Over those hours that streamed by after Takai's departure, the sinister sense of isolation that had haunted Akiko for so long steadily strengthened. Neither Jomei's presence nor the warmth of late afternoon sunshine streaming through the room's blinds were powerful enough to break through the gloom that'd settled over her mind, and the hospital room's once distracting dullness had lost its former ability to distract her entirely. Without anything in the immediate vicinity to help ward away the perpetual plague of her thoughts, Akiko found herself little choice but to address them; and, more specifically, those that pertained to the two most prominent figures in her mind, aside from Jomei.

Kirishima and Takai.

Unrelated as they were to one another, Akiko couldn't control her subconscious enough to not connect invisible dots that she herself hadn't ever even realized existed between them. Steadily, Kirishima's argument against her and Takai's strongly supportive stance where her dreams were concerned combined into the threat her psyche would weave into a simple, yet unsettling inquiry.

What would she do if someone she couldn't live without was kidnapped?

Even assuming that this someone's location had already been ascertained, Akiko couldn't claim any certainty about what she'd do, in this sordid scenario.

Would she run away to rescue them immediately?

Whatever would follow after her choosing such an angle of approach, Akiko knew those actions would mark her as a vigilante. Dawnbreaker might have been one, sure, but Jomei had informed Akiko how that life had treated their mentor. Surrendering to vigilantism, regardless of what her intentions were, would be a total surrender of her heroic moral code. Disregarding whether this vigilantism would yield her desired outcome, it'd be as Tsuyu claimed – through this path, she'd be emulating the behaviors of the villains she'd sworn to stop.

If not vigilantism, though, what? Would she remain an infallible example of heroism?

Where their society was concerned, this option meant that she'd have virtually zero involvement with any rescue attempts that were made. Despite everything she'd trained for her entire life, she'd be relegated to a distressed damsel awaiting news of whether a strike team of complete strangers had succeeded or failed at saving her loved ones. Reasonable as this option also was, Akiko wasn't comforted by this hypothetical approach. It was no secret that many across Japan interpreted their contemporary society as fundamentally flawed and corrupt; as such, she wasn't certain she'd be thrilled at the prospect of risking the lives of those she loved solely to perpetuate people's belief in a society many had already turned their hearts against.

Would she do something in-between?

This approach was simultaneously the most and least problematic of the bunch. If she could somehow convince whoever was in charge of the rescue attempt that she should be involved, their chances at survival could only increase; however, there was no small chance that she'd lose herself while protecting them. Whether that meant she or her unfortunate foe would suffer some extreme injury in the encounter, it didn't matter. In either circumstance, what mattered most was that her involvement – while possibly alleviating her sense of helplessness – might backfire.

Between these three thoughts, the only certainty was that the entire ordeal would be harrowing; thus, she prayed these unspeakable scenarios would never transpire.

And prayed that Jomei would regain consciousness soon.

Emerging from the prison of her mind, she glanced over to Jomei's unconscious form. Nothing in his breathing nor the plentiful medical bandages around his arms and torso had changed at all. Akiko should've been at least thankful his health hadn't deteriorated, but reason oftentimes had little weight where one's emotions were concerned. If her entire life experience had offered her an intrinsic understanding of anything, that'd definitely be it.

Shifting her hospital chair closer toward him, Akiko slipped her hand into his. It was warm, but it still lacked the familiar strength that'd offered her comfort so many times in the past. Holding his hand close, she leaned over his bedside while remaining seated. Other than the sounds of medical machinery and Jomei's breathing beside her, Akiko's sole source of company was the consistent ticking of a mechanical clock somewhere behind her. At the persistent pressure that the noise sent into her soul, her recently shut eyes burned with tears that threatened to fall.

At this moment, the universe had never felt colder.

"Jomei? I know you can't hear me right now, but…" Akiko sniffled, her words a nearly inaudible whisper. "I really wish you were awake, right now."

There wasn't any holding them back. Burying her face further into the thin fabric that covered Jomei's slumbering form, her tears fell. Every moment that passed brought another wave and soon the blanket beneath her cheek was damp with the weight of her emotion.

Yet she didn't drown.

Someone squeezed her hand. It was so soft that it could've just been her imagination, but then that same special someone's voice hit her ears, convincing her that this moment's miracle was indeed real.

"You called?"

Slowly, Akiko removed her head from the bed sheets. Almost immediately, her expression turned from depression into disbelief, and she pressed her sleeves to her eyes, wiping away her tears and again assuring herself that what she saw was real. Although he'd just barely begun to fight back the mental cobwebs accumulated by his slumber, he'd regained consciousness.

"Jomei…!"

Without another thought, she dove into his chest while she slipped her arms around him. Despite how her actions made Jomei gently grunt in discomfort, he quickly tamed the noise and returned Akiko's embrace. From the moment his arms wrapped around her, Jomei's warmth chased away the creeping cold that'd been clawing at her heart. Rubbing comforting circles all along her back, Jomei exhaled a relieved breath, planting a soft kiss upon the side of her head.

"Didn't expect to see you here," he whispered. "How long have I been out?"

While Akiko would've happily lingered within his arms, she slowly summoned enough strength to exit his embrace. Still yearning for his warmth after pulling away, she slipped her hand back into his again.

"Too long," she said. "But… almost three days, now."

"Damn, really?" Jomei wondered, his gaze turning toward the window for a moment. "Man, I really overslept this time, huh?"

Despite herself, Akiko laughed. It wasn't more than the briefest of chuckles, but it was more welcome and genuine than anything she'd been able to muster for far longer than she'd have wished.

"What?" Jomei smiled.

"You know what," Akiko said. "How you're already acting this positive right after waking up is beyond me, but… I'm not complaining, for sure."

"Yeah, I guess I'm jumping the gun, but… you're here. I didn't die. That's good news?" Jomei's smile disappeared, replaced by quiet realization. "But, wait- we're in a hospital. How's everyone else? Kyoka? Denki? Aizawa-sensei, Vlad, Class 1-A?"

"They're alright, more-or-less," Akiko answered. "Aizawa-sensei and Vlad King didn't suffer any injuries, but they've been busy dealing with police debriefings, last thing I knew."

