Magne couldn't help but wonder how this mess had occurred. She had no idea how the heroes could have gathered intel on their hideout. She was led to believe it was a secret. Either some urban explorers had discovered it by accident or there was a mole among them. She knew the reverse was true from what little she had gleaned, but all that mattered was that the heroes had them cornered.
That is until those weird portals and all the vomiting. Then she was left with the blonde kid and the rest of the League, in the middle of a wrecked site. She wished someone actually had ordered pizza. She was starving and could absolutely demolish a pie.
She supposed she would have to sate her appetite for destruction instead.
She saw pro heroes closing in after fighting off the Nomu, but also what looked like two groups of teenagers.
All that hard work put into acquiring these brats and their bratty friends were going to ruin it, just like those damn heroes. Not on her watch. Too much was at stake to just let their rotten society get away with its thin cellophane facade of peace.
She tried to get a hold of the ones making a break with Bakugou. Sadly, some huge bitch, in multiple senses of the word, had to interfere.
"Dammit. This is bad. Things are going to hell. We have to at least secure the other…"
Magne paused, biting her lip and cursing herself. She couldn't falter. And yet, her memory betrayed her.
"...If things go south, I'd rather die than lose who I am."
"Fuck off. She's the enemy. We can't let her get back…" Magne chastised herself mentally. Regardless of age, heroes were the target. Hero society was oppressive and rigid, even with its facade of freedom. But that's what it came down to. Freedom.
"Can you start by making sure nobody misgendered me at my funeral?"
"No. Shut up. Shut up!"
Setsuna's words once again echoed in Magne's head, buzzing around like wasps in her skull. Her blood began to boil. She looked at All for One. He was basically their big boss, the one who trained the guy they all rallied around. She couldn't abandon her ideals, whether society frowned upon them or not.
So why would she allow a young girl with so much to lose to fall prey to some creepy old man with an agenda, whether it aligned with hers or not.
"Fucking brat. You're really too much like Yukini. She didn't let herself be chained by 'common sense' or the boxes we get put in. I refuse that for myself and for anyone else…Get lost!"
Magne waved her huge magnet wand with a flourish as she whispered her wish beneath her breath. She wasn't sure where she would end up after this, but at least there would be one more girl living as herself, and not a puppet. Nobility and heroism didn't matter.
Magne was a taker. A taker of lives, of hoods, of whatever she wanted. She was a sinner doomed to live in a box or be buried in one. That's all there was to it. But if she was really a big sis, she'd make sure that wasn't anyone else's fate. This was her gift.
Moments later, she would find herself knocked unconscious with some of her comrades and flung into one of Kurogiri's portals. Before that, however, she had a thought, one for better and for worse.
"We are who we decide to be."
X
Sora slowly opened his eyes, having been flung far a distance away from the building. Around him were the unconscious forms of his fellow heroes. Unfortunately, he did not see two key figures: Best Jeanist and Setsuna Tokage.
"Wait, did Jeanist not grab her? Where is she?"
He spotted her in the distance, at least he thought it was her. He could barely make out a girl with green hair, slumped against a rock. Not far from her was an unconscious man on the ground, no doubt Jeanist.
What truly caught his eye, however, was a clash above the ground. "All-Might?"
Sora was stunned. He had always preferred heroes like Death Arms or Fourth Kind, but even he couldn't help but gaze at the fateful battle.
He couldn't just spectate, however. There was still so much to do.
"Hey, are you hurt? We should get the others some help. We've been fighting those Nomu things off, but it seems like the main event is happening over there."
"Yeah. Seems that way. Nightshade, right? Help me get some stretchers here for the others, then we've got some kids to rescue."
Out of the corner of his eye, Sora saw some other figures fly towards Setsuna to retrieve her, then float away. His eyes narrowed as he processed what happened.
"What are those kids up to?" Nightshade narrowed her eyes, then froze. One of them kind of looks like…King Yeti, with me. We've got to-"
The two young heroes were forced to dodge as debris flew towards them. Sora shielded Nightshade as the fight raged on.
"Is that…"
"Our cue to move? Yeah. Let's clear the way. Those two are going to need a wide berth. But first, what's your power again?"
"Why do you ask?" Nightshade questioned. She could make use of shadows, but not like that kid Hawks was training. It might be good for disorienting enemies at least. It wasn't as effective as something like Edgeshot's quirk, but it got the job done.
"I have a plan. But first…" Sora clicked the comment link on the side of his mask. "King Yeti here. We need paramedics promo. Five heroes down. We'll keep the area safe while you extract them."
Sora reflected on everything he learned. He had many teachers, even outside his time in hero school. His mother, his uncle to a lesser degree, his grandfather, and Deatharms were among his greatest mentors. Perhaps his greatest had to have been Grand Titan. She had retired due to debilitating injuries incurred on the job, but he had impressed her enough early on I'm his sidekick gig to have inherited her agency.
He rushed forward, backed by Nightshade, and provided cover. He spotted a moment where a tendril shot out towards Setsuna, then left up into the air. He swung his foot down in a devastating awe kick, transitioning into a stomps he grew it to to the size of his entire body.
"KING'S PRESENCE: LEFT FOOT OF THE TITAN!"
Sora smiled, thinking of his mentors, of his family, and even of Miruko. All the people he would willingly give his life to protect. He watched as the group of teenagers drifted out of sight. They would need to be chastised, but for now, they were citizens in need of saving. He spotted some older teens nearby, recognizing them vaguely before returning his attention to the villain ahead.
He was knocked to the ground and nearly impaled.
"I was trying to claim what was mine, but I suppose it can't be helped. Stay down, child. The adults are talking," a gravelly, filtered voice spoke to Sora.
Every moment flashed before his eyes, like some sort of montage. He supposed it was what he signed up for, but he refused to let anyone get hurt. Sora closed his eyes and said a little prayer before he was saved by Nightshade.
Sora grunted and shook his head to stop it from ringing. "Oh. Hey. You. Is Ryukyu here too?"
The young kunoichi reprimanded her fellow hero, smacking him quickly upside the head. "Focus up. The kids are safe. Let's stay out of All-Might's hair and help with rescue work for now."
Sora yelped, having been jolted to his feet. It was like focus training with his mom all over again, complete with the chop.
"Ack! Hey! My head is already ringing. Thanks for the assist, though. Let's get going, then we'll reconvene with Ryukyu," Sora groaned. "Follow me."
