Chapter 4: Ice-Snow Hero – Yukiko②

I figured it might happen, but I didn’t expect to meet him again that same day.

Talk about fast flag collection.

After changing out of my bloodstained, shredded clothes and walking down the street, I got caught up in another hero-villain fight.

Last time it was two days in a row, but this time it was twice in the same day. The frequency just keeps going up. My bad luck is worrying, but honestly, this city’s safety is even more worrying.

The last thing I saw was the back of the man who slide in right in front of me.

Literally. Freezing the road beneath him, sliding along it, the man in a hero suit stood between me and the villain. Since the villain was close, he must’ve jumped in to shield me.

That’s all I remember, because the next instant I was frozen solid.

That wasn’t the villain’s doing.

I only caught a glimpse, but the villain looked like some rat-man with round ears and a long tail. He was absurdly fast on his feet, with good hearing—a sort of information broker type. I’d seen him a couple times before.

"…What do I do… my hero career’s over… no, worse, I’m a murderer…"

When I wake up, I was being thawed out with running water.

In an unfamiliar bathtub, a shower spraying down on my head. Parts of me were still frozen, but I was regaining consciousness.

"Relax. At worst it’s attempted murder."

I spoke up to the man clutching his head and muttering in despair, and he toppled over screaming.

"Gyaahhh! The corpse spoke!!"

"Rude, bastard. I’m alive."

"That’s even scarier!!"

"Now that’s really rude. You’re the one who froze me."

I grumbled shamelessly, though my regeneration still hadn’t caught up, and I was half-dead. Shivering from the cold, teeth chattering. The man in front of me looked just as pale as I did and was shaking even worse. What the hell.

"Too damn cold, pour hotter water on me."

"Y-Yes! Right away!"

He obeyed at once.

It was too hot at first, so I had him adjust it until it was just right. Eventually I ended up soaking in the bath at a comfortable temperature. Still clothed, which was a problem. But the bigger problem was that I was bathing in a stranger’s tub.

"So? Why the hell’d you turn me into an ice statue? You some freaky villain with that kind of hobby?"

"No! I’m sorry!"

Turns out, the reason was nothing but a mistake.

If it weren’t me, a normal person would’ve just frozen to death. Basically, accidental homicide. Superpowers come with accidents like that sometimes. Makes you wonder if that’s how some villains started out in the first place.

"Let me guess, you just awakened to your powers recently and can’t control them?"

"No, I’ve had them since birth…"

"…Seriously?"

I was dumbfounded, but the man scrambled to explain.

"I got inspired by Raiden and started hero work! But I’ve almost never used my power this big before, so I’m not used to it! I really am sorry!!"

"You think apologizing’s enough to excuse murder? …Fine, I’ll let it slide."

"Right, of course, wait—you will!?"

I nodded, satisfied. Perfect setup and punchline.

I like people with good timing. I’m laid-back myself, so someone who can keep up casually is just right.

"I’ll forgive you for your solid comeback skills. Don’t let it happen again."

"Yes…! Thank you so much…!"

Normally people don’t get killed twice, so the whole "don’t kill me again" conversation shouldn’t exist. But in a world with superhumans, it does.

There still aren’t many people openly coming out as superhuman, but thanks to Raiden, more are starting to. The laws still aren’t catching up to deal with heroes and villains, but society seems to be changing bit by bit.

Because of Raiden, being a hero has become almost as realistic a dream job as being a YouTuber. Whether YouTuber is a realistic dream is another matter. Heroes are still unpaid for now, so it’s not exactly a career.

"Still, with a power that cool, you should try harder. Ice is badass. What’s his name again? That promising newbie hero that popped up recently also had ice powers, right?"

"…That newbie is me."

"What!?"

The rising new hero: Yukiko Sekko.

He’d just appeared, but already was considered the second most popular hero after Raiden.

He freezes villains with his ice powers. After the battle, he vanishes immediately—a professional type.

Unlike Raiden, who chats during fights, gives interviews, and has a sort of comedic vibe, Yukiko was a different breed. With his mysterious aura, he’d gained idol-like popularity—or so I’d heard.

But now, with his costume from the neck down matching perfectly, his mask lying on the bathroom floor, the man before me seemed worlds apart from that image.

"I heard you were a cool, stoic, handsome hero!?"

"You can’t tell if someone’s handsome when they’re masked!!"

"True enough… but honestly, I think your face is pretty well put together."

By face alone, he was attractive. Stay quiet, and he’d look like a calm, reliable guy. Someone who could handle himself at work.

Maybe he had European blood, with blue eyes, a sharp nose, and a lean but muscular build. Just on looks, the guy had plenty of potential to be popular. Kind of irritating, really.

…Wait. I’ve already seen a hero’s real face here. In American comics, the mask-off reveal usually happens way later. Are we even supposed to be doing this on the first meeting?