(Kata POV – Karaoke Box)
I raise an eyebrow, studying Jiro carefully. "What about it?"
There are a number of things she could be referring to. If she's here to ask about my past—or Eri's—that would be the most difficult, simply because it would take a while, and I'd need to hide quite a bit.
But that's not where she goes.
"How did you come up with it?" She asks. "Like… what was your thought process? How did you turn your feelings into something so real?"
There's more energy in her voice now. A flicker of passion peeking through her normally calm exterior.
I pause, running the thought over in my head. It's not even technically my song, but I get the sense this isn't really about the lyrics anyway.
'I'm certain she's confident in her ability to make music… so is it a confidence issue? The jump from thought to action?'
"I just sang from the heart." I say after a moment. "Which probably isn't helpful, is it?"
I sigh inwardly. "That's the truth, though. I didn't plan it. I just… said what I felt most aligned with my feelings."
It's not a lie, exactly. But it's definitely quite vague. And judging from the way her shoulders drop slightly, it's also not what she was hoping for.
'I think I know what this is really about.'
"Are you just curious?" I ask casually. "Or are you also writing something?"
Jiro shifts, glancing to the side, looking everywhere but at me. "…Yeah. I've been working on a song in my spare time. But I'm not sure about it yet."
Her voice is quiet and filled with uncertainty.
I pretend to consider her answer, even though I already know what to say next.
"What are you unsure about?"
She goes quiet again, and I don't press. Silence isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, people just need space to say what they're really feeling.
Finally, after a long pause, she sighs, barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can do it…"
And there it is. The real problem.
"It's not that you don't know how to make music." I say calmly. "You've got the talent. That much is obvious from your singing."
She blushes slightly at the compliment, her earphone jacks tapping together shyly. "My singing's not that good…"
"Even if you say that, it doesn't change the truth." I shrug. "You were great. And that's not an opinion—it's fact."
She rolls her eyes a little, but there's a soft smile tugging at her lips now.
"So," I continue, "is it that you're worried being a musician would interfere with being a hero?"
Her eyes widen slightly, clearly caught off-guard. "You figured that out?"
"Lucky guess." I reply smoothly.
She narrows her eyes suspiciously. "Somehow I doubt that."
I shrug again. "We're not here to talk about me." I change the topic immediately.
"…So what exactly is bothering you?" I ask.
Jiro shifts her weight slightly. "I just… I can't do both." She admits. "If I chase a music career, I can't be a full-time hero. And if I go all-in on being a hero, there won't be time for music. Not seriously, anyway."
She sighs, frustration bleeding into her voice. "I feel like I have to pick one. And I want to be a hero—I do—but music's been part of me since before I could walk."
There's pain in her voice.
"So… you're planning to give up music?" I ask gently.
She nods reluctantly. "I haven't decided, but… I thought it would be the responsible thing to do. I mean, heroes save lives. That's more important than singing songs, right?"
I stare at her for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. "That's not all there is to being a hero."
She furrows her brow. "Isn't it? Heroes save people. Beat villains. That's kind of the whole point, isn't it?"
I shake my head. "That's certainly important... But the real heart of being a hero is inspiring people. Making them feel safe and giving them hope even when things are terrifying."
She doesn't say anything, so I continue.
"There are heroes who save lives with violence, wit, and even charm. Then there are heroes who save people… just by existing. Just by being someone others can look up to."
I glance at her. "Music can do that too. Maybe even better."
Her expression shifts. She doesn't look completely convinced… but she's starting to believe.
"You don't have to pick one." I say finally. "Its entirely achievable."
"That sounds nice…" Jiro says quietly, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "But reality doesn't work like that."
Her voice is firm, but lacking confidence. It's the kind of thing people say when they want to be proven wrong but are too scared to believe they will be.
I can tell she wants me to say something that gives her enough confidence to doubt her beliefs.
I meet her eyes and speak plainly.
"We cast away priceless time in dreams, born of imagination, fed upon illusion, and put to death by reality." I quote, keeping my tone calm.
She stares at me, eyes slowly filling with disappointment, then quiet sadness as the meaning of my words finally settle on her.
Then she speaks, her voice small. "…So are you saying I should give up on music?"
