[Shizuoka Clinic]
The lobby was quiet after Aizawa left to speak with the station chief.
In the room, Uraraka was frantically typing on her phone, until ...
The messages had been comforting in their own chaotic way, but they also reminded her of how close things had come to going terribly wrong.
A soft knock on the doorframe made her look up.
Yuta stood in the doorway, his duffel bag slung over his good shoulder.
"Hey, you ready to go?"
Uraraka blinked, then looked down at herself, still in the hospital gown they'd given her earlier. Her eyes went wide.
"Oh no! I completely forgot!" She scrambled off the bed, nearly tripping over her own feet as she grabbed her bag. "I got so caught up in the group chat that I .... give me like two minutes! I need to change back into my uniform!"
"Take your time," Yuta said, stepping back into the hallway. "Aizawa-sensei is still talking with the police. We've got a bit before we need to leave."
"Two minutes!" Uraraka repeated, already digging through her bag frantically. "I promise!"
The door clicked shut, and Yuta heard the sound of frantic rustling from inside. He leaned against the wall, pulling out his own phone, or rather, the temporary flip phone the clinic staff had lent him after his got destroyed. The screen was small and pixelated, a relic from another era.
'I really need to get a new phone,' he thought, flipping it closed.
True to her word, Uraraka emerged exactly two minutes later, properly dressed in her U.A. uniform, her hair hastily smoothed down. Her face was still slightly flushed from the rush.
"Okay! Ready now!" she announced, a bit breathlessly.
Yuta pushed off the wall. "You good?"
"Yeah, yeah. Sorry about that." She adjusted her bag strap, then held up her phone. "The girls' group chat is blowing up. Mina and Toru are going nuts."
"You should probably tell them you're okay," Yuta suggested.
"I did!" She tapped the screen one last time and sighed. "I told them we had a 'minor detour' and that you're interning with Aizawa-sensei now. Hagakure is already asking if it's because you're his secret favorite."
Yuta let out a dry huff. "If being his favorite means jumping out of trains and getting shot, they can have the title."
Uraraka laughed, though it came out a bit nervous. "Yeah, I don't think anyone's volunteering for that."
They started walking down the hallway together. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Yuta remained silent, not out of choice but due to his ignorance on what to say in this situation.
Like many boys his age, he wasn't much of a conversation starter, hence talking with girls had never been his strong suit. As a result, an awkward silence settled between them. Thankfully, the journey to Mr. Aizawa wasn't long.
They walked out of the clinic together, stepping into the late afternoon sunlight. A police car was waiting outside, engine idling. Aizawa stood beside it, arms crossed, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"Uraraka," he said. "Your train leaves in forty-five minutes. We'll drive you to the station."
"Thank you, Sensei."
The ride was quiet. Uraraka sat in the back seat with Yuta, watching the city blur past the window. Every so often, she'd glance at him, but he was staring out his own window, lost in thought.
Finally, she spoke. "Are you okay?"
Yuta blinked, turning to look at her. "Yeah. Why?"
"You just... seem quiet," Uraraka said carefully. "I mean, I know you're always kind of quiet, but this feels different."
Yuta considered that for a moment, then shrugged. "I guess I'm just thinking about what comes next. Interning with Aizawa-sensei is going to be... intense."
"You'll do great," Uraraka said with confidence. "You saved me today, after all. I think you can handle anything Aizawa-sensei throws at you."
"Maybe," Yuta said. Then, after a pause, "Thanks, by the way."
"For what?"
"For being angry on my behalf back then," he said. "Even if it ultimately didn't matter at the end."
He regretted it the moment the words escaped his mouth. Who would seriously say something like that?
He looked from the corner of his eye, only to find Uraraka with lightly red cheeks, waving her hand dismissively.
"Of course I did! You saved my life. The least I could do was make sure you didn't get completely screwed over because of it."
Well technically she was in danger in the first place because of him, but whether she intentionally didn't mention it or forgot, he wasn't dumb enough to point it out
"Still," Yuta said. "I appreciate it."
The car pulled into the station, and Aizawa parked near the entrance. Uraraka grabbed her bag and stepped out, Yuta following close behind.
[SHIZUOKA STATION – 4:00 PM]
The afternoon sun was beginning to dip, casting long, orange shadows across the platform.
Commuters rushing to catch their trains, announcements crackling over the loudspeakers, the clatter of wheels on tracks.
Uraraka stood by the doors of the police car, her duffel bag clutched tightly. She looked at Yuta, her expression a mix of lingering worry and relief.
"So," she said, trying to sound upbeat. "I guess this is where we part ways, huh?"
"For now," Yuta said. "Good luck at Gunhead's. Learn a lot."
"I will!" Uraraka said brightly. Then her smile faltered slightly. "You'll be careful, right? I know you can handle yourself, but... those villains are still out there."
"I'll be fine," Yuta assured her. "Aizawa-sensei won't let anything happen to me. And besides, I'm harder to kill than I look."
"That's not funny," Uraraka said, though she was smiling again.
There was a brief, awkward silence. Then, before Yuta could react, Uraraka stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a quick, tight hug.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "For saving me."
Yuta froze, his brain momentarily short-circuiting. He wasn't used to this physical affection from classmates, gratitude expressed so openly. It took him a second to recover, but eventually, he patted her back awkwardly.
"You're welcome," he said.
Uraraka pulled back, her cheeks slightly pink. "Okay! I should go before I miss my train. Good luck with Aizawa-sensei!"
"Yeah. You too."
She turned and hurried toward the platform, waving once over her shoulder before disappearing into the crowd.
Yuta stood there for a moment, still processing the hug. Then he turned and walked back to where Aizawa was waiting by the car.
"Ready?" Aizawa asked.
"Yeah," Yuta said.
"Good. Get your things. We're catching the next Shinkansen."
Yuta blinked. "We're taking a train? Where are we going?"
Aizawa's expression didn't change. "Hosu City."
[HOSU CITY – 5:00 PM]
Hosu was a city of lights and transit, a hub that never truly slept. Neon signs flickered against the darkening sky, and the streets thrummed with the energy of thousands of people moving through their evening routines. But tonight, beneath the surface, the vibe was off.
High atop a water tower overlooking the central plaza, Tomura Shigaraki sat with his legs dangling over the edge. Beside him, massive, misshapen figures stood motionless in the shadows.
Shigaraki scratched at his neck absently, his pale fingers leaving faint red marks against his skin.
"The stage is almost ready, Kurogiri," he rasped. "Is our guest of honor in position?"
The air beside him shimmered, and Kurogiri's form materialized from the mist.
"Endeavor has just touched down at the local hero office," Kurogiri said, his voice smooth.
"He is agitated. The reports of 'villain sightings' we leaked have done their work. He is looking for a fight."
"Good." Shigaraki's grin was jagged, manic. "And the Hero Killer?"
"Stain is already in the alleys," Kurogiri replied. "He is hunting a minor pro, but he knows the Number Two is coming. He is... eager."
Shigaraki let out a low, grating laugh. "Of course he is. That self-righteous lunatic probably thinks this is his big moment. Let him have his fun. Once Endeavor shows up, we'll give the whole world a show they'll never forget."
He stood, stretching his arms over his head and adjusting the father mask on his face.
"Where did you choose to deploy the Nomu?"
"Two with you now. The remaining four are positioned in the entertainment district, the business sector, and the residential zone. They will activate on your signal."
"Perfect." Shigaraki's grin widened. "Let's tear this city apart."
___
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