Tenya Mirko wiped the sweat from his brow as he packed his bag, feeling the weight of another long day. The dingy gym, with its cracked walls and flickering fluorescent lights, had become a second home, but not by choice. Teaching boxing to a group of rowdy kids wasn't exactly how he'd envisioned his life turning out. He had big dreams once—dreams of something more, something that mattered. But for now, he was stuck here, working for peanuts. The pay was crap, and the kids were wild, but it was all he could find.
"Hey, master! Are we done for the day?" A small voice broke through his thoughts. A young boy, barely 12, sprinted toward him, his sneakers squeaking on the gym's worn floor. Tenya turned to face him, trying to hide the exhaustion in his eyes.
"Yes, kid, we're done for the day," Tenya said, rolling his eyes at the title. "Please, don't call me master... It makes me feel ancient. 'Sensei' sounds better. Got it?"
The boy grinned, giving him a mock salute. "Got it, Sensei!" he said, high-fiving Tenya with a loud slap. The boy waved goodbye to his friends, who were already heading for the exit, their energy far from spent. Tenya couldn't help but chuckle, though it felt forced.
He gathered his things, tossing the gym bag over his shoulder and making his way toward the exit. Another day of teaching and coaching, and another month of getting by with the bare minimum. But today felt different. With the end of the month came his small paycheck, just enough to cover rent, food, and—hopefully—something a little extra for himself. A rare treat.
"Okay, now that I've got my monthly payment," Tenya muttered to himself, pulling his jacket tighter around his shoulders as he stepped into the cold evening air, "I'mma just get myself a nice snack. I'm starving."
He walked down the street, the night buzzing with activity. People hurried by, wrapped in their coats and scarves, oblivious to the mundane world Tenya lived in. It wasn't glamorous, but it was his reality. Maybe tonight, he'd stop at that new ramen shop he'd been meaning to try. A hot bowl of soup and a few moments of peace—that's what he needed.
His stomach growled as he approached the corner. He was almost there when a scream pierced the night air. It was sharp and frantic, coming from a side alley to his right. Without thinking, Tenya's instincts kicked in, and he sprinted toward the sound, his heart pounding in his chest.
When he rounded the corner, the sight before him stopped him dead in his tracks.
A girl—no, a young woman—was backed into the alley, surrounded by a group of men. Her eyes were wide with fear, and she was doing everything she could to push them back, but there was no way she could take on all of them alone. She was small, fragile, her face pale in the dim light. She looked so familiar.
Aiko.
Midoriya Hiduku's daughter.
Tenya's breath caught in his throat. He knew her, though only by reputation. She was one of the most protected people in the city—someone with ties to powerful families. What the hell was she doing here, in a dark alley, surrounded by thugs?
Without thinking, Tenya stepped forward, his mind racing. This wasn't his world. He wasn't some hero, but there was no way he could just walk away.
"Hey!" Tenya shouted, his voice firm, trying to gain their attention. The men turned toward him, sneers forming on their faces as they assessed the situation. One of them, the biggest, a burly man with tattoos snaking up his arms, grinned.
"Well, well, look who decided to show up," he said, cracking his knuckles. "What's this? You gonna play hero?"
Tenya's fingers tightened into fists as adrenaline surged through him. He wasn't sure how this was going to play out, but one thing was certain: he wasn't about to let Aiko get hurt. Not on his watch.
"Stay back," Tenya warned, his voice low and steady. "This doesn't have to go down like this. Just walk away."
The men chuckled, clearly underestimating him. Tenya didn't care. His mind was focused on only one thing now: protecting her.
Tenya took a slow step forward, his mind racing as he sized up the four men who surrounded Aiko. Each one held a weapon, knives gleaming in the dim alley light, their grins wide and mocking. The girl—no, the young woman—stood with her back against the cold brick wall, clearly out of options. But the thing that caught Tenya's attention was the man lying on the ground beside her.
A bodyguard, judging by the suit and the way he was sprawled awkwardly, knocked out cold. His face was bruised, his eyes shut tight, but he wasn't dead. Tenya could see the shallow rise and fall of his chest. That told him everything he needed to know. Aiko wasn't just some helpless schoolgirl; she had someone protecting her.
