An Unexpected Accident
An unexpected accident.
Kylun takes a hit from the giant's attack, leaving a diagonal scar as he hurtles toward the ground.
"Kylun!"
He'd normally smash into the pavement, but there's an S-rank hero with him now.
True to her rank, she charges at the falling Kylun.
She closes the distance at a speed that rips the air apart.
And takes the impact in his place.
Boom!
A thunderous crash like colliding with the earth kicks up a dust cloud around them.
The B-rank hero, frozen in shock at the sudden mishap, shouts.
"Nova! Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine!"
Despite the massive impact, Nova looks unscathed.
Her high-tech suit tears in places where it couldn't hold up against her tougher body, but no serious injuries.
Cough... cough...
Kylun spits up blood too, but it's not a fatal blow.
"You blocked it with your arm in that split second? Thank god..."
Nova lets out a sigh of relief.
She'd worried for a moment she might lose her childhood friend, but Kylun's skills seem solid after all.
"Feels like something's broken..."
She gently lays the passed-out Kylun on the ground.
"You dare mess up my childhood friend like this?"
She unleashes her pent-up rage without holding back.
Grrr...
Even the massive monster cowers under the S-rank hero's killing intent for a moment.
But it charges at the approaching hero, trusting in its size and strength.
"Hey, you stay back."
"Y-yes, ma'am...!"
Nova does a quick stretch.
Each pop of her trained joints sends energy surging through her body.
Huuu...
She pulls her leg back slightly.
Groooaaar!!!
"Die!!!!"
With an explosive leap, she obliterates the monster in one kick.
A slight downward side kick turns it into a pulped mess of meat.
...
It dies instantly, without even a scream.
Huuu...
Heat radiates from her body as she cools down the surging energy.
-Whoa...
The B-rank hero, who had wisely backed off to watch, is in awe.
He feels the gap in prowess between S-ranks and the rest down to his bones.
"Oh, right! Kylun!!!"
The encounter ends with her rushing back to check on her fallen sidekick.
His eyes flutter open.
Bright lights.
And... no feeling in his arm.
"H-he's awake!"
"Nova?"
"I really thought you were done for, you idiot."
He rubs his head groggily, as if slowly waking from sleep.
"There was this huge monster..."
"Yeah, you nearly bit it."
Ahem.
The doctor standing behind clears his throat.
"Oh, this is the Hero Association's head physician. Technically my dedicated medical team, but anyway."
"Save the intros for later. I need to give you your diagnosis first."
It's a bit surreal watching the doctor cut in on his own introduction.
Come to think of it, he has no idea how bad his condition is.
His arm won't move at all—has to be serious, right?
"Don't worry, it's not that bad."
"Feels pretty bad when I can't even move my arm."
"Because your arm's completely shattered."
"Ah..."
By normal standards, that's a major injury.
But in the Hero Association, this barely counts.
"You took a direct hit from that giant monster, right? That was excellent handling for your current level."
Getting praised for the fight by a doctor feels weirdly good.
"If you hadn't blocked with your arm, your head would've been smashed in by now, and you'd be in major surgery."
"Ugh..."
Just imagining it draws a groan from him.
"No worries about your arm, though. The Association's tech is top-tier. No lingering issues if we set the bones right."
"That's a relief."
"Yes, but..."
But?
More bad news incoming.
"We should let it heal naturally as much as possible. So you'll be laid up like this for a few weeks."
"What? Can't you just fix it?"
Nova butts in.
Hero industry folks even chat differently in hospital rooms.
"Emergency regen device? You know those are reserved for emergencies, right?"
"Ugh... And this injury takes weeks?"
Nova's still talking nonsense.
She crosses her arms, striking a know-it-all pose.
"Isn't that too long?"
"...That's short for an Awakener."
"For this kind of injury, a week tops—"
"By your standards?"
"...Oh, right."
She must've forgotten she gets treated here all the time.
"S-rank body enhancement recovery... even copied, we can't absorb it instantly."
"Yeah, guess so."
Man, what a way to kick off my hero career.
KO'd by one monster hit on my first mission.
"Rest up, patient."
"Sorry... for screwing up right out the gate."
"Nothing to apologize for. I pushed you too hard anyway..."
She brushes back her short hair, gaze drifting away.
She looks genuinely sorry.
"Shouldn't have thrown an A-rank threat at you for your first go."
Guilt eating at her.
"It's fine. I got cocky after landing one hit and pissed it off."
"Yeah... When you get out, I'll treat you to something nice."
"Make it the most expensive."
"You got it. Who do you think I am?"
She used to cap the price back in the day, but now she's got the cash to splurge.
Things have really changed.
Wait.
"In this state, what about my phone or laptop?"
"No way."
"......"
"Should've blocked with my leg if I knew."
Whether out of guilt or because he's her childhood friend, Nova visits Kylun's room often.
"Hey! Holding up?"
"Not sure about 'well,' but the facilities make it bearable."
She's as energetic as ever in her greetings.
Kylun's gotten used to the bum arm by now.
Private room with TV—can't complain.
Still plenty of annoyances.
"Lemme see... Cast still on?"
"H-hold on..."
Kylun panics as she shoves her body right up close.
Calm down. Calm down.
Washing and eating? Machines or helpers handle it.
Machine baths are awkward, but better than nurses.
One unsolved issue, though.
Can't relieve the buildup here.
No way to jerk off with this arm.
Calling a girl to this room? Insane.
B-breasts...!
And this oblivious beauty shoves her chest in his face.
The more he notices her healthy, revealing figure, the more provocatively stimulating Nova's body feels.
"What? Mad I haven't visited lately?"
"N-no, it's not that...!"
"Heeey, c'mon!"
She mashes her breasts against his face.
Is your brain still in elementary school...!
Kylun curses inwardly.
He strains to keep blood from rushing downstairs.
Nova seems totally unaware of her grown-up body.
She aggressively grinds her lewd curves against him.
"Heey...! Heeey... Uh..."
Even Nova, fooling around with her body, finally notices.
......♡
A massive tent pitching hard against his patient gown.
Nova goes speechless for a second.
Damn...
Kylun can tell where her eyes are locked.
Wonder what she'll tease me with this time.
He vows payback for whatever ribbing comes.
"D-definitely..."
But Nova's reaction is unexpected.
He braced for a smirk and mockery, but her face is flushed, eyes dodging his.
"Definitely... guys get backed up if they can't take care of it for too long, huh...?"
He flusters at her sudden shift.
But her next words blow that away.
"S-speaking of... yeah, my fault, right?"
She asks without meeting his eyes, all shy.
"I-if it's bugging you a lot... want me to help a little...?"
Beat around the bush all she wants—it's an offer to do it for him.
"Y-you're serious...?"
To Kylun, it sounds too good to be true, like more teasing.
But Nova, having seen their future, isn't joking.
"Th-then... could you...?"
The thought of a beauty servicing him makes his tent swell even bigger.
Nova's eyes stay glued to the outline, not budging.