Chapter 6: Villainous Hijinks

"Hey Dekkun, wanna have some fun?"

Deku warily turned his head toward the voice only to see Himiko Toga looking at him with a mischievous grin that immediately had him cautious. It'd been two weeks since the girl had joined them and it was still an adjustment period. Just three days ago Tomura had nearly disintegrated the bathroom door because she was taking too long; Deku half suspected not all the time had been used for freshening up but rather intentionally rattling Tomura's cage just by camping out in the facilities.

There was bravery and there was stupidity. Presently he wasn't sure if Toga was the perfect embodiment of both with an incredible sense of luck not or just a wildcat happily testing out its proposed nine lives.

"What sort of fun?" He tentatively asked, his gaze shifting to catch some sign of whatever she was plotting. He was rewarded with an innocent tilt of the head and a finger placed thoughtfully near the other party's mouth.

"Painting Tomura-kun's nails."

"Eh? What?"

Toga held up a small bottle to emphasize what she'd said as a smile grew, "Paint his nails."

"WHY?"

"Because it'll be fun! I can't wait to see his reaction. I want to try a full makeover one day, it'll be sooo much fun!" She was almost dancing in glee, clearly undaunted at the thought of invoking the wrath of the beast. "You do this and more at sleepovers! This is like a bigger, better long-term sleepover and we haven't had any real fun yet! We need to spice things up!"

"He's going to wake up and kill you. And I mean literally kill you."

"No he won't! He won't be up for a while! Hmm, maybe half the day."

"What, why?" He found himself asking, caught between confusion and fear.

"NyQuil, silly! You're just too much!" Toga giggled, apparently finding some joke in the question. "I put some of it into his coffee this morning! He always looks so tired anyways!"

"Partly because of you," Deku thought, not daring to voice it. Truthfully he hadn't been sleeping well either, listening with one ear for any suspicious sounds as he tried to sleep. If nothing occurred in his room, whose door he locked at night, he feared noises from another room would alert him as someone attempted strangulation or other means of murder. While Toga wasn't a killer, yet anyways as Kurogiri had reassured multiple times with the background check, trying to sleep within the same vicinity definitely gave the vibes of a scene in an axe murderer movie.

The most troubling thing presently however was the revelation Toga wasn't afraid to admit she spiked a drink, with only a legal sleeping aid thankfully. Her level of frightening just went up and Deku swore his blood pressure with it, feeling his still mutating Quirk tingle beneath his skin. Toga was a different kind of crazy that he had to quickly figure out how to endure given her mood swings from overly happy to murderously vindictive. Thankfully however it seemed Deku was on her whitelist while Tomura seemed to flip between white and gray; how he feared for those on her blacklist.

"He'll be sleeping like a log! Come on!" Toga practically danced over and grabbed Deku's hand, dragging him up from the couch and pulling him along with urgent tugs.

Unsure if he could actually refuse her he allowed himself to be moved, partly worried for Tomura's fate as well as the inevitable aftermath following the apparent prank. He hoped that given the intended target was apparently in his room the door would be locked and thus sabotaging the mission. Unfortunately as they neared the room he found that not the case as it was clearly ajar and he had a moment of wonder if Toga had picked the lock beforehand.

The girl let out an excited giggle and pushed the door open slowly, peeking in while tugging Deku inside. Sure enough inside the fairly dark room was Tomura Shigaraki sprawled out on his bed, looking as if he had unintentionally passed out. His iconic hand was still attached to his face, which Deku could neither confirm nor deny if that was a natural sleep habit for the most part.

"He's sleeping like a baby~" Toga almost cooed as she crept closer, managing to slip a skip in, "He was so tired he crashed without properly closing his door."

So she didn't pick the lock previously, that was a relief. Confirmation about that possible skill set would have to be saved for later as Deku shifted nervously inside Tomura's room. In all his years of being with the League he'd never ventured inside his foster brother's room despite Tomura entering his enough times to count on one hand. It seemed like an intrusion, a breech of trust and intimacy that Tomura was not ready for and honestly Deku had been afraid of what he would find inside the mysterious room.

