After taking a few moments to consider your following words carefully, you've mentally prepared your answer for Star & Stripe, and you are confident it will work as you intend.

"If you want my opinion, here it is. My sister's quirk, Lay on Hands, cannot be used for harm. It's a healing-type quirk. Some doctors, like my mother, are authorized to use their healing quirks in combination with their medical knowledge. The same goes for the Red Cross and organizations like it, whose actions are exempt from the vigilante laws. Why should Horie's quirk use be seen as any different? Horie doesn't deserve to be punished for this."

Star & Stripe taps her chin. "It's certainly true that there are special rules for healing quirks; that's because they are, by their very nature, just built differently. The laws on them are complex for a reason."

"Horie understands that better than anyone, as someone training to be a hero doctor in the future," you point out. "The vigilante laws are designed to prevent people from endangering themselves, not against being a good citizen. She's just performing first aid without needing a first aid kit."

"I feel like you have more you want to say," America's #1 Hero invites you to continue to speak your mind.

You nod, preparing your subsequent and primary arguments. "The point of the vigilantism laws is that you need to have a quirk, or at least cause or heavily encourage a civilian's quirk to be used outside a quirk-free zone. But Jason Thomas doesn't have a quirk. He's an incredibly capable martial artist, but that is a skill. It's not like a citizen's arrest stopped being a thing; those laws were left unchanged despite establishing vigilante laws. You can technically make a citizen's arrest so long as you don't use your quirk."

"But Mr. Thomas was working alongside Arachnid and, as you put it, 'heavily encouraged' Ms. Robbins to use her quirk. He might not have been using a quirk himself, but he did promote the act of vigilantism, if not of his friend, then of Arachnid. Is that not the same, and we're talking about semantics?"

"I believe that is a mischaracterization. Firstly, I can testify that Arachnid was on the scene before Jason came to his aid. Furthermore, vigilantism does not prevent individuals from acting in self-defense. And I know that self-defense, at least before the creation of the vigilante laws, has extended to protecting those who cannot defend themselves. Those laws in our countries' history were the basis for the universal heroism laws we know today."

You breathe in deeply, hoping this will be the killing blow that will protect your friends.

"To my understanding, only Ralphie started a fight. Everyone else protected themselves and their friends once Ralphie and Arachnid dragged them into the conflict. They never would've intervened, committing these so-called acts of vigilantism, if not for the instigators. I know Rae, in particular, was planning to follow me, helping coral the people, until Jason decided he'd act rashly to prevent the Knights and Arachnid from potentially dragging the civics into the fight. Rae fought in Jason's defense and only in his defense."

The pro hero grins. "So what you're telling me is that I shouldn't punish your sister because of the nature of her quirk, Mr. Thomas shouldn't because he doesn't have a quirk, and the rest should get off because of pre-quirk self-defense and coming to another's aid laws."

"Exactly."

"So you think all your friends should be excused for breaking the law?"

"Oh, I never said that," you point out. "Ralphie had a quirk and dragged everyone else into a fight. Also, his quirk is a mutation quirk with no healing properties, so he could not legally use his quirk for vigilantism. Of all the reasons I gave, he fits none of the criteria. He has absolutely no excuse for what he's done."

Star & Stripe stares at you momentarily, following your logic, before laughing. "Guess Ralphie isn't your friend then," she jokes.

"Not really," you shrug, "but that's not what this is about. Ralphie broke the law, plain and simple."

"He's your fall guy," Star & Stripe deduces.

You feign ignorance. "You think so?"

The hero smirks. "I know so. You're incredibly charismatic for your age, but you don't become America's #1 hero without knowing how to negotiate for the release of hostages."

"I made my arguments in good faith."

"Now that I believe," Star & Stripe chuckles. "You merely pointed out the flaws in a flawed system. I might not fully agree with your attempt at vindicating your friends, but the logic is like mine."

"Yours?"

Star & Stripe leans in close.

"Keep this between us, but I get where you are coming from. The United Nations created vigilante laws to keep civilians from putting themselves in needless danger and regulate the use of quirks. I will stand behind the public policy behind those laws to my dying breath. However, the U.N. hastily put those laws together while the world was still recovering from the Advent of the Extraordinary and the end of the Vigantee Era, a period of lawlessness. With the U.N. wanting to legitimize the idea of government-licensed Pro-Heroes, the laws on quirk use and vigilantism were more of a crackdown than anything else, believing that our self-defense laws would be sufficient to handle the prosecution or defense of any outliers."

"Wow. I never thought I'd hear you, of all people, criticize the government."

"What can I say? The principles behind those laws are sound, but rules made out of fear will eventually become outdated and need revision, primarily as they concern children's quirk use."

