At noon the next day, the U.A. cafeteria was packed to the brim. The air was filled with the aroma of fresh ramen and fried tonkatsu, along with the loud chatter of hundreds of students. Everyone was still caught up in the excitement of the Sports Festival. As I walked between the tables with a tray in my hands, I felt dozens of curious, admiring, and wary glances directed at me. To the upperclassmen and students from other departments, I was that "monster from the shadows" who had utterly crushed the final rounds.
I ignored it. Sitting down at a corner table by the window, entirely unaffected by the commotion around me, I began eating my meal.
It didn't take long, however, before the silence at my table was broken. A chair across from me slid lightly across the floor, even though at first glance no one was sitting in it—only a floating school uniform was accompanying my solitude.
Toru Hagakure.
"Mind if I sit here, Mephisto?" her cheerful, energetic voice called out, the sleeves of the uniform waving slightly as she gesticulated.
"Go ahead and sit, Toru," I nodded, giving her a brief glance before continuing to eat.
"Gosh, you're so cold-blooded!" she laughed, placing her tray of rice and vegetables on the table. I could tell she leaned closer, her sleeves resting against the tabletop. "Did you know that half the class still thinks you're dangerous? Kaminari is even afraid to say it out loud, but he thinks you're some kind of secret villain! But I think you're actually pretty nice. You helped me and even protected me at USJ! That was really sweet of you."
I set down my utensils and offered Toru a faint smile.
"As for USJ... you were in danger. I wouldn't have let anything happen to you there. We're classmates, Toru. Helping each other is normal."
The uniform across from me froze completely for a second. The sleeves dropped slightly, and a silence emanated from that invisible spot, making it seem as though she had temporarily lost her speech.
"O-oh... wow... Mephisto..." she gasped after a moment, a slight tremor in her voice as she pressed her sleeves to her cheeks. "You're really... you know how to surprise someone. I honestly thought you didn't care about anyone or anything! Kaminari is still a bit terrified of you, but I knew you had a human side in you."
Then her energetic nature returned, and a sleeve pointed curiously toward my bag slung over the chair, where a massive stack of papers was tucked away.
"What about your internship? I heard you received over four thousand offers! That's an absolute U.A. record—you even beat Todoroki! Do you know where you're going yet? Will you choose Endeavor? Or maybe All Might?"
"Hawks and Endeavor have too much media, cameras, and journalists around them," I said evenly, taking a sip of water. "I'm looking for freedom of movement and a place where things actually happen. I don't want to spend a week posing for photographers."
"You really are something," Toru laughed, her uniform swaying merrily. "But you know what? It's actually great having you in class. When you're near, I feel this strange sense of safety. Like someone is holding a protective hand over us."
I looked directly toward the spot where her invisible eyes had to be, sincerity in my gaze.
"As long as I'm nearby, no one will lay a finger on you or the others. You can rely on that."
Toru paused for a second. Her sleeves leaned forward gently, and her whole presence felt strangely soft and warm.
"You know... those shadows of yours at the festival," she spoke a bit more quietly. "That knight... and that other horned entity. When they appeared, it sent chills down my spine, but at the same time, you seemed so incredibly confident. I trust you, Mephisto."
I smiled, a genuine, friendly smile this time. "Thanks, Toru. I appreciate it."
I stood up from the table, picked up my empty tray, and slung the bag with the offers over my shoulder. "Thanks for the pleasant company at lunch."
"N-Not at all! See you in class!" an invisible hand waved at me cheerfully, and I could tell there was a mix of excitement and a faint blush in her voice.
I turned around and walked away down the hallway.