Chapter 29

Waiting Game

"Why don't we have a chat?"

Silence.

"I apologize. The sensation of being transported is, admittedly, less than pleasant. But you, you're a fighter, aren't you? In spite of the odds, you've never crumbled, never swayed. You haven't changed, even after all these years."

"You've been watching me?"

"Nerves of steel, too. A perfect fit for the job I have for you. Won't you join me, dear Akatsuki?"

"Who are you?"

Even though his face was obscured, Rei could practically feel the smile radiating from behind the mask.

"I am called All For One."

She had never heard of such a villain in recent news. How could she, if he was truly as great as she was making him out to be? Any mastermind behind Shigaraki that had managed to hide for this long had to be cunning enough to hide himself from the public. He was a genius, that much was certain. Rei would have to tread carefully from here on out.

Standing up straight, her eyes darted around the space. But the villain noticed her motions, clicking his tongue in admonishment. "I wouldn't try to escape. After all, you wouldn't want your precious friend hurt, would you? The boy Bakugou? He is a classmate of yours, after all."

Rei sucked in a sharp breath at the mention of Bakugou's name, body seizing up as she froze, her eyes returning to the man in front of her. So he hadn't escaped as she had hoped. Their operation had failed. What had happened to the rest of their classmates? Was Midoriya safe?

Memories of the forest came flooding back, and Rei had to grit her teeth in order to find her resolve. Getting emotional wasn't going to help.

Breathe. Keep calm. Inhaling deeply before slowly exhaling, she gathered her wits about herself. She had been captured by the villains. Her next step, if she couldn't escape, was to survive as long as possible before the heroes or the police could find her. The villains had already given the fact away that they wanted her alive, as well as Bakugou, at least for now. For the moment, she could breathe easy.

She was in the survival game now. If she played her cards right, she could potentially survive this. If she was dealt a winning hand, she could surely gain good information on the villains to give to the authorities later. Of course, that all depended on how long she could keep her head attached to her body and keep herself alive.

Play along. That was all she could do. So with another deep breath she dropped her shoulders. "What do you want from me?"

The villain's demeanor changed again, seeming to grow with delight with every word she spoke. "Getting down to the point, aren't we? Smart girl. No wonder you were accepted into U.A."

It was strange, receiving such praise and so many compliments from a villain, but it only made Rei sharpen her mind further. This All for One was clearly a wordsmith, an eloquent individual, more than capable of talking his way through an encounter without using his quirk. He hadn't even revealed his quirk yet, although Rei suspected it was the warping quirk since Tomura's team already had a warp gate. But something seemed off about this entire encounter, and Rei tucked that thought away in her pocket, keeping it near the forefront of her mind so that she could remain on guard.

She remained silent, waiting for the villain to continue. He seemed pleased, acquiescing to her subtle prod. "I have met many brilliant minds in my time. Few have shown the potential you wield." Gesturing with his massive hand to something behind her, he nodded his head. "Perhaps you should take a seat."

Rei suddenly noticed the wooden chair that manifested-or had it been there all along?-and tentatively sat down, slowly, her eyes flickering between the object and the villain in front of her. She would play along for now. What choice did she have but to play the game?

The board was set. Even if it was against her will, against the odds, she would have to move along.

Reina was no stranger to change. Changes came and went, and although she couldn't say that she had a great amount of life experience, what little she had so far had taught her to be flexible. More often than not, change was inevitable. In business, it was often made to accelerate something or to improve some aspects in order to make things more efficient. It didn't do well to get picky or uptight about alterations or amendments, especially when they were usually for the better. Even if things turned out for the worst, all one could do was roll with the punches and determine a better route.

After the phone call came, Reina knew that things were about to change drastically.

It had been a regular evening spent in the company of Hotaru at their house, the two of them ordering take out and staying in to watch a movie and relax. Moments alone and of respite were getting fewer and further in between now that Reina had been promoted to the CEO of her parent's company, and the work was slowly piling up. She was efficient in how she managed her time, but there were moments when she needed a break, even though she rarely articulated her needs. It was Hotaru instead who was forced to realize when her girlfriend needed a break, closing the laptop and pulling her away from the stresses and strains.

They had been lounging on the couch with the credits rolling on a dark screen, neither wanting to move from their position curled up next to one another. But Reina's phone began to ring on the table. Frowning, Reina picked up the electronic device, an unfamiliar number on the screen. Still she picked it up anyway. It was possible that it was work related, and it wouldn't do to pile up the work for the next day when she was awake anyway.

Lifting the phone to her ear, she cleared her throat before speaking. "Fujiwara Reina speaking."

"Fujiwara-san. This is Aizawa Shoto from U.A."