"Does that mean…."

Star & Stripe sighs. "I'll do my best. Your sister and the juniors will most likely be able to avoid any charges. Well, except for Mr. Michelona. As you said, he has no excuses, and I can't ignore the law when it applies, even if I must do so begrudgingly."

"What about Jason and Rae?" you ask, nearly pleading.

"I can only ignore so much," Star & Stripe explains. "I respect where you are coming from, but Arachnid is New York's #1 vigilante. Even with your testimony and arguments, it will be a challenging sell to the police. And to my understanding, both Mr. Thomas and Ms. Robbins are adults."

"Seriously?" you can't help but complain. "Jason was planning to enter the military to join the Morphers, and Rae had long since applied to multiple hero schools."

"I'm aware of Mr. Thomas' intentions. The Morphers work directly under me. We had scouted him as a potential candidate. But as you said, I need the fall guy. If I can't get Arachnid, the police will want the next best thing. If I had things my way, your friends would go free, but I have no choice but to put a black mark on their records and recommend probation should they plead guilty."

"What does that mean for them?"

"For Mr. Thomas, he'll most likely fail to become a Morpher," Star & Stripe said bluntly. "It's still possible, and if he proves himself, then I'll have to reconsider, but he's no longer the prime candidate he was before this incident. And Ms. Robbins? Well, the hero schools will be required to rescind her applications, and she'll have to wait a year before reapplying, assuming her record shows good behavior or she doesn't choose to change majors."

You can't help but hide your disappointment.

"Keep your head up, Kazuha," Star & Stripe orders. "Your words certainly put them in a better light than I would have put them in otherwise. The same goes for most of your classmates. To be honest, I'm impressed. You helped many people today, using only your words and smarts."

"I might have my dad's genius," you imply, mentally laughing at your joke.

"Not one for modesty, I see."

"Nope."

"At least you're honest," Star & Stripe muses. "From what I've seen here, Kazuha, you've got great potential as a hero. I'll be keeping an eye on your progress."

"You're just saying that."

"Maybe," Star & Stripe winks. "You'll just have to see."

The hero puts on a more serious face. "Now, as great as this conversation has been, I must figure out exactly what happened here and why. The Midsummer's Knights Dream has left us heroes a mess to clean up. You should get back to your sister."

"I will."

"Stay safe, kid. I'll see you soon."

I highly doubt that.


The next several days are somber, the I-Island Incident hanging over you and the rest of your classmates like a brewing storm. As Star & Stripe had forewarned, Jason and Rae received probation, with the latter even more recluse than usual.

At least Jason doesn't have to worry about being prom king anymore — no chance he gets any votes after that.

Ralphie, on the other hand, has been charged with vigilantism by a minor, his delinquency killing any chance the turtle previously had at his dream of becoming a pro-hero entirely. The way the turtle glares at you once rumor had gotten around that your testimony indirectly played a role in the charges he received unnerves you ever so slightly. And yet you don't let it get to you too much, especially since Rae refuses to blame you despite her bad mood, appreciative of what little you could do for her.

"You did the right thing," Rae insists. "And I got caught in the crossfire. I knew the risks when I followed after Jason. I hate it, but can't say I didn't see it coming."

You know Ralphie would never say anything remotely accepting like that, especially as Midtown Horizon High and the news crews continue to prop up your efforts on a pedestal while dismissing his own, arguing his punishment was swift and deserved, him being no better than the Midsummer Knights Dream. Anytime the press ambushes you for an interview, you can't help but feel like the turtle's eyes are burrowing into the back of your skull in pure rage, the poor guy retreating into his shell, quite literally, since the attack.

Even his friendships with Marianne and Manny had been impacted, the two wanting to distance themselves from him out of fear the police would reconsider their decision not to press charges on them for a similar reason. He was a stranger in his own classroom, treated as a disease by most besides Devin.

Part of you certainly feels terrible about throwing your classmate under the bus to protect your friends, but you don't regret it either. While your bias had certainly colored some of the justifications you made, as the daughter of the principal of a prestigious hero school, you know better than to dismiss the vigilante rules entirely. Sure, you recognize the flaws in the system, but mirroring Star & Stripe, you respect why the laws exist to begin with, even if you have qualms with their implementation.

Besides, you've been more worried about Horie than anything else. For the last several days, your sister had been reclusive. She doesn't seem to hold your choice to protect the civilians against you; you're a hero-in-training, after all. It is not your personal relationship that has come into focus, but the events of that day on I-Island itself. So when Horie sits you down for a conversation, you aren't entirely surprised.

"I'm sorry," Horie begins by apologizing.

