Addy - I had a better way to use that song, but I couldn't figure out how to get the other brothers in there, so Shinji had to do it by his lonesome.
Omnipotent X - Oh, we'll see it in the future. I'm preparing myself to go all in. Mina and Shinji would be a cute couple. I can definitely see it.
A/N: Whenever Shinji is involved in the story, expect there to be a song of some kind. It's literally his role to be a singer.
If dance was the language of movement, then music and vocals were the language of feeling and reason respectively. In a way, the two were inextricably linked, and the bridge connecting both worlds was the soul.
A singer's soul was their vocal cords and the source of their power. The more powerful their soul was, the more powerful their vocals would be and the easier it was to understand both languages. Most people could not understand music and were satisfied with just listening and enjoying the melody. They could not understand the feelings conveyed.
But the soul?
The soul expressed everything. It was the most important aspect of a singer, and the soul was the hardest thing to control. This was why Momo was surprised when she first sat down with her friends and heard Siren's Vanity. The music was phenomenal. All three instruments, drums, guitar, and synthesizer, played in perfect harmony as the vocalist poured his heart and soul into every lyric. She heard the boy band play on a couple of occasions, but this was the first time she listened deeply to their covers.
"How come I haven't heard about these guys before?" Kirishima inquired. "They're really good."
"They don't perform very often," Jirou answered. "The vocalist, Shinji, doesn't have the best health. It's rare to see him perform, but he must be feeling okay since we've seen him here and there."
"But he's a U.A student too, right?" Kaminari pointed out. "How does that work?"
Jirou shrugged. "I guess his brothers take him notes and everything. Ask Shuzenji-senpai. He seems to know everyone apparently."
"I can ask him tonight. He and I will be having a double date with Tachibana and Kaoru-senpai this afternoon," Momo said.
"Please get me an autograph if you can," Jirou begged.
"Me too," Mina stated. "I've been practicing my moves for our next battle."
"I'll try," Momo smiled.
"She's going to be too distracted by her boyfriend to ask," Tooru teased, earning a light blush from the mother figure of the class.
"I will neither confirm nor deny that statement," she replied. "Although, I guess this is the perfect time to learn more about our upperclassmen."
"I'm telling you guys. Look for Nejire Hado," Mina stated. "She and Tachibana-senpai are the queens of this school. Hot damn."
"Who is Nejire-san?" Sato inquired.
"A third-year student I believe," Tokoyami answered.
"Hold on," Todoroki turned his head, "Hey, Midoriya-san, can you come here please?"
"On my way!"
"If anyone can tell us, it's Midoriya," the prince of Class 1-A stated.
"What's up?" Izuku entered the living room.
"Do you know of a student named Nejire Hado?"
Izuku took a spot next to Kaminari.
"I've heard of her but don't know too much except she's a third year and has a pretty impressive quirk. She and two others are supposedly hailed as the three strongest students in the school, but I don't know how that rumor measures up."
"Yeah, sure," Momo scoffed, which did not go unnoticed by her friends.
"You disagree?" Uraraka inquired.
"I don't doubt the strength of our seniors, but based on application and versatility, the strongest student has to be my Teddy," Momo declared with confidence. "Call it bias, and it probably is, but I can't see anyone easily getting around a quirk that allows one to manipulate matter with cognitive thought. He can incapacitate his opponent before they can use their quirk, and if he can put up a barrier that the strongest hitters of our class couldn't break, his defensive prowess are just as powerful as his offensive ones."
"Your confidence in senpai is sweet," Tooru commented.
"Your psycho boyfriend will get what's coming to him, Ponytail," Bakugo declared with his iconic sneer. "I'll pay him back for last time."
"Sure," Momo folded her arms under her bust, returning Bakugo's glare with her own, "and when Kyoya body slams you into the ground again, I'll make sure to record it so you'll have a constant reminder of where you stand," Momo retorted.
