"Damn it, I should've known something bad was going to happen!" Toru chastised herself for being so careless. "Somebody should've gone with him!" Bad things always happened when Iruma-kun was by himself.
"Hey, relax, just because he's coming back late doesn't mean he's not coming back at all." Ochako patted her. "See, he'll be here in two, maybe four minutes." She pointed at the phone.
"He's right outside of UA, right?" Todoroki looked over her shoulder. "He's been in the same area for quite a while."
"The moron has no sense of direction. Would it be that surprising if he got lost on campus?" Bakugo rolled his eyes. Why did this dick of all people have to find out Iruma-kun's secret? Hell, she'd settle for Ochako knowing over him!
"I mean I don't get how you could get lost in UA … but somehow that seems pretty believable." Todorki relented. And here she thought they bonded over murdering father figures.
"Admittedly, while we should've sent someone to chaperone him, we should have just a little more faith in Suzuki. He does succeed more often than not when he's determined." Iida reminded them. Very true, that's what made her soulmate the best, but she still worried!
Eventually the boy came back, looking ruffled. "Iruma-kun, what happened?" She began looking him over, making murder plans for the bastard that hurt him.
"I fell down some stairs." Everyone gave him a look of flat disbelief.
"You…fell down stairs?" Mineta questioned. "Falling down stairs gave you bruises across your face in the shape of a fist?"
"There were a lot of stairs." The boy reiterated. "They must have not liked me." He laughed so innocently.
"Then why were you flying around the city and forest?" Toru recalled what her phone had shown her. She was hoping it was just him trying to run to the store and back quickly.
"Well I was-wait, how do you know about that?"
"So you have the rope then?" Todoroki interrupted the train of thought.
"I do…" Iruma-kun paused, patting down his entire body before going pale. "Give me three more minutes. Wolfman Run!" Hopping on all fours, he crashed through the door and any wall that was in his way.
"...So he was totally in a villain fight?" Mina spoke out loud.
"No doubt about it." Kaminari confirmed what they were all thinking.
"So do we need a chart or something?" Sero asked. "To like, make sure he doesn't encounter villains alone?"
"If he's still standing here, then obviously Dodger can handle himself." Bakugo rolled his eyes. "Then again, I have my license now. Hanging around Dodger more means I have a better chance at murdering villains."
"Oh that's cute." Ochako smiled at the boy. "You think we trust you to not murder Iruma." Occasionally, Ochako and her could be one hundred percent on the same page.
==
Tsutsutaka Agoyamato, a General Education student, stood with Togeike as they waited for the 'show' to start. Probably wasn't going to be anything special, just an ego trip for their class. Non-stop, the whole school's sole attention was on the hero course, on 1-A. Just because some people at this school didn't aim to be big shot pros didn't mean they deserved to be forgotten!
Didn't they forget that this was a time for other classes to shine? The heroes got their fancy little sports festival, and that was fine, but leave the cultural festival for those that just want to have fun, don't make it a competition! "What type of music do you think they'll try, pop?" He asked his partner.
"Wouldn't surprise me." Togeike rolled her eyes. "What better way for them to shove their image into people's heads than with tasteless, repetitive rhythms that even a baby could remember?" He wouldn't put it past them to do that. "But apparently this is something original one of them wrote."
"Oh, like they need anything else on their resume." He scoffed. "Domination of the sports festival, villain attacks one after another, it's sickening really. Do they think the entire school wants to live like that?"
"They're the high and mighty 1-A. They probably forget there are other classes besides them." Even 1-B was slightly better, just for the soul fact they haven't hounded so much attention and lived in the shadows as the rest of them. "Oh would you look at that, we better quiet down, it's starting~." She mocked it with him.
The curtains slid open to reveal a dark stage, figures present as one raised their hand, before strumming a strong cord that pushed sound through the entire stadium. "Thank you for coming out today!" The girl with the ear jack quirk, Jiro Kyouka, shouted. Going by the mic placement, she seemed to be the lead singer.
"Get ready U.A.." The ever pissed off Bakugo Katsuki growled out to the audience. "WE'RE GOING TO MURDER YOU WITH MUSIC!" With his usual explosion, the asshole started off with an admittedly impressive drum solo.
From there the crow known as Fumikage Tokoyami let out a steady beat with his bass, keeping pace unlike the drum in a unique reversal. Right next to him was Denki Kaminari on his own guitar, showing no sign of the idiot status he had going for him since the sports festival. Behind them was the rich girl Momo Yaoyoruzo on the keyboard. Given her classy appearance, the last thing they expected was for her to play for something that seemed 'beneath' her.
A stomping sound came rolling in, students in dark cloaks came up from each side as they stepped in rhythm, as the music reached its peak they shed them, revealing outfits of a rainbow like design. One in particular looking like the embodiment of a sentient rainbow in the shape of a dress. And then the girl in front of them all, Kyoka Jiro, sang with her soul.
