Midoriya, Todoroki, and Lemillion entered Luke's hospital room the next day, just hours before he was to be discharged.
With Nyx resting on his lap, he was chatting with Toru Hagakure, who seemed to be… crying?
The three boys immediately shared a glance, thinking if they had arrived at a bad time.
"Oh, hey!" Luke called them from behind as they began turning around, though. "See! I told you my fans would be coming soon!"
Midoriya and Todoroki's mouths twitched, Mirio chuckling next to them.
Noticing the boys, Toru hurriedly wiped her tears. "Alright…" she said, getting up. "I need to… pack… Let's meet at UA."
Luke nodded. "Take care."
When the girl was gone, the boys sat next to Luke's bed.
"What was that about?" Deku asked. Then he suddenly blushed. "Of course, if it's something personal…"
"No. Haha!" Luke laughed. "She was just telling me about the time when the Villain had kidnapped Momo. I wasn't there. So, she'd thought that I had been kidnapped, too."
"Oh…" Deku nodded. "Actually… I thought that, too. Right when it was happening to Momo. But then it happened to me, and I somehow managed to reject that teleportation forcefully. I don't know why… but I thought you would be able to do the same."
Luke smiled at Todoroki and Mirio. "See? A fan's trust is never unwarranted."
Todoroki tsked as Midoriya chuckled wryly. "Shameless!"
"How are you feeling?" Lemillion asked. "They still haven't found out what happened to you?"
Luke shook his head. "They are calling it fever, but it's basically just exhaustion," he explained. "I am still alright. Nyx's condition is worse."
The three boys looked at the bird, which was sleeping silently.
"Your Quirk…" Todoroki began, but he left the question unasked.
Luke's Quirk, Raven, was tethered to Nyx's existence. If something happened to her, then he would basically become Quirkless. It was something practically known to many now. After the public outrage over their suspension, the three students had become idols, especially among the youth and children.
It was more so for their Quirks, which everyone was talking about, and how they had masterfully used them to save everyone.
It hadn't come without its caveat, though.
Raven was a broken Quirk, with no cap on the different Quirks it could hold.
For now, U.A. had managed not to talk about the particular Quirks Luke could use through Nyx. However, with last year's Sports Festival stream available online, combined with the police's reports on the Training Camp incident, people had almost figured out most of his Quirks.
And that included Villains.
"I… haven't tried it, yet," Luke admitted. "I think I can still use them, but… I am afraid…"
The boys gave a hard nod at that, knowing how close Luke and Nyx were.
"Things will not become easier," Lemillion said. "The more people idolize Raven, the harder the Villains will come for you… Not only do you need to protect yourself, but also Nyx. I think turning the school into a boarding one is the best decision U.A. has taken this year. You have so much potential. You all do. All you need is time…"
The three students nodded at the Pro's encouraging words.
"How is Sir Nighteye?" Luke asked.
Mirio's smile flickered. "He is… normal?" he answered, unsure of the word. "Ever since he woke up, he's been going through all the details regarding the Training Camp and the Kamino Ward incident."
Not good… "… What's that going to do?" Luke asked, frowning.
Mirio shrugged. "I think he took the matter of him going into a coma while going after Dr. Blessed personally," he joked, taking a wild guess. "When I went to meet him, he kept replaying the part where Dr. Blessed had snapped his fingers, appearing between All Might and the Villain…"
Luke's heart skipped a beat, Midoriya and Todoroki's mouths twitching at the odd comment.
"Anyway…" Mirio continued. "All Might had convinced him not to use his Quirk on you… If it's truly related to Dr. Blessed, then we cannot afford to let him suffer again."
Luke nodded, taking control of his heart's rhythm.
He looked at Todoroki, then. "I hope you weren't looking too much forward to getting your Provisional Hero License," he said. "What did your father say?"
"I knew what I was doing," Todoroki replied. "… And Endeavor… He didn't say anything. He's too busy wrecking our home because of becoming the new No. 1."
Endeavor had always considered All Might his greatest rival.
Not to snatch the No. 1 rank from All Might, and instead getting it handed over to him, was like someone poured oil over his mustache.
"Don't think too much about it," Mirio said. "You can always take remedial courses and reapply for it in the next semester."
Luke, Deku, and Todoroki gaped at the Pro Hero.
"Oh…" Lemillion stuck out his tongue. "I wasn't supposed to tell you that… Haha!"
Talking a bit more about All Might's victory over All For One, Todoroki and Mirio left the room, Midoriya staying behind by making an excuse.
"… They know…" Deku admitted, clenching his fingers on his knees. "The Villains know about me having One For All now…"
Luke laughed.
Midoriya looked up, stunned.
"No, no…" Luke said, fighting back a silly grin. "It's truly funny. Think about it. All these Villains have so much to deal with. All For One's defeat. Stain's imprisonment. Abandoned Shigaraki. Injured Claws. Kidnapped Nomus. Momo's Quirk. Your One For All. And now my Raven… If they had brains enough to handle all these things together, then they would have never attacked the Training Camp.
"I think… we have bought ourselves some good time… Senior Mirio said it right. We need to grow. While Villains will be busy running and hiding, we will be becoming stronger. That's the difference between being a Villain and a Hero."
A confident smile bloomed on Deku's face.
"Wow…" a voice rang at the door. "I didn't know you were so good at motivating…"
Momo walked into the room, Deku hurriedly saying a hi before running out, leaving them alone.
"You are my fan, too?" Luke asked jokingly as she sat down.
Momo looked at him for a while without replying before shaking her head.
"No," she said, smiling, making Luke's heart jump. "But… I think… I am getting there…"
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