<Bright>

 

 

 

Thank the Gods for Bright’s reputation.

If not for that, he could’ve really stood outside the orphanage the entire day.

Luckily, the other nuns and kids were more than eager to let him in.

“Crazy weather we are having, am I right?” (B)

He needed to smooth things over with the Director.

Sitting in her little office, he searched for any excuse to cover himself. Turning up the charm as she casually ignored his remarks about the spectacular weather.

“~T-That government, so useless! Can’t get anything done, I swear! Your phone breaks, and they can’t be bothered to do a thing, huh? ~” (B)

A heavy glare settled on Bright.

Prolonged silence ate at him.

“Is that what you are going with?” (C)

Right.

Of course, that flimsy excuse wouldn’t work on the Director. She was completely immune to his charms, unlike most people. A probable consequence of having pretty much raised him since he got here. Bright hadn’t exactly always been the model child, after all.

“Bright…. What am I going to do with you?” (C)

The Director held her head.

Her earlier fury gradually dissolving. For all her bluster, she was a deeply kind person.

“Once a month. I ask you to keep contact once a month.” (C)

Bright licked his lips as she continued.

If it weren’t already the case, this would be getting really awkward. Again, it wasn’t like he intentionally ignored her; he had just been busy. Abilities users poached by the government didn’t have it easy. Especially those with combat-specific abilities like Bright. On top of training constantly, he had to manage his image as the greatest new-gen hero. It was these tasks that often left him too drained to bother with anything.

“You don’t have to come in person. A call is enough.” (C)

The Director let out a deep sigh.

‘Okay, okay. No need to milk, geez’

Bright shifted in his seat. He felt some bits bad; wasn’t that enough to show his remorse?

“I, at least, hope you have been well.” (C)

“O-Oh, yes! Most certainly!” (B)

The Director narrowed her eyes.

“…And not fallen into any more unsavoury habits?” (C)

“Yeah….” (B)

She let out a deep sigh again.

The nuns of this world shared a lot in common with Bright’s last. Namely, being prudes and overly uptight people. The two Gods they worshipped, Seteray and Teteray, were androgynous beings that valued things not too dissimilar to the seven virtues. Growing up, those virtues had been not so subtly shoved down his throat. A fact he didn’t much care for because…. Not to sound arrogant, but unlike those who needed to pray and beg for the Gods’ attention, Bright had gotten it for free.

Reincarnation wasn’t an ability he possessed in his last life.

Someone had to enable it.

But. That was beside the point.

“Mother Clare, I need your help!” (B)

Getting to the heart of the matter, Bright particularly cried out.

“I’ve been tricked by some dastardly fiends!” (B)

“Language.” (C)

Standing up, he began to pour out his heart. Listing out all the egregious wrongdoings committed against him. From the humiliating first day “working” to the unexpected adoption. They were all laid bare and exposed for what they were.

Crimes.

‘Huh, I feel lighter’

Bright sat back in his chair.

His voice was calm and steady.

“Those people are criminals. Completely unfit to take care of themselves, much less raise a child.” (B)

Bright gazed straight at the Director.

Mustering up all the sincerity he could manage before asking.

“Please, help me get out of this.” (B)

Holding her gaze, Bright gripped his knees.

Logically, he knew that the Director must be somewhat involved in the adoption process. If this adoption was to hold any water or be legal, she was required to sign somewhere. The law was stringent in such a manner. Given that his whole “adoption” had been abrupt, Bright highly doubted its legality. The Director likely hadn’t been consulted about this.

If he had any hope of getting out of this, it was through her.

The Director was a good person. She would stand up with him. And, with her along with the Chairman, it should be possible to exit this adoption. It won’t be a quiet process, but ultimately it should be a very rewarding one.

A decent enough plan.

“I’m sorry. I can’t help you.” (C)

Of course, such a plan rested on the fact that the Director knew nothing.

As the Director broke eye contact, Bright felt a sudden hollowness consume him.

It looks like he thought too highly of her. He didn’t want to imagine it, but it looked like the Director had betrayed him. Complacent with this adoption. And he likely knew the reasons as to why. So much so for being nice to people.

Damn.

Bright got up and slammed his hands on the table.

The Director was a kind person. Perhaps a little too kind. Her betrayal would likely stem from the fact she believed Bright needed a family. She probably saw this as some gift, as twisted as that was. In the past, that might’ve been what he strived for, but right now, that was no longer the case.

She was getting in the way of things.

“They’re, they’re not my parents, you know!” (B)

Who were often seen as the best to raise a child?

The birth parents.

The vicious rumour parading around had found its way into the Director’s head. Bright didn’t care about others believing the rumour, but it stung for the Director to because it meant one thing.

She didn’t believe him.

Unlike his last life, Bright actually got to meet his birth parents. And it wasn’t a simple greeting. The memories were foggy, but Bright was certain they raised him. For a little while, at least, until something happened and he ended up at the orphanage.

“Bright…. I know they haven’t been the best, but it wouldn’t hurt to—” (C)

The Director’s soft voice wasn’t enough to persuade Bright to stay.

Instantly, he turned and left.

That dumb rumour was really messing him up.

‘It doesn’t even make sense!’

