Written by Aduubo and Buckichamp
Edited by Aduubo, Buckichamp, and PKSpartan.
I OWN NOTHING. KILL LA KILL IS OWNED BY STUDIO TRIGGER AND KAZUKI NAKASHIMA. MHA IS OWNED BY TOHO ANIMATION AND KOHEI HORIKOSHI.
Author's Note: We're finally going on our break! Enjoy this double drop and we will see you again July 6! Oh, and make sure to read the whole chapter closely or you may miss some details.
-Friday; REVOCs HQ, 1 p.m.-
The helicopter began to descend as Rei Hōōmaru waited for her boss. The white-suited secretary with purple hair stood expressionless as the transport finally touched down and the door opened.
–CLICK–
A bright ray of light shone as a woman with white hair and rainbow curls stepped down onto the helipad, clad in all white and silver.
Ragyo Kiryuin.
"Good afternoon, Lady Ragyo," Hōōmaru went down on one knee and bowed her head.
"Is something the matter?" the corporate executive asked her diligent lieutenant.
"Despite repeated requests from Ichiro to keep her at bay, Nui Harime has left REVOCs and is believed to be on her way over to the ball and gala or Honnōji Academy. What would you like me to do?"
Ragyo chuckled as she summoned her secretary to walk with her.
"It's been harder to control Nui of late," Ragyo lamented half-heartedly. "Tell her to stand down and come back. The time will come when she can have her fun."
"You seem to give Ichiro a lot of freedom, Lady Ragyo. Why haven't we pulled him more into our operations and off the fashion stage?" Rei wondered as the two continued walking the c-suite hallways.
"The boy serves an important purpose, Hōōmaru. We don't want to sour his mood right now. The happier he is, the more he can serve us."
"What do you mean, Lady Ragyo?"
They finally reached the CEO's office as Ragyo took her seat.
"As a fighter, he's not quite the caliber that Nui is right now. He possesses many of her abilities, but I'm letting his creative mind discover what he can do on his own."
She smiled as an attendant poured a glass of red wine, her red eyes melting into the brew.
"All before he has to turn on the people he so cares for."
..~~~HLK~~~..
-Friday; Isshin Matoi Mansion, 5:30 p.m.
The air was silent for the duo as they took the long trek far down the island, passing the slums on the way. After crossing the bridge to the mainland, they traversed through a winding road. Nothing was said between the two, as the sound of the wind was the only thing keeping them company.
The two teens finally stopped once they walked upon a large structure that appeared to have been burned down. Izuku's eyes popped wide open once he read the inscription on the bricked fence.
"This is…"
"Yeah. My Dad's place. Where it all started," Ryuko answered while looking the mansion up and down. "Back at the shop, I realized that I didn't know anything about my mom."
"Does it have something to do with him?" Izuku asked her.
"Kinda. My mom died after I was born. And Dad never mentioned anything more about her other than that she was part German."
Izuku looked away, hiding the scowl that he had for Isshin. As time went on, he grew to resent the old man. Back when they were kids, he never heard any good news about him. He then looked back only to find Ryuko walking up the steps.
"Even with everything he told me, I still have to come here for answers. Only to find nothing."
Ryuko unsheathed her scissor blade and stabbed it into the ground.
"I really don't know the first thing about my family. You, Inko, Mako, everyone at U-A, you're the ones who've been there for me this entire time."
Tears started to trickle down Ryuko's face, but her voice never wavered.
"I remember when Mikisugi said that sending me to U-A would be better for me. I was so headstrong that I only agreed to come back to Musutafu reluctantly. Now I see he was right, and my head's been all screwy since I've been back here in Honnō, Izuku."
It was dead silent for a few moments, as the whisper of the wind carried the silence through the charred remains of the estate.
"Well, I'm glad I could do something right."
The two teens gasped as Aikuro Mikisugi stepped from behind a column that was still standing, undisguised.
"I'd ask how you're doing, but I overheard enough to get the gist."
Izuku stepped in front of Ryuko within a flash, shielding her from the sleazy man. The glare in his eyes surprised Aikuro.
"Whoa, whoa. I'm not here to try anything, kid. I just wanted to talk," Aikuro raised his hands up defensively.
"Sorry. I think you can forgive me after what happened with your partner, and what you did to Mako," Izuku said with a cold breath.
"I get that. But you don't gotta worry about me. I came unarmed," he raised his arms up to prove his point before walking to lean on a nearby support beam. "I just wanted to catch up with you guys since it's been a while."
"Unless it's to give me answers, I'm not interested. If I wanted to talk, I'd rather do that with Izuku instead," Ryuko spoke up.
"I don't have a ton right now, Ryuko. Though I really am glad to see how much you've grown."
"Huh?"
"For as much as I can be overdramatic and over the top, I never could have imagined your progress from what Principal Nezu has been able to relay to me," Mikisugi walked forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.
'Wait. Principal Nezu?' Izuku wondered.
"We're proud of you, kid. Not just your friend over there and I," the bluenette motioned his head toward Izuku, "but your father would be truly proud. There'd be days where he'd lament over not having treated you right because he was trying to fix this mess."
"Yeah, that's great and all. Terrific. So, where is he then?" Ryuko's shoulders tensed up.
"Huh?" Aikuro tilted his gaze down towards Ryuko.
