I wandered around the festival, bee-lining for the Gym, when I spotted Snipe. I don't think Hound Dog or Ectoplasm had time to tell anyone else where they were going...
I sighed and went up to Snipe, tugging on his sleeve.
"Kitia. What's wrong?"
"Uh, Ectoplasm and Hound Dog had to go check something out. I'm not sure if they told anyone. They should be fine, but..."
He nodded. "You're concerned something's happened to jeopardize the festival."
I scratched the back of my neck. "Heh. Yea. I don't want to be the one that-"
He put up his hand. "I understand. I'll call them." He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Hound Dog, Ectoplasm, any-" He glanced at me. "-irregularities? Please report."
He listened for a moment. "What the fu-heck?"
I covered my mouth to keep from laughing. Snipe listened for another few moments, then hung up.
"So?"
He looked at me. "They said there was no emergency."
I sighed, relieved. "Good. Well, then I had better get to the Gym before my classmates freak out. If they haven't started already..." I waved and headed towards the Gym.
I headed into the locker area and already heard shouting.
I sighed and poked my head in.
"Why's that guy taking so long buying one thing?"
"Jeez!"
I sighed again and stepped into the room.
"There you are!"
I jumped back as Ashido leapt at me and wrapped her arms around my neck. I didn't push her off. It seemed so long ago since the last time she did that. I just smiled. But it didn't last long.
"We have an outfit for you!"
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Ashido smirked as Tooru lifted up the same yellow dress the girls all wore. Minus Jiro and Momo.
"Ah. No."
"I told you she wouldn't take it well..."
I shook my head and raised my hands, backing away. "I am not wearing-"
The girls all looked at each other and grinned.
"Oh crap..."
They jumped on me and dragged me into the girls changing room. They tore all my clothes off and shoved the dress on.
I sat on one of the benches and pouted as they fixed up and straightened the dress and brushed my hair out.
"You guys suck..." I sighed. "Why am I the only girl in the band wearing this? I'm not the lead singer."
Jiro pulled my up and looked me over. "No, we're sharing the singing, but you'll be up front."
I sweat-dropped. "You're joking. Right?"
She shook her head. "You'll have a microphone, that's all. You need to stand out."
I sighed heavily and growled. "Fine. You owe me for this..."
We walked out of the changing room and back to everyone else.
"Is Deku back yet?"
Kouda shook his head. "Aoyama has gone to wait for him."
"Kitia! You look great!"
"Yea!"
I looked at Mineta and Kaminari skeptically. "Uh huh, sure. You would say that."
"Oh come on. Don't be like that!" Kirishima put his arm around my shoulders. "We all gotta get pumped up!"
"Hmph. Let's save that energy for the concert, huh? We're gonna need it."
"Don't be so hard on yourself."
"Huh?" I blinked and looked up at Mirio.
He smiled and held up his hand. "I don't know much about you. Nothing actually, but I can tell. You're sad and skepticism is keeping you from getting too close to anyone. What do you say about letting that go? Just for one day?"
I searched Mirio with narrowed eyes. Before he lost his quirk, it had creeped me out. In fact, Mirio Togata creeped me out as a general rule, but he had grown on me. I glanced down at Eri, who hadn't stopped clinging to him. Everyone thought we were doing this concert for them. Well, it was actually for her. I don't care what anyone says or who tries to deny it. They just wanted to make her happy for once in her short, miserable life.
I closed my eyes and sighed. "Fine. Just this once." I opened my eyes and looked Mirio right in the eyes. "Make sure you get a good view."
He grinned and gave me a thumbs up. "Of course."
Finally it was time for the concert. I had snuck up to a corner of the Gym and hidden a camera there. I wanted to show Doc and the others what we had been preparing for. Of course, I could've just asked, but...I really didn't wanna ask.
Wow, I really am bored. I thought to myself as I fiddled with my collar.
"Relax." Shouji put his hand on my shoulder.
I breathed out and nodded. "Yea. Thanks, Shouji." I shook myself out.
"There are more people here than I thought there'd be!" Ochako's voice sounded nervous as she peeked out at the crowd from the curtain.
I briefly wondered if Shinso was out there. I shook my head. No, he'd be off doing his own thing.
"Deku's not here yet?!"
"What is that slowpoke doing at a time like this?!"
"Relax." Everyone looked at me. Probably because of my blunt tone of voice. "He'll be here. Why is it I'm the only one not freaking out about it?"
"Because you are a freak!"
"Shuddup, Mineta...You can't talk."
"Hey, guys!"
I nodded. "Speak of the devil..."
"Deku!"
"You just made it!"
"Yea, sorry everyone."
