Chapter Nine: The Hero's at That Age...

The Hero's at That Age... (ヒーローはお年頃, Hīrō wa o Toshigoro) is the ninth chapter of Dengeki Daisy. It is the last chapter contained in volume two of the series.

Synopsis
Kurosaki takes Teru to visit Kiyoshi, who has been taking time off from school since the accident that nearly killed him. They meet him at Master's cafe, where Riko is trying to console him. Riko decides to take Teru away for a private chat, leaving Kiyoshi with Kurosaki and the Master.

Kiyoshi reveals he had been worried about Teru and had been suspicious as to why her older brother had left her in poverty despite being a brilliant engineer. When he resorted to illegal methods, Kiyoshi was caught and threatened by an unknown person. Both Kurosaki and the Master suspect the person threatening Kiyoshi is connected to whoever sent Takeda after Teru. While Kiyoshi thinks his friendship with Teru is over, Kurosaki gives him a get-well present from Teru and all his friends, who are all worried about him, and reminds Kiyoshi that he's now indebted to Kurosaki for saving his life. Kurosaki leaves the cafe and the Master explains to Kiyoshi how he, Kurosaki, and Riko are related to Teru and her brother.

At a coffee shop, Riko offers Teru a chance to become her roommate and share an apartment. When Teru wonders why Riko has been taking so much care to look after her aside from being DAISY's friend, Riko reveals that she had been the girlfriend of Teru's brother and sees Teru as a younger sister to her. Riko and the Master tell Teru and Kiyoshi that they and Kurosaki had been coworkers of Teru's brother, Soichiro Kurebayashi. Their team disbanded after Soichiro's death and all their accomplishments were erased; Soichiro had sacrificed everything in order to protect a member of their team.

Back at home, Teru tells Kurosaki about Riko's offer but notices he is spaced out until she provokes him. Kurosaki remarks how Kiyoshi had been motivated to help Teru and suggests that she forgive him, which Teru intends to do when Kiyoshi is ready to accept her. When she brings up Riko's offer again, Kurosaki seems happy to get his apartment back, which results in an argument between them.

That night, Kurosaki has a nightmare recalling Soichiro's last words to him, when Soichiro entrusted Kurosaki with protecting Teru as a reminder of his sins as DAISY. Kurosaki wakes up distraught, but is calmed down by Teru, who he winds up embracing.