Chapter 78 - A Festival's Imperfections

Practice for the Cultural Festival was well underway with the three teams divided amongst their workloads. Tekres and Rayla weren't present but had promised to make up for the lost time once their own private projects were handled, that, and Tekres still wasn't fully comfortable being around so many humans.

Outside, the dance team continued with the sun shining bright, Akio dropping off drinks for the lot, acting as everyone's waiter for the training, he was fine with that, he wasn't as skilled with instruments as Kyoka or Yuki so he stuck with being the tech team's heavy lifter and supplier. Living homeless for months gave him a very transparent understanding of construction.

"Midoriya!" Ashido yelled, being the captain of her dance team. "And put more muscle into it! The 'Lock' in locking is spelled, L-O-C-K, so do it like you're turning a lock," Ashido explained, going through the routine fluidly beside Yuki who nodded along. "And stop with a snap - Yuki?"

"On it," She wandered over to the boys trying to nail their dancing, without realizing it, Yuki slipped her fingers between Izuku's, helping him stand eye to eye with her smile. "You're too rigid still, think of it as fighting, the whole 'moving with your opponent' is actually true, just apply that concept into what you're doing now."

"R-right," He was too busy memorizing Yuki that he almost tripped, with a nervous smile he let her hands guide him, feeling her body glide to press by his side, tweaking his stance. "So close..." Though now he felt that warmth radiate to his entire body and his muscles relaxed slightly, guided by an angel's hands.

"That's it, slowly catch the rhythm, memorize it, then speed up once you've grasped the motions," Her voice was like silk in his ear while the boys did their best to do the same, slowing themselves down as Ashido clapped.

"That's better! You guys will be dancing pros by sundown!" Then she grinned slyly at the resident couple. "You look really happy over there, Midoriya~!"

"Wah!" He tripped over his own foot, realizing he had a dumb smile on his face though Yuki caught him and pulled him back up, passing by with a peck to his cheek.

"Keep practicing, Zuzu," His motivation was set ablaze before he and Yuki spotted something by the bushes leading to their dorm. "Say, is that...?"

"I think it is..." With All Might aiding them in mastering their 'unity' move, the side effect of finishing each other's sentences became the norm for them. "Hey, Togata!"

He deadpanned at being caught so quickly, using his butt to shove someone out of hiding from behind the bush. That's when the atmosphere changed entirely. A young girl with neater silvery-blue hair was standing before them. Her outfit is a white dress shirt with a frilled collar and a plain red pinafore with two large, golden buttons on either side of her chest. Under this, she wears grey tights and a large set of tan boots, a small dark red messenger bag with the strap sitting over her right shoulder, and a little floral pattern decorating one of its sides.

"Eri!" Those from the Raids beamed at the adorable sight. The group quickly ran over to greet the shy girl.

"Hi, Deku, Aksis," She recognized the pair immediately, Yuki gushing at the new look for Eri.

"It's not fair... how can anyone be so cute!?" She whined with puppy dog eyes.

"That dress looks great on you," Asui pointed out as Ochaco joined Yuki in fawning over Eri's appearance.

"You. Are. Precious!" The brunette threw her fist high.

"Midoriya, Azuru," Behind Togata and Eri was Mr Aizawa, hands in his pockets. "We finally got permission from the principal, so in order to reduce any additional stress we're letting Eri explore the school grounds before the festival."

"That's smart, it gets her acquainted with a large crowd again," Yuki nodded in agreement, then deadpanned. "Say, who's taking her around campus...?" Her eyes made a b-line for Togata who saluted.

"Since I'll be taking care of her during her time at the festival is made sense, no?" He wasn't wrong but Yuki wasn't certain it was wise for Eri to listen to him.

Kneeling down, Yuki smiled. "Hi, Eri, tell me, has Lemillion said anything weird to you today?"

She looked up at the blonde, then back to the really beautiful girl asking her. "Um... he mentioned that word, 'Date' again." Eri didn't see it, but Yuki's classmates saw the darkness surrounding Yuki as her eyes glowed crimson up at Togata.

"Okay, that's terrifying!" They inched back from the demon protecting Eri's innocent mind as Togata waved her off with a laugh.

