A/N: Fun isn't something that one considers while meticulously planning a tragedy of epic proportions.

But this... does put a smile on my face.

Sorrynotsorry, bye!

P.S. It is recommended that you listen to the song 'Hero Too' during the concert portion of this chapter.

Smile

*I still don't understand how you arranged this.*

Kurai grinned down at his brother as he said, "Don't worry about it. They already cleared a few other non-students to visit, so I doubt it was a huge deal for them to let you in."

*It wasn't a big deal to let in the other son of the traitor police superintendent?* Akarui asked him.

"…Okay, maybe there was a little bit of trouble, but they could hardly turn you away when the more likely traitor is a student," Kurai said as they passed through the gates of the campus. "Welcome to UA, brother mine." It was early morning, and the day of the school festival had finally arrived. Kurai had requested that his brother be allowed access to the campus for the day shortly after Eri's visit, and two days ago he had received confirmation from the principal that Akarui would be allowed to come, which led them to where they were now.

*It's a lot cooler in person than in the TV and news articles' highlights.* Akarui couldn't move his head very well, but his eyes flicked about, taking in the sights of the prestigious hero academy. *Where are we going, first?*

"To the dorms," his brother answered as he pointed to a side path that led away from the main building. "I've gotta get changed into my concert outfit, and some of my friends wanted to see you. I know Tenya is looking forward to having you watch the concert."

*I've got some equipment on me so that Tensei can watch it in real-time,* Akarui replied as he turned his wheelchair to follow his brother. *Shukin and Aunt Sakura, too. I know they wanted to come.*

Kurai raised an eyebrow before he said, "Getting you in was one thing- after all, you helped keep us alive during I-island, so the principal was more inclined to repay a favor. Getting two other civilians in is another matter." As they walked, he waved hello to a trio of second-year students on their way to the main building.

*Then who's going to walk around with me while you're busy getting ready?*

"Hey! My main man, Hikari!" Togata's voice carried across the path as the blond student came into view from around a clump of trees. He was accompanied by Aizawa and Eri, who was dressed up in a similar outfit to the one she had worn during her last visit. "What's shakin', buddy?" He and Akarui had already been acquainted during one of Eri's tutoring sessions where Akarui was helping the little girl to learn the basics of reading and writing kanji.

Kurai quickened his pace and shook hands with Togata as soon as he came within range. "Thanks for doing this," he said to the older boy. "I appreciate it."

"No prob!" Togata said cheerfully. "I'm already gonna hang out with Eri today, and with your brother here, it's a party!" He was dressed in casual clothes, unlike the last time he had visited the campus, but so were a lot of students- after all, today was a holiday, and there was no need for the normal discipline of the dress code.

*Hello, Togata, Eri.* Akarui looked intently at Eri as he added, *Did you practice your kanji like I asked you to on Tuesday?* When the little girl nodded that she had, Akarui gave her a thumbs-up before turning his chair so that he could look more directly at 1-A's homeroom teacher. *Hello. I don't think we've met.*

"Shota Aizawa," the haggard man replied as he reached out to shake hands with the crippled boy. "I've heard about you from Eri and your brother."

*I've heard a lot about you, sir.* Akarui replied as his lips twitched with the hint of a smile. *Kurai talks extensively about your classes whenever he calls home.*

Kurai kicked his brother's wheelchair, as if to say, 'Don't you dare.'

This did not go unnoticed by Aizawa, but he merely said, "Togata will be looking after both you and Eri today. Do as he says, and there should be no problems. If you leave your brother or his side on purpose, we will have no choice but to escort you home. Understand, Hikari?"

*Yes, sir.* Akarui's face went more slack again, followed by the pro hero leaving Eri in the hands of Togata, both of them waving him goodbye as he went to attend to some matter or another. As soon as he was out of earshot, Akarui commented, *You weren't kidding when you said he was a hard case.*

"Yeah, no need to let him know that I said so," Kurai said in exasperation. "Sheesh, see if I ever invite you to a school festival again."

"Kai?" Eri said as she looked at the boy with the robotic arm. "Are you gonna sing today?"

"Ha! No," he answered with a swift shake of his head. "I'm not very good at singing, but a couple of my friends are. Did you meet Jiro and Schnee the last time you were here? Jiro has dangly things on her ears, and Schnee has white hair, kind of like yours'."

"Uh-uh," the little girl said quietly.

"Well, I'm sure we'll be able to meet them later," Togata said with a cheerful smile as he picked the girl up and set her on his broad shoulders. "Right now, Kai needs to get ready for the concert, and I have some stalls I wanna show you, cos they'll be opening soon!" Turning to look at Akarui, he added, "You cool if I swing by the dorms in an hour to pick you up?"

*That works fine for me.* Akarui gave the older boy a thumbs-up. *See you soon.*

The two brothers made their way into the dorm of class 1-A just after eight o' clock, nearly two hours before the concert was set to begin, and yet everyone was already up and about, preparing for the day at hand. They nearly walked into Ruby, who was practically bouncing on her toes with excitement as she sidestepped the door while it swung open.

