《MHA: Time Manipulator》


 New Life, New Story

    In a local hospital''s delivery room, filled with dim light, a tense yet hopeful atmosphere prevailed. Around the bed, doctors and nurses gathered, while a worried father stood nearby, tightly holding his beloved''s hand.


    "Come on, just a little more, you can do it! Push, just a bit more!" he encouraged her, supporting her.


    "You¡­ you''ve already said that¡­ last time, the time before that, and the time before that!... I can''t do this anymore¡­ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" the woman''s scream, filled with pain and exhaustion, filled the room.


    "Come on, just a little more, you can do this!" the doctor encouraged, glancing at the clock. "Let''s count to three¡­ one¡­, two¡­, three¡­, push with all your strength! The final push!"


    "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" the woman''s scream echoed through the room.


    Finally, after several tough moments, the gentle and loud cry of a newborn girl filled the room. Her first cry was loud and strong, symbolizing the beginning of a new story.


    "Wonderful! You did it!" the doctor announced with relief. "You''ve succeeded! You have a baby girl!"


    The nurse and doctor gently took the small girl, who was still crying from the unfamiliar world around her.


    "Let''s take her for a few minutes for a check-up," said the nurse, gently holding the baby against her.


    "Wait! My girl¡­" the woman said with pursed lips and tears in her eyes, reaching out for her child.


    "Don''t worry," the doctor added. "We need to perform a few tests to ensure everything is alright with your daughter. As soon as we''re done, we''ll bring her right back!"


    "Don''t be afraid, Yukiko, dear, it''s for her own good," the father tried to reassure her, noticing her anxiety. "They''ll be back soon. Let''s rest for a bit and choose a name for her?"


    "Let''s¡­" Yukiko said slowly and bewildered. "Wait¡­ what do you mean choose? I''ll choose! And I already know what it will be!"


    "But¡­" the man began to protest, but his words were drowned out by Yukiko''s decision.


    "No ''buts,'' Takeshi! Her name will be Kimika. You gave her the surname, but I decide the name! Otherwise, you can give birth yourself, hmph!"


    "¡­"


    "No objections," Yukiko asserted, bowing her head as a sign of final decision. "So it''s settled, our little beautiful Kimika Tanaki."


    The doctors and nurses smiled, knowing that this was a difficult yet joyous moment. After the baby was taken for examination, Yukiko and Takeshi had a chance to rest a bit while their girl was prepared to be returned to her mother''s arms.


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    ~~~ In the doctors'' room ~~~


    The room was filled with soft light, creating a comfortable environment for examining the newborn child. Doctors and nurses diligently checked the baby as they worked on her initial examination.


    "What a lovely girl and wonderful parents... Let''s start with a visual inspection," the doctor said, addressing the nurse. "Look at the girl. Visually, she shows heterochromia: her left iris is blue, and her right is red. This could be a mutation related to her future quirk. Do either of the parents have an eye-related quirk?"


    "According to the records, the mother has a quirk that allows her to control the speed of objects and people¡­ And yes, it is eye-related. It''s possible that the child has inherited this quirk but in an enhanced form," the nurse replied.


    "Understood. There are also two small, translucent horns with a slight blue tint. It seems the father had a mutation with horns. What is his quirk?"


    "His quirk is a lie detector. When someone lies near him, his horns change color to a darker shade for a period of time."


    "Hmm¡­ Let''s run a test. For example¡­ I am All Might¡­" The doctor looked at the child, noticing no reaction, and wrote something in his notebook.


    "Y-You are All Might!?" the nurse exclaimed, and everyone in the room turned to look at her in surprise. "I''m sorry," she quickly replied, and the conversation continued.


    "I don''t see any other visual changes¡­ Wait a minute¡­ What is that on her forehead?" The doctor squinted and leaned in closer. "It appears to be a closed vertical third eye; we didn''t notice it because it''s quite small and tightly shut. This is likely also part of her quirk. For some reason, she''s not opening it¡­ Maybe her quirk will be related to this."


    The doctor cautiously tried to press on the third eye, hoping to open it. But at that moment, the girl let out a shriek of pain, her face contorting in anguish. The doctor immediately stopped, realizing she didn''t like this at all. He decided not to continue, not wanting to cause her any more pain.


    He then conducted a few more tests, which lasted several minutes. "So, at this point, we observe visual mutations in the form of eye color, possibly a third eye, and horns. There are also signs of enhanced regeneration and potential increases in strength and endurance. A rather rare case. We need to prepare the parents, as, although the appearance of the parents seems normal, and the father also has a mutation, it is unknown how they might react."


    ~~~ In the room with parents ~~~


    The doctors entered the parents'' room, where the couple looked anxious and worried about their child. The doctors, observing carefully, began to announce the results.


    "After examining your child, we can confirm that she is completely healthy. However, she does have external mutations," the doctor reported, waiting for the parents'' reaction.


    The worried parents exchanged glances and replied:


    "We''re ready! This is our child, and we will love her just the way she is!"


    Hearing this news, the doctor felt relieved and carefully handed the child to her parents.


    "She''s beautiful," the mother said, tears in her eyes.


    "Yes, she truly is beautiful," added the father, also slightly moved.


    "Look, she has horns just like yours¡­"


    "And beautiful eyes¡­ Just like yours¡­"


    "Yes, she''s beautiful. She''s all you¡­ Our child¡­ She will have everything she needs!"


    "But what about this third eye?" the mother suddenly asked, and the doctors felt a wave of concern. "I wonder what it looks like and why she isn''t opening it¡­"


    "D-Don''t worry! It''s likely related to her quirk, and it will probably open over time," the doctor quickly explained.


    The doctor quickly bid farewell to the newly formed family, assuring them that they could reach out at any time. He also mentioned that the mother and child could leave the hospital only in a few days.


    As the mother and father lovingly gazed at their newborn daughter, who was already quietly sleeping in her mother''s arms, they felt deep happiness.

 Awakening of Quirk

    Kimika sat in her room, adorned with bright posters, figurines, and dolls of heroes. The air held a hint of excitement, as all her favorite heroes surrounded her. But most of all, her walls and shelves were dominated by posters and statues of the All Might, Hero Number 1, and symbol of peace, from whom she could never tear her gaze. She never stopped dreaming of becoming just like him: a hero, a symbol of peace who embodied all that was good. The TV sparkled, showcasing yet another report on his victory, and Kimika watched with awe, as if she were part of this epic moment. She dreamed of her own quirk, of the chance to become a hero, just like him.


    Suddenly, her mom''s voice echoed from the kitchen, loud and insistent:


    "Kimii! Time to eat!"


    Tearing herself away from her dreams, Kimika trembled. Her heart thudded with joy and admiration, her thoughts filled with the Almighty.


    "Mom, five more minutes! I''m almost done watching," she called, trying to buy a bit more time.


    "It''s your favorite oyakodon!" she heard her mom emphasize the importance of the moment. "And no ''five more minutes''! Come eat now!"


    An inner struggle took over Kimika. Oyakodon... How delicious! Warm chicken with rice, tender pieces¡­ She wanted it so much! But the image of All Might, the great hero who could always restrain his desires for the sake of victory, appeared in her thoughts. ''I have to be strong too!'' Kimika thought, like a little heroine in her own story.


    "If you don''t come, I''ll eat your favorite takoyaki!" her mom suddenly announced, breaking through her thoughts. There was a playful challenge in her tone, like in the moments when All Might entered a battle.


    At that moment, Kimika felt her desire for oyakodon clash with her heroic resolve. Imagining her beloved takoyaki disappearing, she made up her mind: ''No, I won''t let that happen!''


    "I''M COMING!" Kimika shouted, like a real superhero rushing to the rescue. Her legs carried her to the kitchen, with the thought swirling in her head, ''Takoyaki can''t vanish! That''s too big a sacrifice!''


    In just seconds, Kimika was already at the table, amazed at her own speed. Imagining herself as the savior of desserts, she declared:


    "Mom! Heroine Kimi arrives on a mission!" the girl declared proudly, thrusting her chest forward like a true hero. "And I won''t let you eat my takoyaki, villain!" she added with a serious expression, just like her all-powerful heroes.


    "Oh, my little heroine!" her mom smiled, her eyes shining with pride. "Your mission is to finish the whole portion of oyakodon. And don''t you think I''m a villain! If you succeed, you''ll get your beloved takoyaki!"


    "Mission accepted, heroine-mom!" Kimika gave a playful salute, imagining herself on a battlefield.


    Yukiko hurriedly looked at her daughter, holding her favorite dish, and, smiling, placed it on the table, her heart filled with thoughts of how much she loved her little girl. However, lost in thought, she accidentally bumped into the edge of the table. The plate slipped from her hands, and suddenly, everything around seemed to slow down ¡ª not by much, but enough to notice. Yet, the moment lasted only a few seconds, and with a loud clatter, the plate hit the ground. Pieces of the dish and food scattered around, filling the kitchen with colorful fragments.


    "Kimika, are you alright?" her mom asked worriedly, her voice filled with concern as her gaze immediately fixed on her daughter. She quickly noticed that Kimika''s left horn, usually semi-transparent with a bluish hue, had darkened, and her heart tightened with worry. Blood began dripping from Kimika''s left eye, the red drops contrasting against her delicate skin, leaving traces of anxiety in their wake. Her mom felt fear and helplessness overwhelm her, but she tried to pull herself together ¡ª she needed to be strong now, for her little heroine.


    "Mom? I feel really sleepy¡­" Kimika mumbled, feeling an odd weakness take over her, as if all the energy had drained from her body. Her eyes struggled to stay open, and her thoughts became hazy, like a veil clouding her vision.


    ''Why is Mom so worried?'' a thought crept into her mind. ''Maybe she''s just too attached to the oyakodon? Or is it because I watched TV for so long? Or¡­ maybe I just really want to sleep¡­'' she wondered, trying to make sense of what was happening around her.


    "KIMIKAAA!!!" her mom screamed, her voice filled with panic. Kimika heard it but couldn''t understand why her mom was so distressed. ''Why is she yelling like that? What happened? Everything''s fine¡­''


    In that instant, everything around her began to darken, like slipping from a dream into a nightmare. A flicker of light sparked in Kimika''s memory, like a flame disappearing into darkness. ''Why all the yelling? Why am I so tired? It''s just a dream¡­'' she thought, as her consciousness slowly descended into the abyss of sleep. And then she lost consciousness.


    ~~~


    Kimika and her frightened mother found themselves in a hospital. The girl woke up in a brightly lit room, her heart racing with fear. She couldn''t remember how she got there, only that darkness had enveloped her. The doctors assured her that everything was fine: it was just the awakening of her quirk. They had given her painkillers, but when the girl tried to open her left eye, she was overcome with sharp pain. She began to rub it, feeling as if she couldn''t see anything.


    Before long, they were invited to the doctor''s office, and Kimika felt her heart race. This moment promised to be pivotal in her life, and she wanted to be ready for whatever lay ahead.


    "Kimika, it''s okay, it''s okay," her mother comforted her, gently stroking her head. Her voice was soft, but it held so much love and support. "It''s just the awakening of your quirk, and now you have it, just as you dreamed. Now you will be a true heroine! You''ll be able to perform heroic tasks, just like you wanted, right?" her mother said, trying to convey that everything was alright, even though she was worried herself.


    Kimika took a deep breath, still holding onto her eye. Fear, uncertainty, and joy flooded her. ''I''m a real heroine, I can be like All Might!'' she thought, but the pain and the fact that she couldn''t see out of that eye overshadowed her joy.


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    "Mom¡­ But why does it hurt so much? And why can''t I see¡­?" Kimika asked, trying to calm herself, but the fear wouldn''t let go.


    "The doctors said it''s temporary. Everything will be alright soon. You''re my strong girl, right?" her mother spoke with care, trying to support her and calm herself. She couldn''t bear to see her beloved and only daughter suffer and felt helpless. "Soon we will be called in to see the doctor, and he will tell you about your cool quirk. Just imagine how amazing that will be!"


    Before long, they were called into the doctor''s office, and Kimika felt her heart race again. This moment promised to be pivotal in her life, and she wanted to be ready for whatever lay ahead.


    When Kimika and her mother entered the doctor''s office, they were greeted by the doctor, who approached the girl quietly with a friendly smile. There was tenderness in his eyes, which calmed her anxious heart.


    "Hello," the doctor smiled, kneeling in front of Kimika. "I''m Dr. Haruko Saito. Today, you awakened your quirk. This is an important event, even if it happened under less than ideal circumstances. You''re a heroine, aren''t you?" he winked, trying to lift her spirits.


    Kimika felt her heart race. She had dreamed of this moment, but fear and the strangeness of the situation were evident.


    "I... I''m Kimika Tanaki, heroine Kim!" she replied hesitantly, lifting her head.


    "Oh, a heroine! From today on, I''m your number one fan," the doctor joked, trying to ease her nervousness.


    "No! My first fan is Mom... and my second is Dad... You''re the third," Kimika said shyly, smiling and blushing lightly. She wiped her left eye, which still hurt, and noticed her mom watching them with a smile.


    "Oh, that''s wonderful! You have a real trio of fans!" her mom encouraged her, smiling at her daughter.


    "Aww, that''s too bad," the doctor feigned disappointment. "Well, the third one isn''t so bad either. But tell me," his voice became mysterious, as if he were trying to keep an intrigue, and he spoke quietly so only they could hear, hoping that Mom wouldn''t catch it, "have you given anyone your autograph yet?"


    "No, not yet," she replied, initially pondering his question. She was curious about why the doctor was being so mysterious.


    Seeing that the girl was intrigued, the doctor couldn''t help but smile, realizing his method had worked. Now Kimika was no longer hiding behind her mom, and it was wonderful.


    "Oh, then can you give me your first autograph?" he asked enthusiastically. "I''ll show it to all the other kids and tell them I know a real heroine!"


    "Autograph...? Other kids...?" Kimika repeated thoughtfully, her eyes sparkling at the thought of heroism. A feeling of joy filled her heart, as if she truly had become a heroine, and her autograph would be a precious gift. "Yes! I will give you my first autograph!"


    "Here, take this piece of paper and this pen," the doctor handed them to her with a huge smile, his eyes shining with happiness. "If you don''t have a signature yet, you can come up with one right now. Can you imagine? I''ll get not only your first autograph but also see how you come up with it!"


    Her mom, watching this scene, couldn''t help but feel joy. She saw how the doctor''s kind and attentive approach had managed to take away Kimika''s fear and completely capture her attention. The girl seemed to have forgotten about her sore eye, and a spark of curiosity ignited in her eyes.


    "You know, Kimika, I heard your mysterious conversation and figured out the doctor''s plan," her mom said with a smile, her face reflecting joy as she realized the doctor''s scheme had been uncovered. "I''m ready to forgo your first autograph, but how about I help you create it?" she said enthusiastically.


    Kimika looked at her mom with interest, and the doctor, smiling, added, "Oh, it seems my plan has been revealed¡­ What a shame. Why don''t you create your signature for now, and I''ll prepare the documents?"


    These words filled the room with energy, and Kimika was extremely happy for such support. She began to think about what kind of signature she would come up with. Although she didn''t know how to write yet, she was good at drawing, so she decided with her mom that she would draw her face as her signature. As she pondered this, Kimika felt a genuine spark of inspiration ¡ª after all, this autograph would be a special symbol of her new heroic journey! She even completely ignored the blindness in one eye, knowing it would surely heal, and she would be able to see the world in all its colors again.


    Soon, the joyful girl, feeling a rush of energy, took the piece of paper with her signature, which featured a drawing of her face. The picture wasn''t very detailed, a simple childlike masterpiece, but Kimika completely overlooked that, feeling that the doctor would definitely like it. The important thing was that she liked it, and that her mom was smiling and approving of her creation.


    "Done! Here, my first autograph!" she exclaimed joyfully, handing the drawing to the doctor.


    The doctor immediately set aside the documents and took the autograph from the girl''s hands. He could see the determination with which she had created this masterpiece, so even if it only contained simple lines, he would still say it was a very good signature.


    "Ooo, wonderful!" the doctor exclaimed, placing the autograph on his desk. He looked at Kimika with a joyful expression full of excitement. "I''ll show this to my colleagues; they''ll all be envious!" he said, smiling as if he were holding a real treasure.


    But then, adopting a serious look, he said, "And now, heroine Kimi, I have one more important mission for you. Are you ready?"


    "Yes! I''m ready for any task!" she shouted, filled with energy.


    "Then your mission is to allow me to take a little of your blood for tests. It''s important so we can better understand your quirk," the doctor explained gently, noticing the shadow of fear appearing on Kimika''s face. "Of course, many kids are afraid of this, but if you''re ready, we can do it together."


    "I''m not a kid, I''m a heroine!" Kimika declared resolutely. "I''m ready!"


    Soon, the doctor took out the blood collection device, and Kimika, feeling anxious, leaned into her mom, burying her face in her embrace. She didn''t want to look at that scary instrument, which brought up unpleasant associations.


    "Everything will be fine, Kimi," her mom softly reassured her, stroking her hair.


    The doctor, noticing her anxiety, gently said, "Kimika, could you please extend your arm? It''s just a little prick, and you won''t even feel how quickly it will be over."


    The girl sighed, trying to gather herself, and cautiously extended her arm, trying not to think about the device. The doctor, observing her reaction, acted very carefully to avoid scaring her further. He reassured her that everything would go smoothly and quickly, trying to create an atmosphere of trust.


    "You''re a real heroine, Kimika, and I''m sure you can handle this!" he encouraged her, soothing the girl.


    Kimika nodded, feeling a slight tremor. When the needle first touched her skin, her heart began to race, but she held on, even as tears welled in her eyes. Yukiko, seeing this, embraced her even tighter, trying to support her in this challenging moment.


    After taking the girl''s blood, the doctor placed it in a special analysis device and began conducting a few simple tests. He asked Kimika to look at various objects in the room to check her vision, and then carefully examined her horns to ensure she hadn''t inherited her father''s quirk.


    To do this, he lied about simple things a few times to check if her horns would react to his words. But seeing no reaction, the doctor decided to simply ask the girl if everything was okay, although he noticed she looked a bit scared.


    "Is everything alright?" he asked gently, trying to reassure her.


    "Yes!" the girl replied confidently, even though she felt differently inside. At that moment, her horns suddenly darkened, like her father''s, when someone else lies nearby. The doctor, realizing what this meant, quickly noted this moment in his notebook but chose not to comment.


    Her mom, watching everything, also noticed the changes in her daughter''s horns but decided to stay silent, understanding what was happening. Everyone, except little Kimika, realized that now, when Kimika tells a lie, her horns signal it. Mom knew that the girl would face a difficult future, so she already had a plan in her mind for how to help her daughter cope with this.


    The doctor continued testing the girl, meticulously performing a few more tests.

 Heroine of Time

    Finishing the tests on the girl''s quirk, Doctor Haruko Sayato approached a special device for blood analysis. Carefully removing the test results, he began noting them down in his notebook. His face was focused, yet inside him, excitement was bubbling. Little Kimika, sitting next to her mother, felt her heart pounding in her chest, barely holding back her impatience. She was almost bouncing in her chair, trying to imagine what incredible abilities would be revealed to her.


    "Hmmm, well, you have an amazing quirk, little hero," the doctor finally said, gently emphasizing the importance of the moment. "I want you to know that your quirk is so special that, unfortunately, we won''t be able to tell you all its features right away. This will become part of your heroic journey, which you are just beginning."


    The doctor''s words puzzled Kimika. She didn''t know how to react: on one hand, she was told they wouldn''t be able to share everything about her quirk as she had hoped, which disappointed her a bit. But on the other hand, the doctor emphasized how unique and powerful her quirk was, filling her heart with pride and joy for being on the path to heroism.


    Kimika lowered her gaze, trying to understand her feelings ¡ª whether to be happy or not, since she wouldn''t be able to show off her entire quirk to her mom. But the doctor, noticing her confusion, immediately continued:


    "Don''t worry, with the help of tests and your blood, we can understand the main aspects of your quirk," he said, trying to support the little girl. "Your ability, like your mother''s, is related to time. Of course, your mom can only change the speed of people or objects, and even then only a little, but your quirk has developed and become even stronger! This is just fantastic! And although we already know the basics, the real discovery awaits you in the future. You will be able to improve your abilities and learn more about your quirk!"


    At these words, Kimika began to nod vigorously, filled with eagerness to learn more about her long-awaited quirk. She understood that every hero goes through difficulties, especially the greatest ones, like All Might. Therefore, she was also ready to face these little challenges on her heroic journey, as it was part of her personal heroic story.


    "So, your quirk is related to time, as I already mentioned. Your left eye is connected to the past, and your right one is linked to the future. Isn''t that incredible? But that''s not all! You are also endowed with enhanced regeneration, strength, and endurance! Your quirk is a true marvel, worthy of every heroine!"


    "Wow! Am I going to be a real time heroine?" Kimika exclaimed excitedly, her eyes shining with joy.


    "Aren''t you already a heroine?" the doctor said with a sly smile, trying to encourage her even more.


    "Well, for now, I''m a secret heroine! But that''s a secret, so don''t tell anyone!" she added proudly, whispering as if her words could only be heard by those closest to her.


    The doctor, smiling, addressed the girl:


    "Little heroine, I have one more task for you. Could you wait a bit in the hallway while your mom and I fill out these boring documents that aren''t really suitable for real heroes? It''ll be a great opportunity for you to think of a name for your new ability."


    "Yes! I''ll come up with the perfect name!" she exclaimed eagerly, running out into the hallway. Her heart raced with anticipation of new discoveries. ''What name would best suit my ability?'' she wondered, dreaming of all the possible adventures that awaited her ahead.


    ~~~ In the doctor''s office ~~~


    After Kimika left, only two people remained in the office: Kimika''s mother and the doctor. The doctor''s face instantly shifted from friendly to more serious, as if the mask he usually wore for children had been removed.


    "So, Ms. Yukiko Tanaki, let''s not beat around the bush, and I''ll tell you everything as it is. There are certain drawbacks to her quirk. I wouldn''t want to upset your daughter, so I''ll only discuss them with you. Afterward, you can decide how to convey this information to her, considering that she''s still young and may find it difficult to understand. It''s important to explain to her that every ability has its peculiarities, and even drawbacks can become a part of her life."


    I-Is there something scary? the mother asked anxiously.


    "No, no, don''t worry, nothing extraordinarily dangerous," the doctor reassured, noticing the tension on the mother''s face. "Let''s begin. As you already know, your daughter has horns. When she used her power, they darkened, and blood flowed from her eye, right?"


    "Y-yes¡­" the mother clasped her hands on her knees, her anxiety growing with each word.


    "So, as I understand it, you have a similar quirk, although your eyes appear normal on the outside. Your quirk is quite weak as it drains a lot of energy. However, your daughter''s has evolved. She has divided the responsibilities between her eyes: one is connected to the past, and the other to the future."


    The doctor took a brief pause, giving the mother time to process this information. Unable to withstand the silence, she immediately asked:


    "And the horns? How is that related?"


    The mother leaned slightly forward, her tension becoming more apparent.


    "Each eye is connected to the corresponding horn. In their normal state, the horns have a translucent blue tint, as you already know. But when she uses her quirk, energy is drained from the horns, and they darken. This compensates for your drawback ¡ª exhaustion."


    The doctor spoke calmly, trying to convey confidence in his words to reassure the mother.


    "But why did her eye start bleeding, and why did she temporarily go blind in that eye?"


    "That happened because she exceeded her limit, and when the energy in her horns ran out, it affected her eye. And, most likely, if she had continued using her power, it would have affected her body as well. But don''t worry ¡ª over time, she will become more resilient," Haruko said calmly, trying to soothe Yukiko.


    She let out a quiet sigh, although her eyes still shone with worry.


    "Is it dangerous if she overestimates her abilities? I know my child ¡ª if she wants to do something, she will do it regardless of the consequences..."


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    "Don''t worry. On the outside, it may seem like the situation is serious, but after such overloads, she will simply feel tired. To prevent excessive use of her power, her eye will start to cloud and temporarily go blind. It''s like a natural defense against overexertion."


    The mother eased a bit, but the expression on her face remained troubled. She was twisting a ring on her finger, as if trying to find comfort in the familiar gesture, but her anxiety still lingered.


    "That¡­ still isn''t very reassuring," she admitted, taking a deep breath, feeling the weight of the new information pressing down on her shoulders.


    "I understand," the doctor replied, trying to appear sympathetic. "But there''s one more important detail. Your husband has a lie detection quirk that manifests through his horns when those around him are lying, correct?"


    "Yes," the mother nodded nervously, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over her again as she realized where this was all leading.


    "Then, as you probably noticed during her examination, your daughter lied for the first time all day, and her horns darkened. This may indicate that she inherited not just the external trait ¡ª your husband''s horns ¡ª but also other features of his quirk, only in a different form."


    The mother felt embarrassed, realizing that her daughter would now be unable to lie without obvious consequences. She imagined Kimika trying to hide the truth, and that could lead to misunderstandings.


    The doctor continued:


    "It''s likely that she won''t be able to lie without a visual display anymore. I''m not sure if she will be able to control it in the future, but you''ll need to talk to her about it to prepare her for possible situations."


    Yukiko, hearing these words from the doctor, sighed heavily, her heart tightening. She remembered how Kimika''s horns had darkened slightly when she assured her that everything was fine. But she also recalled that she had promised herself to support her daughter through this difficult situation. So she gathered her DETERMINATION to tell her daughter about it as delicately as possible, hoping to find the right words for such a conversation.


    The doctor, noticing that the mother had gathered her DETERMINATION, couldn''t help but smile for a moment, but then seriousness returned to his face ¡ª there was still one important piece of news he had to share.


    "And now, finally," he said, glancing at the documents, "as I noticed, your daughter has another eye on her forehead, and she hasn''t opened it even after awakening her quirk. I want to assure you that there''s nothing scary about it. It will likely open in the future, but unfortunately, I can''t say what exactly it will do. Neither the test results nor the visual exams can provide accurate information. All I can tell you is that it is also related to time."


    His change in tone was almost instantaneous, providing Yukiko with a brief respite after the serious conversation. She took a deep breath, trying to focus, and with a light smile, leaned slightly forward, glancing at the door.


    "Kimika, are you ready? Have you come up with a name for your quirk?" she called softly but clearly.


    Almost immediately after this, hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor, and within a moment, a panting little girl burst into the office, clearly excited and a bit flustered by her haste.


    "So, what name did you come up with for your quirk?" the doctor asked, smiling slightly and once again putting on his usual friendly mask for children.


    "My quirk will be called Time Control! And I even came up with a real hero name for myself!" Kimika proudly lifted her head, her eyes shining with excitement.


    An awkward silence hung in the office for a moment. The doctor realized that the name chosen by the girl was quite simple, yet he did not show any surprise. She was a child, and even in this moment, her excitement was palpable. So, without prolonging the pause, the doctor continued:


    "Wow, what a wonderful name! It fits perfectly!" he praised, writing it down in the documents. Then, leaning in a little closer, he whispered as if it were a secret just for the three of them, "And what is your hero name?" he asked with even more curiosity.


    "My hero name is Toki no Tenshi!" Kimika replied, a bit nervous but proud that her voice sounded confident.


    "Hmm¡­ Angel of Time? That''s a beautiful name! Well done!" the doctor nodded approvingly. "Now, I''ll finish filling out the documents, and you can head home after this important mission with absolute victory, heroine Toki no Tenshi! And I think your mom will even buy you something tasty as a reward," he added, glancing at Yukiko with the hint that this could be an opportunity for her to talk to her daughter in a more relaxed setting during their walk.


    Yukiko smiled slightly, understanding the doctor''s subtle hint, and nodded, planning how to best bring up the new details of her daughter''s quirk.


    As Kimika and her mother left the hospital, the silence between them was only broken by the sounds of the city. Normally lively and smiling, Yukiko walked alongside her daughter, but her expression was not as joyful as usual. Noticing this change, Kimika leaned towards her, furrowing her brows in thought.


    "Is something wrong?" the girl asked, gazing intently into her mother''s eyes, trying to understand why Mom looked so quiet and contemplative.


    "Oh¡­ no, no, everything''s fine," Yukiko flinched, as if she had just woken from deep thoughts, and hurriedly averted her gaze, attempting to smile. "I was just thinking¡­ what kind of ice cream to buy you ¡ª chocolate or strawberry?"


    Kimika frowned for a moment and lowered her gaze, as if pondering a serious question. But in an instant, her eyes sparkled with bright enthusiasm.


    "What kind of question is that? Of course, both chocolate and strawberry!" she exclaimed with a look of bewilderment, as if that option was the only possible one and all others made no sense.


    "Hmm, you''re right, what was I thinking?" her mother theatrically raised a hand to her forehead, trying to make the girl laugh. "How could I not have thought of that?"


    "Well¡­" Yukiko added after a moment, though her smile didn''t reach her eyes, which remained a bit sad and heavy with thoughts, but not as much as just a moment ago. "You were a true hero today! You deserve a real reward."


    "Hee-hee! Do you think Dad will be happy about my quirk?" Kimika''s eyes sparkled with eager anticipation.


    Yukiko paused for a second, sighed, then nodded resolutely, taking her daughter''s hand.


    "Of course, he''ll be thrilled!" her voice sounded firm, but her eyes betrayed an involuntary anxiety. "And if not¡­" Here Mom shifted to a playful tone and raised a finger, as if warning. "He''ll get it! We''ll pull him by his ears and not buy him any ice cream!"


    "Hooray! Now, let''s go get some ice cream!" Kimika shouted joyfully, her mood instantly lifting.


    They reached the shop, where Kimika seemed to face a new challenge ¡ª to limit her choice to just two flavors of ice cream. Yukiko was confident that after her loud proclamation of chocolate and strawberry, everything was already decided, but standing before the display, Kimika couldn''t take her eyes off the other flavors. She examined each option as if she were seriously considering how wonderful it would be to just buy the entire shop.


    "Maybe just a little vanilla? And mango?" the girl mumbled, clearly captivated by a new idea.


    "Kimika, you''ve already chosen¡­" Yukiko reminded her with a smile, seeing her daughter''s inability to stop.


    "Well, yes, but¡­ just think, Mom! So many flavors, and only one tummy, that''s so unfair!" Kimika theatrically sighed, wrapping her arms around her stomach.


    Yukiko couldn''t help but laugh. She watched as her daughter, having almost forgotten her previous choice, continued to gaze at the display, dreaming of each flavor.


    "It seems like you want to buy the whole store," Yukiko joked, observing Kimika with wide-open eyes as she explored all the options, as if trying to find the best deal.


    Kimika rolled her eyes playfully, realizing that her desires might indeed seem excessive, but she was genuinely considering the idea of buying the whole store to get all those flavors for free!


    After buying the ice cream, they headed home. Yukiko felt it was time to talk to her daughter about serious matters, but she decided the best way to do it would be in the cozy atmosphere of their home. She knew that discussing the drawbacks of Kimika''s quirk wouldn''t be easy for her, but now, watching her daughter happily savoring the ice cream, Yukiko decided to let her enjoy a carefree evening.


    Each smiling glance from Kimika and the joyful exclamations escaping her lips with every new flavor reminded Yukiko that, despite all the challenges, their life was still filled with joy. Let at least this evening remain carefree.

 Family Bonds

    Getting home, Kimika could hardly wait for her dad to come back so she could tell him about her quirk. She was sure she would definitely become a true heroine now! She thought her dad would return any minute ¡ª probably in five minutes. But time dragged on unbearably slowly: five minutes passed, then another five, and then more...


    Kimika rarely wondered where her dad went every morning. He always came back, and since her mom was always around, the girl never asked about it. But this time, when the clock seemed frozen and she wanted to share this moment with him, Kimika''s patience snapped. She ran over to her mom, who was busy doing something in the kitchen.


    "Mom, when will Dad be back?" she asked, her face filled with disappointment, unable to understand how her dad could be away when her quirk had awakened.


    "I think in about three or four hours," her mom replied with a smile, not taking her eyes off her work. "What happened?"


    "What?! Why so long?!" Kimika nearly stomped her foot in frustration. She paused for a moment and then, furrowing her brow, added, "Where does he go every day?"


    Her mom turned to her with mild surprise at the question, then calmly explained, "Your dad is a detective. He helps catch criminals and save people. He''s a hero, but not the kind you see on TV."


    Kimika''s eyes widened with excitement.


    "Wooow, Dad is a hero!" She thought for a moment, and after a pause, added with childlike innocence, "But if he saves people, why do you say he''s not a hero?"


    Her mom smiled, seeing how Kimika began to process the new information.


    "He goes to work not just to catch criminals, but also to earn money so you can buy your favorite ice cream."


    Kimika paused for a moment, then smiled as if she understood the whole world.


    "So that''s why I can buy chocolate and strawberry ice cream at the same time?!"


    Mom just sighed and nodded, looking at her daughter with a warm smile. She understood that Kimika was still very young, and it would be difficult for her to grasp the complexities of the adult world: work, money, responsibilities, and especially taxes. For her, all of this felt very distant and incomprehensible. ''And there''s no need to think about it right now,'' she thought.


    ''Right now, it''s more important for Kimika to feel happy and carefree while she can still live in a world where there''s a simple division between heroes and villains, where everything seems so clear and understandable. In a world where heroes are always good and villains are always bad,'' Yukiko continued to think, watching her daughter and her na?ve worldview with a warm smile. She knew that this perspective wasn''t just characteristic of children ¡ª many adults in this society thought the same way. Society elevated heroes to the heavens, turning them into symbols of absolute good.


    Yukiko understood that sooner or later she would have to explain this. She didn''t want Kimika to grow up with the same na?ve belief as many others who thought heroes were unquestionable symbols of good. ''But for now... let her enjoy her childhood,'' Yukiko thought, pushing that thought aside for later.


    But her reflections were interrupted by Kimika, who, after a long contemplation, finally decided to clarify another detail that was important to her.


    "Mom, why does only Dad go to work, and you don''t? If you worked too, I could have more than just two scoops of ice cream ¡ª I could have two more! And probably mango and pineapple too!" The girl looked seriously at her mother, as if she had found the perfect solution to all problems.


    Yukiko couldn''t help but laugh; her heart warmed at her daughter''s innocence. ''If only all the world''s problems could be solved so simply,'' she thought, but she seriously tried to explain.


    "I watch over you," Yukiko explained, smiling. "If I went to work, there would be no one to look after you. But I do work, as a designer! I create costumes for heroes and many other things. It''s quite a unique profession!" she added proudly. "You could say I''m also a kind of hero! A support hero who makes beautiful costumes. And don''t forget that there are days when Dad stays with you while I go to work. Although I work from home, so it doesn''t happen very often."


    At these words, Kimika''s eyes widened even more, nearly popping out of their sockets. She exclaimed with excitement:


    "WOW! We''re a real family of heroes! Mom, you''re a hero too! And Dad is a hero! That''s so cool!"


    While Kimika was pondering how they would look when she grew up and became a real hero, Yukiko realized it was the perfect moment to talk about the drawbacks of her quirk. It was better to do it now, while her daughter was in such a joyful mood, rather than later when emotions might get the better of them.


    "Oh, Kimi, I completely forgot to tell you about a few aspects of your quirk," her mom gently said, trying to convey the information softly so as not to upset the girl. "These are just important things to know."


    Kimika felt a bit uneasy, but considering everything related to heroism and her family, she didn''t take it too seriously. Her face remained cheerful, although her attention was starting to drift.


    "Drawbacks? What are they?" Kimika asked, listening to her mom, though thoughts of how to become a real hero were still swirling in her head.


    "You know that Dad''s horns help him detect lies, right?" her mom asked, calmly observing her daughter''s reaction.


    "Yes, he always finds out!" Kimika replied proudly, genuinely believing her heroic qualities were invincible. "But his power can''t stand against me! I never lie, so his power can''t work against me, the heroine!"


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    "You are my heroine¡­ But now, when you lie, your horns will darken," her mom gently explained, trying to emphasize the importance of honesty.


    Kimika paused for a moment, but then smiled cheerfully, not taking the information too seriously.


    "So what? I don''t lie anyway!" she declared stubbornly, though deep down she knew that if she ever did, it was very rare. Usually, it only happened when Dad wasn''t around because he always found out everything!


    "Oh, you my little treasure," her mom kissed her on the forehead, feeling warmth in that moment. "I wanted you to know this in advance."


    Kimika simply shrugged, confident in her honesty. For her, it wasn''t a serious problem; after all, she was a heroine! ''I will always stay good, and my horns will never darken!'' she thought, and at that moment, it seemed to her that all her dreams of heroic feats were absolutely real.


    But seeing that her mom was still a bit serious, Kimika couldn''t help but ask:


    "Is that all, or are there more drawbacks?"


    "There''s one more," her mom sighed, trying to find the right words. "When you use your cool quirk, for example, slowing down objects, your left horn darkens, and when you speed them up, your right one does. If your horn darkens completely, promise me you won''t use your quirk. You don''t want Mom to worry about you and your little, beautiful eyes, do you?"


    Kimika listened, sensing that her mom was trying to be serious. Her mom continued, trying to lighten the mood a bit with a joke:


    "And if you don''t keep your promise, a monster will come! It will steal your little eyes! And Mom will cry!"


    She pretended to cry, trying to cheer Kimika up, but there was genuine concern in her voice. Yukiko didn''t want her child to suffer; so even though she frightened her a little, it was only to help her daughter understand the importance of being careful with her quirk.


    "I promise! I won''t use my powers if my horns darken!" Kimika assured her, saluting like a true hero, trying to look very serious.


    Seeing that her mom was revealing secrets about her quirk even more than a good doctor would, Kimika couldn''t help but ask about her third eye. She had examined it closely in the mirror, touched it, but had never been able to open it, no matter how much she wanted to, as it was very painful. So she decided to find out why her third eye hadn''t opened yet.


    "What about my third eye?" she asked, her face clearly showing curiosity.


    Mom smiled, trying to encourage her daughter. She remembered how the doctor said that the third eye would open someday, but not anytime soon, or maybe it wouldn''t open at all. So she decided to explain it in a child-friendly way to ease her daughter''s worries:


    "You know, Kimika, your third eye is like a little surprise waiting for you! When you become a real heroine and find yourself in an adventure, it will open exactly when you need it the most!"


    Kimika couldn''t help but feel joyful about that, as it further confirmed her dream of becoming a heroine! Yukiko noticed this joy but didn''t say that it was worth thinking more carefully about the decision to become a hero. She knew that Kimika was still young and, like all children, dreamed of heroism. Even she had dreamed of it once.


    So she continued, smiling as she said:


    "Now let''s make a sacred pinky promise that you will never use your quirk after your horns have completely darkened! This will be our little heroic oath!"


    Kimika, with a joyful glow on her face, eagerly grabbed her mother''s pinky, fully ready to keep her promise.


    After making the pinky promise, the happy Kimika ran to her room to entertain herself by watching shows with heroes, especially the All Might. She played with her toys and sometimes involved her mom in the process. Not noticing how several hours passed, the girl heard the door opening. It was her dad, and she immediately ran to meet him.


    As soon as he stepped through the threshold, he was met by little, chubby Kimika, whom he couldn''t help but love. Even after a long day at work, he couldn''t help but smile at her and ask:


    "What happened?"


    "I''ve discovered my quirk! I''m going to be a hero!" Kimika exclaimed, gesturing enthusiastically. She tried to put all her emotions into those words but couldn''t explain how important it was to her. Her heart raced, and she was already planning to continue her story, but her father, noticing her excitement, interrupted her.


    "That''s wonderful," said Dad, genuinely happy. He didn''t want to interrupt her but understood that if Kimika kept talking so quickly, she might get confused in her thoughts and lose the main point. "But let''s sit at the table first. You can tell Mom and me everything when you calm down a bit."


    Kimika nodded, not feeling the slightest bit offended that she had been interrupted. She immediately ran to the kitchen table to share all her news. Sitting down, she invited her mom, who, although already aware of everything, couldn''t ignore her child''s request. For Yukiko, it was a chance to see her daughter''s face light up once more, and she couldn''t help but feel pride in having such an amazing child.


    She had always loved her husband for his straightforwardness and decisiveness. He might not say much, but each of his words was filled with genuine love, and despite his sternness, he always supported Kimika, caring for her like no one else.


    They provided their daughter with everything she needed: unconditional love, financial support, freedom of choice, and confidence in her abilities. When she looked at their little family, her heart filled with warmth, and she didn''t regret a single moment spent together. It was the kind of true love that allowed their daughter to grow, dream, and believe in her potential.


    "Of course! You will become a hero, and I''m very happy for you! Do you want to tell me about your quirk?" Dad watched her with joy, even though he knew he had already heard everything from Mom.


    And so, when all the family members sat at the table, Kimika, with a proud expression on her face, began to talk about her quirk. She shared her emotions, describing how she felt her quirk awaken, how she would become a real hero, and why they hadn''t said that they were both heroes, and much more.


    "And I came up with a hero name for myself! Toki no Tenshi!" she exclaimed, pointing at herself with indescribable pride.


    "That''s wonderful," her father said with a serious face. "But what exactly can you do?"


    "I can control time! For now, I can only change the speed of objects, like Mom, but the doctor said that later, whoo, I will be invincible!" Kimika replied, gesturing as if she were demonstrating her powers.


    Dad, listening attentively, suddenly asked:


    "Does your eye still hurt?"


    "No, everything''s fine!" Kimika hurried to reassure him, even though she actually felt a slight discomfort and still didn''t see clearly with her eye. At that moment, both Dad''s and the girl''s horns darkened, indicating that she had lied.


    Dad noticed this and didn''t give her time to start justifying herself, gently squeezing her cheeks with love. He didn''t like lies, as they had a negative effect from his quirk that made him react poorly to all the lies he heard. But his love for his daughter was stronger than that.


    "Good job for holding on," he said, gently squeezing her cheeks. "Remember, even the strongest hero, like All Might, needs help, especially a little hero like you! Don''t be afraid to talk about your feelings and pain because life can be tough. Openness and honesty are important, as the more you share your experiences, the easier it will be to cope with challenges."


    Kimika and Yukiko exchanged glances for a moment, surprised that Dad, who was usually short-spoken and straightforward, had expressed himself for so long. Kimika, with wide eyes, couldn''t believe that her usually reserved father had opened up so sincerely. But seeing his serious expression, she understood that Dad''s words were important, and she was ready to listen to him, open up, and share her feelings.

 Clash of Personalities

    It has been two years since Kimika awakened her quirk. Almost every day she trained with her mother, focusing on improving her control to avoid accidentally losing her sight for a few days due to her inability to manage the strength of her abilities. Her mother believed that Kimika was still too young for serious training and often repeated that real lessons would begin either at a later age or after enrolling in a hero academy, where she would learn everything. Therefore, their joint training mainly focused on improving her control over her quirk.


    However, Kimika did not stop there and constantly trained on her own. Her mother often noticed this, as after using her quirk, the girl''s horns would darken, and returning to normal took time ¡ª not slowly, but not just a few minutes either. Living under the same roof, her mother always noticed the darkened horns and gently reproached her, noting that it was dangerous. However, no serious punishments ever followed, nor were there moments when Kimika overtrained and temporarily lost her sight.


    In addition to training her quirk, Kimika also paid attention to her physical development. She engaged in sports, following her father''s advice, who, caring for her health, said that by developing her body, she was also developing her quirk. Her father assured her that a healthy, strong, and resilient body was not only the key to success in fighting criminals as a true hero but also a path to overall well-being. While he used the girl''s interest in heroes as motivation, his true desire was for her to be healthy and strong.


    Her development in using her quirk was going quite well. Kimika learned to change the speed of both objects and people. Although the changes in people were still almost imperceptible, and her mother forbade her from testing her powers on others, she managed to slow down objects to one-third of their normal speed or accelerate them by the same amount.


    When it came to lying, her mother helped Kimika learn how to tell the truth in a way that wouldn''t hurt anyone or reveal something important she didn''t want to share. She taught the girl to answer "no" to serious questions and to avoid giving clear answers. The woman insisted on the importance of being able to speak in a way that wouldn''t cause the horns, which reacted to lies, to darken.


    Her third eye on her forehead still hadn''t opened all these years. However, Kimika didn''t feel offended or sad, as she remembered her mother''s words that it would be a surprise and a source of strength in a critical situation when she finally became a hero. Her dream of becoming a true heroine remained unchanged and even grew stronger over time.


    Although she was a child, Kimika realized that the quirks of many people weren''t as impressive and unique as hers. Other people, from her parents'' friends to relatives, constantly told her that her quirk was unique, but thanks to her parents'' support, her self-esteem remained at a proper level, and she didn''t look down on other kids who either had no quirks or had ones that weren''t as unique as her own. Her parents were very pleased about this, knowing that many children with stronger quirks despised their peers without one or with less impressive abilities.


    Kimika knew that heroism was not measured solely by strength or abilities, but rather by kindness, courage, and a willingness to help others, regardless of the abilities they possessed, as well as by the ability to analyze a situation since even criminals could be good people who were forced to act in certain ways. Her parents were in no hurry to introduce her to the harsh realities, as they didn''t want her to lose faith in goodness. But they gradually began to say that sometimes criminals could turn out to be good, simply because they found themselves in less than ideal circumstances. Sometimes even heroes who seemed good could make mistakes or have their own flaws.


    But today was a very important day ¡ª the first day at Alder Junior High, chosen by her father for its proximity to home and excellent reputation. Graduates from this school often excelled academically and sometimes became notable figures in the world or heroes. This delighted her father incredibly, as he could give Kimika the opportunity for such development.


    Kimika stood with her mother, who had brought her to the school entrance. Her white hair fell to the middle of her back, and there was a small vertical line on her forehead ¡ª that was her third eye, which still remained closed. Her horns had grown a bit, and while they weren''t very large, they were now easily noticeable. Kimika wore a small school uniform, which gave her even more confidence.


    She wasn''t worried at all, although she might have felt a bit anxious, as she hoped to find friends, which she had never had. Kimika had always stayed at home with her mother and didn''t like going outside. No matter how hard her parents tried to make her go out to play, they never succeeded. When they tried to force her, the girl would throw a tantrum, and so they stopped. She was a bit shy in certain situations and couldn''t imagine how she could simply approach someone and ask if they wanted to be friends. She was scared to take that first step. But at school, everything could be different; there might be peers looking for friends too, and communicating with them could be easier and more natural.


    At the same time, her mother was incredibly anxious. Her little homebody was finally leaving the house and could try to find friends to play with. But the mother was also worried about whether something terrible might happen at school when Kimika was surrounded by unfamiliar peers. In her heart lived the hope that everything would go well and that her daughter would find true friends who would support her. She imagined Kimika starting school, then moving on to middle school, and eventually to high school. The mother thought about how her daughter would choose a profession, start a career, create a family, and perhaps have children of her own. Tears welled up in her eyes at these thoughts: how quickly her little girl was growing up! Just yesterday, she was tiny and had just come into the world, and today was already her first day at school.


    "Well then, Kimi, are you ready for your first day of school?" her mother asked, trying to remain calm, but there was anxiety in her voice.


    "Yesss!" Kimiko replied enthusiastically, full of energy.


    "I''m not¡­" her mother sighed deeply, hugging her daughter and trying to hold back tears. "If anything happens, call or text¡­ Or tell your teachers. Or us¡­"


    "Don''t worry, Mom! Everything will be fine!" Kimiko assured her with a cheerful smile.


    "But just remember: if something happens, tell us! Don''t keep it to yourself."


    "Okay, okay!" the girl agreed, giving her mother a kiss on the cheek.


    Her mother froze for a moment in shock; she had expected to kiss her daughter for good luck, not to receive a kiss from her. Then Kimika, seeming fully prepared for anything, energetically ran toward the school.


    With a heavy exhale, realizing how quickly her daughter was growing up, her mother began to head back home, keeping her phone close at hand, ready to come to the rescue. She contemplated various dishes she would prepare to celebrate this special day.


    Kimika confidently entered the classroom, where there were already quite a few students chatting among themselves and forming small groups. Although a few students glanced her way for a moment, most were busy socializing. She felt she needed either to join an already formed group or wait for some group to approach her.


    Kimika noticed the only available spot ¡ª the front desk by the window ¡ª and went to place her backpack there, reserving the seat for herself. Behind her sat a boy she had noticed when entering the classroom. He was the only one left alone, simply sitting in his place. ''He must have arrived quite late too'', she thought. She liked his interesting and beautiful hair, which had a green, more emerald hue. Deciding that this was a good moment for a introduction, Kimika approached him with the intention of making friends.


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    "Hi! I''m Kimiko Tanaki," she said with a smile, trying to look confident. *Even if I''m a bit nervous, I want to find friends,* she thought to herself. "Why are you here all alone? Did you arrive late too and miss getting into a group?"


    "H-h-hello! I''m Izuku Midoriya¡­" he replied uncertainly, his voice trembling, and his hands slightly shaking on the desk. ''It seems like she wants to be friends,'' he thought, feeling his heart race. ''But what if she finds out I don''t have a quirk? I''m not like the others. She''ll probably want to leave, just like most people¡­'' he pondered, feeling fear slowly filling his thoughts. ''I, um, no-no, I came quickly¡­ just¡­ haven''t found a group yet,'' he tried to explain, hoping his words sounded more confident.


    "Ooo, that''s great! Then let''s be friends?" Kimiko asked with a cheerful smile, not noticing his nervousness, thinking he was just as anxious as she was.


    "F-f-friends? Well¡­ Sure!" he replied, his voice still trembling with excitement.


    To Izuku''s surprise, this cheerful girl suddenly fell silent, lost in thought. As if giving him time to calm down, he was able to examine her more closely. She looked cute: with a sweet face, horns, silky white hair, and a strange line on her forehead. ''I wonder what that line is?'' a thought flashed through his mind.


    But after a few seconds, she looked at him uncertainly and said:


    "Hmm, so what''s next¡­ um¡­ what do friends usually talk about?"


    Izuku was surprised by Kimika''s question. How could a girl with such a cheerful and free-spirited personality not have friends? Her bright smile and horns made him think she should be the center of attention. Yet it seemed she had no friends at all; even he had a few, albeit not many.


    "Don''t you have any other friends besides me?" he asked, trying to calm his heart. At that moment, he felt a rush of anxiety: ''Oh no, maybe I asked something too personal? She might think I''m being too pushy and just leave¡­''


    To his surprise, the girl answered without hesitation:


    "No, I don''t."


    This answer astonished Izuku. ''How is that possible?'' he thought, contemplating her openness. ''She seems quite straightforward.'' Curious, he decided to ask why she didn''t have any friends:


    "Why is that? You''re so¡­ well¡­ cheerful!" Izuku said, carefully choosing his words, trying to find the right tone.


    Kimiko smiled slightly and explained:


    "I always stay at home with my mom, and we watch episodes with my favorite hero ¡ª All Might. He''s so cool! I love him because he always helps others and fights against evil. Mom says he''s really brave, and I dream of becoming the number 1 hero like him! I want to bring people justice, kindness, and smiles. And I would also like to help some villains find a better path!"


    Izuku felt calmer, though a bit surprised. He also dreamed of becoming a hero, just like her, resembling All Might, and he loved him too. However, when Kimika mentioned that she wanted to help even villains find a better path, Izuku pondered for a moment. ''But villains are just evil¡­ Why should a hero help them? Good people don''t become villains¡­'' that thought crossed his mind. But he didn''t ask about it, as he didn''t want to question her good intentions.


    They began discussing how heroes save people and fight against evil. Izuku told Kimika about his dreams of becoming stronger to protect those in need, and they talked about other heroes, reminiscing about the cool moments from their episodes ¡ª how heroes defeated enemies, saved helpless people, and showed incredible courage.


    But suddenly, some boys approached them, and Kimika thought for a moment that maybe they wanted to be friends. One of the boys in front was a light-haired guy with sharp ash-blond hair and orange eyes. He interrupted their conversation while Izuku, not noticing them, continued to share his dream of becoming a hero.


    "Deku, are you still dreaming of becoming a hero? Forget it! You don''t stand a chance," he declared sharply, looking at Izuku. His voice was rough and ominous, and there was an aggressive tone to it. Then he shifted his gaze to Kimiko, scrutinizing her from head to toe as if searching for her weaknesses. "And who''s this? Your new friend?" he added with a smug smile, while the two boys behind him chuckled softly, mocking the situation.


    "Does she even know that you don''t have a Quirk?" he asked, glancing at Kimiko, who was unaware and slightly surprised. "Oh, looks like she doesn''t! Well, now she does!"


    Izuku felt his heart race as he stared down at his feet, clenching his fists. He recognized this boy ¡ª it was Bakugo, his friend. Izuku admired him for his powerful Quirk and self-confidence; he was sure that Bakugo would definitely become a hero, just as he dreamed, unlike Izuku, who had no Quirk at all.


    He was used to such remarks but feared that his new friend might leave or, worse, start a conflict with Katsuki. ''Just let Kimika not interfere,'' he thought. He knew that if she said something wrong, Katsuki might hate her, and he didn''t want both of his friends to dislike each other. So Izuku decided to stay out of the conversation, hoping the situation would resolve itself.


    Finally, laughing, the boy looked at Kimika with a hint of disdain and declared:


    "I''m Katsuki Bakugo. I''m going to be the number one hero! And you shouldn''t hang out with this loser," he said, glancing at Izuku. Then he turned back to Kimiko, his gaze persistent. "I offer you a great honor! Come join our group instead of this Quirkless trash Deku!"


    His voice was sharp, and his eyes burned with anger, as if he believed he had the right to decide who others should befriend. His words seemed aimed at belittling Izuku, emphasizing his superiority.


    Kimika, somewhat bewildered and confused by Bakugo''s words, paused for a few seconds as if contemplating his behavior. She looked over at Izuku, who stood with his head down, staring at the ground. His shoulders were slightly slumped, and he looked so helpless that it made Kimika feel sad. She couldn''t understand why he wasn''t responding to the insults. ''Why isn''t he defending himself?'' ¡ª flashed through her mind, but when she remembered that Izuku didn''t have a Quirk, everything fell into place. Perhaps he was just afraid of this boy who belittled him because of his weakness.


    "Why do you call him ''Deku''? His name is Izuku!" Her voice sounded firm, though there was still a hint of confusion in it. "I don''t understand why you speak so poorly of him. I like being friends with him; he''s a great friend, and we always have fun together!"


    She paused, taking a deeper breath and gathering her thoughts, and added with more confidence:


    "I don''t care that he doesn''t have a Quirk. Everyone is important, even those without special abilities. Real heroes should protect the weaker, not intimidate and belittle them! You may have a strong Quirk, but a hero is someone who helps, not someone who hurts others."


    She looked directly at Bakugo, and for a moment it seemed like his smug smile dimmed slightly, although he continued to stand proudly.


    "I want to be the number one hero too, like Izuku and you," Kimiko continued, her voice growing more assured. "But I don''t want to be like you if you belittle others. I''m going to keep being friends with Izuku. And if you want to be my friend, you have to apologize to him. Then maybe I won''t be against it."


    She took a small pause and then added:


    "And anyway, how can you become a hero if you insult the weaker ones? Isn''t a real hero supposed to bring smiles to people, like All Might? You can''t even be a true hero with that kind of attitude toward others!"


    Bakugo stood there, fists clenched, seething with rage. He couldn''t believe that some "little girl" ¡ª his peer ¡ª had the audacity to lecture him, declaring that he wasn''t worthy of being a hero. Even worse, she chose to befriend that Quirkless weirdo instead of him. In his eyes, which now seemed less orange and more red, anger flared. Small explosions began to form in his hands, and he barely held himself back from lashing out at Kimika.


    Bakugo''s friends, who stood behind him, stopped laughing and took a few steps back. They could see that he was on the verge of losing control and didn''t want to be caught in the crossfire. For a moment, they even thought they could admire Kimika for her bravery. They were terrified by how calmly she spoke to him. But they quickly buried those thoughts, knowing that any attempt to stand against Bakugo would result in a brutal beating ¡ª and probably for this girl too.


    Izuku nearly fainted from what he had heard. He knew that after such words, things could only get worse. Bakugo already hated her, and no apology would help now. Izuku felt that they would be enemies for the rest of school! He wanted to intervene and apologize for Kimika, just to smooth things over. But before he could do anything, Bakugo, glaring with fierce intensity, shouted:


    "You''ve made your choice, Horned! You''d better pray you won''t regret it!" Bakugo practically growled, each word dripping with anger. His hands sparked with tiny explosions, and it seemed like he was on the verge of losing control. "I promise you, you''ll regret this! Remember: heroes are those who are stronger, not those who protect losers!"


    He paused for a moment, as if searching for more words to hurt her even deeper. His eyes burned with fury, and his two friends instinctively took a few steps back, sensing the tension around him escalating. One of them nervously glanced at Bakugo and whispered to the other,


    "He''s really on edge¡­ We''d better keep our distance..."


    The second friend nodded, not wanting to be near him when Bakugo was this furious. After a few seconds of tense silence, Katsuki shot one last disdainful glance at Kimika and Izuku.


    "Quirkless and Horned¡­ What a pathetic pair!" he hissed with a venomous smirk." Hope your Quirk helps protect you and this Deku when things don''t go the way you think!" His words dripped with contempt.


    Then he abruptly turned and, without waiting for a response, stormed off, his friends hastily following him, eager to put some distance between themselves and Bakugo''s anger.

 Friends Are Not Chosen

    Kimika watched them leave, feeling her heart race wildly. It was harder than she had expected. She couldn''t understand why that guy was so aggressive and angry, why he was insulting her new friend while wanting to become a hero ¡ª not just any hero, but the number one hero, like All Might. ''Shouldn''t a hero be kind and compassionate to the weaker?'' she thought. Her hand involuntarily clenched into a fist, trying to hold back her emotions.


    "Quirkless and Horned" ¡ª those words from Bakugo still echoed in her mind. She had always considered her quirk to be a part of herself, something natural that didn''t deserve excessive attention. But now those words made her reflect on how others saw her. But... it was just a fleeting thought. ''I can''t show weakness. I am going to be a future heroine!''


    Gathering herself, Kimika took a deep breath and turned to Izuku. He stood in front of her with wide eyes, as if he was seeing something incredible. His gaze was filled with mixed feelings ¡ª wonder and fear at the same time. He still couldn''t believe what had happened and seemed impressed by her bravery. Finally, after a shy sigh, he lowered his eyes and quietly said:


    "Kimika... you shouldn''t have done that... Now he''s really angry at you... He''s going to hate you... You should have been friends with him, not me..." Izuku''s voice trembled, filled with genuine concern. He worried not for himself, but more for her, sensing that the consequences could be terrible.


    She paused for a second, trying to rein in her emotions. She shrugged and then stubbornly replied:


    "So what?" Her voice still trembled, but there was more confidence in it than fear. "I don''t care what he thinks. You can''t behave like he does! And besides, why should I be friends with someone who puts others down? I knew he wouldn''t apologize, so I said what I said. But..." She thought for a moment, somewhat reluctantly admitting to herself. "If he had apologized... maybe I would have considered being friends with him. But still, he''s just so angry."


    Izuku looked at her with slight horror, as if he couldn''t comprehend how she could talk about it so easily. He was afraid of Bakugo, but at the same time couldn''t help but admire his confidence and the powerful quirk he didn''t have. So he dared to ask:


    "And you... you''re not afraid of him?"


    Kimika looked at him intently and, sighing, smiled slightly.


    "Of course, I''m scared. I''m a person, just like you. But I''m also going to be the number one hero! And I can''t let fear control me. Heroes don''t show fear, even if they feel it."


    After the tense encounter with Bakugo, Kimika and Izuku tried to shift their focus to something else, talking about their dreams. Kimika shared how she wanted to become a hero, help people, and protect the weak. Izuku listened to her in awe, occasionally adding something about his dream of being like All Might.


    Izuku was immensely grateful to Kimika. She hadn''t turned away from him when she found out he was quirkless. On the contrary, she remained his friend and even stood up for him against Bakugo, showing her courage. At the same time, he felt anxious about the fact that two of his friends now hated each other.


    Their conversations continued until an adult approached them ¡ª likely their future teacher.


    The woman entered the classroom with a warm smile on her face. She had long, dark hair that gently fell over her shoulders, and soft, kind eyes that immediately inspired trust. Her outfit exuded elegance yet had a casual air ¡ª a simple but stylish suit that highlighted her professionalism.


    "Good afternoon, class!" Her voice sounded soft and friendly. "Please take your seats." The students quickly obeyed her request, all taking their places, trying to guess what their new teacher would be like.


    "I am your homeroom teacher, Sae Fujiwara. My quirk is Calm Aura. In a small area around me, you will feel a reduction in stress and anxiety, allowing you to relax and focus on your studies."


    She paused, smiling.


    "I''m very pleased to meet you all. Let''s start the lesson with some introductions! If you''d like, please stand up and tell us a little about yourself. It doesn''t have to be everything ¡ª at least your name and surname."


    After surveying the class, Sae noticed that no one dared to be the first, likely due to insecurity. She decided to take the first step and called on the students who, in her opinion, looked quite brave. Looking at the blond boy with a fiery personality and the girl with white silky hair and little horns, she decided to favor the girl.


    "Let''s start with you, the white-haired girl by the window," she said, smiling and looking at Kimika. Feeling her heart race, Kimika quickly got to her feet, preparing to speak.


    She felt a bit flustered, as she had planned to introduce herself somewhere in the middle, but if she was already called on, she had to be ready for such situations because she was going to be a hero!


    "I¡­ I''m Kimiko Tanaki," she began, her voice trembling slightly, but she tried to appear confident. "My quirk is called Time Control. Right now, I can change the speed of objects or people only if I''m looking at them¡­ Although it''s still quite weak, I''m training hard! The doctor said that over time, I''ll be able to achieve more..."


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    She took a small pause, gathering her thoughts, and then continued:


    "My hobby is watching various hero shows, and my dream is to become a hero! ... That''s probably all. It''s nice to meet everyone, and I hope we can become friends!"


    Kimika felt her anxiety slowly fade away, and with renewed enthusiasm, she looked at her classmates, hoping they would be able to find common ground.


    Sae, hearing about Kimika''s quirk, couldn''t contain her joy. There was a girl in her class with such a strong quirk! Even if she could only change speed for now, the very name of her quirk ¡ª Time Control ¡ª hinted at great potential. Sae realized that she needed to support this student to improve her reputation when Kimika became a hero.


    Smiling, she said:


    "Well done! Your quirk is truly impressive, and so is your dream. I''m sure you will succeed! Now let''s move on. Boy, it''s your turn!" Her gaze landed on Bakugo, who was already impatiently waiting for his turn.


    "My name is Katsuki Bakugo, and my quirk is Explosions! My goal is not just a dream, but a target! I want to be the number 1 hero ¡ª not some hero, police officer, or doctor, but the number 1 hero, like All Might. No! I will surpass him and become better and stronger!"


    "Wow! That''s an ambitious goal," said Fujiwara-sensei, smiling. "I hope you achieve it and become the number 1 hero!"


    In her heart, a thought was brewing: how nice it was to have students with such prospects. Sae always looked for benefits in everything, and this time was no exception. She imagined how her reputation would grow when Kimika and Bakugo became heroes.


    When Sae expressed her hope for Bakugo''s success, he scoffed:


    "I don''t need your hopes! This is my goal, and I know I will achieve it!"


    Although Sae felt anger at his arrogance inside, she quickly suppressed that feeling. ''How can this little bastard talk to me so boldly?'' ¡ª she thought, pursing her lips. But despite his anger and stubbornness, Sae knew that people like him always reached their goals. ''Even if he probably won''t become the number 1 hero, I''m sure he will definitely be a hero!'' ¡ª she thought, smiling at him with a kind expression, even though her mind was filled with a multitude of unflattering words regarding his attitude.


    The students in the class watched their new classmates attentively, each with their own dreams. Some wanted to befriend Kimika or Bakugo, hoping to become friends with future heroes. Others dreamed of gaining support from one of them, viewing them as strong and confident, especially Bakugo. There were also those who simply envied their unique quirks, considering them incredible and desirable. The children felt it was unfair ¡ª why had they been given weak quirks while Kimika and Bakugo had such amazing ones?


    Eventually, Sae continued calling on the children one by one until it was Izuku''s turn.


    "Now you, boy sitting behind Kimika," she said, pointing her gaze at Izuku. He quickly stood up, trying to overcome his nervousness.


    "I''m Izuku Midoriya¡­ my dream is to become a hero like All Might and save people¡­ As for hobbies, I love analyzing heroes¡­ It''s nice to meet you all, and I hope we can become friends."


    "What about your quirk? Tell us about it!" shouted Bakugo from the back, laughing with his friends.


    "Don''t disrupt the class! If he doesn''t want to talk about his quirk, that''s his business!" intervened Sae, trying to maintain order.


    "N-n-no, I''ll tell¡­ I''m quirkless¡­" Izuku said quietly, feeling his cheeks burn with shame.


    Sae felt a twinge of disdain. This boy seemed almost like a zero in this class, as everyone else had quirks except for him. But for now, she wasn''t rushing to dismiss him, as he might prove to be of some use to her.


    Suddenly, Kimika intervened, saying:


    "He can become a hero! Like my dad! He''s a detective! Mom said he''s a hero too because he catches criminals and saves people!"


    Sae was grateful to Kimika for her support, as her words helped bolster Sae''s position in the class. It seemed that Izuku was indeed a friend of Kimika''s, which gave Sae a sense of advantage. Kimika, while appearing to be just a simple good child, had genuinely changed the atmosphere in the classroom with her words, adding notes of hope and compassion that Sae decided to use to her benefit.


    "Yes, yes! You could become a police officer, a detective, a doctor, or a firefighter¡ªthey save people too and are heroes!" Sae chimed in, trying to encourage Izuku. After a brief pause, she continued, still smiling: "Thank you for your honesty, Izuku! I''m sure your dreams are very important, and there''s a place for everyone in the world of heroes, even for those without quirks."


    This caused some discontent among the students, as they were used to ignoring those without quirks. However, Sae already partly regretted hoping for some advantage from Izuku; he was only getting in her way. It seemed that Kimika was friends with him, while Bakugo, on the contrary, did not like him. This put her in a difficult position: she would have to choose between them, and it was likely that she would lean towards Kimika with her time-manipulating quirk, which would undoubtedly give her a chance to become one of the best heroes in the world.


    Sae knew that time would reveal which students could achieve great success, but she was already starting to form her strategic plans. She also realized that through Izuku, she could become friends with kind Kimika, while Bakugo would be too difficult to approach and would probably forget about her immediately after graduation. Kimika could become a reliable ally, so Sae began to think of a plan to strengthen her relationship with her.


    Meanwhile, the kids started whispering among themselves, discussing how Izuku was quirkless. Some of them joked out of curiosity, not understanding how painful that could sound to him. Kimika heard these conversations but didn''t grasp why the other kids treated his lack of a quirk that way.


    However, the teacher quickly changed the subject, starting to ask the other students about their quirks, for which Kimika was very grateful. She saw the teacher as someone who also supported Izuku. The lesson passed, and many students approached Kimika afterward, trying to befriend someone like her, a potential future hero because of her quirk. Some even asked if she wanted to be friends with them instead of quarreling with the quirkless Izuku. But she immediately declined, stating that she would be friends with Izuku because he didn''t belittle others for their weaknesses and differences.


    By the end of the day, Izuku remained Kimika''s only true friend, while the others tried to befriend her purely for their own benefit, sometimes even mocking him to grab her attention.


    Thus, the school day passed quite quickly, and Kimika set off outside with Izuku to introduce him to her mother and show her his new first friend. She also wanted to share her impressions of the lesson, ask why the class disliked Izuku, and tell her about the kind teacher who supported both her and Izuku.

 Introductions, End of the Day, and Bakugos Ambitions

    Leaving school, Kimika saw her mother, and her heart instantly filled with joy. She ran with all her might to her and hugged her tightly, as always pressing her head firmly against her mom. She was burning with the desire to introduce her mom to her new friend. Lifting her head, Kimika energetically exclaimed:


    "Maaaam, I found a friend!" Kimika turned around and pointed at Izuku, who stood a bit behind. "Here he is! This is Izuku!"


    Her mom looked at her daughter with a warm smile, always so lively and cheerful. She couldn''t help but feel happy that Kimika''s first day at school had not only gone well but had also brought a new friendship. Glancing at Izuku, she saw a shy boy with bright green hair standing off to the side, watching the scene closely.


    Shifting her gaze back to her daughter, her mom cheerfully said:


    "Wow, my little girl has found her first friend!" Her voice was warm, with a slight teasing tone. "You didn''t force him to be your friend, did you?"


    "Well, maaaam..." Kimika pouted, puffing her cheeks and crossing her arms over her chest.


    Her mom just smiled even wider and, looking at Izuku, continued:


    "Hello, Izuku! I''m Yukiko Tanaki, Kimika''s mom. I''m so glad you two have become friends," she said with a warm smile. "I was starting to worry that Kimika would be without friends. Thank you so much! I hope she didn''t make you become her friend?" Yukiko joked gently, having no intention of embarrassing her daughter. She just loved to tease her a little, and Kimika understood that perfectly.


    Meanwhile, Kimika lightly hit her mom on the elbow, trying to stop her. Her face was burning with embarrassment because, although she understood perfectly well that her mom was just teasing, she thought, ''Why now, in front of my friend?!''


    Izuku, watching this scene, immediately noticed the warm relationship between Kimika and her mom. He even smiled faintly, especially when he saw Kimika pouting at her mom''s words. He had the same close relationship with his own mom, but looking around, he couldn''t find her. Thinking she was probably running late, he gathered his thoughts and spoke hesitantly:


    "I... I''m Izuku... Izuku Midoriya... and no, Kimika didn''t force me. We... we are real friends!" he replied a bit uncertainly, blushing slightly.


    "Oh, that''s wonderful!" Kimika''s mom responded, smiling cheerfully." I hope you two will be friends for a long time. Although... you''ll still have to get used to her antics. She is quite the little rascal!"


    "MAAAAM!" Kimika puffed her cheeks out sharply, looking at her mom with annoyance. "Don''t do that! You... you''re embarrassing me!" The girl flushed with embarrassment and stomped her foot in protest. "Please stop it... and... I''m wonderful!!"


    "Oh, of course, you''re wonderful, but sometimes you can be very naughty!" her mom said, winking slyly at Izuku while gently smiling at her daughter.


    "MAAAAAM, not here and not now!" Kimika was completely at a loss, growing redder by the moment. She wished her mom would stop teasing her, at least in front of her new friend.


    Izuku, watching this scene, couldn''t hold back his laughter. He felt that there was a special bond between Kimika and her mom. Even when Kimika''s mom playfully teased her daughter, it was clear that it was all in good fun, filled with love and kindness.


    When they suddenly turned to him, he felt a bit awkward.


    "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean for it to turn out this way!" he said hurriedly, trying to explain why he had laughed. "I... I just thought it was funny... I didn''t mean to offend you!"


    "It''s okay!" Kimika interrupted Izuku, but now there was a slight smile in her voice. "She always does this¡­" Then, glancing at her mom, she added, "Don''t joke like that around my friends!"


    "Alright, alright," her mom replied, stifling her laughter. "I promise I won''t do it again. Though, Kimika, sometimes your reactions are just priceless!"


    Suddenly, a nervous, plump woman ran up to them with a distressed look on her face. Her greenish hair was slightly disheveled, and her eyes shone with worry. Kneeling down in front of Izuku, she hugged him tightly, as if she had forgotten everything else in the world, nearly crying with tears in her eyes.


    "Izuku... I''m sorry I''m late... I got held up at home," she hurriedly explained, looking at him with guilt.


    Seeing that it was his mom, he hugged her back. But feeling his face heat up with embarrassment because others were watching, he quickly ended the embrace.


    Izuku was in no way upset with his mom for being late; he loved her endlessly and knew she loved him just as much.


    "It''s okay, Mom! Don''t worry," he quickly said, eager to change the subject, and continued, "Mom, I have a new friend! We''re classmates. Here she is¡ªthis is Kimika Tanaki, and this is her mom, Yukiko Tanaki!"


    Hearing these words, Inko quickly calmed down and composed herself, looking at the people her son had pointed out, smiling as she felt happy that he had found friends besides his best friend Bakugo, with whom he had been friends since childhood.


    "Hello! I''m Inko Midoriya. It''s very nice to meet you!" she said warmly, standing up and wiping her eyes.


    "We''re happy to meet you too!" Yukiko replied, noticing the warm scene between them. Not wanting to focus on the tears or anything like that, she shifted the topic. "I''m glad our kids have become friends. They probably have a lot of fun ahead of them!"


    "I''m also incredibly happy!" Inko replied, smiling with joy. Her heart was filled with happiness because seeing her son find new friends was very important to her.


    During this wonderful moment, the moms began to chat, eager to learn more about each other, as the friendship between their children only grew stronger. Exchanging brief stories about their little ones, they felt they had found common ground. Soon, in the pleasant atmosphere of conversation, and learning that their homes were quite close to one another, they headed in the same direction home.


    The moms walked side by side while ahead of them, the cheerful kids animatedly discussed their future plans and favorite heroes. Both mothers smiled, watching the happy children, and their hearts filled with warmth, knowing their kids would live nearby and could play together often, which also meant their families would regularly get together.


    During the slow walk home, Inko became curious about why they had never met before.


    "You know, we''ve never met before," Inko began, leaning slightly toward Yukiko. "My son really loves walking around the neighborhood with friends, and it seems he''s never seen your daughter, even though we live nearby. Did you recently move to this area?"The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Oh, no," Yukiko smiled, sighing. "My Kimika doesn''t really like to walk around. She usually spends time at home or in the yard, which is why I was worried she might have a hard time finding friends. But I was extremely happy when I learned she had become friends with your son."


    "By the way, in Izuku''s class, there''s his best childhood friend, Katsuki Bakugo," Inko added, trying to spark a glimmer of hope. "Maybe they could become friends too. Bakugo is quite energetic and kind; he always leads others along."


    Yukiko''s face lit up, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.


    "That would be wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I''ll definitely ask Kimi if she''d like to be friends with him. The more friends, the better!"


    Seeing that their conversation was unfolding in a warm and friendly atmosphere, Inko decided it was the right time to share some important information. She wanted it to come at a convenient moment so that misunderstandings wouldn''t arise later if the conversation took an unexpected turn.


    "I... wanted to tell you something important," she began anxiously, lowering her voice slightly. "I wanted you to know right away... You see, my son... is quirkless."


    Yukiko raised her eyebrows with an interested expression.


    "Quirkless? Hmm..." she replied, smiling. "I don''t think that''s a bad thing. We''ve always taught Kimika not to look down on people without quirks or those whose quirks are weaker than hers. I''m sure she already knows this, since they''re friends and probably talked about it. And if she doesn''t know, don''t worry; everything will be fine."


    "Oh, I''m so glad to hear that!" Inko felt a wave of relief. "You know how some people treat the quirkless, especially children... And it''s even worse when they find out he wants to become a hero. I feel so sorry for Izuku on those days..."


    Seeing Inko''s concern, Yukiko sincerely began to cheer her up.


    "Please don''t be sad!" Yukiko continued, trying to encourage Inko. "Your son can still be a hero as a police officer, a doctor, or a firefighter. Each of these professions is important and requires bravery. You could even say they are heroes, as they save people and protect them. And even without a quirk, he can be a support hero, helping those who have quirks. So don''t worry; everything will be alright!"


    "You''re right," Inko nodded, her mood starting to improve. "I never thought of it that way. Izuku really can be a hero, even without a quirk."


    Inko pondered for a moment, trying to find the best way to convey this important thought to her son. She believed in his potential and wanted to show him that there are other types of heroes. While she wanted to believe in him with all her heart, she realized that without a quirk, it would be unlikely for him to become a hero ¡ª after all, there had never been one without a quirk. ''I definitely need to talk to him about this,'' she thought, feeling her heart swell with hope.


    However, turmoil reigned in her soul. Inko didn''t want to hurt him, but she had to find a way to show him alternatives, as it was painful to watch him suffer because of his quirklessness while dreaming of becoming a hero since childhood. When Izuku was diagnosed at four, his despair struck her deeply, and her heart nearly broke at the sight. Inko would never want to relive that experience.


    Meanwhile, the children were actively discussing various topics, especially regarding heroes. Izuku, lost in his thoughts, mostly talked on his own, sometimes falling into a trance as he analyzed the details of his favorite characters, forgetting everything around him. Kimika, watching his enthusiasm, didn''t mind at all ¡ª she genuinely enjoyed listening to him. She wasn''t just trying to support his mood; she felt true joy hearing his captivating stories about heroes, their quirks, and adventures.


    By the end of the conversation, the parents discussed the idea of a joint dinner one day when everyone was free. Yukiko felt mixed emotions upon learning that Izuku''s father wouldn''t be present at this gathering since he was currently abroad. However, she tried not to dwell on it, knowing that Inko and Izuku would come, and perhaps it was for the best. From Inko''s stories, Yukiko knew that Izuku''s father had been sending money for several years while barely communicating with his son. This made her think that perhaps he wasn''t the best person, but Yukiko didn''t want to voice this, knowing how much Inko loved her husband and how she didn''t reflect much on the fact that he seemed to have simply abandoned them.


    Returning home, Kimika eagerly awaited her father, just as she had two years ago, wanting to tell him about her day: about her kind teacher, her new friend, and many other impressions. She couldn''t wait to share her emotions.


    In the meantime, Kimika''s father returned home much sooner than usual. Today was a special day ¡ª the first day of school for his daughter. His colleagues and boss knew about it and decided they couldn''t let him stay at work. They literally "forced" him out, knowing he wouldn''t leave his post until the workday ended, and might even stay longer. In their eyes, he always placed work on the same level as family, perhaps even higher. They understood that he was a man of justice with an incredible desire to punish all criminals.


    When the whole family gathered at home, Kimika enthusiastically began to recount her day. She described all the events in detail but paid particular attention to the disdain the other children showed toward quirkless Izuku. Her disappointment was evident as she asked why they behaved that way, especially since they all dreamed of becoming heroes but still treated those who were weaker with disrespect.


    Kimika also talked a lot about her first friend, Izuku, and her parents were happy she had found someone to share her experiences with, especially her father, who heard about it for the first time. She mentioned Bakugo and their altercation. Yukiko, upon hearing this, didn''t even think about suggesting that Kimika befriend him; on the contrary, she was glad she hadn''t had the chance to say so.


    Her father, learning about the situation, felt incredibly angry at Bakugo for daring to speak that way and threaten his daughter, although he tried to remain calm on the outside. However, realizing that it was just a childish spat, he couldn''t take any serious measures other than to talk to the boy or his parents if he continued to behave that way. So, he told Kimika that if the situation happened again, she should inform him immediately.


    Despite these worries, the parents were very pleased that the teacher supported Izuku, which calmed them down a bit. Yukiko shared with her husband that she suggested having a family dinner, and he readily agreed, saying it was a good idea.


    After that, they continued to enjoy a delicious meal prepared by Yukiko, celebrating this important day for their daughter. Leaving all negativity behind, the family began to talk about cheerful topics, laughing in the process. The warm family atmosphere filled the room with joy and coziness, distracting everyone from their worries and concerns.


    ~~~ Meanwhile, Bakugo ~~~


    Bakugo, returning home after dinner with his family, sat on his bed, feeling the anger burning within him. ''How dare she talk to me like that?'' he thought, clenching his fists. ''Why did she choose to be friends with that trash, Deku, instead of the future number one hero like me?'' His thoughts swirled like sails in a storm. ''She and I are the only ones who can become real heroes in this class! Everyone else is just worthless, wasting my time!!''


    The anger towards Izuku grew, as Bakugo believed that he only dreamed of becoming a hero to keep up appearances and look cool. ''Why does that quirkless loser even think he can be a hero? It''s laughable!'' he thought, clenching his fists in contempt. Bakugo remembered that they used to be friends, but now he couldn''t understand why Izuku couldn''t let go of his impossible dreams. ''II know more about heroes than all these useless people!'' he imagined what a true hero looked like: strong, brave, and someone whose very presence would scare criminals, making them think twice before showing their faces.


    But Bakugo also knew that being a hero was very hard and dangerous, especially for those with a weak quirk, and especially for those who had none at all. He imagined how Izuku, trying to become a hero, could get hurt or even die.


    Despite his anger, deep down, Bakugo didn''t want anything to happen to Izuku. He remembered the moment he accidentally saw Inko crying, worried about her son. Her tear-streaked face and the look in her eyes left a deep impression on his memory. ''I can''t let her son get hurt or die!'' he thought, feeling the weight of responsibility. ''I need to talk him out of this nonsense, this dream, even if I have to do it in an unconventional way!''


    He remembered trying to talk Deku out of it with simple words, but that hadn''t worked. Now Bakugo began to think of other possible ways that could help him achieve his goal. And he was doing well until this Kimika showed up... ''She''ll regret her choice soon enough! Once she realizes that Deku is just dragging her down!'' he thought, feeling his anger boil in his heart.


    Deep down, Bakugo still wanted to prove that he was a true hero, and even if he had to prove it to everyone, he wouldn''t stop until he achieved what he desired. ''I''ll show everyone that I''m the best! No one will ever stop me! I will become the best hero in this world, the number one hero!'' With these thoughts, he finally fell asleep, feeling his anger and determination intertwining in his dreams.

 Dinner with a Bitter Truth

    A few days later, the day of the joint dinner between the Kimika family and the Izuku family arrived, and the chosen meeting place was the former''s apartment. The apartment was significantly larger than Izuku''s, thanks to Yukiko''s fairly wealthy yet stingy parents. They had only allowed themselves to splurge once, buying their daughter a spacious apartment for her wedding.


    This meeting had been postponed several times due to the constant delays of the head of the family, Takeshi, who worked as a detective. His dedication to justice and his desire to solve crimes made him exceptional and unique, which was why he always had numerous cases to handle. Takeshi possessed a rare ability to detect lies, a skill utilized only by him and his colleague, Detective Tsukauchi. Because of this, he earned a reputation as a person capable of solving even the most complex cases, and his name became known not just in the city, but throughout the country.


    People considered him a hero, although Takeshi always insisted that it was his duty as a detective. However, deep down, he was pleased to be called that, as his daughter often praised him for his achievements, saying he was the best hero. He dreamed of gaining even more fame for her sake, though he never openly admitted it. Work had become his second home, almost replacing his family, and, unfortunately, he often sacrificed family time to fulfill his duties.


    However, after numerous refusals and delays, his wife Yukiko decided to take action. She arranged a small "conversation" with Takeshi that resembled a one-sided lecture, as he had no arguments to defend himself and was fully aware of his guilt. Her words became a significant point: "This dinner is important for our daughter. And without you, it won''t happen." For Takeshi, this was a decisive moment. Although he incredibly loved Kimika, his feelings often remained largely unexpressed. His parents taught him that emotions were a weakness, and in his family, it was never customary to show love. Therefore, he often forgot the necessity of expressing his feelings, even when it concerned his little beloved daughter.


    Moved by Yukiko''s words, Takeshi realized he could no longer ignore this important event. He remembered Kimika, her happy eyes, and the boundless love she offered him unconditionally. If she had ever said that it was important to her or that she wanted to spend time with him, he would have left work without hesitation and rushed to her; perhaps even quit if she had asked.


    So, at last, Takeshi agreed. His heart swelled with pride and love for his daughter, but he still didn''t know how to express it. This was not easy for a man who had been taught from childhood to view emotions as something to hide, even if his wife tried to teach him to demonstrate them rather than keep them inside. However, he yearned to be a better father, and this dinner presented an opportunity for him to openly express his feelings, albeit in a very cautious manner.


    Finally, as Yukiko prepared a multitude of dishes, including Kimika''s favorite meals, the Izuku family and his mother arrived. Surprisingly, it was Izuku''s mother who appeared concerned, while he himself showed no particular signs of anxiety. He wasn''t worried, as he visited Kimika almost every day to play or invite her for a walk. However, the second day of their acquaintance had been quite challenging for him: Kimika had almost dragged him home to show off her room and her collection of figurines and hero posters, especially of All Might, seeing nothing wrong with it, which quickly made him accustomed to the atmosphere in her apartment.


    When Izuku and his mother entered, they greeted each other, and Yukiko, smiling, invited them to sit at the table. She hoped this would be a simple dinner where they could talk about ordinary things, exchange news, and perhaps even share stories about their children.


    However, she knew that her husband, Takeshi, would likely be unable to resist discussing school-related issues and the potential bullying that Izuku faced. Yukiko felt anxious because Takeshi''s character was quite reserved and straightforward, and he could steer the conversation in a direction she did not want to raise. She hoped the children would soon run off to play, leaving the adults alone to ease the atmosphere.


    Yukiko was the first to speak, wanting to start the conversation on a light note:


    "I hope you enjoy the dishes I prepared. They are mostly Kimika''s favorite foods, but I also made a few of my best recipes!"


    "Oh, don''t worry about that!" Inko smiled. "I''m looking forward to trying your dishes! And I''m sure it will be simply delicious!"


    Eventually, the conversation flowed easily, touching on simple topics: news, heroes, and interesting stories to encourage the children to participate. However, throughout the entire discussion, one person remained almost silent ¡ª Takeshi, who only occasionally added a few words to the conversation. Inko noticed that others, including Kimika and Yukiko, took his silence in stride, as if they weren''t paying attention to his reticence.


    The atmosphere around Takeshi felt cold and stern, even though he said nothing offensive. Inko felt a bit nervous when he chimed in, but to her surprise, she noticed a slight smile on his face whenever his family spoke. Eventually, she realized that Takeshi was just that kind of person, and his silence did not mean a lack of emotions or aggression.


    And so their conversation smoothly transitioned into a rather amusing vein when Yukiko decided to share photos of their daughter. She opened her phone and began showing snapshots, recounting various moments from Kimika''s life.


    "Here''s her birth! And here are her first steps!" Yukiko proudly displayed, while Kimika smiled, a bit flushed. "And there''s even a video of her taking her first steps and falling onto a pillow! And she didn''t even start crying; she just laughed!" she added.


    Yukiko, with enthusiasm, continued showing the photos.


    "And here she is trying on different costumes!" she said, opening an album and showcasing all the pictures of Kimika posing in various outfits: a princess, a hero, a little dragon, a bunny, and many others. Each photo elicited enthusiastic comments from everyone except Kimika, who, though happy, felt a bit embarrassed by the attention on her childhood looks.


    "And this is a recent photo, her first day at school!" said Yukiko, displaying a picture of Kimika, lively and energetically running to school with her new backpack. Everyone watched with delight as she exited the school, with Izuku walking beside her.


    "Oh, and that''s me!" Izuku exclaimed joyfully when he saw himself in the photo taken when they were walking home from school together. He laughed, feeling he had become a part of this sweet atmosphere.


    Eventually, the adults'' conversation shifted to various topics again, and after eating the main dishes, the children headed to Kimika''s room to play. They felt a bit bored with the adult discussions, which had started to touch on more serious matters that did not interest them. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "Come on, let''s play video games!" Kimika eagerly invited Izuku, leading him away from the table.


    Once the parents were alone, for the first time, it was Takeshi who spoke up, not Yukiko or Inko.


    "While the children are away, let''s discuss more important matters," he said seriously, and the atmosphere at the table immediately became colder and calmer, not as warm as it had been during the lively conversations with the kids. Inko and Yukiko looked at Takeshi attentively, waiting for him to continue.


    "Miss Inko," he addressed her, "I would like to tell you something that Kimika mentioned to me. To get straight to the point, your son is facing bullying at school from his classmates."


    Inko''s face instantly changed, taking on a worried expression. She listened intently to Takeshi, trying to grasp what she was hearing. Her son Izuku had always said that everything was fine at school, so she couldn''t believe what she had just heard. However, looking at Takeshi, she felt that his words could not be lies.


    An inner voice whispered to her that perhaps Bakugo, Izuku''s childhood friend, would at least protect him, as they had been inseparable since they were toddlers. But the more she listened, the more her heart filled with anxiety. "How could this happen? Why didn''t he tell me?" Inko began to feel the weight of responsibility on her shoulders to uncover the truth and protect Izuku from any troubles that could threaten him.


    "So..." Takeshi continued, trying to find the right words to convey the information without causing unnecessary alarm. "Your son is being verbally bullied to some extent by his classmates, as he is quite different, which is not new in our times. The main culprit in this, as Kimika told me, is Katsuki Bakugo. I don''t know all the details, but that''s all I can say." Takeshi thought to himself, ''I have to tell the hard truth, even if it''s painful for her to hear my words. Only then can they address this issue.'' However, to avoid further dampening the atmosphere, he decided to share some positive aspects as well.


    "Despite this, it seems that their homeroom teacher, Sae Fujiwara, is protecting your son," he added, trying to convey at least a glimmer of optimism in this difficult situation.


    Inko listened, biting her lips to keep her emotions in check. Her heart raced, and anxiety enveloped her like an invisible shadow. She had always suspected that Izuku might be struggling at school due to his lack of quirks, and even if that were the case, she wished he would have confided in her about his experiences. ''I would have gone to the school and talked to his homeroom teacher to discuss the situation with the kids... Or maybe I would have transferred him to another school. That might be the best option...'' But now, as she heard Takeshi''s words, she felt lost because Izuku hadn''t shared this with her himself. She was unsure of what to do since it wasn''t something he had directly told her.


    Her thoughts spun around potential ways to support her son and protect him from this awful experience. ''I have to do something; I can''t just sit and watch him suffer.'' Inko felt her determination rising, and she knew she was ready to act, despite her fears and uncertainties.


    Wiping away the tears that had welled up in her eyes, she refocused on Takeshi, partly hoping he would provide her with options on how to resolve this situation. Seeing Inko trying to gather herself, Takeshi couldn''t help but smile. He had expected her to break down, but instead, she found the strength to listen to him further.


    "As you can understand, you need to talk not only with your son but also with his homeroom teacher about this, as well as with Bakugo''s parents," he said seriously. "Because, as far as I know, you''re quite familiar with his parents."