Her eyes search mine, hoping I'll disagree. That I'll pull the rug out from under myself and give her the answer she wants. The same one she wants to believe in, but doesn't believe she should.
'It's good that she's unhappy with that answer.'
"Truthfully," I say, "everyone has dreams. Most of them are never fulfilled. That's the reality."
She flinches slightly, like the words physically hurt. Her fingers curl against her sleeves in frustration, and her jaw tightens.
'It's harsh… but I need to be harsh for her to understand.'
Then, after a brief silence, I speak again—softly, but clearly.
"You're unhappy with my answer."
"Of course I'm unhappy!" She snaps, the words bubbling up before she can temper them. Then she exhales, lowering her voice. "I just… I was hoping you'd give me a real path forward. Something I could hold onto…"
Her shoulders slump, and her eyes drop to the floor.
"That's good." I say softly. "I'm glad you feel that way."
She looks up, frowning. "Are you mocking me?"
"No." I shake my head. "I mean it. It's good that you're unhappy with that answer. That frustration tells me more than your words ever could."
Her brows knit together uncertainly—but I can see her thinking it over.
"If you didn't care, you'd have accepted what I said. Shrugged and walked away. But you didn't. You wanted to be wrong. You wanted to believe you could still chase both."
Realization creeps across her face like sunrise breaking through clouds.
"And while it's true that most dreams stay dreams…" I continue. "That's usually because people give up on them. Not because they were impossible."
I meet her eyes again, my gaze steady and serious.
"You want both? Fine. Then be ready to work for both. It won't be easy. It will be painful. You'll be tired. You'll have doubts. People might not take you seriously."
She stiffens a bit, absorbing every word.
"But if you can endure that—if you're willing to suffer a little for the things you love—then yeah. It's possible."
She hugs herself tighter, wrestling with the idea. We stand in silence for a few seconds as she processes it, before I offer one last push.
"You're afraid that trying to do both will make you bad at either, right?"
"…Yeah." Her voice is soft, almost ashamed. "I don't want to fail at everything just because I couldn't choose."
I nod. "Understandable. But ask yourself this: would you really be better if you forced yourself to choose one—and spent the rest of your life wondering what if?"
She looks down, and then up again. Her expression is clearer now. Less uncertain, and more determined.
"You could try, give it your all, and maybe even surprise yourself." I continue. "Or… you can settle. Choose the easier path. The path you think you should choose, not the one you want to."
Her fingers slowly unclench. Her arms relax, shoulders losing that defensive hunch. The doubt in her eyes begins to fade—replaced by something much stronger…
Resolve.
'She already has her answer now.'
Finally, she smiles. A small, shy, but genuine smile.
"…Thanks, Class—" She pauses. "…Kata," she corrects, voice more certain this time. She watches my expression, like she's making sure the name is okay to use.
I give her a nod, accepting it without hesitation.
"I think I know what I want to do now."
"Good." I return the smile. "And remember… whatever path you choose, you don't have to walk it alone."
I glance toward the exit, where the rest of our classmates are gathered, chatting and laughing in the hallway.
"You've got friends. People who care about you, and will help if you ask."
Then, just before I walk past her, I add, quietly—
"…Including me."
Jiro blinks, lips parting slightly in surprise—but the smile that follows is brighter than before.
"I'll remember that." She says softly, but I hear it.
Smiling faintly, I exhale and step out of the room, only to be immediately assaulted by a surge of emotional static from the hallway. I pause.
'My radar must be broken. There's no way that's real.'
And yet, as I round the corner, my eyes confirm it.
The entire class is frozen mid-action, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. A few are covering their mouths in barely contained laughter. Others are just… stunned. The air is filled with disbelief.
And at the epicenter of this insanity?
Bakugo Katsuki.
His hands are crackling with sparks, teeth grit like he's one tantrum away from detonating half the building.
Which would be expected… If not for the tiny girl perched on his shoulders, giggling uncontrollably and clapping to the front row fireworks display.
"More! Do more fireworks!" Eri beams, bouncing slightly on his shoulders, her face alight with joy.
Bakugo, of all people, clicks his tongue in irritation—but raises a hand anyway and lets off another harmless burst of popping sparks, and Eri giggles in excitement.
