Taka Nobita's former homeroom teacher glares down at him. One glance, and Nobita comes to a lot of conclusions. Present Mic knew the truth about him, but since several other teachers had already passed by the couple and hadn't even noticed what he was doing to her, let alone try to stop him, clearly Present Mic was one of the only teachers who knew. And that was probably because they wanted him in on the plan. He plays a part somehow. Either that or…

"Present Mic-sensei! Great morning!" He smiles cheerfully and waves his free hand at his teacher while the fingers of his other hand quickly retract. He keeps the hand on Rose's neck, since moving it would look suspicious. "It really has been a long time! You look cool as always."

Present Mic ignores him for a split second and stares at Rose. She's catching her breath, sweating bullets.

"Hm?" Nobita notices his eyes wander, then looks to Rose. "Rose? You okay? What's wrong? Do you feel sick?" She just barely regaines her composure. "Ah, sensei, have you met my girlfriend? This is Rose!"

Rose does her best to look at him as she normally would to anyone, but she can tell immediately from his face that he knows the truth. He's come to protect her. She isn't particularly impressed, but she does wonder why he of all people knew. Then a thought occurs to her.

"Taka…" He turns to her. "Was he one of your teachers?"

There was always a meaning to Rose's questions, and so their coded talk begins again. "Yup! From freshman year."

Her eyes widen, and she looks back up at Present Mic. Then… Samantha Gardener…

Taka Nobita can read her like a book. He didn't have to reveal that little detail, the specific year he'd had a specific teacher, but she latched right onto it, meaning their plan involves Present Mic specifically because he'd been Nobita's teacher that year. Did they think Present Mic knew some kind of secret about him that no one else did?

Then he remembers. And he realizes that Present Mic probably remembers. That he had been in the same class as Samantha Gardener. That far back, huh? …You certainly got awful chatty, Rose. The hand on her neck clenches slightly, and she flinches.

Present Mic watches it all like a hawk and glares at Nobita again.

Rose stares up at him for a moment, silently appreciative of his efforts, but also distressed that Taka might've figured out part of their plan. Then slowly, in a way that she hopes looks normal, she bows to him. "I'm Rose Omoda. It's nice to meet you, sir." She doesn't see his eyes fill with pity.

Deciding that his hand has been on her neck long enough, Nobita removes it and makes energetic gestures as he talks. "Well? She's cute, right? Maybe I'm just super lucky!"

Mic isn't moved. Jabbing his thumb to point behind himself, Mic continues, "Come with me for a sec."

"Hm? Oh! Did you need something? Well, I guess for old times sake, I'll help you out. Get to class safe, Rose!" She watches them leave, a slight sigh of relief that hurts a bit from her still-aching ribs. Taka Nobita continues his banter, "I'm always worried about her, y'know? She's always been real fragile."

"Don't act so friendly, ya little punk." Mic voice is cold and rough, not like his normally energetic self.

Taka Nobita smiles wider. "What's wrong, sir? Aren't you happy to see me?" His eyes stare straight into Mic's, unafraid. The battle is on.

"Happy, huh? …Yeah, you could say that. I'm happy I finally know what happened that year… and who to blame for it." He's careful to keep his voice low, another uncharacteristic behavior for him.

"Hm? What do you mean?" Nobita's smile is unfettered. "Did something happen?"

Mic's fists clench in his pockets.

He pretends to remember. "Ah. Come to think of it, a student committed suicide that year, right? I remember… Real sad… What was her name again?"

Mic looks like the vein in his temple might explode. He'd heard the whole thing from Aizawa. The two had always been close, but it was a hard conversation even for them. To think that Taka Nobita had done something like that to Samantha, that she'd died alone and afraid, thinking she had no one she could talk to about it. And for the past two years, more victims had slid under the radar all this time. One had even been right under his nose, suffering worse than he could've imagined.

"Ah well, guess I forgot," Nobita jokes, glancing at him for a reaction.

Mic sighs out a long breath. Aizawa had gotten this far. Mic isn't about to ruin it. "You're not gonna be able to joke around with that fucking smile much longer. I for one can't wait to see you behind ba—"

"Ah!" Nobita interrupts, pretending like he didn't hear him. "That's right! Samantha! She was real nice. Best friends with everybody. Nice boyfriend too… Heard it was love at first sight." Mic can see the coldness in his eyes and guesses that Nobita must've liked her at some point and felt bitter about losing her to someone else. "Her quirk was something else too. Lots of potential. But I guess it wasn't quite 'ripe' yet. Get it?"

Mic is waiting, waiting for just one little slip up, anything.

"Can I confess something to you, sir? Since it's been a few years and all? …I used to have a huge crush on her."

"Oh? Thought you didn't remember her until just now."

"Sorry," he feigns guilt. "I was pretending… Truth is it really hurt when she died. She and I went to the same primary schools. We grew up together, but I never had the courage to talk to her." From the look in his eyes, he might be genuine, but Mic knows not to just trust his every word. "She was always super friendly and helpful, funny too. She was like sunshine… And I was like… a moth, hiding in the dark, always drawn to the light… I really loved her y'know?" For a second, Mic thinks he might've heard a little pain in Nobita's voice.

But then he notices something else. Nobita's smile is growing bigger, his eyes seemingly lost in some faraway memory.

"I really miss her to death. Her smile…" His smile sends a shiver through Mic. "Her eyes," His eyes gleam with lust. "Her hair," Nobita is remembering, Mic realizes, the day he attacked her. "Her smell…"

Mic has to remind himself over and over not to do anything stupid, not to ruin his friend's plan. It had been a mistake to approach Nobita, but even if just for a little while, he had to separate him from Rose. With an abuser like this, it's a wonder her spirit hadn't broken. No doubt in his mind, Rose Omoda is strong. And if she can be strong, then so can Mic. Just a little longer, and they'll finally catch him.

"…I even loved her tears," Nobita finishes.

But with those words, coupled with the look of ecstasy on the teen's face, something in Mic snaps.

"Mic!" He hears a familiar voice. Eraser Head runs up to them and puts a hand on Mic's shoulder. He'd felt the bloodlust from several feet away and feared the worst. "Hey."

Mic seems to regain his composure, taking a few deep breaths, but Aizawa notices the beads of sweat, his hazy eyes, the pressure that seemed just seconds away from bursting if Aizawa hadn't called out to him.

Nobita's smile returns somewhat to normal. "Thanks for hearing me out, sir. Ah, come to think of it, didn't you need something?"

Mic turns away, unable to answer, so Aizawa answers for him, "Nothing. Get to class."

His smile brightens. "That so? See ya later then, teach!" He scampers off.

"…Eraser…"

Aizawa can feel the pain and relief emanating from him.

"…Thanks… I woulda' killed that kid… Not for Samantha. Just for myself… You guys… You sure it'll work?"

Logically, since he has no way of knowing whether the plan will really work or not, only a probability, Aizawa is tempted to answer that it should work, but seeing the look on his friend's face, the look of someone who missed their chance to save a young girl and couldn't live it down if he missed that chance again, Aizawa can only answer, "It will."

And Mic understands. That uncharacteristically illogical answer from his friend means that he's serious. And that's enough.

Woo! We're finally about to enter the arc's climax! Get excited! (casual Dr. Stone reference)