    Inko nodded, realizing the importance of these words. Thoughts swirled in her mind about how to initiate this conversation. She knew Bakugo''s parents to be good people, but hearing about issues involving their son made her question their parenting. ''Children are a reflection of their parents. Can I trust them?'' she pondered, all while wishing to avoid any conflicts.


    Takeshi continued, sensing her anxiety:


    "I''m also not sure that changing schools would be advisable. It could be the same there, and it might be better to leave him here, where at least the teacher is protecting him."


    He paused for a moment. His professional instincts as a detective urged him to take action, but he understood that the situation was more complicated; these were not criminals, just children. Even if they were bullying Izuku, he couldn''t just come in and arrest them or something similar. Perhaps the only thing left for him to do was discuss it with the teacher, who was likely already doing everything in her power.


    "And you have to understand that, despite being a detective, I can''t just come in and solve this problem," he continued. "These are just children''s squabbles, and police intervention will probably not change anything. Even my conversation with the parents might not make sense because these are children, and there are many nuances in their relationships that they need to resolve on their own. If I intervene, it might only escalate the situation."


    He knew he wasn''t a specialist in child matters, so although he wanted to help, he couldn''t offer any useful advice. ''If I say something wrong, it could make everything worse,'' he thought, realizing how important it was to approach this issue carefully.


    Eventually, they concluded their conversation on that note, returning to a quiet atmosphere where only occasional cautious phrases could be heard. The joy that had previously filled the table noticeably dimmed; the weight of the important topic just discussed hung over them like an invisible burden. Each of the three was acutely aware of the seriousness of the situation.


    Yukiko sighed softly, feeling that Takeshi''s words should have come at the end of the conversation rather than in the midst of it. She regretted that now, while the children were having fun, they had to remain in such a tense atmosphere. However, as a mother, she understood how crucial this discussion was for Inko. ''I wouldn''t know how to react in a situation like this either,'' Yukiko thought, feeling empathy for her friend.


    At the same time, the children, who had been playing on the console in Kimika''s room, were enjoying the games. Izuku turned out to be quite a strong fan of such entertainment, while the girl was just beginning to get the hang of it. She had received the console recently after seeing Izuku play and had really wanted one for herself. During their playtime, they discussed various topics, mostly focusing on their favorite heroes.


    However, when they returned to the room, they stumbled upon a rather frosty and tense atmosphere. Inko, noticing that Izuku had come back, decided it was time to talk to him about important matters. Yukiko and Takeshi understood her decision and quietly bid her farewell, supporting her wish to discuss the situation. Kimika, although a bit disappointed because she wanted to continue playing, sensed that something had happened during their absence.


    As Izuku and Inko said their goodbyes and went home, Yukiko briefly recounted their conversation. She mentioned that they had talked about the bullying Izuku faced at school and why his mother had decided to speak with him. Hearing this, Kimika felt relieved, hoping that everything would work out.


    Eventually, as Kimika prepared for bed and settled down, her mother came in to stroke her hair and kiss her forehead, as always, for good luck. Kimika adored these tender moments; it had become a ritual she couldn''t sleep without. Feeling her mother''s care, she closed her eyes, thinking that soon, maybe not tomorrow, but everything would be better, and quietly drifted off to sleep.


    ~~~ Meanwhile, at the Midoriya''s house ~~~


    Meanwhile, upon returning home, Inko initiated an important conversation with Izuku. With a slight tremor in her voice, she told her son about the bullying she had learned about from Takeshi. Her words conveyed anxiety, as she couldn''t understand why Izuku hadn''t told her about it earlier.


    Hearing this, Izuku couldn''t hold back his tears. Inko, seeing this, hugged him, sensing his fear. He wondered why his mom was so worried¡­ after all, everything was fine. To him, it was just a small obstacle on the path of a hero. Inko didn''t demand an answer, knowing he was just a little boy who was scared.


    "Everything will be alright, don''t worry," she said, barely holding back her own tears. In that moment, they both cried in each other''s embrace, finding comfort in one another.

 The Future of Bullying

    The next day, Inko went to school to address the bullying situation concerning her son due to his quirklessness. At first, she met with the principal, hoping he could organize discussions or ask the teachers to talk to the students about this issue. Inko was convinced there might be other children at the school, like her son, who were quirkless and faced difficulties because of it. She wanted not only to help her son but also to support other kids in this situation who likely hadn''t mentioned it to their parents.


    At Inko''s words, the principal smiled slightly, as if assuring her that everything would be alright. He promised to take the necessary steps to rectify the situation.


    "Thank you for reaching out to us directly. We always strive to create a comfortable environment for all students. If such situations are indeed occurring in the classroom, we will definitely have a discussion with the teachers and talk to the students about it." He said, looking intently into Inko''s eyes.


    He took a brief pause, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, and continued with a serious expression:


    "You know, sometimes kids, while playing, might not realize where the line is drawn. Perhaps your son just misunderstood the game, and it wasn''t meant with serious intent. However, we take any instances of bullying very seriously, especially concerning children without quirks. It''s important to understand that this could just be part of children''s play. But don''t worry, we''ll sort it out!"


    Inko felt a sense of relief that the principal understood her concerns. However, she also noticed that he was directly indicating his doubts about her words, trying to justify possible instances of bullying as mere children''s games. Despite this, she was grateful that, despite his caution, he promised to take action. Internally, she still felt that his words were merely a formality, but at least a promise was better than nothing.


    Inko also spoke with the homeroom teacher, Sae Fujiwara, who, as she knew, had already been supportive of her son. She was confident that the teacher would do everything possible to resolve the situation, even if the principal didn''t respond. During their conversation, Inko detailed all the circumstances, just as she had with the principal. In response, Sae mentioned that she had already tried to talk to the children and put a stop to the bullying. At one point, she even thought the problem had been resolved, so she didn''t feel it was necessary to report it further. However, now that Inko had told her that the bullying was still ongoing, the teacher expressed regret for not checking on the situation, even bowing to show her sympathy.


    Inko couldn''t help but feel joy seeing that the homeroom teacher, as she believed, was sincerely trying and continued to help her son. She was incredibly grateful that this teacher was in charge of the class instead of someone else who might have been indifferent to such issues. Therefore, Inko sincerely thanked her for her efforts and expressed hope that she would continue to support her son.


    After the conversation, Inko happily headed home, feeling that everything had gone much better and that the bullying would likely come to an end. Although she didn''t mention Bakugo, as she planned to talk to his parents herself, Inko thought that while her opinion was that children reflect their parents, it might be worth a try rather than doing nothing.


    At the same time, the principal called Sae Fujiwara to come to his office for a discussion about a matter that could jeopardize their careers. As soon as Sae entered the principal''s office, her gaze immediately fell on him. He stood by the window, taking drags from a cigarette, his shoulders tense and his expression unfriendly. The smoke rose slowly, just like his irritation; she knew very well that smoking helped him calm down.


    Seeing Sae enter, the principal said nothing, continuing to stare out the window, inhaling deeply from the expensive cigarette that seemed to be his only companion at that moment.


    Gathering her courage, the woman stepped forward and broke the silence:


    "Good afternoon," she finally said, feeling her voice tremble slightly.


    The principal took another drag from his cigarette and exhaled the smoke, looking at her with clear irritation.


    "You can''t call it good," he said, his voice filled with coldness. "Tell me..." He paused briefly, making it clear just how serious the situation was. In that moment, Sae felt chills run down her spine. She knew that one careless word could get her fired from the school, likely making it hard for her to find another job.


    "A woman named... Inko, I believe, also came to see you?" he asked, gazing out the window where the evening light scattered golden reflections.


    "Y-yes!" she stammered, trying to gather her thoughts.


    "And she talked about her son, right? About bullying and all that..." he continued, an ironic smile appearing on his face.


    Sae merely nodded, knowing that the principal already had all the answers to his questions, and her attempts to justify herself would be pointless.


    "We''ve known each other long enough..." he began, turning back to the view outside the window, where the evening sky was beginning to darken. "I know all about your activities... And as I understand it, you''ve already chosen the kids you want to befriend, to build trust, and all that... To eventually become a teacher who taught a hero..." After these words, he smiled, his expression turning ironic, as if what he said was a joke worthy of laughter.


    He paused, savoring the scene of the evening sunset outside, and then, turning back to her with a cold, knowing gaze, asked:


    "Well then... Explain to me, please, what the hell is bullying doing in your class? No, better tell me why, damn it, did the parents find out about it?" His voice sounded almost calm, but without even looking the woman in the eye, he repeated his words more aggressively. "What the hell, the parents found out about this damn bullying?! You''ve been successfully hiding and preventing such cases for years with your quirk of calmness. All your classes were exemplary, perfect... Your reputation grew along with the school''s. And now... bam! Some whore comes in and says, ''My son is being bullied, deal with it, talk to the teachers and the kids!'' What does she think, that I don''t give a damn?!" He barked, slamming his hand on the desk with such force that Sae thought it might split in half.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Hearing these words, Sae instinctively lowered her gaze and felt a tremor start within her. She knew that the principal was indifferent to bullying and the well-being of the students. For him, the most important thing was to avoid rumors, scandals, and any unwanted attention on the school online, as this could trigger unplanned inspections that might expose his illegal dealings. Although she didn''t know exactly what he was up to, his expensive cigarettes, luxury cars, and large house spoke for themselves.


    ''How can this old bastard yell at me like that?'' ¡ª Sae thought. For a moment, she imagined revealing all his secrets to the police but quickly remembered that the principal likely had connections even within law enforcement. Moreover, she understood that without his "help," many of her own plans would never come to fruition. So, all she could do was remain silent, staying his obedient "dog on a leash" with no right to escape.


    "I... I don''t know!" she exclaimed, not taking her eyes off the floor. "I activate my quirk as always while in class. But this time, there''s one student whose personality completely blocks its effect. You could say that because of him, it doesn''t work at all! I''ve never had kids without quirks before!"


    The principal, listening to her words, skeptically thought that it was just an excuse. However, he realized how useful Sae was to him, and he couldn''t afford to get rid of her over such a minor oversight.


    "These quirkless... How can they not understand that this world no longer belongs to them!" He clicked his tongue in disgust. "Alright, you''re lucky today. Have a talk with those little bastards. I don''t care if you can stop this bullying ¡ª the main thing is that it doesn''t cast a shadow on the school''s reputation. I don''t care how you do it: even tell them openly to bully him outside the school''s walls."


    After that, Sae thought she could leave and quickly started to exit the office, but the principal stopped her.


    "Ah, wait... I''m curious, who did you choose this time?" he said, calming down and starting to gaze out the window while lighting a cigarette.


    "Out of the whole class, only two are worth noting: Kimika Tanaki and Katsuki Bakugo. The former has a time quirk, although it''s still quite weak, and the latter has an explosion quirk. He''s the one making my quirk ineffective."


    "Hm... Tanaki... I''ve heard that name somewhere before," the principal pondered. He couldn''t help but recall a certain detective who was quite well-known across the country¡ªTakeshi Tanaki.


    "Change your plans. I don''t care how, but you need to ensure that this girl doesn''t tell her father anything. I don''t care how you manage it, but it must be done!"


    The woman nodded, fully aware of the principal''s concerns. That detective, if he wanted to, could easily ruin all his dealings, even with his connections. Feeling the weight of responsibility increase, Sae imagined the consequences if Kimika even hinted at the bullying to her father. He would likely initiate an investigation into the school immediately, and everyone would be scrutinized without exception. In the process, information about dark dealings could surface, potentially putting her at risk as well. Although she hadn''t participated in any of them, her knowledge made her an accomplice. She understood that deceiving him would be impossible, as he had a quirk that acted as a lie detector. Ultimately, she left the office, leaving the principal alone with his thoughts.


    Left alone, the principal began to realize that he might soon face serious problems because Sae would likely fail her task. He knew her true nature: she sought to appear friendly to the children, ingratiating herself with them to gain an advantage when they became heroes, which could backfire on her. Even now, thanks to her quirk, she enjoyed a certain popularity as a teacher.


    The principal was also aware that she only displayed strength in front of the weak, while being cautious around the strong. Her confidence was merely a facade, as she was fundamentally weak herself. He sensed that even now, Sae was probably harboring hatred toward him in her thoughts, but he couldn''t care less. Let her try to show any aggression ¡ª then her life would be ruined.


    So, he decided to take matters into his own hands, pulling the strings himself. He could burden Kimika''s father with work since he knew a lot about this detective. For instance, he considered work his second home and was a man of justice, the embodiment of a hero who was willing to devote all his time to catching criminals instead of spending it with his family. Thus, by piling more work on him, the principal hoped to distance him from his family. Although this busyness might weigh down the father, he would likely learn about the bullying sooner or later if Sae didn''t stop or conceal it. However, he planned to hide his intentions well enough that they wouldn''t be uncovered until someone started digging specifically for that.


    Additionally, the principal thought of ways to burden Kimika''s mother as well. Perhaps he could push her to look for a new job or try to get her a promotion at her current workplace, which would also force her to work more.


    However, the principal realized that not everything might work out. He didn''t know what the girl''s relationship with her parents was like; perhaps, despite their busy schedules, they still found time for her. This uncertainty troubled him, but he believed the risk was worth the potential rewards. If the situation got out of hand, he could even consider orchestrating an attempt on Takeshi''s life or making it look like he was killed by hired thugs. But such a step would undoubtedly raise suspicions, and he might end up being implicated in the investigation, or everyone could find out that he was behind the attack.


    Therefore, he decided to proceed cautiously at first, pulling the strings of the Tanaki family, hoping he wouldn''t have to resort to murder.


    At the same time, Sae Fujiwara was contemplating what to do. She didn''t consider herself a good person and certainly didn''t plan on constantly defending Izuku. Most likely, she would gradually start to show that as long as the bullying happened within the school''s territory, she would deny it. But once Izuku''s bullies saw that she didn''t care outside of school, they might get used to carrying out their "fun" there, or in the process, they might start acting in a way that would prevent Izuku from telling his mother about it.


    However, she couldn''t just ignore the situation, as it would lead to the loss of her relationship with Kimika, who was good friends with Izuku. Sae didn''t fully understand how to proceed but decided to try everything she could. Perhaps she could gain the trust of both Kimika and Bakugo when he saw that she was ignoring the bullying outside of school.


    But she also began to wonder if she should focus on her relationship with Bakugo, as it might turn out to be much easier than maintaining a friendship with Kimika. Bakugo, while being a brute, was more straightforward and might be more receptive to her intentions.

 Betrayal of a Friend

    A few months had passed since Kimika started attending school. During this time, her friendship with Izuku had only improved, and they spent time together almost every day, sometimes even sleeping over at each other''s places. Their families had also strengthened their relationships, especially after that evening when a heavy topic was brought up. Now, almost every week, they gathered together in someone''s apartment to talk about various subjects.


    Kimika continued to train with her quirk and develop physically under her father''s guidance, although she noticed he had started to stay at work late quite often. She knew he had done this before, but now it was happening almost every day. While she felt sad about it, it wasn''t as severe since her mom was always nearby.


    At school, after that day, the homeroom teacher had a talk with the parents regarding bullying, hinting that they should speak with their children about how unacceptable it was. Sae Fujiwara did this because she thought it was the easiest way to stop the bullying towards Izuku. At the time, she still believed she could earn Kimika''s trust and thereby improve her reputation as a teacher. She also feared that if the situation continued, the principal wouldn''t give her another chance.


    And it actually worked: the kids stopped treating Izuku poorly, beginning to completely ignore him, as they didn''t want their parents to yell at them again. But this lasted only a few days until Bakugo started bullying him again, calling him "quirkless," "trash," and similar names. Seeing this, the other kids resumed their verbal bullying with renewed vigor, as they were still angry that their parents had scolded them because of him.


    Although the homeroom teacher tried to handle the situation by speaking directly with the kids about it, she ultimately realized that it was easier to ignore it as long as they acted within certain limits, and it could be considered just childish games.


    The other kids sometimes attempted to strike up conversations or befriend Kimika because she had a rather unique quirk, and they were drawn to her like a magnet. She always said she was willing to be friends and talk with them if they apologized to Izuku, which they never did. As a result, Kimika and Izuku became almost outcasts in the class ¡ª Kimika was simply ignored by her classmates, while Izuku was verbally bullied by the other kids. Occasionally, these taunts also turned towards Kimika.


    The reason for the bullying towards Kimika was that Bakugo, who was both feared and respected by everyone for his quirk, began to verbally torment her, insulting her and calling her various names. The other kids took this as a signal: "If he can do it, why can''t I? What makes me worse than him?"


    But Kimika and Izuku tried to ignore them, existing in their own atmosphere and enjoying each other''s company. Moreover, the kids noticed that the two of them didn''t share anything with their parents, which only emboldened them to act more freely.


    And so the next day arrived, with Kimika walking to school with her mom as usual. Although she had memorized the route long ago, she still enjoyed walking with her mother, who loved it too.


    "So, my little Kimika, are you ready for today at school?" Yukiko asked her daughter. This question was asked every day and had become a sort of daily pre-school ritual.


    Hearing this standard yet eagerly awaited question, Kimika couldn''t help but smile and happily replied, "Of course!"


    Seeing her happy daughter, Yukiko couldn''t help but smile back and gently pat her on the head. As they reached the school, she wished her good luck before she headed inside: "Have a great day at school!"


    Afterward, the cheerful girl ran into the school, eager to discuss many topics with Izuku and learn something new, which she absolutely loved.


    Upon entering the classroom, Kimika immediately heard familiar voices. She stopped, seeing Bakugo standing by Izuku''s desk with his friends. Her heart sank, as she knew what this meant: he was there to bully him again. But that wasn''t all; she noticed that Bakugo had Izuku''s notebook in his hands, where he had been drawing heroes, their costumes, and analyzing their quirks.


    "What are you doing, Deku?" he mockingly asked, flipping through the drawings in the recently snatched notebook. "Do you really think this junk is worth anything to anyone?" he said with a smug grin, while two of his friends started laughing as they looked through the notebook, which contained only unclear sketches of people, costumes, and a multitude of words.


    "L-Let it go, Ka-Kacchan! It''s mine!" Izuku nervously exclaimed, watching anxiously as his notebook passed from hand to hand.


    "Don''t be selfish, we''re curious too!" Kacchan replied mockingly, a spark in his eyes as he continued to flip through the notes laid out before him. He smirked mischievously, not hiding his satisfaction. "Ah... I see why you''re not sharing ¡ª it''s just trash, after all."


    Kimika, who had been watching the whole scene, could no longer stand by. She ran up to them, determined to snatch the notebook back. Appearing out of nowhere, she effortlessly tore the notebook from Bakugo''s hands.


    "This isn''t yours, Bakugo!" she said firmly, holding the notebook tightly, feeling her heart race with adrenaline.


    Bakugo stared at her in surprise, and his expression quickly shifted to one filled with anger.


    "Have you lost your mind?" he shouted, trying to regain control of the situation. His voice turned sharp, and his eyes blazed with fury, glowing like red fire.


    Kimika stood her ground, trying to remain calm in the face of his aggression.


    "This isn''t yours!" she stubbornly repeated, squeezing the notebook in her hands. "Izuku worked hard on his hero analyses, and you have no right to belittle his efforts!"


    "HAHAHAHA! So these are hero analyses... I thought they were just scribbles! You know... you think too highly of yourself. Just because your quirk is different from everyone else''s doesn''t mean you can do whatever you want!" he said, tiny explosions starting to appear in his hands. The expression on his face grew increasingly filled with rage.


    After his words, Bakugo could no longer contain his rage and lunged at Kimika, forcefully trying to snatch the notebook from her hands. His friends, noticing this, immediately grabbed her wrists, squeezing them to weaken her grip and pulling wrists toward themselves. Despite all her efforts, Kimika felt her hold loosening. She tried to hold on, knowing how precious these notes were to her friend.


    Soon, a sharp ripping sound echoed ¡ª the notebook tore in half. Bakugo quickly snatched both halves from her hands while she was still in shock. Wasting no time, he detonated both pieces of the ripped notebook in his hands, turning them into charred scraps of paper.


    Satisfied with himself, he gave a sinister smile and turned to Kimika:


    "Oh, sorry," Bakugo drawled sarcastically, looking at Kimika with a predatory grin. "Do you seriously think these scribbles you call ''hero analyses'' are worth anything? Ha! It''s just trash!" His smile became even more brazen, and he laughed with glee.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    With his friends, he left them, leaving Izuku and Kimika alone with their thoughts and fears.


    When Kimika finally realized what had happened, a wave of rage engulfed her with renewed strength. She had endured all their humiliations only because Izuku had asked her not to tell anyone, as he didn''t want their parents, especially his mom, to worry. But when they destroyed his hard work, it became the last straw for her.


    Seeing the change in her expression, Izuku quickly approached her, trying to soothe her:


    "It''s okay, Kimika, don''t worry! I can recreate those notes. I''ll even make them better, I promise!"


    However, she could no longer contain her anger and, with pain in her voice, said:


    "And what? So they can destroy them again?"


    Izuku, with his usual softness and a voice slightly muted like his mother''s¡ªwho always avoided conflict ¡ª said:


    "Just... don''t fight it, Kimika. It''s not... that important to argue over. And... please don''t tell anyone about this; they won''t change anyway." Izuku spoke with quiet resignation, reflecting his desire to avoid unnecessary problems, just like his mother always did.


    One single reason flashed through his mind: ''If Mom finds out, she''ll start worrying about me again...'' He couldn''t allow her to be upset and cry even more over his minor problems at school, and that thought wouldn''t leave him.


    Kimika, hearing his words, couldn''t contain her anger and clenched her fists. She remembered telling her parents about the bullying, which led them to inform Izuku''s mother. Her visit to the homeroom teacher helped for a short time, and when the taunts returned, she planned to approach her parents again. But Izuku simply told her, ''It''s just words, don''t worry, nothing worse will happen.'' And since he was her best and only friend, she agreed, even when they started teasing her as well. She didn''t tell her parents because of Izuku''s words that they wouldn''t do anything worse, and that it was just trivial stuff that might make her parents worry too much ¡ª and because real heroes, like the two of them wanted to be, had to endure such little things to become stronger.


    But now, when his notebook was taken away, he just stood by and watched while she tried to help. Even when they lunged at her to grab the notebook, he remained on the sidelines and, in the end, asked her again not to do anything and not to tell anyone. She valued Izuku, loved playing with him and listening to his stories ¡ª even his mumbling during hero analyses, during which he forgot everything in the world, even her ¡ª but his weakness, softness, and unwillingness to confront began to irritate her. Why should she endure all this just to keep his mother calm while she was in incredible pain from every mocking comment directed at her?


    Kimika''s anger grew. If this continued, what would happen next time? ''They started with words, then destroyed his notebook ¡ª what''s next?'' She felt that Izuku cared more about his mom, who might start worrying about him, completely forgetting what was happening to her, his only friend, who, unlike him, was trying to stand up for herself and for him.


    If they dared to destroy his notebook, then they might soon start doing similar things to her, just like they had with the taunts. Over time, they could begin to do even worse things. And then what?


    Did he want her to ignore all of that again?


    "You..." Kimika muttered, letting out a heavy sigh, and, overwhelmed with anger, sat down at her desk, trying to cope with the wave of emotions.


    Izuku, watching her, hoped she would do as she always did: not tell her parents. Images of his crying mother ¡ª the most important person in his life ¡ª flooded his mind. He couldn''t allow himself to see her in that state again because of his minor problems at school. He also felt uneasy knowing that Kimika was being laughed at simply for being friends with him, "quirkless." But he hoped she would continue to ignore those taunts and that their friendship would remain the same as always.


    Eventually, the lesson with their homeroom teacher began. She greeted the students with her usual warm smile, radiating kindness and a genuine spirit that never left her face. Kimika always saw her as the only person, besides herself, who truly cared about Izuku, and that gave her hope.


    Gathering all her strength, she raised her hand, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to show Izuku that it was better to speak up than to hide everything.


    "Yes, Kimika?" the teacher asked, her gaze radiating kindness and interest.


    "I''m sorry, I would like to say that..." Kimika began, gathering her thoughts. She took a deep breath and continued, "They''re teasing Izuku and me again! And... and... Bakugo even blew up Izuku''s notebook with his quirk!"


    Sae Fujiwara let out a heavy sigh upon hearing this. She had hoped that after the conversation with the class, everything would come to an end, but unfortunately, that didn''t happen. She no longer felt inclined to help Kimika, especially the quirkless Izuku. While Kimika''s quirk was quite unique and powerful, Sae had recently learned more about time-related quirks. She discovered that there were incredibly few well-known quirks associated with time, and most of them were remarkably weak. Almost no heroes had gained fame for a time-related quirk.


    The weakness of her quirk was further underscored by the fact that her mother had a similar ability ¡ª both could alter the speed of objects and people. Sae began to doubt whether her quirk was truly related to time and suspected that the doctor who examined her had mistakenly classified it as a time quirk.


    These thoughts led her to feel even less inclined to defend either of them. It made no sense: she wouldn''t gain anything from it, no reputation, nothing at all, except losing a lot of time and nerves protecting these two. She couldn''t help but ask herself, ''Why isn''t she like Izuku? He just endures everything and stays quiet.'' However, gathering her thoughts, she decided not to reveal her feelings. With a kind and sincere face that served only as a mask, she said:


    "Kimika, are you sure it''s not just a game? Maybe you just misunderstood its nature?" Sae asked, hoping to ultimately ignore the whole situation.


    "I''m sure!" Kimika replied firmly, her voice trembling with emotion. She turned to Izuku, trying to find confirmation in his eyes.


    Izuku, who was incredibly anxious and shaking, realized that his friend had finally spoken up. He was completely engulfed in fear, and images of his worried, crying mother began to fill his mind as he imagined her finding out that this had all continued. He couldn''t bring himself to watch her cry and apologize for not helping him sooner.


    "N-n-no, it was... just a game..." he stammered, swallowing hard. Izuku realized that by saying this, he might lose a friend, but for some reason, he couldn''t find the strength to say other words to support Kimika when she was trying to help him.


    Kimika couldn''t believe what she was hearing. She wanted to help them both, but it seemed that Izuku didn''t want that. She didn''t understand why he liked being insulted and mocked; why he wasn''t angry about his notebook being destroyed, and now he was just defending his tormentors. It felt as if she had been stabbed in the back by the very person she wanted to help, her only friend.


    "What? But¡­ but that''s not true! He''s lying!" Kimika exclaimed, her voice cracking with anger and disappointment. She looked at Izuku with tear-filled eyes, unable to believe her ears. Her heart raced faster.


    Sae also couldn''t believe what she had heard, but inside her, a sense of joy ignited. Now Kimika had to understand that Izuku didn''t want to be protected. If she realized this, she would simply stop doing it, and the bullying directed at her would likely end since it had only begun because of her defense.


    Especially after feeling as if she had been stabbed in the back by the very person she had worked so hard to protect, Kimika might change her attitude. She probably wouldn''t even tell her parents, knowing that Izuku didn''t want that. And Izuku, in turn, wouldn''t tell anyone how he had been dealing with it until now.


    "But he himself says it''s not true and that it''s just a game," Sae said, trying to sound convincing.


    "Kimika, maybe you really didn''t understand that it was just a childish game."


    Kimika felt as if she had been struck by a blow to her very heart. Everyone in the class disliked her for being friends with and defending Izuku against their taunts. Because of this, they began to mock her too, but now she had received a blow from him as well. Even the teacher, whom she trusted and thought could help her like she always had, simply didn''t believe her words. She wouldn''t have believed her own words either upon hearing that the one she was defending said it wasn''t true. She realized that in this class, there was no one who could support her, help her, or protect her.


    She wanted to reveal her biggest secret, the one her mother had asked her to keep even from Izuku ¡ª that she couldn''t lie. But most likely, the teacher still wouldn''t believe her and would say again that she just didn''t understand the game and therefore thought it was true.


    "I''m sorry..." she managed to say, sitting down in her seat, feeling despair rising in her heart with each passing minute.


    Her mother''s words echoed in her head: "Have a good day at school!" Kimika bitterly realized that this day couldn''t possibly be good. She felt hopelessness building inside her and thought, ''This day is the worst of all.''

 Growth Through Training

    After all the lessons, when Kimika started gathering her things to go home alone, since her mother wrote that neither she nor her father could pick her up because of a lot of work, she told Kimika that she was already grown up and could try to go home alone. But she also said to stick to the same streets and not to talk to strangers.


    As she left the classroom, Izuku approached her.


    "Kimika¡­ Um, are you still mad at me?" he asked, looking at her hopefully. He realized that his actions were really bad but didn''t think they would lead to such consequences. His heart was filled with anxiety ¡ª he just hoped that his friend, as always, would be cheerful and simply forgive him.


    But, getting no response, he added, "Don''t you want to walk home together?"


    Again, he was met with silence. Before leaving and saying goodbye to her, he thought, ''Maybe tomorrow she''ll be back to her usual self... She never stays mad for long...''


    After Izuku left, Kimika stood in the hallway, reflecting on his words. She felt anger and disappointment intertwining in her heart. ''Why can''t he just apologize? Just say he was wrong?'' But despite her anger, deep down, Kimika realized that Izuku was her only and best friend. She enjoyed spending time with him and cherished every moment they had together.


    If she had received a simple apology and an acknowledgment that he had made a mistake, maybe she could have forgiven him. They would have become close friends again, like before, but he just walked away, leaving her alone.


    But suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by a slap on her back. Kimika turned around and saw the last person she wanted to see at that moment ¡ª Bakugo. Although she was surprised that he was alone without his two friends who were always by his side.


    "What do you want?" she said fiercely, unable to hold back. It was because of him that all of this had happened.


    Bakugo, hearing that tone in her voice, couldn''t hold back his anger but tried to keep himself calm. He hadn''t started this conversation just to mock her again, although the urge to do so hadn''t left him.


    "You¡­ I just got curious ¡ª how does it feel to get a knife in the back from the one you protect so much?" he smirked, taunting her. But, not giving her a chance to respond, he continued, "But that''s not why I''m here. You know that Izuku wants to become a hero, right?"


    Kimika, though she wanted to walk away or even start a fight because of the emotions boiling inside her, felt curious about where he was going with this. She tried to keep herself under control, but inside, everything was bubbling with anger and disappointment. So, with obvious reluctance, she replied:


    "Well, yeah, so what?" Her voice sounded determined, but there was a hint of nervousness in it. She tried to appear confident, though deep down her heart was beating faster with excitement. ''Why can''t he just leave them alone?''


    "Would you like to see Izuku get hurt?" Bakugo asked, his voice turning more serious, with a spark of challenge in his eyes. He moved closer to her, trying to catch her gaze to convey the importance of his words.


    Kimika felt her blood start to boil. "I don''t want him to suffer! Why are you asking such obvious questions?" her voice rose, revealing her anger and anxiety.


    Hearing her words, Bakugo only smiled, but it wasn''t a friendly smile. "Do you really think being a hero is just putting on a costume and telling everyone about it?" he asked, leaning in closer, his eyes gleaming as if waiting for her response. "A hero risks their life every day! Do you really think they fight villains and always win like All Might? Sometimes they get hurt, and sometimes¡­ even worse!"


    "So what? What are you getting at?" Kimika, though trying to stay confident, began to suspect Bakugo''s intentions.


    "How do you imagine a quirkless Izuku ¡ª not Deku, but Izuku ¡ª as a hero? Any villain with the worst kind of quirk would already be stronger than him! In this world, there are quirks that can destroy an entire city! And what can your friend Izuku put up against that?"


    At these words, Kimika remained silent; she could see the sense in Bakugo''s words.


    "See? Even you understand that I''m telling the truth! In our class, he''s the weakest. But even they have their quirks, and Izuku has none! Even so, they can''t all become heroes; only those like you and me can, with quirks like explosions and time control. So, tell me, what could Izuku possibly do against you or me?" Bakugo paused, giving her a moment to absorb his words.


    "That''s why I set a goal: to convince him not to become a hero. I started with words, but he just doesn''t get it. Even now, after everything I do, like today, he still wants to be a hero! And it''s all because of you, because you always protect him! So tell me, what will you say to his mother when he becomes a hero and dies on his first mission? Or were you planning on being his babysitter for life?"


    Pausing again, Bakugo concluded, "Now, think about my words. But remember, he himself doesn''t want you to protect him."


    With these words, Bakugo walked away, leaving Kimika deep in thought. She stood still, feeling the weight of his words lingering in the air. ''Why can''t I shake off his words?'' she wondered, watching his figure disappear around the corner.


    Her heart filled with anxiety. She didn''t want Izuku to get hurt or, even worse, killed, but at the same time, she didn''t want to destroy his dream. Kimika began contemplating the most challenging thoughts that haunted her: ''Maybe I really don''t need to protect him so that Bakugo can make Izuku understand that he can''t become a hero.'' However, she immediately dismissed this thought; Bakugo''s methods, his cruel methods, she couldn''t stand to see him using them on Izuku.


    ''I don''t want to be the one who makes him give up on his dreams,'' she thought, feeling the weight of these thoughts pressing on her mind. The fear of losing Izuku if he decided to become a hero intertwined with the fear of seeing Bakugo torment him, trying to force him to abandon his aspirations. These thoughts caused her pain, like a heavy stone on her shoulders.


    With these heavy reflections, Kimika slowly walked home, her mind filled with conflicting emotions that weighed on her heart. She tried to find an answer to the question that wouldn''t leave her alone: ''Is there really a point in my protection if it might harm him?'' This inner struggle between wanting to protect her friend from Bakugo and trying to shield him from possible injuries if he decided to become a hero entirely consumed her.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Kimika felt her thoughts swirling like a storm in the ocean, each bringing new doubts and fears.


    ~~~ Four years later ~~~


    Four years had passed since that day, and Kimika had recently turned ten years old. On her birthday, of course, her parents and Izuku''s family were present. Over these four years, she had managed to forgive her friend; after all, she was only six years old then and couldn''t hold onto anger and resentment for long. Although their relationship was no longer the same as it had been, they continued to visit each other, hang out, and play together. However, Kimika no longer protected Izuku from Bakugo and others, which had put an end to all the teasing directed at her, but not at Izuku. She often wanted to go and tell her parents about it, but each time she remembered that day when Izuku himself had prevented her from protecting him by telling the teacher everything.


    As for school, she still hadn''t made any new friends among her classmates or children from other groups. Although she had good relationships with some of them, and they could talk or do homework together, it was only at school; outside of that, they were like strangers. Even when she invited some of them to her birthday, they all refused, claiming they had other commitments, even though when she accidentally overheard their conversations, she found out they had no such commitments at all.


    Kimika also felt strange emotions regarding her homeroom teacher. At first, she was friendly and kind to everyone, especially to her and Bakugo. However, over time, that special treatment disappeared, and Kimika couldn''t understand the reason behind it, as well as why she had seemingly become a favorite. It even began to seem to her that she must have done something wrong, but she couldn''t figure out what it was because Bakugo himself did much worse things and still remained the teacher''s favorite.


    The strangest thing was that, despite Bakugo''s behavior, the teacher always justified his actions, calling them "games" or "carelessness." When Bakugo mocked Izuku, she simply walked by as if nothing was happening. Yet, if someone else did something similar, she might impose punishment or give a whole lecture on the inappropriateness of such actions. Kimika was bewildered by this ambiguity: on one hand, her homeroom teacher seemed kind, smiling, and fair, but when it came to Bakugo, all of that suddenly vanished. She could ignore any arguments without hesitation to justify his behavior.


    Sometimes, Kimika couldn''t understand what was going on in their teacher''s mind at all. For example, during a lesson, she could call Bakugo a future hero to look up to. What was most absurd was that everyone in the class didn''t see this as a bad thing; on the contrary, they nodded in agreement and listened attentively. Even Izuku, who suffered from Bakugo''s teasing, saw nothing unusual in it and also listened as if it were important. Sometimes, Kimika caught herself thinking that maybe Izuku even enjoyed being teased by Bakugo. She didn''t know whether it was her who was unusual compared to the others or if, on the contrary, she simply didn''t fit into their norm.


    ~~~


    Today, Kimika was spending time alone in her room since Izuku couldn''t come over. His mother, Inko Midoriya, had told her that he was out with Bakugo. Although the girl was a bit upset by this ¡ª how could he hang out with someone who bullied him? ¡ª she had started to get used to such strange behavior.


    But she didn''t feel sad about being alone; for her, this day was unique because she had planned to come up with training for her quirk to become stronger. Over the past four years, she hadn''t been able to significantly improve her skills or develop her strength, despite all her efforts. She dreamed of creating all the exercises for this training with her father, who draw up her physical training plan, which worked very well, and she was always one of the best in physical education. However, as always, he was at work, something Kimika had long since grown accustomed to. So, she wanted her mother to help her, but after her promotion, she started spending more time in the office, and the girl had gotten used to being home alone.


    Although Kimika could wait for one of her parents to advise her on exercises to improve her quirk, she couldn''t resist the urge to do it herself. ''A hero shouldn''t rely solely on help from others!'' she thought, gathering her determination to do it on her own.


    The girl began to think about what exercises could help her. First, she recalled her previous training sessions with her mother, which involved activating her quirk on a ball, such as slowing it down and maintaining the effect for as long as possible, or applying the effect as quickly as possible. At first, these exercises really produced results: Kimika learned to apply the effect quickly and hold it for a long time. But over time, these training sessions became ineffective, and it felt as if she had hit a wall that prevented her from progressing further.


    Then Kimika started generating new ideas that she thought could make good exercises. She decided to try applying effects not to one ball but to several at the same time since criminals were often not alone, but rather in larger groups. Next, she thought about activating acceleration and deceleration on different objects so she could speed herself up while slowing down the criminals. Previously, she hadn''t been able to apply opposing effects simultaneously: for example, if she slowed down one ball and then tried to speed up another, the first ball would lose its slowing effect. So, she decided to add this exercise to learn how to apply two effects at once.


    Kimika also planned to try applying effects to several moving objects. Previously, she had only trained with stationary balls, but now she wanted to raise the level of difficulty. She knew that when objects started moving, it would require more endurance and concentration, but the girl was ready for the challenges. She had a feeling that this training could help her finally overcome the wall and become much stronger, proving to everyone that she could become the number one hero like All Might, able to protect everyone, easily emerging victorious from battles through hard work, and bringing smiles to everyone.


    So, having compiled her training exercises, Kimika began to test whether they would truly be beneficial for her. Starting out, she chose the exercise of activating effects on several balls. Out of ten balls, she managed to apply effects to only seven, and those were stationary. Although she couldn''t activate effects on all of them, it felt relatively easy for her, and she considered it just a matter of time before she could apply effects to all the balls, which would also mark progress in her training.


    However, when she pushed the balls to make them roll, four of them immediately lost their effects. Kimika thought this likely happened because maintaining effects on moving objects took a lot of energy, and it seemed her quirk automatically deactivated some effects as if to protect her. So, she also planned to overcome this automatic deactivation.


    Next, Kimika decided to throw the balls in different directions and try activating effects on already moving objects. After throwing a few balls, she tried to activate slowing on the first one, which she accomplished easily. But when Kimika applied the effect to the second ball, she seemed to forget about the first one, losing her focus on it, and the first ball instantly lost its effect. She realized that she needed to keep all the balls with active effects in her mind constantly to avoid losing concentration on them.


    After several attempts, she finally managed to slow down two moving balls simultaneously, but as a result, her head began to ache severely. Despite this, Kimika knew that over time ¡ª maybe not today or tomorrow ¡ª she would succeed.


    The next step was training with acceleration and deceleration. Kimika activated the effect on herself, feeling herself become faster, and threw a ball while trying to slow it down in the process. But every time she attempted to activate the slowing effect, the acceleration effect disappeared, even after several tries. However, Kimika didn''t get discouraged because she knew that sooner or later, she would succeed. Her mother always told her, "If you try hard and put in the effort, you will succeed sooner or later!"


    Understanding that she still had room to grow, she incorporated these exercises into her daily training, knowing that they worked. Kimika always remembered the importance of breaks so her horns could regain clarity, signaling accumulated energy. But for some reason, whenever she reached her limit, she felt as if someone was watching her. She heard a faint whispering behind her that she couldn''t make out, and she began to feel a certain satisfaction that was hard for her to explain.


    Still, remembering her promise to her mother not to exceed her limits, Kimika always stopped, despite these mysterious feelings and her incredible desire to find out what would happen if she crossed the limit, and whether she would be able to hear and understand the whispers.

 Meeting on the Swing

    A lonely white-haired girl with horns quietly swung on a neglected evening swing. There was no one around ¡ª it was quite late. She was deep in her thoughts, reflecting on everything that had happened in her life.


    Her parents, who were almost always at work, and even her mom, who used to be with her every day, now spent every day at the office, coming home only late in the evening. She now only saw her in the morning before school and late at night when her mother was already almost asleep, although she tried to wait for her to spend time together. Only on weekends did they spend time together as usual, from morning until evening. Sometimes even doing this with her father, who had begun to stay at work until late at night even on weekends.


    School, where, besides Izuku, she had no friends. She couldn''t look him in the eyes, feeling incredible guilt when Bakugo, his friends, and all the other classmates mocked him. All she did was ignore the bullying and act as if nothing was happening. They had even started to torment him not only with words but also physically: pushing, hitting, and similar things.


    Although it was hard for her to realize, she seemed to have gotten used to seeing him being insulted or mocked, so she almost didn''t react to it. But when she saw them pushing or hitting him, her heart would tighten with pain, yet she could do nothing about it. When she tried to explain to him that he needed to tell everything, he would only say, "It''s fine, don''t worry," and would again ask her not to tell anyone. Even when she gathered the courage to tell her parents, they were always not at home, and when they did come, her courage would vanish.


    Not long ago, everything was good... She happily played with her parents or Izuku, joyfully went to school, and cherished every moment in life. Her life was so simple and carefree. But everything changed after she started being friends with one boy. She didn''t blame him, no. She just bitterly wondered: what if they hadn''t become friends? What if she had chosen a different path and not allowed herself to get closer to him?


    Would she then have many friends, or perhaps she would even be friends with Bakugo? Maybe she wouldn''t be sitting here almost every day on this swing, contemplating all these things. She felt her state deteriorating more and more because of this; she no longer wanted to become the number one hero, the hero who must give everyone smiles, who is always strong. Such a hero couldn''t be like her, who ignores a friend''s pain and does nothing about it, someone who hardly laughs herself and thinks about what it would be like if she hadn''t become friends with her only friend.


    Unnoticed by her, tears began to fall from her eyes as she suddenly felt that she was not alone. She had sensed a small presence of someone else for several minutes but thought it was just her imagination until this someone approached her.


    "Hi!" she said with a light smile that reflected her good mood, and curiosity shone on her face.


    "Um... hi!" Kimika quickly replied, wiping her tears with the sleeve of her sweater.


    The unfamiliar girl, seeing this action, didn''t change her expression, but her curiosity grew: why was the one she had been watching for some time crying in her favorite spot? "Why are you crying?"


    "I''m not crying! You must be mistaken! It''s just the wind getting in my eyes," Kimika said firmly, although her eyes darkened a bit from the lie; it was the first time she had lied in a very long time.


    "Hmm... really? I think you''re lying. And lying is not good!" the stranger replied, observing the girl''s horns. She made a quick conclusion: when this strange white-haired crying girl lies, her horns darken. Although this information was almost useless to her, she could see that the girl had no skill in lying, which only increased her interest in such a person.


    Still trying not to reveal that she had been crying, Kimika tried decisively to change the subject: "I... I''m not lying! And anyway, who are you? What are you doing here?"


    Hearing such an obvious attempt to change the topic, the girl couldn''t help but smile at Kimika''s futile efforts to hide the truth from her. Her curiosity only grew from this.


    "Me? I''m Himiko Toga. And actually, I wanted to ask what you''re doing here. This is my favorite spot! I came to sit on it like always, and you''ve taken it! And you even cried on it, and then you lie about not crying."


    Upon hearing this, Kimika tried to get off the swing, wanting to give it back to Toga. "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to take your spot," she said, anxiously glancing at her new acquaintance.


    But Toga simply held her back, not letting her get off. "Where do you think you''re going? We''re not done yet!" she said with a smile, starting to swing the swing so Kimika couldn''t get off. "And why didn''t you say who you are? Isn''t that what you''re supposed to do when you meet someone?"


    Kimika was frightened by this. She loved to swing, but only gently, as stronger movements on this old swing brought her uncomfortable feelings. The swing creaked as if it would fall apart at any moment, and the sound filled her with a sense of anxiety. Here, the one she wanted to give her spot to not only wouldn''t let her get off but also began swinging her even harder than Kimika could handle. Her heart began to race so quickly that it felt like it might leap out of her chest.


    "Please, stop!" she screamed, feeling panic wash over her. She didn''t know why it scared her so much, but at that moment, she just wanted everything to end.


    Toga smiled upon seeing how frightened Kimika was. She found it incredibly amusing and continued to swing the swing even harder. "Oh, this is so fun! Don''t worry, we''re not done yet!" she exclaimed, as if they had already become friends. With every movement, Himiko felt joy filling her, and it was as if they were playing a game where they were genuinely happy friends enjoying their time together.


    "I promise I''ll start swinging more gently if you answer my question!" added Himiko, sensing that their game had just begun. She was having so much fun that she was hardly worried about Kimika''s fear; she understood perfectly that they probably wouldn''t see each other again, so she decided to truly enjoy herself while she had the chance.


    Feeling the swing beneath her sway harder, Kimika couldn''t hide her excitement. "I''m Kimika Tanaki!" she exclaimed, hoping that Toga would truly keep her promise.


    Upon hearing this, Toga grinned mischievously. "There we go, now we''ve met!" she said, finally easing the force of the swing a bit, but still not allowing Kimika to easily jump off. The swing now moved more gently but remained fully under Toga''s control.


    She had complete control over the situation, changing the rhythm of the swinging as she saw fit. She would swing the swing more aggressively, then ease up again when she noticed that Kimika was feeling really bad. Her face lit up with joy, and she couldn''t help but laugh ¡ª she was having so much fun that she didn''t want it to end. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "You can''t escape unless I let you!" Himiko cheerfully exclaimed. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she demanded, "Now tell me, why were you crying?"


    Kimika held on to the swing incredibly tightly, feeling fear constricting her from the inside. She didn''t know what this strange girl might think ¡ª if Himiko wanted to swing even harder, the old wooden structure surely wouldn''t hold up. Finally, unable to take it anymore, she shouted, "You promised to let me go!"


    But this only amused Toga even more. She paused for a moment, and the smile on her face stretched even wider, a playful spark dancing in her eyes. "I didn''t say that!" she replied boldly, leaning in a bit closer while still keeping a safe distance. "I only promised to swing more gently, but I never said anything about letting you go!"


    Her words carried a hint of playfulness, and her voice revealed such excitement that a slight flush appeared on Kimika''s face. Holding her breath, Kimika realized that for Himiko, this was just a fun game, and it suddenly felt even more unsettling.


    "Now listen carefully," Toga continued, her eyes sparkling with delight. "If you obediently answer my questions, I might let you go... sooner or later." Pausing for a moment, she added with a laugh, "But for now, answer the question; don''t make me order you to, like starting to swing you even harder!"


    Kimika wanted to answer this question as quickly as possible, even if it meant revealing everything that was on her heart. She dreamed of getting off this hated swing as soon as she could, and gripping it as tightly as she could while trying not to fall, she gathered her strength and began to speak: "It''s hard¡­ My only friend is being bullied, and I can''t do anything¡­ My parents are always at work¡­ and¡­ I¡­ I feel so lonely."


    As she spoke, Toga noticed that Kimika''s horns weren''t darkening, indicating that she wasn''t lying. So she began to swing the swing more gently, eager to hear everything.


    "I have no friends at school, just Izuku. He keeps asking me not to worry, but I can''t ignore it," Kimika added quickly. "But I can''t stand seeing him being bullied¡­"


    Hearing this response, Toga was pleased. While she wasn''t particularly interested in the part about Izuku, she caught the key points: "my only friend," "lonely," "my parents are always at work." She felt she could find her first real friend! So she began to swing gently, but in a way that kept Kimika from escaping.


    Without changing her expression, Toga smiled and said, "Good job answering! Now that you''ve spoken your mind, you should feel lighter."


    Kimika truly felt a sense of relief. For the first time in a long while, her heart felt lighter, as if heavy stones had been lifted from her shoulders. Thanks to the gentle and slow swinging ¡ª though unfortunately not slow enough for her to jump off just yet ¡ª this feeling of relief became even more pronounced, both physically and emotionally. "So, will you let me go now?" she asked, hoping for salvation.


    "Of course not!" Toga replied cheerfully, her smile remaining carefree and bright. With genuine curiosity, she asked, "If you don''t want to tell anyone, then why can''t you fight back? If you do, they''ll think twice before attacking your friend ¡ª though maybe not, who knows!"


    Kimika pondered this, feeling somewhat surprised. "I never thought about that," she admitted. "I tried to stand up for both of us with words. I even told the teacher that we were being bullied because they were mocking me too at that time. But then Izuku just said it wasn''t true..." Her voice grew quieter, and it became increasingly difficult for her to recall that betrayal. As she spoke those words aloud, tears began to roll down her cheeks. Memories of her friend not supporting her flooded her heart, and she couldn''t hold back her emotions.


    Hearing this, Toga was outraged. How could Izuku do such a thing to such a sweet and innocent girl who was so afraid for him? Anger began to boil within her. "You, of all people, need to come up with a revenge plan!" she exclaimed, abruptly stopping the swing, causing Kimika to nearly fall off.


    Toga began to touch Kimika''s arm and leg muscles. Though she tried to break free, it was no use ¡ª Toga''s grip was surprisingly strong. Then Toga started swinging the swing again, not giving Kimika a chance to escape. "Well, you''re pretty strong! You must have worked hard for that physique. I think you can manage to fight back! Even if you don''t win, at least you''ll put up a fight! They''ll think twice if they attack again, knowing you''ll just start another brawl. And you can always try to catch them one by one! Then bam-bam-bam, and it''s over!"


    Kimika blushed a bit at the compliment, although she still felt strange and even embarrassed about Toga''s recent actions with her touching. But she quickly collected herself and replied, "But their leader, Bakugo, has a really strong quirk related to explosions. He''s the strongest in class, and his two friends are always around. If I attack one of them, the other two will jump me immediately! Plus, they might complain to the teacher because Bakugo is her favorite."


    Toga was fully focused on preparing Kimika for a fight, wanting her to learn how to stand up for herself and her friends. She insisted, "You really need this! What''s your quirk?"


    Kimika explained the details of her quirk, the Time Control, specifically her ability to speed up and slow down time, sharing all the details she knew. Hearing this, Toga smiled and said, "I don''t see any problem with that! Your quirk is way cooler than any of theirs! If you really want to, you could even take on all three of them at once!"


    Toga knew that it was probably impossible for someone like Kimika to handle three opponents. She might be able to confront one, but Toga saw the innocence and kindness in Kimika. Still, she genuinely wanted to see if this girl could find the strength to stand up for herself or her friend. Toga had already grown quite fond of Kimika during their brief conversation and considered her a friend. Even now, holding her firmly on the swing, she felt that a special bond was beginning to form between them.


    So she decided to take another step in their relationship. Her smile, glowing with joy like sunlight, filled everything around her. She felt that they were already best friends, even though she knew very well that Kimika did not yet consider her a friend. "Do you want to be my best friend?" she asked in a carefree tone that revealed her genuine interest.


    Kimika, still swinging on the swing unable to get off, couldn''t believe her ears. She never thought that the one who was holding her captive would ask about friendship. But wanting to get off this swing, she said, "Yes," and her horns instantly darkened.


    But this did not elicit any reaction from Toga, who continued to smile. She stopped the swing, releasing Kimika. "I just wanted to talk, and I thought you would refuse, so I held you captive. Besides, you only have one friend, and he has already betrayed you, and you said how lonely you feel."


    She carefully watched Kimika, her curiosity growing with each passing second as she eagerly awaited the answer she so wanted to hear. "I know you can''t lie because your horns show it," she continued, observing Kimika''s face fill with surprise. The girl shrugged in astonishment, trying to understand how Toga could know this. A thought flashed in her mind: how could she keep this secret? But at that moment, Kimika remembered how, in a rush of fear and emotions, she had indeed lied a few times, and that only added to her uncertainty.


    "So I''ll ask again: don''t you want to be my best friend? And most importantly ¡ª there''s no room for lies in our friendship!" Toga continued, her smile becoming even brighter, and the blush on her face blooming like spring flowers. "It will be fair to you since you can''t lie."


    Kimika, feeling a warm sensation blooming in her heart, finally replied, "Yes." These words came from her heart, though they sounded a bit uncertain, but her horns did not darken, confirming that she truly wanted to be Toga''s friend.


    Hearing this answer and not seeing any reaction from Kimika''s horns, Toga nearly jumped with joy, imagining how they would spend time together. She thought about how they would go for walks and discuss various topics. Her imagination was filled with images of dressing Kimika in outfits like a kitten or a bunny, which she believed were made just for her. The inner excitement from this new friendship filled her heart with energy and joy.


    With a joyful smile on her face, Toga began to gently swing Kimika again, but this time not to keep her captive, but to give her a sense of comfort and relaxation. The swing moved very cautiously, almost imperceptibly, like a gentle breath of wind.


    They started talking about different topics, sharing their thoughts and dreams, opening up more about themselves. In the end, when they said goodbye, not forgetting to exchange contacts, each of them was left with a warm feeling of joy from their meeting. Both girls eagerly looked forward to their new encounters with their new friend.

 The First Fight: The Price of Anger

    All night, the girls texted, and Toga, filled with joy and excitement, tried to inspire Kimika to take action. She noticed the anger burning in Kimika''s heart over the bullying of her friend and wanted to give that anger a chance to break free. Toga imagined how wonderful it would be if Kimika unleashed her fury, like opening a safe filled with priceless treasures of emotion.


    With each message, Toga''s euphoria grew. She noticed Kimika''s hesitation, whether it was worth doing. So Toga even used Kimika''s dream of becoming a hero against her, asking if a hero could simply watch the bullying without doing anything. For Toga, it was not just a question but an opportunity to provoke Kimika, and she felt no guilt for her words and actions. All she wanted was to feel the emotions, thrill, and energy from the actions of her new friend.


    Toga was incredibly happy, as now she could be almost without the mask of "normalcy." Doing and saying everything she wanted, without trying to fit into that "normality." In those moments, she felt she was becoming almost who she truly was. However, she still held back some things, not wanting to see Kimika act just like everyone else ¡ª simply walking away, calling her abnormal.


    In the end, Kimika placed her phone on the table, though she didn''t want the next day to come. However, in her mind, hope was growing that all the problems would resolve themselves and she wouldn''t have to resort to the actions that Toga inspired her to take. She wished that tomorrow, when she went to school, everything would be fine, and the situation that troubled her would resolve itself without her intervention. With such dreams, she sank into sleep, hoping for the best while the darkness of the night enveloped her.


    ~~~


    Returning to class after helping the teacher, Kimika decided to invite Izuku to go to a caf¨¦ together to celebrate this day, which, as she wished, had passed almost without any bullying, aside from a few insulting words about being quirkless. But as she walked into the classroom with a smile, she stumbled upon a scene that instantly extinguished her smile and filled her heart with despair.


    In front of her stood Bakugo and two of his friends, laughing and mocking Izuku. They hurled degrading words at him: "quirkless," "trash," while tossing his belongings at each other as if it were just a game. Kimika watched as Bakugo used his quirk, creating explosions near Izuku''s face, causing tears to stream down his cheeks.


    At that moment, an incredible storm of anger erupted within her. Even though she held back, despite Toga''s words echoing in her mind, she felt that the only thing stopping her was the realization that there were three of them and one of her, making the chances of victory zero.


    But suddenly, Bakugo exclaimed, "Oh, look, our hero is crying." And in that moment, she felt everything that could hold her back vanish, as if the last chain had snapped.


    With a scream that seemed to come from the very center of her fury, Kimika surged forward, accelerating with her quirk. She targeted the nearest of the three ¡ª one of Bakugo''s friends, who always stood by but had no strength of his own. Picking up speed, Kimika struck him with all her might in the back. The blow was so strong that she felt her hand sting with pain as if it were on fire, and the boy, gasping from the unexpected hit and pain, fell to the ground.


    But Kimika didn''t stop. Ignoring the pain, she rushed at another of Bakugo''s friends, who, hearing the girl''s scream, only managed to turn around and say, "What the hell?" But from what he saw, he was already fainting from fear, and in the next moment, she struck him in the stomach with all her strength. The blow was so sudden and brutal that saliva burst from his mouth, and he, writhing in pain, fell to the floor, just like the first one.


    "How dare you?!" Bakugo shouted, shocked to see two of his friends, who had only recently been laughing with him, now lying on the ground and writhing in pain from the girl who had always just watched their antics.


    Now left alone with Bakugo, Kimika felt a rush of adrenaline. The boy barely had time to prepare for defense, raising a block, his eyes burning with anger and confusion over what was happening. Without stopping for a moment, Kimika began to unleash rapid strikes on his arms, ignoring the pain that resonated throughout her body and the fact that her breathing was becoming heavier. She poured all her strength into it: physical, emotional, channeling all her energy into the acceleration quirk; it was in every blow she delivered.


    Feeling the crushing pain in his arms, Bakugo began to retreat. He couldn''t believe that the girl he considered a weakling was delivering such painful blows to him. Seizing the moment, Kimika struck him in a way that completely shattered his block, and the next punch aimed straight at his stomach sent him crashing to the ground.


    "This is for everything!" she screamed, each word filled with the fire burning in her heart. Unable to defend himself, Bakugo could only curl up; it was all he could do to protect himself, as every hit from this girl left him no chance to get back up.


    Kimika didn''t even think about stopping there. She unleashed a flurry of strikes, feeling her anger, which had built up in her heart, resonate in every movement. She was taking revenge for all the bullying, for all the humiliations inflicted on Izuku. Even when her knuckles began to redden and bleed, she felt no pain ¡ª only the euphoria of justice finally arriving.


    But eventually, feeling that she could do no more, she began to deliver single strikes. "This is for Izuku!" she yelled, delivering another blow. "This is for me!" she shouted again, landing another hit. Her voice echoed in the room like thunder, filled with emotion, and each strike brought her incredible relief. "This is for everything you did to Izuku!" she cried, each word becoming part of her struggle, part of her revenge. And even as the pain in her wrists mercilessly drained her strength, splattering blood, her heart beat in rhythm with a fury filled with determination.


    Suddenly, she was yanked back by her strength. At first, she didn''t understand what had happened, but then she felt despair fill her face ¡ª someone had interrupted her attempts at retribution.


    "Kimika Tanaki!" shouted the person.


    She turned around and realized it was their homeroom teacher, Sae Fujiwara, her face filled with concern. Her voice was strict, piercing, like thunder during a storm. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    In that moment, all the anger drained out of her, leaving only the aftermath of the storm. Kimika''s gaze fell again on the boys lying on the floor, writhing in pain, and she finally realized what she had done. Her joy from the fight, from the justice finally attained, vanished, leaving only emptiness.


    And on top of that, her hands began to burn, and the pain that had previously been dulled by euphoria now reminded her of its presence. She looked at her wrists, marked with red streaks, and realized that every strike had its price. In the moment when anger left her, she felt the true weight of her actions, as if all the joy she had felt just moments ago had evaporated, leaving only emptiness and fear of the consequences.


    Leaving the bewildered and frightened Kimika alone, the teacher immediately rushed to the boys, examining their pitiable state. She tried to calm them down, asking if they were okay, and pressing them to see if they had sustained any serious injuries. A multitude of questions swirled in Sae Fujiwara''s mind, but the most pressing was: "What the hell happened here?" An overwhelming fear gripped her because she knew that any serious injuries could lead to unforeseen consequences. Her mind urgently painted pictures of possible fractures, as well as the repercussions for her if the principal found out that this had happened in her class. She tried to calm herself, but it was no use.


    Eventually, she called for an ambulance and the parents of all the students involved, who arrived incredibly quickly. While Kimika trembled with fear ¡ª both from what she had done and from what would happen to her ¡ª Izuku, who was nearby, tried to support her, softly saying that everything would be okay, even though he himself was scared.


    When all the kids were taken to the hospital due to their poor condition, especially Bakugo''s, Kimika only had her knuckles disinfected and bandaged to ease the pain from her recent strikes. After that, she and her father, who had just arrived from work, headed to the principal''s office, as their teacher had informed them that he wanted to see them both. The school corridors seemed filled with an awkward silence that only emphasized her inner turmoil. Each step toward the principal''s office felt heavy, as if an invisible burden weighed down her feet.


    Her father remained silent, his eyes focused on Kimika, but he didn''t ask any questions. He only inquired once upon arrival if she was in pain. Hearing, "Yes, but not too much," he didn''t say another word. His gaze was incredibly stern, and Kimika had never seen him like this before. That look, filled with disappointment, only heightened her anxiety, as she knew she would have to answer for her actions.


    Upon entering the principal''s office, Kimika''s father immediately bowed, saying, "I apologize for what happened; I sincerely regret my daughter''s actions. I am ready to take all the punishment upon myself." His voice sounded restrained, but Kimika felt a deep concern for her from him, which made it even harder for her. Even though she had condemned herself in her mind a hundred times for doing such things, her father was on her side, even willing to take all the punishment himself.


    The principal met them with a face filled with what seemed like horror at what had occurred. "I understand your concern," he said, taking a small pause during which a tiny tear appeared in his eyes. "But such actions cannot be ignored in an educational institution where children are supposed to learn in a safe environment."


    The principal, not allowing any opportunity to interject, continued: "I understand what you want to say, and I know that each of us wishes to see our child innocent and incapable of such actions. But we are faced with a fact: three other children are in the hospital with serious injuries, and your daughter has only wounds on her hands that indicate she was the one delivering all the blows. Even if she didn''t start it, even if the situation escalated not because of her, the outcome is the same: the consequences are only for those she attacked."


    Kimika''s father nodded, feeling that this wasn''t entirely the right perspective, but acknowledging that the facts were against them. "I understand, Mr. Principal. You are right," he said calmly, although a shadow of pain and disappointment echoed in his voice, as he recognized that he was not on his daughter''s side in front of her. He fully understood that the circumstances, though unfavorable, could not completely reflect the truth that only he knew: his daughter would never have dared to do such a thing.


    The principal continued, now even more sternly: "Believe me, I am also troubled by this situation. But when it comes to the parents of the injured children, no one will ask who started it or why it happened. They will want to know one thing: why their children have bruises and fractures while Kimika has barely been harmed. Moreover, I must admit, the teacher informed me that it was her classmate Izuku Midoriya who called for help in time. And when the teacher arrived, she found your daughter continuing to strike her already downed classmate. This is the situation that will be difficult for me to explain to the parents."


    Kimika''s father maintained a serious expression, nodding again with restraint. "Of course, we understand that the situation... is complicated."


    The principal cast a brief, barely noticeable glance at Kimika, who stood aside, almost disappearing into her thoughts. He seemed to have reached a final conclusion: "Therefore," he said, with a mix of feigned sympathy and firmness, "we must take appropriate measures. Please understand that the decision will be difficult, but it must be fair to everyone."


    Kimika''s father felt that something about this seemed wrong. The principal appeared to have set his mind on strict punishment from the very beginning, offering nothing that could change the situation in Kimika''s favor. His words sounded as if they were there only to deliver a verdict. Her father prepared to talk to Kimika in more detail, recalling how her classmates had bullied Izuku four years ago. He decided that this time he needed to find out everything about what had been going on between her and her classmates during that time, even if she had remained silent for a long while; he sensed that she had not shared something important for some reason.


    The principal continued: "Of course, we won''t resort to expulsion," he said with a slight hint of satisfaction that they didn''t even notice. "But I must suspend her from classes for a certain period while the situation calms down. This could take two weeks, possibly even a month or more."


    This decision seemed quite harsh to Kimika''s father. He had expected at most counseling sessions with a psychologist, disciplinary actions, or meetings with the parents of the injured children. He was taken aback by the principal''s readiness to impose such a restriction without offering alternatives. A shadow of disappointment flickered in his eyes, but he decided to hold back his emotions until he could talk to his daughter.


    As Kimika and her father left the principal''s office and headed home in tense silence, the principal was left alone and almost immediately began to pace back and forth nervously. His face twisted with fear and anger. He realized that the situation was unlikely to go without consequences. The principal understood that Kimika''s father, upon hearing about the fight, would probably ask his daughter why it had happened, and upon hearing the reason, would start his own investigation. He recognized that even if he openly sided with Kimika, Takeshi would still inquire about why it occurred.


    The principal barely contained his anger as he recalled Sae Fujiwara''s words, assuring him that Kimika had been ignoring the bullying for four years. But now he saw that she had not ignored it at all. "Why couldn''t she just hold back?" he thought, feeling a growing irritation. Now he had two options left: hope that his actions wouldn''t be exposed during the investigation or start preparing an escape plan in case his past deeds came to light.

 To the Very End

    Arriving home with her father, they were greeted by her mother, who immediately rushed to her with a worried and anxious expression. Takeshi had already told her everything that had happened over the phone. Yukiko instantly grabbed the frightened girl by the hands and began to examine them with tears in her eyes.


    "Kimi, my little one," Yukiko sobbed, "I was so worried about you! You can''t imagine how scared I was when I heard about what happened. Are you okay? Does anything hurt? Don''t hold anything in! Speak your mind; your father and I are here and will always support you!"


    Seeing her mother''s reaction, Kimika could no longer hold back her tears. She fell into her mother''s arms, unable to contain her emotions.


    "Mom," Kimika cried, tears streaming down her cheeks, "I''m sorry for what I did¡­ They¡­ they are to blame¡­ they were mocking Izuku¡­ and I¡­ I¡­ just couldn''t ignore it anymore!"


    Seeing how difficult it was for her little daughter, Yukiko began to hug her even tighter, trying to comfort her in any way possible.


    "Don''t be afraid, I''m here," she said, stroking Kimika''s back. "I will always be with you, even in the toughest moments. You need to know that you''re not alone."


    "I just wanted to help him," Kimika sobbed, her voice barely audible through her tears.


    "My little Kimika¡­" Yukiko replied softly, looking into her daughter''s eyes and gently pushing the hair away from her face. "You wanted to help him, and that''s good. But you can always tell us if something is wrong. Don''t worry; everything will be okay now."


    Kimika nodded, trying to process her mother''s words. She felt the weight of her worries gradually lift, and now all she wanted was to stay close to her family, feeling their support.


    "I¡­ I wanted to tell you¡­ but¡­ you''re always at work¡­ it''s very hard for me alone¡­ I want you to always be around¡­ I love you so much¡­" she whispered, feeling her heart overflowing with tenderness.


    "And we love you," Yukiko replied, smiling through her tears, her eyes shining with warmth and care. "Remember that we are always together, and you can tell us anything."


    "And I love you too!" Takeshi suddenly exclaimed. These were the first words he had spoken during this important conversation. He genuinely wanted to encourage his daughter, even though it might have been better to remain silent. His words, filled with warmth, added even more closeness to the atmosphere, and his gentle gaze at his wife and daughter reflected the strengthening family bond.


    Both Yukiko and Takeshi felt a deep sense of guilt for constantly leaving their little daughter alone while they were at work. When they heard that Kimika had wanted to tell them about the bullying of Izuku ¡ª and perhaps even about her own experiences ¡ª but couldn''t do so due to their absence, their hearts filled with anxiety.


    Each of them, realizing their mistakes, sought to make amends. Yukiko decided that she could no longer leave her daughter alone. She began to consider the possibility of switching to remote work or even resigning. She knew that Takeshi''s income was more than enough to support their lives, and the money they had saved would be sufficient until Kimika turned eighteen.


    Seeing his daughter''s suffering, Takeshi also decided to take responsibility. He planned to thoroughly investigate everything that had happened and look into the reasons behind the conflict at school. He was particularly concerned about the principal, who seemed to be ignoring what was happening and appeared to be hiding something, as he couldn''t help but notice how he slightly trembled during their conversation.


    ~~~


    The next day, Kimika did not go to school not only because her parents forbade her, but also because she was exempted from classes by the principal''s order. Her parents could not change this decision, as it was revealed after a medical examination that Bakugo had several fractures, and another student had a broken rib from a strong blow to the stomach. Learning about the condition of the other children, Kimika''s parents did not even contest the punishment, understanding that it was still quite a lenient sentence.


    The parents of the injured children were extremely outraged and demanded stricter punishment for Kimika. Some of them even insisted on her complete expulsion from school, while others seriously considered the possibility of going to the police. Only after lengthy negotiations and the payment of compensation to the families of the victims was it possible to help calm the situation.


    Feeling an immense guilt for what she had done, even though her parents said it wasn''t her fault, Kimika decided to distract herself from heavy thoughts and go out to meet Toga at the same place where they had recently first met on the old swing.


    As she approached the meeting spot, Kimika saw Toga swaying on the swing, gazing into the distance with the same smile that always graced her face, as if no difficulties could overshadow her mood. "Hi, Toga!"


    Noticing that her friend had finally arrived, Toga easily jumped off the swing and ran towards her. With a joyful leap, she threw herself into Kimika''s arms, and in an instant, Kimika found herself on the ground, pinned by Toga. She wasn''t at all worried that either of them could get hurt because she was incredibly happy that Kimika had finally come.


    "You finally came! I thought I would die waiting for you!" Toga exclaimed energetically, her eyes sparkling with joy and a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. She grabbed Kimika''s hands, not allowing her to get up, and continued lying on the ground next to her.


    Toga''s gaze fell on the bandages wrapped around Kimika''s hands, as if they were evidence of a fight. At that moment, it hit her ¡ª her friend had indeed dared to stand up for her friend, and this thought filled Toga with incredible joy. She felt euphoria at realizing that her words had been the catalyst for Kimika, allowing her to release the anger that had been building up inside her.


    "Oh wow, you really did it! You''re so awesome!" Toga exclaimed, still sitting on Kimika and barely able to contain her excitement. "But you could have called me¡­ I would have loved to see it¡­" she added, puffing out her cheeks as if she was upset with her friend for such an act. But this only lasted a moment, and Toga couldn''t hold back her smile, continuing to bounce happily on Kimika.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    For Kimika, it was quite difficult under the weight of her friend, especially with each little bounce. She tried to break free, but each time it proved futile: Toga either squeezed her tighter with her legs or grabbed her arms, holding them firmly against the grass. Kimika had no choice but to give in to Toga''s energy, which seemed to want to lift her spirits at that moment, transferring her wonderful mood.


    Suddenly, with a sparkle in her eyes, Toga exclaimed, "You know what? I have a great idea!" ¡ª grabbing Kimika''s hand, she stood up, pulling her friend along to the swing. Kimika hoped that Toga would just ask her to swing, but when Toga sat down, she unexpectedly forced Kimika to sit on her lap.


    Kimika, sitting on Toga''s lap, felt embarrassed by what was happening. She looked around, trying to understand the situation, and began to attempt to break free from the embrace, feeling not only shame but also a slight fear. Toga, not giving her any chance to escape, only laughed like a predator and squeezed her "prey" tighter.


    Eventually, Kimika decided to stop resisting and, with an ironic smile, asked, "I don''t have a chance to refuse, do I?"


    Toga, laughing, replied, "Of course not! You''re mine now, and I won''t let you go that easily!" She hugged her friend tighter, rocking the swing with a smile on her face. "So forget everything around you and let''s have some fun!"


    Kimika couldn''t help but smile in response, even though there was still a hint of anxiety in her heart. Toga, with her carefree and energetic spirit, seemed like a true source of positivity right now. The feeling of fear gradually faded, and Kimika began to fully enjoy the moment.


    And despite her fear of swinging, especially on this old structure, Kimika suddenly felt a sense of safety while in Toga''s embrace. This closeness and her friend''s joyful energy proved to be so soothing that she began to enjoy the moment. Even with the creaking of the wood, which seemed to threaten to fall apart at any moment, Kimika laughed along with Toga, allowing her worries to fade into the background. She realized that what mattered most right now was this moment, filled with happiness and carefree joy.


    They didn''t notice how quickly time passed, and soon, after numerous games of tag, both were completely exhausted. Toga always took on the role of the chaser, while Kimika had to run away. Toga loved this game immensely: she imagined herself as a predator and Kimika as a small, white, delicate rabbit, about to become her prey. Each time she caught up to her friend, joy blossomed in her heart at the thrill of victory.


    When Toga caught Kimika again, who was breathing heavily as if she was about to collapse onto the ground, she realized this was her chance. Toga hugged her friend tightly, sat down on the ground, and placed the little rabbit on her lap like a chair. She began to gently stroke Kimika''s head, preparing to reveal an important secret.


    "Do you still have the strength to run away?" Toga asked, carefully watching the expression on Kimika''s face. Hearing the barely audible words, interrupted by heavy breathing, Kimika replied, "No¡­ but it¡­ was fun¡­ I think¡­ we can¡­ play again tomorrow¡­"


    Toga felt that she had finally waited for her moment. "Little helpless rabbit, I won''t let you go!" she declared with a playful smile. "You''ve already become my prey, and if you try to run away after I show you a part of myself, then you won''t be able to run freely anymore!"


    These words sounded like a metaphor, and Toga smiled ominously, hoping that Kimika would understand the importance of what she was about to learn and would stay by her side. If not¡­ Toga realized how deeply she had come to love Kimika, who, despite all her antics, remained close and seemed to enjoy it. This thought completely consumed her and hardly scared her at all: *''If you try to run away, I''ll make sure you''re always with me, like a real little rabbit in a cage,''* she thought, imagining how she would keep Kimika under her watchful eye, protecting their happiness from the world.


    She could no longer imagine her life without Kimika, and this love was growing stronger. In her heart, there arose a need to protect her friend, even if it meant taking radical measures, even if Kimika didn''t want it. She didn''t want to lose the one who made her happy, and she was ready to do anything to keep Kimika close, like a beloved pet to be cherished and pampered, regardless of any potential hatred from her side.


    Kimika, feeling a slight unease from the words she had heard, thought it was just another joke from Toga. So, unaware that it could be something incredibly terrifying, she smiled and said, "Of course, I''m ready. You''ve always supported me, albeit in your own way."


    A joyful smile blossomed on Toga''s face, and her cheeks flushed lightly with happiness. She hugged her friend tighter, as if in an incredibly strong grip from which Kimika wouldn''t be able to break free without permission.


    "Don''t worry, everything will be fine," Kimika said, trying to encourage Toga, who, in Kimika''s opinion, was still hesitating. She genuinely wanted to support her friend, ready for anything, in her mind. But suddenly, she felt a tingling on her neck. In an instant, Toga, with a playful glint in her eyes, bit her.


    Kimika was taken aback, feeling Toga starting to drain her blood. She was terrified by this, as she had been ready for anything ¡ª but not this. Trying to escape, she realized it was impossible, and as she attempted to scream for help, Toga instantly covered her mouth while continuing to drink her blood.


    Kimika felt herself growing weaker and weaker. Every part of her body screamed in fear, wanting to escape and break free, but none of her attempts were successful. Toga held her tightly, like a python with its prey. Kimika even began to feel Toga sucking her blood more aggressively, but then she suddenly stopped.


    "I''m sorry... I thought you...," Toga began to speak, her voice barely trembling. Tears appeared on her face, and she couldn''t hold them back as she realized that her friend had been trying to escape the whole time she was drinking her blood. Toga knew she had gone too far, but the taste of Kimika''s blood was like honey, and she couldn''t pull away.


    In her heart, Toga felt a deep desire to keep Kimika close, even if it meant taking away her freedom. She was prepared for such a reaction but secretly hoped that Kimika would stay with her willingly. However, the realization that she could hurt the friend she had come to love was unbearable. Unable to withstand the pressure of her emotions, Toga began to cry, feeling that she had lost Kimika and that she would no longer be by her side.


    Kimika, who Toga had released, stepped back, wanting to flee. But when she turned and saw her friend''s tears ¡ª the one who always laughed and had a smile ¡ª her heart filled with pain. She had promised to support Toga when she said she wanted to reveal something very important, but now she had run away, leaving her in a difficult moment.


    ''You trusted me,'' Kimika thought, feeling fear and guilt intertwining in her heart. Even scared and feeling pain at the site of the bite, she reached out to Toga, trying to comfort her.


    "Toga, please don''t cry¡­ I''m here, I support you. I don''t want you to be sad."


    With that, Kimika tightly embraced her tearful friend, and it was the first time she did so out of her own will, rather than under Toga''s influence, who always devised games or initiated such actions.


    "If you want, you can drink my blood," Kimika quietly said, exposing her neck. Toga, unable to believe her ears, leaned in cautiously and began to drink again, this time gently, knowing that she wouldn''t leave this time.


    Toga realized that if Kimika hadn''t tried to escape, she likely wouldn''t have been able to stop, as the taste of her blood was simply exquisite. This perfectly rich, sweet flavor, which captivated her deeply, seemed so flawless that Toga didn''t know what to compare it to. She was losing track of time, feeling her desire grow with each sip. It seemed to her that she could enjoy it forever.


    "I love you, Kimi," Toga whispered, pulling away for a moment to look Kimika in the eyes. Her words, filled with deep, unparalleled magic, seemed to unite their hearts as one. Kimika, feeling a powerful surge of emotions, smiled and quietly replied, "I do too."


    Hearing these words, Toga''s heart raced even faster, and her cheeks flushed. Once more pulling away from the sweet taste, she said, breathing heavily, "You had... a chance to escape..., but now... you will stay with me... forever..., and I with you. We will... be together... until the very end." Her voice was so confident and piercing that Kimika had no doubt ¡ª this was not just a promise, but something more that she could only accept.

 Evening mourning

    Takeshi Tanaka walked down the dark street, heading home after another long day at work. His thoughts stubbornly returned to the events of four years ago when his daughter was only ten. He tried to distract himself, pushing away the memories, and glanced at the dark shop windows he passed, but a bitter smile crept onto his face. He wanted to leave those events behind, but they seeped into his consciousness again and again, refusing to let him forget even for a day.


    It all started with a fight ¡ª his daughter had stepped in to protect Izuku, trying to save him from bullying. This incident prompted Takeshi to start an investigation. Step by step, he uncovered new facts, and each new discovery horrified him more. Bullying turned out to be not just a spat between a few kids; every student in the class was involved in this tormenting game. Even the homeroom teacher, Sae Fujiwara, silently facilitated it, turning a blind eye to everything that was happening.


    Takeshi stopped for a moment, clenching his fists. Anger rose within him like a wave as he remembered how carelessly the other teachers reacted, remaining indifferent even when they were directly present in the classroom during the bullying. They turned a blind eye, pretending that nothing was happening, simply because Izuku had no quirks.


    He relaxed his clenched fists, recalling the conversation with his daughter. She told him how Izuku constantly begged not to tell anyone about the bullying, considering it a minor issue. Takeshi shuddered, realizing how abnormal that was. He had to help the boy see a psychologist to explain to Izuku that what he was going through was not a "trivial matter". The psychologist was meant to help him understand that it was anything but a minor issue that could be ignored and kept to himself.


    But that wasn''t all. The school principal was also aware of the situation and, like the other teachers, ignored everything that was happening. Takeshi recalled their first meeting when the principal coldly informed him that his daughter was facing serious consequences, explaining that such behavior was unacceptable in the educational institution. And this was despite the fact that he himself had known about the bullying from the very beginning but consciously turned a blind eye to it. These hypocritical words sparked a flare of anger in Takeshi, the same kind he felt the day he first learned about it all.


    As time went on, the matter gained widespread attention: not only the police but also the media became involved in the investigation. The incident captured the entire country''s attention ¡ª everyone was following the developments and hoping for just punishment for all those involved.


    When the principal was summoned for questioning, Takeshi felt that he was hiding something more than just this. And although during their meeting the principal''s lawyer was meticulously protecting his client, there remained a sense that crucial information was still unknown. But before Takeshi could learn more, the unexpected happened ¡ª there was an assassination attempt on many of the teachers, including the principal. Everyone except the principal was killed, and he only sustained injuries.


    Takeshi was convinced that this attack had been orchestrated by the principal himself, who was trying to cover his tracks and evade justice. But what happened next in the hospital was simply impossible. Despite being under close police surveillance, the principal somehow vanished, as if he had dissolved into thin air. The cameras recorded no movement ¡ª there were no signs that could indicate his escape. Considering that his room was located on the fifth floor, the possibility of escaping through the window seemed utterly unrealistic. And yet, he disappeared as if he had never been there at all.


    After discussing the situation with his wife, Yukiko, Takeshi and she decided to transfer their daughter to another school for her safety. He couldn''t predict what the principal, undoubtedly enraged with him, was capable of. They chose a prestigious private school where Kimika would study online, which would certainly reduce the risks to her life and safety.


    Although the parents were not thrilled about their daughter not being able to interact with classmates in person, they knew it was necessary for her safety. Initially, Kimika was not in favor of this idea ¡ª she wanted to continue her studies alongside Izuku ¡ª but her parents were eventually able to persuade her.


    Continuing to walk slowly, Takeshi pushed away negative thoughts and memories, trying to focus on the positive moments that had occurred in his life. He proudly recalled how his daughter had overcome all the hardships and was no longer that little girl who only dreamed of becoming a hero. Now she was seriously working towards it, asking him to design her training ¡ª both physical and for the development of her quirks.


    Although he and Yukiko were initially not thrilled about this decision, as when Kimika was a child and simply dreamed of heroism like all the other kids, it didn''t seem so frightening. But now, as she had grown up and appeared to choose this path not just as a dream but as a life choice, they became concerned. They tried to explain to her that heroism wasn''t just what she saw in the news, but also a daily danger. However, Kimika was resolute in her desire and refused to back down from this path. Takeshi, looking at her, saw in her a little version of himself ¡ª just as determined and stubborn.


    Ultimately, Takeshi agreed to help her, realizing that he could give her the opportunity to begin her journey as a hero, preparing her for whatever lay ahead. Although he was a detective rather than a hero, he could still pass on at least some of the necessary knowledge and develop her to be ready for the challenges she would face. He wanted to teach her everything he knew, believing that preparation and knowledge could help her become a hero. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    He watched with pride as Kimika grew stronger, resolutely going through his training. Takeshi''s heart swelled with joy as he recalled how his daughter stubbornly overcame all obstacles, demonstrating incredible determination and a desire to learn.


    He also couldn''t help but notice the emergence of another friend in Kimika''s life ¡ª Toga. Although she seemed a bit strange, Takeshi observed how his daughter became attached to her, spending more time with her than with Izuku, her first friend. It appeared that Kimika was beginning to distance herself from Izuku, preferring walks with Toga over spending time with him.


    But suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by quick footsteps behind him, as if someone was running. Quickly turning around and preparing for anything, he was surprised to see no one. Dismissing it as fatigue, Takeshi was about to continue on his way home, where his wife and daughter were waiting for him, when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. Looking down at the point of pain, he saw a knife protruding from his stomach.


    Frozen in fear, he heard the voice of an unknown assailant say, "This is revenge from the principal." After these words, the attacker shoved him, and Takeshi fell, feeling several more knife strikes piercing his body. Lying on the ground, he watched as blood slowly drained from him, taking with it a part of his life.


    Consciousness began to fade under the sounds of the attacker''s escape, who, after delivering fatal blows, decided to flee, unwilling to remain any longer in the hero''s patrol zone, knowing that his task was accomplished and that the detective would soon die.


    Takeshi''s thoughts were flooded with regret, as he realized he hadn''t been able to spend more time with his daughter, missing the chance to see her graduate from school, become a renowned hero as she dreamed, find her soulmate, and even just tell her how much he loved her. He also regretted his wife, to whom he had promised at their wedding to be by her side until the end and to witness their little Kimika grow up happily, to see grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And, with his last strength, he uttered, "I''m sorry, my dear. You will have to do this for both of us," before his consciousness completely left him.


    At the same time, Kimika, a girl with long, silky white hair that flowed down to her waist and semi-transparent blue horns, was preparing various dishes with her mother, getting ready for their family dinner. Kimika''s bright, colorful eyes sparkled with anticipation, as their movie night had become a daily tradition for the past four years.


    "Mom, Dad is running late. This is so unlike him," Kimika remarked, glancing at the clock with a hint of worry.


    "Yes, I understand¡­ But he has never missed this dinner. Maybe he got held up at work. After all, they can''t manage without him," said the smiling Yukiko, saut¨¦ing vegetables in the pan. She smiled because she knew that Takeshi always kept his promises. ''Maybe he went to get a gift for Kimika.'' Although it was late, and most shops were likely closed, having lived with her husband for nearly 20 years, she knew him very well. He wouldn''t stop until he found what he was looking for, even if he had to search the entire city.


    This determination always impressed her, as she also knew how much he loved both of them. These warm thoughts made her heart feel even cozier, and so she continued to smile, filled with love for her husband, eager to prepare a delicious dinner, knowing how much Takeshi loved everything she cooked. Therefore, she put in extra effort, infusing each dish with a piece of her love.


    Yukiko continued to cook, not taking her eyes off the pan. "And how is Izuku?" she asked, thoughtfully considering how her daughter was spending more time with Toga, who was actively "gluing" herself to Kimika, constantly organizing hangouts and outings. At the same time, Yukiko began to notice that Kimika was talking less with Izuku, and this worried her. Previously, before Toga came into the picture, they spent nearly all their time together from morning until evening, but now everything had changed. Not understanding the reasons for this distance, Yukiko decided to ask about it, hoping to grasp what was happening.


    Kimika, hearing the question, sighed and began to explain, "I don''t really know¡­ I try to talk to him more often. And even though Toga was against it, I invited him to join us on our outings, but he refused every time. Especially after that awful incident with the mud criminal, he started avoiding walks altogether. And every time I go to see him, he looks so exhausted, as if he hasn''t slept at all. He claims it''s because he''s training for U.A. Hero Academy, but¡­ I feel so sorry for him. He''s dreamed of this since childhood, and now he''s working so hard¡­ but he doesn''t have a quirk."


    With sadness and on the verge of tears, Kimika spoke, feeling a deep pain from the fact that one of her two friends, her very first friend, was beginning to drift away from her without any obvious reason. And although having Toga always around brought her joy, she couldn''t help but feel a sense of longing for Izuku.


    Yukiko, not hesitating for a moment, immediately went to her daughter to embrace and support her in any way she could. She knew how vulnerable and tender Kimika was and didn''t need words or explanations to understand her pain. As a loving mother, Yukiko recognized that her daughter needed warmth and support right now. But suddenly, the phone rang, and Kimika, wanting to distract herself even just a little, quickly went to answer it.


    When Kimika returned with the phone, Yukiko answered the call. Listening to the voice on the other end, she suddenly felt cold sweat break out on her forehead. Her face changed, and she tried to maintain her composure, but anxiety was already evident in her voice.


    Noticing the shift in her mother''s expression, Kimika felt a wave of unease wash over her heart. Yukiko, struggling to hold back tears, spoke heavily, taking long pauses between words: "It¡­ it''s about your father¡­ He¡­ he''s in the hospital right now¡­ We need to¡­ we need to go to him urgently."


    Noticing the change in her mother''s face and how difficult it was for her to speak, Kimika felt as if every word Yukiko said about her father in the hospital struck her like thunder. Her heart raced, and although she tried to say something, fear gripped her. Yukiko quietly embraced her daughter, holding back her emotions to avoid frightening her even more.


    In Yukiko''s mind, the voice of her husband''s colleague echoed, who had called. His words were etched with sharp edges: "Multiple stab wounds¡­ The doctors are barely keeping him alive... His family needs to come as soon as possible." She couldn''t convey the full horrific truth to Kimika, trying to protect her daughter from the painful details.


    She tightly squeezed Kimika''s hand, attempting to hide her own fear. "Everything will be alright," she whispered, not even knowing to whom those words were directed ¡ª her daughter or herself ¡ª unable to fully believe what had happened.

 Choice Between Light and Darkness

    Kimika sat by her father''s hospital bed, her tear-filled eyes aching with despair. Her gaze was fixed on her father''s weary face, which reflected both pain and a silent struggle for life.


    She kept activating her quirk, trying to accelerate his regeneration with her right eye. She had learned this through training with him, but now, each time she repeatedly used her quirk, her energy quickly drained away without any effect. Even after exhausting all the energy from her horn, her father''s condition didn''t improve one bit.


    Kimika tried to hold back her tears, but it was impossible. The thought that she couldn''t help him, despite all the training over the years, was tearing her apart from the inside. She began to wonder if it was all in vain: what was the point of all this training to become stronger if she couldn''t help one of her loved ones in a situation like this?


    She felt an overwhelming gratitude towards All Might ¡ª her idol, the number one hero ¡ª who had found her father and saved him from death when he lay on the ground, helpless and with multiple stab wounds, slowly dying.


    She felt anger towards All Might ¡ª for not saving her father sooner or for not stopping the attack altogether. But the anger quickly faded, leaving only a deep sense of gratitude. She understood that


    if it had been any other hero, her father would not have received help in time. No one else could have rushed him to the hospital so quickly ¡ª only All Might, with his incredible quirk, was able to do it in mere seconds, while anyone else would have simply been too late to save him.


    "Dad, please don''t leave us¡­ I love you so much¡­ I promise everything will be okay¡­ You''ve taught me so much¡­ how to accelerate regeneration¡­ how to believe in myself... I will definitely help you¡­ just get better¡­ you can do it," Kimika said quietly, wiping away the tears that streamed down her cheeks.


    Yukiko, holding her man''s hand, could not hold back her tears. Her beloved, who had only recently learned to openly express his emotions and had even taken the initiative that morning to choose a movie for the evening, now lay beside her, weak and powerless, as if he were a step away from death. Yukiko squeezed his hand, hoping that her warmth and hope could somehow improve his condition.


    Despite the abyss of pain and fear, Yukiko felt a deep gratitude that the doctors had managed to stabilize his condition before their arrival. When she had first received the call and was given a brief description of his state, the worst scenarios flooded her mind, and she feared that her husband would not survive until they arrived.


    She was thankful to live in an era where even the most dangerous injuries, which would have been fatal just a few years ago, could now be healed. In a world where quirks and cutting-edge medical techniques saved people from the inevitable, her husband had been given another chance at life.


