The school festival was over. We were back to regular exams, the routine of classes, going to and from school, and hanging out in Heights Alliance's common room afterwards.

One afternoon, Tokoyami surprised us all by sneezing.

"Are you feeling sick?" Uraraka asked him.

"No. I'm in perfect health, and my mucus membranes are functioning properly."

"Uh…"

"Or maybe you have some fans who're gossiping about you!?" Called Kaminari from the sofa, where he had been sharing a laugh with Yaoyorozu. "Like whoever was shouting "Yaoyorozu!"

She went scarlet and raised up her hands rather defensively. "Please don't tease me. I'm just happy to have an admirer!"

Uraraka added, "You probably already have a ton of fans, Tokoyami! Especially after doing your work study with Hawks."

"No, I don't think so. That all went a bit too quickly."

The door opened and Iida called all our attention. "They're here, everyone! Let's greet them!"

"Rock on with these sparkling gazes!"

"Here to lend a helping paw!"

"We've come from…somewhere!"

"Stunningly cute and catlike! WILD WILD PUSSYCATS!"

"Pussycats! It's great to see you after all this time!" Called Iida as our class rushed to greet them.

"I hope my little kitties have been well!" Said Pixie Bob.

"Sorry we couldn't protect you, back then," Tiger began to Bakugou, who snapped back, "Don't remind me."

"We're doing good, thanks," said Jirou.

Ashido ran over to Uraraka and HAgakure to present them with a gift from the Pussycats. "PAW PAD MANJU!" "PAW PAD MANJU!"

"Kota!" Cried Midoriya to the boy with them. "Long time no see! Thanks a lot for that letter, it meant a lot, really!" He shook his hands.

"Look here, Midoriya," Mandalay pointed to where they'd left their shoes.

"C-cut it out!" Cried Kota.

His shoes, near the door, were red, just like Midoriya's.

"Now we match!" Midoriya exclaimed, smiling.

"So why are you here at UA?" Sato asked them, serving the tea.

"We're just here to announce that we're back," said Pixie Bob, as Uraraka and Shoji started moving furniture for them.

"You're back?"

"Congratulations!"

"You too, Ragdoll?" Asked Midoriya. "With your quirk stolen, I thought you had to quit."

"Not back in action, per se, but I'll be in the agency supporting the other three! Just call me the Cat-ministrative assistant!"

"We did hear from him in Tartarus," said Pixie Bob. A chill came over us now as we remembered. All for One.

"They're still pressing him to find out what kinds of quirks he's got locked up inside him, and how many. So in the meantime, keeping him completely immobilized is the safest option."

"Then why return now?" Asked Yaoyorozu.

"Because they're about to announce this year's second Japanese Hero Billboard chart. We're in 411th place."

"But your team was 32nd last time!" Cried Midoriya.

"Oh! So you're doing this to stop your sharp decline?" Asked Kirishima.

"Wrong, meow!" Said Ragdoll. "Why do you think we're still in triple digits, despite zero action?"

"Our approval rating at least was as high as ever," said Tiger.

"Which means people are counting on us, so we can't stop moving forward!"

"I hear you! The Wild Wild Pussycats are dudes among dudes!" Kirishima started actually weeping.

"The billboard chart, right," said Ojiro to Ashido.

"Oh yeah, they haven't announced this year's second rankings yet."

"Not with all that's been happening. A billboard Chart without All Might, huh?"

"Can't wait to find out. Should be exciting."

Exciting isn't exactly the word I would use for it.

Because that means HE…

Will be getting a new ranking.