The cool night air bit at my exposed skin as I watched Diamond walk back to her house. Her blue lightning bolt streak seemed to glow faintly in the dim light, a reminder of the raw power she possessed. Power that, unlike most heroes, she chose to wield outside the law. My thoughts were a tangled mess.
With a sigh, I turned and headed back to VA, the Vigilante Academy. The red neon sign of Dark Red, the corporation that secretly funded and oversaw our operations, hummed above the reinforced steel gates. I swiped my keycard, the lock clicked open, and I stepped inside, leaving the normal world behind.
The elevator hummed as it ascended to the common room. Inside, Shira, was hunched over a stack of papers, her red eyes flickering through the dim light. She was a mirror to her brother, strict and pragmatic, but with a depth of understanding that often caught people off guard.
She looked up as I entered, her expression softening with concern. "Anos. You look… depleted."
I slumped onto a worn armchair. "It's been a long day." I summarized the events that had spiraled out of control at home, and my conversation with Diamond about choosing a different path.
Shira listened intently, her gaze unwavering. She understood the moral tightrope we walked. "Vigilantism is a dirty game, Anos. There are no easy answers, no clear victories. You try to make the best choices you can, knowing that every action has consequences."
Her words were simple, but they resonated with truth. "How do you deal with the doubt?" I asked, the question barely above a whisper.
"Doubt is a luxury we can't afford during a mission," she said firmly. "Afterwards... you analyze. You learn. You strive to do better next time." She paused, then added, "Don't confuse doubt with regret. Regret can cripple you. Doubt can make you stronger."
She was right. Shira always was. She pushed me harder than anyone else, but it was because she saw something in me – a potential I wasn't sure I possessed. She was a harsh teacher, but a vital mentor.
"Thanks, Shira," I said, rising to my feet. "I needed that."
"Get some rest, Anos. We have a briefing tomorrow."
I went to bed, sleep eluding me for a while. The weight of responsibility, the constant push and pull between my past as Superman and my current reality, was a heavy burden.
I woke up late, around 11 AM, feeling groggy and drained. A hot shower helped to clear the fog. The common room was bustling with activity. Simon Takami and Jiax Hyu were nursing coffee, while the others were eating and chatting animatedly.
"Morning, Dark Phantom," Simon greeted, his blue hair nearly glowing under the fluorescent lights.
"Hey," I mumbled, grabbing a cup of coffee. I texted Akira, making sure she was at school. One less thing to worry about. She was safe and sound at UA High.
Simon noticed my exhaustion. "Rough night?"
"You could say that," I replied, taking a large gulp of coffee.
We had a meeting scheduled for later that day. I knew whatever mission was coming, it wouldn't be easy. We were dealing with increasingly dangerous threats, and Dark Red was starting to operate on a global scale.
The briefing room was cold and sterile. Shira stood at the head of the table, her expression grim. "The next few days will be demanding," she announced. "We're dealing with villains operating outside of Japan, coordinated attacks designed to destabilize the hero system."
The mission details were laid out: targets, objectives, potential risks. This wasn't petty crime; this was organized, international terrorism. We were essentially at war, a secret war fought in the shadows.
"Anos, Simon, you're assigned to France," Shira stated.
I nodded, my gaze hardening, my mind already calculating the best course of action. We had to stop them, whatever the cost.
After the meeting, we headed to the training grounds. The air crackled with energy as the teams practiced their quirks, pushing their limits. Jiax and Takai were deep in discussion; Avis was sparring with Lexi, their powers clashing in a whirlwind of destruction and creation.
I found Simon near the weight rack, quietly analyzing his own abilities. "Ready for France?" I asked.
"As I'll ever be," he replied, his voice calm and steady. "What's the plan?"
We spent the next few hours strategizing, refining our teamwork, and preparing for the challenges ahead.