15- Enjoyment.

patre*n.com/Guionista [1]

This is a non-commercial fanfiction inspired by My Hero Academia and other fictional universes. I do not own any official franchises. All rights belong to their creators. Astra is an original character. Support is voluntary and for creative encouragement only.

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Previous chapter

"Then… stay by my side," Astra murmured, her smile turning a little darker. "But remember… you belong to me. But if I ever hurt you… you are free."

Junko smiled.

For her, those words were not a warning.

They were a promise.

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Astra and Junko fell silent, watching as Airi trained with unwavering focus.

Her body moved with grace and determination, each strike delivered with precision and control. The girl had a natural talent, and her energy flowed with the confidence of someone unafraid to face challenges.

Junko, eyes fixed on Airi, felt a spark of pride. She was proud of how her daughter trained without complaint, giving her all with consistent effort.

Astra, on the other hand, observed more closely, analyzing every one of Airi's movements. She looked for ways to help her improve, and her mimicry ability came in handy during moments like this.

 All she had to do was copy Airi's moves and figure out what needed correcting to guide her better.

At that moment, Airi's training focused on endurance and a bit of shadowboxing to improve her ability to take down targets.

But the true goal of the exercise was far more ambitious: to get Airi to connect her mind with her opponent's and make them believe someone was standing in front of them, fighting against an illusion without realizing it.

It was a risky idea, but in this world, it made a certain kind of sense.

"Airi!"

Junko called out to her daughter, and Airi quickly wrapped up her training and ran over to her mother.

"Hello, Miss Astra. Hello, Mother," she greeted with a respectful bow.

Airi was no longer the malnourished girl from before. She now had a petite frame, shoulder-length red hair, fair skin, and reddish eyes. Though still small, her body was now well-proportioned.

"Hi, Airi. Tell me, how's your training going? Are you noticing any progress?" Astra asked.

Airi lowered her head, embarrassed, before replying.

"I'm sorry, Astra-sama, but I can't visualize anything more than a shadow. Creating a detailed image is really hard for me…"

Astra smiled and gently patted her head. "It's okay. I know you'll get there."

Airi nodded, but after hesitating for a few seconds, she decided to voice what was on her mind.

"Forgive me, Astra-sama… but is it really possible to do this? Can I really make someone see a visual image as if it were real?"

"Airi! How can you doubt—" Junko began, but Astra cut her off.

"Enough, Junko."

Airi flinched a bit at her mother's outburst, but in a way, she understood. She was doubting Astra's idea—an idea that might help her use her quirk effectively.

"I'm not one hundred percent sure it'll work," Astra admitted, surprising both of them.

"But…" Junko tried to protest, only for Astra to continue.

"Tell me, Airi… how does your quirk work?"

Hesitant and unsure why she was being asked something they already knew, Airi answered:

"My quirk is Connection. It lets me link people's minds, so they can see what the other sees, hear what the other hears, even feel what the other feels. As long as it's mental, I can connect their minds and share those perceptions…"

Astra smiled. "There's your key: 'As long as it's mental.'"

"Look, Airi, humans have an incredible capacity for imagination and creativity. They can build entire worlds in their minds, give life to imaginary characters that feel real to those who create them."

"Many kids have imaginary friends. To them, they're real beings who listen, talk, and stick by their side. They're part of their world—and even if no one else can see them, they exist. They can be robots, talking animals, or even alternate versions of themselves, but they're real in their mind."

"What I want you to do is something similar. If you can make your opponent's mind visualize a convincing image—even for a second—you can fool them. It doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be real enough for their brain to accept it for a moment and react to it."

Airi listened closely, thinking about what Astra was saying. Maybe, after all, the idea wasn't as impossible as she had thought.

"Understood, Astra-sama. I'll give it my all."

Astra smiled and replied with a kind tone.

"I'll be waiting for you to pull it off, little maid."

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At Astra's house, the calm of the night was broken by a lively phone call. While Junko quietly tidied up the living room and Airi enjoyed a warm bath, Astra's voice echoed from the kitchen.

"Yes, yes, Miyako, you can come without worry. There's plenty of space for you to stay the night."

[But Astra, I don't want to be a bother…]

"You're not a bother, Miyako. We'll have something nice for dinner, and tomorrow I'll take you to the movies, okay?"

