It's been about a week since I last saw Touya. My body is aching less now. I'm sitting at my desk, Enji having assigned me to paperwork this whole week so that I can heal. I'm typing away at my keyboard when I see someone stop at my desk.

"Akira," Enji says. "Please join me in my office."

I stop typing and follow after him. After entering, Enji closes the door and we stand by his desk.

"We received news on the drug Anzu used," Enji says. "It's a quirk enhancing drug. There have been more cases like this popping up around the city."

"Seems it's booming in the black market," I say.

"That's what we're afraid of. If this drug is freely being sold to any criminal out there, this means bad news."

"What were the observations on the incidents? Was there anything in common throughout them?"

"Based on those, we see that the drug lasts a certain amount of time. But that time is enough to cause destruction and chaos."

"No doubt."

"But that's not all… There was also a case where bullets were used...bullets that cancel out quirks."

"What?" I'm shocked.

"An intern under Fat Gum was hit with one of these bullets. His quirk was cancelled but only temporarily."

"A quirk enhancing drug...and quirk-destroying bullets…This doesn't sound good."

"More tests are being run to find out more about the drugs. There are claims that the Hassaikai are involved in a large crime ring that has been distributing drugs including the quirk enhancers."

"The Hassaikai?" I'm surprised.

"Right now, there's a private investigation on this matter. Only a limited amount of heroes know about it. I asked to join the investigation but was denied. It's important that only a select few are involved, such as those who came across either of the drugs."

"What about me? I fought Anzu and he used a quirk enhancer."

"Under strict orders, the Public Safety Commision forbids your involvement."

"What? Why can't I...Oh," I understand.

"You are to remain under Endeavor Hero Agency, not involving yourself in this investigation. It's for your own protection."

"Is it really for my protection?"

I let out a long sigh.

"I know you must be upset…" Enji says.

"Sometimes I wonder what the point of being a hero is...when all the Commission does is limit me," I state.

Enji is surprised at my words.

"I get it...I have a quirk that's dangerous if not controlled completely." I'm frustrated. "Because I can't completely control it...Am I really a hero? Or am I a danger to society?"

Enji stares at my questioning face, understanding my pain.

"Don't lose hope, Akira," Enji says. "You have always been a true hero and always will be."

I stare up at Enji, feeling more encouraged and at ease.

I'm sitting on my couch, my elbows resting on my thighs. It's late at night and I find it difficult to sleep after what Enji informed me of today.

'I hope the group investigating the Hassaikai is doing alright…' I think to myself. 'With the quirk drugs mixed in… I can't imagine what danger they'll be getting themselves into.'

I palm my face and grunt in frustration.

"Damn it!" I exclaim.

"What's gotten into you?" I hear Touya.

I turn to see him closing the window to the fire escape and heading over to me.

"You probably got wind of this…" I say. "There are quirk enhancing and quirk erasing drugs floating around the black market."

"Oh yeah. Those," Touya sits to my left.

"There's a private investigation going on… There's a chance the Hassaikai are involved."

"They've got a leader who goes by Overhaul. Real annoying guy."

Touya sees I'm frustrated.

"What's got you all worked up?" He asks.

"The fact that I can't help with the investigation," I reply. "The Commission forbids me."

"They're still on with that, huh?"

I stare at my hands, questioning myself.

"What's the point of being a hero if I can't do what a hero does?" I question. "The Commission has always kept me under restrictions since I activated my quirk at four years old. They don't seem to trust me. And I don't know why."

Touya listens as he watches me.

"My quirk is supernova," I continue. "My body has the ability to generate the energy of a dying star… I'm barely able to control it at 70%. Anything more than that and I can lose complete control. This is why the Commission restricts me. They fear my quirk… which makes me question: am I really a hero? Because it seems I'm more of a threat to society."

I bury my face in my hands.

"It's all I've wanted to become since I was a child…" I say. "To be a hero...but I feel like I've been treated more like a villain."

"You're not," Touya interjects. "You've always had a kind heart… Being a villain isn't in your nature. You're more of a true hero than most of the fake heroes today."

I turn my gaze to Touya, giving him a soft smile.

