I tried! I really tried to keep it under control! I was doing so well! So why is this happening?! Why did this have to happen? Tsuyu's eyes were clenched shut, icy claws digging into her upper arms as she trembled and held herself. She was trying to steady her breathing, trying to calm herself down, but it was futile. The girl could feel the madness bubbling up like carbonation, threatening to make her explode. The claws dug deeper and blood began to run down her arms, dripping off of her elbows and to the concrete at her feet.

Ice shot up along her arms in response, covering the wounds with frost and following it with layer upon layer of thick crystals. She gritted her teeth and shook her head, knowing that it was only a matter of time before the madness won. I can't do it! I can't stop myself!

When she began to giggle hysterically, flames shot up behind her. The heat made her dart forward and twist, her honey-colored eyes widening in crazed delight at the cyborg's appearance. "There you are, you shitty piece of scrap metal! I was wondering when you'd show your arrogant face! Awww! What's that look for? What? Oh no! Don't tell me…you're disappointed in me?! Wow. Heh. What a shock. I'm surprised…really…I am! Now what? Going to haul me to prison?"

Genos stepped closer, the flames behind him swiftly consuming the row of little trees in front of the stores. "Tsuyu, I cannot allow you to destroy the city or harm innocent people. Your madness is no excuse for this behavior."

"Heh? You really don't get it at all, huh?" She grinned and shoved her hands into the pocket of her sweatshirt, quirking an eyebrow in mock interest. "Well, I guess I wouldn't expect a cute guy to be smart! I mean, seriously?! Brains and beauty? No such thing!"

"We are going back to the ghost town," the blonde stated firmly.

"Listen to me, you metal bastard!"

"I am taking you home." Genos started toward her and saw her hop backwards, keeping her hands in her pocket and her grin spreading. "Tsuyu, as your master, I-"

"Fuck off! What? You know I could fucking kill you, right? Try ordering me around again, scrap metal! You…heheh…you think I'll let you ignore me? You're going to listen to what I have to say!"

Ice raced up his legs, slipping into the metal wherever possible and locking his joints in place. Genos tried to stop it from spreading, but it coursed up his body and froze him from the neck down. He struggled, trying to move even just a little, but it was thickening around him and slowing his movements with the freezing temperature. When he saw her approaching him at a slow, almost menacing pace, he frowned and braced himself to be completely incased. A few minutes passed before he felt a chilled touch against the side of his face.

Tsuyu stared up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks and blood running from a gash above her right eyebrow. The ice claw on her index finger glistened red, indicating that she had sliced into her own flesh. "I-I'm sorry…Genos…I didn't w-want to do this, but…you…wouldn't listen to me…and…I'll kill you! I'll fucking kill you! I won't…kill…no…kill you…k-kill me! Kill me…please…no! Ngh!"

The cyborg's gaze was locked on her, feeling her fingertips lightly trail along his face. "Tsuyu, I will listen. Before that, we need to leave this area."

"…why…is there…fire…?"

"I did not want the authorities or other heroes to attempt to apprehend you again. Mumen Rider has been told to evacuate the area and inform everyone that there has been a fire."

Her gaze was locked on the billowing flames behind him. When she looked back to Genos, the gravity of her actions began to set in. A chill ran down her spine and she stepped back, her hand drawing away from his face. Frost collected at her fingertips and formed at the sides of her neck, blooming on her cheeks and sparkling up to the corners of her eyes. "…you…set that fire…"

He tried once more to break free of the ice, but it was digging deep between the metal plates of his body. It was clear that he was becoming frustrated. The harder he fought, the thicker the ice became. "Tsuyu, as your master, I demand that you release me!"

She took a few more steps back, staring at the cyborg and beginning to tremble. "…you…did something unheroic…for me…to save me…no! I can't! I can't let this…be…like this! Like…this?! No! I…I…I should…just…die! Fucking kill me! You know you can do it, coward! No! Death…death…" Tsuyu's ice claws were digging frantically at her opposite wrist as she backed away.

"I don't…deserve to live!" The girl turned swiftly and sprinted off down the sidewalk, massive icicles sprouting behind her to deter anyone from following. The pavement cracked beneath her steps as the frozen crystals forced their way into the ground however they could.

Blood was soaking her sleeve, the fabric sticking to her wounded wrist and sending waves of pain up her arm. I should die! I should die, I should die, I should die! I don't deserve to live! No! Fuck! I shouldn't be alive! I don't deserve it! Her hand subconsciously went to her wrist again, claws scraping over her raw, bleeding flesh over and over.

