A Hero is a fool

Back at Piggy Kid's Park, the swings creaked softly in the cool evening breeze. Akira and Kowai lingered where Makoto had left them, the air still buzzing faintly from his superhuman departure. Despite the whirlwind of wind in his wake, Akira remained strangely composed, her expression calm as if she'd been anticipating it.

"As expected of Makoto," she said, her voice carrying an icy detachment. "He moved so fast my eyes couldn't even perceive it." Her tone shifted, becoming more cutting as she flipped a lock of dark hair over her shoulder. "I can't believe I had to resort to Hana's devices with that warthog. Ugh, I feel tainted."

Kowai's golden eyes widened—truly widened for the first time in recent memory.

Her usual mask of amusement cracked to reveal genuine surprise. "Akira-sama, don't tell me you were…?" she trailed off, her mouth slightly agape.

Akira's frown deepened as she stood from the swing, her sharp movements adding weight to her indignation. "Huh? You disappoint me, Kowai," she snapped, her voice laced with contempt. "The fact that you, even for a moment, believed that I, Akira Nakamura, was swayed by mere emotion is an unforgivable offense. Apologies. On your knees. Now."

Kowai flinched, as if remembering Akira was her Mistress.

She dropped to one knee and bowed low before Akira. "Forgive me, Akira-sama," she said quickly. "It was an error on my part."

Kowai's thoughts churned even as she knelt. 'I can't believe it... Even I was fooled? I truly thought Akira-sama had taken at least one step closer to change; finding love and happiness with Makoto. What level of acting was that? She was literally flushed, and I was there obliviously being happy for her. Terrifying, this Mistress of mine. Poor Makoto was just being manipulated.'

Akira's haughty expression softened slightly as a mischievous gleam lit her eyes.

She placed a hand on her hip. "At any rate, it didn't feel bad watching Ma-chan—oh, excuse me, Makoto—play the starstruck fool," she said with a light laugh. "He-he-he... I know now I'm several steps ahead of Hana!"

Kowai glanced up cautiously, still kneeling. " Pardon me, Akira-sama, but… what you said earlier. About wanting to understand people through Makoto... That was an act, too?" Her gaze locked onto Akira's, searching for a hint of sincerity.

Akira's amusement faded into a sharp glare. "What an insolent maid you are," she said casually, taking a deliberate step forward. "Testing your own mistress, I see."

Kowai was composed as Akira's piercing eyes bore into hers. The space between them shrank until Akira was mere inches away.

Her voice dropped to a whisper, sending a chill through the air. "Gaze at me, Kowai. Tell me. What do you see? What do you think?"

The air between them grew thick, tension crackling like an unspoken storm.

Kowai squinted her eyes, hesitating before speaking. "Allow me to be bold, Akira-sama," she began, her voice low but steady. "Your selfishness and narcissism know no bounds. I pity anyone who serves you."

Akira rolled her eyes in exaggerated exasperation. "I'll take that as a compliment."

She turned away, her long hair catching in the breeze, strands lifting like silk ribbons in the cool night air.

Folding her arms across her chest, she exhaled sharply. "Makoto's logic," she began, "is utterly flawed."

Kowai tilted her head. "How so?"

Akira's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "Hmph. I pity his future," she said. "Telling me to be nice—what utter nonsense. He wants me to act with kindness, as if it's some natural instinct, as if it's something given. He said I could be as self-absorbed as I want but should still 'consider the feelings of others.' Tell me, Kowai, is that boy an infant?"

Kowai remained silent, watching Akira intently, her gaze unwavering.

Akira continued, her tone growing colder, more detached. "At the end of the day, people only care about themselves and their own gain. And I'm fully aware: if I lose my power and status—which is completely impossible—those lackeys of mine will be nowhere found… That's the reality of the world. It's not wrong, in my view. You can't save a stranger when your family is in need. You can't extend a hand to someone less important if your hands are already burdened with greater responsibilities... The world is a far darker place than Ma-chan realizes."

