Disclaimer:

Hey there! Thanks for checking out my fanfiction! I just want to make it super clear that I'm just a regular fan who loves to write stories for fun. None of this is for profit or anything like that. It's all just for entertainment, pure and simple. So, if you're enjoying the read, awesome! But please remember, I'm not making any money off of it. I am just sharing my love for these characters and worlds. Thanks for understanding! Happy reading!

I sat on the edge of the couch, squinting at my phone as I tried to follow the tutorial on how to braid hair. Eri sat in front of me, patiently waiting while I fumbled through the process, her silver hair slipping through my fingers like silk. This was way harder than I expected. The video made it look easy—just twist and weave—but in practice? I was practically wrestling with her hair.

It had been three weeks since I met Ochaco and her family, and things had been surprisingly smooth, all things considered. The house construction was coming along nicely, and I checked on the progress every few days. We'd already picked out the design, and by the looks of it, we'd be moving in soon. That was something to look forward to.

Of course, nothing ever goes off without a hitch. Over the past few weeks, I had the misfortune of running into small-time villains around the city. I swear, Musutafu was crawling with them like cockroaches. Every time one of them showed up, I used my Snatch ability to take away the friction from the ground, leaving them sliding around like clowns at a circus. They couldn't even stand up without tripping over their own feet. It was kind of hilarious, to be honest, watching them slip and fall until the heroes showed up to clean up the mess.

But naturally, that brought its own set of problems. Some of the heroes weren't too thrilled about me using my powers. Legal this, illegal that—it was always the same argument. I didn't technically have a hero license, so they were giving me hell about using my ability in public. But every time they pressed me about my quirk, I just used one of my shikigamis as cover. That always threw them off, thinking my quirk was something else. In the end, they'd walk away more confused than when they showed up, and I'd get to keep doing my thing.

Still, it was kind of annoying. Some of the heroes just wanted to look good by calling me out, not actually helping the situation. Those types got embarrassed real fast when I showed them my fake academic records—courtesy of Cyborg, of course. Skipping grades, passing board exams... It all looked legit. The real problem was the heroes, who were just trying to look out for the younger generation. I didn't mind them so much. But the nosy ones who kept poking at me about skipping school? Yeah, they got what was coming to them when I flashed those credits.

I was brought back to the present when Eri shifted in front of me, her little sigh reminding me that I was still struggling with her hair. I frowned, glancing at the video again. "Man, this shouldn't be this hard," I muttered under my breath. My fingers kept tangling in her hair, and despite my best efforts, the braid was turning into something entirely else.

As I worked, my mind wandered. Eri needs more protection. As much as I hate to admit it, I can't be with her 24/7. My shikigamis were helpful, but they had a serious limitation—if I got knocked out, they'd only last two minutes before disappearing. That wasn't enough time if something went sideways. Eri needed someone who could protect her when I couldn't. Someone... reliable.

But who? I couldn't just hire any random hero. The last thing I needed was an HPSC (Hero Public Safety Commission) agent spying on us, like Hawks did with the League of Villains. And villains were obviously out of the question. Not gonna risk Eri's life with that kind of mess.

Then it hit me. There was one person. Someone who wasn't a hero anymore but definitely had the skills. Lady Nagant. Kaina Tsutsumi. She was locked up for killing a member of the HPSC, but her reputation spoke for itself. She was deadly, efficient, and most importantly, she had a bone to pick with the HPSC.

Of course, there were pros and cons to hiring a former assassin. On one hand, she was a badass with a sniper rifle who could take down targets from miles away. On the other hand... Well, she was a former assassin. But for some reason, I couldn't shake the feeling that she'd be perfect for the job. I couldn't quite put my finger on why, though. Was I just simping for her? Nah, I dismissed the thought. But still, the idea of hiring her stuck in my head.

I debated with myself for a few minutes. Should I hire her? Was this just some dumb impulse? The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. But then again... How the hell was I even supposed to contact her? I groaned, realizing I'd probably have to bother Cyborg again. Either that or just break her out of Tartarus myself. Hell, I could probably summon Shenron to erase her records while I was at it. Yeah, I'll wing it when I get there.

"Done!" I said, pulling back to admire my handiwork. Eri and I both stared at her reflection in the mirror, and I blink in disbelief. Her hair was twisted into some kind of... upside-down ice cream cone. Slightly curved at the top, too. How the hell did I manage that when I was aiming for a simple braid? Did I use Overhaul by accident again?

