Chapter 36: Act 2, Scene 25: A storm of a kind

The final results are in, and as expected, everyone's reactions are a mix of emotions. The same can be said for the people closest to them. To shake things off, the class heads to the mall for some shopping in preparation for the upcoming training camp. It's here, in the midst of their preparations, that a group of dark individuals makes their move, converging for a "chat" of their own.

And yes, I'm still around. Yes, Present Mic is involved too.


Chapter 36: Act 2, Scene 25: A storm of a kind

-U.A.-

The weekend had come to an end, and a new day dawned at U.A. High School. Today was the day the class would learn about their overall performance in both the written test and the practical exam. For the Powerpuff Girls, each one dreaded the day for different reasons. Which is why they were not really making large steps to make it all the way there.

"Argh! Do we really have to come today? How about we call in sick and take our chances for later?" Buttercup grumbled, clearly not looking forward to the announcement.

Blossom raised an eyebrow at her sister's suggestion. "Oh really? What are the chances of all three of us missing school, especially TODAY?" she replied sarcastically.

"Quite good, if you factor in that we're sisters and all of us are clearly not feeling up to it," Bubbles chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. Blossom sighed in exasperation, knowing all too well why each of them was apprehensive.

Blossom, who felt confident about her performance in the written exam, couldn't shake her uncertainty regarding the practical part. She regretted not trying harder to decipher the clues throughout the exam, and a gnawing sense of failure lingered. She had destroyed all the robots and even managed to shut off the bomb without the key, but a voice in her head reminded her, 'I didn't follow the entire plan.'

Bubbles, usually the cheerful one, felt weighed down by guilt. The aftermath of her battle had left destruction in its wake, with ruined buildings and roads. What gnawed at her the most was the injury she unintentionally inflicted on her teammate, Jirou, leaving her in the nurse's office with bleeding ears. Bubbles knew it was an accident, but she despised hurting anyone, especially innocent people. 'I hope she's not too mad at me,' she thought, anxiety churning in her stomach.

As for Buttercup, she masked her unease with bravado, but inside, she was not in the mood to see a certain green-haired classmate. She had told her sisters about the exam from start to finish, detailing her argument with Izuku over their strategy. Neither Blossom nor Bubbles were surprised that she had wanted to fight All Might, while Izuku had urged caution. In the end, Buttercup had managed to bring the legendary hero to his knees, securing the handcuffs on him. But what stung the most was Izuku's comparison of her to Bakugou. It cut deeper than she expected, and although she didn't fully understand why, the thought lingered in her mind. 'Probably because I thought he was my friend… or that he wasn't that much of a fucking idiot!'

As the girls approached the school, a familiar voice called out, halting them in their tracks. Buttercup's heart sank, and she internally groaned at the sight of the last person she wanted to encounter this early in the day. Izuku Midoriya stood by the entrance gates, looking more disheveled than usual. To say he looked fine would have been a complete lie. Dark circles formed under his eyes, beads of sweat gathered on his forehead, and he appeared more fidgety and guilt-stricken than ever.

Over the weekend, Izuku had been relentless in his attempts to reach out to Buttercup, trying to apologize or at least talk things over. But she had ignored him, whether by putting him on mute during their calls or dodging his impromptu visits, which had happened twice that weekend. It was clear he wouldn't give up easily.

Bubbles leaned over to Buttercup, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Looks like he doesn't give up easily, huh?"

Buttercup scoffed, crossing her arms defiantly. "Yeah, unless it's a fight with his obvious idol, please. He practically tripped over himself to avoid taking me on in the exam!" Her tone dripped with annoyance, masking the swirling emotions beneath the surface.

"Maybe he just feels bad about what happened," Blossom suggested gently, trying to be the voice of reason. "You know, I'm sure he didn't mean to upset you."

Buttercup shot her sister a glare. "That's easy for you to say! He doesn't get to act like a total jerk, just because I didn't agree with him."

Bubbles glanced between her sisters, sensing the tension in the air. "You can't just ignore him forever, Buttercup. You'll have to talk it out eventually."

"Why? So he can compare me to Bakugou again?" Buttercup snapped, frustration bubbling over. "I don't need his apologies. I'm fine on my own!"

As the girls reached the school entrance, Buttercup's resolve faltered slightly as she caught sight of Izuku's anxious expression. He looked like he genuinely cared, but the thought of confronting him was like staring into a storm. Just then, Izuku took a step forward, his voice trembling slightly. As the words left Izuku's lips, they came out stammering and hesitant. "B-Buttercup! Can we please talk?"

Buttercup's expression hardened, her resolve intact. "No, Midoriya. I'm not interested." She turned away, dismissing him with a wave of her hand, but Izuku pressed on.

"I've been trying to reach you," he said, his voice tinged with desperation. "I called, and I even tried to visit your house, but you weren't there!"

Buttercup shot him a glare. "No, Midoriya, I was there. I just wasn't interested in talking to someone who doesn't consider me a friend." The words cut through the air like a knife, and Izuku flinched, hurt flickering in his eyes.

"But y-you are my friend, Buttercup!" he stammered, his sincerity evident.

With a scowl still etched on her face, Buttercup replied, "I don't think so, green bean. If I were really your friend, I wouldn't be compared to your freaking bully and insulted like that."

"B-but Kacchan isn't…" Izuku's heart sank further, and he attempted to explain. "I didn't mean it like that! I just—"

"But you didn't think before you spoke," Buttercup interrupted, her voice growing sharper. "You think Kacchan and I are the same? We're not!"

"Of course you're not! You're both very special to me." Buttercup didn't understand how those words, for a short while, made her freeze. "As he is my childhood friend!" Buttercup could not stand it anymore. "I just wanted you to know that-"

"You know what, pal? I think you still don't get it. Maybe your other friends will enlighten you, but as for me—" A green glow began to emanate from her, lifting her off the ground. "I am late for class," she said, her tone lacking enthusiasm, clearly eager to escape the confrontation.

"W-Wait!" Izuku shouted, panic creeping into his voice. "What did I do wrong? Please, just wait!"

But Buttercup soared upwards, disappearing into the school building as someone inside opened a window for her. Down below, Izuku stood in disappointment, feeling the weight of confusion. He didn't understand why things had gone so wrong. He hated that he'd inadvertently insulted someone he considered a good friend—something he hadn't experienced much of in his childhood, apart from Kacchan, and that friendship was complicated enough.

Lost in his thoughts, he was startled when two familiar faces appeared before him.

"GAH!" he squeaked, eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Buttercup's sisters. They wore expressions that combined pity and annoyance, and Izuku couldn't blame them for feeling that way.

"H-hi…" he managed to mutter, then hesitated. "…Buttercup still really mad, huh?"

Bubbles rolled her eyes dramatically, faux anger written all over her face. "Duh, man!" But then she softened, offering a reassuring smile that Izuku appreciated even if it didn't quite help.

Blossom's demeanor was more stoic at first, but she eventually sighed. "Look, Izuku, Buttercup isn't totally mad for the reasons you think. It's just… there's a constant with you and a certain someone." Her implication hung in the air, unspoken but understood. "She'll come around, but you need to really think about what you said and what you want from friendship."