Turns out the room was fairly barebones, intentionally so but not to the degree of the minimalism Deku had first adapted when joining the League to contrast his boatload of hero merch he possessed beforehand. A red lava lamp gave off an eerie light in a corner and on the floor seemed to be various scattered video game cases, game guides and a perhaps a few hero magazines that clearly had been shredded by hand. On the wall were a few hero posters that were shredded while others were lined with holes, presumably from the darts that were still stuck in a few; All Might's poster looked more like a pointillism work at this point.

Toga seemed to disregard the room's state after just a glance and beelined for the seemingly near catatonic Tomura, nearing to his bedside. Deku edged his way farther into the room, still taking in the scene before focusing on its dozing occupant. Instantly he was surprised by what he saw as he took time to observe.

"Huh, no gloves."

"What?" Toga looked his way as she leaned over the unconscious teen, giving him a light poke in the side to test his wakefulness. The older teen didn't budge, the raspy sound of relaxed breathing continuing.

"I figured he'd wear special gloves the Doc made to prevent him using his Quirk in his sleep. I guess he has to be conscious for it to work; since he's out cold he can't subconsciously use it. Maybe it reflects his state of mind..." Deku started but began to mumble, his mind turning as he began making mental notes to later write down in his notebook under Tomura's section. "Maybe he usually just bandages his pinkies or thumbs before he goes to sleep... usually once he's in his room for the night I don't see him. He's fairly private about his own stuff."

"Ho ho, interesting! I've been dying to see his Quirk in action. Disintegration right? Kurogiri-kun warned me but I couldn't help myself when we met it was too fun and so much thrill! Should we test it out?"

"With what? There's no way to stop the Quirk unless you have a nullification Quirk or cut off your affected limb." Deku instantly paled, reprimanding his companion who, while she made him feel uneasy, he didn't want to see succumb to Tomura's Quirk; witnessing such a thing partly once was enough. He had heard the screams in his dreams for a month before his subconscious was able to bury the raw memory. "And it's more like rapid decomposition... it's Decay."

"I'm not dumb, Dekkun. What did you think I was going to grab his hand with mine?" Toga had a new look on her face, smile gone but amusement was there despite some insult. "Shipping us together already? Sorry, Tomura-kun isn't my type."

"No... I mean all five fingers have to touch for his Quirk to work and whatever is touched is gone, along with whatever is touching it. It seems it can travel between targets sometimes."

"Hm..." Toga quickly looked around before snatching one of the ratty magazines off the floor. She then promptly dropped it on top of Tomura's hand that was palm up as he slept on his chest, nearly face planting into the mattress.

Deku almost held his breath as he watched, curious but heart pounding at the prospect Tomura would spring awake at any moment. A few moments ticked by and both tilted their heads to look under the magazine to make sure five fingers were touching at once.

They were.

"Aw, nothing." Toga pouted, clearly disappointed as she swept the intact magazine back onto the floor. Deku let out the breath he had been holding at the sound of the plop, his heart still racing but now his mind was beginning its rapid pace as well.

"Guess he usually sleeps on his back with his hands laced together..." Deku continued, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully as the mental image of a vampire in a coffin sprung to Toga's mind, causing her to giggle, slapping a hand over her mouth to contain it. "Probably should flip him on his back so he doesn't accidentally Decay anything when he gets up; he'll probably be groggy and we don't want him pissed off."

"Oh, fine. It'll be easier to paint that way too." Toga resigned and with Deku they managed to roll their victim onto his side before succeeding in laying him on his back, placing his hands across his stomach to keep the limbs out of the way. Deku was constantly watching them in case one suddenly flailed and Decay was activated. In his mind a prank wasn't worth possible death.

"Alright, let's get this party started." Toga grinned as she sat cross-legged on the bed, making herself at home like a cat without regard for boundaries. She reached over and grabbed one of Tomura's wrists and held it up, his hand limp as she shook the nail polish bottle in her free hand. After a moment she held it out to Deku, "Open this please and hold it for me. My hands are full."