X
Earlier…
Bakugou's head was swimming. It was all a blur. He tried to recount what had happened, from his conversation with his fellow captive to the recruitment pitch by the League of Villains. As if he would join them. He relished the annoyed look in Shigaraki's eyes, the answers given by the UA teachers at the Press conference, and finally, All-Might's reassurances. The truth was, for a moment, he was scared, but he would never admit it. That wasn't his style. He wanted to be a hero who won, and that meant never giving the villains the satisfaction of knowing they got to him.
And now here he was, trying to avoid being caught again by the villains while All-Might fought for his life, all in service of saving Bakugou's.
In the sky above the young man, he thought he saw four faint figures. He wasn't sure if they were Nomu at first, but hearing their distant shouts dispelled the notion. "What the fuck?"
It couldn't have been…except that it was. Three of his classmates, plus the one obnoxious kid from 1B were soaring over everyone's heads. With the villains surrounding him, Bakugou had nowhere to go but up. He rocketed upwards and soared gracefully by use of rocket propulsion. His hand grasped that of Kirishima's.
"You idiots…Wait, why is bowlcut here?"
"I'll explain later…But we didn't come alone," Monoma smiled smugly as the boys soared like eagles through the night sky. They were sure to be chastised for it later by the pros who covered their escape. For now however, things were going smoothly.
X
Concurrently…
The situation was bad. Everyone had felt frozen in place and physically ill. Squad A had already started to move out and enact their rescue plan. Squad B was up next.
Reiko shook her head, staving off the hallucinations of her standing next to her mother, on the opposite side of a crimson river.
"Right. We need to grab Setsuna. She's in the middle of all that though. Wait, is that All-Might?"
"Who's that masked dude? Is…Is he the villains' boss?"
"Doesn't matter. Midoriya and the others found an opening to save Bakugou. Now we just need our own. There," Shoda pointed. "Monoma copied my quirk for a boost. I think ours might need to be more ground level, given how close we are to…that."
Yui took out a ¥5 coin from her pocket and grew it to the size of a picnic table. "Reiko, levitate. Jirou, grab Tokage. Shoda, boost."
Shoda blinked, then shrugged. "That's as good as we can do. Jirou, can you grab Setsuna with-"
"My jacks? It's not like a rope. She would be pulling on my ears."
Reiko looked towards the coin, then Setsuna. Finally, she addressed Kyouka. "We'll have to fly low to avoid that fight. It's bound to be a bit Spooky. Hold on tight, everyone. Try to keep your balance."
Just as All-For-One reached a tendril towards Setsuna, All-Might knocked them aside. "Your fight is with me, you bastard."
Setsuna's expression changed to one of surprise as she moved forward, the inhibitor collar still clamped around her neck. Did her body move on its own? No, it had to be something else. It almost felt like a force repelling the metal of the collar, as well as the rest of her.
She turned to look behind her slightly but moved too fast to see it properly. However, she could have sworn she saw the magnet villain from before reaching out a hand. It seemed to glow faintly but she could hardly tell.
Setsuna's attention snapped back onto what was in front of her. Her hand grabbed onto Jirou's as their eyes met. Time stopped for both of them in that moment
"Nice choker. Doesn't fit your style though. Shall we take it off of you?"
"If you would. Also pull me up, please. I'd fall for you any day, but I'd rather not die tonight."
Kyouka teased again, wiggling her jacks at the other girl. "I'm tempted to let you, but we came all this way. Come on. We've got people waiting for us."
X
Present…
The situation Yuyu described had put both Itsuka and Momo on the edge of their seats. This was a tough spot to be in. However, it was not unsalvageable.
Luckily, according to the 3rd years, the rescue had managed to go off successfully, even if things were rough
"Yuyu, can you hang tight? Momo and I are going to find a route for the 12 of you to get to safety and drop Bakugou and Setsuna with the police."
"Good thinking. I knew I liked you for a reason. Find us a route back to the trains and we'll be golden."
Itsuka grabbed a computer from her desk, stowed in a pullout tray. She provided it to her girlfriend and grabbed her phone. If there was anything they could do right now, it was this.
"Momo, use my laptop. We're going to calculate an escape route. Can you check Kamino ward for road closures and the quickest route to the train station?"
"Already on it," Momo nodded, typing away like in those cyberpunk novels she had read in elementary school. "Let me see. It's not a full picture. I wish I had made a drone for them. I didn't think to do so."
"It wasn't an obvious factor to account for. We're only human. Anyway, I'm going to call Yuyu back. Let me know what you find."
Itsuka read out the directions as Momo relayed them to her. "Take a left on Iwaka street, then go right towards Kenobi. There should be an alley that takes you past a café and straight towards the main street."
"You sure?"
"Positive. There should be some sort of eatery around there. If that somehow becomes closed off, I have found at least two alternative routes. Sorry for not thinking ahead and making any drones."
"No. It's fine. This is actually super helpful."
Itsuka looked towards Momo and smiled. She was sad that their internship together had not been more productive, as coordinating their attacks had sounded like a lot of fun. That said, the night had opened Itsuka's eyes to one thing. "We really make a good team, huh?"
"Agreed. I suppose keeping eyes out for our friends and coordinating a safe extraction is the best we can do in this situation. I feel like an Oracle, giving information to those in need."
Itsuka chuckled at this, feeling like this was something from a western comic Sora had let her borrow. She was fairly certain the author had a bear quirk, but that was neither here nor there.
"I hate to interrupt, but we may need an alternate route. Three of the first years got separated from us."
Itsuka got tense, squeezing her phone as she thought of what could have gone wrong. Had she played with fire? She took a deep breath and asked for clarification. "How? Did the villains do something?"
Nejire must have taken the phone from Yuyu, as there was a brief muffling of the speaker before her voice came on. "Nah. It's just these crowds. They're understandably freaking out between the villains, the Nomu, and All-Might's battle with that boss villain."
"I see. Where did you lose them?"
"That's the thing. Once we got them to safety, the crowd swallowed everything up."
"They might still be there, but it will be risky."
Yuyu responded. "Don't have to tell us twice, Kendou. That Nomu might be in custody now, so we might need another route."
"We'll figure that out. Leave it to us "
X
Police directed traffic, both pedestrian and automotive. Several people ran away from ground zero of the fight. A tall heteromorph woman, somewhere in her early to mid 20s, was closing up at her restaurant job. Her boss, a shorter middle-aged man, was shouting at her as she observed the panicked masses.