'For what?" you question.

"After the semester is over…"

Horie gulped, hesitating. You have a feeling you know exactly what she is about to say.

"You aren't sticking around for Central Park Hero Camp, are you?"

"No," Horie confirms. "My place is back home, studying under Mom."

Your sister continues trying to find her words. "When I-Island was attacked, many people needed my help. The district we'd found ourselves in had been hit hard by the explosions, but there were no paramedics around; the Knights had, intentionally or not, prohibited emergency medical staff from fulfilling their civic duty. And I was the only person they could count on."

Horie shuffles her feet, a pained expression on her face.

"There was one woman I was helping suffering from severe burns. I was doing my best to heal her but was thoroughly exhausted from the other people I'd assisted throughout the last several minutes. If I was stronger, I could have done more, but as I collapsed by her side, I wasn't even sure if she would make it. And even if she does survive, she'll likely have scarring for the rest of her life."

You grab Horie a tissue, something she is immediately grateful for, and she blows her nose after wiping her tears. "There's no healing specialty at Central Park Hero Camp. There's nothing there of value for me. If I'm going to become stronger, I must master my quirk and become more proficient in medical knowledge. And there is no one better to teach me than Recovery Girl."

Horie clenches her fist.

"I have to do this. So that the next time I end up in a situation like I-Island, or worse, I won't have to pick and choose who lives and who dies."

It is as you thought.

"But Himiko needs you," you try convincing her. "I need you. Himiko and I could maybe go a few days without blood, but the cravings will eventually become too strong to ignore. You know how Himiko gets when she's starving. And you expect her to go nearly two months without it?"

"You and I both know that blood isn't the only DNA that you two can consume to sate your hunger. You're smart, Kazuha, smarter than me. You'll figure out some alternative. Besides, in the worst-case scenario, I'll work overtime to create blood packs for both of you. I'm sure your friends would be willing to let you draw blood to help Himiko."

"Horie."

"No, Kazuha," Horie puts her foot down. "I love you. You're my sister and my best friend. But I can't keep doing this."

"This is about more than the training, is it?" you ask. "Your quirk relies on stamina partially. You wouldn't be getting 'nothing' out of hero camp since it would help you increase your energy reserves in a way mom can't help you with. So what's really going on?"

Horie sighs before peeling off the band-aid. "I'm sick of feeling like a third… no, fourth wheel."

"You're not."

"I know that! But I can't help but feel this way. Back when we were kids, it was you, me, and Benimaru against the world. And then you and I got adopted, and we found another misfit in Himiko. But then you and Himiko became more than friends, and you joined both the student student council and cheerleaders. Maybe I never noticed because I was busy studying with Mom, but you and I had been spending less and less time together."

She's… not wrong.

"When you told me about going to study abroad in New York, I didn't know what to think. While I'm happy to have met Marianne and the others and don't regret it, I never wanted to come out here. But I agreed because I figured it would be a chance for you, Himiko, and me to connect again. Instead, you spend all your time that isn't still dealing with student council duties or Himiko with Melissa and her friends. To add insult to injury, you're rooming with Melissa most nights instead of your girlfriend or sister. It feels like the only time we talk is on the weekends or mealtime."

After airing out all her grievances, Horie takes a deep breath. "I care about you, Kazuha, but I no longer want to be your tag-along. I don't want to live in your shadow anymore. I don't want to fear you getting healing-type quirks and leaving me in the dust. And I hate that I feel that way, but I think I just need some time away from you to figure out who I am without you."

Hearing Horie's emotional pleas, you can't help but sympathize with her.

"Alright," you relent. "If you think that is best for you, I won't stop you. It's your decision."

"It is," Horie confirms. "And Kazuha? Thank you for understanding."

"I know we've grown apart lately, but…."

For once, you can't find the words.

"I get it. Sometimes, sisters grow apart. Eventually, if all goes well, I will move in with Himiko, and you will find a boyfriend and a house, or at least a nice apartment. We're not always going to be there for each other. That's just how life works. So instead, I'll appreciate what time we do have together."

"Right," Horie smiles. "Because, like, unless you steal said boyfriend, we'll always be sisters."

"I don't think you'll have to worry about that. Himiko would kill me if I broke up with her."

"You… don't mean that literally, right?"

"Horie!"

"I'm sorry! I thought we were making jokes! Your friend Pony calls Himiko Yandere-Chan all the time!"

"And it's a joke!"

"Exactly!""

As the rest of the conversation devolves into typical sibling banter, you can't help but smile.

I'm gonna miss this.


