Just Like Oxygen

by tearinmyarmor

Everyone has a secret. Students, children, Pro Heroes even. The Symbol of Peace has a few himself. One in particular he's kept secret for eight years. But perhaps it's time for this fiery secret to be made known. - All Might / Toshinori Yagi x OC - ON HIATUS AND IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REWRITTEN

6. Chapter 5

Midoriya and his friends, along with the entire audience, watch the screen with baited breath. They watch Ryoko smirk, grabbing her leather jacket before the scene changes. It's the inside of a wooden shack, an older radio and microphone set up on a desk inside. The back of a man can be seen sitting at the desk. His face can't be seen as he reaches over, pushing a couple of buttons on the radio and turning a few knobs before he leans in. The camera pans up to his face, the face of Ingenium staring at them as he says, directly into the microphone "Look alive, sunshine."

The crowd roars, Midoriya looking up at Iida as he smiles, seeing his brother on the screen. He had mentioned that his older brother knew Ryoko, but Midoriya wasn't expecting them to know each other like this.

"109 in the sky, but the pigs won't quit! You're here with me, Doctor Death Defying. I'll be your surgeon, your proctor, your helicopter. Pumpin' out the slaughtermatic sounds to keep you alive! A system failure for the masses, anti-matter for the master plan! Louder than God's revolver and twice as shiny. This one's for all you rock n' rollers, all you crash queens, and motor babies,"

As Ingenium spoke, clips of him speaking were intermittent with clips of the other four. Midnight tied up her hair, Present Mic adjusted his boots, Aizawa put on sunglasses that resembled his goggles. The last clip was of Ryoko, her back being shown as she slipped her leather jacket on, pulling her hair out to lay over the jacket.

While the clips played, the band reentered the stage. The drummer returned, the guitarist as well, Mic taking his spot back at his setup. Ryoko was yet to be seen.

"Listen up!"

A guitar could be heard, the lights coming on, cheers erupting from the crowd. Standing on top of the platform over the drums was Ryoko. Dressed in all black this time, ripped jeans and combat boots, her leather jacket in place, a graphic tee underneath that was hidden by the guitar in her hands. She was the one playing, the band not yet joining her. Ingenium could be seen speaking into the microphone behind her as she played.

"The future is bulletproof. The aftermath is secondary! It's time to do it now and do it loud. Killjoys, make some noise!" The drummer started playing, the guitarist joining in with Mic as well, Ryoko turning and disappearing off the platform. She didn't take the stairs that were attached to it. Midoriya didn't have time to think about that as Mic and the guitarist starting singing multiple "na na na"s as they played. A moment later, Ryoko could be seen walking onstage, microphone in hand as she sang into it, holding her guitar in her other hand.

Drugs, gimme drugs, gimme drugs, I don't need it but I'll sell what you got, take the cash and I'll keep it.

She walked to the middle of the stage, where a microphone stand was set up there for her already. While the clips were playing, someone must have brought it out because Midoriya didn't notice it until Ryoko stood in front of it.

Eight legs to the wall, hit the gas, kill them all.

Her microphone slides into its stand as she continued to sing. Midoriya now realized that she saved her heaviest songs, the songs that fit her aesthetic much more, for this second set. Because she was dressed as All Might, he figured, she sang more meaningful songs for the students. But she definitely wasn't holding back now.

And we crawl, and we crawl, and we crawl! You be my detonator!

Mic and Ryoko both pumped their fists in the air, most of the crowd joining them, with each "crawl" that they sang.

Love, gimme love, gimme love, I don't need it but I'll take what I want from your heart and I'll keep it in a bag, in a box. Put an X on the floor. Gimme more, gimme more, gimme more!

Their fists pumped again, with each "gimme more." Midoriya watched as Ryoko took something out of her left hand and began to play her guitar after she sang her lyric.

Shut up and sing it with me!

The guitarist and Mic began to sing "na na na" over and over again, the crowd joining in. Every so often, Ryoko would jump in with her own lyric.

From mall security. To every enemy. We're on your property, standing in V formation.

The song was chaotic in a sense, the drummer and guitarist playing wildly. Ryoko wasn't holding back on her guitar either. It was all black, fitting in perfectly with the entire aesthetic of the stage now.

Let's blow an artery. Get plastic surgery. Keep your apology. Give us more detonation!

Ryoko was definitely not holding back this time around. She would shake her head back and forth as she sang, sometimes she would wildly shake her head, her hair flying everywhere. It would stay in her face, even as she sang. Midoriya thought she would shake her head to get it out of her face, but instead it continued to fall in her face.

Oh, let me tell you about the sad man.

As she began to sing the next verse, she stopped playing her guitar. It still remained in her hand, Midoriya realizing that she held a guitar pick in her other hand when she brought it up to adjust the microphone.

Shut up and let me see your jazz hands!

Her left hand pulled away from the guitar, shaking before opening wide, to show her own jazz hand before it went back to the neck of the guitar.

Remember when you were a madman? Thought you was Batman and hit the party with a gas can! Kiss me, you animal!

She goes back to playing her guitar, Mic and the guitarist singing the multiple "na na na"s again. Ryoko intervened with her lyrics again, some of them changing from the previous time.

You run the company, fuck like a Kennedy.

Her hips roll forward as she sings the obscene lyric, earning a few cheers from the crowd.

I think we'd rather be burning your information! Let's blow an artery. Get plastic surgery. Keep your apology. Give us more detonation!

The song slows slightly, every person on stage playing less intense than they were. Ryoko stops playing the guitar all together. The look on her face becomes much more determined, angry even, as she sings.

And right here, right now. All the way in Hosu City.

The crowd cheers as she points out to her right. The lyric holds new meaning for Ryoko, everyone knowing this as it was the city she took the Hero Killer down in. Midoriya could tell that much.

The little children raise their open, filthy palms like tiny daggers up to heaven.

Her own palms open wide, facing up towards the sky. Her eyes look up with her hands.

And all the Juvie halls and the Ritalin rats ask angels made from neon and fucking garbage, scream out, "what will save us?!" And the sky opened up.

Her hands come down, her right hand at her guitar while the other extends out to point to her guitarist who began to play a complicated riff. It caused people to cheer as Ryoko continued to sing.

Everybody wants to change the world. Everybody wants to change the world. But no one, no one wants to die. Wanna try, wanna try, wanna try, wanna try, wanna try, now, I'll be your detonator!

Ryoko spins around her microphone stand, beginning to play the guitar. It was now her turn for a solo, the only other person playing with her being the drummer. As she plays and the crowd cheers for her, she walks down the catwalk. When she gets to the end, she stops playing along with everyone else, her guitar is lifted in the air. Every band member, the drummer even standing, shouts, the crowd shouting back with her "Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na!" Ryoko smiles as she nears the end of the shout, her guitar coming back down to play again as the band rejoins her in playing. She headbangs, jumping back slightly before she turns and runs back towards her microphone. Mic and the guitarist continue to sing the same part as Ryoko interjects with her lyrics.

Make no apology. It's death or victory. On my authority, crash and burn, young and loaded! Drop like a bullet shell, just like a sleeper cell. I'd rather go to hell,

Everyone's playing begins to slow slightly, Ryoko's strums on her guitar becoming slower and lesser as she sings the last lyrics of the song.

Than be in purgatory. Cut my hair, gag and bore me. Pull this pin, let this world explode.

The guitarist lets his last chord play out, slowly dying as Ryoko turns away from her microphone. The crowd cheers as someone runs on stage, taking the guitar from Ryoko as she was pulling it over her head. She pulls the microphone from its stand right as the lights go out. The redhead's laugh could be heard as a clip of her begins to play on the back screen. It's a close up of her face, she appears to be in an interview.

"Well everyone has a debut story, of course, so do I. That's a silly question." People begin to cheer, Midoriya does as well, thinking that maybe, this clip was alluding to them seeing Ryoko's debut.

"Is there a possibility of the world seeing that debut?" The face of the speaker can't be seen, only Ryoko's face as her head tilts to the side.

"No, because that defeats the purpose."

"And why's that?"

"If I wanted to be on the top ranked list," The screen goes black. "I would have shown it already,"

The drummer begins to hit his drumsticks together, before Mic joins in with a piano. The screen begins to show a clip of Ryoko's back, walking on the top of a building. Midoriya recognized that leather jacket with the embroidered dragon anywhere now. The camera pans up her body, starting at her feet before it lands on her face. She looked younger, much younger, and it began to confirm the fact that this could be her hero debut.

I am the shadow and the smoke in your eyes. I am the ghost that hides in the night.

The screen goes black, the lights coming on and giving a reddish hue to the stage. Mic can be seen clapping, getting the audience to join in as the drummer and guitarist play.

Boom lay, boom lay, boom! Boom lay, boom lay, boom! Boom lay, boom lay, boom! Boom lay, boom lay, boom!

