Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bakugou Katsuki, the boy Tomura asked us to kidnap, is locked up in the bar’s warehouse, tied to a chair. His hands are secured in a device that prevents him from creating explosions, and Dabi has put the gag back on him. I entered so silently that he didn’t even notice. I wonder what he’s thinking as he stares at those special handcuffs… He looks really cute with that absorbed expression!

Tomura is angry because he couldn’t convince him to join us. But he didn’t let me slit his throat right away: the boss says he wants to try again, and if Katsuki still doesn’t listen, he’ll torture him to get everything he knows about heroes and U.A., and then he’ll kill him. Not everyone agrees on this plan though. Oh well, in the meantime, I won’t waste this opportunity! I’ll have some fun with him! He’ll definitely agree to play with me!

As soon as I get closer, Katsuki lifts his gaze and glares at me. Such a feisty one, fufu! I hold up the bowl and glass in my hands to calm him down, smiling.

“Hi! You must be thirsty, right? And I brought you some ramen. Let me take that gag off.”

I set the bowl and glass on a small table. Katsuki lets me do it, though he doesn’t seem happy about it.

“Untie me or I’ll kill you!”

Just as I expected! He’s so funny when he yells that I can’t help but giggle. What was that name I heard telepathically? Oh yeah…

“I can’t, Kacchan, but-”

“Don’t call me that!”

“But your friend did, and it’s a cute nickname.”

“I’ll deal with that damn nerd later!”

“Mmmh, then I’ll call you Tsuki, that’s even cuter! Right?”

“If you’re not gonna be useful, get lost, bitch.”

Did he just growl? This guy is seriously interesting!

“Oh, right, I haven’t introduced myself. My name’s Toga Himiko. Here’s your water.”

He drinks without making any more threats. Poor thing, but it’s only natural that he’d be thirsty after yelling so much. When he finishes, I pick up the ramen with chopsticks and prepare to feed him. Strangely, he refuses to open his mouth, except to yell at me: “I eat with my own fuck hands!”

“You can’t, Tsuki. If you don’t behave, you won’t get dinner.”

The smell of the food I lovingly prepared makes his stomach growl. I laugh, while he blushes and growls again. He’s so cute!

“When Jin took you to the bathroom…”

“Not another word! Just feed me already!”

Yay, he gave in! Despite some resistance, Tsuki devours the whole portion and asks for more water. Of course, I oblige. I also bring some mochi, we’ll need snacks for later.

“I want to try an experiment with you, Tsuki!” My announcement seems to put him on guard. “Relax, you just have to answer some questions.”

“I already told that hand-covered bastard-”

“This isn’t an interrogation,” I interrupt, laughing. “Well, not exactly. I’ll answer these questions too. Look…” I load a page on my phone and show it to him. “See? Two strangers answer this questionnaire in forty-five minutes and fall in love!”

“That’s bullshit.”

“Maybe. But this is the perfect chance to test it. And I’ll give you a reason to play along,” I add before he can refuse outright. “If you answer honestly, without cheating, I’ll set you free!”

 * * *

I stare at the crazy blonde for a few seconds. She’s not lying, but that doesn’t mean her buddies will actually let me go just because I take some stupid test. I tell her that, and unexpectedly, she laughs. What the hell is she always laughing about?!

“Tsuki, I’ll untie you and remove the cuffs. So, it’s not like I’m letting you escape, there are others right outside that door. But if you refuse, you’ll stay tied up until Tomura comes back, and he won’t be as nice this time.”

Having to play by this psycho’s rules pisses me off. But this is my best chance to finally get my hands free. I’ll make every single one of these bastards pay for kidnapping me! How the hell did they think I’d ever join this gang of rejects?!

I hate the way the blonde looks at me… Like she wants to eat me. And she hasn’t stopped smiling for a single second. She’s completely insane, but at least she didn’t force me to play in exchange for food and water. Speaking of which, the ramen was definitely homemade—not that instant crap I eat when I’m in a rush. But this could be a trap. Maybe they’re trying to make me lower my guard or something.

Still, I’ll use this situation to my advantage and break free. I nod sharply. It’ll be easy to take her down once I’m untied, especially if she tells me her quirk during the game.

The blonde squeals excitedly and claps her hands, thrilled by my participation. Does she seriously think I could fall for her? Not in a million years! She drags a crate closer to sit near me, all giddy, picks up her phone again, and starts reading the first question.

Chapter Text

“Who would you like to have as a dinner guest if you could choose anyone in the world?”

“Tsk, what a stupid question... All Might,” I answer, annoyed. It really is stupid. She’ll pay for all the time she’s making me waste.

“I’d choose Stainy!” the blonde replies excitedly. Wait, does she mean the Hero Killer? “But those kids I met yesterday were cute too... Izuku and Ochaco. They’re your friends, right, Tsuki?”

“No. Do you like Deku? You have shitty tastes.”

“He was all bruised and bleeding! So adorable! Do you think Ochaco is cuter? I took her blood, you know?”

She says it like it’s the most normal thing in the world. It almost gives me chills... almost! I take advantage of the moment to learn about her quirk, since she must have taken Round Face’s blood for a reason.

“And what the fuck do you do with Round Face’s blood, you psycho?”

Of course, I’m right: “Oh, it activates my quirk. If I drink it, I turn into her!”

The blonde blushes and giggles, staring at me. What does she want, a round of applause?

“Well, how long are you going to wait before reading the next question?”

* * *

“Would you like to be famous? For what?” I read with amusement. Katsuki is going to enjoy this game! Everyone likes talking about their passions!

“For being the number one hero.”

Too bad he’s obsessed with All Might and being a hero. Anyway, my turn: “Hmm, I never thought about becoming famous. Buuut maybe I’d want to be a YouTuber. Stainy’s videos get lots of views, right? I’d make them too—stalking cute people, collecting their blood, transforming, and maybe getting advice in the comments on who to drain next!”

He stiffens and yells at me: “You’re a murderer... a crazy, bloodthirsty, fucking lunatic!”

I don’t understand. He was almost relaxed before, so why is he angry now? What he just said wasn’t nice at all, but I have to show him I’m not upset. He’s just stressed about being kidnapped… if I stay polite, he’ll calm down again.

“Why, thank you, Tsuki! Yes, I might have killed a few people, but what can I do if blood is so delicious and makes people look prettier?”

“You want to slit my throat like you said before! Don’t-“

That accusation is really unfair! I stop smiling and look at him seriously. I cut him off coldly: “A little, yes, but we made a deal, Tsuki, and I’m not going to break it. Do you want to continue the questions, or are we canceling the deal?”

Katsuki notices my change in mood. I hope he doesn’t ruin everything—we’ve only just started! Luckily, after a few seconds of thought, he answers: “... Keep going, bitch.”

“Perfect!” I cheer, brightening up again. Apparently, he just can’t help being rude, but if swearing makes him feel more comfortable, there’s nothing I can do about it. I read the next question: “Do you ever rehearse what you’re going to say before making a phone call? Why?”

“No, never.”

“Not exactly, but I often imagine how a conversation will go. For example, before coming to see you, I did!” And guess what? Things are going just as I imagined! More or less...

“Shut up and read!”

* * *

“What’s a perfect day for you?”

As soon as she reads the question, the crazy girl bursts out laughing. At this rate, she’s going to give me a headache! She probably realized today is the exact opposite of my typical day.

“What the hell are you laughing at?! Stop! A perfect day is one where no one pisses me off!”

“And?”

“And nothing. I prove I’m the best, the strongest.”

“For me, it would be chatting with friends at school, coming home to a loving family, going out in the evening with a boyfriend...”

She looks at her phone like she’s seeing those things in front of her. She seems... melancholic. She needs a reality check.

“News flash: if you hadn’t turned to crime, that would’ve been a normal day for you, idiot.”

She immediately lifts her head and stares at me, disappointed, like I just failed a basic logic test. Who the hell does she think she is?!

“You think it was my choice? It just happened, Tsuki. But I’m happy,” she continues, regaining her energy. “Now I have real friends, and together we’ll create a simpler, more fun world!”

“Spare me your psychotic ideals and keep going,” I order, before she starts preaching her leader’s bullshit.

She happily obeys: “When was the last time you sang to yourself? And in front of someone else?”

“Never.”

“Impossible!” the lunatic protests, incredulous.

“What the hell do you know?!” I snap. Like I’d ever start singing! Though, when I was younger... “Fine, listening to my MP3, okay?!”

“Okay. Sometimes when I skip around, I start humming, depending on how happy I feel. I sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Sakura about four months ago.”

What a pain! These questions are getting dumber and dumber!

Chapter Text

“If you had the chance to live until you’re ninety while keeping either the mind or the body of a thirty-year-old for the last sixty years of your life, which one would you choose?”

“My mind. I can just train every day to keep my body in shape.”

I blush and cover my mouth, swinging my legs. My shoes make soft thumping sounds against the wood. “And damn, does it show, Tsuki!” I exclaim excitedly. Katsuki is a muscular and handsome guy! It makes me want to get down and touch his arm or chest or...

“Stop staring at me, you freak! And don’t come any closer!”

Wow, I was almost standing up! I giggle, embarrassed, and adjust myself back on the crate. Too bad. Maybe later, he’ll be more willing to let me touch him. Otherwise, I’ll just do it without permission!

“I’d choose the body. I like being cute.” Curious and a little flirty, I ask him: “Do you think I’m cute, Tsuki?”

“I think you’re irritating and annoying. I would’ve blown you up by now!”

“You’re so funny!” I reply because he’s blushing. Oh, he’s a fantastic playmate! After the experiment, I hope he’ll be something more. I hope he likes me as much as I like him!

* * *

“Do you have a secret feeling about how you’ll die?”

I barely listen, still shocked by her previous provocation. She makes me so mad! She’s an annoying little psycho! But appearance-wise... she’s more than just cute. Of course, I’ll never admit that out loud. She doesn’t deserve it.

“What a dumb question. I guess I’ll die after an epic battle... at ninety.”

“See? You’re funny,” she says between giggles. “I think I’ll be killed by a fake hero. I managed to escape just in time yesterday!”

Her statement surprises me. Did she seriously think Deku or any of the extras would have killed her?! I need to clarify: “Hah? Are you that messed up?! Heroes don’t kill! Especially not the extras!”

“Are you really sure?” she asks, doubtful.

“Well, making an exception for you would be easy. But I’m serious, only another lunatic like Stain would kill you.”

“I wonder what Stainy would think of you,” she ponders, playing with a knife. Where the hell did that come from?! “You consider yourself a real hero, right, Tsuki? So, even if you always yell and threaten me, you wouldn’t actually hurt me.”

“There’s a difference between hurting and killing, you freak. And I don’t give a fuck what that killer thinks of me!”

She needs to understand that I’m dangerous. I can become her worst nightmare, but I’m not a killer, and I have no interest in becoming one… even if sometimes certain extras seem to be begging for it.

“Deku… Stainy likes him. Spinner said so too.”

“I’m telling you, his opinion means nothing!”

Why does everyone always have to bring up that loser?! I’m ten thousand times better than him in every way! If a villain doesn’t realize that, then too bad for them—it just means they’re beneath me.

* * *

“List three things that you and your partner seem to have in common.”

“Three? That many? Let’s see...”

Since Katsuki seems to be struggling, I decide to go first: “Our blonditude! Or blondity! Or blondness! Whatever, we’re both blonde!”

He stares at me in disbelief for a few seconds before commenting, “The more I talk to you, the more I realize how seriously messed up you are.”

“We’re also both cute!”

“I’m not cute!” Tsuki protests, blushing—whether from anger or embarrassment, I’m not sure. Is he serious? He’s adorable! But I correct myself: “Okay, fine. Handsome, then. And young! Your turn.”

He huffs, clearly annoyed at having to list positive things we share, then says: “We’re both proud of our quirks... We both have strong beliefs—yours are nonsense, but you’re stubborn about them, and we know some of the same people.”

I give him a short round of applause for the effort. He turns his head away; maybe he doesn’t realize that I genuinely appreciated it.

“What things in your life are you most grateful for?”

“My quirk.”

“Really? That’s all?”

* * *

She’s really pissing me off with these constant challenges! My quirk is incredible, how does she not get that?! I try to knock some logic into that empty skull of hers: “Of course! You think I could’ve become a hero without it?!”

She tries to argue her point: “But explosions destroy things. You could’ve decided to be a villain and still been the strongest of all.”

“Heroes always win, psycho.”

“That’s not true! We kidnapped you, and you could’ve died, so the heroes would’ve lost!”

“And yet here I am, just tied up and forced to take some dumb-ass test with a psychotic freak! They’ll find you, and I can handle myself.”

Finally, that gets through to her. The blonde stares at me, doubtful, maybe because she knows I’m right but doesn’t want to admit it.

“You’re so confident, Tsuki... Hmm, I feel lucky to have found the League. They’re all amazing!”

She pauses, but I don’t reply. No point in wasting my breath. She should already know that, to me, they’re worse than extras.

She reads the next question: “If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?”

“Nothing, I’m perfect.”

The psycho giggles, though she looks melancholic again.

“I’d change my parents. Or at least their personality. I want parents who actually love me.”

That’s probably the most reasonable thing she’s said so far. Still, knowing she’s a psychotic murderer, I have a bad feeling about what happened to her parents. And let’s be honest: if I had a kid who became a villain, I wouldn’t just be disappointed. I’d be pissed as hell and slap the shit out of them.

I ask her: “Are your parents dead?”

The blonde shakes her head. “No, they’re taking care of my little brother and sister.”

Huh. So she’s still sane enough to care about her family. I guess that’s... something positive.

Chapter Text

“Take four minutes and tell your partner the story of your life in as much detail as possible.”

“What?!” Katsuki exclaims, clearly annoyed. Fufu, he’s so funny when he gets all riled up!

“Come on, Tsuki, there must be some important episodes," I tell him. I’m really curious! What will he decide to tell me?

“You go first.”

“Uh, okay,” I reply, a little taken aback.

This is a tougher question than the others: I have to choose the most important moments of my life to make Katsuki understand who I am. It takes me a few seconds to organize my thoughts. I just feel bad that I don’t think he’ll find much to appreciate. Maybe it’s a good thing I’m going first, so I can enjoy his story more afterward.

“I was born on August 7th, seventeen years ago. When I was four, I discovered my quirk... I had found a bleeding little bird in the garden, I thought it was beautiful, so I showed it to Mom and Dad, and then I bit it. At that age, I didn’t know it would die, it just felt natural to do it... but my parents got really mad, and that was the first time they called me abnormal and crazy. They took me to a doctor, and that’s when all three of us found out it was a transformation quirk, but they thought I had to hide it… maybe even say I didn’t have one at all.”

Tasting the bird’s blood was pure joy, I remember it vividly even though I was so little. I had held that tiny feathered thing in my hands, and at first, my parents hadn’t said anything. The red substance staining the bird fascinated me more than the bird itself. They only realized it a little later when, all excited, I tasted another living being’s blood for the first time. And I loved it!

But they hated what they saw, and I spent the rest of the day crying. Even the following days, I was sad and angry: all kids look forward to the day their quirk manifests, and I had to pretend I didn’t have one! It was so unfair! It’s not like I chose to have a transformation quirk! In a way, it was their fault, wasn’t it? Some mix of their DNA. I only thought of that years later in science class.

Even now, the thought makes me sad because I was just a child who knew little to nothing about the world, yet my mom and dad treated me like… well, like a monster.

“I don’t remember much from before, but from that moment on, they definitely stopped loving me. They scolded me every time I did something ‘not normal.’ Hiding my quirk wasn’t enough—I had to find blood disgusting, not get excited during horror movies, always follow the rules, do well in school, and so many other things. I always liked school, I had lots of friends!”

Oh yes! I really liked school! At home, I could only study or help with chores, so it’s no surprise I got good grades. But the best part was being liked by so many people! Well… up to a point, since they only knew part of me. More than once, when I got closer to my friends, I tried talking to them about my quirk… and they’d say, ‘Ew, blood! Now I get why you never use it!’ or things like that. It was discouraging… I had no choice but to nod and go back to flashing my everything’s fine, I’m the happiest, most normal girl in the world smile.

“But every day, I felt more and more like… like I was going to explode. Handling knives made me feel better, and… I hurt some stray animals to relieve myself. I felt sorry for them, but I couldn’t help it...”

I often couldn’t sleep at night, so I secretly practiced with knives. During the day, I’d do anything to stay out late before going home. The situation there was getting unbearable. It was so strange, what I felt back then: I wanted to please my parents because I loved them, but I was also angry at them; I was happy at school, but I knew my classmates and teachers admired only a part of who I really was; and as a way to cope with my stress, I killed poor strays, regretting it and blaming others for it.

Unexpectedly, Katsuki asks me a question: “Did those bastards hit you?”

He actually seems concerned… I wonder what kind of expression I have right now; I don’t think I’m smiling. I feel really down. Oh well, better to finish quickly, we’re supposed to be having fun!

“Huh? No, not exactly. Mostly, they punished me by making me skip dinner, not letting me go out, taking away my phone, or locking me in my room for a week. As I got older, they cared less and less about me and focused only on my little siblings... They wouldn’t even let me near them, afraid I’d hurt them or something.”

And I hated them for that! I would never hurt Hideki or Kyoko! Never! I love my little brother and sister! I barely got to spend time with them, and mostly in secret, and now I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again…

“Then one day, at school, I saw Saito bleeding after a fight. It was love at first sight—or so I thought. I was going to confess to him, but… I acted on instinct, and the next thing I knew, I was drinking blood from him. I finally felt free, happy to be me and not some perfect doll, yet everyone looked at me with disgust, fear, and hatred... So I ran away, I didn’t know what else to do, I was scared… No one asked me how I was! How I felt! They just wanted to know how I could do such a thing, what kind of monster I was, and why, why, why! S-So I threw away my phone, and- and... N-No one ever really cared about Himiko, not my parents, not the doctors, not anyone! They all just wanted a normal girl!”

And I start crying.

Because it was when I was out on the streets, lost, still shaken by what had happened, that I realized I was alone. My parents had already given up on me long ago, even though they sent me to doctors and quirk specialists. It was all just to keep up appearances. My entire life had been an act, now that I think about it, at least until that day.

I waited and waited, disappointment after disappointment, before finally throwing away my old phone. Not a single person had worried about me! From being a model student, I had become a monster in everyone’s eyes! Maybe only my little siblings still cared about me, but knowing my parents, they were probably already feeding them lies about their big sister…

But that day, I didn’t cry. I was too sad and numb to do it. I just walked around the city for hours until I was completely exhausted. And then it hit me: I wasn’t the problem. Society was. They made my life hard with all their rules and expectations! I was completely normal. I just wanted to be myself. And did I have the courage to stay true to my real self? Yes!

So, it was a terrible day, but I got something good out of it. Still, now, I’m crying for everything I had to leave behind and everything I was always denied. Not that I regret my choice. I fully embrace it, especially now that I’m in the League! I’m not alone anymore, and I’ll never have to wear a mask again—it’s wonderful!

I just… I realize now how unhappy I was before, all because of other people. Crying it all out now feels almost freeing, like I’m finally leaving behind the fake, liked version of myself, who more than anything just wanted to be understood… and hugged.

* * *

I feel an unpleasant churning inside… damn it, I actually feel bad for the crazy girl! I’ll admit she had shitty parents, but there’s no way I’m justifying her. Earlier, she asked me if it all depends on her quirk… well, not entirely. I mean, Explosion is amazing, but not everyone would know how to handle it as well as I do—I can use its full potential perfectly. I’m convinced that’s what separates a hero from just some random extra.

So no, the blonde didn’t become a killer just because of her quirk. That could’ve happened to Deku, for example, and he wouldn’t have killed anyone. Unfortunately, I know him well enough to say that, like the nerdy piece of shit he is, he would’ve analyzed Transformation and figured out a way to use it to be a hero. And besides, she said herself that she’s been to several psychologists. Whatever the reason her parents sent her to those head-shrinkers, they did it, and she didn’t get better.

She pulls her legs up to her chest and buries her face in her knees. I look away… doesn’t she realize that like this, I can see way too much of her legs?! Damn it! But I don’t say anything and just wait for her to finish letting it out.

Little by little, her sobs quiet down. In the meantime, I’ve decided to spare her the usual insults like ‘psycho,’ ‘crazy,’ and all the synonyms: she’s been hearing those since she was a kid, so they’re not exactly original. The blonde pulls out a pink tissue and starts tidying herself up.

It’s time for me to start my story: “I’m sixteen. Explosion showed up when I was in kindergarten. The teachers and the other kids immediately understood that I was special, that I’d become a hero. Since I was little, I was always looking for opponents to defeat and adventures to go on. I was the leader of a group of kids, and I admired All Might a lot. Your Deku always followed me around—maybe he thought he could be like me, but he was just a quirkless loser. Middle school was fine, I guess. Nothing really important happened… until that bastard villain attack… You know about him, right?”

I ask her to make sure I’m not talking to myself.

The villain sits back up. Her eyes are red and her face is puffy from crying, but she smiles naturally.

“Yeah,” she answers, looking in my direction. She takes a few sips of water and starts swinging her legs again, though more lazily this time.

Perfect, she’s back to normal. We’ve already wasted enough time.

“Mhm. After that, I thought I was finally done with Deku, but somehow, he ended up in my class. By then, I was already determined to surpass All Might, and there was nothing suggesting I’d fail… Not that anything’s changed—I can do it, and I will—but after my first few days at U.A., I realized I had to change my perspective. I had to learn new tactics and improve my quirk before I could accomplish my goal. And in the meantime, I had to put Deku in his place!”

“He has a quirk.”

“He says it developed late.” It’s bullshit, but I still haven’t figured out a better explanation.

“And what about your parents? Got any friends in class? Or better yet, a crush?!”

Yeah, she’s definitely back to normal. And back to bugging the hell out of me!

“Tsk, my folks are fine, I guess. I don’t mind Shitty Hair. And I don’t have time for that kind of nonsense.”

I’m at U.A. to become a hero, not to make friends or get a girlfriend.

Chapter Text

Katsuki was such a sweetheart: he didn’t make any comments about my tears, he waited for me to calm down, and when he spoke, his tone seemed gentler than before. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but I like to think it’s true.

We really are complete opposites, our lives couldn’t be more different! I wonder what caused that… Fate? Chance? Our choices? In the end, I don’t really care. I’m sure everything will turn out fine! Just look at this moment: despite our differences, tonight we’re here, together, talking like real friends.

He’s lived his life to the fullest from the very start, while I only started doing so a few months ago. He’s had a goal for a long time, and now, thanks to Tomura, I have one too! Wow, I could learn so much from him!

“If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any skill or quality, what would it be?”

“Explosion is enough for me. I don’t need another quirk.”

“But it wasn’t talking about quirks! You could become a master chef, for example. Fufu, you’d look great in an apron.”

I giggle, imagining Tsuki in the kitchen wearing a pink apron with written Kiss the Cook.

“Let’s say... tolerating extras, then,” he replies dryly.

“I’d want to be a vampire! That way, I could drink blood in peace.”

Vampires are considered romantic these days, right? That means people would willingly let me drink their blood. I imagine fangs are less intimidating than a knife. Too bad I don’t have a vampire quirk!

* * *

“If you could look into a crystal ball and see the truth about yourself, your life, your future, or anything else, what would you want to know?”

I hate this test in general, but I especially hate theoretical questions! This stuff is impossible! Who the hell cares?! Still, I guess it’s better to get annoyed than to talk about personal things. I go with what I think most people would say: “What numbers will be drawn in tomorrow’s lottery.”

“Oh, smaaaart! I’d want to know if we’re alone in the universe.”

“Why…? No, never mind, I’d rather not comment.”

Shit, I almost fell into the trap of extending this torture willingly! Remember, Katsuki: only ask her questions to catch her and her villain friends! Whatever this blonde thinks doesn’t matter! And why the hell do you think she wants to meet an alien? Probably just to try a new kind of blood.

“Is there something you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?”

“Becoming a hero, and I am doing it.”

“Becoming like Stainy, but he’s in prison, so I can’t take his blood,” she says, disappointed.

“Turn yourself in, maybe they’ll give you a honeymoon cell,” I suggest sarcastically.

“Oh wow, do those exist?! But no, I’d rather stay free. I’ll just wait for him to escape or something.”

I count to ten… there’s no point in getting mad over dumb shit like this. Actually, it’s better for me if the villain doesn’t catch my sarcasm… might make it easier to fool her.

“What’s the most important milestone you’ve reached in your life, or your greatest achievement?”

I’ve had a lot of victories, but if I had to pick the most important one: “I won first place at the sports festival, even though that Half-and-Half Bastard robbed me of a real victory!”

“Oh, is that why you were mad during the award ceremony?”

“Yeah, that wasn’t the time to have an identity crisis, he should’ve fought!”

Speaking of which, there’s another person who had shitty parents! Okay, just one. The point is, Half-and-Half Bastard didn’t turn into a criminal. Neither did his siblings. They’re civilians, now that I think about it. They can’t use their quirks.

This makes me realize that the League is full of weaklings who couldn’t handle their struggles, blamed others for their own failings, and now think they’re some kind of grand revolutionaries. No one forced them to use their quirks. If they wanted to use them that badly, they could’ve become heroes or found jobs where quirks were allowed. And yet… No, no what-ifs. They were wrong. They’ll pay for what they’ve done.

“I see. For me, just being here talking with you is a big accomplishment.”

“Tsk!”

See?! For her, a major achievement is successfully kidnapping me! How the hell am I supposed to justify that?!

“It’s true. This is nice.”

She flashes a big, toothy grin and looks at me dreamily. It’s fucking creepy.

* * *

“What are the most important things to you in a friendship?”

As soon as I finish reading the question, I jump to my feet and exclaim, “Hugs!” Then I rush forward and wrap my arms around Katsuki. He thrashes like a fish, trying to push me off, maybe even headbutt me.

Tsuki yells, “Get off me, bitch!! We’re not friends!”

His outburst doesn’t scare me, it just makes me laugh. I let go, giggling, but instead of sitting back on the crate, I sit close to his legs. Would he have kicked me if he weren’t strapped down? His face is all red from the effort, and he’s grinding his teeth. I wonder if he’ll ever let me taste his blood on his own. It must be delicious! Oh, what an idea—I could tame him!

Finally, Tsuki stops struggling, takes deep breaths, and answers, “Respect and trust.”

“Yes! And being able to enjoy each other’s company. It’s important to talk to someone who really listens, doesn’t judge, and actually wants to help you. Someone who can make you smile even in tough times. I learned that from movies. In fact, my imaginary unicorn was super understanding, helpful, and funny!”

“Wow, for a second there, I almost took you seriously, Airhead.”

I don’t get what he means. It’s the truth! I had a unicorn plushie, and it was my favorite playmate.

Katsuki really loves criticizing things… another bad habit I’ll have to break. I mean, it’s fine to express opinions, but with tact, so no one gets hurt. Otherwise, how’s he supposed to make lots of friends?

Chapter Text

“What’s your most cherished memory?”

“When I discovered my quirk.”

I dread the Airhead’s answer. Yeah, I’m calling her that from now on. She switches from serious to absurd or downright ridiculous in seconds. And she hugged me, for fuck’s sake! She’s racking up punishments!

“I really don’t know… None of them are like a soft, cuddly plushie to hold onto, but by stitching them together, I can make a… Not a plushie, but a patchwork of memories! There’s my conversation with you, gossiping with Magne, confiding in Jin, discussing Stain with Dabi and Spinner, watching splatter movies with Moonfish and commenting on the Sports Festival recording that we all watched together! A blanket that hugs me.”

The Airhead hugs herself excitedly, swaying like a crazy pendulum while saying the last part, then ends up leaning on my leg. She lifts her head and looks at me with a cheerful expression.

I cannot believe her life actually improved after running away from home. She has a totally warped view of reality! Indeed, she thinks she’s my friend, and she couldn’t be more wrong!

The only thing I can believe is that she was lonely. It makes sense that a normal person wouldn’t... No, wait. I’m making the same mistake as those idiots—her parents. The blonde had never found someone she could confide in and thought everyone would judge her. That realization is weirdly unpleasant...

Why the fuck am I thinking of Deku?! He’s got nothing to do with this right now! Is it just because they’re both losers? Yeah, probably… They’re weak, pathetic losers. I wasn’t wrong. Deku tormented himself by constantly chasing after me!

“What are you thinking about, Tsuki? Want another hug? I do!”

“Too bad for you if you get any closer.”

The fact that she’s already way too close pisses me off, but she’ll pay for all of this with interest the moment I get free.

* * *

 “What’s your worst memory? Not this evening, I hope,” I quickly add.

Katsuki is angry, but not at me. He’s hard to understand. Obviously, that’s part of what makes him so interesting and fun—besides the fact that he looks adorable when he pouts! Still, I really want to see him smile. I just know he’d look even better!

“It’s definitely in the top ten… That sludge villain incident.”

Oh, please. Explodo-boy, I’ve been watching you answer these questions this whole time. I know when you’re lying. I scold him with a light tap on his knee: “You’re not being honest, Tsuki. At least say you don’t want to answer. I can accept that.”

He stares at me, surprised. I smile, confused. What’s the big deal? Did he not expect me to notice? Or maybe he thought I’d punish him for lying? He doesn’t seem like he wants to answer… Oh, I get it now. He’s mad at himself! It must be something really bad if he’s this hesitant…

“…I told a guy to kill himself. Happy now?!”

Whoa. That actually caught me off guard. I didn’t expect that at all. There has to be an explanation, so I ask: “Why?”

And of course, there is one: “Because he kept acting like an idiot! He wanted to be a hero even though he had no chance! He was never going to be my equal, but he kept insisting…”

Aww, Tsuki is so kind, and he doesn’t even realize it! Feeling both understanding and touched, I comment: “Oh, so that was your weird way of protecting him.”

I bet since he was a kid, he’s been so focused on looking tough—which, by the way, with abs like his, I fully approve—that he forgot he’s soft on the inside. Being kind is just as important for a hero as being strong, right? Maybe I can help him improve! And he can help me! Yay!

* * *

 “…Protecting him?” I repeat, thrown off.

I had buried that memory. Tonight, it came back, and I actually told the Airhead about it. That alone is insane—supernatural, even. I never would’ve imagined it… or her reaction. Zero accusations.

I mean, she has killed people, so I shouldn’t be surprised her moral standards are lower than average. But the way she says it, the tone of her voice, the way her expression stays warm, it almost makes me forget what kind of girl I’m dealing with. Somehow, I feel… lighter, like I just got rid of some weight I didn’t even know I was carrying.

“Oh, yeah, you didn’t want him to get hurt or worse, right? You just hurt his feelings for his own good.”

She says it with absolute confidence, without a single doubt. This is the first time I’ve had a real conversation with someone. I mean, someone who shares their thoughts freely and encourages me to do the same. It’s never been easy for me to open up, and I never really stopped to analyze my emotions, because that’s weak. So why the hell is talking to the Airhead actually becoming enjoyable?

She just said something obvious, after all. Of course, I didn’t want Deku to pass away…

“Answer the question,” I snap at her. I don’t want her psychoanalyzing me! I don’t feel guilty! Guilt is useless!

The blonde takes on a somber expression. Her voice wavers a little, but she doesn’t cry. Maybe talking about this stuff isn’t so easy for her, either.

“A few days after I ran away from home, I heard an interview with my parents. They said they did everything they could to ‘fix’ me, but I was a lost cause—a demon… and I thought that, you know… what if they were right, maybe I was just born wro—wait, are you laughing?”

She looks at me with wide eyes while, yeah, I am laughing, because this is ridiculous. Her? A demon?

She’s absolutely an annoying pain in the ass, but fuck! She hasn’t shut up about love and friendship this whole time. Even if she’s obsessed with blood, that’s still human. From what I can tell, she craves it a lot, and sometimes people die because of it, but she doesn’t want to kill. She’s almost naively indifferent to it, because she’s crazy, but a demon...?

“That’s their excuse?! To cover their own asses?!”

“…Yeah. Stainy helped me understand the truth. I decided I didn’t care about other people’s judgments anymore. I just wanted to be myself and love freely.”