==
"What am I to be? What is my calling?" Wasn't that the question of the freaking century? Funny thing was that Jiro wasn't the only one in class thinking about it. When she told herself she would be a hero and go to UA, she hardly thought it would lead her to perform live on stage.
"I gave up giving up….I'm ready to go!" Did she really? Everyone else was way too determined and spiteful to give up, but she gave up one dream for another, music for hero, and when she thought something was impossible she didn't go for it.
"The future is left unseen. It all depends on me." She doubted she could have predicted anything that had happened. Learning the terrible life of Iruma Suzuki and how she did nothing in his school, getting attacked by villains almost constantly, figuring out the true definition of insanity … gaining a crush…crushes, damn it! Feelings were frustrating as hell..
"Put it on the line to follow my dreams!" She had to put up with a risk, just like Iruma did when he saved her in the building, she had to follow her heart. Hero and Music weren't separate, even if so much effort was put into them.
"Yeah, Tried all my life…
I've tried to find….
something that makes me hold on and never let go!" A passion she yearned to put everything she had into. Something she wanted to dedicate her entire life towards and never give up on…To be cool and keep everyone excited and happy!
"Oh~
Hero too
I am a hero too!" It was here that Aoyama shined bright, with help from Iruma, Ejiro, and Todoroki, they created a massive sparkling sky for them to project their performance on. They were important just like everyone.
"My heart is set and I won't back down!" She would have no regrets. Her parents, her goofy, embarrassing, kind hearted parents supported her, even if she wouldn't be following in their footsteps exactly."
"Hero too
Strength doesn't make a hero." The fact Mineta and Aoyama were still here spoke volumes for that.
"True heroes….stand up for what they believe." They keep at it, sticking to those goals and beliefs no matter what. A constant goal to strive for.
"So wait and see…" Denki and Fumi had great synergy, practically playing as one. Jamming-why really came through for her when she needed him too. She couldn't exactly call him an idiot anymore…She still would, but maybe she'll limit it to a playful jab once a month.
"So wait and see …" Bakugo sped up his drumming, Momo matching it with passion as she strumped the keys left and right. She was always the best when it came to learning things with time and patience. It was thanks to her that she did so well in the finals.
The crowd was dancing to the music. Any faces of criticism from cynical assholes that came there to judge them melted into pure enjoyment, actually doing what they were meant to do during the festival...having fun.
"What do they think of me?
Who do they think I'll be?
I could not care less, I don't wanna know" That was an absolute lie, she wished she thought like that all the time. The truth was, she cared a whole lot, probably more than any reasonable person should. She wanted to know if her friends saw her as a good person, as someone who could be snarky but also kind. She wanted to know if Iruma really did forgive her, if Denki forgave her, if Momo thought of her as an actual friend she could know more about.
"Am I doing right?" Was she doing well? Were her decisions wrong? Was it a bad idea to make the lyrics in english for a japanese audience?
"Am I satisfied?" Definitely want to be satisfied, and she wasn't going to get there today … but singing this all out made it really close … this release of emotions.
"I wanna live my life like it's meant to be!" Iruma swung from ice bridge to ice bridge, skating across it as he kept Aoyama up, who now carried Toru along with him as both became a swirling ball of rainbows. Appentely Iruma had a stage production job as well before UA, so he knew how to make the lighting work just right.
"Yeah, I've tried all my life.
I've tried to find….something that makes me hold on and never let go!" And hopefully … she found it here, with this class, and these friends.
"Oh~
Hero too
I am a hero too!
My heart is set and I won't back down!
Hero too
Strength doesn't make a hero!
True heroes stand up for what they believe…!
So wait and see" The only part of the show she would legitimately hate was Mineta's so-called 'harem', where all the girls dancing would bow with him in the center. She wondered what the hell Mina was smoking to give the perv something like that. Then again she'd like a bit herself, given all the shit she's had to deal with.
"People judge for no reason at all.." That seemed to be a theme this year for everyone in class. Assuming Denki would always be an idiot, assuming Todoroki would always be an ice cold prick, assuming Bakugo could never work with anyone, assuming Iruma was quirkless despite his numerous protests.
"Yeah…they might try
To say your dream's dumb…
Don't listen…!" All her old friends back at her old school definitely told her this at one point or another. She was a girl with 'weird ears'. The only use her quirk had was never buying earphones again. She's heard it all, and she tuned out every one of them.
"They may look down on me and count me out …
I'm going my own way." A way that combined music, combined heroism, combined smiles! She would make people happy, that was her goal!
"They may look down on me and count me out
I'm a hero, I've got music!" Iruma's little survivor better be smiling from this!
==
Eri watched all the singing and dancing from Lemillion's shoulders. At first, she searched everywhere, making sure to watch out for Wolfman. He danced on the stage for a while before hopping from the ice that was above them. He was moving so fast! It made it hard to keep track of him.
