I took a deep breath before knocking on the door. I had been doing this for weeks now, but I still didn't like it.
"Come in, Arash."
I went in. The office was as calm and inviting as always. Warm lighting. Bookshelves. Soft colors. The kind of place designed to make people comfortable and lower their guard.
Sitting in a chair in the middle next to a couch was a woman in her early forties with pink skin, pointed ears like an elf and white hair done in a professional bun.
"Good day, Dr. Arisu." I greeted her.
This woman was my therapist, Doctor Hitomi Arisu. The first time I'd seen her, I had outright stared. She assumed it was due to her appearance.
"It's not that," I had quickly clarified. "You just look like a character from an anime I used to watch."
Which was true. She looked almost exactly like Arisu from Dragon Ball Daima. Doctor Arisu had found that hilarious.
"Good day, Arash," She gestured toward the couch. "Please sit."
I did.
"How have you been?"
"Good. Can't really complain."
"How's school?"
"Pretty good, I suppose." I leaned back slightly. "Though I still think my history teacher is a quack."
She smiled knowingly. "Yeah, there's always that one teacher that rubs you the wrong way."
"Yeah, but I got the last laugh." I smirked faintly. "Some people in class got interested in the things I talked about. I saw a few carrying books about the Meiji Restoration this morning."
"That sounds like a positive influence."
"I also joined two clubs."
"That's good. But will you be able to handle all of it? School, Quirk training, martial arts classes…" She asked with some concern. She was probably worried about me burning out. My Mom had the same concern.
I waved her off. "It's ok. I only go to Martial arts classes two times a week. Quirk training is limited to certain days in the week and school is manageable. I can join in a club or two and still have free time."
"That's alright then I suppose. What clubs did you join?"
"Archery and manga drawing." I answered.
That got a curious blink. "Interesting combination. Any reason?"
"Well…" I scratched my cheek. "Archery… feels right, I suppose. Like it speaks to me. I can also use it when I become a hero."
That was the best way to describe it. Ever since I saw the school range, there had been this pull.
Like something inside me recognized it. And felt drawn to it.
"Plus it fits with my name. Arash was known as Kamangir. Which translates to bowman or archer."
"And manga?"
I laughed sheepishly.
"That's more of a personal thing. I just like manga. I thought I could one day draw my own. But my drawing skills are a bit… underdeveloped…"
My first attempts at drawing look like a preschooler drew them. A preschooler with bad eyesight and shaky hands.
"You have an idea already?"
"Oh absolutely."
"And what's it about?"
I chuckled. "Sorry, but no spoilers."
She pouted dramatically.
"Cruel."
"All I can tell you is…" I thought carefully about how to word it. "It will change how people look and think about certain things."
She hummed thoughtfully. "Well, I think it's a wonderful hobby. Drawing is a good way of expressing yourself, and it helps ease your mind."
Then her expression softened.
"And how's your training? Any issues with mental influences?"
My smile faded. "A little."
Doctor Arisu immediately noticed. "Arash?"
I looked down at my hands.
"I still dream of things. Things that I know I didn't do, in a time and place where I've never been… and which I feel are my own memories and yet not."
She remained silent.
"Battlefields. Campsites. Castles." I frowned. "Sometimes I think about people I've never met before. Friends. Family Members. Lovers."
I flexed my fingers.
"And the worst part is…"
I hesitated.
"When I wake up, part of me still misses them."
That was the scary part. Not the violence or the bloodshed. Not the strange memories.
The longing. A homesickness for placed I had never been.
Doctor Arisu wrote something down.
"It's understandable," she said gently. "Your Quirk doesn't just alter your body. It carries mental and emotional imprints."
She tapped her pen against the clipboard. "I'll be honest Arash. You have the most unique case of mental Quirk influence I have ever witnessed."
"Thanks," I said drily. "I feel very lucky."
She ignored the sarcasm.
"However," She continued. "It's not unsolvable. I'd recommend holding a dream diary."
"A what?" I asked, not sure I heard that right.
"A journal or diary of sorts. Write down every dream you have immediately after waking."
I frowned. "And that helps how?"
"It creates separation." She tapped her clipboard lightly. "Your brain needs an anchors. If you can consistently identify which memories belong to you and which don't, your mind will gradually build resistance to the bleed-through."
It sounded legit to me. "Alright."
"Good."
She flipped a page.
"Now, I've been notified that there was a sort of… incident,"
I stiffened, which she immediately noticed.
"Would you like to tell me about it?"
I sighed. "Well, it went like this…"
I had just arrived at school and immediately looked through the crowd for Tsu. Which wasn't easy since Tsu wasn't exactly very tall.
Luckily, I spotted another familiar head.
"Hey, Habuko-chan!"
The lizard-headed girl turned around. "Oh hey, Arash. How are you?"
"Eh, can't complain. By the way, have you seen Tsuyu-chan? I can't seem to find her."
Habuko's face dropped. My stomach dropped instantly. "What happened?"
"Tsuyu-chan's sick. She's not coming today."
"What?!" I yelled.
I saw a few people glance over and blushed, ducking my head.
"Sorry. You were saying?"
"I went over to her place this morning and found out. It's nothing serious, just a bad flu. But she's not gonna come to school today." Habuko's
"That's too bad. Are her parent's home?" She had told us how her parents had to travel a lot due to their jobs.
Habuko frowned which gave me all the answer I needed.
"They're hurrying back, but they won't be back till this evening."
I scowled. I know her parents worked very hard to provide a good life for their children, but damn if it wasn't inconvenient right now.
"Her siblings?"
"I dropped them off before school." She sighed. "C'mon let's go to class before we're late."