"Hey, Hikari!" the smaller girl chirped as she turned on her heel to look at him and their guest. "Who's this guy?"

"Rose, meet my kid brother, Akarui," Kurai answered as he allowed the door to swing shut behind them. "Akarui, this is one of our exchange students from overseas."

"Oh, I've heard a lot about you!" Ruby squealed excitedly. "Kurai talks about you a lot!"

*Does he, now?* Akarui's lips twitched again, his approximation of a smile. *What does he tell you? Will I blush?*

"He's told us a lot about your tendency to be a smartass," Yang interrupted as she strolled up to the trio. "I can already see that you're living up to that."

Akarui turned toward her with his wheelchair as he typed out, *Blond, tall, overprotective of Rose, a bit aggressive… You must be Xiao Long. Nice to meet you.*

Yang blinked in surprise before she asked, "So do you profile everyone you meet?"

*More or less. I just keep it to myself most of the time.*

"Cool," Yang grinned. "Do me a favor and don't keep it to yourself when you meet Weiss. I can't wait to see what you make of her."

*Which one is she, again?*

"Schnee," Kurai answered as he subtly indicated the pale girl with white hair. Weiss was in the middle of an intense debate with Iida over what was better for a person to eat and drink right before a performance like the one they were about to give. The class president was arguing that it would be better to eat a balance of sweets for energy, combined with a healthy amount of protein, which would help sustain the carbohydrates for a longer period of time, while Weiss was demanding that she have access to something warm and salty, as it was better for her and Jiro's vocal chords.

*Oh, the diva-looking one, got it.* Akarui smirked as he continued to type. *I think I'll call her 'Ice Queen'.*

"Pfft," Ruby snickered. "Don't let her hear you say that."

"Yo, Hikari!" Kirishima called from across the room, seemingly unable to find his friend. "Is he back yet?!"

"Over here!" Kurai called, bringing more attention to the small gathering than he had initially intended.

"Hey, check it out, guys!" Kaminari exclaimed as he approached the two brothers. "It's both Hikari's! Akarui, how ya been?"

"What, the squirt's here?!" Bakugo could be heard shouting as more of the students took note of their visitor. "I've had enough babysitting, get him out of here!" Apparently one of his supplemental lessons had involved children somehow, from what Kirishima had been able to understand once the angry pyromaniac came home that day.

"Hey, he's here for the concert!" Mina shot back as she made her way past the others to stand in front of the younger Hikari. "Glad you could make it, kid."

*I'm glad that I get to see Kurai embarrass the hell out of himself,* Akarui answered cheekily. *He's told me all about your dancing skills, but I'm eager to see just what you made of the mess that are my brother's two left feet.*

Kurai whacked him on the head with his flesh hand, much to the shock of everyone watching them, leading him to ask, "What? He had it coming."

"You don't just hit guys when they can't fight back!" Kirishima exclaimed. "That's not manly at all!"

*Why not?* Akarui inquired with rapid fingers. *If Kurai was the one in this chair, you'd better believe that I'd have smacked him, too. Just because I can't stand or talk doesn't mean that I can't fight back in my own way. Besides, brothers take pot shots at each other all the time.*

"It's kinda in the job description," Kurai added as he bumped fists with Akarui.

"Hitting siblings is normal behavior?" Todoroki asked of no one in particular.

"Uh, yeah!" Mina laughed. "C'mon, Todoroki, didn't you tell us that you have a brother and a sister?"

"…Our upbringing wasn't exactly normal."

"Class 1-A!" Iida called out as he approached. "While it is true that many siblings enjoy the occasional bouts of roughhousing, we have much more important things to attend to!"

"Chill, dude, the concert's not for another two hours, and we already have most of the equipment set up," Jiro told him calmly. "Me and the other band members will need to be there an hour before, but you don't need to get all worked up already."

*Don't waste your breath,* Akarui advised her.

"Akarui, it is good to see you again," Iida said as he moved forward to shake hands with his friend. "How is your treatment progressing?"

*Not well.* Akarui's blunt words seemed to startle the older boy, so Kurai stepped in to save his brother the trouble of typing out the explanation.

"He was telling me on the way over," he began. "They're gonna have to fit him with a feeding tube soon, which will further restrict his movement. He obviously can't talk, but he's still been able to chew and swallow his food on his own thus far. Now, though…" He let the sentence go unfinished with a deep sigh.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Iida said sympathetically.

*Don't be. I knew what the risks were when I decided to help you guys.* Akarui gave a small shrugging motion as he finished typing. *Enough of that, though. It's a school festival, right? I haven't had any real fun since I got stuck in the chair, and Kurai says that's gonna change today. What's on the agenda?*

"Would you like to see my room?" Kurai offered. "Everyone helped me set it up before I got the arm attached."

