Chapter 62: Dreaming Girl – Usui Yura②

I turned back toward Usui-chan, who was calmly smoking a cigarette.

At the moment of impact I had pulled Yura-chan into my arms, but now we were apart again.

I frowned, wearing a look that clearly said I wasn’t happy about it.

"Should’ve just handed the medicine to Mio. Don’t push yourself so hard, old man."

"And if I don’t push myself now, when else am I supposed to?"

"…Fair point."

I almost added, That was pretty cool, you know, but then Yura-chan shifted uncomfortably in my arms.

Yeah, time to let her go. I released my grip on the railing, and Yura-chan immediately spun toward Usui-chan.

"If you were alive, then SAY SOMETHING!!"

"Ugh—"

Her fist slammed straight into Usui-chan’s solar plexus—a clean, perfect straight punch.

"Ooh, nice punch."

"Yeah, real talent there. Promising future!"

Next to me, Raiden gave a big thumbs-up. Was it really okay to be endorsing violence like that?

Then again, heroes fought villains with violence. Maybe it was fine.

And Usui-chan was technically a villain.

Since he could turn his body into smoke, a punch from a little girl shouldn’t have hurt him. Which meant he took it on purpose. Nothing to worry about, then.

Raiden nodded earnestly.

"Especially since she didn’t tuck her thumb inside her fist—less chance of hurting herself. Has someone been teaching you? Doesn’t look like martial arts, though."

"My mom taught me directly!"

Yura-chan’s enthusiastic reply even impressed me.

"Usui-chan, you’ve got good taste in women."

"…Thanks, I guess."

So Yura-chan really was Usui-chan’s daughter. Looking closely, their faces did resemble each other.

And that line—"If you were alive, then say something"—Yura-chan herself explained what she meant.

"When Mama died and I was wondering how I was supposed to go on… then I was told Papa had died too—do you even know how I felt!?"

"I’m sorry."

"Then I heard rumors you’d become a villain! And suddenly I got kidnapped! Tied up! Nearly killed!"

…Maybe I should cover my ears. I hadn’t meant to get dragged this deep into their family drama.

But Yura-chan was tougher than I’d imagined.

Hard to believe she was the daughter of a half-assed guy like Haze Fog.

Maybe she took after her mother. Or maybe she learned what not to do from Usui-chan. Probably both.

Yura-chan wiped away the faintest trace of tears and bowed deeply to us. Considering what she’d just been through, her composure was incredible.

"Thank you so much for saving me."

"Don’t mention it."

Hearing Raiden say that so casually made me grin.

So this was how parents felt watching their kids grow?

Man, he really was starting to act like a proper hero.

"Um! Inori-san, what’s your hero name!?"

Her eyes sparkled as she asked. I instinctively exchanged glances with Raiden. Wait… was she looking up to me?

Raiden had worked his ass off, yet somehow the admiration was aimed at me. And I hadn’t even done anything.

"I don’t have one. I’m a secret hero. So Yura-chan, keep me under wraps, okay?"

"…Yes! I’ll take this secret to my grave! I’ll never forget the debt I owe you!"

"Seriously, don’t sweat it. I barely did anything."

"So cool…!"

I caught Usui-chan’s eyes.

Did I just do something bad for this kid’s upbringing? Was it really okay for her to admire me?

I wasn’t being modest—objectively, I hadn’t done much.

All I did was act as a human shield for Yura-chan, and I wasn’t even needed for that.

No way simple exposure could make her attach to me that fast.

"So… what now? Old man’s still got skills, so I could just go back to my old crew and fit right in."

"Yeah, they’re always short on manpower. Not just that—you really are pretty competent, Usui-chan."

They had their hostage back. Which meant Usui-chan no longer had to bow to Delta’s demands.

That was a relief for me too. If this turned into another D.E.T.O.N.A.T.E.-style mess, I’d sink right back into despair.

Yura-chan declared firmly:

"Papa’s going to be a hero."

"Eh? You’re just deciding my future for me?"

"Aren’t you ashamed to be breaking the law in front of your own child!?"

"Man, you know just where to stab me. As expected of my daughter."

What he didn’t say was that the country itself had pushed him into those illegal jobs.

Or that he only became a villain because Delta had taken Yura-chan hostage.

Too cruel for a child her age to hear. Not making excuses—that was the coolest thing he’d done yet.

"Guess that’s case closed, huh?"

As always, Flux appeared without a sound.

He probably hadn’t been here a moment ago. The fact that he asked what we were talking about proved it.

"Yeah, probably. Not sure how we’re supposed to get back to the surface from here, though."

"There’s a ladder a little further ahead."

So escape would be simple. That was a relief.

Mio continued, "I went ahead and checked the surface for safety. With the underground collapsing like this, cave-ins are a concern, right? I’ll leave the details to the experts, but for now it looks stable."

"You really are sharp, you know that?"

I hadn’t been calm enough to consider the risks around us. That kind of foresight came from experience.

I didn’t know where or how Mio had gained his, but it must’ve been impressive.

Before we split up, there was one thing I wanted to ask.

"What kind of ability user is Yura-chan?"

"Wait a—"

"My ability’s related to dreams! I can slip into people’s dreams and stuff."

So she’d inherited her father’s powers.

Usui-chan shot me a disapproving look—not at his daughter for revealing it, but at me for asking so casually.

I just shrugged. I didn’t think I’d done anything wrong.

"Everyone here’s a special ability user. The more people she can talk to, the better. She can’t always go to Papa for everything."

"Exactly!"

"She already favors you over me… Inori-chan, you’re tough competition…"

Usui-chan slumped his shoulders.

Guess he realized he was outnumbered. When you live life with that half-assed vibe, it comes back to bite you at times like this. Lesson learned, huh, Usui-chan.

We were basically the same at heart, but at least I could put on a façade of seriousness when needed.

I turned to Yura-chan.

"So, could you come into my dreams too?"

"If I know your face and name, I can find you even if I don’t know where your bed is! It might take me a little time, but I can do it! Can I try!?"

"Sure. If there’s something you can’t talk to your dad about, you can come to me."

"Yay!!"

She squealed with delight, practically bouncing with joy.

Meanwhile, Papa—Haze Fog—watched with a complicated expression.

"I’ll make sure to train Papa so he can become a hero like Inori-san!"

Usui-chan and I exchanged glances and shared a wry smile.

I wasn’t a hero, but I’d played the part to put Yura-chan at ease.

The ones who really saved her were Raiden, Flux, and Haze Fog. Still, there was no need to crush her admiration.

"Anyway, this time you were quick, Raiden."

"Of course. Last time Haze Fog kidnapped you right in front of me. No way I wasn’t going to prepare after that. Can’t afford to make the same mistake twice."

That kind of thinking was exactly what made him a hero.

"Haze Fog, like Flux, shows electrical pulses in his smoke—brain activity. It’s probably the same for anyone who can merge with something. Makes them easier to track."

"Man, that sounds rough. Guess I should stick with being a hero after all."

"I told you, you ARE doing it!"

"Yeah, yeah."

His reply was halfhearted, his smile awkward, but Usui-chan was listening seriously to his daughter.

Looked like those two would be fine.

When I nudged Raiden to continue, he explained further.

"I also coordinated with Flux. The moment you disappeared, he let me know, and I rushed straight to the scene. That way I could track where you’d gone."

"Mio, nice work!"

"Hey, praise me too!"

"Raiden, good boy."

"Your pronunciation’s spot-on!"

I complimented him, and in return Raiden complimented my English.