First thing was first, Monoma was actually tired and needed to go home. He didn't work Monday's after all. Because Monday's in general usually sucked and he didn't want to put up with anymore shit after school on those days.

So, he went home. He thought about stalking Ila to find out where she was going, but that was something Album would do, and Monoma didn't engage in villain behavior… most of the time.

So Monoma left. He didn't exactly have a far walk, but all he wanted to do, was lay down and sleep. "You're supposed to have more energy than this," He grumbled to himself. But it was hard to keep his upbeat, ready for anything attitude when everything seemed so pointless.

Monoma didn't have anything to look forward to. And even when he was with people all day long because of work, he still felt all alone. Monoma went to unlock his front door and go inside. And of course, when he opened it, no one was inside. No one ever was really.

Then, he heard a door opening to the right of his apartment, and lots of screaming. Monoma looked over and saw a man be shoved out of the door. His back hit the railing and the door slammed shut.

He just sat there for a moment and Monoma wondered if he was unconscious. But the man looked up, and at him. Monoma froze and thought about turning around and walking back inside as if he hadn't seen anything. But then he thought of what a hero would do and slowly closed his front door and went over to the man.

The least he could do was check if he was alright.

The first thing he noticed, was the man's eyes were sunken and shadowed, very tired. He looked up at Monoma, his eyes weary, but at the same time, Monoma didn't think he'd run. Whether that was because he didn't want to or simple couldn't, he didn't know. "Hey, so um…" fuck this was awkward. Monoma hadn't been expecting this to be so difficult, but he'd never had to ask if someone was alright, and the only person he knew how to comfort was himself. "Are you okay?"

The man sat there for a moment, staring at Monoma, before slowly getting up with help from the railing. "I'm alright." When risen to his full height, he was about as tall as Monoma with a slight build. He didn't look like someone who could win against anyone in a fight. "I'm just going to take a walk. When I get back, he'll have calmed down."

"Who?" Monoma asked. Though he knew very well who. It was whoever the other man in the apartment was. The man didn't answer but smiled kindly.

"My name is Rui, what's your name?"

"Monoma…"

"Well Monoma-kun, thank you for your concern, but you needn't worry yourself any." Though his back must've been bruised and his muscles aching, he stood straight, his hands folded together in front of him.

"Well… I don't have anything to do today. I could walk with you." Monoma offered. While it wasn't the exact truth, as Monoma did have some homework to do, he'd rather put it off as long as possible.

"Oh, well, I don't want to keep you from anything. And of course we don't know each other very well."

"Nonsense. We know each other's names, that's enough." Monoma linked arms with Rui, afraid he might flinch away, but he seemed alright with the physical contact, no fear in his eyes.

"I suppose it would be rude to refuse." He murmured.

"It would." Monoma affirmed, and took the stairs down to the dark street where the shady apartment complex was clearly visible. "So, I've never seen you here before. Are you new."

"My boyfriend and I just moved in." Rui said.

"And… were you guys fighting?" Monoma hoped he wasn't being too nosy. Or, he knew he was, but he hoped Rui didn't comment on it. He didn't.

"We've been having problems lately." Rui said, frowning. "I moved to this part of Japan a couple months ago and I didn't have much money. It was a bad situation, but Caz gave me a place to live."

"Is that your boyfriend?"

"Yes." Rui paused. "We first started out as roommates and then one day Caz said he liked me. I thought he meant as a friend, but I suppose I was just blind as that wasn't right. I finally understood when he meant a couple weeks later when another one of my friends opened my eyes. I knew Caz had problems going into it, but I thought I could overlook those things. And I really just wanted him to be happy."

"What about you though, are you happy?"

Rui's smile seemed sad, almost fake somehow. It reminded Monoma's of his own, but softer. "I'm happy that he's happy. Anyway, Monoma-kun I'm sure you don't want to hear about this. What about you, do you have anyone?"

Monoma did want to know, he was nosy by nature, he also wanted to help though. But Rui had offered him something he simply couldn't refuse. The chance to talk about himself. "No, unfortunately. No one worthy of me, anyway." Album crossed Monoma's mind, but he instantly pushed that gorilla out.

"And what about school. You look like you're in high school maybe?"

"That's right. I'm a freshmen, and I also go to UA."

"Oh, isn't that school the best for upcoming heroes in all of Japan?"

"Yup." Monoma said proudly, crossing his arms, smirking. "And I got in." he couldn't help but brag.

"That's amazing Monoma-kun!" Rui seemed genuinely happy for him. "What's your quirk?"

"Well what's yours?"

"Oh, it's nothing special." Rui tucked a stray strand of dark hair behind his ear. "I don't really like to talk about it."

"Well, I can copy other quirks." Monoma revealed. "By touching the person."