Reina immediately stiffened at the voice, sitting up straight and lifting her back from the couch as she snapped to attention. She had never met this Aizawa in person, but she knew enough about him from listening to Rei talk about her homeroom teacher and his gruff personality but sometimes crazed intelligence. There was something in his voice that put her on high alert, along with the hour of the call.

Next to her, Hotaru also sat up a bit straighter at her partner's sudden alertness, brows furrowing as she silently asked what was wrong. The two exchanged a look before Reina responded. "Aizawa-sensei. What can I do for you?"

"I won't beat around the bush. I apologize for my brusqueness. There has been an incident at the camp."

Immediately Reina's gut dropped. Speaking quickly but articulately into the phone, she tried to calm herself down and reassure herself that it was nothing terrible. "Do I need to come and pick Rei up? Is she alright?"

The silence on the other end was telling enough. It was only for a moment, but Reina could read even a moment's hesitation. She forced herself to swallow any other words or questions she had, reverting into business mode in order to control herself. She needed answers, and she wouldn't get anything if she continued to talk over the only person who could give her a response.

"Akatsuki-san… has gone missing."

"What?" Pulling the phone away from her ear, she put the device on speaker so that Hotaru could be in on the conversation as well. She continued to hold on tightly to the phone in her hand, so much so that her knuckles began turning white. Hotaru looped her arm over Reina's shoulders, pulling the two together as they stared down at the bright screen.

Aizawa continued. "There was a villain attack, and two students were captured tonight. Akatsuki-san was one, and Bakugou Katsuki was the other."

The two women exchanged another look. This time it was surprise at the names. Bakugou Katsuki, the son of their next door neighbors? The boy that Rei had a crush on? There would be time to dissect this later, but the only thought that flashed through Reina's mind was that at least there would be another couple they could look to for consolation.

"We wanted to alert you before the media grabbed a hold of this story. Seeing as Akatsuki-san has no parental guardians and you were listed as an emergency contact, I surmised that you would benefit the most from the call."

The reminder of Rei's family situation was like a punch in the gut, coming from the mouth of a near stranger. It hurt to be reminded that Rei was alone, but for some reason Reina's gut twisted for another reason. Was this bitterness? After all, she had done so much for Reina, had literally taken the girl into her own home and essentially adopted her in every sense except for on the official papers. And after all was said and done, she was still nothing more than the emergency contact, the sidelined character in the story that only assisted in the most minimal fashion, to step in when no one else could, the last resort?

Hotaru nudged Reina, urging her to say something. The line had gone quiet, Aizawa waiting patiently for a response. Shaking herself from her selfish thoughts, Reina spoke quietly. "Thank you, Aizawa-sensei, for your consideration, and for telling us upfront."

He grunted in assent. "I know this is difficult, but we are currently working with the police and doing everything in our power to get them back. We will call you with any further updates. Furthermore, this number is a direct line to my personal phone. If there is anything else you need, please do not hesitate to call."

Strange. It was unlike anyone to give out personal numbers in this case. Was Rei closer to Aizawa than she had previously known? Under his blunt and brusque exterior, as Rei had mentioned so many times, did he truly personally care for his students? It would seem as though that were the case. It wasn't enough to put a smile on her face, but it was enough to warm her heart just a bit.

"We will await any updates," she finally settled on. There was nothing else to do, except leave things to the professionals. "We leave her rescue in your hands."

"Thank you for your trust and patience. We will work as fast as we can to resolve this conflict."

"Thank you. Good night."

The line went dead, the phone beeping a few final times before the screen went dark. For a moment Reina continued to stare at the phone in her hands, all before gently placing it back on the coffee table. Sitting forward she placed her head in her hands, heaving a heavy sigh.

Hotaru sat up straight as well, rubbing circles into her partner's back. For a while the two simply sat in silence, digesting everything that had just been divulged to them. The television had flickered back to the title screen, illuminating the room and providing the only source of light in the large space. At some point Hotaru had muted it, the machine running silently as the room was eerily still.

The silence that had settled over the room was thick, like dense morning fog that had somehow settled down like a weighted blanket over the space. It was smothering, choking, chock full of tension and some other emotions that neither woman could place. In fact, there were so many emotions right now, it was nigh impossible to place what exactly they felt in that moment, a turbulent swirl of everything happening all at once in their chests.

Rei was gone.

Realization smacked Reina in the face like a startling backhand, and sob wrenched itself from her chest. Hotaru pulled her into her chest, the two of them collapsing back onto the couch as the tears began to fall. The reaction was delayed, but no longer. But even as she cried, Reina's mind began to turn, the gears grinding away as usual.

