MHA; I'm Batman

**Chapter 5: The First Flight**

Rentaro lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The mask rested on his chest, its lenses faintly glowing in the dim light of his room. He had spent hours exploring its features, marveling at the way it transformed his vision and connected him to the suit's AI. But now, curiosity gnawed at him. He wanted to see what the mask could do outside, in the real world. He wanted to feel what it was like to be more than just Rentaro.

He sat up, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and fear. The house was quiet, his mother already asleep. He glanced at the clock—11:47 PM. The perfect time to slip out unnoticed.

Rentaro grabbed the mask and slipped it over his face. The lenses flickered to life, the familiar interface appearing before his eyes. "Welcome back, Rentaro," the AI's calm voice greeted him. "How may I assist you?"

"I want to go outside," Rentaro whispered, his voice trembling with anticipation.

"Understood. Activating night vision and environmental scan."

The room shifted into a soft, green hue as the mask's night vision activated. Rentaro moved to the window, his movements careful and deliberate. He pushed it open, the cool night air brushing against his face. The roof of his house was just below, its slanted surface glistening with dew.

Taking a deep breath, Rentaro climbed onto the windowsill and stepped onto the roof. The tiles were slippery, and for a moment, he wobbled, his arms flailing for balance. But the mask's interface adjusted, displaying a grid that highlighted safe footholds. Rentaro followed the guide, his confidence growing with each step.

As he reached the peak of the roof, the mask's display lit up with a flood of information. The AI's voice filled his ears, calm and precise. "Environmental scan complete. Temperature: 12 degrees Celsius. Wind speed: 8 kilometers per hour. No immediate threats detected."

Rentaro's eyes widened as he took in the view. The city stretched out before him, its lights twinkling like stars. The mask's display overlaid the scene with data—building heights, distances, even the faint heat signatures of people moving in the distance. It was overwhelming, but exhilarating.

"This is amazing," Rentaro whispered, his voice filled with awe.

"Would you like to explore further?" the AI asked.

Rentaro hesitated. He wanted to, but the roof's steep slope made him nervous. "Maybe I should go back inside," he said, taking a cautious step backward.

But as he moved, his foot slipped on the damp tiles. He let out a yelp, his arms flailing as he lost his balance. The world spun around him as he tumbled down the roof, his heart racing with panic.

"Warning: fall detected," the AI's voice said, calm but urgent. "Activating emergency protocols."

Before Rentaro could process what was happening, the suit reacted. The black material of the suit flowed outward from the mask, spreading across his body like liquid shadow. In seconds, he was encased in the sleek, black armor, the cape fluttering behind him. The suit's padding absorbed the impact as he hit the ground, rolling to a stop in the backyard.

Rentaro lay there for a moment, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The mask's display flickered, showing his vitals. "User protected," the AI said. "No injuries detected."

Rentaro sat up, his hands trembling as he looked down at the suit. It was incredible—sleek, powerful, and undeniably real. But before he could fully process what had just happened, a voice shattered the silence.

"Who's there?"

Rentaro froze. His mother stood in the doorway, a broom in her hands and fear in her eyes. She stared at him, her face pale. The sight of the black-suited figure in her backyard was enough to make her take a step back, her grip tightening on the broom.

Rentaro's heart raced. He couldn't let her see him like this. Not yet. In a panic, he pulled off the mask. The moment he did, the suit dissolved into a cloud of black, shimmering particles that scattered into the air like fireflies. He stood there, his school clothes rumpled and his face flushed, looking every bit like the boy she knew.

His mother's eyes widened in shock, her mouth opening as if to speak. But no words came out. She simply stared at him, the broom slipping from her hands and clattering to the ground.

Rentaro's mind raced. He wanted to explain, to tell her everything, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he stood there, frozen, as the weight of the moment settled over them.

The night was silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the wind. The particles of the suit had vanished, but the tension in the air was palpable. Rentaro's mother took a hesitant step forward, her eyes searching his face for answers.

But before she could say anything, Rentaro turned and bolted back into the house, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't stop until he reached his room, slamming the door shut behind him. He leaned against it, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

The mask lay in his hands, its lenses dark and lifeless. But Rentaro knew that this was only the beginning. His mother had seen the suit. She had seen him. And now, there was no going back.

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