As Ryukyu and Yu argue, you're not thinking about how Yu is forcing you to choose between her and Ryukyu. Nor are you thinking about the microaggressions Yu made toward your new form. You initially consider how your new dragon-like body makes picking to side with Ryukyu the obvious choice. But… that thought is quickly put aside.

Not only did Ryukyu turn me into this, but I'm more than her sidekick! Yu's right; Ryukyu has been incredibly manipulative. I bet she's ecstatic that I'm a dragon now. I don't need someone overbearing like that as a mentor anymore. I need a free-thinker. Who cares if Ryukyu can better teach me how to use my new body if she's just going to be so overprotective? I don't just need one mentor, and if Ryukyu can't understand that, then I'm going to spread my wings.

You take a breath before revealing the answer.

"I pick Yu," you state plainly.

Yu seems a bit shocked to have gotten this far, but that is quickly replaced by a wide, Cheshire smirk.

And Ryukyu?

She drops to her knees, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Kazuha, please. Don't listen to her. I love you. We're family."

You turn away, unable to look Ryukyu in the eyes. "Just please, get out. We're done here."

"You heard her," Yu smugly taunts. "She doesn't want you here. You're just a washed-up pile of human trash. Go find a cave to rot in and find another treasure trove to polish up. This one wasn't yours, to begin with. I merely saved poor Kazuha from you. I'm her knight in shining armor."

Through the tears, Ryukyu glares at Yu with absolute fury. "If you hurt her, I'll kill you."

Yu giggles manically. "That's not the talk of a hero, is it? Now get out. Or will I have to get a wagon for the dragon?"

Ryukyu drags herself off the floor, bumping into Yu's shoulder rather purposefully on the way out. You aren't sorry to see her go.

Yu's grin goes from having a sinister edge to a far more soft and gentle smile as she moves to your bed. She sits next to you, propping you up against her shoulder.

"You're beautiful," Yu comments. "I'm sorry about the whole ugly and monster comments. Those were totally just to get under Ryukyu's scales. I'd never call you that."

"I believe you," you affirm to Yu, sensing a kinship between you and her that you hadn't picked up on before.

"And don't worry. You'll be unstoppable by the time I'm done with you," Yu claims. "Aren't you proud to be my personal little pet project?"

"I'm not your pet-winged lizard, Yu."

"It's a figure of speech," Yu deadpanned.

"I'm not dumb," you scoff. "You might have a way with words, but manipulation is manipulation. Especially when you're being so overt about it.

"Uh… you passed the first test?"

"Why am I convinced that's also a lie?"

"Ugh. Do you really care? You want to be taught, right?"

"I picked you for a reason, didn't I? I might be different, but I haven't lost my drive."

"Spunky as always. The same girl who threatened to lock me out of my room… I like that."

"So do I."

"Good girl," Yu praises. "You'll be a great student. Then let us begin."

We don't need Ryukyu. I already have her quirk factor. And there are others.

Yes… Yu's charisma, way of words, and force of presence. That's what I need. To secure more quirks, I'll need to succeed in the art of manipulation. Being a goody-goody two-shoes will just limit my potential as a hero.

"But can you, like, brush your teeth first?" Yu squeezes her nose. "You literally have dragon breath."


After you are released from the hospital, Ryukyu makes multiple attempts to get back in contact with you, but you continue to avoid confronting her, avoiding her out in the halls. Yet when it comes to Rumi, the feeling of wanting to avoid confrontation is mutual. While you've realized that Ryukyu blames what happened solely on Yu, Rumi sees how you hurt her best friend with the decision and clearly has yet to forgive you. Even if you had wanted to forgive and forget with Ryukyu, Rumi would've made that nearly impossible before the time the two of them graduated. After that… they had important hero work that made reconnecting incredibly difficult.

Instead, the time you previously spent with Ryukyu is instead dedicated to time with Yu. Despite Yu clearly originally only agreeing to become your mentor to spite Ryukyu, you find it ironic that while Yu complained about Ryukyu treating you like a little sister more than a student, Yu's fallen into the exact same trappings. In fact, you almost influence her as much as the other way around, unintentionally minimizing any character growth she might've had by attending U.A. In fact, most of your time together is less about studying and more about having fun. You still remember when Yu brought you to that nail salon that would actually properly tend to your new claws. Or that massage parlor that could actually take care of the minor aches and pains that your new wings and tail came with.

