Rumi Rabbit

Akaeru, for the first time since the fight, seemed to falter. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face, a crack in the facade of cold defiance. Here was someone who didn't condemn him, who seemed to understand his actions, even approve of them.

Aizawa seized the opportunity. "Mirko," he began carefully, "perhaps you could…"

All Might cut him off, his voice firm. "No, Eraserhead. This needs to be handled delicately. We don't know what kind of influence another hero, even one as experienced as Mirko, might have on him right now."

Mirko scoffed. "Always so cautious, All Might. Sometimes, the best way to teach a lion is to let it roar."

The tension in the dome thickened, a clash of ideals brewing between the two veteran heroes. Aizawa watched, torn between the hope Mirko's presence offered and the fear of what it might unleash.

Suddenly, Akaeru swayed on his feet, his exhaustion finally catching up to him. The reckless use of his quirk had drained him, leaving him pale and trembling.

All Might, his voice stern but tinged with concern, took a step towards Akaeru. "Young man, you need medical attention."

Akaeru stumbled back, his eyes flashing defiance for a fleeting moment before his body gave way. He collapsed onto the bloodstained floor, unconscious.

All Might, his usual booming voice subdued, turned towards Aizawa. "Take him to Recovery Girl. We'll need to discuss this… later."

Aizawa nodded grimly. He knew the weight of this responsibility. This wasn't just about helping a troubled student; it was about safeguarding UA, about ensuring a hero like Akaeru wouldn't become the very villain he sought to destroy.

As Aizawa followed the stretcher carrying Akaeru, he stole a glance back at All Might. The Symbol of Peace stood amidst the carnage, his face etched with a deep worry. It was a worry that mirrored Aizawa's.

***

All Might, Aizawa, and surprisingly, Mirko all stood in the infirmary room where Akaeru was being treated.

They had to find a way to reach him, to bridge the gap between his warped sense of justice and the true meaning of heroism.

Meanwhile, Mirko, her gaze lingering on the unconscious form of Akaeru, remained silent. A predator assessing its prey, some might say. But in the glint of her eyes, a flicker of something else could be seen—a spark of recognition, but mostly curiosity.

"So, why did nobody tell me about a kid so strong with a mindset similar to my own?" She asked, her voice devoid of judgment.

Aizawa bristled. "He nearly killed them all, Mirko," he snapped.

Mirko snorted. "And was that not deserved? Villains don't exactly come, beat heroes up, and then leave. They kill them, Eraserhead."

Aizawa clenched his jaw. He disagreed with her methods, but there was no denying she had a point.

All Might, however, seemed to be considering something. He cleared his throat, his voice regaining its usual booming quality despite his weakened state. "Mirko," he began, "I'll need to ask you a favor. Akaeru's power is immense, but his control… mentally, at least, is nonexistent. We need someone to… guide him."

Mirko's predatory grin widened. "Guide him, huh? What are you saying? You want me to take him out to the city and teach him control?"

Aizawa's blood ran cold. He couldn't believe All Might was even entertaining the idea. Though Akaeru was stronger than any hero he knew, even including All Might, he was still just a kid. Handling villains too early might not be good on his growth.

All Might held up a hand, silencing Aizawa's objection. "We both know he's a ticking time bomb, Eraserhead. Expulsion won't solve anything. He needs guidance—a mentor who can understand his… justice."

Mirko chuckled, a sound devoid of humor. "I like a challenge." Her gaze met Akaeru's unconscious form. "He's got the fire. Just needs someone to point it in the right direction… or the right villain."

A tense silence followed. Aizawa stared between All Might and Mirko, his mind racing. This was extremely unorthodox. Yet, a sliver of hope flickered within him. Maybe, just maybe, Mirko's unorthodox methods were exactly what Akaeru needed.

All Might finally broke the silence. He looked at Mirko, his expression unreadable. "Are you serious about this, Mirko?"

Mirko's grin turned feral. "Always. Besides," she added, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "wouldn't it be interesting to see what we can turn him into?"

Aizawa wanted to argue, to protest. But deep down, he knew they were out of options. Akaeru was a ticking time bomb, and with this personality of his that had surfaced, Mirko was the only thing that could even hope to contain him, to mold him into something… more.

With a heavy sigh, Aizawa conceded. "Alright, Mirko. Take him. But know this—you're walking a tightrope. One wrong move, and you'll answer to all of us."