At the forefront of her mind was Rei's wellbeing. Where was she now? Was she safe, or at least alive? What was going on with her? Would she survive the night, let alone hold out until the police found her? What did the villains want with her? There were too many questions that unsettled her stomach, amplifying her unease in the quiet darkness. Somewhere out there, Rei was potentially all alone, under threat. Reina knew that Rei would eventually have to face danger, as a hero in training, but that didn't mean that she didn't worry. That aside, this was too sudden, too real and too early in her career. What had she done to deserve such a thing? Was fate so cruel?

On the side, Reina's mind churned over Aizawa's statement. It was true that Reina did not have formal custody over Rei. No one knew what happened to her natal parents, and neither had signed custody away from themselves before they had vanished. A formal adoption had been something Reina had begun to consider after taking Rei directly under her wing when the orphanage went out of business, since it would make things much easier. Ease aside, it made sense. Reina was the closest thing to family that Rei had in this world. Formalities weren't always necessary, but they were handy in tough situations.

Now, more than ever, Reina wished that she had formal custody over Rei. After all, it was she that was worrying the most about the girl's wellbeing, alongside Hotaru. The two of them loved Rei like their own little sister or daughter, doing everything in their power to ensure that she was taken care of.

An idea began to form in her head. As the tears began to subside, Hotaru looked to her partner, watching as Reina's eyes began to clear and shine.

"You're thinking about something."

Nodding slowly, Reina sighed.

"We can't do anything to get her back. But maybe it's time to do what we can."

"I had promised the director of that orphanage a special deal if he managed to secure your quirk for me. Such a shame that he failed, wasn't it?"

"Your father had an interesting quirk as well. Apples don't fall far from the tree. But You could be greater than even he."

"That orphanage isn't the only one. But as much as it might seem like it, I'm not a god. I can't see everything that will happen."

"Shigaraki did well this time. I anticipate to see what Bakugou's decision will be."

"I knew your mother as well. It was a shame that she lost her spirit years ago. What could have broken her in that way?"

"Such a troubled childhood you had. Haven't you ever considered what it might be like to sit at the top instead of the bottom? I could give you that, if you agreed to work for me."

He talked for what seemed like days. His voice was mesmerizing, the way that he articulated so crisply, so neatly, his plans for the world. He spoke of those he had lost along the way, those men that Rei inherently knew were criminals, but as he told her about their lives she could almost find a shred of sympathy in her heart for them.

It was the most sinister of magics, the most crafty and devilish wordsmith that Rei had ever encountered.

She was certain that, at one point, he had been a politician of some sort. There was no way that he could speak so emphatically, so articulately, so passionately and deceptively without such a career. Or perhaps he had been trained by such men and women, or had come into contact with them and picked up their mannerisms in such an effortless way that he seemed to make everything seem.

It mattered little. With every slippery word, every carefully crafted phrasing, she found herself sinking into a hole. Hope, drifting away. No matter how sharp she kept her mind, there was only so much she could do with her hands metaphorically tied behind her back. Perhaps this was worse that actually being held captive; with her hands free and her legs ready to move, there was an illusion of freedom that less insightful people would try to take advantage of.

This All For One knew all. He had complimented her on her brightness, her brains. He knew exactly what he was doing in setting up the room like this. It was a test to see just how bright-or desperate-she truly was in a dire situation.

If she was anyone else, she might have tried to flee. But after sizing up her opponent, there was no way she could logically escape. She had no idea where she was, no idea the limitations of her enemy's quirk, and no sign of assistance anywhere. Escape was a statistical improbability-no, more than that-it was an impossibility.

If this All For One was as dangerous as she was sizing him up to be, then he could smash her under his thumb without a second thought.

She felt like a butterfly trapped in a glass compartment, pinned down to display her wings and innards for the amusement of whoever came to watch. Helpless. It was horrifying, and yet there was nothing she could do. The only thing she could do was wait, watch, and pray for a savior.

But that hope was dying with every passing minute.

Minutes turned into hours. The villain continued to talk, occasionally drawing her in. He spoke of his dreams, his aspirations, the people that worked alongside him. He spoke of hero society and how oversaturated it now was, though he sung praises as well. With every sentence he spoke, Rei became more and more confused. The image of the villain in front of her was beginning to blur. Who was he?

She listened. What else could she do? She had to, if she wanted to stay alive. And somewhere, along the way, she began to feel something she had never felt before.

Pity.

Common ground.

The moment she realized this, she realized exactly what was going on.

He was trying to sway her over to his side.

Upon realizing this fact, she briefly admired the subtlety of his actions, the wordsmith he was. But that was immediately shut down by the cold sensation of horror running through her veins. She was almost certain that the blood had drained from her face, but fortunately his back was temporarily turned toward her as he continued to monologue.

She had to harden her heart. Closing off her mind for a moment, she shut everything down, every emotion. It was easier said than done. For years she had lived as a cold doll, lifeless and moving through the motions of life with monotony. But since Reina, since Yaoyorozu, since Midoriya, since Uraraka-

Since Bakugou.