Deku complied after a moment, thankful he wasn't the one touching Tomura. The first and last time he'd laid hands on the teen was the day of the raid, when he had to drag him through the Warp Gate. Since then there had been no physical touch between them until Tomura had abruptly pushed Deku away to stand between him and the newly recruited Toga. It just seemed wrong given Tomura was not a warm person and for him touch was a weapon or self- punishment depending on his intent.

His mind snapped back to attention as Toga grabbed at the nail polish, drawing out the brush. He blinked as he registered what was in his hand, "Black? You're using black?"

Toga grinned at him as she held up the nailbrush, "Of course! It suits what he wears and his mood! If I did another color it'd probably clash and he'd be way more pissed off."

"How about not pissing him off at all?"

Toga just looked at him, smiling as she began her art project, delicately painting the first nail, "Where's the fun in that? Besides this is just trial mini makeover. A proper one would include treating those nails not just painting them, but oh well. Going to glow up this sad raggy boy, eventually."

"Good luck, senpai is very particular about his style... even if it's a bit casual."

Toga let out a laugh that made Deku flinch and look at Tomura to make sure he didn't awaken. "That's so cute, Dekkun. Casual doesn't cover near hobo Hand Man. He could freshen up like you. You look good in a suit."

"I, uh, thanks." He flushed, glad the lighting in the room wasn't the best, that fact somehow not detouring Toga's quest to beautify her present victim. "I try... Kurogiri-san helped though. I know nothing about formal wear or ties. I usually just reuse the tie he did for me."

"Guess you just have the natural knack for pulling it off." Toga paused as she already was on a second nail, a grin forming, "You're going to be something else when you get older."

"What do you mean?"

"Aw, haven't you heard girls love a guy in uniform? Military, school, business..." She let out a giggle as his blush grew deeper.

"Th-that's not why I wear it." He barely managed, his ears pink as he felt too hot. "Sensei always looked so professional, Kurogiri-san too. I just want to look the part."

"Sure~" Came the tease and Deku had half a mind to bolt for the door before he combusted. However he was determined not to let his shyness be used against him so he cleared his throat as Toga dripped the brush back into the bottle he held.

"What about you, Toga-san?"

"Toga-chan." She corrected but looked at him as she paused her work. "What about what, Dekkun? Yes, I like guys in uniform but that's not my only type~"

"Ah I mean, not that. Um..." He fidgeted, not sure if now was the best time to ask.

"You're not wondering my sizes are you? Girl has to keep some secrets you know. Didn't think you were a perv, Dekkun."

"NO! I WASN'T! I'M NOT!" He just about shouted, his voice definitely too loud in the quiet room as he felt like he was on fire. His heart raced as he looked at Tomura, afraid he'd managed to infiltrate his deep sleep but the teen didn't even flinch. He looked back over at Toga who was smiling and blushing, shaking with laughter as she held her wrist over her mouth, pinching the nailbrush between her fingers.

"Haha! I'm just playing! You're too much fun, Dekkun!"

Suddenly he suspected Toga had nine lives because she stole bits of other people's with her antics. He was presently a toy for her amusement and he deeply hoped he wasn't a mouse. He let out a sigh, trying to calm down; it was just a bit of harmless teasing not bullying. It was perfectly normal for others to tease and rile one another.

"Aw, don't be mad." Toga almost pouted as she nearly finished Tomura's one hand, "Ask away."

"What exactly is your Quirk?"

Toga's ashen blonde head shot up, a different smile on her face. "Curious?"

"Well you mentioned something with blood..." He admitted, not wanting to admit he'd been theorizing as his usual bombardment of questions were put on hold given the turbulence that surrounded her integration. The questions burned in the back of his mind, having already started a near bare entry for her in his Quirk Analysis notebook.

"I'm flattered you want to get to know me. Or are you scared?"