[But…]

"Come on, don't be like that. This house is huge and I want you to come. Even if it's just for a little while, come enjoy yourself with me."

[…]

"Come ooon, just say yes. Please? Yes?"

[…Okay… I'll shower and head over.]

"Awesome! Give me a minute—I'll grab my bike and come pick you up."

She hung up with a smile and, without wasting a second, waved a quick goodbye to Junko. She walked down the hall toward the garage, where her latest acquisition waited under the faint glow of the motion sensor light.

There it was: her motorcycle.

A futuristic beast with a soul of its own. Its frame was flawless matte black, decorated with golden lines and glowing purple accents that shimmered softly.

LED lights traced along its body, giving it a presence both intimidating and sleek. The exhaust pipes were hidden, giving it an almost ghostly aerodynamic finish.

It made no sound when powered on, but when it roared into motion, it sounded like thunder from a sci-fi movie.

[Image]

Astra paused for a moment, admiring every curve with satisfaction.

"Worth every damn cent," she whispered with a proud smile.

She'd bought it just three days ago, deciding it was finally time to stop relying on public transportation. Fast, powerful, and versatile, the bike had been her immediate choice.

With a few personal tweaks, she gave it a style that reflected her personality—elegant, rebellious, futuristic.

She put on her helmet—black, with two pointed ears that made her look like a motorcyclist straight out of an anime—mounted the bike with ease, and started the engine, which purred with a soft electric hum.

She gripped the handlebars, took a deep breath, and hit the throttle, ready to race across the city at full speed.

The streets of Musutafu blurred around her as the city lit up in neon tones.

Red, blue, and green lights flickered on the billboards. The sound of the wind blended with the growl of her bike as she weaved through traffic like obstacles in a video game.

Focused, but also lost in thought, Astra began to hum… and then to sing.

"Make me die or you'll fall… I can't stay okay… there's no time left on the clock…~"

The music wasn't playing in her earbuds. It was in her head, matching the rhythm of her adrenaline.

Each note came out with power and emotion. It was her way of letting go, of connecting with that vibrant, deeply personal world of hers.

That night wasn't just a ride.

It was freedom.

"Stop! You're going way too fast!" a voice shouted behind them.

A hero was sprinting down the avenue, arms stretched behind him like a character straight out of a certain famous anime—no prequels needed.

He had two engines built into his elbows, firing with a metallic hum that propelled him forward at incredible speed.

His hero costume looked like a mix between lightweight armor and a neoprene suit, mostly blue and white. He looked like a bootleg Power Ranger.

"Tensei Iida… Tenya's big brother," Astra murmured with a grin, glancing into the rearview mirror as she swerved past another car.

She gunned the throttle harder.

"Sorry, Engine... but I'm a woman on a mission…"

The bike roared beneath her as she took a sharp turn, leaning into it with feline grace.

In a completely unnecessary—but undeniably flashy—display, Astra twisted around on the seat, steering with her feet while her tail wrapped around the handlebars.

"A mission!?" Tensei yelled, just a few meters behind, pushing his engines to catch up.

"Yes… the mission to win my first Scissors vs Scissors!" Astra shouted theatrically.

"Scissors…?" he asked, confused.

With a cocky grin, Astra raised both hands, forming a V with each and crossing them like swords in front of her.

The gesture was unmistakable.

Tensei, with his pure-hearted hero mindset, took a few seconds to connect the dots… and when he finally did, he stumbled from the shock of realization, tumbling into a very unheroic somersault.

As he watched the motorcycle vanish into the neon lights of the city, only one thought echoed in his mind:

"What an indecent woman…"

...

...

...

The engine purred to a gentle stop in front of Miyako's apartment building, tucked away in a quiet area far from the bustling heart of Musutafu.

Astra slid off the bike with a graceful motion, removing her helmet with one hand. Her silver hair, streaked with pink, fell over her shoulders effortlessly, glowing faintly under the streetlight.

She hung the helmet on the handlebar, stretched a little, and looked up toward the balcony on the third floor.

"Come on, Miyako… don't fall asleep without me now," he murmured with a playful smile, before heading toward the entrance of the building.

She climbed the stairs with steady steps and, once at door 3B, took a deep breath before knocking softly.

The door opened soon after, revealing Hana, Miyako's mother.

She wore a long, lightweight nightgown—clearly meant for comfort at home. Her figure, still well-maintained, held the elegance of someone who had once been a beauty and hadn't lost her charm with age.

