Chapter 123 - 123: He’s Practically a Superhuman!

After taking a well-earned break, the Yukinoshita sisters, along with Haru, bid farewell to the family they had met on the way. As they continued their ascent, they passed by other hikers—mostly young people, with only a few families bringing children along. Despite being drenched in sweat, the Yukinoshita sisters' beauty remained undeniable. Every time they walked past a group of hikers, heads would inevitably turn, and soon after, envious glances would be directed at Haru—the only man in their company. Along the way, Haru made sure they took two more breaks, ensuring they didn't overexert themselves. By the time they finally reached the summit around noon, the view around them instantly opened up. The sky stretched endlessly, and the early arrivals were already scattered around, busy taking photos. Just as Haru finished laying out the picnic mat and tablecloth, Haruno collapsed onto it, panting. "If I had known, I would've just taken the cable car," she grumbled. Yukino wiped the sweat from her forehead, her breathing slightly uneven. She glanced at the other hikers before shifting her gaze to the rolling mountains in the distance. "Taking the cable car and climbing the mountain yourself are two completely different experiences," she murmured. "I know that," Haruno sighed as she twisted open a bottle of water. Even though she was exhausted, she maintained her usual grace, not a single movement out of place. "But I still would've chosen the cable car." Yukino sat down beside her and instinctively looked up, only to see Haru standing there, as energetic as ever, pulling out his phone—probably to take photos. She bit her lip unconsciously. This guy really is made of steel. My sister and I are completely wiped out, and he's still at full power. Clearly, Haruno had the same thought. She even voiced it out loud. "Haru, aren't you even a little tired?" "I'm fine," Haru replied casually, snapping pictures of the scenery. "Just need a short break, and I'll be good as new." Haruno nearly dropped her water bottle. She instinctively turned to her sister, but Yukino's expression remained calm—at least on the surface. Haruno let out a helpless chuckle, shaking her head. "I get it now. I really was too quick to be surprised." Then, she sighed in admiration. "He's practically a superhuman." A superhuman? Yukino blinked before nodding in agreement. "I've had that feeling before… but now, it's even stronger." "Right?" Haruno leaned against her sister. If she didn't care about appearances, she probably would've just collapsed completely. Meanwhile, Haru lifted his gaze toward the clear blue sky. With his sharp eyes, he easily spotted a squirrel darting through the trees. He snapped a quick picture and turned back to the sisters. "Look, it's pretty cute." Yukino's eyes lit up. "That, I agree with." Haruno didn't even bother opening her eyes. She was too tired to care about anything else. After a short rest, they had a light meal. Feeling a little refreshed, Yukino got up and started taking pictures of the scenery. At that moment, the family they had met earlier arrived at the summit as well. They exchanged polite nods but didn't disturb them. Haru stood to the side, watching as Yukino took photos. The golden sunlight reflected off her flowing hair, which swayed gently in the breeze. With her long, waist-length locks and elegant posture, she looked like she had stepped straight out of a painting. Unable to resist, Haru took a photo. Yukino noticed but didn't stop him. Instead, she asked, "How did it turn out?" "Of course, it's beautiful," Haru said, handing her the phone. Yukino examined the picture and nodded in satisfaction. Haru grinned. "See? You should never doubt my photography skills. I'm an expert—I can always make you look adorable." Yukino raised an eyebrow. "You're mistaken about one thing. It's because I'm naturally adorable that your picture turned out that way." Haru smirked. "We were talking about photography. How did this turn into self-praise?" "I'm simply stating facts. Am I wrong?" "Ah, yes, yes. You're beautiful. You're always right." Hearing his half-hearted response, Yukino shot him a glare and handed back his phone. "You should take some photos of my sister too. I'm sure she'd be up for it." But Haru didn't respond. His gaze had shifted past Yukino, toward the family from earlier. The father, holding his child, seemed to be arguing with a group of young men. Voices were raised, tempers flared, and soon, things escalated. One of the young men, his anger getting the better of him, suddenly shoved the father. Caught off guard, the man stumbled backward—his foot slipping off the edge of the cliff. "What are you—" Yukino barely had time to register the commotion when a sudden whoosh of wind rushed past her. She hadn't