when he first stumbled across the artwork that was so proudly displayed on the side of a convenience store, he couldn’t believe his eyes. he didn’t think people were as fond of him as they said they were, so to see his own portrait staring back at him, colors mixing together perfectly. the smell of spray paint was fresh in the air, the chemicals entering his nostrils.
he walked inside, the chime of the bells sounding throughout the store. people bustling by him as some stopped and stared, he may have recently debuted as a hero, but he wasn’t unknown. the clerk was sitting, mindlessly scrolling on his phone as he walked up to the till.
“hey, by chance d’ya know who did the grafitti art outside?” he mumbled, quiet.
(The AI cover depiction may differ from descriptions in the story and the original work.)
Rabbit Runs Again
[Chapter 14 - Return]
[The Day After — City Outskirts]
A road on the outskirts of the city lay in ruins. Even under the midday sun, the air still held the echo of yesterday’s blast.
At the center of the rubble stood the Rabbit Hero, Mirko.
“All civilians evacuated. We’ll handle the debris from here.”
She threw up a quick V-sign, her long ears twitching in the wind as her white cotton-tail bobbed lightly behind her.
Beside her were two heroes—Kamui Woods, gripping a bent steel column with his wooden arms, and Mt. Lady, hoisting a heap of concrete on the opposite side.
As the dust settled, Mt. Lady wiped sweat from her brow and glanced at Kamui Woods.
“Ha… teaming up with you like this. Makes me miss the old Lurkers days.”
Kamui Woods nodded. “If Edgeshot were here, the team would be complete.”
Mirko perched on a slab of broken road.
“The Lurkers, huh? Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. I remember tagging along on a few of your patrols back then.”
Mt. Lady laughed, flipping her hair back.
“Yeah, you were the star back then. Honestly? I wasn't just thrilled—I was calculating how much screen time I could steal by standing next to the No. 5 hero.”
Mirko snorted, amused by her honesty. She looked Mt. Lady up and down.
“You must be running yourself ragged these days. Hero work is tough enough, but you’re juggling variety shows, commercials, interviews… Does your body even get a break?”
Mt. Lady struck a pose, winking playfully.
“Excuse me? Being on screen is a vital part of hero work! The public needs a symbol of beauty and strength to feel safe, you know?”
Mirko scratched her cheek, looking a bit sheepish.
“True. I did shoot that carrot commercial once, so I guess I can't talk.”
She smirked again.
“Just don’t pass out from exhaustion while looking pretty.”
A brief laugh flickered between them. Mirko straightened her back and drew a deep breath of open air.
From behind a fallen streetlight, a small child peeked out and waved. Mt. Lady grinned and waved back.
“This is about as perfect as it gets. No flames, no blood.”
Mirko’s tone was flat, but relief showed in her eyes.
“With the No.3, No.4, and No.6 heroes all here, how could it not be?”
Mt. Lady's laugh rang bright. A light breeze drifted past, brushing the dust from their suits. Her gaze lifted toward the sky.
“When Edgeshot’s back, we should team up again. Kamui—you miss it too, don’t you?”
Kamui Woods let out a low chuckle. “Yeah. Never had another team that covered each other like that.”
Mirko slipped off her gloves and listened in silence. She murmured, almost to herself,
“…He’ll be back soon.”
A faint smile touched her lips as she stood on the rubble.
“When he does… you think there’s room for me on the team?”
Her voice carried both teasing and longing. Mt. Lady's eyes widened.
“What happened to ‘I work better solo’?”
Mirko shrugged.
“Well, sometimes it’s nice to run together.”
Her rabbit ears twitched lightly in the sunlight. Their three shadows stretched long across the cracked road, and in the drifting dust, it felt as though the city itself was taking its first breath again.
“Alright. Not bad for a first day back.”
Mirko looked up at the sky. Sunlight spilled through the clouds, sharp and dazzling. Then, a familiar voice crackled through her earpiece.
“Good work, Mirko. Looks like your pace hasn’t changed a bit.”
She took out the communicator and replied briefly.
“Told you—I’m running again.”
A smile curved her lips. It was the same smile she’d worn eight years ago—the one that had carried her through the war.
[A Few Days Later — Masegaki Elementary School]
Under a bright blue sky, the playground buzzed with children’s laughter.
It was part of the Hero Commission’s “Citizen Safety Week” program. Four heroes had come to visit today.
The Rabbit Hero, Mirko.
The No.20 hero 'Grand'—Shindo Yo and 'Turtleneck'—Nakagame Tatami.
And, the No.16 hero 'Gale Force'—Inasa Yoarashi.
A small stage had been set up at the center of the playground. Mirko took the mic first.
“Hey, kids! Do you know what heroes actually do?”
Hands shot up all at once.
“They punch villains!”
“They rescue people!”
The playground rang with laughter and shouts. Mirko chuckled, tapping one ear.