They basically pushed their own daughter to a criminal path just because she didn’t turn out the way they wanted… Fucking bastards. Against my will, I can’t help but think of Deku again. And now I realize… I was just like those bastards. I judged someone as being ‘wrong’ just because they didn’t fit my standards…

The Airhead rests her hand on the device that’s trapping mine. She seems to realize it and lets out an embarrassed giggle. Was she looking for comfort from me? Or… was she trying to comfort me? Shit. This girl is way too weird, and she’s making me lose focus on my goal!

Chapter Text

“If you knew you were going to suddenly die within a year, would you change anything about the way you’re living? Why?”

I think it’s best to move on. Katsuki still needs to learn how to be spontaneous in what he does or says. He needs practice, which means more little questions! And I need to have fun with him to permanently drive away painful memories. This experiment is a double-edged sword… but it’s worth seeing it through.

“No, actually, I’d give my absolute best even more.”

For Tsuki, excelling is really important. That must be why he never relaxes.

“I’d deepen my relationship with the League, creating great memories with everyone!”

I haven’t talked to them about my past yet. I’ve hinted at a few things to Jin and big sis Magne, and they’ve shared a little with me, but we’ve kept things on the surface. I can’t wait to get to know them better!

“What does friendship mean to you? Well, like before, being comforted, pampered, and having fun together.”

“Mmh, relying on someone without regrets.”

Fufu, he’s definitely thinking about a particular friend. Maybe someone he teamed up with during the sports festival. I won’t ask, though: he’d just rudely tell me to mind my own business. I know him too well by now!

“What role do love and affection play in your life?”

“None,” Explodo-boy replies, annoyed.

“Oh, come on! They’re super important!” I immediately retort, trying to figure out if he actually believes that.

“They don’t help you become a hero.”

“But you can’t stay alone! Tsuki, you didn’t join the League because you have a family and friends!”

“I didn’t join because…”

Katsuki stops himself. I take the chance to say something I’ve realized, something that deeply saddens me: “You have a perfect life. Joining us wouldn’t make it better, whereas we’ve been alone and learned firsthand that this society sucks... I always follow love and affection!”

Yeah, Tsuki has absolutely no reason to join us. He wouldn’t gain anything. In fact, he might even lose something. He already has friends at U.A., even if he refuses to admit it, and he has a good family, even if he doesn’t see them as perfect. From my perspective, though, he has everything anyone could want. I’m happy for him. I’m sad he won’t stay with us, but maybe we can at least remain friends… that wouldn’t be too impossible, right? I smile confidently. Yeah! You don’t have to be on the same team to be friends!

* * *

“…Let’s say they come second,” I mumble.

Maybe, just maybe, this time she’s right. My folks have always supported me in everything, even if they can be a pain in the ass, and the extras… have become more tolerable. Except for Shitty Deku. And that pint-sized pervert.

I can’t put myself in the shoes of those League morons, not when I’ve been admired since I was a kid. It’s always felt natural for everything else to come second to my dream, including the old hag and the old geezer. Of course, I care about them, but I’ve never really thought about the relationships I have with my parents or anyone else. Even though I’ve never tried to make friends, I have them. And for some of them… I have to admit, it’s nice.

Are these bonds really what keep me anchored to everyday life? Without them, would my determination alone be enough to keep me on the path to becoming number one? I can’t deny they’ve shaped who I am today, but the idea that they were fundamental… That’s something no one can control. No one chooses their parents or who they meet; at best, you decide how to treat others. And it pisses me the hell off that this Airheaded psycho isn’t even criticizing me, yet I still feel accused and guilty! Goddamn it!

“Take turns listing five positive traits about each other.”

Tsk, of course, I can’t insult her in this damn experiment… I won’t give her compliments, these will be completely objective observations, just plain facts. “You’re cute.”

Airhead goes red and hides her constant grin behind a hand. “You’re honest,” she chirps happily.

“You handle that knife well.” Too well.

“You keep your word.”

“Which you should do too,” I remind her aggressively. “You can cook.”

“Oh, thank you. You’re a very strong and capable hero! You’ll surpass All Might.”

She gives me an encouraging smile. Her opinion means nothing, but… It’s the first time someone’s wished for me to surpass the unbeatable Number One with such sincerity, or outright stated they believed I would. I have to remind myself that this one has a screw loose… I shouldn’t be pleased by this!

“You’re kind,” I force out.

“I like getting to know you better and being around you.”

“That doesn’t really count, but fine. You inspire…” What? Sympathy? Trust? Warmth? Good vibes? Fuck, I can’t say that! She’d get a big head! And warmth isn’t even a damn emotion! “…something positive,” I conclude vaguely.

She seems pleased enough to sway in place, giggling. “You’re good!” she exclaims, throwing her arms up.

“Well, I’m not the villain who kidnapped someone and is forcing them to take a stupid test!” I yell back.

She doesn’t flinch, still smiling at me like we’re best friends. There’s nothing cocky, teasing, or mocking about it. Airhead acts like an over-friendly kid; like she genuinely believes the people she’s judged as ‘good’ won’t hurt her, no matter how much they yell or threaten her, as if it’s all just a game. It’s the kind of harmless madness that someone could actually… like.

* * *

Yay! He’s trying to act unbothered, but I totally embarrassed him! He’s not as used to compliments as he thinks. Giving them is even harder for him, but he did a great job, and I’m still blushing with joy. The thought that Tsuki appreciates me fills me with happiness! I can’t wait to taste his blood!

I try to calm myself down—I don’t want to pounce on him and ruin everything now that we’re this close to becoming best friends! The next question helps me focus: “Do you have a close relationship with your family? Did you have a happier childhood than most? Well, no, you know that.”

“My relationship’s pretty average, and I was happy enough,” Katsuki replies, rolling his eyes.

“You should smile more, though,” I can’t help but comment. He laughed earlier, but not with joy. Hmm, maybe I should try tickling him…

“I’ll smile whenever the fuck I feel like it, bitch.”

He dares me with his eyes to keep pushing him on this. I don’t. Otherwise, he’d just get stubborn and refuse to smile even once tonight. I’ll strike when he least expects it!

“What’s your relationship with your mom like?” Ugh, another family question?! Why so many? Just one is enough! I want the fun ones! I sigh. “No comment.”

“She’s an old hag, but she’s alright… We actually get along, even if it doesn’t seem like it.”

“Even if it doesn’t seem like it?” I repeat, searching for pictures of Tsuki’s mom on social media. Wow, they look exactly alike!

“Interpret it however you want, Airhead.”

“Hey, you never told me your parents work in fashion! Would they pick me as a model? I wanna walk a runway at least once!”

* * *

Before I can crush her hopes, Airhead waves her knife in the air with a dreamy expression. She’s probably picturing herself taking the blood of her potential model colleagues. I barely hold back a laugh at the thought of this psycho at a fashion show, especially compared to the way actual models act.

Then she suddenly gasps, eyes sparkling, cheeks going redder than usual. “You laughed!” she cheers. “And I didn’t even do anything!”

For a second, I don’t know how to react—this idiot always catches me off guard. And I hate being caught off guard!

“Shut up, you little shit! You’re going to jail, not a runway! You’re too damn short for it, and no one’s dumb enough to hire you!” That last part’s a lie—there are plenty of morons in the world.

“You’re mean, Tsuki,” she pouts.

“Hurry up and read! It’s definitely been more than forty-five minutes by now!”

Chapter Text

“Say three sentences using ‘we.’ For example: we are both in this room and we can hear each other.”

“We are both in this room and we can hear each other,” Katsuki repeats, bored.

I try to cheer him up by summarizing what we said earlier: “We are young, blonde, beautiful, funny, intelligent, and invincible!”

“We are both in this room and we can see each other,” he says, just as enthusiastic as before.

I frown in dissatisfaction until an idea strikes me—time to make him pay! I smirk mischievously. “We are both in this room and we can sniff each other!” I exclaim, then I get up, move behind his chair, and hug him. Fufufu, I’m a genius!

No matter how much he struggles, he can’t shake me off. He’s really putting in effort, even cursing me out. I ignore him and hold him tight a little longer. I murmur, “Mmh, I like your scent, Tsuki.”

I had read about woody and musky scents in perfume catalogs, but I had never smelled them before. I think Explodo-boy’s scent fits that description… maybe because we kidnapped him in a forest? Now I want to taste his blood even more! I bet it’s delicious, I just know it!

“GET OFF ME, YOU MANIAC!!!” Tsuki screams at the top of his lungs.

I let go; I had my fun. I don’t want to push him too far, poor thing. I sit in front of him, barely hiding my laughter behind my hands.

“We’re almost at the end of this damn experiment!” he shouts without wasting any more time.

He’s deeply irritated. Ugh, why doesn’t he learn to relax? What else should I do to make him feel comfortable? I try to entertain him by shouting, “We are in love!”

“The fuck we are! I have zero interest in you, ugly bitch!”

“Nooo! You said I'm cute earlier!”

“I was lying!”

“Liar!”

“What the hell do you know?! You’re the first one to talk nonsense!”

“I was joking, dummy. Of course we’re not in love… yet. But the rule didn’t say the sentences had to be true.”

I grin. He glares at me like he wants to make me explode just by looking at me. Not my fault he gets angry so easily. It just makes teasing him irresistible!

* * *

I used to think Deku was the most irritating person on the planet, but I was wrong. I don’t even know how many curses—verbal and non-verbal—I’ve thrown at this Airhead. If my hands were free, she wouldn’t still be smiling! We’ll see how she’d like my reaction the next time she clings to me, making me feel how soft and warm her skin is, how sweet her vanilla scent is with that fruity hint that just invites you to taste and kiss and- Aaaah! She’s messing with my head!

“Complete this sentence: I wish I had someone to share… my thoughts with! You’re perfect for that, Tsuki.”

Thankfully, she keeps going without me prompting her. She’s sharing way too many thoughts with me already. It’s definitely her fault my mind is filled with these irritating and incomprehensible distractions. They’re completely useless and only make this torture last longer on purpose.

The Airhead stares at me, waiting for my response. Damn, I don’t know what to say! If I think about a time when it’s tolerable to have someone around… “I guess, training.”

“Tell your partner important things they should know about you if you were to become close friends.”

“Hold up, don’t get any ideas! We will never be close friends!” I snap immediately. I don’t like the way she’s smiling.

“Sure, sure! Come on, Tsuki, what should I know?” she asks impatiently. She’s more attentive than usual, waiting for me to spill some big secret. By now, she should know I hate sharing personal things, but her brain doesn’t seem to work properly.

“I hate being bothered by extras. If you want to avoid pissing me off, stay away.” I give her a warning look to make sure she starts following that rule immediately… but of course, being the Airhead she is, she completely ignores it and keeps smiling as if nothing happened.

“And when we’re together? Do you have a favorite food? Any hobbies?”

“Mmh… I like spicy food. And for hobbies, I like mountain climbing.”

She waits a little longer, realizes I’m not adding anything else, and lists: “Alright. I love hugs and always say what I think. I always carry a knife, even just to play with it. I can’t decide if I prefer pink or red. I love all cute things, especially people. My dream is to raise a unicorn. I love pomegranates—the seeds look like drops of blood! And in general, I’m sociable, outgoing, and cheerful. A pleasant person to have around, right?”

“No, you’re a first-class pain in the ass.”

* * *

The road to taming Tsuki is still long, but there’s progress: he answered my questions about food and hobbies—he definitely wouldn’t have done that at the start of the evening! Don’t worry, Explodo-boy, big sis Himiko will make sure your friendly side comes out!

I wonder what he really thinks about what I told him. Does he realize he’s the only one who knows so much about me? That has to mean something to him, right? It means a lot to me. Mmh, maybe I don’t show it enough, or in a way he understands. Yeah, we’re not on the same wavelength yet. I need to try harder to understand him and make him understand me.

Question 28 is just what I need: “Tell your partner what you like about them. Be very honest and say things you wouldn’t normally tell someone you just met.”

“Let me see, does it really say that?”

“Of course, I didn’t make it up.”

I ease Tsuki’s suspicion by showing him the text on my phone. Meanwhile, I think about what I like about him. There are a lot of things! I focus on what I haven’t told him yet: “I’ll start! Aside from being handsome, you have an interesting personality. You entertain me, Tsuki. You always react with anger, but you’re not impulsive. You’re very strong and smart—I think you’ll make it to number one. But you need to learn to relax. Showing emotions doesn’t make you weak. Especially happiness. What’s wrong with people seeing you happy and calm? You’d be even cuter! You’ll have girls all over you when you become a hero, if not sooner! And finally, despite all the yelling and threats, I feel safe with you.”

Of course, I blushed while saying all that. Katsuki looks less grumpy than usual. Aw, he’s so cute when he tries to hide his embarrassment! I really hope he listens to my advice. At least with his friends, he should be himself. It’s very important! And I’m his friend! Otherwise, why do I feel so good around him and talk to him so naturally? He gives me the same warm feeling as Jin and the others, so obviously, we’ll get along despite a few small, fun fights. Yeah, it must be a strong sense of friendship I feel. I’m definitely not attracted to him like I am to Stain, Izuku, Ochaco, or my other past crushes.

* * *

What an over-the-top flatterer… She makes me feel so damn awkward. Maybe it’s because she’s a girl, or because she’s crazy, or too honest and friendly—or all of the above. I can’t stop myself from liking what she says… Damn it, now I have to compliment her back! Like Shitty Hair would say, it’s the manly thing to do.

“Ugh, what’s there to like about you? I already said you’re cute. You’re honest, energetic, and crazy in a strangely kind way. You can cook and fight, which is good. You have a warm smile—it lights up your eyes, and it’s… not bad. I guess, aside from the crazy part, you’re not that bad…”

What the hell did I just say?!?! The Airhead lets out ear-piercing squeals, beams, and turns completely red. My own cheeks are burning too, but out of anger! I hate how this experiment makes me feel! It’s making me act so differently than usual—I’m thinking weird things and even saying them out loud!

“Enough! Read!”

She doesn’t listen. She starts thanking me, but I cut her off and, with more authority, order her to keep reading. Finally, she moves on: “Tell your partner an embarrassing moment from your life.”

It would be way too humiliating to admit to her that this whole evening is beyond embarrassing. But, thinking about embarrassing moments, there’s one that still stings. In fact, it’s the only one. I don’t make mistakes.

“At my first lesson with All Might... I was defeated by Deku.”

The Airhead takes the revelation in stride. Maybe she doesn’t even consider it that humiliating. Then she wasn’t paying enough attention!

“Oh... I sometimes end up showing a little too much skin without realizing it. And when I do notice, it’s embarrassing. Has that ever happened, Tsuki?”

“How the hell should I know?!” I shout, turning my gaze away from her.

* * *

Oh, I’m pretty sure it has happened, but Tsuki is too much of a gentleman to admit it.

Chapter Text

“When was the last time you cried in front of someone else? And when was the last time you cried alone?”

“I haven’t cried since I was a brat! At most, my eyes water! And that happened the afternoon of the lesson with All Might. Don’t ask anything else.”

Apparently, Izuku has quite an impact on Katsuki’s life, probably because they’ve known each other for a long time. Let’s see… Deku was a quirkless loser who used to follow Tsuki around as a kid—they must have been so adorable!—then, I guess after the sludge villain attack, he somehow awakened a delayed super-strength quirk that got him into U.A. and even let him beat Tsuki in front of All Might. I wonder how, since he got wrecked by Shouto during the festival.

Damn, I have so many questions! Their relationship is seriously weird! But I’ll hold back. There will be other chances to dig deeper. I don’t like seeing Tsuki so tense; he should be able to relax around me. I can’t wait until our friendship reaches the point where he tells me everything voluntarily! I’m already doing that, and it makes me feel so much better.

To lighten the mood and show him I respect his decision not to talk about it, I blurt out something random: “Why doesn’t Shouto have pink hair?”

“Are you an idiot?! How the hell should I know?!”

It worked! He almost laughed openly! I could watch him for hours; he makes me feel so good, so relaxed, even though he’s the complete opposite of a calm guy. But if I don’t answer, he’ll just order me to move on.

“Uh, well, I cried a little while ago, in front of you. Alone… hmm, probably back when I was still at home.”

* * *

“Tell your partner something you like about them.”

“Again?!” I yell. I don’t want to say anything else positive! What I’ve already told her is more than enough for years!

Luckily, the Airhead agrees and decides to take a mochi break instead of answering. That means she has to feed me again… On one hand, it annoys me, but on the other, I don’t entirely mind. Either way, it makes my blood boil a thousand times over! I must be ridiculously stressed if I can’t keep my composure around her anymore. Damn it, I can’t even figure out what I’m feeling, other than overwhelming irritation. How the hell can someone not know if they’re mad, happy, or something else?!

The blonde urges me to open my mouth. I’m pretty sure I could bite her fingers instead of the treat, but then I’d end up smelling that sweet scent of hers again—fuck, even tasting it—and I do not like how my body reacts to that possibility. I chew the mochi quickly and decide to speak, just to stop the absurd thoughts that this Airhead has forced into my head.

“Did you make these?”

“No, Magne did.”

“And who the fuck is that?”

“The only other woman in the League.”

“Huh? Other woman?” When the leader of these clowns talked to me, there weren’t any other women. I think.

“Yeah, you’ve seen her. Magne has red hair, sunglasses, full lips...”

“That’s a dude! And why the hell is she wearing sunglasses at night?!”

“Tsuki,” she sighs, shaking her head. She looks at me with a mix of pity and scolding. At least now I do know what I’m feeling: anger. This is one of those moments where I want to smash her face in! “If someone feels like a woman, they’re a woman. They can feel like a man, or both, or nonbinary!”

“Yeah, I don’t give a shit about trans rights. I don’t care, and I don’t judge. I meant that physically, that’s a man, and you can’t expect people to see her as a woman if they don’t know her.”

She tilts her head, thoughtful. The gesture dissolves my anger. I like that she actually stops to think about what I say; it’s not the first time she’s done it. It makes this whole experiment take longer, but honestly, that feels like a good thing… It’s happened to me too. Some of the things she’s said have made me see my own life from a different perspective. I really wish we had met under different circumstances…

“You’re right, Tsuki. For people who feel comfortable in their bodies, it’s more about what’s inside. And then, you can be attracted to all kinds of different people! For example, I am and feel female, but I like girls, boys, whoever! Maybe it’s because of my quirk, but if someone’s cute, I’m interested, gender doesn’t matter.”

“Well, I’m a man, and I’m… Shit, just keep reading, you ugly bitch!”

I’ve had enough of her mind games! A simple question about mochi turned into a casual conversation about sexuality! Calling her ‘ugly’ makes her pout again. I’m glad I’ve found a way to control her, even if just a little—a tiny weak spot. That nickname tells her I’ve had enough, and she better move on if she doesn’t want to hear more insults about her looks.

* * *

“What is, if there is one, a topic you think is off-limits for jokes? Abuse! And pedophilia! And depression! And probably a bunch of other things too many to list.”

“With me, it’s better not to joke at all.”

Oh no! This time I didn’t do anything to put him on the defensive, so why has he closed himself off again? Aw, a tiny, grumpy, blonde hedgehog. As fascinating as his personality is, I can’t help but feel disappointed. We’re so close to finishing the experiment! That means Tsuki will try to escape soon… and who knows how that will go.

I’ve told myself multiple times tonight that there will be other chances to get to know Katsuki better and become his friend, but of course, I can’t be 100% sure. Tomura could accidentally kill him, for example. That would really suck… Deep down, I hope Tsuki makes it back home safe to his parents.

The opposite scenario—the best, most unrealistic one—is that Tsuki decides to join us. Reality is probably somewhere in between. Well, as long as he doesn’t die and the LOV stays free, I’m good! I’d just hit him up on social media!

The anxiety I felt about parting ways with Tsuki disappears: knowing I can bombard him with messages in the future puts me at ease. He doesn’t hate me, right? He’d reply!

“Airhead! Read the damn question! After you let me go, you can zone out all you want!”

Oops, how long has he been yelling?

“Sorry, Tsuki. Oh, this one’s heavy… If you were to die tonight without being able to communicate with anyone again, what’s something you’d regret never saying? And why haven’t you said it yet? Do you want me to go first?”

“Whatever.”

“Well… I’d regret not being able to tell my little siblings that I love them. It’s not that I never said it, but you know how they kept us separated, and after everything that happened… maybe they think I don’t love them anymore. But I’ll always be their big sister. Tsuki… if you ever meet them, can you tell them that for me?”

He opens his mouth, then closes it again. Finally, he nods sharply, holding my gaze. I smile at him, grateful. I love when he has that expression… I don’t know how to describe it, but without anger, his face looks so much softer, and his eyes seem to say, Don’t worry. I’m here now.

My heart beats faster, my cheeks flush, and my smile carries more than just gratitude.

* * *

I avert my gaze from the Airhead and stare at the floor, feeling awkward. I don’t feel comfortable talking about these things, but the devotion and affection she has for her little siblings softened me a bit. I hope I never meet them and that she, after an effective therapy, can reunite with them.

I take a deep breath and say, “Just to return the favor... in the highly unlikely case that I die and you don’t, you should tell my mom that I appreciate her and that I love her. She already knows, but I’ve never actually said it out loud. I’m not some girly idiot... Tell my dad, too.”

“Aw!” the Airhead exclaims, touched. “I promise! Can I hug you?”

“Come any closer and you’re dead!”

The blonde giggles, amused, as if I just made some kind of joke. It’s amazing how she can switch moods so quickly, and in a way, she changes mine too, either pissing me off or calming me down in an instant. I’ll have a lot to think about once I’m far away from this shitty bar…

“Your house catches fire, with everything you own inside. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time for one last dash inside to grab a single object. What would it be? Why?”

“I don’t give a shit about objects. It’s stupid to attach special meaning to a thing.”

“I’d save my knife! It’s my lucky charm!”

I expected something like that, that’s why I smirk. It’s kind of unsettling how well I can predict what the Airhead is going to say or do, but at least it’s useful.

“Who in your family would it affect you the most to lose? Why? Looks like they want to end things on a depressing note; maybe they’re hoping someone will break down in tears and their partner will hug them.”

The blonde seems more focused on analyzing the logic—completely nonexistent, in my opinion—of these questions rather than on her actual answer.

“It would be hard to deal with losing either my mom or my dad... I’d miss them both. And whoever survived would struggle to move on, and I wouldn’t know how to help them...”

The more I think about it, the harder it is to picture how I’d react in that kind of situation. Honestly, I doubt I’d be able to comfort either my old man or the hag… not because it would be too personal of a tragedy, but because I’m just not capable of comforting anyone, period.

And then it hits me: I’m an incomplete hero. My presence alone isn’t enough to reassure people, like All Might’s is. Like him, I’d be able to beat whatever villain shows up and save lives, but I don’t have his charisma or whatever the hell you’d call it. I hate to admit it, but there are areas where I’m weak, things I’ve always ignored, thinking they were secondary or even useless. That’s probably what Best Jeanist was trying to teach me all along. Shit, and I finally figured it out thanks to a bloodthirsty lunatic instead of from the number four hero!

Best Jeanist had been trying to soften me up from the start. He already knew what I lacked to become a complete hero. But he totally botched his approach with me. Talking about calmness, elegance, public image—total bullshit! Why the hell would I care how civilians perceived me?! Of course, I thought he was just trying to lower me to some sidekick’s level! It’s his fault for not making it clear! He didn’t make me understand that these things are necessary to reassure people in an emergency, to convince a frightened person to cooperate… or to reach out to a misunderstood and unhappy kid.

The Airhead even used the right words earlier. Showing I’m calm doesn’t make me worth less. I still think a hero should avoid showing what they’re feeling, and in any case, I could never do that. But to be number one, appearances matter too. Yeah, to truly be the best, I have to work hard on how I interact with others, so that people know they can count on me for anything and let themselves be saved before it’s too late.

I snap out of my thoughts when she starts speaking: “I’d be really upset if something happened to Hideki or Kyoko. I care about them so much… I’d kill anyone who tried to hurt them! But I’d also be really sad if anything happened to my friends. And you’re my friend, Tsuki. I’d protect you too.”

“I’m a hero, you bitch! I don’t need anyone’s protection!”

I don’t even need to say that the way I treat this villain—or any villain—won’t change, whether I want to save them or not!

Chapter Text

“Talk about a personal problem and ask your partner for advice on how they would deal with it. Also, ask them to describe how they think you feel about the issue you chose to talk about.” After a quick reflection, I immediately respond: “I don’t think I have any problem anymore.”

“You actually have a lot, and serious ones, you just ignore them,” Tsuki retorts sharply, shaking his head. I wonder if he’s worried about me.

“Tsuki, you know me well enough by now. I had a problem with my family, but it’s too late to fix it. What else do you think can still be mended?”

I play with my trusty knife while waiting for his response, feeling slightly anxious. I can’t think of anything he could help me fix, or that I even want to fix. Maybe the only thing would be reconnecting with my little siblings, but I’ll do that after Tomura establishes a new society. Does Tsuki know a way to make that meeting happen sooner?

Turns out, no—he had something entirely different in mind. “The murders. You’re afraid the heroes will kill you, even though you should know they almost never do. I think it’s guilt because you can take someone’s blood without killing them.”

I stare at him in disbelief for a few seconds. Guilt? Nah… It’s true that my goal is never to kill the person I take blood from, I just want to look like my crush and make them even more beautiful. But after I have my fun, I lose interest. Why should I care if they live or die when no one ever cared about me?

“Tsuki, do you really think that? I think you’re just saying it because you don’t want anyone else to die.”

“Do you want someone else to die?”

He looks at me, ready to get angry if I say yes. He can relax: “I don’t care.”

“Then don’t kill! You’re skilled enough to avoid hitting vital points, right?!”

“Maybe…”

“Let’s make a deal,” Tsuki proposes seriously. His intense cuteness distracts me, but I nod and try to focus. “I don’t know if I’ll manage to throw you all in jail tonight or if some other hero will do it for me. But if that doesn’t happen, you can bet we’ll meet again sooner or later. Until then, don’t kill anyone.”

“And after?”

“You’ll be locked up in a padded cell in some asylum.”

“There’s something wrong with this deal, Tsuki. I get nothing out of it”, I protest, pouting.

“And what do you get from killing random idiots?! A bad ending, if you believe a hero will eventually kill you, right? You may be dumb, but you’re not completely brainless. You must realize you can either make your situation worse or better by being more careful. You’re crazy, so telling you to stop attacking jerks would be pointless, but letting them live seems like the bare minimum. Do you accept, you lunatic?”

My eyes well up with emotion: Tsuki is trying to protect me too! And he wants to handle me personally! He wants to see me again! He won’t abandon me after tonight!

I place my hands on the device where his are, blushing, and exclaim, “Alright, Tsuki! I’m in! I’ll be careful not to kill, I promise!”

“There’s no need to burst my eardrums, idiot!”

“If we part ways tonight, know that I’ll be eager to see you again!”

“Same here. I’ll be kicking all your league bastard asses.”

“But now think about your own personal problem, Explodo-boy.”

* * *

“Maybe I should improve my relationships with others… to gain the trust of the extras and some classmates… not all of them are completely useless.”

At this point in the night, I think I could admit to anything. Of course, only reluctantly… and only if there’s just the Airhead listening. Even though I’ve realized where I’ve been wrong so far, changing my attitude all of a sudden will be really difficult. I know I wouldn’t be able to improve alone, nor could I ask an extra from my class—it would annoy me too much… except maybe Shitty Hair.

I think I need the blonde, though. She accepted my deal way too enthusiastically, which means I actually got through to her, at least partially. Even if she ends up behind bars, I could visit her, secretly training myself to soften my personality. It’ll be a huge pain in the ass, but the Airhead is necessary. She’s the most sociable person I’ve ever met, she doesn’t take superficial insults personally, and the nonsense she spouts manages to either calm me down or piss me off in an instant… Basically, she has the right personality for this mission. She’s also the first person I saved without fighting, which is why I care and why she’s become important. There’s no other stupid reason!

“You want to be like me?”

“No, Airhead, I need to be slightly more cordial, not a unicorn-obsessed moron.”

She mutters something in defense of unicorns that I don’t catch, then says, “Alright. Then you can start by not glaring at people so much and by imagining yourself in their shoes. For me, it’s easy to understand people by observing them.”

“Because you’re a freaking stalker,” I interrupt.

“Yeah. Also, I find these kinds of comments funny, but someone more sensitive might even start crying. Try to lighten your expressions. And try to embrace the things that come naturally to you but that you hide to seem stronger, even though they have nothing to do with strength. I think you can start with these things. Then… um… regarding your problem, do you feel like a fish out of water?”

I nod, surprised. She gave good advice, and… how the hell does she always guess my emotions?! What, did she absorb a psychologist’s knowledge through osmosis?! Or does her quirk give her some kind of heightened empathy? Probably.

“Hmm, you said something that actually made sense… Are we done?” That means I’ll finally be able to fight for my freedom soon. I hope the blonde doesn’t get in my way.

“There’s just one last thing: looking into each other’s eyes for four minutes.”

Of course. No way we wouldn’t end with something embarrassing. “What a pain. Start the timer.”

“Yes, sir!” The Airhead moves the stool closer, rests her elbows on it, and places her phone in the center. “Aaand go!” she exclaims after setting the alarm.

I force myself to stare straight into her eyes. Her smile seems less insane now, probably because I’ve gotten used to seeing it… or maybe because I know the story behind the girl I once considered a crazy, bloodthirsty, messed-up murderer. I was wrong about the Airhead. Not completely, but there were things I took for granted that I had to reconsider during this test, and that inevitably led me to reevaluate her.

This girl is funny, friendly, invasive, lively, irritating, cheerful, emotional, childish, caring with her siblings, very cute, perceptive—though she hides her intelligence well—honest, determined, and has been too alone and unlucky. If she had had less oppressive parents—damn, I’d love to have a long chat with those bastards—if she had been treated by a competent specialist, if she had found a friend, she wouldn’t be part of a criminal organization today.

At this point, I wonder if the blonde is right about her allies. She’s shown to have pretty good instincts, so maybe she really has found some friends here, people with stories similar to hers. It wouldn’t surprise me. As I promised, I intend to find her again after I escape or visit her in prison if I’m lucky tonight. I feel almost obligated to right a wrong that was done to her. I don’t understand why… maybe it’s just my hero nature…

But that doesn’t explain why this girl makes me feel a trust and warmth I’ve never felt with anyone else. Ugh, damn it! She made me blush again! Good for her that it’s not one-sided! Then again, she blushes all the time.

Anyway, just as I plan to improve her, she’ll help me too. Yet another reason not to lose sight of this strange, sweet girl...

* * *

Tsuki's eyes have fascinating red reflections, they're irresistible! It's a different shade of red from blood, yet... they seem even more beautiful. He's so handsome! I like him in every way! His looks drew me in and allowed me to discover his adorable personality. After all, who doesn't love a tsundere?

Tsuki is as tough on the outside as he is kind on the inside. Luckily, Tomura decided to kidnap him, otherwise, how would I have discovered how interesting he is? And I still have so many sides of him left to uncover. Yes, I want to see every one of Katsuki’s expressions, I want to watch him do all sorts of things, I want to know everything about his life! I’ve never wanted to study another person the way I want to study him, even though I don’t consider it a crush.

Strange, though, that I don’t feel the same irresistible craving for blood that usually hits me when I see someone attractive. I mean, I’d like to taste his, but only if he agrees. Maybe it’s because he’s already a dear friend to me. I feel like we’ve bonded a lot tonight, and friends should be respected. When he’s ready, he won’t refuse to give me a little taste. I have to keep in mind that Tsuki isn’t used to acting genuinely; despite his outbursts of anger, he controls himself a lot. He does the same with his words: he doesn’t say what he really thinks directly; he reworks it so that it sounds like an insult, a threat, or a provocation. But you can tell he means well. It’s so endearing!

He said he wants to learn to be more cordial, and I’m happy about that! He’ll put my advice into practice, just like I’ll follow his—no more killing. I can understand him, poor thing. He’d feel guilty if I did, as if the responsibility for those deaths fell on him because he couldn’t stop me. As for me… I feel mild regret for those I’ve killed, but I’m not truly remorseful. Sorry, Tsuki, but I think they deserved it. Still, don’t worry, I’ll honor our pact. I’m a girl of my word. Maybe that’s what connects us. Tsuki might not be spontaneous, but he’s honest and always stays true to his values, just like me.

