That's the Idea

Everything hurt too much.

Hitoshi fought the urge to collapse and never wake up again; but he had to. A real hero wouldn't let body pains stop them from doing mundane student work. Hitoshi dropped on his seat with a heavy sigh. Fumei was right, at his current level he could only dream of catching up with the hero kids.

However, that didn't stop Fumei from pushing them beyond their limits. The training regimen he and Sensei cooked up was devoid of empathy. They risked comfort to reach results, and as much as Hitoshi hated it, he did see and feel progress.

He was lighter on his feet during combat. He got better at dodging and blocking, but hasn't improved much with attacking. Fumei had to remind him to use his quirk along his attacks a couple of times before it came to him as second nature.

Dodge, parry, control, then its rinse and repeat.

It was liberating, like he was given a second chance to discover his quirk. He still held back a lot when it came to the control part, much to Fumei's dismay, so he decided to move onto more important exercises - quirk training.

It was then when Hioshi realized that Fumei was actually good, and terrifying, at what he sought to do. He was clever; he understood their quirks like he himself owned it. He knew how to improve them, and sure, Sensei had notes, but half the time their exercises were Fumei's brain child.

Fumei just held himself differently than usual as he supervised them. He was still blunt and incapable of deciphering what is too much or not, but he was steadfast and goal-oriented. He hardly felt like a student at all. However, despite his work discipline, Fumei wasn't that heartless. He at least allowed them fifteen minute breaks in between sets and only double it when someone complained - Tatsumaki mostly. They then agreed that Fumei was a lot better when he's not in charge.

Fumei made him brainwash five people at once; a far cry from his limit of three. Maintaining his control over five people took a bit of a learning curve but he managed to keep it for at least a minute. Hitoshi was proud of the feat in itself, but Fumei wasn't satisfied. He wanted to do more; so he did.

Sticking to five people, Fumei challenged him to give them each a command to perform while all under his influence. The mental demand on him would be higher than ever before, and Hitoshi was interested in testing out the possibility of doing more with his quirk. The moment he stepped up and opened his mouth to give out the command, he passed out.

Hitoshi woke up in his bed with no memory of how and when he got there.

As grateful as he was over Fumei helping him out to move past his quirks limitation, Hitoshi can't say he particularly liked his method. He was too merciless and too driven to see results; it was like he forgot that they were all just teenagers. Then again, Fumei had difficulty expressing himself appropriately and it's possible he didn't sort out his intentions and words again properly yesterday.

Hitoshi didn't like it, but his approach did show results. Aside from his own improvements in combat, the others also showed some progress.

Tatsumaki was able to isolate the rotation of his wrists from his arms without stabilizing it with a spare hand, but his aim was still shoddy at best. Koharu managed to do better and increased his limit from ten portals to double that by reusing energy expelled twice.

Okami reached some of her goal and could now transform between forms within 30 seconds. However, she always ran out of stamina after the second attempt and increasingly got frustrated. Nusumi was the only one without any decent progress that Fumei actually scolded her for not ruining the stuffed bear assigned to her.

Regardless of his rare optimism and growing belief in Fumei's capabilities to actually help him, Hitoshi reminded himself not to be too naive or attached. He still can't find it in himself to trust him like the others do. He can tolerate him a lot better now, but not to the extent that he'd open himself up to him. Their relationship was strictly professional, nothing more.

Hitoshi groaned as he rubbed his growin migraine away. He may have slept through dinner last night, but it wasn't enough to regain his mental strength. Who would've thought that there would come a time that Hitoshi really wished nothing today would urge him to use his quirk.

When he entered the classroom, the first thing Hitoshi noticed was the line of yellow tape around Nusumi, who seemed unaware of her surroundings and was busy playing around with her hair while she hummed a nursery rhyme from memory. Tenmei pushed everyone out of the way and warned them of the dangers she currently posed.

