Chapter 89: O
"That BASTARD!!"
Tenko jumps nearly as high as Mario when Hado swears. The energetic third year zips around the empty classroom to burn her energy off in a fit of rage he didn't know she was capable of.
He scratches his neck somewhat awkwardly. How could he not be? It took nearly dying several times, not to mention being kidnapped, to finally ask Tsu out. So asking an upperclassmen he barely knew to meet him during lunch needed to be handled with care. The last thing he wanted to imply was that this was for anything besides what was supposed to be a serious talk.
One that had been a long time coming.
Lucky for him, Hado isn't nearly as AFK with common sense as people think she is. The blue-haired girl seemed to understand exactly what he wanted to talk about when he asked. Which makes this easier.
His sister.
"I don't know if I've ever been this MAD!!" Hado paces in the air, walking along her spirals in fury. Tenko isn't sure he's ever seen her cheeks puffed out that much before. "After EVERYTHING she did for him!! Everything she's been through! He still had- had- the nerve to do that to her! Oh, he's lucky All Might got to him first and not me because-"
After seeing the way Hana so readily accepted Hado calling her by her real name, Tenko knew he was missing something. So he invited Hado to talk. A chance for both of them to put all their cards on the table. Turns out, Tenko was missing a lot.
Hado told him everything. How she met Hana at Hosu and about the several times they had seen each other since. Even Hado giving his sister her number. In return, Tenko told her everything about his sister from his perspective. And he means everything. From admitting to what had happened between them as kids, to them meeting again at the USJ, and even that craziness right before the license exams. It wasn't easy, but considering what Hado told him, he's confident she's as committed as he is to saving her. But for them to have the best chance, they needed to share all of it.
And that included how All for One essentially tortured Hana in front of him. Which is what set Hado off.
"If he ever shows himself around me again I'm going to smack him in the face… with a truck! He just- she didn't-" Hado finally tires herself out, slumping back down on top of a desk. "I know she's done bad things… a lot of bad things… but she didn't deserve that." She curls in on herself. "If I had been able to stop her at the training camp, none of it would've ever happened. All for One hurting her or you getting kidnapped…"
"Don't blame yourself for my kidnapping." Tenko half chuckles, half clears his throat. "You're not the one who abandoned your party just to lose a fight to your sister."
"But I can blame myself, because I didn't lose!" Hado, yet again incapable of containing her energy, walks in circles around the room. "I won! At the training camp, I beat her! Although, she- she wasn't trying to hurt me… but I still pinned her in a grapple I've put a bunch of villains in before! And none of them got away! I had her! But then, L-Lady Nagant started saying some things that made my head swim… and the way I had her under me started to make me feel funny…"
She yells in frustration, stopping in front of Tenko. Oh gods, her cheek puffing is reaching critical levels. "Tenko!" Hado grabs him by the shoulders, shaking him. "Why is it so hard to focus around your sister?!"
"I-I don't t-think I-I'm the right p-person to answer that!"
Hado mercifully stops her shaking, collapsing into a different chair, head in her hands. "Sorry, I just have so many new feelings and it's confusing." It's silent again, but he can tell there's more she wants to say. "That night at Kamino…" Tenko peers up at Hado's words, her expression solemn. Whatever she wanted to ask had been on her mind for a while. "Did Hana really say her life wasn't worth saving?"
"Do you need help deciding? Would you like that?" All for One taunts him. "Hirona, dear, why don't you answer the question?" She lets out a raspy breath. "What would you do? Should Tomura give me One for All? Do you think your life is worth saving?"
He doesn't like what he sees in her eyes. Or her answer. Her voice is barely audible and horribly cracked, but their room is silent. "No."
"Yeah, she did."
Hado doesn't look surprised even as her eyes lose some of their color. "When I last saw her, I was so mad. So mad I was going to blast her! Nothing too bad! Just something to let her know I was serious! And I figured it wouldn't hit her anyway! But when I pulled my hand back she… didn't do anything."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean exactly that! Hana didn't do anything!" Hado throws her hands in the air. "She didn't try to defend herself, jump out of the way, yell at me to stop, nothing! She was just going to let me blast her! And let me tell you, after how hard I had to work in our last fight to hit her? All of my anger was just-" she snaps her fingers, "gone! And- and that wasn't even the worst part."
Tenko doesn't ask her what that is. Partly because he knows she's going to tell him anyway. But also partly because there's a piece of him that doesn't want to know. The gamer is pretty sure he knows what she's going to say, but a small and childish side to him wants to remain ignorant.
Hado looks up at him through her hair. "She told me she deserved it." Tenko's hand is back at his neck. He can feel his fingers digging deeper into his skin. He should stop but right now, it's the only thing keeping him thinking straight. "Tenko…" He's happy to hear her use his given name like he asked. "She's in a very bad place mentally and if we don't do something, I think she's going to get seriously hurt or worse-"
"I'm with you." He doesn't want to hear her complete that thought. "But I'm not sure what to do, because if we just drag her off the street-"
"She'd never trust us again."
"Exactly! Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have that than her dead but…" Tenko's determination solos his awkwardness and shoves it to the side. "I know I can't ask you for Hana's number without ruining your karma meter with her, so I can't do this alone. So I'll ask you to gain my sister's trust. And you can start by having mine." He stands and bows to her. "Please help me save my sister! I'm already lucky she respawned once and I can't lose this chance!"
Hado is stunned silent in front of him for a good few moments, blinking in surprise before reality catches back up to her as she shakes her head. "Yeah!" She pushes him back up. "Why are you asking? I was going to do that anyway! Duh! Let's save her! With both of us working together, she won't know what hit her!"
"Thanks." Tenko sighs in relief. He's still bummed he can't talk directly with Hana yet like Hado will be able to, but it still gives him hope. His sister accepted the number, which means she wants to talk to Hado and get to know her. It means that maybe, she'll do the same for him.
"I hope one day you two get to act like a real brother and sister! I don't actually have any, but I'm really close with Tamaki and Mirio, and we get along great! We hang out, help each other when we're feeling down, tease one another for doing something embarrassing, that's mostly for Mirio, and sure we fight sometimes. But we know we'll always be there for each other when it matters, and I hope you get to have that with Hana one day!"
Tenko chuckles wistfully. "Yeah, maybe." They didn't exactly get along as kids. Could they ever be like that with each other? "But don't think just because you helped me save her that it'll save you from getting the 'talk' from me!"
"The talk?" Hado leans her head to the side, furrowing her brow. "Which talk? I've had lots of talks with people? Like the talk about getting in people's personal space or the talk about invasive questions and the talk about waving to airplane pilots as I fly by and-"
"No no, I mean the talk. Like, you know, the brother talk?" Tenko can feel himself cringing as he tries to explain it. "Like the 'don't hurt my sister' talk?"