Rui tensed slightly and glanced at him, probably wondering if he would use that quirk to expose Rui's own. Monoma was half tempted to because of his own curiosity, but also realized that would destroy any trust he'd gained. Of course, that would only be if Rui saw him copy his quirk. But Monoma could have it copied for up to five minutes after touching the person. And he didn't want to seem insensitive, but at the same time… what Rui didn't know couldn't hurt him, right?

They continued walking, silence heavy. Monoma needed to break it somehow, but he also didn't want to engage in awkward small talk. He glanced at Rui, and then down again, "Why do you stay?" Monoma asked.

"Stay?"

"With your boyfriend."

"Oh…" Rui didn't seem to want to talk about his boyfriend, but Monoma wanted to know. The guy seemed like a pushover, the kind of guy who gave money to the homeless just because. He hated to say it, but Monoma knew he could use that. For what, he wasn't sure, but he could use it.

"I stay because I want to change him, I suppose."

Monoma wrinkled his nose, "You can't change people. People don't really change, ever. Not unless they want to."

"I'm realizing that more and more. But I think I can still make him want to. I want to help him."

Monoma wanted to burst his bubble, but it wasn't his place to do so. "At the same time, Monoma-kun, don't go into a relationship expecting they will change. It leaves a rather empty feeling when they don't." before Monoma could say anything in return Rui added, "We should turn around now."

Monoma nodded and they turned around and walked back to the apartment complex.

When they got back, Rui went to his apartment and knocked on the door. But Monoma heard none of their conversation because he went into his own home and closed his door. He couldn't help Rui if Rui didn't want his help, and Monoma had his own problems. As much as he hated to admit it, he had too much going on in his own life to be invested in someone else's.

He glanced at his backpack, thrown on the floor, and thought of all the homework he had stowed away inside. Eventually, he ignored it, and just went to bed. No use in doing it, when he'd been tired since he woke up.

He would just get the answers wrong anyway.

The next morning, Monoma woke up. Today, he was going to figure out what was going on with Ila and Aldumb, and he knew just how to do it too. The plan had come to him last night, before he fell asleep.

Now it was time for action. Not because he was jealous, not because he wanted Album to pay more attention to him, but because he was a good person. And sensed when someone was being manipulative. And Ila was definitely manipulating.

He wasn't sure how she was doing it, but considering Album's stupidity, it probably hadn't been hard. He got up, got ready for school, and sat on the couch staring at the wall opposite.

Another day, another step closer. He took a deep breath, and left. When Monoma got to school, Album was already in class. He could see him in the back and Aizawa-sensei up front.

So Monoma went to his own class and took his seat. A couple people were missing still, so he wasn't the last one. He hated being the last one. The stares were so awkward.

"Hey Monoma," Kendo said, walking up. "Me and some others were going to go to the movies after school today, want to come?"

Yes. "I'll check my schedule. I am often busy, after all."

She only smirked and shrugged. He knew she didn't think he was actually busy, but he was. And Monoma had grown close to Class-B as much as he'd tried not to. He would love to go with them. But he didn't have an hour and a half, and he didn't really have the extra money for a movie either, so it didn't really matter. The last time he'd watched a film was years ago.

Monoma waited until lunch. He had to get Ila alone somehow though, without Album around as well for this plan to work. So he waited at the entrance to the cafeteria and he saw Ila got up to grab something. A fork, napkin, it didn't matter.

Then he slipped in and walked towards Album's table, brushing his hand along Album's back. Album turned at the touch, but Monoma was already walking quickly away, towards Ila.

Album's quirk was useful, he'd found it out some time ago, after touching Album. It was after their first fight behind the school. He'd been curious, and angry too at getting hit in the face, so he'd revealed Album's quirk to himself. He kept his face turned away and made sure no one was looking when he let his own face melt off, replaced by Album's much uglier one.

"Ila, we need to talk, alone." It was strange hearing Album's voice from his own mouth, but Monoma ignored it and kept his face painfully blank like Album's was most of the time. Ila smiled, "Okay." She said and followed him out of the cafeteria into the hall.

Monoma knew she was planning something, but he had to figure out what. This conversation could either go very right or very wrong, depending on what he said.

Monoma took a deep breath and decided on, "I need you to tell me about everything."

"What do you mean everything?" she asked.

"You know what I'm talking about." He hoped she did.

"You mean about this weekend?"

"Yes."

She grinned, "So that means you want to go."

Monoma didn't know where she was talking about, but he nodded. "So tell me."

This time she took a deep breath and clenched her fists. Monoma prepared himself for a long story as she said, "Okay."

A/N I hope you guys enjoyed! I was wondering... with Album's quirk he can only copy a person's face once, so for example he can't copy Daniel's face again. Would the same restriction apply to Monoma? I genuinely don't know. Regardless, this chapter took a little longer because my previous computer broke and I had to wait for a new one. Still hope you enjoyed! Reviews are love!