As though on cue, a light bulb burst on top of her and the glass sprinkled all over Koharu who was absentmindedly opening and closing portals with his fingers. He jumped in shock, and opened unconsciously opened portal by his foot. Koharu's bag reappeared on top of Tatsumaki's head, who then instinctively rotated his wrist towards the threat and flung himself towards the back room.

Kamimura screamed as Tatsumaki knocked himself out cold, and Okami finally woke up from her slobbered nap. "IT'S NOT FULL MOON YET!" the transforming student yelled, before collapsing back down, sound asleep.

Hitoshi exchanged a knowing look with Kamimura, and the latter sighed. "Don't worry I got this," she said and went to work with Tatsumaki.

While the class sorted itself out, and tried to repair the damages Nusumi's quirk kept on creating, Hitoshi tried to keep to himself. He tried to stay awake, but soon found it hard too. He slowly drifted off and began dreaming about cats.

"This is a classroom not a lounge. FIX YOURSELVES AT ONCE OR I'M WRITING YOU ALL DETENTION SLIPS!" Awaseru-sensei suddenly yelled, and Hitoshi and the other hero prospects immediately scrambled to make themselves presentable.

"Congratulations on your surviving the most grueling part of training, the first day." he grinned. "I've read your progress, and if you keep up that pace then sport's festival will become just slightly more achievable for you to win."

Hitoshi rubbed his face. Sensei and Fumei had different outlooks on the festival; one was optimistic while the other pessimistic respectively. Hitoshi felt inclined to prove Fumei's unusual pessimism wrong though.

"They will push through with it?" Shirogane asked. "Even after the attacks?"

"Yes," Sensei said. "I had similar concerns as you Shirogane, however it is necessary to demonstrate strength and unity with such events. It's also important to show to the world that Yuuei's crisis management protocols are still sound."

"Are… are they not?" Makito asked.

"Yuuei's protocol remains as one of the country's best," he said. "However, in response to the recent attacks, there'll be five times the police and hero presence involved. It's a much awaited event in the country after all, we couldn't just cancel it. It's also a platform for hero students to advertise themselves, and for some of you, get recommended for a promotion."

The class erupted in idle chatter, both intrigued and worried for those wherein the festival acted as their final chance to heroism. Hitoshi knew it was going to be hard, but he was ready for it. He was prepared for it.

"That being said, I'm going to see the six of you later to see your improvements in person." He smiled widely. "For the rest of you, enjoy the festival as much as you can." All of a sudden, Sensei's table collapsed to pieces from a screw loose they didn't even know was there. It slid off the platform and cushioned Nusumi's fall as she snored herself to sleep.

Awaseru-sensei closed his eyes and took three deep breaths. "Can someone please take her to Recovery Girl."

Katagiri immediately stood to help her up, but Nusumi's quirk flared up again and caused the former to trip on an air. She hit her head on Nusumi's table, and left the latter's nap undisturbed for longer. No one else dared to contain her after that.

When she finally woke up during second period, the instructor immediately kicked her out of the room. Katagiri volunteered once again to take her, and Hitoshi was forced to escort. It was left unsaid, but he knew they all wanted him to get her under his control so she doesn't accidentally let her quirk run rampant again.

For once, Hitoshi agreed.

Recovery Girl was not happy to see them.

She was still accommodating, and was more than happy to let them sleep in, but he saw the frustration behind her eyes. He didn't have it in him to ask her, yet she voiced out her concerns either way. It turned out that this was not Sensei's first attempt to raise proper recommendations for the hero course. He had been doing it for a long time and was successful for a few.

This year just turned out to be the worst in terms of safety.

Hitoshi sort of understood why. Neither of the previous classes had Fumei that made Sensei's already high-class regimen more demanding. It also didn't help that Akusa and Fumei nearly killed each other on their first sparring match. Akusa hadn't joined them again in training, and Hitoshi earnestly hoped he wouldn't. Ever.

He was too dangerous for anyone to work with.

Katagiri tried to defend Sensei's diligence to train them, and Recovery Girl agreed. However, she did not condone the lengths he would do just to improve their skills and quirks. Hitoshi wanted to argue, but he did sort of understand the healing hero as well.