*That's a relief. If it had been left up to you, the place would probably look like something a cripple tried to do on his own.* Akarui smirked as he added, *And that'd be after you had your arm replaced.*

Smack!

As the two brothers made their way up to the second floor, Mina approached Uraraka, Asui, and Ruby, pulling them aside for a more private conversation. "Listen girls, I just had an idea for how to make this day way better for Akarui and Kurai, but I need your help to pull it off."

"Whatever it is, I'm in," Uraraka said quickly. "If there's any way for us to brighten up Hikari's day, then I'm all about it."

"You just tell me what's up, and I'll make it happen," Ruby added eagerly.

Asui nodded as she crouched down a little bit and croaked, "I'm happy to help, ribbit."

Mina smiled happily and said, "Okay, If I can get Togata on board, we're gonna make a little last-minute change to the choreography. Here's what you do…"

Kurai and Akarui had just stepped off the elevator when Izuku passed them by, looking like he was in a hurry. "Hey man, where's the fire?" Kurai asked him as the green-haired boy stepped into the lift.

"Sorry, I wish I could stop and catch up with Akarui, but I gotta run and get some stuff for Eri's surprise," Izuku answered. "Hatsume also told me that she's got a new item that I requested a couple of weeks ago, so I need to pick those up before she forgets about them."

"Good luck with your errands," Kurai said before the door shut. Looking down at his brother, he added, "Sorry about that. He was excited to see you again once I told everyone that you were coming, but I guess it can't be helped."

*From what I can tell, Midoriya has always had something of a one-track mind, hasn't he?* As they spoke, Kurai showed him to the door of his room.

"I'd call it borderline tunnel vision, but yeah," the elder brother chuckled as he opened the entrance into his home and moved inside to open up the blinds so that natural light came in to illuminate the place more properly. "Welcome to my abode."

*Nice,* Akarui commented as he looked around. *It's fortunate that they gave you a worktable to do your maintenance and tune-ups.*

"No kidding," Kurai agreed as he moved toward his closet. "If I had to wait on the support course every time my arm needed a little tweaking, I'd be without an arm for most of the week."

*Didn't you get a spare?*

"Yeah, but it feels too stiff for fighting, and I can't channel my quirk into it," Kurai shrugged as he pulled out a white dress shirt and orange blazer before he tossed them on his bed and moved toward his drawers. "I just use it whenever I need to do work on the one you designed."

Akarui was quiet for a moment while Kurai started changing out of his casual wardrobe. Because the curtains were drawn back, he stood in the semi-privacy of his toilet room to do so. This is when Akarui chose to ask, *How are things with you and Ashido?*

Kurai started wrapping his belt around his shorts as he answered, "Pretty good. We had an argument that lasted a while about a month ago, but we're past it now."

*Glad to hear it.* Akarui's lips moved upwards a little bit as he typed out, *She's the best thing to come out of this whole mess, you know.*

"Oh trust me, I do know," Kurai chuckled.

*Even so. I'm glad to see you happy here, and I know that she's a big part of that. I couldn't have profiled a better girlfriend for you.*

Kurai's eyebrow went up as soon as the shirt was over his body while he asked, "What do you mean, 'profiled'?"

*Every time you started crushing on a girl back in middle school, I would put together any data that I could in order to ascertain what kind of person she was,* Akarui replied as casually as he could. *Most of them only had their looks going for them, and even then, you weren't checking out anyone better than a six out of ten.*

"Akarui!" Kurai snapped, mortified by his brother's near-callousness. "The hell, man?!"

*What?* the other boy shrugged. *I never said anything because either you would chicken out, or they would get taken by some other brick-for-brains.*

"Akarui…!"

*Hey, I'm trying to tell you that you've found a keeper.* Akarui couldn't actually sound disgruntled due to the emotionless tone of the speaking program, but his eyes certainly looked irritated. *Look, this stuff is hard to talk about, but I need to say some things before I turn into a full vegetable, so let me talk. Okay?*

"You're not gonna become a vegetable anytime soon," Kurai said as he crossed his arms.

Akarui's eyebrows bent downwards before he typed a little harder than he had before. *Kurai, shut up. Regenerative quirks are doing nothing for me, because I was born with this tumor in my head- my body doesn't think that there's anything that needs to heal. I'm getting worse, and despite what the doctors say, I doubt I have five years to go- maybe three if I'm lucky. I'm losing my ability to eat, and it's harder to move my eyes these days. My arms will probably go after that, and at the rate that I'm becoming paralyzed, I give it less than a year before my hands don't work anymore. I'll be dead in all but my mind, and what kind of an existence is that? All my intellect won't save me when that happens.*

"That won't happen," Kurai scowled harder. "I told you, Eri can rewind you before that comes to pass."

