章節 10: Chapter 10
Wanderer sat in his office, staring at the glowing screen filled with headlines about his latest feats—stopping crimes, rescuing civilians, and bringing down villains. His past, once a blank slate, was now painted with acts of heroism. He should have felt resolved, but instead, he sighed and rubbed his face.
This should have been simple.
The door creaked open, and Faruzan entered, her smile bright and carefree. "Hiring that tutor was the best thing we've done. It was rough at first, but Himiko's warming up to Fuyumi. She might even like her." Faruzan hopped up on his desk, swinging her legs playfully.
Wanderer remained quiet for a moment, then spoke in a lower tone. "Faruzan... I found a way back to Teyvat."
Her smile faltered, eyes wide with surprise. "You did? When?"
"Last week. While I was away, I made contact with Buer, the Dendro Archon." His voice was steady, but there was a heaviness behind it. "She wasn't sure if there's a way back yet, but… she asked me something that made me stop and think."
Faruzan's brow furrowed. "What did she ask?"
"...Are we really willing to leave behind what we've built here?"
Faruzan closed her eyes, her smile fading into a reflective silence. "If you'd asked me years ago, I wouldn't have hesitated to say yes. But now..." She trailed off, glancing at the office window as if seeing a life beyond.
"It's because of Himiko, isn't it?" Wanderer asked softly.
Faruzan nodded, but then shook her head, adding, "Yes and no. It's not just her. I've built real connections here—friends, not just allies or colleagues. And yes, Himiko is part of it. She's so sweet, her smile lights up a room… she's like my own child now. I couldn't just rip her away from everything she knows, even if we could take her with us."
Wanderer leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. "We were torn from our world too, remember?"
"Yes," Faruzan replied, her voice firm. "But that wasn't our choice. We were thrown here—by accident or maybe fate. This world, despite its chaos, has become… home. Going back to Teyvat, where things are simpler, less advanced—it feels like going backward."
Wanderer exhaled, realizing she had a point. Technology here was far more advanced. Life, for all its complications, had its conveniences.
He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk. "...I'll talk to Buer. I'll tell her we've decided to stay."
Faruzan's smile returned, warmer this time. "Maybe we can visit sometime? There's still a part of me that wants to see it again. I left a few things behind."
Wanderer shook his head with a soft laugh. "Make up your mind already."
She chuckled. The decision was made. Wanderer wouldn't walk away from the life they had created here, from the people who had become more than just passing connections. Wanderer had found his place in this world—a hero. And he wasn't ready to abandon it just yet.
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As the latest villain, dressed in full ronin attire, was shoved into the back of a police car, he screamed at the top of his lungs, "I'LL KEEP COMING BACK! I AM THE STEEL RONIN! YOUR NEMESIS!"
The officer cuffing him rolled his eyes. "Shut up."
Wanderer stood nearby, his gaze fixed on Steel Ronin. The crowd watched with bated breath, phones out, ready to capture whatever was about to happen. The two locked eyes, and for a tense moment, the air seemed thick with anticipation.
Then Wanderer burst out laughing.
It was a sound no one expected. The stoic, almost emotionless hero who rarely showed anything but indifference was now laughing—genuinely, uncontrollably. The crowd gasped, cameras zooming in to catch every second. This was viral material in the making.
"You—" Wanderer wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "You think you're my nemesis?"
Burnin, his sidekick, blinked at him in disbelief. She'd never seen him like this.
Steel Ronin, undeterred, puffed out his chest. "Who else has pushed you to your limit?!"
That only made Wanderer laugh harder. The villain looked increasingly confused as the hero struggled to catch his breath. Finally, after a few deep breaths, Wanderer composed himself, though a smirk still played at the corner of his lips.
"I've faced cockroaches more resilient than you," Wanderer deadpanned, his voice dry and cutting.
The crowd erupted with laughter and snickers, with some people shouting "Ohhh!" in response. Steel Ronin, now visibly humiliated, was shoved into the police car, his bravado fading.