Aw, he’s blushing! I think I’ve been blushing for a while now, fufufu. It’s incredible how exciting and intimate it feels to stare into someone’s eyes! I could do it forever, but the alarm is about to ring, as if this whole experiment were just a beautiful dream destined to end… At least I know one thing for sure: Tsuki won’t forget me. He’ll look for me. I’ll write to him, as I’ve already decided, and if I get the chance, I’ll spy on him! I’ll create countless opportunities to feel closer to this incredibly selfish and altruistic future hero!

As soon as the alarm rings, I turn it off, grab my knife, and cut the straps on the chair, even though I could have just unbuckled them. I act mechanically, as if I were programmed to do it. Tsuki stays still and silent but watches me. I also unlock the device trapping his hands. It falls with a dull thud. I moved so close to him, brushed against him so many times, and now my face is right near his, and he’s so embarrassed. I giggle uncontrollably.

“Tsuki, you don’t think I’d be cruel enough to steal your first kiss, do you?”

Tsuki turns completely red as he processes my words. “Who the fuck says it would be my first kiss, you bitch?!” he yells, creating tiny explosions in his hands.

“Oh? Then who have you kissed?” I ask teasingly.

“Just die already!” he shouts again, looking away, utterly flustered.

I laugh and pull him up by his wrists, then wrap my arms around him. Wow, I’ve never felt something this nice before! It’s way better than hugging him from behind! I lean into him and squeeze tighter, hoping he’ll hug me back. Tsuki’s chest is so warm and comforting… If it were up to me, I’d stay like this for hours, soaking in his scent, our shared warmth, and maybe even his embrace! But after a few seconds, Tsuki puts his hands on my shoulders and gently but firmly pushes me away. He looks serious and determined as he stares into my eyes, still holding my shoulders. Why does he look so deep in thought? Could it be that he’s decided to stay after all? Or maybe… he wants to kiss me?!

Before I can get properly excited about the idea, Tsuki says: “What’s your name…?”

“Toga Himiko.”

“Whatever. Why don’t you come with me?”

It’s such an unexpected proposal that my brain struggles to process it. I just stare at him in surprise. Go with him? That would mean turning myself in, going to prison, giving up the freedom I only just won, abandoning the friends I’m just starting to get to know. Tsuki is asking for too much. He keeps looking at me, arms crossed, waiting for my answer. I shake my head, disappointed.

“Tsuki, I can’t, and I don’t want to… You asked me not to kill, and I can do that now because I’ve found people who understand me… I’ve found my normal. I finally feel good. I don’t want to go back to suffering because people hate me and don’t understand me. Tomura and Dabi insult me just like you do. They’re not bad people. Do you understand, Tsuki?”

He sighs and nods. “I get your reasoning. And I know I don’t have time to change your mind.”

Tsuki heads toward the door leading to the bar. I follow him. If Tomura orders me to stop him, I will. Otherwise, I’ll stay back and watch what fate has in store for Katsuki… and for us.

***

Tsuki has escaped. His friends came to rescue him. So many heroes came to save him, including All Might. We ran away from all of them. In the forest, we had already lost Moonfish, Mustard, and Muscular, and now Tomura’s mentor, All for One, is gone too.

I was scared when they attacked us at the bar, but at least Katsuki was still there, I was sure he wouldn’t let them hurt me. Then Sensei teleported us away with that disgusting quirk, and in the middle of all the slashing and dodging, Tsuki was gone. I waved at him as he flew off, but he didn’t have time to wave back. I smirk, imagining how he probably would’ve flipped me off as a goodbye. He’s always so funny!

Well, when Tsuki disappeared, I wasn’t really in the mood to joke around. My anxiety skyrocketed, especially because even Sensei was telling us to run away, and I couldn’t wait to obey. Not a single one of those heroes gave me even the slightest sense of trust. I could feel their hatred, and I knew they wouldn’t hesitate to kill me. Thankfully, the others grabbed me, maybe a little too roughly, but at least we were safe.

Now, we’re in a pretty miserable place. We listened to the latest news on the radio from my phone: it seems that All Might has lost his powers. Even with this half-victory, we’re all feeling pretty down, especially the boss. Poor Tomura, he looks like he desperately needs a hug. I wonder what the others are thinking about. I never cared about All Might, but why can’t they see the glass as half full? Only Twice keeps talking to himself, trying to drag us into his monologue and cheer us up. Jin is right! It’s a draw! We should be proud of what we accomplished! As for my little explosive hedgehog, it won’t be hard to find his phone number or follow him once things settle down.

“Boss, I want a hug!” I exclaim cheerfully, and sprint toward Tomura.

“Toga, have you decided to die?!”

He tries to touch me. I expected that. I dodge quickly and giggle from a safe distance.

“Toga-chan, hug me instead! If you touch me, I’ll cut you to pieces!”

I hug Jin, then Magne. I give up on the others since they’re already in a defensive stance.

“Aw, Twice and Himiko are right. We should be celebrating instead of sulking,” big sis says.

“Celebrating?” Tomura repeats angrily. “We lost! Sensei was captured! What the hell is there to celebrate?!”

“Shigaraki Tomura, the spread of our message has only just begun. Besides, All Might is no longer a threat,” Kurogiri explains. Yay, he’s back to normal too!

“Do whatever you want.”

Tomura walks away. Maybe he needs to be alone. Kurogiri takes it upon himself to give us some instructions. He says we should split up but stay in contact and absolutely avoid getting caught. We need to keep a low profile until Tomura comes up with a new plan.

I warmly say goodbye to everyone, happy that even Dabi responds—just with a small nod, but still. Then, I follow big sis to her apartment. We’re going to be roommates!

Chapter Text

I’m sitting on my bed, thinking about everything that happened today, when my phone vibrates. Probably some stupid notification, I think, but then it vibrates again… and again. And again! It’s fucking two in the morning, who the hell is texting me at this hour?! If it’s that damn Deku, I’ll kill him! No, it’s an unknown number. But it doesn’t take a genius to figure out who it is.

Hi, Tsuki! Guess who I am~ 🤭 🙃😚🔪
Are you happy I found your number? 😁
Now we can keep talking! 😊
I still don’t know your favorite color, for example 🤔
Favorite animal? Favorite music? Etc...
You like spicy food, but what’s your favorite dish?
Wanna climb a mountain together?
Wait, we can’t, right? They put you guys in dorms. What are they like?
I’d love to live with lots of cute people! 😃😄😆
Do you have roommates? Who’s yours? Any rules?
You’re so mean, reading my messages without replying! 😕
I thought you were asleep, you know? Or maybe… are you spending the night with a girl?! 😧🥺😏

“ENOUGH!!!”

It’s a miracle I didn’t break my phone while holding down the record button to send a voice message to that crazy girl. Of all people, I didn’t need her messing with me tonight! As if it wasn’t bad enough that All Might interrupted me before I could beat the shit out of Deku, that I cried in front of him—again! —, that I found out their fucking secret, and that I got punished by Aizawa. And my damn guilt still won’t go away!

My phone vibrates again. This time, she’s calling me. I hesitate before answering.

“What’s wrong, Tsuki?” she asks in a soft, sweet voice.

Did she pick up on my frustration from my voice message? Well, even the least empathetic person on the planet could tell how pissed I am right now. So excuse me if I’m not surprised, Airhead!

All the things that have pissed me off, humiliated me, made me jealous, or just flat-out enraged me have been playing on repeat in my head ever since All Might lost his quirk and I realized he chose Deku as his successor. I’m still so restless I can’t keep still, my whole body keeps trembling. Honestly… maybe it’s a good thing she called. At least I can vent, even if I’d rather do it with explosions.

I snap at her bitterly: “And you have to ask, you psychotic bitch?! Because of me, All Might doesn’t have a quirk anymore! You and those other morons must be thrilled now, hah?! You got exactly what you wanted, right? No more Symbol of Peace! Congrats, your shitty plan worked! What else do you wanna hear?! That your precious Deku is better than me?!”

I run a hand down my face, wiping away the angry, jealous tears I couldn’t hold back. I take a shaky breath, almost sobbing. Why the hell do I feel inferior to that useless nerd?!

“I hate to contradict you, Tsuki,” she says, her voice strangely calm and comforting, “but from what I saw, it was Tomura’s Sensei who fought All Might until he lost, and your hero deflated. You had nothing to do with it.”

Her voice is oddly soothing. Yelling out my frustrations, knowing she was actually listening—even if she didn’t get it—lifted some of the weight off my chest. I think… maybe if I listen to her a little more, I’ll feel even better. So I stay silent and let her talk.

“We were surprised too, you know? It’s not like we kidnapped you for that. Tomura genuinely wanted to recruit you. Sure, he’s happy that All Might isn’t a threat anymore, but he didn’t even have time to celebrate because he was too upset about his Sensei being locked up. Their fight wasn’t planned. You saw how unprepared we were when the heroes raided the bar, right?”

“That go for Mr. Boiled Potato too?”

“Oh, no clue, that was the first time I saw him. He mostly just talked to Tomura and Kurogiri and let us do our things. He was nice enough to encourage Tomura, don’t you think? Oh, wait, what was I saying? Oh yeah. We tried figuring out why All Might deflated, and honestly, I think the explanation is pretty simple: retirement.”

“What? Retirement?” I repeat, confused.

If I were talking to a normal person, I’d think I misheard, but since it’s her, I know I heard right. She sounds more cheerful now, but not annoyingly so.

“Yeah, of course! Think about it! How old is All Might? We think he’s over fifty. It makes sense his quirk was wearing out. Maybe he had, what, another year left? Then it would’ve run out anyway. You used to say you wanted to die in some epic battle, so why aren’t you happy that All Might retired after one?”

I go quiet. She’s… not wrong. She has no idea, but it’s already a miracle that All Might lasted this long after giving up One for All months ago. I felt responsible because I was kidnapped, forcing All Might into a desperate situation. But knowing that wasn’t planned, that it was just a coincidence… It actually makes me feel better.

“Tsuki, it wasn’t your fault or ours. It just happened. I mean, yeah, we’re relieved—one less threat! But come on, we deserved a little good luck for once! If it helps, the only one who actually hates him is Tomura. All Might’s not cute in any form, so I never cared about him. And I never saw him as a ‘Symbol of Peace’ either. Why would I? When I was a kid, I wasn’t at peace, and later, he was just another thing to worry about.”

I don’t care about her trashing my favorite hero, but I let her keep talking anyway. Because I… kind of like the sound of her voice. I stop paying attention to what she’s saying. Instead, I think. If I hadn’t been caught up in the fight between All Might and those idiots, I never would’ve felt responsible in the first place. I mistook a coincidence for a cause-and-effect. All Might didn’t lose his powers because I was kidnapped. I just happened to be there when it happened. That’s it. The guilt is gone… But the resentment I feel toward Deku? That’s my fault. And I’ve known that ever since she forced me to do that damn experiment.

She’s quiet now. She’s probably waiting for me to say something. I’m not ashamed that I let her see me weak. I mean, I did decide she should help me soften up, can’t do that if I keep hiding things from her. Still, thanking her feels too embarrassing. The silence drags on, and I hear her humming a tune.

Finally, I say: “I could track your phone, you know that?”

* * *

I wish I could cuddle Tsuki right now! I can’t even see his face… I should have made a video call!

Poor little explosive hedgehog, he still hasn’t learned to confide in his friends. Good thing I’m here, or he would have kept everything bottled up! I did well to contact him, and what a surprise it was to find him so nervous. I hope I said the right things to him. It’s strange that after his initial outburst, he was so quiet, but maybe that’s a good thing. You can’t think while you’re yelling, right? Tsuki is a smart guy; he’ll realize he made a mistake by blaming himself. These are the downsides of being too good: you start feeling responsible for everything!

I explain to him how All Might was an overrated hero based on my personal experience and that of my friends, until I run out of ideas. Well, I’ve talked enough. Now I just need to see if Tsuki has calmed down. I hum a tune while I wait, completely at ease. This isn’t an awkward silence, Explodo-boy just needs to organize his thoughts if he hasn’t already.

“I could track your phone. You know that, right?”

Yay! I calmed him down! I stretch out, feeling happy and proud of my success. Too bad he always chooses such serious conversation topics, though.

“Yes, Tsuki, I know. They told me they can’t stop tracking, but they installed an app that lets me know if someone tries to locate me. So… do it only if you don’t want to talk to me.”

Please, please, don’t say anything mean! But more importantly, don’t try to track me! I’d be so sad if we lost contact, or even worse, if I found out you only care about throwing me in jail…

“Mmmh, no, that would be a disadvantage. I’d lose a way to keep an eye on you, and since you’re so stupid, you’ll eventually slip up and reveal to me where you are or what your intentions are.”

I giggle, relieved and happy that Tsuki’s voice has regained its determination and pride.

“Perfect! So, we left off at your favorite color! Tell me! …Tsuki?”

He hung up on me, the meanie! I burst into laughter because that’s just so him. You never get bored with Tsuki! Oh, he sent me a message: Go to sleep, Airhead. I smile affectionately.

I reply, Goodnight to you too, Tsuki, send him about ten heart emojis, and put my phone beside me on the bed. I gently run my finger over the screen while thinking about him, happy that he’s part of my life and that he wants me in his. He’s without a doubt the boy I’ve grown most attached to. I mean, I care about everyone in the League, but with Tsuki, it’s different. I feel something special. Someday, I’ll figure out what this feeling is…

Chapter Text

I wait in an isolated hallway, leaning against the wall, while they finish preparing for the second test. The first one was a breeze; the provisional license is practically in my pocket.

“Hey, Yuei!”

Hm? A girl from Shiketsu with full lips is approaching. Just what I needed…

“You guys from U.A. have such cute boys!” she exclaims cheerfully.

I don’t even have time to reply before the bitch pinches my cheek. I slap her hand away, annoyed, and glare at her like get lost while trying to figure out what the hell she wants. She just giggles.

“You don’t like me? Look at these boobs! Your classmates were eating me up with their eyes!”

I can’t believe she actually said that! What is this, a bribe attempt? Is she trying to use her quirk to mess with me?

“Then go to them, Balloon Lips! They’d be dumb enough to fall for it!”

“Fall for it? That’s unfair. With this attitude, you’ll scare off every girl interested in you, Tsuki.”

Tsuki?! Wait a second, only one airhead in the world calls me that! I stare at her, speechless, and she bursts into laughter, clapping her hands.

“You recognized me, huh?”

“Toga… Why are you here? What did you do to this girl?”

“I hung her from the ceiling, slit her throat, and danced under a rain of blood.”

“WHAT?!”

“No, Explodo-boy! She’s fine. I just sedated her and took some of her blood with a syringe, like a good girl. I even made her pass the first test. Admit it, Utsushimi Camie has an amazing body!”

I stare at her, stunned, while she checks out and touches her borrowed body. Airhead passed the first test… none of this makes sense. Not understanding pisses me off. I grab her wrist, shaking her arm, trying to keep her focused.

“What the fuck are you doing here?!”

She smiles, wild and radiant: “I wanted to get to know Izuku better! I didn’t have much time, but I managed to chat with him a little! Tell me, do he and Ochaco like each other? There seemed to be some chemistry between them…”

“Why the fuck would I care about those two?! What does the Hand-Covered Bastard want?”

“Huh? Tomura? What does he have to do with this? Neither he nor the other guys know I’m here. We split up, and we have to keep a low profile to avoid getting caught. I really hoped I’d get to say hi to you, Tsuki, and I did! But now I have to go, ‘cause I don’t think I have enough blood for the rest.”

Keeping a low profile would mean taking the place of an aspiring hero, going to a place full of other aspiring heroes as well as actual heroes, just to talk to Deku?!? Her recklessness knows no bounds…

I want to smash my head against the wall over the fact that I actually admire this lunatic. Even though she didn’t give a damn, she passed a test that put more than a thousand kids—who had trained specifically for it—in trouble! Okay, they’re just extras, but still! It’s hilarious to think a villain pulled it off. If she hadn’t gone after Shitty Deku, I could have had a proper match with her. I’m almost jealous of the time Airhead spent with him.

“Stay,” I say firmly.

“Huh?”

“Take the second test.”

She frowns at me. “Are you trying to get me caught?”

“No, idiot, I’m challenging you. I want to test your strength.”

“Well… when you look at me like that, how can I say no?” she replies, blushing.

I’m about to insult her when Shitty Hair and Dumbass Face show up, wanting to tag along with me again, and the siren for the second test blares.

* * *

How nice! More cute guys from Class 1-A! Tsuki grunts and starts walking. I introduce myself as Utsushimi Camie to the others, and although they seem perplexed, they do the same, and the three of us follow Katsuki.

Denki looks like he’s dying to ask me something. In the end, he gives in: “Excuse me, are you the one who was alone with Deku?”

“Mh? Yeah, I just asked him a couple of questions. Why?”

“Well... did Sero tell the truth? Were you naked?”

Tsuki keeps walking but turns to shoot a murderous glare—I’m not sure if it’s directed at me or at the electric blonde, who looks like he’s imagining who knows what.

“Dude, you don’t ask a girl that kind of question,” Eijiro scolds him.

“Yeah, but it’s not normal during an exam like this, I mean...”

I chuckle and explain, turning to Tsuki: “When I transform, I can change clothes too. But if I wear extra clothes, they overlap, and it’s noticeable, so I have to be naked. It’s embarrassing, but it’s the only way to avoid being discovered.”

“Your classmates are so lucky,” Denki comments dreamily.

“You have a really cool quirk, Utsushimi!” Eijiro compliments me.

“Thanks, yours are amazing too. Are you his friends?” I ask, pointing at Tsuki.

“Sort of,” Denki replies.

“I’m his best friend,” Eijiro declares with a smile.

“And I’m his best female friend!” I announce proudly.

“When have I ever called any of you that?!” Tsuki yells without even turning around. “Quiet now, focus!”

“Relax, Bakubro, there aren’t any injured civilians in sight yet,” Denki soothes him.

“Bakubro? What a nice nickname!”

I keep chatting with these super fun guys, making Tsuki even more annoyed. I’m so happy to have met two of his friends! Now I know Denki likes all sorts of games, trendy things, and hamburgers, while Eijiro prefers anything that can be considered manly. I’m learning a lot about their class too! This info is useless to Tomura, but super interesting to me. For example, I found out they have a bunny in their dorms! It belongs to Koda, but the girls can cuddle it. And Kyouka can play rock instruments!

Eijiro just asked me how long I’ve known Tsuki when we hear cries for help. Following them, we find an injured man and woman—obviously pretending. A small slope separates us from them.

“Help us! My arm really hurts!”

“The heroes are here now!” I exclaim excitedly.

Apparently, I beat Tsuki to shouting something. Probably a command. Of course, he’s the leader of our little group... but why did he stare at me seriously for a few seconds?

“Someone else come down with me,” he orders before jumping down. “We’ll escort you to safety,” he tells the two.

Eijiro follows him and reassures the civilians, then both of them carry them on their backs and climb the rock. I extend a hand to help Tsuki up. He grabs it, letting me pull him up, but doesn’t let go right away. He looks intensely into my eyes—am I dreaming, or did he almost smile?—and murmurs, “Thanks.”

I get the feeling he’s thanking me for more than just this moment, maybe making up for times he wanted to say it but didn’t. That makes me emotional: my little Explodo-boy is growing up!

“You’re welcome,” I reply with a big, tender smile.

I turn around and notice Eijiro and Denki are speechless, staring at us like they just witnessed a miracle.

“Bro, you thanked someone!” the redhead nearly shouts, shocked.

“Turns out our Bakugou is a real man,” Denki adds suggestively.

“Shut up, idiots! Move!” Tsuki orders, glaring at them.

I think he’s just pretending to be mad; I bet deep down, he’s enjoying this as much as we are. I get that this is an important exam for them, but is there really a need to be serious all the time? Being cheerful is much healthier!

“Okay! Lead the way, handsome guys, I’ll cover the rear.”

“No way, ladies first,” Denki insists, sneaking a glance at my butt—or well, Camie’s, but I bet he’d check out mine too.

“Pikachu! Front and center! NOW!” Tsuki orders, firing off tiny explosions.

Terrified, the electric blonde obeys immediately. I exchange a glance with Eijiro, and we both smirk. Even the civilians are grinning.

We escort them to a makeshift medical camp, and I stay long enough to hear them appreciate our efforts—especially since, apparently, they’re married and our teamwork reminded them of their courting days. Uh, I think I missed something, but whatever.

Tsuki leads us in a direction temporarily ignored by the other hero candidates. I think he’s doing it on purpose to avoid the crowd, but it’s also true that the whole area needs to be searched, and the four of us should be enough to handle different situations. We’ve been quiet for a while, and I can’t help but watch Tsuki. His expression is focused, and he’s on high alert, but he’s not tense or irritated. Admiring him in moments like this is the best! He’s too cute!

Suddenly, we hear an explosion, and the ground fractures. Now they’re simulating a villain attack, led by the hero Gang Orca.

“Should we run over there, bro?” Eijiro asks.

“No, I heard screaming nearby. Let’s pick up the dumbasses around here first, then go kick the villains’ asses.”

* * *

We’re doing a group activity with a villain, and these idiots have even become her friends in no time. How would they react if they knew the truth? Mah… probably not much differently than I did. If I accepted her, imagine how easy it would be for them.

What’s the point of staying in contact if she doesn’t even text me when she plans to pull some dumb stunt like this?! No, at night it’s just useless or even surreal chatter, like when she tells me stories about ponycorns—hybrids born from a unicorn and a pony—that she made up. It’s My Little Pony crap, except with more blood and battles, which honestly makes them more interesting than the original series in my eyes. But I don’t like them! I just put up with them because she’s incapable of talking about anything else! For me, it’s part of my personal character rehabilitation program. Shit, if I learn to accept everything that comes out of Airhead’s mouth without complaining, I’ll develop patience beyond compare.

But I can’t overdo it, or I’ll risk letting her get away with crap like this, accepting the excuse that it was a surprise and that’s why she didn’t say anything. Who cares if she’s behaving well and if this experience is actually kinda fun?! She should’ve warned me!

Even though I plan to scold her, I’m not actually mad at her. I’ll make sure she understands to never do it again, but for now, I just want to enjoy her presence. I mean… having her around reminds me of how I swore to interact with the people I save: I have to appear calm and reassuring so they trust me and let themselves be rescued quickly.

My unusually relaxed attitude has shocked Shitty Hair and Dumbass Face, who made some stupid comments about it. Actually, no—Shitty Hair’s comments are just harmless, while the Poor Pikachu pisses me off! It’s not enough that he throws jabs at me, but he also has to act like a pervert in front of her. And what’s worse? Airhead plays along! I shouldn’t even be surprised—idiots naturally get along… It’s because of people like them that everyone thinks blondes are dumb!

Finally, the second test is over. I would’ve liked to fight the fake villains, but at least now I can take it out on Spark Plug and vent all the frustration he’s made me bottle up. I turn toward him menacingly and say, “Get ready to run, dumbass. I’m giving you a five-second head start.”

“Why, Bakubro? C’mon…” the idiot stammers, practically begging.

“One!” I start counting with pure ferocity.

He takes off as fast as he can. I start betting with myself on how many seconds it’ll take to catch him, but before I reach five, Toga kisses me on the cheek. I freeze in shock, all hostility vanishes, and my face immediately heats up. She defused me!

“I really have to go now, Tsuki. I had so much fun! I hope I get to see you and your friends again soon! Bye-bye!”

I shake my head, still stunned. I meet Shark Teeth’s gaze, and he quickly blurts out a very unconvincing, “I see nothing,” before making himself scarce.

Meanwhile, Airhead finishes talking to a Shiketsu teacher and walks down a hallway, and I just can’t take my eyes off her.

I change absentmindedly and join the extras in front of a massive board, where everyone hopes to see their name listed. Out of the hundred students who made it to the second test, ninety-one passed. Obviously, I’m one of them. And so is Airhead.

The license will technically go to Blow-Up Lips, but a villain was the one who earned it. The thought makes me smirk. We’re supposed to be enemies, yet today we worked together like a real team, and I can’t deny that I actually liked seeing her get along with my friends.

Toga means something to me, I’m sure of it. She’s someone to save, a villain to capture, a unique tool for my own growth—and there’s more to it. Otherwise, it wouldn’t explain why I always act differently around her, why I want to talk to her, and have her close all day.

Chapter Text

Can I call you, Tsuki? I need to hear your voice 🥺🙏

Ok 😒

This is the first time Airhead has ever made a request like this. I answer the call, expecting her to say something stupid, but instead I hear her crying. I try to push down my concern because if something’s bad for her, it might actually be good for me. Maybe she’s about to get captured or something… though I doubt it.

“I’m guessing this has nothing to do with your mini horned horses dueling with laser horns,” I say, not knowing how to get her to talk without sounding too harsh. I’d take an overexcited Airhead over a crying one any day.

She lets out a small laugh between sobs. “No… Tsuki… Magne is dead.”

Who? Oh right, the only other woman in the League of Bastards—the one who wore sunglasses even at night.

Now it’s harder to keep my unease in check. Is she hurt? Is she in danger?

“What the hell happened?” I ask, instantly on high alert.

“Overhaul,” Toga hisses with hatred. “He’s a mafioso… Jin brought him in to recruit him… now he feels so guilty, poor thing…”

“So Overhaul isn’t with you guys anymore?”

“No.”

I start to relax, knowing the immediate threat is gone. I’m also relieved that Airhead doesn’t need any more coaxing and is starting to talk on her own, even if it’s between sobs.

“Jin saw that he was strong, so he thought about making him an ally... Mister explained to me that the Yakuza used to be more powerful, but quirks changed everything because heroes were born, and now the mafia are just a bunch of losers. Anyway, Overhaul is jealous of our success and only followed Jin because he wanted to use us for his own plan to become the new crime boss. Tomura rightfully told him to get lost, and- and then Magne attacked him, telling him that w- we want a life without chains... and then he just touched her, a- and all of a sudden, there was nothing left of her except her legs and blood everywhere! I couldn’t believe it! Mister was the first to react, and he lost an arm... his quirk didn’t activate... then Tomura tried to kill that bastard, but one of his goons got disintegrated in his place... He treats them like pawns! And he thought we were the same! He even said that we were even in terms of deaths and that he owed us an arm, can you believe it?! To him, some random guy died, but we lost our big sis! I really wanted to stab him, but Tomura stopped me... He seems interested in Overhaul’s plan... I don’t know what the others think, but Jin feels so guilty, and I decided not to cry in front of him... and you’re my best friend… I really needed to hear your voice.”

Keeping up with Airhead is complicated, especially when she’s upset, but I’m getting used to it. What she just told me pissed me off. Apparently, there’s a new asshole in town—on top of that, a mafia boss—who’s decided to climb the criminal hierarchy, and he’s got a strong enough quirk to do it. But this guy only showed up after All Might lost his powers. Sounds like a cowardly, opportunistic bastard to me.

I have to give the League some credit: they’ve always had the guts to challenge the Number One hero because he represents the perfect society they hate so much. They didn’t just step up when they knew they could win; they fight for their twisted ideals at any cost. In that sense, I respect them, even though I absolutely don’t approve of how they’re going about it. What they’re doing is terrorism, it causes more harm than good and completely undermines any positive message in their movement… if they even believe in it and aren’t just using it as an excuse to do whatever the hell they want.

Anyway, Toga’s right about Overhaul: he’s a loser. Not that I can completely trust what she says, we often have very different opinions on things—she called me her best friend again, damn it!—but this time, she has valid reasons to hate and want to kill someone.

The fact that the Hand-Covered Bastard wants to go along with this guy is concerning. What are Shigaraki’s real intentions? I hope he’s planning to screw Overhaul over somehow. Airhead makes it sound like he’s not the type to give up control. Still, even if Shigaraki is the lesser evil, he’s still evil! He’s already done a ton of messed-up shit—he still has to pay for kidnapping me!—so there’s no way I can root for him to win over that other asshole.

I push aside my thoughts about this new villain and try to comfort Toga in my own way.

* * *

“Okay, listen. The internships are starting soon. I’ll be able to patrol, maybe even work on a case...”

“Will we be able to see each other?” I interrupt, the thought making me feel a bit happier.

“Maybe. You guys haven’t settled things with Overhaul yet, right?”

“Of course not! We have to avenge big sis!”

“By killing him?”

“Yes,” I answer, a little less sure. It feels like a trick question.

“Airhead, I get that you don’t trust the system or sane adults, but have you ever thought about why prisons exist?”

“No, Tsuki, but what does that have to do with anything? They’re to lock up people who cause trouble, right?”

“That’s a simplistic way to put it. They’re a punishment that lasts depending on the severity of the crime.”

“Do they teach you this stuff at U.A.?”

“Yeah, but I also have a brain, so I think about what I learn.”

“So... you actually believe in this system?”

“Exactly. Want to know why?”

I nod, then remember that Tsuki can’t see me, so I answer out loud. I’m not sure why he’s explaining all this to me… maybe because he really believes it and thinks knowing about it will help me deal with Magne’s death. I’m not convinced, but I really appreciate the effort.

“Because if everyone took revenge for every wrong done to them, it would create endless chaos. Everyone would think they’re in the right, and justice would be different for every idiot out there. That’s why laws, police, and judges exist. We need impartial people to punish those who harm society and its members. In your case, someone might care about that bastard and decide to come after you and your friends, if you kill him. And you’ve killed people before... aren’t you afraid of family members or friends wanting revenge? They’d be justified in wanting it, but justice has to be carried out properly, otherwise, everyone’s wrong, because you can’t say murder is unforgivable and then punish it by committing murder yourself. It doesn’t make sense, it’s hypocritical.”

“Tsuki... what about emotions? Feelings?” It’s the only argument I can come up with against his logical but cold reasoning.

“Sometimes they’re just an excuse, or they stop you from thinking straight for a moment, like when I blamed myself for All Might’s retirement. People convince themselves that making others suffer will make them feel better, but that’s bullshit. The manual says that only time can help heal certain wounds. Airhead, if I can investigate him, I’ll avenge your friend by making sure that bastard never sees the light of day again. Got it? But you can’t kill anyone. Neither can your friends...”

He’s moved on to hero talk. But he’s sweet, he wants to help me avenge Big Sis in his own way. I really hope Tomura decides to take on the Yakuza; it would be amazing to team up with Tsuki against Overhaul!

I feel calmer than before... I can think about Magne without bursting into tears, even though I still feel very sad about losing her. Thinking about it, Tsuki—or rather, the Yuei manual—isn’t entirely wrong. These things have been said hundreds of times in movies, books, and so on, but maybe it’s true that brutally assassinating someone, like I was planning to do with Overhaul, wouldn’t really accomplish anything. People want to do it because the thought of someone who killed a loved one continuing to live happily is unbearable. Meanwhile, our loved one is dead, will never be with us again, will never do what they loved, and we’re left grieving and crying over them.

Overhaul still has to pay, no question about it, but maybe not with his life. I’m sure we’ll come up with something for him—after all, Tomura is good at making plans. But I think we’re doing this for us... to make ourselves feel better. But to truly make Magne happy, I think we should continue fighting for her ideals, creating a society where everyone can be whatever gender they want without being judged. I’ll tell the others later; maybe this thought will bring them some comfort.

Without Tsuki, I wouldn’t have understood this so quickly. I knew calling him was the right thing to do. I’d love for him to hug me and comfort me with cuddles right now! I miss being able to touch him so much!

“Airhead?”

I got lost in my thoughts. I giggle. Only one way comes to mind to thank my little explosive hedgehog, and I announce it immediately: “You’ve earned a role among the ponycorns! You’ll be called Explodo-corn, a blond ponycorn with a grenade launcher horn!”

I burst out laughing, and I can hear him laughing too—it’s the most beautiful sound in the world! I wonder if Tsuki is as proud as I am of the progress he’s made in being a great friend. I’d love to tell him how much affection I feel when I think of him, but I can’t find the right words. So instead, I just smile and say, “I owe you a story.”

“If you really want to do something for me, turn yourself in. And… I’m sorry about your friend.”

“Thanks, Tsuki... I feel better.”

I can tell he’s glad, even if he doesn’t say it. And that’s fine with me. Tsuki wanted to soften up, and he’s doing it, but he can’t change completely and become an open person. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be Tsuki anymore, and I probably wouldn’t feel as comfortable with him. Improving is good; trying to be something you’re not is wrong—it only makes you miserable. I learned that the hard way, thanks to my parents. Tsuki and I understand who we are and have found compromises to get along. That’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me!