Rei froze. That was right; she was trapped here because Bakugou's life was in danger. If she did anything foolish, made one wrong move, then her classmate's life was at stake.

Swallowing hard, she calmed her thoughts, closing her eyes for a moment. She had to keep calm. She had to hold on to hope, no matter how much it slid through her fingertips like fine grains of sand. She had to believe that she would find a way out of this, that she would see everyone again.

"Are you listening, my little cat?"

She wanted to vomit at the endearment, but instead she opened gold eyes calmly.

"I hear you."

Yes, she would hear. But no longer would she listen.

She couldn't, if she wanted to face her friends and family at the end of this all.

She couldn't, if she wanted to keep her sanity.

Hospitals were all the same. The neutral paint jobs, the shining linoleum tiles, the sharp scent of antiseptic and alcohol, the sound of hearts lying in wait for healing or for hell. At this point Todoroki had spent so much time in them he had imagined that he would grow accustomed to the environment.

And yet, as he walked into the hospital that most of the injured had been taken to after the camping trip incident, he found that he was profoundly disturbed and uncomfortable.

He was restless, unable to sit still. Thankfully he had been relatively uninjured, only suffering a few scrapes from his tumble after trying to reach for Bakugou's marble. The memory made him clench his fist in anger, tension threading his body before he inhaled deeply, exhaling the tension and calming down. There was no point in growing angry at the past. The only thing that mattered was how they moved forward.

No matter how many times he told himself that, he still couldn't help but grow emotional. Losing Bakugou had been devastating, and it was a personal blow to Todoroki as he had been unable to snatch him back when it came down to the wire. Losing anyone in Class 1-A would have been terrifying and haunting in that situation. But as he walked through the hospital, his memories turned to the black haired girl that had been taken along with her grumbling and angry companion.

Losing Akatsuki Rei had been personal for him.

It seemed so unlikely that she would be one of the two students missing. She was brilliant and cunning, spirited and aggressive when it came down to it. She could talk the talk and walk the walk, even though she preferred to act on something rather than speak most of the time, never one to waste time with words. Though she was quiet and often sat on the periphery of the class discussions she was nevertheless an integral part of 1-A, quite frankly one of the backbones of the class. It hadn't happened overnight; rather, she had grown on all of them at some point, an interaction or a comment solidifying each person's camaraderie with her.

For Todoroki, it had happened in a hospital, much the same as this one.

He would never forget how surprised he had been to see her on their free day after the sports festival, how guilty he had felt as soon as he saw her and the way that she tenderly pressed a hand to her stomach subconsciously even as she greeted him with warmth. She had been dressed in casual clothes, though that had been a surprise too; he hadn't ever had the chance to imagine her in clothes other than their school uniform, but she had been rather fashionably put together, muted tones complimenting her style and making her seem even more relaxed while he felt out of place. It was the first time he had seen her so at ease, had actually seen a relaxed and earnest smile on her face.

No matter how much she managed to hide behind a mask, it was the first time he was able to peel back a layer and realize that Akatsuki Rei was a truly warm and empathetic person underneath everything. It wasn't until she had handed him a small handful of sunflowers to take to his mother that he had realized how lucky he was to see such a piece of her so early.

From that moment on he paid more attention to her, the ways in which she interacted with everyone. Slowly but surely, like the unfurling of a flower's blossoms in late spring, she began to show more of her colors. Her humor was dry and often sardonic, but there was always a glitter in her eyes that gave away her amusement. When she had made a joke about arson when the two of them had been going through the internship offers he had been caught off guard, but he had to admit that it was a pretty good one. She was surprising at every twist and turn, and it seemed like every day brought a new side of her to reveal.

In that sense, they were kindred spirits. Perhaps that was why, along with Yaoyorozu, the trio had formed a triangle of conversation in the back of the classroom, easily getting along with one another and talking about all sorts of things. Todoroki had been rather sheltered growing up, and was unaccustomed to talking with large groups of kids his age. He had been forced to grow up quickly, to mature as he was literally thrown into his father's footsteps even as he hadn't wanted to. He was certain Rei hadn't the slightest of what that was like. But for some reason there was something about her that reassured him that he wasn't alone, and that he didn't need to put up a front with her. Even if she couldn't empathize, she did a damn good job of sympathizing without patronizing, and Todoroki found himself growing more and more comfortable with her.

It was in the way that she asked about his mother in a quiet, hushed voice, so as to not air his business to the rest of the class that he came to respect her. She had an astounding awareness and sensitivity to others' comfort levels, and rarely ever did something to upset another person. Well, at least unintentionally. She did plenty to pique the irritation of others when she was feeling vindictive, but that was another story. Even more telling was the day that she had come into class, using a more familial suffix attached to his name. He had been surprised at the sudden closeness, but in the best of ways.

