"Look, look! Look at me!
Breaking, breaking! Breaking, breaking!"
Mina grinned as she danced quite as much as a professional while Hanta and Toru cheered her on. Kimitsuki smiled, standing nearby at the back of the classroom with Izuku, Ochaco, Hanta, Momo, Kyoka, Toru, Yuga, Mashirao, Denki and Minoru.
"Dancing is her hobby, huh?" Yuga commented as Mina spun on her back, revealing her shorts beneath her skirt and Kimitsuki was intrigued as well.
"If you're gonna wear something under, then take off your skirt!" Minoru screeched until he felt an ominous gaze upon him, and he slowly turned to see Kimitsuki's eyes glinting dangerously.
"Mineta-Kun, you can't talk like that!" Toru scolded him, beating him over the head from his blind spot. Kimitsuki did not scold her for using 'violence' at all.
"Ashido-San must be able to fight well because of her dancing," Izuku said as he noted it down. "It's like she uses her whole body in all her movements,"
"That is true," Kimitsuki agreed as she smiled at him lightly. "Everyone has something that they show in their fighting style, don't they? You always call me a cat,"
"Yes!" Izuku said and the two of them laughed amongst each other until they saw Yuga walk over to where they were standing, looking rather traumatised.
"During our first combat training, I'll never forget how she burned through my cape," Yuga told them. "And the finals at the sports festival... I'll never forget that, either,"
"Maybe I'll try it, too," Izuku spoke up. "I'm not as elegant as Tsuki-Chan..."
"Why don't you get her to teach you?" Denki suggested.
"Okay, boy, let's dance!" Mina cheered.
"Oh, um, please teach me!" Izuku exclaimed.
"May I learn as well?" Kimitsuki inquired and Mina nodded excitedly.
"Of course, Kimitsuki-Chan!" Mina replied, now pumped up.
"First, the two-step," Mina instructed them, showing them the moves one by one. "Step forward and back, left and right, and swing both arms..."
While Izuku and Yuga were both at a loss as they tried to imitate the female's dance moves and ended up only spazzing around, Kimitsuki managed to copy the girl very well. Mina cheered up, excited to see the white-haired girl let loose a little bit more.
"Tsuki-Chan, did you use your eyes?" Izuku whined. "You can learn things so quickly!"
"Maybe..." Kimitsuki replied, rubbing the back of her head.
"Kuroyanagi-Chan's just impressive," Hanta said, clapping as he looked at her.
"Sato's baking is similar, too," Denki said. "It's nice to be able to apply your hobbies to Hero work. Makes you strong! Speaking of hobbies, you have an amazing one, too, right, Jiro?"
"Hey, stop with that," Kyoka said to him, her cheeks turning pink at the sudden attention.
"You know, your room at the dorm," Denki continued onward anyhow, oblivious to her blushing. "It was like a music store in there! That went past just a hobby!"
"I said, stop!" Kyoka responded. "Can you just forget about my room?"
"Man, but that was a pro's room!" Denki said. "Honestly, it was co –" He was interrupted when Kyoka's earphone came to a quivering stop just inches from his face.
"Seriously," Kyoka said and walked off from there, heading back to her desk and sitting down.
Surprised by this rather unexpected reaction, Kimitsuki frowned as she shared a look with Momo, who was equally taken aback. Denki just stood there in shock. Knowing that she needed to take the attention away from Kyoka when she was overwhelmed, Kimitsuki looked up.
"Everyone, it is time to settle down," Kimitsuki spoke up, looking at everyone. "Sensei will be here any moment and I want you all to be at your best behaviour today,"
Everyone scrabbled to their seats as Kimitsuki walked over to her desk, sitting down between Izuku and Katsuki, and just seconds later, the door opened to reveal their homeroom teacher.
"Morning," Aizawa greeted them as he walked over to the teacher's desk. Kimitsuki looked at his state curiously. "Um..." He looked at them wearily. "We're going to have a school festival,"
"Schooent!"
Their sleeping bag-clad homeroom teacher looked strained at Yuga, Mina, Ochaco, Denki, Koji, Rikido, Hanta, Toru and Minoru as they all jumped out of their seats, cheering loudly. It took Kimitsuki a moment to realise that 'Schooent' meant 'Super normal school event'.
"School festival!" Minoru cheered.
"It's a super normal school event!" Hanta agreed, fist-pumping the air.
"Let's decide what we're gonna do!" Toru exclaimed, excitedly as she twirled around in her place.
"Aizawa Sensei, is this really okay?" Eijirou asked as he stood up, concerned and Kimitsuki knew that he was voicing what she was feeling. "To be so carefree in these times?"
"Kirishima..." Denki whisper-shouted from behind. "You've changed,"
"But it's true," Eijirou insisted. "Villains are flourishing right now!"
