Chapter Text
There was a sparkle in your PR manager’s eye that you have only rarely seen, suddenly growing a tad bit nervous as you try to inconspicuously create distance between yourself and Watanabe but you only have so far to go in a van.
“You two are absolutely explosive!” Watanabe starts, clapping her hands together for a moment as she turns her iPad towards you. Showing behind the scenes clips from your Kuroiwa photoshoot with Dynamite, fan edits, and screenshots of ‘#GroundMuse’ trending all over Japan and even in other countries.
Fixing her a smile, you will say that you are… pleased. Knowing that this is doing wonders for your publicity is enough to motivate you to keep putting in the effort. Things are working out much smoother than you originally imagined with you and the blonde appearing to only grow more and more popular as a pair.
It is interesting to you though as there has really only been two appearances from the both of you and they have all been rather… tense, to say the least. But knowing the absolute behemoth the media is, you can’t find yourself too shocked that they enjoy the sight of you and the Pro-Hero tossing about.
And currently, the netizens will be seeing much more from the two of you in the variety show that you and Watanabe are being driven to as we speak. It’s called Tonight in Musutafu, well-known and well-loved with a group of hosts you’ve already encountered multiple times throughout your career.
You’ve practiced your lines, you have an idea on what questions they’ll ask, and you know that they apparently have some surprise games for you both. Having watched previous airings of the show, you’re not too worried given that all the activities seem to be lighthearted and easy.
Overall, the situation is something that seems to all be under control.
Well, except one major factor at least: Dynamite.
While he has been arguably as compliant as a powerhouse like him could be during the previous press conference and photoshoot, you find yourself oddly restless at the idea of being on screen together again. It’s unusual and not like you to be so hung up over a coworker, but you chalk it up to Dynamite simply being a unique case.
Sighing to yourself, you find your mental state in a familiar place as you seem to be constantly wishing that things could only go as well as you hope.
—
The variety show studio is just as you remembered from your previous visits with a set designed to feel spontaneous and effortless as bright light spills across polished hardwood floors, a large screen acts as a backdrop across the stage showcasing a view of the daytime Musutafu landscape during the summer. Behind the hosts’ desk, animated screens pulse with the show’s logo in shifting neon tones while a live band occupies a slightly elevated platform off to the side—playing light filler music for the audience.
The seating arrangement is inviting and modern by design: a long, white velvet couch positioned close enough to the hosts’ table to encourage conversation, close enough that every glance and reaction can be caught by the cameras without missing a thing.
Rows of audience seating curve around the stage in a semi-circle, the atmosphere loud and energized even before filming officially starts. Staff members move quickly behind the cameras with cue cards and headsets while giant overhead rigs sweep across the studio like mechanical birds, adjusting angles in real time.
Everything about the set is built for entertainment.
For charm. For chemistry. For moments that can be clipped into ten-second viral edits before the episode even finishes airing.
A setting you tend to forget you thrive in.
Finding confidence within yourself, you look at the heavily manufactured set and let your hair and makeup team fuss over you whilst Mio instructs her assistant to make sure your attire stays in place. Today you’re wearing a coordinated sparkling pastel aqua blazer and shorts set paired with matching platform heels, making you look like a retro pop-star.
Next to you, also waiting for his cue, Dynamite is dressed in a sleek camel bomber jacket paired with dark jeans. Clean, modern, and casual. It suits him, just as any other outfit you’ve seen him wear.
“Going live in five!” a staff member calls and as if on cue, one of the hosts runs up to you, already grinning widely.
The public knows this man as Sunny, but you know him from your teenage years as Ren Ichinose. You recall both of you being 14, sitting right next to each other in the audition room of your old company, Vivid Media. Both hopeful, naive, and young.
“Well, damn, look at you!” he says, opening his arms for a hug and you roll your eyes before wrapping your arms around the guy in front of you. “It’s been so long, how has our little Gold Star been?”
