POV : Yamamoto Ren (Arcane Master)

A heated shuriken slices through the air inches away from my face, filling my nostrils with the smell of burning metal. I, however, don't have time to process this as many more are being thrown your way.

With great agility, I leap onto a nearby wall. The law of physics doesn't seem to work on me as I stand there calmly with no sign of falling down whatsoever. I move into squating position and with a push, shoot off towards Void Cat.

Taken by surprised, Void Cat couldn't dodge my attack in time and was knocked out cold. As she falls down, the pouch in her hand, which is full of five carat diamonds slips out, flying through the window.

Frowning, I jump outside with them. Free falling for Five-hundred meters until I finally have the pouch in my hand. After strapping the thing to my utility belt, I sigh.

Palms facing outward, I concentrate on activating the energy inside me, will it, asking it to move accordingly with the path I have sketched out for it. It respond and I instantly feel the familiar pressure building up in my forearms.

With one last push, a burst of colorless energy erupts from my hands. I casually turn my palm downward, as if on cue, the energy manifests itself, turning into a complex, red magic circle.

The energy penetrates its way into the [Law], breaks it down and tampering with the code, changing countless of numbers. Thirty meters from the ground, gravity suddenly seems to slowly lose effect on me.

Like a crane, I gracefully land on my feet, completely unharm. When I'm too concentrated on something, I tend to forget about the rest of the world. I only realise the crowd of people behind me a few second later, despite their noisiness.

Although they're only looking, asking for my attention, I know they're also filming this with that nanobot inside their heads. It has been twenty years since the first nanobot's appearance, they're little chip planted at the back of your neck. They used to be expensive but are quite common these days.

These little things have many uses, they act like a cellphone, a camera and a computer at the same time. Even I have to admit these things are convenient, but the idea of having something like that in the back of my neck just seems wrong to me.

Yeah, they can't be easily hacked but 'can't be easily hacked' and 'can't be hacked' are two different things. If I have a nanobot inside me, I will have to be tensed all the time. Believe me, heroic works and a stressed ability-user is not a good combination.

To use their abilities, an ability-user needs concentration. A stressed hero often loses focus and screws up, letting their abilities running havoc. There are countless cases where a hero accidentally kills a civilian due to low amount of control.

The CEO of Nano-Tech company took the advantage of this and made a software to warn heroes when their emotional level are too high. This is the reason why most ability-user has nanobot, heroes that associate with the government are even forced to implant a nanobot.

"Arcane Master ! Give me your signature, please !!!" Screamed the approaching girl, dragging me back to reality.

"Excuse me." I say, ignoring the girl request, there's no reason to inconvenience myself. Don't be mistaken, I love my fan but I'll never sign anything to anyone while I'm in my Arcanist identity. Not just me, most heroes don't give away their stuff, not after 'the Owl' incident.

It was three years ago, a hero called the Owl gave her signature away and was found dead the next morning, countless of knife wounds covering her body. The final inspection result said she was apparently raped, the killer stabbed her fourties times after he was done.

Two years later, they found and captured the killer, who was hidding in a abandoned house at the edge of town and learned about his ability to track down people with their signature.

According to the killer confession, he has been 'in love' with the Owl for a long time, wanted to find her identity, the killer went to where she was fighting with a villain and purposely stood under a falling debris.

As a hero, the Owl couldn't let him die and rescued him at the last moment. Push came to shove, she gave him her signature - It was her biggest mistake - And ultimately paid the price with her life. As for his reason for killing her, it was due to her refusing to have sex with him or some shit like that.

After apologizing, I jump up, reaching where Void Cat was previously just in time for my spell to wear off. There's noone there, however. Just a single note, which smells of perfume, left behind by Void Cat.

I would love to stay and play with you, but I'm afraid I can't. Later, darlin'.

~ Your adorable cat ~

Reading this note, I couldn't help but sign. She's always like this, breaking into houses, stores and stealing from people even though she should be filthy rich just from the stuff she stole previously.

The two of us met two years ago when I was fifteen, I just had my first awakening and was thrilled to join the heroes society. I wanted my debut mission to be big so I waited, hoping for something cooler than a bunch of robbers robbing a bank.

That day, an alien came to Earth with his army, wanting to rule the world and the other heroes were all busy. Only greenhorn like me had spare time. While I was leisurely patrolling the street, killing alien, I met Void Cat, who was trying to break into a jewelry store.

Can you believe it ? It was an alien invasion and instead of siding with the heroes like most villains did, she chose to steal stuff. So anyway, I tried to stop her, but I was a new and inexperienced hero at the time, a villain at Void Cat caliber was too much for me. Needless to say, she kicked my ass.

Young and competitive, I was pissed being beaten up like that and always came back, only to end up failing miserably everytime. Slowly, as I grew stronger, our relationship also elvoved with time. And now here we are ! I honestly think we are more like rival than enemy.

..........

"Nii-san ! Onii-san !!! Wake up !" The lovely voice of my little sister, Akira calls out to me.

Although I call her sister and she calls me onii-san, we're not really siblings. I was adopted eight years ago by her parents, the Yamamotos. They cared for me, fed me with good food, gave me warm clothes and hot shower so I opened up to them pretty quickly.

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It was quite unfortunate as her parents died three years ago in a car accident. We've been living together ever since - No, we don't need to struggle for food or anything as her parents were rich, they left behind everything for her.

