### Chapter 13: Heart-Pounding, Blushing Fubuki
"How about I treat you..."
Fubuki just mustered the courage to speak.
"Thank you so much for what happened earlier!"
At this moment, a loud voice cut in.
It was Lightning Max, who had finished treating his injuries. Seeing Kouki, he immediately stepped forward to thank him solemnly.
Immediately after, as if a switch had been flipped.
Other heroes also gathered around—some to thank him sincerely, others out of pure curiosity.
After all, this newcomer was the exceptional case who had parachuted directly into S-Class Rank 14!
This honor and strength were enough to make everyone turn their heads.
Surrounded by enthusiasm, Kouki was a bit flustered for a moment.
Watching his slightly embarrassed look, Fubuki, who had been "interrupted mid-cast," wasn't angry. Instead, she let out a "pffft" and laughed, her eyes curving.
After finally dealing with his enthusiastic peers, Kouki returned to Fubuki with a hint of apology: "Sorry, Fubuki, it was too noisy just now. What did you say you wanted to treat me to?"
"I said, I wanted to treat you to a meal. I wonder if you..." Fubuki hadn't finished her sentence.
"A meal? Sure! Absolutely no problem!"
Kouki's eyes lit up, agreeing with crisp decisiveness.
Although the Association had just transferred the huge bonus for killing the Monsters to his account, being treated by a beautiful older sister?
Only a fool would refuse!
"Then let's go?"
Seeing him agree so readily, a brilliant smile bloomed on Fubuki's face.
Being on good terms with a newly promoted S-Class hero was a great opportunity to expand her network.
The two walked out of the Association building side by side. Under Fubuki's lead, they entered a luxuriously decorated restaurant.
"Order whatever you like, don't be polite!"
Fubuki pushed the exquisite menu in front of Kouki, her demeanor elegant and generous.
"Ha! You said it!" Kouki grinned, taking it unceremoniously, his eyes sweeping over the dazzling array of dishes. "Then I'm going to let my stomach loose!"
Fubuki was amused by his "hungry tiger pouncing on food" posture. She wasn't worried about him eating her out of house and home; instead, she asked curiously, "Where are you from, Mr. Kouki? Why did you think of joining the Hero Association?"
"Me? From Z-City." Kouki answered casually while quickly ticking items on the menu. "Joining the Hero Association was my Grandpa's request!"
"Your Grandpa?"
Fubuki was somewhat curious. Who was the grandfather of this powerful youth?
"Silver Fang Bang is my Grandpa!"
Kouki ordered the last dish, handed the menu to the waiter, and said with a hint of pride.
"Wha... ?!" Fubuki's beautiful eyes widened instantly, her face full of disbelief. "Mr. Kouki, you... your grandfather is actually Senior Silver Fang?!"
"Just call me Kouki!" Kouki continued to smile brightly.
After the shock.
Fubuki quickly accepted this fact, and her mind suddenly cleared.
No wonder his strength was so amazing!
So he was the personal disciple of that legendary master of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist!
Everything had a reasonable explanation.
"By the way, Fubuki," Kouki picked up his water glass and took a sip, naturally changing the topic. "I just became a hero and I'm not too familiar with things in the Association. Can you tell me about them?"
"Of course!"
Fubuki nodded without hesitation, immediately transforming into a dutiful "newbie guide."
She began to explain in detail the operation mechanism, ranking system, mission process, and some unwritten rules of the Hero Association.
However, as dishes full of aroma were served one by one.
Fubuki's elegant explanation was gradually replaced by surprise.
Her beautiful eyes opened wider and wider, her cherry lips slightly parted—Kouki's eating speed could simply be described as "sweeping away clouds in the wind"!
That appetite was definitely equal to several strong men!
The meal ended with Kouki satisfied and Fubuki dumbfounded.
Kouki's fondness for this beautiful and generous older sister skyrocketed.
"Thanks for the treat, Fubuki!" Kouki patted his solid chest, his tone sincere. "You are the first friend I made after coming down the mountain! If you need help with anything in the future, just ask! leave it to me!"
Hearing this, a heartfelt smile appeared on Fubuki's face, and she rejoiced secretly: "Establishing a friendship with a promising S-Class hero, this meal was too worth it."
She pursed her lips in an elegant smile: "Kouki is too polite. Between friends, helping each other is only right."
Just as the two were chatting happily and the atmosphere was harmonious.
"—You must be Kouki!"
A clear but unfamiliar male voice cut in abruptly.