The nickname he uses brings out memories and you can’t help the genuine smile that goes across your face. “I’ve been great. It’s nice seeing you like this, Renchi.” you say, really meaning it.
The guy in front of you has been there since the beginning. While you guys don’t talk as much as you used to, it’s definitely always comforting to see a familiar face.
“We’re really grateful that you guys are coming on!” he says, patting your shoulders, “You and Dynamite have been on fire, the team is beyond ecstatic because the rating predictions are already insane.”
And while the two of you fall into casual conversation, the dressed up Pro-Hero beside you looks deeply unimpressed.
The only intriguing portion that seems to interest him is your relationship with the host you are conversing with, noticing how informal the two of you are with one another. The smile on your face is familiar, and yet, he knows it's different—it’s genuine. This annoys him for an unknown reason.
Sunny then turns to look over at Bakugou, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “Thank you too, Dynamite. I’m a big fan! It’s a great honor to have you on!” he says and the blonde grunts out a quick thank you.
That’s as good of an acknowledgement as your friend can get, you think to yourself.
Soon later, the opening segment of the show begins with a jazzy theme song going through the venue, being played by the live band, as Sunny and two other hosts walk onto stage, to introduce themselves and then, the two of you.
“And now—for what you’ve all been waiting for—the collaboration currently breaking the internet!” Sunny says into the microphone, looking down at his cue card while the audience bursts into excited screams.
“Japan’s #2 Pro-Hero, the legendary Dynamite!” one of his co-hosts, who goes by Sparky, follows up as the audience continues in an uproar.
Finally, the last co-host who is known as Jet, introduces you. “Right beside the nation’s well-loved Sweetheart herself!” and as the audience continues, you are signalled to walk out first.
One foot in front of the other, you feel all eyes on the room direct towards you as cameras pan your way. You smile and wave as years of training make it all look effortless from the timing of your gestures, your eye-contact, your posture, and your expression.
Everything is calculated right down to instinct.
Dynamite walks out a second later with the kind of unpolished presence that immediately shifts the atmosphere—he’s overwhelming. Hands shoved into his pockets, expressions sharp, and he moves across the stage looking like he’s got better places to be. The studio lights catch against the hard lines of his jacket as the audience erupts louder at the sight of him, some screaming, others laughing at the visible bothered expression already written across his face.
And once you both sit down on the white velvet cushion, the show finally starts.
The interview session is particularly easy, being extremely similar to the questions the two of you received during the press conference. Nothing too devastating as all the questions were easily answered by mainly you with Dynamite keeping his response to a minimum. The hosts make sure to milk every interaction for content.
Then, they move onto the games and your gut is already telling you that this is where things could go wrong because despite having reassured yourself earlier on, something suddenly makes you feel uneasy.
“Since this collaboration is all fired up because of your explosive chemistry,” Sparky announces dramatically, “we prepared some challenges designed for couples!”
The audience goes feral. You feign an expression of pleasant surprise while Dynamite looks offended next to you.
“We aren’t a couple.” he snarks and the host only smiles even more.
“Exactly!” Sparky says, “That’s what makes this all fun.”
“Mr. Dynamite is always so serious—how does she even deal with this guy?” Jet teases, earning an immediate wave of laughter from the audience.
Out of the corner of your eye, you catch the blonde’s eye twitch.
Barely suppressing a smile, you let out a small, polite laugh of your own for timing, before smoothly stepping in to steer things back before he decides to explode on live television.
“He’s not exactly the variety show type,” you add lightly, smiling before tossing him a sweet glance, “So I’m honestly just lucky he agreed to come with me today.”
You pat the top of his hand that’s resting on his thigh, giving the audience what they want to see.
The crowd goes wild as the hosts mimic their reactions dramatically, with Sunny letting out a whistle before he redirects the program back to its original flow.
“Wow, what a sweet little pair we have over here!” Sunny starts, making eye contact with you, giving you an almost teasing smile, “But now let’s move onto our first challenge called: Same Page!”