The rest of the semester goes by in the blink of an eye. You can't help but smile as each of the friends you've made over your stay in the United States thus far, besides Pony, walks up to the stage in their blue gowns to grab their diplomas. Seeing Rae's face uncovered, something she usually keeps hidden under her hoodie, almost makes you laugh at how uncomfortable she looks.

I can't wait to tease her about it.

While most likely failed to notice it, you can't help but roll your eyes at Miles somehow being late to his own graduation.

Just as he's late for everything, it seems. I know he's been going through a lot; I-Island probably didn't help everything, but apparently, his G.P.A. tanked due to his poor attendance. Miles had a bright future ahead of him, but now? That's all up in the air. I feel bad for the guy, but I can't say that to an extent, he didn't bring it all on himself.

As the ceremony concludes, Julius, as student council president, takes the stage for the last time to deliver one final speech.

"I recognize that these last several weeks have been difficult for many of us," he starts by acknowledging the tragedy of I-Island. "Heroes are a pillar of our society just as much as they are here to save the day when all hope seems lost. Not a person on I-Island wasn't fearful for their lives, confused as to why the Midsummer Knight's Dream dared to disturb such utopic peace. Some of us fought, some of us fled, and a select few of us rose to the occasion, but the answer remains the same: we're human."

Julius takes a deep breath before continuing. "It fails to escape me that the disappointment over your college acceptance has been nearly as palpable. Since we were children, for those of us who developed quirks, our society placed pressure on them to become heroes. But the sad truth is not everyone can become a pro-hero. I am not merely talking about grades or extracurriculars or a sob story."

His eyes narrow, channeling rage into his voice. "When I was young, my father told me that not all men were created equal. Some are born swifter afoot, some with greater beauty, some are born into poverty, and others are born sick and feeble. Both in birth and upbringing, in the sheer scope of ability, every human is inherently different, and that divide has only grown bigger since the dawn of quirks."

You notice Julius clench his fist. "No matter how true that may be, I want to create a gentler world. One where the very idea of a villain is extinct, where humanity as a whole can work together and strive as we once did: together, regardless of the strength of one's quirk. Villains are not always monsters; people have been discriminated against not only for their quirkless status but also for their quirks. I've heard countless stories from our student body of people written off as villains-to-be simply because of the nature of their quirks. Is that fair? Is that justice? We're better than this! We have to be!"

You desire to cheer but restrain yourself, mainly because none of the students in attendance are doing so. In fact, the fury of the audience radiates off their seats. They don't appreciate Julius calling them out. And it doesn't go unnoticed by the Student Council President.

"If you want to be angry at anyone, be angry at yourselves. We, as graduates, as the next generation, are the ones who will change the world! If you share my vision of a gentler one, then heed my call! It matters not if you earned a spot in a prestigious hero school, the strength of your quirk, or if you're quirkless! Because all of us can be heroes in our own way! For those of us who don't become professionals licensed by the government, we can do our part through volunteer work or even just being kind to one another. Because we will shape the world we want to live in. That is our duty! That is our responsibility as we enter college and the workforce and adulthood proper! Even if you might not be a hero in the conventional sense, you can still be a hero to someone. Because we need you."

Julius, passions inflamed, can calm himself in an instant, lingering at the mic for a moment longer.

"Thank you, my friends, for such a wonderful graduating class. And good luck in all your future endeavors."

As Julius' speech concludes, you notice only a few people clapping. Only Rae, Miles, Jason, Gary, and Melissa. But soon enough, the sound begins to echo, and a few more join in until the entire class gives Julius a standing ovation.

Frankly, you expected nothing less.


Instead of a lavish graduation party, you invite your friends back to Melissa's penthouse for a far quieter event. Akia had prepared enough food for your friends and their parents, but no family had come to join in the celebration.

Part of that was attributable to Miles being nowhere to be found, running off just as quickly as he'd arrived at the ceremony, his father and aunt incredibly displeased by Miles' tardiness, refusing to let him attend the get-together.

You can still remember Miles' final words to you before he was dragged away by his family.

"Take care of yourself, Kazuha. I'm not sure if Japan has any sayings like this, but considering your quirk, it's something I want you to hear. With great power comes great responsibility. It means that when bad things happen, and you could've done something to stop those bad things, then they happened because of you. My uncle taught me that; it's the motto I've lived my life by, and it's the motto I'm probably going to die by, but I can't just look away."

"What do you mean by that?" you asked him suspiciously.

Miles merely laughed in response. "You're smart. I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually. And if you're ever swinging around my side of New York, call me."

You sighed, your suspicions stirred, but you had no evidence nor a genuine desire to end things on a sour note.

"Will do," you agreed at the time. "And, by the way, Miles. I'll be looking forward to whatever support gear you make."

