Chapter 98

[Kyoka Jiro]

"He's getting better and better, ain't he?" Minoru commented idly from where he stood beside her. Maybe it was her mind playing tricks or something, but she thought he was looking taller already. Wouldn't that be too fast? Hard to know, but then again, every person had their own oddities, even without taking into account their Quirks and said Quirk's side effects. "Looks like he was born in front of a camera already."

"You're not wrong," Kyoka replied just as casually, focusing on the subject matter rather than her vertically challenged – and surprisingly not quite as perverted as at the start of things – friend. Kazuki did look better and better on camera as the days passed, and they all knew it. They had to, considering the way they'd all started organizing themselves so as to know what was going on in the news.

Nobody wanted a repeat of the Post-Festival fiasco.

Besides, it was good practice for their own future dealings with the news, they supposed. It was why they'd spread around Kazuki's notes on how to deal with reporters and such. He was their example, in a way. Although, no offense to him, they were all really hoping none of them would have things quite as bad as he did.

Knowing him, Kazuki would readily agree with the sentiment.

"And he's such a pretty boy about it," Minoru grumbled, but he was playing. Kyoka had gotten good at reading the inflections in her friends' voices, much like she had in her previous school. Everyone had their tells just in their voices, even if she was probably one of the few people that could accurately and precisely read them. Minoru tended to exaggerate or outright act things that he didn't mean.

He didn't get offended nearly as easily as he made it look, nor did he get as annoyed either. Kazuki and her had talked about that once. What they hadn't talked about was that it worked both ways though, and he was never quite as happy as one would think. Kazuki couldn't know that, after all, considering how his Quirk worked, but Kyoka did.

"You're not wrong about that either," Kyoka admitted and it wasn't a struggle. It was the worst kept secret ever that Kazuki had become a catch in the minds of more than one girl, especially after his first visit to Uwabami. He'd always been kind of good looking and a great guy, but that woman had really polished the diamond in the rough he was. Kyoka would freely admit that, and she'd also freely admire the hero's work.

Alas, she didn't want to get involved in that mess. With Toru and Momo and probably one or two other girls she could think of… Yeah, no, thank you. Kyoka would look for someone that would involve less drama, thank you very much.

Didn't mean she couldn't appreciate Kazuki all the same though.

"Does he even realize though?" Minoru asked, sounding genuinely curious. Kyoka didn't know why though. The answer was obvious, after all. Although, then again, maybe…

"If he doesn't, then his perspective of things is more skewed than I thought," she answered and the boy next to her snorted. That sounded about right, yeah. Kazuki was one oblivious boy. However, contrary to most other oblivious boys Kyoka had seen – and heard – in her life, Kazuki at least had a good excuse.

He was stunted in a lot of ways and barely managing to look well adjusted.

"And that'd be saying something, wouldn't it?" Minoru commented and yeah, it really would. None of them were under any delusions as to Kazuki's character. Not only was his Quirk a mess all by itself, but the things they knew from his past? From interviews as much as comments the boy himself had made. And now the whole business with his mother on top of that.

He didn't have any reason to be half as well adjusted as he was, really.

And yet he still managed to make them think he was better than he actually was.

Did that make them all fools or him just really good at acting?

"Should we act like we weren't gossiping?" Minoru asked when Kazuki finished talking to the reporters. He had a tell where he'd run his fingers through his hair and turn away. It gave some great pictures to anyone that was around, truly. She was sure Momo and Toru might have one or two saved in their phones. After all, Kyoka herself had considered it. Looking at the real thing was better though, in her opinion.

"Meh," was all Kyoka replied to Minoru with, shrugging and getting a shrug in response from the short boy.

"Hey guys, you didn't have to wait," Kazuki told them once he was close enough. Kyoka almost wanted to call him out on his words, but she held back. It was always "you didn't have to" when it came to doing things for Kazuki, never just "thank you". And even when he did say the latter, it always carried the same sentiment as the former. "Thanks though," he added and Kyoka could almost hear Minoru's eyebrows raising along with hers. "What?" Kazuki asked them, a half-smile on his face.

Had Kazuki ever looked quite so… Happy?