"And everyone else?" Jomei repeated.

"Depending on the person? They're mixed," Akiko admitted. "Everyone mostly suffered minor injuries at best in 1-A, but then there are some others that needed serious treatment. Shoji had some burns but should be alright. Midoriya's arms were shattered, but everyone's thinking that he should be okay. Yaoyorozu suffered a concussion but she regained consciousness yesterday, so she's definitely fine. Denki's been completely healed from his minor burns, and Kyoka…"

"What about her?" Jomei pressed.

"I don't know how she's doing," Akiko confessed. "She passed out because of some mustard gas inhalation, but I haven't seen her recently to know if she's awake or not. Denki's been with her the entire time everyone's been hospitalized here, but he hasn't said that her health's gotten any worse. Recovery Girl did heal everyone the other day, after all."

"Oh, good…" Jomei heaved a relieved sigh. Pushing himself upright, an uncomfortable grunt disrupted his otherwise peaceful demeanor. "Ow. Then the villains didn't get everything they wanted from that attack."

Akiko made an uneasy noise. "About that…"

"Wait." Jomei's face flashed. "Please don't tell me they actually managed to…?"

She nodded. "They did. They managed to abduct Bakugo. Evidently, he agreed to being taken away without a fight because Midoriya, Shoji, and Todoroki's lives hinged on him not making the villains' jobs harder, but Midoriya's heartbroken over it."

"Can't imagine why," Jomei murmured sarcastically. "Is Midoriya awake?"

"Just this morning, yeah," Akiko confirmed. "There was this whole argument with 1-A about heading out to rescue him, but… I'm hoping that nobody will do something they might regret down the line."

"Whose idea was that?" Jomei asked.

"Kirishima and Todoroki's." Akiko briefly brushed aside the mental impulse to wonder about their whereabouts. "From everything that happened after Midoriya regained consciousness, I'm tempted to say Kirishima came up with the idea first, but Todoroki was in complete agreement with him about what they 'should' do."

His brow furrowed further. "When were they leaving?"

"What-? You aren't-" Akiko's eyes widened. "Jomei, you aren't going with them! You only-"

"I know!" Jomei exclaimed. As if he realized the force behind his words, his voice softened. "I know. It's just that… Bakugo's in the League's hands? We aren't friends or anything, sure, but… forget that question. Sorry."

"No, it's alright," Akiko assured. "I know that you're on better terms with Bakugo than you were before the Sports Festival tournament. It must hurt, knowing that he's in danger, but the pros are already mounting a rescue mission. We shouldn't stand in their way."

"Still, if Kirishima and Todoroki are serious about this 'plan' that they came up with, it… it feels wrong, to be sitting around all safe and sound while one of our own's in danger," Jomei said, his tone solemn. "So, when're they leaving? Have they told anyone?"

"They have. They're thinking they might leave tonight, Akiko continued, beginning to stroke his hand with her thumb. "As for me? I'm not leaving you for a moment now that you're awake."

"Now that I'm awake?" Jomei echoed. "Have you left me at all?"

"Somewhat," Akiko answered. "Essentials-wise? Definitely. Otherwise? Visiting Midoriya with everyone else this morning was my first time leaving you behind for a while."

"Have you at least been keeping in touch with the others?" Jomei asked, stirrings of concern poorly hidden in his expressive eyes.

"Yeah. From time to time, Denki's been messaging me, and almost everyone in class made the most of Kirishima's 'emergency group chat' between the attack and now," Akiko explained. "It helped everyone understand everything that happened, in detail, that's for sure. Oh, and your parents know about what happened, too."

Jomei blinked. "They do?"

"Mhm. Everyone in 1-A and 1-B that remained conscious after the attack coordinated with the authorities to provide them a clear picture about what happened, and Ayane definitely has her connections across the board." Akiko smiled. "It didn't hurt that she was apparently still on duty when Vlad King's emergency call was received by her department, either."

Without another word, Jomei reacted as Akiko imagined he would. It appeared that the wealth of information she'd shared with him had finally become enough to transform his simple curiosity into intense internal ponderings; however, as his expression became more thoughtful, there was something on his face that she couldn't quite discern. She guessed that the enigmatic 'something' might have been related to Bakugo, but further study of his features had her thinking that wasn't quite the case.

Not that she wasn't grateful for the reprieve. Had their conversation continued down its most logical line of inquiry, then she would've found herself explaining how her family had reacted to the news that U.A.'s students had nearly died, again. She knew Jomei more than enough to know telling him now would simply be asking for trouble, though. Right now, what Jomei needed most was time to rest and recover, not another issue he'd selflessly think demanded his attention more than his own health.

But eventually, her impulse to understand whatever he was thinking overpowered her fondness for the comfortable silence they shared.

"What's on your mind?"

"Nothing. Just happy that Mom didn't go nuts," Jomei halfheartedly dismissed. "Not that she would; I mean, she's awesome, but you know what I mean. How'd Dad take what happened?"

"Don't know about that one," Akiko confessed. "Ayane actually called me first, since she already knew you were unconscious from police reports and paramedics telling her what happened. I told her everything I knew about the attack and how you were doing, and then she said she'd call Haruto whenever she could. I didn't speak with him directly."

"Fair enough. Then…" Jomei hummed. "Did the League get a complete win? How many villains attacked? Were any of them captured, at least?"

"Some of them, yeah," Akiko revealed, nodding. "Moonfish, Muscular, Psychosis, and Mustard were their names. They came alongside eight other villains, which means that everyone that was under attack helped capture one-third of the 'Vanguard Action Squad's' fighting force."

"Well, that's neat," Jomei commented, tension dissolving from his shoulders. "Hopefully, once whatever doctor's been monitoring me comes around again and sees I'm alright, they'll let me leave pretty fast. After everything that's happened, I just wanna… decompress, you know?"

"Definitely," Akiko agreed. "Still, I get the feeling there's more to it than that."

"You think?" Jomei smiled slightly. "Remember, I don't have the greatest history with hospitals at this point. Between what happened with my mom, my arm, and this… they aren't somewhere I'd like to be more than necessary. Enough about me, though. How're you feeling? Please don't tell me you're beating yourself up about what happened with me."

