[Thursday - Mighty Entertainment Center - VIP Room - Narrator POV]
"Come on, Mineta! Do something!"
"Are you blind?! I'm trying!"
Currently, the members of Class-1A—and two guests—were hanging around inside a spacious gaming room.
Positioned in the center were two L-shaped sofas almost forming a square in front of a big flat screen that was embedded on the wall. Neon purple strips stuck to the roof illuminated the place. Sitting in the center of that sofa were Kaminari, Mineta, Sero, and Mei.
"Wow, you guys are terrible."
Jiro took a sip of her soda can as she leaned back in her corner of the sofa by the armrest while staring at the screen where Mirko (Mineta), Endeavor (Kaminari), and Best Jeanist (Sero) kept trying and failing to knock All Might (Mei) out of the floating platform.
"STOP! DON'T LET HER GET THE ULT OR—"
"DETROOOOIT SMAAAAAAAASHHH!"
"GAME!"
Kaminari was the first one to calmly put the controller down on top of the small coffee table in the center of the sofas. He stared at the smiling All Might on the screen for a few seconds before taking a deep breath.
"SHE'S PLAYING ALL MIGHT, DUDE!"
"Gg, easy, get rekt, now pay up."
The three boys took out a few bills from the pockets of their uniforms after letting out a simultaneous groan and handed them to Mei, who began counting the money with a smug look on her face.
TakTakTakTakTakTakTakTak!
The sharp, repetitive noise came from a ping pong table that was positioned a few steps behind the couch.
Initially, Uraraka, Toru, Yaoyorozu, Ashido, and Midoriya had been standing on the right side of the table playing against Metal, but after a bit too many losses they stepped aside, giving the broccoli boy space to activate his newfound powers.
TakTakTakTakTakTakTakTak!
The girls watched the tiny ball bounce left and right from the sidelines, their eyes struggling to keep up with the white blur moving along the table.
"So who do you think is going to win? I'm placing my bets on Pointy!"
"Deku can win! He's really fast now that he has that green lightning!"
"Nah, no offense to Midoriya, but my bestie has this in the bag."
"I don't want to disrespect Midoriya either, but I believe Metal has better chances of winning. Even if they are evenly matched right now, Midoriya will eventually get tired or make a mistake."
True to Yaoyorozu's words, Midoriya's paddle missed the white ball just by a hair, allowing it to fly through the air.
The tiny sphere soared through the air in Tokoyami's direction, who was too preoccupied with looking cool and leaning against the wall in one of the few dark corners of the room. Thankfully for him, Dark Shadow reacted in time and caught the projectile before it could strike his user in the head.
"I'm slowly getting used to my new speed, and this is pretty good training! Let's go again!"
SLAM!
Ojiro let out a whistle as the All Might-decorated Boxing Machine started shaking after enduring one of Shoji's hits. The red numbers on the screen of the device began rising up until finally announcing the score accompanied by the sound of a bell.
"A thousand? That's this thing's limit, isn't it?"
"I'm sure I could get the limit breaker, but Yaoyorozu is already paying for all this, and I'd rather not add a broken machine to it."
"Brag about it some more, will you?"
"I didn't mean it like that..."
Not too far away from the two boys was a claw machine currently being used by Koda and Asui.
The two of them walked circles around the device, doing their best to look at every angle. Once they were satisfied with the position of the claw, they pressed the red button on the panel and the claw slowly descended.
It closed around the head of an orange bunny plushie and rose it a few inches only to drop it back down.
"It's rigged, ribbit."
"Mmm..."
Just when the duo was about to give up, a boisterous laugh came from behind them, getting their attention.
"Allow me, dear amies."
Aoyama did a twirl on his way to the machine and struck a dramatic pose with his right palm covering his face as he used his free hand to press the red button. To their shock—Aoyama included—the claw got the plushie with a firm grip and successfully dropped it into the prize chute.
SLAM! SLAM! SLAM!
"Calm down, Bakugo! You're going to break the hammer!"
"Shut up, Shitty Hair! This fucking mole won't stay still!"
"Maybe you shouldn't have put it on max difficulty then..."
"I said SHUT UP!"
SLAM!
