The whirring of servos echoed softly as the med-bots rolled forward, the stretcher between them wobbling slightly with each bump. Itami and Akuma were both unconscious. White fabric above. Soft buzzing lights. The flap of the medical tent opened with a rustle.
Inside, Midoriya sat upright on his cot, bruised but alert, his attention locked on a monitor displaying one of the remaining final exams. Recovery Girl stood beside him, arms crossed, lips pursed in concern.
Bakugo lay unconscious nearby, twitching faintly every now and then.
When he saw Itami being brought in — bruised, burned,bloody, his uniform barely intact — his eyes widened. "Itami…?"
Recovery Girl stepped toward the stretcher, her can clanking with each step forward. "No time for chatter," she muttered. "This one looks like a charcoal sketch."
She moved toward him, lips pursued. "Now let me take care of it —"
The tent flap snapped open again.
Three figures stepped inside. Cloaked in black, blacked out helmets covering their faces. The temperature dropped a degree as they entered. Drex. Kael. Riven.
Drex spoke taking off his helmet with a metallic click. Calm. Measured. Icy. "We'll take it from here."
Recovery Girl didn't budge. "You'll do no such thing."
Drex raised a brow, stepping forward. "With all due respect, we're here under Nezu's clearance. We'll handle their recovery, our facility is better equipped."
Her eyes narrowed. "Clearance doesn't mean competence."
She pointed the cane at Itami, then at the trio. "Better equipped? He's a child, not a animal."
Drex paused. Just a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "They're both in stable condition. We'll take over and you deal with the rest of his class."
"I haven't done nearly enough," she snapped. "The boy nearly tore his body apart to pass your little test. He won't leave this tent till I patch him up."
He said nothing.
Recovery Girl than gave both Itami and Akuma a smooch on the head. Both of them moved slightly but relaxed. "Nothing fancy — just enough to dull the edge of the pain."
She said while walking back to her seat.
Drex took a step forward, looking down at Itami's barely conscious face.
Midoriya sat quietly on his cot, watching every word, every movement. His fists clenched softly, as the med-bots wheeled Itami out. The trio following the bots, Midoriya's gaze followed them until the tent flap closed again.
He whispered to Recovery Girl, "Who… who were they?"
The med-bots wheeled Itami and Akuma through UA's halls to a sleek, unmarked van. The trio got in the van and pulled off, heading towards the village.
The ache came first.
A sharp, prickling burn rippling across Itami's ribs then his body. His breath hitched. His eyes fluttered open, met with the dim amber light of the infirmary ceiling. Then the smell of antiseptics.
"Where am I?" Itami rasped.
"Oh your awake," a soft voice said beside him.
Itami turned his head, wincing. Yukiko was standing next to him, hands glowing faint gold. "Stay still. You're in bad shape."
"That's new…" Itami groaned. "It's not hurting as much."
"What?"
"Your healing. Usually, it's… more painful. I think I'm good so you can stop now."
She didn't even flinch. "Mmm."
A pulse of warmth surged through his torso — then burned. Itami hissed. "Ow—ow, okay, okay, I'm sorry"
Yukiko smiled faintly, the glow from her hands intensifying. "Healing hurts when you're being stubborn."
"Maybe I like being broken and stubborn" he muttered.
"That explains a lot," a voice chimed in.
Itami shifted just enough to see Akuma in the next bed over, bandaged and bruised, grinning like a smug older brother.
"You. You did this" Itami said with a dry throat pointing.
Akuma tilted his head and looked at Itami, offended. "Hey I'm the one that's broken over here, broken ribs and ruptured organs. If anything I should be saying it."
"…You lost the bet so you owe me."
Akuma laughed a bit, laying back with a satisfied sigh. "Yeah your right. You got stronger. I'm proud of you. But I'm still stronger, I was holding back."
"I know your lying, don't make me come over there and teach you a listen old man"
Yukiko smiled. "Now, now—you two don't want me to call her, do you?"
"No." they both said in unison.
CRASH.
The infirmary doors slammed open like someone had kicked them.
"TOO LATE," a voice rang out, full of manic cheer. "I'm already here, darlings!"