The restaurant was known as Oga's Bar and Grill, a 3rd generation eatery that had seen better management. The owner came out and shrieked at his employee, causing the woman's ears to stand up in fear and surprise.
"Josei! Stop standing around like a 2 story wet blanket and close up! Traffic is gonna be hell!"
"*squeak* Yes, sir. Sorry. I'll be right in," The woman, twirling her blonde hair timidly, bowed and apologized.
"Good. And don't bang your head walking out. We just had repairs done. It will be out of your paycheck!"
The woman sighed forlornly, putting up with the man's harassment. In the distance, loud explosions went off not far from downtown. She wondered if perhaps something better would come her way. For now, this was the best she could do.
While she finished, Yuyu, Nejire, and half the first years ran for cover. They were separated from the others.
Izuku, Setsuna, and Bakugou had gotten separated. Yuyu and Nejire needed to find them, then the police before they could go home. However, the panicked crowds had pushed the group apart.
"I'm sorry. I lost her. She was right there and the three of them got swallowed by the crowd," Kyouka cursed under her breath.
Reiko reassured her. "We'll get them all back. That's the mission, right?"
Kyouka nodded. "Right. You're OK, Yanagi. Come on. Yaomomo and Kendou said it's this way."
X
Setsuna watched in terror and awe, as the clash rang put. She at least had that damn collar off. It was a huge relief, and yet she had once again been separated from her rescuers, save for one.
She looked to her left and to her right, seeing Bakugou and Izuku next to her, cheering All-Might on during the fight.
"Of course. It just doesn't end. Shit…"
Izuku placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. Setsuna reciprocated, then watched the climactic battle as it waged in the skies and on the ground. Several civilians were caught in the crossfire but the heroes were on the scene, helping how they could.
"Can you two keep your hands off each other and-"
He was cut off by a building being toppled as the villain was sent into it. Unfortunately he came right out swinging.
Setsuna felt fear and anticipation as she cheered for All-Might to win. It felt like childhood, not helped by the fact that the three had all met at a tender age. She looked at the pleading eyes of both her "hero" and their mutual tormentor, then followed the line of sight to a battered and beaten All-Might. It was haunting. True it was bad enough to see the Symbol of Peace broken and battered by such a foe, but the battlefield ran deeper than that for Setsuna.
It was a fight between good and evil for the sake of society. It was a battle to save children but also, before her eyes was the stuff of her nightmares squaring up against the idol her best friend strived to be like. It was childhood optimism vs the cold despair of inevitable death, and that despair was coming out strong.
But so too would Setsuna. She had already felt powerless tonight. She didn't want to stand by but knew there wasn't a whole lot she could contribute, save for one thing. She looked at Izuku, and towards the crowd that had swallowed her friends. She thought of Itsuka and Momo and the schoolmates that were likely still in the hospital.
Setsuna gritted her teeth, wanting so badly to see her family again. She wanted to be reunited with Kyouka and the others. She wanted to talk to Izuku about what the hell this all was.
But before that, she shouted at the other two teens. "DON'T JUST STAND THERE, YOU FANBOYS! LETS CHEER HIM ON!"
A random onlooker rubbed her eyes, swearing she saw three young children cheering for All-Might. When she looked again, they were scared but determined teenagers, shouting their lungs out with one thing on their mind.
"WIN, ALL-MIGHT!"
A woman whom All-Might had saved during the battle was also cheering him on. All-Might clenched his fist. He was weakened, reduced to his true form. And yet the cheers and wishes of those watching gave him fuel. After a sacrificial gambit, he gave one final push. It was hard to see due to the tornado it generated, but All-Might landed one final devastating blow to All-For-One's jaw, sending him down for the count. The hero shouted with his whole chest.
"UNITED STATES OF SMAAAAAASH!"
Helicopters in the air are thrown off course and heroes on the ground are sent skidding backwards. When the dust settled, the League of Villains had vanished, one last gambit by All-for-One before he was felled.
All-Might raised his fist in triumph, his more skeletal form revealed to a shocked yet grateful world. Cheers erupted as the villain was defeated and All-Might defeated evil again. This time, however, it seemed to be the final battle. Setsuna's eyes widened at the sight of it all, only brought back to reality by the two boys she was with, as well as their approaching comrades.
The eyes of Japan and, indeed, the entire world, were on this very moment. What had started as a rescue mission for two students had turned into a brawl between the Symbol of Peace and what others would later call the avatar of fear and despair itself. What was once buried had roared to the surface in a way that nobody could ignore any longer.
Four girls in Chiba watched the news during a slumber party, the heterochromatic eyes of one in particular taking the whole thing in. Not far off, even Itsuka and Momo were glued to the screen, holding hands briefly before returning to their goal of assisting their friends.
Billions watched the broadcast of that climactic battle. Some were civilians, others were off-duty pros, while others were students. And yet, still others watched from a different perspective. An old man pursed his lips as he sipped his tea. He knew that the fabled All-for-One would reappear eventually. It would certainly draw some unfortunate comparisons, but he didn't care. He had his own business to attend to.
Elsewhere, in a darkened room, several young people watched intently. Behind them, a young man in his mid 20s got to work building support items.
A girl in a modified high school uniform stared at the screen and pondered aloud, every word dripping with malicious anticipation. "All-Might's final battle, huh? How sappy. Wonder if she's watching…"
The TV shorted out, much to the chagrin of the girl's comrades.
"Now now. We can go out and grab another. This is another Era. After all…We're next."
X
The gang was reunited.
It had taken the efforts of two teenage girls over the phone and GIS technology to pull off the final leg of the night's critical marathon, but the finish line had been reached, with the world left up to pick the pieces, both in terms of collateral and the consequences of the battle.
All-for-One had sent the League flying off into a portal to parts unknown before he was left utterly defeated and placed in custody. As such, the crowds were eventually dispersed by police and heroes, making things far more manageable.
"Izuku…What did All-Might mean by," Before Setsuna could finish her sentence, the others regrouped with them. She supposed she would just have to wait for answers.
The party handed off their classmates to the police, overseen by Nejire and Yuyu. The two upperclassmen kept their distance until the deed was done.
"Aren't we more qualified to do this," Yuyu asked. Nejire answered promptly, with both enthusiasm and insight.