"You're right," Aizawa spoke up. "That's a very reasonable opinion. However, U. A. isn't just about the Hero course. If the sports festival is the big moment for the Hero course, the school festival is for the others – the support course, general studies, and business course students – to shine.
"It doesn't get as much attention as the sports festival, but for them, it's an event they look forward to. And there are those who are feeling stressed by the current conditions, which, starting with the dorm system, came about because of the Hero course,"
"Thinking about it that way, there's no excuse for not holding it," Eijirou said as he sat back down.
"Yeah," Aizawa said. "That's why we can't just say we won't have it. Unlike past years, this year, other than some of the people involved, the festival will be just for the school. Even if we aren't the focus, each class still needs to participate with something. You need to decide that today..."
"... Sensei fell asleep," Kimitsuki breathed as she watched their homeroom teacher leaned against the wall and went to a sleep in his sleeping bag. "Then, let us decide something,"
"I, Iida Tenya, Class 1-A representative, will take things from here!" Tenya announced as he walked to the teacher's desk. "Along with Class 1-A Vice representative, Kuroyanagi Kimitsuki, I'll do my best to help things go smoothly! Come on, Kuroyanagi-Kun!"
Katsuki tsked at the Engine Hero at how casually he just called Kimitsuki but the white-haired girl smiled, getting up from her desk and walking forward with a sway of her long ponytail.
"We shall start with some ideas for what we can do together as a class," Kimitsuki spoke up, looking at her classmates, smiling. "If you want to suggest something, please raise your hand,"
"Me, me, me, me!"
"Their attitudes changed so fast!" Tenya exclaimed as shouts filled the air. "I will definitely consolidate everyone's ideas!" He quickly pointed one of them out. "Okay, Kaminari-Kun!"
"Let's do a maid café!" Denki said. "This is what I imagine!" He visualised his female classmates in maid outfits. "This is what I imagine, with more details!" He added more details. "If I add my own desires, it's like this!" He imagined them feeding him desserts. "So, let's do a maid café!"
"Maids..." Tenya said, looking curious. "So, we'd be serving others! That's not bad!" He looked toward his partner. "What do you think, Vice Representative Kuroyanagi-Kun?"
"Maid café?" Kimitsuki repeated thoughtfully, feeling like this was just a tactic of those boys to make the girls their centre piece. "We shall have a discussion about it. Any more suggestions?"
"That's too tame, Kaminari!" Minoru screamed when he realised that Kimitsuki was somehow humouring them with these wicked thoughts when she was just being fair.
"Mineta-Kun!" Tenya exclaimed.
"A boo –" Minoru started but a flash of Kimitsuki's eyes silenced him and Tsuyu tied him up, hanging him upside down, all of the girls bothered by him.
"Do you have a weight?" Tsuyu asked Rikido, who nodded slowly.
"Anyone else?" Kimitsuki asked the class at large, overlooking what was going on with Minoru. She noticed Ochaco raise her hand. "Yes, Uraraka-Chan?"
"A mochi shop!" Ochaco suggested.
"Traditional Japanese sweets..." Kimitsuki trailed off. "That would be wonderful," She noted it down so that it could show up on the screen behind them. "Kirishima-Kun?"
"An arm-wrestling tournament!" Eijirou exclaimed eagerly.
"Good idea, Kirishima-Kun," Kimitsuki replied, smiling as she noted it as well. "It would showcase good sportsmanship from the Hero Course... next, Hagakure-Chan?"
"A fun house!" Toru cheered up, raising her arm into the air.
"I don't know what that is, but I'm sure it's interesting!" Tenya said as he watched Kimitsuki write it down without any objections to it. "Sato-Kun?"
"A crepe shop!" Rikido replied.
"I would love that," Kimitsuki agreed.
"It's great for eating on the go!" Tenya responded, nodding. "Ashido-Kun?"
"A dance!" Mina suggested immediately.
"Wonderful," Kimitsuki said, smiling at the pink-haired girl as well. "It would really liven everything up," She looked toward Izuku. "Yes, Izu-Chan?"
"A Hero quiz?" Izuku asked, a bit uncertain.
"Izu-Chan will ace it," Kimitsuki said as she perked up at the idea. "We can assign prizes," She looked toward Tsuyu when she raised her hand. "Yes, Tsu-Chan?"
"Let's sing 'Frog Song' in a round," Tsuyu replied and Kimitsuki noted it down.
"How charming!" Tenya agreed. "Koda-Kun?"
"A petting zoo," Koji said quietly.
"A petting zoo!" Tenya said loudly. "Todoroki-Kun?!"
"Hand-made soba," Shoto suggested calmly but looking curiously as Kimitsuki noted it down.
"Next... Ka-Chan?" Kimitsuki asked as she looked toward the ash-blond with intrigue, tucking her hair behind her ear. "What is your suggestion?"