Izuku furrowed his brow, confusion clouding his thoughts. "What do you mean?"

Blossom shook her head, her expression resolute. "I'm not really in the business of getting into my sister's business—"

"Except when it hurts them!" Bubbles interjected with a cough.

Blossom groaned. "I mean, I'm not getting into my sisters' personal lives unless it's really necessary." Izuku felt downtrodden, wanting to ask for help but unsure how.

"Guys, we should get back before class starts," Bubbles said reluctantly. "Mr. Aizawa will be in a grumpier mood." Blossom nodded in agreement and looked at Izuku. "Come on, Izuku. Let's get to class." Silently, Izuku nodded and followed them through the school doors.

(-)

The atmosphere of the classroom was mixed, upon arrival. Most were relaxing in relief knowing they passed the finals, although a certain number of them were slumped in depression. Both Mina and Kaminari were practically in tears as they whined to Sero, although he was just as distraught as them too.

"What are we supposed to do now? Everyone's going to have so much fun at summer camp." Mina sniffled.

"This is so lame… how was it fair we had to go against the principle!" Kaminari whined as latched onto Sero's shirt. "This is the worst!"

"Dude, I get it," Sero groaned, still kicking himself over his exam pairing with Iida. "It didn't go well at all."

"SHUT UP!" Bakugou's booming voice cut through the chatter, startling everyone. He stood at the back of the room, arms crossed, his expression a mix of annoyance and defiance. "You losers need to quit whining! It's pathetic!"

Mina jumped, wiping her tears. "Bakugou, we're just—"

"Just what? Crying like babies because you didn't get to fight a giant robot or whatever?!" Bakugou sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "If you're going to mope, at least do it quietly! I might've given my A game, but I'm not going to sit here and wallow in self-pity!"

Kaminari shot back, "Yeah, but you're the only one who thinks you didn't fail!"

Bakugou rolled his eyes, scoffing. "I didn't fail! No way! I just underestimated the oversized fuzz ball, that's all! Next time, I'll take him down for sure!" His confidence was unwavering, even if the truth lingered in the air.

Hearing that, Blossom just rolled her eyes, not wanting to get involved in the unnecessary drama that she knew Bakugou would inevitably bring.

"Are you okay, Blossom?" Momo asked, her concern clear as she looked at her.

Blossom turned her attention back to Momo and gave her a reassuring smile. "Oh, yes, I'm fine, Momo. Thank you for asking."

Momo nodded, but her expression was still slightly worried. "Okay," she said, though she knew differently. Ever since the whole group study session, Momo had come to appreciate the three girls more than she had at first. While she hadn't been as unfair as some of the others in class, she'd mostly kept to herself—indifferent to others. But after spending more time with Blossom, Mina, and the others, she understood that they, too, were just keeping to themselves. The difference was, they had each other to lean on, whereas Momo had always felt a bit isolated. But not right now.

"So, I take it the practical exam was just as tricky for you and your partner as it was for me?" Blossom asked, genuinely curious but Momo seemed to blush heavily.

Blossom's question seemed to catch Momo off guard. "P-P-partner... OH! Y-yes, yes, it was tough for us too," she stammered, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "B-but Todoroki and I, we worked well enough. We found a way to distract Aizawa long enough to escape. Yes!" Momo said quickly, her words stumbling out in her usual slightly flustered manner.

Blossom, unsure of the other girl's reaction, figured it was probably just excitement—or maybe her... quirkiness? Either way, she didn't want to press.

"Alright, then..." Blossom said with a light laugh, deciding to steer the conversation to a subject that was easier for her.

At the back of the room, Bubbles was still busy apologizing, her voice full of sincerity as she spoke to Jirou. She had been feeling incredibly guilty about the way things went down during the practical exam, particularly with how her Quirk had knocked Jirou unconscious.

"I'm really sorry, Jirou," Bubbles said, her hands clasped together in front of her as she lowered her gaze. "I didn't mean to hurt you, it just... happened so fast. I didn't mean to make my po-Quirk that strong and-" she was interrupted.

Jirou, who had been sitting silently with her arms crossed, raised a hand to cut Bubbles off before she could keep going. "Geez, girl, chill," she said, her voice light, though she let out a dramatic sigh. "Yeah, it sucked, but honestly, I'm not really that mad…anymore."

"Wait…really?" Bubbles blinked, surprised by how forgiving Jirou was. "You're not mad?"

Jirou waved her off, her usual cool demeanor in full force. "I was mad that my ears were ringing and injured, but that's just part of the job, right? You don't go into battle expecting everything to be clean. I get it. But in the end, you helped us win and pass, so no big deal."

Bubbles looked sheepish, feeling the weight of her earlier actions, but she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "I'm still sorry about your ears, though," she said softly, her head tilting in regret.

Jirou shrugged, unbothered. "It's fine. You even got me and Cementoss to the ward, and Recovery Girl worked her magic. No harm done."

Bubbles nodded, a small thought flickering in her mind as she recalled the moment. It was actually Buttercup who helped too, but... she thought to herself, not saying it aloud. It didn't feel like the time to point that out.

"Still, it means a lot that you're not mad anymore," Bubbles said, her voice more upbeat, and her eyes bright with relief.

Jirou smirked, glancing over at Bubbles. "Well, your scream was actually pretty impressive," she said, raising an eyebrow. "It sounded like you've got some really good pipes. You do any singing?"

At the mention of her voice, Bubbles' expression lit up. She couldn't help herself as her excitement bubbled to the surface. "YAAYYY!" she exclaimed, her face beaming. Without thinking, she threw her arms around Jirou in an enthusiastic hug.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she squealed, hugging her tightly, clearly overjoyed at the compliment.

Jirou squirmed a bit, clearly caught off guard. "Okay, okay, it's fine, it's fine," she said, her voice a little strained as she tried to wriggle out of Bubbles' enthusiastic grip. "You don't need to hug me like that. Jeez, I didn't say you could suffocate me with it."

Bubbles pulled back, still grinning from ear to ear, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. Koda, who had been sitting quietly nearby, watched the scene unfold. He let out a tired but amused sigh, shaking his head. "At least she forgave her," he muttered under his breath, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

On the other side of the room, Buttercup, plopped herself down on a desk, cross-legged and leaning back, as she chatted with Tsu and Tokoyami about their own practical exam experiences.

"Wow, pretty sweet you two got to fight clones and stuff," Buttercup said, a small grin tugging at her lips. "Must've been tough, though."

Tsu nodded, her usual calm tone unruffled. "Yeah, it was difficult, ribbit," she said thoughtfully, her finger tapping her chin. "I was sure that Ectoplasm was going to get us for sure with his final move."

"Agreed," Tokoyami nodded. "Our teacher was quite formidable in our battle, he knew how to handle the both of us very well. It was only after Asui came up with a brilliant idea that we managed to pass the exam." His dark eyes flicked briefly to Tsu, who let out an indistinct "Kero" of agreement, but of slight embarrassment. Buttercup, not one to let a golden opportunity slip by, had a good chuckle to herself.

Shaking off that brief moment of vulnerability, "So, Buttercup," Tsu continued, shifting her gaze back to her friend, "judging from your demeanor, I take it you also managed to pass the exam as well? How did that go?" Her voice held the same curiosity as always, but there was an added warmth in her words, as though she knew Buttercup had something else on her mind.