Silence permeated the room. A few covered their mouths to stifle their laughter while others looked on in shock.
Bakugo growled, his fingers flexing. "I'll kill him! Now that I know his weakness, I bet I can take him down a few pegs."
Momo narrowed her glare. She would not tolerate this opprobrium. No one disrespected her boyfriend.
"Okay, Bakugo-san, humor me for a second. Let's say you do get the hit and nullify his quirk for the theorized time. You think Teddy doesn't have a Plan B in case that contingency occurs?"
Bakugo held his ground. "Of course he does. I never said he was an amateur. The bastard's been training his mind and body harder than we have and for much longer. However, Ponytail," he held up a finger, "don't forget that he prefers to get up in your face. Without his means of distanced combat, are you saying he can evade me while I can blast him into next week?"
Momo smirked. She resisted the urge to chuckle at this naïve boy. It was unbecoming of her to laugh at the ignorant.
"You think you have everything figured out, but really, you're not even close."
The class really wanted to stop the debate before things escalated, but they were too enthralled by the back and forth that they had to see it continue. Even Iida was enjoying it. Midoriya was getting plenty of notes to jot down.
"The hell you talking about, Ponytail? It's clear cut to me."
Momo's smirked widened. She could picture it now.
"Oh, to be so ignorant."
"What was that?" Bakugo snarled.
Momo turned on her heel. "You'll see. I can't waste any more time. I have a date to get ready for, and Midoriya, no hints."
Momo sauntered away, leaving the others to ponder what she meant.
Momo felt wonderful.
"Everything looks good," she couldn't wait to enjoy the afternoon with her boyfriend and his friends. She didn't know what to expect.
Momo dressed in a black turtleneck tank top, a red and white plaid skirt, red bow earrings, a pink bracelet on her right wrist, black stockings, and brown long boots. Around her neck was her half of the heart she received for passing the license exams.
Checking herself out in the mirror, she was happy with what she saw. Her long, black hair was styled in soft waves around her shoulders. Momo had done her makeup to look natural - just a light brown eyeshadow, some mascara, and a tinted lip balm. She looked beautiful.
"Teddy's going to love this."
There was a knock at her door as her friend, Jirou, called out to her.
"Yo, your man's here."
"I'll be right there!" Momo called back.
'Right on time.'
She took one last look in the mirror, straightened her skirt, and then headed for the door.
The city looked beautiful from their position in the air. The sun was a glowing orange ball as it set, leaving streaks of pink, purple and blue in the sky. The sky itself was clear, leaving a crisp view of the city.
"I'll never get tired of this," Momo said, nuzzling into her boyfriend's hold. It was scary being so high up, but her nerves were calmed thanks to the masterful technique Kyoya used. He didn't travel too fast, and he never attempted any stunts. It was just smooth sailing.
She stared out at the city, taking it all in. The buildings all looked like miniature versions of themselves. The people looked like ants walking around. She could see the cars driving around, the lights shining. It was all so beautiful.
"Mm," Kyoya hummed in agreement.
"I could stay up here forever with you," Momo said.
"I'd love that," Kyoya smiled at her. "Hold on, we're going to start descending."
Momo tightened her grip as Kyoya flew towards the ground.
The two of them landed not too far from their destination, and Momo immediately felt unsteady on her feet.
"Are you okay?" Kyoya asked, catching her before she could fall.
"Yeah," Momo said, her face flush. "Just got a little dizzy."
"It's normal," Kyoya said. "You're not used to flying like that."
Momo nodded, leaning into Kyoya for support. He was always so strong and steady, she felt safe in his arms.
"That's our spot."
Momo looked across the street, where stood the establishment known as Mūgen (Infinity) Delights. It was a popular café that specialized in cakes and deserts. Ladies and gentlemen from all walks of life gathered there to chat, play cards, and sip tea while they nibbled on cakes. Momo had never been inside, but she had heard many good things about it from Sato. Unfortunately, it was a good distance away and was busy throughout the day.
