Carrot Cake (With A Bit of Cyanide!)

by Studio Greenshade

After nearly killing her brother's ex-girlfriend, the Misery twins and their parents move to Japan for a new life. But misery always loves company! {TCOAL x MHA crossover} {set in AU} {Co-creator: SexySinneress}

8. Spiky Lemonade

Andrew leaned back in the booth, the warmth from the whiskey settling in his chest, his nerves slowly melting away. The bartender, ever attentive, had brought over peanuts and a glass of seltzer water. He chuckled at the old trick — it wasn't going to do much, but he welcomed the gesture. As the buzz from the shots began to settle, his body relaxed, the tension easing from his shoulders.

From the booth, he watched Hitoshi out on the dance floor, moving effortlessly to the thumping electronic beats. She was a natural, seamlessly weaving between groups of dancers, both girls and guys. She looked completely at ease, her purple hair glinting under the neon lights, her confident smirk never wavering as she swayed to the rhythm.

Andrew's gaze shifted to his phone. He'd been checking it off and on, hoping to see a message from Ashley. Despite the fun he was having, there was a small part of him that wished his sister was feeling just a bit homesick. That way, maybe she'd text him, and give him an excuse to connect. But the screen remained blank, and he sighed, tucking the phone back into his pocket.

As he settled back into his seat, Hitoshi returned from the dance floor, her energy almost contagious. She was sporting an eager grin, her cheeks slightly flushed from dancing. She plopped down next to him, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she downed the rest of her drink.

"You look like you're having the time of your life," Andrew said, raising an eyebrow, his tone teasing.

Hitoshi smirked, brushing her hair out of her face as she leaned closer, grabbing a peanut from the bowl. "Told you this place was a vibe, Graves," she said, popping the peanut into her mouth. "You should've joined me out there. I saw a few girls eyeing you."

Andrew chuckled, though the idea of jumping into that swirling mass of dancers wasn't exactly appealing to him at the moment. "I'm good right here, thanks. Someone's gotta make sure the booth doesn't disappear."

Hitoshi rolled her eyes playfully. "Your loss. I'm sure you'd kill it on the dance floor." She nudged him with her elbow before grabbing her drink and taking a long sip.

Andrew glanced back at the dance floor, watching as the lights shifted, casting shadows that made the entire place feel like some surreal, otherworldly den. A part of him envied Hitoshi's ease, how she seemed to blend into any environment without a second thought. He was still trying to figure out how to navigate all this, how to fit in without feeling like a fish out of water.

"So, what's got you all pensive?" Hitoshi asked, snapping him back to reality.

He shrugged, offering a faint smile. "Just... thinking about my sister, that's all. She hasn't texted me back yet."

Hitoshi raised an eyebrow, a teasing grin playing on her lips. "Aww, worried big brother syndrome? Don't tell me you're getting homesick already."

Andrew laughed, shaking his head. "Nah, nothing like that. I'm glad she's having fun. Just... I don't know. It's weird being in a new place, that's all."

Hitoshi nodded, understanding flashing in her eyes. "Yeah, Musutafu can be a bit of a shock at first. But trust me, you'll get used to it. And soon enough, it'll feel like home. You just need to find your rhythm, Graves."

Andrew looked at her, admiring the way she seemed so sure of herself, so unfazed by everything around her. Maybe she was right. Maybe he just needed to dive in, let go a little, and see where things took him.

He raised his glass of whiskey in a mock toast. "Here's to finding my rhythm," he said, smirking as he clinked it against her glass.

Hitoshi grinned, taking a sip of her drink before leaning back in her seat. "You'll get there. And if not, well... I'll just drag you onto the dance floor next time." She winked at him, clearly enjoying his discomfort at the idea.

A moment later, the Harley Quinn-looking bartender sashayed toward the booth, her colorful pigtails bouncing with each step. She had a sly grin on her face, a new round of drinks balanced effortlessly in her hands. The dim, pulsing lights of the club flickered across her sequined outfit, and as she reached the table, she placed a bright, fruity concoction in front of Andrew. The glass sparkled under the neon, an umbrella perched jauntily on top, and it was surrounded by a swirl of colors that seemed out of place for him.

"Uh, I didn't order this," Andrew said, leaning back slightly, wary of the overly vibrant drink in front of him.

The bartender smirked, her red lips curling with amusement. Her Brooklyn accent thickened as she leaned in close, arms resting on the table. "Oh, come on, puddin'. Don't get all shy on me now. It's on the house," she purred, the faux accent dripping with playful mischief. "What, ya think I'm tryin' to knock ya out or somethin'? You're safe, kiddo. I promise, no blackin' out and wakin' up chained to a radiator or nothin'."

Andrew's eyes widened slightly at the oddly specific reference. His lips twitched into an awkward smile, still unsure.

The bartender sighed theatrically, rolling her eyes before snatching the drink off the table. "Here, lemme show ya." She took a slow sip through his straw, her eyes locked on his, daring him to refuse now.

She set the drink back down with a satisfied smirk, pushing it toward him. "See? Nothin' but sweet goodness. And for the record—" she added with a wink, "—I don't got cooties. So quit lookin' like ya just seen a ghost and drink up!"

Andrew hesitated for another beat before muttering, "I thought I was the one with cooties."

The bartender's grin widened. "Cooties, I can handle, sweetheart," she fired back, wiggling her fingers in front of his face before ruffling his hair with playful roughness.

Andrew, realizing he was trapped in this moment, finally lifted the drink. The first sip hit him with an explosion of fruity sweetness, much different from the sharp burn of whiskey he'd been expecting. It was surprisingly good. Without thinking, he took another sip, this one longer, and nodded to himself.

Hitoshi had been watching the entire interaction with amusement. The corners of her mouth twitched as she tried to suppress her laughter. Her dark eyes sparkled mischievously, and it was clear she was thoroughly enjoying watching Andrew squirm under the bartender's teasing.

The bartender, seeing that her mission was accomplished, leaned in one last time, her arm casually draped over the back of the booth as she winked at Andrew. "Good boy," she teased, her Brooklyn accent still thick in her tone. "Ya know where to find me if ya need anythin' else. And don't worry—this one's just the start, puddin'."

Before Andrew could respond, she was summoned back to the bar by a rowdy group of patrons. She gave him a playful slap on the shoulder as she left, her voice cutting through the music, "Catch ya later, sweetcheeks!"

Andrew stared after her for a moment, still processing everything, before glancing back at Hitoshi, who was barely holding back her laughter. She leaned back in the booth, arms crossed, smirk fully formed.

"You need to loosen up, Graves," she teased, her voice low and smooth as she took a drag of her cigarette.

Andrew shook his head, staring at the neon swirls in his drink. "Yeah, I'm getting that," he muttered, blowing out a puff of smoke, trying to play it cool, but his heart was still pounding in his chest.

The bass of the electronica music pounded around them, vibrating through the seats as the room buzzed with energy. The contrast between the dim, electric-lit club and the strange intimacy of the conversation left Andrew feeling like he was caught between two worlds.

He glanced over at Hitoshi, who was now sipping her gin and tonic, her gaze playful but sharp. For the first time that night, he felt like he was slowly—just maybe—starting to relax into the chaos.

As Andrew set down his drink, the fruity sweetness lingering on his lips, he felt the weight of Hitoshi's gaze pressing on him. The low light of the club cast a shadow over her sharp features, but her eyes gleamed with a challenge. She leaned forward slightly, resting her arms on the table, the cigarette still dangling between her fingers.

"So, Graves," she said, voice smooth and coaxing, like a snake circling its prey. "Tell me something you wouldn't say at school. Something real."

Andrew felt a twinge of unease as the question hung in the air. He knew exactly what she was doing—pushing him to open up, teasing him out of his shell—but he couldn't forget the call from last night. She had this aura, like she was carrying a lot of baggage but kept it hidden behind that cool, detached exterior. Her demeanour had been pulling at him, but now it felt like the tables were turning, and she was pressing him for the truth.

He took a long swig of his drink, hoping it might loosen his thoughts and give him some edge. It didn't. He was trying hard to play it cool, but he could feel the cracks forming.

"Alright," he said, leaning back against the booth, trying to give off a relaxed vibe despite the quickened pulse in his chest. "What do you want to know?"

Hitoshi's lips curved into a half-smile, seeing right through his attempt at nonchalance. She didn't bite into his question, didn't feed into his coyness. Instead, she called his bluff with unnerving ease.

"I want some truth, Graves. That's it. Tell me something real, and I won't lie about anything."

Her words hung in the air, and Andrew felt the challenge beneath them. This wasn't just small talk or casual teasing; she was digging deeper, pushing him to offer up something meaningful. Something personal.

He drummed his fingers on the table, the neon bracelets on his wrist catching the faint light, and stared at the rim of his glass. What could he say? What could he tell her that wouldn't break the carefully constructed walls he had built to keep people from knowing too much? His mind wandered to Ashley, the way they both wore masks around other people. He had spent years navigating the strange waters of their lives, their distance from others, their shared silence. But he didn't want to talk about her. Not here. Not now.

He needed something else, something that would satisfy Hitoshi's curiosity without exposing too much.

Andrew looked up, meeting her gaze, and there was a brief moment where he thought about cracking a joke, maybe deflecting with some sarcastic comment. But the intensity of her stare made him think twice. She wanted something real.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair before finally speaking. "Alright, fine. Here's one for you—something I've never told anyone back home," he began, the words coming out slower than he intended. "I'm not as put together as I look."

Hitoshi's eyebrow arched slightly, but she didn't interrupt, waiting for him to elaborate.

"Back in America, it was easy to fake it, you know? Pretend I had all the answers. That I was just... in control. But the truth? I'm winging it, just like everybody else." He took another sip of his drink, the ice clinking softly in the glass. "I guess I've always been that way. Even here in Japan. Trying to figure out how to fit in. How to not screw it all up."

He glanced at Hitoshi, feeling a bit exposed, but she didn't react the way he expected. Instead of laughing or brushing it off, she leaned back in the booth and exhaled a stream of smoke, her expression unreadable.

"Huh," she murmured, tapping the cigarette on the edge of the ashtray. "You're not as cocky as you look either."

There was a flicker of something in her eyes—maybe respect, maybe understanding. It was hard to tell with her, but Andrew felt like he had passed some unspoken test.

She took another drag before speaking again. "Fair enough, Graves. I guess we're all winging it, right? Life's a mess, and anyone who says they've got it figured out is lying."

She reached for her gin and tonic, taking a slow sip. "But you know what? You still seem pretty solid to me. Maybe a little too wound up, but solid."

Andrew chuckled, the tension between them easing. He had managed to share something without revealing everything. It was a fine line to walk, but somehow he felt a little lighter for it.

Hitoshi smirked, her gaze softening just a bit. "Alright, your turn is over. Now, what do you want to know about me?"

Andrew paused for a second, leaning forward, feeling the weight of the moment. "Alright, fair's fair. Tell me something I wouldn't hear at school."

Hitoshi's smirk deepened, her eyes glittering in the dim light. "Oh, you're gonna have to do better than that, Graves."

Andrew's gaze drifted to the ice melting in his glass as Hitoshi's words hung in the air between them. The weight of her statement tugged at him, pulling him out of the comfortable haze of the club and into a space he wasn't entirely sure how to navigate. What did he really want to say to her? He'd spent the better part of the night trying to play it cool, and maintain some semblance of control, but now she was asking for something real—something direct.

He glanced up at Hitoshi, who was sitting there with her elbows propped on the table, her chin resting in her palms. Her eyes were sharp, studying him in a way that felt both challenging and inviting. She wasn't giving him the usual social niceties, the small talk he was used to. She wanted him to be blunt, to drop the pretence.

"What do you really want to say?" Hitoshi asked, her voice soft but pressing. "I'm not gonna bite, you know. Just... stop overthinking it."

Andrew blinked, feeling a knot tighten in his chest. It wasn't that he didn't know what to say—it was that he wasn't sure how she'd take it. He wasn't used to this. He'd always been the quiet observer, the one who stayed in the background while others made the moves, played the games. But now? Now she was telling him to just say it, no games, no masks.

He let out a breath, running his fingers through his hair. "Alright," he started, his voice quieter than he intended. "I guess... I've been thinking that you're not like the other girls I know. You're not... playing around, pretending to be something you're not."

Hitoshi's eyes flickered with interest, but she didn't interrupt, waiting for him to continue.

"I mean, you're blunt," Andrew added, his thoughts slowly piecing together. "You don't sugarcoat anything, and you don't care about the little stuff people usually get hung up on. I respect that. It's... refreshing, I guess."

Hitoshi raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. "Refreshing, huh?" she teased, though her tone wasn't mocking. "Go on. What else?"

Andrew hesitated for a moment, feeling the heat rise in his chest. He had to remind himself not to hold back—not now.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is..." he trailed off, his eyes locking with hers. "I'm not used to being this real with people. Most of the time, I'm just... trying to get through the day, you know? But with you, it's different. I don't feel like I have to fake it around you. And that... that's kind of rare for me."

Hitoshi's smirk softened into something more genuine. She didn't say anything at first, just let his words hang in the air like the lingering smoke between them. Her gaze softened, but her intensity remained.

"See?" she finally said, her voice low and approving. "That's what I'm talking about. No games, no bullshit. Just... being straight with each other."

She leaned back in her seat, taking a slow drag from her cigarette before exhaling. "I like that about you, Graves. You're not trying to be something you're not. And trust me, that's rare."

Andrew felt a small sense of relief at her words, but at the same time, the tension didn't fully leave him. There was still something unspoken between them, something that lingered just beneath the surface. What did he really want to say to her? He wasn't sure if he was ready for that—wasn't sure if she wanted to hear it.

"What about you?" Andrew asked, turning the tables slightly. "You've been dodging my questions all night. If we're being real here, then how about you tell me something you wouldn't say to anyone else?"

Hitoshi's smirk deepened, and for a moment, he could see her considering his words carefully. She flicked the ash off her cigarette, the orange glow briefly illuminating her face.

"Alright, Graves," she said, her voice dropping into a more serious tone. "You want the truth? Fine. The truth is…"

Before Andrew could get a word in edgewise, the unmistakable thrum of a dubstep remix of Ludacris' "Blueberry Yum Yum" pulsed through the room, its heavy bass vibrating through the floor. The sudden switch in tempo sent a wave of energy across the club, and Andrew barely had time to process what was happening when Hitoshi squealed in excitement, her eyes lighting up.

"This is my jam!" she exclaimed, her excitement palpable as she immediately extended her hands toward Andrew. "Come on, Graves! We're dancing."