At that, the audience cheers, “The viewers are already familiar with the mechanics, but for our two esteemed guests, it is a timed game where both participants must respond to prompts simultaneously. Answer the questions correctly and you get a point!” the host explains as the two of you are then handed a whiteboard and a marker.
Nodding, you recall having seen this before and know that despite being framed as a ‘couple’s’ game, the questions are tolerable enough to apply to both you and the blonde next to you.
“Alright, question number 1!” Sunny says, voice loud and projecting as he riles up the audience. The live-band giving the man a drum-roll as the screen behind the two of you switches, showing the question.
“Who would survive longer in the other person’s industry?” Sunny reads and the audience makes a sound of anticipation.
You almost roll your eyes at the question, knowing that you most likely wouldn’t last a day on the field. Not necessarily because you aren’t physically fit or that you doubt your mental capacity, but really just because of the fact that you’re… quirkless.
“Hey, c’mon, isn’t this question kinda stacked against her?” Jet says and Sparky asks why, and yet you notice something in Jet’s expression.
The man with fitting jet black hair makes a certain face before he cracks specific jokes. Jokes that bring out his roots as a comedian, or in other words, how he can say the most horrible things about other people and yet still make the audience laugh.
You noticed it ever since the first time you guested on the show when you were 17—a naive rookie, brand new to the field and just excited to go on such a popular show with your other girl group members at the time. It’s a far off memory, but the face Jet made back then is still clear in your head as your first memory of appearing on a variety show quickly became a bitter moment to look back on.
And just like déjà vu, he’s looking at his co-hosts, at the audience, then at you, with that same face you saw 8 years ago. You feel a chill run up your spine as you brace yourself for whatever he was going to say next.
Laughing before he even says it, Jet’s face blanks for a moment, creating a pause—anticipation, making the audience wait for what’s next. Wanting to hear what he’ll say knowing that it’ll sting, but will still come off as polished enough to be laughable.
Cracking into a sickening grin, Jet finally opens his mouth. “Because our Gold Star here doesn’t even have a quirk!”
As if on cue, the audience, Jet, and Sparky laugh as you throw your face up into a smile, purposefully squinting your eyes to make it look genuine, as you make yourself laugh with them as well.
You see Sunny throwing up an awkward smile, but in his eyes, you see him say ‘I’m sorry,’ and you don’t blame him in the slightest. After all, both of you know better than anyone that this entire industry—no matter how glamorous it may be—is all just a ruse built to turn people into entertainment first and human beings second.
“There’s no way she’ll last a day out there!” Jet continues as the room keeps laughing along with him.
Then, the two of you are told to flip your boards, making the audience laugh even louder at your answers as it is exactly what Jet predicted as both held the printed words: Dynamite.
Honestly, you don’t really want to look at your campaign partner at the moment. You know you aren’t going to break down or shed a tear—you’re too professional for that. However, you can’t deny that after you deliberately built a name for yourself so big that it overshadows the fact that you were born within the 20% of the population—hearing it become a big joke to the hundreds of people currently in the room undoubtedly hurts.
Keeping a smile on your face, you distract yourself by fake laughing as you clean your whiteboard. Hearing the laughter die down, you expect you’re about to move onto the next question, already more than ready to put this behind you before your ears swiftly perk up.
“The hell’s so funny about that?” a gruff voice suddenly says flatly and the room lapses into silence, the hosts and yourself suddenly looking at Dynamite with wide eyes.
Jet looks offended, clearly not expecting any pushback. “It’s just a joke, Dynamite—”
However, unfortunately for him, the blonde only raises a brow before cutting him off, not shying away from looking Jet in the eye.
“I’ve seen quirkless people work harder than all of you fuckin’ assholes,” he says and internally you cringe, knowing that you should probably stop him but he keeps going before you could muster up an idea on what to actually do, looking at the audience with an almost far-away look in his eyes—as if he’s thinking of someone in particular.