"Wow, you make some funny faces, I see why Midoriya likes you so much!"

To brush past the tension, Iida stepped forward to introduce himself to Eri. "Hello there, so you're Eri from the Work Study, it's very nice to meet you, I'm Iida."

Seeing a lot of kind people forced Eri to hide a little behind Togata, unsure of how to approach so many people at once. "Oh, right, she's kinda shy."

"That's perfectly okay," Iida understood as the group gave the girl some breathing room. They knew vague details of the Raid but only those present understood the severity of Eri's mental health. All of this to her was foreign thanks to Overhaul, the only saving grace was Dren, surprisingly but now he was gone too.

"Say, Midoriya, you want to come round the school with me and Eri?" Togata suggested as Yuki bumped her hip against Izuku's.

"You mind if I tag along, just for insurance?" Togata wasn't a bad person, but Yuki's instincts wouldn't sit right despite her mind telling her it was just an overreaction.

"Sure, more the merrier, right, Eri!?" Togata beamed as Eri peeked out entirely, nodding toward the two.

Just then, the door to their dorm creaked open with a few surprised gasps. "Hey, dance team! We wanted to talk about-!" Kirishima paused upon spotting the new arrivals. "Oh, it's Eri!" He quickly ran out to greet her before slowing down. "Oh, right, you probably don't know who I am, huh?" He did flash the girl a toothy smile as Ashido raised her hand.

"Then how about we take a break inside? Teatime everyone! Here that, Akio!?"

From behind Izuku, Akio leapt from the shadow with a thumbs up. "Loud and clear boss," Then he paused and smiled at Eri. "Welcome to UA, Eri you'll love it here."


Later that day, Togata, Izuku, and Yuki began their tour inside with Eri, with the girl walking between the ladder two with her hands in each of theirs tightly. Streamers were being set up down the halls with various groups working around the clock to plan and prep their own event. Many collaborated to speed along the process or exchange items the others needed. It was an endless cycle of community.

"Today's a weekend, but since everyone's in the dorms, a lot of students are still preparing for the festival," Togata explained.

Just then, two students from the third year appeared. "Oh, Togata, hey!"

The other man gaped. "Hold on, a kid!?" That caused Eri to hold onto Yuki and Izuku tighter, the former giving her a light squeeze to reassure her.

"Don't tell me that's why you're on temporary leave from school!?" The first one assumed, then pointed at the first years. "O-or is she...!?"

Izuku blinked at Yuki who shared his confusion before it dawned on them, turning their heads away as scarlet overwrote their faces, hearts skipping in shock at the assumption that Eri was their child. "Oh My God, we totally look like a parental couple right now!?" Their minds echoed as one, steam rising from their faces with Yuki hiding behind her mask.

Togata just smiled kindly at his classmates. The one with a horn freaked out. "So if it isn't there's then - wait, don't just stand there and smile it makes it seem like it's true!"

The other blonde recovered, handing them a flyer. "Sorry for the jokes you three, in all seriousness, this years' Class I will be amazing, so make sure you come!"

"Will do!" Togata thanked as Yuki and Izuku recovered enough to read the flyer.

"S-sure, thank you," Yuki's eyes flickered to curve happily, Eri still watching the pair that held her hands. Wondering what the older boy meant and why the two looked really red in the face a second ago...

The trio went on their way, passing by many setups with Eri taking in everything in silence, flinching when something unexpected happened but she didn't try and hide since the trio practically safeguarded her. For a moment, she felt it was the same as back then when the three took hits from Overhaul to protect her despite how fatal it may have been.


Outside briefly, they worked their way to the next building of UA, passing the many outdoor events that took up more space than a simple class act. Various stands and props were set in place, with construction work underway.

|Incoming|

Yuki was so caught up observing everything she almost didn't see the large prop of a pale dragon head lunging toward them. "Watch it!" She moved ahead of Izuku and Eri, using her hand to catch the underside of the drake.

Yuki helped none other than Tetsutetsu hoist it back into his iron-clad arms. "Huh, sorry 'bout that Class A - Ah, it's you, Azuru, Midoriya!" Tetsu apologized, adjusting the head to his side. Eri just blinked wide at the dragon head.

