Soulbound Heroes(rewrite completed)

by shados960

As the climatic battle continued to be waged on the moon to defeat Asura, Maka and Soul traveled inside the kishin’s very soul to try save Crona Gorgon while he planned to make the ultimate sacrifice to atone for all his sins. But due to the will of an unknown force; suddenly find themselves stranded in a strange world filled with heroes and villain’s.

6. Chapter six: Adjustments

DISCLAIMER: I do not own neither Soul Eater or My Hero Academia, both are respective properties of Studio Bones and horikoshi and okubo.

Also thanks to Dmandog056 for his hard work in polishing up this chapter and would appreciate the readers spreading the word about this Soul Eater crossover and checking out his own content.

And I have to especially make sure to give credit to korisch for recently making the amazing new fan art for this story. And with all that out of the way let's begin.

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Chapter six: Adjustments

The school bell loudly rang throughout the building, signaling the last class was finally finished as the many eager students ran out of their classrooms and towards the building's entrance. Yet through these passing crowds of students was a particular small group walking alongside each other and talking.

The three new foreign exchange students that had just completed their first day of school in Japan. Maka, Soul and Crona having thankfully managed to make a pretty good impression for their fellow classmates. Already they had more than a few students during their lunch period talk to them and ask all kinds of questions about themselves and where they came from. The trio of course, was more than willing to talk all about what western state's was like, with the interdimensional details of their home taken out of course.

But that wasn't the only undertaking the trio had accomplished on the first day. Being fortunate enough to actually make their first friend here as well. That being none other than the usually lonesome Izuku Midoriya, who timidly walked beside Maka as she and her friends exited the school. The green-haired boy glanced around the other crowds of students, seemingly in slight fear of anyone's reaction to noticing him walking alongside the three exchange students.

Maka's eyebrows furrowed in worry for Izuku's shy attitude, clearly the boy was not used to walking around with people, much less those he just made friends with. But despite his nervous attitude, the scythe wielder could easily izuku was a very good natured person.

Whenever intermissions between their periods passed, the two would begin short conversations involving tips about class, and discussing the topics currently being learned. Course he didn't have to go out of the way for helping someone he just met, heck she didn't ask for it often. Yet in the end, the freckled boy was still willing to help out his newest classmate to such extents.

That immediately told Maka that Izuku would prove himself to be a wonderful friend for herself and her other two friends. So perhaps it was a pretty good time for Izuku to get aquatinted with crona and soul.

"Hey Izuku-kun, so now that that school's over and we have some free time, I think it's about time I introduce you to these dummies here." Maka cheerfully said as she pointed to Crona and Soul who stood beside her.

"O-oh right! These are your other friends right? Or are they your step-siblings?" Izuku asked as he looked at the other two boys and realizing what he just said, immediately corrected himself. "N-not that we are aren't friends! But we just became friends and maybe I can be friends with yourfriendstooandwhatamIsaying?" Panicked stutters flowed out of Izuku's mouth as he swelled with a nervous blush.

"Hey, hey. Take it easy Izuku-kun. Deep breaths." Maka smiled warmly while she tried to calm her new friend. Her methods working as Izuku's nervousness dissipated and steady calmness took its place. "That's better, now Izuku-kun meet Soul and Crona." Gesturing to both boys with her hand, Maka watched as Crona shivered nervously and Soul looked laid back as ever.

"So this is the guy you've been sitting next to, eh Maka?" The death scythe said while glancing back to his meister before deciding to walk up to izuku. "Sup man, The name's Soul Evans." Soul smirked coolly as he looked the green haired boy in the eyes.

"O-oh! H-Hello there Evans-san, i-i-it's nice to m-meet you." Izuku said nervously as he tried not to break contact with the albino boy's crimson eyes.

"Just call me Soul, dude." Soul replied in his usual laidback tone. "Otherwise known as the coolest guy around." He smirked as he gestured to himself with his thumb.

Maka rolled her eyes at Soul's attempt to awe her new friend with his "coolness." Izuku merely blinked in portions of bewilderment and surprise by the albino's greeting. He turned his attention next to the pink boy still lightly trembling in shyness and walked toward him.

"A-and it's nice to meet y-you too c-Crona-san, I-I hope we'll be g-good friends." Izuku stammered and had his hand outstretched to the boy. Crona flinched at the friendly gesture before returning the favor and raised his own hand.

"U-um yeah, I-I really hope so I-Izuku-s-san." Crona stuttered back in similar, if not even greater levels of nervousness, as he gave a shaky handshake to the green haired teen. The swordsman being unsure if he said that honorific correctly, they were still getting used to the way everyone spoke around here.

"S-so Crona…h-how long have you known Maka-chan?" Izuku asked the taller boy, hoping to learn what he can about Maka.

Crona darted his eyes in unsure nervousness of what to exactly say. "Uh we've been good friends f-for a while now, a-and she's a-always so nice and I-I sometimes feel I don't d-deserve it b-but I…" Crona then began to lose control of his vocal abilities; his words getting lodged into his through until they devolved into unintelligible stuttering, that not even Izuku could fully understand.

"Ummm Crona, a-are you alright?" Izuku asked in light worry at the boy's growing nervousness that looked to surpass even his own.

But before Crona could respond any further, a small black liquid like mass erupted from Crona's back. Molding in shape until the same "X" shaped plushie like creature Izuku saw earlier took form.

"For god's sake dumbass, what is with you today with the fucking stuttering!?" Ragnarök exclaimed in brash anger. "Greenie is almost as bad as you are!"

"Ragnarok don't be-" unfortunately he was cut off, as the imp decided to torment his meister and pulled on the longer pieces of his pink hair.

"Fucking hell, do you have any idea how annoying it is to hear you stuttering over the cow?!" The imp replied as he yanked harder. "Well maybe this oughta teach ya to shut the fuck up!"

"Ow! Ragnarök stop pulling my hair!" Crona whined as he fought the little monster on his back continuing to pull at his pink locks.

"And force myself to hear your stupid ass stuttering!? Ha! Consider this payback for forcing me to listen to all that boring ass lectures!" Ragnarok ranted as he yanked even harder.

Izuku could only stare in startled surprise at the sight of the quirk feuding with its host. He'd seen it earlier but to witness it up close was something else entirely, the foul little blob was looking familiar in its behaviour. Rushing thoughts of what struck him as familiar about the blob flowed through his mind, until he froze when the blob noticed him staring.

"And just what the hell are you looking at, greenie?" Ragnarök temporarily ceased his tug of war with Crona for a brief moment as he locked eyes with Midoriya. Ping pong eyes bored through the other nervous teen's skull, gazing straight into a very familiar sight.

Realization hit Izuku like a speeding car, he was looking into the eyes of another, smaller kacchan. There was no mistaking the intentions in that stare from the imp, the joy in his victim's misery and the all too memorable taunts which spewed from...wherever the living glob spoke from.

"I uh...Well I..." Izuku shivered under the hungry gaze of his next potential tormentor.

"Well what?" Ragnarok sneered before retracting back into Crona and re-emerging from Crona's chest, damaging his uniform to some minor extent. "If you got something to say broccoli head, then fucking say it!" Ragnarök insulted as his spherical face was now a few inches away from the fearful future One For All successor.

"I-I don't-look I didn't mean t-to…" Izuku stammered his apologies but the imp didn't care in the slightest. But before the imp could continue verbally assaulting the moss haired boy, Crona spoke up.

"Ragnarök, leave him alone this instant." Crona sternly demanded without any stutter, causing his weapons attention to be redirected back at the boy.

"Huh?" Ragnarök looked back at Crona in surprise by the appearance of his meister's spine before returning to his previous attitude. "And what the hell makes you think I'm gonna listen to your scrawny ass?" Ragnarok mocked with his X face shifted to resemble his "brow" being risen arrogantly.

Crona didn't say anything and merely kept his hardened glare, as his weapon's question was about to be answered in a few moments…

MAKA CHOP!

Before the sword could've blinked, Maka even with her casted foot managed to dash towards to the impish weapon and delivered a nasty Maka chop to his round head.

Izuku blankly stared in stunned surprise by what he was witnessing, while Crona and Soul looked on in silent satisfaction as the merged demon weapon wailed in agony for his extremely rude behavior towards their newest friend.

"GAH! WHAT THE FUCK?!" Ragnarök cursed in agony, a textbook-shaped indent was pulsing wildly on his spherical head. "Why does that hurt even more than usual?!"

"Because your foul mouth is running more than it should!" Maka snarled in peeved rage at the creature's vile attitude towards her newest friend. "If you utter a single insult to izuku again, I'll make sure the next one leaves you brain-dead!"

Despite the great pain inflicted upon his skull, Ragnarök still managed to roll his ping pong eyes. "W-Whatever, that algae haired loser ain't worth dealing with your prissy ass." Ragnarök then without much else to say retracted back into Crona's body much to the boy's relief.

Crona released a short sigh before turning to face Izuku with a very remorseful expression. "I-I'm so sorry for getting you caught in that I-Izuku-san, please forgive me for his terrible behavior." Crona apologized with guilt dominant in his voice, giving an apologetic bow to the green haired boy.

"O-oh it's okay Crona, I-it's not your fault." Izuku timidly waved off as the fear from before dissipated into nothingness. "I can tell it's pretty hard to control y-your quirk isn't it?" Izuku inquired of the pink haired boy and his plight with his quirk's aggressive personality.

Crona blinked before a pondering expression filled his features. "Well back when I-I was little, yeah…but nowadays he's much more manageable, t-those tantrums are the only thing I really have to worry about." Crona explained to his new friend who nodded in response by this information.

"Oh I see, b-but I gotta say, that's still a very unique quirk you have Crona-san! Sentient quirks are quite rare so I honestly feel honored to have seen it!" Izuku said in candid joy without a hint of dishonesty or even without much stuttering. The boy's life-long fascination with quirks being one of the few passions in life that would immediately shake off his nervousness.

Crona's ebon eyes widened in stunned surprise by Izuku's compliment, not at all expecting him to have reacted that way after meeting Ragnarök. Most would've felt irritated or outright annoyed, but Izuku was instead legitimately happy to have encountered his weapon or "quirk" as he put it. He could tell though Izuku was fearful of his merged companion, that much was obvious. But still managed to shake off that fear and retain impressment for his unpleasant weapon.

A small yet happy smile soon etched itself onto the swordsman's pale lips. "T-thank you Izuku-san, I think I'm starting to see why Maka wanted to be your friend in the f-first place."

Maka warmly smiled, while watching the two shy boys' pleasant interactions with one another. These two were definitely going to get along well with one another. The same could be said for Soul as she spotted the albino teen giving Izuku a welcoming pointy-tooth smile. A number one sign that her trusty demon weapon had taken a liking to the boy she's recently befriended.

"So Izuku-kun, are you busy right now?" Maka asked the green haired boy, who turned his head to meet her friendly gaze. "I was l thinking we could go somewhere to hang out, just the four of us. I heard there's a great sushi place nearby so why don't we head there?" Maka suggested with a kind smile, with Crona and Soul also having their features filled with the hope he'd say yes just like the scythe meister did.

Izuku at first didn't say anything, instead he simply continued staring at Maka in a moment stunned shock. 'D-d-did…did she and her friends just ask to hang out with me!?' Izuku thought in baffled shock, unable to fully comprehend what he just heard.

Once he settled the rattled nerves in his brain, did it immediately tell its owner that he should definitely say yes. The idea of hanging out with actual legitimate friends, became a very, very pleasant choice to the young man. One he felt extremely tempted to say yes to.

But before he open his mouth and give his answer, he felt his cellphone buzzing in his uniform's pocket.

"O-oh sorry, just give me second I think someone's texting me." Izuku told the trio as he nervously scrambled to get his phone and see who it was.

Soul nodded. "Course man, no worries."

Izuku quickly managed to take out his phone and unlocked it, to see who was texting him.

"Hello Young Midoriya, I AM HERE! Texting to you on my phone right now! Just want to make sure you don't forget to come for your usual training session today after school. Don't be late!"-All Might.

Izuku resisted the urge to drop his jaw as read All Might's text. Izuku mentally slapping his forehead for having already forgotten that he was training with All Might every day after school. The teen's excitement at this realization was swiftly replaced by weight of somber disappointment. Even though Izuku wanted to accept Maka's offer and hang out with the new friends he'd miraculously just made; He couldn't afford to deter from his responsibilities as All Might's successor either.

"Is something wrong Izuku?" Maka asked in light worry as she immediately noticed the dismay written on his features, as he turned to face her.

"I-I'm sorry Maka-san but I can't, I just remembered I need to be somewhere very important everyday for next couple months, so I can't afford to slack off. I really hope you understand." Izuku explained with a sad yet tamed tone in his voice.

Maka's expression cracked with subtle hints of disappointment swirling in her eyes, before nodding. "I-It's okay Izuku-kun we understand." Maka said while trying not to sound too saddened by the unfortunate news.

But soon an idea sprung from her head, one that may lead to a wonderful solution to this predicament.

"Actually wait a minute, why don't we just exchange phone numbers?" Maka suggested with a more cheerful attitude. "That way we can set up when we can hang out or just chat on our phones!"

"Yeah doesn't sound too bad actually, what do you think crona?" Soul asked his the pink haired teen standing next to him.

"O-oh, I-well…I guess that could work." Crona timidly agreed with the trio's idea, as it would definitely make it easier to talk with his new friend.

A of warmth hit the future One For All successor like a tidal wave, as he realized what he just said in his head just now. For the first time in a long, LONG time Izuku Midoriya had friends to talk to…to a-actually hang out and do all sorts of fun things with together. All while in ten months of grueling training achieve his dream of being a hero…

Seriously what the heck was with this month?

Izuku lightly shook his head and snapped out of his deep thoughts and returned to reality; exchanging his phone number and vice versa with their phones.

"Alright then, I-I think that's it then." Izuku confirmed as he scanned the new contacts on his phone. "I'll make sure to test them out later, though which should i use though? I don't my phone can make a three way call, so maybe I'll just call youallatoncebutthatsjustovercomplicatedand-"

"Yo buddy just chill, your gonna give yourself a panic attack at this rate." Soul told the excessively mumbling boy while briefly raising his hand up. "We'll just text each other, no worries."

Izuku blinked before regaining proper control of his jaw and spoke more clearly. "Oh yeah…I guess we'll just do that." Izuku murmured, feeling slightly embarrassed for not realizing such a simple solution sooner.

"Well I g-guess I'll see you all later, but I-I promise to call once I have some free time." Izuku told the foreign trio before him, all of who held the same friendly expressions toward the moss haired boy.

"O-Okay then, we'll see you later Izuku." Crona kindly said farewell to his new friend.

"Later dude." Soul gave a sharp smile along with a brief thumbs up.

"Yeah take care Izuku-kun!" Maka happily waved her friend goodbye, all while keeping her bright joyful smile.

Izuku nearly blushed by the combined friendliness given to him but held it back as he waved goodbye. "A-Alright, bye you guys!" And with that Izuku went on his way to where his mentor/idol had been training him.

The young boy began wondering if he'll be able to do better dragging all those fridges and pieces of garbage today. But despite these worries entering his mind, the new friendships he'd forge today were more than enough to help him through the challenges ahead for him.

Yet as izuku left to meet allmight at their usual training spot, neither he nor the trio were able to notice a blonde student glaring heated daggers the entire time he saw them interact with each other.

"That shitty deku..." bakugo growled quietly, before storming off within the crowds of students leaving the school.

---

After seeing izuku leave, the trio began their own trek to bus leading to their home. All the while thinking of what just pleasantly transpired for them today.

"Gotta say Maka, I didn't think you'd make a friend you literally just met today. Much less on our first day to boot." Soul remarked as he walked alongside Maka and Crona, the latter also sharing the same impressment his albino companion had.

"T-To be honest I was almost concerned that no one would want to talk to us, s-since we're…not exactly from around here." The swordsman emphasized the hidden meaning behind his words.

"Believe it or not I felt the same way, I almost couldn't believe I managed to make a friend here so soon either." Maka chuckled in self-astonishment by her own social abilities.

Despite the friendly attitude she outwardly displayed, Maka was internally a nervous wreck. Legitimately fearing that she, crona and soul would be ostracized by everyone due to their foreign origins. But thankfully these fears were unfounded in the end, and got lucky enough to have made their very first friend in not just this school, but in pretty much this entire alternate universe.

"Well it's good to know that you can still make a friend out of anyone. Even those from another world." Soul complimented the taupe haired girl next to him, as Maka began lightly blushing in embarrassment by such praise from her weapon.

"I-I was just being nice Soul, besides unlike you, crona and I actually bothered to say the Japanese honorifics Rumi taught us to help us socialize here." Maka retorted as she gave the scythe a light reprimanding glare.

Soul scratched the back of his head and released a short sigh. "C'mon Maka, do you honestly expect me to remember saying 'san' every freakin time I say somebody's name?" Soul exasperatedly questioned his scolding meister, who clearly wouldn't accept the albino's excuses for a second.

"Yes," Maka rebuked. "We need to do all we can to learn how to adapt to this place. And that includes learning how to speak and act properly here; so we can't afford to slack off for even a second in that department, understand?" Maka told Soul in the same reprimanding tone of voice, wanting to make absolutely sure her point got across to him and Crona.

Even though two weeks passed since their impromptu arrival to this dimension, they still had much to learn about the world they were in. Such as the local culture and general knowledge of how this strange world functioned. The most important topic being none other than the superpower phenomenon known as quirks.

Genetic meta human abilities that over 80% of entire human population would inherit from birth. Things that could only occur in comic books or tv shows had now in fact become the reality for nearly every person. It heavily reminded the trio of demon weapons and all the various mystical powers they possessed from birth, and be later evolved if they achieved the status of death scythe.

But despite learning much about these quirks, their origins to this day remain a mystery. Many people had theories but nothing concrete. Yet whatever quirks were, Maka knew they weren't just something inherited on a genetic level; but also a spiritual level as well.

Those cores Maka would see in the Souls of most people, whenever she used her Soul perception, were no doubt a product of these quirks. But even with the combined knowledge of what she learned in shibusen and the research she'd done on quirks, she still couldn't grasp what spawned how exactly these quirks were tied to each soul. Filling the bookworm with numerous questions of whether quirks really were a product of scientific evolution or perhaps of mystical origin.

For now though, she and her friends had to focus on simply adjusting to the culture of the foreign country they now lived in. A task they'd had decent success with so far, as a week before they received their forged I.D's, the teens had been studying as much as possible on Japan and the usual lifestyle here.

Their recent guardian rumi being a big help to them in that topic, believe it or not, putting her best effort into teaching them basic Japanese customs and terms to use when interacting with the locals here. The honorifics being one of the more recent things they've learned before they started their education here today.

"Yeah, yeah Maka I hear you loud and clear." Soul replied back, not wanting to tick off his meister but legitimately agreed with Maka. "I'll try saying them next time, but don't expect me to be perfect at it instantly either."

Maka lightly sighed. "Of course I don't expect you to be perfect at them, I'm just asking for you to at least try putting in the effort." Maka said in a gentler tone, knowing full well that learning Japanese culture isn't as easy as one would think.

"We should to learn how to speak Japanese soon. It wouldn't be right to j-just expect everyone to constantly speak english for us either." Crona reminded his two friends, feeling it wouldn't he right to take advantage of everyone's kind accommodation for them.

"Exactly, but luckily we're being given those oriental classes to teach us the language and Japanese calligraphy so we'll be able to learn faster if we work hard enough. Who knows it could actually be pretty fun!" Maka smiled at her own words, always being so happy sit down and learn all kinds of new knowledge.

"And thankfully these Japanese schools give us three half-days in our schedule. Now that's something I can get behind!" Soul widely smiled as he read his class schedule. Being overjoyed to know he wouldn't be forced to sit in a classroom; bored out of his skull for eight grueling hours like back home.

Giving the slacker even more to do nothing but relax in his room and have some nice video game time again. He was already itching to get back to that doom eternal game and continue doing some gloriously brutal demon slaying badassery.

If there was one thing soul could say was cool as hell about this world, it would be all these futuristic video games. When he was first introduced to some of the more popular titles offered here, he was pretty astounded to see that doom was not only a series that also existed in this world, but finally got a remake.

So when he decided to go ahead and give that game a shot to pass the time and see what that remake was like...in less the three hours of the experience, it practically made every single mintendo game he owned back home look like a sad joke in comparison.

Seriously he knew this was the future, but since when could they make games look practically identical to real life?

Maka however didn't share anywhere near the same joy that the death scythe held for their shorter school hours. The meister gave a scolding glare at her scythe, for still having his primary concern be even more of a lazy ass. Doing nothing but rotting his brain on those new video games he'd been playing on that fancy PS7 like there was no tomorrow.

She resisted the urge to scrunch her facial muscles in disgust as she thought back to how Soul practically drooled like a hungry dog, the minute he found out about the futuristic gaming systems in this world. Ticking off mirko and herself to no end when Soul stayed up for hours playing that console once he'd managed to get his hands on it. Excessive gaming like that was worth all the maka-chops as far as he was concerned; Especially when those stupidly loud noises kept interrupting her beauty sleep no less.

However as Maka further read the schedule, her eyes widened, before her lips slowly curled upwards into a cruel smile once she saw a particular little detail her weapon had missed.

"Yeah I guess that is pretty nice..." Soul's smile blissfully widened. "Though I wonder if you won't mind going to school on Saturday's for now on then, hmmm~?" Maka sneered, as she proudly pointed to where it was written.

Soul blinked in shock before scrambling his crimson eyes to where Maka was pointing her finger. His jaw dropped in horror when he found such news to be unfortunately true.

"W-what the hell!?" Soul blurted out in shocked horror as he read the…Saturday schedule, all while Maka's smile evolved into a sadistic grin at Soul's dismay towards their extra school day. The scythe continued his stare at the paper in shock, as he tried putting his thoughts together at the loss of Saturday.

How in god's name was allowed to happen?

What kind of sick bastards would do something as cruelly uncool as make people like him go to school on a goddamn Saturday!?

Well…at least Sunday was spared. But that also meant they only had one day off in the whole week in their middle school curriculum. The same was most likely going to apply once they head into high school.

God fucking dammit…

Crona however, didn't really see the big deal of having an extra day in their schedule, if anything he was more happy to get another day dedicated to learning. Yet it didn't stop the swordsman flinching from hearing Ragnarök's numerous loud tirades and swears, echoing profanity in the boy's head as his weapon poorly reacted to the news of more school time.

Maka mockingly shrugged. "But hey, at least you got your three half days to relax on…except Saturday of course." Maka grinned mischievously while barley keeping her chuckles at bay. Finding it hilariously satisfying to see her weapon lose one of his oh so precious lazy days.

Soul held in a growl as he crumpled up the schedule paper into his book bag. "Whatever, let's just go home so I can finally take off this stupid ass uniform already." The death scythe grumbled in misery as he started walking to the bus station, already getting tired of wearing these stuffy uncool uniforms he was forced to slip on for school.

Maka released the last of her amused chuckles and Crona follow Soul to the bus station a few miles down. All the while thinking back to the new friend they've made on their first day of middle school in Japan. Making the scythe meister feel all the more excited to have further interactions with the moss haired boy.

The only thing she was really worried about though was when Rumi inevitably found out she befriended izuku, and would start teasing her about being a boy magnet. Or all kinds of other comments and insinuations that would make her nearly Maka chop the muscled rabbit for gossiping about something so stupid.

