Chapter 66 - 66: Your Legs Are the Best in the World

That night, many people stayed up late. One of them was Nanami Aoyama. The moment she saw Haru show up dressed like that in the middle of the night, she immediately knew he had been out playing vigilante again. After taking a shower and lying in bed, she couldn't help but browse different forums, searching for any news related to him. And she found something. "Live Footage: Hooded Hero in Action!" The post even included a short video. Curious, she clicked on it— And that's when she realized... She had been fooled. The poster clearly wasn't at the scene. The so-called "live footage" was nothing more than a short clip of Hooded Hero stepping out of a dark alley, with a dozen men sprawled unconscious behind him. But even that was enough to leave Nanami Aoyama stunned. She paused the video, counted the bodies, and her jaw dropped. "Fourteen men? Did he take them all down by himself?" A strange sense of excitement bubbled up inside her. Driven by curiosity, she kept digging through the internet, finding more videos. Most of them were footage of the police arresting the armed criminals. Some even had glimpses of Haru's silhouette or side profile. Not that it made a difference—with the mask on, a side profile was hardly revealing. "Fourteen armed men… Amamiya-kun, you're amazing!" Nanami's eyes sparkled with admiration. The childhood fantasy she had once dismissed—the idea of a high school superhero—was reignited. Because if he wasn't a superhero, how else could he be this strong? — On the other hand, Megumi Kato was far more composed. She had found the same news as Nanami, but since this was her first time learning the identity of Hooded Hero, she had gone back and read older reports too. "The police seem to be praising him, so he shouldn't be in trouble." She set her phone down, recalling the image of fourteen armed men collapsing to the ground, a trace of worry surfacing in her heart. Nanami saw a superhero. She saw a brutal battle. "What if he got hurt?" Megumi closed her eyes. She would have to check on him tomorrow. — The Next Morning Journalists who had stayed up late writing about Hooded Hero were now basking in the traffic surge. In just one night, the incident had exploded online, climbing the trending charts. Of course, with that came all sorts of wild speculation. People claiming to be his uncle, "insider sources" from the police department, conspiracy theories that he was about to be severely punished… In this age of information overload, nearly everyone, regardless of age, had come across the news. "You're famous." Walking to school, Yukino held up her phone and showed the trending topic to her boyfriend. "Yeah, no surprise there." Haru had expected this. Yukino walked alongside him. "Shouldn't you do something to suppress the attention?" "No need. The police won't reveal my identity… Oh, speaking of which, they'll probably contact me today—either a home visit or a summons." "Then I'll come over after school." She made the decision without hesitation. Haru nodded. "Bring the black stockings." Yukino's face instantly turned red. She shot him a glare. Haru, ever sincere: "Your legs are the best in the world." "...I really can't feel happy about such a suspicious compliment." "Why not? I was also going to praise your learning efficiency." "Learning efficiency?" "Yeah. You pick things up so fast—compared to your first time practicing with your mouth—" "AMAMIYA HARU!" Yukino's face burned bright red. Haru immediately raised his hands in surrender. "I yield! I yield!" Watching him backpedal so fast, Yukino didn't know whether to be angry or amused. I should've held back on spoiling him last night. Just thinking about it made her blush even more. She had worn the black stockings he liked. She had leaned against the wall like he asked. Embarrassing as it was, she didn't actually mind these things. In fact, as someone experiencing love for the first time, she was finding herself a little addicted to these intimate moments. But thankfully, she was still Yukinoshita Yukino—a woman of exceptional self-control. — Once they reached school, the two parted ways. As usual, Haru walked into his classroom and found everyone buzzing with discussion. Even his friends, Furukawa and the others, were so deep in conversation that they hadn't noticed his arrival. Only Yui , sitting a few seats away, gave him a small wave. He smiled and waved back. "Furukawa, what are you guys talking about?" Not that he needed to ask—he already knew the answer. "What else? Hooded Hero, of course!" Noticing Yuu, his friends immediately pulled him into the discussion. Haru put on a thoughtful expression. "Oh, that guy. I've seen some news about him before. They say he's a good guy fighting crime, right?" "Good guy? No, he's a superhero!" Furukawa corrected him. "That's all it takes