“Well... we’ll both be very busy. We won’t talk again for a while.”

I laugh at his awkwardness in ending the conversation.

“Yeah, I’ll miss you. Good night, Explodo-boy.”

A grunt, then he hangs up. I hug a stuffed animal tightly and think about Magne and Tsuki until I fall asleep.

Chapter Text

You start 😁

No, idiot, you go first!

No~ 🙃
Do you know why?
Because you’re supposed to tell the sad or boring stuff first
And you didn’t face Overhaul!
So whatever you did is definitely more boring than what I did 🤗🤭

What kind of fucking reasoning is that 🙄
Fine... 😒
Best Jeanist has temporarily retired, thanks to Boiled Potato
He doesn’t go out in the field or appear in public, but he runs his agency from home
And when he offered me another internship, I accepted
To see if I’ve really improved
Or if you’re just a useless character coach 🖕

I prefer personal trainer
Personal = exclusively for Tsuki~ 😘💖
You’ve improved, haven’t you? 😏😁

Yeah
He said he noticed right away that I was different and confirmed it after seeing me in action during patrols
I helped some idiots after a car accident
Saved a few more from a fire
I also followed a suspicious guy around, but he turned out to be innocent
That’s it—other than that, I just walked around the city

And signed a few autographs? 😊

A few kids asked me

I saw some pictures 😂
Do you know how Eri is doing?

The kid is fine, Aizawa-sensei is taking care of her

Jin and I tried to get her, but we were at a disadvantage 😞

Shitty Hair told me some things, and I also listened to Round Face and Deku talking about it with the others
But with you, I’ll understand better what happened
At least I’ll know what you guys were doing there

Oky~

Tsuki doesn’t know, but I keep moving and changing positions between each message. I’m way too excited!

These past few days, I’ve been trying to write the story of Explodo-corn, the grenade-launching ponycorn. He’s the new bodyguard of Stabby, the queen of the ponycorns—that’s me. And everything was normal: Explodo-corn escorted the queen around Ponyville, attended the Golden Horn council meetings with her, and fought against the enemies of the neighboring city, Uni Town. But something felt off...

Explodo-corn and Stabby spent so much time together, it was impossible for them not to become best friends. And it would have been a great twist if they fell in love! I really enjoyed writing that part! But I didn’t understand why it thrilled me so much. Sure, ponycorns stories always get me invested, but this one fascinated me particularly.

Thanks to Mr. Compress, I finally figured out why the story excited me: I’m in love with Tsuki! Thinking back on it, it’s pretty obvious, but I hadn’t realized it before! And yet, for a long time, I’ve felt emotions for Tsuki—and because of Tsuki—that I’ve never felt before. I’ve experienced so many emotions, especially in recent months, and what I feel for him is unique.

But I can’t tell him yet. It would be so unromantic to reveal something so important over the phone. No, no, I have to tell him in person, when I can finally hug him! Meanwhile, keeping this secret from him makes me feel so excited! It makes it even cuter when he texts me, totally unaware that I love him!

I told the others immediately, though. Tomura said to use him as an unwitting spy and try to lure him to our side again, then lost interest. The others weren’t too interested either, except for Jin. He’s my best friend!

I feel bad that they’re all single, or at least that they don’t seem to have any romantic interests. They’d definitely be happier! I want them to share in my joy! Maybe I can find them some girls—or guys, I’m not too sure about their preferences—on a dating site. I’ll start with Jin!

* * *

So, Tomura was more interested in the anti-quirk compound than Overhaul’s plan
Speaking of which, Overhaul is a massive hypocrite! 😕😤
He uses his quirk all the time but says they’re harmful to society!
Like… what? 😐
Anyway, Tomura asked me and Jin to join the Yakuza, and he seemed genuine about it
It actually worked in our favor because there was this guy who could make people answer questions truthfully, and of course, he asked if Tomura intended to betray them. Naturally, we said no
We actually tried giving them a chance, but we didn’t like them at all 😠🔪👿
They confirmed our first impression: just another gang of criminals, only stronger than the rest
Not like us in the League ☺

What’s the difference between you and them?

We don’t leave our comrades behind or want them dead!
We’re a family of friends! 😃😄❤

If you say so… keep going

Well, during the heroes’ attack, Jin and I played our part
Did you know I stabbed the dark hero and your Sensei without killing them? 😁🔪😊

Yeah, but I’d have preferred if you didn’t stab them at all!

Me too, they weren’t exactly nice, but I had to help the Yakuza
After that, though, I helped the heroes because Mimic almost hurt Jin during his attacks
Tomura said he trusted us, and we decided the mafia guys were losers 💀☠😈
We were putting in the effort, and they still didn’t respect us! 😤😠👿
So we distracted Mimic, letting your Sensei find him, and then we got the hell out of there 🤭
On the surface, I even pointed Ochaco toward the enemies 😊
Then we watched the fight between Deku and Overhaul—it was amazing! 😆
But we didn’t get a chance to take Eri, so I called Mister, and he and the others went to punish Overhaul 😄🔪 😈
And that’s it 🤗

You could be a contact for the underworld

Contact? What do you mean? 🤨

You know those movies where the cop protagonist has criminal friends feeding them information?

Oh yeah!
If it’s about taking down guys like Overhaul, I don’t mind 😁
…
YOU WROTE THAT WE’RE FRIENDS 😆😆😆

No, Airhead!!!
I was just giving an example!!!

I’m not your delinquent friend? 🥺

Fuck you 🖕

Damn it, I actually do consider her my delinquent friend!

Well, I guess it’s only natural to think highly of the person who knows me better than anyone else, and who I know better than anyone else. When I really think about it, it’s weird, yet it feels more and more normal… Maybe because, even though we should be enemies, we have a positive influence on each other. It’s something I’d really hate to lose...

Chatting with Toga at night had become a nice habit. I missed it during my internship, and now that we’ve picked it up again, I feel relieved. It’s insane how good it feels to tell her about my life and read her crazy rants. Especially her crazy rants. I usually send short messages, while she spams everything: selfies, pictures of her friends, stories about those cursed little unicorns, cat videos, endless nonsense that either amuses me or pisses me off, depending on the case.

Tonight, Airhead seems more excited than usual. Maybe it’s the victory over Overhaul? I hope she didn’t get drunk celebrating. Nah, a couple of those idiots in the League are responsible enough, from what she tells me. They wouldn’t let her.

Toga is almost always lively and in a good mood. In small doses, she’s uplifting; in large doses, she’s exhausting. Too bad all that energy and goodwill are wasted on the wrong path... Before, I saw it as my duty as a hero—to capture her and save her at the same time. But now, I want to do it because otherwise, I’d be a shitty friend. Yeah, fine, I admit it: Airhead and I are friends!

She’s always acted like one: encouraging and supporting me no matter what my goal is, trying to give me good advice, being understanding and available... Plus, in Toga’s eyes, I’m good. A real hero. Well, I want to earn that title, to prove it with my actions, so that one day, I truly become the hero she sees in me. That motivates me more than anything to improve, and to find a way to help her.

Sure, I comforted her once, and thank god she listened when I told her to stop killing people, but that’s not enough. I’ll keep giving her little nudges toward the idea of changing her life, of leaving crime behind—or at least using her knowledge to help heroes while she’s still stuck with criminals. I have to use anything to make her change her mind on her own, so that when I throw her in jail, she can get out sooner.

The cultural festival is coming up soon. I don’t know what we’ll do yet, but I plan to send Airhead some videos that people will definitely record. And I’ll make sure to rub it in that because of her and her friends, no outside visitors are allowed, so she won’t get to sneak in to watch me or her pathetic crushes... And, well… I also just want to send her something fun…

Chapter Text

I realize something is wrong even before I open my eyes. I’m thirsty, slightly nauseous, and have a headache, but I don’t remember what caused these symptoms. I want to go back to sleep, I don’t feel clear-headed enough to figure out what’s going on. However, when I try to turn over to find a more comfortable position in bed, I discover that I can’t… because I’m not in bed! Even though my body registered it right away, I only now realize that I’m sitting on some kind of chair. And I can’t move freely—my arms and legs seem to be tied up.

Am I experiencing my first hangover? I can’t remember anything...

I force my eyes open after blinking at least ten times and struggle to lift my head. In front of me is a well-lit, round vanity mirror; underneath it, a table cluttered with various cosmetics, a brush, a couple of perfumes, and a pair of red earrings. I’m sure I’ve never seen them before. Then, I look at my reflection.

The shock I feel clears away some of the drowsiness: my face is perfectly made up! I am perfectly made up! I’ve practiced makeup often while in the League, since I had plenty of free time to kill, but I had never reached such a level of perfection that enhances my beauty so well. I feel my cheeks flush as I realize that I look absolutely stab-worthy—even more than I had ever imagined!

The makeup distracts me so much that it takes a few more seconds to notice I’m not wearing my usual school uniform. Instead, I’m dressed in an elegant, sleeveless red dress, fairly short and slightly tight-fitting. My hair is loose instead of in its usual buns, but it’s messy.

I tear my gaze away from my reflection, still pleasantly surprised, and look down at my legs. From my thighs to my ankles, they’re tightly wrapped in thick adhesive tape. On my feet, I’m wearing red high-heeled shoes. I turn to look behind the chair’s backrest and barely manage to glimpse the rope tying my wrists together.

“Guys?” I call out, doubtful and very confused. “What kind of joke is this?”

“Oh, you’re awake!” exclaims a satisfied male voice.

Since the mysterious man is behind me, I observe him through the mirror. He’s a guy in his fifties whom I’ve never seen before. I would have remembered such an unpleasant-looking face. The stranger has gray hair slicked back, dark eyes, a large nose and mouth, yellowed teeth from smoking, and a salt-and-pepper goatee. He’s wearing a tuxedo.

I don’t like him at all! The way he’s staring at me is disgusting, and I hate his smug smile!

“Don’t touch me!” I scream as soon as he dares to place a hand on my shoulder.

I growl at the sound of his laughter, trembling with rage, now fully aware that this creepy guy was probably the one who undressed and made me up. I would love to stab him right in the eye and- wait a second, now I remember!

I had gone out shopping, disguised as a petite blonde girl similar to myself. I had bought an adorable coat to face the winter cold and was on my way back to the hideout when someone pressed a cloth over my face and wrapped an arm around my waist, dragging me into a deserted alley. Caught off guard, I didn’t react in time and only started struggling when the narcotic had already begun to take effect. The hope that this is just a prank by my friends completely disappears.

This is the first time I’ve been kidnapped, but I’m not afraid. After all, I’m an expert at knife work! I just need to wait for the right moment to break free and make this bastard suffer. A wicked grin spreads across my face at the thought of the pain I’ll inflict on him. The kidnapper doesn’t seem intimidated.

“This is the first time a girl has smiled so naturally,” he muses. “I’d say it’s time for introductions. My name is Oaka Hajime. And you? How old are you?”

“Toga Himiko, seventeen. Why am I here? Don’t you know kidnapping girls is a crime?”

“Of course, I do, Himiko. By the way, lovely name. Do you like mine?”

“To me, your name is ‘perverted maniac,’ and you disgust me! If you let me go now, I’ll slit your throat quickly!”

Hajime chuckles in amusement. He confesses that he’s already kidnapped seven girls over the years, but I’m the first one who, instead of crying, offering money, or trying to act important because of her family name, has threatened to kill him.

“You think that’s funny, you sick pedophile?!” I scream in fury, twisting and turning, but no matter how much I struggle, I can’t loosen the ropes or the tape.

“Oh, come on, relax. We’re going to have a lovely evening together. Let me fix your hair. We’ll have plenty of time to get messy after dinner.”

What the fuck does that mean?!

While I freeze in horror, he takes advantage and grabs the brush, carefully untangling my knots without pulling. Meanwhile, he talks: “I have a beautiful evening planned for us. As soon as I put on your earrings, I’ll take you over there. See that light? It’s from candles—very romantic, don’t you think? And you’ll love the dinner I’m preparing. Hope you’re not vegetarian, or you’ll miss out on a real treat! We’ll eat to our heart’s content. Then you can choose what to do before we head to the bedroom. I’ve got scented candles, tons of rose petals... I’ll be putting on romantic music soon to set the perfect mood. I guarantee it! I’m a perfectionist, I would never disappoint a woman.”

I sigh in exasperation. People—Dabi especially—always say I’m crazy, but this guy is way more fucked up than me! I mean, if he has so much money to waste, he could’ve just hired a prostitute instead of trying to woo a kidnapped girl. That’s less illegal! Unless… this creep enjoys inflicting pain. Or maybe he kills the women he spends the night with.

Now, I may be sadistic, psychopathic, whatever—but I definitely don’t approve of this serial kidnapper’s behavior. I’m outraged! Partly because he kidnapped me—or rather, the girl I was unfortunately disguised as this afternoon—but mostly because he doesn’t even know her name or anything about her. What kind of stalker is he?!

If I were to plan a forced date with Katsuki, I’d be excited, because I love him! But I wouldn’t just grab some random person for something so important and romantic. That’s what I hate about Hajime: he’s following impulses that have nothing to do with love, yet he has the audacity to pretend to be some love-struck fool. It makes me sick!

“What’s wrong, Himiko? Why so quiet? Look how beautiful you are!”

I have to admit, the perverted maniac has skills. Maybe he’s a beautician or something. Hajime clips on the earrings and drags the chair into the next room, positioning me in front of a round table set for two. He even has the nerve to stroke my cheek with a finger as he announces that he’ll step away for a moment to check on the chicken.

I shudder at the thought of what he might have done to me while I was unconscious and decide to start his punishment early by sinking my teeth into his hand. His scream is so satisfying. But then, he punches me in the temple, forcing me to let go. Glaring, he examines his injured hand and yanks my hair with his left hand.

I keep laughing anyway, but I don’t lick the blood left on my lips: I have no desire to be anything like him. Disgusting!

“You stupid little bitch, look what you did! I spend hours preparing everything, and this is how you thank me?!”

“Heh… that was nothing, you perverted maniac.”

“You think this is funny, huh?! Well, let me tell you something! You’re my doll tonight, got it?! You’ll do everything I say!” Hajime shouts, emphasizing each word with another yank of my hair.

For the first time, I feel fear, not just simple and legitimate concern. I hadn’t expected the perverted maniac to lose his temper so suddenly. He must have far more serious mental issues than I originally thought... Hmm, I feel like I’ve heard that phrase directed at me before... but Tsuki was joking. With him, it’s the truth!

To appease him, I let out a few whimpers of pain and give him the best wounded-puppy expression I can muster.

“Are you sorry, Himiko?”

“Yes, perverted maniac, very. I don’t want you to hurt me.”

“Be a good girl, and it won’t happen again. You really are beautiful… Call me whatever you want, as long as we make peace with a kiss...”

“What?! No!!!”

Hajime ignores me and places his left hand on my shoulder before leaning his head toward mine. I move back as far as I can, eyeing the knife on the tablecloth with desperate longing, though it’s unfortunately out of reach. I squeeze my eyes shut and press my lips together, disgusted by the contact that’s about to happen.

“Hey, you! Get your damn hands off her!”

Chapter Text

I kick a can, annoyed. During my patrols over the past few days, I haven’t run into a single criminal. All I’ve done was help a useless brat retrieve a cat from a tree, a cranky old hag who lost her wallet, an idiot who parked in double lanes, and some lost tourists looking for directions. In short, I’m beyond frustrated at the lack of action!

I’m about to climb down a fire escape after checking some alleys that, to my dismay, are void of thugs or thieves, when I finally spot something suspicious. And this time, I’m sure it’s not a false alarm: a middle-aged man is dragging a blonde girl toward his car. The girl goes limp in his arms, and he carefully lays her across the back seat before sliding into the driver’s seat himself.

Finally, damn it!

But there’d be no fun in stopping him right away. Better to tail this guy. He might have accomplices, which means more opponents. They’ll probably be weaklings, but at least I can blow off some steam and send them to the hospital.

Luckily, the kidnapper’s car stops after just a few blocks, so it’s not hard to keep track of. He gets out, opens the back door, and pauses for a moment. When he pulls the girl out, I realize why: it’s the Airhead!

A strange sense of satisfaction washes over me at seeing one of my own kidnappers get kidnapped. I never got a chance to get back at Toga for abducting me, so I’m pleased to be here for hers. More importantly, I can make sure this guy doesn’t do anything to her. Toga is my responsibility. She has to pay for her crimes, but she has to make it out of this in one piece.

I wait a few seconds before slipping into the abandoned building the kidnapper entered. Even though I usually hate stealth missions, I can’t risk scaring the enemy off by yelling at them to come fight me. I don’t know the layout of this place.

The first floor is empty. So is the second. My irritation grows. From the third floor, a faint light glows, and I hear a man’s voice speaking softly. He’s showering the blonde girl with compliments. She’s taken off her coat and uniform and is slipping into a red dress, eyes still closed. This guy’s Quirk must have something to do with sleepwalking, I think, flushing as I look away from the half-dressed Airhead. What pisses me off the most is the way this extra is staring at her. He has no right to look!

At this point, I rule out the possibility of a ransom. It’s also clear that, aside from the three of us, the building is empty. They start moving, so I lift my head, relieved that the blonde is covered now… though uncomfortable thoughts, like the fact that she looks stunning in an evening dress, creep into my mind anyway.

Well, I’m straight, and she’s gorgeous. It’d be weird if I didn’t notice! Damn it, that crazy bitch always makes me feel like an idiot!

I inch closer until I can see what’s happening. The man has seated the Airhead in a chair and is in the process of tying her up, still monologuing away. Good. Less work for me when I interrogate her. Yeah, I’m going to demand she tell me where the rest of her dumbass friends are so I can turn them over to the police. I told her that the next time we met, I was putting her behind bars.

The kidnapper finishes binding her wrists and turns his attention to a vanity, sorting through makeup. I’m about to strike the moment he steps away from Toga, but then I catch her reflection in the mirror and freeze. Asleep—drugged—she doesn’t look cheerful like she always does. Instead, there’s a deeply unsettling expression on her face. Suddenly, this isn’t funny anymore. And I hate the bastard who robbed her, even if only temporarily, of that carefree attitude.

Fuck! I missed my chance to attack! I step back, cursing myself. What the hell is wrong with me?! I’m supposed to take down and capture every criminal so I can become the number one hero! It doesn’t matter if they’re male or female, young or old, rich or poor! It doesn’t matter that Toga is defenseless, incredibly attractive, confused—

—And now threatening to kill her captor. I smirk at the blonde’s attitude.

I wait for another opening. Meanwhile, I watch the guy brush Toga’s hair and listen to him ramble on about his plans for the night. He really thinks nothing will go wrong. What a jerk. There he goes, dragging her chair into the next room. Did he just hit her?! That bastard!

I force myself to hold back just a little longer. The guy’s about to leave her alone. But if I’ve managed to restrain myself this long, grinding my teeth and clenching my fists, I completely lose it when I see the Airhead sitting there, utterly disgusted, bracing herself for the freak’s kiss. Even for her, this is too much. So, without thinking twice, I bark: “Hey, you! Get your damn hands off her!”

Both villains jump and turn toward me.

“Tsuki,” Airhead murmurs in astonishment.

The bastard looks just as surprised, but he’s far less happy that a hero has arrived to ruin his plans. Before he has time to react, he’s overwhelmed by a small explosion that sends him crashing against the wall. The blast also tips over the chair to which the blonde is tied, causing her to let out a startled scream.

“I’ll deal with you soon,” I warn her.

She glares at me, pouting. I ignore her for now. I grab the collar of the maniac’s jacket, yank him to his feet, and pin him against the wall. My grip immobilizes his left arm, but his right one is partially free. With a desperate effort, he raises it and touches my shoulder before shoving me hard.

Chapter Text

As soon as Tsuki stops staring at me to focus on the serial kidnapper, I start working to free myself. If I can just wriggle enough, maybe I can at least get rid of the chair, then crawl to the table and reach the knife resting on top. Unfortunately, these stupid high heels make the task impossible! They keep slipping off the edge of the chair, preventing me from getting the leverage I need to push myself free.

Focused on my escape attempts, I barely pay attention to the two guys, but then I suddenly notice that Tsuki has stopped hurling insults at the maniac. I turn to look at them and am shocked to see Tsuki collapsing to his knees after just a simple shove from the pervert. How the hell did he take him down in mere seconds?! I redouble my efforts to break free, still in vain.

“Maybe the night isn’t completely ruined, after all. But before we move forward, you’ll have to do something for me, dear Himiko. You’ll do a favor for your Hajime, won’t you?”

The perverted maniac has turned out to be more dangerous than expected, and telling him to go to hell is no longer an option, no matter how much I want to. Normally, I love teasing people, but only when they’re my friends, so I know exactly how far I can push them.

“What do you want me to do?”

The kidnapper says he’s figured out who I am. He didn’t realize it earlier because my name and image aren’t public, since I’m a minor, but he’s heard about the transformation quirk and has linked me to the League of Villains. He claims that to get out of this mess, he simply has to get rid of a rude witness. Hajime touches my arm, activating his quirk to prevent me from attacking him while he cuts the rope and then the adhesive tape binding me.

“W-what kind of quirk do you have?” I stammer, shocked that I can’t move a muscle. I feel a horrible, foreign presence in my head, commanding my body to stay still.

“Oh, when I touch someone, I can influence their mind. It allows me to force people to do what I want, though only one command at a time. Amazing, isn’t it? Of course, the more the suggestion goes against a person’s nature, the harder I have to work. I used up almost all my energy to make sure the party-crasher stayed put, busy with his own mind, but I have just enough left to order you to kill him.”

He reinforces this command by affectionately cupping my chin. He adds that he won’t stick around to watch; he knows that as soon as I finish the job, I’d attack him, so he has to retreat to the fourth floor to prepare a countermeasure.

As soon as he leaves, I become like a guest in my own body, a puppet with invisible strings. I stand up, grab the knife the perverted maniac left me, and approach the kneeling boy. Naturally, I fight back with all my willpower during the short walk. Sure, killing isn’t against my nature, but being forced to do it is. I love freedom even more than I love blood! No one tells me who to kill, when, or how. I don’t even take hits for Tomura, so why the hell would I do it for some disgusting pervert?!

Grunting with effort, I manage to regain control over my left arm, but only that one, while I’m already kneeling, ready to stab Katsuki straight in the heart. No! I don’t want this! I love Tsuki! More than Ochaco, more than Stain, more than Deku, more than anyone! I would never kill him, not for anything in the world!

A scream of pain echoes through the room.

Running out of time, I acted on reflex, and stabbed my own left hand, placing it between the knife and Tsuki’s chest. I scream again as I pull the knife out of my hand. Clutching it to me, I cradle it, murmuring sweet words of comfort. That bastard is going to pay dearly for this! My poor hand… and what if I had actually killed Tsuki?!

I lick the blood from my wounded palm, then do the same with the back of my hand. That feels a little better. I squeeze my hand tightly, trying to contain the sharp pain shooting up my arm and pounding in my head. Closing my eyes, I try to relax as much as possible, taking deep, steady breaths.

A faint protest breaks my concentration and reminds me what—or rather, who—I’ve been resting my sweat-drenched forehead on.

Through all of this, Tsuki hasn’t moved or reacted in any way. I wave my uninjured hand in front of his eyes, which are open but unfocused. I shake his shoulder too, but still nothing. The perverted maniac has trapped him in what, judging by his expression and the few words he mumbles, must be a nightmare. His lifeless eyes unnerve me. They look like they’re staring at me but not really seeing me. I gently close them by brushing my hand over his eyelids. Much better! He’s like a sleeping prince now!

And actually… that fairy tale might help me. In the story, a kiss broke the spell. So maybe… I blush and giggle, excited. It’s worth a try, right? If it doesn’t work, I can always slap him. Tsuki will be far less happy about that, but I don’t see many other options.

Shifting into a more upright position while still kneeling, I place my right hand behind Tsuki’s neck and kiss him with my eyes closed, occasionally nibbling on his lips gently. I get a taste of him… and he’s really good…

I don’t know how long passes before I finally pull away, but when I do, I’m delighted to see that my little experiment has worked!

Chapter Text

I look around, confused. I scratch my head as I try to gather my thoughts: why am I in an abandoned construction site in broad daylight? Oh right, I was chasing a villain! How could I forget? All Might himself gave me the orders, saying that I’m perfect for this mission—unlike Deku or anyone else. I have to prove my worth. All Might put his trust in the right guy!

“Hey, Katsuki!”

I barely have time to catch sight of Toga before she disappears behind a beam, giggling. Apparently, she’s not trying to hide since she keeps talking out loud, taunting me: “You should like me, don’t you think? I mean, I look like All Might! I’m blonde and always smiling!”

“You dumbass, take that back!” I shout, chasing after her.

“I love playing cops and robbers! And you know the best part? We can play forever! I’ll always manage to escape and break out of anywhere!”

“Not from where I’m gonna lock you up!”

Finally, there are no more beams between me and the Airhead. Strangely, she’s following a straight path while running away, which allows me to use an AP Shot to blast her against a wall, yelling the inevitable “Shine!”. So far, everything is going as expected: the explosion doesn’t hit Toga directly, and the impact is strong enough to keep her from getting up quickly. She’s still trying, though, and I’m about to reach her when the wall bends and collapses on top of her. I shield my eyes with an arm to protect them from the dust cloud, but I still catch a glimpse of the blonde’s eyes widening in terror. I don’t think I heard her scream; the crash probably drowned out her voice.

I freeze for a few seconds in shock, but then I rush to dig through the rubble. As I move the debris, I hear muffled whimpers and coughing. Those sounds comfort me, 'cause if she has the strength to whine, she can’t be that bad...

I remove every bit of wreckage covering Toga’s body until only dust remains on her. She looks like a porcelain doll, completely whitened. Only one other color stands out—the crimson blood seeping from multiple wounds. I lift her torso, feeling her tremble, and wrap an arm around her shoulders. With a whimper, she opens her eyes, immediately locking onto mine. I see rage and hatred in the Airhead’s golden eyes. I can’t help but stare at her and listen.

“You won, hero,” she says, loading the last word with bitter contempt. Then she giggles, stifles a groan of pain, and her expression shifts into a frightened one. Struggling to talk, she continues: “Now I... I get it... y-you were talking about a c-coffin... from there, no one... no one can escape...”

Himiko closes her eyes and falls still with a sigh.

“No, no, I meant a prison, you bitch! Don’t you dare try to die, got it?!” I shout in panic.

Why did she say those things...? She’s never resented me before! She sees me as a damn friend!

I check to make sure my Airhead is still alive by pressing two fingers to her throat. Then, I slide my other arm under her legs and start running toward the exit of the construction site. But no matter how fast I run, the gate stays distant. I curse under my breath. What the hell is going on?!

It doesn’t matter, All Might is here! I rush to him, reassured by his presence.

“All Might! Take her, she-”

“Young Bakugou, did you kill her?! You were only supposed to capture her! We heroes don’t stoop to their level!”

“I-I didn’t mean to...! And she’s not dead! You have to take her to a hospital-”

“You don’t really expect to become a hero after something like this.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose, can’t you understand?! But that doesn’t matter now! Just save her!”

All Might’s voice shifts from shocked and accusatory to sharp as a blade: “She’s not breathing.”

I flinch and glance down at the blonde, terrified at the thought of holding a girl I might have killed... No, that’s impossible! It can’t be true! Himiko and I are... I’d never hurt her, I...

I lay her down on the ground, my movements slowed and uncoordinated by panic. In desperation, I realize All Might is right. Himiko isn’t breathing, but I can still feel a faint heartbeat inside her. I lift my head to beg All Might once more to take her to a hospital as soon as possible, but he’s gone.

I had paid little attention to the first-aid course, convinced I’d never need it except to answer the test questions correctly. But now, realizing that Himiko’s life depends entirely on the techniques I learned, I don’t hesitate for a second to use them. I place my right hand under her neck to keep her head tilted back, pinch her nose shut with my left hand, and after taking a deep breath, I breathe air into her mouth.

But when our lips touch, something is different. The acrid scent of dust is gone, replaced by a sweet, familiar vanilla fragrance. Himiko’s lips taste more... real now—metallic—and they’re much softer, warmer, and more responsive... almost as if she’s... kissing me back.

I jolt awake, my eyes snapping open. I find myself kneeling in front of the blonde, who is way too close. Instinctively, I push her back a little and scoot away, ending up sitting on the floor.

The Airhead props herself up with her right hand and, still half-lying down, bursts into laughter before exclaiming proudly: “It worked! It actually worked! Fufufu, you’ve got lipstick on you, Tsuki! And... are you crying?”

Chapter Text

I register Himiko’s words absentmindedly. I’m too busy scanning her with my eyes to make sure she’s okay, that I didn’t hurt her while I was unconscious. Coming back to reality was both easy and difficult at the same time: I can clearly distinguish what actually happened from what I dreamed, yet there was such a level of realism in the nightmare that I can’t completely dismiss it as something false and illusory. The physical sensations were simulated, but the emotions were real...

“Tsuki? Do you want another kiss?”

I don’t respond. The relief of seeing her in front of me, alive and playful as always, crashes over me. I don’t even try to resist it. I throw myself at her, wrapping her in a tight hug and burying my face in her hair. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy to see her, to feel her warmth as she, surprised, hugs me back. I recognize the vanilla scent that’s uniquely Himiko’s, and her voice tickles my ear softly. I don’t think I could ever do without this crazy blonde, because she’s my crazy blonde.

Himiko strokes my neck and shoulders with her right hand, whispering sweet, comforting words, like a mother soothing her child. She understands that I’m shaken, otherwise, she’d be saying something dumb about the hug. I adore her… I would never kill anyone, let alone her.

Time to take down that disgusting, perverted bastard! He made me experience something horrible!

We pull away from the hug, and I notice that Himiko isn’t completely unscathed. I grab her left wrist, examine the wound, and ask worriedly, “Did I do this to you?”

“Huh? Of course not, it was the perverted maniac. I heard him upstairs, he hasn’t escaped yet. Should we go kill him together? Or stay here hugging? That’s even better!”

I shake my head. Standing up makes me feel dizzy and nauseous. Airhead starts to get up too, but I order her to stay seated and not move. She huffs in protest, pouting at me, but she obeys.

I rinse my face in the kitchen, regaining control of myself and wiping away any traces of tears, lipstick, and a few drops of blood. Normally, I should call for backup at this point, but this fight has become way too personal. Besides, how would I explain Himiko’s presence to the others?

I always thought I’d tell Aizawa or another teacher once Airhead gave me important intel on the League’s movements—that would justify me keeping in touch with a villain without reporting it. But so far, I still don’t know shit. Knowing her, Himiko would never betray her friends, so capturing her now would be pointless. And I’ve already seen progress, proof that talking to her works: she hasn’t killed anyone since.

I grab some ice and paper towels and head back to Himiko, all while thinking of the best way to take that perverted scumbag down.

* * *

I keep stroking Tsuki until, little by little, his body isn’t as tense as a steel wire anymore. I murmur soft words between caresses, helping him relax even more.

Tsuki was trembling! And crying! And he’s still shaken enough to keep his head pressed against the crook of my neck… he seems happy to have his face buried in my hair while he holds me tight. I would enjoy this under different circumstances, but right now, I’m furious! That maniac hurt my love! He’s going to pay for it!

At first, I planned to just kill him quickly and go home—maybe joke around with Tsuki like usual—but now, that filthy bastard is going to suffer. Trying to seduce me with unconventional methods? That, I can understand. But hurting Tsuki? Unforgivable! I’ve never hated anyone as much as this perverted maniac!

Katsuki pulls away from the hug and heads toward the kitchen. I’m glad I managed to calm him down. Now, we’re definitely going upstairs to deal with Hajime together! This time, Tsuki has to let me kill someone—seriously, how could that guy not deserve it?! Screw impartiality! That’s the kind of man everyone would want dead!

Tsuki comes back with a couple of paper towels, one of them wet. He kneels beside me and says, “Give me your hand and hold still.”

I burst out laughing, even more so when I see his confused expression. I try to contain myself and explain, “The pose, Tsuki! It looks like you’re about to propose to me!”

“Prop—Hah?! What the hell are you even thinking?!”

I can feel my cheeks burning—I must be blushing like crazy—but Tsuki is definitely redder than me, which makes me grin.

