Chapter Text
Rumi gave herself a quick look in the mirror, brushing her fingers through her straight hair to smooth it down. Satisfied with her reflection, she nodded firmly. The uniform looked fine, her blazer sat right, and she was ready to go.
She practically jogged to the living room, where Kenji (her seven year old brother) was munching on his cereal, managing to slurp between every bite. Her mom, Rio, was setting down a plate of toast as she looked up at Rumi's arrival.
Rio: Morning, Rumi! Did you know we got a new neighbor—
Rumi: —Sorry can't talk right now!
Rumi interrupted, downing her orange juice in record time. She grabbed a piece of toast and stuffed it halfway into her mouth, already halfway to the door.
Rio: You should go over and meet them —
Rumi: —Yeah, sounds great.
Waving over her shoulder, her words muffled by the toast in her mouth as she slipped on her shoes.
Rumi: I'll meet 'em later, maybe... or not! See ya!
And with that, she was gone, leaving Rio mid-sentence and Kenji giggling into his cereal bowl. He looked up, shaking his head like he'd seen it all before.
Kenji: She always does that.
The older white-haired woman just shook her head, pouring herself more tea.
Rio: One of these days, she's going to run right through the front door.
Outside, Rumi's hair bounced as she rushed past her neighbor's door — the one with fresh scuff marks and a couple of cardboard boxes stacked beside it. The new neighbor, whoever they were, could wait. Right now, she had to beat the clock to school, or she'd miss morning assembly... again.
The city street was already buzzing as Rumi joined the crowd of students heading off in every direction. The sun peeked through the tall buildings that flanked her neighborhood, casting sharp morning shadows on the pavement, and the distant sound of traffic hummed around her. Rumi couldn't help but smile. It was just another morning — frantic, familiar, and perfect.
~~~
The middle school classroom is alive with the murmur of student chatter and the faint, rhythmic tapping of pencils against desks. Sunlight filters in through tall windows, casting uneven stripes across the worn linoleum floor. Rumi, slouched in her seat near the back, scrolls absentmindedly through her phone, barely registering the sea of faces around her, classmates she can hardly even name.
Ryuko Tatsuma, Rumi's best friend since preschool, approaches with her usual light, weaving through the maze of desks until she stops right beside Rumi.
Ryuko: Hey, did you hear? We're getting a transfer student today.
Rumi flicks her eyes up, briefly interested.
Rumi: Oh yeah? What's the big deal?
Ryuko: Apparently, he got kicked out of his last school after a fight. Ten kids ended up in the hospital.
Rumi's lips twitch into a small, impressed smirk, but before she can respond, the bell echoes through the classroom. Students scramble to their seats, the chatter dying down as they turn their attention to the front of the room. The teacher steps in, brisk and authoritative, immediately silencing the last whispers.
Teacher: All right everyone, calm down and sit down. We've got a new student joining us today. You can come in now.
A moment of anticipation, then the door slides open, and in strides a boy with a presence that's hard to ignore. He's dressed in the school uniform, but there's something distinctly out-of-place about him — like a wolf dropped into a den of sleepy pups. His short brown hair is tousled just enough to seem natural, and his eyes, a matching earthy shade, scan the room with a quiet intensity. His face is defined, and handsome in a rough, subtle way that already has a few students whispering.
Unbothered, he walks to the chalkboard, picks up a piece of chalk, and, in quick, precise strokes, writes his name in large letters: Kaine Parker. He finishes, turns to the class, and offers a small, polite bow.
Kaine: My name is Kaine Parker. Nice to meet you. I hope we get along.
As he straightens, a wave of whispers ripples through the room. His reputation clearly precedes him, and the excited murmurs grow until the teacher raises a hand to restore order.
Teacher: Mr. Parker, you can take the seat in the back. Ms. Usagiyama please raise your hand so he knows where to sit.
With a small sigh, Rumi lazily raises her hand, her gaze cool and steady as she watches him approach. He walks to the seat beside her without so much as a glance in her direction, sliding into his desk with quiet ease, his attention solely on the front of the room.
For a moment, Rumi finds herself watching him, almost evaluating. Not out of anger or suspicion, but something closer to curiosity. She can sense that he's no pushover; there's an aura about him, a hidden power that she can almost feel. Kaine keeps his eyes fixed forward, not once looking her way.
Rumi: So this is the kid who sent ten people to the hospital, huh?
The classroom hums around her again as the lesson begins, but Rumi barely registers the teacher's words.