"BWAHAHA! BOSS, THAT WAS BRUTAL!" Burnin doubled over with laughter.
Wanderer smirked, his usual demeanor returning. "Brutal? I just tell it like it is. If they can't handle it, that's their problem."
Still giggling, Burnin followed Wanderer as they left the scene. The crowd's buzz of excitement lingered behind them.
---
Later that day, Wanderer sat across from Fuyumi, who stared at the envelope he had just handed her with wide eyes.
"Sir, this is too much," Fuyumi said, her voice tinged with surprise.
"You're helping Himiko with her studies," Wanderer replied with a sigh. "A girl who was once labeled a villain. I think this is a fair exchange. Besides, Faruzan insisted."
Fuyumi sweatdropped at the mention of Faruzan. "I see… She really does act like a mom, doesn't she?"
"She's… persistent," Wanderer muttered, his tone resigned.
Fuyumi, still holding the envelope, tried to hand it back. "But I don't need the money."
Wanderer raised an eyebrow. "I know Endeavor's money helps, but earning your own… it's a good feeling."
That made her pause. She blinked, surprised. "You… You know who I am."
"It wasn't hard to figure out," Wanderer said, his tone matter-of-fact. "But if you're worried, I don't hold anything against you. It's your actions that matter."
Fuyumi glanced at the envelope again, then slipped it into her bag. "Thank you… I'll be back on Monday," she said with a small bow.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." Wanderer placed a hand on her shoulder in a rare gesture of reassurance.
Fuyumi blushed slightly and quickly excused herself, hurrying out of the lobby without another word.
Wanderer watched her go, confused. He shrugged, then turned to see Faruzan smirking from the hallway.
"What?" Wanderer scowled.
"Oh, nothing," Faruzan said, her smirk growing. "I just realized there's a little more keeping you here than I thought."
Wanderer's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me? What's that supposed to mean?" He rushed after her, his voice demanding.
Faruzan giggled and continued walking away, ignoring his protests. "You'll figure it out."
"Faruzan!" Wanderer barked, trailing behind her. "What do you mean?!"
But she just waved him off with a knowing smile, leaving him to puzzle over her words.
===========================
There were many things Wanderer disliked. Chief among them were people who couldn't take a hint—people who insisted on talking to him even when he clearly didn't want to engage.
Today, he was dealing with a particularly annoying example. After taking down a villain alongside Ryukyu, the Dragoon Hero, Wanderer found himself trying—and failing—to escape her intern, Nejire Hado. Ryukyu herself was fine. She was good at her job, pleasant to work with, and had even suggested teaming up in the future, which Wanderer politely declined.
But her intern?
That was another story.
"Hey hey! Why the big hat? Can you fly into space? How old are you? How do you control your winds so well?" Nejire's barrage of questions came rapid-fire as she hovered around him, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Wanderer's brow twitched in frustration. He attempted to fly off, but Nejire followed him like a persistent little gnat, undeterred.
"Ryukyu, control your intern or I'll blow her away," Wanderer grumbled through gritted teeth.
Ryukyu, ever composed, smiled. "Nejire, Wanderer needs to get going."
Nejire pouted but finally backed off. "Okay…"
With a sigh of relief, Wanderer shot off into the sky. "Thank you," he muttered over his shoulder.
As he flew away, one thought solidified in his mind: New goal—stay as far away from that little pixie as possible.
===========================
Meanwhile, inside their home, Faruzan was having her own battle of wills with a very stubborn Himiko.
"Himiko!" Faruzan's voice rang through the room, frustration evident. She slammed a single sheet of paper onto the table. On it, written in bold, was: The government created them.
"When I asked you to write an assignment on how quirk laws came to be, I expected an essay! Not this!" Faruzan scolded, her hands on her hips.
Himiko crossed her arms defiantly. "You asked how they came to be, and basically, that's what happened."