Buttercup tensed just for a second before brushing it off with a casual shrug. "It was a good battle, all things considered," she said with a nonchalant attitude. "Though I gotta say, Muscles was a little too into the whole 'villain' persona there. He did give us a one hell of a challenge."

Tsu blinked, her head tilting slightly to the side. "Really? You act like it was no problem at all." She paused, her expression thoughtful. "I would've guessed it would've been pretty difficult, seeing as he's the number one hero and quite possibly the strongest."

Buttercup rolled her eyes internally but kept her outward expression cool. "I mean, yeah, he's strong, but it's not like I haven't faced tough guys before." She casually commented, forgetting about her little secret. "It's just the usual deal. Hero stuff. Nothing special."

Tokoyami raised an eyebrow at his classmate's strange sentence but decided let it slide. "Would it be reason to believe that you managed to work through that challenge quite easily, due working well with Midoriya?" he suggested, openly curious.

Buttercup now rolled her eyes, the events of that day souring her mood, but did her best to quickly shrugged it off. "I wouldn't call it 'teamwork' if Midoriya and I weren't really seeing eye to eye," she said, her voice just a little more pointed than usual. "But, its whatever, I managed to slip the handcuffs on him, while he was distracted," the memory of that little battle, both made her satisfied but a bit more suspicious, "good thing too, otherwise we would have lost that match because of wasting time," she added, her words dripping with sarcasm that neither Tsu nor Tokoyami missed.

Tsu's hums to herself, not missing the raven haired girl's use of the boy's family name and not his first name as she had done countless times before. She wanted to ask, said nothing for a moment, realizing it was not her place. 'Hmm, something must've happened at the site of their exam...' She glances over to see the boy in question.

Izuku sat there, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward Buttercup, who was sitting off to the side with her back turned to him. He could feel the weight of the silence between them. 'How can I make it up to her?' he thought, the guilt gnawing at him. 'I never should've said those things... but what if she doesn't want to talk to me again?'

His thoughts swirled, and before he even realized it, his eyes had locked onto Buttercup, watching her in silence. Her posture was rigid, and she didn't even glance his way. A part of him wanted to call out to her, to apologize again, but he didn't know where to start.

"...Deku... hey, Deku... DEKU!"

"Wah!" Izuku startled back to his senses, his heart skipping a beat as he yelped in surprise, eyes wide. Blinking rapidly, he focused on the person now standing in front of him—Uraraka, looking very confused and slightly miffed.

"Oh, sorry, Uraraka... what happened?" he asked, still a little dazed from zoning out.

Uraraka huffed, crossing her arms and pouting. "Deku, I was busy talking about my experience at the practical, you know? Seeing as we weren't given the chance to view the matches, let alone our own," she explained, her tone a bit more exasperated than usual.

Izuku at least had the decency to look apologetic, which made Uraraka less pouty. "Sorry, Uraraka, I was just thinking about my match with Buttercup," he said, his voice trailing off at the mention of her name. The moment he said it, Uraraka's pout came back, full force.

"We are not talking at the moment," Izuku continued, the sadness in his voice clear. "And I'm really sad about it. Maybe I should try a little harder and—"

"Oh, don't do that!" Uraraka cut him off, a little too quickly, before quickly composing herself. "I mean, you should let her be. I'm sure whatever her silly reasons for being mad at you are, she'll get over it. Maybe soon...or hopefully later on." She muttered the last part under her breath.

Izuku frowned, shaking his head. "I don't think her reasons are silly," he said quickly, his voice quiet but firm. "I was being really mean to her. I said some things that were uncalled for." He lowered his gaze, feeling the weight of his own guilt. "I didn't mean to hurt her, but I did."

"Well, if you're feeling bad about it, that's a start, right?" Uraraka said, brushing off with a small wave of her hand and a smile. "But do give her some space for now. If she's upset, it might be better to let her cool off, and then…maybe talk when she's ready."

Izuku didn't respond right away. His thoughts were elsewhere, still lingering on Buttercup. He could see her standing just a few feet away, her back turned to him, the tension in her shoulders too obvious to ignore. His chest ached at the thought that he might've ruined their already complicated relationship.

Before he could sink further into his thoughts, Uraraka perked up again, her usual energy returning. "Anyway, enough about Buttercup! I mean, we can't spend all day talking about her, right?" She nudged Izuku with her elbow, her tone shifting back to a lighter one. "There's still a ton of stuff we need to talk about! Like how I totally took down Thirteen with the moves, Gunhead showed me!" she said, giving a demonstration of her moves. "Aoyama and I were holding on for dear life and trying not to mess up, but you should've seen it, Deku. It was awesome!"

Izuku gave her a small, distracted smile as she continued excitedly recounting her exam experience, again. But, again, his eyes kept drifting over to Buttercup, still standing apart from the group. 'What if I've already messed things up too much?' At that moment, door to the class slid open and in walked in Aizawa.

"Alright, everyone get to your seats and-" Aizawa was surprised to see his class quickly seated. He quickly shook it off with a gruff "alright" before continuing. "So obviously your final exams are over, and all of you passed the written portion, barely." He added, moving towards his desk. "However, the practical portion is what we staff determined what would be the deciding factor on what happened to you for the upcoming camp."

Aizawa's finger clicked the remote, and the screen behind him flickered to life, displaying the final results of the practical exams. The students collectively groaned, some already anticipating what was to come. "Let's get this over with," Aizawa muttered under his breath, scanning the results on the board. His eyes latched on to Kaminari and Ashido first, and he couldn't help but sigh slightly.

"Denki, Ashido," Aizawa began, his tone flat and unimpressed, "although you up against a seasoned Pro hero like Midnight, you two were clearly too cocky at the start. That overconfidence was your downfall." He paused, letting the words settle before continuing. "However, at least Ms. Ashido was actually putting in some effort during the battle, even if it didn't lead to a victory."

Mina, who had been sitting upright just moments ago, suddenly slumped over, her face buried in her arms. Her voice was muffled by the desk as she whimpered, "Aww man!" Kaminari groaned, throwing his arms in the air. "WHY, TEACH?! Why does it feel like I'm always the first one to get knocked out?!" He let his head flop onto the desk, completely defeated.

Aizawa's gaze didn't soften, and he moved on without acknowledging the outburst. "You both failed. Take it as a lesson in humility and preparation. That said, you'll have a chance to make up for it." Next, his eyes shifted to Blossom and Bakugou. He exhaled slowly, a slight flicker of annoyance in his usually expressionless face. "Blossom, Bakugou... you two failed because you couldn't even manage to cooperate. You need to stop being so cocky, especially in the field."

Blossom, sitting with her arms folded, just sighed in acceptance. She had nothing to say and rather just took in that at least her written portion made up for her less than ideal grade. There wasn't a flicker of emotion in her gaze, but the faintest shadow of a smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth. 'I see that my points were still a bit higher than Boom Boom baby.' She looked over her shoulder, to the display behind, a bit cool in demeanor.

