Rule #39a: There is no such thing as a small world

The following day after the exams, a rather large glumness had settled over a couple of the students in 1-A. Those who had failed the exam were huddled in one corner of the classroom, where the wept, wailed and whined about missing out of the training camp planned for over the summer.

"E-E-Everyone…! We're looking forward to h-h-hearing all your stories…how fun c-c-camp was…!" Mina wailed.

"Hey now," Midoriya tried to cheer up the girl, "Maybe they'll end up letting you go. There might be a last minute twist or something"

"Stop it, Midoriya" Sero cut in, hand on his shoulder, "By saying that aloud, you're just jinxing them"

"They said whoever failed the exam would have to skip training camp and live in summer school hell. We didn't pass the practicals, so we're doomed! Don't you get it, MIdoriya?! Or did All Might knock all the brains outta you?!" Kaminari turned on the green-haired boy.

"Ease up, Kaminari" Sero interjected when the electric blonde stabbed Midoriya in the eye with his fingers, "I'm not sure I'll get to go either; our team only passed thanks to Mineta. I got knocked out, and since we don't know how they're scoring us. I might've flunked"

"AT LEAST BRING US BACK LOTS OF CAMP SOUVENIRS PLEASE!" Kaminari cried.

Just then, the door to the classroom burst open, slamming against the wall as it swung inwards to reveal Aizawa, much more awake than he typically was. His sleeping bag wasn't even anywhere in sight. "Once the bell rings you should be in your seats" he stated bluntly, making everyone scramble for their seats in panicked silence.

"Morning" Aizawa greeted, coming to stand at the from of the class, "Unfortunately there are a few of you who did not pass your final exams, so when it comes to the training camp in the woods…everyone is going!"

"We really get to go to camp?" Kirishima asked, hopeful.

"Seriously?" Mina squealed with tears in her eyes.

"Yeah, the good news is no one bombed the written exam; five failed the practical. Badly. Two teams of course, and then Sero failed as well—" Aizawa continued.

"Aw crap! I knew it! Mineta made it to the gate, but I didn't do near enough to pass!" Sero whined.

"—Allow me to explain. For the practical battles, the teachers made sure to leave a way for the students to win, otherwise you never would've stood a chance. We were interested in observing how you each worked together and approached the task at hand"

"But didn't you promise that the teachers wouldn't be holding back?" Ojiro questioned.

"That was just to get you on edge" Aizawa calmly replied, "Besides, the training camp will focus on building your strengths. Those who failed need those lessons the most, we were never going to separate you…" He grinned mischievously, "That was just a logical deception we used!"

"Aizawa-Sensei!" Iida jumped to his feet with hand raised in the air, and shaking slightly in frustration as he demanded, "That's the second time you've lied to us! Aren't you afraid we'll lose faith in you?!"

"Uh…a little blunt there, Tenya" Ochako commented.

"That's a good point" Aizawa agreed, "I'll consider it. But I wasn't lying to you about everything. Failure is failure; we've prepared extra remedial lessons for the five of you. Frankly, they'll be far tougher than what you'd face at summer school"


"This is gonna be great!" Ojiro grinned, looking over the little blue programme they had each been given, "I'm so glad we're all going together!"

"We're camping on a mountain?! YES!" Toru cheered looking over the programme.

"Have you been camping before, Hagakure?" Midoriya asked the excited girl.

"Kinda. My old school used to up a mountain, so we did a lot of survival exercises and the like. I'm so excited! It's been so long since I've been hiking or camping or outdoors!"

"But we were outside yesterday?"

"No! Like proper outdoors! With bugs and campfires and bushes and trees! Eeee! I can't wait!"

"It looks like we'll be at the training camp for a full week" Declared Iida, reading over his.

"I gotta find a bigger suitcase!" Midoriya commented, looking over Iida's shoulder.

"Yeah, I don't even have a bathing suit" Agreed Kaminari, "Guess I need to buy some stuff"

"Hey guys!" Mina perked up, "Since we're off tomorrow and we've finished exams, I have the best idea! Why doesn't class 1-A go shopping together!"

"Hey! Yeah! We've never hung out as a class before!"

"Bakugo! See you there, right?" Kirishima turned to the angsty blonde as he left the classroom.