"Intrigued?" He offered, not wanting to admit he was wary of her for her antics alone; her Quirk didn't need to be yet another reason. Yet just by mentioning blood and Quirk in the same sentence a lot of conclusions and prejudices were going to start; how had her life been before the League? She evidentially had joined because she was dazzled by Sensei, but also claimed it was for making friends...

"Mmm, maybe I should remain a woman of mystery~" Toga seemed to consider the idea for a moment despite the playful tone. After a few moments she smiled mischievously once more at Deku, "It's a bloody technique, you sure you can handle it?"

"I guess…?"

"It's Transform!" She suddenly exclaimed, bouncing on the bed slightly, causing Deku to fumble with the nail polish bottle, trying not to drop it. As he rightened himself, avoiding any spills Toga continued, eyes bright, "I can become anyone! I can be anyone! All I need is their blood! The more blood the longer I can be them!"

"How does that work?" He inquired, genuinely curious despite the morbid trigger for the Quirk. His mind began racing, his mouth moving as questions tumbled out as he faintly remembered her inquiry weeks ago to try his blood, "Have you tested different amounts? Would just a drop be enough? Just a lick? How long would the transformation last? Do different blood types cause different reactions? Can you stockpile and change at will? How do you transform?"

"I ingest it~ The more I drink the longer it lasts! Though I've never been able to use someone's Quirk, not yet anyways…" Toga informed, finishing up painting the one hand as she trailed off, shifting her gaze from her work to Deku, "You're not… disgusted?"

"No? I mean… yeah blood is a sensitive topic, especially if people are queasy… I don't like gory stuff but we're talking theoretically right now. Besides it's part of who you are, you didn't choose it so why judge what you can't control? You didn't choose the source, only how you use it. My guess is it wasn't hereditary, no one else in your family has a Quirk like it."

Toga cocked her head as she held Tomura's limp wrist, still posed to paint the last nail. She gave a little nod, unable to help herself as she found his speculation to be true though it was not at all cold and calculating… no, his tone was full of sincerity and compassion?

"And just because it has to do with blood doesn't mean people have to die; you could even get willing contributors, donors, and even if just a little bit it's enough that they can get on with their lives. None of your victims have died, you were just collecting samples to test out, right? A simple cut is enough. You just want to use your Quirk freely and know who you are without being judged. Sure the methods aren't the best, but it's understandable. I respect that."

Toga blinked, seemingly speechless for the first time. It was true she had various vials of blood stashed away from her random crowd slasher incidents, ready to be used when she felt like it. The problem however with taking stranger's blood was she had no idea what their Quirks were so she couldn't always replicate them but she could be anyone. And no one would be the wiser that it really was she, Himiko Toga, using her Quirk that her parents had rebuked her for, what others at school didn't even bother to know but just accepted the facade she'd put on for years.

She was the perfect actor after all the years of practice not being her true self; what more was it to put on another's face and pretend to be them? Not even her gymnastics club members had truly gotten to know her, accepting a cheerful, reasonable, well-mannered girl who got a pat on the head while she drowned to fit in. Here… she didn't feel like she was drowning, no one reprimanded her appreciation, her fascination, for blood and apparently there was one who had a set of strong values and beliefs yet he didn't put her down just for not meeting his standards…

"Honestly it really sounds handy actually, like something a spy would have. That's neat, Toga-chan." Deku broke into her thoughts, wrapping up what he was saying. "We definitely could use someone with your talents. Sensei would probably say you're a high tier infiltrator agent."

"Amazing~ No wonder why you're leading the League after Skull Mask-chan got sent to the slammer!" Toga exclaimed, blinking out her daze, her gold eyes sparkling as she looked at her companion. "You're really smart, Dekkun! So sweet! You know how to make a girl blush!"

Deku winced at the blunt summary, feeling an ache at the unflattering mention of Sensei. It'd been months but at times it felt like it was just a day ago that he'd be separated from the man who had given him a new home, a new life, and a Quirk. "Thanks but Tomura-senpai is the stand-in leader, I'm just the strategist and advisor."

