This chapter is based on a real school. I learned about Élan School from a Cr1tikal live stream, and I was properly disgusted. The school shut down a while ago. A lot of the details come from the Joe versus Elan School, one of the scariest things I've ever read.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Anyways, here's your chapter. Here's the Discord: /cgFmXz3qJ5


About 45% of the population face a range of obstacles such as managing their quirks, experiencing discrimination, and feeling societal pressure to become a hero. Seeking the support of Quirk counseling can prove pivotal in understanding and managing one's Quirk, and developing effective coping strategies for any associated emotional or psychological difficulties.

Quirk counselors are trained professionals who specialize in providing assistance to individuals struggling with the psychological and emotional effects of having a Quirk. Using a variety of techniques, including exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and talk therapy, they guide their clients towards a balanced and contented life.

When doing quirk counseling, it's important for love and support to be at the forefront- violence and aggression should not be tolerated or promoted. Instead, counselors should listen to their clients' experiences, offer empathy and understanding, and provide practical advice and strategies for managing their quirk-related challenges.

No one should be shamed for the powers they have.

Mukae Emukae was headed for a school that practiced something similar. The school's name was Miller Academy.

Miller Academy was a coeducational institution that offered boarding and academic preparation for middle and high school students who experienced emotional, adjustment, or behavioral challenges. Admissions were ongoing, and students usually stayed for approximately twenty-seven months.

At Miller Academy, the approach to behavior modification was rooted in the understanding that simply stopping negative actions was not enough. Adolescents also had to learn new behaviors and positive habits to replace previous ones. The community was closely-knit, structured, and designed to simulate society, with each house being run by students and supervised by direct-care staff members.

Through a job hierarchy, students learned valuable skills such as self-respect, personal responsibility, honesty, consideration for others, self-control, and patience. The program emphasized a strong work ethic, with promotions leading to new privileges and increased status. Ultimately, the value of earning what they wanted and the importance of giving in order to receive was learned by the students.

Mukae Emukae was a girl who had an earnest desire to be loved and find happiness, but unfortunately, her life had been deeply affected by her quirk. Her parents, Junichi and Ayumi, struggled to find effective solutions to help their daughter manage her quirk and lead a normal life, and made the decision to enroll her in Miller Academy.

It might provide the breakthrough their daughter needed.

And it would.

Just not in the way they thought.

Mukae's eyes scanned the bus- the deep cover of the forest was getting boring to watch. As Mukae observed her fellow students, she couldn't help but notice the weariness and sadness in their expressions, and their body language seemed guarded and distant. It was evident that they had experienced their fair share of struggles.

She felt a pair of eyes on the back of her head. She turned to see a girl- maybe her age, sitting there, a strange smile on her face. She looked...familiar, but Mukae couldn't place her.

"...do I know you?" Mukae asked.

"Hm? Oh, no. I just have one of those…familiar faces." The girl laughed. She had bobbed blonde hair with messy buns, brown eyes, a round face, and a very…relaxed expression.

"I feel like I've seen you somewhere…I dunno why, though." Mukae admitted. "Did you go to Jousai All Girl's School?"

"No, no." The girl shook her head. "Sounds like a nice school, though. But who knows? Maybe we crossed paths somewhere else. It's a small world, after all."

Mukae nodded, acknowledging the possibility. "Yeah, it could be. Well, it's nice to meet you regardless. I'm Mukae. What's your name?"

The girl smiled. "My name is Ukinako Tojo. Nice to meet you…" The girl was…off, but seemed pretty nice. She offered her hand to shake.
That made Mukae pause.
She wanted to reach out, to shake it back- but she couldn't. Instead, she awkwardly smiled, and looked away.

Tojo didn't seem to take offense to that, thankfully. Outside of her though, none of the other kids aboard seemed brave enough to introduce themselves. Why did it feel like Mukae was out of the loop here? All these other kids looked like they had come to accept some inescapable fate. Whatever that fate was, well, she was about to find out. The bus started to slow down before it came to a stop entirely, slightly shaking up some of the passengers from just how sudden it was.

"Well, we're here," Tojo said.

Mukae looked out the window- she expected to see some semblance of a school out there. Stuff like playful chatter, students rushing to and from classes…anything school like.

Instead, what greeted her eyes was an empty courtyard, devoid of life and motion. And the school, if you could even call it that, was more like a house you'd find in a suburb, with a bunch of boarding rooms and sheds surrounding it.

This was not the place Mukae was expecting.

"Are...you sure this is the right place?" Mukae asked.

"Nothing like the brochure, right?" Tojo scoffed, "Really feels like someone should get them on false advertising. Eh, maybe one day."

Mukae sighed, feeling a mix of disappointment and confusion. She had been looking forward to attending a vibrant and bustling school, not this quiet and seemingly deserted place. This was not the place her parents promised.

The students left the bus, in a single file line. Confusion was spread, all across their faces.

"Welcome to Miller Academy," Tojo said, "Thought I'd say it before they start the speech."

"Speech? Have...you been here before?" Mukae asked.

"Huh? Oh, no. Just heard about it from friends who went..."

Mukae was about to ask what she meant by that, when something unexpected happened. One of the kids- he had a very distinct smell of rubber on him- suddenly sucker punched one of the staff, and took off running.

She watched as the staff member stumbled back, clutching their face in pain, while the student with the rubbery quirk darted away with incredible speed.

"What... what just happened?" Mukae exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.

Tojo let out a low whistle. "We got a runner."

The kid took off into the woods, hoping to make a quick escape. Suddenly, two men emerged from the dense foliage, their figures blending into the natural surroundings. They moved swiftly, closing in on the fleeing student.

Without hesitation, the men launched themselves at the runner, tackling him to the ground.. Mukae could see the struggle as the runner fought against their grasp, his rubbery body twisting and contorting.

"W-what the?" Mukae gasped, as the boy was dragged back. Nothing was said by the staff. He was dragged into the house like nothing even happened.

Huh...they actually amped up security, Tojo thought to herself, Don't remember the camo guys. Must've gotten sick of the whole 'search the forest' for runners and just started hiring specialists.

"That...that's new," Tojo admitted.

"W-why do you sound so...unphased about this?" Mukae asked.

"It takes a lot to mess with me. Doesn't mean I don't recognize how screwed up things are though."

Mukae frowned. What the hell did I get myself into?

The staff members led the students towards a shower room located within the house-like structure. As they entered the shower room, Mukae's discomfort grew. She glanced around, noticing the stern expressions on the staff members' faces.

"Get in." The staff growled, clearly annoyed. It was clear that compliance was expected, and she didn't want to risk getting in trouble so early on in her time at this school.

Tojo followed the order as well, just a bit more casually than the others.

Just be patient, Tojo told herself, You need the right moment.

Mukae reluctantly began to undress along with the other students. The room echoed with the sounds of clothes being discarded, and she stepped into the shower. It was like being decontaminated in a school lab. Cold water rained down on her head from the shower head. That was FRIGID- Mukae wanted to hug herself, to shield her body from the icy water, but there was no escaping its relentless assault. Her own quirk even hurt her own body, so...

There was no use trying.

As the water continued to drench her, Mukae's thoughts swirled with confusion. Why were they being subjected to such a process?

Most of the kids reacted the same, wanting to protect themselves from the cold downpour, even Tojo. She shivered a bit from the water, but she was able to endure it. The showers turned off and they were all given time to dry off before they were given the academy's uniform.

