Bonus - Encouragement

[During the Festival Lunchbreak]

Down past the stadium still roaring with laughter and excitement, most pathways encompassing the great walls were empty, people crowded the stands or browsed the stands outside the main entrance, meeting Pros and discussing the events leading up to the grand battles ahead, the highlight of the day. Down one, empty path, a girl's head visibly fumed with rage, embarrassment, and a hint of humor. Though that last one was very slim.

Jiro paced alone, grinding her teeth together while simultaneously eating to calm herself down. She had been played, and perfectly might she add. "Yukiiii you witch! When I find you I'll... grah! Stupid, skimpy skirt and annoying, puffy pom-poms!" She had switched back to her gym clothes the second she received the chance to flee the mortifying scene, running one of her earphone jacks between her fingers

"I can't believe you got played that easily, and that's coming from me," Above, a voice startled the anger out of Jiro, and she felt the heat rise back through her skin as she caught sight of the person hanging upside down from the tree, holding out a peace sign. "Hey, Kyoka."

He was a slender-looking teen with fax-brown, slightly wavy hair, and green eyes, his complexion cream-colored. He wore one of Jiro's own jackets that she used in her hero costume, a blue and white t-shirt underneath as his skull necklace swung before his eyes. A pair of black cargo pants with two chains linked to his left hip. His plain sneakers swung back on the branch.

"A-Akio? What the - Wait," Jiro raised her hand to her forehead, then her eyes bulged as the heat grew in her cheeks. "You saw me!?"

He quirked a brow. "Yeah? I... did come here to watch the show," Then he smiled obliviously. "And to cheer you on!"

That brought Jiro to freeze mid-retort, clamping her mouth shut as she felt a little weird hearing that, and somewhat ashamed she didn't get very far all things considered. Of course, there's not much her Quirk can do against people like Yuki, Todoroki, and Bakugo. Those three were nuts on their own varying levels.

She shrugged, flicking a crumb against his forehead, eyes flat. "Then you've wasted your time, I ain't going forward, surprised I made it to the Cavalry Battles, then that creep with the copy Quirk snagged the remainder of our points." She knew the heat between their classes was bad but intentional antagonizing Bakugo was a bad move

Akio shrugged, swinging himself around to land, only for the branch to snap midway as he yelped girlishly, colliding with the grass as Jiro held her stomach in a laughing fit at the expense of his misery. "Ack, o-okay, that hurt," He spun to sit with his legs crossed, hands between his legs. "I have to admit, that Bakugo guy's like... wow, I practically felt his rage."

Jiro snorted a laugh, finding her friend's random appearance to take her mind away from Yuki's cruel prank, and his company was an interesting experience, even if they saw each other every day. She sat down with him in the sunlight. "Try being in the same room with him all day, trust me, takes guts like Yuki's to so much as provoke him."

"She's always fun to hang with," Akio agreed, sitting back with his hands propping him up. "Suuuucks that you didn't get to move forward, but hey, learning experience for the two of us, I get to see what your class is made of, and same for you, right?"

Again, Jiro felt somewhat disappointed, knowing now he was watching, expecting her to go on atleast to the matches on the horizon. "Yeah..." A flick to her nose startled her as she saw the sharp stare in his eyes, one had turned from a bright green to a dark magenta

"Don't," His voice layered with another briefly, then returned to normal with a single blink and smile as he sat back again to face the sky above. "Yeah, you failed now but you'll get stronger, you always do in your own way, and I know better than anyone the kind of hero you are," He shut his eyes, smiling. "You'll be fine, Kyoka, we both know it."

Her mouth was ajar, eyes adrift to the same blue sky above as a breeze rustled the tree.

"You... don't need to help me..." He pulled away, hand scratching his bandaged arm gingerly. "...thank you, but I... I'm not a good person..."

"And?" Jiro retaliated, stepping forward, arms crossed as she flicked one of her earphone jacks toward his nose. "Yeah, no one's perfect, I'm not, and you don't strike me as the sort to do something horrib-"

"I have!" He finally raised his voice, but out of fear for her safety, the way he kept his distance from her it wasn't the sign of a person who'd purposely harm another, maybe it was out of his control, but that didn't make him a bad person.

She breathed heavily, stomping forward, "Honestly," Jiro shook her head, grabbing his wrist to keep his fingers from scratching at the bandage. "You want to disappear, fine, but so long as I'm here that won't happen, you're hurt, you can barely stand you idiot," She pointed out as though she was the only one who noticed. "God... just, don't run away from your problems, otherwise you'll run out of places to hide."

"-iro? Kyoka~!" His voice broke her daydream, feeling her own hand clutching the silver music note on a necklace around her neck. Akio's body shadowing hers with a hand held out to her as a distant announcement faded, herself somewhat flustered by her lack of attention. "Times up, sadly," She took his hand, pulled up with a single tug

She patted his shoulder with a click of her tongue. "Always handy, thanks," She turned to grab her bag and make a b-line for the side entrance but stopped to give him a quick wave of her hand coolly. "Catch ya after the festival, dude."

He winked, "You know it!" And so they parted ways, leaving Jiro with her thoughts and a small smile she didn't know played at her lips, increasing the tempo in her step

"Thanks for that, Akio, told ya you're not a bad person." "Neither of you..."

To Be Continued...


Surprise~! Mysterious background character. This came to mind a few chapters ago, and I thought to include it now as a small skit, not to worry, this isn't the last you've seen of this guy. I hope you enjoyed, enjoy the next chapter, Plus Ultra!