She moved to join the throngs of students heading to class. I, however, stood completely still. I should have joined her and gone to class, like always.
I looked towards the building. Class. Responsibility. I should go.
But I couldn't.
The idea of sitting through math while Tsuyu struggled alone felt impossible.
Maybe it was me. Maybe it was Diarmuid. Maybe it was both.
But the thought alone made my chest tighten.
"Hey Habuko-chan," I said loudly. The lizard-headed girl paused and turn around.
"Can you see if somebody can bring me today's notes later?"
"…What?"
"I'm going to Tsuyu's." Before she could protest, I turned and sprinted.
The other students noticed my departure.
"Huh? Is that Shadi-san?"
"The history-argument guy?"
"The new guy? What's he doing?"
"Is he ditching?"
"Why? He doesn't strike me as somebody who does that."
"Are you kidding me? Didn't you hear how he got into an argument with the history teacher?"
I ignored them as I ran as fast I could through the street.
I stopped twice. Once at a pharmacy.
Once at a grocery store. I got a few looks due to my school uniform, but ignored it.
In a short time, I stood in front of Tsu's house. A modest two story home, with a large back garden where I knew they had a pond for them to swim in.
There was only one problem.
How exactly was I supposed to get inside?
Then I noticed it. An open second-floor window.
I searched my pockets and pulled out the Lancer card. Looking left and right to make certain nobody saw me.
I was about to transform, when I realized something. I looked down at my feet, pulled off my shoes and placed them in an extra bag I had.
"Install: Lancer!"
Light burst around me. Strength flooded my body. Skill. Instinct. The world sharpened and became a tiny bit slower.
Before, the jump would have needed a lot of momentum and acrobatics.
Now, I simply jumped. Well, not really jumped. More like a controlled hop.
I landed silently inside the building.
I looked around. This was the first time I was at Tsu's place. It seemed like a nice place.
Very homey.
I found the frog-themed sign for Tsuyu's room immediately. Of course it was frog-themed.
I opened the door carefully and froze.
Tsu lay curled beneath the blankets. Face caked in sweat. Breathing uneven. Her nose red and her face flushed.
Seeing her like this felt… wrong. Both in real life and the anime, she always seemed composed. Steady. Unshakable. Like nothing could disrupt her cool and calm demeanor.
I moved closer without realizing and moved a strand of her hair out of her face.
Her skin felt warm. Warmer than it should be. A fever.
Something unpleasant twisted in my chest. Injuries were simple. Bruises. Cuts. Broken bones.
Sickness was different. You could not do anything. You felt completely helpless.
Her eyes twitched before they slowly fluttered open. Then they widened.
She jerked back immediately. Her whole posture, though wracked with cold and heat, was wary.
"Who are you?! What are you doing on my house?!" She wanted to yell, but it came out as a mix between a croak and a cough.
I blinked. Then I realized.
Right. She'd never seen Lancer before.
"Ah, forgive me. I forgot you haven't seen me in this form yet." I touched my chest. "De-Install: Lancer."
Light flashed and I was me again.
Tsu relaxed instantly.
"Arash?" Her voice sounded rough. Tired and scratchy. "*Cough* what are you doing here, kero?"
"I heard you were sick," I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "Didn't feel right leaving you alone."
Silence. Then Tsu slid down into her bed. "Kero. You should be *Cough* in school."
"I know." I crossed my arms. "But my friend is sick and alone."
The next words slipped out too naturally. Elegant. Earnest. Not entirely mine.
"And I would be a truly terrible friend if I left you to suffer in solitude."
I paused internally.
Sometimes I really couldn't tell where my own instincts ended and Diarmuid's began.
Tsu stared at me.
"I'm fine, kero."
Then immediately coughed. Hard.
"In this case," I said drily. "The F in fine stands for 'fucked-up'."
That got the faintest twitch of her lips.
Score for Arash!
I held up my bags. "I brought food and medicine."
That ended the argument.
"Alright then," I handed her a pill and the glass of water."You ate breakfast, yes?"
She nodded.
"Drink this. It's Immoboost. Like the name says, it boosts your immune system and reduces the symptoms of a cold. Should help your body to fight the cold."
She gulped it down.
"Alright. I'll need to borrow your kitchen for a bit. I'll be making some soup. If you need me, just send me a text on my phone. Ok?"
She nodded and dozed off.
Two hours later, I was cooking soup and other things in the Asui kitchen.
I put the chicken inside a pot, filled it with water and let it boil. Then I began to peel and chop carrots, potatoes and onions. Two hours later, I pulled the chicken out of the pot and put it inside a frying pan. I then poured two large clumps of tomato sauce into the pot, some salt, water and the carrots.
I then put on the rice, which I had let soak in a bowl before putting it in the rice cooker.
For the chicken, I let it roast a bit in the pan. See that's the trick for making a delicious chicken in a pan. After letting it boil in water, you fry it a bit before adding sauce. It adds a crispy, smoky flavor to the chicken.
Afterwards I got to work on making the sauce which I poured into the pan.
The sauce was a mix of the chicken water, tomato sauce, lemon juice and a tiny pinch of Saffron. Which I grabbed from home.
Luckily, my Mom wasn't home so I didn't have to explain to her why I wasn't in school.
And that's the situation.
Me cooking food while soft music played from my phone. Chicken simmered, rice cooked, tomato sauce bubbled- it was a perfectly peaceful moment.
In this moment, I forgot all about reincarnation, Heroic Spirits and future wars. There was just me, my food and the smell which filled the whole house.
I got so absorbed in cooking that I nearly jumped when Tsuyu suddenly spoke up behind me.
"That looks delicious, kero."
