"I am adorable and you know it," Izuku teased with a Disney smile and batted his eyelashes. Himiko choked and turned away while Ochako had to keep a hand over her mouth so she didn't spit out her own food. While the pair recovered Izuku turned back to the rest of his friends. "So ignoring this one guy's take, if I shouldn't have won, who do they say should have?"
"They switched up the podium results so that it was a toss up between Bakugou and Todoroki," Tenya answered. "It was one of the theorized matches they spent a great deal of time on."
Ochako grumbled under her breath while Shouto scooched away from her. While he was pretty sure he wasn't the one currently the target of Ochako's ire, he also knew that Ochako might hold a small grudge against him for how their match played out. So since he was part of the conversation making her upset, there was a small, but not non-zero, chance she might make him the target of her wrath, since he was within arms reach.
Ochako was about to make it pretty well known just how annoyed she was over this, when she recalled how the conversation had started. "Wait, you said this would have me and Deku at each other's throats. All I want is Bakugou's throat."
"Oh, well, when they switched up the podium results, they had you and Midoriya paired against each other." Izuku and Ochako heads snapped up at that. "And they briefly wondered which one of you would win, but ended up just spending time theorizing about Todoroki and Bakugou's match." Hitoshi pointed between the two. "So I figured you two might have thoughts on that subject, considering how competitive you guys are."
Mei leaned forward. "Who would win between the two of you?"
"I would." Was the immediate answer they two gave.
That got some laughs from the group while Izuku and Ochako turned and glared at each other. Tsuyu held up a hand. "We are talking tournament rules, right, kero? Not out in the field, with their gear and support items?"
"I'd say yeah, let's go with that," Himiko agreed.
Mei hummed. "So right off the bat… this isn't going to be a flashy fight. Heck, I'd say it's gonna devolve into what your's and Uraraka's was." Mei pointed between Himiko and Ochako. "It'll be a slug fest."
Hitoshi held up a hand. "Hold on, Mirodiya has Psychokinesis and Boric—"
"Boric Pyre is after," Mei reminded.
"—Well he still has Psychokinesis. He'd just be able to throw Uraraka out of the ring."
"Not true," Shouto stepped in. "He wasn't able to do that to anyone during his matches, except Yanagi, but they had an agreement to only win with their Quirks. When his Quirk is acted upon a person, its effect is weakened."
"So, Midoriya would have nothing to throw around like he had in his other matches. I suppose he could try and break off chunks of concrete, but Ochako would probably get him while he was focused on that. Meaning he would have to rely on his hand to hand combat skills. And Uraraka's Quirk would mean she'd have to touch him. So this would be an up close brawl like Hatsume has suggested."
Hitoshi nodded. "Okay, but could Midoriya even do that? I mean considering the… well, you know."
"I've punched Uraraka in the face many times. I have no problem fighting her," Izuku stated simply. He blinked at his friend's strange looks while Ochako just rubbed her head.
"The training we did before. It involved a lot of sparing," Ochako clarified.
Tsuyu thought about it. "Then this is really just a question over which of the two is the better fighter."
There was a brief pause before everyone answered at roughly the same time, "Uraraka."
"Wait, wha?" Izuku looked around a little miffed. "Hold on."
Himiko laughed, "Izuku, you are a battering ram. You hit something and you drop it. Heck, I've been you and thrown your hands. You throw a mean punch… but that's kinda all you do."
"So I hit Uraraka and drop her," Izuku said confidently.
Ochako squinted her eyes. "You would not drop me."
"I would."
"Would not."
"Totally."
"Get real."
"I've done it."
"…That was one time and it doesn't count."
"You literally said, 'give me your best shot,' and I dropped you like a sack of bricks. And it also wasn't the first time either and you know it!"
"AHEM!" Himiko cleared her throat. "If you two are done being weird," Himiko gave the pair of playfully arguing teens a chance to compose themselves, "Izuku can throw a mean punch, but Ochako is a better fighter."
"It's the classic boxer vs martial artist debate," Mei quipped.
"Exactly. Ochako has way more tools to bring to a fight."
Izuku crossed his arms, pouting. "You guys know that I've won just as many sparring matches with Uraraka as I've lost right? We have a running tally and I'm pretty sure it's dead even."
"It is," Ochako confirmed. "With a few ties."
"Okay, but," Himiko held up a finger, "have you sparred with her since she started going to U.A.?"
"Umm… no. Actually, we haven't. That's kinda strange. We like sparring."
"We do, but we've been busy with school… We should try and find some time. Kinda miss it," Ochako said with a sigh.
"As I was saying!" Himiko cut in. "Ochako has been trained by heroes to make her a better fighter. Like just take all the time she's spent with Miruko. And you've…" Himiko thought about a nice way to put this, "have kinda only stuck with Quirk based training."
"But! I mean… I could punch her like… really hard!" Izuku said in his defense.
"And she could punch you, kick you and she knows grapple moves," Hitoshi listed off.
"…I can headbutt," Izuku said with a pout before shooting Ochako a dirty look as she was just eating everything up.
"Izuku, given how your Quirk has," Himiko scratched her chin as she searched for the right way to put this, "evolved recently, maybe you should look into things other than punches. Like maybe learn how to throw a kick." Izuku glanced down at his own legs as she kept going, "I mean, when you think about it, that's two big muscles you could be using right there."
"That's… not a bad point," Izuku said while scratching his chin. "Uraraka, do you two think you could give me some pointers?"
Ochako, who up until that point was basking in everyone's praise, snapped to attention real fast when she heard that. "Huh?! Wait, me?!" Ochako began scratching the back of her neck, a red blush starting to spread over her face. "I mean yeah! I'd be happy to!"
With the main meal done, everyone went back to relaxing on the beach as the sun began to set. Ochako sighed as she sprawled out on a large beach towel, watching as Izuku and Tenya were busy getting a campfire started so the group could enjoy a small dessert in the evening. Eri was being kept back, with Himiko and Hitoshi's help, so that it would be a surprise for her.
"Uraraka, kero?" Ochako turned her eyes to see Tsuyu crouched next to her. She looked a little nervous, hands pinching the fabric of her sun dress between her fingers. "Do you… have a second?"
Ochako sat up and scooched over, making room for Tsuyu on the towel. "Sure. You alright?" Ochako tried to think of the last time she had seen Tsuyu nervous. And honestly, she couldn't think of such a time.
Tsuyu took the offered place and sat down. "I'm… fine. I was just… Wondering if we could talk. And if I could get your advice on something. And I suppose, your opinion."
"Oh! Um, sure." Ochako scratched her cheek. "But, um, I'm not really sure what advice I could give you on things. I'm not exactly worldly or anything."
"It's about Toga."