Fortunately, Momo had a boyfriend who could fly.
"Ooh, Sato have been talking about this place. He said it serves the best cakes in Japan."
Kyoya confirmed with a nod and hum. The couple, carefully, crossed the street, slid through the crowd, and entered the establishment.
Momo looked around in awe. The place was quite posh, with well-dressed ladies and gentlemen enjoying themselves. She even saw a few politicians and other high-ranking officials. It was bustling, with various people going up on stage to sing karaoke.
"Wow, this place is really amazing!"
"Thank you," greeted the stewardess, a short and petite young lady with short, slightly messy yet straight purple hair with a purple bow and olive-green eyes, "Welcome to Mūgen Delights. Will it just be the two of you?"
Kyoya took out his whiteboard.
"We should be under a reservation for four with Tachibana."
The waitress's eyes lit up.
"Ooh, yes, yes, she came in not too long ago," she grabbed two menus, "Please, follow me."
The couple was led to a booth where a nicely dressed Tsubaki sat with a blushing, green-haired Shinji, who was unable to resist her affections.
"Ah, there you are," Tsubaki waved them closer. "I'm glad you could make it."
"Thank you for agreeing to join us," Momo replied as she sat across from the couple with Kyoya sitting beside her. She glanced at the disguised Shinji and imagined what Jirou and Mina would think about having dinner with a singer and his girlfriend.
The quartet placed their orders and got comfortable.
"I guess this is the first time we properly introduced ourselves. It's nice to meet you. I'm Yaoyoruzu Momo, but my friends like to call me Yaomomo."
"The pleasure is mine," Shinji shook her hand. "You can just call me Shi. Kyoya-nii told us a lot about you."
"Really?" Momo looked to her boyfriend, who refused to meet the table's stares. "Well, I hope it's good things," she linked her arm with him.
"Every single detail," Shinji and Tsubaki smiled at the couple.
Momo felt her cheeks grow hot. It was nerve-wracking.
"We've been waiting for this," Tachibana propped her elbows on the table. "My darling and I want to hear it all. How is the love life treating you?"
"Everything has been wonderful. Kyoya treats me like a princess," she showed off the necklace. "He got me this for passing my license exams."
"It's beautiful," Tsubaki commented. "Is that the thing you had Matsu-nee-chan work on?"
The psychic nodded and showed off his half of the necklace. "Her Teddy" to match Momo's "His Kitty."
"Wow, I feel so inadequate now," Shi commented.
"You lost the moment you met me," the almighty whiteboard declared.
"Oh? Is that right, Kyo-kun?" Tsubaki smirked. "Can you serenade Momo-chan then?"
Kitty watched Kyoya's expression do a complete one-eighty from smug to irked.
"Not cool," stated the whiteboard.
Tsubaki giggled and pecked Shi's cheek.
"You do have a fantastic singing voice," Momo complimented her senpai's talent. "My friends and I were listening to some of your covers, and we loved every single one."
"I appreciate it," Shi scratched the back of his head. "To be honest, singing is the only thing I'm good at. I can't play an instrument like my brothers."
"That doesn't mean you're less talented," Tsubaki squeezed his hand, "and there are plenty of other things you're exceptional at."
"You speedy bastard."
Shinji sputtered a response, not anticipating the bluntness.
"I mean, yeah, I can run fast, but that's not a big deal."
"I'm not so sure of that, sweetie," Tsubaki sipped her tea. "I don't know too many people who can complete an obstacle course in less than thirty seconds."
Momo remembered it now. "Oh, wait. I remember when your brothers came to talk to my class. They said one of you set the record for fastest time. Was that?"
The singer held up one finger. "Fastest runner in U.A."
"Amazing," Momo said. "So you do have combat senses."
"To some extent. I'm not as strong as my brothers, but I can hold my own in a fight. It's Shin who handles the combat."