"Jesus Christ, Tsu!" I waved a wooden spoon at her face. "Haven't you heard about not scaring the cook while he's cooking?!"
"Nope."
"Besides, what are you doing out of bed?"
She sat down on the couch while I prepared tea and vitamin tablets.
"I woke up a few minutes ago, kero. My siblings will be back and if they see a stranger here, they'll freak out *Cough Cough*."
I Tsuyu with two glasses, one a sparkling orange the other a tea. "Here, drink these."
She stared at the orange drink. "Kero. Orange soda?"
"Nope. Vitamin C Effevescent Tablets. Supplies the body with Vitamin C." I pointed at the other cup. "Tea, with honey mixed in. Good for a sore throat."
She drank the Vitamin C in one go. She was halfway with her tea when she paused. She looked at me carefully.
"Why did you come?"
I paused.
"My friend was sick. There is no way I could have spent the day in classes, knowing she was all alone and struggling."
"Yeah, but won't you get in trouble for this?" She was concerned for me.
"Perhaps. But I know I'll never regret it."
The line lands calmly.
Not dramatic.
Not idealistic shouting.
Just quite resolve.
"To regret is to wish it never happened." I took a deep breath. "And there is no way I would I ever wish to leave you alone."
"Why? Why go so far for me?"
The answer was simple. Embarrassingly simple.
"Because you helped me first."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"When I was struggling and alone… you reached out."
I handed her the tea.
"So now I'm returning the favor."
Her cheeks became a little redder. Probably fever.
Probably.
"Kero," she muttered softly. "You're quite the smooth-talker."
"Blame Lancer. He's the knight between the two of us."
We both shared a laugh. "So that was Lancer?"
"Yep."
"He looks quite dashing, kero." Was it my imagination or did Tsu's cheeks look even more flushed. A feeling of amusement and sad melancholy filled me, and I realized it came from Diarmuid.
"That he does." I was certain enough in my sexuality to admit that.
Suddenly, the door opened. "Hey Nee-san. Is somebody with you?"
We turned to the door where her siblings, Samidare and Satsuki stood.
"Nee-san, is that your boyfriend?" Satsuki asked innocently.
That's when everything descended into chaos.
"Hey there. It's me Arash." At their blank stares I elaborated. "The guy from the park. The one who turned into a cowboy?"
"Ohhh!" They seemed to remember me. "It's you!"
"Yep." I said. "Your sister and I are friends. When I heard that she was sick, I came over to help her a bit."
"Something smells great!" Satsuki said.
"Yeah, I made lunch. It should be ready soon." I answered. "Why don't you guys rest a bit? Watch some TV?"
"Okay!" they nodded and went to their rooms to put their bags away.
"After that, nothing much happened. We had lunch, then Habuko and I cleaned the dishes. I helped them with their homework and did my own. Then I took out the trash. When I came back, I found Satsuki, Samidare and Habuko watching some TV…"
"Watcha Watching?" I asked as I walked in.
Samidare answered. "A show about All Might."
The man himself was laughing loudly over his own joke. He seemed completely fine, like he was untouchable.
But I knew he wasn't.
That behind that smile, he was in unimaginable pain.
That when he wasn't saving lives, he was a lonely man.
One who has dedicated himself to an impossible ideal.
And just like Kiritsugu, Shirou and Artoria, he was left broken and filled with countless regrets.
I looked away from the screen with some effort. Pulling out a book from my backpack, I began to read.
It was a book on Greek myths. In my teenage years in my first life I had a phase. I would devour anything related to Greek gods and heroes. This apparently carried over into this life.
The book was both interesting, academic and useful, because there's a chance that one of my next Class Cards would have a Greek hero. There were several options which I had already picked out and crossed out.
Chiron was out. I already have an Archer. Same with Paris and Hektor.
Achilles is an option for Rider. Perseus too.
Saber… the only Greek Saber shown in FGO was Theseus. Don't know what to think about him.
Asterios (or his more recognizable name, the Minotaur) could be my Berserker. His NP is pretty good and he is one of the more… manageable Berserkers.
Heracles… now he would be great except as a Berserker.
I could also get a hero who wasn't shown in Fate. Diomedes could be a Rider or Berserker.
Now for those of you who haven't read the Illiad, Diomedes was one of the warriors fighting in the battle of Troy. After getting buffed by Athena, he went all Doom Slayer on the Trojans. When he was about to kill Aenas, the son of Aphrodite, she swooped in and saved him.
Big Mistake.
In that blood rage, he didn't care if his opponent was a woman or even an Olympian. He basically proceeds to whoop her ass, forcing her to run to Apollo for help. But honestly, he didn't want to get anywhere near that lunatic.
So they both went to Ares.
He goes down to kill him.
What happens next is basically a retelling of the God of War game. This cements Diomedes as an eternal badass for having the balls to stab two Olympians.
"What's that you're reading?" I was halfway through the story of Perseus when Samidare's voice interrupted me. I closed the book and looked up. I saw him and his sister looking curiously at me.
"It's about Greek mythology," I answered.
"Greek what?" He asked cluelessly.
"You know… the gods of Olympus, the heroes and wars of Ancient Greece. You know, guys like Perseus, Heracles, Achilles?"
Two blank stares. If I ever found the one who was responsible for the world forgetting these legends, I will personally torture him in ways that even the Olympians will find excessive.
"Ok, how about I tell you?" They nodded eagerly. Even Habuko seemed interested.
"So in the beginning, there was Gaia and Ouranos…" I ignored Habuko's sniggers. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up."
Tsu woke up feeling a bit better than she did this morning.
She got out of bed and went down. She found the group huddled together on the couch while Arash stood before them, making some dramatic poses.