Her sobs were soft, but they echoed in the alley. Fear. Desperation.
"Okay, guys," Tenya said, trying to keep his voice steady, his mind calculating his next move. "She just seems like a little defenseless kid... why not let her go? We can talk about this, right?"
One of the thugs, the smallest of the group, sneered at him. "Talk? She's our property now, buddy. You better get lost."
Tenya stepped forward, his feet shifting into a stance, his fists clenched at his sides. "I don't think that's happening."
"Really?" The largest thug, with tattoos that covered his neck and arms, chuckled darkly. He raised his knife, flashing it in front of Tenya's face. "You think you can take us on? You don't know who you're messing with."
Tenya was already moving before the words finished. A quick sidestep, a burst of speed, and the big thug's knife missed by inches as Tenya ducked. His body felt lighter now, the adrenaline taking over. He wasn't some hero, but he was trained. He could do this.
The thug took another swipe, this time more vicious. But Tenya was faster. He grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it with a sharp motion, and used the thug's own momentum to send him crashing to the ground, the knife skittering out of his hand.
The others weren't about to back off, though. Two more rushed him simultaneously. Tenya ducked under one's arm and planted a knee into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. As the second thug came in, Tenya pivoted on his foot, spinning around to deliver a swift roundhouse kick to the man's ribs. There was a sickening crunch, and the thug crumpled to the ground.
But that wasn't enough to stop the fourth guy—the one who had the glint of madness in his eyes. He charged at Tenya, knife raised, and this time, he wasn't holding back. Tenya dodged the first strike, but the second one found its mark. The blade sank into Tenya's thigh with a sharp, burning pain. He gritted his teeth, refusing to fall, pushing through the agony.
"You're a tough one," the thug grinned, thinking he had the upper hand.
Tenya's vision swam with pain, but he locked onto the thug's exposed side and lunged, landing a brutal punch to his kidney. The thug staggered back, groaning in pain, but Tenya wasn't done. With a swift movement, he grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it behind his back, and slammed him into the ground with a heavy thud.
His leg was throbbing, and blood was soaking through his pants, but he couldn't stop now. There were only two left.
The remaining two men were looking a little less confident, but they weren't backing down. The biggest thug, the one who'd underestimated Tenya from the start, charged at him again, this time with a wild, uncoordinated swing. Tenya was ready. He ducked low, sweeping the thug's legs out from under him with a quick trip. As the man fell, Tenya's foot came down hard on his chest, knocking the air out of him.
The last thug—his knife still clutched tightly in his hand—lunged at Tenya with a desperate scream. Tenya ducked and weaved, his foot connecting with the thug's stomach, sending him stumbling back. The thug tried to swing again, but Tenya was already on him. In one fluid motion, he twisted the man's arm behind his back and slammed his face into the ground.
The alley went silent.
Tenya stood over them, panting heavily, blood dripping from his leg, his fists still clenched. His chest heaved with every breath, but he kept his focus. He wasn't done yet.
He turned to Aiko, who was still standing against the wall, her wide eyes fixed on him, her face pale with shock. The sobs had stopped. She just stared, as if she couldn't believe what she'd just witnessed.
"You okay?" Tenya asked, his voice hoarse. He could feel his body shaking, the adrenaline fading, but he couldn't relax yet.
Aiko blinked, as if she were waking up from a dream. Slowly, she nodded, but her eyes flickered over to the man lying on the ground beside her—the bodyguard.
"He's... he's just knocked out," Aiko whispered, her voice trembling. "But... thank you. You saved me."
Tenya wiped the sweat and blood from his brow, his breath ragged. "No problem," he muttered. "I wasn't about to let them hurt you."
Aiko's voice trembled as she stepped closer, her hands shaking slightly. "Is there… anything I can do for you, mister?" Her eyes darted to his bleeding thigh, guilt flooding her expression. "Umm… I mean—it's because of me you're hurt."
Tenya waved her off with a tired smile, trying to hide the pain that was starting to pulse violently through his leg. "Hey, it's okay. I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."
He glanced past her, pointing at the sleek black SUV parked crookedly at the mouth of the alley, one of the headlights flickering weakly. "Is that your car right there?"
Aiko turned to look, nodding. "Yes. That's our car… They stopped us when we were on our way home."
