later that afternoon, back at U.A.
"Coming up with nothing..." Iida muttered as he tapped away at his computer. "Enjoyed the video? Then like and subscribe." The video he was watching just ended. "Where's the work study gang? And Bakugo," someone questioned. "Extra lessons, but (Y/n)'s who knows where. Since they can't be here to discuss the options, they said they're fine with whatever we pick. Dunno 'bout (Y/n) though. Oh and Bakugo's sleeping," someone else replied. "Now that I've calmed down and thought about it...sensei mentioned how the other classes are stressed out. Whatever we plan ought to help diffuse that stress in some way."
"I agree...if we ever hope to become heroes, we can't very well ignore a problem we had a hand in causing," Yaoyorozu concurred as the front door opened. "Yo, what're we doing?" It was (Y/n). She slipped her sneakers off and neatly kicked them to the side to slide some slippers on. "What's up! Where were you at (Y/n)?" Sero slid his arm around her shoulders, "I was taking the kids from the orphanage out to ice cream. No te preocupes amorcito." He grinned at her contently. "But why in the middle of class?" Kaminari tilted his head to look at her, "Ah. That I won't discuss." She pat Sero's back and sat down next to the class rep.
"Anyways, on that note...Honestly, since our fellow students are used to Lunch Rush's culinary creations, I doubt we could satisfy their palates," he pointed out. "Oh, so no food stalls?!" Multiple questioned in unison. "Personally, I like the idea of providing the others with a service." (Y/n) huffed, "I'd rather be dead than to dress up in a maid outfit and serve other people. My pride would go down the drain," she crossed her arms. "But remember we can't be the only ones having fun with this." She was about to counter Shoji's claim but simply pressed her lips together.
"In that case..." Hagakure started off, "Some kind of interactive experience? Along those lines..." Yaoyorozu sat down next to (Y/n) and Iida placed the computer on top of her lap so all three of them would be able to see. "What's with that blood on your arms (Y/n)..?" The navy blue haired boy narrowed his eyes and pulled up her sleeves, she quickly pulled them back down. "It's not mine. Back to the matter at hand," she quickly changed the subject. "Maid cafe...petting zoo, or haunted house?" 'No, no and maybe but Shinsou told me their class was doing a haunted house so no.'
"A petting zoo would have to adhere to strict hygiene standards, right? So that's no good..." Iida thought out loud. "How about open mic comedy?" 'That's a pretty good idea...' "Putting amateur performers on the spot? Sounds stressful!" 'Guess not then...' "We could all just dance. That'd be fun..." (Y/n) and Todoroki perked up, "Why not dancing then??" They talked at the same time. "Talk about unexpected help!" Mina stopped tapping her foot on the ground. The blue haired girl slipped off the couch and sat on the ground while the dual haired boy squatted next to her, she flipped the computer to face him.
"I'm looking for this one thing...forgot what it's called. People going crazy onstage." (Y/n) snorted, "You mean a concert," he rapidly nodded and she pat his head. "I didn't expect this from you, Todoroki! Maybe from (Y/n) since she always has music on...but not you Todoroki!" Her eye twitched and she got back on the couch when the boy stood back up. "When'd you go and become such a party animal?!" Mineta was sweating profusely. "I didn't," Shoto replied, ever so stoic. "I just think Iida is right. We should put together an event that everyone can enjoy. It made me think of our last hero license course assignment."
A mental picture of Todoroki and Bakugo dancing played in (Y/n)'s mind. "What do they have you doing over there..?" She sweat dropped. "I see..." Iida murmured. "Again, we're basically asking amateurs to preform. Wont that be stressful?!" Mina's eyes shined, "I can teach 'em!!" She countered what Sero said. "Two-step," Aoyama did the little move Mina taught him and Midoriya in the morning, but this time, perfectly. "The weirdest amateur here mastered those steps in less than a day! Ashido's a bona fide teacher!!" They thought back to the weird move he did in the morning. "Wait, you buncha amateurs!"