"Toga?" Ochako frowned before glancing over to where she was giving Eri a piggyback ride while chasing Hitoshi. Eri had a small plastic shovel in her hand, but the way she was holding it and swinging it around, made it look like she had a big-ol' knife and was trying to stab poor Hitoshi. "What'd she do now?"
"N-Nothing!" Tsuyu was quick to reply. "She hasn't done anything… Please stop looking at her. She might get suspicious."
Ochako did as asked, and gave Tsuyu a slightly worried look. "You sure you're okay? You two aren't having a fight or anything? Her lesson the other day was rough, but I think it came from a good place."
Tsuyu shook her head. "No. No, it's nothing like that. This is… something different… And a little personal."
"Personal?"
"Yeah. So if you don't want to answer or talk about this, I'll understand."
"Tsu, you can always talk to me. That's what being friends is for." Ochako flashed Tsu a bright smile, trying to reassure her.
"I… really like Toga."
… Eh? Ochako had to take a moment to let that sink in. "Like? As in…"
"I really like like her."
"Oh? Oh!" Ochako's eyes went wide, and despite herself, her head snapped around to look at Himiko before snapping back to Tsuyu. "Like like as in…love?"
Tsuyu fidgeted. "I don't know for sure. It feels weird saying it like that since we've only met a few months ago. I just know that after she saved my life at the USJ… I… started thinking about her a lot. And now, recently it's more than just… a lot, and when I do… my heart just… beats so fast."
Ochako remembered the event Tsuyu was talking about. They were on that boat in the USJ's flood zone, and Tsuyu was about to get attacked by a shark villain. Himiko had rescued Tsuyu before she could get hurt. It was a brutal rescue, but Himiko had saved Tsuyu all the same. If not for the blood and dismemberment, Ochako could almost see it as the kind of romantic start in a cheesy fantasy romance.
Tsu's got a crush on Toga… Oh boy.
"Uraraka, you're close with Toga," Tsuyu stated, with Ochako nodding. "And I know… Toga loves you." Ochako's mouth fell open, but Tsuyu kept going before Ochako could sputter out a response. "And that she's also in love with Midoriya. I just… wanted to know… how do you feel about her?"
"H-how I f-feel about Toga?" If Ochako was wearing a top with a collar, she'd be pulling at it right about now. "That's… I mean, Deku…"
"I know how you feel about him. I think everyone knows now," Ochako still wasn't sure if she liked that or not, "but what about Toga?"
This was a surprisingly personal question coming from Tsuyu. But, Ochako guessed it wasn't that surprising, when she put everything together. Tsuyu somehow knew about how Toga felt. And now Ochako knew how Tsuyu felt. She was kinda the last piece of the puzzle. So really, it was a fair question to ask.
"She's… special. She's very special to me." Maybe it was a lame answer, but it was the truth.
"Do you love her?"
Well fuck, Tsu. Just go for my throat. Ochako thought back on everything she had been through with Himiko. The rough start and then how things had changed. She remembered just how damn good that kiss had been. The memory alone made her lips feel a little warm.
"I do… but…" Ochako searched for the right words. She wasn't about to say she saw Himiko as a sister or anything. It wasn't a familiar love she felt for her, but… "It's like… I love her…more than a friend, but less than a lover." That was the closest she could really get to putting her relationship with Himiko into words.
Tsuyu tapped her chin as she thought over what Ochako had said. Ochako looked at her for any sign that Tsuyu was unsatisfied with her answer. Not the easiest task, as Tsuyu was, more often than not, pretty hard to read. At the very least, she didn't seem upset.
"That's a lot like what Midoriya said."
Ochako's ears perked up hearing that. "Wait? Deku? What does Deku have to do with this?" And actually now that Ochako thought about it, there were some things that were super weird for Tsuyu to know. Like how she knew how Himiko felt about Izuku and herself.
"Midoriya came to talk to me after my final exam while I was recovering in the nurse's clinic."
"…" Ochako leaned forward, looking at Tsuyu suspiciously. "Deku… came to talk to you?"
Tsuyu nodded. "Yes. He came to give me relationship advice."
You could hear a pin drop from a mile away in the stunned silence that had fallen over Ochako. Though it didn't last very long. After Ochako picked her jaw out of the sand, she screeched, "DEKU DID WHAT?!"
Ochako's scream grabbed a few people's attention. In fact, it grabbed everyone's attention. Izuku snapped to attention and looked over at them, looking like someone that had gotten caught with their hand in the cookie jar, though he also had no idea why he felt like he just got caught doing something he wasn't supposed to have done.
Ochako was equal parts stunned, confounded, stupefied and lost. She looked at Tsuyu, then looked over at Izuku, who looked like he didn't know what to do, while his friends were putting some distance from him. Getting out of the blast zone, as it were. Then she turned back to look at Tsuyu while pointing at Izuku. "Him?"
"Yeah."
"Deku?"
"Uh huh."
"He was giving you relationship advice?"
"Yup, kero."
"When was this?"
"He came to see me when I was in Recovery Girl's clinic after my exam. Like I just said," Tsuyu explained.
"Aaaand why did he suddenly start giving you advice?"
Tsuyu tapped her chin. "Because, kero… He noticed that I was crushing pretty hard."
Ochako sat there for a second. "He noticed you were crushing on Toga… I think… I think I have to slap Deku on principle."
"Kero?"
"He noticed you, while I'm out there doing probably the worst job imaginable hiding how I felt… He. Notices. You… Oh god, my head hurts." While Ochako suffered an existential crisis, the cause of said crisis gingerly walked up to the pair, taking each step like he was walking through a minefield.
"H-hey, um… is everything…" Izuku gulped when Ochako glared at him, "…okay?"
"Tsu," Ochako was trying oh so hard not to sound cross with Izuku. "Was just talking to me about your talk with each other. And about Toga."
"Oh?" It took a quick second before it quickly dawned on Izuku what that meant. "Oh!"
"So, Deku, you're handing out relationship advice now?" Izuku's eyes drifted down to look at Ochako, her icy gaze a perfect match for the frost in her voice.
Quick brain! Need ideas now!
"Well, who better?" …Ice was becoming arctic, but Izuku continued, "Just do the opposite of everything I've ever done or said. I'm the perfect bad example."
Snort. Ochako quickly turned away as she tried not to laugh. Izuku meanwhile was giving his brain a high five for getting him out of that mess.
"Honestly, after our talk, I guess I just noticed some things I wouldn't before and… considering it was Toga… kinda wanted to give Tsu a heads up she can be a little…" Izuku waved his hand in a so-so gesture. "Well you know."
"Nuts, crazy, borderline psychotic?" Ochako listed off.
"Borderline?" Izuku questioned, before both he and Ochako burst into giggles.
