Ren woke up to the feeling of something soft pressing against his chest. His first coherent thought was that he was still alive, which was honestly surprising given what he remembered happening. His second thought was that the soft thing pressing against him was warm and moving with a rhythmic breathing pattern.
He opened his eyes slowly. As he did, the ceiling of Training Field Gamma began to come into focus, though the fluorescent lights were a bit too bright. After blinking a few times, his vision cleared enough to notice that Nejire was still on top of him.
She hadn't moved. Her head rested against his chest, her ear pressed right over his heart. Her hands still gripped his shirt while her legs were positioned on either side of his hips in a way that would be incredibly compromising if someone walked in right now.
This is fine, Ren thought distantly. This is a perfectly normal situation that happens to people all the time.
"Hayashi-kun?" Nejire's voice sounded muffled against his chest. "Are you awake?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
She lifted her head a bit to look at him. Her blue eyes were wide with concern.
"You fainted," she said. "That was so sudden. Are you okay?"
Am I okay? Ren repeated mentally. Let's see. I had an extremely inappropriate erection. Then I accidentally made you fall on top of me in the worst possible position. I passed out from the pain. And now you're lying on top of me asking if I'm okay.
"I'm fine," he said aloud. "Just... a sugar crash, probably."
"Really?" Nejire tilted her head, studying his face with a curious expression. "Because it looked like you fainted right after I fell on you. And your face got really red before that. And you were breathing a bit fast."
Did she notice all that?
"I hit my head when I fell," Ren tried. "It might've been a mild concussion."
"Your head didn't hit the ground. I felt your back take the hit, but your head was fine because you tucked your chin at the last second." Nejire's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're lying to me."
Ren felt sweat forming on his forehead. She's too observant for someone who seems so clueless.
"I'm not lying. I just don't remember the details clearly."
"Hayashi-kun," Nejire said, her voice taking on a different tone. Softer, but also more serious. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"When I fell on you..." She paused, and her cheeks darkened. "Did something... poke me?"
Ren's brain ground to a halt.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, his voice higher than intended.
"Yes, you do." Nejire shifted her weight slightly, and Ren had to bite his tongue to keep from making an embarrassing sound. "Because I felt something hard pressing against my... um... my backside. Right here."
She moved her hips slightly to indicate the exact spot. Ren's eyes rolled back. Is she trying to kill me? Is this murder by innocent curiosity?
"That was probably just... uh... my phone," he managed to say.
"Your phone is in your front pocket. I can see it." Nejire looked down at his pants, then back at his face. "And what poked me definitely wasn't shaped like a phone."
"Nejire," Ren said carefully. "Can we please not talk about this?"
"But I'm curious!"
"I know. But some things are better left as mysteries."
"I don't like mysteries. I like answers." She shifted her weight again, this time more deliberately. "Was it because you were looking at me?"
Ren's mouth went completely dry. "What?"
"Before I fell, you were staring at me. Your eyes kept moving up and down. Like you were seeing something really interesting." Her expression lit up as she realized. "Oh! Did you see something you liked?"
How the hell did she realize that?
"I wasn't..."
"Yes you were!" Nejire's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Tell me! What did you see?"
Ren felt his face heat up. "I really don't think..."
"Come on, tell me! I'm curious!" She leaned closer, her face inches from his. "Was it interesting? Did you like what you saw?"
This girl's gonna be the end of me.
"Nejire, you're still on top of me," Ren pointed out, desperately trying to change the subject. "Maybe we should... you know... fix this situation first?"
Nejire blinked, then looked down at their current position as if noticing it for the first time. Her legs were straddling his hips. Her chest was pressed against his. Her hands were still clutching his shirt.
"Oh," she said. "You're right. Sorry!"
She started pushing herself up, using his chest for support. But the movement caused her hips to shift, and suddenly Ren felt pressure in exactly the wrong place again. His body, which had thankfully calmed down during the conversation, responded immediately to the stimulation. Blood rushed south at an alarming rate.
No. No, no, no. Not again. Please.
Nejire froze. Her eyes went wide. "Oh! It's... it's happening again."
"Please don't comment on it," Ren said through gritted teeth.
"But it's getting bigger."
"Nejire, I'm begging you to stop talking."
"Does it hurt? It looks like it'd hurt to be that tight inside your pants."
Ren closed his eyes and tried to think of literally anything else. He thought about Mineta or something atrocious to distract himself.
"I'm gonna stand up now," Nejire announced. "Try not to move much, okay?"
She pushed herself up slowly, her hands pressing against his chest to keep her balance. But her knees were still on either side of his hips, which meant she had to lift herself up while straddling him.
The view was absolutely devastating. From that angle, Ren could look right up at her. The way her suit hugged every curve. The slight bounce of her chest as she shifted her weight.
I'm going to hell, he thought distantly. There's a special circle of hell reserved specifically for people like me.
Nejire finally managed to stand up completely. She offered him a hand. "Come on, get up."