"Not really," Akiko lied. If there was ever a moment she wished Jomei would misinterpret her response for sincerity, it was now. "After all, the villains' attack was outside my control."

"You don't believe that."

But then again, there were some undeniable reasons that their souls had bound themselves together, these past few months.

Akiko's shoulders slumped. "It's that obvious, huh?"

"Pretty much, but…" Jomei squeezed her hand again. "Why beat yourself up about it?"

"Because…" Akiko averted his eyes. "Because whenever these villain attacks have happened, it feels like you've always been there protecting me."

"And what's wrong with that? We're partners, which means we're supposed to have each other's backs when we're up against a wall," Jomei countered. "Besides, you've protected me tons, too. Remember the USJ? Our internships? You can't blame yourself for what went down, back there. Unless there's some details we're missing, the League just took us by surprise this time, and we can't control that, just like you said. Don't think that what happened was on you when we were way out of our depth, this time. Please?"

"For you?" Akiko hesitated, but eventually returned his gaze with a determination and dedication she didn't realize she could achieve at that moment. "I'll definitely try."

"Then that's good enough for me," Jomei confidently replied. "You're seeing more clearly than me after what happened with Alpha, that's for sure."

"Yeah." Akiko exhaled slowly. "Alpha, huh?"

And with that utterance, their movements stopped. Akiko knew that neither of them needed to look into the other's eyes to understand that the villain's name simply being spoken had sent a current of unease through them. Memories about their second most recent harrowing experience within the realm of heroism flooded to the forefront of Akiko's mind, and she assumed the same thoughts had consumed Jomei's, as well. Although their initial battle against Alpha had revealed that his actions likely hadn't taken place in isolation, that he was simply a single formidable foe among a terrifying set of triplets, his family hadn't made themselves known.

Gamma changed that paradigm. Gamma's actions and attitude during the League's assault made it clear that although the family might not have made killing them their first priority, eliminating the upstart heroes who'd imprisoned Alpha wasn't a goal that escaped their minds for a moment.

Not until this conflict reached its conclusion would the persistent pressure the Akumas' existence placed upon them disappear. Either they'd find themselves murdered at the remaining two brothers' hands, or the remaining brothers would be captured.

There weren't any other options.

Jomei shattered the silence first. "This seems surreal, doesn't it?"

"Which part?" Akiko questioned. "Us somehow becoming the targets of three terrifying villains, or their creepy, extremely mysterious and unknown ideology?"

"Can't it be both?" Jomei said. "Those villains are unhinged, but… not. Alpha was brutal, but there was still something about him that seemed like he was speaking sense, in his own twisted way. Gamma was smart. Scary smart. Denki might've managed to ambush him, but that seemed more like luck than him being outmaneuvered completely. We don't know anything about 'Beta' or whatever, but… I don't think he'll somehow turn out to be completely deranged compared to his brothers if we ever run into him."

"With Alpha and Gamma, we were lucky," Akiko said.

"For sure," Jomei agreed. "Even with Alpha arrested… what're the odds the other two start targeting us, now that one of them actually encountered us?"

Akiko sighed. "Since Gamma essentially confirmed that they're bound to be just as strong as him, I hope it isn't high. Either way, we'll have to remain vigilant."

"No arguments there." Slowly removing his hand from Akiko's, Jomei inspected his bandaged arms with a murky mix of apprehension and acceptance. "But I'm hoping you aren't afraid of other scars, because it looks like Gamma probably handed me plenty more, now…"

"Not quite," Akiko optimistically corrected. "Don't aggravate those wounds and you won't scar whatsoever. That's what the doctors told me about your injuries before. They said that you were extremely lucky, this time."

"Oh thank goodness," Jomei breathed.

"Yeah." Akiko again studied his features, refamiliarizing herself with the expressive details that she'd missed for so long. "You look tired, though. If you want to sleep some more, I don't think anyone would mind. I wouldn't either, now, knowing you're really alright."

"As awesome as that offer sounds, there isn't time for that." Jomei tilted his head toward the door. "Listen."

Briefly blinking with mild confusion, Akiko followed his instructions. Another moment later, and the rumblings of what was immediately recognizable as an impressive number of familiar footsteps headed toward them. There wasn't any questioning it. Their classmates were about to arrive at any moment.

"Kirishima, slow down!" Iida warned. "Don't disturb Nishimura's rest!"

"But I heard them talking, I know I did!" Kirishima protested. "Shoji can vouch for me, right?"

"I'm not Jiro," Shoji stated. "Eavesdropping doesn't happen passively with me."

"You guys just weren't listening close enough, then. Look-!" Kirishima swung the door open, and in an instant, a triumphant grin spread across his face. "Aha! There you are! I knew that you were awake!"

"Already?" Ashido asked, somewhere behind him.

"Yeah, come on!"

Quickly throwing the door open wide, Kirishima stepped further into the room, with the majority of Class 1-A following fast behind him. An atmosphere of infectious positivity and wholehearted support filled the sterile space as swiftly as their classmates entered, and Akiko noticed that the sheer weight of their reactions had Jomei smiling awkwardly in return. Jomei's desire for fame and attention might've faded, but it seemed as though this spotlight – while not unwelcome – was far more different than anything he would've wanted before their internships. Personally, Akiko was simply content to see that his spirits weren't shattered due to their encounter with Gamma, some days ago.

"Hey, battle trial buddy, thanks for sticking around with us a little longer!" Sero exclaimed.

"Ah, I never doubted Nishimura would be okay," Kirishima opined. "He's tough as nails!"

"Yet still extremely mortal, as we all are," Iida cautioned. "Nishimura. If it isn't too invasive an inquiry, how long has it been since you regained consciousness?"

"Not that long," Jomei revealed with a shrug. "What would you say, Akiko? I've been awake, what, a few minutes?"

Akiko nodded. "Yeah."

"Then it's a good thing our visit with Yaoyorozu took forever, huh?" Ashido merrily supplied.

Tokoyami crossed his arms. "If we brush aside the fact that you purposefully prolonged that encounter for the sake of meaningless gossip, then yes. It was indeed a 'good thing.'"