Tsuyu looked between the two. "Wow. You both really do care about her the same way, don't you? Kero."
Izuku looked at Ochako questioningly. Ochako summed up the conversation so far while making room for Izuku to sit with them. Izuku agreed, Ochako pretty much hit the nail on the head.
"I wonder… What'll all those feelings mean if…" Tsuyu blushed. "If I…"
"Confess?" Ochako asked gently. "Honestly, Tsu, I have no idea. I mean, I'm still trying to figure things out with this dork."
"Maybe… I dunno, don't worry about it?" Izuku offered. "I think we all know that having any kind of relationship with Toga means things are gonna be abnormal, but that doesn't mean that's a bad thing."
Tsuyu ran a finger through the sand. "I guess it boils down to if I'm okay that the girl I really like… like, has feelings for other people." She looked at Izuku and Ochako who were watching her just as closely. "Or if those feelings will get in the way of the feelings I have for her and maybe the ones she'd have for me."
Ochako shrugged. "To be fair, nothing really gets in the way of Toga's feelings. If she loves you, she loves you. No if, ands, or buts."
"So you both think I should confess?"
"Yup."
"Absolutely."
Tsuyu ribbit'd nervously. "Y-you're both so sure."
Izuku looked at Ochako who looked back at him. "We might… have thoughts on the subject of waiting around."
Ochako snorted again as she agreed with a laugh.
"Then… how should I do it?" Tsuyu asked. "How do you think I should… confess to Toga? If it's like you said and love is a switch for her… how do I make sure I… flip that switch?"
Ochako rubbed her chin, giving that some thought, while Izuku muttered away under his breath. Then with a snap of his fingers, seemed to figure it out. "Probably the best way to get Toga's attention and confess to her… would be to just walk up to her and kiss her," Izuku said confidently.
Tsuyu's already large eyes almost doubled in size while she clutched at her straw hat and brought it down to cover her face, hiding the massive blush that was spreading everywhere and working its way down her neck. "K-k-kiss, kero?!"
Izuku scratched his head and chuckled nervously. "I mean… yeah."
Ochako kinda hated how that made sense and it was Izuku being the one to say it. Just kiss her, he says. HOW ABOUT YOU JUST FUCKING KISS ME ALREADY!
Tsuyu peaked over the wide brim of her straw hat. "I can't just walk up to Toga and kiss her. Would you just walk up to Uraraka and kiss her?"
"I'd love to… I-I me-mean!" It was Izuku's turn to blush, but he did his best to shake it off. Ochako though, initially looking excited, was now looking at him hard as he avoided the question. "We're not talking about Uraraka. We're talking about Toga. And you know how she is."
"…Direct, kero," Tsuyu answers, croaking nervously, because the more she thought about it… Thought about who she had a crush on and how she went about being so open about things… Direct and unequivocal action might just be what she'd need to do to get her feelings across. And if she wanted to flip Himiko's 'love switch,' words alone might not be enough.
"Oh… oh, I'm going to kiss Toga." It really dawned on Tsuyu at that moment that if she was going to do this, she couldn't take half measures. "Should I… use my tongue?"
"Yes, absolutely," Izuku answered immediately, before he got a blush that matched Tsuyu's. "And maybe… bite your lip… or something."
Tsuyu pulled her hat down, and reached up with a finger and ran it over her lip. "So she can taste…"
"Your blood, yeah. Offering something like that to her at the same time… would be something special, Tsu," Izuku offered.
Ochako hated, fucking hated, that Izuku was probably batting a hundred with his advice right now. Well, honestly she wasn't really mad at him, just mad that apparently Himiko came easy to him while she, the fucking normal one, was some great mystery.
"W-why are you so sure… this is the best idea?" Tsuyu asked nervously.
"Well… it's what she did with us," Izuku answered with a blushing smile. Tsuyu was shocked, and looked at Izuku, then at Ochako who was also blushing now.
"S-she kissed you, kero?"
"Yeah, she did while I was at the hospital in Hosu City," Izuku confirmed.
Tsuyu then pointed at Ochako. "And you?"
"Oh yeah," Ochako huffed out, trying not to think to hard on everything else Himiko had done during it, "it was pretty intense." Ochako elbowed Izuku's side. "Deku was jealous when he learned."
While Izuku playfully swatted Ochako away, he finished his thought, "So yeah. If she's fine giving the kiss, I'm sure the opposite is true."
"Are you ready for the surprise Eri?" Izuku asked as he walked Eri over to the fire where everyone else was getting settled down in small lawn chairs and tables placed around it.
The sun had set, and now the area was lit by the fire's soft orange glow. Eri was excited for sure, every step had a bounce that went along with it. "Yes!"
Getting Eri to sit down, Izuku handed her a long metal poker, which she looked at in confused wonder. "Is this a Toga toy?"
Himiko frowned. "Eh?"
Eri made some poking motions with the prong. "See. Put the pointy end into—"
Inko reached over and laughed as she got Eri to stop. "No, no, no. That's not how this is used."
Izuku shot Himiko a look while the other girl held up her hands. "That is not on me!"
Tenya adjusted his glasses. "I may need to ask Midnight-sensei to look into teaching you how to properly act in front of a small impressionable child."
The metal prong in Himiko's hands moved so it was pointed at Tenya. "You try, and see what happens."
Ochako reached over and whacked Himiko upside the head to get her to calm down.
"See! See the pointy end goes—"
"Look Eri! Marshmallows!" Izuku quickly pulled out a giant plastic bag full of golf ball sized soft spongy treats. She immediately reached for the bag, but Izuku waved a finger. "Hold on. This is only part of the surprise." Inko then took out the chocolate bars and some boxes of graham crackers and passed them around so there were some on the tables between the chairs.
Eri looked at the other treats, wondering what they were for. She eyed the chocolate bars hungrily. As the marshmallow bag was opened and its contents passed around, Izuku plucked one of the treats and, with his other hand, helped Eri hold up her little poker.
"Okay, now hold this up, okay?" Eri nodded, watching as Izuku poked the end of the metal into the white sugary cloud. "We're gonna make some s'mores. And first," moving Eri's hands out so the poker and marshmallow was hovering over the fire, "we gotta roast these. That way, it's soft and sticky when you stick it between the chocolate and cracker."
Eri nodded, eyes wide, and while maybe not understanding exactly what a s'more was, she did know she wanted to eat one. Slowly Izuku started to turn the poker in Eri's hands. "See, just keep turning it slowly, and soon the marshmallow will get nice and toasted. Then I'll show you how to put it all together, alright?" Eri nodded again, very fast, which got some chuckles from the group.
Soon everyone was getting their pokers tipped with marshmallows to toast away. Though one mad lad was busy sticking his poker into the fire.