“I offer you my hand, happy?”

“Don’t say dumb shit!”

“Shhh!” I scold, placing a finger over his lips. I glance at the ceiling, thoughtful. “The perverted maniac shouldn’t know you’re alive, Tsuki.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” he mutters before focusing on treating my wound.

Meanwhile, I quietly tell him how I got it. By the end, my face is as red as a tomato. I didn’t say outright that I love him, but Tsuki must have picked up on something. He stares at the bandage for a few seconds, then meets my gaze and gives me a small, friendly smile. My heart races. He’s too cute when he’s calm and focused! I want to kiss him again!

But he has other plans: “Thanks, Airhead. Are you sure the pervert is still upstairs? I’ll go get him, you stay here.”

“I’m not letting you go alone,” I immediately state, noticing Tsuki’s gaze harden with determination.

“Yes, you are. You’re hurt.”

“Yes, but you bandaged me up. Thanks, Tsuki, and thanks for being here playing the knight, but this damsel isn’t completely defenseless, you know that.”

“Toga,” he calls me seriously. “You’re not killing him, understand?”

“Yes, I am! I have every right to!”

“I told you no! He needs to be arrested!”

“How can you say that after what he did to us?”

“Do you remember what I told you when your friend was killed? That applies to every asshole. You’ll never get my permission to kill anyone.”

I open my mouth to argue, but quickly shut it and bite my lower lip. I finally shake my head and laugh, softened. “I guess not... or you wouldn’t be my Explodo-boy. Fine, Tsuki, I promise I won’t hit to kill. Maybe I won’t hit at all, but you’re not going alone.”

“Okay,” he gives in. I grin, noticing that he doesn’t seem bothered by having me close. “Promise you’ll do everything I tell you.”

“I promise! Oh, I have to confess something.”

“Hm?”

“Maybe—and I say maybe—I killed one person. But probably not, I didn't hit them in a vital point. They were part of a racist cult that hated mutants like Spinner and wanted them dead, and my friends were taking them out because...”

Tsuki covers my mouth with his hand. He seems a bit disappointed, and I reflexively feel guilty.

“You need to tell me stuff like that before it happens. Now, let’s go, we’ve wasted too much time.”

He starts talking like a hero because he’s coming up with a hero’s plan as we head out into the hallway, which is annoying. Brrr, the air is colder here! Where are my clothes?

“Are you listening to me?!” It’s amazing how he can yell in a whisper.

“I’m looking for my clothes. I at least need to put my coat on.”

“They’re over here, come on,” he huffs.

“How do you know?”

He doesn’t answer, the jerk. We enter the room with my clothes, and he ‘gently’ reminds me that I don’t have time to change completely. He helps me put on my new coat, then I grab my phone from my jacket pocket, put it in the coat pocket, and grab my knife. Now I have two! I think I’ll return the extra one to the pervert: I’ll leave it in his stomach! Oops, no, I promised not to do that. What a hassle to behave like a good girl!

* * *

“Sorry, Tsuki, can you repeat the plan?”

I sigh and summarize. “I go ahead. You stay hidden on the stairs, just in case I miss him. And don’t let him touch you, at all.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to do the opposite? And the perverted maniac said he’s out of quirk for the night.”

“He could be lying. I don’t want you taking any risks, Airhead.”

“I can take care of myself. Yes, I was in a difficult situation, but I would have managed. I’m not saying you weren’t helpful-"

“What a pain in the ass... Okay, you go ahead, but remember: lure him toward the stairs, I’ll ambush him.”

“Fiiine! We should do this more often!”

The Airhead heads up the stairs to the fourth floor by herself. I wait a couple of seconds before following her. As I get closer to the landing, I begin to notice a strange smell. Himiko slowly moves away, coaxing the maniac to come out of his hiding spot and continue the night. Meanwhile, the smell grows stronger... it’s gas! Shit, what is that bastard planning?!

"Don’t want to play anymore, perverted maniac? We’ve only just started having fun! Come out, or—Ah!”

At Himiko’s scream, I rush over without hesitation. The damn pervert set up an ambush! I should’ve expected it, with all the time we took getting up here! He must’ve heard us, realized neither of us were dead or out of the game, and now... I curse inwardly to vent, especially when I see 'the damsel who knows how to take care of herself' handcuffed to a metal pipe. The idiot is nearby, laughing smugly. How much I want to punch him right in the teeth!

The bastard looks at me, grins, and tosses what sounds like keys into another room.

“You’re stuck, hero! The kitchen’s full of gas now. It’s everywhere! And I’ve lit a candle! Once the gas concentration’s high enough, everything will blow up. You’d rather chase me, or free Himiko?”

The bastard runs down the stairs, confident and laughing obnoxiously.

“I’ll do both, asshole!”

“Tsuki, what if you put out the candle?”

“Do you know where it is?”

“Over there, I think it’s the bathroom. It’s lit.”

I go, only to find that the maniac lied: he lit more than one candle. I can’t turn them all off quickly, and some of the flames are already dangerously flickering.

“Tsuuukiii, hurry up!”

“I know, damn it!”

Chapter Text

I try to suppress my coughing as I watch Tsuki run to grab the keys. That damn perverted maniac really caught me off guard! He came at me, grabbed my healthy hand, and cuffed it in just a few seconds! It didn’t help to struggle with all my might or try to stab the pipe and cuffs, and of course, the maniac was at a safe distance. I thought about throwing the knife, but Tsuki got there before I could do it.

It was my fault! I should’ve been suspicious, but... it’s a great trick to stop Tsuki from using his quirk. It’s useful even against someone like Dabi, who has a fire quirk. At least I’m learning a trick from this misadventure!

Tsuki is also trying not to cough. He raises a bunch of six small keys; probably all of them open a pair of handcuffs. He starts trying one while I turn toward the bathroom, anxious. Never has the light from a candle seemed so terrifying!

The air is becoming harder to breathe... soon everything will explode! I shiver and shift my gaze to my hand just when it’s freed. Before I can express my doubts to Tsuki about making it down the stairs in time, he picks me up and runs toward the window. I adjust to give him a better grip and look behind us, where the light is starting to spread. I rest my head on Tsuki’s shoulder, too terrified to look any further. I hear an explosion, very close; Tsuki caused it, and it allowed us to break the window. It’s immediately followed by a much bigger explosion that deafens me. Its shockwave sends us crashing against the wall of the building across the street. I grip Tsuki tighter without opening my eyes, completely relying on him for the landing.

Tsuki uses another explosion to make us land somewhat safely, but something must’ve gone wrong because he drops me roughly—my left side doesn’t appreciate this treatment—and I hear him a few meters away from me. He must’ve yelled; otherwise, I can’t explain how I managed to hear him.

I catch my breath and open my eyes, worried. I focus on my hand on the street; debris of metal, concrete, glass, etc., scattered everywhere; the building, now burning; and finally, Tsuki. After a couple of attempts, I manage to get up, but I stumble. I realize that one of my heels broke, so I take off the good shoe to avoid tripping and spraining an ankle, then rush over to Tsuki.

He’s half-lying down, covered in soot, dust, and sweat, and I’ve never seen his hair look so... explosive. He’s terribly pale and has a pained expression, but he’s trying to hold it together, controlling his breathing. I don’t immediately understand where he’s hurt because of his hero costume, but then I notice a pool of blood forming under his right leg. He’s in a strange position. I feel really bad that he’s broken it and is suffering, but I can’t help but blush and watch his blood flow, fortunately not too much.

“Can I taste it, Tsuki?” I ask loudly so I can be heard above the noise of the fire.

“Not a chance! Help me up instead!”

“I’m no expert, but I don’t think you should move your leg. At least the firefighters should be here soon, right?”

“But the damn maniac has probably escaped!”

“Not if I-“

“I haven’t escaped.”

I jump and turn around: Hajime is about ten meters away from us. He’s holding a gun with both hands, aiming it at us. He’s really full of surprises, the perverted maniac...

“You know, Himiko, right? I’m a perfectionist. I can’t leave any witnesses.”

My dear little hedgehog mocks him in the worst way, then extends his arm in front of himself and shouts, “I could block your bullet and shove it up your ass!”

He’s probably right, but Tsuki is really exhausted, and I don’t want to take any chances. I step between him and the perverted maniac, hands raised, and stare Hajime straight in the eyes. I have to grab his full attention. I hope Tsuki picks up on my plan, because dodging a bullet seems like a pretty complicated task, and I’m not ready to test my reflexes tonight.

“Move, Himiko. I want him to die first.”

“Oh, sure, after all, he’d arrest me too. He ruined the night for both of us.” I speak calmly, smiling as if he were a friend, and I slowly approach. “I don’t like you, but it was a fun game, discovering who would kill the other first!”

“You’re my doll, you would’ve done what I wanted,” Hajime replies, convinced.

“Really? But I got rid of one of your commands. And I know why you didn’t give me any when the hero wasn’t around: you found it more exciting if I obeyed without the help of your quirk, didn’t you?”

Hajime chuckles embarrassedly, like a child caught in the act. I widen my smile, showing myself as an accomplice, hoping to hide just how much I despise him. An adult man who kidnaps young girls to treat them like inflatable dolls? Ugh! But I have to force myself to appear cheerful and sincere.

“Us killers understand each other! I’d love to play with you again, perverted maniac, without any interruptions.”

I’ve moved to the side, almost next to him. Hajime smiles proudly. When the distance between me and Tsuki is enough that he can no longer aim at both of us, he grabs the gun with one hand and points it at Tsuki, but he’s looking at me, suspicious.

“I made an impression, then.”

“As an opponent, sure. I can’t go to the police to report you, and you won’t go to report me, right? So shoot the hero, and we can escape!”

“And we’ll meet again! Like a date!” he concludes, excited.

He grabs the gun with both hands again and shifts his gaze to Tsuki. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for! I hold my breath and…

* * *

It must be the pain in my damn leg, but I can’t think of anything except an endless stream of curses! What a shitty night! And it’s not even over yet!

I managed to save Himiko, but now?! If I speak, the bastard will shoot me, and maybe he’ll shoot her too. If I don’t speak, Himiko will kill the bastard. I deluded myself into thinking she’d stop killing with my words—what an idiot! The fact that she kills people who aren’t innocent is a poor consolation. She needs therapy! Being in the League isn’t helping her, in fact, they’ve gone around murdering more crazy people together! What great fucking friends!

The Airhead’s plan is working; it’s the only thing I can be happy about. I’d rather see her kill than be killed, obviously, but... seeing her skills wasted like this really hurts. I have no other options now. I’ll have to arrest her. It’s one thing to let her go free because she listens to me, but if she’s going around committing serious crimes... no information is worth more than a life.

The bastard is getting ready to shoot me, and here comes Himiko, taking advantage of the situation. Am I wrong, or she does not have a knife in her hand? How did she get in front of the maniac without him reacting?! My eyes and mouth widen further: Himiko kicks the maniac in the balls, completely catching him off guard with the sudden pain, and at the same time, she pushes his arms with her left hand so that if a shot is fired, it doesn’t hit me; while he’s bent over, she grabs the gun and uses it to strike him in the head, putting all her force into it. The maniac collapses to the ground, unconscious. Airhead watches him carefully for a few seconds, then throws the gun at him and begins to enjoy her victory without reservations.

I stare at her, completely stunned, as she spins and jumps to celebrate, shouting joyful exclamations. It was an entirely unexpected ending, and a welcome one, but I’m still recovering from the surprise. So, she does listen to me! She’s working hard too... for me. I smile, ignoring the pain in my leg, which is getting worse now that I’m relaxing. Now that I think about it, she did say earlier that she maybe have killed a person. She probably meant that she isn’t sure if they later bled out, or maybe some other idiot from the League gave them the final blow, or whatever, but she kept her promise, and that’s what matters.

Meanwhile, Airhead approaches, dancing and laughing. She kneels next to me and places her hand on my shoulder. She’s trembling, probably from the cold since she’s barefoot. She shakes her head to move her disheveled hair back—I don’t think she realizes how much of a mess her makeup is—and smiles at me.

“We’re great partners, Tsuki!”

“I thought you were going to kill him,” I admit, awkwardly. “I appreciate what you did.”

Her smile becomes warmer, but something else is bothering her right now. She asks, worried and vulnerable, looking me in the eyes: “Did I disrespect you when we kidnapped you?”

“Well, not too much, not as much as that asshole intended to, though...”

Relieved by my answer, she exclaims: “I promise I’ll never kidnap you again, Tsuki!”

I have no idea what to say to her. The Airhead often leaves me speechless. Luckily, we hear sirens in the distance, and they save me, distracting her. I turn toward the direction the sound is coming from, buying myself a little more time to collect my thoughts. I think this is the right moment for the conversation I promised myself I’d have once I got out of the nightmare. But before I can speak, Himiko steals a kiss. It lasted only a moment, just enough for our lips to touch, and she pulled away with a giggle.

“I have to go, Tsuki. I’ll write to you. Bye!”

Not so fast, blondie! You’re not getting away like after the second test of the provisional hero license! I grab her arm before she can get up, pull her towards me, and I kiss her now. Himiko’s eyes widen, surprised. I close mine, and soon after, she kisses me back. We keep kissing for what feels like an eternity, existing only in each other’s company. In every kiss, there’s passion, desire, affection, sweetness; it radiates a sense of well-being I’ve never felt before, one I wish could last forever.

We break apart when we run out of breath. Himiko stands up and takes a couple of steps back. She breathes heavily, and her breath forms clouds in the cold November air; her sparkling eyes look at me as if I’m something marvelous; her lips curve into a blissful smile; her cheeks are more flushed than ever. I don’t know if I have the same adoring expression, but I’ve never seen Airhead so enchanting, nor have I ever felt such intense emotions of peace, joy, and love.

The sirens are now very close. In fact, the vehicles have parked on the other side of the building. Himiko suddenly looks up, realizing their presence. She says incoherently: “I really have to go... it was wonderful... I can’t stay... our first kiss... but we have to see each other really soon... and kiss again!”

I nod, sure that letting her go is the right thing to do. She’s earned my trust. She reluctantly backs away, just as unwilling to part from me, but we both know she has no other choice. Himiko turns around quickly and runs off, laughing triumphantly.

The rescue team has finally found me. Once on the ambulance, I report to Best Jeanist about what happened, leaving out that the kidnapped blonde girl was Himiko. He’s not happy that I didn’t call for backup, putting a civilian’s life in danger. As punishment, he declares that my leg won’t be healed by Recovery Girl, and that I’ll spend at least a week in the hospital. Normally, I would’ve yelled at him because this break is wasting precious time, risking me falling behind on training, but I already know he’d reply that I brought this on myself. And he’s right. If being with Himiko means I have to put up with some time in the hospital, it’s definitely worth it.

Chapter Text

Tsuki wrote to me about twenty-four hours ago, saying they took him to the hospital, but he hasn’t contacted me since. I miss him so much! Not even being able to chat with him is driving me crazy. To make up for it, I talked about him, about how much I love him, and about how I imagine our story will unfold while we were testing a new attack against Gigantomachia, during lunch, after Tomura took his usual two-hour nap, and before we started fighting again.

Maybe I went a little overboard because Tomura snapped, telling me to go bother Explodo-boy instead of pissing him off, and the others agreed with such relief that I found it offensive. Oh well, I’m going to see Tsuki again sooner than I expected, fufufu! I don’t even have to tire myself out too much, because yesterday Spinner stole a car, and now he’s driving me to the hospital.

Yeah, yesterday I was exhausted after the fight with that perverted maniac; there was no way I could’ve walked back to the others. Luckily, Shuichi had the idea of stealing a small, old car parked near where he had been waiting for me for hours. At first, he was mad at me for being late; I was only supposed to buy a coat, but I took forever and wasn’t replying to messages. Then, my lizard big bro took a closer look at me and got worried. Sure, my hand hurt like hell, but I was still too caught up in my kiss with Tsuki to care. All I felt was extreme happiness and a strong urge to lie down and sleep, which I did as soon as I got in the car. When we arrived, though, Spinner woke me up so I could get my hand bandaged by Dr. Ujiko, whom he had contacted beforehand. So, I took the chance to tell both him and the doctor what had happened and how Tsuki and I make an amazing team. And I haven’t stopped talking about it since, fufu.

“Uh, Toga, what do you think of Gigantomachia?” Shuichi asks, trying to distract me.

“He’s not cute at all.”

“Yeah, I mean, do you think we can beat him?”

“I think so, though I don’t know how. I admit my knife is useless against him.”

“My katana too, or anyone else’s quirks for that matter. That giant is useful for training, but I don’t get what kind of show of strength Shigaraki needs to prove to him…”

“I’ll try asking Tsuki! He knows all about strength and stuff like that!”

“If you say so…”

Once we arrive, I transform into a brunette, hop out of the car, wave goodbye to Shuichi, and enter the hospital. Tsuki told me which hospital he was in, but not which room. I can’t just ask at the front desk or some random nurse in the hallway, that would draw too much attention! I follow the signs to the ward where I think they brought Tsuki, making myself ‘invisible’—basically, I hold my breath and pretend I don’t exist so that hospital staff won’t notice me. After wandering around a bit, I finally find Tsuki’s room.

My little explosive hedgehog is asleep, his right leg in a cast and suspended from a sling. I sneak a peek at his medical chart and see that they gave him painkillers and even a sedative. I bet it’s because he wanted to start physical therapy right away, and they didn’t know how else to calm him down!

I’m sad that I can’t talk to him… so I take about ten pictures and selfies with my sleeping beauty, making the most of a rare moment where he looks completely relaxed. Meanwhile, I have an idea. I sit beside him, stroke his forehead, and whisper: “Hey, Tsuki. Hi, it’s Himiko. I really wanted to see you. It’s okay if you’re not awake, I’m happy just to be here. I’ve noticed that dreams are more vivid lately. Does that happen to you too? Maybe it’s a side effect of that perverted maniac’s quirk… so it’s better to have a good dream and avoid nightmares. I’ll tell you a story… the one I promised you. It won’t have any blood or violent scenes, so maybe you’ll dream about it, and there won’t be anything scary.”

Excited, I pull up the notes on my phone, squeeze Tsuki’s hand, and start telling the story.

“So, Queen Stabby was in love with Explodo-corn, her new bodyguard. If you remember, the queen had a white coat; her horn, mane, hooves, and eyes were golden. Explodo-corn, on the other hand, was completely blonde with red eyes.

That day, they had the inauguration of a candy factory and a surprise party for Big Sis’s birthday—a reddish-orange ponycorn with black eyes.

‘My dear subject,’ Stabby said, ‘go find Jesterly and Roasty, they’ll be coming to the ceremony too.’

‘Yes, my queen. Shall we meet at the entrance?’

‘I’d be able to find you anywhere!’

Explodo-corn was flustered by Stabby’s comment. He was a very strong and competent guard—and extremely handsome—but he struggled to express his feelings openly, which the queen found adorable.

The guard bowed and left to fetch Jesterly, the court jester, who was black and gray, and Roasty, a knight who was blue and black, currently sparring with his fiancé, Fluffy Chick—a blonde and red ponycorn, the only one with wings. Fluffy Chick joined the group after getting permission from the queen, and together they headed to the candy factory.

About twenty ponycorns were already gathered at the entrance, ready to celebrate. They cheered for their queen and her entourage because Stabby was always kind to her subjects and fiercely protected them from the wicked ponycorns of Uni Town. Well, not all of Uni Town’s ponycorns were bad. In fact, Explodo-corn was originally from there. He had moved to Ponyville to see if the rumors about Ponyville’s ponycorns being evil were true, but he discovered they were lies. So, he stayed to learn from them and to understand why the two towns couldn’t get along.

Stabby gave a joyful opening speech: ‘Dear subjects, it’s a pleasure to see you all here! There’s never enough sweetness in the world, which is why it’s always wonderful when someone brings more! But enough talking, we’re all here for the free samples!’

With a firm strike of her horn, Stabby cut the ribbon, and the first to enter the factory were the little foals. From above, Fluffy Chick showered hundreds of colorful confetti, while Roasty handled the fireworks. Then the two lovers snuck away to enjoy the candies filling the buffet tables.

‘Explodo-corn, have you ever dreamed of a love story like Roasty and Fluffy’s?’ the queen asked, blushing.

He blushed too and stammered, ‘W-why, your majesty?’

‘Because it makes life so full!’

The queen was about to say more, but she was interrupted by Jesterly’s alarmed cry: ‘The Party Poopers are coming! To arms! Take cover!’

‘Don’t they have anything better to do, for crying out loud?!’ Explodo-boy grumbled, stomping a hoof on the ground.

The Party Poopers were ponycorns who wanted to make everyone the same using rules, laws, impositions, conventions, and a bunch of other tricks that prevented others from being free.

Three of them had arrived: Force, the strongest one, blond, with blue eyes, and the rest of him looking like an American flag; Angry Fire, red and orange, who, as his name suggested, could launch fire; and Drowsy, black and white, who was very skilled at handling bandages with his horn.

The inexperienced ponycorns followed Jesterly’s advice and took shelter inside the factory, while those who knew how to fight answered his call and prepared to battle the three enemies.

‘What are you doing, little ponies?’ Force asked. ‘There’s too much sugar here, that’s not good. And the party is too loud.’

‘I’m sleepy, you’re always yelling,’ Drowsy complained.

‘We’re joyful, we love to laugh and play!’ Jesterly replied.

‘You won’t silence us, lazy creature,’ Roasty added.

‘My friends, let’s drive them away together!’ the queen encouraged.

She and Jesterly took on Drowsy, while Roasty and Fluffy Chick challenged Angry Fire, and Explodo-corn valiantly faced Force alone. As they kept the enemies occupied, reinforcements arrived from the palace, and the Party Poopers were forced to retreat.

Sorry if the battle was short, but I promised you a peaceful story.

Anyway, Explodo-corn was exhausted after the fight, so Stabby lay down beside him and touched her horn to his. In an instant, the guard regained all his energy.

‘Thank you, my queen, but you shouldn’t have.’

‘I’d do anything for you and my subjects. But mostly for you.’

Stabby stood up and nuzzled his mane affectionately. Explodo-corn blushed. He enjoyed the queen’s attention, but they still had a task to complete.

‘M-My Queen, you need to buy Big Sis’s gift.’

‘Right. Let’s trot to the shopping mall!’

After browsing for a while, Stabby bought her dear sister a pair of sunglasses for a cosplay of Kamina from Gurren Lagann.

‘I just hope the Party Poopers don’t bother us again tonight,’ the queen worried.

‘I don’t think so, my queen. Force needs a lot of time to recharge.’

‘You’re right, he doesn’t have someone special to recharge him.’

‘And even if the others show up, I’ll show them where they freaking belong!’

‘Together, we’re unbeatable!’ the queen agreed, reassured.

On the way back to the castle, Stabby sang a song about friendship and teamwork. Her personal guard didn’t like singing, so he accompanied the song by tapping his hooves.

All of Big Sis’s friends were gathered in the palace garden, finishing up the preparations: Bossy, a light blue ponycorn with red eyes, was stacking presents on a table; Pink Gecko, green and pink, was blowing up a few more balloons; Dark Misty, black and purple with yellow eyes, was arranging the food he had prepared on several tables; and finally, Magic Marble, an orange and black ponycorn, was practicing magic, assisted by Jesterly. Meanwhile, Roasty and Fluffy Chick had taken Big Sis out on an errand and, after a while, led her to the party, where everyone shouted Surprise!

‘Awww, you’re all so sweet! Let me nuzzle you all!’ she said, moved.

The party began, and among other things, Stabby invited Explodo-corn to dance because, to her, he was the most special ponycorn of all. He felt the same way, so he accepted and then asked her out another day. They started courting, and sooner or later, they would get married and, of course, have little foals.

Did you like the story, Tsuki? I loved it. Maybe next time, you’ll tell me one, okay?”

I gently stroke his hand for a few more minutes before finally deciding to kiss him on the cheek as a farewell, hoping that Tsuki will dream of the ponycorns, especially the happy life of Stabby and Explodo-corn.

But he and I… we can’t be together freely… I have to help Tomura change society first. Tomura will be a great king; maybe not as good as Stabby, but still much better than the ones in charge now. In the future, there will be no discrimination, so no one will judge Tsuki for being with a criminal. We’ll be able to be together openly, without fear! He’ll be a true hero because people will always need someone to save them—I don’t think Tomura will get rid of heroes entirely. Maybe there will just be fewer, and oh! Stain will be the one to decide who’s truly worthy! That would be amazing!

As I leave the hospital, I imagine what our life could be like some time after the revolution: Tsuki would be the number one hero, spending his days saving people, and at first, I could help him out... Of course, I’d visit Hideki and Kyoko often and spoil them! And there would be so many moments where we’d all gather and do fun things! And eventually, we’d have kids of our own! And a pony in our garden!

I reach the car, daydreaming. It’s such a beautiful future, why can’t it become the present already? I realize Spinner has fallen asleep. I chuckle and snap a photo of him before gently shaking him awake.

“Hey,” he greets me mid-yawn.

“Look how cute you are! And this is Tsuki! I’m starting a collection of sleeping boys!”

“Delete that. Didn’t he tell you too?”

“Nope, and Tsuki was sedated, so he couldn’t tell me anything.”

“Wha- you spent all that time just to watch him sleep?!”

“But did you see how adorable he is? And I didn’t just watch, I also told him a story so he’d have sweet dreams.”

He shakes his head and sighs. “If I’d known, I would’ve left you there ages ago.”

“You’ll understand when you fall in love too!”

Shuichi starts the car, and soon the hospital is out of sight. I scroll through the pictures of sleeping Tsuki, thinking of something funny to write when I send them to him, when my lizard big bro murmurs: “That’ll never happen."

“Of course, it will!”

“Be realistic, Toga. I won’t-“

“I am realistic. There’s someone special for everyone. You’ll find a nice girl someday. Maybe in an arcade.”

“Let’s make a deal,” Shuichi says hesitantly. “You don’t talk to me about your boyfriend anymore until I find her, okay?”

“Okay! And I’ll help you find her!”

“But after we win.”

“You think girls will line up to be with a revolutionary?” I tease, but I don’t expect an answer.

I distract big bro by talking about Stainy, and soon, he gets excited, losing that shy look from before. Aw, why do none of the guys I know realize how adorable they are?

Chapter Text

I’m half-asleep when I feel my phone vibrate. I reach out to grab it from the nightstand, thinking that being a hero means always having a light sleep, ready to respond in case of an emergency. The screen’s brightness blinds me for a moment, and since I’m still drowsy, it takes me a bit to decipher Himiko’s message. It’s unusually short and lacks any emojis. It simply says she’s on her way.

Strange. We had agreed to meet tomorrow night since I was finally going to be discharged. At least, she had insisted so much on saying goodbye that I had to set a date and time to prevent her from showing up unexpectedly. I don’t want any more pictures of me sleeping! I find it fucking creepy when people stare at others while they sleep, but Himiko thinks it’s cute. Well, luckily for me, I didn’t dream of any horned quadrupeds that night, so I was spared from any more of her nighttime intrusions.

I haven’t heard much from Himiko in the evenings these past six days. After spending the day pushing myself to the limit to get back on track as soon as possible—meaning as soon as Best Jeanist is satisfied and stops with the bullshit about not calling Recovery Girl—I’m too exhausted at night to chat for long. But I did find out that Airhead and her gang are training in the mountains. They even take shifts, though I haven’t figured out what for. For now, they’re staying out of trouble, which is a relief, but I know it won’t last long… I’ll try to find out what they’re up to.

I keep myself busy on my phone to stay awake until Himiko arrives. She has her hair down and messy; under the new coat she recently bought, she’s wearing pink pajamas with white bunnies, and at least she has shoes on—I half-expected her to show up in slippers. She looks like she just rolled out of bed and rushed over here. But what could’ve happened?

As soon as she shuts the hospital room door, she practically throws herself at me—on the side of my good leg—and whimpers like a scared little girl who… has definitely had a nightmare. That bastard manipulator’s quirk is wearing off, and dreams are becoming less vivid again, but unfortunately, Himiko had a nightmare before they went back to normal.

I wrap my arms around her and stroke her hair and back. Once she seems calmer, I ask, “You had a nightmare about me, didn’t you?”

She nods without lifting her face from my shoulder, then takes a breath and meets my eyes. I hate seeing her with red-rimmed eyes, and a face twisted in sadness and distress. I need to bring back her smile, her spark; I’ve gotten too used to like Himiko being cheerful and talkative, even if she drives me up the wall. Maybe because she drives me up the wall…

“It’s not just that… It’s the thoughts after… they won’t leave me alone… I had to see you, I was scared something had happened to you… Or my friends would’ve been enough. Spinner’s been with me a lot lately, and he was so kind to bring me here after I woke him up…”

Typical her—rambling. But it doesn’t matter. I’ve noticed she does it when she’s about to say something really important. Sure enough, after she’s done explaining how quickly she got to the hospital, she gets to the point: “Tsuki, is this real? I mean… what we have? I didn’t imagine it, right? I know we kissed, but… I really need you to tell me! You’re not like my other crushes, this isn’t one-sided, and you… you feel the same way I do…”

She starts sobbing softly again, begging me to tell her it’s true. I go back to stroking her hair like before, feeling sorry for her, but at the same time, maybe this kind of thinking is a step forward for her. Strangely, her distress makes me feel calm, even though I have to talk about feelings—something that’s definitely not my strong suit.

Maybe it’s because it’s dark, we’re alone, we’re whispering, and Himiko isn’t even looking at me. She just needs a simple confirmation from me to feel happy again.

After a moment of reflection, I reply, “You know, I didn’t have nightmares, but there was a dream that unsettled me. It wasn’t bad. Maybe I would’ve even liked it in the past. There was a podium, and people around me wanted me to climb to the top because I was Number One. So, I stepped up, saw smiling faces applauding me, lights, and confetti. But then, the podium kept rising, turning into a pillar that stretched higher and higher. Soon, it surpassed others, where other heroes stood. In the end, it was like a very narrow skyscraper, the tallest in the city, and from up there… I couldn’t see anyone anymore. Not even around me…
I still want to be Number One, but not at the cost of being alone. I used to build walls between myself and others, thinking that I was on my own, that I could reach my goal through my own strength alone. But after meeting you, I realized I was wrong. I was never truly alone: I had my parents, I had friends… or at least people who tried to be. But you guys, the League… you’ve actually experienced real loneliness. And now, I know that I don’t want to reach the top at that price. I think… I’d risk forgetting why I even wanted to get that far in the first place. I wouldn’t be the kind of hero you see in me now—the real one, as you say, copying Stain. I’d be a total idiot if I kept going down that road, now that I understand just how important my experiences with others have been. No one can achieve a damn thing on their own.”

I stop. Himiko is listening intently, eagerly. Thank god, she’s stopped crying, and for a while now, she’s been looking at me, she’s not hiding her face anymore. That’s better. The most important thing, the answer she’s been waiting for, I’m about to give her now. I feel uneasy, vulnerable, probably just like she did after the fight with that maniac. And yet, it’s not an unpleasant feeling. I don’t even care anymore if I blush in front of her. With her, I can be myself. Otherwise, what I’m about to say would be meaningless.

I gently caress her cheek and continue, “Most of all, you, Airhead… you’ve helped me so much, and I hope I can return the favor. I want you to be part of my future… because I feel good when I’m with you, and… and honestly, there’s too much to list. I have no way of knowing how this will all end, but right now, the thought of being apart from you feels terrible. Maybe there was a better way to say it, but… I love you, Toga Himiko.”

Her eyes fill with tears again, but she smiles, so they’re happy tears. She throws her arms around me, no, she practically crushes me in a hug, and with a voice thick with emotion, she almost shouts, “I love you too, Bakugou Katsuki! So much! And I’ll never, ever leave you alone, no matter what!”

I return her embrace. I want to laugh with her, but one of us has to remember that we’re in a hospital room in the middle of the night, so I warn her to keep it down. She giggles and falls silent, but she doesn’t pull away. This is perfect. Holding her in my arms feels right, natural, like there’s no other place she should be. Himiko is a part of me, one I don’t want to lose, one I won’t have to.

“We’ll make it work, Himiko… even if it’s complicated, even if we don’t understand, even if we don’t have guarantees… Himiko?”

She’s fallen asleep, using me as a human pillow. I smile and brush a strand of hair from her face. Maybe she wasn’t entirely wrong… watching someone sleep could be sweet.

