Chapter 372 Quick Flight

Kitamura Ayano (the number six hero in Japan's SAO Rankings and also known by her superhero name, the Eye-Goddess) was too used to peering into the future that it didn't bother her at all. Whenever something of importance would happen, she wouldn't even be surprised anymore.  It's become a way of life for her— a part of her life that she chose to accept ever since she had awakened her superpower.

At the tender age of twelve years old— which is a year earlier for children to commonly manifest their superpower— Kitamura Ayano woke up one night in a cold sweat, and her fever was through the roof. She couldn't remember if she was brought to the hospital or not, but she clearly remembered suffering a severe headache and falling into unconsciousness.

During that time, she had a weird dream where the earth was swallowed by a huge planet-eating monster and she watched in horror as everyone she knew died. It felt so realistic that the moment she woke up, she immediately told her parents about it. Her parents brushed it off, thinking that she was probably just seeing things since she was delirious.

Three days after, a satellite photo of what seemed like a huge alien approaching Earth was all over the news, and Ayano told her parents that that was the alien she saw in her dreams. While what she said was something straight out of a comic book, her parents decided to call SAO and tell them about their kid's foresight. Ayano's parents didn't have superpowers, that's why they never expected Ayano to have one.

As it turned out, what Ayano saw in her dreams was true, and the government barely had time to react to the planet-sized monster. It was defeated before it opened its mouth, and everyone watched the satellite videos about the monster. It was like it came from a certain science fiction movie.

The next day, Ayano had another dream. It was a normal day wherein she goes to her middle school and spends time with her friends. She concluded that the future has changed thanks to her, and that's how she came to the realization that she just manifested her superpower.

And since then, the Superhero Association Organization has relied on Ayano's prescience, registering her as a hero before she was even of age. It's not like Ayano was unhappy about the situation though. Ever since she came to know about superheroes, she wanted to become one. She was a bit unhappy that her parents didn't have any superpowers. After all, it decreased her chances of awakening a superpower.

When SAO approached her for her superhero license, she was more than willing to get registered, and that's how her life as the superhero Eye-Goddess started.

...

These past few days, Ayano had been having the same recurring dream whenever she sleeps at night.

It starts with a normal day in her agency. She wakes up, grabs a cup of coffee from the nearby coffee shop, greets her subordinates good morning, and then returns to her office with nothing unusual happening.

But everything would change as soon as she turns the television on. News about the downfall of America flashed on the screen and it was brought about by a certain familiar superhero. The news showed a live stream broadcast of America in ruins. The army and almost every superhero in America were mobilized and they fought a single person who easily swatted them like flies.

The lone entity who was behind the downfall of such a powerful country was someone familiar, and Ayano watched in horror as that person smiled at the screen.

It didn't take long before that person attacked the next country over, which was Russia. After destroying Russia, he goes down and obliterates China and the superheroes therein. He continued sweeping through until he reached Japan.

And as soon as that person reaches Japan, Ayano would turn around and watch from her window as a bright light appeared in the distance. The explosion would then cut her dream short, and she would wake up in a cold sweat, vividly remembering the evil smile that that familiar person wore.

Today wasn't any different.

Breaking out in a cold sweat, Kitamura Ayano bolted from her bed with bated breaths. She reached to her side of the bed, grabbed a water bottle, and drank from it. The time read two minutes past five in the morning— every single time he dreams about that catastrophe, he would wake up at exactly the same time, which greatly disturbed her.

"I need to go to America. This isn't working." Kitamura Ayano muttered to herself. She didn't bother taking a bath. As soon as she got up from her bed, she put on her long sleeves shirt, wore pants and shirt, and then hopped on her black shoes before going out of her room.

She was combing her hair when she got to the lobby of her agency. After scanning the lobby for a potential travel buddy on her way to America, she came across a familiar face who was sitting on one of the couches by the lobby.

The girl had blue hair and the brightest of cerulean irises in her eyes. She had fair white skin and a light blue dress that complemented her hair color. Swinging her legs as she comfortably sat on the couch, she sipped on her frappe with a satisfied expression on her face.

It was none other than Lydia Schwarz, the one and only daughter of the number one superhero of Switzerland  Joseph Schwarz, also known by his superhero name Aquaborne.

Ayano didn't waste any time approaching the young lady. "Lydia Schwarz, right? Are you waiting for someone?" She asked.

Lydia shook her head. The reason why she went to the agency was that she wanted to see superheroes at work. The next semester for high schoolers in the United Superheroes Academy was only a week away, that's why she wanted to learn from actual licensed superheroes before her transfer as an exchange student was made official.

"I'm assuming that you're familiar with Midoriyama Satoshi, right? He was the one who brought you here and introduced you to an apprenticeship." Ayano asked.

Despite not knowing why the Eye-Goddess was asking her such an obvious question, Lydia shook her head in response. Of course, she was familiar with Satoshi. They've known each other since they were young, after all. She even considers him as his childhood friend, which was valid since they really were friends during their childhood years.

"Then you're coming with me," Ayano said, gesturing for Lydia to stand up and come with her.

Perplexed, Lydia obliged with the vague request. She stood up and followed Ayano. Without wasting another second, she turned towards the back exit of the agency's building, which led to the parking lot.

Click!

One of the black sedans parked in the parking lot started flashing its headlights. Ayano went towards it and opened the door. "Get in," She ordered while staring at Lydia.

Lydia nodded her head. She still had no idea where they were going, but she figured that the Eye Goddess wouldn't bring her somewhere sketchy. That's why she didn't think twice about following her along. She found it a tad bit weird though since the Eye-Goddess didn't say anything, nor did she hint at their destined location.

"I've already taken an inordinate amount of time in disregarding the future I've seen. It's about time I acted on it." Ayano told Lydia as she floored the gas pedal, causing the black sedan to accelerate out of the parking lot and into the highway.

While Lydia had no idea where they were going, she could feel the urgency of the situation since Ayano was driving right by the speed limit of a hundred and twenty kilometers per hour. There were a couple of times when Lydia wanted to ask what was going on, but seeing Ayano's tense expression made her purse her lips instead.

"Oh, I haven't told you yet, have I? How does America sound?" Ayano asked out of nowhere just when they got to Haneda Airport. After throwing her car keys to the chauffeur, she flashed her superhero license towards the ticket booth and got herself airline tickets for two— destination: America.

"Eh?!" Lydia let out as she realized that she just followed Ayano to a flight to America.

"You'll like it there. Besides, we're going there to meet your childhood friend. Nice, right?" Ayano nudged at her, winking.

.....

Back to the present.

Midori and Hiroshi, who were expecting Satoshi to be trapped inside the pillar of fire, continued laughing their hearts out as they extended their hands towards the flames, seemingly worshiping it. Their laughter was heard throughout the neighborhood.

"Oh, Satoshi, I didn't notice you there. What are they doing?" Tatsuki flinched when he saw his son standing beside him.

"They're probably offering a sacrifice or something. I have no idea." Satoshi shrugged.

SPLASH!

Suddenly, a huge wave of water crashed onto the pillar of flame, extinguishing it in an instant. "What are you two doing this early in the morning?" The familiar voice of a girl asked.

"Lydia? Eye-Goddess? What are you two doing here?" Tatsuki asked, recognizing the familiar faces by the front gate.