It was depressing to think – and maybe even a little mean –, but Kyoka could count in her hands the number of times she remembered the boy looking so… positive. At least without something having happened to bring out that side of him. Furthermore, it was usually very short-lived, which was why Minoru and her were surprised. Through no fault of his own, of course, but Kazuki tended to lean towards negative looks. His positive expressions were usually subdued, shy, as if waiting to get ruined.

Then and there though, he looked… normal.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I thought your good mood would be a one day thing," Minoru answered, so bluntly honest that he reminded Kyoka of Shoto or Tsu. They'd all refrained from pointing it out the previous day, but… Well…

"What can I say, it was that good a weekend," Kazuki said, not at all affected by the implications of Minoru's words. He was really just in cloud nine, wasn't he? Kyoka had to say, happy Kazuki had his own appeal.

Still though, she shook her head and those thoughts along with it before speaking.

"We can talk and walk, right? Because it's kinda getting late," she pointed out and both boys readily agreed. Still, even as she dismissed her previous train of thought, she did keep one thing in mind.

It was good to see Kazuki not being miserable for more than a fleeting moment.

[}-o-{]

[Komako Masu]

Normally, they liked to think they were a great student. There was a reason why teachers liked them, after all, and why they were considered one of the best students in their course, next to Futo, Ronaudo and a few others. They were the star students of the Management course and that wasn't just because they were the best team. They were great in their own fields too… Or Futo and Ronaudo were.

Komako wasn't a fan of their spot as "Jack of all Trades", but it was better than being a nobody, they supposed.

Besides, it was kind of hard to feel bad about that when all they could think of on the matter now was…

"But you cover more bases, don't you? You don't need to be better, but if you are good at everything, you can help where they can't. They are specialists, so they'll excel in their own job. Yours is to cover for their weaknesses and to know when they are needed and where they'll be the most helpful."

Suddenly, Komako wasn't just the friend that wasn't quite good enough. They were the friend that could fill in the blanks, compliment the others. They weren't an awkward third wheel but an important part of the whole. Hell, Endo made it sound like Komako was the most important one.

Maybe it was self-centered, prideful of them, but they loved the sound of that.

So, back to the matter at hand, Komako was usually a great student. Not at that moment though, because they were exceedingly distracted. Their foot kept tapping against the floor and they kept glancing towards the clock. They couldn't wait for class to be over, quite honestly. Not to say that their teacher was boring or even that the subject was boring, but both of those kind of were when compared to the things Komako and their friends would be doing after class.

For all the reluctance they'd had to join Endo's project, Komako couldn't imagine something they'd rather be doing with their life at that moment. It was what they'd joined UA for, to help heroes be their best selves, to turn a good hero into a great one. And considering how things looked for their yet-to-be-confirmed club, this was even better than that. Their friends and Komako might be working with someone – maybe even two someones – that could be a future Top 10 Hero.

So, yeah, Komako was finding it hard to focus on class when that was waiting for them at the end of the day. Not some barely useful at all paper pushing assignment at the UA administration, but proper hero management work. Komako and their friends didn't remember the last time they'd had so much fun as when they were brainstorming ways to sell Thorn or Sleight, or when they were trying to see ways to improve Beacon's image, or when they were daydreaming about what their hypothetical agency could do in the future if they managed to stay together.

Mercifully, the bell rang and Komako all but shot up from their seat.

It was barely the lunch break, but they'd take it. Closer to the end of classes, so there was that. Besides, they'd be free to talk about not-club stuff with their friends, maybe even those not in their class. From the corner of their eyes, Komako saw Futo and Ronaudo doing much the same as they did. They were likely just as eager as they were to get to talking about projects, ideas, theories.

"You three have been awfully eager to just run lately, haven't you?" Komako heard a voice ask and they stiffened ever so slightly. "Any reason in particular, Masu?"

"We like the food here," Komako replied as smoothly as possible, watching from the corner of their eyes how their friends had already started to move towards them. A confrontation was the last thing they wanted to get involved in though. Time was better spent in their endeavors. Besides, if they caused trouble, there was no saying what might happen with the club thing.

