There was an oddness within the room.
Luke tried to be the bigger person, repeating within his mind that he was at least a decade older than the girl seated next to him.
However, Momo's mere existence kept prickling at his heart, making him remember all the moments he had spent with her in his previous life.
This girl wasn't his Momo.
He kept saying it to himself. Again and again. And again.
Not only had the Momo of this world undergone vastly different experiences, but she had also met him much earlier.
Ordinarily, such a thing wouldn't have mattered.
However, Luke's existence was as far from ordinary as anything could be.
He… was a liar. A swindler, schemer, manipulator. He had used all and everyone… for his selfish reasons… for revenge. When he saved someone, it was to gain something from it. Even the matter of saving All Might was nothing but a spontaneous urge to go against fate and defeat it, and not because of generosity.
He… could never love someone else anymore.
He… must not love…
"You are being too hard on yourself…" Momo observed.
Luke frowned, but did not let her see that. Just like he had not let her see the utter sadness on his face when he looked at her. Everyone, including Miss Justice, claimed him to be a born Marauder, Swindler, and Cryptologist. But only he knew that without a Clown's ability to control his expressions, he would have never had time to focus on anything else.
Luke looked into Momo's eyes, which reflected concern, despite the smile on her face.
He prepared to use Thought Misdirection on the girl, but Momo opened her mouth first, making him pause.
"When the Villain was choking me…" she said, gulping involuntarily. "All I could think was… how Luke will progress without my help?"
Luke balled his fingers into fists.
No… Don't you dare… He thought to himself.
Momo Yaoyorozu was a very practical girl, always focusing on improving herself as a Hero. This was the same girl who had agreed to enter into a Quirk Marriage with him in his previous life, just for the greater good of the world.
To see her so vulnerable now… Luke couldn't make peace with that.
Miss Justice sighed. [All people are vulnerable in one way or another, Luke. It's just a matter of who we choose to show that vulnerability to.]
"You are very strong, Momo," Luke said, misdirecting her thoughts anyway. "Remember how you held off the Nomu — alone!"
Miss Justice sighed again, shaking her head.
Momo smiled. "Held off?" she scoffed, crossing her legs. "I barely survived."
"And?" Luke raised his brows, laughing. "You say it like surviving against Nomus is something everyone can do."
Momo laughed along with him.
Suddenly, still laughing, tears began streaming down her cheeks.
Luke kept quiet, daring not to even breathe louder. He watched as she put her hands on her face and kept crying, a smothered sobbing noise filling the room.
After a few moments, Momo hurriedly wiped the tears off her face and looked at Luke with red eyes.
"Do you think I am weak, too?" she asked.
"Listen to me, and listen closely," Luke said, not hiding his emotions for once.
And, instantly, Momo saw the real him, her breath slowing down with an indescribable chill.
It was the same face — but it felt like Luke had aged decades.
It was the same eyes — but it felt like Luke had been crying for even longer.
It was the same person — but it felt like Luke had stopped being a person… for centuries.
Momo saw not a person anymore, but a ghost — a wraith — screaming out its lungs, crying tears of blood.
"No one thinks you are weak, just because your Quirk is not flashy… yet," Luke told her. "It's not Quirks that decide that, Momo. It's people's hearts. And your heart is strong… much stronger than mine. You will be a great Hero. But do not try to be All Might. Be the Hero you want yourself to be… and not what others expect you to be, just because a Villain has shown interest in your Quirk."
Momo gasped. "How do you…"
Luke couldn't tell decryption from normal rationalizing anymore.
However, if he could, he would have realized that he hadn't needed a Beyonder's ability to know what must have happened for Momo to come to him and… cry.
"Did my father visit your family?" Luke asked.
Momo's pupils shook, and she nodded.
"Fuck them." He cursed.
Momo gasped, putting her hand on her mouth.
Luke grinned. "Fuck them!" he repeated. "Don't let two old men decide our… your future. You are a student of U.A. High. No one can tell you to do one thing if you want to do something else. Believe me."
Momo couldn't look away from Luke's smiling face.
The confidence with which he had said those words, it sounded like he had known her for years.
Yes.
Luke had guessed it right.
After seeing that both Luke and Momo had brushed past death only a few days apart from each other, Mr. Reijirou had resurrected his age-old theory that the world could only be saved by bringing the two together.
The words Reijiro had said to Luke, thanking him for saving the world, were related to the matter of Training Camp, too. Because, for his father, saving Momo Yoayorozu was as good as saving the entire world.
And thus, he must have gone to Mr. Yaoyorozu, proposing a Quirk Marriage between them right after both had graduated from the school.
To Momo, it sounded like the adults didn't believe in her anymore, as her parents' mere agreement to Mr. Saionji's proposal would mean they had given up on her Hero dream.
She hadn't planned to bring up the topic before she came to visit Luke.
But…
"I am leaving the Saionji family," Luke suddenly said.
"What?!" Momo's eyes went wide. "Is it… because of me?"
Luke shook his head. "I made a deal with Mrs. Saionji even before joining U.A. So, don't worry. If my old man tried to make things difficult for you over this topic, then… I would bring the date of that deal forward."
Momo sat there for a while, quiet.
"I…" She began, trying to tell him about the dreams she had been having, and how they made her feel good.
But when she lifted her head, she found Luke hurriedly scribbling something on a piece of paper.
He put the pen down and gave the page to her.
"Don't worry," Luke said, winking. "It's not a love letter…"
Momo's lips twitched as she took the page and saw a list of ingredients, with detailed composition. "Did you…"
"Come on—" Luke said, feigning an exasperated frown. "—Create them for me. You know… do your job!"
"…"
And both exploded with laughter together, Nyx squirming in Luke's lap, smiling.