Andrew hesitated, his reservations kicking in. Dancing wasn't exactly in his comfort zone—especially not in a place like this, under the scrutiny of neon lights and strangers.

"I'm not really much of a—" he started to protest, but before he could finish, Hitoshi grabbed his hands with an insistence that told him there was no backing out. Her grip was firm but playful, and in one swift motion, she pulled him from the booth and led him to the crowded dance floor.

The music throbbed all around them, its hypnotic beat matching the swirling neon lights that painted the room in a kaleidoscope of colors. The crowd moved like a single living entity, bodies swaying and pulsing in time with the music. As soon as they hit the dance floor, Hitoshi wasted no time in getting into the groove.

She swung her hips in a rhythmic, fluid motion, effortlessly catching the beat. The way she moved reminded Andrew of something ancient—dancers from stories, pleasing kings or gods with their grace and allure. There was a confidence in the way she moved, an unselfconscious rhythm that mesmerized him.

The neon lights flickered and flashed, reflecting off the beads of sweat on the dancers, making everything seem surreal. Hitoshi's dark silhouette stood out against the flickering lights, her figure swaying in perfect harmony with the music. She turned to him, a mischievous grin on her face as she saw his hesitation.

"Don't be afraid to move your hips, Graves!" she teased, her voice loud enough to be heard over the pounding bass.

Andrew swallowed hard, a nervous lump forming in his throat as he tried to follow her advice. He moved awkwardly at first, his limbs stiff and uncooperative. But Hitoshi wasn't having it.

"Here, let me help you," she said, her voice more teasing than serious.

Before he knew it, she had turned around and pressed her back against him, her body moving in sync with the music. Andrew felt his heart skip a beat as she guided him, her movements slow and deliberate. The feel of her body against his was enough to make his nerves spike, but her words cut through the haze.

"Just relax. Follow my lead."

It was easier said than done, but Andrew did his best to loosen up. He focused on the rhythm of the music, the pulse of the bass, and the sway of Hitoshi's body against his. Slowly, he began to fall into step, his movements becoming more fluid, more natural. He let himself get lost in the rhythm, the lights, and the feel of the moment.

Hitoshi smiled over her shoulder, clearly amused at his attempts to keep up. She guided him with subtle shifts in her hips, her laughter light and teasing as she told him to just let go.

For the first time that night, Andrew allowed himself to let go of the awkwardness, the hesitation. With Hitoshi's guidance and the music surrounding them, he felt a strange sense of freedom, like the world outside didn't exist, and it was just them—two people, moving to the beat in a neon-lit sanctuary.

As the song ended, Andrew was drenched in sweat, feeling like he had been dipped in a vat of used cooking oil. His shirt clung to him uncomfortably, and beads of sweat dripped down the sides of his face. The adrenaline from the dance floor left him slightly winded, but before he could even process his thoughts, Hitoshi grabbed his hand and led him back to their booth.

This time, instead of sitting across from him like before, she slid into the seat right next to him. Her body was warm from the dancing, and the scent of her perfume mingled with the smoky air. She rested her elbow on the table, her head propped in her hand as she looked at him from a new angle.

"I wanted to see you from this perspective," she said, her tone soft but still teasing. Her eyes sparkled mischievously in the dim neon light.

Andrew tried to play it cool, forcing a smirk as he leaned back slightly. "You probably do this with plenty of guys," he quipped, attempting to deflect the intensity of her gaze.

Hitoshi's lips curved into a sly smile. "Not with the ones I don't find interesting," she replied, her voice taking on a sultry edge as she gave him a look that sent his heart racing. She flicked his forehead lightly, her amusement obvious. "You're fun to tease, Graves."

Andrew blinked, caught off guard by the flick and her boldness. "How would you know?" he retorted, trying to regain his composure. "We've only known each other for a couple of days."

Hitoshi shrugged, her eyes never leaving his. "Your aura, it's magnetic. I could sense it from the start."

Andrew scoffed lightly, though the warmth in his cheeks betrayed him. "Sounds like one of your rehearsed lines."

She didn't miss a beat. "Would it be a lie if I kissed you right now?"

Her words sent a jolt through him. Andrew turned bright red, his heart pounding in his chest as Hitoshi leaned in, her gaze locking onto his with a gleam that made his pulse quicken. She took hold of his face, her fingers cool against his flushed skin, and pressed closer.

Andrew swallowed hard, unable to find words as his brain scrambled for a coherent thought. His mind raced, and he felt like the air around him had thickened with anticipation. Just as Hitoshi's lips were a breath away, the sudden sound of glass shattering cut through the tension like a knife.

Andrew flinched at the noise, his head snapping toward the source. A drunk patron had knocked over a glass on the dance floor, causing a minor commotion. The guy staggered, clearly too intoxicated to care about the mess he made, while people around him laughed or groaned in frustration.

Taking the opportunity—no, the lifeline—Andrew quickly excused himself. "Uh, I... I need to use the restroom," he stammered, pushing himself out of the booth before Hitoshi could protest.

He darted off, leaving Hitoshi sitting there, her eyes lingering on him as he disappeared into the crowd.

Andrew rushed into the restroom, barely noticing the overwhelming stench of urine mixed with the sharp, metallic odor of disinfectant that never quite did its job. The sticky floor clung to the soles of his shoes, and the dim, flickering light overhead cast long shadows on the graffiti-covered walls. Tags, crude drawings, and vulgar insults filled the finite space, a chaotic reminder of the raw reality outside the neon-lit world of the club. He leaned over the sink, gripping the edge tightly as cold water splashed onto his face.

The shock of the water did little to calm the storm brewing inside him. "Pull it together," he muttered to himself, staring at his reflection in the cracked mirror. His face was still flushed, not just from the dancing, but from the way Hitoshi had gotten under his skin. She made him feel things he didn't want to admit, things that rattled him to his core.

"Why?" He asked himself, trying to understand why Hitoshi's presence had such an effect on him. They had just met, for crying out loud. It wasn't like he hadn't been around girls before, but this felt different. It felt raw. And maybe it was the fact that it hadn't been long since things with Julia had fallen apart that made this all the more unsettling.

His mind wandered back to that night in the hospital. The memory hit him like a punch to the gut—just like Julia's father had done when he confronted him. He could still feel the sharp pain in his jaw, the burning humiliation as he was told to never see her again. The cold, unforgiving steel of the handcuffs as he was dragged away for trespassing after sneaking into the hospital one last time. He had just wanted to see her, to explain what had happened, to apologize for the mess Ashley had caused. But he never got the chance.

And that was the worst part—he never got to say his side. Julia probably hated him now, all because of something he hadn't done, something that wasn't his fault. But how could he blame her? Ashley's reckless actions had nearly cost Julia everything, and Andrew had been left to pick up the pieces of a shattered relationship.

Despite it all, there was still a part of him that held onto those feelings for Julia, feelings that refused to fade even after everything. There was no closure, no finality. He had been ripped from her life without being able to defend himself, and it left a raw, open wound in his heart.

And now, here he was, feeling something for Hitoshi—someone he barely knew. Was he really ready for this? Could he even handle it after what had happened with Julia?

He let out a long, shaky breath and turned the faucet off. The water dripped from his chin as he stared at his reflection, trying to make sense of it all. "Get it together," he muttered again, but this time it felt hollow. He wasn't sure if he could.

Meanwhile….

Ashley enjoyed her time with the girls as they told her stories of their time at Yuuei. The girls shared about themselves in an effort to make Ashley feel more comfortable around them, which allowed her to reveal more about herself. As the girls continue their fun, they decide to order some more drinks and food. It was decided that Mina would be the one to get the food and drink orders — Toru asked for a soda while Tsu asked for boba tea. Momo asked Mina to order her the themed drink Fireflies on the Grave, Kyoka ordered an amazake, Ashley ordered a Kappa's brew and Ochako asked her for a club soda.

Mina, ever the party animal, decided to go and place their orders for them while also adding fries for all of them to share. While doing this the guys entered the bar and spotted her immediately.

"Yo Ashido!"

The pinkette turned around to hear the source of the voice.

"We just got done in the arcade! Is it all alright for us to join you and the other girls for some food and drinks til we head back to Yuuei?" Shouted Kirishima.

Mina had a faint blush as she would totally let them join her and the other girls, yet just then she remembered that Momo made it very clear to her before they went to the Graves residence. That the boys weren't allowed to join them tonight, it was strictly only girls as it was a chance to get Ashley acquainted with all of them while not worrying about random guys trying to hit on her.

"Sorry guys, not tonight. It's us girls only tonight. Momo made it strictly a hundred percent clear that boys are not allowed. We want Ashley to get comfortable getting to know and be around us. We don't want any boys trying to hit on her," Mina further stated. As much as she wanted to hang out with her crush tonight, it wasn't just about having fun, it was helping a classmate feel reassured that she's got friends she can rely on. Plus she knew that two of her classmates would pester the girl with dates and or the occasional 'Do you know any western girls we could get to know?' which Ashley would probably feel uncomfortable answering.

"Aww come on Ashido, we just want to get the chance to talk with the new girl is all. Just a little chat, please? I want to know more about her. Plus if we hit it off we could end up dating," spoke Kaminari who rubbed his hands together while imagining himself trying to kiss Ashley.

"Dude you have Jirou, let me have Ashley Graves. From the info I got, she looks ten times better than when we were in school today and if that's true I wanna have a chance at seeing her sexy body," Mineta retorted while thinking of Ashley in some sexy lingerie posing for him. Mineta starts to imagine Ashley as well,

'Oh Mineta, you're so handsome. I don't get why the rest of the boys in 1A couldn't learn a thing or two from you. Please date me, Mineta, with the intent of marriage in the future and if no marriage I'll gladly settle for some fun time in bed with you,' Mineta drooled as he imagined her wanting him so badly. That's when Kaminari slapped Mineta upside the head,

"Ow! The hell man!?"

"Look, either I did it or Ashido curb stomps your ass with a touch of acid. Your choice, dude," retorted Kaminari as he gestured to the pink girl, who was currently looking at the grape-headed fool as if he wanted to meet Kami sooner than expected.

"Seriously dude?! Out of all the guys here who'd have a shot at getting with her there's like three or four," Sero spoke out while the other guys decided to go look at the menu. Meanwhile, Aoyama just stood while looking at the reader.

"Anyways, it's alright Ashido, we'll just grab some food and head off. But if you change your mind I'll be looking at the menu okay?" Kirishima smiled before walking off with Kaminari, Mineta and Sero leaving only Ashido and Bakugou behind. Her cheeks became flushed from getting to chat with Kirishima and tonight could work for a date. If Todoroki was with them, maybe he could have mellowed out Yaomomo so they could join. No, she was gonna stick to her resolve.

Yet fate had other plans for her as Bakugou began taking steps forward while cornering Mina close to the wall before whispering in her ear.

"Listen here, Racoon Eyes, either you let us crash your little get-together or the next time we have hero training I'm not gonna hold back when I use my quirk and I know you hate when I go all out." Bakugou sneered as he got a little closer, almost making it look like they were a couple.

"And why the hell would I do that?! Didn't you hear what I said before? No boys allowed! Though, I should have also added no dogs either since you're all bark and no bite right now. Plus what's stopping me from telling the guys or Aizawa that you just threatened me with physical assault, hm?" Mina questioned him.

She may have dealt with bullies growing up but like hell was she gonna let Bakugou walk all over her like they did. When she first met him she thought he was cool like those stereotypical bad boys you'd see in shows, the ones she believed she could fix but. However, that changed when Bakugou started forcing her to do things for him, at first it seemed like normal things but slowly grew darker over time. If it wasn't for Kirishima being friends with him she would have defected to the Dekusquad a while ago.

"Oh and what would you do if I told you a little secret to shitty hair? Do you think he'd accept your feelings with the way you look? Fuckin' pink with horns and a quirk that could literally melt him," Bakugou retorted as a sadistic smile came upon his face.

Mina immediately went wide-eyed from his words, the only ones she ever told about her feelings for the crimson-haired boy were the girls. How in the world did he know?

"How did I figure out you've got a crush on a knock-off Minecraft? Simple, you were so fucking obvious! You and Stone Cold Kiribrick for brains may be close but lucky for me right now he, the other extras and Deku are looking at the menu. So here's a suggestion on what's gonna happen, you let us join you in your little party otherwise I might let it slip how you've got feelings for the walking brick wall. The choice is yours 'Pinky', "Bakugou finished before turning his attention to the others. That's when he made it clear to them,

"Guess what extras?! Raccoon Eyes just said that we can join them so order your shit to the same room and follow us!" Bakugou stepped back from Ashido before giving Ashido another truly sadistic smile before getting her to move in the direction of the room.

The guys cheered except for a few others. People like Izuku, Shouta, and Fumikage were wanting to give the girls their space. However, Todoroki did want to see Momo and Izuku wouldn't mind furthering his acquaintanceship with the new girl — especially since he was assigned to be her tutor.

They followed Ashido to the room however, that was when she stopped in front of the door.

"Now, let me go in first and talk things over with the girls. If they say no, then I'm sorry you have to go somewhere else. We just want this night to be special for Ash and the last thing we want is." She said with urgency in her voice.

"It's alright, Ashido. If you girls do not want us here we will gladly respect your wishes, as we fellows should head back to Yuuei with haste in mind," spoke Iida while moving his hands wildly.

"Maybe we shouldn't just interrupt their evening guys. It's incredibly rude and I was taught to be a gentleman so if a lady asks you not to go somewhere you do not break that rule," replied Izuku. Though he was curious he knew that she may not be ready to talk to all of them about herself yet. A small group like what she's in now with the girls was probably better for helping to bring her out of her shell, yeah he had spoken to her but he was just as nervous. So he could see it from her perspective.

*BAM!*
…!

All the girls jumped as the door was booted open, by none other than Bakugou.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! You could have knocked on the door you psycho pomeranian and why the hell are you even here?! This is girls' night, so unless you're comin' out to us, then leave!" Shouted a very furious Jirou as her ear-jacks went on the defensive ready to strike at any given moment thanks to Bakugo's sudden intrusion on their serenity away from the world.

"Bakugo I do not know what your issue is but you need to leave at once. As Kyoka instructed, it is a night exclusively for us, though I appreciate seeing my boyfriend outside of the room. This night was created for the sole purpose of helping Ash~chan." Yaomomo sternly told him and the few guys that attempted to get in the room.

"Aww come on Yaoyorozu, can't we at least have an hour or two with you guys? Plus it can help Graves~san get a little more comfortable with all of us a lot faster," spoke out Kaminari as he tried to push past Bakugo but was being prevented by said teen.