"And then-!" I mimed holding a sword and swung it down.
"Perseus cut off her head!"
Samidare gasped.
Satsuki looked horrified, fascinated and enraptured.
"And then from her blood, two creatures sprang out: one was a black horse with wings which would forever be known as the Pegasus. The other was-"
I noticed Tsu standing at the door. "Oh hey, Tsu. How are you feeling?"
"Better. Why are you telling my siblings a story about decapitations?" She asked a bit sharply.
Habuko snickered.
I winced. Seeing the children, I got an idea.
I pointed accusingly at Samidare. "He started it!"
"He made sound effects!" Samidare defended.
Habuko laughed.
Tsuyu sighed.
"He's been telling us some amazing stories, Nee-san!" Satsuki cut in. "He was telling us about this hero named Perseus, who was a demigod! He went to fight a lady monster who could turn people to stone! He used his shield like a mirror so he wouldn't look into her eyes! It's so awesome!"
She watched stoically as Samidare gushed about the tale. She had not seen him this excited since he first saw All Might's debut.
"Yeah, Nee-san, it's great, kero! Your boyfriend is really smart! He knows a lot of stuff and stories!" Satsuki joined her brother.
"He's not my boyfriend, kero!"
"Nee-san." Samidare asked shyly. "Can we hear the rest of the story, kero? Please?"
She wasn't sure at first.
Then she saw Samidare's pleading look and Satsuki's quivering lip and the small tears forming.
She sighed. "Sure. Go ahead, kero."
"Yay!" Satsuki cheered. Samidare was less vocal, but he too was excited.
Arash smiled gratefully at her, before resuming his story. "Where was I? Oh yeah! So when Perseus cut her head off…"
Tsu sighed again. But she was smiling. And for the first time that day, she looked genuinely better.
We spent the rest of the afternoon telling stories. Then when evening rolled around, Tsu's parents showed up.
We heard the door opening and two sets of feet move towards the room. "Tsu-chan? Where are you, kero?"
"I'm here, Dad." Tsu answered.
Her parents walked in.
"Oh, Tsu-chan! We're so sorry we couldn't be here! I hope it wasn't too difficult, kero." Her mother said as she came over and inspected Tsu.
"It wasn't bad. Arash came to help." Tsu answered, accepting her mother's fussing. That was when they noticed me standing nearby.
"Kero. Is this him?" Her father asked, crossing his arms as he inspected me. I fidgeted a bit under his stare.
"Yep."
He observed me for a few more moments where I shifted uncomfortably under his look. Then he smiled and bowed. "Thank you so much for taking care of my little girl, kero!"
"Its fine, sir. Tsu's my friend so I ain't going to leave her alone when she needed me." I waved off his gratitude.
"Nevertheless, we're grateful, kero. Would you like to stay for dinner?" Beru asked.
"Sorry, but I can't. My Mom is probably getting worried. Next time maybe!" I declined her offer, knowing my Mom would be a bit anxious of my absence.
I politely escaped before they could physically trap me with hospitality.
As I walked home, though, one thought kept circling in my head.
The look Tsu gave me earlier.
Warm. Quiet. Soft.
Something told me there was more behind that look.
That look… it reminded me of something. But what?
And then, like a gut punch, I remembered.
Grainne.
It was the same look that Grainne gave Diarmuid.
I nearly walked into a telephone pole.
Honestly? I had no idea what to do about that.
"So, you ditched school to help your sick friend, even using your Quirk for a bit," Dr. Arinsu wrote it down. "That's the incident?"
I snorted. "Nah. That was the wholesome part."
She blinked. "The wholesome part? Then when's the trouble part?"
"When Stain showed up."
Silence.
Doctor Arisu blinked. She set down her pen and clipboard.
"I'm sorry," she said carefully. "Stain?"
"Yep."
"As in, Hero Killer Stain?"
"Uh-huh."
"The man who has killed a couple of Pro Heroes and crippled who knows how many more?"
"That's him, alright."
Her expression flattened.
"Please continue."
I was halfway home when I felt it.
Bloodlust.
Raw.
Violent.
Completely unrestrained.
The kind that made your instincts scream.
Coming from the alley right next to me.
I hesitated about investigating. Then I cursed internally and went to investigate.
Nothing.
Only broken crates, trash and a stray cat.
That's when I heard it.
The sound of steel piercing flesh, followed by a pained scream.
I threw away my bags and sprinted forward.
I stopped just shy of a corner and peeked out.
There was a body on the floor, dressed in a colorful outfit. A Pro-Hero.
I recognized her.
Ballerina, a popular Pro around these parts. Her Quirk allowed her to spin herself and become almost invulnerable. Basically, she became a human Beyblade.
Luckily, she was still breathing. She had a stab wound in her leg and one in her arm, but she seemed otherwise okay.
I looked at her assailant and almost gasped.
Red scarf.
Bandages tied around his face like a mask.
Blades everywhere. Not carried. Worn.
The way only someone with skill and experience wears them.
And most importantly, a noseless face.
He looked less like a man and more like something dragged out of a nightmare.
Stain. The Hero Killer.
I cursed silently; this is Lancer's E-rank luck at work, I just know it.
I pulled out my phone and dialed 911. "Hello, 911, how can we help you?"
"There's a villain in an alley, trying to kill a hero! I think it's that Hero Killer guy, Stain!" I whispered furiously. I then rattled off the address.
They told me that police and heroes were on the way.
But I knew that they would never get here on time.
Stain began to speak, making me turn back. "Hmpf. You act high and mighty, but you're just another fake polluting this world."
Ballerina tried to raise her head, but couldn't move. Yet, one could see her tremble. "You- why?! I always did my job right!"
