~Kanami's POV~

I was lying on the sofa in the living room hugging the plush cat, a cute calico cat with bright green eyes, that my father had given me. Mr. Torino had come over so we could play some games together while I rested. I had a feeling it was more so he could keep an eye on me and make sure I was actually resting.

The news broadcast we were watching suddenly paused, the screen went dark for a moment before it flickered with static then it showed a dark room with a masked figure entirely obscured in shadow off to the side and a decently known vigilante by the name of Starboy, his arms bound and hung above his head dangling from a hook on the ceiling. A spotlight shone down on Starboy causing the glitter in his costume to sparkle in the light.

Starboy was a decent vigilante though at times he did seem more concerned with his image and getting the perfect shot to post on his social media page that he managed himself. Was this some kind of new stunt he was trying to pull because his ratings had started to drop?

"What's going on?" I looked to Mr. Torino worried. Starboy was slumped in a way that he didn't look conscious.

"I don't know." He tried to change the channel but the TV wouldn't respond.

"I interrupt your scheduled programming with this public service announcement." A strange robotic voice sounded across the screen. "A message to all the vigilante's out there. We have enough legal false heroes, we don't need any illegal ones, none of you are safe."

I felt a shudder run down my spine. Starboy was in danger and I was too injured to do anything more than watch.

"I'll provide some clues at the bottom of your screen. Maybe if you decipher them, a real hero can save him." The robotic voice continued. "Let's unmask the vigilante Starboy, shall we?" The shadowy figure took a step closer to the vigilante dangling from the hook and reached up and wrenched his golden mask off. He was a young man in his mid twenties with curly dark hair.

Starboy appeared to be unconscious.

The obscured figure slapped him hard across the face to rouse him. Mr. Torino got on his phone quickly. I faintly heard him speak to someone named Toshinori. I looked at the clues on the screen urging my brain to act quickly. I had to figure this out and send help to him right away. The clues made it sound like a well known tourist spot.

"Mr. Torino! There's coordinates!" I urged him to look at the screen as a set of coordinates flashed across the screen.

He gave them to Toshinori before hanging up.

Starboy woke up on screen and began thrashing around trying to fight his bonds. "What's going on?! Why are you doing this?!" He activated his quirk but it was just a glow quirk, he used it to distract villains so civilians could flee and authorities could make arrests.

I prayed that whoever Toshinori was, he'd make it in time.

"I'm tired of you fools pretending to be heroes. Either become a real hero or call yourself villains, that's all you are and you'll all be unmasked and eliminated if you do not retire." The robotic voice got louder as the obscured figure held what looked like a katana.

"NO!" Starboy screamed, "somebody help! HELP!"

"Retire or die vigilantes!" The robotic voice shouted.

"NO! PLEASE! HELP!" Starboy shrieked in terror.

"Kana, look away!" Mr. Torino yelled as the obscured figure swung the blade. I watched in horror as the blade pierced Starboy through the throat before the stream ended and the TV returned to its normal programming.

My hands shook.

"Kana?" Mr. Torino placed his hand in mine.

He killed a man in cold blood, and broadcast it. I felt like I was going to be sick.

"Kana?" Mr. Torino squeezed my hand, "you're shaking."

I was. I was shaking with rage. I'd find this vigilante killer and turn him in to the authorities.

Mr. Torino looked away from me as his phone rang. He hesitated.

"I'm okay...answer it." I hugged the cat plush close. It was the only thing that was able to provide me any comfort right now.

Mr. Torino stepped away, speaking in hushed tones. He frowned after a moment and hung up. "There was nothing at the coordinates."

It clicked then. The clues were a false hope, but they weren't entirely useless. It was a breadcrumb for a vigilante to follow. "It's where he's going to dump the body." I said softly. It's where he was planning to pick up his next victim.

Mr. Torino pondered it for a moment before calling his friend back. He returned after a moment and sat beside me. "What makes you think that's where he's going to dump the body."

"It's a breadcrumb, so he can take another victim." My voice shook. "Vigilantes want to help people and fight crime, he gave a clue, they're sure to sniff around."

Mr. Torino smiled after a moment, "you've got a good head for this stuff, have you ever considered pursuing a career?"

I shook my head, "Milan hates heroes."

He frowned, "yeah, I suppose she does, but she'd never hate you."

My phone started to ring. It was my mother. I hesitated.

Sensing my hesitation, Mr. Torino went to make lunch, giving me some privacy.

"Mama? Is everything okay?" I answered the phone quietly.

"Kanami. I saw something scary on the TV and I just had to make sure you were okay." Her voice was soothing and just what I needed to hear.

"I saw it too." I hugged the plush cat tighter.

"You're not-?" She began but cut off. "Promise me you'll be careful, the world is getting scarier every day."

"I'll be careful, Mama." I sniffled.

"I love you, Kanami."

"I love you too, Mama." I cried.

I heard a knock in the background on my mother's end of the line, "I have to go, I'll call you again soon." She hung up.

