"Hahaha!"
Arthur paused for a second after hearing Melissa's answer, then started laughing.
Melissa blinked, totally confused about why he was laughing.
Another big reason Arthur didn't want to be a hero was that way too many people in this world were full of themselves.
Even if you saved people as a hero, there were still countless people picking apart everything you did.
If 100 people were trapped and someone saved 99 of them, the public wouldn't praise you for saving those 99. They'd criticize you for not saving the last one.
If you couldn't save everyone, then you might as well not save anyone.
Arthur didn't really care what people thought, but it grossed him out.
So grossed out that if anyone dared say something like that to him, he'd break their neck.
Honestly, even in Class A, some people might say stuff like that. Those justice-obsessed types were usually the ones Arthur hated the most.
If Melissa had criticized him for not saving everyone else too, he would've given her some unforgettable memories on the spot.
"Did... did I say something funny?"
Melissa still didn't get it. Her big eyes were full of confusion.
"No, nothing."
Arthur suddenly pinched her chin, leaned close to her face, and looked at her. "I just realized you're very pretty."
"Eh!?"
Melissa's face turned red, and she took two steps back instinctively.
She awkwardly ran her hand through her long golden hair and forcefully changed the subject. "But, but unfortunately, that robber got away..."
Boom!
The second she finished speaking, something suddenly fell from high up about twenty meters in front of them.
It almost flattened a van parked on the street.
"Oh!?"
Melissa was startled and jogged over to look.
The Quirk user, whose hands and feet had turned into wings and bird claws, was lying unconscious on the dented van roof, clutching a plastic bag full of cash.
Wasn't that the robber who just flew out of Walmart?
The crowd around them erupted in noise.
But what surprised Melissa even more was the ice pick stuck in one of the robber's wings.
Just like last night.
What was going on?
Melissa turned to look at Arthur. No doubt it had something to do with him.
But Arthur didn't have an ice Quirk.
His opponent in the U.A. Sports Festival finals, though, did use ice.
"Let's go. I only have half a day left to hang out."
Arthur walked over and took Melissa's hand.
But this time, he didn't just pull her along. He held her hand and didn't let go.
Melissa's shock quickly got replaced by embarrassment.
Americans were usually more open, but her openness was only in personality, not romance.
In half a day, they visited most of Hawaii's famous spots.
Melissa still didn't get why he got so much friendlier after she said that one sentence.
Did she hit a nerve?
But faced with Arthur getting more and more touchy, first holding hands, then putting his arm around her waist, then touching her chin. Melissa blushed and barely managed to refuse, saying she absolutely couldn't.
After a few hours, she just let him do whatever.
Too bad Arthur had to take a private jet back to Tokyo that night.
With a flight over ten hours, he'd get there just in time for class.
As the sun set, Arthur was about to Board the private jet and return to Japan.
Melissa smoothed her bangs, thought about the day, and smiled softly. "Arthur, I'll come visit you sometime."
"Thanks."
Arthur smiled and gently touched Melissa's chin with his right index finger.
That move reminded her of scenes from a bunch of romance movies.
Panic flashed in her eyes, but after a few seconds, she closed her eyes and slightly puckered her lips.
Arthur was caught off guard. He'd only meant to give her a peck on the forehead at most.
This girl was easier to win over than he thought.
"Young master, please get ready to board."
Just as Arthur was about to make his next move, the voice of a Yaoyorozu family bodyguard came from behind him.
"Eek!"
Melissa got startled and quickly stepped back two steps. Remembering what she just did, she lowered her head, almost burying her face in her chest.
If it were Kyoka Jiro, she'd probably only be able to see her own toes.
Arthur turned to look. The group of black-suited Yaoyorozu bodyguards felt a chill run down their spines.
"What did you see?"
Arthur's tone was flat, but that only made the bodyguards more terrified.
"We, we, we just got here!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we just arrived!"
"We didn't see anything!"
"We didn't see anything!"
"It's just that U.A. classes start tomorrow, and it's almost time, so we came to remind you."
"Do... do you need the plane to wait a bit longer?"
The bodyguards said nervously.
"No need. I'm going now."
Arthur waved his hand, feeling a bit annoyed.
The bodyguards quickly hurried back, looking relieved.
"Arthur..."
Melissa had barely composed herself, her voice full of reluctance.
"I had a good time with you."
Arthur took Melissa's hand, kissed the back of it, and then turned to leave.
Honestly, he didn't think he'd have any more contact with this girl.
In his past life, Arthur thought long-distance relationships were impossible, let alone international ones.
Standing by the airport window watching Arthur's private jet take off, Melissa bit her lip. After a long while, she opened her phone and set a picture of herself and Arthur as her wallpaper.
Beep beep beep~
Just then, Melissa's phone rang. The caller ID said: Dad.
"Hello, Dad!"
"Hey, Melissa, why aren't you back yet?"
A middle-aged man's voice came through the phone.
"I'll be back soon. What's up?"
Melissa wiped tears from her eyes and walked back.
"Didn't I tell you? Next month we're inviting All Might to I-Island. You can pick him up, right? Aren't you excited to meet him?"
The middle-aged man laughed.
Melissa pouted. After what happened today, she didn't feel that excited anymore.
Note: Best wingman award goes to Pet Shop
...
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guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
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