"You let pride and greed blind you to what a hero is." Stain said calmly. Like he was merely telling her of the weather.
He raised his sword.
"But I will set it right."
She choked loudly, tears freely flowing down her face.
I moved before I knew what happened.
The card was already in my hand.
"INSTALL: LANCER!"
Stain's eyes widened.
His reflexes were sharp enough to jump away before two spears pierced the ground where he stood.
He's fast.
Very fast.
I drop down in front of the injured woman, retrieving my weapons.
"Who are you?!" Stain growled at the newcomer. "Who gave you permission to interfere in my cleansing?!"
I ignored him.
First priority: the victim.
I knelt down and inspected the wound.
A stab wound in her upper thigh and another on her arm.
The wounds weren't too big.
I ripped off a part of her skirt and used it as a bandage. Once I was sure that the wound was taken care of, I turned back to the deranged killer.
"That's my question, fiend." I level Gae Buidhe at him. "Who gave you permission to slaughter innocents?"
Stain's eyes narrowed.
"Innocent?"
His eyes narrowed.
"That fake disgraces heroism. Her greed is an insult to true heroes like All Might and must be destroyed."
I chuckled.
A sharp sound in the alley.
His expression darkened. "You find this amusing?"
"No." I twirled both my lances. "I just find your worldview childish."
That made him pause.
"You think heroes must be pure?" I asked. "Selfless? Free from greed?"
I scoffed.
"Humans don't work like that."
Stain's grip tightened. "Greed corrupts."
"No. It motivates."
Silence.
"I see you're just as diseased as her. Very well."
He raised his katana.
"Then I will simply remove you."
I smirked. "Then so be it. But you will find removing me a dangerous undertaking!"
The Hero Killer and I stood our grounds, neither of us moving an inch.
Then Stain made the first move.
He charged towards me while throwing a small knife at my face.
I deflected the knife with Gae Buidhe. Then took a step forward to stab with my long spear. Stain parried the stab with his sword, redirecting the force of my strike.
Smart. He doesn't know how strong I am. Better to redirect the stab than to take it and be overpowered.
Gae Dearg struck the ground and left a small crater. He slid along the length of the spear, blade aimed at my throat as the sound of steel sliding along steel rang across the alley.
A good maneuver to keep me from using my spear and get close for a killing strike. Artoria herself used something like this in her battle with Diarmuid.
But unfortunately, this maneuver is only effective-
If I only had one spear.
He jumped up when my yellow spear came for a stab. But that did not stop him from continuing his attack. A slash of his sword which I ducked under, followed by a kick with his spiked shoes. I blocked it with the shaft of Gae Dearg, spun Gae Buidhe and thrust it forward.
Stain twisted away. Barely. Then he continued the attack.
He was fast. Much faster than any normal person had a right to be.
Our weapons collided. Sparks exploded as steel clashed.
I blocked his strikes.
I had no choice. With his Quirk, a single scratch could mean the end of the battle.
That's what makes Stain so terrifying. Not because he overpowered people. Because he only needed one mistake. One scratch. One drop of blood.
Every exchange felt like dancing across a minefield.
I noticed I was getting closer to the Pro behind me. Too close.
Stain spotted an opening; pulling out a shorter blade from his side, he swung it at my ribs. But it was a feint as I leaned back. I saw Stain looking at me with surprise. Then he had to block a stab from Gae Buidhe, but the force still made him slide back.
I adjusted my grip on my longer spear, extending its length and swept it in a wide arc. Stain leaned backwards, the tips of his mask getting sliced off by the tip of my weapon.
I repeated the attack, aiming at his feet this time. He performs a flip and gracefully lands on the ground, while my attacks cuts a deep crescent furrow into the ground.
I used his retreat to press forward, away from the wounded heroine behind me. I twisted and spun both my spears around, forcing the Hero Killer to backpedal.
My strikes carried more force behind them, Lancer's B-Rank strength tilting the odds in my favor.
The sound of clashing blades filled the alley, as we were locked in a deadly dance of death. Stain blocked two of my strikes before he jumped out of the way from a stab with Gae Dearg.
That did not stop my pursuit as I charged forward. He had barely touched the ground before he had to run.
He sprinted towards the wall of the alley, kicks up against the wall and performs a back-flip, avoiding my attack.
Gae Dearg struck the wall with explosive force. Cracks spiderwebbed across the concrete and for the first time, Stain looked rattled.
I wasn't upset at my failed strike. Rather, I felt a sense of exhilaration as I fought, Diarmuid enjoying the fight as any Irishman would. Training feels good and all, but this is the real thing. This is where my skills and powers are truly put to the test.
The alley vanished.
There was only motion.
Timing.
Instinct.
Battle.
I finally understood why warriors chased combat. Why heroes smiled during war. It was intoxicating.
Dangerous.
The Hero Killer lunged forward. I pulled out my spear and expertly twirled it. I blocked Stain's two strikes and leaned back from a kick. Stain pushed me back relentlessly.
Then I realized a problem.
My back was against the wall. No room.
I needed space for my spears. Damn it. He had maneuvered me exactly where he wanted.
The Hero Killer was even craftier than I remember, having pushed me into a corner.
I blocked Stain's strikes as best as I could, but it was hard. Blades slammed against my crossed spears.
We were in a blade-lock, face to face. His bloodshot eyes stared into my amber ones, nothing but cold murder and determination in them.
Then his knee buried itself in my stomach.
I grunted, more in surprise than pain.
Using my superior strength, I uncrossed my spears, pushing him back.
Stain had barely landed on the ground when he had to push off again as I came with another stab. My spears struck the ground where he stood, the impact of the weapons leaving a small crater on the ground.
