Promised that you would get this chapter and here we are. A side note, I'm on break this week so you might also get two chapters this week as well. I have a lot of these as drafts and almost ready to go already, so we'll just have to see.

sawtooth44: I didn't watch the video because I also don't watch Jojo so I wouldn't know the Jojo characters anyways. But that's cool to know

Frostlash: Interesting idea but as you'll see here, Astolfo's a bit busy to greet Kouta. Besides, the bath incident takes precedent in importance over Kouta.


They arrived at the camp around five, worn out with bodies strained and bruised. Hippogriff ended up being summoned again and was carrying a very nauseous Uraraka and strained Kouda. Gray had Iida's arm around her shoulder as she helped him walk, his engines emitting puffs of smoke and Astolfo had Jiro and Kaminari both leaning against him. Shouji had Yaoyorozu, Ashido, and Ayoma in his arms while Sero was being dragged through the dirt on Add's shield form, the last of his tape wrapped around Hippogriff's legs. Even the phantasmal beast and Mystic Code were exhausted as they neared the camp.

As soon as they got close enough to the two Pussycats and Aizawa, the students collapsed. Hippogriff landed and Uraraka and Kouda tumbled off of it before the beast vanished.

"Looks like there wasn't much point in threatening to deprive you of lunch," the blonde said with a grin.

"Little over three hours my ass," Sero groaned from where he had rolled off of Add. The mystic code reassembled back into his cube form and Gray leaned over to pick him up. Astolfo slumped over her back with a low groan and she let out a small 'oof', stumbling before she reached up and pat his cheek. There had been two more of the giant beasts, which had forced the students to their limits.

"I'm gonna starve to death…." Kirishima groaned and the brown-haired Pussycat (Mandalay, if she remembered what Midoriya had told them all. The blonde was Pixie-Bob) shrugged. "Whoops, my bad!" she said, "I meant by our standards."

Astolfo raised a hand. "If I was allowed to I could do it in less."

"You brat!" Pixie-Bob huffed before she grinned. "Honestly, I thought you'd take longer~ To have figured out my Earth Beasts so quickly and easily… You guys are good! Especiaaaaally, you six!"

She startled as Pixie-bob pointed at her, Iida, Astolfo, Todoroki, Midoriya, and Bakugou.

"I'm anxious to see what'll become of you all in three years! I'm gonna groom you pretty kitties my self!" she exclaimed, leaping at them. "You know! I'm not usually the type to go for girlies but you are just too cute!"

Gray yelped as her hood was tossed back and cheeks squished by the hyper blonde. Astolfo laughed as his were pinched lightly, too.

"Speaking of age—" Midoriya started before he was shut up again by Pixie-Bob's hand slamming into his face.

"Choose your next words wisely!" she ordered and the green-haired boy yelped.

"I-I've just been wondering for a while…." he said, pointing to the child that was glaring at them. "Are one of you guys that kid's mother?"

Mandalay blinked. "Oh, no. That kid's my nephew. He lives here now." She motioned to the boy. "Kouta, come say 'hi', you're going to be living with them for the next week."

The boy scowled as Midoriya walked over to him, holding his hand out.

"Hi, my name's Midoriya," he said, "I'm studying to become a hero. It's nice to meet you."

The boy barely hesitated before punching the green-haired youth in the groin. A collective wince came from most of the boys in the class.

"Midoriya!" Iida cried and Astolfo grimaced.

"Yikes," he said, "Going for a below the belt hit? That's just cruel."

Gray just gave him a sympathetic smile.

"The last thing I wanna do is to hang with some wannabe heroes!" the boy growled and Iida huffed from where he had moved to Midoriya's side.

"'Wannabe'? How old are you?"

Bakugou smirked, shifting a bit. "That brat's got spunk."

"He's like a mini version of you," Todoroki said flatly before he ducked behind Gray as Bakugou's ire peaked again and he started yelling at him. Astolfo laughed as Gray shot him a helpless look.

At this point, she just tuned Bakugou out, but this was the first time Todoroki had used her as a shield.

"Enough playing around," Aizawa said, making them look over to him. "Get your bags out of the bus. Once you've settled in your rooms, grab dinner in the dining hall. After that, take a bath, kick back, and unwind. The real deal starts tomorrow. Get a move on it."

"Yes, sir!"

(x)

Astolfo decided that the boys who didn't know needed a surprise for the night.

He had contemplated going to the girl's side of the hot springs since all of the girls in the class were aware of his true gender and didn't really mind. It probably helped that he told them he wasn't into any of them aside from friends. No use in romance when he could be back in the throne in a few weeks. Or alive longer then they would be.

In the end, though, he had politely turned down the girls' offers to join them in their side of the hot spring.

Humming as he undressed on the boys' side, Astolfo listened in on some of the conversations. The boys seemed to be enjoying the bath as it relaxed their muscles. He knew for a fact that Iida, Ojiro, Kirishima, Satou, and Iida would be very grateful for the warm water— being a close combat fighter was one thing, but he couldn't imagine getting as physical in combat as they did.

