Live A Hero Chapter 4 Episode 2: A Chance Meeting of Those Specially Made

Things start out inside of a train where you are, and the PA system on it is thanking everyone for using the train and announcing the next stop. You wonder to yourself about whether you were looking at a Monster and comment that it was way too big. You are sure you saw something like a body, and every time it breathed the ground shook. Nobody else was able to perceive it though and just tilted their heads quizzically. You wonder why no one else saw it and wonder if it was some illusion as you look up, at which the train plays a chime letting you know you've reached the station closest to home. The PA system says the doors are opening, so you quickly depart from the train.

Time passes as you reach the park near your home that you talked to Akashi at back in the first chapter. You comment on how late you are getting home and start wondering what you should do for dinner tonight when Melide walks up and asks you to wait. You turn around to look at her, and Melide is described as looking like a girl in her teens looking at you with big eyes from under her hood. You ask who she is, if you met before, and/or call her cute, but Melide's expression stays the same giving no indication she heard you.

Melide greets you and says she knows a lot about you. She describes you as an Operator for Parallel Flight and an Observer with a very mysterious power, but she hopes she didn't get the wrong person. You wonder if she saw you in a live video and are worried about being seen on camera, but Melide denies knowing about you because of you being an Operator. She actually knows about you since you're an Observer.

You are confused by this statement and try to ask her to explain, but Melide moves on and says she came to talk to you because she had something to ask of you due to your Observer status. She quietly raises her head, at which point you notice that she has a large scar on her cheek. Melide asks if you felt anything from the earthquake, like some fleeting pain in your skin, a flash of a headache, or a ringing in your ears. Anything at all, besides the fact that you saw Something.

You are flustered at the sudden question but tell her you did see something. Melide looks disappointed as she says she knows that already, but says that alone isn't enough. She needs more of a hint to predict when the awakening will be. You ask her what she means by awakening, so Melide talks to herself about how you've only just awakened as an Observer. It's only natural you wouldn't be able to tell what sort of sensation you get that's related to the prediction, and she apologizes for taking your time. She thinks you'll know what it is soon though. That Thing will awaken soon, and the city will be destroyed.

You ask what Melide meant by her last sentence in alarm, but Melide says the destruction probably won't be confined to the city. It might encompass the whole country, or even the whole planet. At this point a bunch of smaller Monsters turn up, alarming you with their sudden appearance as they pop up from the ground. Melide seems resigned to the idea that she ended drawing them here and sighs, and Monomasa shows up quickly having dropped down from above somewhere. He glares at the monsters, and you exclaim about another stranger popping up, comment on him having a dark air about him, and/or call him cool.

Monomasa turns to you and asks Melide how things went with you. Melide says it didn't pan out, so Monomasa says there's no need to hesitate then and says it's time to dispose of the others. Melide agrees and asks Monomasa to take care of it, putting the piece of candy she has into her mouth so she can put her hands together, then closes her eyes. A pillar of light rises in response, and you try to ask about what's happening.

Melide asks Monomasa to fight, separating her hands and holding one up to him. The light gathers into her hands before firing off at Monomasa, who reacts by hunching over and groaning. Dark things start slipping out from his fur, which then cover his entire body before releasing a bright light. Once the light dissipates, Monomasa has transformed into his hero suit. You are surprised by the transformation and ask if he's a hero as you note how eerie he looks.

Monomasa announces himself with his code name Monstrooper and tells the Monsters that while they may be of the same race, he's going to dispose of them now. The monsters jump at him, but Monomasa evades by changing his feet into springs and bouncing out of the way. You either react in shock to the transformation or to Monomasa saying he's the same as the monsters, but either way Monomasa changes his arms into spikes that he uses to attack, spearing them all onto the spikes. He only stops once he has them all stuck to his arm, and you are taken aback at how strong he is and/or wonder what's up with his arms and legs.

The monsters continue screaming while impaled, and soon after Monomasa activates an absorption ability. You react in shock to this and ask if there really is a hero capable of doing that. Melide comments on your surprise, but she tells you it's easy to understand if you think about it. It's impossible for a hero to absorb a monster since their states of being don't mesh with each other. Melide then points out that there are cases where Monsters absorb and fuse with one another and asks if you've seen that.