Itami turned his head slowly. So did Akuma. Even Yukiko's face tensed slightly.
A tall woman strode into the room with heavy boots and confidence that threatened to set off seismic alarms. Long silvery hair was tied in a high tail, and her pristine white coat shimmered faintly — almost as if reacting to her presence. Light magic coiled faintly off her gloves like pressure steam.
"You must be my crispy project!" she said, pointing dramatically at Itami. "And Akuma! Very nice burns! Excellent combustion patterns. Yukiko! Scoot over — I'll take it from here!"
"Luna—" Yukiko began, instantly in flustered-defense mode.
"Shh shh shh," Luna said, putting a gloved finger to Yukiko's lips with exaggerated gentleness. "You did great. You're getting better by the day. I'm proud. But these boys need advanced care. And by advanced I mean pain. Lots of pain."
Luna's gloved hands shimmered with golden light, her silvery ponytail bouncing as she loomed over Akuma's bed like a storm about to break. "Alright, big guy, time to fix those busted ribs!" she declared, her voice dripping with manic glee, like a chef about to carve a particularly juicy roast.
Akuma propped himself up, grimacing as his bandages tugged at bruised skin. "You should've just killed me, Itami," he said, shooting Itami a half-hearted glare. "Would've been kinder than whatever she's planning."
Luna spun toward him, light affinity flaring like a spotlight. "Oh, Akuma, you wound me! And here I thought you Dracos loved a challenge." She leaned closer, her grin sharpening. "How about I heal you all at once? Full blast—bones, organs, pride, the works!"
Akuma snorted, his fire affinity sparking faintly in his clenched fists. "Pride's the only thing still intact, lady. Try not to burn it to ash."
"Burn? Me?" Luna gasped, clutching her chest in mock offense. "I'm a beacon of light, darling. You're the one who looks like he wrestled a volcano and lost."
Itami, still aching in his own bed, managed a weak chuckle. "She's got you there."
"Whose side are you on Itami?" Akuma shot back, but his smirk betrayed his amusement.
Yukiko, standing to the side, sighed, her hands clasped nervously. "Please don't kill them, Luna," she said, her soft voice barely cutting through the banter.
"No promises~" Luna sang, already raising her hands over Akuma. The golden glow intensified, pulsing like a heartbeat. "Hold still, tough guy. This'll be quick—and loud."
Before Akuma could protest, Luna unleashed her light affinity in a concentrated burst. The glow flooded his torso, knitting fractured ribs and torn muscles with ruthless speed. Akuma's eyes widened, then he screamed, a raw, guttural sound that rattled the infirmary walls. "Agh! Damn it, you trying to melt my insides?!"
Luna didn't flinch, her hands steady as the light faded. "Oh, quit whining. Your ribs are back in place, and your organs are cozy again. You're welcome."
Akuma slumped back, panting, sweat beading on his brow. "That… was not healing. That was torture with extra steps."
"Torture's just healing with personality," Luna quipped, winking. She dusted off her gloves, then turned to Itami, her sharp eyes narrowing as she studied him. "Now, let's see about you, crispy boy."
Itami tensed as Luna approached, her boots clicking ominously. She peeled back his bandages with surprising gentleness, revealing cuts that were bleeding are already healed or closing. His burnt skin gone as the dead pieces clung to the bandages. Touching the rest of his body she felt no broken bones and only a sprain in the wrist and 1st degree burns on the right side of his hand.
"Well, well," she murmured, tracing a healed gash with a gloved finger. "Yukiko couldn't have done all of this— she could have healed some of it but to this certain extent. How long were you healing them?"
Yukiko shook her head, stepping closer to observe Lina's findings. "No, I was about to start when you arrived. I only began to heal cuts and gashes."
Luna's eyes flicked between Itami's healing wounds and his face, her usual theatrics giving way to a rare intensity. "Kid, you were a mess—burns, fractures, blood everywhere. Now you're halfway to a full recovery. Bones knitting, cuts closing… remarkable, no scaring whats so ever." She then looked around his chest and back.
Akuma, still catching his breath, propped himself up again. "Yeah he somehow always heals himself. Any cuts or bruises are gone the next day."