“And I’ve seen someone like that become a hero.” Dynamite says and the air tightens before he clicks his tongue, “So don’t act like somebody not havin’ a quirk is a damn punchline.”
For a second, you can tell that nobody knows how to react. Even yourself—you’re dumbfounded and yet, at the same time impressed. Throughout all your years in the industry, you have never seen somebody stand up to untouchable people like Jet who have such ironclad reputations.
But then again, it clicks in your head in a way that is almost fond. Of course Dynamite would do that.
He looks at you, and for the first time during the whole show, you have no idea what expression you’re wearing.
Fixing you with a stare that doesn’t hold his usual glare, irritation, or indifference. This time, in your eyes, he looks kind.
In a way that is nearly lame, you unknowingly smile as you think to yourself that the man you’re looking at right now really is a hero.
“Wow, Dynamite’s a little fired up today!” Jet quips, obviously trying to move on, though his statement lands awkwardly.
And at this moment, as the room still hasn’t relaxed, you turn to the audience and let out a soft breath before giving a close-mouthed, small smile.
“Thank you Dynamite for being straightforward, as always,” you say lightly into the mic, voice smooth enough to slide over the tension instead of pressing into it and a few polite laughs return.
You tilt your head slightly, letting the moment become a joke with the audience instead of at him.
“I think we all know that he’s the type who says what he means,” you add, adding a gently teasing tone, “Which is something I really respect, but it does still shock me at times how blunt he can be.” you say.
That statement earns a bigger reaction from the audience and even the hosts, safer laughter, and you feel the earlier rhythm slowly getting restored.
You look at Dynamite for a moment, finding that he’s been looking at you this whole time.
“But I think what he meant is simple,” you pause, the timing deliberate, almost mirroring Jet’s own cadence. “That while Jet meant well, no one should be reduced to a joke just because of something they were born with. I, along with other quirkless folk, are truly grateful for his earlier sentiment. Thank you, Dynamite.”
At this, the audience claps.
And just then, you swear you could see the hint of a smirk on his face.
“But anyway,” continuing, smoothly, turning slightly back toward the hosts, “Before we were interrupted, I think we were about to move onto the next question?”
Catching Sunny’s eyes, he gives you a grateful nod as he instinctively laughs, grabbing the shift in atmosphere you just gave them. “Alright—HOOOOO WEEEE, was that tense—now, moving on…”
The audience laughs, the energy resets, and you find yourself relieved.
—
Now, both you and Dynamite have finished the remaining questions in the first game, Same Page, the hosts have now moved onto the next portion of the show with the previous tense atmosphere having been completely forgotten by now.
And although you arguably felt lighter, the introduction of the next challenge made your stomach drop.
“Moving on to the next challenge: the Spotlight Showdown!” Sunny says, energy high as the audience is audibly excited as well. “But this time, we’ll do things a little differently.”
“Many viewers may not know this,” Jet says excitedly, “but before becoming an actress, she actually ranked first in the finals of the survival idol program Final Ascent: 9! Debuting as the center in the idol group CHÉRIS.”
At this, you can confirm that you feel absolutely sick. Casting what looks like a composed look towards Sunny, you can tell he knows you’re panicked based on your eyes but he only looks at you and mouths ‘Sorry.’
Old clips flash on the screens behind and you shudder, eyes widening in horror.
There it was, 16 year old you under harsh stage lights, hair dyed a light brown, and eyeliner slightly smudged from the sweat dripping down your face.
You stood in a practice room with 15 out of the initial 20 girls you entered the competition with. Clothes clinging onto your body from sweat as the camera focused on you repeating a singular 8-count choreography for the umpteenth time.
A girl you remember who didn’t debut, Riko, you called her, had stumbled during practice and the sound of a sharp correction cut through the room from the instructor as you saw some of the other girls flinching while you looked over at Riko warily.
The next few clips were of you during various missions, dancing and singing to whatever trendy song was given to your group. Then, they showed you during the Final Rankings—the time where the judges announced who were the lucky 9 of the remaining 13 that would debut. Your jaw’s clenched, eyes glassy, and gaze straight forward.