"I'm sure. And it wouldn't have anything to do with the freak you hang out with lately, huh?" Kamiya, one of their classmates, asked and Komako turned to see the mean smirk that the guy seemed to always have on his face. Stereotypical bully that he was, of course he'd chosen to make comments about Endo every chance he got since Komako and their friends started hanging out with their new group.

"You need something, Kamiya?" Ronaudo asked and while Komako appreciated the help, it wouldn't really help much.

"Can't I talk to one of my classmates?" Kamiya asked, eyebrows raised. "She doesn't seem to mind," he pointed out casually. If they hadn't known better, Komako could almost have ignored the way he said "she" instead of "they". They knew it was on purpose, however, and that ground their gears something fierce. "Right?" Kamiya added, yellow eyes fixing on Komako and making them stiffen.

Not because he was particularly intimidating – although he kinda was, since he was tall and kind of built –, but mostly because that's what his Quirk did. Stare Down made anyone Kamiya used it on grow more and more uneasy, nervous, afraid.

"Kamiya-" Futo started calling, their less brave friend mustering his courage all the same. Komako knew they'd chosen good friends, but it was moments like that which drove the point home. They had been so lucky to be seated next to each other for the Entrance Exams.

"Something the matter?" a new voice said and suddenly the classroom seemed to fall very silent, the students that hadn't left already freezing where they were. No student in their class didn't know that voice, after all. "I didn't come at a bad time, did I?"

Through sheer shock, Komako managed to turn away from Kamiya's wide-eyed persistent stare towards the door of the classroom. There, leaning on the frame, was one Kazuki Endo. His expression was casual, calm and collected, but his blood red eyes were staring straight at the person standing in front of Komako.

"Not at all, Boss," Ronaudo answered, also staring at Kamiya still. He still put a lot of emphasis on the word "Boss". Or, at least, a lot of emphasis for Ronaudo, who usually had a very flat delivery. This once though, Komako's friend had decided to put some actual inflection in his voice. "Did you need anything? Kamiya was done here anyway."

"Hm, friend of yours?"

"J-just a classmate," Futo answered, trying and failing to follow Ronaudo's example.

"Well, your classmates seem nice," Endo commented idly as he walked in, glancing around like a tourist in a museum. Komako noted to themselves that none of the students in the classroom were quite looking at the boy. Only Kamiya – who had finally turned away from Komako –, their friends and Komako themselves. "Kazuki Endo, pleasure to meet you," he said, coming to stand beside them and extending a hand towards Kamiya.

"Gorou Kamiya," was the stiff response their classmate managed as he took the hand, before grimacing. Was Endo really being a cliche and squeezing his hand? Komako found that they didn't mind the cliche quite as much as they usually would have. "What are you doing here? Class just ended," Kamiya said then, almost managing to keep hostility away from his voice, but not quite. The effect was extra ruined when Komako noticed that he was using his Quirk on Endo now.

Because of course he was.

Benefits of a Quirk that didn't have an obvious effect.

"Got let out early for good behavior," Endo replied casually, smiling like Kamiya's Quirk effect was non-existent or even like it amused him. Was that the same application of his own Quirk that had freed him from Shinso's, Komako couldn't help but wonder. Still, back to the conversation, there was no way Endo hadn't chosen those specific words on purpose. "You know how it is, I'm sure," he added and Komako almost was fooled into believing that his expression and words were actually friendly.

"Yeah," was the lame response Kamiya managed to let out, his hand still trapped in Endo's grasp.

"Well, good knowing you, Kamiya." Another very deliberate choice of words, Komako was sure. "I had something to talk about with my friends here though. Terribly useful, they are. My friends and I can't do anything these days without them. Anyway, maybe we can chat some other time?" Endo said and there was a definitive edge there in his words.

"... Sure," Kamiya mumbled, stepping away as soon as his hand was free, the other one coming to massage his fingers and palm.

"See you around," Endo shot back, still staring straight into Kamiya's eyes and with no sign of letting go of things, just like he'd been reluctant to let go of his hand. Evidently, he really wanted to intimidate the guy and, admittedly, it seemed to be working a great deal. "Well, we have business to talk, guys. Maybe we can do that while on the way to lunch? That was my idea, at least," Endo said then, finally turning away from Kamiya and towards Komako and their friends.

