Sixteen Tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford

The green-haired man wiped the sweat off of his forehead before resuming his task. Picking up his shovel, he continued to scoop up the piles of coal and dumping them into the mine cart, whistling a jaunty tune as he did so.

"Well someone's in a good mood today," said a voice with a laugh. "What's up, Izuku?"

With a smile, Izuku turned to the redhead, who had a pickaxe slung over his shoulder. "Why wouldn't I be in a good mood, Eijirou? Today is finally the day."

"No kidding? You were actually able to save up the money?" questioned Eijirou, stunned by this.

"Yup! Today is the day I finally get her out of there!"

"Congrats, Izuku!"

"Thanks, Eijirou," replied Izuku. It was then the whistle went off, signifying that it was quitting time.

Meanwhile, at the town brothel, a purple-haired woman sat with a grimace.

"What's got you in the dumps, Kyouka?" asked a round-faced brunette.

Kyouka replied in a quiet tone. "That creepy blond guy by the bar keeps looking at me, Ochaco."

"Maybe he wants to buy some of your time," replied Ochaco, knowing whom her friend was talking about.

"Not in a million years," stated Kyouka with a growl.

Ochaco merely gave the other woman a narrowed look. "In case you forgot, Kyouka, we don't get a say here. If someone wants to pay us for sex, we agree and that's it."

"You've been hanging out with Miss Takeyama too much if you believe that crap," hissed out the purple-haired woman, giving Ochaco a glare. "Just because you two enjoy whoring yourselves out, doesn't mean I have to!"

The brunette glared right back. "Watch your mouth, Kyouka. You might be Madame Kayama's favorite, but that won't stop me from slapping you. You know damn well why I'm doing this and it's not for enjoyment! How the hell did you even get special treatment anyway?"

Kyouka was about to respond, but the creepy blond made his way over.

"Hello, ladies. How are you doing to today?"

"Get lost," responded Kyouka, giving him a narrowed look.

"Now that's no way to talk to someone who is just being friendly. My name is Neito Monoma, by the way," he replied with a smile that made Kyouka shudder in disgust.

"I don't remember asking for your name!"

"Ooh, aren't you a feisty one. I think we can have some fun," said Neito, licking his lips.

"Um, Mr. Monoma! If you want, I would be more than willing to be your partner for the night," said Ochaco. If Kyouka didn't want him, she'll take the money instead.

"I'll have to pass. I'm more interested in your friend here," replied the blond, causing both women to scowl for different reason.

"Well I'm not interested in you, so back off!" exclaimed Kyouka, glaring at him.

Neito glared right back. "I don't believe I gave you a choice, whore."

He went to grab Kyouka and drag her upstairs, but a rough, scarred hand clamped onto his wrists.

"I believe the lady told you to back off," said a voice with a growl.

Neito looked over at the source and it took everything he had not to yelp in fear as he was staring into the angry green eyes of a muscular looking man.

"Izuku!" exclaimed Kyouka, happy to see him.

The green-haired coalminer pushed the blond away before turning to Kyouka with a look of worry. "Kyouka, are you okay? He didn't hurt you, did he?"

Tough and intimidating one minute, a fluffy bunny the next. That's what Kyouka loved about him. She gave him a smile of reassurance. "Yeah, I'm fine, Izuku. You arrived just in time."

"Wh-What is the meaning of this?!" demanded Neito as he glared at the newcomer. "I don't know who you are, but I saw the whore first! At least wait your turn!"

Izuku glared hatefully at the blond, causing said blond to flinch back in fear. "Don't talk about my wife like that."

Upon hearing this, Ochaco's jaw dropped. Kyouka was married?! Why didn't she ever mention this?!

"I don't care if she is your wife! I'll pay go money to take her to bed!" yelled out Neito, glaring at Izuku. This of course earned him a punch to the jaw from a very angry coalminer, knocking him out.

That was when a new voice sounded off. "What is going on in here?!"

Everyone turned to see an older woman with long purple hair and was wearing glasses. When the woman spotted Izuku, her scowl turned into a smile.

"Ah, Izuku~ To what do I owe the pleasure?"

She watched as he pulled out a large stack of money, surprising everyone.

"I'm here to get Kyouka out of here, Miss Kayama," stated Izuku as he handed her the money.

"I'm honestly surprised you were able to get the money, Izuku, but I'm so happy for you!" chirped the older woman as she accepted the money.

"W-Wait, what exactly is going on?" asked Ochaco.

"Well if you must know, Ochaco, Izuku and Kyouka here were in quite a bit of trouble awhile back and I agreed to take Kyouka in. Normally any girls I take in would have to work for me, but seeing how in love these two were, I just didn't have the heart to make Kyouka do that," explained Madame Kayama.

"You mean she's been living here for free this whole time?!" questioned Ochaco, upset over this.

"Well considering how many clientele Takeyama has, I could surprisingly afford it," replied the woman in a flippant tone. It was clear that she didn't really care for Miss Takeyama. "Of course, Izuku would still have to pay to get her out of here. So think of all of this as back rent!"

"So I'm really free to go?" asked Kyouka, hope filling her eyes as she looked back and forth between her husband and Madame Kayama.

"Of course! Just try to stay out of trouble, okay?"

Kyouka happily turned to her husband and jumped into his arms, to which he scooped her up and carried her bridal style out of the brothel. They were happy to finally be together again. Madame Kayama smiled at the scene, while Ochaco couldn't help but feel jealous that Kyouka was able to escape.

EPISODE END