Disclaimer: Fanfic author doesn't own 'Akudama Drive' or 'My Hero Academia'; they all belong to their respective awesome authors.

╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗

CHAPTER 6: PROJECT POWER

╚═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╝

"I'm also a Villain by the way." Himiko confessed and smiled at Sagi, expecting some reactions from her. So far, Sagi did not give in to any reaction and Himiko stopped swinging right now, looking right at Sagi's curious eyes.

…

…

…

And was disappointed that Sagi was not even terrified of it. Meanwhile for Sagi, she was thinking of something.

Isn't the equivalent of Villain back from my world is Akudama? Sagi thought all of the sudden upon hearing Himiko's confession. Well to be honest, Sagi doesn't know what to do once she has obtained the information from Himiko.

"That must have been hard for you then, Himko…" Sagi remarked as she clasped her hands. Himiko only looked at her with surprise and upon hearing her comment then she delved into laughter and scorn.

"Hahahahahaha!"

Sagi must have awkwardly waited for Himiko to cease laughing, to the point she wished that she had already gone back home. Himiko was now already picking herself up.

"I knew it!" Himiko exclaimed as she accusingly pointed at Sagi. Sagi meanwhile was confused on why Himiko reacted like this.

"W-What do you mean?"

"You're a former Villain, just like us!" Himiko concludes and accused as she points at Sagi.

"W-wha?" Sagi was speechless. How did Himiko come to that conclusion? "But Himiko, I did not do anything bad yet!" She said with a hint of uncertainty.

"Well, it was obvious that you have been formerly a Villain, based on your reaction, one could assume that you have encountered one or more a long time ago."

"..." Sagi couldn't even deny it anymore and she found out that her voice felt weak. Himiko was still waiting for her reply.

"See? You are being speechless!" Himiko said with a hint of excitement.

"N-no, it's just that...urgh!" Sagi felt that she couldn't just lie in front of Himiko that easily. She wanted to clarify that she isn't a Villain but at the same time being involved as an Akudama is just so wrong. "Please listen first."

Himiko immediately obeyed and stopped talking.

"It's just that I am not a Villain, per se, but..."

Himiko was jumpy all of the sudden. Sagi just continued talking.

"...but I'm part of a group that defied the government a long time ago." Sagi managed to conclude everything that she wanted to tell Himiko while the Himko's eyes brightened upon revelation. Himiko immediately jumped away from the swing and hugged Sagi out of surprise.

"Himiko?"

Himiko just buried her face into Sagi's chest and then looked at her like a happy child. "Himiko!?" Sagi exclaimed in panic.

"Never have I thought that you are a Villain in hidden sight." Himiko thought.

"B-but just like I said before… I am not a Villain!" Sagi clarified but Himiko just ignored that connotation.

"Ne, tell me about your former comrades!" Himiko asked enthusiastically.

"My comrades?" Sagi said hesitantly. It's just that she doesn't know where to start and how willing she is to divulge her history together with the Akudamas. Somehow, Sagi has a sort of an idea. Choosing instead to blend with how this world operates. She can't just for some reason, tell Himiko the whole truth and instead chose to exchange some terms, such as Akudama for Villains for her own sake.

"O-ok, I will tell you the best I can."

"Ok, Sagi-san!" Her eyes were twinkling in delight as she obeyed. She was now listening to Sagi's tales.

All in all, Himiko was obviously amazed at all parts of Sagi's story of how she became a 'Villain'.

"...and that's all!" Himiko finished retelling the feats of Sagi after listening to her last night. She was still giddy from the stuff Sagi told her.

"I see..." Dabi continued to listen as he caressed his chin in curiosity. His eyes widened in wonder upon realizing that a certain individual they've met recently was somehow a former Villain. Hearing her tales just made him more interested in Sagi.

"Did she tell you about her quirk?"

"Nope!" With a pop. "I was so absorbed by her story that I forgot." Himiko confessed.

"Nevermind." Dabi just blinked. Shame that he wanted to know how her quirk works, at least he was forced to acknowledge how Sagi's quirks had a huge potential, if not powerful. Dabi grinned as he thought of scenarios on how Sagi would operate with her quirk and how it might be effective against Heroes. Himiko noticed how he looked so evil looking with the way his mouth pulled upward into a wicked grin.