"Can't think of anything more annoying" Bakugou called over his shoulder, before walking out the door. I can. Toru thought, watching his blonde mop disappear.

"Will you come too, Todoroki?" Midoriya asked.

"I visit my mum on days off" Todoroki replied, apologetically.

And so it was that the following day, that a collection of 1-A students were gathered at the mall with shopping lists in hand and bulging wallets in their pockets. Dressed in a sunshine yellow smiley that was tucked into a comfy yellow-striped black pleated skirt with bright pink jandals on her feet and matching sunglasses on her head, Toru met up with her classmates where they stood gathered off to the side of one of the food courts. It was a little odd seeing her classmates outside of school; sure, she knew that they wouldn't be wearing their uniforms (hero or otherwise), but it was like seeing a teacher outside of school—just weird.

"Oh man! Do I love this place! It's got everything! With a ton of different stores to shop in, and they're all super cool and hip!" Mina sparkled, eyes wide as she spun around to get a view of everything around her. Toru, herself, readjusted the strap of her bag for the umpteenth time since arriving at the mall. The last time she had been there was before school and started, and she had hid in the bathrooms because she couldn't take all of the jeering and pointing. Back when people stared at her floating clothes like they could collapse at any second. Next to her, Midoriya began to mutter rapidly under his breath as he turned this way and that. It seemed that his analysis skills weren't just limited to heroes. "You're going to scare the children" Tokoyami blandly stated, making Toru smile at the two.

"Whoa! Aren't those UA students?" Someone from the crowd called out, drawing attention to the group.

"1-A!" Cried another.

"I saw 'em on TV! The Sports Festival was so good!" Cheered a third. Toru blanched, her body tense at all the sudden attention they were receiving from thousands of eyes now focused on them.

"Uh, ha ha" Ochako chuckled nervously, "I can't believe they still remember that"

"I wanna track down a new duffle bag to bring to summer training" Jiro commented.

"Oh yeah? Maybe the two of us can browse together?" Yaoyorozu suggested.

"Let's see…" Mineta was glancing around at the stores, though no one paid him any mind "Where can I get a lock-picking kit and a small drill?"

"I should probably get some outdoorsy shoes for this thing" Kaminari added.

"Oh yeah! That's a smart idea! I should get some more sports bras while I'm here…" Toru agreed.

"Ooh! Can I—?" Mineta leered.

"—No!" Toru shot him down before he could even finish the question. Grouping together, 1-A agreed to split up to find what everyone needed and then meet back here later so that they could all grab lunch together.


Circling back from the food court with bubble tea and purchases in hand, Toru slowly made her way over to the meeting point, knowing she was likely to be done earlier than the rest of them. Most of the things that she would need for the training camp she already had from junior high, and those that she didn't she could just as easily borrow or substitute with something else. Really, the only things she had needed to grab today were a couple of sports bras, a couple of thermals and a set of camping cutlery.

I wonder how everyone else's shopping is going? She mused, sipping at her citrus-flavoured drink as she walked. It was rather different walking around the mall after the Sports Festival. This time, being called out by the public was because they saw her at the festival; watched her fight instead of the scar running down the centre of her chest. The Sports Festival seems like it was so long ago…so much has happened since, with Stain and internships…and now camp. Toru mused as she hummed along to the tune playing through her earphones.

With the Children of the Whales soundtrack playing in her ears, Toru happened across a very peculiar scene. Despite her beliefs, she wasn't actually the first to return to their meeting point, in fact that particular spot went to Midoriya who sat on the bench with someone she didn't recognise…A friend? Family member? Whatever the case, the two seemed to be sitting practically on top of each other and were whispering quietly to one another as if they didn't want to be overheard.

"Midoriya?" Toru interjected herself into the conversation as she came to a stop in front of the two, dropping her empty cup into a nearby bin as she did so. Midoriya's darkly-dressed friend kept his head bowed but she could see whispers of blue hair escaping from beneath his hood, "Are you done already?" She smiled, plaits swinging as she turned to her classmate, "Who's your friend?"

"Toru" Midoriya jolted, his wide eye swinging up to the smiling classmate in front of him. With pink hair ribbons falling over the shoulders of her brightly coloured t-shirt and pleated skirt swaying as she moved, she was the picture-perfect image of innocent school girl. Just another everyday teen, meeting their friend at the mall; although it did remind him of another (rather recent) incident where her appearance had been a complete contrast to her actions.