With each boom, Ryoko pumps her fist into the air. As she does, a burst of flames erupts from the platform she stood on when she first came out on stage. The lights turn on as Ryoko begins to sing.

Wait, wait a minute, take a step back! You gotta think twice before you react. So stay, stay a little while because a promise not kept is the road to exile.

As Ryoko sings, she begins to move closer to the left side of the stage. The guitarist and Mic shout "hey!" to which she fist pumps her microphone in the air before she jumps up onto the platform before her.

What's the circumstance? You'll never be great without taking a chance so wait! You waited too long, had your hands in your pocket when you shoulda been gone.

Mic and the guitarist begin to sing "boom lay, boom lay, boom" while Ryoko fist pumps, again with the booms.

One push is all you'll need.

A smile begins to cross her face as she jumps off of the platform, landing in the open space between the stage and the barricade. The crowd erupts.

A fist first philosophy. We watch with wounded eyes, so I hope you recognize!

As she sings, she walks over to the end of the barricade and, with the help of Aizawa and the students there, she stands up on the barricade. She smiles over the students before her, beginning to sing the chorus as she reaches out, high fiving and grabbing as many hands as possible.

I'm on the front line. Don't worry, I'll be fine. The story is just beginning! I say goodbye to my weakness, so long to the regret, and now I see the world through diamond eyes.

As she sings, she slowly starts inching herself down the barricade, walking along it. Aizawa follows along with her as she walks, Midoriya could easily see that he was there to make sure she didn't fall or no one tried to hurt her. Aizawa was security, Midoriya realized in that moment. It made perfect sense, given the teacher's quirk. He wasn't helping her walk along either, she mostly used the students' hands for that.

She pauses on the barricade, holding on to Kaminari's hand as she looks up, her tongue sticking out as she shakes her hips from side to side at the break in the music. Just as quickly though, she goes back to singing. Midoriya could see Kirishima, right behind Kaminari, singing all the words with Ryoko.

Damn! Damn it all down, took one to the chest without even a sound so what! What are you worth?

Ryoko, now holding onto Kirishima's hand, grins at the other redhead before she points the microphone at Kirishima. He eagerly shouts into the microphone the next lyrics "the things you love or the people you hurt", Ryoko nodding and smiling as he does.

Hey! It's like deja vu - a suicidal maniac with nothing to lose.

The singer continues to walk, grasping others hands as she makes her way down the barricade. She was getting closer and closer to Midoriya and his friends. He didn't realize it, but his smile was growing the closer Ryoko came to him.

So wait, it's the exception to the rule, everyone of us is expendable!

The guitarist and Mic begin to sing "boom lay boom lay boom" again, causing Ryoko to stop walking, fist pumping along to the words. The crowd would join in with her, Midoriya catching himself and Iida participating.

One push is all you'll need. A fist first philosophy. We watch with wounded eyes, so I hope you recognize! I'm on the front line. Don't worry, I'll be fine. The story is just beginning! I say goodbye to my weakness, so long to the regret, and now I know that I'm alive!

She shifts, walking again, using Iida's hand to stand at the dead center of the barricade. She could be seen everywhere now. Even still, after singing, she crouches down, balancing herself as she looks directly at Midoriya. She's grinning at him and he can only nervously smile back. He felt as it she was staring at him forever, but it was only seconds. Her hand shifts, fist bumping Iida before she leans over and messes up Todoroki's hair before she stands up. She grasps Todoroki's hand as she continues to walk.

I'm on the front line. Don't worry, I'll be fine. The story is just beginning! I say goodbye to my weakness, so long to the regret, and now I see the world through diamond eyes.

The song slows, Ryoko standing in front of a couple of the Class 1 B students. She's holding a girl's hand, Midoriya thinks her name is Kendo, as she stares out over the crowd.

Every night of my life, I watch angels fall from the sky. Every time that the sun still sets, I pray they don't take mine!

She continues to move again, the music picking up as the band plays on the stage behind her, Ryoko giving more high fives and fist bumps. Eventually, the music slows again, her hand locked with Jiro's as she looks directly at Midoriya's classmate, singing to her.

I'm on the front line. Don't worry, I'll be fine. The story is just beginning.

Her eyes shift, looking now at Yaoyorozu, while she still holds onto Jiro's hand.

I say goodbye to my weakness, so long to regret...

The music picks up again, Ryoko moving along the catwalk with the help of the crowd yet again.

I'm on the front line. Don't worry, I'll be fine. The story is just beginning! I say goodbye to my weakness, so long to the regret, and now I know that I'm alive!

She makes it around to the end of the barricade, crouching down in front of the students there. Midoriya can see on the big screen, Ochako and Tsu were right in front of the singer. Midoriya didn't realize his friends managed to get that close to the stage nor that the screen was playing clips of the singer as she went around the barricade.

I'm on the front line. Don't worry, I'll be fine. The story is just beginning! I say goodbye to my weakness, so long to the regret, and now I see the world through diamond eyes.

The singer turns, jumping off of the barricade and stepping back onto the stage, again with the help of Aizawa.

She makes her way center stage again, slipping her microphone back into the stand. She steps back, Mic and the guitarist again singing "boom lay boom lay boom!" Ryoko fists bumps again with it, the fire still bursting from the floor of the platform behind the drums. Finally, the song ends, the flames going out and the stage goes dark.

"Welcome," Ryoko's voice can be heard, but in the darkness, Midoriya can see that she's crouched down, wiping her face on her rag. It was a prerecorded clip. "To the entrance exam."

People cheer and Midoriya perks up. He recognizes that intro, he had seen the music video for the song she was about to play. It was his favorite song by her. The back screen begins to show clips of students, beginning to prepare for what looks an awful lot like UA's practical exam. Ryoko is standing in front of the drums, her back to the audience as the music begins to play, the lights slowly coming on. The music drops, Ryoko beginning to move her arms as if she was conducting her band. She had done it many times with the students, but this time it was wild, her red hair looking like flames as she whipped her head about.

Freedom, la la la la, freedom, follow me. Freedom, la la la la, freedom -

Ryoko turns around, stepping up to the microphone. She inhales a large breath before shouting, "Cut it!" She steps back again, arms wildly moving to conduct the audience, Mic and her drummer singing behind her.

Freedom, la la la la, freedom, follow me. Freedom, la la la la, freedom.

She steps back to the microphone stand, her face scrunched in anger. The back screen began to show the music video for the song. The music video showed students going for their entrance exam, struggling to pass it. Once they make it through the exam and to their classes, their classes are even more intense. By the end of the song, the students are worn thin and end up crashing because of it. All while the teacher, played by Ryoko, keeps asking more of them.

Midoriya remembered watching the video when he looked Ms Ryoko up online. Cut the Cord quickly became his favorite. It was the one song where she openly criticized UA and other high schools for their entrance exams. She felt that the exams catered to those with brute strength and power quirks while others stood no chance of getting into a hero course. Ryoko had been open about her feelings in some of her other videos, and Midoriya had found himself agreeing with her. Without One For All, his dream would have ended at the entrance exam.

Let me tell you, I'm vicious, not pass-aggressive. I got my finger on my pulse, staring straight into a hole and I'ma get it.

The microphone is wrenched from its stand, Ryoko beginning to head over to the black platform on the right side of the stage.

And I'm a savage. It's automatic. I got a way of making noise, the power to destroy with no static.

She crouches down on the platform, eyes staring at the students at the barricade.

Now victory is all you need, so cultivate and plant the seed. Hold your breath and count to ten, just count to ten.

She stands, microphone being tossed into the air. It flips, higher than she had flipped it all night, landing in her other hand as she looks at the students on the other side of the stage.

I'm gonna make it rain, so ring the bell! I know it all too well - switchblade on the edge of your wrist. Can I get a witness?

There's a pause in the music, Ryoko jumping off of the platform and walking to the center of the stage.

Cause agony brings no reward for one more hit and one last score. Don't be a casualty, cut the cord! Cut the cord!

She makes her way to the other platform, jumping up on top of it and staring down the students again.

You gotta feel courage, embrace possession. If it was easier to shatter everything that ever mattered but it's not, because it's your obsession!

Ryoko's movements were wild and intense. She would hit her chest or point at the crowd as she sang. Her fists would clench and Midoriya was almost certain her knuckles would go white.

Be a fighter, backbone, desire. Complicated and it stings but we both know what it means! And it's time to get real and inspired!

She crouches down again as the music slows. Midoriya can see that she's holding every student's attention. Her stage presence was intense and even he had to admit that he didn't want to look away from the redhead.

Cause victory is all you need, so cultivate and plant the seed. Hold your breath and count to ten, just count to ten, just count to ten.

She jumps up, landing on the stage with a loud thud as she plants her feet. She begins to walk center stage again, but this time she starts to head down the catwalk.

I'm gonna make it rain, so ring the bell! I know it all too well - switchblade on the edge of your wrist. Can I get a witness? Cause agony brings no reward for one more hit and one last score. Don't be a casualty, cut the cord!