"Maybe, but we shouldn't be here either. We're authorized to act due to our licenses, but this is still tricky for us to do, in defiance of pros."
"Yeah. Fair. You really are brains and Beauty, Nejire. C'mon. Let's round up our Kouhai."
Yuyu approached the first years and addressed them. "Alright. We'll escort you guys to the train station. Then we should all part ways. We're probably going to all be in hot water after this, but good job."
"Thanks. We should definitely all head home, preferably separately for the most part to avoid suspicion."
Kyouka pondered aloud, frowning as she did so. "I dunno. That's going to be tricky for some of us that live in the same area."
Kirishima's shoulders slumped, until he had an idea. "Yeah. True…Wait. What if we ride with you and get dropped off?"
Yuyu shook her head. "Unfortunately, there's no room on my Vespa. Otherwise, I would agree. Unless Nejire flies alongside us."
The aforementioned flying girl chimed in, shrugging cheerfully. "I mean, I could. Which one of you lives closer to Tokyo? That's where our apartment is."
Shoda raised his hand. "That's exactly where I love, so I suppose that works. I hope my grandpa isn't too worried."
"Alright then. Shoda is with us. I imagine Tokage and Bakugou will get rides home from the police. Any other pressing matters before we head out?"
Kyoka raised her hand, as well as an eyebrow. "You have a Vespa? Do you play bass?"
Yuyu chuckled. "I know that's probably sarcasm, but actually I do. Fender Bronco I bought at a shop in Saitama."
Kyouka was impressed. "Didn't know we had such rockin' senpais. Thanks for the assist."
"I mean, I'm more into fashion than music, but it passes the time. Music kind of motivated my love of cute outfits, whether it be glam, punk, or Idol stuff. Not to mention heroes like Uwabami and Best Jeanist," Yuyu reflected fondly on her youth designing and mending clothes, as well as visiting boutiques in the area.
She could have easily interned for that newer electric type pro from Saitama, but her passions meant more than just having similar quirks. Matching socks didn't matter if they didn't suit the rest of the garb in some way. At least that's what Uwabami had told her once.
Yuyu continued. "As for the assist, don't mention it. Kendou and Yaoyorozu were the chiefs on this thing. We were just here to keep watch and drag you back if things got too dicey. Speaking of…Shoda? Come with us. We'll get you home. The rest of you should be good, right?"
Izuku nodded, looking between Kyouka and Todoroki, then towards everyone else. "We should be."
"Mhmm," Yui agreed quietly.
This was all Yuyu needed. "Good. Let's go home. See you at school."
Nejire followed it up. "Pleasure to meet you all. I hope we see each other again. Oh! Jirou, right? Can I see your phone?"
Kyouka blushed at the incredibly forward older girl, but obliged. She expected a phone number or something, but instead, a soundcloud page was up.
Yuyu bashfully explained. "Nejire and I sometimes play little acoustic duets under the name Energy Between Us. She gets kind of enthusiastic about what's essentially just a hobby."
"Gay ukulele pop, huh? I might check it out. Thanks," The punk girl smiled before parting ways with the group. "G'night everyone. Nice meeting you. Toothpaste boy, Mosshead, let's head home. It's late."
The group had parted ways, taking the trains to their respective homes. Izuku, Kyouka, and Todoroki all bade their comrades goodnight and took the train to Shizuoka together. The latter fell asleep not long after the bullet train left the station, however. Thus, his two classmates were left to converse amongst themselves. However, they were both distracted.
Izuku was glued to his screen, making sure to check in with both Iida and with Momo and Itsuka before he called Mina. He remembered he had promised to check in with all 4 but his girlfriend was certainly the best for last. After a few rings, he was left with voicemail.
"Hey Mina…I know you're probably asleep. I wanted you to know we're all headed home. They're safe now. I am too, I guess. Anyway, I'll call you tomorrow. Good night…I love you."
As Izuku rested his eyes, he felt tense. He wanted to feel relieved, but he knew there would be consequences, and that with All-Might's final battle complete, everything might very well fall to him.
The silence was broken by his ringtone as he picked up. Kyouka watched intently as he and Mina conversed.
"Hey. Sorry. I dozed off. You sure keep a girl waiting, Mr. 'What's up, Danger'. Ended up succumbing to exhaustion and not even espresso could save me."
Mina spoke again, this time asking a question. "So you're headed home?"
"Yeah. On the same train as Jirou. We're in the same prefecture, so it will be an easy trip."
He looked over to see Kyouka, who was gazing out the window. Her tired eyes met his as she grinned. She let out a small laugh and spoke. "I still can't believe you have a girlfriend."
"Honestly, neither can I," Izuku laughed warmly.
"Especially one like Ashido. I was expecting Uraraka or maybe Tsunotori but Mina and you are surprisingly a good fit, Midoriya."
Izuku rubbed the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "I mean…after tonight, what we've all been through for the same people…You can call me Izuku. And hey, I'm surprised too, but I'm happy. We got to know each other better, and that comfort built up. Both Uraraka and Tsunotori are great. I'm glad I met them, though I don't know Tsunotori as well. Maybe I'll get to know her better."
"Surprisingly bold of you, Broccoli boy. Ok, Izuku. Call me Kyouka, remember?"
"Of course. And since we mentioned people we didn't end up with, I don't know much about that sort of thing. It's more Mina territory. You get along with Kaminari and Yaoyorozu."
"Jamming whey…he's a bit of an idiot, but when he's not getting wrapped up with Mineta's bullshit, I think he's a good dude. I'll stab you with my jacks if you tell him…but I don't know. I'm glad he's my friend. As for Momo…"
Kyouka paused again. She had gotten over it. She had to. She was happy for her friend and had known crushes don't always go anywhere, especially in high school. She was also happy that she and Setsuna had grown closer. It wasn't obvious at first, but they were more similar than either hat expected.
And yet, on some level, she still felt strongly for Momo. It was just that it had taken a different form. She finally concluded. "Momo is still important to me. I very nearly fell for her. Or maybe not even 'very nearly'. She's a rich girl and was very professional and tough when we first met, but she really is amazing. And so is Kendou. They just had more history in the end, but hey…I'm still owed a date by someone just as smart and pretty."
The train barreled towards home. Izuku pondered the night they had just had, and everything they had gone through. "You're from the same prefecture as me, right?"
"Oh. I suppose I am."
"I never ran into you before UA."