even seen Haru move. One moment, he was standing beside her. The next, he had launched himself forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. "Haru!" Haruno's panicked scream echoed through the air. Yukino spun around just in time to see Haru and the father—child still in his arms—disappear over the edge of the cliff. Her heart stopped. The man's wife collapsed onto the ground in shock. Nearby, other tourists gasped and screamed. The young men who had started the fight froze in horror, standing there like statues. Yukino's face turned deathly pale. The moment she regained her senses, she sprinted toward the edge. Haruno followed close behind, equally frantic. But when they reached the cliffside, neither of them could bring themselves to look down. Then, from below, a voice rang out. "Yukino, can you hear me? Call the rescue team." Yukino's breath hitched. That voice… She immediately peered over the edge. Far below, clinging to a jagged rock face, was Haru. With one hand, he firmly gripped a rocky outcrop. With the other, he held onto the father and the father was holding the child. The cliff was steep, the bottom obscured by shadows. Yukino's head spun just looking at it, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I'm calling them now!" she shouted back. She turned to reach for her phone—only to realize her hands were shaking so badly that she could barely hold it. Just moments ago, she had felt completely hopeless. "Stay calm. I'll make the call," Haruno said. Yukino instinctively nodded. Her sister was just as shaken but had managed to steady herself faster. Taking a deep breath, Yukino crouched beside the terrified mother, gently reassuring her. "Don't worry. They're going to be okay." By now, the other tourists had reacted. Some were already dialing emergency services. In mountain regions like this, rescue teams were usually stationed nearby. A few brave souls peered over the edge, their jaws dropping at the sight of Haru hanging onto the cliff face with a single arm. Meanwhile, the young men who had caused the fight tried to defend themselves. But before they could say much, Haruno—who had just finished her call—snapped at them coldly. "Shut up." The icy tone of her voice made them flinch. They were already guilt-ridden over what had almost happened. Now, facing Haruno's chilling glare, none of them dared to speak. Down below, Haru glanced at the trembling father in his grasp and said calmly, "Relax. We'll be fine." The man gulped, nodding stiffly. His knuckles were white from gripping his child so tightly. The little boy's eyes were red, his lips quivering as if he wanted to cry but couldn't. Haru gave him a reassuring smile. "Hey, remember that sword technique I taught you earlier?" The boy blinked. Then, slowly, he nodded. Haru spoke gently, "You were right earlier—I really am amazing. So you don't need to worry; we'll be up there soon." "Really?" the boy sniffled, his voice filled with doubt. "Of course! Or do you need me to prove it by telling you about the time I filmed Ultraman Zero fighting criminals?" The boy's attention was successfully diverted. Seizing the moment, Haru gestured for the boy's father to take out his phone. Once it was unlocked, Haru navigated to the video section and played a clip. It was footage from a few days ago, showing Haru wearing an Ultraman Zero suit while assisting the police. The video had been recorded by Yukino, and Haru had asked her to send him a copy that very night. At the time, he had only thought it was amusing, a fun memory to keep. He never expected it to come in handy today. "It's Zero! It's really him!" With the video as "proof" and both Haru and the boy's father offering reassurance, the boy's fear subsided. His teary eyes gleamed with excitement as he fixated on the Ultraman suit in the video. The father held the phone carefully, but deep down, he had little hope. After all, both his weight and his son's were entirely supported by Haru. In his mind, Haru had to be at his limit. The thought of his wife still waiting above, the possibility of dying here today—and dragging down a young man who had selflessly tried to help—filled his heart with sorrow. His eyes reddened with emotion. "I'm sorry, I—" Before he could finish, Haru interrupted him. "Don't use that tragic tone. Your son believes in me—why are you giving up?" The man froze. His mind had been so consumed by guilt and despair that he hadn't even noticed something remarkable—Haru's fingers had embedded themselves into the rock wall. With no visible footholds, his fingers had effortlessly dug into the stone, as if a drill had easily pierced through wood. The rescue team was not far above, and the shouts of concerned onlookers could still be heard. The man swallowed hard, then asked in a hushed voice, "How long can you hold on?" "I could