If they pushed themselves too much, a little too fast, they could break and lose their one chance. Hitoshi wanted nothing more but to be stronger than his current state. He's never had this much support for years and now that he had it, he never wanted to let it go. As much as he understood Recovery Girl's concerns, he was not going to limit himself when he'd been shown it was endless.

Sensei's belief made him feel empowered and for the first time in his life, Hitoshi actually found the strength to believe in himself too. If he needed to break a few bones, maybe even live through headaches for days just to repay that belief, then he would.

Anything to achieve his dream.

Anything to become a hero.

The day slipped by faster than Hitoshi can name all of All Might's super moves in his head. He packed his bags and considered running to the gym first to change into proper working attire. Fumei tried to catch up to him, but Kureito dragged the former off somewhere before he could.

Free of the thorn to his side, Hitoshi finally exited the room, grateful for the few minutes of peace before the hell training, only to be pushed back inside by a crowd of eager first years.

"Come on! 1-A is this way!"

"Hurry up, we might miss them!"

"Maybe All Might is there too, I have to see him!"

Hitoshi frowned at their numbers and merely peeked out the door rather than squeeze himself after them.

"Who would've thought I would witness a school of fish testing dangerous waters so close to home," Akusa cryptically said from his chair. He picked up his bag and placed Blanksheet over his shoulder. "Were you thinking of following after them?"

Hitoshi didn't answer, a little confused by his out of place proverb or something, and Akusa sighed.

"The festival is coming up soon," he noted. "1-A's classroom is that way… Need I say more?"

"You mean checking them out?"

"Ah," Akusa hummed, pleased. "The simpleton has a brain. Congratulations. I wouldn't bother though. The difference between them and yourself are too significant. Trying is equitable to failure. I'm certain Fumei already cued you in on that."

Hitoshi ignored Akusa's unwanted words of wisdom and did exactly what he said was foolish. He followed the crowd towards 1-A to see them for himself. A lot of people have already told him that winning was impossible, all his life everything had been impossible, yet he still stuck around to prove them wrong. He's going to prove Akusa and Fumei wrong if it was the last thing he did.

"Where are you going?" Koharu popped his head by the front door as Hitoshi passed by.

"The hero class."

"Studying the enemy?" Tatsumaki joined in, thankfully or not, back to his usual flamboyant self after getting healed by Kamimura twice today. "Count me in."

Hitoshi continued walking. He didn't really care if they tagged along or not. He knew what he set out to do and he will do it regardless of their company. This wasn't a courtesy call, it would be an act of defiance.

"What's going on!?" shouted a brown haired girl from inside the infamous hero class.

"There's no way out," said a small grape haired boy. "What're they here for?"

A boy with spiky ash-blond hair and crimson colored eyes stepped forward to scowl. "Scoping out the competition, duh," he said with a frustrated huff. "Cuz we're the kids who survived a villain attack. Makes sense they'd want a look before the sports festival."

Tatsumaki scoffed. "Wow, what an ass."

Hitoshi agreed. This one was so strung up his high-horse that he reminded Hitoshi of Akusa when he introduces himself, the only difference was that this one was slightly less eloquent.

"No point, though, because I'm going to win everything," the hero said, and Hitoshi frowned. It would be his greatest pleasure to prove him wrong the most.

Hitoshi was familiar with his type. He's met plenty of them in middle school and even more after that. People like him, people with strong, powerful quirks, tend to look down on others with lesser quirks; like Hitoshi.

They were given everything, promised everything, and can achieve everything. What Hitoshi would give to be one of them, but alas, he wasn't born to be lucky.

"Move aside, cannon fodder."

"Can we please not resort to calling those we don't even know as 'cannon fodder'?" the Iida kid said while making a large chopping gesture with his arm.

Hitoshi felt a loud chuckle bubble in his throat without warning, and Tatsumaki and Koharu look at him oddly. They've never heard him laugh like that before. They've never heard him laugh at all.