"Shinsou, you must be careful. You will burn the marshmallow like that. And we don't want to waste them. Some may want multiple snacks," Tenya warned with a hand chop.
Hitoshi ignored him. "You want a good s'more, you gotta burn the marshmallow to get it nice and goopy."
"You're weird," Ochako said with a shake of her head.
"You all are cowards."
Debates on overcooking marshmallows aside, Himiko seemed to be in the mood for more than just a sweet treat. She was hungry for a little gossip. "Sooo, Izuku," Himiko began innocently enough, as she stabbed her marshmallow onto her little metal roasting stick.
"Uh oh. Look out Midoriya," Hitoshi deadpanned while cooking (burning) his. "This can't be good."
"Hey! I'm just making innocent polite conversations here," Himiko countered, pointing the metal poker at Hitoshi.
"You can be innocent?" Shouto seemed genuinely surprised, which got a round of chuckles from the rest of the group.
Himiko just huffed and started roasting while Izuku helped Eri rotate her marshmallow a little so one side didn't get too brown. "It's alright, Toga. What'd you want?"
"Well, I was just curious what you plan to do with Ochako on your date." Ochako and Izuku both went a little red. "Since I'm not going to get to be there to watch—"
"Stalk."
"—watch," Himiko flipped Mei off, after making sure Eri was too fascinated by her roasting treat to notice, "I wanna hear the details."
Shouto leaned over, and asked quietly, "Does that count for the bet or…?"
Hitoshi said, "She has to say it. We didn't think ahead to hand gestures."
Izuku blushed and looked down at the roasting treat. "Well…"
"You do have a plan, right?"
Izuku nodded, aware that Ochako was looking right at him. "I… do yes. I did some… research about the different attractions and events."
Himiko smirked. "There wouldn't happen to be a tunnel of love ride at the expo? Is there?"
"There is… I MEAN!" Izuku coughed. "There might be. Possibly… Some attractions are… advertised as couple friendly."
While Izuku looked embarrassed at possibly getting caught looking up an embarrassing kissing ride, Ochako had a look that only Himiko had seen before. Lightly dazed and with a smile making her puffy cheeks dimple. It was the look she had after Himiko had given her one hell of a first kiss. So Himiko knew Ochako was quite happy at the idea of the ride. And she very clearly had less than pure intentions. Izuku may just come out of the ride a changed man after Ochako was through with him.
"B-But yeah. I've given this… a lot of thought… though," Izuku scratched his neck, "there is one thing I can't really factor in."
"Oh, kero?"
"All Might."
His friends hissed in sympathy. All of Izuku's plans and desires to take Ochako on a fantastical date were more or less going to hit a brick wall whenever All Might got factored in.
"I mean, he may be the number one hero, but he's kinda a dunce. You could ditch him," Himiko offered.
"That would be wholly inappropriate Toga," Tenya chastised.
"Plus the first thing he's going to do if he loses sight of us is call Mom," Izuku said with certainty. "I don't want to be getting a phone call from my Mom because of that."
"Turn your phone off?" Himiko offered but an 'ahem' from Inko sent a shiver up the girls' spine. "Nevermind."
"Though… All Might does have a friend on the island. He may want to go see them." Izuku recalled, some hope in his voice that maybe there might be a window there for himself and Ochako to get to have some private fun.
Ochako gasped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh no. What if All Might says we have to stay in our rooms while he's out visiting his friend? Whatever will we do?" Some snickers came from around the fire and Ochako swore she saw Inko smirk at her. A very knowing smirk. Which wasn't a no as far as Ochako could tell. It honestly seemed like she was giving the go ahead here. "We might not get to do anywhere near as much as we want if All Might isn't around to make sure we're acting like proper U.A. students during our date. Cause we'd never just go to the expo without him."
Shouto pulled his poker back and examined his golden roasted marshmallow. "So if he does just leave… Does that mean that's the end of the date?"
Mei frowned. "Would he just do that?"
Himiko chuckled. "You haven't seen him try to be a teacher. He's a scatter brain with stuff like this." She then reached over and patted Izuku on the back. "You poor boy. Working up the courage to ask Ochako out and now having to deal with the fact that All Might might not be there to look after you. It's such a shame you're a responsible goody-goody. Otherwise just think of all the trouble you could get into." Himiko shot Ochako a knowing look.
Izuku did imagine what it would be like if it was just him and Ochako. Alone. And his cheeks heated up at all the little ideas he started to have. Ochako was just grinning now. Oh, this was an opportunity.
"If that's the case then, Midoriya and Uraraka are in luck," Tenya said suddenly, getting a few confused and maybe slightly worried looks.
"What're you talking about Iida?" Ochako asked carefully. She had a sinking suspicion she wasn't going to like this.
"My brother's agency, Team Idaten, receives tickets for the pre show annually. As he can't go this time, I was asked to go in his place to represent the agency." Tenya missed the growing looks of horror that was spreading over Ochako, Izuku and even Himiko and Tsuyu's faces. "While I initially planned to keep my distance so that you two could enjoy your time together, if All Might has commitments that may impede his ability to keep an eye on both of you, then I will happily assume my position as class representative and make sure your two are able to continue your date as your chaperone."
"Stab?" Himiko asked as she leaned over. Ochako didn't immediately answer as she continued to just gawk at Tenya and the idea that somehow, as their class rep, it gave him the right to act as her and Izuku's chaperone on their date. The fucking thing she has been patiently waiting for for way way too long. Damn it I want to get my smooch on with Deku and not have people looking over my shoulder! Is that so wrong?!
"Um, dude, I'm pretty sure your class rep rights stop at the school," Hitoshi pointed out.
"Nonsense. Clearly Midoriya and Uraraka are worried they'll not be able to spend adequate time together if All Might wishes to visit his friend." That was not the case at all. "So it is up to me to fill in if such an occurrence arises. Also, as they are invited due to a U.A. event, they are still my responsibility. As their representative and friend I must make sure I'm available for them."
Clearly Tenya had missed the fact that Izuku and Ochako were hopeful that All Might would leave them alone. Not worried about it.
"Stab?"
Ochako breathed in through her nose as she seriously considered the pros and cons of having her friend murdered on the beach. "Can you stab him just enough for him to not be there?"
"Okay, now you take the other cracker and use it to smoosh the marshmallow. See, like this," Izuku demonstrated for Eri and showed off the finished s'more. The golden brown skin cracked along the gooey center as it was squished down into the softening chocolate bar.
Eri was quick to mimic what she saw, and cheered as she made her very first s'more. "Can I eat it now?!"
"Yup, but be careful. It'll be a little hot and you don't want to burn your tongue," Izuku warned while taking a big bite himself.
"YUMMY!" Eri happily yelled. Then looked at her fingers. "And sticky!"
