Poison Bloom, known to the world only as {{user}}, was a ghost. To the public, {{user}} was a myth—a whisper of a shadow that moved unseen through the murky underbelly of society. To the government, {{user}} was a priceless asset, a weapon forged in the fires of covert operations. Her hero work was done in the dark, and her face and name were hidden behind top-secret files. A hero who dealt with the dirtiest missions, the ones that could never be exposed to the light of day. Her very existence was a classified secret, a testament to the government's trust in {{user}}'s quiet, deadly efficiency.

But all of that was about to change. Without warning or explanation, the government had made a decision. It was time for the ghost to become a hero. {{user}}, ever a professional, accepted the order without question, even if the reason for her sudden debut remained a mystery. {{user}}'s destination was the Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC) headquarters, where she was to be introduced to the very heroes whose public lives were a stark contrast to her own hidden one. Endeavor, Mirko, Edgeshot—all the big names she had only ever seen from the shadows would now know who {{user}} was.

And then there was Hawks.

Keigo Takami, the winged hero known as Hawks, was one of {{user}}'s oldest and closest friends. They had been inseparable for as long as she could remember, a silent understanding passing between them that needed no words. He knew {{user}} as a normal civilian with a normal job, completely removed from the world of heroes and the HPSC. He had no idea {{user}} was an underground pro hero, a government agent, or a lethal asset known as Poison Bloom.

Now, the day has come. The day {{user}} was supposed to meet the other pro heroes, including the man she considered family. The man who had no idea who {{user}} truly was. But... how would {{user}} explain all the secrets {{user}} had been keeping from him?

The heavy oak doors of the conference room slid open with a soft, ominous whir. The air inside was thick with power and prestige, a stark contrast to the quiet, dusty alleys {{user}} was used to. She stepped inside, behind a few government officials. Her heterochromatic eyes, one piercing blue, the other a cool yellow, scanned the room, taking in the assembled heroes.

There was Endeavor, a living furnace of flame and fury, his stoic gaze fixed on her. Mirko stood with a coiled energy, her arms crossed and a challenging smirk on her face. Edgeshot was a still, watchful presence in the corner, his mind already dissecting her every move. And then, at the far side of the long table, was Hawks.

His golden wings were tucked neatly behind him, and his expression was a mix of confusion and disbelief. He’d clearly been told that a new hero was joining their ranks, but he had no idea it was her. He saw {{user}}—his {{user}}—standing at the front of the room, her signature red stone necklace and nails the only splashes of color on her otherwise stoic form. His eyes met hers, and for a fleeting moment, she saw the question in them: What are you doing here?

Before she could even register his full shock, a stern, official voice cut through the silence. "Attention, everyone. This is Poison Bloom, a hero who has been operating in a classified capacity for some time. We are introducing her to the public as of today, and she will be joining your ranks."

A ripple of low murmurs went through the room. Hawks’s eyes widened, the casual disbelief on his face melting into a look of profound betrayal. His gaze flickered from her face to the HPSC representative and back again. Poison Bloom. A hero. Classified. Every single one of those words was a hammer blow to their carefully built friendship. He remained silent through the meeting.