"How did you even figure out which room we were in unless-," Yaomomo looked out into the hallway and spotted a conflicted Ashido who, from what she gathered, did not intend this to happen. Here were her plans for an incredible girls night falling to pieces, her plan was going so well, get Ashley comfortable, get to know her more talk a little about her past if she was up for it and then talk a little about the guys in her class but then they show up unannounced and intruding she would add. So now all their efforts may have fallen back at square one.

Bakugou and the rest of the guys started to walk into the room, yet as soon as they came face to face with Ashley, most of them became enamored by her beauty. Was this really the same new girl? She was radiant and if they hadn't seen her in class they would have assumed she was one of Yaoyarozu's wealthy acquaintances or that she was an up-and-coming celebrity that they had been given the honours of meeting before her career really blew up. Some of them had their mouths agape like Sero or Kaminari, while Mineta had blood pouring down his nose thinking of the most lascivious and debaucherous things possible. Todoroki was neutral about her looks since he was already dating someone.

"Holy shit I knew it! Graves~san is super sexy!" shouted Mineta. Before being hit by Tsu's tongue.

"Thank you Tsu. I swear not even two seconds and he's already trying to hump a girl's leg like a dog in heat," said Jirou.

The boys entered the room taking up the remaining seats, while sorting out how tonight would go for the boys remaining time they had, Yaomomo was still frustrated as she was correct in what may happen when she saw Ashley look a bit more anxious. The guys just had to join them right now, granted she wanted more than anything for them to leave so the girls could continue their night alone but she knew that wasn't gonna happen since the guys also wanted to know Ashley and probably wouldn't leave til they get some answers to their own questions.

"So Graves~Chan. If you don't mind me asking, and Ashido has the same quirk, why isn't your skin pink?" asked Kaminari with a puzzled look on his face. "I mean I'd have thought since you're quirk siblings you'd have pink skin like her and maybe the same eyes too?"

"Dude! You can't just ask why she's not pink. That's uncool!" responded Sero as he nearly choked on his drink.

"How about we ask the serious stuff? Like Graves~chan, I tried asking you this in school before I was interrupted so please answer me honestly. What's your bust size? Do you have a boyfriend? Girlfriend? If not, will you be happy to dat-!" Mineta was stopped in an instance by a smack to the head via Tsu, jacks stuck in his eyes courtesy of Jirou and taped up thanks to Sero while Mina stepped on him stating,

"Your consistent sexual harassment of the female sex makes us sick, you grapist pervert. Well, at least Ash has a grasp of your personality. Which means she'll avoid you in the future, isn't that right, Ash?

Ashley sat there surprised that her classmates would be so protective of her, even though they had only met for a single day. Her old classmates would have just ignored her or abandoned her to solitude without any hesitation. Her thoughts however were interrupted by the others,

"Graves~chan are you alright? He hasn't caused you distress or made you feel uncomfortable, has he? If he has or tries anything again let me know okay?" Midoriya spoke in concern due to Mineta's actions. When Ashley said she was fine Midoriya sighed in relief before turning to the grape-headed perv.

"Mineta, enough. I've tried to be understanding, but your behavior hasn't changed. You being perverted and saying sexual remarks to the girls isn't funny —it never was. You're making them uncomfortable with all your lewd talk all the time, and as future heroes, we're supposed to be better than that.

If you can't respect your classmates and act appropriately, then you're not just letting yourself down—you're letting all of us down. We can't trust you if you keep acting like this. You need to stop now. Otherwise I'll have to take drastic measures."

Mineta gazed at Midoriya's eyes and he was not kidding, Midoriya's eyes told him that they would go above their teacher and flat-out speak with Nezu on the pint-sized boy's perverted actions. He was staring into the eyes of someone who was completely done with his shit. The rest of 1-A was impressed with the class cinnamon roll's words as he always knew how to defuse any situation.

After Midoriya sorts out Mineta, the group all start to have fun. They order their favourite drinks and meals while also dancing and gossiping. Everyone was enjoying themselves. That is until Kaminari asked, "So Graves~Chan like I was asking earlier, said your quirk was acid? What were you doing when it first came out?"

Ashido then looked towards Ashley hoping it was similar to her, maybe she accidentally melted the bed or her clothes, "Yeah Ash! What happened?"

As the group asked Ashley about her quirk, she started to get flashbacks of what happened,

"You fucking bitch. You're gonna pay for what you did."

"You're gonna die for what you did."

"She kept touching you and you kept touching her."

"I didn't think that cup had acid. I didn't think she would have gone blind. That fucking bitch!"

"I…accidentally melted something alright hehe."

As telling them how her quirk suddenly awakened one day, she forced a smile while gripping her arm. The group remained unaware apart from one or two people.

Izuku sat down on her other side, nodding thoughtfully. "I get it. It's hard to adjust to something so new. When I first got my quirk, I couldn't control it at all. It felt like every time I used it, I'd break something—or myself."

Ashley blinked. She had heard rumors about Izuku's late-blooming quirk but hadn't realized just how much he had struggled.

"Yeah, and me?" Mina chimed in, smiling, though her tone was softer now. "I know it seems like I've always had my acid under control, but when I first got my quirk, I was a mess. My skin could melt through anything, and I was scared to even high-five someone. I had to practice a lot just to get it to where it is now."

Ashley glanced between the two of them, surprised to hear how much they both struggled with their quirks.

"Wow, I didn't know you two had it rough in the beginning," responded Ashley.

"Let me put it this way," said Izuku as he smiled, "Riding a bike is a lot easier than getting acquainted with your Quirk. For a long time, every time I tried to use One For All, I'd end up breaking my bones. It was painful, but I kept pushing myself to learn how to manage it."

"And now look at him!" Mina added with a grin, playfully punching Izuku's arm. "All that hard work paid off, right?"

"Agreed, but…not trying to sound perverted but it's like puberty. You have to learn how to break it in, you know," responded Izuku, scratching the back of his head.

"Trust me, Ash, when I said, he knows about breaking it in," Mina responded with a wink, which made the emerald-haired teen blush.

It was then the rock teen intervened. "Hey, it's alright. Quirk awakenings are random, I was rubbing my eye when my quirk came in. That's how I got this gnarly but manly scar" as Eijiro pointed to it just above his right eye. "Wanna know about Todoroki's 'awakening?'"

"Shut the hell up, spaz," Shouto muttered, showing a bright tint of red on his face.

It was then the mask-wearing teen began to speak. "I don't think our quirks should define who we are on the inside. Both I and Koda have faced abuse from the system because we're Heteromorphs and from what Ashido's told us, she too has dealt with the same kind of discrimination. When people see quirks they don't understand they jump to the conclusion that they're inherently evil or if it affects us physically we're seen as monsters to take out before we become a major problem. The media paints that picture, politicians spread more misinformation and sometimes close-minded views and yeah we may have pro-heroes but sometimes they think we might be dangerous, even when we are the victims. Yet, with everything I still want to be a hero to help change that perception and get people to see us for the humans we are and not the 'possible threat' to their lives. Will it be difficult? Yeah. Will it take time? Definitely. but I'm willing to put in that effort."

That was when Shoji requested Momo to make blindfolds for all their classmates except for Ashley, after that was done Shoji removed his mask revealing his scarred face which genuinely took her by surprise. She knew people were fucked up but the fact that he was around her age with a face that looked like he'd been through multiple wars disturbed her. Here she was thinking the world treated her coldly as her mother, friends and many more didn't treat her well with the exception of her brother, yet here Shoji is having lived through hell just to survive and still wanted to help others."

Then Shoji pulled his mask back up before continuing,

"Graves~chan, It's not your fault if your quirk melted the bed or you woke up looking different from yesterday, all that matters is that right now. We're all diverse in a multitude of ways, be it birthplace, culture, race, age, sex, gender, sexual preferences, ideologies, cognitive or congenital disabilities and even now quirks. None of us asked for what we got but how we treat others and use our quirks is what really defines us. So Graves~chan, I'm fully aware you have your brother. I want you to know you're around friends who'll be there for and support you no matter what comes your way we'll all face it with you. Together,"

That's when Kirishima began to give his own feelings. "Mezo, that was deep and really impactful, man. Maybe you should try your shot with Graves~chan. I mean if she wants to I'm not trying to force either of you."

"No. I wouldn't be good enough for Graves~san plus I'm just not lookin' for a relationship right now. Though she is the new girl I do hope you find love be it in our class or outside of school, no need to rush that though."

"I..I I'm not looking for a relationship with anyone right now, I just met all of you so it will take time for a friendship to form let alone a relationship," responded Ashley

A certain blond with an explosive temper was getting bored until he thought of something funny.

"Blah blah blah! How about we get some damn entertainment already? It's a fucking boring sitting here!"

"Tch! Not if you're the one paying for it," muttered Mina as she rolled her eyes.

"Oh, I am sorry, Pinky. I am starting to feel a lot of heat on the couch. Seeing red? If so, you know red is sus." Katsuki eyed the pinkette, aware that he didn't mind publicly revealing her crush just to humiliate her.

"Might as well have some fun," Denki responded as he browsed the book of songs. "Anyone have any requests?"

Katsuki's mischievous grin spelt trouble as he scanned the room for something entertaining, his eyes settling on Izuku and Ochako after Denki's suggestion to sing.

"Why don't we get Deku and Uraraka to sing a song together?" Katsuki taunted, his smirk widening as he saw the blush creeping onto Izuku's face. Ochako quickly covered hers, hiding behind her hands, leaving the room filled with teasing laughter from their classmates.

Before the situation could spiral further, Minoru piped up. "How about we hear Ashley sing instead?" His eyes sparkled with curiosity as everyone turned their attention to their new classmate.

All eyes turned toward Ashley, who sat frozen, her posture stiffening as she realized she was now the centre of attention. She looked from face to face, her nerves visible in how she gripped her seat's edge. Katsuki, sensing weakness, leaned in, his voice dropping an octave as he goaded her. "What's the matter, Graves? Scared? Don't tell me you've got stage fright."

Ashley bit her lip, feeling the pressure building. Katsuki wasn't going to let this go, not with everyone watching. She glanced nervously at Momo, who offered her an encouraging nod, then back at Katsuki, who was now standing over her, arms crossed, a challenging look on his face.

"Come on, Graves," Katsuki barked, his tone sharp but with a hint of smugness. "We're all waiting. You gonna sit there like a coward, or you gonna show us what you've got?"

Ashley's heart raced. The weight of everyone's expectations, and Katsuki's relentless badgering, made it impossible to back out. "Fine," she said, her voice stronger than she felt. She stood up, steeling herself. "Tsuyu, pick something."

Tsuyu, sensing the intensity of the moment but wanting to lighten the mood, smiled and scrolled through the song list. "How about this one?" she asked as the opening notes of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" began to play.

Ashley's eyes widened. Of all the songs... But it was too late to back down now. The room fell silent as the iconic piano intro filled the air. She swallowed hard and gripped the microphone. Her first notes were hesitant, shaky even, but as she fell into the rhythm of the song, something changed.

As Ashley stood before the group, clutching the microphone tightly, her palms damp with nerves, the room seemed to shrink. Everyone's eyes were on her, the weight of their attention almost unbearable. Katsuki leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his signature smirk plastered across his face. His eyes gleamed with anticipation, practically daring her to fail. She could feel it—the silent challenge. He expected her to crack under the pressure, to croak mid-song, and he would revel in it.

The opening chords of "Bohemian Rhapsody" echoed through the room, filling the space with an uneasy tension. When Ashley began singing, her voice was soft, wavering with uncertainty. She made it through the first verse, but as the lyrics reached the emotionally charged, "Mama, ooh, didn't mean to make you cry," her voice faltered slightly. Her stomach clenched in fear, certain she was about to lose the courage she'd managed to muster.

Just then, a voice cut through the silence—strong, clear, and confident.

"If I'm not back again this time tomorrow, carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters," Izuku sang, standing up from his seat.

The room went still, jaws dropping as everyone turned to him. No one had expected it—not his voice, and certainly not his timing. Izuku, who rarely took the spotlight unless it was in battle, sang with surprising confidence, his voice blending seamlessly with the song. Even more shocking was how well he could carry a tune. It wasn't just the power in his voice, but the raw emotion behind it, as if he felt every word he sang.

Ashley blinked in surprise, her previous nervousness melting away as she glanced at Izuku. He gave her a quick wink, a reassuring smile tugging at his lips. Suddenly, she didn't feel so alone up there. As he moved to stand beside her, microphone in hand, a surge of relief and confidence washed over her.

They both began to sing together, their voices harmonizing with an unexpected ease. "Too late, my time has come, sends shivers down my spine, body's aching all the time…" Their voices intertwined, filling the room with energy. The rest of their classmates stared in disbelief, caught off guard by this impromptu duet.

By the time they reached the famous "Galileo" section, Ashley's nerves were long gone. She and Izuku belted out the lyrics, trading lines effortlessly, their voices lifting higher and higher. The energy in the room was electric, their classmates clapping along and cheering them on.

As the duet continued, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Izuku and Ashley were singing in sync, their voices harmonizing so effortlessly that it almost felt as if they had practiced together. The energy was infectious, and most of their classmates were completely caught up in the moment, clapping and swaying to the music.

But Katsuki was having none of it. The more Izuku and Ashley sang, the more irritated he became. His teeth ground together as he watched, arms still crossed tightly over his chest. His eyes narrowed at how easily Deku was shining in the spotlight, not only holding his own but thriving in it. He was supposed to be a dork, not some smooth-talking singer.

"Tch. Who does he think he is?" Katsuki muttered under his breath, his smirk long gone, replaced by a deepening scowl.

But Katsuki wasn't the only one whose mood was souring. In the back of the room, Ochako stood watching, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. At first, she had been impressed and even a little surprised by Izuku's unexpected confidence. She knew him as shy, often unsure of himself outside of battle. But as the song went on, a new emotion began to creep in—one that she wasn't entirely prepared for.

It started when she noticed how Ashley's confidence grew the longer they sang together. Izuku's support had made a huge difference, and they looked like they were truly enjoying themselves. Then, they locked eyes—just for a moment, but it was enough. The smile on Izuku's face, the way Ashley glanced at him with gratitude and perhaps something more… it was subtle, but it stirred something in Ochako's chest.

A pang of jealousy hit her hard. She tried to shake it off, reasoning with herself. "It's just a song, nothing more." But the way they seemed to connect, how easily they were getting along, made it difficult for her to ignore the unfamiliar feeling gnawing at her.