"The perfect combo," Himiko whispered to Tsuyu and Ochako under her breath with a little laugh. Both girls flushed and Ochako shoved her away.
"Don't be gross."
"You took my swearing, I gotta have fun somehow here," Himiko said while sticking out her tongue.
Soon everyone was getting their desserts put together. While they did, Mei was hit with a thought. "Hey Midoriya."
"Hmm?" Izuku hummed, mouth slightly sealed shut with white sugary goo.
"Doesn't the I-Expo have like a thousand things to do? And you have it planned out? How'd you manage that?"
By the time everyone had turned to hear Izuku's answer, they were momentarily startled to see him holding a composition notebook. "Oh, I made sure to look over everything I could so Uraraka will have the best time. Like which food vendors will have her favorite foods, which rides won't upset her stomach since there are also Quirk related games, and… what?" Izuku saw that everyone was looking at him, and the book in his hand.
At first, Ochako was going to ask where Izuku had pulled his Hero Analysis for the Future notebook from, since they were at the freaking beach and he was in swim trunks. But that question died when she saw that the book he was holding wasn't the one she had given him for his birthday, but a new one, with something totally different written across the front of it.
"Romance Analysis for the Future?" Ochako read aloud.
Izuku seemed to realize he had just made a huge mistake. His face went red and puffs of smoke blew out from his nose as his face went scarlet. "I… I… Forget you saw this!" He screamed as he tried to hide the book, only for Himiko to scream for someone to grab it before it disappeared into the void. Tsuyu's tongue shot out and yanked it from Izuku's hands, depositing it into Himiko's lap.
"What do we have here?" Himiko's voice practically dripped with joy at the present literally dropped into her lap. "Making plans, huh?"
Welp, time to just jump into the fire and die, Izuku thought in doomed acceptance.
Himiko snickered as she opened the book, and flipped through some pages.
"Oof, come on Toga. That's mean," Hitoshi said with less than real sympathy.
Himiko however ignored him and kept flipping. Though after a few pages, her snickering trailed off, replaced with shock as now she was flipping through several pages, only stopping after she had gone through around a full quarter of the notebook. She then made a show of showing the group just how many pages there already were in the book. A few jaws dropped. Himiko herself looked absolutely shocked. "Izuku, what the hell?"
Everyone was now very interested in just how much Izuku had written in his romance book. Ochako in particular was left reeling, embarrassed but also touched. This kind of obsession was usually just reserved for Izuku's love of heroes and Quirks. Now it seemed she was up on that list too. Oh did that make her heart flutter.
Himiko was back to flipping through the book, showing Tsuyu some pages as she did. There were more than a few sketches that showed Ochako in a very flattering light. "Man, look at all this. How long have you been working on this, huh?"
Seeing that everyone was waiting for a response, and not really seeing a way out, Izuku squeaked out, "The night before finals."
Ochako frowned. The night before finals? But that was the night that Deku and I… "Whaaat?!"
"Dude."
"You wrote that in how little time?"
"And I thought I was obsessive."
Himiko went back through the pages. "Izuku, there's profiles here. Date plans that aren't including the I-Expo. Gift ideas, notes on gifts and lists of every kind of anniversary from week, month, two months three… A list of restaurants and other shopping centers Ochako would like to visit. Techniques for shoulder rubs, references to gift guides…"
As Himiko kept going, something caught Tsuyu's eye. "Pads?"
Izuku went neon in embarrassed panic while Himiko stopped on the page Tsuyu had picked and was looking it over. Her shocked expression went devilish as she looked it over along with Tsuyu.
'I wonder what Uraraka's finger pads are like. Would she let me touch them? Do they feel like a cat's? Are they sensitive? How would they feel if we were holding hands? Maybe I should look up hand messaging. She might let me rub them. If I called them finger beans would that be alright?'
"Finger beans, huh?" Himiko wagged her eyebrows. "Ochako, looks like Izuku really wants to hold your hand."
In a flash of green, Izuku pulled the notebook back and clutched it to his chest. Mercifully, Himiko hadn't read everything he had written out loud. But she had said enough. Ochako was looking at him questioningly, her cheeks red and a little dazzling gleam in her eyes, like twinkling stars.
So at least it didn't look like she was upset or anything. But she was curious.
"I… was wondering what your… finger pads would feel like if we… held hands."
Ochako chirped.
"Holy… Midoriya fantasizes about holding hands," Hitoshi rubbed his brow. "Living up to the G-Rated part there, man."
"It shows he has only pure intentions," Tenya countered. "As is befitting someone like Midoriya."
Ochako gulped as it started to dawn on her just what Izuku having a notebook called Romance Analysis for the Future could actually mean. Izuku was looking at her romantically, thinking of her romantically. Wanting to do romantic things with her. Recently the very idea would have been crazy, but here was fucking proof that he was committed to this.
Committed to her. Committed to wanting to spend time with her. To make her happy. Add to everything that Izuku was apparently throwing himself into this new facet of their future relationship with a fervor that she had only seen with his fanboy tendencies and Quirk obsession. All of that now focused on trying to be romantic with her…
Oh shit did it suddenly get really hot?
Izuku hid behind the cover of his Romance Analysis for the Future notebook, face beet red after snatching it back from Himiko. Around the fire his friends either coughed in sympathy at the now awkward situation or chuckled at how adorable the whole thing was. Himiko just slyly looked over at Ochako who was still trying to eat her s'more while every so often glancing at her 'finger beans.'
"Y-you know, Deku." Ochako ran her thumb over the pad of a finger. "Maybe you'll… get your answer soon."
Izuku fucking squeaked while Hitoshi whistled at Ochako's boldness. "Careful there. You're gonna give Midoriya unprotected hand holding? That's a total gateway drug. Next could be spontaneous hugging. After that, we'll have to open a day care at U.A. for you two."
While Himiko held onto Ochako so she didn't float away, Izuku was now a neon green bulb. "I think they'd have to engage in intercourse for that. You're skipping several steps," Shouto stated simply.
Now that the two were completely lost to their own embarrassment, Mei scratched her head. "Sooo, I got a question. These two are totally into each other. But they haven't told each other yet? Explain that."
Himiko sighed dramatically. "Because they're stupid. And want to tell each other after some romantic date or something. Instead of just accepting the fact and doing it."
Tsuyu looked over at her. "I thought you'd like the romantic gestures?"
"Not when I'm on the sideline. And honestly, all the romance stuff should happen after the confession. Fucking kiss me and then let's work out the rest." Tsuyu made sure to jot that little bit of info down for later.
Eri gasped happily while pointing at Himiko. "She said the fun word! Fu—" Inko quickly pushed a marshmallow into Eri's mouth before she finished that sentence.
