Chapter 26: No Way I'm Going With You
Akio Tatsuma had reached the first stage of internal energy training, which meant his senses were far sharper than an ordinary person's.
The moment he heard the Pro Hero calling for backup, his expression changed.
This was bad.
He had only been in Japan for a short time. If Pro Heroes started tracking him now, before he had even begun making real moves, everything would become a mess.
He had to get out immediately.
If more powerful Pro Heroes arrived, escaping would become much harder.
Akio adjusted the airflow around his body and glided toward the river he had passed earlier. The riverside was remote, with fewer people around—perfect for disappearing.
But just as he reached the bank, a black shadow lunged at him.
Akio twisted the air beneath his feet and shifted aside, narrowly avoiding the attack. Only after landing did he get a clear look at the person standing before him.
"Kamui Woods?"
He was genuinely surprised.
Why was Kamui Woods here so quickly? Had that earlier Pro Hero already contacted nearby support?
Standing atop an abandoned boat, Kamui Woods looked down at him.
"You seem suspicious. Stop resisting and come with me."
Akio paused, then asked calmly, "Did I commit a crime?"
Kamui Woods hesitated for a moment.
"…Not exactly. But you are suspicious, and we need to investigate."
Akio shook his head.
"Sorry. I can't cooperate with that."
As if he'd willingly go back and let them investigate him. If that happened, everything about him might be exposed.
Kamui Woods leaped into the air at once, both hands thrusting forward.
Wooden tendrils shot out from his fingers like twisting roots, dozens of them racing toward Akio.
"Preemptive bind — Lacquered Chain Prison!"
For a newly active Pro Hero, Kamui Woods really was impressive. The wooden restraints were fast, flexible, and came from multiple angles at once.
But Akio only raised his left hand.
The air in front of him seemed to harden instantly.
Kamui Woods' wooden restraints stopped dead in place, blocked by a compressed wall of airflow.
Kamui Woods' expression changed.
"What is this…?"
He had never encountered a Quirk like this before.
Akio glanced into the distance.
Three or four more figures were already rushing toward the riverbank.
He could not afford to get dragged into a prolonged fight.
"Don't run!" Kamui Woods shouted.
But it was too late.
Akio turned and dived straight into the river.
By the time Death Arms arrived, Akio had already vanished beneath the surface.
Underwater, Akio shaped the air around his body and moved through the river like a fish.
Air Manipulation was far more than just controlling wind.
Air contained oxygen, nitrogen, and trace gases. Akio could create a vacuum, generate pressure, form violent currents, and redirect flow however he wanted.
Against many elemental Quirks, this ability was terrifying.
Flames could be snuffed out instantly.
Other attacks could be blocked with compressed air or redirected with violent shifts in pressure.
Standing at the river's edge, Death Arms stared at the water below.
"He got away?"
Kamui Woods landed beside him, his expression serious.
"This may be worse than we thought. His Quirk is extremely strong. He can manipulate airflow—or something very close to it. My restraints were completely useless against him."
Death Arms frowned.
"When did someone like that show up in this area? Is he an enemy or an ally?"
"I don't know," Kamui Woods said. "But if he wanted to attack me just now, I don't think I could have stopped him. He chose to leave instead."
One of the other Pro Heroes behind them spoke up.
"Maybe he just panicked when he saw reinforcements arriving."
Kamui Woods shook his head.
"No. Someone with that level of ability wouldn't panic that easily. Even if the four of us fought together, I'm not sure we could beat him."
That assessment stunned the others.
There were four Pro Heroes here, and none of them were weak. Ordinary criminals and villains would never stand a chance against that kind of response.
Death Arms' expression grew more serious.
"We report this immediately. Then alert the nearby agencies too. Something feels wrong."
The group left soon after.
Half an hour later, Akio emerged in a deserted area far downstream.
Not even a trace of water clung to his body, as if he had never entered the river at all.
"That was closer than I would've liked," he muttered.
He really had gone out tonight intending to help people, only to end up nearly being hunted by Pro Heroes.
Still, considering how he had dressed, suspicion had been unavoidable.
The trip had not been a complete waste, though.
He had received 50 Save Points from the mohawked thief he had stopped earlier.
And another 50 Save Points from the woman whose bag had been stolen.
The system clearly counted both the criminal being stopped and the victim being helped.
In a much better mood, Akio headed toward a familiar ramen shop.
After taking off his black cloak, he entered Qianweimen Ramen and sat down.
"Boss, one bowl of seafood ramen."
"Coming right up!" the owner called back cheerfully.
The chubby owner always seemed happy to see him. Akio came often enough that the man had started treating him like a regular.
As Akio settled into his usual seat, he replayed the earlier encounter in his head.
Kamui Woods really was strong.
Even though Akio had blocked his signature technique with airflow, doing so had not been easy.
Thinking back on it now, he still felt a chill.
If Kamui Woods had managed to bind him, Akio would have been forced to use his lightning openly to break free. And once that happened, it would only be a matter of time before someone traced the Quirk back to him.
There were not many lightning users around.
And there definitely weren't many at U.A.
"Here you go."
The owner set the steaming bowl down with a grin.
"Didn't see you the last couple of days."
"School started," Akio replied, inhaling the rich aroma rising from the broth. "Been busy."
The bowl looked incredible.
Bright shrimp, rich slices of pork, glossy noodles, and broth fragrant enough to make him forget the rest of the night.
The owner laughed.
"So you really did get into U.A.? I thought you were exaggerating."
Akio glanced up at him.
"Do I not look like a U.A. student?"
The owner rubbed his chin as if thinking hard.
"Hmm. Not really."
Akio rolled his eyes.
"Go make your noodles."
The owner burst out laughing.
"Alright, alright. Here—this one's on me."
He set a bottled drink beside the bowl.
"Congratulations."
Akio looked at the drink, then at the owner.
He knew the man liked money, but he was still a decent person.
Akio picked up his chopsticks.
"Thanks."
Then he lowered his head and started eating.
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