"Make way, peasants. Here comes the ultimate champion!"

Jiro spearheaded the victory parade of youngsters into café LeBlanc. At the insistence of his friends, Ren was hoisted through the door on the shoulders of Kaminari and Tokoyami; with Ochaco, Toru, Momo, and Izuku in tow.

"Hey, boss. Did you watch the news? Some punk stole the gold medal of the U.A. Sports Festival." Ren said.

"There's my boy! I knew you could do it." Sojiro exclaimed from behind the counter. Meanwhile, Inko was focused on the boy in the back.

"Izuku!" He was still bandaged due to his self-inflicted injuries during the tournament. She darted through barstools to hug her son with a death grip. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?! I fainted like seven times after the cavalry battle. How could you do this to your poor mother?" She said, sobbing in between words.

"Not here, Mom! You're embarrassing me!"

"So you're Deku's mom." Ochaco bowed. "My name's Ochaco Uraraka—I'm in the same class as your son. It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Midoriya!"

"Oh, my!" The excitement of meeting Izuku's classmates made Inko all but forget about her worries. "Come here, you need to tell me all about how Izuku is at school."

Sojiro clapped his hands together and spoke up. "Yes. Everyone grab a seat and have some curry and coffee on the house; this is a celebration!"

Time flew by whilst the group indulged in the free food and drinks and recounted the most memorable moments of the day.

"I'm stuffed! This curry way too good." Kaminari said. "Nothing like a good meal after a long day. Now I only need a hot bath to tie it all together."

"There's a bathhouse down the street. We could go there." Izuku said.

"That sounds great." He said. "How about you, girls?"

"Pass. I think we'll stay and chat some more with Mama Midoriya." Jiro said.

"… and then Izuku came in wearing his All Might onesie and said 'I'm here!' It was just so adorable! Do you want to see pictures?"

"Mom!" Izuku cried.

Before he could interrupt his mother, Kaminari put an arm around his neck and started dragging him along. "Let's go, Midoriya. It's time for some male bonding…"

"Ah, the water is perfect. My body feels so much better already."

"And this was the right time to come here; we have the big bath all to ourselves."

The four boys let themselves sprawl in the large bathtub. No one said a word for a long time, all too busy absentmindedly basking in warm water. Eventually, Kaminari was the one to spark conversation.

"You know, I've been wondering. What do you guys think about Jiro?"

Izuku put a hand to his chin. "Well, her Quirk isn't the most versatile, but it can be very useful is specific applications. She would probably excel the most as a support and rescue Hero. Why do you ask?"

Kaminari facepalmed. "No, not like that. I meant what do you guys think of Jiro as a girl."

"She has a great sense of humour, she's cool, clever," Ren said. "… and most importantly, out of your league."

"Hey! I'm a great catch. What kind of girl wouldn't want a future hero as a boyfriend? Not to mention these." He said, pointing at his abs with both hands.

Ren rolled his eyes. "Right… should I tell Haru you're not interested anymore then?"

"Why? Did she say something? Did she ask you about me?"

Tokoyami scoffed. "You're not nearly suave enough to fancy yourself a Casanova. You should spend more time training instead of skirt-chasing. At least that way you would be using your muscles for more than posturing."

"Ooh, looks like Todoroki isn't the only one with the power to burn." Ren said.

"You guys talk a lot of smack for someone sharing a bathtub with me." Kaminari said.

Tokoyami shrugged. "I'm just saying, you would've done better at the tournament if you had been thinking with your head instead of with your—"

"Come on, guys. Stop picking on Kaminari…" Izuku chimed in.

Kaminari smiled. "Thanks, Midoriya. I can always count on you to have my back."

"…He may not be the most academically gifted, or the best with girls, but he is very capable until he fries his own brain"

"Not you too!"

The group left the bathhouse to find the orange tints of sundown had begun painting the sky. They bid each other farewell before parting ways for the evening, and Ren took his time walking back to LeBlanc to enjoy the light spring breeze on his still damp hair. He eventually reached of the café, and open the door to the sound of the chiming bell.