"If he really felt that way, why didn't he tell me that himself before he died? Or on the day he sent me away? That would've been a damn good time to say that shit!"
Ryuko's eyes glistened while Izuku was left speechless. Aikuro took his hand off of her shoulder and took a step back, bewildered by what she said. He couldn't answer her immediately, as he understood her turmoil.
"I understand how you're feeling, Ryuko. But it's a little complicated-"
"How?" Ryuko raised her voice.
"...Damn it, I knew this was going to be tough. I wish you hadn't come back either," Aikuro cursed under his breath.
This took Izuku by surprise.
"Why not? Doesn't she deserve to know more about what happened? It just feels like you're being cagey, all due respect," Izuku stated.
"It's because of the Kiryuins. What we do know with our current intel is that in the coming months, they're going to make their move. I don't know if you or Ryuko will be ready yet, kid. But we'll need you to be."
"Whaddya mean?" Ryuko pried.
"He's being overly cryptic," Senketsu chirped.
"They're getting more ambitious," Aikuro explained as he began to walk away. "More and more clothing factories have fallen under their control. Pretty soon, we're all going to be faced with a choice between saving our own skin and trying to stop this armageddon."
He stopped and turned back briefly, as a fog descended around the area.
"Be careful, Ryuko, Midoriya. We're all counting on you."
As soon as he showed up, Aikuro was gone within the mist, leaving those remaining perplexed. Izuku frowned, still feeling unconvinced about what Mikisugi said. He'd been cryptic for so long. And for what? It wasn't fair to Ryuko.
"Ryuko, I-" Izuku paused as he tried to say something to give comfort. "What Mikisugi said-"
"I know," she cut him off, albeit softly.
"He's dodging the question. And that pisses me off to no end. But, being here with you helped me feel a lot better," Ryuko pulled her blade out of the ground and faced Izuku, a curve on her lips graced her face.
"Thanks for coming out here with me."
A smile slowly made its way on Izuku's face after he was able to process everything. It looked like Ryuko was able to embrace her optimism a lot more than she did before.
"You're welcome, Ryuko. I'll always be here for you if you need me," Izuku said warmly while his cheeks tinted red.
Ryuko's changed into the same hue as well, leaving a bit of an awkward silence between them. Though they were looking right into each other's eyes. Suddenly, both their phones rang.
They fumbled around a bit before pulling out their devices, opening them up to find a text from Ochako.
"WHERE THE HECK R U GUYS?! EVERYONE'S GETTING READY FOR THE BALL!"
Izuku's eyes widened when he saw Ochako's outburst, albeit a virtual one.
"Oh crap! How long have we been out here?" Izuku asked as he quickly checked the time. "It's almost six! The ball starts in two hours!"
"Damn! How are we gonna get back in time? Uhh, wait, let me think," Ryuko paced around, trying to come to a solution.
"Wait! Maybe if we use our powers, we can run back. Should be fast enough, right?" Izuku suggested.
"Barreling through the streets? That seems extreme, but it may work," Senketsu pondered.
"I don't know Izuku, what about the whole Quirk regulation thing?" Ryuko leaned her head to the side.
"Shouldn't be too bad. We're only using it to get back. And… as long as we don't get caught? Could be fun," Izuku shrugged with a sheepish chuckle.
"Ohh, since when did you start getting crazy ideas like that?" Ryuko was impressed by his new level of boldness.
"Stick around. I'm full of crazy ideas," Izuku smiled before a green glow surfaced from him activating eight-percent of Full Cowling.
"Heh, alright, Izuku!" Ryuko pulled her Sekki Tekko and synced up. She got into a runner's position beside him. "Ready?"
The both of them had eager looks on their faces.
"Ready," Izuku said.
"GO!"
The duo broke into a full sprint, creating a large gust of dirt and wind behind them. It took them seconds to cross the long road and reach the bridge. And it only took a few more for them to rush through the slums. In their wake, piles of objects were knocked over or straight up broken.
Izuku saw this and thought of an idea to avoid any further damage.
"Ryuko!"
Ryuko watched him in response, which gave him the cue to scale the wall of a small shop and start leaping over the rooftops.
"Izuku? What are you doing?" she called out.
"We'll be able to avoid more debris this way! C'mon!" Izuku shouted before he moved ahead.
"I- ugh, fine!" Ryuko begrudgingly jumped onto a rooftop and followed him. She wasn't too sure about what Izuku insisted, especially after what happened during the rescue mission that she flopped on.
"Izuku, I don't know if I can keep- Oh shit!" Ryuko slipped on the edge of the roof, cutting her jump short.
"Gotcha!"
Before she could collide with the wall, Izuku caught her hand at the last moment, keeping her from meeting the dirt.
"Thanks!" Ryuko thanked him before they kept going.
"I've always got your back, Ryuko!" Izuku cheered before accidentally knocking over a barrel that was strangely placed on the roof.
Some inhabitants down on the road shrieked, seeing something coming their way. Ryuko came in with the save and turned it on its flat side before it could roll off.
"HEY! WATCH IT, YOU DAMN CRAZY KIDS!" An elderly man screamed at Izuku.
"S-Sorry, sir!" Izuku stuttered as he sweated bullets.
"Don't worry, Izuku! I got your back, too!" Ryuko laughed as she caught up with him.
