(Start of Chapter)

Mono is on the train to Fukuoka. And to his surprise, it's so smooth that he can fall asleep on the comfortable chair if he wants to. But now, he's too afraid of having nightmares whenever he sleeps.

"But what was that dream?" He had such a horrid nightmare last night that he can't get off his head.

"Hey, Mono." He turns to see Six, who hands-in-hands with him on the trip. "It feels nice, isn't it? At least, I know I am." She says with a slight smile.

Mono doesn't know how Six can read his face through the paper mask. Yet, he remembers that they have spent quite a while before. The time that he is very fond of her.

"..."

"But that dream." Mono holds his stomach as he shivers. In the dream, he sees himself getting pierced right by black tendrils. Not only that, but he also sees his sight slowly fade as he can't move his body. "Why would it look so real?"

.

"MONO!" He flinches as Six nudges him. He turns to face her, whose crimson eyes are seen behind a small patch of black hair. She then stares at him as if she wants to read his expression behind the mask once more.

"Here." She says as he gets a candy bar from her bag to Mono, who looks confused.

"It's from Uraraka. She gave me the bag and bought me some candy before you got down this morning.

"I'm fine. Don't worry." Mono says, to which Six seems to let him slip away. "Ok. But Mono, ask me if you have something bothering you. Ok?" Six then puts her other hand on their holding hands, gently nurturing it to reassure him.

"Ok. I will tell you." And that was a lie.

Mono slightly clenches his other hand. He isn't well. He has some bad feelings about going wherever they're going. He feels by going there, something harmful will happen to them.

However, that's just his sense. He can't make Six worried after they've been through.

"But wasn't that what made me fall?" He thinks to himself. He feels anxious thinking back to the fall, about THAT moment.

Mono then looks at Six. She looks fascinatingly at the scenery outside the window like a child seeing something new the first time.

Mono wishes he could be his past self. A carefree and optimistic child. The one always cheers Six up.

"Don't be so worried." A deep voice snaps Mono back. "I don't know how horrific your place looks. You can relax now. Besides, Nezu also wants you two to enjoy the time while being able to." Aizawa, whom Mono thinks was sleeping, says just loud enough for only him to hear. "Also, sleep now. It'll be a while before we reach the destination." He then gets back to sleep.

The speech makes him feel comfortable. Mono looks at Aizawa thoughtfully. Something about the person makes him feel a sense of safe security. Something familiar. Something nostalgic.

"..."

But Mono doesn't know why he has these feelings. Even if he tries to find out, most of his memories are replaced with the loops he suffered. And those that remain are just the forgettable.

No memories. No home. He would have nothing to embrace if he kept repeating the loops.

.

*THUD!*

While in the storm of thoughts, Mono's shoulder suddenly feels a slight weight. He turns and sees Six has fallen to sleep peacefully on his shoulder. Her face still looks lovely.

But now? He has his only friend here to embrace. To share. And to go on together. Six is the only one left for him to protect. That's the only reason his mind still keeps sane.

Mono keeps enjoying the sleeping beauty as his mind feels restful. It makes him think about neither the nightmare last night nor the bizarre scene lingering in his mind.

Mono lays his head gently on Six's as he slowly drifts to sleep. And strangely, this time, he doesn't have a nightmare. But a dream. A hopeful one.

.

"ahhhh-hhaaaaaa." Six yawns as she walks out the train with Aizawa and Mono, who both do the same. But Aizawa is more unnoticeable.

The station is crowded and busy as people have their things to do. Aizawa leads the way outside for the group.

And outside, more people go in and out of the station. Six and Mono are amazed by the lively city. They never see the Pale City, Or its former self, Shining City as vibrant and advanced as this one.

"We'll get you two clothes first." Aizawa says. "Right there." And he points at the massive hypermarket across the road.

Following Aizawa inside, Six and Mono are astonished by the gorgeous scenery. They can see all the floor just from the ground floor. And numerous food stores and restaurants with their delicious food scent, which makes Six feel hungry. "Where is the clothes shop, sensei?" Mono, who can see that, asks Aizawa before his friend does anything. Reckless.

"It's on the third floor. Let's go." Aizawa says as he goes to the escalator leading upper floors.

.

On their destination floor, multiple clothes shops of all kinds exist. And what catches the teens' attention is the shops offering all sizes and shapes.

There're clothes for multi-limb people. There're clothes for animal-liked people. There're clothes for people whose bodies have some unique properties. And most importantly, there're clothes shops for casual people, like them.

Inside, they see clothes organized rows after rows depending on their types. Jeans, Pants, Dress, etc.

In his bag, Mono looks around in admiration. He used to come across some clothes shop in Pale City, and they aren't near half the nice-looking here. Yet, that's just him seeing the shops after the PaleCity succumbed to the Signal Tower.

Six has already started looking for clothes that she prefers. And she seems to enjoy looking for one. She goes into the trousers and jeans section.

"You can choose whatever. We can stay here for a couple hours before going to the agency." Aizawa says from behind Mono, still with his deep voice. Aizawa processes to go outside and wait.

Mono then goes ahead to find the clothes suitable for him. Searching for clothes, Mono keeps skimming through the hangers. And he comes upon the section that makes him excited and fascinated.

"A HAT SECTION!" Mono then goes there to look at the hats.

There're hats. There're hats with a cover on the front. There're hats without the top. And there's more of that Mono doesn't know about. BUT HE ENJOYS IT!

Besides Six's company with him in the Pale City, hats were the secondary hobby that he sometimes let slip while exploring. And he collects quite a lot throughout the adventure. Too bad that they're left after he's ready to come into the Signal Tower to save his friend.

Taking off the bag, Mono proceed to try every hat. One after another. He lets his child side take over for a bit. And he enjoys especially those which cover his face as he still feels anxious facing other people without them.

As he keeps trying, he comes across a black hat. The iconic of Thin Man, his grown self. Wearing it on, Mono gets to the mirror to look at himself. A teenager with black hats.

Suddenly, Mono shivers as he feels as if his future self is right behind him. Then, that feeling comes back again. The ache in his gut makes him kneel down in pain. That keeps tormenting his mind until someone takes off the hats.

"Hey, what's wrong, Mono?" Mono looks up at Six, who looks down at him with slight worry. "I...I'm fine." He says as he slowly stands up, slightly shivering. Unexpectedly, something was put on his head again, but this time, through the two holes of it, Mono realizes it is his mask.

"You look better with this on." Six says with a mildly shy voice, making Mono feel slightly comfier. Yet, somehow his heart beats a little faster, but he's sure it isn't of tension or dread.

Standing up, Mono looks at Six with gladfulness. Six also looks back but with no idea of that.

"Hey, Six." Mono says.

"Yes?"

"Could you...choose me some clothes?" Mono says with slight shame, to which Six looks with a confused face. "I don't know how to choose clothes fashion since I spent quite a time wearing only 4."

Six understands what Mono is referring to, so she grabs Mono's hand and drags him with her to choose some clothes for him. Mono can see a small happy smile under the hood before Six turns her head forward. Though the gut pain still bothers him mildly, Mono feels grateful.

.

Also, this is just the part 1 of the premiere of Nomu fight since I figure that it would be too long if I post nearly 2500 words in a chapter.

So, hope you have enjoyed it.

Anyways, if you have any questions, please review. :D

Now, thanks for reading. :3

- TLK9999