"Why would I hurt her? We're trying to save her."
"Well, yeah, but after. I figure you two would… you know…"
"Would what?"
Oh, it's awkward again. It's so awkward he might die. "You would… you know! Because you like her?"
"I would… be her friend? I would! Because I do like her!"
"That too. But it's more like…" Tenko doesn't know what to do with his hands. What does he do with his hands?! How does he explain this?! He thought it was obvious! It's like talking to a denser Midoriya!
Scratch that. Tenko is pretty sure Uraraka could've kissed the boy on the mouth at the start of the semester and he would've convinced himself it was something friends do.
Not that he's any better. The only reason he and Tsu are going out is because she's so blunt.
Maybe he should try that too? "I don't know. It just seems like after everything you told me… don't you like like her?" That's probably as good as it's going to get.
"Like like her? Wait, you don't mean-" Hado's eyes go wide. "I- I-" The door to the classroom opens just as his upperclassman's face turns scarlet. "I have to go talk to someone!" She zooms out of the room, discarded papers and pens being thrown around in her wake.
And at the door staring at him with large eyes is Tsu.
See, if he had died earlier from the sheer awkwardness this wouldn't be happening.
"What is-"
"It's not what it looks like!" Tenko cries over the frog girl's words. Tsu's expression doesn't change. "We uh, talking! We were just talking!"
"I-"
"And her face was red because I think she's starting to realize she has a crush on somebody!" His mouth drops in horror. "S-someone else!"
"Tenko-"
"Not me! Far from me! Although, not that far from me I guess technically- wait! I mean-"
"Ribbit!" Tenko shuts up at the sound of the authoritative croak. "I know," Tsu placates him. "I could tell Hado doesn't like boys that way from the training camp." She comes in and takes his hand. "Now c'mon, we have a date at the aquarium to plan."
"Thank goodness," Tenko sighs, letting himself get dragged away, trying and failing to hide his smile at how casually Tsu grabbed his hand. He doesn't think he'll ever get used to it. "I thought-"
"If she was a threat, she wouldn't have made it past the door."
Tenko gulps, nervously peering over the girl. Again, her expression remains neutral but he can feel the protective instincts inside her. It's so prevalent, even a few of the ghosts in his head shrink back.
'Ooh boy, I wrested alligators with less bite! That girl's a keeper, ya hear?' Three's voice echoes in his mind.
Tenko smiles like a dork. 'Yeah, I know.'
Tensei Iida is having an interesting afternoon, to say the least. But, to be fair, when you're living with the Spirit of Vengeance inside you, every day is at minimum, interesting.
At least, now they are. Those first few weeks when he had no say over when they transformed were, and the seasoned hero in him hates to admit it, terrifying. He hated how he could feel he was in control of his body, but still a dark and ancient voice in the back of his head influenced his decisions.
He'd try to talk it every now and then, the spirit. But the Rider didn't seem to want anything to do with him. He was nothing more than a useful vessel so it could continue its work, and no matter what he tried, the spirit stubbornly refused to even acknowledge his presence beyond as an inconvenience.
But Tensei is stubborn too.
At first, it had been like trying to fight a raging inferno with a water pistol. But over time, Tensei started to push back on the voice in his head. He could feel it trying to pressure him to do things the way it wanted, but just as his body started to move, Tensei would tear away, turning that water pistol into a raging monsoon of water and reminding the Rider bit by bit that it's just a visitor. He is the one in control and it will acknowledge him.
Zarathos is its name, he eventually learns. And it is not a fan of allowing Tensei control, but he is proud to say it doesn't have a choice in the matter. Mostly. Tensei can still feel its chains wrapped around him, threatening to take over if he loses focus like it did on the day of the license exams.
He had used the Rider's powers to chase Stain around the city, more interested in putting him back in a cell then 'cleansing' him as Zarathos insisted. But the influx of villains had eventually overwhelmed him, their sins consuming him until he had no choice but to relinquish control to the Rider and take a backseat as the spirit finished the fight for him.
But if he had to choose, he'd do it all over again to make sure Tenya is okay. He places a firm hand on his brother's shoulder as the pair wait in an empty office waiting room. A little bit of tension melts off of Tenya's shoulder, and he gives him an appreciative look.
Yeah, learning to share his body with the spirit of the Rider had been difficult. Some days, it had been like reliving the time he tore his exhaust pipes out of his arms to upgrade his quirk over. Other days are like the nightmares he has of Tenya dying, of the horrible future Mephisto had shown him.
But being here to comfort his brother makes it all worth it. To be there on the days the Ebony Blade overwhelmed Tenya, or even the simpler things like helping him with his homework, made all the pain easier to swallow. Well, that and something else.
He glances at the only two other people with them. Knowing he isn't the only one Tenya could rely on anymore makes his curse much easier to carry. Across from them, Midoriya and Uraraka talk about work studies.
"-which is why we decided to do this today. Tenko is going out with Tsu today, so we're going to ask for his help with Momo's powers tomorrow." Midoriya leans back, his shirt that says Zaniac 2 stretching with him.
"What are you all going to do when work studies start?" Uraraka asks.
Midoriya shrugs. "I'm not sure. Denki and Momo are going to work with Uncle Thor so they can continue to work with their parents. I was going to do the same, but I guess another hero requested me. I have to go see Nezu to see who it is. What about you? Any offers yet?" He grins, conjuring a dagger and holding it up. "Anyone that has to be convinced?"
"Midoriya!" Tensei snorts at Tenya's outburst. Nothing like the green-haired kid's antics to shake his brother from his stupor. "Heroes do not use their powers for intimidation-"
"And how many villains have surrendered just at the sight of All Might?"
"That is different and you know it!"
Tenya chops his hand, ready to protest more but Uraraka holds her hand up, quieting him. Her demeanor clearly says 'I got this.' "Deku." She gives her boyfriend a pointed look. "Are you saying you don't think I could get a work study on my own?"
"What?" Midoriya's face falls, dagger vanishing. "No! No no!" He waves his hands in front of him. "That's not what I was saying at all-!" Uraraka can't stop her laughter and Midoriya shoots her a mock-glare. "I'll get you back for that."
The brown-haired girl responds by giving him a sweet smile. "But I might have one offer for a work study. Rasputin-sensei says his sister might be interested in teaching me."
"No way!! Really?!" Any semblance of annoyance is instantly wiped from Midoriya's face as he leans forward eagerly. "If you go, would you-"
"I'll get you her autograph."