*And then what?* Akarui demanded. *Say she rewinds me to before I caused the tumor to become overly aggressive. It will still be there, waiting to kill me someday. All that does is buy us some time before I wind up like this again. Even then, there's no guarantee that she'll be able to control her power well enough to not obliterate me.*

"So what, you're suggesting that we give up?" his brother snapped. "Even if Eri can only buy us time, you can use that time to figure things out."

*Kurai, I have had nothing but time these last few months, and I can't figure it out.* Akarui's hands faltered for a second before he resumed typing out, *No matter what kind of treatments I work out in my head, no matter the hypothetical quirk combinations that could be used for a medical practice, I can't come up with a way to get this thing out of my head without killing me.*

Kurai was quiet for a moment, trying to keep his temper in check as he thought, Is this what arguing with me was like for the others? Out loud, however, he said, "Remember when we were talking about my sword design before the battle at I-island? How you can't create a new design based on materials you don't know anything about?"

*I remember something to that effect, yes.*

"So use the time to keep learning," Kurai told him. "There's a planet full of people with powers, all of them unique to each individual. Out of a planet of over nine billion people, over seven billion of them have a quirk- one of them has to have something that can help you, if not Eri. You just have to keep a lookout and learn about all the quirks that you can in the meantime."

*Right, systematically cyber-stalk seven billion people, one at a time.* Akarui said, making an active effort to show his sarcasm with a stilted roll of his eyes. *Brilliant plan, Brother.*

"It's better than giving up," Kurai shot back. "You, Tenya, Izuku, and Mina, hell, even Mom and Dad didn't let me give up when things looked tough, and I'm not about to let the favor go unreturned. Get your oversized head out of your ass, Akarui, and start putting that brain back to good use."

*Your motivational speeches suck.*

"Bah!"

*Look, just let me say what I wanted to say, and I'll go back to my research tomorrow, okay?* Akarui looked worn out, so Kurai decided to ease back on his criticism and sat down on his bed next to his brother's wheelchair.

"Okay, what do you need to tell me?" he sighed heavily.

*Dad is gone, and by the time Mom gets out of prison, she'll be older than grandpa and grandma were when they passed away.* Kurai flinched at the harsh depiction of their family's state, but he said nothing in protest yet. *If Eri can help me, it's still only a matter of a decade or so before I'm gone, too. She can't keep rewinding me every few years- it wouldn't be ethical to basically remake my body into that of a teenager's when I'm well into my adult years- I won't stand for it. Aunt Sakura and Shukin are still here, and they're great, but as far as immediate family goes, you'll be all that's left.*

"Thank you for summing that up," Kurai said dryly.

*I worry about what will become of you when I'm gone.* Akarui's fingers moved with quick jabs again as he tried to convey his irritation at being interrupted. *Or at least, I used to.*

"…Come again?"

*Ashido is unlike any girl you've ever liked, Kurai.* Akarui's fingers were tapping out his message a little more gently now. *She's not like you at all- outwardly passionate, eager to see the bright side of life, makes friends easily, so on and so forth.*

"I feel like I just got hardcore dissed."

*Point is, Kurai. She's good for you, and when I'm gone, I'll feel better knowing that she's going to be looking out for you in place of me and our parents.* Akarui let his hands fall to his armrests, apparently done saying what he needed to say.

Kurai stared at him for a long, long moment before he said, "You do realize that we're freshmen in high school studying to take on one of the most dangerous professions in the world, right? There is absolutely no guarantee that our relationship- or that we, ourselves- will survive into adulthood. But you're already talking like you think we're about to get hitched. How's about we ease up on the throttle?"

*Do you not want to stay with her forever?*

Kurai's face reddened at the blunt question, and he wondered just how it was that his brother could go from infuriating him to embarrassing him so rapidly. "I mean, I love her," he said awkwardly. "It's just… That stuff is for adults, right? Why rush to get there when we don't have to?"

Akarui seemed to think for a moment before he typed out, *Everyone wants to have a happily ever after, Kurai. I'd just like to know that you're going to have yours', is all.*

His brother chuckled softly at that before he said, "Tell you what, let's make a deal. If you can make it long enough to see me graduate from UA, and our relationship keeps going the same way that it is now, I'll let you tell me how to plan out the proposal. Sound good?"

*You don't want to plan it yourself?*

"Akarui, do you seriously expect me to believe that you haven't already come up with at least thirty different plans?" Kurai asked in a flat tone.

*I'm slowing down in my old age, actually. I only have twenty-six.*

"Ha-ha."

The two brothers talked for a little longer in Kurai's room before they headed down to the common area so that he could have breakfast, as he had not had time when he left to pick up his brother from the hospital that morning. Akarui spent this time talking with Iida, Yaoyorozu, and several of the other students that he had met during the I-island escapade. He met a few of the other members of class 1-A as well, but he seemed most glad to be reunited with the people that he already knew.

Before they knew it, the time had come to start getting prepared for the concert, and Togata came back with Eri in tow so that they could escort Akarui around the school grounds while the class headed over to the gym. As they walked, Kurai frowned as he realized that they were down a member. "Anyone see Izuku?" he asked of no one in particular.