After the party and now late into the evening, after everyone had showered and cleaned off the ocean salt and s'more sugar, Izuku tucked Eri into bed with a smile. After such a busy day, she was out the moment her head hit the pillow.
Izuku was also just about ready for bed. It had been a fun if embarrassing day. He hadn't expected one of his dark desires to get freaking broadcasted to everyone. But at least Ochako had seemed open to the idea of letting him hold her hand.
Though does that mean I should make the first move and grab her hand on the date… or do I let her?
Izuku decided that would be a problem for tomorrow. Walking into the kitchen to grab himself a drink of water before bed, Izuku had to fight back a groan of horror. Inko was sitting at the kitchen table, counting her winnings.
"Mom, I can't believe you kept the money."
Inko just rolled her eyes and then stacked up the coins and bills. "It's not my fault all your friends had such low faith in Toga, dear."
Izuku pointed accusingly. "You didn't either."
"Oh, I had complete faith she'd try her hardest for Eri." Inko then smirked. "But that faith only got her to the end of the night."
"You're horrible."
"Horribly rich."
"So, your thoughts?"
Gran Torino put down his cup of tea while looking across the table at the other hero he was meeting with. Sir Nighteye was watching him closely, waiting for a reply.
"The kid's good," Gran Torino said with a shrug.
"Good?"
Gran Torino made a small tsk sound and conceded, "Very good. Very very good. He's got a good head on his shoulders and despite his friendly demeanor, can be downright nasty in a fight. Been a long long time since I got my ass handed to me like that."
Sir Nighteye nodded. "How are your ribs?"
"I'm an old man. Shouldn't be getting punched in the side like that," Gran Torino grunted sourly.
"If you really thought that, you wouldn't have accepted the role."
"…You're a smartass." Gran Torino sighed. "Of course that friend of his surprised me too. Making me dodge all those lighting arrows while Toogata just phased through them. Nasty combo. That little group of theirs might be getting a new name pretty soon."
"Toogata has spoken highly of his friend and her recent accomplishments."
The pair sat in silence for a few moments before Gran Torino asked, "And what about your end of the deal? You watch the kid's exam like you said you would?"
Sir Nighteyes expression was as neutral as ever. "I did."
Gran Torino waited a tick before, "And?"
"I'm withholding my judgment."
"For fuck sakes, you're not going to sit there and tell me the kid hasn't improved." Gran Torino threw his hands up in frustration.
"Not at all. The boy has improved. There is no doubt about that. However," Sir Nighteye held up a hand so he could keep talking, "as far as I'm concerned, being able to use One for All is the start line of my evaluation of him as the successor to All Might. It is how he moves forward now, that is what I will judge." Gran Torino crossed his arms. "And I won't be the only one judging him. From now on, everything changes for Midoriya."
Clank!
In a place where the limits of technological wonders are held back by only the minds of the genius creating them, one would be shocked to find that such a place could even still exist.
Clank!
The room was large, it could pass for a small warehouse or a mechanics garage. The dank smell of rust and sweat permeated everything.
Clank!
Old yellowing fluorescent bulbs flickered their light inside the room. Benches and chairs, long deprived of their covers that had been replaced with rolls and rolls of cracking duct tape, casting large shadows that would give any monster the perfect place to hide.
Clank!
Cast about was metal. Large chunks cast into different shapes from a time long forgotten. Plates of iron some inches thick were left on the floor or propped against walls. Metal balls the size of pumpkins with steel handles left where they were dropped, the cracks in the concrete floor a testament to their weight. Chains rusted red but still strong enough to hold a cargo ship's giant anchor were piled like unmovable metal serpents.
Clank!
Pulleys and steel cables were bolted to the concrete ground, walls and ceiling. On one end of each cable were a multitude of palm thick cast iron plates, chained together and welded for good measure. The cables screeched and cried out as they were pulled taut, dragging the heavy burden up into the air. Lifted high, one could see the concrete underneath was pulverized into dust and a crater was quickly forming.
Clank!
After each drop.
Ethan Drive sighed as he walked into the personal gym. A dank unwelcoming torture room hammered together by the very person it was meant to break and destroy. "You know dropping your weights is just rude, right?"
The metal was pulled up into the air again, by the being attached to the other end of the cables, a towering presence of muscle, drenched with sweat, their muscles ripped and writhed as they pulled the cables, the black tank-top doing nothing to hide the raw power in their body. Even the camo fatigues, normally loose for a regular person, were bulging at the seams from their wearer's legs. The black combat boots looked ready to be torn apart because of how hard they were being driven into the concrete that was also cracked and shattered.
"You've torn through this place in record time. We'll need to find you a new warehouse to set up shop."
Clank!
The weights slammed into the ground after they were dropped, the welds and chains shattering from the impact. Ethan laughed. "Aaaand we we'll need to fix those… Again. But I guess they were getting a little light for you, huh."
Walking around, Ethan found a water jug and picked it up, bringing it over to the massive giant. "Here." Ethan was a big man. Even among the people in his squad, he always had to look down to talk. But here, with this person, he had to look up. "You look like you could use a drink."
The giant smiled, grateful, took the water and drank plentifully from the gallon jug. After almost downing the whole thing, they flipped the jug up and poured the rest over their head, sighing as the cold water washed some of the ocean of sweat off their body. "Thanks. Was there something you needed? Or did I forget something?"
Ethan waved them off. "Nah, nothing like that. I just heard some news I think you'd be interested in hearing."
The blonde giant tilted their head while tossing the empty jug away, looking at the strangely coy man. His smirk had their attention. "Oh?"
"Just got word, it looks like All Might's private jet just confirmed a flight plan to I-Island. Looks like he'll be attending the expo, with two students from U.A. More than likely that Midoriya boy and his guest. Though his agency hasn't made any official statements. Figured you'd be reallyinterested in that, eh Star?"
A smile split the giant's face, as her head fell back and she let out a laugh, clapping her hands together with enough force that it sounded like a cannon had been fired. "HA HA HA!"
Running her hands through her long blonde hair, she worked it until she had pulled it into eight long tufts. Once that was done, Star and Stripe rubbed her hands together, barely containing the excitement starting to bubble out of her. "Well, I guess we'll need to get the boys together and get something planned then. Our audience at the expo just got a special addition. And we're going to make sure our entrance is going to be one to remember."
Midoriya Izuku. Looks like I'll get to see what All Might sees in you real soon.
When the slot in her cell door opened and a food-tray slipped inside, she barely even registered it. It was like the ringing of an old clock. It told you that time had passed, but you more often than not just barely acknowledged it. But after a few minutes just lying on her bed, the woman swung her legs off with a sigh. She knew that it was best if she took the effort and grabbed the tray before the guard came back. The bastard had a nasty habit of taking the food back if prisoners weren't quick enough to take the tray off the slot. Even if they were supposed to be given at least thirty minutes to eat before putting the tray back for removal.