"Prefectures aren't exactly super small, dude. It's not like you and I ran into Tokoyami or Todoroki before UA. At least I didn't. I mostly stayed in my neck of the woods, going to shows with my parents and my friends."
"Makes sense. Where did you go?" Izuku pondered on the entire situation, curious about his classmate's past..
"Ever heard of Makkusurebo middle school?
"Vaguely. I overheard it mentioned once or twice when my mom considered switching schools for me."
"Well, that's where I went. There was a girl I knew since elementary school and we would joke about being in a band together. I think her parents put her into military school or something though."
"Sorry about the military school thing. Glad you had friends you hung out with. Better than what I had with Kacchan. At least Setsuna and I would hang out and play heroes vs dinosaurs. They always joined forces in the end."
"Pfft. That's totally on brand for you two. How long did you and her hang out?"
"Not long enough. She had to move back to Saitama and we lost touch after that."
"Hey, Kyouka…This is going to sound weird, but do you ever wonder what it would be like if you, me, and Setsuna grew up together? Like if we had each other?"
"Pretty sure you would have exploded from prolonged exposure to just one girl, let alone two…especially Sets and I. We tend to be the kind to tease our friends."
"I…I can't dispute that. I'm already friends with both of you. Mina as well. I probably would have adjusted eventually. "
"I guess so. I'll wake Todoroki when his stop comes up. Actually, no idea where that is. Forgot to ask Momo. Do you know? He's your friend, right? Plus you probably know where Endeavor lives, since you're a hero fanboy."
Izuku frowned, then sighed. "Asking an All-Might fan if he knows where Endeavor lives is like asking a Punk what their favorite Winger song is."
Besides, he knew, but he didn't want to come off as a stalker by doing the number 2 hero. Come to think of it, Izuku posited that after tonight, Endeavor would be number one, but the boy was not ready to contemplate all that just yet.
Kyouka snapped him back to reality by poking him in the chest. "Ok, you cannot just drop that you know who Winger are and expect me not to ask why?"
Izuku laughed. He supposed it was surprising. In any case, he owed the girl an explanation. "My dad sent. me a vintage CD from America one year as a souvenir."
Kyouka shrugged as she responded. "Fair, I guess. Still can't believe you hang with as many girls as you do. You're kind of a goob."
Izuku smiled. He had certainly gained so many friends at UA, at least more than what he was used to. He had even reconnected with his most important friend from childhood.
"Yeah...So can I. It's funny...I was so awkward around girls. Still am...but most of the people I'm on a first name basis with are girls. My mom would probably cry tears of joy or something but honestly...I'm just glad I have the friends that I do now," Izuku reflected aloud.
Kyouka scoffed playfully. She sensed his sincerity. He could be feral and a bit scary, but he was honestly one of the sweetest most eccentric people she had met. No wonder he was close to both Mina and Setsuna, as well as Iida and Uraraka. "You sound like either a womanizer or someone who's about to have an epiphany one morning."
Izuku became embarrassed, frantically waving his arms in front of his face. "S-stop. Cut it out. Hehe. But yeah. We got her back. We got both of them back. We're probably going to get in huge trouble but...I'm glad we did this."
Jirou reclined in her seat. "I'm the same. It really hasn't hit me yet though. We got them back, and I'm prepared for the consequences. I wouldn't have been satisfied just standing by. I'd ask the pretty boy over there his thoughts, but he's down for the count."
Izuku laughed. "He tends to head to bed early, apparently. He must be exhausted. I can't blame him…" He paused, thinking about the situation. It certainly wasn't his first time breaking the law to do what he deemed was right. Nor was it Todoroki's. Izuku just hoped he could prevent himself from going too far. Still, he couldn't leave the people he knew the longest to languish in uncertainty. He was glad to not only have helped set the mission into motion, but to have followed Momo and Itsuka's leads.
"I'm not an expert...but...heh...I guess that's pretty punk rock of us, huh?"
Kyouka laughed, gently punching the boy in the arm. "That's so weird coming from you but in a way...it works. You're definitely right about that. Just be aware that Setsuna and I will be taking you out for your first piercing."
"I mean, I have hurt myself with my quirk. It would shock my mom, but it's the least destructive thing I've done to myself," Izuku rubbed the back of his neck and offered a smile of acceptance.
"You really are like a buffer teenage Iggy Pop," Kyouka teased.
Izuku blinked, having no idea who that was. He cocked his head to the side. Kyouka sighed and waved her hand to dismiss the line of conversation.
Kyouka was stunned, flabbergasted even. And yet, she rolled with it, giving an exhausted laugh. "How do you know Winger and not…You know what? Doesn't matter. Sets and I can educate you later. I think this is your stop. Better get off or you'll miss it. Text me as soon as you get home. I'll do the same."
Izuku looked and sure enough, they were pulling into the station near his apartment. Time really had gone by like a shot.
"Will do, Kyouka. Make sure to wake Todoroki too," Izuku reminded the punk girl.
"I'm kind of nervous about that. Dude is hard to read. Maybe I'll poke him with my jacks."
"He's a bit rude at times and can be a bit intimidating, but he's not a bad guy. Yaoyorozu would likely say the same. So you can trust us both," Izuku smiled gently as he spoke, picking up his things before preparing to leave.
"Good night, Kyouka. See you around. Have a safe trip home."
"Yeah. You too…Hey Izuku?" Kyouka hesitated a bit. She was so used to being cool and aloof, maybe teasing friends when she was comfortable doing so. And yet she would hide the more vulnerable parts of herself. After the raid, however, there was something she wanted to get out.
Izuku looked her way. "Yeah?"
Kyouka could feel tears well up. Her face felt warm and her heart was lighter than air. She gave an uncharacteristically bright smile as she let it out. "I'm…really happy we have her back. I missed that girl."
Izuku smiled back and responded warmly. "Me too, Kyouka. Me too. I-I won't tell her that you said that, though. Our secret."
"Good. Get going, Greeno."
Once the boy had left, Kyouka resumed her vigil at the window. It was like an imaginary beast had been following alongside the train and had finally found what it was looking for. As if Setsuna were in the seat next to her, Kyouka spoke softly. "I'll talk to you tomorrow as well, Setsuna. I'm still looking forward to that date."
X
It was over. The tense televised battle, the check-ins from Yuyu and Nejire, and finally, the task was complete, with everyone now headed home for the evening.