"Thanks," Izuku sighed, but gave into the impulse of chuckling. Her laughter was just so infectious.
..~~~HLK~~~..
"Whoo! What a workout!" Ryuko desynced as she and Izuku walked into the lobby of the hotel.
"There you are! Where have the two of you been?!" Iida bellowed from the other side of the lobby. His vocals alone were enough to scare the two teens.
"Don't you both realize that we have a ball to attend to?"
"I agree. Where on earth did you two go?" Momo joined in.
"Um! Ryuko just needed some air! And I- er- didn't want her to be out there on her own," Midoriya quickly answered.
"Heh," Jirou smirked.
Izuku blinked twice before he realized that everyone was dressed. His sights fell onto the girls, with his gaze wandering to Ochako.
"Whoa. P-pretty," his cheeks warmed up.
"That was very irresponsible, you two. Coming back at the last minute like that," Cementoss added to the lecture, snapping the greenette out of it.
"A good guest would arrive at an event ahead of schedule, so that we can show how prepared and organized we are."
"S-Sorry," both Izuku and Ryuko apologized while bowing.
"As long as you're both here, you might want to go get changed now," Midnight said to the pair.
"Right!" the duo nodded in sync before marching to the elevator.
"Oooh, wait for me, Matoi! You're gonna need someone to help you put your dress on!" Jirou followed the girl.
"Wha- Hey!" Ashido called out, taken by surprise.
"HEY!" Mako also cried out.
"Dibs!" the purplette stuck out her tongue and closed the elevator door.
"-sigh- Aizawa told me that they were a handful," Cementoss shook his head.
"You're both always so negative," Nemuri nudged his shoulder.
"I think the correct term is cautious," Ken responded.
..~~~HLK~~~..
Ryuko stripped herself of her Kamui and worked to get into her dress. She was taking a bit of time since she wanted to be as careful as possible. The girl never checked how well she could control her strength. Jirou sat on the bed facing away from Ryuko, respecting her privacy.
"Are you excited, Ryuko?" Senketsu asked.
"Yeah, but I'm a lot more nervous. I've never gone to any dances before. Hey Jirou, can you help zip this up?" Ryuko asked, pointing to the zipper on her back.
Kyouka nodded and walked over to help out.
"I hope I'll look okay in this," Ryuko said as she wrapped a strap over her shoulder.
"Shut up, Matoi, you're going to look great," Kyouka chuckled.
"If you're gonna self-deprecate, at least do it when you're dancing with Midoriya so that he can tell you how wrong you are."
Ryuko's face reddened up, but she didn't flip out like she normally would. She only remained silent. For a moment there, Ryuko was giving it a lot of thought. She inhaled deeply, bracing herself for what she was going to say next.
"Actually… Izuku will be dancing with Uraraka."
Jirou tilted her head, confused by that statement.
"What? Er… How come?" she asked.
"Izuku likes her. And, I've been trying to help get them together," Matoi answered.
The purplette then gasped lightly. With that factor in the equation, it just made everything complicated. But, not that complicated.
"How do you know that he doesn't like you instead? I've seen the way you both look at each other, Matoi. Have you actually asked him?"
Matoi's mouth was slightly agape. Now that she thought about it, no, she hadn't.
"We don't have time to talk about it right now. But, just give it some thought, alright? Things might not be what you think they are," Kyouka said before she stepped back and gave Ryuko some room.
The girl spun a bit, letting her dress twirl like the smooth waves of an ocean. All that was left was taking Senketsu and tying him into her hair.
"Let's go," Kyouka said and opened the door for the both of them.
They both slipped out, ready to head back to the main entrance and regroup with everyone else. Matoi pressed the button to go down and stood back.
'Might not be what I think?' she wondered. The elevator pinged as it had finally arrived at their floor and the Kamui wielder wasn't looking ahead as the door opened. This was all too distracting.
"OOMPH/OOF!"
Ryuko collided into something as Jirou stuck an arm out to make sure she didn't fall off her feet.
"Ow!" Ryuko winced. She was pretty sure she hadn't run into the door.
"Speak of the devil," Kyouka smirked as Ryuko looked up to find Izuku standing there, in a black suit and white undershirt with a tie. It was very classy and a pretty safe pick. It fit his form surprisingly well but didn't make him look like a lumberjack with the muscles underneath.
'Why is he so handsome?' Ryuko's ears steamed as she tried her best to keep her composure.
"Sorry about that," Izuku muttered as his gaze wandered over to Ryuko.
And his heart stopped.
In front of him was something beyond beautiful. The navy blue dress suited her nicely, complimenting the red highlight in her hair and keeping the cool and calm vibe she normally gave off. It hugged her body to show off her curves, but still looked easy to move in. Izuku could just imagine Ryuko moving gracefully with the dress following her.
Up above, Izuku could see Senketsu wrapped around her hair, making a bun. His size was greatly reduced, keeping him discrete, but still visible. Ryuko's hair was mostly tied back, and her front bangs were styled differently. There was a moderate amount of makeup applied on her face, which further enhanced what Izuku already found attractive.
One moment she was a tomboy and now she looked like a princess.
Izuku couldn't help but gawk slightly, complete with a mild blush.
