Eight o'clock in the morning.
The autumn sky was cloudless and brilliantly blue as Lock strolled down the quiet street, moving at an easy pace with his exam ID in hand.
The Provisional Hero License Exam would be held at the Dagobah Arena, only ten minutes from his apartment.
Since the location was close, there was no need to wake up too early. Even so, the chill of October lingered in the air—trees on the roadside already shedding their leaves, the season giving off a faint sense of solitude.
Lock slipped his phone from his pocket and sent a short message to Kyoka Jiro:
"Heading out now. Wish me luck."
He tucked the phone away and lifted his head—just in time to spot a familiar figure at the foot of the sloped street below.
The open view made it impossible to miss her.
Pink hair… small yellow horns… wait—that's—
Lock's steps quickened as recognition dawned.
A lively girl with short, curly pink hair and lilac skin stood chatting animatedly with two classmates, their matching uniforms marking them as students on their way to school.
The sunlight reflected off her glossy hair as her tiny horn-like protrusions bounced with each motion.
Her eyes were black with bright yellow sclera, and her cheerful grin radiated energy.
Even her posture—hands on hips, leaning forward slightly—overflowed with confidence.
No doubt about it, Lock thought. That's Ashido Mina.
She would go on to join Class 1-A of U.A. High. To think he'd run into her here, of all places.
Lock smiled faintly but didn't approach. Talking to a stranger out of nowhere would just be weird—and besides, he had an exam to take.
He turned away—then froze.
The morning light dimmed—not from clouds, but from a massive shadow falling over the street.
A towering figure lumbered out from the side alley, each heavy step shaking the ground.
Over three meters tall, draped in a tattered cloak that barely concealed its form. Bare, scaled feet scraped against the asphalt.
Its face was a nightmare—razor-sharp teeth gleaming beneath torn lips, pale white eyes without pupils rolling lifelessly in their sockets.
A shark-headed monster.
A villain.
A radio hung from its neck, playing a random broadcast between growls:
"This channel received a letter from listener Oru Mai Yito. He claims to have seen All Might on patrol recently…"
The creature's deep voice interrupted the static, filled with suppressed fury.
"Tell me… where's the Jumping Hero agency?"
The aura it released made the air feel heavy. Even from several meters away, Lock felt the pressure crush against his chest.
No one answered.
The two girls beside Mina trembled violently, collapsing to their knees under the weight of the creature's killing intent.
Mina herself stayed upright—but only barely. Sweat rolled down her temples as her hands shook uncontrollably.
"Not gonna talk?"
The shark monster's growl deepened. It reached out a massive hand, gripping the nearest streetlight like a twig—
Crack!
The pole tore free from the concrete with a shriek of metal.
Screams erupted around the street as pedestrians fled in panic.
Lock's mind raced.
He could take it down—but not here, not in public, not without his Hero license.
If he fought, the shockwaves alone might injure civilians.
I'll have to draw it away first.
Lock sprinted forward, placing himself between Mina and the monster, arms spread wide.
"Two kilometers ahead—turn right at the corner!" he shouted, voice steady. "There's a Hero office there!"
His magic power surged, ready to erupt if the creature moved closer.
If it didn't leave… he'd at least buy the girls time to escape.
The shark villain froze, then dropped the streetlight with a loud clang.
It exhaled through its jagged teeth, glancing down at the small group of students before it. Apparently deciding they weren't worth its time, it stomped away in the direction Lock had pointed—each step shaking the pavement.
Lock exhaled. "Guess it's never peaceful in the mornings."
Normally, he'd have blasted it into the sea. But without a Hero license, even a justified fight using Quirks—or magic—was illegal.
He took out his phone instead and quickly called the police, explaining what had happened and leaving the situation to them and the local Pro Heroes.
"Th-thank you!" one of Mina's friends sobbed, her voice shaking. "You saved us—he would've killed us!"
Lock turned, seeing both girls still sitting on the ground, pale and trembling.
He smiled faintly and extended a hand to Mina, who still stood frozen in the middle of the crosswalk. "You okay?"
"I…" Mina tried to respond, but her lips quivered. She reached for his hand—and at that moment, her knees buckled from exhaustion.
"Whoa!"
Lock caught her instinctively. Her small frame collapsed against his chest, soft warmth pressing into him.
His heartbeat stumbled for a second.
He tightened his grip, steadying her gently. "Careful. You'll hurt yourself if you fall again."
His tone was calm, though his pulse wasn't. He quickly released her, regaining composure.
He still had an exam to take—no time for distractions.
"Get somewhere safe," he said firmly, glancing in the direction the shark had gone. The creature had vanished beyond the next street. "The police and Heroes will handle the rest."
Without another word, he turned and walked away toward the arena.
Lead it away from civilians, call for backup—that's all I can do right now.
The location he'd given the shark was deliberate—Dagobah Seaside Park, a place far from crowded areas.
There, Pro Heroes could engage it without risking their lives.
"W-wait…" Mina finally spoke up, realizing too late that she hadn't even gotten his name.
The boy was already gone, his figure disappearing at the end of the street—leaving only the faint impression of someone calm, capable, and selfless.
For a moment, Mina stood still, dazed.
Her heartbeat quickened, and a strange heat spread across her face. She touched her cheek instinctively—it was burning.
What's wrong with me?
Luckily, her pink skin hid her blush perfectly. Neither of her friends noticed the wild look in her eyes as she stared after him.
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