Chapter 7: Iida's worries

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm so very sorry!" Kaminari apologized hastily to a woman in front of her. She had long shimmering dress and black hair, making her look fabulous. There was one problem. A red stain was on her dress.

"I apologize for my friend's clumsiness, Miss!" Iida bowed deep. "He didn't mean to bump into you!"

"Well maybe he didn't but it doesn't cancel the fact that my new dress is ruined!" the woman snapped angrily and pointed at Kaminari. "You have to pay for this! I assume you have money?"

"I... Well... I'm..." Kaminari muttered unclearly, trying to smile.

"I'm waiting", holding out her hand, the woman looked sharply at Kaminari displeased.

"What's happening?" asked a man who came from behind the woman. "What happened to your lovely dress?"

"This young man here shoved me so my drink fell on my dress", she explained quickly. "Come to think of it, you really do look quite young. This isn't a place for kids."

"You are right!" her companion said firmly. "While you repay for what you've done, explain yourself."

Kaminari gulped and glanced at Iida asking for help. Iida thought hard. Asui and Uraraka had gone looking for an exit from some other place. At least they weren't caught in this tricky situation.

"This young man got lost from his parents, and I'm just helping him to get back. After we find them, he will bring money to you. You can be certain of it!" Iida said with assertive tone and bowed once more. He turned around and grabbed Kaminari by arm. Kaminari gave an apologetic smile as they started to walk away.

"Wait", the man said, and Iida and Kaminari halted. "We'll gladly help you to find your parents. Then you don't have to come find us again." He grinned craftily.

His partner looked at him surprised but then smiled. "Oh yes. I would also like to ask them a couple of questions."

"What do we do?" Kaminari asked whispering. "It seems that kids aren't welcome here."

"Is there a problem?" the woman asked smiling. "We can always ask a guard for help. Come, dear." She grabbed Kaminari by hand.

"This really isn't necessary!" Kaminari hurried, trying to get away from the woman's firm grip as she began to lead him away. Iida tried to stop her but the man stepped in the way.

"Guards will help him so there's no need for you to go with him", he said grinning without any intention if letting Iida pass him.

"I appreciate this very much but I can't get peace of mind if I don't see him with his parents. I easily worry about a lot of thing, see?" Iida explained. It was truth, actually. He was against the whole idea of getting separated from Uraraka and Asui but they had insisted. Asui had said that it would be faster to find an exit, and maybe something else. Iida could just watch as Kaminari was taken away. This won't do! Iida thought and looked at the man in the eyes. "I really must go now, good day Sir!"

Iida looked so intense that the man was speechless. He didn't even react when Iida walked away with fast pace.


"Wait, wait, wait, hold on!" Kaminari panicked. This woman was surprisingly strong, she didn't have any problem with dragging him along. "Aren't you worried about your dress?" Kaminari want to use his quirk, it would get all the attention. Then he'd be screwed and his friends with him. So now he should just obey.

"Don't worry about it any longer. After I've taken you to a guard, we're even", she explained smiling.

Kaminari bit his lip when he saw a guard walking past the dining room entrance. The woman picked up the pace to catch the guard. This is it, Kaminari thought sadly.

"Guard! Yes, you there!" the woman called out, and this guard turned around. Kaminari closed his eyes, he didn't want to face him. "This boy here got lost from his parents... Or so he said. I thought that children aren't allowed in this place. Am I wrong?"

"No, you're right. He shouldn't be here. I shall take him with me", the guard said seriously. Kaminari wasn't sure if he heard right. The guard sounded a bit familiar but maybe he was just hoping to hear things.

"Great!" the woman turned to face Kaminari. "I hope you'll find your 'parents'." She smiled and laughed spitefully as she walked away.

That's not fair, Kaminari sighed and startled when the guard grabbed his shoulder.

"I didn't think I'd find you here", the same familiarly calm voice said to his ear. This time Kaminari opened his eyes wide open and looked incredibly happy when he saw Todoroki standing right in front of him, smiling gently. "I'm not sure if I want to know why you were with her."