    The doctor, entering the room, nervously paused at the threshold, his expression turning serious. He tried to collect his thoughts, struggling to overcome his fear, knowing that if he showed fear, the patient''s family would feel even more anxious, thinking he was about to tell them that the doctors were powerless in this situation. Taking a deep breath, he began to speak.


    "I know this is a difficult moment," he said, but his voice trembled despite his efforts. "We are doing everything we can to support him. Your husband''s condition has stabilized, and we continue to provide him with the necessary care. However¡­ unfortunately, we need to discuss financial matters."


    Kimika felt a sharp pain constricting in her chest, and tears streamed down her cheeks once more. She couldn''t hold back as the doctor''s words hit her like thunder, delivering the harsh reality that her father would die if they couldn''t find the money.


    "Why are you talking to us about money at such a difficult moment?" Yukiko asked, her voice sounding confused and outraged. "This is¡­ this is simply unacceptable!"


    "I understand your reaction," the doctor said, bowing his head, "and it''s very difficult for me to discuss this. But I must be honest, as it is my duty. So¡­ your husband''s insurance will cover only part of the treatment, but unfortunately, not the full amount. You will need to find funds for the surgeries, as we cannot begin treatment without them. And sadly, this issue is extremely urgent."Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    "We will do everything we can to support him, but unfortunately, the financial aspect will pose a serious challenge. I recommend that you explore all possible options to find the funds for his treatment."


    Yukiko nodded, though she couldn''t hold back her tears at those words. "Thank you for telling us the truth," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "We will fight for him, no matter how much effort it takes, and we will definitely find the money."


    When the doctor left, Kimika turned to her mother with anxiety in her eyes. "Mom, what are we going to do? This is a huge amount of money. I don''t know how we''ll be able to pay for all of this¡­" she said, realizing that their financial situation was far from ideal. Kimika knew that if her father''s insurance, which was meant for situations like this, couldn''t cover the full amount, they would have an even harder time finding the necessary funds.


    "We will find a way," her mother reassured her, squeezing her hand tightly. "Don''t forget, we''re in this together. I understand it''s hard right now, but we''ve already been through many challenges. The most important thing is your father. He''s strong, and we have to believe he will recover."


    "What if we can''t find the money?" Kimika asked, her voice trembling with fear.


    "I will find ways," her mother replied, wiping her tears away. "We can reach out to the community; he was a hero to many¡­ When people learn what has happened, I''m sure there will be those who will respond. The key is not to give up."


    "I''ll work around the clock if I have to," she added, her voice resolute. "We will find the money to provide him with treatment. I''m ready to do everything I can to save him."


    Kimika felt a warmth in her heart as she watched her mother find strength even in the darkest times.


    However, as silence filled the room, Kimika realized that her mother''s words were merely a way to comfort both her and herself. Deep down, she knew that her mother, despite all her determination, would likely struggle to find the necessary funds.


    Kimika began to think about how she could help her mother find the funds. Various options swirled in her mind, and the more she pondered, the clearer it became that standard methods of earning money wouldn''t suffice. A regular job wouldn''t bring her even a small fraction of the needed amount, even if she worked around the clock, as she was still a minor, and they simply wouldn''t offer her any well-paying work.


    Her dreams of quick financial solutions dissipated like smoke, and Kimika felt her heart constrict once more with despair. Thoughts of what to do next flooded her mind, stirring feelings of anxiety and helplessness. She felt that time was running out, and she urgently needed to find a way out.


    Ultimately, the only thing that came to her mind was illicit ways to earn money. Kimika had dreamed of becoming a hero and fighting criminals her entire life, but now, under the pressure of circumstances, just the thought of having to step onto the opposite path brought her pain. It was incredibly difficult, as she had always strived to do good, help others, and be a role model like her idol. Deep down, she realized that if they couldn''t raise the necessary funds, her father might not make it.


    Kimika tried to hold onto the hope that it wouldn''t come to that, that her mother would be able to find the right amount, and everything would return to normal. But the chances of that seemed incredibly slim, just like the possibility of returning to heroism after stepping onto the opposite path.


    And even worse, if she made even one mistake ¡ª if her photo ended up on the internet or she was caught in the act ¡ª her chances of being accepted into the hero school would melt away like snow under the scorching sun. No one would want to see someone with a dark past as a hero. And even worse: if she got caught, her chances of saving her father would also hopelessly disappear.


    These thoughts wouldn''t let her rest. Was this really the only way out? Kimika constantly pondered alternatives, but each time she returned to this dreadful idea.


    As they drove home, and sleep began to pull her into its embrace, those thoughts continued to swirl in her mind. With each passing hour, she became more convinced that she had no other choice. Even under the cover of darkness, her heart beat in the rhythm of despair, and the future felt hazy and heavy. Kimika felt the burden of responsibility growing, realizing that her decisions would not only determine her fate but also her father''s.


    In the deep of night, Kimika woke up with the feeling that this truly was the only solution. But she needed any kind of support ¡ª absolutely any. She longed to share her despair and thoughts with someone, but definitely not with her mother, who would try to dissuade her by every possible means. She didn''t want to burden her mother with her own worries when she was already struggling, believing that her husband''s life depended solely on her. Turning to Izuku or his mother was also not an option ¡ª their relationship was no longer the same as before, and he would definitely try to talk her out of it, or, worse still, tell someone else about it.


    The only person she could share her thoughts with was Toga. Kimika knew that even if Toga didn''t support her decision, she wouldn''t tell anyone about their conversation. They had always supported each other and knew many secrets about one another. So, gathering all her thoughts, she decided to write to Toga, asking about the possibility of meeting in the morning to discuss an extremely important matter. After that, Kimika fell back into sleep, anxiously awaiting this crucial conversation that could change everything.

 Entrance to the Unknown

    The next morning, Kimika woke up early to avoid being late for her scheduled meeting. Passing by the living room on her way to the exit, she noticed her mother sound asleep on the sofa. Next to her lay an empty wine bottle and their family photographs. This further strengthened Kimika''s determination to find money for her father''s treatment.


    Just in case, she left a note stating that she was going to meet Toga, so her mother wouldn''t worry if she woke up before Kimika returned.


    The meeting place was an old swing where she and Toga had first met and where they spent a lot of time together. It was their special hideaway ¡ª here they could be alone, knowing that no one would come.


    On her way, Kimika thought about the upcoming conversation, trying to anticipate all possible responses and reactions from Toga. The worst, though unlikely, scenario was that Toga would decide to end their friendship. The best outcome would be to receive her support or perhaps even hear a suggestion for another way to help.


    When Kimika finally arrived at the meeting place, she saw that Toga was already waiting for her, as she always came first. Toga was silently swinging on the old swing, watching the slow rise of the sun with a gentle smile, painting the horizon in soft hues. Holding her breath, Kimika momentarily forgot all her heavy thoughts and began to admire this scene, where Toga seemed to fit perfectly as if she were painted there just for her. But after a moment, gathering her thoughts, she said, "Hi, Toga, I''m here."


    Hearing the familiar voice, Toga jumped off the swing and quickly approached her friend, studying her face closely.


    "Hi, Kimi! What happened? Why did you write so late?" she asked, carefully examining Kimika.


    Kimika took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but the memories washed over her like a powerful wave, and tears welled up in her eyes once more. She closed her eyes for a moment, gathering all her strength, and deciding to tell the whole story, she began to speak.


    "I... I''ll get straight to the point... You might have already heard..." Her voice trembled, and the tears she could no longer hold back rolled down her cheeks. "Dad... he... he was attacked... and now he''s in the hospital..."


    Without hesitating for a second, Toga embraced Kimika, holding her close, and began gently stroking her back, wishing to soothe her tender friend, whispering,


    "Sh-sh-sh, it''s okay, I''m here... Don''t worry... I''m right here, and we''ll get through this together, I promise¡­"


    Hearing her friend''s calm and gentle voice, Kimika felt, for a moment, that everything would be alright, knowing that Toga had never lied to her in all the years of their friendship and always kept her promises. With a more composed voice, she continued to explain,


    "And he... he needs money for the surgery, but our insurance... doesn''t cover the full cost..." she said, but with those words, tears came pouring out anew, and despite Toga''s support, Kimika could no longer hold back her emotions, letting them free. She cried, releasing everything that had built up in her heart. Toga continued to hold her, stroking her back, allowing her to express everything she had been carrying in her small and innocent heart.


    "I... I thought about everything..." Kimika said through her tears, barely holding back her sobs. "Mom says she will find the money, but where? Even if... she works around the clock... even if she takes out a loan... even if she asks everyone she knows for help... it still won''t be enough." Leaning on her friend, Kimika sought the support in Toga''s silence that she couldn''t find in words.


    "And... even if I find a job myself... but who would give a decent job to a teenager?" Kimika continued, quietly shuddering with emotion. "The most I could do is be a cashier, and that won''t change anything. So... so the only way I''ve been able to think of..." She held her breath, pausing for a moment to gather her thoughts, and continued in a trembling voice, "The only way to help my father is through crime... but... but... Toga... what should I do?"


    Her words sounded as if she had come to a point of no return. Toga listened to every word, holding her friend tightly, as if passing on her calmness, but those words sparked surprise in her mind.


    Kimika, who had always dreamed of being a hero since childhood, now stood on the brink of despair, considering the option of taking an entirely opposite path. If anyone else had said this to Toga, she would have probably called them crazy. But it was Kimika, her closest friend, who was saying it. So Toga decided to share her last secrets.


    "You know, Kimi¡­ I have two more secrets that I''ve never told you..." Toga said, looking into her friend''s eyes, removing the smile from her face and turning it serious ¡ª something she did incredibly rarely and only in important moments, signaling to Kimika that she would reveal something extraordinarily important, just like four years ago.


    She took a deep breath, trying to choose her words carefully.


    "You know how much I love blood, especially yours? Well, here''s the thing¡­ You wouldn''t be able to satisfy all my desires without harming your weak and precious body¡­ So I took blood from other people¡­ of course, without their consent. I just didn''t want you to worry ¡ª I thought you would suggest drinking more of your blood. But your blood is still so much better than anyone else''s!"


    Toga paused for a moment to allow her friend to process this information. "And the last secret..." she continued, slightly downplaying the seriousness. "I ran away from home when I was thirteen after one incident..." Her voice became quieter but firm. "That''s why I never invited you over or introduced you to my parents. I lived on the streets, saw a lot, and did quite a bit of bad myself: I hurt people for blood, robbed¡­ got involved with dangerous people, doing their bidding."If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    She paused again, as if to emphasize the importance of her words. "Of course, I couldn''t see myself as a hero, but I didn''t want to tell you because I knew you dreamed of becoming a hero alongside me..."


    Toga met Kimika''s gaze, and a familiar smile reappeared on her face as she sincerely added, "Oh, and I didn''t lie to you to support you; it''s all true."


    Not giving Kimika a chance to interject, Toga continued, still looking gently at her friend but now in a lighter mood, happy to have finally revealed these two secrets, and feeling her soul was now completely clean. "And you know¡­ you have two options. The first is that I can take on tasks and earn money to give to you. The second is that we do it together. I have contacts who can give us tasks for money... And together, we will earn money for your father."


    Toga spoke as if she knew her friend had no other choice but these two options. Kimika certainly wouldn''t leave her after learning such secrets. And even if she wanted to, Toga wouldn''t let her go.


    Listening to her friend''s words, Kimika was shocked by what she heard. Her friend had been a criminal for two years, and the fact that she had run away from home completely turned Kimika''s world upside down. She couldn''t imagine what Toga had gone through, and this shocked her even more than everything else. Toga, who always seemed so happy and carefree despite everything that had happened to her, had actually endured so much more than Kimika had known. Now she realized that they both needed to support each other.


    Despite all this, Kimika didn''t quite understand why she was processing the situation so easily. Her friend was a criminal who hurt people, yet she viewed it as something simple and understandable. Kimika also thought that Toga would at most support her, but here she was, ready to work alone and even give money or do it together. However, the first option seemed unacceptable to her ¡ª she couldn''t bear the thought of making her friend work alone for her father. So she decided to choose the second option, but with certain conditions.


    Standing in Toga''s embrace, now tearless, Kimika felt ready to make a decision and act together.


    "I¡­ thank you for supporting me and for being willing to work for my father alone¡­ but," pausing slightly, which felt like an eternity to Toga as if now was a choice that determined everything, Kimika continued, "I can''t do that. I choose the second option: we will work together and save my father together! But¡­ I''m not ready to kill or hurt people or do anything like that¡­ but I''m ready for everything else! We will earn the money and save my father! Even if it means giving up my dream of being a hero¡­ Because loved ones are more important..."


    Suddenly, Kimika looked at Toga, feeling a slight unease, finally realizing the weight of her words. "And you know, Toga¡­ you could have told me those secrets earlier. Now I feel like you didn''t trust me completely¡­ But we swore not to lie or keep secrets from each other..."


    At these words, Toga didn''t know how to react. On one hand, she was glad that her friend was willing to walk her path and that she wouldn''t have to force her to stay. But on the other hand, Toga was taken aback by Kimika''s words¡ªshe had thought her friend would at least hesitate in her choice, yet she showed no doubt at all, ready to sacrifice her dreams and desires for a loved one.


    What struck Toga even more was that Kimika had expressed suspicion regarding her honesty in their friendship. She realized that her friend still remained an innocent child, unaware of the horrors hidden behind the path Toga had chosen.


    "Oh, my innocent Kimi," Toga said, bowing her head in apology. "I''m sorry for not believing you! And for not sharing my secrets. But from now on, there will be no secrets between us! For breaking our vow, I will bear the punishment! All fate will be on your side."


    "But¡­" Kimika tried to interject, realizing that she would become a burden for her friend in this matter, but not wanting to take all the money from the tasks for herself, knowing Toga was already doing so much for her.


    "No ''buts''!" Toga interrupted her. She had decided that she would bear that particular punishment for her secrets, but she couldn''t help but be touched by her friend''s reaction. "I''ve said everything."


    After this, they sat in silence in each other''s warm embrace for a while, until suddenly Toga''s predatory smile appeared on her face, and a light, familiar blush flared on her cheeks. Instantly, she sank her teeth into Kimika''s neck, beginning to relentlessly draw her blood. Kimika merely let out a soft moan, not attempting to resist; she had completely gotten used to this aspect of her friend over the years of their friendship and had even begun to derive some pleasure from it.


    Eventually, as Kimika''s legs began to tremble and she started to weaken, though she said nothing, Toga reluctantly stopped drinking from her incredibly sweet blood. She knew that her friend probably wouldn''t even say anything, even if she accidentally drank all of it.


    But she also understood that Kimika wouldn''t run away, and when her blood replenished, she would be able to enjoy its taste once again. Continuing to embrace her friend and supporting her so she wouldn''t fall from weakness, Toga smiled and began to spin around as if dancing, saying:


    "Well then, my little innocent girl, how fortunate you came to me instead of trying to do everything on your own. Otherwise, your mother would sadly be left without her daughter."


    "W-w-hat?" Kimika asked, not believing what she had heard.


    "Well, what?" Toga replied with a hint of sarcasm. "This isn''t a heroic path where everything is easy¡­ If you''ve chosen the opposite path, you should know right away that you could get killed or caught on your very first task, or even sooner¡­ Did you really think it would all be so simple? We don''t have any hero academies to teach you everything, but don''t worry, you have me!"


    In response, Toga received only a silent, pale face from Kimika. Even though she was already aware of all the risks, hearing it from her friend ¡ª or perhaps her partner ¡ª was difficult. Her heart filled with doubt, and thoughts flooded her mind with fears that had never dared to surface before.


    "Oh, my innocent girl," Toga said, trying to ease the tension. "Now go home and do your lessons, prepare an outfit that doesn''t stand out too much¡ª an old sweater or something similar. And most importantly¡ª don''t forget a mask! It doesn''t have to cover your whole face, as your horns and long white hair give away your true nature even better than your face. I''ll message you when we meet. Oh, and don''t forget to come up with a name for yourself. Now ¡ª off you go! Oh, I almost forgot to mention, there''s no turning back now."


    With that, Toga smiled and bounced away, leaving Kimika alone with her thoughts and fears about the future.

 The First Criminal Mission

    Arriving home faster than her mom woke up, Kimika immediately began rummaging through her wardrobe, which was filled with various clothes due to her love for changing looks. Sifting through her outfits one by one, she tried to find something suitable for her criminal tasks ¡ª something simple and inconspicuous.


    After spending about an hour going through her numerous clothes, she managed to find the perfect outfit: an old dark hoodie, gray sweatpants, blue sneakers, and a simple black mask. With incredible determination and her criminal attire already on, she was ready for her first mission with Toga!


    But Toga was taking forever to write. So at first, she changed into simple home clothes, keeping her criminal outfit nearby, ready to change in a second, still just as determined. And the messages just kept not coming; she even managed to have breakfast and attend all her online classes, almost wanting to create an alibi for herself.


    Where she always answered all the questions and diligently completed assignments so that the teachers wouldn''t suspect anything and wouldn''t write to her mother.


    Although they probably wouldn''t have done that anyway, because Yukiko had already informed them about what happened in their family, which they received with understanding. However, in class, they were shocked because even despite what had happened, Kimika acted as if nothing was wrong, but in the end, they took it as a desire to distract herself from her worries.


    With each passing minute, it grew darker and darker until night fell, but the message from Toga still hadn''t come. Kimika began to worry: Why? Maybe Toga decided not to take her on the first mission? Or perhaps something had happened? Maybe Toga got into trouble, or worse ¡ª she was caught by the heroes? But just at that moment, when she was about to write to Toga herself, a message finally arrived: "Get dressed and quietly go outside."


    Kimika felt a rush of joy, though it quickly turned serious due to the importance of what was about to happen, so she immediately followed the instructions.


    Once outside, she saw Toga in her usual school uniform, which she wore almost every time they met. But this time, Kimika pondered: perhaps it wasn''t just a style or favorite outfit, but a result of a lack of money from living on the streets? Though this seemed unlikely, the thought lingered in her mind.


    "Hmm, Kimi, you picked a great inconspicuous outfit," Toga started with a light smile. "But there''s one downside: your hair and horns. Unfortunately, there''s nothing we can do about the horns. But your hair... that could become a problem. Imagine someone grabbing you by it, or it suddenly blocking your view. Plus, it''s so beautiful and silky that your acquaintances would instantly recognize you."


    "And what do you suggest? Cut it off?" Kimika asked, beginning to step back from Toga, as if trying to protect her hair, which she had taken care of for so long and so diligently.


    Noticing how her friend began to retreat, guarding her hair, Toga couldn''t help but smile. It was so reminiscent of a little kitten trying to defend itself from a threat ¡ª so cute and endearing, even without realizing it was futile. This scene only fueled Toga''s desire to play with her and her silky locks even more. She slowly stepped closer, and a playful mischief sparkled in her eyes.


    "Oh, no, no... Why cut off your beautiful hair? That would be a real crime!" Toga said, keeping her playful gaze on Kimika.


    Step by step, she drew closer, following her retreating friend who pressed her hair against herself. Toga''s smile only widened, and her voice sounded soft yet inevitable, as if she were playing a game where she already knew she would win. With each of Toga''s steps, the feeling of inevitable victory only intensified, as if Kimika had no chance of escaping this cozy captivity and saving her hair from her.


    Kimika continued to step back, hoping to escape from her friend until she bumped into the wall of her house. She was about to turn right to continue her flight, but Toga''s hands closed off the passage on both sides, leaving only one exit ¡ª forward, toward her.


    "Don''t be afraid," Toga said, leaning closer to her friend''s head. Her voice began to sound soft and sweet, but there was an unmistakable sense of inevitability in it. "I''m just going to give you a hairstyle! I''ve always dreamed of this because friends always play with each other, braiding their hair into different styles. It''s just a game, and I promise you''ll look amazing!"


    And finally, very quietly, as if wishing for her friend not to hear but also hoping she would, she said, "I''m glad that the first one who gets to do this will be me... and the last one too." After a small pause, she spoke louder: "After all, who else but me could do your hair so well?"


    But in her thoughts, it was entirely different: ''Because you are only mine... and anyone who tries to change that will die by my hands!'' She wasn''t ready to voice her thoughts yet, knowing that Kimika wasn''t prepared for that.


    "Um... what kind of hairstyle?" Kimika asked, interrupting Toga''s heavy thoughts.


    Not having the chance to escape and hearing that Toga wasn''t going to cut her hair, she relaxed despite the strange situation in which her friend was blocking her escape with her hands. ''If this is really what friends do, then why not?''


    The words about her being the last didn''t leave any impression on her ¡ª Kimika had long since gotten used to Toga''s similar remarks.


    Toga, smiling, watched the complete innocence of Kimika in this situation. ''Anyone else in her place would have already blushed with embarrassment,'' she thought, realizing that Kimika was absurdly naive about matters of intimacy and romance, never showing interest in them, only in heroes. She probably thought this was something all friends did, so she saw nothing wrong with it.


    This only intensified Toga''s desire to someday see the expression on Kimika''s face when she discovers the truth about their "friendship." "Let''s... hmm... do a low bun. Yes! Perfect! It will be practical and stylish."


    Grabbing Kimika by the hand, Toga pulled her to a quiet spot away from her house. She quickly glanced around to make sure no one was watching and then focused on her task. With effortless ease, Toga began styling Kimika''s hair while humming a light tune, her face glowing with happiness that she was finally doing this.


    In contrast, Kimika began to feel nervous. Anxious thoughts swirled in her mind: ''Is this going to be something scary, like a robbery, or maybe just moving some things? What did I hear on the news?'' She unconsciously squeezed her fingers, feeling her heart racing in her chest.


    While Toga was doing Kimika''s hairstyle, night had fully enveloped the city in a comfortable silence. However, even at this time, occasional passersby broke the stillness, and heroes patrolling the city approached the girls, asking what they were doing out so late. The girls had different reactions: Kimika''s heart raced with fear, as if it might burst from her chest due to anxious thoughts that they could be caught, even though they hadn''t done anything yet. Toga, on the other hand, remained calm, smiling as she replied:


    "She''s just a fan, collecting autographs from all the heroes. Night is the perfect time for this since there are no competitors!" To Kimika''s surprise, the heroes, upon hearing this, happily offered to take photos and gave their autographs as if they were just regular fans rather than those about to commit a crime. However, they insisted that the girls head home afterward.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    When Toga finally finished the hairstyle, her face beamed with satisfaction at the sight of her work. After that, they continued on their way, and Kimika silently followed behind like a little tail, trying to keep quiet. Toga walked calmly ahead, almost skipping, until they reached a dark alley.


    "We''re almost there, so put on your mask," Toga cheerfully said, moving forward with her arm outstretched like a child leading a group. Kimika quickly put on her mask and ran to catch up with her.


    Kimika could no longer hold back her mounting anxiety, especially after Toga''s words that they were almost there, so she couldn''t resist asking: "Um... where are we going? And what are we going to do?"


    "Huh? Did I not say?" Toga asked in surprise, stopping for a moment. "That''s my oversight, so it''s good you asked! We''re going to a place where drugs are hidden, and we just need to move them to another location. That''s all. It''s a pretty simple task, just right for you! Oh, and do you want a fun fact?"


    "Um... yes?"


    "I also started with a task like this! Oh, what memories¡­ Although getting it was harder for me than it will be for you, because I didn''t have such an amazing friend to lead me by the hand. Though your task is much tougher since we''ll have to go through some pretty dangerous areas where Lokrok, Leaf, Fluffykins, and the most dangerous of all Eraser Head. But don''t worry, we''re just inconspicuous pretty girls; no one would mistake us for smugglers or criminals!"


    "Got it¡­ And what are their quirks?" Kimika asked, still curious and no longer as anxious. From her friend''s words, it didn''t sound too scary, and she was also relieved that she didn''t know any of these heroes, so she thought they couldn''t be incredibly dangerous.


    "Hmm, Lokrok is a hero of restraint. He can stop an object from moving, even if it defies the laws of physics, which is nothing unusual in our world of quirks. But if you have enough strength, he won''t be much of a threat to you. Leaf is a heroine with control over plants; she can communicate with them, accelerate their growth, and so on. And Fluffykins creates minor illusions for deception."


    Meanwhile, Eraser Head was patrolling the area with displeasure. He hadn''t been able to track down any trigger dealers for a long time and was only catching couriers, which did little to stop the supply of trigger on the market.


    While patrolling, he noticed two girls: one was blonde, in a standard schoolgirl uniform, and the other wore a hoodie and sweatpants with horns. This was nothing new for him¡ªwalking around at that time wasn''t prohibited, though their appearance was quite memorable, especially the girl with horns. He watched them for a bit, but seeing that the girls were just walking and discussing something, he decided to ignore them and continued his patrol.


    Finally, Kimika and Toga found a box at the very bottom of the last garbage bin. After pulling it out, they placed it in the bag and, sighing with relief, moved on, planning to reach point B as quickly as possible, where their contact was already waiting.


    "By the way, you never told me about Eraser Head," Kimika asked, pondering all the dangers they might face on their way.


    "Oh, right! As I mentioned, he''s the most dangerous. His quirk allows him to erase the quirk of anyone he looks at. Plus, he has excellent close combat skills and a special tape for capturing people, which he controls as if it were his own hands. And by the way, he was watching us recently, but stopped as soon as we turned into the alley."


    When Kimika heard about his quirk and close combat skills, a chill ran down her spine at the realization of his danger. The ability to erase any quirk with a glance made him incredibly threatening. And when she heard that he had been watching them, and Toga spoke about it as if it were a simple matter, she couldn''t contain her astonishment. "WHAT? He was watching us? Why didn''t you tell me??"


    "If I had told you, you would have given us away with your scared expression¡­" Toga smiled, trying to lighten the mood as she shifted the conversation to another topic. "By the way, what criminal name did you come up with?"


    "Well, I didn''t think about it for long, so it might not be that cool, but my criminal name is Tokima! The Time Demon!" Kimika exclaimed, feeling her excitement gradually turning into pride. "It''s the complete opposite of my hero name¡ªToki no Tenshi, which means Angel of Time."


    "Oooo, cool! And you know, if we''re going to be partners now, I need to come up with a name that''s similar to yours. For example... hmm... oh, I''ve got it! Tsukima, which means Blood Demon! Now we''re a team of demons! Demon Twin Team, since I can take on your appearance!" Toga said excitedly, relieved to have shifted the topic to something more enjoyable. "And we''ve made it; it''s lucky we only caught a glimpse of Eraser Head, although it would have been better if he hadn''t noticed us at all."


    Kimika glanced at the place Toga was pointing to. It was an old, seemingly abandoned building that emanated a sense of danger, and Kimika''s knees started to tremble a bit. Because of this, she fell slightly behind, and Toga, noticing this, felt a doubt rising inside her: maybe she had foolishly involved her innocent friend in such a matter, and it would have been better to act alone than to show her this horror, though there was no turning back now.


    Approaching the door, Toga glanced at the note and knocked three times hard, once lightly, and then three times hard again. The door opened, revealing a man with a mutant appearance: his head resembled that of a crocodile, his arms had claws, and his body was covered in scales.


    "Couriers? Hand over the goods," he said, looking down at them as if they were insects.


    Toga handed him the bag. He pulled out the box, inspected it, and, nodding in satisfaction, said, "The goods are in order."


    Then he shouted something unintelligible to someone inside the building. Looking back at the girls, he continued, "What brought you kids to take on this kind of work? I''ve seen much younger ones than you, but they were homeless or something like that. You seem well-dressed¡­"


    Toga quickly replied, "Not your business."


    "Hohhoho, right¡­" he said, then handed them an envelope and quickly shut the door.


    "Well, that''s it! Your first assignment is complete, and your ''virginity'' is gone! Let''s get out of here!" Toga exclaimed, stepping forward with a smile. Kimika didn''t respond and simply followed her, tagging along like a little shadow.


    To her surprise, the first task turned out to be incredibly simple, and if it continued like this, accumulating money for her father''s treatment would be easy.


    As they walked back, they were almost at Kimika''s house when Toga suddenly spoke: "You know, we were lucky today! It was an easy task, and the person who picked up the goods turned out to be quite normal. It''s like winning the lottery! He could have just taken the goods and closed the door, or done something much worse, and you wouldn''t have been able to do anything about it. But you were lucky to have me with you. If he had done that, I would have had a little chat with him alone!"


    "I''ll take the envelope with the money for now, if you don''t mind," Toga said, giving a light wink. "But, as we promised, it''s all yours, and I''ll just hold onto it so your mom doesn''t accidentally find it. And now for the most pleasant part..."


    Without waiting for a response, she suddenly clung to Kimika''s neck, greedily sucking her blood while tightly embracing her, not giving her a chance to move.


    Kimika was surprised since Toga had never taken blood more than once a day, and now¡­ twice! But in the end, she didn''t mind. Toga was helping her incredibly, and this was the least she could give her in return.


    When Toga had her fill, she slightly released her "not-so-innocent" friend, licking her lips in satisfaction.


    "You know, Kimi, we need to start training together because I can''t let you keep doing tasks with your current level. Starting tomorrow, we''ll begin new training! You need combat experience, since we won''t always get such easy tasks as today. And if you thought we''d continue doing the same thing as today, you''re mistaken. They pay very little for that. You don''t want to do this every day for a few years, do you?" she asked, watching a nervous smile appear on Kimika''s face.


    She had dreamed of calm smuggling, but now she understood that she needed training to be able to take on harder tasks than these. "I understand, and I''m ready for the training!"


    "Kimi, oh, my Kimi! Words like that make me want your blood again," Toga said, once again clinging to Kimika''s neck in a different spot. From this, Kimika felt her body grow heavy, and her head started to spin.


    "Oh, sorry, I couldn''t help myself because of the taste of your blood and those words of yours! But well, tomorrow morning I''ll be waiting for you for our morning training, and at night we''ll do some task, or maybe a few, depending on how it goes. And now go to sleep and don''t forget to eat well so your blood stays just as sweet!"


    After that, Toga turned and skipped away happily, leaving Kimika blushing lightly from those words. She was ready to do anything for her parents!


    And when she got home, not even having time to take a shower, she simply collapsed into bed, feeling exhausted, which might have been due to the stressful day or the significant blood deficit she had.

 Hellish Training

    The next morning, Kimika and Toga began their training. The first task Toga announced was to run from Kimika''s house to the abandoned factory. This place, where they would not be disturbed, would be perfect for continuing their training. The distance between these two points was approximately 50 kilometers, and when Kimika heard this number, despair flashed in her eyes.


    "50 kilometers?" she exclaimed nervously. "I''ll die halfway there!"


    Toga smiled cheerfully, getting into her role as a mentor, but there was a harshness in her voice: "If you can''t do it, I''ll make you. And then it won''t be clear what''s worse: dying from exhaustion or facing my punishment. And don''t think that just because we''re best friends, I''ll be lenient!" she joked, but the coldness in her words made Kimika pull herself together.


    When Kimika, barely alive, reached her destination, she collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily and struggling from exhaustion. Toga, watching her, couldn''t help but smile; she had expected Kimika to be in better shape since she was always bragging about her training successes with her father, who she knew was quite strict. But the reality was grim. However, there was no time to rest, no matter how sorry she felt for her friend.


    "Get up, that was just the warm-up," Toga proclaimed, not giving Kimika a chance to voice her thoughts as she pulled the girl off the ground and continued, "Now let''s stretch before the real training."


    The gymnastics turned out to be easier for Kimika compared to the run, but Toga didn''t go easy on her here either. They started with simple exercises: "cat back," side stretches, "pyramid," bridge, and splits. Each movement became a true test for Kimika''s tired body, while Toga calmly stood by, insisting on repeating every exercise to perfection, sparing no effort. Sometimes she even used light physical punishments, like gentle swats to Kimika''s glutes, as she didn''t want to hurt her friend too much. She embodied the role of a strict mentor, burying her kinder side.


    Toga absolutely loved these punishments; she saw them as a way to maintain discipline, motivate Kimika to achieve better results, and, most importantly, to feel like she was getting something in return for conducting these training sessions. However, Kimika viewed them as something embarrassing, as such punishments were usually reserved for children, and she was no longer a child. She couldn''t see any other context in them, which was full of meaning for Toga. This only highlighted how much Toga enjoyed the situation, as she found it amusing to watch her naive friend not realizing who was truly getting pleasure from these trainings and punishments.


    Next came the time for coordination exercises: balancing on one leg, jumping, and many other activities that Kimika had to perform for several minutes. Those minutes felt endless, but even this challenging training was easier than running.


    After gymnastics, they moved on to strength training. They started with classic push-ups and pull-ups, although what Toga called "the bar" was actually just an old pipe that creaked ominously with each set, as if it might fall at any moment. This frightened Kimika, but she didn''t want to face punishment, so she obediently complied.


    The next stage involved carrying stones from one place to another, which seemed like pointless physical labor, but this task had its purpose. Toga jokingly remarked, "As soon as you clean up the whole area, we''ll start personal training. And by the way, you can use your quirks for this," she said with a pointed wink, making it clear that today''s cleaning wasn''t just about strength, but also about resourcefulness.


    All these tasks were a kind of test for Toga to assess Kimika''s level and simultaneously improve her physical training. She explained to the girl that without endurance in battles, she was of no use¡ªif you can''t run, you won''t be able to escape. Flexibility, mobility, and coordination are all important not only for reaction speed but also for survival. Toga knew that only through these skills could Kimika stand up to danger, and that''s why she worked diligently on developing them.


    "Your body should look toned and beautiful," Toga said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "So that everyone around you is envious¡­ well, not just of you, but of me too!" She raised her finger as if she had just uncovered a great truth. "Just imagine everyone saying, ''Wow, what a cool friend Toga has!''" She couldn''t help but laugh, but then immediately coughed, realizing she had just revealed the real reason behind most of the exercises and quickly changed the subject. "And strength training will make you more resilient, and your punch will be so strong that no one will be able to withstand it!"


    Kimika, rubbing the back of her head, smiled to herself, thinking, "It seems we both have our own plans for this training."


    Training alongside Kimika, Toga demonstrated that all these exercises were real and achievable, albeit incredibly difficult. Kimika continued, putting in her maximum effort, and finally, after several hours of hard work that seemed endless, she finished the last exercises. Her body was on the verge of collapse; she felt fatigue seeping into every muscle, leaving her with only 1% of her life force.


    "Well, you''ve finally completed all these workouts, though I''d call them just a warm-up," Toga said cheerfully. "For your first time, you did great! Now let''s move on to some real sparring with me! Don''t be afraid, my little Kimi! I''ll whip you into shape so that soon you won''t even need sparring, just some fun games. I''ve already come up with a few... but that''s for later, since you''re not ready for them yet!"


    Kimika listened, and she was already ready to either run home or fall at Toga''s feet, begging for mercy.


    "Well, you know, my main weapons in battle are a knife and close combat. If you become an expert in these two areas, even those with enhancement quirks ¡ª or anyone, really ¡ª will be weak against you, especially if you combine that knowledge with your quirk." Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "A knife? Close combat? How did you acquire those skills? You never went to classes or anything like that..."


    "Hmm, of course, through trial and error. But I''ll be honest: the knife feels like my third hand. As soon as I started using it, I became a master in no time! Maybe you''ll be just as lucky, and if not, I''ll help you. And remember, training isn''t always the best; real combat experience in actual battles is far more valuable! I knew someone who took martial arts classes ¡ª they called him a master, but he lost to me in the first few seconds... And honestly, forget that any quirk is stronger than yours! If you rely on your quirk and fear everyone just because someone''s quirk is cooler, you''re no better than trash. All your enemies know what to expect from you. Even someone without a quirk can become stronger than anyone. Although, to be fair, All Might is an exception to the rule. He has enough destructive power to defeat anyone with a single blow. But what are the odds that any of us will run into him? Zero! So, let''s get started!"


    Kimika processed Toga''s words, questioning who she truly was in that moment ¡ª a mentor or a friend. All these truths sounded plausible, and she understood them perfectly. If a person has combat experience and their own attack style, and if all that is combined with a quirk, they could defeat anyone who thinks their quirk makes them invincible and doesn''t train in other areas. Except for All Might, who truly was invincible. Just the mention of him stirred mixed feelings in Kimika: she was a fan and immensely grateful that he had saved her father. But now, as a criminal, she definitely did not want to encounter him.


    "And so, I''ll take your silence as agreement with me. Let''s start by teaching you how to use a knife, but without your quirk. This way, you''ll learn to handle it. In the process, you''ll also learn hand-to-hand combat, reinforcing everything in real battles that may arise during tasks. Then, of course, you can use your quirk as well. Your goal is to stab me; I''ll just be defending myself. Oh, and no ''buts''! The chance that you''ll even scratch me is so small that the likelihood of some All Might showing up here is much greater. And if you do happen to hurt me, you''ll be able to heal me through speeding up my regeneration. So, let''s go!"


    Toga threw a real knife at Kimika, which fell at her feet. As Kimika contemplated everything that had been said, she felt a surge of anxiety: she needed to hurt her friend? By Toga''s words, this seemed like something close to impossible. Sighing, she picked up the knife, gripping it with both hands, and slowly began to approach Toga.


    "And what are you doing? Holding the knife with both hands? Are you serious? Hold it with just one; your other hand can be doing something else¡ªholding another knife, defending, or just improving your maneuverability. Do you think that by holding the knife with both hands, you''ll be able to touch me even once? Although... that''s certainly a matter of style..."


    Following Toga''s advice, Kimika took the knife in her right hand and began to approach again, contemplating how best to attack. When she got close enough, she made a lunge, preparing to strike toward Toga. In an instant, she noticed Toga casually stepping back with a yawn, tripping her. In the next moment, she found herself face down in the dirt.


    Toga, standing with one foot on Kimika''s back, sighed dramatically. "Well, I didn''t expect much more. Score is 1:0! In a real fight, you''d already be dead... So get up and let''s go again!"


    Getting back up, Kimika launched herself at Toga again, making almost the same lunge. This time she was ready for Toga to step back, but again, failure struck ¡ª score 2:0.


    Unwilling to give up, she tried a new tactic: a downward slicing strike. Raising the knife above her head, she approached Toga, ready to deliver the blow. But again, Toga tripped her, and Kimika found herself on the ground once more. She got up again and again, attempting to mix up her strikes, but the score kept rising relentlessly against her.


    "That''s 10:0 now! But don''t worry; with each fall, you''re getting stronger! Try new strikes, new tactics. I''m here to teach you that!"


    A fire ignited in Kimika''s eyes ¡ª a readiness to face the challenges ahead. Getting back on her feet, she charged at Toga once more. This time, as she got closer, she made a lunge, and Toga was expecting a standard direct strike. But at the last moment, Kimika abruptly stopped and executed a feint with a slicing strike aimed at Toga''s legs!


    In an instant, Toga deflected the strike with her own knife, absorbing Kimika''s attack with grace. She spun the knife in her hand, countering Kimika''s attack and knocking the knife from her grasp. Then, she launched a counterattack¡ª a light strike to the side, followed by another, forcing Kimika to dodge.


    "And you''re doing great! You''re learning so quickly; oh, how I love you!" Toga said with a smile. "You almost managed to hit me! But you still lack speed and experience. But you''re growing and growing! And since I deflected your attack with my knife, I''ll count that as your victory! So it''s 10:1."


    The training continued. Toga began using her knife solely for defense, not attacking, as she felt it was still too early for that. But she could see how quickly Kimika was improving, gaining confidence with each strike. Toga was incredibly pleased with this progress, feeling that their training was truly bearing fruit.


    "Well, we''ve been training for several hours, so now it''s time for a break! Our final score is 130:1, but that''s alright! You''re getting better! Soon we''ll be training for real and sharpening each other''s skills!"


    "Hooray!" Kimika exclaimed joyfully, collapsing onto the ground. Five hours of training felt like torture, and the chance to rest seemed like a new birthday to her.


    "Oh, and Kimika, my little one, don''t forget a few things! First, regenerate your cuts and wounds; you don''t want your mom to worry when she finds out what we''ve been doing, right? Second, remember we still have to walk home?"


    Hearing about the walk home ¡ª specifically the 50 kilometers ¡ª Kimika imagined herself in a grave. But as she envisioned her parents mourning her death, she began to walk, listening to Toga''s encouraging lectures. For Kimika, her parents were the biggest motivation ¡ª without them, she would have never agreed to these training sessions!


    After an hour, she finally reached home. Her appearance was dreadful: clothes covered in dirt and scratches, as if she had just gone through a storm. However, Kimika had no injuries on her, thanks to her regeneration ability.


    Gathering enough strength to take a shower, she barely made it to the bathroom. After a quick but necessary cleansing, her energy was completely drained, and again, pushing herself, she barely made it to her bed. Just as she managed to set her alarm for the evening assignment that was still on, Kimika instantly fell asleep, surrendering to sweet dreams of rest and how she would spend her days with her parents like before.

 A Step Away from Exposure

    Kimika happily spent time in her sleep until the most perfect moment was interrupted by the alarm clock. Upon waking, she felt pain in every muscle ¡ª a result of her morning workouts. However, gathering her strength, she changed clothes and began waiting for a message from Toga, which surprisingly didn''t take long to arrive, as if she had been watching her from the window, waiting for the moment she would wake up. As before, the message instructed her to get dressed and quietly go outside.


    "Well, today is day two and the second task!" Toga cheerfully announced, finally awaiting her friend''s awakening. "So, after your light morning workouts, a little surprise awaits you! Today, we''ll choose something just as easy!"


    "Choose? I thought you already had the task like yesterday," Kimika murmured, yawning and trying to focus.


    Seeing her sleepy friend trying to look focused, Toga couldn''t help but smile. "You look so cute when you''re sleepy!" she said, grinning as she moved forward, leading Kimika along. "Don''t worry, we''re just going to the broker, we''ll take a light task, and everything will be wonderful, just like yesterday."


    Fully awake now, Kimika couldn''t hold back her curiosity. "Broker?"


    Toga looked at her friend with a smile, unable to contain her excitement. "Oh, how innocent you are! In short, he just assigns tasks. But don''t worry, he''s a pretty reliable guy!"


    As Kimika followed Toga, she couldn''t help but wonder what the place they were meeting would look like: a dark alley, a seedy bar, a sewer, or something similar, while Toga happily chatted about various topics.


    But to her surprise, Toga led her into a simple restaurant where ordinary patrons were seated ¡ª families were dining, pleasant music played, and calm conversations filled the air. This was nothing like she had expected, but Toga simply walked to the back of the restaurant, where a lone man sat, jotting something down in a notebook.


    "Toga? I see you''re still alive... and your..." Giran paused, carefully looking Kimika over, then continued with evident displeasure, "Your partner is with you too..."


    Hearing these words, it seemed they received a permission to sit. At least, that''s what Kimika thought, since Toga only sat down after his words.


    "We''re happy to see you too! But you know, don''t call me Toga anymore. From now on, I''m Tsukima! And my partner is Tokima!" she replied cheerfully with her usual playful smile.


    Giran raised an eyebrow in surprise at this and looked at her closely, as if verifying that he had heard correctly.


    "A new name?" he asked, still curiously examining her. "And judging by how that sounds, you two are permanent partners now, right? Well then, Tsukima and Tokima, I hope our collaboration will be profitable and long-lasting." He smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth, but his tone remained lighthearted. "So, what task are you interested in?"


    "Something simple, like yesterday... and without any killings," Toga said, still holding a playful smile and occasionally glancing at Kimika.


    A grimace of dissatisfaction appeared on Giran''s face. His gaze turned to Kimika ¡ª and it was clear that he saw her only as a burden for Toga.


    "Hmm..." he muttered, opening his notebook and flipping through the pages. "So, there''s smuggling with the same people and at the same place as yesterday, or a shop robbery. The other tasks... a bit ''bloody.''"


    "We''ll take the smuggling," Toga replied without a second thought, knowing that the second option would be too complicated for Kimika for now.


    "Well, fine," Giran sighed, pulling out a sheet with the cargo coordinates, which he immediately handed to Toga. "Here, and try not to die or make a scene because of your ''partner.'' It would be a shame to lose someone like you."


    "We''ll be polite," Toga winked, after which she said goodbye, took Kimika by the hand, and led her out of the restaurant.


    Together, they set off to the location where the goods were. But this time there was one important difference ¡ª now it was Kimika, not Toga, who was navigating with the map on her phone and directing them.


    Despite her nervousness, she managed to lead them to the right spot. This time, the cargo was not in a trash container; the box was simply lying in the bushes near the apartment buildings. After taking it and putting it in her backpack, they began to move along the familiar route to the delivery point.


    However, Toga suddenly interrupted her thoughts:


    "Little Kimi, without any unnecessary questions and without any suspicious movements, we''re going to slow down. Let''s pretend we''re just strolling," she said, not changing her stride or her smile even a bit. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    At those words, Kimika felt her heart start to race, and a chill ran down her spine. "What? What happened?"


    "There have been a few heroes tailing us for a while now, and one of them is Eraser Head," Toga replied just as calmly, still wearing the same playful smile, as if what she had said was nothing out of the ordinary.


    Kimika felt the tension in her body rise sharply. She nervously tried to glance back, but Toga immediately reached out her hand, quickly intertwining her fingers with Kimika''s. Before Kimika could even understand what was happening, she found herself in a firm grip from which there was no escape.


    "Hey, don''t panic," Toga said cheerfully, delighted that she had taken Kimika''s hand, as if they were in love, fully aware that Kimika probably wouldn''t understand this, and started to jump and lightly pull her along. "Want to give us away?"


    Kimika let out a small squeak and instantly hid her face with one hand while the other was firmly held by Toga, trying to conceal her flushed skin. Her heart raced even faster, not so much from the fear of being caught, but from Toga''s unexpected actions.


    "Relax, we''re just strolling," Toga purred, holding onto Kimika''s hand. She walked with a bounce, as if nothing serious threatened them. Kimika, though trying to calm herself, couldn''t shake off the thoughts of the heroes watching them.


    After a few minutes of walking like this, Toga finally stopped and let go of Kimika''s hand. "That''s it, no one has been tailing us for about two minutes,"


    Kimika, still hiding her flushed face, awkwardly mumbled, "Why didn''t you let go of my hand earlier?"


    Toga smiled even wider and playfully replied, "What, do you want me to lose such a wonderful chance to hold your hand?"


    Kimika immediately covered her face with both hands and walked ahead, too shy to look at Toga. Toga just smiled, watching her with a glimmer in her eyes, thinking about how sweet it would be to taste her friend''s blood after successfully completing their task.


    However, the involuntary thoughts of the heroes wouldn''t leave her: if they had been tailing them for so long, perhaps these tasks wouldn''t be as safe as before.


    ~~~ A little earlier ~~~


    Eraser Head and Fluffyk continued to patrol the city, especially in the areas where couriers frequently transported trigger. And as the operation to expose one of the places actively trading this dangerous substance approached, they began to watch all the suspicious individuals in the area.


    "Hey, Eraser, look over there," Fluffyk quietly said, as if she didn''t want to scare anyone away, pointing at two girls passing nearby.


    Eraser Head slowly turned his head in their direction and made a vague grunt.


    "Hmm... them again?" he said, maintaining his usual composure.


    "What do you mean ''again''? Have you seen them before?" Fluffyk asked, slightly frowning in surprise.


    "Yeah, I''ve seen them. They walked the same route yesterday."


    Fluffyk squinted at them a little closer, and suddenly it was as if a light bulb went off in her head. "And they could be couriers? Look, they''re heading right toward the place where they trade trigger..."


    The heroes began to observe the two girls more closely. Suddenly, one of them grabbed the other''s hand, as if in love, and the unexpected gesture elicited a squeak and a blush on the latter''s face, which was noticeable even from their vantage point. She tried to cover her face with her only free hand. In response,


    Fluffy giggled quietly, unable to contain her emotions, as if she were watching a good romantic series. "Hmm, maybe they''re just a couple," she said with a smile. "It looks like they''re embarrassed to show their relationship during the day, especially the one with the horns."


    Eraser Head merely let out a quiet sigh but said nothing, continuing to observe for a few more minutes. Eventually, both decided that they were probably not the ones they were looking for and moved on, paying no further attention to the girls.


    ~~~


    Toga and Kimika were almost at the street where the house they were supposed to deliver the trigger to was located. But from a distance, they spotted smoke rising from it, along with several police cars and heroes standing nearby, among whom it was easy to recognize Eraser Head and Fluffy. Without hesitation, Toga took Kimika''s hand again, and as if nothing had happened, they continued walking forward without changing their route to avoid raising suspicion. Kimika seemed ready to bolt in the opposite direction out of fear, but Toga''s strong grip kept her from breaking free.


    "Keep it together," Toga said quietly but confidently, with the same light smile that added even more assurance.


    They passed by the police cars, trying to remain calm. Kimika nearly stumbled from the tension, but Toga held her tightly enough to prevent her from falling.


    As they walked past the heroes, Eraser Head merely glanced at them but didn''t react. Instead, Fluffy, seeing the girls, burst into loud laughter, pointing at them and animatedly discussing something with Eraser Head.


    "Let''s speed up," Toga whispered, nudging her friend forward.


    Fortunately, no one followed them. Just as they distanced themselves enough to feel relatively safe, Toga loosened her grip a bit and led them toward Kimika''s house.


    "Phew, we were incredibly lucky we didn''t arrive earlier. We could have been caught," Toga said, sighing with relief. "And don''t worry, this happens all the time. You just have to be prepared. We won''t take any more jobs involving triggers. I''ll hide the one you have in your bag or give it to


    Giran." Kimika, on the edge of panic, was shaking and kept looking around as if expecting someone to suddenly appear and arrest them.


    "Calm down. This isn''t the first time, and it definitely won''t be the last time someone almost caught us," Toga added, hugging her friend to comfort her.


    After a while, they arrived at Kimika''s house, and Toga smiled as she said, "Rest up; you need your strength. We''ll continue training tomorrow morning."


    Kimika nodded, although the anxiety was still evident on her face. "And remember," Toga continued, looking at her with a mischievous smile, "I didn''t drink a drop of your blood today. So, get ready for tomorrow."


    Kimika nodded uncertainly, and despite the lingering fear, she stepped inside the house.


    Toga watched as the door closed, and only then did her smile fade slightly. She too felt an incredible anxiety from the day''s events. ''What if we had arrived earlier¡­ what if we had been caught¡­ Kimika definitely wouldn''t have been ready,'' she thought. This made her realize it was time to ramp up their training, as Kimika was currently just dead weight.

 Cafe Heist: Part 1

    The next day, Kimika and Toga resumed their training. It was almost the same as the first time, except that it lasted longer so that Toga could spend more time honing Kimika''s knife skills. She was extremely pleased to see her friend''s determination, which was a result of the previous day''s mission, during which they were nearly caught.


    After realizing they could have been exposed, Kimika understood she couldn''t afford to waste time. She knew she needed to strengthen herself so as not to be a burden to Toga.


    After the exhausting training, Kimika was completely drained. Coming home and collapsing onto her bed, she fell asleep instantly, hoping that over time she would adapt to this pace and be able to return to her usual life, so as not to arouse suspicion among her teachers, since the intense training left her too tired to attend classes or complete assignments.


    She knew her mother was only home at night to sleep, spending almost all her time at work. However, if Kimika continued skipping classes, the teachers might report it to her mother, who, in questioning her about the reasons, could accidentally find out about her training¡ªor, even worse, her nightly escapades.


    So in the evening, after receiving a message from her friend, they set out together to the same restaurant to receive a new task. But before getting it, Toga briefly recounted what had happened the previous night.


    "Hmm... It''s good you weren''t caught," Giran said calmly. "As for the trigger, you can keep it or just throw it away. Those people are busy with other matters right now, and even if the doses were unique, it''s not as important as their internal problems... And... I guess you''ll choose something else that''s not related to the trigger."


    "Aghams," Toga replied, then slowly leaned in towards Kimika''s neck, gripping it like prey. She began to slowly and savorily suck her blood.


    Giran, looking at this, showed no emotion, as he had seen much stranger and scarier scenes. He was absolutely indifferent, but he was a bit concerned that someone outside might notice this, and he would have to look for a new place to meet with clients. That would be unpleasant, as the pancakes in this restaurant were incredible, and he wouldn''t want to give them up.


    Kimika, although used to Toga drinking her blood, felt particularly uncomfortable this time. They were doing this in a public place for the first time, and, unbeknownst to herself, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.


    "Your blood is just as exquisite and sweet," Toga said joyfully, having drunk only enough so that Kimika wouldn''t feel heaviness or dizziness that could interfere with their task, but at the same time, enough to satisfy herself a bit. And at those words, Kimika''s cheeks flushed even more.


    "If you''ve finished your games, then listen," Giran began, trying to draw their attention. "There''s only one task that fits your requirements, and that''s robbing a cafe that is obstructing my client. No one has taken it on for a while, so the reward has been increased."


    Feeling that there might be hidden dangers, Toga couldn''t help but ask, "Tell me more about the cafe. Why has such a simple task remained unfulfilled, even with the increased reward?"


    "There are almost no difficulties, but the thing is, there''s a police station nearby, and so no one wants to take the risk. The cafe is closed, and there''s only one guard inside, so it''s almost child''s play. The task is simple: rob the cafe and create complete chaos there... Although it... m... will be quite loud," he said, not wanting to withhold details, but instantly began to justify himself. "However, this task is perfect for your request¡ªno bloodshed is needed. As for the guard... you decide what to do with him. And I almost forgot, there''s another bonus: you can keep all the money or any valuables you find."


    Toga thought for a moment, but ultimately agreed to the task, eager to elevate their criminal activities to a new level and debut in criminal circles. This would allow them to receive assignments directly from clients, significantly increasing their profits since there would be no commissions.


    Through their reputation, they could get jobs directly from very wealthy clients of their own choosing. Although they could also receive these tasks through a broker, the commissions were incredibly high ¡ª almost half of their earnings ¡ª though that was understandable given that the broker''s work was exceedingly dangerous, even more so than theirs, and he was the one taking the risks, not them.


    Kimika was not convinced this was a good task, despite the large sum they could earn, and even realizing that this money would help her get closer to the reason she had become a criminal in the first place ¡ª to find funds for her father. But it was all incredibly dangerous, several levels above simple smuggling.


    Knowing Toga, Kimika was also afraid that she might not only seriously injure the guard but kill him in the process. However, Toga simply ignored her friend''s concerns, and they set off to carry out the task.


    "So, this will be your first task with outsiders!" Toga exclaimed energetically, maintaining her carefree attitude. "I chose this task because you need to learn how to deal with people. You don''t want to get caught easily on some mission just because you don''t know what to do with opponents, right? So you need to learn while you have the chance! Besides, this task is much more interesting and cooler than the smuggling we''ve worked on before. I''m sure you, like me, were incredibly bored! And they pay a lot more ¡ª it''s just an amazing combo, isn''t it?"The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    She tried to encourage Kimika, hoping that she would calm down and be able to have fun, as there was nothing difficult about this task. What was so hard about robbing a caf¨¦ with just one guard? It wasn''t like it was a fight with a hero!


    Approaching the cafe, they noticed another detail that hadn''t been mentioned to them. This was not an ordinary cafe ¡ª it was a large two-story building with many rooms, such as a play area for children and numerous halls, and that was just what they could see through the huge panoramic windows.


    They should have suspected something was off when they heard about the guard, as why would a small caf¨¦ need a guard, especially near a police station?


    Gradually, it dawned on them that the clients of this task were very interested in its execution, and it seemed that Giran had to conceal certain details to convince them to take on this job. This cafe looked like it was extremely popular and was probably hindering other establishments.


    However, even these new circumstances did not make them back down. Toga and Kimika completely circled the cafe so they wouldn''t be seen and began to devise a plan on how to successfully complete the task.


    And after a while, the plan was finally formulated, with Kimika playing the main role in it. This was to be her first experience in such matters, especially when dealing with opponents.


    The plan was that there was an open window in the cafe''s backyard through which Kimika could slip in. Toga, in turn, would throw stones at the panoramic windows to draw the guard''s attention. And when the guard approached the distraction, Kimika would calmly climb through the window and open the back door for Toga.


    ~~~ Meanwhile, the guard ~~~


    At the same time, the guard named Ren, in the security room on the second floor, thought about how easy this job was for the money he was getting. He was supposed to guard a caf¨¦ that had been rapidly growing lately due to its unique offerings and safety, and even now it was actively expanding and had no plans to stop.


    But honestly, Ren didn''t quite understand why he was even being kept here. There was a police station nearby, where heroes were constantly on standby, ready to arrive in a few minutes, if not in one minute. ''Even an alarm system would be a better and free alternative than me,'' he thought, sighing sadly.


    However, despite this, he was absolutely happy. After all, sitting in one place, watching movies or series, or playing games while getting paid for it was his childhood dream! Doing nothing, relaxing, and earning money ¡ª what could be better? Moreover, the chefs often left him various dishes, some perishable items, or meals returned by customers for nonsensical reasons.


    So he could enjoy free food while others paid a lot of money for it. And even better, he could take dishes home without spending a dime on food.


    Having time to think, he even had the idea that he could stay home, knowing that no one would even think about robbing the place. "Why would they, if all the earnings are taken when the cafe closes?" he asked himself, repeatedly mulling over this thought. There was something appealing about it, but at the same time, he was troubled by the thought that if someone saw it, he could be fired, and this cool place would be taken by someone else. So he decided to just continue to feel like he was on vacation.


    But at that moment, glancing at one of the cameras, Ren noticed something strange. He often looked at the monitor since the cameras were set up not only inside the cafe but also in the alleyways outside, where interesting events occasionally occurred. More than once, he had watched young couples having fun. Each time, he saw something new, like when hero number one, The All Might, suddenly appeared in the alley as if he had teleported there.


    This time, his attention was drawn to the pebbles that were incessantly flying toward the panoramic windows from an impenetrable blind spot. At first, they were just small stones, but with each passing minute, they grew larger and larger.


    Ren immediately got up from his seat, realizing that if the windows were somehow damaged by these stones, even if it was just a scratch, his salary would be reduced, or worse, they would find out that he wasn''t doing anything.


    The cost of repairing even one window was several times greater than his salary, so such a financial blow would be fatal for him. He hoped that this was just childish mischief and that as soon as he saw the kids, they would run away, and that would be the end of it. But he was already ready to take action, such as calling the police, to avoid any potential problems.


    ~~~~~


    Starting to implement the plan, Kimika, having received the signal that the guard was approaching Toga, quickly got to work on her part. She easily climbed onto the garbage bags that had been placed under the window in advance to save time. She was incredibly lucky that this was one of the few blind spots from the surveillance cameras.


    However, she felt extremely scared. If she got caught on camera, her characteristic horns, unusual eyes, and bright hair would undoubtedly attract attention. So she quickly pulled on her hood, making holes for her horns, and topped it off with the hat Toga had given her. Although the hat could easily fall off, it was still a better option than having no disguise at all. She knew that this hat was only a temporary solution and that soon she would need to find something more reliable to hide her horns.


    When Kimika finally climbed through the window into the restroom, she began to carefully move toward the exit, trying to avoid the cameras and not run into the guard. To her luck, the guard was loudly complaining about the "kids" throwing stones at the windows, and his flashlight only illuminated the areas he was looking at, giving her some advantage since she knew exactly where he was looking.


    Kimika tried to open the doors that led into the main room on the first floor, and fortunately, they turned out to be unlocked. Quietly opening them, Kimika quickly scanned the room. Before her was a large space filled with tables and chairs, and in the corners stood small surveillance cameras aimed in her direction. Realizing that she was already in view of them and it was too late to come up with a plan, she focused on the back doors that she needed to open for Toga, and fortunately, they were quite close to her.


    Gathering her strength, Kimika softly crept through the room, trying not to make a sound so as not to attract the guard''s attention, even though she was no longer trying to avoid the cameras since she was already visible on them. Every step she took was calculated and cautious. She felt as if she could hear every beat of her heart, but she kept moving forward, realizing that if she didn''t manage to open the door for Toga, she would have to deal with the guard on her own, which she certainly wanted to avoid.


    And as soon as she reached the back doors, taking a deep breath, Kimika carefully turned the doorknob, hoping that luck would be on her side.

 Cafe Heist: Part 2

    Kimika, holding her breath, carefully tried to open the door, praying to everyone she knew that it would be unlocked. As she slowly turned the handle, her hopes were dashed ¡ª the door wouldn''t budge. She nervously tried again and again, using all her strength, but that didn''t help either. Quickly regaining her composure, Kimika began to consider what to do next. Suddenly, the thought of keys popped into her head.


    The keys were probably only with the guard or in his room. And now, with it impossible to turn back, and the fact that Toga would wait for her behind those doors for a long time until he suspected something and began to act to save her, Kimika was left alone and knew she couldn''t afford to delay, for she had little time.


    Gathering her courage, the girl quietly began to go through the unlocked rooms, searching for the guard''s room. She needed to act quickly but carefully¡ªtoo hasty a move could reveal her, and then the guard would call the police and heroes, which would mean the end for her. On the other hand, if she moved too slowly, he might return to the office and spot her on the cameras, again summoning the heroes.


    Kimika continued through the rooms, one by one, until she came across a storage room where she immediately noticed ropes. "These will work," she thought, realizing she could use them so they could tie up the guard, sparing Toza from having to harm him.


    After that, the girl kept going, passing a children''s room, then a dressing room, and finally reaching the kitchen. There, noticing the knives, she grabbed one without hesitation, similar to the kind she used in her training with Toga. Although she hoped she wouldn''t need it, her fear of the unknown urged her to keep it close, just in case.


    Luckily for Kimika, the guard was still outside, trying to figure out who was throwing pebbles at the window, cursing at the world and checking the windows for scratches. This gave her a little more time.


    On the second floor, she came across rooms with tables, a locked staff room, and finally, the guard''s room. As she approached it, the girl paused, listening carefully. Was anyone else inside? Maybe another guard? Although this was unlikely since she had managed to pass by the cameras dozens of times, at that moment, anxiety filled her, and she wasn''t thinking clearly.


    Not hearing any sounds from the room, Kimika cautiously opened the door. Inside, she was greeted by multiple surveillance monitors ¡ª where she could even see the guard himself¡ªa bed, a desk, and a cabinet lined with keys.


    Hope ignited in her heart when she spotted the very key for the back door. Grabbing it, she exhaled deeply and headed toward the door with a surge of joy.


    As Kimika approached the door, she felt adrenaline beginning to fill her body, as if facing an unseen threat. Suddenly, like thunder in a clear sky, she heard the rapid footsteps of the guard approaching the room. Panicking, she jumped into the cabinet, hoping it wouldn''t creak. To her relief, the cabinet was new and made no sound. Holding her breath, Kimika waited, hoping that somehow luck would be on her side.


    "Damn creatures! If there were cameras out there, I''d call the police right away¡­" the guard muttered quietly as he walked past the spot where Kimika was peeking through a crack. "Tch¡­ that persons got lucky. But if they start throwing stones again... I''ll call the police right away¡­"


    "If I had any kind of decent quirk, I wouldn''t be working as a guard! Tch... Just my luck to get incredibly weak telekinesis that only lifts candy-sized objects¡­" he grumbled to himself, sitting in front of the monitors.


    Not noticing anything suspicious on them, he grabbed his phone to continue watching a series. Hidden in the cabinet, Kimika felt a slight sense of relief.


    Thoughts began to whirl in her mind about his ridiculously weak quirk and the fact that he didn''t seem physically strong either. The idea that, if he spotted her, she would have a good chance of handling him started to fill her mind more and more.


    However, the thought of possibly hurting an innocent person gave her no peace. Even knowing that this should have been the last thing on her mind, Kimika still hoped for Toga''s help or some miracle that would save her from having to harm the guard.


    But just as she tried to calm herself, a disaster struck: her phone suddenly rang.


    And it was on full volume, as she had forgotten to silence it. But that wasn''t the worst part ¡ª the worst part was that the person calling at such an incredibly bad moment was none other than her mother. With trembling hands, she immediately turned it off, praying the guard hadn''t heard. But her heart nearly stopped when the guard began quickly approaching the cabinet, trying to locate the source of the sound.


    Ren, who was already standing in front of the cabinet, slowly reached for the handle like a character in a horror movie. But suddenly, the door flew open, and an unknown girl leaped out, scaring him half to death. Instinctively, he blurted out, "What are you¡­"


    Before he could finish, Kimika struck him in the stomach with all her might, accelerating with incredible speed through her right eye. She didn''t want to cause him serious harm; she simply couldn''t afford to give up or try to escape since all the exits were locked. And if she let the guard call the heroes, it would be a disaster.


    The guard, shocked by the blow, staggered back, clutching his stomach and groaning in pain, instinctively turning his back on her. But before he could recover from the first hit, he took another blow to his back. Kimika struck him with both hands clenched together as one fist, timing her hit as he turned from the previous strike.


    Again and again, she landed blows until the guard, gathering his strength and desperate to save his life, charged at her like a battering ram. He slammed her into the wall behind, and she let out a piercing cry as saliva and a small amount of blood escaped from her mouth. Seizing what he thought were a few precious seconds while she lay on the ground, he pulled out his baton and started striking her with it, but now, fueled by adrenaline, he hit her wildly ¡ª her head, arms, legs, body ¡ª without giving her a single moment to recover.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    As he continued his furious assault, he caught a glimpse of her gaze out of the corner of his eye. Her left eye, a piercing blue, began to glow, as if piercing him with an icy stare.


    Frightened by her gaze, he felt his body becoming sluggish ¡ª not only due to fear but also because of the attacker''s quirk. Kimika, who just a moment ago had been taking his blows, rose and seized the initiative, now striking him with all her might, accelerating each hit with her quirk, now able to use both effects simultaneously.


    Realizing that his life was on the line, the guard let out a scream, but his voice only echoed within the cafe ¡ª thanks to good soundproofing, no one heard it from outside on the street.


    The unexpected scream made Kimika recoil and cover her ears, breaking her concentration and causing her quirk to deactivate. Taking this chance, the guard scrambled toward the table where a stun gun lay, desperate to save himself.


    But it wasn''t meant to be, as Kimika, accelerating, managed to reach him first. She grabbed the knife she''d been carrying the whole time and struck him in the back, forcing him to fall. Leaving the knife in him, she continued hitting until she felt his body go limp.


    As Kimika looked around, realizing the severity of her actions, she quickly spotted the rope lying nearby ¡ª the same one she''d found in the storage room. Tying up the guard without knowing if he was still alive, she bolted downstairs with the keys, trying to gather her thoughts and hoping Toga could help her. She hadn''t wanted to kill or hurt anyone ¡ª all she wanted was to save the life of someone who mattered deeply to her!


    Perhaps dozens of times, if not more, falling to the ground, Kimika ran downward, constantly tripping and unable to pull herself together. Although she didn''t feel the pain due to the adrenaline, she realized that her movements were unnatural.


    Each step felt heavy, and each breath felt like the last, as if she was expending all her strength to keep moving. Eventually, her blurred vision and a heart racing hundreds of times a second prevented her from going on. But to her great relief, when she opened her eyes once more, she saw open doors and a smiling Toga in front of her.


    Seeing her trembling friend with blood on her lips, a frightened gaze, and heavy breathing, Toga instantly stopped smiling.


    "What... what happened to you?" Toga asked, checking her friend from head to toe. But she didn''t dare to remove the hood to examine her head, knowing there were cameras in the room.


    Ignoring her friend''s concern, Kimika simply grabbed her hand, pointing to the second floor, and began to mumble incoherently: "There... he... I... let''s go... help me¡­" After which tears began to stream from her eyes.


    These words prompted Toga to mentally run through all possible scenarios, but none of them seemed real to her. Seeing that her friend was already ahead, she followed after her.


    Running after Kimika, who was moving with her last ounce of strength, Toga quickly headed in the direction her friend was pointing. There, she discovered something she could never have imagined: on the floor in a pool of blood lay a bound guard, reaching for a table where a taser lay, and a knife protruded from his body.


    Toga immediately understood what had happened: the guard had seen Kimika, and a fight had ensued between them. While the guard was trying to reach the taser, Kimika had stabbed him and escaped after binding him.


    Realizing that she couldn''t leave this man to die for the sake of her friend, whom it would deeply affect and could potentially end her criminal activities, Toga understood that the chances of saving him on her own were slim, and he was likely to die. Her plan was simply to keep him alive a little longer until they completed their mission and the heroes and medics arrived.


    As she began to provide aid, she realized that the wound was not deep and not in a critical location. After stopping the bleeding and applying a bandage, she noticed many spots of impact throughout the room, indicating that the fight had been quite prolonged.


    In Toga''s mind, many thoughts of different natures arose: the happiness that this situation had happened and that her friend was able to fend for herself without her help, which would become an experience for future tasks and potential battles against heroes. It was good that this happened now and not during a fight with a hero, because the outcome would have been completely different. The fear of realizing that if she hadn''t managed to overcome herself and stab with the knife, she didn''t even want to think about what would have happened then.


    Having saved the guard, Toga finally met the gaze of her frightened friend, who had been watching them the whole time with tears in her eyes, a pale face, and eyes filled with fear and anxiety.


    "Let''s go, let''s finish the mission. The sooner we do this, the sooner the heroes will come and rescue him¡­ SO, KIMIKA, PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!" ¡ª and no matter how difficult it was for her to do so, she slapped Kimika across the cheek to finally snap her out of it.


    "Okay¡­ okay¡­ let''s hurry!" ¡ª replied Kimika, feeling a strength return to her from an unknown source, and something in her heart changed.


    After that, they began to destroy everything in their path. Luckily for them, the loud noise wasn''t audible outside, where not a soul could notice what was happening inside. They smashed everything before them, determined to complete the mission as quickly as possible and rescue the guard.


    While Toga was smashing everything around her, she decided to check the cash register, which turned out to be empty. In the staff room and the manager''s office, she found nothing of value except for a small safe that she decided to take with her.


    After they had destroyed nearly everything, Toga sent Kimika to wreck one of the last rooms they hadn''t been to yet ¡ª the bathroom ¡ª while she headed to the guard''s room to check on his condition and quench her hunger by taking a drink of blood, not wanting to waste any "goodness."


    Upon entering, she noticed that the guard, fortunately for him, had not yet come to his senses. If he had awakened, Toga would have been ready to kill him in an incredibly horrific way for what he had done to Kimika.


    Approaching closer and realizing he was alive, Toga took a small sip of his blood but immediately spat it out ¡ª the taste was unpleasant, something between sour and bitter, with a strong hint of alcohol. Feeling an incredible thirst for revenge for her friend, she made small cuts that would leave scars in a few visible places, but ensured he would remain alive. In the end, she wreaked havoc throughout the room, especially destroying everything related to the cameras.


    On the wall next to the guard, she left a signature of their team, which she had come up with while waiting a long time for Kimika. It consisted of two emojis: one with fangs showing, and the other with clocks for eyes, where the first face had a smile, and the second had a sorrowful expression with a tear. Below them, she wrote "Tsukima" and "Tokima," respectively. It was their little debut, and she wanted to show that this was just the beginning of their endeavors.


    Taking one last look at the guard, Toga headed toward the exit, where Kimika was already waiting, tense and anxious. Without saying a word, she approached the door, and together they stepped outside.


    Grabbing a few of her knives, Toga threw them at the windows, which instantly shattered into fragments. After throwing the last knife at a nearby car, triggering its alarm, they quickly fled the scene.


    Toga knew that when this case was investigated, they would find various clues to catch them, such as surveillance cameras or Kimika''s blood left in several places. Although she understood that she wasn''t the best at destroying evidence, she did everything possible to make the police''s job more difficult, turning the process into an incredibly challenging and lengthy one.

 Cafe Heist: Finale and Aftermath

    Kimika and Toga walked home in silence, though it couldn''t exactly be called silent since Kimika was breathing heavily and barely staying on her feet. At one point, she simply collapsed to the ground, too weak to get up. She groaned, complaining of sharp pain all over her body, especially in her back and abdomen. Toga immediately ordered her to lift her shirt and tank top.


    Kimika was slightly embarrassed but, gritting her teeth in pain, did as she was told. Under her clothes, Toga saw bruises scattered all over her body, but they were especially concentrated where Kimika had complained of pain.


    Toga couldn''t help but curse herself for not killing that guard on the spot and for dragging Kimika into this mission without better preparation. All she could do now was carefully touch the injured areas, hoping there were no fractures and that these were only the results of blows.


    Each touch sent new flashes of pain through Kimika, and, beyond that, Toga''s touches made her feel something unfamiliar, something she''d never felt before. Luckily, though, Toga didn''t find any signs of fractures. Of course, she understood that she wasn''t a specialist in identifying fractures, so she couldn''t be 100% sure, but she advised her friend to rest, promising to find someone to treat her if things got worse.


    After getting Kimika home, practically carrying her on her back, Toga wanted to go in with her to help but hesitated, remembering Kimika''s mother. Saying her thoughts out loud, she was about to leave when Kimika suddenly recalled something important ¡ª that her mom had called her.


    Checking her phone, she saw a missed call and a few messages from her mother, saying she wouldn''t be home until the next afternoon. Excitedly telling this to Toga, Kimika noticed her friend''s eyes light up with relief and excitement, an impish smile and blush appearing on her face, which hinted that this wasn''t entirely good news.


    When they entered the empty house, Kimika tried to convince Toga to leave her alone, but she stubbornly insisted on helping. Despite her grumbling and protests, Toga mercilessly dragged her into the shower to help her wash and inspect the bruises once again.


    And this wasn''t even the worst part¡ªonce in the shower, Toga, wasting no time, swiftly cut Kimika''s clothes with a knife, leaving her completely exposed.


    "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Kimika screamed as loud as she could, covering herself with her hands.


    Seeing her cute attempts to shield herself, Toga couldn''t help but fall in love with this sweet, innocent kitten all over again, struggling to resist the urge to pounce on her and do something terrible.


    "I? I''m just helping a little defenseless kitten get rid of her dirty clothes," Toga said as she locked the bathroom door and approached her friend, forcing her to back away from the closed door.


    "And now, weak little kitten, you need to calm down and let your owner ¡ª oh..., I mean¡­ well..., why not? You can''t escape from me anyway," Toga added, her voice sounding firm and authoritative, leaving no room for defiance. She fully revealed her intentions to her helpless friend, with no desire to hide them.


    Kimika was as red as a tomato at the very thought of standing completely naked in front of her friend, not by her own choice, with no strength to escape. She felt uncomfortable and embarrassed, especially since Toga had called her a "little kitten," emphasizing that she now seemed like the property of this predator, even as she hoped this was all some unfunny joke.


    So she tried to refuse with both words and pathetic attempts to break free, but it only made things worse, as Toga began to act even more aggressively. Her escape attempts seemed to add fuel to the fire; Toga, with a predatory grin, saw this as a sign that her little prey was not giving up and was trying to flee.


    Every protest from Kimika confirmed that she didn''t want to submit, which only lifted Toga''s spirits further. She enjoyed this, even more than if Kimika had simply become a helpless prey ready to obey.


    "Well, don''t squirm so much! I''ll be gentle!" Toga said with a sly smile, her voice sounding too carefree for the situation. "You''re just like a little kitten afraid of water."


    "I''m not afraid of water!" Kimika replied, her voice carrying more shame than protest. "I''m afraid of you!"


    Toga slyly narrowed her eyes, carefully examining her friend. "Afraid of me? Oh, stop it; your words are just fueling my appetite. It''s getting harder and harder to resist eating you, especially when you look so cute, like a little cornered kitten."


    Kimika, who was blushing from her ears to her fingertips, couldn''t suppress an annoyed and helpless sigh. Her attempts to cover herself looked silly and absurd ¡ª in her current state, it was impossible, especially as Toga effortlessly took her hands away with a smile, leaving her unable to hide.


    She continued to wash her, doing it with such tenderness that it felt like she was just playing with a living doll. At the same time, she acted with both caution and firmness, giving Kimika no chance to resist, as if claiming the right to her body. Every movement was confident and controlled, making Kimika feel completely at her friend''s mercy.


    "Toga, you''re acting like a maniac!" Kimika whispered, feeling her face start to burn even more.


    "A maniac? I am a maniac, and you know it," Toga laughed, gently pinning Kimika to prevent her from escaping and softly rinsing the shampoo off her. "Oh... you don''t appreciate my efforts... if you only knew how hard it is for me to hold back."


    Hearing this, Kimika couldn''t understand what exactly Toga was holding back from, and her face reflected this bewilderment, which Toga couldn''t help but notice.


    Despite the incredible shame and awkwardness, Kimika resigned herself to the fact that Toga was being unceremonious, almost disregarding her feelings. The only thing that provided her with a bit of comfort in this situation was that Toga eventually allowed her to wash her intimate areas by herself, although Kimika realized that if it hadn''t been for her request, Toga would undoubtedly have done it herself.


    In the end, she stopped trying to escape and simply endured the situation, hoping that it would all be over as soon as possible.


    During the process, Kimika desperately tried not to look in the mirror to avoid accidental glances at herself and to avoid being even more ashamed. However, Toga never stopped teasing her at every turn, joking about how "Kimika looks like a little cat being forcefully bathed" and how "now they look like they''re in a movie with an interesting sequel."


    The best part was that this situation only increased Toga''s joy and satisfaction, as Kimika didn''t understand the last joke so much that she even asked, "Which continuation?" To which Toga briefly replied, "None, it''s just a joke," not wanting to share the details with her friend, who would have to figure them out on her own.


    And Toga made the happiest discovery for herself in a long time: her four years of effort had paid off. Kimika turned out to be completely innocent when it came to more mature and romantic topics. This realization brought Toga an incredible sense of joy.


    Over these four years, Toga had methodically and gradually reduced Kimika''s interest in romance. She never started conversations on these topics and always found a way to steer the conversation to something else.


    Kimika, who had only two friends ¡ª Toga and Izuku, whom Toga had successfully distanced from her ¡ª could not learn anything about such matters through the TV or the internet. Since they spent almost every day together, from morning till night, Toga never gave her a chance for such thoughts. Even when they weren''t together, Toga always found tasks for her, leaving no opportunity.


    And now, this had finally borne fruit. Kimika was completely "pure" on these matters ¡ª so much so that even a child would know more than she did. And even now, she only felt embarrassed because she was naked in front of her friend, not for any other reason. And Toga finally felt that her strategy had been successful.


    For Toga, it was a real pleasure ¡ª gradually and methodically taking away all of Kimiko''s "innocence." If before, Toga had slowly pulled her into the criminal world and introduced her to the cruelty of it, now she felt like a true creator, capable of breaking all the barriers of her friend, both morally and in other senses, step by step.


    "Don''t worry, little kitten Kimiko," Toga said with a self-satisfied smile, watching as Kimiko no longer tried to shield herself, as if she had gotten used to it or simply stopped resisting. "You''ll quickly adjust to this. And maybe, you''ll even start asking for more and more yourself," she added quietly, just for herself, hiding from Kimiko the heavy future that awaited her.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    It was her little secret to prevent her friend from escaping or being prepared for future realities, which would only diminish all the pleasure.


    After the shower, Toga helped Kimika get dressed and settle into bed, no matter how much she didn''t want to. However, she couldn''t fall asleep for a long time, but eventually, under the influence of complete exhaustion and the fact that Toga began to gently stroke Kimika''s head, she surprisingly found it really helped.


    Kimika, barely keeping her eyes open, looked into Toga''s eyes and smiled as she said, "I feel like a child because of your caresses, but I''m not a child."


    Toga, feeling the painful burden of lying to this small innocent girl, replied, "That''s what only the best friends do. There''s nothing childish about it, and most importantly, you like it. So sleep, little one."


    Calmed down, Kimika finally drifted off to sleep with an incredibly sweet face, her softly slightly pouting lips showing no hint of fear.


    Toga, watching her with a predatory glint in her eyes, felt a strong impulse for a moment to do something more, something she had never allowed herself to do before, but she held back, at least for now.


    Continuing to stroke the sweet little Kimika, she tightly embraced her, unwilling to let go even in her sleep with her firm grip, and she too fell asleep, feeling the warmth of her body nearby.


    ~~~ Detective Tsukauchi ~~~


    Today was an ordinary, quiet day without any significant incidents, and Detective Tsukauchi was incredibly pleased about it. He was looking forward to the night shift, which he loved¡ªfinally, he could relax with a warm cup of coffee and an exciting nighttime view.


    However, at that very moment, the sound of shattering glass echoed, followed by the piercing sound of a car alarm.


    Along with several other police officers and heroes who were also on night duty, he moved toward the sound.


    It was a new caf¨¦ that had quickly gained popularity due to its safe and convenient location, as well as the incredibly delicious food that even he and all his colleagues enjoyed.


    But now the scene looked entirely different: most of the panoramic windows were shattered, and through them, it was clear that chaos reigned inside, as if a hurricane had swept through. Together with his colleagues, they cordoned off the perimeter, watching as the heroes checked the premises for criminals.


    After some time, a message came through the radio: there was only an injured person inside, so they called for an ambulance.


    Tsukauchi inspected all the rooms, particularly the guard''s room, where they found a barely alive man. He noticed the disarray everywhere, and the computers were destroyed. However, he was confident that the specialists would be able to restore everything and review the camera footage.


    In his mind, a theory was beginning to form that this attack was not aimed at stealing money but was likely intended to create chaos to allow the cafe''s competition to rise to the surface.


    On the walls, he noticed two faces that seemed like signatures: one with claws and the other with clocks for eyes. Next to them were the words "Tsukima" and "Tokima," which could be translated as "Blood Demon" and "Time Demon," respectively.


    Tsukauchi couldn''t recall any cases with such signatures or criminals with those names. But he knew that he couldn''t know them all, and perhaps these two had already been active somewhere. All he could do was wait for the specialists to arrive and show the camera footage.


    A few hours later, Tsukauchi was at the police station, where he received all the textual data and recordings related to the case. This case fell into his lap because he was the first to arrive, and his goal was to solve it to prevent further crimes.


    Ideas were already brewing in his mind about where to start, and he couldn''t wait to investigate these mysterious signatures and their meanings, hoping to learn more about these two, if there were no others, of course.


    And now, together with his colleague Saeka Hoshino, he was reviewing footage from the cameras.


    At first, they saw someone throwing stones at a window and the guard, who upon noticing this, went to the scene.


    "This could be a fatal mistake for the guard," Tsukauchi said, intently watching the screen. He condemned the guard''s carelessness, as he was putting himself in danger and jeopardizing his life. "He could have entered the range of a quirk. You can''t just go out without a thorough check."


    To their surprise, nothing happened. The guard continued to calmly inspect the area.


    "Looks like everything is fine," Saeka noted, but their attention quickly shifted to something unusual. They noticed a figure appearing in the surveillance footage, entering the blind spot in the backyard of the caf¨¦. Soon, this figure illuminated the screen, emerging from the restroom, shrouded in a hood and a clumsy hat, as if trying to hide something.


    "Most likely, there was an open window that allowed the criminal to easily enter the building," Saeka suggested. "I wonder what''s under that hat? Maybe some visual mutations, like unusual hair, a third eye, horns, or something else?"


    "It looks like he''s really nervous," Tsukauchi remarked. "He''s probably a complete rookie." To confirm his words, they saw the criminal constantly fidgeting, glancing around, and making many unnecessary movements that only highlighted his insecurity.


    At first, the figure tried to open the back door in the yard but couldn''t manage it. This made him panic even more, which was evident even through the camera. After that, the figure began to leisurely check each room until he made his way to the second floor. Meanwhile, the guard was already starting to return.


    When the figure entered the security office, they soon saw the doorknob turning.


    "She''s going to come out!" Saeka exclaimed, noticing the guard ascending the stairs, indicating a potential confrontation. She also noticed how the criminal, likely hearing the guard, decided to hide inside.


    Unfortunately for them, there were no cameras in that area, so they couldn''t capture what happened next.


    However, they continued watching the footage, and soon they heard two distinct screams: the first presumably belonging to the criminal, and the second to the guard.


    "This can''t end well," Tsukauchi whispered, watching the screen. After a while, they saw the criminal emerging, looking significantly battered, constantly stumbling as if he were incredibly frightened, falling during his escape.


    "It seems the guard won, but¡­" But they already knew what had happened to the guard.


    Meanwhile, the criminal headed for the back door, where, upon unlocking it, they revealed another figure ¡ª an accomplice ¡ª who immediately began to examine him. Tsukauchi, concerned about their interactions, noted,


    "It seems they have a close relationship; they''re not just two strangers to each other."


    "Now they''re both together," Saeka added, intently watching the screen.


    To their surprise, despite the accomplice''s worry, the figure nervously pointed to the second floor and quickly headed in that direction, with the accomplice doing the same.


    Once they entered the guard''s room, the criminals spent some time there.


    Tsukauchi, carefully watching the screen, remarked, "Maybe at this moment, the accomplice is bandaging the guard. That explains why they aren''t coming out of there any faster. But then where did the guard get those new injuries that were inflicted much later than the first ones?"


    He pondered, trying to make sense of this complicated case, as none of the theories seemed conclusive.


    Saeka nodded, though questions were brewing in her mind. "But why do they need to do this? It doesn''t seem like their plan involved killing the guard," she noted. "What was their actual goal?"


    Tsukauchi pondered, trying to piece all the details together. This thought was also troubling him; there was so much that was unclear in this situation, and each new element added even more questions.


    When the accomplices finally emerged from the security room, they began ransacking all the rooms as if searching for something, which was likely their main goal.


    "The guard is still alive, and there''s no money here, so what are they looking for? And what''s the point of all this?" Saeka wondered.


    As if finishing their task, they saw the accomplice instructing the rookie to head for the door while he turned back to the guard.


    "This is probably the moment when the new injuries were inflicted on the guard," Tsukauchi said, sensing the tension pulsing in the air. "But why do this?"


    "Maybe he was trying to take revenge for the rookie''s injuries," Saeka suggested. "Or perhaps it was an expression of anger or some desire."


    Tsukauchi pondered her words, as the situation became increasingly convoluted. Were these criminals merely a group of robbers, or was there something more behind their actions? And, worst of all, what were they planning to do next after this incident?


    Then, turning to the rookie, they stepped outside, where the accomplice appeared to smash a window with a knife, and the latter threw something into a car to activate the alarm, clearly to attract attention.


    "This is a plan," Tsukauchi said quietly, watching their actions. His heart raced as every step they took could lead to dangerous consequences for innocent civilians. What would happen if an unsuspecting person happened to be here? What would they do then?


    He couldn''t stop thinking about it, and to his relief, he knew that, besides the guard, there were no other known victims. Tsukauchi assumed that this was the rookie''s first job, while the accomplice, judging by his actions, was no novice at all. After a brief pause and reviewing everything they had on the case, Tsukauchi suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "This is the one I''m looking for.


    The accomplice is the ''Vampire with a Smile!''" he added, recalling the characteristic bite marks on the victims'' necks and the face on the criminals'' signature.


    However, his colleague, Saeka, was concerned about something else¡ªthe rookie''s face on the signature.


    "I have a theory," she said, taking a brief pause. "It seems that the rookie, or rather Tokima, has a quirk related to time or variable speed, judging by the clock faces instead of eyes on their signature. It''s a rare quirk, and it''s likely true, since the guard said he suddenly began to move slowly when Tokima left eye started glowing a blue, cold color, and some of her attacks were extraordinarily fast."


    "Yes, I think that''s the case," Tsukauchi confirmed.


    "So, what do we have?" Saeka began, thoughtfully raising her gaze to the screens. "The return of the "Vampire with a Smile" and her new partner, who seems to have a time-related quirk. We only know that they are both girls and that Tokima might have visual mutations on her head ¡ª possibly something related to her eyes. Judging by her signature, she might have clocks in her eyes or instead of them. But if she was covering herself with a hood and a hat, there could be other details ¡ª unusual hair color, horns, or something else." Saeka crossed her arms, pondering how to unravel this chain of mysteries.


    "And the fact that the guard put up a fight against the rookie, leaving him with many bruises and possibly fractures. Let''s notify all the nearby hospitals to report if anyone comes in with similar injuries," Tsukauchi added, watching the footage intently.


    "We also need to check everything for traces; maybe there are fingerprints or blood remnants left from the struggle. Tokimi is a rookie; she must have made some mistakes," Saeka said decisively.


    Tsukauchi felt a burning desire to catch these two as quickly as possible, before the rookie delved deeper into the criminal world and began to act as ruthlessly as the "smiling vampire" ¡ª mercilessly leaving behind dead bodies and erasing all traces. He had been trying to catch this vampire for over a year, and now he was convinced: bringing in a rookie had been a fatal mistake. This decision would undoubtedly be what ultimately led to the vampire''s downfall.

 Artifact Heist: Part One

    After those events, Kimika was given a "vacation" for an entire week, as Toga called it. During this time, they did not carry out any training or tasks, not even the simplest ones, fearing they might accidentally fall into the line of sight of the heroes who were now actively searching for them.


    Every day during their meetings, Toga carefully checked every bruise on Kimika''s body, wherever it was located, fearfully looking for hidden injuries or fractures. To her great relief, all the injuries turned out to be just bruises from hits, which grew smaller and smaller each day, and Kimika''s condition kept improving.


    When all the bruises had finally almost completely disappeared, they started taking on smuggling-level tasks. And to avoid dangerous situations and not fall into the sight of the Eraser Head or heroes who might recognize them, they began using routes that, although longer, were much safer.


    This was incredibly important because they knew that a real hunt had begun against them by the detective, as reported in the news story about that ill-fated caf¨¦. And although their names or footage from the cameras were not revealed, it was obvious how determined the detective was in his pursuit to catch them.


    Toga slightly changed her behavior toward Kimika, wanting to give her a kind of "rest" after the incident in the shower. She no longer stayed over at her place overnight, although it wasn''t just about giving her friend space, but also because Kimika''s mother was at home.


    Moreover, Toga had devised an incredibly intriguing but extremely dangerous plan concerning Kimika. It was a scheme where a single mistake could forever destroy their relationship. But if everything went perfectly, at the end of this path, Kimika would be completely hers. Toga was ready to take the risk, as this plan promised to fulfill her long-held dream.


