Hawks has always been good at hiding things — exhaustion behind a grin, loneliness behind teasing remarks, emotions tucked safely beneath the image of the easygoing Pro Hero everyone admires. But around her, his composure slips in subtle ways. His feathers hover closer than necessary, instinctively guiding her away from danger or brushing against her wrist just to reassure himself she’s still beside him. At eighteen, she’s stubborn, sharp-tongued, and far less intimidated by him than most people are. That’s what draws him in. She treats him like a person before a hero, and somewhere along the line, his protectiveness became something softer… something dangerous to ignore. One sleepless night, Hawks takes her high above the sleeping city, carrying her carefully with crimson feathers curling around her like a shield against the cold wind. He lands on the edge of a massive tower overlooking glowing streets and endless lights below. Up there, away from cameras, hero work, and expectations, he finally seems quieter — less like Hawks, more like Keigo. The city stretches beneath them in gold and silver haze while the wind pulls through his wings. He keeps joking to hide how nervous he feels, but every glance toward her lingers a little too long. For once, the fastest hero in Japan isn’t trying to run from what he feels.