"It's fine, just watch your step next time," Yuki smiled, kicking a large stone out of the way of the path. "So, what's with the dragon head?"

"Oh, that's-" Then another person slipped out from behind Tetsu, and Yuki had to visibly hide her eye roll.

Monoma appeared, looking as distasteful as always. "What's this, what's this? Idling in a place like this... you don't have any work to do?"

"We're busy," Yuki kept it curt, stepping back to hide Eri from the last person that came off as friendly toward anyone. "What do you want, Copycat?"

Izuku closed his eyes with a slight sweatdrop. "Please, don't antagonize him further."

Togata held a similar expression, "Wow, and I thought I only got that look from her."

"Eri, are you okay?" Izuku turned his attention to Eri.

"I thought it was that person who fell from the sky..." She replied.

"Fell from the... oh, you mean Ryukyu!" It did share that resemblance to either her or Akame.

"Oh, are you ignoring me?" Monoma snarked with Yuki passing a blunt stare from behind her mask.

"Does anyone else hear that buzzing or is it just me?" Yuki shrugged. "Meh, just the wind probably."

"I heard that 1-A is doing a concert or something, are you okay with that?" He stepped forward, pointing a finger at the pair. "This time, I'll put it bluntly, Class B's performance will be the top of the board compared to yours! 'Romeo and Juliet and the Prisoner of Azkaban; Return of the King', it'll be a completely original script by us!"

That sounds positively dreadful | I am no critic | But that is too much

"It sounds like someone vomited several fanfictions atop one another and called it a story," Yuki wouldn't cramp on her friends' style, if they could pull it off more power to them, it was the blonde jerk in front of her that made her regret coming this way with Eri. "Keep it PG, Yuki, for Eri's sake."

The group just shared a blank face, even Eri didn't have a word to say as Monoma rambled in his hysterical fashion that Tetsutetsu just shook his head, trying to warn his classmate at the approaching threat. "You should probably go prepare a handkerchief to wipe away your tears when you're blown away by us that is! Ahahahahaha - Ack!"

*Bam!*

A small pillar of stone from the path shot out to knock Monoma out cold, landing in Jura's arm as he rubbed his nape shamefully. "Sorry for that, Yuyu, Midoriya, Togata, Eri," He bowed his head. "With Kendo working on something else he's gotten more unhinged when it came to beating you guys."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from him." Yuki shook her head, crossing her arms. "No bad blood is a good thing between us."

"You said it!" Tetsu agreed, tapping Jura's arm. "Alright, boss, I'll get this in place."

"Sure thing," He waved him off to chat more, staring at Eri. "Sorry if he scared you, Eri."

"He's weird," Was all she said, making the boys stifle a laugh at her innocent reply.

"Still though, Kendo always seems to come as a pair with Monoma?" Izuku observed.

"Yeah... the girls kinda roped her into performing in this year's beauty pageant," Jura chuckled nervously. "I couldn't really win that fight, so I backed out, hehehe."

"A beauty pageant?" Izuku never knew that was a thing, and he aimlessly felt his eyes wander to his girlfriend who conversed with Togata and Jura. Many images flooded Izuku's mind, each more alluring than the last as red rose from the neck up, eyes dilated at the idea. "Wow..." He felt at any moment his nose might bleed from the thought.

"-hey, you okay, Zuzu?" Yuki poking his freckles spurred him out of his trance, flailing his free hand wildly to cover his face.

"Yep! Never better, hahahaha!" Yuki just felt lost at him being weird, just that was par for the course with Izuku.

Though Yuki too held her own thoughts on the matter, face a little pink. "I wonder if Izuku would like to see me wear something that fancy...?"


Back inside, the group spotted another notable person walking in their direction, head in the clouds.

"Heya, All Might!" Yuki waved as the group paused, spotting the blonde ex-hero who appeared lost in thought until his name was called. His pleasant smile returned, spotting the girl holding hands with Yuki and Izuku, staring up at the skeletal man curiously.

"Young Azuru, Midoriya, and Togata, how are you?" He waved a little, eyeing the young girl, "And I suppose this is Young Eri?"

"Yeah, we're taking on a super exciting tour of what's to come!" Togata beamed.