"A death match!" Katsuki responded immediately and Kimitsuki leaned back a little.
"... okay, Ka-Chan," Kimitsuki mumbled as she shook her head yet still noted it down. "Next up, we have... yes, Tokoyami-Kun? What is your suggestion?"
"A feast of the students of darkness," Fumikage suggested.
"Oh-ho!" Tenya replied. "Aoyama-Kun?"
"My twinkling show!" Yuga cheered.
"Huh?!" Tenya said, confused. "Jiro-Kun?"
"A skit or something?" Kyoka suggested.
"We can make a comedic skit or something more meaningful," Kimitsuki agreed as she noted it. "Students may like to sit down a little to relax and laugh. Next, Iida-Kun and Yaoyorozu-Chan?"
"I was thinking about a local history presentation," Tenya spoke up. "Yaoyorozu-Kun?"
"Um..." Momo said as she stood up. "How about... study session?"
"Study session..." Kimitsuki repeated thoughtful. "We can give advice to others, that is true..."
"What about you, Kuroyanagi-Chan?" Hanta inquired.
"I would like to do anything that involves performance," Kimitsuki replied. "Maybe something to do with art? Origami or woodblock printing? Shuji?" She blushed lightly. "Now, if there are any further suggestions that you missed out on, let me know so I can write it down,"
"An Asian café!"
"A dance performance!"
"A takoyaki shop!"
It took some time but they had a lot of suggestions and Kimitsuki stepped back to look at the screen as it showed all the suggestions: Maid Café, Arm-Wrestling Tournament, Fun House, Mochi, Students of Darkness Feast, Dance, Boo(?) (x), Skit, Local History Presentation, Death Match, Petting Zoo, Takoyaki, Asian Café, Dance Performance, Study Session, Hero Quiz, Hand-Made Soba, My Twinkling Show, Frog Song, Crepes, Art Showcase.
"I think we've got something from everyone now?" Tenya asked as he, too, took a look at the suggestions and Kimitsuki nodded in confirmation.
"Everyone is there," Kimitsuki replied. "Now..." She looked down at the tablet in her hand. "I shall eliminate those that may be confusing, inappropriate or difficult to conduct with large crowds,"
Browsing through them, Kimitsuki crossed out – Students of Darkness Feast, Boo(?), Death Match, My Twinkling Show – causing those who had suggested them to be struck through their chest. She gave them an apologetic look as she looked down
"Merciless!" Fumikage said as Yuga and Minoru gasped.
"Why did you ask us in the first place?" Katsuki demanded, looking rather sour at being cut out.
"Because I value everyone's opinion, including yours," Kimitsuki replied fairly and Katsuki opened his mouth but had nothing to say. "Now, let me see if there is anything more..."
"Kuroyanagi-Chan can be surprisingly ruthless," Hanta commented, and he did not look displeased at the idea even the slightest. Kimitsuki blushed.
"It's nothing like that, Sero-Kun," Kimitsuki said.
"The local history presentation seems kinda boring," Toru said as she raised her hand, causing Tenya to twitch slightly, clearly not wanting to let go of his suggestion.
"That's true,"
"It's fine, but the others seem more fun,"
"I cannot go against the consensus!" Tenya said and Kimitsuki glanced at him in worry as she cut off the local history presentation from the board and looked up for what else they wanted gone.
"We do study sessions all the time,"
"I thought maybe it would be of help..." Momo said uncertainly at her suggestion. Kimitsuki gave her an apologetic look as she cut it off, hoping it wouldn't have an impact on her self-confidence.
"Can't we combine all the food suggestions into one?" Hanta asked as he looked at the series of food-related stuff the class had given out as their suggestions.
"Don't you think crepes and soba would clash?" Eijirou asked.
"You can't have crepes at an Oriental place," Kyoka pointed out as she turned around in her seat to look at the two of them and Kimitsuki nodded in agreement.
"Quiet down!" Tenya called out.
"We should do a fun house!" Toru insisted.
"What does that mean?" Hanta asked, confused.
"Quiet! Quiet!" Tenya shouted, trying to make them all stop chatting among themselves and actually discuss what they wanted to do for the festival together.
"We took so much time and still haven't reached a consensus," Kimitsuki mumbled, biting the inside of her cheek a little worriedly. "We need to think of something that matches the occasion... just something that will give students healing and help them de-stress,"
The bell indicating the end of homeroom rang and Kimitsuki hung her head, sighing.
"That was a very illogical meeting," Aizawa said as he walked off to leave the room. Kimitsuki felt embarrassed at failing to find something to tell him by the end of the class. "Decide what you'll do by tomorrow morning. If you don't... I'll make it a public lecture,"
"Public lecture!"
