A few more days passed, and Haruna’s been thinking more and more about Mirai Keikan. Who was she? That name sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place her finger where she heard it before.

Because of her constant thought, she’s found herself slipping on her study habits. She’s tried getting back into the practice of daily studies, but it constantly feels like her head is in the clouds. Omo couldn’t focus, let alone work out a single problem. Likely it was caused by her mounding stressors, because it wasn’t just Mirai stuck on the back of her mind, but also a new character she met: Fumeina Megami.

Haruna never ceased to ponder what may be troubling her classmate. Occasionally, Omo caught a few glances from Megami during class, who looked over her shoulder to give brief and… rather awkward stares at her, before going back to her work. Was she trying to tell her something? She wondered, but the only way to find out was to talk to her again.

The day eventually came where she’d have to finally speak to Mirai, and today was exactly that day. At the Boxing Club the day before, Akane gifted Haruna a piece of paper that read Mirai’s schedule. She suggested to Omo that she should catch Mirai first thing in the morning, because homeroom was where both had the most freetime.

Lo and behold her homeroom waaaas… Math Class! Haruna found herself standing outside of Mr. Taro’s room yet again. From the doorway she looked inside, seeing a handful of students already seated at their desks. Not everyone was here, but she sure hoped Mirai was.

(“Do I really have to do this?”) Haruna asked herself, trying to fight her visibly shaking body. (“What if Mirai isn’t here, what do I do? Could she be sick? That’d be a relief!-- I-I mean not to wish any illness upon anyone, but I just reeeaaaally don’t feel like fighting, especially first thing in the morning! Now that I think about it, how do I know which one is Mirai? Akane never gave me a description–”) Haruna’s thoughts were interrupted when she felt a slap on her back.

“HIYA STRANGER!” A female boomed in a cheerful voice from behind. “Are ‘ya spying on my classmates?! See a boy there you like?” She teased, leaning closer with a toothy grin, like a little sister who is getting ready to tattle.

“N-NO!?-I-...” Haruna’s face turned bright red like a ripe cherry tomato, “I-I’m- I’m just looking for someone- Is–”

“Is? I don’t know someone named ‘Is’...”

“No-! That’s not what I’m trying to say!” She closed her eyes tightly, balling her fists. “I’m looking for Keikan Mirai!”

“Keikan Mirai?” The girl asked. That grin started to grow wider and wider, showing her bright white teeth that illuminated like the north star in the night sky. “WEEEELLL!!!! WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SO?!” She placed her hands on her hips, puffing her chest out. “You are in luck stranger, because I am Mirai Keikan in the flesh!” She giggled, running a hand and flipping her cyan blue hair whose bangs are braided and her hair tied back in a big white bow. “How can I help you?! Relationships? Math? Japanese? English? History? Sports? Games? Fighting? Mirai can do many things! If it’s a relationship, then I’m not interested!”

“I-I’M NOT ASKING YOU OUT!” Haruna’s face was likely a shade of purple now with how embarrassed she was. “I HAVE A BOYFRIEND!”

“OOhhooooh?” Mirai asked, leaning closer. “Who’s the lucky guy?”

“I-I… Why would I tell you?”

“Whaaaat? Is it a secret?”

“N-nooo… I thought you’d know it already, everyone does… I’m dating Damian Stradale.”

“Stradale? Like- the guy who owns the Boxing Clubs? That guy?” Mirai asked, scratching her head. “I don’t see how you’d like a guy like him, he’s pretty weird…”

“He- HE IS NOT!” Haruna frowned. “I love him!”

“Okay! Okay! Yeeesh!” Mirai backed up, holding her hands up, “I’m just playing!”

“Anyways, I need you to help me with…” Haruna shuddered, “Training…”

“Training?! Like- martial arts training?!” Mirai asked with a noticeable star in her eyes, if she could dance in place she would! “Well! Mirai is something of a martial artist herself!” Mirai rubbed her chin, thinking for a brief second. “Yep, yep. Okay, I’ll take you in as my pupil. But, I just hope you can keep up with Mirai!”

“I- Kiiiinda…” Haruna looked out to the side.

“Kinda? What’cha mean?”

“I mean, I’m not looking for martial arts training and more so help with my confidence…” Haruna mumbled.

“Competence? Well- that’s one thing Mirai can’t help you with, hehehehehe-”

“CON. FI. DENSE!” Haruna sounded out, her brows angrily furrowing. Her anger subsided and she hid her face. “--forgive me.”

