Takemichi was running around as usual with his red cap, playing heroes alone. He was searching for a villain when he saw a small, cute kid sitting alone, kicking rocks.

"Helloo!" Takemichi smiled.

The boy looked at him, confused. "Who are you?"

Isagi was just minding his own business when suddenly another kid came up to him. He had an absurd hairstyle with his hair going up like a gangster, but his smile was warm.

"I am Hanagaki Takemichi! A hero!" Takemichi introduced himself.

"A hero?"

"Yeah, I fight bad guys! What's your name?"

Isagi was skeptical about giving his name to a stranger, but decided to give in anyway. "Isagi Yoichi."

Hearing this, Takemichi's eyes brightened up. "Yoichi! I'll call you Yoichi now, and from now on, you'll be my sidekick!"

He pulled Isagi up.

"Huh?" Isagi was confused.

Of course, he didn't really have any friends due to his bizarre ability. His hearing was too sharp or sensitive—it made him flinch at almost everything. He easily got aggressive if things got too loud, causing the other kids to find him weird. But somehow, Takemichi's voice didn't hurt his ears much, even though he was half screaming.

"Sure, I'll be your sidekick."

Then they both went to find villains, as per Takemichi's plan.

As they walked around the playground, Takemichi suddenly stopped and struck a dramatic pose, pointing at a tree.

"Yoichi! Do you see that tree? It's the Villain Tree! It's been terrorizing the playground for years!"

Isagi stared at the perfectly normal tree. "...That's just a tree, Michi."

Takemichi gasped, clutching his chest. "You dare doubt the Hero Takemichi?! The tree is clearly evil! Look at how it looms!"

"It's... providing shade."

"EVIL shade!"

Isagi sighed, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "Fine. How do we defeat the 'Villain Tree'?"

Takemichi grinned. "We don't defeat it. We befriend it!" He ran up and hugged the tree. "Welcome to the team, Mr. Tree!"

Isagi buried his face in his hands. What have I gotten myself into?

"Neee, Yoichi" Takemichi tilted his head.

"Why were you alone in the park earlier?"

Isagi just smiled bitterly.

"Kids don't like me"

'Why"

"Cause I'm weird."

"Why"

"Because i hear things too much"

"Why"

"Because i can tell when people lie or not and they think it's weird"

Before Takemichi could open his mouth again, Isagi cut him off.

"Enough!!"

Takemichi smiled cheerfully.

"I don't think that's weird. its like yknow? A cool superpower!!"

"...."

"You think so?"

"Yeah!! Like you can tell when someone lies, so that means if someone steals your chips, you can tell if they take it or not. Isn't that sick?!"

Isagi laughed.

"Yeah, that's cool"

Then moved to ruffle Takemichi's hair, turning it into a huge mess.

"My HAIRIRR"

A few minutes later, Takemichi was climbing a small rock wall while Isagi watched from below.

"Yoichi! Look at me! I'm the King of the Mountain!"

"You're three feet off the ground, Michi."

"THREE FEET OF GLORY!"

Takemichi then slipped and fell flat on his back with a loud thud.

Isagi rushed over. "Are you okay?!"

Takemichi gave a thumbs up from the ground, his face covered in dirt. "A hero... never... gives up..."

"You're bleeding from your nose."

"It's... heroic blood."

"Trust me"

Isagi couldn't help but laugh. It was the second time in a long time he'd laughed so freely. Takemichi's voice, even when he was being ridiculous, didn't hurt his ears at all.

They found a small boy protecting a kitten while getting hit by some older kids.

"See that, Yoichi!" Takemichi whispered.

"Yeah."

"They're the villains we're looking for! They're so bad! Why would they hit someone and bully a kitty?"

Isagi stared at the group. "Kaa-san said people like that are bad bad."

They both looked at each other.

"Let's go."

Isagi kicked a nearby bottle he found, hitting the tall kid on the right and shifting their attention to them.

"You! Get those kids!"

Isagi just smiled. "Blegh."

Meanwhile, Takemichi grabbed the small boy's arm and pulled him away. Takemichi used his toy sword and hit the kids' bottoms—right in the groin—before grabbing Isagi's hand and running away.

Isagi watched this and laughed, while the other two held their groins in fear.

"Well deserved!" Takemichi stuck his tongue out.

After a while of running, they finally stopped.

"Are you alright?" Takemichi couldn't see the boy's face, so he swept away the bangs and was met with a beauty. A mole on the cheek and peach-pink hair. The boy was cute.

Takemichi turned to Isagi and pulled him near to whisper, "No wonder they bullied him. He's a cutie!"

"Yeah..." Isagi agreed, but he couldn't get his eyes off the boy. He had the look, you know? I fell in love with you and it will not change for eternity kind of vibe.

Isagi thought to himself, Seems like he's smitten by Takemichi.

Of course, he couldn't let his new friend be stolen, so he grabbed Takemichi close and whispered, "Wanna come to my house after this? Since we're friends, I'm sure my parents would be happy to see you. :3"

Takemichi gasped. "Really?!"

And so they both left the boy alone.

Meanwhile, the boy whose name is Tachibana Hinata was absolutely pissed at the blue-haired boy that just stolen his saviour.

"I couldn't even get his name, dammit"

Isagi's parents, Iyo and Issei, were very happy that their kid finally had a friend. They decided to spoil him, also calling Isagi by his intimate name, "Yoo-chan," and encouraging Takemichi to do the same.

"Yoo-chan! Dinner's ready!" Iyo called out.

Takemichi's eyes sparkled. "Yoo-chan! I get to call you Yoo-chan!"

Isagi's face turned slightly pink. "You don't have to—"

"YOO-CHAN! YOO-CHAN! YOO-CHAN!" Takemichi chanted, running around the living room.

Isagi's father laughed heartily. "I like this kid! He's got spirit!"

"Please make it stop," Isagi muttered, but he was smiling.

Later that evening, they were sitting in Isagi's room, playing with action figures.

"Okay, Yoo-chan! You be the villain, and I'll be the hero!"

"Fine." Isagi picked up a figure. "I am the Great Villain Yoichi! Fear me!"

Takemichi gasped dramatically. "Not the Great Villain Yoichi! Anyone but him!"

He then proceeded to make his hero figure do a weird dance. "I will defeat you with the Power of Friendship... and this sword I found!"

"That's a spoon, Michi."

"It's a magic spoon!"

Isagi couldn't stop laughing. In just one day, Takemichi had somehow broken through all his walls. His voice, his ridiculous antics, his warm smile—none of it overwhelmed Isagi's sensitive hearing. It felt... safe.

"Hey, Michi?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for being my friend."

Takemichi stopped and looked at Isagi with the biggest, warmest smile. "Of course, Yoo-chan! We're gonna be heroes together forever! That's a promise!"

He held out his pinky.

Isagi hesitated for only a moment before linking his pinky with Takemichi's.

"Promise."