"It's true." Hitoshi stepped forward and Tatsumaki tried to hold him back with a heavy hiss. He shook him off and pushed past the rest of the crowd to come face to face with the arrogant hero kid.

"We came to get a look, but you sure are modest."

Then all eyes were immediately on him. Hitoshi ignored them and kept his eyes drilled on his target. If being classmates Fumei and Akusa taught him anything, it's that the first step to make oneself appear more intimidating is to embody that feeling. Control the surrounding, subdue it.

"HUH?!" the hero student snapped.

"Gotta say, I'm a little disappointed if this is what you're offering," he scratched his neck to appear indifferent to the other's power. The ash-blond snarled and gritted his teeth.

Hitoshi wasn't sure if he heard something pop and sizzle nearby.

"Those of us who didn't make the hero course are stuck in general studies and other tracks. There are quite a few of us. Did you know that?"

The look of confusion on their faces told Hitoshi enough. They didn't. They were too caught up in their own world to notice those beneath them. Hitoshi cannot wait to pull the rug from under them.

"Depending on the results of this festival, they might consider transferring us to the hero course." A mop of green hair froze after hearing that. "I understand the reverse is also possible for you."

"Scoping out the competition?" Hitoshi mockingly laughed. "Don't make me laugh. For a general kid like me, this is the perfect chance to knock you off your pedestal. Consider this a declaration of war, heroes."

He's too daring! Tatsumaki and Koharu silently screamed. The look on everyone else's face mirrored their silent thoughts.

"He picked up too much from Fumei," Tatsumaki said, terrified. Koharu nodded and silently slinked away from the crowd before they can be singled out. They may share an aspiration, but they're not as bold, or as eager to piss of the top contenders like Hitoshi.

"Hey! I'm from Class 1B next door!" A boy with long grey hair and thick pale eyelashes shoved Hitoshi to the side and said, "Heard you guys fought some villains. Wanted to find out more, but all I'm seeing is this arrogant bastard! You better not make fools of the hero course at this thing!"

Everyone stared at the loud mouthed hero kid and scoffed. He looked bored at their yelling and walked away. The crowd made way for him to pass, and one of his classmates, a boy with spiky red hair and shark like teeth, ran after him.

"Wait you jerk! What're you doing to us! Thanks to you we've got a whole mob of hater's now!"

"I don't give a crap…" the ash-blond snarled, which surprised almost everyone within earshot. "I'm heading for the top, why should I care?"

Hitoshi smirked. He can't wait to make him eat his words.

"Heard you declared war on 1-A," Fumei said as he caught up with him on his way to Gym Beta.

Hitoshi glanced down at the blond, and scanned around for his right hand. Kureito was thankfully out of sight. "I needed to stand out," he answered. "So I did."

Fumei chuckled. "Declaring war on the entire hero class? That is one way. You need to be careful though, you just placed a target on your back."

"Let them," Hitoshi said confidently. "If they see me as a threat, then they don't deserve to be in the hero course."

"Bold," the other grinned. "I like it."

"Kureito's not joining us today?" he asked. If Fumei was going to make him repeat yesterday's routine, then he wanted to get back at Kureito's teasing with some of his own.

"Nah." Fumei waved his hand. "He's running some errands. You've got me all to yourself today."

Hitoshi rolled his eyes and welcomed himself inside the gym first. While Fumei sat down to wait, Hitoshi started on his own warm ups. He'll be damned if he followed Nusum's routine again.

The others arrived while he was cooling off, and Fumei asked them to gather around in a circle.

"I've got some good news and bad news." Fumei told them earnestly. "What do you want to hear first?"

"Bad news," Nusumi said a little drunkenly. Fumei looked at them all, trying to get a general consensus. Hitoshi shrugged, not feeling all that worried for both.

"Alright then," he said. "Bad news is that Toshi wasted twenty minutes warming up."

"What?"

Tatsumaki snickered, and Koharu slapped him on the back of his head for being insensitive.