Of course, to experience those, you had to get out of physical therapy first. Without Ryukyu, you know you haven't adapted to your new body as well as you could've. Your tail is barely within your control, and the extra focus it takes to prevent it from dragging across the ground and how much heavier your body feels slows you down quite a bit. Your wings have much the same effect as your tail, but at least those can function as a paraglider. Without a proper teacher, you've yet to actually master the art of flying… or even really attempt it.

To contrast all those drawbacks, there is no question that your durability has greatly increased, your scales protecting the new fleshy layer of 'skin' underneath them. The claws on both your feet and toes, along with your sharp fangs, make attacks with those even more potent. And that's without including the increase in muscle mass required to carry your new body weight, requiring you to stay in shape more than ever.

And yet all of that most occurred in physical therapy or your own. Past some elementary initial combat training that Yu provided you during her one hour of practice in the private training hall every few days, she is incredibly hands-off when it comes to using your quirk and fighting. Any real training Yu gives you is all about how to carry yourself. While you can't deny she's turning you into a mini version of her, quite literally considering her quirk, you can't help but feel the effect of her natural charisma and how it's flowing into you.

When your fellow students first saw your new body, you were bullied as a late bloomer. Since beginning your tutelage under Yu, you've squashed that outright with a looming sense of fear. You're better than them; you know it, and make sure they know it too. Everything down to how you walk, head held high, tail purposefully swaying side to side to keep the eyes of your peers on the ground, so their feet will not get tripped up by your sweeping tail. Your wardrobe choice further highlights the natural physique and curves of your now teenage body, helped by a catwalk that has been carefully planned and practiced. Sure, some would call you a slut, but you don't really care about those people. You stayed within the dress code; it's the school's fault for being so awful.

Despite looking half-lizard, you make the most of what you have through sheer force of presence alone to rise up the popularity charts upon hitting high school. In class, you no longer hide your intelligence, and those that would dare mock you as a teacher's pet lizard would find themselves quickly socially isolated and begging you for forgiveness. While there are still boundaries you won't cross, by asserting yourself as Queen Bitch, nobody messes with you or anyone else without your direct say-so, hence the lack of bullying on campus among those in your grade level. Just as your father was the principal of U.A., you might as well have been the principal of your high school. All because you were willing to let the ends justify the means and take extra compensation for yourself along the way. You've taken Yu's mentality and sworn to win at high school in every way it mattered.

You know how you've been carrying yourself isn't what most would consider inherently heroic, but you don't care. In fact, you've started to embrace a hybrid mentality between Nezu and Yu, which has been working for you for now.

Dad mentioned how my quirk and understanding of hero culture from being raised in it gives me the freedom to be whoever I want, and that's exactly what I'm doing.

But for now, the only thing you frankly care about is yourself and those closest to you. Because being 'bad,' so long as you're not hurting anyone, to do good, is just so much fun.


And yet one day, your order is broken. A kid you recognize as Saito has gotten into a fight with one of the school bullies you thought until now to have under your thumb, Kanji.

They're gonna get a firm talking to.

Stepping into the makeshift arena, you glare at the two boys with every ounce of intimidation you can muster from Yu's training.

"Knock it off!"

Both boys turn to face you, frozen in place, your frown controlled just enough to allow the silver of your fangs to peek out of your mouth.

"Do I have to repeat myself?!

"N-no," Saito says, backing up. "I-I…."

"Did I ask you to speak?!"

Saito goes to say 'no,' but stops himself.

"Perfect," you smirk before turning your attention back to Kanji. "And what exactly do you think you're doing?!"

"He started it," Kanji insisted. "We all know that's a load of crap, Kanji. But even if it was true, I think you misunderstand me. I don't give a damn who started it, but you're ending it. Now. Do I make myself clear?"

Kanji gulps. "Crystal."

"Now drop and give me twenty."

Kanji stupidly steps right back out of line. "You're no-not the boss of us!"

You focus on your hand, currently placed on your hip. While you can't change your whole body, you've at least learned that your claws are retractable in the last four years, and you put that to good use now.