to be a superhero?" "Of course! You're behind the times, Amamiya! This is the new narrative!" Another classmate chimed in excitedly. "I bet you didn't know—last night, Hooded Hero took on over a dozen armed criminals alone! And their boss had just been released from police custody. Looks like he's going right back in." Furukawa nodded eagerly. "Hooded Hero definitely got hurt, but knowing him, once he recovers, he'll be back on the streets fighting crime again!" Haru raised an eyebrow. "Knowing him?" Furukawa gave a solemn nod. "Yeah. Based on his character." Furukawa and his friend puffed out their chests and lifted their heads proudly. "That's right! To tell you the truth, we've been following Hooded Hero since the first time he appeared in the news. Now, we're his biggest fans. I bet even he doesn't know that we understand him better than he understands himself." Haru almost burst out laughing. Then, Furukawa lowered his voice and spoke in a conspiratorial tone. "The police released some details about those guys to the media. Apparently, they had just been let go by the cops, but it was obvious they were guilty of something. That's why Hooded Hero tracked them down—to purge evil!" His friend nodded in agreement. "They were armed. The police even found knives on them afterward. That means when Hooded Hero went after them, they were already prepared for a fight." Haru, the very man they were talking about, felt a question mark pop up over his head. I had no idea things were this dramatic. Furukawa sighed in admiration. "One guy taking down so many… It reminds me of Belial wiping out the Land of Light." His friend corrected him. "You got it backward. It should be the Ultraman wiping out a horde of Belials." "But… which Ultraman is even that strong?" "Obviously, the one who keeps getting knocked down." "Blasphemy!" The two burst into laughter. Haru twitched the corner of his mouth. This conversation is going off the rails. But their excitement only proved just how big this whole thing had gotten. Earlier, he had told Yukino that the police might contact him today. Now, he was 100% sure they would. — Later That Morning Between second and third period, Haru returned from the restroom and immediately spotted Megumi Kato waiting quietly in the hallway. Her eyes were already on him. She was clearly here for him. Thanks to his [Auto-Aim]-on skill (Lv. 4), Haru instantly noticed her, unlike the other students who walked past without realizing she was there. Megumi, catching the way his gaze locked onto her the moment he stepped out, felt a small sense of satisfaction. Haru walked up to her. "Breaks between classes aren't that long. If you need photography advice, I'd recommend waiting until after school." Megumi continued staring at him, then softly asked, "You didn't get hurt last night, did you?" Haru blinked, then smiled. "Thanks for asking, but I'm fine." She didn't look convinced. Even Yukino had been worried about him getting injured. The fact that others were concerned wasn't surprising. Seeing this, Haru decided to tease her a little. "Did you forget my achievements in the karate club? I can take on ten guys at once, you know." "But last night, there were fourteen." Megumi pointed out matter-of-factly. The way she said it made it sound less like genuine concern and more like a perfectly-timed roast. And it was a sharp one. Haru paused for a second, then chuckled. "I didn't even count. There were fourteen?" "And they had weapons." Haru sighed. "Looks like you're not going to believe me no matter what I say. Now I kinda wanna ask the principal for a favor." Megumi tilted her head. "What kind of favor?" "A practice match. I'll fight fourteen guys at once. Then you'll be reassured." He pretended to ponder for a moment before muttering, "But… would that make me seem too arrogant?" Megumi's lips twitched with the faintest hint of a smile. "Just a little." "Alright, thirteen then. Less arrogant that way." "You're pretty confident." "What kind of king would I be if I wasn't?" Haru grinned, channeling his inner smug protagonist. Megumi finally let out a tiny laugh, reassured that he was physically fine—though she still suspected he was joking around just to keep his friends from worrying. But with only a few minutes of break left, she didn't press the issue further. They parted ways, heading back to their respective classrooms. — Lunch Break On their way to the cafeteria, Haru and Yukino ran into the principal, who was walking with two teachers. "Good afternoon," they greeted him politely. The principal chuckled as he looked at Haru. "So, it turns out you have a talent even greater than shogi. One of these days, I'll beat you on the board and put that arrogance of yours in check." His words carried a subtle meaning. Haru smiled innocently. "You flatter me. I'm not arrogant—I've always been humble." The principal