"Come on. It's nearly time." Jiro lead the way onto the stage. I followed and took up my place, just a step or two to the left of her. I stood in front of the microphone and glanced back at her. She stood in front of her own microphone and adjusted the guitar she had. She looked at me, smiled and nodded. I nodded back and breathed out.
The lights all went out and a siren sounded.
The curtain went up and the crowd started to shout up at us. For some reason, they were shouting Momo's name. Seemed odd, but oh well.
I breathed out again and looked over the crowd. I couldn't see much, so I used my Mapping quirk. Crap. I shouldn't have done that.
I closed my eyes and gripped the microphone pole. In that brief glance, I had spotted Present Mic and Mr Aizawa, Eri and Mirio. I saw the two kids from General Studies that had mocked the idea of the concert. I hadn't seen Shinso, though, and for some reason, that made me sad.
Bakugo and Kirishima's shouting brought me back to the stage and there was Bakugo's explosion that marked the start of the concert.
The music started and everyone else started dancing. I stood there, with my eyes closed, waiting.
"Thanks for coming today!" Jiro's shout queued us in to start singing.
We started at the same time. Good. We didn't screw up.
You're sad and skepticism is keeping you from getting too close to anyone. What do you say about letting that go? Just for one day?
Alright, Mirio. I'll play your game. I gripped the microphone and sang harder. I don't know whether it surprised anyone else or not, but I surprised myself.
Aoyama, Midoriya and the rest of the effects team started their bit. Aoyama's lasers. That was the start.
Then.
Momo's confetti fireworks and Todoroki's ice, covering the space above our heads. The girls all dancing around Mineta, then jumping up onto the ice paths. Kirishima with a block of ice shaving it onto Aoyama's laser.
Jiro and I stood together, singing out.
Well well. What do you know? It was fun.
The crowd went nuts as we finished and I stood back, breathing hard. That was harder than I expected. I grinned and laughed.
As we stepped off the stage, Kaminari nudged me.
"What?"
He grinned. "And you thought you wouldn't enjoy it."
I smirked. "Shuddup, Buzz-cut. I wanna go see-"
"Kitia!" Ashido threw herself at me and nearly bowled me over.
"Ouch! Calm down, Dodo! Jeez!"
"You did so good!"
I shook my head. "Jiro did better."
"I think we worked well together." Jiro said, nudging my shoulder. "Especially once you started actually trying."
"Yea! You didn't sound like that on Mineta's video or in practice!"
"You held back."
I flinched as Bakugo came up to me. "Yea, I guess, I don't know..."
"Good."
I frowned and looked up at him. "Huh?"
"This is one time I'm glad you did. Showed them all not to underestimate us. Tsk. Idiot." He turned and walked off.
I kept frowning, not entirely sure I understood the tone in which he said that.
"You did do well, Kitia. Now, what was it you wanted to see?"
I looked up at Iida. "Uh, I wanna see 1-Bs play."
"Alright. You go ahead. I'm sure everyone else wants to look around too."
"Thanks, Iida."
"I want you to go with someone though."
I frowned. "Why? We're only at school."
"I'll take her."
We turned around as Shinso came up to us. "It can't be for long, since I have to do something as well."
Iida bowed to him. "Thank-you, Shinso. That would be much appreciated."
I started to walk out with Shinso, wondering why none of the others asked why he offered.
"I saw the concert. You did well. You looked like you had fun."
I nodded. "Yea. I guess I did. Hey Shinso, why-"
"I wanted to ask you something. About when we first met. You said something about us being freaks. I don't see how you're a freak. What did you mean? What did you want to talk about?"
I didn't look at him. Ever since All For One told me to stop my original mission, I hadn't even thought about it. I'd almost completely forgotten.
"I guess that was my way of trying to make friends. It doesn't matter now. Not really."
"Not now that you have 1-A and 1-B, huh?"
That made me look up. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Now that you have them, you don't need anyone else, right?" He shrugged. "It's fine. I get it."
I stared at him for a minute, then jumped in front of him. I punched his shoulder, which took him by surprise. "I don't need anyone else, huh? Tsk. You're an idiot." I grinned and put my hands behind my back. "What makes you think I didn't always want to be your friend, huh? Us freaks need to stick together, right?"
He stared at me for a minute, then a tiny smile fluttered onto his face briefly. "Come on. We're gonna miss the play." He grabbed my sleeve as he walked passed. "Tsk. What did they make you wear?"
I grinned and let him drag me towards the play.
"My name is Romeo! Ghost of Azkaban, Count Paris! Return Juliet to me!"
"Romeo...You heard about your father from Gandalf, right? That he was the king of Gondor."
I fidgeted in my seat. "I can't...I just can't..."