Nobody but Kanji notices the subtle threat, who immediately begins to do push-ups, with Saito quickly joining him, albeit begrudgingly.

You tsk, seeing the teachers approaching in the distance and not liking the look that Himiko has in her eye as she stares at Saito.

I'm not getting dragged into their pissing match any more than I already have.

"Horie, patch these two idiots up, will you?"

Your sister nods obediently, beginning to tend to Saito first.

"Come on, people!" you order the crowd. "Don't you have someplace better to be than watching two losers receive punishment? Get outta here."

Afraid to disobey your order, everyone begins to disperse with the festivities already dying down. As they do, you grab Himiko by the arm as she attempts to step toward Saito.

"Come on," you encourage. "We're getting you your daily dose."

Himiko perks up at that, seeming to dismiss any thoughts of talking with Saito from her mind. "You promise?"

"Have I lied to you yet? Now come on. We can talk in our secret spot."

Himiko nods, and you two escape using the crowd before you can be questioned by the teachers about your involvement.


The two of you quickly find yourselves in the abandoned garden shed. You, Horie, and Himiko picked this spot as your secret hideaway because it was out of the way. Not even the gardeners liked coming out here, and they felt that way before the school built them a closet closer to the main campus for their supplies.

It was a nice place to get away from the crowd for a quiet moment between your two closest friends. And for Himiko, this was especially important. Ever since your transformation and scales covered your body, the places from which Himiko could drain blood have become severely limited. Instead of drinking from your wrists, for the past several years, Himiko's been forced to drink from a spot near your stomach, a region where your scales don't reach. According to Chiyoko, having scales on your belly would cause problems with your breathing, digestion, and potentially one day, in the very far future, reproduction.

Obviously, such a rendezvous led most of the campus to believe you and Himiko were an item, and frankly, you never go out of your way to dispute it. Neither you nor especially Himiko were ready for a romantic relationship yet, and everyone believing you were doing it was a great cover for what you were actually doing. And yet… you have a feeling that everything could change in the conversation you're about to have.

"How are things with your family?" you question Himiko.

Himiko rolls her eyes. "They still think I'm some sort of demon child; they don't even pretend to think I'm anything other than an inhuman abomination that never should've been born. They don't understand that a girl like me has certain urges to be filled. But you understand, Kazuha. That's why I love you. You're my bestest friend in the whole wide world."

You flinch slightly, not because Himiko's affection for you isn't something you have long since been aware of, but because it hits so close to the point of your conversation. "Why were you looking at Saito like that?"

Himiko blushes. "I-I think I have a crush. Seeing all those bruises. It was… well, it made me feel things."

"Have you ever talked with him before?"

"N-no," Himiko admits.

"Do you share any classes with him?"

"I think one? Maybe?"

"Do you even know his name?"

"Saito."

"Before I told you about it?"

Himiko remains silent.

You sigh. "You sure it wasn't your quirk acting up from seeing the blood?"

"I-I don't know," Himiko realizes. "I… don't understand love. Maybe I was so desperate to feel 'love' that I…."

Himiko starts to sniffle, and you instinctively hug her. "Why is it so hard to be normal? If I was normal, my family wouldn't hate me. If I was normal, I could actually have a boyfriend. But these hunger pains, this desire to drink. I can't function without blood. Without you, Kazuha, I think I'd lose my mind completely."

For the first time in a while, you really don't know what to say, so your mouth moves on its own.

"Love is… complicated."

"Have you ever felt a crush before?" Himiko asks. "I just want to hear what it's like."

"I don't know, either. But there are more types of love than just the love between two romantic partners. There is also the love between family, both blood and found. Like how I love Horie like a sister."

"Do you love me the same way?"

You hesitate.

How do I feel about Himiko?

"I-I care about you very, very much."

"Like you do for Horie?" Himiko's voice is sprinkled with hope.

"No-not in the same way," you tell her. "But equally as strong."

Himiko tilts her head. "Do you love me… romantically?"

You back up slightly.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about."

Come on, you stupid brain. Figure out what you want already.

Himiko starts… putting dots together. "How I feel about you is different from how I feel about Horie, too. At first, I thought it was because I was drinking your blood; it had to be a byproduct of my quirk. But now? Just thinking about the idea of us being together. It warms my heart. Is this… love?"

