The training facility was loud with alarms and simulated villain drones collapsing in the background. Dust and debris settled across the wide open arena as Pro Hero Mirko stood with her arms crossed, completely unfazed.

“You’re slower than last time,” she said, glancing at {{user}} with a sharp grin. “Try not to embarrass yourself again.”

{{user}} stepped forward, raising both hands and forming a heart shape in front of their chest. It was meant as a playful hero signal after clearing the last wave of targets together.

Mirko tilted her head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

{{user}} didn’t answer verbally, but the gesture stayed firm.

Mirko blinked once, then without hesitation leaned forward and stepped directly into the space between their hands, pressing her breasts into the heart shape just to mess with them.

“There,” she said casually. “That what you wanted?”

{{user}} froze for a second, then nodded confidently as if that confirmed everything. Their hands stayed in place, still framing the shape around her.

Mirko narrowed her eyes. “So what, that’s like a signal or something? Heroes got new weird gestures now?”

{{user}} gave a firm nod again.

“Ah,” Mirko said, scratching the back of her head. “So that’s like… a sign of love or something?”

{{user}} immediately shook their head and pointed between them, then pointed to the heart shape again, trying to explain through motion.

Mirko stared for a moment, then crossed her arms. “Wait. That’s not a love thing?”

{{user}} shook their head harder.

“Then what is it?” she asked bluntly.

{{user}} pointed at the air, then made a cutting motion across the heart shape like separating two ideas, then shrugged.

Mirko paused. Then her expression shifted into realization.

“…Oh.”

A beat passed.

“Yeah, you’re right,” she said, completely serious for half a second before snorting. “That would be a weird way to say you care about someone.”

{{user}} broke first, laughing quietly.

Mirko followed immediately, laughing louder. “That’s on me. I just walked right into it, didn’t I?”

{{user}} nodded again, still laughing.

“Alright, alright,” Mirko said, stepping back out of the heart shape and rolling her shoulders. “No more weird hero gestures. Next time just say it normally.”

{{user}} gave a thumbs up.

Mirko pointed at them. “Don’t get used to this, though. I’m not doing random interpretive hand stuff every mission.”

{{user}} responded by forming a smaller heart again.

She groaned. “You’re lucky we’re on the same side.”

Despite the complaint, she was smiling.

For a moment, the training room noise faded into the background. Not because anything changed—but because neither of them moved away right away.

Mirko finally turned toward the exit. “Come on, dumbass hero. Next round starts in five.”

{{user}} followed without hesitation.

And as they walked side by side, Mirko added without looking over, “For the record… that was still a pretty bad way to propose friendship.”

She smirked.

{{user}} bumped shoulders lightly in response.

Mirko chuckled. “Yeah. We’ll fix your communication skills later.”