"Umm, Sorry- Ryuko! Are you-"
"Oh geez, Izuku! I- I didn't mean-"
This went on for about another minute as Jirou could only playfully roll her eyes.
'Ashido, I am sooo winning that betting pool on these two.'
Though this cute little apology-fest had to come to an end eventually.
"Ahem."
The two friends jumped as Jirou caught their attention, pointing one of her jacks at the elevator.
"Let's get going before Iida runs up the stairwell to track us down. I don't want him to give us a lecture on the way," Jirou chuckled before adding, "There's more time to chat once we're on the road."
"Y-yeah. You're right," Ryuko nodded while Izuku remained silent. Both of them were still blushing as they all hopped on the next ride down.
Each of them could still feel their hearts beating in their chests at a million miles a minute, trying to keep whatever composure they still had in one piece.
..~~~HLK~~~..
-7:45 p.m., Ball and Gala-
Hopping off the escort bus, the class and the chaperones entered the convention center. It looked complete, filled to the brim with beautiful decorations and carpeting that led them to the ballroom.
"Holy! A red carpet too? I feel like a celebrity!" Denki marveled at the scenery.
Once they got to a set of doors, the two guards promptly opened it and stood aside for everyone. This led them inside the ballroom, where they were greeted by a much more refined and expansive space. They were surrounded by gorgeous lights that highlighted the room's orange and cream colors. Curtains were hung down that gave a sense of ease and comfort. And it was well populated with business executives, or the citizens of the two-star district.
"WAAAAAAA! Everything's so pretty!" Mako gazed upon the breathtaking decor and glamor.
"Glad you think so! I made sure to spare no expense for you guys!" Ichiro greeted as he approached everyone.
"But forget about that. You all look so amazing! Welcome to the party!"
The boy wore what appeared to be a black vest and a black shirt underneath. This was paired with a set of black smartpants and rich maroon dress shoes. Mina and Toru drooled as they had front row seats to a fashion show. The tight vest gave them a good idea of how toned he was, and the gold medallion he wore in place of the bow tie caught their eyes. Which led up to his perfectly shaped face and smile.
Ichiro Tanaka somehow was able to swoon the girls with his looks, but still maintain a modest appearance, as his hair did not have any touch ups.
Some of the other girls were trying to contain themselves from staring like their two classmates up front. They were sporting red hues on their faces at most. Ryuko, on the other hand, tried to keep her eyes from lingering onto someone else.
Ichiro wasn't the only one who wore a nice tight-fitting suit.
The aura Izuku was giving off nearly overwhelmed Ryuko. The more she looked at him, it reminded her of when she was fixing his tie. They were so close… and…
"We're grateful to have even received this invitation, Mr. Tanaka," Cementoss gave his thanks, his booming voice helped snap Ryuko out of her stupor.
The girl quickly shook her head vigorously, getting her head out of the gutter.
'DAMMIT! SNAP OUT OF IT, RYUKO!' she cursed herself.
"No need to be formal, Mr. Ishiyama! Pleasure's all mine. Just be sure to enjoy and have fun!" Ichiro said before waving everyone off.
"I gotta get going. Hopefully I'll see some of you on the dance floor!"
"We'll be waiting for you!" both Hagakure and Ashido cried out as if he was drifting further from them. Some of the guys scoffed at how the two girls were head over heels for Tanaka.
"They're hopeless," Jirou sighed.
"Anyone wanna tell them their chances with him are next to nothing?" Sero asked the class.
"Let them hope. That way they can experience the crushing feeling of being rejected like us guys have to deal with daily!" Mineta grinded his teeth while clenching his fists tightly.
"Dude, you need to take it easy," Kirishima said cautiously.
"You all are idiots," Bakugo scoffed under his breath.
The blonde made it up on stage, hopping up over the front with a one-handed backhand spring and landing gracefully on his feet.
"He's got some mad hops," Denki noted.
"For real," Sato blinked.
Strolling over to the microphone, he turned to face the audience with his blue eyes shining and sparkling smile beaming out to the attendees.
"Welcome everyone! Thank you for coming to tonight's ball and gala!" Ichiro started, taking a brief pause for some applause.
"I want to keep things brief as I know the last thing you want is to hear a teenager blabbing his mouth off," he jested, drawing laughs from everyone in attendance.
Ichiro's eyes briefly shifted into a glare as he spotted something that was a huge thorn in his side within the crowd. He frantically moved his mouth away from the mic.
"God, why did you have to-?"
Tanaka hushed himself before he said too much. Fortunately for him, no one noticed where he was looking.
"A-Anyway, we have plenty of food and we'll be starting the music in a moment. Anyone is welcome to join in on the dance floor."
"That's all I've got," Tanaka concluded with a bow. "Enjoy the evening and have fun!"
He quickly descended down a stairway located to his right as a light applause rained down and the event had officially begun.
"I've got to go take care of something," Tanaka said as he walked briskly past the UA group with a friendly wave.
"I'll be back in a few minutes!"
Izuku's heart sank the moment Ichiro kicked off the ball, essentially throwing the whole class to the wolves. Not long after, they started to split up and go off to do their own thing. Ashido could be found on the dance floor, bringing some of the girls with her.
Unsurprisingly, the guys stayed on the sidelines, frozen with fear, minus Bakugo, Todoroki and Iida. Tenya in particular was starting to feel the beat and the effects of the energy his classmates shared.