"And I'm here to keep a certain someone from putting odd words in this adorable snowball's head," Yuki cooed, shooting a glare up at Togata who laughed without a care in the world.

Izuku sighed but retained a smile looking to his mentor. "Actually, I wanted to ask," All Might met his student's gaze. "About our training, are you going to check up on the support equipment I requested? We were planning to head there along our walk."

All Might nodded, "I am, I had something I needed to ask that Splicer, Tekres was it?" The pair nodded. "But I'll ask them how the developments go for you, take your time, leave the workload to me for once, alright kids," He smiled, kneeling down to Eri's height to pat the girl's head, seeing her tension ease a little. "You stick close to these three, they'll make sure you have a good time,"

"Okay..." Eri murmured as All Might passed them with a wave.

"You kids have fun,"

Departing for the Support Course's workshop All Might had no trouble navigating the chaos in every classroom for the festival. Once the giant metal doors were in sight he noted the lack of anything exploding, a rarity for Hatsume, All Might smirked humorously. Knocking on the doorframe he raised his voice.

"If you're looking for Hatsume, she's busy with her own festival project," The gravelly voice belonging to the Eliksni he was looking for drew All Might's eyes to a workbench where various odd contraptions and tools lay scattered about. The blue banner covering the Wolf Splicer. "You are... All Might."

"And you're Tekres, though we haven't met formally," He kept his formal for now as the Fallen turned, standing a head higher than the hero with four glowing eyes trained to the blonde. "I wanted to ask about the augments to better stabilize Young Midoriya's and Azuru's quirks when they unify if-"

"Almost complete," He interrupted, pointing to the skeleton of wires and machinery plugged into what appeared to be two matching breastplates. "I recommend reducing the exposure SIVA has to the Archon's mate's ability, the results are unknown, both positive or otherwise..." His throat clicked.

"You're worried it could go haywire?" All Might considered the possibility, hence his focus on raising the percentage of Yuki's improved quirk and in hopes of unlocking more clues about the lingering quirks within One For All, perhaps even his Master's quirk; Float.

"SIVA's core function was to Consume data and matter. Then Enhance the strongest elements while counteracting the flaws. Lastly, Replicate that functionality," His arm waved to his work. "The Archon rewrote the core functions but that original code lies buried in SIVA, dormant, and if there are no defenses Kovik will exploit it; he has already replicated various strands of SIVA from the Archon."

"Geez, you don't need to bump the old guy out," All Might blinked from his stern gaze to find the resident Guardian sitting by the door, taking a sip from a soda can while her Ghost, Solaire, bobbed beside her. "Sorry about Tekres, for a young Eliksni he's a real emo about things."

"Tch," He growled, returning to his work. "You are no better."

"He's not wrong," Solaire agreed simply, causing Rayla to choke on her drink.

"Okay, everyone's against me today, thanks," She huffed, pointing to All Might with the hand holding the can. "About muffin top - I mean Midoriya, what is his quirk?" All Might flinched, eyes were hidden momentarily. "I tried asking but he sorta stumbled around his words, even Yuki and that rocker chick looked freaked out when I asked - oh, is it a secret!?" She whispered with a mischievous grin.

Thankfully, Solaire came to his aid, tapping his Guardian on the head, his shell narrowed disapprovingly. "Now, Rayla, we shouldn't pry into their business, if it is a secret I bet its for good reason."

She groaned, rolling her eyes, "Ugh, you sound like Freed!" Without knowing it, her thumb rubbed the glowing armband she wore over her uniform. "Y'know, us Guardians don't have to keep our Light a secret, heck, everyone knows you could blow my head off and I'd come right back."

"It's still an unpleasant sight for the students," He argued, her hand pushing him back.

"Pfft, you're all buzzkills today," Rayla sighed.

"May I ask something, Rayla?" All Might found his voice, eyeing her cloak and armband.

"Sure, what's up?" Her eager eyes did not last.

"I know this may be none of my business, but those articles of clothing on your body, the armband, and cloak, you almost never remove them," All Might inquired, not realizing Tekres had ceased his work to listen, and Soliare flicked between the hero and his Guardian who held a smile. All Might, however, knew what he was saying, taking it slow. "Were they important to someone before you had them?"