"Second in command is still the top!" Toga insisted, dropping Tomura's hand back onto his chest unceremoniously, earning a light moan but otherwise no response. She abruptly leaned over him, ignoring the unpainted hand, and stared at Deku closely, grinning as he pulled back, still gripping the nail polish bottle for her. "What about you Dekkun? What's your Quirk?"

"M-my Quirk?" Toga gave a nod, eyes dazzling while he fought to corral his thoughts, "My Quirk… It's called Amalgam Emanation… it's basically a superpower Quirk that gives me enhanced strength and endurance… and I can emit a dark energy from my hands as a kind of physical force enhancer… Tomura said it was like a plasma aura, but I think he was just using video game logic."

"Can I see?"

"I can't really control it very well…" Deku shifted uncomfortably at her excited earnest tone, his eyes darting to the ground as he pulled the nail polish bottle subconsciously closer as he started to close himself off. "That's why only one of my eyes is red… It's not supposed to be like that, at least I don't think so. I can only use my right side."

"Please?" Toga begged, batting her eyelashes at him, pouting slightly. "I'm sure you can do it, Dekkun! It just takes practice like anything! I really would like to see it though! I bet it's incredible like you! I can show you my Quirk later if you want, we can take turns!"

"Okay." Deku deflated, shoulders sagging while Toga grinned broadly, sitting up straight and motioning for him to hand over the nail polish to free his hands. As he complied he added, "I don't know if it'll work or not so just a warning you probably will be disappointed."

"Shush, just do it." Toga instructed, propping her elbows on her crisscrossed legs, eyes glued on the green haired boy.

He let out a nervous breath as he felt the pressure to show results. They said you would have pearls without pressure but his Quirk seemed determined to sabotage his efforts, as if to protest the fact he was now its owner and not the far more worthy All For One, his hero. Deku closed his eyes to push the self doubt away for now, digging deep where he felt an inner fire inside him, a presence that seemed to hide itself at times and flicker at a fraction of its true strength. He mentally reached for it, willing himself to metaphorically grasp the evasive flame that couldn't hurt him and he felt a small warmth in his chest as he snagged a few embers.

"Ooo."

His eyes popped open to find his Quirk manifesting but as all the times before it was only his right hand despite feeling the tingle of his activation lightly throughout his whole body. He didn't need a mirror to know he still possessed one red eye as the sting of disappointment in his lack of complete success gnawed at him. However Toga looked completely enamored, eyes sparking and a smile on her face.

"That's neat! I like the color~ It's so dark it's almost black but it's purple! Talk about mood!"

"Th-thanks?" He managed, feeling himself blush at the praise despite the disappointment he felt. He looked down as she continued to stare at the aura he was managing to maintain with a curled right fist.

"Ouch!" Toga yelped, drawing Deku's attention back to her in a start, withdrawing an outstretched hand that now had two bleeding fingers as if she'd received simultaneous paper cuts.

"Sorry, I should have warned you! You okay? It's unstable so its effects are different. Sometimes it's a visible power boost and other times the aura itself can hurt as a secondary effect." He instantly worried, guilt slamming him as he released the energy, feeling the tingle lessen as the aura seemingly dissipated completely.

"Wow that felt like a bunch of glass shards at once, sorta like sandpaper too!" Toga looked impressed, hastily bringing her bleeding fingers to her mouth and sucking on them to stop the bleeding.

"I'm really sorry..."

"Don't worry, Dekkun. Guess someone else had to draw blood first for a change." She smiled around her fingers, taking them out to look at them with brightening eyes, "It's not that bad. What an interesting Quirk!"

"Thanks, but it is bad. I haven't made progress in months, I'm stuck..." Deku hung his head, glancing out of the corner of his eye at his dozing foster brother, "Tomura-senpai said it was just like grinding to level up in a game, tiresome as the process gets longer the higher your level, but then you eventually unlock your next skill set... in a way it makes sense, despite his gamer talk. I don't know if training would help at this point or I'm generically inept..."