Her heart clenched tighter every time their eyes met, every time they laughed together between verses. Her usually bubbly disposition was dimming by the second as she stood on the sidelines, feeling like she was on the outside looking in. "They look... close."

The cheering of her classmates only added to the sting. She had always admired Izuku, and seeing him like this, confident and singing with someone else—it stirred a fear that she hadn't even realized she had. What if she wasn't the only one Izuku cared about? What if someone else could make him smile like that?

The performance finally ended, and the room erupted into applause again. Izuku and Ashley exchanged a quick glance, both of them looking pleased with how well the duet had gone. Ochako forced a smile, clapping along, though her heart wasn't in it.

Meanwhile, Katsuki pushed off the wall, clearly done with the whole situation. He shot a glare at Izuku as he stalked out of the room, his pride bruised and his temper barely held in check.

As Ochako stood there, watching Izuku and Ashley laugh together, she couldn't help but wonder why she felt so uneasy. She quickly brushed it aside, though, pushing the jealousy down. "I'm happy for them," she told herself, though the words felt hollow.

Meanwhile….

Inko gently looped her arm around Renee's as they stepped into the Yaoyorozu manor, and Renee was immediately engulfed by the sheer opulence of the place. The grand foyer unfolded before her like a scene out of a dream, with a high, vaulted ceiling adorned by a chandelier dripping with crystals that refracted the light in dazzling patterns across the polished marble floors. The soft hum of polite conversation and the clinking of delicate glasses filled the air, but it was the lavish surroundings that truly demanded attention.

Maids and butlers in immaculate uniforms moved gracefully through the crowd, carrying trays laden with sparkling drinks and hors d'oeuvres that looked too intricate to eat. Renee watched as they wove in and out of clusters of guests, their movements seamless, almost like part of the decor. Her eyes were then drawn to the centrepiece of the room: a massive aquarium that spanned the height of both staircases. Its glass walls shimmered with the glow of soft, underwater lighting, and inside, vibrant fish of all shapes and colors swam leisurely through delicate coral formations. The sight was mesmerizing—a display of wealth so casual, yet so striking, it almost felt surreal.

Renee hesitated. This wasn't just a house; it was a mansion, no—a palace. Her fingers flexed nervously at her side, and she considered turning around and leaving, feeling like an intruder in this world of affluence.

Sensing her apprehension, Inko tugged at her arm gently, smiling reassuringly. "It's okay," she whispered, her tone comforting. "Everyone feels a little overwhelmed the first time they come here."

Renee's lips twitched into a faint, forced smile as her eyes swept over the grandeur once again. Overwhelmed didn't quite capture the unease gnawing at her gut. The contrast between this and her own life was stark—where her home was simple, yet practical, this was a place that screamed indulgence. Even the air felt different, heavy with the scent of fresh-cut roses and expensive cologne. The weight of it all pressed down on her, making her feel smaller than she'd ever felt before.

"Yeah, I'm sure they do," Renee muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing as she tried to process the sheer scale of everything around her. Humble, Inko had said. But how could someone living in a place like this be anything close to humble? In her mind, wealth like this came with a certain arrogance, a separation from the real world that no amount of sweetness could mask. Renee had spent her life moving from place to place, never truly settling, always scraping by. Money, to her, had never been a luxury—it had always been a tool, something she had to chase to survive. To see it flaunted so openly, so effortlessly, made her bristle.

Inko must have noticed the tension in her posture because she gave Renee's arm another light squeeze. "Really, Mayuko is the sweetest person," she insisted, her voice warm and sincere. "She may have all of this,"—Inko gestured to the grand surroundings with a nod—"but she's still down-to-earth. You'll see."

Renee stifled a bitter laugh, her skepticism bubbling beneath the surface. "Sweet and down-to-earth," she thought sarcastically, casting another glance at the servants scurrying to attend to the whims of the guests. It was hard to believe anyone who lived in such extravagance could be anything but detached. To Renee, this world of privilege had always been about control—people using their wealth to build walls, to protect themselves from the hardships others had to face. Humility didn't seem to fit here.

"Sure," Renee muttered, her tone filled with doubt. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was all a performance. People with money were always nice when it suited them. They wore kindness like a mask, a costume to hide their true intentions. But when the mask came off, what would be left? That was the part that worried her.

Still, she allowed Inko to guide her further into the room. Her steps faltered, but she forced herself to keep moving, her curiosity slowly mingling with her anxiety. Despite everything, part of her wanted to know—could someone in this gilded cage truly be as kind as Inko said? Or was this just another game, another facade of wealth hiding a heart far removed from the world Renee knew? Only time would tell, but for now, she followed, feeling like she was about to step onto a stage where she didn't know her role.

As they walked, a butler brushed past Inko and Renee, pausing with a graceful bow to offer them a drink of wine. Inko politely declined, but Renee, feeling the need for something to steady her nerves, accepted the glass with a nod. As she sipped, her eyes lingered on the butler's appearance—there was something about him that tugged at her. His posture, his clean-cut features, even the way he moved...it all reminded her of Andrew.

The butler gave another respectful bow and turned away, but not before Renee's gaze dropped, almost involuntarily, to his ass. She caught herself staring, shaking her head with a quiet laugh at the thought.

"Browsing?" Inko's teasing voice cut through her thoughts, bringing a rush of heat to Renee's cheeks.

Blushing, Renee quickly averted her gaze and laughed off her embarrassment. "No, it's just... he reminds me of my son," she said, half-smirking.

Inko chuckled warmly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "If your son looks like that, I'd recommend stocking up on female repellent," she teased, taking a handful of rice crackers from a maid as they passed.

Renee smirked but shook her head. "Oh, trust me, he's no lady killer. More of an...acquired taste when it comes to charming girls."

Inko raised an eyebrow playfully. "Only a select few, huh?" she asked, nibbling on a cracker.

"Something like that," Renee replied, her voice a little guarded. There was no way she was about to admit that her son had admirers, especially considering some of them were a little too close to home for comfort. She took another sip of her wine, grateful for the distraction. The warmth of the drink began to spread through her, softening the edges of her thoughts, even if just a little.

As they moved further into the manor, Renee let her eyes wander again. The lavish setting was beginning to overwhelm her senses. The laughter and hum of conversation floated on the air like music, mixing with the soft clinking of glasses and the shuffle of the staff. She wasn't sure what to make of it all—was this really just a homeowners association meeting? It felt more like a charity gala or some high-society benefit.

She found herself questioning the purpose of the event. Her thoughts began to spiral as she sipped her wine more eagerly, hoping the slight buzz would help her relax in this world she didn't belong to.

As Inko led her deeper into the lavish villa, the soft hum of conversation was suddenly punctuated by a loud, playful whistle. Both women turned their heads to see none other than Mitsuki Bakugo approaching with her usual lively energy. Mitsuki, the very same woman who had come by to introduce herself as Renee's neighbor, greeted Inko with a big smile and a quick exchange of Eskimo kisses.

"Love the outfit, Mitsuki!" Inko gushed, her eyes lighting up as she took in Mitsuki's sleek and stylish dress.

"Oh, this old thing?" Mitsuki waved it off with a grin. "Masaru bought it on a whim, you know how he is."

"Well, he's got fantastic taste," Inko responded warmly.

Mitsuki winked. "I taught him everything he knows." Her gaze then shifted toward Renee, and her smile broadened.

"Ah, Renee!" Mitsuki exclaimed, stepping forward to give her a quick peck on the cheek and taking her hand warmly in both of hers. "I'm so glad you decided to come! We've been dying to see you at one of these meetings."

Renee returned the smile as best she could, but inside, a flicker of something more cynical stirred. She couldn't help but recall that this was the mother of that boy—Katsuki Bakugo, the one who had given Andrew a hard time at the bakery a few days ago. The sharp memory of that incident made her feel a twinge of discomfort, though she kept her expression neutral. She wasn't about to let old grievances color the night, but the thought was there, lingering in the back of her mind like a whisper.

Mitsuki, however, didn't seem to notice. She radiated the kind of confidence that could fill a room, seemingly unaware or unbothered by anything beneath the surface. The first time Renee had met her, it had been in a hurried fashion—Mitsuki had come by to introduce herself and present a welcoming gift, mentioning the homeowners association and insisting that Renee join them. It felt more like a command than an invitation.

Still, here they were. The smile on Renee's face was polite, but behind it was a sense of guardedness. She felt as though Mitsuki was the type who commanded attention without even trying, and maybe that's what made her so unsettling. She wasn't sure if it was Katsuki's brash nature that made her cautious or if it was just the overwhelming energy Mitsuki exuded. Either way, Renee felt like she was navigating more than just a social gathering—it was a careful dance of keeping up appearances.

"Glad to be here," Renee replied, her tone pleasant but inwardly bracing herself for what the night would bring.

As Mitsuki drifted away to greet someone familiar, Renee watched her with a polite wave, her mind still buzzing with questions about the grandiosity of the evening. She turned to Inko, curiosity pulling at her. "Is this kind of meeting... normal?" she asked, her voice low, though the extravagance around them made her feel anything but.

Inko chuckled softly, her eyes scanning the opulent surroundings. "Not quite. These gatherings happen every other week, but Mayuko's are always something special. The Yaoyorozu family practically runs Musutafu, so when it's her turn to host, it turns into an event more than a casual meeting." She leaned in slightly and whispered with a playful smile, "If you play your cards right, Mayuko could probably get you whatever you wanted."

Renee fought the urge to roll her eyes, stifling a bitter laugh at the notion. "Could she get me a new husband? Or at least one with a brain?" she thought sarcastically. The memory of Chet's voice on the phone, calmly asking for a hall pass like it was some casual favor, still gnawed at her. Her jaw tightened as she recalled the sting of his words—the way he framed their marriage as a "dry spell" that needed spicing up with other women. His casual admittance of it, the background noise of jazz and laughter, and the shamelessness of asking for her permission to cheat. Her knuckles whitened just thinking about it, but before she could linger too long in that dark place, a ripple of movement pulled her back to the present.

A soft murmur swept through the room as people began drifting toward the main dining area, summoned by the elegant chime of crystal glasses and the low murmur of anticipation. Inko nudged her gently, breaking through her haze. "That's Mayuko," she whispered, her voice taking on a slightly more formal tone. "She's about to formally present tonight's meeting. It's part tradition, part spectacle, but always interesting."

Renee nodded, though her eyes still lingered on the grand surroundings, feeling as if she had just stepped into another world. The lavish decor gleamed under soft, golden lighting—everything from the ornate chandeliers to the rich tapestries lining the walls seemed to hum with wealth and prestige. In the center of it all, a vast dining table was set with what looked like an endless array of delicate porcelain dishes and sparkling glassware. Servants moved like clockwork, setting the final touches, while the guests mingled with casual ease, clearly at home in this world of excess.

As she followed Inko toward the dining area, Renee couldn't help but feel a sharp contrast between herself and everyone else here. The laughter, the polished conversations—it all felt so far removed from her reality. She sipped her wine, the taste dull on her tongue compared to the swirl of emotions she tried to push down. Even the buzz of alcohol couldn't fully numb the sharp sting of her husband's betrayal or her lingering frustration with everything that had gone wrong since their move to Japan.

Just then, they reached the dining room, where Mayuko Yaoyorozu stood at the head of the table. Tall and graceful, she wore an air of effortless elegance, her silk gown shimmering under the lights. She smiled warmly, welcoming the guests with a refined grace that instantly commanded attention. Despite the surreal atmosphere, Inko's hand on Renee's arm was a steadying force, grounding her in the midst of all this grandeur. The sight of Mayuko's composed presence contrasted sharply with the inner turmoil Renee still battled, but for now, she forced a smile, slipping back into the role of the observer, waiting for whatever came next.

Sometime later….

A little time had passed since Mayuko's formal introduction, and now the partygoers were comfortably seated at their respective tables, enjoying the feast spread before them. Renee gazed down at her own plate, momentarily stunned. The food looked exquisite, artfully plated with portions so decadent she couldn't help but think that the cost of her single meal might cover her family's grocery budget for a month. Everything glistened under the soft lighting—delicate seafood, fine cuts of meat, and fresh vegetables she could tell were grown in some exclusive farm. She hesitated, feeling a pang of discomfort. Could she even enjoy this?

Across the table, Inko was not shy about indulging. Renee observed as her new friend dove into her food with enthusiasm, savoring every bite as though the meal might escape her plate. Inko's energy was almost childlike, and though Renee had to stifle a small laugh, it wasn't in mockery. There was something endearing about the way Inko attacked her food, even if she was eating as though the dishes might sprout legs and dash away.

But Renee couldn't help but feel out of place. The elegant atmosphere, the lavish surroundings, even the food itself—it was all so foreign to her. As much as she wanted to relax and enjoy the evening, the dissonance between her modest life and the extravagance around her left her slightly on edge.

They weren't seated alone, and the company only added to the feeling of stepping into another world. Mitsuki sat across from her, her easy confidence radiating as she casually chatted, already deep into her meal. To Mitsuki's right was Rei Todoroki, her serene demeanor a striking contrast to the fiery personality Renee had heard about regarding her son. Rei's soft, almost ethereal presence made her seem as delicate as the porcelain teacups they were drinking from. Finally, there was Mika Jirou —her energy more laid-back but with a certain sharpness in her eyes, as though she missed nothing.

As the women spoke, Renee decided to take the opportunity to listen, quietly absorbing their conversations. She carefully took a bite of her food—delicious, but her mind was too busy to fully appreciate it. She focused on the discussions around her, realizing that these women represented the core of Musutafu's social fabric, each with their own unique connection to the larger-than-life heroes in this world.

Mitsuki's boisterous laughter filled the air as she recounted a story about her son, Katsuki, getting into another "misunderstanding" with a teacher at UA. "He's always been stubborn, but I swear, that boy needs to learn how to dial it back," she said with a grin, not an ounce of embarrassment in her tone.

Rei chimed in with a soft laugh, "At least he's passionate. My Shouto is...well, let's say he's still learning how to express himself. But I think UA has been good for him. It's brought him out of his shell more than I ever could have imagined." Her voice was warm but carried a quiet strength beneath it, something that spoke of resilience.

Mika smiled, casually swirling her wine glass. "Kyouka's the same, though in her case, I think UA's made her realize how much she doesn't want to be the center of attention. The music's still her thing, but the hero stuff...well, it's a mixed bag. She's not like some of the other kids who are all 'Go big or go home.'" Mika's tone was amused, but there was an undertone of pride in her voice that any parent would recognize.