As times passed, he had grown rather fond of Akatsuki, and valued her voice over many others.

He would always respect and listen to Midoriya's voice. But Akatsuki held a wariness, a different sort of awareness and street knowledge that set her apart from the green haired boy. Where Midoriya was excellent in planning in predicting, Akatsuki took it to a whole new level. She wasn't perfect, but there was a difference in the way that she read others compared to Midoriya. With Midoriya he went off of his own observations, things that he had seen and taken notes of. With Akatsuki it was like she could get into someone's head and understand them in an instant, making predictions of what she found. And that was terrifying and talented in its own right.

And even though she was rough around the edges, she had become a quiet leader. Iida led with his powerful words and enthusiasm. The class followed Midoriya for his positive attitude and strategism. Arguably the class also rallied behind Bakugou and himself as they tended to physically power through every barrier that came their way, destroying the opposition with sheer force. But Rei didn't need to be noticed, didn't clamber for attention. In fact she preferred to remain hidden away, unnoticed by the majority so that she was free to move around. But she hadn't noticed that the eyes of her classmates had been slowly drawn to her for her quiet resolve, her quick thinking, brilliance, and resilience.

Most of all, she never backed down from a challenge. She didn't even flinch when Iida came her way on the first day, didn't back down and instead held her ground. She didn't even doubt herself when matched up against Midoriya, trusting herself to read his thoughts and make a plan in the face of the brilliant mind of the soft, green haired boy. She held eye contact with Bakugou even when he threatened to tear her apart, not even flinching with a cold confidence as his threats rolled off her like oil and water.

She was the foundation, the cement flooring underneath the building, quiet resilience supporting everyone from the ground up. And in time they had all come to realize that, without her, life would be quite different.

The saying that "no one knew what they had until it was gone" wasn't necessarily true. But if one never fully realized and was thankful for what they had and lived completely in the present, then they were at a loss. That was how Class 1-A now found themselves, grasping for the straws and looking for the two pieces that had become an integral part of their routine.

The lack of Akatsuki and Bakugou's presence was only made more noticeable by the fact that both of them were simultaneously missing. It seemed like nowadays they were a complete package; no one could have an explosive and raging Bakugou without Rei to counteract his rage and either calm him down or insult him further, to varying effects. She always had something witty to say in any situation, and the silence only further amplified the dearth of their presence.

It had been within their power, within their reach to save them. And in the end, they had lost.

During the crisis in the forest, it was Akatsuki who had kept them together. She had silenced Midoriya and slapped Bakugou silly, demanding their attention and forcing them to focus up, remaining the rock. It was clear that she was going to make an excellent hero; this was the second time she had proved her mettle and training, next to the cram class that six of them had taken at the beginning of summer. Where the rest of them had dove into the mystery she had been the one to immediately don the face of a hero, going about the business of calming the mock civilians and fulfilling every protocol they had forgotten in the rush of the moment. She had a clear head even in moments of crisis.

No wonder the entertainer had taken her first. From what it sounded like she apparently had caught sight of him, but he had taken her before she could make a sound. If the villain had hesitated for just a moment longer, then perhaps things would have turned out differently…

Shaking his head to himself, Todoroki trudged along the hallways of the hospital. No, he was here to see Midoriya, who was thankfully still living after the entire ordeal.

A part of him wondered what Akatsuki's reaction would have been if she found out that Midoriya had chased after her, wounds and all, in an attempt to get her and Bakugou back.

No, that was a stupid question. She would have slapped him across the face and then incapacitated him before dragging him off to emergency services. Perhaps that was enough of a thought in itself; he could imagine how things would be once she returned. At least that was much more pleasant to think of rather than what had become.

"Oh, Todoroki?! What are you doing here?"

Pausing in his steps, Todoroki turned around at the rather familiar voice. To his slight surprise, Kirishima was standing behind him, a visitor's badge also attached to the collared shirt that he wore, body bag moved carefully as to not tear it away or cinch it. Blinking blankly, he looked at the red haired boy. "What about you?"

A question for a question. But Kirishima didn't call him out on it, instead looking rather sheepish as he stammered out an answer of his own. "Well, I guess… that's to say, I couldn't just stay at home, so…"

Recognition. Realization. Empathy. Turning to face his classmate more directly, he turned around, waiting and beckoning Kirishima to catch up with him. "I see. Me neither."

Kirishima heaved a sigh of relief, closing the distance between the two as they began to continue their trek. "Man, what a nightmare. I can't believe it…"

"Mm."

"I guess we're supposed to count our blessings though. You were pretty unscathed, right, Todoroki?"