The girl's outfit was mainly white, with a red collar, sash, and ribbon, and a dark blue neckerchief. The uniform had a simple and elegant design, with a knee-length skirt and a fitted jacket. The fabric was of high quality, giving it a polished and refined appearance.

On the other hand, the boys' outfits consisted of a white button-up shirt paired with dark blue trousers. They wore a red tie around their necks, adding a touch of color to their otherwise monochromatic attire.

...but the boy who ran was given an odd attire. Yellow shirt, very tight pink shorts, shoes without laces. They were humiliating him without even saying a word. The rubber boy was fuming, but said nothing.

"Consider him lucky," Tojo muttered.

"Is this how they treat students here?" Mukae whispered, her voice laced with concern and disbelief.

"If you step out of line, yeah," Tojo huffed, "but it can get much worse..."

"I...I don't think I should be here."

"Of course you don't. No one does, but there's always one reason or another people 'think' you should be here, usually Quirk related. What is yours anyway?"

"I...I don't wanna get into the specifics." Mukae admitted. "It's...it's a whole thing."

Figures. Her folks must hate her quirk. Tojo thought. At least she's older than I was.

"Same, honestly," Tojo admitted, only half-lying, "Just stick with me and we can survive this, 'kay?"

"U-uh, yeah." Mukae said, once again avoiding eye contact. Tojo frowned.

Is she still weirded out by the handshake thing? Tojo wondered.

"I mean that," Tojo said, her voice becoming more serious. For a minute, she almost broke her cover.

Mukae glanced over at her. "...okay. I believe you. I'm just...confused."

"Believe me. These guys know that. I've heard there's two rules here at Miller- 1. You start with nothing. 2. Resist and you get less than nothing." Tojo said, pointing over to the rubber kid. "That outfit? Means he's getting less than nothing. We're not even meant to say he exists."

"What?" Mukae gasped.

"Yep. That's how it goes. As of this moment, you're just looking at blank space."

"That...that's dehumanizing."

"To most people, yeah. To the staff, it's just mundane."

This place is built on breaking someone! Mukae realized, as one of the staff walked over. She was a girl, maybe a few years older than them both. She had shoulder-length chestnut hair, neatly styled, and her almond-shaped eyes held a hint of warmth beneath their focused gaze.

"Hi there. I'm Futao Yamada. I'll be your 'big sister' for these first few days here. Would you two be kind enough to follow me to the mess hall?" She asked. Despite her professional appearance, there was a certain weariness in Futao's eyes.

"S-sure." Mukae nodded, as she and Tojo followed Futao out.

"Big Siblings are kind of a 'student helper.' She's only like...four years older than us maybe, and she's one of the 'success stories' they like to brag about," Tojo whispered.

"She sounds so...tired..." Mukae muttered.

"Tired, broken, numb to the pain, call it what you want."

The girl stopped, and spun around. "Why. The fuck. Are you less than one foot away from me."

"H-huh?" Mukae asked, confused.

"You little shits are supposed to be within a foot raidus of me. Get the fuck over here. NOW." Yamada hissed.

"Sorry, we're new here…" Tojo covered. "Didn't realize. No one gave us a rundown on the rules."

Yamada's eyes narrowed, her demeanor shifting from weariness to annoyance. "Well, consider this your first lesson then," Yamada snapped, her voice dripping with condescension. "You're expected to know and follow the rules here. It's not my responsibility to hold your hand through everything."

Mukae frowned. She was as bad as the others.

She's been here too long. Kids usually stay here for two years- maybe her folks just hate her. Tojo thought.

Yamada turned back around, with the girls adhering close to her. Yamada led them into the dining room- if you could really call it that. The dining room was dimly lit, with sparse furnishings and a gloomy atmosphere that made the air feel heavy. The tables were worn and old, and the chairs seemed uncomfortable and mismatched. Only 4 students were seated at each table, with a few chairs in between them. The walls were adorned with faded motivational posters, seemingly more for show than actual inspiration.

As they approached a table, Mukae noticed that the other students present wore expressions of resignation and weariness. There was little conversation or camaraderie among them, as if they had grown accustomed to the oppressive atmosphere of the place. Some eyes were blank. Some were mischievous. Others were...full of distain.

Mukae took a seat next to the other student at the table, hoping to find some solace in their presence and perhaps strike up a conversation. She turned towards him with a friendly smile, intending to break the awkward silence.

"Hi there, I'm Mukae Emukae. What's your name?" She asked.

However, the student sitting beside her remained unresponsive, staring blankly ahead as if lost in his own thoughts. His eyes held a distant and vacant look, devoid of any recognition or interest in Mukae's presence. It was as if he existed in a world of his own, cut off from the reality around him.

Mukae's smile faltered, her attempt at connection falling flat. She tried once more, her voice laced with concern. "Are you okay? Is something bothering you?"

But her words seemed to pass through him, as he continued to ignore her, his gaze locked on a point in the distance. Yamada watched the whole exchange, a slow smile creeping up on her face.

"Good job, Kurai." She said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks." The boy named Kurai said. Mukae was even more confused now. Yamada looked irritated at Mukae's confusion.

"Sorry. He can't talk with you. It's how it works here." She scoffed.

"How what works?" Mukae asked.

"Here at this institution, students are divided into two categories: the 'strong' and the 'weaklings,'" Yamada explained, her tone dripping with arrogance. "Those of us deemed 'strong' are granted the privilege to freely interact with others, while the 'weaklings' are restricted from speaking to anyone unless they have been given permission."

Mukae's eyes widened in disbelief. It was a baffling and arbitrary system, designed to exert control and reinforce a sense of hierarchy among the students.

"You see, weaklings like Kurai here are not allowed to initiate conversations or make connections on their own," Yamada continued, gesturing toward the boy sitting next to Mukae. "They must rely on the 'strong' students, like myself, to communicate with others. It's a way of maintaining order, they say."

Mukae couldn't comprehend the logic behind such a restrictive system. It felt oppressive and dehumanizing, depriving the weaklings of their autonomy and forcing them to depend on others for their basic social interactions.

"But... why?" Mukae managed to ask, her voice filled with confusion and frustration.

Yamada's condescending smile widened. "It's for their own good."

You're kidding... Mukae thought.

"So, where do us newbies fall on the spectrum?" Tojo asked, "We start off as 'weak' and get 'strong?'"

"Oh, that's part of proper orientation," Yamada said matter-of-factly. "But you are right in that your status can...fluctuate around here. Usually, a strong student can be reassigned as 'weal' if they break too many rules. The climb back up is...arduous, but they say it's worth it."

"You keep saying 'they.' You mean the faculty, right?"

"Who else? And if they say it, then it simply is. Not our place to question."

Tojo let out a frustrated sigh. "This place... it's like a prison. We're just supposed to accept everything blindly?"

Yamada tensed up. "...what did you just say?"

"You heard me," Tojo crossed her arms.

"You're...going to be a problem student, aren't you?" Yamada asked.

"Dunno. You tell me."

"...then come with me." Yamada frowned. "It's time you went 'knocking'."

Knocking? What the hell does knocking mean? Mukae asked, as Tojo stood up.

Yamada escorted her across the dining room, to a very narrow flight of steps. At the top was a dead end with a door to left and right. Mukae watched them climb up the stairs, and out of sight. She could only hear what was going on- as the steps stopped, she assumed they were at the top of the stairs.

"KNOCK!" A loud voice from a room yelled. Someone (probably Tojo) knocked on the door.