She stands at the beginning of the catwalk, microphone gripped in her hand, pulling away from her lips as she shouted "cut the cord" into it. There's a pause, Ryoko staring down the students at the end of the catwalk. Midoriya could feel her piercing gaze on him as she screamed "cut it!"

Ryoko begins to walk down the catwalk, pretending to play the guitar as she held her microphone in her hand. "Cut it!" She screams again as she's in the middle of the catwalk. She headbangs, hair flying, as she eventually makes it to the end of the catwalk. The music slows again as her entire face softens slightly, the microphone coming back to her lips.

Cause victory is all you need, so cultivate and plant the seed. Hold your breath and count to ten, just count to ten.

The microphone pulls away from her lips as she hits her chest twice with her empty fist. She starts to walk backwards, the microphone coming back up to her mouth.

I'm gonna make it rain, so ring the bell! I know it all too well - switchblade on the edge of your wrist. Can I get a witness? Cause agony brings no reward for one more hit and one last score. Don't be a casualty, cut the cord!

She occasionally sings to either side of the catwalk, still making her way back to the main stage. When she gets there, Mic and the drummer singing the background vocals, Ryoko moves the center stage microphone stand to be closer to the drumset.

Don't be a casualty, cut the cord!

Ryoko goes back to the center of the stage and, with one last huge breath of air, she screams the final "cut the cord!" before she starts shaking her head, hair flying as the music ends.

The lights go down slightly, Ryoko going to remove her leather jacket. She hangs it on the top of the microphone stand. People cheer as the singer grabs a sip of water. She tucks her hair behind her ear as she bends down, grabbing her rag, microphone coming to her mouth.

"I have a new album coming soon," The crowd erupts again, as she wipes her face, throwing the towel back down. She takes a few steps away from the drumset, the music slowly beginning to fade in. The drummer begins to play, Ryoko tapping her foot along to it. A quiet "cover me" can be heard as the music picks up, everyone beginning to play, the redhead slowly crouching down. She begins to headbang to the beat, hair flying once more.

I can't believe how much I hate. Pressures of a new place roll my way.

As Ryoko sings, she slowly stands up. Midoriya can now see that it's Endeavor that's on her shirt. It was no graphic tee, he realized. It actually looked as if Ryoko had cut the sleeves off. The arm sleeves went to the middle of her side, the edges frayed slightly. Midoriya glanced over at his friend, Todoroki. He knew the Number Two Hero was a soft spot for him, but his friend was nodding along to the beat, mouthing the lyrics with Ryoko.

Jumpsuit, jumpsuit, cover me. Jumpsuit, jumpsuit, cover me.

Ryoko begins to take slow steps forward. Her eyes were fixed forward as she moved.

I crumble underneath the weight. Pressures of a new place roll my way. Jumpsuit, jumpsuit, cover me. Jumpsuit, jumpsuit, cover me.

She stops walking right as she gets to the beginning of the catwalk. She looks down, seemingly at the invisible line that separated stage from catwalk. She begins to shake her head back and forth as the music played before she stopped, looking up and taking another slow step forward as she sang.

Spirits in my room, friend or foe? Felt it in my youth, feel it when I'm old. Jumpsuit, jumpsuit,

"Cover me" comes in quiet, Ryoko dropping her microphone and whipping her head to look behind her. Midoriya thoroughly thought someone was following her. Especially when another quiet "dusting off my jumpsuit, cover me," came from the back of the stage.

I can't believe how much I hate. Pressures of a new place roll my way. Jumpsuit, jumpsuit, cover me. Jumpsuit, jumpsuit, cover me.

Slowly but surely, Ryoko made it to the end of the catwalk, her microphone sliding into its stand. The music slows, Ryoko turning around to face the drummer as he gives two beats on the drum. The singer slowly raises her hand as the music slows again, moving her hand back and forth as the drummer hits two more beats. Her foot slowly moves, Midoriya thinking she was going to turn around when two more hits of the drum occurred. Instead, she turned around and a single piano key could be heard. Her eyes focus over everyone's heads. It was almost as if she had come face to face with what she was sneaking around from.

I'll be right there,

She sings, and it's sad. Midoriya, and most of the crowd, felt as if she had been captured.

But you'll have to grab my throat and lift me in the air.

Her hand comes up, wrapping itself around her own throat. Midoriya can now see the tattoos on her knuckles. They were different music notes. Now that he looked at the singer, she was covered in tattoos. He had seen the two in the video before she was captured and reentered the stage. There were the tattoos on her knuckles and, when she lifted that arm up, he could see the faint outline of a guitar on her inner bicep. That was only one arm.

If you need anyone, I'll stop my plans. But you'll have to tie me down and then break both my hands.

Her hand falls from her throat, both arms moving up to show her palms. It was if she was telling whoever she was focused on to not shoot her. Or that she was surrendering.

On her other arm, now that it was extended upwards, Midoriya could see a feather, red and orange in color as if it was on fire. It reminded him of the mythological creature, the phoenix. On that same arm, on her shoulder, was a large tattoo of a skull, a flower growing out of its right eye, a butterfly on top of it's head. It was gruesome, but it fit Ms Ryoko.

If you need anyone, I'll be right there. But you'll have to grab my throat and lift me in the air. If you need anyone,

Those four words were repeated numerous times, the singer's head bowing. Many thought she was crying, Midoriya thought she was at least sad. The song began to pick up again, Ryoko's head slowly rising before she began to sing again.

I can't believe how much I hate. Pressures of a new place roll my way.

Her hands slowly clenched, turning into fists as the looks of sadness on Ryoko's face was replaced with anger and determination.

Jumpsuit, jumpsuit, cover me. Oh, jumpsuit, jumpsuit, cover me!

She screams, not directly on the microphone, her hands gripping said equipment before it was pulled from its stand. She turns, and runs down the catwalk as if something was chasing her. She gets center stage and turns back around to face the audience.

Jumpsuit, jumpsuit, cover me! Jumpsuit, jumpsuit, cover me!

The music begins to fade, Ryoko beginning to look around. She was searching for whatever it was that was chasing her when she ran. As the music continues to stay quiet, she gives a large sigh before the beat begins to pick up again. She walks over to the platform on the right side of the stage, her foot coming up to rest on it as she looks down at the students before her.

Oh, I know how to levitate up off my feet and ever since the seventh grade I learned to fire-breathe and though I feed on things that fell. You can learn to levitate with just a little help.

She's singing quickly, her foot coming off of the platform as she moves to the end of the catwalk.

Learn to levitate with just a little help.

She crouches down as she begins to walk down the catwalk, sticking primarily to the right side, singing to the students at the barricade.

Come down, come down. Cowards only come through when the hour's late and everyone's asleep, mind you.

She stands up, still singing fast. She's not missing a single word, slowly making her way down the catwalk.

Now show up, show up. I know I shouldn't say this but a curse from you is all that I would need right now, man. Come down, come down. Cowards only come through when the hour's late and everyone's asleep, mind you. Now show up, show up. I know I shouldn't say this but a curse from you is all that I would need right now, man.

Ryoko is standing at the corner of the stage, crouching down as the music quiets slightly.

Danger in the fabric of this thing I made. I probably shouldn't show you but it's way too late. My heart is with you hiding, but my mind's not made. Now they know it like we both knew for some time I'd say.

She stands up, beginning to dance at the edge of the catwalk. The entire crowd joined her, Midoriya swaying along with her as she danced in front of him. It felt like a weight was lifted off of her shoulders, like she had nothing to hide or run from, unlike the last song.

They're smirking at first blood, they're circling above. But this is not enough. Yeah, this is not what you thought no, no we are not just graffiti on a passing train. I got back what I once bought back in that slot I won't need to replace.

She slides over to the other corner, still singing and not missing a beat nor a word.

This culture is a poacher of overexposure, not today. Don't feed me to the vultures,

Ryoko taps her chest twice, moving now to begin to walk down the otherside of the catwalk.

I am a vulture who feeds on pain. Sleep in a well-lit room, don't let the shadow through and sever all I knew, yeah sever all I thought. I could depend on my weekends. On the freezing ground that I'm sleeping on please, keep me from, please, keep me down from the ledges. Better test it, wooden wedges under doorways. Keep your wooden wedges under doors.

She does the exact same on this side of the catwalk as she did on the other. She's dancing down the catwalk, singing to the students at the barricade. Midoriya was impressed with how fast she was singing.

Chorus, verse, chorus, verse. Now here comes the eight,

Ryoko stands up straight, her empty hand coming up as she says "wait," the music stopping for a split second with her.

Habits here too, you're the worst, your structure compensates but compensation feels a lot like rising up to dominate by track two. At least they know all they hear comes from a place.

The singer is at the end of the catwalk, walking center stage. She turns around to face the crowd as she continues to sing.