"You're the best!"
Tensei shakes his head at their antics. Kids. As the teens continue to talk about work studies, his attention is caught by the TV in the top corner of the room. A news report was playing with multiple low-income families in tears and hugging one another in celebration.
"Again, this is Chitose Kizuki reporting live for Shoowaysha Publishing from San'ya, one of Tokyo's poorest neighborhoods. At least, it used to be. Can you repeat what you told me, ma'am?"
The reporter hands the mic to a woman, who has to wipe the tears from her face, but all she can say is, "I can afford to send my babies to school!" before breaking down into tears again.
Another woman grabs the mic. She's both older and smaller, but her fierce attitude more than makes up for it. "I'll give you your news story: criminals care more about the poor than the government!"
A third woman grabs the microphone. "He came through like an angel!" She shows the reporter her backpack filled with money, a backpack most of the other residents carry, and weeps. "I get to have a hot bath tonight," she cries.
One by one, men and women pass the microphone between them.
"I can eat every day this week!"
"I'm not being evicted anymore!"
"I can fix my car!"
"I don't have to sleep on the street tonight!"
Behind them, other citizens hold up wanted signs for Overhaul, plastered all around the country by the HPSC, and tear them apart. They burn them. They stomp on them. A local hero tries to calm the crowd and they resist, screaming that the heroes have done nothing for them-
The door to the office opens, and Tensei loses focus on the TV as Tenya tenses again. Ah, the reason they're here has arrived. The reason Tensei had insisted to Midoriya he wanted to be there. The demigod had tried to deny him, but one quick reminder that he had kept the kid's secret about this for months shut him up quick.
A plain-looking man with brown curly hair and a nice shirt shuts the door behind him, locking it. Tensei steadies Tenya as the man scans the room. "It would appear we are all here." With a flourish, a blue marble appears in between his fingers. "Be ready. She's been looking forward to this."
Mr. Compress tosses the marble into the air and releases his quirk. There's a blue light, and in a flash of yellow, Himiko Toga has Midoriya and Uraraka trapped in a hug. "It's so good to see you two again!! I missed you! How are you?" She backs up to look at them but doesn't let them go. She doesn't give them a chance to answer either. "Texting just doesn't have the same effect now that we've all met, but when Atsu told me he and Izuku were setting this meeting up, I very politely told him-"
"She threatened to invert my ribs."
"-that I would be coming along," Toga finishes with a smile, her fangs prominent.
"Calm yourself, Himiko" Tensei doesn't notice when Compress had put his hat, mask, and coat on. He must've brought them as marbles too. "Most of the heroes here aren't used to your… antics yet."
"Not everyone wants to be 'dignified' all of the time like you," Toga balks at him, rolling her eyes. "I'm happy just to be myself thank you very much."
"A prime quality to have but not when we are short on time for frivolity," Compress reminds her. "Remember, every minute we spend here is a minute we endanger these heroes."
Tensei can feel Tenya relax a little, and the older hero does the same. Knowing how Midoriya is, he wasn't sure what to exactly expect from his contacts in the former league, but Compress at least seems sensible.
Toga on the other hand is downtrodden. She finally lets Midoriya and Uraraka go. "Okay, let's just get to it."
Midoriya's offers her a smile. "We're doing good. Both by ourselves and," he takes Uraraka's hand, "together."
Toga brightens, her voice a little softer. "I get so happy seeing you two together."
Compress reaches into his coat and pulls a last marble. "Are we doing this here? How certain are we that the building is empty."
"Pretty sure." Midoriya conjures a key card and unlocks a door that leads to the back. "Considering I own the place."
The demigod leads them to the back and into some sort of lab. Pristine silver tables are lined row by row with all types of equipment locked away in cabinets. In the back of the room where they head is a table with a refrigerator next to it. Tensei notices Toga scoot closer to Compress as they walk through.
"Here is good," Midoriya tells them.
With that, Compress releases the marble, and Mustard stumbles onto his feet for a moment before looking around wearily, his eyes squinting under the bright lights of the lab. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that." The boy freezes when his gaze meets Tensei, taking a step back.
He can feel the Rider inside him react to whatever sins the villain has committed but Tensei manages to keep him contained, offering Mustard a small wave and smile instead of Hellfire.
The kid doesn't wave back, instead locking eyes with Midoriya. "Well, here I am. Like you asked." Mustard crosses his arms, guarded, and stays back by Compress. "What did you need of me?" Tensei tilts his head. That's an odd way to speak.
Midoriya isn't bothered, a relaxed grin on his face like usual. "I promised to visit you." The simple statement seems to disarm Mustard completely, who unfolds his arms. "What? Did you think you were getting out of our deal just because you're out of jail?" he snarks. Mustard doesn't answer. He doesn't need to. It's clear that he did.
While the young villain gathers his thoughts, or more likely comes to the same realization that many people do in that he has underestimated Midoriya's tenacity, the verdant heads for the fridge. "Sorry, I don't want to keep her starving while we talk."
Not even Compress can keep Toga still as Midoriya removes two bags of blood from the fridge. He lobs them over to the blonde, who doesn't even bother to open the first bag before tearing into it with her teeth, scarfing down its contents.
"Apologies, but I'm confused," Tenya speaks up. "Midoriya, you purchased an entire building to store blood for Toga? And where do you get it from?"
"I don't get it from anywhere." Midoriya sits at the table, prompting Mustard to do the same. "This place belongs to a company that already runs blood drives all over the country. They usually donate them to hospitals for people in need. So, I bought them and opened up a new division that donates blood for people like Toga. Quirked people who need it to survive. There are still a lot of companies that won't do it but now, we do. I just make sure all of the blood Toga could want is put aside every month."
His point is emphasized by the sounds of several large gulps from Toga. "I used to get what I needed from Atsu," she says in between slurps. "But I always felt bad about it so I never took more than I needed. But then Izuku found out and he set up this whole amazing system for me!"
"That's a lot to do for someone you barely know," Musard notes.
Midoriya shrugs. "What's there to know? She needed help and I could do it. I don't need any reason beyond that."
"Just like me, huh?" Mustard leans back.
"Just like you."
"Before we go any further," Tensei interrupts, getting behind Loki's son. "There is something in particular we wanted to know." And here's the final reason he tagged along. Mustard narrows his eyes. Midoriya hunches his shoulders in discomfort, looking like he really doesn't want to ask, but Tensei doesn't let him out of it.
"Sorry," Midoriya apologizes. "But we just have to know. You… clearly remember what happened at the training camp," he begins carefully. "And you obviously know that Compress and Toga are my friends and feeding me information about your group. So, why haven't you told the others? Why haven't you told Hirona?"
