An Awkward Lunch with Heroes
Somehow, we ended up having a late lunch that wasn't even on the agenda, but honestly, it wasn't the most comfortable spot. Not that it was surprising—sitting at the same table as two heroes dead set on capturing me, spoons in hand. Still, as they say, humans are adaptable creatures, and I was gradually getting used to the situation. Not just me, either; Makina seemed relaxed too—whether from loosening up or just starving, I couldn't tell—but she was shoveling food with her fork, oblivious to the sauce smeared on her mouth.
"Jeez, no one's gonna steal it. Slow down a bit."
I grabbed a napkin and wiped the corner of her mouth.
"Eek?! H-Hey! You say it first next time...!"
"Keep it down in public. People are watching."
"Eeeek...!"
They say if it leaks from the inside, it leaks outside too, and sure enough, this little one was the same in front of others. I clicked my tongue at Makina's flushed face, and across from us, Flare smiled warmly, like it was heartwarming.
"Heehee, you take such good care of your little sister. It's nice to see."
"Haha... She's a handful in every way, you know."
Makina's natural green hair was too flashy, so we'd disguised it with a hologram as black, and it looked like Flare mistook us for siblings. We hadn't planned it, but denying it would just lead to awkward questions about our relationship, so both Makina and I kept our mouths shut.
Anyway, thanks to Makina, Flare had let her guard down a bit, which was good.
"...Is there something on my face?"
It was hard to focus on eating with Nova staring at me nonstop since before we entered the restaurant.
"Ah, no! No! It's not that!"
When I called her out directly, Nova jumped in surprise, shaking her head vigorously side to side. She was so flustered she nearly dropped her chopsticks. It was classic softie Nova, but her gaze on me lately felt oddly intense—not just suspicion, but something hotter.
"Staring like that is getting a little distracting."
It was so distracting I could barely get a few bites in; at this rate, I'd get indigestion before filling my stomach.
"Right, Seoha. You chased him out of the cafe earlier—what's your connection to this guy?"
Flare seemed puzzled by Nova's repeated behavior and asked, while Makina paused eating to watch quietly.
"Ah, that is..."
Suddenly under everyone's gaze, Nova's already tense face stiffened, but knowing she'd dragged it out too long, she glanced at my eyes and asked cautiously.
"Um, weren't you there back then, sir—er, with this gentleman?"
"Back then meaning when?"
"You know, when that Muscle Pig villain was rampaging."
"Yeah, well..."
Of course I was there—I nearly died. Especially since Nova was the one who saved me. I couldn't figure out why she was bringing it up now, but her face lit up for some reason.
"R-Right? The thing is, I was there too, and I saw you almost get into big trouble—er, anyway!"
She kept almost saying "citizen" before switching, which felt clumsy but so very Nova. Heroes usually call civilians "citizen" or "sir/ma'am"—must be an occupational habit. It was cute, and I wanted to watch a bit more, but the conversation wouldn't go anywhere like this, so I just gave her my name.
"Kang Jinwoo."
"Pardon?"
"My name. The honorifics keep changing, it's confusing."
"Ugh, sorry...!"
She realized her own wording was off and bowed her head. It was cute again, and my mouth twitched, but then I felt Makina poking my side with her elbow. Wondering what was up, I turned, and she leaned in to whisper after noticing Flare watching.
"Hey, is it okay to just give your name like that? They're heroes."
I flashed a relaxed smile at Makina, who was jabbing my side with worried eyes.
"Heh, that's what you were worried about."
Her concern wasn't unfounded, of course, but what choice did I have? If I were some typical isekai illegal immigrant with no identity in this world, sure—but my old life's perfectly fine "Kang Jinwoo" was registered in the databases here too. Slapping on a fake name and getting cross-checked later would be a mess.
—That was the surface reason, anyway.
"Kang Jinwoo... Hehe, Jinwoo."
Seeing Nova shyly murmur my name made me feel oddly pleased.