***

I wake up to the touch of gentle hands moving from my face to my chest. I must’ve fallen asleep right after Himiko did last night. I snap my eyes open. Not that I mind having her still here, but what time is it?

Airhead giggles, like she’s read my mind. “Relax, Tsuki. I turned off your alarm. It’s five past six.”

Lying beside me with her head propped on her hand, Himiko shifts, using me as a pillow again and wrapping her arms around my waist. I didn’t notice last night, but damn, it’s really warm in this room… “Ah, okay, but the nurse comes in at seven. Sorry, but you should-”

“Is she cute?”

“Huh?”

“The nurse.”

“Could be,” I answer with a smirk.

She pouts for a second, then laughs. “Well, if she brings us breakfast in bed, I’ll forgive her.”

With her, it’s always hard to tell what she really means, so I ask, “You’re not planning on taking her blood, are you?”

“Could be,” she says, mimicking me.

I smile, relieved she’s just joking. “That’d be nice, but it’s probably better if she doesn’t find anyone else in here.”

“I know… Spinner probably had to sleep in the car because of me. I should do something nice for him. But who knows when we’ll see each other again, Tsuki…”

“There’s always texting, Airhead,” I try to reassure her, though the thought of not seeing or touching her for a long time bothers me too. “Sooner or later, this stalemate will end. One of our sides—most likely mine—will come out on top, and-”

Himiko suddenly sits up and exclaims, “Boring!” before attacking me with tickles.

Unfortunately for her, I’m not ticklish. I let her try for a few more seconds before she realizes it’s pointless. The moment she complains about this unfairness, I barely touch her side with a finger—she instantly flinches with a giggle.

“Oh no, Tsuki, don’t even think about it!”

Too late. She doesn’t have time to grab a pillow before I start tickling her. She squirms, laughing uncontrollably, trying to escape. The pillow ends up on the floor, and I manage to pin her down on the edge of the bed, tickling her until she has tears in her eyes. I’m pretty sure she’s begging me to stop, even if she’s throwing insults at me between fits of laughter.

“Your fault, Airhead. Never base an attack on your own weakness.”

I stop suddenly. Himiko takes the chance to escape, but she forgets she’s at the edge of the bed. She rolls sideways and falls to the floor. I was about to tease her, but I freeze, ‘cause someone just opened the door, and they’re walking in!

Chapter Text

Luckily, the pillow softened my fall—Tsuki did well to knock it down before I fell! I’m joking around with my boyfriend! I can’t believe it! It takes me a few seconds to catch my breath, but I’m not the only one who needs to recover from something. I realize we’re no longer alone: Mrs. Bakugou is standing in the doorway, one hand on the doorknob and the other holding a container, staring at us with wide eyes and mouth agape. I’ve never seen anyone so shocked before, but I can’t tell if she’s pleasantly surprised by this discovery or if she disapproves.

I’m happy to meet my future mother-in-law, but this could have happened at a better time. I suddenly blush, realizing how I must look. Embarrassment keeps me from greeting her properly.

“Don’t people knock anymore, you old hag?!” Tsuki yells.

That gets us moving: Mitsuki fully enters the room, closing the door, and I get up, brushing off my coat. Tsuki is just like his mom because she starts yelling too: “You’re in a hospital, not at home, you idiot!” Then, in a gentler tone, she turns to me: “Who are you, dear? I don’t think we’ve met.”

Thankfully, she doesn’t recognize my appearance, but she surely knows my name! I glance around hesitantly before answering: “Uh- uh, well, I’m… T- Tsukino Himiko. Nice to meet you, ma’am. Please, just call me Himiko!”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tsuki facepalm as I bow. Well, what does he expect? This is the best I could come up with under pressure! And it’s believable!

“Nice to meet you, I’m Bakugou Mitsuki, the mother of this fool. You don’t look like a nurse, are you a patient?”

“Oh, no. I came to visit Katsuki, I’m his girlfriend,” I reveal cheerfully.

Mitsuki sets the container on the bedside table and looks back and forth between me and Tsuki in disbelief.

“I can’t believe it... why didn’t you tell us anything, you rude brat?!”

“It’s none of your business, old woman!”

“Uh, I’m just going to the bathroom for a moment.”

I slip away into the small bathroom attached to Tsuki’s room, giggling as I listen to them yelling at each other and the way they insult one another. They’re so funny! I look at myself in the mirror, surprised at how messy I appear, yet I radiate happiness. My eyes are a bit red from the tears earlier. They remind me of the ones I shed last night. I was such a fool to let a nightmare shake me so much… but I was so terrified of losing Tsuki that I absolutely had to see him. And now, it feels wonderful to be a fool. What happened last night is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life!

I splash water on my face, button up my coat—even though Mitsuki has already seen that I’m in pajamas—and do my best to comb my hair with my fingers. I wonder what she thinks of me. To her, I’m just a blonde girl dating her son, for now. But what will happen when she finds out I’m Toga Himiko? Well, if she likes me now, she’ll like me when she knows my real name too! If she appreciates me for who I am, nothing will change… or at least, not much. I decide to step out of the bathroom to see if Mitsuki finds me likable.

“Oh sure, we embarrass you! You’re ashamed of us!”

“Don’t put words in my mouth!”

“Oh, shut up and eat!”

Mitsuki sneakily shoves a big spoonful of rice into Tsuki’s mouth. I burst out laughing and exclaim, “You look like a hamster! You’re so cute!”

“Don’f fay buffit!” he tries to yell with his mouth full, glaring at me.

I sit beside him and plant a kiss on his cheek. “A super adorable little hamster,” I reply confidently.

“Can you actually put up with this hardhead?” Mitsuki asks me, amused.

“Oh yes, it’s really easy. He puts up with me more, but he does a good job too.”

“I’m glad you two know how to handle each other. You know, I thought he’d stay single forever.”

I hug Tsuki’s arm, giggling. “Katsuki is really sweet underneath all the yelling and threats. I saw his soft side, and now I’m never letting go.”

“I never thought I’d hear such words about my delinquent son,” Mitsuki comments, shaking her head playfully. “Well, that’s a relief.”

“Can you two stop talking about me like I’m not here?!” Tsuki yells, flustered.

“Make sure to bring your sweet girlfriend to dinner soon, idiot! It’ll be a pleasure to have you over, dear. Just let us know when you’re free, and we’ll set something up.”

Before answering, I glance at Tsuki, who nods begrudgingly, so I beam and exclaim, “I’d love to! I’m actually working on a project right now, but as soon as I’m free, I’ll let Katsuki know.”

“Perfect! I can’t wait to hear how you two met!” Tsuki shudders at his mother’s curiosity. “Alright, you’re doing well and in great company, so I’ll head out. Eat all your breakfast, okay? Oh, and your father will come visit you later.”

“Yeah, yeah. Bye, Mom.”

“Goodbye, ma’am.”

“Oh no, call me Mitsuki. Goodbye.”

We say our goodbyes with smiles. As soon as the door closes, I express my excitement by squeezing Tsuki tight and yelling, “Your mom likes me! This is amazing! And last night, we confessed our love! Everything will turn out great!”

“Why do you always have to be so overly enthusiastic, Airhead?! I’m happy too, but calm down! I still have to process that I’ll have to introduce you to my parents...”

“Aw, I love when you act all tsundere!” I tease while stealing a piece of his steamed salmon.

“I’m not!... You should really go now, Himiko.”

“Let me at least taste your mom’s cooking.”

“Himiko,” he gently scolds.

I sigh and nod. He can’t blame me for wanting to delay our separation as long as possible.

“Christmas break is in a few weeks, you can come over one of those days,” Tsuki reassures me while already hugging me goodbye.

“Yeah, or I could work with you during your patrols.”

“No, that didn’t end well last time.”

“We’ll get better at it!”

I shower him with kisses until, unfortunately, I have to leave to avoid being seen by anyone who might raise the alarm.

* * *

These past weeks, I’ve been talking to Himiko a lot, mostly through messages rather than calls, since she’s often in places with poor or no reception. I’d like to have her closer, but I’m not as anxious as I was when we used to chat before that the perverted maniac showed up, as she calls him. Now there’s a sense of peace because we’ve defined our relationship: we’re officially together. Everything else remains the same, though… our situation is still strange and unstable, something that will develop further when we clash with the League again. But for now, we’re fully enjoying this calm period. At least, calm between our factions, because I’ve been working my ass off at U.A. Soon, I’ll even start an internship with Endeavor. And even Airhead has been training hard.

Unfortunately, Himiko couldn’t visit me today or on any other holiday; something’s keeping her and her crew busy. But she did send me a gift: a grenade-shaped mug. Needless to say, it’s ugly as hell, there’s no way I’m bringing it to the dorms!

Did you get my gift, Tsuki? 🥰😘😊

Yeah, I already blew it up

Mean! You shouldn’t say things like that 😣😟🥺

It’s ridiculous to drink from a bomb 😒

But you’re Explodo-boy, you can! 😂
Btw, send my Christmas wishes to your parents 💓
And give them a big hug! 💓💓💓

The old hag keeps pestering me about you, but if you’re not here, I’m not telling her anything.
I told her you’re traveling to visit some relatives.
They send their holiday wishes too.

Awww 😊😄💓
It’s not exactly a lie. After all, I’m with my family, out and about 🤭
Since it’s Christmas, the doctor convinced G. to leave Tomura alone
Poor thing, he’s exhausted. It’s been going on for too long 🥺

Can you be clear for once?

No, sorry 🤐
What were you saying yesterday about internships?

That this time, I’m not doing it with Best Jeanist but with Endeavor
Himiko, are you there?

I like Best Jeanist better

I can’t work only with people who fit your beauty standards, Airhead

😂😂😂
And yet, you don’t mind me giving you a perfect score, huh? 😏😁
But this time, it’s about personality too
I’m not superficial
Not always
Tsuki, do you like Endeavor?

He’s a very capable hero

Wait
I’m not talking about that
I mean as a person

Never met him
What’s the problem?

Nothing. Dabi hates him
Like, a lot 😬

I can’t care less

Just saying, Best Jeanist is a better mentor
Or any of your teachers, really
Ever considered Midnight? 😏
I have 😏😏😏

I can never tell when you’re being serious or just spouting bullshit

😝😙
I only wrote the truth, Explodo-boy 😌
Not my fault there are so many cute people at U.A. 😍
When I’m bored, I look at their pictures 🤗

You admitted you like cheating on me in your head, you moron

Nah, I just want to taste them and become them 🔪😋
Jealous boy 🤭😏

🙄
So, are you done talking about Endeavor?

Yeah
Among your teachers, Midnight is my favorite
But Present Mic isn’t bad either 😁

You should take advantage of them to learn

Learn?

Yes, Airhead, learn...
Wouldn’t hurt you

You’re not talking about their combat moves, are you?

Nope
I could teach you some things I’ve learned
By the way, how’s your studying going?

You really want to talk about this during the holidays? 🥱
Take a break! 😆
Have fun! 😆

I am having fun!
I just wanted to know how ignorant you are
Or is it a badge of honor in your future society to be uneducated?

Come on, what I’m doing is more important than sitting in front of a book all day
You learn a lot more through my lifestyle, don’t you think?
Even yours, since it’s full of hands-on experience
But what’s the point of a high schooler knowing how to solve equations? Or memorizing poetry, quotes, dates, facts about countries she’ll never visit? She can do it as a hobby if she’s interested, but what am I really missing out on?

Himiko, it’s more complicated than that

No 😣
Stop
Life is very simple, don’t complicate it
Let’s not argue about this, pleeease!
🥺🥺🥺

Fine, but only because it’s Christmas
We will continue this conversation, got it?

Yeees! 😀🥰💓💓💓
There’s something I haven’t asked you yet because I was waiting for you to bring it up first 🤭

About what?

Well, your parents know you have a girlfriend and they’re happy
What about your friends? 😏 Do they know? 😁 How did they react? 🙃

I haven’t told anyone
Sparky and Shark Teeth gossiped a bit about Duck Lips, but since I didn’t react, they dropped it
For now, you’re just a hypothetical explanation for my change in behavior

They sense me! 😂

That make you happy?
I’d rather keep it a secret

Because I’m a villain? 😶

No, because it’s none of their damn business
I’m opening up, but I know they’d be a huge pain in the ass about it
But if you weren’t a villain, you would’ve introduced yourself already, right?

Hell yeah! 😄🤭
I have a weakness for good pals, you know me 😇🙃

Too bad you don’t hang out with them

Tomura and the others are good!
Especially Jin!
I understand people, remember that 😉😌

We’ll talk later, you’ve given me a lot to think about

You don’t want to know what my friends think of you? 🥺

I already have an idea

Okay, I can’t wait to confirm it 😃
Goodnight, Tsuki! 😚
💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓

Goodnight, sappy Airhead

I put my phone away and run a hand through my hair, thoughtful. When talking about teachers and friends, Himiko acted like she always does, that is expressing her opinions, which are interesting, at the very least. I may not agree with them, but I understand them. And I get that she doesn’t want to discuss it further because she’s just as stubborn as I am and won’t change her mind. It doesn’t matter—I’ll try anyway. And if I don’t succeed, at least we’ll have had a serious conversation for once, maybe even an enjoyable one, and we’ll get to know each other better.

However, I still can’t explain her reaction to Endeavor. Sure, her burned-up friend hates him, but so what? Himiko doesn’t hate All Might just because Shigaraki does, she simply thinks he’s overrated. She even told me that no one else in the League hates him… It’s not like Endeavor burned her friend in the past; otherwise, we’d know Dabi’s identity—anyone would remember scars like that. Maybe during the internship, I’ll figure it out.

Chapter Text

My phone vibrates while I’m in class. The weird thing is, it’s a call. I see it’s Himiko, but I don’t answer. She knows perfectly well that I have class right now. A short message comes through: Tsuki, please, and then she calls again. If it’s just to tell me she’s finally free and couldn’t wait until tonight, I swear I’ll tell her to fuck off!

I ask for permission to go to the bathroom, make sure no one’s around, and answer.

“Tsuki!”

“Airhead, hurry up, I’m in class.”

“I know, but... I wanted to warn you that some guys challenged us, and it seems pretty serious...”

“What guys? Is it like with the Yakuza?”

“Yes- wait, no. Overhaul wanted to ally with us, but these guys threatened to have us arrested if we don’t face them. What were they called again?”

I hear the answer from the human photocopier, probably walking beside Himiko.

“Meta Liberation Army. Ever heard of them?”

“No, but what do they want from you?”

“They say we’re interfering with their plans. They basically hacked Jin’s phone and claim to have more than a hundred thousand members! We’re heading to Deika City, where-“

Shigaraki suddenly cuts her off, scolding her for giving me too much information.

“Himiko, no, don’t listen to him! You did the right thing calling me.”

“Yeah, but... you’re not planning to send heroes after us, right?”

“Not- Himiko, you can’t fight in a city! Don’t you think about-”

“They forced us! Yeah, yeah, Jin says we also have to save our broker. Look at the news, Tsuki: those fingers and clothes belong to Giran!”

“You can’t retreat and let those bastards get locked up?”

“Hold on... No, because they’re more like a cult than a criminal gang. If a hero shows up, they’ll pretend to be the good guys who tracked us down and want to turn us in. But don’t worry, Tsuki, Tomura has a plan! They have an army, we have Gi-"

Silence. Someone from the League must have snatched the phone from her and hung up. I shove my phone into my pocket, unsure of what to do. This whole thing screams trap, but a fight always draws attention. Heroes will show up regardless, how do they not realize that? The smartest thing I could do is immediately alert the police or a hero... It wouldn’t be a betrayal of Himiko, on the contrary, the only way I can save her is by having her arrested, since she still refuses to turn herself in.

But in the end, I decide not to warn anyone. There’s something really off about villains being challenged by people who seem too prepared. Maybe sounding the alarm without knowing the details isn’t the best idea. Instead, I choose to go there myself; if I hurry, I can make it in time, keep an eye on Himiko, and figure out my next move.

As I look up the coordinates for Deika City, I head over to Aizawa-sensei. I tell him some excuse about serious family issues to get permission to leave. He seems surprised but doesn’t ask questions—maybe because he knows I’d never skip class without a good reason.

To my frustration, I realize it’ll take me over an hour to reach Deika, but I’ve already made my decision, so there’s no point regretting it now. I rush to the station, buy a ticket, and within minutes, I’m on a train. I send a couple of messages to Himiko, but get no reply. Is she already fighting? No news reports about it yet. Maybe Airhead exaggerated, maybe those idiots just wanted to get the League’s attention, impress them... I hope so, but I don’t believe it.

I get off the train with still no response and take a bus to my destination, but just before reaching Deika City, there’s a roadblock. I check my phone, but there’s still no news about any fighting there. Then why the hell are they stopping traffic? That can’t be a coincidence! An idea hits me: if they really have a hundred thousand allies, some of them must be police officers, maybe even heroes... but no, they must have lied... I can believe that someone powerful has that many followers, but that they’ve acted in complete secrecy without raising a single suspicion, not even a rumor...? Ah, whatever! I need to reach the city first, then I’ll think!

I get off the bus, wait until no one is looking, hop over the guardrail, and run. Once I’m far enough from the roadblock, I use my explosions to propel myself toward Deika. Soon, I hear the sounds of large-scale battle. I pause for a moment to call Himiko.

I’m about to hang up when someone finally answers: “Bakugou?”

That’s not Himiko… My worry for her spikes. “Yeah, and who the hell are you?”

“Bubaigawara! Twice! Toga-”

“Just tell me where Himiko is!”

“She’s with me, she passed out, but-”

“Where are you?!”

“Wait… does that mean you’re here?”

“I’m almost in the city. Answer me!”

“Thank god! Stay where you are, we’ll come to you! Toga-chan needs medical attention. I did what I could, but she still has to go to a hospital. It’s such a relief that you’re here, Bakugou...”

That bastard keeps repeating himself instead of giving me more information about Himiko. I cut him off, tell him exactly where I am, and order him to get here fast before hanging up. As I wait, I try not to panic about Himiko. Airhead always finds ways to get herself into trouble. Luckily, she has friends to help her... and she has me, of course.

I wonder why an organization like this, with such major resources, would target the League. They’ve been hiding in the mountains for about three months, not committing any crimes. And they are just, what?, seven now? Six?

I hear people approaching, more than one. I prepare to attack if needed. Surprised, I see four Twices: one leading the way carrying yet another Twice on his back—this one has broken arms—while the other two are carrying Himiko. I ignore them and rush straight to her, scared by how badly she’s hurt. Her face is covered in blood and bruises, especially on the right side… and she has countless wounds all over. I gently brush her left cheek, more worried than I’ve ever been.

“I know,” says the Twice with broken arms, sounding sad. He looks at me and her with sympathy. Despite the pain he must be in—I know what it’s like to have broken bones—he forces a smile. “I was really shaken up when I found her like this... her poor face... but I got there in time. That’s what matters, right?”

I nod. The two Twices carrying Himiko hand her over to me. One of them says: “It would’ve been ironic if Toga-chan had died from blood loss.”

I ignore him. I can’t stop staring at Himiko, so pale and covered in blood, just like in that nightmare the perverted psycho trapped me in… But this time, it’s real.

One of the clones places a hand on my shoulder. “We’re leaving her in your hands, hero!”

“Don’t make us regret it!”

“See you, Bakugou. Take care of Toga-chan. I’m sure she’d do the same for you.”

“Y-yeah, thanks.”

Without wasting any more time, I run in the direction I came from. In reality, I am in control of myself, no one controls my actions, and if I encounter obstacles, I break through them! I will take care of Himiko as best as I can; I won’t allow her to be harmed again. My responsibility is not only to take her to the hospital but also to call the police… at least regarding her arrest. As for what’s happening in Deika, I’d rather confide in someone I trust. I think I understand Stain a little better now: I’d gladly beat the shit out of some fake heroes!

I have put enough distance between myself and that damned city. I move toward the edge of the road, and luckily, it doesn’t take long before someone stops to give me a ride, bombarding me with questions. However, the guy gives up after I respond with only a few words, and unexpectedly, he speeds off like a race car driver. I’m grateful for that… I gently stroke Himiko and hold her close, thinking about all the reassuring words one might say in situations like this, but I can’t bring myself to say them in front of a stranger. The gesture is enough.

No more than half an hour after leaving Deika, I’m sitting in the waiting room of the nearest hospital, waiting. Waiting for news about Himiko’s condition, for Aizawa-sensei, Best Jeanist, and the police to arrive—hopefully in that order. I called them one by one, telling them where I was and that I had brought Toga Himiko here. I didn’t say much more, and they understood that we needed to talk in person.

A few minutes later, while a couple of officers check that Himiko is truly unconscious and in critical condition, the detective who arrived with them asks me to come to the station to give a statement. I refuse to leave until she is stable, but I am willing to be interrogated here and now as much as they want. Annoyed—not that I care, he must have realized I have no intention of changing my mind—he asks a nurse for a private room to talk. That’s fine with me, but I ask him to wait until my teachers arrive; after all, Himiko can’t go anywhere, and I don’t want to repeat the story too many times. Well, I’ll still have to repeat it to my parents...

Soon enough, it’s time to tell everything: I add some details I had left out about my kidnapping, talk about my phone conversations with Himiko, and the times I saw her again. I make sure to explain what kind of person she is and why I decided not to arrest her at the first opportunity. I don’t care if they think I’m a fool in love, as long as they don’t see me as a traitor or believe Himiko manipulated me. No, I need to make it clear that she needs psychiatric treatment. That all the misfortunes she has suffered turned her into a killer, but I did my best to save her, to suppress her urge to harm, and I succeeded to some extent.

When I finish telling my story and answering the detective’s questions, he asks me who hurt Himiko so badly. Relieved, since this allows me to give an honest answer, I tell him that I don’t know. The detective seems satisfied. He says he believes me, but he will still wait for Himiko to wake up and confirm my words before being completely sure I haven’t lied. I nod firmly, not worried at all. Himiko will confirm everything because she can help me immensely without putting her friends in danger. Speaking of which, I wonder if the battle is over and who won… I just hope they’re still alive.

Once the detective leaves, I explain the exact circumstances in which I found Himiko injured. Aizawa-sensei and Best Jeanist exchange a concerned look.

“For the past few minutes, the news coming from that city has been alarming, to say the least,” Best Jeanist says after quickly checking his phone. “It looks more like a former city now… Bakugou, did you see any suspicious heroes?”

“Just one, at the roadblock. He had a purple costume, a green cape, a black mask, and a dumb-looking face.”

“It’s a start. I think it’s time for me to go—after all, I’m still on leave, right? But I’m glad to see how much you’ve grown, Bakugou. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t take away any responsibility from you regarding Toga’s case. A more… experienced hero would probably have gotten less involved, but sometimes, being a little unprofessional can be an advantage.”

“Thanks,” I mumble, caught off guard. I wasn’t expecting praise from either of them. Honestly, I feel like I’ve done very little as a hero and mostly gotten myself into trouble as a U.A. student. My gaze automatically shifts to Aizawa-sensei.

“Usually, missions aren’t assigned to those personally involved, but there are always exceptions,” he considers, lost in thought. “I will have to report your actions to the council, and then Nezu will decide what to do.”

“I don’t care about being punished… or expelled. I believe I did the right thing. Even if it was a mistake, I-”

“You lied and omitted the truth to prevent a villain from being arrested. On the other hand, you saved people she could have killed by becoming her friend, you gathered important information, and you even saved the villain herself. If there’s anything else, I want it in the full report you’ll submit to me tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, sensei…” I reply, confused. It’s true that I did all of that, but ever since Himiko became my girlfriend, those things have become secondary to me. Speaking of her: “Sensei, whatever happens, I want to be there when Toga wakes up. I imagine she’ll be very confused and might get agitated… she’s afraid that heroes will hurt her.”

Not to mention that anyone would feel disoriented and scared waking up in a hospital, surrounded by strangers or people considered enemies, after surviving a life-threatening battle. None of her friends can come see her—I think. It’s up to me to reassure her, and besides, if I’m there, she’ll cooperate much more easily. There’s no need to explain this, he understands it perfectly.

“I understand. From what a doctor told me, they’ll keep her sedated for at least a couple of days, so you can go home and work on that report, Bakugou. As for the verdict, you’ll have to wait.”

“I suppose we’ll reconvene after listening to Toga’s testimony,” Best Jeanist reflects. “Good luck, Bakugou.”

Chapter Text

“Tsuki, is everything really okay?”

It’s the first thing I ask him as soon as I’m strong enough to speak and move a little in bed. Tsuki has repeated that phrase many times during the moments when I briefly woke up. He also kept saying that I’m safe, that I don’t have to worry about anything, that he’s taking care of me. I could never doubt him, but there are so many things that don’t depend on him…

Tsuki strokes my hand and answers, “Yes, really. Do you remember why you ended up in the hospital?”

“Yes, of course… I mean, I remember Curious, then I fainted and… Tsuki, are the others okay? Are they hospitalized here too?” I ask, trying to stay calm. A kind and pretty nurse already warned me not to get agitated every time I… well, got agitated. I think she’s somewhere nearby, ready to intervene in case the machine I’m hooked up to starts beeping too much. I like her; maybe we’ll become friends.

“They didn’t find them in Deika; they’re on the run again. That city was a disaster, you know?”

“No, Tsuki, I don’t know anything since I thought I was dying…”

My eyes well up with tears, but I quickly wipe them away. I’m safe now, Curious is dead, and maybe the entire army she was part of no longer exists. Tsuki is handling the future. What should I be afraid of? Noth- ah, wait, there is something!

I squeeze Tsuki’s hand, and he squeezes back as I ask, “Do I still look cute? Does my right eye still work? All I can feel are the bandages… Do I look like a mummy?”

He smiles, relieved that I’m okay. “You’ll look like a pirate for a while, Airhead, nothing too serious. What the fuck happened? No, wait, you’ll answer when the police are here too.”

“Do I have to talk to them?” I pout.

“Yes, absolutely. You have to tell them everything, not just what happened in Deika but also how you know me, how many times you’ve contacted and met me in person, and everything you know about Shigaraki’s plans and the League in general. It’s okay if there are some things you don’t want to say, but always tell the truth, okay? Try to give them as much as you can.”

“Even about the ponycorns?”

“Those aren’t exactly essential...”

I giggle, but without much joy. I really don’t feel like telling strangers who probably hate me everything about myself and my friends… but Tsuki knows what’s best for me. I think about it for a moment.

“If I do this, they won’t send me to prison? Or an asylum?”

“I’m sorry, Himiko, I don’t know. If you cooperate, your sentence will be reduced, but I don’t know what measures they’ll take. What I do know is that you’ll be helping me a lot by talking to them about our relationship. And what happened in Deika is important too, a lot of people died…”

“Are you in trouble, Tsuki?”

“I don’t think so… The principal hasn’t expelled me yet, at least. Maybe he’s waiting to hear your side of things. I explained everything about us.”

“Okay. By the way, can you tell me what happened since I’ve been here?”

I listen, enchanted and touched, as Tsuki tells me everything he did to save me. He took risks, he’s risking his hero career, his dream of being number one, all for me! He’s so sweet! I’d smother him with kisses! I have such a golden boyfriend! I do have great taste, fufufu!

The least I can do for him is talk to the police and anyone else who wants to listen, making sure I don’t leave anything out. If I want, I can talk for hours and still avoid the off-limits topics—the secrets between me and my family of friends. I won’t betray their trust, I never could. I love all the guys so much, and thank god Tsuki doesn’t need me to do it. Instead, I’ll reveal everything I shared with my Explodo-boy, and honestly, I’ll even enjoy reliving those moments—especially if someone who understands me is listening, like the pretty nurse.

“I think they should give that report back to you so you can frame it—it proves our love!”

“Get that idea out of your head; it’s not happening.”

“Asking doesn’t cost anything. So, what did your parents say? And do Deku and the others know?”

“No, as far as my classmates know, I’m on a mission. For them, you were just found in Deika; that’s the official version released to the press. So, like everyone else, they only know that you were captured. Nothing more.”

“I see…”

“I’m waiting to find out where you’ll be transferred once you recover and what will happen to me before telling the class we’re together.”

“Really? Oh, Tsuki, do you want to make our relationship public?” I ask, excited and happy.

“It’s not exactly public, Airhead,” he confirms with a smirk.

That’s it! I grab his arm, he understands and leans in, letting me cover him in kisses. Unfortunately, we’re interrupted by the beeping of the machine, which makes the nurse rush in.

“Himiko, you know you shouldn’t get too worked up. If you overdo it, you’ll never recover.”

“Sorry, I won’t do it again… Iris,” I manage to read on the tag on her chest.

“Bakugou-san, I think it’s time for you to go.”

“No, no, that will stress me out way more! Please, let him finish his story first!” I give her my best puppy-dog eyes, and she laughs.

“Not more than ten minutes, lovebirds,” she warns before leaving.

“Thank you! So, did your parents take it well?”

“I think so. I mean, I started by telling them you were in the hospital because of a serious accident and that there was something important they needed to know about you. And the first thing my dad thought was that you were pregnant!”

I burst out laughing, happy that Tsuki is trying to entertain me. He’s unconsciously hyping me up for when I have to deal with the police.

“I flipped out when he said that because they were thinking the worst of me.”

“Of us—babies are made by two people.”

“Yeah, but they would’ve only scolded me. Anyway, I immediately clarified that you were a villain and explained that it was because of your quirk and the crappy parents you ended up with. I reminded my mom that she thought you were super sweet the last time she met you—because you are—and the rest they could read in the report. And they did. More than once, I think.”

“They weren’t angry, were they?”

I feel a little anxious, but I realize it’s just my reaction to the word parents. Tsuki looks happy as he remembers that conversation, and he even seems pleasantly surprised. His tone is affectionate… It must be nice to have good parents. I feel better thinking that, in a way, the Bakugous have ‘adopted’ me now, and I’m going to do my best to be a good daughter! Starting with getting those damn cops off my back so I can figure out what’s next for me and Tsuki.

“No, in the end, they said it felt like they were discovering another son. They just wanted to know if I’d be punished. I told them I didn’t know, and I didn’t care; I’d accept any consequence because I know I did the right thing, even if I made some mistakes.”

“They hugged you,” I guess, smiling tenderly at the thought.

Tsuki nods, embarrassed. “They’re a couple of sappy old people. But now, rest. Okay, Airhead?”

“Okay, I’ll try to sleep. Will you be there during the interrogation?”

“I’ll try.”

The police interrogated me for hours—it felt like a whole week! They were too repetitive, insistent, and sometimes even rude. Some of them definitely hated me. Or were afraid. Or both. Fortunately, their boss was reasonable: even though he asked me a ton of tough questions, he was patient and polite, especially when I had to talk about Curious. Tsuki was there that time, and I held his hand the whole way through, but that was the only time he was allowed to be present.

Now I think the interrogations are finally over. I told them everything—why I ran away from home, who I attacked or killed while I was a vagabond, why I joined the League, what I did there, and so on. Of course, I left out personal topics; I didn’t open up like I do with Tsuki. Instead, I filled the gaps with things the officers couldn’t care less about, but they helped me relax between serious topics.

Aside from the police, I also spoke with a lawyer, but he only came to inform me that my parents never want anything to do with me again… If they think I’ll give up on seeing my little siblings again so easily, they’re dead wrong! I kicked that guy out immediately… I even tried to hurt him, but Iris ran over and hugged me, sending him away before comforting me. We’ve become friends, and I’m happy about it—she’s such a sweet girl! She has blue hair and eyes, so she jokingly said that she usually plays the Blue Fairy for troubled kids like me, and I can call her for anything. How adorable!

I’ve also met another person who seems friendly: my new psychiatrist is an older woman who’s taken me into therapy. So far, we’ve only had one session, but I hope she’s trustworthy, different from the ones who tried to ‘fix’ me when I was little.

I finish telling Katsuki about my week. Poor guy still doesn’t know what’s been decided for him, but he’s back to attending classes, so he won’t be expelled.

“You did really well, so I’ve got a surprise for you,” he announces, sitting beside my bed.

My eyes light up. “Really? You’re spoiling me, Tsuki. What is it? Are you helping me escape? Am I coming to live with you?”

The thought of the last possibility makes me clench my fists in excitement.

“Calm down. No, and unfortunately, no. I tried to move forward with the horned foals, but the story needs your touch.”