The entire machine's frame rattled as Bakugo tried to whack the mole again as it popped up from one of the many holes, only to fail again and again much to the boy's growing frustration. The artificial mammal even had the gall to let out a high-pitched laugh every time it went back into hiding.
The ash-blond was already considering blowing the thing to bits, but a feminine smooth voice stopped him.
"Could I give it a try? If it isn't too much trouble."
Kirishima and Bakugo looked at each other and then back at the maid who was supposed to be standing by the door.
Both students shrugged at the same time before boom-boom-boy tossed the plastic hammer at the maid, who caught it without issue and approached the machine.
"Knock yourself out, you ain't gonna do shit anywa—"
Slam!
The mole let out a squeak as it was hit square in the head.
Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam!
"Fuck this fuckass game, this fuckass arcade, and this fuckass maid, I'm going home."
"Fuck you too, fuckass clanker!"
---
[Friday - Musutafu - Guardian Avenue - Plus Ultra Cafe - Kaminari's POV]
"Don't be like that! You'll help us, and we'll promise we won't get support items from anyone who isn't Hatsume for the rest of our careers! Isn't that right, Kaminari?"
"Absolutely!"
Metal's speakers made a static-like sound as the robot reconsidered his entire existence. Once his systems weren't on the verge of crashing, he scanned the outside area of the Hero-themed cafe.
His lens moved from one person to another until it fixed on a girl sitting alone a few tables behind.
Both boys glanced over their shoulders and their eyes settled on the girl Metal was talking about.
The girl had a doll-like appearance and a petite build much like Jiro, with tousled platinum-blond hair, tan skin, prominent pointed ears that resembled those of an elf, and sleepy crimson eyes. She wore a Victorian red tailcoat over a white dress shirt, fastened with a black bowtie with a small red gem, and a black skirt that went down to her knees.
"Okay, she's cute, how do we approach her though?"
"'We'? Who's 'we?' That babe is mine."
'I can swear this was the same guy defending boobs with his life.'
"Like, why do you wear clothes like that?"
Mineta nodded and hopped down from his chair. The small student adjusted his uniform jacket, fixed his 'hair,' and took a deep breath before approaching the girl.
"You really think it'll work?"
Kaminari asked as he shifted his head to look at Metal, whose screen had a red glowing spot in one of the corners.
"...Why are you recording?"
'Wait, isn't he always recording?'
The yellow-haired boy glanced over his shoulder again just in time to see his height-challenged friend start talking to the girl.
'The worst she can say is no, right?'
"E-Excuse me? I saw you here all by yourself, and I was wondering if I could sit down with you? Y-You look like a pretty cute girl, and I thought maybe we could hang out?"
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"I appreciate it but... I'm a dude."
Kaminari jumped from his seat and caught Mineta before his back could meet the floor.
"MINETA?! MINETAAAA!"
---
[Saturday - Asui's Residence - Tsuyu's POV]
"Come on you two, don't look so sad... this is supposed to be a party."
Tsuyu tried her best to cheer up her little siblings.
She went through all the work of decorating the entire living room with frog-shaped balloons, green and blue confetti, and a big rectangular poster with a cartoonish pond that covered the entire wall behind the couch, but even that wasn't enough to get rid of the lingering awkwardness their parents' departure left behind.
Bell and Ganma were supposed to have the day for themselves, but an emergency at their workplace required their presence. The couple argued back against the decision, but in the end it proved useless and they were forced to leave.
"I'll let you light the candles, what do you say? Ribbit?"
Samidare—Tsuyu's younger brother—barely spared a glance at the small lighter in his sister's hand before crossing his oversized arms with a huff.
Satsuki—Tsuyu's even younger sister—did appear a bit more willing to cooperate with her sister, but she wasn't exactly happy about it either.
'It couldn't be any other day, could it? It had to be today.'
Ding, Dong.
"Coming!"
Tsuyu shifted around to walk in the direction of the front door while smoothing down her green sleeveless shirt and light blue shorts. Her lily pad-adorned sandals made a small squishing noise with every step she took.
"Sup, Frog Girl whose name I already forgot!"
Mei moved past Tsuyu, entering the green-haired girl's house while carrying a small gift box in her right hand and, most importantly, without taking off her shoes.
Stunned by the girl's shameless behavior, Tsuyu remained frozen for a few instants until a cold sinister voice snapped her out of it.
