Despite the thrill of his vigilante lifestyle, Koichi struggles academically in college. Fortunately for him, Makoto, an upperclassman, takes a seat next to him and offers her assistance in his studies. Koichi eagerly accepts, partly due to his excitement at receiving help but mostly because a woman is initiating conversation with him. However, Makoto's offer comes with a condition: if she aids him, he must reciprocate by assisting her with a specific task. Aware of Koichi through the negative rumors surrounding him and his residence, Makoto seeks someone familiar with the area for her purposes. He agrees, and they proceed to his house to delve into the study of Hero Sociology.
Pop, relaxing comfortably in Koichi's abode, suddenly becomes agitated upon hearing him converse with another person. With no time to make a discreet exit, she hastily conceals herself behind a curtain. When Koichi arrives, he's so engrossed in hastily tidying up that he inadvertently throws clutter towards her hiding spot without realizing it. Meanwhile, Makoto notices the hint of jealousy in Pop's eyes upon seeing her, but she has no alternative but to endure and await the conclusion of their study session.
As Makoto elucidates the origins of the hero society and the rationale behind its establishment to Koichi, fascinating insights unfold. Vigilantes, a spontaneous phenomenon in society, emerge in times of desperation and can either evolve into legitimate heroes or be eliminated. The hero system was primarily established to delineate genuine villains, sparking various debates, including the public's right to bear arms. Consequently, many vigilantes reject the system that gave birth to them.
At this juncture, Makoto reveals her ulterior motive: she desires to delve deeper into the "Vigilantes of Naruhata," particularly Knuckleduster, The Crawler, and Pop☆Step, for her thesis. Koichi shivers upon hearing this revelation but finds himself unable to deny her request. In the end, he concurs to aid her and serve as her escort during her investigations. However, as soon as he closes the door behind her, Pop emerges from her hiding place, fueled by jealousy, and engages in a scuffle with Koichi. Later revelations also uncover the fact that Makoto is the sister of Detective Naomasa.
Later on, Koichi honest a novel maneuver that baffles his adversaries and grants him an avenue of escape when the need arises. This newfound skill astounds Knuckleduster, yet Pop cannot resist mocking Koichi. Upon explaining the situation to his mentor, Knuckleduster concurs that caution is paramount. Despite this, Koichi proceeds to assist Makoto with her thesis, an endeavor that brings them to seek the public's perception of the vigilantes operating in Naruhata.
Predominantly, The Crawler is viewed as beneficial yet eerie. Knuckleduster, on the other hand, garners almost universal disdain, with only the uninformed remaining indifferent to him. Pop☆Step stands out as the undeniable favorite, albeit for superficial reasons as many admirers focus solely on her physique. Additionally, a significant portion of the populace still mistakenly identifies Koichi's vigilante moniker as Cruller.
Just then, a figure clad in a penguin mask snatches Makoto's laptop and attempts to flee, dribbling as he goes, leveraging his soccer prowess to enhance his speed. Fortuitously, Koichi employs his (admittedly less absurd) abilities to intercept the thief and reclaim the computer. Mindful of preserving his anonymity, he returns the laptop to Makoto in his civilian attire, ensuring she remains oblivious to his dual identity.
Before departing, however, Makoto, employing her quirk Polygraph, inquires whether he is indeed a vigilante. Unfortunately for her, she makes a critical error by referring to him as Cruller instead of Crawler. Seizing this opportunity, Koichi artfully crafts a lie, thus maintaining his concealed identity amidst the growing intrigue.