"Good news is we're not practicing today."

Unable to hold his voice any longer, Tatsumaki laughed at Hitoshi before throwing a fist in the air in joy.

Nusumi burst into tears and clung to Hitoshi's arm in delight. Hitoshi growled at the sudden intimacy and pushed her away. Nusumi fell on the floor and stayed there, giggling.

Koharu looked conflicted but didn't say anything. He just readily accepted it and clasped his hands together. Okami growled. She didn't seem to be happy with the news despite it being good.

"So what are we doing?" she asked. "Sensei said we're supposed to train. What do we do when he comes and sees us chattering in a circle?"

"I'll make something up," Fumei grinned. "I pushed you all too much yesterday, so call it an apology. I got excited, and some of you ended up in the infirmary."

Nusumi whooped a little before lying back down.

"I didn't mean for that to happen."

"Apology not accepted, you fucking asshole," Tatsumaki groaned. "I couldn't feel and move my arms all night!"

"Understandable," the blond laughed. "But like I said, I'll cover for you. Right now, you guys can rest. Consider it a reward for yesterday's job well done."

"So what now?" Hitoshi didn't come here, do twenty minutes worth of warm up and not do anything. "Stare at each other?"

Fumei shrugged. "I honestly didn't think this far ahead."

Hitoshi frowned. If that were the case, "I'm leaving."

"Wait no, no, no!" Nusumi cried while she pulled Hitoshi back down into their circle. "We should use this! We can finally learn about each other, and be an actual team. Bonding."

Hitoshi made a disgusted face equivalent to Tatsumaki's gagging noise. "With you guys? Gross. I don't want to hear your life story." Tatsumaki said.

"Boooooo." Nusumi stuck her tongue out. "You're just scared to share feelings!"

Okami clapped her hands, excited. "We can play twenty questions. You can never go wrong with twenty questions." She grabbed a bottle of water and spun it around. "Whoever the cap points to has, answers one question."

"Sounds simple enough," Koharu says through a stifled yawn. "Who wants to do the honors?"

Nusumi hauled herself up then reached out for the bottle. "Ladies first." She spun the bottle twice before letting it loose.

Tension built around them as the bottle continued to rotate without any hints of stopping. Nusumi started to chant some song to match the suspense, and dragged out the last word as the bottle slowed to a stop. It pointed at Tatsumaki, who then blasted it an inch towards Koharu.

"That's cheating!"

Tatsumaki shrugged. "No one said we can't use quirks to manipulate the odds." Nusumi howled and fired him some finger guns.

Hitoshi rolled his eyes at them. This was childish, and he wanted out of it. He didn't need to know their life stories to 'bond' with them. He had no intention of being friends, nor staying long enough to make friends.

"Don't be such a downer Koharu," Okami dismissed Koharu's cry. "Just get payback the next round. Now," she leaned forward with keen yellow eyes. "What was your gateway to dream about becoming a hero?"

Koharu blinked. "That's it?" Okami nodded. "Huh, okay… well, it's kind of stupid really. I like hero costumes, and I also want to look cool while saving people. I know it's not very personal or anything, and if it doesn't work out I'll be fine with."

"But I want to give it my all too," he said with heavy conviction. "I don't want to be a part of this group and give only the barest minimum. I want to be stronger so I can be a hero, not just aim to be one as an afterthought."

Hitoshi gaped at Koharu. He never thought someone can be just as dedicated to becoming a hero as he is because they liked their costumes. He figured entering a design department would do him better than here. However, he'd seen Koharu's fire during training yesterday.

He was not giving up that easily.

"No shame there," Fumei said as he tucked his chin in his palm. "You ever draw outfits for yourself?"

Koharu blushed and quickly spinned the bottle. "One question only." Fumei pouted and watched as the bottle paused in front of Nusumi.

"My turn!" she cheered. "Give me a good one."

"Why do you use your quirk so carelessly?" Hitoshi asked first. "You can do so much more if you learned to control, yet you don't."