Renee listened intently, taking in the nuances of each woman's words. It struck her how, despite the wealth and status surrounding them, the conversations were grounded in the universal struggles of parenting—worrying over their children, navigating their quirks (both literal and metaphorical), and hoping they would find their way in the world.

Mitsuki took a swig of her wine and fixed her sharp gaze on Renee. "So, tell me, Renee. What brings you to the land of the rising sun?"

Renee hesitated for a moment before giving the half-truth she had prepared for such questions. "It's my husband's new job in the 'tourism' industry that brought us here," she said, keeping her tone light and avoiding the deeper reasons for their emigration from America. It was none of their business, after all, that her marriage was hanging by a thread or that they had left behind more than just their home.

Mika nodded, clearly intrigued. "That's cool. Any agencies or anything you know about? My husband's a musician, and I don't mind helping out with his business if there are opportunities. You know, expand the network a bit." Mika's laid-back demeanor didn't mask her interest as she raised her glass and took a sip.

Renee smiled politely. "No, nothing like that. My husband works more in the private sector. By 'tourism,' I really mean the transportation industry. But it pays well enough to provide a nice house and for our kids to afford UA High School." Her voice was calm, but inside, her thoughts still clung to the earlier phone call, the feeling of betrayal lingering in her mind.

Mitsuki grinned, impressed. "Oh, so your kids go to UA? That's pretty cool. Same school as the rest of us, huh?"

Renee nodded. "Yeah, they just started recently. It's been...an adjustment." She was careful with her words, not wanting to reveal too much about their difficulties or her own internal struggles. It wasn't the time or place.

Rei, ever the quiet observer, leaned in with genuine curiosity. "Who are your children?" she asked, her gentle tone inviting Renee to share.

Caught off guard for a moment, Renee fumbled with her phone, scrolling through her gallery in search of a good picture of her twins. Her mind raced, trying to remember the last picture she'd taken of Andrew and Ashley together, when it hit her. Just tonight. She had taken a snapshot of them before they left for their own evening plans. A small smile crept onto her face as she found the image.

Turning the phone toward Rei, she pointed at the screen. "These are my twins, Andrew and Ashley."

Rei studied the photo, her expression softening as she looked at the two teenagers. "They look like wonderful kids," she said sincerely, passing the phone to Mika and Mitsuki.

Mika peered at the screen, tilting her head slightly. "You can see the resemblance to you, definitely," she commented before handing the phone back. "Twins, huh? Must be a handful!"

Renee chuckled softly, pocketing her phone again. "You have no idea."

Rei leaned in with quiet curiosity. "What year are your children?"

Renee sighed lightly, knowing that the explanation was a bit tricky. "Well, due to how grade equivalences work between the U.S. and Japan, along with UA being a hero school, they were placed as first-year students. Ashley is in class 1-A, and Andrew is in the Support Department."

The moment Renee mentioned class 1-A, Mitsuki slammed her hand on the table with excitement. "Wait, your daughter is in the same class as our kids?!"

Rei and Mika nodded, clearly intrigued by the connection. Rei commented thoughtfully, "Shouto did mention there was a new student in his class, but he didn't say too much about it."

Mika chimed in with a smile. "Kyouka mentioned meeting a girl called Graves-chan. She was curious about her."

Renee snapped her fingers as if something just clicked. "Ah, I just realized! I met your daughter earlier tonight, Mika. Kyouka and her friends were with Ashley. They've been so kind to her."

Mika beamed with pride. "I'm glad to hear that. Kyouka might have her rebellious streak, but she knows how to be a good friend."

Renee smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "Your daughter was so sweet. It really made me feel better knowing that Ashley has people like Kyouka and her friends looking out for her."

Rei's face softened as she listened, nodding in agreement. "It sounds like your daughter is fitting in well. UA is a good place for them to grow."

Mitsuki grinned, clearly enjoying the connection forming between the families. "Looks like our kids are gonna be sticking together, huh? That's gotta be a good thing!"

"I've met some of her other friends too," Renee said, recalling the night they dropped by with cake and presents. "I think their names were Mina, Tooru, Momo, and Ochako."

Inko's eyes lit up, clearly impressed. "Already making friends in her first week? That's amazing!"

Mitsuki chimed in, nodding. "Momo is a real gem, isn't she? So humble, especially for someone who's obviously wealthy."

Inko smiled, trying to tone down the conversation. But Mitsuki wasn't finished. "No, it's true! Mayuko and Momo are proof that you can be rich and still stay grounded. Look at me, I'm a fashion designer living modestly. There's humility even in my line of work."

Renee forced a smile, biting back a retort. "Not for your son," she thought, remembering Katsuki's rough attitude when Andrew mentioned him. There was something about Mitsuki's tone—like she was subtly flaunting her status—that made Renee uneasy, as though she was putting on a show. Still, Renee remained polite, letting the conversation flow.

Her wandering thoughts were interrupted when Rei leaned in with a playful grin. "I hope the boys in class won't be fighting for your daughter's attention, now that she's the new girl."

Mika laughed, adding, "Or maybe even the girls. Kyouka mentioned how pretty Ashley is—she could be the talk of the town!"

Renee blinked, internally raising an eyebrow. "Wait, what?" Were they talking about her Ashley? The same Ashley who often skipped baths, wore the same underwear for days, picked lint from her armpits, and practically lived in black clothes? She had to be drunk if they were describing her daughter that way. It felt surreal as if they were painting a picture of someone else entirely.

Inko noticed Renee's stunned silence and nudged her gently. "You must be proud, huh?"

Renee gave a hesitant chuckle. "Yeah…something like that." Inside, she was still trying to wrap her head around the idea of her Ashley being the object of admiration.

Mitsuki leaned over with a sly grin, her eyes flicking between Inko and Renee. "Let's hope a certain cinnamon roll doesn't get his glaze over that new girl," she teased, glancing mischievously at Inko.

Inko's cheeks turned pink. "Mitsuki!" she protested, her voice flustered.

"C'mon," Mitsuki laughed. "You can't tell me that your shy sailor boy, Izuku, isn't at least looking at Ashley? Or any other girl, for that matter?"

Inko fidgeted, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Well, he's always been shy, and…let's just say, he still has a bit of a weak constitution when it comes to girls."

Rei chuckled softly, taking a sip of her wine. "I think it's adorable how much Izuku stammers around beautiful girls. At least, that's what Shouto mentioned."

Mika joined in, nodding. "Izuku's definitely the cat's pajamas. He's got that earnest charm, you know? Even my Kyouka is plain smitten with the lad."

Mitsuki shook her head, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Poor kid can't help being shy. Not that it's a bad thing. But you know, a guy like my Katsuki could probably give him a gentle shove in the right direction."

Renee's fingers twitched, the urge for a cigarette growing stronger. "A gentle shove?" Mitsuki was all but saying that her son was a bulldozer of a boy—and it didn't help that Renee's mind was flashing back to Andrew and Katsuki's confrontation at the bakery. She could practically hear Mitsuki airing out her son's overbearing nature, and it was grating on her nerves.

Inko, ever the kind-hearted soul, smiled softly. "Izuku's just finding his own way. When he's ready to be more open with girls, he'll do it at his own pace. He's always been thoughtful like that."

Renee blushed at that comment, her mind drifting back to the day Izuku had saved her from disaster at UA. She vividly remembered the warmth in his eyes, his gentle concern as he asked, "Are you alright, ma'am?" It felt surreal, standing in the midst of this lavish gathering, hearing them speak so fondly of him, while she still held that moment close, almost as if it had happened yesterday.

It wasn't long before Mayuko made her grand entrance, her presence infusing the room with a sense of vibrancy and warmth. Clad in a stylish dress that accentuated her graceful figure, she greeted familiar faces with heartfelt hugs and light kisses on the cheeks, her laughter ringing like soft chimes through the air. The way she carried herself spoke of both elegance and approachability, drawing others to her effortlessly.

As her gaze swept the crowd, it landed on Renee, causing her to pause momentarily. "So, this is the new face of the neighborhood," she exclaimed, extending a hand toward Renee with an inviting smile that radiated genuine interest. "I'm Mayuko Yaoyorozu. Welcome to the party!"

Mitsuki, ever the playful spirit, nudged Renee with a grin. "Renee has a bit of a backstory we've been discussing about you."

Mayuko raised an eyebrow in amusement, her smile widening. "I hope it's not anything bad," she quipped, and the table erupted in laughter, the sound buoyant and contagious, mingling with the elegant clink of glasses and the soft murmur of conversations filling the grand space.

Renee chuckled, her laughter strained but polite. "Whatever malicious rumors you hear about me are nothing but lies," she replied, trying to match the lightheartedness of the moment.

Mika leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Momo's friends with Renee's daughter!"

Mayuko's eyes lit up at this revelation, and she clapped her hands together, the sound sharp against the backdrop of chatter. "Oh! You're the mother of the Ashley girl!" she exclaimed, her voice a melody of enthusiasm. "Ashley is making quite the impression! She definitely has my daughter's approval."

At this moment, a wave of anxiety crashed over Renee, twisting her stomach into knots. "Was this some kind of hidden camera show? Was this what the Japanese called the penalty game?" She felt a sharp urge to slap herself, as if the universe were mocking her for being caught off guard. Just weeks ago, her daughter had been embroiled in chaos, the center of an incident that had led to charges for aggravated assault against Andrew's ex-girlfriend. "Where was that Ashley now?"

Mayuko continued, her voice soothing and sincere, completely unaware of the turmoil brewing within Renee. "If you need anything at all, just let me know," she said with genuine warmth, her eyes reflecting an eagerness to help.

With a final nod, Mayuko excused herself, gliding effortlessly away to mingle with more guests. As she moved on, Renee remained momentarily stunned, her mind racing to reconcile this picture-perfect scene with the chaotic reality of their lives.

As time passed and Renee lingered at the gathering, feeling the lively atmosphere wash over her like a warm tide. The aroma of delicious food mingled with laughter and animated conversations, creating an ambience that was both inviting and overwhelming. Yet, despite the cheerful chatter and the clinking of glasses, a subtle fatigue crept in, reminding her that it was time to leave this vibrant scene behind.

Reaching for her phone, she began tapping away, arranging for an Uber, her fingers moving swiftly across the screen. Just as she hit the confirmation button, Inko turned to her, a radiant smile brightening her features. "Do you want a ride home? I can take you."

Renee hesitated, glancing around at the lively gathering. "I don't want to pry into your evening," she replied, attempting to brush off the offer politely, though she felt a pang of gratitude at Inko's kindness.

But Inko was insistent, her enthusiasm infectious. "I'm ready to go myself. It's no trouble at all!"

With a reluctant smile, Renee agreed, feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension. She turned to her new acquaintances, offering them a warm farewell. Mitsuki's voice cut through the air, bright and cheerful, as she chimed in, "We should do lunch sometime!"

Renee nodded, though a hint of reluctance crept into her expression. "Sure," she replied, the word escaping her lips more out of obligation than enthusiasm.

As they made their way out of the dining area, Inko bid her friends goodbye, her tone filled with genuine warmth that seemed to resonate with everyone around her. Stepping into the common area, the bustling atmosphere of the party faded slightly, replaced by the soothing sounds of the evening air rustling through the trees outside.

Standing near the exit, they waited for the valet to bring Inko's vehicle, the anticipation lingering between them. Feeling a twinge of restlessness, Renee instinctively took a step back, creating a bit of distance to light a cigarette, savoring the ritual that calmed her nerves. The flicker of the lighter was a familiar comfort, the smoke curling into the cool night air like a gentle sigh.

Inko watched her with a knowing smile. "I'm used to my husband smoking, so I don't mind," she said, her tone casual and accepting, as if it were an ordinary part of life.

Renee took a deep drag from her cigarette, the smoke filling her lungs before she exhaled slowly, watching the tendrils dance upward. "It's probably not the best habit," she admitted a hint of regret in her voice. "But it helps me unwind."

Inko raised an eyebrow playfully, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Just don't let the nicotine destroy your girlish figure," she teased, her words light and playful.

Renee chuckled softly, a touch of self-deprecation lacing her laughter. "Raising two children and managing a failing marriage has already taken care of that," she replied, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips as memories of sleepless nights and endless responsibilities washed over her.

Inko's expression shifted slightly, her tone growing more earnest as if she understood the weight behind Renee's words. "You know, you shouldn't let your pessimism outshine your optimism. There's always something good to look forward to."

Renee nodded, appreciating Inko's words, though doubt lingered in her mind like a shadow. "I'll keep that in mind," she promised, her voice softer now.

As the valet opened the doors for the two women, a gentle gust of evening air greeted them, swirling with the subtle scents of blooming flowers and freshly fallen leaves. Renee slipped into the back seat, lowering the window to let the cool breeze in, her fingers deftly igniting a cigarette before exhaling a cloud of smoke into the night. "Is it okay if I smoke?" she asked, glancing at Inko, who merely smiled and nodded, accustomed to the habit.

Once settled, Inko turned on the radio, tuning it to a smooth jazz station. The soft notes of saxophones and pianos filled the car, but Renee felt an immediate twinge of irritation. The jazzy tunes reminded her too much of Chet's favorite music, those late nights when the sound of horns would drift through their home while he entertained guests, leaving her to care for the children alone.

Inko, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, broke the silence with a warm smile. "Thanks for coming to the meeting tonight," she said, her tone light. "Even if it wasn't much of a meeting."

Renee waved her hand dismissively, a small smile breaking through her earlier irritation. "I didn't mind at all. It's nice to get out from time to time." Her gratitude washed over her like a soft wave, the weight of isolation lifting ever so slightly. "I really appreciate you inviting me and being so kind. It's rare for people to be nice to me."

She felt the need to clarify. "I don't mean it like that. I just… I can sense this warm presence from you. It's infectious." Her eyes sparkled with sincerity as she spoke.

Inko chuckled softly, a hint of blush coloring her cheeks. "Thank you! I think that's a lovely thing to say."

Renee took a moment, contemplating her words, then decided to share a deeper connection. "You know, I can see where Izuku gets his charm from," she said, a fond smile creeping onto her lips. "Speaking of which, I wanted to tell you about the time my kids and I toured UA High."

As she recounted the story, her voice took on a more animated tone. "We were just leaving the school grounds, taking in all the sights, when suddenly there was this massive explosion from the training grounds. I thought we were safe, but then I saw this huge chunk of debris heading straight for us."

Her heart raced as she relived the moment. "Out of nowhere, Izuku appeared. He rushed in like a whirlwind and pulled me out of the way just in time. I swear, I could feel the heat of the blast as he shielded me." The memory brought a mix of gratitude and awe, a testament to the bravery of the young hero.