Mirko threw her head back and laughed, a harsh, grating sound that echoed through the sterile room. "Don't worry, Eraserhead," she said, her eyes glinting with a dangerous amusement. "This little tiger is in good hands. We're going to have a blast."

***

Waking up in the sterile white room of the UA infirmary, he was greeted by the stoic face of Aizawa. Relief washed over him, a stark contrast to the dread that had gripped him in his dreams.

"You're awake," Aizawa said, his voice neutral. "Recovery Girl says you're good to go, with some restrictions of course."

As Aizawa explained the restrictions on his quirk, a flicker of annoyance crossed Akaeru's face. He wasn't used to limitations. But the exhaustion that washed over him was a stark reminder of his recklessness. It was stupid trying a new technique during a fight.

The door creaked open, shattering the sterile silence. A woman, all toned muscle and white hair, swaggered in, exuding an aura of raw power that made the air crackle. Her grin held a hint of something dangerous, something both thrilling and unsettling. Though her white bunny ears were the msot eye-catching thing about her.

Akaeru narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?" he asked, the question laced with suspicion and a hint of defiance.

The woman raised her head high and cracked a wide grin. "Someone who's going to show you how to hold back a little," she said, her voice a playful growl. "The name's Mirko, Rabbit Hero. And you," she leaned closer, her eyes glinting with a predatory amusement, "are coming with me."

Akaeru's voice, though weak, held a sliver of his defiance. "Coming with you? Where?"

Mirko chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down Aizawa's spine. It was a sound that promised both danger and a twisted kind of fun. "To a place where you can learn to control that wild little brutality of yours," she said.

Akaeru shifted a little in apprehension at the idea.

Mirko, sensing a shift in his demeanor, leaned back a bit. "Don't worry, kid," she said, her voice losing some of its playful edge. "I won't turn you into some sunshine and rainbows hero. But I can teach you how to be a force to be reckoned with, the kind that villains fear and some… well, some might even respect."

Aizawa opened his mouth to protest again, but All Might placed a hand on his shoulder. The Symbol of Peace's gaze held a glint of worry, but also a spark of hope. "This is a chance, Eraserhead. A chance to turn Akaeru into something… less than a hero, but not a villain."

A tense silence followed, filled only with the sterile hum of the infirmary equipment. Akaeru looked from All Might to Aizawa, then back to Mirko. The unorthodox hero stood with her arms crossed, a confident smirk plastered on her face.

He clenched his bandaged fist, a flicker of the old defiance returning. "Alright," he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "Take me with you. But make no mistake," he locked eyes with Mirko, a dangerous glint mirroring hers, "I won't be anyone's puppet."

Mirko's smirk widened. "Good," she said, her voice laced with a hint of approval. "I wasn't planning on it."

Rumi then thought of something, and spoke her mind. "You seem mistaken though. We'll meet only on weekends. After all, it's not like you've been expelled from UA."

That surprised Akaeru a little, but he still nodded. This was better for him anyways; now he could still see Nejire whenever she had time, and Himiko every day.

***

The next day, after explaining everything to Himiko the night before, Akaeru kissed her goodbye like usual, and went to class again.

As he walked in, he could hear the murmurs of his classmates

The classroom door creaked open, a hush falling over the animated chatter as all eyes rushed towards Akaeru. He confidently walked in like usual, unperturbed by the gossip. The events of USJ were still fresh in everyone's minds, the news broadcasted on every channel, painting him as a hero one moment, a potential villain the next.

"Did you see him use his quirk on that bat villain?"

"It was terrifying! He just… broke his leg with no mercy!"

"I bet he would have killed all of them if not for him overusing his quirk."

'Would have killed them all.' The memory of the fight flickered in his mind—he regretted not being able to do so.

He caught sight of Bakugo, his lips curling into a sneer. The explosive blond had always looked at him with a rivalry fueled by misplaced confidence. Now, however, Bakugo's eyes held a spark of something that resembled fear.

The rest of the class, however, seemed less enthusiastic. Even Mina a pink-skinner girl, usually a walking ray of sunshine, averted her gaze, a tremor of unease flitting across her face.

They didn't understand. He'd done what needed to be done. He'd used his power, his raw, untamed power, to stop them. And if it meant rewinding time a few dozen times to ensure their demise, he wouldn't hesitate to do it again. He had simply gotten rid of trash who resembled his previous family.