---

Three weeks flew by for the two meisters and demon weapon as they continued the journey of adjusting to this alien world and the country they've landed in. Managing to keep decent grades in their foreign education, thanks to Maka and her expertise with studying to help keep her friends academically well. With July reaching its climax, in less than a few more weeks they would have midterms and eventually the final exams to pass.

And thankfully the boy they had recently become friends with was perfect for helping in such a challenging test.

"Thanks again for inviting us all over to study Izuku, we really appreciate it!" Maka thanked as she and her friends followed Izuku to where he lived. The taupe haired girl now wearing a light green t-shirt, a pair of yellow shorts with a pair of white running sneakers. Soul and Crona also wore more casual clothing with the albino wearing a red shirt underneath a leather jacket with some sweatpants and white sneakers. While Crona wore a black long-sleeved shirt and white jeans.

"S-sure t-thing maka, I-I'm just hoping I c-can help you guys pass the midterm." Izuku replied as he tried hiding his red blush from the fact he just got complimented by an actual girl. The boy now wearing a white t-shirt and gray sweatpants along with red/black sneakers.

"Well with your and maka big brains, I think it's safe to say our chances of passing are pretty damn high now." Soul remarked with a sharp optimistic smile.

"I hope it's enough. I-I don't think I can handle failing an important test like this." Crona worryingly muttered as he held the straps of his book bag slightly tighter than before.

Maka looked over her shoulder. "Don't worry Crona, I've seen how hard you've been studying and how fast you're especially learning. It's probably going to be hard but I have a good feeling you're going to ace it." Maka optimistically told her worried friend.

Crona's anxious frown soon morphed into a hopeful yet small smile. "Y-yeah your right."

"I'm just wondering if bomb boy's gonna finally blow up the classroom if he flunks it." Soul joked, already imagining that particular classmate going apeshit and causing a warzone with his quirk.

"Oh you mean Bakugo? I'd say that's an understatement Soul." Maka nodded in agreement with her weapon and his line of thinking.

"W-well Kacchan isn't th- that bad." Izuku stammered in surprising defense for the bombastic blonde.

"Midoriya, the guy's been watching us like a vulture since day one. Hell I've seen him shaking down other people in our class, not exactly something that strikes me as friendly." Soul replied coolly to his green nervous friend.

"O-ok, he is pretty bad at times." Izuku admitted with downcast eyes. "But he didn't always act like that."

"Well whatever he used to be, that's not who he is now." Soul shook his head. Still puzzled about what sort of past Izuku had with that brute to still defend the guy. "And the way he's been lately shooting death glares at us, is enough to tell me we're already on his shit list.

"H-he does that with everyone Soul-san." Izuku retorted but Soul didn't agree in the slightest.

"I still don't like it." Soul frowned as his instincts already told him the explosive blonde was bad news.

"as much as I agree, we shouldn't do anything impulsive. Even if he's a jerk, bakugo hasn't really bothered us yet so starting anything is only asking for trouble. we just need to watch our backs around him and keep our distance, until he tries anything." Maka said confidently as she looked at her friends. Glares or not, that ill-tempered punk had yet to cause them any grief so it wasn't worth crossing paths with him. But it still didn't mean they shouldn't keep their guards up either in case he tried anything.

Izuku slowly nodded. "I-If you say so Maka-san." Izuku reluctantly accepted, but in the end knew Maka's words should be heeded knowing all too well how dangerous it could be to get on bakugo's bad side.

Eventually after a few more minutes the four teens finally reached Izuku's home, which was revealed to be a quaint yet decent looking apartment complex; and soon walked up the stairs towards until they reached Izuku's apartment door.

Izuku then knocked on the door, but immediately afterward turned to face his friends with a slightly anxious expression. "So guys b-before you go in, I think I-it might be best if you wait a bit before you come inside." Izuku carefully asked his friends. "M-my mom hasn't gotten the chance for me to tell her about you yet, so she might be-"

"Izuku honey, are you here?" A female voice called out behind the door, but before Izuku could ask her to wait, it was promptly opened up by a short chubby young woman with dark green hair tied into a ponytail while wearing jeans and a long sleeved murky green T-shirt with light orange stripes.

"Oh izuku, welcome back home! So how was-" The short woman paused as she immediately noticed to her surprise, three other kids standing near the doorway.

"Oh uh, hello mrs m-midoriya." Crona quietly greeted in his best Japanese, yet the stunned woman only kept staring at him and his friends for before glancing at izuku.

"Izuku, who are these kids?" Inko asked her son, curious as to why these three teenagers were with her son.

Izuku looked down and scratched the back of his head nervously. "M-Maka, Soul and Crona-san this is my mom I-inko…and M-mom these guys are," Izuku swallowed a nervous lump in his throat before continuing. "T-They're my new f-f-friends."

Inko however didn't respond back once he uttered those words. The portly young woman merely continued to stand in the doorway in frozen shock at what she just heard her son say.

Was it true? D-Did…did her boy just say he h-had friends?

Maka deciding to make a good impression walked up to the stunned Inko and raised a friendly hand. "It's nice to finally meet you mrs. Midoriya, my name is Maka and these two are Crona and-"

But maka paused as before she could even blink was suddenly enwrapped in a surprisingly tight bear hug by the shorter woman. An action that left the young girl quite surprised by the unexpected affection she received.

"M-mom!?" Izuku blurted out in shock, as maka was left in surprise disbelief and unsure how to respond to inko's sudden hug. But before he could say more noticed his mom's trembling, and once he looked over found to his astonishment his mom flooding with fat happy tears flooded from her eyes.

"M-my boy has made f-friends!" Inko exclaimed in tearful joy as she hugged the surprised teen tighter than before. "Oh it's been so long since he's invited anyone over! A-along with a girl no less! P-Please come in, I'll get some refreshments ready!"

Maka blinked a few times once inko released her, as she continued processing the abrupt events that happened in less than ten seconds. But quickly snapped out of her surprise and chuckled lightheartedly. "O-Okay miss inko. C'mon guys we shouldn't keep her waiting."

Soul and Crona still looked quite astonished by Inko's emotional introduction before regaining their composure and finally deciding to follow maka and izuku into the apartment. Once inside the cheery inko led them to a well furbished and neatly decorated living room, and sat together in the couch placed in the center of the room.

"I'll be back in a few minutes! In the meantime make yourselves at home!" Inko told the teens as she ran into the kitchen to get some sodas for her son and his new friends.

"So Izuku-san, that was your mom huh?" Soul asked his blushing friend.

"Y-yeah sorry." Izuku muttered in minor embarrassment from her previous behavior.

"I-it's alright Izuku-san, she seems pretty nice." Crona remarked with a small smile, Izuku's also curling upwards to a similar smile as well.

"Yeah…she really is a great person." Izuku softly said in agreement with his pink-haired friend; knowing from so many happy memories with her what an awesome mother Inko was. Izuku however realized this was the perfect time to finally ask a question he'd been waiting a while now to speak about.

"Say maka-san before we study, there's something I wanted to ask you something," the trio turned their heads to face the freckled boy. "Just what kinds of quirks do you guys have?"

"I've been really hoping I could get a look at what kinds of quirks you guys have, besides the glimpse of Crona's I saw." Izuku asked as he pulled up a small yet, strangely enough, mildly charred notebook from his book bag. "And maybe perhaps document them I-If I could in my notes?"

"Oh sure thing. "Maka replied as she scratched the back of her head, before pointing to her eyes. "My quirk is called soul perception. It lets me perceive and control certain energies in people that I can utilize for various purposes. Like giving myself or with enough effort anyone I choose an extra power boost." Maka answered the inquisitive boy as he jotted down everything Maka said with speedy precision.

"I see so it's pretty much an energy perception quirk with the capacity to empower oneself or others, what a fascinating quirk." Izuku muttered in quiet amazement at such a useful ability before turning to the albino. "And what about you soul?"

Soul gave a sharp smile before rolling up one of his sleeves and raised his left arm up. Before izuku could blink, a large black scythe blade with a red pointy pattern emerged from his exposed forearm. "My quirk's demon weapon. It lets me summon scythe blades out of my body or even transform myself into a scythe." Soul then with less than a second dissipated the sickle from his arm without even his clothes effected. "pretty cool huh?" Soul proudly explained to the stunned teen before snapping back to reality.

"Wow that's such an impressive transformation quirk! especially since you have such fluid control over its properties." Izuku remarked as he rapidly scribbled down everything he can about the albino's weapon-morphing abilities.

"So Crona what's the rest of your quirk then? I-I've only met Ragnarök but is there any other power you have?" Izuku questioned with an excited smile and his hand itching to write all he could about the pink haired teen's abilities.

"O-oh ummm…" Crona darted his nervous dark eyes around the living room as he scrambled to come up with a good answer; but deciding to follow in Soul's footsteps with a demonstration. Crona released a breath before raising his right hand forward.

"Ragnarök." in seconds Crona gripped a black broadsword that manifested from his right arm, much to Izuku's awe.

"Wait a minute, is that Ragnarök!?" Izuku asked in shock before the red lipped mouth on the swords hilt spoke.

"Of course it's me you dumbass!" Ragnarök exclaimed in annoyance, as Izuku flinched in surprise. "And here I thought you were some smartass nerd."

Izuku blinked a few times. "Wait, So you can make your quirk take on different forms?"

"Well kinda...a-aside from my sword and Ragnarök's other form, m-my quirk lets me create a lot of strong attacks, and all kinds of stuff from my body." Crona shyly answered as he rubbed a finger on the swords smooth surface.

"W-wow, that's such an incredible quirk Crona! S-so what comes from your body that makes all this stuff exactly?" Izuku keenly asked as he scribbled down everything he heard while awaiting for his answer.

"My black blood." Crona quietly answered, as Maka and Souls expressed became cracked within minor worry once this particular topic was brought up.

Izuku stopped writing before looking back up at Crona in confusion. "Huh?"

"M-my quirk's power…comes from my black blood." Crona then moved Ragnarök's pointed edge towards his index finger and pricked it, causing tar colored blood to emerge from the cut. "I-I understand if your d-disturbed to learn of this…I know it's quite unpleasant and gross to hear about."

Izuku stared in surprise at the speck of black blood before looking back at the uneasy swordsman. "What? No way crona! It's not gross, if anything it's a pretty cool quirk!"

Crona's lavender eyes widened in astonishment. "A-are you serious?"

Izuku nodded. "Yeah of course I am! I really think it's an amazing quirk!" Izuku candidly praised his friend's blood, as the pink haired boy could only stare at him in frozen shock.

'He t-thinks my blood is a-a-amazing?' Crona internally thought in numb shock, The swordsman unable to believe that Izuku actually thought that way about the vile power flowing through his veins.

Nobody would've dared to conceive such an insane idea back in their world about the sinister substance flowing inside him. The same substance he's used to bring so much harm and destruction since he was infused with it. Yet this boy on the other hand did. Someone who had no knowledge of what he has done with his black blood and the maddening effects it held.

To hear his newest friend actually say such positive things about his once accursed blood made him a little horrified, yet also felt touched by izuku's acceptance.

The swordsman soon enough before he realized it, found himself in tears by Izuku's kind words.

"Crona-kun?" Izuku said in bemusement by his friends crying small tears.

The sword meister blinked in surprise before noticing his tears and wiling them away. "I-I'm sorry about that it's just t-that I'm thankful Izuku-kun…It feels r-really nice to hear that." Crona muttered with a small yet happy smile on his face. "N-no one's s-said anything like that about t-that part of me like that before, so thank you."

"W-well it's only the honest truth, you know?" Izuku scratched the back of his head nervously, not expecting his words to have brought such a heartfelt reaction out of his friend.

Maka couldn't help smiling at Crona's display of touched joy at Midoriya's words. And he wasn't wrong. Crona truly did possess great potential for good, he merely needed some help. Soul also felt the same way, finding himself smiling at his friend's tearful joy from discovering someone else to say something like that about him.

"Well that's pretty much our quirks in a nutshell. Guess we're cooler than you thought huh?" Soul smirked proudly as he pointed a thumb at himself.

"Yeah no kidding, with quirks like those you guys would definitely make it to some top hero schools! In fact I think you can even make it into U.A if you work hard enough!" Izuku happily told his three who all blinked in surprise by his words.

"U.A, huh?" Maka thoughtfully muttered to herself, as she and the boys found themselves once again being recommended to enter the prestigious hero school from now their friend Izuku.

'Maybe it is time we start to try enrolling in a hero school like UA soon?' Maka considered, as with so much time having passed it didn't seem too hard of a choice anymore, now that they've had enough time to adapt and grasp what this world is like.

Maka glanced at Soul and Crona, the former looking intrigued by the suggestion while Crona was more reluctant yet didn't look too off put by it either.

Soon a smiling Inko cheerfully walked into the living room the living room interrupting her thoughts with a platter of sodas and snacks.

"Here you go kids, something to fill you up while your studying." Inko kindly told the four teens hoping she did alright, as she was kinda rusty when it came to this.

"About damn time!" Ragnarok exclaimed as he shifted back into his plushie form and began taking bites of the food; Much to Crona's annoyance but allowed it so long as he didn't take too much.

"Thank you so much mrs. Midoriya." Maka thanked the Midoriya matriarch, yet she merely waved it off.

"Oh it's okay dear, you can just call me Inko. To be honest I'm more than happy to accommodate you three. It's been such a long time since my boy has ever invited anyone over." Inko gushed in joy for her son making three new friends, much to Izuku's embarrassment.

"M-mom…" Izuku nearly whined under his breath, his cheeks becoming filled with a bright pink blush.

"We're quite happy to have met your son, it was pretty cool to have made friends with someone like him, considering we just came to Japan." Soul explained to the green haired woman who raised a curious eyebrow.

"Wait you're not from Japan?" Inko asked.

Maka shook her head. "No, we actually transferred here from America a couple weeks ago." Maka further elaborated.

Inko put a hand on her cheek while looking lightly surprised. "Oh wow, so you kids are all foreigners then?"

"Yeah, we'll admit it was pretty scary at first, but we're just happy to have made someone like Izuku-kun our friend." Maka said with a happy smile on her face, having meant every word of it.

"Oh I'm so happy to hear that Maka-san, it's wonderful to hear that my son has been such a good friend to you all." Inko sweetly told the teenage girl in joy. It Almost brought her to tears to see her son once again hanging out with others kids his age; Along with such a fine young lady being amongst them.

Speaking of which…

"Well I better get going then, I don't want to interrupt with you kids with your studying!" Inko cheerfully began walking away upstairs. Yet as they quietly studied for the midterm, Inko peeked down from the staircase with a warm smile as she quietly watched her son hang out with her three new friends.

Already she could see bright things were finally ahead for her precious son.

---

A whole month had finally passed since the trio had arrived to this strange world and started attending school here. With summer reaching its climax, the beginning of autumn and winter would begin to surface in Japan. And so far Maka, Soul, and Crona had been adapting well to their foreign middle school academics. Though there was a rough start when it came to their Japanese language classes, the teens eventually began to do pretty decently overall in their grades. Eventually learning the basics of Japanese and how to speak it semi-decently. But it wasn't just because of merely dedicating the time to learning Japan's history and culture. Surprisingly it was also thanks to the help of their good friend in this new world, Izuku Midoriya.

While at first he may have seemed to be a socially awkward and nervous mannered boy, the trio had instantly taken a liking to their moss haired classmate. Maka, Crona, and Soul all would hang out with him whenever they had the opportunity. Which was practically every day since they shared plenty of classes, despite how he was always rushing off somewhere after school.

For Maka she felt rather pleased to have someone in their circle of friends whom she could compare notes with. And even in that area he rivaled Maka in intellectual skill, his several notebooks made that fact very clear to the scythe meister when she noticed them. Maka sharing these studious moments with her fellow bookworm always bringing a smile to her face and looked forward to every chance she could have to spend time with him.

Soul also felt the green haired boy was a cool guy to be around, as despite having a timid nature that rivaled Crona's general shyness, the kid always had cool things to talk about such as Japanese and hero history. Especially since he was history buff back in shibusan. So Having those kinds of conversations definitely made Soul enjoy Izuku's presence, hell it almost made him feel like he was back at home.

Crona also took a great liking to Izuku as the two seemed to hit it off with their similar shy tendencies, they even found themselves muttering together from time about many different things, whether it was Izuku's analysis's or Crona's worries. It felt like the pink haired boy had discovered something new that he could actually deal with. For once in all his life, Crona had discovered an emotional equal in his new friend. And when they weren't muttering together, they were certainly studying, always having a nice time in each other's presence.

It was shockingly quick but in the span of a month or less, the interdimensional teens became quite happy to have gained someone like izuku as their friend in these strange new lands. It honestly made them baffled by why someone like izuku didn't have any more friends besides themselves.

But it wouldn't be long before that question was unfortunately answered after one particular day of school…

"Hey maka-san, how's your foot been doing?" Izuku asked Maka as he walked alongside her and the two other boys of their group in the school halls.

"Oh this?" Maka looked down at her right foot now free of the black caste it had been encased in. "Yeah it's doing a lot better than before, all I really need is some wrapping on my foot nowadays."

"Well that's great to hear." Izuku slightly tilted his head. "Actually how did you injure your foot anyway?"

"Uh well I…I had a bit of an accident when I was rock climbing back in America." Maka answered Izuku while lightly cringing, the same for crona and soul as well. Knowing full well the truth of Maka's injuries were far more dangerous than that lie.

Izuku nodded. "Oh I see, well just I'm glad you're doing better."

"So am I, I'm so relieved I can finally start moving around more than I was before." Maka then put a hand on her chin. "Actually, maybe we can visit to wherever you've been going after school?"

"H-huh!?" Izuku sputtered in shock before rapidly waving his hands. "N-no I-it's fine r-really, I-I get what you mean butit'sveryimportantandidon'tthinkyou'llunderstandyetso-" yet before he could continue mumbling Maka raised a hand.

"Izuku-kun it's okay. Look I'm not sure why this is making you so frantic, but I can tell it's something very important to you." Maka told her jittery friend who began to calm down as she spoke. "So if you don't feel comfortable showing us yet, we understand."

Soul nodded. "Yeah man, it's alright to have some privacy in your life, no one's judging you."

Izuku slowly blinked before nodding as a small smile crept its way onto his lips. "O-okay thank you for understanding." Izuku told his friends, yet even so the One For All successor still felt guilt stabbing through his heart.

Shame would always strike the freckled boy like a bat slamming into his gut, whenever he had to abruptly leave them for his secret training regimen with All Might. Yet instead of being annoyed at this point Maka, Crona, and Soul had remained so patient and understanding. They never dared to complain, only questioning why he was so tired sometimes during class.

His new friends truly cared about his well-being, something no one but his mom had really bothered to give him. For so long the closest thing the experienced to that was the pitying looks and glances he got from bystanders in his school. Yet these three instead showed genuine care for him and what was going on in his life. Making him feel all the more ashamed to have kept them in the dark about his after school activities ever since they met. Their friendship may have only begun a month ago, but in that short time he'd shockingly developed such a strong bond with these three foreigner students.

Still, Izuku knew he can't ever breathe even a word to anyone about training to become the successor of All Might's quirk. It was far too important and he already promised to never reveal this massive secret about the legendary quirk. But it still didn't change how he felt so terrible about keeping them in the dark like this for so long. They at least deserved some kind of explanation for why he would leave at certain times whenever they hung out. The only question was what he could say that could justify his behavior and not expose his secret?

Yet as Izuku was caught in his deep thoughts, Crona had been rummaging through his own book bag with a frustrated expression; which Maka and Soul quickly picked up on.

"Hey Crona, is something wrong?" Soul asked with a raised eyebrow.

Crona stopped searching and sighed in disappointment. "I-I think I left my notebook back in the classroom, I'll be back in a bit."

"Okay Crona, we'll be waiting here for you in the meantime." Maka said as the other boys nodded in agreement. Soul gave his lanky friend an encouraging thumbs and Izuku smiled warmly while Crona turned to walk away.

"Alright, I promise I won't take too long!" Crona said as he speedily walked back to the classroom. The pink haired boy nearly jogged the length of the hallway until he finally reached their classroom which was now completely empty. So far it seemed like the school itself had become a ghost town, aside from the occasional teacher or janitor doing busy work somewhere in the lower floors.

'There it is.' Crona's ebon eyes spotted his notebook sitting right on his desk. He wasted no time entering the classroom to retrieve his missing notebook and place it back in his book bag. At least that was his plan, but the nervous swordsman failed to notice several shadows looming around the corner from the room.

'What's taking so long?! we've already wasted enough time in this shithole as it is, can you hurry the hell up already?' Ragnarök rudely complained inside the meister's head.

"In a minute Ragnarök, I'll be out of here soo-"

"Be out to where, pink twig?" A smug voice questioned behind Crona, startling the boy by both its tone and sudden appearance. He heard that voice before, granted he didn't experience it too often...he really didn't want to deal with the person behind it, if it was in fact the person he suspected.

Crona slowly turned around and quickly found the owner of such a menacing voice, as a blonde spiky-haired boy with sharp red eyes walked into the classroom alongside two other boys; but the one thing they all had in common was the mocking grins they all wore on their faces as they closed in on him.

Katsuki Bakugo and his lackeys were trouble, crona understood that from the first time he saw them. The blonde in many ways resembled a clone of his rowdy weapon, yet at the same time, he knew Bakugo was a far different breed of bully.

For the last month they had spent in class with Izuku, Crona, Maka, and Soul bore witness to Katsuki's arrogant and violent behavior. Cursing often came from the boy's mouth that rivaled Ragnarök's profanity, along with his rude acts against fellow students. Maka had considered the boy to be a general nuisance and rarely said a word to him, while Soul had a very brief encounter though it was nothing serious, and Crona shared a similar feeling of dread with Izuku whenever he was near.

Yet besides constantly being forced to hear him brag about his explosion quirk; for the most part they hadn't been direct victims of Bakugo's path of destruction. Instead the bully only kept an eye on their group, like how a shark would circle its prey. But now that one of them was alone and vulnerable, Katsuki must've decided it was the perfect time to strike and plunge his jaws into him.

"Well, speak up! Or are you gonna keep standing there like a fucking statue?" Bakugo snarked, waiting for the dumbass to speak back to him, yet once again got nothing.

"Oi, are you stupid or something?! He's talking to you, now speak the hell up!" One of the boys shouted nearly causing Crona to flinch, but kept his calm demeanor and desperately tried thinking of a way out of this situation.

Crona's surprise ceased as a calm neutral expression stared back at the bullies. "I-I'm just here to get my notebook and get back to my friends Bakugo-san, so can you please move aside?" Crona quietly asked in his best Japanese yet instead Bakugo's malicious grin widened further.

"Friends? Hang on a minute, do you seriously expect us to believe some nobody like you has actual friends?" Bakugo scoffed before quickly snapping his fingers in the faux realization of what crona meant.

"Oh wait a minute! You mean those other American rejects that got shipped here with your sorry ass; and have gotten all buddy with that shitty Deku?" Bakugo arrogantly mocked as Crona's eyes hid behind his pink bangs and his hands slowly tightened into tight balled fists.

"What? Did you think I wouldn't notice how you losers are always hanging out with that nerd?" Bakugo sneered with a vicious grin as he misinterpreted Crona's reaction. "I already knew you three were jokes before, but I didn't think you foreigners would be so desperate to fit in; you'd actually become friends with such a nobody like Deku!" The explosive teen derided the pink haired boy, with his posse laughing at now the trembling Crona.