Nusumi snorted, as though she found the question boring, but nevertheless answered as per rules of the game. "Because, Shi-shin. It's fun, duh! Don't tell me you wouldn't use my quirk to get something for free?"

"I won't because that's wrong."

"Figures," Nusumi said. "I would totally use yours." Hitoshi glared at her, and Nusumi raised her hands in defense.

"For reals though, it's not like I'm doing the 'not understanding' part on purpose," she explained. "I've tried before plenty of times! But my quirks actually more complicated that it looks. I have to account for statistics, the environment, domino-effects, et cetera, et cetera. Too many!"

"I'm not...the smartest bean in the room," she said. "I can't think about all that in a second, so I don't. I let whatever needs to happen, to just do when I want it. I don't know how it'll happen, but I know I'll get it."

Hitoshi didn't think Nusumi's quirk needed all of that thought process to be able to work at its best. However it did explain a lot now. She did know how to use her quirk, she just didn't bother mastering it.

He didn't know whether to be insulted or offended.

"So you like… just wish for things and your quirk does it for you?" Koharu mumbled, and she shrugged.

"Not sure but I'm going to say yes anyway. That's two questions by the way."

Koharu slapped his forehead and apologized for his mistake; while Nusumi kicked the bottle to spin again. The cap stopped in front of Fumei.

"My turn already?" Fumei asked. "Alright who's asking?"

"What a trick question, I am of course~" Nusumi sang. "Why do you want to help us? Surely, it's not out of the goodness of your heart."

Fumei looked down to the ground. He started playing with his shoelaces, and took some time to answer it. He looked uncomfortable sharing it. Okami noticed it just the same as Hitoshi did. "You don't have to share if you don't want to, Fumei…"

The blond shook his head. "No, it's alright. It was my dad. On his road to debut as a hero... but he got into an accident during his internship that ended it for him. He still wanted to save people, so he tried to pass that legacy to me."

"I wanted to do, for him but I grew up wanting something else. I still wanted to help but not in the way he would've wanted me to. Mom was a teacher," Fumei smiled somberly. "I wanted to be like her."

"Your mom's a teacher…?" Hitoshi asked.

Fumei chuckled with a sad glint in his eyes. "Yeah, she…" he paused. "She is. Middle school. She's very encouraging and helps them be better at what they're good at. I guess she rubbed off on me and now here I am helping you guys instead of being a hero."

"So, not a hero, but a teacher?" Okami asked.

"Pretty sure I answered two questions, so let's save that for later." Fumei spun the bottle again and it finally stopped at Hitoshi. They met each other's gaze, and Hitoshi groaned.

"Wow, lucky me," the blond grinned. "Alright Tosh, the million dollar question. What drives you to be a hero?"

Tatsumaki scoffed. "That's boring! We all know why he wants to be one! It's to prove those asshole in grade school for calling him a villain. Ask him if he likes someone."

"You ask him," Fumei said before returning his attention to Hitoshi.

Hitoshi weighed his options. He could refuse to answer, or he could just tell them. They were all being honest, and so far none of them seemed like they were doing this to antagonize him. He figured he wasn't going to lose anything for sharing.

"I've wanted to be a hero for as long as I can remember," he began. He kept out the parts where he worshiped All Might to save himself the embarrassment. "People always smiled at heroes, and I wanted that for me too. It's a bit selfish, but when they smiled, I always feel like I've done a good job. When my quirk appeared, it just scared everyone."

"Quirks like mine can be easily misused, and I've wanted to plenty of times," he said. "But I want to use this power for good, to make people smile and make them feel safe. I want to prove to them and myself that my quirk doesn't define who I am. The entrance exam was supposed to be that, but…"

"It just wasn't the right fit," Okami finished. Hitoshi nodded.

"He froze up during the exam, you know," Fumei grinned, trying to lighten the mood a little. "He just stood there waiting to get hit."

