"MR. HISACAGE!!!"
The assistant's voice echoed through the entire MHA building.
I covered my ears.
"STOP SHOUTING! I'M NOT DEAF!"
The poor assistant froze before nervously handing me a sealed envelope.
"M-Mr. Hisacage... you've been assigned another mission."
I took the letter.
"With a girl."
I blinked.
"...Should I be scared?"
The assistant awkwardly laughed.
"The mission details are inside."
I opened the envelope.
Mission Location: Chizunai Beach.
Objective: Investigate and eliminate the monster known as the Siren.
I folded the paper.
"...Sounds simple enough."
About an hour later, I arrived at Chizunai Beach.
The sea stretched endlessly beneath the bright morning sky.
Waiting near the docks was a girl around my age.
She had long brown hair that swayed with the ocean breeze and fiery amber eyes that seemed full of confidence.
She wore an MHA uniform and rested one hand on her sword.
As I approached, she crossed her arms.
"So..."
She looked me up and down.
"You're Kyoren Hisacage."
I sighed.
"Whoa."
"I'm a human."
"Not an object."
She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah... whatever."
"...Rude."
"My name's Amanda."
She offered a handshake.
I shook it.
"So what's the plan?"
Amanda pointed toward the horizon.
Far away, a lonely island stood in the middle of the sea.
Covered in mist.
Almost... abandoned.
"Our target is there."
I shrugged.
"Alright."
"I'll just swim over there and punch the Siren."
Amanda stared at me.
"...You really solve every problem by punching it, don't you?"
"...Usually."
She sighed.
"It's not that simple."
We climbed aboard a small motorboat.
As it slowly sailed toward the island, Amanda unfolded a file.
"Our target isn't an ordinary monster."
"It's a Siren."
"So?"
"A Siren doesn't just attack people."
"It sings."
I raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
Amanda looked at me seriously.
"Its voice is said to hypnotize anyone who hears it."
"It traps people inside the vision of their greatest desire."
She hesitated.
"And according to the survivors..."
"...everything the Siren says is the truth."
The sea suddenly felt much quieter.
Even the sound of the waves seemed distant.
I cracked my knuckles.
"Okay."
A grin spread across my face.
"Then let's go over there..."
"...and kick its ass."
Amanda sighed for what was probably the tenth time that day.
"I have a feeling this mission is going to be a headache."
Far ahead...
On the mist-covered island...
A beautiful voice began to sing.
Neither of us had heard it...
Yet.