"That looks like fun! Ashido, I'd like to join in!" Tenya called out, which drew up surprised reactions from many.
"Oooh! Looks like the class prez's the first to join the fun!" Toru exclaimed.
"What?! No way! Iida's showing us up!" Sero cried out.
"Nah, dude! The class prez is just making an example! C'mon, guys!" Eijiro encouraged his classmates.
"Welp! If Iida's getting in there, I might as well too!" Denki braced himself before walking on the dance floor.
"KAMINARI! We were supposed to stay together! How could you abandon me!" Minoru sobbed as his companion left him alone with no guidance.
"Time to show everyone how dazzling I truly am!" Yuga posed dramatically. Before he took a single step, Class 1A was crowded by others on the dance floor. The poor boy was denied from working his way to become the center of the stage.
Thanks to Ashido taking the initiative, they were all joined by others that were drawn to where the action was.
"You sure you don't wanna go with the others? Looks like a lotta' fun," Kirishima asked.
"I'm not interested. I'm just here for the free food," Bakugo shook his head and inspected the particularly spicy dishes.
Even though Bakugo wasn't going to budge, Kirishima didn't move from his spot. It got to the point that Katsuki was getting confused.
"What are you standing around me for? Aren't you going to join them?" the blonde's brows furrowed.
"Yeah, I could. But… I'm cool with just hanging out with my bro," Eijiro said earnestly before flashing a smile.
Katsuki's narrow eyes softened a little bit as he was left unable to make some witty comeback. There was a feeling that started to surface, but he did not know what it was.
"So, you think you can handle some of that spicy curry?" Eijiro asked, which conveniently cut off the blonde's thoughts.
"What, you think I can't? I bet you'd cry uncle after one bite!" Katsuki barked at him.
"You're on!"
While those two helped themselves to the buffet, Ryuko and Izuku were the last ones on the sidelines. The Kamui wielder had a mild grin, maintaining a fairly neutral expression. She was happy to see all of her friends having fun. Well, almost all.
Izuku Midoriya. The only boy she knew for her entire life was standing to her right. He looked antsy, probably trying to figure out how he was going to dance, or who he was going to dance with.
Ryuko didn't like to brag, but she was confident that she'd absolutely shred the ball with her moves. But for some reason, being there on the floor was discomforting for her.
Out of nowhere, she stepped away. Ryuko went for the nearest exit to get some fresh air. She wound up going outside one of the entrances of the convention center and stood idly by, gazing up at the stars above the buildings.
Izuku blinked a few times before he came out of his thousand yard stare, only to find that even Ryuko was gone.
'Huh?! W-Where's Ryuko?! Oh man! I'm all alone in a ball!'
He darted his eyes everywhere, scoping out the entire dance hall. Ryuko was nowhere to be seen, so his gaze turned back to his classmates.
'I guess I better get in there and do something. I can't just stand around here looking like a doofus! At least for now.'
Izuku straightened himself before he went to work his way through the walls of people. He said "Excuse me" so many times that the word was practically branded in his brain. Finally, he was able to join his friends. Everyone that joined in seemed to be accounted for, except Ryuko.
"Hey! Do you guys know where-" he spoke up, but stopped once he noticed something.
Ochako was absent from the group.
'Huh… Ochako isn't here. Wonder where she went? I could have sworn I saw her come down here with everyone,' Izuku thought as he inspected the circle.
"Did you say something, Midoriya?" Tsuyu asked him.
"I- Uhh, no. It's nothing. I'm looking for someone right now. Gotta go," Izuku motioned with his hand before he departed from the group.
Senketsu took a good moment to admire the sky. The night was very young, which made him wonder what he and Ryuko were doing away from the party.
"Ryuko."
"Yeah?" she answered.
"What are we doing out here?" the Kamui asked.
"I just need a minute," Ryuko said faintly.
Silence briefly clouded the air between them. Senketsu waited to see if Ryuko would say more, but found that she remained quiet.
"This is about Izuku, isn't it?" Senketsu finally brought up.
Ryuko met him with more silence, which essentially answered his question.
"Come on, Ryuko. You can't keep hiding like this. You should go in there and dance with him," Senketsu said.
"I don't know, Senketsu," Ryuko muttered.
"I know you've been trying to set him up with Uraraka and all, but consider your own feelings for once."
Ryuko held out her palm and looked at it to distract herself.
"You both have been friends for the longest time. Did you ever stop to think about why Izuku has always wanted to spend time with you?"
The girl's eyes widened as a memory resurfaced.
"If I were t-t-to d-d-date Uraraka, how would I be able to spend time with you?"
Ryuko's hand shook tensely before she stabilized it into a fist. Everything that's happened in Musutafu, Izuku was always there with her. Nothing more needed to be said as Ryuko huffed a breath of courage and went back inside.
Unfortunately, she collided with a wall of people and nearly knocked them over.
"Sorry!" Ryuko apologized before she saw the ocean of partygoers. Her classmates must have really inspired the stuck-up snobs of the Two-Star district.
As much as she loved how her classmates were the life of the party, it made it very difficult for her to get around the damn floor! Ryuko knew that Tanaka was a big shot people would flock towards, but she thought they would have been more organized.
"Ryuko, we'll get through this! Just as long as you don't lose your cool!" Senketsu warned.