It's silent. Not even Toga can bring herself to drink any more blood while they wait for his answer. Mustard wrings his hands together. "Do I go back to jail if I do?" His voice is lighter than before, matching the child he is.
"No," Midoriya immediately denies. "We'd- we'd figure something out."
Mustard looks behind him, the other two villains staring at him and waiting anxiously for an answer. Toga still smiles at him but her grip on her blood bag is much tighter than it needs to be. Compress seems as relaxed as usual but his tapping foot betrays him. "I… don't know why." He turns back around. "I'm not sure why I haven't- actually that's a lie."
His words weigh heavy on the room, as if the air is as thick as the blood in Toga's hands. None of them are sure where he's going. "I know why. It's because they were my only way of contacting you again." For the first time, Midoriya actually seems a bit surprised at Mustard's words. "I meant what I said in the prison. I- I really was looking forward to having someone to talk to about illusions," he admits shyly.
As guarded as the boy was when he comes in, the more he talks, the more Tensei can see what he actually is. Just a kid looking for a friend. "Besides," Mustard clears his throat and he straightens, trying to appear relaxed. His voice deepens once again. "It would be uncouth to divulge a fellow illusionist's tricks."
"Okay!" Midoroya replies, excited. The atmosphere immediately lightens, with the heavy weight of the possible consequences of Mustard's decision lifted off of them. "Let's talk! How about- wait, how long do you have? Will your boss miss you?"
"Nah, we have some time," Mustard waves him off. Compress walks around them, tilting his head questioningly. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Hirona and Nagant went out today for some reason."
"Alright, I'll bite. What was so important that you made Kurogiri teleport us out here?"
Kaina's eyebrows furrow in confusion when Hirona looks away from her, biting her lip nervously. It was strange enough when the teen insisted they have whatever this conversation was away from the safety of their hideout. Now, it's even stranger to see her acting so anxious. She wasn't even this shy when they were planning to kill All for One. What is she in for?
A gentle breeze blows through her multi-colored hair. Kaina doesn't bother trying to fix it, choosing to put her hood up like Hirona. Maybe overkill, but the sniper had learned early on it's better to be cautious than dead. Even if the thick trees of the park they sit in already keep them hidden and provide shade.
To be clear, it had been Kaina who decided the location. She used to visit this same park bench for a little peace and quiet when she worked as a 'hero' and her dark thoughts threatened to overwhelm her. No one ever comes here. Which means they were out of sight of any possible prying eyes.
If Hirona had her way, they would be at the mall. When she had pointed out how obviously stupid that was, the teenager argued that 'it would be the last place anyone would look for them.' It had taken everything in her not to laugh at how both ridiculous but brilliant it was.
But a few more minutes of prodding had Hirona admitting her real reasoning were the strawberry milkshakes at the food court and a retro video store. Kaina quickly put her foot down on the idea…
…in exchange for Kurogiri getting her one of those milkshakes later. Damn girl can pout for days. And the stupid Nomu didn't need to give Kaina a look as she agreed. He had always supported being more strict on their leader and her treats, but as someone who grew up having even those simple pleasures denied to her, Kaina couldn't help but feel obligated to say yes every now and then. Not that she felt bad either.
Hirona still avoids looking at her, so Kaina tries again. "Kid-"
"It's important, okay?" Kaina can barely hear her over the breeze with how small her voice sounds. "And it's gonna sound stupid, so you can't laugh like you did earlier!" Oh, apparently Kaina had not stifled her laughter as well as she thought.
She nods, but when she realizes Hirona still isn't looking at her, she verbalizes it. "Okay."
"Alright, what I needed help with was…was…" Hirona takes a couple of calming breaths, taking her phone out of her pocket. Like ripping off a bandaid, the teen turns back to her and blurts out, "I need your help texting Hado!"
The breeze stops, as if to drive the point home how gasted Kaina's flabbers are. "What? You-" a snort escapes the sniper's lips without much effort to stop it, and before long, Kaina is cackling so much she has to hold onto her side. "You- you made this huge deal over a text?!" she chortles.
"It's not just any text though!" Hirona's shoulders rise to her ears. "It's a text to Hado…" When she spots the smirk already sneaking onto Kaina's face, she quickly adds, "a text to a friend!"
That doesn't stop the smirk. "You seem to be getting awfully worked up for a text to a friend?" Hirona scowls at her, and the older villain laughs once more.
"It's not like that-!"
"Then I can't help you."
It's time for Hirona to be the confused one as Kaina turns away from her, pretending to examine her nails. "What?" the black-haired girl asks.
"You heard me."
"But- but why?!"
"I can't help you if you won't admit it." Kaina lazily turns her head back toward her, her expression bored. "There's a difference between texting a friend and texting a crush. So until you tell me which one Hado is to you, I can't help." Hirona's face flares up as Kaina leans closer to her prey. "So, tell me, is she a friend? Or your-"
"-crush?" Nemuri asks, leaning against her desk in the deserted teacher's lounge. Across from her, Nejire bites her lip as her cheeks heat up and looks away.
The R-rated hero had been getting ready to leave for the day, already dressed in casual clothes, when Nejire had turned up at the door to the lounge, red and sweating. After taking a minute to decipher from the blabbing girl there had not been a villain attack, Nemuri brought her inside and gave her some water. Which the blue-haired girl eagerly gulped down.
And that's when things got interesting. There were many pleasures to being a teacher. She is supposed to say how she enjoyed molding young minds and teaching the next generation of heroes. And while that's true, the real pleasure, for her, is the drama.
Making her students blush at even the lightest of suggestive comments is always fun, but she can't help but be enthralled in the gossip. Watching as the young heroes learn more about themselves, each other, and form relationships. There's nothing quite like seeing young love bloom.
Well, almost nothing. But to think about that would require her to enter a much more explicit part of her mind, and that's not what her student needs right now.
"Hado?" Nemuri prods her student gently.
"I don't know…" Nejire brings her knees to her chest, hugging them. "I don't think I can call us friends, but…"
"You don't know?" It's a fine line Nemuri has to walk. She has to push enough that Hado will give up the information she needs to help her. But at the same time, if she pushes too much, she risks driving her away. So, she keeps the question vague and open-ended.
"It's complicated," Hado mumbles.
That's all she's probably going to get, so Nemuri tries a different approach. "So if they're not a friend, that leaves a crush. You don't have to be friends with someone to have a crush on them."
"But she's a girl?" Nejire looks up, tilting her head to the side. Nemuri freezes, scared she's actually going to have to have a very different kind of conversation with her, but the teen sighs, resting her head on her knees. "People always ask me if Mirio and I are dating."
