Black Robe: How can Saiki Kusuo not be considered a superpowered individual?

It's so hot.

It's so hot, so hot, so hot, so hot, it hurts, it hurts.

An indescribable burning sensation rose in his heart, and the locomotive's deep slumber was "burned" awake at this moment.

He suddenly opened his eyes and reached out to touch the burning spot, but the "burning" heat almost extinguished his newly awakened consciousness.

"Who exactly am I...?"

The locomotive's pupils suddenly contracted, and he then noticed the white ribbon wrapped around his right hand.

The "scorching" heat almost eroded all his nerves; he couldn't even feel the hard plaster beneath the straps.

Unable to bear it any longer, the locomotive finally snapped back to reality after being injected with a sedative.

His brain mistakenly identified the extreme pain as heat.

The tranquilizer, like a clear spring, created ripples within the locomotive.

The pain and the heat were suppressed at that moment.

"Reggie, are you alright?"

At this moment, his consciousness, which was almost burned away by pain, finally cleared up, and his gaze finally slid to the familiar middle-aged face beside him.

"Nathan, it's you... cough cough."

The locomotive couldn't help but cough, and wisps of blood bubbles oozed from the corners of his mouth, splattering onto the snow-white bandages on his body along with his saliva.

He stared in disbelief at the bandages stained crimson with blood.

Although I had long known that this would be my fate, but...

When the pain truly arrived, a sense of escapism, known as fear, rose in the locomotive's heart.

"Doctor!"

Seeing this, Nathan shouted to the doctor who had just finished injecting the medication, his voice sounding somewhat anxious.

"It's okay, it's perfectly normal."

The doctor changed the injection needle and inhaled a small amount of a drug that Nathan couldn't understand; the liquid in the needle was a bright green color.

The needle, custom-made for superhumans, was forcefully plunged into the train engine's neck.

As the injection was administered, the locomotive's cough gradually subsided.

"Thank President Rolner. If Stan were still CEO, you'd be in the graveyard by now."

The doctor spoke softly to the now-recovering locomotive, while tidying up the scattered medicine bottles and taking them away one by one.

The locomotive nodded, its pupils somewhat unfocused.

The doctor called Nathan out, gave him a few instructions, and then left.

Nathan returned to the ward. He looked at the locomotive lying on the bed, said nothing, and just stood quietly by the window.

As a member of the Seven Heroes, A-Train was staying in the best tier of Vought Hospital.

The floor-to-ceiling windows can be freely adjusted in size, and outside the windows is a pastoral lawn. Facing east, you can see the sunrise.

It has been a day since Lokomotiv's last game, and it is now nine o'clock in the morning.

Nathan sat outside the operating room all night, and after the locomotive was brought into the ward, he stayed by the bedside for most of the night.

Nathan's tense heart only began to relax when the morning light shone through the window onto the open face of the locomotive.

Sleepiness naturally crept into my mind.

He subconsciously reached into his pocket for a cigarette to perk himself up, but put it back down just as he was about to put it in his mouth.

"The doctor said your condition is very bad."

Nathan put the cigarette back in the pack and faced the locomotive. Because he hadn't slept all night, dark circles had appeared around his eyes.

His pupils were bloodshot.

"Cough cough, I didn't expect it to hurt this much..."

After a few breaths of silence, the pain and coughing sensation in his body were suppressed by the medication, and he was able to speak normally again.

Despite his hoarse voice, every word he uttered seemed to strain his vocal cords, which were on the verge of splitting open.

"Stop talking."

Nathan stopped the locomotive from continuing to speak with his hand.

"The doctor told me that most of your body is fractured and cracked, and your heart is enlarged. The problem is very serious."

"You can't run away anymore, not even once."

Nathan, facing the locomotive like a judge, delivered his final pronouncement.

The locomotive didn't speak, but the last glimmer of light in its eyes dimmed.

"So, what was the topic of our last argument again?"

Seeing this, Nathan sighed helplessly and asked the locomotive.

"Well, forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore."

He once again stopped the locomotive from speaking.

"Those talk about making up is too awkward, so let's skip those."

"Bro, come home with me."

Nathan said this to the locomotive.

----------------

The Water Tower.

Ninety-nine floors.

Ashley, carrying a stack of documents and wearing high heels, entered Homelander's office after receiving his permission.

"Sir, this is the information on the Super Seven's reserves in Vought's current assessment."

She walked to Homelander's desk, glancing at the picture frame he had placed there out of the corner of her eye, and smoothly placed the reserve personnel files on his desk.

"OK, well done, Ashley."

The man nodded in satisfaction.

"It's what I should do, sir."

"Put it here. I'll let you know when I've chosen the character."

After Ashley left the office, Homelander picked up the files one by one.

The files of superhumans swept across his pupils.

[Super Brain] finally gets to work, and this time he can finally choose his own teammates, so naturally he will prioritize superhumans who suit his taste.

......

Three minutes later, Homelander's face darkened.

"Ashley, come to my office."

He sent Ashley a voice message on Facebook, his voice was very cold.

In almost a minute, Ashley arrived at Homelander's office with hurried steps.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

"Can you tell me why all the reserves for the Seven Superheroes are... a bunch of guys who look just like the Deep Sea?"

"Sir, there are actually people who don't like non-humans."

"...Then what's the deal with this guy called Blind Spot?"

"Super hearing? Physical strength comparable to a fully grown zebra?"

"Sir, if he were to join, it would greatly benefit our efforts among the disabled community..."

"That's enough!"

The Homelander threw these files on the ground.

"Now collect all this trash and take it back."

"I'll find the members for the Superhero Seven myself."

The reserves that Wot selected for the Super Seven generally met the criteria of being favorable to support and easy to control.