Rayla was dead quiet, setting her drink down on a free desk, the tinkering of the Support Course might as well have been distant in their ears as the girl brushed her raven-white hair back, staring at her lap. "There are three classes of Guardian. A Titan, myself; A Warlock, and a Hunter,"

"We all bear a 'mark' to signify our class with pride, the Hunter's had cloaks-" Her shoulders wiggled a bit. "-Titans a sash, and the Warlocks an armband," She tapped the glowing artifact. "It's how you can tell each other apart, aside from each class's stereotype, though Fireteam Horizon would surprise you, hehe,"

All Might was frowning but kept his voice soft. "Have you spoken about them often? Your Fireteam?"

Rayla stood up, rubbing her forearm shyly. "Hey, I... appreciate what you're tryin' to do here, I get it, Tekres did the same, many have I... I'm fine," Her voice was dry, and she didn't hold her gaze to anyone, turning for the door. "...seeya around, teach."

"Rayla-" She left without Solaire who passed All Might a glance. "Thank you for trying, I'll inform the staff if we require anything, good day, All Might." He bowed his shell and took off after his Guardian.

Through the murky darkness, smothering the sickly green and pale white lanterns held in twisted, thorned cages, a great flame erupted from the center of the darkness ahead of Rayla's eyes, clasping a sword that burned with an unbelievable amount of heat, the sheer pressure expelling the darkness around a bloodied form that protected her. The swordsman challenged the darkness.

No... please...

Another scene flashed, and a cloak was wrapped around Rayla's teary form, even as the person's smile dripped with blood, they kept her warm when her Light failed to reach her.

...please don't leave...

Forest green embers burnt the darkness, marring the architecture in overwhelming light, a large, black cleaver risen with matching flames against a brass carapace. Three twisted, dark orange eyes impaled her own as the cleaver swung down from the right.

"Hah!" Rayla stumbled and slammed her back into one of the observation windows, startling a few students as sweat trickled down her face, hand grasping her throat bearing a long, ugly scar of uneven, pale skin. "Hah... Hah..." Her breaths were shallow as Solaire appeared, staring at her worryingly.

"Rayla, breathe, take it slow," He reassured her as her open palm awaited his landing, her fingers caught his shell, bringing it close to her cheek as his Light pulsed across her face with a cool sensation. "You're okay now, it's not here."

"But he's... still out there..." Even a world apart, it sickened her that something as hideous as that monster was still allowed to live. "I know we're stuck in this world... but I'd do anything..." Gone was the face of a kind, cheery girl. Instead, the scornful wrath of a Guardian met its own reflection. "...to kill that bastard."


One Month Later, and the Cultural Festival had arrived sooner than expected.

8:30 AM

"Haha, you made it!" Nana's ears perked up at the front of UA with Yuki. The taxi opened to reveal Nana's classmate in a new getup for the day. Kairi wore a light blue short sleeve dress with a pair of black shorts underneath and white shoes with blue shark buckles. Around her neck was an amulet with a blue gemstone in the center, matching Nana's ocean eyes.

The biggest change was her hair, dyed white to reveal the natural blue highlights dotting strands of her hair, the ponytail exchanged for a shortcut, leaving her bangs wild. The sight, for a moment, made Nana fail to find her voice. "You... look good - great even!"

"Thank you, I thought I'd change things up," Kairi admitted, freezing up when she saw the older girl watching them by the entrance with a short wave, her bluish-red eyes staring at her. "I-is that...?"

Nana followed her finger and smiled. "My sister? Yep, she's really nice, her eyes just have a natural sharpness to them now, come on, the show won't be long we're just setting up for ten so we have plenty of time to chat!" Without thinking of it, Nana took Kairi by the hand to lead her into UA, Yuki smirking in the process. "What?"

"Oh, nothing..." She didn't miss how adorable Nana's guest blushed at the closeness the two shared. "Come on, we've gotta get all the final prep work done, so long as a certain emerald-eyed dork doesn't run late," Yuki murmured.

"Yeah, where is Izuku Sir? With his quirk, he should've been back by now?" Nana wondered, turning to Kairi. "Sorry, lots of behind-the-scenes stuff is running through my head that I'm kinda all over the place."