Nemuri stays silent, patiently waiting for her to continue. "And if it's not him, then they assume I'm dating Tamaki. I tell them no because I love them both, and then they assume I'm dating both of them, but they don't understand! I love them but- but like they're my brothers! I've never seen them that way. It got to the point where I started to think I was the weird one for not liking them!
"And it just kept growing." Nejire wipes her palms down her legs. "I'd help Ryukyu bust a villain, and instead of asking me about that, the press would ask me if I had any boys in my grade I liked. Or if I was interested in Kamui Woods once I graduated. What about the villain we just stopped?"
Nemuri isn't sure she can fully cover up her glower as Nejire recalls her interactions with the media. She knows all too well what they're interested in when it comes to women.
"I started to think about it more when I went to the first year's training camp," Nejire continues. "I could see so many of them liked each other and they were so cute! But it just made me realize I had never felt that way about any boy. I felt weird again. I hated feeling like that. But then I saw her again and even though we didn't exactly get along, I noticed with her… I didn't feel weird anymore." She looks up, somehow both seeing so clearly but still confused. "The answer was so obvious, it's like I flew over it! If I've never felt that way about boys, could I about girls? About her?! I've never had a crush before, Ms. Midnight? What's it like?"
'Youth!' Nemuri squeals in her head, but instead of scaring her student with that, she offers a kind smile instead. This is good. It seems like Nejire has done most of the work herself. She just needs a little push over the finish line.
"Okay, let's start off simple then, Hado." Nemuri has to fight the urge not to rub her hands together "Some classic signs of a crush are that you think about them all of the time, your heart races when you're around them, and you-"
"-always blush whenever anyone mentions Hado!" Kaina laughs. Hirona looks like she wants to protest so badly, but she knows with how bright her face is, the older villain would never take her seriously. "So just admit you like her already, and I'll help you."
"You really want to keep doing this? Now?!"
"Like those guys are a challenge," Kaina scoffs. She thumbs behind her where several police officers have their guns trained on the trees they're hiding behind. Apparently, her spot hadn't been as secluded as she remembered.
That still didn't exactly explain how the police had found them however. Or why they were being so passive. In her experience, they would've already charged them, guns blazing. Why hold back?
"Lady Nagant and Shigaraki! Come out with your hands above your head! Now!"
Hirona takes a deep breath, ignoring the officers as well. "And what makes you so sure, huh?" She crosses her arms. "You know I could easily just like boys and that'd make you completely wrong, yeah?"
"Step out from behind the trees and surrender!!"
Kaina channels all of her disbelief into a single arched eyebrow, straightening a little. "Really? That's the game we're gonna play?" Hirona doesn't back down, so like the sniper she is, Kaina goes for the single shot to put her target down. "Because I saw your search history about Miruko-"
"That was for research!" Hirona argues far too quickly with way too high-pitched of a voice. "I was watching videos of her fighting moves to see what we could expect!"
"We are authorized to shoot on sight! If you do not comply, we will use deadly force!"
"Technically true. All of the Miruko videos were just of her fighting." Kaina clicks her tongue. "But the angles of the videos you were watching in particular seemed to really focus on her backside-"
"Research!"
"Villains! Come out!"
"Research?" Hirona seems terrified at the older woman's grin. Good. She should be. "Isn't that the same thing you said when I asked you why you went to see Hado at the hospital? Or why you were watching videos of her from the Sports Festival after?" Hirona's mouth drops. "You're getting sloppy with your excuses."
"Don't make this harder on yourselves! Surrender!"
"Aren't adults supposed to be more sensitive about these kinds of topics?!" Hirona squeaks.
"I have a different parenting style." Kaina loads her rifle to emphasize her point. "So, just admit it already!"
"Yeah but-"
"Hands on your head, Shigaraki!"
"Stop calling me that!" Hirona snaps at the cop. "And we're in the middle of something here!"
"Awww, did we upset All for One's little stray mutt?" Another cop jeers at her. Hirona opens her mouth to let loose a stream of colorful curses back at him but stops. Something about what he said catches her interest.
"The faster you admit you like her, the faster I shoot these guys," Kaina adds nonchalantly.
"Hold on-"
"We're done talking, Shigaraki! Come out!"
"I told you guys to stop-!"
"Final warning villains!"
"I'm still waiting."
"Did you not notice we're about to go to jail?!"
"That's up to you."
"Shigaraki!! Last chance! Come out now!"
"FINE!" In a fit of rage, confusion, and being overwhelmed, Hirona stomps out from behind her tree and throws her hands in the air. "I'm gay!!"
The cops all stare at her, stunned, before Kaina shoots an incendiary bullet into the brush, creating a thick plume of smoke and yanking Hirona back, running. The teenage villain answers her questioning glance with a shrug. "What? He told me to come out."
Kaina can't stop her snort. "You're ridiculous."
"We got away, didn't we?"
"Does that mean-"
"Yeah, alright." The pair duck into a nearby alleyway to catch their breath. Kaina plants a hand against a wall, leaning against it. She can't help but notice that Hirona is having a hard time looking at her again. The alleyway is dark, but the sniper still catches those dark brown eyes glancing up at her. "I like her." Kaina scoots closer to her, nudging her expectantly. Her grin shows no signs of wavering. Hirona sighs. "I like her-"
"-a lot." Nejire gets to her feet too quickly, her chair tumbling behind her. Her blue eyes are as wide as dinner plates but gain a new sparkle. She can barely pick her jaw off the floor to continue speaking.
"That's it, isn't it? I like her a lot." A proud smile grows on Nemuri's face as Nejire talks, pacing back forth across the room. "That's why I can't stop thinking about her! It's why I want to help her so badly! For her to be the better person I know she can be!" Nejire stops, now whispering. "It's why I daydream what her smile might be like… wait!"
Nemuri involuntarily takes a step back as the teen zips over to her with her quirk. "Then it's true! I do like her! Her! As in a girl! I have a crush on a girl! Which means that- that- which means I'm- I'm-" For the first time in a long time, Nejire loses control of her quirk and accidentally blasts herself toward the door.
Nemuri reaches for her whip to grab her, but Present Mic walks in just in time to catch her. "Wooooooooah there, listener!" He puts her down on her feet before looking over Nejire for injuries. "Been a while since I've seen you wipe out. Is everything alright? You straight?"
"No!" Nejire squeals happily, the biggest smile on her face. "I'm gay!" She crushes him in a hug with strength the voice hero didn't know she possessed, before the blue-haired girl does the same to Nemuri.