"Welcome back." Yaoyorozu greeted him.

"You're still here." Ren quickly glanced around. "… all by yourself?"

"It was getting late, so everyone went home. Mr. Sakura said he had to go to the store, but he let me stick around until I finished this cup of coffee." She took another sip from the porcelain mug. "I must say, I'm usually more of a tea person, but I've never had coffee quite this good."

"Don't let the boss hear you; it'll go straight to his head." Ren said. "Mind if I keep you company then?"

"Be my guest."

With her blessing, he made his way around the bar and poured himself a cup from the coffee syphon; luckily it was still warm. They continued sipping their drinks in silence, overcome by a palpable awkwardness between them. Face to face but not quite able to make eye contact, both all too aware this was the longest exchange they had had in weeks, and though they had taken the first step towards reconciliation, they had yet to fully clear the air.

"I wanted to—"

"I'm so—"

They both started at the same time.

"You go first." Ren said.

Momo shook her head. "Please, after you."

He held his breath for a moment and hurried the words out of his mouth. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? For what?"

"For lying—or more accurately—for not being completely honest. I shouldn't have kept my identity a secret. I know it must have been upsetting finding out like that."

"I… Thank you, but I'm hardly without fault. No matter how I felt, you deserved at least the benefit of the doubt. You proved as much after you saved my life during the USJ Incident."

"Still, it wasn't fair of me to put you in that position. Principal Nezu said it'd be easier for everybody if we kept everything under wraps, but I can't stop thinking all of this could've been avoided if I had been honest from the beginning. After all, how can I expect you to trust me when I didn't fully trust you? I should've said something after the rumours about the student with a record first started, but I was too afraid you'd shun me If you knew who I really was…"

"You know, that is exactly the question I've been asking myself." She said. "Who is Ren Amamiya, really? The charmingly flippant schoolboy, or the dangerous outlaw vigilante? I struggled to syncretise that incongruity, but after hearing your story before the tournament, I understood that Ren Amamiya and Joker are both one and the same."

Ren wasn't quite sure what she meant to say. Reading his expression, Momo elaborated.

"Whether in your school uniform or in your black tailcoat, all you want is to help those victimised by injustice. Haru told me how much you've helped her, and we all saw what you did for Todoroki. You've opened my eyes—there is more to life than rules and order. Someone like you is a much more suitable candidate for being a pro Hero than me."

"That's not true."

"Of course it is. You won the U.A. Sports Festival. I was swiftly defeated in the first round of the tournament. I'm just not cut out to be a Hero—"

"Hey." Without even noticing, Ren instinctively put his hand over hers on the bar. "It's not all about winning or losing. You may not have succeeded this time, but making it to the 3rd round is already impressive. And remember what All Might said—all it takes to be a Hero is a courageous heart and the will to help those in need. There is no shadow of a doubt in my mind you have those qualities, and that's more than enough. We have time to figure out the rest together." When he became aware of the placement of his hand, he quickly pulled it away to inconspicuously cough into his fist. "And by together I mean we and all our friends, of course."

Sojiro entered the café with a bag of groceries in hand. When he noticed their presence, he stared at the two teenagers like a deer in headlights.

"I'm not interrupting something, am I?"

"Not at all. I was just about to leave; my parents expect me home soon." Momo said before heading for the exit. "Thank you so much for the coffee, Mr. Sakura. And thank you for the company, Amamiya."

"Wait, let me walk you to the station." Ren said.

"There's no need. One of our chauffeurs is picking me up."

"Oh. I guess good night, then."

"Good night. I'll see you in class."

After she left, Sojiro turned to his ward with apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, kid. Didn't know you were in here with a lady. I didn't mean to step on your mojo while you were putting on the moves."

"It's nothing like that." Ren said. "Also, 'mojo'? 'Putting on the moves'? You need an updated edition of Youth Slang for Dummies, old man."