Kouki and Fubuki looked towards the source of the voice, both with a hint of confusion at being disturbed.
They saw a handsome man with blue hair like satin and a face that could be called perfect, standing there with one hand in his pocket. His sharp gaze was sizing up Kouki meticulously like a scanner.
His whole body emitted a dazzling aura like an idol star.
Instantly becoming the focus of the entire square.
"I am A-Class Rank 1, 'Sweet Mask'," he nodded slightly, the corner of his mouth curving into a formulaic charming smile. "There are some things I want to talk to you about alone."
"Lord Sweet Mask?!"
"Ahhh! It's really Lord Mask!"
"Oh my god! Why is he here!"
...
The surrounding air seemed to be ignited, filled with gasps and screams of excitement.
The crowd became restless, countless scorching gazes focusing on this spot.
Kouki raised an eyebrow with interest—Ho, he hadn't even warmed the bench of his new official position yet, and the legendary "S-Class Quality Inspector" had already sniffed his way here?
As for the other party's purpose?
He could guess seventy to eighty percent of it even thinking with his toes.
Nothing more than examining the quality of him, this parachuted S-Class, weighing whether his strength was qualified and if his conviction was firm.
Thinking of this, a rebellious arc flashed across the corner of Kouki's mouth.
His way of the hero was always defined by himself. When was it ever someone else's turn to dictate?
"Speak quickly if you have something to say," Kouki simply crossed his arms, the muscles on his strong arms bulging, his tone carrying obvious impatience. "Don't waste everyone's time."
That posture was just like dismissing a salesman.
Sweet Mask's perfect smile seemed to freeze for a tenth of a second, his handsome brows furrowing imperceptibly.
The arrogant attitude of the newcomer before him was far from the image of a "hero" he imagined.
However, Kouki's record of single-handedly killing a Dragon-level monster and turning the tide in A-City.
Was an ironclad record within the Hero Association.
He himself had rushed over at full speed after receiving the Association's emergency call for help, only arriving a step too late.
Seeing Kouki's impervious appearance, Sweet Mask also lost interest in dealing with him and spoke coldly: "I heard you are an S-Class promoted by special exception. I want to remind you, hero is by no means a title with an undeserved reputation..."
"Oh?" A dangerous light flashed in Kouki's eyes, his tone disdainful. "So you want to personally 'remind' me? Fists are much sharper than lips."
"No." Unexpectedly, Sweet Mask shook his head decisively. The coldness on his face melted like snow in spring, and he put on that idol-exclusive trademark smile again. "I look forward to... your future 'performance'."
Leaving this meaningful sentence, he turned gracefully, his figure quickly disappearing into the surging crowd and constant screams.
"Tsk, pretentious guy."
Kouki scoffed at the flamboyant back.
"You can't say that..." Fubuki raised her hand helplessly to rub her forehead, looking slightly headache-ridden. "It's said that Sweet Mask will 'take special care' of any newly promoted S-Class to assess whether they are... um... qualified. It's considered some sort of... self-appointed supervision?"
Part of the reason Fubuki was unwilling to advance to A-Class was because of this obstacle, Sweet Mask.
"Hah?" Kouki raised his eyebrows exaggeratedly, the mockery in his tone almost spilling over. "What? Is he an examiner hired by the Association?"
"Well... not really..."
Fubuki was speechless for a moment.
"Can't be bothered with him." Kouki waved his big hand as if shooing away a fly, then stretched lazily, his whole body letting out a series of tooth-aching joint pops. "It's getting late, I need to find the Association to get me a place to rest."
He definitely couldn't go back today, so he could only make do in A-City for the night.
Besides... having finally come down the mountain, he didn't plan to go back to face the boring dojo so quickly.
"If you don't mind, regarding accommodation... how about leaving it to me to arrange?"
Fubuki took over the conversation at the right time, with a reserved and proper smile on her face.
"Haha~ That would be great! With your help, Fubuki, it saves me a lot of trouble!"
Kouki grinned, smiling brightly, and accepted readily without any politeness.
So, under Fubuki's proper arrangement, Kouki checked into a hotel with quite good facilities that night.
The next morning.
Before the sunlight completely dispersed the thin mist, Kouki's door was knocked on by a slightly hurried but still elegant knock.
"Yawn~~"
An earth-shattering yawn came from inside, and then the door was pulled open abruptly.
Kouki poked his head out sleepily with messy hair. "Fubuki? Early in the morning... disturbing people's sweet dreams..."
