"Um, Arthur, how's your recovery going? Everyone's heading back today. If you need more time, I could stay here and take care of you, you know."
Momo Yaoyorozu finally found a chance to speak. She'd been stuck on the sidelines of their conversation.
She was basically warning Melissa.
It wasn't like Momo wasn't angry about Arthur's romantic mess.
Should she just break up with him?
She couldn't bring herself to do it.
Scold Arthur?
If he actually cared about getting scolded, she'd think it was a miracle.
So her best move was to keep Arthur away from Melissa.
No way Melissa could follow him to Japan, right?
"I'm fine. We're leaving today."
Arthur didn't feel like vacationing anymore.
The fact that Izuku Midoriya lost One For All really interested him.
He wanted to find out what happened. Or more like... he wanted to know if the same thing could happen to him.
"Really?"
Momo clasped her hands together, looking way too happy.
Good. No more drama with this girl.
"You're leaving today? Then I'll come see you off."
But to Momo's surprise, Melissa didn't look sad or upset at all. She seemed totally calm.
Did she just give up?
No way?
Momo couldn't figure out what Melissa was planning.
Around noon, Melissa saw everyone off at the airport.
Everyone was ready to board the plane back to Japan.
"Goodbye, Melissa. I'll come visit when I get the chance."
All Might said with a smile, hands on his hips.
"Goodbye, Uncle Might."
Melissa smiled and waved.
"Such a shame. We finally came all the way here and this happened."
"I know, right! But Melissa's dad's device was seriously scary. I was so freaked out."
"Hey, have you heard the rumour? Izuku Midoriya's Quirk got..."
While the Class A students were talking among themselves, Melissa suddenly skipped over to Arthur. She bowed and looked up, then said playfully, "Arthur?"
"Huh?"
Arthur had been watching Izuku Midoriya, who was standing at the back of the line with his head down. He turned his gaze back when Melissa spoke.
"Oh?!"
But the moment Arthur turned his head.
Melissa stood on her tiptoes, grabbed his combat uniform collar with both hands, and kissed him.
"Ahhh!!"
"Whoa, Melissa, that's bold!"
"Dammit, Arthur, that bastard. I'm so jealous!"
"Momo, calm down, calm down, calm down!"
Melissa's kiss threw the whole place into chaos.
Ochaco Uraraka, Toru Hagakure, and the other girls covered their red faces with their hands, but peeked through their fingers anyway.
Denki Kaminari, Hanta Sero, and Minoru Mineta were crying tears of jealousy.
Kyoka Jiro and Mina Ashido, blushing themselves, rushed over to Momo and kept trying to comfort her.
And right then, Momo's gloomy expression was almost as bad as Izuku Midoriya's...
After a moment, Melissa dropped back onto her flat feet, her face flushed. "Goodbye!"
Goodbye?
Would they meet again?
Arthur thought about it.
He touched the lipstick stain on his finger, then turned and walked toward the boarding gate.
"All Might. I need to ask you something later."
As Arthur passed All Might, he said it casually.
"Huh?"
All Might frowned, then quickly waved his hand and shouted to break the tension. "Ahahaha! Everyone get on the plane! Time to head back to school!"
On the flight back to Japan.
Kyoka Jiro was still trying to cheer Momo up.
Izuku Midoriya sat in the very back, next to a worried Tenya Iida.
On the other side, Katsuki Bakugo kept throwing angry looks their way.
"Do you think his Quirk can be restored? Midoriya's, I mean."
Arthur and All Might sat in the front, and Arthur asked.
"That... I don't know."
All Might hesitated, then replied through gritted teeth.
Then All Might seemed to remember something and lowered his voice. "Young Arthur, that bullet was almost definitely made by the Shie Hassaikai. You've tracked them before. Got any thoughts?"
"Their leader, Chisaki Kai. His Quirk should be related to that bullet. He can 'deconstruct' and 'reconstruct' things. Rumour has it he can even bring back people who just died."
Arthur glanced sideways, then chuckled. "I'm more interested in Izuku's Quirk, though. Come to think of it, ever since he enrolled, his Quirk has only been labeled as a 'strength type.' Nobody even knows its actual name, right?"
"Well..."
All Might's expression froze.
"It's just like your Quirk. Everyone knows the general idea, but not the specific ability. And All Might, you're way too concerned about him. Even if you think he has potential, don't you think it's a bit much?"
Arthur smirked.
All Might was speechless.
How could he not worry?
One For All was a powerful Quirk passed down through generations. It had infinite possibilities.
Even All For One couldn't steal it.
If it really got erased, then he, the one who gave One For All to Izuku Midoriya, would be an unforgivable failure.
"Whatever. I don't care that much." Arthur crossed his arms and smiled faintly. "Not really Midoriya's fault. Guess he's just unlucky. But don't you think if he could actually use that power properly, that bullet never would have hit him in the first place?"
All Might's eyebrow twitched hard.
When he thought about it, what Arthur said kind of made sense.
After his work study, Izuku Midoriya did get better at using One For All's power.
But it was still only around 10%. Maybe less.
If he could use it better, this probably wouldn't have happened.
Nighteye had recommended Togata Mirio as One For All's successor more than once.
Arthur had also told him he wanted power as strong as One For All.
Could it be... that he really made the wrong choice?
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.