"Then again considering what a fucking pathetic wimp you are, I'm not surprised you rejects would herd with each other. Though I'm just trying to figure out now, why that albino freak and grandma haired bitch would actually bother wi-"

"Stop it…" Crona whispered in a deathly quiet tone and while it was barely audible, Bakugo and his lackeys' ears caught it.

"The hell did you say?" The second boy demanded as Crona's trembling increased and spiking anger flared in his hidden eyes and his fingernails dug deeply into his palms.

"I said stop speaking all these terrible things about my friends…I won't allow it." Crona angrily hissed with clenched teeth as cold cerulean glared daggers at the punks. "Don't ever talk about them like that. I-I won't stand for it…and I will not hear another word of it, understand?" Katsuki's eyes widened a bit, not at all expecting this dweeb to actually have a spine and talk back to him.

He honestly thought this loser was more like Deku at first glance, considering he looked and acted so much like that quirkless shithead. It's been striking a serious nerve with him to know there was now TWO Dekus lying around; that alone was more than enough to tick him off to no end. But what took things up to fucking eleven, was when deku latched onto the rest of those American foreigners and treating him like he was fucking gold! He couldn't stand it, not for one minute to see that farce play on. To have a carbon copy of that nerd in his presence was rage inducing enough, but also seeing those three shits being so friendly with that useless nobody was the last damn straw.

He had to teach them a lesson, to send them a message to stop this bullshit. So why not teach this pink Deku rip-off what happens when he and his reject friends decide to be around that nerd? Maybe that would've scared him and those other two off?

But it looks like he misjudged the twig. He may have been a nervous wreck like Deku but he wasn't as submissively pathetic as the nerd. He wasn't trembling in fear of him…he was trembling in rage. Bakugo even noticed a sort of pressure had started coming from the pink haired Deku, but it didn't scare him...if anything it just pissed him off even more.

"Hahahaha! Is this moron serious?" The first bully laughed out.

"I know right? Like we're supposed to be scared of a guy who looks so stupid?" The second boy chuckled before their leader spoke up.

"Both of you, shut up!" Bakugo angrily barked at the two boys behind him, the lackeys jumped in fear of the explosive teen and his bubbling anger.

Bakugo then turned his gaze back to the skinny boy in front of him and started angrily marching towards the tall shit glaring at him. If the pink Deku wanted to think he was tough, then he was going to see what it wrought.

Suddenly before anyone knew it, Bakugo grabbed the collar of Crona's uniform with both hands and threw him into a nearby wall. A loud thud echoed in the empty classroom as the tall boy's back made violent contact with the hard wall. Crona's once firm anger cracked apart with fear beginning to seeping in. The anxiety pounding at his chest then skyrocketed, as he found himself viciously pushed up against a wall by the fuming blonde glaring hot red daggers at him.

"Listen to me right now pink twig, I don't know who the fuck you think you are but you must be retarded if you think I'm actually intimidated by your lanky ass!" Bakugo wrathfully snarled as his hands tightened on the cloth of Crona's uniform. "I can call that shitty Deku and those other american rejects whatever the fuck I want, and there is NOTHING a powerless weakling like you can do about it!" Bakugo barked as his angry crimson gaze bored holes into Crona's eyes, who finally started to realize how fucked he was by the fearful slithers in his features.

Perfect.

Now he just needed to get the message across.

With a cruel grin, Bakugo removed one of his hands from the pink-haired boy's collar and firmly placed it on his right shoulder.

"So let me give you a nice reminder of what happens when you try telling me what to do." Bakugo sneered as he partially activated his explosive quirk, causing tiny explosions to ignite and sizzle the shoulder beneath its grip.

Crona gritted his teeth and held in tiny whimpers of pain in his throat, as multiple sharp scorching sensations impacted on his right shoulder. Pain flashed across the pink haired boy's nerves as he tried to keep his sense of reason strong, but the burning pain made it hard to think properly.

He couldn't handle this.

He couldn't handle the despicable words spoken about his dear friends by Bakugo. Nor the pain that, even though was harmless to his body, felt like tiny firecrackers were being ignited on his shoulder.

It was too much to handle at once!

'What should I do, what should I do, what should I do?!' Crona frantically repeated over and over in his head. His heartbeat accelerating to the point it blocked all other noise he could hear.

What should he do? What can he do?! What was the right thing to do!

Yet as frustration and fear further intensified and eroded sense and logic in his thoughts, he eventually reached a twisted conclusion.

'S-S-Should…should I just kill them all?' Crona hazily wondered with madness trickling into his now deteriorating line of reasoning. It be wouldn't be too hard, Ragnarök could make quick work of them. That noisy Bakugo might make things more messy…but ripping him apart wouldn't be any harder. It doesn't matter what quirk he has, he can die like anyone else.

His increasingly madness warped his vision, as he only saw the distorted images of a savagely grinning bakugo and his lackeys cruel laughter echoing in his ears. They all deserve it…he tried to be nice but they didn't listen and kept hurting him…so maybe it was time to make them go away?

'Yes…yes, that's what I should do.' Crona eerily declared. Crona quietly opened up the palm of his right hand and prepared to summon Ragnarök and end the lives of his assaulters. 'Just a couple of seconds and this will all be over…' Yet before the swordsman could act upon his madness infested thoughts, the sound of running footsteps entered his ears.

Before bakugo could even turn around to look at the source of the noise, the blonde was suddenly met with a hard fist connect with his left cheek.

"Grgh!" Bakugo grunted, as the fist dug deeper into his face with a shocking amount of strength behind it, as before he knew it the blonde was thrown off his feet and sent crashing down to the cold hard floor.

With bakugo no longer gripping him up, he immediately fell back to the ground as he barley managed to stay standing. The sword meister blinking in shock at what just occurred, before shakily looked up to see his savior was none other than maka herself.

"Just what the hell are you people doing to Crona!?" Maka exclaimed in rage, as she kept her greatly heated glare aimed towards the spiky blonde trying to get up.

The ash blonde stood next to crona as her right hand was still in the tight form of the fist she used to sock bakugo mercilessly. All the while her expression was contorted to a face of pure seething rage.

Crona along with bakugo's terrified friends turned their heads in surprise at the miraculous appearance of the pigtailed girl, who slowly redirected her furious gaze to the other boys assaulting her friend. But she wasn't alone, soon enough Soul and izuku walked into the classroom. The former glaring molten daggers at the three boys, while Izuku looked on in anxious concern for what was about to unfold. The sight of all his friends coming here to rescue him from bakugo's brutality was more than enough to recede the cancerous insanity in crona's mind as sanity retook its foothold.

"Ma-Maka you came…" Crona whispered as he found the will to speak again.

Yet despite being immensely relieved to see Maka again, that emotion immediately turned to concern once he glanced at the absolutely livid expression worn by the scythe warrior.

Maka's jaw locked and glinting emerald orbs zeroed in on the angry brute as he was getting up and sending death glares at her the entire time. But she couldn't care less about that. Instead she was fully focused on Crona, and how his shoulder had smoke coming out of the burnt part of his uniform-

'That son of a...!' Maka seethed once she connected the dots when seeing the smoke come off Bakugo's hands. Her already volcanic rage somehow erupted to further heights as her vision soon became tinted with red. It took sheer willpower to reel her temper in, but even that was partially unsuccessful, as her face still blazed with utter anger.

"I asked you a question…what the hell are you bastards, doing to my friend?" Maka slowly asked in barley contained rage, while her wide and furious green orbs bore holes into the astonished and steadily frightened bullies. "Answer me right now before I lose what little patience I have left, and I tear you idiots to shreds with my bare hands!" Maka growled in rising fury. The lackeys began stepping a few steps back in growing fearfulness at the girls furious presence.

But unlike them, Bakugo wasn't afraid of the pissed off girl marching towards them. If anything he was already thinking of ways he was going to make her suffer for punching him like he was anybody else.

Bakugo gritted his teeth and slowly stood up to face his ash blonde assaulter with the same seething glare he had previously. Yet after a few moments of bakugo somehow managed to reel back his boiling rage. Replacing his once angry expression with a more smug expression as his lips curled into a wide smug grin; despite his red orbs still having a furious glint to them.

"Well, well would you look at that, if it isn't pigtails and her lame ass pals coming by for a visit." Bakugo haughtily mocked the unfazed meister. "Let me guess, you rejects came running all the way here for this wimpy shit, right?" Bakugo pointed towards the jittering boy in question.

Soul's crimson eyes coldly narrowed at the bullies. "We noticed Crona was taking too long so we came to see what was up…and now we know why." Soul glanced at Crona's burned right shoulder and resisted the urge to grind his sharp teeth in rage.

Izuku slowly took a step forward hoping to stop this, before things got out of hand. "K-kacchan j-just leave Crona alone he didn't do-"

"Oi, stay out of this Deku!" Bakugo sharply barked, causing the freckled boy to flinch in fear. "This has nothing to do with you, so get lost!"

Izuku felt his heart racing in panic, yet despite the great levels of fear filling his chest, he remained where he stood. "N-no…no I won't, not when you're hurting one of my friends." Izuku declared with a slightly hardened gaze.

Bakugo blinked in surprise before growling in annoyance. 'So these American fucks helped shitty Deku grow a spine too?' Bakugo remarked in indignation, before regaining his smug attitude and spoke.

"Wow now that's a shocker Deku; finally started growing a pair, huh?" Bakugo then glanced his red orbs at the seething pigtailed wench in front of him. "Guess you morons are to thank for that; but why your even bothering to waste the effort on that nobody is beyond me." Bakugo sneered with arrogance oozing from his voice, as Maka felt her blood boil somehow even further.

Maka knew full well what the word "deku" meant in english. Basically it was calling someone useless or trash in some versions.To hear this arrogant thug call a nice person like Izuku such a horrible name, forced Maka use a majority of her willpower to prevent herself from throwing this punk across the room.

"His name is Izuku you smug prick," Maka hissed with venom coating in her voice, while her fists tightened harder with searing anger. "He is someone I'm proud to call my friend, and who I always enjoy being around. So if you think you can keep belittling Izuku and call him that horrible name, you got another thing coming! Got it?!" Maka angrily snarled at the explosive bully with a fierce glare yet he wasn't fazed by Maka's heated warning in the slightest.

"Ha! Course a she-nerd like you would be defending Deku, you always seem to be around that losers side 24/7 like your his freakin shadow. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if you two had started fucking each other this past month!" Bakugo gleefully ridiculed, with Maka's tight fists starting to furiously tremble. "Oh what's wrong pigtails, hit the nail right on the head? I didn't think your standards were that low if you're willing to suck that losers-"

BAM!

Yet before Bakugo could finish his foul sentence, the blonde suddenly felt the bottom of a leather boot slamming into his cheek by a furious Maka that rushed towards him.

"Ooohh!" His face contorted in pain as the flesh of his cheek briefly molded to the shape of the boot's sole. Spinning through the air for a moment, Bakugo saw the looks on the faces of his friends as they watched their leader take a kick to the face. When time sped up again for the explosive boy, he found himself on his back in a bruised heap. He didn't even see it coming, neither did his two lackeys who stood in terrified shock.

Springing off of her target, Maka landed gracefully on her feet with an audible clack of her boot heels. glaring emerald daggers at the blonde brat as he twitched in pain from the sneak attack. Her teeth clenched into a snarl from pure rage as large doses of adrenaline flowed throughout her system.

"Shut the hell up you piece of shit!" Maka fiercely exclaimed in fury. "If I hear another word out of your filthy mouth; I'll kick your jaw so hard it'll shatter to pieces!" Maka barked as an angry vein bulged on the side of her head.

Without wanting to waste any more time on these thugs, Maka immediately ran up to Crona, the tall boy having stood in the same spot this whole time, stunned with surprise as his friend carefully examined him.

"Crona are you okay? Did they do anything else to you?" Maka asked in concern, her enraged aura almost instantly vanishing, as distress for her friend immediately took its place.

Crona slowly shook his head. "N-no I-I'm okay." Crona told Maka yet she still stared at his burnt shoulder in worry. "I-it's not nearly as bad as it looks Maka, trust me."

Maka still looked unconvinced by Crona's assurances but decided to address it later. "Okay Crona if you say so. C'mon let's just get out of here already." Maka softly told the swordsman, lightly holding his shoulder as she guided him out of the room.

Bakugo however wasn't too keen on letting the group walk away so easily. The bomber quietly stood back up, revealing the red prints Maka's boot marked on his snarling face. Seeing his targets right before his enraged crimson eyes, Bakugo charged forward like a raging bull.

"YOU PIGTAILED CUNT, YOU THINK YOU CAN PULL THAT SHIT ON ME AND WALK AWAY!" Bakugo roared in fury while rearing his arms back as his hands were glazed with bright explosive energy and crackling sparks.

"Maka look out!" Soul shouted as he began running to protect his meister and Crona from Bakugo's surprise attack.

Izuku's green eyes widened in horror before he ran with Soul to stop Bakugo from firing his attack. "Kacchan please don't do it!" Izuku shouted to try and stop this madness before it was too late.

He'd seen Bakugo's quirk in action more than enough times, to know that his hands were far too charged up for most people to come out unscathed. But unfortunately, Bakugo didn't hear the boy's pleas, nor did he care. Not giving a damn for the consequences of his wrath blinded actions, his quirk reaching dangerous levels of destructive firepower.

Maka and Crona heard Souls warning as they quickly turned their heads to see a berserk Bakugo charging straight at them. his explosion charged hand reaching outward to them as it was about to fire painful explosive power at them. Maka instantly turned around glared at the roaring explosion boy without showing any fear, getting more than ready to strike down the angry brute once more.

Yet just before Maka could do anything to the charging bully, Crona quickly got in front of Maka, blocking her from the rage consumed bully seconds away from firing his explosions at them.

"Bloody coat." Crona calmly spoke with a cold expression on his face, within seconds a large yet thin draconic black wing manifested from the boy's right shoulder blade.

The wing immediately wrapped itself around Crona's and Maka's bodies before Bakugo fired his explosion. A loud "BOOM" was heard throughout the halls as a small yet powerful blast combusted in Crona and Maka's direction. Bakugo's lackeys along with Soul and Izuku covered their eyes or ears as the loud explosion went off from the blondes hand. In less than half a minute the blast died down, all that was left was smoke that began filling up the room; As Bakugo was seen panting but with a near animalistic sneer on his lips.

'Let's see if you American shitstains will be acting all high and mighty now…' Yet instead of seeing Maka and Crona lying in painful burns; the smoke cleared revealing the winged shield still stood strong. It didn't even have any soot or charred marks from the explosive attack; uncurling itself to reveal Crona and Maka completely unharmed. With the exception of Soul, everyone in the classroom stared in slack jawed shock by what they saw. Bakugo especially so, as his wide red eyes stared in baffled shock for a few seconds before turning into anger once more.

"The fuck!?" Bakugo blurted out in outraged surprise. No way…is this what that twig's quirk can do!? How the hell can that glob of shitty ink turn into that!? But more importantly, how could that thin ass wing even handle his explosion!? There should've been enough firepower to leave at least a goddamn scratch!

"Woah Crona…" Izuku muttered in awe, while he heard his friend can have Ragnarök and his blood morph into constructs he didn't think they'd be this durable.

Soul smirked at the dumbfounded expressions of the bullies who stood stupefied at Crona's quick defense technique. Hopefully this will show these punks that Crona isn't someone to be easily messed with.

The black wing retracted from Crona's shoulder, the pink haired boy holding the same ice cold glare towards the outraged Bakugo before speaking. "You shouldn't have tried blowing us up like that, it's so annoying." Crona quietly said with a chilling look in his lavender eyes. "If you try that again I won't be so forgiving next time, understand?"

"Damn it." Bakugo growled through gritted teeth, pressing them so hard they seemed like they'd shatter. "GOD FUCKING DAMMIT!" The bomb happy brute screamed at the top of his lungs. "How!? How the fuck did your puny ass tank that blast?!"

"It's because I'm willing to protect Maka no matter what." Crona said bluntly. The three other boys stood slack jawed by the guts Crona had to actually say something like that to Bakugo.

And before snouted Ragnarök's head popped out from his meisters back to add his own two cents on the matter. " what a joke, you bomb happy fuck! You call that an attack? Give me a fucking break! Unless you want to embarrass your sorry ass further, why don't you go run crying to mommy and hope her mushy kisses can make you feel better!" The sword cackled in glee before recoiling back into his meister, as Bakugo's wrath reached its absolute peak.

"THE FUCK DID YOU SAY TO ME?! GET BACK HERE YOU PIECE OF TAR CUM!? GET BACK HERE SO I CAN KILL YOU MYSELF!" Bakugo roared in rage as angry veins bulged on his forehead. Izuku snapped out of his shocked stupor and once again tried to calm the situation down.

"Kacchan, please y-you don't have to keep doing this!" Izuku tried to intervene.

"SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH YOU FUCKING NERD! YOU AND THE REST OF THESE DAMN REJECTS JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!" Bakugo screamed in rage, to the point his hands began shooting out small explosions from the intense rage consuming the boy like a bonfire.

"We don't need to do crap asshole, if you haven't noticed already, you aren't anything special worth listening to." Soul rebuked the screaming blonde with a frown.

"Like hell I ain't!" Bakugo barked while he fiercely pointed to himself. "Take a good look shark week, what you're seeing here is the future number one hero of Japan!"

Soul raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Really…You're going to be the number one hero of Japan?" Soul said blankly while glancing back at the fallout of Bakugo's tantrum. "Hate to break it to ya, but I don't think you'll be getting very far if your pulling crap like this."

"I'm just showing losers like pink twig and that Deku their place! Not my fault there so damn pathetic in the first place!" Bakugo scoffed, as his low opinions on the two boys remained firmly unchanged. Yet Soul only grew further annoyed by Bakugo's arrogance.

"Are you dense or something? Do you really think just because you have a quirk that lets you shoot out fireworks out of your ass, that makes you instantly better than everyone else?" Soul questioned the ill-tempered teen who grew more indignant by the albino's backtalk.

"Damn straight! At least I'm assured to be the number one hero with my quirk! Unlike that quirkless shitstain you made friends with!" Bakugo exclaimed in smug fury, as much to his sadistic glee, he saw Izuku's eyes widen in horror.

The freckled boy felt his stomach plummet in dread and his heart racing to point of nearly bursting out of his ribs. He never did tell them about how he lacked a quirk…he was planning to eventually, but Bakugo had bow robbed him of that chance and decided in spite reveal it to Maka, Soul and Crona.

So far their expressions were unreadable yet he could only imagine what they were currently thinking about him now they know he's quirkless. A sharp jolt of fear ran through his spine and traveled throughout his nerves; his hammering heartbeat clogged his ears as the prospect of his worst fears started tearing itself onto him.

Would...Would they really stop being his friends now they know?

"And what's the problem with that?" Maka said in a mixture of confusion and irritation, sending Izuku and Bakugo into stunned shock.

"Wait, what?" Bakugo blurted out, trying to comprehend what Maka just said to him. The same for Izuku especially as he looked at the taupe-haired girl with a bug eyed expression by her highly unexpected words.

"You heard me. So what if Izuku doesn't have some kind of quirk? It doesn't change how we feel about him as our friend." Maka sternly told the baffled bully before her brow furrowed into a scowl. "Is that why you're calling Izuku useless and treating him like crap? Because he doesn't have any powers?!" Maka angrily questioned, with yer voice growing in great anger once more at the absolutely ridiculous line of reasoning these prejudiced idiots had for bullying Izuku.

"Of course! in case you forgot, quirks are everything these days; and quirkless losers like him are just wasted space in society." One of the lackeys arrogantly spoke up, before pathetically flinching in fear as a furious jade gaze turned to face him.

"If anyone is a waste in society, it's morons like you who can't accept others for who they are." Maka snarled in disgust before turning to give Bakugo a venomous glare. "If you ever lay a finger on Izuku or Crona again, so god help me, this will be nothing compared to what I'll do to you next time." Maka sternly threatened the stunned teenage bomber, before turning around and walked out with Crona.

Soul gestured with his head to Izuku. "C'mon man let's ditch this place already." Soul told izuku yet was still frozen in shock before snapping out of his funk and slowly followed his friends out of the classroom.

Leaving only the three stunned bullies standing inside the classroom, still trying to wrap their heads around what just happened. But Bakugo felt even more boiling anger than shock like those two peons did. He had never been so humiliated before in his life, and worse yet, the imprint from that bitch's boot on his face would last for days. Giving everyone in this Goddamn school a good look at how he got his ass kicked!

'This isn't over pigtails…I swear you and those American fucks are gonna pay for a making a fool out of me.' Bakugo swore in fury as he already promised to deliver agony to those three shits and Deku for what they've done here today.

---

After the incident with Bakugo the quartet soon left the school building, all four teens stayed silent as they walked down the sidewalk that led towards the bus station. Yet as they continued walking, Izuku decided to break the silence and speak up about what had happened before.

"H-Hey Maka d-did…did you r-really mean all that stuff back there?" Izuku quietly questioned Maka, as she and the other boys stopped walking and turned to face the moss haired boy.

"Huh? Of course I did Izuku-san, I meant every word." Maka told the quiet boy as he began lightly trembling.

"B-But I'm at fault for a-all this, Bakugo only attacked Crona and threatened you because y-you were friends with me…a-and now you know why." Izuku shakily told the trio while trying to keep his trembling under control, fearing yet also preparing for what'll most likely come next. "Look…I-If you don't want to be friends with m-me a-a-anymore I under-"

BONK!

But before Izuku could finish, he soon felt the hard spine of a textbook lightly hit his head.

"Ouch!" Izuku blurted as he frantically rubbed the top of his head, but noticed Maka giving him a stern look.

"Are serious Izuku? Why on earth would we ever stop being friends with you over something like that?" Maka incredulously told the stunned teen.

Izuku blinked a few times. "B-but I'm quirkless, I'm-"

"A good person Izuku." Maka quickly cut him off. "We could care less if you don't have any powers. The fact you had such a kind heart was far more important to us than some dumb quirk. It's something anyone should want to see in a friend, since I already saw that in you." Izuku looked at the ash blonde in confusion briefly, before his green eyes widened greatly as he realized what Maka meant towards the end.

"W-wait d-do y-you mean…" Izuku stammered in astonishment before Maka nodded.

"I did tell you I can see certain energies inside people, that includes quirk energies." Maka softly elaborated, as Izuku felt his feet root to the ground in frozen shock once he put the rest of the dots together.

"H-how long…?" Izuku murmured numbly.

"Since we've met dude," Soul causally revealed to shocked izuku, who's eyes widened even further hearing this. "Did you really think we'd ever base our friendship around quirks? That's so uncool man." Soul bluntly told the moss haired boy who was still trying to comprehend everything he was hearing.

"B-but I thought...thought that you'd…" Izuku trailed off in shock before Soul placed a hand on one of his shoulders.

"Listen Izuku, whether you've got superpowers or not doesn't change anything about our friendship. You're still a cool dude to hang out with, and that's coming from someone like me. So don't think we'll be leaving you over you not being like everyone else, that's just beyond uncool to do." Soul said as looked towards Izuku with a laid back smile. He glanced over to Crona and twitched his head, gesturing for the swordsman to add his two cents.

Crona nodded and gulped. "A-and I still think your my friend too. I wouldn't dare throw away our friendship b-because of either that or Bakugo, I promise we're keeping our friendship." Crona said with a smile as Izuku's emotionally overwhelmed mind tried absorb everything that just happened.