Oh, I know how to levitate up off my feet and ever since the seventh grade I learned to fire-breathe and though I feed on things that fell. You can learn to levitate with just a little help. You can levitate with just a little help.

The lights go out as Ryoko's head jolts backwards. There's a pause in the music, the sound of crackling fire beginning to be heard before the music begins again. The crowd was in shock, there was no light on the stage. Everyone was certain that whatever danger Ryoko had faced in the previous song was gone. But, Midoriya guessed, villainy strikes at any time.

Yellow words appear on screen as a deep voice says, "Welcome to Trench." When the words appear, the crowd can see a body standing atop the platform, their arms outstretched wide. With the last drum beat, the words disappear, the person's arms falling to their side as every light in the stadium is off. It doesn't take long for the music to begin again, the back screen playing clips the tops of trees in a gray forest, what light it gives off creating a silhouette for the person on the platform. The body on top of the platform begins to slowly turn, Midoriya could see it was Ms Ryoko, hand rubbing at their face as they start to face the steps that lead down the platform.

Words can be heard as the music continues to play. It sounds like a different language, or perhaps the words were being played backwards. Regardless, Midoriya couldn't tell what it was saying. The lights turn on, Ryoko bringing the microphone to her lips and she points up with her other hand.

East is up, I'm fearless when I hear this on low. East is up, I'm careless when I wear my rebel clothes. East is up, when Bishops come together they will know that Dema don't control us, Dema don't control,

She begins walking down the stairs, pointing up each time she sings "east is up." She moves down the stairs pretty quickly, a small bounce in her step as she walks center stage.

East is up. They want to make you forget. They want to make you forget.

The singer begins to walk to the right side of the stage, crouching down low as she's down beside the platform.

Save your razor blades now, not yet. Save your razor blades now, not yet.

She shakes her head, hand motioning as if to tell the crowd "no." She stands back up, stepping up onto the platform beside her.

I'm heavy, my jumpsuit is on steady.

She grabs onto her shirt, calling it her jumpsuit. She releases her hold on it when she sings "steady," letting the material fall back to rest against her body.

I'm lighter when I'm lower, I'm higher when I'm heavy.

Ryoko crouches down on the platform, showing she was lower. She slowly comes back to show that she was higher. Her head falls back, microphone dropping at the word "heavy." Slowly, her head comes back up, head turning to look to her right.

I'm so high, my jumpsuit takes me so high.

She steps off of the platform, beginning to walk across the stage.

I'm flying from a fire,

Her hand extends out as she walks, as if to show the fire in her hand.

From Nico and the Niners.

She's looking at the students, shaking her finger at them before her hand comes to cover the light from her eyes, her head turning to look over her shoulder. Ryoko slowly turns back around, stepping up onto the other platform.

East is up, I'm fearless when I hear this on low. East is up, I'm careless when I wear my rebel clothes. East is up, when Bishops come together they will know that Dema don't control us, Dema don't control,

She sways with the music, her finger pointing up each time she sings "east is up," again. She bends over, leaning closer to the audience as she sings about the Bishops. Perhaps, Midoriya thought, these Bishops were what she was running from in her previous song.

I'm heavy, my jumpsuit is on steady. I'm lighter when I'm lower, I'm higher when I'm heavy.

She repeats her actions again, with each lyric - grabbing her shirt, crouching down, standing back up, and letting her head roll backwards before looking at the audience again.

I'm so high, my jumpsuit takes me so high. I'm flying from a fire, from Nico and the Niners.

She steps off the platform again, now beginning to head down the catwalk this time. As she walks, she makes the same motions, holding her hand out to show fire and shaking her finger at the audience. She stops walking, her hand coming up to cover the light again, looking to the right side of the stage. Her microphone falls as she begins to walk down the catwalk. The lyrics, a deep voice, continue to play, Ryoko miming the lyrics as she walks and mouths them. She grasps her shirt, letting it fall after a second. She crouches for a moment before she stands back up, continuing to walk as her head falls back.

She begins to point up, the lyrics "I'm so high" can be heard as she does. She uses her other hand to point up again, going higher with her right hand before she repeats the action on her left. Her hands come out in front of her, the fire, before she shakes her finger at the crowd, Midoriya feeling like he was being scolded, before her hand comes up to her forehead. She's standing in place and then, suddenly, she's being lifted in the air. A section of the stage began to rise in the air, causing cheers and applause as it happens. Ryoko's hands fall, music and the cryptic words beginning to play. She brings the microphone up to her lips, slowly, and not before she creates a wide arc with her arm.

What I say when I want to be enough, what a beautiful day for making a break for it. We'll find a way to pay for it maybe from all the money we made, razorblade stores, rent a racehorse,

She's high in the air now, probably ten feet from the ground, Midoriya guesses. The platform had stopped moving, Ryoko still standing in the same place until it did. Once it stops, she's walking around, still singing.

And force a sponsor and start a concert, a complete diversion, start a mob and you can be quite certain. We'll win but not everyone will get out. No, no. We'll win but not everyone will get out. No, no, We'll win but not everyone will get out.

She's facing forwards again, staring out at the crowd as her finger moves to point upwards yet again.

East is up, I'm fearless when I hear this on low. East is up, I'm careless when I wear my rebel clothes. East is up, when Bishops come together they will know that Dema don't control us, Dema don't control, East is up.

Her microphone falls, staying at her side as her finger stays up, pointing to the sky. Her eyes are scanning the crowd, many cheering and calling for her. The music continues to play, her attention going back to facing forward. The band comes to a complete stop, her hand falling and the lights going dim. Midoriya can still see Ryoko, just as he's sure everyone can. She takes a pause as people cheer for her before the microphone comes back to her mouth.

"I wrote this song about my favorite hero," The crowd begins to roar again, Midoriya thinking it was about All Might, if not him then probably Endeavor. "My heart broke when I received the news that he would no longer walk," The crowd goes silent, Midoriya's head whipping to look at Iida, who was looking up at Ryoko, mouth open slightly. "When I was told his career was ripped away from him by a coward with a hero complex." Midoriya can see Ryoko's jaw clenched, she was angry, upset, more than likely both. "I always dreamed of playing him this song," Her head turns to look over the crowd, body slowly turning around in a circle to see everyone.

"If you will, sing this song and dance with me. Let's celebrate a great hero. Let's celebrate Ingenium!" The crowd erupts as the music begins to play, Ryoko beginning to dance. Midoriya smiles at Iida, as a smile crosses his friend's lips. He turns back to look at Ryoko, noticing clips of Ingenium, along with clips of cheetahs, could be seen on the back screen.

I am on an island, no one to confide. Eight days straight, eight hours each and not one line.

Still suspended in the air, Ryoko begins to walk around the platform, singing and looking down at the students.

I can feel pressure start to possess my mind,

Her empty hand comes up slowly, her open palm pressing against her forward. She taps it against her head three times before she lets it fall.

So I'll take this beat I should delete to exercise.

Ryoko stands up straight, her hand coming up as she sang to mime with her lyrics.

No, I move slow. I want to stop time. I'll sit here 'til I find the problem.

She slowly crouches, her eyes never leaving their fixed spot in front of her as her hand stays open and outstretched.

No, I move slow. I want to stop time. I'll sit here 'til I find the problem.

The music plays, Ryoko pausing, flipping the microphone in her hand as she stays crouched. Her head turns to look to her right, Kirishima cheering loudly and the rest of the crowd joining him. Midoriya can see a small smirk cross her face as she shifts her body to face the side Kirishima was on.

I've got a pet cheetah down in my basement. I've raised him and bathed him and named him Jason Statham. I've trained him to make me these beats,

Ryoko's body leans forward, her empty hand gripping onto the edge of the platform she was on.

Now my pet cheetah's quicker in the studio than on his feet.

She stands up, singing and walking around the platform. She's dancing around, red hair whipping as she does.

I'ma get mine and get going. I'm showing my faces in just enough places. I'm done with tip-toeing, I'll stay in my room,

She whips to face the front of the catwalk. Her body moves and pauses with each beat, her hand slowly inching up to be held above her head, showing the 'vultures.'

My house is the one where the vultures are perched on the roof.

Ryoko continues to dance, moving around the platform to sing at all sections of the crowd.

Get behind me, I bet this nepotistic mindset will help us get ours as we're growing. This clique means so much to this dude, it could make him afraid of his music and be scared to death he could lose it.

Her body freezes as she faces the main stage, her empty arm slowly extending outwards.

No, I move slow. I want to stop time. I'll sit here 'til I find the problem. No, I move slow. I want to stop time. I'll sit here 'til I find the problem.

She whips around, sitting down on the edge of platform with her feet dangling over the edge, facing the end of the catwalk. Ryoko places her chin in her empty hand, appearing to be deep in thought as the crowd cheers for her. Slowly, the platform begins to lower itself, Ryoko standing up after a moment as she continues to sing.

No, I move slow. I want to stop time. I'll sit here 'til I find the problem. No, I move slow. I want to stop time. I'll sit here 'til I find the problem.

