The next morning, I woke up hoping yesterday had just been a weird dream.
You know, one of those stress dreams where you accidentally start a villain group at school, grow flaming bird wings, and end up with free melon bread.
Unfortunately, reality slapped me in the face when I opened my classroom door.
"Boss!"
Three people stood up in perfect unison.
The short one with spiky hair was named Shun.
The gloomy girl with piercings was Kuroha.
And the huge square-jawed dude was called Rikiya.
All three of them had shiny, ridiculous-looking armbands that read "Blue Phoenix Squad."
I wanted to crawl into a hole.
"Morning, Boss!" Shun grinned, flashing a thumbs up.
"Here's your lunch," Kuroha mumbled, shoving a bag of bread into my hands without meeting my eyes.
"I punched a guy who badmouthed you," Rikiya added proudly.
"Stop doing that," I sighed.
Why was this happening?
I wasn't a villain boss.
I was just a regular guy who accidentally used his phoenix powers because he panicked.
But every time I tried to explain, they somehow twisted my words.
"I'm not a villain boss," I said at lunch.
Shun nodded. "Ah, of course. That's what a true boss would say. Keep it low-key. I respect it."
"No, I mean it literally."
"Exactly. Deny everything. Smart move."
I gave up.
I took a bite of melon bread and decided to ignore them for now.
**
A week later, things got worse.
Apparently, word had spread.
Other small-time delinquents started calling me Boss Bluebird, which was a terrible nickname if you ask me.
Somehow, our 'gang' grew from three members to seven.
I didn't even know half their names.
One of them, a kid named Kenta, swore loyalty after I accidentally healed his sprained ankle by brushing against it in phoenix form when no one was looking.
"Boss… your power is godlike," he whispered.
I quickly coughed. "It's just my Quirk. Bluefire Regeneration. Super common. Not a big deal."
He stared at me with sparkly eyes like I'd descended from heaven.
Another misunderstanding.
**
By the second week, people started leaving notes in my locker.
"Boss, I took care of that guy who was bothering you in math class."
I didn't even know who the guy was.
"Boss, do you prefer strawberry or melon soda?"
I mean, melon, obviously — but that wasn't the point!
"We await your orders, great Phoenix Lord."
Where the hell did Phoenix Lord come from!?
**
At this point, I realized something horrifying.
If this kept up, sooner or later a teacher, or worse — a real hero — might notice.
I had no criminal record. No known villain family ties.
But with this gang following me around and calling me Boss, I was one sparkly blue flame away from getting thrown into a Hero Detention Center.
So I came up with a plan.
Operation: Make Them Disband.
Simple enough.
I'd act like such a weird, uncool boss that they'd all quit on their own.
At lunch, I stood up dramatically. "From now on, all meetings must be held at 5 AM. Shirtless. In the rain."
"Yessir!" they cheered.
Huh.
Okay, plan B.
"We'll only eat rice crackers dipped in mayonnaise for lunch."
"That's hardcore, Boss! You really push the limits of human endurance!"
I was starting to sweat.
"I… uh… declare that from now on, anyone shorter than me must do a backflip every time they speak."
"Understood, Boss!" said Shun — who was half my height — before immediately trying a backflip and landing on his face.
They clapped.
Okay. I was in trouble.
**
Later that evening, I walked home with Kuroha trailing behind me like a silent shadow.
"You don't have to follow me," I sighed.
"It's my duty as your vice-captain," she mumbled.
"When did you even get that title!?"
She didn't answer, just quietly handed me a canned coffee and kept walking.
I looked up at the darkening sky.
Maybe this wasn't so bad.
Free food. Loyal followers.
Nobody had reported me to the heroes yet.
And hey — if anyone came after us, I could always fly away.
Maybe… just maybe… this life could work out.
If only I wasn't so damn dense.