    And according to this plan, she hadn''t taken blood from Kimika for almost two weeks, which had become an incredibly difficult trial for her. Refusing such delicious and unique blood, always readily available, was as hard as refusing cold water on a hot summer day. But knowing what awaited her at the end, she was ready to hold back, no matter how difficult it was.


    At the same time, Kimika couldn''t understand the reason why Toga no longer took blood from her. This upset her, as it seemed to her that her friend was distancing herself, even though she continued to help her with tasks, probably only to keep her promise.


    She couldn''t summon the courage or strength to ask about the reason for this change, which triggered strange feelings and emotions within her ¡ª feelings she experienced very rarely, only a few times, and always somehow connected to Toga. Because of this, Kimika couldn''t understand their nature, as these feelings felt foreign and vague to her.


    When Kimika''s body had fully healed, they resumed their training. It almost completely remained the same, but now during their sparring, Toga began to attack Kimika rather than just defend.


    Kimika constantly lost in the first few seconds due to Toga''s aggressive attacks, in which Toga never held back. She believed that when you fight an opponent who is much stronger than you, you start to grow. This was a belief she firmly held, as it was incredibly important to her that Kimika grew stronger and stronger as quickly as possible.


    She didn''t know how many months, weeks, or just days they had left before their identities would be revealed by the detectives. And likely, they would have to live constantly hiding ¡ª which was not difficult for Toga, as she had grown accustomed to such a life even now. But for her weak and innocent friend, this would likely become a true test, one that would be incredibly hard for her to handle.


    Sometimes, Kimika managed to fight back, but no more than a few strikes, after which she lost, suffering minor cuts on her body in the process. This wasn''t a problem, as she could accelerate her wound healing with her quirk.


    And so today, two weeks after the infamous caf¨¦ incident, Kimika and Toga decided to take on more profitable tasks again. Smuggling brought only a small benefit, and Toga was already tired of wandering aimlessly around the city, even in the company of her friend.


    This news pleased Giran quite a bit, as he was not in the best mood, having had to change his meeting spot due to one of his clients, who had caused a mess during a job. Because of this, both of them had been blacklisted, and now Giran could no longer enjoy those delicious pancakes he loved so much.


    "Well... it''s been a week, and you''re finally ready for something more interesting than smuggling. Though still no killings or anything like that... Tokima, it pains me every time you make Toga take part in such tasks. It''s your business, of course, but honestly, you should rethink your principles."


    It saddened him to see Toga being forced into these pointless jobs. But seeing only silence in Kimika''s eyes, he realized that nothing would change.


    So, after sharing his thoughts, Giran took a bite of the pancake he had ordered from the waitress. One of his clients had previously called these pancakes quite good, praising their amazing taste. But instantly, his face changed: he slightly furrowed his brow, trying to evaluate the flavor, but immediately felt an unpleasant aftertaste. The pancakes were far from what he was used to eating, and they didn''t even come close in taste.


    Their flavor was unusual and not quite pleasant, as if made from cheap ingredients and without any genuine care. With no alternative, he tried to force himself to find something good in them. But in the end, he realized ¡ª this was definitely not what he had been expecting. So, he decided that he would probably have to change their meeting place again.


    Eventually, Giran took out his notebook and began searching for suitable options, trying to finish the meeting as quickly as possible and go look for pancakes that were better than these. He didn''t even try to hide his dissatisfaction.


    "These pancakes are soulless and tasteless... Tsk... Let''s finish this quickly... So, I have a few options: stealing artifacts from a museum or robbing a jewelry store. Which one do you choose?"


    Kimika looked at Toga as if waiting for her to make the choice, as usual. But Toga just smiled and nodded, signaling that this time the decision was hers.


    Kimika paused for a moment, considering the options. Robbing the jewelry store was undoubtedly much more complicated ¡ª guards, alarms, all of that on a higher level than in a cafe or a museum. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    In the end, she chose the second option ¡ª stealing artifacts from the museum. Although neither option appealed to her, this one seemed less risky, so she decided to go with it.


    "I... we choose the first one," she said, slightly nervous.


    "As expected," Giran replied, pulling out a sheet of paper and handing it to Kimika instead of Toga. The paper listed the name of the museum and the artifacts to be stolen. "There are several guards in the museum, and alarms on almost all the exhibits, including the ones you need to take. To disable them, you''ll need to get into the guards'' office ¡ª there you''ll figure out what''s what quickly. Keep the stolen items carefully; my client wants them for their personal collection. Good luck," he added hastily, trying to deliver all the details clearly and quickly.


    Then he abruptly stood up and left, aiming to find another place with better pancakes.


    "So, Kimi, for this task, you''ll be the leader. You''ll come up with the plan, and I''ll be like your assistant in carrying it out," she said, playfully saluting the new leader.


    "But this is the most difficult task we''ve ever taken on! And there will be more guards. Wouldn''t it be better if you figured everything out?" Kimika protested, feeling panic starting to take over her.


    "Oh no-no-no, if it keeps going like this, what will you do if, for example, I''m not around? What if I get caught and your goal becomes saving me? Of course, you don''t have to save me, but I know you, my sweet little Kimi ¡ª you''d definitely go to rescue me like a prince, or should I say a princess on a white horse!" Toga said, hugging herself with a blush on her face and playfully spinning in place.


    Kimika fell silent, letting out a heavy sigh, knowing full well that she wouldn''t be able to convince Toga once she set her mind to something ¡ª when she wanted something, nothing could stop or persuade her.


    "Well, let''s go then!" Toga cheered, pulling her friend along with her.


    They set off for the museum, one of the most popular in the city, where artifacts from the time of the first heroes were kept: their clothes and weapons they used. There were also items from a later period, from the time when quirks hadn''t yet appeared. And they needed to steal a few of these exhibits.


    Fortunately for them, the museum had been robbed only a few times, and the security was likely careless, not expecting anyone to actually want to rob it, just like the guard at the cafe.


    As they approached the museum, Kimika and Toga noticed that there was a guard at the entrance. So, according to Kimika''s plan, they decided to first walk around the museum to gather information and think through their next moves.


    After their reconnaissance, they realized that surprisingly there were no cameras outside, and the only other entrance besides the main one was the loading gates for trucks and a door for staff.


    And discussing their next steps, with Kimika taking the lead in the conversation, their mini-plan looked like this: they would both go through the back door and quietly observe the museum halls for a while to assess the number of guards and then design their plan of action inside.


    This was nothing like the cafe, where most of the rooms could be seen through windows, and they had no information about the number of guards. However, during their survey, they noticed no activity from the security ¡ª no patrols, no movement inside. It seemed like the guards were doing nothing at all.


    According to their plan, they headed for the back door, which unfortunately was locked. Toga pulled out a hairpin and began slowly picking the lock. Kimika briefly wondered if Toga was just trying to show off, but after a few minutes, Toga smiled and opened the door. "Did you doubt me?"


    Kimika, slightly surprised, couldn''t help but ask, "Why didn''t you do that at the cafe? It could have turned out completely differently."


    She only received a slight smile and a short answer.


    "Back then, I thought this would be better."


    As they entered, they noticed that it was a sort of storage room with many shelves and boxes.


    Moving slowly through the storage room between the rows, the girls carefully kept an eye out for cameras. Of course, if they had spotted any, the guard would have likely noticed them as well. But by acting cautiously and staying out of the camera''s field of view as much as possible, the guard might have missed them, busy with other tasks.


    And that''s exactly what happened: they spotted a few cameras and carefully tried to avoid them, making sure not to draw attention.


    When they reached a door labeled "Main Room," the girls stood for a moment, listening for any sounds from behind the door. Hearing nothing suspicious, they quietly opened it, trying to avoid making any noise.


    As they entered, they found themselves in a hall with statues of prominent heroes, and luckily, there was no guard in sight. Moving slowly, they passed several cameras, and to their surprise, there was no response from the security.


    Toga speculated that the guards might be busy with their own duties, so they began to move more confidently, room by room.


    As the girls moved through the museum''s rooms, they encountered a variety of themed exhibits. In one room, there were statues of animals and plants, while in another, weapons from different eras, such as muskets, halberds, and many others, were displayed.


    Although they were on a mission, Kimika and Toga couldn''t resist the temptation to examine the exhibits and read about them. It might have been a mistake on their part, but they couldn''t ignore the curiosity.


    In the process, they noticed several artifacts they needed to take, but they were aware that alarms were placed on them. As they moved into the next room, they suddenly came across one of the guards, who was inspecting the artifacts but thankfully didn''t notice them.


    "Hey, Ren, stop staring at the exhibits! Come here, it''s time to get back to the card game. Or are you afraid of losing again?" a woman''s voice rang out loudly, one they couldn''t see. Kimika, peeking out slightly, realized that it was the same guard from the cafe.


    "I''m coming, I''m coming! Just curious, I haven''t been here as long as you..."


    "Well, that''s understandable. We all looked at the exhibits when we first got here. But not when we were called to continue the game!" said another male guard, who was also out of their line of sight.


    "I''m coming! By the way, does anyone need to be on camera duty?"


    "Why bother? Hardly anyone comes in during the day, and at night, there definitely won''t be anyone. Besides, there''s nothing important here except for the artifacts. The alarm system is only on them! We''re just here as backup ¡ª so if anything goes wrong, there''s someone to blame."


    "Ah... But I thought the same thing at my old job! Until those two barged in... And now here I am, with a cast and bandages... Damn them..." the guard muttered as he approached his colleagues.


    After that, the guards started playing cards, and Kimika and Toga, who had slowly approached the room near the guards, noticed that there were only three of them: one woman and two men.


    The woman was tall with long hair. One of the men was of average height but had a muscular build, and the third guard they already knew, Ren, was shorter and lean, with bandages around his body and a cast on his right arm.


    The worst part wasn''t that there were three of them, but that the room they needed to get into was behind the guards. So, in order to get in, they''d have to do something about them.


    Toga, grabbing Kimika by her hoodie, pulled her into another room and began speaking:


    "So, as you can see, we need to get around those guards, and it''s impossible to do that without a fight. So what''s your plan, leader?" Toga said, smiling and emphasizing the word "leader."


    Kimika paused to think. She knew that a fight was inevitable, though she was firmly against injuring or, even worse, killing the guards. But she understood that Toga was right: the chance of all three guards leaving at the same time to give them the opportunity to get into the room and disable the alarm was extremely small. Still, she wanted to find a way to do it while causing as little harm as possible to the guards.


    She started considering different options. Maybe they could create a distraction? Or perhaps use the surroundings to their advantage? She turned these ideas over in her mind, trying to find the best solution that would allow them to avoid unnecessary conflict with the guards.

 Artifact Heist: Part Two

    Finally, after considering all available options and possibilities, Kimika devised the final plan. Sharing it with Toga, she received approval after a brief thought. Toga acknowledged it as good and agreed. So, without delay, they immediately set about executing it.


    First, they headed to one of the remote rooms, where there were plenty of blind spots. Toga hid behind a large exhibit near the entrance to this room, while Kimika took a position by the door to a neighboring, even more remote room, accessible only through the first.


    When both girls were ready, Kimika carefully pushed a vase with a flower. It fell to the floor with a loud crash, shattering into small pieces. The guards, hearing the noise, quickly reacted and approached the cameras to figure out what had happened.


    On the screen, they saw only the broken vase and no signs of any intruders. Although something seemed suspicious, they still decided it was likely an accident and, after a few moments of hesitation, sent Ren to check the situation.


    Still on edge, Ren began cautiously moving through each room. He was prepared to raise the alarm or defend himself if anything suspicious happened. The bitter experience he''d had at the caf¨¦ made him stay constantly alert.


    Walking from room to room without noticing anything threatening and receiving signals from his partners that nothing was amiss, they even teased him to hurry up and deal with it so he could get back to playing cards before they started without him. Gradually, he began to relax. Entering the room with the vase and seeing nothing suspicious, his vigilance completely faded.


    And at that very moment, Toga, who had been waiting for her chance, quickly sneaked up behind him and struck him on the head. Ren didn''t even have time to react ¡ª he fell instantly and lost consciousness.


    These actions were crucial to Kimika''s plan, though Toga had started to doubt whether any of the guards would even bother checking a broken vase. But luck was on their side.


    The girls quickly moved the unconscious Ren into one of the "blind spots" where he would be out of the camera''s view. They took his radio and other useful items, tying him up with his own clothing. Though it wasn''t very secure, if he suddenly came to, they would at least buy a little time.


    While Toga initially suggested injuring him in certain areas to have greater control over the situation, and later even suggested killing him, Kimika was adamantly opposed. She once again emphasized that their goal was to avoid deaths and serious injuries.


    "We don''t need blood on our hands, Toga," Kimika whispered, kneeling beside the tied-up Ren. "You know I won''t allow it. And if he wakes up, we''ll still have time to escape before he does anything. Plus, we''ve already taken his radio."


    Toga looked at Kimika with displeasure but then sighed, realizing she wouldn''t be able to persuade her. She didn''t want to escalate the situation or do anything that could negatively affect their relationship, though she made a mental note that something would need to be done about this.


    "Fine," Toga muttered, frowning. "But we can''t afford to wait long. If anything goes wrong, I''ll act on my own judgment."


    Kimika gave a short nod, understanding that their views on methods differed, but hoping they could manage without unnecessary violence.


    The next step was the least pleasant for Toga ¡ª she would have to drink a bit of his blood to transform into him. She had tasted his blood once before, and the memory of that taste left her with a horrible impression. Overcoming her disgust, she asked Kimika again:


    "Are you sure this is necessary? Maybe there are other options¡­ His blood¡­" Toga said with distaste.


    "Yes, it''s necessary! You agreed to the plan yourself. Hurry up, before the other guards suspect anything," Kimika replied firmly.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Toga reluctantly drank a few drops of blood. Her body then began to transform, covering itself in a thick, paste-like substance, and within seconds, she became an exact copy of Ren ¡ª with the same voice and clothes.


    The girls acted quickly and in sync. Toga, now in Ren''s form, grabbed Kimika by the arm like a guard escorting a troublemaker. Kimika played her part, keeping her head down to avoid drawing extra attention.


    They approached the room where the two guards remained. As soon as they entered, Kimika began lightly pulling away, adding realism to her role.


    "Hey, look who I found!" Toga declared in Ren''s voice. "Seems like this is the one who broke the vase."


    The guards turned and saw the rookie with a hooded teenager. They immediately guessed it was a girl from her silhouette, though her face remained hidden under the hood.


    "A teenager?" one of the guards smirked, giving her a relaxed once-over. "Bring her over here; we''ll call her parents."


    The guards were already imagining how easily they could scare the girl and call her parents, reveling in the thought as if it were the most satisfying part of their routine work. As the pair got closer, the female guard raised her hand to pull back Kimika''s hood.


    "Hey, why''s she in a hood?" she asked. "Let me pull it off."


    But just as she touched the hood, Kimika suddenly raised her head, revealing a mask covering the lower part of her face and a pair of mismatched eyes.


    The woman had no time to react as Kimika''s left eye lit up with a bright blue glow, causing her movements to slow as if in a slow-motion video. In that instant, Kimika''s right eye flashed red, and the guard received a swift blow to the stomach, doubling over in pain.


    The second guard immediately activated his quirk, and a yellowish shield appeared around Kimika. But at that moment, Toga ¡ª still in Ren''s form ¡ª stabbed a knife into his arm and shoved him back. He stumbled, causing his shield to deactivate and freeing Kimika.


    Released, Kimika, moving at incredible speed, pounced on the female guard who was still holding her stomach in pain. She delivered several quick strikes to the arms, legs, and back. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    The woman couldn''t resist ¡ª her movements were too slow due to Kimika''s quirk. With a final blow to the head, she fell, after which she was quickly tied up and had a rag shoved into her mouth.


    Meanwhile, Toga, without hesitation, continued delivering cutting knife strikes to the second guard. When he tried to activate his shield for protection, she relentlessly struck him with precise knife blows until the shield shattered from the force of the hits. After that, Toga delivered a final strong punch to his nose, knocking the guard unconscious.


    It all happened so quickly that less than a minute had passed since the fight started. Both guards were already tied up with rags in their mouths. The girls took everything necessary from them ¡ª radios and weapons.


    They tied them up not too tightly, as they didn''t have the proper materials, other than the clothes taken from the guards. Therefore, they could easily free themselves in a few minutes if they tried.


    However, one of them was unconscious, and the other guard was writhing in pain all over her body. "Is that it? I thought it would be harder. Though, what was I expecting from guards?" Toga said, still inside the first guard''s body.


    At her words, the conscious guard, writhing in pain, looked at her colleague, who was speaking in a feminine voice and saying things that were unlike him.


    "Huh? You still think I''m your colleague? No, he''s somewhere over there, lying in the same state as you," Toga said, pointing into the distance.


    "Well, enough, Tsukima. Let''s finish this and go," Kimika said, feeling a hint of anxiety. It seemed to her that they had overdone it with the guards: one was completely cut up, though mostly with light cuts, since she had asked Toga not to go overboard, and the other guard was writhing in pain all over her body. Kimika just hoped she hadn''t broken anything.


    "Ugh, fine, fine. Go, disable the alarm, and I''ll finish up here," she said, sending her friend off while she began tasting the blood of each guard, feeling an incredible thirst. Her friend''s blood was off-limits due to her plan, but the guards'' blood was still better than nothing.


    Kimika, not knowing what to say, did exactly that. She entered the guard room, where she saw a black-and-white sign reading "Alarm Disable" under a large red button.


    It seemed a bit dubious, but she couldn''t imagine anyone setting up a trap in a museum. Why would they? So, she just pressed the button. Not noticing anything unusual, she turned back to Toga, only to see her filling glasses with the guards'' blood using a syringe.


    Not knowing what to say, Kimika asked. "What are you doing?"


    "Huh? Making reserves, what''s the big deal? Their blood, especially the girl''s, is pretty tasty. Not like yours, but still better than nothing¡­"


    At these words, Kimika felt a mix of emotions: slight indignation at Toga''s actions, a question of whether she had done this before, and a strange new feeling that gnawed at her ¡ª the urge to go over and throw the blood bottles away.


    She thought that, instead of stockpiling the guards'' blood, she could offer Toga her own blood as she always did, but instead, she just made a displeased expression, grabbed Toga by the hand, and started going through all the rooms, collecting the necessary artifacts.


    Various thoughts swirled in her mind, along with a slight sense of unease that pushed her to act quickly. Kimika also hoped that, after drinking the guards'' blood, Toga would realize it wasn''t as tasty as her own and would ask for her blood, which Kimika would gladly give.


    She hurriedly began collecting the artifacts from the list: a musket, the costume of a past hero that resembled the Omnipotent in some way, several vials with plants and small animal and insect skeletons.


    After placing everything in the bag, she started moving toward the back exit, calling for Toga to join her. But suddenly, she saw something that heightened her anxiety to the maximum: the first guard they had tied up was talking on the phone with someone, which they had apparently forgotten to take.


    Seeing this, she immediately activated her Quirk at full power and, running to the guard, snatched the phone from his hands. Without hesitation, she struck him on the head with all her strength, causing him to lose consciousness instantly. And in that moment, from the phone, she heard: "We''ve already set off, find a safe place and hide there!"


    At these words, Kimika''s heart sank to her stomach.


    She immediately began shouting for Toga with all her might. Toga, now transformed back into her own self and wearing a spare set of clothes, came to her cries moments later, with the same smiling face as always ¡ª until she saw the guard in a different position.


    In her partner''s hands was another phone, and her face was filled with fear. Without asking what had happened, Toga ran to her, grabbed her hand, and started pulling her towards the exit at incredible speed.


    "Shit, shit, shit! I knew I should have slit his throat. See what''s happening now?"¡ª Toga muttered, though her smile still didn''t leave her face. But inside, she wasn''t worried about herself, because she knew that after drinking someone''s blood, she could easily escape into the crowd. But for her friend, who was in such a situation for the first time...


    Running out through the back doors, they heard the sound of police cars. Toga ordered Kimika to accelerate them both with her quirk to full power, even if it meant losing all the energy from her right horn and the vision in her right eye. It would be far better than falling into the hands of the police and heroes.


    Without hesitation, Kimika instantly obeyed the order, and they began running from the museum at maximum speed, but to their misfortune, they heard behind them:


    "There they are! The heroes, they''re here!" ¡ª shouted one of the, apparently, police officers."


    At that moment, fear flooded Kimika''s body. However, not losing speed, she intensified the effect of the quirk, causing them to only accelerate and run with all their might towards the nearest houses, trying to shake off the chase.


    However, enhancing the quirk required even more energy from her, and Kimika felt the tension building in her muscles, her heart pounding faster, as if trying to tear itself out of her chest.


    She knew that the energy spent on such an effect would run out incredibly quickly, and it became more and more obvious with every step as her body began to suffer: a sharp pain developed in her right eye, as though something sharp were piercing it, followed by temporary blindness that enveloped her consciousness.


    Breathing became increasingly difficult, and Kimika felt the endurance of the horn fading before her eyes. She realized that if she didn''t stop, she would soon lack the strength to maintain the effect.


    But she didn''t stop because she knew that would lead to serious consequences, and all that was left for her to do was pray that they would find a safe place where she and Togaa could hide from the pursuers.


    They kept running, reaching the first houses, and already hearing the shouts of their pursuers: "Stop! We''ll catch you anyway!"


    But not a single thought of stopping crossed their minds ¡ª only to keep running. All of Kimika''s recent thoughts about the consequences of using the quirk faded away and were replaced by fear.


    After starting to run between the houses through narrow alleys, they finally thought they had shaken off their pursuers, as they hadn''t heard the shouts of the heroes or the police for a while. Slowing their pace a little, they began walking more slowly in the silence to catch their breath and figure out what to do next. The silence was eventually broken by Kimika:


    "Did we lose them?..." she said, constantly inhaling and exhaling heavily. She knew that if it hadn''t been for her training, they would have been caught back there.


    She was also aware that she was dragging Toga down, as her friend could have easily escaped, but she couldn''t do it because of her. Kimika felt she was hindering Toga, and that only added to the fear in her heart.


    And Toga, not having time to open her mouth to respond, saw a figure jumping from roof to roof. All she could say at that moment was: "DAMN IT! WHY HIM?!" ¡ª Toga shouted, grabbing the stunned Kimika by the hand, who had never heard such words from Toga before.


    A flurry of questions spun in her head: Who is this? Could it be All Might? The thought of possibly encountering him took Kimika''s breath away, and fear overwhelmed her heart.


    "All Might?" ¡ª the girl managed to squeeze out, running faster, as the fear of meeting the one she both admired and feared consumed her thoughts.


    "EVEN WORSE!" ¡ª Toga screamed, feeling the tension rise within her. She knew who was chasing them, and deep down, she wished it were at least All Might. It would be better to face someone who could defeat them with one blow than this hero, who instilled far more fear.

 Battle with the Hero

    Kimika and Toga continued to flee, desperately rushing forward. Toga resolutely pulled Kimika along, constantly changing direction, turning from one alley to another, hoping their pursuer would fall behind.


    But suddenly, when they turned another corner, they were gripped by terror: before them was a dead-end, with a low wall at the end. Its height was enough to make them spend a lot of time climbing it, and they had no time left.


    "No, no, no!" Toga screamed, her voice filled with panic as she tried to run into another alley.


    But it was already too late. The hero who had been chasing them all this time was already standing behind them, blocking their escape route.


    Kimika felt her heart freeze in her chest, and fear gripped her like a cold hand. Toga, still holding her hand tightly, quickly looked around and realized they were trapped.


    Eraser Head, the hero who had been chasing them all this time, was now standing behind them. His calm yet piercing gaze left no chance for escape. Known for his strength, he always caught criminals with incredible ease. Everyone he captured was always covered in numerous wounds¡ªbruises, scratches, and broken bones.


    He wasn''t in the habit of showing mercy to those he hunted; his job was to catch criminals, and he did so without the slightest compassion.


    "You two..." he said, letting out a slight sigh. "I''m not in the mood for this. As you can see, there''s a wall behind you. So surrender, or I''ll make you."


    His voice was quiet, with a hint of exhaustion, as though he had long since exhausted all his energy. Eraser Head had been working since the early morning without a break, and now the only thing he wanted was to go home and finally sleep.


    "Not a chance! We won''t surrender without a fight!" Toga said with a note of determination, though anxiety still gnawed at her inside. If she were here alone, she might still have a chance to do something.


    But since Kimika was with her, she had to think not just about herself¡ªshe had to protect her friend. The thought of escaping without her didn''t even cross her mind.


    "Ugh... Are you sure ''you'' won''t surrender without a fight? Judging by your partner''s appearance, she won''t just fail to give me a fight, she won''t even be able to move..."


    And that was the truth. Toga, glancing at Kimika, saw how she was trembling with fear.


    "So, are you giving up? I think if you surrender, at least your partner will get a much lighter sentence... Maybe just community service. No one will ever believe she could have done anything serious."


    Hearing these words, Toga realized that she could no longer waste time. She noticed how Eraser Head was just standing there, almost contemptuously watching them, as if deliberately dragging out the moment. His calm confidence gave it all away¡ªhe knew his backup was about to arrive, and then they''d have no chance.


    Glancing at Kimika again, Toga quickly slapped her across the cheek, trying to snap her out of it.


    "For my sake, wake up! Remember your goal! Remember your father, the one you want to save. You can''t afford to lose this fight!" she said, not taking her eyes off the hero in front of them.


    Kimika, who had been in a state of terror this entire time, couldn''t think of anything but escaping and how wrong it had been to take on this mission. Her mind was filled with thoughts of what would have happened if she had chosen a different option instead of this one.


    She tortured herself, remembering how she had prevented Toga from killing the guard, knowing that this was exactly why they had ended up in this trap.


    But hearing Toga''s words about their goal, about her father, and about how all of this was for Toga, who had supported her the entire time, Kimika gathered all her strength and resolve to fight back.


    "Are you finished? Not that I want to listen to your melodramas... So, last time I ask: are you surrendering or not?"


    "NO!" both girls immediately replied.


    Eraser Head quickly assumed a fighting stance, preparing for the attack. His calm expression didn''t change, but memories flooded his mind, memories that had brought him here. He had just finished his patrol and was heading home when he received a report of a museum robbery. It hadn''t been pleasant news, but as a hero, he had no right to ignore the call. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    He quickly arrived at the scene and saw the two criminals fleeing at high speed. To his surprise, they accelerated even more when they noticed him pursuing them. Other heroes had also responded to the call, but only Eraser Head managed to close the gap quickly, chasing them, jumping from roof to roof. With each step, he saw how the criminals began to lose their pace ¡ª their speed was decreasing, and they couldn''t maintain this frantic rhythm for long.


    He even gave them a chance, something he usually wouldn''t do, due to his own exhaustion. But they didn''t take it ¡ª and that was their problem now.


    "Well, don''t say I didn''t give you a chance..." Eraser Head said, observing their determination.


    And now, closing in on the criminals, Eraser Head was ready to use his quirk at any moment. He suspected that one of them had the ability to accelerate.


    He quickly approached the criminal in the front ¡ª the one who seemed to be the leader. Eraser Head readied himself for an attack, hoping that if he could incapacitate her, her partner would instantly lose all morale, and the fight would end as quickly as it had begun.


    Without hesitation, Eraser Head activated his quirk, erasing her ability, but in doing so, he left himself open for a momentary attack. Toga seized this opportunity, and he barely managed to dodge a sharp knife strike aimed directly at his face.


    Reacting quickly, he used his Binding Cloth to grab Toga and violently threw her into the wall. Not giving her a second to catch her breath, he continued landing quick blows on her body.


    Despite this, Toga continued to fight him on equal terms, but the impact with the wall took its toll. Her body was heavier and slower than usual, causing her to misjudge the timing and miss a blow.


    This allowed Eraser Head to knock the knife from her hands. He immediately followed up with another powerful strike to her stomach. The force sent Toga flying into the wall, gasping for air.


    Eraser Head, seeing that Toga couldn''t get up, rushed toward Kimika, who was standing behind, watching as her friend lost without even trying to activate her quirk. She just watched, not making any move to help, as her body was paralyzed by fear. How had it happened that her friend, her mentor, the person she had considered invincible, had lost in less than a minute?


    Quickly and decisively, he began landing blows, forcing Kimika, who instinctively started to defend herself, to retreat toward the wall. She tried to react, but her movements were too slow to block his attacks.


    Each step she took backward pushed her closer to the wall, until, eventually, she found herself cornered. With nowhere to retreat, she received a powerful blow to the liver. Pain pierced through her, and like an electric shock, she instantly lost consciousness, collapsing to the ground.


    But that wasn''t enough ¡ª he felt that one blow wouldn''t be sufficient. If she suddenly regained consciousness, it could give them a chance to escape. Without hesitation, he lifted her from the ground and struck her again several times, each blow stronger than the last, to completely rob her of any ability to resist.


    Now, refocusing on Toga, who was breathing heavily and holding knives, ready to return to the fight, he couldn''t help but notice her resilience. Even though she hadn''t had time to recover from his blows, and despite the fact that she could barely stand, her movements slow and heavy, determination still radiated from her.


    ''An interesting person. Everyone else would have tried to escape or surrender by now, especially seeing my brutality. But she keeps fighting, even after everything she''s endured.'' He couldn''t help but feel a certain respect for her unbreakable spirit, but it was nothing more than a compliment. ''But sheer spirit isn''t enough to defeat me.''


    Seeing a teenager in her, he couldn''t help but think of his own students, which sparked a new flash of thoughts: ''If my students had even a fraction of this determination, I wouldn''t have had to expel the whole class this year.''


    So, closing the distance, they began a new round. Eraser Head felt that, due to exhaustion, his reactions had become slower, and he was no longer acting as quickly as usual, but he still remained strong enough.


    Surprisingly, even in this state, Toga could still put up an equal fight. Their blows turned into a real contest: both sought each other''s weak points, but often it ended in retreat and a new attack, each trying to find the moment for a decisive blow.


    Toga used her knives, attempting to land quick strikes, which she succeeded in doing, but Eraser Head evaded them, and each of her hits only left superficial cuts on his body.


    For every one of these attacks, he successfully counterattacked, throwing the girl off balance with each strike, causing her movements to slow down with every passing moment.


    At the same time, using his binding cloth, he restricted her movements, not giving her any room to maneuver. And at one point, ignoring the sharp knife strike that cut his arm, he decisively delivered a powerful blow to Toga''s stomach. The pain was so intense that it forced her to drop the knives, which clattered to the ground.


    Without stopping, he began striking her body, especially her arms, trying to prevent her from grabbing the knives again. Toga attempted to rise, but due to the pain and exhaustion, her movements grew slower and slower.


    And when the opportunity arose, he quickly wrapped his binding cloth around her, pinning her in place. Now she was completely defenseless, unable to move at all.


    "You know¡­" he began, exhaling in relief, knowing the fight was over, "you still fight decently and might have had some potential in the future. Just answer me one question that''s been on my mind throughout the whole fight: why bother with this hopeless trash?" he said, gesturing toward Kimika. "If it weren''t for her, you could''ve just escaped. Most likely, you wouldn''t even have gone on this little adventure. So why?"

 Whisper of Power

    Kimika, barely regaining consciousness after all the strikes and injuries, lay on the floor, unable to rise due to the excruciating pain. Her body refused to obey her, and even her thoughts were scattered by the suffering. She painfully watched what was unfolding, hearing Eraser Head''s words.


    And though her heart was filled with pain and anger, deep down, she couldn''t help but agree with him. He was right¡ªshe was nothing but a burden to Toga. If it weren''t for her, Toga could''ve easily escaped, and, more than that, she wouldn''t have even taken on this mission. She realized that all these problems arose because of her.


    "Hah, you don''t understand. She''s better than me. She just lacks experience and confidence," Toga said, still trying to break free from the binding cloth and continue the fight.


    "I disagree," Eraser Head responded. "She''s just holding you back... If you have any interest in her, you''d be better off not taking her along."


    The words that came from Eraser Head''s mouth struck deep into Kimika''s heart. She felt a surge of bitterness and helplessness wash over her. Her soul was overwhelmed by guilt, for it was because of her that Toga had found herself in this dangerous situation.


    Kimika knew she should get up and save her friend, who still believed in her, but the unbearable pain that coursed through her body kept her lying there, paralyzed.


    And though the physical pain that pierced her body seemed unbearable, it was nothing compared to the anxiety and regret tearing her apart inside. This emotional storm drowned everything out, even the pain, as she realized that her inaction might have been the cause of Toga''s loss.


    Determined to save Toga, Kimika immediately activated her quirk, hoping to regenerate enough strength to rise. She focused on feeling even the slightest relief, just enough to give her the ability to move forward.


    Fortunately for her, she was behind Eraser Head, and he didn''t notice her actions. All her thoughts were focused on one goal: to win, to save Toga, and to prove that Eraser Head was wrong. With every passing second, her resolve grew stronger, and it seemed as though her entire body was responding to these thoughts.


    Something inside her shifted ¡ª her heart and mind exploded with new energy. Her left eye, which had been blue just moments ago, began to change color, gradually turning into a deep red.


    And the more red her eye became, the faster her regeneration accelerated, as if it were transferring all the energy from her left horn to speed up the process, something she had never been able to achieve before.


    Only a few seconds of recovery ¡ª and Kimika was already ready to stand. She gathered all her energy and determination, and without hesitation, lunged at Eraser Head.


    Eraser Head, hearing the movements of the girl he had just brutally beaten into unconsciousness, was stunned. He couldn''t believe she had recovered so quickly. Given how savage his blows had been, she should have at least spent a few days ¡ª if not weeks ¡ª in the medical ward before she could even think about standing up.


    Kimika, gathering her last strength, launched herself at him like a battering ram. It was something he hadn''t expected, and he wasn''t prepared for her to be able to get up and attack with such fury and speed. He lost his balance from her strike and fell.


    But Kimika didn''t stop. She continued to land blows, though all her attacks were chaotic ¡ª hitting whatever she could reach: legs, arms, back, stomach, head. Her strikes were filled with rage and desperation, but due to the lack of a clear plan, Eraser Head quickly shoved her away with a kick, getting back to his feet.


    Kimika, seeing Eraser Head charging toward her, desperately tried to understand his next move. Unaware of what she was doing, she listened to the voice deep within herself. It was a quiet whisper, one that she managed to decipher this time, something she couldn''t do during her previous attempts. The whisper said only three words: "Acceleration... Eyes... Brain."


    Feeling there was no other choice, she decided to break the vow she had made to her mother. Listening to the voice echoing within her consciousness, she deactivated the effect that was active on her body and focused it only on her eyes and brain. Since the effect was now concentrated solely on these parts, it became far stronger than when it affected her entire body.


    This meant that she would continue using her quirk beyond its limit, pushing past its boundaries. While her body would begin to suffer as a result, at that moment, it was the last thing on her mind. Her consciousness was solely focused on one thing: to defeat Eraser Head and save Toga.


    Accelerating her eyes and brain, another figure of Eraser Head instantly appeared before Kimika ¡ª red and smoky, like a ghost. At first, she didn''t understand what was happening, trying to dodge the blow from the spectral figure that was about to strike her in the stomach. But at that exact moment, the real Eraser Head delivered the same strike that the red figure had just mimicked.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    In an instant, thanks to her accelerated brain, Kimika realized that she could now see his movements in advance, perceiving the future just a few moments ahead. It was more than just prediction ¡ª she could literally see every one of his movements before they happened.


    An internal realization flared in her accelerated mind. She began dodging his strikes, each time successfully counterattacking.


    Eraser Head couldn''t believe his eyes. Just moments ago, he had called this girl "trash" and defeated her effortlessly. Now, she was dodging all of his strikes and consistently countering.


    No matter what strikes he landed, she continued to dodge them, and the only thing he could do was attack in a way that prevented her from counterattacking.


    Seeing this incredible change, Eraser Head began carefully analyzing everything that was happening, trying to understand what had made her so strong. He watched every change he could notice. And suddenly, he noticed that her eyes were constantly shifting position, as if looking far ahead, beyond his current location. It was as if they weren''t focused on his present position but something else, like his future movements.


    And then he realized: she could see his strikes before he even delivered them, as if she were peering into the future, looking directly at them. She could foresee each of his movements.


    He also noticed another strange detail ¡ª blood started flowing from her eyes and nose, as if she were pushing past her limits. But despite this, she ignored the pain and continued attacking.


    Eraser Head, finally realizing what had happened, understood that the girl was using her quirk through her eyes. Until now, he had been mesmerized by the growth of her strength and potential, wanting to see if she could show him anything more, but now that he realized he was starting to lose, he quickly gathered his strength and activated his quirk to erase her abilities and end the fight.


    After that, the girl immediately lost her ability to dodge his attacks, which only confirmed his suspicions ¡ª she really could see the future. He seized the moment and mercilessly knocked her to the ground, immediately binding her.


    His gaze stopped on her eyes, which were now defenseless, bleeding, and had taken on a gray, lifeless hue ¡ª like those of a blind person. He decided to act flawlessly, not wanting to make another mistake and give her another chance to rise. He knew that as soon as he gave her a chance, she would try to attack again.


    Realizing this, he immediately thought about binding her eyes and hands with his Binding Cloth, making it incredibly tight so she couldn''t untie herself. He didn''t want to risk testing whether she could get up again after a stronger blow to the wall.


    After tightly binding her eyes, he started wrapping her hands, but a question suddenly popped into his mind: What about the other girl? Wanting to turn back and check, he barely had time to see her already lifting a trash bin to strike him.


    The blow to his head sent him flying backward, and the girl began landing knife and fist strikes, completely throwing him off balance.


    "Ha-ha-ha!" Toga began laughing, breathing heavily, and finally stopping, still in disbelief at what had happened in just a few seconds. She looked at the helpless Kimika, who lay motionless on the ground with her hands and eyes bound.


    "You¡­ you¡­ did well¡­ I told you¡­ you''re not weak¡­ you just¡­ lack experience¡­"


    "I¡­ I¡­ did it¡­" Kimika admitted, still not fully believing it herself.


    "Yeah¡­ you did it¡­ And now¡­" With these words, Toga looked at the helpless Eraser Head, who wasn''t even moving, with an incredible desire to kill him. But at that moment, Kimika intervened.


    "Stop¡­ let''s go¡­ now¡­ heros will come¡­ here¡­ and you¡­ promised me¡­ not to kill¡­ anyone¡­ remember?" Kimika said, breathing heavily and pausing after almost every word to catch her breath.


    She couldn''t believe she was saying this, given the bitter experience of the recent situation, but... she dreamed of becoming a hero. And she was doing all of this for her father. Killing a person or even a hero who was just doing their job, even if they had offended her in the process, was too much.


    "HA-HA-HA-HA! Eraser Head, consider this your second birthday! If it weren''t for the one you called trash with zero potential, being so kind, today would have been your last day. But¡­ I can''t just let you go like that¡­ such an opportunity only comes once in a lifetime," Toga said, pulling out a syringe and several small vials.


    She quickly began the procedure, carefully collecting his blood in the containers, trying not to miss a single drop. Her hands moved confidently and quickly, as if she was accustomed to such situations. She finished the operation in just a few seconds.


    "That''s it¡­ now let''s go, get up..." Toga said, untying Kimika''s hands but leaving her eyes bound, knowing she wouldn''t be able to see anything anyway.


    "I¡­ I can''t¡­ I can''t feel my body¡­" Kimika said, trying to stand, leaning on her friend. However, she kept falling, unable to move her limbs properly.


    "Ugh¡­ damn... I''m not in the best shape either..." Toga said, groaning in pain as she felt her body screaming from exhaustion. But still, it was a far better condition than Kimika''s.


    After these words, Toga slowly lifted Kimika and threw her onto her back. Kimika, gathering her last strength, wrapped her arms around the girl''s neck and secured her legs around her waist. And slowly, they left the place.


    Eraser Head, who had been hanging on by the edge of consciousness the entire time, watched the scene, trying to analyze everything that had happened. As a hero, he tried to understand more about these two: the fight, the ability to see the future, the sudden surge in strength, and the principles of the girl he had previously called trash.


    With his last strength, he uttered:


    "You''ve proven it¡­ you''re far from having zero potential¡­" ¡ª but his words went unheard, as the girls were already far away.


    He knew he had to report these two to Nezu. And hearing the approach of others, likely his teammates or police officers, he finally lost consciousness.

 Rehabilitation Plan for Two Demons

    Two girls were walking home in the cozy and beautiful night silence, despite the recent events. Toga, who was the only one of them who could move, took on the role of carrying her friend on her back to her home. Even though it was difficult for her, she couldn''t just leave her behind.


    Toga was lost in thought and just couldn''t believe what had recently happened: how they had done the impossible and defeated Eraser Head, and how, surprisingly, the key role in this was played not by her, but by her friend Kimika, who seemed to have awakened a beast within herself and unlocked incredible new abilities. This made Toga incredibly happy. She couldn''t wait for the next training session to test all of Kimika''s new powers in their sparring. But for now, she needed to find the strength to carry her blind, powerless friend home.


    Kimika also couldn''t believe that they had won. Everything had been pointing in the opposite direction, yet in the end, they had emerged as the victors. Her mind kept returning to that moment when the whisper that always appeared when she neared her limit while using her quirk spoke again. And this time, she managed to catch the words¡ªonly three words¡ªthat gave her the ability to see the future. But aside from these thoughts, she kept wondering: what would have happened if they had lost?


    Would they have been caught and thrown into Tartarus? And then what? Who would have earned the money for her father''s treatment? What would have happened to her mother, who would have lost both her husband and her daughter? What would have happened to her and Toga, who most likely would have been separated? These questions wouldn''t let her rest, and as they walked, Kimika decided to ask something else that had been bothering her for a long time.


    "Toga¡­ I have a question," Kimika said quietly, lying on her back on her friend''s shoulders, completely dependent on her. She had no strength left and couldn''t see anything because she had crossed the limit during the fight, causing her eyes to temporarily go blind. Even if she could see, the bandage was still on her eyes. However, despite the unrelenting darkness and weakness, she felt surprisingly calm.


    "Hm? What is it?" Toga replied, slightly turning her head to the side, even though she knew Kimika wouldn''t see the action, but she would likely feel it. She thought Kimika was going to ask about what would have happened if they had been caught, and she had already prepared an answer.


    "Our friendship... Why did you stop taking my blood? Why don''t you hold my hand or hug me like you used to? You always said that those were signs of openness in our friendship. Why has everything changed? Am I annoying you? Have you found another friend, but you stay with me only because you promised to help?" These questions spilled out of Kimika in a rush, one after the other, not giving Toga a chance to respond. She was asking about everything that had been bothering her since the moment Toga first refused to take her blood.


    Toga froze at the question. Everything was supposed to be different in her plan. In her mind, Kimika was supposed to take this as a sign that she should start taking Toga''s hand, hugging her, or even offering her blood.


    To push her towards this, Toga had started drinking the blood of others right in front of Kimika, hoping to stir up new feelings in her ¡ª jealousy ¡ª that would make Kimika cling even more to Toga.


    And so it happened: when she took the blood from the guards, she noticed Kimika''s face, watching her. She could see the clear displeasure on her face. But the displeasure didn''t come from violating any principles ¡ª it came from the fact that Kimika wanted Toga to drink only her blood.


    However, to her dismay, Kimika held back from voicing her feelings aloud, but that displeasure only brought them closer. Toga realized that, even though Kimika hadn''t expressed her thoughts directly, her emotions were finally starting to show, even if not in the form Toga had planned.


    Toga didn''t just crave closeness; she yearned for complete dominance over Kimika. She wanted to control their relationship, to be the one who set the rules and controlled every aspect of their bond. Every gesture, every touch had to come from her initiative, so that Kimika would remain dependent and not realize it for as long as possible.


    And when Kimika finally realized what was happening, it would be too late¡ªshe simply wouldn''t be able to live without Toga, because such a relationship would exist only between the two of them. No one else would be able to give Kimika what Toga had been giving her, and for now, she planned to just cover it up as friendship.


    She knew that to achieve her goals, she needed to allow Kimika to show small acts of initiative, moving slowly forward in their relationship. These initiatives, though they seemed independent, were actually permitted by Toga herself.


    Toga couldn''t even imagine what she would do if Kimika accidentally realized the truth in the near future and decided to leave her. If that happened, she would have to hold her friend by force and impose her love on her ¡ª the kind of love that Kimika wouldn''t be able to get from anyone else. Toga didn''t want to do this to her friend, but if it came to it, she would.


    Still, despite all her plans, Toga wanted Kimika to have some happiness, but she simply couldn''t imagine her life without her. Kimika had become the one who supported Toga, even despite all of her oddities. The girl had grown closer to Toga, while everyone else around her had distanced themselves.


    Toga understood that if it hadn''t been for Kimika''s father''s tragedy, their relationship wouldn''t have reached this level for a long time. For that, she even felt a certain gratitude toward those who caused it, as it had made Kimika deviate from the path of a hero.


    But at the same time, she felt a certain hatred toward them, because they had taken up a significant part of space in Kimika''s heart. And what was strange was that, despite this, Toga also felt a kind of love for those people, because they sometimes took care of her as if she were their own daughter ¡ª something her biological parents had never done, since they only hated her and imposed normality on her.


    This complex palette of emotions fought within her heart: gratitude, hatred, love, and the desire to control everything. She dreamed of the possibility of creating the perfect family, one where Kimika''s parents and what she could build together with Kimika would be combined. This dream became more and more real, and with each passing day, she felt more and more that this was her true place.


    "You... No, no, Kimika, you misunderstood," Toga began to justify herself, trying to clarify the situation. "I just wanted you to... Well, you know, I wanted you to start showing those actions too. Not just me. I wanted you to take my hand, to hug me... But that definitely doesn''t mean you''re annoying me. I just wanted you to start showing those initiatives as well... I''m sorry I didn''t tell you earlier and gave you reason to think this way."This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Toga struggled with the feeling that she was breaking the promise they had made to each other ¡ªnot to lie and not to hide anything. She hadn''t revealed many important details, but it was all for their sake. One day, she would tell her everything, and then she would face the consequences.


    "You¡­" Kimika whispered softly, bringing her mouth close to her friend''s neck. To her own surprise, and to Toga''s as well, she tried to do what Toga always did ¡ª take a sip of blood, but not to quench her thirst, rather to confirm their friendship. However, to her disappointment, she simply didn''t have enough strength, and after the bite, only a faint mark remained on Toga''s neck, causing Kimika to blush with embarrassment.


    This left Toga completely confused. On one hand, the gesture was incredibly sweet, but at the same time, she could feel Kimika''s face ¡ª one she couldn''t see because it was hidden ¡ª was filled with immense discomfort and shame. But before she could say anything to change the atmosphere, Kimika spoke up:


    "You¡­ you want¡­ my blood? Not the blood of the guards or heroes, but mine¡­" she said quietly, awkwardly pressing herself against her friend.


    She would no longer try to repeat the gesture she had just made moments ago. And without waiting for Toga''s response, Kimika slowly brought her hand up to Toga''s mouth.


    Without saying a word, Toga accepted the sweet gesture and, with all the tenderness she could muster, bit into Kimika''s hand, slowly drinking a bit of her blood. To her surprise, the blood tasted even sweeter than she remembered.


    "And I have a question too," Kimika whispered, still a little embarrassed. "What will we do next? I won''t be able to move properly or see for a while... And these hits... I think I have a few fractures, and you probably do too. Also ¡ª my mom will be home, but I won''t be able to get to my room on my own or even just enter the house. Maybe you could stay the night? She''s leaving in the morning, and she doesn''t seem to check on me."


    Toga realized that Kimika was completely right. She couldn''t walk or see, so how could she get to her room unnoticed to avoid waking her mother? Without hesitation, Toga agreed. Even if Kimika''s mother did see her, she probably wouldn''t say anything to her or her daughter.


    When they returned home, both of them quietly made their way to Kimika''s room, deciding not to shower to avoid waking her mother. Kimika, curled up in the fetal position, looked incredibly vulnerable, like prey to Toga, who, having also fallen asleep, wrapped her arms around her friend in a tight embrace.


    Silence filled the room, and Toga''s heart began to beat in sync with Kimika''s, like a melody merging into a single harmonious rhythm. Holding her friend close, Toga felt the warmth of their bodies intertwining, offering comfort and creating an atmosphere of coziness. In this calm, fears and anxieties melted away, leaving only a sense of safety and a deep bond between them.


    But to their dismay, Kimika''s mother had a habit of checking on her daughter''s room before going to work. And that morning was no exception. She stepped into the room and saw her daughter tightly embraced by her friend, Toga.


    She paused for a moment, surprised by the sight, but decided not to wake them. Quietly closing the door, she chose not to think too much about what she had seen and simply hoped they were indeed just very close friends. At least until her father remained in the hospital, she had no intention of bringing it up.


    ~~~In the principal''s office of UA~~~


    Eraser Head, or Shota Aizawa, sat in the spacious yet cozy office of UA''s principal, Nezu. The room was empty except for the principal himself, who appeared as an odd combination of a mouse, dog, and bear, but was known for his exceptionally high intelligence.


    Aizawa, with his tired but focused expression, laid out everything he had witnessed the previous day and shared the information he received from Detective Tsukauchi, who had happily provided it. This included details about the team of the two criminals from yesterday¡ªTokimu and Tsukimu.


    "Hm, quite interesting," Nezu said, thoughtfully tapping his fingers on his tea cup. "Not only the unlocking of the Quirk''s potential, but also a certain evolution in its application ¡ª that''s on a whole different level. To enhance a Quirk to the point where one can see the future during a fight... That requires not just training but an exceptional ability to adapt. And also, to put up equal resistance in a fatigued state, but considering that you were also exhausted... Truly impressive."


    Nezu fell silent for a moment, pondering, before adding:


    "Perhaps it was Tsukima who became the catalyst that pushed Tokima into criminal activity. Her influence could have been a decisive factor. Tsukima seems more determined and prone to risk... Maybe she was the one who first ventured onto this dangerous path, and Tokima, either due to her need for help from her father or for other reasons, followed her, likely for the money."


    Aizawa paused for a few seconds, then added:


    "They are growing and changing incredibly fast. If the surveillance footage is to be believed, they first appeared together at that caf¨¦, which became a high-profile case in the media. Especially after the testimony of that guard who was attacked twice by the same group. And now¡ª the museum robbery. They''re becoming more confident and bold."


    "That''s why we need to act quickly," Nezu concluded, his voice calm but with a hidden determination. "If Tokima starts enjoying this line of work, she could lose her moral compass. Tsukima, it seems, is more emotionally attached to her. So it''s likely that if we catch Tokima, Tsukima will definitely come to her aid, or if we catch either of them. Their connection is key. If we can use Tsukima''s attachment to Tokima to our advantage, we''ll have the opportunity to direct both of their powers in the right direction, bringing them back to the right path."


    "You''re right," Aizawa confirmed, his gaze focused on a single point. "Their quirks are truly unique and versatile. Tsukima can turn into anyone after drinking their blood, and Tokima, capable of seeing the future and altering speed..." He paused briefly before adding, "This power could make them incredibly bold in their actions, which, in turn, risks altering Tokima''s principles, especially if she starts feeling invulnerable."


    "They will be easy to find," Nezu said, thoughtfully. "Especially considering Tokima''s horns. Even though we don''t have any photos of their faces or hair color, and the fact that Tokima likely wears contact lenses that can change her eye color during a fight complicates things a bit, their quirks are truly unique. This makes our job easier, and we''ll be able to track their identities without much difficulty."


    Nezu fell silent for a few seconds, then, looking at Aizawa with an unmistakable smile, asked:


    "Would you like to teach them?" His voice was gentle. "From what you''ve said, it seems you''ve found two students."


    Aizawa shrugged slightly, keeping a calm expression.


    "That''s only because they''re much more promising than the class I expelled due to their zero potential."


    "They''re young... If we channel their energy in the right direction, maybe they could become heroes. They have what I see in every potential hero ¡ª the will to fight and the ability to adapt. Even in a battle that everyone would consider unwinnable, they didn''t give up. Facing pain, they adapted to the situation and, showing true determination, were able to secure a victory."


    Nezu looked at Aizawa intently and thoughtfully replied:


    "It seems I''m not the only one who''s eager to catch them and get them into the rehabilitation program. They could be the first ones to successfully complete it ¡ª at least, that''s my opinion. So, I''ll notify all the hero contacts, so if they spot these two, they don''t take any risks but call for backup to capture them and hand them over to me. I''ll also fund Detective Tsukauchi''s investigation so he has all the necessary resources to apprehend them."


    Aizawa simply nodded in agreement, and finally added:


    "Now, it''s just a matter of catching them and understanding their motives. Whether they agree to the rehabilitation program or their path ends in Tartarus... Because, no matter how promising they seem, they''ve chosen a path where they must be ready for that kind of ending."

 Day Together and the Future Monster

    Upon waking up in the morning, Kimika felt that she was in the strong embrace of a sleeping Toga, one that could not be escaped without her consent. And, worst of all, after yesterday''s limit-breaking incident, she still couldn''t see anything and probably wouldn''t be able to see properly for several more days.


    She felt utterly helpless and completely dependent on her friend, because without Toga''s help, she couldn''t even get up, cook for herself, change clothes, or take a shower.


    Kimika wanted to try to escape this grip, even though she knew it would end badly. She began cautiously shifting from side to side, and to her surprise, the hold started to loosen, and she couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief.


    Feeling a chance to escape, Kimika was about to continue when a soft giggle sounded.


    "Oh, little helpless kitten, do you want to run away?" Toga whispered, tightening her grip. "No, no, no, Kimi, you''re not going anywhere!"


    Kimika froze, feeling her escape plan fail before it had even fully begun. Just moments ago, she had a chance to flee, but now her freedom once again depended on her friend''s will, which filled her with helplessness.


    "No! I wasn''t trying to escape¡­ I just¡­ well, it was uncomfortable¡­" Kimika tried to explain.


    Hearing such an absurd excuse, Toga only smiled. She didn''t even need to look at her friend''s horns to know that Kimika was lying. She turned her friend''s face toward her and hugged her even tighter, her voice soft but with a marked insistence.


    "You still can''t lie, Kimi," Toga whispered, running her fingers through her hair as if she were caressing it. "I can see perfectly well that you want to run away from me. But I won''t let you go, my little one."


    And suddenly, as if to confirm her words, Toga gently kissed Kimika on the forehead. It was a light, almost weightless kiss, but for Kimika, it was so warm that it stopped her heart for a moment.


    Not understanding where the sudden warmth and tenderness in her heart had come from, Kimika calmed down and fell silent, unable to break free from the embrace. Her mind was tangled, and her emotions were mixed.


    She felt both trapped and safe at the same time, as though she had fallen into a trap she didn''t even want to escape from. She could feel Toga''s warmth enveloping her, and she wasn''t sure anymore if she even wanted to flee.


    Toga sensed these changes perfectly. She gently stroked Kimika''s back, her movements becoming even softer and more careful, as if Kimika were not a person but fragile glass that could shatter with the slightest touch.


    "You don''t need to run away, Kimi," Toga said, her voice warm but also firm. "I will always be here and won''t let you go."


    Toga paused, drawing even closer to Kimika, and then with a smile, added: "Besides, your mom''s already gone, and this house belongs to just the two of us today. We''ll spend the whole day together and enjoy it like never before."


    These words were like a promise, that this day would be unforgettable and entirely theirs.


    After saying this, Toga didn''t give Kimika time to think, lifting her up and carrying her to the bathroom. Kimika felt that for this day, she would be completely dependent on her friend and her whims, but at the same time, she sensed that this day would be filled with lightness and fun like never before.


    In the bathroom, Toga gently washed Kimika, not missing a single spot, feeling how her hands glided softly over her friend''s smooth and delicate skin. Kimika tried to say that she could manage on her own, but nothing could stop Toga.


    However, unlike the last time, this time Kimika didn''t try to escape with force. Instead of fear, she felt more at ease and even some pleasure in being able to relax and trust her friend, feeling the warmth and tenderness of her hands. Yet, even though it was pleasant, Kimika couldn''t shake off a slight sense of embarrassment.


    This change filled Toga with immense joy, but she didn''t become any more insistent, seeing that Kimika wasn''t running away but rather seemed to be enjoying it. She continued with the same tenderness, even lightly humming as she went.


    Her voice was soft and soothing, and every movement, every touch emphasized the care she felt for her friend. Toga was happy to see that Kimika was growing more accustomed to her closeness and support, feeling how her plan was unfolding exactly as she had hoped.


    Although Toga couldn''t help but admit to herself that she was almost giving in to temptation while watching Kimika''s body, she was petite with a slim waist, slender legs, and graceful curves that impressed with their proportionality.


    Her breasts had a beautiful round shape, which was impressive for her age, and her hips smoothly transitioned into rounded buttocks, adding even more appeal to her figure. Toga felt a slight sense of envy towards this natural grace, as Kimika possessed the kind of body every girl dreams of.


    Toga realized that she felt a certain, considerable desire, but she tried to keep herself in check so as not to ruin this precious moment. However, the awareness that their training with Kimika had only just begun, and that her body would become even more beautiful and alluring over time, made Toga wonder if she would be able to resist this temptation if the situation repeated itself in a few months.


    After taking a shower, Toga helped Kimika choose an outfit. She enjoyed it immensely, as they spent a long time sifting through various clothing options from the huge stash, which greatly surprised Toga.


    Although she knew Kimika liked to change outfits often, seeing the collection all together made an impression. It prompted her to mentally check off Kimika''s love for clothes, knowing that one day they would start going shopping together regularly.


    So, even the duration of the process didn''t disappoint Toga. Every moment spent with her friend was priceless. She wasn''t in a hurry and enjoyed the moment, feeling that Kimika was also getting pleasure from it.


    After choosing a casual outfit ¡ª a light tank top with a cute kitten print that Kimika absolutely loved, and simple but comfortable shorts ¡ª Toga, satisfied with "her" choice, patted her friend on the shoulder, smiled, and called the outfit "10 out of 10." She even felt a sense of pride for having picked something Kimika liked.


    With joy, she took blind Kimika''s hand and slowly led her to the kitchen, trying to guide her in a way that would prevent her from bumping into anything along the way.


    They were both incredibly hungry, especially after yesterday''s exhausting fight, and Toga also felt a strong desire to cook something delicious. She even imagined, with tenderness, feeding little Kimika like a kitten, spooning food into her mouth, and then, with all the care and love, wiping her mouth with a napkin.


    "Kitten, what would you like to eat? I''ll make anything!" Toga proudly said, striking a noble pose with her hands on her hips and looking upward.


    Kimika had long been accustomed to Toga calling her "kitten" so she didn''t pay it any mind. And although she couldn''t see the scene, she knew her friend had done something funny and couldn''t help but smile. Stolen story; please report.


    "I love oyakodon; my mom always made it for me," Kimika said gently, recalling the times when she would have breakfast with her mom and dad.


    A hint of sadness flashed in her voice, and the memories of the past weighed heavily on her heart. But quickly regaining her composure, she gathered her resolve, knowing that she had to continue on the difficult path she had chosen to earn money for her father''s treatment. She understood that, on this hard journey, Toga would always be there to support her.


    "Oyakodon? It will be done!" Toga replied, still full of enthusiasm. She tried to lift Kimika''s spirits with her carefree attitude, which always helped to dispel heavy thoughts.


    Seeing her friend calm down again and almost look cheerful, Toga grabbed her phone, since she didn''t know the recipe for oyakodon, and started searching for it online. After looking through a few recipe options and confirming that all the ingredients were available, she happily headed to the kitchen.


    Believing in her abilities and confident that she could master the recipe on the first try, Toga began gathering everything she needed to prepare something incredibly delicious, with all her love, for Kimika.


    She wanted to not only delight her friend but also try to make this oyakodon even better than the one Kimika''s mom always made.


    As she started cooking, Toga cheerfully chatted with Kimika, discussing their day. She enthusiastically shared how they would first enjoy a tasty breakfast, then dive into reading novels, where Toga would read aloud, bringing every detail to life so Kimika could immerse herself in the story, even without seeing the pages.


    She talked about taking a walk around the house, promising to describe every moment: from the bright flowers blooming in the garden to the clouds in the sky. Toga imagined how they would savor these moments together, with her gently holding her friend''s hand.


    After preparing the oyakodon, Toga joyfully served it into two bowls, one for herself and the other for Kimika, admiring her culinary creation. Feeling proud of the successful result, she carefully brought both bowls to the table.


    Smiling, Toga announced that today she would be feeding Kimika, which made Kimika feel a little uneasy, as she didn''t want to seem so helpless and dependent. However, it was pointless to argue with Toga ¡ª she had already taken her "task" as a feeder very seriously and wasn''t thinking about backing down from this role.


    "Open your mouth, the first spoonful is coming!" Toga cheerfully said, bringing the spoon with the fragrant oyakodon to Kimika''s mouth. Toga herself was thrilled by the aroma of her own creation, which promised to be delicious and tender.


    Kimika, letting out a heavy sigh and feeling a bit embarrassed, opened her mouth and took the first spoonful. The sensation was completely unfamiliar, and it brought her a wave of shame and discomfort for a few moments, as she felt as though she were once again a little child being lovingly fed by her mother.


    However, gradually she fully settled into the process, feeling a quiet sense of warmth and peace as she enjoyed the moment. Toga, full of anticipation, eagerly asked, "Good job, Kimi! How is it? How is it?"


    Kimika, noticing a slightly salty taste, hesitated at first ¡ª she didn''t want to upset her friend, but she knew she couldn''t lie, and Toga would instantly find out. So, with a gentle smile, she cautiously admitted, "It''s a bit salty, but... it''s still very delicious..."


    Hearing the honest answer, Toga felt a moment of disappointment, realizing she hadn''t made the dish better than Kimika''s mom did. She lowered her head slightly but quickly composed herself, knowing that sooner or later, everything would turn out well.


    Smiling even wider, with warmth in her eyes, Toga optimistically said, "Well, I''ll know for next time! I''ll make it even better next time!"


    She continued to feed Kimika, tenderly bringing the spoon to her mouth. At first, Kimika shyly opened her lips, but after a while, she no longer waited for the signal. Eagerly and joyfully, she would open her mouth, anticipating the next spoonful, not even knowing if it was coming.


    Toga felt euphoria sweeping over her: every new movement, every new spoonful, brought them closer. With each bite, she felt joy, knowing that she could care for Kimika so gently, giving her only the best, even in these simple but meaningful moments.


    In this pleasant moment, although she didn''t want to ruin the atmosphere, Toga couldn''t hold back and started a conversation about Kimika''s new abilities.


    "You know... in that fight, you were incredible, you dodged his hits so well! And both your eyes turned red... how did you do that? You never showed anything like that in training!" Toga asked, her admiration for her friend''s transformation clear in her voice.


    Hearing such a question, Kimika froze for a moment, her mouth still closed. Because of that, the spoon with the next portion of oyakodon collided with her lips, spilling across her face.


    Toga immediately reacted, quickly grabbing a napkin, but at the same time, she was relieved that every time she brought the spoon to Kimika, she blew on the food to make it cooler, otherwise, Kimika might have burned herself. "Don''t worry! I''ll clean it up!" she said with care, trying to quickly wipe off the spilled oyakodon.


    "I... well... I heard that Eraser Head said something about me... that I''m useless... garbage, dragging you down... hopeless," Kimika said, not shy to speak such harsh words about herself. And even though Toga wanted to interrupt, Kimika didn''t give her the chance, continuing without stopping.


    "Don''t say anything... you know it''s true... if it weren''t for me, you would have easily escaped or just never gone there..." she said, lowering her head as if reliving those moments, but suddenly raising her gaze again, becoming resolute.


    "But! After hearing that, I felt a determination and an incredible desire to prove that it wasn''t true! I accelerated my body''s regeneration, hoping to at least get up and return to the fight to show him that it wasn''t like that! All my thoughts were focused on that, and suddenly, my left eye began to feel like it was pricking and changing. And it wasn''t because of the limit! The regeneration acceleration kept getting faster with every moment, and I even felt energy from both of my horns beginning to feed into the process. And you know what? Until now, I couldn''t do that, because each eye has its own horn, and each horn has its own energy reserve, and they can''t share that energy. But now I could! And all my wounds regenerated in a few seconds!"


    Toga listened attentively, observing how Kimika, with excitement and determination, described what had happened during the fight. With each word, Toga drew conclusions, realizing that Kimika, with great will and incredible resolve, could likely alter her left eye''s ability ¡ª changing it from slowing down to accelerating. She recalled how, during the fight, Kimika''s left eye became increasingly red, completely losing its blue color. Toga understood that this had likely allowed Kimika to double, or even more, the effect of the acceleration.


    What was even more impressive was the possibility that she could apply the same technique to her right eye ¡ª switching its function from acceleration to slowing down.


    Kimika continued describing with such enthusiasm that Toga could barely keep up with each word and process all the information.


    "And then, during the fight with him, I felt this incredible desire to see his future attacks, to understand how exactly he would attack. And then I heard that same whisper that always appeared when I reached or surpassed my limit, but this time it was completely different because I could understand it. Just three words: "Acceleration, brain, eyes," and I did what it told me! And suddenly, a second silhouette of Eraser Head appeared, completely surrounded by red smoke! It moved a few moments ahead of the real Eraser Head! I saw the future, Toga! And thanks to that, I could dodge and counterattack! It was incredible!"


    Toga listened to Kimika with undisguised awe, but at the same time, a different train of thought began to form in her mind. She understood that this new level of power was not just an incredible ability, but also a potential great danger. Seeing the future, even just a few moments ahead, was not simply a skill ¡ª it was a massive advantage in battle. And if Kimika learned to use it even better, if she could train and perfect her power, who could possibly stop her?


    Toga couldn''t help but think about it, feeling her inner resolve strengthen with each thought. She imagined her friend becoming stronger and stronger, faster and faster, even invincible. In her mind, she began to devise training routines that would help uncover new abilities and unlock her full potential. Kimika could become like a battle monster ¡ª unstoppable and powerful, and most importantly, completely under her control.


    But along with these thoughts, there was another feeling ¡ª true love. Toga understood that even though Kimika would become a powerful and dangerous monster, she would always be that little kitten that Toga loved so dearly. Kimika would be her controllable tiger, obedient and loyal, and Toga would be her mentor and protector.


    And in that was the true strength of their bond ¡ª Toga loved Kimika truly, as a companion for life, and perhaps, one day, when their criminal path would come to an end, they could grow old together and die in the same moment. She was ready to make Kimika the strongest, but always remembering that she remained her friend, her love for life, her one and only, and her little kitten who needed protection and care.


    "This... this... is amazing, Kimi!" Toga exclaimed, hugging her friend with excitement. "We''re going to train even harder!"


    Kimika, unaware of her friend''s plans, only shivered at the thought of even harder training and felt something she couldn''t quite grasp, something that made her nervously flinch. She felt that her future was about to get even harder than it was now.

 Kimikas Abilities

    In this chapter, the author will try to clearly describe all the known abilities of the main heroine. Of course, if anyone has any ideas or questions, feel free to ask them in the comments.


    Kimika is a white-haired girl with the quirk "Time Control." She has a visual mutation in the form of two semi-transparent horns with a light blue tint and heterochromia: her left eye is blue, and her right eye is red. She also has a vertical third eye on her forehead, which is still closed, and its power remains unknown.


    Each eye has its own ability: the left eye is connected to the past, while the right eye is connected to the future. Each eye has its own horn: the left horn belongs to the left eye, and the right horn belongs to the right eye. The energy in the horns belongs solely to the corresponding eyes, meaning the right eye cannot draw energy from the left, and vice versa. For example, when Kimika uses acceleration (with the help of her right eye), the energy is drawn only from the right horn, and she cannot change this.


    Left Eye (Abilities):


    Slow down people and objects.


    Right Eye (Abilities):


    Speed up people and objects.


    Accelerate regeneration of the body, both her own and others. The more complicated the wound, the more energy it consumes and the longer it takes. She can also further accelerate regeneration, of course, by giving up more energy.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    When accelerating the work of her eyes and brain, Kimika can see the future for a few moments ahead concerning the person she wants to observe. For instance, during the battle with the Eraser Head, she tried to predict its attacks. In that moment, a silhouette of the Eraser Head appears, completely covered in red smoke, which repeats its future actions.


    Other Abilities:


    Time Balance: During a battle, when Kimika feels an incredible desire to win, her left eye (which is responsible for the past) slowly turns red. After that, she loses the ability to manipulate the past but gains a boost for manipulating the future. Conversely, if Kimika feels a strong desire to protect someone, her right eye (which is responsible for the future) turns blue, and she loses the ability to manipulate the future but gains a boost for manipulating the past.


    In brief:


    When desiring to attack, both her eyes turn red, enhancing all her abilities related to manipulating the future. When desiring to protect someone, both her eyes turn blue, enhancing all her abilities related to manipulating the past.


    Quirk Drawbacks:


    Kimika cannot lie. If she lies, both of her horns darken. A lie is considered only what she believes to be true. If a horn fully darkens, it means she has used up all its energy. If she continues to use her quirk, her body will begin to weaken, as if exhausted, and her eye will start to go blind.


    Additionally, when nearing or surpassing the limit, when one of her horns darkens or darkens completely, she starts to hear an unknown whisper and feels a sense of pleasure or temptation to continue using her quirk.

 Izuku and the All Might

    A month after the partially successful museum heist, where Kimika and Toga achieved all their objectives but barely escaped defeat by a hero, they emerged as victors. However, this success made them even more heavily pursued. Patrols in areas where they frequently appeared intensified their efforts significantly. This forced them to be even more vigilant and quicker in completing their missions, something they managed well. Kimika, who had previously been holding them back, began to execute tasks much more skillfully, much to Toga''s satisfaction as both a mentor and a friend.


    They continued to undertake various missions on the same scale as the heist. These included similar jobs, like destroying a caf¨¦ or stealing valuable items, for which they were well-compensated. However, according to Kimika''s calculations, they would need to keep up these activities for another two or three months ¡ª if not more ¡ª to earn the required amount, as the operations her father needed were extremely expensive. All of Kimika''s initial hopes that she could raise the necessary sum in a month or two turned out to be nothing but a sweet dream.


    This experience became a real test for her, especially because Toga would come every day after Kimika''s mother left to help her with her condition. It was both good and bad at the same time, as Toga never missed an opportunity to stay close to Kimika for as long as possible.


    Their "friendly relationship," as Kimika saw it, grew closer thanks to Toga''s persistence. Now, Kimika could take Toga''s hand or hug her without hesitation, or simply approach her and offer to let her drink her blood at any time during the day.


    Over the six years, the sensation of Toga drinking her blood became an irreplaceable source of pleasure for Kimika, almost turning into an addiction. She even began to enjoy it when Toga drank more than what was normally allowed, despite the heaviness in her legs or the slight dizziness. Thanks to Kimika''s enhanced regeneration and even faster recovery through her quirk, she quickly replenished her blood supply.


    At the same time, whenever she saw Toga drinking someone else''s blood, her mood would plummet, and Toga knew this well. As a result, they made an agreement: Toga could drink someone else''s blood only in cases of extreme thirst that Kimika couldn''t satisfy, during their tasks for the plan, or in emergency situations.


    Toga also tried to gradually get Kimika accustomed to taking showers together, but it was quite difficult. She managed to do this only a few times, and those moments could be counted on the fingers of one hand, as Kimika always ran away or avoided those situations.


    Moreover, Toga was gradually changing Kimika''s moral principles, preparing her for the possibility of inflicting harm on an enemy or neutralizing them to avoid a situation like the one in the museum.


    She was almost successful in this, and now Kimika could strike or injure an enemy when necessary, although these actions didn''t always lead to serious consequences ¡ª sometimes they were just minor injuries. During such moments, Kimika often treated the enemy with care. But Toga knew it was only a matter of time.


    They also started leaving their signatures after each task, where it was possible, and this habit was introduced by Toga, saying that it was essential. Toga drew her signature in the form of a smiley face with characteristic fangs like a vampire, using the blood of her opponents for this.


    Kimika chose a similar style, but instead of fangs, she drew clocks instead of eyes, using a graffiti spray can, as she didn''t want to use someone else''s blood for it. Of course, she tried several times to convince Toga that a spray can could be used instead of blood, but Toga never gave in, so in the end, Kimika no longer tried to persuade her to stop. And each of their signatures always depicted a certain emotion they felt during the mission.


    Their faces usually reflected opposite emotions: if Toga looked happy, it meant that during the mission, one of their opponents might have gotten seriously injured; and conversely, when Kimika was happy because everything went without casualties, Toga showed a hint of dissatisfaction.


    However, there were cases when their emotions aligned, like during the jewelry store robbery. At that time, Kimika was happy that no one was hurt and that their haul brought in a lot of money, while Toga was happy because she managed to get a few gifts for Kimika, who happily accepted them, which completely alleviated her boredom from not being able to harm their opponents.


    Their costumes also changed in appearance, as Toga knew how hard it was for Kimika to hide her horns and hair color, which detectives had long since noticed. So, she gave her a demon mask that she had custom-made from some acquaintances, with spaces for her horns, which made them seem like part of the mask. This full-face mask could partially conceal her hair, while the hood completely covered it. Toga also started wearing a mask, emphasizing that they were a team of demons.


    As for their clothing, Kimika often changed her sweaters and sweatpants because after each task, they were left with cuts. Because of this, she even started spending part of her earnings on buying new ones, since at some point, she simply had nothing to replace them with. Additionally, Kimika insisted on giving Toga her clothes so that she would wear something other than her school uniform. To her surprise, Toga accepted this immediately with gratitude, seeing it as a gift from a friend, and simply couldn''t bring herself to refuse.


    Their training underwent significant changes. Now, Kimika had to run not 50, but 100 kilometers, as the initial distance no longer posed any difficulty for her. And to make the training truly meaningful, Toga forced her to run along a longer route by the beach, where, to Kimika''s surprise, there was a section filled with trash.


    Kimika often felt the urge to clean it up, considering such work not only part of her physical training but also a volunteer effort to do something good.


    They also started sparring more, as Toga was eager to unlock Kimika''s full potential and hone it to perfection. And, to her surprise, during their first sparring session, Kimika began to put up some resistance, thanks to her ability to see the future. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    However, Toga also organized sparring sessions in which she prohibited the use of quirks, forcing Kimika to rely solely on her physical skills and not just her quirk.


    Today, Kimika left home earlier, deciding to start cleaning the littered beach. It was her way of atoning for her actions. Although she knew that no volunteer work could make up for everything she had done, it felt like better than doing nothing. As she approached the beach, she noticed someone she never expected to see.


    "Izuku?" Kimika exclaimed, walking closer as the boy was completely focused on moving equipment and didn''t hear her at first.


    When he finally heard someone calling his name, at first he thought it was All Might, his mentor, who had stepped away for some errands. But, listening more closely, he realized it was the voice of someone familiar, but definitely not his teacher.


    Turning around, he saw Kimika Tanaki ¡ª his childhood friend, with whom he hadn''t spoken in a long time due to his training for the entrance exam to the Hero Academy and what he had believed was her own reluctance, something Toga had hinted at to him long ago.


    She stood there in a sports top, leggings, and sneakers, looking completely different from how he remembered her. Her figure had become more athletic and vibrant, and her face radiated confidence and strength, which gave her a special charm.


    Her incredible eyes, each a different color, especially drew attention, glowing not only with confidence but also with astonishment from the unexpected encounter. Izuku realized just how much she had changed over this time: Kimika was no longer the girl he had last seen.


    "Kimika? What... What are you doing here?" Izuku asked, trying to gather himself. He quickly looked away, realizing that for a moment, his attention had been focused on her figure. It made him feel guilty ¡ª they hadn''t spoken in so long, and the first thing he did was look her over.


    "I have a morning training session, and I was planning to start cleaning this beach, but, as I can see, you''ve already been doing that," Kimika replied calmly, though there was a hint of sadness in her voice with the last words. "And I have the same question for you ¡ª what are you doing here?"


    "I... I''m training here to... well, um... get into UA and become a hero!" Izuku said this with some uncertainty, but his words were filled with enthusiasm.


    Kimika immediately noticed that he was hiding something, but decided not to dwell on it and simply ignored it, continuing the conversation as if everything were normal, wanting at least a little time to talk with a friend she hadn''t seen in a long time.


    "Wow, you want to get into UA and become a hero..." Kimika said, her gaze dropping sadly. Her heart clenched with pain. Once, she had also dreamed of becoming a hero, but now she found herself on a completely different side of that dream. And if Izuku became a hero, they would be enemies, and maybe he would be the one to catch her.


    "How ironic..." she said bitterly. "A person without a quirk trains so hard to get into the best academy and become a hero, while I, with a quirk, couldn''t manage to do it..."


    There was no sarcasm or anger in her words. She was genuinely happy for her friend, but at the same time, she felt a deep sadness. Izuku noticed this sadness and couldn''t understand why she was saying it.


    He had always considered her quirk incredibly powerful. Back in elementary school, her abilities were impressive, and now, as she had grown and most likely continued to train, he expected Kimika to have become even stronger. But instead of achieving her dream, it seemed like she had given it up.


    "But... but why?" Izuku couldn''t help but ask. "You had every chance to get into hero academy! You''re way better than me! Smarter, stronger, braver! So why did you give up on your dream?"


    Kimika sighed, her voice trembling slightly.


    "Izuku... there are times in life when you simply don''t have a choice. I wanted to be a hero... with all my heart... But fate turned out differently. And I''m really happy that you haven''t lost hope and keep chasing your dream, turning it into reality. I believe you''ll become a hero for both of us..." Her voice trailed off, and then she continued, smiling through her tears. "Sorry, Toga is waiting for me. I''ll ask her to change my schedule so we can see each other more often. I wish you the best of luck, Izuku."


    Kimika was about to leave when she noticed a man standing nearby, silently watching their conversation. He was relatively tall compared to her, but his figure appeared disproportionate ¡ª too thin for his height, almost emaciated, as though ready to collapse at any moment. His suit looked several sizes too big, hanging off his bony shoulders, and his face seemed almost faded ¡ª with hollow eyes and pale skin.


    "Oh, hello..." she said, nodding to him respectfully. At first glance, he seemed like just a sickly stranger, but there was something extraordinary about his presence, something that only he and Izuku seemed to understand.


    The man merely gave a faint smile in response, but said nothing. After that, she quickly left.


    All Might watched the conversation, not believing his own ears. Izuku had often told him about his childhood friend ¡ª about her bravery, relentless determination, and a quirk that could have made her a true hero.


    From Izuku''s stories, it was clear that she had all the necessary qualities to become one of the best: motivation, especially due to her father being harmed by criminals, and she had repeatedly told her parents that she would definitely become a hero, as Izuku had shared with him.


    Moreover, All Might learned about her not only from Izuku but also through his close friend Tsukauchi, who was familiar with her family, particularly her father, with whom he sometimes worked.


    The girl had been determined since childhood, and despite what had happened at that school, she continued to talk about her dream of becoming a hero. This only strengthened her resolve, and at that time, it seemed inevitable that she would follow that path.


    So All Might watched Kimika closely, trying to understand what had caused her to give up such a promising hero career. He immediately noticed her physical condition: every muscle, every part of her body was perfectly developed. This couldn''t be the result of ordinary training ¡ª such a level required superhuman discipline and persistence. And even now, judging by her appearance, she was still actively training.


    His experienced eye quickly picked up on her posture, which indicated combat skills. She stood confidently, ready for battle at any moment. While not perfect, it was balanced enough for her to either defend or attack.


    The only logical explanation he could come up with was that she was actively practicing martial arts and had probably already achieved significant progress. Although she might not yet be the best, All Might was certain it was only a matter of time.


    But even with such abilities and motivation, he couldn''t understand why Kimika hadn''t become a hero, or at least tried to. Her quirk, physical condition, and even the events of her childhood all pointed to the fact that she should have been striving to become a hero even more. Yet, something went wrong.


    However, one detail kept bothering him. All Might noticed a few faint scars on her neck, as if from bites ¡ª scars that couldn''t have been acquired during training because they were too symmetrical and resembled each other too much. He felt like he had seen or heard about something similar before, but couldn''t quite recall where. This detail left him with a sense that Kimika''s story hid more than it seemed at first glance.


    All Might sensed that there was a deeper reason behind this. He wasn''t planning to interfere in her life unnecessarily, but now his curiosity had been piqued. He asked Izuku to find out more about why she had given up on her dream, and if he could help in any way, he would do so immediately, even if she still didn''t want to become a hero.

 The new technique and the fight with the monster

    Toga, walking home with Kimika, the love of her life, after yet another mission, was thinking about what to do next. For the most part, she was content with these tasks, especially since she got to spend all this time with Kimika. But these missions were starting to feel like a routine, and she longed for new experiences.


    No matter how hard she tried to persuade Kimika into something new and more exciting, Kimika always refused, not wanting to take on more serious matters because she enjoyed the fact that their current tasks were fairly easy and safe. As Toga thought about how she might convince her friend to do something new... something more... risky, a good idea suddenly came to her.


    Due to their popularity and reputation, many criminals started impersonating them, wearing similar masks, taking their names, and accepting the same kinds of tasks they typically did.


    To her surprise, the number of similar tasks didn''t decrease, but actually grew, while the price kept dropping. The quantity of these tasks increased to such an extent that Toga began to suspect some of them could be traps set by detectives actively trying to catch them.


    She even discussed this with their broker, who hesitated at first, but over time, it became so obvious that he stopped hesitating once some of his clients were caught in broad daylight, right in the middle of the street, shortly after completing a task.


    Therefore, Giran decided to give them assignments only from trusted sources. He wasn''t willing to lose Kimika or Toga, who not only brought him considerable profit but also strengthened his reputation in certain circles.


    But these impersonations often crossed a line that Toga and Kimika themselves had never crossed: some people recorded videos of their "feats" and passed themselves off as the originals, while others committed crimes, including murders. Some of these actions even began to be attributed to Toga and Kimika because of their striking resemblance to them.


    For Toga, this was not only beneficial, but also opened up the opportunity to try and set a trap for Kimika, pushing her to agree to take on new tasks.


    "Kimi, I have a question for you," Toga began with a smile. Her light, slightly playful gait always made Kimika feel on edge, anticipating something sneaky.


    "What is it? If it''s about us starting something more serious and dangerous again, I''ll just say no right away," Kimika responded firmly, already used to such conversations. She knew that Toga was constantly trying to persuade her into more risky tasks that could lead to serious injuries or even death for people. It went against her principles, which she stubbornly held onto, even though she had been a criminal for several months now, and her principles were starting to lose their original strength.


    "Hey, why are you jumping to conclusions so quickly? Although..., as always, you guessed right, but this time only halfway," Toga smiled slightly, tilting her head and looking away, as if admitting to a small wrongdoing. "You know, our popularity is growing... There are a lot of criminals now who started impersonating us... But they don''t know our true goal, why we started all this. And what''s worse ¡ª they''re actively violating our principles. They''re killing, causing serious harm, filming videos like it''s some kind of entertainment, passing themselves off as us."


    "Yeah... I know..." Kimika sighed heavily, lowering her gaze. It upset her that their reputation had attracted such people. They had seen them on the streets more than once, robbing ordinary people while wearing identical masks to theirs.


    "What if we took a slightly different approach?" Toga began, leading Kimika toward her idea in a way that wouldn''t raise suspicion. "We''ve done a lot of bad things: robbing, sometimes hurting people... But what if we tried to do something good? Think about it, if we, the originals, start catching these impostors and handing them over to the heroes, it could make them stop. It would be a kind of justice, right?" Toga tilted her head slightly, musing out loud. "We could even partially side with the good... yeah, of course, in our own style. It would be something new and interesting, not to mention that if we showed ourselves in a different light, maybe people''s attitudes toward us would change."


    She paused, carefully watching Kimika''s reaction. Kimika was silent, but doubt was visible in her eyes ¡ª she was clearly hesitant. Toga noticed this and smiled softly, as if she had expected just this kind of response. She knew that just these words might not be enough, so she decided to use her most powerful weapon ¡ª reminding Kimika of her dream and her goal.


    "Kimi," Toga continued quietly but insistently, "I remember how you used to dream of becoming a real hero, something you told me during every one of our meetings. You always wanted to bring justice to this strange world. I know that was important to you... And even if everything has changed now, don''t you think it''s worth trying to do something good, just once?" Her voice sounded as if it wasn''t just a suggestion, but a reminder of who Kimika used to be and what she had truly aspired to.


    It really worked. The last traces of doubt disappeared from Kimika''s face, which pleased Toga immensely. Kimika, no longer hesitating, though she understood that Toga wouldn''t have proposed this without some personal gain ¡ª since she probably didn''t care much about the impostors ¡ª still resolutely said:


    "Yes, if we catch them, we can do something truly good. And we can show that even criminals can have their own sense of justice and principles!"


    Listening to Kimika''s words, Toga once again reflected on her partner. She couldn''t help but feel how innocent Kimika still was, despite the fact that they stood on the same dark path of crime. But what touched Toga the most was the determination with which Kimika tried to bring even a little bit of good into this world, despite their roles as criminals.


    It hurt her a little that Kimika had to choose this path. If their fates hadn''t crossed, maybe Kimika could have become the hero she dreamed of, bringing smiles, justice, and hope to the world. Toga felt a mixture of sadness and regret, but she also understood: their meeting wasn''t a coincidence. Something deep inside convinced her that this was an inevitable turn, that it was meant to be this way.


    They had found each other exactly when they needed to, and now, there was only one way forward¡ªembracing this dark, yet shared path.


    The next day, Toga and Kimika took on a new mission¡ªdestroying an amusement park. Working in sync and silently, Toga assigned Kimika the task of neutralizing a guard, allowing her to act alone and hone her skills. Kimika handled it successfully and carefully, causing no serious harm to the guard.


    Left alone in the park, they didn''t rush to destroy the attractions right away. With a sly smile, Toga suggested they first enjoy all the fun rides. And so began their playful adventure: each attraction captivated them more and more.


    They rode the roller coasters, laughed on the carousels, and tried every ride they encountered. So immersed were they in the excitement that for a moment, the girls forgot about their task, completely lost in the carefree fun the night offered them.


    But when it came time to act, they felt a twinge of sadness: they had genuinely enjoyed the park and understood that they were destroying something that brought joy, not just to them, but to others as well. Nevertheless, the mission remained a mission.


    After they had destroyed the equipment and damaged the key mechanisms, rendering the park inoperable, they left their first signature, not just with their names, but with a short message. It expressed how sorry they were to carry out this task, but that circumstances forced them to see it through to the end.


    Having agreed to the mission, they knew they had to complete it, though, had they known how much fun they would have in the park, they would have refused. To show their sincerity, the girls left the signature using only a graffiti spray can, with Toga refraining from using blood for the first time. After finishing the mission, they stood in front of the camera and bowed as a sign of apology.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Changing into spare clothes they carried with them, Toga and Kimika began patrolling the areas where they often spotted their impersonators, with the goal of neutralizing them.


    Their search turned out to be much easier than they expected: not only did they find their impersonators, but they also became their victims. These imitators, not recognizing their inspirations, dragged the girls into a dark alley.


    It was a gang of five, wearing masks that closely resembled their own. However, the imitators'' masks lacked certain details that each girl had left on the other''s mask: Tsukima''s mask had markings of Tokima, and Tokima''s mask had Tsukima''s.


    "Guys, look how lucky we are to have such beauties! And they''re fans of Tsukima and Tokima just like us. Well, I guess you won''t mind having some fun in their honor!" one of them said, licking his lips. At his words, the other four laughed, feeling as though they had received a gift from fate.


    At these words, Toga felt an overwhelming urge to kill the five of them in the most brutal ways she knew, for daring to speak to them like this, and most importantly, for having the audacity to say such things to Kimika.


    Kimika, however, wasn''t troubled by their words. Instead, she focused on how to neutralize these people as quickly as possible, feeling an immense sense of excitement. But now, that excitement wasn''t as intense as it once was. Having gone through countless challenges, she had grown accustomed to danger and knew that if anything went wrong, her friend Toga would always be there to help.


    Yet, Kimika was more concerned for these five. If she didn''t neutralize them faster than Toga, then her friend wouldn''t hesitate to destroy them in a way that they would never be able to speak again, assuming, of course, they survived the night.


    And just as the five of them began contemplating what to do with the girls, each of them noticed the gaze of the one who had been hiding behind her friend just moments ago, a gaze that only added to her charm, making her an incredibly sweet prey.


    Now, she looked at them as if she were peering into their very souls. Especially her left eye, which began to glow with a cold, icy blue hue.


    In that moment, they all noticed that their own bodies started to glow with the same chilling blue color, and they felt an overwhelming sense of slowing down.


    All their senses screamed at them to run. The five of them, feeling this unsettling premonition, slowly began to retreat, trying to comprehend what exactly they were fleeing from. Even their quirks activated on their own, as if attempting to protect their masters, but it had no effect.


    The girl, with incredible speed and red light pulsing throughout her body, lunged into the attack, striking with unbelievable precision. Two of them instantly lost consciousness from a powerful blow to the liver, while the other two barely kept their feet, preparing to fall.


    But the next series of strikes from Kimika to their heads immediately knocked them unconscious, freeing them from the pain. Only one large man, whose quirk enhanced his body, stood still, barely feeling the impact of the blows.


    He stepped back, pulling a few pills from his pocket and quickly swallowing them. As he did, it seemed like he was starting to transform.


    With an incredible surge of power triggered by the enhancement, he instantly freed himself from Kimika''s slowing effect, but his body began to writhe in pain. Around him, a shell began to form, a mixture of stone, wood, and metal.


    These materials continued to envelop him in layers, and though he was already large and muscular, he now grew almost twice, if not three times, his original size, becoming even stronger and covered in a variety of materials.


    Seeing the transformed man, Kimika felt a wave of fear wash over her. She stepped back slightly, just in time to hear a piercing scream from him. His red eyes burned like those of a bull targeting its prey. Without a moment''s hesitation, he charged at her, like a living projectile.


    His power struck Kimika, knocking her off her feet and throwing her to the ground. But he didn''t stop there: after flying several more meters, unable to stop, he gave her the chance to quickly get back on her feet.