Itsuka and Momo collapsed onto the bed, holding each other as their eyes met. Their friends were safe and on their way home. Not a single punch was thrown by any of them, and yet victory was achieved.
Momo felt gratified. All the books she read and the games she would play with Sebastian had not necessarily prepared her, but she did reflect on them in addition to her training. Her mind and convictions were growing and she was proud of herself. However, lying next to her was someone she was more grateful to for pushing her to where she was now.
Itsuka was similarly relieved, gazing at her girlfriend with tired satisfaction. She smiled at Momo and exhaled.
"Hey."
Momo responded back. "Hi."
"We did it."
"We did. I can't believe we pulled that off."
"Neither can I. I hope we don't get kicked out of school if they find out. Hoping none of us do."
"Unfortunately, I do expect consequences. It's unlikely that they were not spotted."
"True. I guess we'll have to wait and see…"
"Sorry to change the subject, but it hit me. We'll be able to commute together more often."
"Yeah. Maybe I can drive us to school in the future. I'm gonna go for my license after my birthday."
"Motorcycle or driver's?" Momo asked.
"It could be either or for you."
"Both. Not only that, remember what they said at the training camp? They're preparing us for the provisional licenses exam. I can be 3 for 3 by the time we're both 16."
"That's certainly ambitious of you…I thought you had to be 18 for a motorcycle though."
"Only above 400cc. Up to that, I can be 16. My dad's been helping me study? Plus Sora and Sebastian gave me some tips too."
Momo pressed her forehead against Itsuka's and smiled. "It might be faster to use the bullet train, but I look forward to riding alongside you. We should probably go to sleep for now, though "
"Yeah, you're right, but I already have a fast car and a ticket to anywhere, waiting for us. Just saying."
"With traffic as it is, I doubt we would get anywhere faster than public transit," Momo teased before shifting gears towards fond memories. "Hey, remember when we first met? That first day?"
"Barely. I think we were babies. Or maybe not. Pretty sure our families knew each other since before we were born."
"Maybe. Still, I remember meeting you when we were about 3 or 4. You were always quite sporty, running around and trying to emulate your mother. You also drew x's on your left cheek and your stomach in sharpie because you wanted me to hit you there."
"Look. It was because her debut match had her take those hits first. I wanted to learn to block them…As for emulating her, I suppose I still do. I help her teach martial arts classes. Visited my grandpa too…Stayed a few summers in a row and learned to use a kendo stick. It had my name all over it, I guess."
"It does. Plus you live and breathe Martial arts. Remember when we went as Ranma and Akane for Halloween one year?"
"God, that was foreshadowing, wasn't it? I'm more than just Kung fu movies and gag manga, you know."
"I'm aware. I still giggle whenever I remember Iida's face at that one Student representative meeting."
"Look. I was curious to know how many CC's his leg engines were."
"I had to stifle a laugh. It reminded me of the old days, where you would ask Sebastian so many questions about the limousine."
"God, please stab me. I'm so embarrassed," Itsuka groaned, holding in a laugh as she covered her face with a pillow.
"But it's cute. You're always cute and funny, even when you're daring. I still can't imagine you using a sword, you know. Maybe I can give you fencing lessons."
"I'm good for now, but maybe I'll consider it. A sword fight with my girlfriend kinda sounds fun. You better watch out. I'll get that fight from you. I swear," Itsuka smirked, giving her girlfriend a playful wink.
Momo reciprocated with a kiss on the forehead. "Good. Looking forward to it, with my heart and soul. We should get some sleep, though. We did a lot tonight."
"Yeah, we did."
Momo yawned, then snuggled up to her girlfriend. "Good night, my Sunflower. I love you."
"G'night. I love you too, my Rose." Itsuka fell asleep, smiling as she drifted off to sleep. She thought back to their reunion after years apart. The throbbing feeling in her chest just wouldn't stop around Momo, and now they could dance together to that beat. The moon would be their disco ball, but for now, a good night's sleep was needed.
If only fear and anxiety had not crept in.
X
Setsuna sat in the police station, still reeling over everything that had happened. The police had made sure she was ok and had asked her about her experiences. She was just waiting for Komodo to come and pick her up. Thank goodness for payphones, since her phone was with her things. They had most likely been delivered to her house or were probably still in evidence or something. Either way, she needed a shower and she needed sleep.
But more than that, she needed answers. What was that 'All for One' guy's deal? Could quirks really be stolen or erased like that? What did All-Might mean when he pointed at Izuku and said "It's your turn"? If there was an All for One, was there a One for All?
And then there was her rescue. She was grateful she was grabbed by her friends. However, there was no way she should have been able to get so close to them with that collar on. Her quirk was essentially 'shut off' and they were practically flying. Sure, her schoolmates were capable, and there were pros that were able to keep the villains from grabbing her, but they were ultimately too preoccupied.
Did that villain try to grab her and push her away instead? Was it unintentional? She had no way of confirming that.
What she could confirm in a day or two was about All-Might and his connection to her friend. There were definitely things about Izuku's story that didn't hold water under scrutiny.
She wanted to trust him. She really did. But she needed to hear from him and figure out what the hell was going on. Some stuff could be inferred, but it was all wild conjecture until Izuku told her the truth. Or perhaps All-Might could.
"One thing's for sure. I'm starving."
On the way out, she spotted her fellow hostage. Neither said a word to each other. Bakugou paused, spared a sideways glance her way, and walked towards the train station.
Setsuna paid him little mind, though she could tell he was bothered. She couldn't blame him; Not for that, at least.
"I wonder if mom and dad are up? Dad probably got called into the hospital. Probably a lot of injuries…"
She thought of her parents and her sister. She thought of how her mother had her hair, but black. Her green eyes shimmering like emeralds any time she made some new discovery at a dig site. Professor Tokage was always buzzing with questions and ideas. That curiosity passed on to her children, for the most part.
Her dad was tall and buff, but he was also the most delicate and precise surgeon at his hospital. He always referred to himself as a 'humble meathead scalpel jockey' in a very tongue-in-cheek manner, but he was her partial inspiration.
As well as his sense of humor, however, he instilled in her the desire to save others, to keep them living, even when the odds were slim.