"WHO'S OUT THERE?" The voice yelled again.

...

"Say your name louder." She heard Yamada say.

"TOJO!" The girl yelled.

"COME IN!" The voice yelled, and the door opened, and closed.

And then she heard the yelling. It was angry, loud and upsetting to hear. But no one flinched. Not a single person even looked up. Mukae was frightened.

Mom...Dad...what did you send me into? Mukae couldn't help but wonder. She was hoping, praying that her parents had been duped by this place's brochure. The false advertising must've tricked countless people.

...right?

Eventually, Tojo came back downstairs, looking pretty unchanged from the whole 'getting yelled at' experience. She took her seat again, and said nothing.

"HEAD COUNTS!" A student with a clipboard yelled. Mukae watched as a student with a clipboard moved around the room, calling out names and conducting headcounts. Names and locations would be marked in 10 minute intervals. It was hell.

"Emukae, Mukae!" the student with the clipboard called out.

Mukae's heart raced as she raised her hand and responded. "Here!"

The student made a note on their clipboard and moved on, continuing the headcount. Mukae couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and discomfort, as if she was just a number in this place, a mere statistic to be accounted for.

As the headcount continued, the room fell into an eerie silence.

"Kengo, Nakamura!"

The boy in the yellow shirt and pink shorts stood up. That's when Emukae realized- the boy with the clipboard was the one he sucker punched earlier.

"Apologize." The clipboard wielder said.

"...sorry, or whatever. Shouldn't have done that." The rubber boy said. "My bad."

Wrong thing to say.

"How pathetic." A gruff voice interrupted. Emukae hadn't realized it, but at some point, a tall and imposing figure had entered the room. The headmaster was a man with a rugged appearance, his chiseled features hinting at a life of discipline and hardship. His strong jawline was covered with a hint of stubble, and his piercing eyes seemed to penetrate through the very souls of those he looked upon. Clad in a dark suit and tie, he exuded an aura of authority and power.

"You think an insincere apology is enough, Nakamura?" the man growled, his voice low and commanding. "You not only assaulted a staff member but also disrupted the order and discipline of this institution. Such behavior will not be tolerated under my watch. Start over. And beg. Beg him for his forgiveness. Don't test me, Kengo. Do you wanna know why?"

Kengo swallowed hard. His voice trembled slightly as he responded. "W-why, sir?"

The headmaster's lips curled into a cold, disdainful smile as he leaned in closer to Kengo. "Because, I am the one who decides your fate in this institution. I hold the power to make your life here a living hell or a path towards redemption. Now. BEG."

Mukae paled. THIS was the Headmaster?! This...this...this thug of a human being?! Oh god, she was in hell, wasn't she? This was some weird hellscape she was in, a nightmare of some kind. It had to be!

"P-please forgive me," Kengo begged. "I-it was wrong of me to punch you."

"What do you think, sir? Enough?" The clipboard holder asked.

Kengo hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting around the room, searching for any sign of mercy or reprieve. With a defeated sigh, he reluctantly got down on his knees.

"Please... I beg for your forgiveness," Kengo pleaded, his voice strained with desperation. "I'm truly sorry for my actions. It was disrespectful and uncalled for. I promise it won't happen again."

The headmaster observed Kengo's display of submission, his expression unreadable. Then, he spoke.

"GRAB THE BROOMSTICK! GENERAL MEETING!" The headmaster yelled.

Before Kengo knew it, he had a boy on each side of him- they were clearly as a physical threat. A broomstick was thrown at him, inches from his toes.

None of this made sense to Mukae. She was relieved to see the broom wouldn't be used to beat him, but what happened next was equally horrifying.

"SCALD HIM!" The headmaster yelled, and suddenly, fifty chairs were shoved against the walls. The students were clearing the room and RUSHING at this teen.

The word scald scared Mukae. She could have never imagined a reality existing where this was normal.

Yet it was happening.

It was really happening.

A torrent of rage ERUPTED at this kid. Yelling, screaming. Calling him worthless. Stupid. Every curse and slur imaginable.

Mukae was horrified.

It seemed like only she and Tojo weren't insulting this kid, but Tojo seemed to have a look of pity and anger on her face. Her arms were crossed but she was gripping her own arm tightly.

"Not yet...not yet...no matter how much you want to," Tojo told herself.

Then...it ended. The voices stopped. As suddenly as it had begun, the torrent of rage and insults came to a halt. The room fell into an eerie silence, punctuated only by heavy breathing and the faint whimpering of Kengo, who had crumpled to the ground, his body trembling with fear.

And then the students returned back to their seats as if nothing happened.

Kengo was left on the floor, broken and shattered.

"One bad day," The headmaster declared. "That's all it takes. One moment of weakness, one act of disobedience, and your future can crumble before your eyes. Your quirks, the very essence of your being, can become a weapon."

Mukae hated him.

"If you let your quirks control you, if you let them dictate your actions without thought or restraint, you will become nothing more than a liability. Your power will be your downfall."

The headmaster stepped up on stage. "My name is Miller. Welcome to my academy. Listen carefully, for these are the three core rules of this institution," Miller declared, his voice firm and unwavering. "First, you will listen to your superiors. Obedience is paramount. Disregard for authority will not be tolerated."

He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the room, making sure his words were sinking in.

"Second, participation is mandatory. You will attend all classes, training sessions, and activities assigned to you. Laziness and apathy will hinder your progress and will be met with consequences."

"And finally, there is to be no interaction with the other sex," Miller continued, his voice taking on an angry tone. "This rule is in place to maintain order and focus within our institution. Relationships and distractions can lead to weakness and compromise. You are here to be disciplined, not to engage in frivolous pursuits."

Miller clapped his hands, and his 'goons'- that was the best way to describe the students who held the clipboards. "Now. You're all going to write about WHY you deserve to be here. These will be sent to your parents."

Mukae's heart sank at the thought of her parents reading such an essay. She didn't want them to worry or be disappointed in her. But she knew she had no choice but to comply. She took a piece of paper and pencil, and looked at the piece of paper.

Dear mom and dad,

I deserve to be at Miller Academy because...

Mukae hesitated, her pencil hovering above the blank piece of paper.

Why did she deserve to be here?

Doctor, please listen...

Everything my daughter touches with her hands...

They just...

Rot.

No matter how much I try petting a doggy or hugging a kitten...

They all become rotten, dead meat!

Mukae began furiously scribbling down her words.

Dear mom and dad,

I deserve to be at Miller Academy because...I deserve to rot.

Doctor...should I die too?

I am truly the most disgusting thing on this Earth. My quirk is a curse- I am so full of love, yet I cannot even touch the people I want to share my love with. It's like having a flame inside my chest, burning bright and warm, but it's trapped behind a thick pane of glass. I can see the people I care about, I can hear their voices and feel their presence, but I can never truly reach them.

I am a prisoner of my own quirk, and it's a life sentence.

I deserve to rot.

And that's why I'm here.

I'm sorry for being a burden.

- Mukae

Yamada took Mukae's paper, and looked it over. She made a face.

"Rewrite it."

"W-what?" Mukae asked.

Yamada tore up the paper. "There's a bunch of errors. Figure it out." She stared at the torn pieces of paper in her hands.

This school was going to be hell incarnate.


Mukae's first day at Miller was...something else. Miller's system for schooling wasn't really academic, more like a prison. Classes were not about fostering intellectual curiosity or expanding knowledge. Teachers would show up, and sat at the desk watching the kids quietly work.