You ask if that means Monomasa is a monster but protest you've never seen a monster like him before. Melide says Monomasa is special even among monsters, just like you and her are special among Observers. You then ask about Melide being an Observer or special, but Monomasa cuts in to ask that Melide stop talking about him as he reverts to normal. Melide complies, commenting that it's probably not something worth talking about. He apologizes in turn for making her need to consider him.

Monomasa takes a look at you and sighs, saying he didn't want You in Particular to see him in action since that would complicate discussions, but there's nothing to be done about it. You either express surprise that Monomasa knows about you too or wonder if you're more famous than you thought. Monomasa does confirm that he knows about you, though he can't explain in detail why and notes that it's a one-sided thing. Monomasa turns to Melide like he's stopped talking to you, saying the hole that's been opened by the quake earlier has been sealed and the disposal is complete, then suggests they return to Exio. You are shocked at the mention of Exio's name, and it triggers a flashback to the Broker telling you to kill him.
Broker: do it bitch and do it quick. I don't care how

The flashback distresses you, and Melide looks at you with a complicated mix of emotions that includes sadness and regret. Melide tells Monomasa they should go, and any talks can happen another time. He seems sad as he agrees, then picks her up into his arms. Monomasa turns to look at you one more time, saying he'll probably see you again soon. That might be when the city is close to being destroyed in a crisis, or maybe before that. He then excuses himself, and Melide says she'll see you again too as she addresses you by name. You are shocked that she knows your name and/or ask what Monomasa means by soon, but a whoosh of air answers you as Monomasa superjumps away and disappears into the dark of night. You wonder what's going on with all that, and all the weirdness is throwing you into a state of mental disorder, leading you to stand there looking dumbfounded for a while.

The next day, things tune in at Parallel Flight's office. Due to the quake from the night before the shelves have fallen over and the desktops are a mess, so everyone who's come in for the morning is splitting up the cleanup work. Mokdai asks Akashi if he's done with the shelf he's working on since he wants his help. Akashi asks him to wait since he's struggling to push it back into place to the point he questions it's even in the right place. Huckle says it should be if that's where it fell down, and he comments that they really did just force it into place.

Ryekie asks about a box he's found since he doesn't remember seeing it before, so Huckle reminds him it's filled with his clothes like changes of underwear and sweaty towels. Akashi is grossed out about this happening again and asks why Ryekie didn't take it home to be washed, but Ryekie tries to insist it's not dirty or anything. It totally has been washed! Maybe.

While all that is happening, you are quietly picking up some scattered documents and mulling over some recent memories.
Broker: your life is in my hands as long as I can see you
Monomasa: I'll see you again soon. By then the city is either close to being destroyed or there's slightly more time before that point.
You comment that things are getting weird and that you can't get your thoughts on it all sorted out. Akashi asks you if something is wrong since you look pale today, and he offers to talk if that's fine. You try to downplay things and ask if you look that pale, so Akashi says you really do look worried. You remember talking to him about the Broker before, but you then think back to some other memories.
Broker: What? You can't say no to ME.
Melide: You and I are special among Observers.

You think aloud that it might be better to talk about what's on your mind with someone since it's serious, but you'd rather not get Akashi caught up in it. Akashi tries talking to you again as he leans closer, looking worried. You tell him it's nothing he needs to worry about and thank him, which he is dubious about but accepts. He still says that if it's something you don't want to talk about, you shouldn't push yourself, and Huckle watches you quietly.

Time passes a while until some work has been done for the moment and the office decides to take a break. Most of the guys head outside for lunch leaving just you and Huckle in the office, so Huckle decides to try talking to you himself. Huckle starts off by apologizing for making you stay since he figures you want to go get some lunch too, and you ask him with or without some hesitation about why he wants to talk. Huckle says he was worried about you as well, though he won't force you to talk if you don't want to. But anyways, Huckle tries asking if what you're worried about has something to do with you being an Observer.

