「 CONDUIT.」

「prologue.」

【 a/n: the prologue is rather serious sounding- I tried to make it like that. Also, it's not my best quality writing- keep reading, please! Note: Other chapters will be much more lighthearted and less doom.】

「7 years ago」

"Isn't she just the cutest thing?"

An older woman pinched the small child's cheek, letting out a strained smile through painted red lips. Y/N Mika sat on a seat, still with perfect posture. The ruffles of her dress were spilled onto the floor, and the toddler at the centre of the beaded mess had a dainty smile displayed constantly.

In truth, the small girl was sick of it. It was her 7th birthday, and her aristocratic parents had called for a formal party to celebrate. In the big hall, it was packed with people in fancy dresses, some curve hugging and some with laced trains that trailed behind them.

As the 3rd top hero, her mother was very involved with the whole hero industry. Reputation was everything, she would be reminded over and over. This line of thinking seemed to work out for her mother. She was normally ranked second in the approval ratings, after all.

Y/N looked around the hall, an elegant room decorated in pink and white, with flowers that hung from, well, everywhere and soft lights that seemed to make the whole atmosphere look ethereal.

The woman who had been pinching her cheeks sauntered off into the party with an older man. Y/N allowed herself to wrinkle her nose in distaste, she hadn't even wanted a celebration.

Pausing, the girl smoothed out her features and smiled innocently for a camera, getting a grateful smile from a photographer.

Her mother had extended an invitation to the top pro-heroes and their families, allowing a few media stations to come too. She was, after all, quite the socialite.

The room was quiet as a man walked into the room with a small boy. The man was dressed in a suit that seemed to be tailored just for him, bright flames were stuck to his chin, yet his eyes were cold. Y/N found this ironic.

She was more interested in the small boy accompanying the man, dressed in a small crimson suit and a parchment-white tie. The small boy had hair of two different colours. Y/N brightened up, he looked only a little older than her.

She hopped off the chair, tapping her mother gently on the wrist.

"Mother?" She was met with cool amber eyes that seemed to gleam with unknown light.

"Yes, dear?" Y/N ignored the endearment, going on.

"May I go say hello to that boy?"

"Maybe in a while, sweetheart. Mother wants to take a few pictures."

She held her arms wide open, which the small girl walked into.

"Look into the camera." For the next few minutes, they posed as a happy mother and daughter combination.

She winced slightly at all the flashing lights, which she had almost bore a resistance to by now. Her mother waved the photographers away.

"Ah, Y/N! I'd like you to meet someone, my colleague." The small girl was gently dragged towards the direction of the small boy, which she was mildly happy about. On the other hand, she was also being dragged towards the intimidating man with the flames.