The boy scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, I think you better call up Melissa instead. I think she'd be better at keeping a deadline if you get what I'm saying. Besides, I'm not going to some fancy college like her."

"Are you seriously making a joke about you never being around or on time?"

"Seems like everyone else is," he smiled. "Anyway, see you later."

"Yeah," you reply, not given a chance to respond as he departed.

I can't know for sure what Miles is up to; this clearly isn't your standard case of depression, but I hope for him and his family's sake, he doesn't regret it.

Snapping out of your thoughts and back to the present, you shake your head, looking around the penthouse. Watching over the city is Gary, swirling his glass, looking thoughtful.

"Hey, Gary," you greet. "What are you thinking about?"

"Lots of things," he snarks back.

"Care to share?"

"First off, my girlfriend broke up with me."

"Ouch," you wince. "How'd that happen?"

"She never really got over I-Island," Gary admits. "Ember wanted it to be a date, and I guess I missed the signals. And then with the attack? She only planned to enroll in hero school because Ava and I were. But when she saw what the hero lifestyle entailed, she wanted no part of it. I guess she just thought we weren't compatible.

"Really?"

"I know," he bemoans. "It really sucks."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because," Gary started, a slight blush on his face. "When I told my dad about the break-up, he asked about you."

"Me?"

"I think he was trying to encourage me to date you. A quirk marriage? It was weird. Luckily, he dropped it when I told him you were lesbian."

"I'm not lesbian," you correct. "I'm bisexual. Just because I'm dating a woman doesn't mean I wouldn't date a man. It's one of the things that makes dating Himiko so fun. I get to have the best of both worlds."

Your undertone clearly makes Gary uncomfortable. "Okay! Let's get back to the point of this conversation! You know, the fact Ember and I broke up?"

"Well, at least you and Ava are going to the same hero school?"

"Don't get me started."

"Now what's wrong?"

"My school's great, don't get me wrong, but the dorm situation? Absolutely abysmal. So before the whole breakup, Ember and I planned to split an apartment with Ava for college."

"And now it's just you and Ava?"

"Yeah."

"That doesn't sound so bad."

"I don't have a problem with her as a person. It's just awkward, you know?"

"And it wasn't when you were rooming with two girls?"

"That's different," Gary protests. "I was dating Ember."

"Uh-huh."

"I mean, what if Ava's in the shower and I walk in on her?"

"Then she should've locked the door."

"But what if she didn't? I don't wanna look like a perv."

"Dude, you're overthinking it. The real world isn't an anime."

"How does Pony like that stuff?"

"Stop trying to change the topic," you put your foot down before chuckling. "You know, if you're worried about her freaking out seeing Ava naked, just make her your girlfriend."

"Not helping," Gary seethes. "Besides, do you know how bad things would get with Ember if I did that?"

"She's always been a hothead," you muse. "Quite literally. Reminds me of Burnin. She was cool. Last I heard, she got picked up by Endeavor's Agency as a sidekick. They've got pretty similar quirks, now that I think about it. Good for her."

"I guess," Gary agrees, despite clearly not knowing what you're talking about. "At least Ember can't kill me with her flames."

"True."

"Anyway, I seriously don't want to talk about this anymore."

"What about your dad?" you propose an alternative topic. "I know you mentioned he wasn't a big fan of you dating Ember to begin with."

"Can we pick something else?" Gary begs, clearly hitting a sore spot.

"Is he really that bad?'

"No," Gary grumbles. "I don't know. He means well, but I think he's overcompensating for losing his number-one spot to Star & Stripe. He and All Might used to be rivals, actually, until my dad's age started catching up with him. As you probably expect for a guy named Omnipotent, he's got quite the ego, and slowly falling down the rankings is bruising it badly."

"That's normal, though. As the older generation retires, a new era comes to take their place. Just because your dad is slowing down and has tougher competition doesn't discredit all the years he spent as America's #1."

"You'd think, but I guess you and he just don't view the world in the same way."

As much as you'd love to continue the conversation, you're interrupted by Jason.

"Hey, Gary. Good luck at hero school, man."

Gary returns Jason's offered high five. "And good luck in the military."

"I'm not actually enrolling yet," Jason clarifies. "I could delay my reporting for duty until the Fall."

"Why'd you do that?"

"Central Park Hero Camp," Jason explains. "I'm tight with one of the councilors there. Her section is a bit different from some other teachers, designed primarily for quirkless or low-powered quirk people like me. Unlike the rest of that summer camp, it's not all fun and games. It makes boot camp look like a picnic."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Commander Bate is a highly respected officer in the military. With that vigilante stamp on my record, I thought I'd head back one final time. If I'm lucky, she might put in a good word for me. Might actually get a half-decent deployment. Or at least kick my ass enough into gear to rank highly at actual boot camp."