Bakugou, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with fury. His hands were clenched so tightly that smoke was pouring from his palms. "What the hell do you mean I couldn't cooperate?! That test was a joke! There wasn't even a fight! That damn rat didn't even do anything!" he bellowed, his quirk crackling with tension.

Aizawa's gaze barely shifted, only now grew sterner. "Be that as it may, Bakugou, you still failed in the end. And you failed to work together with your partner." He paused for a moment before adding, "Although, I can't say I fully agree with Nezu's methods…but maybe he was right to have me keep a closer eye on your attitude."

Buttercup rolled her eyes, "I guess keeping your eyes open for so long makes you blind to the obvious, huh?" she muttered under her breath,

Aizawa, who clearly didn't hear that shifted his focus on to another pair. "Iida, Sero," he announced, getting their attention, "your performance against Present Mic was... lackluster, to put it mildly. Iida managed to pass him by the skin of his teeth, but honestly, it wasn't even close to what I expected."

Sero slouched even further in his seat, his hand draped dramatically over his forehead. "Great... more work for me," he muttered under his breath, too tired to argue.

Iida, on the other hand, was a picture of frustration and disappointment. His hands clenched at his sides, and his shoulders shook with barely contained shame. "I—I should've done better..." His voice was tight, betraying his inner turmoil. "I—"

Aizawa interrupted him, clearly unamused. "Iida, you weren't the worst, but your performance still left a lot to be desired. And that goes for you too, Sero. You both need to get your heads in the game," Aizawa muttered, rolling his eyes. "Mic says it was subpar."

The mood in the classroom immediately took a nosedive. Kaminari, Mina, and Sero all collapsed onto their desks, their chins hitting the wood with a dramatic thud. Bakugou's scowl deepened, but he didn't say anything. Blossom, though silent, didn't appear affected in the slightest. She merely glanced around the room, clearly indifferent to the reactions of her peers.

Aizawa's next words hung heavily in the air. "Seeing as how we clearly have some issues with certain individuals' work ethic, the results will determine whether you get to go on the summer camp trip. And I'm sorry to say…" He let the words hang for a moment, drawing out the tension.

Mina, Kaminari, and Sero all visibly deflated, their faces pressed into their desks. Aizawa watched them for a moment before continuing, "It has been decided... you are all going to summer camp."

The room went completely silent for a heartbeat, and then chaos erupted.

"WHAT?!" the class shouted in unison, their voices a mixture of shock, confusion, and disbelief.

Aizawa allowed the noise to wash over him for a moment before he raised his hand, silencing the class with a quick flick of his wrist. "This summer training camp the school has set up for you is specifically designed to help improve your strength. Keeping any of you from going would be illogical if we want you to improve. However..." He let his eyes scan the room, his lips twitching into something akin to a smirk. "The class tests were also meant to see who could overcome challenges, and who needs further tutoring in combat knowledge."

The teachers' usual expressionless face curled slightly, just enough to be considered a twisted smirk. "Telling you that you wouldn't go after you failed? That would be a rational deception."

"RATIONAL DECEPTION?!" the class screamed in unison, their voices a mix of indignation and confusion.

Iida, now stood, was shaking with frustration. "So... we've been lied to twice now? First, you tell us we failed, then we find out that's a lie too? Are you really not worried about how this affects our faith in you?!"

Ochako, sitting behind him, deadpanned, "Way to be a wet blanket, Iida."

Aizawa's deadpan gaze shifted to Iida, and he shrugged slightly. "Perhaps. But consider the facts: it wasn't entirely a lie. Failure is still failure. The five of you," He glanced at Kaminari, Ashido, Sero, Bakugou and Blossom. "You'll be receiving special supplemental lessons. And to be honest, they'll be far worse than summer school."

The groans from Kaminari, Mina, and Sero could be heard all the way across the room, while Bakugou just clenched his fists tighter, his rage barely contained. Bubbles, the ever-optimistic one, finally spoke up from the back of the room. "So... the camp's still happening for everyone? Even if we all didn't do as well as we could have?"

"Yes, Kayama," Aizawa replied dryly. "You're all going. But the lessons you'll receive, especially those five, will be something you'll never forget. Now, let us proceed with the lesson of the day," with that, Aizawa changed the topic. The students were still a bit put off by the man's reasoning but, seeing as nothing would come from being annoyed, they decided to focus on the positives.

(-)

The rest of the morning was pretty simple, listening to Aizawa and his lecture on whatever they lacked and how to best deal with future confrontations. But when lunch rolled around, the girls decided to eat on the rooftops, giving them space from the crowd.

"I don't know what you may call it, but I call bullshit to Aizawa's so-called 'rational deception' nonsense," Bubbles said matter-of-factly, leaning against the rooftop railing as she took another bite of her sandwich.

"Bubbles!" Blossom groaned, her face contorting slightly in a mix of disbelief and concern. But before she could chastise Bubbles, Buttercup, who had just taken a bite of her lunch, let out a loud snort, nearly choking on her food. She quickly recovered, wiping the crumbs from her mouth and laughing. "Ha ha! Wow, Bubbles, that was too good! Honestly, that guy's got some nerve calling that 'rational deception.'"

Bubbles shrugged, unbothered by Blossom's reaction. "What? I'm just saying the truth. He lied to our faces and called it 'rational deception.' Like, how do you even justify that?"

Blossom opened her mouth to say something, but Buttercup cut her off before she could get too worked up. "Chill out, Red," she teased, glancing at Blossom with an eyebrow raised. "I get it, you're all about following the rules, but Aizawa might be a hero, but his methods of teaching suck." Blossom stared at Buttercup for a beat before letting out a frustrated sigh, "Yeah...fine," realizing she wasn't going to win this one. "I mean, he's no Miss Keane, I can tell you that."

"Yeah!" Bubbles and Buttercup chimed in together, feeling a short dose of nostalgia.

The girls then settled into a short silence, each of them finishing their lunch. The tension from the earlier conversation had mostly melted away, but it didn't last long. After a moment, Blossom slammed her rice cakes down into her lap with an exasperated huff. "I am such an idiot," she muttered under her breath, not expecting to hear her own words so harshly.

The sudden confession caught Bubbles and Buttercup off guard. Both of them turned to her in surprise. "What do you mean?" Bubbles asked, her voice softer now, clearly concerned. Buttercup raised an eyebrow, giving Blossom the signature "explain" look.

Blossom sighed, staring out at the horizon for a moment before she finally spoke, her voice low and heavy. "I failed the practical exam. I couldn't believe it. And then... then I just lost my patience. I let loose with those damn robots at the end, and it was like I just... snapped. I don't know what came over me."

"Aw, man. I wish I got to fight the robots instead," Buttercup pouted.

"Buttercup…"Bubbles said, signaling for her to focus. Buttercup rolled her eyes, before proceeding to talk some sense in to her sister. "Sheesh, Bloss, why're you busy fretting over that, anyway? So you didn't do well—so what? It's not like this actually counts." She paused, glancing at Bubbles with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Not like we were fighting actual villains and monsters, huh?"

"It does matter," Blossom shot her a sharp look, her frustration only growing. "What if we have to rush out and fight some villains? What if I lose control in the heat of battle? I can't risk that," she slumped further in to herself, "Not again."

