The next day started way too early.
I barely got four hours of sleep after last night's accidental gang war under the bridge. My plan was simple: survive math class, eat lunch in peace, and pretend I wasn't somehow the boss of half the junior high's villain wannabes.
But of course, life — or rather, Bakugo Katsuki — had other ideas.
"Oi, you."
I glanced up from my desk to see Bakugo stomping over, scowling like he'd just bitten a lemon dipped in battery acid.
"Uh… morning?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Akira."
His hand crackled with little sparks of his Explosion Quirk. Half the class immediately pretended to look busy while secretly eavesdropping.
"Listen, I don't know what scam you're running with those back-alley punks, but I'm not letting some third-rate villain group exist in my city."
I blinked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
He slammed a fist onto my desk, making my pen jump.
"Don't play innocent! Word's going around about the 'Blue Phoenix' and how he beat the Iron Talons last night."
Shun coughed from a few desks away, giving me a thumbs-up. I glared at him.
Bakugo leaned in close. "I'm gonna be the Number One Hero. And that means trash like you has no place here."
Wait, did… did he think I was an actual villain now!?
"Listen, Bakugo, it's a misunderst—"
"I challenge you."
The whole class gasped. Even the teacher, who had just walked in with a coffee, paused mid-sip.
"After school. Behind the gym. One-on-one."
And then, as if this was a dramatic manga panel, he pointed at me.
"I'll prove to everyone that I can take down villains before I even get into U.A.!"
I groaned and let my head fall onto my desk.
"Why does this keep happening to me…"
**
The school day dragged on, with everyone whispering about the upcoming showdown. I was pretty sure someone even started selling tickets.
At lunch, Shun practically skipped over.
"Boss, Boss — you gonna fry him?"
"No! I'm gonna tell him it's a misunderstanding and go home."
"But you could totally flex the phoenix flames! Maybe heal yourself mid-fight, freak him out a little."
"I'm not fighting Bakugo!"
"Too late," Kuroha said quietly, sliding a small betting chart across the table. "Odds are 3-to-1 in your favor."
"I hate all of you."
**
After school, like an idiot, I showed up behind the gym.
Bakugo was already there, stretching like he was about to enter the Sports Festival finals.
"Glad you didn't run, Blue Phoenix."
"I. Am. Not. The Blue Phoenix."
He grinned. "We'll see about that."
With a loud BOOM, he launched himself toward me, palms crackling.
I yelped and ducked.
The explosion scorched the tree behind me, setting a few leaves on fire.
Okay. Enough.
I sighed, let out a slow breath, and activated my phoenix powers — not to fight, but to heal the burning leaves and douse the tiny flames with blue fire.
The shimmering light made the watching students gasp.
"See!" someone shouted. "He's using his quirk!"
"Is that… regeneration?"
"Blue fire's so cool!"
Bakugo hesitated for a second, eyes narrowing. "Tch. Show-off."
He fired another blast. I panicked, spread my phoenix wings, and soared upward to avoid it.
Another collective gasp.
"HE CAN FLY!?"
"NO I CAN'T — I MEAN — I CAN BUT IT'S NOT—"
Too late. The rumor mill had already decided.
Bakugo launched himself after me, explosions propelling him mid-air. I zipped around like a panicked pigeon, barely avoiding the blasts.
"Stop flying around, you coward!"
"This is self-defense, you lunatic!"
A final mid-air collision sent us both crashing into a bush.
Groaning, I rolled over. Bakugo spat out a leaf.
"…You're not bad," he grumbled, standing up. "But don't think this means you're off my radar, villain."
"Can we just call it a draw?"
"Tch."
He stomped off, leaving me in the bushes.
**
Later, back at my "secret" villain hideout (which was actually just an old storage shed by the river), Shun grinned.
"Heard you held your own against Bakugo."
"I ran away for five minutes and fell in a bush."
"Legendary."
I sighed, staring up at the evening sky.
Somehow, in one week, I'd become a gang leader, survived a turf war, got a bounty, and fought a future Pro Hero-in-training.
At this rate…
I might accidentally become the most wanted villain in Japan.