"What brings you here at this time of night?" I ask.

"I needed some time away from the League," Touya replies. "They're all annoying and things are getting complicated right now."

"How so?"

"Shigaraki gave two of our own to the Hassaikai as part of an alliance… It seemed sketchy to me at first, but Shigaraki trusts his own decision. He acted like a spoiled little brat when we first met. But suddenly he's begun to take charge."

I shake my head with a light laugh. Touya raises a brow at me.

"What is it?" He asks.

"Look at us," I say. "A pro hero and a villain sharing information about each other's sides. How would this look? How can we even trust each other?"

"I trust you."

I gaze into Touya's turquoise eyes as he gazes back.

"Do you trust me?" He asks.

This feels nostalgic.

"I trust you," I finally say.

"As long as we trust each other, there should be no problems," Touya says.

"Still...we risk serious consequences if we were to be found out."

"I ain't telling anybody shit," Touya leans his head back. "And again, I trust you won't either."

Touya glances at my back.

"How's your body feeling?" he asks.

"A lot better," I reply.

"Do you mind if I check on your back?"

I'm a bit surprised at his request but allow him to. I slip my shirt half way off, only my bra visible. Touya reaches for my shirt to get a better look at the bruises and scrapes. He puts his hand on my back gently, a look of reassurance in his eyes.

"What's the matter?" I ask.

"I just…" Touya says. "I want a reminder of why I killed that bastard."

"Is Anzu's death eating away at your conscious?"

"Sometimes I prefer not to kill...but that bastard had it coming for what he did to you."

Touya gently runs his fingers down my back, examining every scar and bruise on my skin. I watch as his eyes stare in sorrow. He then gently pulls me into him, my back against his chest. He moves slowly, making sure I'm comfortable with his actions. I'm a bit timid at first, thinking that it's like we're strangers to one another. But after feeling each other's warmth, it's as if the time we spent apart never happened.

"I'm...sorry…" Touya speaks softly into my ear.

"You don't have to apologize…" I reply. "As long as we're together, that's all that matters."

The sound of my alarm going off in my room wakes me. I open my eyes as I sit up, realizing I've slept on the couch. To my dismay, Touya is nowhere to be seen.

'It's barely 7am…' I think. 'I wonder why he left so early.'

Touya must fulfill his duties as a member of the League of Villains. He has a goal in mind. Although I don't completely agree with it, I understand why.

It's now early October. I'm standing in front of Enji's desk as he sits in his chair behind it.

"So the rescue mission at the main Hassaikai base was successful," I say. "That's a relief."

"Although the rescue was done, it left an opening for the League of Villains to strike… The transport vehicle carrying Overhaul was attacked. Overhaul's hands were severed by the leader of the League."

"Shigaraki… he wants to set their place as the next rulers of evil," I conclude. "He really demonstrated dominance with that act."

"He and other members of his group managed to obtain the quirk drug bullets from the scene as well."

"Was there an escort vehicle?"

"Yes, but the League member with a fire quirk helped stop them."

'Touya…' I think to myself. 'So that's where he went early this morning.'

"I'm only informing you because I know how interested you were in the investigation. Your fight with Anzu wasn't for nothing."

"Thank you for letting me know," I nod.

Fuyumi and I are sitting at a table in our favorite cafe. We've both met up after work to catch up.

"So Shoto is making progress with his license course," I say. "I'm glad to hear."

"He's a lot more driven than before," Fuyumi says. "Even though he didn't pass the license exam the first time, I think taking this course to make up for it will do him good. It'll be a chance to grow more."

"No doubt. And how's Natsu? I haven't seen him in a while."

"He's been very occupied with school. He reads more books than my entire class!" She jokes.

"I'd believe that!" I laugh. "I'm glad he's pursuing what he's passionate about."

"How has the pro hero life been?"

"Aside from my fight with Anzu, relatively calm. Just a lot of paperwork to handle."

"I bet."

"Have you visited your mother recently?"

"Yes, I went with Shoto and Natsu this past weekend. She's doing well."

"I'm glad. Once my load at work lightens, I'll find time to pay her a visit."