"Anyhow, I like that girl; she's very polite. You could learn a thing or two from her, you brat." Sojiro said. "Party's over, champ. Time to wash the dishes."

"You got it, boss."

U.A. was closed during the days following the Sports Festival, giving the students a long weekend to recuperate and revitalise. But come Monday, classes resumed business as usual. Busy commuters boarded the trains en masse to reach their place of employment, or in the case of Izuku and Ren, their place of education.

Ever the late-riser, Ren found himself almost drifting back asleep, lullabied by the gentle rocking of the carriage. He was just lucid enough to detect Izuku's muffled talking.

"Sorry, I dozed off for a bit. What were you saying?"

"I said it feels a bit weird going back to school after all that happened, doesn't it?" Izuku repeated.

Ren sighed. "It is quite the contrast—one day we're on the world-stage, giving it our all in the biggest competition of our lives, and the next we're back to the books and essays."

Izuku shrugged. "At least they gave us enough time to finish our homework on Hero law."

"Yeah… wait, homework?"

"Hey, you two are U.A. students, aren't you? I saw you on TV."

Someone called from behind them, drawing the eyes of everyone in the vicinity. Excitement slowly spread around the train as more people recognised the two school boys as participants of the renowned sporting event. A crowd gathered in their vicinity and began mobbing the new celebrities with praise and questions.

"Great job at the Sports Festival." A man said. "You pack a big punch for someone your size."

"That's right. "

"Um… thank you?"

Izuku flustered at the sudden influx of attention. Ren was watching amused at his friend when an old man tapped him on the shoulder.

"You were very impressive, Amamiya. That fight against the Todoroki boy was really something." He said. "I never knew the full power of Joker. I can rest easy knowing that our future is in the hands of such capable young Heroes like you."

Ren's eyebrows rose in shock; he surely must have misheard in his semi-awake state. After the past months, it was almost unfathomable to hear someone pronouncing his vigilante moniker without contempt, let alone admiration.

"With a Quirk like that you could easily be popular pro Hero."

"I just want to say I was a Joker fan before it was cool!"

Each compliment he received reiterated his ears were not deceiving him. It was a first-hand look into the fruits of his efforts.

The occurrence in the train provided a healthy ego boost, and Izuku and Ren went to school feeling a bit more confident.

When they arrived at their homeroom, their classmates were spread away from their desks, sharing with each other the joys of their newly-found fame. Then the sound of the door opening commanded everyone back to their seats.

"Good morning, Mr. Aizawa."

"Morning…" he said. "I hope you've all had a chance to rest after the Sports Festival, because you'll need to work hard for what's coming next. Your performance caught the eyes of Hero agencies all over Japan; although pro Heroes usually only draft second- or third-year students, they decided to extend offers to a few of you."

With the push of a button, a holographic display listed the drafted students, as well as the number of offers. It came as no surprise to see Todoroki and Bakugo received thousands of offers each; the unexpected was they were heading the list over the golden medallist.

1. Shoto Todoroki: 4,123

2. Katsuki Bakugo: 3,556

3. Fumikage Tokoyami: 360

4. Tenya Ida: 301

5. Ren Amamiya: 290

6. Denki Kaminari: 272

…

"Wow! Amamiya only got 290."

It was no mockery, but genuine bewilderment. Whispers speculated about the reason why the first place in the tournament would place fifth in offers, though they all had a pretty good idea. Welcoming a convicted criminal as an intern in your agency may not be the best PR move, regardless of however many Sports Festivals said convict may have won.

Ren sunk into his desk. It had been far too optimistic to think public perception could be swayed overnight. But there was a silver lining: He still got a good amount of offers—any amount of offers was better than none, really—it was a sign that society was amenable to change, even if it would take more convincing. He didn't mind exerting some patience; this was a marathon, not a sprint.

"Whether or not you got any offers, each one of you will be interning with a pro Hero, but we'll talk more about that at a later date." Aizawa continued. "Today we must tend to a more pressing matter…"

The kids gripped their seats and braced themselves in fear of what their teacher had in store for them.

