The locker room was empty.
Ren stood there for a moment, the faint hum of the lights the only sound left behind. Everyone else had already changed. Perfect.
He walked to his locker and changed quickly. Once finished, he folded his suit with care and slid it into his suitcase, locking it shut.
Then—
Ren exhaled slowly.
"…Weld."
His eyes closed.
Deep within him, two forces stirred.
Healing.
And Recovery Girl's quirk.
White light erupted around his body.
Ren's teeth clenched instantly.
Pain tore through him.
Not sharp.
Not sudden.
But deep—like his bones were being rewritten, his nerves braided together incorrectly and forced to adapt.
Sweat poured down his face. His hands trembled. His breath hitched.
"…Guess welding already welded quirks," he muttered through gritted teeth, forcing a crooked smile, "is a bit more difficult, huh?"
The light intensified.
His muscles spasmed. His vision blurred. For a split second, he nearly lost consciousness—
And then—
It stopped.
The pain vanished as abruptly as it had begun.
Ren staggered forward, bracing himself against the locker.
"Hah… hah… hah…"
He was drenched. Hair plastered to his forehead, clothes clinging to his body.
A soft white glow enveloped him once more.
Warmth flowed through his veins, restoring stamina, repairing micro-damage, stabilizing the merge.
Ren straightened slowly.
A smile tugged at his lips.
"I'll call you…" he murmured.
"Seraph."
...
Classes ended without incident.
The sun dipped low, staining the sky in shades of amber and crimson. Students filtered out, voices overlapping, laughter echoing through the campus.
Ren exited the building alone.
It was time to go home—
Or rather…
It would have been.
But today, Ren had other plans.
Quirk hunting.
He adjusted the strap of his bag and started walking—
Then stopped.
At the entrance.
Midoriya was running.
"Kacchan!"
Ren's steps slowed as he watched from a distance.
Bakugo stopped abruptly and turned, his expression dark, irritated.
"What?"
Midoriya halted, shoulders sagging slightly.
He hesitated.
"I thought that…" he began quietly. "Maybe I should tell at least you."
Ren's eyes widened.
…Don't.
"My Quirk…" Midoriya swallowed. "I received it from someone else."
Bakugo stiffened.
"What…?"
"I can't tell you who," Midoriya said quickly. "I can't. But—even if it sounds like something out of a comic—it's the truth."
Bakugo's confusion twisted instantly into anger.
"And I can't even use it properly," Midoriya continued, unaware of the storm building in front of him.
"It's something borrowed. Something I haven't made my own yet."
Ren clenched his jaw.
"That's why I…" Midoriya went on. "I tried to beat you without using it."
"But I couldn't," he admitted. "So in the end, I had to."
Bakugo's hands began to shake.
"I still have a lot to learn," Midoriya said earnestly.
"So one day… I'll make this power mine."
Then he looked straight at Bakugo.
"And I'll surpass you with my own strength!"
Silence.
Then—
"What…?"
Bakugo snapped.
"Something borrowed?"
His body trembled violently now.
"What kind of bullshit are you spouting?!" he roared.
"Why do you keep making fun of me?!"
"So what?!" he shouted.
"Today I lost to you! That's it—that's all!"
But his voice cracked.
"And when I look at that half-frozen bastard…" Bakugo's breath hitched.
"…and at that freak Ren…"
His fists clenched so hard his knuckles whitened.
"I feel like a fucking ant!"
He grabbed his face, dragging his hands down roughly.
"Shit! Shit!"
"I was even agreeing with what he said about me!"
His shoulders shook.
"Shit… shit…"
Tears welled up.
Then he looked at Midoriya.
Even you… Deku…
"From now on…" Bakugo growled, wiping his eyes.
"From now on—I'll become number one!"
He turned sharply, storming away.
"You won't beat me a second time!"
"Shit!"
Ren exhaled slowly.
…That drive.
That refusal to break.
He started to feel something close to respect for Bakugo Katsuki.
A presence shifted nearby.
All Might—already transformed—was moving toward the two boys.
Ren stepped in front of him.
"Stop, old man."
"Huh?"
"Everything's fine," Ren said calmly. "You don't need to worry about Bakugo."
All Might hesitated. "…How did you—"
"I know you," Ren cut in.
Bakugo disappeared into the distance.
All Might relaxed, his form shrinking back into its weakened state.
Together, he and Ren approached Midoriya.
Ren hooked an arm casually around Midoriya's neck.
"Midoriya," he said. "Want to have dinner with me and All Might tonight?"
Midoriya froze.
"H-Huh?"
"I'll make my special dish—"
"Nikujaga?!"
All Might's eyes sparkled. Drool practically escaped his mouth.
Midoriya stared at him, stunned.
Just how good is Ren's cooking?
"I—uh…" Midoriya scratched his cheek, flustered.
"Yes. I'd like that."
"Good," Ren said simply, turning away.
"I'll send you the address."
Then he glanced at All Might.
"You go home first. I've got something to take care of."
He adjusted his bag.
"I'll be back in an hour or two."
To be continued...
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How was this chapter? Liked it?
In the next chapter, he's gonna copy two or three quirks. I intend for them to be like seemingly weak quirks, so if you have any idea, please help me.