There's a pause in her singing as she faces the end of the catwalk again.

"There is no end! Only a new beginning! I do not mourn the loss of our hero, Ingenium, I celebrate the life of Tensei Iida!" The crowd roars, the three students at the end of the catwalk cheering exceptionally loud for the hero. "Celebrate with me!" The cheers don't cease as she leans over.

I can feel pressure start to possess my mind,

Ryoko stands up straight, "Jump, jump, jump with me!" She starts to jump up and down on the platform, it only halfway down as streams of smoke shoot up from along the edge of the stage and catwalk. Midoriya, Iida, and even Todoroki were jumping with Ryoko, a large smile on her face. Midoriya could feel everyone around him jumping together in unison, clips of Ingenium out in the field playing behind the band. Even as Ryoko jumps, she's headbanging and her arms are moving. The platform is almost back down at the stage when Ryoko stops jumping, head and body leaning back as she screams, microphone at her side.

She jumps off the platform, Midoriya watching it return flush with the stage as Ryoko dances and jumps down the catwalk. The smoke continues to randomly erupt from the stage. Ryoko is center stage, the crowd roaring when they see a piano rising from the floor of the stage. The redhead is dancing, screaming one last time before the lights go out and the music stops.

The crowd cheers and applauds as the lights come back on. Ryoko is sitting at the piano, placing her microphone into the microphone stand they have on top of her piano.

"Now, I don't sugarcoat things, I don't lie," She says as she adjusts the microphone stand, her hands going to rest on her thighs as she turns to look at the audience. "But this is without a doubt, the absolute most fun I've ever had on a stage, thank you so much for being here." The crowd cheers again, Midoriya and Iida both shouting for Ryoko.

"Before we go on, I want to introduce you to a few people and thank some others," Her hand extends, gesturing to her guitarist across the stage. "This is a good friend of mine, my guitarist, and one of the most talented people I know, Haru Tanji." The crowd applauds and cheers, Ryoko applauding as well, Haru playing a few chords. Her hand then moves to gesture to the drummer. "Another dear friend of mine, my drummer, and probably the funniest guy I know, Naoyuki Onishi." Ryoko goes to applaud again, the audience joining her, as Naoyuki hits a few notes. She glances over her shoulder at Mic, who has a large grin on his face. She turns back to the microphone, hand waving in the air. "And then there's that asshole," The crowd laughs before cheering as Present Mic ran around his setup and slides on the piano bench, grasping Ryoko in a large hug. The redhead is laughing and smiling at her friend as he gets up, her own hand reaching out to smack his butt as he walks away.

"That man is your teacher, I don't have to introduce him to you," The crowd cheers and applauds again as Ryoko looks out at them. "On a serious note though, I've known these guys for a decade and, while I play the instruments for the studio versions of my songs, there is no one else I would rather have on stage with me playing my music." Her eyes turn to look at her guitarist and then up to the drummer, the crowd applauding. "Thank you guys for welcoming my friends and family.

"I also want to real quick thank the people that made this possible tonight. Principal Nezu for giving me this opportunity, Cementoss for creating my dream stage, my boss Endeavor and my good friend Aizawa for doing security, and All Might for actually pushing me to say yes to all of this." The crowd cheers for each person she names, a hand running through her hair as she leans away from the microphone only to quickly return to it. "Oh shit, you guys too, hello!" The crowd erupts, some jumping and many applauding. "I wouldn't be here if you guys weren't so thank you, thank you, thank you!"

She turns back to the piano. It was an all white, grand piano with gold accents, Ryoko's all black outfit making her stand out even more. She plays a few keys, the crowd cheering, causing her to smile before she turns back to look at the audience.

"So when I was younger and even more adamant about not doing field work, I would do anything but go in the field okay. I'd do Endeavor's paperwork, file the police reports, I would rather clean this man's house than go in the field." This caused some people to laugh and Midoriya's eyes shift to look at Todoroki. He's watching Ryoko, the expression on his face unreadable. Midoriya turns back to look at the redhead as she begins to speak again. "There were even a couple of times where I would babysit his kids. Now, I'm not that much older than his kids so I kinda grew up with them and I think of them like younger siblings. Especially the youngest one," Ryoko pauses, grabbing a water bottle off the top of the piano and beginning to unscrew the lid.

"I would watch these kids and sometimes I'd go over and bring my guitar or they would come over to me and I have a room with all my instruments where I write new music and play. I was always playing something for them and there was one year where I was," She pauses again, taking a quick sip of her water before she replaced the lid and returned the bottle back to it's spot. "I was missing my parents a lot. Even though they passed away like four years prior, I really missed them." Hands come up to push red hair behind her ears, her eyes looking at the piano keys. "Now the youngest Todoroki always sat next to me when I played. And I'm talking always. Didn't matter what I was doing, playing guitar, editing on my computer, anything. He sat next to me.

"So there's one day when I'm watching the kids and I'm really missing my parents so I decide to write a song about it. The kids were eating lunch when the youngest comes into the room with me and sits on the bench with me." Her hands point to her side, the one most visible to the audience. "And he goes 'Ryo can you play me the song you just played?' I told him it was about my parents and that it was really sad and that it wasn't finished. This little man told he didn't care, he wanted to hear it." She laughs slightly, her body shifting on the bench as she got more comfortable. "But because he did that, this song reminds me of him. He would always sit with me and want to hear this song so for years this song has been dedicated to him." Ryoko smiles, eyes looking right down the end of the catwalk. Midoriya knew she was looking right at Todoroki. He turns to his friend and sees a small smile on his lips. "And that'll never change. This song is called The Void and it's for my main man Shoto Todoroki."

People cheer, Todoroki himself clapping for Ryoko. She begins to play the piano, the screen on the back beginning to show old pictures of Ryoko and her parents. Midoriya remembers the videos were she would talk about her parents. They passed away when she was a First Year at UA. She was Midoriya's age. Midoriya couldn't imagine losing his parents, let alone watch them grow sicker and weaker as Ryoko did. If Midoriya remembered correctly, they both passed away from varying types of cancer.

This ship has crashed. We burn down the past like ghost-drifted ash. Your photograph is all that will last. There's no turning back.

Midoriya looks back over at his friend. Todoroki singing along with Ryoko. Midoriya could remember the day Ryoko's music video for I Want It had come out and his classmate's talked about their favorite songs by Ms Ryoko. Todoroki's was The Void.

Now I'm all alone. The future unknown, got nowhere to go. But I'll survive, the loneliest nights. Won't give up the fight.

As Ryoko sang, different pictures of her and her parents appeared on the screen. There was a family picture of the three of them, one where Ryoko couldn't have been older than six. With each new picture, Ryoko slowly aged.

Through the void, through the void, through the endless void, I'll march on and on and on and on without you. Hear the voice, hear the voice of the hearts destroyed. I'll march on and on and on and on without you. And I'll keep singing our song, 'til tomorrow.

As she played the piano, her band began to join her. The drummer first, followed by Mic, and then the guitarist.

The emptiness, it kills like a kiss, the violent abyss.

Ryoko turns her head to look out into the crowd. As she does, an image on screen fades in. It was her parents, both in hospital beds. They each had no hair and were connected to a multitude of IVS and wires. In between them, in a chair, sat a high school Ryoko. A hospital mask was on her face, her hand in the rock and roll gesture. Both her parents were smiling, giving the same gesture in the picture.

Farewell again. We've come to an end, I'll miss you my friend.

Midoriya lets out a breath. Even though a smile was on Ryoko's face, Midoriya knew it couldn't be easy saying goodbye to her parents again.

Carry on, carry on!

The image changes again, showing Ryoko in her hero outfit and standing next to Endeavor. She looked like the Third Years behind Midoriya. She must have just graduated. In the picture, Endeavor had his arms crossed, staring at the camera. Ryoko had her arms crossed as well, but she was puffing her chest out to imitate the Pro Hero. It brought a smile to Midoriya's face.

Through the void, through the void, through the endless void, I'll march on and on and on and on without you.

The picture fades, a slightly older Ryoko and a younger All Might being shown. They were sitting in a coffee shop, Ryoko's hair braided down her back as she gave a small smile to the camera. All Might was grinning wide, clearly the one taking the picture. There was a caption to the photo, reading 'First Date,' to which the entire crowd cheered for.

Hear the voice, hear the voice of the hearts destroyed. I'll march on and on and on and on without you. And I'll keep singing our song, 'til tomorrow.

Ryoko began to play harshly on the keys as her drummer played just as intense. It slowed after a moment, Ryoko playing the piano softer before she leaned into the microphone again.

How can I carry on, carry on without you? Carry on!

The image changes as she sings the words, a picture of her at a piano, looking down at her side. She's smiling down at a young Todoroki. His face was barely seen over the top of the large piano.

We fail, we fall but just keep walking through it all. Got to face another day. You're here, you're gone but I had to move along 'til the darkness starts to fade.