"Shin is the quiet one, right?" Momo tried to tell the four apart. Their names were all so similar.
"That's right. Our names are confusing, I know, but that's where Shi comes from. It's the first part of our names."
The group stopped to hear the recent performer sing on stage. Their performance was okay, but the group knew who the real singer was.
"How about you show these amateurs who the real king is?"
"Right now?"
"I don't see why not. A good meal should be accompanied by beautiful music," Tsubaki looked at him with half-lidded eyes and a charming smile.
"I mean, I suppose, but I wasn't planning on it. I'm feeling fine, but I'm also paranoid."
"Regarding your health?" Momo inquired. "My friend, Jirou, mentioned your health isn't the best."
"My immune system is severely weak. If I push too hard, I can lose consciousness."
"Oh my," Momo covered her mouth. Kyoya and Tsubaki's eyes seem to harden, the latter lacing her fingers with Shinji.
"Yeah, and I'm the only one who has this problem. For some reason, my brothers are just fine. It's just me, and I'm the eldest."
"So that's why you're never at school," Momo surmised. "But how does the school handle that?"
"It took some convincing. My doctor, Kyoya-nii's brother, worked something out. I can still attend, but all my tests must be completed on campus, and a doctor must be with me when I take hero exams."
"That sounds like a hassle," Momo said. "But at least the school is considerate of your circumstances."
"Thankfully. My brothers bring me notes and help tutor me, so I'm not falling behind, but the physical portions do take a lot out of me. On my down time, I'm improving my quirk or hanging out with Tsu-chan."
"If you don't mind me asking, what are your quirks?" Momo was curious. "Mine is Creation. I can use my fat cells to create anything as long as I know their molecular structure. It does require me to expose some skin."
"She's a freak."
"No, I'm not!" a fierce blush appeared on Momo's cheeks. "Don't listen to him. It's not what you think," she activated her quirk but didn't execute it. "See, I must expose my skin for my quirk to work. My hero outfit utilizes this."
"And that leaves a lot to the imagination."
"Teddy!" Momo pouted while Kyoya smiled. "Anyway, depending on how much I eat, I'm able to use more material. When I have to make a big item, I must have considerable amount to consume."
"That's cool," Shinji commented.
"Not if you're a small eater," she sighed. "I need to eat, but I'm not the biggest of eaters."
"I can see how it benefits you though," Tsubaki chimes in. "Guess I'll start us off then. You saw a glimpse of my quirk, Azure Goddess. It's teleportation. By warping the space around where I want to go, I can transport myself and small objects up to about a hundred yards. The bigger the distance, the more draining the teleportation. It's great for traveling."
"Or for scaring the daylights out of someone," Momo shuddered at the memory of Tsubaki teleporting behind her and holding her at fan point.
"I'm not apologizing," the bespectacled beauty replied, unfolding her fan and fluttering her eyelashes. "You passed my evaluation, so you don't have to worry about it again… as long as you remember what happens if you slip up."
"R-Right," Momo laughed nervously, prompting Kyoya to present the almighty whiteboard.
"Leave my girlfriend alone."
"I'm just looking out for my friend," was Tsubaki's reply.
"It's okay, Teddy. I know she means well," Momo reassured the big guy.
"Thank you, Yaomomo."
"My quirk sounds lame OW," Shi jumped, jabbed in the side by Tsubaki's war fan.
The beauty lifted Shinji's chin with her fan.
"Do we need to have another talk about self-esteem?"
"No, Tsu-chan," Shinji rubbed his side.
"Good, you may continue," Tsubaki placed a hand on his thigh.
"Well, my quirk is sound manipulation. When I sing, and depending on the tone, I can cause various results. I can lull people to sleep, put them in a trance, scream like Present Mic, or motivate people to perform more proficiently. It's named after the band."
"I see," Momo was engrossed in the new wave of information. "How did you think of the name for your group?"