"Hey! I know that! And what the hell do ya mean by that?!" she barked at him. If she wasn't trying to fight her way through the crowd, she'd tug on Senketsu's eye right now.
As she struggled to even get up to the surface of people, Izuku was not having much luck either.
"Thankfully it's not like the level three security breach, but this is a bit much!" Izuku grunted as he tried to shimmy through the dance floor.
Just when they were hoping for a miracle, a sea of people moved towards the buffet, creating a path in front of them. Both teens were understandably confused, but were curious enough to walk down the open roads. The further they got, the more the trail opened. It was not long before Izuku and Ryuko met face to face.
"Ryuko?"
"Izuku?"
Both of them were stunned for words as the color red glowed on their faces.
"H-Hey, Izuku! I- Umm," Ryuko's eyes parted from his, struggling to maintain eye contact.
Izuku could very well see how flustered Ryuko was. Though he shared the same feeling, he couldn't help but smile. Something about watching her antics was just so joyful. Now it was time to break the ice.
"Ryuko, do you… want to dance?"
The girl gasped as his question lit up a flame in her heart. His words echoed in her ears and her eyes shined bright with joy and wonder.
Before she could answer…
-CLICK-
All the exhilaration went away like a gust of wind, as that sound triggered Ryuko's fight or flight mode. Izuku felt his body nearly freeze as he knew that particular click. The two turned their attention to the source of the commotion, finding Satsuki Kiryuin and the Elite Four standing up on stage, where a light shined on them. The rest of the floor and Class 1A grew silent as they also looked up to the stage.
"Greetings, everyone. Welcome to Honnō City, students of UA High. And welcome back, Ryuko Matoi," Satsuki said, bearing a small grin.
All Ryuko could do was bare her teeth at the dominatrix and hold onto Izuku protectively. That alone was enough for Satsuki to proceed.
"Fuck! Did she have to make a spectacle?!" Ichiro hissed under his breath, tightening his fists.
"I've come to make an announcement. For the past week, Honnōji has participated in what I call the Naturals Election. Unlike traditional elections, all of our students fight to represent themselves in social status. Tomorrow, at 8:30 A.M., we will begin the sudden death runoff on a King of the Hill final battle. And I would like to invite you all to participate."
All of Class 1A collectively gasped as she dropped quite the invitation. They still felt that they were fresh off the Sports Festival and now they were being challenged to take on Honnōji Academy.
"The Elite Four and I find that it would be an explosive finale for the Academy's first election if it were to go up against UA's best. Wouldn't you agree?" Satsuki proposed.
The students swallowed hard, frozen in place out of fear.
"It is your choice; though Ryuko Matoi is a different story."
"What the hell do you want?" Ryuko snarled.
"I have an incentive for you, Matoi. If you and your classmates, should they choose to join, win this competition, I will tell you the details of your father's death."
Ryuko's breath hitched. All of this time, everything she worked towards. She could finally get answers if she won. But, her friends' lives weren't worth risking it for.
"What game are you playing here, Kiriyuin? What happened to Dr. Matoi shouldn't be some sick game show prize," Izuku interjected, earning a glare from the REVOCs heir.
"I see you're as bold as ever, Izuku Midoriya," Satsuki narrowed her eyes, trying to pierce through Midoriya's confidence, but he wouldn't budge.
"I'm not here to play games, nor negotiate. You can either take what I've offered or get nothing at all."
Izuku gritted his teeth as his brows furrowed, leaving slight creases on his forehead. Maybe he was outmatched, but he absolutely hated how Satsuki talked down to Ryuko. All he wanted to do was tear her to shreds. As his anger bubbled, he slowly started moving towards the stage, surprising his classmates.
"Who do you think you are to come in here and-"
"Izuku, stop."
Someone had a grip on his left forearm, cutting him off in the process. Craning his head back, Izuku's expression went from livid to puzzled as Ryuko held tight, not letting him move an inch.
She wasn't yelling at him, not even close. Nor did it appear that she was angry. Her expression was purely neutral with a bit of a fire dancing behind her gear-blue irises.
"Ryu-"
Matoi didn't wait for him to finish his words. She walked up to his side as all eyes now focused on her and the Kiryuin heiress.
"I'm not the same girl who you sent away a few months ago," Matoi glared back, catching the others on stage off guard. "I actually have to thank you for that. For showing me there's more that I can do to make this world a better place."
Mako and all of 1-A looked on, seemingly lost for words. They knew she was giving them praise, but the way she was commanding the room lit a spark in each of them.
"I do want answers, so I'll be there tomorrow to take you down. But mark my words; if you think you're going to push me and my friends around, then you've got another thing coming."
Jakuzure appeared slack jawed, her smirk completely wiped away, while Inumuta, Sanageyama and Gamagori looked equally stunned. Was this really the same Ryuko Matoi they knew before?
This was the most annoyed that Jakuzure had ever seen Satsuki, the heiress' hands balling into fists. The red-streaked girl fired back without having to even raise her voice, somehow cutting through the dominating presence Satsuki exuded to all of Honnōji when she stepped into a room.
But soon enough, Satsuki's glare softened and her hands relaxed. Her change in demeanor gave way to a tight, closed-lip smile, and an inaudible chuckle escaped her lips
"Very well, Matoi," Satsuki leaned her head back and slightly tilted to the left, a smugness growing within her. "Let's see if you can make good on that bravado."