School consisted of grabbing from a pile of books, silently working, and then grading their work. It was a stark contrast to what Mukae had experienced in traditional schools. The absence of lively classroom discussions and the lack of teacher-student interactions left her feeling isolated and disconnected. The only sounds that filled the classrooms were the scratching of pencils against paper and the occasional cough or sigh.

Back home, her school festival was probably being prepared. Not that she could help in any way. But still...doing something would have been nice. Even if it was small.

By the way, school started at 7 PM. Ended at 10 PM. So, what were mornings spent doing?

5:55 AM - Wake-up Call: A loud bell rang throughout the dormitories, signaling the start of the day. Students were expected to wake up promptly and prepare for the day ahead.

6:00 AM - Morning Exercise: Students gathered in the academy's designated exercise area for a rigorous physical training session- aka, running around a circle for 45 minutes.

7:00 AM - Personal Hygiene and Cleanliness: After the morning exercise, students had a short break to freshen up, shower, and get ready for the day. Showering was only allowed for three minutes. Any longer? Discipline would be taken.

7:30 AM - Breakfast: Students proceeded to the cafeteria for a quick breakfast. No talking. Ate whatever scraps they cooked. Breakfast was only 5-10 minutes long. Sometimes they'd cut it short, and those who didn't eat would go hungry.

From 7:40 AM to 7 PM? They'd engage in 'the program'. AKA, doing whatever job you got. Students would be assigned jobs such as maintenance work, cleaning, gardening, administrative tasks, or assisting teachers and staff in their duties. For Mukae and Tojo, they started at the bottom.

The ranks were, from bottom to top:

Worker

Assistant

Tasker

Leader

Head

Executive

Executives were Miller and any other staff. Heads were usually the overseers. Leaders were kids in charge of other kids. Taskers were clipboarders. Assistants were usually the strong. And the workers were always the weaklings.

Mukae and Tojo were food prep. The food served at Miller Academy consisted of simple and unremarkable fare, with limited variety. Potatoes, mystery meat, and milk were the staples of the meals provided to the students. The focus was on providing sustenance rather than culinary delights.

The worst part? They had to spend all this time working on the food, and then get served last. This meant that after spending their time and effort preparing the meals for their fellow students, Mukae and Tojo had to wait until everyone else had been served before they could finally receive their own portions.

By the end of her third day, Mukae was starving. She barely got anything to eat. She barely got any sleep. And she barely understood anything she was supposed to teach herself.

How was this a school?

Sleeping was also a chore. Beds were army style- bunk bed. Mukae found herself contending with cramped and impersonal sleeping quarters. The lack of privacy and individual space made it even more challenging for her to find a moment's peace.

She wanted to cry- she wanted to scream and cry or something but...it just wouldn't be allowed now, would it? Leaders would watch them sleep, staying up until maybe the crack of dawn. Then, they'd go to bed and wake up around 10. They didn't need to do the stupid

It was on her fourth day that she noticed something different. As the academy bell rang to signify the start of the day, Yamada made her way through the dormitories to wake up the students. As she reached Tojo's bunk bed, she angrily shook her shoulder.

"Tojo. Get your ass up." Yamada demanded.

Tojo stirred, her eyes opening slightly, but then she abruptly turned away, burying her face in the pillow. "I'm not getting up," she mumbled, her voice laced with defiance.

Yamada rolled her eyes. "Don't give me that crap." Seemed like she'd dropped her faux nice girl act.

Tojo's grip on the pillow tightened, and she shook her head. "I need more sleep. I'm exhausted…"

Yamada angrily yanked Tojo out of bed, and onto the floor. "Listen, you little shit. You're gonna get the fuck out of bed, and run laps. That's how it works here. Okay?"

Tojo glared at Yamada.

She spat at her. In the face.

Yamada grabbed Tojo by the collar, and dragged her out of the room. Mukae watched her get dragged off in horror.

Mukae hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. Should she intervene? Should she follow them? But before she could make a decision, her eyes caught a glimpse of Miller's goons, the students holding the clipboards, lurking nearby. Their stern expressions and watchful eyes made her decide-

Mukae had no choice but to comply.

She went on with her day, having to do the work of two people at her food prep job. Two of the leaders were half paying attention to her, and talking amongst themselves- something Mukae wished she could do.

"Yamada really showed that Tojo kid, huh?" One of them asked.

"Yeah. She threw her in the dungeon. Brutal, but...it's what the brat deserves." The second replied. The cold and callous way they spoke about it bothered Mukae.

"Yeah, Miller doesn't mess around," the first leader said with a hint of admiration in his voice. "All the kids here go on to become totally obedient shut-ins. Not ideal, but at least they're not doing villainous crap."

The second leader nodded in agreement. "We're smart enough to AVOID that. Best way to not get beat is to follow his rule. My spirit ain't breaking."

"No better way at breaking kids down than forcing them into the Circle tonight. Looking forward to seeing the newbies squirm." The first grinned.

Circle? Mukae wondered. The hell is the Circle?

The two were about to talk about it more, when suddenly, Yamada's voice screamed from the other room.

"GENERAL MEETING!"

The two boys stopped what they were doing, and rushed into the other room. The other kids had to stop too. Mukae put down the potatoes she was peeling, and ran into the other room. And the broomstick was in front of...

"W-what is the meaning of this-!?" Headmaster Miller cursed, looking down at the thing before his feet. The other students looked confused, but Yamada seemed pretty happy.

"SCALD HIM!" She yelled.

Wait, what? Mukae wondered, looking at Yamada. She'd seemed like the perfect lackey to Miller over the past few days and now she was telling the students to insult the headmaster? Even some of the other taskers shared a look of "The hell is she doing?"

"Yamada, you've been here long enough to know I don't do jokes!" Miller growled. "Explain yourself."

"SCALD HIM!" She yelled again, deliberately ignoring him. The students stared on in confusion, unsure of what to really say or do. Miller was looking pissed.

Mukae clenched her fists.

"...YOU OLD UGLY BASTARD!" Mukae shouted, her words echoing through the room. "I HOPE YOU DIE IN A FIRE! I HOPE SOMEONE GOUGES YOUR EYES OUT! I HOPE YOU CHOKE ON YOUR OWN SPIT AND SUFFOCATE!"

Some of the students turned to look at Mukae, their eyes wide with surprise and admiration. Others remained frozen, unsure of how to react to this sudden outburst. And Miller, his expression a mix of anger and disbelief, fixed his gaze on Mukae.

"Yeah! You suck, old man!"

"You're garbage!"

"You ain't got shit!"

More and more kids began hurling insults at him. This was some sort of release for them, since they first set foot on this place. Miller's face contorted with rage. For a moment, Mukae swore she saw a big, black burst of energy around his body but soon, it faded. Along with the voices. Miller took a deep breath.

"I...suppose I deserved to be humbled." Miller stammered, clearly flustered. With that, Miller turned and exited the room.

And then it all returned to normal.

Mukae hated that. That everything was supposed to go back the way it was. No. It shouldn't. It should NEVER-

Yamada walked over, and grinned. "Just wait until tonight...okay?" The sudden shift in Yamada's demeanor and her cryptic words left Mukae confused.

"What do you mean? What's going to happen tonight?" Mukae asked, her voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and anticipation.

Yamada's grin widened, revealing a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You'll see, Mukae Emukae. Tonight...Just be ready."

Wait...why did that little glint seem familiar?

