Teru Momijiyama/Synopsis

History
During her sister's funeral, Teru isolated herself, being found by her grandfather, who asked her what she was doing there, to which she said she liked how empty it was. He sat down next to her, agreeing that he too gets tired of being in crowds sometimes, so Teru asked him what they get for helping others. He replied that humans cannot live alone, and that by helping others, they give life meaning. Again, she questioned him if even after death life has a meaning, since they no longer exist, but he countered by saying that living for someone makes them live in that person's Heart and that the bonds that they make will live on, surprising her. He also said that Teru would one day understand what he meant, as she has a kind heart.

At some point, Teru was chosen to be the Japanese Heroine even though she was merely fourteen.

Synopsis
A few months after becoming Japan's Hero, Shy is invited to make an appearance in Himawari Land where the Heartman hero show was being held. However, her shyness ends up boring the audience, to the point that she leaves the stage and only a child cheers for her, which she silently thanks. In her dressing room, Shy can't take it and vomits from the embarrassment she thinks she's gone through and N-Villio listens to her wail as it tries to convince her that she just needs to get used to being in public first.

Shy sighs, convinced she can't do it, but they both hear a scream outside. Since the roller coaster cart stopped mid-loop, Shy quickly jumps into action, assuring passengers that they will be okay and asking N-Villio to stand by. She tries to take a girl out first, but when she suggests that she saves her brother and the others first, she comes in last. Shy saves everyone, but when she thinks about saving the girl, the cart starts to roll backwards and goes off the rails. Shy immediately jumps in front of it to try to stop it and lighten the impact. Shy succeeds and is congratulated by the public, but as soon as she sees the girl's condition, she gets scared.

A month later, Teru is in her room and N-Villio tries to convince her to perform some heroic activity, but in vain, since she can no longer transform. Again, N-Villio tries to convince her but Teru starts crying, showing herself to be very affected by the public opinion of what happened in Himawari Land. Despite N-Villio's words of encouragement, Teru continues to blame herself for what happened to the girl, Iko.

She is surprised when Spirits appears in her room, having come out of a portal, and she encourages her in a way that Teru doesn't understand. Teru asks what she came to do there and Spirits doesn't seem to know, disconcerting the Japanese Hero. Suddenly, Spirits takes on a more serious tone, telling Teru that it's impossible to make the whole world a happier place, using an example with beer that confuses her. Teru gets exasperated, asking her if she had come there just to make fun of her, to which Spirits tries to be clearer in her words.

Teru tries to answer her, but before she can, Spirits is called and even tries to spend more time with Teru, but she knows it's her duty, saying that she would come back as soon as she remembered what she wanted to tell her. Disconcerted, Teru says goodbye to Spiris and sees her pass through the portal. She asks N-Villio what Spirits meant by that and it just says she's not good with words.

For the next few days, Teru thinks about Spirits' words. While looking through some books, she tries to understand how she could follow the Russian Hero's advice, but when she hears two boys talking about her heroic identity, she leaves in a hurry. Continuing to question herself already on the street, her attention is called by the loud siren of a fire truck and she notices a building on fire and that a mother with her baby were still inside. Desperate, Teru tries to transform, but remembers her last fiasco and fails.

However, when a child boldly claims to be Shy to a firefighter, she is surprised. Saving him from a building wreckage, Teru soon contacts N-Villio and says she would do it. The boy asks who she is and, agreeing with his speech, reveals to be Shy when she finally manages to transform. Although on the outside she acted bravely for the boy, inside Shy was panicked. She jumped into the building, looking for the woman and her child. Focusing on listening to her, he finds her in terrible shape and, before she thinks negatively, grabs them both and tries to get out of there. An explosion takes her by surprise, however, and the baby flies out.

Shy desperately tries to save the baby, jumping from where she was to catch the baby in midair and she is then saved by Spirits, who tells her not to throw herself into danger that way. Shy asks her what she was doing there, but Spirits diverts her attention to her duty first. Once the fire is suppressed, Spirits and Shy stay behind, watching the firefighters do their job since they've already done theirs. Spirits notices that Shy is down and tries to cheer her up, but the people around her soon recognize her as a Russia's Hero.