"It's a sad story... That aside, what are you doing here — in those clothes?!" Kaminari asked confused. "You don't look like a guard at all. Your face and hair stand out way too much, even if they are hidden beneath that cap!"

"I wonder the same thing. But let's not talk right now. I'll take you to another place", Todoroki said and pushed Kaminari onward so it looked like he was taking him away. Like a guard would do.

They turned around corner or two as the duo made their way through long corridors. Only when they were in a place where there was almost nobody, Todoroki pushed Kaminari into a room that was a break room for guards. It wasn't too big but it had enough room for a couple of sofas and a table with four chairs.

"How do you know about this room?" Kaminari asked exploring the room. "What's going on, really? Did they recruit you for this job or something? Just what is happening?!"

"Calm down", Todoroki said and sat on a dark brown chair with red padding. "This disguise was Midoriya's idea."

"Midoriya is here too?!"

"Yes he is", Todoroki continued. He told about everything that had happened to him and Tokoyami, and what happened after they came across Midoriya and the others, and that there were seven other students including Kaminari. "And now we have gone separate ways to find rest of us students. And now I found you... You have an interesting costume, by the way", Todoroki noticed. "But yeah, I'm not sure how long our disguises will work, so we are in a bit of hurry. It's kinda sad actually, how badly those guards do their job. Maybe they're just for show", Todoroki wondered.

"Wow, you have gone through a lot", Kaminari stated amazed, putting his hand on his forehead. Kaminari also told what he knew was going on, and that there were Uraraka, Asui and Iida as well. "Oh shit! I totally forgot about Iida! I was with him just before I met you!" Kaminari realizing his own stupidity. "I'm such an idiot! Todoroki, we have to go find him!"

Todoroki watched him with his casual, cool expression and stood up. "So there are still three students left. Don't worry, we'll find Iida. We have to. Let's go!" he opened the door and stepped outside, Kaminari with him.

"Just one more question", Kaminari stopped. "How do you keep in touch with others?"

"We agreed on meeting here in about an hour", Todoroki explained. "I hope we find Iida before it. And perchance Uraraka and Asui too."

"I sure hope so", Kaminari sighed, and so they left to look for their friends.


Iida wanted to run. He wanted to use Recipro Burst to move as fast as possible. How did he let this happen? His quirk is meant to allow him go faster. And still he was too slow. He let Kaminari vanish even when he could've prevented it. I have betrayed him, I have betrayed everyone. And just because I didn't act in time! Iida felt rage toward himself. Still he didn't run. That would get too much attention which would make finding Kaminari more difficult. He had to endure the pain inside of him.

"I have to find Asui and Uraraka too. I want to make sure they are safe and sound", Iida muttered to himself. He wandered into a place where there was nobody in sight.

Iida decided to use this chance to go faster. He wrapped up his trouser legs so they wouldn't get in the way. Then he sprinted so that his top hat fell off. This way he could search the place much faster. It was possible that guards had taken Kaminari somewhere far away or he could be in one of these rooms that he had passed. Iida didn't know what to do. He couldn't get his thoughts in order.

Suddenly Iida crashed into something. That something came around a corner and Iida couldn't have reacted in time. With his speed he rolled a couple of meters before he stopped. He rubbed his aching head. Then he noticed something was under him.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Bakugo shouted, shocked. Almost right away he realized that Iida lay on top of him. "Get the fuck off!"

Iida stood up hastily. "I'm sorry, Bakugo", he offered his hand to help Bakugo get up but he just slapped his hand aside with force. "You came so suddenly in front of me, I couldn't react in time", Iida explained, ignoring how Bakugo rejected his help. "In fact, what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same. Shit!" Bakugo snapped, trying to shake off pain in his head. "That fucking hurt!"

"Bakugo! What happened?" Kirishima came running to them, Yaoyorozu right behind him. "Iida?"

Iida turned to them. "Kirishima? Yaoyorozu? So you're here too. Is anyone else with you?"

"You were expecting us to be here?" Kirishima asked, looking at his friend's gloomy face. "Are you okay, man? You aren't happy to see us?"