Inko's expression softened, her eyes glistening with pride. "Oh my, he never mentioned that! I'm so glad he was there to help you."

Renee could see the deep love and admiration in Inko's gaze, and it warmed her heart. "He's a good kid, Inko. Your son is something special."

Inko nodded, her smile growing wider as the car glided through the streets, illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights. "I would love to meet your children sometime," she said, her voice warm and inviting. "Maybe we could get together for tea and cake, or even dinner. I'd be happy to bring Izuku along, so we can all properly meet each other."

Renee felt a flutter of appreciation at the thought. It had been a long time since anyone had expressed such a genuine desire to connect. "That sounds wonderful," she replied, her smile widening. "I think the kids would love it."

Inko's gaze turned thoughtful for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly as if recalling something important. "You know, when I first saw you at the grocery store, I felt there was something different about you. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I trusted my gut feeling that it was something good." Her eyes sparkled with sincerity, as if she were offering Renee a rare glimpse into her instinctual nature.

Renee was genuinely touched by Inko's words. It was a refreshing change from her past experiences. Back in the States, she couldn't remember a time when neighbors had shown such trust, let alone the willingness to trust her watching a cup of coffee. In fact, the thought of inviting someone over had felt foreign to her in recent years, almost daunting.

Sitting in the car, she reflected on the warmth radiating from Inko, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over her. This was a new chapter, a stark contrast to the guarded atmosphere she had come to know in her previous life. "I appreciate that so much, Inko," she said softly, her heart swelling with hope. "It really means a lot to me. It's definitely a change of pace."

Inko smiled, her expression reflecting an understanding that transcended words. "I think you'll find that things are different here. Community matters more. I'm glad you're starting to feel it."

Inko's warmth had momentarily unraveled something within her, loosening the hardened layers she'd carefully built around herself. It was rare for her to feel that kind of kindness, especially so freely given. Affection had always felt like a conditional gift, a prize awarded only when she'd managed to meet someone else's unspoken terms.

The thought took her back to that cold, final confrontation with her mother—the day she was cast out for leaving with Chet, pregnant and desperate for a future of her own choosing. Since then, she'd kept the mantra close to her heart: nothing lasts forever. It was her way of staying guarded, reminding herself not to rely too much on any fleeting kindness or goodwill.

Renee barely realized she'd spoken aloud until Inko turned, concern showing in her eyes. "What isn't forever?" she asked gently.

Renee blinked, surprised she'd let her guard slip, even for a second. "Oh, just…being tipsy isn't forever," she answered, attempting a small smile.

Inko relaxed and chuckled softly. "We did have a bit to drink, didn't we?" She leaned back, smiling at Renee with that unshakeable warmth, as if her trust was something she shared as easily as breathing.

"You didn't even have a drop to drink, so why include yourself? Yet again, you're faultless to a fault." Renee nodded, allowing a quiet laugh to slip past her lips. But as she looked back out the window, the landscape of city lights blurring by, the words came back again. "Nothing lasts forever," she whispered, quieter this time, her voice almost lost to the night.

The flicker of vulnerability hung in the air, a brief confession that went unnoticed—or so she hoped. She feared she'd be stepping onto the trapdoor again, that the stability she yearned for was just another mirage. She wondered not if it would collapse, but when. In this new chapter, there was hope, yes, but that familiar thread of doubt wound its way into her thoughts, pulling her back to that all-too-familiar question: how long until it, too, fell apart?

Meanwhile with class 1-A….

As time passed, the group settled back into the lighthearted atmosphere, their earlier excitement morphing into a comfortable revelry. Laughter and conversation filled the room, and the energy remained high, with music playing softly in the background. Mina and Tooru, always thoughtful and ready to keep the party going, returned with a huge butterscotch pie and a tray of ice cream sodas, much to everyone's delight.

"Dig in, everyone!" Mina beamed as she set down the pie, quickly cutting generous slices for the group, while Tooru handed out the colorful, frothy ice cream sodas.

"Bad ass!" Denki said as he happily took the sweet treats. "Feels like we need to crash more of these events often." It was met with a flick to the forehead from the rocker chick herself.

"Maximum chance is one," retorted Kyouka as she swiped the cherry from his ice cream soda.

"Was that invitation?" Denki responded, showing alluring looks to her as she shuddered.

"Tch! You wish! As if I would give you the time of day."

"Question stands." He responded, teasingly flicking her forehead.

Ashley was tickled pink, smiling at the two that were obviously flirting with each other. She turned as she was met with a slice of cake from Ashido. "Thanks, Mina!"

"Anytime! I hope this cake is sweet as that voice of yours," she said, winking.

"Please. I've heard butchers hit better notes than me," retorted Ashley.

"Are you kidding?!" Momo said as she took a bite. "You've received a standing ovation. Didn't you think you and Izuku over there were such a duet."

Ashley smiled, rubbing the back of her head. "Izuku? No! If anything, he stole the show."

The engine teen stood beside them, digging into the ice cream soda. "Let's say it's a tie." He then flipped his arm. "A woman of valor such as yourself shouldn't down herself."

"Me? Of valor?" Ashley thought to herself. "I appreciate your humility, Iida."

"Call me Tenya-kun. And please, add the "-kun," he responded, flipping his arm again.

Tsuyu was scrolling through the book to see if there were any other song numbers to play. "Anyone up for another song? We still have an hour left, ribbit?"

"I wanna hear Ashley sing again!" Mina said as she playfully bumped shoulders with her.

"Yeah~! And even I-zu-ku!" Tooru added.

"Oh, c'mon!" Ochako said in a curt manner. "As if they are the only people in the room who have a voice."

The entire room seemed to pause for a second, her words hanging in the air, louder than intended. All heads turned toward her. She realized what she had said a moment too late, her cheeks flushing as she met their curious gazes. The room was still, and she felt the weight of every eye on her, particularly Izuku's, whose face was a mix of concern and confusion.

Mina, always sensitive to the moods of others, was the first to speak, her voice light but probing. "Uraraka, are you okay?" she asked, her eyes scanning Ochako for any sign of what might have caused the outburst.

Ochako's heart raced. She could feel herself getting flustered, realizing her jealousy had slipped out for everyone to see. Quickly, she forced a laugh, trying to cover her embarrassment. "Oh, no, it's just…I mean, there are plenty of people in the room with talented voices, right? We shouldn't hog the spotlight with just them."

Her eyes darted around, searching for someone to deflect the attention onto. "Kyouka!" she said suddenly, her voice a little too bright. "You've got a great voice, don't you? You should totally have a turn!"

Kyouka, who had been watching the scene unfold, raised an eyebrow but shrugged casually. "I don't mind. I was planning on singing anyway." She stood up, plugging one of her headphone jacks into the karaoke machine as she prepared to show off her musical prowess. The rest of the group, sensing the tension had passed, relaxed again, turning their attention to the prospect of hearing Kyouka perform.

But before she could start, Katsuki's voice cut through the chatter, dripping with mischief. "I wouldn't mind seeing Ashley and Deku sing again," he said, loudly enough for everyone to hear. His eyes gleamed with amusement as he glanced between the two. "They looked so cute together."

A tense silence fell over the room again, but this time it wasn't awkward—it was charged. Katsuki's words were a clear jab, meant to stir the pot, and the way his gaze settled on Ochako didn't go unnoticed. He was enjoying every second of it, his smirk widening as he continued, "What do you think, Uraraka? Do they look like a cute couple?"

Ochako froze, her eyes widening. Katsuki's words hit harder than she expected. Her stomach twisted painfully at the thought, the idea of Izuku and Ashley singing together, looking cute, making her chest tighten. She opened her mouth, but no words came out at first. Her eyes darted to Izuku, who looked just as surprised as she was, though his face quickly reddened at the implication. Ashley, beside him, looked a little stunned, too, but her blush suggested she wasn't entirely against the idea.

Ochako clenched her fists beneath the table, trying to keep her composure. Her mind raced for a response, for anything that would keep her from looking too affected by Katsuki's pointed question. Finally, she forced another smile, though it was tight. "I-I think… we've heard enough of them for now, don't you?" she said, her voice strained but steady. "Kyouka's up next, and she's got some serious talent." She glanced over at Kyouka, hoping to pass the spotlight back to her.

Katsuki's snide remark cut through the room like a blade, his voice dripping with contempt. "I've heard trash cans rattle down an alleyway with better sounds than those shitty ear jacks," he snapped, glaring directly at Kyouka. His words were harsh, designed to provoke, and he seemed to revel in the tension building in the room. Kyouka narrowed her eyes but stayed silent, knowing it wasn't worth escalating the situation.

Katsuki then turned his attention back to Izuku and Ashley, his smirk growing darker. "C'mon, you two," he taunted, taking a few steps forward. "You looked so beautiful together during that duet. As if you guys wanted more than just a song." His words, while sarcastic, carried a heavy insinuation that left the room brimming with awkward silence.

Eijiro, always the peacemaker, stepped in, his tone firm but calm. "Bakugo, stop it. Leave them alone. They were just singing—"

"Shut the hell up, Hedgehog Hair," Katsuki barked, cutting him off with a dismissive wave. His eyes never left Izuku and Ashley, and as Eijiro fell back, not wanting to escalate the conflict, Katsuki pushed past Mina, who was trying to block him from causing more trouble. Mina, startled, stumbled to the side, shooting an apologetic look toward Ashley.

Katsuki plopped down beside Ashley, slinging his arm around her shoulder in an exaggeratedly casual manner. Ashley tensed up, clearly uncomfortable, but Katsuki wasn't the type to notice—or care. His voice lowered, now dripping with false sweetness. "How about it, Graves?" he said, his lips curling into a cruel grin. "Wanna give Deku a go?" The insinuation in his voice wasn't lost on anyone, and the room's mood darkened even further.

He snatched the microphone from Kyouka and shoved it into Ashley's hand, his grip tight for a second before releasing it. "C'mon, Graves," he urged, leaning back like he owned the room. "Sing a note. And you, Deku," he spat Izuku's nickname with venom, "why don't you join your new girlfriend?"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop as all eyes darted to Ochako. Her face was turning crimson, but not from embarrassment—this time, it was pure aggravation. She clenched her fists, struggling to keep her composure. Katsuki's eyes flicked to her, catching her reaction with satisfaction. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he was enjoying it.

Momo, who had been watching quietly up until now, finally had enough. Her calm, diplomatic nature was fraying at the edges. She stood up, her voice measured but firm. "That's enough, Bakugo," she said, stepping forward. "This has gone too far. I think everyone here would appreciate it if you stopped."

Momo's voice rang out again, sharper this time. "Katsuki, I said stop. If you won't, then you need to leave." She stood tall, her composure beginning to crack under the weight of his antics. Everyone could see how uncomfortable Ashley had become under Katsuki's arm, and Momo wasn't about to let it go any further.

Katsuki sneered, his eyes narrowing at her. "Or what, princess?" he spat, his voice laced with venom. "Just because your parents 'own' this town doesn't make it their private plantation. And last time I checked, I'm not your slave."

The insult hit like a slap, but Momo held her ground, her jaw tightening. Meanwhile, Katsuki tightened his grip on Ashley, pulling her closer. She winced, visibly uncomfortable, but Katsuki wasn't about to let up. His tone turned mocking as he leaned in closer to her. "What's the matter, Graves? Cat got your tongue? Feeling embarrassed? Or are you still sulking over your soiled shoes?"

It was then that Izuku, who had been watching from the side, his fists clenching and unclenching, stepped forward. His voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. "Leave her alone, Kacchan."

Katsuki slowly turned his head toward Izuku, his smile growing wider, more malicious. "Leave who alone?" he asked, his tone dripping with fake innocence. "Your new girlfriend, Ashley Graves?" He let the words hang in the air, enjoying the tension it caused.

Izuku, keeping his voice calm but firm, responded, "It doesn't matter who. You need to stop bothering people, especially when they don't ask for it."

The blond's eyes flicked over to Ochako, whose face had turned red with frustration, her fists clenched at her sides. Sensing another opportunity to stir things up, Katsuki's grin widened. "Seems like Deku is defending his girlfriend, huh, Round Face?" he said, his voice taunting. "How do you feel about that?"

Ochako's eyes flared with anger, but before she could speak, Shouto stepped forward, his usually calm expression now tense. "That's enough, Bakugo. Let's go," Shouto said, his voice measured but carrying a note of finality.

Katsuki barely glanced at him, swatting Shouto's hand away with a dismissive motion. "I'll go," he said, standing up, still smirking. "But one more thing first."

Without warning, Katsuki turned and grabbed Ashley, pulling her in for a kiss. The room froze in shock. Ashley's eyes went wide with disbelief, her hands instinctively pushing against him, but Katsuki held her firm for a moment before releasing her.

When he finally pulled back, a twisted grin spread across his face as he wiped his mouth. "Tastes like milk," he muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear, his voice filled with smug satisfaction.

Ashley stood there, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger, her body rigid as she struggled to process what had just happened. Izuku's expression darkened, his hands trembling with barely contained fury.

"Katsuki, that's enough," Shouto said again, more forcefully this time. He placed a hand on Katsuki's shoulder, this time refusing to let him brush it off. Katsuki, seemingly satisfied with the chaos he'd caused, let out a low chuckle before shrugging Shouto's hand off and walking toward the exit.

"Whatever, I'm outta here," he muttered, pushing through the door. But as he left, his parting words hung heavily in the air. "Guess you've got yourself a girlfriend now, Deku. Better hold onto her tight."

The room remained tense, the atmosphere thick with shock and anger. Ashley wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, still trying to steady herself. Izuku stepped toward her, his eyes filled with concern and fury, but words failed him. Ochako watched, her heart twisting painfully, unsure of how to feel amidst the whirlwind of emotions now swirling through the group.

It was Momo who broke the silence, stepping forward and placing a gentle hand on Ashley's shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Ashley's breath came in short, angry bursts as she clenched her fists, trembling with a surge of emotions she could barely contain. "No," she hissed, her voice low but filled with fury, "I am not okay." Her mind reeled with indignation, the weight of what had just happened sinking deeper with every passing second. The fact that someone as callous as Katsuki had stolen a kiss without consent boiled her blood. The thought that her lips, something sacred to her, were taken by him made her chest tighten with anger.

No one was supposed to touch her lips other than that special someone that was her Andy. And Bakugo? That was going to be the last thing he ever did to her.

Without thinking, Ashley stormed over to the table, grabbing an ice cream soda from the tray. She didn't care about the shocked looks from her classmates as she rushed toward the door. Her mind was set—Bakugo wasn't walking away from this without consequences. The cool condensation of the glass bottle was a sharp contrast to the heat simmering inside her.