Shy notices how popular Spirits is, but that same child from before comes to thank her not only for saving him from the wreckage, but also in the amusement park, making her realize that he is Iko's younger brother. He tells Shy that she has recovered enough to go back to school, thanking her again. After saying goodbye, Spirits returns to Shy's side and tells her that the woman he saved has regained consciousness in the hospital and that she should be proud of that, to which Shy agrees, whining.

They both say goodbye to the audience, and Spirits says he finally remembered what he wanted to say to Shy. She asks her how much she believed in the power of her Heart and when Shy looks confused, she adds that the heroes' duty is to protect the Heart of the Earth. Spirits takes her to a portal and they both appear at a nearby space base near Earth and Shy is impressed, having never been there before. Shy asks why the heroes' base was in space and she is answered by a woman who introduces herself as Uni-Lord. Claiming to wish she had met her sooner, she teases Shy by asking her to call her Unnie, despite Spirits actually calling her that when requiring her to cut to the chase.

Uni-Lord thanks Shy for saving so many people, but says that Earth would face greater danger, and at that time it would need Heroes like her. Uni-Lord explains that even if the war has been avoided, there are still people who take advantage of the hidden side of their Hearts and who do not desire the light, but that Shy, as a Hero, must shine that light in their hearts. At school, Teru thinks about Uni-Lord's words until the teacher introduces a new student and Teru is surprised to see it's Iko Koishikawa, the same girl Shy saved in Himawari Land. Iko introduces herself and sits next to Teru, the two exchanging greetings.

After class, two girls come to ask Iko questions and when she mentions that the transfer is because it's closer to her house, as it's been difficult due to her leg, Teru feels guilty. Iko is called by a teacher and leaves, so Teru, minutes later, also decides to leave, while wondering what Iko thought of her. However, Teru finds her at the bottom of the stairs, trying to bear the pain in her leg, and immediately goes to help her, introducing herself and taking her to the infirmary.

There, the nurse scolds Iko for forgetting her painkillers at home, offering weaker medicines but recommending that she rest there. As soon as she leaves, Iko apologizes for making Teru bring her there, but she says it was okay, blaming herself for Shy not doing her job right, but Iko compares her to Shy, surprising her. Iko tells her that she was saved by Shy, saying that she thought Teru was her when Teru called her down the stairs. Teru is disconcerted, then asks if Iko was mad at Shy, to which she replies, also in a questioning tone, why would anyone be mad at someone who did their best to save people.

Iko leaves Teru speechless with the comparison, as well as worried, seeing her cry. Teru then leaves to wash her face, relieved and comforted by Iko's words. As soon as she finishes, she mentally realizes that Iko was right and that she should strive to make more people like her happy. Thinking about it, Teru returns to the infirmary, only to be shocked by the sight of a monster-looking Iko.

Even scared, Teru asks what happened and Iko replies that she didn't know, just that there was a boy. Seeing that she was in pain, Teru tries to calm her down only to be scared even more by the crystals she was producing. N-Villio contacts her, saying that it will analyze the energy surge it has detected. The aforementioned boy then appears, claiming that it was the pure essence of her Heart and that he had just freed it from its cage. Teru doesn't understand what he is saying, and N-Villio warns Teru that it has detected a mental energy leak and that Iko's thoughts are out of control, reminding her of what Uni-Lord had told her and that her enemy was right in front of her.

Stigma soon reveals that he knows Teru is Shy, surprising her. Teru asks what he wanted and, causing Iko pain, he replies that he just wanted to free the Hearts from their cages. Iko falls and Teru immediately goes to help her, whereupon Iko herself, asking her to move away, attacks her, but Teru manages to dodge it and she hits the bed instead. N-Villio explains to Teru that those crystals are the manifestation of Iko's Heart's strong emotions, theorizing that it came from her hatred for someone. Teru immediately thinks that such hatred should be directed at Shy, but she is denied by Iko herself who tells her that her parents died to save her, blaming herself for that and threatening to kill herself, saying goodbye to Teru.

Teru, transforming into Shy, stops her, questioning why Iko doesn't ask for help, countering her lines by saying that her parents would like her to live, claiming that she would bear any pain if she had even the slightest chance to save her. Iko lets go of Shy and hesitates, but extends her hand, asking for her help, which Shy assures her that she would help her. However, Iko hits Shy who tries to defend herself with her arms in front of her body. She soon asks N-Villio to open a portal to some empty place, which it does and Shy pushes Iko inside, apologizing to her as it was dangerous to keep fighting in the infirmary. While Iko is stunned, Shy yells for N-Villio to give her instructions.

