Fairy Tail's Sun Guardian

Chapter 9 - Smile: A New Purpose behind Heroism

Izuku let out a heavy sigh as he witnessed Albedo losing consciousness. It was a disheartening sight that weighed on him. However, his attention was quickly drawn to the faint whimpers emanating from behind him. Turning around, he discovered the girls bound and gagged, their vulnerability painfully evident. 

("Well, at least he saved me the trouble of searching for them.")

His eyes fell upon one of the girls, crumpled in a corner, unconscious and bloodied on her forehead. A surge of anger surged within him, darkening his features beneath the hood, fueled by the sight of their distress.

The girls huddled together, fear etched into their wide eyes and their bodies rigid with tension. ("These poor girls, undoubtedly traumatized by this ordeal.") 

Izuku decided to first free the girls from their restraints before attending to the unconscious one. He knew that if he didn't, their fear of him would only deepen.

"It's alright," he spoke in a soft, reassuring tone, taking a cautious step closer to them. "You're safe now. I'm here to help."

As the girls continued to tremble, their fear intensifying, Izuku noticed their retreat towards the wall. It dawned on him that his hood might be increasing their distress. Recognizing this, he cautiously reached up and lowered his hood, gradually revealing his face to them.

"I am an adventurer," he spoke in a gentle tone, his voice laced with sincerity. "Mayor Woodslap sent me here to save you." With a small yet reassuring smile, he raised his arms, demonstrating his harmlessness and good intentions.

Initially, the girls remained apprehensive, their eyes still betraying their lingering fear. However, one girl, adorned with glasses, slowly nodded her head in understanding, her whimpering gradually subsiding.

A sense of relief flooded through Izuku as he witnessed the girls gradually calming down. He continued to approach them cautiously, his genuine smile intact, understanding the power it held.

Though he harbored resentment towards the blond oaf now, he couldn't deny the memories of happiness his own smile had brought him in childhood. So he chose to employ the same method, using his smile to reassure others in tough times.

"I apologize if I frightened you," he spoke softly, his voice laced with genuine concern. "I just wanted to ensure that the kidnappers wouldn't recognize me." Kneeling beside the girl with glasses, he carefully reached for the cloth that had been used to gag her.

"But rest assured, you're safe now," he reassured them, his voice filled with sincerity. "I'm going to take you back to your home." With gentle care, he removed the cloth, causing the girl to gasp for air, taking deep breaths as she struggled to regain her composure.

"It's alright," Izuku whispered, placing a comforting hand on the girl's shoulders. "Just focus on taking deep breaths and try to calm down. You're safe now."

The girl's wide eyes reflected both fear and confusion, clear signs of the trauma she had endured. It was evident that they were still grappling with the events that had transpired.

Izuku moved on to the next girl, approaching her with utmost care. His touch was gentle as he began untying the ropes, ensuring not to cause them any pain or further distress. Throughout the process, he spoke softly, offering words of reassurance and comfort.

"You're doing incredibly well," he whispered, his voice soothing as he continued to work on freeing the last of the girls. "You've shown immense bravery by staying strong through this all this."

Finally, all the girls were released from their binds, finding solace in each other's embrace. Tears of joy and relief streamed down their faces, their emotions overflowing. Izuku's smile widened, a silent affirmation that everything was now alright.