"Sure thing, Boss," Komako replied, their mouth failing to produce any of the words that their brain was trying to tell them to speak. Instead, all Komako managed was a grateful look that only made Endo smile and shake his head, as if that whole thing had been nothing.

It hadn't though, and Komako was unlikely to forget.

Boss indeed.

[}-o-{]

[Neito Monoma]

"You didn't have to pick me up," he said, eye twitching.

"I mean, your class is on the way, so I thought it'd be fine," Chikuchi replied with a shrug and almost no change to her resting bitch expression. Neito had to wonder if she realized that picking him up made her seem even more like a second-in-command. "I guess I can not do that next time."

"Please. Besides, you could already be there if you hadn't," he said, feeling like an idiot.

So he didn't like the second-in-command thing, sue him. It just felt… It felt like yet another instance in which he was deemed second best. Just like with his Quirk, or with his class, or with his classmates. Story of his life really. Neito Monoma would never be quite as good as others. His Quirk was copying, and that meant he'd never use a Quirk better than the original. His grades were never top of the class. His fighting was never the best. He was just… the second, if that.

He knew he had a bit of a complex in regards to that, but that didn't make him feel any differently.

If anything, it made it all the more frustrating.

'I really do need to visit Inui,' he thought, bringing a hand up to rub his eyelids wearily. He had actually taken Kazuki up in his many offers to go to the advisor and… It had been an experience. He was pretty sure much of his self-awareness came from that, really.

Both of them stopped walking through the UA halls when they heard a set of voices calling from behind them.

"Monoma, Togeike!"

Turning, they saw the Management Team jogging their way. They weren't very graceful about it, but Neito would cut them some slack. It couldn't be easy to run around carrying all those files. Although, now he was curious as to what required that many papers. Surely not their group/club, right?

"Hey, guys," he greeted with a wave of his hand while Chikuchi gave her own greeting from beside him. "You needed something?" he asked, and it was Nagashira – designated image specialist of their group – that went to answer, beaming all the while. Neito already had an idea where things were going just with that, honestly.

"Yeah, we want to watch you guys train. Maybe that'll give us a better idea of what we're working with in terms of what your hero image should be," the boy explained, note quite in a single breath, but almost. "And maybe we can come up with a style for you depending on that. Maybe things that'll appeal to the public, phrases and such."

Neito wasn't sure he liked that last part very much.

He'd seen too many cringe new heroes thinking they had the next "I AM HERE!" in their hands. None of them went well. Even those that weren't an absolute disaster quickly faded into obscurity. You couldn't just come up with something and hope it'd stick. That was Neito's opinion on the matter. So, he'd refrain from trying to force a phrase unless he really needed to.

He told the Management Team as much.

"Hm, there's something to be said about that," Nagashira commented, sounding understanding but also a little disappointed. "I'll try anyway, because it sounds fun. But you're not wrong. It could go very badly for you if you pick the wrong phrase."

"Besides, I dare you to try and get Kazuki to say something that wouldn't terrify civilians," Chikuchi commented dryly, getting a snort out of Neito. Yeah, Kazuki was great and all, but he was still very… intimidating, to put it mildly. He doubted the guy would ever inspire the kind of blind reassurance that All Might could muster.

Now the blind fear that he inspired in villains, Neito saw that much more plausible.

Hell, he'd bet money that Kazuki would terrify villains more than All Might eventually.

"Um, I think we'll leave that for later, yeah?" Nagashira mumbled, likely thinking how that conversation would go and deciding – wisely – that he didn't want to put himself through that. The Management Team was smart like that. For the most part, that is. Sometimes they could get a little carried away with their ideas, since they were really eager to get to business.

"Although, Endo was the one to ask us to come," Masu pointed out and both Chikuchi and Neito blinked. "Something about us needing to work together more closely, know more about each other," she explained, as if expecting to be told to go away. Neito wasn't inclined to do so, of course, even less so considering Kazuki.