N-Villio analyzes the source of the mental energy leak and quickly finds that it comes from a ring on her finger and Shy soon moves towards Iko to remove it, but is surprised to notice that she covered the ring with the crystals, getting hit by her. Iko starts questioning her about why she wasn't there to save her parents. N-Villio tells Shy not to listen to which Shy refuses not to listen, claiming it is her duty to do so.

Shy then opens her arms and asks Iko to gather all the hate she had and throw it at her, much to her and N-Villio's surprise. Iko starts attacking her and Shy takes every blow without fighting back, just listening to her enraged questioning. Teru remembers her grandfather's words long ago, and, using his teachings, succeeded in taking the ring from Iko's finger, reversing her monstrous form. Even injured, she assures Iko that help was there and that everything would be fine.

Iko apologizes to which Shy just confirms that she could take the pain. N-Villio contacts her asking for confirmation since it didn't feel any more crystals and Shy replies that somehow she was able to take the ring out, but then asks where the boy was, receiving the information that it couldn't feel him. Iko apologizes again to Shy, but the Hero paraphrases her grandfather, telling Iko that to thank her, it was enough to be kind to others, completing that seeing smiles makes her happy, to which Iko agrees and then thanks her for having her saved.

A few days after such an incident, Teru is invited by Iko to spend the day together as compensation for the trouble she put her through. They meet on a street and Teru is still surprised that her leg has been healed, a side effect of the ring according to N-Villio's theory, and she regrets not knowing much about it. Her attention is called by Iko, who pulls her by the hand and the two spend time together.

Iko finally notices that Teru isn't the type to do a lot of activities in a short amount of time, justifying her tiredness. Iko immediately apologizes and takes her to a coffee shop so they can get some rest, but she still resents having just made things difficult for Teru, which she just denies, even though the other remains disappointed in herself. Teru gets nervous thinking that it was her fault that Iko was getting depressed again and tries to change the subject, failing when she mentioned the excuse the two gave the nurse to justify destroying the infirmary. This only reminded Iko that she was responsible for such destruction and Teru mentally scolds herself for it.

Before Teru finds some other way to change the subject, Iko speaks first, saying that she's amazing for being her age and having seen and done a lot of things, ending by claiming he respected her. Teru blushes and Iko then asks if anyone else besides her knew she was Shy, getting a negative response from the other as she would find it embarrassing for anyone to know it was her in that costume, although Iko thinks it was a really cool costume.

Iko notices that, by default, she is the only friend of Shy's who also knows her secret identity, getting excited about this fact, which leaves Teru disconcerted. Iko soon invites Teru to continue their hangout as they have rested and both walk through the mall together. Teru says she wants to go to a cat photo exhibition, but they are interrupted by the crying of a child who couldn't find his parents. Iko quickly takes matters into her own hands, calming the boy down and putting him on her shoulders, assuring him that she would find them, apologizing to Teru as they strayed from her route, to which she just agrees.

Teru notes that she is very good with children and Iko says it must be because of her taking care of a younger brother, thanking her for saving him in the incident at the T-1 Hotel. The boy soon spots his parents and Iko comments how they found them quickly, putting him back on the ground. He quickly runs to them and as the two girls are leaving, the boy came back to thank Iko for her help. Iko guides him to also be kind to others and he agrees, returning to his parents.

Teru tries to say something about the situation, but is interrupted by an excited Iko who believes she said something Shy would say. Teru claims that they are both equal and that he respected her for handling the lost boy situation with kindness, saying that Heroes are people too and that their good deeds connect them and that what she did reminded her of that. Teru apologizes for talking too much, but Iko just smiles at her, quickly leading the way so they can continue their hangout.

A while later, the two end up passing by a poster of Stardust and Iko asks Teru if she knows him, to which she replies that she doesn't. Iko describes him in detail, claiming it was only because she read a book about him, then imagining that he must be a passionate man to have done so many good things. Then Teru receives a call from Spirits informing her that they have been called to the hideout and that she is supposed to bring Iko along. Iko asks what was going on and is surprised that she was also called. Spirits complements saying that Stardust will also be there and Teru asks her what he is like. Spirits describes him calmly, until she ends by saying that "he's sort of a psycho".