"No, of course I'm glad to see you but..." Iida lowered his eyes, then rising his head trying to smile. "It's just that I didn't want you to be here. This means that there really are more students here."

"Is there someone else beside you?" Yaoyorozu frowned, worry in her words. "Where are they?"

"I'm with Asui, Uraraka and Kaminari", Iida explained. "But we separated in groups of two, Uraraka and Asui, me and Kaminari. Our plan is to find an exit and to find other students that we thought could be. It seems that we were right."

"If you are with Kaminari, where is he?" Kirishima kept asking, he too, sounding concerned.

"I..." Iida hesitated. "I lost him. Guards took him away. That's why I'm running around trying to find him. This is so disgraceful!"

"Oh, man", Kirishima didn't know what to say.

"Iida, I'm sure it wasn't your fault. Please tell us what happened", Yaoyorozu asked as calmly as she could.

Bakugo sat on the floor, listening their conversation without a word. Iida then explained what happened. In turn Yaoyorozu and Kirishima told him what they had encountered before Iida had run over Bakugo.

"That's quite a story you got there", Iida stated amazed. "I'm so happy you're all fine!"

"So am I", Yaoyorozu said. "We should try to gather with the others, and then make a plan. If Uraraka and Asui are together, I'm sure they're fine. Those girls are both smart and careful", she smiled.

"That's what I was going to do", Iida told them. "But we must find Kaminari!"

"Of course!"

"I don't think it's a good idea for us to go together", Bakugo pointed out, still sitting on the red carpet.

"What? Why, man?" Kirishima raised his eyebrows.

"Don't you get it, you idiots?" Bakugo snarled angrily. "It's suspicious as fuck when four teenagers walk around in here. Especially when they already got that idiot Kaminari!"

"But Iida, Kaminari, Asui and Uraraka were fine together. And well... We already have some experience with disguises", Yaoyorozu explained vaguely.

Bakugo knew exactly what she meant. "Have you thought that there are villains everywhere? And those bastards know our faces. They expect to see us together."

"Well you're right about that", Yaoyorozu sighed. "I still don't think it'd be any better if we scattered."

"It wouldn't hurt to have disguises, right?" Kirishima asked. "Though I'm not sure where we could get those."

"I'm not gonna put any shit on me", Bakugo stated firmly and stood up. "You can go play your stupid fashion games all you want but I'm getting out of here."

"Are you sure you'll be fine by yourself?" asked a gruff voice from the shadows.

The students startled and turned around to face a muscular woman with a messy long hair. She approached them, slowly bent, as if ready to jump down their throat. "Finally I hunted you down. Just call me Howler, kids."

"Do you know her?" Iida asked the others. "I haven't seen her."

"No, we haven't encountered her before", Kirishima told him. "Why villains have to attack us every time?"

"I'm fine with this", Bakugo smiled eerily and took a battle stance.

"Aren't you a confident one", Howler smirked. "I suppose you're not coming with me willingly?"

"In your dreams, stupid bastard", Bakugo grinned instigating Howler. "Come at me if you dare!"

"Watch your mouth kid", Howler laughed loudly.

"Bakugo, stop it! You are only making her angrier", Iida ordered but Bakugo didn't listen.

"I'm with you, man!" Kirishima came next to Bakugo and hardened his arms, ready to fight the woman.

"So we are really doing this?" Yaoyorozu noted to herself and created a shield and a staff.

Iida shook his head. "This isn't what we should be doing! We shouldn't fight and run away! We don't know her quirk, and she probably can call for aid whenever she wants!" Iida gritted his teeth when the three didn't make any sign of retreating.

"I'm sorry, Iida", Kirishima apologized without taking his eyes from the villain. "I don't think we can run, she won't let us."

"I agree with Kirishima", Yaoyorozu said. "Iida, please, lend us your help!"

"Oh yes, you need all the help you can get", Howler looked down on them smiling.

Iida trembled from anger. He wanted to find Kaminari and the others. They didn't have time to fight this villain. He took a deep breath to calm himself. "I won't let you down!"

Chapter 7: END