(Rumi POV – Rumi's House)
I let out a long breath through my nose, ears flicking back as irritation coils tightly within my chest.
"Damn it!"
I stomp my foot and the floor gives way with a sharp crack, the impact rattling the house.
"…Tch."
I stare down at the fresh crater for a second, then grind my teeth.
"Great. That's another thing I gotta fix."
I step back, rubbing the bridge of my nose as I exhale again, slower this time.
'That bastard was right.' I think, my irritation only rising.
The power boost had been insane at first. Faster speed, higher jumps, hits that landed like freight trains. Villains that I used to play around with now get folded in a single kick. Hell… my ranking jumped to third place just from how many I beat the shit out of, and at this rate, I might overtake Endeavor too.
I should be thrilled.
Instead—
"It's so boring." I mutter.
I move in front of the mirror. My hero costume's already on, my muscles taut and coiled. I flex a thigh, roll a shoulder, test my balance. Everything feels amazing. I'm strong!
And yet…
'What's the point of fighting if they all drop in one hit?' I scowl at my reflection. 'At least the people are safer.'
That's what matters.
Still… damn.
I reach for the door, ready to burn this itch off on patrol, and…
"Oh?" A grin tugs at my mouth as I take in the familiar, annoyingly calm figure on my doorstep. "You're here?" I cock a hip, crossing my arms. "Ain't time for our spar yet. You missin' me already?"
He rolls his eyes like I'm being unreasonable.
"Do I need a reason to come see you?"
I snort. "You've never come without one. So?" I jerk my chin at him. "Spit it out."
"I want CQC training."
Just like that. It'd be a wonder if anyone could be more direct.
My heart starts beating just a little faster.
"Oh?" I tilt my head as my grin sharpens. "And what makes you think I'd agree? I'm busy, y'know."
He doesn't hesitate.
"The grin you're trying—and failing—to hide." He says deadpan. "And the fact that you're definitely bored. I doubt anyone's giving you a challenge. Training me would be more fun than anything else on your schedule."
My eye twitches.
"…You're gettin' cocky, brat."
I crack my knuckles, letting the threat bleed into my posture. "I oughta knock some manners into you."
"Who'd be teaching whom is up for debate." He shoots back, smiling. A cocky, challenging smile. "It'd be pretty embarrassing for the number three hero to lose to a student without even a provisional license."
'This little—'
"You wanna go?" I snap, my fists curling, ready to make him bleed.
"I'm ready whenever." He says easily. Then—like he wants to die—adds. "But if you're training me in CQC, I won't use my quirk. That way you might actually land a hit."
I stare at him.
Slowly.
"…You think I'm dumb enough to fall for that?"
"Dumb? No." He says honestly. "But you'll fall for it anyway."
My teeth grind together sharply.
"Someone strong is offering you a fight." He continues calmly. "While poking at your pride? And I've irritated you so much that if you just walked away, I'd actually think you were scared."
He shrugs. "You're not the type to let that slide."
'I hate that he's right… and I want to beat him within an inch of his life…'
'HOW DARE HE ACCUSE ME OF BEING SCARED OF A FIGHT!!!'
I'm seething inside.
Every instinct in my body screams to hit him now. But I know better. His quirk's a nightmare, and physical attacks don't do a damn thing.
Still…
"Nah." I sigh, turning away. "I've got patrols."
I need to punch something that can actually get hit.
"That's fine." He says, and I stop.
"I already spoke to Nezu. He approved me continuing my internship with you, since I've got the time. It's entirely up to you." He pauses. "And we can spar after we're done."
Then, like a devil trying to seduce me…
"And I'll let you beat me up. If you can. I won't even use my quirk on anything except boosting my physique."
I turn slowly.
"Oh?" I smile, sweet as sugar. "Sure. I don't mind."
I step closer, looming near him.
"In exchange." I add. "Gimme one free hit. 'Cause you've been an annoying little shit."
"That's fair." He agrees immediately.
"No using your quirk to dodge or avoid it."
This time, he hesitates, just for a moment.
"…Alright."
I grin wider.
'Got you, bastard.'
"Don't worry." I coo. "I won't make it hurt much."
I wind my arm back.
The air compresses as I throw the punch at full force, with no restraint. I know he can heal it anyway. The impact detonates through the forest, generating a shockwave as the sounds of bone cracking ring loudly.
"That's what happens when you get too cocky."
I'm savouring the hit when those words reach my ears.
"…Damn you." I curse as reality sets in.
Kata's smiling.
"I don't need to dodge…" He says in amusement. "If I just make myself indestructible."
I look down.
My hand…
Totally broken.
"…Tch."
Before I can even curse, green light flares, and my hand snaps back into place, good as new.
"Let's go, partner." He says, already pulling his hero costume from nowhere and slipping it on like it's nothing.
"I hate cocky bastards." I mutter, flexing my fingers.
"It's not cocky if you can back it up." He replies, mirroring my grin as he turns to walk. "You coming?"
I snort, stepping up beside him.
"…Yeah," I chuckle. "Guess I am."
We take off together toward the city.
And damn it—
I'm finally looking forward to the fight again.
(Kata POV – Mei's Development Studio)
'I'm glad she agreed.' I think as I step into the studio. 'Provoking her was the correct decision.'