After transforming into her heroic identity, Shy and Iko go to a rooftop where they are greeted by Spirits. Shy introduces Spirits to Iko, who is excited to meet the Russian Hero in person, and Shy then asks why they needed them. It was because Shy managed to retrieve the ring, an admirable feat according to Spirits, so without answering her question, she invites them both to the hideout.

Shy follows Iko's enthusiasm for being in space and the two follow Spirits, who says that Uni-Lord wanted to talk to Shy, but since her meeting with her, she's been researching the "freedom of Heart", but that the biggest problem was that boy. The trio enter a room, finding Uni-Lord holding a pot of soup while surrounded by several robots similar to N-Villio. Shy is disconcerted that she seems so domestic, which Spirits recognizes the soup as Borscht. Iko asks Shy who she was and before she can answer, Uni-Lord introduces herself and asks for Iko's help to protect Earth, but that they should eat first.

Uni-Lord recommends they relax until Stardust arrives, so Iko enthusiastically asks to take a group shot with the Heroes. It seems that Uni-Lord would scold Iko for asking for that under the current circumstances, but she just suggests that Iko use the photo booth instead, surprising Shy for having something like that there. Spirits, Iko and Shy take a picture and Iko looks at the picture excitedly, making Shy asks her if she really liked Heroes that much, embarrassing her as she thinks her own behavior was weird and the Japanese Hero says that she should be the one embarrassed since she is in that costume, disconcerting Iko who tries to fix her speech, but when trying to walk towards Shy, she trips over her own feet and only doesn't fall because she is saved by Stardust.

Stardust makes an impression on everyone by arriving late and saving Iko from falling, so Uni-Lord announces that everyone is there so they should start. Stardust asks what they were talking about, and Uni-Lord explains how Shy managed to retrieve a ring, which makes Stardust curious. Shy tries to explain how he did it and he comments that he didn't expect to see a civilian in the hideout.

Shy asks Uni-Lord to explain what the ring is and she does, comparing it to the bracelets they wore. Stardust says they call the boy "Stigma" and that he first appeared in England, using a friend of his to cause a major atrocity. Upon asking how he handled it, Shy is startled when Stardust claims to have cut his finger, calling Iko lucky to still have it.

Spirits intrudes because Stardust is scaring the girls, which intrigues him since she was including Shy, saying he finally understood why he came. Uni-Lord asks Stardust to fight Shy and Spirits is immediately against it, however, the supervisor retorts saying that the Japanese Hero needed to prepare for her next encounter with Stigma. Spirits tries to offer to fight Shy but Stardust raises the point that she won't fight seriously and that her Heart is weak, angering her, but before she can do anything, Shy stops her, saying she could handle it since she needed and wanted to get stronger.

Stardust, despite saying that she sounded quite heroic, soon questions whether she would be ready to give up being a Hero once she lost. Despite Spirits' protests, Shy replies that she was, and that she would do her best to win. Soon, everyone is taken to a multipurpose room and, while shaking and scared, Shy tells a worried Spirits that she would be fine. Stardust reviews the rules and flips a coin to mark the start, with the Japanese Hero feeling encouraged by Iko's words. As soon as the coin hits the ground, Shy lunges at Stardust, but runs right past him and falls to the ground, confused.

With Stardust taunting her, Shy tries again, but in vain, unable to land a single blow. Stardust hits her in a demonstration of what a real attack would be and she screams in pain. He says that her compassion made her weak and that she should put such things aside if she hoped to win. Shy tries to attack him again, but Stardust's power stops her, and she is again hit by him, who stomps on her head. He suggests that she give up, but when she says that she could still fight, they both continue.

Shy is completely overpowered by the experienced Stardust, and Iko, unable to bear the sight of it any longer, begs her to give up. Shy, however, clenches her fist in a clear sign of determination and weakly stands up, telling Stardust that as long as there are people beside her, she will always get up and keep trying. She awakens her power, Flame, and Shy charges at Stardust, creating a torrent of flame which he deflects by moving his head. Stardust comments that she was too weak to have such a power, but she confidently says that he dodged her attack with his head, which meant that with that ability, she could hit him. It is soon proved not.