"Ah, can't help but think all about her." Dabi remarked.

Himiko just tilted her head in curiosity. "Dabi-san, you don't mean you are already infatuated with Sagi-chan, are you?" and for Himiko, that would be a huge offence and she would no doubt hurt Dabi if he somehow fell in love with Sagi at first sight. No one would mess with Sagi, ever!

...and she was now retrieving her knife as she contemplated the situation.

Thankfully, Dabi did not even notice Himiko's growing tension and leaking violent tendencies against him. Maybe, being in leagues for a long time has made Dabi used to her aura. "What the heck are you talking about, you nutjob! I'm reconsidering whether Sagi is worth joining our group!" Dabi retorted in disgust. In return, Himiko returned to her usual disposition.

Himiko was with Dabi's decision in recruiting Sagi into their wee group. Meanwhile, Dabi was using a tablet, as he searched for something. For a Hero Society, keeping tabs with their activities is a child play but Dabi was not focused on that thing right now. Since the time Himiko retold her the account of Sagi's lifetime, he couldn't help but be curious about Sagi's current history.

Perhaps, a quick search on the internet might prove his theories and satisfy his curiosity. Dabi admitted that he was not a person to be curious over something trivial, but this might give him hints on who Sagi is.

...and lo, behold, he grinned upon an interesting article a long time ago. Himiko took a peek at Dabi's tablet. "What are you searching for?" Himiko asked, not caring if she was invading Dabi's personal space, much to the latter's annoyance.

Dabi quickly nudged her away. "If this is indeed correct then we might have encountered a jackpot."

"What jackpot do you mean, Dabi-san?" Himiko needed his enlightenment.

"I'm trying to base what Sagi's claim on her history… turns out there is one article from a long time ago that matched her story." Dabi then continued. "...and the villain being mentioned here hauntingly matched on how her quirk operates… if what my guts told me is right."

"Oooooooh?" Himiko was entertained as she listened to Dabi. She really wanted to read the article but she found them too boring with few pictures.

"If this is true then her alias would be Mass Hysteria, an S-rank Villain of her own time…" Dabi grinned once more. "See? Jackpot?" No matter how Dabi felt dubious about it, he was 60 percent certain that Sagi and Mass Hysteria are one and the same. The rest would be his ramblings that are random guesses.

Dabi then looked at Himiko. "Since you two seemed to be friends right now… how about you offer the recruitment yourself to Sagi?"

Himiko just tilted her head in curiosity. "But what if she refuses?"

Dabi then just grinned mischievously. "'Then do something so she can't refuse...otherwise, you know what to do."

It was a rest day and that means holiday, Miryah has decided to shop for clothes for Sagi, which Sagi didn't expect. She really wanted to refuse the offer but borrowing clothes won't do good either.

"I-I can do it on my own." Sagi argued.

"Nonsense, let's shop for your clothes today!" Miryah was steadfast.

And the argument ends there, since Sagi knew that Miryah decided to treat her like her own daughter. Left with no other choice, she immediately dressed up for this shopping day together with Miryah, whom she believed would treat her like a doll as she searched for her clothes.

Maybe, she just wanted a daughter… who knows. Sagi couldn't exactly read her mind. They have already arrived in a girl's wear section.

Miryah wouldn't treat her like an actual child, right?

Thankfully, the women's section is beyond the girl's section, where she can freely choose any clothing of affordable price. She must thank Miryah for this moment.

While picking some clothes that would look good on her, Sagi felt a tap on her shoulder and thought Miryah was calling her. Looking back, she was surprised it was Himiko smiling creepily at her.

Not that Sagi was affected by her smile in the first place.

Sagi happily smiled when Himiko visited her in the mall and hugged her briefly. "Why are you here? How did you know that I will be here?" Sagi asked her curiously.

Himiko was blushing while maintaining her straightforward smile. She played with her index fingers, tapping them each other in rhythmic motion, as if she was acting like a shy girl. "I just want to see you.." she reasoned. "I also followed you from your home if you don't mind." She added with brutal honesty.