Shinso leaned over to me. "Shh. It's getting to the best part."
I frowned. "What?"
He just gestured to the stage.
"That was a lie. I am your father!"
"You're lying!"
After the play ended, we went outside and I started laughing. Tears ran down my face. "I can't believe they used so many. I mean: Lord Of The Rings, Romeo and Juliet, Harry Potter and Star Wars?!" I started laughing again.
"I need to go. I have to help out at the Haunted House."
I stood up straight. "Right. Yea. Hey, I might even go there a bit later. I mean, if Iida let's me." I shrugged.
Shinso turned to me fully. "Let's you? Hmph. I was under the impression nobody let's you do anything."
I poked my cheek. "Yea, well...It's complicated. At least, for the time being."
He watched me, then nodded. "Well, in any case, I hope you can come." He smirked and started to walk away. "I promise to go easy on you."
I grinned. "Don't you dare."
I got back just in time to help clean up.
"Hey, sorry. I just really wanted to see the play!"
Iida smiled and nodded. "It's fine. You deserved a small break after that. I'm sure everyone agrees that you surprised us all."
"She sure did." Jiro came up and actually leaned on my shoulder. I can't remember a time where me and her got along enough to do that.
"Uh, thanks Jiro. Means a lot coming from you."
"Heh, yea well...Just keep singing alright. Or I might take the compliment back." She lightly tugged on my hair and walked away. I just shook my head.
"Girls are crazy, man." Kirishima said, rubbing his head.
"I think she's starting to like you, Kitia."
I chuckled. "Thanks, Iida. I kinda figured that out. I'm going to-"
"No heavy lifting!"
I cringed when they said it at the same time. "I'm not useless you know."
Iida leaned in towards me and lifted his hand. "Did you know that if you do too much physical labor, it could bring on early labor or even a miscarriage? I won't allow that." He stood back, looking at me with a serious face.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I think I just got a whole new level of respect of Iida. I smiled. "Relax. I won't go overboard-"
"No ice!"
This time I laughed and waved my hand. "Fine, fine. I'll go annoy Bakugo then."
I wandered over to where Bakugo was melting the ice in a trough.
"Where's the ice?"
I leaned on the trough beside him and crossed my arms. "Iida and Kirishima won't let me lift anything. Says it's bad for...my health."
"Your health, huh?" He melted some more ice as it was dumped.
I smirked. "Yea. I know right? Like, how much more shit could my l-" I stopped and looked down. This needed to be a good day. I promised Mirio I would actually try for once.
"Yea. It was fun. Good job."
I looked up to see one of the General Studies kids talking. Bakugo heard it too, judging by the look on his face.
"Sorry!"
"We watched it to criticize it! I'm really sorry!"
Both of them turned around and ran away.
I laughed and waved my arm. "Hey! Why you running?!"
"They didn't have to come to say that..."
I nodded. "Yea they did..."
Bakugo looked at me and smirked. "We won."
I put my hand out, low near the trough and Bakugo quietly tapped it. We had hated each other to start with, and now, while we didn't exactly like each other, there was something almost resembling friendship.
"Now, go help Weird Hair with that trolley of ice!"
I saluted him. "Yes, sir!"
He slapped out at me, but missed.
Almost a friendship.
I trotted over to Kirishima and Iida.
"It's fine, isn't it? We heard about what you guys wanted to do when you planned this."
"We got it. Now, we'll tell the others."
"I mean, it was really fun!"
I shifted my feet. If they think it was so fun, they could help us tidy up...
"Those of us who watched it will pass on your feelings."
An exclamation point appeared above my head. Speaking of which...
I slowly side-stepped away from everyone else and went up to grab the recording. I had completely forgotten about it.
I grabbed the camera and looked around. Nobody was looking so I Vamped into my room. I tucked the camera away to look at later and returned to the Gym.
I helped with the rest of the clean up, then wandered around by myself for a while. It felt good to finally have my own space without somebody tailing me or keeping an eye on me.
I walked passed the Haunted House and stopped. I heard shrieking and started to laugh. That sounded like Mineta and Kaminari. A few seconds later, those two plus Tooru and Ashido came out. They didn't seem to notice me and kept talking about the Haunted House as they walked away.
I tapped my chin and chuckled. "Alright, Shinso. Let's see what you got."
I walked in the front door and looked around. Normal haunted house decor and lighting. That is, there was no light. Just enough glow to see where I was going.
A couple of skeletons popped out of coffins in a hallway leading to a room. A couple of kids dressed up as Zombies chased me to the next room. I had to admit, I liked the Zombies.
Fake blood dripped down the walls and a recorded cackle played through the speakers. Must be a vampire room. I looked around and spotted the long table in the middle of the room filled with fruit.