Ren took her hand and let her help him to his feet. He immediately turned around, pretending to adjust his clothes while trying to hide the very obvious bulge in his pants.
"So," Nejire said from behind. "Are we gonna talk about the elephant in the room?"
"There's no elephant," Ren said quickly.
"The metaphorical elephant."
"Still no elephant."
"Hayashi-kun, I literally felt your..."
"No!" Ren cut her off. "We're not talking about it. This incident never happened. We're gonna forget it and move on with our lives."
There was a pause. Then, Nejire let out a little giggle. "You're really embarrassed, huh?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
*******
Kazuho Haneyama sat at a corner table of the small cafe, stirring her coffee absentmindedly while checking her phone. Makoto had texted ten minutes ago saying she was close. The place was one of those trendy cafes with exposed brick walls and hanging plants.
The door chimed. Kazuho looked up just in time to see Makoto scanning the room. Their eyes met, and Makoto's expression lit up completely.
"KAZUHOOOOO!"
Before Kazuho could even get up, Makoto was practically running toward her with arms outstretched.
"Oh no, wait, Makoto..."
Too late. Makoto wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug, swaying her slightly from side to side.
"Ahhhh, Kazuhoooo, it's been so long! Seven months! Seven! Can you believe it?"
"Makoto, people are looking..."
"I don't give a damn!" Makoto pulled back just enough to plant a loud kiss on her cheek. "I missed you so much!"
"Alright, alright!" Kazuho tried to push her away, but she couldn't stop a traitorous smile from spreading across her face. Her cheeks were definitely red. "Get a hold of yourself!"
"Never." Makoto gave her one last kiss on the other cheek before finally letting go and dropping into the chair across from her. "God, you look amazing. Did you do something different with your hair?"
"It's... literally the same as always."
"Well, it looks great anyway." Makoto waved to the waiter with an enthusiasm that made Kazuho shake her head. "A latte, please! With extra foam. And one of those brownies I saw at the counter."
The waiter nodded and left.
"Still with the chocolate addiction?"
"Hey, it's not an addiction. It's a healthy, committed relationship." Makoto rested her chin in her hands, smiling at her. "But look at you, assistant manager now. Congrats."
"Thanks." Kazuho took a sip of her coffee, feeling Makoto's warmth disarm her a bit. "I got promoted two months ago. More responsibility, a little more pay."
"And do you still like it?"
"It lets me work with music without having to perform on stage. So, yeah."
Makoto nodded, her expression softening a bit. She knew that was a sensitive subject.
"I'm glad you found something that works for you."
"And you?" Kazuho leaned forward. "Back in Japan to stay?"
"Yes! Well, at first it was just a vacation, but yesterday I got an offer from a research institute here in Musutafu. Working on Quirk development in teenagers. It's fascinating." Makoto's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Plus, Naomasa was getting unbearable with his texts about when are you coming home, I miss you, I need someone to tell me to stop drinking so much coffee."
Kazuho laughed. "How's your brother doing?"
"Same as always. Married to his work, sleeping four hours a night, surviving on caffeine and professional masochism."
The waiter brought the latte and Makoto's brownie. She immediately took a bite of the brownie and groaned dramatically.
"Oh my god, this is heaven."
"You've got chocolate on your face."
"Where?"
"Here." Kazuho pointed to her own cheek.
Makoto wiped herself with a napkin, missing completely.
"Got it?"
"No, still..." Kazuho sighed and reached out with her own napkin. "Come here."
"You're the best."
Kazuho shook her head. I really missed her, she thought. It feels like... this is what I needed.
"Hey, speaking of important things." Makoto leaned forward with a mischievous smile. "Have you met any interesting guys yet?"
Kazuho nearly choked on her coffee.
"What? No, god, no."
"Not even one? Kazuho, I don't want to over-worry, but never having had a boyfriend isn't normal."
"Those things aren't for me, Makoto. You know that."
"You should be going out, having fun, meeting people, I don't know, living life more..."
"I prefer peace of mind, thanks." Kazuho arched an eyebrow. "And what about you? Did you find anyone interesting in the States?"
"No, no, no!" Makoto waved her hands. "Outside of work, getting interested in a guy? No thanks. I'd rather focus on my research."
"Hmm."
"What?"
"Nothing. Just that Naomasa must be worried."
Makoto winced. "Oh, he's beyond worried. He gave me a whole lecture the other day about how I've been single for twenty-seven years and should expand my social horizons. As if I had time for dates when I have to analyze Quirk development patterns in control subjects."
"You're incorrigible."
"And so are you."
They laughed together.
"We should do this more often," Makoto said suddenly. "Now that I'm back. We could have a routine, weekly coffee or something."
"I'd love that."
"Oh! And we should go to the spa." Makoto's eyes lit up. "Remember that place we went to like two years ago? With the hot springs?"
"The one with the amazing massages."
"That's the one! We should book a day. Do it right. Massages, sauna, the whole package."