"Dance means rhythm!! Rhythm means sound!! Club goers always want the freshest beats!!" Mineta pointed out. "And when it comes to music...!" Hagakure made everyone's attention turn to Jiro, who stopped and slightly rose her hands up. "Uh...what?!" Her cheeks tinted pink. "A live performance with your instruments, Jiro!!" The invisible girl yelled, loudly. "Hang on a sec!" The other looked panicked. "Why not?! You're amazing at teaching people how to play, Jiro! And you've always got a smile on your face when it comes to making music!"
Jiro looked down, "But, like, Ashido...and the rest of you...All your hobbies are somehow rooted in your hero abilities. But mine's seriously just a hobby. It's really not something I can be proud of." Kaminari's mind shot back to the morning as well, how she didn't like him mentioning her instruments. "So that's what that was, earlier?" Her shoulders tensed. "But it's so frickin' cool how musical you are!!" Kaminari exclaimed with a bright smile. Her lips turned wobbly, it was blatant that she was nervous, or rather embarrassed about it. Koda scampered over to them, "Jiro..."
"You talent can make people smile. That's definitely tied to being a hero in my book," he put on a smile of encouragement. "Y'know...Yoka-chan. It would be really cool if you did that. You shouldn't feel like your hobbies should be tied with your hero work because everyone else's is." 'Come to think of it...do I have a hobby?' "As long as you love something, you have entitlement to do it. So it's up to you, and you shouldn't feel embarrassed about it either. Being a musician is cool all on its own, so don't fret over it. We understand what the two of you are saying," she pointed at Kaminari and Koda.
"But we have to let her decide for herself." The purple haired girl rubbed her head with her hands, the blush darkened. "Turning down...all these requests...wouldn't make me much of a rock star! So class A's project...is a dance club with live music!" (Y/n) smiled and Jiro smiled back. And on the discarded laptop on the table, there was a play button with the words PLAY NEXT VIDEO, the next video did play. Showing a man with slicked grey hair.
"Do you think it'll be okay? I thought the decision was to keep the people involved with the incident as far away as possible," a nurse with low space burns turned to one of the head doctors. "We've been worried that she might go out of control again...but for now, there's little cause for that concern. The fact is the girl simply doesn't have...the energy." The two doctors were talking about Eri. "Sorry we couldn't come see you sooner," Midoriya apologized with a smile. "We brought you a fruit basket! Want some?! What's you're favorite?! Wait...lemme guess!! Peaches, right?! You look like a peach lover to me!"
"How've ya been doing kid? The doctors treating you well?" Mirio held up a fruit basket and (Y/n)'s lips curled into a bright smile. "Apples." Eri took the basket in her hands, "I knew it!" A few moments later, the apple was cut into little rabbit like pieces. "The whole time, even when I had a fever, I was thinking about how you guys saved me. But I don't know your name." Midoriya had comical lightning flash behind him as he gaped. "I know Lemillion and Azul...so who are you?" The pale blue haired girl tilted her head, very cutely mind you. "Izuku Midoriya! Hero name, Deku!"
"Um...Deku is shorter. Easier to remember, so just call me Deku!" The green haired boy exclaimed.
"Hero name?"
"Its like a code name."
"Okay, Deku."
"And you can just call me (Y/n), okay Eri-chan?" She tapped her heel onto the tip of her shoe. "Okay. So, (Y/n), Lemillion and Deku. Also the nice man with the glasses..." (Y/n) flinched and the two perked up. "You all got really hurt cause' of me..." "She doesn't know about Nighteye. She'd probably blame herself if she found out. She'll find out sooner or later, but telling her now...would just be cruel." "This is all my fault. I'm really sorry for causing you guys so much pain." Eri's eyes turned glossy. "And...and it's cause of me you lost you lost your power, Lemillion..." She sniffled but the boy intervened.
"Eri! Not a single person here thinks it's your fault! Wanna know what everyone thinks? We're happy that you're safe and sound! The Sins too!" Mirio placed a hand on the side of her head once he stood up. "Doesn't make sense, right? Saying sorry to people that don't exist. So, sonríe!" (Y/n) held her small hands in hers. She didn't hesitate to, the blue haired girl thinks (now that her hands don't have overlapping scars) that they feel softer and more comforting now that she doesn't have that much scars on them anymore. Mirio added, "We all fought to see a smile on your face!"