…No.

There was no way, right?


Mukae was finishing up her last bits of work for the day, an assignment or two from one of her later classes in the day. She sighed, bored as she penciled down one of the answers. Her mind was definitely elsewhere, especially after what Yamada said.

Something seemed off because after that, she hadn't seen Yamada for the rest of the day. So, she came, maybe to a wild conclusion, that who talked to wasn't Yamada.

But that was crazy. Maybe she was letting her imagination run wild since she had nothing to entertain herself with- no books, no music, no television, no media- just silence. It made sense. This school was meant to break you.

She penciled in the last answer for the assignment and closed up her textbook before she looked at the time. 8:15. A bit too early but she was still for-

"Mukae Emukae," Yamada said upon entering the dorm, "Done with your assignments?"

"Y-yes," Mukae answered.

"Good. Come with me then."

"Um...okay?" Mukae asked, confused. She followed Yamada out of the dorm, and into the night. The two walked for a little bit.

"I remember my first time in the Circle. Usually, kids at Miller are in the Circle at least three times at the most." Yamada reflected. "Me...I was only in there for maybe a few minutes."

"Why?" Mukae asked.

"Bloodshed. I...really don't do well around blood..." Yamada giggled. "I get so...tempted."

"What...what even is the Circle?" Mukae asked.

"You ever watch the UA Sports Fest?" Yamada asked.

"Um...yeah. I did this year..." Mukae said.

"Yeah. It's like the tournament part. Just focus on staying away from your opponents. Rounds are only 2 minutes long." Yamada explained. "But don't worry. This one won't last long."

"Wait...they just...encourage the students fighting?"

"Unofficially, yeah," Yamada nodded.

"That...that has to be against rules...right?"

And that's when Emukae saw the Circle. It was in...a soccer field or something. Lights were shining down on a massive group of students.

"Yeah. It is. But they make them." Yamada said.

Mukae watched as two students were already in the circle, Quirks at the ready for the fight. Some of the other Taskers were there too, watching and even placing bets on the students. It was hard to tell who would win here, though. One kid had the ability to merge things together, so he was fighting with a club made up of various bits and pieces of scrap while the other had a perfect defense, a Quirk that generated a forcefield around her body.

Mukae noticed a few of the students were cheering loudly, screaming and yelling at the two in the circle. Mukae stayed neutral, simply observing and analyzing the fight.

The merging Quirk student swung his makeshift club at the forcefield Quirk student, who easily blocked the attack with her forcefield. She then countered with a punch, but the merging Quirk student dodged and merged another object onto his club, making it longer and sharper. He swung it again, and the kid threw up a forcefield-

But it shattered.

And Mukae watched as the club dug into the kid's arm. Blood started to gush out of the wound.

The kids cheered louder.

The shield user did her best to ignore the pain, trying their best to cover up the wound. Yamada, while not cheering, couldn't help but focus on the shield kid. She'd be fine, nothing vital was slashed, but she would be bleeding quite a bit…

She licked her lips.

"That the best you got?" the fusion student taunted, shifting his scrap club into...a guitar?

"Not...not on your life..." the shield girl said between pained breaths.

"ROUND OVER!" Miller's voice yelled. He lifted up the guitar kid's arm. "Winner!"

Mukae expected the two fighters to swap out, but only the guitar boy left. The forcefield kid clutched their bleeding arm, clearly distressed. Mukae wondered what the hell was going on.

The next person entered. The kid was a full head taller than Mukae- their presence exuded an air of confidence and strength, contrasting sharply with the smaller, injured forcefield kid.

"BEGIN!" Miller yelled, and the beatdown started again. The poor forcefield kid couldn't keep up. A few more punches, and he was down.

"ROUND OVER!" Miller yelled. And the process continued. The forcefield kid tried to escape, but the students making up the Circle pushed her back in. Shegot beaten once more.

Again.

And again.

Mukae was just watching some random kid get...destroyed. And they couldn't do anything. At some point, boys had to hoist her up, so her opponent could take cheap shots.

"...oh my god." Mukae gasped, stomach sick.

"Outside of the usual crap, this is how they break you. They let the other students, the ones so content with their leashes, do the breaking for them," Yamda explained, "Only way you get out of there is when you lose consciousness."

As the forcefield kid lay unconscious, the other students approached and started to drag her out of the ring. Before Mukae could fully process what was happening, Miller's voice cut through the air. "Mukae! You're up next!" he called out, beckoning her to step forward.

Mukae's heart pounded in her chest. She took a shaky step forward.

"NOW, EMUKAE!" Miller yelled. "Or you'll be demoted even further!"

Yamada patted her on the back. "It's okay, Emukae...you'll be fine. Okay? I'll be here..."

Mukae's hands trembled, but she took a deep breath. "O-okay…"

As Mukae entered the ring, her steps were heavy and reluctant. The students started booing, shoving her around the ring to make her agitated and stressed. She made sure not to accidentally touch one of them- she didn't want to make a scene. Her opponent?

The rubber kid from earlier. He looked like a shell of his former self. Skinnier, bags under the eyes, messy hair…That was the thing about the ring; at this point, he'd only been seen. But now it was time for him to be heard.

"Nothing personal," He muttered, as Miller entered the ring. He sneered at Mukae- clearly, she was only in here because she cast the first stone earlier.

"I understand," Mukae resigned. "Let's just get this over with."

"Let's see if you're smug after this..." Miller muttered. "ROUND START!"

As Miller's command echoed through the arena, the fight began. Mukae's opponent wasted no time, charging towards her with relentless force. His rubbery limbs stretched and contorted. Mukae's reflexes kicked in, and she managed to dodge his initial attacks, narrowly avoiding the blows. The crowd's boos and jeers only fueled her determination to get out of this.

However, kids can be cruel.

A foot extended from the crowd, deliberately tripping Mukae mid-dodge. She stumbled, her balance disrupted, and she crashed to the ground. Her opponent saw an opportunity to strike with a late sucker punch. His fist was drawn back, ready to deliver a devastating blow. But in that split second, Mukae's quirk activated. Her hand touched the ground, and, in an instant, it turned into a mire of decomposing matter.

What the heck?! One kid thought.

Is she like that Shigaraki guy from the League? Another thought.

But instead of stopping there, something unexpected happened. The decay triggered a surge of life. From the decaying ground, vibrant shoots burst forth, growing at an alarming rate. Plants of all kinds emerged, twisting and spiraling upward in a frenzy of growth.

Mukae Emukae. Quirk: Raff-Rafflesia. It allows her to corrode and dissolve anything she touches. Though her power only works through her hands, it is powerful enough to corrode anything from concrete to the air around her. Even though she can't turn off her power, she can control it's intensity, area of effect, and other aspects of it.

How was this possible? Allow me to explain. Mukae's quirk was creating 'humus'.

Humus is a dark, organic material that forms as a result of the decomposition of plant and animal matter. It is a crucial component of healthy soil, rich in nutrients and beneficial microorganisms. When organic matter decomposes, it breaks down into its basic elements, releasing nutrients and creating a fertile environment for new plant growth.

In the case of Mukae's quirk, her ability to induce rapid decay in the ground caused the organic matter to break down at an accelerated rate. As the matter decomposed, it released an abundance of nutrients into the soil, creating an ideal environment for plant growth. These nutrients then triggered the 'explosion' of plant life.

Pretty freaky!

The audience, including Miller, stared in astonishment and confusion as the arena became overrun with vegetation. The plants entangled themselves around the ring, curling and tangling around anything in sight.