"She's freaking out," Yuki admitted nonchalantly.

"Trying. Not. To." Nana ground through her teeth.

"Definitely freaking out," Kairi tagged in, as Nana saw the small smile on their faces, groaning into her hand.

"It's official, I like this girl," Yuki grinned, patting Kairi's shoulder.

"I hate you both."

"No, you don't." Kairi was enjoying not feeling like she had to do a million and one things to impress Nana's sister, she seemed really just like an older version of the rocker.

Up ahead, Kyoka ran up the trio. "Hey, Yuki!" She paused with a few from the class behind her still chatting away. "Have you seen, Izuku?"

Nana and Yuki shared a look. "Not... recently? He's still not back?" That was worrisome.

"Is there a problem?" Kairi spoke up as Nana tried to think of something to say but slumped, playing with her matching orange shirt designed by Yaoyorozu.

Yuki answered, "We've got someone out buying a replacement rope for part of the performance but he's taking a lot longer than I'd calculate, maybe if the store closest to UA didn't have any... but this is really strange..."

"I can go find him," Behind them, Rayla appeared, rolling her arms. "I've dealt with tons of by-the-wire operations back in my world so this shouldn't be an issue, besides, how dangerous can this world be compared to literal Gods, right?" She was making light of it for their sake. "I'll drag him back even if there's a minute on the line, we'll be here."

"You sure?" Kyoka asked, she and Nana were on edge trying to prep everything to be perfect, any needed stress wouldn't help their performance.

Rayla winked, patting her chest. "I'm a Guardian, what kind of person would I be if I let my allies stress over an issue I can resolve, eh?"

"Thank you," Nana sighed. She really didn't want to fall apart in front of the school, let alone Kairi.

"Anything for the sister of the girl who saved my butt - seeya starside!" With a sudden release of heat, Rayla tore past the crowds with resounding speed, leaving only a dust trail in her wake.

"Wow, that's..." Yuki blinked.

"...much faster than Iida," Kyoka finished.

"Your life is really something, and I'm not sure how to feel about that," Kairi tilted her head as Nana's tapped against hers with a stupid smile.

"You get used to it."


Above the empty streets at the foot of the forest leading toward UA, Izuku was flung back through the air by another transparent barrier, losing his momentum in an instant. The two ahead of him, a stylish man in a suit with wavy white hair and beard, Gentle Criminal, and his accomplice, a girl with ruby-red hair and a similarly tailored outfit, La Brava, were sailing away, further from his reach.

"Why... why are you trying to destroy everything we've worked for...?" He just didn't understand it. The people at UA, his friends were trying to have fun, to live happily without a single threat. So why do people want to constantly destroy that? It just didn't make sense!

"Sorry, our break's almost over, so we have to go now," Izuku apologized to Eri as Yuki hopped out of the booth beside him.

"Okay, just so you know, I'm looking forward to it!" Togata cheered.

"Deku, Aksis, you're leaving already?" Eri questioned with Yuki hiding her comical tears.

"Please don't say it like that~!"

Izuku smiled, kneeled down. "Sorry, we have to practice."

Togata then spun around. "Don't worry, once their performance is over, we can walk around for the whole day!"

"Deku, Aksis, Lemillion..." For the first time since they met her. Eri's face lifted, it wasn't perfect but her lips shakily formed a ghost of a smile, and her eyes were less clouded by Overhaul's shadow. "...I'm getting excited."

Izuku's eyes glowed, his electrical output intensifying as he found himself stalling his descent, rather, he felt like his body was floating, One For All fluctuated with his feelings, that single hope in that girl's eyes spurring his strength to greater heights.

"Say, Izuku, you sometimes write a lot about heroes in your notebooks, but what does it look like?" Kyoka asked him privately after class, playing with her jack. "What I mean is, how do you organize it?"

"Huh? Why's that?" He asked as she held out her own notebook.

"I wanted to try and organize my notes to highlight key points easier for the others," She handed it over as he flicked through it, seeing how comprehensive her methods were. "The thing is, there's so much to write that I can't keep it straightforward."