“Okay! Okay! Yeesh!” Mirai grunted, “I can work something out…”. And so Mirai started to ponder on how to solve her new pupil’s confidence dilemma. To Mirai, confidence didn’t seem like an issue, so she needed to try squeezing herself into Haruna’s shoes. After a few more rubs of her chin and foot taps, Mirai came up with an idea. “Alright my pupil, when you think of confidence, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?”

“Uhhhhh…” Haruna dragged on. What did come to her mind first? She shrugged, just answering simply: “Akane? She’s pretty confident…”

“WRONG!” Mirai pushed a finger into Haruna’s chest, “When Mirai thinks of confidence, she thinks of the towering men and women in capes of gold, standing on top of towering skyscrapers and prowling through the night to stop crime. They sacrifice themselves for the better safety of our town!”

“Men and women… capes of gold… crime fighters…” Haruna curiously puzzled to herself, her eyes widening, “wait, you don’t mean–”

“THAAAAT’S RIGHT MY PUPIL! It’s prime time we stepped into the action and became the superheroes of New Tako Town! This place needs protecting and the police can do only so much, so that’s why we should work together to make this town a better place!”

“You read too many comic books…”

“Actually, I haven’t read a single one! Hehehehe!” Mirai stuck her tongue out like a little kid, about facing and marching down the hallway. “Follow me my pupil, we are going to become the heroes of Maguro High!”

“W-WAIT- BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT–” Haruna reached out for Mirai, but she was already out of her reach. With a sigh of defeat, Haruna looked down at her shoes, muttering “This girl is unbelievable…”

10 minutes later…

“BEHOLD MY SIDEKICK!” Mirai boomed with a leap, sliding across the tile bathroom floor and into the hallway. What Mirai wore was a crimson red cape tied over her neck, and a red cleaning rag she cut holes in tied over her eyes. The cape had jagged cuts on its bottom, which Haruna noticed.

“Where did you get that–” Haruna turned her head to scan over the hallway, her eyes settling on a window not too far away. Weren’t windows supposed to have two curtains?... “You– is that the school’s DRAPES?! MIRAI! ARE YOU INSAN–”

“Tch. Tch.” Mirai waved a finger, “I am not Mirai! Who starts as a seemingly ordinary high school girl taking refuge in the doors of Maguro High, when there is a cry of danger, becomes the ultimate Superhero! She is the cyan smasher! The cerulean striker! The Aquamarine of Justice! SHE IS…. THE BLUE STAR!”

“Mirai– please can we jus–”

“What, do you want me to get your uniform too–”

“MIRAI! SHUT UP FOR A MOMENT! PLEASE!”

“Oh.” Mirai’s eyes shrunk and her mouth sealed shut. “Okay. You can talk.”

“Do you have any idea…” Haruna quietly started, her eyes closing while battling this burning sensation in her chest. It was like a tug of war with the devil at the other end, she couldn’t lose her composure no matter how hard things were. Despite her trials, it still felt like she was being torn to pieces by standing in the same room as Mirai. “How INSANE this is?! You’re going to get yourself expelled! You stole the school’s property and cut it to pieces for some game?! And what is this game going to get you!? The chance to beat people up? That’s wrong! You’re just doing this as an excuse to start conflicts, and I can’t stand by and let you do that!”

There was a long period of silence between Mirai and Haruna. Omo wasn’t sure if Mirai understood what she was saying nor the risks involved in her actions. Mirai blinked a few times, an increasingly sad look appearing in her eye. She ran her hand through her cape, spun around, and slowly walked away.

“Fine. Be that way. Go back to class, stay and do your school work and get that A. Play the safe route, but I’ll never train someone who doesn’t know how to live life a little. Drapes can be replaced, but wasted time cannot.”

Haruna watched as Mirai walked off into the distance. For some reason she couldn’t move. She wasn’t sure if she should step forward or step back. Was Mirai actually sad that she spoke up? It’s Mirai’s fault, she’s the one going to get expelled! Omo reluctantly looked over her shoulder to view the classrooms behind her.

She took a step forward, away from those classrooms.

“I’m not doing this to join Mirai’s reckless game, I’m doing this to stop it. She’s doing this as an excuse to cause fights and no one is going to stop her! I have to catch her… but I’m scared…”

And so started Haruna’s hunt for the eccentric Mirai. She was gone so quickly, it was like Mirai vanished in thin air! How could she move so rapidly? Haruna wondered, checking every hallway she happened upon. A lot of time passed until she received a sign, and by a lot of time, it was at least ten minutes into the first class.