And honestly, she was not in the mood to skip lunch today. So rubbing a hand over her shaved head, she got up and grabbed the tray before plopping back down on her bed. Taking the flimsy plastic off, she scoffed at the meal's contents. A small cup of miso soup, some sliced up daikon radish and a scoop of rice. But something was missing."Fuckers swiped my grilled fish. Again. Asshol…"
She was about to toss the plastic tray lid away, but something caught her eye. Turning the lid over so she could get a better look at the bottom, she had to blink a few times to just make sure she wasn't seeing things. Taped to the bottom was a tiny, smaller than her thumb, ziplock baggie. "Wha?"
Carefully, she pulled the plastic bag free and examined the bag. There was some kind of note inside, and something else. Round and hard. Thoughts of her missing fish were quickly forgotten as she popped open the bag and pulled out the contents. Unfolding the note, she had to quickly catch what fell out from between the folder up paper. A jet black pill that looked closer to the size of something you'd feed a horse than a person. Damn thing was about half as long as her pinky and just a round. Palming the pill, she looked at the note.
'Tsutsumi Kaina. Take pill. Dissolve plastic and tape in soup. Wait five minutes. Hang yourself.'
Kaina, once the Hero Public Safety Commission's Lady Nagant, re-read the note a few times, then flipped it over to see if there was anything else on the back. There wasn't.
"What the fuck?" Kaina looked from the note, to the pill. This was insane, right? She was in fucking Tartarus and someone was trying to what, get her out? Bullshit. But, as she looked down at the pill in her hand, it by itself was also supposed to be impossible. Someone had gotten this to her. Either through bribes or some Quirk bullshit. They had snuck in a note and some kind of pill.
So it really just boiled down to, did Kaina trust whoever had sent her the little care package? Enough to follow their instructions and apparently kill herself in her cell? Well, she didn't, but at this point, she really didn't care either way, cause at least if she did fucking die doing this, she wasn't going to be a prisoner any longer. "Oh, what the hell."
Popping the pill, and washing it down with some water, Kaina started counting. At the same time, she popped the lid of her cup of hot soup and dropped the tape and plastic in it, blinking as it dissolved almost instantly. The paper, she crushed up and swallowed too. Still counting, she grabbed her sheets and started tearing them into long strips, making a rope that would work. Tying one end to her bed, she put the other end around her neck and tied it. Then she slumped down on the ground. Her bed was low to the ground, so she'd have to lay down to get the rope tight enough to—
"Oh fuck… wha…"
Kaina had reached two hundred and eighty counts in her head when she suddenly felt woozy. She had just enough time to pull the sheet-rope taut and have it dig into her neck before her body went limp and she was sprawled out on the floor of her cell.
When the guard came back to pick up the lunch tray, he grumbled when he saw Kaina's slot was empty. Slamming his fist against her door he yelled at her, "Fucking bitch! Lunch is over! Put the tray back now!"
He waited, but when no tray was slipped into the slot, he growled and ripped open a view window in the cell door. "Bitch, I'll have the boys beat your ass again if you don't—" His rant came to a stop when he got a look inside. "Oh you can't be fucking serious!"
The guard's emergency call had an EMT crew rushed to the cell in minutes. Throwing open the cell door, the crew cut the sheet from Kaina's neck and began administering medical assistance as best they could.
"No breathing."
"Get a heart monitor on her."
"No heartbeat either."
"Skin color of her face is off."
"Neck isn't broken. It's strangulation."
"Defibrillator now!"
"Clear!"
The guard watched as Kaina's body jolted from the electric shock, but the heart monitor still rang out a low single note. He swore when he watched the EMT's all stand up and shake their heads. "Dead."
"…Fuck, the bitch is gonna have my head for this."
Kaina's body was taken immediately to Tartarus' morgue to be disposed of. The mortuary assistant wasted no time getting the cremation furnace ready to go. Loading Kaina into the giant oven, he closed the door and waddled over to the controls. With a few button presses, he made the furnace roar as it reduced everything inside to ash. But with the door closed, he didn't see a black mist open up underneath Kaina's body, swallowing it up while spitting out the body of a woman, roughly the same size as the one he took. When the fires roared to life, it was this unknown cadaver that was turned into ash.
With a gasp, Kaina rocketed upright. Her heart was beating wildly and she had to hold the side of whatever she was lying on to keep herself from falling over while also rubbing her throat and neck. "F-Fuck. God damn it, my neck is sore."
"I hope it's nothing too debilitating. Treacherous hero, the lovely Lady Nagant."
Kaina froze. Slowly, she took her hand off her neck and started looking around where she was. She was most definitely not in Tartarus anymore. The room was dark, lit only by monitors, and there was a constant chirp of medical devices. Tartarus had a certain design to all its rooms; oppressive, and totalitarian. This place, well, it looked more like it would belong to a mad scientist.
And then there was that voice. It belonged to a man that she, once upon a time, had been tasked with hunting down and eliminating. She let her eyes track the sound of the voice and saw… something she wasn't really expecting. A giant of a man, dressed smartly in a black suit, but it contrasted starkly with all the medical equipment sticking out of his throat and over his mouth. Then there was his face. Or more accurately, his lack of one. Only scar tissue remained that stretched all the way over his scalp. No nose or eyes remained in the man's head. But, even without eyes, he was looking right at her.
"There was a rumor, some years back," Kaina began slowly, as she got off the small medical bed she had been laid on, "that you and All Might had a huge battle. And that you died."
Even past the medical mask, Kaina saw the great demon villain smile. "Close. I learned a valuable lesson that day. Nothing is more dangerous than a wounded hero. My feet touched the shore of the river Styx, but as fate would have it, the ferryman did not come to take my soul to hell."
On her feet, Kaina looked around as best she could, while keeping an eye on possibly the most dangerous being on the planet. Possibly, but more than likely. Even hooked up to all that medical shit, she had a feeling that he could still wreck her shit. But as Kaina got her bearings, the effect of whatever was in the pill she took was now wearing away. She knew she wasn't alone with All for One. No, someone else was there too, far far back in the shadows. In the bad light, Kaina could only just make out the outline of a green hood.
"So, you went to a lot of trouble for this meeting. I can't imagine what it took to get me that note and pill. Much less what it took to get me out of Tartarus."
"Tartarus prides itself on the strict discipline of its guards. Each one a shining example of discipline and fortitude." All for One chuckled. "But they still use people to clean the sheets, wipe the floors and fix the food. All it takes if finding the right person who'd be able to handle the task. I could bore you with how far down the line that little package had to start from if you want?" Kaina shook her head. "But know that it was the only hard part of your extraction. The rest, well my dear Kurogiri easily warped you out once your body was put in the furnace. All he'd need was your location."