"He ran out the door in a big hurry like an hour ago, but we haven't seen him since," Hagakure answered, sounding a little worried. "I wonder where he's at?"

"Midoriya's fine, wherever he is," Kirishima grinned confidently. "He just had to get some rope cos the one we've been practicing with is all frayed, and we don't wanna have Aoyama falling on somebody mid-show."

"Oui, that would certainly cast a shadow over my twinkling," the blond student agreed.

"Is this guy actually French?" Ruby whispered to Ochaco, who shrugged in response.

"To be honest, we've never been able to clear that up," she told her peer.

"As long as he's here in time for the show, we're good," Jiro said as calmly as she could, though it was clear from her reddened face and habit of playing with her ear jacks that she was probably the most nervous of them all.

Mina, however, did not agree with her assessment. "If that guy isn't here on time, I'm gonna kill him," she vowed. "I worked super hard to put together this show, and I will not have its symmetry ruined by an absent dancer!"

"Okay, chill out," Kurai calmly as he put his hands on her shoulders and started massaging them as they walked. "He'll be here in time. I'll give him twenty minutes, and then I'll shoot him a text."

"I'll melt him and, then I'll melt his All Might merch so that it can go in his grave with him," the pink girl continued to scowl as if she hadn't heard him, surprising the others with her vehemence.

Deciding that he might be better off staying quiet, Kurai retreated a couple of paces to fall in line next to Kirishima. In a lowered tone, he murmured, "Sometimes I forget how passionate she is about her dancing."

"Tell me about it," the redhead replied in a similar tone. "This one time in middle school, some chick challenged her to a dance-off, and Ashido wouldn't let her leave until they'd both done a routine to a full album."

"Ouch," Kurai winced. "I'm guessing the other girl hated her after she got shown up, huh?"

"She got shown up, all right, but after that she and Ashido were cool with each other," Kirishima answered. "She's always been like that, man. Half the guys that bullied younger kids in school wound up becoming besties with the guys that they messed with, thanks to her."

Kurai chuckled at that before he said, "While that doesn't really surprise me, I do have to remember that this is the same girl that wanted me to vaporize Monoma because he might've been the one messing with my stuff."

"We all wanted you to do that," Kirishima replied. "The guy totally deserved it. That aside, Ashido cares a lot about you. It's pretty hard not to get riled up when somebody's messing with the people you love, you know?"

Izuku made it to the concert backstage with only ten minutes to spare, much to the irritation of his friends. He was out of breath and unwinding the rope that they needed while Mina demanded, "Where were you, dude? We've been worried sick!" She and the rest of the girls were clothed in orange-and-white dance outfits with purple spandex underneath the outer pieces that allowed for easy movements.

"Sorry, I'll explain later," Izuku panted. "It's been a weird morning."

"You could've at least answered your phone," Kurai grumbled. "I called like twenty times after you ignored my texts." He and the other boys on the dance team- with the exception of Aoyama- wore outfits with a matching color theme to the girls', though minus the spandex.

"Yeah, you and All Might," the other boy grunted as he finished tying the new rope into the harness that they had ready for Aoyama. "I'm okay, promise. Right now, we need to put on a show for Eri and everyone else out there." Already the class could hear the noise of a large, gathered crowd on the other side of the wall.

Even as he said it, Uraraka and Ruby came running in, the gravity girl handing a certain device to Kurai with a peppy grin. "Found them," she said. "Thanks for lending us the scouter, Ku- Deku?! What happened, where were you?!"

While she focused her attention on her now-flustered boyfriend, Ruby came over to say, "That thing is so cool. I want one. Can I have one?"

"You'd have to fill out the paperwork needed for the schematics with the support course, but sure," Kurai chuckled as he stashed the item among some of the other spare equipment that they would not be using that day. "I've still got the program that Akarui wrote for mine, so the hard part would already be done with."

"Ugh, I hate paperwork stuff…" the younger girl groaned.

"Thought so," he snickered. "By the way, why'd you need it in the first place?"

"It's a surprise," Ruby answered, even as Mina and Jiro started calling for people to get in their proper places so that they could walk out on stage in order. "Oh, looks like we're starting. See you after it's over!" With that, she took off, red petals trailing her departure, somewhat to Kurai's exasperation.

"Let's move it people, move!" Mina called out, making a chopping motion with her hands that reminded Kurai so much of Iida that he couldn't help but laugh just a bit.

As he started to pass her by, he stopped and said, "Hey, you told me the best way to make a good dance is to just relax and enjoy the music, right? Doesn't seem like you're ready to do either."

Mina drew in a breath to protest, but she quickly stopped herself and looked down at her stiff body posture, slumping her shoulders once she realized that he was right. "Sorry," she said a little dejectedly. "I just feel like there's a lot riding on this. If we don't nail this, then people are just gonna have another reason to hate on our class, you know? I want this festival to be our class' chance to leave a positive impression on the rest of the school."