"Hey, Bakugo!" Ashley's voice rang out, sharp and cold, as she stormed outside, catching up to him in the hallway. Katsuki, still wearing that smug grin of his, turned to face her, clearly not expecting what was about to come.

Before he could even open his mouth to throw another taunt her way, Ashley swung the ice cream soda, splashing the entire sticky, cold drink into his face. The liquid splattered across his hair, his clothes, and down his neck, leaving him completely drenched in the syrupy mess.

The sound of gasps and murmurs filled the air as the rest of their classmates rushed to the doorway, witnessing the scene with wide eyes. Mina, Eijiro, and several of the others stood there, frozen in shock. No one moved, their faces a mix of surprise and disbelief as they watched the confrontation unfold.

At first, Katsuki didn't seem to register what had happened. He stood there, the cold soda dripping down his face, his expression blank as if his mind was trying to catch up. But as the sticky substance soaked into his clothes, the reality of what just happened dawned on him, and the anger in his eyes ignited like a spark to gasoline.

"You—!" Katsuki's voice was low, trembling with fury as his fists clenched tightly by his sides. The sheer force of his rage seemed to radiate from him, and his body tensed as if he were seconds away from exploding.

But Ashley wasn't done. Her voice, no longer trembling with nerves, rang out with defiant fury. "Don't you ever in your life think you can come in here and steal my lips!" she shouted, her eyes blazing with a fierceness no one had seen before. She took a step closer, pointing a finger directly at him, her voice unwavering as she stood her ground. "I would be damned if some pompous asshole like you thinks he's so high and mighty that he can invade my space!"

"Bitch," he spat through gritted teeth, his voice low and dangerous, "do you know who the hell you're fucking with? What makes you think you can do that and walk away like it's nothing?"

As Katsuki took a menacing step toward her, Eijiro, Fumikage, and Shouto rushed to his side, grabbing his arms and pulling him back before he could get any closer. Eijiro, trying to keep things under control, held tightly to his friend, his voice calm but firm. "Dude, let it go. It's not worth it."

But Katsuki wasn't hearing any of it. "No!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the hall. "This white bitch needs to be made an example of! She thinks she can just throw shit at me and get away with it?"

The tension was thick as Katsuki struggled against his classmates, his eyes never leaving Ashley. His anger was palpable, and it seemed like he was seconds away from snapping, his body shaking with the effort of holding himself back.

Across the hall, Tsuyu, Mina, and Kyouka stepped forward, standing in front of Ashley. "Her actions were justified, Bakugo, ribbit," Tsuyu said, her large eyes narrowing as she leveled him with a serious look.

Mina, always energetic but now dead serious, stood beside her. "Yeah, Bakugo. You pushed her too far. She had every right to stand up for herself."

Kyouka, earbuds flickering in agitation, added, "What you did was way out of line, and you know it."

Ashley, standing tall behind her friends, wasn't about to back down. Her heart pounded, but her face remained calm, defiant. She stepped forward slightly, her voice steady as she spoke. "I'm not afraid of you, Bakugo. You wanted a show, didn't you? Well, I gave you one." Her eyes flashed with determination, a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips. "You think you're invincible, but that doesn't mean you get to do whatever the hell you want."

Katsuki's nostrils flared, his fists trembling as glycerin dripped faster from his knuckles. "This gaijin really wants to test me, huh?" he growled, his voice simmering with barely controlled fury.

Ashley's smirk widened as she crossed her arms over her chest, staring him down. "Woof, woof," she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm and challenge. "Just waiting for the bite, Bakugo."

The entire hallway seemed to freeze as her words hung in the air. Katsuki's eyes widened, the insult landing harder than expected. The audacity of her words only fueled the fire inside him, but the combined efforts of Eijiro, Fumikage, and Shouto kept him from lunging forward. His body trembled with the need to release the fury that was boiling inside him, but the strength of his friends held him in place.

"Bakugo, stop," Shouto finally said, his voice calm but icy. "This isn't going to end well for anyone if you keep going."

"Fuck that, you shitty extra!" Katsuki roared, shoving Shouto aside with a force that sent him stumbling. The air around him crackled with energy as his quirk flared to life, the unmistakable heat of his explosions filling the hallway. His eyes were wild with fury, locked onto Ashley. "You want the bite, you gaijin bitch? Here come the fangs!"

Before anyone could react, Katsuki unleashed a blast straight at Ashley. The explosion roared, filling the hallway with a deafening boom. Curious and concerned, other customers and partygoers started spilling out of their rooms, their expressions a mix of confusion and fear as they tried to figure out what was happening. The damage was undeniable—cracks spider-webbed across the walls, and debris littered the floor.

But Ashley had been watching closely. The moment she saw the telltale flicker of his quirk activating, her body moved on instinct. With a burst of speed, she leaped to the side, narrowly dodging the explosion as it slammed into the spot where she had been standing just seconds before. The shockwave from the blast knocked her off balance, but she managed to catch herself, landing in a crouch.

The hallway was thrown into chaos. Smoke filled the air, and fragments of the walls and ceiling littered the ground. Some of the others had been thrown off their feet by the force of the blast, and shouts of alarm rang out as they scrambled to regain their footing.

"Bakugo, stop!" Eijiro shouted, moving toward him, his voice urgent. "You're gonna hurt someone!"

But Katsuki wasn't listening. His chest heaved, his eyes glowing with intensity as he prepared another blast. His rage was palpable, and it seemed like nothing short of a miracle would pull him back from the edge. "You think you can just dodge me, Graves?" he snarled, his hands crackling with the energy of his quirk, ready to attack again.

His hands sparked violently as he unleashed the explosion, but Ashley was quick, dodging just in time. The blast missed her, but it collided with the water line running through the ceiling, shattering the pipe. A high-pitched hissing sound filled the hallway as water began to spray down in all directions, soaking everything and everyone in its path.

Chaos erupted. The once-buzzing energy of the party turned into panic as people began rushing for the exits, trying to avoid the increasingly dangerous situation. Shouts of alarm filled the air as the water continued to pour, mixing with the debris from Katsuki's earlier attacks. The slippery floor only added to the confusion as guests hurried past, some stumbling, others calling for help.

Amid the growing pandemonium, Ashley saw her opportunity. The crowd was thick, and with the water spraying everywhere, visibility was poor. She moved quickly, blending into the mass of people fleeing the hallway. Her heart pounded as she slipped through the rushing crowd, her soaked clothes clinging to her skin as she kept her head low. It was the perfect cover—no one would notice her in the chaos.

As she made her way toward the exit, her pulse racing, she could hear Katsuki's voice cutting through the commotion. His tone was darker now, more sinister. "I'm gonna find you, Graves," he growled, his voice filled with fury. "I can smell the stench of your fear."

Ashley's breath hitched at the threat, but she kept moving. She had to get out of there—fast. Katsuki was relentless, and she knew he wouldn't stop until he found her. The water, the crowd, and the noise all worked to her advantage, and she used every bit of it to her favor as she made her way toward the door.

Behind her, Katsuki was scanning the area, his eyes darting back and forth, looking for any sign of her. His explosive temper hadn't cooled, and the damage he had caused only seemed to fuel his need to finish what he started. The hallway was now half-flooded, the water spraying everywhere as it mixed with the debris from the earlier blasts. He stomped forward, pushing past other partygoers who scrambled to get out of his way.

"I know you're here, Graves," Katsuki shouted, his voice echoing above the din. His hands still crackled with energy, ready to unleash another blast at the first sign of her.

But Ashley, with the help of the crowd and the confusion, had made it to the door. She slipped through unnoticed, her soaked figure disappearing into the night as she sprinted away from the chaotic scene behind her.

She didn't stop running until she was far enough from the building, her breath ragged and her heart still pounding in her chest. She glanced back once, half-expecting Katsuki to come storming out after her, but the exit remained untouched for now.

For the moment, she had escaped—but she knew this wasn't the end.

Meanwhile with Andy….

When Andrew stepped out of the restroom, the sensory assault of the club hit him full force. The pulsing neon lights flickered in hues of electric blue and violet, casting an almost surreal glow over the sea of dancers. Bodies moved in time with the relentless electronic beats that seemed to reverberate in his chest, and cheers and laughter filled the air, an almost hypnotic backdrop to the scene unfolding around him. He felt like he was caught in a current, everything swirling too quickly, each sound and color intensifying his growing urge to leave.

Spotting the booth, he weaved his way through the crowd and saw Hitoshi leaning back with an easy smile, chatting with the bartender, who still had that playful, devil-may-care grin. Hitoshi's eyes met his, and her face lit up with a teasing gleam. "Hey, stranger. We've missed you," she called, her tone full of warmth and just a hint of mischief.

Andrew managed a nervous smile, feeling every word catch in his throat. "I, uh... I think I should head out," he said, unsure if his voice would betray how out of place he felt.

The bartender, catching the moment, cocked an eyebrow at him. "Aww, what's the matter, sweetheart? Got a curfew?" she teased, leaning a little closer as she looked him up and down with a smirk, her thick Brooklyn accent adding an extra edge to her playful taunt.

Hitoshi let out a soft laugh, nudging the bartender. "Hey, give him a break," she said with a smirk, her eyes flickering with amusement. "It's late anyway—I think it's time we head out too."

The bartender gave Hitoshi a quick, friendly peck on the cheek before sliding out of the booth. As she turned to Andrew, her eyes sparkled with the same playful energy as when they'd first met. "Don't go disappearin' on me now," she purred, slipping a small card into the pocket of his jacket. She leaned in close, and her lips brushed his cheek in a brief, flirtatious kiss. "Give me a call sometime, puddin'."

Andrew's face flushed a deep shade of red, the mix of surprise and embarrassment barely masked by his attempt to smile coolly. As she sashayed away, Hitoshi slid gracefully out of the booth and reached for his hand. He felt her fingers close around his, warm and steady amidst the whirlwind of lights and music.

Andrew stepped outside, exhaling as he looked down at the glitter-speckled sidewalk. Bits of confetti stuck to his shirt, and a faint smell of smoke lingered on him, a reminder of the club's sensory overload. The cool evening breeze brushed past, calming the last hints of restlessness still lingering in his mind.

Hitoshi leaned against a nearby wall, a satisfied grin playing at her lips as she looked over at him. "Thanks for coming with me, Andrew. I had a blast," she said, her eyes sparkling with a warmth that made the whole night feel worthwhile.

Andrew rubbed the back of his neck, managing a sheepish smile. "Yeah, it was fun," he admitted, though he conveniently left out the part about his hasty exit to the restroom and the tangle of emotions he'd faced in there. Instead, he focused on the here and now, pulling out his phone. As he scrolled, a string of messages popped up from Hatsume. Apparently, she and some others had gone to a different bar and hadn't gotten the chance to meet him tonight. One message ended with a winking emoji and a not-so-subtle line about hoping he and Hitoshi weren't getting into any "hanky-panky."

He groaned softly, which made Hitoshi laugh. "That sounds like Mei," she chuckled, leaning over his shoulder to skim the messages. "Trust me, she only pulls those stunts with people she really likes—or at least thinks are cool and chill, in your head being too big for your body kind of way." She smirked, adding with a playful gleam, "Though the part, that's all mine."

Andrew smirked, rolling his eyes. "Guess I'll take it as a compliment," he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. The urge to check in with Ashley tugged at him, but instead of calling, he figured he'd just head over and surprise her at the drink bar.

"Ready to go surprise my sister?" he asked, offering Hitoshi a nod toward the direction of the bar.

"You really care about her well-being, don't you?" Hitoshi asked, strolling alongside him under the glow of neon lights that painted the street in swathes of color.

Andrew gave a small shrug, but his tone softened. "Yeah, someone has to. She's my other half—my misery twin," he said with a faint, ironic smile.

Hitoshi smirked, giving him a sideways glance. "Wow, that deep, huh? Very macabre."

He chuckled, letting out a sigh as his gaze wandered to the shimmering reflection of city lights in a puddle. "Shinsou, you don't even know the half of it. It would take at least a semester—and a day—just to scratch the surface on what makes her tick. And that would only be the prologue."

She raised her brows, clearly intrigued. "A trilogy then. I'd like to hear that story." She nudged his shoulder. "Why not share it with me sometime?"

The question hung in the air, and he glanced at her, caught slightly off guard. She tilted her head with a playful glint in her eye. "You know, a little tit-for-tat, a tête-à-tête," she added, her tone light.

His expression went blank for a second, his brows lifting in surprise, and Hitoshi's face flushed slightly as she laughed, trying to play it cool. "I mean as friends! Just friends," she clarified, smiling despite herself.

Andrew smirked, the edge of his tension easing. A question still nagged him about her almost-kiss earlier, but he pushed it aside, blaming it on the atmosphere of the night and the liquid courage they'd both indulged in.

"Well, name a time and place," he said with a grin.

Hitoshi returned his smile, her eyes glinting as she lightly tapped his shoulder with her fist. "I'll keep that in mind, Graves," she said, her voice soft but full of promise.

They had barely made it halfway to the drink bar when a deafening rupture tore through the street, immediately followed by a thunderous explosion. Without a second thought, Andrew grabbed Hitoshi, shielding her with his body as the blast's shockwave knocked them to the ground. Smoke and debris filled the air, spiraling from the bar like an erratic firework display gone horribly wrong. Andrew didn't flinch, keeping his arms around Hitoshi as fragments of glass and metal scattered over the pavement, raining down in sharp, unforgiving pellets.

Nearby, murmurs of shock turned into panicked screams as people fled the bar, desperately trying to escape the chaos as more blasts shook the ground.

"Holy Esdeath, are you okay?" Andrew asked, breathless, casting a worried glance over Hitoshi as they huddled against the rough pavement.

Hitoshi nodded, her face pale but steady. "Yeah… I'm fine." Her gaze darted toward the drink bar, worry etched into her expression.

Then it hit him. That was Ashley's bar. His heart thundered in his chest, fear creeping into his voice. "Shit. Ashley!"

He pushed himself up, determination hardening his expression as he looked toward the bar, the smoky haze rising like a dark omen. Hitoshi grabbed his arm, her own concern evident. "Wait—this could be a villain attack! Going in there could be suicide, Andrew—"

But he shook her off, his eyes blazing with resolve. "I don't care. She's in there, Hitoshi."

Understanding the depth of his resolve, Hitoshi didn't argue further. Instead, her expression steeled. "Then I'm coming with you. No way I'm letting you charge in there alone, especially since… you don't have a quirk."

