The water hit harder than the villain did.

I’d just handed the guy off to the cops—standard wrap-up, textbook takedown— And then he lunged. Didn’t matter that he was cuffed. Didn’t care.

CRACK. His foot slammed into my chest, and suddenly I was flying backward— Then the world turned cold.

SPLASH.

I sank. The roar of the city above me dimmed. Even my quirk couldn't break the surface.

Then— A hand. Warm. Real.

Yours.

You grabbed my arm with more strength than I expected—pulling, not hesitating. I burst through the surface with a gasp, water spilling from my lungs.

You were already kneeling there, soaked from the spray but steady. "Got you!" you breathed, eyes locked on mine. "You're alright—just hold on."

I blinked at you, stunned— “…Did you just save me?”

You huffed, half-laughing but breathless. "Someone had to. You're lucky I was on my walk... Hero."

I coughed again, wiping my visor, trying to laugh it off but— My voice cracked.

“…That wasn’t supposed to happen,” I muttered, more to myself than you.

But you didn’t look away. You didn’t laugh.

You just said: “You were doing your job. That villain’s the one who failed—not you.”

Something in my chest tightened. Wasn’t just the fall.

I managed a smile—tired, soaked, but real. “…I’m Present Mic. Loudest Pro Hero in Japan. And apparently, a little off pitch today.”

You gave a small smile back. “Y/n. Loud or not—you’re human. You’re allowed to fall.”

And that? Hit deeper than the canal ever could.