"Souma, we're ready to head out." I look over at my Moira and Ryota and I nod.

"Be safe you two." I call out to them as I walk over to the new assistant, which was refreshing since Kaito moved after getting married to his lovely new bride, and I hand her a few files and print outs.

"Miss Souma, Boss has been in his office too long." I look to the closed door and exhale. "You always said that," We glanced at each other, "Quiet is never good." We say in unison.

I give her a wave and head to his office, giving a soft knock before entering. He just slammed the phone to the receiver with a slew of curses before looking at me.

"Don't give me that all-knowing look," He grumbles and pushes his hair back. "What's up?"

"Just checking on the heart of this place, seemed like mushrooms were going to start growing in here any second now," I say as I drop into one of the chairs before his desk. "I have to head out on an assignment soon and I wanted to let you know your schedule has cleared up so you can make it to your son's game."

The news seemed to bring him great relief and I look at the photos around the office and my eyes linger on the very first picture I was in, the office was still small then, instead of offices, the rooms were used for storage and old files.

"So-chan?" I look at him and his hand is extended. "Want a piece?" I look at the pack of gum and feel a soft pang before I accept a piece and toss it into my mouth.

"Thanks, Bossman." I stand. "Have a good time at his game, tell him I wish him luck."

"Thank you, little bird." With that, we part ways, that familiar taste of sweet mint on my tongue.

8½ years ago

Changing back into my civilian clothes, I check my cell and look through the messages and one voicemail from my friend Mei.

"Hey, So-chan! I need the HUUUGEST favor from you, can you come down to my workspace, please?! Call me back or just head over!" The line went dead and the message ends.

I gather my things and head out so I can get to her workspace before the sun sets.

On my way, I stop and look over at the tv screen as that familiar voice shouts in the heat of the battle. My chest feels warm as I watch him fighting alongside fellow heroes. Like I had hoped he was climbing the ladder higher every day with the lives he helps save and bad people he helps to rid the streets of.

I felt a small pride at the sight as I continue my way to meet up with Mei.

Moving back this way after graduation was nice, so I had to be grateful that my current agency recruited me. Though most of the assignments are behind the scenes discreet work I was proud to help clean up these streets.

I reach her place in no time and make my way to her and find her and Minoru, whom I had become friends with, in a shouting match as Mei was stuck with a purple ball and a scalpel caught in it.

"Looks like a sticky situation you got yourself into." I giggle as I step inside and she whirls over to me.

"So-chan you made it!" I dodge the ball filled hand as I hug her. "I wasn't thinking and grabbed the wrong one." She gestures to the other purple ball with her glove stuck to the counter. "I need a spare hand, he's not being helpful."

I walk over to her and shoot a look at Minoru before pulling out a small kit from my bag. I give the bottle a shake and spray between the ball and her hand before it rolls off.

"Where did you get that?!" Mei snatches it out of my hands and gives it a look. "What's it made out of?!" I watch her eyes sparkle with that awe-inspired look she gets.

"I can send you the formula, it took a while to find the right mixture after I started helping this brat." I look at the shocked Minoru and smile a mischievous smile.

"Remind me never to make an enemy out of you." He says and I nod.

"I've been told that before," I admit as I follow Mei to the table. "What were you two testing out on his grapes?"

"I wanted to test out my new baby and he happened to swing by."

Minoru walks over with a huff.

"I was coming for the gadget I ordered before she dragged me in here." He defends himself and I nod in understanding, I mean it happened the first time we met, but her upgrades to my own "babies" helped me so much in the field I felt indebted to her.

"Hatsume?!" I am startled by the loud voice that reached us before the guy enters the room with us.

"Babe!"

I blink a bit in hopes my ears stop ringing with their voices.

"What brings you here?" She asks and his jaw drops.

Did she just call Tenya Iida babe?

"You asked me for dinner and were late, so I called but you weren't answering." He explains and she raises a brow and looks around. "You forgot?!" He exclaims in shock.

"Mei-chan, the others are alrea- Iida, you made it too?!" I look at the next person to enter and find Mina Ashido. "Looks like we have more people! Let's go!" How I found myself at the café was confusing as everyone talks to each other like they hadn't seen each other in a while.

"Mei," I whisper to her as she looks over the menu. "I should go." I tell her when two hands catch my forearms and push me back into my seat and I look at both Mei and Mineta.

"No, you're staying. I'm certain your shows are set to record." Mei whispers to me and my jaw drops.

"You never come out with us anyways, so just enjoy yourself." Minoru says and I give off a soft laugh before giving in.

"You win but," I look at the group around us. "How did you get so many of the new heroes to come out tonight?" They were each rising stars in their fields and watching them grow was a Yuuei present to the world.

"I asked nicely." She smiles and bats her lashes. It was most likely just a whole bunch of 'Make sure you have today off or else' messages, well, except poor Iida. Mei has been spacey about things outside her lab for as long as I have known her.

Drinks make their way in and appetizers soon follow as we all converse and I properly introduce myself to others.

"So, which agency do you work at?" Uraraka asks.

"Currently I'm with at Mad Manta's agency not too far from here, but I'm thinking of transferring to a smaller place closer to home."