"And it will be," Kurai assured her as he grabbed her shoulders firmly. "Jiro and the band are gonna nail the music, and the dance team is gonna give the school a show to remember, because you're the one that put it together. You live for this kind of thing, so how can we go wrong?"

"That doesn't make me any less nervous, dude."

"Well then, how about this?" Kurai said as he forced himself to set aside his normal reticence and kissed Mina full on the mouth for a good few seconds, ignoring his classmates' various reactions while he did. As he pulled back, he made a point to keep his forehead pressed to hers' as he said, "Let's go have some fun, okay?"

"…Uh huh," Mina said in a bit of a daze.

"Good going, Hikari," Weiss huffed as Kurai pulled away with a big smile on his face. "You broke the dance coordinator."

"Aw, shut up, that was cute!" Hagakure laughed.

"No, he's good," Mina said as her cheeks colored lilac. "I needed something to help me chill out, and that definitely did the trick."

"I dunno about chill," Kaminari snickered as he bumped fists with Sero and Kirishima. "Looks like things just got a little hotter in here."

"You're lucky you're on the dance team, or else you'd be getting a heartbeat distortion to the head, Jamming Yay!" Jiro warned him while several of the guys and girls set to laughing at the blushing couple.

"I know, that's why I said it now."

"This is not the time!" Iida shouted at them. "We have two minutes to get into position before total darkness!"

"He's right, boys and girls!" Mina agreed with a big smile. "Let's rock this show! Plus…!"

"Ultra!"

"So, you guys excited to see Deku and Kai on the dance team?" Togata asked his younger wards as he held Eri up on his shoulder in order to give her a clear view of the stage. Akarui gave a shaky thumbs-up since his program likely wouldn't be heard above the noise of the crowd around them, and Eri gave a little nod as her answer.

"Rock on!" the blond boy laughed. He was excited for the show, of course- but he really wanted the two children who had suffered so much to be able to make a good memory, even if it was just this one. So he kept up his smile and did his best to keep the air around them lively while they waited for the show to start.

Unfortunately, as fate would have it, there were some nay-sayers in the group near to them, a tall boy and an average-looking girl with sour faces. "There's no way they don't blow this," the boy said just loud enough to be heard by his neighbors.

"Even if they don't, they're just showing off, right?" the girl added as she folded her arms.

Akarui's eyebrows descended, and he moved his wheelchair with angry jerk of his control stick to smack into the back of the boy's knees, nearly toppling him over. The student turned around angrily, growling, "Okay, what's your… problem?" His expression changed into one of frustrated puzzlement when he was confronted with the scowling Akarui, who then raised his right hand and made a rude gesture. "The hell, kid?!"

"Whoa, Hikari!" Togata laughed nervously as he moved forward and pulled on the back of the boy's wheelchair, forcing him to retreat a few feet. "This is a concert, right? Let's just have a good time with everyone else, okay?"

"Wait, you're the Big Three's Lemillion, right?" the girl asked, her eyes widening. "I thought you were taking a break from UA?"

"I am, but today I get to hang out with these cool cats," Togata said with an easy grin as he forced Akarui to put his hand down. "Sorry about Hikari, here. He's had a rough time of it, and I think he just wanted to enjoy the concert without any Gloomy Gus' bringing it down for the rest of us, you know?"

"He coulda just said something," the other boy grumbled as he stared down at the crippled boy.

"Hikari can't talk," Eri said matter-of-factly, startling both of the other students. "He got hurt real bad cos he was taking care of his brother so he can't talk or move around and stuff. He wanted to come see his brother in the song, and I wanted to see what a concert was, and now we're both here to see Kai and Deku and everyone else."

The two older students squirmed uncomfortably under the innocent gaze of the little girl and the angry glare of the sick boy. The both of them knew that they were being guilt tripped by Akarui big time, but they couldn't exactly walk away without an apology to the pair of them if they wanted any scraps of their dignity to remain intact. Eventually, the boy said, "Sorry we were rude to your friends. Won't happen again."

"No sweat, big guy!" Togata said happily as the room began to darken. "Hey, it looks like it's starting! Let's watch it together, okay?"

Jiro took in a deep breath as the lights dimmed until it was nearly black in the gym full of the majority of UA's student population. Many were excited to be there, but she could feel in the air, and the eyes that were upon her- there were those present hoping and waiting for them to fail.

"Kyoka… You can do anything."

As her father's words echoed in her mind, her trembling fingers stilled, and her legs finally quit shaking. She let out her pent-up breath slowly and stepped up to the microphone.

She was just in time for Bakugo to raise his drumsticks above his head and bellow, "Now! Start, dammit!"

"Let's show 'em what we got!" Kirishima called down from above, signaling that everyone in the special effects team was in place.