"Well I don't feel any better, my entire body sore and it hur—AHH"
Itami was cut off by Luna, her golden aura shining through Itamis body. "It's burning me you witch!" Itami shouted.
"Interesting, you feel a burning sensation," Luna tilted her head as she eyes him like a scientist eyeing a rare specimen. " Typically the output I gave you would feel relaxed, and the sensation of getting a warm hug."
She then pulled a small worn notebook out of her coat pocket. The notebook has seen better days as when she flips through it, the pages are all crinkled.
Itami gritted his teeth, the lingering sting of her healing pulsing through him like a swarm of angry bees. "That was overkill, there was no need for you to do that!"
Akuma barked a laugh, wincing as it tugged his freshly mended ribs. "Overkill? That's polite. She twisted my organs and forcefully snapped my bones into place, and you're whining about a little burn?"
Before Itami could snap back, the infirmary doors swung open with a heavy thud. Two figures strode in, cloaked in the clan's signature black suit. The air seemed to thicken, the room's amber light buzzed as everyone stared at them.
The lead agent, a tall man with a jagged scar across his jaw, stares at Itami with cold, steel-gray eyes. "Itami Wyvern," he said, voice clipped and authoritative. "You have been summoned you. Can you walk?"
Itami blinked. "Summons? By who? And wh—GAHH"
Luna cut Itami off again as she sent another pulse through Itami's body. "Yes he can walk but he is in my care." She walked in front of the two men, boots thudding hard on the ground. Placing her hand on her hip. "He's not leaving here until I say so."
The lead agent shook his head. "I apologize Ms Luna but this is a direct order from the elders. Itami comes with us. Alone." His tone left no room for argument.
"Tch what's with those old bag of bones anyways." She tsk as she put the notebooks back into her coat pocket.
Akuma sat up straighter, ignoring the twinge in his ribs. "Hold up, now. You don't just barge in and drag my boy off without explaining. What do the elders want with him?"
The man then looked at Akuma."The elders need to speak with him, that is all the information you need, now if you will excuse us." The both of them hold the doors open and festering with a nod for Itami to go with them.
Itami hesitates for a moment before getting up, his legs wobble a little as he makes his way with them, looking back at the three of them for a moment. Yukiko looking back with worry but hiding it with smile.
What the hell did I get myself into now.
The infirmary doors closed behind Itami and the agents, leaving a heavy silence. Yukiko's hands clenched, her faint glow fading as she stared at the door. Akuma slumped back on his bed, muttering, "Damn elder guards, always on a high horse."
Luna smirked, brushing off her coat. "When are they not" She gave Yukiko a playful nudge. "Don't worry, kiddo. Your crispy boy will be alright. Anyways can you inspect Akuma for me, I have to something to do in my office."
Yukiko nods as Luna walks away. Her boots echoing in the distance. In her office, a small, cluttered room tucked away in the clan's medical wing, She entered her office but paused. As she pushed the door open, she found Drex standing by her desk, his broad frame casting a shadow over the room.
His black uniform was pristine, plated scales glinting faintly, and he held a tablet, a logo of the Wyrm-Crest insignia in the middle.
"Well, well, look who's crawled out of the shadows," Luna said, her voice warm but teasing, like greeting an old comrade. "Haven't seen you in forever, Drex. You're never here—too busy playing Obsidian for the clan, huh?"
Drex's stern face softened, a rare half-smile breaking his icy demeanor. "Some of us work in the field, Luna, not in notebooks." He tapped the tablet, setting it down on her desk."We need to talk. About Itami."
Luna raised a brow, plopping into her chair with a theatrical sigh. "Oh, that's surprising of you. I see you've taken a interest in that boy. That's unusual." She looked at the tablet, showing a video ready to be played."What's this? Black mail? Secrets?"
Drex sighed as he played the video for her." You'll see for yourself. I need your help. Right now some of the elders want him executed."
"Executed? Oh my what has he do—" Luna leaned forward, her grin sharpening as the video of Itami using Dark affinity in his match with Akuma played out."—Well, this just got interesting."