...and that's when 'Yamada' decided to strike. She stepped back.

"Perfect," "Yamada" smirked as her form began to melt away. Bits of a light grey slime dropped to the ground before Tojo took the Tasker's place and raised her arm. She was wearing something, almost like a miniature centrifuge and she gave it a spin. The top of the watch popped open and produced a single vial of blood that Tojo...and drank.

"Mmm, tangy~" Tojo said as her form began to shift. She closed her eyes as red crests appeared around them, forming into a shape reminiscent of a mask. Wing membranes appeared under her arms as her teeth elongated into proper fangs.

Without wasting a moment, Tojo lunged forward, targeting the students who had formed the Circle around the ring. The complicit ones- the ones who took pleasure in beating down the shield girl. SLASH! SLASH SLASH SLASH! Her razor-sharp fangs sank into flesh, drawing blood, while her powerful wings delivered fierce blows, knocking students aside.

"HELLO, MILLER ACADEMY~! I'M BACK~!" Tojo- no, you know who she was. Toga screeched.

"You…" Miller growled. "The hell is this?"

"Heyyy, Mr. Miller!" Toga smirked, "Absolutely hate what you've done with the place. Not enough red, ya know?"

"Do I know you?"

"Hey, hey, hey, that's no way to speak to an alumnus of this 'fine' academy," the literal blood-drinker tutted. "The school did succeed. This school is hell. It broke me. I felt useless. I was a blank slate. One of your mindless drones, made to conform. Told my quirk was disgusting. It had no place in society…And I believed you."

Miller's gaze hardened, his face contorted with anger and frustration. "...Now I remember you." He growled. "The bloodsucker…Himiko Toga."

Toga's grin only widened, a glint of madness in her eyes. "Maybe I did, but thanks to Mr. Stainy, I found my true self. And without a shadow of a doubt-"

Toga rushed over, and got right in Miller's face. "That I am fine just the way I am."

"And that's just the last nail in your coffin," Miller said. His skin suddenly turned pale and his eyes began to glow. Toga sneered before she dodged away from an uppercut surrounded by a black and red energy field. Toga took to the air with her bat-like wings and looked down at her old headmaster.

"There it is!" Toga smirked, "I was wondering what kind of Quirk you had! I thought you didn't have one for a little bit~!"

Headmaster Miller! Quirk: Grimdark! When activated, Miller infuses his body with all the negative emotions you can think of like anger, sadness, and despair. These emotions act as an infusion to fuel his attacks, letting him summon dark energy and unleash devastating attacks. Hunters and Huntresses would call this guy a 'negativity bomb!'

"I've always wanted to let loose on you," Miller snarled and cracked his knuckles, "Trouble students like you always need a little bit of physical discipline for the lessons to really stick!" Miller launched himself at Toga with incredible speed, dark energy coursing through his body.

Toga evaded Miller's attacks with her agility, effortlessly dodging and weaving through the air. Her bat wings allowed her to stay just out of his reach.

"Heyyy, come on, Headmaster! Scald me or something~!" Toga reached into her back pocket and threw out a few knives. Miller raised his arms, and the dark energy surrounding him formed a protective barrier. The knives struck against the barrier.

Meanwhile, Mukae seized the opportunity to slip out of the Circle and watch the intense battle between Miller and Toga from a safe distance. As she distanced herself, a knife landed near her, catching her attention. Curiosity got the better of her, and she picked it up.

A knife... She thought, entranced by it. It looks like it came from the kitchen. It's a butcher's knife...

She looked back to the battle at hand; Toga was unable to penetrate the barrier around the headmaster with her dive-bombing strikes. Miller smirked and then had the barrier detonate, throwing Toga back. The blood-loving member of the League spun in the air, leaving her open. Miller launched himself into the air and grabbed Toga by the ankle. He pulled her down towards him before putting the half-Vladat girl in a headlock. With a burst of dark energy, the headmaster and villain fell back to the earth like a comet, slamming into the ground with a ground shaking explosion of dirt and dust.

Toga groaned, shaking her head to try and regain her senses. Ok, that hit a bit hard that she was ready for. When her vision settled and she wasn't seeing three of every tree in the forest, she looked up and saw Miller rearing back a glowing fist.

"I suppose I should thank you for coming back," Miller grinned, "Now…I get to bury another disgrace."

"So…you did kill kids…"

"I did what I had to."

Miller was about to throw the punch and Toga was ready to counter, but her plan was thrown off when a butcher knife flew and stabbed into Miller's shoulder. The man staggered back as he reached for and pulled out the blade…he wasn't exactly surprised to find out it was Mukae who threw it.

"You…" Miller hissed.

"Y-yeah! Me!" Mukae yelled.

"...you monster."

"Well, that's just rude!" Toga countered, pulling both of her legs to her chest and leaping back onto her feet.

"Ohhh, you truly don't know why she's here, do you?" Miller asked, as his fists started to glow brighter.

"Huh? I mean, she did freak out earlier…" Toga shrugged.

"W-why I'm here?" Mukae repeated. "I'm...I'm just here because mom and dad-"

Miller laughed. "You're in denial...and that's fine. Okay."

Mukae felt a chill run down her spine. "W-why am I in denial?! What's going on!? I just sent mom and dad a letter-"

"Your parents are dead because of you." Miller declared. "Your lawyer made a unilateral decision to send you here."

Mukae's face fell. "No... that can't be true," Mukae whispered, her voice trembling. She clutched the knife in her hand tightly, her knuckles turning white. "You're lying. You have to be lying-!"

"Oh, save it- you've been faking it the entire time. This nice girl act? It's such a bullshit scheme. You may lie...but your quirk can't. You're acting like a goody two shoes so you can get by." Miller frowned.

Mukae's expression of despair slowly vanished. It was replaced by one of...annoyance.

"Damn."

Toga's eyebrows went up. This is juicy.

"There it is," Miller chuckled, "There's the real Mukae Emukae. I thought you would've shown your real colors sooner..."

"I'm not an idiot, Miller," Mukae sighed, "The act's near flawless...so what gave it away?"

"There were reports of a school girl, going around and acting helpless, looking for any sort of victim...before they would be 'rotted' away." Miller said. "You fit that description...besides her."

Toga's eyes widened. ...she's like me?

"They called you the 'Rainbow Rose' killer." Miller frowned. "Too good a name for someone so horrible. They said it was on par with Stain, and when you plead insanity, they bought it! The courts were stupid enough to send you here... I know the real you…it slipped out when you started yelling at me."

"Good." Mukae smiled. "Then that means..."

She slammed her hand on the ground.

"I don't have to hold back."

Vines snaked through the air, entwining around Miller's restrained form, while towering flowers bloomed in a riot of vibrant colors. The arena became a lush jungle of overgrown vegetation, reclaiming its space with an unruly fervor.

"On par…with Mr. Stainy?" Toga repeated in awe. She looked to Mukae and wondered if she found a new idol, maybe something more. Miller's hands were surrounded by that dark energy again as he began to punch and cut through the vines entangling him. When one was cut down though, three more returned to cover that weak spot.

Miller's frustration grew palpable as his attacks proved ineffective against the resilient vines and rapidly growing flora. His punches and cuts were met with renewed vigor from the plants, their relentless growth fueled by the decay beneath Mukae's feet. He was trapped, his dark energy unable to match the overwhelming life force surrounding him.