After their deaths, she was devastated. Her cheerful demanor turned a bit more gloomy and silent, less talkative. It was only recently that she recovered her old personality. I guess she finally accepts the fact that her parents are dead and will never come back.

At first when I said I want to be a hero, she cried for days, fearing I might leave her just like her parents did. She only gave in after weeks of coaxing, in the end I had to promise her to leave when a case is too dangerous for me to handle.

As she's the only one who knows about my secret identity, I ask for her help in waking me up in the morning. After all, superheroes are still human, we need food and water just like others do, not to mention I'm a highschooler, that's why I mostly do my missions at night.

"Stop shaking Akira-chan... I'm up." I spit out the words through clenched teeth as I bravely fight against sleepiness.

Using all of my will-power, I tense my muscles and shoot up like a bullet. It takes a whole three minutes for my teary pair of eyes to adjust with the light, then like a zombie, I crawl my way into the bathroom.

Finally success in calling me up, Akira shakes her head, sighing and walks downstairs to make breakfast. As for me, I slam open the door to the bathroom, clean myself, get dressed and follow her.

Five steps down, the amazing fragrance of waffle and milkshake have already entered my nostrils. Last night after stopping Void Cat, I came home with an empty stomach and now such delicious smell wanders its way to me, I immediately race down the kitchen.

Humming a song in the kitchen is my little sister, Yamamoto Akira, a black hair black eyes beauty. She's beautiful, smart and is great at housework, the perfect model for most housewife. Ontop of all that, she's also an ability-user, her ability is [Predict], an A rank ability, suitable for support and strategist type heroes.

Akira has this habbit of singing or humming whenever she's happy and she's mostly happy. Of course, the process of her trying to recover from her parents death isn't like this. She was silent all the time back then and only say something when it's absolutely needed. To be honest, it was quite creepy. Think about, black long hair and eyes, gloomy demanor, she was exactly like a ghost in a certain movie.

I lean in on her shoulder to get a whiff of the food, which smells faintly of caramel. Another touch of Akira's unique touches. When she heard about her parents death, it took a real toll on her and she buried herself in works, school and occasionally, combat training from me.

One of the few things she enjoys doing till' this day is cooking. I was the one who taught her how to cook and I'll let you know that I'm a fairly good cook, it's due to my laziness that almost noone except Akira knows about my cooking ability.

Anyway, where was I ? Ah yes, I was the one who taught Akira how to cook, she learned everything very quick, but what amazed me is that she surpassed me in less than two months. It's like she's born to cook. Hell, even her knife handling is better than me right now.

"I'm afraid I will have to disappoint you, nii-san. The waffle isn't ready to eat yet, so be obedient, go out and wait for a bit will you ?" Akira says, pushing me out if the kitchen.

"But I want to see my beautiful Akira-chan cooking." I counter, writhing my body.

"Stop saying embarrasing things like that ! Stupid nii-san !" She yells with a beat red face and kicks me out, closing the door behind her. Noooo ! My view...

A few minutes passed and Akira goes out with two dishes. We start eating while telling each other about the previous day. It's really peaceful until Akira suddenly stops. I continue to eat in awkward silence, but then my curiosity overtakes me and I take a glance at Akira.

She keeps open then close her mouth, seemingly wanting to tell me something, but doesn't know how. In the end, I couldn't take it anymore and ask. "What's it ?"

My question is answered with silence once more. I look up to see Akira hanging her head low. Just what is it ? Is she being bullied by someone ? Standing up, I walk towards Akira, kneel down on one knee and ask. "What is it ? Did someone bully you ? Just tell me, your brother will go beat that person up !"

"No ! I just... I want to... I need your help, onii-san." Said Akira.

Puzzled, I tilt my head to the side, asking with narrowed eyes, killing intent is spiling out from my body. If there's one thing I can never forgive, then that's hurting my loved one, and right now the only one who is in that categorize is Akira. I don't care who you are, but harming her means death. "What is it Akira-chan ? Just tell me who was it that bullied you, I'll personally 'pay' him a visit."

"No ! You can't kill him !!!" Knowing my overprotective personality, Akira hurriedly say. Then she tells me everything.

It all started two months ago, when this John guy was transfered to her school. He is your typical 'Prince Charming', blonde hair, blue eyes, in the football team and is overly confident about his 'charm'. Apparently he confessed to Akira, she refused and chose to ignore him, but this doesn't make him change his mind at all. In fact he tries even harder now.

Exhausted, Akira spurted out some bullshit about her adopted brother, aka me being her boyfriend. John doesn't believe her and asked to see me. Basically we'll go on a date this saturday, which is tomorrow with three of her friends and John guy.

"But you can't beat him ! Although a little annoying, he seems like a nice guy and I also don't want you to get in trouble for me..." Akira mutters with a weak voice.

"I would gladly get into trouble if it's for my Akira-chan, beside, who can hurt me ? I'm Arcane Master, the hero !" I say smilingly and kiss her forehead, then continue. "Don't worry, I'll go with you tomorrow."

Finished, I go inside the bathroom. Grabbing my hair wax, I start combing my hair backwards. Standing in the mirror is the image of a young half-Korean half-American man with shiny white hair - Not really common, but ability-user usually has a special feature - And pacific blue eyes. This man is of course, me.

Styling for a bit, I nod my head in approval. "Now let's go to school, shall we ?"