do this all day," Haru replied casually. The man assumed he was just trying to comfort him. Taking a deep breath, he clenched his jaw and said, "Right. We're going to be saved." Haru simply smiled and said nothing more. If not for the need to keep things from looking too outlandish, he could have easily carried the father and son while walking on air to safety. With his current ability, [Steel Body Lv2], he hadn't been joking—he could literally hang here all day. Not only was he unbothered, but he even felt a slight urge to howl at the sky. Well, that's another good deed done. He thought back to his conversation with Yukino—read more books, meet more people, and help out when you can. That way, when the coffin lid closes, you won't carry regrets. After nearly half an hour of effort, the rescue team finally pulled them to safety. The moment they were on solid ground, the father and son rushed to embrace the mother, sobbing uncontrollably. Just as Haru steadied himself, a pair of soft arms wrapped around him tightly. A trembling voice followed, "You scared me, Haru." It was Haruno. This time, she made no attempt to mask her fear. A few steps away, Yukino hesitated, her expression frozen in a moment of realization—Something about this feels off... Haru was momentarily stunned as well. Instead of returning the hug, he patted Haruno's back and said sincerely, "Sorry, that was reckless of me." Even though there had never been any real danger with his abilities, those words still needed to be said. "Don't do anything like that again," Haruno whispered, her voice still shaking. After a brief pause, she quickly composed herself. Turning to Yukino, she motioned for her sister to come over. Regaining her composure, Yukino walked up and joined the embrace, wrapping her arms around both her sister and him. The rescued family repeatedly thanked Haru, even attempting to kneel in gratitude, but he swiftly stopped them. Meanwhile, the reckless young man who had pushed them earlier was taken away by the police. Though no one had been seriously hurt, punishment was inevitable. Tourists who had witnessed the ordeal gathered around, their admiration for Haru evident. "You're like a real-life superhero! How did you hang on for so long?" someone asked excitedly. With a knowing smile, Haru replied, "To be honest, I was once the Kanto Regional Rock Climbing Champion." The explanation made perfect sense given what they had just seen, and the crowd accepted it without question. Before long, people started asking for photos, eager to pose with the "champion." But Haru, feigning exhaustion, politely declined, saying he needed to rest. Standing a little behind him, Yukino watched the scene unfold, a quiet smile tugging at her lips. "He's making things up again." "But it was cool, wasn't it?" Haruno asked with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling. Yukino nodded softly. After everything that had happened, neither of the Yukinoshita sisters was in the mood to continue sightseeing. Haru wanted to take a few more photos, but word of his rescue had already spread. The tourists climbing up behind them were in awe and eager to take pictures with him. With no other choice, he left with the sisters, taking the cable car down. On the way out, he keenly avoided the main entrance—reporters had already gathered there. Originally, Haru planned to head straight home, but under the sisters' insistence, he went to the hospital for a checkup. It wasn't until the doctor confirmed he was completely fine that they finally relaxed and went back. Haruno stayed at his place until late in the evening before heading home. Before leaving, she repeatedly warned him never to do something like that again—she had nearly had a heart attack. Haru, of course, humbly accepted her scolding. After seeing Haruno off, he had barely closed the door when a pair of slender arms wrapped around his waist from behind. "Sorry... I must have scared you today," Haru murmured softly. He understood the emotions swirling in Yukino's heart. Turning around, he embraced her, his voice filled with gentle apology. As his words fell, Yukino looked up. The usually composed gaze of hers now burned with a different kind of intensity. Slowly, she parted her soft lips, her voice barely above a whisper—but there was no mistaking the affection in it. "I want you, Haru." Haru froze. For a full two seconds. Because this was the first time Yukino had ever taken the initiative like this. Her cheeks were flushed, burning with heat, and her long lashes trembled slightly, like a butterfly's wings in motion. A rare, alluring shimmer glistened in her deep eyes. "Why aren't you saying anything? Are you going to reject me?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of teasing. "Reject you? Never" Haru finally spoke, a smirk tugging at his lips.