"She understands. Being a pro hero is a lot of work. I don't know how you do it."

"Sometimes I wonder the same thing," I laugh.

"You really should find yourself a nice guy. Someone to keep you company."

I immediately think of Touya, a bittersweet feeling inside me.

"A pro hero life is no good for a partner," I shake my head. "Especially nowadays with evil rising. I'm better off on my own."

"I'll respect your choice," Fuyumi nods.

I give her a soft smile.

I enter my apartment, closing the front door after me. I switch the lights on and am a bit startled to see Touya on the couch.

"You really have to give me a schedule of your visits," I put my purse on the coffee table. "I'm gonna end up blasting you by accident one day."

"I'd like to see you try," Touya scoffs with a grin.

I head into my bedroom and change into a thin black sweater and grey shorts.

"Did you eat dinner?" I ask from my room.

"Yeah, I'm good," Touya replies.

"Same. I just had dinner with Fuyumi."

Touya lowers his gaze in thought.

"How is my sister doing?" He asks. "And the rest of my siblings."

"Fuyumi is lovely as always," I sit next to Touya on the couch. "Natsu is busy pursuing his degree in health and welfare."

"And how's that perfect creation?"

I hear the bitter tone in Touya's voice.

"Shoto is working on obtaining his license for hero work," I reply.

"Hn. No surprise...Seems my siblings are well off… And my mother?"

"I haven't visited recently, but Fuyumi tells me she's doing well. And she really is."

Touya stares at the floor in thought, his eyes now a bit more serious. I know he's thinking of the last family member left to talk about.

"I hate the fact that he's with you almost everyday," Touya says. "He doesn't deserve that luxury. The bastard doesn't deserve anything he has."

I stare at Touya as I see something is bothering him inside.

"I heard about Overhaul's demise…" I say.

"The guy had it coming," Touya replies. "How could he bring himself to abuse a child the way he did?"

Touya's eyes are fixated forward in thought.

"Did...something happen?" I ask.

"The police escort we faced when going after Overhaul…" Touya says. "A pro hero by the name Snatch was in that vehicle. He tried to stop us. With my help, Compress put an end to him."

Touya clenches his jaw a bit.

"Snatch...he asked me if I ever stop to think about the families of the people I've killed," Touya says.

He clenches his left fist.

"The thought drives me crazy…" he admits.

"Touya…" I say.

"And I can't help but think of you," he turns his gaze to me. "What if I lost you?"

My brows rise as I gaze at him.

"I can't imagine the pain you went through thinking I was dead…" Touya says. "I don't know if I'd be able to handle it if it actually happened to you."

"Touya…" I move closer to him.

I lean forward and place my hand on the side of his face. I gaze deeply into his eyes as he does mine.

"Thinking of those things won't do you any good," I say. "What matters is here and now."

Touya stares into my golden eyes as I caress his face. He slowly leans his face into me, planting his lips on mine. After a few seconds of kissing, he quickly pulls away.

"If it feels weird…" he refers to the skin on his bottom lip. "You don't have to…"

With my hand still on the side of his face, I pull him into me, planting my lips on his. He's surprised but kisses back, his left hand holding the side of my face. He massages my side while I massage his. I can feel myself warm up as our skin touches. Our breathing picks up a bit as we continue, Touya's fingers gently caressing into my hair as he pulls me in closer. Just as we're in the heat of the moment, Touya's phone goes off. He pulls away from me as he's annoyed at the call.

"What is it?" He answers. "Right now? ….Fine."

He hangs up with a grunt.

"I gotta go," Touya turns back to me.

"I understand…" I nod.

Touya stares at my disappointed face and can't help but find it amusing.

"Get some rest," he caresses my cheek.

"Please be careful, Touya," I plead.

He gives me a reassuring gaze before getting up and heading to the kitchen window. He climbs out to the fire escape and closes the window after him. I stare at the window, suddenly realizing Touya and I just made out. My face burns up, a sensation of butterflies in my stomach.

"That was our first kiss…" I burn up.

I cover my face with my hands at the thought of what it could've led to if Touya hadn't gotten that call.