The next picture is of Ryoko, sitting on the couch playing her acoustic guitar. A slightly older Todoroki is leaning against her arm as he watches her. Midoriya smiles and looks over at Todoroki again. His eyes are focused on Ryo, singing along to every word.

We fail, we fall. Just keep walking through it all. Got to face another day, won't give up the fight!

Ryoko plays a few last keys on the piano before she pauses. Midoriya thinks it's over, hands coming up, beginning to clap. Before he can get far, the entire band joins back in, the song continuing.

Through the void, through the void, through the endless void, I'll march on and on and on and on without you. Hear the voice, hear the voice of the hearts destroyed. I'll march on and on and on and on without you. And I'll keep singing our song, 'til tomorrow.

The music slows again, Ryoko's hands falling from the piano keys to rest in her lap. There's a smile on her face and her face is glistening, Midoriya isn't sure if it's from sweat or tears. She leans back into the microphone, as an image of her and Todoroki appear on the screen. It's of the Sports Festival, Todoroki's second place medal around his neck. He has a small smile on his face as he's looking at Ryoko. She's in her hero outfit, crouched down to be the same height as the student. She's got a large grin on her face as she points to the medal, her other arm around Todoroki's shoulders.

How can I carry on, carry on without you? How can I carry on, carry on without you? How can I carry on, carry on without you? How can I carry on, carry on without you?

Only the drums played behind her as she sang, Naoyuki playing a few more notes before it ends. The crowd roars and Todoroki can be heard cheering for Ryoko, Midoriya and Iida joining him. The cheers and applause quiets, Ryoko taking a sip of her water as she waits. When it's almost completely quiet, Ryoko's hands go back to the keys and begin to play another song.

The moment you arrived, they built you up. The sun was in your eyes. You couldn't believe it.

As Ryoko sang, she was smiling. Midoriya thought it looked bittersweet, as if she was only smiling to keep from showing her sadness.

Riches all around, you're walking, stars are on the ground. You start to believe it.

Midoriya watched as Todoroki pulled out his phone. He turned the flashlight on and held it up into the air. Midoriya looked around, many others were following suit. Iida turned his on and put his arm in the air. Midoriya fumbled, pulling his out of his pocket.

Every face along the boulevard is a dreamer just like you. You looked at death in a tarot card and you saw what you had to do.

Ryoko pauses, her bottom coming off the bench for a second before her hands found the piano keys one more. She leans close into the microphone, Midoriya could tell that she was gearing up for higher notes.

But nobody knows you now, when you're dying in LA. And nobody owes you now, when you're dying in LA.

A few times, Ryoko would hit keys before her hand would come off of them, shaking and moving in the air. It almost looked as if the keys were too hot for her to touch.

When you're dying in LA. When you're dying in LA. The power, the power, the power. Oh, the power, the power, the power, of LA.

Her playing slowed, a small smile still on her face before her playing picked up again. She played the keys a bit longer before her hands removed from the keys completely, Mic continuing to play violins from his setup as she sang.

Nights at the chateau, trapped in your sunset bungalow. You couldn't escape it, yeah.

On of her legs comes up, her foot resting on the bench as her hands go and grab her microphone. It's pulled from its stand, her other foot coming up as she stands up on the bench. She moves, stepping onto the top of the piano lid, many cheering as she does.

Drink of paradise. They told you "put your blood on ice! You're not gonna make it."

As Ryoko sang, the piano began to slowly sink back into the stage. She finished the lyric before she jumped off of the piano, heading center stage as the piano continued to disappear.

Every face along the boulevard is a dreamer just like you. You looked at death in a tarot card and you saw what you had to do.

Ryoko begins to walk down the catwalk, her head looking around as she does, a smile coming to her face.

But nobody knows you now, when you're dying in LA. And nobody owes you now, when you're dying in LA.

Midoriya takes this time to look around, seeing almost the entire crowd with the flashlights shining brightly in the air. Some are waving back and forth while others stay stationary. Ryoko makes it halfway down the catwalk before she stops.

When you're dying in LA. When you're dying in LA. The power, the power, the power. Oh, the power, the power, the power, of LA.

Ryoko looks out into the crowd as her microphone falls to her side. Her empty hand comes up to press against her chest as she smiles at the crowd. She shakes her head, continuing to look around before she starts to walk backwards, the music fading out.

She heads back to the main stage, the lights going out as she does. People cheer, Midoriya and his friends put their phones away and wait. From the darkness of the main stage, Ryoko can be heard, "I wrote this about my boss." Cheers can be heard before blue lights start to come from the back screen, causing Ryoko, who stood center stage at her microphone stand, to be silhouetted.

Heaven knows that I'm born too late for these ghosts that I chase with these dreams, I inflate, painted skies in my brain. Every day, I'm Carl Sagan in space to escape this old world, this old world.

A picture of Endeavor fades into the big screen. Smoke from either side of the stage starts to flow onto the main stage, giving the performance a slightly eerie one. Midoriya still couldn't see anyone on stage, just their silhouettes.

Some days I lie wide awake 'til the sun hits my face and I fade, elevate from the Earth, far away to a place where I'm free from the weight. This whole world, this whole world.

Occasionally, with some of the beats of the song, the image of Endeavor would shift. Sometimes it would flash before it returned to normal, static would cross over it, or it would change colors.

I don't trust anything, or anyone, below the sun.

A spotlight slowly turns on, Ryoko now being able to be seen. She's smirking as she's singing, people cheering once they can see her.

I don't feel anything at all.

Her arms extend outwards, her smile growing as she moves into the chorus, lights coming up to shine over the entire stage.

I'm king of the clouds, of the clouds. I get lifted, I get lifted! King of the clouds, of the clouds. I get lifted, I get lifted!

Ryoko continues to carry the high note, people cheering as she steps back and off the microphone, causing the note to naturally fade out. She looks over at Mic, smiling, before she steps to the microphone.

Some only live to die. I'm alive to fly higher than angels in outfields inside of my mind. I'm ascendin' these ladders, I'm climbin', say goodbye. This old world, this old world.

Hands come up, fists moving to hit with each beat as she continues to sing. Her smile never once faltered.

And when I fall to rise with stardust in my eyes, in the backbone of night, I'm combustible dust in the fire when I can't sleep. Awake, I'm too tired. This whole world, this whole world.

Her hands slowly move down, one hand gripping the microphone. The other falls down to rest at her side.

I don't trust anything, or anyone, below the sun. I don't feel anything at all.

Ryoko steps back from the microphone as the music pauses. A second or two passes before she steps back to the microphone. Her hand points to herself as she sings.

I'm king of the clouds, of the clouds. I get lifted, I get lifted! King of the clouds, of the clouds. I get lifted, I get lifted!

The smoke on the stage gets heavier as the song gets more intense. Ryoko continues to smile as she continues singing the song. Midoriya's eyes shift to look at Todoroki. He was singing along. Did he know every word of all of Ryoko's songs?

Imagination, take me somewhere I don't know! I'm lost but I better find it alone. King of the clouds, of the clouds. I get lifted, I get lifted!

The lights begin to dim as the song begins to fade. First, the members of the band disappear, the smoke on stage slowly beginning to dissipate as well. As Ryoko sings the end of the song, she's the only one illuminated, just a spotlight on her.

I keep searching. Oh, I keep searching. I keep searching.

The song fades out as Ryoko steps away from the microphone stand, the spotlight turning off. The last thing to fade is the image of Endeavor on the screen, it slowly fading to black, the song ending, cheers erupting. The lights come back on as music begins to play, Ryoko seen running from center stage to the platform on the right side of the stage. She jumps onto it, her empty hand stretching out to her side.

"Dance with me, you beautiful people!" People cheer as Ryoko begins to dance, a smile on her face. She begins to tap along to the beat, the microphone going back to her lips.

Broadway is black like a sinkhole. Everyone raced to the suburbs. And I'm on the rooftop with curious strangers, this is the oddest of summers.

She steps off of the platform beginning to walk to center stage, miming the lyrics as she does.

Maybe I'll medicate, maybe inebriate. Strange situations, I get anxious. Maybe I'll smile a bit, maybe the opposite but pray that they don't call me thankless.

Ryoko stands center stage, her hand coming up to cover her heart, a smile beginning to grow on her face as the music is played quietly.

My tell-tale heart's a hammer in my chest. Cut me a silk-tied tourniquet.

Her hands drop, her head turning to glance at Mic. She smiles before she looks forward, the music pausing, the microphone coming back to her mouth.

This is my roaring, roaring 20s! I don't even know me. Roll me like a blunt cause I wanna go home. Roll me like a blunt cause I wanna go home. My roaring, roaring 20s! I don't even know me. Roll me like a blunt cause I wanna go home. Roll me like a blunt cause I want, I wanna go home.

Ryoko turns, running over to the other platform and jumps up onto it. Instantly, she begins counting on her fingers as she sings.