Mic blinks once. Twice. He shifts a little before dropping into a more relaxed position and shooting Nejire finger guns. "YEAH! Good for you!!" He offers Nemuri a nod before quickly grabbing the files he came for and retreating back out the lounge. He'll probably warn other staff members to avoid the room for now, which she appreciates.
"Wait!" Nejire yells again, falling back down onto the couch, her previous happiness being slowly replaced with worry. "I like her but she's… her! What am I-"
"-gonna doooooo?" Hirona groans into her hands. Kaina leads them down the street of a less reputable part of town. The cops chasing them have long lost the trail. A little too easily for her liking. The police hadn't so much tried to arrest them but more made a point.
'We can find you.'
The sniper's eyes never stopped scanning their surroundings.
"Seriously, Nagant, what am I doing?" That's a loaded question with way too many answers. "Here I am with you, with everyone, trying to change how society works. Trying to make a world where people don't have to grow up like any of us ever again, and here I am, having a crush like some school girl?"
Hirona shakes her head, laughing a little but there's no humor in it. "It doesn't matter," she resigns. "She'd never feel the same way about me anyway. I mean, I'm… me. The weirdo who knows way too much about movies." She gestures to herself. "And Hado is just, you know, the most beautiful girl-"
"-I've ever seen," Nejire groans, laying her head back on the couch. "And I'm just… me. The girl who talks way too much." Her voice gets softer as she goes on. "It's not like anything could happen between us anyway. With me being a-"
"-hero, and me a villain. It's a dumb fantasy at best." Hirona sighs, clenching her eyes shut tightly.
Kaina stops. She said earlier she has a different parenting style, and letting her kid drag herself deeper into a pit of self loathing is not part of it. But she's also not one to gently pull her out of it either.
"OW- hey! That hurt, you bitch!" Hirona yells when Kaina harshly tugs on her ear. The sniper pretends not to notice the few tears that fly off the teen's face when she opens her eyes. She knows those aren't from the ear yanking. "What was that for?!"
"Being dumb," Kaina replies matter-of-factly. "What you want only becomes a fantasy when you stop believing in it. And two." She tugs on Hirona's ear again, and she slaps her hand away. "Also being dumb. Have you still noticed your arm?"
Hirona cocks her head to the side in confusion, before looking down and gasping. Apparently, she hadn't noticed her bleeding arm. "That's from when that cop started shooting us and you pushed me out of the way. Looks like the bullet grazed you."
"So, I'm dumb for saving you?"
"You have a shield quirk!!" Kaina screams, trying to get through her thick head. "You could've easily protected us with that instead of getting yourself hurt! What were you thinking?!" To her immense frustration, Hirona merely shrugs, apparently not caring about her stupidity.
Kaina pinches her nose. "Give me a sec." Hirona, not realizing the older villain had led them to a corner pharmacy, watches as Nagant walks inside and raises her rifle to the clerk.
"P-please! Take however much you want!" He opens the register, but Kaina rolls her eyes, reaching over to slam it shut.
"I don't want your money. Water, rags, ointment, and bandages. Now!" The clerk only needs a second to recover before hurrying off to get what she wants. Kaina notices a freezer behind the counter. "And something out of there too!"
A few minutes later, Hirona finds herself sucking a cherry lollipop while Kaina takes care of the wound on her arm. "How do you see all of this ending?" Kaina asks, rolling up her sleeve. "Say we actually accomplish our goals. What happens to you?" She does not like the way Hirona's eyes travel to her bloody arm, so she changes her approach. "What do you think I regret most about my time with the HPSC?"
"Ending up in jail."
"No." Kaina pours the water down Hirona's arm. "Not betraying them sooner." She starts to wipe the blood off with one of their rags. "I regret all those years where I did nothing but feel sorry for myself. I regret just constantly trying to convince myself that what I was doing was right. That I'd eventually see the big picture they were always talking about. I regret not making a stand sooner." She lowers the rag. "What I'm trying to say is, I regret not-"
"-trying," Nemuri says. Nejire stares up at her with rapt attention. "I understand that your relationship with this girl is complicated, to say the least. And I understand I don't know the full story. But just hear me out, I know this is going to sound weird."
Nemuri sits on the couch next to her student. "As heroes, we have it drilled into our heads from day one that we have to be selfless. That we have to put everyone else before us. But do you know what happens to the heroes that do live that way?" Nejire shakes her head. "They burn out. Or worse, they get themselves killed or other heroes killed who try to make up for their mistakes. So, what's the secret to avoiding that, you may ask?" Nemuri snorts a little as Nejire nods along with her. "Being a little selfish."
The R-rated hero's snort turns into laughter at Nejire's pure confusion. "Eh?"
She waves the younger girl off. "Sorry, sorry. I don't mean robbing a bank or anything that extreme. I just mean not forgetting to do something for yourself every now and then. Making sure you're taken care of. And…" Nemuri leans back, lounging on the couch. "Not living with regrets." This time, it's the teacher's turn to look away. "Believe me, it's one of the worst things you can do."
Nemuri looks off across the room, getting lost in the memories of a building crashing and Shota holding a bloody pair of goggles- she clears her throat, shaking her head. She can't lose herself like that right now. She looks back at a concerned Nejire, trying to sound jovial again. "Look, all I'm saying is you don't want to live constantly asking yourself 'what if.' You should-"
"-try." Kaina finishes bandaging Hirona's arm. "You understand?"
"Y-yeah, I think so," Hirona replies nervously, rotating her arm around. "I mean, you are right. There's nothing wrong with trying." She shrugs, trying to make it sound like it's no big deal but she's way too stiff for it not to be. "I mean, it's just a text. Just one simple text to get the conversation going. How hard could it be?"
"There you go."
"But what if it's too simple?" Hirona begins to pace, hand cupping her chin. "What if the text is so simple Hado thinks I didn't put any thought into it and I don't care about talking to her? But what if it's so complicated she thinks I care too much?!"
Kaina groans. "Just tell her hi. Like every other conversation in history."
"Maybe. Or I could be a little more daring? Maybe tell her 'hey' or 'what's up-' no, that last one is way too casual. We're not there yet. Right? You think so too, Nagant? That we're not there yet? Maybe?"
Kaina's face is in her hands. "You're making a bigger deal out of this than it has to be."
Hirona hums. "What if I started with a-"
"-joke?" Nejire offers. "That's a really easy icebreaker!"
Nemuri's face is in her hands. "Sweety…"
"What kind of joke should it be?" Nejire presses on, pacing. "How soon is too soon to try? Should I make a joke a little flirty? Maybe subtly tell her I want to be more than friends? Maybe something sillier like: Hey, I got this new sweater you should feel. It's made of girlfriend material."