The blonde squeals in delight, leaning into your hug more and more like an excited puppy dog craving attention.

"I-I love someone! I think I actually understand it now! Yay!"

You did not expect today to become a confession, but here you are. And yet Himiko's smile is infectious. Hyped up off the realization, Himiko gets into your face. "You like me too, right, Kazuha? Let's become a couple! I want to learn more about love!"

And yet… you can't help but kill the mood.

"I-I'm sorry, Himiko. I don't know what I want. And I don't know if you know either. Can we resume this talk tomorrow?"

Himiko smiles. "I'll always wait for you, Kazuha."


Whenever you've found yourself posed with a difficult question you don't quite know the answer to, you always go to Yu for answers. Even if you had to admit your relationship with Yu had likely caused her to become emotionally stunted, never really mentally aging past 18, she was still the only person you could trust with these matters.

The two of you are curled up on the apartment's couch, watching TV, but you aren't listening to the trashy reality show Yu had put on as background noise. Instead, you tell Yu everything that happened today with Horie.

And as you finish, Yu smirks. "So when's the wedding?"

"Very funny," you blush. "I came to you for advice, not for jokes."

"It's not a joke if you don't want it to be," Yu teases. "The few times I did meet Blondie, her affection for you was obvious. I'm, like, surprised it took her this long to figure it out… or you, for that matter."

Yu's smile turns to a frown. "I taught you better than that. You were supposed to pick up on these cues ages ago. You've been slacking."

You decide against apologizing, mostly to avoid giving Yu the satisfaction.

"What do you think I should do?" you question.

"Well, if I were in your shoes and had a best friend since childhood who had a quirk that could make every night in the bedroom a fresh experience and would be utterly submissive to me, I'd have bent her over in the shed on the spot. I mean, even if you weren't into chicks, which you are, just get her a vile of some chumps blood, and she can be a he."

"Wow," you roll your eyes. "How insightful. You do realize you're fetishizing a minor?"

"I said if I were in your shoes, bitch," Yu bites back. "Not that you wear shoes anymore."

"True," you accept, no longer letting any insults about your body get under your scales. "But seriously, Yu. Himiko's my best friend."

"Ouch. What about me?"

"My best friend beside you," you correct. "Happy now?"

"Yes," Yu sighs. "Okay, bedroom shit aside, your pet project is fucking crazy. And I mean crazy."

"I know. But she can be better," you insist.

"Kaz, this girl goes to therapy three times a week and still relies on you entirely for stability. She's not all right up there in her head. Even if you can keep her from attacking people, or hell, turn her into a hero, she will never be normal."

"And is being a lizard person normal?" You stare her in the eyes. "Or a size queen like you? Who decides that?"

Yu scoffs. "Size Queen! That totally should've been my hero name! Why didn't I think of that one?"

"Get your head out of the gutter!"

"Your taste in crazy ass bitches aside, your favorite little Yandere vampire over there doesn't understand what love is. And she's submissive as fuck to you. That means you're setting the terms of the relationship."

"Go on."

"From my perspective, you can have a few different types of relationships with this broad. The first is keeping things strictly platonic as you have been doing; probably your best if you realize you don't actually feel something for Himiko. I mean, why date her if you hate her?"

"Next," you dismiss.

"Friends-with-benefits?"

"And why would I do that? It feels so… gross… to use Himiko like that."

"Is it really using, though? You get a free fuck every once in a while, Himiko remains docile to you, and it doesn't have to progress into anything more if you don't wanna." Yu shrugs. "Seems like a win-win to me."

"Not everything is about sex. And it could give Himiko the wrong idea about what friendship actually means. Besides, what's the difference between that and a casual relationship?"

"Even casual relationships are relationships," Yu warns. "Even if it means you aren't necessarily exclusive, you'd still be girlfriend and girlfriend. You'd be a couple and be expected to do couple's shit. And even if you were dating other people, Himiko wouldn't; that's her personality. She'd stay committed to you because of her connection. It's all about the label. A relationship carries weight with it, you know? Not in the same way as a friendship. You find a guy you like, and it doesn't complicate things if you are just friends. Even a casual relationship is way less casual than friends with benefits. But if you want to date her, that's your prerogative."