"What we seek is beyond this wall…." he heard Mineta say as he quietly slid the door open and stepped in. Almost all the boys were either focused on the little pervert or had their backs to the door. Tokoyami and Kouda had their eyes closed, so the only one who saw him enter was Bakugou. The blonde knew he was male, so Astolfo didn't really care, silently slipping into the water as Mineta rambled on about the girls on the other side. Something about Yaoyorozu's big breasts, Ashido's slender waist, and Gray's porcelain skin. Also his own 'cute' ones.

Okay, gross.

"You really need to restrain yourself, Mineta," he called after a bit more of listening to the boy ramble. Nearly all the boys in the bath froze. Todoroki continued his soaking, Bakugou didn't bother looking over, nor did Iida, or Midoriya, but the others did. Kaminari, Kirishima, and Satou went bright red. Mineta's eyes widened before he started drooling.

Double gross.

"H-Hey," Kirishima said, swallowing. "Y- you do realize this is the guys' bath, right, Astolfo?"

"Yep," the Rider said, giving him a grin and a peace sign. The water was up to his mid-chest where he was sitting and while most of his long hair was pinned back, some was loose and hiding the rest of his chest. He still looked like a girl to them, then? Well, that could be solved with a few words.

"O-oh. Okay… j-just checking." the redhead said before he sunk into the water. Mineta edged over to him, fingers wiggling before Astolfo tilted his head back, glancing up at him.

"You know, there've been more villains arrested for sexual assault and harassment than you'd think," he said before his grin became dangerous. "Just so you know, I'm a guy."

There was a beat of silence before all hell broke loose among the boys who didn't know.

Bakugou continued to soak in peace.

"You've been a guy this entire time!?" Kaminari cried, "Dammit! And l thought I was finally making headway with a girl!"

"As if any girl would be cozy with you, Denki," Sero groaned, "I can't believe I didn't realize it!"

"I don't mean to be rude, but are you some sort of crossdresser, then?" Satou asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Why aren't you a bit surprised, Midoriya?" Ojiro asked, scratching his cheek.

"Oh, I knew," he said with a smile as Mineta fell to his hands and knees in shame. Astolfo grinned, turning to the tailed boy.

"Yep," he said, "Iida and Bakugou, and Shouji, but he's not here, all learned themselves. Midoriya, Tokoyami, and Todoroki found out through listening." he shrugged. "I wear dresses and skirts because I want to, not 'cause I want to be a girl."

"Do all the girls know too?" Sero asked and he nodded.

"Mhm, Yaomomo and Tsuyu learned real quick, they told the rest of the girls, save Gray. She knew from the start," he told them. "I told them not to tell you guys because I want people to find out on their own. It's fun that way!"

"Um, fun's not the way I'd put it…" the black-haired boy said with a sigh. Astolfo shrugged before his eyes narrowed, hearing Iida start to yell as Mineta started climbing the spring wall. The purple-haired boy had recovered fast and moved towards his original objective, it seemed.

"He doesn't learn, does he?" Astolfo sighed as the purple-haired menace neared the top. Kouta popped up from the divider, a familiar-looking cube in one hand.

"Before you become a hero," the child said, "Learn to be a decent human."

Kouta smacked Mineta off the wall as Add bounced a bit.

"Gihihihi! Let that be a lesson, you grape brat!" He jeered, "Take one look at Gray and I'll have Astolfo claw your eyes out, have Hippogriff bite of your dick and then feed it to the dogs!"

"I'll do it, too!" Astolfo called over as Mineta fell.

"That's enough Add," Gray's voice called from over the wall.

"Mineta's the worst," Asui added with a sigh.

"Thank's Kouta! Add!" Ashido called and Kouta turned, nodding before he froze up.

"Ahn? What's wrong kid?" He asked before Kouta tipped back, a trickle of blood leaving his nose as he fell. Astolfo moved to stand, but Midoriya was faster leaping up and catching the boy. He landed and Astolfo waded over to him, taking one of Kouda's arms and feeling his wrist.

"He's alive," he told Midoriya. "Pulse a bit erratic, but he's fine. You should probably get him to his aunt." Midoriya nodded as the Rider picked Add up from the ground.

"No scratches?" he asked the code.

"Nah, is the kid good? Good, put me back on the wall," the Mystic Code said and Astolfo chuckled as Midoriya left.

"Yes sir,' He said before he turned to Tokoyami. "Hey, Yami," he said, "I know it's like, super-bright, but any chance that buddy can help us?"

Tokoyami opened one eye up, nodding a bit and Dark Shadow was called out. The shadow picked Add up and carried him to the top of the wall with ease. Add settled there, looking out and over them like some sort of cube overlord.

Astolfo sweat.

Well, at least Mineta wouldn't try anything again.

The Rider wondered if Add could fire condensed beams of mana from his mouth as a cube.

That would be a good way to keep Mineta from trying anything.


Praise be to the god of Cubes.