Maka, Soul and Crona knew…they knew he was quirkless. they knew this whole time he didn't have a quirk and yet they still hung out with him, they still became his friends. They didn't seek value in him having a quirk like Bakugo and all his other former friends did; and severed their ties after they found out he was quirkless.

Instead they remained by his side and so him no differently than before or after…

T-they still wanted to be his friend.

But if that was the case…then maybe it was time to stop keeping them in the dark like this anymore. After today They absolutely deserved to hear some of the truth at least.

With that Izuku held enough willpower to keep his eyes from spilling hot tears as he faced his friends with a wide smile. "T-thank you…I-I never imagine I w-would find such wonderful people…I-I don't know what to say." Izuku shakily told the trio as they all warmly smiled at the near tearful boy.

"It's no problem izuku, you've been such a great friend to have around us since we came here despite knowing us for a few months. Our friendship matters to us far more than some stupid quirk." Maka once again assured the freckled boy who felt further touched by Maka'a kind words.

And it was at that moment izuku decided that if his friends were truly this kind and accepting...then perhaps it was only fair he could at least tell them the whole story. At least without breaking his mentor's promise of course.

"W-well if that's the case, then maybe…maybe I should let you in on some things, like where I've been going after school." Izuku said as the trio looked on with surprise as he gestured with his head. "Just follow me, and while I take you there…I-I'll shed some light on a few things." Izuku told Maka, Crona and Soul who looked on In curiosity before nodding; and followed Izuku as he led them to where he'd been secretly going everyday after all this time.

---

It didn't take too long for the four teens to follow where Izuku had been taking them, as they'd only been walking for 20 minutes now. Along the trek, Izuku had decided to talk more about his past, particularly about how he used to be good friends with Bakugo, much to the trio's baffled shock. Maka and soul especially couldn't even begin to understand how izuku could've been best friends with someone like bakugo. Izuku however further explained that their old friendship was due to their shared passion of being a hero.

At least till that day came.

The day that would become the source of every single unfortunate event in his life. When he first found out he was quirkless from a check up to the doctor when he was only five years old. Once word inevitably got out that he was quirkless, bakugo and his other friends were quick to cut their ties and began bullying him. And as if that wasn't bad enough, everyone else only looked down on him for his lack of a superpower and his persistent dream of wanting to be a hero. Treating him like a social outcast since nobody wanted to be associated with someone who lacked a power that everyone else had.

"A-and that's how things were like before you guys came into my life." Izuku concluded his tragic story, leaving Maka, Soul, and Crona with heartbroken expressions after hearing everything their friend had to go through.

The more the trio listened to izuku's sad tale, the more the trio felt in their own ways heartache for this poor guy and the life he led before they met him a month ago. They couldn't believe someone like izuku had been practically ostracized for most of his life. And it was all because he was born quirkless.

"Izuku I…I'm so sorry all this happened to you." Crona apologized in a quiet tone, with pity greatly evident in his voice.

The sword meister was stunned to have learned his friend had been wronged so badly by everyone around him. Why would anyone be so willing to shun izuku just because he wasn't born without powers? It baffled crona to no end as to why these quirks were so important, to the point it judged someone's worth if they did or didn't have one. But to have learned his friend had been suffering like this for something so petty, made the sword meister feel so much sympathy for izuku's plight.

Izuku waved it off. "It's okay, if anything I-I should apologize for throwing all this personal stuff t you guys, I bet it's making you uncomfortable."

"No way man, we don't mind hearing what you've got to say. Honestly it feels like you needed to speak about it for quite a while now." Soul calmly told his friend, yet sympathy cracked it's way into his features.

Soul had a feeling from what venomous wording bakugo spewed out, his lack of a quirk had caused some serious issues in his life like with what that explosive prick had been doing. But he didn't think it was to the point of making izuku an outcast for something so ridiculous as not possessing any superpowers.

It all reminded him of that kid ironically named hero, back in shibusan who was in a similar situation as izuku was. The one dude enrolled who was deemed the weakest meister in the academy; and like his green haired friend, a constant victim of bullying. Only izuku seemed to have had endure such abuse longer and in ways much, much worse compared to whatever hero had to endure.

"Maybe…but still, these are my problems and I shouldn't bother you with these little issues." Izuku apologized, yet Maka had a far different opinion as she walked up to him and gave him a quick yet warm hug.

"No you're wrong," Maka softly told Izuku before letting him go. "You should never have gone through anything like that in your life. Having some special powers shouldn't ever determine your worth, and the fact bakugo turned on you for that is unacceptable." Maka firmly told Izuku and placed a hand on one of his shoulders and stared at the teen with a fierce expression. "It doesn't matter what that jerk say's to hurt you or those other idiots that insult you for being quirkless. I've seen how much of a good person you are and to me that is what make's you beyond worthy of being a hero, so don't let anyone else tell you otherwise."

Izuku stared in stunned astonishment as he listened to maka's heartwarming speech, the green haired boy being left speechless from everything his friend had said. He thought his heart couldn't be anymore swelled with joy, from when allmight took back his previous statement on his long time dream and told him he could be a hero. But now that looked like it was about to happen twice as a sense of warmth filled his entire body.

It was honestly a miracle then, that izuku hadn't fallen into a sobbing mess from hearing such similar yet longed words.

Yet judging from the wet specks formed in his eyes and blushing cheeks showed he was only barely managing to keep his composure. "T-thank you so much for saying that maka-chan. It feels really, really good to hear that from you, and makes me more glad we became friends."

Izuku after wiping his eyes of any lingering tears calmed himself down and kept his happy smile. "Now come on, let me show you something." Izuku gestured ahead to the coastline ahead as the four teens resumed their trek.

The three teens walked down a block for a minute more until Izuku presented them with the sight of many heaps of trash and junk littered and piled all over the coastal area. At first the trio almost mistook this to be a junkyard, but as they looked closer, they realized this was actually a beach. The teens managing to get a glimpse behind the numerous trash heaps sitting around on the sandy shore and spotted the shining calm blue seaside that brushed its silent waves from the ocean.

"Izuku, what is place?" Maka asked as she glanced to face the freckled boy. "Is this where you've been going this whole time?" Izuku responded with a nod.

"Yeah it is, this is known as takoba municipal beach park." Izuku replied, smiling as he spoke of the junk covered coast. "It was once a beautiful public beach everyone would come to during the summer. But over the years trash had been piling up here and with no one willing to clean it, the beach park turned into a trash heap."

"What a shame." Maka said sadly, already imagining how gorgeous this place must've been before so much garbage overtook this place. "But what's your reason for coming here?"

"I've been coming here every day at the crack of dawn to clean up all the garbage that's been dumped here." Izuku revealed as his friends shot a surprised expression towards him for the arduous activities he's committed himself to.

"Wait, y-you've been trying to clean all of this up by yourself?" Crona asked in minor disbelief as Izuku nodded once again.

"You guys are pretty much the only one's who know about this now. my mom doesn't know I'm doing this-at least not yet, but I'll tell her the truth eventually." Izuku explained to the swordsman as a certain imp emerged from Crona's back.

"About what? The fact you're picking up shitloads garbage like some eco-friendly weirdo? God like you couldn't get any lamer." Ragnarök causally insulted Izuku after school activities.

Soul ignored the sword's insults and faced Izuku. "Well, I've gotta say Izuku that's pretty admirable. But something tells me this isn't just about community service is it?"

"Well Y-You're not wrong, I've been cleaning up this beach as a way of training myself and get stronger by removing all the trash here." Izuku explained to the surprised trio who were a little stunned by this reveal.

Even though all three of them held high opinions of Izuku, they had to admit that he was far from athletic. Quite frankly he was an incredibly scrawny guy, almost as skinny as Crona was. So to learn that Izuku was willing to put himself through what accounted as one of BlackStar's warm ups, definitely made the trio very impressed with the moss haired teen.

But as soul and crona wondered why izuku was putting this much physical strain on himself on a daily basis, maka was quick to start putting the pieces together.

"Wait a minute, are you training like this so you could prepare for U.A?" Maka quesioned in surprise, realizing it had to be reason given how much izuku is such a huge fan of heroes.

Izuku flinched in shock at Maka's quick deduction but recomposed himself, as determination was met in the boy's emerald green eyes. "E-Exactly."

"I want to train so I can be strong enough to enroll in U.A and become a pro hero." Izuku revealed much to the trio's immediate surprise yet at the same time respect.

"Gotta say dude, it's pretty impressive how your still determined to be a hero despite everything life has been throwing at you." Soul remarked with a toothy smirk, honestly beginning to like Izuku's determination to achieve his dream.

"I know it sounds ridiculous given how I don't a quirk, something that's practically essential to be one, b-but even so I refuse to give up." Izuku then felt his heart race further as his fist clenched with determined willpower. "I don't care what it takes, even if I'm just a normal person, it's not gonna stop me from entering U.A and becoming the number one hero!" Izuku declared with passionate resolution dripping from his voice.

The trio said nothing back, still staring at the optimistically obdurate Izuku in respect and minor awe of his goal to be a hero. They always knew since meeting izuku, that he was a diehard fan of heroism and seemed to know everything about the subject. Always talking to them about all sorts of things about the pro heroes and quirks that made them so captivate and wanting to learn more.

So of course Izuku would be training himself everyday just so he could eventually become one himself. Yet even after learning he lacked the genetic ability that was deemed vital for being a hero, izuku still had the willpower to push pass all the naysayers looking down on him, and still try pursuing his heroic dreams regardless of his unfortunate circumstances.

Yet that's exactly what made maka begin truly admiring izuku for having such noble determination for being a hero. To see it before their eyes only made her along with soul and crona feel all the more lucky to have befriended such a good person.

Soul's lips curled into a sharp smile. "I'm not gonna lie dude, that's cool as hell." Soul sincerely praised. "And I can definitely see you accomplishing it."

Izuku blinked. "W-wait really?"

Maka smiled and nodded in agreement. "Of course, and I wholeheartedly agree." Maka told Izuku in a supportive tone. "You already have such a good heart Izuku, and if you're willing to put yourself through all this for the chance of being a hero; then you've already proven yourself worthy."

Izuku stared back at Maka with a stunned expression before uncertainty mixed into his features. "B-but…even knowing I'm quirkless…"

"That doesn't matter Izuku, you already have what it takes to be one." Crona softly told Izuku. "You were willing to stand up to a bully like B-Bakugo just to help me, and even though you were scared you still tried to stop him. That to me is so much better than any quirk." Crona candidly said to Izuku who felt numbly happy by his friends' support in this seemingly impossible endeavor.

"Pfft, sure keep feeding broccoli head's delusions you dumbasses, I can definitely see how far he's gonna go with your advice." Ragnarök snarked, yet Crona only rolled his eyes at the abrasive sword.

Izuku however didn't pay much attention to the imp's insults, instead he was still left astonished by how these his friends actually believed him. They didn't laugh at him like everyone else or kindly tell him he can't achieve his dreams like his mom did, they instantly believed in him despite all that.

They truly believed he could be a hero.

Izuku warmly stared at his friends with a wobbly smile. "Guys I-I don't know what to say…b-but maybe…maybe you guys can try enrolling in U.A too!" Izuku countered as the trio looked at Izuku in surprised bewilderment.

"W-what?" Crona blurted out.

Izuku nodded. "I already figured you had potential to be heroes before, but after what I saw back in that classroom I know for now sure that you'd be perfect for heroism. " Izuku's eyes softened. "A-and you're already such wonderful people as it is." Izuku's eyes became filled with optimism once more. "So I have no doubt in my mind that all three of you can be incredible heroes too!"

To say the trio were left stunned was an understatement, as the three teens felt more than a little flattered by izuku so encouraging of them enrolling in U.A.

Maka had already been growing quite fond of the idea to enroll in a hero school, and so far UA seems to be the best candidate if they want to become heroes. From what they heard of the academy, the prestigious academy seemed so much like their other school back in their dimension. It honestly sounded like a decent substitute for their old lifestyle as students in shibusen.

"To be honest, this has been on my mind a lot lately, since we've started living here in japan. But I think..." Maka's previously contemplative expression soon disappeared as a happy smile grew on her lips. "I think we'll consider going through with it!"

Soul and Crona meanwhile stared at their friend's declaration to enroll in UA in a moment of stunned surprise. Neither of them had expected maka to make up her mind on becoming heroes like that on the spot. But soul on the other hand despite being caught off guard, couldn't say he didn't like the idea of being heroes.

And while crona wasn't as agreeable to the idea of applying to UA for himself, he felt a small voice telling him this could possibly be one way to start redeeming himself to maka for his past mistakes.

All the while izuku's face became lit up with joy from maka's answer, as his heart started racing in excitement for his three friends joining UA with him.

"That's fantastic to hear maka-chan! I really think UA would be the perfect school for us become heroes, I just know it!" Izuku replied cheerfully, yet as the teens held their heartfelt conversation someone was seen walking towards the four teens.

"Ah Izuku-San there you are!" A male voice shouted. The teens turned and to face whoever called out to them. What they found was a emaciated looking blonde man wearing a baggy cargo pants and a white shirt that barley fit his thin torso walk up to the them, or more specifically Izuku.

"Looks like your here early, hopefully we can make further-" The man paused as his deep blue eyes immediately noticed the three other people with Izuku. "Uh…Izuku?"

"O-oh h-hey uhhh," Izuku panicked as he scrambled to find a cover for his mentor. "C-coach, s-sorry I'm late t-training, I just needed to show my friends why I've been rushing out of school lately."

The skinny man caught on to Izuku's subtle intentions and played along. "Oh I see, well it at least explains why you've been coming late."

"Hey Izuku, who's the scrawny guy?" Soul curiously asked with a raised eyebrow, while wondering how someone that emaciated is walking around instead of being in a hospital for some serious medical treatment.

"H-he's my personal trainer." Izuku nervously explained while tapping his fingers together. "He's been overlooking my progress in cleaning the beach." Maka, Crona and Soul

"Hahaha! You gotta be fucking kidding me? That skeleton is your trainer?" Ragnarök mocked as the man in question sharply coughed up a glob of blood from the insult. "He already looks one step away from a grave! I mean for Christ's sake, He makes this brat look fat in comparison!"

"R-Ragnarök stop it, if you got nothing better t-to say then leave." Crona firmly ordered the gremlin who scoffed at his meister before sinking back into him.

Crona sighed before looking at the man with an apologetic expression. "I-I'm so sorry about his behavior sir. A-Are you okay?"

The skinny blonde man raised a hand as he cleaned his mouth of blood. "It's alright young man, you clearly have little control over that thing's mouth." Crona only timidly nodded in response as he turned to face the others.

"Anyway, my name is Toshinori, it's nice to meet you kids." Toshinori replied, as he gave the teens his semi-false name to act as his cover.

Maka nodded and smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you too Mr. Toshinori, my name is Maka and this is Soul and Crona. We're transfer students from America."

Toshinori's sunken eyes widened slightly. "Oh so you're from America? I Actually visited there once in my younger years, it's a wonderful place." Toshinori commented as he thought back to his brief residency in the western country back in his prime.

"Yeah, it sure is..." Maka reminiscently replied before snapping back to earth. "So sir, is it true? Are you really training Izuku for U.A?"

"Indeed I am, Izuku-san has been quite determined to be at peak condition for the exams, and while it's taking time, he's been doing quite well all things considered." Toshinori commented as he looked to his fidgeting pupil with subtle pride.

"Though I have noticed he's been a bit tardy to our training sessions lately, but now i know why." Toshinori then waved a hand. "Don't worry I'm not upset about it, if anything I'm quite happy to see Izuku's been making new friends."

"Well he's a pretty chill dude to hang around with if he's willing to put himself through all this for his dream." Soul coolly remarked while pointing to the trash heaps on the beach. "Though was this really your idea for Izuku's training?"

Toshinori nodded. "Yes it was, it's a great way to strengthen Izuku's body for the next 10 months, and at the same time provide excellent community service." Toshinori elaborated on the basics of his successors intense regimen.

"M-Maybe, I just hope Izuku doesn't overexert himself too much." Crona fretted over, yet Yagi wasn't as worried.

"Don't worry Crona I always makes sure Izuku follows the training schedule I implemented, and so long as he doesn't go overboard he'll be fine." Toshi assured the worried pink teen.

"Well it's very creative I'll give you that Toshinori," Maka complimented before her expression turned curious. "But have you heard why exactly Izuku is doing this kind of training?"

"I have Maka," Toshinori confirmed. "I'll admit I was very skeptical at first, given Izuku's unfortunate circumstances. I didn't really think there could be much I could do. But it wasn't long before he proved to me that he truly possesses heroic potential. So I know for certain he can achieve great things one day as a hero once he is given proper training." Toshinori proudly told the three teens in front of him much to Izuku's embarrassment as he blushed cherry red by his mentors praise.

Maka and the boys smiled at Toshinori's admirable speech, being glad to know that not everyone in this world thinks superpowers are necessary to become a hero. All it really takes is someone with the heart and will to jump into the face of danger to help others in need.

That's what Maka had learned, back when she kept thinking in the back of her mind that she was an unworthy weakling that was dependent on Soul. But after seeing her weapon being so dedicated to defend her when she was at her lowest she mostly overcame that particular insecurity. Accepting that despite not possessing the freakish strength of Black Star or Kid's godly powers, she was still more than worthy of being Soul's meister.

Yet she couldn't deny how a part of her was concerned if U.A would even allow someone quirkless like Izuku to try enrolling and not promptly kick him out. But she shouldn't delve into such cynical thoughts; instead she should just have faith that everything will turn out well for her green haired friend.

"Well Midoriya, I think it's about time we started for the day. Your friends can stay and watch if they want but we have plenty of work to do. Let's get to it." Toshi said in his more authoritative tone, certainly befitting his role as Izuku's coach.

"Uh y-yes sir!" Izuku nodded feverishly, shaking away from his happy moment among his friends. The boy immediately turned to his companions for a question. "Do you guys want to stick around?" He asked the two Shibusen alumni and ex-demon swordsman.

Maka checked the time on her phone, and slightly frowned. "I'm sorry Izuku. I would love to, but we have to get home soon, otherwise we might get an earful from our caretaker." Maka sadly explained while leaving out certain details of who their caretaker exactly is for obvious reasons.

Izuku's features mix in with disappointment. "Oh I understand Maka-San, it is getting kinda late." Izuku muttered while trying to hide his saddened dismay.

"B-but I think we can spare the time tomorrow after school, right?" Crona kindly suggested.

Soul nodded with a small smile. "Oh yeah, we definitely can."

"Then I guess it's settled! We'll come visit you sometime this week!" Maka cheerfully declared.

"We better get going then, we don't want to distract you from your training with Toshinori." Maka smiled as she Crona and Soul began walking from the coast and towards the sidewalk back home. "Just make sure to text us how it went later on!"

"Sure thing! I'll see you guys tomorrow!" Izuku called out as he waved his friends goodbye.

"Later dude." Soul said with a sharp smile as Crona quietly yet happily waved goodbye to his hardworking friend; the skinny blonde smiling while watching the teens spoke their farewells.

The symbol of peace noticing throughout the first month of his successor's physical training, Izuku had not only been working harder and better than before; But also seemed much happier as well. The boy coming to the littered beach with a big smile on his freckled face that persistent throughout his training.

This pleasant attitude almost appeared to act as a sort of emotional booster for his progress; as Izuku lifted away pounds of garbage with more newfound vigor than when they started. All Might at first waved this positive mood shift being due to the fact he was finally making steps to inherit his quirk and become a hero. And while that might still be partially the case, Toshinori now saw what truly contributed to Izuku's happy behavior.

Though he just met these three teenagers from America, his missing gut could already tell these were good kids Izuku had befriended. If their friendship had caused such a positive impact on Izuku, both as a successor to OFA and in his life in general; then he definitely supported this change.

"I must say, you made some good friends, my boy. It reminds me of my younger days hanging around a good friend of mine in the United States." Toshinori smiled to his pupil as he remembered his old friend from years ago. "But that's a story for another day." The skinny man said calmly, watching Izuku after dressing into more proper workout attire started hauling junk.

"Oh thank you, All Might!" Izuku smiled back at his teacher. The one for all successor preparing to do begin his daily regimen of removing heaps of garbage from the once beautiful beach. Yet as he did Izuku's mind couldn't help but race with many joyful thoughts as he felt everything at this moment was perfect.

Even if the agonizing sensation of lifting tons of weight would befall on his skinny arms, Izuku still didn't care. The moss haired teen still felt unable to believe how his life became so fantastic in only a mere month. And as Izuku lifted up a barrel did his optimistic joy continue to spread throughout his body; giving him more than enough motivation to endure the grueling exercises.

Now the only thing Izuku hoped for now, was if his friends would take up his advice enroll in U.A like he was. Midoriya still firmly believed that Maka, Crona, and Soul without a doubt could be truly amazing heroes one day.

---

USAGIYAMA RESIDENCE.

"Man what a day." Soul sighed as he plopped himself on the couch and put his book bag on the floor; the scythe being joined by an equally winded Crona and Maka.

"No kidding, and just when things were getting nice and peaceful around here." Maka said in agreement as she sat next to her friends on the comfy couch.

"Y-you don't think Bakugo is gonna cause trouble for us again right?" Crona questioned with worry spiked in his quiet voice while rubbing his right shoulder. Which thankfully was devoid of any burns, thanks to the supernatural durability granted by his black blood.

Maka's expression scrunched into a heavily annoyed scowl. "If that brute knows what's good for him he'll back off. Or else the next kick is gonna be right between his legs." Maka indignantly growled with lines of venom in her voice, teeth clenched tight in further anger by thoughts of that bully.

She already knew Bakugo was a menace, his smug and violent attitude already made the scythe meister greatly dislike the blonde bomber. But after today, Maka officially despised that bomb happy bastard with a passion. Between how he violently assaulted Crona behind her back and learned he had for years bullied her friend Izuku just for being quirkless; Katsuki Bakugo had pretty much cemented himself as someone she loathed.

Crona looked at Maka in light concern of her evident anger before Ragnarök splashed out from Crona's back. "You think you're the only one ticked off about that asshat? I already warned that fucker along with the other loser's not to mess with this dweeb, and yet he still has the guts to think he's above me!" Ragnarök ranted yet Soul or Crona however didn't share the same sentiments as the sword.

"And where the hell was you and your big mouth when Crona was being bullied by Bakugo and those punks?" Soul retorted with an annoyed gaze.

"Pfft, well I was about to help the brat deal with those fuckers," Crona soon felt his heart briefly clamp in fear. "But then you chumps came in and hilariously kicked his ass, so I don't see what the big deal is; especially since that rabbit she-hulk would probably be thanking me for letting you guys handle it." Ragnarok brashly reasoned yet annoyed glares from the trio were still aimed to the imp.

"Actually where is Rumi anyway?" Crona asked as so far no sign of the rabbit eared heroine was seen in the luxurious house.

"She's probably still out on patrol or taking care of some crisis again; so I guess we'll just wait around here in the meantime." Maka casually explained to Crona.

With Rumi being the number seven hero she would of course be pretty busy with her hero duties and as a result wouldn't be back home for several hours. Thus leaving them to relax in the empty mansion or study and do their homework as Maka preferred, until Rumi rambunctiously returned home as she usually did.