~~~
The sun beats down on the school field, bright and unrelenting, casting long shadows across the track where the students gather. Rumi stands off to the side, absently twisting and stretching her arms, feeling the satisfying pull of her muscles as she loosens up. She glances over her shoulder and catches the boys watching her—like they always do.
Ever since her body started to develop, they'd been fixated on her, throwing out compliments, making weak attempts to ask her out, some even flat-out confessing to her. Not one of them has managed to impress her, though. She'd turned them all down without a second thought, but that didn't stop them from gawking.
In her peripheral vision, she spots the new kid, Parker, on the other side of the field, doing his own stretches. His form is precise, each movement clean and controlled, but there's a raw strength to him that catches her attention, and Rumi's lips twitch into a faint smirk. If this guy's as tough as everyone's been whispering, this PE class is going to show her what he's really made of. She's always held the top spot in physical activities here, even with Quirks off-limits during class. Today, she's ready to keep it that way.
Finally, the PE teacher arrives, blowing a whistle to gather everyone's attention. The class lines up, and they start with some basic warm-ups, stretches, and sprints. Rumi goes through the motions with ease, glancing every so often at Parker, who keeps up with the exercises smoothly but without showing off. She feels her competitive edge sharpen.
Once the warm-ups are done, the teacher announces the main event: an obstacle course set up along the far side of the field. The course is a mix of hurdles, monkey bars, rope climbs, and a balance beam—a real test of both speed and agility.
Rumi perks up, a confident gleam in her eyes. She's pit against Parker for the first run, and the second she hears her name called alongside his, she feels her heart rate pick up—not from nerves, but from excitement. She's ready to blow this guy away, to show him just how fast and relentless she is.
The two students get into position, the teacher raises a hand, and after a tense moment of anticipation, he swings his arm down signaling the start, and Rumi coils like a spring, launching herself forward.
She blazes through the first part of the course, taking the hurdles in quick, powerful leaps and swinging across the monkey bars with practiced ease. She steals a quick look back and grins when she sees she has a solid lead on him.
But as she lands on the next section, Kaine suddenly surges forward, his pace surprisingly relentless. He clears the hurdles with a swift, almost effortless precision, and before she knows it, he's caught up to her. Gritting her teeth, Rumi pushes herself even harder, her breath coming faster as she reaches the final stretch. But Kaine only widens the gap, darting ahead in the last sprint toward the finish line and crossing before she can catch up. She skids to a stop just behind him, her pride bruised and her expression dark.
Kaine stands off to the side, surrounded by the rest of the class who are clapping him on the back and congratulating him for his win. He accepts their praises with a simple nod, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever, but Rumi barely registers their voices. Her gaze is locked on him, a burning glare of irritation, her fists clenched at her sides. She's never been beaten in anything like this, and watching him stand there, so collected, only fuels her frustration.
~~~
The final bell rings, its sharp chime signaling the end of the school day. Rumi puts her textbooks into her bag, the weight of the day pressing down on her as she gathers her things from her desk. Her mind still lingers on the obstacle course, and the sting of defeat doesn't seem to let up.
Ryuko walks up beside her, a sympathetic smile on her face.
Ryuko: Hey, don't let it bother you, alright? It's just one class.
Rumi glances at her friend, forcing a shrug as she tightens the strap of her bag.
Rumi: It doesn't matter. It was just beginner luck. I'll beat him next time. I need to head home anyway, make sure Kenji's alright.
Ryuko raises an eyebrow but says nothing more, just giving Rumi a quick wave as she hurries off to meet her own plans for the afternoon.
Her bag slung over her shoulder, she headed down the crowded hallway, eyes lazily scanning her surroundings. The usual end-of-day commotion filled the halls—students talking, lockers slamming, people rushing to meet up with friends.
Then, as she passed by a corner, she heard a loud thud and a mocking laugh. She turned her head, just enough to catch the sight of a group of guys gathered around one kid, The target was a kid with a bit more weight than most, visibly nervous as he clutched his books to his chest, his face turned down. Just as he tried to adjust his grip, one of the bullies slapped the books out of his hands, sending them crashing to the floor.
His books were scattered across the floor, one of the bullies giving him a nasty grin, practically daring him to pick them up. The kid hesitated, looking down at his fallen stuff, then back up at the bullies with a tense look that screamed he'd rather be anywhere else.
Her fingers clenched into a fist, a familiar fire flaring up inside. Rumi hated bullies with a passion. They were right up there with villains in her book. Her hands balled into fists, a fire lighting up in her chest as she stepped forward, ready to give them a piece of her mind and maybe a taste of her right heel. She was already visualizing how good it would feel to slam those grins right off their faces.
But before she could take another step, a calm voice broke the tension from the opposite side of the hall.