Mukae's expression remained resolute as she witnessed the struggle. She turned to Toga.

"...do you want to play with your food? Or finish him now?" Mukae smiled.

"Hmmm," Toga hummed before she snapped her fingers in realization, "Turn him towards the school! Make sure he has a good view!"

"For?" Mukae asked.

"You'll see!" Toga shifted back to her human form and spun her little watch. The top popped open and she drank the provided vial of blood. One of her arms became rocky and fiery as her head turned to a fanged, rocky skull surrounded by crimson fire in place of hair. Aiming her arm behind herself, Toga launched herself back in the direction of the academy.

Emukae used her control over the vegetation to manipulate the vines and flowers, steering Miller's restrained form towards the academy. The entangled headmaster struggled in vain, unable to break free from the overpowering grip of nature. "You bitch! Don't you fucking dare-!"

Mukae squeezed the vines a little tighter. "That girl...is the first person to reach out to me...without a second thought. I didn't have to ask..."

Toga grinned as she looked at the school before methodically sealing off all the exits. She should feel bad about what was to come, but everyone inside there was an enabler, just proof that it was justified to send more poor souls here. She fired herself up into the air with those flaming pigtails she sported, hovering the air and giving that building one last look of disdain.

"Goodbye, Miller Academy. I hope I forget you," Toga muttered as she leveled her hand towards the school. Flames gathered up in her palm before she fired off fireball after fireball, aiming to burn up the whole school.

The sounds of explosions could be heard from inside the school as Toga continued to rain fire down on it. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction as she watched the building go up in flames. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. She couldn't help but think about the people inside. Were they scared? Were they trying to escape? Did anyone even make it out alive?

...she hoped they burned. Burned horribly. Burned painfully. They weren't even seen as human by the staff here- they were 'fuel' for the headmaster. His bullets in his revolver.

And they were now fuel for the fire.

Miller's screams were horrific. Watching the fires grow larger and larger, consuming everything around his 'life's work'- in a single night, everything was gone. Gone.

"YOU LITTLE SHITS!" He cursed, struggling within his confines of bramble.

"Headmaster~!" Toga smiled as she landed before the headmaster, "How do you like my pyrotechnics? A friend of mine would have the flames be blue but, this is just a me thing so...can't be that flashy. What are ya gonna do, right?"

"A child...like you shouldn't be able to do this! Your power's supposed to be stupid shapeshifting! WHERE'D YOU GET THESE BLOOD SAMPLES?" Miller yelled.

"I have friends in high places...remember how you said that no one could 'ever love a shitty, worthless vampire' like me?" Toga recalled.

"And it still holds true!"

"Pfffft, nope!" Toga corrected, "I've got a nice little found-family now! With big brothers and sisters and...I'm not sure what Shiggy counts as...the weird oldest brother who's trying his best ever since mom and dad passed?"

"...wha the FUCK are you talking about?"

"I'm a villain." Toga grinned. "A good one. One who's gone toe to toe with heroes and constantly evaded their capture. Ever heard of the League? I've met people like me. People that our lovely little society decided just didn't...fit."

"...League?" Mukae asked, her own curiosity piqued.

"But that's for later…As for you…" Toga turned back to Miller, "I'll give you a choice! Killing you with a knife would be on brand...but you deserve something special! So, take your pick! We got Incendiary here, go out the same as your school. We got Twinterror, who I haven't tried out yet along with Rampage! Oh, oh, and Wraptangle! Make it slow and personal! So Mister Miller! Spin that wheel to choose how. You. Die!" Toga spun in place, mocking Miller's situation in just sheer joy.

"You're insane!" Miller snarled.

"No, I'm doing a bit. Twice would love it! Compress would say I should have an actual wheel and force you to spin it, but I couldn't sneak in a game show prop now, could I?"

Mukae hummed. "...what's the scariest option?"

Toga's smile got wider. "The scariest option...involves me showing my true face."

"P-please, please. I promise I'll never do this again, I'll turn myself in-" Miller yelled.

"THERE'S NO TURNING YOURSELF IN! I know how the legal system works. They're gonna slap you on the wrist and let you go. There's no getting off easy. There's no mercy at this school. And there's no JUSTICE, especially when my shitty parents had the great idea to send a 5 year old here!" Toga cursed, getting closer.

"Please, I-I was just-!"

"Just what? Trying to protect us poor souls from our own Quirks? Do you actually believe your own brainwashing?!" Toga yelled in the headmaster's face. "You just won yourself the worst option…"

Toga spun her Machitrix and had the top pop open after a moment after shedding the Pyronite form. She quickly downed the next dose of alien blood and grinned as one of her arms bulked up into a sickly yellowish colored alien limb as a caged iron mask formed her head, with two glowing red peering out from behind the bars locked onto the headmaster.

"Spooky," Mukae muttered.

"Oh, it's more than that," Toga growled, leaning down to Miller, "It's god damn mortifying. Wanna see what's behind the bars...headmaster?"

Miller tried to look away. But he couldn't.

Deep down...he knew this was going to always happen.

The gates of hell opened before him.

And he screamed.

The grotesque and nightmarish visage sent shivers down his spine, his screams filling the air as his worst fears materialized before him. With her eyes clenched shut, Mukae heard the screaming echo in her ears…

This girl is something else. Mukae thought.

A few minutes passed, and Mukae released Miller from her grip. His body slumped to the ground, a broken shell of a man. The nightmare had taken its toll, and at some point, cardiac arrest took hold.

His face was forever frozen in terror.

"Always nice to use a favorite." Toga sighed, turning back to normal. She blinked and stared at Mukae. "...welp! Time to go back to base."

"Wait!" Mukae held out her hand on instinct, quickly pulling back before she did something stupid, "You said you'd tell me everything, didn't you?"

"...huh, guess I did. Or maybe I lied," Toga shrugged.

"But you didn't lie about sticking with you to survive. Did you?"

That actually caught Toga by surprise. She was about to start walking off but that last question made her freeze in her tracks.

"You actually cared," Mukae continued, "So...why don't you tell me your name? Your real name this time. Not Tojo, not Yamada. Your real name."

"My name?" Toga hummed. "...alrighty! I'm Toga Himiko. Nice to meet you properly."

"...Um, Himiko..." Mukae said. "...I...I kinda wanna ask you something."

Toga blinked. "Sure. What is it?"

Mukae stared at her, a small grin on her face forming. "...Himiko." She began. "How many children do you want to have?"

Toga blinked.

"Huh?"

"I want to have three children. Two girls and one boy. Himiko, you can name them because I don't have a good naming sense. EHEHE, who do you think they will like more, Himiko? They are our children, so they'll definitely be cute, right? And we'll live in a white house with a garden and keep a big doggy. Himiko, do you like cats or dogs? I love dogs but if you insist, we can keep a cat instead. I love dogs but if it's an animal then I'll love it, regardless. But after all, I love Himiko best. I hope Himiko loves me best, too."

"Oh, what kind of food do you like, Himiko? Why did I ask you that question? Oh, come on, Himiko, it's 'cause I will be the one cooking your lunch for you starting tomorrow morning, right? Speaking of which, starting from tomorrow (till death), everything you eat will be cooked by me, so I must know your taste. Being picky isn't good but I want you to be happy so I want to cook for you all your favorite foods from the beginning, Himiko. You don't need to be appreciative because it's obvious for a girl to cook for her boyfriend. But promise me one thing. I've always wanted to try saying "aaah" while feeding someone, so during tomorrow's lunch, let me say "aaah" okay? Please don't be shy and run away, okay? If you do so, I will seriously feel depressed. I might end up killing Himiko. No changes needed."