Nejire claps her hands over her face, screaming. "No, that's so bad she might never talk to me again! Besides, she's too cool for something-"
"-like that. Don't you think, Nagant? Yeah?" Hirona asks. Kaina just stares at the younger villain. "Because I was thinking of trying a joke like: Good thing I have a library card, because I've been checking you out."
Hirona puts her head in her hands and screams. "No, no! Hado would never go for something like that, what am I thinking?! I don't even know how to text her hi, how could I ever think about-"
"-flirting…" Nejire trails off before slapping her cheeks. "I'm getting ahead of myself! First, I should make sure we're friends and trust each other first! And t-then I can t-try… flirting."
Nemuri perks up that. A smile forms on her face. A wicked smile. Nejire gulps. "Well if you wanted some tips in that area…"
Hirona shivers. Kaina looks back at her as they make their way to the rendezvous with Kurogiri. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know? I just feel like I'm in danger for some reason." Kaina rolls her eyes fondly and tugs her along, hoping to-
"The only thing you're in danger of," Kaina immediately turns, pushing Hirona behind her as a man casually strolls up to them, "is missing the biggest opportunity of your lives." He's young, with black spiky hair, wearing a suit under a trench suit. Hirona puts a shield in front of them.
Kaina lifts her arm, and the man immediately puts his hands up. "Don't shoot the messenger." He smirks a little at the sniper. "This might be one of the few times I mean that literally."
"What do you want?"
"I told you." He flicks his hand, and a business card appears in between his fingers. "To give you an opportunity." He tosses it to the ground in front of them. Kaina can see a phone number on it. "Overhaul is calling a meeting with the biggest villain groups around. I guess your little show last week impressed him."
He jerks his head to the street. "You wanna know how you lost the police so easily, and why they haven't found you again?" Kaina knew something was off. "Trust me, if your nameless organization wants to stay in business, you'll hear what he has to say."
"Are you serious?" Chitose looks down at the business card with disdain. Behind her, her news crew packs their equipment into a van. "I don't take just any guy's number." She holds it back out for the young man in front of her to take back.
But he keeps his pockets inside his coat. "Don't pretend you don't know who I am or why I'm here. Overhaul's calling a meeting. And he wants your organization to attend."
Chitose immediately snatches her arm back. "I don't know why your boss wants the media at his super secret meeting, but I won't complain."
"Not that one…" Chitose keeps her expression neutral, only allowing mild curiosity to show, but before she can ask, her phone rings. She can see it's Skeptic. "Go ahead and answer it," the man encourages her, an infuriatingly smug smile on his face. "I'm sure you're curious to know what it's about."
Keeping her eye on him, Chitose hits accept and raises it to her ear, but she can't get a word in. Skeptic screams through the phone. Her face goes slack and her grip tightens as she pieces together what he's saying.
Police raids. And a lot of them. They had hit different MLA facilities across Japan and were seizing goods and property at an alarming rate. Dozens are being arrested as they speak. Not enough to hurt them in the long run or disrupt their plans, but enough for them to take notice.
A warning.
But where Skeptic sees panic, she sees opportunity. "I'd like to thank you." She gives the young man a sharp smile, hanging up on Skeptic. "You've brought me a juicy story. I mean, the police illegally raiding the property of private businesses? So scandalous."
"What makes it illegal?"
Chitose makes a show of rolling her eyes. "Please, at most they'd have breadcrumbs of circumstantial evidence. No judge would ever sign that warrant." She reads a text about updates on the situation.
"And if a judge did?" Chitose slowly looks up from her phone, eyeing the Yakuza in a new light. "We have a new partner who's been watching Japan for a while," he informs her. "And he was more than happy to share some info about you." He turns around, walking away. "Make sure your boss attends. And I don't mean your editor."
"It's best to start simple. Not all illusions have to be extravagant." Izuku waves his hand, and a small illusion of what he's talking about appears over the table. "Pranks can be something as easy as an automatic door not opening for people. Or making someone's seat belt disappear right before the roller coaster starts. You'd be surprised how much people trust their sight over their touch."
"Yes, yes I see," Mustard nods, looking down at the illusions. "And after is when you make them believe they've fallen off the coaster to their death?"
"…I don't think you quite understand what I'm going for. Here, let's back up-"
Ochako jumps a little when Toga sits by her on one of the lab benches. She hadn't heard her coming. She's silent for a few seconds as she watches the boys talk. Ochako can't tell if the awkwardness between them is there, or if it's just her. But just when she thinks she should break the ice between them, Toga does it first. "I'm glad he's the same in real life."
"Deku?"
Toga hums the affirmative. She plays with her second bag of blood in her hands but doesn't open it. "When we used to spy on heroes for him, he used to give us all of these pages where he analyzed the hero's quirk, behavior, and their patrol routes to give us the best chance. It made us wonder what he needed us for," she giggles. "But I'm glad he's like that in person too. I hate pretending to be something I'm not. Atsu says it makes my quirk less 'effective,' but I don't care. And I don't like it when other people pretend to be something they're not either. So, I'm happy one of my first friends isn't like that."
Ochako smiles, feeling a little bit of that awkwardness melting away. "You know, it's funny. For someone who's supposed to be good at hiding, Deku has a hard time hiding who he really is." Memories flash in her head from the beginning of the year. "I like that." Toga nods in agreement. The two fall into a more relaxed silence. One that makes Ochako comfortable saying, "just so you know, Deku hasn't really given us any extra details, but I wanted to say I'm sorry for what happened to you-"
"Please don't." Ochako's mouth snaps shut in a hurry, scared she offended the other girl somehow. "It's something people always say. I heard it all of the time growing up. My mom's friends would take one look at me and tell her they're sorry she has to raise me. They're sorry for all the sacrifices she has to make. They're sorry I wasn't born normal. I hate that word."
Ochako is ashamed of herself when her first reaction is to tell Toga she's sorry she had to go through all of that. She needs to be better than that! Toga seems to notice her conflict and lets her off the hook with a toothy grin. "Don't worry, I'm not mad at you!" The gravity girl slumps in relief. "The only people I ever want to hear sorry from are the ones who took me, and I'm going to make them say it. All that matters to me is how people treat me now." Her yellow eyes look Ochako up and down. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised that someone who loves Izuku would be as nice as him."
Toga cackles when the brown-haired girl's face lights up red. "You still haven't told him?"
"I- well- you see-" Ochako stutters, making Toga giggle more. "It's- it's a big step!" she whisper-shouts, placing a hand over her heart. "And I just want to be sure, before I… you know."