When she reached the ghost town, her pace began to slow down. Her fingers were painted dark red with her own blood and she lifted her wrist to lick at the wounds. Ice collected on her tongue, soothing the pain and chilling the flesh until it was a snowy shade of white. Her footsteps were slow, her body struggling to keep moving. She had expelled a massive amount of ice in her effort to trap Genos and escape. None of it had receded into her body, instead left to stop anyone who might follow. As she staggered further into the ghost town, she could feel her breathing become ragged and blood leaked from the corner of her mouth.

Damage? It's been a while since I was damaged like this. Overuse of ice. Bad. Very bad. My muscles…and my organs…my brain…everything feels…like it's…slowing down. A hysterical giggle escaped her lips as she licked at her wrist again. Blood was dripping from her arm, dotting the cement. "One more push…one more burst of ice…will kill me. If I do it…I can die…I can end everything! Just do it then! Just do it so I can die! Please just kill me!"

Tsuyu tipped her head back, staring up at the clear, blue sky. Lifting a hand above her head, she opened her palm and smirked. "I'll go out…with a beautiful burst of snow…!" As she prepared to let it fly, a pair of burning hot metal arms wrapped around her. A scream erupted from her as she kicked at the air, trying to free herself.

"Whoa. Chill out, Snow Bunny."

"Sai…tama…?" She turned toward the sound of his voice and saw him standing off to the side, holding her grocery bag.

"Master, please help me to calm her down. She has expelled too much ice and I am sure that it is damaging her body," Genos spoke from behind her.

The heat intensified and the frost on her face and neck began to melt. She threw her head back against his shoulder, screaming as feeling returned to her bloody wrist. "…h-hurts…"

"That's a lot of blood." Saitama walked over and reached down to ruffle her hair. "Okay, calm down. Seriously. You're pretty messed up. Did you get in a fight or something?"

"I…want to die…please…"

"I will not let my student kill herself," Genos argued. "I will take care of your wounds and begin preparing dinner."

How…late is it? Tsuyu went still and looked off toward the horizon. The sun was setting, turning the sky a vibrant pink hue in the distance. How much time passed while I was running? Consciousness began to fade and she went limp in his hold, her head falling forward.

She woke to warmth and her arm being held. Her eyes slid open as she became aware of a heat against her back. There was an oddly sweet, floral scent in the air around her that mixed with the aroma of curry sauce. The girl blinked and lifted her head a little, realizing that she was sitting at the table, on someone's lap as they wound a bandage around her injured wrist. A plate of steaming curry was in front of her and she tilted her head ever so slightly. "…Genos…"

"Are you feeling calmer, Tsuyu?" He saw her nod. "I was researching various methods that could be implemented in order to help you remain calm and keep the madness in check. I wanted to test this method, but I was hesitant to use it; I was cynical of its effectiveness." The cyborg tied the bandage securely and reached around her to draw the curry and rice closer so she could eat.

"Thank you." With a trembling hand, she lifted a spoonful of food to her mouth and began to eat. Fresh tears escaped her eyes as she chewed.

"Were you being truthful when you said that you wanted to die?"

"…I'm just…causing problems for you…and I don't have a reason to live…"

"Your reason to live is being a hero," he stated firmly. "I will not let you kill yourself." Genos paused, releasing more lavender scent from a newly installed vent in his forearm. He could feel her relaxing against his chest and felt a rush of satisfaction. "Tsuyu. Are you only able to use your power if your madness takes over? The only times that I see you use your ice, your madness is strong."

A lock of crimson hair fell over her right eye and she frowned. "I can use it without the madness," she quietly replied. "It takes a lot of concentration…but when I was an assassin, I had to be able to keep a clear head. Most of the time. Prison…triggered something in me…it's harder to keep sane…and calm."

"Tomorrow, we will begin training and I will show you the techniques that I discovered to help you keep calm. We will attempt to get your madness under control so that you can reach your full potential as a hero."

Her eye twitched and she felt anger trying to push its way to the surface, but the calming lavender scent was too strong. It quickly died and she found sadness instead. "I told you before…my ice isn't hereditary. People with this power…die young…by accident or suicide…always caused by the wielder. Genos. The madness. We all have it. Everyone with this power goes insane from trying to control it. The ice…the madness…are both like a disease."

Genos saw her put down her spoon and frowned. "I will not let you die the way that the others did. We will find a way to keep you calm."

"…I'm…a worthless student…a raving lunatic…heheh…you should've let me die…I'll only k-kill you…you know…pile of fucking scrap metal…oh, aren't you so cute? Aren't you so s-sweet to care for pathetic little Snow Bunny Ice Princess Tsuyu? Little…brat…Tsu…yu…" She slumped back against his chest, the lavender scent filling her senses and forcing her into a relaxed state.

"You are more than just my student. Even if you do not realize it."