“MIRRAAAAAAIII!!!! MIRAAAAI! WHERE ARE YOU?!” Haruna called out, yet no answer. With a growing pale face, she held her churning stomach and forced her weary feet to move forward. She couldn’t pass out, not yet. Alas, her ears perked up at the sound of commotion nearby. She threw her back against the wall, turning her head to peer through the doorway.

“Mirai…”

Mirai was right there, standing in front of a group of five boys, most of them being upperclassmen with the exception of one. They all were huddled in a circle in the middle of the empty gymnasium, and it looked like Mirai just interrupted whatever they were doing.

“Ehhh?” The lead of the delinquents stood up from the circle, stuffing his hands into his pockets and walking to Mirai. “What’s that you said? Let me hear you again to make sure just how much of a dumbass you are.”

Mirai remained unfazed by this guy’s staggering and intimidating stature, closing her eyes and sighing. “I said to unhand–” just as she spoke, her hand dashed like lightning and struck his hand, pulling out the plastic bag full of white powder in his pockets, “You’re not supposed to have these!”

“H-Hey! How did–” The leader grimaced, his hand waving at the group who stood up simultaneously, “We won’t let you escape with it! If you want your hands on our stuff, you’ll have to pay for it like every normal person… no matter how much being ‘normal’ is difficult for you!” The leader shoved Mirai, causing her to stumble backwards and fall flat on her bottom.

Here, Haruna was able to catch sight of the leader’s face. Her eyes shot wide, her heart leaping multiple beats. She already thought what Mirai was doing was idiotic, but this?! This was the WORST SCENARIO IMAGINABLE!

(“NO! NONONONONO! MIRAI WHAT ARE YOU DOING! THOSE ARE DAMIAN’S FRIENDS!”) Haruna started to panic, sweat pouring down her face, (“I can’t step in there… I can’t get in between them… but if I don’t, Mirai isn’t going to get out of this one alive!”).

Haruna looked down at her hands where she held the bundled up cape and rag that were painted in a bright green color. “I can’t believe I’ll actually have to wear this…”

Mirai backed up, but the thugs continued to close her in. The leader held his hand out, ordering one of the thugs to give him their baseball bat, then bringing the bat above his head. “Silenced, have you?! Keep it up, I prefer it over that irritating mouth of yours!”

“I ain’t irritating!” Mirai grimaced, trying to get back onto her feet, only to be kicked back down.

“Crawl back into your cave!” The leader swung the bat down, Mirai closing her eyes.

“STOOOOOP!”

BONK!

Instead of hitting Mirai… it hit Haruna! The delinquents and even Mirai were taken aback by it. “Om– I mean- HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Mirai shot up to her feet, proudly posing. “GOOD WORK MY SIDEKICK! I AIN’T A WANNABE, WE ARE THE REAL DEAL!” Mirai pointed a finger at the leader and the rest of the delinquents. “I AM THE CYAN SMASHER, THE CERULEAN STRIKER, THE AQUAMARINE OF JUSTICE! I AM THE BLUE STAR!” She looked at Haruna, gesturing towards her. “And THIS is my sidekick who is nothing to scoff at, because while she is slightly weaker, all will fear the strength behind the THUNDEROUS SUPERNOVA!”

“How can one sentence make me sound so pathetic and barbaric at the same time…”

“Just go with it!”

“Fine fine… why are you giving me that look?” Haruna asked Mirai who wore a mischievous gleaming white smile.

“What? I knew you’d come around, and I’m glad you did, Supernova.”

The leader meanwhile was growing increasingly wary. His face made a nasty twist, his nose curling up. He raised a fist, spitting at them. “Listen here girlies! I was able to handle ONE pajama mask, but TWO?! You’re biting off more than you can chew messing with us, so I’ll give you all five seconds to scram before me and my pals beat you into a pulp!”

“Aaaaactually,” Haruna spoke up, gesturing to herself and Mirai, “We were just getting ready to leave, right, Blue Star? We didn’t mean any harm!”

“I… I literally came here to fight, Supernova.” Mirai stared.

“FIVE!”

“Just go with it!” Haruna exclaimed.

“Nuh uh!-” Mirai shook her head.

“FOUR!”

“You need to get out of here, you’re going to get yourself hurt!”

“But the whole point was– OOOOOOOOOHH!!!! I GET WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO SAY!”

“THREE!”

“Yeah! Let’s get out of here!”

“You want me to leave so you can take them on yourself!” Mirai chuckled, “I gotta admit, that’s a GREAT idea! I knew you had that bravery in you.”

“TWO!”

“WHAT?! NOOOOO!!!”

“ONE!”

“Cya!” Mirai waved, turned around, and ran away.