I blink.
'Both my radar and my eyes aren't working. I must be viewing a parallel universe.'
I slide into the crowd, coming to stand next to Momo and Mina, who look equally baffled.
"…How did this happen?" I ask, my voice low, trying not to disturb the fever dream in front of us.
"She just walked up to him…" Momo replies in disbelief. "Said you told her he was harmless and made cute fireworks."
Mina whips around to look at me. "Did you really say that?!"
'Ah. Right. I did say something like that… mostly so she wouldn't be scared of his yelling.'
And I was prepared to teach Bakugo some… non-violent manners if he'd frightened her. But somehow, the opposite happened.
"Something like that." I mutter.
"Then she asked him to carry her, and he just… agreed?" I add skeptically, needing confirmation that I'm still sane.
"At first, we thought he'd go nuclear." Momo admits. "He looked about to scream in her face."
"And then," Mina jumps in, "he just clicked his tongue and said something like, 'Don't get used to it.' And crouched down for her."
Even as Eri grips a handful of his hair to steady herself, Bakugo doesn't erupt. Instead, he just redirects his fury toward everyone else—blasting sparks near the walls while shouting obscenities at the gawkers.
The rest of us?
We're either laughing, frozen in fear, or melting from how weirdly adorable it is.
I, however, do what no one else seems brave—or reckless—enough to do.
I take out my phone.
'You'll thank me later.'
I casually start recording video, zooming in and snapping a few high-resolution photos while everyone's distracted.
Bakugo's eyes narrow. And then he locks on to me.
"SNOW GLOBE!" He roars, pointing at me. "DELETE THAT RIGHT NOW OR DIE!"
And right before he can do anything—
"Don't be mean to Kata!" Eri scolds, yanking lightly on his hair.
Bakugo freezes mid-step.
Everyone goes quiet.
He grits his teeth, trembling with frustration.
"…Be nice." Eri adds, eyes wide and serious.
And Bakugo… stops.
He doesn't explode. Doesn't even scream. He just stands there, visibly vibrating, frozen by Eri's disapproving stare
'…She protected me,' I think, something warm flickering in my chest. 'That's adorable.'
I smirk. "Come here, Eri." I call gently, stretching my arms out.
Her grin stretches from ear to ear. Without hesitation, she jumps, and I give her a soft boost with my telekinesis—just enough to bridge the gap.
She lands neatly in my arms, hugging me tightly like a stuffed animal. "Are we going home now?" She asks, looking up.
"Yeah. Did you have fun?"
"Mhm! I had lots of fun!"
I stroke her hair lightly, ignoring the stunned silence still hanging around us. "That's good. Say goodbye to everyone."
Eri turns in my arms, waves with both hands, and beams at the class.
"Bye-bye, everyone! You're all super nice! I hope I get to see you again soon!"
They blink. Then wave back, still dazed.
"Bye, Eri!" The chorus rings out in unison.
I nod to the group, then walk away.
Behind me, realisation finally hits.
"DID HE TAKE A VIDEO?!" Kaminari shrieks, coming to life.
"Someone ask him to send it!!" Mina exclaims, bouncing in excitement.
"Already messaging him." Momo mutters, typing furiously.
"YOU ALL WANNA DIE TODAY?!" Bakugo roars, eyes blazing.
But everyone ignores him, making him madder.
They just laugh louder and inch further out of his blast radius, grinning like mad.
Because after everything they've seen tonight?
They know who the real boss is.
And her name is Eri.
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A/N: Hello Everyone. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and book so far. And if you did, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or powerstones. It really helps the book out.
Ngl, I'm super sleepy at the moment, so I'll keep it short😂.
So, Bakugo. I had wanted Eri to tame him earlier, but couldn't find an opportunity. Now it has happened! Eri is invincible, taming the 2 toughest guys in the class😂. Honestly scared she'd start changing plot I write to her own whims.
But we'll be heading back into canon soon. I plan to change the race, since that event would be meaningless with Kata there. Don't know if I should make it challenging (even if it won't) for him, or just everyone else🤔.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me on [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
But anyway, that's all from me. Hope you have a good night😁