"That's just studying!"
"He's joking, right?"
"Everyone, let's decide what we'll do by tonight!"
"Yeah!"
🤍
The Following Day:
Kimitsuki, Izuku and Mirio followed Aizawa as a doctor and nurse led them down the corridor. Eri had personally invited the three of them to come visit her with Aizawa. It was something that really brightened Kimitsuki's day, hoping to see Eri feeling better – there must certainly be a lot of things that she would like to say, right? Kimitsuki wanted to hear them all.
On the other hand, Class 1-A had finally come down to a consensus for the upcoming school festival by deciding that they would be having a dance performance, which Mina would be teaching them all, and that Kyoka would be providing them all with the music.
It was something that Kimitsuki found rather exciting as both music and dance were a type of performance of art. That would cheer people up, and involve the entire class within it.
For Kimitsuki and Izuku, they had been – with Ochaco, Eijirou and Tsuyu – attending the supplementary lessons with Aizawa as their teacher when the Pro-Hero told them that Eri had asked for them all to come visit her, something that cheered up both the childhood friends.
And like Aizawa had informed Kimitsuki earlier, he told Izuku and Mirio not to mention anything about Sir Nighteye's death to Eri as she had been blaming everything on herself out of guilt.
"Eri-Chan!"
"Sorry I couldn't come see you sooner," Izuku said as he, Kimitsuki and Mirio walked into the young girl's hospital room gently as to not scare her. Eri turned to look at the three of them with intrigue.
"Here's a fruit basket!" Mirio said, holding it up. "Eat some if you'd like! Is there a fruit you like? Can I try guessing? It's peaches, right? 'Cause you're like a peach!" He passed Eri the basket.
"Apples..." Eri replied quietly.
"That's what I thought!" Mirio said and Kimitsuki smiled at the young girl. "Then, let's peel it! Since it's an apple!" He, Kimitsuki and Izuku sat down next to her hospital bed.
"I'll do it for you," Kimitsuki offered gently as she took the apple and picked up the plate and knife, peeling off the skin and cutting it into smaller pieces for the girl. "How have you been, Eri-Chan?"
"This whole time, even when I had a fever, I was thinking..." Eri whispered. "... about when you rescued me," She looked at Izuku. "But I didn't know your name," She looked at Kimitsuki and Mirio. "I only knew Tsuki-Chan-San and Lemillion-San. I wanted to know your name,"
"I'm Midoriya Izuku," Izuku answered. "My hero name is Deku! Um, maybe since Deku is shorter, it's easier to remember..."
"Deku-San," Eri said.
"I'm Deku!" Izuku confirmed.
"Hero name?" Eri asked.
"It's like a nickname," Izuku informed her gently.
"Deku-San," Eri repeated.
"That's right!" Izuku cheered.
"Tsuki-Chan-San, Lemillion-San and Deku-San," Eri said as she looked at them.
"My name is Kuroyanagi Kimitsuki," Kimitsuki greeted the girl properly, bowing her head. "My Hero name is Nightshade but you can call me Tsuki-Chan, too, if you'd like,"
"Tsuki... Chan," Eri said and Kimitsuki gave her a gentle smile. "And... that man wearing glasses... all of you... were injured badly because of me. Because of me, you all suffered... I'm sorry... it... it was my fault that you lost your power, Lemillion-San..."
"Eri-Chan," Mirio said as he placed a hand onto the crying girl's head. "No one thought they were suffering. This is what we all think: 'I'm glad Eri-Chan is okay!' There's no point in apologising to someone who doesn't exist. Don't worry about it. Everyone fought because they wanted to see your smile!"
Mirio sat back down, and he, Kimitsuki and Izuku stared at the white-haired girl as she tried to pull at her cheeks, clearly unable to replicate the smiles that had been present on the faces of the three of them. Kimitsuki looked at her worriedly, feeling sad for the girl.
"I'm sorry..." Eri apologised. "How do you smile again...?"
"Eri-Chan..." Kimitsuki spoke up softly. "It's okay..."
Before she realised it, the image of how much she reminded her of her brother, Kimitsuki moved forward to sit down on the bed next to Eri. And the young girl instinctually hid her face into her shoulder, and moments later, water seeped into Kimitsuki's mauve hoodie. Izuku frowned as he looked toward the crying girl as Kimitsuki rubbed her back to comfort her.
"Aizawa Sensei!" Izuku spoke up suddenly as he got up to face his homeroom teacher. Kimitsuki looked toward him in surprise. "Could Eri-Chan leave the hospital for just one day?"
"It's not impossible," Aizawa replied. "But anyway, she's going to be –"
"Then, can Eri-Chan come, too?" Izuku asked, and it took both Kimitsuki and Aizawa a moment before they realised what the green-haired boy was talking about.