Kaine: I'd pick those up if I were you.
The bullies froze, their heads snapping up toward the voice. Kaine stood there, standing upright in the middle of the hallway, his hands in his pockets, his gaze sharp and unwavering as he looked at them. He didn't say anything more. His posture was relaxed, but the look in his eyes was anything but. His gaze was sharp, almost icy, directed straight at the leader of the group. There wasn't a hint of anger or threat, just a firm, unbreakable line of control. That unspoken message was clear: back off.
The bullies exchanged nervous glances, shuffling uncomfortably under his gaze. One of them muttered something to the others, and, just like that, they backed off, muttering as they headed down the hallway, leaving the student and his books behind.
Rumi watched as Kaine nodded subtly to the kid, who gave a small nod in return before kneeling to gather his books. She felt a mix of relief and disappointment. Part of her was glad the kid was safe, no need to make a bigger scene than needed—but another part, the part that had been itching for a fight, felt a bit robbed.
As she turned to go, she couldn't help but make a mental note. He wasn't a bully, and he wasn't looking to pick fights for fun. He was like her—ready to stand up for anyone who needed it.
She gave a small, approving smirk. Alright, she'd give him that.
With the hallway drama behind her, Rumi turned her attention back to her own exit. Rumi steps out into the cool afternoon air, the sun beginning its descent behind the school buildings, casting long shadows on the pavement. She walks home in a quiet daze, the usual sounds of the neighborhood filtering through her thoughts. The day's events replay in her mind, the image of Kaine effortlessly outpacing her at the obstacle course haunting her thoughts like a flickering shadow.
When she finally reaches home, the door creaks as she pushes it open. The house is empty, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Her mom's car is gone—she's probably still at work—and her brother Kenji won't be back from preschool for a little while yet. Rumi sets her bag down, and with a quick glance around, she starts moving around the house, tidying up the kitchen, making sure everything is in order for when Kenji gets home.
She chops vegetables and prepares rice with the quiet precision she's used to, focusing on the simple task to distract herself from her earlier frustration. The rhythmic chopping of the knife, and the soft hiss of food cooking on the stove, all ground her in the present. It's comforting, and after a few moments, she can feel the tension in her shoulders start to fade.
At school, Rumi is a force to be reckoned with—loud, fierce, and relentless. But here, in the silence of her home, she's different. Calm. Controlled. She has a knack for household chores, from cooking to cleaning to keeping things in order. It's something that no one knows about her, not even Ryuko, and that's the way she likes it. It's her secret, a quiet part of herself that no one can touch.
Once the meal is prepared, she sets the table and takes a seat at the dining room table, the plate of food in front of her ignored for the moment. Instead, she pulls out the latest manga she's been reading: Rent-A-Hero. The cover features a striking illustration of a handsome Pro hero and a wealthy woman, both standing back-to-back with intense expressions. It's a romcom, one of the ones she secretly loves, but no one can ever find out. If anyone knew, she'd rather die of embarrassment right then and there.
She flips it open, eyes quickly skimming the pages. The story centers around a wealthy woman being targeted by the Yakuza, and with no other choice, she rents a Pro Hero to protect her. They start off as strangers, their relationship purely transactional, but as the chapters unfold, the two begin to fall for each other. Rumi's heart flutters as she reads, the mix of romance and action getting to her every time.
Her fingers trace the edges of the paper, and she allows herself a small smile as the hero and heroine share a close moment, their connection growing deeper with each passing chapter. There's something about the way the story blends humor, tension, and heart that she can't resist.
Rumi's eyes flick to the clock—Kenji should be home soon. She's only halfway through the latest chapter, but she's been so absorbed in the manga that she's lost track of time. Her fingers twitch as she reads one last line—"I'll protect you, no matter the cost"—and Rumi's chest tightens, the words hitting her harder than she expects. She presses her face into the pages, almost wishing she could vanish into the manga itself, away from the world. She picks up her plate, staring down at the food she prepared but not feeling particularly hungry. Her mind, however, is still far away, caught in the emotions of the story.
A sharp noise from the front door makes her jump.
Kenji: Big Sis! I'm home!
The soft thud of his shoes hitting the floor in the hallway makes her snap the manga shut, her face going red with embarrassment. She quickly shoves it back into her backpack, her heart still pounding from the momentary panic.
Rumi pops her head out of the living, expecting Kenji's usual after-school chatter, but instead, her eyes widen when she sees him standing there with a bloodied nose, his face a mess of scrapes and dirt. She rushes over, worry tightening her chest as she bends down to inspect him.