Without another word, Satsuki turned toward the steps on the left side of the stage and descended onto the floor with the Elite Four following closely behind. While the crowd could only watch as the Council President took her exit, Ryuko and Izuku stood firm, both fiercely determined to give her a taste of her own medicine.
"That was intense!" Ojiro shuddered.
"Yeah, Midoriya nearly blew a fuse there," Sato whispered.
"Thank god Matoi stepped in," Kaminari nodded. "But that chick picked the wrong people to start a fight with."
"Damn right, she did! Did she really think she could just talk smack to Matoi like that and get away with it?" Kirishima asked.
"Despicable," Tokoyami shook his head.
"What a bully! Glad Midoriya was there to back Matoi up!" Hagakure called out.
"Yeah! The way they stood up to her? Now that's manly!" Kirishima said proudly.
"They both continue to surprise me at every turn. It's safe to say that their examples are something that we can all follow as heroes," Tenya watched Midoriya, who was still tending to Matoi and took her away from the crowd to grab some air.
"Sometimes, I still wonder if they should have been the ones to lead the class."
His classmates silently agreed, as Momo looked on at the duo.
'I was wrong to assume so much about you, Matoi,' Yaoyorozu held a hand to her chest. 'Even if no one else will say it, I know the rest of our class will be behind you.'
Out of nowhere, Tanaka hopped back on stage and picked up the microphone.
"I-I humbly apologize for that interruption everyone," Tanaka meekly laughed. "Big parties mean opportunities to get noticed! You know, competition stuff! But please, let's just enjoy the night!"
There was a bit of dead air afterwards since the hired band was off cue. But with a snap of Tanaka's fingers, they got right back on track. Music was being played, but much slower than before. The ambience was gradually shifting back to how it was prior to that little interruption.
Once everything was back in line, Ichiro roughly placed the mic back on its stand and walked off the stage. His feet sounded heavier with every step.
Izuku took Ryuko off the dance floor, getting just far enough away from the masses so that they could breathe.
"Ryuko, are you okay? I-I know that took a lot to do, and-"
"Holy shit. That was AWESOME!" Ryuko launched her fist into the air, which caught Izuku and Senketsu by surprise.
"I've waited so long to finally push her on the back foot. Did you see the look on her face when I told her off? I should've taken a picture!"
Izuku was amazed by the level of enthusiasm she had. Just hours ago, she was in an uncomfortable place. But now, she was able to get herself out. Some of Ryuko's energy relocated itself into Izuku, making him as joyful as her.
"Yeah! That was amazing, Ryuko! I don't think anyone's ever made her walk away like that! She looked so mad!" Izuku chuckled.
"The queen of Honnō looked like she was going to throw a temper tantrum! Trust me when I say that news gets around quickly in Honnō City. I can't wait to see how Satsuki will try to cover this up!" Ryuko finished with a cheeky grin on her face. Her face quickly turned a mild red before looking Izuku in his eyes.
"And… Thanks for sticking up for me, Izuku. That was amazing, too."
The innocent look in her eyes pierced the greenette, turning him beat red.
"I-It's nothing, Ryuko! I-I was just looking out for you! L-Like a friend would!" Izuku blurted out before covering himself up with a strange formation of his arms.
He then felt a hand grip on the arm that was mainly covering his face. Ryuko pulled it down, once again exposing him to her binding gaze.
"It wasn't nothing, Izuku. But… Enough about that," Ryuko paused, feeling her entire face get hot before looking away. Her lips quivered and her hand started shaking. She took a moment to deeply inhale before aligning her eyes up to his emerald greens.
"Weren't you… going to ask me something?"
Izuku held his voice, at a loss for words. There were hints of want and demand in her eyes, and in her voice.
At that moment, Izuku stopped everything he was doing. His shielded arms loosened and lowered, letting him face Ryuko. The rapid heartbeat in his chest was so loud that the sounds of the music and people faded.
All of Izuku's senses focused only on Ryuko now. His eyes never detracted from looking deep into hers. Just like before, he could map out the blue gears in them. Nothing here could break their concentration as they were just background noise.
It was just him and Ryuko now.
Taking a sharp inhale, he tightened his resolve and slowly lent out his hand.
"Do you want to dance, Ryuko?"
The red streaked girl looked down at his palm that waited for her. She held it so many times before, but tonight felt special. Her cheeks became a dusty red blush before stretching into a smile. After all these years, this was the closest that they'd ever been, and she never expected it.
Even the path forward still remained a mystery to her. With one big step into the unknown, Ryuko gently took Izuku's hand into hers. They laced their fingers together so tight that no one could separate them.
"Gladly."
The two navigated their way back onto the floor, walking together hand in hand.
Izuku felt a spark light up in his body, making him feel happier than he ever had been before. Ryuko placed her free hand on Izuku's shoulder while he placed his on her back, just a bit above her waist.
Once they were in position, Izuku took the initiative and pulled his foot back. Ryuko followed soon after. He tried to remember how slow dancing would take place from the movies he saw long ago. Izuku could have let Ryuko lead since she actually knew how to dance, but tonight he wanted to make an impression.