"Well I'm gonna cook up a small lunch for us, in the meantime you two should start on that vigilante era essay due Saturday." Maka told the two boys as she got up and began walking to the kitchen.

"Really Maka? We just got back from school, can't we just take ten minutes to relax?" Soul exasperatedly asked only to be met with a stern glare. "Alright fine, you win." Soul sighed in defeat as he opened his book-bag with Crona following suit, but before he could dive into his essay decided to address something with his pigtailed meister.

"So are we really going to sign up for U.A, maka?" Soul questioned before maka could enter the kitchen, stopping the teen in her tracks and crona to look at the pair in surprise.

"Of course we're going to enroll," maka answered as she turned around to face her weapon. "It's about time we decide what to do here. If I spent any longer slacking on my duties as a meister I'd go crazy. U.A sounds like the closest thing this place has to Shibusan, so I think it be perfect fit for us now we're more adjusted to this place.

"About damn time. It's good to see your eager to start seeing some action again." Soul smirked, despite not really agreeing with maka's diligent attitude like she always did with her academics. "The whole hero gig seems like a pretty cool deal from what I hear everyone saying about it. At least it'll give us a chance to kick ass like we used to."

Maka resisted to roll her eyes at soul's answer, realizing she should've expected something like that to come out of Soul's mouth. But still felt glad to see her weapon was willing to try being a pro hero, at least till they return home.

"And what about you crona? I wouldn't want to force you to go to U.A if it's not what you want." Maka said softly, as crona's expression became coated with panic.

"M-me!? I-I W-well I..." Crona stammered before taking a deep breath to calm himself. His expression dimming into uneasy contemplation before he answered. "I...I would be willing to give it a try, a-at least for you and Soul."

Maka smiled warmly at the swordsman's thoughtful answer, glad to see crona was willing to give the idea of becoming heroes a shot despite his low opinions about himself. Yet maka easily tuned out the gagging noises ragnarök made, before he retreated back into his meister's body.

"So I think it's safe to say we're in agreement. I'm just wondering when your gonna decide to tell rumi about this when she get's back." Soul remarked, knowing full well that rumi was going to be quite pleased about their decision.

"No kidding, I can practically feel her eagerness to get us into a hero school." Maka chuckled in amusement at their guardian. "But I just wanted to hear your opinions, before i go ahead and tell her."

"Sure thing, Maka." Soul gave a thumps and Crona smiled as Maka started walking to the kitchen with a lot to think about for the future.

---

After finishing their homework assignments, and having a small lunch in between, the trio left the living room and went to their rooms to unwind after the long and hectic day they'd had till rumi returned home.

Maka for the past three hours had been laying down on her bed, reading yet another article on quirk evolution history on her iphone. A device that she had been gifted with less than a month ago by rumi to "get with the times" as she bluntly put it.

While Maka may have been more accustomed to using her mirror for long-distance communication on missions, she had to admit these iphone were far superior to the now ordinary handheld glass she possessed.

These were such incredible devices despite their small size, and provided so many useful features she didn't even think was possible. It was almost like having a miniature laptop in the palm of her hand! But as much as she loved how easy it was to read so many online books through her smartphone, she still preferred the feeling of reading an actual book in her hands than on some screen.

Unlike Soul who unsurprisingly just ended up wasting it, by simply using it as portable entertainment so to speak. Such as playing mindless games as he would at home and watching all kinds of stupidity on vutube and several streaming services. But then again what else would be expected from a slacker like her death scythe?

At least Crona used his smartphone for his schoolwork at times as she suggested. But didn't really use it much, since Ragnarök tended to harass him to use the phone like a child wanting a toy and use it all for himself. That and the sword meister were simply overwhelmed by the smartphone's functions, so he chose to use it solely for calls and texting till he had a better understanding of it.

Maka continued to scroll through article after article about the latest quirk genetic studies once again. Still clinging to the hope that she can find a quirk that can wield the power to cross realities. Yet despite her thorough and long search, in the end, she found nothing promising, much to her frustration. All she could find were these various articles and news reports about several hero support tech projects relating to instant travel to countries in the works.

Maka groaned in defeat and turned off her phone, once again finding no leads once again in her search to find a way back home. Yet as she stared at her white ceiling her mind became vulnerable to being swarmed with worried thoughts of their home.

It had already been a whole month since their forced arrival into this superhero world. That was more than enough time at this point for something to have happened since their disappearance. With a much more emotionally stable mindset than she had initially; Maka firmly believed her friends and teachers must've managed to escape from the moon when she and soul didn't come out of Asura. There's no way they'd let themselves die like that.

But as much as she was optimistic and desperate to believe that was what happened, all it did was leave the scythe meister with even more questions about what was going on back home.

'If I were to take a guess, they're probably planning another mission to the moon to beat asura once they've recovered from the first attack on the clown army. But as presumptuous as it sounds, it might be dedicated to saving us, since they'll think we're still inside the kishin.' Maka would've probably felt touched to think her friends were doing everything they can to save them, but all she felt was rising concern.

All these possibilities kept drilling into her head to seemingly no end, as she tried to come up with the best-case scenario for their unfortunate circumstances. It would happen occasionally sometimes during class, the bus ride home, or more often whenever she was trying to sleep.

These concerns that kept swirling around her thoughts about her world always kept her up in the middle of the night. Only when a few hours passed would she finally manage get some sleep. But even then it would never be a permanent solution to the stubborn homesickness lingering within her. It was quite easy to manage, but she couldn't help but still wish she could see everyone again.

But before she could further be lost in her somber line of thinking, she soon heard doors slam open and a loud voice register in her ears.

"I'm home brats!" Rumi boisterously announced. Maka along with Soul and Crona managed to easily hear the rabbit hero's voice and ran down to greet their guardian at the door. When they made it downstairs the trio were met with the sight of Rumi walking down the hallway, wearing her hero costume with a big grin on her face.

"Oh h-hello Rumi, welcome back home." Crona quietly greeted with shy smile.

"Sorry if I was late today, I would've been back sooner but there was a situation with a villain keeping a building full of people hostage. But like a badass, I found an opening to charge in and subdued the annoying bastard." Rumi explained the events of her day with a proud smirk that hid the exasperation hidden in her tone. As the rabbit heroine still felt annoyed by how it took so damn long for the police to let her storm the building.

"Well looks like you had your work cut out for you." Soul remarked as he looked over Rumi and noticed the small tears scattered on Mirko's skintight leggings and white leotard.

"Well fighting a porcupine asshole that can shoot out a shit load of giant spear's from his ass ain't exactly a cakewalk." Rumi grumpily retorted, yet her crimson eyes noticed how the crook of Crona's right shoulder, had a few burn marks that were trying to be hidden by a black long sleeved shirt.

"And I guess I'm not the only one who had a bad day, the hell is up with your shoulder Crona?" Rumi curiously asked with raised eyebrow as she pointed to small burn mark Crona failed to hide.

"What? Did something happen at school?" Rumi now narrowed her eyes a bit, beginning to suspect that was the case. The trio, especially Crona, immediately tensed and felt their facial muscles tighten in worry.

On one hand they felt it was probably best to tell rumi how one of them got attacked by a vicious bully after school. But on the other hand they've lived with Rumi long enough now to know she wasn't the kind of person to let stuff like that slide… At least not until she's pummeled the problem to a bloody pulp.

Crona held his right arm and darted his eyes nervously. "U-uh well…I-I had a-" but unfortunately a glob of black blood emerged from Crona's back as Ragnarök took shape.

"He dealt with a smug A-hole that decided to ambush the brat and tried fucking him up with his lame ass quirk." Ragnarök casually revealed much to Crona's horror and the scythe duo's exasperation. "But not without spatting out all sorts of crap about them. To be honest, I had a hard time figuring out if I should've socked him or took notes!" Ragnarök cackled in amusement before retracting once more into Crona, not caring of what he just caused by snitching on them.

Rumi's eyes momentarily widened before they narrowed into a dangerous glare. "Really now? So some punk actually had the balls to mess with one of the brats under my roof?" Rumi tensely questioned, before turning to face crona with the same tense glare. "Tell me Crona…what did you do?"

"H-Huh?" Crona blurted out, not sure what she meant, as did Maka and Soul.

"What did you do when this punk harassed you?" Rumi specified, her eyes not as tense as before. "Did you act like a spineless bitch and let him have his way, or did you fight back and teach him not to fuck with you?" Rumi asked in the same tense tone of voice, expecting nothing but a good answer.

Crona held his right arm as his thin body went rigid, the sword meister feeling extremely unsure of what he should say. "I...I tried to tell h-him leave me alone, b-but he s-started to s-say so many awful t-things about my friends…so I demanded he stop."

"Then what?" Rumi asked neutrally, as she crossed her arms.

"T-Then he a-attacked me w-with his quirk. I was about to…" Crona withheld an ashamed cringe as he recalled the shameful actions he almost committed before continuing. "To hit him back, but maka, soul, and Izuku came before that could happen." Crona told Rumi, as she turned her head away from Crona and to Maka.

"Is that true?" Rumi questioned Maka who nodded in response.

"Yes it is," Maka answered truthfully. "But I assure you he isn't worth wasting any effort over." Maka's green eyes soon morphed into a venomous glare. "I've already taught him what happens the next time he decides to be stupid enough to attack my friends." Maka frigidly stated while her hands clenched into hard fists.

Rumi stared at Maka for a moment before her wrathful aura subsided and she calmed down. The bunny hero smirking as she saw a glimpse of the taupe haired girl's quiet rage display itself.

"That's what I like to hear. But I shouldn't be surprised either. You guys had the balls to fight some of the best heroes of Japan-so that chump must've been nothing but a pest to you guys." Rumi told the younger girl as she nodded in agreement. "In fact I'd like to hear all about it after I get changed. I can already tell it's probably one helluva story." Rumi said with a cheeky smile before finally walking past the three teens and towards her room.

---

20 MINUTES LATER.

Afterwards, Rumi sat in the living room and listened to everything the trio had to say. Maka, Soul and Crona explained how they were having a normal day with their friend Izuku, only for Bakugo and his posse to brutally bully Crona when he was alone. And of course they all told her how Maka came in and delivered swift punishment onto Bakugo.

"HAHAHA! S-shit Maka, you really know how to wallop some poor bastards ass!" Rumi cackled in loud amusement. "And you really kicked your boot in his fucking face?!"

Maka nodded with a proud smile. "Yep he flew straight into the wall, and hopefully I left a painful mark on his face and more importantly his pride." Maka smiled in satisfaction, hoping everyone at school seeing the "new look" on Bakugo's face and better yet would grant even more humiliation for that bully.

"God I wish I was there to see it! I'm glad to hear both of you ain't wusses too afraid to put dumbasses like this Bakugo punk in their place, same for that Izuku friend of yours." Rumi said in approval before a teasing smirk was set on her lips. "Though now I'm really starting to wonder if you're playing hard to get with that Izuku kid~." Rumi playfully teased much to Maka's embarrassment.

"Rumi I told you for the last time, me and Izuku are just friends." Maka fumed while trying to hide her blushing as a smirking Rumi couldn't help noticing her failed attempts, causing her toothy smile to widen.

"Oh sure, you and that Midoriya brat must be good friends alright. But hey you're young, so I can't say it's wrong to start marking your territory. Am I right?" Rumi chuckled before swiftly pulling her head away from the incoming textbook swung by a peeved Maka.

"Do you ever keep your mouth shut!?" Maka hissed as she felt steam fly out of her ears and blushed cherry red, much to Rumi's enjoyment. The same going for Soul as he chuckled in amusement while Crona's blushed flamingo pink.

"I'm Sorry but you make it way too easy!" Rumi laughed out as Maka kept glaring at the rabbit eared woman in annoyed embarrassment.

This wasn't the first time Rumi had teased the scythe meister about her friendship with Izuku. Ever since Rumi learned about them befriending Izuku, she would sometimes make her comments about them possibly being more than friends. And while they started off rarely, the more Rumi heard of their friendship and what they did after school the more Rumi teased her about it.

Much to Maka's ire as she grew quickly sick and tired of their guardian teasing her over such an awkward topic of them actually being together.

Maka pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a short sigh. "Ugh, Sometimes I wonder how you became one of japan's best heroes." Maka exasperatedly questioned to herself.

"I trained damn well, that's how." Rumi cheekily answered while proudly flexing one of her arms, and popping a bulge of lean muscle from her bicep.

Maka rolled her eyes at mirko's haughty display, but soon composed herself as maka decided to decided to it was time to address a particular topic.

"Hey rumi, there's something I've been meaning to tell you." Maka started, as mirko looked at the ash blonde in intrigue.

"Sure what's up?" Rumi asked with her brow risen with curiosity, yet Soul and Crona had good idea what she wanted to talk about.

Maka rubbed her arm. "Well you see I've been doing some thinking, and I've come to a decision." Maka paused and took a deep breath before continuing. "After we graduate from Aldera…we would all like to enroll in U.A."

A stunned silence entered the room as the same woman maka spoke to was left staring with wide shocked eyes at Maka, yet in seconds snapped out of it and blinked. "Wait a minute, are you being serious here?"

Maka firmly nodded. "I'm serious, I've been pondering over what you told us about U.A for a while now, and our friend izuku has actually been motivating me further this past month." Rumi's brow rose in interest at those words before she let maka continue. "I've decided that if we're going to be in this world, I want to use my abilities to defend anyone that needs my help."

Maka placed a hand to her chest as steely determined flared within her jade orbs. "That's what I did back in our world and there's no way I'm not gonna stop now." Maka resolutely told the amazonian hero, as she witnessed this passionate fire within maka burn brightly in the teen.

"So just to be clear...you two are on the same page as maka here?" Rumi asked in a surprisingly quiet tone, yet could sense tinges of eagerness beginning to stir in her voice.

Soul shrugged. "I mean what else are we gonna do here? We might as well be useful to this place and make ourselves some cool heroes here, till we can get back to home."

"I'm a b-bit hesitant, but seeing how maka really want's to d-do this, I'm willing to see how enrolling in this academy will be like." Crona shyly replied to the rabbit hero.

Rumi's expression remained blank for several more seconds as silence briefly returned to envelop the living room. But the trio steadily began to hear what sounded like chuckling coming out of the older woman's mouth. And before they knew it, her chuckling rapidly devolved into full on guffawing much to their bewilderment.

"HAHAHA! Fucking finally! You have NO IDEA how long I've been waiting to hear that!" Rumi excitingly shouted, grinning as if she was getting ready for a fight like when she was on duty. "God it felt like a freakin eternity waiting for all three of you guys to say that, but it was definitely worth the wait!"

"I-I'm glad to see you were this eager for us wanting to become heroes." Maka sweatdropped heavily, as she watched the giddy rabbit hero still continue to laugh in excitement.

As much as mirko respected and understood their decision to adapt to japan before diving into enrolling in U.A, she couldn't deny the lingering frustration she felt over it. Maka and soul were considered to be practically prodigies back in their world, that managed to feats that would've made 78% of the other heroes in japan look like a total jokes.

Except for herself of course, since she knew she was a certified badass.

And crona was well in the same rank as those two if the fact he lifted a boulder sized tooth from a moon, using his quirk alone. Not to mention his swordsmanship must be pretty impressive, if it was enough to help him nearly beat an upper ranked hero like hawks.

But now after a whole month of waiting, they finally asked to enroll in U.A and give their shot in becoming pro heroes. And it was all thanks to her not only being patient enough, but apparently getting some help from that Izumu kid, or whatever the hell he's called.

'If I ever get the chance to meet this kid, I owe him BIG TIME.' Rumi reminded herself, before returning her focus back to the determined trio in front of her, as a brilliant idea soon popped into her head.

Rumi stared down at Maka's right foot, which was now nearly healed after a month of wearing that caste. Or at the very least to the point of allowing Maka to move it without feeling any serious pain. So it's safe to say that if she's in optimal shape. So it wouldn't be much of a problem to go ahead with what she had started to plan.

If they really were going ahead with becoming heroes, then maybe it's time to test these brats and see if they truly were ready for that path. True she already saw firsthand what they were capable of, but a part of her felt it be best to make sure a month of peace hadn't made them soft. That and it was just the perfect excuse to finally have a long awaited rematch.

"Alright brat's listen up," rumi spoke up, catching the trio's attention as she calmed down from her previous excitement. "As glad as I am to hear about your decision to go to U.A, I feel like i should go ahead and evaluate you brats."

"Evaluation for what?" Maka questioned.

"Well I've been thinking after all the shit we've respectively been through today, all of us could blow off some steam. And I want to make sure you brats are in tip top shape for heroism, so I got something perfect in mind." Rumi explained to the very intrigued Maka, Crona and Soul.

"So what do you have in mind?" Soul asked as his brow widened with interest, at rumi's idea of testing them.

"Oh you'll see, but first you need to get changed. If I remember correctly, your school gave you some workout uniforms for PE; so get changed into that and meet me back here." Rumi told the teens, curious to see where their guardian was going with this, Maka, Crona and Soul complied and went upstairs into their rooms.

When they came back the teens now wore their PE Uniforms they'd usually wear during the class. Maka, Crona and Soul all wearing a white T-shirt and pair of black shorts with orange lines on the thigh area.

After getting changed, the teens walked alongside Rumi until they stood in front of the widest door in the hallway. Rumi opened the large door which revealed through ceiling lights a flight of metal stairs. Rumi with a small smile gestured with her head to follow her downstairs; The teens complied and walked down the metallic stairs led by Rumi.

"So Rumi where exactly are you taking us?" Soul curiously asked as his red eyes wandered around the wide and brightly lit staircase. "Do you have some kind of basement or something?"

"Close but not quite, though I assure it's not an crappy old basement." Rumi answered as she decided to wait until they were downstairs to reveal her surprise.

After a minute the trio made it to the bottom of the stairs leading to a metallic door. Rumi went up to the door and quickly opened it for the teens behind her to enter. The two meisters and demon weapon walked down the stairs and before long entered the floor it led to; as when they went inside their eyes widened.

Right before the three teens was the biggest gym they had ever seen in their entire lives. The underground room was absolutely massive, its four white walls were filled to the brim with numerous pieces of very impressive exercise equipment.

"Well what do you think? Pretty fuckin awesome, am I right?" Rumi asked proudly. Maka, Crona and Soul snapped out of their surprised stupor and faced the bronze skinned woman.

Maka blinked. "Yeah I-It's pretty impressive, thats for sure." Her eyes travelled to a set of advanced weight lifting equipment with giant massive steel blocks.

And as she examined it closer, her jaw nearly dropped when she read the bars weight number/lettering going from one to literally thirty five tons! 'Holy crap! No wonder Rumi is so ripped, this place looks like it could make even a freak of nature like Blackstar break a sweat!' Maka thought in stunned shock, just what other insane exercises did Rumi do down here?

"Thanks, it's pretty nice despite only having a quarter of what the gym in my agency has." Rumi said causing the teens eyes to widen greatly at that new piece of information.

Yet before any questions could be asked Rumi raised a hand up. "And yes, I plan on giving you brats a tour of my agency eventually, so save all your damn questions for later." Rumi quickly told the teens. "But for now we're gonna be having some fun." Rumi said with excitement mixed into her voice.

"What k-kind of fun?" Crona said with a confused expression.

Rumi's daredevil grin widened. "The kind you'd usually get when training with me." Rumi revealed, as the Maka, Soul and Crona stared at the grinning rabbit woman with surprise very evident on their faces.

"A-alright I wouldn't mind doing some training, b-but what exactly do you have in mind for us?" Maka asked with worry subtly hidden within her voice, fearing that Rumi would make her use some of those hulking weight lifting machines.

She knew for sure that her body couldn't handle doing anything like that. At least not without her arms and legs snapping off…

Rumi shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh nothing much, I'll just be testing to see how good you brats are in a spar." Rumi casually elaborated to Maka who quickly widened her eyes in astonishment.

"Wait a minute do mean you want to fight us?" Maka slowly asked and to her surprise Rumi nodded.

"Damn straight! Why else did you think I brought you here? For shits and giggles?" Rumi asked sarcastically. "Not a chance, I've been dying to duke it out with you brats again, and this is the perfect opportunity. And the best way i know to scale your readiness for U.A by seeing what you can do when fighting me." Rumi told the scythe duo before turning her red eyes towards Crona. "Plus I really wanna see if pinky over here can live up to all the hype I've heard about him from Hawks."

Crona flinched and instinctively held his right arm in a nervous grip. But before he could say anything, a glob of black blood shot out from Crona's back.

"Bitch please, we'd mop the floor with your fluffy tailed ass! But if you still want to embarrass yourself then who am I to stop you?" Ragnarök brazenly insulted yet Rumi wasn't fazed by the impish sword.

"Well I hope so, or otherwise I'm gonna have a damn good time kicking your teeth out muppet." Mirko sneered as she took satisfaction in pissing off the foul parasite.

"Oh I'd like to see you try!" Ragnarök then turned to face his meister and pulled on his ears. "And you better not lose to this fucking rabbit, you hear me!"

"Alright, alright! J-just stop pulling my ears already it hurts!" Crona then ripped his weapons hands away from his abused ears. Ragnarök made a scoffing noise before slipping back into his meister's flesh.

"So what do you say? Are you guys up for a few rounds or what?" Rumi asked once more for confirmation, and after a few moments Maka walked up to Rumi and gave her answer.

"You know what a spar session like a pretty good idea actually! I could go for some good exercise like that, after waiting so long for my foot to heal up." Maka looked down at her right foot."

"Sure, I'm game for some action. Better than having to sit around doing piles of homework, that's for sure." Soul answered lazily, before being elbowed by his annoyed meister and shutting him up instantly.

Rumi hearing their answers curled her lips into a toothy smile. "Well looks like you brats have made up your mind, good. Now c'mon, I'll show you where we can duke it out."

Rumi walked forward with the teens following from behind, Passing various other pieces of impressive and intimidating exercise machinery; until they stopped at the center of the spacious basement. But instead of a gray floor there was a wide, smooth, blue metallic tiled surface that covered around 12 feet of the room.

Rumi then turned around to face the trio with her excited smile still on her face. "So who's up first?"

"How about me?" Soul said with his lips curled into his iconic smile as he confidently walked up to Rumi.

"Oh~? Well somebody's confident." Rumi said with a raised eyebrow.

"Well I do have some experience facing you before, so I've got a slight advantage." Soul replied in a laid back tone.

"Really? You do realize your facing me alone, right?" Rumi cheekily elaborated, causing Soul's eyes to widen marginally in surprise. "That means none of that team-up bullshit with you and Maka. Only fighting with your fists and your demon weapon powers, until one of us is either out of the ring or can't get up. So do you still think you're up for it or wanna call it quits early?"

Soul's confidence wavered slightly at these revealed rules, but even so, still held enough belief in his own abilities to face the rabbit hero alone in a spar. After all he was a death scythe and even without Maka he was still more than capable of fighting alone.

Soul glanced at Maka, who held an approving smile, as silent confirmation to go for it. Soul turned back to Rumi with the same sharp smile. "You better believe it lady." Soul said confidently with Rumi's excitement for battle rising up further.

"That's what I like to hear! Alright then, let's get started!" Rumi then got ready as she took off her loose long sleeved shirt revealing a white sports bra she wore underneath that matched her white basketball shorts. Soul looked away as he tried his damndest not to blush or god forbid have a nosebleed as Rumi changed into something more suitable to fight.

But that proved pretty damn hard considering Rumi's makeshift outfit was showing off all her well toned curves and not mention her...generous bust.