    Kimika tried again to apply the slowing effect to her opponent, but its effect instantly vanished, almost as if it dissolved into the air. Realizing that the situation was getting out of control, she immediately activated even more acceleration on herself, allowing her to dodge the red charge.


    She realized that she was facing an opponent under the influence of an incredible amount of Trigger, likely with an extraordinarily high dose purity, which should have killed him instantly after taking such a large amount. However, for some unknown reason, not only could he still move, but he was actively trying to ram her, despite the consequences.


    Successfully dodging, Kimika began striking pressure points that were supposed to cause incredible pain to her opponent, as Toga had told her. However, the blows had no effect.


    The situation was growing more difficult: Kimika began to feel fatigue, with each strike her strength waning, while her opponent only grew stronger and more aggressive under the influence of Trigger. His relentless rage was escalating, and it seemed he felt no pain, instead feeding off the sensation of power.


    But she couldn''t afford to lose. So Kimika decided to use a secret technique she had created during training with Toga.


    It was the "Echo Strike, a technique that involved landing blows and freezing their effects. Throughout the process, she would accumulate more and more strikes, and then release them all at once, or release a few, inflicting incredible pain on her opponent.


    Relentlessly striking pain points, Kimika continued to accumulate more and more blows. She actively dodged his attacks, not even using her future vision. His strikes were wild, without any strategy, resembling the fight of a beast acting purely on instinct.


    Each of his blows left impressive marks ¡ª craters in the ground formed by the force of his strikes, and his speed was so high that it seemed as though he was tearing through the air.


    But thanks to her sparring experience with Toga, Kimika could see the direction of his attacks and easily dodged them. Her movements were almost invisible, and her counterattacks were precise and quick, which only fueled her enemy''s rage. This "monster" became even more aggressive, but that only worsened the situation for him.


    Continuing to strike the pain points, Kimika accumulated more and more blows, preparing for their immediate release. She knew that if the left horn exceeded the limit, she wouldn''t be able to freeze the consequences of the strikes without affecting her own body.


    The right horn was also approaching the critical threshold. Feeling that she was about to surpass the limit, Kimika suddenly jumped back, distancing herself from her opponent. With a wide grin on her face, she released all the accumulated strikes with a single symbolic snap of her fingers ¡ª she could have done it without the gesture. And the number of strikes was almost reaching a hundred.


    At that moment, behind the one who had recently seemed like an immovable rock under her stronger attacks, a shockwave erupted, causing the very ground beneath him to crack.


    At the same time, he was thrown several meters back and crashed to the ground with a loud thud, making the earth tremble. Blood poured from his mouth, and massive holes appeared in his body where the numerous strikes had landed, tearing through his armor.


    When he fell, the man felt no pain from the blows, even though he could see the breaches in the layers of material that covered him. All his thoughts were focused solely on how to destroy this girl.


    As he tried to rise, he felt something strange in his body, and in that instant, he vomited a large amount of blood and food he had consumed throughout the day.


    But despite this and the increasing pain he was starting to feel, he wiped his mouth and stood up, preparing for his next charge. As he ran toward the girl, he suddenly felt a heaviness in his legs and dizziness in his head. Losing his balance, he stumbled a few steps toward Kimika and lost consciousness.


    Seeing what had happened, Kimika felt an incredible joy ¡ª she had managed to win this tough fight. Although her left eye had already surpassed its limit and her right was close to the limit, she felt a sense of satisfaction that she had finally used this technique in a real battle, not just on walls or dummies.


    Kimika didn''t even think about how badly her opponent might have suffered. She didn''t feel any sadness; this opponent had wanted to kill her throughout the entire fight, and if she had been even a little slower, taking even a single hit, she would likely have died instantly or become a lifelong.


    Breathing heavily, Kimika stood up and looked at the person who had been watching the entire fight without helping her ¡ª Toga.


    Toga, who had been observing the battle, watched with awe as her friend neutralized two opponents and then successfully handled two more. During the fight with the giant, Toga had wanted to intervene, but in Kimika''s eyes, she saw something she had never noticed before ¡ª a thirst for battle, a flame in her eyes, and an unwavering desire for victory.


    She forced herself to believe that Kimika would win this battle. It was a chance to test how effective their training had been. Toga stubbornly turned away from her doubts and focused on the results. Now, it all depended on whether Kimika could apply all the skills she had learned in practice, whether she could overcome this opponent and demonstrate what she had achieved. Toga watched, confident that Kimika had every chance of victory.


    When Kimika used one of the techniques she had never applied in real battles before, Toga felt that it was an incredibly powerful move against such opponents with remarkable defenses.


    However, Kimika''s principles had prevented her from fully trusting this power in all her past battles. Nevertheless, seeing what Kimika was capable of, Toga briefly imagined that if she could land enough strikes on the world''s strongest hero ¡ª Almighty, perhaps she could deliver a blow that could cause incredible damage to the invincible hero.


    But she quickly dismissed the idea, knowing the strength of this hero; he would most likely never allow even a single blow to land on him, let alone enough to win.


    When the battle ended, Toga felt Kimika''s sharp gaze on her, as if asking why she hadn''t come to help in such a dangerous fight, where she could have died. She saw the worry in Kimika''s eyes, but didn''t show it. Approaching her, Toga maintained her carefree demeanor, as though nothing had happened.

 The Heros Vow

    Eraser Head, while patrolling his territory, received a report that someone had broken into the amusement park and started destroying everything. This news immediately caught his attention due to the similarity to previous incidents, in which Tokima and Tsukima were often involved ¡ª two individuals he relentlessly sought to capture. What intrigued him even more was that, according to a witness, only two people had been involved in the event. This was clear confirmation for him: it was definitely them.


    He immediately set off to the scene, hoping to arrive before they vanished.


    Upon arrival, he saw only broken rides that almost looked like a pile of metal and their usual signature, which they often left behind. However, this time, in addition to the signature, there was also a message. In it, they apologized for having to destroy a place they had liked, but noted that a mission was a mission.


    Without wasting a single second, Eraser Head began sweeping the area near the park and, with the help of Nezu, connected with the heroes patrolling nearby.


    Soon, he was incredibly lucky when he spotted two girls who looked like the ones he had been searching for. At first, he thought they might just be fanatical criminals, a common phenomenon due to Tokima and Tsukima''s reputation.


    They were elusive and had become role models for others who aspired to match their level. This only fueled his desire to capture them. As he began following the girls, Eraser Head saw them being led into an alley by five other fanatics who appeared to be aggressively disposed.


    Despite the fact that these two could be criminals, he couldn''t allow anything to happen to them. Running across rooftops, he got closer and stopped on a building roof, where he had a good view of the entire alley.


    But as he got closer, he recognized that these two were the real deal. Tokima had already dealt with four of the criminals, while Tsukima was merely observing, which was unusual behavior for both of them, as he knew it was always the other way around: Tokima in the back, and Tsukima in the front.


    Eraser Head planned to catch them right after they finished with the last one, as by then at least one of them would be somewhat exhausted, which would make his job easier.


    Moreover, he wanted to see if the girl had developed any new techniques, and most importantly, how far she had come in her growth. He remembered his previous mistake, when he lost to them because of this. However, they didn''t even know he was watching, which would give him an advantage.


    With that thought, he pulled out his phone and began recording the entire process. This wasn''t his own idea, but Nezu''s, who wanted to see the two girls in action. While he could observe them through cameras, mostly all he saw was how quickly they neutralized the guards, without any actual fights.


    Although he expected the fight to end very quickly, as by the time he began observing, Tokima had already dealt with four of the criminals, to his surprise, the last criminal took several doses of trigger and began to enhance incredibly.


    Although with that much Trigger, he should have died much faster than even slightly strengthening, Eraser Head suspected that it was likely due to his endurance, luck, or the new generation of Trigger with less negative effects for the user.


    A true battle broke out between him and Tokima. Even from a distance, he could see the determination and fire in her eyes. He noticed that Tokima''s fighting style had significantly improved since their last encounter ¡ª this was no longer the girl who hid behind her partner''s back.


    And while usually Tokima played a supporting role to Tsukima, applying acceleration or deceleration effects on enemies, now she was taking the role of an active attacker, while Tsukima simply observed.


    He could clearly see that her punches barely caused any damage. However, she was using all her strength to avoid the strikes of her opponent, who attacked like a beast, actively counterattacking. He felt a certain pride for her as he watched her relentlessly grow, and he increasingly wished to see her and Tsukima as his students.


    She didn''t give up even in this situation, continuing to attack, exhausting her stamina, and showcasing all her abilities. However, at some point, he noticed that her strikes, which had previously had at least some impact on the opponent, no longer had any effect. She was still attacking, but it seemed like she was merely bringing her fist close to the opponent''s body and pulling it back without making contact at all.


    He even began to think she was just playing with her opponent, though he couldn''t understand the purpose of this charade. He knew that she wouldn''t be able to defeat this opponent, even if she attacked with full force, as she had been doing so far, with no effect.


    If he himself were in such a situation with an opponent protected by a similar quirk, and knowing that there were no civilians nearby, he would likely try to signal his partners or avoid attacking, waiting for the opponent to exhaust themselves. Especially considering that the opponent attacked like a beast, with completely predictable movements, and understanding that the Trigger was probably slowly destroying his body, meaning he was about to collapse from exhaustion.


    This went on for several minutes, until, to his surprise, Tokima finally stepped back from the opponent. With a smile on her face and sparks in her eyes¡ªvisible even from his position¡ªshe snapped her fingers.


    In that moment, it was as if All Might himself had struck the opponent, though not with full force. A shockwave appeared behind him, cracking the ground beneath him. The criminal was sent flying several meters, and at the spots where Tokima had previously struck, massive craters had formed, completely shattering his defense.


    He witnessed an entirely new technique from Tokima. Fully convinced that, after her ability to see the future, she would hardly surprise him with anything new, this move managed to completely obliterate her opponent''s defense.


    This sight filled him with genuine fear ¡ª this girl was growing at an incredible rate. If even one of his students possessed such talent and potential, which only grew stronger with each encounter, he would have no hesitation in giving everything he had for their development. And Nezu would support him in this, offering all the resources and strength available.


    For a moment, he even thought that with proper training, she could become one of the top 10 heroes. Her quirk, her potential, her determination, and constant growth ¡ª these would effortlessly allow her to reach that level. Perhaps, with the right training, she could even become the number one hero.


    He began to wonder what would happen if they failed to capture Tokima. If she continued to develop at this pace, in the future, even professional heroes might not stand a chance against her.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Perhaps, one day, even All Might would face difficulties in a battle with her. However, he was glad that he had recorded the entire fight ¡ª this would allow him to analyze her techniques and prepare for a possible encounter.


    He also realized that he couldn''t miss this chance to capture both of them, especially now that Tokima was exhausted. Though Tsukima hadn''t participated in the fight, he knew that if he initiated a confrontation with them, this time he would have every chance of victory, since he wasn''t weakened like he had been the last time.


    However, he wasn''t going to repeat the mistakes of the past by underestimating them and understood that this could end in Tokima''s growth once again. Therefore, he decided to continue monitoring them, hoping to discover the whereabouts of at least one of them, so that he could capture her when she was alone and force her partner to come to her aid.


    Although he could call in his partners to increase the chances of their capture and simply catch them, rather than searching for their place of residence, he didn''t want to give them any opportunity to escape. After all, who knew if either of them had a hidden trump card up their sleeve.


    Kimika and Toga, leaving their ominous signature that revealed their dissatisfaction with the fanatics, quickly left the scene. They knew very well that the noise from their fight could attract unnecessary attention, so they didn''t want to linger.


    As they continued patrolling the streets, searching for other fanatics similar to the ones they had recently encountered, both of them felt a strange sensation. Long before the fight began, they had been plagued by the feeling of being watched, but now it had become so obvious that it could no longer be ignored.


    They realized that it wasn''t just paranoia. Someone was indeed following them, and this person was clearly not ordinary. No simple person could remain unnoticed for so long, leaving only faint traces of their presence. It was likely either a hero or one of their fanatics.


    Although their pursuer hadn''t revealed themselves yet, even during the encounters with other fanatics they had faced, who were frequent but not as powerful as the first ones, Kimika and Toga understood that this person didn''t intend to attack immediately.


    It was likely that the pursuer was trying to find the perfect moment to strike or scout out their place of residence. They couldn''t simply rush at him, as they didn''t know his exact location. At the same time, they couldn''t return home or split up, as that would risk revealing their hideouts, putting them in a dangerous situation.


    So, they came up with a plan. They decided to use a trick and give their watcher what he wanted: a trace to Toga''s home. There, they could gather all the necessary things and quickly leave the area.


    Toga was always prepared for such a scenario, as she frequently changed her places of residence. Her choice often fell on old houses with basements that had access to the sewers.


    They entered the old apartment building and went to Toga''s apartment. After turning on the light and closing the curtains, they made it clear to their pursuer which apartment they were in.


    Quickly gathering all the important items ¡ª money, trigger that Toga still kept with her, a few sets of clothes, and other things essential to Toga ¡ª they left a note in a visible spot. It mockingly told the pursuer that he had missed the moment when they were vulnerable, and it was accompanied by two smiling faces. After that, the girls headed to the basement.


    In the basement, they opened an old passage that led to the sewer. The unpleasant smell soaked into their clothes and made them feel nauseous, but it couldn''t stop them; it was better than getting caught by some hero who had been spying on them. After passing through several blocks underground, they emerged on the surface through another building with a similar underground passage.


    Since it was already the middle of the night and Toga wouldn''t be able to find a new place to stay unnoticed, they headed to Kimika''s house. Her mother was already well aware of her daughter''s late-night outings with her friend.


    Although they didn''t share all the details of their activities, they assured her that they weren''t involved in anything like drinking alcohol or using drugs. They were simply walking around the city, which, in a sense, was true, so her mother didn''t notice they were lying.


    Her mother didn''t object to their walks, seeing it as an opportunity for her daughter not to dwell on what was happening in their family. However, she did ask them to be careful because of the rising crime in the city and told them that if anything happened, they should not hesitate to ask her for help.


    When they got home, Toga was eager to take a shower again with her friend, but Kimika, still with some energy left, was ready to fend off her advances. With incredible speed, she rushed into the bathroom and, closing the door behind her, managed to break free from Toga''s embrace.


    Although Toga was incredibly frustrated by this turn of events, she didn''t want to make a bad impression on her friend''s mother. So, she simply saw it as a challenge: she needed to find a way to make Kimika get used to showering together and make her ask for it herself.


    However, for the time being, her plans remained just a dream, and Toga had to settle for taking the shower alone.


    Though she did manage to sleep next to her friend, since Kimika had no other free space for sleeping that she could send her to or that she would sleep in, at first, Kimika tried to distance herself to the edge of the bed.


    She didn''t want to sleep next to Toga because she felt a certain shame, still upset with her friend for not helping in the battle against the criminal with the trigger. These feelings of disappointment made it difficult for her to relax, and she couldn''t fall asleep next to Toga, even though the situation required their closeness.


    Toga, shocked by such words, was incredibly displeased, her facial expression conveying that she was ready to tear Kimika apart for it.


    However, despite all her efforts, Kimika managed to fall asleep at the edge of the bed, trying to stay as far away from Toga as possible. Toga, on her part, lay on the other end of the bed, incredibly outraged and aggressive.


    She was wondering why Kimika was acting this way toward her¡ªwhy she was distancing herself, when in their rare moments of sleeping together, Kimika had always fallen asleep in her arms or next to her.


    Toga felt rejected, and that only added to her anger and confusion. She couldn''t understand what had happened and why her friend was behaving this way.


    However, when Toga saw Kimika''s innocent face as she slept, looking like a little child, so incredibly cute, her anger instantly disappeared. The girl looked so defenseless that it was impossible not to smile.


    Suddenly, Kimika began to stir slowly but surely in her sleep, as if searching for warmth, and before long, she found herself beside Toga. Lying pressed against her, Kimika looked like a little kitten that had found the perfect place to sleep, blissfully nudging her nose into Toga as if she were a source of warmth.


    Toga couldn''t help but smile at the cute sight, but then Kimika started becoming bolder, trying to settle more comfortably.


    Eventually, Kimika hugged Toga like a dakimakura pillow, wrapping her arm and leg around her, with the same innocent expression on her face. Not knowing how to react to such cuteness, Toga simply responded in kind, hugging Kimika back.


    A thought began to form in Toga''s mind: it seemed that, subconsciously, Kimika had developed a habit of falling asleep next to her. All Toga had to do was reinforce this habit until Kimika couldn''t sleep without that warmth and closeness.


    And so, they fell asleep, gazing at each other, sharing all their warmth like two little kittens who had found a safe haven. The silence in the room was filled with peace, and only the quiet breaths of both girls disturbed the stillness of the night.


    At the same time, Eraser Head, after seeing where exactly Tokima and Tsukima were living, noticed that the light in a certain apartment turned on shortly after they entered the building.


    He began to carefully watch them, but after not seeing any of the girls leave the house, he decided to call for backup, including several heroes and police officers.


    When they broke into the apartment, they found only an empty room and a message left by the girls. Of course, Eraser Head''s usually calm expression burned with anger, while his colleagues couldn''t contain their laughter at the situation. He swore to himself that the next time he saw the two of them, he wouldn''t hesitate to catch them immediately and wouldn''t waste time wondering about Tokima''s height.


    After that, he passed the recording to Nezu, who agreed with him: the girls were growing incredibly fast, and they needed to be apprehended as quickly as possible. Eraser Head felt that Tokima might have enjoyed the thrill of battle, and those who could provide her with that feeling were either criminals who would soon get boring, and she might switch her attention to heroes.


    At the end of their conversation, Nezu couldn''t resist teasing Aizawa, remarking on how easily he had been deceived.

 Step into the Unknown

    Toga and Kimika spent several days in a row hunting down their fanatics in all the nearby areas. They kept doing this until the number of fanatics had decreased so much that they became almost impossible to find.


    Each of them felt different emotions about it. Toga was upset because their combat skills training in real battles would stop, and she would have to find ways to convince Kimika to do something else, as she really didn''t want to return to their previous routine tasks.


    On the other hand, Kimika felt joy because she no longer had to fight people and injure them. However, she couldn''t shake off a slight sadness because, over these few days, she had started to enjoy the feeling of battle and the adrenaline it brought.


    Moreover, Kimika began to feel intrigued by the trigger, as almost all their opponents used it. Those who just moments ago had seemed weak and incapable of fighting back became dangerous adversaries after taking the trigger.


    Because of this, she became increasingly interested in it, despite its negative effects. She thought that in moderate amounts, it could serve as a backup plan and perhaps become their means of escape in critical situations.


    When Kimika suggested carrying some trigger with them in case a strong hero tried to catch them or they encountered dangerous opponents, she was immediately met with a refusal from Toga, who didn''t even let her finish the suggestion.


    Toga couldn''t allow them to carry this drug with such serious consequences, and the thought of her friend having to take it worried her.


    She wasn''t ready to accept the risks that could arise from using it and was even slightly angry that Kimika had thought of and suggested it in the first place. After all, she wasn''t training her almost to the point of exhaustion for her to rely on some drug, but rather on her own strength.


    Moreover, Toga didn''t want Kimika to develop an addiction, or worse, start relying solely on the Trigger. What also worried her was the possibility of changing the taste of her blood.


    She already kept a close watch on Kimika to ensure she didn''t even think about smoking, drinking, or using drugs, as any little thing could not only affect the taste of her blood but also her overall health.


    When Toga saw that they could no longer find their fanatics, who had served as opponents for training, and realized that she would indeed have to return to past missions ¡ª like robbing jewelry stores, museums, or destroying cafes ¡ª she decided that before that, they should spend an entire day together, not for tasks, but just for each other.


    This would allow her to take their relationship to a new level, as she could arrange something like a date, while telling Kimika that it would just be a simple friendly walk to relax.


    They would stroll together, try various dishes, rest, and ride attractions similar to those they had been on recently. Toga felt that this would be an incredibly enjoyable time with her friend.


    And although the attractions didn''t bring her much joy or adrenaline ¡ª since her criminal life had long since stripped her of such emotions ¡ª at the beginning, every day had been an attraction for her, and she had felt adrenaline each time.


    The mere possibility of spending time with Kimika, seeing her sweet smile, and hearing her genuine laughter was incredibly tempting.


    Especially at the end, when she planned to ride the Ferris wheel. At the very top, during sunset, when the sky was filled with warm shades of orange and purple, creating a truly romantic atmosphere, she would kiss Kimika for the first time, and there would be no chance for her to escape.


    And so, as they were parting ways after their morning training, Toga caught Kimika''s hand as she was walking away, and with a playful smile, eager to execute her plan, she suggested:


    "Kimi, how about we go for a walk today? Like two best friends, because we''re always either training, hunting fanatics, doing missions, and blah blah blah..." Toga said, rolling her eyes to increase the effect, then glanced straight into her friend''s eyes, feeling a blush spread across her face. Smiling, she continued:


    "Well, we haven''t walked around like, you know... best friends in a while. Haven''t tried something delicious together, like ice cream, and I really wanted to try it with your blood¡­ Or we could watch a movie in the genres of mysticism or sci-fi, or maybe one of those horror films you really like¡­ though I''m really scared of horror¡­" she said with a mischievous smile. "And we''d have to spend the whole session cuddling in front of everyone¡­" she added, never breaking eye contact. "Or we could just take an evening stroll through the amusement park, ride everything, and not break it in the end¡­"


    Kimika, completely exhausted after training, as always, saw nothing wrong with the suggestion.


    She felt guilty, as she had always used her friend: training with her to become stronger or taking part in their nightly adventures, which were needed for Kimika to accumulate money, not Toga, who had no need for it and did it all just for her.


    Therefore, she didn''t even think about rejecting the tempting offer. Moreover, she was ready to spend time with her best friend like this every week, if not every day.


    "Of course, why not? If you want, we can go for walks like this pretty often..."


    Hearing the agreement, Toga couldn''t contain her excitement and jumped up and down with joy.


    "Hooray! Alright, now go home and get ready!" she exclaimed, and then, unable to hold back, ran off. As she was running, she yelled, "And don''t worry, I''ll cover all the expenses! We''ll have the time of our lives!"


    After that, Toga, happily and quickly, continued running toward her new temporary apartment to prepare for the date. Kimika, equally full of joy, headed home to get ready for this walk with her best friend.


    Once they were home, the girls immediately began preparing. They took a shower to wash off the sweat from training, then put on comfortable, stylish clothes.


    Toga, having checked all the best spots on the map and the reviews, had already planned out their entire route in her head. She quickly set off for Kimika, who had long been ready and was simply waiting for her arrival.


    "Well, shall we go?" Kimika said, clearly noticing the excitement for the upcoming walk on her friend''s face.


    Without answering, Toga suddenly grabbed her hand and started leading her along the route she had planned.


    The first stop on their route was an ice cream shop, completely dedicated to selling ice cream, because Toga knew well how much Kimika loved it. It was the best ice cream shop in their city, and perhaps even the best in the whole country. Stolen story; please report.


    They offered every imaginable ice cream flavor: lavender, tomato, bacon and caramel, honey, and many more. They also had all the fruit flavors, along with original and unusual combinations.


    As they walked in, they were greeted by a pleasant mix of smells, and to their surprise, there were almost no other customers except for them. They began leisurely choosing their ice cream, especially Kimika, who approached the task with complete seriousness, as if her entire life depended on her choice.


    "Maybe strawberry? Or perhaps pineapple... Or mango?" Kimika kept repeating as she wandered back and forth, unable to decide which flavor to choose. She kept picking from the ones she loved and those she hadn''t tried yet, as if it were the same kind of decision as choosing between different sodas or chips.


    "Kimi, how about we get cones with all three flavors together? Or we can pick one flavor now, and try a different one on our next walk?" Toga suggested, having already chosen pineapple ice cream.


    She looked at her friend with a loving and admiring gaze, as if she were watching a little kitten trying to decide what to eat.


    "One flavor is boring! Let''s get all three scoops!" Kimika energetically replied, her eyes lighting up with excitement, and she was almost bouncing in place like a child about to get their favorite treat.


    After getting the three scoops of ice cream ¡ª strawberry, pineapple, and mango ¡ª Kimika beamed with happiness, looking at her large, triple-scoop ice cream that looked incredibly delicious. It was much bigger than Toga''s small single-scoop ice cream.


    But Toga didn''t pay much attention to that, as it wasn''t important to her: she knew that very soon she would get the best sauce in the world ¡ª Kimika''s incredibly delicious blood.


    "Let''s go here!" Toga said, pointing to a dark alley where she could get a little blood. She knew it was better not to do this in public, out in the open, among people, as it might attract unnecessary and unwanted attention to them.


    Entering the alley, Toga carefully bit her finger, from which drops of blood quickly began to fall directly onto the ice cream. She couldn''t wait for the moment when she would taste that incredible flavor.


    Kimika didn''t say anything, but a slight joy passed through her mind at the sight of Toga''s behavior, and she blushed lightly.


    When there was enough blood on the ice cream, Toga grabbed Kimika''s hand and, to avoid losing the precious blood, she began to energetically suck the blood from her finger.


    In just a moment, the two girls were walking hand in hand down the bustling streets, savoring their ice cream. Kimika had a three-scoop ice cream with different flavors, while Toga had a single scoop of pineapple-flavored ice cream covered in a blood sauce, although to the onlookers, it looked like strawberry or cherry.


    Upon reaching their next destination ¡ª the riverside promenade, where they sat on a bench, the girls continued to enjoy their ice cream. Kimika, watching the ducks, commented on how they caught fish, occasionally pointing out other interesting details around them.


    Toga, however, was more captivated by the cuteness of the little ducklings swimming nearby, a joyful smile on her face as she relished the calm atmosphere alongside Kimika, who didn''t even realize that they were on a date.


    After admiring and finishing their ice cream, they headed to the cinema for a horror movie that Toga had chosen, much to Kimika''s surprise, as she knew that Toga didn''t like such films.


    During the screening, Kimika, mesmerized by the events on the screen, closely followed each horror scene, while Toga, almost hiding, sat next to her, trying not to look at the scariest moments. This, though it surprised Kimika, sparked a slight feeling of care and a desire to protect Toga from it, which made Toga very happy.


    And although the movie occasionally featured romantic scenes ¡ª kisses or words about love, during which Kimika constantly blushed, even at the slightest displays of romance, sometimes covering her face with her hands and peeking through the gaps between her fingers, Toga couldn''t help but smile as she watched these cute reactions.


    It seemed incredibly sweet, and she couldn''t wait for the moment when they would both reach the final destination of her journey, and the first kiss would become a reality.


    When such a scene appeared on the screen again, Toga couldn''t resist and quietly whispered:


    "Look how romantic..." ¡ª Toga whispered, touching Kimika''s hand. Her voice was soft and warm, and that tender sound sent shivers down Kimika''s spine, filling her with a strange yet pleasant feeling she couldn''t explain.


    After Toga''s comment, Kimika remained silent, absorbed in the movie as if trying to distract herself from the recent events, and they spent the time together without any unnecessary words.


    When the film finally ended, they headed to a caf¨¦, which looked wonderful in the evening atmosphere. There, they enjoyed pizza and cocktails.


    After leaving the cafe, the last, equally anticipated stop on Toga''s route awaited them.


    In the amusement park, even more adventures awaited them. They spent several hours trying various attractions ¡ª from roller coasters to bumper cars, and it was a true celebration of emotions.


    Toga felt in her element, fearlessly throwing herself onto the most extreme rides, eager to feel even the smallest rush of excitement, while Kimika tried to keep up, though sometimes wary of certain attractions.


    They entered a haunted house, where, surprisingly, everything was the opposite of what they had experienced in the cinema. Toga laughed continuously at the terrifying and incredibly funny attempts to scare her, while Kimika, though trying to stay calm, occasionally clenched her fists and hid behind Toga, who appeared fearless and confident.


    After a few more adventures, Toga finally stopped in front of a huge Ferris wheel.


    "Well, shall we go here for the last ride?" ¡ª Toga asked, pointing at the Ferris wheel and looking at Kimika with a sparkle in her eyes.


    Kimika sighed but nodded. Her heart raced as they sat in the cabin and began to slowly rise. And at the very top, when the cabin stopped, an incredible view of the entire city unfolded before them. A gentle breeze brushed their faces, and the evening lights twinkled in the distance.


    "Beautiful, isn''t it?" ¡ª Toga asked, but these words weren''t directed at the view. Instead, she focused on Kimika''s face. Her face seemed to bloom with a blush, and the smile playing on her lips reflected the sparkle of awe.


    Kimika, unaware that this was a special moment and where her friend''s gaze was directed, silently nodded, trying to hide her nervousness from the unfamiliar feeling.


    Toga leaned in closer, and this made Kimika shift her gaze to her. Their eyes met, and in that moment, the atmosphere became both tense and tender.


    Toga, never breaking eye contact, asked with a gentle smile. "Did you know that I''ve always dreamed of moments like this?" Her voice was soft, but there was something magical in it.


    Kimika felt her heart race, and she tried to pull back, but there was nowhere to go. Noticing her fluster, Toga quietly whispered,


    "Don''t be afraid," ¡ª and Kimika realized that resisting was pointless.


    Leaning in even closer, Toga gently kissed her. Her lips touched Kimika''s, and at that moment, Kimika first felt a flurry in her heart, followed by a wave of excitement.


    Confidently seizing the moment, Toga began deepening the kiss. Gently, with a hint of aggressiveness, she slid her tongue between Kimika''s lips, inviting her to dance. At first, Kimika, bewildered and unsure how to react, simply trusted her and relaxed, following Toga''s lead.


    Kimika, who knew almost nothing about romantic matters, realized that what was happening between them was clearly no longer just friendship. Her thoughts were torn between the desire to hold onto this moment and the fear of losing what they had.


    She didn''t want to understand or accept her feelings, because all she had ever dreamed of was having a best friend like Toga by her side, someone who would always be there.


    The kiss lasted, and when Toga finally pulled away, ending their passionate kiss, making it clear that she was the one who started it and the one who finished it, Kimika felt a longing for more, but the overwhelming embarrassment prevented her from saying a word to ask for more.


    She simply covered her face with her hands, trying to hide the blush that was burning on her cheeks. Toga, on the other hand, just watched her and her reaction, with something predatory in her gaze ¡ª it felt as if she had caught her prey, one she would never let slip from her grasp.


    Toga was fully savoring this amazing sight, occasionally licking her lips, knowing that soon she would get even more than this.


    "What a beauty..." Toga softly said, looking at Kimika, her voice filled with admiration, complemented by an incredible smile as she licked her lips, as if savoring another kiss in her imagination.


    When their Ferris wheel ride descended, Toga took Kimika''s hand and led her through the nighttime park, reveling in this amazing moment. She knew that what had happened earlier was just the beginning; now, she could do this as much as she wanted, and most importantly, whenever she desired.


    A light laugh escaped her lips, sounding as if it was just a prelude to something bigger. Kimika, still recovering from the recent kiss, couldn''t even imagine what new adventures awaited her very soon.

 Future plans

    The headmaster of the most prestigious hero academy, Nezu, sat as usual in his spacious office, located right at the center of the grand building, as if in the heart of his empire. He sipped his favorite tea, which helped calm his mind and bring a sense of peace.


    His office was a bastion of power and tranquility, a place from which Nezu managed the affairs of the academy with unmatched confidence. Like a president in his small, yet incredibly influential state, he felt an absolute sense of security and control over every corner of this place.


    The wide windows of his office offered a view of the entire academy grounds, where he could observe his students ¡ª future heroes who would one day protect the peace of the citizens.


    Constantly busy with the academy''s affairs, he sought to create the perfect place for students to learn and grow, where everyone could unlock their potential and become a true hero.


    However, aside from the academy''s business, there was another matter that occupied his thoughts. It was for this reason that he had arranged this incredibly important meeting and was now eagerly awaiting the person with whom he would discuss several delicate issues.


    Seeing on the numerous monitors that this person had already entered the academy and was about to step into his office, Nezu quickly prepared another cup of tea and retrieved all the necessary documents from the drawer. As he spread them out on the desk, he ran his eyes over each sheet, carefully checking that everything was in order.


    At that moment, he heard a knock at the door. Without raising his gaze, still carefully reviewing the documents and taking a sip of tea, Nezu calmly said, "Come in."


    The door opened quietly, and detective Tsukauchi entered the office. He silently approached the desk and sat down. Only then did Nezu lift his eyes, meeting his gaze.


    "Well, you already understand why I arranged this meeting," Nezu said, taking another sip of tea with a calm smile on his face.


    "I think I do," Tsukauchi replied, tossing his jacket over the back of the chair and offering a slight smile. "Tsukima and Tokima."


    "I have some unfortunate news for you, take a look at this," Nezu said, handing Tsukauchi a tablet.


    Tsukauchi took the device and watched the video that began to play. His face immediately darkened as he saw what was happening on the screen. Tokima, whom he had still considered a newcomer, though rapidly developing, appeared much more experienced than the last time he saw her.


    He watched as she skillfully dodged attacks and counterattacked, delivering precise and graceful strikes. However, it seemed to him that each of her blows was too soft to cause serious harm, as if she stopped her fist just before striking the criminal''s body.


    Then, something happened on the video that made the detective''s fist clench even tighter. Tokima, smiling as if enjoying the fight ¡ª a scenario he feared the most, hoping it wouldn''t come to pass for a long time, or ever ¡ª snapped her fingers.


    In the next moment, the criminal, who had attacked like a wild beast, his strength as immense and unyielding as a rock, was sent flying backward by an unknown strike.


    His armor, made of various materials layered by his quirk, was easily pierced. And though he managed to rise and take a few steps, he suddenly collapsed to the ground, as if all his strength had left his body.


    "This... this..." Tsukauchi couldn''t utter more; his heart was racing from the shock.


    Nezu, seemingly expecting such a reaction, added with cold confidence:


    "And that''s not all," Nezu continued, his expression becoming even more serious. "The criminal she fought was under multiple doses of trigger, pure trigger. And despite all the advantages it gave him, she was able to defeat him, showing a new technique. A technique that can break through any armor. And the worst part is, our hopes that she wouldn''t cross the line and begin to enjoy this... have not come true. The influence of Tsukima and the environment on Tokima is growing stronger and stronger."


    Tsukauchi clenched his fist even tighter, realizing that this pair was becoming more and more dangerous. And even though they weren''t harming civilians, killing anyone, or causing serious injuries due to Tokima''s principles, it was only a matter of time. They had thought that this girl would remain a simple newcomer, staying in Tsukima''s shadow for a long time, but now she was fighting an opponent on her own, with her partner merely observing, enjoying the battle, leaving the criminal with near-fatal injuries.


    Tsukauchi suddenly turned to Nezu and, tightening his fist, asked, "Who filmed this video? And why didn''t this person call in the heroes?"


    Nezu took another sip of tea and shook his head slightly before responding:


    "Eraser Head," Nezu began, pausing briefly. "He planned to find a place where at least one of them lived, to capture her while she was alone. Then the other would come to save her. But they likely realized they were being watched and led him exactly where he wanted to be ¡ª the apartment where they lived. And after leaving only a mocking note, they quickly escaped."


    Tsukauchi sighed heavily, his mind racing as he tried to assess the situation. He couldn''t understand why Eraser Head hadn''t called in other heroes, as things could''ve ended quickly and this pair would already be in Tartarus, but he didn''t say anything, knowing that what had happened couldn''t be undone.


    "What about your plan with their broker?" Tsukauchi asked, changing the subject.


    "Most likely, he figured everything out," Nezu replied, setting aside his empty cup. "Although we threw in assignments as his clients, similar to those Tokima and Tsukima usually took, most of them were claimed by their fanatics. When the heroes caught the fanatics, Giran probably put everything together and started giving them tasks only through trusted individuals. Or they may have been very cautious from the start, only taking assignments from verified sources."


    "It''s a shame we can''t catch him and interrogate him," Tsukauchi said, once again clenching his fist. "Not just because he''s extremely careful, and we don''t even know his real name, but because of his reputation. This is a man who won''t reveal anything about his clients, even under torture. He knows how to keep his mouth shut, and that makes him even more dangerous."Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Nezu, pouring himself another cup of tea and taking a sip, smiled faintly, not lifting his gaze as he spoke:


    "Yes, the situation is indeed complicated, but we are moving in the right direction. And while Tokima is becoming more dangerous, with each passing day they are becoming bolder, which leads to small mistakes." Nezu paused, then grinned slyly before continuing", Giran won''t be able to resist what I have prepared for him. It''s just a matter of time before he falls for the bait."


    Nezu lifted his cup of tea and took another sip, his smile growing even more mischievous as he looked at Tsukauchi, who was listening attentively.


    "So, what about you, Tsukauchi?" Nezu asked, turning his gaze to the documents he was carefully reviewing, analyzing every detail. "What''s new with your investigation?"


    Tsukauchi, who had mostly been listening and commenting up until now, began to speak.


    "I''ve started studying a few individuals who became suspects due to their similarities, both in their quirks and appearance. My people have already started tailing them. In a few days, I think I''ll be able to determine if any of these suspects are among the targets we''re looking for."


    Tsukauchi continued, giving a slight smile, knowing full well that Tokima was on his list, with her unique appearance and quirk.


    "If none of these suspects turn out to be the ones we''re looking for, I''ve got another list of similar individuals. But I''ve put that aside for now¡ªthey have the least matching characteristics and no clear motives. Right now, I''m focusing on those who have more obvious connections or suspicious signs."


    Nezu, finishing the last sip of his tea and watching Tsukauchi closely as he shared such promising news, smiled slightly.


    "Excellent. If you can uncover their identities, they''ll be like mice in a trap they can''t escape from. Now, it''s just a matter of time before we make our final move and catch them."


    ~~~ Yukiko Tanaki ~~~


    Yukiko, returning from yet another exhausting workday, juggling multiple jobs at once, couldn''t believe what was happening.


    She collapsed on the couch, feeling utterly helpless, and once again, tears welled up in her eyes¡ªsomething that had become all too familiar in her life lately. Each day felt harder than the last, and she was running out of strength to fight against the hopelessness she felt.


    Her husband, the father of her daughter, lay in the hospital, and since the day he was admitted, he hadn''t regained consciousness. Every day, the doctors repeated that his condition was critical, and he needed expensive surgeries that they simply couldn''t afford.


    Yukiko was in despair, not knowing where to find the money to save his life. All her efforts to earn for his treatment seemed futile.


    She was willing to do anything to raise the money for her husband''s surgery. She even began crowdfunding online, posting appeals for donations, hoping for the support of kind-hearted strangers.


    However, even what once seemed so simple ¡ª asking for help ¡ª failed to yield the desired result. People who had once admired her husband, a well-known detective and a hero to many, now seemed like strangers.


    At first, people had helped, even circulating the appeal on the news, sharing his story, his condition, and the need for funds. In the end, however, all that effort led Yukiko to gather only a quarter of the amount she needed, for which she was incredibly grateful.


    But soon, the people who had once been inspired by his bravery and dedication forgot about him. Yesterday''s fans had become distant memories, and those who should have helped disappeared, leaving her to face her problems alone. Her husband, who had once been a role model to so many, now seemed like a void in their eyes.


    The only solution that came to her mind was to turn to her parents, who owned an incredibly influential company with a global reach. They were extraordinarily wealthy, and the amount she needed for the treatment would be nothing to them. If they wanted to, they could easily pay for hundreds of such surgeries without a second thought.


    She would have gone to them immediately if she was sure they would help, but the bitter reality made her doubt. She knew it was impossible ¡ª her parents hated her.


    Though she was their only child, and once had been the heir to their powerful company, things had changed. Back then, without a doubt, she had tried to live up to their expectations, dreamed of becoming the ideal they wanted her to be. She studied and prepared herself for the immense responsibility she would one day inherit.


    But then she met him¡­ The man who captured her heart, and she fell madly in love. Her parents, however, were against it. They believed her duty was to focus on the family business. They told her that now was not the time for personal matters and that her main goal should be to inherit and expand the company.


    They even promised that once she took control of the business and became its leader, she would be free to have everything ¡ª personal happiness and a family. But for now, she needed to focus solely on the company.


    However, pregnant with Kimika, she had no choice. She fled from home, leaving everything behind, giving up everything she could have had for the sake of true love. For this, her parents deeply despised her.


    Yet, despite their anger, they still made one last kind gesture, gifting her a house where their granddaughter could grow up. But it was not a house surrounded by the wealth and luxury she could have had if she had stayed with them and continued following their plans.


    Still, they were her parents and couldn''t leave their daughter and granddaughter with nothing, so they gave her the little house. And despite everything that had happened, they once again, for the last time, offered her to return to them. They even said that Kimika could become the heir to their business, just as she once had been.


    But Yukiko, still hurt by her parents'' control and their refusal to support her choice, impulsively turned down the offer, deciding to leave the past behind.


    At that moment, she was convinced that her parents only needed an heir because they were incredibly greedy and unwilling to give up the company to anyone outside of the family. She couldn''t come to terms with the idea that her daughter would have to, just like her, study every day without personal happiness and choice, even if surrounded by luxury and wealth.


    Entering her daughter''s room, Yukiko once again saw that she wasn''t there. Knowing that she was probably spending time with Toga, who had become like a sister or best friend to her, Yukiko felt an inexplicable sense of unease.


    And when she took off her rose-colored glasses, she realized that Kimika and Toga''s relationship had long ceased to be just a friendship ¡ª there was undoubtedly something more between them. Yukiko didn''t know how to react to this, and she was completely unsure of what to do in this situation.


    She didn''t want to act like her own parents, saying that now wasn''t the time for relationships, even though she knew this was a completely different situation. Yukiko didn''t want to separate her daughter from her happiness, especially when she was still struggling with the state of her father, who might die if she couldn''t find the money.


    Yukiko understood that Kimika was seeking comfort and solace by spending time with her friend, and that worried her too. It pained her to realize that she should have been the one by her daughter''s side, helping her through this difficult time, but she had spent so much time at work and couldn''t be the support that Kimika needed.


    In an attempt to escape those heavy thoughts, wanting to distract herself for at least a moment from the burden that had fallen on her shoulders, Yukiko grabbed a bottle of wine. Lying on her bed in her room, she held the wine in her hands and looked at the family photo where they were all together, laughing and happy.


    Nostalgia washed over her, and with a heavy heart, she began sipping the wine, imagining herself back in that carefree moment. She longed for the time when, after overcoming her fear and resentment towards her parents for the sake of her family, and accepting their terms, she could once again be close to those she loved, in happiness, as they once were.

 Cat and Mouse Game

    During their daily training, Kimika was completely exhausted after a series of intense strength exercises that became more difficult with each session. Her friend, always carefree and energetic, would turn into a ruthless and emotionless mentor during these moments, ready to nearly kill her in the pursuit of results.


    Although this approach helped, and Kimika could see her progress almost every day, she began to doubt the necessity of such a method. They were already winning consistently at their current level, so why not train a bit easier?


    However, she couldn''t bring herself to voice these thoughts, knowing that such words would only lead to an even harsher training session, accompanied by the words: "If you have the strength to think about it, then the training isn''t hard enough!"


    Barely standing on her feet, breathing heavily, she decided to take a break. Taking a bottle of water out of her backpack, she crouched down, hoping to rest a bit and regain some strength before the sparring sessions.


    Before she could even take her first sip of water, she saw Toga walking towards her, almost bouncing with excitement. And the scariest part was the playful smile on her face, which made Kimika feel shivers running down her spine. She had no doubt that Toga had come up with some idea.


    It could be a complication in the training or a suggestion to take on more challenging tasks. But judging by her appearance, this time it will be something different.


    Kimika reluctantly and with heaviness in her body placed the water bottle next to her and raised her gaze to Toga, who was already standing right in front of her. Feeling her heart begin to race faster and faster, she was completely unprepared for what she was about to hear.


    "Kimi, do you remember I promised that when the time comes, besides sparring, we''d also play my games? Well, that time has come!" Toga exclaimed with an incredibly energetic and cheerful attitude, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Even the fear she saw in her friend''s face couldn''t dampen her mood.


    Kimika flinched, her heart beating so fast it felt like it would leap out of her chest. Her brain immediately started processing all the information, trying to figure out what exactly Toga was talking about.


    "I... I don''t understand... what other games..." Her voice was quiet, almost hopeless, knowing that she didn''t even have a choice in the matter. She was simply told that they were going to play games.


    Toga smiled even wider, not giving her friend a moment to collect her thoughts. She sat next to her and grabbed her hands.


    "All these trainings, sparring ¡ª they''re only to help us become stronger. But the game I want to play will not only make us stronger, it''ll also bring us incredible enjoyment!"


    Kimika felt a cold sweat break out on her back. She silently stared at Toga, who was holding her tightly, trying to gather her thoughts, but her friend''s words, full of enthusiasm, only added to her anxiety.


    Toga always had this way ¡ª first speaking in riddles, making Kimika come up with the worst scenarios, and then throwing something completely unexpected.


    "Fun?" Kimika finally managed to say, her voice hoarse with a hint of fear. "Toga, what kind of fun? It feels like you''ve confused fun with torture..."


    Toga, ignoring her attempt to protest, simply laughed joyfully, as if Kimika''s words were a funny joke.


    "Oh, stop it! You know I wouldn''t suggest this if it wasn''t something special! But if you want... it''ll be just... mmm... a different kind of training! But with intrigue, excitement, and genuine emotions! Trust me, you''ll love it! You''ll thank me for it later!"


    "Alright," Kimika exhaled, feeling the heaviness in her body grow even more. "So... what''s this game? And how many times will I die during it while you still think it''s fun?" Her voice had a hint of irony, though deep down, she still felt anxious.


    Toga smiled widely ¡ª both from the anticipation of the fun ahead and from the funny joke about the number of deaths.


    A barely contained joy sparkled in her eyes. She leaned in closer, almost whispering as she replied:


    "The game will be simple! One weapon. One winner. Rules? Who even likes rules? Rules are for the weak! For our game, they''re not needed!" She laughed, but in her voice there was something more than just playfulness, something that always hid behind her carefree smile.


    Kimika remained silent, trying to figure out if it was worth attempting to escape, even knowing it would be in vain. But Toga continued with even more enthusiasm:


    "We''ll leave the knife on the ground, then both step back the same number of steps from it," Toga leaned in closer, her eyes burning with excitement, and her smile stretched wide, reminding Kimika of a child''s joy at a well-planned game.


    "And after that, it''s simple! Grab the knife and try to strike critical points on your opponent... let''s say, the heart or the neck. And the other points, you already know, I didn''t train you for nothing!" With these words, she laughed, and her eyes sparkled with exhilaration.


    "Although, you know, there will be one rule after all," Toga put a finger to her chin, pausing for a moment in thought, then, with a slight smile, she continued, "You''re a beginner, so at first, there will be some concessions, but someday... someday we''ll play with no rules! I can''t wait for that day! So... to win, you just need to aim the knife at the critical points, and then you win! Pretty easy, right?"


    She laughed again, but this time her laughter was almost innocent, as if it were just a simple joke or a trivial thing.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Seeing Kimika''s completely powerless appearance, Toga realized that with her current state, even reaching the knife would be difficult, and their game wouldn''t be as exciting. So, with a light smile, she said:


    "I''ll let you rest a bit so you''ll have the strength for our game. Oh, and don''t worry, there won''t be a sparring session afterward because this game itself is already a sparring match! It''s almost like a fight to the death between two best friends¡­ though with one rule..." ¡ª Toga smiled, but with the last words, her smile faded slightly, and for a moment, she sank into sadness, as if the game would be much more fun without that rule.


    Then, noticing that Kimika was starting to worry too much, Toga hugged her tightly, whispering in her ear: "Don''t worry, it''s still just a game. I don''t intend to hurt you, let alone kill you." There was a sincere tenderness in her voice, and the embrace seemed truly comforting, as if she wanted to calm her friend, reminding her that even though everything seemed serious, in the end, it was just a game.


    During the break, Toga never left Kimika''s side for a moment. She hugged her, gently stroking her hair, offering a sense of support and calm. She gave her water, not allowing Kimika to waste her precious strength on such small things. She gave a relaxing massage, her hands moving smoothly and confidently over Kimika''s back, neck, and shoulders, as if preparing her for the next part of the game.


    Every movement was filled with boundless attention, as though Toga had carefully prepared her not just physically, but mentally as well.


    In the end, no matter how much Kimika wanted, it was time for their game to begin. Toga, holding her hand, led her to a pre-cleared clearing, took out a knife, and with a swift motion, plunged it into the ground.


    "Well then, it''s time for the game!" Toga said, with a bright gleam in her eyes. Her smile was light, almost childlike. "And you know, I''ve been thinking ¡ª your quirk is way better suited for this fight than mine! So I won''t hold back!"


    She winked and, without giving Kimika time to respond, continued, "Oh, almost forgot! I''ve decided that the entire factory grounds are our arena during the game, not just this little clearing! So now everything is fair game! Go wherever you want ¡ª we have complete freedom of movement and tactics!"


    Despite all of Toga''s reassurances and attempts to calm her about the game, Kimika felt her heart racing faster and faster. A strange feeling overwhelmed her ¡ª a sense that something wasn''t quite right.


    Toga knew for sure that Kimika''s quirk would give her a significant advantage in this battle: it would allow her to reach the knife much faster, and the brief glimpses of the future would help her see attacks moments before they were executed.


    She understood that she could still put up a good fight, even if she ended up losing. But despite all that, Toga remained as carefree and nonchalant as ever, as if all of this were just trivial matters that wouldn''t give her anything.


    "Alright, now each of us, like in a duel, will turn around and take 20 steps forward," Toga said with a smile.


    "And on my command, we''ll begin the game! And remember, even though this is just a game, I''ll do everything I can to make sure you don''t win."


    Each of them began stepping backward. Kimika, nervous and excited, gathered every ounce of resolve within herself, hoping she could last as long as possible or even win.


    Each step felt heavy, but inside, she tensed every muscle, preparing herself for the fight.


    Toga, on the other hand, walked calmly, almost bouncing with ease. She had been ready for a long time and was only giving her friend the time she likely needed to think her quirk would give her a significant advantage.


    She wasn''t worried or doubtful. She already had a plan in mind to use the terrain to neutralize Kimika''s quirk advantages and win with ease.


    Once they took their positions, both were ready for the fight. Kimika tensed every muscle, feeling every cell in her body ready to give her maximum effort. She was on the edge, prepared to use her quirk to accelerate and rush toward the knife.


    The moment she heard Toga''s command to start, Kimika didn''t waste a second. She instantly applied her quirk to accelerate herself to the maximum, and a bright red glow illuminated her body. Every movement was ruthlessly fast, and in her eyes, only one goal reflected ¡ª to win.


    The first moment ¡ª four steps. Her feet barely touched the ground, tearing through the air at lightning speed. The second moment ¡ª another six steps, and she was already halfway, each step increasing her speed, not allowing herself even a moment to catch her breath.


    She felt every muscle, every cell in her body fill with the energy of acceleration, and this energy ruthlessly leaked from her right side.


    The third moment ¡ª ten steps. Kimika was almost touching the knife. Her body moved with incredible precision, and in an instant, without allowing herself time for any other thoughts, she reached down with her hand to grab the knife. All her muscles were at their limit. And then ¡ª the knife was in her hands.


    With the knife in her hands, Kimika took a defensive stance, trying not to show a single trace of nervousness. She held the knife at the ready, her eyes sharp, prepared to react instantly to any attack from any direction. However, Toga, who should have been making an attempt to snatch the knife from her hands, still hadn''t appeared.


    Nervously scanning her surroundings, Kimika closely examined every part of the field, every bush, every blade of grass, searching for any movement, any shadow where Toga could be hiding. Only now, when she couldn''t see her friend, did she allow herself to exhale, filling her lungs with air as she tried to calm her nerves.


    But even after a few seconds, Toga didn''t appear. And at that moment, Kimika had an epiphany: the words about the arena, about the factory grounds where they could do anything they wanted. It wasn''t a relief from her side, as she had thought earlier.


    It was Toga''s plan ¡ª to hide, thereby removing Kimika''s advantage in an open field where she could use her quirk without issue. This gave Toga a chance for a surprise attack, because Kimika, with a knife, would have to find her on the factory grounds.


    "It seems she wants to play cat and mouse," Kimika muttered softly to herself, her voice tinged with a faint sense of hopelessness. "And even if I''m the cat, I''m more like a tiny kitten, while Toga is a massive mouse, hiding and waiting for the kitten to come as close as possible."


    Understanding the entire situation, Kimika realized that Toga had planned everything from the very beginning. While Kimika had rushed toward the knife, trying to gain the upper hand, she hadn''t noticed what was happening around her. Focused entirely on her goal, she hadn''t seen Toga slip away, quickly disappearing to hide, leaving Kimika to search for her now.


    Now, knowing Toga''s plan, Kimika allowed herself a moment to relax, realizing that at least for now, she wasn''t at risk of a sudden attack. She was able to catch her breath. Slowly and cautiously, she began to move, carefully examining every corner around her, ready for an attack from any direction and fully aware that Toga might have prepared a trap for her.


    Little did she suspect that the one she was searching for, the smiling Toga, was quietly watching her from a window, observing how carefully Kimika inspected every pebble and every shadow on the ground.


    She enjoyed watching these adorable attempts to stay alert and prepared for an attack from any direction, as if Kimika truly believed it might give her a chance. Toga fully savored this game, knowing that her friend, despite all her efforts, wouldn''t be able to do anything against her.


    "A little kitten whose claws have only just grown thinks it can pounce on a mouse?" Toga murmured softly, watching as Kimika cautiously moved forward. "Well then, let''s play hide-and-seek, my little one. Just don''t forget, I''m not the prey here ¡ª you are."

 Victory Without Triumph

    Kimika moved slowly from one building to another on the factory grounds, carefully inspecting every corner but finding neither signs of traps nor traces of Toga. However, even in such a situation, she did not allow herself to relax for a moment; her vigilance was at its peak. She knew: any mistake, even the smallest one, could be fatal.


    "Where is she..." Kimika whispered as she exited the building she had just inspected.


    Kimika stepped over the threshold of the next building, and her steps on the broken glass and ceiling debris filled the silence of the space, which resembled a vast warehouse.


    The powerful walls, covered in peeling old paint, seemed almost impenetrable. The ceiling, high and marked by the passage of time, was damaged, and light poured through numerous holes ¡ª the only source of illumination in this place.


    She carefully inspected every corner, every shelf. And even though they were empty, for some reason, her heart began to beat even faster than in the previous buildings.


    "It seems she''s not here either..." she whispered quietly, holding back her disappointment. Kimika moved on, deeper into the warehouse, where a few more rooms remained.


    As she continued, inspecting each room one by one, Kimika found nothing and was already starting to head toward the exit, feeling slightly more relaxed.


    But at that very moment, she heard a sound ¡ª footsteps on the broken glass. At the edge of her vision, a moving shadow appeared. Kimika immediately stopped. Every muscle in her body tensed, and, holding her knife in a combat-ready stance, she was prepared for anything.


    "Toga, I saw you! Come out!" she shouted, her voice sharp and decisive, her body twitching with adrenaline, ready for a fight at any moment.


    The footsteps continued, not stopping even when the shadow vanished from her line of sight. Each subsequent sound grew closer, and her heart began to beat at an even faster pace.


    Frantically scanning the room, Kimika noticed the shadow at the opposite end of the space, near the rear exit of the factory.


    And though anxiety was steadily taking hold of her, she had no choice but to move toward the shadow, ready to finally begin the fight, even knowing she might lose. But in that moment, there was only one thing that mattered to her ¡ª to finish everything as quickly as possible.


    Each step felt heavy, but she couldn''t stop.


    When Kimika reached the door, her hands immediately gripped the handle, but the door turned out to be locked. Cold sweat covered her face, and her heart began to race even faster, every beat echoing her rising sense of dread.


    The only place Toga could have gone was the room next to the door. Taking a deep breath and gathering all her determination, Kimika approached the room''s door, standing in full combat readiness. With a sharp motion, she burst inside, attempting to block all possible avenues for attack, so that Toga couldn''t strike from the sides or above.


    But nothing happened. The room turned out to be completely empty, except for a few barrels standing on the floor, and on the largest one, a cat sat peacefully, calmly licking its fur. It looked at Kimika as if she were interrupting its grooming. Kimika felt the tension in her body gradually dissipate for a moment.


    "Is it just you?" Kimika muttered, trying to calm herself. She smiled, though cold sweat still dripped down her forehead. "I guess I''m just losing my mind..." she added, realizing that perhaps it was all just her paranoia, pushed to the limit. It was just a cat, not Toga.


    But suddenly, like a thunderclap, her thoughts were shattered by a sharp human scream from behind her.


    Before she could even turn around, Kimika felt someone leap at her, wrapping their legs around her waist and their arms tightly around her neck in a firm embrace.


    "Gotcha!" ¡ª a familiar voice rang out, filled with joyful, almost childlike excitement. It was so unexpected that Kimika''s heart nearly stopped, and her knife slipped from her hands.


    It was Toga. Her laughter echoed right beside Kimika''s ear, the girl having grabbed her with such skill and speed that Kimika had no chance to escape. Luring Kimika into a trap had been an incredibly easy task for Toga, only adding more delight and enthusiasm to her voice.


    Kimika tried to break free, pushing Toga''s hands off her neck, but she only tightened her grip, and with each passing second, it became harder to breathe. Sensing her inevitable victory, Toga pressed her even tighter, like a helpless prey that could no longer escape.


    "Nothing''s going to work, Kimi!" Toga whispered, tightening her grip around Kimika''s waist and neck even more. "Now you''re mine."


    Feeling the air slowly vanish and her strength fading, Kimika realized there was no time to hesitate. Gathering all the remaining energy she had, she bent her legs sharply, leaning slightly forward, and then, using every ounce of her strength, she jumped backward, directing her body to fall directly onto her back.


    The impact with the ground was hard, and Kimika felt Toga''s back slam sharply into the solid floor.


    The attacker let out a gasp, her grip loosening. This gave Kimika the chance to inhale and break free from her hold. And even though the fall was painful for her as well, it wasn''t as painful as it was for Toga.


    Without giving herself or Toga a chance to rest or catch her breath, Kimika grabbed the knife lying nearby and instantly raised it, aiming for Toga''s neck to end the game. Stolen novel; please report.


    But before she could fully bring the knife down, Toga, breathing heavily, kicked Kimika sharply in the stomach, knocking her back. The knife slipped from Kimika''s hands and slid toward Toga, while the pain from the blow forced Kimika to bend over, gasping for air.


    Still lying on her back, Toga smiled with a predatory grin, fully embracing her role.


    "Mmm... the little mouse didn''t expect... that the claws of a tiny... kitten... would be so... sharp," Toga said with difficulty, taking heavy breaths between words. Her gaze never left Kimika''s eyes, maintaining a playful expression.


    "This game is going too far!" Kimika screamed, trying to gather the last of her resolve, even though it seemed pointless.


    "But that only makes it... MORE INTERESTING!" Toga shouted, quickly getting up and lunging at Kimika.


    She began making quick, shallow cuts, even though she had every opportunity to end the game by aiming the knife at one of Kimika''s critical points. But Toga wanted to prolong the game, dragging it out as long as possible, savoring every moment.


    Each of Toga''s movements was deliberately slow and playful. She reveled in how Kimika struggled to resist but couldn''t stop her. Toga wasn''t in a rush; her smile grew wider with every cut she left on Kimika''s body. She could feel that this game could go on for a long time.


    Kimika slowly backed away, feeling her body fill with cuts. Every movement brought pain, but the worst part was that the wall behind her was getting closer and closer. Her heart raced faster, and her breathing became heavy and ragged.


    She was on the verge of tears, both from the pain and from seeing that Toga had no intention of ending the game. It forced Kimika to gather her last remaining strength, trying not to lose control entirely and become completely defenseless.


    Having applied acceleration with her quirk, Kimika made a sharp move forward, knowing that this was her only chance. Toga, completely unprepared for such a turn of events, diverted the knife to the side to avoid seriously injuring her friend, but it was precisely this moment that proved decisive for Kimika.


    Taking advantage of the moment, Kimika suddenly crouched and with a sharp movement knocked Toga to the ground. Gathering her last strength, she began delivering relentless strikes, trying to capitalize on the advantage. She alternated between punches, freezing them every other time to prevent Toga from easily throwing her off and building up strength for a decisive blow.


    "Echo Strikes? Did you really enjoy the game!" Toga exclaimed, blocking all of Kimika''s blows with her hands. Her words were filled with irony, as if everything Kimika was doing was futile, and in the end, she would still lose. But this only fueled Kimika''s strength ¡ª she was ready to keep going.


    Kimika didn''t respond and continued her assault, not giving Toga a single moment to rest. She could feel her strength fading, but she couldn''t afford to stop.


    Toga, gathering the last of her strength, suddenly pushed Kimika off her, throwing her to the ground, and, lifting the knife, delivered a sharp strike to her right leg.


    Kimika cried out in pain, feeling it spread through her body. Trying to rise, she collapsed again due to the unbearable agony.


    The tide of the battle had completely shifted, and now Toga was in control, having taken the lead from Kimika, who, gasping for air began to crawl, trying to escape from Toga.


    Toga slowly approached, giving Kimika the illusion that she might escape, as she enjoyed the scene ¡ª like a canvas where she could decide how to paint the next strokes.


    Suddenly, without warning, Toga quickly kicked Kimika in the side, flipping her onto her back. She placed her foot on top of her, pinning her down, and Kimika, writhing in pain, began to unsuccessfully try to push her foot off.


    Toga leaned slightly toward Kimika, watching her struggle. Her eyes softened when she saw her friend suffering from the pain, but Toga knew well that it was necessary.


    She had to show Kimika that there was still room for growth, and that such a situation could happen not only to her, but to anyone who wouldn''t yield and didn''t stop at what they''d already achieved.


    "Sorry for all this," she said, her voice becoming a bit softer, but still carrying a firmness that indicated she wasn''t doing this out of cruelty, but out of necessity.


    Kimika, gritting her teeth in pain, looked up at Toga. Her eyes were filled with despair, and tears streamed down her cheeks, but she still whispered through the agony, "Stop... Please..." She was pleading, but Toga simply shook her head slightly, her gaze remaining cold and calm.


    "The game will only end when either you or I aim the knife at a critical point, as we agreed," Toga said, her voice growing firmer, taking on a serious tone.


    With these words, Toga pressed Kimika down even harder with her foot, feeling her try to break free. Kimika let out a muffled groan of pain, her breathing growing heavier, and it seemed like each breath drained more of her strength.


    Toga watched as her friend fought for every breath, but she knew where the limit was and didn''t worry that she might accidentally crush her.


    "Now you understand that there''s still room for you to grow," Toga continued, her voice remaining calm and almost gentle, but with a barely noticeable hint of reproach. "All those training sessions... they weren''t in vain. You''re getting stronger, but you''re also becoming bolder and more confident. And yet... you lost, without a chance, Kimika."


    Toga paused, watching her, and then continued: "What''s worse is that you knew I was here, but what if some hero decides to hunt you down, and you''re not prepared? What then? You need to stay vigilant, even when there''s a little kitten in front of you, and you think it''s just paranoia..."


    She smiled, but the smile was no longer as cheerful as before. There was something more serious, even threatening, in her words.


    Toga had already started thinking about ending this game ¡ª well, it was no longer just a game, but a training session.


    Seeing the pitiful outcome, she decided to intensify their preparation, their sparring, and come up with special training to ensure that Kimika would always remain vigilant and ready for any danger.


    "You need to understand," Toga said, grabbing Kimika''s face and forcing her to look into her eyes despite the pain. "Everything we''re doing is preparing for the future. Our goal isn''t just to win, but to always be one step ahead. Because right now, we''re already in the crosshairs. And it''s not a question of how, but when they''ll find us. You can''t even imagine how close we are to that. Detectives already know almost everything about us: the goal of making money for your father, our appearance, our quirks... and it''s a real miracle that we haven''t been caught yet, that our identities haven''t been figured out."


    Toga slowly began to bring the knife to Kimika''s neck, wanting to end their game, but suddenly Kimika roared: "I haven''t lost yet!"


    She snapped her fingers, and Toga, who had forgotten about her "Echo of Strikes" technique, was instantly thrown back. All the frozen strikes, now thawed, pushed her away, causing her to crash into the wall.


    The knife fell from her hands, and Kimika, ignoring the pain in her right leg and throughout her body, immediately grabbed it, bringing it to Toga''s neck and shouting, "I won! I''m not weak!"


    Breathing heavily from the effort, but knowing she had won, Kimika collapsed to the ground, feeling her body relax, and began to breathe heavily, clutching her leg as if trying to numb the pain.


    After catching her breath from the unexpected blow, Toga looked at her and, with a smile, said, "You''re certainly impressive. But in a real fight, you''d already be dead."


    Her gaze softened, and she walked over to her fallen friend. Tearing a piece of Kimika''s shirt, she wrapped it around her bleeding leg and quietly said, "But you''re still impressive... for a start."

 The Price of Choice

    Yukiko Tanaki slowly approached the tall gates of her family estate, feeling waves of memories wash over her with every step. It seemed that the closer she got, the more memories surfaced from the past. She stopped, sighed nervously, and, unable to look away, glanced once more at the estate that had once been her home.


    The estate, vast and covered in ivy, seemed so unchanged, even though everything around it looked altered. The tall columns of the portico, the ancient windows with heavy curtains, and the old stone walls that had witnessed many years of her life here ¡ª all of it felt familiar, yet at the same time foreign.


    But there was no strength left to turn back. Gathering all her courage, she stood there, and there was no way back. With these thoughts, Yukiko slowly pressed the doorbell. Her hands clenched together, trying to hide the trembling that could not be stilled.


    She recognized the person immediately. It was Kazuko ¡ª the woman who had worked at their estate since the time when Yukiko hadn''t even existed in this world. She had been like a second mother to her, always by her side, ready to help at any moment.


    "Kazuko..." Yukiko said through her tears. "You''re still here..."


    "Yes, Lady Yukiko, I am still here," Kazuko replied with kindness in her voice and a warm smile, despite the formality and professional relationship between them. "Your parents, Mr. Tomohiro and Mrs. Yukako, are already waiting for you. Please, follow me."


    Yukiko simply nodded, silently following Kazuko. The path to the living room seemed endless, and the corridors felt foreign, even though she knew every corner of this house well.


    When they reached the door that led into the living room, Yukiko''s heart trembled and began to beat faster.


    Kazuko politely opened the door and gestured for her to enter. "Your daughter is here, Mr. Tomohiro, Mrs. Yukako," she said with respect.


    Yukiko took a few steps forward, seeing her parents sitting on the luxurious sofa in the spacious room. Their appearance was impeccable: her mother in a strict suit, and her father in an expensive jacket. They looked as authoritative as ever; their gazes were stern and piercing, with a cold undertone that seemed to hang in the air, driving out all warmth.


    "Mr. Tomohiro. Mrs. Yukako..." Yukiko said dryly, holding herself back from flinching under their stares. She bowed low, as etiquette demanded, and waited for her parents to react, feeling the chill of their gaze penetrate her very soul.


    "Mr. and Mrs.?" Her mother leaned forward, and her voice was so cold it pierced the soul. "Have we become strangers to you, Yukiko?"


    "Isn''t that so?" Yukiko responded slightly provocatively. "I came here because I have a request. And nothing more."


    "A request?" Her father interjected, his voice stern but controlled. "And you truly think you can just show up after all these years, call us strangers, and ask for a favor?"


    Yukiko clenched her teeth, trying to remain calm. "I''m not asking for help for myself," she replied, raising her head. "It''s for Takeshi. He''s... he''s in the hospital, and he needs surgeries... that I can''t afford..."


    A deep silence followed. Her mother and father exchanged glances, but their faces remained unreadable.


    "We''ve known about your husband''s condition for a long time. But, as you wanted, we haven''t interfered in your life and simply waited for you to come," her mother spoke, her voice tinged with harshness. "And we also know that you''re parading your life, trying to invoke pity."


    Yukiko clenched her hands into fists.


    "I''m doing everything I can to save him," she replied firmly. "And now I''m here because you have the means to help. I''m not asking for money. I''m asking to save a life."


    "So¡­ you waited all this time, hoping you could find the money on your own, ready to crush your pride, work around the clock. But you weren''t ready to come to us? And now, when you''ve given up... you''ve come to ask ¡ª no, demand ¡ª money and salvation for the person who stole our daughter?" her father said. His words struck like hammer blows, each one hitting her heart, shattering what little remained of her stubborn resolve.


    Yukiko stood before them, trying to hold back her tears, but she felt their coldness, indifference, and anger consume her completely, as if she were turning into a shadow. She knew they would be like this, but standing before them and begging for help was incredibly hard. She already felt that she had made a mistake coming here.


    "I... I didn''t want to..." she whispered weakly, feeling her voice grow quieter and quieter. And then, tears began to fall from her eyes.


    But her father was no longer listening. His eyes, cold and hard, were merciless.


    "You didn''t want to? Or simply couldn''t? Look at yourself, Yukiko. We always gave you everything ¡ª opportunities, a paved path. You could have had what everyone wants: our business, which could have made you one of the richest people in the world, you could have had everything you ever wanted. But... you chose to run away and stabbed the family in the back." He stopped, seeing how his daughter began to cry even harder, barely holding back the tears, but he had no intention of stopping.


    "Yes, we were cold, yes, we were strict, but we gave you everything, we never forbade you anything, and we supported you in everything. And only once, just once... we asked you to put aside your desires, your happy life for a while, to take on our business... And then you could have done whatever you wanted, even sold it that very day. But you chose him ¡ª the simple detective you loved with all your heart."


    Yukiko could not hold back her tears. Each word from her father struck her directly in the heart, like a knife, and each subsequent blow was stronger and more painful than the last.


    Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she couldn''t stop them. They were not just from the pain, but from how difficult it was to hear the truth from the mouths of the people she had loved so deeply and, at the same time, hated.


    Her father clenched his fist, his eyes remained cold and merciless, but seeing the tears on his daughter''s face, he knew he had gone too far. Yet, he also knew that he had to say it all, even though it didn''t mean it didn''t hurt him.


    They were human too, parents who had suffered pain when they lost their daughter. It was incredibly hard for them not to see her grow, to see how she changed, and to never once meet their granddaughter, whom they could only see in photographs.


    "We will help you, Yukiko," he said sternly. "But of course, not for nothing. You had everything, but by your choice... you lost it all. Now you must pay the price for our help. And while we decide what we want from you, go to your room. Look at what you''ve lost, and think about whether it was worth throwing all of it away."


    Kazuko silently took Yukiko''s hand with tenderness, still crying, and slowly led her out of the room. Her gaze was filled with compassion. She didn''t say a word, knowing that Yukiko needed time to think it all over.


    They walked down the corridor, and despite her calm demeanor, Kazuko felt a pang of sorrow in her heart for Yukiko. She was the one who had seen her when she was still a little girl, the one who had lived through all the moments of her life, and the one who had replaced her mother and father, who were always at work. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Step by step, they reached Yukiko''s room ¡ª the one she had once used. Here, among familiar things and old memories, Yukiko had the chance to look at what she had lost.


    Yukiko, feeling a little calmer, began to carefully examine the room. Her gaze lingered on the old family photographs, where she was still a little girl who loved her parents with all her heart. Many of these moments were filled with joy, when her mother and father were always by her side, supporting her on important days ¡ª at her school graduation, at the university ceremony. They couldn''t always be with her due to their busy schedules, but in those moments, they were there.


    The photographs reminded her of what her family had been like before everything changed. She carefully looked around the walls, where her childhood drawings once hung, and at the old laptop sitting in the same spot it had been when she left this house.


    Everything had been preserved ¡ª even the small things she had never paid attention to while living here. And although the room was tidy, she could tell it wasn''t just for the sake of cleanliness. She could feel how often her parents must have been here, as if trying to hold onto everything they had of her.


    Meanwhile, in the spacious living room, Tomohiro and Yukako sat facing each other, relentlessly discussing something. Both were agitated, but they tried to maintain calm and firmness in their demeanor.


    "We could ask her to come back and take over the business," Tomohiro said, flipping through the documents in front of him. "But so many years have passed. She''s forgotten everything we taught her, and I highly doubt she''ll be willing to learn it all again with the same persistence. Moreover, once she gets the money, I doubt she''ll want to continue running the business. She ran away from us once, and she''ll likely run away again once she gets what she wants."


    Yukako nodded silently in agreement. Both of them knew well that after her running away, this would be incredibly difficult. Another option that came to mind was immediately dismissed.


    "I also don''t think it would be a good idea to force her to move in with us, along with her husband and daughter," Yukako said, frowning. "After all, we are two different families now, and I doubt we could live together."


    Tomohiro silently agreed, but a shadow of displeasure crossed his eyes. Both of them could not come to terms with the fact that their daughter had so radically distanced herself from them.


    "I think we could ask her to allow us to see Kimika," Tomohiro spoke again after a pause. "Time is passing, she''s already 15, and we haven''t seen her, except for the photos she sends every few years. Kimika probably doesn''t even know we exist. And one day, when we''re gone, she''ll never even learn about us."


    Yukako paused, gently biting her lip. They both had not seen their granddaughter, and the pain from this was palpable.


    "Yes, that should be the first step. And we can also ask her to agree to work at our company. We can offer her a good position as a manager, with a decent salary," Yukako added, noticing that this proposal could be a real solution for Yukiko. "Of course, we''ll give her the money for those surgeries, but she''ll work as a manager and contribute part of her earnings to us for repaying the debt. Even with that, she''ll still earn more than she does now at her current jobs."


    Tomohiro paused for a moment, considering the suggestions. He could offer more, but it all had to be within reason.


    "It will be a fair compromise. She needs to understand that everything now depends on her choices," he said, standing up. "Let''s wait and see what she says."


    He turned to the servant who was standing nearby. "Bring her here," he ordered coldly, but with a certain resolve.


    A few minutes later, the living room doors opened, and Yukiko, having managed to calm herself and gather all her resolve, entered. Her gaze was filled with anxiety but also with hope, though she tried not to show it.


    Tomohiro and Yukako sat, looking at her without emotion, their faces as stone-like as before. Yukako spoke first.


    "Yukiko, we have considered your request. And, let''s be clear, we will offer you only one option ¡ª this is not a great favor from us, it''s simply a compromise we are willing to accept," she said, her voice remaining stern. "So, you will work at our company as a manager, with a good salary, and, of course, you will give part of your earnings to pay off the debt. And you will give us the right to see Kimi, our granddaughter, after all, or you can, of course, refuse. If you refuse... it''s your choice, but remember, we could have turned you down right away, but we gave you a chance."


    "This isn''t even the hardest thing we could ask. Of course, you can weigh whether you need this or not. We are not keeping you here, but you must understand ¡ª your choice will affect both your life and the life of your family," Tomohiro emphasized.


    Yukiko remained silent, her eyes wide open in surprise. She understood that the choice she was given wasn''t that difficult ¡ª the conditions were truly easy compared to what she had been through. Looking at her parents, she took a deep breath and, gathering the last of her strength, replied.


    "Alright... I agree. These are acceptable conditions," she said softly, but firmly.


    "Well then, if you want, you can stay and feel at home here," he said, his tone slightly softer than before. "Lunch with your favorite dishes from our chef will be ready soon. I think he will be happy to cook for you again."


    Yukako gave a slight smile: "Perhaps this will be a good opportunity to rest a little and remember how things were here before."


    Yukiko rose from her seat, maintaining politeness in her manner, though her heart tightened with mixed emotions. She gave a slight bow and calmly said: "Thank you for the invitation, but I must go. I still have many things to do."


    Her voice was even, though inside she felt a heaviness. Without saying another word, she turned and headed for the door, not looking back.


    As soon as the door closed behind her, Tomohiro and Yukako exchanged glances and quietly smiled at each other.


    "Where did she get that stubbornness from?" Tomohiro asked with an ironic smile, slightly tilting his head.


    "Of course, from both of us," Yukako replied, her gaze softening and warming, and a hint of the tenderness she usually hid shone in her eyes. "But it seems we''ll finally meet our granddaughter. I wonder what she''s like? She must be sweet and kind, judging by the photo. Maybe she even dreams of becoming a heroine, like all the other children. Perhaps she wants to join that academy; we could help her."


    "I''m familiar with Nezu, the director of the academy," Tomohiro said, nodding thoughtfully. "It will be quite easy to arrange if she wants to become a heroine, of course... Although at her age, my father threw me out on the street and made me earn my living and survive on my own."


    Yukako gave a barely noticeable smile, crossing her arms over her chest. "But that''s how we met. Aren''t you glad about that?" she asked, her voice soft, but with a subtle trace of irony.


    Tomohiro raised his eyebrows in surprise, then quickly waved his hands, as if trying to defend himself. "No, I... Of course, I''m glad! It''s just..." He coughed, trying to find the right words. "It just seemed cruel at the time. But the outcome, without a doubt, was the best possible," he added, avoiding a direct answer, but his voice still carried warmth.


    Yukako quietly laughed, her smile widening. "Well, you see. Sometimes, harshness has its rewards."


    "Yes, but it seems this only worked on me," Tomohiro added, sighing thoughtfully. "With Yukiko, even less harsh upbringing didn''t have any result ¡ª she ran away. Maybe we should change our approach and become good grandparents? Give Kimika everything she wants, spoil her, make her feel happy and loved? We have more than enough money, we can afford it."


    He shrugged slightly, his voice soft, but with a hint of regret. "Kimika is not to blame for anything. Just like Yukiko, really. But..."


    Yukako looked at her husband thoughtfully, tilting her head. "But you''re afraid we might make the same mistakes we made with Yukiko?"


    Tomohiro silently nodded, his expression growing more serious. "Yes. We thought that harshness and discipline were the best way. But now I realize we lost more than we gained. So maybe this time, we should try something different."


    Yukako gently touched his hand, her gaze warm. "We''ll manage. The most important thing is to see Kimika. After that, I''m sure we''ll find the right way."


    Tomohiro paused again for a moment, turning the conversation back to business.


    "What about the business?" he finally said. "How do we find a successor if neither Yukiko nor Kimika want it?" His voice sounded a bit lost, as the question remained unresolved.


    Yukako sighed deeply, lifting her gaze to him. "Oh, don''t start again with the business," she said, as though it was one of her greatest disappointments. "We lost our daughter because of it. We could hand over the business... I don''t know, maybe to Kazuko. She''s always been close to Yukiko, almost like a replacement for us."


    There was bitterness in her voice, but also a certain determination. "She really deserves it. And if there''s still a chance to preserve even part of what we''ve built, let it be for someone who truly appreciates it."


    Yukako continued, her voice softening further, but a subtle note of interest returned. "And you know, Kazuko even got herself a husband, or so I''ve heard. His name is Ren. And here''s the miracle ¡ª she keeps him under control. That Ren even quit drinking thanks to her." She smiled, though it was more a smile of contemplation than of joy.


    "She''s always been so sweet with our daughter, but with him ¡ª with Ren, she''s completely different. Like a strict mentor, as if she wants to turn him into a decent man. I never thought Kazuko could have such an impact on a man. She''s not at all what she seems at first glance. She knows what she wants and how to achieve it."


    Yukako sighed again, remembering how Kazuko had always been there, and how, despite her gentleness with Yukiko, she could be tough with others when the situation demanded it.

 Gift from the heart

    Kimika walked slowly and silently to the place where Toga was waiting for her. She didn''t know why, but when Toga sent her the message, she emphasized that it was very important.


    As she continued walking, she constantly passed people hurrying about their business. She barely paid attention to them, although she saw some joyfully hugging their loved ones, while others rushed on their errands.


    She walked past two elderly women who were laughing, sitting on a bench and having a pleasant conversation. Then her gaze stopped on a group of her peers, who were discussing the entrance to the hero academy, which would soon open its doors to new students. Everything seemed so simple and carefree that Kimika couldn''t hold back a bitter smile.


    She became curious about how things were going with Izuku ¡ª whether he would be able to get into the academy or not, and what she would have to do to support him if he failed. Although they saw each other very rarely, they still remained friends, and despite the fact that he was quirkless and his personality didn''t suit heroism at all.


    Stopping by the playground, she watched as the children happily ran around, laughed, and played heroes, while their parents talked to each other.


    Her heart tightened with pain because it reminded her of the times when she was a child and spent time on similar playgrounds with her parents. Back then, everything seemed so carefree, and now her life had become completely different.


    Kimika took a deep breath, remembering how much fun they had when they were all together. How her father would toss her into the air, how she laughed, how they played hide-and-seek, how they had picnics with the dishes her mother made.


    But those happy moments now remained only as memories, cut short and filled with the pain of knowing that such times would never come again. Her father, after the attack by the criminal, was now in a coma at the hospital and required expensive surgeries. Her mother, who worked around the clock to pay for those surgeries, only came home at night, completely exhausted.


    And Kimika would give anything to spend another day together, all three of them, as a family, without worries or troubles.


    As she continued walking, not wanting to look at or envy those happy families anymore, she couldn''t help but clench her fist and exhale deeply as she remembered her childhood dream ¡ª to become a heroine, the number one heroine, who brings smiles and justice.


    But now¡­ now she was a criminal. To go against her dream for the sake of a loved one¡­ A criminal, who, instead of bringing smiles, justice, or protecting people, did the complete opposite. And because of this, she couldn''t help but smile bitterly, the realization of what she had become killing any attempts to find joy within herself.


    Recalling those childhood wishes, she even stopped for a moment, clenching her fists. Now this dream, which once was supposed to be her life''s path, would remain nothing more than a dream ¡ª a dream that would never become a reality. Even though inside her, the little girl who dreamed of becoming a hero and believed that it was still possible was still alive.


    And despite all of this, she forced herself to keep walking. Her childhood dream remained, like a quiet voice deep within her soul, but she couldn''t go back, even if her quirk was time manipulation. Going back to the past? It sounded impossible, even in this strange world of quirks.


    She walked, lost in her thoughts, and didn''t even notice when she reached the old house on the outskirts of the city. It seemed long abandoned and slightly ruined. It was strange ¡ª why would Toga want her to come here? This definitely wasn''t her new temporary home: it was too far and didn''t look like a place where one could live.


    Even if Toga lived on the streets and constantly moved around, she still wanted at least a minimum of comfort, and this house clearly didn''t meet those standards.


    She paused for a few seconds, surveying the house. Deep down, something whispered to her that something was wrong, and that it would be better to leave, because whatever was about to happen would be inevitable.


    But in the end, not giving herself room for doubt, she decided: this was Toga ¡ª the person who was always there. Even if she seemed a little "peculiar," or rather, unique, she certainly wouldn''t have brought her here without a good reason.


    Approaching the door and opening the old, creaky door, she stepped inside. The air was heavy, filled with the scent of dust and old wood, and the light that filtered through the cracks in the walls cast strange shadows.


    "Toga?" Kimika called softly, feeling the unpleasant atmosphere of the house, especially due to the oppressive silence, broken only by the creaking of the floorboards beneath her feet. She listened, but heard no sounds, no reply.


    She took a few steps deeper into the house, involuntarily glancing around, as if she were expecting someone or something to emerge from the darkness. The only sound was her own footsteps, creaking on the old floorboards, reminding her of the abandonment and emptiness of this place. Kimika called out to Toga again, this time louder.


    "Toga, where are you? Toga, you''re not joking, right? This isn''t funny!"


    She listened, and for a few seconds heard no sound, but suddenly the door creaked open, and clouds of dust were thrown out. Kimika saw Toga, completely covered in dust and dirt.


    "We should have picked a different place... If only I knew it was this bad here..." Toga muttered to herself, immediately walking up to Kimika and looking at her with relief. "I''m so glad you finally came, Kimi! If I''d been here alone for a few more minutes... Ugh... Well, come on, follow me. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can get out of here!"


    Kimika nodded silently, watching closely as Toga turned and motioned for her to follow. Toga looked completely covered in grime and dust, slightly exhausted, as if she hadn''t slept at all.


    She followed behind Toga, who turned back toward the door she had just come through and opened it wider. Again, a cloud of dust rose, causing both of them to shield their faces with their hands, trying to protect themselves from the dust storm.


    "Be careful, Kimi, the floor is old here. It''ll be bad if you fall through anywhere,"


    They descended the narrow, creaky stairs into the basement. There, amidst the darkness and the heavy smell of old wood and dust, there was very little space. Only a dim lamp hung from the ceiling, casting a yellowish light on the shabby walls. In the very center of the basement stood two chairs, their backs turned toward them, covered with old fabric.


    Toga, having lit several candles she brought with her, placed them around the room, as if trying to illuminate every corner of it.


    Kimika still couldn''t understand why Toga had brought her here, to this dark room, surrounded by dust and the uncertain light of the candles. She could feel her anxiety growing, so she couldn''t hold back from asking: "Why are we here? And what are these chairs covered with fabric in the middle of the room?" Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Toga turned to her with a sly smile, one that was both friendly and slightly ominous. She waved her hand as if these questions were completely unnecessary.


    "Kimi, Kimi, I knew you''d ask that! But don''t worry, we''ll get to those ''chairs'' soon enough," she replied, adding a half-joking tone to her voice.


    Toga stepped aside, sitting on the edge of a wooden crate that stood nearby, close to the wall. Her eyes carefully watched Kimika.


    "Let''s talk a little. How do you feel about... well, the situation in your family?"


    Kimika wasn''t ready for this question. Her gaze dropped darkly, and her fists clenched unconsciously, as if she were trying to hold back all the emotions that had built up over time.


    "Everything is hard..." she finally whispered, trying to find the right words. Her voice sounded muffled, as if she were weighing each letter. "I feel like I can''t handle all of this¡­ it''s hard for me, Toga..."


    She paused, beginning to doubt her actions, and her gaze became more uncertain. "I even started to doubt whether I''m doing the right thing. Maybe I shouldn''t have become a criminal¡­ maybe mom can somehow gather the money for the surgery without this... somehow... I don''t know¡­ but... but what''s the point of this question?" She fell silent, unsure whether she should have voiced her doubts, but they tormented her more and more with each passing day.


    Toga leaned back, resting against the wall, and looked at Kimika with a curiosity that bordered on some strange satisfaction.


    "I just decided to ask, but there''s me, always ready to help! And you know, I want to cheer you up! We''re almost at the end of this criminal path! Only two things left: this one and another, where we''ll get so much money that you''ll not only be able to pay for all the surgeries for your father, but even a few more! And that task is really easy, no killings or anything like that! Cool, right?"


    Kimika froze in place, stunned by Toga''s words. The end of the criminal path? A lot of money? And just one easy task, without murders? Her thoughts swirled in a whirlwind of doubt, and she could barely believe what she was hearing.


    Her heart raced faster, but somewhere deep within, a small, almost forgotten hope began to resurface. If this was true, if they could really finish everything, then perhaps she could live peacefully again... Without guilt, without constant paranoia, without the terrible dreams where her mother finds out about it all, or where she dreams that all of it was in vain.


    And maybe even more ¡ª perhaps she could still become a hero, bring goodness to this world, and atone for all her dark sins.


    Kimika took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and looked at Toga, who simply waited for her to process everything, her face wearing the same unchanging smile. There was not a trace of deceit in her eyes ¡ª only confidence and calm.


    "It''s true, Kimi," Toga leaned forward slightly, catching her gaze. "You want to go back to a normal life, right? I know you do... And you''re almost there... No! We''re in this together..." Toga didn''t manage to finish her sentence when suddenly one of the covered chairs in the center of the room began to move, as if someone sitting there was trying to break free.


    Reacting instantly, Toga jumped off the crate and rushed to the chair. She immediately struck something or someone sitting there, causing all movement to stop.


    Kimika opened her mouth to say something, but Toga quickly interrupted her, raising her hand.


    "Don''t even think about it," she said, her voice calm and confident, yet with a slight hint of dangerous playfulness. "So, there''s a catch. Only the second task, the easy one. But the first... no. The first task is a different story."


    She paused for a moment, as if savoring the tension she''d created with her words. But suddenly, her mood shifted sharply. Toga bounced closer to Kimika, grabbed her by the hands, and, bouncing up and down, exclaimed joyfully, "Because it''s my task!"


    Her eyes sparkled, and her smile became so genuine and wide that for a moment, she seemed like a child who had just received their favorite gift.


    "Your... task?" Kimika repeated uncertainly, trying to make sense of what was happening. She was still confused and couldn''t understand who was sitting in that chair, why Toga had struck it, and what had even happened.


    Toga abruptly turned around and glanced at the chair, then looked back at Kimika. Her voice became a bit more serious, though the smile on her lips never faded.


    "So, back to our previous topic... How would you feel if you saw those two? The ones who started all of this. The ones who made you give up your dream. Made you go against yourself. Lie to your mother. See your father in a coma? And ultimately become a criminal?"


    Kimika flinched upon hearing those words. Her heart tightened, as though her wounds had been reopened. She didn''t know how to respond. Her thoughts were too tangled, and the situation around her was too tense.


    She involuntarily glanced at the chair, beginning to understand what was happening, but still hoping that things weren''t as she thought. Her hands clenched into fists, and all she could do was whisper, "I don''t know..."


    Her voice trailed off as she looked away.


    Toga leaned in a little closer, as if trying to catch her reaction. "Don''t know?" she extended, her voice laced with a hint of irony. "Really?"


    Kimika sharply inhaled, trying to find the words, but Toga had already taken a step back, watching her with eager fascination. Laughing, her voice became light and playful, and her eyes sparkled with bold excitement.


    "Well then, let me say it! As your best and only friend, the one who knows you like the back of my hand! I''ll take on the role of the detective!" She took several dramatic steps, as though beginning her ''investigative game''.


    "First, you felt fear for your father when you found out what happened to him... Then you felt pain, and tears started to fall down your face..." Toga paused, as if waiting for a reaction. "Then you felt relief that he was alive, but also a hint of anger towards your idol, the All Might, the one who didn''t save him faster. But you quickly pushed that anger aside, because, after all, he did save him. And no one else could have done it."


    Turning around, Toga began to slowly walk toward Kimika, speaking something new with each step she took.