If one were to ignore the superficial resemblance, the rumour would hold no water. First of all, besides working together on big subjugation missions and a few intraguild training sessions a year, Hero Sun and Hero Yuki hardly interacted with each other. It was a big part of the reason Bright was surprised to see Hero Yuki in the morning. She didn’t live there.

Second of all, even giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming they were to meet in secret, Bright didn’t believe anything would happen. Hero Yuki’s personality wasn’t conducive for anything to happen. Heck, while watching TV and sitting relatively close together, an invisible barrier was apparent.

Lastly and most damning of all, if Hero Yuki had gotten pregnant, people would definitely feel the disappearance of the second most powerful hero. Unlike regular people who could undergo egg extraction procedures, powerful heroes’ bodies were too sturdy to reliably do so. Tools would break, and a whole mess would ensue.

Reaching the door to the orphanage, Bright gave quick goodbyes before grabbing its handle.

He paused.

Hand firmly on the handle.

Where was there to go now? Still not in the mood to head back, it was quite the conundrum.

‘Maybe that arcade is still open?’

It was a place Bright used to visit to get his fix before he got popular, and disguising himself every time became too much of a hassle.

It was a great location to kill time, but ignoring the popular thing, another problem was immediately uncovered.

Bright had no cash.

…Maybe he could ask the drivers to spot him?

He was practically their boss at this point, right? It shouldn’t be too much to ask for a little something. And considering who they worked with, a disguise couldn’t be something they couldn’t get. If they dropped him a little away, nobody would be the wiser.

‘Yeah, that might work’

With a plan in motion, Bright ripped the door open.

“Ah?” (B)

…And standing right outside was Hero Yuki.

 

 

“After school, it’s home immediately. Understood?” (Y)

“…Understood.” (B)

Sitting in the dining room with a dog sprawled onto of his head, Bright mumbled out his agreement.

“You are a hero, a hero in training. In order to advance your skills, you must practice diligently every day.” (Y)

Hero Yuki paused.

She was waiting for a reply.

“Hmm.” (B)

It was only after her face shifted slightly that Bright recognised his error.

He hadn’t been paying attention.

“I-I mean, understood.” (B)

Hero Yuki narrowed her eyes briefly before continuing.

“Time allotted for work cannot be wasted—” (Y)

As soon as she did though, his attention immediately drifted. For someone who wasn’t typically talkative, she really went out of her way to lecture Bright. The last fifteen minutes were her basically repeating herself ad nauseam.

It was funny, really.

For all the talk about not wasting time, she had wasted the most amount of his time. Her showing up to the orphanage with her trademark vehicle caused so much traffic; they would no doubt be seeing it on the news later. And then, to add to that, after finally making it back, she proceeded to sit him down and explain in excruciating detail what he did wrong.

“—Understood?” (Y)

“Understood.” (B)

Hero Yuki’s eyes bore into Bright.

He took the time to study her face. It was annoying to admit, but the face was very similar to the one he saw every morning. If he didn’t know any better, he could’ve easily made the same mistake as everyone else. The only major difference between the faces was that one was more mature and refined.

One word was uttered by that beautifully refined face.

“Explain.” (Y)

‘Goddamn it….’

What kind of evilness is this?

“Uhm, uh…. A-A hero has many things—duties! That they need to pay attention to….” (B)

Bright licked his lips.

The look he got nearly made him cough blood.

What on Earth has she actually been talking about this entire time?!

“L-Like… saving people, helping people—” (B)

“Stop.” (Y)

An incredibly suffocating aura crashed into Bright.

The dog on his head stirred lightly.

“…Am I getting through to you?” (Y)

“Y-Yes.” (B)

The words struggled to crawl out of his mouth.

Hero Yuki closed her eyes.

The pressure instantly disappeared.

Thud Thud

The sound of Bright’s own beating heart overtook his senses.

He keeps forgetting who he is talking to.

“Let’s go to the training room.” (Y)

A chill travelled down Bright’s back. Words that normally didn’t mean much suddenly felt so much heavier. If they were to go now in her current mood, there’s no telling what will be left of him. A murder was about to happen.

“L-Let me get my armour….” (B)

Any protection, no matter how busted, could possibly save his life.

A hand grabbed Bright as he stood up.

“You won’t need it.” (Y)

‘What the hell does that mean?!’

Was she planning on hitting him so hard that no amount of armour mattered?!

“I-I feel like I really do….” (B)

Bright’s feet dragged underneath him as they neared the training room.

“Look, I’m sorry, okay? I swear I was listening the entire time….” (B)

Not wanting to meet a grizzly fate, Bright started grabbing onto random furniture.

“…What are you doing?” (Y)

Of course, it wasn’t enough to stop or even slow down Hero Yuki, but the noise did make her glance back.

“Are you going to hurt me?” (B)

The blunt question received an odd look.

“No…?” (Y)

“…Promise?” (B)

“Yes.” (Y)

Gradually letting go of the couch, Bright resigned himself to his fate.

At the end of the day, there wasn’t anything he could really do to stop her.

She was the second most powerful hero in the world, for crying out loud.

A good and bad thing.

Hero Yuki was a hero.

She couldn’t possibly do anything too bad, right?