“That’s right. But being a hero isn’t just about fighting. It’s about rebuilding what’s been broken—and standing with people when they’re scared.”
Beside her, Shindo flashed his signature refreshing smile—the one that looked perfect on magazine covers.
“I learned this at Ketsubutsu Academy. The first step to being a hero is listening. When someone asks for help, don’t just listen—really listen. That’s what true strength looks like.”
Tatami stepped forward, her bright teal bodysuit catching the sunlight. She bent slightly toward the children.
“Folding myself up isn’t about fear. It’s to give myself a moment—to make sure my heart doesn’t get hurt.”
As she spoke, her fish-shaped earrings swayed gently. She flashed a wide, playful grin, revealing her trademark pointed teeth.
From one side of the playground, kids shouted, “It’s the turtle! Look at her teeth, they’re like a shark!”
Tatami laughed, snapping her teeth playfully. “Shark? Nah, I’m a snapping turtle!”
Then Inasa adjusted his signature Shiketsu High hat and spread his arms wide, his massive frame casting a long shadow.
“I can feel everyone’s PASSION! Don’t fear the wind when it blows—it’s the wind that’ll carry you farther!”
As his Quirk stirred, a clean gust swept across the playground, and the children burst into cheers. In the wind, Mirko’s white ears flicked lightly.
Shindo adjusted his gauntlets, sending a controlled vibration through the mock rescue tower—and Mirko leapt.
A white blur cut through the air.
“Luna Ring!”
Her leg spun in a bright arc of light. For an instant, even the air seemed to stop—then the tower split neatly in two.
Tatami folded her limbs into her shell-patterned pads, launching herself like a springboard. Inasa’s wind rose beneath her—a soft gust catching Mirko as she landed.
The playground erupted into cheers.
“Waaah—!”
Children’s voices rose like waves across the open air. Mirko laughed and traded high-fives with them.
“We all came from different places,” she said, smiling as she caught her breath, “but we learned the same thing—the courage to protect someone, and to stand back up again.”
For a moment, her eyes drifted toward the distance, soft with thought.
“And that’s something you can have too.”
When the class ended, the children ran all the way to the school gate. Tiny hands reached out, clutching at the heroes’ fingers.
Shindo maintained his gentle smile until the very end, Tatami waved enthusiastically with her pink-gloved hands, and Inasa’s wind lifted the children’s caps into the air.
“Mirko! I’m gonna be a hero too!”
“Good. Then start by waking up early every morning.” She ruffled the child’s hair. “That’s where a hero’s day begins.”
Red and gold leaves fluttered in the wind, vibrant autumn fragments scattering through the sky, drifting among the children’s laughter.
When the breeze quieted, something flickered in Mirko’s eyes—a tiny light, gone as quickly as it came.
If only days like this could last a little longer.
Late in the afternoon, the benches in the courtyard were quiet, wrapped in an easy calm.
Tatami shot Shindo a look, her pointed teeth clicking as she sighed.
“Hey, could you not with that hair? It practically explodes every time there’s wind.”
Shindo laughed, brushing his messy black hair back with a hand. “This is the style. A pro hero’s gotta look the part.”
“Style? That thing’s a public hazard.” Tatami folded her arms, muttering. “Just looking at it tires my eyes.”
“Still think it looks cool though, don’t you, Tatami?”
Her cheeks turned faintly pink. “W-Who said that!?”
Inasa suddenly raised his head, rubbing his chin.
“Hmm—still, my buzzcut looks pretty cool too, right? Extremely aerodynamic! The wind just slides right off!”
He ran a proud hand over his short, prickly hair. Mirko strolled up and rubbed his head vigorously, like she was polishing a bowling ball.
“Cool? Please. You look like a monk in training.”
“Wh-What!? It’s a wind-optimized cut!”
Inasa shook as he protested, his loud voice echoing. Laughter burst out around them.
Mirko folded her arms, a teasing grin curving her lips.
“Anyway—when are you two getting married?”
Her eyes flicked between Shindo and Tatami. “You’ve been together for a while now, haven’t you? I saw the tags on the fan forums.”
“T-That’s—!”
Tatami flailed her hands, her face turning as red as a tomato. Shindo looked away, coughing awkwardly, the tips of his ears burning.
“Th-That’s not exactly the best topic for here! We are colleagues!”
“Sure, sure. Colleagues who share lunch every day.” Mirko smirked, then turned to the giant beside her. “Hey, Inasa.”
“Yes, ma’am—Mirko-senpai!” Inasa snapped to attention, nearly knocking over his hat resting on the bench.
Mirko grinned mischievously. “Heard you failed the Provisional License Exam right here at this school—’cause you picked a fight with Shoto, right?”
A bead of sweat slid down Inasa’s temple.
“T-that was back when I was young and dumb! Totally immature!” He scratched his neck, forcing a laugh. “But I learned from it! If your passion’s real, it’ll reach people—someday!”