Rumi may not be like Blair in the traditional sexy department, but holy crap, she was still smoking hot. But Soul didn't dare say a peep about it nor react too much either; since he was already feeling Maka's drilling holes in the back of his head, with her eyes narrowed with suspicion and annoyance.

And he particularly didn't feel like starting this fight off with a concussion if he could help it.

Rumi and Soul then walked towards the metallic fighting ring, and split off to the opposite sides of the small arena, both stepped on the smooth metallic floor. To Soul's surprise the lines between each flat metal square glowed a light blue, as both combatants prepared to face one another.

"You ready?" Rumi asked with a battle hungry grin as she positioned herself in a fighting stance, looking ready to attack any second.

"Yeah, let's go!" Soul replied as he got into his own fighting stance as thin sickles came out of both his elbows; and immediately charged forward.

---

Rumi leaped forward like a fired missile, and reared her left leg forward mid-flight and swung her foot towards Soul with incredible speed. Yet soul thankfully managed duck down and dodge the flying kick and spun his upper torso to her to deliver a back fist that struck her middle torso. Mirko however didn't seem too effected by the punch as rumi stomped her other foot down, and swerved for a wheel side kick.

Immediately the albino felt his right side getting practically smashed by the strong kick, soul gritting his teeth as he was sent tumbling away, but pulled enough strength to keep himself from flying out of the ring. The scythe stood back up and sprinted towards the awaiting rabbit hero, who was more than prepared for the young death scythe. Rumi with a vicious grin darted to the teen and unveiled several speedy kicks, that soul managed to barely dodge in time.

But once he closed the distance between them soul pulled back his right fist and sent a hefty jab straight into rumi's abdomen. His fist dug into her stomach as the rabbit hero felt the air leave her lungs and was sent skidding back a few inches. But unwilling to go down that easily, rumi was quick to regain her footing and charged at the teen once more.

Once she got a close distance to Soul, Rumi spun her body around for a swift roundhouse kick to his face. Soul tried raising his arm to shield himself and take the brunt of the blow, yet it didn't do much as Soul was nearly sent crashing down to his knees from the sheer force of Rumi's strike.

Soul however decided to play along and dropped to the ground, but not before firmly placing his hand on the floor and moved his legs to trip Rumi by sweeping her feet off the floor.

Rumi however saw this coming and performed a backflip, cleanly landing on her feet. Then Rumi leapt forward and planted both her feet to the metallic floor and jumped into the air a feet or two above Soul.

"Luna arc!" Rumi shouted raising her right leg up and launched it down towards Soul like a falling hammer.

The scythe barley jumped out of the axe kicks direction in time, and as Rumi landed on the ground, Soul ran up to the rabbit hero and raised his sickled elbow for a bladed strike. Rumi leaned back to dodge the thin sickle swiping at her, and jumped back to avoid the second blade. Soul however decided to go on the offensive, and morphed his elbow sickle blades into a pair of long blades protruding from each of his forearms; readying his blade arms before bending his knees and leapt forward towards Rumi.

Anticipating the scythe's attack, Rumi jumped away from Soul's path until just as he passed her, the rabbit heroine raised her own elbow and slammed it down on Soul's back. Soul gasped in pain as the scythe felt the hard elbow dig into his spine before being pushed into the hard ground.

Rumi stood next to the downed Soul with her arms crossed and a smug smirk on her face, as she watched the boy begin shaking off the blow and stand up.

"Had enough brat, or do you still think you have a 'slight advantage'?" Rumi mocked with a cocky attitude in her voice, while Soul regained his footing and stood up.

"Are you kidding me? Lady I'm just getting started!" Soul retorted with a sharp grin as he rematerialized his blades straight out of his forearms and got into a fighting stance.

Rumi's smirk soon widened into an excited smile. "Now that's what I'm talking about!" The amazonian woman then got herself ready as the death scythe and number seven hero continued their spar.

Crona and Maka the whole time watched the intense fight play out in surprised awe, by the speed and ferocity displayed between Rumi and Soul.

"Wow, Soul's doing pretty well." Crona remarked in quiet amazement of Soul's prowess against someone so agile and fierce as Rumi.

Maka smiled. "Of course he is, Soul's a death scythe now so of course he'd be able to fight decently on his own." Maka replied with tinges of pride in her voice, the ash blonde watching as her weapon kept Rumi on the evasive.

Rumi kept dodging Soul's blades with minor difficulty before she found an opening in Soul's bladed swipes and swung her left foot to Soul's left side. The scythe however saw the attack coming and jumped out of the kicks range and slammed his own foot towards Rumi's left cheek.

Rumi was flung a short distance from the force of Soul's kick. She gritted her teeth as she regained control of her momentum in seconds, planting her feet on the ground before launching herself forward. Soul, seeing Rumi was now flying towards him like a rocket, attempted to move out of the way but was still in the air and lacked maneuverability dodge the incoming attack as bunny warrior closed in on him.

For her next move, Rumi shot both her legs forward as before Soul knew it, both of Rumi's feet slammed into his chest. Which made Soul cough up spit from the force as Rumi's feet crashed into his ribs and he felt his insides being crushed. A small shockwave was nearly seen as Soul was sent flying until he harshly landed near the edge of the ring. The death scythe ignored the minor ringing in his ears and kept trying to put his remaining strength to his arms and legs to stand up, but his rabbit eared opponent him gave no such chance.

Dashing towards the recovering Soul, Rumi mercilessly swung her leg towards him, yet Soul managed to roll out of the way in time. The scythe stood back up and attempted to strike at her once more, but before he knew it Rumi was out of sight. Soul looked around trying to see where Rumi had gone and before he knew it, she reappeared behind him.

"Luna fall!" Rumi shouted as she swung her left foot downwards, the death scythe tried turning around to attempt blocking or dodging the incoming blow but it was far too late. Rumi's foot promptly slammed into his back, sending him crashing down to the metal floor as a few cracks were formed from the sheer force.

Soul now laying on the ground refused to admit defeat so easily, and stubbornly struggled to gather enough energy to move his limbs but his bruised muscles refused to listen anymore. And after a few more attempts to stand up, Soul eventually burnt out his remaining energy and collapsed to the floor once more, thus ending the match.

---

"Soul!" Maka exclaimed as she and Crona wasted no time in running to Soul's aid, the teens pulling him up from the ground and assisted him with standing back up.

"Soul are you okay?" Maka asked in growing worry as she watched the albino shakily stand back up and rub his now bruised back.

"Y-yeah I'm good," Soul cracked his neck and withheld a grunt of pain in his throat. "Shit that hurt, I think I felt my lungs getting nearly crushed together." Soul muttered.

"Oh quite your bitching already," Rumi said as she walked towards the trio. "I'm honestly disappointed you didn't last longer considering how much I held back."

"Well jeez, sorry for not reaching up to your expectations." Soul sarcastically replied, yet Rumi shrugged placed her hands on her hips.

"Well you did manage to land a few good hits on me. But even so, your coordination and speed is honestly crap. And while you've got some decent skill and your weapon powers are an impressive edge for combat, that ain't gonna do shit if you're fighting someone with more precision and experience than you." Rumi bluntly told the albino scythe, who couldn't really say anything to counter the heroines claims.

Soul knew from getting beaten to a pulp by Giriko in the sloth chapter of the book of Eibon, he still wasn't the best fighter even after becoming a death scythe. And while he wished he'd done better, he can be man enough to admit to his flaws after losing fair and square.

"Yeah I figured as much. Ain't the first time that lesson got drilled into me, so I'll try to do better next time." Soul coolly replied with a nod, Rumi gave a tiny smile at Soul's surprising acceptance to her blunt criticism.

Most brats his age would've been whining and moaning about how unfair it was they got their asses handed to them and deny their faults. But unlike those green fools, Soul was actually mature and humble enough to recognize and admit to his weaknesses.

And that definitely earned him some points in her book.

Yet she didn't say there wasn't any room for improvement either. With enough dedication to training and honing his fighting capabilities without maka, Soul could definitely become much more efficient fighter than before.

"Alright then, so how about you maka? Do you want to go up next?" Rumi asked the younger girl, who responded with her lips curling into an enthusiastic smile.

"Sure thing!" Maka answered back, before looking over her shoulder and glanced at her weapon with a smirk. "Don't worry soul, I'll make sure to avenge your pride back there, if it means I don't have to hear you whine about getting your ass kicked by a girl.

"Gee thanks for making this even more uncool..." soul deadpanned at his meister's "attempt" to cheer him up or rather rub in the fact he got beat by a bunny woman. 'She's never gonna let this go is she?'

And judging by how maka seemed to be putting effort not to chuckle, that definitely seemed to be the case.

"Hehehe, oh I like the way you think Maka." Rumi chuckled as she walked back to one of the opposite ends of the ring. "Well if that's the case then what the hell are we waiting for?"

Maka smiled and ran to the other side of the ring opposing Rumi, glancing behind her to see soul and crona now sitting on the benches. The former pushing aside his defeat to cheer on for his meister while crona followed along.

"You heard her maka, go kick some ass!" Soul cheered with one of his iconic sharp smiles, and a nice thumbs up.

"Y-Yeah, g-good luck maka!" Crona stammered but the wheat blonde teen, feeling her heart swell with joy to see him with a small yet bright smile.

The two ladies now stood across from each other, both women already getting ready to face each other off as adrenaline kept further igniting their desire to clash with each other.

"Gotta say, I've been waiting a long ass time to go toe to toe with you again Maka, you'd be shocked by how rare it is to find brats who fight as well as you do." Rumi told the ash blonde girl, as Rumi began pumping herself up for her long awaited match with the scythe meister. "So believe me when I say that I'm having high expectations of you kid, so whatever you do, don't disappoint me."

"Well I feel honored, though I hope you don't get upset if things don't go as well as you're expecting." Maka retorted with a challenging smirk, already having confidence in her abilities to face the jackrabbit heroine and finally get some action after this past month.

"HA! I can say the same for you kid! But Let's see if that smirk stays after I kick your ass?" Rumi snarked back with a battle hungry grin and bent her knees back into a launching position.

"In your dreams." Maka said with the same bright smile, as her features became tinted with fiery determination, and readied her arms and legs into a fighting stance.

And before a second more could pass Rumi and Maka, ran towards each other.

---

Rumi's legs surged with energy as she closed in on the girl and wasted no time in swinging her foot at Maka. Yet the younger girl skillfully dodged the blow and countered with a steel fist launched into Rumi's face.

The older woman quickly raised her arm up and had it take the brunt of the hard blow, before letting herself drop to the ground and immediately swung her leg up for a sweeping kick to knock Maka down to the floor. Maka however saw it coming and with elegant finesse pulled off a backflip, landing gracefully on her feet before charging in, as rumi stood up and launched her knee towards Rumi's face.

"Hrnk!" Rumi grunted from the harsh blow to her cheek, but ignored the pain and moved away from Maka. Then with a toothy smirk the number seven hero leaped towards the ash blonde and spun both her feet with powerful intensity.

"Luna whirlwind!" Rumi shouted as with all the power she could exert into her legs and unleashed a barrage of powerful midair kicks that produced gusts of wind from the strength of each attack.

Yet surprisingly enough maka was quite unfazed by the super move coming towards her.

The meister's confident smirk lingered as with elegant precision and athleticism she dodged every kick unleashed by rumj. Turning and veering her body around at her own incredible speeds to dodge the flurry of attacks. Yet despite maka being quite agile herself, rumi thanks to her quirk was far faster, and once she landed back on the ground catapulted herself at maka and raised her knee up for a devastating knee strike.

'Shit!' Maka mentally cursed as the knee strike approached her too fast for her evade the attack like beforehand. Thus without any other options, the ash blonde poured all the energy into her arms and rose them up into a blocking position as fast as possible.

Rumi finally flew towards the girl as her hard knee smashed into maka's guard, as the momentum gathered from the hero launching herself doubled the intensity of the attack. Causing a faint shockwave to almost appear once her knee landed into maka's guard, and if not for the meister's lengthy endurance would've tumbled down in an instant. The teen felt explosive pain surge into her forearms despite managing to take brunt of the blow, as the muscles in her forearms screamed to stop.

Her body felt on the verge of falling over as her legs for a moment trembled, but kept her stance going strong. The teen gritting her teeth as she pulled all the willpower she had to endure the pain and keep herself standing, refusing to see herself lose like this.

Thus once mirko finally pulled her knee back to immediately fire off another kick. Yet despite the throbbing pain coursing throughout her forearms ran up to the bronze skinned woman and spun her leg up to deliver a strong hook kick at mirko.

The rabbit girl managed to duck around the fast kick as rumi responded with a jab, that maka blocked with her shoulder before launching her own at the older woman.

The two women continued to fiercely throw their punches and kicks at each other at precise and incredible speed's that were dodged or blocked by either of them. Soon their attacks began to echoed throughout the gym every time their fists or kicks struck with each other. And all the while maka and especially rumi practically radiating aura's of fiery determination to win over the other as they clashed with all their might.

Their intense standstill reached its end when rumi pulled away from the teen as she was about to land a roundhouse kick at her. Mirko now only one or two feet as mirko despite her injured arms still shockingly looked far from finished in this fight, much to rumi's internal glee.

Maka despite her arm's still throbbing in pain from her opponents knee strike, still held the determination to win this battle. Thus with a steeled gaze she bent her knees back and launched herself towards rumi like a rocket.

Rumi saw the catapulting teen and reacted accordingly by instantly swerved her foot at the incoming teen. Yet maka using her momentum easily darted around the kick and once she was close enough leapt at the older woman. Maka reared her right foot back and pouring all her strength into her limb, pulled off an instantaneous flurry of kicks that struck rumi upper torso with near mechanical precision.

Rumi could only blink in surprise as she felt her upper body getting battered by the efficient strikes of Maka's foot. The battle hungry rabbit being legitimately stunned at the fact this goddamn 14 year old girl, was actually managing to not only keep up with her. But ALSO accomplished landing some pretty damn good blows on her like this.

She couldn't even remember the last time anybody had fought so well against her in close quarters combat like this. Or without having to rely on their quirks to try standing a better chance fighting her.

Yet this girl in front of her without any usage of a quirk, was managing to fight more impressively, than most of the villains she'd pummel in a monthly basis.

But that doesn't mean she was gonna be letting her win this fight so easily either. Rumi snapped back into action and whipped her fist back for a sucker punch to the ash blondes face hard enough to cause some light bruising to form later.

"Hrgh!" Maka grunted as the hard punch collided into her cheek, yet ignored the pain to the best of her abilities. She already dealt with far worse beatings before in the past, so in comparison this was nothing to complain about.

Besides she wasn't the only one who could dish out some pain.

Maka returned the favor and flipped herself upside down for a handstand, and what appeared to be within a literal second Maka shot her legs forward and slammed both feet into Rumi's face. Rumi gritted her teeth as Maka's feet push harder into her face; resulting in the bronze skinned woman getting practically flung in the air by the attack.

Yet rumi immediately regained control over her increasing momentum, and with the finesse that would put most olympic athletes to shame, maneuvered herself midair till she landed back on the ground. Her trained muscles helping to exert enough force into her limbs to keep herself from skidding no more than several inches away from maka.

Yet as the rabbit woman took several breaths, the whole time she wore the same wide battle hungry grin plastered on her lips. Her entire expression practically oozing with excitement and thrill as she seemed to greatly enjoy every minute of this spar.

"Is that all ya got brat!?" Rumi barked back at the teen with her fist passionately raised up.

Maka's smirk remained as she flipped back up, with adrenaline further pumped into her systems. "Don't worry there's more where that came from!"

Maka then wasted no time bending her knees and sprinting towards Rumi as fast as her legs could move her, and shot her leg down for an axe kick only for Rumi to swiftly maneuver herself from the attack and spun herself around for a roundhouse kick that struck Maka's back.

Maka held in any pained noises trying to come out of her throat as Rumi's foot whacked into her backside, yet even with the sharp pain felt throughout her torso Maka still persistently tried moving the muscles in her body to keep on fighting.

Unfortunately before Maka could even attempt to do anything Rumi grabbed Maka's shoulders and bellowed.

"Luna striker!" Rumi used the girl's shoulders as support to rear her knee back and slammed it straight into Maka's gut.

"Gah!" Maka gasped in pain as she felt the air being kicked right out of her lungs. Her limbs momentarily paralyzed from the shock of the older woman's rock hard knee drilling into her stomach.

Unfortunately rumi wasn't gonna stop there and using the same leg kicked Maka away, watching as she tumbled face down on the ring's floor.

Soul and Crona's expression immediately became tinged with worry as they looked on at Maka still lying down on the ring floor. Both boys immediately worrying that Maka was too injured to continue fighting Rumi.

"S-Soul should we…?" Crona trailed off yet before he could finish Soul raised his hand up in protest.

Soul merely shook his head and pointed to the ring. "Just keep watching" Soul coolly said, and despite looking very reluctant listen, Crona heeded the scythes words and kept watching.

Rumi patiently stood there across from Maka with her arms crossed, awaiting for the girl to stand up; all while Rumi kept an unreadable expression on her face as she waited.

"C'mon Maka, don't tell me your already done for?" Rumi asked with disappointment beginning to emerge from her voice. The rabbit heroine really hoping that this wasn't truly all the spunky girl had to offer.

But thankfully her fears of the match ending so shortly ceased, as soon enough Maka started to move her limbs and slowly but surely stand back up, much to Rumi's impressed glee.

"See, I told you so." Soul said with his iconic smile, Crona letting out a tiny sigh of relief to see Maka was fine for now. Yet only now was worried for Maka pushing herself too far in this fight as he noticed the faint trembling in her arms.

The ash blonde grunted as she pushed herself up from the floor, ordering the muscles in her four limbs to move and get up, not willing for a millisecond to let victory fall to her guardian so quickly.

"Hahaha! Well I'll be damned! looks like you got more fighting spirit than I thought!" Rumi remarked in satisfaction with the girls stubbornness.

Once back on her feet she looked up at Rumi with a tenacious gaze that made Rumi's grin broaden further. "Oh you better believe it, like hell I'm turning the towel so easily!" Maka firmly declared as she got herself into a fighting stance.

"Now that's what I'm talking about! Don't stop coming at me until you give me your all!" Rumi shouted in battle craving excitement as she charged towards Maka and before the pig tailed girl knew it vanished out of sight.

Maka however knew that she hadn't vanished, merely running at speeds so fast the normal human eye can't track. But thankfully her eyes on the other hand aren't the same case, cause no matter how fast Rumi is with her quirk, her soul can't be hidden through speed either.

Thus Maka activated her Soul perception and immediately sensed the fiery soul of the number seven hero behind her. Maka in a split second bent her knees and instantly leapt away from the flying kick fired forwards her.

Once Rumi landed back on the floor she zoomed towards Maka and tried swinging another hard kick to Maka. Only for the teen to skillfully deflect the foot with a well-placed kick of her own and sent a narrow right hook to Rumi only for the heroine to push it away with her right foot. Maka gritted her teeth in frustration and sprung her leg into action for a swift side kick only for Rumi to once again swat away Maka's foot with her superior leg strength and moved her other leg forward.

"Luna grand crescent!" Rumi shouted, spinning her body with her leg still raised in the air as it flew straight into Maka's face. But before it could reach its target Maka in a split second leaned herself backwards to avoid the powerful kick.

The scythe meister immediately stood back up and fired a spinning back fist at Rumi. The fist slammed into the woman's bronze back, causing Rumi to stagger briefly yet immediately regained control of her body and spun to teen with a hot glare.

Maka widened her eyes in surprise by how Rumi mostly shrugged off her punch like it was nothing. Before she knew it, Rumi swiped her leg at Maka, who narrowly deflected it with her own kick. Rumi then began to mercilessly throw kick after kick at a much faster rate than before, forcing the ash-blonde teen to immediately go on the defensive to avoid getting hit the shower of kicks.

'Dammit!' Maka mentally cursed, becoming greatly frustrated by how Rumi was starting to get the upper hand. Whenever she tried landing an attack on the bunny eared woman Rumi would match the speed of her attacks and force her to block or dodge.

Yet the latter option was becoming very less favorable, for each time she tried deflecting Rumi's kicks with her arms or feet, it would feel like bricks were being thrown right at her limbs. Already she felt her arms throbbing from the hard blunt pain they've been forced to endure with the couple times she had them block Rumi's endless kicks.

It wouldn't take a genius to figure out she was beginning to lose ground in this fight. Her clash with Rumi was beginning to take its toll on her body as she already felt the muscles throughout her limbs yelling to stop from all the abuse they've taken thus far. It would only be a matter of time before she slipped up or began to lose energy as this intense fight went on; and eventually fall to the amazonian rabbit.

Kicks and punches weren't gonna cut it with this battle craving rabbit, she needed another plan. Something to gain an advantage over and beat her jackrabbit opponent already.

Suddenly a light bulb went off in Maka's head as she may have found the answer to win this match. True it wasn't a 100% guarantee for victory and she honestly doubted her ability to pull this off, but what other choice did she have?

With her mind made up Maka threw a quick haymaker at Rumi who turned her neck away from the punch and retaliated with another swift kick. The teenage meister then with skillful grace maneuvered herself away from Rumi's foot and zoomed around Rumi to swing down an axe kick from behind, only for the older woman to dodge it and charge straight at her much to Maka's satisfaction.

'Hook line and sinker.' Maka mentally smirked, just like she predicted Rumi didn't hesitate to relentlessly attack her; Now all she needed to do was keep the brawny woman's focus on herself like this until the time was right.

Once Maka and Rumi closed the distance between themselves, the two women darted across the ring each time at speeds that was starting to make it hard for Crona and Soul to keep track of. The boys witnessed in awe as the two women continued blitzing all across the ring as they fought. Every few seconds Maka would swiftly deal rock hard jabs to Rumi, only for her skillfully block them and retaliate with crushing kicks that the scythe meister would counter by elegantly dodging ever strike from her opponents legs.

But as the two agile women zoomed across the ring and occasionally dishing out their attacks, Maka has been laying her plan into action as she fended off this rabbit woman. The scythe meister making sure with every step she took would direct their high speed fight towards the nearest edge of ring they clashed in.

Once they were only a few feet away from the left side of the ring, Maka decided to put her plan into action. The ash blonde once again dodging another kick from the relentless rabbit hero and threw a few a combination of jabs and cross punches to Rumi's torso and face.

Rumi like before dodged or blocked the teens punches with ease, and with the young girl starting to get cornered to an edge of the ring she could put a swift end to this fight.

"Luna storm!" Rumi cried out, swiftly raising her right leg up and fired of a series of front kicks that fired so fast they appeared as barely visible blurs to the human eye.

Maka bit back a curse and pulled out every ounce of flexibility she had to avoid Rumi's intensely fast super move. The Albarn daughter barely managing to avoid the extremely efficient strike of Rumi's feet as she hastily maneuvered her lithe body around each attack. Once she found an opening to get closer to Rumi behind her overwhelming kicks, Maka bent her knees and pushed her legs as far as they could take her.

With careful finesse she expertly moved herself away from Rumi's foot, using the elegant efficiency littered in her movements while she ran towards the jackrabbit woman. Once she'd reached a close enough distance, Maka jumped into the air with a surprising amount of energy poured into her feet.

Rumi's brow narrowed and resisted the urge to scoff as she could already tell the younger woman was strategy was to try land yet another punch or kick at her in the hopes to push her out the ring.

