If you asked me how this crazy idea came to be, I would tell you that I'm not sure.

Like you, probably, I grew up reading and watching stories about heroes. The cool powers make the day of any kid, and the people always relied on them. When things went south, they knew that they could count on them.

I always dreamed of being a hero.

But life has a funny way of making you forget these 'delusions', and everyone knows that the real world isn't such a magical place like your child self used to think.

I was always a normal kid. Since improving your intellect is one of the closest things you can get to a super power in real life, I've always worked on that.

But...my fragile confidence always betrays me on evaluations, so I've always been just above average when it comes to grades.

Results, results, it's always about the results, the hard work you put into something amount to 0.

But the moment that I really thought about doing this, that is very well defined in my brain.

It was 10th grade. The first year of high school, you are always kind of nervous about meeting the people you will spend the rest of the year, and very likely three years with, but it went well.

Since you were required to choose a club, I chose the anime club.

It felt like the right choice, as even back then, I didn't like being the center of attention, and it was more acceptable to make that decision than I thought. Anime is loved by everyone now.

Life was going smooth until a certain event was orchestrated by the universe.

I was in Math class and the ink cartridge of my pen bursted in my hands.

The teacher allowed me to go clean myself.

Just as I was about to enter the boys bathroom I heard some smooching action going in there.

Honestly, I feit like a complete pervert by just standing there, but I needed to wait for them to leave, or else it would have been even more awkward.

Luckily, I saw one of my senpais who runs the anime club carrying some sports equipment. I quickly explained that I needed to pretend that I was helping him out and he didn't understood why.

I feel a powerful aura behind me, and I turn my head around.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

There was a guy coming out of the bathroom. He was well-built and his black eyes and hair only acentuated his intimidating presence.

Your eyes met.

I don't why, but I felt like I was about to vomit. It was like I knew what his true nature was.

He just grinned.

Behind him, a girl stepped out.

She looked at us and was surprised, I bet she wasn't expecting to be seen.

She ran past us.

-Poor Fubuki.

With those words from Gojo-senpai, the obvious started flooding in my mind.

Fubuki-chan is the most adorable person I've ever met. Everyone in my class loved her. She used to do a lot of voluntary work and she was so happy when I joined her in it. It was just the two of us.

That sweetness.

That white hair...oh, I always loved that white hair so much.

That was Jin, the captain of the school's football team and Fubuki's boyfriend.

I wasn't planning to do nothing with my new information.

That afternoon, I tracked him down.

He was studying literature at the library.

I knew what I was about to do, no, what I had to do.

-I'm gonna go straight to the point. Stop cheating on Fubuki!

Fear crawled it's way up my spine as he turned his head away from the books to face me.

He laughed. It was a laugh of mockery, like Mehmed II laughed to Vlad Tepes.

He got up.

-How about this? You shut your mouth for good and these photos stay between us.

He started to swipe some photos on his phone. They were nude photos of Fubuki.

I looked away immediately.

My mind was racing.

-I have her in the palm of my hand. -He whispered in my ear.

That was what evil is like. Using someone and then crushing them beneath your foot. That was the first time I witnessed evil.

I was furious. The adrenaline was making my hands shake.

-You shouldn't have messed with The Impaler.

I grabbed the phone out of his hands, and I smashed it on his face.

He probably got scared by that so he list his balance.

I got on top of him and started punching him repeatedly.

-Who do you think she is!??

Right there, on that library, the son of the Devil defeated the foolish Sultan once more.

Obviously, I got in trouble for that, but I never thought that I was going to get expelled.

When my parents came to school after what had transpired, I didn't knew what their reaction was going to be.

I told them my version.

-You're an honest person, and we know that you wouldn't do that just because you felt like it. -said my Dad.

-You did the right thing, I'm very proud of you, son -said my Mother.

I thought that a judge would have had another reaction, but I guess she knew that I had to judge Jin.

It was late and we were heading home.

On our street, the light of the lamp posts were shining upon some very familiar white hairs.

I had to try to explain myself to her, at least.

Just as I was about to talk, she ran to me and gave a hug.

It was unexpected.

With tears in her eyes, she simply said:

-Thank you, thank you very much.

-You...know?

-Yes, Gojo-senpai recorded everything.

That smartass...

-You know, he was going to share your pics if I said something.

She had to know.

-I always knew that was a bad idea.

I put my arms around her.

-Don't worry about that know. Smile! Smile!

I don't want to hear a thanks, not from you.

I did all of it to protect that smile.

It was in that moment that I realized what it means to be a hero.

It's not about the super powers, nor the public's love, it's about doing your best to protect the most precious things, even if only few other people know about your efforts.

It was the first smile that I loved.

And that love still burns in me today.