It's not a tactic I enjoy using. Acting cocky doesn't really suit me, nor do I see much merit to it… but Mirko doesn't respond to logic or courtesy. She responds best to challenges.
'As long as you can survive her retaliation.'
That punch probably would have killed anyone else.
And I decide not to dwell on it further. 'That's that body's problem.'
This morning made one thing clear… I had too much to do, and not enough time to do it properly.
So I didn't.
Instead, I divided my consciousness.
I made two additional bodies. Perfect replicas of myself and split my consciousness between them and my original body.
My original body is with Rumi, and is patrolling with her. It has half of my mind, which is more than enough power to beat any enemy it'd face.
The body heading out shopping carries 40% of my consciousness. It's overkill for a trip, but it's very likely I'll need to fight, so best to be prepared.
And this body has 10%. Which is more than sufficient.
"Perfect! You're here!"
Mei doesn't even give me time to finish the thought. She grabs my sleeve and drags me fully into the studio, her eyes bright, movements jittery with barely-contained excitement.
"We've got no time to waste. Let's get started right now!"
She snaps a massive blueprint open across one of the tables, the paper unfurling violently. Detailed schematics cover every inch with layers, segments, and annotations written in her sharp, frantic handwriting.
"We'll perfect one component of the costume at a time." She rattles off, pacing as she talks. "Then assemble them section by section. Since your requirements are insane, this baby's gonna be complicated… but that just makes it even more fun! Our baby will be absolutely beautiful!"
I nod, following easily.
The costume isn't just clothing. Every part of it is designed to have absurd utility or defense, even without my quirk. But, it'll also be capable of synergizing with it down to the atomic level.
'Anyone with her brain would be excited,' I think, watching her vibrate with barely-contained glee.
She dumps a pile of scrap metal onto a nearby table with a clatter.
"Chop chop!" She says brightly. "Turn that into nanofibers. Then we'll start adjusting tensile strength, conductivity, and resilience!"
She watches me like a kid waiting for fireworks.
"Alright." I reply. "I'm starting now."
I reach out, restructuring the material—breaking bonds, reforming lattices, rearranging particles according to the specifications.
Mei's breath catches as the scrap reshapes smoothly under my control.
The process is quick, almost instantaneous. But finishing the suit will take time. Lots of time, given the complexity.
But—
'I'm looking forward to the result.'
(Kata POV – Shopping Mall)
The mall is already lively when I arrive.
'I'm early.' I note. 'And yet…'
Finding my classmates is easy.
Himiko hums cheerfully beside me, arms wrapped around mine as she presses close, completely unconcerned with personal space.
"Hehe~." She giggles. "It's like we're on a date."
"You're the one who postponed our actual date." I remind her. "We could have been."
"I can't keep you all to myself." She shrugs, eyes glittering. "Besides~ I'll be your first, so I don't mind waiting."
She blushes, clearly spiraling into her own fantasies.
Before I can respond—
"First at what?"
Eri's voice pipes up innocently from above.
She's perched on my shoulders, small hands gripping my head lightly as she peers down at Himiko, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Himiko opens her mouth, only to immediately shut it when I glare at her.
'Absolutely not.' I think. 'She is not corrupting Eri.'
"It's a game Himiko wants to play." I say calmly. "But you need to be older to play it."
Eri nods with grave seriousness. "Okay."
The crisis has been averted.
We reach the group, consisting of Momo, Shoji, Tsuyu, and Tokoyami, who are already gathered near one of the mall's entrances.
"Hello." I greet, raising a hand.
"Hello!" Eri waves enthusiastically, trusting me to keep her balanced as she leans forward.
"Hello~." Himiko adds, clinging tightly to me instead of waving.
"H-hello…" Momo replies, cheeks pink as she avoids my eyes, glancing nervously at Himiko before looking over her to smile brightly at Eri.
Shoji and Tokoyami nod in acknowledgment.
"Hello, ribbit." Tsuyu says pleasantly. "You're early."
"I could say the same about all of you." I reply.
"I was too nervous and excited." Momo admits softly. "So I came early…"
"Punctuality is a virtue." Tokoyami intones solemnly. "So I arrived early."
Shoji and Tsuyu nod in agreement.
"Guess we'll have to wait for the others." Himiko says cheerfully, squeezing my arm.
And so we do.
Small talk fills the space as the mall hums around us.
*******
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all today? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
So, Mirko's back. Yay🤣! I'm actually not too big a fan of clones, but it was the only way to develop all relationships to some extent. And to be exact, it's not exactly clones, since they're all him, just in 3 identical bodies. So we'll see how it progresses. I'll say this preemptively, but no. Clones won't be used in intimate moments or anything, ever👀💀.
There's also not much to say (and maybe it's cause I'm super sleepy), but this chapter isn't filler exactly. It's setting up for some upcoming action, in either the next chapter, or 2 chapters after. The reason I skip one is because (if you're on discord, you're aware), of the Eri Omake people wanted? I'm also doing a poll here, so everyone can vote. And... While discord won (and hopefully it's win here too), feel free to choose what you like.
It's not that deep though. It's just gonna be the shopping chapter, with the girls taking Eri and having fun with her while Kata is busy with the guys and other things. Just a slight shift in focus, so nothing major.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
But yeah, I think that's all from me. I hope you all enjoy the rest of you day/night😁