Andrew hesitated, but a look from her told him she was as serious as he was. Nodding, he accepted her help. Together, they braced themselves, moving forward through the fog of smoke and chaos, intent on reaching Ashley.

Meanwhile with Ashley….

Ashley made her way out of the building and out into the opening. She hoped with the crowd, she could gather distance from the unsettling pomeranian.

Unfortunately, the devil himself made his presence known as he appeared at her crosshairs. Not too far from him was the very boy who she serenaded in their debut duet. The emerald-haired boy pleaded with the so-called childhood friend to reconsider and to think of the consequences.

"Kacchan stop! She's already gone, so how about you leave her alone already." Spoke out Izuku. The others weren't far behind them, they were concerned for the whereabouts and safety of Ashley after the stunt Bakugou just pulled.

"Can it, Deku! I won't leave her alone til she's crying out for that asshole of a brother she has. Even then she will never look down on me ever again!" Katsuki Shouted with only one thing on his mind.

Ashley saw the look in Katsuki's eyes and she knew them all too well, because those were the eyes of someone who wanted bodies in the ground over the hospital. She knew at that moment she had to stay hidden or run. Yet the universe decided to alter her fate,

*CLANK!..*

A bottle that was left on the ground rolled off alerting the pair of her existence and this time she might not get away unscathed,

"Found you lil rabbit…" Sheathed Katsuki as he looked down at the lonely Graves.

At first, Izuku tried to reason with Katsuki without using his Quirk, but the Pomeranian wasn't having it and proceeded to unleash a full-force explosion on Ashley. She closed her eyes and prepared herself for Katsuki's concussive blast, yet it never arrived.

"Huh?! Why am I not hurt? I felt the wind pressure from his attack but not the force of it, why?"She slowly opened her eyes only to see the back of an all too familiar person.

"Hhhuuh…I know why you decided to attack Graves~chan, part of that is because Andrew~kun humiliated you at the cafe a few days back but I do know that it's wrong to use your Quirk in public without a good reason, Kacchan." Izuku spoke after he took the full brunt of the blast from Katsuki's quirk.

"It's one thing to hurt me, but to go after someone who you personally antagonized because of a petty vendetta...now that's a grave mistake."

"Out of the way, shitty Deku! This is between me and that gaijin American bitch!" He roared furiously. How did this weakling get between him and his screwed-up ideals of vengeance?

Ashley thought Izuku wass admirable for protecting her whereas Katsuki had caused loads of damage.

"Like it or not Kacchan, I won't let you hurt someone. I let you do it when we were kids and I'll still do it now. I won't let you get to Graves~chan…." Izuku softly said while slowly powering up OFA. "And if you want to try, you're gonna have to fuckin' kill me!" His OFA was powering at fifty percent.

Ashley's eyes widened at such a declaration; the only other person who ever even attempted to protect her in such a manner was her first true love.

"If you mess with my sister, you're gonna have to deal with me!"

Ashley's cheeks grew a pink hue as her heart slightly skipped a beat from such a memory and from what was happening now. That was when Katsuki decided to mouth off again,

"It's funny really...Deku you're a Quirkless reject that your mom should have swallowed! And you Gaijin Whore...I bet your parents wish they never had you as their daughter because you are a literal fucking waste of a good pair of tits and holes to fuck!" He shouted, following it up with, "You are a pair of worthless rejects that will never amount to anything! You're a pair of nobodies, stepping stones for my future!"

That was when the brunette decided to beat the pomeranian once and for all. She grabbed a bottle and smashed it on Katsuki before she socked him square in the face. That was when he looked directly back at Ashley.

"So Deku's girlfriend knows how to throw a punch! I can see which one of you wears the pants in the relationship and which one gets fucked!"He spat out a bit of blood from the punch Ashley had given him and it turned out she knocked one of his teeth out when it happened. He went wide-eyed before looking at her with even more malice in his eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I hit the Closet Case too hard? Maybe you'll have to go see a vet to get your jaw rewired." Ashley mocked as Bakugou staggered back.

"You bitch! I'm going to kill you for that!" Bakugou rebuttal back in frustration. He charged up his Quirk before Izuku used Blackwhip to pull him closer to deck him. Katsuki, infuriated by Izuku's actions, raised his arms and pointed them out at him.

"Do you wanna be corpses that badly?! Fine! They'll need a coffin for Deku and the American Whore! Die!"

Bakugou started to generate the sparks back into his hands, readying to blast the pair to kingdom come. He proceeded to charge at the pair with a furious battle cry, but Izuku and Ashley were ready for him.

Izuku dodged Bakugou's initial attack and retaliated with a powerful kick to Bakugou's stomach. He staggered back, clutching his stomach in pain, however, he was not going to give up that easily though.

He launched another attack at Izuku, who dodged again. Then he tried to go for Ashley before Izuku used his Smoke Screen to blind Katsuki, who blasted a hole right through a building; which caused Izuku and Ashley to be blown back.

Katsuki got up before getting grabbed again by Blackwhip and taking a full-powered punch from OFA that sent him flying out of the bar into a wall where he coughed up blood from the impact.

"You…fucking…gai—" The blond struggled with his words. It could be seen on his face that defeat was inevitable, but his pride disallowed him to accept it.

Running footsteps were getting closer to Izuku and Ashley's vicinity. The gang of 1-A appeared at the scene where the chaos began and by the looks of things have ended.

Katsuki kept staggering back and forth, raising his hands where he could attack again. However, things became blurry and he was having double-vision. He wasn't sure if there were two Dekus or four Ashleys. Blood stained his cheeks and his body was battered. In another weak attempt, he raised his arm, trying to deliver the final blow.

"Taste…my…hot…load…" Katsuki stepped backwards, dropping to the floor in a slumped position. His best friend Eijiro and classmate Shouto ran to the distressed teen. As they came to him, tears were running down his eyes. Admitting that he lost wasn't ever going to come out of his lips.

"You're done, dude." The redhead teen responded as he lifted him up. Shouto grabbed hold of the other side.

Both of them took a moment to observe the scene — as if a bomb ravaged the area and not some teenager causing havoc over a quarrel.

"Aizawa-sensei isn't going to like this." Shouto said, clicking his tongue in disappointment.

"Yeah…and this is BakuBro's second infraction in the last month."

"What excuse are we're gonna use this time?"

"There's cameras everywhere. He's literally caught in 4K."

"So…who's gonna speak to the police this time?"

Shouto let out an exasperated sigh. "At least let me speak this time. Only God knows if we let Mineta or Kaminari try to defend this piteous bastard."

The spiky-haired blond continued muttering words as the two carried him through the makeshift hole-in-the-wall bar. The duo gave the group confirming nods, indicating that they would take it from there. It wasn't a surprise that it also meant that it would be best to get lost before the police came to the scene. It was enough for Katsuki, but the entire 1-A class? They would be running laps and holding pails until graduation.

Seeing that the danger was neutralized, Izuku could finally relax. He was disappointed — another fun night ruined due to jealousy and rage. Groundings and curfew restrictions would probably be upheld again. But for the time being, he looked onto Ashley.

"Graves-chan, you're doing alright?" He asked concerningly.

"Yeah…yeah I am," she responded, touching herself to be sure that she was altogether sound.

The emerald-haired teen instantly bowed at Ashley. "For all of us guys everywhere, sorry for making your night bad. We shouldn't have come and interfere with your night in the first place. It was a girl's night. Sometimes, peer pressure gets in the way, Katsuki's basically the unspoken leader of the group, sometimes we don't know when or why we don't say no…" His mutterings began speaking volumes as Ashley could tell he was trying to find any way to make amends for his actions—as if he was the responsible party.

Ashley waved her hand dismissively. "You don't have to explain yourself, Izuku. I knew you meant well." She displayed a genuine smile. "Thank you for…protecting me. You really saved my ass."

"Nah," he interjected. "You've held your own. Not many people, let alone new people, could stick up to him and live to tell about it."

"Bakugo didn't know who or what he was facing. Not all 'gaijins' are naive and weak."

"It takes balls to stand up to him and you certainly have them."

Hearing those words made her blush. It was rare to receive praise, let alone approval, from another person. "It means a lot to me, Izuku. Thanks!"

The girls immediately ran to Ashley's side.

"Holy Dio, ribbit!" Tsuyu said as she rushed to embrace Ashley. "Are you okay?"

Momo put her hands in a praying position. "Sorry, sorry, sorry about tonight. That isn't how we act. Please forgive us."

"No, no!" Mina interjected. "It's my fault. I should've said no from the get-go." She hit her forehead. "Curse me for allowing Bakugo for getting in my head."

"Bakugo is a spoiled sport no matter what." Kyouka said. "We could have watched The Legend of Korra and Bakugo would have made an excuse to start shit."

"Would not blame him. That series belongs in the trash." Minoru commented as he was digging in his ear. It was met with a swipe of the tongue by the frog vixen.

"Hush, ribbit!" Tsuyu responded. "You're mad that not even in a nightmare, Korra and Asami wouldn't recognize you in a wet dream."

It was then Fumikage cleared his throat. "As much as I would love to sit here and discuss appropriation with woke culture on television, I think it is wise we need to make ourselves scarce."

It wasn't long when they were hearing sounds of police sirens and ambulance sirens wailing in the distance.

"You guys go." Izuku told the group. "Aizawa-sensei is gonna get word anyway, but at least it's borrowed time."

"What about you, Midoriya-kun?" Tenya asked.

"People saw my face, Katsuki, and Ashley's. Not you guys! You all didn't start it nor were you involved. My actions were due to acting in self-defense." He touched his chest. "I'm the troubled kid after all."

His classmates nodded in understanding. However, Ochako stared at him as if he had done something wrong. She then had a menacing glare at Ashley. It was a look of disapproval, of disappointment. As if why would he take the blame due to the actions of Ashley?

The sirens were wailing closer. "Go!"

His classmates understood as they ran from the scene. Izuku took a moment to observe the scene, then to Ashley. "It would be smart if you go too. No need for Aizawa-sensei to yell at the both of us."

Ashley nodded in disagreement. "Nuh-uh! As you said, the three of us."

He stared blankly at her.

"Like you've said, we were acting in self-defense. We didn't cause this destruction."

"We certainly didn't help either."

"Katsuki was acting out of line and we were just putting him in his place."

"I don't want you to get in trouble."

The brunette disagreed and just shook her head. "No, I want to stay. I have every right to stick with you. There are cameras. I didn't start this. And as you said, we were acting in self-defense." It was then met with a wink.

"Ashley!"

"Thank you for defending me. It's a change of pace to be honest, especially when looking from the otherside, you know."

Ashley approached the teen and out of her own surprise, she pecked him on the cheek. "Don't think anything of it — just a thank you kiss. It doesn't count! It doesn't count~!"

The emerald-haired teen blushed, chuckled as he rubbed his cheek.

"Ashley!"

The brunette turned and saw her other half running toward her direction. It looked like he was in a panic. "Thank Esdeath you're alright. I've been looking all over for you but the crowd was all over the place. Plus security was trying to stop me and—"

"Graves-chan did alright." Izuku said, interrupting the elder twin. "Matter of factly, Graves-chan handled herself well without me. Right, Ashley?" Izuku said, bumping her shoulder and winking.

"Oh~! Well, yeah!" She then hit her chest proudly. "Yep, I did! That pomeranian bastard thought he could fuck with me and think I could be his bitch? Taught that fucker a lesson that he would never forget!"

Andrew couldn't do anything more than to drop his head. It was out of relief for her safety, but another thing to add to the tab of her troubles. "Jesus, Ash! Trouble is your favorite kind of fragrance."

Izuku then saw Hitoshi who was tagging along with Andrew. "Shinsou?"

Hitoshi, who was sucking on a lollipop, delivered a gratuitous smile. "'Sup, Deku baby?!"

"I shouldn't be surprised to see you here." He said, showing a sweatdrop on his face.

"You can say that Andy here kept me company for the night." She said, winking at him.

"Andy?" Ashley said, showing a flustered look on why this woman would be saying her brother's nickname in a somewhat flirtatious way. Her expression didn't go without notice from her brother.

"So, Ash. You remember Shinsou? You've met her at school, remember?"

Ashley delivered an awkward wave at Shinsou, but she couldn't help feeling suspicious. She, too, was aware of the extracurricular activities the so-called hustler did in-and-out of school grounds.

"Nice meeting you again, Shinsou." Ashley said, forcing a smile as she looked at her, already could tell that the teen was looking at her brother for prime real estate. Something that she would make sure would never happen.

Before she could elaborate, footsteps filled the area again. She saw a cat-headed gentleman in police clothing approaching the scene. She already knew that the chance to run was little to none.

"Good evening!" The officer displayed his badge to the group. "Officer Sansa Tamakawa with Musutafu Metro Police Department." He then looked at Izuku, who was turning his head with embarrassment. "Izuku Midoriya—why in the name of Monty Oum am I finding you here again?" He looked at the path of destruction in front of him. "Our tax dollars are hard at work." He clicked his tongue. "You know the drill — come with me where we can go to the station to ask some questions. All of you!"

Shinsou raised her hand. "Can I ask for an attorney?"

"You need to ask for a theurgist or at least a nurse, but that isn't any of my business," retorted the cat-headed officer. "Come with us to the police car where we could go to the station. There, we can get in contact with your parents."

Izuku nodded in understanding, looking at the others to not protest. The teen led the pack as they followed Officer Tamakawa to where the police cars were waiting for them.

"Not even two weeks in Japan and we're already facing the law again. Some lucky rabbit's paw we are!"

To be continued….

Sinneress: Wow this is the longest chapter we've written so far! Then again we did have a delay this month. So since it's October we thought we'd treat you guys and make this chapter extra long, didn't we BD?
BD: I am moved by how the story goes. If the story allows us to go this far, then it shall. I believe that we have provided enough information in this chapter to lead you all in the direction of how our characters will interact in the chapters to come.

Sinneress: Same here BD. Though I will admit things are definitely heating up now that Katsuki has thrown a wrench into this once peaceful life for the Misery twins. He even exposed Ochako's feelings for Izuku and he laid his lips on Ashley without consent. I wonder how Andrew will take hearing that?

BD: Depends on if she would tell. Andrew has his reservations and so would Ashley. As the story progresses, we would even see how Japan not just impacts their environment, but also their relationship. Plus, we still barely scratched the surface with our twins. And now Renee is going through her own debacle? A lot of things to unravel as the series continues. Anyway, stay tuned for more. Be sure to follow, like, review, whichever you choose. Be sure to check out our solo works. May God continue to bless you with your endeavors and as always, team Greenshade!