Eri stared at her hair, then looked up at me with wide, confused eyes. I stared back, equally confused. "Uh... well, that's... something," I muttered, scratching my head. "Looks... unique?"

Eri tilted her head, studying her new hairdo. "I look like... ice cream?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, kinda."

She giggled, her face lighting up, and even though the braid—or whatever the hell I'd made—was a mess, it didn't matter. Seeing her smile like that? That's all I needed.

"Alright, kiddo," I said, ruffling her hair a little, which only made the style look more ridiculous. "Let's call it a day with the hair experiments. Next time, we'll get a professional, yeah?"

Eri nodded, still giggling, and I grinned. Yeah, things were chaotic, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had a handle on it.

Now... All I had to do was figure out how the hell to hire a former assassin without getting myself thrown in prison. Easy.

Kaina Tsutsumi's POV

Kaina was mid-rep, working on her 10th set of sit-ups, her abs burning as she lifted herself off the cold floor of her cell. The only sounds were her controlled breathing and the faint hum of the security system overhead. In Tartarus, there wasn't much to do but train. Freedom was a long-forgotten luxury, and routine became her only companion. She'd made peace with it a while ago. After all, once you kill the president of the Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC), visitors stop knocking on your door.

But today was different.

As she finished her set, the steel door to her cell slid open with a low, mechanical hiss. Kaina sat up, wiping the sweat from her brow as a guard stepped in. His face was stern, but his tone held a hint of curiosity he was trying to suppress. "You've got a visitor."

Kaina raised an eyebrow; her curiosity piqued. A visitor? Nobody had come to see her since the day she was locked away. She pulled herself to her feet, muscles taut from her workout, and followed the guard, her mind racing. Who the hell would want to visit me now?

As they reached the visitation area, Kaina's eyes locked onto the figure of a teenager sitting casually in the chair opposite the glass. She didn't recognize him. Dark hair, lean build, and an air of confidence that didn't belong in a place like Tartarus. He looked out of place, too calm, too collected. She narrowed her eyes, her guard immediately up.

Kazuya's POV

I wasn't gonna lie—when I first thought about breaking Kaina Tsutsumi out of Tartarus, I figured it'd be a breeze. Infiltrate the prison, smash some heads, and boom—Lady Nagant would be free. But then I realized... breaking her out would be more of a hassle than it was worth. And with the way I operate? There's always an easier way.

So instead, I used Snatch. Simple. Just took away the free will of the HPSC's higher-ups and mind-controlled them into obedient drones. Nothing too flashy, just enough to make them hand me access to Kaina without leaving a trace. It's not like anyone's going to question their superiors, especially not in this line of work. Hell, after what happened to her, nobody's going to risk it.

Before I came here, I dropped Eri off with the Urarakas. I told her I had "family business" to handle. She didn't need to know the details—too young for all that. And now, here I was, sitting in a Tartarus visitation room, waiting for my meeting with the infamous Lady Nagant.

When the door slid open and Kaina walked in, I had to keep my cool. Not gonna lie, the woman was... intense. Thick thighs, defined obliques, long purple hair that fell just right, and those sharp eyes that'd probably pierced through more targets than I could count. I almost got lost staring for a second before mentally slapping myself back into focus. Get it together, Kazuya.

She sat across from me, her expression guarded, clearly sizing me up. Fair enough—she didn't know who the hell I was, and I didn't exactly scream "normal visitor."

"Guards," I said, turning to the two standing by the door, "leave us. I got this."

They didn't budge.

I sighed. Typical. "Look," I added, my voice lowering a notch, "I'm not here to cause trouble. But if you're worried about my safety..."

I summoned Magito from my shadow, the monstrous shikigami emerging with a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the room. The guards' faces went pale as they stared at the hulking mass of spikes and muscle, and even Kaina's eyes widened slightly.

"That's... new," she muttered, her voice low.

"Yeah, I like to keep things interesting," I replied with a smirk. The guards, finally realizing that they weren't in control of the situation, hurried out, leaving me and Kaina alone. Once they were gone, I dismissed Magito back into the shadows.

Kaina's wariness remained, but there was curiosity there now, too. She folded her arms across her chest, staring me down. "Alright, kid. Who are you, and what do you want?"