Sagi was contemplating whether it was right for Himiko to stalk her throughout the mall. "Ne, Himiko-chan, you don't need to stalk me… I'll be glad to have company everytime you want."

Himiko just tilted her head in confusion, she expected Sagi to be angry with her. "Eh, you're not mad about me for following you?"

"As long as you don't do it again, it's fine!" Sagi said.

Again, Himiko was confused by her until she accepted the outcome. "A-Alright!" Himiko jubilantly replied in the end.

Seeing that Sagi already took a couple of good-fitting clothes, she grabbed Himiko's arm gently. "Ne, why don't you join us to have a meal." Sagi said since it's getting to noon and they haven't eaten anything yet. At least, she has enough for two, or even three if Himiko is included.

Meanwhile, for Himiko, as deranged as she claimed to be, she still found herself being surprised by Sagi's antics. She doesn't know how to react to this new scenario, but the one thing she can remember is that she did not regret making Sagi her own friend and it makes her feel happy and giddy.

"Himiko-chan? Are you okay?" Sagi attempted to wave her hand in front of Himiko's face, seeing that she's not herself at the moment. Himiko immediately responds by hugging her out of surprise.

Sagi was taken by surprise by Himiko. "Himiko?"

"I have now decided that you are my bestest friend ever!" Himiko declared, to which Sagi instinctively caressed Himiko's head, like a doting mother to her beloved child.

"Who said we couldn't?" Sagi said as she kept on combing Himiko's pale blond hair. Coincidentally, they were now very hungry and Miryah found them, after having explored the other area for buying their essential needs and necessary ingredients. Miryah then dragged the two for a hearty meal, and as much as Sagi wanted to pay for three, Miryah insisted that they should be enjoying this meal without any problem, much to Sagi's dismay.

A lovely afternoon followed after that as they went home, with a tag-along Himiko. With the amount of the items they have purchased, based on how their plastic bags were bulging with goodies, they really need some manpower.

After helping Miryah bring all the goods home, Himiko immediately grabbed her hands and dragged to god knows where… At least they have permission from Miryah to have fun. The sun was nearing the horizon and began showering the place with its golden orange rays.

They found themselves in the park, coincidentally devoid of people for some reason as Sagi looked around her surroundings. It was all nothing but pavement, grass and trees. Himiko faced Sagi with enthusiasm, as if she was waiting for Sagi to say something.

"So, what are we here after?" Sagi said as she threw her hands up.

"Tehee, it's the one I was tasked for." Himiko said as she danced around. She felt like having her body move for fun.

"Let me guess, that creepy Dabi guy?" she assumed and Himiko nodded with her mouth left open, showing off those cute fangs.

"He said he was interested in recruiting you to our group." Himiko confessed. "If not, I was to do mean things to you." She added as she showed off a blade, shining by the afternoon sun as she took it away from her clothing.

Sagi was about to ask if it was uncomfortable for Himiko to hide a hideously long knife in her cardigan but there is something more important issue she needed to tackle. "So you will hurt me if I refuse." Sagi concluded as Himiko looked down the ground guiltily as she kicked some pebbles away gently.

Himiko immediately nodded with sadness and regret, such a fast transition from being happy to being sad. "Although I decided to not hurt you because you are my best friend!" She declared as she put the blade back into her uniform.

Himiko begins to fiddle her fingers. "A-although it's completely alright for Sagi-chan to refuse..." she said with a hint of worry in her voice. This time, Himiko understood that being a villain might be the most hated occupation right now and it is completely ok for her to make Sagi remain as a civilian.

"I'll join." Sagi said without hesitation. Himiko was once again taken aback by Sagi's decisiveness to the point that she was speechless. After hearing Himiko's backstory, she couldn't help but to take care of her, even if she found herself in a villain base.

Just to make sure that Himiko was listening, Sagi repeated her decision. "Then I'll join… for the sake of my friend." That statement made Himiko blushed harder. Himiko wanted to clarify that she was one of the efficient killers in their group but leave it as it is.

Himiko found herself having a new resolve.

To protect her new friend no matter what cost.