And her battle hardened foresight was proven correct as Maka raised her fist up midair and threw her arm at Rumi. The rabbit hero with an almost disappointed expression on her features quickly caught the fist and instantly delivered a grueling kick to Maka's lower stomach. She let go of the girls hand and watched as the teen crashed straight into the cold hard floor, seemingly down for the count this time.

"M-Maka!" Crona called out with wide worried eyes as Maka laid motionless on the floor. He tried to go to help Maka but Soul placed a hand on his thin shoulder and stopped him.

"Crona just wait a few minutes, trust me." Soul said as his red eyes narrowed at Maka, the swordsman giving Soul confused reluctance to listen but obeyed and sat back down.

Rumi sighed and walked up to Maka with her brow furrowed with dissatisfaction for the spars end. While she couldn't deny how well the youthful girl fought against her, she honestly thought this fight would end with a bang, not weak spark like this.

But then again she did do her best, and Maka's still a brat in the end, so the fact she lasted this long against the number seven hero was still impressive nonetheless.

"Not gonna lie I was honestly hoping this fight would be longer, but perhaps I overhyped my-" Rumi was then cut off as Maka's body suddenly sprang to life once she got close and slammed her foot into the older woman's gut.

"Gack!" Rumi choked out with baffled eyes, staggering back a couple steps backwards from the sneak attack to her stomach.

"I'll be damned." Soul muttered as he and Crona stared with wide eyes at the surprise kick their friend just struck the brawny woman with as she hastily stood back up.

Maka zoomed towards Rumi as she staggered from the hard blow before she could recover from falling for her trap. Refusing to give her opponent even a millisecond to recover, the scythe meister reared her arm back. Pouring all her remaining strength into her fist; with a battle cry Maka launched her left fist at Rumi.

The ash blonde meister's haymaker quickly crashed into Rumi's face like a thrown baseball. her knuckles dug into the heroines bronze cheek as the sheer force of her punch caused Rumi to momentarily lose control of her balance.

Causing the bunny eared hero's feet to be lifted from the ground by Maka's punch as she was harshly pushed towards outside of the ring by its sheer velocity.

'This is it!' Maka told herself optimistically as she was only seconds away from winning this spar.

Unfortunately victory wasn't quite assured as she thought, much to Maka's shock as Rumi was halfway thrown outside of the ring, her rabbit ears shot upwards and looked at the girl with a determined glare.

"Nice try." Rumi muttered as with newfound vigor grabbed both Maka's shirt and the arm punching her stomach, then pulled the girl towards her as she fell.

"Shit!" Maka cursed as she was soon pulled alongside Rumi beyond the rings edge, Maka tried to plant her feet on the ground to avoid falling; but was pulled too fast to move quickly enough and was promptly dragged away from the confines of ring as well.

The pair was quickly sent ungraciously crashing down onto the cold gray floor, away from the blue ring they clashed in. Leaving the conclusion of their intense match as an even draw.

---

When the Spar met it's end, Soul and Crona immediately ran from the benches to the groaning Maka and Rumi. Helping the two women stand up from the rough landing they received from the end of their intense sparring session. Once they were back on their feet Crona and Soul quickly walked to Maka's side to see how they're friend was doing after her intense battle.

"M-Maka are you hurt?" Crona asked in immediate concern as he worriedly scanned the ash blondes injuries.

Despite the sore pain that throbbed throughout her body, Maka managed to give Crona a smile to cease his worries. "I'm okay Crona, it's just a few bruises nothing I haven't dealt with before."

"True enough, but you really went all out back there didn't ya?" Soul coolly remarked with a sharp smile and his brow risen in impressment.

Maka sighed exasperatedly. "I was fighting one of the best heroes in Japan Soul, how else could I have fought someone like her without pulling everything i had out." Maka retorted before letting out a tired sigh. "And even when I did, it still wasn't enough for me to win."

"But you still did pretty damn well against Rumi, better than most would've," Soul complimented in a laid back tone. "Heck you even managed to catch her off guard towards the end with that sneak attack and nearly beat her; that's definitely no easy feat."

Crona held a small comforting smile and nodded. "He's right, you should be proud of how far you came in that fight, you w-were i-incredible."

A faint blush appeared on Maka's cheeks from the boys encouraging words before her lips curved into a bright smile. "Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. But to be honest I'm a little shocked I actually managed to get that far in the fight."

"What? C'mon Maka you're were freakin nuts out there, you don't need to wield me to be that cool you know?" Soul coolly reminded his meister with his trademark smirk.

"You're not wrong Soul, that girl can definitely kick some poor bastards ass." Rumi spoke up, causing the teens to turn their heads to face the bunny woman who stood a few feet away while crossing her arms.

"I'm not gonna lie Maka, you are one fierce as hell kid! It's been a long time since anyone I've sparred with forced me to get serious at some point. You managed to use both your brains and your impressive skills to nearly beat me, something I rarely see in brats your age these days. So overall you did a pretty good job considering our match ended in a tie and all." Rumi calmly admitted, causing the proudness she felt for her performance glow brighter by the praise given to her.

"But just because you know how to put up a good fight doesn't mean you were fucking flawless either Maka. I was mostly holding back for a good chunk of our spar, if we were fighting for real you would've kissed the ground in ten minutes." Rumi boasted with a smug smirk on her lips. "So you definitely have a long ass way to go before you can even consider coming close to beating me." Rumi haughtily declared as she pointed to the ash blonde teen standing in front of her.

Indignant annoyance soon hit Maka as her eyebrow erratically twitched from Rumi's smug words. But in the end knew she was just trying to strike up a challenge with her; something she really did not mind going for eventually.

Their spar may have ended in a draw but Maka still held a swell of pride at the fact she came close to beating one of the best heroes of Japan by herself. Her soul's wavelength became illuminated by her satisfaction in her abilities and only grew further from the concept of getting another chance at sparring with Mirko once more.

"Well guess I better start training for our rematch then. And i promise it won't be ending in a draw like today." Maka challenged with a smirk and determined eyes, subtly accepting the battle loving rabbit's future challenge.

Rumi's smirk broadened. "Like hell it will, so don't expect me to hold back so much next time."

"Trust me I won't." Maka firmly retorted with a determined smile, looking forward to facing Rumi for a third time.

"Good to hear." Rumi said in satisfaction before cracking her neck. "Now with that settled, there's still one more match I have left with you guys."

The tanned skinned woman glanced at none other than crona, and gestured with her head to come over. "Crona come over here! I think it's about time I see what you can do!"

Crona flinched back, feeling foolish for forgetting he would also be participating in these sparring matches eventually. But in all honesty he didn't feel to comfortable at the thought of fighting rumi, as scars from the past rang into his mind.

"A-Are you sure?" Crona muttered, gripping his right bicep like a stress ball as he looked down at the floor.

"Of course I'm sure, c'mon don't tell me you've gone chicken now?" Rumi said while impatiently tapping her foot as she awaited her answer.

Crona fidgeted and held his left arm in an anxious grip, extremely unsure if he should go through with this. "B-but I…I d-don't think I can…"

Yet before his mind could delve further into his fears, he felt a warm hand placed itself on his thin shoulder. Crona turned his head to see Maka next to him with a soothing smile. The sight was enough to send bursts of elation into his spine, as he felt his panicked wavelength calm down.

Once settled back to a calmer state, Crona exhaled a long breath before turning to face Rumi with a calmer expression.

"A-alright, I'll do it." Crona muttered in quiet tone, yet thanks to Rumi's rabbit ears it was more than audible.

"Good." Rumi said in an excited tone as her battle grin widened further. "Now let's get ready, I've been waiting a long ass time for this fight."

Crona and Rumi soon walked to the opposite sides of the ring and stood across from one another. Maka and Soul having already walked away from the ring and now stood a few feet away from the spar about to take place.

"So d-do want me to fight without Ragnarök? I-I might e-end up hurting you otherwise." Crona carefully told the bronze skinned woman in concern yet all she did was scoff.

"Listen brat, we both know that you're at your best fighting with quirk, cause your scrawny ass body definitely ain't good for hand to hand combat." Rumi bluntly pointed out causing Crona to look down in embarrassment and grip his right arm. "I want to see you throw me with everything you've got ya hear?"

"B-but i-I don't k-know if I-I can…"

"Buddy it's just a spar, and your sorely mistaken if you think I ain't experienced enough to fight someone with weapons like the ones your quirk can make. Just quite your whining already and let's get this show on the roll." Rumi impatiently told the nervous son of Medusa who's mind felt was engulfed in contemplation.

Crona's brow furrowed with worry and still held his right arm tightly. Still greatly unsure if he could handle fighting Rumi, let alone with him using Ragnarök.

Especially since Rumi looked so much like…like…

"Oi quite staring into space already, are you ready or not?" Rumi asked impatiently.

Crona shook out of his worried daze and timidly nodded. "Y-yeah I'm ready…"

"Well then, what the hell are you waiting for? Show me what you're made of!" Rumi exclaimed as she straightened her posture and got herself positioned into a fighting stance.

Crona remained where he stood and raised his right arm and with an almost emotionless look summoned Ragnarök from his hand and raised its edge towards the eager rabbit heroine. The swordsman and number seven hero stood across each other for a few moments before both combatants charged towards each other.

---

Crona immediately took the offensive, running up to the amazonian woman and swung Ragnarök for a vertical slash as he came close to her. Rumi quickly jumped over Crona to avoid the path of his sword once she stood back on the ground, and slammed her foot directly towards Crona's back. The rabbit heroine's foot pressed harder into the boys backside, but surprisingly the blow didn't seem to effect Crona much as he immediately spun around and sharply swung his sword at her. Rumi retracted her leg from Crona's midsection and bent backwards to avoid the fast strike, yet that didn't stop the boy from launching his assault.

Raising Ragnarök above his head, Crona charged forward and almost instantaneously unleashed a barrage of rapid thrusts at the rabbit eared woman. Rumi however managing to skillfully maneuver herself away from the sharp blade coming at her.

The rabbit heroine then as she kept dodging the sword's edge as the rapid strikes fired at her, then jumped into the air and released a volley of intense kicks to Crona's torso. Her legs managing to strike the boys chest and stomach area's while simultaneously avoiding the sword thrusting at her in even speeds.

Unlike before, Crona actually felt the minor pain from Rumi's hard shoes constantly crashing into his body like small rocks thrown at him. But the swordsman pushed through the irritable sensation before raising his right arm and summoned "the darkness" in his hand. The swordsman grasped the rectangular short sword and quickly swung the broad blade at Mirko.

Immediately the heroine's rabbit instincts kicked in and she ducked down from the incoming slash, then she delivered a swift upward kick to Crona's jaw. Causing the swordsman to stumble back as Rumi backflipped away from Crona and landed a few feet away from him, all while looking on with an excited grin.

'Well, well, well Looks like he's starting to let loose huh?' Rumi observed in delight at Crona now beginning to show her what he's capable of. She then turned her crimson eyes down and saw her cheek was now nicked, yet as she wiped off the blood from her cut; her only smile widened further.

Looks like she was gonna need to stop holding back herself.

Crona regained his footing and shook of Rumi's previous attack, the enhanced durability granted by his black blood making Rumi's kick feel much less painful then it should've. Yet that didn't stop his brow furrowing in frustration at the fact Rumi was proving more resilient than he initially thought.

"Oi dumbass, what the hell are you waiting for?" Ragnarök brashly spoke up snapping the swordsman out of his thoughts. "Quite screwing around dammit, it's time we start mopping the floor with this bunny bitch already!" The sword ordered, Crona sighed but reluctantly agreed with his weapon.

He should start taking this a bit more seriously now, shouldn't he?

Crona retracted Ragnarök's weapon form, as in its place, Ragnarök's thin arms ruptured from Crona's shoulder blades wielding two long narrow swords in their gloved hands. Crona kept his cold gaze toward the stunned Mirko as he simultaneously raised all three swords towards her, Patiently awaiting for the rabbit heroine's next move.

Rumi's red eyes widened in surprise by the sudden transformation before in a split second started grinning in glee. "Oh hell yeah, now That's what I'm talking about kid!" Rumi exclaimed in excitement. "About damn time you finally showed off that fancy ass Zoro trick! Now let's see if it's got some bite to it!" Rumi wasted no time running towards Crona at intense speeds, once she'd gotten close enough jumped in the air and threw her legs down for a series of powerful kicks.

Ragnarök's arms immediately sprang into action and rapidly swiveled their swords at the rabbit heroine. Rumi ignoring the sharp cuts made on her legs by the long blades and continued swarming her opponent with kicks. The swordsman merely grunted in minor pain by the flurry of kicks hitting him, before he quickly swung the pommel of the darkness at Rumi's stomach side. Rumi gasped for air by the hard blow to her ribs, as Crona would send her flying a few feet by kick to her stomach.

After making a small cut on his right forearm Crona spawned six thin black thorns from his wound. The thorns flew towards the flying Rumi attempting to grab and throw her out of the ring, yet Rumi wasn't gonna allow for such an easy victory.

Rumi regained control of her momentum and firmly stomped her feet to the ground causing her skid for a ten seconds before slowing down. Once she stopped moving she bent her knees back and launched herself forward. The thorns flew at high speeds towards Rumi, yet the rabbit heroine jumped around in zig zag pattern avoiding the thorns coming at her.

'Hurry up goddamnit, she's coming right at us!' Ragnarök shouted inside his meisters head. Yet Crona said nothing merely scrunching his face in frustration before slashing upwards.

"Screech alpha!" Crona shouted as a huge black and purple cloud burst forth from the sword, ripping a path through the ground. The rabbit heroine saw the attack and grinned before jumping away from the attack in time and avoiding its path.

Rumi once again bent her legs back and launched herself, creating a shockwave as she flew towards the pink haired swordsman. Once she was close enough Rumi raised both her feet forward to land a powerful twin kick at the boy.

But before Rumi could reach him in time, Crona in a split second raised his left arm up. "Bloody coat!" Crona exclaimed as Ragnarök's left arm morphed into a large thin dragon wing that shielded him from the incoming attack.

Rumi's feet collided with the surprisingly hard wing, causing another larger shockwave to manifest with small cracks forming on the ground around them. And throughout the intense battle, Soul and Maka watched in awe of the "spar" taking place.

"Holy shit, this is getting pretty intense huh?" Soul said in stunned surprise, by the struggle between Mirko and Crona.

"Yeah no kidding, they're really going at it." Maka muttered with wide green eyes, internally hoping this battle wouldn't escalate any further.

Crona's eyes narrowed in annoyance as Rumi continued slamming her feet on his bloody coat barrier. Wondering when Rumi will cease these fruitless attempts to penetrate his extremely durable barrier.

The bronze skinned woman however didn't seem to be giving up anytime soon, viciously grinning as she fought the swordsman. Growing more than excited by the amount of strength Crona had displayed fighting her in this spar. No wonder Hawks had such a difficult time fighting this kid, his versatile quirk and shocking level of skill would definitely ruffle up birdbrain's feathers.

Yet just because Hawks almost lost his fight against this boy doesn't mean she will either, as Rumi then decided to change her strategy, and jumped again into the air, shouting out her next super move.

"Luna cannon!" Rumi shouted as she raised both her legs upwards and crashed them like a hammer, into the black wing wrapped around Crona like a hammer; causing a bigger shockwave to form from the impact.

Crona gritted his teeth in frustrated panic as his bloody coat barrier withheld Rumi's assaults, though his technique could easily handle the attacks dealt to it; this wasn't a solution to his worsening predicament.

He'd been trying his best to control his strength, but he didn't think he could handle holding back anymore. He tried restraining so much of his power but Rumi was proving too tenacious for even a quarter of his strength.

But if he used more of his power he'd most likely end up seriously hurting Rumi, and he didn't even think he could handle that, he didn't want to hurt the little one-

Crona's eyes widened greatly in stunned shock, his panicked mind freezing in place as that one thought kept repeating itself over and over in his head like a broken record. His mind became so engulfed in panic he completely lost focus, causing his bloody coat and Ragnarök's other arm to dissolve back into his body.

His wide terrified ebon eyes now reduced to specks stared at Rumi, or more specifically her rabbit features...

Those long white ears…that white hair…it was so much like…like.

'T-the… the little one…' Crona thought as his vision became further muddled in fearful madness, warping the image of Mirko into that of a tiny white rabbit sitting on the floor.

"Go on, hurry up and kill it already." A familiar cold voice rang through his ears, his lungs tightened and his heart felt like it was about burst out of his ribs.

Rumi looked so much like the little ones…but doesn't that mean she is a little one? That would mean that he had to kill her, he had to kill the little one…

Maka kept watching the battle alongside Soul, grave concern beginning to emerge from Crona's disturbed expression. The scythe meister desperately trying to figure out what was going on with her friend.

Yet when she glanced at Rumi and back to Crona she gasped in horrified realization at what was possibly happening.

Could it be….?

Cold fear trickled into Maka's veins. She started to take a step forward, but Soul placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him in desperation. "Soul, something is wrong. We have to stop this before it's too late."

Soul stared at Rumi and Crona before turning to face her, his expression unreadable. "Maka I understand if you're worried but I think Crona can handle-."

She shoved his hand off her shoulder, and shook her head with a panicked look in her eyes. "No soul, I don't think he can, not anymore." Maka nervously stared at crona, practically feeling the madness pouring out of crona ready to explode. "I think Crona's-"

"Go away…" Crona eerily whispered and Maka's blood froze.

Rumi's expression once filled with battle hungry excitement evaporated into cautious bewilderment as Crona started trembling and gripping his pink locks.

"Kill it now, Crona." The cold feminine voice echoed again in his head. He didn't want to do it, he didn't want to listen to her, not again.

"Prove that you're my pride and joy." The voice sweetly said, Crona's eyes widening to the size of dinner plates as dark memories of that night flashed before him.

T-The night...the night he severed his bond with Medusa…that pretender being his mother.

And with that, his mind all but shattered.

"No, no, no, NO! GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!" Crona roared as he swung his right arm towards Rumi. The droplets of black blood on his right forearm sprung to life and shaped into sharp needles.

"Rumi look out!" Maka shouted in horror.

Rumi instantly sensed the wave of killing intent in this attack, but before she could react the needles already surrounded her. Before long the bloody needles extended themselves and prepared to stab her to death.

Thankfully Rumi in a split second bent her legs back and jumped away from the swarm of floating needles that soon melted away afterwards.

"What the fuck are you doing Crona!?" Rumi demanded in outrage, but the sword meister was far too clouded in his maddened thoughts to notice her, much less hear her voice.

"Stop it! get out of my head!" Crona shouted as he raised his bleeding arm and manifested a cluster of thorns from his arm.

Rumi gritted her teeth and before long was kicking and jumping away from the thorny tendrils relentlessly attacking her. Rumi kept her offensive strong but the arrowed thorns only kept coming and even begun making a good chunk of cuts on her body.

Rumi growled in anger and adrenaline began rapidly flowing in overdrive within her systems. The rabbit heroine was beyond fed up with this crazy bullshit, she was going to put an end to this right here, right NOW!

Thus as the thorns began to surround around her, Rumi pressed her feet to the ground with enough force to create heavy cracks the floor and jumped into the air with both legs extended and swung with intense force.

"Luna ring!" Rumi shouted as she spun herself in a shockingly powerful cartwheel. Her legs kept swinging in a vertical circular motion, crushing or pushing away any of the thorns near her lower limbs; until l they were either gone or outright destroyed.

Rumi landed on the floor yet still had her guard up and saw Crona standing and gripping his head. Rumi narrowed her eyes and without hesitation launched herself towards Crona, getting ready to take him down.

---

Maka kept watching the increasingly violent battle play out before her, the ash blonde girl growing increasingly fearful of the outcome that could possibly come if nothing is done. Even if Rumi was a strong fighter Maka knew the number seven hero wouldn't stand a chance against Crona should he finally start losing himself completely to madness.

The only way this could end was if she could manage to reach Crona and calm him down before this got any more out of control. Thus Maka with determination ignited from her very heart fueling her ran into the fighting ring.

"Maka no, it's too dangerous!" Soul yelled but Maka paid no heed to his words, knowing full well she was the only one who could stop her friends rampage.

Maka continued to run towards Crona without stopping, her feet pushing her legs to faster speeds with every second. True her right foot wasn't completely healed, but it was still more than capable of running at her usual speeds. In less than a minute Maka soon reached Crona and instantly caught him in a tight embrace.

Rumi widened her eyes in surprise as she saw Maka run towards Crona, and as the teen neared him, she halted her charge. The rabbit heroine simply stranding a couple feet away from the teens and watched with a cautious gaze.

"Crona stop it's me! Just calm down, please!" Maka exclaimed as she held her arms tighter around his thin torso.

"No! I can't handle hearing you, I can't handle any of it!" Crona aimlessly shouted still clogged in his mad haze and kept violently thrashing around as did his thorns swing wildly. yet when he turned his head, the glaze of madness instantly vanished, and recognition flooded his expression once he saw Maka's visage.

"M-Maka…?" Crona whispered his shaky ebon eyes meeting Maka's desperate jade gaze.

"It's okay Crona I'm here now, I've got you." Maka muttered into Crona's ear, the scythe meister rubbing soft circles on his back and held him tightly.

Crona's erratic breathing slowly became calmer and more relaxed the longer Maka held him; as his thorns beginning to dissipate away into nothingness. Their souls soon beginning a soothing resonance, that cleansed the madness and negative emotions infesting the swordsman's mind. After a few minutes Maka ceased her embrace and only gently held onto Crona's shoulders as the fog of madness faded from within his mind.

"M-Maka I…I'm s-so, so sorry." Crona murmured with deep regret in his voice, realizing as his mind was becoming more clearheaded to the terrible devastation he had caused.

"It's okay Crona, you don't need to apologize to me." Maka whispered to Crona while rubbing gentle circles on his thin shoulders.

"B-but l-look w-what I've done," Crona looked around at the wrecked ring and the destruction to the wall. "I-I'm still hurting others."

"That isn't your fault Crona, I know you didn't mean to do any of this. You're still healing, you just need more time." Maka softly told the pink haired boy.

Crona still held reluctance to fully believe Maka's gentle words yet the angelic girl's presence made it far too hard for the swordsman to refuse. Crona was left to merely nod in acceptance and gave a brief yet very tender hug to his dear friend which She gladly accepted.

Unfortunately this heartwarming moment wouldn't last long as rumi stomped over to the two teens. The pair tensing as they could see the furious expression on mirko's face as came closer.

"You better give me a damn good reason to explain why the fuck that psycho here was trying to kill me!" Rumi wrathfully demanded, her crimson eyes glaring daggers at the trembling Crona.

Maka however kept a steely yet neutral expression on her face, as she quickly quickly got in front of crona to protect him from rumi's wrath.

"Rumi listen you have every right to be mad, but please understand it was only an accident." Maka firmly told the bronze skinned woman yet Rumi wasn't having any of it.

"Really? You call getting nearly skewered by needles and thorns as a fucking accident!?" Rumi barked back with boiling anger. "I get he has some nasty issues, but what was his excuse to go berserk on me!?"

Soul however wouldn't let Maka face rumi's fury alone and instantly ran to his meisters side with a cool yet determined expression. "Look I get it, your pissed off and I don't blame you for feeling that way. But you gotta believe us when we say that crona didn't mean to attack you like that."

"Bullshit." Rumi growled indignantly, and returned her furious gaze back toward's crona and maka. "Now I'm going to ask you one more time, tell me why the hell that brat went nuts on me?"