"Then can I call you Seoha too? That's what the lady next to you called you."
"Ah! Yes! Yes! Lee Seoha. Call me whatever you're comfortable with!"
Her booming reply made Flare's eyebrows twitch slightly, and so did Makina's.
"So, Seoha, you said you saw me almost get into big trouble?"
"Yes! Hero Nova saved Jinwoo when you were in danger."
"She did. Thanks to her, I'm alive."
Even now, thinking back made my neck throb and the brush with death right in my face feel vivid. It was a horrific experience I never wanted to relive.
"Nova saving me back then was incredible. She's basically my lifesaver."
With sincere words, Nova scratched the back of her head bashfully and grinned ear to ear.
"Ehehe, thanks. Hearing that makes me so happy..."
"Pardon?"
My echo made Nova freeze. An awkward silence hung briefly before she realized her slip, blushed furiously, and waved her hands frantically.
"Ah, no! I mean, not my words! Like... Ah! I know Nova, so I know that's what she'd say! Ahaha!"
Flare, watching from the side, openly facepalmed with a sigh.
"Please keep it secret that I'm acquaintances with Nova. Got it? Keep it secret!"
"Secret or not, it feels like you're advertising it at this point."
"Haa..."
Realizing her voice was too loud too late, Nova covered her mouth. Luckily, Flare had booked a fancy private room, so it probably didn't leak out. Nova caught her breath, then continued in a serious yet bittersweet tone.
"Anyway... Hero Nova did save Jinwoo, but that villain was stronger than expected. Nova wanted to take him down coolly, but she felt pathetic for losing so badly and blamed herself a lot. Ahem, that's what she said!"
At this point, anyone could tell she was Nova. But considering her sincerity, I decided to play along.
"Yeah... I get what your friend said. But one correction, if you don't mind."
"Huh? Correction?"
I answered a bit curtly to her puzzled head-tilt.
"Nova wasn't pathetic at all."
"!"
"Sure, she lost because the villain was strong, but how can throwing yourself to protect a citizen in danger be pathetic? At least the guy she saved—me—doesn't think so at all."
Hitting villains is important for heroes, but saving people matters more. She knew the villain was way stronger, felt death breathing down her neck. Yet she stood her ground for me, for everyone—and she protected us all. No matter what idiots on the street spouted, to me, Nova was the finest hero.
So even if she put herself down, I wasn't about to hear it.
"I don't know your relation to Nova, Seoha, but to me, she's the best hero there is."
"U-Uh..."
"So tell her not to call herself pathetic or whatever. Oh, and don't forget to say thanks for saving me—I mean it from the heart."
Ahem, saying it to her face was a bit embarrassing, but if my sincerity got through, it wasn't bad.
"...Me too."
"Pardon?"
"...Nova really wanted to tell you too. That she's so grateful you called her a hero back then... Hehe."
Her face was beet red, but having finally relayed her message, Nova beamed innocently. Now understanding why she'd grabbed me, I chuckled.
"No need to thank me."
"No, what you said was huge comfort to Nova!"
"If you put it that way..."
I'd felt a little shy saying it then, but knowing it helped made my chest tingle warmly.
"Ahem, food's getting cold. Let's eat before my stomach complains."
"Yes...!"
Seeing her grab her spoon energetically, it felt so very Nova. Hearing our adorable, lovable Nova's true feelings like this warmed Flare's smile too, while Makina turned away with a grumpy pout.
Yeah, heroes and a villain dining together was weird, but it was turning into a heartwarming meal—or so I thought.
"By the way, Jinwoo. One thing I'm really curious about."
"Yeah? Shoot. What's up?"
Forgetting her food, Nova's eyes sparkled as she asked.
"Back then, Nova got seriously hurt by the villain. But in those few minutes talking to you, her wounds vanished clean away. Not a scar left."
Ah.
"—So, do you have healing powers, Jinwoo?"
The moment Nova finished, the warm atmosphere plummeted.