13: Change of Pace

•-•-•-•-•

Just right after Kurogiri warps both him and Shigaraki back to their bar...

"Sensei... We were completely defeated... Even Nomu was done in by... that brat!!!" Shigaraki says as he decays a stool.

He adds, "Even the fodders were defeated in an instant... The children were very capable... All Might was there! HE WAS RIGHT THERE! KUROGIRI!"

"Tomura, calm down... Take this experience and learn from it. But, has Nomu's body been retrieved?" said the voice to Shigaraki, then asked Kurogiri.

"No, I'm afraid not. By now, I believe that he has been captured."

"Oh? Even though I went as far as loading him up with power that rival All Might's... What a shame..."

"Power... Like All Might's?... That reminds me... Sensei! There was a kid whose punch was comparable to All Might's!" he shouted.

".....Really?..." after an eerily long silence, the voice replies.

"But the other kid... That BRAT. That wretched brat!!! He made me drop Father's hand when he blasted that staff!!!" Shigaraki exclaimed.

"Tomura. There's no use crying over it. After all, today was not entirely in vain. Gather a new group! Hand-picked by you! Take all the time you need. A Symbol like you is necessary. Shigaraki Tomura, next time, show the world the true horror of your existence!" the voice said with great vigor.

After that, the "Voice Only" sign flickers as the voice disappears.

In an abandoned warehouse, we see an eyeless man, a grin plastered on his face. As his body moved, so did the countless tubes that are connected to him.

"So, it seems like All Might has chosen his successor... Well, it doesn't matter. He will still die... Like the ones before him..." said the man, as he laughed.

•-•-•-•-•

{Akira POV}

As I walk towards my classroom, I feel gazes, followed by whispers. Sigh. There are always gossipers wherever you go... Even in a different universe.

I arrive at Class 1-A and go to my designated seat. As usual, I am early, so there are very few students present.

I see Momo seem bothered by something. So, I talk to her.

"Good morning, Momo-san." I greet.

She replies, "Ah! Good morning, Akira-san."

"You seem bothered by something. Want to talk about it? It's alright if you don't want to." I ask her.

"N-no. It's alright. It's just, U.A. was invaded by Villains or League of Villains as they called themselves. What if that happens again? Also, what if we're targeted by those Villains? If that's the case, then our families aren't safe!" she said, panic bubbling within her.

With both my hands, I grab her shoulders and she faces me.

"Momo, first, you're worried that the Villains are able to invade again. But, why do you think U.A. closed for a few days? The Principal was most presumably upgrading the defense system to the max." As I say that, her face calms down a little.

"Also, we are not targeted. They came for All Might. If the Villains came for us, then we would have been their priority. We were only at the wrong place at the wrong time. And if that were the case, I am willing to believe that U.A. is not going to let anything happen to their students or their families." I add with a serious face.

I continue, "So, relax. If you keep thinking about What Ifs, then you won't be able to enjoy yourself."

After that, both of us notice that I still have my hands on her shoulder.

"*Ahem*. M-my bad."

She replies as her cheeks turn into a rosy-pink shade, "N-no, it's okay, Akira-kun."

She adds, with a pretty smile, "Thank you for calming me down."

I already know this, but she really is beautiful. And with her hair down, she would look even more stunning. You know... If I ever have a girlfriend, I wouldn't mind it if it's her... Her personality is pleasant, we have similar interests, and our quirks are compatible...

B-but, I'm going to focus on my Goals. And having a girlfriend is not on it. Maybe once I become a Hero, then I can look for a girlfriend...

So, putting my thoughts about my love life aside, I reply,

"You're welcome, Momo-san. And if you ever need someone to talk to, then I'm here."

...

{General POV}

After calming down Momo, she and Akira talked about what their parents' reactions were once they knew about the Incident. This went on for a couple of minutes until Tokoyami arrived. Both of them greeted him and added the bird boy to their conversation.

[A/N: Bird Boy!?? Lmao, I definitely wrote this late at night...]

...

More time passes, until the bell rings, signifying that the Homeroom Period has begun.

As the students were talking about who would take the place of Aizawa for a while, a mummy walks in.

"Morning, class." it says.

"Ehhhhh!! Aizawa-sensei?"

"You're already back??" exclaimed the whole class, except a few people.

"S-sensei, are you all right?" asked Iida, voice full of worry.

"I am. But anyway, no need to concern yourselves over me. After all, your battle has not yet ended..." he said in a very serious voice.

"The Battle?"

"Is it the... Villains?"

"N-no!"

Aizawa continues, "The U.A. Sports Festival is fast approaching!"

And almost the whole class exclaims, "...OH YEAH! SOMETHING SCHOOL-LIKE!"

****

What did you think of the chapter? Was Akira and Momo's interaction all right?