Kazuho felt a genuine smile spread across her face. "Yeah. Let's do it."
"Perfect. I'll text you this week with dates." Makoto took another sip of her latte. "Hey, there's something I wanted to ask you. Nothing bad, just... professional curiosity."
"Uh-oh."
"It's nothing bad, I promise. It's just... well, Naomasa mentioned something interesting a few days ago. He talked to you on the phone, and that's what I wanted to talk to you about."
Kazuho waited.
"There was an incident at a convenience store... and a vigilante showed up."
Kazuho felt her posture stiffen slightly, though she tried to keep her expression neutral. "A vigilante?"
"Yeah. Young, probably a teenager, with a paper bag on his head."
Kazuho let out a laugh. "A paper bag? Seriously?"
"I know!" Makoto laughed too. "Very improvised. But here's the interesting part: he had strong telekinesis. He took down three guys without a problem and vanished before the police arrived."
"Telekinesis." Kazuho stirred her coffee. "Sounds powerful."
"It is. And clearly trained. Naomasa thinks it's not telekinesis, but I'm not so sure about ruling it out." Makoto looked at her. "And I thought... well, you know how vigilantism is..."
Kazuho was silent for a moment. Here we go.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I value your perspective." Makoto leaned forward. "Look, I'm not asking you to do anything. I'm just... curious about this person. And I thought you might understand better than I do what motivates them."
"Makoto..."
"I know you left that life behind. I completely respect that." Makoto's voice was soft. "But you also know what it's like to want to help so desperately that you're willing to break the rules."
Kazuho unconsciously moved her hand toward the edge of her eyepatch.
"Vigilantism is dangerous," she finally said. "It seems noble at first. You're helping people, making a difference. Until everything spirals out of control."
"Kazuho..."
"I stopped being a vigilante because I ended up possessed by a villain's Quirk and destroyed half a block while the authorities were trying to stop me." Kazuho took a sip of her coffee. "So, yeah. I'd say things got out of control."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"It's fine." Kazuho shook her head. "I've moved past those things."
Makoto reached out and briefly squeezed Kazuho's hand. "You're stronger than you think."
"Or more stubborn."
"That too." Makoto smiled. "But listen, I'm not trying to make you relive hard things. Just... if you had to guess, based on what you know, how would someone with strong telekinesis operate if they were still young enough to think vigilantism is a good idea?"
Kazuho considered the question. It was strange going back into that mindset, but a part of her, buried deep down, still remembered.
"I'd focus on small things," she said slowly. "Crimes that wouldn't attract the big heroes but matter to ordinary people. Robberies, minor assaults, that kind of stuff."
"Like the one at the convenience store."
"Exactly. And the paper bag suggests it was improvised. They probably saw the situation and reacted without thinking too much about it."
"What else?"
"The fact that they took down the criminals without seriously hurting them is important. Most people with strong Quirks, especially young ones, have trouble with restraint, which suggests training."
Makoto took mental notes. "Or natural talent."
"Talent without training causes collateral damage." Kazuho paused. "This boy, or girl, knows what they're doing."
"Interesting."
They sat in silence for a moment. Kazuho could feel the weight of memories pressing against the edges of her consciousness.
"Hey." Makoto broke the silence with a softer smile. "Wanna share this brownie? It's huge and I feel guilty eating it all."
Kazuho felt the tension loosen. "I thought you'd never ask."
"Liar! I saw you looking at it with puppy dog eyes since it got here."
"I was not..."
"You totally were."
The rest of the conversation flowed more easily. They talked about difficult customers at the music store, Naomasa's quirks, the changes in Musutafu. Makoto told ridiculous stories about her colleagues in the States. Kazuho complained about the new inventory system at work. It was only as they were getting ready to leave that Makoto returned to the subject.
"If you think of anything else about this vigilante," she said as she put on her coat, "any ideas, will you let me know?"
Kazuho hesitated. "Why do you care so much?"
"Because I study Quirk development in teenagers. And if this person is a teenager, they're at a critical point. Their abilities, their decision-making, everything. Understanding them now could prevent a tragedy later."
"Or it could get you in trouble."
"I'll be careful. Besides, Naomasa is annoyingly protective."
"That's what big brothers are for."
They walked out of the cafe together. The evening air was cool, and the street was relatively quiet.
"Thanks for coming," Makoto said, wrapping Kazuho in another hug. "I needed this."
"Me too." Kazuho returned the hug. "Don't wait another seven months to see me."
"Never." Makoto pulled back with a smile. "And don't forget about the spa."
"I won't."
They said their goodbyes, and Makoto headed toward the train station. Kazuho watched her go, a small smile still on her face. But as she walked toward her apartment, her mind returned to the conversation. A vigilante with telekinesis operating in Musutafu.
Sounds familiar, she thought, touching her eyepatch again. Sounds like someone who hasn't learned their lesson yet.
She stopped at a traffic light, watching the people pass by.
Good luck, paper bag person. You're gonna need it.
******
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