She paused, her expression unreadable. "He's still a child. But…"

Kowai's ears perked up at the hint of hesitation. "But what?"

"I believe that naïve kindness of his will soon pass away," Akira said softly, her voice almost wistful.

"And what makes you think that?" Kowai pressed, curiosity brimming in her golden eyes.

Akira's head snapped toward her, and her frown deepened. "Hold on—aren't you being a little too imposing right now? Conduct yourself!"

Kowai bowed her head slightly, offering a placating gesture. "Forgive my rudeness."

With an exaggerated sigh, Akira waved her off. "Sigh... I can't put it into words, but Makoto felt different this morning—clueless. There's... something about him now. I think—" she hesitated, her voice softening to a near whisper, "—he's reached a level where I can almost recognize him as an existence."

"…Poor Makoto," Kowai murmured, closing her eyes as if mourning his fate.

Akira's lip curled in distaste. "Makoto has it in his mind to do something. Something I utterly despise. Something so repulsive it makes me want to vomit."

Kowai's eyes fluttered open, curiosity piqued once more. "Which is...?"

Akira exhaled sharply, her tone laced with disdain. "Makoto wants to be a 'Hero.'"

"Is there something so terrible about that?" Kowai asked, tilting her head slightly.

"You foolish servant! Everything is wrong with that!" Akira's voice sharpened as she gestured grandly, her jacket swishing with the motion. "For starters, I won't like it very much. And who intentionally seeks my spite?!"

"…"

Kowai blinked but said nothing, her silence coaxing Akira to continue.

"A hero is a fool," Akira declared, her voice dripping with venom. "A hero is someone who's lost all sense of pride and self—someone who decides to sacrifice their precious life for 'people.' And these people, Kowai, won't care whether the hero lives or dies, as long as they're safe in the end."

"...So your problem is with the people?" Kowai ventured cautiously, her golden eyes narrowing slightly.

Akira scoffed, rolling her eyes as if the notion were absurd. "Those piles of rubble and foothold? No, no. Nothing of the sort. I agree with Makoto that people are important—very important. After all, I can't—or rather, wont—drive myself to school every morning."

'Pfft. Idiot.' Kowai stifled a chuckle but kept her focus on her mistress.

Akira's voice softened briefly before hardening again. "But I disagree with his foolish notion that people are not to be disposed. They are. When they get useless to your ends."

Kowai's gaze lingered on Akira, her expression unreadable. She found it a terrible flaw that even she was deceived by Akira's contrived innocence a while ago.

Akira resumed her sermon, her tone rising with intensity. "Initially, foolish people—and by that, I mean everyone—adore the concept of a hero. Heroes never lose in those idiotic movies, riddled with lies and mental rot. But that's not reality, Kowai. In real life, the hero will lose if they're weak. And the villain? The villain prevails because they hold overwhelming power, not because of some ridiculous 'sheer force of will.' If the hero wants to triumph, then they'll need to prove it with their strength, not some godforsaken 'power of friendship'."

Kowai's eyes narrowed, her tone soft yet probing. "Akira-sama... Are you angry about something?"

Akira froze for a moment before answering, her voice low. "...I am. I am angry that Ma-chan is attempting to walk this path of the 'hero.' Why can't he see things as they truly are—fleeting, meaningless without some form of dominion? Don't you think so?"

Kowai glanced away, her expression conflicted. "No, Akira-sama. Your philosophy is... warped. With love and unity—"

"Spare me that drivel, you arrogant maid," Akira snapped, venom dripping from her words as she turned to face Kowai fully. "If anyone should understand this perfectly, it's you."

Kowai raised a brow, a hint of defiance flickering across her face. "I don't mean to disrespect my mistress, but... whatever do you mean?"