Buttercup frowned but just held a smirk. "Look, bookworm. I get it. Bubbles and I went a little overboard, too, but no one got hurt... well, mostly..." she trailed off, a reminder of hers and Bubbles battles "but it's fine. We learned from it. We're still in it, you know? We've still got it." With that, she crumpled up her sandwich wrapper and tossed it into the trash. As it sailed through the air and landed neatly inside, she raised her hands in triumph, yelling, "Yeah!"

Blossom, however, wasn't convinced. She sighed heavily and placed her rice cakes carefully in her lap, staring down at them with a furrowed brow. She still looked frustrated, and that was Bubbles que; she walked over to her, slipping an arm around her shoulders and leaning into her with a more serious tone.

"Blossom," Bubbles began, her usual bubbly nature tempered with a bit more maturity, "Yeah, we understand why you don't want to lose control," saying that, the air became serious and Buttercup lost her smile. "We also don't want to lose control again, and that's why we got those special lessons, in order not to repeat ourselves again. That was in the past and we all need to remember but not get so worked up," she added with a small smile. "And you can't blame yourself. You were matched up with someone who, quite frankly, is a poopy head and a total jerk."

Blossom let out a small, short laugh at the choice of words. "A poopy head, huh?"

Bubbles nodded earnestly, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Yup. A poopy head. But seriously, you've been a great leader to us. We're just used to fighting battles together. But you have to admit," then she had a teasing smile. Blossom, you're out of your depth here, though."

"What...?" Blossom blinked, her eyebrows furrowing. ""Out of my depth" What do you mean?"

Bubbles just giggled a bit, leaning back just enough to make sure her point hit. "For your whole life, you've been handling monsters, villains, and... Buttercup's temper tantrums. That was a cakewalk compared to Mr. Boom Boom Head."

"Oi, I don't throw tantrums, okay?" Buttercup shot Bubbles a dark glare. 'Anymore, at least…'

Blossom's lips twitched, holding back a laugh, but the little speech, though at first to reassure her, became funny and was just too much. She couldn't help herself, and soon, the laughter bubbled up, escaping in full force. Even Bubbles, her usual bubbly self, couldn't contain her own fit of giggles, while Buttercup crossed her arms and glared in mock indignation. Buttercup, although muttered something angry, under her breath, though the corners of her mouth were tugging up into a reluctant smile.

Blossom wiped away the laughter-induced tears from her eyes, still smiling but with a slightly lighter heart. "Okay, okay, fine... maybe I needed that laugh. But still, I don't want to lose control. I need to stay focused."

"You will," Bubbles said softly, her tone full of warmth. "And even if you do lose it a little, we've got your back. All of us."

Blossom looked over at her friends, her resolve solidifying a bit more. Maybe she wasn't alone in this after all. "Thanks, girls, I needed to hear that." She gave them both a small smile, feeling a little lighter despite everything weighing on her mind. Buttercup grinned back. "We got you, Red. Besides, what's the worst that could happen? A little explosion here, a few broken robots there... we'll be fine." Blossom rolled her eyes, but a smile still on. They did notice a certain crack in the door.

(-)

-After Classes-

Lunch period was over and the girls continued the rest of the classes, till the final bell rang and it was time to head home.

"This is so amazing! I thought we were going to miss out of this trip!" Mina cheered out as everyone began gathering their things to go home.

"Yeah, I thought none of you were going to be joining us." Tsu responded. "Aizawa sensei is hard to read sometime."

"While it seems strange sensei deceived us once again, he obviously had reasons for it." Tenya added, "It seems he did it to try and scare us to going all out in our tests!"

Rolling her eyes, "Or he was just lazy to come up with a proper way of inspiring us," Buttercup quipped.

Blossom rolled her eyes at her sister's remark. "Either way, it's good we all get to together at least to the training camp. That could be very interesting."

"Indeed," Momo smiled as she pulled out the sheet they were handed earlier about the upcoming camp. "It says this camp begins in three weeks during our summer break, and will run for a little more than a week. We are to depart early the first morning and ride out to the mountains for our camp."

"This packing list is huge." Bubbles looked over everything listed in the camp manual with Koda. "So much to get."

"A week?" Izuku asked as he approached them, "I'm going to need a new suitcase. I don't have anything bigger than my backpack."

"I don't even have a bathing suit. There's a ton of stuff that I need to buy." Kaminari had already spotted eight items that he didn't currently own that were listed on the camp manual.

"Oh, I know!" Toru spoke up with a bubbly laugh. "We're off tomorrow and tests are over, so…" She clapped her invisible hands together. "How about we all go shopping together, Class A?!" Everyone could practically feel the invisible girl's smile.

"Good idea! This'll be a first, come to think of it!" Kaminari was all for a social activity with the class.

"Yo, Bakugou, you wanna come too?!" Kirishima called out, wanting to cheer up his friend. "No way in hell!" Bakugou stalked out of the room without even a look back.

Bubbles looked over at Koda, her introverted friend. "What about you, Koda? Want to go shopping with me again?" She asked cautiously, remembering the last time.

"Hmm," Koda seemed to maul over the idea but quickly said nodded, "Sure, Bubbles. I would love to come, I will need some stuff too." Also liking the thought of hanging out with her.

"Great, Koda!" Overjoyed for her shy friend to come with.


-Next Day ~ Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall-

"This place has more shops than anywhere else in the prefecture. It's got the coolest and trendiest stuff!" Mina shouted, throwing her fist in the air with a huge grin.

"The Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall!" Toru cheered, joining her friend in the excitement.

The group had dressed casually for their shopping trip, and if it weren't for the fact that they were clearly a large group, they'd blend right in with the hundreds of teens shopping today. The girls' outfits were laid-back, but stylish. Blossom wore a red spaghetti-strap summer dress with a white shirt underneath and white sneakers. Buttercup sported dark jeans, a green t-shirt, and black sneakers, while Bubbles rocked a black knee-length skirt paired with a yellow crop top featuring butterfly embroidery, along with matching yellow sneakers.

"You with the six arms, and you with the engine claws! You'll find everything you need over here!" A shop clerk called out to Shoji and Iida as the group passed by a store. The brightly lit sign above the shop read, For All Quirks, Shapes, and Sizes.

"Stores don't just have to cater to different body types due to Quirks… they also need designs for all ages, from teens to seniors. No wonder this place draws so many customers…" Izuku muttered to himself, admiring the variety of shops that had sprouted to accommodate the huge range of Quirks in the world.

"You're going to scare children. Cut it out," Tokoyami interrupted, snapping Izuku out of his thought spiral.

"Our camp manual recommends well-worn footwear!" Iida zipped past, eager to remind everyone. Then, he stopped short, his eyes widening in realization. "Wait… should we be focusing on utility instead?!"

"Chill out, spaz," Buttercup sighed, "Anyway, I better find a big enough duffel bag," she said, looking around. "You two coming or not?" She turned to her sisters.

"Nah, I'll check out another section," Blossom replied.

"Thanks, but no thanks, Buttercup," Bubbles added.

"Hey, if you don't mind," Jirou spoke up, stepping toward Buttercup, "I'm actually looking for a duffel bag too. Mind if I tag along?"