"It's fine... I honestly didn't believe you would show up when I invited you, we haven't really spoken at all."
Tsuyu closed the door once Metal was inside the house. She guided her classmate through the small corridor leading into the living room. Pictures of her family hung on the wall, showing that despite their absence Bell and Ganma did what they could to keep the kids happy.
"—You have to press this little button below the cape aaaand..."
"I AM THE MIGHTIEST IN THE UNIVERSE!"
Samidare and Satsuki clapped at the same time as the mini-figure of Metal did a backflip on top of the coffee table.
Even though the thing was small enough to carry in one hand, it still managed to retain some degree of Metal's... Metalness.
Both siblings looked up from the mini-Metal to find the real Metal standing in the entrance of their living room.
The kids gasped in surprise before rushing towards the robot and clinging to separate arms each.
"Can you do the thing?!"
"Yeah! The spinning thing!"
Knowing the machine's personality, Tsuyu was about to step forward and pry her younger siblings off, but she stopped as Metal's arms rose up slightly and his torso began rotating, letting the kids use it as an improvised carousel.
'Maybe Hagakure is right... he's a tsundere.'
---
[Sunday - Vocaloid Karaoke - Jiro POV]
'She's not half bad...'
♫Baby, you'll be famous, chase you down until you love me! Pa-Paparazzi!♫
Sakuya, Mineta, Yaoyorozu, Kaminari, Mei, and Jiro gave a round of applause from their spots on the red U-shaped couch. Toru giggled and bowed, then she hopped off the stage leaving the mic free.
"So who's next?"
"I vote for Jiro! Her Quirk is sound-based, she has to know how to sing!"
Kaminari said, which earned him a stab in his right arm. Unfortunately for Jiro, the dunce wasn't the only one thinking that.
"Maybe Kaminari is onto something... I vote for Jiro too!"
"Second that!"
"Same over here, start singing, funny earlobes girl or whatever your name is!"
'What?'
"You do seem to have some extensive knowledge when it comes to music. I also would like to see you play if it's okay with you, of course."
'Not you too, Yaomomo...'
"Sing!"
"Sing!"
"Sing!"
"Sing!"
Only Metal and Sakuya remained quiet, and Jiro knew that was only because they couldn't really care less.
'Actually... that gives me an idea!'
"Okay, okay, hush, I'll sing but on one condition!"
The petite girl pointed directly at the robot on the other side of the couch.
"The toaster has to sing with me!"
'I'm a genius, there's no way Metal succumbs to peer pressure!'
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...
"H-Huh?"
Everyone's cheers went ignored by Jiro as her hopes and dreams were shattered with each step Metal took towards the podium.
She poked herself with one of her jacks to check if she was dreaming, and the pain confirmed that she wasn't.
"W-Wait! You're only doing it to get on my nerves!"
'I should have chosen the maid! This guy is a total ass!'
Without any other option Jiro accepted her fate and rose from her seat. She stepped onto the wooden podium with the same energy a death-row prisoner would have on their execution date.
"Oh! Oh! Metal, that one!"
"Yes! That one!"
The machine nodded at his creator's request before pointing over his shoulder to an electric guitar hanging by the wall.
"How do you know that?"
'Why, Mom? Why?'
After letting out a grumble, Jiro took hold of the red guitar and made sure the black strap was positioned correctly on her shoulder.
"Wait, I'm missing a pick!"
'Yes!'
"Oh, that's okay, I can create one."
'No!'
Tiny sparkling particles gathered in Yaoyorozu's palm as she activated her Quirk. Jiro watched in dismay as a little triangle emerged from her friend's skin. It wasn't long until the process was done and the class president gently tossed the piece of equipment to her classmate, who had to force herself to catch it.
'Whatever, I'll just get it done and never talk to any of these people again.'
The girl shifted her body so she could correctly face the screen in charge of displaying the lyrics and notes of the incoming song.
BRRAANG!
The electric guitar roared through the speakers in the corners of the small room as Jiro gave the strings their first flick and began singing at the same time.
♪We won't! Back down! We won't!♪
Metal gently took the microphone from its stand as the next lyrics appeared on the screen, though he didn't need them.
