Chapter 100
Chapter 100
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: 5 Years
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Not only the subtle love triangle between Justice, Crow, and Lily was a stumbling block for the Association.
Crow had already been kept off missions for several months.
The Director and Justice had shouldered some of his previous duties, but it wasn't enough to fully fill the void he'd left behind.
"Lily, from now on, don't say things like that to Justice."
"Huh?"
"Justice is getting thrown into more missions in my place. If it weren't for her, we wouldn't have been able to roam around so freely like this."
Crow was educating her on gratitude.
The two, who had stubbornly taken the train all the way to the seaside, spread out a mat on the beach and sat watching the ocean as they talked.
"You get what I'm saying, right?"
"Yes. I'm sorry."
Lily now displayed an extremely obedient attitude toward Crow's words.
She had realized that behaving this way left no reason for Crow to hate her.
"When we get home, I'll apologize to her. I didn't know. I just wanted to hang out with sis..."
"..."
And with a touch of tears on top,
Once she showed that, Crow could no longer continue his lecture.
With his personality that couldn't bear to press a girl who was sniffling and saying she was sorry, their typical conversations ended right there.
Afterward, Crow would usually offer Lily gentle comfort, wondering if he'd been too harsh.
"No, don't cry. I was just letting you know."
From his position as well, he couldn't provoke Lily too severely.
It wasn't as if he could nitpick and dig into every little thing that wasn't a major offense.
Educate where education was due,
But he mustn't give Lily too much stress.
If it truly crossed the line,
He'd gladly step up and get angry,
But Lily had begun slyly toeing only the ambiguous edges, as if she'd found that proper boundary.
"...Now that I think about it again, sis really is amazing. All those people relaxing so comfortably right now can do it because of her, right?"
"Yeah."
"Ah, of course you too, oppa. I watched videos of you in action. You were so cool!"
"Yeah? Well... yeah. I've been slacking off these past few months using you as an excuse, but maybe I'll get back out there someday too?"
There was one thing that could shatter such a Lily's self-control.
It was the emotions Crow revealed.
Lily couldn't quite articulate it, but she reacted keenly to Crow's feelings.
"...Oppa, can I become like you or sis someday too?"
"What?"
It was a rather praiseworthy thing for Lily to say. Crow startled slightly on the sand and cracked a small smile.
"Of course. You might even end up greater than both of us, Lily."
"Then let's go join Justice sis right now. What do you think?"
"No. Sure, that's important too, but right now, you're more important. It's even better getting to relax like this together. I haven't taken a proper vacation in ages."
A faint emptiness peeked through beyond his kind, beautiful smile.
Lily understood its essence perfectly. Even if she couldn't put it into words, she could sense Crow's heart somehow.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
The two smiled in unison,
But they could tell neither smile was genuine.
Aaah-!
It was obvious.
Just seeing Crow react instantly to the screams ringing out nearby made it clear he was harboring boredom or guilt.
"Oppa?"
"Lily, wait here."
Lily had veiled their presence so no one else could perceive them, protecting their time from interruptions,
But in a way that made her power seem for naught, Crow bolted straight toward the screams.
With Lily maintaining her obedient demeanor, the odds of her causing trouble right then were practically zero, so rescuing those in peril took priority.
"Oppa, wait a sec!"
Yet it was entirely understandable for Lily to chase after him.
Without Crow, she felt no real emotion even on this beautiful sandy beach.
The beach's beauty stemmed from
Leaning on Crow's shoulder, which shone more brilliantly still.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Sharp screams began echoing across the beach, swept along by the sea breeze.
One person's cry swelled into a massive uproar blanketing the entire shore,
And as everyone fled from its source, the only ones racing toward it were Crow and Lily.
"P-Please... spare me...!"
The choked pleas for mercy came from up ahead.
A metahuman who appeared to manipulate water. It made perfect sense for them to start rampaging at the beach.
"Finally...!"
Crow shifted into combat readiness at once. With Lily's perception interference field in place, the villain had almost no chance of spotting him.
But before he could even draw his pistol properly,
"Finally, I've awakened to powers! Now all of you di—!"
Pew—
Something flashed a step ahead of him, streaking like lightning and severing her left arm.
"D-Die... Huh...? Aaaaaah!"
The villain flailed in agony she'd never known before, collapsing onto the beach. The five hostages were also whisked safely to the sand by some inexplicable levitation.
Crow stood bewildered by the whirlwind of events,
Until he caught sight of the dainty hand gesture from the petite girl trailing behind him.
