Can We Be Heroes?

Chapter 32• First to Join.

The sound of sirens echoed down the alleyway, flashing red and blue lights illuminating the scene just moments after it had ended.

Police officers rushed in, weapons drawn, shouting commands—

“Hands where we can see them!”
“Drop your weapons!”
“Are you hurt, ma’am?”

The three thugs lay groaning on the ground, too dazed and battered to move. One was still under the lingering effects of Shinso’s quirk, staring blankly into nothing.

The woman stood trembling near the wall, gripping her bag tightly to her chest. A young officer gently approached her, voice calm and cautious.

“Ma’am, are you alright?” She nodded quickly. “Yes… yes, I’m okay. Just… shaken but I'm honestly fine. Someone saved me.”

“What happened?”

She hesitated, eyes scanning the scene. Her voice still quivered as she answered. “I was dragged in here. I thought… I thought they were going to—” she cut herself off, swallowing thickly.

The officer nodded in understanding. “And someone helped you? You mentioned earlier that someone saved you? Who was it?”

She nodded again, more firmly now. “A boy. He just—he came out of nowhere... or at least I think he came out of nowhere. Fought them all by himself. He even told one of them to drop his knife and he did. Like—like he couldn’t control it. He saved me.”

The officer exchanged a look with his partner. “Do you know who he was?”

She turned. “He was right there—”

But there was no one.

The alley was empty now. No sign of the boy. No footprints. Nothing . He was gone, just like that. The woman blinked, confused. “But… he was right there. I-I don’t know where he went. He didn’t even say his name.”

The male officer looked around. Nothing. Only shadows. He made a note in his pad. “Another vigilante, maybe…” he murmured.

The woman smiled faintly to herself, still trembling, her voice soft but certain. “Whoever he was… he was a hero.”

And in the distance, on a rooftop high above the alley, Shinso Hitoshi stood silently in the dark. Hood up. Face unreadable.

His hands still trembled slightly, but instead of allowing it continue like he always did,this time he turned them in fist and forced them to stop their shivers

He looked out over the city, letting the cold wind rush past him. The lights of the city flickered beneath him like a restless sea of stars. The adrenaline from the fight had faded, but his heartbeat hadn’t slowed.

Not from fear but from the decision he had taken. He reached into the inside pocket of his hoodie and pulled out the old burner phone.

Black. Unmarked. Basic.

This was the one Hawks had given him.

“Call when you make up your mind,” the pro hero had said, voice light but eyes far too knowing. “No pressure. Just… when you're ready.”

Shinso hadn’t been ready then. Too many doubts. Too much anger. He didn’t trust Hawks. Didn’t trust heroes. Didn’t even trust himself.

Still wasn't entirely sure he could trust anyone but tonight, as he’d wiped blood off his hands and looked into the eyes of a terrified stranger, something in him had shifted.

She called him a hero. And for once, he almost believed it.

He stared down at the phone in his palm, thumb hovering over the power button. The screen flickered on with a dull blue glow. No apps. Just one contact saved in the list:

HAWKS – Line Secure

He exhaled slowly.

“Project Angel…” he whispered.

He didn’t fully know what it meant. What it would require. What it would take from him but he wanted to do more. He wanted to help. He wanted to change the way people looked at others like him. Like he had once looked at himself.

And so he pressed the call button. The phone rang only once. Then—click.

“Didn’t expect to hear from you so soon,” Hawks’ voice came through the speaker, smooth and sharp as ever. “Let me guess… something changed your mind?”

Shinso stared out over the city and said simply,

“I’m in.”

There was a brife pause then— “Good,” Hawks replied, his tone laced with approval. “Welcome to Project Angel, Shadow.”

The moment the call ended, Hawks set the burner phone down on his desk with the slow, cool composure of a seasoned pro. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, face unreadable.

At least for three seconds.

Then—

“YESSS!” he squeaked, practically launching himself out of the chair with a giddy little spin. He fist-pumped the air, wings flaring just slightly behind him in excitement. “Finally!” he whispered through a grin. “One down… two more to go.”

He bounced slightly on the balls of his feet, pacing his apartment like an over-caffeinated teenager, talking to himself.

“I knew that kid would come around. Knew it! All broody and edgy like a discount drama show, but bam, heart of gold under all that eyeliner energy!”

He stopped in front of a whiteboard tacked onto the far wall—covertly labeled Project Angel – Candidates in messy marker. Three names.

Shadow – Recruited

Hex – Still a maybe

Vixen – A certified pain in the— (scribbled over with a censored symbol)

Hawks grabbed a red marker and slapped a bright circle around Shadow’s name, then drew a big star next to it.

He stepped back, beaming.

“One step closer.”

Then he cracked his neck, smoothed down his jacket, and cleared his throat. His grin dimmed just a little, replaced by something more thoughtful.

“Alright, Shadow. Let’s see what you’ve really got.”

And with that, the number three hero turned back toward the night, feathers twitching with anticipation.

-----------
Word Count [948]