I leaned back in my chair, keeping my tone casual but friendly. "Name's Kazuya Akiyama. And what do I want?" I paused, letting the moment hang for a second. "I want you to be a bodyguard."

Kaina blinked, clearly caught off guard by my straightforwardness. "A bodyguard?" Her voice held a mix of confusion and disbelief. "For who?"

"For my little sister," I clarified. "I need someone with your skill set to keep her safe."

Kaina narrowed her eyes. "You came all the way here... to Tartarus... to hire me? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious," I said, not missing a beat. "I know about your past. I know why you're locked up. And honestly? It's BS that they threw you in here for what you did."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my bluntness. "Are you even allowed to talk like that?"

I chuckled. "Who's going to stop me? I talk however I want. The only people who can tell me what to do are the ones close to me."

For a moment, Kaina just stared at me, processing what I'd said. "You're not with the HPSC," she said, more a statement than a question. "So who are you?"

"I'm just the eldest brother," I replied simply, locking eyes with her. "And I need someone I can trust to look after my sister."

Silence hung between us for a moment, Kaina clearly weighing her options. I could tell she was still trying to figure out if this was some kind of trick. But there was no trick. Just a simple request. "I'm not here to force you into anything," I added. "You get to choose. But all I ask is that if you take the job, you protect her like she's your own."

Kaina leaned back, eyes narrowing in thought. "And if something happens to you?"

I shrugged. "If I'm taken out, I'd trust you to raise her. But that's worst-case scenario. I'm not exactly easy to get rid of."

She didn't respond immediately; her mind was clearly processing everything. I stayed quiet, giving her space to think. Come on, Kaina. What's going to it be?

After what felt like an eternity, Kaina sighed, rubbing her temples. "You've got guts; I'll give you that. Coming in here, talking like this." She paused, her eyes scanning me again. "And you're asking me to be a bodyguard?"

I nodded. "That's right. So... what do you say?"

She stayed quiet for another beat, then finally asked, "Why me? There are plenty of other heroes—or even ex-heroes—you could've hired. Why are you dead set on me?"

Now, I could've given her some deep, thoughtful answer. But instead, my brain short-circuited for a second, and the words that slipped out of my mouth were, "Well, I was also thinking you could be my girlfriend—wait, I mean—"

Kaina's eyebrows shot up, and I immediately backpedaled, my face flushing. "No, no, what I meant was—uh, forget that. Ignore me. Brain malfunction. I meant bodyguard. Definitely meant bodyguard."

For a second, Kaina just stared at me, and then—surprisingly—she cracked the faintest smile. "Smooth, real smooth."

I groaned, rubbing the back of my neck. "Please pretend that didn't happen."

"Yeah, no." Kaina shook her head, still smirking. She glanced at the door, then back at me. "Give me a little more time to think. It's not every day someone comes in here with a job offer like that."

"Take your time," I said, leaning back and trying to recover from the absolute mess I'd just made of the conversation. Good job, stupid. Real smooth.

Getting escorted out of Tartarus wasn't the vibe I had planned for today. The guards led me down the long, sterile corridors, and the whole time, all I could think about was how cringeworthy that conversation with Kaina had been. Girlfriend? Really? The second the words left my mouth, I wanted to evaporate on the spot. My brain was still screaming at me for that one. If I could just Snatch that memory out of existence, I would. Hell, I'd do it right now if it wouldn't cause more trouble.

Focus, Kazuya, I reminded myself as I finally made it out of the prison and into the open air. At least I'd managed to snatch all traces of my visit from anyone but Kaina. No paper trail, no digital footprint, nothing. It's like I was never there. Smooth.

Except for the fact that I still wanted to crawl under a rock after that whole "girlfriend" slip-up. But hey, I got the message across. Now I just had to wait for her answer. No big deal.

With that disaster behind me, I stood there for a moment, trying to figure out what to do next. Eri was still with the Urarakas, so I had some time to kill. I scratched my head, looking around the city, waiting for inspiration to hit.

"Where should I go?

Then, like a literal light bulb, an idea popped into my head. I imagined it flickering on above me before puffing into nonexistence. A grin spread across my face as I knew exactly what I needed to do.