Uraraka provided him an encouraging pat on the shoulder, although she turned her gaze upon their newly-awakened classmate before long. "How're you feeling, anyway?"

"Yeah, those burns were pretty bad," Hagakure commented. "I did my best treating them with the first-aid kit we had at the campsite when Kaminari and Takara brought you inside. Sero definitely helped, too."

"Aw, thanks!"

"Then I owe everyone." Jomei bowed his head to the pair, and toward his partner. "Really. You guys must've saved my life after I passed out there."

"Not that anyone could blame you," Ojiro claimed. "Anyone would've been knocked out by those injuries. I don't speak for everyone, obviously, but I was really worried when you first came back."

"Same here," Sato added.

"L-likewise," Koda squeaked out.

"Then you're all foolish!" Aoyama chided, flamboyantly throwing his hand into the air to point down at them. "Nishimura's shine is only second to mine! It'd take much more than simple burns to extinguish the light he brings to this world!"

"Damn straight," another voice cut in.

Akiko stopped. 'Was that…?'

Everyone present went silent, all turning around toward the latest addition to their conversation. Eventually, they parted ways like the biblical seas of western religion to reveal Kaminari Denki standing confidently at the door frame, arms crossed and his posture prouder than it'd ever been in recent times.

"Hey."

"Kaminari. I didn't realize you were with us," Iida announced.

"How long were you with us?" Todoroki questioned.

"Like, ten seconds?" Denki answered casually. "I was headed here to visit Jomei anyway before I realized everyone else was around already. Kinda awful timing, but it's nothing major."

"And um, why're you standing there like you're hiding something…?" Mineta pressed.

"Oh, because I totally am!" Denki's smile grew into an uninhibited grin. "Behold! Watch as I, Kaminari Denki, make the most awesome punk rock enthusiast in Class 1-A, appear!"

Darting aside without further pretense, Denki instantly revealed Kyoka's medical robe-wearing form standing where he'd once been. While Kyoka's earphone jacks were poised to plunge into their friend's skull for his obnoxious enthusiasm, she caught herself and pretended as though she wasn't planning to wreak havoc on Denki's health for making her reappearance into a dramatic occasion. Once she realized that nobody was saying anything an entire several seconds after she was revealed to them, her expression turned more bewildered than anything plastered on her classmates' faces.

"...what?"

Akiko was almost certain Class 1-A's ensuing cheer could be heard by half the hospital.

"JIROOOOOooooooo!"

"Alright, Jiro's awake, now!" Uraraka shouted. "You know what this means, right?"

"Mhm," Tsuyu said. "Now everyone in 1-A's awake again, ribbit."

"Such a relief. You suffered the worst of the mustard gas inhalation, Jiro, outside of some people who didn't get any of Yaoyorozu's masks in 1-B," Shoji added. "It's extremely welcome, seeing you in good spirits and good health, now."

"Seriously!" Ashido stressed.

"Uh? I appreciate the hype and everything, but after everything Denki told me, I'm still thinking I lucked out compared to Jomei," Kyoka claimed, putting her hands up.

"What!?" Iida cried. "Your lungs were damaged, Jiro! Shouldn't you be bedridden!?"

"Yeah, that's what the doctors wanted, but screw that noise," Kyoka dismissed. "Besides, I really needed to stretch my legs again anyway, so it's not really a problem."

Hagakure's clothes slumped, clearly unconvinced. "I'm not sure your doctors would agree…"

"That's what I told her, but she wouldn't listen." Denki sighed wistfully, turning his attention toward the friends he'd recently thrown his life on the line for. "How're ya feeling though, Jomei? Alright?"

"Yeah," Kyoka added. "Those burns were killer, from what Denki told me."

"Definitely doing better than I thought I'd be, after everything," Jomei claimed. "Thanks again for saving me, man."

"Thank Ashido and Kirishima," Denki said, pointing his thumb toward them. "They helped make a diversion so I could escape. Without them, I never woulda made it past Vlad King, let alone to you guys."

"Then…" Jomei looked at them. "I'm in your guys' debt. We wouldn't have lived if it wasn't for you two. Kirishima, Ashido. It sounds like I owe you everything now."

"Ah, don't worry about it," Kirishima dismissed with a wave. "Once we learned what was going on outside, Denki was beating himself up hardcore. He made some good points, and wouldn't ya know it, we decided the best thing we coulda done was help him out."

"Yeah," Ashido sighed. "It might've gotten us into serious trouble with Vlad King, but we would do it again, definitely. Don't worry about any debts or anything, okay?"

"Sounds fine by me," Jomei said. "Seriously though, I don't know what would've happened to us if Denki didn't show up to stop Gamma when he did. Scary stuff."

"Well, now that you mention it…" Kyoka stepped forward. "Another Akuma singled you out?"

"An ominous portent…" Tokoyami murmured.

"What'd those creeps want with you two, anyway?" Sero asked.

"Bet it was revenge, right?" Kirishima added. "They jailed one of those three villains during their internship together with Dawnbreaker, remember?"

"It wasn't completely about revenge," Akiko claimed, drawing attention back toward them. "It might've had something to do with that, sure, but it might've also been for completely separate reasons, too."

"Not that it matters that much," Jomei added. "What matters is that those Akumas being with the League is bad news. There isn't any evidence that Alpha had connections with them at all, and there isn't anything that's telling us 'Beta' is active like Gamma looks to be, but… they're involved with Shigaraki now. There's no escaping them anymore."

"We need to be ready," Todoroki asserted.

"What we need is to exercise caution," Iida stressed. "Remember that we weren't the triumphant tide-turners. Perhaps during the USJ incident, we might have been, but we almost certainly were nothing of the sort during this latest assault."

"Those two things aren't mutually exclusive, though," Akiko argued. "I'm with Todoroki. Now that the League's growing stronger, we need to become stronger, but we can still do that without being reckless about our training."

"Right. Whenever we begin training again, I think that whatever stuff everyone experienced during that forest camp attack will help us improve tons," Jomei added, sitting up a little bit straighter than before. "It definitely showed me some major weaknesses I still have where my combat abilities are concerned, that's for sure."

"And that's precisely the spirit we'll need, moving forward," Tokoyami concurred. "...assuming that U.A.'s teachers are allowed to continue training us whatsoever, that is."