Akira's piercing eyes scanned Kowai, as though she could see straight into her soul. "That feeling I started to sense from Ma-chan... that infuriating elevation I can't quite comprehend—I've felt it from you since day one."

Kowai's face remained calm, betraying not a flicker of emotion, but inside, a cold shiver ran down her spine.

"I know, Kowai," Akira continued, her voice dropping into something almost playful yet threatening. "You're something. Something you're hiding from me. And I respect that. For now, but trust me," she smiled, a sly curve that spoke volumes, "I'll figure it out soon—what it is about you and Ma-chan that feels so abysmal to my eyes."

Kowai lowered her gaze momentarily, careful not to reveal too much, as Akira casually seated herself on the same bench Makoto had occupied earlier. Her slender fingers traced idle patterns on its surface.

"Being nice doesn't mean anything," Akira said after a pause, her tone tinged with indifference. "It doesn't change much. At least, not to me. If I end up losing, it won't matter at the end of the day if I was nice or not… because I'd been dead already."

'Dead? What intensity of battle is she thinking about?' Kowai wondered.

Akira's gaze shifted upward to the glowing moon, its pale light casting a delicate sheen over her features. She glanced at her phone, checking the time.

"But regardless," she continued, slipping the device back into her pocket, "Makoto is my prey right now. Until I get him to kneel, I'll have to keep up this cute, princess act. I hate it—not being my usual tyrannical self when he's around—but Hana's my opponent, and I can't afford to be picky."

Kowai let out a soft, amused giggle, a sound as rare as a blood moon at midday.

Akira turned to her, raising a sharp brow. "What? You decided to mock me openly now?" she asked, though there was no malice in her tone.

Kowai gave a short bow, still suppressing a smile. "No, it's just... your rivalry with Hana can be amusing at times. I think it successfully humanizes you."

"Humanizes me?!" Akira's voice sparked with indignation, her expression a mixture of shock and offense. "You ungrateful maid! Are you insinuating that I'm sub-human?!"

Kowai chuckled softly, her composure steady as she met Akira's glare. "You're going too far. But human, huh?" she mused, her voice quieter now.

Her eyes softened as they rested on her mistress. "I don't even know what you are. But extraordinary... that's the right tag."

Akira's eyes widened, ever so slightly, before a smug smile spread across her face. "Naturally," she said, her tone brimming with pride. "It is as you say. I even feel insulted when I categorize myself as 'human.' Makes me sound weak and helpless."

Kowai's thoughts wandered as she observed Akira's proud posture. Haaah, Akira-sama. You just got mad at me for insinuating you weren't human, and now you're gloating about it. What would I do with you...

But beneath her mild amusement, Kowai felt a flicker of admiration. 'Still, to sense something like awakening... even though Akira-sama is nowhere close to it, not truly. She's as ordinary as any regular teenager—brute strength aside, and even that's within the bounds of humanity. Yet somehow, she sensed my irregularity when she was so young.'

"Kowai! Stop daydreaming!" Akira's sharp voice broke through Kowai's thoughts. "Call the driver! I'm done with today; it now has my permission to pass over." She spoke with the confidence of an empress, as if she truly believed she could command the moon and stars.

Kowai nodded and pulled out her phone. "I'll get to it immediately."

She tapped at her screen, her lips curving ever so slightly. 'Your arrogance never fails to amaze me, Akira-sama. But... you're my Mistress. I'll watch over you and that arrogance of yours until my last breath. After all, you're hopeless without me.'

"Hey!" Akira snapped suddenly. "What's with that introspective smirk? You're thinking something rude about me, aren't you?!"

"Nothing of the sort, Akira-sama," Kowai replied smoothly, her voice steady. "I saw a funny cat video, that's all."

Akira's jaw dropped. "Hahhh?! I told you to call the driver, and you're watching cat videos?! I see you like being stepped on right?!"

'Ah, wrong excuse,' Kowai thought, rolling her eyes internally as she quickly redirected her attention to making the call for real this time.