But he had already predicted the strike and jumped back. I did the same, landing before the victim.
We both now stood where we were at the beginning of the fight. I slightly chuckled as I relaxed from my form and rested my right lance on my shoulder while my left hanged downward. But make no mistake, it was ready to be used instantly.
We took that moment to assess our opponent. To study. To adapt.
At first glance, Stain seemed to be completely fine. But if you look closer you can see how the fight has left him rattled. His arms were slightly shaking, his breathing was a tad bit faster and his stance was far more careful than before.
His blades were chipped. Damaged.
Makes sense. Ordinary steel wasn't meant to clash against Noble Phantasms.
Stain momentarily collected himself, taking a deep breath. I stood straight, still holding a smile on my face. We both did not move for the moment.
Then I spoke up.
"Hero Killer Stain. I confess, for an honorless murderer you possess great skill with the sword. Tell me, why do you roam the backalleys for prey and preach your ideal to corpses? Why not become a hero and lead by example?" I asked.
"What are you doing?!" Ballerina yelled from the ground. "Stop chatting with him! He's crazy!"
We both ignored her, although Stain shot her a sharp look. She immediately shut up, not wanting the lunatic's attention on her.
Stain eyed me for a second. He seemed to analyze my stance.
'His skill with the spear is incredible. You don't see that kind of skill anywhere these days. Yet, he has only fought defensively, never pushing his advantage. His spears give him the greater range so why not advance?' He looked behind him to see that fake looking wide-eyed at them. 'Ah, I see. He doesn't wish to go too far from her, in case I manage to slip by.'
Stain had to reevaluate his opinion of this stranger. At first, he thought he was another fake, here to earn glory and fame for defeating him, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
I watched as Stain slightly relaxed. He seemed tired.
"I tried. I tried teaching people what heroism truly meant. I used to spend every day in the city, trying to convince the people to heed my warnings. But no one listened."
"So you decided that if they wouldn't listen through words alone, you would make them through your actions."
He nodded. "Exactly. But make no mistake. I do not enjoy this."
His voice lowered.
"I do not take pleasure in killing. Every false hero I cut down disgusts me."
His grip tightened and his eyes sharpened.
"But rot does not disappear on its own. So I will stain myself with blood if it means that the title of hero is reserved for those who truly deserve it!"
I frowned. Because the worst part?
I understood him.
He was only trying to make the world a better place.
"There is truth in what you say," I admitted.
Stain froze.
"It is true that words alone are never enough to convince people; it is your actions that will grab their attention and force them to listen. And you do have a point: there is much that is wrong with this world."
He seemed surprised that I agreed with him.
"But," I continued. "You forget something important."
"And what is that?"
"That beneath the costumes, the flashy names and fights, they are human. Just like the rest of us."
I pointed a spear at him.
"They're flawed. Greedy. Selfish. Proud."
I thought about Francis Drake.
About Gilgamesh.
About half the Servants in Fate.
"Some of the greatest heroes of history saved countless lives due to their greed." I lowered my stance. "Despite their flaws… they still save people. And to condemn them simply because of the nature of our species…"
I looked directly into Stain's eyes.
"It is the height of foolishness."
Stain snarled. "I see. I thought you might understand. But I was wrong."
"No Stain," I got back in a stance. "I do understand. But you can't seem to understand what it means to be human."
He roared and shot forward with great speed. But he wasn't faster than I was. I met him head-on this time.
We exchanged blows so quickly sparks filled the alley.
He blocked two of my strikes, then went for a slice. I blocked it with Gae Buidhe, but it was a feint as his leg swung up, his spiked shoes aimed for my side.
I raised my knee and blocked his kick before it reached. We stood there for a moment before I smirked.
Pushing up with my remaining foot, I lifted us into the air and delivered my own kick to his side.
Stain brought his arm down to block it, but the force of my kick still sent him flying against the wall. I dashed forward to pierce him with Gae Dearg, but he rolled to the side.
Then suddenly-
Knives. Three of them.
I dodged, parried and ducked.
But it was a distraction.
Too late I realized his goal.
Ballerina. He sprinted towards her. To use her as a hostage or to finish the job, I did not know.
And I did not care.
I ran forward with all the speed of the Lancer Class. Gae Dearg pierced the ground and I used it to vault over him.
Time slowed in mid-air.
His eyes widened.
I drove Gae Buidhe down on him.
He blocked.
But the spear still sliced across his cheek.
Using my flexibility, I twisted my body. Then both my feet slammed into his chest.
Something cracked. Stain gasped as he was sent flying back into the alley.
He got back to his feet, holding his side in pain. I'm pretty sure at least one of his rubs is busted.
Still, he refused to give up.
Time to end this.
Mana flooded my limbs, surging through my body into the spears I carried. Pain lanced through my limbs, yet I ignored it.
Both spears ignited.
Crimson for the long one.
Gold for the short one.
Stain's instincts screamed danger.
"Pierce them-"
I lowered my stance.
"Gae Dearg."
Red light exploded forward.
"And Gae Buidhe!"
This time I held nothing back.
I vanished. For one impossible instant, I crossed the alley faster than Stain could properly track. Yet he still managed to raise his blades to block.
His blades shattered.
Gae Dearg tore across his arm.
Gae Buidhe carved through his side.
Blood sprayed the pavement.
Stain stumbled back, holding his side with his left arm. He stared at me with shock, unable to comprehend what just happened.
My first attempt at a Noble Phantasm activation.
But it was not without a price. My energy is almost spent. My time with the Lancer dropped to a minute or two. And my limbs ached terribly.
I guess I'm still not ready for a Noble Phantasm.