"Aw, come on Tokoyami, you just had to be a party pooper, huh?" Ashido complained.

An unfamiliar, feminine voice came from down the hall. "If you think that's party-pooping, you haven't seen anything yet."

Almost at the same moment, the woman to whom the then-mysterious voice belonged stepped into frame behind Class 1-A.

Judging from the woman's white cloak, clipboard, and stethoscope, she was almost certainly one among the armada of doctors who staffed the hospital. Her beautiful brown eyes sparkled whilst her somewhat curly, shoulder-length hair contrasted warmly against her fair skin. Aside from the minor amount of plumpness near her stomach, from outward appearances alone, Akiko thought she looked like the embodiment of nearly perfect health.

"Uh… who're you?" Kirishima uttered.

"Kuma Kazane," she announced. "Nishimura's doctor and a close friend of the doctor who was tasked with monitoring Jiro's health. Additionally, I'm also the woman who's here to bear some bad news. All visitors inside this room must leave temporarily while I conduct a cursory medical examination with my patient; coincidentally, Kaminari?"

"Y-yeah?"

"You'll escort Jiro back toward her hospital room," Kuma stated. "Understood?"

"Okay, yeah, that sounds about right," Kaminari said through an exhale. "Come on, Kyoka, we probably shouldn't argue with an actual doctor."

"We'll be back soon," Kyoka said, turning away.

"Don't do anything stupid in the meantime!" Sero threw over his shoulder.

Only waiting enough time for the last lingering members of Class 1-A to exit the hospital room, Akiko piped up. "Excuse me, ma'am? Should I leave, too?"

Slowly shutting the door, Kuma sighed gently with what Akiko assumed was amusement at her classmates' youthful enthusiasm. Another moment later, she turned toward those two teens that remained in the room along with her.

"Considering the amount of time you've spent inside this room already? Not unless Nishimura requires it," Kuma answered simply. Briefly turning away from them, she replaced her clipboard upon an unoccupied, sterilized countertop. "Besides, this 'examination' is mostly just a simple questionnaire more than anything else. Nothing that'll have Nishimura here stripping down or anything like that."

Jomei and Akiko's reactions mimicked one another almost immediately. By the time that Kuma turned around with a new assortment of papers attached to her clipboard, their cheeks had begun burning with the most intense blushes that they'd felt since starting to date in earnest. While they didn't dare look one another in the eye, Kuma glanced between them, completely confused.

"What?" she asked. "What'd I say?"


Initially, Jomei didn't know what to make of the woman who'd been assigned as his doctor. First impressions weren't everything, but initial introductions were expected to indicate some solid details. Kuma Kazane's sudden introduction indicated that she took her duties and the health of her hospital's patients seriously, yes, but that could've assumed about any medical professional. Therefore, what Jomei found particularly odd about his doctor was that she somehow seemed to have some sort of mischievousness or simple lust for life brimming beneath the surface of her professional demeanor.

Yet that prerequisite intellectualism didn't translate to social competence, as became abundantly evident with the immediate faux pas that followed Class 1-A's leaving the room. In truth, Jomei would've assumed the doctor was a child in an adult's body if it wasn't for how comprehensive her questionnaire was. Although she said that it'd be brief, it turned out that 'brief' meant nearly forty-five minutes, from start to finish.

Just when Jomei was beginning to think the questionnaire would make him spontaneously perish right then and there, however, it miraculously concluded.

Kuma stayed silent for several minutes afterward, studying their results and typing away at a computer he hadn't noticed in the corner of the room earlier. Fortunately, it wasn't much longer before the doctor finished her duties, spinning around in her tall rolling stool to offer both Akiko and Jomei her full attention.

"Okay! That about covers everything, then!" Kuma chirped.

"Really?" Jomei uttered. "That's literally it?"

"Aside from explaining what we've learned from observing you overall? Pretty much," Kuma confirmed. "Although, on that note… Nishimura. Is it alright that Takara remains present for further discussion on your well-being? As a medical professional, I must ask."

"That's alright, and considering she's my girlfriend?" Jomei nodded. "Yeah, she can."

"Oh, that explains a few things. Right. Anyway…" Kuma flipped up an assortment of papers from within her lap. "Sparing you the abundant medical jargon and terminology that typically accompanies updates like these, I'll keep things brief. Considering everything that you've been through since your enrollment at U.A. High School, it's my wholehearted belief that you're in incredible shape."

"How do you mean?" Akiko asked.

"Besides his staying alive? I mean that normal people would have suffered lifelong disabilities after surviving even half as much as Nishimura, here," Kuma answered. "Take his previously injured arm, for example. Normally the inversion of one's elbow would incur dramatic, and more importantly, permanent joint damage to one's body, in addition to some muscular degeneration coming as a consequence. Even factoring Recovery Girl's Quirk into things, Nishimura making a full recovery from that injury is nothing short of incredibly impressive."

"And my burns?" Jomei questioned.

"Your surviving those was impressive, too, albeit slightly less so compared to your arm making a complete recovery," Kuma claimed. "I watched the Sports Festival this year. That speed move of yours, Nishimura. If I might ask, what precisely was that?"

Jomei paused. 'Where's she going with this…?'

"Uh, that speed move? That was Light Speed, you're thinking of," he started. "I surround myself with my Quirk's emissions and augment my movement by controlling them whenever I'm gonna be running around. Does that answer your question?"

Kuma returned a nod. "That it does. It also reinforces the theory I had concerning why the burns you sustained weren't more severe. Don't get me wrong, they were bad, but they could've been much worse than they turned out to be."

"Then…" Jomei's brow furrowed slightly. "What's this 'theory' of yours, anyway?"

"It's that those emissions of yours must've involuntarily functioned as something of a protective shell. Although they certainly weren't enough to overcome the majority of the flames you were exposed to, they lessened the amount of flames that hit you by a significant margin," Kuma said, pointing in seemingly random motions with a finger as she spoke. "Of course, this theory doesn't discredit the importance of the first-aid Class 1-A administered to you – not in the slightest. In fact, their immediate treatment is a major reason why you didn't earn any additional scarring, in the end."