Rumi: Kenji, what happened?! Did someone hurt you?!
Kenji blinks up at her with big, teary eyes, shaking his head as he sniffles, sounding both embarrassed and excited all at once.
Kenji: No, big Sis! It wasn't like that! There was this huge dog, like, super big! And it chased me! I was running so fast, but I tripped. Then I almost got smushed by a car, but then... he saved me!
He points with his small, grubby finger behind him, and it's only then that Rumi realizes someone else is there. Her eyes follow Kenji's outstretched hand, and her stomach twists in shock as she recognizes the tall figure standing in her doorway. Kaine Parker.
He stands just inside the door, looking as calm and unfazed as ever, his eyes meeting hers with that same neutral, unreadable expression he always wears. The late afternoon sunlight filtering through the window casts a faint glow over his face, making his tousled brown hair and intense gaze even more striking.
Rumi feels a rush of conflicting emotions—surprise, a hint of gratitude, and, beneath it all, a bit of frustration that this guy just keeps showing up, making himself look more capable, more heroic. But Kenji's injury pulls her back to reality.
Rumi: You really scared me, Kenji. And running from a dog? What were you thinking?
Kenji scrunches his face, his little fists balling up as he pouts.
Kenji: I was just playin'! And then it started barkin', and I thought it was gonna eat me! It was, like, so huge, like, this big!
He spreads his arms wide, his eyes wide with the dramatic emphasis only a seven-year-old can manage. Rumi's lips twitch into a smile despite herself, and she can't help but glance over at Kaine, who's leaning casually against the doorway, watching them with an unreadable expression.
After a moment, she finishes cleaning Kenji's face and turns back to Kaine, folding her arms, still feeling a bit unsettled by his presence here.
Rumi: So... thanks for, you know... saving my little brother.
The young brunette shrugs, his expression still calm like it's no big deal.
Kaine: It's whatever. I'm just glad I was nearby. I'll head out since you've got this covered.
As he turned toward the door, a tiny hand reached out and grabbed the back of his shirt, stopping him.
Kenji: Hey, hey! You saved me, so you gotta stay for dinner! You gotta, you gotta! Big Sis always makes the best food!
His voice is full of childish hope, and his small hands are still gripping Kaine's sleeve like a lifeline.
Kenji: Please stay, okay? It's my thank you for saving me!
Kaine looks down at Kenji for a moment, slightly taken aback by the kid's earnestness. He meets Rumi's eyes, his gaze cool but waiting for her reaction. She stands there for a beat, uncertain, before she offers a small shrug, trying to look casual.
Rumi: If you're not in too big of a hurry, I could whip something up for you. I'm sure Kenji would love to have you stay.
Her voice is steady, but there's a part of her that wonders if she's doing the right thing. Kaine doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would want to stay for dinner, but then again, he did save her little brother.
Kaine looks at Rumi for a second longer, almost like he's considering something. Then, his shoulders relax, and he exhales, nodding once.
Kaine: Alright, I guess I could stay for a bit.
Kenji's eyes widen with delight, his face lighting up as if it's Christmas morning. He jumps up and down, his excitement spilling over.
Kenji: Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Rumi's cooking is the best! Come on! Let's go eat!
He practically pulls Kaine by the sleeve toward the kitchen, his voice echoing with enthusiasm.
Rumi follows behind them, shaking her head with a small smile, though the surprise from earlier hasn't fully worn off. Kaine, in her house. Her brother inviting him to stay. It's all a bit surreal.
As Rumi gets to work in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and getting things ready, she glances over her shoulder to see Kaine standing there, looking around the room as if taking everything in. His quiet presence fills the space, but he doesn't seem out of place.
Rumi: I'll make something quick. I hope you're not picky.
She adds, her tone light but with a hint of playfulness. Kaine gives her a half-smile, the first real sign of warmth she's seen from him.
Kaine: I'm not picky. But I wouldn't mind something simple.
He leans against the counter, his gaze flicking over to Kenji, who's already perched at the kitchen table, waiting eagerly.
Rumi works in silence for a moment, but she feels his gaze on her, almost like he's studying her. It's making her uneasy in a way she can't explain, but she doesn't let it show. She forces herself to focus on the task at hand, chopping ingredients with sharp, precise movements.
Rumi doesn't want to admit it, but she can't help the growing feeling of embarrassment. Embarrassed that he's seeing this side of her—the calm, quiet girl who spends her evenings cooking dinner for her little brother, not the powerhouse who dominates every competition she enters. Kaine Parker, of all people, in her house, in her space.
But for now, she's just going to make dinner. Everything else can wait.