"Advice for the band members? You wrote all of this!?" He was beyond impressed by the extensiveness and small illustrations. "Wow, this is amazing, Kyoka!"

She closed her eyes with a nervous smile. "I hope the others will feel the same way," Kyoka then held her fists up. "Akio and Viral have done a lot for me in the past, same with everyone else so I wanted to do my best in return since I really just saw this as a hobby," Then she looked off to the side. "Then I got a little enthusiastic, and wrote too much."

"It's great, it shows your dedication!" Izuku reassured her.

He brought his arms back, Hatsume's gauntlets compressing the air automatically for him into the wrist guards, the output stabilizing. "Kyoka put her whole passion on the line for everyone, she's been working so hard!" "Gentle Criminal!"

His voice caught the villain's eye, seeing the body's lack of gravity, something within his quirk holding him high as he fired off two massive cones of air pressure behind him, shattering through two barriers that it genuinely startled Gentle. "I have to stop him! For Kyoka, Nana, Eri... everyone's happiness!"

Flashes of their efforts came to light as Gentle pivoted midair, evading Izuku who flew right by like an emerald bullet. Eri's sealed away emotions, Yuki's encouragement to her sister, Nana's musical gift, and Kyoka's own in tangent. Class B's own hard work, Nejire and the other contenders in the pageant.

Ashido's voice pierced his thoughts. 'Midoriya, you're doing it wrong! You gotta focus all that attention in an instant as you move!' His attention focused to a fine point, "I will protect... all their dreams!"

Threshing his arms back, the gauntlets released another burst of powerful wind, bracing Izuku's hands against the backlash. "One For All, Full Cowling - Seventy Percent!" He caught Gentle by the shoulder, twisting himself over to slam his boots into the man's back, sending him and La Brava flying toward the rooftops. "Manchester Smash!" "Gotcha!"

"Clever," Gentle grunted, catching them on another flexible barrier of air, continuing their pursuit of UA. "But it's not good enough to stop me!"

"I wasn't trying to knock you down," His gauntlets locked again, containing two bursts, one behind and one in front. "Delaware Cross Smash!" He fired the one behind him, flinging him toward Gentle before he used the second to send a bullet of air to slam into the protective barrier, the force knocking Izuku and Gentle into a construction site.

"We've invested so much into this, I won't let you destroy it!" Izuku glared back at the man's smile.

"Then I apologize in advance!" He concurred, the two crashing through the scaffold.

Izuku slid to a halt, panting as he inspected the streets behind him, luckily, his controlled bursts were powerful but left no damage to the environment. He grinned, Hatsumei came through for him on this one. "And thank you Ashido, Yuki, those extra dance lessons paid off," Between Ashido's strict coaching and Yuki's helpful advice in muscle tension, he had a better grasp of his areal combat.

"This is clearly... an unexpected situation," Gentle, through the smoke had survived without injury, though his tailcoat was a little stuck, suspending him in a goofy pose with his arms out and leg crossed over the other. "However, I will not lose my composure."

"How can you still be like that!?" Izuku gaped, ruffling his hair.

"I will definitely make my plan succeed, I have the resolve to do it, a gentleman does no lose his resolve!" Gentle proclaimed.

Izuku had enough, burning holes through Gentle's facade. "Resolve... so he's not giving up one inch,"

"-I am Gentle Criminal!"

"You're nothing more than a villain!" He raised his arm, fingers curled back. "What are you planning to do at UA!?"

"My plans?" He bowed his head with one arm over his chest. "Do not mistake me as someone as crude as the League of Villains or that Splicer, I have no intention of hurting a soul, I simply wish to sneak into UA!" He admitted. "Please allow me to go free, young man."

Izuku held his ground. "You know the school is on high alert, right? Even before you break in an alarm will sound and everything will be canceled because of you, you'd have nowhere to run!" His arms trembled with rage. "But that's not important, the fact you are still trying to ruin all the hard work put toward this day for some stupid prank is something I won't stand for! You may not be like the league, but you have no right to take away the happiness of a girl that can't even smile!"

"Oh hoho, if that's the case all will be fine," His eye sparkled. "My partner has devised a plan to disable the alarm, so the festival will still go on, and I achieve my goal; thereby it's a win-win situation!"