Buttercup shrugged. She didn't mind, and she wasn't about to make a big deal out of it. "Sure, why not?" But before she could take off, a voice shouted from behind.

"I knew it! Those are the guys from Class 1-A!" One guy called to his friends, all three of them clearly high school students.

"Dude! The Sports Festival was so awesome!" the second guy added, grinning from ear to ear.

"Whoa?! People still remember that?" Ochako blurted, flustered at the unexpected recognition.

"You girls are super cute!" The third teen, clearly the most confident of the trio, called out, causing Momo and Jirou to blush slightly. They weren't used to receiving such blatant attention from guys.

"Wha-what?" Ochako's cheeks darkened, and she quickly covered them with her hands, stepping closer to Izuku as if to hide.

"Yeah! Especially those badass sisters! You guys were so frickin' hot!" The third guy shouted, causing the Powerpuff Girls to freeze, clearly taken aback by the compliment.

"Dude!" The other two guys stared at him like he was out of his mind. Blossom was momentarily lost for words, her face turning warm, while Buttercup, ever the picture of indifference, still felt a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. It didn't go unnoticed by someone.

Bubbles, the only one who managed to keep her cool, smiled confidently. "Thanks. We only did our best," she said, giving a nod before subtly squeezing Koda's hand for comfort—just enough to feel secure, but not enough to hurt him.

"Hee hee!" Toru giggled, not even thinking of her invisibility.

The trio of teens moved on after that, leaving Class 1-A to their shopping.

"Well… At least they didn't ask for autographs or anything crazy." Sero shrugged with a chuckle. Then the class began to split up and each were heading their own direction. As Jirou and Buttercup were walking away, Izuku could not help but stare a little and fight the urge to walk over and try to talk to Buttercup again.

"Come on, Deku!" Uraraka called out, pulling the boy, literally, out of his trance, much to his reluctance. "I want us to check out the bug sprays if we will have any chance against those pesky pests," she said, giggling at her words.

"Ye-yeah…sure," he replied, albeit, unethuastiacally.

Walking through the sunscreen isle, Momo hummed to herself as she came across her favorite brand. Quickly stocking up on a few bottles, she looked down and frowned she was still only on cosmetic supplies and hadn't even looked for anything like a sleeping bag.

"I don't think I have ever actually camped before…" Momo blushed in embarrassment, only able to recall staying at luxurious resorts with her parents growing up. Having to find things like this was certainly new to her and she realized she probably should have asked for a little help from her classmates what to grab.

"Hey, Momo."

"Hmm?" Momo turned around to the familiar voice and smiled. "Oh, hey there, Blossom. Were… Were you looking for some sunscreen too?"

She nodded, "Yeah. And I can see that you must be having trouble, picking a good one," she said without any teasing, as she looked over the selection on display.

"Y-yeah, I must admit that I have not really done this before. My servants usually handle the shopping," she explained, feeling even more embarrassed of what her friend thinking she's spoiled.

"Hmm, let us see here," she scanned the rows of sunscreen bottles, her fingers gliding across the colorful labels before she pulled one out. It was a sleek, pastel pink bottle with soft gold lettering that read "SunSafe Supreme SPF 50". The bottle had a smooth, ergonomic design with a cap that twisted open easily, and a picture of a sun with a halo around it, almost like a symbol of protection.

"This one," Blossom said, holding it out with an assuring smile. "It's perfect for skin types like ours. It has SPF 50, which is really high protection, and it's formulated with a mix of hydrating aloe and antioxidants. It'll keep your skin safe and smooth all day long without feeling greasy, which I know can be a problem with some sunscreens." She tilted the bottle slightly in the light, showing off the shimmer of the label. "It's also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so even if you sweat or get splashed, it'll stay on."

Momo blinked in surprise as she took the bottle from Blossom, her fingers grazing the cool plastic. She read the label and nodded thoughtfully, surprised at how practical this seemed—definitely not what she would have picked out on her own, given her lack of experience. The sunscreen seemed to have a sophisticated air about it, perfect for someone who cared about their skin but also didn't want to mess around with constant reapplication. Momo's mind wandered for a second, realizing that she had been worried about coming off as spoiled, but Blossom was acting like it was no big deal. She didn't tease her, didn't judge her. In fact, she just seemed genuinely helpful.

Momo blushed a little, then blinked again before finally speaking up, "Thank you, Blossom… This is a good brand. I can see you really know what you're talking about." She smiled warmly, hoping her compliment came across as sincere.

Blossom giggled softly, "Well, I guess I had to learn the hard way when I was younger." She then reminisced, "My sisters and I, we used to spend a lot of time outside, not really thinking about sunburn or how dangerous it could be. I remember one summer, we got so burned that we couldn't even sit down properly for a week," she said with a small laugh, despite the painful experience. "After that, we all became a lot more careful about taking care of our skin. We learned to respect the sun—and not act so cocky with the elements. Now, it's second nature."

Momo's eyes widened, before she took moment to nod in understanding. "Well, you certainly know how to pick out good products," Momo said, adjusting the sunscreen in her hands. "I'll be sure to take better care of my skin now too."

Blossom grinned. "I'm glad I could help! And hey, don't feel bad about not knowing all this stuff. We all have our strengths, right?" She gave Momo a reassuring smile. Momo felt a bit better at her friend's words and continued browsing around.

Uraraka tapped her foot impatiently as she stood in the swimsuit section, the fabric of the swimsuits surrounding her like a sea of colors and patterns. She'd told Izuku they should shop together, but he'd insisted- strongly so, the man felt flushed upon the thought of entering the store- on checking out a different store. She hadn't liked the idea—she wanted to spend time with him, even if it was just picking out silly clothes. But she'd agreed, with one condition: he had to answer his phone when she called.

Come on, Deku, pick up… she muttered, her finger hovering over the screen as it rang for the second time. She could already picture him, lost in his own world, not realizing how much she just wanted to talk to him. She was starting to feel a little disappointed, wondering if maybe he was getting too wrapped up in her.

The phone rang again, and then… silence. She sighed, dropping her shoulders. 'Maybe he was busy.' She shifted her weight, trying to distract herself by looking at a few more swimsuits, but the thought of him alone somewhere out there, without her, gnawed at her a little.

Her thumb hovered over the dial again when something inside her clicked. 'Maybe... Maybe I could turn this into an opportunity.'

She'd eyed a particularly cute, but daring swimsuit earlier, and the more she thought about it, the more she convinced herself that it was the perfect distraction for Izuku. If she could just get his attention, maybe he'd see her in a new light. Maybe he'd realize how cute she could look in something like that—and how cute she was in general.

'I can't just let this slip by. I can show him that I'm fun, that I can be confident in something like this,' she thought, picking up the phone once more and calling Izuku again. Her heartbeat raced a little in anticipation. She could already picture his face lighting up when he saw her in the swimsuit. The phone rang once more.

(-)

The ringing in Izuku's pocket continued to go off as he sat down on the bench, his shaking hand not reaching for it. His eyes glanced down to his side as the vibration kept going until it stopped feeling his heart ache not being able to answer it and call for help.

"Don't worry, you can always call them back later, Midoriya..."