“DON’T LEAVE ME HERE WITH THEEEEEEMMM!!!!!” But Haruna’s cries fell on deaf ears. Mirai was too far away to save her. Haruna clenched her teeth, spun back around to face the approaching delinquents, and started to back away. “Heeeeeeeeyyyyy!!!!! How’s it goin’ guys?”

The delinquents began to surround her, one of them reaching out to snatch her arm. Quickly she hopped backwards to narrowly avoid it, but her back slammed into another one. This one put his arms underneath her armpits and behind her neck, a ‘full nelson’ wrestling hold. “Nowhere to run, Supernova! Because’a your friend we’re gonna be outed to the principal.”

“Please put me down!” Haruna begged, her eyes shutting and face turning red. Her heart thrashed against her chest and she couldn’t think straight. “Let me go! I didn’t do anything to you!”

“What’s the fun in that?” The delinquent leader asked, walking over to their restrained victim who fought no better than a wounded puppy, “It’s not everyday you get to say you unmasked a superhero, but lucky me I get to say that today! Stradale will be very pleased.” He reached his hand out for her mask, trying to get a hold of it… until a booming voice emerged from behind.

“STOP RIGHT THERE!”

Immediately his hand and body froze along with the rest of the group. There standing under a spotlight was a female figure with a bright flowing red cape. She struck a series of quick, firm, and powerful poses while saying: “How DARE you lay your hands on an innocent girl who meant no harm to you? She had a dream of growing stronger as a person and facing her fears, and you wish to trample over it! I, Blue Star, cannot forgive you!”

“M-Mi– I mean, Blue Star!” Haruna exclaimed with a relieved smile.

“As the champion of the Solar System… I’ll break you in two!” Blue Star points at the delinquents with a sly smirk.

“...you know what? I’m tired of this!” The leader grunted, “I thought you were going to flee, but nooo! I’ll just have to teach both of you a lesson! Get’em boys!”

Upon the order of the leader, Haruna felt her restraints loosening. She took the opportunity to back away and get out of the group’s reach. The five charged at Mirai- nae, Blue Star, who embraced their battle with open arms.

“I won’t even have to get into stance for this one.” Blue Star muttered, folding her arms and waiting for the group to approach. The leader swung the bat down on Blue Star with ferocious force, yet she just casually swung her body to the side and retaliated with a high-kick forcing him flat onto his bottom. With the leader so quickly dispatched, the five henchmen stood stunned in their places.

“Wh-what are you guys doing?! GET HER!” He grunted, his face turning pale. Next thing he knew, he was throwing up on the ground.

“Anyone else?” Blue Star unfolded her arms and held them out wide, “or are y’all too scared of Blue Star? Crime doesn’t pay dimes, only good hard working jobs! Stay in class and maybe you’ll get one!”

The rest of the group looked at each other, debating on what to do. After a few seconds of discussion, they turned around and ran away, ditching their leader behind. “Nah this bitch is crazy, I’m outta’ here!” they all said.

“Hehehe! I won!” Blue Star jumped up and down, celebrating to herself. When she stopped, she knelt by the leader, “Not a great leader, are you, Steve?”

“N-no… not really… maybe the tough guy act doesn’t suit me as well as I thought…” he said in between pained breaths.

“Nope!” Blue Star shook her head, “It really does not. You should be more like the- uhhh… nerdy guy, I guess. I’m Blue Star though, so no matter what act you put on, you and your group ‘a no good delinquents will have to answer to me and my fists of justice!”

With that, Blue Star lifted Steve up by his shoulder, then walked over to Supernova. “You did good today, chief. Let’s go to the nurse’s office, she’ll patch both’a you up.”

“I just tried to smash your head in with a baseball bat…” Steve coughed, “Why are you helping me…?”

Blue Star paused for a moment, pondering on what to say. “It’s what heroes do, I guess. Besides, who’s gonna be my returning arch nemesis if they’re left for dead?!”

“Not me…” Steve shook his head, “I’ll pass…”

And so our heroes walked away from their victory with their heads held high. Omo was pleased that she was able to get out of that alive, and Mirai was happy she got her first successful day as a superhero. Once Steve was treated for his injuries, Blue Star and Supernova took turns throwing their capes and rags into the dumpster, never to be found again. Omo wished to never again take the role of superhero, while Mirai had other plans…

On her way back to class, the events of today stuck in the back of Omo’s mind. (“Mirai, huh? She is a handful, and she made me lose my composure multiple times… but,”) Omo giggled, revealing a soft smile. (“Even though I was so scared, I had some fun…! She seems so self-centered and off-the-walls, but she really does have a good heart… Thank you, Mirai Keikan.”).