"Oh. My. God. They didn't..." I followed the length of the table with my eyes and grinned. "They did!" I almost squealed. I walked along the table, careful not to touch any of the food. I reached the end of the table and looked closely at the figure that sat in the chair. If they were going to do this right, the figure would only move if I eat something off the table...
The figure was tall and pale. No eyes on it's face and long thin arms with sharpened fingers placed flat on the table. There were two, obviously rubber, eyeballs on a plate between the hands.
The Pale Man didn't move, so I quickly went back up the other end of the table and grabbed a grape. The Pale Man still didn't move.
Disappointed, I sighed and turned towards the other door, eating the grape. Turns out it was real fruit.
I was nearly at the door when I heard a chair scrape across the floor. I stopped and looked over my shoulder.
"Holy mother of fu-"
Whoever it was dressed as The Pale Man, had their hands over their face where the eyes should have been. The palms obviously had cutouts to place the rubber eyeballs. The detail was amazing.
One thing that didn't fit though, The Pale Man was quick. It rushed at me and I had to dodge out of the way so I didn't get slammed into a wall.
I stood up straight and dusted myself off. I looked at The Pale Man. It was watching and slowly creeping forward.
I slowly stepped sideways around it. It kept moving forward.
Ah, so they can't see in that costume. They going off sound. I grinned.
I looked around and seeing I was near the table, reached out and took an apple. I tossed it down the other end of the table.
The Pale Man turned and launched itself at the same speed it came at me, towards the end of the table. I grinned and tiptoed to the door. I reached for the handle. If they did this properly, they'd have made the door squeaky.
The door squeaked as it opened.
Called it.
The Pale Man turned and ran at me again. I slipped through and slammed the door shut. I leaned my forehead on the door and started laughing. I heard the person in The Pale Man costume laughing as well.
"Well done. That's a brilliant room!"
The kid in the costume chuckled. "Thanks! Glad you like it!"
I laughed again and turned walking down a dark corridor. I looked around, but this seemed like the corridor for the way out.
I pouted. Shinso had said that he was gonna-
I heard a creak, then a tap on my shoulder. I looked over my shoulder and saw a pale face.
"Boo." I jumped a little and the face grinned. "Gotcha."
I threw a punch and got Shinso in the stomach. "Shuddup. Jerk!"
He dropped down from the trapdoor in the ceiling. "That's no way to treat your friends."
I crossed my arms and pouted. "That's exactly how I treat my friends..."
He gave a small smile and I blushed a little. I pressed my hands to my cheeks and frowned.
"Do you like the Haunted House?"
I grinned and nodded. "Yea! I loved the Zombie room and The Pale Man room is amazing!" I grinned and lifted my fists to my chest. "I couldn't believe it when I realized what room it was!"
He smirked. "Glad you liked it."
I looked at the fake blood that covered his face and shoulders, and the pale blue shirt he wore. "What are you meant to be anyway?"
"Can't you tell?"
I blinked and shook my head. He sighed and pointed to the trapdoor above us. "A dead body in the attic."
I stared at the trapdoor, then looked at his shirt. "Hmm..."
"What?"
I tapped my chin, then grabbed his shirt. "Needs to be ripped a little more." I tore the bottom of the shirt into jagged strips. "And as for the blood..." I summoned a small blade and cut my hand.
"What are you doing?!"
I smiled. "Relax. I'm helping, and I don't exactly have fake blood on me, so this'll have to do."
I got rid of the blade and smeared some blood on the strips. Then, I smeared some on his stomach. I tried not to tremble, but it was hard. Why? I had no idea.
"And now, I'll just fix up the blood that's on your face..." I reached out then stopped. "I mean, it's real blood, so-"
He took my hand and placed it on his face. I slowly started to reapply blood to where it had begun to fade.
I was concentrating on doing it, but I could tell he was watching me.
I traced over a little bit of fake blood just under his lip.
He opened his mouth slightly. "Kitia..."
"Kitia!"
"There you are."
I jumped and quickly put my hands behind my back. Shouji and Tokoyami came down the corridor from the Pale Man's room.
"Oh. Hey guys. What's up?"
"We've been looking for you. Come on. Let's go get some food."
"Yes. You have be hungry, right?"
I healed my hand and scrubbed as much of the blood as I could. "Uh, yea sure."
"Then, let's go." They headed out towards the exit.
"Uh, sorry. I better go. I'll see you later." I smiled and waved before trotting to catch up with them. I turned in time to see Shinso lift his hand then jump up and swing himself back into the trapdoor. I thought about our encounter, as well the one previous. It was as though he had come looking for me. No, that can't be it. Right?
Ok, so if not, what the hell had just happened?
