The notice was simple.
No warnings.
No accusations.
Formal Meeting with the CEO
Attendance Mandatory
That was all.
---
Two days passed after Lacky's discharge.
He returned to his university first—classes, corridors, familiar noise. Everything felt the same, yet distant, like he was walking through a life that no longer fully belonged to him.
By evening, he headed to the Hero Academy.
Yash spotted him near the entrance and jogged over.
"Bro," Yash said, grinning, "you were insane. Really. Cool."
Lacky shook his head. "I messed up."
Yash waved it off. "You tried. That matters."
"There's a meeting," Lacky said quietly. "The CEO wants to talk to me."
Yash's expression softened. "Relax. Just be honest."
Lacky nodded. "I'll try my best."
They separated at the main hall.
---
The CEO's office was silent.
Lacky knocked once.
"Yes," a voice answered.
He stepped inside.
The room was larger than he expected—but empty of decoration. Only three people stood inside.
The CEO, seated calmly behind his desk.
Alia Bhardwaj, standing to one side.
Mr. Xi Yung, hands folded behind his back.
"Sit," the CEO said.
Lacky did.
"You are a trainee," the CEO began. "So tell me—why did you attempt to stop a PM2Ω threat?"
Lacky didn't hesitate. "Because I didn't want to lose anyone."
The CEO studied him for a moment.
"If stabilization teams had arrived late," he said evenly, "you might not have saved your aunt. You might have lost her—along with others."
Lacky lowered his head.
"I just wanted to help."
The CEO nodded once. "That was your first mistake."
Lacky stiffened.
"I will excuse it," the CEO continued. "Because it was your first."
He leaned forward.
"If you repeat it, that will be your last day at this academy."
Silence settled heavily.
"We exist to save everyone," the CEO said. "Not to let good intentions create greater disasters."
Lacky swallowed.
"We understand why you went," the CEO added. "The university incident shaped your judgment."
"Yes," Lacky admitted.
"That was a miscalculation," the CEO said calmly. "You survived it once. That does not make it repeatable."
Then his tone shifted.
"We are also grateful," he said. "Our heroes and civilians survived because of your earlier actions. That is fact."
He leaned back.
"You may leave."
---
After Mc leaving
---
As Lacky stood, Mr. Xi Yung spoke for the first time.
"I'll train this boy," Xi said. "He has the heart to protect."
Alia frowned slightly. "He has no intention of becoming a hero."
Xi replied calmly, "That can change."
---
Night had settled by the time he reached his apartment.
And there—
he saw her again.
She stood near the gate, adjusting her bag.
His heart skipped.
Not again…
This time, he didn't turn away.
Enough hiding, he thought.
Enough running from the past.
He took a step forward.