"Really?" Mineta asks and I look to him, I never brought that subject up before, so I understand his shock. "When?"

"Yeah, I want to help here for maybe another year, then I want to look into an agency who recruited me, but I wanted to help a big city before going to a smaller one," I admit and they accept my answer when the lights dim slightly, and I feel the evil smile before I see it as she turns to look at me. "No." I hold my hand up to her and she throws a peace sign at me with her fingers.

"Too late." I knew she was up to something! That evil triumphant look on her face as they call my name. "You owe me, go." I puff my cheeks, embarrassed and walk up to the small stage as they hand me the mic. "I picked a song already!" She calls and I glare at her before glancing at the song name and back at her.

The tune plays and I exhale as I close my eyes.

"Why did I agree to come here?" I ask Kirishima as we step into the establishment when we spot the table of familiar heads and head to it.

"Cause the gang is here and we have been working nonstop." My eyes trail up to the girl on the stage as she sings.

"Sit down!" Mina hisses and I take a seat before crossing my arms and look down at my cell.

That voice came softly during this verse, but her eyes had been closed the whole time she was singing. "On the ocean, sending big waves into motion." Everyone was paying attention to her like she was a part of our gathering. "Like a single word can make a heart open," Slowly she opens her eyes and two sapphires look out at us. "I might only have one match," A smile that felt familiar forms on her lips. "But I can make an explosion."

I know she recognizes me, but who didn't? Yuuei made all our faces and abilities public back in the beginning, not to mention all the publicity surrounding the crazy events from way back then.

When the song ends, she pardons herself and rushes over to the empty spot by the little pervert. "I hate you." She whispers at Hatsume whom smirks back at her.

"I love you too."

"Bite me."

"No, you'll just enjoy it."

"Don't kink-shame me."

"Bakugou." I look up from my phone at Kirishima as they giggle at their conversation and he points to the cup suddenly before me. I pick it up and take a sip.

"I can't believe you got him to come out." Hatsume says to Kirishima who shakes his head.

"You know he follows no one." Kirishima says and I shoot a look at her.

"Damn right." I say and cast another glance at the girl beside her who was humming to the songs being sung by others called up to the stage.

"Supporting cast doesn't seem to have much say either."

I look at her, but she acts as though she never spoke.

"What did you say?" I ask and she glances at me before pressing her finger to her lips shushing me before smirking and looking back at the stage.

"OoOoOoHoHoOoOo!" I look at Mina as she presses a hand to her mouth and swats Kaminari's hand as she fails to stifle her laughter, Kaminari looking confused. I look over at Kirishmia and Sero and they both had hands pressed tightly to their faces as they snicker. "Someone get him some ice!"

It was like fire in my veins, who does she think she is?

A sudden sound drew my eyes to the cup of frozen water sliding in front of me. Eyes shoot up the table to Icy Hot at the end of the table more glasses before him.

"Someone ask for ice?" His damn expression flat, but I could see the mocking of his words in his eyes.

I was about ready to blow up when she shoots to her feet, sapphires wide as she stared at Deku in disbelief.

"Excuse me," she walks over to him. "May I speak with you?" She looks at the table. "Outside? Please."

Deku was confused but nods like a fucking idiot and follows her outside.

Everyone bursts into murmurs as I watch her speak and gesture with her hands before shaking his hand and hugging him. I stand and head to the bathroom.

When I return, cooled down I find them all cleaning up the table for the waiters.

"What's happened?" I ask Kirishima.

"Mina wants to go to the Karaoke place down the street and Yamazaki said she'd pay."

"Who the fuck is Yamazaki?"

"Me." The soft voice came and there those sapphires were looking at me with familiarity. Mina and Hatsume grab her and drag her out of the building chanting excitedly about the new plans.

"Let's go!" Kirishima urges as we follow them out.

"Nah, I think I'll just head home, it's getting late."

"Hey, Main Character," Yamazaki calls and I look over at the girl just up the street, "Running away already?" She was mocking me with that slight smirk, her stance, just all of it.

She takes a few steps backward before turning and sauntering down the alley.

"I like her." Kirishima chuckles and starts heading after the group.

"Goddammit." I stomp after them despite knowing she was baiting me to come but, but… "Only one person had called me that." That anger and frustration seemed irrelevant as I follow them inside the building and watch as she laughs with the girl at the front desk.

"I guess we can rent out the single room tonight." She jests and Yamazaki nods.

"I'll call when I'm coming in again," She tells the girl before pointing down the hall for the others who chat as they wait. "Rooms ready, open door at the end of the hall." She looks to the girl and smiles. "Tonight promises to be uplifting."

As we sat in our private room, conversing, everyone opts to play some games where the losers had to sing an embarrassing song picked by the winner of the prior round. The girls had just finished singing Barbie Girl some were flushed from embarrassment, but Mina and Souma were in it to win.

As it was suddenly our turn Icy Hot and I remain rooted in place as the others gather near the mics.

"Get over here you two." They urge, and I shake my head.

"It's okay guys, they both might still be dejected from losing to Midoriya." Mina says and we all nod as if it was true.