"Get ready, UA…" Bakugo growled, even as he flexed his fingers. "OUR SOUND IS GONNA KILL YOU!" An explosion lit up the stage, startling many of the audience members, even as the lights flooded the gym, showing the dance and band members all in their performance outfits, big smiles on their faces as the music began to resound across the construct.

The drums boomed under Bakugo's control while the keyboard responded clearly to Yaoyorozu's skill. Yang was already going all-out on her electric guitar while Tokoyami played with a dutiful precision. "Thanks for coming out today!" Jiro shouted into the microphone as she poured her heart into her bass, even while people began to cheer for them.

Kurai was not one to think deeply on the manner of how different people interact with music. To him it had always been background noise to pass the time, or in some cases, a memory affiliated with his favorite anime or movie. He never would have called himself a music lover, because it did not resonate within him like he knew it did with other people.

Today, though, amid the lights and thundering noise of the instruments that reverberated through his body as he began to dance alongside his friends, he felt exhilaration, happiness, and a pride in his efforts. He felt alive.

Jiro and Weiss then began to sing in tandem, and the air itself seemed to rejoice at the touch of their voices.

What am I to be? What is my calling?
I gave up giving up, I'm ready to go
The future's left unseen, it all depends on me
Put it on the line to follow my dream, yeah

In the crowd, Eri's eyes had gone wide as she covered her ears against the sound of Bakugo's explosions and the sudden bursts of sound coming from the instruments. Akarui couldn't believe it when his brother started moving his body in perfect rhythm with his classmates, all while wearing a huge smile that actually seemed genuine.

Tried all my life I've tried to find
Something that makes me hold on and never let go

The music swelled in power as they built up to the chorus, which the dancers commemorated by performing a giant group jump that saw them landing on the same beat as the beginning of the next lines.

Hero too, I am a hero too
My heart is set and I won't back down
Hero too, strength doesn't make a hero
True heroes stand up for what they believe
So wait and see
So wait and see

As the chorus began to wind down, Aoyama, Kurai, and Izuku suddenly broke the pattern and charged toward the center of the stage, where the latter two knelt and allowed their armored classmate to step into their cupped hands. In unison, they launched him up into the air, whirling around and around as he unleashed a multitude of sparkling lasers that transformed him into a living firework display, much to the crowd's delight.

Before he could descend, he was caught up in a red blur of motion that went unseen by those in the crowd, as they were too busy noticing Kurai and Izuku's fluid transition back into their places in the dance line.

What do they think of me? Who do they think I'll be?
I could not care less, I don't wanna know
Am I doing right? Am I satisfied?
I wanna live my life like it's meant to be

As Weiss and Jiro continued the song, Kurai couldn't help but feel that on some level, this music had been written for people like him; people that had endured enough from the world around them and decided to stop caring about what others thought of their actions. The only thoughts that mattered were his own, and those of the people that he trusted and loved.

Tried all my life I've tried to find
Something that makes me hold on and never let go

Ice shot across the ceiling, creating intersecting bridges over the heads of the people in the audience, even as Yaoyorozu and Sero unleashed streamers over the heads of everyone while another one of Bakugo's explosions propelled them out across the gym.

Hero too, I am a hero too
My heart is set and I won't back down
Hero too, strength doesn't make a hero
True heroes stand up for what they believe
So wait and see

Kirishima ran across the ice bridges at full tilt, carrying a large slab of ice that he was cutting with his quirk in order to make it snow down on the audience. Aoyama's lasers were once again shining in the air as he was dragged by a rope held by Ruby, whose petals fell down among the snow and sparkling lights to create a mesmerizing display. The crowd reacted even more favorably to this, as even those that had come to cast shade on their schoolmates found themselves lost in the magic of the song and show.

Jiro and Weiss' voices suddenly became more solemn as they approached the bridge, the tone changing to become more thoughtful instead of energetic and playful.

People will judge for no reason at all
Yeah, they might try
To say your dream's dumb, don't listen
They may look down on me and count me out
I'm going my own way
They may look down on me and count me out

I'm a hero, I've got music

As Kurai and the others prepared for the next part of the performance, Mina caught his eye, and their smiles broadened together, if that were even possible. They had each other, and they had their classmates to help through the struggle that is life. They didn't need the approval of others to become great heroes- to walk the path that they had chosen, they only needed the people that they cared about.

And they had plenty of those with them, as they would for a long time to come.

In that moment, he was able to forget all the pain he had suffered. He could see his mother and father smiling up at him in the crowd, Akarui giving him that typical little brother smile that would get on his nerves, but let him know that he was proud of him all the same. He raised his right arm above his head, and he could feel the blood coursing through his veins as adrenaline sent it surging throughout his body. For just that moment, he felt whole.

Hero too, I am a hero too
My heart is set and I won't back down
Hero too, strength doesn't make a hero
True heroes stand up for what they believe
Yeah, I'll be!

The dancers all leaped up high in the air- some with the assistance of their neighbors- to land on the ice bridges and continue the performance from up above. At the same time, Asui stuck her tongue out to wrap it around Uraraka and swing her across the sea of people, the gravity girl's hands reaching out to touch several people, until she had found the one she was looking for.

