MHA: UltraMan

Chapter 23 Under the stars 

A few weeks ago, in Avengers Tower.

The quiet hum of the system filled the room, and then Jarvis's voice broke the silence. "Scan completed."

Jackson turned his head slightly. "And?"

"Your energy readings indicate a significant increase since the last recorded levels."

Jackson's brows furrowed. "How much?"

The screen flashed with data before Jarvis responded. "Your strength has increased by 40 percent."

Jackson's fingers instinctively clenched into a fist. He could feel the surge of energy humming beneath his skin, the familiar thrum of his quirk as if testing its limits. He pushed the air in front of him, watching it ripple. "Wait—you're telling me my strength just… spiked?"

Before Jarvis could respond, Bruce's voice cut in. "Sheesh, kid," he muttered, turning to Jarvis. "Why the hell did his quirk suddenly jump like that? This isn't normal."

Jarvis's response was calm and calculated. "It seems to be a result of prolonged high-stress situations combined with overuse of his quirk. His fights with Doflamingo and Wrath, where he pushed himself beyond his limits, including reliance on the arc reactor when his energy ran out…"

Bruce nodded, considering. "Unlike his mother, who can tap into cosmic energy, Jackson's power is self-generated. And if this keeps up, it'll only get stronger. One day, he could even surpass her."

A grin slowly spread across Jackson's face as he absorbed the information. "So, if I had a rematch with the pink guy, I'd win, right?"

Jarvis didn't miss a beat. "At your current level, you would easily neutralize him."

Present day:

Uta's fingers tightened around his arm as they dashed through the lively streets of Tokyo, the hum of traffic and voices surrounding them. They reached an open space and paused, both catching their breath. The neon glow of the city flickered across their faces as they stared out at the horizon. Tokyo stretched beneath them, a tapestry of lights and movement. Above, a shooting star streaked across the night sky, its silver glow dancing in Uta's wide eyes, her gaze fixed, a quiet awe in the reflection of the fleeting moment.

She smiled softly, her eyes lighting up. "Sorry about them, but thank you for coming," Uta said, her voice warm.

His smile widened. "It was beautiful. Honestly, it was probably the best performance I've ever seen."

Uta's cheeks turned pink, her fingers nervously twisting together. "Thanks," she whispered. Her gaze shifted, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "Oh, I saw Bradford in the crowd. How is he?"

He hesitated, the memory of Bradford flashing in his mind. "He's doing great… though, I think he was shouting louder than the rest of the crowd combined," he said with a grin.

Uta chuckled, shaking her head fondly. "Oh, Bradford. I'm glad he hasn't changed." They continued their walk, the city lights reflecting off their faces, the quiet conversation flowing between them.

They stood side by side, the quiet hum of the ocean filling the space between them. The stars twinkled above, their light reflected in Uta's eyes, casting a soft glow on her face. Jackson felt his heart race, a lump forming in his throat. He glanced at Uta, her hair flowing gently with the wind.

"Hey, Uta," Jackson started, his voice faltering slightly. He swallowed hard, trying to steady his nerves.

Uta turned to him, the wind catching her ponytails. "Yeah?" Her voice was calm, but there was a softness to it that made Jackson's palms sweat.

He opened his mouth, then closed it. His face flushed, and his words jumbled in his mind. Finally, he blurted out, "W-will you go out with me?"

Uta blinked, her expression unreadable for a moment. Jackson could feel the seconds stretching into eternity as he anxiously waited for her response. Then, slowly, a soft pink hue spread across her cheeks. Her ponytails lifted slightly as she tilted her head, her lips parting in a small, surprised gasp.

Jackson stood frozen, his hand still outstretched, heart pounding.

Uta looked at him for a beat longer before a smile crept onto her face. Her voice was soft but steady as she answered, "I… I would love to go out with you."

"Okay, great, I'll make some plans—" Jackson started, but before he could finish, Uta grabbed his hand, her smile bright.

"How about we go now and enjoy the night while it's still young?" she suggested, her eyes sparkling.

Jackson blinked, taken by surprise but grinning. "Let's do it."

They ran through the streets of Tokyo, the city lights blurring around them as they headed to a ramen shop. Laughter filled the air as they ate together, the warmth of the meal matching the warmth between them. Afterward, Uta gave him a spontaneous tour of the city, pointing out landmarks and hidden gems along the way, her excitement contagious.

As the night wore on, the streets grew quieter. Jackson felt a fluttering in his chest, his mind racing with thoughts of Uta. When they stopped for a moment under a streetlamp, she leaned in, pressing a quick peck to his cheek.

Jackson stood still, the soft touch leaving his heart racing. The moment lingered, and even as he lay down to sleep that night, the memory of her kiss kept him wide awake.