Maka and soul grimaced as they knew there was only half a minute at most to explain crona's actions before all hell broke loose. And unfortunately the scythe pair-or more specifically maka may have understood what had caused crona's spontaneous rampage. Out of everyone in this room, only she truly understood crona's scarred psyche and his inner demons, from having entered his soul in what felt like ages ago.

And in the process of cleansing crona's soul from madness had seen the fragments of crona's horrific memories of his childhood and he endured under medusa. She knew with them living under rumi's roof she needed to eventually explain the full extent of crona's issues to avoid any disasters, but she had initially hoped to have done it later once her friend had started healing.

But now it seemed she was left with no other choice but to explain to mirko the detail's of her friends trauma and what may have triggered him like this.

Maka released a long and tired sigh before looking at the impatient rabbit hero with a somber grimace. "Rumi did that man ōkabo with his quirk ever tell you what happened to crona before we came here?"

Mirko's heated anger in an instant diminished into cautious worry as she had a bad feeling where this was going. "Yeah he did. That mangaka told me and eizo that crona went through utter hell because of his twisted mother, right?"

Maka nodded slowly. "Then I guess you have a pretty good idea of what made him do...certain actions before coming here." The ash blonde's lips molded into a deep frown. "And I think the reason why crona lost his mind like that was because one of his older trauma's got triggered."

Mirko's face remained stunned with shock for several seconds before regaining her composure and narrowing her eyes into a dead serious expression. "And what kind of trauma are we talking about here?"

Maka's hands balled into tight fists till her knuckles were white, repressing the shudder of revulsion crawling up before continuing. "The kind that nobody should ever have gone through..."

For the next ten minutes maka had explained to rumi the traumatic and nightmarish childhood crona suffered under his diabolical mother medusa. Explaining how crona had spent a majority of his time as a child trapped inside a dark empty room whenever he failed to impress medusa when "training".

That solely involving that witch forcing crona to kill several bunny rabbit's, in order to further mold her son into a cold blooded killer.

As mirko heard that particularly sickening detail of this dark tale, the rabbit hero paled in horror to learn both this sinister act and how the very animal's her quirk was based around, were used as tools for training in murder.

And all the while she'd occasionally glance at the trembling sword meister, but not with anger or disgust, but at this point stunned shock and downright sympathy.

A feeling that only intensified as maka explained how every time he disobeyed his mother and didn't participate in such cruelty, he would end up trapped in that room for numerous days without food or water. Just him starving within pitch black darkness and ragnarök bullying him to vent his frustrations on his attached meister. A cruel and inhuman cycle that would inevitably lead to crona snapping and fulfilling his mother's gruesome test with his sanity dying in the process.

"And after I met crona, and learned the pain he's had, i've promised to do everything I could to possibly do to help him. After that the rest is history." Maka finished the grim story of her pink haired friend, as she was met with a thickly tense silence afterwards that enveloped the entire gym.

The rabbit hero across from maka now longer had any sort of outrage left in her after hearing crona's story from maka. The bronze skinned woman now only wore a face of horrified shock, as she now had a much more disturbingly clearer image of what made crona snap.

The number seven hero felt absolutely sickened to her stomach after hearing this nightmarish portion of what crona's life was. She...she knew that crona was driven to insanity because of this woman who was somehow his mother, but this...this was fucked up beyond words.

But at the same time, it made so much sense.

No wonder crona went completely apeshit in their spar. The fact that crona fought against someone with her familiar appearance must've been more than enough to remind him of those traumatic memories.

Dear god, what the hell was she thinking? She would've never had crona go through with this, if she knew this was the level of trauma had from his past.

Rumi glanced back at Crona standing behind his friends, she lightly cringed as she saw the boy kept trembling like a leaf with wide fearful eyes.

A spike of shamefully guilt shot onto Rumi, the rabbit hero regretting having pushed Crona like that without much consideration for what he wanted. And worse snapping at crona like a active volcano for triggering his personal issues without even realizing it.

Holy hell, she was such a fucking idiot.

Mirko after a minute steadily regained her composure and brushed away her nauseous shock with a long tired sigh, and glanced at the somber scythe meister with a remorseful expression. "Shit I...I just didn't realize the actual extent of that kid's issues. I knew they were bad," mirko's expression cringed in sympathy. "But jesus this worse than anything I could've ever imagined."

"It's okay rumi I'm not blaming you for this. If anyone is to blame it's medusa for what she made crona go through. I just wish I could do more to help crona heal from all this pain he's been forced to endure." Maka regretfully admitted, thinking back to how she failed to stop Crona from returning to Medusa and falling back into madness again.

And while she did save him as he nearly fell to the point of no return, she wasn't stupid to have overlooked crona most likely having a plethora of psychological issues to deal with. She just thought there would be time to help him overcome at least most of them. But what happened in this sparring match only showed her that it was going to take a long time; before crona could truly begin to heal from everything he's been through.

Rumi's eyes turned pitying. "Maka listen, I can tell your doing your best to help your friend with his inner demons, but shit like that is nowhere near easy to fix by yourself." Rumi glanced at crona who had stopped trembling, but now stood there somberly with his eyes hidden beneath his pink bangs. "But for now the best thing would be to give him a breather after what just happened."

Maka gave a small smile and nodded. "Thank you for understanding my friends situation, rumi."

"Don't mention it, I'll be more prepared to deal with this in future should it happen, but hopefully it won't." Rumi said, she then calmly walked up to Crona with a neutral expression on her face.

"Crona." Rumi called out, causing the boy to flinch back in fear much to Rumi's exasperation and minor guilt.

"Y-Y-Yes r-rumi?" Crona stuttered fearfully, shrinking from the shorter woman's gaze in fear of punishment for his previous actions.

Rumi closed her eyes, sighing through her nose before looking back at the pink haired boy. "Look I'm not mad at you crona-at least not anymore now that I know more. It's clear that our spar might've made you recall some really bad memories in your life, so on that front I'm sorry." Mirko said with a tint of caution as she noticed the boy's trembling at started returning.

Mirko's eyes however hardened into a more stern gaze aimed at the sword meister. "But I can't wave off what happened here, either crona. Not after everything I've learned just now. Once I find the time you and I are going to have a serious talk about your issues, understood?" Rumi told the trembling swordsman in a neutral tone of voice.

Crona didn't say anything and quickly nodded as he slowly walked over to the benches; Yet not before a certain sword emerged out of his back.

"Oh please, what's there to talk about? How you got your ass kicked by pinky over here?" Ragnarök said while pointing a balled hand to his meister. "Crona may be a scrawny dweeb but even I know not to trigger this psycho here, unlike your dumbass."

"Just shut the fuck up already you damn puppet." Rumi growled clearly not in the mood to deal with the swords antics, but the sword pressed on.

"Aw what's wrong? Did I hurt your whittle feelings mmmm?" Ragnarök asked in a mocking baby voice. "Tell you what, How about I give you a nice juicy carrot to munch on, but ONLY if you hop all the way here and say you'll-"

WHAM!

Before Ragnarök could finish his foul sentence, in almost the blink of an eye, Rumi zoomed towards the imp and delivered a hard kick to his tiny noggin. The brash weapon wailing loudly in pain as his body slumped and imitated a slinky moving up and down from the impact of the punishing blow.

"You goddamn idiot, when I tell ya to shut up, you shut the hell up!" Rumi barked as she gracefully landed back on the ground with an angry tick on her head.

"Ugh…k-kiss my assless behind you hare eared bitch." Ragnarök gasped out before melting back into Crona.

Crona then quickly apologized for his weapons behavior and practically sprinted to the benches, hoping to avoid causing further problems.

Soul sighed at his friends misfortune and glanced at maka who shared her sympathetic expression, before the duo walked to the bench's with crona to comfort their guilt stricken friend.

"Alright so besides that hiccup that just happened towards the end; I gotta say this was honestly a pretty fun sparring session you brat's gave me." Mirko remarked with satisfaction entering her voice as she stood in front of the teens. "To be honest I was expecting you guys to have gotten kinda rusty from a month of doing nothing but school work, but I'm glad to see I was wrong!"

"You all managed to perform fantastically against me-even if you still got all your asses kicked," mirko spoke smugly towards the end, as maka repressed an annoyed huff at the cocky rabbit woman. "But that only shows me how you guys still need to improve your game. Don't get me you three are probably stronger than most brats wanting to sign up for U.A too, but that doesn't mean you should get cocky and let yourselves get lazy and stay at your level thinking it's enough. If your really serious about this then your gonna need some sharpening up to do."

"In almost nine months U.A will be doing an entrance exam for anyone with enough potential to to give their shot at it. And believe me those exam's from what I've heard are tough as hell. Perhaps not as tough for you guys considering your background's, but don't expect anything easy either." Rumi bluntly explained to the teens, yet they didn't seem too bothered by what she had to say.

The trio kinda figured that was the case, but compared to everything they've all went through and fought against before coming here they weren't very worried. After all what was the problem preparing? Especially if they're being trained by none other than one of the top ten heroes of the country?

"Okay I see no problem with that, it makes sense to get ourselves trained for these exams. Though what kind of training did you have in mind?" Maka spoke nonchalantly, yet couldn't help but grow uncomfortable by Rumi's near maniacal grin.

"Ehehehe, well let's see if you'll be keeping that calm ass attitude when we start-cause if you think I'm gonna go easy on you guys, your dead wrong."

"You won't just be training you till your at tip top shape. Oh no-I'm going to put you through hell day in and day out, until your plus ultra. So trust me when I say for the next eight months, you're probably gonna be wishing you just went up and croaked!" Rumi darkly chuckled, already concocting the utter hell she was gonna make these brats go through under her masterful tutelage and achieve her standards of hero material.

Maka couldn't help but nervously sweat drop at Rumi's sinister declaration for the hellish training they'll endure for nine months. And despite her willingness for training in the following months, she had a bad feeling the rabbit hero really was gonna put them through the wringer.

With Soul holding a lesser feeling of dread by Rumi's promise, while Crona outright trembled in pure horror at whatever Rumi had planned for them, as Ragnarök began mockingly laughing at his meister's terrified expression.

After shaking off her nervousness, regained her confidence and gave the rabbit hero a determined smile. "Well don't expect that to intimidate us too much. In comparison to everything else we had to go against back home, I'm pretty sure we can handle your nine months of training."

"Fair enough," Mirko's admitted despite her lips remaining curled in a haughty grin and shrugged. "But let's see if your cocky optimism lasts once I get started. In the meantime go hit the showers and rest up. You're gonna need all the energy you have for tomorrow morning, now get going."

The trio nodded in agreement and got up from the benches to make their way towards the gym's showers.

"Something tells me that tonight is probably going to be the last time we get to have some decent shut eye, huh?" Soul remarked with sprinkles of exasperation leaking through his calm tone. Coming to terms that his couch time would soon become quite nonexistent after today.

"Quite whining already soul, at least you'll be devoting your time to actually sharpening up your skills than just sitting on your ass doing nothing." Maka chided her weapon as they walked. "I mean did you really think rumi was going to let us do nothing till the chance to enter U.A comes around?"

"Good point." Soul sighed in reluctant acceptance, as he knew rumi was doing this for their own good. "It would be uncool to just let ourselves get complacent when we could hone ourselves for that entrance exam."

"Besides it's not just for U.A we should be doing this for. Once we return home, we have to be as strong as we can possibly be. Even more than we are now, to face whatever mess is awaiting for us in our world." Maka told the two boys, who immediately agreed with the scythe meister when it came to that particular matter.

As grim as it may sound they both knew that by the time they return to their dimension, the world might truly be on the brink of destruction. It already was nearing that outcome when the war on the moon began, but now the situation must've of grown more dire than ever before.

At this point the remaining global branches of shibusan alongside the witches who allied with their mortal enemy for the sake of survival, were probably the last defense against the kishin's madness. Not to mention the respawned clown army that would only further propagate asura's insanity, and have to defeat again to reach asura.

If there really was a chance of facing the worst case scenario, then they all needed to become as strong as possible to help their friends and teachers save their world from ruin.

"That actually sounds like decent plan, given the circumstances. If there's most likely a shitstorm waiting for us, we should at least be at our A-game to face it head on." Soul said in agreement before his lips curled into a toothy smirk. "Plus everyone would get to see how insanely cool I might become after being gone so long, so it all works out."

Maka gave a irritated side glare at her smirking weapon. "Ugh of course you'd see it that way."

"I honestly not sure if I c-can handle what rumi's planning if it's really going to be that e-extreme," crona muttered worryingly as he clutched his arm again tightly as his guilt flooded back to him. "And with how I acted before I-" but before he could say anything else, the rest of his words were cut off by a hand softly placed on his thin shoulder by maka.

"Crona it's okay, what happened was only an accident. Rumi knows this and already forgave you for it, so there's no reason to put anymore guilt on yourself."

Crona's face still held a frown as he still found it difficult to fully agree with maka and let go the shame of his violent actions. But since rumi knew more about his past, then maybe it was alright to put this behind him. Or at least be able to ignore the stinging remorse still swimming within his chest as much as possible.

Maka smiled back. "I know these changes are a kinda scary, but trust me when I say that i think this will work out well for all of us."

Crona contemplated his friend's kind words for several seconds, before a small smile finally sprouted on his lips. "O-Okay maka."

"That's all I ask for." Maka said softly before her mind wandered to the possibilities of what awaited for them tomorrow and the next eight months for that matter.

Maka couldn't deny that she was holding some legitimate fear of what was most likely being forced into train in a level possibly comparable to Black Star's intense regimen. But even with that concern present in her, he was still willing push past all these grueling preparations to reach her goal of enrolling in U.A.

She could tell bright things would be ahead of them, no matter how much sweat and tears would come for the next several months.

And so far this looked to be a good start on their journey to becoming heroes.

But as the trio made their way to the showers rumi had remained where she stood, yet thanks to her enhanced rabbit hearing had overheard their small conversation. But she really hadn't focused on what they said, despite respecting maka's other reasons to train for the next eight months.

Instead rumi was currently in deep thought over what had occurred in her spar with crona, and more importantly the disturbing context she learned from maka. And quite frankly, rumi was thinking "evil bitch" as Atushi called her back then, was far too kind of a word to describe this woman.

She was a fucking monster.

Rumi had always figured that medusa woman to be rotten to the core, but not she expected this villain to delve into such level's of depravity. What kind of evil psychopath would starve their own child for weeks and force them to kill animals?

Just thinking about what crona had suffered through made rumi's blood boil like flowing magma within her veins.

But now it was clear that if this was but a piece of trauma crona had been carrying, then she needed to help him more than she ever imagined.

The rabbit hero knew when she decided to have these three live under her roof, that she was going to need address crona's mental problems at some point. But instead it came at her like a missile after accidentally causing crona to have a PTSD attack, and was promptly given a taste of what hawks fought a month ago.

As much as rumi sympathized with crona, she knew something had to be done to fix his trauma. Otherwise there was no way she was gonna be able to let him enter U.A with maka and soul. Not if there was the chance of him going batshit insane out of nowhere like today.

The kid desperately needed a therapist, someone who could be able to help him resolve at least some of the problem in crona's head.

But who in god's name is fit enough for that kind of job?

An average shrink was nowhere near capable of dissecting through that mess of a psyche, so what other options did that leave her?

Yet as rumi had the gears in her brain working to conjure a solution, a mental lightbulb turned itself on as an idea came to her. As the trio were already in the showers, rumi went upstairs till she reached all the way up to the top floor, and went into her office.

Rumi approached her desk where she found what she was looking for lying on the side of her desk, around some unfinished paperwork and quickly took it. That being a small thin piece of white paper where a phone number was neatly written. Or more specifically where none other than hawk's phone number was written.

It was something the HPSC had delivered to her alongside the forged identification papers made for crona, maka and soul about a month ago. At first she was baffled as to why the HPSC would give her hawk's phone number of all things, but had a pretty good idea what this number was really meant to be used for. But rumi never wanted to actually use this number to begin with, since she felt she was doing a decent job taking care of those kids without any problems.

At least until today, where she was quite viciously introduced to the inner demons haunting crona.

No matter how much as it wounded her pride to admit it, she needed their resources to help crona overcome his mental issues. Rumi wanted to see crona become a hero like maka and soul, and if the HPSC had somebody who was suitable for the job and stabilize his scarred mind, then she was all for it.

After living with crona for a month she understood that despite his timid nature that would annoy her at times, he was a good person at heart. And between crona's insanely strong abilities she saw firsthand before their spar got out of control, he was more than capable of being molded into a hero.

Sure nine months wasn't ideal, but depending on how things go from here on out, rumi could see this was at least a pretty good start.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hello everybody and welcome back to another chapter of soulbound heroes! And just before the month could end! I admit i was hoping to release this chapter earlier but with complications and the occasional writers block it got delayed.

But now it's finally done and holy cow I cannot believe the positive reception I've gotten since then! This story is now at 112 reviews, 119 favorites and 150 follows!

So thank you all for helping me have reach this far as now I can proudly say this is first soul eater fic that got this many reviews in a LONG time. So again thank you all for liking this story so much!

Also and to make things even better, I just got my first piece of fan art for this story which I'm now proudly using as the crossovers cover! Again thanks a lot korisch that was cool of you!

I'm honestly stunned by how this story is receiving this much positively reception given how the soul eater fandom sadly isn't that popular in the present day which is very heartbreaking given how good the anime is and how the manga is even more fantastic, but I digress.

But it looks like maka, Soul and crona have while adjusting to their stay in MHA met and quickly befriended izuku and begun such a wonderful with Everyone's favorite cinnamon roll! Gotta say it felt nice writing their interactions and giving izuku a chance to have some friends who won't judge him for his quirklessness; but not without hiccups as they've also met good old bakugo. And trust me when I say maka and crona will be have further rocky encounters with the explosive bomber.

But now trio can begin their long nine month journey to prepare for U.A academy! Yet it won't be easy as besides rumi's hellish training for the kids they'll be having another experience for what's ahead of them soon.

Not only that but we finally we get some action again by having them face off against Rumi in some sparring matches. Which I had a lot fun writing and I Hoped I managed to make the fight scenes entertaining with my friend dmandog056 polishing up them up.

Though something I need to clarify is besides a majority of rumi's super moves; crona's new techniques and powers such as bloody coat, his black thorns and ability summon skinny versions of ragnaröks big form's arms; along with three different swords seen in previous chapters aren't fan-made.

These are CANON abilities crona developed in the soul eater manga when he instead returned to Medusa and reintegrated back into madness; evolving his black blood powers and ragnarök to newfound heights.

And why crona had that psychotic breakdown in rumi's round is also due to what happened when crona killed medusa. The snake witch triggering her son to kill her by giving him affection for the first time which he could not comprehend and lashed out. Thus completing her creation and the black blood by making him sever his bond with her.

And if you think souls fight scene is short yeah perhaps it was compared to the others, so I apologize. but keep in mind even after he became a death scythe soul isn't the best fighter. He learned that lesson when he fought giriko and got his ass kicked in the manga. So it's also to show soul isn't like maka who's pretty good in comparison.

But I have heard the complaints previously of maka being deemed to weak in the original version of previous chapters and I have made sure to fix that with this chapter. Yet keep in mind while maka is vey powerful she's only that way with soul, as alone she is still strong but not enough to fully beat foes like mirko. And even then she managed to barely pull off a tie. Which was only due to rumi somewhat holding back.

But don't worry we'll be seeing maka and soul fighting together and kicking ass quite soon, and I cannot wait to write those scenes and hope you'll enjoy them.

Well onto the reviews!

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THE TOWER OF PIMPS: thank you so much, and I'm glad your enjoying this story and promise to deliver more content.

musizlover 2008: thanks dude, glad I've been writing such quality in your eyes.

BananBoat: well I'm happy that I've impressed you with my methods in writing and responding to my readers. And as your suggestion with class 1-A/B reading crona's poetry don't worry it's been asked before and i will definitely keep that in mind as I plan the story out.

Random Anon: yeah that's what I was going for with rumi being Their guardian since all these other writers have her be a side character or love interest of the MC. And trust me the kids will have many great interactions with more than just izuku.

Guest: I appreciate your patience and hope this chapter was worth the wait.

Dragonaut344Doomed: wow that's a…tragic story, and your aren't exactly wrong with MHA needing more Samaritan laws they don't revolve around heroes being there 24/7. Yet the problem lies with everyone having grown a terrible case of bystander syndrome and over reliance on heroes to do everything. Topics that WILL be mentioned in this story.

RighteousHope: thanks I'll do my best.

Alexis: Oui, rumi prenant les enfants était quelque chose que j'avais prévu depuis le début de l'histoire et faire un oc d'atsushi, l'auteur de soul eater était ma façon de le respecter et de lui donner une place dans ce crossover et je suis heureux que vous l'aimiez.

Et en ce qui concerne la possibilité que Crona et Maka soient ensemble, et que Soul trouve quelqu'un de spécial, je verrai ce qui est le mieux au fur et à mesure que l'histoire avance.

Guest: no, that is definitely not happening.

Mitsuki sakata: well I'm happy you enjoy it that much!

Breana cook: well Here's the newest chapter!

Guest: thanks glad you recognize that and trust me those three are gonna cause some changes for Izuku's journey as the number one hero.

Yellowpikmin88: yep it was something I've planned for a while now and we'll see her relationship with the kids she adopted develop as we head deeper into the story.

Glad you now realize the HPSC ain't the good guys now with recent reveal's from the manga.

Yeah me and my beta dmandog056 discussed it and we thought 1-2 chapters of them adjusting to living in MHA is needed before diving immediately into U.A. But seeing them become good friends with izuku is definitely worth that wait.

While they don't suspect anything off with izuku and his training, eventually as we reach U.A then suspicion will spike up.

the plot point you mentioned in the quirk test is something interesting you brought and while your somewhat right it's not completely true. This chapter shows they can fight but are truly powerful when together, and even in the manga they didn't overcome this weakness; only work around it much better.

Guest: glad you enjoyed what I'm doing so far with rumi!

Guest: oh trust me those suits will find their ways….

Guest: I definitely will!

Guest: your question has been answered this chapter.

Dymian:that is a very intriguing point you brought up, but I can't say anything without spoiling so you'll have to wait and see.

Guest: can't say too much except wait and see later on.

Shigro283: thanks glad you love it so much! And those characters will get along well!

Guest: well your weren't wrong that did dangerously come close to happening, sadly bakugo isn't the guy to get the message so easily.

Ponporuu: well I'm quite happy to have satisfied a fellow soul eater fan and give you something to enjoy greatly! While aren't wrong I'm hoping to update at a faster rate so keep your fingers crossed.

YCG: that will be very funny to see.

Guest: can't say any due to spoilers, but you'll just have to wait.

Random anon:it's definitely gonna be 1A dude.

Guest: while it's not that bad you aren't wrong, and trust me Rumi is gonna train the crap out of her to help maka with that weakness.

Star:thank you so much! Glad you like it that much!

Guest:well I'm happy I've impressed you that much, and as for your suggestion, your gonna have to wait until we are further in the story.

...

Overall I'm very happy with the positive reviews and reception I've gotten this time and I'm really hoping this chapter gets double the reception the last one got. I would really appreciate it!

Thank you all for reading and please follow, favorite and ESPECIALLY review as much as you can, that'll be so awesome of you and if you have any idea's, suggestions or criticisms don't be afraid to mention them so long as the latter aren't flames and I'll see you all in chapter seven!

Shados960 out!