The little girl started trembling as she opened her mouth, looking like she was using all her might to force a smile. That's when she took her hands out of (Y/n)'s and started pulling at her cheeks. The three teens watched in confusion, when she stopped, she looked down still with some stray tears brimming on her tear ducts. "Sorry...I'm not so good at smiling," she apologized. (Y/n) reached out and wiped her tears with her thumb, "It's okay Eri-chan. You smile when you smile." "They're all gonna die now." "It's way easier to just take that pain yourself." 'Of course, Overhaul and Daichi's shadow still looms large...this girl...'
'This girl...still hasn't really been saved! As long as she can't smile or have fun...she still isn't saved!' Midoriya looked at (Y/n), 'They're so similar in so many ways...' "Surprise!☆" His eyes widened in realization. 'Hang on...According to the doctor, the horn that activates her quirk has shrunk...The chance of her losing control is low.' He got up and quickly exited to go to Aizawa. The blue haired girl glanced back to see the two conversing, but she quickly pulled out something red once she remembered what she had forgotten earlier. "Hey, Eri-chan. I have something for you."
"For me?"
"Yup! It's a bracelet." (Y/n) took out a shiny looking red bracelet, the latter itself looked like it was made out of silky string rather than metal or clear plastic string. There were knots included into the design, as well as some pretty beads, not all around though. It was a evil eye bracelet, a blue one, but the string was red of course. "Is that an eye?" The little girl tilted her head in curiosity, "Not a real one. But it does protect you, spiritually of course." She beamed and stuck her hand out, "Wanna try it on?" She complied and placed her small hand on hers. She slid the bracelet onto her wrist and pulled at the ends of it.
"It's pretty..." Eri ran her finger along the beads, feeling the bumpy surface against the tip of her finger. "A pretty bracelet for a pretty girl, I don't doubt you have one of those too, right (Y/n)?" The latter nodded at Togata and pulled up her sleeves, showing two bracelets. One of them was the same as Eri's and the other was a yellow and red eye on the same design, but with white silky string. "Yup. My mom told me about it when I was little. It protects you against malevolent gazes. Mal De Ojo bracelet, or evil eye in Japanese. You're supposed to be gifted a bracelet, or else it doesn't really work."
"It's mostly Latin/Hispanic culture, but it's an open thing. So anyone gets to wear is as long as they know what it stands for. And it's mostly for babies since they're the most pure—people believe evil eye affects them the most. I've seen it happen a lot." Eri looked rather confused, and maybe a little worried with the last part. "So, if someone looks at me...evilly? What happens?" (Y/n) smiled, "Then the bracelet does it's job. And usually when it does—the amulet cracks or the bracelet falls apart." The girl awed at finally understanding. "That's pretty neat (Y/n)...has yours ever cracked?" Mirio questioned.
"Many many times. Maybe seventeen..??"
"Seventeen??"
"That's a big number..."
And with Midoriya and Aizawa, "Aizawa sensei. Do you think Eri could leave the hospital for a day?" The man looked up. "It should be possible, they're working on finding her a new home..." He replied. "In that case..." "This won't be like the past, in that the festival will only be open to students, staff and a small group of outsiders." 'Unlike the past years, there's little chance of running into strangers!!' "Would Eri be able to attend..?!" The black haired man stood up more upright, "Oh...gotcha." He already knew what the boy was going to ask. "Can Eri go to the school festival?!"
The three in the room turned around at the loud exclaim. Miro had his comical light bulb shatter as a wide smile stretched onto his face. "A festival?" (Y/n) softly squeezed Eri's hands. "Eri! This's a great idea! We got this thing called a school festival! It's a big event we have at school! It's a super fun time for students, by students. There're exhibits, performances, food...ah! Apples! I bet they'll have candied apples!!" The third year shook the first year's arm. "Candied?" The blue haired girl nodded, "People can wrap apples in candy. It makes them sweeter than before, this school festival thing sounds fun, right?"