"Yet another reason that they're awesome, then…" Jomei commented quietly.

"If that's how you wish to interpret their heroism, go right ahead," Kuma stated. Returning her gesturing arm to her paperwork, she retrieved an informative pamphlet and offered the handout over to her patient. "But yeah, that's the examination over and done with! That pamphlet should provide you with all the information you'll need about how to prevent aggravating those burns. If there's anything else that can help guarantee you won't scar, it's maintaining self-awareness of the nature of those healing injuries."

Opening the pamphlet, Jomei scanned the plentiful informative instructions, graphs, and images. "Okay, so what you're saying is that I am allowed to remove these bandages whenever I leave this place?"

"Contingent upon you promising not to undo Recovery Girl's hard work, then yes," Kuma said with a cheerful nod. "Yes, you can."

"See? Told you that you wouldn't have any scarring," Akiko mentioned.

"You did indeed," Jomei agreed.

"Then until you discharge sometime tomorrow, my work here is finished." Kuma slipped from her chair and attached her paperwork to the pile adorning her clipboard. She looked about ready to leave when she stopped herself halfway toward the door. "And one last thing?"

Jomei turned his attention away from his partner, as did Akiko. They both regarded the doctor with their full attention, beckoning her to continue. As accustomed to Kuma's presence as he might've become over the past several minutes, the knowing look she threw at him sent a short shiver crawling down his spine.

"Nishimura. Did you push yourself upright?"

He blinked. "...how could you tell?"

"Because you've been looking uncomfortable for a while now." Kuma tentatively placed her clipboard on the countertop beside her, walking toward him. "Fortunately, I have a solution to this particular issue. My Quirk. Do I have your permission to implement it?"

Despite the woman's reassuring tone, Jomei's confusion only swelled. He didn't even need to glance in Akiko's direction to know she shared in his present befuddlement. Eventually, though, he found his voice once again.

"Uh. Sure?"

"Then that takes care of the legal issues." Kuma stooped over when she arrived at his bedside, and Akiko backed away slightly to offer the professional some room. "This won't hurt, but don't panic or anything. I know precisely what I'm doing, alright?"

Silently, Jomei nodded.

Returning him an appreciative nod, Kuma rolled up her sleeve, revealing the distinctly unusual appearance of her hand. Jomei hadn't noticed it until she'd proudly displayed one of her hands before him, but adorning her palms were a series of five squishy pink pads arranged in the shape of an animal's paw. While Jomei was wondering whether they warranted comparison to the pads on Uraraka's fingertips, Kuma slowly pressed her palm directly against his sternum.

What happened next left him bewildered.

Quite quickly, something started accumulating deep within his bandage-covered chest. From the tingling sensation that blossomed throughout his torso, Jomei couldn't help but pull an awkward face. Although the sensation swiftly spread throughout the entirety of his body, the feeling didn't leave him uncomfortable or uneasy before the unknown incursion into his system re-coalesced where Kuma's pads were presently pressed up against his chest. Shortly thereafter, the sensation vanished entirely, alongside every unwanted physical sensation he'd been feeling.

When Kuma removed her hand, an innocuous, translucent pink bubble floated daintily after the appendage. Alongside Akiko, Jomei couldn't help but watch in dumbstruck fascination as Kuma effortlessly plucked the evidently weightless orb from its upward ascent.

And then their fascination transformed into silent surprise as Kuma popped the bubble like a fragile balloon.

"Okay." Kuma lowered her hand. "How's that feel?"

"Incredible," Jomei uttered, patting a hand against his chest with newfound awe at the lack of discomfort his recently-healed skin felt. "Like suddenly I wasn't even injured in the first place."

"That's to be expected. Experience has shown that my Quirk operates much better than general anesthetic, definitely," Kuma said. "But don't think that this means you've been healed - this is just temporary pain relief. Deflection of the fatigue and discomfort you were feeling still doesn't technically substitute for rest and recovery time, so it can't be combined to double-up on uses of Recovery Girl's Quirk with patients. Believe me, we've tried."

"Understandable, but what is your Quirk?" Akiko asked, curiosity clear upon her face.

"Repulsion," Kuma revealed. "It allows me to 'repel' almost anything with the squishy pink pads on the palms of my hands. Anything from bullets to blades to air to fatigue and discomfort – you name it, my Quirk's almost guaranteed to have enough power to combat it. Of course, I elected to use this power for medicinal purposes as opposed to combative ones, but I believe I've come to master my power in my own unique way, over the years. I'm sure Nishimura would agree."

"You kidding?" Jomei threw them an astonished look. "I feel incredible! Seriously."

Kuma smiled. "Then my work here is done. Good evening, kids."

In short order, Kuma scooped up her clipboard back into her arms, opened the door, and another moment later, Jomei found himself alone with Akiko once more. Apparently he wasn't alone in wondering whether Class 1-A would barge right back inside once Kuma left, if Akiko's staring after the door like him for the entire minute that followed Kuma's departure was anything to go by. Still, it didn't take long for Jomei to realize that his peers had either gone someplace else or gone home entirely in the time between their visit and now. If the sun's setting just beyond his hospital room's thin blinds was any indicator, it was indeed about evening, just as the doctor said as she left.

Which meant that they finally had another quiet moment together. Jomei would've been lying if he claimed he wasn't a little excited about that particular prospect.

"Man. No scarring, no fatigue, no pain… this is awesome." Jomei allowed himself to slouch for a few moments after thinking aloud. Once the remnants of disbelief departed from his heart, he returned his attention to Akiko, who'd just done the same for him "But hey, how are you feeling? Can't imagine you've had it easier than anyone else while I was asleep."

"I'm fine," Akiko said unconvincingly. "Little tired, but it's alright now that you're awake."

"Then maybe sleep?" Jomei suggested. "If you haven't been sleeping in a real bed this entire time because you've been watching me, maybe heading home would do you some good."

"There are… a few reasons I'd rather not do that," Akiko stealthily started massaging her hands, but it didn't escape his notice. "But it isn't important. Let's not talk about me."

Jomei's expression softened. "You aren't telling me something, aren't you?"