Faruzan pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to keep her cool. "Are you even paying attention during Fuyumi's lessons? I'm paying for your education because I want you to get into a good school, to have a well-paying job, to have a future!"
"A future where I'll be oppressed!" Himiko shot back, her voice sharp. She understood Faruzan's concern, but she wasn't keen on the idea of going to a school where she felt she didn't belong.
Faruzan's retort died on her lips. She paused, her expression softening with a sigh. "I don't know for sure," she admitted quietly. "But I just want what's best for you." She sat down, her frustration giving way to concern. "You're so talented, Himiko. I want you to expand on that, to have the opportunities you deserve." Faruzan's tone shifted, more gentle now. "Look, my boss is friends with UA's principal. Maybe I can get you in."
Himiko blinked in surprise. "The school for heroes?"
"You don't have to be a hero," Faruzan assured her quickly. "There's general education, business, support courses—you don't have to do what everyone else is doing. I just want to support you in whatever path you choose."
Faruzan reached out, cupping Himiko's cheek with a warm smile. Himiko, for all her stubbornness, felt a tear about to roll down her cheek. Ever since Faruzan adopted her, she had felt something she hadn't experienced in a long time—love. Real, unconditional love from someone she could finally call family.
"I… I want to think about it," Himiko murmured, her voice cracking just a little.
Faruzan smiled softly. "Take all the time you need. But while you're thinking…" She stood up, her expression turning back to stern. "You can redo your essay. I expect a full paper before your next tutoring session."
Himiko groaned as she reached for the crumpled sheet. "Fine, fine…"
She didn't want to let Faruzan down.
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A new hero had entered the scene, and Wanderer wasn't exactly thrilled about it.
He was in the middle of chasing down a guy on a motorcycle when this new hero swooped in. A man with red, feathered wings—Hawks.
In a blur of crimson feathers, Hawks yanked the biker off the motorcycle, sending the vehicle skidding. More feathers shot out, pulling the bike off the road entirely. Hawks landed gracefully, holding the criminal by the collar like it was no big deal.
Wanderer narrowed his eyes. He didn't like this guy. Too laid-back and efficient. Way too efficient for someone who was supposedly new to the scene. It didn't sit right with him.
"It's an honor, Number Two," Hawks said with a grin, extending his hand.
Wanderer, being polite, shook it, though his expression remained neutral. "I've heard of you… Hawks, right?"
"Righto! Glad to see that my reputation precedes me," Hawks said, his grin widening.
Wanderer raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. He pulled his hand back, ready to leave. "If that's all, I need to go."
"Hey, why don't we grab a bite?" Hawks suggested, as if they were old pals. "I know some good spots."
Wanderer's gaze turned cold. "I don't eat," he said flatly before taking off into the sky without another word.
As he flew, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Nezu.
Below, Hawks watched Wanderer disappear into the clouds. His phone buzzed almost immediately. He answered without hesitation.
"Did you encounter him?" a woman's voice asked.
"Yup," Hawks replied, glancing at the police as they arrested the biker. "Just like you described. Doesn't talk much, not the sociable type."
"And you couldn't get anything out of him?" the woman's voice demanded.
"Nah," Hawks shrugged, though there was no one around to see it. "He didn't blow me off like he was hiding something. More like… he didn't care to know me at all. No interest."
"Keep watching him," the woman ordered, then hung up.
Hawks sighed, tucking his phone away. Easier said than done, he thought, before flying off into the distance.
===========================
"HEY!"
Wanderer had just finished subduing a man using his enlargement quirk to destroy an office building when the shout echoed across the street. He turned to see the Rabbit Hero, Mirko, stomping toward him with a furious expression.
"I had him!" she yelled, frustration dripping from every word.
"If that were true, you'd be the one standing here," Wanderer replied dryly, not bothering to match her anger.
Mirko growled in annoyance, her fists clenched. But before she could retort, both of them perked up at the sound of distant sirens. Without a word, they took off—Wanderer flying through the air, while Mirko leapt from building to building.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Mirko shouted, keeping pace with him.