"Oppa, I tried doing it like Justice sis."
A burst of energy,
Lily, who had executed it flawlessly, approached Crow with a lovely smile.
As if asking for a head pat,
Shyly tugging at his shorts with one hand.
"Heroes help people like this, right?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The media immediately pressed the Association for comment on the emergence of a new hero.
Some beachgoers fleeing the scene had captured it all on their smartphones,
And Lily's power quickly ignited the internet.
"...You did well."
Perhaps even that had been part of Lily's plan.
She'd flaunted her ability,
While also promoting that she was out and about with Crow.
"But you can't use your powers recklessly. Next time, tell oppa first."
"Okay."
The Association had no choice but to officially recognize Lily. The debut of a new hero always stirred widespread excitement and curiosity.
"Lily, you still did well."
In this turn of events,
Crow had no recourse but to pat Lily's head and head back to headquarters.
It seemed the Director had already dispatched an agent to retrieve them.
Sitting side by side in the back of a high-performance combat vehicle,
The pair leaned quietly, gazing at the passing scenery on their way back.
"Did I do well?"
"Yeah, you did well."
Lily, craving praise,
And Crow, unable to withhold it.
Both were weighing the give and take.
Crow pondered the Association's required stance post-publication of Lily's existence, along with his own path forward,
While Lily daydreamed of the joyful days ahead alongside Crow.
"Guess we'll have to team up from now on."
"I'm happy with anything as long as it's with you, oppa."
A bright, innocent smile,
Yet one that somehow felt rehearsed.
Crow let out a soft sigh as he gently stroked the head of the smiling Lily.
Perhaps, all things considered,
This was for the best.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Envy and jealousy aimed at Justice,
And simultaneously, the desire to emulate Crow.
Amid it all, Lily learned to rein in her powers just enough and began hero work.
She was still young,
But Lily had become an irreplaceable asset for both Crow and the Association.
Her potential was boundless, especially her power's versatility.
No limits existed for such a dreamlike ability. The sheer irrationality of warping surrounding reality turned Lily into an indispensable force.
"Oppa, sis, you all worked hard again today."
"Yeah, you too."
After becoming a proper hero, Lily had undoubtedly matured. Yet she still played the cute little sister role now and then.
"I whipped up some food. Just like you taught me before, oppa."
"...Yeah?"
Both Justice and Crow
Had no choice but to view Lily's growth in a positive light.
She'd seemed on the verge of a massive screw-up any day now.
Yet she'd operated as a hero without a single misstep for five whole years.
If anything, she was near flawless. Her textbook responses and rescues even outshone Crow or Justice at times.
Five years...
Not a mere few months,
Not even a few years,
Five years.
Over that span, Lily became the docile little sister and the ideal hero Crow had hoped for.
"Director aunty!"
"Lily."
Only the Director couldn't shake her unease, always seeking out Lily for talks amid it all.
"Impressive. Lately, it's nothing but praise for you."
"No way. I've still got a long way to go."
The two treated each other with unmatched warmth,
Maintaining that closeness,
But...
"...So, how are things with Crow and Justice these days?"
"All good. Oppa and I are even closer now, and I'm tight with sis too..."
"You've grown up so much. Can't call you my little baby anymore."
The Director's faint suspicion never fully dissipated.
"No, it's nice when Director aunty calls me baby."
Because she loved Lily so dearly,
The Director couldn't help but suspect her just as deeply.
"...Lily."
"Yes?"
"Do you still like oppa?"
"..."
Lily said nothing,
Offering only a gentle smile.
Just like the ones Crow made,
A very gentle smile.
"How's Lily been lately?"
"She looks good."
Whenever Lily stepped out briefly to see the Director,
Crow and Justice conversed in their own awkward dynamic.
"...Lily seems to like you."
It felt off.
They had once explored each other's bodies, offering comfort,
But now they felt even more strained than before.
"Lucky you. So popular."
"Whatever. If you're just gonna tease, go watch TV."
"I'm not teasing."
Justice asked Crow.
The more Lily heroed, the more Crow faced unforeseen dilemmas.
"Are you gonna accept her?"
"...Give it a rest. Lily's my little sister."
Like interlocking gears,
"She's grown up too. It's been five years already. You still don't trust Lily? She's practically an adult now. You can't keep treating her like she used to be. Lily's a hero too these days. Like you or me. Not that kid from back then."
The four of them, entangled, began gaining momentum bit by bit.