"... the school festival..." Kimitsuki whispered. "That is correct – Izu-Chan, that is a wonderful idea," She looked at Aizawa. "Sensei, can Eri-Chan come to the school festival?"
"School festival?" Eri asked as her eyes peeked out from behind Kimitsuki's shoulder, and Mirio turned around rapidly toward them, causing the two girls' hair fly back slightly from the force.
"Eri-Chan, this is a great idea!" Mirio said with a grin. "A school festival is a festival that takes place at our school! The people at school plan things for everyone at school to have fun, and they sell food – even apples!"
"Candy apples, Eri-Chan, would you like to try them out?" Kimitsuki asked as she looked at Eri with bright eyes. "They are the best part of any festival,"
"Candy apples...?" repeated Eri.
"Yes, Eri-Chan, they're so wonderful," Kimitsuki told her excitedly. "The candy makes an apple even sweeter!" She clasped her hands together. "There are so many types of them, too!"
Eri's red eyes grew large with every detail that Kimitsuki added, and before long, both of them had a similar excited glow within their eyes as they looked at each other. Izuku and Mirio, on the other hand, both chuckled at how delighted the two girls were.
"Even sweeter..." Eri whispered, her cheeks turning as red as her eyes on the thought of sweets.
"Right?" Kimitsuki asked, gently taking the girl's hands into her larger ones. "I will fetch you the sweetest one, just like you, Eri-Chan, would you like that?"
"... yes..." Eri replied as she looked up at the similarly white-haired girl in front of her.
"All right," Aizawa agreed with the three students, pulling out his phone from his pocket, convinced that the three of them would be able to take care of Eri with him. "I'll talk it over with the principal,"
"In that case..." Izuku said as he turned to look at the white-haired girl, who was still sitting curled up and much more comfortable in Kimitsuki's arms. "Eri-Chan, what do you think?"
"I... thought..." Eri said quietly. "... about the people who saved me... when I was saved... I thought about how I wanted to know more about everyone,"
"I'll tell you more than you want to know!" Mirio told her before looking at his two juniors. "Let's work on the principal, too, to get him to say 'yes'!"
"Okay!" agreed Kimitsuki and Izuku in unison.
"I'm on a break from school right now, so I can stay with you the whole time on our date!" Mirio said to Eri, causing her, Kimitsuki and Izuku all to give him confused looks.
"Date?" Eri asked.
"An outing taken by a man and a woman who are intimate!" Mirio informed her.
"An outing taken by a man and a woman..." Eri trailed off, much more confused by this, causing Kimitsuki and Izuku to sweat-drop.
"Togata Senpai, what are you saying...?" Izuku asked uncertainly.
"Senpai went with the dictionary definition, hm?" Kimitsuki said, blushing before looking at Eri. "But that would wonderful, right? We will get to spend the day together, Eri-Chan, I'm awaiting it,"
🤍
After their evening supplementary classes with Aizawa, Kimitsuki joined Izuku, Ochaco, Eijirou and Tsuyu back to the Class 1-A Dormitory building that evening. Kimitsuki was looking forward to hearing more about what their class had decided upon with their performance with the festival. It was tiring day but Kimitsuki felt rather excited to learn more.
There was no need to ring the bell or use the key to unlock the front door as they had arrived home before curfew and the five students made their way into their dormitory building. Kimitsuki closed the door behind them and changed her shoes in the Genkan.
"Hey," Eijirou greeted and Kimitsuki looked up to find that everyone else was still standing in the common area, seemingly discussing about the upcoming festival.
"Sorry we're late!" Izuku apologised as the five of them tried to put out all signs of exhaustion.
"We've finally made up all our classes," Ochaco told them. "We can help out for real now!"
"Ribbit," Tsuyu added.
"While we were away," Kimitsuki said as she looked at them expectedly. "What have you all decided so far? I'm sure it is everything wonderful! I'm so excited,"
"Kuroyanagi-Chan's pumped up!" Hanta commented, chuckling.
Kyoka moved forward and informed the five of them how they had decided on a dance performance with live concert in the back. Kimitsuki was impressed as Kyoka informed them that Momo had offered to be the pianist (as she had received piano lessons as a child) while Kyoka herself decided to be the bass player. Katsuki was the drummer but the guitarists and vocals were still missing.
"We've decided on new-rave type club rock for the music, huh?" Tsuyu asked when Kyoka finished explaining everything to them. Kimitsuki was looking forward to it.
"I understand Jiro on bass and Yaoyorozu on keyboards..." Eijirou started.
"But Bakugo on drums is kind of..." Ochaco continued. "How do I put it...?"
"Unexpected!" Toru finished.
"You got a problem with that?!" Katsuki demanded as he looked at Ochaco, Eijirou and Toru.