"I-" Akiko looked away. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I think you do," Jomei insisted. An errant glance at her chest confirmed his suspicions. "Your crystal core's almost more grey now than it was after the USJ incident happened, which…"

He stopped himself. Akiko made an uncomfortable noise that damned any last-ditch efforts she could've made to distract him from his suspicions, and a resounding deluge of distant memories from their previous semester together came flooding into his mind. Realization rippled through his thoughts like an untamable wildfire.

Akiko's ultimatum with her parents.

That must've been it. With everything that'd happened since the beginning of the training camp and now, their promise to pull Akiko away from the hero course had escaped his mind entirely, but if there was anything Jomei knew about Katashi and Aki Takara, it was that they weren't the type to forget. With what nearly happened to their daughter during the undoubtedly-publicized disaster at the training camp, and almost three days passing between then and now, he couldn't help but wonder…

What had Akiko been dealing with this entire time?

"I know what you're thinking," Akiko whispered. "And yes, it's awful. With what happened at the training camp, my parents are working together to tear me away from U.A. They've already sent Takai away with Mom so that he can't help once Dad comes crashing down on me when I do return home. That's why I didn't want to leave… and I didn't want to bother you while you're still recovering."

"What? Who said you'd be bothering me?" Jomei pressed. Swinging his legs over his bedside to face her completely, earnest concern etched his features. "I promised to have your back just like Takai, didn't I? Listen, I haven't had any chances to make good on that, but now… this time, I'm helping. Nothing's gonna stop me, either. Promise."

Finally, Akiko looked toward him again. Jomei's heart throbbed at the sight of her holding away tears, and the sound of her distressed voice was like a knife piercing through his chest.

"How?" she managed. "How will you convince them to let me move into the dorms?"

Jomei paused. "Dorms?"

"It's the new system Principal Nezu's implementing," Akiko explained. "The senior staff thinks that it'll help keep us safe, and every student and their families were already informed while you were asleep. Aizawa and All Might should be visiting everyone's families in our class to try and convince parents, but… I don't think that the Symbol of Peace coming to our front door's bound to change anything."

"Then…" Jomei stopped himself again, his mind running multiple mental marathons to calculate their next move. "Akiko, are those visits supposed to be alphabetical?"

"Yeah," Akiko weakly confirmed. "Why?"

"Then that's my opening!" Jomei exclaimed confidently. "My name comes before yours, which means that I could probably hitch a ride with them whenever they're headed to your place. That way I can give you an assist in defending your place at U.A., even if Takai isn't there to do that, himself. Sound good?"

She didn't immediately respond. After a moment of indecision and staring with eyes widened, Akiko's expression returned to its former state of distress. Akiko opened her mouth, guaranteed to protest-

"And don't say that I shouldn't have to fight your battles," Jomei preemptively countered. "I'm not fighting them, I'm just supporting you through them. There's a huge difference between the two, you know? Don't fall into the same traps you were in at the beginning of this year, alright? You're so much stronger than that now. I know you are."

And again, another onslaught of emotions appeared. Akiko's outward demeanor shifted through disbelief, anguish, heartache, affection, and a million other emotions until it settled on something Jomei had come to understand as acceptance. For the first time since his awakening, the parasitic discoloration of Akiko's crystal core changed back to its normal amethyst colors. While it wasn't as illustrious a shade as he'd become accustomed to, it was still a striking improvement.

"You know, I've missed how much you read my mind lately," Akiko quietly said, her small smile illuminated by the lingering beams of twilight from the window.

"And I missed seeing you smile," Jomei said softly.

But then commotion intruded upon their tender moment together.

Outside the hospital room, they both turned their attention toward the door as the distant noise of hurried footsteps approached from further down the hall. Peculiarly, though, that wasn't the most significant series of sounds that reached their ears; rather, it was the muffled, worried rumblings of what must've been a large portion of the hospital personnel and visitors that were in the lobby. Nothing of what they were discussing could be discerned through the door, which only furthered Jomei's confusion in the coming moments.

"What the…?"

"Maybe something's wrong?" Akiko guessed.

"Yeah, but…" Jomei narrowed his eyes at the door. "What could be happening, out there?"

Their answer arrived in an unexpected form.

Stealthily slipping through the door the moment the footsteps outside stopped, a familiar figure appeared. Without waiting to acknowledge his friends' bemused reactions, Denki silently waved someone else from further down the hall toward them, an overwhelming sense of urgency plain across his face.

"Come on. Come on, Kyoka, if they catch us now they'll kill us!" Denki quietly hissed.

"I know, dummy, but I haven't been walking around in forever," Kyoka countered. The moment she'd joined him, Denki closed the door behind them. "Besides, we have bigger things to worry about right now."

"What's happening?" Jomei asked, tensing slightly.

"Dude, you wouldn't believe us if we told you," Denki asserted.

Akiko glanced concernedly between them. "Really? What could-"

"Turn on the news, guys," Kyoka interrupted. "Now. Even we don't know what's gonna happen at this point."

"Okay, okay…" Jomei recovered the remote from the table at his bedside, pointed it directly at the television fastened to the wall, and turned it on to the correct station.

When the connection to the station was secured, the scene that revealed itself before their eyes was something ripped straight from a nightmare. From the news station's vantage point within one of their helicopters, an entire district of an unknown city laid in complete ruin. Former office buildings and skyscrapers had been reduced to rubble, smoke filled the sky from fast-expanding fires, and an enormous crater at the epicenter of the disaster that rested just outside the camera's view. Besides the presence of some concrete that'd been compressed into a thin sheet, almost no signs existed that humanity had so much as touched the crater below. Anyone with half a brain would've found themselves running for safety at the mere mention of such destruction having been wrought.

Yet the news crew on duty seemed to lack all the self-preservation instincts that common citizens often relied on. An impressively well-dressed reporter only kept himself from falling outside his crew's helicopter by holding onto the vehicle's open door with his hand, another still occupied with his microphone, and his tie flailing wildly in the wind.

Had Jomei not explicitly been looking for any information that'd help explain what was going on, he might've missed the small caption at the bottom of the screen.

LIVE FOOTAGE FROM KAMINO WARD. EVACUATIONS ADVISED.

"Come on!" the reporter urged. "Come on, look at this!"