Oscars and Emmys and Grammys. Everyone here is a trophy.

She gestures to the audience, smiling as the crowd cheers before she continues singing.

And I'm sipping bourbon, the future's uncertain. The past on the pavement below me. Maybe I'll elevate, maybe I'm second rate, so unaware of my status. Maybe I'm overjoyed, maybe I'm paranoid. Designer me up in straight jackets.

She moves off the platform and heads center stage again. Her empty hand is back over her heart as she's bouncing along to the music.

My tell-tale heart's a hammer in my chest. Cut me a silk-tied tourniquet.

Haru and the redhead lock eyes, the singer winking at him before she turns back to face the audience.

This is my roaring, roaring 20s! I don't even know me. Roll me like a blunt cause I wanna go home. Roll me like a blunt cause I wanna go home. My roaring, roaring 20s! I don't even know me. Roll me like a blunt cause I wanna go home. Roll me like a blunt cause I want, I wanna go home.

The music slowed, even as it did, Midoriya caught himself dancing along to the song. It was high energy and upbeat, even with Ryoko mostly staying in one spot.

Hallucinations only mean that your brain is on fire. If it's Lord of the Flies in my mind tonight, I don't know if I will survive. Lighters up if you're feelin' me, fade to black if you're not mine. Cause I just need a sign or a signal inside.

Ryoko dropped her microphone, her guitarist and Mic beginning to sing the song. She was still singing along, her microphone down at her side. With each intense drum hit, she did a kickline down the catwalk, the crowd going wild as she made her way to the end of it.

This is my roaring, roaring 20s! I don't even know me. Roll me a blunt cause I wanna go home. Roll me a, roll me a blunt!

At the end of the catwalk, Ryoko starts dancing again, shaking her head and making her hair fly around. Midoriya realized that Iida was swaying slightly to the song too.

This is my roaring, roaring 20s! I don't even know me. Roll me like a blunt cause I wanna go home. Roll me like a blunt cause I want, I wanna go home. I wanna go home.

As she finishes the song, Ryoko puts her microphone into the microphone stand. She laughs as people cheer for her. She scans the crowd before she looks down at her bare wrist, pretending to check the time.

"Well," She starts, hands moving to rest on her waist. "It's that time." Midoriya is slightly shocked as the crowd boos her. A hand comes up to wave the audience off, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. We're past my bedtime." Midoriya laughs with his friends. "And you guys gotta go study, don't think I forgot." Some people cheer but more laughter is what's mostly heard. She smiles. "One more time though, guys, can you please give it up for my band? They're so fantastic!" The crowd started cheering and applauding before she can finish her sentence. She steps off of the microphone, turning around and clapping for her everyone on the main stage. The guitarist is bowing, Mic waves, and the drummer shakes his drumsticks in the air.

Ryoko turns back to the microphone, "Now applaud for yourselves, god damn it! You've been beautiful tonight!" She, along with the band, applauds as the crowd cheers. Midoriya, Iida, and Todoroki all cheering and shouting. "And I'm gonna say it again, you know I am, thank you!" The audience continues to cheer. "This night will go down in history as a good fucking night okay!" Her hands are extended into the air, the rock and roll hand gesture on each hand. "We're not done yet, let's go!" The band begins to play as Ryoko's hand falls, beginning to step side to side with the music.

I'd rather be broke than braindead, living in my parents basement. Nobody knows, nobody knows.

Midoriya begins to nod along with the music, watching as Ryoko hits the high notes, making funny faces as she does.

My friends are all hitched and happy. I'm working all week but my ends don't meet. It's all the same, I could use a break.

Her hands come up, the drummer shaking his head and singing along as Ryoko claps along to the beat.

Hey! We know, we'll never see the money. So, we go, we're better on our own. Cause we've got-

Ryoko's smiling as she takes a deep breath before a hand comes to grip the microphone, preparing herself for the long notes.

Soul! Soul!

She goes back to dancing, hair shaking, some of it flying to cover her eyes.

Cause I just wanna chance to break the mold. I'm a bougie ass bitch deep in my bones.

She grips her shirt, shaking it a bit as the music pauses before she returns to stepping side to side with the beat.

My skin is sewn to my bedsheets. I haven't washed clothes in six weeks. What's wrong with you?

Ryoko smiles as she points to one of the Third Years behind Midoriya.

What's wrong with you?

Her grin widens as she looks down and points at Todoroki. Midoriya looks over at him, only to see him roll his eyes at Ryoko.

I'm missing getting high with Brian. My brain is fried, I ain't even trying! I need to know, where should I go?

A hand returns to the microphone stand, another deep breath being taken.

Cause we've got soul!

Her empty hand punches into the air, a few people following suit.

Soul!

She takes a step back from the microphone stand only to immediately return.

Cause I just wanna chance to break the mold. I'm a bougie ass bitch deep in my bones.

Her hip cocks to the side, shoulders moving in circles as she sings.

We've got soul!

Her hand is thrust back into the air, many more audience members following suit. She motions for them to sing with her, her mouth pulling away from the microphone. She shouts "soul!" into the crowd as they shout it back at her, fists still held in the air.

Cause I just wanna chance to break the mold. I'm a bougie ass bitch deep in my bones.

The music slows, Ryoko returning to the microphone, a smile never falling from her face.

I'm praying for some sort of miracle from you. I'm waiting for someone to take me home, could you?

The redhead steps back from the microphone stand, her head shaking and hair flying as she does so. Mic and the guitarist sing the next lyrics.

Hey! We know, we'll never see the money. So, we go, we're better on our own. Cause we've got-

Ryoko steps back to the microphone stand, a hand instantly shooting itself into the air. Midoriya, this time, follows suit, keeping his hand in the air as Ryoko sings, the music low behind her.

Soul!

Midoriya and Iida join Todoroki and the rest of the crowd as they all shout the next "soul" with Ryoko.

Cause I just wanna chance to break the mold. I'm a bougie ass bitch deep in my bones.

Ryoko's smiling, a small "come on, come on!" barely heard through the microphone as she motions for everyone to keep singing with her.

We've got soul! Soul!

Head is shaken, hair flying, as Ryoko pulled the microphone away from her slightly, to hit the high note.

Cause I just wanna change to break the mold! I'm a bougie ass bitch deep in my bones!

Her closed eyes and knitted eyebrows release after the high note, the music fading as Ryoko delivers the final lyric,

I'd rather be broke than braindead.

"Thank you guys!" is instantly shouted once the lyric and music ends. A rock and roll hand gesture is thrust into the air as she yells before she turns and runs down the catwalk, her and her band disappearing off the stage.

People are cheering, Midoriya included, even after the performers leave the stage and the lights go out. Something in Midoriya's gut told him it wasn't over. He, along with the audience, didn't have to wait long, as a video started to play on the back screen. It was Ingenium, in the same shack as the video that played when Ryoko returned to the stage. People cheer louder, the video of Iida's older brother playing. The crowd watches as Ingenium leans into the microphone. Much like the first video, clips of Ingenium speaking were mixed together with clips of Aizawa, Midnight, Present Mic, and Ryoko. There would be clips of the group laughing, playing cards together, some of them even fought together.

"Alright children, the lights are out and the party's over. It's time for me, Doctor D, to start running and say goodbye for a little while. And I know you're gonna miss me, so I'll leave you with this. You know that big ball of radiation we call the sun? Well, it'll burst you into flames if you stay in one place too long. That is, if the static don't get you first.

"So remember, even if you're dusted, you may be gone, but out here in the desert, your shadow lives on without you." The crowd grows quiet as the last clip of the group of four was them laying still on the ground. They looked bruised and beaten, the camera panning over each of their still bodies. Midoriya knew it was just a video, but it had an eerie vibe to it.

"This is Doctor Death Defying, signing off."

Everyone watched as Ingenium reached over, turning the radio off before standing up. He heads to leave the shack, not before turning the lights off. Music begins to play, loud and triumphant. The back screen lights up again, clips of Ryoko and the others playing. Ryoko could be seen laughing with Mic. Aizawa and Midnight were looking through papers and talking. Aizawa and Ryoko in the field fighting a villain. Midnight and Mic clinking their glasses together before they drank. The videos were in black and white, giving a reminiscent feel to them.

The song began to reach its climax, the notes getting louder. Midoriya looked around the stage, waiting to see if they would return. Suddenly, the back screen goes completely white, a loud screeching noise being heard throughout the stadium. Midoriya flinched, hands going to cover his ears. But he watched as Mic, Haru, and Naoyuki returned to the stage. Against the white background, Ryoko could be seen walking up to stand on the platform above the drums. Her hand held her microphone, in its stand, the other hand gripping the stand. It was held across her body, a silhouette again. Finally, the static ends, the white fading to black, people cheering again.

The band begins to play, Ryoko turning and walking down the steps, slowly. Her microphone comes to her lips, singing as she continues to walk down the steps.