~~~
Kenji: He was so cool! He ran like super fast, like whoosh! and grabbed me before the car could hit me!
The younger rabbit-eared boy's eyes were wide with admiration, his little face lit up as he looked at Kaine, practically bouncing in his seat.
Kenji: Hey, hey! Are you gonna be a big-time hero like the ones on TV? Like, you know, with the cool suits and saving people?
The brunette chuckled softly at Kenji's question, leaning back slightly in his chair. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, looking over at the young boy with an amused smile.
Kaine: Yeah, that's the dream.
Kenji: Woah... then you must have a super cool quirk. Our family's quirk is "Rabbit", but what's yours!?
Kenji's eyes sparkled with anticipation, leaning in close, practically buzzing as he waited for Kaine's response. Rumi tried to keep her own curiosity hidden, though her ears twitched involuntarily, a small tell she hoped went unnoticed as she washed the dishes with the boys to her right.
Kaine remained calm, giving a small shrug, seemingly unfazed by the eager eyes on him. He looked down at Kenji, his voice low and relaxed, as if they were talking about the weather instead of powers that set them apart.
Kaine: My quirk is called "Arachnid". It's another word for Spider. I can do whatever a spider can. It also gives me enhanced strength and agility, mostly. But I can also do this...
The young man pointed his hand to the young boy's backpack, and putting his middle and ring finger down, a thin, near-invisible strand shot from his wrist. The thread attached to Kenji's backpack lying by the doorway, and with a slight tug, Kaine brought it sliding across the floor, the backpack gliding over to them like it weighed nothing.
Kenji's mouth dropped open, his gaze flickering between his backpack and Kaine, absolutely dazzled.
The words were simple, but they lingered in Rumi's mind. Enhanced strength and agility. It explained a lot—the way he seemed to flow through movement effortlessly, how he'd managed to catch Kenji just in time, and his unmatched speed in the PE drills. Even if she didn't want to admit it, he had an edge, physically, that she couldn't ignore.
Kenji: Whoaaa! That's so cool! Is it like... sticky? Can you swing around? Oh, oh! Can you use it to climb walls and everything?
Kaine chuckled, amused by the kid's excitement but not too inclined to elaborate much further.
Kenji: My big sis is studying to be a hero too! She's gonna be the best ever, like, super-duper strong and everything!
At that, Kaine turned his head, his interest clearly piqued as he looked at her. She pretended not to notice, focusing on washing dishes, though she couldn't quite ignore the slight warmth creeping to her cheeks.
Kaine: Makes sense. She's strong.
Kenji: See, Rumi? Even he thinks you're super strong! Told ya! I'm gonna be braggin' about you when you're the best hero ever!
Rumi gave her little brother a small, almost shy smile, her usual tough exterior faltering for just a moment. Finished washing the last dish, carefully setting it in the drying rack as Kaine stood from the table, brushing off his hands and giving her one last nod.
Kaine: Guess I'll get out of your hair. Thank you for the food.
Rumi: You're welcome... and thank you, too, for Kenji.
Kaine gave a slight nod, a faint smile on his face as he headed toward the door, his movements relaxed, as if he had all the time in the world. Rumi followed him, still processing everything that had happened in the last hour. Her little brother practically idolized him, Kaine himself in her house, and her feeling... something unfamiliar she couldn't quite name.
As they reached the front door, Kaine glanced back at her, an unreadable look in his eyes, and then his usual calm tone slipped back in.
Kaine: Guess I'll be seeing you more often.
The statement threw her off, and she couldn't hide her surprise, the question slipping out before she could stop herself.
Rumi: What do you mean?
He smirked, reaching into his pocket to pull out a small, silver key. Without a word, he moved to the door next to hers and, with a smooth turn of the key, unlocked it. Rumi's eyes widened, watching as he opened the door to the neighboring apartment, casually glancing back at her.
Kaine: Just moved in. See ya around.
He gave her a quick wave, like it was the most normal thing in the world, and stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him. Rumi stood there for a moment, frozen in the doorway of her own apartment, her thoughts spinning as her heartbeat picked up.
The new neighbor. Kaine Parker, the guy who'd gotten under her skin with his effortless skill in class, who had saved her little brother, was now living right next door. The realization left her with mixed feelings—part annoyance, part disbelief, and an odd fluttering in her chest that she wasn't ready to examine too closely.
She closed her door slowly, the weight of the strange evening settling over her. It was ridiculous, really. So what if he lived next door? It wasn't like it changed anything. But, standing there in the quiet of her apartment, she couldn't shake the feeling that this wouldn't be the last time he turned her world on its head.