Outside the door, Fubuki's eyes widened instantly, and two blushes flew onto her cheeks with a *swish*.
The man at the door was actually bare-chested!
His robust abdominal muscles were exposed without any cover in the cool morning air.
Strong male hormones hit her face.
"Y-You, why aren't you wearing clothes!"
Fubuki hurriedly looked away, but couldn't help stealing glances at those smooth muscle lines from the corner of her eye, her heart inexplicably beating a few beats faster.
Kouki was completely unaware, or rather, didn't care.
Training shirtless in the dojo had long been a common occurrence.
"Oh?" He looked down at himself, shrugged indifferently, and slowly put on the open martial arts uniform in front of Fubuki, tying the belt carelessly. "Are you inviting me for breakfast? Just happen to be starving, want to eat roast meat! Large portion!"
Fubuki choked on his matter-of-fact appearance, helplessly suppressing the strange feeling in her heart: "Roast meat... is too greasy for the morning. Today I wanted to take you around A-City properly..."
"Go around?" Kouki rubbed his chin and pondered for two seconds, his eyes lighting up. "Sure!"
Anyway, there was no rush to go back. With a beautiful guide accompanying him, wandering around this bustling city seemed quite interesting.
"Then let's go quickly!"
Fubuki seemed even more active than him.
At the hotel entrance, the Fubuki Group's black sedan had been waiting for a long time, with several group members in suits standing solemnly on both sides.
Just a second before Kouki opened the car door and prepared to bend down into the back seat—
*Buzz— Buzz—*
The Hero Association exclusive communicators in both their pockets vibrated urgently at the same time.
A crimson emergency message exploded on the screen instantly.
"A giant Monster appeared in B-City?! Disaster level... preliminary judgment is Demon-level?!" Fubuki looked at the message, her voice revealing gravity.
Demon-level was already a major disaster requiring multiple heroes to join forces.
"Demon-level?"
Kouki paused, his eyes instantly sharp as a falcon, as if crossing space and casting towards the direction of B-City.
In his perception, that violent "Ki" soaring into the sky... was far more than just simple Demon-level!
It was Dragon-level!
And it was that... monster from the original story that could crush half a city just by falling down—"Beefcake"!
"This is troublesome..." Fubuki frowned tightly, her voice full of deep regret. "Although A-City and B-City aren't too far, it takes at least an hour to drive there... by the time we arrive, I'm afraid..."
She didn't finish the second half of the sentence—I'm afraid it will be too late.
A disaster of that level meant huge casualties every minute and second.
"Who said it's too late?"
Kouki's deep voice sounded, carrying a hint of playfulness.
Under Fubuki's astonished gaze, he exerted a little force under his feet, and his body floated up lightly against gravity, half a meter off the ground.
He lowered his head slightly, a confident smile on his lips, and extended a broad palm to Fubuki, who was still somewhat dazed on the ground. "Want a 'hitchhike', Miss Fubuki?"
Fubuki was slightly stunned, only then remembering that the person in front of her was an existence who could fly!
Her own psychokinesis could barely support flight.
But that speed... was simply a snail climbing a slope compared to travel.
Looking at the hand Kouki extended, carrying an inviting meaning, and thinking of the huge threat ravaging B-City.
Fubuki's gaze concentrated, she bit her silver teeth lightly, and decisively extended her slender hand: "...Troubling you!"
"Hold on tight!"
Before his voice fell, Kouki exerted force with his wrist.
"Ah!"
Fubuki only felt an irresistible gentle force, her body instantly losing weight. With a cry of surprise, she crashed into a solid and warm embrace.
A clear male scent instantly wrapped around her.
Her cheek pressed tightly against his slightly heaving chest.
The clear and powerful heartbeat struck her eardrums.
Causing the temperature of her cheeks to soar instantly.
"Let's go—!"
Kouki gave a light shout, exerted force under his feet, and the two figures shot into the sky like an arrow leaving the string.
The fierce wind should have hit their faces like knives.
But at this moment, what Fubuki felt was only the sound of breaking air whistling past her ears.
The scenery in front of her stretched and deformed violently, turning into flowing lines of mixed colors flying backward.
The expected wretchedness of being unable to open her eyes in the fierce wind did not happen, and she didn't even feel a trace of chill.
Fubuki quietly raised her eyes, stealing a glance at the firm contour of Kouki's jaw.
Did he specifically use some power to isolate the airflow and protect her?
A warm current quietly flowed across her heart.
...