“You, telling me a ponycorn story?! I must be dreaming!”

“No, I just think it’s time for good things to start happening to you, especially if you always choose to do the right thing.”

I smile at him sweetly as I stroke his cheek. The blush on his face deepens, making me giggle. I want to do so many nice things for Tsuki… including giving up my life as a villain. Running away from the hospital would be a really stupid move, no matter how much I miss the guys. I hope I find a way to communicate with them, but not at the cost of betraying the life Tsuki is giving me. For now, I’ll just observe before making any more big decisions.

“So,” he begins, clearing his throat, embarrassed, “they were supposed to get married, right?”

“You thought about our wedding!”

“It’s not us, it’s the diabetic equines!”

“Okay, okay, go on,” I reply, amused. Tsuki is still my sweet tsundere! He knows perfectly well that the ponycorns are just us in a parallel universe. I get comfortable, ready to enjoy his story.

“Mhm. So, Explodo-corn had decided to ask for the queen’s hoof, so he was super nervous, wondering how to do it.

‘How the hell do I do this? All the rings here are shi-’”

“Hold on, hold on! Ponycorns don’t know those words,” I interrupt, laughing.

“They should. Fine… While he was sitting there, nervously thinking, Dumb Sparky, the electric ponycorn, came to visit.

‘Something wrong, buddy?’

‘Can’t tell you, or I’d have to make you explode.’

‘You can trust me, I’ll be quieter than a fish.’

‘I want to ask Queen Stabby to marry me.’

‘That’s amazing!’ Sparky squealed like a gossiping schoolgirl.

‘Shhh! The problem is, it has to be perfect. I couldn’t find a nice ring anywhere.’

‘You could try in… in our hometown.’”

“Uni Town,” I remind him.

“Yeah, that one. ‘Not a bad idea.’

‘When I can lend a hoof, I do.’

‘Thanks. In the meantime, pick some marshmallow flowers, Stabby loves them.’

After giving his subordinate that task, Explodo-corn ran-”

“Galloped,” I correct him with a smile.

“He galloped to Uni Town, where he hadn’t been for a while. As soon as he arrived, he met a ponycorn who looked a lot like a broccoli bush. What’s the nerd’s name here?”

“Zuzu.”

“Are you serious?!” Tsuki exclaims, turning bright red. What is he even embarrassed about? “No one even in kindergarten called him that way!”

“It’s such a cute name, what’s the problem?” I ask, confused.

“Saying it past the age of three is humiliating. Anyway... Zuzu,” Tsuki says with a grimace of disgust, “welcomed his old friend happily. Explodo-corn took the chance to ask him which was the best jewelry store in town.

‘Well, I don’t know much about that, but we can ask the girls. Can I know why you want to go there?’

‘It’s none of your business, but I’ll tell you: I want to marry the queen of Ponyville.’

‘Whaaat?! So you don’t want to come back here...’

‘No, but I’ll visit sometimes. I can’t choose between the two cities, and I shouldn’t have to. They’re both beautiful, full of great people-’"

“Ponycorns,” I correct instinctively.

“Right. ‘Aren’t they dangerous there?’

‘No, they’re just different. They need to be understood. They don’t understand us.’

‘Really? But we’re so happy, peaceful, and respectful of rules.’

‘They see us all as the same, think we have too many rules, even unfair ones. They’re not wrong about everything, but it’s really hard to decide when they're right.’

‘Well, maybe you should say these things to the rulers so they can find a way to make peace.’

‘That would be nice. But for now, let’s focus on the ring.’

‘Ah, right. And congratulations, Explodo-corn! If you’re happy, I’m so happy for you!’

What are Round Face and the others called?”

“Coco, Red Shark, and Pinky. Froppy is already cute enough as it is!”

“Mh... Explodo-corn and Zuzu met up with a floating pink and brown ponycorn, a pink one who looked like an alien, a green frog-like one, and a red ponycorn with shark teeth and hair that looked like little horns. The whole group congratulated Explodo-corn, then accompanied him to the jewelry store. After some advice, he bought a pink and red ring, because they were Stabby’s favorite colors. He decided to stay a bit longer with his friends and have some ice cream, but when it was time to say goodbye, he was spotted by Force, who was patrolling the area.

Force approached him to talk because, even though some in Uni Town considered Explodo-corn an enemy, he knew that wasn’t true, also... what was his name? Something to do with sleep...”

“Oh, Drawsy. And if you want, Best Jeanist could be Fashion Jeans.”

I laugh, picturing a ponycorn made entirely of denim. Hey, not a bad idea! He could be a life-sized doll that came to life!

“Alright. ‘Young Explodo-corn, you’re still a good colt, right?’

‘Of course, Force. I’m sorry we fought, but I had to protect my friends.’

‘That’s what I want too. I want everyone to be safe and at peace.’

‘Queen Stabby wants the same, but she also wants to have fun. In Ponyville, they’re freer, so they’re not misjudged. They only have laws to prevent anyone from getting hurt.’

‘Maybe you’re right. Here, we criticize too many things. Maybe we can find a compromise. I’ll talk to the others about it.’

‘Thanks, Force. I’m sure some will understand, like my friends. The rest can go… graze until they get over the fact that Uni Town and Ponyville together would be wonderful.’

After saying goodbye to Force, Explodo-corn returned triumphantly to the castle, where Dumb Sparky had decorated a room with flowers and other cute things. He thanked him, then went to see Stabby, who had been refereeing a video game match.

‘My queen, are you free?’

‘Yes, always for you.’

‘I have a surprise for you.’

Explodo-corn led Stabby into the decorated room.

‘Wow, it’s super beautiful!’

‘Credit goes to Sparky, who followed my ideas. But ther’s more... Queen Stabby, would you do me the honor of giving me your hoof?’ Explodo-corn asked nervously.

‘Aww, yessss!’ Stabby screamed, moved and overjoyed. So he placed the ring on her horn, and they trotted around announcing their wedding, to which everyone was invited.”

“That was the most beautifulest story ever,” I nearly sob, just as moved as Stabby.

“You’re handling the wedding part, okay?” Tsuki says, red as a pepper.

“We could do it together,” I suggest.

I gesture for him to lie down next to me, which he does, and I cuddle up against him, resting my head on his shoulder and watching our fingers intertwined.

“Maybe I’ll become a children’s comic artist, and you can help me with the stories.”

Tsuki laughs and kisses my forehead. “Let’s take things one at a time, Airhead. With small steps, we’ll go far.”

Chapter Text

“If you don’t understand something or have any doubts, feel free to ask.”

I snap out of my contemplation of the detainee bracelet I’m holding. It’s an ugly model—gray, old, heavy, downright hideous—and it gives me negative feelings. My psychiatrist, Maki, told me to stay away from objects like this and, whenever possible, from people who make me uncomfortable. I haven’t stopped thinking about that since the guy in the suit and tie, who works for the Hero Commission, showed it to me, so I missed most of the explanation about the rehabilitation program. Oh well, if I mess something up, they’ll be sure to point it out anyway, and they don’t have a high opinion of me in general. I know the essential part: I’ll be assigned to a pro hero who will monitor my actual progress toward redemption, and after a few months, they’ll decide whether I’m still a danger to society or if I can reintegrate. It sounds like total nonsense to me, but it’s better than prison or a psychiatric institution, and I owe it to Tsuki’s efforts, so I have no complaints. Maybe I’ll even get a hero who’s nice and cute.

But I will complain about the bracelet! “Okay. This thing is hideous. Don’t you have a prettier one?”

The guy—Takeda-san, I think—looks unprepared for such a request. I chuckle as he exchanges a glance with the older colleague, who has remained silent since the introductions.

“Toga-chan, you have to wear the bracelet; it’s a condition for-”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. But does it have to be this one? Don’t you have a real bracelet, maybe a pink one?”

“Um… If that’s your only concern, we can check if we have a more youthful model available.”

“Thanks. By the way, do you guys have my phone?”

I miss one of the few connections I had with the League. I had taken so many pictures, and now…

“Sorry, you didn’t have it on you when you were admitted.”

“I see. What about my knife?”

“Yes, but you can’t have it back,” he explains to me like I’m a five-year-old throwing a tantrum.

That’s not fair! It’s my lucky knife; I’ve had it forever! Maybe if I beg Maki, she’ll convince them to return it to me since it’s important to me. Not like they have any use for it. Besides, it’s not even hard to get a new knife; I don’t use any special models.

“Oh, I just got word that Endeavor has arrived. If you have any more questions, you can ask him, Toga-chan.”

Wait, did I hear that right? Did he say Endeavor?! No way! Why would someone like him want to take custody of me?!

Takeda-san notices my panic and tries to reassure me: “We were all surprised by his application, but he’s undoubtedly the best choice you could have gotten. Try not to turn him down, Toga-chan. You could learn a lot from the number one hero.”

If he’s so excited about it, he should go live with Endeavor! The fact that I can refuse is reassuring, but… I don’t think I will. I remember everything Dabi told me about him. Maybe it’s karma that our paths have crossed.

Endeavor enters my room, and I immediately notice how huge he is. I look up and meet his gaze. He doesn’t seem annoyed; instead, he’s evaluating me, trying to decide how to handle me. I frown back at him until he’s the one who looks away. I smirk—one to zero for me!

“I don’t think introductions are necessary,” the older bureaucrat interjects. “We’re only here for formality’s sake. Just pretend we’re not here.”

“Hello, Endeavor. What brings you here?”

If they want a conversation, they’ll get one. I don’t believe they’re here without a reason, they want to check something, though I don’t know what. Maybe whether I can already leave the hospital or if Endeavor is really the right choice. Speaking of which, he looks a little surprised by how cooperative I’m being. Makes sense, he probably didn’t expect that I’ve already decided to move in with him.

“Good morning, Toga. I assume you’ve been informed of the measures that will be taken during the program.”

“Yeah,” I reply, even though, aside from wearing the bracelet all the time, I don’t remember what else I have to do. “Why did you volunteer, though? Aren’t you busy being the number one hero?”

“I’ve decided that you can be part of my responsibilities. The circumstances are… fitting.” He seems to lose his train of thought for a moment. “My priority for the past few months has been tracking down the League of Villains. You might remember some important details that could help me keep the population sa-”

“They’re already safe, what do you take us for?” I cut him off. I don’t want him thinking of me and my friends as monsters, trophies, or anything equally degrading.

“Toga, you’ve attacked and killed innocent people,” Endeavor replies coldly. “Shigaraki repeatedly targeted children, Dabi burned-”

“Well, yeah, but that was before. Now we have more self-control. And we didn’t do those things out of malice… Tomura is right to want to change society. It shouldn’t abandon children or give people valid reasons to commit crimes...”

Tsuki convinced me that our methods were wrong, but the idea behind them is right, so much so that even Tsuki now believes that changes are necessary. But with his way—the legal way—who knows how long it will take to create a more inclusive society? I still think Tomura will be the one to bring change, just in a way that makes him seem less like a villain.

“We don’t live in a perfect world, but that’s not an excuse for resorting to terrorism. You’re only making the problem worse. Anyway, I’m not here to debate these issues. I wanted to talk to you about some aspects of the program that need to be defined, whether you choose me or another pro hero.”

“Oh, it’s all the same to me. The other candidates don’t like me either, right?”

“Custody isn’t about liking or disliking someone. We’ll have objective opinions on-”

“Seems to me like you don’t like me,” I interrupt for the third time, crossing my arms.

He sighs. “I assure you, that’s not the case. I believe you need to take responsibility for what you’ve done, learn from your punishment…”

“Mh. On that, we agree,” I murmur, remembering what Tsuki said about prison.

I want to be free again, for myself and to make Tsuki, his parents, Iris, and Maki proud. They’re helping me improve, they believe in me, so I want to show them that their trust is well-placed and their efforts will pay off. I can put up with a grumpy hero for their sake.

“Good. Now, you don’t have any personal belongings, correct?”

“There’s the knife, but they confiscated it. And I lost my phone.”

“The first thing to do before you leave the hospital is to buy you the bare essentials-”

“Shopping!” I exclaim excitedly, raising a fist in the air.

“You’re not ready to go out yet... an agent will handle it,” adds Endeavor, who is starting to get irritated.

“Oh.” I lower my arm, disappointed. “If I can’t do it myself, can Iris do it? I don’t want ugly clothes, and she knows my tastes. Wait, who’s paying for all this? I don’t have anything.”

“You don’t need to worry about money for now. Who is Iris?”

“My nurse! We’ve become friends! If she agrees, she can take care of it, right?”

“That would be possible.”

“Yay!”

“Now, let’s go over the visits you’ll receive. Dr. Shinozaki Maki is already aware of your upcoming transfer and has agreed to continue your treatment at home, still with two sessions per week. Every Friday, a physiotherapist will visit until you’ve fully recovered physically. Also, an inspector will be regularly informed about your progress and might make surprise visits. Lastly, there will be designated visiting hours for anyone who wants to see you.”

“Tsuki will come! Maybe he’ll bring his friends!”

“As for your studies, they are still evaluating how to proceed. I’ve given you the general information, but the remaining details will be discussed once it’s clear who-”

“Wow, you guys are so formal! What difference does it make whether it’s you or another hero? You all have to be objective, so I can complete the program with anyone. Since you showed up first, I’ll go with you. No need to talk to the others.”

He leaves, deep in thought, along with the two commission guys, after saying goodbye to me. I’m going to be living at Endeavor’s house. Who would’ve ever imagined that?

I want to call Tsuki right away to talk about it, but it’s too early; he’s still in class, and I don’t want to bother him, especially since his final exams are just a few weeks away. I’m sure he’ll pass to the second year without any problems! He’s so talented, strong, and smart! I sigh. God, I wish I could hold onto him right now!

I’ll distract myself by thinking what to do once I get to the Todoroki house: visit every single room and get to know every single resident!

Speaking of which, do Fuyumi and Natsuo still live with their father? I doubt it, but I hope so. And will Shouto come home for a while after school ends? How long do U.A.’s dorms last? Come on, I’ll run into at least one of the kids at some point! And Endeavor must have some house staff, right? If I remember correctly, Tsuki mentioned a driver, so either he’s a multi-tasking butler, or I’ll meet someone who cleans and cooks too.

***

I arrived at the Todoroki house five days ago with a couple of bags of new clothes, a pink detention bracelet, an old model of the phone I used to have, and my knife—though it’s locked in a case I can’t open.

As soon as I got inside, I ran straight to my new room to drop off my stuff, then basically dashed around everywhere because Endeavor’s house is huge, and I wanted to see everything right away. Some rooms are locked, but I bet I’ll find a way to open them sooner or later and explore them like I did with the rest of the house.

Endeavor wasn’t thrilled about me touching everything, but he didn’t scold me, he just resigned himself to my curiosity. I admit, I enjoy annoying him, even when I don’t mean to. But it’s not because I dislike him, I just like irritating people who are easily irritated.

I miss the guys so much... One way to feel close to them is by drawing ponycorns. Tsuki gave me a notebook and some colored pencils after a very brief visit, so every afternoon, I sit down to draw a few characters. Later, I’ll move on to stories. I’ve been working on Jesterly for about half an hour. Every now and then, I pause to think about Jin and to change the station on a little radio that keeps me company during my drawing sessions. Endeavor is sitting on the couch reading the newspaper. Sometimes, I glance up at him because I don’t want him to peek at my masterpiece.

I’m about to continue coloring when I freeze: I know this song. It was my mother’s favorite… I quickly turn off the radio.

“Toga, is something wrong?”

“I’ve been thinking about something for a while,” I say, making sure my voice won’t tremble. Meanwhile, I twirl the black colored pencil between my fingers, pleased that it’s sharp—sharp things have always made me feel safe. “I don’t want to be called Toga anymore. They abandoned me, didn’t they? I’m not part of the Toga family anymore, so I don’t want that last name. Call me Himiko.”

I hear the rustling of Endeavor putting the newspaper away to look at me, but I keep my head down, staring at my drawing. Not that I can see it through these stupid tears... I don’t want to cry over my mother!

“I can call you Himiko, that’s not a problem, but you can’t be without a last name. When you turn eighteen, you can change it legally.”

“Then I’ll just ask everyone to call me Himiko or give me a nickname. Do I have to wait until I’m eighteen to see my little siblings again too?”

“I don’t know… If you complete the program, you have every right to return home…”

“That was never my home,” I cut him off abruptly. I quickly wipe my eyes and explain in a shaky voice, “T-they hate me…”

For a few seconds, it seems like Endeavor isn’t going to respond. Maybe he’ll just go back to reading the newspaper to avoid the discomfort and leave Maki to handle my emotions.

“Maybe… they hate themselves even more for what happened to you,” he says regretfully. “Unfortunately… even parents make mistakes…”

“W-would you say the same if y-you had a villain for a child?”

“Yes,” he answers, and he sounds sincere. “No one is born purely evil or purely good, right? You weren’t a bad kid, at least not because you liked blood…”

“I’m not a monster,” I whisper, gripping the colored pencil tightly.

“Of course you’re not…”

“I’ll prove it to them.”

“Good. Focus on the program, on your drawings, or on anything that makes you happy.”

“Tsuki!” I exclaim immediately. I wipe away any traces of tears with my new light blue handkerchief—it reminds me of Iris—and continue, “As soon as he’s old enough, he’ll marry me, and I’ll take his last name!" I got up abruptly. "Time for the gym.” I’m about to run there when the doorbell rings. I rush to open it, shouting, “I got it!”

A girl with white hair, except for a few red streaks here and there, and glasses steps back in surprise when she sees me. She’s holding a rather large package. I know who she is: Todoroki Fuyumi!

“Hi! Come in! I’m Himiko, nice to meet you!”

I step aside to let her in, which she does, thanking me and introducing herself in return. She places the package on the table while looking around.

“Hi, Dad. I don’t know why I expected the house to look different, but it’s exactly the same as before.”

“Hello, Fuyumi. Thanks for stopping by.”

“Have you been away for a long time?” I ask curiously.

“Not really, just three weeks, but I’ve never been gone this long before.”

“Not because of me, I hope.”

“No, no, it was a decision I made earlier…” she reassures me, looking a bit uncomfortable.

“Because of a fight?” I ask again.

She looks over at Endeavor, so I turn to him too. But he doesn’t seem interested in joining the conversation. Maybe he doesn’t know what to say, or maybe he just wants to hear Fuyumi’s answer.

“No, I’d say… for apologies. It’s a bit hard to explain.”

“Oh, so everything’s fine then. Are you here to pick up more things or leave them?”

Endeavor gets up and leaves the room without saying anything. I hope I didn’t upset him. Either way, if he’s leaving me alone with his daughter, that means he trusts me at least a little.

“Sorry about my father, he has a gruff personality…”

I immediately interrupt Fuyumi’s apology. “It’s fine. I’m used to it, considering Tomura, Dabi, and Tsuki. You’ve met Bakugou Katsuki, right? He’s my boyfriend!”

“Yes, I remember him. I wouldn’t have imagined you two were together…”

“If you want, I can tell you everything, or are you busy?”

“Actually, I came here for you.” She smiles at my surprised expression and continues, “Dad told us about the redemption program, so I thought I’d bring you a little welcome gift to help you feel better and… maybe less alone. I know Dad isn’t great company.”

I throw my arms around her in a sudden hug, my eyes welling up with emotion. Fuyumi stiffens for a moment, then lets out an awkward laugh and pats my back a few times.

“There, there, you haven’t even seen what it is yet. You might not like it.”

“It doesn’t matter. The fact that you thought to do this, and you’re not afraid of me, and you don’t… That means a lot,” I say, touched by her kindness.

“Well, I’ll admit I didn’t know what to expect at first, but now… you don’t seem much like a villain, Himiko-chan.”

“Thanks, Fuyu-nee. Can I call you Fuyu-nee?”

This time, she laughs more freely. “If you’d like. Some kids call me that.”

“Kids?”

“Yes, I teach elementary school.”

“That’s amazing! Come on, come on, I want to show you something!”

Excited, I sit down at the little table where I draw my ponycorns every afternoon. Fuyumi sits across from me, looking puzzled. I push my notebook toward her, urging her to flip through it. As she looks at the drawings, I explain, “These are the ponycorns! Stabby is me, and the other ponycorns represent people I know, even your dad is in there. I could draw you too—you’d be the teacher of the little foals! Do you like them? Would kids like them? I want to draw stories for them!”

“If no one had told me, I would never have guessed you were once a villain… They’re really cute, Himiko-chan. When you finish a story, I can take the comic to my class and let you know what they think.”

I crawl around the table to hug her again, repeating, “Thank you!”

“Come on, Himiko-chan, open the gift now.”

Oh, right. I stand up, followed by Fuyumi, and open the package. Inside there are a large plush cat, a couple of books, some manga, and various accessories for girls. I hold back from thanking Fuyumi again and instead invite her to see my room. It’s still pretty bare, but little by little, I’ll fill it up.

“I still have some plushies and magazines in my room… I could lend them to you if you want.”

“Aww. Which one is your room? One of the locked ones, right?”

“I think so.”

“Fuyu-nee, you’re staying for dinner, right? And can I have your number?”

“Mmmh, I’ll stay for dinner only if we cook together. Otherwise, I’d feel too awkward being a guest in my own house. And as for my number, I don’t see why not.”

“Perfect!”

Chapter Text

Endeavor was sitting in his office, carefully reading reports about a mysterious and gruesome series of victims when a persistent knock accompanied by Himiko Toga’s shrill voice interrupted him: “Help! Emergency!”

The hero resignedly opened the door. In the first few days, he had ignored the blonde girl, but this had not proven effective since she kept making noise until she got the attention she desired. Endeavor knew that taking on the rehabilitation of a villain wouldn’t be easy, but he hadn’t imagined he’d reach his limit of patience within just a week of living together. He had regretted volunteering as a judge at least ten times by now.

Now that his family no longer lived with him, Enji had decided to host the young criminal to monitor her and see if she made progress in the redemption program she had been enrolled in. The Commission was more than happy to assign Toga to the judgment of the number one hero, and even the girl herself hadn’t objected. It seemed everything had been resolved for the best: he wouldn’t be burdened by the emptiness of his home anymore, and citizens wouldn’t have anything to fear... except the blonde turned out to be livelier and more daring than Enji had anticipated.

“What’s the matter?” the hero asked, irritated.

Previously, Toga had disturbed him over trivial things, like informing him her favorite cookies were gone, while for matters that actually required consultation, like asking for permission to repaint her assigned room, she acted on her own accord. She had even gone grocery shopping without notifying him and, of course, received a lengthy scolding upon her return. Regarding her outings, Endeavor wasn’t too worried since she had been fitted with a bracelet with a built-in GPS to locate her in case of an escape attempt. Toga had been reluctant at first, but when the bracelet she deemed ugly was replaced with a pink model, she agreed to wear it.

“A spider! Burn it!” screamed Himiko, pointing at the hated arachnid.

“All that yelling for a tiny spider?”

“Burn it!”

Enji grabbed a jar, trapped the spider, and headed for the garden. The blonde followed him from a safe distance.

“What if it comes back?”

“I’ll catch it again.”

“What if it lays thousands of eggs?”

“By then, you’ll probably be gone.”

Endeavor shut himself in his office, ignoring further protests. Himiko pouted at the door, shrugged, and walked in without asking for permission. The hero’s face burned at the sight of the villain’s cheeky grin.

“What do you want now?”

“I’m bored. Can I invite Fuyu-nee?”

“Fuyu... nee?” Enji repeated, surprised.

“Yes! She said she always wanted a sister, so she adopted me! She even gave me her old plushies!” Himiko recounted enthusiastically, gesturing animatedly.

“I didn’t know you two were so close. You’ve only met once.”

“Yes, but I’ve messaged her on every social media platform she has, and we’ve bonded.”

“Fuyumi can’t come. I’ll be leaving soon, and I can’t leave you alone with her.”

“But I wouldn’t do anything to her!”

“Maybe, but those are the rules.”

“There was a time I would have had a crush on her. Fuyu-nee is so sweet and kind... but now it’s only Tsuki for me. Can he come over?”

“No, no one can come over while I’m at work. Go.”

Endeavor’s frustration grew as Toga’s dissatisfied grumbles indicated she had no intention of obeying him. As usual, her mood changed in a flash. She exclaimed cheerfully: “Then I’ll get a pet!”

“Out of the question!”

“But I’m sooo bored! I want people!”

“You need to behave, or you’ll end up in prison or a psychiatric hospital; you already know that,” Enji cut her off. He turned off the computer and walked past Himiko, locking the house door behind him.

The blonde sighed, helpless. She missed Jin and the rest of the League terribly, but she missed Katsuki the most. For his sake, she had decided to participate in the rehabilitation program and aimed to pass with flying colors, assuming such cases were even graded. But everything was so boring without the League…

She was also convinced that her examiner didn’t like her. What if he failed her out of spite? But she couldn’t stop being herself; that would only make her violent again. She needed to find a way to speed up her release…

Inspiration struck a few days later while watching a movie. Of course! How had she not thought of it before? If she caught a real villain, Endeavor would understand that she wasn’t evil or dangerous, and he would free her immediately! Himiko trembled with excitement. But how to find a real villain? The news never gave useful information for hunting them down. Instinctively, the blonde turned toward Endeavor’s study. She smiled mischievously; she knew where to get the necessary information.

From the very first day, Himiko had explored the Todoroki household, including Endeavor’s study. She already knew there were no paper documents in the drawers; what she wanted was on the computer. Himiko’s excitement faded as she entered yet another incorrect password. The girl tousled her hair in visible frustration. How could she figure out the right combination of letters and numbers? She looked around, hoping for a clue, but found none.

“No, it’s a brilliant plan! I can’t give up because of a password! I need to watch him type it… Idea!”

Shortly before Enji returned, Himiko hid her phone in the study so that it recorded the keyboard. Then, she went back to watching TV, giggling to herself like a maniac.

Endeavor noticed that the villain was frequently watching him with a certain impatience but paid it no mind. He had more important things to think about than the whims of a teenager. To date, four people in his jurisdiction had been found in conditions worthy of a horror movie: faces disfigured by brutal impact; shredded flesh, some cleanly removed; bones broken and marked with what appeared to be teeth. Finally, the victims' left hands had been severed, with the fingers disarticulated to form a star. This peculiar detail, along with the state of the corpses, linked the four murders to similar crimes in four other prefectures, each involving five identical victims.

A serial killer was undoubtedly at large. Over the course of a year, they had claimed twenty-four victims, all men of varying ages and with seemingly nothing in common. The most astonishing thing was that all the deaths were estimated to have occurred at 00:00, yet no one had seen or heard anything suspicious. The only lead the police and heroes had to prevent another killing was the timing: the killer always struck on nights of the new moon and full moon.

Enji was sure the perpetrator would strike the following Friday and was determined to stop them. He planned to extend his patrol and comb every alley with maximum vigilance. However, he wished he knew in advance what kind of opponent he’d be up against. According to reports, the killer—male or female—had a quirk related to invisibility and/or was a large animal, possibly a bear. Still, he had no clues to rule out one theory over another.

A few hours later, Himiko lay on her bed, leisurely reading the police reports. The operation had been a success! After retrieving her phone and reviewing the video, she had entered the password, photographed the dossiers she was interested in, and turned off the PC—all in less than fifteen minutes. She felt tremendously proud of herself. She couldn’t wait to make Katsuki proud too! Himiko skimmed over the peculiarities of the case, uninterested in solving mysteries, and focused on the descriptions of the crime scenes to get an idea of the killer. After all, she thought, if she could catch the criminal, there would be no need to figure it all out: the killer would explain everything!

The victims had been attacked with blind and ruthless fury, enough for investigators to attribute the acts to an animal quirk possessor, yet there was no passion behind the violence. There might have been joy in the act of killing, perhaps, but Himiko saw no personal interest or gain for the one orchestrating the attacks. The choice of victims was too deliberate for it to be random, even though she couldn’t imagine what might have attracted the killer. She concluded that the murderer must have known the victims at least by sight, likely for only a few days or even hours, enough to select them and kill them at the predetermined time and date. She couldn’t figure out the killer’s motive, but she was sure there was one.

Unable to make further progress, Himiko used her phone to access a site Giran had once told her about. Who better than him to help her track down a criminal? Using a few coded phrases to make it clear she was the one writing, she sent all her findings to the League’s trusted broker, then plugged in her phone to charge and fell asleep, fully satisfied.

***

Endeavor set aside the newspaper, distracted by muffled voices coming from Himiko’s room. She and Fuyumi were chatting quietly, laughing occasionally. The hero couldn’t hear the words of their conversation, but he didn’t mind; he found the gentle hum of their voices relaxing. He suspected they were talking about boys, judging by Himiko’s occasional shrill squeals. Against his will, Enji had learned to associate the villain’s reactions with certain topics. He wondered anxiously if they were only talking about Bakugo or if Fuyumi might have taken an interest in someone in particular. She couldn’t have gotten a boyfriend in just a few weeks, could she?

“Endeavor-san!”

Himiko interrupted his train of thought. The hero turned to look at the blonde, who was showing off excitedly, sporting a pair of braids.

“They’re adorable, right? Tsuki will love them! I’m making a video call and will be right back!”

“You’re good with her,” Enji noted to his daughter.

“Well, I deal with kids every day,” Fuyumi replied modestly. “She’s a whirlwind, but she’s also sweet and fun. It’s nice to have someone so optimistic around.”

“Not 24/7...” Endeavor muttered.

During dinner, Enji remained silent, letting the two girls chatter about various topics. He was pleased to see his daughter speaking so freely with someone—a friend, no less. Even Himiko seemed happier than usual: her eyes sparkled in a way that didn’t always happen, despite her constant smile.

“Toga,” he began when dinner was nearly over, “I’ve been very busy with a particular case lately, which is why I’m often absent. Once it’s resolved, I’ll have more time to spend at home, so you can invite whoever you want. We certainly don’t want you to feel like a recluse.”

For some inexplicable reason, she smiled at him brightly, which made him uncomfortable. He couldn’t have guessed that the blonde planned to free both him and herself from this awkward situation on her own.

Fuyumi laughed and commented, “It seems like your cohabitation is working out, right?”

Enji let Himiko answer: “Yes, but it’s not perfect yet. I’m sure it’ll get better, though! I prepared a surprise!”

The two Todorokis soon found themselves presented with a plate of kuzumochi. Himiko watched Enji with a triumphant grin, while Fuyumi smiled guiltily, equally curious about his reaction. Endeavor didn’t like being observed so closely while tasting his favorite dessert, but the two girls seemed disinterested in eating until he shared his opinion.

“It’s good,” he finally admitted.

Himiko threw her arms in the air, cheering. “Yay! It took so long! I had to throw away the first few batches because they looked like poison attempts!”

Fuyumi burst out laughing, joined by the blonde. Enji smiled, caught up in their good mood, and finished his dessert.

“What do you think of Dad?” Fuyumi asked Himiko later, brushing her hair. Himiko had begged her to stay for a sleepover, but Fuyumi felt too old for such things and had to get up early, so she agreed to this compromise.

“He’s complicated. In some ways, he’s like Tsuki. Most of the time, I don’t get a good impression of him because I thought Endeavor-san just saw me as a task to complete. But now I think it’s just a superficial attitude. He doesn’t know how to connect with people, does he? It’s funny.”

Himiko noticed her friend smiling sadly.

“He’s always been closed off and gruff… it used to be even worse…”

“I can’t imagine how he was in the past, but he’s not bad now.”

Dabi didn’t lie about his childhood, Himiko was sure of that, but people can change a lot in ten years. She had changed so much since last summer, thanks to Katsuki, and even before that, she had changed because of Stain. Is it really worth taking revenge on someone who doesn’t even exist anymore?

Fuyumi started and turned to face the blonde, visibly surprised.

“Hi- Himi-chan, do you... by chance know how...?”

“How he treated you all? Yes. Sorry, Fuyu-nee, I can’t tell you how I know.”

That wasn’t enough to calm her: “B-but how?! Does that mean other villains…?”

Himiko hugged Fuyumi affectionately; she felt bad about not being able to tell her the truth, but she couldn’t betray Dabi’s trust. She tried to reassure her friend: “Fuyu-nee, no one wants to harm your family, I promise. Tomura’s plans don’t involve you at all. Do you believe me?”

