Sailing at Sea: The Breath of the Day at the Start

Page 353

"and many more."

Fubuki turned to look at Ron.

Ron ate his ramen and said slowly, "I have no intention of becoming a hero, nor do I want to attract unnecessary attention because of this. Consider this your doing."

Fubuki narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "You mean... you want me to steal your achievements? Sorry, I don't have the habit of telling such lies."

"Yeah, that's really a pity."

Fubuki was taken aback: "Regret? What's there to regret?"

"I won't join the Fubuki Group, but if you help me keep it a secret, maybe we can become friends who help each other... *slurp*"

Ron said while eating his ramen.

Fubuki's heart stirred.

This guy is very strong. Although he's mysterious, since he was able to save people in that situation, he doesn't seem to be a bad person. Becoming friends with him would definitely be beneficial to the Fubuki Group.

With that in mind, Fubuki sat back down in the seat opposite Ron, which was considered an admission of his suggestion.

"Is this... delicious?"

She watched Ron eat his ramen and seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.

It's just a cheap dish costing around 300 yen...

"Okay."

As Ron spoke, he took another sip of the noodle soup, which was sprinkled with chili peppers and looked very red.

"Do you want to try it?"

"I'll pass, I don't like cheap things."

Fubuki brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, exuding an air of queenly nobility.

Even though she was a little hungry, she still resisted the temptation of cheap goods.

She crossed her arms on the table and looked at the young man's face across from her.

"By the way, I haven't asked you your name yet."

"Ron."

"Ron...you're a superhuman too?"

"Well... you could say yes, or you could say no."

8. That sounds quite interesting.

Z city center district.

In a villa.

Fubuki returned home.

"I am back."

"So slow."

Tornado, with green curly hair and wearing a black slit dress, floated in front of her with her arms crossed.

"elder sister!"

Fubuki looked at her with surprise and asked, "Why are you back today?"

"Hmph~ This is my home too, why can't I come back?" Tornado snorted and glanced at Fubuki, saying, "I've seen today's news, you did a pretty good job. But next time, leave dangerous things to higher-ranking heroes. You can continue with your 'B-rank hobby club'."

After finishing speaking, Tornado floated away from in front of Fubuki.

Fubuki lowered her head and clenched her fists slightly.

……

the next day.

Inside a high-end coffee shop in Z city.

Wearing a green dress with a white fur coat over it, Fubuki sat alone by the window, drinking coffee.

"What's up?"

Fubuki looked up and saw Ron sitting down opposite her.

"It's nothing, it's just..."

Fubuki handed her a piece of paper.

Ron glanced down.

"So this is the location of the dojo for the S-class hero Silver Fang..."

He looked up at Fubuki and smiled, "You're pretty fast."

"What are you planning to do by asking me to investigate this?"

Fubuki asked, puzzled.

"It's nothing, I just planned to pay a visit."

…………

On the mountain steps leading to the Silver Fang Bangu Temple.

Two figures ascended the steps.

"Huff huff huff, are we... not there yet?"

"We've only gone halfway."

"Hoo hoo hoo, why did you build the dojo so high up?"

"You're a martial artist after all, this level of exertion is nothing to you. And you're a superpowered person, how come you're this tired after such a short distance?"

"Stop nagging! The physical abilities of superpowered individuals are not much different from those of ordinary people."

"By the way..."

Ron looked at Fubuki, who was panting slightly, and said helplessly, "Why did you come with me? As a hero and the leader of the Fubuki Group, don't you have anything to do all day?"

Fubuki was somewhat embarrassed and annoyed upon hearing this: "What do you think of heroes? Do they not rest for 360 days a year?! Regular heroes also need proper rest after completing their assigned hero activities! Today just happens to be a day off for the Fubuki Group, and I only came with you because I had nothing else to do!"

"Yes, yes, then as a superhuman, you should be able to fly up there, right?"

"return……"

"return?"

"It's still a bit too high."

Fubuki turned her face away shyly.

"..."

Ron stared at her, speechless.

"You think I'm weak, just like my sister, right? There's nothing we can do about it."

As if Ron's gaze had triggered something within her, Fubuki stopped in her tracks, sat down on the stone steps, gazed into the distance, and began to speak softly.

"I am different from my sister, who is the second-ranked S-class hero, the strongest esper, the terrifying tornado. My talent in esper abilities is far inferior to hers, no, I should say that I have never been able to compare with her since I was a child."

"Huh? What's going on? Why are we suddenly talking about this?"

Ron looked at her and couldn't help but think.

"From childhood to adulthood, because of my older sister, I have never won first place even once in my life."

"The number one hero in B-rank, this is the first time I've ever achieved 'number one,' so I must hold onto this position. I will lead the B-rank heroes to surpass that older sister who's used to being a lone wolf..."

Fubuki hugged her knees and spoke softly to herself.

She confided in Ron, this 'stranger' she had only met twice.

The mountain wind blew her short, black hair, making her look somewhat lonely and frail.

Although she, who commands the black legion, appears to be a cold and noble queen, she is actually filled with self-doubt. She is too well protected by Tornado and is also shrouded in her powerful shadow.

Ron looked at her, stroked his chin, and said, "Tornado is the second-ranked S-class hero. To surpass her, you would have to become the number one S-class hero. You can't do that by recruiting B-class heroes, no matter how many you do, right?"

Fubuki pursed her lips.

"I know, of course I know! I know better than anyone how powerful my sister is. No matter how many B-rank heroes there are, they can't defeat my sister who is as powerful as a monster. I know that better than anyone. But... this is the only way for me to surpass that sister..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was barely audible.

"How about we stop limiting our focus to heroes below B-rank?"

Upon hearing this, Fubuki looked up at Ron beside her, her expression one of surprise, and exclaimed, "Huh?"

Ron looked down at him and smiled:

"That means we shouldn't limit our targets to those below B-level. Why can't we recruit those at A-level and S-level?"

Fubuki stared at him blankly and said, "A-rank and S-rank... How is that possible? I'm only B-rank."