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The world was divided into three groups:
Heroes, Villains, and regular civilians.
It was basically just renaming criminals and the police.
Villains being the felons, and the Heroes being those who hunt them down and arrest them.
It was simple.
Heroes often picked a role for their.. Style. And their weapons.
Examples would be: Sherifs, medics, guards, even Magical Girls if they want!
Some even had a certain purpose, like being specific for rescues, or pets, or fires.
Yea basically just modern times, but more interesting!
Our Hero Hinata Hajime was a knight. It was easy to tell just from his get-up.
He wore shiny metal armor(however it was kind of thin since, well… He didn’t want to have to deal with some super bulky armor, like Ogami, for example), and had a belt on with a scabbard on one side(sheathing a fancy sword) and a bag on the other.
Now, Hinata knew this was pretty basic. However, that’s all he ever really was. Basic.
…Anyways—
For months now, Hinata had been tracking a Villain.
He’d successfully caught him a few times, however he always managed to escape. That really annoyed Hinata..
This time, this time I’ll arrest him , he promised to himself as he headed towards the location given to him by a Detective named Kirigiri Kyoko.
She seemed to have her assistant with her at the time, a rather shy looking boy who was known as Saihara Shuichi.
Hinata mumbled to himself as he entered an abandoned-looking building.
“He should be here…”
Now, you may be thinking something along the lines of: “He’s probably not there anymore!” But this Villain wasn’t ordinary like that. He was… Odd.
He seemed to see this chase as a game, as he was hardly serious at all during their encounters. He gave sly grins and even let Hinata get nearly arrest him, before crushing his hopes with one kick.
And Hinata hated it.
But he didn’t hate him.
For some reason, he actually felt drawn to the criminal. Maybe it was his weird behavior, or maybe it was because he always overpowers him somehow.
He didn’t know. And honestly, he didn’t know if he wanted to.
As Hinata walked, he spoke towards the Villain, despite not knowing if he was actually there or not.
“You know, I really don’t understand you. You run and hide and tease as if this were a children’s game. I don’t get it. Do you just want attention? Is that it?”
Humming, he strolled past some windows. The ceilings were rather high, so there was another window above the ones he passed.
And suddenly, he felt weight crash onto him and slam him to the floor. He groaned in slight pain and lifted his head from the concrete, straining his neck to see who was straddling his back.
Ah, of course it was him.
Gray-green eyes stared right back into Hinata’s. The man wore the same smile he always did, and it always made him uncomfortable.
Why? He wasn’t sure. But it felt like there was something behind that smile, he just couldn’t tell what.
“Ah, so you’ve finally caught up to me!” The Villain beamed.
“Were you… waiting for me?”
“Well, of course! I was getting bored of constantly running.”
This is what Hinata meant by “odd.”
A puff of air left Hinata’s lungs in a sigh. Then, the other got off of him to let him up.
He did so, confused as he stared at the other with furrowed brows.
The white-haired man adjusted the gloves he wore, smiling as he tugged the fabric up his forearm.
“I wonder what you’ll do this time.”
“What’s your plan here, Komaeda?” Hinata demanded.
Komaeda blinked and looked back at him.
“Plan? Why would I have a plan?”
“Why else would you let me find you so easily?”
Komaeda’s lips formed into a grin as he tilted his head.
“I want you to actually have a chance at arresting me.” Was his answer.
“What?”
“What? It’s super boring if every time you have absolutely no shot!” Komaeda puffed out. “I know I’ll get lucky and escape in the end… But the adrenaline it gives me… The hope it gives me to see the determination in your eyes..!”
Now Hinata felt even more concerned. But Komaeda continued.
“It makes me wonder… Why are you a Hero? Do you want to be the hope that civilians look up to? Do you want to stand against the Despair caused by us awful villains? Or… Is it just for the money?”
“What are you talking about?” Hinata questioned. “I-It’s the right thing to do! I just want to help others.”
“Right, wrong… Is there really a difference?” Komaeda leaned forward with an odd look in his eyes, his voice suddenly monotone. “There will always be threats to society. That’s just how the world works. That’s just what the world deserves. ”
“Ah, but who am I to say what the world deserves? I’m nothing but a speck of dirt compared to everyone else!” The Villain suddenly laughed and leaned back, his almost scary demeanor gone just as fast as it came.
Hinata stared, eyebrows furrowed as he tried to figure out what he meant. He then shook his head, he needed to get serious.
“Are you going to do something? I’m giving you the first move.”
“Oh? How generous! I don’t want to waste this opportunity…”
Komaeda moved close to Hinata. Closer than usual. He gave a smile, which turned into a sly smirk as he slammed his knee into the brunette’s unguarded stomach.
The Hero doubled over, one hand instinctively reaching to hold his stomach, as the other thrust the hilt of his sword into Komaeda’s hip.
The taller stumbled back, before slipping behind Hinata.
He pushed the front of his boot against the back of one of Hinata’s knees, causing him to fall to the ground.
But Hinata was smarter than he looked.
He swept his leg, kicking Komaeda’s feet from under him.
The Villain reached out to try to stop his fall, but his gloves caused him to slip and slam his chin against the ground.
“Ah!” He grunted, and tried to get up. However, Hinata had already managed to get to his feet, and he pressed his foot against Komaeda’s back. He had no escape now.
The man squirmed beneath him, hands pushing uselessly against the floor as his back strained against Hinata’s weight.
“Just give up.” Hinata sighed.
“I should, shouldn’t I?” Komaeda chuckled. “A worthless existence like mine shouldn’t even have a choice..”
