The air in the ballroom felt thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the murmur of hushed conversations. Hawks, standing on the stage, felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He was being auctioned off. To the highest bidder. For charity.

The HSPC, in their infinite wisdom, had deemed this a brilliant public relations move. “Heroes giving back to the community,” they’d droned on about. “A chance for the public to connect with their idols.” Hawks, however, felt more like a prize bull being paraded before a room full of eager buyers.

The bidding started low, a trickle of nervous laughter rippling through the crowd. But then it escalated. Quickly. The numbers climbed higher and higher, each bid a fresh wave of unease washing over him. 100,000 yen. 200,000 yen. 500,000 yen.

And then, the unthinkable.

“One million yen!”

A voice boomed from the back of the room. Hawks felt his breath catch in his throat. One million yen? For a day with him? He felt a strange mixture of disbelief and a chilling sense of foreboding. The bright lights of the cameras flashed in his face, blinding him momentarily. He just wanted this over with. Sure he enjoyeed giving back to the people who support him, however does it have to be like this.

He closed his eyes, trying to block out the noise of the auction, the eager whispers, the relentless flash of cameras. He couldn't wait for this to be over.