"To the source of the sirens," Wanderer replied, his tone flat as ever. "Why don't you go find something else to handle? We don't both need to be there."
"FAT CHANCE! I'm taking this one!" Mirko shot back, pushing herself to move faster.
Wanderer smirked slightly as he increased his speed, leaving her struggling to keep up. "Then keep up," he said over his shoulder.
And so, it began. The two heroes raced to one incident after another, with Mirko always trying to outpace Wanderer, but his flight abilities left her in the dust every time. No matter how fast or strong she was, he was always a step ahead, soaring above while she bounded across the rooftops below.
Each time she arrived just a little too late, it only fueled her determination to train harder, to get faster.
Wanderer, on the other hand, simply found her persistence— incredibly annoying.
===========================
Fuyumi wasn't quite sure how she ended up in this situation.
She had been doing her usual job as Himiko's tutor—helping her with her studies and even becoming something of a friend to the girl. Faruzan, Himiko's guardian (though Fuyumi suspected she saw herself as more of a mother), was insistent that Fuyumi stay on board and continue working with Himiko.
One afternoon, Fuyumi arrived at the agency, only to be told that both Faruzan and Himiko were out running errands and would return soon. She was directed to wait in the lounge.
That's when she saw him—Wanderer—sitting on the couch, sipping tea and eating.
For a moment, they just stared at each other. The silence was awkward, and Fuyumi quickly snapped to her senses. "I'm so sorry! I'll just go—" she started, but Wanderer cut her off.
"Just sit. It's fine, as long as you don't annoy me," he said with a sigh, leaning back into the couch.
Typical. That bratty, distant attitude he was known for. Still, she nodded and cautiously sat down, her eyes drifting toward his food. It was something unfamiliar, but it smelled delicious.
Wanderer noticed her gaze and raised an eyebrow. "...Did you eat before you came?" he asked.
Before she could answer, her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
Without a word, Wanderer slid his bowl toward her. "Eat. I'm done anyway."
Blinking in surprise, Fuyumi hesitated before accepting. She took a bite, and her eyes widened at the complex flavors—sweet, bitter, and savory all at once. "Oh wow, this is amazing! What's it called?" she asked.
"Shimi Chazuke," Wanderer replied with a shrug. "It's a variation of Unagi Chazuke I made myself."
"It's so good!" Fuyumi exclaimed. "My brother would love this. Do you think you could give me the recipe?"
Wanderer smirked slightly, a rare expression on his usually stoic face. "I suppose. I have your number. I'll send it over later."
Fuyumi smiled warmly. "Great! I'll trade you my tofu recipe in exchange. Deal?"
He raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Deal."
As they continued talking, Fuyumi felt herself easing into the conversation. Wanderer, while aloof, wasn't as cold as his reputation suggested. It felt… surprisingly comfortable.
Just then, the door swung open, and Faruzan and Himiko walked in. Faruzan's eyes immediately landed on the pair, and her smirk grew wider.
"Oh, sorry we're late. Traffic was awful," Faruzan said, though her tone carried a teasing lilt as she took in the sight of Fuyumi and Wanderer chatting together.
"It's fine," Fuyumi said, rising from her seat. "Himiko, are you ready to start?"
"Yeah, yeah," Himiko huffed, though she looked more relaxed than usual as she shuffled over to Fuyumi.
Wanderer stood as well, intending to leave, but not before catching the look on Faruzan's face—a mischievous grin that told him she was up to something.
"What?" Wanderer scowled, glaring at her.
Faruzan's smirk only deepened. "Did you enjoy your alone time with Fuyumi?~" she teased.
Wanderer rolled his eyes. "It was... pleasant. Certainly more pleasant than your constant nagging."
Faruzan's smirk faltered, and her playful demeanor quickly shifted to annoyance. "Nagging? I do not nag!"
Ignoring her protests, Wanderer walked past her and left the room, leaving Faruzan behind as she huffed and shouted after him.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票