Izuku's skin shivered once more from the cold voice next to him, his eyes shifting back to the figure sitting next to him. He had to turn slowly due to the bony hand wrapped around the back of his neck, only the middle finger not making contact with his skin. His gaze drifted up to the black hooded figure, covering the raggedy gray hair of the man who came up onto him the moment he was alone, his red eyes and crooked smile beaming down to him with no severed hand covering his face.

"Sh-Shigaraki…" he whispered, his voice barely above a breath, his throat closing up with fear.

"Now, now, don't be hasty…" Tomura Shigaraki chuckled, the sound sickening in its cheerfulness. He tapped the tip of his finger lightly over Izuku's throat, making Izuku flinch, but he didn't dare move. "I and associate of mine, were just out for a little walk, checking out the city. It's such a nice place, you know?" His eyes narrowed, amusement dancing in his gaze. "And then we saw you…your little group walking around, minding your own business. I thought, 'Well, what's the harm in having a chat? It's been a while, hasn't it, Midoriya?'"

Izuku swallowed hard, the tension in his chest growing to the point where he could hardly breathe. His eyes flicked down to the hand that hovered dangerously close to his throat, the skin around his neck crawling as Shigaraki's finger traced a path toward his pulse. If the man wanted to kill him, he could do it in an instant. All it would take was one careless move.

"Wh-What do you want from me?" Izuku forced out, his voice quivering. He clenched his fists in his lap, willing himself to stay still. 'If I move, if I show weakness, I'll… I'll never make it out of this alive.'

Shigaraki's smile only grew wider, his red eyes flicking to the side as if considering something. "What I want? Oh, it's nothing too special, just a little conversation. Maybe you can help me out, Midoriya. Buy me sometime," His voice dropped lower, tinged with something annoyed and dangerous. "And, I suppose he will get to talk to those other brats, as well." Izuku didn't understand what he was talking about but, he instantly started worrying for the others and this mysterious associate. 'Please let it not be him.'

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mall, Bubbles, Koda, and Toru were enjoying their own shopping. They had split off from the rest of the group after their initial shopping spree and ended up wandering into a section of the mall filled with new stores showcasing all kinds of oddities, quirky gadgets, and fun items.

Toru, with her ever-present curiosity, had led the trio into a small tech store that sold a mix of unique gadgets, from futuristic-looking headphones to mood rings that supposedly changed color based on your emotions. "These are adorable," she giggled, holding up a set of glow-in-the-dark wristbands that pulsed with different colors. She slipped one onto her wrist, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Imagine wearing these for a night patrol! They'd make it so much easier for everyone to see each other in the dark!"

Koda, less enthralled by the flashing lights and techy items, instead, he was quietly browsing through a section dedicated to animal-themed products. He picked up a plush koala keychain, its little eyes and fuzzy ears causing a small smile to spread across his face. "These are cute," he said softly, turning it over in his hands. "Koalas are peaceful... I like them."

Bubbles was far more fixated on the store's selection of trendy clothing. She had picked up a jacket with built-in LED lights that ran along the sleeves in a glowing, customizable pattern. "Check this out! We could all wear something like this to patrol—imagine the looks we'd get!" She grinned, clearly more focused on the fashion statement than the practicality.

But suddenly, as Bubbles looked around, her eyes caught a strange movement near the entrance. A figure stood outside a nearby store, smiling and waving at the passersby. The man was tall, with a thin, almost too-thin build. His features were plain, but there was something unnervingly off about him, like he was waiting for someone. Bubbles' gut instinct immediately told her something was wrong.

She turned to Koda and Toru, her voice calm but laced with an undercurrent of concern. "Hey, guys, I'm going to check out that store across the way. It looks... interesting." Toru's eyes lit up. "Ooh, can I come with you?" she asked eagerly.

Bubbles shook her head. "It'll just be window shopping, and I wanted to just see what the guy had there." She did her best to convince them. "You two go finish up your shopping, I will catch up, shortly and if it's anything worth checking out, I'll let you know."

Toru seemed slightly deflated but quickly perked up. "Alright, well, we'll meet you back here, yeah?" and towards another display. Koda, however, wasn't convinced as he stood ack. His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Bubbles' expression. "You sure you're okay? You look... worried."

Bubbles smiled reassuringly, but there was something in her eyes that made Koda pause. "I'm fine, Koda. I just want to take a look at this place. It won't take long, I promise." Still unsure, Koda sighed but reluctantly agreed, giving her one last look. "Alright, but please do hurry up," he warned. "And be careful."

Bubbles nodded, giving him a quick hug, Koda taking her bags before she skipped off toward the mysterious shop. As she approached the store, the man outside greeted her with an overly wide smile, his eyes glittering oddly under the bright mall lights. "Ah, a customer!" he said cheerily. "Welcome, welcome! Please, come in and see what I have to offer."

His voice was smooth, almost syrupy, but there was something strange about it, like it didn't quite match his average, too-thin appearance. His claws—long and unnaturally sharp—clinked faintly as he gestured for her to come inside.

"Sure," she said with forced politeness, stepping inside. The shop was bare. There were no shelves or displays, only a few objects set up in the window, surrounded by an eerie quiet. It was almost as if the store wasn't fully open yet—or perhaps was just an act.

"Do pardon me," the man said, his voice taking on a slight apologetic tone, "I'm still getting things set up. Just moved in, you see." But before he could continue, he was cut off by Bubbles' sharp words.

"Drop the act, HIM," she said, her voice steely and filled with sudden realization.

The man froze, his friendly demeanor slipping into something darker. Slowly, he turned to face her, his form blurring with a sudden dark red smoke that swirled around him. When the smoke cleared, he was no longer the scrawny, strange shopkeeper, but HIM, the creature who had tormented her and her sisters in the past.

"HIM," Bubbles said, her voice low, hands glowing with energy. "I knew it."

HIM chuckled darkly, his sharp claws tapping together. "Well, well. Looks like the little Powerpuff was able to see through my disguise. How unfortunate." His grin widened as he continued. "But, really, I prefer this form. Much more... me, you know." His eyes twinkled with something sinister, a gleam of amusement in his expression as he took in Bubbles' defensive stance.

"I'm not playing games, HIM!" Bubbles clenched her fists, her energy sparking brighter. "Surrender now!"

HIM feigned a hurt expression. "Oh, Bubbles. You wound me, I thought you like dress-up?" His voice lowered, taking on a mocking tone. "But I wouldn't be so quick to use your little powers on me, so soon, you know, using your quirks without permission is a big no-no, in this world my dear. Imagine what would happen if you used your powers in here and caused a ruckus. The mall would be in quite a state of disarray, wouldn't it? I can't imagine how you will explain this to the authorities."

Bubbles' frustration and anger surged, but she knew he was right, and she hated that. If she attacked him here, there was no telling what damage would be done, and HIM was known for disappearing when cornered. 'I can see why Buttercup is so angry at this.' She thought, as she lowered her hands, though her body remained tense, ready to react at a moment's notice.

"Don't think this is over," Bubbles said, her voice tight.

HIM's grin widened, and he slowly took a step forward. "Oh, I'm counting on it. You and your sisters... You think you're safe here? That you're liked? Pfft. You should all be on your guard. There are forces in this city that are ripe for the playing, Bubbles. And trust me, you'll be the star of the show."