Nodding, he glanced over at Kirishima. "Only Midoriya was really injured, and that was before he even got to us."

"I wonder if he's awake yet… I hope he is."

Just ahead, Todoroki could hear the sounds of a few familiar voices, making him slow in his footsteps. Kirishima noted his companion's slow pace, pausing to turn and look at him in confusion. "Todoroki…?"

"Up there. Isn't that All Might's voice?"

The two of them walked up to the next door ahead, noting that it was still ajar and most likely the source of the voices. From around the corner the two peered in casually, eyes alighting at the sight of not just All Might, but Yaoyorozu as well. This was the first time they had heard news of her awakening, since she had apparently suffered a hard blow to the head and needed quiet to rest her mind. Another man stood with them as well, a detective from the police department, from the looks of it.

They were catching the middle of the conversation, but from what it seemed like they were just in time to make sense of it all. Yaoyorozu was speaking with the two men in front of her, eyes fairly clear, though she looked rather tired still. Her voice was less enthusiastic than usual, probably due to her injury as well as her exhaustion from the entire situation. "Thanks to Awase-san from Class B, I attached a tracking device to one of the villains." She lifted a device in her hands, handing it over to All Might, who accepted it in his large palm. "This device will receive that signal. Please use it for your investigation."

Todoroki's eyes alit at the sight of the tracker, impressed by Yaoyorozu's quick thinking. Clearly, so was All Might, as he spoke as quietly as he could for an energetic and booming man such as himself. "Before, Aizawa said that you lacked the judgement to make quick decisions. You have grown so much! Thank you, Young Yaoyorozu!"

Even with the praise from their teacher, Yaoyorozu lowered her head. "With two classmates in danger, it is frustrating to only be able to help in this way."

"That feeling is proof that you are worthy of being a hero. Please leave the rest to us!"

As All Might and the police officer turned around to exit the room, Todoroki moved into sight, making it look as though the two of them had just passed by. Their teacher's face lit up, beaming at the two of them. "Oh, Young Todoroki! Young Kirishima!"

Kirishima looked somewhat sheepish at their appearance, but Todoroki kept his face neutral as he stood in front of the red haired boy, looking in to the room. "Is it alright to visit Yaoyorozu-san?"

"Well," their teacher trailed off, looking back into the room, but a small nod from Yaoyorozu had him smiling once more, leaning over to them and whispering, as though passing along a secret. "Just for a moment. Young Yaoyorozu still requires much rest, but I believe she would benefit much from a short visit."

With a salute and a skip the man was off, both Todoroki and Kirishima bowing cordially to the police officer as well as the two of them passed by and walked down the hallway. Making their own way into the room, Todoroki looked over Yaoyorozu, who continued to sit on the edge of the bed. She looked at them in concern, the stress and strain still apparent on her face. "Todoroki-san, Kirishima-san."

"Ah, vice president! We're glad you're awake."

They came to stand in the place where All Might and the police officer had been not a moment before, Todoroki looking down in sympathy. "How are you feeling?"

"My head is still a bit sensitive, but I should be fine in a few days." Still, her face looked rather troubled as she looked between the two boys. "So it's true. Bakugou-san and Tsuki-chan were taken."

Kirishima's face fell, but Todoroki managed to keep his face calm. "Yeah."

"Oi, Todoroki…"

But he wasn't one to hide things from anyone. Yaoyorozu looked to her hands, folded in her lap. "I can't believe it… To be able to do so little…"

The group fell silent, lost in their own thoughts. Todoroki's face hardened. Of all people, Yaoyorozu had the right to be the most upset. She was the closest to Akatsuki out of all of them, the two rather inseparable, ever since the first few weeks of school. Seeing her look so dejected, so sad…

Todoroki's hands clenched for a moment before relaxing.

"Yaoyorozu, please rest. We'll be back on another visit."

"Todoroki…?"

But Yaoyorozu nodded, seeming slightly relieved that she could rest again. It was as good a time as any to take their leave, so parting and giving their regards Todoroki led the way out of the room, Kirishima following him out in confusion.

"Todoroki, wait!"

The two of them continued down the hall, returning to their path to get to Midoriya's room. Todoroki's face was deceptively serene, staring forward with an impassive glance. "Just an idea."

"You thought about it too?"

Surprised, he looked to Kirishima, taking in the look of determination. It was in that moment that he knew that Kirishima had thought of the same thing; ever since they saw that receiver being passed off to the pro heroes and the police, the nagging in their chest wouldn't go away.

It was risky. Hell, it was probably slightly illegal. No, make that definitely illegal.

But the two of them were moving because they couldn't keep still. They would keep moving until they found a solution and this entire chapter was brought to a close.

They kept their voices low as the continued to talk, hashing out the details of their plans as they tried to keep them a secret. There were some who wouldn't like it, who would try to stop them.