"Midoriya? Are you all right? You look a little pale…" Toru worried as Midoriya seemed to tense under his friend's arm.

"He's fine—" Rasped Midoriya's blue-haired friend, his head barely raised to meet her eyes. Though it was his raspy voice that sent a chill through Toru. A very familiar voice matched with sky-blue hair. Although void of the various disembodied hands, it was surely him. "—Why don't you run along now, little girl?"

Eyes sharpened onto the man she now recognised as the villain from the USJ attack—Tomura—and instead of moving along as he had…suggested, she stayed in front of the two and straightened to her full height, becoming serious with only a fake smile still plastered on her face. Clearly they didn't want to cause a scene in the middle of the mall, the cards could fall either way and the outcome would be catastrophic no matter who came out on top.

"Didn't you hear me?" Tomura sneered, "Go away"

"I did, but I won't" Toru smiled pleasantly, as if she were teasing a sibling. Off to the side, Midoriya tensed further under Tomura's grasp. "At least—" She stepped closer to the pair and snatched up Midoriya's free arm, pulling him close and out of the villain's grasp, "—Not without him"

"You're pushing your luck, girl" Tomura rose to his feet as the two students seemed to dance out of his way. With Midoriya (who despite the situation seemed to be blushing scarlet) pressed up against Toru as if hugging her, she spun the pair around as she reached out to grab the outreaching arm of the villain. Pulling Tomura into the dance, Toru spun Midoriya away with her free hand, whilst her other was clasped around the wrist of the blue-haired villain. A few bystanders looked over at the movement, but merely dismissed it as teenagers playing around.

"T-Toru!" Midoriya stammered as he watched his classmate pull the taller villain in close. Tomura was so close to Toru that he could hear the sounds of Ririko playing through her pink and white earphones. Despite her situation and close proximity to the villain, Toru smiled up at the man as if nothing was wrong. It only seemed to frustrate him further. His wrinkled face now free of its usual disembodied hand appeared dry and cracked like an old orange.

"Is something the matter, Ten~ko?" Toru grinned, her lips turning a little devilish as she sang the villain's name—his real name.

"How?" Tomura growled, neither denying nor accepting the accusation.

"History is fascinating, don't ya think?" Toru smirked low enough that Midoriya couldn't pick up what she was saying, even though she was well-aware that if the villain wanted to he could kill her right there and then. He had clearly shown the intent to do so to others in the past and she wouldn't put it pass him now. Of course, that doesn't mean she wouldn't go down without a fight. "All those little stories that people just seem to brush away. Like the Shimura murders; they're pretty interesting, don'tcha think? And they didn't even catch the guy"

"If you want to talk interesting little stories—" Tomura's expression turned from dark and twisted into something manic as he grinned, "—what about those ones swarming around Class 3-E of Kunugigaoka Junior High?"

"Are you saying you believe those things?"

"Shiro says hello"

With no way for the outside world to see her physical figure (without a UV light), body language became a big part of her vocabulary, and at this certain point in time it spoke volumes. Toru's smile didn't quite fall, but it did twitch at the corners making it harder to hold in place. Her body tensed against Tomura's handless one and her heart began to beat wildly against her ribcage. "

"Is something the matter, To~ru?" Tomura grinned wickedly. She didn't reply, her thoughts still stuck on what the villain had implied, but all around them store lights began to dangerously flicker.

"You shouldn't talk about things you don't understand" Toru eventually replied, her tone much colder than it had been previous.

"Oh? And what do you plan to do about it?

"It's quite simple really" Toru slid one of her feet in between Tomura's legs, evidently pressing the two closer until she was practically buried in his chest. And then in one quick and favourable move, she jerked her knee up and hit him in the crotch. Hard. "PERVERT!" Toru screeched as she jumped away from the villain, allowing him to collapse into a groaning pile on the floor.

Several heads turned at the call, even a couple of people emerged from the stores around them as hands pulled Toru away from the villain on the floor. Fake tears streamed down her face as she turned to bury her head in Ochako who had arrived just in time to watch the villain fall; at their side Midoriya seemed to be muttering a mile a minute as he fussed over the stupidly brave girl.