"Ka-Chan's really good with drums," Kimitsuki pitched in. "He also learns new songs very quickly – do you remember the time we got to perform together for middle school, Ka-Chan?"
Katsuki felt his skin burn the same red as his eyes when the ivory-haired girl turned her head toward him, a wide and excited smile on her pink lips. He stared at that face for a moment too long and quickly averted his eyes when he realised everyone was here.
"There were other people, too," Katsuki muttered, stuffing his hands into his pockets and letting out a gruff sound to warn others against questioning him.
"It must be easy for you to learn instruments just by looking, too, right?" Eijirou asked as he looked at the tall female. Kimitsuki nodded. "Then, if we miss out on any instrument, you can learn it!"
"Yes, I can definitely do that if you would like," Kimitsuki said, looking at Kyoka. "I just have to watch you perform... or someone else, and I will learn it precisely with my Quirk. I just need practice,"
"Then, who will sing the all-important vocals?" Tsuyu questioned.
"Well, we haven't decided yet..." Kyoka replied, rubbing the back of her head. "Actually..." He looked toward Kimitsuki. "I wanted to see you sing as the lead..."
"Me?" Kimitsuki asked, taken aback by the request. "But Jiro-Chan... you are much better at singing than myself – wouldn't it be better that you are the one singing?"
"I can do the backup vocals," Kyoka replied. "But I wanted you to do the lead," She rubbed the back of her head slightly. "Actually, I have heard you sing sometimes, while you were showering..."
Kimitsuki's cheeks were starting to colour red in embarrassment and Kyoka was equally mortified at what she had just admitted out-loud just so she could convince the girl to sing for them. Izuku was blushing, too, while Katsuki was glaring at Kyoka for some reason.
"If it's vocals you want, I can do it!" Minoru interrupted with a shout that made Kimitsuki and Kyoka jump. "It'll make me popular!" He seemed to not have heard the shower comment in his greed.
"I can be a disco ball and sing!" Yuga interjected, offering himself up.
"Yeah!" Eijirou exclaimed, excited just as much. "I can't play any instruments, but I'm a pretty good singer!" He began to sing, "Man of the ship You, go get that~!"
"Isn't that a different genre?" Ochaco asked sheepishly, but she was quickly interrupted by the screams Minoru was letting out in the name of singing.
"He's just yelling, isn't he?" Toru asked and Kimitsuki nodded slowly, closing her eyes as if they were being pained, before they were distracted by Yuga attempting to sing as well.
"Falsetto?" Kimitsuki inquired, confused.
"I'm with Kyoka-Chan," Toru said as she turned around to look at Kimitsuki. "I think it should be you, Kimitsuki-Chan! We have all heard you sing in the locker room!"
"Hagakure-Chan!" Kimitsuki said, trying to hide her face behind her hands but Toru interrupted her by moving the microphone to the white-haired girl.
"You're just gonna disregard the shouts of our souls?" Minoru demanded, annoyed at them. "Just how good is she, huh? Huh?"
"I wanna hear your singing, Kuroyanagi-Chan!" Eijirou agreed. "Sing something for us!"
"Me too, me too!" Hanta pitched in.
Kimitsuki felt overwhelmed by the expectations that were set upon her but she could not find the words to get them to divert the singing to someone else. She opened her mouth to refuse but her eyes met with Katsuki's, who had moved to the front, pushing Hanta, Eijirou and Minoru aside.
"Just sing," Katsuki told her toughly and Kimitsuki stared at him all fired up at this prospect. "You know you can sing – and you can kill the entire school with your singing!"
"... is that supposed to be a compliment...?" Kimitsuki asked, trying to soothe out her nerves by making the awkward joke. Katsuki narrowed his eyes.
"You know what I meant!" Katsuki replied. "Kill them by showing them how good you are!"
It was the most unexpected to find Katsuki urging her to do this in front of everyone when he also hated such public displays. Kimitsuki felt like a coward in comparison to that so she took a deep breath and brought the microphone up to her lips as she focused on nothing.
"My ears are so happy!"
"What a soft, sexy voice!"
"Right? Right?"
Almost as soon as the microphone had moved down, Kimitsuki looked away, feeling her cheeks as red as apples as she tried not to meet eyes with anyone. She could collapse right now and just hope someone catches her. She bit the inside of her cheek.
"All right!" Tenya exclaimed as everyone began to agree and Kimitsuki only felt more embarrassed even though they were all excited about it. "It's unanimous, then!"
"I hope to do well for everyone," Kimitsuki said as she bowed deeply, far past her ninety-degree bow. "I will not disappointment anyone with my singing,"
"You were so good, Tsuki-Chan!" Izuku cheered.
Katsuki stared at Kimitsuki from the back, unable to understand why she was being so insecure about her singing when she had always been okay with doing it. He pursed his lips – he was sure that it would get her back into singing if none of these idiots messed it up for her.
