~Enji's POV~

Kanami was quiet as I carried her to the campground's showers. The moment I'd seen her return on the back of that delinquent, I'd felt a rage unlike any I'd felt before and a fierce need to protect her. I knew she'd be upset if I acted on it and managed to restrain myself but now there was a new problem. He must have told her what happened to the Vigilante Killers. It wasn't that I had wanted to keep it from her, there just never seemed like a right time to bring it up. First she was injured and healing, all while dealing with the loss of Milan, then she was trying to figure out her place in the family, it was never the right time.

"...why didn't you tell me?" Kanami asked quietly.

I sighed and slowed my pace so we'd have more time to talk, "I wasn't actively trying to keep it from you, it just never seemed like the right time to bring it up."

"What happened?" She asked shakily.

"The vehicle transporting them caught fire, no one was able to make it out in time." I replied.

She grimaced, "...what was the cause of the fire?"

I thought back on the report I read, "it was ruled as an accident due to vehicle malfunction, they've since issued recalls on all other vehicles of that type to make sure it doesn't happen to any others."

Kanami looked pale and there was a sickly green pallor to her skin, "are they sure it was an accident?"

I frowned. When it had first happened Kanami and I were under a little suspicion until they realized that Kanami had been unconscious and at the hospital for three weeks and I had rarely left her side, we both had witnesses to our whereabouts for the entire three weeks she'd been unconscious. "I believe so, yes. Why do you ask?"

She shook her head, "I just had a weird feeling someone was responsible."

"Someone you know?" I pondered.

She froze up, her heterochromatic eyes growing wide. It was reminiscent of the time I'd met her at the resort and asked her who she was to me, there was that same level of terror and guilt. I felt her tremble in my arms.

"Kana?"

"...a f-friend..." She whispered softly.

"You think your friend killed them?" I asked suspiciously. She'd been sheltered, the only people she had contact with were Milan, Rei and Milan's elderly neighbor, though perhaps she could have made a friend while engaging in vigilantism.

She shook her head but said nothing more, she was shivering. I held my tongue not wanting to press the issue further and upset her even more.

As we reached the showers I set her gently on a bench and knelt in front of her to remove her bandages. She had a few new scrapes and there was some dirt dusting her arms and legs looking as if she'd taken a tumble. It didn't seem like she was up for any additional questioning. I watched a few parenting videos recently that said it was good to apologize to your children to let them know it was okay to make mistakes and that parents made them too. Perhaps that would be the better approach now.

"I am sorry for not bringing it up sooner." I spoke softly as I finished removing all of her bandages.

She offered me a small ghost of a smile, "thank you."

I gently tousled her hair before stepping back, "go get cleaned up and I'll bandage you back up."

She took her bag and stiffly made her way to the showers. With a sigh, I dropped onto the bench Kanami had abandoned and waited. My phone started to ring, nearly causing me to jump. I glanced down at the phone and frowned as I realized it was The Hero Public Safety Commission.

I answered the phone, keeping my eye on the entrance to the campground showers to make sure no one went in while Kanami was in there. "What?"

"We're going to make an exception for your daughter. After much debate and reviewing all of her acts as a vigilante, if a hero of our choosing signs off on it, she can get fastracked to obtaining her license. Bring her to my office Monday morning." Madame President stated in a matter of fact manner.

"And why is she not waiting to take the test that will be held within the next few months?" I pondered.

"Given the current state of things, the attack on UA at the USJ, the Hosu incident and The League of Villains making bold moves in public at shopping centers, we could use all the help we can get and her track record is impressive." Madame President admitted.

"Alright. We'll be there." I hung up as I saw Kanami, freshly showered and wearing a cute powder blue dress with snowbunnies hopping along the bottom hem of the dress. Her hair was damp and her knee and elbow were still bleeding though not nearly as badly as before.

"Are you alright?" She asked curiously.

I must have revealed some frustration from the call on my face, "I got a call from The Hero Public Safety Commission."

She paled a little as she dropped onto the bench beside me. "About?"

"They're willing to fast track you getting your hero license. We'll be meeting with them Monday morning and apparently if the hero of their choosing signs off, you can get your license." I looked at her carefully, "if you want? It would also be alright if you wanted to take a break and wait." She'd been through a lot and given the President's reasoning for fast tracking her license, things were only going to get worse.

"I'd like to get my license." She smiled.

I nodded and opened the first aid kit to tend to her wounds and the various new scrapes lining her arms and legs from some kind of tumble she must have taken in the woods. Once I was finished getting her patched up she leapt to her feet and offered me a bright smile.

"Thanks for taking care of me." She beamed.

I couldn't help but smile back at her. How different would life have been if Kana had never been spirited away? I reached out and gently tousled her hair causing a giggle to escape her.

"Can you walk on your own or would you like to be carried?" I asked.

"Is it okay if I say carried even though I can walk on my own?" She asked.

I chuckled, "yes."

"Carried please." She grinned.

I smiled and turned my back to her so she could hop on. My heart felt light as she leapt onto my back with a giggle. As I headed in the direction of our campsite I caught sight of a young man with dark hair ducking into the tree line. I didn't get a good look at him but something in that brief moment where our eyes met felt familiar. I strained to see beyond the trees but he'd disappeared.

"Dad?" Kanami pulled me back.

"Yes?"

"Today was a lot of fun. Do you think we can all go camping again?" She asked hopefully.

"If everyone else wants to, I don't see why not." I smiled.