"Is that…Shigaraki?" Ochako puzzled. She received no reply from either calssmate, but golden eyes watched from over Ochako's shoulder as Tomura—pale and shaking—heaved himself up onto his feet and scrambled through the growing crowd, before eventually melting into the sea of people. He was long lost before security arrived.

Ochako reported the incident and the shopping mall was temporarily closed, cutting 1-A's shopping excursion short. The heroes and police in the area conducted a massive sweep, but Shigaraki was nowhere to be found. Later that day both Midoriya and Toru were taken to the police station. Detective Tsukauchi, who was investigating the League of Villains, ran the interrogation.

"Well, this is familiar" Toru muttered as the two were escorted into separate conference rooms. Tsukauchi had interviewed Midoriya first, since he was the one Tomura had made contact with. Toru was next. The room was bland, spare save for the single desk in the center of the room and only a single one-way window inserted into the back wall. "Hello, again" She greeted as Tsukauchi came and dropped a file on the table between them.

"Hello" Tsukauchi nodded, getting out a pen to take notes with "Didn't think I'd see you again. Or so soon"

"Yeah, this wasn't what I had planned for today" She agreed amicably, looking around the bare room.

"Right, what can you tell me about your interaction with Shigaraki Tomura? Why were you at the mall? Who was with you? Things like that" He questioned, pen poised at the ready.

"Uh, I was at the mall with some friends from 1-A, we were going to get some things for the training camp that's coming up. Um…I'd gotten my things and grabbed a bubble tea on the way back—we'd said we'd meet up at that point so we could all go for lunch. Uh…I thought I'd be the first done, 'cause I've got a lot of camping stuff already, but Midoriya was already there with Shigaraki…" She paused and sent a glance towards the detective who gestured for her to continue, "Uh, the two were talking—I didn't recognise who Shigaraki was at first, I thought he was a friend of Midoriya's or something—anyway, uh, I asked who his friend was and if he was done with his shopping already. Shigaraki tried to get me to go away—"

"—He spoke to you?"

"Yeah, just short sentences, not much really"

"Such as?"

"Uh, 'Go away' 'Get lost' those kind of things, y'know. Anyway, when I recognised the voice, I told him I wasn't going anywhere and pulled Midoriya out of his grasp"

"How did you recognise him on just his voice alone? Had you heard him speak before?"

"Uh, a couple of times at the USJ incident, but other than that…"

"That doesn't answer my question"

"Rule #53"

"What?"

"Rule #53, y'know those rules they teach heroes?"

"What rules?"

"Oh! I knew Koro-Sensei was making them up!" Toru muttered under her breath before turning back to the detective, "Rule #53 is: 'Knowledge is power…Wield it like a blade, secure it like a treasure…it is your most sacred weapon' "

"…How many of these rules are there?" Tsukauchi sat back in his seat as he studied the invisible girl in front of him.

"Uh…there's a fair few…"

"Alright, but what's this gotta do with it?"

"Look, the guy's apparently some figurehead for the League of Villains and clearly he's got some kind of fixation on All-Might-sensei, which in turn means he'll likely try to strike UA and its students again and again until he gets what he wants. As such, I found it pertinent to learn about him and his Quirk; so I knew what we'd likely face in the future" She leant back in her chair and crossed her arms.

"And what did you find?"

"Not much, you look for him and you mostly get propaganda videos about the League of Villains—recruitment drives and whatnot—nothing substantial"

"Hm. Back to this, did you touch Shigaraki?"

"No, at least not until he made a grab for Midoriya"

"Where did you touch him?"

"His wrist"

"Anything else?"

"He started talking about history, of all things" Stop talking! "And mentioned that he knew an old…teacher of mine and that was it"

"What teacher?"

"Well, he was more like a friend of a teacher or a teacher of a teacher—I had thought he was dead, so y'know…"

"That was it?"

"Yep—I mean, I kneed him in the crotch and called him a pervert, but other than that…"


Soon enough, the interrogation had ended and Tsukauchi let Toru go, letting her meet up with Midoriya, his mother and All-Might who were waiting outside the precinct. "Young Midoriya! Young Hagakure! Tsukauchi!" All-Might greeted, his shrimpy form rushed to meet them at the door.