<♫I'm here to go beyond my limit not to compromise, and you can tell me if I mean it lookin' in my eyes! Cause I've been waitin' for my moment to strike so come close, let me show you what it's like, yeah!♫>
Toru and Mei looked at each other and nodded before taking out their phones to record the show.
<♫You can try to stand in my path but you're gonna regret it, I'll be the last who laughs last while I'm making my exit, cause this is only for the strong of heart, nod if you get it and no matter what the outcome you better accept it!♫>
Yaoyorozu's activated her Quirk once more, this time to create a few glowing sticks which she handed to her classmate's Mineta also did his part and tapped the light switch to turn off the lights.
♪I can cut right through steel! I can bury the pain! So don't doubt for a second! Just get out of my way! You cheat and you steal, I'm not letting it go! So take this is a lesson cause it's all that we know!♪
Jiro inhaled deeply to prepare herself while steam left Metal's body causing his waist cape to sway softly.
BRRAANG!
♪WILL THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW YOUR NAME! WHEN WE DANCE WITH DESTINY!? I'VE BEEN THERE! AND I'VE SEEN IT! I'M NEVER GONNA STOP BELIEVING!♪
'I...'
<♫♪YOU'LL FIND YOUR FLAMEEEE!♪♫>
'Kinda like this actually...'
---
[Next Day - Musutafu - Train Station - Metal's POV]
"I hope none of you forgot your costumes."
All kinds of people, from businessmen to mothers with their children, filled the station, all of them staring with curiosity at the famous Class 1-A that stood together in the middle of the station, listening to their teacher's last instructions before they went separate ways to their corresponding agencies.
"Keep a good eye on those suitcases. If any of you lose your suits, then it's coming out of your pockets, got it?"
"Got it, teach!"
Said an excited Ashido as she hopped from one foot to the other while holding her suitcase above her head. Sadly, Aizawa didn't look too amused by the sight as he spoke up in a flat tone.
"It's 'Yes, Sir.' Have manners, especially in public."
"Y-Yes, Sir..."
Aizawa didn't pay any attention to the pink girl that deflated as a balloon. He tucked his hands into the pockets of his baggy pants. He continued his speech after letting out a now too familiar tired sigh.
"Make sure to be respectful to the Heroes you'll be working with. The last thing you want is to gain a bad reputation and not get any offers in the future."
"Yes, Sir!"
The underground Hero nodded his head at the class's confirmation, then his eyes shifted to look at the resident robot.
"That goes twice for you, Metal. Power Loader told me what happened at the Sports Festival. Start learning how to hold back your tongue."
"Be nice!"
Toru used her metallic suitcase to bonk her classmate on top of his smooth forehead, just below his small ears. A loud 'CLANK' sound rang across the station, pulling even more attention to the students.
"You have to stop at Tokyo, right? I was born there!"
"I would slap you if you weren't made out of titanium or whatever!"
Aizawa let out another sigh and made a lazy gesture with his head towards the stairs leading up to the train platforms.
Both Metal and Toru started walking to the stairs on their left. Just as they were going up the first steps, a loud voice stopped them in their tracks.
"HOLD IT!"
Metal's head spun around to face his creator as she ran towards him, waving her arms up and down. Behind the girl were also the other two Hatsumes, who gave a small wave.
"Of course not! The yellow bucket man is very nice and let me leave so I could bring you this!"
Mei held out her hand and opened her palm to show Metal a small pink USB. The robot's torso rotated, and he held out his left arm, already knowing what Mei wanted.
A rectangular lid placed between two of the white lines on the machine's arm lifted up with a quiet hiss, revealing multiple ports for all kinds of connectors.
"What's that for?"
Toru asked as she looked over Metal's black curved shoulder as Mei connected the USB.
"A small something that should help with my baby's reaction time! Fresh out of the oven!"
[Update In Progress...
10%...
30%....
59%...
69%...
83%...
100%...
Auxiliary Processing Module -> Strategic Analysis & Guidance Engine...
Update Completed Successfully
---
Core Systems:
Neural Processor: Online...
Strategic Analysis & Guidance Engine: Inactive...
Ego Integration: 16%...
Combat Algorithms: 93%...
Adaptive Learning: Online]
Suddenly, a three-note chime sounded through the station before being replaced with a female voice coming out of the intercoms.