Setsuna's eyes flickered as she reflected on what had happened. Her heart was fluttering but her head was full of uncertainty. She was grateful to those who saved her. To Itsuka and Momo for organizing it, to her classmates for mobilizing (especially Reiko), but most of all, she was grateful to Kyouka and Izuku for being there. She wished she could see them again, but that could come tomorrow. There were also those lingering questions involving the night's events.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to get some answers…but for now," Setsuna looked up at the sky thoughtfully, then cursed to herself. "WHERE THE FUCK IS KOMODO!?"
As if in answer to her mental screams, a beat-up Honda N-Box pulled up with a series of obnoxious beeps. As the window rolled down, a scaled hand reached out the window, holding a bag of KFC.
"Oi. Get in, brat. O brought grub. Let's go home," A scratchy voice called out from the driver's side.
Exhausted, famished, and at least a bit traumatized, Setsuna sighed and offered a weak smile. "Poggers. I'm eating it in the car though. You're late."
Her brother hissed grouchy. "Yeah yeah. Just don't get crumbs everywhere. We're off to the races. Suna."
And with a client of shifting gears and a roar of the engine, the van sped off into the night.
X
The night ebbed and flowed like dark water before making way for dawn. In Itsuka's bed, inner turmoil bubbled and boiled.
"AAH!"
Momo woke up in a cold sweat a few times during the night. Some of the dreams were horrific and vivid. Blood and shadows dancing in a macabre and abstract cabaret. Others left her red faced when she turned to look at Itsuka, who was still fast asleep.
Eventually, she was able to sleep soundly, without worry. She didn't even need to make a weighted blanket in the middle of the night this time. Of course she already had one just in case, but it wasn't required.
Itsuka, however, was plagued by nightmares of how everything could have gone wrong. She dreamed of that figure on the TV coming out and snapping Momo's neck before moving on to her. She saw the bodies of her friends and family, lying in her hands like broken toys as blood dripped from her fingers. Distorted dance music played as she was reminded of past instances.
When Itsuka had awoken, she was still exhausted. She looked at her phone and scrolled down through her contacts. She scrolled past the names of her middle school friends before she just typed the correct name into search. It was early, but if there was anyone to call, it would be Setsuna. If she was ok, surely the others were, in Itsuka's mind.
The lizard girl was groggy as she answered. She had not slept well after getting home and her family did not help things with their questions and doting. Minus Komodo, they still had to do their jobs, so they kissed her forehead and told her they would talk later. She was dreading that this might result in her being pulled from UA, but all things in good time, she thought. She just needed to catch up on her eight hours. So naturally, she received a phone call.
"Hey. It's early. Can I still sleep? They questioned me for a while last night before my bro dropped by and took me home."
Itsuka sighed apologetically into the other line. "Sorry. Just…wanted to check if you were OK. If all of you were still ok."
Setsuna hesitated, but answered after a few moments. "I mean…as ok as I could be after that…are you?"
"I…it's not important. I wasn't actually there. I don't have the right to-"
Setsuna instantly picked up on what was happening. The previous night had felt like halloween, except with trauma instead of candy. At least, that's what parts of it were like. "Itsuka…You had nightmares too, didn't you?"
"What makes you say that?" Itsuka tried to deflect, staying strong, even when her feelings were transparent.
Setsuna sighed, then spoke frankly to her friend. "Because I know what kind of leader you are. No. I know the kind of friend you are, you worry wart. I was face to face with that scary dude. The one All-Might fought…I'd be concerned if you didn't have nightmares. I heard from Kyouka that you and Momo helped organize and coordinate this. So, I wanted to thank you."
Itsuka groaned as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and let the phone rest against her ear. "Any time…I just…what if it went wrong? What if I endangered all of you? I was here with Momo at my house while…"
Setsuna went silent for a moment before putting the situation to bed. The sooner it was, the sooner she could be as well.
"Hey…I'll only say this once because I'm exhausted…You're a hell of a leader. You have great judgment and, when the chips are down, I trust you to make sure everyone is ok. Brilliant idea calling in Haya and Hadou as back up, by the way. As smart as some of the rescue crew was, they never would have thought of that. That's pure Kendou. I take it Momo helped too?"
Itsuka confirmed. "She looked up road closures while I gave directions over the phone."
"See? You're a lifesaver, Yaoi hands. You and Momo. Everyone made it out because of you. I'm going back to sleep. I hope I helped," Setsuna yawned lazily. "I want to hear all about how you two hooked up while I was out. Talk to you later, bestie…oh wait. Before I doze off…he knows."
Itsuka was concerned. Setsuna had already hung up, leaving her friend with a vaguely cryptic warning. Of course, there was only one person the girl could mean.
Itsuka cursed under her breath, gently waking Momo with a touch to the shoulder. From downstairs, Hizatsu shouted.
"Wake up, girls. Breakfast. Also, I may have an announcement."
As the girls were about to head downstairs, Sora called. Itsuka sent Momo down ahead of her while she took this call.
"The only way they could have been there was if they had a tracker. Like the one Momo made for us. Know anything about that?"
"Yeah. I coordinated it. They wanted to go. I knew I wouldn't be able to stop them, so Momo and I at least made sure they would be safe. We had them tailed by two upperclassmen with their licenses already, ready to extract them."
"Itsy...You could have just called the hospital staff to inform them. Security cameras picked them up anyway."
Itsuka should have seen it coming. She was busted. There was no going back to bed now. The sun was already peering through the window with its early morning rays. "Shit...You're right. I stand by my decision, though. I knew I couldn't go myself. I couldn't risk another School Dance incident, but I wanted to keep my friends safe if they were going to be reckless. So Momo and I checked for road closures to get everyone back safe and to drop Setsuna and Bakugou off with the police."
Sora listened with an exasperated tone. There had been a lot at stake and recklessness could only make things worse. "Were you at all concerned with what could have gone wrong? Did you remember anything from the…"
Sora was cut off by his sister, agitation boiling over for a moment. She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed before she fired back.
"Don't lecture me, Sora. Did you not hear me mention it by name?…I slept poorly over it. I had vivid nightmares...I know I made a mess in Middle school, and that this could have turned out worse. I know that I'm still feeling the aftermath of that, even if my involvement was minimized for my sake. I'll face consequences for this too, Sora. If I have to, I will. I wanted to be honest with you first, even if you did know."
A pregnant pause entered the space in conversation, taking its time before the elder Kendou sibling could bear a response.