Eri's mouth watered and her eyes shined, "Even sweeter..?" Her face tinted pink in delight—just thinking about it. "Wait, have you never gone to a school festival before (Y/n)?" She shook her head, "That's why I'm kinda excited now. Especially since Eri-chan will be able to go, we'll have fun together!" She pat her head. "Let me ask the principal first (Y/n)," Aizawa took out his phone. "Well..?! What do you say Eri?" The latter looked down and stared at her hands that laid on (Y/n)'s open palm. "...I....was thinking about you guys...and how you saved me. You three and everyone else...I wanna be your friend."
(Y/n)'s cheeks tinted pink and she unexpectedly scooped up the girl into her arms, "We'll be such great friends you'll get sick of us!! And I'll keep bugging that creepy mouse until he has no choice but to let you come!" She spun her around, making the younger's eyes shine in awe. She sat her back down on the hospital bed and took out her phone. "Yeah! And I'm taking a leave from school right now so I can go too. It'll be like a date!" Mirio beamed the sun. "Be serious senpai," she nudged his shoulder with her elbow since she was standing up. "Date?" 'Uh oh.'
"When a couple goes out and has fun!"
"A couple? What kind of fun?"
"Senpai...please stop."
"Look! Another one!"
"The guy's put up another upload!"
"We still haven't found a single lead, woof," Tsuragame sighed. "Quickly! Try to pinpoint the location he uploaded from, woof!" He barked an order. "But he always bounces the signal around to throw us off his scent!" One of the cops retaliated. "Enough! Just try!" The video played. "My dear viewers, I hope this video finds you well. Today I will dabble in a bit of armed robbery!" There was a hand holding a sharp knife and a cashier holding up his hands up in surrender, obviously frightened and nervous. "I...recognize you. Your videos have been going viral on that site," the cashier spoke.
"Terribly sorry but I don't have the time to enjoy a chat with you, sir. Ten 1,000 yen bills will do nicely. I'll be needing a bit a of cash before the heroes arrive! Make it quick!" The person holding the knife ordered. "Yes, just like that. Fold them in half and-" The store's door bell jangled, there were two heroes that appeared. "Put your weapon down!" They were ready to attack. "Yikes! Heroes here already? You gonna be okay, Gentle?!" A high pitched voice expressed their worries through a communication device. "Ha ha ha! Calm yourself, La Brava. A mere pair of heroes should give me a little trouble."
"Throw your weapon down!" Three more heroes appeared, making up to five heroes ready to attack in total. The grey haired man had his smile freeze on his face, the video had subtitles that said his thoughts for him. "That's quite a few of them," it read. "La Brava, if you would." "Roger that, Gentle!" The camera finally showed the full face of a man, his eyes were a soft rectangular shape with dark makeup around them. He had a mustache and eyebrows that match the silver color of his hair. "And that's a wrap!" He concluded. The video cut to a scene of the man walking out in front of the store with the defeated heroes and a mess behind him.
"Time for my exit La Brava!"
"Wait a sec Gentle! You forgot the money!" The feminine voice pointed out the briefcase far away from him and on the ground, completely discarded. "Nonsense, La Brava. I'm being paid in exposure. Money itself is hardly a worthy goal. To leave one's name in the annals of history...Yes...That is what I seek!" He announced. "Looking right into the camera! Gentle's the coolest!" The subtitles said once more. "Is this a joke to him..? Or is he serious...? Woof." Tsuragame rose an eyebrow. "We're not getting a ton of views, Gentle! Even though you were such a superstar today!"
"What's up with that?!" There was a woman (or a child??) looking at her phone from afar. She had pigtails and a tuft of hair sticking out from the front of her hair and onto her forehead, not necessarily bangs as well. She was awfully short and wearing the same oversized striped pants as Gentle, she was La Brava. "You probably need to go for a bigger spectacle! The value of any spectacle is in its impact. It's a question for this current age, La Brava." Gentle, the silver haired man poured tea in his tea cup. They were standing way up high on a tall building, so it was windy of course.
The man was trying to pour the tea from up high but it ended up with it going along with the wind and splashing the short woman. "That is the answer I seek, La Brava! What sort of spectacle can elevate me towards greatness?!"
-kiyo (3281 words)
Relatively short chapter! This one is mostly a filler chap :))!