Hinata frowned at the self-deprecation, but just kneeled over him and snatched his wrists. He tugged them behind his back and began to tie them with a rope he kept in his bag.
“You’re under arrest.” He stated.
Komaeda hummed.
“What do you think arresting me will do?” He asked. “It’s not like it’ll change me. I’m too far gone for that, ahah!”
“I don’t expect it to. But it’ll keep you from causing any more trouble. Now c’mon, get up.” Hinata spoke as he got off of him.
Komaeda rolled onto his back, then pushed himself to his knees and then to his feet.
Hinata grasped the rope binding the man’s wrists and began to push him towards the exit.
But Komaeda wouldn’t give in that easy.
Mid-step, he swung his heel back and bashed it into Hinata’s calf, which caused him to trip and fall to the ground.
Komaeda turned his head to give Hinata an infuriating grin.
“Whoops.”
“Komaeda…”
It was Hinata this time who was pinned beneath a foot, firm against his back, before the villain instead straddled him like he had before.
And with a little maneuvering, Komaeda was able to line the blade of the sword up with the ropes and cut his arms free.
“This was fun, don’t you think Hinata-kun? ”
The way Komaeda purred his name sent shivers down Hinata’s spine.
“What—“
His head was slammed against the ground, and he lost consciousness.
~ ~ ~
“He beat you again?” The soft voice of Nanami spoke from beside Hinata, who had just gotten his head bandaged by Tsumiki, a medical hero.
Eh— probably easier to just call her a nurse. Not much of a difference, Hinata thought to himself.
Nanami Chiaki was a hero that specialized in rescue work, and somehow one of Hinata’s closest friends.
“Yeah.” The brunette sighed. “He always does. It’s so frustrating.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t try so hard.”
“What?”
“It sounds like you’re trying too hard to catch him. Relax a little, it’ll help. …I think.”
Hinata stared, jaw agape.
Relax. He repeated in his mind. I need to.. Relax?
And so he did.
He thought less of winning, less of Komaeda.
So when he met the blonde on a rooftop one night, he felt very unnerved.
Komaeda seemed to have less of a hold on himself this time, going on and on about hope and despair and how worthless he was.
The black fabric, seemingly thrown to the side, went unnoticed.
Hinata didn’t understand.
“If you’re so worthless, why do you do all of this?” He questioned with narrowed eyes.
“Hinata-kun.. I’m just being as I’m destined to be: A lowly worm deserving of nothing but hatred.”
“No. That doesn’t.. Make sense.”
“Oh, but it does! Just think about it for a moment.”
And Hinata did think. But he still couldn’t find how Komaeda’s mindset worked.
He swung his sword.
Wait- what?
Komaeda doubled over, arm pressed to his stomach. The fabric of his shirt grew darker as warm blood soaked it.
He laughed. He fucking laughed.
“You- you actually did it.” He stumbled back with a wheeze. “Oh, how lucky I am- to experience such… Nh- Such hopeful—“
“Komaeda!” Hinata rushed towards the other, gripping his arms and pulling him close. He panicked. “Shit, what do I do!?”
He reached into his back and nearly sobbed in relief when he felt a roll of bandages. How lucky.
But Komaeda refused. He pushed himself away from Hinata, swiping up the forgotten piece of clothing, then hurried towards the edge.
“Hey!”
Hinata’s call went ignored as the Villain just stepped onto a ledge protruding from the wall. Swirling eyes stared down as he tried to figure out a way to get down.
But the distance… He felt nauseous.
Then, a strong pair of arms wrapped around his chest and pulled him up.
“Ah!?”
“Idiot!” Hinata hissed as he tugged Komaeda back onto the roof. He then let go and moved to sit on the thin man’s thighs, unzipping his jacket to lift his shirt and bandage the wound.
But then he saw it.
“Um.” He paused, then decided it’d be best to ignore that. He pulled Komaeda’s shirt up enough to reveal the injury, then began to wrap it.
It was silent for an awkward amount of time.
“So…”
“You know already.”
“Yeah. Um.”
~ ~ ~
Hinata took Komaeda home. It was stupid, yeah, but he didn’t have the heart to arrest him like that.
Now, the blonde lay on his couch, bundled up in a few blankets.
“Hey, if it helps.. I am too.”
“What..?”
“Yeah. I just- I’ve fully transitioned.”
“Oh.”
Komaeda stared with round eyes.
“What’s that look for?” Hinata asked with a raised eyebrow.
“If Hinata-kun is.. Is Trans as well… Maybe it isn’t a gross thing.” The villain mumbled his reply. “Maybe… Maybe it’s not something wrong with me.”
“Of course it’s not! It’s perfectly normal.”
“Normal…”
Silence.
“Thank you, Hinata-kun.”
“Yeah. Don’t- don’t mention it.”
Hinata stayed in the living room until Komaeda fell asleep, nearly white hair sprawled out over the pillow. His expression, despite everyone looking so peaceful during sleep, made the hero smile.
With a hum, he turned the lights out and made sure Komaeda seemed comfortable, then walked down the hall into his bedroom.
There was no reason to explain how safe he felt.
It didn’t make sense.
He wanted to message Nanami, but ultimately decided against it. He trusted her, but surely it was illegal to knowingly keep a villain in his home…
He slept well that night.
When he awoke, Hinata got out of bed as quick as he could manage and headed to the couch to check on Komaeda.
He was still asleep.
Ah… how cute. Hinata smiled and sat down on the loveseat. He stared at the other for a minute, before catching himself and tearing it away.
Maybe, just maybe, he and Komaeda could get closer.
Not now, but… Someday.
Hinata was looking forward to that day.