But they could move. As long as they could move, they would move forward.

Anything, to get the people back that had been stolen from them.

There were many things to be thankful for, but it had never quite been in Bakugou's nature to ever feel truly thankful for anything.

That was a bit harsh. Of course he was thankful for things. His parents, his quirk, for instance. Getting into U.A., though arguably that was because of his drive and his ability. He wasn't as thankless or completely self absorbed as many tended to think he was. It was simply that he didn't always show it, and he tended to be thankful for the things he couldn't grasp with his own hands, but somehow had.

He could have been thankful that he was alive in that moment, having survived a kidnapping and in a situation where the enemy clearly wanted something from him. He could have been thankful that it hadn't been anyone else; surely if it had been someone else, they would have cracked at this point, or completely blown their own head off. Mineta, for example, would had pissed himself at this point. No, actually, purple ball boy had probably pissed himself the moment he caught a whiff of danger back at the camp. Bakugou liked to think that Mr. Half Hot, Half Cold probably would have done something ridiculous at this point as well, although it sounded more like he had been on a kill list. Perhaps he could be thankful that; as far as he knew, that bastard was still alive.

Everyone was still alive, as far as he knew or dared hope. He could have been thankful that the villains withdrew as soon as they captured him.

But Bakugou was not thankful.

Here he was, playing dumb and mute until the right moment. He was stuck under the villain's thumb, at least until they slipped up. They had to slip up eventually. For some reason, they still seemed to be under the impression that he would eventually give in and fall off to the villain's side, to run amok in the darkness.

How wrong they were.

Did you see that? All Might's so cool… no matter what, he comes out on top!

Underneath the cement block that they had locked his hands inside, his hands clenched into fists. A hero could break out of any situation, no matter the odds.

For now, all he could do was wait for the most opportune moment. He wasn't an idiot, like many others thought. Sure, he was hot headed often, but there was always a plan in place. At least with all this time, he could stew and think of a plan, pretending to pay attention to the ramblings of this Shigaraki while he spouted idealistic nonsense.

But with stewing came wandering thoughts, and his thoughts would inevitably turn to one person.

The moment that they had reappeared inside the bar, they had played their hand. Either Bakugou played nice, or they would crush Rei instantaneously. That was the reason why he had submitted so quickly and quietly, allowing his hands and feet to be restrained as he was hunkered down to the chair, half in resignation, half in fear. The moment that the magician had transformed Rei back into her true form, he had been proud that her first reaction was to stand and fight, immediately noticing that something was off.

In the end, having both of them there was a double edged sword. Now that he had been incapactitated, it was easy enough to get Rei to submit to their will, even if they left her unbound. Just how much research had they done? Were they simply running on the fact that the two of them were classmates, or did they know something more? That thought alone was blood chilling, enough to put a scowl on Bakugou's face.

In any case, they had lost. For now. Bakugou refused to face the fact that they had lost, instead preferring to think of it as an extended fight. It wasn't over. Not yet. He would escape. That would be his victory.

But before he could even begin brainstorming a way to get both of them out of there, Rei had been taken away to god knew where. Whoever was the mastermind behind the entire scheme, whoever Shigaraki's leader was, had taken her away from him. They had exchanged some strange words, something that Bakugou hadn't quite understood about her quirk and its "true nature," but it was clear enough that it was something valuable and something that Rei guarded jealously. He wanted to be angry that she hadn't shared something like that with him yet, but that quickly vanished once he saw the fear on her face from the realization that this other person knew something they shouldn't have. Even worse was the fear when his own life had been threatened.

He wanted to tell her that she was an idiot, sacrificing safety for his. He wanted to tell her that he was thinking of a plan, that she just needed to shut up and sit down. But he was no telepath. All he could do was watch in horror as she was swallowed up by an inky substance, his heart breaking as she sent him a forced smile that did nothing to hide the terror in her own heart. He could see right through it. Rei couldn't fool him.

And like that, she was gone.

Gone, sliding through his fingertips into the devil's nest, to who knew where. It made his escape plan easier, now that he only had to account for one person, but that didn't make him feel any better. His mind was consumed by "what ifs" of what was going on on Rei's end, what sort of horrors she was experiencing all alone. If given the choice, he would have gladly fought these villains in front of him with his hands literally tied behind his back, if it meant that Rei were by his side.

In the past, he probably would have relished in the fact that he only had himself as his responsibility.

Now, all he felt was a hole in his chest, like Midoriya had used that damn quirk of his to knock the wind out of him.

Of all the times for shit to go down like this, why now? Rei had finally confessed her feelings, and Bakugou had felt like he was soaring on cloud nine ever since that train ride home. Nothing else had happened, but the knowledge that she liked him back was enough. Now, that only made him feel worse. He couldn't let this be the end, not like this.