Tenya raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward the man on the ground a few feet away—the bodyguard—who now stirred, groaning softly. "Okay… and is he your driver?"
Before Aiko could answer, the man let out a confused grunt and pushed himself weakly onto his elbows. His vision blurred at first, then sharpened. He blinked rapidly, taking in the scene: the unconscious gang members sprawled across the alley… the dented trash bins… the broken bottles… and Tenya standing there bloodied but upright.
"What… the hell…?" the bodyguard muttered, eyes wide. He tried to stand, wobbling slightly before steadying himself. His gaze snapped to Aiko instantly, panic flashing across his face. "Miss Aiko! Are you—are you hurt?"
Aiko shook her head quickly. "No, I'm okay. Thanks to… him." She gestured toward Tenya.
The bodyguard's eyes shifted to Tenya, and the shock on his face deepened. "You… You took out all of them?" His voice cracked halfway through, his disbelief completely unfiltered. He looked at the four unconscious men again just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.
Tenya shrugged weakly, wiping some blood from his cheek. "They weren't very friendly," he said dryly.
The bodyguard blinked again, still processing everything, then straightened his posture despite the grogginess. "Sir… I don't know who you are, but… thank you. Truly." His voice was thick, sincere.
Tenya gave a small nod, wincing as a sharp pain shot up his leg. "Just glad I got here when I did."
Aiko took a careful step toward him, worry returning to her face. "Please… let us take you to a hospital. You're hurt badly."
The world tilted under his feet.
"I'm fineee… e.e… I'm—"
He never finished the sentence.
His knees went weak, vision fading like someone dimmed the evening sky itself.
Then THUD—his body hit the pavement.
"Mister!!"
Aiko's voice cracked with fear.
That was the last thing he heard before everything went dark, the warm orange evening glow dissolving into nothingness.
Aiko rushed to his side, nearly slipping on the pavement.
Her breath shook.
"Please—please help me get him in the car!" she called to her guard, who was already running back.
The guard knelt quickly.
"Miss Aiko, he's bleeding pretty badly."
Aiko's eyes widened at the blood seeping through his shirt.
"He protected me… he stood in front of them…"
She clenched her fists.
"I'm helping. I don't care."
Together, they lifted the unconscious stranger—his head falling briefly onto Aiko's shoulder.
His arm dangled, fingers brushing her wrist as they hurried.
They pulled the backseat door open.
"Careful—slowly," Aiko whispered, guiding his head into her lap as the guard slid the rest of him inside.
His breathing was uneven, shallow.
Aiko felt her heart pounding violently against her chest.
The guard slammed the door, jumped behind the wheel, and the car sped off.
As the city blurred past, the golden-orange light of the evening spilled through the windows, streaking across the stranger's bruised face.
Aiko pressed her scarf against his wound.
Her hands were trembling so badly she almost dropped it.
The guard's voice came from the front:
"Miss, keep pressure there. If he wakes up, talk to him—keep him focused."
Aiko nodded quickly, trying to steady her hands.
The man groaned softly, eyelids twitching.
Aiko leaned in.
"Hey… hey, can you hear me?"
Her voice cracked.
"Please stay awake, okay? You're hurt… but you're safe now."
He blinked, unfocused, staring at nothing.
"You…" he whispered, trying to smile but failing.
Then his eyes rolled back, and he went still again.
Aiko's breath hitched.
"Don't do that," she muttered shakily.
"Don't close your eyes like that…"
The car swerved sharply; the cool evening air rushed through a cracked window, whipping Aiko's hair back.
Blue hospital lights finally came into sight.
"Almost there!" the guard shouted.
Aiko held onto the stranger's hand—more for her comfort than his.
"Just hold on," she whispered, voice tight.
"You… whoever you are… don't you dare die after saving me."
The guard drove straight into the emergency lane; the tires screeched.
Nurses rushed out immediately.
Aiko shouted, unable to hold her panic:
"He—he protected me! Please help him!"
The nurses lifted him out quickly.
His arm fell limply at his side as they placed him on a stretcher.
The last thing Aiko saw before they wheeled him in through the sliding doors was his face—calm, still…
as if he was finally resting after fighting the world.