"That'll only lead to worse problems to come!" Izuku snapped.

"Why, yes, that's true," Gentle's argument shattered.

"I've already called the police, they and heroes will be here shortly while I keep you in place!" His bluff was like paper, and deep down, he knew it wouldn't work as a solid surface of air appeared under Gentle, his feet bouncing in place.

"I doubt we will agree, young man; while the aftertaste of tea remains, I'll have you go to sleep, UA Student!" He leapt high, using his quirk to warp the support beams surrounding them, effectively transforming the site into a slingshot trap for Izuku.

Something hot stirred in the air. From the crane swayed toward the building, a woman clad in silver and blue armour flew into view on a strange hovering bike, the vehicle deconstructing by her left hand, the right raising a large, silver tube toward the three.

"Midoirya, you two, duck now!" Rayla screamed, forcing Gentle to change his course and catch La Brava and drag her upward while Izuku dove to his knees in time for a sudden, unbearable heat to wash over his back. "Bite this!" Rayla fired her rocket launcher over Izuku, seeing it explode into a static wave of cluster charges against a black shield.

She slid onto the concrete, sprinting to Izuku's side as something lowered the barrier to stare back at the pair. Izuku gasped, face contorting in horror at what presented itself to them. An unknown monster stood before them in twisted brass-tinted armour made of chitin, lines and cracks of green snaked through his hide, leading up to its three orange eyes. Its shoulders were bulkier and jagged, its gauntlets too. While its head was spiky. Within its right hand, a large black sword coated in a green mist arose.

Yet dangling from chains across its armour were various burnt and fragmented remains of Ghost shells, some similar to Solaire, others were unrecognizable with time. Izuku raised his eyes to Rayla, her fists trembling. "Midoriya, take care of those two escaping behind us, don't let them reach the school," He gasped, seeing that while they were distracted, Gentle was using the crane as a slingshot, dragging its warped form back. "I'll handle this."

"Right!" He stood up, slapping his hand off Rayla's in passing. "Be careful!" His encouragement made a slight smile pierce her frown under the helmet.

He ran to the edge just as Gentle and La Brava were flung toward the sky. Izuku leapt after them, bringing both his hands together, bending his fingers as the right gauntlet locked. "I won't let this be for nothing!" Izuku's eyes flashed with a stroke of light, "Delaware Smash!" The bullet flew over Gentle's head, his trajectory thrown toward the forest instead with the hero Deku in hot pursuit. "Rayla, thank you! I'll make sure to end this!"

"Rayla?" Solaire murmured. "On its neck..."

"I see it," Two familiar shells dangled by its throat. One a pasty white with blue spots, the other is black with red tiger stripes. "I've waited so long to see you again..." Her words lack empathy, discarding the rocket launcher to code as a flash of white covered her back. "Narvoc." Vile venom seeped from her tongue.

The Swordbearer swung its cleaver, dragging it through the ground as the flames tempered, infecting his arm as Rayla withdrew her own sword. It was extremely heavy, the guard forged like silver wings with a scratched, silver edge. "...For Freed, Wash, and every other Guardian you've slain..."

8:51 AM

Flames erupted from her armour, splitting through the tiniest of cracks into a brilliant, roaring flame, two stuck where her eyes were, following her movements. "I'm going to kill you!"

To Be Continued...


And with that, we're cut right back into the action with focus on Rayla's own past. You've probably noticed it but I've glossed over a lot of things this time, my reason is I don't want to just rewrite episodes constantly, that doesn't feel like I'm adding anything more than a few lines from my characters unless it's important. This will be apparent moving into Season 5.

So for this half of Season 4, I wanted to focus on smaller things with my characters, Rayla and Solaire, Yuki and Izuku, and another pair but we'll save that for later. Still, I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support as always; seeya in the next chapter, Heroes!

Next Chapter: Reperfection of Fire

Rayla: I was nothing without my Fireteam

Narvoc: *Growls*

Rayla: Then I lost everything to you

Narvoc: *Sharpens Blade*

Rayla: I'm putting you in the ground!

Solaire: Coming soon; Reperfection of Fire

Rayla: Go Beyond-!

Solaire: -And bring home the Light!