Standing in a gaming store, clutching a brand-new console like it was a golden ticket to heaven. I couldn't stop grinning. It'd been way too long since I'd dived into my old otaku hobbies. The excitement bubbling inside me was legit. I could already imagine myself parked on the couch, gaming for hours.

But then reality slapped me in the face. I had to be a good example for Eri. Damn. I sighed, making a mental note to limit myself. No playing adult-rated games until she was older or at least not around. I wasn't going to let her walk in on me blasting zombies or anything like that. Small sacrifices for the little one.

I picked up Eri from the Urarakas, thanking them for looking after her. She'd had a great time, and as usual, Ochaco was all smiles, telling me about their day. We headed back to the rented apartment, and by the time we got there, it was already dark.

Once Eri was tucked in bed, the house finally went quiet. Perfect. I grabbed the console, hooked it up to the TV, and settled in for a long night of gaming. As the startup screen flashed, a wave of nostalgia hit me.

I fired up an online PvP game, eager to dive into some matches. It didn't take long to find a lobby, and soon enough, I was wrecking people left and right. The game had this one player with the username AllMightDestroyer9000, and the dude was trash. I couldn't help but chuckle at the edgy name. Bet that's Shigaraki. I didn't think too hard about it, though. Just another player, right?

But as the match went on, I kept finding and sniping him. Like, over and over. I don't know why, but something about the way this guy moved, the username... I couldn't shake the feeling. And let's be real, the idea of trolling Shigaraki in a game was hilarious. I was destroying his avatar, and it was just too easy.

Round after round, I'd drop him with a headshot or catch him off guard while he was trying to camp. Dude had no chance. But then I noticed something—his icon. The little speaker icon next to his name was blinking, meaning his mic was on.

Curiosity got the better of me. I unmuted him, and immediately I was hit with a barrage of insults.

"YOU STUPID NOOB! YOU'RE JUST A CAMPER! SPAMMER! FREAKING LOSER!"

I blinked. No way. My jaw actually dropped for a second. It was him. Tomura freakin' Shigaraki was throwing a tantrum over a video game. I barely managed to keep my composure as the insults kept coming.

"You can't play this game without camping like a loser! I bet you think you're so good!"

This dude, I thought, leaning back and letting the moment sink in. I couldn't stop the grin from spreading across my face. It was perfect. Not only had I guessed right, but now I had the chance to troll the apprentice of All for One himself.

Oh, man, this feels like the old days. I missed this—the trash talk, the competition, all of it. It reminded me of the times when I'd stay up late gaming with randoms and throwing shade at whoever was dumb enough to challenge me. The banter, the comebacks... I didn't realize how much I missed it until now.

But first things first—Eri. I wasn't about to let her hear this absolute dumpster fire of a conversation. With a quick Snatch, I yanked away any chance of her hearing me or Shigaraki through the walls. I didn't want a slim chance of her getting corrupted by Tomura's rants.

Once I was sure she was in the clear, I grabbed my headset, ready to throw down. "Yo," I started, my voice dripping with fake sympathy. "You mad, bro? I mean, you're the one who chose the name AllMightDestroyer. Kinda setting yourself up for failure, don't you think?"

Silence for a second. Then more screaming. "YOU'RE A CHEAP PLAYER! ALL YOU DO IS CAMP! YOU'RE PROBABLY HACKING!"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Bro, you're just salty 'cause you keep getting wrecked. Don't hate the player, hate the game."

More rage-filled gibberish. It was almost too easy. I kept sniping him, dropping him every chance I got, and he just kept losing it.

"FREAKING CAMPER! GET A REAL STRATEGY!"

I leaned into the mic, smirking. "Bruh, you gotta chill. It's just a game. But if you're really this bad at PvP, maybe stick to single-player. No one'll trash talk you there."

Inside, I was practically glowing. I hadn't had this much fun in forever. The chaos, the trolling, the banter—it brought me back to my old life, back when things were simpler. And the best part? I was trolling one of the top villains in the world, and he didn't even know it.

Tomura let out one last frustrated yell, probably throwing his controller across the room before logging off. The lobby went silent for a second, and I couldn't stop grinning.

"Thanks for the memories, Tomura," I muttered, leaning back into the couch. "I missed this."

As the next match loaded up, I felt lighter. Life in this world had its ups and downs, but moments like this? I don't know why but it felt less stressful here than when I was in Jujutsu Kaisen. Probably because I can use my full power without the risk of dying.