"And Himiko please don't get mad. I've fallen for a boy in middle school. No, of course I'm not going to cheat on you 'cause there is no other boy I could love like Himiko. I just want to tell you that before you guys meet each other, you know that there was nothing between them and me. Now that I think about it, that person is just a jerk. I haven't talked with them and I really feel glad that I didn't. But I thought I should talk about this from the beginning in order to prevent any misunderstandings, right? Misunderstandings are very sorrowful, right. Two people might love each other but have a quarrel and then part ways, then it'd be just like a TV drama, and TV dramas are already heart-breaking enough, right. Himiko-chan and I can definitely make up afterward, right? Ah then..."

"Till now, have you been loved, Himiko? There's no way someone couldn't love Himiko, right? There must've been at least one person that you were interested in, right? Don't worry, I won't blame you for that. Actually, I won't really like it but I will endure it 'cause that was from before we met each other. Now that Himiko met me, for you other girls are obviously just akin to rocks, right? I feel sorry for them that I'm taking you for myself but there is no choice. Love is like that. It's destiny that you chose me over them. I must become happy in Himiko's stead as well. But once in a while, you can go play with them because I'll be sorry if I'm the only one who is happy. You think so too, don't you?"

For the first time in what felt like a long time, Toga blushed as bright red as the blood she so enjoyed.

"Did...did you just..." Toga sputtered, "Did you just confess to me?"

"Yes." Mukae said, with a lovestruck grin on her face.

Toga stared for a while. "...oh, you're crazy crazy."

"Kinda."

"...get over here."

Never put two psychotic lesbians in the vicinity of each other. They'll start kissing.


A few hours later, Mercury and Cass had been sent out to find Toga in their most recent attempt to find her. The League had been discreetly searching the entire city for her since, despite everything, she didn't really tell anyone about this little excursion. At first, Shigaraki just thought she was out getting her blood fix...and then the first full day passed. At first, the League assumed the worst, but Toga's friends actually lobbied for an all-out search. And somehow that meant Mercury and Cass got dragged into it. The two former minions of Salem were one team, while Compress and Twice formed the other and Spinner was their support. After two days of searching the city and getting no hits from police dispatches, the reptilian member of the League managed to find two leads, Toga's old family house and Miller Academy. Twice and Compress were sent to the Himiko Family Home and Cass and Merc were given the address to the school.

Or what was left of it. By the time the duo got there, the school was nothing more than smoldering rubble.

"Huh, an eccentric and somewhat crazy girl with fire powers brings about the destruction of an entire institution dedicated to...what was this place for again?" the assassin's son asked.

"'Controlling rampant Quirks.' Don't tell me you actually buy that," Cass huffed, pushing over one of the standing burned pieces of wood that was still standing.

"What? Of course not. This sounds like the place that would make Cinders. Give 'em a good traumatizing and let 'em loose into the world with all KIND of fucked up issues."

"I hate that you used her name like that but...you're not wrong," the Maiden shard picked up one of the charred splinters and looked at it for a moment before crushing it in her hand, "Place is probably worse than the Unicorn..."

"Speaking of Cinders, where's the one that caused this..." Mercury asked before he continued on, "You check the forest, see if she's out there. I'll check around here, see if she got caught somewhere."

"You think she's dead?" Cass raised a brow at the implication.

"Nah, I just think she's waiting here."

With that, the two villains split up to search for Toga. However, it was definitely Cass that actually managed to find her...and a new friend. It took about twenty minutes or so, but she wasn't really ready for what she saw. The more "on-brand" aspect for Toga was a broken shell of a man tangled up in a mass of very brightly colored vines, almost iridescent in a way. But that wasn't the part that made the last Maiden blink and wonder if she was having some kind of fever dream or hallucination. Toga and this pink haired girl were having a picnic off to the side of it.

"...Toga? The hell is going-?" Cass began.

"Huh? Oh! Hey Cass! Was wondering if you guys would find me!" Toga beamed.

"Twice and Compress have some choice words for you. You know that, right?"

"Yeaaaaah, I do owe them. But I think they'll get it. After all, I found someone I never thought I would! Someone who loves me for...well, me. And I don't mean in the familial way! Twice, Compress, you, you're all like big siblings. No, I'm talking love love!"

"And that would be me," Mukae waved hello.

"...are you telling me you ran off, destroyed the place that ruined your life, and somehow got a girlfriend out of it?!" Cass frowned.

Toga nodded. "Yeah!"

Cass stared at Toga in disbelief. "...not bad, kid."

"Thanks~!"

"But seriously. You didn't think to tell anyone? Do you know how worried we all were?" Cass continued, crossing her arms. "We thought some heroes captured you or something. Or a vigilante picked you off. Those guys are getting more and more brutal."

Toga's smile faded slightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. But I had to do this. This is...a bad place. And it hurts a lot of people. So...I couldn't let it stand while I had the power to destroy it."

Cass sighed, rubbing her temples. "Look, I get it. I really do. I've destroyed my fair share of places that hurt me...but next time, bring someone with you. Either to help dig some graves, or dig your grave if something goes wrong. Okay?"

"Okay, okay. Jeez." Toga pouted. Cass' attention turned to Mukae.

"...so, you gonna introduce me?" Cass asked.

"Oh, right~! This is Mukae Emukae, she's my new girlfriend! She can rot stuff like Shiggy, but like, she can also control plants by making humus- the dirt thing, not the spread- and it's soooo cool. And we have a similar interest!" Toga gushed.

"I kill people. I'm the 'Rainbow Rose' murderer." Mukae said, with the cutest smile on their face. Suddenly it all clicked for Cass.

"Ahhhh." Cass nodded. "That explains why you two hit it off. I've heard about you on the news."

"But tell her about WHO you kill. It's so cool." Toga grinned.

"I kill the people who aren't deserving of any love. The abusers, the rapists, the murderers, and those who simply don't understand love. They don't deserve to live in a world where love exists..." Mukae sighed, leaning against Toga's shoulder. "But unlike them, I know I deserve all the love in the world. And I found love with Toga here, who understands me and accepts me for who I am."

Cass raised an eyebrow. "I see. That's...an interesting perspective."

Toga beamed. "Isn't it?! She's amazing!"

Cass huffed. "Well, come on, lovebirds. We gotta tell everyone you're fine and call off the manhunt."

"Oooh, I can't wait for you to meet Sunny and Twice and Shiggy and Rappa-" Toga was really, really lovestruck by this girl. It was kind of crazy how fast they hit it off.

Cass wasn't one for romance, to be honest. But she couldn't help but feel happy for Toga. Toga seemed like a pretty damaged kid- but she had finally found someone who made her happy.

...but maybe having the two lovebirds, Tyrian and Twice in the same room would be just a tad bit of an 'overkill of crazy'.

But whatever. The more the merrier, right?


When rereading this while editing, I think I'd fancast Emukae's voice actor as Michelle Marie; she's voiced Tatiana in Undead Unluck, Leaf in Pokemon Masters, and Nifty in the Hazbin Hotel Pilot. But the main voice she has in my head is…

Nana Hiiragi from Talentless Nana. It's a show my good friend Kakapo introduced to me, and I really enjoyed it. A very underrated series.

Anyways, happy Halloween everyone! The scariest thing out there is the fact that monsters like these are real.