Much as it grated on him at times, Kazuki was their leader, the main hero of their group. He despised thinking of himself as a sidekick, and he tried to avoid doing it as much as possible, but that was still the closest approximation to how things were. The other boy was just that much better equipped for the job and Neito would reluctantly admit that, even to others. He had a better presence and a cooler head on his shoulders, nevermind the fact that he seemed to have a much better idea of what to do.

So, he just fell into step behind Kazuki and tried not to let it bother him much.

"Guys, we are here," Keage pointed out and, sure enough, the doors of the training facilities were right ahead. "Do you have a spot you usually go to or-?" He never got to finish that question though, because something interrupted him.

"Can you hear me?" a very familiar voice said, loud and distorted in a way that would never not make a chill run down Neito's spine.

He wondered if Kazuki knew what his Quirk-altered voice felt like for others, because sometimes it didn't seem like it. It felt like dread itself coming at him, passing through him, washing over him. It felt like that scary feeling of knowing you're in trouble, but much worse. It felt like watching the news and seeing a tragedy was about to happen somewhere. It was difficult to explain, but so very bad.

"Can you see me?" Kazuki asked and, indeed, they could see him. The rest of his friend group and even some others like Kamakiri and Yanagi were close by, seemingly ready. Kazuki wasn't looking at them though, he was looking at Chikuchi, the Management Team and Neito himself.

So, he hadn't just been doing that to warn other people then, good to know.

"Sorry for the delay, Boss!" the girl beside him answered, and she almost managed not to let the voice affect her. Almost, but not quite. Neito could hardly blame her, considering he was in the same boat. At least they weren't the Management Team though, shaking where they stood.

"Everyone ready?" Kazuki asked and both of them moved into position in spots that were opened for them in the circle around the leader of their little group/club. Idly, as he got ready by taking Kamakiri's and Todoroki's Quirks, Neito noticed that Kazuki looked… well. He'd looked well the previous day too, which made it more surprising. Good mood, sadly enough, didn't seem to last much for the guy.

Maybe that meant he would go easy on them with his creatures?

"Then… lights off," Kazuki said and his shadow exploded outwards, his creatures coming out quickly and immediately.

That's when Neito realized that no, good mood didn't translate to easy training. If anything, less than a minute afterwards, he realized that it was the opposite. Kazuki's control seemed better than ever. His Grimm moved precisely; they appeared faster and his numbers were solidly on his record with no hint of slipping. In short, he was destroying them, at least within the confines of the rules they'd set up. Torodoki and Neito himself could combo so well they could stall Kazuki no problem by themselves, after all.

Then again, with how he was that day, Neito wondered if their friend wouldn't kick their asses even without limitations. The previous day, being a rescue training one, hadn't quite shown them what they were getting into after Kazuki's apparently very good weekend. It became clear that, if things kept up, they'd have a horrible time for the next few days or maybe even longer.

It probably made him a bad friend, but Neito kind of wished Kazuki would go back to his usual self.

At least then he wouldn't get smacked around quite as much.

Why did the Management guys look so excited though?

[} Chapter End {]

Hey guys! How's it going?

Was the Komako PoV as irritating to read as it was to write? I hope not. That'd suck. No offense to people that use they/them, but God is it annoying to write. The worst part is the corrections that keep getting thrown at me because of it and the fact that "he"s and "she"s kept getting past me here and there. Here's hoping that I didn't forget to correct one of those.

Other than that though, another chapter with full outside PoV, which is interesting. These chapters are fun, I'll admit. Maybe I'll write more of them? Then again, everything depends on how the Muse is feeling on a particular day, I guess.

All in all though, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

As always, if you can't wait until next week for next chapter, or if you just feel like supporting my writing, there's up to three new chapters in my Pa tre on:

P a treon . com (slash) AdrianKing

Discord Link: discord .gg/UTDransjJZ

Random Question: I don't remember if I asked this before, but can you think of a catchphrase like All Might's "I AM HERE" for any of the other characters in the series/this fanfic? This is not me blatantly picking your brains, guys. Believe you me. I'd never, ever do that.

…

casual whistling*

See you.