Katsuki.

Swallowing hard, he allowed his mind to linger on the memory of the first time she had said his first name. He could envision and recreate the scene in his head, the way she looked somewhat uncertain but the way her eyes lit up unbeknownst to even her. She could be the master of hiding emotions behind a mask, but in that moment she had been an open book. Delight and relief had surged forward, and it made Bakugou wonder just what had been going on in her head leading up until that point.

He wanted to tell her just how much she meant to him. How he liked the way her eyes would sparkle every time she tried to crawl under his skin, or when she would come up with a crafty plan to undermine her opponents in fights. How adorable it was whenever she blinked languidly like a cat trying to communicate nonverbally just what they were thinking, or fast when she was trying to take in a million things at once and her eyes would widen marginally. How beautiful her golden irises were when the afternoon light struck them, like honey spread over glass and refracting amber tints. How much he wanted to tuck her under his chin and never let her go when she looked at him softly, seeing through every layer and barrier he had put up.

The waiting game had never been his to play. He wanted to jump into the action, to get things over with. But in this game of life or death, he was forced to play this hand, no matter how much he wanted to break out of this musty place and tear whatever town apart that he needed to in order to find Rei. She was tough, undoubtedly, and she was one of the classmates that he probably would never need to worry about in a situation such as this. On one hand, at least it had been her; she was tougher than a bed of nails, and he knew that she wouldn't go anywhere without kicking and screaming.

On the other hand, it was exactly because it was her that he was so worried, so desperate to get out of this place and ensure that she was safe. He needed to know that she was alright, to see a smile that hadn't been that shitty attempt to pretend that she was alright.

He had to think of a plan.

Or so god help him, he would personally escort Shigaraki and his entire entourage into the bottommost layer of hell itself.

AN: UWU ?

I'm alive.

Seriously.

I had to leave home because of the California fires, but it's also given me a bit of time to stitch some things together. I haven't once given up on this story in my hiatus; a lot of writing things didn't work out, but I've been workshopping and writing in my time off as well. Thank you everyone for all your support! I really appreciate it and can't wait to bring you more content.

(super)stition will no longer be updated on a weekly basis. I've recently gone through some life changes, and (surprise, surprise) I'm being promoted at work, so I won't have as much free time on my hands. I don't have a solid schedule yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I do. Realistically, this might be a once a month thing, but I'm not making any promises yet. All I can say is that I haven't given up on this story yet! I love Rei, as many of you do as well.

I've made some changes to the story to have All For One be a bit more talkative. I figure that getting his hands dirty isn't really his style, so I changed that aspect of the story. Unfortunately that changed a LOT of other things that I now need to figure out where everything else goes. It's messy (seriously, you should see my Google Drive... it's ugly right now), but I'm sure it's for the better.

Thanks for your reviews!

Vedahzii: I'm back! I have no intentions of abandoning this story yet. It's kind of wild because we're coming up on one year since the creation of this story (at least from where I started writing it without publishing it on this website). Thank you for your support!

dragontamer64: Thank you for all your support! I hope you're happy to see another update from me! This chapter is kind of half new content, half stuff I stitched together from previous chapters that I wanted to keep, and if I'm honest I haven't really proof read it yet, so it might be messy, but it's an update! Can't wait to hear from you again

skiescloud: WATASHI GA KITA hahahaha but seriously, I'm here. This story isn't going anywhere yet! I am so glad that you've fallen in love with Rei; I've tried to write a lot of other stories in my time off but nothing really compares to the story I've set up here. Thank you thank you!

chibi-no-baka: Yeah, I like to think that Bakugou is secretly a softy haha. But I'm back! Here's to hopefully more soft Bakugou in the future!

j: Please no more cryin in the club, unless that's your thing, then go for it. But I'm back with some updates!

Frost: ALL THE FEEEEEELSSSSSS hahaha but yes I dislike Mineta just... slightly... .

Axel Fones: I'm glad you decided to read this story! At least a little bit. And yes, many things are intentionally staged/ written like that. I like to imagine that, on occasion, my writing can be subtle but obvious if you read carefully.

Sarki: Thank you for leaving your review! I'm so happy to be back now!

aarime: Yes, this story is not going anywhere. Thank you for your review!

Guest 1: No, I will most likely not be adding smut. I don't really feel comfortable writing it, and also they're like... 15? If I do, I'll definitely change the age. It's not out of the question, but it's not my focus right now. Thanks for the review and suggestion!

Guest 2: Thank you! It's been nearly a year in the making at this point. I hope you enjoy future chapters!

I'm not sure when the next update will be, but hopefully soon!

Please look forward the revamped version of this story and the Training Camp Arc.

Please leave a review!

Have a great week!