You could remember that day with incredible clarity—unable to forget what it felt like to stand on that stage and win—like it hadn’t happened nine years ago at all.
Seeing your face split into shock, then relief, before a few tears slowly spilt down your teenage face as they showed you standing on the podium for #1.
“This is where her nickname Gold Star came from! Being known as the best performer who worked exceptionally great under pressure.” Sparky says and turns to look at you, “You were incredibly popular!”
Then, suddenly laughing, Sparky directs the audience’s attention towards the screen once again. “And this was Dynamite during that same era, winning first place as well during his first year sports festival at UA!”
The clip showed a young blonde, tied to a wooden plank, a muzzle around his mouth, and evidently furious.
The audience laughs at the sight and you hear Dynamite scoff.
“A power couple if I’ve ever seen one!” Jet quips.
“But moving back to our segment, Spotlight Showdown, we would like to ask the two of you to dance to a particularly booming trend back in the day that was popularized by none other than the Golden Girl herself! Everybody knew the dance!” Sparky says.
And just then, music from your debut song, PON PON HEARTBEAT!, and you suddenly feel an incoming headache.
“Oh my gosh,” you say, smiling awkwardly, as the audience starts chanting ‘Gold Star’ over and over—making you realize that there really is no way out of this.
Briefly, you bury your face in your hands before reluctantly standing up as you say “This is cruel!” jokingly, making the audience laugh.
“Dynamite! Don’t forget you’re part of this game too!” Sunny says and somehow, they manage to get him to stand up despite him being visually and audibly resistant.
Now both of you appear to be on death row, simply waiting for the chorus that’ll be your final execution.
“I don’t want to do this.” you say under your breath.
“Wanna bail?” Dynamite then asks you, looking dead serious.
Looking him in the eye, you can’t help the plotting smile that comes onto your face, “But then I wouldn’t be able to see you dance.”
His eyes widened at that as the pre-chorus slowly started playing, and rest went about as well as one could imagine.
You admittedly recall all of the steps—it was ingrained into you after months of practice and perfecting—and muscle memory takes over embarrassingly fast.
The audience goes wild.
Turning over to look at Dynamite, a smile on your face that says while you are embarrassed, you are kind of enjoying this, but the sight of him catches you off guard as you can’t help but laugh at what you were seeing.
Dynamite straight up turned on his heel and walked off stage, ignoring the calls of the hosts as the audience let out a collective chuckle.
Looking dumbfounded, Sunny scratches the back of his head.
“Really can’t tell that guy to do anything, huh? Though, I wouldn’t expect any less from Japan’s #2,” he says before snapping his fingers as the band starts playing the ending theme song of their show. “And I guess that wraps it up for Tonight in Musutafu!” the host says before looking over his shoulder with one final sigh.
“He really isn’t coming back is he?”
—
Once the segment finally ended, you’re being escorted backstage by Watanabe as you’re in between ‘I’m exhausted’ and ‘that just happened.’ Not quite sure how to feel about what transpired before being told by Watanabe that everything went great.
“Don’t worry,” Watanabe tells you as you enter your dressing room, “That was actually perfect. People are already eating it up online!”
Mio already waiting for you inside, she helps you take off your blazer, asking her assistant to get you more comfortable clothing.
“That man just abandoned a live broadcast,” Mio mutters with an airy laugh “And somehow it will trend for three days! How nonsensical is that!” she says and you can’t help but giggle, agreeing with her.
Expecting that to be the end of it, you tell yourself that you’ll fuss over the details later on, but for now, you needed to 1) change into a comfier outfit, 2) decompress, and 3) drink that hot cup of tea Mio’s assistant appears to have prepared for you.
And 20 minutes later, you have done exactly that, feeling rather satisfied as the rest of your team is simply preparing to leave.
However, a staff member suddenly sticks their head into your dressing room.