It had been hard to keep track of him with all the dancing and jumping around that they'd had to do, but she managed to touch Akarui before she was yanked back up onto the ice. The boy himself was startled as he felt his body begin to float in the air, unable to stop it or even grab onto his wheelchair in time. Before he could panic, though, a rush of wind and rose petals swept him up and began to carry him across the air, allowing him to see the delighted faces of everyone else in the gym, and how their scorn for his brother's class had turned to joy and appreciation for their efforts.

Akarui was just able to see Ruby's giggling face as she carried him along with her quirk, her speed and mastery surprising him, given her youth and the relatively small space that she had to maneuver. He felt a rush of adrenaline sweep into his body as it had not for months, and with it came a sensation in his face that had become so unfamiliar as to the point where thought it was lost to him forever.

Hero too, I am a hero too
My heart is set and I won't back down
Hero too Strength doesn't make a hero
True heroes stand up for what they believe
So wait and see

Togata nearly missed it because he was busy laughing at the sight of Akarui being carried away by Ruby, but when he saw it, he finally felt the last of Chisaki's shadow departing from the presence of the world around them.

Eri was smiling, her arms outstretched as she basked in the light and sound that class 1-A had created for them. And beyond that, he could see Akarui's face lit up like one of Aoyama's lasers as he too, was able to truly smile for the first time since he had been all but paralyzed. It wasn't a little half-smirk, or a frustrated attempt at a grin, nor even a futile effort to force their muscles to bend in ways that they had long forgotten were possible, but a pair of true, genuine smiles, brought forth by the joy that had managed to survive their upbringings.

As Togata felt his own smile crease his face and the tears stung his eyes, he prayed with all his might that Nighteye could see what their efforts had finally wrought. Eri was free, and Akarui could see the light in life again.

I have met so many heroes in my life
Gave me the strength and courage to survive
Gave me the power to smile everyday
Now it's my turn to be the one to make you smile

As the song drew to a close and the crowd roared its unified delight, Kurai saw the happy look on Akarui's face as Ruby skidded to a stop on the ice construct across from him, and he felt true joy stir in him again. He had been happy since things at school had finally started to stabilize, and his relationship with Mina had made it past their first rough patch, but until that very second, he hadn't felt truly joyful since he and Deku had managed to rescue Eri.

Like before, he felt something in his stomach loosen and allow the stress that he had been building up ever since that day to flow out of him, leaving him feeling content and satisfied with all of his efforts. Dad? He thought with a huge smile as he waved at his brother, who gave him a thumbs-up in response. Are you seeing this? No matter what, your sons are going to thrive!

Kai: I... actually have no complaints about this chapter. Thanks?

Mataras: Had to happen eventually, right? And you're welcome.

Akarui: *I also quite enjoyed this instalment. Of course, that only serves to make me me nervous for what's coming next time.*

Kai: Wait, what? What's happening next time?

Mataras: What, you think the feel-goods can't keep going?

Akarui: *Not when it's you writing the story.*

Mataras: ...That's fair.

Kai: What did you do this time?

Mataras: Would you look at the time?!

Kai: Don't even try that, we just got this segment started!

Akarui: *Next time- Face Him*

Kai: Who am I facing?!

Mataras: If I were you, I'd be ready to Go Beyond.

Akarui: *Plus Ultra!*

Kai: Akarui, answers! Give me the answers before he-!

Next time on Your Hero Academia: Unveiling...

There was one instance that was filled with tension, unfortunately. In the excitement of the day, the class had forgotten that while he was not a part of the festivities themselves due to the extra classes he'd been put through, Monoma was allowed to attend the event itself. As such, it was inevitable that he would run into Kurai eventually, and when he did, he seemed more unhinged than ever.

"Well, if it isn't the son of the traitor!" he cackled as soon as they locked eyes in the quad. "I see while I've been putting extra effort into my studies, you and your class have been taking it easy! Just you wait, this semester is gonna be class B's time to shine while you guys are left in the mud where you belong!" As he began to rant, the other people in attendance gave him looks of irritation and moved off, even as Izuku and Togata moved to take Eri away from what might become an ugly confrontation.

Kurai was glad that Mina was hanging out with the other girls right then, because he was pretty sure that she would have started a physical altercation with the maniac. Noticing a distinct lack of the other boy's classmates in the vicinity, Kurai finally decided to retort, "If that becomes the case, at least I'll still have friends with me in the muck. You seem to be in pretty short supply of those right now, and you're supposedly in a different league than me- even if that league seems to lack a hero license."

"Ha!" the student from class B scoffed. "People will come flocking back to my side once they realize that we are the truly superior class! I don't need a license to be better than you! Hahahahaha!"

As this was happening, Akarui typed out, *Do you want me to put his citizen's registry up for grabs on the dark web?*