I wrapped my arms around myself. Would we ever get to be a family? Would any of them accept me? Sometimes it felt like mom wanted me to be kept a secret so she could have me all to herself in these rare secret moments. I lived for the few seconds I'd get to hear her voice and felt lost nearly every other moment of the day.

"Kana-chan?" Mr. Torino's voice shook me from my pity party.

I looked over at him through tear filled eyes. "I'm going to take a walk."

He looked out the window, it was snowing, but nothing too intense. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"I won't go far. I just need some fresh air." I promised.

"Alright. Be careful." He reluctantly agreed.

I pulled a coat on to keep me dry and grabbed my crutches before making my way to the door. I awkwardly stepped into my boots, made sure my headscarf was secure and made my way to the park near the house. On bad days, I often went to the park. They had public Shogi tables. I'd often set up the board and pretend to play a game with my father. I'd be moving pieces for both sides and I was sure I'd probably made several people very sad or very concerned if they ever happened to stumble upon me.

I reached the Shogi table and dusted the snow off the top before setting up the board and dropping into the uncomfortable stone chair. I pondered my first move for a moment before placing a piece. I reached over to move one from the opposing side only to freeze as I spotted a large hand in my way. Hesitantly, I looked upward and my heart skipped as I spotted my father sitting at the table across from me.

"H-Hi." I gaped at him.

"Kana." He nodded over at me before placing his piece.

Were we actually playing a game of Shogi together? I pondered my next move. Mr. Torino described my play style as aggressive but effective. Would that work against my father? I looked at the piece he'd moved, it was a pretty aggressive first move, so was mine. Did we have similar play styles?

I placed another piece and felt my heart lighten as he looked to be considering my move and nodding his approval. I fought to conceal a smile.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" I asked nervously, afraid I'd break the illusion and realize that's all this was.

"I was patrolling nearby and came here to think." He shrugged. "I used to train near here when I was younger." He indicated the peak further up. Years ago it had all burned away but life was starting to return up there.

I felt happy that we had chosen the same place to train. I trained up there when I needed to work on my fire quirk so I wouldn't hurt anyone by accident.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be resting?" He placed another piece. I smiled, it was an aggressive play but I knew the perfect counter.

"I was scared." I answered honestly without even realizing it before placing my counter move.

His piercing eyes flicked upward meeting my gaze. He held my gaze for a long moment. "Unless you're engaging in vigilante acts, I think you're safe from the vigilante killer."

I averted my gaze, "...it doesn't make it any less scary..."

"No, I suppose it doesn't." He agreed before realizing the counter I'd used against him. His lips quirked slightly before he placed another piece. He was playing less aggressively now and paying careful attention to each piece.

"What did you come here to think about?" I asked curiously.

"A nuisance." He grumbled frowning as he realized I was only three turns away from checking him.

"A nuisance?" I asked with a frown.

"Yes. An annoying vigilante who mocks me at every turn."

"Mocks you?" I pondered.

"Copying my moves, stealing my assignments, making me look bad. Mocking me." He grumbled.

"Are you sure they don't just admire you and want to help you?" I asked as I placed my piece before grinning, "check."

I saw him pondering his choices, he had two but neither would end in his victory, just draw out his defeat. He worked it out quickly, how I would counter each of his attempts. He smiled, a very rare smile.

"Impressive. How old are you?" He asked after a moment.

"Fourteen."

He looked thoughtful as he helped me clear the board and put the pieces away. The snow started to pick up. "Come on, I'll walk you home."

"You don't have to do that...it's not far." I attempted to protest.

"Then it won't be that much of an inconvenience." He waited for me to gather my crutches and matched my pace as we walked. "Why on earth does a fourteen year old girl know how to play Shogi so well?"

"It's my favorite game...well it's tie between that and Go, but Mr. Torino says I play Go too aggressively." I giggled.

"Those are my favorites too." He said distantly before snorting at my other comment, "if it's half as aggressive as your Shogi game, all your opponents are in trouble."

I smiled.

We walked in silence for a moment before I turned to him. He paused.

"About the broadcast." I said quietly.

"Put it out of your mind." He grumbled.

"The coordinates he gave...I think they're meant to be where he intends to dump the body....as a way for him to pick up his next victim." I said quietly.

He stared down at me, his gaze flicking to the bandage on my neck then to my leg I was no longer putting weight on, specifically my thigh that was covered by my dress and jacket. His lips pulled into a tight frown. "I'll pass the idea along to the proper authorities to do with as they see fit."

I nodded and resumed walking slowly. He was pensive as we walked. I could feel him studying my every move and felt nervousness twist my stomach into knots. He was so suspicious of me. Was he piecing things together? Was I about to be found out.

His hand twitched and I panicked thinking he was going to test me by throwing fire at me, my crutch hit a patch of ice and slipped forward, throwing me off balance as I'd been putting all of my weight on the crutches. I fell toward the ground with a squeak. My father caught me by the arm with ease and righted me gently. He waited until I got my crutches back in a steady position before releasing me from his hold.

On the bright side it seemed my clumsiness alleviated some of his suspicions as he shook his head and resumed walking.