"… choosing your Hero names."

Excited cheers filled the classroom. Despite having received training and even some actual field experience, this step felt a lot closer to becoming real Heroes.

"Your Hero name is not yet set in stone during your time as students, but it's hard to

erase the mark of a first impression, so don't choose thoughtlessly or—"

"Or you may just live long enough to regret it!"

Midnight announced as she sauntered into the room.

As the most image-oriented teacher, Midnight will be the one to approve your names."

And thus began the brainstorming of names. Midnight stressed the importance of finding the balance between the showy and the abstract. Toru and Ojiro picked straightforward names that painted a clear picture of their Quirks, whilst others like Kirishima and Tokoyami took names that projected a specific image or ideal. Todoroki and Ida chose to simply use their given names, and Izuku decided to reclaim the pejorative Deku and turn into the name the Hero he hoped to become. One by one, the students of 1-A were officially baptised with their Hero names, until there was only one left.

"Are you having difficulty thinking of a name, Amamiya? Perhaps I could offer some assistance; I can think of a few names that would fit you like a glove." Midnight said as she walked over and leaned upon his desk..

Ren shook his head. "Thank you, but it's just that I already have a name."

The other kids exchanged knowing glances. Midnight straightened up and her demeanour turned serious.

"I understand your attachment to the name you've used until now; it's evocative, well-known, and it has a very nice ring to it, but it also with a great deal of baggage." She said. "You have to think about your future. This is your chance for a clean slate."

The motherly concern in her voice dissonated with her R-rated persona. Ren knew her concerns were far from unfounded, but last night's conversation was still fresh in his mind.

"I know." He said. "But I already decided I'm not here to change the past. I am who I am, whether the world likes it or not."

Midnight paused, and for a second he feared she would veto his chosen name. Then her frown softened into a gentle smile. "It's good to have you on our side now, Joker."

The rest of the day proceeded uneventfully, and come 16:10, the school bell rang to dismiss the student body.

As Ren was gathering his stuff to leave, Mineta and Kaminari approached him.

"Greetings, Amamiya." Mineta said. He had his hands intertwined an spoke with an uncannily friendly tone reminiscent of a dodgy car salesman. "It has been brought to my attention that you have your own place, is that right?"

An alarm flared up in Ren's head. He did not like where this was going. "Why…?"

"We have a proposition for you."

Mineta laid a piece of paper on his desk. Upon closer inspection, he saw it was a colourful leaflet. Lacy white flourishes over a stark, pink background adorned the bold lettering: Victoria's Maid Service.

"What the hell is this?" Ren asked.

"Housekeeping service." Kaminari slid to his side and put an arm over his shoulder. "As this flyer clearly states, for the incredibly low price of five thousand yen per hour, you can hire a beautiful maid to do anything for you."

Mineta slid over to his other side. "Come on, Amamiya. You've been working so hard lately; you deserve to blow off a little steam, don't you? Just picture it—a cute maid happy to tend to your every need, to fulfil anything your heart desires. And since we are such generous friends, we'd be happy to cover the cost. All you need to do is provide the accommodation. A place free of indiscreet eyes, for example… a charming little alleyway café."

Common sense told Ren to immediately remove himself from the situation. Not only were they too young to use a maid service, if Sojiro found out, he would not be happy. It was all around a terrible idea, not matter how you look at it. However…

His eyes diverted back to the flyer. The picture of a woman in a French maid outfit smiled at him. Wordlessly tantalising with a coquettish wink. He couldn't deny she was very cute.

"If you two are going to do this… I guess it's better if there is a responsible person there, you know… for supervision." Ren said, not fooling anyone. "I'll do it."

"Yes!" Mineta and Kaminari said in unison with a celebratory high-five. "Operation Maidwatch is on!"

"Wow, Amamiya. This place is very…"

"…spacious."

The two guests looked around the attic of LeBlanc that Ren had made his bedroom. It was rather austere, barren of decorations, with sparse furniture and exposed walls. The most luxurious items in the room were a cumbersome CRT television and a retro game console.