"You're not going for the Morphers anymore?" Gary raises an eyebrow.

"It's still something I want to do, don't get me wrong, but I realize I made a mistake."

"Seriously changing your tune there," you note.

"I know. But no matter how I personally view it, I screwed up. I had a good chance at a fast track to the Morphers, and I blew it. So now I just have to work twice as hard as before. And if it happens, that's amazing. But my only chance now is taking the top of the class. I went to the top of the martial arts world, and now I must do it with the military. If nothing else, Captain Bate can ensure I'm in tip-top form for entering military training."

"Just remember Julius' speech," Gary warns. "I'm sure he'd have said something similar if his dad didn't drag him off right after the ceremony like Miles."

"Don't worry," you tell Gary. "I'm going to Central Park Hero Camp, too. I'll probably be in a different course, but Himiko, Melissa, and I can keep an eye on him."

"Actually," Melissa interrupts, joining your growing group. "I've meant to talk to you about that, Kazuha."

"Huh?"

"I've got good news and bad news."

"Bad news. You always start with the bad news to end on a positive note."

"The bad news is I won't be joining you in hero camp," Melissa bluntly rips off the band-aid. "I've chosen to intern under my father and take summer cram courses at I-Island Academy."

"But why?"

"It was the conditions my dad gave me."

"For what?"

"Attending U.A."

Your eyes widen.

"You mean…."

"Yep," Melissa confirms. "I'll be attending Yuuei Academy, majoring in the support course."

You can't contain your excitement; the disappointing news is immediately outweighed by the good.

"I can't believe it! When did you decide?!"

"About a month ago," Melissa begins to explain. "You and I have spent so much time together, Kazuha. And while I-Island is the home of all things support items, it doesn't feel like home."

"Are you sure you don't only feel that way because of the attack?" Jason interrogates.

"Absolutely," Melissa counters. "I spent a lot of time on I-Island as a kid. I even went to elementary school there before my dad decided it would be best to get a place in New York to attend Midtown Horizon High for its impressive program. It was always my dream to head to I-Island Academy to study with the greatest minds in support gear alongside my father. But now?"

Melissa starts to cry happy tears. "This last semester, despite its challenges, was the best of my life, and it's all because I finally had a family. Growing up, my dad was always busy with work, and I lost my mom early. I had to take care of myself most of the time. And that only got worse when I moved into this penthouse. Midtown Horizon High was great, but I was alone. And then Kazuha moved in. And Himiko. And Horie. And Akia. And I just don't want to go back to feeling alone again. Maybe it's selfish and irresponsible, but I love you like a sister, Kazuha. Yuuei is just as great a support school as any other. Because, for once, I need to put myself above my dream. I can always go to I-Island for internships and my masters."

You can't resist hugging her. "You are my sister. And we'll be happy to have you at U.A.!"

The tender moment between you and Melissa is fractured by a slight cough.

Turning your head, you notice Rae holding a collarless Violet up to you, Pony holding back a giggle behind her. The goth doesn't seem amused, unlike her companion.

"Take her back," Rae demands. "She's too affectionate."

"She's not that bad," you protest.

Rae gives you a knowing look.

"I'm serious!"

"She keeps tugging at my robe and licking my face. I don't like it."

As you try to sort out the situation, you notice another dog trotting to the kitchen.

That one has a blue-collar.

Violet's collar.

You laugh.

"Really, Himiko? Or should I call you Rosie?"

In an instant, the dog in Rae's hands turns to putty, the typically emotionless goth dropping the goo in a panic as it begins growing and reshaping into your girlfriend.

Himiko scratches the back of her head. "Guess you caught me."

Rae, recovering, is clearly unamused by the prank. "Really?"

"I thought it would be a funny prank. You always did say you wanted to meet both our dogs."

Rae rolls her eyes. "Whatever. But I didn't know you could use that quirk to turn into animals."

"It was our secret weapon," Himiko winks. "How else do you think I would become a hero?"

"Stealth, infiltration, and excellent acting skills?"

"Like a hitwoman?" Jason questions. "But heroes aren't allowed to do that.

"Not traditionally, but I'm sure there are heroes authorized to do that," Rae shrugs. "You can't tell me that if Star & Stripe, All Might, or any of the world's top heroes killed a supervillain, anyone would bat an eye?"

"No, probably not," Gary answers, a grimace on his face.

I have a feeling that's all the confirmation we need on if Omnipotent's got a free license to kill.

