The courtyard at U.A. High School was quiet.
Too quiet.
Ren stood in the center of the training garden, shifting nervously from foot to foot.
"This is the worst idea anyone has ever had," he muttered.
Leaning against a nearby wall, arms crossed and eyes half-open, was Shota Aizawa.
"Stop complaining."
"I'm about to get stabbed!"
"You'll live."
"That's not comforting!"
Suddenly—
FWOOOM
A dark portal opened in the air.
Stepping out of it with a cheerful bounce was Himiko Toga.
Her cream-blonde hair bounced around her shoulders, her eyes bright and slightly unhinged as always.
She spotted Ren instantly.
Her face lit up like someone had just handed her the best gift in the world.
"RENNY PENNY!!"
Ren groaned.
"Please stop calling me that…"
Toga clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward.
"But it's cuuute!"
Ren took one cautious step back.
"No knives."
She blinked innocently.
"…Maybe."
"NO knives."
She sighed dramatically and slid the knife back into her sleeve.
"Fine."
Ren glanced nervously toward Aizawa.
Aizawa gave him a look that clearly meant: Handle it.
Ren swallowed.
"So… uh…"
He scratched the back of his neck.
"You stabbed your teammates?"
Toga giggled.
"They were annoying."
Ren buried his face in his hands.
"This is a nightmare."
Meanwhile… Inside the Bushes
A few feet away, several bushes were shaking suspiciously.
Inside them, nearly the entire Class 1-A was crammed together.
Izuku Midoriya whispered rapidly while writing notes.
"This is unbelievable. A real villain interaction in a controlled environment—"
Denki Kaminari shoved him.
"Dude shut up you're gonna get us caught!"
Eijiro Kirishima peeked through the leaves.
"This is kinda manly though."
Katsuki Bakugo whispered aggressively.
"WHY ARE WE WATCHING A DATE?!"
Mina Ashido grinned.
"This is the BEST thing that's happened all year."
Next to them, Kaito whispered nervously.
"Guys I think she's actually insane."
But the Bushes Had More Guests
On the opposite side of the courtyard…
Another set of bushes rustled slightly.
Inside them sat three figures.
Very calm.
Very quiet.
Very much villains.
Leaning lazily against a tree was Dabi.
He watched Ren and Toga with mild amusement.
"This is hilarious."
Next to him, slouched in boredom, was Tomura Shigaraki.
"I hate everything about this."
Sitting perfectly upright on an elegant pillow that had been politely placed in the grass…
Was Kurogiri.
Hands folded.
Completely composed.
"Miss Toga appears quite happy."
Dabi smirked.
"She's gonna scare the kid to death."
Shigaraki scratched his neck.
"Good."
Back in the Courtyard
Ren had managed to sit down on a bench.
Toga sat beside him.
Way too close.
He leaned slightly away.
"So… uh…"
Toga tilted her head.
"You chased me yesterday."
Ren sighed.
"You were stalking me!"
"That's different."
"How is that different?"
She smiled sweetly.
"Because I like you."
Ren stared at the sky.
"I should've stayed in bed today."
Toga suddenly leaned forward.
Eyes glowing with curiosity.
"You teleported!"
Ren nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
"That was really cool."
Ren blinked.
"Thanks?"
She grinned wider.
"You're special."
Ren scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh… thanks?"
Behind the bushes—
Mina whispered loudly.
"OH MY GOD THEY'RE FLIRTING."
Bakugo whispered back.
"SHUT UP."
On the villain side of the bushes—
Dabi snorted.
"This is painful."
Shigaraki sighed.
"I'm going to destroy something."
Kurogiri calmly adjusted his pillow.
"A fascinating social interaction."
Back at the Bench
Ren cleared his throat.
"So… Aizawa wanted me to ask something."
Toga hummed.
"What?"
Ren pointed.
"Could you maybe stop stabbing your teammates?"
She blinked.
Then thought about it.
"…Maybe."
Ren sighed in relief.
"Thank you."
She leaned closer again.
"But only if you hang out with me again."
Ren froze.
"…"
Toga smiled sweetly.
"Well?"
Ren looked toward Aizawa.
Aizawa looked back.
Completely silent.
Ren groaned.
"…Fine."
Toga gasped happily.
"YAY!"
She jumped up and hugged him.
Ren turned bright red.
Behind the bushes—
Both groups exploded into whispers.
"HE SAID YES!"
"OH MY GOD!"
"THIS IS INSANE!"
"WHAT IS HAPPENING?!"
Ren pulled away awkwardly.
"Okay okay calm down—"
Then he suddenly stopped.
His eyes slowly moved toward the bushes.
"…Why are the bushes moving?"
Everything went silent.
Class 1-A froze.
The villains froze.
Even Aizawa slowly turned his head.
Ren stood up slowly.
"…There is absolutely someone in those bushes."
Toga tilted her head.
"Oooo."
Ren walked closer.
"…If someone jumps out right now I swear—"
The bushes suddenly exploded open.
Students fell everywhere.
Kaminari, Kirishima, Mina, Midoriya, Kaito—
All tumbled onto the grass.
Ren stared.
"…Guys."
Then the other bushes opened.
Dabi stood up lazily.
Shigaraki stretched.
Kurogiri stood politely from his pillow.
Ren slowly turned toward Aizawa.
"…You knew they were here, didn't you."
Aizawa shrugged.
"…Maybe."
Ren dropped to the ground dramatically.
"I hate this school."
Toga giggled.
"This is fun!"