We faced each other, both unable to continue the fight for different reasons.
Then we heard it. The sound of sirens, getting steadily louder.
Stain looked towards the street. Then at the wounded Pro behind me. Then back towards me.
His gaze was furious.
He knew he couldn't stay here, least he wish to get caught.
"It seems," I said between breaths, "our duel ends here. Shame."
I pulled on every bit of strength and false bravado I had. I stood tall, my spears leaning on my shoulder.
"Though you are free to stay and fight. Perhaps then you might gain a bit of courage and honor."
Stain breathed hard, both from pain and anger.
He wanted nothing more than to stay here and kill them both.
But he knew that in this wounded state, it would only end in his capture.
As much as it ails him, he has no choice but to retreat. To continue his crusade, he would have to abandon it.
How aggravating.
"I will cleanse this society!" Stain growled. He jumped, grabbed a fire escape and climbed away, his wounded state slowing him down.
Pretty soon he had vanished.
The moment he disappeared, my body gave out.
The world tilted.
My arms felt impossibly heavy.
My lungs burned.
The adrenaline vanished at once.
Only exhaustion remained.
I nearly collapsed. Still, I forced myself toward Ballerina, who had watched the whole fight with shock and awe.
"Are you alright, miss?"
She stared at me wide-eyed. "You… you let him get away."
"I'm aware."
I dismissed my spears.
Partially to free my hands. Another part was to save as much of my leftover energy as possible.
"My body has informed me that continuing would be a terrible idea."
That earned a weak laugh.
She tried to stand up and nearly fell.
I caught her.
"Here," I placed her arm over my shoulder and helped her stand. Her cheeks reddened, but she accepted the help.
Together, we staggered out of the alley.
Flashing red and blue lights.
Police officers waited with their guns drawn.
An ambulance was parked nearby, medics already getting out.
"This woman needs help!" I yelled as loudly as I could.
Immediately, two medics came over and took her from me.
Once I was sure she was taken care off, I allowed myself to collapse.
"Uninstall: Lancer."
The transformation faded away. Pain hit immediately. Everything hurt.
Luckily, a police officer noticed and rushed over.
After that, I got taken to the hospital and checked over. The police wanted to question me, but I was in no state to answer.
"Well, other than severe exhaustion and some muscle tears in your arms and legs, you seem to be completely fine." The doctor said.
I nodded. My arms and legs stung like they had been thrown into a meat grinder, but the pain was already lessening. "What about Ballerina?"
The doctor put his clipboard away. "Her stab wound was deep, but not too critical. She'll need a few weeks, but she'll recover."
I sighed in relief.
Suddenly, the door opened and my Mom walked in, followed by a police officer.
Any relief I felt evaporated.
"Arash!" My Mother immediately ran over and hugged me. She held my face in her hands, as if worried I would disappear. "Are you ok?!"
"Yeah, Maman, I'm fine." I answered.
Still, she checked. Verified. Made sure I was alive and healthy.
"Oh good," she said dangerously calmly. "So you're alright. No injuries?"
"Other than some muscle tears and feeling like I ran three marathons back to back? Just peachy."
Her eye twitched.
"Arash?"
"…Yes, Mama?"
"Why," she asked slowly. "Did I receive a call saying my son skipped school… and another saying he fought a serial killer?"
Now I wish I was back in that alley fighting Stain. The Hero Killer is a lot less scary than my mother.
"Then came the hard part. The police showed up. They first asked me everything I could tell about Stain. His looks, his heights, his Quirk. Anything that could help catch him. Then it switched to me…"
The police questioning lasted almost an hour. Most of it was routine.
Where had I been?
Why had I used my Quirk?
Did I understand the laws regarding Quirk usage?
Did I know how dangerous my actions had been?
The answer to the last one was easy.
Yes.
Painfully so.
The officer across from me sighed and closed his notebook. He looked exhausted more than angry.
"You understand that using your Quirk in public without a license is illegal, correct?"
"Yes."
"And transforming to engage a villain without authorization is even more serious?"
"I know."
My mother sat beside me in tight silence, arms crossed. Her earlier panic and anger had faded. Now she just looked tired.
The officer rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Ordinarily, this would lead to far more severe consequences. Property damage, vigilantism, public endangerment…" He flipped through a few pages. "And unfortunately, this incident cannot be simply handled quietly."
He turned his phone toward us.
A video was playing.
The alley fight.
Or part of it, anyway.
The recording was shaky and low quality, filmed from a nearby apartment window. But it clearly showed a figure wearing green armor and wielding crimson and golden spears, clashing with a figure with a red scarf and bandages.
The title above the upload read: "MYSTERIOUS SPEAR HERO FIGHTS STAIN!"
I closed my eyes. Of course somebody recorded it. E-rank Luck at its finest.
"This video has already spread online. It is quickly becoming one of the most watched videos." The officer continued. "Which means we are required to formally address the incident."
Mom pinched the bridge of her nose.
"…Wonderful." She muttered. "I need a drink."
"Me too." I said.
She shot me a look. "Arash, you're already in trouble for vigilantism. Don't add underage alcoholism to it."
I slumped. Sometimes being back in a teenage body sucked.
The officer ignored our exchange and looked back at me.
"Given that this is your first offense, your age, and the first circumstances surrounding the attack, we are willing to reduce disciplinary action."
I stayed silent.
"You'll receive an official warning for illegal Quirk usage," he continued. "Additionally, your Quirk usage privileges will be suspended for two months outside supervised training environments."
That stung more than I expected.
No Cards.
No transformations.
Nothing.
The officer leaned back slightly.
"It's good to see that you understand the error of your ways and regret your actions-"
"You're mistaken."
The room went quiet.
