“My Hero Academia: Temporal Gamer”

Calvas's brow furrowed even more. "But… I didn't actually escape."

Osamu shrugged, leaning back casually. "As far as everyone's concerned? Yeah, you got away. Swiftstep handed you over to me, and I told them you bolted while I was taking you for a check-up." He waved a hand as if it was the simplest thing in the world. "So, technically, you escaped."

Calvas narrowed his eyes, studying Osamu. 'Wait… why would he lie like that? He leaned forward slightly, his voice more serious now. "Okay… why would you do that? What is it you want from me?"

Osamu didn't flinch. In fact, he almost seemed to appreciate the question, taking a moment to let it hang in the air before he responded. His tone was calm, measured. "In a world where almost everyone with a quirk is registered, tracked, and has some kind of history… you, kid, are a ghost. No records. No ID. No digital footprint. Nothing to trace back to any system." He paused, locking eyes with Calvas. "That makes you valuable."

Calvas blinked. 'A ghost?'

Osamu leaned in slightly, his gaze sharp. "I want your help. Someone like you, who can't be traced or tracked, can be useful. No baggage, no official past. And in a world like this? That's rare."

Calvas shifted, his mind racing. 'What's he getting at?'

Osamu crossed his arms, his expression softening just a bit. "Look, I'm not the only one who sees how messed up things can get. There's a group of us—small, tight-knit. We work behind the scenes. Not to break the law, but to help the people the system's forgotten about. We're not looking for glory or fame. We just get things done."

Calvas's skepticism deepened. "So, you're a team of vigilantes?"

Osamu tilted his head, considering the term. "You could say that. But we don't break the law for fun. We do what's necessary to help the people the hero society overlooks. People who slip through the cracks, or worse… and those who get screwed over by the system."

Calvas stared at him, still unsure. 'And he wants me to be part of this?'

Osamu's voice softened as he continued. "Last night, I saw something in you. Swiftstep told me he rammed into you—nearly full speed—and you didn't just fake being hurt. You shrugged it off, kept your cool. That takes something." He nodded toward Calvas. "You've got potential."

Calvas looked down at himself, his mind flashing back to the chase. 'I really didn't get hurt…' The system had kept him intact, and it was unsettling to realize how true Osamu's words were.

"Look at you," Osamu added, gesturing toward him. "Not a scratch. Not even a bruise. You're tough, and that's why I'm offering you a place with us."

Calvas rubbed the back of his neck, thinking hard. 'Is he serious? He wants me to join them?', But there was a nagging feeling in his gut. "Okay… what if I do join you? What happens if I just—walk away?"

Osamu's eyes flicked toward the door, and he pointed at it with a lazy shrug. "You don't want to take the offer? Fine. You can walk out that door right now, hope for the best. Maybe you get caught, maybe you don't. But either way, you're on your own. No ID, no papers, nothing. You'll be wandering the streets, hoping luck's on your side."

Calvas's stomach twisted. He didn't know much about this world yet, but he knew enough to understand that being caught without any kind of identity would be a nightmare.

Osamu's voice cut through his thoughts, more serious now. "Or… you join us. We help you out. First thing? We'd get you an identity. I've got a friend who can handle that. After that, we take you in, give you the training you need. You'd have a place. A purpose."

[System Quest Triggered!]

Quest: Join or Reject the Group

Objective: Make your choice: Join Osamu and his covert group to help those left behind by society, or reject his offer and take your chances on your own.

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Joining the Group:

✦ You will join a small, secret group that operates outside the law but aims to help the forgotten and wronged.

✦ Gain access to resources: training, connections, and a new identity.

✦ You will be given missions tied to the group's goals.

✦ The actions of the group may impact your future alignment with hero society.

✦ There may be no turning back.

Rewards for Joining:

✦ 3 Skill Points

✦ 200 XP

✦ Access to New Quest line: "The Vigilante Path"

✦ Language Proficiency (Japanese): Gain accelerated learning ability for the local language, allowing you to pick up and understand spoken and written Japanese much faster. Increased proficiency with each level up.

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Rejecting the Offer:

✦ You will be on your own, untraceable, but without support.

✦ No ID, no papers, no place to call home.

✦ Increased difficulty in obtaining shelter, supplies, and safety.

✦ You will be marked as a rogue entity in the system. The world will view you with suspicion.

Consequences of Rejection:

✦ 50% reduction in reputation with certain hero factions.

✦ Increased chance of being targeted by law enforcement.

✦ New Quest line: "The Fugitive's Path"

✦ Penalty: No XP for next 2 successful quests.

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Make your choice wisely.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Calvas stared at the system notification, blinking as it laid out his options in a neat, almost taunting manner.

'Seriously?' He thought, trying not to roll his eyes. 'Is this thing really trying to push me into joining this group?'

He glanced back at Osamu, who was now sitting there quietly, arms crossed, waiting for his answer… The man's calm demeanor didn't match the weight of what was flashing before Calvas's eyes.

'This is… it's like the system's leaving me no choice,' Calvas realized. The rewards for joining Osamu's group were practically glowing on the panel—XP, skill points, new quests, and even a Skill. It wasn't that the rewards weren't useful—they were.

'I knew this thing was going to guide me, but this feels like… it's practically forcing me.'

He couldn't help but feel uneasy. The idea of being funneled down a specific path wasn't sitting well with him, but the alternative? Rejecting the offer and being completely on his own? The system made it very clear that would be even harder, with penalties and a potential increase in danger.

'This is ridiculous,' his eyes flickering over the options again.

 Language Proficiency (Japanese). He stared at it for a moment longer. It wasn't flashy like the skill points or XP, but it was… practical. In a way, it made the most sense. Learning the language quickly would mean one less obstacle in navigating this world.

The language barrier had been a constant headache from the moment he got here. Just having a way to understand and speak Japanese faster? That alone could save him from a lot of awkward encounters, and potentially dangerous ones too.

'It knows I need this,' he thought bitterly, realizing how much the system had stacked the odds. 'And it's dangling it like a carrot… It wants me to say yes.'

'So… either I join them and get everything I need, or I make things way harder for myself.' He sighed. 'Guess I don't really have a choice, do I?'

Osamu's eyes remained fixed on him, waiting, his expression unchanged. "Kid?" he asked, breaking the silence. "What's it going to be?"

"Alright… I'm in," Calvas said, his voice steady,