Did Dabi want to make her suffer too? Fuyumi didn’t deserve that… Himiko remembered that when she was younger, she was angry at Hideki and Kyoko because they were treated differently and didn’t defend her, but then she had realized they were too little to do anything. If I could figure that out, and I’m supposedly crazy, why can’t Dabi? She thought. He can’t blame his little siblings for not doing anything, they were just kids! And he can’t expect nothing to have changed in ten years! I absolutely have to warn him. I hope Hawks convinces him to abandon his revenge plan: Hawks could be for Dabi what Tsuki was for me.

Fuyumi nodded, shaken. She couldn’t get anything more out of the blonde. She left her old home thoughtful and confused, but Himiko’s words had reassured her, and she hoped they were a good omen for a better future for everyone.

***

Himiko strolled down the street with earphones in, carefully observing every alley. As she had expected, Giran had been able to find useful information. Moreover, he had shared it with her for free, since those murders were causing heroes to disturb a lot of honest criminals, risking their arrest. The culprit wasn’t working alone: it was a recently formed cult, all of whose members were mutants. Additionally, the severed hand, shaped into a star, symbolized a pentacle. Connecting the locations of the murders created five mini-pentacles, as well as a larger one encompassing the five involved prefectures. The broker couldn’t discover much more.

Himiko had thanked him warmly, promising to cook for him when possible. Now, she knew who to look for and where: she could catch the killers before the heroes did!

At the entrance to an alley, she noticed two mutants leaning against the wall: a chameleon and a chinchilla. Suspicious, she held her breath and slipped unnoticed into the narrow street. It turned left and ended in a dead end, but the blonde didn’t notice. The scene before her captivated her with both wonder and terror.

The culprit was roughly Endeavor’s size and was a shark-man! With his massive hands, he had already crushed the face of the twenty-fifth victim and was just taking a bite with his formidable jaws, tearing a large chunk of flesh from the unfortunate man’s arm.

“I’m gonna need a bigger knife,” Himiko murmured faintly.

The shark-man heard her. He turned slowly, sizing her up incredulously. Taking a step forward, he began to speak, and she instinctively backed away.

“How did you get past? The Cross-Eyed Prophet and the Silver Son guard the entrance.”

“It’s thanks to the chameleon that they don’t see or hear you…”

“You know too much, woman! Until now, we’ve sacrificed Adam’s offspring, but tonight the cycle ends! We’ll begin offering Eve’s offspring to the Animal Spirits!”

“You’re completely nuts!”

The shark-man moved with surprising speed despite his size. Acting on instinct, she threw her trusted knife. “Die!” Himiko shouted, mimicking Katsuki, but the mutant swallowed it instead of dodging.

He grabbed Himiko’s left wrist and lifted her to his eye level. She tried hitting his leg, terrified. Was this really how it would end?

“Nooo! I have to marry Katsuki and raise our kids!”

Just before the shark-man could crush her skull, a blazing comet slammed into him, knocking him away. Himiko barely had time to process what had happened before Endeavor had already immobilized and arrested the mutant.

“What…? How…?” she stammered.

“You’re not the only one who uses cameras. I found out you hacked into my PC and now understand why. I tracked you using the GPS.”

“I failed,” the blonde muttered, disheartened. “I wanted to catch him to make a good impression…”

“You were foolish and reckless! But you found them, so I’ll credit you for the capture…”

“Really? Then you’re not angry?”

“I understand you acted with good intentions. But intentions alone aren’t always enough. Next time, inform someone. Everyone benefits from cooperation.”

“I will,” Himiko promised. For the first time, she felt respected by Enji, which instinctively made her feel respect for him.

“You’re still in for a long lecture though.”

“Yes… Endeavor-san, I hope you’ll help me learn from my mistakes. We’re similar in that way: we accept our errors and apologize… Maki is making me write apology letters to the people I’ve hurt and to the families of those I killed. I don’t feel true remorse, but I do feel sorry… I wouldn’t do it again now, and even back then, I didn’t want to hurt anyone, I just wanted the blood. So I’m doing my part: I’ve understood my mistake, I admitted it, I regret it, I intend not to repeat it, and I’m serving my punishment. I can’t do more than that, right? It’s not like I can turn back time or bring the dead back to life. The only thing we can improve is the future. Oh, look, the police are here!”

Himiko darted toward the police vehicle. Endeavor reached out a hand to stop her, to ask her a question—or maybe a hundred questions—but he paused. Toga was right. If you make a mistake, you should apologize. Not to seek forgiveness, but to show you’ve understood what went wrong and are committed to making amends, no matter how long or difficult the penance might be, to build a better future where everyone has learned from their mistakes.

Chapter Text

“Toga Himiko is my girlfriend.”

I chose a moment when almost everyone was in the common room to make this announcement. The others stop whatever they were doing—studying, chatting, or anything else—to look at me, surprised. I avoid their gazes, trying to stay calm and, most importantly, not blush.

“Oh, Bakugou’s lost it from too much studying,” comments Sparky, demoralized. He pushes away the textbook he was barely paying attention to before.

“I want to imagine I’ve hooked up with a villain too!” exclaims the tiny pervert, earning a sharp glare from me. That little creep better keep even his thoughts away from my Airhead!

“Bakubro, do you have a fever?” asks Shark Teeth, worried, already moving closer to check my forehead.

“I’m fine, you idiots!” I can’t help but yell, embarrassed. Of course, they’d be shocked by this news, but they’re acting like I’ve lost my mind! This is too much!

“Are you sure you’re okay, Kacchan?” Deku asks, hesitantly as usual.

I sigh. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just wanted to let you all know.”

“That was a terrible way to do it,” comments Weird Ears.

“I didn’t know how to bring it up,” I explain as I sit down in an armchair.

“That’s very you.”

The others gather around, listening more closely, and I find myself almost surrounded.

“But… Toga is a villain, right? And you two are completely different,” Round Face says, doubtful.

“To say the least, kero,” Long Tongue echoes.

Yeah, those two didn’t exactly meet Himiko under the best circumstances...

“It’s true that we’re different in a lot of ways, but there are some things I need to update you on.”

“Did something happen during your kidnapping that you didn’t tell us? Could they be controlling you somehow?” Four Eyes jumps in, anxious.

“It would be best to discuss this with Aizawa-sensei,” Ponytail suggests.

“He already knows! So does the principal, Best Jeanist, and Endeavor!” I sigh again. “Remember when I was absent these past few days? It was because of her. My mission was to keep her calm and cooperative.”

“They made you flirt with Toga as a mission?!”

With an explosion, I send the shorty flying across the room.

“No! We talked during the kidnapping, then she wanted to stay in touch, so we kept chatting, met up a few times in person… and I didn’t turn her in to try and take down the League. In the meantime, we fell in love...” I ignore their stunned reactions, determined to finish without interruptions. “She’s in a rehabilitation program now, and I’m sure she’ll complete it. So, you’ll probably see us together outside the dorms. Toga would also like to apologize to some of you in person… maybe even become your friend, because… well, she’s really social and energetic, a total pain in the ass. Don’t blame me if she annoys you.”

The first to speak is Halfy—damn, that cursed unicorn name stuck in my head! “My father is handling Toga’s rehabilitation. I imagine she’s giving him some trouble.”

“Oh, you can bet on that.”

It’s practically guaranteed that my Airhead is driving him crazy, given their personalities. Halfy seems almost satisfied by that but doesn’t get the chance to add anything before Pinky, Invisible Girl, Sparky, and Scotch get way too close, blocking me from getting out of the chair.

“Tell us more details, Bakugou!”

“Have you kissed?”

“How did the spark ignite?”

“Do you think Toga-chan is cuter than our classmates?”

“What about Utsushimi-chan?”

“Have you been romantic with her?”

“What’s it like secretly dating a villain?”

“What kind of girl is Toga-chan?”

“Did she decide to reform because she loves you?”

“What bra size does Toga wear?”

I punch the pervert who snuck into the group of annoying idiots and snap, “Why don’t you just ask her yourselves? I’ll give you her number!”

They fall silent, taken aback, maybe even a little worried. I spoke without thinking, but honestly, it’s not a bad idea at all. Himiko will probably ask a couple of times if she can taste their blood, make awkward comments, and act like a curious kid, but other than that, she’s cheerful and energetic, just like Pinky and Invisible Girl. The three of them could get along really well.

“Why not, Bakugou-kun... It’ll be less weird to see her in person if we get to know her in chat first,” Pinky decides, smiling again. She turns to Shark Teeth, who nods.

“Yeah, if Toga-chan is important to you, we should try to be her friends,” he says.

“If you believe she’s changed, I’ll trust your judgment and do my best to help her with the program,” Round Face declares. She still has some doubts—it’s obvious from her expression—but she won’t have any trouble being kind to Himiko and understanding her once they spend more time together.

“Yes, right, we should give her a second chance,” Deku adds.

“It’s our duty to help those who want to improve,” states Four Eyes.

“Actually, Bakugou-kun has changed a lot over the past few months. Toga-chan could be very different too,” Long Tongue reflects. “Strangely enough, they seem to calm each other down, kero.”

“True, who would’ve imagined he actually had a girlfriend?” comments Weird Ears.

I take my phone out of my pocket, trying not to smile, and start creating a group chat with Himiko and everyone who wants to befriend her. The idea that I’ll be able to walk freely with my Airhead and my friends one day seems surreal, but this possibility is becoming more and more real. As impossible as it might have seemed, it’s happening: a group of aspiring heroes putting aside their prejudices and accepting a girl who can finally be herself.

“Lucky guy, getting therapy through kisses and cuddles,” Scotch snickers.

“Shut up with the bullshit, I made the group!”

I named it The Idiots and the Airhead. I turn to Halfy. “Do you want to join?”

“I think I should. Fuyumi met Toga-san and wants to see her again, did you know?”

“Yeah, your sister made her really happy. Airhead bonds quickly with people…”

“You didn’t even give her a cute nickname! Shame on you, Bakugou-kun!” Invisible Girl scolds me.

“That’s my business how I call her!”

Suddenly, a phone is shoved in my face, I hear a click, and then Pinky’s laughter.

“You’re so cute when you talk about Toga-chan! We have a picture for the new group!”

“Huh?! Delete that right now!”

I reach out, but Pinky has already turned and is running away. I chase after her, regretting ever putting her and Himiko in contact, realizing they’ll get along way too well and fill my life with embarrassing moments—as if I didn’t have enough already.

Still, I can’t help but smile as I dodge Shark Teeth and Four Eyes, who try to stop the chase. Everything is going right. Now, to become a hero, all I need is a little more practice and experience. I already have everything else, and I have no intention of losing it.

And as for becoming the number one hero… one day, I’ll stand on that pedestal. But unlike my old dream, I’ll enjoy the climb, take my time, and make sure no one gets left behind.

***

“Oooh, so that’s how the group was born!”

Himiko has been invited to dinner by my folks. Actually, the invitation dates back to when the old hag met her at the hospital, but until now, there hadn’t been a chance to bring her to my house. Now, though, I have a few days off before my second year at U.A. starts, and Himiko earned this outing by behaving well at Endeavor’s house.

The old hag tried to make me wear something special for the occasion, even using the excuse that Airhead would appreciate the effort. Bullshit. In our conversations, Himiko has gone on about cute clothes she owns or would like to have for herself, but she’s never once said anything negative about my style. I’m wearing a black skull-print t-shirt and jeans—my usual look—which I think she likes just fine. And she hasn’t dressed up either: a pink blouse under an oversized fuchsia sweater with holes, a blue skirt, white tights, and her usual loafers. She likes dressing like an innocent little girl, and I have to admit, it suits her—especially now that she’s straightened herself out.

“Tell me, Katsuki, didn’t you call yourself an idiot by naming the group that way?” the old hag asks me.

“No, I removed myself after making the others admins. They can handle it however they want.”

“The name hasn’t changed,” Himiko informs us cheerfully. “We all know you show affection with offensive nicknames, Tsuki. You’re such a sweetheart!”

She quickly hugs me and pecks my cheek, making me blush while my parents laugh in front of us.

“Airhead, don’t pull that kind of stuff in public!”

“The public isn’t scandalized,” Dad replies, amused.

“True, you two are adorable. Flirt all you want, we’ll reminisce about the old days,” adds the old hag.

“Don’t be shy, Tsuki. Everyone likes you! You even made a good impression on Endeavor during your internship—that’s why he saw you as a reliable guardian.”

“You must’ve made a good impression on him too,” Dad notes.

“I guess, but he talks like a hero. Stuff about how I needed to be in a controlled, normal setting, with civilians around but not on my own.” Himiko waves her hand dismissively, like she’s brushing away boring procedures. “It’s all tied to the program for him.”

“I see. It’s going well, right?”

“Really well! I don’t need a physical therapist anymore, though that was a different type of rehab, and my sessions with Maki have gone down from twice a week to once. I work every afternoon on ponycorns , so I’ll have a full story to present to Fuyumi by the start of the school year. And when Reina, the housekeeper, comes by, I help clean and cook.”

“We’re really happy you’re settling in well,” Mom says, squeezing her hand for a moment. Both she and Dad got attached to Himiko right away, which makes me happy but also kind of uncomfortable.

“Thanks, Mitsuki. Everything turned out way better than I expected. The only downside is that I’ve had very few visitors, but I think I’ll make up for it soon.”

“You bet. The idiots want to go to the mall this weekend.”

“Endeavor won’t be able to refuse with so many almost-heroes around me! Oh, besides Fuyumi and the people who came to the Todoroki house for work, Hawks also stopped by. He didn’t stay long, but he made sure to let me know all the guys are safe—he’s handling things on both sides, so to speak.” My parents exchange a look, unsure how to respond. Thankfully, Himiko isn’t expecting a response. “Oh, but then, what was the punishment?”

“Keeping me in suspense... damn rodent.”

She and my parents laugh. Sure, it could’ve been way worse—it’s a stupid punishment—but still, getting teased like that isn’t fun.

The evening continues lightheartedly, with more talk about our futures, which seem less uncertain by the day. These past months have taught us that unpredictable things can happen, but also that we’re capable of overcoming them, and maybe even turning them to our advantage.

After dinner, my parents exchange a knowing look, which makes me suspicious, and then announce that they have a surprise for the two of us. I just hope it’s nothing weird.

“Is it a puppy?” Himiko guesses.

“No, dear. We quickly realized there’s a strong bond between you two, and we found a way to help. Maybe you haven’t thought about it yet, but once you finish the rehabilitation program, where will you go?”

At my mom’s words, Airhead reacts like she never even considered that staying at the Todoroki house was temporary.

“Don’t worry. Given the situation, they’d probably place you in a foster home...” The old hag mutters curses against the Togas under her breath, interrupting my dad. Meanwhile, I get where they’re going with this. “So, we’re looking into becoming your legal guardians.”

Himiko holds her breath, her eyes welling up. Unable to put into words how grateful and happy she is, she stands up to hug them.

“She won’t become my sister, right?”

“No, you’ll have to marry her to pass on our last name,” the old hag replies, stroking Himiko’s head.

"Yes! Aaah, this is amazing! But I’ll already call you Mom and Dad!”

Yeah, even better than amazing. Himiko comes back over to me and hugs me. I hug her back and kiss her forehead, trying to get used to the way my parents are looking at us.

“Thanks, Ma, Pa...”

“Aw, don’t mention it, you little idiot,” the old hag says, getting emotional.

It’s time to take Himiko home. After a million goodbyes, she finally takes my hand, ready to leave.

“Don’t wait up for him!”

“Okay, but still no grandchildren yet.”

I roll my eyes at their exchange, feeling my cheeks heat up. Airhead giggles against my arm, resting her free hand on it. I like having her this close, all to myself, since the few people out walking aren’t paying attention to us.

“It was a great evening, Tsuki! I love your parents! Should we go camping or climb a mountain like when you were little?”

“I’d love to do those things, but only with you.”

“That’s fine! It just means I’ll find another way to feel even more like their daughter.”

“You’re already well on your way, Airhead. When the old hag starts yelling at you, you’ll know it’s official.”

We both laugh, continuing our walk into the deepening night. Himiko falls silent, content, and I find myself out of things to say, too. I let go of her hand to wrap an arm around her shoulders, enjoying a few more moments of closeness before we reach the Todoroki house. She happily accepts the change, slipping an arm around my waist. I never realized that in a secret relationship, you miss out on things like this, moments that feel like a constant confirmation that you made the right choice and a reward for it at the same time.

“The landlord isn’t home, come in for a few minutes. You haven’t seen my room yet, Tsuki,” Himiko invites me as we arrive at her temporary home.

“Are you sure? You won’t get in trouble? Or, I don’t know, Endeavor-”

“He protects public safety, not my virginity!”

I suddenly flush at the absolute lack of shame with which she says things like that. I hesitate for a moment before following her. Does she mean this seriously? Because if this isn’t just playful teasing, there’s no way I’m backing out… scenes like this have happened often in my dreams... Our whole story feels like a beautiful dream coming true, so why not this too?

I close the door, take off my shoes, and follow her to her room, where she’s giggling happily. She jumps on me out of nowhere, making me fall onto the bed.

“Airhead, what the hell?!”

“I want cuddles, Tsuki, like in the hospital. Endless kisses and caresses!”

“Then sit up, and I’ll give you your medicine...”

I stroke her cheek and lean down to kiss her. She responds immediately, running her hands behind my back. I have to admit, I missed having the time and privacy to fully enjoy her scent, her taste… having a moment just for us has always been a luxury. Every touch feels driven by a need that’s still far from satisfied, but one we know can be fulfilled.

Each kiss grows longer and more passionate. My hands explore her body, which trembles at my touch as if I were pressing invisible buttons. The temperature rises quickly, and our clothes feel like pathetic, annoying barriers keeping us apart. I pull off her sweater and linger on her buns, undoing her hair.

“Have I ever told you that you look beautiful with your hair down?” I murmur, my voice husky.

“No, Tsuki, and you look beautiful with your hair even more messy.”

Between kisses, Himiko repeatedly runs her fingers through my hair before nibbling gently on my ear. While I’m distracted by that move, she grabs my shirt, and I eagerly help her take it off. She laces her fingers behind my neck, and naturally, I lower myself over her. I kiss her throat while she continues caressing me in perfect sync. I start unbuttoning her blouse, kissing every bit of skin I reveal. Himiko moans softly, encouraging me sweetly. After a few moments of indulging in each other like this, she slips off her skirt and starts fumbling with the zipper of my pants when I suddenly pull back—maybe a little too abruptly, since it took all my willpower to stop in time.

“Tsuki, what are you doing?” she asks, almost shocked, propping herself up on one arm.

“If you want to go all the way tonight, there’s one little thing missing. You know, having kids this early would be real trouble.”

Himiko understands, laughs, and playfully scolds me, “Yeah, way too early. Oh, Tsuki, why don’t you already have a condom?”

“Why don’t you?!”

“Well, this isn’t my house, I don’t even do the shopping. Fufufu, but if you want, I’ll add them to the shopping list!”

“I’ll be right back,” I reassure her.

I put my shirt back on, leave the room with Himiko telling me to hurry, and once outside, I look for the right vending machine. The cool night air doesn’t dispel the dreamy atmosphere we created in her room, but it does remind me that I should let my parents know not to wait up for me tonight. I send a message to Dad, ignoring whatever the old folks might think about us. That’s a problem for future me—tonight, only Himiko matters.

I pocket the condom and rush back to the Todoroki house. Himiko is leaning by the window, her hair down, her blouse unbuttoned, her eyes full of adoration… I run to her, finding her more desirable than ever, and… I won’t describe our first time, you perverts!

Chapter Text

It’s amazing to lie next to the person you love and watch them snore! Tsuki is so handsome that I could never take my eyes off him! But I can’t stay still for long. I already feel like kissing him, but I don’t want to interrupt his peaceful sleep. Idea: I’ll bring him breakfast in bed!

I hold back a few giggles, grab some clothes in the dark, and quickly get ready in the bathroom. Today, everything looks different—rosier, more wonderful, and tender, as if I love and feel loved by the whole world. I hum softly, moving as if I were dancing. Being a girlfriend gets better every day; thinking that sooner or later, I’ll be able to sleep next to Tsuki every night, and during the day if we feel like it, and that the house will be all ours, and we won’t always have to use protection… I’m too happy to hold back my laughter of joy.

I energetically grab the ingredients for pancakes and start preparing them, along with coffee for Endeavor. He enters the kitchen shortly after, surprised that I’m up so early. Or maybe I’m misinterpreting his surprise… he blushes, fills a cup of coffee, and awkwardly greets me.

“Is this a new token of love?” he finally says, pointing at me.

Confused, I look down and only now realize I’m wearing Tsuki’s black shirt. I blush and cover my mouth to stifle a loud laugh, amused by my absentmindedness.

“Yes, uh, it’s exactly what it looks like. But don’t worry, we used protection.”

“I don’t want to know!” he nearly yells, flames flaring up.

“Shhh, don’t wake him before I bring him breakfast in bed.”

“I said I don’t want to know!” he repeats in a lower voice but with the same intensity. He quickly finishes his coffee, grabs what he needs for work, then pauses near the kitchen door while I chuckle at how embarrassed he looks.

“Himiko, I know you two are responsible. Don’t do anything stupid, at least while you’re under my care.”

“Yes, sir! Have a great day! Mine will be amazing!”

“Yeah, thanks. Bye.”

I wave goodbye and finish preparing breakfast, still smiling. On a tray, I arrange a plate with a huge stack of pancakes—too bad Endeavor didn’t have a single one—jars of different toppings, a couple of juices, and coffee for Tsuki. Slowly, I carry the heavy load to my room.

Tsuki is awake, and as soon as he sees me enter, he helps me set the tray on the bed. We greet each other with a kiss. Unable to resist any longer, I hug him and give him more kisses.

“Hey, hey, slow down, or you’ll spill everything. Airhead, do I have to whisper, or can I talk normally?”

“Endeavor left, don’t worry,” I reassure him, resting my head on his shoulder.

“Ah? Why are you wearing my shirt?”

“Accident. Well, at least now I can confirm that Endeavor approves of my handsome boyfriend.”

“Mh… better that way,” Tsuki comments. He strokes my cheek before devouring breakfast, finishing his pancakes at record speed.

“I have to go home now, or the old folks will be on my case even more than usual.”

“I understand,” I murmur, disappointed. I grab his hand. “Come back soon, my Explodo-boy. I love you.”

“I love you too, Himiko,” he replies softly.

“But I’m not giving the shirt back, it’s my new pajama!”

He makes that irritated face that’s so typical of him, and I laugh. Tsuki smiles, unable to stay mad at me for long.

“Good thing I had my jacket.”

“Exactly, or I would’ve made you walk around half-naked.”

“Oh yeah? Not jealous?”

“A little,” I reply with a kiss. “And you?”

“I’d say a little too, yeah.”

“Can you come back before Saturday? So I can have you all to myself before sharing you with the others.”

“Sure. I can come every day, Airhead.”

I can tell Tsuki’s as happy about it as I am. Before school starts again, he wants to enjoy as many moments together as possible. I let him get ready while I finish breakfast and take the tray back to the kitchen.

“There’s one night in particular I’m interested in,” I say thoughtfully once he’s all clean and dressed. “You know, I’ve become really good friends with Mina, and since Eijiro is your best friend… how about the four of us have dinner here?”

He looks at me, confused, not understanding my intention. I bet Eijiro will be just as confused but happy to join. Are all future male heroes this slow when it comes to girls? Will they figure out it’s a couples’ night without Mina or me having to spell it out?

“I wouldn’t mind. You want a trial run before seeing the whole class again?”

“No, I didn’t think about that at all. They’re just the ones we bonded with the most, it’ll be more fun.”

And besides, according to Mina, there are only a few budding couples in Class 2-A, but none are official yet. She likes Eijiro, she’s sure he likes her, so she wants to see if after dinner with us, they’ll finally get together. I’ll do my best to help her. Maybe they need a perverted maniac to kidnap Mina to speed things up.

I wouldn’t mind being a relationship consultant. I could use Class A as a test ground. I chuckle at the thought. Let’s see, according to my devious informant, we need to pair up Kyouka and Denki, Tooru and Mashirao, then there’s Ochaco, who likes Izuku, but no one knows if he likes her back or if he’s into Shouto instead. If Halfy ever comes here, we’ll have a very interesting conversation! Fufufu! I have to ask Fuyumi to bring him!

“Airhead, what the hell are you plotting?”

“Nothing, just imagining some future career options. I’d love to help you and the others become true heroes.”

“Wouldn’t you like to be a hero? Maybe they’d accept you."

I hate to disappoint him, but I shake my head. “Nah, not interested at all. I’m very selective about who I decide to help or save. But if I can act as a civilian, giving information and advice, I’m in!”

“We’ll see what we can do. You take care of inviting those two.”

“Mh mh. See you soon, Tsuki!”

After a few less talkative goodbyes, Tsuki leaves. I sit on the couch, deep in thought. I should seriously consider what to do in April, when Tsuki goes back to U.A. with my new friends. Endeavor insists I resume my studies because, according to him, ponycorn comics aren’t a real job, but I don’t really care.

Instead, I really want to follow the others to U.A.—not as a student, but as, hmm, a criminal consultant, yes! I’d teach them how to distinguish between villains like Overhaul and villains like Tomura. Not all of us are the same, and Tsuki has realized that.

I sigh contentedly, satisfied with my decision. There will probably be some idiots who can’t or don’t want to understand that society as it is doesn’t work, but I hope they’re the minority. And if good manners aren’t enough… nah, I need to get rid of certain thoughts. I focus on Tsuki. One step at a time, like he said. One small victory after another. And last night was a huge victory! I still feel amazing, euphoric like a champion!

Wanting to do good and asking only for a happy life with the person you love in return—isn’t that the most noble thing?

* * *

“Wow, Himi-chan, you two are like two drops of water!” Shark Teeth exclaims in admiration after Himiko transforms into me.

“And seeing Bakugou dressed as a girl is a must-see event!” adds Pinky, ready to snap a photo.

I’m faster than her and cover the camera lens with my hand, glaring at her.

“Oh, now I remember. When you were Utsushimi-chan, you explained that to change clothes, you have to be…” The idiot doesn’t finish the sentence, suddenly turning red.

“Naked, yeah. Tsuki was so sweet to give me his blood.” It had seemed like a good idea to cheer her up, but now that she’s back to normal, I’m regretting it. Thankfully, the Airhead quickly snaps out of it. “Too bad I can’t train properly here. I told Endeavor about this to prove I’m trustworthy, so technically, he was the first to know, but whatever… I’m telling you guys because I want to: if I understand how someone’s quirk works, I can use it!”

This is news to me. If she didn’t tell me, it’s because she wanted to surprise me, but the opportunity never came up, and she couldn’t hold back any longer. I know her way too well by now. Red and Pinky give her a few cautious compliments.

“I’d love to see how you use Explosion, Airhead.”

She’s right; the Todoroki gym isn’t suitable for trying out my quirk, but U.A.’s training fields are perfect. I could try asking for permission to bring her there: I’m curious to see how fast she learns such an ability. Himiko is strong, and that makes me proud of my girl.

“Really? Yay! And do you think anyone else would give me their blood? I bet you, Eijiro, drove whoever had to use a syringe on you crazy.”

“I admit I played a few tricks like that as a kid, but then I realized it wasn’t manly.”

She and Pinky laugh, making comments about how cute he must have been as a child. Shark Teeth smiles and turns to Himiko: “But I’d let you take my blood without a problem.”

“Aww, thanks! I don’t have syringes yet; I still need to get equipped. Maybe… if your principal listens to me…”

“You said you don’t want to become a hero,” I reply, confused.

“And that’s true. I thought I could be a sort of consultant! I’d teach you everything I know about villains: why they become villains, how they think, things like that. And in the meantime, I also want to find out how many heroes are like you and how many completely reject me, because Stain was right—there are real heroes and fake heroes. And, of course, I’d help you a lot in practice too. My quirk is perfect for that, especially if I learn to use multiple quirks.”

“I hope Principal Nezu accepts your proposal, Himi-chan,” Pinky says sincerely.

“I have some doubts, but it’s not impossible,” I concede.

While the three of them discuss this idea, I think it over. It’s true, Himiko would be useful, but in the process, she’d become very strong too. I know she’s not dangerous… well, no more than anyone else, at least. But there are people who might think otherwise and prevent her from sparring with students, even if it’s just pretend, or from being around them. Someone outside U.A., because none of my teachers are morons—they’d immediately understand that Himiko isn’t trying to fool anyone and that she’s acting in good faith. I’ll try to support her project as much as I can. Knowing that my classmates and teachers think similarly to me makes them deserve not to be insulted by me anymore… Maybe I should start calling them by name.

At the same time as my thoughts, Himiko says to Kirishima, “Come on, we’re all friends, let’s call each other by our first names. Is that okay with you?”

They all turn to look at me.

“What the hell do you want? Just do it.”

“So, you’ll be Tsuki for me too?” Ashido exclaims happily.

“Fuck you…”

“I like too much Bakubro.”

The Airhead places a hand over her heart, dramatically holding her breath. “Eijiro, are you confessing like this? In my presence? How insensitive!”

She and Ashido burst out laughing while Kirishima, now red, stammers that they’ve completely misunderstood his statement.

“Can we start making dinner?” I ask, a little bored.

Are these two planning to tease us the whole time? I see them exchange a knowing glance and a mischievous smirk… a malicious one. What the hell was I thinking when I introduced them?!

Himiko grabs my hand and announces excitedly, “To make things more fun, let’s have a cooking competition! Tsuki and I will make one set of dishes, you two make another, and then we’ll see which ones are better! Guests go first. The kitchen is over there, fully stocked.”

Ashido accepts the challenge with a bit too much enthusiasm and, for some mysterious reason, blushes as she drags a confused Kirishima into the kitchen. I eye Himiko suspiciously as she puts on a CD with romantic music. She notices my look and giggles, stepping closer conspiratorially.

“Tsuki, Mina has a crush on Eijiro. She might confess tonight… or get him to confess instead.”

“And what does that have to do with us?”

“We share our experience with our friends. Come on, don’t you want to give Eijiro a little push?”

“You can play Cupid with Ashido, I don’t know what to do.”

“Yes, you do. You know because we’re together.”

She smiles so sweetly that I feel my face heat up. I guess I could say something to that idiot… damn it, I hate when the Airhead manipulates me.

“Fine, I’ll think about it…”

“Thanks, Tsuki, I knew I could count on you.”

She plants a kiss on my cheek, and I take the opportunity to pull her close and whisper, “Later, you plan to leave them alone again, don’t you?”

She nods, blushing. Her bright eyes wait for the rest of what I want to say, because she knows me too well.

“That means we’ll be alone too… and I’ve got some ideas on how to spend that time.”

“After dinner, we’ll go to get dessert and won’t come back right away,” she whispers mischievously.

I let her go and help set the table, trying to think of something to say to Kirishima. It’s not exactly easy, My love story started with a kidnapping after all. I wonder if one day we’ll have kids, and Himiko will proudly tell them how she and her ‘uncles’ kidnapped their dad, and then… no, we didn’t fall in love because of a damn experiment.

We got closer, sure. Some of those questions were really personal; they helped me understand the Airhead better, to let go of assumptions and prejudices. I first caught a glimpse of the real Himiko during the test, but I truly got to know her afterward—through text messages, comforting phone calls, random meet-ups… and in the end, I didn’t just save a strange, sweet girl. I fell in love with her, and she fell for me.

If Kirishima and Ashido are happier together than they are alone; if they think about each other often for no particular reason; if they can talk freely, sharing everything, always being themselves, to the point where they can practically read each other’s minds… that’s true love.

“Tsuki, are you sick? Your eyes look teary.”

“Maybe you don’t clean well, and I got dust in my eyes,” I reply, rubbing my face with my arm.

“Huh? That’s not true!” the Airhead protests, pouting.

Luckily, someone calls her from the kitchen to look for some ingredient. Damn it, when did I become such a sentimental fool, getting emotional over a chain of good memories that keeps growing? Enough thinking about feelings and sappy bullshit!

As soon as I can, I’ll tell Kirishima that a real man doesn’t wait for some external, potentially traumatic event to make him realize how much the woman he likes is worth and how terrible it would be to lose her. Waiting is just a colossal mistake that robs you of good moments for no reason. I finish setting the table and get ready to kick my best friend’s ass if he chickens out with my girlfriend’s new best friend.