Like fine wine, she gets better with time, Astra thought the moment she saw her.

"Oh, Astra…" Hana said with a warm, slightly surprised smile. "You got here fast. Miyako's still getting dressed."

"Good evening, Mrs. Hana," Astra replied respectfully, politely averting her eyes and giving a small bow. "No problem at all, I can wait a few minutes."

"Do you want to come in? It's chilly out."

"I'm okay here, thank you. I don't want to intrude."

Hana leaned against the doorframe, that strange mix of protective mom and sharp-witted woman.

"So… girls' night out?"

"Something like that. Food, chatting, and tomorrow, the movies."

"Mmm…" Hana said, a bit mischievously. "I just hope the screen doesn't ask, 'Are you still watching?' before the movie even starts."

Astra let out a soft laugh, slightly blushing.

"Just the movie, I promise."

"Relax," Hana replied, waving her hand. "Miyako's free to live her life. Though, if you ask me… ever since you showed up, I've seen her so much happier. And without meaning to, I think I am too."

Astra paused for a moment, caught off guard by the honesty.

"Thank you… that means a lot."

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Don't leave without me!"

Just then, the door opened fully, and Miyako appeared with a wide smile. She wore an oversized hoodie with a bunny print, denim shorts, and her damp hair was tied into two messy half-pigtails.

She had a crossbody bag slung over her shoulder.

"Ready?" she said, barely holding back her excitement.

Astra nodded.

Miyako walked over quickly and, without warning, pulled Astra into a hug—burying her head in her chest.

"I love you, you know that? Since you came into my life, I've seen things differently. I've laughed more, cried less… and felt more like me."

Astra hugged her back, lowering her voice.

"Then let's keep making more memories."

Hana watched them with a calm smile as the two said their goodbyes and headed down the stairs.

A new night had begun.

A night that, though they didn't know it yet, would become unforgettable.

They walked down the stairs laughing over a half-whispered story Miyako had started telling. When they reached the bike, Astra held out the extra helmet—the one with the decorative cat ears.

"Seriously…?" Miyako asked, raising a brow before bursting into laughter, leaving Astra completely confused.

"Is something wrong…?" Astra tilted her head, not understanding what was so funny.

"Astra… it's kind of amazing you haven't realized something so obvious," Miyako replied, still grinning. Then she pointed to herself… and then to the bike.

Astra followed her finger.

First Miyako.

Then the bike.

Then Miyako again… and back to the bike.

"Pffft…" she snorted before facepalming. "Oh, for the love of…!"

She had completely forgotten.

In all the excitement of picking her up, the ride, the music, dodging elbow-powered heroes… she'd missed a small—okay, massive—detail.

Miyako stood around eight and a half to nearly ten feet tall… if you counted the ears.

And while her bike was fast, sleek, and futuristic—it definitely wasn't built to carry an ancient goddess-sized girlfriend.

Astra stared at the bike like it had just betrayed her.

"Well… now what?"

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End of Chapter 15

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Fun Fact: The author himself forgot Miyako's height, and since half the chapter was already written, he decided to just roll with it and end things in the most ridiculous way possible.

I wanted to share something and ask you all a quick question.

Right now, I've got three fanfics saved up, each with 13 chapters (yeah, it was two, but now it's three, lol):

Halo: Magnus of Mundus

Naruto: I Am Yoruichi

(The new one I just mentioned!)

I do plan to finish all of them, but I haven't published anything yet. Honestly, if it weren't for the temptation to share, I'd probably just finish them in secret.

I also have a few other projects with fewer chapters, like:

One Piece: The Six

Naruto: Reborn as a Daimyo (a rewrite)

Meanwhile, Danmachi: The Outcast will remain on indefinite hiatus. It's been a while since I started it, and truth be told, I've forgotten a lot of the plot. I might rewrite it someday—maybe when the Danmachi series progresses a bit more.

Now, the actual question:Which one would you like me to post first?

Halo: Magnus of Mundus

Naruto: I Am Yoruichi

P.S.: I also have a new one called [I Am an Axolotl Faunus], and honestly… I kind of prefer it. It doesn't take much effort to write. In just 3–5 days, I've already written 10 chapters because I don't overthink it. If I get stuck, I just go YOLO—and keep going.