"Are you all useless? I told you to guard Night Zero, and now she’s been kidnapped by White Sunflower along with the entire prison break—and Abyssal Prison is destroyed?! What the hell are you if not trash?!"

A petite girl in a blue-and-white checkered skirt stood before a group of men, spitting words no child should know. Yet no one dared defy her. The warden of Abyssal Prison could only stand below, silently enduring the scolding.

After all, the blame fell squarely on him. Night Zero had been taken. The terrifying White Sunflower had escaped! True, many others had fled during the chaos, but none posed a threat like White Sunflower. For now, Hero Headquarters ignored them.

Facing Mira’s tirade, they swallowed their bitterness.

But no one guessed the strongest hero—the one standing at the pinnacle of them all—was secretly overjoyed inside.

*Heh! So Night Zero succeeded in rescuing White Sunflower! The method wasn’t what we planned, but who cares? We can rebuild Abyssal Prison later!* Mira’s thoughts danced with glee. Her cerulean hair swayed as she nearly forgot her position, bouncing slightly with unrestrained happiness.

"Mira...?"

"Mira-chan...?"

The voices below jolted her awake.

Mira cleared her throat, masking the blush on her cheeks. Her voice turned sharp. "Night Zero is vital to protect! She’s an irreplaceable A-Class Hero for Hero Headquarters! Everyone must stay razor-focused! But with the Apostle Invasion underway, I’ll track White Sunflower myself. The rest of you—annihilate the Apostles! No excuses! Do you damn hear me?!"

As if that wasn’t enough to rally them, she capped it with another curse.

Though dissatisfied, no one argued. Every other S Rank Hero was already swamped with Apostles. Only Mira had the strength to handle this sudden jailbreak.

Once Mira dismissed them, the crowd scattered like ghosts fleeing daylight.

Alone, Mira slumped into a chair, hands behind her head. A soft smile curled her lips.

"How wonderful... White Sunflower-nii-sama is finally free. After we crush these Apostles, I’ll go see him~ I’ve missed him so much~~"

Her voice, now sweet and girlish, held none of its earlier harshness. Adorably tender—yet no one would ever witness this side of her.

.....

After the jailbreak, Night Zero revealed her true identity to Kong. She shared her hero alias, her real name, and even the mastermind behind the rescue.

"You mean... Mira-chan?" Kong echoed, thrown by the "-chan" suffix. Was it part of her name? He let it slide.

"Mhm. Mira-chan and I planned this together. Right after you were imprisoned, she found me. We worked hard to become heroes. Once she rose to leadership and I became a high-ranking hero, using our authority to free you became easier."

Kong was moved—but utterly lost.

"Who... is Mira exactly?"

He stared at Night Zero, seeking answers. None came. She insisted Mira would find them soon, so the topic dropped.

With Mira’s forged identities, the two fugitives settled in a remote city. Funds were secured. Their cover was unconventional: most escapees hid, but flipping the script could yield unexpected advantages.

Kong had always operated under White Sunflower’s name. His face was rarely seen during his world-saving battles against Apostles. Now, using "Kong" as his alias—and shielded by Mira’s influence—his past was untraceable.

"So... I’m supposed to be a teacher now? Teaching students?!" Kong’s expression screamed *Are you kidding me?*

A fresh escapee, handed a flawless new identity and documents the same day?

"Hmm." Night Zero nodded easily. Her earlier shyness around Kong had vanished. After talking, she’d found him warm and expressive—nothing like the hollow-eyed man she’d first met. "Mira said the Apostle Invasion has them overwhelmed. This is likely your release condition: stay out of trouble for a while. Teach alongside me here in this city."

*Out of trouble?* Kong’s eyes narrowed instinctively. Revenge had always been within reach. Abyssal Prison could never hold him. Only guilt—and his choice to shoulder the darkness alone—had made him surrender.

But...

"Hey... what’s with that look?" Night Zero flinched.

They were in a small-town inn room, changing clothes. The situation was dangerously intimate.

Before him stood a Fox Maiden—a creature of anime fantasy made flesh. Her unique trait surfaced only when flustered or afraid: delicate fox ears now twitched atop her head, replacing her human ones. A fluffy tail, warm and flushed crimson (though she claimed it was usually pink), swayed nervously behind her. *Did extreme shyness deepen its color?* Her thoughts spiraled—bedsheets, showers—until Kong’s voice snapped her back.

"Tell me... are you blushing from shyness? Or fear?"

"F-f-f-fool! Can’t you tell?! It’s shyness, obviously!!" She yanked her blouse down, trying to hide her tail—but only exposed more cleavage.

Kong’s gaze stayed fixed on her face. His voice dropped low.

"Then answer one question..."

She looked up, puzzled.

"P-please ask..."

"Why did you save me? Why spend years planning just for me?"

Gratitude for a past rescue? Or learning he’d begged the government to protect her? Neither seemed worth risking her entire future. He needed to know.