"Yeah. Sorry. You did say it, but…Look…" Sora exhaled. His little sister was brilliant and mature, but she could be stubborn and boneheaded at times. He supposed he was no different, however. "As a hero I'm disappointed. You broke all kinds of protocols, put multiple people into danger, and compromised a high security mission. But as your brother...I'm so proud of you. I get why, and honestly in your boots I can't say I wouldn't have done something too. Besides, I know you're probably kicking yourself mentally and convincing yourself you haven't learned your lesson, but you have demonstrated that you have…at least partially. I can tell your head was in a better place here. You had an exit strategy, clear parameters, and someone by your side. Fair warning though, I doubt your sensei will be as complimentary."
Itsuka twirled her ponytail anxiously. She knew that what she helped facilitate was still illegal, but she stuck to her guns. She wondered for a moment what her classmates would say. If Tetsutetsu had been there at that moment, he would have slapped her on the back and cheered. She would have to check in on him too, but for now, she kept her attention on her brother's voice.
"Thanks. And yeah, I'll prepare myself for it. Heroes aren't gods. We're people doing the right thing...in most cases. Just cleaning up messes so that people can live in peace. I'll accept the consequences. We all will."
"Dammit...You really are a handful. I'll talk to your sensei for you. Might lose my job over this, but I've got your back. Just...know you won't get off entirely Scott free. Really, Itsy. Using my own words against me. That's dirty."
"Heh. I learned from you. Oh...are you coming home? Mom is asking us to come down for breakfast. She said she had something to tell us."
"Yeah, I'm a few minutes away. She was really adamant that I would find the time to stop by."
"I'm kind of worried. Do you think she knows about the raid?"
"Mom knows everything. She'll probably go lenient on you because you're the baby of the family. Maybe you're moving."
Itsuka's bitch face was so intense, Sora swore he could see it in his mind. The younger sibling hissed. "Don't even joke about that."
Momo chimed in with her own ideas over the phone. "What if you're adopting another dog? Or perhaps she's pregnant?"
Itsuka was surprised her girlfriend had not gone down stairs yet, but could ask about that later.
"Hah I doubt it. 2000 yen says you're moving."
Itsuka felt helpless as Momo gave a determined declaration. "You're on."
"You heard the girl. See you when you get here. We're going to get dressed."
"I'm actually parked right outside now. See you soon.~"
He hung up. Itsuka rolled her eyes and placed her phone on the desk before going to her dresser for a change of clothes.
"Hey, I'm surprised you didn't go down stairs."
"I still need to get dressed."
She turned around and disrobed quickly, aiming to be down the stairs before her mom came up them.
Momo tapped her on the shoulder. "Should I change in the other room?"
"No. It's fine. Sorry. I guess it hasn't all settled in for me. I change with other girls all the time but it feels different and I don't know how to deal I guess."
"We changed at Uwabami's."
"Yeah. Alright. Sorry for being weird about all this."
Momo blushed as she turned Itsuka around. They gazed at each other and could feel everything come to a standstill.
She took Itsuka's hand and placed it above her heart, before returning the favor. It was a calming ritual Itsuka taught Momo when they were 7.
"Your heart's beating fast."
Itsuka laughed nervously, giving a genuine but bashful smile. "So is yours. Right. I remember the drill. Calmness in, turmoil out."
The two closed their eyes and drew in deep breaths. They slowly exhaled as they felt each other's warmth.
"You look beautiful, Momo."
"Do I? I suppose. Thank you. As do you, Itsuka…We should probably get going before Sora comes in and makes comments."
"Pffft. Let him…I am pretty hungry though. Let's change together."
"So am I. As long as you don't race me, I am fine with that."
"That was one time."
"It happened multiple times, Itsuka," Momo laughed.
"Well, it doesn't matter. Come on. You must be hungry."
Momo smiled back at Itsuka and responded. "Famished, actually. Shall we?"
"We shall," Itsuka said, pulling her girlfriend in for a noogie and a kiss. Momo objected and squirmed but laughed the whole time.
Pulling away, Momo playfully pulled away and threw a shirt at Itsuka with a confident smirk.
"Then let's waste no more time. I need tea and crepes, stat."
X
The girls were greeted by the smell of freshly prepared breakfast and the sounds of City Pop serenading their ears. Cooked rice, eggs, and crepes filled the nostrils of anyone who had dared enter.
Itsuka came down the stairs wearing a denim jacket, a white tank top depicting the album art for Turn Back by the Pillows, and a black pencil shirt. She also had a wristband her friend Daiki had won for her in middle school. Momo walked behind her in a burgundy cardigan and a gray petticoat. They had certainly dressed well for the day, as Hizatsu would attest.
Sora greeted the two from the kitchen as he craned his neck around the corner.
"Eat up, Gang. I made extra portions for myself and Momo, but there's seconds for everyone," Hizatsu beamed, wiping the sweat from her brow.
The family sat at the table, waiting until everyone had finished eating before Hizatsu was ready to blurt out her news.
"Is Sora dating Tōkō again secretly? She had good taste in music." Itsuka still remembered how short that courtship was and how the blonde girl had come out not long after that. The memories were still clear, as was the framed Judas Priest record she gave Itsuka as a birthday gift one year. It was across from the Mantra of Light scroll her grandfather sent her that year.
"No, I think she's back in Saitama, operating solo."
"Oh, come on, Itsy. We broke up in High school. I think she's dating some woman she met online now anyway."
Itsuka teased her brother, a playful smirk on her face. "Poor Rara. Like King Midas, except instead of gold, everything he touches turns to lesbians…Also, no donkey ears."
Momo gasped with excitement. Sure, her girlfriend was sounding a little bit like Tokage, but what was important was the reference she made. "You're reading that book on Greek mythology I lent you? Are you enjoying it?"
Hizatsu took a sip of her coffee, then spoke casually. "Itsy, don't antagonize Sora."
Sora smiled and nodded. "Thank you, mom."
Itsuka thought back to the mantra scroll again and felt a pang of uncertainty. "Is grandpa sick?" Itsuka became concerned, worried about the old man. Aside from her mother, her grandfather had helped instill a love of Martial Arts into the girl's heart.
"No. He's fine. He's in Hong Kong visiting some old friends and pupils, though," Hizatsu explained before taking a deep breath. This was the big one, but she knew she could count on her kids for support. "Ok…So…Your father already knows already, but…Itsy…you're going to be a big sister. I'm pregnant again, kids."
Momo clapped her hands in excitement. "Congratulations!"
Itsuka and Sora, however, were completely floored. "What?"