"All-Might-Sensei?" Toru quietly murmured, head tilted in puzzlement as she watched Midoriya's tearful mother embrace her son. All Might stood off to the side, but looked as if he was waiting to be hit or at least reprimanded by the short woman. Grasping tight to the straps of her bag, Toru followed after the detective and joined the trio outside. "Hello" She greeted, coming to a stop behind the woman.

"Oh! Hello, uh-uh, this-this is—" Midoriya's mother stammered, looking panicked as her tearful gaze shot between the blonde and the invisible girl.

"—It's alright, Mum" Midoriya interrupted still clinging to his mother, "She already knows"

"I figured it out" Toru supplied with a shrug, "Wasn't that hard—I think it's the fringe…makes you look like an ant or one of those car dealership balloon thingies" Midoriya's mother smiled while All Might tugged at his fringe in contemplation; looking a little put out as he did so.

"Sansa," Tsukauchi turned to the feline detective who had directed Midoriya's mother over, "Make sure they get home safe"

"Sir!" Sansa saluted and motioned for the trio to follow him over to one of the police cars parked in front of the precinct.

"Ah, it's all right, I'm not far" Toru politely refused, wanting to get home as soon as possible so she could ready for the last day of semester tomorrow. "I'll just walk"

"At this time of night?" Midoriya's mother cut in before any of the others could say otherwise, "No way"

"Um…" Toru stared at the small woman in front her full of maternal instincts and unable to find a way to refuse without sounding rude.

"Get in the car" She all but ordered, dark eyes somehow pinpointing Toru's golden ones even when she couldn't see them.

"Yes ma'am" Toru squeaked as she slid into the passenger seat while both mother and son took the back seat. Midoriyas are scary!

Toru spent most of the short drive watching the world go by. The radio crackled throughout the car, filling the space with meaningless noise instead of the awkward silence that floated between the quartet. "Just up here" She directed the detective, when the edge of the retirement village came into view.

"Are you sure" Sansa inquired as they pulled up outside the large iron-wrought gate, "This is a retirement village"

"Uh, yeah, it's just me and my grandfather—it's pretty good, all things considered" Toru replied.

"Was there a reason he couldn't come get you, tonight?"

"I think he had a poker game tonight…At least I think it was poker, could've been Bridge. I dunno, some kind of card game tournament" She dismissed as she unbuckled her seatbelt, "Thanks" She said to Sansa, "See ya tomorrow, Midoriya" She waved, collecting her things and hopping out of the car. The police car waited out on the street until she slid through the side gate and disappeared up the path to the main building of the retirement suburb.

Traipsing along the gilded path towards her grandfather's allocated building amongst the terracotta brick-a-brack houses, Toru reminisced on the home she now lived in. Unlike her grandparents previous home, this one was well-kept by the in-house staff and provided secured safety that you couldn't even dream of in the other one.

That's to say, that the other apartment wasn't left in the dust, technically speaking, it was still in her grandparents' name; but with what had happened there she didn't blame her grandfather for wanting to move. Plus the current agreement with the retirement home meant that until the lease on their previous apartment was up, the two could live in the village rent-free, after that they would have to pay the fee.

Toru was just thankful that the owners of the village were understanding. There was also the added benefit of all the elderly who enjoyed spending time with the younger generation, filling their lonely days with a younger company, most reminiscing on days long lost. However, the days ticked down until all the remaining items had to be collected from the old apartment or they were resold to make way for the new occupants. Gotta get on that.

From the entrance exams to the fitness test. Toru mused as she jimmied her key in the lock, Combat training, the League of Villains attack, the Sports Festival, our internships & the Host incident and finally our exams. A lot has happened, but my first semester at UA is over now and summer is about to begin.

Waving a greeting to the table of elderly men who sat hunched over their playing cards with various medical equipment, empty potato chip bags and cans of beer strewn about them, many of whom replied with enthusiastic grunts, head jerks and eyebrows raised as she diverted to the fridge for a snack and then onto her bedroom (the spare room).

Though that doesn't mean we can just ignore our training, all of us need to be prepared for the evil lurking around the corner because that's how we'll become true heroes. We don't have time to stand around; we have to keep running towards our goals.