrust and dissatisfaction in the government for this deep oversight and gross negligence. Even as we speak, rallies have been happening at multiple government institutions all over the nation.**"

"*In other news, the new Parahuman Legislation Act is one of the first attempts to quell people's anger. It is expected that-*"

I took out my earbuds and put away my phone when I felt a soft tap on my shoulder.

I look up to see Kuroko fretting a bit over her hair, which is done in the usual wavy twintails. She is dressed in a white shirt inside a long-sleeved dark cardigan sweater, tucked in a beige skirt. "So... How do I look?" She said with a light dusting of blush.

"You look cute. That outfit really brings out your eyes." I said. "You know, I got used to seeing you in the Tokiwadai uniform that it's really refreshing to see you in a casual outfit."

"It feels refreshing to me too." She giggled. "But I'm sure we'll get used to it soon enough now that it's our last year here." She looked me up and down. "And speaking of, you don't look half bad today either."

I'm currently wearing a simple red collared shirt inside a black, opened up jacket along with a grey pinstripe pants. Of course, I topped it off with a plain black choker on my neck. "Thanks. I wanted to leave a good first impression." I thought about for a while, but ultimately I decided to wear an old ribbon on my head. The one that Nee-chan gave me before... Everything. It's still in good condition with how much care I put into it.

"Relax. He won't bite." She said as she hugged my arm and started to lead the way.

"I can't relax. I'm meeting your dad!"

"It's fine, trust me." She leaned her head closer and gave me a quick pick on the cheek. "I've already told him a lot about you. He already has a good impression of you." We got into a car that was already waiting for us. "Today's just a regular meet and greet, an exchange of pleasantries, a meal together, and that's it. Nothing to be worried about."

"I know, I know." I said while taking a few deep breaths. "I just can't help it, is all. Pretty sure this normal when you're meeting your girlfriend's parent for the first time."

She reached for my head.

I flinched a bit, which made her hesitate but still continued to grab me and held me close. "...Still afraid?" She asked, almost quietly.

"A little." I replied, the sound of her heartbeat helping to calm me down. "It's fine if it's you."

"Hm." She hummed as she stroked my hair. "It'll get better. It always will."

"Yeah..." I closed my eyes. "Thanks."

We spent the rest of the ride softly conversing. With the rush of the past month or so finally receding, so did the piled-up fatigue start to fade away. The peace didn't last much longer, however, as we arrived at her home.

It's a mansion, sure, but as we went past the gates I saw that it was surprisingly a lot less opulent or gaudy that I thought it would be.

I already know that Kuroko's family ran the [White Spring Holdings], which is a major chain company that owns many convenience stores and import supermarkets. With that big of an asset, I would have thought for sure that her home would be more 'I own a city rich' and not a 'humble stealth rich' kind of of place.

When we entered through the front door, we were greeted by a single pink-haired maid named Reona, who also happened to be both be the head maid as well as Kuroko's caretaker when she was younger.

We were then lead to the dining room where we were entertained with appetizers as we waited, well almost since I'm still nervous and Kuroko is smiling. Luckily, not shortly afterwards was when a tall man wearing a business suit entered.

He has blonde hair and a chiseled chin. His sharp almond-shaped eyes are the same golden-brown colour as Kuroko's. "You must be the boy wonder I've been hearing so much about." He took out a business card and handed it to me. He must have heard Kuroko giggle as a flash of recognition went through his eyes. "Ah, oops. Sorry about that. Force of habit." He chuckled. "Ahem. Nice to meet you. My name is Shirai Reiji." He offered a slight bow.

"Likewise." I offered him a bow of my own. "My name's Shuzenji Kizuki. Just Kuzuki is fine."

"Then let's not stand on ceremony. Just call me Reiji, less confusing with my daughter in the same room." He joked. "It's nice to finally put a face to the name, especially since news have been going around certain circles."

"Dad..." She intoned. Warningly.

"I know, I know." He raised his hands in surrender. "I won't talk about work for now. I did promise." He looked at me with a grin. "And I heard my princess wrangled you the same way she used to wrangle me."

"Like you wouldn't believe it." Despite acting like she didn't hear it, Kuroko blushed when I laughed at that. I'm glad to see that the two of them really get along well. And yet, even when we're so close, why does it feel so far?

"I..." I looked up and took in the scene Infront of my eyes. Seeing this. All of this.

Her home.

Her family.

Her smile.

My laughter died out. "Honestly don't think I would have been this stable without her." They both looked at me when I started to open up. Even the servants at the sides are listening attentively.