"You won't," Kyoka assured her. "So, we still need guitars! I want two!"
"Yay!" Denki cheered. "I wanna do it! It's so cool to be able to play an instrument!"
"Let me do it!" Minoru shouted.
"I feel like I'd cut the strings," Eijirou muttered, referring to his Quirk.
"It's not 'I wanna do it'!" Katsuki exploded at them. "Are you gonna kill it?"
"Yeah, yeah, I totally will!" Denki shouted as he was handed over a guitar, and he ran his fingers all the strings. "The guitar is the star of the band!"
"Because of my character design, my hands won't reach!" Minoru let out a cry when his arms turned out to be too short to properly handle a guitar.
"How about you, Tokoyami-Kun?" Kimitsuki said, picking up the guitar that Minoru had dropped and holding it out to Fumikage, who had been quietly observing all this while.
"I want to dance!" Rikido said.
"Me, too!" Mashirao agreed. "I can move pretty well with my tail,"
"I want to work on effects with my Tape!" Hanta said, and the three of them and others were quickly distracted when Fumikage began to play the guitar rather well.
"What a heartrending sound!" Eijirou exclaimed.
"You can play?" Mezo asked. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I quit once at the F chord," Fumikage replied quietly.
"The F chord is really difficult," Kimitsuki agreed. "Right?"
"Yes..." Fumikage replied. He turned to look at Minoru, who was sitting in a dark corner. "Mineta, if you are giving up on the guitar, then I will strum for you, as well,"
"Do what you want, damn it," Minoru retorted. "This is stupid. Stupid. Let's get this stupid festival over with. I hope you all break a nail!"
"Mineta!" Mina said. "If I make a harem part for you in the dance, will you do it?"
"I will," Minoru replied at once. "The school festival can't come any sooner!"
"Kimitsuki-Chan, you will have to learn some moves, too," Mina said as she turned to look at the tall girl. "Since you're going to be our lead vocalist and frontwoman! You need to show it off!"
"... I will try my best," Kimitsuki replied.
It took the whole of Class 1-A up until 1 AM to decide everything that they were going to do. There were three teams; the band team, the effects team, and the dance team.
Firstly, the band team consisted of – Kimitsuki, Katsuki, Kyoka, Momo, Denki and Fumikage.
Secondly, the effects team consisted of – Shoto, Eijirou, Yuga, Hanta and Koji.
Thirdly, the dance team consisted of – Izuku, Ochaco, Tenya, Mina, Tsuyu, Toru, Mashirao, Rikido, Mezo and Minoru.
Surprisingly, Kimitsuki had something to do with everything. She needed to perform well as the lead vocalist, and she needed to do well with dancing and she needed to help out with costumes for everyone. It wasn't on-stage but they needed to look good as well.
"All right!" Tenya exclaimed once they had finished with the initial practise and preparation. "Everyone's roles have been decided! The band team... the effects team... the dance team... everyone, we'll be busy starting tomorrow!"
"Yeah!"
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The Following Day – Lounge:
"I hear Class A's doing something like a dance hall concert for the school festival?" spoke All Might as he took a sip of his tea, looking in front of him at Kimitsuki, who was nibbling on some Daifuku, and Izuku, who was also having some tea. "It sounds fun,"
"Yes," Izuku replied, lowering his cup of tea to answer the former Number One Hero. "It looks like we'll be busy. That's one of the things I'm looking forward to, too,"
"I think you will be pleasantly surprised, All Might," Kimitsuki said as she finished with her Daifuku. "But we cannot spoil it for you," She reached for her cup of tea.
"So, what did you want to talk about at a time like this?" All Might asked, setting his cup down and looking at them closely. "I feel like it's been a while since we've talked like this, just the three of us,"
"At the work study..." Izuku spoke up. "I was able to force out 20% with my own strength... it took a toll on my body, and I could only use it for a short time, but even then, I couldn't win. Far from it. If Eri-Chan hadn't been there, I wouldn't have been able to move, and I would've been defeated.
"I couldn't do anything in response to the long-distance attacks. I had to rely on Tsuki-Chan for that, even though she was already working on the support... I tried thinking about it, but I don't know how I should fight in my current state, unable to use 100% of my strength,"
"You're at a dead end, huh?" All Might commented as the green-haired boy lowered his head.
"Yes," Izuku said as he raised his head.
"There's only one thing I can say..." All Might said. "You should also make long-distance attacks,"
"I wish I could draw out the power to change the weather like you, All Might...!" Izuku responded.
"I've also been looking back and thinking about various things," All Might told him. "For your sake. Let's go outside, I'll wait for you, so go change into your gym clothes,"
School Grounds Forested Area:
While Izuku went to do as All Might had instructed him, Kimitsuki joined the former Pro-Hero as they headed toward the forested school grounds together. She was initially quiet but looked over toward All Might as she tried to string her words together about what she wanted to know.