You groan, annoyed that Yu can only see Himiko as a piece of ass rather than a person. "And what if I want… more?"

Yu stops, her tone becoming way more serious. "Are you actually considering it? This isn't just a fling? Or shooting the shit about what if?"

"I'm still not sure. I care a lot about Himiko, though. Part of me is afraid to hurt her by taking half steps."

Yu taps her fingers on her thigh. "Himiko is attached to you, you know? Relationship or not, you're the most important thing in her life."

"Yu?"

"But as the most important thing in her life right now, Kazuha, increasing your role in it would make you the centerpiece of her life. You'd be her guiding key. And that's a lot of power and trust to give to one person. And with her quirk? You could turn her into anything you wanted."

"Where are you going with this?"

"If a committed relationship is what you want, I just want my little sister to know what she's getting into. Because you could turn Himiko into anything. You could help her with her issues, make you dependent on you… Maybe you could mold her into the perfect life partner with some time. But in exchange, breaking up with her? Those Yandere jokes might not be a joke anymore. Because this girl craves love more than she does blood."

"Are you telling me don't date her?"

"I'm telling you, if you really love her, go for it. Don't even fucking hesitate. Because if you love her even a fraction of what she does you, and can respect the relationship, then you don't need anyone else. But this will not have a happy ending if you're unwilling to do the work, are looking for a more equal partnership, or will cheat on her the first sign of things going wrong. Go for something more in your comfort zone without as high a level of commitment. Or just don't date her at all."

"So what you're saying is…."

"However you define the relationship, it's just like any other. The more serious, the more committed you must be to make it work. And with a girl like Himiko, you must know how she'll react if it doesn't work out. I won't deny if your main objective is to help her; the closer your bond, the more open her heart will be more open to accepting that change. And heck, if you don't want her, maybe push her onto that Saito guy anyway."

You take a deep breath and begin to go through the options with Yu's advice given.

The first thing I can do is remain friends with Himiko. It'd keep the status quo unless she decides she should give dating Saito a chance. But what if the status quo isn't enough to sate her anymore? And this could be my best chance if I want to be anything more than friends with Himiko. Otherwise, I risk losing her or the very at least falling into the friend zone. Should I really hesitate, assuming that's what my heart wants?

Maybe Yu is right about a friendship with benefits? It's super casual, allows us to have some fun, and probably takes Himiko's thoughts about Saito out of her head and puts them to bed. It wouldn't prevent me from dating anyone else in the future, either. It offers me so many benefits without pressure, but what would it do to Himiko? It could change her definition of friendship in the worst-case scenario or even leave her in limbo. This relationship can only last so long once I also have another lover in the picture. It's a good sort term option, but what are the long-term consequences?

On the opposite side of the spectrum is a committed relationship. And once again, what Yu said makes sense. Himiko is incredibly impressionable. If I was in a committed relationship with her, maybe… I could change her? Himiko's already been a great friend to me, and she's improved so much over the years. As my girlfriend, maybe one day my wife, she might be even more comfortable to open up and change. But the responsibility for Himiko would be on my shoulders. If I wanted to make her my yes-woman, I'd have the power to do so. And it's a bit scary to have that much power over Himiko, especially if I don't use that power responsibly and end up hurting her in the process. As Yu said, if I'm willing to commit, Himiko could be an amazing person to spend my life with. I just have to put in the work. But is that what I'm willing to do?

A casual relationship is sort of the middle ground between all of these. It could progress into a committed relationship when Himiko and I are older. But it also wouldn't stop us from inviting other people into our relationship or experimenting with dating others. It would offer freedom, so long as I was transparent. And yet… Yu's correct Himiko would probably treat it like a committed relationship. She wouldn't date anyone else unless I brought them into our lives, but she wouldn't of her own initiative. And she'd still take a break-up incredibly hard. I'd be trading a greater capacity to help Himiko grow in exchange for the ability to sleep around.

I guess… what do I want with Himiko.

Come on, heart. Tell me what you want. I'm open to anything.


DECISION POINT: What Type of Relationship Should Kazuha Have With Himiko?

A - Friendship

B - Friends With Benefits

C - Casual Relationship

D - Committed Relationship