His fiery speech made Shindo and Tatami exchange an exaggerated “Ooooh—!”
Mirko tilted her head. “Right, but from what I heard… the fight started because Endeavor wouldn’t sign your autograph?”
“Th-that’s—!” Inasa’s face turned scarlet. “I was traumatized, alright!? I was a kid!”
Mirko shook her head. “Then you should’ve yelled at Endeavor, not taken it out on Shoto.”
Shindo and Tatami burst out laughing. Inasa flailed his arms, shouting, “W-we’re great rivals and teammates now! We even made soba together on a mission!”
“Alright, alright.” Mirko laughed and waved a hand. “Keep that fire burning. But next time you start a fight, warn me before the cameras roll—I’ll make sure you get your heroic close-up.”
The three of them burst out laughing. Inasa scratched the back of his head, his face burning bright red with embarrassment, while sunlight poured warmly over their heads.
When the laughter faded, Inasa straightened with renewed determination.
“Still, I treat everyone with kindness! A hero should be warm to all people!”
Shindo crossed his arms, smirking—his usual calculating look slipping through for a second. “Yeah? Funny, ‘cause kids still run away when they see you scream.”
“T-that’s a misunderstanding!” Inasa’s eyes went wide as he shouted, and another round of laughter followed.
Mirko folded her arms again, grinning.
“Ha! The No.16 and No.20 heroes—what chemistry! You guys could start your own PR event at this rate.”
Shindo tilted his head with a half-smile. “Can’t let those U.A. kids hog the spotlight forever. Ketsubutsu and Shiketsu still have their pride.”
A spark lit in Inasa’s eyes. He clenched his fists and shouted, “Next time, I’ll break into the top 10—and stand right beside you, Mirko-senpai!”
That sent the others into another fit of laughter. Mirko reached out and flicked his forehead.
“Good. I’ll be the first to congratulate you. Then show it—don’t just talk about it. Run till you earn it.”
“Of course!” Inasa straightened, shouting, “The wind only blows forward!”
Their laughter rose again. The breeze passed through, brushing against their hair.
In the quiet that followed, Mirko uncrossed her arms and spoke in a low, steady tone.
“The thing about Endeavor is… he’s a man of both greatness and failure.”
All three turned to her. She gazed toward the distant sky before continuing.
Lately, she had been thinking about him often. And every time, it left a complicated weight in her chest.
“For decades, he was the only one who kept chasing All Might’s back while everyone else gave up. But that distance… that unreachable gap… it drove him mad.”
Mirko kicked a pebble lightly, her expression bitter.
“He stared at the sun for too long, and it blinded him to everything else—even his own family. That obsession became his poison.”
Inasa lowered his gaze, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I... actually went to see him recently.”
He paused, his voice unusually soft.
“He was wearing a prosthetic, and he had trouble walking... but he looked at peace. I’ve never seen him look so calm before.”
Mirko looked at the three young heroes, her gaze firm but warm.
“We all have things we want to chase. Goals, rivals, strength. But...”
She paused, letting the words sink in.
“Don’t ever let that fire swallow you whole.”
Then Shindo let out a quiet chuckle, breaking the tension.
“If only he had broken free from his obsession with All Might...”
Tatami tilted her head, grinning.
“Like how you broke free from your obsession with U.A.?”
“Ugh…” Shindo groaned, unable to reply.
Both Inasa and Mirko burst out laughing.
“Ha! Can’t argue with that one,” Mirko smirked.
Inasa nodded vigorously. “Yeah! She totally got you there!”
The quiet turned to laughter again.
Mirko nodded slowly, her voice soft but sure.
“Now that All For One’s finally gone, there’s no need to chase only strength or battle anymore.”
Tatami nodded immediately, a relieved smile spreading across her face.
“Exactly! My Quirk, Telescopic…” She paused, drawing in a slow breath. “To be honest, it’s not as cool or flashy as Inasa’s—or Shindo’s. It’s not even that strong in combat.”
She bent slightly, her frame folding in on itself until she stood barely half her height.
“But—it’s great for dodging attacks, slipping into tight spaces, or grabbing someone’s attention when I need to!”
Inasa clenched his fists. “Still, I want you to stay strong, senpai!”
Mirko chuckled. “Yeah, that does sound like me.”
She lifted her fist lightly.
“Alright then. Next time, let’s take a mission together. Use that wind of yours to give me a boost.”
Inasa’s eyes sparkled. “With pleasure! I’ll send you soaring higher than anyone—with my storm!”
“Good. Just don’t send me too high—I’m terrible at landings.”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Laughter filled the schoolyard again, drifting softly across the grass, over the benches, and into the warm afternoon air.
After a while, Mirko looked up at the sky. The clear sunlight sank gently into her eyes.
Endeavor… I hope you’ve found peace, free from those old wounds.
She let out a quiet breath—as if whispering that wish to herself as well.