Toga groans, leaning back against the workbench. "Please don't tell me you were this stubborn about dating him?" Ochako not being able to meet her eyes tells her all she needs to know. "Are you serious?!" she hisses. The hero student tries to get her to keep her voice low so the boys don't hear. "I told you what to do at the Sports Festival, you should've asked him out that night!"
"I still wasn't ready! I had just admitted to myself that day that I liked him!"
"That's all you need! Life is short, Ochako, and you sometimes just have to go for it! For example." The villain girl leans against her. "Will you go out with me?"
"W-w-what?!" Iida would compliment her on how fast she is waving her hands through the air. "You- you know Deku and I are dating!"
Toga snorts. "No, you don't get what I mean!"
"Oh," Ochako breathes a sigh of relief, the blush on her cheeks dying down. "Did you mean go out as friends?"
"I was actually saying I'd take both you and Izuku out together- wait, what?" Toga does a double take. "We're friends?"
Ochako sucks in her teeth. "Oh, did I go too far-"
"Never!" Once again, the current user of the Ten Rings finds herself trapped in Toga's arms as the blonde swings her around. "Yes!! I'd love it if we could be friends! Yes yes yes!"
This finally catches the boys' attention. Both Iida brothers start to move, but Compress stops them. "She'll be fine. This is normal behavior for Himiko." Izuku and Mustard nod along, both of them experiencing traumatizing flashbacks.
"Oh! Oops, are you okay?" Toga snickers, placing Ochako down. "I know I can get carried away sometimes." She wipes her forehead. "Phew, even winded myself there a little."
Ochako grabs her head, shutting her eyes until the world stops spinning. "I don't mind if you need to drink more blood."
When she feels like she can look at the world without puking, Ochako opens her eyes to find Toga beaming at her. "Thank you, I really appreciate that." She tears open the bag of blood and takes a much more controlled drink from it. "If it's okay, can I ask why you want to be my friend? Atsu says I can come on strong, whatever that means."
The gravity girl snorts. "I'm friends with aliens, demigods, people with curses, and a parasite. I think I can handle adding a vampire to the list."
Toga laughs, hard. Ochako chuckles along with her before confirming. "If Deku trusts you, then that's more than good enough for me. And I can never have enough friends. Besides." Her brown eyes watch lovingly as her boyfriend excitedly displays different illusions for Mustard. "I know how lonely he was before UA. And the fact there were people, real people like you, who were able to make his days just a little brighter means a lot to me. Being your friend is the least I can do."
Toga looks as if her birthday had come early, fumbling around in her pocket until she could get her phone out to give to Ochako. "Friends text each other, yeah?"
Toga's new friend smiles. "They sure do."
The girls exchange phones, entering their numbers, and the blonde squeals as she watches Ochako. "I can't believe it! I can't believe it! I got a cute girl's number! Stab me, I have to be dreaming!" Izuku rises from his seat, but Iida grabs his arm. Toga sighs dreamily. "From enemies to friends…" she says the next part in a quiet voice. "And from there, friends to lovers."
Ochako whips her head back over to her. "What?"
"What."
"Ochako!" The gravity girl's heart plummets when she sees the hurt-stricken look on her boyfriend's face. "You're becoming what with Toga?!"
"No, no Deku it isn't like that, I swear!" She runs up to him. "She was just kidding-!"
"No, I wasn't."
"And we were just talking about becoming better friends and-" Ochako feels the ground pulled out from under her when Izuku starts to laugh. Oh, that mother-
"I told you I'd get you back for earlier." He shoots her grin that makes her want to both kiss him and send him back into space. "But to make it up to you, I can get you a second phone like mine?" Izuku waves the phone he uses to text his villain friends in front of him. "My dad got it for me. They're more secure so you don't have to change numbers all the time."
"It's what me and Himiko use as well," Compress confirms.
"Can I get one for Hirona too?" Toga inquires. "She'd have an easier time texting her soon-to-be-girlfriend with it."
"That's nice of you," Ochako remarks.
"I'm making up for lost time!" The pseudo-vampire declares. "Which means I need as many friends as I can get! Like when I made Mustard my friend!"
The boy whirls around to face her. "Wait, what?"
"We're friends!"
"And if I say no… do I get stabbed?" Mustard glances back and forth between Izuku and Toga, looking for some semblance of mercy. He doesn't get any.
"I would simply agree with her," Compress advises him. "The probability is high you will be stabbed no matter what decision you make." Mustard whimpers into his hands while the pair of stab-happy teens in the room pat his shoulders.
"I told you at the prison you'd make a bunch of friends, didn't I?" Izuku laughs. "Who did you think I meant?"
Mustard looks up as the demigod gestures to Toga and Compress. He cranes his head, befuddled at what the other illusionist had just said. "I don't understand. I was in prison, why would you think they'd be-" his eyes bulged. "Did you know they were going to break me out?!"
Iida is immediately yelling at his half-alien friend while Tensei facepalms. None of them miss the amused smirk on his face. "I knew it!" Toga yells, stamping her feet. "I knew you recognized me as that prison guard! That's why you told me to take care of him!!"
"Guilty as- ack!" Izuku returns to fighting Iida's incessant chopping on his head. There's another round of laughter and though no one can see it, Compress peers over at Toga, watching her enjoy herself with the others. He smiles under his mask.
Kaina slumps against the bar, exhausted. She thought her day had been over and all crises averted when Hirona finally texted the hero girl. But apparently, Hado's reply including a smiley face was all that was needed to trigger another meltdown.
And after helping her kid again, she needed a break and asked Kurogiri to portal her away for a little peace and quiet. She runs a hand through her pink wig that makes her look like a sakura tree, waiting for the bartender to make his way over to her with another pathetic groan.
"I'd know that sound anywhere." A woman sits next to her, but Kaina doesn't look up. Experience tells her she's not in danger. "Kids?"
If only that lady knew the half of it. "Worse," Kaina grumbles. "Teenager."
"HA!" The woman cackles, slapping the table. "You too?! They can be quite the handful, can't they? Hey, how about a shot for me and my friend over here!" She waves over the bartender.
Feeling like the conversation had gone long enough, Kaina lifts her head to excuse herself but pauses when she looks at the woman. Again, her experience keeps her from panicking, but she can't help but curse her luck when the bartender places their drinks in front of Nemuri Kayama.
The hero passes her one of the shots. "Hey, to our kids." She raises her shot. "Even if they make you wanna tear your hair out, you still wouldn't trade your time with them for anything."
Kaina looks back and forth between the hero and her drink. Her mind offers a myriad of ways to get out of this situation without exposing herself and-
Ah, fuck it.
She grabs her drink. "To the kids." Both women clink their shots together and drink, slamming the glasses back down onto the bar.