"Then he swooped in to 'save' me." Hitoshi made quotation marks on the air. "Which doesn't help him because he dropped a hundred pound robot on everyone else to get me moving again. It's a good thing you stopped dreaming to be a hero, you'd be a terrible investment."

Fumei shrugged. "I did say I'm not made for hero work."

"What kind of sick fuck are you?!" Tatsumaki grabbed Fumei by his collar and shook him. The blond laughed, amused by his outcry. "I would die if you dropped something like that on me."

"HE'S BEEN RUTHLESS THE ENTIRE TIME, AND WE LET HIM TRAIN US!" Okami shouted. That managed to get a laugh out of everyone, even Hitoshi who snickered at Fumei who tried to defend his actions. No one listened to him though.

Hitoshi didn't like how Fumei can easily throw people into danger like that, and wondered if he could help him out of that thinking. Fumei had been helping them overcome their limits, then maybe, as their first act of heroes, they can teach him to be mindful.

"My quirk steal's others will by force," he continued. "I can't change that. What I can change is how they see it. I'm not only taking, but giving. I give people a purpose to think about when they're afraid, and as a hero, that's the most important. I can became a hero with my own power. I just need the right tools."

"Stop being dramatic," Fumei chuckled. "You're well on your way to being a hero, so I'll accept that long overdue thank you now, thank you."

"Don't push it," Hitoshi said. He turned the bottle and waited for it to slow in front of Tatsumaki. "Do you –"

"No, this one's mine," Fumei cut him off mid-sentence and asked, "Do you like anyone in class?"

Tatsumaki huffed. "I wanted to ask that!"

"Answer the question! Answer the question!" Nusumi cheered.

"Well..." Tatsumaki face turned red at the mere thought of it, and quickly mumbled, "Kami – Kamimura is pretty cute."

Nusumi squealed and squeezed the life off Hitoshi in glee. "I KNEW IT! SHIROGANE OWE'S ME A HUNDRED!" she cackled. "NOW YOU HAVE TO ANSWER WHY! YOU GOTTA TELL ME WHY?"

"That's a new question!" Tatsumaki spun the bottle, and despite Nusumi's loud insistence to keep the turn on him, asked Okami, "W- What's the most embarrassing moment you've had after you've transformed back from a dog?"

"I tried to stay as a wolf for an hour back in primary school, and I did," she shared without missing a beat. "Teachers locked me up in a room naked because I kept growling and barking at everyone who tried to put a shirt on me. Almost bit a finger off a teacher. Man, being stuck with a mind of an animal can be pretty wild."

She pulled out her phone and mischievously asked, "You want to see? I got pictures."

Hitoshi passed out on the chance. Koharu and Tatsumaki both saved themselves from the horror, but Nusumi, ever the risk taker, didn't even hesitate to look through it. She laughed the entire time, much to Okami's chagrin.

As Okami spun the bottle again for the next round of questions, Awaseru-sensei suddenly barged into the room. Fumei quickly stood up to explain the situation to him, while Okami chucked the bottle over her head. Koharu caught it inside a portal and dropped the evidence of their game into a trash bin outside. However, it was too late. Sensei already saw them slacking off.

Sensei's heavily frustrated voice reverberated through the room, and everyone ran to their stations. Okami dragged Hitoshi with him for a sparring match. She didn't say it, but he was certain she didn't want to be alone while Sensei was in a bad mood.

As punishment for his actions, Sensei forced Fumei to join them in training. He locked the blond in the equipment room without room for any source of light. He threw in a phone with a flashlight and ordered Fumei to create a light plate sturdy enough to withstand his own weight.

Hitoshi tried to hide his amusement when Fumei failed, over and over again. About time he got a taste of his own medicine.

A/N: A filler chapter before the beginning of the festival. Is everyone ready? I SURE AM! And like completely unrelated to this fic, but omg Horikoshi is feeding us with good Shinsou content the past few weeks. My son is finally getting recognized. A shame I'd have to break that in this fic (I'm kidding ahahaha - or am I?)

Kamimura heals Tatsumaki's sorry ass (and ends up falling for her): 3