    "Then you felt hopelessness... *step*... Then you felt anger... *step*... Then hopelessness again... *step*... And then you felt a chance¡ªsupport from me... *step*... And your emotions kept changing... *step*... And now, right before you, here I am." She stopped, standing directly in front of Kimika. Gently placing her hand on her cheek, Toga slowly lifted her face to meet hers, their eyes locking. Kimika stood frozen, listening to every word, and Toga felt there was no resistance, not even the slightest.


    "But... all of that was just secondary emotions. At the forefront, there was rage, anger, and a sense of injustice over the pain you suffered because of them, those two who did this, wasn''t it? And don''t say it''s not true. Deep down in your soul, you blamed them, because if it weren''t for them, none of this would have happened. You would have definitely become the hero you wanted to be, spent happy days with your family. Maybe you''d have joined the hero academy, found new friends, and built a completely different life for yourself. But... because of them, all of that became out of reach."


    With these words, she released Kimika''s face, and Kimika unconsciously reached for her hand. Toga slowly turned and took a step toward the chairs.


    "But you still remain so sweet and innocent, even after we''ve spent all this time together," she said, her voice softer now, tinged with a hint of sorrow. "I... I''ll say it as it is... I tried to take away your moral principles so we could have fun to the fullest, but... I didn''t succeed in the end... Because... I realized I didn''t need to do that..." Toga sighed, taking another step forward, pulling away from Kimika. Then she stopped, turned around, and took a step back toward her. There was genuine remorse in her eyes ¡ª the guilt of realizing her mistakes.


    "I acted like a very bad friend. I didn''t understand my own feelings, and most importantly ¡ª yours. I wanted you to always be by my side. I wanted you not to run away... I wanted you to be like me... But... the understanding of my mistake came to me too late."


    She approached Kimika again, gently taking her face in her hands, and after softly stroking her cheek, left her fingers resting on her skin, as if trying to convey an apology without words.


    "And that''s why I decided to end this. We won''t be criminals anymore. We''ll complete these two tasks, and that''s it. We''ll leave together. The money they''ll give us will be enough for a lifetime, even after you pay for your father''s surgeries."


    Toga let go of her friend''s face once again, her hands slowly lowering, and she began to step back, not taking her eyes off Kimika''s face.


    "And as your best friend, the best and closest, though guilty, I''ve decided to accept the punishment and present it as a reward... under the envelope of the task."


    Reaching the chairs and standing between them, she turned the two chairs to face Kimika and removed the cloth.


    "This is my sincere gift to you, Kimi, although I regret that it had to be me to unpack it. But that doesn''t make it any worse," Toga said.


    As the cloth disappeared, Kimika saw the tied-up director of the first school she attended and an unknown person. Both appeared untouched, but they were unconscious.


    Toga turned back to Kimika, meeting her frightened gaze, and with a smile and a bright flush on her cheeks, added, "I haven''t touched them, not a finger... well, except for one time with a light punch..."

 Crossing the Line

    Kimika froze, her mind desperately trying to piece together all the fragments of this unexpected situation. In front of her stood two people who, through their actions, had destroyed her life. And now, as they were tied up, their figures seemed so small, so powerless, as if all their influence and strength had evaporated along with the ropes that held them in place.


    Toga stepped closer, her voice soft, almost tender, but there was a hint of something anxious in it:


    "Kimi, so... how do you like my little gift from the bottom of my heart?" ¡ª her smile was wide, but there was unrest in her eyes. "You know, when I was catching them¡­ I could barely hold myself back from killing them on the spot."


    She took another step toward her scared and trembling friend, not holding back her smile. For a moment, it seemed to her that she had rushed into the decision, especially by unloading so much information, but there was no turning back now.


    "Maybe you think I''m crazy. Or that this is some kind of joke. But no, Kimi. This is reality."


    Kimika stood as if rooted to the spot, her legs seemingly glued to the floor, and her heart desperately fought against the wave of shock that had engulfed her. Her breathing was uneven, thoughts tangled. Toga slowly moved closer, her steps barely audible, and, carefully wrapping her arm around her friend''s shoulders, leaned toward her ear and whispered in a soft and gentle voice:


    "Kimi? Are you still afraid? Not sure? You still think this is just a joke, right?"


    At these words, Kimika involuntarily flinched, as if touched by a cold wind. Her hands trembled slightly, and she tried to gather all her strength to respond. Her voice sounded shaky, barely audible, almost a whisper: "No¡­ no¡­ I¡­ I won''t do this..."


    To this, Toga simply chuckled quietly, her laughter carefree and playful, as if telling a joke.


    "Oh, Kimi¡­ how naive and kind you are. How sweet. But¡­ but you need to hear everything." Her smile widened, and the look that flickered seemed too intense, as if she were studying Kimika''s reaction down to the smallest detail.


    "The principal. After your father started the investigation into the school, he killed everyone who knew about his dark deeds ¡ª the teachers, the staff, even innocent witnesses, and just ran away. But do you know where he was? Do you think he was hiding somewhere, paranoid that he''d be caught at any moment?" ¡ª Toga smiled ominously, savoring the pause. "No. He was relaxing. Swimming at the beach, living in luxury. He didn''t deny himself anything. The best girls, expensive alcohol, drugs, beaches, fancy hotels, parties... and not a drop of conscience."


    Kimika remained silent, swallowing words that felt bitter. But Toga didn''t stop.


    "Do you remember how awful it was at your school? How everyone ignored the bullying? How everyone turned a blind eye when they tormented your first friend, Izuku? Do you remember?" ¡ª Toga paused, her confident gaze sliding across her friend''s face. "And did you know that he knew all of it? That it was happening to you, and to dozens of other kids? He was the one who ordered it to continue, even though with just one word from him, it all would have stopped."


    Kimika felt everything inside her tighten, her heart raced faster, and her fingers began to tremble with anger.


    "That''s not all," ¡ª Toga continued, her voice sounding merciless and increasingly mocking. "He was the one who ordered that criminal who nearly killed your father. But even that''s not the worst part. He was selling information about the students. Their addresses, quirks, families... And then ¡ª bam! Someone disappears, and the next day, it''s like that child was never even there... not a trace. Some were luckier ¡ª they just got robbed. Some were killed. And that''s just a small part of all his dealings."


    Kimika looked back at the tied-up people. The principal, whom they were talking about, tried to say something, but the gag in his mouth muffled his words, and his eyes were filled with fear and tears. This made her heart pound faster and faster.


    Toga watched carefully as each of her words weighed heavily on Kimika''s heart, as her friend couldn''t escape this burdensome load. Each merciless fact that she unloaded onto her grew heavier, and this caused Toga a strange sense of euphoria, making it impossible for her to stop.


    She felt a thrill as everything began to fall into place just the way she wanted. So, with relentless cruelty, she continued to pile more information onto her friend.


    "Next... The criminal who attempted to kill your father, that''s him," ¡ª Toga said, pointing a finger at the criminal. "Detective Tsukauchi, who''s been actively trying to catch us, caught him and threw him in Tartarus. But do you know what happened? He just escaped the very same day. And after that, do you think he reflected on his life? Began to feel remorse? No... He killed two more people. And he would have killed many more if I hadn''t caught him."


    Toga hugged Kimika tighter, and her words grew colder and harsher.


    "One of them was a good father of small children who loved them with all his heart, just like your parents love you, and now... they''re left without a father, alone... on the shoulders of a mother who works from morning to night, unable to be with her children, unable to give them her love and spend time with them, but still loving them deeply. Just like your mother, Kimi... The second person ¡ª a little girl, who didn''t even have the chance to do anything wrong or even just live¡­ and... she dreamed of becoming a hero. Just like you... once. And he killed them both without a shred of remorse."


    Kimika felt her body begin to tremble. Something unknown grew inside her, a mixture of pain, anger, and despair. She saw that these murders were almost identical to her own life. Every word Toga spoke, every fact she revealed, resonated in her heart. But even before she could dive deeper into these thoughts, Toga, who had been watching all of this, continued:


    "And this isn''t the end. He has dozens, if not hundreds, of murders on his hands. And you say you can''t? That you won''t do this? Look at him, Kimi. Look him in the eyes and say it."


    Kimika did as she was told. She looked into the cold, merciless eyes of the criminal, who even now remained calm, without a trace of worry. He was no longer a man, but a monster, and it was clear even in the way he sat.


    Hearing that the words were about him, that his fate was being decided right now, he didn''t react at all. His expression remained unchanged ¡ª still cold and self-assured, as if everything happening now was just a game, and he was certain he would walk out of here. He calmly watched as Kimika struggled, unable to act.


    And yet, despite all the words, all the facts, the expression on his face, and her rage, she couldn''t move or do what she knew she had to. Her inner conscience continued to battle with her desire to act. Her body trembled, and her voice, when she tried to speak, was barely audible.


    "We... we''re not judges... We... Toga... we... can''t decide..." ¡ª her voice trembled, the words not sounding as firm as she had hoped. Even she could feel that these words sounded weak, almost unconvincing. In her eyes, there was an undefined wavering, as she continued to fight against the doubts that consumed her, that part of herself that still couldn''t accept the harsh decision. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Seeing these doubts, Toga smiled, showing no signs of anger or frustration. She was as calm and smiling as ever, and even in this crucial moment, she felt that everything was going just as she had wanted.


    Stepping away from Kimika, and without changing her mood, she began to approach the tied-up principal and the criminal. Her voice became even calmer, almost ironic.


    "So... you''re saying you''ll just walk away? Let them go? Even knowing that these two will escape? That they''ll go back to their business, become those monsters again, the ones no one will stop?" ¡ª her voice was calm, but each word cut sharply and coldly, like the blade of a knife.


    "I won''t do anything to them, Kimi¡­ I''ll just follow you. But what will happen to them? One will kill innocent people again... children, parents, destroying happy families. And the other? He''ll keep enjoying his life without a shred of conscience. Or maybe... maybe he''ll get bored of all this, and he''ll become the principal again? Although... I think he''s already tired of being the principal, and he''ll find a new job to continue his dark deeds... But before all that happens, they''ll tell everything about us. They''ll expose us. And we''ll end up in Tartarus, while they won''t. We have no connections, we have nothing! And we''ll be there for the rest of our lives... without even being able to see each other..." ¡ª she paused briefly, clapping her hands to grab the attention of her terrified friend.


    "And your mother will be left alone¡­ And you said you doubted whether it was right to become a criminal, just believing she would find a way to earn money, right? But why... why does she keep working from morning to night? Why does she keep drinking wine to calm herself? Why... doesn''t she spend time with you, her daughter? Why does she spend it on work? Do you know why? Because she has no way to make the money for those surgeries! Kimi! She''s just like you, she''s afraid! She, just like you, wants to save him!"


    Suddenly, she fell silent, stopping in front of the prisoners and turned to Kimika. She saw the anger, despair, fear in her eyes, and a small, very small drop of doubt that still remained, holding her back like a chain.


    Raising her hand and pointing at herself, Toga addressed the tied-up individuals, ensuring they could clearly hear her words.


    "I, Himiko Toga, or Tsukima," she said, her voice clear and carefree. Then, pointing at Kimika, she continued: "And she, Kimika Tanaki, carries the criminal name Tokima."


    Without turning to look at Kimika, Toga quietly added, "Now they know everything about us. And from this basement, only two can leave: either them, or us... And... certainly not all four of us, Kimi."


    Toga glanced at her friend and noticed how the anger in Kimika''s eyes was growing, like clouds that were covering the sun of doubt. There was almost no room left for uncertainty on Kimika''s face.


    But suddenly, Toga realized how many times she had crossed the line, not just once, but several times. A sense of unease stirred in her heart: maybe this had gone too far. Because of what she had said, Kimika would likely hate her, and even she herself started to hate herself for everything that had happened in this basement.


    But... even understanding all of this, she couldn''t just walk up and apologize. To admit she was wrong would mean destroying everything she had worked so hard for. All the boundaries she had crossed, all her words ¡ª they had an irreversible impact on Kimika''s heart, and Toga couldn''t turn back. She promised herself: ''This was the last time, and it won''t happen again. I promise, Kimi.''


    Kimika''s emotions, which had once been hidden behind a mask of uncertainty and doubt, now poured out. The desperate battle with her moral principles, with herself, with who she had been and who she had become.


    In her heart, anger melted ¡ª not just at those two, not just at Toga, but at herself. She hated herself for ending up here, for her helplessness, for coming here at all, and for what she was about to do.


    Toga smiled weakly at everything that was unfolding because of her. Step by step, as she approached Kimika, her smile grew more bitter. And doubts about whether she should have continued all of this began to fill her heart. She knew she could just take her friend and run, not allowing her to do what she had been leading her toward all this time. But in the end, she decided to finish what she had started.


    "You have no choice, Kimi," her voice was soft, tinged with sadness and bitterness. "Either them... or us... This is my gift to you."


    Toga silently extended the knife towards Kimika''s hands, her gaze warm, but with a barely noticeable sadness in her eyes. She did not avert her eyes from her friend, and her words felt as though this was the final decision.


    "You''ll do it," she said quietly but firmly. "You''ll kill them. However you want: slow, fast, painfully, or not... You can use your imagination to release all your anger."


    "And after that..." ¡ª Toga continued, her voice softer, almost a whisper. "After that, everything will be okay, Kimi. Let your inner beast out. Let all your rage out... You''ll feel better... and then you won''t have to hurt anyone anymore. You won''t have to think about it, you won''t worry. You won''t use your quirk for crime anymore. After this, it will just be the two of us, without crime and suffering. You''ll be able to return to those happy moments, with your family, those carefree and good times, laughter, delicious food, peace. You won''t have to fear or live in paranoia every moment, suffering from guilt. We''ll forget everything that was. Heroes, detectives ¡ª they''ll all forget us quickly. And we''ll live like we never have before."


    With these words, Toga turned around, without looking back, and began to walk toward the exit of the basement. Each of her steps echoed in the darkness, but she did not stop and did not hesitate for a moment. As she climbed the stairs, her voice sounded once again, quietly but clearly: "I will always be there, always, Kimi... always."


    And with these words, the basement door closed, leaving two bound criminals, and one, ready for the final choice, Kimika, who already knew what she had to do.


    Toga stood at the top of the stairs, distancing herself from the events that had taken place in the basement. She was intently scrolling through their shared photos on her phone, waiting for Kimika''s choice. Her face was calm, emotionless, but there was curiosity and impatience in her eyes.


    She was ready to wait an eternity, knowing that in that basement, Kimika was now going through a difficult and important moment.


    When about an hour had passed, Kimika finally emerged from the basement. She walked slowly, her gaze empty and tear-streaked, and a nervous smile was on her face, from which occasionally came a laugh ¡ª a disturbing, nervous laugh.


    Her hands were trembling and clenched: one was gripping so tightly that blood dripped from her palm, as her nails had pierced the skin, while in the other she was clutching a knife with all her strength. She was covered in blood, but in this state, she paid no attention to it.


    Toga, without asking unnecessary questions, understood which choice Kimika had made, even if it wasn''t fully conscious. She quickly approached Kimika and carefully took the knife from her hands.


    As Toga did this, she had to shift Kimika''s gaze onto herself. She saw her tear-streaked, empty face, with eyes that sometimes aimlessly wandered around, stopping on her blood-covered hands as if she still didn''t realize what had happened. Only after their eyes met did she silently release the knife.


    Toga gently took the tissues and began wiping the blood and tears from her friend''s face. Kimika offered no resistance, as if she didn''t even notice what was happening.


    "Kimi... everything will be fine, in time, everything will pass..." Toga quietly said as she finished wiping away the tears and blood. There was no response, but Toga didn''t insist. She only carefully took Kimika''s hand and, silently, led her home, seeing that her friend, like a lifeless doll, unquestioningly followed her.


    Walking beside her, Toga understood that Kimika wouldn''t hear her ¡ª at least not now. And although she remained silent, her heart tightened from what she had done. She knew that her desire to lighten her friend''s burden, to release the anger, rage, and pain that had built up inside her, had only led to an unimaginable worsening of the situation.


    Now, with her friend so exhausted and empty, Toga felt that she had no right to do it. She realized that her attempt to help had ended in disaster, and now nothing could be fixed.


    After bringing Kimika home, Toga wanted to go inside with her to offer support during this difficult time. She knew that now, more than ever, Kimika needed someone close by. Toga wanted to be there, to help her through this horrible period, and to give her what she lacked the most ¡ª love and support.


    But when Kimika quietly, barely audibly, said, "I want to be alone..." Toga understood that these words were not just a request. She didn''t need an explanation because she saw something in her friend''s eyes, something more than just a desire to be alone. It was like an order, an inner conviction that in this state, Kimika sought distance to figure herself out.


    Toga silently nodded, and despite her heart breaking with the desire to stay and be helpful, she couldn''t ignore her friend''s wish.


    At the same time, inside, she hoped that Kimika''s mother would be at work as usual, so her friend could be alone, without any outside eyes, and nothing would interfere with her sorting out her thoughts.


    But if her mother was home, Toga prayed that she would be able to support Kimika better than she herself could. She knew that Kimika''s mother was the one who could provide her with the warmth and understanding that she so desperately needed in this moment.

 The Burden of Truth

    Left alone on the doorstep of her home, Kimika couldn''t gather her thoughts. All the recent events relentlessly replayed in her mind, like a broken record. Two bound people who had destroyed her life. Toga, who had pushed her into action.


    And herself¡­ The one who took the knife handed to her by Toga. Driven by anger and rage¡­ Knowing what they had done, how they had killed, how they had ruined her life and the lives of so many others¡­ she had attacked them.


    And then¡­ then everything became blurry, hazy, and chaotic. She could only remember the faces of those two, unable to move, their eyes filled with tears and fear. And all that remained for them was to await death.


    Looking at her hands, which were trembling nervously, she saw that it was all her doing, not someone else''s ¡ª because the dried bloodstains and marks from gripping the knife were still on her hands.


    The realization that suddenly overwhelmed her ¡ª the realization that it was she, not anyone else, who had killed two people...


    She had been the one who longed more than anything to become a heroine. And even when circumstances forced her to go against her dreams, she promised and swore to herself that she would never cross the line. But what did she see now? That she had finally crossed it to quell her anger?


    All of this hit her like an avalanche, and she... laughed. She wanted to cry, to cry with all her heart, but she couldn''t ¡ª all her tears had already been shed in that basement.


    So all that was left for her was to slowly step into the house, with only one desire ¡ª to lie down and sleep. To sleep, to rest both mentally and physically. In sleep, where she could forget all of this, even for a few hours, to escape from it all, from this horrible world and from the horrible version of herself.


    Slowly and quietly entering the house, Kimika felt as if she were in a fog, her thoughts tangled in chaos. Everything she had experienced today seemed so distant and unreal.


    But the sudden sounds from the kitchen abruptly pulled her out of this trance. Her mother was always at work at this time... So who could it be?


    Just as slowly, almost mechanically, moving closer to the kitchen, Kimika heard her mother talking to someone, whose voice seemed both familiar and foreign at the same time. Carefully peering into the room, she saw her mother happily preparing dough with a smile, while sitting on a chair was the one whose presence almost stopped her heart ¡ª Detective Tsukauchi. The one who hunted her and Toga, who wanted to send them to Tartarus. And here he was, in her house, calmly sipping tea and chatting with her mother.


    Standing behind the wall, almost at the entrance to the room, she began to listen to their conversation, trying to calm her already restless mind and the heart trembling from fear and recent events. The man who had repeatedly stated that he wanted to send her to prison for life was now sitting in her living room, calmly talking to her mother as if nothing had happened.


    At what she saw, questions began to form and overlap in her mind. Why was her mother home and not at work? Why was she so calm and happy, preparing food as if nothing was happening in their family? How was that possible when her father lay in a coma in the hospital? How could she just stand there and cook as if everything was normal? And why was the detective in their house? Did he know who she really was? Or maybe he suspected something? How was this possible? What should she do?


    Kimika nervously swallowed, and her fingers trembled from the tension. She couldn''t take a step back to escape, nor forward to appear before them. She was overwhelmed by an incredible sense of fear, but also a drop of curiosity ¡ª what were they talking about? Maybe she was just overthinking it? Perhaps he had come as a family friend, to support them in this difficult time?


    "That''s it... soon a wonderful apple pie will be ready. I hope Kimika will like it," Yukiko said gently as she placed the pie in the oven.


    "I also think she''ll like your pie. So, if you don''t mind, let''s continue our conversation. As you know, I''ve been actively working on the case concerning Tokima and Tsukima for several months now... And, as hard as it is for me to say, your daughter is one of the main suspects," Tsukauchi spoke carefully, aware from Takeshi that his wife could kill anyone ¡ª even a hero ¡ª for such words.


    Hearing this, Yukiko abruptly turned to him, her eyes burning with fury. She desperately clenched her teeth, speaking sharply:


    "Tsukauchi! How many times do I have to say it? She can''t be one of those two!" she scolded with anger and harshness. "She''s my little, gentle daughter, and I know for sure she has nothing to do with those two."


    Pausing, she turned away from Tsukauchi, then added with tenderness and absolute certainty,


    "My Kimika wants to be the number one hero. And I know well ¡ª she''s not the type to ruin others'' lives for her own gain, like those two. So stop with these ridiculous suspicions!"


    Standing behind the wall, Kimika felt her chest tighten from her mother''s words. She truly believed that her daughter was incapable of being a criminal, but Kimika knew that she was a criminal and a killer. It hurt her to realize that she had betrayed her mother''s sincere beliefs. And it hurt even more to understand that, like everyone else, they saw her and Toga only as criminals who destroyed the lives of others.


    She recalled her mother''s words from childhood: "Not all criminals become that way out of anger or a desire to harm ¡ª often it''s just the result of circumstances." Kimika hoped that her mother still remembered these words, and when the truth came out, she wouldn''t turn away from her or reject her.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    "I understand, but please, understand me. She''s a suspect, and it''s my job to investigate her..." - Tsukauchi murmured, barely audible.


    "How many times do I have to say it! She can''t be a criminal! Her character wouldn''t even allow it! Takeshi and I raised her with all our love, so she has no reason for this! And like all other children and teenagers, she dreams of becoming a hero! She worked hard for it alongside Takeshi! And now he''s in the hospital because of a criminal, and you think she''s going to become one? I''d believe more that she''d become one of the vigilantes, or get even more motivated to become a hero and train every day! Which is probably what she''s doing, disappearing with her friend from morning till night!" Yukiko burst out, her voice filled with emotion, and she almost screamed in desperation and pain.


    "But, as you said, she disappears every day from morning till night! And with a friend who ran away from home! Your husband and I studied her profile! And she''s unstable! She could easily have influenced your daughter to do this! Maybe for revenge or... or to make money! You can''t even do that, no matter how hard you work every day! And she turned to criminal acts for this, all the crimes committed by Tokima and Tsukima are just the kind that pay well!" he said, almost shouting, even standing up from his chair. But realizing he was going too far and starting to speak in the heat of the moment, touching on a topic that Yukiko was barely holding back from kicking him, a family friend, out of the house, he immediately sat back down and tried to calm himself.


    "I''m trying to help, Yukiko... Your husband and you... you''re my friends, I don''t want, if this really is true, and your daughter is a criminal... then let it be me who catches her, not someone else. I''ll try to reason with her and make sure her sentence is softened. And, actually, Nezu, the principal of the Hero Academy, is helping me with this! He has his own plans for her: not Tartarus, not prison, but a rehabilitation program! You have to understand, I''m not your enemy, I''m trying to help! Because if someone else catches her, or, even worse, they kill her... then no one will be able to help her!" he said with determination, looking at Yukiko, hoping she would understand how serious the situation was.


    "What''s more, there are facts! Tokima also has heterochromia ¡ª one red eye, one blue. White hair, two horns, and there are even two witnesses who heard that her motivation is to save her father, and one of them is a hero! These are incredible similarities, and the chance that someone else in this city, even in this big city, or even in the whole country, has the same traits is minimal! And Nezu has known this for a long time, but for some reason, he hasn''t done anything!" he said, raising his voice as if trying to convey the full importance of the situation.


    "So it''s only a matter of time before heroes come to your house. And they won''t be as gentle as I am. They won''t try to reason with you or understand why things turned out this way. They''ll just come and catch her. Yes, maybe Nezu will start his rehabilitation program, but the question is, will she want it herself? And there will be no one, except the two of us, especially you, Yukiko, who can calmly and thoughtfully try to reason with her! You need to understand that!"


    At these words, Yukiko didn''t know what to say. She covered her face with her hands and felt her heart tighten with pain. With a heavy breath, barely holding back tears, she lowered her head and began to cry. Everything Tsukauchi had said ¡ª the facts, the similarities, the motivation, even the witnesses ¡ª it all seemed like the complete truth. And although she didn''t want to believe it, everything pointed to her sweet daughter.


    All those news reports about Tokima and Tsukima, where she heard about their activities, where the presenters constantly spoke about how soon they would be caught, even Tsukauchi himself sitting in front of her was speaking, confirming that they would be caught soon.


    She had seen the videos posted online, where Tokima was constantly getting injured, and the realization that this criminal was her own daughter tore her apart. It was too painful for a mother''s heart to bear.


    Everyone at her work said that these two should be caught, punished, and locked up for life. Even Yukiko herself had thought it was right, that it was what needed to be done. But now, when she learned that it was her child, her world turned upside down.


    She couldn''t hide her fear and despair. It hurt her not only for herself, for her family, which seemed like it was about to fall apart, but also for her daughter, whom she had raised with all her love and hope that everything would turn out fine. How had it come to be that her own child had ended up in this nightmare?


    "I thought... I thought this day would be... one of the best for our... family... I found... found those damn money! And I already paid for Takeshi''s surgeries... And now this... But why did she need this? Why? I said I''d find the money! Why, why did she have to become a criminal?" she screamed, unable to hold back the pain. Her voice cracked with despair, and her tear-filled eyes bitterly blurred everything around her. She felt as if these words, like knives, were killing her from the inside.


    K¨ªmika, who had heard all these words and witnessed her mother''s state, didn''t know how to react. Her mind was in chaos, and her heart was overwhelmed with heavy emotions. She heard every word Tsukauchi had said ¡ª how he wanted to help her, that she wouldn''t be sent to prison, but instead would go through a rehabilitation program, and after that, all her criminal activities would vanish like a terrible nightmare.


    She looked at her mother, who, after hearing the horrifying truth about her, didn''t scold her, didn''t shout, didn''t accuse her ¡ª she didn''t even express hatred, but only continued to worry about her.


    A feeling of hope flickered within K¨ªmika, but it was just a tiny spark, barely shining in the darkness of her past. The light was so faint because she felt deep down that she didn''t deserve it. She had killed two people, wounded many others, robbed ¡ª her hands were stained with blood, and even the thought of being given a chance weighed heavily on her.


    She feared that when Tsukauchi learned the truth, when he realized that she was no longer just a criminal acting for money, but also a killer, it would change everything.


    Yet, despite all her fears, she felt there was a chance for salvation, a chance that maybe all of this would end. Her heart beat heavily, and it seemed that with every beat, it made her want to step out of hiding and surrender to Tsukauchi.


    But it was even harder to see her mother in tears. She saw how her mother tried to hold it together, how she was doing everything for her and for Takeshi, and K¨ªmika couldn''t even imagine how painful it was for her. And the worst part ¡ª she knew that it was because of her mistake, because of her decisions, that all of this had happened.


    If she hadn''t become a criminal in a surge of emotions and the desire to help, none of this would have happened. This day would have been the happiest in their family. She would have sat next to her mother, eaten apple pie together, laughed, and waited for the surgeries to be over, and then they would have visited her father in the hospital together.

 Explosion of Emotions: Anger, Guilt, and Escape

    Suddenly, Yukiko''s emotions shifted. From the tears and despair in her eyes, anger flared up, ready to erupt like a volcano. She sharply looked at Tsukauchi, who stood before her, unsure of what to do. He wasn''t the kind of person who could offer comfort with words and hoped she would calm down on her own.


    "What will happen to Toga?" she asked, her voice barely holding back a scream, and anger burned in her eyes. "If it weren''t for that monster, my daughter wouldn''t have become a criminal! She''s not like that! She couldn''t have reached this point on her own! Without... without that creature! She would have been the same sweet girl, striving to be a heroine, not a criminal! Without her, everything could have been different! How could I have allowed them to interact? I could see and feel right away that she was insane!"


    Unable to control her emotions, Yukiko began searching for someone to blame for everything that had happened. All the anger and pain that had built up inside her spilled out onto the first person that came to her mind ¡ª Toga. She felt that it was she, this person, who was the reason her daughter had gone down this path.


    Tsukauchi, hearing Yukiko''s words, tried to compose himself but couldn''t hide his anxiety. Gathering his strength, he paused for a moment, then quietly but firmly said, "Yukiko, please, calm down. We don''t know the full situation! Maybe Toga isn''t to blame at all. You''re just unable to control your pain and anger and are looking for someone to blame."


    Taking a brief pause to choose his words carefully and giving Yukiko time to process, he answered her question with a note of caution:


    "Toga will also undergo rehabilitation, and whether they will be together is not for me, you, or Kimika and Toga to decide. That will be a decision made by Nezu and the people working with them. If they see that Toga is to blame in all of this, they certainly won''t allow them to be near each other."


    He knew that he hadn''t spoken entirely truthful words, as he had no knowledge of the full details of Nezu''s rehabilitation program for criminals. His assumptions could be far from the truth, but he tried to offer a version that seemed closer to reality.


    Yukiko, however, didn''t want to hear any justifications. Her anger prevented her from accepting any words from Tsukauchi. She was ready for anything, but not to question her perception of reality. Not believing that her daughter could have chosen this path on her own, she turned back to Tsukauchi.


    "How dare you defend this monster?" Her voice grew hoarse with vicious hatred. "It''s all her fault! Toga is the cause of everything! If it weren''t for her, my daughter wouldn''t have become a criminal, wouldn''t have gone down this path! She deceived her, manipulated her, and now you''re trying to justify her?! Can''t you see that she''s nothing but a beast in human form?"


    Tsukauchi, realizing he couldn''t just stand there, took a step toward Yukiko, wanting to calm her down in some way. He saw how her anger burned everything around her, but he didn''t know how to help her stop.


    "Yukiko, please, calm down..." he began, but she interrupted him, her voice breaking with pain.


    "Why is this world like this?" she whispered, her words heavy with despair, her head bowed. "Why is everything so complicated? Why did my daughter become a criminal? I can''t understand this... It''s just... just horrible..."


    Her voice trembled, and unable to hold it in any longer, she began to cry again. This time, the tears flowed freely, mixing pain and guilt, overwhelming her. She took a deep breath, but the words that escaped her sounded like a sigh from a soul that had endured too much.


    "I was such a fool..." she said through her tears, her voice trembling with pain and despair. "It''s all my fault... Why wasn''t I smarter back then? If only I had dared to go to my parents earlier... If I hadn''t been afraid of their anger because of my running away from home... But when I finally went to them, I thought they hated me... that they would never help me... But they... they just gave money."


    Her voice became sharp, like a flash, and after pausing, she looked at Tsukauchi.


    "Without a doubt... they gave money," she continued, her words blending with bitter laughter. "And you know what they asked for in return? Just two simple things... They asked... to see their granddaughter and... for me to work for them... And that''s it..."


    She took a brief pause, the bitter smile on her face quickly turning into pain. "Kimi... doesn''t even know who they are... she has no idea she has grandparents... and that they''re some of the richest people in the world... I ruined everything! I forbade them from seeing her... I... I''m the one to blame for everything!"


    Kimika was still standing behind the wall, her body trembling more and more, as if it were about to explode from everything that was happening. She couldn''t shake the thoughts of what she had done and what had happened. Memories of the murders, the crimes she had committed, came rushing back with full force. Her heart began to beat faster, as if trying to escape her chest, and the pain from these memories felt unbearable.


    In her mind, she heard the images of the two people she had taken from this world. Anger, despair, and disappointment mixed together, like a storm tearing through everything in its path.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    She felt sympathy for her mother, which began to intertwine with the anger and pain she herself had endured. How could she have been so wrong? How could she have been afraid of those who could help? How could she blame another person? How could she blame Toga, who had been like a friend, a sister, and someone who had always been there in her place?


    With each passing second, the feelings of betrayal and anger grew stronger and stronger until Kimika could no longer contain her emotions. She took several decisive steps forward, emerging from her hiding place.


    In the heat of her emotions, Kimika decided to use her new technique ¡ª the very one she had been preparing as a surprise for Toga, to show that her training hadn''t been in vain, and that she was truly growing stronger. All the anger and pain that overwhelmed her gathered into a single point, which exploded in her words.


    Clenching her fists and teeth with all her might, she screamed at the top of her lungs: "TIMEFREEZE!"


    This word was like thunder, and everything within its radius, enough to affect Tsukauchi and his mother, began to slow down. The air grew denser, and everything around them moved more and more slowly. The entire room was filled with a blue, cold light, and people, furniture ¡ª everything, except for her. Only her left eye glowed with this color, and the left corner began to darken before their eyes.


    Tsukauchi and Yukiko, hearing the cry of the one they had long waited for, for different reasons, tried to turn their gazes toward her. But their movements became incredibly slow, as if they were submerged in some thick liquid.


    Yukiko, not understanding what was happening, still with tears in her eyes, tried to grasp what had occurred, while Tsukauchi, on the other hand, instantly understood. As he had suspected, Kimika was Tokima, and what was worse ¡ª she had developed a new ability.


    They couldn''t utter a single word. Every word that left their mouths shattered into pieces, as if it were slowly dissolving into the air, creating only vague and disconnected sounds.


    "You... you accuse Toga? How dare you... HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE HER?" Kimika screamed, her fists tightening more and more, blood beginning to drip from them.


    "How could you?! She was the only one who supported me when I was alone! When you couldn''t support me! Every time you weren''t home, when you were at work, she was there! And you? You went to work, but for what? So in the end you just went to my grandparents, whom I didn''t even know because of you, just to take money? You didn''t even let them see me, you forbid them from being part of my life! And what if¡­ what if you hadn''t done that? They would''ve helped on the same day, they would''ve given money for my father that very day!" ¡ª With these words, full of rage, she punched the wall, leaving a large crack on its surface.


    "I became a criminal... for my father, for you! Because I saw how hard it was for you! I gave up my dreams, my principles, I went against everything for us! I trained relentlessly, feeling my body ache every moment, but I kept going! I took on missions, got injuries... bruises... cuts... fractures ¡ª all to help! And you? You just went to your parents and simply asked for money, and they, without hesitation, gave it to you?! And for that, they only asked to visit me, like all grandparents can, except mine because of you, and asked you to work in their company? And that''s it? Nothing more?"


    Kimika looked at her mother, her heart constricting with pain and anger. Tears streamed down her face, but in her eyes, there was hatred that burned her from the inside. "I robbed, I hurt people, I became a criminal! But I did all of that for us! And you, you were just too afraid to ask them for help from the very first day?! But I wasn''t afraid! Didn''t I suffer every day? If you had just asked them for money from the beginning, I wouldn''t have become a criminal! Our family wouldn''t have been destroyed!"


    She took a deep breath and, laughing loudly, her throat tearing from the fury, added: "I killed two people... That director who was responsible for everything, and that criminal who almost killed Dad... I did it for revenge! And now... NOW ALL OF THIS TURNS OUT... POINTLESS?! All my victims... all my pain... was it all just because you were afraid of your parents?"


    The anger and hatred burning in Kimika''s heart grew stronger with each passing moment. Her eyes darkened: her left eye took on a deep blue hue, while her right became a dark red. She could feel everything inside her burning, her heart pounding wildly, and every word she spoke became heavy and venomous.


    Suddenly, holding her breath, she coughed, and a dark, black substance flew from her mouth, leaving a stain on the floor. But she didn''t even glance at it. In her eyes, there was only one focus ¡ª her anger toward her mother.


    "This... this is all your fault!" Her voice was filled with pain and rage. "It''s all because of you! If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t have become a criminal, I wouldn''t have suffered every day and risked my life ¡ª if it weren''t for you! I... I HATE YOU!"


    After those words, Kimika realized what she had done. All the hatred, all the pain she had poured onto her mother, now echoed painfully in her heart. Her body trembled, and her eyes filled with tears. With fear and despair, she looked at her mother, seeing her broken gaze and tears.


    "I''m sorry... I''m so sorry..." she whispered, filled with pain and despair. Unable to bear it any longer, with fear in her heart, she ran out of the house, leaving everything behind. As she fled, her time freeze lost its power.


    Yukiko, sensing she could move normally again, with tears in her eyes, was ready to chase after her daughter. She wanted to apologize, feeling the bitter truth strike her hard ¡ª everything Kimika had said was true. She... she was the one to blame for everything that had happened in their family.


    Tsukauchi, seeing Yukiko about to run after Kimika, quickly grabbed her by the arm. His face was both stern and full of sympathy.


    "You won''t be able to catch her or change anything now," he said calmly but firmly. "Please, calm down. We''ll find her and help, but we need to act correctly. I have to call the heroes. The situation has become more complicated, Yukiko. She killed two people, and her emotional state is dangerous. We have to stop her before it''s too late."


    Tsukauchi had already reached for his phone to make the call, but Yukiko, her eyes filled with despair, swiftly snatched it from his hands. Her gaze burned with determination.


    "NO!" she screamed, her voice trembling with pain and tears. "Even if Kimika hates me, I love her! I won''t let you hurt her!"


    With those words, she threw the phone onto the floor with all her strength, shattering it into pieces. Her body trembled from the overwhelming emotions flooding her.


    Unable to hold herself together any longer, Yukiko dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around herself. She cried uncontrollably, feeling as though her world was falling apart. Her sobs, full of pain, echoed in the silence of the house, which now seemed empty and cold.

 Only You and Me

    Kimika was running, not thinking about where or why. The only thing she wanted was to escape ¡ª escape as far as possible from this terrible place. Tears streamed down her face endlessly, blurring her vision and distorting the world around her.


    She paid no attention to the pain in her chest, the kind that tore through her entire body, both physically and emotionally. She ignored the coughing, which grew more frequent, and the thick, dark liquid that spilled from her mouth with every cough.


    Her body trembled from pain, exhaustion, and the realization that this was the worst day of her life. In her mind, the words she had shouted at her mother in a burst of emotion echoed endlessly: "I hate you... This is all your fault..." These words kept spinning in her head, and all she could do was whisper as she ran, "No... I''m sorry..."


    One more step. One more push. One more labored breath. Her legs trembled, but she couldn''t stop. She was too afraid to look back, too afraid to return. She was terrified to face her mother ¡ª to see her tear-streaked eyes, reflecting the pain: the pain of guilt, the pain of the words she had heard from her beloved daughter. She was terrified to see her face, to hear her voice.


    But worst of all, she was terrified not of angry words, not of hearing that her mother hated her too. She was terrified of hearing that her mother still loved her, that she would still support her no matter what.


    The thought of causing her mother pain was unbearable ¡ª it consumed her from within like fire.


    She only stopped running when, completely exhausted, she stumbled over a perfectly smooth road, free of any stone or bump that might have tripped her.


    Her powerless body collapsed to the ground, her palms striking the cold pavement. It was only when she tried to rise and began coughing again that she finally noticed the black liquid she had been expelling. Droplets of it were everywhere: on her hands, on the ground before her, forming dark stains all around.


    With the last of her strength, Kimika pounded her fists against the asphalt, unable to endure the pain, the events, the hopelessness that pierced her like a blade. And then there was that black liquid ¡ª it seemed to have become the very symbol of all the hatred, pain, and rage burning in her chest. Her eyes ¡ª one dark blue, the other dark red ¡ª burned with fury as they stared into the darkness ahead.


    "Damn it!" she screamed from the depths of her soul, as tears poured down her face with renewed force.


    She understood that something was wrong, that this dark liquid existed only within her. She saw it for the first time and could feel its presence inside her, growing without end, and with it, her anger toward the entire world grew as well. But now, it didn''t matter anymore. She just wanted to escape as far as possible, to find support. And the only person who came to her mind, the only one who could give her that support, the only one still by her side, was Toga.


    The feeling of emptiness and betrayal burned her soul. She felt lost, abandoned by everyone. There was no one left to turn to, except for Toga.


    "Toga... Only her... Only she remains," she whispered, and with the last of her strength, she stood up and ran toward her house.


    The path to Toga''s house seemed endless. She fell dozens of times, her knees and palms scraped, but the only thing that kept her going was the memory of the one who had always been there ¡ª her genuine smile, her carefree nature in any situation. It gave her strength, it warmed her in this cold, when the whole world felt so foreign and cold.


    Relentlessly running, trembling from exhaustion, she finally saw her house ¡ª so simple and modest, yet now it seemed like a true fortress, hiding her only hope. Her legs wobbled, but she didn''t stop. Her heart pounded in her chest, reminding her of the pain and fatigue, but even more so ¡ª of the need to make it to the end.


    "Just a little more, just a tiny bit more," she whispered, trying to convince herself to find just a little more strength.


    Finally reaching the door, Kimika felt her hands begin to tremble. Raising her fist to knock, she suddenly froze. Thoughts flashed in her mind that seemed foreign, as if not her own: "What if she doesn''t open? What if she doesn''t hear? What if she turns away from you, like everyone else?"


    With these thoughts, it seemed as though the darkness inside her had grown even thicker, even heavier, almost as if it had come to life. But then she remembered Toga''s genuine smile, her carefree nature, her mood, her warm words, her voice, which always sounded so light, as if the entire world was just a game.


    Summoning the last of her strength, she knocked ¡ª barely audible, weakly ¡ª but to her luck, it was enough.


    The door opened almost instantly, and there stood Toga ¡ª in the simple home attire that she had received as a gift from Kimika long ago, but still wore as if it were her favorite outfit. Her hair was messy, as if she had just come out of the shower, yet she wore the same carefree and light smile that Kimika remembered most vividly.


    Toga was incredibly surprised to hear the knock at the door. She even thought that the heroes had come for her, so she kept a knife behind her back. But when she opened the door and saw the person standing there ¡ª the one she hadn''t expected to see anytime soon ¡ª her heart clenched.


    Before her stood the one whose emotional state, after her extremely bad deed, was in shambles, the one who had recently begged to be left alone by the house.


    In front of her stood a girl she had always known to be vibrant and full of life. But now, she was a completely different person. Her eyes, which usually shone, now seemed dark and heavy, like two extinguished lights. Their color had changed, losing its warm brightness, now resembling the cold, almost bottomless night.


    On Kimika''s lips was a noticeable dark, thick liquid, and her skin appeared pale, almost translucent, as if the light within her was slowly fading. The face that had always been sweet and innocent, like a kitten''s, was now distorted by fear, pain, and guilt.


    Toga''s usual light smile, always present on her face, was gone. She lowered the knife from her hand, and it clattered to the ground.


    "Kimi... what''s happened?" she whispered, confused and scared, not knowing what to do.


    Kimika lowered her head, afraid to meet Toga''s gaze. Her lips trembled, and the words felt heavier than any burden she carried. She swayed, weak, as all the strength she had left suddenly abandoned her. Her legs buckled, and she began to fall.


    "Kimi!" Toga exclaimed, rushing to her.


    She caught Kimika in her arms, preventing her from hitting the ground, and instantly noticed how light, tense, and powerless Kimika''s body had become.


    Kimika, feeling the support she had longed for and the warm, gentle hands of her friend¡ªfinding in them what she had so desperately missed ¡ª finally allowed herself to relax, resting her head on Toga''s shoulder.


    Breathing heavily, for the first time in this dreadful day, she felt something other than emptiness, anger, and pain. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "It''s okay, Kimi, I''m here," Toga whispered in a soft, tender voice.


    Without a word, Toga gently lifted Kimika into her arms and carried her to her bedroom, giving her the chance to rest and fully relax. Carefully laying her on the bed and gently placing a pillow under her head, she tucked her in with a blanket, making sure she was as comfortable as possible.


    Lying beside her, Toga embraced Kimika softly but firmly, wrapping her as if not wanting to let the harsh world near her, creating a warm and peaceful space just for the two of them. She began to stroke Kimika''s hair gently, trying to offer all the support Kimika had so desperately needed.


    Kimika felt the pains that had tormented her all this time gradually receding. The silence in the room, Toga''s gentle touch ¡ª everything brought her the peace she so badly needed.


    "It''s hard..." Kimika whispered softly, barely lifting her head to meet Toga''s gaze. "I''m all alone..."


    Hearing these words, Toga hugged her even tighter, leaning in to listen to each quiet word that was so heavy for Kimika, and every one of them echoed in her heart.


    "No, Kimi... I''m here," Toga whispered confidently. "You''re not alone."


    Toga held her gaze on Kimika''s face, noticing the mixed emotions that melted in her eyes. Sensing her pain, Toga, in the quiet, soothing silence, wished to pour all the support and peace she could offer into her words.


    Kimika held her breath and tightened her embrace around Toga, as if trying to find even more protection in her arms. She wanted to speak about everything that weighed on her soul and heart, to the one person who remained by her side, longing to share what she had kept hidden inside for so long.


    "When you left... I went into the house... There was a detective and Mom..." she began, whispering softly. "They were talking... He told her that I was Tokima... about my rehabilitation... He said everything could get better... if I surrendered... Then Mom said... she found money for Dad''s treatment, and then... I..." Her voice trembled, and, stopping, she couldn''t continue. Tears began to quietly roll down her cheeks, heavy and hot, like the very pain that had been building up inside her.


    Toga felt that Kimika wanted to share everything that had been weighing on her soul, like a heavy burden. She saw how hard it was for her to continue, but she knew it was necessary¡ªif she could speak it out, it would get easier. So, gently squeezing her in her arms, she began to stroke Kimika''s back, soothing her, and whispered softly,


    "I''m here, Kimi. You can say whatever you need to, as quietly as you have to. I will hear you, and I will always be here."


    Receiving the support and gentle strokes, Kimika slowly gathered her strength and continued in a barely audible voice,


    "And then¡­ She started blaming you... She said if it wasn''t for you... none of this would''ve happened... Then¡­ She started crying... And said it was all her fault... But... But¡­ She said that... she got money from her parents... And I... I felt that everything I did was just... pointless... I felt... pain... anger... She said she was afraid... but wasn''t I afraid, Toga? I... I wanted to help them... I wanted... to be a hero... my dream... and then this... my wounds... my pain... my dream... my life... all for nothing... All... All..."


    Toga was shocked as she heard these words. She couldn''t believe what she was hearing. But now she understood the unbearable pain Kimika had been feeling, especially on this day, when, because of her, Kimika had become so emotionally vulnerable.


    All the efforts, all the pain, all the sacrifices, all the desire to help that had driven Kimika to continue down the criminal path for her parents, suddenly seemed pointless and meaningless. Her world had been shattered by those she had so devotedly tried to help, risking even her own life.


    Toga felt anger and rage welling up inside her, and all of this emotional turmoil was directed at Kimika''s mother. Not for her treatment of her, but for what she didn''t know ¡ª if only she knew the sacrifices her daughter had made for them. If only she understood how much pain and effort Kimika had endured to help them, only to receive a knife in the back for it.


    "I couldn''t hold it in¡­ I yelled at her¡­ I showed myself to her¡­ the way she hoped she''d never see me¡­ She thought I was just training¡­ to get revenge on those criminals¡­ but I¡­ I became a criminal¡­ I yelled¡­ I told her everything¡­ I saw how she cried¡­ her face¡­ I said¡­ I said¡­ that I hated her¡­ But¡­ I didn''t want to¡­ I didn''t want this, Toga! I didn''t want this! I... I was just angry... and then I ran... I ran to you... I... I have no one left, but you¡­"


    With these words, Kimika fell silent, her voice drowned by the pain, and she began to cry uncontrollably. She no longer had the strength or desire to speak, her body only craving one thing ¡ª to press closer to Toga, to the one source of warmth she had left.


    A silent stillness filled the room. Toga didn''t utter a word, understanding the pain and despair now consuming Kimika. She simply continued to gently stroke her hair, trying to offer at least a tiny bit of peace. The tender motions, the warm touches ¡ª this was all she could offer. And though it wasn''t enough to ease her friend''s pain, Toga tried to at least make her feel that she wasn''t alone, that she was there, and would always be by her side.


    Kimika''s heart slowly began to calm, as if all the dark fluid, along with the pain, fear, anger, and hatred, had vanished, as though it had never been there. Her heartbeat began to sync with Toga''s. But even with all the silence, she couldn''t fall asleep.


    And suddenly, Toga began to speak. She spoke softly, trying to transport Kimika to another world¡ªa world without pain and worry.


    "You know, Kimi... We''ll always be together. Just the two of us, no one else. We don''t need crime anymore. We''ll forget about Tokima and Tsukima. And all the heroes and detectives will forget us. We''ll just be... happy. You and me, far, far away, just for ourselves. Maybe in some small apartment or a house by the sea. Yes, by the sea... It will be peaceful there, warm, and we''ll be together every day, like family. Without any worries. We''ll have little white kittens, just like you, who''ll play and run around us."


    There was so much warmth and certainty in her voice about the future she was painting for them, that Kimika gradually calmed down, and her heart began to beat more evenly. Quietly, almost in a whisper, she spoke:


    "And... and a big bed in our bedroom... with soft pillows, where we''ll wake up together... and a little garden... and benches where we''ll sit... and watch the sunrise or sunset... together..."


    "Yes, yes! There will be all our wishes there!" Toga replied joyfully, seeing Kimika''s eyes fill with light. "You and me, together. Happy. And for our happiness, we don''t need anyone else."


    Looking at Kimika with a soft smile, she continued: "And you know, Kimi, we won''t need money or a career. The only thing that matters is us. The happiness we''ll have will be just for us... and the kittens. And there won''t be any more fighting or bloody deeds like you wanted. It will just be us together, and all we''ll do is enjoy what we have. You and me."


    Kimika, feeling the warmth of her words, fully calmed down, feeling only fatigue and the desire to sleep. But a spark of curiosity still lingered.


    "Toga... What about that last mission? You said... that they would pay a lot for it. A lot... And it seemed pretty easy, from what you said. What was it about, if... if... if it wasn''t for all of this?"


    "Well, if you''re curious... we had to kidnap a... person... or creature named Nezu, you should know him. We were ordered to bring him to an organization called the League of Villains. They promised a lot of money, but now it doesn''t matter. We don''t need to think about it anymore. It''s just unnecessary details." Toga said, with clear reluctance.


    Kimika froze upon hearing the name. The name she knew from the news, the name of the smartest creature on the planet ¡ª the director of U.A. Hero Academy, a place she had once dreamed of. The academy she had longed to attend even before everything fell apart.


    But now, after overhearing a conversation between Tsukauchi and her mother, she learned that Nezu had a rehabilitation program for criminals like her and Toga. A spark of hope ignited in her soul. It felt like a beam of light in the darkness. She saw an opportunity, a chance for both of them.


    If they agree to this task, if they complete it and manage to talk to Nezu, then maybe... She will learn the details of this program. And maybe they will have a chance. Even if she''s a killer, even if her hands are stained with blood. If they go through rehabilitation, she will be able to apologize. To her mother, to her father, to everyone she let down.


    And after that... After that, she and Toga will be able to fulfill their dream. To go to the sea, start a new life, leave all this horror and pain behind. And then they will be happier than ever before.


    "Toga..." she whispered, looking into her eyes. "Can we take on this task? As the last one... As we planned..."


    Toga exhaled heavily, feeling her heart tighten. She didn''t want this, didn''t want to go down this path with Kimika again, especially after everything that had happened. But how could she refuse? How could she say "no," looking into those cat-like eyes that radiated hope and determination?


    "If... if this is what you really want, then okay," she replied gently, carefully touching her friend''s cheek. "And after this, we''ll go after our dream. Just you and me. Okay?"


    Kimika nodded silently, and that was enough for Toga. Without waiting another moment, she embraced her tightly, holding her as hard as she could. In her arms was everything: warmth, tenderness, and a sincere desire to protect her friend from any pain or fear.


    They lay like that, holding each other, as their hearts beat in unison. Warm words and promises filled the silence of the room, melting away the remnants of fear and pain. Soon, feeling calm and safe in each other''s embrace, they fell asleep, immersed in the light of the shared dream that awaited them ahead.

 On the Edge of a Decision

    The white-haired girl sat alone on the roof of a building, watching the sunset. She was waiting for her friend, who, despite the seriousness of their last criminal mission, had been acting carelessly. Instead of staying on position, her friend had nonchalantly gone to a tea shop they were supposed to keep an eye on, waiting for their target to appear there soon, according to information from Giran.


    She was very anxious, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. This wasn''t just the end of their criminal careers, after which they could start a new life. The life in a house by the sea, where they would spend their days together, felt so close.


    But before reaching this happy future, they had to clear their names through a rehabilitation program run by their target.


    Kimika believed that even though she had become a killer, she and Toga still had a chance at rehabilitation. She no longer aspired to be a hero, understanding that after everything she had done, she didn''t deserve it. Kimika knew that her friend didn''t want to be a heroine either. Moreover, Toga wouldn''t agree to undergo rehabilitation, considering it unnecessary, as for her, it was enough that they would spend their whole lives together by the sea, far from people.


    But¡­ Kimika understood that this meant spending their entire lives on the run, without the possibility of returning to a normal life. No more walks around the city without fear, no cozy meals in cafes or restaurants, no movie nights to watch their favorite films, or fun days at the amusement park.


    The hardest thing for her was that she would never be able to go to her mother, look into her happy eyes, and say, "I''m sorry." She would never see her father recover, and already she could imagine his face, filled with pain and despair.


    On that fateful day, when all he wanted was to return home and spend time with his family, he could never have known that now, waking up after months, he would realize that this family no longer existed.


    Suddenly, someone gently tapped her on the shoulder, pulling her out of her deep thoughts. Kimika almost lost her balance and nearly fell off the roof, but the stranger grabbed her hand just in time.


    She quickly turned her head, her heart pounding as she tried to calm down from the sudden scare.


    "Kimi, you were lost in thought again? I called and called, but you didn''t even hear me," Toga said sadly, holding her frightened friend with one hand while in the other, she carried two cups of tea she had just bought from the tea shop.


    "I... I''m sorry, Toga. I was just thinking about our future little house by the sea," Kimika replied uncertainly.


    Toga noticed that her friend''s horns had darkened slightly¡ªan indication that Kimika was lying, even if it wasn''t a serious lie. She understood that Kimika was trying to hide her true thoughts so as not to upset her.


    "I can tell you''re lying, Kimi..." she said, raising an eyebrow as if pretending to be offended for a moment. But then she quickly smiled and handed her one of the cups. "Here! I bought the best calming tea just for you!"


    As Kimika reached for the cup, she couldn''t help but notice how much her friend cared for her. This brought a slight blush to her face, and she felt a deep sense of gratitude for having met Toga that day.


    Flustered by her thoughts, Kimika quickly grabbed the cup and started drinking. This didn''t go unnoticed, and a slight blush appeared on Toga''s face, while Kimika felt a sense of relief.


    "Can you imagine, Kimi? The shopkeeper in that little tea shop was such a... well, you know, a tea fanatic. He kept going on and on about the history of every type of tea, how the leaves are hand-picked in the mountains, and how they have these special properties. Like I care, pfft! And the worst part ¡ª if I hadn''t escaped, he would''ve just kept going!"


    Sighing, Toga shifted her gaze to Kimika, her expression one of someone who had just endured a small trial. Kimika couldn''t help but smile slightly, seeing how impatient Toga was with such long and boring stories. It made her feel a little more at ease, knowing that her friend was trying to cheer her up.


    As she sipped the tea, Kimika, surprisingly, didn''t taste it, but she thought to herself that maybe that was how it was supposed to be.


    "Toga, are you sure everything will be as simple as you say? Nezu is a genius and an incredibly wealthy person. Why would he come to this obscure little shop in such a remote area, especially in a place where we could easily ambush him?"


    "Well, I thought about that too. But Giran, who is still our trusted broker, wouldn''t have given us this task if he wasn''t sure that the League of Villains is reliable. And anyway, maybe Nezu is just strange." Toga paused to add some confidence before continuing, "But don''t worry, we''re on the highest building in the area, and we would''ve noticed anything unusual by now, like an ambush. And besides, why make things so... well, complicated? If they really wanted to catch us, they would have done it a long time ago, and he wouldn''t be risking his own life."


    Kimika nodded, but she still wasn''t completely convinced. Seeing her uncertainty, Toga added with a smile:


    "Don''t worry. If anything goes wrong, we''ll escape instantly. And by the way, just to make sure, let''s do this: if everything goes badly, you can make any wish you want for me, and if everything goes well, I''ll do the same for you."


    Hearing her friend''s support and attempt to instill confidence, Kimika couldn''t help but smile, though a hint of doubt still lingered in her eyes.


    Seeing that she had managed to lift her partner''s spirits, Toga took a sip of her tea, and her face immediately scrunched up in distaste.


    "Yuck! How can you drink this? It''s... it''s total crap, not tea!"


    Unable to hold back a smile, Kimika laughed and took another sip. "I think it just tastes bland, like plain water."


    "Whattt? Bland? Like water? It''s disgusting! I still have the aftertaste in my mouth! How can you drink it so calmly?"


    Before Kimika could respond, they noticed someone on the street. Their attention immediately shifted to the figure moving toward the tea shop.


    It was an incredibly strange creature ¡ª a combination of several different animals: a humanoid mouse with dog paws and a bear-like face. Its black eyes were both observant and carefree, as though it had no worries at all.


    Its elegant suit seemed unnatural on such an odd figure, and though it wore large orange sneakers, its appearance felt completely organic, as if it truly belonged to this world.


    The girls couldn''t look away, and even though they had seen his pictures before the mission and often came across his face in the news, seeing him in real life was an entirely different experience.


    "There he is... Nezu," Kimika whispered quietly, as if afraid he might somehow hear them even from that distance.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    They continued watching, and soon Nezu, taking his time, entered the shop, his figure smoothly disappearing behind the door. This was the signal for them that the moment had arrived.


    Instantly, they ran down the stairs as fast as they could, not wanting to miss the moment when he would come out. The lower they went, the faster Kimika''s heart raced, and every cell in her body was tense and ready for action.


    They almost reached the street at the same time when the tea shop door opened again, and Nezu, as if waiting for them, stepped out.


    Kimika immediately activated the speed boost for both of them, and they exploded from their spot. In just a few seconds, their speed was so great that Nezu didn''t even have time to react.


    He didn''t even manage to make a sound before they grabbed him, giving him no chance to escape, and carried him toward the theater. The place was perfect for them, as the theater was closed for renovation and completely deserted. In the commotion, Nezu accidentally dropped the bag of tea he had just bought, and it scattered across the asphalt, but no one paid any attention to it.


    They silently ran through the theater''s back courtyard, avoiding any obstacles. The distance to their destination shortened with every passing second.


    Nezu didn''t struggle or scream the entire time. His reaction was strange and incomprehensible ¡ª he seemed calm, as if he had already understood the situation he was in. Perhaps he felt it was pointless to resist, or maybe he had his own plan, but Kimika was still worried.


    Her mind kept running through the possibilities, every move weighing heavily on her. Was everything going according to plan? Was there something in this situation they hadn''t anticipated?


    When they finally entered the theater''s main hall, the atmosphere shifted. Up until that point, they had been in constant motion, and now, as they found themselves in a safe place, both girls were able to calm down, knowing they weren''t being followed.


    Toga didn''t waste any time. She immediately started tying up Nezu, twisting the ropes in such a way that he couldn''t even move.


    Kimika remained alert, watching closely as Toga finished tying him up. Ready for any surprises, even though everything was going exactly according to plan.


    Once Nezu was securely bound, the girls finally allowed themselves to exhale and catch their breath, feeling the tension slowly ease away.


    Both girls seated Nezu in a chair, leaving him bound. He remained silent, gazing at them with his black eyes, which revealed no fear or irritation ¡ª only calmness and a strange sense of resolve. It was an eerie silence that hung in the air, and Kimika couldn''t help but ask the question that had been swirling in her mind for some time. "What happens to him now?"


    "I have no idea..." Toga replied with a shrug, glancing at the unflappable and composed Nezu. "We were just told to bring him here and call the number. What happens next is not our concern, Kimi."


    Nezu continued to remain silent, watching them intently as if he knew something they didn''t.


    "You keep an eye on him, even though he won''t escape. I''ll make the call to... what''s his name... Kuro... Kurogiri, yeah, Kurogiri. He''s supposed to pick up Nezu with his quirk, and then it''ll all be over."


    With those words, Toga took out her phone and stepped a little further away, looking for the most convenient spot to make the call.


    Kimika stayed by the chair where Nezu sat. He still hadn''t moved, only watching her with a gaze that seemed to glow with calm. It made her feel uneasy, as if his calmness was too cold and unnatural, especially in this situation. She had expected a completely different reaction¡ªhe should have been begging for mercy or at least shown some sign of distress. But instead, he simply stared at her, as though nothing was happening, as if there were no danger at all.


    Seeing that Toga had moved far enough away, Kimika realized this was her chance. She stepped closer to Nezu, trying to do so as quietly as possible, so her friend wouldn''t overhear the conversation. Kimika knew well that Toga would likely reject her idea or call her plan foolish.


    "Nezu, is it true that you have a rehabilitation program for criminals?" Kimika whispered.


    Nezu looked intently into her eyes, his piercing gaze seeming to penetrate directly into her soul, reading every emotion. He could see how Kimika was anxious, how she was trying so hard to keep this conversation between them. Nezu felt a sense of admiration¡ªhe hadn''t expected her to be the one to bring up the topic. Her interest in rehabilitation became, for him, an opportunity to realize his plan, albeit in a slightly different way.


    "Yes, I have such a program. But unfortunately, so far, no criminal has voluntarily agreed to undergo it."


    "Ah... if... we... What are the conditions? Well, what does a criminal need to meet to qualify for this program?"


    Nezu immediately understood where she was heading. He could tell that this wasn''t just curiosity¡ªshe truly wanted to go through the program but was too afraid to say it out loud.


    "Conditions? The most important condition is the criminal''s willingness to undergo rehabilitation. Without that, the program simply wouldn''t work."


    Kimika, incredibly anxious yet sensing that this moment could be their chance for redemption with Toga, gathered her strength. She looked into Nezu''s eyes, which seemed penetrating, and with a trembling voice, almost whispering, asked the most important question for her: "A... a murderer... can they go through this program?"


    Nezu, caught off guard by the question, paused for a moment. His gaze, which had been sharp, now became even more penetrating, studying every movement of Kimika, every slight change in her expression, and the tension in her facial muscles.


    "Murderers?" His gaze sharpened like a steel blade. He already knew the truth, as he had heard from Tsukauchi about how Kimika, in a moment of anger, had confessed everything, including the fact that she had killed two people.


    "Did you kill?" he asked, and even his voice became slightly colder than usual. It was a question to which he already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear her confession. He wanted to understand if she was ready to admit it, if she truly grasped the full weight of her actions, and if she genuinely intended to change.


    Kimika trembled, her heart racing, and she couldn''t respond immediately. Slowly, shuddering, she shook her head, trying to hold back her tears.


    "Yes..." she barely whispered. "But... I didn''t want to... I... it was... they... they were criminals too... killers..." Her voice broke, and she couldn''t hold back the tears.


    Kimika, trying not to give herself away, struggled to cry as quietly as possible. Her shoulders shook with sobs, and she tried to hold them back, but they betrayed her, silently dripping onto the floor.


    She covered her face with her hands, trying to stop the unfriendly feeling within her, but she couldn''t make herself stop crying. Her breath was heavy and erratic, clearly fighting with her own emotions, and it was evident to Nezu, who couldn''t help but notice her inner struggle.


    "I know you didn''t want this," he began gently, his voice filled with understanding and compassion. "And I see how much you''re suffering because of it. And that shows you''re capable of feeling the pain for your actions. It shows you''re ready to change."


    Kimika slightly lifted her head, her eyes red from crying, meeting his gaze. Nezu continued, calmly and confidently: "So yes, murderers can go through my program. But only those who truly want to change. And you are one of them. You feel remorse for what happened, and that''s the most important thing. It means you have a chance to make things right. And I can see that you want this."


    She swallowed her tears, her voice trembling, but she whispered: "I want to... I want to change... But is it possible after everything I''ve done?"


    Nezu gave a slight smile, one filled with warmth and support. "Yes, it''s more than possible, because you have the most important thing ¡ª you want to change, and you''ve already, you could say, started this journey. And all that''s left for you is to join my program along with a partner."


    Kimika flinched, her heart racing, and a look of panic appeared in her eyes. She felt all her doubts and anxieties overwhelming her.


    "She... she won''t agree... She..." Her voice faltered, and she didn''t know how to continue.


    "Don''t worry, if you explain your goal clearly and tell her that she needs this just as much as you do, then she..."


    But suddenly, she was interrupted by Toga, who had finally returned, looking somewhat annoyed but with her usual carefree smile.


    "Shit, of course, they''ll be unreachable right now! Kimi, can you believe it? We''re doing their job, and they can''t even be near the phone, hmph."


    Toga paused for a moment when she suddenly noticed Kimika''s red eyes. Alarm instantly appeared in her gaze, and without hesitation, she quickly rushed over to her friend, embracing her and gently stroking her back.


    "Don''t worry, I''m with you," Toga whispered, continuing to gently stroke Kimika''s back. When she turned her head and looked into Nezu''s eyes, her gaze was incredibly angry, though her voice remained caring, as if trying to calm her friend, despite the aggression overwhelming her.


    Nezu watched the scene with surprise. He had thought Toga and Kimika had a good relationship, but not one this deep. Now he could see just how much Toga loved and cared for her, and it impressed him. This wasn''t just friendship; it was something much stronger ¡ª an attachment bordering on a mad devotion.


    It reminded him of something like the relationship between a mother and a young child, and he couldn''t understand why Kimika was so worried about whether Toga would agree. From what he had seen, it seemed like Toga would have agreed instantly if Kimika had asked, and that was only possible if... only if Kimika didn''t fully understand the depth of their bond.

 Shadows of Rehabilitation

    All Might quickly jumped over hundreds of buildings or entire districts with a single leap. He was trying to get to the location of the operation to catch Tokima and Tsukima, organized by Nezu, as quickly as possible.


    His heart was filled with disappointment and regret over his morning decision ¡ª to refuse to participate in the operation. At that time, he thought it was just two criminals who could be easily captured without much difficulty, especially knowing that several professional heroes would be involved in the operation, and the plan created by Nezu would undoubtedly lead to the successful completion of the mission.


    All Might convinced himself that his help wouldn''t be needed there, and he could spend the time he would have spent on the operation helping people all over the country.


    Jumping over another district, he involuntarily touched the wound left by his arch-nemesis ¡ª All for One. Because of this, he could only remain in his hero form for three hours a day, and that time was decreasing every day.


    The realization that he had only a few minutes left made him speed up. He needed to reach the operation site as quickly as possible, before it even began, and make a few adjustments to the plan in order to be able to participate directly.


    Although it was an incredibly bad decision on his part, especially after his refusal ¡ª when Nezu had likely been forced to bring in a few more professional heroes ¡ª but he couldn''t do otherwise.


    When he learned from his close friend Tsukauchi that Tokima was Kimika, someone he had known as the friend of the heir to his quirk, and a girl who could have become an incredibly powerful hero, he couldn''t allow anyone else to fight her and inflict unnecessary wounds on her.


    Especially knowing that this mission would involve Eraser Head and Midnight, and fully understanding their methods, he pushed himself to speed up even more.


    All Might knew some details of the plan ¡ª that first, Nezu would try to talk to them and ask them to surrender, and if that didn''t work, heroes would join the operation. However, during the battle, unnecessary casualties or injuries could occur, and only his presence would make Kimika and her partner surrender immediately. Even if he had only a few minutes left, he would manage to achieve victory.


    Jumping from city to city, he nearly landed in the right place in less than a minute. Luckily, the operation hadn''t started yet, and the heroes were in the building next to the theater.


    Landing next to them, he made no noise, which was nothing difficult for him. Having incredible strength, he had long ago learned to fully control it, and he hoped that young Midoriya would be able to do the same. "It''s fine now. Why? Because I am here!"


    Eraser Head, next to whom he had landed, only gave him a piercing look and sighed heavily. "And now you... Why are there so many of us here? Three... four... professional heroes and Recovery Girl. Who''s next? Best Jeanist, Endeavor, Ectoplasm?"


    "What... what''s wrong with him?" All Might whispered quietly, completely surprised by Eraser Head''s behavior, with whom he would still have to work at the Hero Academy.


    "Here, have a candy," Healing Lady said, handing Eraser Head a few candies. "Don''t take his words to heart, All Might. He''s just not happy that someone other than him will be fighting Tokima and Tsukimo. He''s got something personal with them." With these words, she handed a few candies to All Might.


    "Although, you know, I''m not too thrilled about being here either. I''m getting too old for these nighttime escapades, and while this will probably end in a fight and our victory ¡ª because I think they won''t surrender to Nezu, no matter what his words are ¡ª they''ll be the ones to blame for the injuries they get after fighting all of you. And I''ll have to... Ugh, why do I have to deal with all this at my age?"


    "At least it''ll be an amazing and loud party! The more of us, the crazier and better," Present Mic whispered barely audibly through the bandage over his mouth.


    Before All Might could say a word about the bandage, Midnight interrupted him. "Nezu gave it to him so he wouldn''t blow our cover before the operation even started. And I totally agree! The more of us, the more fun for those who break the law!" she said excitedly, cracking her whip through the air with a sadistic grin. "Especially for those two unruly girls! I can''t wait for the moment when I get to whip them properly!"


    Eraser Head, standing next to his colleagues, couldn''t help but express his displeasure at the fact that they were also involved in such a plan. He sighed heavily, feeling that things wouldn''t go as Nezu had planned. He absolutely disliked that he wasn''t the only one participating in this operation. He wanted to face Tokima and Tsukimo in battle again to get his revenge. "Why do I have to deal with all this..."If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    "If you''ve already arrived, then you probably want to change our plan, am I right? If so... and it really is so, here''s a quick summary of the plan: we wait for a signal from Nezu, after which we infiltrate the theater as quickly as possible and start the fight. I was supposed to fight against Tokima, and these two ¡ª against Tsukima. As soon as one of them loses, we quickly deal with the remaining one together. Then they''ll be treated by Recovery Girl, and we''ll transport them to the academy grounds without anyone noticing. The most important thing is that no one finds out they''ll be at the academy, because the police and citizens want to arrest them for life, and that doesn''t fit into our rehabilitation plan. I hope you understood everything?"


    All Might silently nodded, which pleased Eraser Head, and then he began to contemplate what he had heard. In his opinion, this plan seemed quite good: as he knows, from this pair, only Tokima has a useful quirk for combat, and Eraser Head, with his Quirk, would easily defeat her.


    Meanwhile, Tsukima, lacking a combat quirk but possessing good close combat skills, would fight against Midnight and Present Mic, who could attack her from a distance, keeping her at bay. They would either wait for Eraser Head''s victory or for a chance to deliver slow strikes, playing on stamina, until she collapsed from exhaustion.


    But he didn''t want to see Eraser Head fight Tokima, knowing his methods and now realizing that this was something personal for him. Therefore, he was even more determined not to let that happen.


    "As you said, I would like to make a small change to the plan. At the beginning, everything will go as you planned, with their separation, but I would prefer to fight Tokima instead of you"


    "Well, of course, it will be me... Do whatever you want," Eraser Head said angrily, feeling robbed of the chance to take revenge on at least one of them.


    But he couldn''t simply refuse the change in the plan, knowing that this way their plan would definitely end in their favor, since his mere presence would guarantee their victory by lowering the opponents'' morale. Still, he didn''t like this decision.


    The dissatisfaction in the atmosphere became increasingly palpable. Eraser Head stood silently, gloomily hunched over, feeling that his role in this operation had changed, and he had become nearly useless. Now, all that was left for him to do was either stand back or assist in the fight against Tsukima.


    Meanwhile, in the midst of this silent tension, the calm yet convincing voice of Recovery Girl was heard.


    "Calm down, Nezu is risking his life for this plan. Though I still can''t understand why he would put his life in danger... if something goes wrong with his plan, he''ll be directly on the battlefield. Therefore, we cannot afford to jeopardize his safety due to emotions."


    "We''re not aiming to ''lash them with a whip'' or entertain ourselves, our goal is to catch them. We must act carefully because if we''re not cautious, our actions could lead to unnecessary injuries. They still need to undergo the rehabilitation program. Whether it''s voluntary or not, that''s another matter, but we still can''t afford to leave extra scars on future heroes."


    "Alright, alright. You''re right, we don''t need to cross the line... But don''t forget, I''m still the one assigned to guide them on the path of rehabilitation, like a second mother. So no matter how gently you try to handle them, I''ll still have a chance to have some fun with them both." She said with the same sadistic smile.


    "First, I''ll dress them up in maid outfits with cat elements like ears or tails and make them clean the entire academy until not a speck of dust remains! And let them try to slack off... though, you know, it''s better if they do. Then I''ll pile even more tasks on them and, of course, special punishments!" She started spinning in place, hugging herself. Her face flushed with excitement, and her eyes sparkled with a strange fire.


    "Punishments... how I''ve been looking forward to this... A bunny costume? Of course! A cat costume? No doubt about it! I have a whole wardrobe of various costumes just waiting for them both! And then... tickling until they beg for mercy... And the shock collar? Yes, it''s an essential tool for those who stubbornly refuse to listen. One press of a button, and they''ll instantly remember who''s in charge. Oh, and also ¡ª night training! Jogging around the academy courtyard in these cute costumes. You can be sure they''ll even enjoy it. After all, they''ll thank me for teaching them real endurance. Who knows, maybe they''ll even start calling me their second mother?"


    Her sadistic smile grew even wider, and a true spark of inspiration ignited in her eyes.


    "And this is just the beginning! I have so many more ideas... I''m sure they''ll quickly realize how great it is to be obedient heroes, especially under my attentive guidance."


    All Might stared at Midnight in shock, who seemed completely immersed in her fantasies, waving her arms as though she were already conducting her own punishment theater. Her eyes sparkled, and her smile kept widening, making him involuntarily flinch.


    He swallowed air, trying to hide his embarrassment. ''Do they all really think this is normal?'' he thought as he glanced at the other heroes. No one even tried to intervene or seemed to feel a shred of sympathy for Tokima and Tsukimi like he did.


    It was too much. He couldn''t allow these methods to become a reality. He already imagined the faces of those two who had agreed to this rehabilitation, only to later look him in the eye with silent despair, knowing their future now depended on a woman who took pleasure in such "pedagogical methods."


    ''As soon as this operation is over, I need to talk to Nezu. We have to find someone... less sadistic. Someone who understands the difference between discipline and torture.''


    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw how Midnight seemed to bloom even more in her fantasies, making it harder for him to hide his growing concern. He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure, and perhaps for the first time in his life, he wished that the criminals would escape from the heroes.

 Final Dance

    Toga gently embraced Kimika, softly stroking her back like a child, trying to comfort her and understand what could have upset her so much in the few minutes she had been away.


    Her gaze accidentally fell on the bound Nezu ¡ª the only one, besides the three of them, who was in the theater. She immediately noticed a faint smile on his face, almost self-satisfied, as if he was enjoying what was happening, and that instantly made her realize: this was the reason for Kimika''s tears.


    An inner rage flared up, and Toga barely held herself back from attacking him right then and there. But she had to control herself. Nezu was needed alive and unharmed for their mission.


    Though it was an incredibly strange but important condition set by the League of Villains. Despite her own emotions, she forced herself to calm down so as not to ruin their efforts. "What did he say to you?"


    Kimika, breathing heavily, tried to hold back her tears, and barely managing to speak, she replied. "He¡­ we were talking about our rehabilitation¡­ Toga, you¡­ we can get through it¡­"


    "What? Rehabilitation?" ¨C Toga was initially surprised, then nervously laughed. "Haha, this is just unbelievable¡­ Sorry, but it''s a bit... of a bad idea, Kimi. There''s nothing for free in this world. You don''t think he''ll just let us go after this, do you? No, my little naive girl. They''ll make us heroes and work for them from morning to night. Because if not, what''s in it for them to help us?"


    "That''s not entirely true," ¨C interjected Nezu, his voice calm and confident.


    Toga immediately gritted her teeth, her fists clenched in tension, and anger flared in her eyes. She shot him a look that clearly said: "Shut up while I''m still being patient."


    But Nezu seemed completely unfazed by her warning. Instead, he simply smiled, and his gaze exuded calm, which only fueled Toga''s anger even more.


    "It''s not what you think," ¨C Nezu said calmly, continuing to ignore Toga''s growing furious stare. "As experienced criminals, you''ll be able to teach our students how to act in the real world, where not everything happens according to the rules we teach them. Your knowledge and experience will be invaluable to them."


    He paused, as if expecting his words to spark interest. "But that''s all. I won''t demand that you work as heroes ''from morning to night.'' All I''m asking is for you to become students and help your classmates with your knowledge."


    Toga, unable to contain her anger, sharply turned to Nezu, her eyes burning with fury. "And how long will this ''education'' of yours last? How long do we have to play ''students''?"


    Nezu simply smiled again, as if he had been expecting such a question for a long time. "Four years," ¨C he answered in a steady, calm voice. "You''ll join a group of students and study alongside them. And when you ''graduate,'' just like everyone else, you will be completely free. Free enough to move to another country or simply enjoy life, walking the streets without fear. You''ll start fresh. However, if you decide to return to a life of crime, remember this: if you get caught again, there will be no talk of rehabilitation."


    He noticed how Toga, and especially Kimika, started to listen closely to every word he said. A faint gleam appeared in his eyes, and he felt a sense of satisfaction from their reaction.


    He could tell that soon they would agree, and the heroes wouldn''t have to intervene in the situation.


    "You will be regular students, learning to become heroes. Yes, you''ll be required to study everything the other students do, at least at a minimum level, and attend all classes. But the rest of your time, outside of lessons, will be yours to use as you wish. I''ll even give you money, and if you like, you can leave the academy grounds, stroll through the city, and spend time together. But of course, there will be some restrictions."


    He paused, watching their reactions.


    "Don''t worry, the restrictions are just a few rules and a GPS bracelet so we can know where you are. And that''s it, nothing more. The rules are simple, just like for the other students: obey the teachers, don''t kill or maim anyone. And for good behavior and grades, you''ll even get something like rewards."


    Once he finished, he saw how both girls began to doubt even more, leaning toward agreeing. All of his conditions were framed in a way that made them seem absolutely simple and perfect for them. Though he had lied, as there were a few additional conditions and rules he hadn''t mentioned, but they would find out about those once they got to the academy.


    Toga stood frozen, as if turned to stone, not knowing what to say. The conditions were incredibly good: they were allowed to be together, they were given money, and they didn''t have to become heroes after all this circus. But still, questions swirled in Toga''s mind, and she couldn''t understand why they were offering this. They could simply run away, and no one would catch them.


    "We refuse your rehabilitation! We don''t need it, and I''m deciding not just for myself, but for Kimika as well!" She looked at Nezu, completely confident in her choice, made both for herself and for her friend.


    Kimika wanted to argue, but the words caught in her throat. She couldn''t understand why Toga was so adamantly refusing this offer. All the terms seemed great: simple, clear, and even more beneficial for both of them than for Nezu himself.


    Nezu also couldn''t understand it. Sensing that his perfect plan was beginning to fall apart, he asked, with a hint of surprise and disappointment, "Why... why...why are you refusing? This is a chance for you and Kimika to start a new life from scratch!"


    Toga didn''t answer right away. She simply smiled, grabbed Kimika''s hand, and, without stopping, led her toward the stage. Looking at the shocked Nezu, something appeared in her eyes that could not be called anger or doubt, only certainty. The feeling that she had made her decision irrevocably.


    "Watch our little show and find out the answer," Toga added with a cold smile, as if she no longer had any doubts about the choice she had made.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Kimika, still bewildered, couldn''t understand what was happening. She couldn''t comprehend the reasons for the refusal, as the conditions seemed so good that they were impossible to reject. Doubts swirled in her heart, and despite Toga''s confidence, she couldn''t understand why they should turn down such an opportunity that she had so badly wanted.


    Toga, carefully watching Kimika, smiled and almost bounced with excitement as she said, "Kimika, did you forget something? Everything''s going smoothly, so¡­ I have one wish I can make, right? And my wish is¡­ drumroll¡­ a tango dance!"


    Toga, ignoring all of Kimika''s doubts, took her by the hand and said firmly, "I don''t care that you can''t dance. I''ll lead, and you just have to trust me, my little one."


    She squeezed Kimika''s hand even tighter, completely disregarding her doubts, and with a slight smile, began to lead the dance. Her movements were clear and confident, with a blush on her face that only emphasized her certainty and dominance.


    Each step Toga took was aggressive and sharp, her movements precise like strikes, and every gesture commanding, as if she were leading not only the dance but everything happening around them. She wasn''t just guiding Kimika in the dance; she was guiding her toward a decision that was so crucial. Kimika, as always, trusted Toga, feeling that this was the only right path.


    She didn''t know how to dance, but allowed herself to surrender to her friend''s lead, feeling how her heart, like a mechanism, began to beat in sync with every move Toga made.


    The dance grew increasingly passionate, the movements sharp yet filled with emotion. Every turn, every gesture from Toga pulled Kimika out of her doubts, and she began to surrender to the energy that, for a few moments, pushed all questions and hesitation aside. She felt a powerful, unpredictable energy building between them, intensifying with every passing second.


    When Toga leaned in toward Kimika, everything around them seemed to freeze. Their faces were so close that Kimika could feel the warmth of her body and breath. All the tension, all the emotional intensity of the dance reached its peak, and despite the lingering doubts, Kimika could no longer hold herself back.


    In that moment, in the silence, a kiss blossomed between them ¡ª a deep, passionate kiss that needed no words. It was a kiss that spoke of trust, of the strength of their bond, and the readiness to stand by each other, as always.


    The dance ended, but the charge of emotions between them remained. Their bodies slowly parted, yet their hearts still beat in the same rhythm. Kimika realized that Toga was there ¡ª always by her side, the one she could trust.


    She no longer needed anything else. And even though she had once thought about starting fresh, apologizing to her family, those thoughts gradually faded into the background when Toga took center stage ¡ª the one who had always been by her side, supporting her. Toga had become her support, her hope, and in that moment, Kimika realized that the most important thing was that they had each other. Apologies to her family became less significant when Toga was there, the one with whom she could feel true confidence, safety, and complete trust.


    Toga saw how Kimika''s face changed, how doubts and uncertainty disappeared, leaving only absolute certainty. In that moment, Toga understood that she had finally become the most important person to Kimika, surpassing even her family.


    This was what she had longed for¡ªto be the one Kimika would turn to first, to be the one she would trust completely, without questions or doubts. And now, as that moment had arrived, Toga felt like she was on top, having everything she needed: the unwavering loyalty that could not be broken.


    However, this moment of absolute trust between Toga and Kimika was suddenly interrupted by Nezu''s voice. "This is some amazing teamwork. You truly have incredible trust in each other... Your relationship... is quite extraordinary. I''d even applaud... well, if I weren''t tied up."


    With each step they took, Nezu realized that the bond between them was stronger than any of his conditions or proposals. He saw how Kimika''s doubts slowly faded and how, in the end, she fully accepted Toga''s choice, even if it meant never seeing her family again.


    Although Nezu had the urge to praise them, he couldn''t bring himself to do so, and disappointment reflected in his eyes. It became clear to him that his plan had failed ¡ª Toga and Kimika had chosen their path, and he simply had no words to change that.


    Toga merely hummed, watching Nezu''s facial expression, where she could clearly see his disappointment. This sight couldn''t help but please her ¡ª what could be better than seeing the calm expression of the most intelligent being on the planet lose its flawless serenity?


    With a smile on her face, she grabbed her phone and called Kurogiri again, but, as before, he didn''t answer. The calls didn''t stop, and with each new attempt, her frustration only grew.


    "How can they ignore our call?" she hissed through her teeth, unable to believe this was happening. "We''re doing their job, and they''re too lazy to pick up a simple phone call?"


    Toga paced nervously back and forth, dialing the number again and again, only to hear silence on the other end each time. And suddenly, as she raised the phone to her ear once more, she noticed the smile on Nezu''s face. He was watching her frustration with a strange, barely perceptible, satisfied grin.


    "Well, if the good way didn''t work¡­" Nezu said, barely hiding his joy. "I suppose it''s time to try the bad ''Demons in a Cage''."


    The girls froze, exchanging confused glances, unsure of what he meant by the "bad way" he was about to implement. Toga, not underestimating Nezu, began to feel a growing tension.


    She grabbed Kimika''s hand, ready for any kind of reaction, scanning her surroundings for any sign of danger, prepared to run with her friend if needed. Toga''s eyes were alert, and with each passing moment, she felt the atmosphere thickening with threat. She was just about to approach Nezu and demand an explanation of what he meant, when suddenly...


    The theater doors slammed open, and four heroes appeared in the doorway, bright and powerful. Eraser Head, Present Mic, Midnight, and the most terrifying of them all ¡ª All Might. He stepped forward, his smile, which was always present on his face, now looked completely different.


    It was the same smile Kimika and Toga had only seen on TV, but now, seeing it in person, it was almost magical, instilling fear. Kimika''s knees buckled, and Toga felt her hands tremble uncontrollably.


    This was exactly what All Might wanted to achieve ¡ª his smile always did its job: among peaceful citizens, it instilled calm and hope, but among criminals, it brought only terror.


    The girls felt their fighting spirit crumble, but it seemed that wasn''t enough for him, and suddenly, his voice, like thunder, split the eerie silence: "The games are over! Surrender!"


    Toga, ignoring the fear that consumed her, gripped Kimika''s hand tighter. Her heart raced faster, and with it grew a sense of hopelessness, but she wasn''t going to give up. Not today ¡ª not when she had finally gotten what she had longed for.


    "Run!" she shouted, pulling her friend toward the exit. Their legs carried them at an incredible speed, and the closer they got to the back exit, the stronger the feeling of hope began to return.


    All Might, seeing the attempt to escape, took it as a rejection of his offer. He let out a heavy sigh and, without hesitation, leapt in their direction, realizing that neither he nor Nezu had managed to resolve this peacefully.


    The girls were running with all their strength, the exit just a few steps away. The hope of escape burned brighter in their hearts, but suddenly, right in front of them All Might landed.


    "AMERICAN SPLIT SLAM!" he shouted, clapping his hands together with a sharp motion. Instantly, a powerful vertical gust of wind tore through between the girls, so intense that Toga, overwhelmed by the pain, had to let go of Kimika''s hand. The blast split them apart, hurling them to opposite sides of the theater. They slammed into the walls, hitting the surfaces hard, and for a moment, the shock left them breathless.

 The End?

    Kimika was breathing heavily, each breath tightening her chest with pain, as if her lungs were being torn apart. The air was thick and bitter, as though soaked in poison, and each wheeze was followed by a spasmodic cough.


    Coughing up a few drops of blood, she wiped her lips with her hand, feeling the pain pulse through her entire body with even the slightest movement, stealing any hope of rising.


    She looked around, and everything seemed blurry: objects spun and blended like in a fog. But despite this, she clearly saw the bright smile of All Might, slowly approaching her.


    Behind him, she saw two figures of heroes ¡ª one of whom she definitely recognized as Eraser Head ¡ª slowly making their way toward Toga.


    The third figure was moving toward the bound Nezu, who, despite everything happening around him, watched them with a slight smile, as if everything was unfolding exactly according to his plan.


    The realization that all of this had been part of his plan from the very beginning made Kimika understand everything: absolutely everything that had happened was a part of his game ¡ª starting with this "simple" task, League of Villains, Kurogiri, and ending with the rehabilitation.


    Clenching her teeth and balling her fists, she leaned on them and slowly began to rise, swaying from side to side.


    All Might saw that his opponent had not lost consciousness and was beginning to gather her strength after his strike. ''I''ve weakened... This damn wound... If it weren''t for this, they''d be knocked out and it would be over¡­ Damn, and my time is running out, I need to finish this as quickly as possible.''


    Not showing any signs of his own distress and wanting to maintain his composure, he said with an ironic smile, "Oh? You got up? Impressive, I''d even applaud you. I thought that after my ''weak little clap,'' both of you ¡ª or at least you, the weakest ¡ª would lose consciousness. Well, that''s my mistake ¡ª underestimating you, but I won''t make it a second time."


    Kimika, finally rising and firmly planting herself on her feet, stared at her idol ¡ª the one she had once looked up to in her aspiration to become a heroine... And hearing his words about her weakness, she only felt cold resolve.


    Perhaps if she had been the same Kimika before all of this, she would have cried. But now, she was no longer that person. She would not give up without a fight and would battle until the end, even if her chances of victory were zero.


    All Might froze for a moment, watching Kimika. She stood before him, unsteady but full of determination. Her fists were clenched tightly, her back was straight, and her eyes burned with a fire that made him remember himself in his youth.


    Once, he too, young and stubborn, had stood before insurmountable obstacles, ready to fight even against those who seemed unbeatable, like his mentor... His lips barely touched with a sincere, warm smile ¡ª a mixture of admiration and a barely noticeable sadness from those memories.


    "Determination, that''s good. But desire alone isn''t enough to change reality. You''re strong, Kimika, but not strong enough to oppose me."


    His face quickly grew serious, and the smile turned more stern and menacing. He knew time was working against him, and it was only a matter of time before he could no longer maintain his form.


    Clenching his right fist and drawing it back, he exhaled and delivered a powerful punch.


    A massive shockwave erupted from his fist, like the strike of a battering ram. The air instantly filled with a whistle and a roar, and everything before him was pushed back. Kimika didn''t even have time to react as the wave of wind swept her up like a helpless leaf.


    Her body crashed into the wall with terrifying force, like a projectile, and for a moment, she felt as though her bones were breaking under the impact. A gasp escaped her chest, and the force of the wind pressed her against the cold surface, as if "gluing" her to it.


    "I''ll keep going until you lose consciousness. You''d better surrender, and it will all end."