"This is the Tokaido Shinkansen bound for Tokyo. We will be departing shortly. Please stand clear of the doors."
"Remember, don't open that suitcase! Now shoo, shoo!"
Metal's body snapped back into its previous position as he sprinted up the stairs after Mei yanked the USB out of his arm.
He sprinted up the stairs, weaving around multiple people, only to see Toru already boarding the train as the doors slowly closed. The robot dropped his suitcase and gave it a small kick, sending it skidding across the floor and into the train.
Vrrrrt!
"Cool entrance, very movie-like. I give it a seven out of ten! Good job!"
Toru clapped a few times as Metal went back to being a full robot instead of a spiky blue ball.
The machine picked up his suitcase by the handle before following his classmate to their seats at the back of the fancy-looking carriage.
"Isn't it cool that U.A. got us first-class seats?! This looks more like a plane! Though I asked Ashido about hers, and she got a normal train. I wonder why..."
"You sound just like Iida. Speaking of him... he's been really quiet, don't you think? Didn't even come to the hangouts..."
"I hope he's okaaayy..... You've got to be shitting me."
Metal looked down the row through his classmate's transparent head, only to find one of his opponents from the Sports Festival sitting by the window in a cushioned blue seat.
"The fuck you staring at?"
Toru gave Metal a few pats on the back, on the small spike just above his thruster, as she spoke up in a solemn tone.
"Now I'm glad I get off at Yokohama."
---
[One Hour And Five Minutes Later - Metal's POV]
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"Invisi-hoe has been gone for at least ten minutes... so why the fuck haven't you moved to her seat, Clanker?!"
Bakugo tore his gaze away from the passing scenery outside, a blur of apartment blocks, warehouses, elevated highways, and endless tracks occasionally interrupted by flashes of blue between the buildings, and turned his attention to the empty seat on Metal's left.
"Move!"
"I don't give a shit. Now move."
Metal took his head from his lap—Which he had taken off to not hurt the soft coverings alongside rotating his torso around—and put it on the seat.
"No, I'm not freaking happy!"
"Because I'm talking to a headless freak!"
"And why do you care, huh?"
"Fucking piece of shit..."
Bakugo turned his head to look outside once more with a scowl on his face, resting his chin on a closed fist while his elbow sat on the armrest. He let out a grumble and stayed quiet after that.
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"How did yo—"
The blonde let out a scoff while keeping his eyes focused on the outside.
"No one likes losing, now fuck off."
"I would hate you even more if you did."
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...
Bakugo used the side of his shoe to nudge the suitcase resting on the floor between Metal's legs without glancing away from the window.
"You're naked all the damn time, what's in there?"
"So you could be carrying a bomb? Fan-fucking-tastic."
Metal's classmate let out an amused huff.
"Ain't that the truth..."
A chime sounded through the carriage, getting the attention of all the passengers.
"We will shortly be arriving at Tokyo Station. Please make sure you have all your belongings before disembarking."
"You're going to Tachikawa, aren't you?"
"Then take the Chuo Line once we get off."
"I couldn't give half a shit! I'm just making sure invisi-bitch won't be on my ass if you get lost!"
---
[Yokohama City - Edgeshot Agency - 'Invisi-bitch' POV]
"Achoo!"
"Girl, are you getting a fever? Cuz that would totally ruin the vibe, no cap."
Toru rubbed her nose with the back of her glove while shaking her head at the girl sitting cross-legged on the tatami floor just like her.
"I'm fine, Utsushimi. It was just a sneeze."
"You can call me 'Camie.'"
Suddenly, the fusuma door slid open as the owner of the agency took a look inside before speaking in a smooth and calm tone.
"I ordered you to be quiet for at least half an hour. Add ten minutes to that for making noise."
With his part said, Edgeshot closed the door, leaving the girls alone once more in the small empty room.
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...
"He's so cool, isn't he?"
"Totes! Have you seen how he walks around with his eyes closed? Makes my temperature rise, on God, for real."
"I guess that's why you can't write 'Edgeshot' without the 'hot.'"
"Oh my gosh! Girl! My 'Camie Senses' are tingling, and they're telling me we're going to be, like, besties and stuff!"
The fusuma slid open again.
"Another ten minutes, and no bathroom breaks."