squinted at him. "…You little rascal." With a shake of his head, he walked off with the teachers. Yukino watched him go, then murmured, "It seems he's figured it out too." Haru recalled Officer Yuto and nodded. "It's fine if he knows. Next time I play shogi with the principal, I'll beat him ten times in a row." Yukino sighed, looking as if she couldn't handle him anymore. "If you actually do that, he'll challenge you to shogi every single day. Let's see if you regret it then." "Huh? How did you even come to that conclusion?" "The principal may seem easygoing, but from what I saw last time you played him, he has a ridiculously strong competitive streak." "Just say he sucks but loves to play." "I'm remembering that line." "I surrender! I surrender!" "…" — Meanwhile, on the Principal's Side A teacher walking beside him asked, "That student is Amamiya from the karate club, right?" "Yes. He's exceptional. Not just a little—exceptionally exceptional." The principal emphasized. The two teachers exchanged glances, both surprised. Clearly, they hadn't expected the principal to value Amamiya Haru so highly. But the principal didn't explain. He only smiled and said, "That boy has outstanding character. My granddaughter always talks about her favorite phrase at home… Oh, right. 'Ally of Justice.' I believe he shares that sentiment." One teacher blinked. "Are you… talking about chuunibyou?" The principal's gaze deepened. "Chuunibyou, huh…? Sometimes, that word doesn't just mean childishness or embarrassment." He had seen the news. And he had received inside information from Officer Yuto. The saying goes: 'A person who wields a deadly weapon is bound to develop a killer's heart.' But that boy chose to be a hero instead. The principal had already made up his mind. A high schooler with no moral issues, yet powerful enough to fight crime—he would protect Amamiya Haru using every connection he had. Even if it meant going against the Metropolitan Police Department. — After School The Photography Club set out for the park with their equipment. Originally, Yukino had planned to cancel today's shoot because of the possibility that the police would contact Haru. But when Haru casually said, "If they're going to look for me, it'll be later." She immediately understood. The police wouldn't disrupt school hours over something like this. If they planned a house visit, it would definitely be after dinner. — At the Park After checking the equipment, Haru pulled out a small bottle and held it up to Yukino. "Want me to spray it for you, or will you do it yourself?" Yukino eyed the white bottle in confusion. "What is this?" The nozzle suggested it was a spray-type container. "20% DEET, 80% medical alcohol. I looked up some info and mixed it myself. It rained earlier, and this park has a lot of trees—mosquito prevention is a must." Haru shook the bottle. Yukino's gaze softened. Her boyfriend was thoughtful enough to handle even the little details. A warm smile bloomed on her face. "I'll do it myself." She sprayed the mist over her thigh-high stockings, the faint scent of alcohol mixed with something pleasant drifting through the air. Then, she glanced at the other girls and said, "They'll need it too." "Your call." Haru had expected that response. Yukino handed the bottle to Utaha. Utaha raised an eyebrow but listened as Yukino repeated Haru's explanation. "Thanks." Utaha smiled. For girls who cared about their looks, mosquitoes were the enemy. Better safe than sorry. After she used it, the bottle was passed around like a relay baton. — Filming Begins Today's scene was an important turning point—the first conversation between the two female leads and the beginning of their unwavering bond. Yukino had planned the schedule well, prioritizing outdoor shoots first to avoid unnecessary travel later. "Katou-san, when Senpai sits down, act a little hesitant. You've accepted your friend's soul exists, but because of guilt and regret, you can't open your heart just yet." Yukino was giving Utaha and Megumi their scene direction. Meanwhile, Haru stood to the side, blinking. "Wait, did my original script have this much depth?" Yukino confidently lifted her fair chin. "I added it on purpose. I wanted to portray their friendship more delicately." Utaha thought for a moment. "That makes sense. 'Delicate' is a word most people associate with female relationships." Yukino looked over. Their gazes met. In that instant, the two girls silently acknowledged each other's insight. Haru scratched his head. He had déjà vu. This morning, Furukawa and his friend had been discussing his actions as if they understood him better than he did. Now, these two geniuses had taken over his script and were analyzing it better than he ever could. "I'm just a scriptwriting tool at this point. What the hell do I even know about storytelling?" Haru muttered to himself.