    His hand lifted again, and another shockwave erupted from his fist, relentlessly pressing against Kimika. He continued strike after strike, like waves on the shore, relentlessly crashing one after another.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    With each new strike, her body seemed even more tightly pressed against the wall, as if it had become part of the cold surface. Every gust of wind felt like a heavy press, pushing her deeper into the concrete, and with each blow, she could feel her bones cracking, and her muscles giving in. Struggling for air, her chest rose heavily, each breath cut short by a wheeze, and her consciousness, like a thick fog, slowly faded, losing clarity and reality.


    But even under such pressure, she did not give in. Instead of simply losing consciousness, as All Might had predicted, Kimika began to gather every last ounce of strength within her body. Her left eye blazed with bright blue light, and in the next moment, she released a loud scream from the very depths of her being.


    "TIMEFREEZE!"


    With her shout, all the shockwaves instantly slowed, becoming so sluggish that she was able to break free from their grasp and fall to the ground.


    The radius of her ability encompassed everything around her ¡ª from the shockwaves, objects, to All Might himself, and time itself began to flow in slow motion. This gave her at least a few moments to rest.


    The energy from her horn was depleting rapidly. This ability drained exactly as much energy as was needed to slow everything within her zone of influence, and the air currents were so fast that her horn began to crack from the overload. But Kimika had no intention of deactivating her ability, even if it might cause damage to her horn.


    This was one of her strongest moves, giving her the confidence that she could at least counter her opponent in some way. But suddenly, his voice, completely unaffected by the slow motion, cut through all her hopes like a knife.


    "Interesting... I knew your quirk was incredible, but to this extent... It seems, as Nezu said, that with each generation, quirks become stronger and more diverse. But yours... this is something completely new, something I couldn''t have even imagined."


    He paused for a moment, and in his eyes, a spark of irony and curiosity flared. "But how long can you maintain this zone? A minute? Two? Hmm... I wonder, what if I try...?"


    With those words, he struck upward with all his might, breaking through the theater''s ceiling. The speed of his attack was so great that as soon as the powerful wave of energy tore through the air, Kimika''s horn couldn''t withstand the strain, and her ability was deactivated.


    After that, he became completely engulfed in darkness, draining all of his energy, but it kept growing darker and darker, as if continuously absorbing the light, consuming energy that no longer existed.


    Kimika''s horn began to crack louder, the fissures spreading across it as if tearing it apart from the inside, until suddenly, it exploded with a loud, piercing sound. Her left eye instantly went blind, and blood poured from it, covering her vision with a red veil.


    Kimika didn''t have time to understand what had happened. She only felt her horn and eye suddenly "shut down." She couldn''t comprehend what had occurred or why they stopped working without her command.


    Everything around her suddenly returned to its normal speed. The zone in which she had once felt like the master, just a moment ago, vanished as if it had never existed.


    In confusion, Kimika lifted her hand to her horn and tried to touch it, but where it should have been, she only felt a small piece of what should have been her horn.


    Pulling her hand back and staring at it, still unable to believe what she had felt, she saw that her entire hand was covered in a black liquid. This realization hit her like a strike, and the pain only hit her now.


    Her body trembled with agony, and she screamed, trying desperately to press her hands against her eye and horn to stop the unbearable pain, but nothing helped. She felt her strength fading, and every part of her consciousness was sinking into darkness.


    Falling to her knees and screaming uncontrollably from the pain, black liquid poured incessantly from her horn, dripping down her face and onto the ground, just like the blood from her left eye.


    Unable to bear the agony any longer, Kimika lost consciousness. All of her senses faded, and she sank into darkness, where there was no more pain, no more suffering.


    When she fell, he immediately ran to her. His heart nearly stopped when he saw what had happened. He desperately checked her pulse, and to his relief¡­ she was alive.


    Sighing in relief, he realized that by changing the plan and trying to prevent the girl from receiving additional injuries from Eraser Head''s methods, he had only made things worse than if he had left everything as it was.


    Sure, Eraser Head would have inflicted many wounds on her, but not enough for her horn to explode, or for her eye to be irreversibly blinded.


    All Might felt confusion and anger. "No, no, no... This was not how it was supposed to end" He hadn''t wanted it to end like this. He had assumed that due to the overload, her horn would simply lose all its energy, and the slow-down zone would disappear along with her attempts to continue the fight.


    But instead, her horn exploded, and he felt the pain that consumed the girl. It was an unexpected blow, one he had tried to avoid with all his might, but it ended even worse than he could have imagined.


    At the same time, he felt an incredible sense of relief, realizing that besides them, Recovery Lady was also on the mission and was already approaching them. This thought gave him some hope that Kimika could still be saved, even after everything that had happened. He quickly turned, eager to check how his colleagues were progressing.


    All he could do now was hope they could finish this as quickly as possible, complete the mission, and save Kimika''s life.

 Awakening %$&$#!@#$

    Eraser Head and Midnight, battling Toga, couldn''t help but be amazed by her ability to put up a worthy fight even in a situation where she was facing two professional heroes at once.


    He had thought that of the pair, only Kimika was the one constantly evolving, but this was his greatest mistake. Toga, too, was ceaselessly developing ¡ª not just in experience and adaptability to situations, but also in her fighting style.


    She effortlessly evaded Midnight''s whip, targeting her as the weakest opponent while simultaneously ignoring him. Her movements were precise and calculated, growing increasingly unpredictable with each passing moment, and the situation was gradually tipping in her favor.


    This made Eraser Head realize just how fatal a mistake it had been to let All Might change the initial plan. Their plan with Nezu had been perfect for containing and exhausting Toga''s energy, preventing her from helping her partner while he would quickly deal with Kimika using his quirk.


    In an instant, Toga successfully attacked Midnight, knocking her off her feet and disarming her of the whip. The blade of her knife flashed several times, leaving cuts on the hero''s costume. As Toga swung for the final blow, Midnight, overcome by panic, instinctively activated her quirk "Somnambulist" A gas began to emanate from her skin, quickly enveloping everything around them.


    For Eraser Head, who was closest, the scent took effect almost instantly, as Midnight''s ability was most effective on men. He felt an overwhelming drowsiness beginning to take hold. His head was spinning, his consciousness clouding, and he realized that if he didn''t retreat, he would simply fall asleep.


    But he couldn''t allow himself to retreat, as it would mean his partner''s death. Yielding to the last surge of willpower to stay awake, Eraser Head lunged forward and, with all his strength, pushed Toga away from Midnight. Her eyes immediately widened in surprise when she realized he had dared to inhale even more of the sleeping gas in order to save his partner.


    This move, though unexpected, ultimately worked in her favor. Toga knew all too well that Eraser Head was on the verge of collapse. Right before her eyes, his legs were starting to give out, his eyes were closing, and it was only a matter of time before he lost consciousness.


    Rising to her feet and circling around them, she simply waited for that moment to come, her smile growing wider with each passing second. She watched as Midnight, with a pitiful attempt to help, deactivated her quirk in a futile effort to stop the spread of the scent.


    "You''re wasting your effort, beauty" came Toga''s mocking tone, as she slightly tilted her head to the side, enjoying their hopelessness.


    But Eraser Head once again did something she never expected. Gathering the last of his strength, he grabbed the knife that lay nearby and, with incredible resolve, drove it into his own leg. The pain was so sharp and intense that it immediately brought him back to his senses. His eyes flashed with clarity as the drowsiness retreated.


    "You think that''s all?" Eraser Head rasped, shakily straightening up, despite the wound on his leg. His eyes burned with determination, and he braced himself for another surge, gritting his teeth to endure the pain.


    This spectacle only entertained Toga. She grinned even wider, tilting her head slightly. Her eyes gleamed with mockery and cold calculation.


    "You really are stubborn," Toga said, barely concealing her laughter. She took a step forward, carefully watching his unsteady movements, savoring every second of the struggle. "But it''s just a matter of time before you fall asleep... and then, you''ll die, and that''s it!"


    Toga began to relentlessly attack, her strikes growing faster and more precise. Eraser Head could no longer even react due to the drowsiness that had once again overcome him ¡ª his body was covered in cuts, and each movement became more and more uncoordinated. He was almost losing consciousness, and Toga was ready to deliver the final blow to end his life.


    With a smile, she raised her strike, poised to kill him, but stopped at the last moment, the knife barely missing his heart.


    Her heart froze at the sound of the explosion and Kimika''s scream. It was so unexpected and deafening that Toga instinctively paused her movement, and her gaze, which had been fixed on Eraser Head, snapped away.


    "Kimika?" she whispered almost without a voice, seeing her friend unconscious on the ground. Kimika''s horn had exploded, and her condition was so severe and shocking that Toga stood motionless for a few seconds, forgetting everything that was happening around her.


    The entire fight, the whole struggle, suddenly lost its meaning when she saw her friend in such a state. For a moment, everything around her stood still, and her own world came to a halt. "No... No... this can''t be happening..."


    It was a fatal mistake. The moment Toga became distracted, Midnight seized the opportunity and immediately captured her. At the same time, Eraser Head quickly restrained her with his capturing weapon, halting her struggle. And in that very moment, when everything seemed decided, All Might glanced over to check if they needed help.


    Present Mic rushed over, having only just managed to get the bound Nezu off the battlefield. His face was focused, and there was concern in his eyes as he saw his injured colleagues.


    "Is this the end?" he whispered softly, looking at All Might, by whose side Kimika lay unconscious.


    Nearby, Recovery Girl stood, doing everything she could to help. He shifted his gaze to Toga, who was caught in Eraser Head''s capturing weapon, struggling futilely to break free while gazing at her friend with an expression of indescribable pain and despair.


    Eraser Head was breathing heavily, barely able to stand on his feet, feeling each second turn into a battle against sleep. His body was on the brink, but he forced himself to survey the battlefield, trying to understand what had happened.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Scattered chairs from the initial strike of All Might that separated Kimika and Toga, numerous whip marks from Midnight''s attacks, and drops of blood left on the ground after the fierce fight with Toga ¡ª everything vividly displayed how tough this battle had been.


    He realized how much they had underestimated Toga''s strength, thinking that Kimika would be the primary threat. This mistake had nearly cost them their lives. If All Might had delayed for just a few more seconds, he would already be dead, and likely Midnight as well.


    Bitterly smiling, Eraser Head recognized how quickly he and Nezu had made the wrong call, believing Toga to be the lesser threat between the two.


    "You stubborn ''beauty.'' You have no idea how satisfying it is to see such helplessness after you fought against us," Midnight said with a mocking smile, her gaze fixed on Toga''s eyes, which burned with fiery determination.


    She didn''t avert her gaze from Toga, pressing her hand closer to Toga''s nose, releasing an even more concentrated sleepy fragrance. The girl tried to hold her breath, but it was already too late¡ªsoon, her eyes began to flutter shut, and she finally lost consciousness.


    The heroes watched as both girls lay unconscious, each for their own reason: Kimika from the pain after her battle with All Might, and Toga from Midnight''s sleepy scent, looking more like she was dead than asleep.


    They knew: this wasn''t the end. Even though the two had been captured, it didn''t mean they had lost.


    Meanwhile, Recovery Girl was doing everything she could to help Kimika, but she had no idea what to do. The girl''s left eye wasn''t just blind ¡ª it continued to bleed profusely, and the blood was flowing faster with each passing moment.


    No matter how hard she tried, stopping the bleeding without the proper equipment or medical tools was nearly an impossible task.


    From the exploded left horn, thick black liquid continued to leak, staining the girl''s face and hair, spreading outward. Recovery Girl had never encountered anything like this in her long years of service.


    "What the hell is this?" she muttered, suppressing her fear and shock. However, she quickly refocused all her attention on the main task ¡ª to save the girl.


    She began carefully wiping the girl''s face, trying to clear it of the strange liquid. Unaware of its nature or origin, she was concerned about possible infections and made sure to act as cautiously as possible.


    What struck her most was that the liquid seemed almost alive. It slowly trickled down to the girl''s right horn, which absorbed it, gradually darkening. But what was most astonishing was that bright sparks began to appear within the horn, as if it were fighting against the dark substance, struggling to overcome it. "Is it trying to defend itself?"


    The only explanation that came to her mind was that it seemed Nezu hadn''t told them the whole truth about the girl''s quirk, perhaps trying to hide it for his own plans. ''How could he? How could something so important be kept secret?''


    Seeing the girl''s condition worsening and the right eye starting to bleed for unknown reasons, Recovery Girl decided to use her quirk, hoping that whatever stamina Kimika still had left after her battle with All Might would be enough to endure the process, even at a minimal level.


    Her only hope was that Kimika would survive long enough for them to get her to the academy, where all the necessary equipment for more effective treatment was available.


    She kissed the girl on the cheek, and to her surprise, not only Kimika''s eyes and horns began to heal, but her entire body as well. Recovery Girl couldn''t understand why this was happening, as the appearance of her body seemed normal, but the regeneration process looked as if every cell had been damaged and required repair.


    Rising to her feet, her gaze pierced through All Might. Her voice, usually calm and confident, was now filled with anger. "What did you do to her? Her entire body is regenerating as if every cell was broken! Look at her eye! And what the hell happened to make her horn explode?"


    All Might, who had been standing by and watching the process, suddenly exploded into smoke, and in his place appeared a man. He looked like a thin man in clothes that were too large for him, standing with a bewildered expression on his face. This new form was the result of his time using his quirk running out, and now he could no longer maintain his hero form without serious harm to himself.


    "I... I don''t know! I only tried to disable her ability through overload, to end the fight! But he... you... can you help her?"


    "Ugh... You... God... Yes, I... I''ll be able to help her, and the fact that her body has started regenerating already suggests that she doesn''t have any life-threatening injuries from the fight with you, but I still don''t understand what''s happening to her..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, her quirk suddenly dissipated, and at that moment, the girl''s right horn began to crack, making ominous sounds as if it were about to explode just like the left one.


    "No, no, no, no! What''s happening?!" Recovery Girl exclaimed, her voice filled with confusion and panic. She felt the situation, which had already long since spiraled out of her control, intensifying even further.


    She kissed the girl again and again, but each time, moments after the kiss, the effect of her quirk dissipated, meaning the girl''s wounds, for some unknown reason, were becoming fatal.


    With each kiss, the girl''s horn cracked faster, until it suddenly shattered into dust, and black liquid began to leak from it as well.


    "What''s going on here?" Sleepy Eraser Head asked, barely keeping himself from falling asleep.


    Recovery Girl ignored him, focusing entirely on her goal. She kept trying over and over to activate her quirk, concentrating all her attention on Kimika.


    Each time her lips touched the girl, she desperately attempted to trigger the regenerative power. And finally, to her surprise, it worked ¡ª Kimika began to glow, and her body started to regenerate.


    With a sigh of relief, Recovery Girl watched as the girl''s body healed before her eyes¡ªslowly but steadily.


    Gradually, only the eyes and horns remained, the areas that had been the most damaged, requiring more time for full recovery.


    The girl''s face, which had been twisted in pain, began to relax, as if unwinding after the exhausting healing process.


    "Phew, finally managed it..." sighed Recovery Girl, wiping the sweat from her face as she watched the girl continue to heal.


    "But we need to get her to the academy''s infirmary as quickly as possible, before her condition worsens again." Pulling a sedative injection from her backpack, Recovery Girl carefully administered it to Kimika to stabilize her condition.


    Soon after, it seemed like an idea struck her, and she reached for her backpack. After rummaging through it for a moment, she pulled out an empty glass vial and scooped some of the black liquid that was leaking from both of Kimika''s horns. "And we definitely need to investigate what this is."


    Fortunately, thanks to the regeneration, the bleeding from her eyes stopped, and, with time, the black substance ceased leaking from her horns.


    Suddenly, all the black liquid that had leaked out, along with the one in the vial in Recovery Girl''s hand, began to move toward the girl''s body, being absorbed into her until only the liquid in the vial remained, unable to escape. The girl''s horns started regenerating before their eyes, forming new, larger, and darker ones that resembled the previous ones, but now looked as though they were made from this black liquid.


    The girl slowly opened her eyes and turned her gaze toward the unconscious, twisted Toga behind Recovery Girl, who saw that the girl''s eyes were anything but human.


    They had become completely unnaturally black, and within this dark abyss, small stones of the previous colors ¡ª one red, the other blue ¡ª could barely be seen, flickering weakly through the darkness, like faint flashes from the past.

 Gift from the Goddess

    Kimika was sitting in a chair, looking... at herself? Her exact copy was sitting right in front of her, happily savoring strawberry ice cream. She had no idea what was happening.


    Questions kept spinning in her head: ''Where am I? How do I get out of here? What is this creature? Why does it look like me? Why is she ¡ª or it ¡ª so calm? What about Toga?'' But she had no answers to any of them. And it seemed she would never get them.


    Despite all her efforts to understand what had happened and where she had ended up, Kimika unconsciously began to recall the events that had preceded her appearance in this strange place.


    Perhaps, after the explosion of her left horn, she had died? And now she was in heaven? No... She was a criminal who had killed two people, so it was more likely hell... Or something in between? Kimika had never been a deeply religious person, so she wasn''t sure whether it was worth looking for answers in that direction.


    The creature that looked like Kimika suddenly got distracted from the ice cream and, smiling, looked her in the eye, as if it could hear her thoughts and found what it heard to be a funny joke.


    "This is neither heaven nor hell. Think again." With those words, it went back to eating the ice cream, which seemed endless, constantly regenerating.


    Kimika immediately jumped back, hearing the voice of the creature for the first time, which was an exact copy of her own. Falling off the chair, she blinked, and to her surprise, found herself back on the chair as if she had never fallen at all. This place was incredibly strange, and every new moment here only added to her astonishment.


    "How? I just fell? And¡­ if this isn''t heaven and it isn''t hell¡­ Then where am I? Who are you? Is this a dream? Someone''s quirk? Why am I here? And why are you... me?"


    The creature laughed, giggling as if it had heard the funniest joke of its life. It tilted its head back, enjoying the moment.


    "So many questions, and all so funny. You''re not asleep, and this isn''t someone''s quirk. You''re in... though, this will be hard to explain. So, consider it a dream, but not quite a dream, because you don''t make any decisions here, and you can''t leave it without my permission."


    The creature snapped its fingers, and the ice cream it was holding turned bright yellow, like mango or pineapple. Taking a bite, it screamed with pleasure: "Mmm, pineapple! So delicious!"


    Kimika opened her eyes, staring at this¡­ herself, enjoying the ice cream, just like she used to? She couldn''t understand what was happening. The situation was too absurd, and with every second, her mind became more and more confused.


    Suddenly, the creature looked at her and smiled, as if it had heard her thoughts again. "Stop thinking of me as ''the creature,'' it''s disrespectful to the goddess of time."


    Rising, the creature began moving around Kimika, its movements incredibly fast and unpredictable. It disappeared from one spot, and in the next moment appeared somewhere entirely different, as if teleporting, leaving golden flashes in its wake.


    Suddenly, the creature appeared behind Kimika, but it lasted only a moment. In the next second, it was sitting on its chair again, looking as though nothing had happened. Its gaze was carefree, almost mocking, like someone simply observing something that greatly amuses them.


    "I am Chrona! The goddess of time!" the creature''s voice was filled with pride and nonchalance, as if the very essence of time was speaking through her words. "And you, Kimika... Mmm, well, you''re not an apostle, of course. You''re more like my favorite... Hm, my only... Ee, toy! Yes, toy! So fun to watch! I gave you a quirk, an incredible and limitless one! And in such a short time, you''ve shown me so much! Slowing everything in the world ¡ª objects, people, even punches? How fascinating it was to watch, especially during your training! And learning to look into the future during a fight with that hero... Oh, that was a sight! I remember how many times I replayed that moment and how many bags of popcorn I ate... So incredibly delicious, by the way... Or how many tears I shed when everything you did turned out to be useless... But never mind... And you know, I''m so curious to see what else you''ll do with this power in the future... But your future... well, that''s exactly why you''re here."You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Kimika froze, her heart pounding in a frantic rhythm. A goddess? Is the real goddess standing before her? Do gods exist? Then do... Wait... Apostle? She''s the favorite toy? Is this some kind of joke? What is all this nonsense? What is even happening? How is this possible? How could she even give her a quirk?


    Turning her gaze to Chrona, whose eyes were already gleaming with amusement, Kimika saw the goddess of time, nonchalantly munching on popcorn that had somehow appeared in her hands instead of ice cream, looking as if all her words were just simple everyday information. She wasn''t hiding her pleasure at all, and her gaze was filled with thoughtful curiosity, as if she were waiting for the next episode of her favorite series.


    "So¡­ wait! You¡­ you did all of this? You¡­ goddess? A quirk? Why me? What do you mean ''the only one''? And¡­ and this isn''t over yet?!"


    Kimika barely swallowed, feeling her throat dry from the tension. She tried to gather her thoughts, but couldn''t shake the feeling that she was nothing more than the heroine of a reality show. It was as if all her actions, all her emotions, seemed like some kind of performance, played out only to entertain Chrona.


    "Oh, it''s all incredibly simple, dear!" Chrona smiled again, her voice full of cheerful nonchalance. "I was unbelievably, and once again unbelievably, bored! Every day, for hundreds of thousands of years, followed the same script: ''Chrona, look at the time here, there, here... fix this, fix that...'' And then, one day, I had a brilliant idea for how to have some fun! I picked a random person, and it turned out to be your forerunner ¡ª such a cute green-haired guy with adorable freckles.


    But then he... well... became boring to me. So, I chose another person ¡ª you! I just took his quirk and gave it to you! Because what can be given can also be taken away! Although, poor guy was left without a quirk... Or was he? Never mind, it''s a rather complicated situation... So... Then everything was simple! All that was left was to watch! I watched you every moment! From morning to night, day after day. And sometimes I whispered hints to you about how to use the quirk, which you instantly put to use right from the start! And it was incredibly fascinating! You even surpassed my expectations! You turned out to be much more interesting than I originally thought. So, I decided that it was worth giving you one more little gift besides the hints and the quirk."


    She winked playfully, her smile widening, and her gaze turned mysterious.


    Every moment in this place, every word from Chrona seemed to overflow Kimika. Her mind was on the brink of overload from this unstoppable stream of information. Was her entire life¡­ just a show for this goddess?


    All thoughts of the fight, the heroes, Toga, the left horn ¡ª everything faded into the background. Kimika was ready to ask her about everything that crossed her mind.


    Quickly rising from the chair, Kimika was about to bombard Chrona with the questions overwhelming her, but at that exact moment, the goddess snapped her fingers.


    Kimika''s body instantly teleported back to the chair, returning to the same position she had been in before she had gotten up. The only difference was that her mouth was closed as if by an invisible force. She couldn''t utter a single question, word, or even a simple sound.


    "So many questions you have, but¡­ I''ll answer¡­ none of them!" Chrona giggled, her voice full of playful nonchalance. "But the reason isn''t that I don''t want to or I''m not going to reveal some divine secret, no-no-no. The thing is, I can''t. I''m not the main goddess, and so I have my duties, rules, and all kinds of restrictions that the main goddess doesn''t have, but¡­ one day, I''ll be her! And to help you understand just how strict everything is here: in my whole life, I''ve managed to gather these ''coins,'' as you call them, to buy the ability to give you a tiny part of my power. And by the way, even the time you spend here ¡ª not free, and it''ll be over soon. Otherwise, I could chat with you for a few hundred years and answer all your questions¡­"


    She casually raised her hand and snapped her fingers again. Three glass boxes appeared on the table, each numbered from 1 to 3. Kimika could see through the glass that there was something inside them, and suddenly, everything around her seemed to slow down.


    Her mind seemed to clear of unnecessary thoughts, and her body relaxed. She felt the tension that had been building dissolve, leaving only her in front of these boxes and Chrona, who continued to watch her with curiosity.


    "That''s better, you need a clear mind¡­ So, if we return to my little gift¡­"


    The first box opened, and Kimika saw through the glass a vial containing a black substance ¡ª the same one that had recently emerged from her, only to vanish suddenly. She recognized it immediately, and her heart skipped several fast beats. It brought an uncomfortable sensation in her body again, but before she could dwell on the memories, her mind and body were cleared with a magical snap of Chrona''s fingers.


    Quickly shifting her gaze to the next box, she saw something even stranger: through the glass, Kimika could make out a trigger. The very same trigger, in the same quantity, that Toga still kept at her house. How was this possible? Why was it here? What was it doing in this box? And was Chrona planning to give her their trigger with Toga? What the...


    Kimika felt her heart freeze, and her gaze involuntarily shifted to the third box. She froze in surprise. This box... was completely empty. But inside it, a strange sensation arose ¡ª a need to touch it.


    It was as if this box was more important than all the others, despite its emptiness. The feeling was as though this choice was meant to decide something greater, but what exactly ¡ª Kimika couldn''t comprehend.

 Loss of Control

    "You can choose one thing," Chrona spoke cheerfully, her voice remaining light and playful, but there was a hint of importance in it. "The first box ¡ª it''s something familiar to you. It''s all your negative emotions, gathered and transformed into ''hatred,'' but don''t confuse it with the emotion itself, it''s something entirely different. And, you know, honestly, this is my mistake..." Chrona paused, as if feeling a brief moment of regret.


    "When I gave you the quirk, you already had another one... but it was quite weak! So I had to remove it to give you a new one, because your childlike body wouldn''t have been able to handle two quirks at once. And it turned out that after the removal, some remnants were left behind... I don''t fully understand how it happened, because the very nature of the quirk is beyond my control. But the point is: your negative emotions began to accumulate and merged with the remnants of the old quirk, forming a new ¡ª living, intelligent, sinister force, whose goal is to take over your body. And every time you use it, it takes a part of you. But there''s one bonus, how could I forget about it? Otherwise, I wouldn''t even mention it! This power gives you many interesting abilities, but... with every use, you become more dependent on it, like a drug... But there''s one way¡­"


    Without hearing Chrona out, Kimika felt a wave of terror wash over her. All that was running through her mind was one thought: she was on the verge of becoming the victim of this... second quirk?


    "Hey, are you even listening to me?" Chrona asked seriously, noticing that Kimika seemed lost in her thoughts. "Ugh, who am I even talking to? You''re the one at fault, so you''ll figure out how to control it. But an important note: I took it from you, and if it weren''t for me, I don''t think you''d be sitting here right now. And if you choose it... remember ¡ª I won''t be able to take it from you again without INCREDIBLY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. Because it will already be part of you."


    "Well, the second slot..." Chrona pondered for a moment, then winked. "That''s your trigger, the same one that''s currently in my favorite Toga. If she were here, I''d... oh, ahem... And if you choose this box, I''ll create a special trigger for you that will awaken your third eye. But there''s one big, big BUT: your body simply won''t handle it, and immediately after the eye awakens, you''ll explode. BOOM ¡ª and that''s it. Fun, right? Though, technically, that eye should awaken when you grow older, but that''s incredibly boring... just waiting for the awakening, right?"


    Kimika, as Chrona had expected, couldn''t hold back and abruptly stood up, ready to protest that both options led to a dreadful outcome for her.


    In response, Chrona simply snapped her fingers, and Kimika instantly found herself back in the chair as if she had never stood up, now deprived of the ability to move. Her body was frozen, and she couldn''t make even the slightest movement.


    All she could do was look at Chrona, who, despite everything, didn''t take the smile off her face, her gaze radiating carefreeness and even enjoyment of the situation.


    But this was completely different from Toga, as in her carefreeness and smile, one could always sense warmth and support, while with Chrona, there was only a cold desire to watch the show, as if to her, it was nothing more than entertainment.


    "And the third... If you choose the third box, you''ll be faced with a choice: either you take nothing, or you choose both of the first boxes. Their combination will lead to something... interesting. Hatred will do everything to keep you alive because, after all, it will die with you, and it really doesn''t want that... And your third eye, which can overload your body, causing it to explode... An incredible combo... But remember, everything is in your hands. I don''t care what you choose, because each option, even the one where you take nothing, leads to the same thing: fun and a show!"


    Chrona paused, her gaze becoming even more mysterious, and her voice almost sinister.


    "And you probably remember that at this very moment, your ''best friend'' is still fighting the heroes. And after your defeat to the All Might... he probably went to help his colleagues in the battle against her... And, unfortunately, I didn''t accidentally stop time... so 1 second here is 1 second there... maybe she''s already lost... or maybe not? So, you need to make your decision faster!"


    Chrona slowly stood up from her chair, each of her movements smooth and unhurried, as if she possessed endless time. Taking a few steps toward Kimika, she leaned in so that their gazes met at the same level.


    "Well then," she said quietly, but her voice echoed in the silence, filling the entire space. "What''s your choice, little ''Kimi''? The clock is ticking, and the show won''t wait forever."


    Kimika felt her heart race even faster. The flood of information that had hit her in the last few minutes was almost unbearable. Her mind tried to organize everything into neat categories, but it all blended into a chaotic tangle of options, questions, and doubts.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Yet one thought, one single idea, broke through the chaos: Toga. Her friend was now fighting alone against the heroes, just as Chrona had said. And Kimika knew ¡ª she had to, no, she was obligated to make the right choice. Not for herself, but for Toga. To help the one who had always helped her, to save her, even if this choice would have serious consequences, she was ready for anything.


    Kimika clenched her fists, feeling her fingers tremble slightly, but her gaze became steady, and her breathing deepened. Gathering all her willpower, she exhaled: "I... I''ve made my choice."


    Chrona watched Kimika with a smile, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. With a snap of her fingers, a dark vial appeared in her hand, filled with a thick black liquid that emitted an oppressive heaviness, as if its very nature were the embodiment of evil. Its deep color resembled an abyss, before which one could not stand firm.


    "Once you drink this, you''ll gain your second incredibly powerful and dangerous quirk. You''ll become one of the few people who possess more than one quirk, and even among them, yours will be some of the strongest. Though... probably... No, definitely hatred will temporarily take control of your body for a while. But don''t worry, it won''t last long... maybe a minute or two. This is because, along with the quirk, you''ll receive all the emotions I took from you to prevent another accidental awakening of hatred, and I''ve done this quite often. It will be... a bit difficult to endure. You won''t have the strength or time to suppress the hatred because you''ll have other concerns, and it will take full advantage of this opportunity."


    Kimika stared at the black liquid. A drop of doubt still lingered in her heart, but she understood: this moment was crucial. Especially for Toga, as every second of hesitation could become fatal for her. Clenching her fists, Kimika felt her heart beat faster and faster.


    Snatching the vial from Chrona''s hands, Kimika, casting one last glance at her smile, opened it and drank it all in one gulp.


    To her surprise... nothing happened. Absolutely nothing ¡ª no pain, no discomfort, no new sensations.


    Looking at Chrona, who was smiling even wider than before, her eyes glowing brightly as if in anticipation of something intriguing, Kimika realized that...


    And then her heart was filled with unbearable pain, as if it were burning from the inside. A spasm seized her body, forcing her to fall to her knees.


    The pain began to spread from her heart throughout her body, like fire, tearing her apart. Every breath became heavy, and every movement ¡ª agonizing.


    Her eyes seemed to burn, and a cry of pain escaped her. She rubbed them with all her might, trying to erase the source of the pain, but it was hopeless. Through the agony and the tears that blurred her vision, she barely noticed that her hands were covered in blood and the black liquid pouring from her eyes.


    As if that wasn''t enough. Before she could even comprehend what was happening, her last intact right horn began to crack loudly and shatter. She tried to stop it, grabbing it with her hands, forgetting about the pain in her eyes, for the pain from her horn was a thousand times stronger.


    As if that weren''t enough, before she could even comprehend what was happening, her last intact right horn began to crack loudly, threatening to shatter like it would explode at any moment. She tried to stop it, gripping it with her hands, forgetting the pain in her eyes, because the agony from the horn was a thousand times worse.


    Her head began to fill with thoughts, but they were not her own. These were horrifying thoughts of pain, anger, rage, and hatred toward everyone... toward Chrona for treating her whole life as nothing more than a funny show to watch with popcorn... toward her family for not supporting her in her difficult moments... toward the heroes, the villains, and the entire world that destroyed her life... and anger toward Toga for not stopping her, but instead, supporting her and helping her become a criminal...


    These thoughts were not hers, but they tore her apart from the inside, consuming her entirely, making her lose control more and more.


    Chrona immediately reacted, still smiling, and with a snap of her fingers, she pushed Kimika into the portal she had created behind her, slowing her fall.


    "Don''t worry, this voice in your head ¡ª it''s not schizophrenia... it''s much worse. It''s the hatred you''ve consumed. It almost immediately started to influence you, right? The dark thoughts, and all that. It will whisper in your head from time to time, saying everything it can to make you use it. It might even promise to stop torturing you... but that''s a lie. It will deceive you, push you toward decisions that will seem like your own, completely right, but will lead to an even worse situation, where you''ll eventually have to use it. And remember, you won''t be able to resist its influence... just its presence in your body is almost a death sentence. But you can help the one you''re trying so hard to save."


    She waved her hand as if in farewell, and each moment of Kimika''s fall became faster. "Goodbye, my dear toy. This is probably our last meeting, so... Have fun out there, Kimika. The more you enjoy yourself, the better the show will be for us."


    But most of her words went unheard by Kimika. The dark substance began to fully infiltrate her mind, turning every moment into a struggle for control.


    With hatred, all the emotions that Chrona had taken from her earlier returned. Fear, sorrow, pain, anger, hatred, and memories overwhelmed her in a single wave. The most painful moments of her life appeared before her eyes, making her feel utterly helpless against the hatred raging inside. And eventually, she felt her control over her body slip completely away.


    Her body began to move without her will, as if it had become foreign to her, and her consciousness could only watch from within, unable to intervene.


    "FINALLY, I''M FREE... I''LL GET MY REVENGE... FOR YOU... FOR MYSELF... FOR US... AGAINST EVERYTHING... HUMANKIND... AND I''LL START... WITH THOSE HEROES!" ¡ª the voice boomed, which, though it came from her lips, no longer belonged to her. It was laced with a demonic laugh that shattered the silence, ominous and cold, like a voice emerging from the depths of her heart.

 Bloody Pleasure

    In the ruined theater, Kimika''s body lay among the debris left from her fight with Toga against the heroes. Beside her sat Recovery Girl, who was doing everything she could to save her life.


    Knowing that every second could be crucial, Recovery Girl kissed the girl again and again, trying to activate her regeneration with her quirk. But every time, the result was the same: just moments after applying her quirk, it would dissipate.


    "Come on! Come on!" she whispered, not stopping.


    Finally, after another attempt, she managed to activate the regeneration, and Kimika''s body began to slowly heal. Only then did Recovery Girl allow herself to catch her breath, watching as the girl''s face began to regain its normal appearance right before her eyes.


    "Finally... There''s only one left. God forbid, she''s in the same condition. Especially knowing those two... I hope they were softer in the fight than All Might."


    Throwing one last glance at the girl to make sure she was okay before heading to Toga, Recovery Girl froze in shock.


    The girl, who was supposed to remain unconscious for several days due to exhaustion after regeneration and the sedative, was now staring at her with eyes burning with hatred.


    "What... You should''ve been unconscious! How...?" she whispered barely audible, unable to believe her own eyes. Her heart tightened, and her legs instinctively stepped back, succumbing to fear.


    Unable to look away, Recovery Girl froze, caught by those eyes burning with hatred. It felt as though every cell in her body screamed danger, pleading with her to run, but she couldn''t move.


    As if chained by invisible bonds, she remained motionless, unable to tear her gaze away from the bottomless darkness.


    First, she saw the eyes: black, deep as an abyss, radiating a chilling fury that seemed ready to tear her apart at any moment. In their centers, faintly glowing stones flickered, like dimmed stars that had lost their former light.


    And just above the eyes were horns that, just moments ago, when she had tried to save the girl, had been blasted off at their roots.


    But now, they had returned to their place, much larger, darker, as if carved from the very essence of the abyss, just like her eyes.


    "This! This is the same black substance!" she barely managed to say, when the entire theater was filled with a terrifying, lethal aura.


    The air grew heavy, as if soaked in death, and Recovery Girl, attempting to breathe, suddenly started coughing, unable to take even the smallest breath.


    This was an aura she had never felt in her life, nor even heard of from other heroes. Her heart seemed to stop in her chest, as though it feared beating even once, lest it draw attention to this horrifying power.


    A chill spread across her skin, not of the natural kind, as if the very shadow of this aura was seeping into her essence.


    And just as she managed to take a deep breath, Kimika''s hand, glowing with a red light and with dark claws, was already half an inch from her face, ready to tear her apart.


    She had already mentally buried herself, imagining the inevitable end.


    But to her great relief, before the black claws could rake across her face, leaving at best scars, a powerful shockwave swept through the air.


    Its source was the loud, piercing scream of Present Mic: "AAAAAAA!" The wave was so strong that it could not only stun but also send anyone in its path flying away.


    At the same time, Eraser Head, who just a moment ago had been on the verge of falling asleep due to Midnight''s quirk, was fully awake, sensing the deadly aura that filled the space.


    Without wasting a second, he immediately activated his quirk, targeting Kimika''s ability to erase it.


    The giant sound wave sent Kimika''s body flying away from Recovery Girl with incredible speed, like a light leaf swept up by a storm. With a loud crash, she slammed into the wall, getting pinned to it¡ªright in the spot where All Might had once pinned her.


    Crushed against the wall, Hatred felt Kimika''s body literally breaking apart from the force of the wave, disintegrating into pieces, following the example of the wall behind her.


    But instead of pain, a wide smile blossomed on her face ¡ª she had long yearned to once again taste the true thrill of battle, and the realization of her defeat only fueled her satisfaction. She longed to see the deathly, frightened faces of the heroes, twisted by despair, who likely thought they had already won.


    At first, blood poured from her ears, and soon she could hear nothing. Barely opening her bloodied eyes, which she managed to regenerate, Hatred struggled to watch as the heroes, shouting over one another, pointed at her and at Present Mic, who continued to scream, not letting her escape from the grip of the sound wave.


    Even the horns she had regenerated, though only slightly weaker than the originals, began to crack under the immense pressure that showed no sign of relenting.


    ''If they think this is enough to defeat me¡­ THEY''RE DEADLY MISTAKEN!''


    Hatred immediately began splitting her tiny remaining strength between regenerating her ears to hear the desperate pleas of the heroes, while simultaneously working on restoring her eyes and horns.


    Although she knew that after this, her ability to capture new body parts would be significantly limited, she wasn''t worried. She was already in the body, and that was enough for her to eventually claim it as her own, sooner or later.


    Blocking out the possibility of her body shutting down from the pain, Hatred refused to lose her only chance to experience the battle, maintaining full, albeit temporary, control over the body.


    And the last thing she thought about was that after Kimika regained control, her body would need a few days or even weeks to fully recover. But that didn''t concern her at all ¡ª she was ready to do anything to feel as much of the battle and excitement as possible.


    ''This body... incredibly weak... squeezed... powerless... But that''s nothing! As long as I have this!''


    With a wide grin, baring her enlarged fangs as a sign of her control over the body, Hatred, despite every limb and part of her body being pinned to the wall by the relentless shockwave that seemed to grow stronger, managed to gather the remnants of her strength and force out a weak snap of her fingers.


    With a golden glow, a golden capsule appeared in her right hand, radiating a soft golden light.


    Through small cuts on her palm, she released her physical form as a black substance and began slowly absorbing the capsule into herself, and then into Kimika''s body.


    Meanwhile, Present Mic, standing behind the heroes, could feel that he could no longer continue, and he urgently needed to stop, even if only for a moment.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    However, he had no chance to do so ¡ª his colleagues had not made a single decision on whether he should stop or intensify the attack. ''Decide faster! Tell me to intensify or stop! I''m not a sound system, and I can''t keep going forever!''


    "I''m saying it again ¡ª he has to stop! Even if she somehow managed to get up, her body could literally turn to mush from his scream! And at best, she''ll be a lifelong invalid!" shouted Recovery Girl, worried about the consequences of this attack on the already exhausted girl''s body.


    "You! You''ve forgotten how she almost killed you? Do you think that..." Eraser Head began, but he didn''t get to finish his sentence before Midnight interrupted, sharply pointing at Kimika.


    "HEY, YOU TWO, LOOK!"


    Recovery Girl and Eraser Head immediately stopped their argument, and without a word from Midnight, all three of them were blinded by a bright golden glow from the girl, forcing them to shield their eyes with their hands.


    The glow gradually faded, and within a few seconds, it disappeared, leaving only a faint golden aura behind.


    Crack!


    The heroes heard a sharp sound, like breaking branches, and instantly turned their gaze to the spot where Present Mic had been. But he was no longer there. In his place, standing where he had been, was she... Kimika... with her third golden eye wide open and her right arm broken.


    She smiled casually, shaking her broken arm as if it were nothing serious. "Hmph, the body still isn''t used to the third eye..."


    Eraser Head, unable to believe his eyes, couldn''t comprehend what had just happened. Just moments ago, they were debating whether Present Mic should continue the attack, and now he was lying unconscious in the very spot where Kimika had been.


    He saw how his friend''s clothes were torn, and a huge purple bruise was clearly visible on his stomach, as if from an incredibly strong blow he hadn''t even seen, and that crack...


    Only now did Eraser Head realize that this crack was nothing other than the sound of almost all of Present Mic''s ribs breaking, who hadn''t even had time to understand what had happened.


    This sight made Eraser Head clench his fists, and he immediately shifted all his attention to Kimika, who, as if unaware of his anger, arrogantly smiled, muttering something about her body''s weakness and the third eye, while examining Present Mic.


    Barely holding back his rage, he could feel the overwhelming urge to pounce on her right then and there, with no strategy or plan, simply driven by impulse, relentlessly pulsing within him.


    His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails were digging into his skin, leaving bloody marks.


    But he knew that such a reckless impulse would lead to nothing good.


    And although with every passing second, his anger only grew, he forced himself to hold on with the last of his strength, waiting for an opportunity to...


    "The crunch of bones... A delight for the ears... How long has it been since I heard this sound... Though it''s a shame I miscalculated and didn''t strike with full force, thinking it wasn''t necessary... Maybe my hand would have gone through him like paper?" she said, inspecting her broken right arm with a smile.


    "Although, because of that, my hand would likely have turned to mush, but damn, how fun would that be! Watching his terrified face as he''d look down and see my mushy hand passing through him... And he wouldn''t even pass out and would feel everything while slowly dying."


    Her words were the last straw, and Eraser Head immediately activated his quirk, recklessly closing the distance and launching himself at her with incredible speed, despite the excruciating pain in the leg he had injured.


    "I''LL KILL YOU!" he shouted, overcome with rage, leaving Kimika with no chance to retreat.


    Quickly tying her up with capturing weapon, he completely restricted her movements and began relentlessly striking, each blow filled with fury and hatred.


    But Kimika took all his blows without even attempting to break free. She simply watched him silently with an unchanging smile, not a hint of pain or fear, which Eraser Head completely failed to notice.


    "Had your fun?" ¡ª those were the only words that made Eraser Head freeze in place and stop attacking.


    Instantly, everything felt incredibly strange to him. His uncontrollable rage... He had never allowed himself to act recklessly, to move on a wave of emotions.


    And the behavior of this girl seemed unbearably alien. Every word she spoke, every movement she made, was unlike anything he remembered ¡ª too calm, too cold.


    Even his impulsive strikes didn''t provoke any normal human reaction, as if he wasn''t facing a person at all, but some kind of creature.


    It was as though her very presence amplified all negative emotions, making them completely uncontrollable, as if forcing him to lose all control over himself.


    And all of this began the moment her eyes and horns turned a dark, abyssal color... Looking at her face, he noticed the third golden eye, which he hadn''t paid attention to before, and which was now staring at him intensely, as if penetrating into the very depths of his soul. And her calm, almost mocking smile, despite all his strikes, sent chills down his spine.


    "Your... your third eye was supposed to be closed..."


    Without noticing his fear of the unknown creature, he involuntarily took a step back, completely confused, trying to understand who was truly standing before him. And at that very moment, his confusion caused him to accidentally deactivate his quirk.


    This moment of hesitation gave Hatred a chance. She immediately activated her third eye, and within a second, her silhouette dissolved in a bright golden glow.


    In the same bright golden light, she reappeared a little to the right, with her constant smile, watching as the §ãapturing weapon, which had been holding her the entire time while he struck her, helplessly fell to the ground.


    Eraser Head, noticing how his emotions became more uncontrollable due to this creature that escaped from his capturing weapon by teleporting, forced himself to gather all his focus, tensing every muscle to avoid succumbing to the chaos of the situation.


    "Teleportation? You just keep surprising me," he said, watching every even the smallest movement of Kimika, trying to stay calm and maintain control, realizing that the situation was slipping out of his grasp.


    "Teleportation? Missed it, think again!"


    Without giving Eraser Head a chance to understand the meaning of her words or consider other possible options.


    Right before his eyes, she began to disappear and reappear, leaving behind golden trails, each time either shortening the distance between them or, as if for fun, increasing it.


    With each teleportation, she appeared in a way that he could only see her from the corner of his eye, as if playing with him, constantly preventing him from activating his quirk.


    Her voice echoed playfully from all directions, mischievous and teasing, as if toying with him. "I''m here¡­ Oh, no, now I''m here!"


    And then, after yet another teleportation, she was right in front of him, grinning with dark fangs and delivering a blow with her accelerated, fully extended left arm straight at his abdomen.


    Instantly blocking her strike, he was already ready to activate his quirk, but within a moment, she reappeared behind him, bathed in golden light.


    Noticing from the corner of his eye how her left hand, glowing with a red aura, swung toward him for another blow, he realized that the strike was inevitably approaching his side.


    Eraser Head instantly realized he wouldn''t be able to block it in time and would likely end up in the same state as Present Mic.


    Instinctively squinting his eyes, he felt her hand nearing, but¡­ nothing happened. Opening his eyes, he saw her fist being held by All Might, who was now in his hero form.


    But how is this possible? Just a moment ago, when both girls were unconscious, he had smiled and said how lucky they were to finish it all, since he had already completely used up his limit for the day.


    Hatred also couldn''t understand what had happened. Another moment, and she would have knocked out another hero, the one who posed the greatest threat due to his quirk.


    She had already started to think about how she would play with their unconscious bodies, enjoying every moment when they couldn''t resist.


    But now her plan shattered into pieces: All Might''s fist, with incredible grip, stopped her hand just a moment before it struck.


    He was the one she hadn''t noticed and hadn''t felt throughout the entire fight, which allowed her to indulge in games instead of acting with full seriousness.


    He hadn''t appeared when Present Mic almost killed her with his scream, or when she, stopping time with her third eye as much as her body allowed, almost killed him.


    And only now, during their fight with Eraser Head, did he dare to appear and interrupt her fun at the most exciting moment.


    She didn''t even try to pull her left hand out of his steel grip, knowing it would be futile.


    "RECOIL!" she shouted without wasting a moment. Instantly, her left eye and right hand began to glow with blue light, and within a second, her hand looked as if it had never been broken.


    Knowing that she couldn''t oppose All Might in her current state, and even if she somehow managed to break free from his grip, she would ultimately lose, she instantly accelerated her already restored right hand, using her right horn to its maximum.


    Creating incredibly sharp black claws capable of cutting through anything, she struck with all her might, aiming to send Eraser Head to the other world, directing her claws straight at his heart.


    But, just like with her previous hand, All Might caught her arm again, stopping the attack just moments before it reached its target, as if he were crushing her fate in his grip.


    "You''ve lost, Kimika. Surrender, and it will all end" All Might said, his tone firm and serious, tightening his grip on her arms, causing them to crack.


    But even that couldn''t make Hatred fall to her knees or surrender. With a wide smile on her face, Kimika coldly chuckled, and her gaze grew even colder.


    "You really think I''ll just give up this bloody pleasure after your words?"

 Vow and the Division of Hearts

    Upon seeing that the simple approach had not yielded results, All Might sighed with a hint of exhaustion, realizing that he would have to resort to extreme measures.


    With incredible ease, he lifted Kimika''s captured hands higher, making her hang in the air like a helpless puppet.


    "This was not a question or a request, Kimika. This was a fact. You lost. And your so-called ''Bloody Pleasure'' ends here and now."


    Kimika kept her gaze fixed on All Might''s eyes, maintaining the same almost insane smile, which seemed like it could never disappear or even slightly fade, despite the pressure of his powers and words.


    And, despite the hopelessness of the situation, there was not a trace of fear or doubt in her eyes ¡ª only cold stubbornness.


    All Might was greatly surprised by this stubbornness and carefreeness, as if everything that was happening right now was just a child''s game.


    He couldn''t fathom how the girl he had just fought had transformed into her complete opposite ¡ª in both actions and behavior. It seemed that, apart from her body, her quirk, and determination, there was nothing left of the girl she once was.


    And only now, consumed by these thoughts, did he notice the black, tar-like horns, piercing eyes, and sharp fangs ¡ª features that were far from human.


    ''It seems that after her horn exploded because of me, something happened¡­ I stepped back for just a moment, and that was enough for her to completely change, while my colleagues nearly died¡­''


    He felt an immense guilt for allowing himself to step away, even for a brief moment, from the battlefield, thinking the fight was already over. And instead of confirming its end once and for all, he went to Nezu, who had been watching the battle through the cameras on their uniforms.


    "Hey? You''ve been so deep in thought that it seems like you even forgot about me?" she said with a mocking tone, slightly tilting her head to the side. "Do you really think that by squeezing my hands almost to the point of breaking, you''re allowed to consider me defeated? Or maybe, because the one you saved at the last moment by ruining my fun is now drilling through me with his gaze, not giving me a chance to activate my quirk... that makes you sure of my defeat?"


    Hatred slowly shifted her gaze to Eraser Head, who stood slightly behind All Might. His eyes were burning bright red, already looking as though they might start bleeding, which made her smirk ironically.


    "Could it be... That dear old doctor, who did everything she could to save my life, and I... repaid her by nearly killing her? Although, fortunately, your colleagues managed to save her at the last moment. You know¡­ after this, they really should try buying a lottery ticket."


    She shifted her gaze to Recovery Girl, who, along with Midnight, was sitting in front of the unconscious and bandaged Present Mic, glowing with a green light. Mic was regenerating almost before their eyes thanks to her quirk.


    Recovery Girl whispered something quietly to Midnight, then, leaving her colleague with the injured one, stood up. Slowly, but determinedly, she began to approach them, simultaneously pulling a syringe from her bag.


    "Hmm, she pulled out a syringe. Probably with a sedative? How clich¨¦... But you know what''s really interesting? She already injected me with something like... a calming agent. And, as you can see, it didn''t help one bit."


    The more All Might observed this girl, the more he began to see not Kimika, but someone else. He couldn''t deny that the determination ¡ª or rather, the self-confidence ¡ª both of them displayed was at an incredibly high level, while their personalities began to diverge more and more.


    This sparked in him an even greater curiosity and desire to understand what exactly was happening to this girl. He eagerly awaited the moment when all of this would be over, and he could speak with Eraser Head and Nezu, who likely knew more about her than he did and could shed some light on what was happening to Kimika.


    "You really surprise me... Kimika. Your determination... It reminds me of myself in some ways. You, like me, throw yourself at enemies, even if they are far stronger than you, with the same relentless stubbornness on your face."


    Pausing, he noticed how Eraser Head turned off his quirk and began to raise the capturing weapon ¡ª this meant he would approach and bind her, bringing everything to an end. All Might simply nodded, signaling that he understood the next steps.


    "But you know what I''ve realized over time? You can have all the determination in the world and keep throwing yourself at a stronger opponent, hoping to win just because of your resolve ¡ª but that''s not strength, it''s just recklessness and overconfidence. And because of that, innocents or your loved ones can get hurt," he said, deliberately shifting his gaze to Toga, who was still lying unconscious on the ground. "And as you can see, these are not just empty words."


    "Your determination didn''t save you at the beginning of the battle, nor will it now. You''re not me, you don''t have the strength to always be the victor, and even your unique quirk, evolving at an astonishing speed, will eventually let you down. No matter how strong your resolve is, no matter how powerful your quirk, one day you''ll recklessly and overconfidently throw yourself at a powerful opponent like me and lose. But while my goal is only to capture you, causing as few injuries as possible, this opponent may have a goal not just to take your life... but to do something much crueler than death."


    All Might knew how important it was to convey this thought to her. He had once been in her shoes, fighting to the very end, with the same fire in his heart and eyes. But he also knew that this determination could one day cost unimaginable sacrifices.


    ''All For One... The greatest evil in this world.''


    He couldn''t help but bitterly smile and feel the pulsing pain in his abdomen...


    It was a vivid example of his own words, because even though he had achieved something no previous wielder of his quirk had ¡ª destroying the greatest threat to the world, All for One ¡ª it had cost him nearly everything.


    Hatred, hearing the almost preachy words of her opponent, for the first time showed something other than a smile ¡ª deep anger and the true face of her essence. Clenching her teeth so hard they even creaked, she couldn''t contain the overwhelming urge to kill him.


    Yet, there was indeed a grain of truth in his words, because the current situation was truly completely against her.


    Her hands were held by the world''s strongest hero, while Eraser Head was about to wrap her up with his capturing weapon, which she could clearly see, and Recovery Girl was already fully prepared to inject her with a sedative. Though it wouldn''t make her fall asleep, it would weaken her significantly.


    But that wasn''t the worst part.


    She could feel control over her body slowly slipping away, returning to its true owner ¡ª Kimika. And the closer the moment of full control''s return came, the weaker she became.


    ''At best, I have a minute¡­ right?''The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Turning her smile, though ironic, she realized the absurdity and hopelessness of her situation.


    And only one idea came to her mind: how to both laugh at the situation and show All Might that he had no right to tell her what to do, while at the same time escaping.


    Although this meant losing something incredibly important, something that could have been used at a better moment, she had no choice but to use it now. She understood perfectly: if she didn''t do this, she would be caught, and within the heroes'' territory or in prison, she would have no chance of regaining control over Kimika''s body, as it would always be under constant surveillance.


    Slowly, so as not to accidentally reveal herself, she began to withdraw all the hatred spent on creating her horns, keeping them outwardly normal while they became empty on the inside.


    And all that was left for her was to try to distract All Might to buy time for her plan.


    "You... you''re telling the truth. All this talk about determination and arrogance will serve as a good lesson for me, especially from you, ''the world''s strongest hero and number one hero... the hero who brings smiles.'' I''ll remember this for the rest of my life"


    But after a pause, she suddenly smiled, and that smile instantly became filled with irony, shifting the atmosphere to its opposite. "But... why then do you allow yourself to be so confident, without knowing anything about your opponent?"


    Before All Might''s eyes, Kimika''s dark horns began to shrink, as if being sucked back into her body, revealing that they were almost completely empty inside.


    "What? What''s happening!? What are you doing!?" his voice remained almost emotionless, though there was a barely perceptible hint of concern. He didn''t understand what was going on or what Kimika''s intentions were, but he was certain he couldn''t fall for this trick. It could only be a clever maneuver to deceive him and escape.


    But Hatred, completely ignoring his words, began to laugh quietly. Her laughter was cold and merciless.


    "Do you know... maybe you''ve noticed it for a while, just like Eraser Head did, but I''m not Kimika... I''m something more, something perfect. I don''t have her doubts, unnecessary emotions, or fears. I am Hatred, and like everyone, I have my ''quirk''. It''s flawless, unique, and all-powerful. And besides the fact that I can take over Kimika''s body, one of my quirk''s abilities is already active... The Aura of Hatred... Its principle is incredibly simple: all negative emotions within a certain radius around me are significantly amplified, and even the smallest trigger can unleash them. Like it did with Eraser Head... Though, I admit, for reasons unknown to me, it doesn''t seem to affect you at all. But... you know, there is one way to fix that, and it seems like you''ve given me the time to make it happen."


    In the next moment, without giving All Might any chance to comprehend the meaning of her words, an unbearable, searing pain pierced his left palm. His fingers trembled, and it seemed to him as though something alive was crawling across his skin, slowly burrowing its way inside.


    This inexplicable sensation ¡ª like something foreign and terrifying was invading his body ¡ª instilled deep concern. And Kimika''s, or rather, Hatred''s sinister laugh only heightened this feeling, causing him to instinctively release her hand to inspect his own.


    As soon as he did, a thick black substance began to drip onto the ground. It flowed from both his own hand and Kimika''s. Quickly examining his hand, he saw a small scratch on his palm, into which the living droplets of the same black substance were still seeping.


    "And this method is based on the fact that part of my physical form must enter your body. But! In addition to activating a simple aura of hatred, its enhanced version is triggered ¡ª Inferno of Hatred. And that''s not all! Along with it comes a little bonus! Specifically... You will feel incredible pain, and perhaps even become an uncontrollable ''berserker,'' consumed by hatred! And although this took almost all of my strength, I... to be honest, I can''t help but enjoy the last chance to see your face distorted by pain. It will be a true pleasure before I lose control!"


    And although on the outside she appeared as if all her words were completely true, inside she was incredibly relieved that, at that moment, she had no horns. And her lie would not be revealed through them. Because she knew that her words were nothing more than a farce, aimed at one thing: to have fun seeing the fearful face of All Might before she used "this"


    She understood that even if she spent all of her strength, it would have almost no effect, especially on someone like him ¡ª All Might. But in this game, she wasn''t seeking victory. It was enough for her that she could, even for a moment, plant doubts and anxiety in his heart.


    And as she had hoped, Hatred watched as All Might, right before her eyes, began to get nervous, and it greatly amused her. She knew that seeing such an expression on the face of this fearless and confident being was almost impossible, and she was probably one of the few who could witness this moment. However, what happened the next moment was something she hadn''t expected at all.


    All Might, as if shaking off Hatred, completely lost his nervousness and seemed to calm down.


    ''Is that all? Hmph... I thought this would last longer.''


    But suddenly, he looked directly into her eyes, and Hatred saw a few tiny drops of hatred within them. This surprised her more than she could have imagined.


    "Did it work?" ¡ª she whispered, still not believing what she was seeing.


    Staring eye to eye, All Might''s gaze gradually filled with anger, until suddenly... it cleared. All the hatred that had been in his body moments ago seemed to dissipate, and a bright smile once again appeared on his face.


    "Well then, Hatred, if you''ve spent part of your physical form, as you said, on that pathetic ''Inferno of Hatred''. I''m afraid I must disappoint you. You won''t see any ''show.'' I''ll simply wait until you completely lose control over Kimika''s body. And know this, as soon as we get to the Hero Academia, we''ll find a way to rid ourselves of you, like the pathetic parasite you are."


    "Well then, Hatred, if you''ve spent part of your physical form, as you said, on that pathetic ''Inferno of Hatred,'' I''m afraid I must disappoint you. You won''t see any ''show.'' I''ll simply wait until you completely lose control over Kimika''s body. And know this, as soon as we get to the Hero Academia, we''ll find a way to rid ourselves of you, like the pathetic parasite you are."


    Hatred felt an immense surge of anger flare up inside her. She... the very essence of hatred and all negative emotions, was called a pathetic parasite? A pitiful thing that could be so easily disposed of? If that were true, she would have killed herself a long time ago!


    "Hahahaha... you... if you think such words will lead to anything, you''re mistaken... And know this... if you think you can somehow get rid of me... you''re wrong. The fact that I''m in Kimika''s body has already made me a part of her. I live in her heart and the most vital parts of her body, and if you try to remove me... you''ll just kill her. And if... if you somehow manage to find a way, then I''ll kill both her and myself!"


    All Might watched her reaction, and although she tried to appear calm, he could clearly see how her face was literally burning with anger, which greatly pleased him. He could feel that she was on the verge of losing control. Her words were full of threats, but he could see that, in reality, she was desperately trying to maintain control of the situation.


    And although he had called her ability pathetic, in truth, he felt an incredible pain for a moment. Likely, had it not been for his quirk, the consequences would have been worse, but even so, they were still very much felt.


    Steam was literally beginning to pour out of him, signaling that he was about to lose his hero form once again, and it was likely to happen just when Hatred lost control over the body, returning it to Kimika.


    "You know... I''ll come back... I''ll come back and kill you! I''ll kill you all! I remember each of you heroes because of what I felt... Although... you know what will be even better?! It won''t be me doing the killing... IT WILL BE KIMIKA... She will grow stronger with every fight, with every victory! And I... I... will increase my control over her body until I take it completely! And then... I''ll kill you with my own hands! And you... until that happens, you can keep playing the symbol of peace and the teacher of future heroes! And know this... I never speak empty words!"


    Throwing one last glance at the unconscious Toga, a faint, warm smile appeared on her face.


    Before All Might could say a word, he saw Kimika''s eyes return to normal, completely free of any dark stain ¡ª signaling that Hatred had fully lost control over the body and returned it to its rightful owner.


    However, before he could either rejoice in this victory or ponder Hatred''s threats, he noticed Kimika''s third golden eye, which had been open all this time, widening further as if growing in size. Instantly, the theater was filled with a golden and bluish glow.


    The light engulfed everything around ¡ª Kimika herself, him, and the entire theater, as though saturating the space with immense energy. And suddenly, with a loud sound resembling an explosion, everything abruptly ceased.


    The room was once again bathed in moonlight, illuminating the remnants of golden light that gradually dissipated before his very eyes. But what happened next stunned and simultaneously terrified him: Kimika was gone. She had vanished. She was neither in his grasp nor anywhere in the theater.


    He quickly surveyed everything around him ¡ª she was nowhere to be found. There were no traces of their battle. The entire theater looked as though nothing had happened.


    Only the bewildered heroes remained, surprisingly unharmed. No cuts on Midnight, no sign of the stab wound on Eraser Head''s leg, no torn clothing or massive bruise from a rib fracture on Present Mic.


    The only evidence that the fight had even taken place was the unconscious figure of Toga.

 The Heroes Council

    In the spacious conference room, there was an oppressive silence, occasionally broken by the soft hum of the lamps. The panoramic windows offered a breathtaking view of the nighttime landscape of U.A. Academy.


    In the center of the room stood a massive oak table, illuminated by soft yet cold light, creating an atmosphere that blended warmth and tension.


    Around it sat all the heroes, who had just returned from an important mission a few minutes ago, except for All Might, who was busy saving people. Each of them sat in a comfortable chair, with coffee cups placed in front of them.


    Among the attendees were Vlad King and Ectoplasm. Their faces reflected hints of confusion, as they were the only ones who had no idea why this secret meeting was called in the middle of the night.


    The only ones missing from the full faculty of the hero course at the Academy were Snipe, Cementoss, and the organizer of the meeting ¡ª the Academy''s principal, Nezu.


    The tense silence continued, and even those who knew the purpose of the gathering avoided eye contact, recalling the events of the recent mission.


    Suddenly, one of the attendees, Vlad King, broke the silence. He slightly pushed his chair back, creating a muffled sound that echoed off the walls of the room, and irritably crossed his arms over his chest.


    "Maybe one of you will finally explain why we were woken up in the middle of the night, especially now, right before the academy opens for the first-year students? I just barely managed to go through that incredibly large pile of paperwork, reviewed all the applications from the new students, and finally fell asleep! And I only managed that after a few sleeping pills, which I practically spend my entire salary on!"


    A few pairs of eyes turned to him, but no one was in a hurry to answer. Ectoplasm, sitting nearby, only gave a slight nod, as if confirming that he, too, was curious about this question.


    However, as always, he remained silent. His nature didn''t lean towards unnecessary words ¡ª he usually preferred to observe rather than intervene unless he felt it was necessary.


    The tension was broken by Midnight. She slowly exhaled and glanced at the empty chair waiting for Nezu.


    "I think the reason is that the conclusion of our recent mission was... far from ideal, and something happened there..."


    At that moment, Eraser Head intervened, interrupting her, frowning and noticeably leaning back in his chair.


    "The mission was a complete failure! It wasn''t even close to ideal, Midnight! And all because of the main task Nezu gave us: ''inflict as few injuries as possible so we can turn them to our side''... and we almost got killed! Then, Kimika, who turned out to have some unknown psychotic demon living inside her, swore to kill us all! And the only thing that stopped her from doing so was All Might''s involvement in the mission! Then, she did the unthinkable ¡ª she sent us into the past!"


    The room was once again filled with silence, but this time it was not just tense, but grave. Everyone who had been on the mission recalled everything that had happened.


    It was especially difficult for Present Mic, who didn''t even manage to understand how he got hit, a blow that nearly killed him. And as they told him, had Kimika struck just a little harder, he wouldn''t be here.


    Recovery Girl also remembered those black claws, as deep as an abyss, that were only an inch away from her face, and those eyes¡­ that looked at her with pure hatred, along with the deadly aura she seemed to feel once again, sending a shiver through her body.


    And it was as if she had forgotten how to speak, silently wishing for the meeting to end as quickly as possible so she could go home.


    Ectoplasm and Vlad King tensed, realizing that the mission, carefully planned by the most brilliant being on the planet ¡ª Nezu, which involved three of their colleagues as well as All Might himself, had almost ended in tragedy.


    Suddenly, the door quietly opened, and Nezu''s voice was heard as he entered, smiling.


    "Well, well, it''s not that bad, Aizawa. We managed to capture Toga, and thanks to the cameras on your suits, we obtained information on both Kimika''s and this ''Hatred''s'' abilities, as well as a sample of her physical form."


    With him entered Cementoss and Snipe, who seemed to know much more about what would be discussed than anyone else present. They walked to the table and sat down, remaining silent.


    Nezu, maintaining his carefree expression, approached his chair, pressed a button under the table, and with a loud clank, the panoramic windows were sealed with steel plates, making it clear to everyone that this conversation was to be highly classified.


    Seeing the silent understanding that everyone realized the importance of the information to be discussed, Nezu satisfiedly pressed another button, activating the projector.


    On the screen in front of everyone appeared a map of the city, with the theater ¡ª the site of their recent mission ¡ª clearly marked. The theater was circled with a black marker, and several colored zones extended around it.


    The red zone covered 1 mile from the theater, the yellow zone extended 3 miles, and the green zone reached 5 miles.


    "This is the approximate area where Kimika is likely to be. Given her physical and emotional state after everything that happened, she couldn''t have gone beyond this zone. Hound Dog is already actively searching for her in these areas, so, Aizawa, we still don''t know how this mission exactly ended."


    Aizawa, though silent, visibly twisted his lips, and in his eyes, it was clear that he was filled with questions.


    How could Nezu be so confident that Kimika was in a state where she couldn''t leave these zones? They all returned to the past, finding themselves in the same condition they had arrived in¡ªwithout a single wound, resilient, and not exhausted. Even the fact that they all remained in their original positions until Kimika sent them back in time raised even more questions. So why was she in a different place? Why wasn''t she visible when they surveyed the area? And what was stopping her from leaving these zones?


    However, understanding that Nezu had likely already thought through these questions, Aizawa decided to keep them to himself for now.


    Nezu, noticing the expression on Aizawa''s face, simply smiled. With strange calmness, as if nothing had happened, he mysteriously pulled out a cup of tea from who knows where and began sipping it slowly while advancing to the next slide.


    On the screen appeared Kimika''s silhouette in a standing position. The red lens markers focused on the large black horns, the open golden third eye, and the black eyes that shimmered with small glowing stones. The girl''s hands were armed with black claws.


    ------------------


    Name: Kimika Tanaki


    Age: 14


    Danger Level: B+ -> A++


    Quirk: Time Manipulation, Hatred


    Chance of joining the hero side: 74% (23% under Toga''s influence, -100% considering Hatred)


    Partners and trusted individuals: Toga


    Hatred infection: 3%


    Special Moves and Abilities:


    Kimika:


    ? Enhanced regeneration, strength, and endurance


    ? Slowdown and Acceleration: Uses her left blue eye for slowing down and her right red eye for speeding up. When activated, each eye glows with its respective color, and everything that is slowed or accelerated also begins to glow in that color.


    ? Inverse Eye Color: When needed, one eye takes on the color of the other, significantly enhancing the abilities of the acquired eye.


    Upon selecting the future eye:


    ? Future Sight: Ability to see a few moments into the future.


    Upon selecting the past eye:


    ? Unknown.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ? Echo Strike: Freezing the effects of strikes, accumulating them, and then instantly releasing them for a single powerful blow. Effective against opponents with strong armored quirks.


    ? TIMEFREEZ: In a small radius around Kimika, an area of absolute deceleration is created, affecting everything within it. Weakness: When creating super-fast movement within the zone, the eye and horn may not withstand the pressure, which can lead to damage. Additional unconfirmed weakness: If there are a large number of objects requiring deceleration, it could result in overload and damage to the horns.


    ? Third Eye: Stops time for a few moments or rewinds time back. When using this eye, Kimika is covered in a golden glow and disappears, reappearing in another location, also surrounded by a golden glow. Theory: Requires a significant amount of energy to use.


    Hatred (parasite/quirk):


    ? Physical form: A black substance with its own personality, female in gender, mentally unstable and sadistic. It desires to take control of Kimika''s body.


    ? Control takeover: Hatred can take control of Kimika''s body, though this process has only been demonstrated once, according to Hatred itself, achieving this is difficult.


    ? Recoil: A ability that allows limbs and possibly objects to return to a previous state, regardless of their current condition, using the left eye.


    ? The Aura of Hatred: Hatred can amplify all negative emotions within a certain radius, weakening the emotional resilience and willpower of people. Its effectiveness depends on the strength of will of the targeted individuals.


    ? Inferno of Hatred: An enhanced version of The Aura of Hatred. It activates when Hatred''s physical form enters the body. This ability is most effective against individuals with low emotional resilience. With weak emotional strength or depending on the amount of Hatred that enters the body, the person can become a berserker, controlled only by hatred and anger.


    ? Creation and regeneration: Hatred can create horns and, presumably, create or restore Kimika''s eyes. It is also capable of growing claws over the fingernails.


    Weaknesses:


    ? Attachment to Toga: Excessive trust and attachment to Toga causes Kimika to risk her own safety. In the event of Toga''s capture, she may attempt to rescue her at any cost.


    ? Energy consumption of abilities: Using powerful techniques drains the horns. Exhaustion or damage to the horns can temporarily render them unusable for abilities.


    ? Vulnerability of the eyes: Damage or neutralization of the eyes deprives Kimika of the ability to use her quirk, leaving her defenseless.


    ------------------


    When the list of abilities granted by the girl''s quirk appeared on the projector screen, every hero in the room literally froze in place. Their eyes widened, and some even nervously swallowed. The number of skills the girl possessed was staggering and almost unbelievable.


    These were not just super moves or simple names of powerful strikes to intimidate the enemy... each of her abilities seemed like a separate quirk.


    Suddenly, when the tension reached its peak, everything was interrupted by a loud bang. The heroes even felt a sense of relief that someone had finally broken the silence ¡ª though they wouldn''t admit it.


    They all instinctively turned toward the source of the sound, momentarily losing themselves in the distraction, which was, in fact, welcome. It was exactly what they needed ¡ª for someone to finally voice all the questions and astonishment that were turbulently swirling in their minds.


    It was Vlad King. He sharply rose from his seat, slamming his hands on the table. His face twisted in shock and disbelief, and his eyes burned with intensity.


    "This number of abilities! That''s already something extraordinary in itself! But... one of her quirks ¡ª Time Control? It gives her three eyes... past, future, present... This is already bordering on the unbelievable! And even more ¡ª the third eye allows her to travel through time? Is... is that even possible?"


    "This amount of abilities! That in itself is something extraordinary! But¡­ one of her quirks ¡ª Time Control? It... It gives her three eyes¡­ past, future, present¡­ This is already on the edge of the incredible! And even more ¡ª the third eye allows her to travel through time? Is¡­ is that even possible?"


    He paused for a moment, rereading the list as if trying to make sure he wasn''t imagining things, but after seeing the same thing again, he sighed heavily and continued:


    "But¡­ Well, this can be explained by the fact that children with unique quirks started being born in our time, and eventually, someone like her was bound to be born¡­ BUT Hatred? That''s a completely different story! It''s not connected to time at all! And even more ¡ª it''s alive and intelligent, like another person! Who, as it''s written here, wants to take over her body!"


    Despite all the emotional turmoil and facts presented by Vlad King, one of the heroes remained surprisingly calm. It was Ectoplasm, who kept his usual composure.


    "In our time, there are already smart quirks. For example, one of the applicants ¡ª Fumikage Tokoyami with his Dark Shadow. He, as one of those who got in based on recommendations, can also be considered quite incredible, especially considering that at night his quirk becomes so strong that in moments of emotion, he might lose control over it."


    Vlad King fell silent for a moment, contemplating what Ectoplasm had said. His gaze was focused, and his thoughts still swirled around the girl''s incredible abilities. He immersed himself in thought for a few seconds, repeatedly reviewing the list of her abilities.


    "Alright... Hatred can exist in our world as a quirk... But... she has two incredibly powerful quirks at once! Who are her parents? Are they some legendary heroes we''ve never even heard of? Or... is this girl born as a result of those crazy marriages where the goal is to create descendants with extraordinary quirks? Like, for example, one of the recommended students with fire and ice... No! This still doesn''t fit into any logical framework!"


    He paused, his eyes focused as he tried to find some logical connection. Suddenly, his gaze stopped on Nezu, whose face had formed a strange smirk, making him consider other possibilities.


    All the options he had considered seemed unlikely. But suddenly, one option surfaced in his mind ¡ª the most realistic and at the same time, the most terrifying. The option he once heard whispered in alleyways, where rumors spread about certain criminals attempting to manipulate genetics and create "beings" based on the crossbreeding of quirks from different people.


    And to confirm this theory, he even heard that recently, people with strong quirks had started disappearing all over their city and in the surrounding areas.


    "Or... no, this can''t be! Nezu, please don''t tell me she''s a genetically created human... an artificial product of some criminals?! If that''s the case¡­ we need to immediately find this place and destroy it completely! If they managed to create such a being once, the next one will be dozens of times stronger!"


    The subordinate''s reasoning only made Nezu smile, and he calmly sipped his tea. He knew the girl was truly extraordinary, but nature always seeks balance and adds flaws, even to the strongest.


    "Oh... no-no-no, what terrible things! Of course not... She''s normal, a completely natural girl, with a normal family, the history of which I''ve already investigated, by the way. And aside from the fact that her grandparents are incredibly wealthy, and her grandfather is someone I know, I found some interesting information about her quirk..."


    He paused, giving himself time to clearly formulate the next part of the story, while also allowing the heroes to focus on his words.


    "At first, it all began with the Tana family, who had the ability to manipulate the past... although in the early stages, this only manifested as a slight slowing of objects. But this was just the first manifestation of quirks in a world where they were extremely weak. At the same time, the Ki family also had a similar quirk, but one related to accelerating objects. These quirks were passed down from generation to generation, always preserved in one of the direct descendants... And then, after some time, these two families merged, forming several new families. However, only one family, the Tanaki family, managed to survive to this day, becoming the bearer of both quirks at once¡ªand the only direct descendant was Kimika''s mother, Yukiko, though in the form of being able to only accelerate or slow down objects.


    Soon after, she married Takeshi, a renowned detective, and gave birth to Kimika, who inherited her quirk, which evolved into the now-known Time Control. And how interesting fate played out... Yukiko was the last descendant of these two families, the bearer of both quirks at once, since in Kimika they merged into a single powerful quirk, even giving her the ability to stop time... This process was completely natural and inevitable, without any special marriages or interference from criminals. So, as you can see, all of this fits entirely within the realm of possibility."


    Without allowing anyone present to say a word, he immediately took the last sip of tea and continued, "But nature, as always, balances everything."


    He turned on the next slide, and everyone saw a slow-motion video of the moment when Kimika transported everyone back in time by a few minutes.


    Everyone who took part in the mission saw one thing they hadn''t noticed during the time transfer: every single one of them, during the movement, glowed simultaneously with both golden and blue light, and it seemed as though one of Kimika''s abilities¡ªRecoil¡ªwas triggered on each of them.


    But, on everyone... except Kimika herself.


    "She... She! Stayed in the same state!" ¡ª Midnight shouted, not believing her eyes.


    Nezu smiled, placing his tea cup on the table and pressing a hidden button. Even though all the heroes were watching him, waiting for an answer.


    In the next moment, before the heroes'' eyes, the cup vanished, and in its place appeared a new one, full of tea. Taking it in his hands, he took a sip, and with a smile, turned off the projector.


    "Here''s the answer to your questions, Aizawa. And right now, she''s probably lying unconscious somewhere in one of these zones, and her wounds are likely bleeding, which will make Hound Dog find her by her scent. So, we just need to wait. And if he doesn''t find her, you''ll all know what to expect from her. But..."


    For the first time, Nezu removed the smile from his face and set the tea cup aside. His expression became serious, with a hint of sternness, and everyone in the room felt the shift in the atmosphere.


    "Remember, this is a completely classified gathering, and every drop of information must stay between us. Because every criminal, absolutely every one, will be interested in her."


    As everyone nervously sipped their drinks, hearing such a tone from the director for the first time, he simply added: "Well then, I must leave you now," ¡ª and, pressing a button under the table, steel plates rose from the windows, filling the room with moonlight.


    "And while you continue to rest and gather strength to be able to conduct the entrance exams for the new students, I must speak with the scientists who are actively researching Hatred in search of cures or methods of containment. After all, we still don''t know if it can spread like a virus... It entered Kimika''s body, so we need to be prepared for anything. Oh, and I also have to meet with our prisoner. So, I wish you all sweet dreams."


    The door closed quietly behind him, leaving the heroes alone with the silence, the same silence that had filled the room at the beginning of the meeting.

 Nezus Web

    "Himiko Toga. Age: 16 years. Quirk: Metamorphosis, which allows changing appearance thanks to... thick paste? Hmm... Wow! And on top of that, this also creates clothing, mimics voice, and appearance down to the smallest details... Very interesting! What if she could also copy quirks?"


    Nezu paused, slowly bringing his cup of favorite tea to his lips, and, taking a leisurely sip, sank into his thoughts. His gaze gently slid to Toga, who lay before him, trying to pretend to be asleep.


    A light smile appeared on his face as he felt relieved that Toga''s quirk doesn''t allow her to acquire the abilities of those whose appearance she copies.


    Still, Kimika, with her time quirk and Hatred, was such a unique phenomenon in this world. What if Toga could not only change her appearance but also copy quirks? Then this pair...


    In the director''s mind, scenes flashed by, imagining Toga adopting Kimika''s appearance and, along with it, her time quirk. Or, she could take Eraser Head''s quirk, gaining the ability to neutralize quirks. And with her combat skills... it would create incredible problems.


    ''What if she gained All Might''s quirk?''


    Nezu involuntarily flinched, and the thought made him choke on his tea. Quickly coughing, he placed the cup on the table and carefully wiped away the drop that had fallen onto his light gray fur.


    He looked again at the girl, who, lying on the comfortable bed given to her, was trying with all her gestures to show that she was asleep. These futile attempts to pretend to be asleep, and probably waiting for the moment to strike, amused him immensely, especially since he had one very interesting trump card for such a situation.


    Taking the cup, and not taking his eyes off Toga, he took another sip of tea.


    "Your quirk is truly interesting and good, though I can''t say the same about your path... the path that led you to become a criminal, not a heroine... You know, as strange as it may sound, I''m actually more interested in criminals than heroes, especially ones like you. I just love studying everything about their lives, especially what made them become who they are."


    Having spoken these words, Nezu noticed how Toga''s lips twitched slightly, seemingly because he had touched on the right topic. A smile effortlessly appeared on his face, and after finishing the last sip of tea, he placed the cup on the table.


    "Perhaps it''s because of your quirk? As I found out, it imposes a love for blood on you ¡ª something society finds hard to accept, especially considering that even in our progressive times, there are many people who hate others because of their appearance or certain differences granted by their quirks. Maybe that''s why you were left all alone ¡ª without friends, and perhaps even without family...


    As for your family, like with many other criminals, they could have been the main reason for your choice of this path. Most criminals whose lives I''ve studied became what they are because of a family that ignored them or even hated them for certain reasons... People are far from perfect beings. Sometimes they can be cruel even to their own children, which, I must admit, I can never understand, no matter how many times I''ve tried."


    He watched as with each word, Toga increasingly shed her sleeping facade and began to almost "burn" from within. Nezu eagerly awaited the moment when she could no longer suppress this inner explosion and, completely abandoning her plan to attack at the right moment, would just throw herself at him. And then, when her emotions reached their peak, they would finally be able to have a real conversation.


    "And your family fits this... Because your parents didn''t do anything after you ran away from home at 13. No calls to heroes, not even a simple missing person report to the police, as if their daughter hadn''t just disappeared, but as if she''d never existed at all. And if that was all they did... But no. When my good friend, the detective, and I reached out to them, they simply said they had ''disowned'' you for a few years due to your ''abnormality''... And they said it with such faces, as if it was something completely understandable. They even added that if you had done something wrong, it was no longer their responsibility... Or maybe... your becoming a criminal has something to do with Kimika? By the way, about Kimika..."


    And at that very moment, as he mentioned Kimika, a true explosion of emotions occurred, and with a loud scream, the inner volcano of Toga erupted. Leaping out of bed, she charged at him with hatred, a feeling completely alien to her.


    "DO NOT MENTION HER!"


    Toga swiftly rushed towards Nezu, unable to contain the storm of anger and hatred that seemed to have built up in her soul over a long period of time.


    From the very beginning of this one-sided conversation, she had been exerting all her effort to refrain from attacking, to avoid tearing him apart for destroying not only her carefully planned scheme regarding Kimika, but also their shared dream of happiness.


    And even the cold metal collar around her neck or the barely audible, almost weightless bracelets on her arms and legs couldn''t make her lash out at him, for a single wrong step in this completely uncontrollable hero territory could leave her without any chance for a second attempt.


    Even Nezu''s words about her quirk, about her path as a criminal, about her family, and how they had abandoned her without any attempt to find her, could not break her composure in this critical situation. The little girl who once dreamed that her parents would eventually love her was no longer there. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Now, in her life, there was Kimika, whom she loved with all her heart, and it was for her that Toga could not allow herself to lose composure.


    But just a single mention of Kimika, for some unknown reason, hit her like a hammer, and the inexplicable hatred in her soul made her explode in anger.


    With each step, she was getting closer to Nezu, but despite the anger burning in her heart, she noticed something strange. Just like in the theater, he remained surprisingly calm and continued to smile as he looked her directly in the eyes. This made her, although not stopping, momentarily disconnect from everything around her.


    Beep


    Suddenly, the collar emitted a beep and began flashing red, like an alarm, accompanied by vibrations. At the same time, the bracelets on her arms and legs started to weigh down.


    "What the...?"


    Before she could understand what was happening, in just a moment, she found herself slammed to the ground with a loud thud, pressed down by the weight of the bracelets, only a few inches away from Nezu. The dizziness from the constant vibrations grew stronger, and the heaviness in her body deprived her of any control over herself ¡ª she couldn''t move even a muscle without great effort.


    And the anger and hatred that had driven her reckless attack disappeared without a trace, as if they had never been there, which only heightened her confusion and her inability to understand what had just happened.


    "Hmm, so it really is in you too... I wasn''t wrong to be cautious. Well then, now that you can no longer pretend to be asleep and can clearly see the situation you''re in, maybe we can finally talk? Though, of course, don''t worry, I have plenty of time... just like you do. So we can start the conversation whenever you wish, but..." Nezu didn''t finish, as the paralyzed Toga, lying before him, sharply interrupted him.


    "This... this... what the... wha-what the hell?!" Toga''s voice cracked, and her words came out in fragments, as if she was struggling with her own body, trying to say at least something. Her mind was drowning in a chaotic confusion, and her body refused to obey, as if it no longer belonged to her.


    Meanwhile, the vibrations from the collar grew stronger, causing her to close her eyes as her eyelids became heavy.


    Her breathing grew more labored, and each subsequent breath required more effort than the previous one.


    "Mm? You''re talking about the collar and bracelets? These are quite interesting devices, by the way, created by my students in the engineering course here at my academy, where you are currently located. They have several interesting functions, specially designed at my request."


    He slowly began to curl his fingers, as if counting, even though he knew Toga wouldn''t see it.


    "The first function ¡ª your restraint. I wouldn''t want you to strangle me with your own hands. And I also wouldn''t want the heroes outside this lovely room to burst in here and... well, you get it.


    The second function ¡ª a demonstration that you have completely lost control of the situation. And all your attempts to attack or escape will be futile.


    And finally, the third function... if you can call it that. It''s an experimental technology that literally shuts down your body. Any attempts to get up, activate your quirk, or use Hatred... become impossible. Though, I must admit, there are some nuances to it.


    Quite a multifunctional thing, isn''t it? And these aren''t even all its functions! And thanks to these devices, you have access to this wonderful room, rather than one like in Tartarus. And in general, your stay here is the result of my connections and these devices. After all, it''s worth noting that many wanted you imprisoned in Tartarus. Your list of crimes, you know, is quite impressive. But I decided to give you a second chance."


    Having finished describing the incredibly wonderful, in his opinion, devices created by the most talented students of the engineering course at his academy, Nezu proudly straightened up, as if expecting applause. However, none followed.


    A quick glance at Toga suggested that she was probably not even listening to him. All this time, the girl had been unsuccessfully struggling with her body, trying not to lose consciousness.


    "Sigh, what did I expect..." he muttered, slowly pulling the remote from his pocket and pressing a few buttons.


    In the next moment, a beep came from the collar, and the vibrations stopped. Right before his eyes, the girl began to move more and more actively, gradually regaining control over her body. This made him abandon the idea of disabling the bracelets, leaving her immobilized.


    The eyes of the motionless Toga quickly scanned the room, trying to gather as much information as possible. She needed to escape from here by any means necessary to find and save Kimika.


    She couldn''t allow herself to do this at the very beginning¡ªwhen she tried to create the impression that she was asleep or when she lashed out at Nezu in anger.


    Toga observed an ordinary one-room apartment, completely unlike Tartarus chambers or a simple prison cell, just as Nezu had said: a simple and comfortable bed she had been lying on just moments ago, a basic kitchen, a table, chairs, a refrigerator, a door likely leading to the bathroom, and a few other items.


    And as the dizziness in her head almost completely subsided and her mind began to clear, Toga once again focused all her attention on Nezu.


    "Just talk? Well, sure... But if in your understanding, a simple conversation means one where I''m pinned to the ground by bracelets, then it seems there''s something wrong with you," Toga said sarcastically, narrowing her eyes in amusement while not breaking her gaze from Nezu.


    The director, remaining cold and focused, simply smiled, completely confident that he knew what he was doing. Leaping down from the chair, he approached her, squatting directly in front of her face and looking her straight in the eyes.


    "Well, then consider this not a conversation, but rather a sort of interrogation, and that''s why you''ll stay on the ground." Nezu calmly said, not giving Toga a chance for the sharp comment he had already seen in her eyes. "Our conversation concerns your partner, or rather, Hatred. What is it, and where did it come from for both of you?"


    Toga instantly froze, as if forgetting how to move or breathe. In her eyes was a complete confusion at such a question.


    "Hatred?" Toga quietly said, still trying to compose herself. She had expected any question, but not this one. "You mean the emotion? What a stupid question! Hatred exists in everyone, even in you, and you''re definitely not someone who wouldn''t know the answer to that. And anyway, how does this relate to Kimika, and more importantly, where is she? If you don''t answer, I''ll..."


    But Nezu, ignoring all her threats that began flying toward him, simply stared at her. Understanding from her body language and words that she wasn''t lying and truly didn''t know what he was talking about.


    "So, you don''t know anything..." Nezu murmured quietly, grabbing a tablet and quickly opening a video.


    He positioned the tablet so that Toga, lying motionless on the ground, had a clear view of the screen and couldn''t look away.


    On the screen, a montage from cameras mounted on the heroes'' costumes began to play. These were shots from the fight with Kimika ¡ª the moment when Toga was unconscious.

 House of Answers

    Toga stared intently at the screen, carefully watching every movement of Kimika, even the smallest ones. With each passing second, her face became more distorted¡ªanger, distrust, and inner turmoil gradually overwhelmed her.


    Her hands, though pressed to the ground, began to twitch convulsively, revealing the emotional strain she could no longer hold back.


    "This isn''t her... This isn''t my little Kimi!" she hissed, as if saying it more to herself than to Nezu. "This can''t be Kimi! Who the hell is this?!"


    Toga quickly turned her gaze away from the screen, but the voices and sounds of the fight from the video still broke through to her consciousness, leaving no chance to ignore them.


    And the words "Bloody Pleasure" were the last straw. They came from the screen, as if spoken by a completely different person. Kimika''s voice ¡ª no, it was a distorted, poisonous voice, filled with disdain and cold self-satisfaction.


    And that laugh... sharp, piercing, almost mechanical. A laugh that bore no resemblance to the warm, gentle laugh Toga remembered.


    Unable to believe her ears, Toga turned her gaze back to the screen, trying to convince herself that it was all a lie. But the words had already been spoken, and Nezu''s smile, which seemed completely inappropriate for the situation, only irritated her even more. But...


    It was the same Kimika, but with features that simply couldn''t belong to her: eyes as black as the abyss, horns, and claws on her hands. And that smile... It was similar to hers, but completely different ¡ª not simple and carefree, but paradoxical, reminding her not only of Kimika, but of something dark that destroys and consumes Kimika herself. Toga felt her heart tighten with fear and despair.


    "Are you laughing at me?! NEZU!" she screamed, her voice breaking as she turned her head towards the director. Her gaze was sharp, almost desperate. "WHO is that? What kind of creature is this! And how dare it do this to my Kimi! LET ME GO! AND I...."


    "Toga," Nezu calmly interrupted her, his voice giving away no emotion. "While you were unconscious for a few minutes, a lot changed. And since it seems you have no desire to watch the video to the end, well... This is Kimika, but only halfway."


    ''Kimika only halfway? What the hell happened in those few minutes... Kimi...''


    Turning off the tablet and placing it on the table, completely disregarding how Toga was struggling to process what she had seen, Nezu slowly approached the door and knocked on it several times.


    After a few moments, the door to the room quietly opened, and Eraser Head entered.


    "You''re the last one I needed here..." Toga whispered, her mind struggling to cope with everything she had seen and heard.