Because I once was Quirkless.

"I'll train with you any day! Nothing better to do! It'll be fun! I get to have bonding time with Dekkun!" Toga suddenly grabbed his hand with her injured one, her other hand preoccupied with clutching the nail polish. "We can even do it after I finish this! Though only painting one hand would be a good prank too..."

"You will? But, you could get hurt again..."

"What are friends for? I said I would and I will! If you want to make a big deal out of it then let's call it a date as a reward for you being such a gentleman."

"D-date?" He flustered, any shame he'd been feeling plowed over by the renewed wave of embarrassment and confusion. "But I... you... it..."

Toga laughed, holding her sides as Deku seemingly broke from her jest. He wasn't quite her type, not yet anyways, but it didn't mean she couldn't tease flirt. "You're too much, Dekkun! So precious! I'm jealous Tomura-kun has had you to himself this whole time..."

"Toga-chan, please. You're going to wake him up." He tried to deflect as he still felt warm though he knew the excuse was flimsy. "You'd better hurry."

"You worry too much, I've gone time to do that and more." Suddenly a look of realization came over her, "Wait just a sec, brb! Don't go anywhere! Keep an eye on our project!"

Before Deku could ask or protest Toga bounced off the bed, disregarding any subtlety to not disturb the dangerous teen. The girl disappeared from the room in a flash, leaving Deku bewildered as to what the plan was as he was seemingly left holding the bag. Nervously he eyed Tomura and his one painted hand, making sure he was indeed still dead to the world.

He was, thankfully.

Within a few minutes she came thundering back, a wild look on her face. Deku noticed she'd managed to put two bandaids on but his attention was on the small container in her hands, "I come bearing gifts!" Toga sprang into the room, completely giddy before flopping into the bed next to him, somehow managing to smile wider as a giggle escaped her. She held up the container, revealing various hair accessories inside, "Ready to beautify Tomura-kun some more?"

Deku couldn't say, though internally he screamed in joy and horror at the thought of the end result once Tomura found out.

"You two are rather quiet." Kurogiri observed as he eyed the two youths who seemed silent as the grave as they sat on the couch. One could almost call them angels from how content they seemed, quiet and absorbed in whatever they were focused on. Silence was indeed golden but long time experience taught one it was suspicious as well. "I haven't seen Tomura Shigaraki at all since early this morning."

"He's in his room."

"Guess he'll come out when he's ready."

"R-right, what Toga-chan said."

The rapid-fire responses made the mist man's yellow eyes narrow slightly in suspicion. Truly one noticed the absence of the teen merely because the room seemed to be lacking the grating sound of video games or raspy breathing induced by some irritation, as well as the noticeable shortage of gloomy tense aura. He was tempted to check on his oldest charge but debated, not enjoying the thought of beholding the mess that surely lay inside the room or having to endure Tomura's snippiness to mind his own business and close the door like a civilized person.

"Mmm." Kurogiri uttered, resigning from making further comments as Deku and Toga seemed a little too engrossed in their respective distractions, their heads ducked low. A low giggle started to escape Toga but she quickly swallowed it, surely a wide smile on her face while Deku seemed nervous if not downright guilty as he uttered a barely audible "shh."

He pretended not to notice the glances the two made in the direction of Tomura Shigaraki's room, clearly apprehensive about his emergence. The mist man however decided not to pursue it, resigning to see how things unfolded naturally like a researcher would while observing animals in their natural habitat, undisturbed by outside forces. Besides, one of the books he had read stated sometimes nothing was better than something and to let children divulge on their own with little to no prompting; now was perhaps one of those times to take up the passive role and he did so without complaint.