At first, you don’t pay that much mind to it knowing that whatever it is, Watanabe will take care of it. But then they say something that catches your attention.
“—Dynamite didn’t leave—” is all you hear before you’re turning your head and raising an eyebrow.
You swore you saw that man walk off, determined to never return.
“What?” Watanabe asks the staff member who just shrugs.
“He’s outside, his assistant says he’s waiting.”
“For what?” you ask before you could stop yourself.
At this, the staff member looks at you and you see them hesitating before sheepishly answering.
“You.”
—
WHAT’S TRENDING MUSUTAFU OFFICIAL
🚨 “GROUND MUSE” DOMINATES AGAIN AFTER TONIGHT IN MUSUTAFU AIRS — VIEWERS FAWN OVER DYNAMITE’S ON-AIR DEFENSE 🚨
Last night’s episode of Tonight in Musutafu has officially detonated across every platform imaginable after Japan’s #2 Pro-Hero, Dynamite, interrupted a live broadcast to shut down a controversial joke aimed at his co-guest, Amuse Inc. 's rising actress. 💥
The moment came during the ‘Same Page’ segment when the comedian co-host, Tetsuya Kinoshita or better known as Jet, made an offhand comment about the actress’ quirklessness. Before production could even recover, Dynamite visibly snapped back, calling out the remark on-air and refusing to let it pass as comedy.
What followed stunned both the audience and production as the Pro-Hero ended the show early by walking off stage mid-broadcast—leaving the hosts hanging during the ‘Spotlight Showdown’ portion of the show as he refused to dance. 🚨
But what happened AFTER the broadcast is what truly sent the internet into overdrive as multiple staff members reportedly saw Dynamite remain on-site long after he was ‘seen leaving.’ One eyewitness claims he was spotted outside the studio area, still waiting.
Even more surreal? The two were later seen heading out of the vicinity together, though direction and destination remain unconfirmed.
No official statement has been released by either party so fans are simply left waiting for what comes next from this explosive new pair! 💥💥
#GroundMuse #Dynamite #TonightInMusutafu #WhatsTrending #GroundZero #AmuseInc
👍 512K 💬 88.4K Comments ↪️ 100.9K Shares
TOP COMMENTS
EriNakamura
THE FACT THAT HE WAS STILL WAITING FOR HER AFTER??? I need oxygen 😭
👍 198K · Reply · 47m
↳ YuiTanaka
It’s giving BOYFRIENDDD
👍 160K · Reply · 52m
RinKobayashi
bro really risked national broadcast just to avoid choreography 💀
👍 98K · Reply · 58m
HanaSato
THE WAY HE JUST WALKED OFF LIKE “not my genre” 😭😭😭
👍 155K · Reply · 1h
↳ YuiTanaka
he heard “dance challenge” and said fuck no
👍 72K · Reply · 54m
↳ ShunHayashi
no because what were they gonna do?? stop him???
👍 88K · Reply · 52m
ColdTakeOnly
The way people are ignoring the actual broadcast issue and focusing on shipping is… predictable.
👍 95K · Reply · 44m
NoFilterFan
this is what happens when you force a man of war into a variety show
👍 44K · Reply · 1h
KenWatanabe
he left but didn’t leave??? what is this man doing 😭
👍 110K · Reply · 1h
DaichiRen
Jet - 0
Dynamite - 1
👍 120K · Reply · 49m
KazuSakamoto
the way the whole studio went silent after he spoke… chills
👍 118K · Reply · 58m
MioTakeda
the fact that he defended her earlier AND still ended up walking off later is what’s sending me 😭
👍 121K · Reply · 1h
KaitoMoriyama
so let me get this straight: he shut down the joke, stayed for the rest, refused to dance, LEFT, then got spotted with her again???
👍 178K · Reply · 58m
↳ YuiTanaka
They are definitely dating because wth??
👍 102K · Reply · 52m
↳ ShunHayashi
Murder Explosion God Dynamite, I was not familiar with your game
👍 110K · Reply · 49m