    She didn''t want to see anyone else besides Nezu, who, as she understood, wouldn''t move until he got what he wanted. And what irritated her most was the appearance of Eraser Head.


    "Believe me, I''m not thrilled about this situation either," he replied dryly, approaching her.


    This brief but tense moment between the two enemies brought a slight smile to Nezu''s face. Especially remembering the words once spoken by Aizawa, he watched with curiosity as their gazes seemed to shoot fiery lightning at each other.


    But not wanting to wait for those glances to turn into something more, he clapped his hands, drawing their attention.


    "Aizawa, it''s interesting to see you like this," he addressed Eraser Head with a barely noticeable hint of irony. "Just a month ago, you were so enthusiastically talking about the idea of accepting Toga and Kimika as your students... I remember how passionately you described their potential, it feels like it was only yesterday!"


    Hearing these words, Eraser Head started mumbling quietly to himself, casting a glance at Nezu, who was pressing something on his bracelet, and at Toga, who, from his mumbling, caught something that sounded like "And whose side are you even on..."


    At that moment, a beep was heard from Toga''s collar. She felt her bracelets lighten, giving her the freedom to move.


    "I think you have quite a few questions, Toga, don''t you?" Nezu began, his voice calm yet tinged with irony. "And if you want answers, please, calmly follow me."


    Despite the bracelets lightening and Toga gaining more freedom of movement, she still felt every step under the watchful eye of Aizawa, who stood behind her.


    She knew it was best not to make any sudden moves for now. But honestly, she didn''t want to either. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ''Damn... I need to find out what''s going on with Kimi and how to help her... and only then¡­''


    With a slight smile, she slowly stood up and walked over to Nezu, who was waiting by the door. His unchanging smile said it all ¡ª everything was going exactly according to his plan.


    "The recruitment plan has successfully begun," thought Nezu, watching her calm steps, clearly understanding that it would definitely not be easy, since the girl was probably already coming up with ¡ª if not already had ¡ª an escape plan. But for now, he had what she needed, and as long as that was the case, she would play by his rules.


    As they walked through the corridors of the empty academy, Nezu happily spoke about nearly every brick of the famous building, to the discontented groans of the tired Eraser Head behind Toga, which seemed to speak for themselves: "Not again... not again..."


    This could not help but amuse Toga, who had already more or less pieced together everything happening, and no longer did her face show those unfamiliar emotions ¡ª only carefreeness and a slight smile.


    "It felt like yesterday when I was just a little¡­ mouse, barely escaping from that building, which once was my world. And although I hate it with all my heart, I must admit ¡ª without it, I wouldn''t be who I am today, even though it left behind certain scars," he said, pointing to the large scar on the right side of his face, which had become a symbol of his journey.


    "But let''s not delve into that distant and frightening past. So¡­ after I got out, it wasn''t easy at first. Earning the first money was tough, but I always believed in the power of my incredible intellect, and it was this that became my driving force. Gradually, I learned to see opportunities where others saw only obstacles. And though my first investments, my first steps in business ¡ª were not just difficult, but a real challenge. But it was because of this that I achieved what I have now," he paused, standing by the window. Looking out at the view beyond, he smiled briefly, recalling how it all began.


    "And you know, as absurd as it may sound, money is not the most important thing. Of course, it opens doors and creates opportunities, but the real value lies in experience. We all, even I, go through mistakes and failures, but it is these that shape us and our worldview. It is through these hardships that we become stronger. Money can help, but it won''t give us what we gain when we learn from our mistakes. And so, over time, having the opportunity, I created this academy, where everyone can walk their own path, unafraid of mistakes.


    Here, with my curriculum and the hero instructors who can point out potential mistakes and help avoid them, we make our students even stronger than we are.


    "This is a place where not only knowledge is provided, but also experience that changes lives. A place where everyone can get the chance to become a hero, no matter where they are now. Here, everything is available for growth, and I believe that this ¡ª is the greatest opportunity for everyone."


    Nezu made a small gesture with his hand, as if showing how all of this fits together into one picture. "Our world is not perfect, just like life, Toga. Many go through dark stages, and not everyone knows where to go. But even someone who has made mistakes can find their way back. You just need to understand why those mistakes happened and learn from them."


    Hearing these words of wisdom, Toga stopped, clenching her fists slightly and exhaling heavily¡­ she relaxed them, understanding that it wasn''t the time yet. A light, almost playful smile returned to her face.


    "Your lecture on life is certainly interesting, Nezu," she said with a blush on her face and an ironic undertone in her voice, smiling in a way that made her fangs slightly show. "But, as you yourself said, we all make mistakes. Yet, right now, I only see one mistake in my life..."


    Toga turned her head towards Aizawa, locking eyes with him. "I regret not killing you in that alley¡­ the day I had the chance, but listened to Kimi... But as soon as I get the chance, I will correct that fatal mistake. And for now... I want to hear the promised answers to my questions."


    Nezu, seeing only an obvious provocation in her words, couldn''t hold back his laughter. This girl was truly a phenomenon ¡ª without a doubt. Not everyone would dare provoke heroes like that in such a situation, especially in their own den.


    He shifted his gaze to Aizawa, who seemed to have the same thought, as even after such blatant threats, he made no move in response. Aizawa only calmly watched Toga, maintaining his usual composure.


    "Well, I''m glad you see your mistake, whatever it may be," Nezu said calmly, almost thoughtfully.


    "Boring..." Toga whined, sighing and rolling her eyes.


    Nezu continued, ignoring her reaction. "As for your questions..." He paused, then walked to the end of the hallway, where the elevator was standing.


    Approaching, he pressed a button on his bracelet, and the elevator doors opened. "Here, you''ll get all the answers I have for now. And, Aizawa, you''ll find this interesting too."


    They all entered the elevator, and Nezu pressed the button for the lowest floor ¡ª minus one hundred.


    "You know, I, just like you, had many questions about this creature, Hatred, that took control of your friend''s body. What is it? What are its goals, motives, abilities? Can it spread like a virus? Or perhaps, is it the effect of someone''s quirk? But what I''ve learned in such a short time was the complete opposite of what I imagined..."


    The elevator stopped, and the doors opened before them. The lights in the large room began to light up one by one, gradually revealing the vast laboratory.


    Along the walls stood various research apparatuses: centrifuges, analyzers, electron microscopes, and dozens of other devices that looked ultra-modern and incredibly expensive.


    In the center of the room, large transparent capsules connected to a network of wires and tubes were visible. A faint scent of ozone mixed with the sterility of the scientific atmosphere lingered in the air.


    But despite all the high-tech decor, the room had elements hinting at someone''s personal presence. On one of the tables lay a half-eaten sandwich and a few empty tea cups. Nearby stood a cabinet filled with numerous boxes of different tea blends.


    In the corner of the room was a small but comfortable bed, neatly made, though scattered notes and a tablet were visible on it.


    "Welcome to my home," said Nezu, stepping forward and spreading his arms to the sides, proudly presenting the room.

 Experiments and Two Types of Hatred

    Aizawa, seeing the room, couldn''t hold back a barely noticeable smile. Among all the high-tech devices and equipment, his attention was drawn to a cabinet completely filled with boxes of various tea blends.


    "How unexpected..." he muttered as he stepped closer. Even though he wasn''t as much of a tea fanatic as Nezu, Aizawa immediately realized that most of these blends probably cost as much as several years'' worth of his salary...


    Toga was carefully examining the laboratory, trying to spot the long-awaited answers. Stopping by a table, she noticed an unfinished cheese sandwich. She squinted skeptically and picked it up.


    "Not exactly how I imagined the home of the smartest being," she remarked sarcastically, gesturing toward the sandwich and the bed in the corner.


    Not getting an answer to her comment, she huffed in boredom, until her gaze accidentally landed on several papers scattered on the bed.


    Seeing not only an opportunity to get answers but also a way to amuse herself, Toga unhesitatingly tossed the sandwich aside and moved closer.


    Picking up a few documents, she began flipping through them with curiosity.


    "Aldera... Ha, someone''s still interested in that place?" she muttered, carelessly shuffling through the papers. "Recommended students, boring... Salaries, boring... Again, something incredibly dull..."


    Throwing the documents from her hands, filled with an overwhelming desire to leave these boring papers behind and go to Nezu for answers, her gaze suddenly stopped on another sheet, seemingly hidden under the pillow.


    It looked as though it had been crumpled into a ball multiple times and stained with tea droplets. And although she had the urge to toss it aside, Toga suddenly felt an unfamiliar impulse to see what might be inside.


    "I wouldn''t do that," Nezu called out to her, standing next to Aizawa near the table and pulling a small vial of black liquid from a metal container.


    The black liquid in the vial, as if seeing something other than darkness and metal, began to ripple relentlessly, violently striking the walls, as though trying to escape.


    At the sight of the mysterious liquid, everything around Toga seemed to vanish, and her urge to check the document only grew stronger.


    With a barely audible "Pff" she unfolded the sheet and, scanning it with her eyes, froze instantly.


    The paper displayed a blueprint of a building that Toga almost immediately recognized. It was a theater.


    The blueprint, besides the theater itself, had numerous arrows in different colors, resembling an action plan, as well as photos of several heroes ¡ª those whom Toga knew well, since it was because of them that she ended up in captivity, far from Kimika.


    From the look on their faces, Toga''s heart began to beat faster, and her hands subtly tightened around the paper. The last straw was when she saw a photo of both herself and... Kimika.


    "This plan...? Haha..." But as if that wasn''t enough, she lifted her gaze upward and saw the headline.


    ''A simple show... Was it really that easy for you, just... walk in and walk out?'' Clenching the paper with all her strength, she tore the page in half in the next moment.


    A twisted smile appeared on her face, and a bitter, almost soulless laugh escaped her lips.


    Hearing the sound of the paper tearing and that laugh, Aizawa immediately dropped into a combat stance, shielding Nezu, ready for any actions from Toga. Nezu, behind him, was also prepared to press the button on his bracelet at any moment to activate the devices on Toga.


    But¡­ to their surprise¡­ Toga almost instantly changed her behavior, smiling as if nothing had happened.


    Carelessly tearing Kimika''s photo from the page, she placed it in her chest pocket and grinned predatorily, watching the astonished faces of the onlookers.


    "What? Can''t I even get a little angry anymore? Or... No! Don''t tell me you were so eager to see me barely conscious and chained to the ground with bracelets that, Nezu, you specifically left your plan here? But unfortunately, that won''t work on me," Toga said with a smile, casually squeezing both pieces of paper into a ball and tossing it under her feet before slowly stepping over it and moving toward Nezu and Aizawa. "Oh, and thanks for the photo of my Kimi ¡ª without it, I would have had a really hard time here... Especially since I still haven''t gotten my answers and don''t even know what''s happening with my best friend and the love of my life!"


    "Well, let''s play by your rules, but as soon as I take the wheel... each of you, especially you, rodent, will regret what happened to me and especially to Kimi" Toga thought, blushing as she looked at her future victims.


    Coughing from the sudden shift in Toga''s mood, Nezu once again realized the importance of quickly arranging regular visits to the best psychologist.


    "As for the answers," Nezu said, carefully twirling a vial of black liquid before his face so that everyone could see its contents. "Here is the key to the answers, Hatred herself."


    Toga, staring at the liquid that was swirling inside, suddenly felt an unfamiliar desire, just like last time.


    But in addition to the urge to simply walk up to Nezu, snatch the vial from his hands, and smash it, as though breaking it would break all her problems too, flashes of memories began to ignite in her mind. These were moments from what she had seen before Aizawa and Midnight had neutralized and knocked her out...


    Desperate, as if torn from the very heart, Kimika''s scream, the horn exploded at its roots, the bleeding eye... But there was something else too¡­ Kimika, in her head, began whispering that she was the one to blame for all of this, that she hadn''t saved her, hadn''t persuaded her, and had allowed it all to happen.


    And even if Kimika''s words seemed completely uncharacteristic of her, the growing pain, anger, and desire in Toga''s heart from the memories¡­ a desire not only to smash the flask but also to rush forward and take revenge on Aizawa, who was standing just a few steps away from her¡­


    And his silhouette... it began to allure her so strongly that Toga felt as if only one... just the slightest trigger was needed for her to give in to these desires, these words, and do it right now.


    "What''s wrong with me? What the hell?" Toga screamed, holding her head as Kimika''s words grew louder and louder in her mind. They no longer resembled those from before, becoming as cold and cruel as those in Kimika''s recording.


    Barely standing in place, struggling to hold herself together, as if fighting not only with the voice and the desires but with herself, Toga collapsed to the ground, curling up against the floor and closing her eyes.


    And suddenly... everything disappeared. The desires, the anger, the voice in her head ¨C leaving no trace, as if it had all been just a bad dream.


    Completely not understanding what had just happened, confused Toga opened her eyes, first scanning the floor, then her fingers, hands, Aizawa, who was now just a step away from her with his capturing weapon, and Nezu... Nezu, who had hardly changed, except that a new smirk was on his face ¨C focused and almost thoughtful, as if an experiment had just been conducted.


    And in his hands, there was no longer that flask, which had probably ended up back in the metal container.


    "How interesting... Now I''m sure that it exists within you. And it seems that hatred, or rather, wild hatred, can communicate with its kind residing in another host..." said Nezu, writing something in a notebook that had mysteriously appeared in his hands, and began muttering something incomprehensible under his breath. "And if this... what if they can communicate, then can this be used to find those infected with hatred? Interesting... interesting... And if we construct this... and then that...? Yes! Yes, this is a breakthrough!"


    Aizawa, looking at the two of them, couldn''t help but shake his head, realizing the situation he had gotten himself into. Not only had he become the "babysitter" ¡ª the one overseeing the captured Toga instead of Midnight, now forced to be by her side whenever she left the room ¡ª but it also seemed like he had acquired the position of babysitting Nezu, who was currently in his "experimental state."


    In which he was currently walking around the room, muttering to himself, jotting things down in his notebook, and occasionally exclaiming about another "breakthrough."


    Aizawa had already regretted more than once his decision to take on the role of Midnight, or even just the fact that he had decided to become a teacher at this crazy academy, instead of simply staying at home and getting some sleep.


    "God... why is all this happening to me..." he thought, bringing his fingers to his forehead.


    However, as strange as it may sound, deep down he knew that it was exactly for this reason that he enjoyed his job.


    Deciding that Nezu''s current state would likely last a few more minutes, if not hours, Aizawa sighed and walked over to the chair. He had already planned to sit down and at least close his eyes to get some rest when he suddenly heard a loud exclamation: Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Eureka!"


    With a loud sound, his notebook fell onto the table, causing the exhausted Aizawa to stand up after just sitting down in the chair, and still bewildered Toga, whose gaze was fixed on the metal container.


    "Well then! Now I''ll finally show you your answers, Toga, and you, Aizawa, so you can understand what we''re dealing with, and after that, I''ll ask you both to leave me alone for at least a few days!" Nezu shouted enthusiastically, almost giggling.


    In an upbeat mood, Nezu enthusiastically began pressing buttons on the control panel by the table. Before Toga and Aizawa''s eyes, the metal container slowly sank into the surface of the table, and suddenly the room was filled with the melody of classical music.


    In sync with the rhythm of the music, the principal started dancing, moving around the room. He would press buttons, turn monitors on and off, with various data flickering across the screens.


    After several minutes of this musical chaos, amplified by Nezu''s dance that would have earned a 10 out of 10 for its expressiveness and absurdity, even Toga raised her eyebrows in confusion.


    And it was then that part of one of the walls began to slowly descend, revealing behind it a new, completely empty room.


    And just a moment after Nezu pressed another button, an absurdly large vase rose from the floor at the center of the room, holding a tiny, almost wilted flower.


    "As they say, it''s better to see something with your own eyes once than to ask a hundred times and hear about it," Nezu said, pressing a few more buttons.


    Two mechanical arms emerged from the wall of the room. In one, there was the same flask with the now calm Hatred, who seemed completely unaware of their presence, while in the other hand was a pipette, or rather, a micropipette.


    With the sound of another button press, Nezu spoke: "Experiment Plant-17. Initiated."


    After his words, as if on command, the mechanical arm with the micropipette carefully took a barely visible drop of hatred and placed it onto the plant. In just a moment, before the eyes of the three observers, the drop disappeared, absorbed into the leaf.


    "Since you don''t know anything, Toga, and while we have a minute or two before it begins, let me briefly explain the key things I''ve learned," Nezu began, smiling as he looked through the glass at the plant.


    "This black liquid is the physical form of Hatred, as it calls itself. It''s like a kind of parasite or symbiote, depending on the specific conditions, which... unfortunately, I don''t know. But that''s temporary. So, it infiltrates its target through the blood or is absorbed into the body, though the second method takes more time and requires more energy. Once inside, Hatred spreads throughout the body, like in the plant: along the stem, through the leaves, leaving even the smallest droplets, and most importantly ¡ª into the roots, triggering what, at this point, is the point of no return."


    At first, this explanation seemed to answer the questions Toga had been so eager to understand, but then Nezu seemed to intentionally start moving in the completely opposite direction.


    She still couldn''t understand how this Hatred appeared, and why it manifested specifically in Kimika. And even more confusing were questions like: what does intelligent Hatred mean, and what is the difference between that and unintelligent/wild Hatred, and what does it mean that Hatred exists within her too? Or rather, how exactly did it come to be in her? These questions filled her mind.


    Already about to voice her questions aloud, Toga noticed how Nezu, anticipating her, pressed his finger to his lips, signaling that it was not yet time for questions.


    Without wasting a moment, he pointed forward, redirecting Toga''s attention to the flower.


    Toga obediently shifted her gaze there. But what she saw made her swoon.


    Just a moment ago, the barely alive flower, now before their very eyes, seemed to come back to life. The weak, wilted stem grew stronger with every passing second, the leaves began to regain their fresh green color, and the flower, which had nearly fallen off, started to bloom, becoming brighter and more beautiful.


    In an instant, there was no trace left of the once nearly dead plant. This spectacle left both Toga and Aizawa speechless, stunned by what was unfolding before their eyes, while Nezu, smiling, continued to explain.


    "So, before the next phase begins¡­ As you might have noticed, the plant restored its normal state right before our eyes thanks to Hatred. The exact reasons why it needs this are unknown to me. However, I have two theories. First ¡ª Hatred restores the host''s condition to prevent it from dying so that it can reproduce and spread hatred¡­ But, judging by the next phases and the experiments conducted, it resembles fulfilling the host''s desires more. After all, what is likely the sole desire of a plant? To survive, adapt, and reproduce."


    Toga, continuing to observe the plant carefully, couldn''t understand one thing: if Hatred truly just granted wishes¡­ then why did Kimika look so¡­ like the way she saw her?


    "Look, the second phase is about to begin. And you''ll soon find out why such a large vase is necessary," Nezu said, pressing a few more buttons.


    The flower, now fully healed, began growing at an incredible speed, nearly filling the entire vase and beyond. Its stem and roots started expanding in size, and soon, with loud cracking sounds, the vase began to shatter into pieces.


    "The growth phase, as I''ve named it, will be followed by the final phase. But before it begins, I''ve discovered that we can introduce yet another phase to make the conclusion planned by Hatred far more interesting. So watch closely. After all, my reserves of hatred aren''t endless, and there''s a rather simple reason why I can''t take samples from the plant. Unfortunately ¡ª or perhaps, to great relief ¡ª hatred doesn''t survive separation from the plant''s organism, disintegrating into dust instantly."


    Nezu pressed a few buttons, lowering the temperature in the room to below freezing. Right before their eyes, everyone watched as the flower began to wilt slightly, its leaves curling, but as they could all see, this was only temporary. Nezu smiled, watching as the plant successfully adapted to the cold conditions.


    A few seconds later, the flower began to change color. Its natural green hue gradually shifted to a cool blue, and as the temperature in the room dropped, the color increasingly took on a bright blue shade.


    "Right now, you witnessed a brief phase of adaptation, the plant''s third and final wish, which Hatred will successfully fulfill. But if I hadn''t forced the plant to adapt to the cold, its third wish would have been reproduction, after which it would have died. And by the way, none of the plant''s offspring receives even a drop of Hatred, which I don''t understand at all. Because what''s the point of Hatred fulfilling all three wishes, only to kill the plant in the end? But since the plant''s third wish was adaptation... something both terrible and fascinating will happen right before your eyes."


    Aizawa and Toga, who were watching this with full interest, couldn''t wait to see what might happen, but before they even had time to consider their options, they saw something truly horrifying.


    The plant, as Nezu had said, began to change right before their eyes. Its blue color, which had only recently been acquired through adaptation, started growing darker and darker. The dark hue spread throughout the plant until it became completely black, like the night.


    "How her horns and eyes..." Aizawa muttered softly, watching these changes. He couldn''t understand why the process with Kimika had been completely different. "Has she already made three wishes?"


    Nezu, not taking his eyes off the plant, laughed, knowing what thoughts were currently running through his subordinate''s mind. He couldn''t help but smile, knowing that Aizawa was probably thinking the same way he had before conducting a few more experiments and reviewing the same mission video several times.


    "Oh no, no, no, actually, I''ve only conducted one experiment so far¡ªnot on the plant, but on a hamster," Nezu said, briefly recalling the experiment. After those words, his mood shifted abruptly. He shook his head as if trying to shake off the unpleasant memories and thought to himself: ''I''ve sunk to their level¡­''


    Clearing his throat quickly and refocusing his thoughts on what was about to happen next, Nezu dismissed his gloomy thoughts, as he could hardly wait for the moment when he would conduct new experiments on this fascinating thing, especially considering the new data.


    Nezu could no longer wait to conduct the next experiments, so, counting the seconds in his mind from impatience and aiming to minimize his explanations, he changed his plan.


    Now, he wanted to provide Toga with only the bare minimum of information, throw out a hook, and then quickly usher them out of the room.


    He straightened his back and continued:


    "And for an unknown reason, Hatred interacts completely differently with various types of organisms. With plants, it''s like a mythological genie, granting three of their wishes. With fungi, it acts similarly, granting only one wish. But with animals... It instantly takes control of their body, making the animal incredibly aggressive and, moreover, extremely resilient." He paused briefly in a somber, reflective silence, recalling the hamster, then quickly added, "Oh, right, I almost forgot!"


    Nezu quickly pressed a few buttons, and the room was instantly filled with sound as two mechanical arms appeared, now equipped with flamethrowers. They directed flames at the plant, burning it to the ground, and Toga, her mouth agape in astonishment, couldn''t believe what she was seeing.


    Aizawa, though less shocked, also hadn''t expected such a turn of events, and all eyes immediately shifted to Nezu, awaiting his explanation.


    "What? You thought there would be some continuation?" he said with a smile, watching as the plant gradually disappeared under the powerful flames. "Actually, the continuation would be rather dull¡ªthe plant would begin wilting before your eyes, and the smell it emits will be so unpleasant that I had to seal off the previous room and use a new one. Agree, no one would want to repeat such an operation."


    Nezu, jumping down from the chair he had been standing on for convenience to be on the same level as Aizawa and Toga and to be able to press the buttons, observed their reactions.


    "Well, you''ve just witnessed the effect of Hatred on plants. You might ask me the meaning of all this, since you were mostly interested in Kimika? Well, apart from the fact that any scientist would be willing to kill or even sell their soul for the chance to see something like this... And l also wanted to introduce Toga to what she needs to know, and show you the effects of predatory hatred."


    "WHAT? So, is that it?" Toga screamed, not believing her ears. She was told straight to her face that she had been here the entire time, calmly... almost calmly, just to witness this scene, which, although interesting, could not even come close to satisfying her desire to find out what happened to Kimika.


    "Mm? Yes, that''s all. I fully understand your surprise and indignation, Toga, but I also introduced you to the predatory Hatred, which differs from the usual in that it follows the same script and operates more on an instinctive level. Although probably¡­ no, I''m definitely sure that it doesn''t work the same way on people as it does on plants... But now you can imagine the importance of what I want to tell you."


    Nezu quickly leapt first onto the chair and then onto the table. After pulling a document from the folder, he tossed it to Toga, then, from seemingly nowhere, pulled out tea and took a few sips before continuing:


    "Everything related to Hatred is there, everything I didn''t have time to tell you. All the words spoken by Hatred, all its abilities, the goal it shared with us, although it''s probably not wise to fully believe what it said, still... Oh, and don''t forget, what you felt when I took out the flask with Hatred ¡ª that was just a tiny drop of what Kimika is feeling right now. And you... You, as the one who, somehow, got infected by Hatred, though mindlessly, could become the key to creating a cure."


    Pausing for a moment and glancing at Aizawa, motioning towards Toga, Nezu continued: "Now, I ask you to leave my home and think over everything you''ve learned. And remember, I''m always ready to talk."


    Watching the elevator doors close, Nezu added with a smile: "When I have new information, we''ll make it a tradition ¡ª the three of us will gather and watch the experiment. Until then, see you."


    The lift began to rise, and Nezu, left alone in his laboratory, took out a classified folder from the cabinet.


    He looked carefully at the photo of a carnivorous plant, a chimpanzee, and a wolf, and, holding his breath, whispered, "They''re not ready to know about this yet..." His gaze grew even more thoughtful as he carefully placed the folder back in the drawer, locking it with a key. "I need to find the cure as soon as possible, before this Hatred spreads..."

 Memory Loss

    "Ohhh... my head..." groaned Kimika, clutching her head in a futile attempt to ease the throbbing pain.


    Gathering her strength, she sat up, but immediately began swaying in place, trying not to fall... onto a soft bed?


    "Where am I?..." she whispered, her sleepy eyes starting to scan the room she had found herself in. But...


    The longer she tried to figure out where she was, the blurrier the scene before her became, as if she were looking through dirty glass.


    Not understanding what was happening, Kimika began rubbing her eyes with her hands, but despite all her efforts, the image before her remained just as unclear and hazy. No movement helped ¡ª her vision did not become any sharper. And the fact that the room was dark, likely due to the night outside the window, only made the situation worse.


    Yet, despite her blurry vision and the dense darkness, she gradually managed to make out the vague outlines of the furniture. And this room... it was definitely not her room at the family home.


    When she tried to recall how she had ended up here, the throbbing pain in her head intensified, and hazy images of unfamiliar people began to appear before her eyes.


    An elderly lady tenderly doing something nearby¡­ a strange man with small, funny mustaches, spiky light hair, headphones, and sunglasses¡­ a woman in a revealing outfit holding a whip¡­


    But among them, familiar faces also emerged. All Might, Eraser Head¡­ and the image of the world-renowned principal of the most prestigious hero academy ¡ª the very academy she had longed to join with all her heart, until¡­ until her father ended up in the hospital¡­


    And although she couldn''t begin to comprehend the reasons or significance of these images, nor the source of the unbearable headache, what puzzled her even more was how she had ended up in this room at all.


    Just a moment ago, she had simply arrived at the old house where Toga had asked her to come, and suddenly¡­ she woke up here.


    The more she tried to recall what had happened, the more unbearable the pain in her head became. It was so intense that it felt as though it was tearing her apart from the inside, forcing her to shy away from the thoughts that might help her understand where she was and what had occurred.


    Kimika kept trying to remember, but the pain grew so excruciating that she realized ¡ª those fragmented memories weren''t worth enduring such agony.


    Summoning her strength, she began piecing together everything she could recall, and her thoughts slowly started to form a coherent picture.


    "I went into the house... Then a creak... Yes! I remember! I fell and hit... Or no... maybe something fell on me?" she whispered, scratching the most painful spot on the back of her head. "And then... probably Toga came and brought me here... So... Yes! She must be somewhere around here!" she exclaimed joyfully, only to regret it a moment later. The pain in her head became even more unbearable.


    Groaning in pain, she still felt a slight relief that she had managed to piece together fragments of what had happened. Realizing that she hadn''t been kidnapped or fallen into the hands of heroes, Kimika let out a relieved sigh.


    But at that very moment, she realized something incredibly terrifying!


    "Mom... Mom might come into my room... and if I don''t get home before that happens... she''ll start to panic. She¡­ she''ll want to know where I am, and then it''s over... all of mine and Toga''s activities could come to an end. And who... who will help Dad then¡­"


    Summoning all her strength and determination, Kimika began trying to get to her feet, despite the overwhelming weakness in her body that reminded her of the aftermath of hellish training sessions with Toga.


    "Come on, Kimika, get up!" she whispered to herself, clenching her fists and trying to gather the remnants of her strength. "You''re strong! You managed to give up your dreams and become a criminal, and now you can''t even stand up?"


    Even though her first attempt ended with a loud thud as she collapsed to the ground, and each subsequent try saw her fall again, she refused to give up. With every effort, it got a little better. And finally, she stood up!


    Gripping the nightstand by the bed tightly with both hands, she felt her arms trembling under the strain.


    And although she could no longer help but ask herself why Toga hadn''t come to her numerous falls, the question quickly faded into the background, giving way to the joy that was finally overflowing within her.


    "Hooray!" Kimika exclaimed joyfully, raising her arms up in the air in happiness. But in just a moment, with a loud thud, she was back on the ground. "Dammit...."


    But no matter how much it hurt, over time, her body seemed to awaken from the pain, and with the experience she had gained, she began to fall less and less, until she was able to stand once again.


    "Now I need to find Toga and get home as quickly as possible before Mom notices I''m gone!"


    Holding onto the walls and moving blindly, Kimika accidentally found the light switch by the door. A faint smile lit up her face ¡ª a simple thing, once an everyday occurrence, now felt like a gift and a salvation.


    "Let there be light!"


    The bright light immediately spread across the room, piercing the darkness and exposing every detail around. And despite Kimika''s brief joy, the light hit her eyes directly, causing her to squint from its harsh, unforgiving brightness. She covered her eyes with her hands, feeling them pulse with pain.


    And the vision, which she thought should have improved from the light, remained dim and blurred.


    The sensitivity of her eyes to the lighting was so strong that it felt as though she had gazed directly into the scorching sun.


    "Damn, why does it hurt so much?" she whispered, starting to rub her eyes in hopes of getting rid of the burning pain. She felt tears involuntarily begin to flow down her cheeks. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    "What... what''s wrong with my eyes?" Her voice trembled, and fear, like a cold chain, squeezed her heart tighter and tighter.


    For some unknown reason, just a few small tears quickly turned into a stream of hot, salty tears of despair.


    An incomprehensible wave of painful emotions ¡ª sadness, despair, as if from the loss of someone close ¡ª suddenly overwhelmed her. She began to cry so hard and loudly that she could no longer stand.


    Her knees buckled, and she slowly sank to the floor, pressing her back against the wall, hugging her shoulders as if trying to keep herself from falling apart into pieces.


    "It''s okay... Just... I just need to wait a little... And everything will pass..." she whispered through her tears, trying to gather her strength. "Toga... where are you..."


    Suddenly, her father''s words, long forgotten, unexpectedly resurfaced in her memory. She remembered herself as a little girl, sitting in her room, crying under the blanket, tightly hugging her favorite stuffed toy ¡ª the All Might doll ¡ª after another day when she had witnessed bullying against Izuku.


    And her dad, who on that rare day was home while her mom was away, sat beside her, gently stroking her head, whispering the lyrics of a song her mom often sang to her:


    Even heroes have their darkest days,


    Fighting through the storm, in many ways,


    But love will shine, and heal the pain,


    For every hero, there''s a hand to take.


    The strongest hate will fade away,


    Love''s light will guide, make it okay,


    So hold on tight, you''re not alone,


    In the darkest night, love will lead you home.


    Kimika, all in tears, whispered these words through her sobs, trying to find at least a little peace. Her breathing slowly evened out. And finally, wiping her wet cheeks with her hand and breathing heavily, she stood up.


    Already wishing to leave the bedroom to check the other rooms and finally find Toga, she accidentally noticed the dark outline of a photo frame on the nightstand by the bed.


    Taking the frame in her hands, she brought it so close to her eyes that even with her current vision and still teary eyes, she could make out the image.


    In the photo, it was her and Toga, happily hugging on the old swings, at the same spot where they first met. A warm wave flooded her heart, pushing away all traces of sadness.


    Hugging the frame, Kimika pressed it tightly to her chest, recalling the happy life before all of this¡­ before she became a criminal, before her life changed forever.


    But realizing that she needed to return home as quickly as possible, before her mother noticed her absence, Kimika slowly placed the frame back with a warm smile on her face.


    "I''ll need to plan a fun day, like Toga does¡­ movies, rides, ice cream¡­ though no, I need to think of something else," Kimika mumbled, noting it down in her internal plan.


    Leaving the bedroom, she began to slowly inspect each room of the large two-story house, which, despite its size, felt oddly cozy and well-kept.


    "How did Toga manage to find an uninhabited house in such good condition?" she asked herself, but immediately dismissed the troubling thoughts that surged within her, assuming that Toga had probably just asked Giran for the house, as he valued her immensely.


    Or perhaps, knowing that after she lost consciousness, Toga found this place driven by an incredible desire to take care of her, seizing the unique opportunity to care for her unconscious friend. "You always take care of me," Kimika whispered, feeling her heart fill with warmth.


    Unconsciously, she ran her hand over the spot where Toga always bit her and drank her blood. And suddenly, not feeling any scars, Kimika couldn''t help but be surprised. ''How many days was I unconscious?''


    As she continued to examine room after room, Kimika became more and more convinced that Toga was not here. Each room was unique, with its own character and purpose, but they all shared one common trait ¡ª the absence of the one she was searching for.


    This seemed quite unusual to Kimika, as she was sure her friend wouldn''t have left her alone, knowing she could wake up at any moment. Especially considering Toga''s nature ¡ª she would never, unless against her will, miss the chance to stay close.


    "The last room, where you won''t be either?" Kimika whispered softly, stopping in front of the bathroom door. And although she was absolutely certain that Toga wouldn''t be there, just like in all the other rooms, she still couldn''t help but enter and check.


    She carefully and tensely opened the door, as Toga had taught her during their ''games'' ¡ª instilling in her the rule that you should never relax, not even in your own home, because the enemy could be hiding around every corner.


    She turned on the light and, squinting at the brightness, began to survey the room. The bathroom was clean, undamaged, but completely empty, just like the rest of the house.


    "No one..." she whispered with disappointment, scanning the room again, trying to find something that could explain Toga''s absence. It wasn''t until her gaze accidentally fell on the mirror.


    Frozen and unable to believe her eyes, Kimika quickly stepped closer and began to scrutinize her reflection, hoping it was just the result of her poor vision or a trick of her imagination.


    But what she saw made her break out in cold sweat, and goosebumps covered her entire skin. Her heart was pounding so loudly that it seemed to fill the silence of the room, if not the entire house.


    It was her, but¡­ her horns. They were gone¡­


    "No... this can''t be... this can''t be real!" Kimika screamed, her eyes wide open in an attempt to see better.


    Unintentionally, her hands reached for her head, trying to check if it was all just her imagination, but she didn''t feel the horns... Only hair.


    Suddenly, her fingers felt a small curve, which, to her surprise, resembled tiny horns ¡ª the kind she had only seen in old childhood photos her mom used to constantly show her. They were so small that they almost blended with her skin.


    "WHAT THE HELL?!" Kimika screamed, nervously feeling the two tiny horns on her head. "What the hell happened while I was unconscious?!"


    From the nervous groping of her horns, or perhaps due to the overwhelming fear that surged within her, or maybe for some unknown reason, her vision instantly improved.


    She quickly focused on her reflection in the mirror, and this time, she saw not a blurry outline, but a clear and sharp image like never before. However, what she saw didn''t calm her in the slightest.


    In addition to her horns being as small as those of a one-year-old child ¡ª which was already shocking ¡ª her eyes... her once beautiful heterochromatic eyes, which had been her pride ¡ª the red and blue eye, were now nothing but single-colored pebbles ¡ª gray and colorless. They were... dead.


    "Ha-ha... it''s just a dream... just a dream!" Kimika nervously laughed, stepping back from the mirror and bringing her hand to her cheek. "Yes... yes! It''s just a dream, and nothing more! I''ll pinch myself... and I''ll wake up in my warm bed at home... Toga will be beside me, and everything will go back to normal."


    Slowly bringing her hand to her face, she pinched her cheek as hard as she could, her eyes wide open, anticipating that there would be no pain.


    But... feeling the sharp pain, she continued to stand there, in the bathroom, staring at her clear reflection in the mirror...


    "Yes... this isn''t a dream..."


    A sense of despair overwhelmed her, and, unable to believe what she saw and felt, Kimika abruptly ran out of the bathroom.


    But because of this, she couldn''t see how her reflection in the mirror not only didn''t disappear but started changing.


    The once frightened face twisted into a cold calm, and her lips curled into a sly, malicious smile. Her eyes returned to their former color but darkened significantly, horns began to grow from the spots where they were meant to be, and dark liquid, as black as her eyes and horns, began to seep from her mouth.


    Dark fangs protruded from beneath her lips, and around the figure in the mirror, a stream of black slime began to flow, dripping onto the floor.


    She watched as Kimika fled, her smile growing even more sinister.


    "Eye, you wanted to get rid of me so badly that you even asked for everything you could use to destroy me? But, unfortunately for you, I''m still here!" ¡ª the dark Kimika sneered from the mirror. "Well, as for you, Kimika, we have an interesting introduction ahead of us, because you can''t run away from yourself."


    With those words, leaving behind an ironic laugh, her figure in the mirror dissipated, leaving no trace of her presence.

 Contract of Change

    Kimika darted out of the bathroom, racing down the hallway as panicked thoughts swirled in her mind.


    Horns... Her horns. Once tall and proud, they had, for some inexplicable reason, shrunk into tiny stubs barely protruding from her skin. Her eyes... the same heterochromatic eyes she had once been so proud of were now lifeless, colorless, like dull glass that let no life through.


    A single urge consumed her ¡ª to escape. To get as far away from this place as possible.


    She rushed toward the stairs. Her legs, as if not her own, slid on the steps; each stride threatened to send her tumbling down, but somehow, she made it to the bottom. The living room lay ahead. Barely able to move her feet, she practically stumbled into the doorway, clutching at its wooden frame when two pulsating strikes suddenly exploded in her mind.


    A wave of pain surged through her, forcing her to clutch her head with both hands and shut her eyes tightly.


    "Ugh¡­" a raspy sound escaped her throat, nearly drowned out by her labored breathing.


    And then¡­ voices.


    They appeared out of nowhere ¡ª two voices arguing, muffled and indistinct. Their words, though unclear, sounded as if the source was right beside her.


    Clinging to the doorframe, Kimika opened her eyes and cast a quick glance into the living room. Empty. Just like the space around her ¡ª no one was there. Yet the voices didn''t fade. They kept arguing, as if invisible figures were standing nearby.


    The first was a man''s voice. It spoke sharply, loudly, and with a torrent of emotion.


    Then came a woman''s voice. Softer, emotional¡­ painfully familiar.


    "Mom¡­" Kimika whispered, her heart tightening into a painful knot.


    The woman was shouting at the man. She wasn''t just arguing ¡ª she was pleading, defending someone. Desperation resonated in every word she spoke. And amidst all the chaos, Kimika managed to catch only one word. "Toga."


    Suddenly, her mother''s voice broke off, replaced by sobbing. At first quiet, then growing louder and louder. Just when it seemed like the crying would overwhelm everything, another voice emerged.


    Her own.


    Kimika froze, staring into the darkness as her body was seized by trembling, as though it already knew what was about to happen.


    "I hate you!"


    "No!" she screamed, denying her own words. Tears filled her eyes. "THAT''S NOT TRUE! I LOVE YOU! I would never¡­ never say that!"


    But it didn''t stop there. Her voice continued to scream at her mother while the sound of sobbing echoed in the background.


    She clutched her head, desperate to escape her own mind. "Stop¡­ Be quiet¡­"


    And suddenly, as if in response to her plea, everything went silent.


    Only she remained, standing in the midst of a stillness that had suddenly become even more terrifying than all the voices combined.


    "What''s wrong with me¡­"


    And in place of the urge to run, a new, even stronger desire took hold¡ªa longing to return home, to her mother, and apologize, even if those impossible and nonsensical words were nothing more than a figment of her imagination.


    Kimika quickly began scanning the living room in search of an exit.


    Her eyes caught various items: a couch and table cluttered with papers, knives, clothes ¡ª Toga''s things. A small safe on the table, the one they had found long ago in a caf¨¦ during one of their first missions. A large armchair that faced the door. The door...


    The door!


    "Mom... wait for me!" she whispered, clenching her fists.


    Ignoring the weakness in her body, Kimika slowly but determinedly started moving toward the door.


    Her trembling fingers grasped the cold metal handle. She pressed it...


    "Where are you going, sweetheart?" came the familiar and incredibly desired voice from behind.


    "Toga?" Kimika said, bewildered, not understanding how this was even possible. She had searched every room, called for her friend countless times, fallen loudly, and she hadn''t come. Even now, as Kimika was scanning the room, Toga wasn''t there. And now she appeared... from behind?


    Without wasting any time, Kimika sharply turned around and saw... herself? Her exact copy, comfortably settled in a chair, was looking directly into her eyes. This sight made Kimika utter a single unfamiliar word: "Chrona?"


    But at that very moment, her head seemed to crack ¡ª a painful flash that made her scream from the unbearable pain and fall to her knees.


    "Ho? Memories are starting to break through without my intervention? Eye, it seems that this time things will go differently," murmured Chrona?, getting up from the chair. She approached the desk and, with a sly smile, raised her hand towards the safe, but upon seeing that her hand simply passed through it, she barely whispered, "Tch."


    But this did not change her good mood at all, and with the same, even slightly sincere smile, Chrona approached Kimika. Sitting down beside her, she began to gently stroke her head, despite the fact that her hand simply passed through her.


    "It seems you''re in a lot of pain, so much so that you probably can''t even hear me... Ah, I can''t just watch as my future body suffers," Chrona said, beginning to shrink before her eyes.


    With each passing second, Chrona kept shrinking more and more, and the clothes on her changed so quickly that it was almost unnoticeable. Wounds appeared on her body, only to vanish in the next moment, and within a minute, where Chrona ¡ª who looked like a 15-year-old Kimika ¡ª had been, a small, 5-year-old Kimika appeared, wearing a child''s outfit with a print of All Might.


    On the print, he stood in a proud pose, hands on his hips, with dozens of bound criminals behind him, whom he had ruthlessly defeated, pointing at them as if they were trophies.


    "Seriously? You ever wore this? It''s such a shame that changing this outfit requires powers I don''t have..."


    As Chrona''s appearance continued to change, Kimika became less and less twisted in pain, and her moans grew quieter and quieter.


    Pulling away her small hand, on the palm of which black droplets were visible, quickly absorbing into her body, Chrona rose, examining Kimika, who no longer showed any trace of the pain she had felt at the beginning.


    "Perfect. Now let''s get started with our little introduction, before your Eye decides it wants to intervene," Chrona added, standing up and slowly beginning to walk around the room.


    "So, I''m no Chrona! I am Hatred, but that''s not really a name, so call me Kurami. I am the embodiment of what everyone calls power!" Kurami declared proudly, striking a lofty pose. However, in her childlike form, she looked more comical than threatening. "I am your most perfect and inseparable part, living right in your heart. And by the way, you let me into your body yourself!"Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Kimika, utterly confused, stared directly at Kurami, who was proudly talking about herself in her noble pose. She didn''t know what to say or do, and all of this seemed like some kind of incomprehensible nightmare.


    Kurami, clearly seeing her confusion, let out a heavy sigh and then, without saying a word, walked over to the mirror.


    "You know, I could''ve waited until you gathered yourself and understood the meaning of every word I said, but that would take too long. And I don''t have much time... Now, with the return to the past, I need to fall into regular hibernation. And also, this cursed eye has awakened and will soon start causing trouble if we delay..."


    Starting to carefully examine her face in the mirror, she continued:


    "So, I''ll briefly tell you what you''ve forgotten, but in a way that won''t trigger flashbacks and make your head start splitting into pieces again. You don''t want to suffer more, do you?"


    Without waiting for a response and beginning to inspect her horns, Kurami continued.


    "So, you and Toga went on the final mission, after which you planned to live happily somewhere in a cottage by the sea. Then, you both fell into Nezu''s trap, believing in yourselves incredibly strongly, and in the end, you lost to your idol." Kurami paused, and with a sigh of sadness, she shifted her gaze to Kimika, as she grew tired of imagining the sight of herself in the mirror.


    "Then, losing consciousness, you met that same Chrona you mentioned when looking at me. And when you wished to save Toga, you allowed me to enter your body, just as you allowed the eye to awaken. But, even with me, you lost. And not wanting to fall into the hands of the heroes, with the last drops of my strength, I pierced your heart, forcing the eye to save you by sending us back in time. By the way, that was a one-time opportunity that could have been used at a much more important moment... The eye took payment for that, and unfortunately, it didn''t save Toga. She''s now in the hands of the heroes."


    Kurami continued to look at Kimika, whose mind was unsuccessfully trying to process the flood of information. Her confused expression spoke for itself: a mix of confusion, fear, and despair tangled together in a knot. Kurami simply smiled, and then, despite Kimika''s state, she continued:


    "And by the way, if you were planning to go to your mom, cancel that plan. You might have already remembered how, in a fit of emotions, you yelled at her and ran away. Also... you killed two people, and she knows that very well. And I highly doubt that the heroes who patrol the area around your house 24/7 will even let you get close to it."


    Finishing the brief tour of Kimika''s forgotten memories, Kurami finally allowed her a moment to process what had been said.


    Kimika seemed to be caught between several thoughts, each tearing apart her mind. Her lips trembled, and her eyes widened with fear. "I... killed? Heroes... Nezu... Mom..." the words broke apart, as if they were too hard to even say. Her eyes shimmered with tears. "Toga... Toga! I... I have to save her!" ¡ª she whispered, slowly rising to her feet.


    *Click!*


    Her hand was almost on the doorknob when the sound of a click made her stop. Right in front of her appeared Kurami, her small figure blocking the way.


    But this time, she was not the joyful, little figure. There was something different in her gaze ¡ª as if she had shed the mask she had been wearing, and before Kimika stood no longer the cheerful Kurami.


    "How noble. And... utterly predictable," she remarked with a sarcastic tone in her voice, narrowing her eyes. "You, Kimika, are thinking first about Toga, whom you want to save, and about your mother, to whom you want to apologize. Amazing. Of course, I can''t stop you from going ¡ª you''re free to do your foolishness ¡ª but let''s at least think for a moment. What will you do in your pitiful state? Without a quirk, without me, exhausted and confused?"


    She scoffed contemptuously. "Now think about Toga. What will she feel if the heroes catch you? What will she say when she realizes you sacrificed yourself for a foolish impulse? And the funniest thing..." her eyes gleamed ominously, "is that she doesn''t even want you to try to save her."


    "What..." Kimika swallowed, Kurami''s words echoed in her mind, leaving only more questions behind.


    "Look here," a calm voice sounded from behind. Kimika flinched: a second ago, Kurami was by the door, and now her thin silhouette emerged by the table, like a shadow that lives its own life. Her hand pointed at a small safe. "Come closer and open it. Inside, there''s something that will finally make you start thinking with your head. A message from Toga."


    Kimika''s heart seemed to shatter at the very mention of that word. Her tangled thoughts scattered into pieces, giving way to a single one ¡ª seeing what Toga had left for her. She lunged forward sharply, though weakness crept through every muscle, and each step was a noticeable effort.


    Only now, on her way to the safe, the horrifying truth that Kurami had spoken began to sink into her mind: in her current state, she wouldn''t just be unable to reach the Hero Academy, she wouldn''t even make it halfway, collapsing exhausted somewhere at the very beginning.


    With trembling fingers, she touched the safe and tried to open it, but the lid didn''t even budge. There was a code on it. A four-digit code. Her gaze shot sharply to Kurami ¡ª eyes filled with silent pleading.


    Kurami merely sighed heavily upon seeing this. Her lips twisted into an ironic smile. She squinted, then, with weary annoyance, placed her palm to her face. "Your birth year"


    Kimika leaned over the safe, cautiously typing in the four familiar digits with trembling fingers. As soon as the numbers were entered, she heard a brief click. The safe opened, and a genuine look of surprise appeared on her face.


    And Kurami, as if understanding her thoughts, smiled sincerely and whispered, "And Toga is still the same."


    Without hearing this comment, Kimika opened the safe. Inside was a whole stack of photos. To her surprise, most of them were just her portraits ¡ª from childhood to the most recent days.


    There were photos where she was alone, posing near some places where Toga had made her take pictures. There were also couple photos with Toga, but... none where Toga was alone.


    "How is this possible?" Kimika whispered, not believing her eyes. "I''ve photographed her countless times..."


    Nearby lay a thick notebook, which, judging by its appearance, seemed to be a diary. It looked worn out, as if it had been opened and reread hundreds of times.


    Kimika carefully picked up the diary, and when she opened the first page, her gaze fell on the blurry, tear-streaked words:


    "Today, my parents once again said that I''m abnormal..."


    "How I wish someone would love me..."


    She froze, feeling her throat tighten with emotion. Each word pierced deep into her soul, tearing it apart.


    "The message on the last page," Kurami''s voice rang out sharply, pulling Kimika away from the diary. "Reading someone else''s diary is... well... rude. But if you''ve decided to gather some motivation and dive into the suffering of your ''best friend'' to become stronger, you can do that later."


    Kimika flipped the diary to the last page. Her gaze immediately caught on the familiar handwriting, where words, written in uneven letters, were circled with a red heart:


    "Kimi, if you''re reading this, it means I''m either already gone... or the heroes have caught me. If it''s the first, I beg you... be strong! Keep living. Don''t waste your heart on pain, you know I hate it when you cry. Find happiness and feel it with every little bit of your wonderful soul. But if I''ve been captured... Kimi, promise me you won''t play the knight in shining armor! Don''t do anything stupid and don''t come to save me. I''ll handle it myself. Wait for me. I''ll find you. No matter where you are¡ªI''ll come.


    By the way, here''s a little cheat sheet for self-defense!


    First, always carry something sharp. Second, smile when you strike. People resist less when they think you''re friendly. And remember ¡ª cut on the diagonal, it''s deeper.


    By the way..."


    After a detailed description of how to properly eat sweets, a list of places with the best ice cream, and a catalog of every knife from Toga''s collection, with its name and purpose:


    "P.S. My little innocent white kitten, you know I love you more than anything in the world. And if, by any chance, some girl or, God forbid, some guy ¡ª especially Izuku ¡ª starts chasing after you, promise me... stab that person right in the heart and twist the knife a few times! Otherwise, I will find a way to come back to life just to do it myself!"


    At the end:


    "Love you,


    Your Toga <3"


    "Toga¡­" Kimika whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks like hot trails. Her hands trembled, clutching the pages of the diary, while her chest burned with a desperate desire to become the very knight who would save her, despite all of Toga''s words not to become like that.


    Kurami, standing beside her and watching her inner struggle, couldn''t help but smile and ask the very first question, the very first words she had said to her in their conversation. "So, what''s it gonna be, sleepyhead? Where are you going?"


    Kimika, with determination in her eyes, closed the diary and, wiping her face with her sleeve, replied: "If I can''t save her myself... I''ll go to Giran."


    These words triggered an uncontrollable laugh from Kurami, filling the room, accompanied by a warm blush on her cheeks. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips spread into a wide, almost predatory grin.


    "Oh, I can''t wait for the moment when you break, and I can take control of your body," her voice became sharp, then suddenly shifted to a softer tone. "But for now... you can have my power to become stronger."


    Kimika flinched slightly but silently placed all the photographs and the diary into the safe. Lifting it, she walked out of the house with a slow yet determined pace.


    Left alone in the empty house, Kurami snapped her fingers, turning off the lights. A moment later, vanishing from the visible world, she began to watch Kimika through the space between reality and shadows. Her smile grew even wider, and her eyes blazed with a predatory fire.


    "Everything''s going completely differently this time... and that makes it all the more interesting," she almost sang the words, savoring every moment unfolding before her eyes.

 The Unexpected Refusal

    A lonely man stood on the balcony of an apartment in a high-rise building in one of the districts of Kyushu, smoking a cigarette and gazing at the enchanting landscape of the nighttime city.


    This flawless scene became even more perfect thanks to the silence of the night, which, although occasionally interrupted by distant police sirens, did not lose its magic; on the contrary, it only gained new nuances.


    "People keep disappearing more and more..." he muttered, lighting a new cigarette with his favorite gun-shaped lighter. The smoke slowly rose upward, dissolving into the cold night air. "There are more and more patrols... Students, rookies, professionals... they''re recruiting anyone for those damn patrols."


    He took a thoughtful drag of his cigarette, watching as another patrol passed under the balcony. If only that was his only problem... But no. Because of these patrols, his clients had to hide: some were lucky, others weren''t, and they got caught by the heroes. Some even turned into rats, betraying their own just to save their skin.


    "Maybe this is a sign¡­" he sighed, realizing that he had been staying in one place for too long, and it was time to move to a new apartment before they found him.


    He knew well that soon the hero academies, especially U.A., would open their doors to new students, which meant the start of the annual battle for spots, with competition only growing stronger.


    At the same time, it was an opportunity for people like him, seekers of profit. While housing prices near the academies were skyrocketing, on the outskirts, on the contrary, it was possible to find options for almost nothing.


    And with a little effort, one could find a place in a decent neighborhood, where no one would ever suspect that their new neighbor was a criminal.


    Smiling, he began to ponder this goldmine. He could not only buy himself temporary housing but also acquire nearly a hundred such apartments. And when the storm settled, he could sell most of them at a profit.


    Extinguishing his cigarette, he entered the apartment and pulled his phone from its case with bunny ears. Even as a criminal, he couldn''t help but admire one of the heroines.


    He turned on the screen and saw a wallpaper featuring artwork of Miruko. In the art, she stood wearing only an apron, slightly leaning forward. In one hand, she held a plate of pancakes, while with the other, she sent an air kiss.


    "With art prices like these, this artist is probably making more than I am... Though, I must admit, she definitely knows her craft."


    Barely having time to take a small bite of the pancake and scroll through a few messages on his phone, the door suddenly slammed with a series of loud, sharp knocks.


    ''I''m not expecting anyone¡­'' flashed through his mind as he froze in place.


    Placing the fork with a piece of pancake on the plate and his phone on the table, he exhaled heavily, standing up and heading toward the door.


    He hadn''t been afraid of being caught by heroes for a long time. After all, if you''re not ready for the fact that at any moment you could be caught, then what''s the point of even stepping onto this path?


    And yet¡­ Deep down, he didn''t want to admit to himself that he might have become too overconfident, having picked up this trait from a certain couple who always managed to come out unscathed and consistently win.


    He couldn''t suppress a smile, imagining how that unique couple, who seemed to win every time as if by some lucky lottery ticket called ''life,'' was now relaxing somewhere on a warm beach in a cozy little house.


    Still¡­ deep down, he didn''t want to admit to himself that perhaps he had become too overconfident, having taken on this trait from a certain pair who always came out unscathed and invariably won.


    He couldn''t help but smile, imagining how this unique pair, who every time won the lucky ticket in the lottery called ''life'', was now relaxing somewhere on a warm beach in a cozy little house.


    The smile quickly disappeared because the knocking never stopped for a moment. It was nothing like the heroes or the police ¡ª if they knew he was here, they would have just kicked down the door and captured him, not given him a chance to escape.


    "God forbid, if it''s one of my clients..." he muttered. Because Giran knew very well that if it was, and it was some idiot lackey from one of his unique clients who knew where he lived, the neighbors might call the heroes because of all this noise. And being caught for such an incredibly stupid reason... "Today, there might be one less scumbag."


    Slowly approaching the door, Giran hid his pistol-lighter behind his back, just in case he needed to calm down the uninvited guest who continued to knock louder and louder.


    With his other hand, he slowly began to open the door, regretting that he hadn''t replaced it with one that had a peephole, and even more so that he hadn''t installed hidden cameras at the entrance, like he always did in his temporary residences.


    Giran quickly opened the door, ready for anything, and immediately aimed the pistol-lighter at the silhouette that appeared on the threshold.


    "Who are you and what..." he began, but didn''t have time to finish the sentence before his gaze instantly assessed the figure.


    It was one of the pair he had just mentioned ¡ª Tokima.


    Heavy breathing, unsteady posture, no horns, gray eyes, and a disheveled appearance ¡ª and most importantly, she was alone, without Tsukima. All of this instantly made Giran realize that failure had finally caught up with the two of them. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Without wasting any time, he quickly discarded the lighter-pistol and instantly pulled her into the apartment so fast that Kimika, who had been knocking just moments ago, didn''t even have time to comprehend what had happened before she found herself on the ground.


    Giran, without stopping, quickly glanced outside, scanning the surroundings and silently praying that the girl hadn''t brought a tail.


    Turning back one last time, he sighed in relief, seeing that there was no one there.


    As he quickly closed the door, he suddenly felt the breeze brush past his ear, as if something had just flown by. But when he looked around, aside from Tokima, who was getting back on her feet, he saw nothing.


    "Better if it were those damn lackeys of my clients," he muttered, running past Kimika toward the living room. "I won''t even ask what happened to you, but how did you even find my place?"


    "Ugh, my head... why did you do that?" Kimika groaned, holding her hand to the back of her head. "As for your place... I found the address in Toga''s diary."


    "From Toga''s diary? So her threats weren''t just empty words..." ¡ª Giran said quietly, pulling a backpack out of the closet.


    Kimika, finally getting to her feet and still holding her head with one hand, followed Giran into the beautifully arranged living room.


    Seeing how quickly he was tossing things from the closet into the backpack, she couldn''t help but ask, "What are you doing?"


    "What am I doing? Packing my things so I can get the hell out of here as quickly as possible! Do you really believe that after running what felt like the distance of several Olympic marathons from the heroes'' fight all the way here, you''re not going to bring a tail with you? Those damn patrols are practically on every corner, and I just don''t believe that none of those heroes, seeing you in this state, won''t want to know the details," he replied, and, seeing that all the necessary items were already in the backpack, he quickly ran into the neighboring bedroom.


    "Tail? Fight?" Kimika muttered, recalling how she had indeed seen hero patrols practically on every street on her way here. "No! There was no fight with heroes! Well... actually, there was, but not today! And not a single one saw me..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, her heart nearly stopped when Giran''s head appeared from the bedroom door she was approaching, with a clear look of surprise on his face.


    "What? Your fight with the heroes didn''t happen today? So, you¡­ hid somewhere, waited out the storm, and then came to me?"


    Lost in thought and pressing his finger to his temple, he began to consider that if the fight really hadn''t happened today¡­


    ''No, this can''t be.''


    Giran knew he wasn''t the kind of person who wouldn''t have learned about a fight with heroes from his informants, especially since to defeat this pair, a lot of noise would have been needed. Only if influential people had intervened¡­


    "If your fight didn''t happen today, then we still have some time, but our situation¡­ Toga, where is she?" Giran asked, turning back to the bedroom and continuing to pack, though not in such a hurry now.


    Kimika, who followed him, tried to open her mouth and tell everything that had happened, but every time it ended with no words coming out of her mouth no matter how hard she tried.


    Her lips moved, but the silence remained impenetrable.


    Not receiving a response, Giran, without even looking at his conversation partner, instantly understood what was going on.


    Understanding that Toga was likely in Tartarus right now, and this girl had come to ask for help to rescue her,


    He exhaled heavily, set down his backpack, and, sitting on the bed, gestured for Kimika to sit beside him. Without a trace of coldness or anger in his voice, he said:


    "Toga lost to the heroes, and you, through incredible luck, managed to escape and came to me to ask for help in saving her?"


    "Yes..." came the quiet, barely audible response.


    "If you''ve come to me, then your situation must be dire, isn''t that right?" he said with involuntary sarcasm, already knowing the answer.


    And just as he expected, he received the same quiet "Yes," bringing a faint smile to his face.


    "You know, this is quite a difficult situation," he said, rubbing his eyes. "On one hand, you came to entirely the wrong person. To me. To someone who only cares about profit, money... and a few other trivial things. And yet, you came to such a person asking for help. And you know, if anyone else were in your place, any other client at all, I would have, without hesitation, given a firm ''no'' and that would be it."


    Giran paused, his voice growing even colder as he continued:


    "On the other hand, you''re asking me to save one of my most valuable clients ¡ª someone who has been one of the most profitable for me. And most importantly, surprisingly enough, by the time you came, Toga had been working for me for almost nothing, making me feel indebted to her, which I despise. And that is precisely why... I''ll say no again."


    Paying no attention to Kimika, he quickly grabbed his backpack and headed to the kitchen, intending to collect the last of his belongings ¡ª a laptop and phone ¡ª before leaving the apartment for good.


    Kimika, bewildered by his refusal, couldn''t come to terms with what she had just heard.


    "But... but why?! You yourself said that she was the most beneficial for you! And then you spoke about being in her debt!" she exclaimed as tears involuntarily began to well up in her eyes.


    Without even pausing, he responded with coldness in his voice:


    "Everything is correct. I owe her, and having worked with her for a long time, despite her crazy personality, I know her like the back of my hand. And she would want me to refuse you. Because it''s suicide. Tartarus is an impregnable fortress, from which no one has ever escaped in all its history, despite the rumors from petty hooligans who attribute this achievement to someone. It''s absolutely impossible!"


    "But she''s not in Tartarus!" Kimika shouted, causing him to freeze in place.


    "Then where is she?" Giran asked, turning to her with suspicion in his eyes.


    "She''s at U.A. High School! We fought with Eraser Head, All Might, and several other heroes, and I know for sure she''s there!"


    "Hmph, as if that changes anything. The only difference between them is one is a prison, and the other is a school. But in both cases, it''s an impregnable fortress."


    Kimika, not thinking of stopping yet still hoping to convince him, rushed forward. But, suddenly crashing into his back and not understanding the reason for his stop, she raised her eyes and immediately mimicked his example, freezing in place.


    Right in front of them, on one of the chairs in the kitchen, sat a third person with wings, legs propped up on the table, chewing on a pancake.


    "Yes, yes, I agree with him," said the man with fluffy, messy hair combed back, lifting the last piece of pancake to his mouth with his huge feather, which he used instead of a fork. "Your request, beauty, is suicide. Just like, by the way, having such wallpaper on your phone."


    Suddenly, one of the feathers quickly flew out from behind Kimika and Giran. The feather picked up the phone from the surface of the table and brought it to the man. He turned on the phone and showed the image to the stunned Giran.


    ''This is what it was! Damn it! He''s been eavesdropping on us the whole time!'' Giran cursed inwardly.


    "As far as I know, she doesn''t like being drawn in such a ''weak'' way, especially when the one using the photo is much weaker than her. And unfortunately, you''re not to her taste, so I advise you to forget about her before she breaks your heart, both literally and figuratively. And, by the way, I never thought anyone would actually risk their life by drawing something like this. But let''s not talk about it, and let''s keep this just between the three of us." said the man, winking, and, standing up from the chair, he put on the glasses that were sitting on the table.


    "As pleasant as this conversation may be, unfortunately, my time isn''t unlimited, and I wouldn''t want to waste my free time outside of work. I''d rather spend it on a new series with a can of beer and some chicken wings."

 Barrier

    "Yes, yes, I absolutely agree with him," said the man with fluffy, disheveled hair slicked back, raising the last piece of pancake to his mouth with his massive feather. "Your request, gorgeous, is pure suicide. Just like, by the way, having such wallpapers on your phone."


    One of the feathers swiftly flew out from behind Kimika and Giran, snatching the phone off the table and bringing it to the man.


    ''Damn it! He''s been eavesdropping on us this whole time!'' Giran cursed inwardly.


    "As far as I know, she doesn''t like being portrayed in such a way, especially if the one looking at that photo is weaker than her. And here''s some advice from a man: forget about her, she''s out of your league. Also... I''d never have thought anyone would dare to draw such art, risking their life."


    He fell silent, then turned the phone toward himself, examining the artwork with attentiveness and genuine interest in his eyes. "Although... you know what, I like it. I wouldn''t mind getting the contact of this person. And also the one who makes these pancakes."


    Standing behind Giran, Kimika swallowed hard, not taking her eyes off the figure of the winged hero, sometimes forgetting how to blink or even breathe.


    She knew this hero.


    A hero who, despite his carelessness and audacity, was ranked in the top 10 best heroes in Japan. A hero who was only two places below All Might in the rankings.


    And seeing him now, right in front of her, especially in her current state ¡ª powerless, without her quirk¡­ It was a verdict.


    A verdict with only one ending.


    Cold sweat beaded on her temples. Her breathing grew heavier, as if all the oxygen in the room had disappeared.


    But that was far from everything.


    In Kimika''s mind, various theories she had read long ago with Izuku flashed by, according to which this hero didn''t take the rankings seriously at all, and if he wanted, he could rise even higher.


    This hero...


    "Hawks," she said simultaneously with Giran, and the next moment Kimika felt a slight push as he, trying to step back, bumped into her.


    "How unexpected to see such a guest in my apartment. You could have at least given me a heads up. I would have gotten ready and made more of my pancakes."


    Hawks casually stood up from the chair, stretching lazily after sitting for a long time on the uncomfortable seat.


    "Who would have known? I didn''t expect to end up here myself. As always, after another long and exhausting workday, I was flying home, planning to relax on the couch, watch the new episode of my favorite show, with a can of cold beer and some chicken wings. But, at the very end of my route, I noticed an interesting person running right in the middle of the night, avoiding all the hero patrols."


    With a smile, he glanced at Kimika, putting Giran''s phone into his pocket and putting on his glasses, while feathers were being released from his wings.


    "And although, judging by our brief acquaintance, you are quite interesting people, to be honest, it''s already time for me to wrap things up. Because, given the choice: whether to continue this conversation, spending my already limited off-work time, or return home and stick to the plan, enjoying my rest..."


    Pausing, his feathers began to slowly spin, their sharp tips facing Kimika and Giran.


    "I think the choice is obvious. Although, if we had met during working hours, I wouldn''t have refused the conversation... But that''s a different story."


    Kimika saw the feathers fly towards her and Giran at incredible speed in that very moment.


    "Get down!" Giran''s shout rang out, and instinctively covering her face with her hands, she felt him abruptly push her away.


    With a loud thud, she hit the ground, and in less than a second, three feathers whizzed by, only five inches from her eyes, cutting several strands of her hair.


    Without the intention of stopping, they continued flying, crashing and easily passing through the wall.


    "GIRAN!" Kimika managed to scream as the figure that had saved her flew down the corridor, with several feathers flying right behind, two of which were carrying a blanket.


    Soon, a blow occurred that made the whole apartment shudder, and several paintings from the walls and objects from the shelves fell to the floor.


    "The first one is ready," a cold voice sounded near the door, as Hawks entered the doorway with a relaxed stride, hands in his pockets, and staring directly at Kimika. "Only you are left, beauty."


    He paused, as if giving her time to process his words, but in reality, as he took out his phone from his pocket, he began ordering a delivery of chicken legs.


    "Don''t take this personally, after all, it''s my job. You know, if time were on my side, I would gladly give you a head start... But I want to finish everything as quickly as possible and get back home before the delivery arrives. You know how these couriers are ¡ª you''ll be writing to them later, looking for them..." he added with a heavy sigh, without even lifting his gaze.


    From his wings, a few feathers shot out, which, without hesitation, flew straight at Kimika.


    Hawks was already turning, feeling the faint taste of beer and snacks in his mouth, when suddenly the space was shattered by a sharp, ringing sound ¡ª a strike, as if dozens of knives had hit metal at once.


    Kimika, just a moment ago preparing for the inevitable, sharply opened her eyes with a quick breath.


    A barrier.


    Right in front of her, a black, night-like hemispherical barrier appeared, surrounding her from all sides.


    And only in the places where the feathers had recently struck, now helplessly lying on the ground, were faint ripples barely visible, quickly fading away.


    "What the..." Kimika barely managed to mutter when the air was once again torn apart by the sharp sound of a strike ¡ª another attempt by Hawks to break through the barrier.


    "Barrier, so that''s your quirk," came the muffled voice of the hero from behind the barrier, followed by another strike. "I''ve heard a bit about you, Tokima, right? If I''ve mispronounced your name, I apologize. So, getting back to the point. I heard about you and your friend on the news, during the commercial breaks between the shows. To be honest, I never really listened to them, because I didn''t think I''d ever run into any of you. After all, you were operating pretty far from Kyushu or Tokyo. But as you can see, we''ve met after all, and while we have the time, maybe you''ll tell me how you managed to escape from All Might and a bunch of heroes? I don''t believe All Might wouldn''t have broken your barrier if he''d wanted to." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The barrier trembled again from the strike of feathers, but this time, unlike the previous ones, the sound came from below.


    ''Damn, the barrier is spherical after all... Looks like I''ll be without chicken legs today.''


    Shuddering with each strike against the barrier, Kimika heard Hawks continue to say something or asking questions, but with every second, his voice grew quieter and quieter until it completely disappeared.


    All that remained was the faint sound of feathers hitting the barrier, growing more frequent as they struck various points, as if searching for a weak spot.


    "This is not my quirk... Where did this barrier come from?" she whispered softly to herself.


    She watched the ripples that continuously appeared and disappeared across the entire barrier, unable to stop herself from wondering, "How much longer can it withstand these blows?"


    "Exactly as long as he has the patience to not unleash all the feathers at once" a calm response echoed in Kimika''s mind.


    "Kurami?"


    Not receiving an answer to her fear, Kimika saw the barrier begin to flicker and brighten, as if weakening from the endless strikes of Hawks'' feathers.


    The darkness slowly lightened until the barrier became completely transparent.


    But to her relief, it turned out to be just a visual effect, as the barrier didn''t disappear. Moreover, it seemed to be one-sided, because the hero did not react to it in any way.


    Kimika was able to discern Hawks'' calm, yet somewhat focused face, as well as the dozens of feathers swirling around. From time to time, some of them would spin with their sharp tips and strike the barrier at incredible speed. But every time, it all ended the same ¡ª they would bounce off and return to the other swirling feathers.


    "Oh, just look at that face! Not a trace of fear or confusion, as if everything that happened was just a postponement of his victory, ha-ha!" suddenly, the five-year-old version of Kimika appeared, still in that same little costume with All Might.


    "It seems he doesn''t consider you a worthy opponent at all. He probably thinks you''re a weak, insecure girl. And despite that, he even stooped to distracting you with questions, trying to strike from below. Ha-ha, you should''ve seen his face when he found out the barrier is everywhere!"


    "Kurami..." Kimika quietly said, clenching her fists.


    "Although, now that I think about it, there''s some truth to that. Because right now, you don''t have a quirk, and physically you''re weak, and all that... Ha, look, it seems he''s losing patience, starting to launch even more feathers!"


    "Kurami..." Kimika whispered again, her barely audible voice swallowed by Kurami''s laughter and the sounds of the feathers striking the barrier.


    Tightening her fists even more, she felt the pain and despair growing inside her.


    "At this rate, my barrier will hold for another minute, and then..."


    "KURAMI!" Kimika suddenly shouted, slamming her hands onto the floor.


    "Huh? What?" Kurami quickly turned around and saw tears dripping from Kimika''s eyes, soaking her hands, from which blood was barely noticeable, trickling down.


    "Why?" Kimika asked with pain in her voice, desperately wiping the tears from her face with her sleeve. "Why does it always end the same? No matter how much I study, no matter how much I train, no matter how many new techniques I come up with... why, in the end, does someone always have to save and protect me?! Why?!"


    She paused, glancing at Hawks, who stood in the same spot where she once stood with Giran, and her tears erupted in a new wave.


    "Why... why always... because of me... just problems?" she whispered, her voice trembling with pain. "I brought a hero here, and as a result, Giran had to save me, sacrificing his chance to escape, and then you saved me with this barrier... And all the time, I just stood there, frozen, and watched all of it..."


    Kurami silently looked at her, listening, with a barely noticeable smile on her face. ''It seems the time when I''ll regain control over her body will come much sooner.''


    "And everyone always talks about my weakness... But why? Why!? I''ve been training since childhood, alone, with my mom, with my dad, with Toga... always giving it my all... I do everything Toga tells me, and yet... in the end, I still turn out to be the weakest and I get saved!"


    Kimika paused as her heart began to beat faster and faster, and the despair and pain were replaced by anger. "And now what? I''m left without my quirk, and any moment now, the top-3 hero will catch me! What the hell is he even doing here!? He should, as always, be in Tokyo! Why... Why does everything always go wrong?"


    Kimika started crying loudly, finally letting out everything that had been swirling in her mind. She covered her face with her hands, unsuccessfully trying to wipe away her tears.


    Kurami, moving closer to Kimika, tried to touch her, but as she expected, she saw her hand simply pass through her.


    With a sigh, she lay down beside her, propping her head up with her hand, and began to watch Hawks, who was growing more and more persistent in breaking through her barrier. ''Less than a minute left? No... I''ll give everything I''ve got, this moment cannot be lost.''


    "You know, I spoke thoughtlessly. You''re not weak, it''s just... you need an activator. It used to be Toga. And now, since she''s not around, you''re just not used to acting without a push. Also, I lied to you a little ¡ª your quirk is still with you," she said calmly, while a confused Kimika turned to her, whispering: "What?"


    "What? Actually, your quirk just turned off. You haven''t forgotten that you don''t have horns, right? Using it without them is like killing your own body. So your body just blocked the ability to activate it. That''s all. It''s like that automatic quirk shutdown from childhood, when you trained with the balls and couldn''t activate both eyes at the same time."


    "Then I can just... remove this block, like I did back then," Kimika quietly replied.


    "Right on target," Kurami replied, standing tall and looking her in the eye. "And here''s my moment! I can help. Take and use my powers ¡ª I''ll do all the hard work for you. And you''ll get your quirk, bigger horns, and as a bonus, even stronger eyes. Thanks to that, you''ll be able to defeat this chicken with one strike, which will save Giran, and he might even reconsider and help you after all."


    Kimika, having wiped away her tears, almost agreed. But suddenly, an old image appeared before her eyes: herself, small, desperately training with the balls. Alone. Without anyone''s help. And despite every failure, despite the tears, she never gave up, forcing herself to move forward in order to become stronger.


    And how could she even think about accepting someone else''s power after those words that were just spoken?


    "No!" she answered without a trace of doubt.


    Kurami''s face twisted into an angry grimace for a moment, but immediately returned to its usual expression.


    "Well... it''s your choice, though quite unexpected. And... that''s exactly why I like it," Kurami said, smiling a predatory grin, showing her dark fangs. "And because of that... I''ll make an exception and give you a piece of advice ¡ª free of charge. The safe. The one you brought with you, has a false bottom. There, Toga hid a trigger. Use every last drop of it. Your body will be flooded with a quirk enhancer, and as a result, your body will be forced to return your ability to activate your quirk, so that you can do something with the bubbling energy inside you. This is the only quick way to regain your quirk. And while any other person would just die from this, but..."


    She leaned in closer, and her eyes sparkled with a dark flame. "But you ¡ª you''re not an ordinary person. You have me. And don''t consider this as help. If you die, I die too. So I''ll simply be forced to give up my powers to keep your body alive."


    With these words, Kurami vanished, and her voice echoed in Kimika''s head, fading with each word.


    "But remember, I can''t support your body forever. You''ll only have a minute¡­ maybe two. After that, I''ll forcibly eject the trigger from your body. And I won''t care whether the fight is over by then or not ¡ª I won''t wait. And one more thing¡­ This will hurt quite a lot."


    Left alone, filled with determination, Kimika noticed how, whether due to Kurami''s departure or the time given to Hawks, he began relentlessly attacking the weakened barrier, purposefully directing all his feathers at three different points. And right before her eyes, cracks began to appear at those points, causing Hawks to intensify his attacks.


    But she no longer cared. Resolutely, she said, "Toga, just wait for me, and I will save you," as she took off her backpack.


    At the same time, on the other side of the city, at U.A. Hero Academy, a light-haired girl was sitting in one of the classrooms. After sneezing, as if someone had remembered her, she shifted her gaze to the full moon that illuminated the night sky.


    "Kimi, do you remember, under this very moon, we completed our first joint mission?" she smiled, gently swaying on her chair. "I wonder how you''re doing without me... I hope you won''t decide to become a knight on a white horse and try to save me, right?"


    But right in the moment of Toga''s fantasies about how Kimika would look as a knight, Aizawa, who was standing behind the podium, slammed a book onto the table.


    "Don''t get distracted from the task, the faster we finish, the sooner we''ll finally go our separate ways..."


    "Yes, yes! Aizawa-sensei!" Toga responded cheerfully, beginning to answer the questions on the survey sheet.


    But just a few seconds later, she got distracted again and, with a smile, turned her gaze to the window.


    "Why is this happening to me..." muttered Aizawa, bringing his fingers to his temple. "This is the hundredth time..."


    Having no strength left, he curled up in his sleeping bag, lay down on the ground, and, not falling asleep, simply closed his eyes, trying to recover at least a little bit of energy before the upcoming opening of the academy, where twenty new students would be waiting for him.


    And suddenly, some unknown feeling overwhelmed him, running like chills down his spine. He felt that these students would be special, just like the one who was almost humming as she sat behind him in the auditorium, looking out the window.


    "I''ll expel them all as soon as I see them..." he muttered quietly.

 The fight with the feathers

    "Come on... Come on!" Kimika repeated, feeling along the bottom of the safe for a hidden mechanism, while hearing the barrier crack under the impact of feathers.


    *Click.*


    "I found it!" Kimika exclaimed joyfully, sliding the lid of the double bottom.


    She quickly began transferring the new photos into her backpack, alongside the neatly folded diary, until finally, only one small box with red pills inside remained in the safe.


    "Now all that''s left is to take them, and the quirk will return. Pull yourself together, Kimika! Prove to everyone that you''re not weak!"


    Bringing the box to her mouth to take all the pills at once, Kimika heard the barrier finally shatter with a loud crack, unable to withstand the strikes from Hawks.


    "You know, I understand how you and your frie..." he began, but as soon as the shards of the barrier fell, a scene unfolded before his eyes that silenced him.


    The girl with red, swollen eyes from crying sat on the floor, holding a plastic box near her mouth with surprisingly familiar pills inside.


    "Trigger!" he hissed, instantly launching the nearest feather into the box.


    Feeling as if time around her had slowed, and the feather was slowly flying straight toward her, Kimika shifted her gaze to the box and, without a moment''s hesitation, lifted its end slightly higher.


    All the pills inside rushed downward, one by one, landing on her tongue.


    Without even swallowing them, Kimika felt everything around her start to spin and darken, while the pulsing headache, once dulled by Kurami, suddenly returned, striking with renewed force.


    Clenching the box tightly in her hands and trying not to fall, she continued to empty the box, feeling how with each pill the pain only intensified, beginning to pulse not only in her head but throughout her whole body.


    Her body trembled with each pulse of pain, until finally, the last pill reached her mouth, and at that very moment, with a whistle, the feather pierced the box, knocking it out of Kimika''s hands.


    "Spit them out immediately!" ¨C shouted Hawks, rushing over and grabbing Kimika by the chin, forcefully trying to pry her jaw open. "You''ll die if you swallow them!"


    Meeting the girl''s gaze, he saw gray eyes with barely noticeable black droplets. There was no trace of fear in her gaze, only determination. And in the next instant, the girl swallowed the pills.


    "Damn it!" hissed Hawks, stepping back a few paces, running a hand through his hair, occasionally glancing at the girl who didn''t even realize that with her own hands she had signed her own death sentence.


    Barely staying upright, swaying from side to side, Kimika breathed heavily, until she finally collapsed forward onto her hands, feeling as if every cell in her body was burning.


    "Why... does it... hurt so much..." Kimika rasped, starting to rub her burning eyes.


    In an instant, she flinched, grabbing her stomach with one hand. Her face twisted in pain, and with a rasping sound, she vomited blood.


    Hawks leaned in, watching with pity as she suffered.


    He had flown after the running teenager in the middle of the night to find out the reasons, not even suspecting that this girl would turn out to be a well-known criminal.


    And even more so, right now he was watching as this criminal slowly died from a trigger that was eating her from the inside, with no way of saving her.


    He knew that the dry trigger was never taken in its pure form by anyone, ever. Even the most desperate criminals would rather surrender than risk taking those pills.


    They served only as a convenient way to transport the substance, which was later diluted in water to create the regular trigger.


    One such pill was equivalent to three standard doses of trigger. And due to its property of almost instantaneous dissolution upon contact with water, the process became irreversible.


    And even if, at that moment, the person who took the dry trigger were in a hospital with prepared doctors nearby, the best that could be hoped for would be a delay of the inevitable death by a few minutes.


    But this girl... She simply took and swallowed dozens of such pills.


    "I can do it! I can... endure this!" Kimika rasped quietly, clenching her fists and teeth as she was thrown up with blood again and again.


    And at the same time, she felt something new growing inside her ¡ª a warm sensation, completely opposite to the pain. "Just a little more..."


    With great difficulty, she barely managed to open her clouded eyes and saw before her a hero holding a sword made of several feathers. A barely noticeable hint of sorrow flashed in his gaze, but his face remained impassive as the blade slowly rose, preparing for the strike.


    "It will be better this way."


    And at that moment, when the sword was only an inch from her neck, everything around her turned completely gray ¡ª the entire world around her froze.


    And in her head, an irritated voice sounded: "Tch, Eye, you''re lucky today. But who knows if you''ll be so lucky next time. Do whatever you want. Recoil."


    With a barely audible click, the voice in her head faded, and Kimika was enveloped in a bright blue glow. The pain that pulsed in every cell of her body gradually receded, and strength began to return, filling her exhausted body with a strange sense of relief.


    Without time to think about what had just happened, Kimika knew only one thing: her quirk had returned. This meant the timer had started.


    ''I only have one minute to defeat him.''


    Shutting out all unnecessary thoughts, she smiled, clenched her fists, and activated acceleration.


    Pushing off the ground, she bounced to the right. The very moment her feet touched down, the frozen time resumed its pace, coming to life and regaining its colors.


    *A strike.*


    A sharp sound echoed precisely where she had been just a moment ago. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "Teleportation quirk?" Hawks exclaimed in surprise, unable to believe his eyes.


    The sword, just an inch away from her neck and meant to end her suffering, instead simply passed through the air, where a faint golden glow was barely visible.


    And the girl, as if teleporting, appeared in a different spot, surrounded by the same golden glow.


    In addition to this teleportation, he noticed that her eyes had changed: instead of two gray eyes, one now blazed red, the other blue, and a third eye appeared on her forehead, golden and glowing, staring straight into his soul.


    "Your quirk is teleportation, then..." quickly shifting his gaze to Giran, Hawks saw that he was still unconscious, pinned to the wall by feathers, with a blanket covering his eyes.


    Turning to the now standing Kimika, Hawks assumed a battle stance.


    "He can''t be the one who created the barrier, and I don''t think you have two quirks. So either there''s another partner of yours here, or... has the trigger given you another quirk?" pausing, he released feathers from his wings, directing them at Kimika. "I''ll figure that out after your capture."


    And in the next moment, dozens of feathers flew straight at Kimika.


    Closing her eyes and activating acceleration on her eyes and brain, she whispered with a long exhale, "Future vision."


    Opening her glowing red eyes, she saw dozens of red feather-like copies flying just a little closer than the real ones. In the next moment, all the feathers began to shine with a blue glow, and Kimika, illuminated in red, rushed forward, effortlessly dodging the slowed-down feathers, seeing the trajectory of each one.


    Her smile stretched wide, and a surge of confidence lit up in her thoughts: "I have a chance to defeat him!"


    Hawks pushed himself backward with his wings, trying to dodge the attack from Kimika as she charged at him. But at that very moment, everything around him seemed to slow down, and his wings began to move as if with a second''s delay.


    He saw them glowing with a blue radiance, and in the next instant, Kimika, like a battering ram, crashed into him.


    Without stopping, only accelerating, Kimika collided with the wall a moment later, using Hawks'' body as a shield to break through it, shifting their fight into the hallway.


    Sitting on the fallen Hawks, the girl began relentlessly attacking him with accelerated punches.


    Hawks, blocking each of her strikes, tried to push the girl away with his leg, while directing all available feathers, except for the slowed ones on his wings.


    "TRITE!" Kimika shouted, clearly remembering how both Sotrygolova and Toga had pushed her away with a similar move in the past.


    This time, fully prepared for it, just a moment before the hero''s leg was about to strike her abdomen, she activated her acceleration, swerving to the side, causing the leg to only partially hit her in the side.


    Kimika continued to attack Hawks relentlessly until suddenly, one of the feathers, shooting out from the floor with a sharp crack, pierced her left shoulder, throwing her backward and pinning her to the wall next to the unconscious Giran and the entrance door.


    Screaming in pain, she saw Hawks, standing up and looking coldly directly at her, spit blood from his mouth and wipe it away with his hand.


    And at that moment, Kimika, hearing the characteristic whistle of his feathers, shouted a move never before tested, prepared as a gift for Toga: "TIMEFREEZE!"


    And as soon as she uttered the last letter, feathers appeared from all sides, breaking through the walls.


    Quickly grabbing the feather that had pierced her shoulder and pinned her to the wall with her right hand, Kimika, clenching her blood-red teeth almost to the point of breaking, screamed as she pulled it from her shoulder and fell to the ground.


    Not taking her eyes off Hawks, Kimika, feeling the anger, aggression, and an overwhelming urge to leap at him and tear him apart right then and there, activated her regeneration acceleration.


    "Barrier, teleportation, acceleration, deceleration, area deceleration, future sight, and regeneration. You even survived and are feeling pretty good after that amount of trigger... who the hell are you?" Hawks exclaimed, looking at her left shoulder, which had been pierced by a feather just a few seconds ago and was now actively glowing red, regenerating right before his eyes.


    *Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.*


    Both of them shifted their gaze to the door, establishing a brief silent truce, listening to the quiet. And after a moment, an irritated voice sounded from behind the door.


    "Hey you! It''s four in the morning, damn it! People actually want to sleep here, not listen to your damn arguing, you little bastards!" the old lady shouted, continuing to bang on the door, almost knocking it down. "I''ve already called the heroes! And I won''t move an inch from this damn door until they catch you and send you to your death!"


    "Civilians!" Hawks suddenly realized. During the fight, he had been forced to pull in all available feathers, even those that were reporting on the situation around the apartment.


    That''s why he didn''t notice how a civilian approached the door. And the fact that she called the heroes and now won''t move away from the door could serve as an example to other neighbors, which could lead to casualties. ''Kimika, do you mind moving our ''arguing'' to a more suitable place?


    Kimika, despite the overwhelming desire to kill the hero, which only grew stronger with every passing second, and the aggression that became more intense due to the increasing negative effect of the trigger, realized that she had little time left.


    Once her time is up, Kurami will forcibly remove the trigger from her body, and without it, she has no chance of winning.


    Understanding this, she activated the maximum acceleration her body allowed and, without hesitation, charged at Hawks at full speed, wanting to end the battle as quickly as possible.


    Hawks, smiling, stood at the end of the corridor, launching his feathers at her, which Kimika immediately slowed down, effortlessly avoiding each one by seeing their future trajectories, getting closer and closer to the hero with every step.


    But suddenly, Kimika felt a sense of distrust, and her accelerated mind quickly pieced all the details together. Hawks was launching his feathers only to make her focus on them, not on him.


    ''Damn! He has no wings!'' Kimika thought, staring directly at Hawks.


    "TIMEFREEZE!" she shouted, and in an instant, almost hundreds of feathers appeared from all sides.


    From their sheer number, Kimika felt her slowing zone begin to crack, consuming more and more of her strength.


    In just a second, the zone shut down, her left eye lost its vision, and the world froze again.


    A strange mixture of warmth and pain made Kimika touch her left eye and forehead. After running her hand across, she saw black liquid on her fingers.


    "I''ve seen this before..." Kimika whispered, watching as the black liquid was absorbed into her body, and suddenly memories began to surface in her mind. Theater. Stage. Toga. Tango. Tied-up Nezu. Heroes.


    "No!" she cried out with difficulty, pushing the flood of images away. Her head throbbed with pain, but she forced herself to rise.


    Avoiding the frozen ring of feathers, she lunged forward. And after just two steps, the world came alive again.


    Hawks only managed to see the girl teleport again, and now, at breakneck speed, she was charging straight at him. Before he could brace for the impact, the girl slammed into him with all her might, sending him flying backward, crashing into a window, which couldn''t withstand the force and shattered.


    In the moment of falling, he saw her face, filled with pain, especially her left eye ¡ª dark as an abyss, with veins stretching toward her forehead, where a golden third eye was located.


    But in an instant, that eye quickly returned to its normal human appearance.


    Mentally commanding the feathers to save him, Hawks heard the girl cry out in pain as his feathers struck her back.


    Only when he was already near the third floor did the feathers form new wings, saving him from the fall. Despite the pain after being literally used to break through walls and windows, he landed on the ground and, gathering his strength, took off, returning to the battlefield.


    "Ran away?" he asked himself, seeing that, apart from the bloody trails leading first to the bedroom and then to the door, nothing else remained. Just like with Giran, once pinned to the wall.


    Near the exit of the apartment lay the unconscious old woman, the same one who had been shouting earlier.


    "You couldn''t have run far with such injuries..." he muttered, releasing the feathers that carried the old woman back to her apartment.


    He entered the bedroom, where Kimika had hidden behind the barrier at the beginning of the fight. "So whose quirk was this..."


    Following the bloody trail, he reached the place where the barrier''s center had once been, now only its shattered remnants remained, alongside a backpack and an empty plastic pillbox.


    "I still don''t understand how you survived... Who are you, Kimika?"


    He picked up a few dark shards and placed them in his pocket, and then, almost without thinking, while planning to continue following the girl''s trail, he noticed a photograph pinned by one of the shards.


    Lifting it, he saw a smiling Kimika on the photograph, standing next to another girl, probably her partner. He sighed heavily and, looking at the photo, quietly muttered, "What could have possibly made you turn into criminals?"


    "What is this?" he quietly muttered, scrutinizing the photograph.


    The girl had horns, but lacked the third eye ¡ª completely opposite to the appearance of Kimika, with whom he had just fought. Placing the photograph in his pocket, he sighed heavily, then leapt out of the window, soaring into the night sky, knowing a long, eventful night awaited him.