"Originally, I wanted to call it, Crescendo, but then I learned about actual sirens and started using that. My vanity is being the greatest singer in the world. The name stuck, and I refuse to change it."
Momo smiled. There were so many different quirks. It was amazing.
The quartet spent the evening chatting away, exchanging tales, laughing and smiling while listening to patrons sing at karaoke. It was a fun night, and Momo was glad to have made some new friends.
Eventually, it was time to go. Kyoya and Shinji paid for their dates, but before the group left, they heard cheers from the patrons as Shinji walked up on stage.
"Is he actually going to sing?" Momo asked. She got her phone out and began recording, as did other people.
Shinji fiddled with the machine and took the microphone in hand, deep breaths calming his nerves.
"Good afternoon, folks! I hope everyone is enjoying their evening."
He received a round of applause.
"That's great to hear. My name is Shi, and before I bid farewell to this amazing place, I thought I would flex my vocals for a bit."
The singer placed a hand on his chest and measured his heartbeat.
"I'm good for one performance."
"Will he be alright?" Momo whispered to Tsubaki, concerned for her new friend's health.
"He knows his body better than anyone. If he says he can handle one, I believe him," the older girl replied.
Kyoya tapped Momo's shoulder and revealed what he wrote.
"My brother is always on standby when we need him. If Shinji can't continue, I can call my brother."
Momo nodded and watched the singer get into position. He already had the crowd wanting to hear more. His voice was soothing, and this was without a single lyric.
"Try not to fall for me now. I'm already taken," Shinji glanced in Tsubaki's direction, his girlfriend looking back with a dreamy glint in her eyes.
"This one is called 'Ready, Set, Go.'"
The music started, and Shinji's voice washed over the café like water.
Ready Set Go by Royal Tailor
Lived so long with my eyes on me
Too deaf to hear, too blind to see
Oh, broken hearts on the city streets but
I can hear that you're calling me to
Be the hope, be the light, be the love
Right now, starting right now
Oh, you put my life in motion
Your love makes me want to give my all
Ready set go
Ready set go oh
So no, I'm not holding back anymore
Like an engine ready to explode
I'm ready set go
Ready set go oh, oh
Shinji had the masses under his spell, his hypnotic voice forcing the audience to dance and sway side to side.
Can't stop this clock is counting down, go down
So many lost waiting to be found, oh yeah
I would go where you're leading me, God
Reach my hands to the least of these
I'll be the hope, be the light, be the love
Right now, starting right now
Oh, you put my life in motion
Your love makes me want to give my all
Ready set go
Ready set go oh
So no, I'm not holding back anymore
Like an engine ready to explode
I'm ready set go
Ready set go
Give me the green light
Show me the finish line
No more spinning in circles
No more wasting time
So let it start today, where I flip the switch and say
You're my light, I won't fight, I'll go wherever you say
To the top of the highest mountain
To the bottom of every valley
I'll be the spark that turns into the grand finale
This love is something everyone needs to know
Hearts are callin', no more stalling, it's just
Ready set go
Broken hearts on the city streets but
I can hear that you're calling me to
Be the hope, be the light, be the love
Right now, starting right now
Shinji looked at Tsubaki, his eyes wondering what she wanted him to do. His answer came in the form of a small nod. He had her permission and dragged his fingers through his hair.
Oh, you put my life in motion
Your love makes me want to give my all
Ready set go
Ready set go oh
So no, (Shinji took off his wig) I'm not holding back anymore
Like an engine ready to explode
I'm ready set go
Ready set go oh, oh
The entire café erupted into cheers after the song ended, and Shinji, no longer wearing his disguise, bowed to his audience.
"That's what it means to sing from the soul," he stated. "Thanks for listening to my song, everyone. I hope to entertain you again sometime."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black ball.
"Until then, stay classy."
"Let's go," Kyoya's whiteboard said.