Izuku made sure to use his hips to help keep his center as he moved around. Every motion he made, Ryuko was right behind him on it. She could feel her heart racing, but dancing with Izuku… It felt nice.
The greenette was able to keep things at a steady pace without feeling stiff. They danced around the floor like clouds soaring through the sky. Ryuko's dress flowed with their movement, showing off its beauty. Everything was smooth. It didn't feel that one or the other was moving too slow or too fast. They were perfectly in sync.
Ashido was taking a breather over at the food table when she caught something in the corner of her eye. Once it came into full view that Izuku and Ryuko were dancing together, her gaze nearly sparkled like a sprinkler.
"Ohhh my goosssh!" the Pinkette ran over to grab Toru and the rest of the girls to show them what was happening. Many of them gushed like the schoolgirls they've more than likely seen in movies. Kyouka on the other hand smiled.
'About time.'
"They look lovely together," Momo said warmly and held her hands close to her chest.
"I was wondering when they were gonna dance together," Tsuyu said.
The guys soon caught wind of this and could only give props to the class's mean green machine.
"Whoa. Check it out! The first class couple!" Eijiro nudged Bakugo to show him.
"Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Just two dumbasses dancing," Katsuki scoffed and turned away.
"I think someone's jealous!" Denki and Hanta both slid over to Katsuki and poked him in the side.
"SHUT UP!" the spikey blonde screamed.
"Inside voices, Bakugo!" Tenya reprimanded his classmate.
"Hey, aren't you gonna say something?" Kaminari posed to Mineta.
"Nope," Minoru replied bluntly. He knew there would be consequences if he stepped out of line.
"Well, whatever it is, I'm happy for those two," Shoji said contently.
Ryuko giggled discreetly so that the other dancers wouldn't hear, which piqued Izuku's curiosity. But before he could ask anything, the girl rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck. Izuku sported a mild blush as he then instinctually held her waist while they continued.
The warmth he felt from her, it was so comforting. And it made him feel safe.
"I'm having a lot of fun, Izuku," Ryuko hummed as they continued to move to the beat.
"I'm glad. Hopefully that means I'm doing a good job... At least, in the eyes of a real dancer," Izuku responded sheepishly.
Ryuko giggled again before she pulled back, but remained close enough where there was a small distance between their faces.
"You are."
Ryuko said that with the brightest smile.
"Thanks, Ryuko," Izuku said wholeheartedly.
"And if you want, maybe I can teach you a few moves someday. We could bring Iida and Uraraka too," Ryuko suggested.
Izuku curled his brows and gave it some thought for a brief moment. It could be really fun to have something for them to take their mind off of their training.
"Sounds like fun. But, I think I want it to just be the two of us."
Ryuko's heart skipped a beat. A lot of the questions she had, about herself and Izuku, he might have just answered them.
"I'd like that."
Having a new burst of energy, Ryuko decided to amp things up with their dance. She lifted her feet up a bit for more movement, which Izuku was able to follow. Next, she parted herself from him in a spin while still holding his hand.
'I… I could get used to this,' Izuku thought as he stared at Matoi's face, his eyes ever so slightly lidded as Ryuko gave off the exact same look. The world was their oyster and he was as happy as he could remember.
Ryuko spun around for a moment as Izuku briefly twirled her before pulling her back in and continued to sway to the rhythm, feeling completely ecstatic.
'I don't want this to end.'
..~~~HLK~~~..
As the night stars sparkled, the rest of the UA students relaxed before their ride showed up to take them back to the hotel. Ochako looked out over the water as Ichiro joined her. The waves were gently lapping at the cliffside below.
"I've gotta ask you something," Tanaka said.
"Yeah?" Ochako turned her gaze towards him.
"Why do this? Seems like a lot of work to help pair them up like that," Tanaka looked down while crossing his arms.
"Really? I thought this is something that would be up your alley," Ochako jested, which Tanaka couldn't help but stifle a laugh.
"I guess. But I just don't see how it would benefit you," Ichiro looked back at her.
"It doesn't have to. If I can make my friends happy, I'm happy. Plus, I still danced. It's not like I was going to stand next to you the entire night," Ochako smirked.
"Ouch, but fair," Ichiro snickered into his palm.
"You could have danced with Ashido or Hagakure," Uraraka suggested.
Tanaka could only suck in air through his teeth, looking off to the side. Ochako picked up on this and giggled.
"I guess even the pure ones can be picky too," she added.
Tanaka soon relaxed his shoulders a bit.
"But, that was awfully sweet of you, Uraraka," Tanaka spoke softly, leading Uraraka to blush with a bit of sadness, yet still grinning.
"I really have to thank you for helping me out with that, Tanaka. I couldn't have pulled it off on my own," she responded, drawing a light chuckle from the boy.
"They looked so natural dancing together. You're a good friend, you know that?" Ichiro said.
Ochako's heart skipped a beat for a half second before looking back out at the ocean.
"Yeah, I've heard," Ochako giggled before turning back to him.
"Are we going to see you tomorrow at Honnōji?"
"Of course! It also helps that I have nothing on my schedule," he laughed, with Ochako quickly joining in.
"But really, Thank you, Tanaka."
The boy blinked before blushing slightly and letting out a wistful sigh. Despite all of the ups and downs that occurred, the ball was a success.
"Not a problem."
To Be Continued…