"All Might, I'm sorry if this comes out of nowhere," Kimitsuki said. "But I wanted to know if there is anything else you found out? About my past? About Kurogiri... and Shigaraki Tomura...?"
"It is perfectly okay for you to ask," All Might replied. "You know... you remind me of Saseki-Kun... you keep your cool while Young Midoriya is impulsive with his emotions like myself,"
"... I understand," Kimitsuki said carefully, knowing that many people had started to relate her to Sir Nighteye – All Might and Mirio, for two. "I realise we need to keep knowledge of everything..."
"I don't have much to say," All Might said. "And I haven't gotten in contact with Gran Torino in a while. I'm sure he and Tsukauchi-Kun are busy doing as much as they can,"
"Do you have any idea... what Shigaraki wants from me?" Kimitsuki inquired.
"His infatuation... no, obsession with you left me baffled, too," All Might admitted. "It worries me a lot... but I believe it has something to do with All for One. I'm not sure, but there is a chance that Shigaraki recognised you by name, if not face, and ever since that day..."
"... at the USJ," Kimitsuki mumbled. "He... I can't take it, him and his people continuously hurting my friends and myself... I don't want it... I wish I could make him stop with that..."
"I feel sorry that I can't protect you," All Might confessed and Kimitsuki looked at him in surprise. "But from the nature of his actions, according to criminal psychologists... he wouldn't stop until he gets what he wants or is put behind bars,"
"All Might..." Kimitsuki breathed, starting to feel cold and numb in her chest as she realised that she might never get Shigaraki off of her back.
"But everyone is working hard to get him captured," All Might assured her. "I didn't tell you this to frighten you, only warn you. I know you are emotionally strong,"
"All Might!" Izuku shouted. "Tsuki-Chan!" Kimitsuki turned around and noticed that the green-haired boy, now changed in his P.E clothing, jogging over to them. "What do I have to do?"
All Might turned to look at the boy as well.
"You want me to use 20% here?" Izuku was asking.
"Yeah!" All Might replied. "Let's Full Cowling!"
"But..." Izuku trailed off. "... like I was saying earlier, when I'm at 20%, my body starts to creak and I end up not being able to move... that's why I'm working hard to build strength right now..."
"Forget that!" All Might intercepted. "Just go into Full Cowling!"
"Y-Yes, sir!" Izuku replied as he gathered up his abilities to use his move. "One for All, Full Cowling... 20%!"
"Send out one attack after another in that state in that spot," All Might said.
Kimitsuki and All Might watched as Izuku used the move, causing a great bit of wind pressure as he himself flew into the air, while those below remained on the ground, their hair swaying in the wind. Izuku landed back onto the ground and Kimitsuki pushed her bangs away.
"I was going to teach you this once you passed an allowable limit of 15%," All Might said. "If you didn't figure this out in that last fight, either you must have been fighting a very defensive match, or you can already send out the pressured winds without breaking your body!"
"But... either way, my body..." Izuku said as he struggled to move.
"Izu-Chan..." Kimitsuki whispered worriedly, having observed him with her Quirk.
"Let's take a look at the stages your body has gone through," All Might said. "One, use One for All at 100% on one part of your body. Two, control the percentage you use on one part of your body. Three, control the percentage you use on your whole body continuously.
"Four, use Shoot Style, which uses your legs rather than your weaker arms. Five, raise your control from 5% to 8%. Six, currently, if you force yourself, you can draw out up to 20% for a short time. And now, the essence of today's lesson – Actually, I..."
"... am not continuously putting out 100% of your power..." Izuku asked. "Right? If All Might was always at 100% for his every move, then he would leave shock waves and disaster around him. That's it, right? It must be!
"Since I can't hold 20% for very long ...just at the moment of impact, I take number two, controlling the percentage on one body part and number six, drawing out 20% for a short time by forcing it... and put them together!"
"It's easy to say, but you need to draw out power right at your limit in an instant," All Might said. "You'll need even more delicate control than you've had until now. And now, I have a question for you, Young Midoriya – What part of the human body can you move with the most precision?"
Izuku looked at his fingers.
"That's right," All Might said. "You should practice control with those fingers,"
With her Quirk activated, Kimitsuki watched with worry as Izuku focused his power to his finger and used it to the nearest tree, destroying it. She could see the way the Quirk focused inside him.
"You won't be able to get the hang of it right away," All Might told Izuku.
"Thank you, All Might..." Izuku replied.
Kimitsuki stepped forward to help Izuku with his Quirk Concentration, wondering if she had neglected her childhood friend within this fast-paced life at UA, "Let me help, Izu-Chan,"
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