'Now I wish I was a robot so I wouldn't have to pee... Hmm, I wonder how Metal is doing, probably better than me.'
---
[Forty Minutes Later - Tachikawa City - Metal's POV]
After getting off at the Tachikawa Station, Metal followed the quickest route towards the Ryukyu Agency.
Everything was going fine; tall buildings with giant windows reflecting the sunlight, people walking to and from work, cars going down the road, groups of teenagers here and there, some couples holding hands inside restaurants, and people staring at him like a circus attraction.
But somewhere along the way, things went south when a girl with long periwinkle blue hair wearing the U.A. uniform saw him, approached, introduced herself, and then decided it would be a good idea to follow him around while firing question after question.
"Do you have to pee?"
"How do you scream without a mouth?"
"Can you feel pain?"
"What's your favorite tea flavor? Mine's jasmine!"
Nejire's wide, round eyes gave a few slow blinks at the clear warning. She let out a small hum and remained silent as she continued walking beside the smaller robot with a slight skip to her step.
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"Would that land you in prison?"
[Someone get this thing away from me. Now.]
"And why does your voice sound like tha—"
[Current Sound Sensors Sensitivity: 90% -> 0%
---
Peace.]
Metal's lens almost glowed even more than usual as the world around him went completely silent; no barking dogs, no car honks, no couples kissing, no busy workers talking on the phone, and no upperclassman asking three hundred questions per second.
He stopped at a red light in a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change, with Nejire's lips still moving as she kept asking questions.
Sadly, the machine's internal peace was cut short as a pop-up in his internal HUD notified him of someone tapping his back, forcing him to activate his hearing as he spun his torso to face backwards, making his waist-cape sway with the motion.
Splash!
"Oops, sorry, buddy, my hand slipped."
The red-haired teen touched Metal's right ear with the bottom of his now-empty water bottle before turning around and walking away, laughing with his group of friends.
[Annoying parasite.
---
Ego Integration: 16% -> 19%
---
Flamethrower: Ready (5%)
---
Since his parents didn't want to raise him, I'll do it for them. The only price is a scar.]
"Jeez, what's wrong with those idiots?"
After giving the retreating group the stink eye, Nejire began wiping Metal's face with a small blue handkerchief decorated with lilies. She made sure not to miss a single drop of water before folding the fabric and tucking it back into one of the pockets of her uniform blazer.
As she inspected Metal's polished façade, a beeping sound came from the pedestrian signal at the other side of the crosswalk, getting her attention.
"Let's go! Ryukyu's Agency is just a few blocks down the street!"
[Lucky parasite.]
---
[Same Day - ??? - ??? POV]
"Here, girl, eat something..."
The shirtless man crouched down and dropped a few pieces of meat into the water tank, where an animal resembling an electric eel tore into them within seconds.
'What an appetite, reminds me of my brother...'
"Deathwish..."
The beast of a man glanced at the camera in the corner of the laboratory as the raspy, breathless voice of his boss called out to him.
"Didn't I tell you not to feed Specimen GTL-5?"
"I couldn't give less of a crap, and her name is Maw."
Deathwish put his hands on his knees and pushed himself up, standing to his full height. His long brown hair fell down his scarred back in two thick braids that swayed with each movement of his body.
The man's yellow eyes stared right back at the camera as he raised his hand and pointed at it with his right index finger.
"You promised me a fight to the verge of death in exchange for guarding this place, and all you've given me is F-tier Heroes who are more useless than a punching bag. You have two days to hold up your end of the deal, or I'm destroying this shithole myself."
"Oh, so impatient... so eager... makes my stomach growl just by looking at you... tell me, how does killing the Sports Festival winner and the No. 9 Hero sound to you?"
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---
Here's an image of who Mineta was trying to bag in case you're curious.
I started writing this chapter straight from the train station scene but then i stopped to think and realized we didn't really get much scenes of the characters just being them, yes there were some here and there but i don't think it was enough
you can call it filler or whatever but in my opinion scenes like that make everything feel much more alive and impactful, after all it wouldn't make sense for a character to worry for another when they've barely spoke, right?
also i couldn't have a Metal Sonic fanfic without one of sonics bangers, that shit has to be ilegal and i like my freedom thank you very much also if i fucked up any of the locations then uhhh.... blame google maps lol