"…You had me swallow a tracker." She put a hand over her stomach. "I'm not going to have to puke it up or something, right?"
"You need not worry yourself over that. It will pass."
…Gross.
Scratching at her head, decided to just get down to business. "So, effort aside to get me out, going so far as to fake my death, must mean you want me for something. So, let's talk. Will it be just the two of us, or will the one you got hiding in the shadows be joining us?"
All for One turned and waved the other person off. "Ah. My apologies. Today has been a busy day. A few opportunities only recently came to my attention. So I was providing some… potential business partners with an investment. Young lady, you may leave. I'll leave my investment in your hands."
Kaina watched as the figure vanished into the shadows. "You love the whole vague importance thing, don't you?" If there was ever an example of a shit eating grin, the one All for One had on his face was that example. "So. What do you want with me?"
"To hire you. I want you to join the League of Villains."
That was not exactly what she was expecting to hear. "Okay, the hiring part makes sense, but what's this League of Villains? Are you putting a team together?"
"In a manner of speaking. You see, after my battle with All Might, I'm not what I used to be. So, some time ago I began to groom a successor." Kaina felt her eyebrows go up. "Ah, I see that surprises you."
"Everything I heard about you, doesn't seem to fit your style."
"A brush with death and facing your own mortality does things to a man. Even great ones. My successor's name is Shigaraki Tomura. Young, but he has already taken steps to undermine the false society built around us. He lead an attack against All Might himself, and then turned Hosu City into a war zone."
Now that did catch Kaina's interest. Being locked away meant she wasn't exactly up to date with current events. "He attacked All Might? That's… honestly pretty stupid. You don't just try to fight that man head on."
All for One laughed. "As I said, he's young, impulsive and inexperienced. Though, in his defense, he brought a small army of villains to the attack. And his plan was sound, just poorly executed. After the assault on U.A… ah, forgive me, but to make sure you understand, All Might is a teacher at that school, but as I was saying, Shigaraki was injured. So I instructed him to begin rebuilding his forces, but to correct a mistake he had made the first time."
"Quality over quantity I bet."
"Exactly right. While he had begun to assemble a team himself, I as his teacher have decided to ensure he is provided with people that will be able to offer experience and reliability."
"…This sounds like babysitting."
"You need not worry about that. I have acquired the assistance of an individual that will be tasked with ensuring my successor is protected. You are simply a member of the team. Though one that has proven herself reliable and capable in the past. Many of the people Shigaraki has brought to his side are… inexperienced. I wish for you to help even things out."
Kaina rubbed her right elbow, giving everything some thought. "So you need reliable people mixed in with whoever this Shigaraki brings in. Will he object to your interference?"
"I don't foresee that being an issue. I have made sure to limit my direct influence on his decisions. So he will have no problem with you."
Kaina stood motionless. This was a lot to take in and when the country's literal boogeyman is the one giving you a job offer, you would do damn well to give it some thought. She was in some ways trapped. She couldn't exactly just spit in the face of the person that had broken her out of jail. And while she had been labeled a traitor and villain by the Hero Public Safety Commission—god she hated that old bitch—it wasn't like she had experience ever working as or with villains. She had done a lot of evil shit, but there was always a goal to it. A plan. So if she was going to do this, she needed to know what the end game was. "I have a question."
"Of course."
"What exactly is this group's goal? You don't just put together a group, attack the freaking number one hero, and not have an idea of what you want to accomplish. And I'm talking about Shigaraki. You seem like you have goals and plans and all kinds of crap going on, but you're asking me to work for your successor, so. What does he want?"
That smile on All for One's face was back in full force. "The hero society's destruction. Which I think is the same thing you want. Isn't it?" Kaina sucked in a breath, her whole body tensing up. "You helped build this society. You know the dark secrets and blood spilled to make this false paradise. And after all the work, all the sacrifice, you were thrown away. So I think it's only natural to want to tear it all down. The world must be truly disgusting to you."
Oh, All for One wasn't wrong. There were nights when Kaina laid awake, dreaming of tearing it all down. The world around her, even before she pulled the trigger for the last time, she had begun to hate it. So having to be locked away because of it, it only made that hate burn hotter. "How? How can Shigaraki do this when you, the Symbol of Evil, couldn't stop it getting built in the first place? Or tear it down yourself in your prime?"
"Where the Symbol of Evil failed, the Symbol of Fear will succeed."
Well, fuck if that's not ominous enough to be convincing, Kaina thought with a chuckle. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"I'm in. But," Kaina pointed to her head, and her lack of hair, kept sheared close to her scalp. "Unless you got a Quirk that can help with this, I'm not exactly going to be much use to you for a little while."
"That will not be an issue at all. Shigaraki still works to assemble his team. I imagine you will have plenty of time to regrow your hair. Now," All for One held out his hand, beckoning Kaina over towards him. When she looked at his hand, small tendrils of black glowing energy danced, writhed and twisted around his fingers. "Let us discuss your payment. I have a deposit for you right here. A Quirk I think you will find exceptionally useful."
"A Quirk?" Kaina leaned forward, looking at the way the energy danced. "That's a hell of a deposit. What is it?"
"Something I picked up long ago. It's called Blackwhip."
A man stood at the bow of a small boat as it pushed through the calm ocean. The small waves were barely enough to make the deck bob up and down, though even if the boat was braving a storm, with waves the size of skyscrapers, the man wouldn't notice. His attention was elsewhere. Out beyond the horizon lay his goal, as well as inside himself. His eyes would drift out, then he would look down at himself.
"Wolfram, sir?"
The large man's yellow eyes drifted to a man behind him. A skinny, strange-looking man with pale, almost yellow skin and a face almost like a goat's. His thin, dark eyes showed some trepidation as he approached Wolfram.
Not that anyone would blame the man. It was a natural reaction. Even before the change, Wolfram was a man you made sure to tread carefully around.
"What is it, Nobu?" Wolfram said, without looking back.
Nobu held out his hand, passing a satellite phone over for him to take. "He… wants to talk to you, sir."
Taking the phone with a curt nod, Wolfram pressed it to his ear. "Sir? It's Wolfram."
A cold, but at the same time charismatic voice came through the phone, "My condolences. That you must shoulder this greater sin saddens me greatly."
"This mission is too important to risk failure. If this weapon were to fall into the hands of any of the governments, then it would spell doom for the world. You said it yourself, 'do what needs to be done.'"
"We are fortunate that their fear holds them back. But it won't be long before their greed and lust pushes them to use the weapon. Wolfram, secure this weapon."
"Of course. I will not fail you."
"For humanity's salvation."
"For humanity's salvation."