Nothing left, now I'm feeling numb. And just like you, I couldn't love someone. There is no one, I can belong to.

The redhead steps off the stairs, heading towards the center of the stage. When she reaches her destination, she plants the microphone stand on the ground, eyes looking out into the audience. Midoriya notices, as she sings, that her leather jacket has returned. Underneath it, however, she had shed her Endeavor tank top, replacing it with a UA crop top. Midoriya cheers, others joining him as they realize what she's wearing.

Take you out, never bring you back again, back again, back again. Can't recall how we lost our innocence, innocence.

Her hand remains on her microphone, body beginning to move and dance with the beat as she continues.

Nothing in the cage of my ribcage. Got no heart to break, like it that way. Nothing in the cage of my ribcage! Emptiness is safe, keep it that way.

She picks the microphone stand up again, beginning to walk down the catwalk. She's walking slow still, eyes facing forwards.

On the path of never leading home. Cut it out from my flesh and bone. And I feel like, I can't see anything.

The microphone stand is placed down on the catwalk, Ryoko stopping as she reached the halfway point.

Take you out, never bring you back again, back again, back again. Can't recall how we lost our innocence, innocence.

She glances to the side, a small smile pulling at her lips as she sees the crowd cheering. She licks her lips, trying to hide the smile before she turns back to the microphone stand.

Nothing in the cage of my ribcage. Got no heart to break, like it that way. Nothing in the cage of my ribcage! Emptiness is safe, keep it that way.

Ryoko begins to dance, shaking her hips side to side as her, Mic, and Haru all sing and carry multiple oh's. The music slows, Ryoko removing the microphone from the stand to walk down to the end of the catwalk. She slides the microphone into the stand there, Midoriya catching someone reaching up and taking the other stand off the catwalk.

Used to be, I had light. I had fire in my chest.

She points to her own chest, tapping it a couple of times. Up close, Midoriya can see that she had more tattoos. Over her heart, she had a scroll. On the scroll, it said The Worry List. Midoriya was curious about what it meant, but then he noticed her left hip. Peeking out over the top of her jeans was the head and beginning of a dragon. It went up to her waist and disappeared below her jeans.

Oh, but now, I'm all out. And I've got nothing left.

Her hand goes to rest on her microphone stand as the music stays low.

Nothing in the cage of my ribcage. Got no heart to break, like it that way. Nothing in the cage of my ribcage,

She pulls away from the microphone, turning it to face the audience and stepping back from it. Midoriya can hear Todoroki and the crowd shout back at her, "Emptiness is safe, keep it that way!" Ryoko grins before she quickly grabs the microphone and turns it back around, singing into it once again.

Nothing in the cage of my ribcage. Got no heart to break, like it that way. Nothing in the cage of my ribcage! Emptiness is safe, keep it that way.

As she sings, Midoriya and Iida, along with majority of the crowd, is jumping up and down. The music slows, Ryoko reaching up to shed her leather jacket, letting it fall into the space between the catwalk and the barricade. Her tattoos and UA crop top are in full view, people cheering as it happens. A finger comes up as she looks at the crowd. "One more?" People cheer, she turns around, facing half of the crowd, the question being posed again. Ryoko turns again, getting the same reaction from the other side as she asks once more. She turns back to the microphone stand, a smirk on her lips.

"We've got one more in us, friends!" Her smirk grows into a smile as people cheer. "But before we go," The crowd quiets slightly, Ryoko's hands extending high into the air. "Please know you are not alone! Everyone here is family!" Her arms extend to the side, people cheering again. "We don't say goodbye here," Her smile widens, "Only until next time,

"I wasn't going to leave you without this one," People cheer as the drummer begins to play, the crowd cheering much louder. Midoriya recognizes the song and knows Kirishima is ecstatic. "This is our last one, let's go big! Sing it with me if you know it!" The crowd continues to roar as the band joins the drummer.

Record scratch, Steve Miller band. Tattooed necks and tattooed hands.

Ryoko's hands go up to rub down her neck, before the come up, her fingers wiggling as she sings. Midoriya can hear the crowd, they're louder than they have been all night. He knew instantly that this was Ryoko's first ever single.

Oh, how don't you drown in a rainstorm? Fresh regrets, vodka sweats.

A hand comes out, shaking as she does. Midoriya remembered watching the music video for this when he was looking through her music. An aesthetic video to say the least, done completely in black and white, clips of her singing in various places, her and mysterious masked figures dancing.

The sun is down and we're bound to get exhausted and so far from the shore.

Ryoko brings a hand up to the microphone, she grips it as her other hand is open wide as she sings. Mic is at his setup, hands in the air, trying to get the crowd to clap. Some join him.

You're never gonna get it, I'm a hazard to myself. I'll break it to you easy - this is hell, this is hell! You're looking and whispering, you think I'm someone else. This is hell, yes, literal hell!

Her hand removes the microphone from its stand, as the chorus starts. She starts to jump around, dancing as she does. The crowd and Midoriya join her.

We don't have to talk. We don't have to dance. We don't have to smile, we don't have to make friends! It's so nice to meet you, let's never meet again. We don't have to talk. We don't have to dance, we don't have to dance!

The music slows and Ryoko returns to the microphone stand, sliding the microphone back in, her hair wild and tossed.

Bottles smashed, I raised my hand. How can you all even stand?

A hand extends upwards as she sings, before it comes down, gesturing to the audience.

And why is there joy in this poison? Faking smiles and confidence. Driving miles to capture this excitement.

Both hands come up to grip the microphone, Ryoko's eyes closing as Midoriya can see her get more and more into the song.

You're never gonna get it, I'm a hazard to myself. I'll break it to you easy - this is hell, this is hell! You're looking and whispering, you think I'm someone else. This is hell, yes, I am in hell!

Once again, the microphone is ripped from the stand, Ryoko jumping back to start dancing and jumping.

We don't have to talk. We don't have to dance. We don't have to smile, we don't have to make friends! It's so nice to meet you, let's never meet again. We don't have to talk. We don't have to dance, we don't have to dance!

The microphone is quickly returned to the stand, Ryoko shouting, "Let's go!" Before she steps back, continuing to dance and jump around as the band plays. Midoriya catches himself smiling wide as he watches Ryoko. Eventually, she steps back to the microphone stand. Her hands come up, gesturing for the audience to sing with her.

You're never gonna get it, I'm a hazard to myself. I'll break it to you easy - this is hell, this is hell!

Ryoko's gestures get bigger, the crowd getting louder with their singing as she does. Midoriya can hear Todoroki singing to his right.

You're looking and whispering, you think I'm someone else. This is hell, yes, literal hell!

Midoriya watches as Ryoko leans away from the microphone, letting out one of the longest notes he had heard. The band pauses, the crowd cheers. She stops, the lights going out for a moment before she begins to sing again, the lights turning back on in a flash.

We don't have to talk. We don't have to dance. We don't have to smile, we don't have to make friends! It's so nice to meet you, let's never meet again. We don't have to talk. We don't have to dance, we don't have to dance!

Her dancing doesn't stop, even with the microphone in its stand. Even in the chaos that is her hair, Midoriya can see one of the largest smiles on her face. It could even rival All Might's.

We don't have to talk, we don't have to talk, we don't have to dance! We don't have to talk, talk, talk, we don't have to dance!

The music slows, only the guitarist playing as Ryoko is at the microphone.

We don't have to talk, talk, talk, talk,

Ryoko's voice gets quieter, her hands coming up to almost quiet the audience as well.

Talk, talk, talk, talk.

"Thank you so much, you guys are beautiful!" The crowd cheers, Ryoko waving at them with both hands. Mic leaves his setup, running down the catwalk to grab Ryoko in a hug from behind. She's laughing as everyone continues to cheer, Haru and Naoyuki both leaving their spots to walk down the catwalk. Haru had shed his guitar before he joined the others. Ryoko frees herself from Mic before she walks over and hugs Naoyuki then Haru. Mic waves at the crowd as she does, the other band members doing so as well. Ryoko gives one final wave and smile before they all walk back down the catwalk. Once they're all center stage, they turn around and line up. They link hands, their arms going up before coming down as they bow at the audience. The crowd continues to scream and cheer for them, even as they're walking off the stage. Midoriya turns to Todoroki, who's smiling at him. Midoriya then turns to Iida, the crowd beginning to disperse, chattering erupting around them.

"That was incredible!"

---

Disclaimer: Look Alive, Sunshine, Na Na Na, and Goodnite, Dr. Death belong to My Chemical Romance. Diamond Eyes and Cut the Cord belong to Shinedown. Jumpsuit, Levitate, Nico And The Niners, and Pet Cheetah belong to twenty one pilots. The Void, Ribcage, and We Don't Have To Dance belong to Andy Black. Dying In LA, King of the Clouds and Roaring 20s belong to Panic! At the Disco. We've Got Soul belongs to Chapel.