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Many heroes chose to wear an accessory that hid their face, or at least partially, in order to protect their anonymity. Others didn't care much or simply didn't need it.
Mashirao wondered. He was convinced that it must be nice to be recognized and congratulated despite not wearing our hero outfit. But being known by anyone could be restrictive and at the same time dangerous.
Over time, he realized that a mask would be useless to him, he had sadly noted that.
What good would it do to hide the face of a man who we didn't remember, who we didn't talk about? An ordinary man.
But in the end the blond had ended up being satisfied with it. His life as a superhero consisted of saving others anonymously. Certainly, these people must have been disappointed not to be saved by RedRiot or Dynamight, and the problem was that they sometimes didn't trust him.
Luckily during his last mission, all the civilians had listened to him. At the same time they had no choice, emergency services could not intervene and no hero capable of putting out the fire was available. Then Mashirao intervened.
The first four floors were inaccessible by the collapsed stairs, the only solution was to go through the windows and climb the facade. And Tailman was perfectly capable of that.
He no longer remembered how many trips he had made, nor how many floors the building had. But he had spent enough time indoors that he had to go to the hospital and be given a fortnight's rest, on top of the numerous gashes caused by broken glass from the windows.
He spent his eighth day off with Tôru, with whom he shared his life.
The latter was waiting for him, sitting in front of the television. She railed, moreover, against the latter or rather against the presenters.
Mashirao could hear it from the kitchen as he finished making their tea.
— But that’s not normal! We understood that Kirishima and Bakugo had beaten a very powerful villain!
— Tooru calm down! It's nothing serious. Tried to calm the blond.
He sat down next to her placing the two steaming mugs on the coffee table in front of them.
—Mashirao! They're not talking about you! You were as important as the others! You may not have fought the supervillain, but you were the one who went into that burning building. It was you who saved sixty-four people from the fire! By putting yourself in danger! Listed the young woman.
—It's the job of all heroes.
Mashirao said these words in a cold and firm tone. He didn't want to talk about the subject because he had finally gotten used to the idea. That of being someone forgettable.
— Yes, but all heroes have the right to recognition.
Tailman was a hero we didn't talk about. Even when Kirishima tried to talk about himself, on this mission, he was cut off on television, and his posts on social media were completely ignored.
What’s the point then?
And Mashirao felt he didn't need this recognition.
— And you don't have the right to it either. The monkey-tailed man argued.
— I'm in espionage and infiltration, so fortunately no one is talking about me. Retorted Tooru
No one, except Mashirao, seemed to think it was fair.
His former high school friends were surprised to never hear about him, and his apprentice found it totally unfair.
He was very surprised to find a teenager who admired him so much.
The blond sighed.
—If people had talked about me... I would have been blamed for my actions.
—Mashirao...
— Jumping from one of the top floors of a building with a pregnant woman in your arms... Who would approve?
Tôru stared at him, observing the defeated expression of the one she loved.
— If you were able to jump with her... It's because she agreed with you, and she trusted you.
Mashirao didn't answer her, just staring at his mug. He really didn't like having this kind of discussion, no matter with whom.
He huffed, clapped his hands against his knees and turned towards the invisible woman.
— So, shall we watch this film? He really didn't want to talk about it, it was always something painful, Tooru knew that, so she didn't insist. She just changed the television source and turned on the DVD player.
They both snuggled together, their teas steaming in their hands.
They no longer thought about the fire, the mission or that stupid show, just them watching a movie at home.
Halfway through the film, Mashirao's phone began to vibrate furiously on the coffee table. Unable to ignore it, he retrieved it and unlocked it while Tôru paused the DVD player.
The first notification that appeared on his screen was a message from his apprentice on his professional number:
Ikkaku:
TAILMAN YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS!!!
And with this message he received a link which he clicked on. When the web page finished loading, Mashirao froze. Tooru leaned over his shoulder to see what the screen displayed.
Top Hashtag:
#ThanksTailman
He scrolled down to the first post.
User: My little brother was stuck in his room in the fire, #ThanksTailman for bringing my little brother back to me!
Then the next, a photo of a man sitting in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask.
User: #ThanksTailman
He saw videos playing of him during the intervention. Climbing the building, his hero outfit stained with blood because of all the cuts caused by the window sills and the pieces of glass lacerating his skin every time he clung to them.
Another post, a teenager raised his fist his other arm was in a cast.
User: Not even hurt! You have to come and sign my cast @TailMan #ThanksTailman
Yet another, a couple with several bandages holding hands.
User: #ThanksTailman
Another
User: I was in the fire, I was paralyzed, I couldn't see anything, I just heard "Hang on", I've never held on to someone like that! #ThanksTailman
Another, a photo of a man with two children in his arms.
User: #ThanksTailman for bringing me all three.
Lots of other posts scrolled by, the fire, thank yous and the video of him jumping from one of the top floors carrying a pregnant woman. He ignored the comment section.
Then the last post, a photo of a baby, a tiny baby snuggled up against a lavender blue chest.
User: He was born the day before yesterday, he is doing well, the mother is doing well and I, the dad, say to you : #ThanksTailman.
Mashirao felt his eyes sting, he put his phone down and ran his hands over his face. Keeping his tears to himself, hidden behind his hands, he curled up a little. Tooru's arms wrapped around his shoulders.
She hadn't missed anything that had appeared on Mashirao's screen.
— You are incredible Tailman.
She placed a kiss on his hair.
— I find you incredible Mashirao.