He tells her that she is weak for her naivety, and that she would be killed by another heartless man like him, but Shy is convinced that, yes, he does have a heart. She returns to attacking him incessantly, determined to land at least one hit, and when she does, she untransforms, being held back by Stardust. Teru is taken to a recovery room inside the base and wakes up two hours after her treatment has been finished by Lady Black. She is greeted by the Swiss Hero who scolds her for making her friend Iko worried, and is exasperated when Teru says she doesn't recognize her, even after she introduces herself as a Black Cross nurse, justifying it being her lack of glasses.

A man enters, apologizing for Lady Black's actions, introducing himself as the director of the Black Cross's medical department and German Hero, Doktor Schwarz. With Teru impressed by Lady Black's healing ability, the latter soon says that Stardust had recognized and congratulated her, soon berating her with harsh words when Teru expresses doubts as to whether she could be a Hero or not.

Lady Black leaves first and Doktor assures Teru that she only wanted to advise her, doing the same by saying that she should try to have more confidence in herself, leaving shortly after. Teru carries Iko back to Japan, the latter apologizing for making her do this, so the two walk together to their homes. Iko starts to walk away, but Teru stops her, apologizing for worrying her and promising that she would become stronger. Iko compares her shyness and flushed face to the flame of passion that her power represents, so they both laugh.

Announcing her return, Teru is startled by N-Villio who asks her to turn on the television. Doing so, she watches the news of a man who caused turmoil in China and is soon certain that the cause of it was Stigma, not letting her resolve die even though she was afraid.

A few time after that, Teru tries to call Chihiro Nagata, the Nagata Stationery's owner, but her public speaking skills are poor. Chihiro soon welcomes her, though complaining of back pain, and Teru says she remembered the Tanpopo Mountain painting as she had passed it earlier. Chihiro reveals that the one who painted it was her husband, who had passed away three years ago, and that they hiked the mountain together every year, but she has been going alone ever since.

Teru returns home, wondering if she could do something for Chihiro, until she welcomes Pilse to her house, who was there for a medical checkup. After Pilse sees that Teru's recovery has been perfect, Teru asks her to help her with something. Despite the Swiss Hero's complaint, they both go to the Nagata Stationery so that Pilse can help with Chihiro's health problems. When Chihiro asks her if she could hike the mountain after the pain has stopped, Pilse agrees, accompanying her there alongside Teru.

Teru is having trouble keeping up with the two and deduces that Pilse must love mountains because she has climbed a lot in the past, but is surprised to receive a negative response. Pilse tells her that people laughed at her and doubted her ability, and Teru asks why, but Pilse says she would only tell her if she made it to the top of the mountain alive.

Teru barely reaches the top of the mountain, and panting, she sits down with Pilse, who offers her a bottle of water. She picks up the subject and Pilse reveals to her that her legs are both fake because she lost hers in an accident some time ago, and that she looked so natural having been up and down mountains like that every day. She advises her on this, saying that she just needed more confidence in herself.

Chihiro soon calls them back, so she thanks them for their company. The two say goodbye to her, and Teru also thanks Pilse, noting that she must really enjoy helping people. Pilse blushes and says she'd be back, and could help her every now and then, leaving afterwards.

Sometime later, at home, Teru tries to light a candle with her power, but in vain. At school, she continues to think about how to try to use it, until she is approached by Iko, who is now wearing her school uniform. She asks her if there was something bothering her and Teru denies, not wanting to worry her. All day, Teru was distracted. At the end of classes, Iko leaves first, since Teru said she still had something to do.

Passing through the hallways, a paper written "flame" catches her attention and she is approached by a taller girl who invites her in as soon as she says she liked that kanji. They get in, meeting with the president of the club who finishes writing something and the girl introduces Teru as someone who liked what she had written. She starts to write something next and Teru tells the president that she felt the kanji was burning, to which he says he felt the same thing, describing the other girl as someone passionate about calligraphy. Embarrassed, she asks them to be quiet.

She soon shows what she wrote and the two say they liked it. The president suggests that Teru also try writing and she actually enjoys doing it. He shares with her his theory that writing channels their Heart into words and Teru has an epiphany, excusing herself and hurriedly leaving. Arriving home, she grabs paper and a brush, confusing N-Villio. She tries writing over and over again until she finally manages to channel fire, cheering, before panicking because the paper was burning.