I just felt that this should be said. "There were plenty of times I broke down. Handful of times that I did break. Even when my first response was either to run away or hide like a coward, she stubbornly went out of her way to find me, to pick up my pieces and put me back together again." It feels as if I'm just taking advantage of her kindness.

I took a deep breath. "I just... With how I actually am, Sometimes I just think that I don't deserve her..." I felt something inside of me crack.

I look down at the table, at my hands in front of me, not meeting anyone else's gaze. "She'd already done so much for me. She already gave me so much to live for. Without her, I would have shattered a few years ago already." I shudder at the memories.

The screams, locked deep inside my mind. The guilt, of being out here and not back home. The expectations everyone has of me, and the expectations I have for myself, because of my origins. "I feel like I haven't really reciprocated that. That I haven't done enough." My hands cracked a bit and I heard quiet gasps from the sides. "I think that she might be too good for me." The cracks widened a bit. "I-"

From my side, a hand reached out to mine. The cracks slowly began mending themselves as I felt the warm of her soft touch.

"You are a blessing." Said Kuroko as she leaned her head on my shoulder. "You know, when I first met you, you saved the lives of me and konori-senpai. Back then, I admired you. I looked up to you. I wanted to be like you. I Idolised you"

She caressed my hands as she gently enveloped them with hers. "But that was before I learned of who you are." She grabbed my head and lifted me up to meet her eye. "You are someone kind. You are someone who would put up a strong front in public, but secretly fret over everything. You are someone softhearted, doing what you can, whenever you can. You are also just a boy, the same age as me, yet you worry about the burden you carry by your lonesome. A burden that should have been on the shoulders of someone twice your age. And yet you still do it anyway."

She smiled. "You have your flaws, and I also have mine. But isn't a relationship a two-way road? I've helped you just as much as you've helped me. Even if you haven't realised it, you have." Her fingers caressed my wet cheek. I didn't realise I was crying. "The various little day-to-day things, the times on our missions, the setting aside of time to teach me things I didn't know. You've done more than enough for me."

She leaned in for a quick kiss, and I can feel myself become a blushing mess right now. "Kizuki... You and I might not be perfect, but I love you." She giggled softly. "And besides, isn't accepting both the good sides and the bad sides, part of love?"

*Clank* We both looked over at the table and saw that Kuroko's father gaping at the floor, betrayed by his own utensil. "Ah. Ahem." He waved. "Don't mind me. Carry on."

"Right. We should continue on with dinner first." Even when she's a bit red on the cheeks, she addressed the servants while hugging my head. "Shall we?"

The obliged and brought out the rest of the food. Excluding the leftover air from the earlier display of affection, the meal proceeded with a harmonious atmosphere amidst small chatter between bites. It was during the after-meal tea that Kuroko excused herself to powder her nose that her father addressed me directly.

"Boy." He said sharply.

"Y-yes?" I squeaked in surprise because I was still embarrassed by my earlier outburst.

He looked at me with a strong gaze before it softened. "I was originally planning to interrogate you, or to at least find anything to blackmail the truth out of you... But with what happened back there? I guess I was wrong in thinking that you were just another brat after connections or resources." He leaned back on his chair. "It's plain to see that my daughter cares about you, just as much as you care about her." He stood up and walked, but just as he was about to pass by me, he placed out a hand on my shoulder. "Take care of her for me, alright? I'm sure her mother would have said the same. After all, family is worth more than any fortune." And with that he walked away.

I just sat there quietly for a bit, mulling over his words as they echoed in my mind.

Moments later, Kuroko came back. "Hm? Where's dad?" She said, which brought.e back out of my reverie.

It was the pink-haired maid, Reona, who stepped forward to answer her. "Your father has already returned to his busy schedule, my lady."

"I see." She nodded and closed her eyes. Another moment passed while her face turned red before she abruptly opened her eyes. "Well then, I- we will be somewhere else then, to deal with other matters." She grabbed my hand and teleported us... Somewhere.

A corridor, specifically.

She power-walked while she still held my hand and lead me down the hall, stopping in front of a door. She quickly opened it and shoved me inside before coming in herself and locking the door behind her.

"Kuroko-?!"

The gleam in her eyes changed. She looked... Hungry.

"You can be quite silly at times. One moment you are a stoic beacon of hope, the next moment you become as meek as a kitten." She walked over to me, a slight predatory intent in her stride. "It just so happened that I know of a way to fix that self-esteem of yours." Her hands snaked up to my cheeks and she brought her face closer to mine. "I waited long enough." She said, her breathy whisper in my ear sending shivers down my spine.

She flicked her eyes to lock with mine.

And this time-

The kiss wasn't so chaste.