Bubbles felt a cold chill crawl up her spine, her pulse quickening as HIM's cryptic words lingered in the air. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice trembling with both frustration and suspicion.

HIM chuckled darkly, "Oh, believe whatever you want, my dear. But as for the rest of your little fan club…" He paused, glancing toward the door as if lost in thought. "Let's just say there's an associate of mine here, and he was so eager to talk to one them too. It's all part of the performance, you see."

"Who's your associate?" Bubbles demanded, narrowing her eyes. "Is it someone I know?"

HIM just shrugged nonchalantly. "Does it matter? You'll find out soon enough. But be careful, my little star, because soon this world will be in for a show unlike any other."

Bubbles was about to fire off another question when HIM suddenly grinned wider, his claws flicking in the air. "Now, this has been fun but, I must be off. The scene is about to change, and you won't want to miss it." Chuckling evilly to himself.

Before Bubbles could react, HIM snapped his claws, and another burst of dark fire enveloped him. The heat was intense, but before she could launch an attack, he was gone—leaving nothing but a faint smell of sulfur and the strange, unsettling feeling that she had just scratched the surface of something much darker.

Bubbles stood frozen for a moment, her energy still glowing, her heart racing. She hadn't gotten any answers, but the warning was clear. Something was wrong. Something was coming. And it would take all of her and her sisters' strength to face it.

"I have to warn the girls," he turned and walked quickly out of the decoy shop, her mind racing. She needed to warn her sisters—and fast. After bursting out of the store, Bubbles didn't slow her pace. Even as Koda's voice called after her, she couldn't afford to stop—she had to find her sisters. Flying wasn't an option right now, so she pushed herself harder, feet pounding against the pavement as she raced through the mall.

It wasn't long before she spotted Buttercup, chatting casually with Jirou as she carried a few bags in her arms. Without hesitation, Bubbles called out to her sister. "Buttercup!"

Jirou, with her sharp hearing, turned instantly, her attention snapping to Bubbles. "I think your sister is calling you," she said, her voice tinged with concern.

Buttercup's gaze immediately shifted, and she could tell from the way Bubbles was running toward them—faster than usual and with a look on her face that wasn't quite panic, but close—that something was wrong. The fact that the usually upbeat Bubbles had that strange, familiar smell about her only added to the worry gnawing at her gut. Buttercup instinctively took a step forward, her eyes narrowing as Bubbles came to a halt in front of her.

"Bubbles, what's up? What's going on?" Buttercup asked, trying to lighten the mood with her usual bravado. But the tension in her sister's posture made it clear something wasn't right. "You're acting like there's been a fire or something."

Bubbles didn't answer right away, just shaking her head as if trying to shake off the weight of the moment. But then she nodded in confirmation, and that was all Buttercup needed. Her suspicion was right. HIM.

"Where is he?" Buttercup asked, her voice rising in volume and urgency. "What did he say?"

Bubbles swallowed hard, the gravity of the situation settling in her chest. "I'll explain everything, but first... we have to find Blossom." She turned quickly, ready to move again.

Buttercup didn't waste a second. She tossed a quick glance at Jirou, who stood confused, still holding the shopping bags, clearly unsure of what was going on. But there was no time to explain. With a nod, Buttercup followed her sister, and they took off, leaving the two of them behind, bewildered and wondering what in the world was happening.

It didn't take long for them to find Blossom. They didn't need to say much—Bubbles' urgency was enough to communicate the underlying message: HIM was back, and there was an associate involved, someone else who had a hand in whatever dark plot HIM was orchestrating.

Blossom's face hardened at the news, the familiar weight of tension settling over her. "Oh no, this is bad. Quick, we have to-" Any planning that she wanted to say, fell on deaf ears when an alarm sounded.

Blossom's face hardened as the realization hit. "This is bad," she muttered under her breath, the weight of the situation settling over her like a familiar, ominous cloud. "We need to—"

But her words were cut short by the sudden blaring of alarms echoing throughout the mall.

In an instant, the mall erupted into chaos. Security rushed through the building, pushing people toward the exits, and within minutes, the first wave of police arrived. The girls were confused, thinking that they had somehow had seen HIM but they it was not him they were looking for, but it was—Shigaraki. And they soon realized that it was HIM's associate.

The girls barely had time to catch their breath before the situation spiraled. Officers were flooding the mall, securing entrances and questioning witnesses. Panic set in as the police combed the area, but Shigaraki had vanished as quickly as he appeared. There was no sign of him, no trace of where he'd gone. The authorities were left scrambling, trying to piece together what had happened, but without any real understanding of what they were up against.

Hours passed, the mall increasingly deserted, its once vibrant atmosphere now replaced with a tense, uneasy silence. The girls sat together, waiting for the situation to unfold, their minds racing. It wasn't just a random sighting. It was Shigaraki—a most dangerous criminal and one that seemed quite unhinged. The fact that he was connected to HIM only made the situation direr.

Despite their desire to stay and help, the police insisted they leave, as well as the rest of their classmates. Their statements had been taken, their observations noted. It was time for them to go. The officers assured them that the situation was under control—or at least that they were doing everything they could to find Shigaraki before he caused any more harm.

Buttercup's chest tightened. After finding out that it was Izuku that Shigaraki interrogated and almost ki-she wanted to argue, to demand that they stay and help, especially knowing that Izuku was caught up with that guy and held at a figurative gun point. But the officers were firm, and they couldn't risk leaving the scene too thinly staffed. With a heavy heart, Buttercup forced herself to leave, even as guilt gnawed at her.

Outside, Midnight was waiting for them, her face drawn with concern as she quickly ushered them into her car. "You're safe now, but we need to get you out of here. We will talk about, when we get home." The girls fell into an uneasy silence as the car pulled away, the weight of the day's events pressing on them. The looming uncertainty about what was coming next hung heavy in the air.


Author's Notes:

Okay, this turned out longer than I intended, but I'm happy with it! I want to apologize to my readers — it feels like it's been forever since we last connected. Unfortunately, my laptop crashed, and with the financial situation I've been dealing with, I couldn't get back to writing as quickly as I'd hoped. On top of that, life has just been... a lot. Some days, I just want to cry, honestly. Sigh.

I'm really sorry for leaving you all hanging, and while I hate to say it, I may have to do so again in the future since life isn't done throwing curveballs my way. But for now, we're wrapping up Season 2, and it's finally time to move into Season 3! I'm so excited for what comes next, though it may take a little time. Buttercup's feelings toward Izuku might shift, but who knows? And Uraraka… well, she's still being a bit of a thorn in my side, but that's all part of the fun.

Aizawa's teaching methods still don't sit well with me, so please, no comments about him — I've already shared my thoughts on some of the MHA characters. As for Iida, I had to vent a little bit, and poor Sero got the fallout. Oh well. Lol.

HIM definitely has some interesting plans ahead for the girls, and this world is far from done with surprises. We'll just have to see what happens next.

Thank you all for sticking with me through this journey. It's been amazing, and I can't wait to see what's coming. I may not be posting as frequently, but I'm not giving up on this fic. It's one of my favorites, and even though life may slow things down, I'm determined to keep going.

See you all later, and as always, thank you for reading and reviewing!