"I'm just surprised Himiko changed back with her clothes on," Pony seems confused. "It's just Himiko's quirk seems like a nudifier? I mean, hello! Shapehsfiting excludes clothing?"

Melissa blinks. "Why's that?"

"Cause fanservice tropes."

Gary nearly spits out his drink.

"You read too much manga," Jason bemoans. "I still can't believe you're going to Central Park Hero Camp, too."

"I wanna spend time with my mom," Pony pouts. "Since I'll be finished early due to all the extra classes I took so I could study abroad in Japan, this is my last summer with her."

"Right, I forgot you did that," Gary comments. "You're smarter than you let on, Pony."

"So what are you planning on doing after graduation, Rae?" you question the goth, noticing her starting to step back from the group.

Rae looks around. For the first time, you think she almost looks nervous.

"Do you mind if I talk to you alone for a minute, Kazuha?"

"Uh, sure," you allow, dragging her back to you and Melissa's room.

"I still want to be a hero," Rae prefaces as you settle on the bed. "But I understand that might be… difficult. With me not being able to attend hero school for a year, I feel stuck. Many programs make it incredibly difficult to transfer into a hero program after the first year, and most don't even allow it at all."

"So nothing?" you question bluntly.

"I know enough about my quirk to know that how much control I have over my astral projections is directly tied to my emotional stability. For the longest time, I've been trying to suppress my emotions, and it has worked well enough for me, but I'm wondering if suppression is my only strategy."

"What are you thinking?"

"I've been debating between a few options," Rae admits. "Honestly, it might be best to talk through some of them with all of you."

"Lay them out on the table."

"The rules of my probationary period only add restrictions regarding non-quirk-free zones, my attendance at accredited hero schools, and the getting of a hero license. But Central Park Hero Camp is unique because Central Park has been designated a quirk-free zone, meaning I can use my quirk there as much as I want. And since it's not a hero school, nor is it accredited, I should be able to attend it without breaking my probation, like Jason."

"That sounds like a good option. We'll be able to spend more time together."

"Yeah, it's not the worst," Rae concurs. "But there are some things about my quirk that a hero camp can't fix. And unlike Jason, the odds of me getting into Commander Bate's section are slim due to my probation and the lack of a pre-existing connection. On paper, it's a good option, but I'm not sure if it's what is best for me."

"After the camp ends, what would you do?"

"Central Park Hero Camp is expensive. Outside of my college fund, which I wouldn't be able to touch, I'd have nothing left afterward."

"So you'd have to get a job then. Do you have anything lined up?"

"Well, you know how much I've always enjoyed reading," Rae says. "I'm thinking about taking a position at my local library."

"How does that relate to hero work?"

"It doesn't. But that's kind of the point. It pays the bills, and I won't hate it."

"Well, let's compare it to your other idea."

"I've heard about those people who take a year off from college to explore themselves," Rae continues. "Get out of your comfort zone, so to speak. I'm wondering if that's what I need. To go out on a journey to rediscover myself and get in touch with my feelings."

"Where would you go?"

"I don't know," Rae admits. "Maybe go meditate with some monks. Try things I've never done before. Live my life to the fullest in the year I have before reapplying. I'm just worried that I won't have the courage to do it alone, or even if I did, the year would be a complete waste."

"You'll always have the memories of doing it," you propose.

"You know what I meant. There's no guarantee that trying to change is what I need to do. Maybe emotional suppression is my only option."

"This could be a great chance to learn."

"Or a massive waste of time."

"You're just saying that because you're scared."

"Perhaps. But perhaps not. I really don't know."

"Is that all?"

"There's one more thing," Rae puts forward. "Julius gave me a job offer."

"He did?"

"Yeah. Julius' been pretty secretive about the details, but he's apparently got some connections that might be able to help me with my quirk."

"Do you know what you'd be doing?"

"No, but to be fair, it was more a casual offer. Come to me, and I'll hook you up. We know Julius has some side hustles, so he'll probably set me up as his secretary or something. Not great work, but Julius wouldn't screw me out of a paycheck. I'd be comfortable, and if he's not lying about getting me some training under the table, it could be something I could do."

"You might want to get more information first," you warn. "Know what you're walking into."

"I guess, but it's not like I have many other options anyway. And it's Julius. You really think he'd use his friends like that?"

"No, but you can't be too careful."

"I see where you're coming from, Kazuha. But I think I'm good."

"I'm guessing, based on how you're talking, you've got no other alternatives?"

"Not really. I don't have any other ideas. It's not like I can intern anywhere. I'm not a great fit for the police or military. My only other option is to attempt a transfer from one major into a hero program in my second year."