Momo linked arms with her boyfriend and let him escort her and Tsubaki out. The amassing crowd made it hard to leave, wanting to see more of Shinji's skills on stage, but all they got was a smokescreen as Shinji threw the ball on the floor. He concealed his presence amidst the smoke and escaped the establishment while reapplying his disguise.
"That was amazing," Momo commented, waiting with the other two for Shinji.
"He never fails to entertain," Tsubaki replied, still feeling giddy from her boyfriend's serenade. Her eyes never left the singing star.
"Whew, that was a close call," Shinji appeared from the shadows, startling Momo. "Sorry about that," he apologized with a light pant, "Did you enjoy the show?"
"Immensely," the first year answered. "You had the entire café under your control."
"I try my best," Shinji took a couple of deep breaths. He placed a hand over his chest and breathed deeply again. "I think I went too hard at the end there."
"Will you be alright?"
Shinji waved his junior's concern away. "I'll be fine. Trust me, this isn't the first time. I just need to rest."
"I'll get him back to the hospital," Tsubaki acted as his crutch. "You two head back to campus. The teachers will understand if I'm late."
"Be safe heading back," Kyoya wrote on his whiteboard.
"We will. It was nice getting to know you, Yaomomo-san. I can't wait to see how you and your class fair in the future."
"Thank you. I guess you and your family will be adopted by my classmates as well," the first year giggled. "We practically whisked Teddy away, and he's been our helper ever since."
"I go where I am needed," declared the almighty whiteboard. "Come on," Kyoya nudged his head in the direction of U.A's campus, "time to take you back."
Momo understood.
"Oh, before we go," she started and rummaged through her purse, "I'm sorry for doing this, but I promised two friends I'd ask for an autograph."
Tsubaki glared at the first year while the singer chuckled.
"If it's not too much trouble, could you maybe…"
Momo pulled out two dolls she fashioned in Mina and Jirou's liking.
"There will be no more of this in the future, understand?" Tsubaki's tone was cold as ice.
"Yes, of course," Momo quickly nodded.
'You two owe me for this.'
Shinji didn't mind and signed the two dolls. He was used to people wanting autographs. It came with the prestige.
"Thank you. My friends will love it."
The group bid farewell and went their separate ways. Shinji and Tsubaki, holding hands, went one way, and Kyoya and Momo, enjoying their flight, traveled in the opposite direction.
"Did you have fun?"
"It was wonderful," Momo snuggled closer. "Thank you for taking me."
"The pleasure was all mine," Kyoya pressed a kiss to her forehead.
The two arrived at campus just in time. Iida was waiting for them like the father figure he was, nodding in approval. He was glad his senior respected the rules and had them back at the appropriate time.
"Welcome back, you two," he said, shaking Kyoya's hand. "Did you have fun?"
"We had a blast," Momo beamed. "I have a video to show all of you."
Momo, after pecking her boyfriend on the cheek goodbye, skipped inside, her merriment bouncing off her in waves.
"I'm glad you guys enjoyed yourselves. I must confess, senpai, you've been a positive influence on Yaomomo-san. She's been more outgoing since you entered her life more."
"Thank you. I do try my best," the psychic smiled with pride. It brought him confidence to see his girlfriend smiling so radiantly. Knowing he was the cause made his heart swell.
Kyoya gave a small bow to his junior. "Thank you, all of you, for accepting me. I promise never to betray your trust."
Iida nodded vigorously. He was thrilled his senpai was such a thoughtful soul. Iida wished more people behaved like Kyoya.
"You're welcome, senpai. Don't be a stranger. You're always welcome to hang out with us."
The two shook hands and parted ways.
"Love you, Teddy!" Momo called out from the entrance, waving the taller gentleman goodbye.
Kyoya flashed his chompers and reciprocated Momo's gesture. It warmed his heart to hear her utter those three words.
'Love you too, Kitty. If only I had the voice to say it clearly.'