Heeding the reporter's command, the cameraman moved to join his colleague at the edge of their vehicle, revealing considerably more of the action taking place beneath them. Although the video quality was obscured by the smoke filling the air and the vast distance between the cameraman and the action, Jomei's breath escaped him as the combatants on the ground became the focal point of the continued coverage.

"Alright! Alright, you're seeing it here first, everyone!" the reporter announced, having to shout to overcome the turbulent winds surrounding them. "Right now, it appears that an unidentified villain on par with the Symbol of Peace has engaged in combat with All Might himself while the League of Villains are currently assaulting the previously-missing Bakugo Katsuki! This is all happening after what official sources inform us was an executive strike against the League gone completely awry, and-"

His blood beginning to run cold, Jomei didn't bother listening further. Instead, aside from the horrified expressions of his friends that matched his own, Jomei's entire world shrank into little more than the at-times blurred action playing out on the screen above him.

He watched as the Symbol of Peace's strength was nullified time and again by the enigmatic adversary who'd presumably caused the carnage around them. They were male, muscular but well-dressed, and armed with what Jomei could only assume was an entire arsenal's worth of powers somehow contained within their physical form.

He watched as the League of Villains attacked Bakugo without relent. Against all odds, Bakugo appeared to be holding his own against a handful of the League's members, blasting apart the attacks they sent his way while only counterattacking strictly when he was sure they couldn't punish him for doing so. Despite his best efforts, however, he wasn't anywhere near powerful enough to escape or overcome the League by himself.

He watched as the superhuman society he'd become accustomed to teetered on the brink of the most cataclysmic collapse imaginable.

"This… this can't be real, right?" Akiko uttered.

"It is," Jomei breathed. "If All Might loses this… if Bakugo gets kidnapped again or killed…"

"Then we might be watching hero society's final moments on live TV," Kyoka finished, shaking her head in disbelief. "It really seems like the sort of thing you'd see in your nightmares, huh?"

"But it isn't a complete nightmare yet," Denki reasoned, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself than anything else. "All Might hasn't lost a single fight yet, right? He always wins, so that means that he'll win again here!"

"I hope that's the case, Denki," Akiko said. "But unless Bakugo somehow escapes, then-"

It appeared that she'd spoken not a moment too soon.

From somewhere off-screen, away from the action and the reporter's continued coverage, a distinct trio of humanoid forms emerged alongside a gargantuan ramp-shaped glacier. Even blurred by their own motion and unsteady camerawork, blue flames belching out from one's calves, green lightning crackling about another, and spiky red hair flailing wildly in the wind revealed their identities and their motivations almost instantly. Kirishima, Todoroki, Midoriya, and somehow even Iida had followed through on their claim to leave and rescue Bakugo.

And much to their credit, that's precisely what they did.

Neither Jomei nor the reporters on-screen could hear whatever was said by the rescue squad. It wasn't until a black-and-blond blur sped past the open door of the helicopter and latched onto Kirishima's outstretched arm that anyone inside the hospital room realized what'd just happened right before their eyes. Bakugo released another explosion behind himself and his rescuers right as Iida's Recipro Burst finished, and before the reporter could even attempt to explain what was happening, the rescue squad and their rescued friend rocketed away like a missile. Omitting foul play from someone like Kurogiri, they'd reach the untouched edges of Kamino Ward's main city before the League could've committed to a response.

Jomei swallowed thickly.

It did little to prepare him for what followed.

Shockwaves. Shockwaves like those that'd arise from a hydrogen bomb from generations before the metahuman phenomenon arose spread throughout the crater underneath the news helicopter, and the cameraman just barely managed to maintain enough stability to show the source of the almighty disturbance. All Might and his unknown adversary both were skidding back toward opposite edges of their battlefield after what was presumably their last clash. All Might threw himself forward again without hesitation, while his adversary summoned a portal identical to Kurogiri's and forced his presumed allies among the League to escape. When they disappeared and the portal closed, the man returned his full attention to his opponent, raised an unnaturally large arm in preparation for another engagement-

And then all hell broke loose.


Authors Note: This chapter… took considerably less time to write than I expected, if I'm being honest. Usually chapters as important as these take a solid week and more to make, but this one flowed from my brain onto (digital) paper in less than half that time. Jury's still out on whether or not this is an inherently good thing, but hey, it's my wholehearted belief that this chapter was a fundamentally necessary one. Why? Several reasons.

One, it allowed some additional exploration into Akiko's behaviors in this particular circumstance while she's apart from her partner. Two, it allows for significant mush and conversational happenings which are always fun to write. Three, it allows for tons of minor character interactions between 1-A and Jomei/Akiko, which also helps cement them a little further into the universe which I've drawn up for this fic… alongside some discussion of the Akumas, which I mean… they're the villains in this fic. Gotta give myself a chance to build their street cred in-universe somehow, right? I mean, it's about as fundamentally important to this fic's credibility and direction as going out on a whim and turning Jomei's originally-unnamed doctor into a walking One Piece reference. Totally not a complete false equivalence there, amiright? XD

But besides those nonsensical, sorta self-explanatory tidbits… there is one major thing that I'd like to mention from this author's note, and that is no, I am not covering All Might vs All for One, in this fic. Sadly, I don't think that I could do it justice, and furthermore, I haven't involved All Might enough in this story for an entire chapter-long exploration into his final confrontation to be warranted. Aside from initial notes within next chapter's little intro sequence to maintain continuity, there… really isn't much impact to my planned plot for WFAF to come from this hideout raid arc; at least, not in the ways you might expect, as time progresses. There'll be ramifications, for certain, just, again, not ones that warrant me rewriting a significant scene that everyone and their mother in the MHA fandom has read and/or watched a billion times, at this point.

Though if you're still significantly concerned, believe me, from this point forward in this fic, WFAF will have something of a return to form. Original content will once again occur in abundance, the main quartet will share more significant screen time than ever, and most everything from the Dorms Arc forward will focus more around Jomei, Akiko, Denki, and Kyoka's development than anything else. Personally, I've been awaiting the moment I had the opportunity to initiate this immense paradigm shift almost forever, at this point. Until next time… stay awesome, and stay safe!