"You could come to U.A. by entering the general course," you immediately suggest. "Our semester starts in the spring. You could work your way up through the Sports Festival. By the time that comes around, your probation would be cleared, and you'd only be in your first year of school rather than your second."

"I don't know any Japanese," Rae points out. "And honestly, while it doesn't sound like a bad place, Kazuha, you know how hero schools are. If you're going to school abroad, it's a lot more difficult to get internships back home. Japan would be my home base. At most, I might be able to get something in California. But my whole life thus far has been here in New York. I'm not sure it's time to make that kind of decision."

Rae doesn't seem wholly opposed to coming to U.A., but I understand where she comes from. Deciding to go to U.A. would be a massive decision. It's not like with Pony, who is obsessed with Japanese culture and is half-Japanese herself. I mean, Pony's planning on graduating a semester early using summer credits and passing the GED just to attend U.A. next spring. Granted, Pony's a lot smarter than she lets on, but that's beside the point! Rae would be definitively an outsider compared to Pony. I don't think our bond is in a place where I could convince Rae to live in Japan, at least not yet.

Still, none of the options she's given here are precisely preferable. As in, there's really no easy answer to provide Rae with and make everything perfect.

Encouraging Rae to attend Central Park Hero Camp is an objectively safe choice. It'll help Rae build up her body strength, something she's lacking, and she might be able to find a counselor who could help Rae with her weaknesses. But Hero Camp has a lot of students; if she doesn't get into Bate's course, Rae won't have much individual one-on-one time, and that's assuming that Bate's method is even the best one for Rae to begin with, considering her dislike for the military. Combined with the library job after, I'm not sure Rae would be able to break out of her shell of emotional repression. Sure, I'd get more time with Rae and more easily convince her to attend U.A., but I'm not sure how much of a growth opportunity this would be.

Going on a spiritual journey would almost do the opposite. In many respects, it's the most challenging option, a true leap of faith, so to speak. No matter if there are other ways to control Rae's quirk than emotional suppression, she'll likely come back from that journey a very different person. While I might be able to convince Rae to come to visit Japan during her globe-trotting, there's no guarantee that I'll be able to convince her that U.A. is the place for her to be. There is no guarantee at hero camp either, but there's a chance we end up in the same section, meaning we might be dorming together. Either way, it's a dramatically different experience. Emotional suppression versus exploration. What is the key? I have no idea.

And then there's Julius' offer. Honestly, I can't say much about it because I don't fully know what it will entail. I guess the question is if I trust Julius to guide Rae down the right path since I likely won't be in a position to meaningfully help her out if she takes the job offer from him.

But now that I'm thinking about it, Gary was dealing with his own share of issues before we got interrupted. It's pretty obvious that Gary is still hung up on Ember. I'm not surprised; he was pretty crazy about her, and her reason for breaking up with him was because she was afraid to lose him. It's a natural reaction to have, but to be honest, if Gary wanted to pursue Ember, there's still a chance that they could get back together.

That is unless Gary starts dating Ava. Regardless of whether that goes well or not, Gary and Ava getting together would almost certainly kill any chance of Gary getting back together with Ember. I mean, not only would he be moving on, but to Ember's best friend? That's just drama waiting to happen. Would pursuing a relationship with Ava even be worth it? From what little I know, Ava's been harboring a crush on Gary for a while now, but who knows if it's best for them to act on it. He's got a few months, too. It might not be ideal, but they may be able to figure something out so that he's not bunking with Ava.

And then there's that tidbit about Omnipotent apparently wanting me to suck face with Gary? First off, yuck. Second of all, I'm not cheating on Himiko. Though Omnipotent doesn't need to know that. Maybe I could pretend to date Gary so long as we remain in the States? It might destroy Gary's college plans, but we know Omnipotent would approve of him attending U.A., and it would get Gary out from under his dad's eye, at least for a while. Then we could 'break up,' and it wouldn't bother his dad any longer. Still, do I give a crap about his old man's delusions? Even acting could put strain on Himiko and I's relationship that we don't need, even if she would obviously understand since we'd be bringing her in on the plan as Gary's friend. And it would screw up any chance that Gary would have with Ava. Besides, it seems Omnipotent dropped the issue since Gary told him I'm gay. If it's even necessary, it's a selfish plan, that's for sure.

Still, my friends are looking to me for guidance; I better give it to them.


DECISION POINT #1: What Should Rae Do?

A - Attend Central Park Hero Camp

B - Go On A Spiritual Journey

C - Take Julius Up On His Offer

DECISION POINT #2: What Should Gary Do?

A - Try Getting Back Together With Ember

B - Start Dating Ava

C - Stay Single For A While

D - Fake Date Kazuha