"Fuck you guys, the voting was rigged," I shout before standing up and grabbing Icy Hot's collar. "Get up here!" I drag him up there and he swats my hand away before walking over to Iida as he rubs his neck.

"Look at that, full participation." Uraraka cheers as Mina selects a song.

"Time to sing for your lives!" Mina cackles before it starts.

Icy-Hot, and I lost again due to the lack of enthusiasm during the damn song Me Too and as the sounds of our penalty song began, I curse and storm out of the room. Kaminari running up to my abandoned mic.

NO.

They're not getting me to sing that fucking song.

I stood outside for who knows how long before they began to emerge, and I watch as they head off laughing and saying their goodnights. I stuff my hands into my pockets and wait for Yamazaki to come out because I needed to know I wasn't imagining the things she said, but she never came out.

I reach down and feel around for my phone and a slight panic prickles inside as I couldn't find it. I head inside and ask if I can use their phone and I call all three guys, but they didn't pick up to my frustration, so I ring Mina and after a few rings she answers.

"Hello?"

"Hey, do one of you have my phone?" I ask her and she asks the others each sounding off with various no's. "Maybe you left it at the karaoke place."

"Alright, bye." I hang up and look at the girl at the desk, "Is the room still open? I left my cell." I explain and she informs me the room was still open to our party. I head back and open the door to find Yamazaki lying on one of the couches singing along with eyes closed before she shoots up and looks at me.

"Huh? I thought you left." She says and I look at the couches.

"I did." I start feeling around where I was sitting, and she pulls her legs up and watches me search. "What?!" I snap at her and she smiles.

"Sorry, just wondering what you lost."

"Phone."

"Oh. . ." She shifts in her seat and I hear her fiddling with the tablet before the music begins to pour through again and she hums where the words would be to fill the air as I shuffle around trying to find my cell phone and I was getting more and more frustrated before she clears her throat. "Here." She finally speaks again, and I look over at her and her extended cellphone.

"What?"

"Call your phone, duh. If one of your friends has it, they'll pick up." She explains and I accept it before dialing my number in and hitting call. It rings and rings before suddenly going to voicemail and I curse before redialing it three more times before I hear voices in a hushed argument.

"How did you not notice?!"

"I thought it was mine."

"Denki it's black with a white Punisher skull on it."

"You're right!"

"Hey!" I shout into the phone and they go silent.

"Bakugou?"

"You dunce! I asked you guys earlier and you said no!"

"That's mean, I'll put it in your mailbox, cranky." He hangs up on me and I blow up shouting curse words into the dead line as I vent my frustrations at only myself for forgetting my cell in the first place.

A giggle fills the room and I remember I am not alone. I look at her as she presses the back of her fingers to her lips.

"What are you laughing at?! You've been poking fun at me all day: shushing me, baiting me, and challenging me! What is your fucking problem?!"

A soft smile forms across her lips as those damn sapphires wash over me. "You really don't remember me, do you?" Her words are gentle, not sharp nor sarcastic as they had been all night. "But I never did come back after passing the audition."

"Supporting Cast." The words come out like the ghost of a whisper. The faintest scent of sweet mint and sleepless nights under florescent lights, nights long forgotten beneath the years of events that had taken place between our goodbyes and tonight.

"Oh, I made a promise of sorts back then," She says and extends her hand to me. "My name is Souma Yamazaki, but you can call me Souma."

"That's a terrible name, your parents must hate you." I joke and look at her only to find that smile missing, and eyes lost in memories.

It was a joke, a terrible one since Souma suits her perfectly.

Sapphires look back at me as she forces a smile before gathering her things. "Times about up, I should go." She was halfway out the door when I registered the hurt in her eyes. I head out after her and catch her right at the opening of the alley.

"Wait!" I caught her arm, "I shouldn't have said that." I utter, apologies still weren't my strong suit.

"We can't take back words already spoken," A soft hand touches mine, "Now, I want to go home. Please let me go." I release her arm and watch her walk away, a simple good night left hanging in the air.

"You are a fucking idiot, Katsuki."

Stepping into my apartment I toss my keys into the bowl beside the door as I step out of my shoes and into my house slippers. I head further inside and set my stuff on the table. Cleaning up before prepping everything for the morning helped keep me busy.

Once I ran out of things to keep me busy, I head to my room and drop onto the bed. Looking over at the photos on the wall and nightstand my heart pangs so I curl up on my side, pulling a pillow against my face as I stare at the smiling faces beside mine.

Dark hair and eyes contrast my own pale features and I felt that burn in my nose, the shake of my breath and phantom chill across my skin before I bury my face into it and let it consume the tears and stifled cries.

He would never know how true his words had been.

"Nobody?" Eyes look away from the young hero and over at Moira.

"Sorry," I look at the cuffed and unconscious man. "I'm leaving him to you, I'll head back to the office first." I walk past the kid again and sapphires look back at me before I turn away and head out the back exit as they take him out the front.

I just wanted to go home and hug my children, burying my nose into their pale blond hair, thanking the universe they took after their father. . .

Their father. . .

Will they ever forgive me?

Will he?