You are taken aback and ask how Huckle figured that out, and Huckle in turn asks if he was right based on your expression. He explains that he noticed you looking off in the distance last night and said you saw something, but you didn't seem to want to talk to Akashi about it. He does bring up that it's possible it was about something else though. If your concern does have something to do with being an Observer though, he figured he could help discuss it with you, which is why he asked you alone to stay behind. You say you see and thank Huckle for his consideration. Huckle says that while there's differences in Observer abilities between the two of you, he is your senpai in using that power for work. It's possible he can help you, so if you want you can talk to him. You think about the offer and of the Broker, and you decide to ask Huckle if he knows about him.

After an offscreened explanation, Huckle notes that you've got a heavy issue weighing on your mind. He thanks you for opening up to him, and he causes his chair to creak as he leans. Huckle thinks aloud about the Broker, then says he has heard rumors about him before. He's never actually met him before though. You are disappointed by this and wonder what's different between you two, and Huckle says he's heard the name often. They say he sometimes appears to Observers to tell them incoherent nonsense and then disappears. His true self is an unknown. That's what he's heard from the ones who have seen him at least, and Huckle suggests you might get some hints if you talk to other Observers yourself.

You react in shock at the suggestion and/or are surprised that there are a number of others who've met him. Huckle admits he's unhappy he couldn't help you directly, then brings up some of the things you told him like the Thing only you could see and the Monster with a will of its own that ate other ones. If you're able to see things other people can't and attract unfathomable things to you, then Huckle says that's probably proof that you're in a different league of Observers than him.

Scene shifts to where Crowne is, where she runs into the rest of the office in what looks like a back alleyway. She comments on them being together and asks if they're going out to lunch, so Mokdai greets her and says they are since they've gotten some cleanup done. He asks if she has some business today, so Crowne answers she came to do some gadget fixing for Mokdai at Huckle's request. Mokdai is surprised by this, but then remembers the power output control of his weapon when attacking has been wonky lately. He laughs and apologizes and says he's gotten used to using it like that.

Crowne calls Mokdai a mess, then asks if the cleanup they were talking about is related to the quake yesterday. She comments on how big it was, and since her workplace and home are both built on reclaimed land she really felt the shakes. Ryekie asks how the workshop held up since he guesses it'd be more of a mess than the office, so Crowne answers it's about as expected. Everyone's been inspecting parts and checking the ship that's under construction there. She finally managed to slip out earlier and says she didn't really expect to be called in at 5 am.

Akashi expresses his surprise that a spaceship making company would get together that early and sympathizes with Crowne. Crowne just shrugs it off and says it comes with the job territory. If a regional earthquake was enough to causes delays then people would have less confidence in their abilities. But on another note, Crowne notices that you and Huckle aren't with everyone else and asks about you two. Akashi tells her that you two have stayed behind to talk about something, and he wonders if something is bothering you. And if there is, he wonders what it could be if you can't tell him what it is. Mokdai comments that Akashi must really be bothered that you'd prefer talking to Huckle over him, causing him to deny it furiously in embarrassment. Ryekie teases him for going red, then advises him to not pry since everyone has things they need to limit who knows about stuff. Akashi reluctantly agrees and sulks, and Crowne thinks this sounds like something fun.

Time passes as Crowne takes the elevator to the floor Parallel Flight's office is at and walks over to the door. She admits that she's not doing the most admirable thing, but she can't help her curiosity as she starts to eavesdrop. Inside, Huckle is getting to the part where you've been asked to erase Exio and asks if you're really thinking of doing it. You either insist that you aren't, say you don't want to but are worried for your own life, or say you're not sure what you should do. Huckle thinks on your answer and puts his hand up to his chin, then tells you he won't blame you for whatever you choose to do. You're in a tight spot, and he'd rather not have you die either.

You thank Huckle for his concern, and Huckle adds that he'd also prefer that you not kill or erase anyone if you can help it. He's a former hero who's saved many lives and now someone who works alongside heroes, and that is where his opinion comes from. You nod after a moment and say you'll think about it. Huckle tells you it is his opinion though, so if it's a problem for you you should discard it. He thanks you again for confiding in him, and he regrets not being of direct help. But he does invite you to talk to him again if it will help then, saying he wants to save you if he can as he gives a smile. Outside, Crowne is frozen in shock and the episode ends with her repeating that you were asked to kill someone.