The officer frowned.
I met his gaze evenly.
"I said I accept that what I did was reckless." My voice stayed calm. "And I'll accept whatever punishment you think is necessary."
I took a slow breath.
"But if you think I regret doing it…" I shook my head. "Then you're dead wrong."
Silence.
My mother looked at me sharply.
The officer's expression hardened slightly.
"Are you saying that you feel no guilt whatsoever?"
"No," I answered immediately. "I do feel guilty. I broke the law. I endangered myself. I made my mother worry." I glanced down briefly before looking back up. "And I'll do my best to make sure something like this doesn't happen again."
I paused.
"But I do not regret helping her."
The officer folded his arms.
"Son, Quirk laws exist for a reason. They prevent society from descending into chaos."
"And if I hadn't acted?" My voice came out sharper than intended. "If I walked away, Ballerina's family wouldn't be visiting her in a hospital…" I stared directly into his eyes. "But in the morgue."
The room became tense enough to choke on. For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then-
A knock.
The door opened slightly and another officer stepped inside. "The hero wants to speak with you."
The older officer frowned. "Now?"
"She insisted."
He sighed. "Send her in. Let's hear what she has to say."
A few moments later, Ballerina entered on crutches. Her pink dress and tiara were gone, replaced with a regular hospital gown.
She looked exhausted, but alive. The moment she saw me, her expression softened. It may have been a trick of the light, but I thought I saw a small blush that quickly vanished.
"This kid saved my life," she said immediately.
The officer sighed.
"Ma'am-"
"No." She cut him off firmly. "I know the laws. I know what he did was illegal." Her grip tightened around her crutches. "But if he hadn't intervened, Stain would have killed me."
The room fell silent.
Ballerina's expression hardened.
"And besides," she continued, "he managed to do something that several Pros and police officers couldn't. He sent that psychopath running."
Silence again.
Then she looked directly at me.
"And for what's it worth…" Her expression turned softer. "You fought like a real hero."
I blinked.
She was risking a lot by saying that publicly. Not just her reputation. Her career.
Supporting illegal Quirk usage- even under these circumstances- was dangerous for a Pro Hero.
And she still chose to speak for me.
"Thank you." I said quietly.
The officer exhaled slowly, like the universe itself had become a paperwork problem.
"The disciplinary decision stands," he muttered. "Two-month Quirk suspension. Mandatory counseling review. And no further vigilantism."
Ballerina looked ready to protest further.
"But," the officer continued, his expression softening slightly, "that will be the extent of it."
I looked up.
"We will not place this incident on your permanent file. No disciplinary black marks." He gave me a long look. "You'll still be eligible for Hero schools once you reach the proper age."
I caught his hidden meaning.
Mom visibly relaxed beside me.
The officer pointed a finger at me. "But if something like this happens again, the consequences will be much harsher. Understood?"
"…Understood."
The officer gathered his stuff and left.
Ballerina lingered behind for a moment.
"I just wanted to thank you again," she said. "And for what's it worth…"
She smiled faintly.
"I believe you'll become an amazing hero someday."
I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "I'll try."
She laughed softly before leaving. Then it was just me and Mom.
Silence stretched between us. She stared ahead quietly for several long seconds.
"Maman-"
"You scared me."
Not angry.
Not shouting.
Just honest.
"I thought something happened to my baby."
That somehow felt worse. Because she wasn't furious.
She was terrified.
"I know," I whispered. I went over and wrapped my arms around her tightly. "I'm sorry."
For a moment she stayed still. Then she hugged me back just as fiercely.
"You did something very good today, Findig."
We separated slowly. She looked at me for a long moment before smiling softly.
"I'm proud of you. You really are living up to your namesake."
I chuckled weakly.
At the edge of my mind, I felt it.
Diarmuid's quiet pride.
Billy's approving amusement.
Warmth. Approval. It eased something inside me I hadn't realized was hurting.
"And that's the story," I finished. "Any questions?"
Doctor Arisu said nothing. She slowly removed her glasses and set them down on the desk beside her notepad.
Mentally, she was trying to process how one patient had somehow:
-skipped school,
-infiltrated a house through a second story window,
-cooked lunch for a sick friend,
-babysat two children,
-fought a serial killer,
-argued philosophy about heroism and human nature with said killer,
-nearly collapsed from Quirk overuse,
-and then debated hero ethics with law enforcement.
All in a single day.
"Arash," she finally said carefully.
"Yes?"
"Has anyone ever told you that your life is concerningly eventful?"
I leaned back into the couch. Honestly, I only had one answer.
"E-Rank Luck, Doc." I sighed dramatically. "E-Rank Luck."
Lancer: Diarmuid Ua Duibhne
Parameters:
Strength:B
Endurance: C
Agility:A
Mana:D
Luck:E
Noble Phantasm: B
Class Skills
Magic Resistance — B:
Cancels spells with a chant below three verses.
Difficult for modern magi to affect him with magecraft.
Personal Skills
Love Spot (Mole of Fascination) — C: A magical beauty mark beneath his eye that charms members of the opposite sex who see it directly.
Knightly Tactics — B
Exceptional combat judgment in one-on-one engagements.
Mind's Eye (True) — B
Heightened combat awareness earned through experience rather than instinct.
Noble Phantasms:
Gáe Dearg — "Crimson Rose of Exorcism"
Rank: B
Type: Anti-Unit
A cursed spear that nullifies magical energy.
Can disrupt enchantments and negate magical reinforcement on weapons and armor.
Gáe Buidhe — "Yellow Rose of Mortality"
Rank: B
Type: Anti-Unit
Inflicts wounds that cannot naturally heal through magical or regenerative means.