That was a bad thing…at least that was what she thought at first. Everyone on stage seemed so bright, so colorful, so happy. They danced around and sparkled and made wonderful music. Even the people around her were starting to dance a little.
"Hero too!
I am a hero too!" All these people were heroes? Was singing and dancing something all heroes did? Was this something Wolfman did all the time?
"My heart is set and I won't back down!
Hero too!
Strength doesn't make a hero!" Really? Lemillion was still able to fight even after he lost his power, and he was even able to punch Chisaki without it! You didn't need power to be a hero?
"True heroes stand up for what they believe!" Wolfman believed her to be special … so he was a hero for believing in that? Could she be a hero if she believed in it? Helping others like he helped her?
"Yeah I'll be!
Hero too!
I am a hero too!
My heart is set and I won't back down!
Hero too!
Strength doesn't make a hero!
True heroes stand up for what they believe
So wait and see!" She stared with sparkly eyes, her mouth felt weird, she gently reached up and touched her lips, curving upward. She was smiling, she was having fun like Wolfman said she would. He and Lemillion were telling the truth.
"I have met so many heroes in my life!" Vampire Lady, Lemillion, Wolfman, they gave her hope when she thought she'd never escape Chisaki.
"Gave me the strength and courage to survive!" They supported her even when she couldn't use her curse….her blessing right. They helped her survive.
"Gave me the power to smile everyday!" It was thanks to them that she was smiling right now, it was thanks to them that she remembered what it was like to be happy!
"Now it's my turn to be the one to make you smile!" That's what a hero was. Someone who'd do everything they could to make someone smile.
"Thank you UA High!" The singing lady screamed out as the blond guy raised his instrument high, smashing it into the ground. The singers, the dancers all waved their hands in the air as everyone cheered. She lifted her head up to see Wolfman on ice, looking down on her and smiling.
A school full of heroes. She's never felt safer or happier anywhere else, except maybe in Wolfman's arms…the arms of her hero.
==
Iruma watched as many parents went and congratulated their children. It was a sight that he's seen a million other times from the other parents' teacher events. Except this time it felt better, they were his friends and it made the situation more happy to watch.
"I can't believe you Denki, rocking you like no tomorrow!" Mrs Kaminari laughed as she ruffled Kaminari's head. "Looks like you picked up a new hobby."
"Yeah, yeah, thanks, but ease up on the affections. Yamomo's watching." Kaminari blushed as his girlfriend watched with a giggle. It almost looked like something out of First Love Memories, minus the alien invasions and identity theft.
Then again the alien invasion part might not be far off considering Mrs Ashido. "You moved like pow, and hiya, and wazow! Super cool little Pinky." The armored woman laughed at her smiling daughter.
"You finally put all those lessons to good use, ya damn brat!" Bakugo's mom yelled at him with those fiery eyes of affections. "About time I gotta say. Being loud and obnoxious finally paid off!"
"Shut it hag! You're the most obnoxious one here!" Bakugo yelled back, getting hit in the back of the head. He suddenly remembered all of his time with Rabbit-Sama seeing that. Wish she could've been here. Wish Bunny-sensei was here too, but apparently had some kind of meeting to deal with.
Although seeing everyone happy with their family sort of reminded Iruma of something… he really doesn't have family, not in the way that counts at least. No, the last time he went on a bad thought train, it made Eri think he was mad at her. Just bottle it up for now.
"My baby girl played so incredibly!" Jiro might have had the opposite problem, being grabbed by her dad and spun around as he squeezed her to the point her face turned blue. "I'm prouder than I've ever been in my little Kyoka!"
"Dad, please, it wasn't anything special…!" She gasped for air from the squeeze. "I…I was just using everything you taught me, that's all!"
"Then what you were taught was really special." Iruma needed to say something, so he walked up to the family. "What you did made Eri smile again, and I'm really thankful for that." Those bright eyes that gleamed joy sitting atop of Mirio's shoulders. He would treasure that memory forever.
"Oh, yeah, no problem little dude. Happy to help." She let out a nervous smile, only to gain confusion when Kirishima grabbed and hoisted her up.
"Free cheers for Jiro, crowd surf her everyone!" He shouted, tossing the girl from one student to another as she screamed for the ground. She deserved it, working so hard to make everyone happy.
He might have not liked the word anymore, but Jiro was a hero to Eri, a really good person that helped her when she needed it. "Man, this was an exhausting day, and it just got started." Ochako sighed with a small smile.
"Tell me about it. I could really go for a candied apple now." Iruma hoped Eri enjoyed a few before the performance.
"Oh yeah, didn't you hear?" Sero spoke up. "Some kid got an allergy last year so they stopped selling them."
Iruma blinked for a solid half a minute before turning to the baker of their class. "Sato, we need fifty candy apples within the hour! I have a bag in the dorms, time is of the essence!" This was a matter of life and death!