"I know, right? And it's all mine!" Ren said in an almost child-like manner. "I even have my own bed!" He pointed towards the raggedy old mattress propped up by milk crates.

Mineta and Kaminari briefly shared a disbelieving glance, but neither had the heart to rain on his parade, so Mineta pulled the conversation back on track.

"Anyway, we've gathered here for a reason, fellow gentlemen. Let us proceed with the operation."

"Right." Kaminari pulled out the flyer and handed it to Ren. "Make the call."

"What? Why me?"

"It's your place! And besides, you can probably pass for an adult better than any of us."

"Fine…"

Ren reluctantly pulled out his phone and dialled in the number.

"Thanks for calling Victoria's Maid Services! How may I help you this evening?"

"Uh… one maid, please?"

"Of course, any of our lovely maids would be delighted to serve you. Do you have any special requests?"

Mineta and Kaminari leaned into the phone.

"At least C's—no, wait! D's"

"Tell her to wear a Mt. Lady costume."

Ren shooed them away. "Nothing in particular. Any maid will do."

"Excellent. May I have your address?"

He provided the address of the café, and the trio sat silently, anticipating the arrival of the maid.

"This is really happening!" Mineta cheered, but suddenly, a wretched expression took over his face. "Oh my god… this is really happening…"

As if reading his mind, Kaminari slumped as well. "Oh, god…"

"What's wrong." Ren asked.

"In just a few minutes, an actual human woman will be coming here."

"Yes, isn't that what you wanted?"

"But what's going to happen then? I don't know anything about women. I haven't even kissed a girl yet! It's like jumping right into the black slopes on your first time skiing."

"My stomach feels funny…" Kaminari said, looking like he was on the verge of being sick. "I can't do it. I can't do it. I'm not ready."

"What?! But this was your idea!"

"Don't worry, Amamiya. We'll leave this in your capable hands."

Mineta made for the window, and without thinking twice, he jumped outside to flee the impending maid.

"Yeah, we totally got your back… from a distance. And don't forget to take pictures!" Kaminari added before disappearing behind him.

"You motherfu—"

"Hello, master!~~"

"When did she get here?!"

Thanks to the bickering, Ren didn't even hear the door chime, and now, abandoned by his comrades, it was only him and the maid. For someone who had numerous run-ins with murderous villains, he had never felt as nervous as that moment. Incoming footsteps echoed up the staircase, and his time was up.

"Welcome home, master. I'll be at your service this evening. I'm going to fill your tired heart full of lovely energy. Meow!~"

Ren turned around; he couldn't bring himself to face her.

"H-hello…" He mumbled.

"What do you want me to do first, master? As you know we offer a wide variety of services—cooking, cleaning, laundry…" She said as she took a step closer. "But of course, if master so desires, there are some other special services that I'd be more than happy to provide~" She whispered in his ear, and emphasised the implication by caressing his back.

Ren jolted at the abrupt touch, startling the maid.

"You look so young, master. Are you perhaps a student?"

"I…" He cleared his throat and tried his best to put on a deeper voice. "Actually, I'm a dad."

"Is that so?" She said. "You look very good for your age! Won't you let me take a closer look?"

Before he could stop her, she swerved around him to see his face, but when she finally did, her customer-service smile vanished.

"Oh, no… this has to be a joke. I thought you looked familiar. Why did it have to be you?" She lamented out loud.

Familiar? Where could possibly know this woman from? Ren didn't know, but she surely wasn't happy to see him.

He had only been living in Musutafu for a couple of months. Maybe he had run into her around town at some point? Though he could not place her anywhere in his memory. Medium height, slender build, dark hair and eyes. That description fit too many people to narrow it down.

Wait a second… those eyes. He had seen them somewhere before. Cynical, tired eyes, though with a certain softness to them. He had seen them many times, in fact; almost every day for a year. Then it hit him.

"Miss Kawakami?!"