After a few uneventful hours, Kurogiri put down the novel he was currently enjoying in the peace and quiet, his hot cup tea nearly finished, and wondered if he should consider summoning a coroner or rather Doctor Ujiko who would be morbidly delighted in having a fresh body at his disposal. The thought didn't go far as the sound of a door opening cut through the silence like a thunderclap, causing the three to look towards the direction of the unaccounted for member's quarters. There was the sound of shuffling feet and then some mumbles followed by a low indistinguishable curse before the shuffling continued.

"How the hell did it get to be so late?" Tomura demanded as he rounded the corner, seemingly plodding along like a zombie.

Kurogiri could not help his eyes widening as he took in the appearance of the freshly emerged teenager. He suppressed the urge to cough, letting out a low hum instead as he glanced at the angelic Toga and Deku out of the corner of his eye. "That's what happens when you sleep most of the day away, Tomura Shigaraki. My logical assumption would be you are feeling better as evidently you weren't before?"

"As if I know. I feel groggy."

"That so?" Kurogiri kept his gaze on the duo that at this point seemed to be trying to convince heaven itself to recognize them into its ranks. "Might be a sleep hangover."

"Whatever." Tomura shut down the conversation as he shambled his way across the room, making a beeline toward the facilities. Clearly something else was on his mind while everyone else was on the same page, eying him secretly, some barely containing themselves.

Silence followed the closed bathroom door for a couple of minutes though to the others it felt like eternity as they waited with baited breath. To make it worse Toga started to count quietly, smiling deviously as Deku rose up from the couch only to sit back down nervously, looking back and forth as if mapping his escape route but resigning to feigning apparent innocence.

The mood was abruptly interrupted by a resounding enraged, no longer groggy, voice, "What the hell!? What. the. HELL!?"

The volcano had awoken from its dormancy rudely.

"That's my cue~" Toga giggled wildly and with practiced grace, flipped over the back of the couch and took off running. "I'll be back later, Kurogiri-kun~ I'm eating out! Good luck, Dekkun~"

The bathroom door flew open violently with a bang, an enraged Tomura having barely managed to open it without decaying it. The teen stood with irritation raiding off of him, his blood clearly boiling as glared around for the culprit. Noticing the black nail polish on one hand had been one thing to slowly ping in his still sluggish brain, it was another when he looked into the mirror and beheld the atrocity that had been done to his hair.

"TOGAAA!" He screamed, barely catching a glimpse at her retreating form as she disappeared toward the exit, making her escape. He stood shaking with fury though it was almost negated by the various pigtails and mini braids in his hair along with a few bows and hair clips, one even being a clear All Might inspired bunny mascot, "YOU'RE DEAD. BEYOND DEAD, YOU HEAR ME, YOU NUT? YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY? SOME KIND OF HIJINKS!? THIS WAS ALL YOU, CRAZY GIRL."

Deku slumped down on the couch, out of Tomura's sight as he held a hand over his mouth to keep himself from laughing, hysteria threatening to take over after hours of waiting for the confrontation to take place built up nervous energy. He fought back ensuing amused tears as Tomura raged, unable to block out his present hilarious appearance. He looked like a little kid had been given free rein regarding hair style choices and had decided that settling on one thing simply wasn't possible.

"I LOOK LIKE A REJECT FASHION DOLL. AND WHAT THE HELL WITH THE NAIL POLISH? HUH?"

"I think you look nice." Kurogiri dared to voice nonchalantly, smiling secretly.

This only earned another scream of fury as Tomura wheeled around and retreated back into the bathroom, slamming the door as he apparently took to pulling the hair accessories out, cursing up a storm that was unintelligible.

Deku and Kurogiri stared at the closed door for a few seconds, the boy barely swallowing the beginnings giggles, trembling with restraint so as not to draw Tomura's fury. The mist man turned toward him, completely serious, "I meant it for the most part. Most he's done with his appearance in years. Should do it more often."

Deku was unable to hold back his laughter any longer, racing out of the room as he began laughing his head off, tears streaming down his face for the fist time in a long time. He nearly choked on his chuckles as he barricaded himself in his room, his heart thundering with exhilaration and adrenaline.

He hadn't felt so alive in years.