Junsei stood by the window, hands resting loosely at his sides, eyes fixed upon the school grounds below.
The laughter of the people rose among the festival stalls. Families wandered between food stands, smiling, talking lightly over snacks, existing with an ease as if they owned the world.
All of it as Bakugo's voice kept echoing faintly in his mind.
'I'll kill you'
Memories kept stirring. His own helplessness against the humans and the countless times they killed him.
Even now, when he possessed the strength to tear Bakugo apart, he could not act.
Not without consequence. Not without every human turning on him.
Below, they walked freely and happily.
His helplessness bled into anger.
If only he could walk down there, if only he could end their disgusting and sinful existence in a single sweep.
"I finally found you."
The voice interrupted his thoughts.
Junsei turned his head.
Mirko stood a few steps away, hands on her hips, looking at him with a satisfied grin.
"It never crossed my mind that you are a General Studies student," she said.
"You were looking for me?" Junsei asked flatly.
"Of course," Mirko replied. "I wanted to fight you again. But I couldn't figure out where to find you."
Junsei studied her for a moment. "Do you like beating and hurting others that much?"
One of her eyebrows lifted.
"I like the feeling of excitement," she answered, grin widening slightly. "The blood pumping in my veins during a fight. And what's with that tone? You're making it sound like you're the one who got hurt. I'm the one who couldn't move for an hour after you left me in that forest."
Junsei looked back down at the crowd.
"Why not go down there and fight the people below?"
Mirko blinked. "What the hell? Why would I do that? They're weak. Most of them are cowards." She tilted her head toward him. "You, on the other hand, are strong and fearless."
Strong and fearless.
Junsei said nothing.
He felt neither.
If anything, he felt small in the presence of humanity's sheer number. Constrained by it.
He wished that her words were true.
"I am not fighting you," he said at last.
Mirko waved dismissively. "I have no plans to fight you right now. Finish your little competition in peace. Later is a different story." She paused. "By the way, where are you living now? The Yaoyorozu mansion?"
Junsei's gaze shifted back to her. "Do you plan to show up there?"
"I won't approach the mansion," she said. "I'm just curious."
"Yes," Junsei replied. "I am there."
Mirko clicked her tongue sharply. "So that bastard lied to me. Did you know that?"
"Know what?"
"I tried to find you there. The servant told me you didn't live at the mansion."
"Mr. Sai told you that?" Junsei asked.
"Right. That one. He even threatened to call the police."
Junsei fell silent.
Before Mirko could add more, a presence like a rising furnace approached.
The Flame Hero, Endeavor.
Endeavor stopped a short distance away, gaze fixed squarely on Junsei.
"You," he said, voice low and controlled. "You are the one who disqualified my Shoto."
Mirko glanced sideways. "So that brat really is your son? Too bad. He got knocked out early."
The fire around Endeavor's face flared in visible irritation.
"Shoto can wield both ice and fire," he said, ignoring Mirko. "Yet he refuses to use his flames."
His eyes narrowed slightly at Junsei.
"With a display like yours, UA will likely transfer you to the Hero Course. I want you to keep pushing Shoto. Until he accepts his fire side."
Mirko barked a short laugh. "Who asks something like that? Even I know better."
Junsei did not respond.
He turned and began walking away.
Endeavor frowned. "Where do you think you're going? I am not finished."
From around the corner ahead, another towering figure appeared.
All Might.
All Might blinked in surprise at the sight before him.
"Endeavor!" he boomed cheerfully. "We haven't spoken since that press conference ten years ago!" His gaze shifted. "Ah! Young Mori! A dazzling display out there!"
Junsei walked past him without a glance.
All Might froze momentarily as Junsei disappeared around the corner.
Then he laughed, though there was a brief stiffness to it.
Mirko threw her head back. "He's got guts. Ignored the number one and number two heroes in row." She grinned. "I like that brat."
All Might looked at Endeavor with an amused tilt of his head. "So you received the silent treatment as well? Please don't take it to heart. We're not the only ones."
If Endeavor had felt irritation at Junsei's disregard, it deepened into rage at All Might's remark.
Without another word, he turned and strode away, flames trailing behind him.
Mirko laughed louder. "Now, you are ignored twice in a row."
All Might sighed quietly [It won't kill either of you to have the decency to answer back]
——————
By the time Junsei returned to the stadium, the one-on-one event had already started.
At the center of the open field stood a raised rectangular arena. The stands were packed again.
Junsei's gaze shifted to the center of the arena where Shinso stood.
Opposite him was the boy from Class 1-B whose Quirk turned his body into steel, Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu.
The match had barely begun.
There was a brief exchange of words. Then, without warning, Tetsutetsu stepped backward and kept going until he reached the edge and jumped off.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Midnight's voice rang out crisply. "Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu has left the arena! Hitoshi Shinso is the victor!"
Present Mic's voice exploded through the speakers. "This is one of the quickest matches we've seen! It looked like Tetsutetsu was possessed when he walked himself right out of bounds! The second dark horse from Class 1-C takes the win!"
Midnight gestured toward the exit. "Please clear the arena. Next competitors, prepare yourselves."
Present Mic continued, practically vibrating with excitement. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, a match many have been waiting for! A promising hero with one of the hardest bodies against another dark horse from Class 1-C! Eraser Head, who has the upper hand?"
A tired, measured voice answered over the broadcast "Kirishima has one of the strongest defensive Quirks in the course. But Junsei holds the advantage in speed and strength."
"Oh!" Present Mic exclaimed. "Not favoring your own student?"
"I'm stating facts," Eraser Head replied, irritation evident even through the speakers.
"Well, you heard him, folks! Will this go to General Studies again or will the Hero Course reclaim some pride?"
Junsei's eyes lifted to the large board above the arena.
Mori Junsei vs. Kirishima Eijiro.
He turned and made his way toward the lower entrance that led beneath the stands.
On the way, Shinso emerged from the corridor, hands in his pockets, faint satisfaction on his face.
"I won," Shinso said simply.
"I know," Junsei replied.
When Junsei passed by Shinso, Shinso spoke again, more quietly. "Do you think I can be a hero?"
Junsei did not slow his pace. "Doesn't matter, you are already where you want to be."
Shinso watched him for a moment. "I'll be waiting to face you."
Junsei did not respond.
He continued toward the arena.
As he stepped into the light, the crowd erupted.
He walked to the center, stopping before Kirishima.
Kirishima's red hair bristled, his expression firm.
"I don't plan on losing here!" he declared. "Don't expect an easy win!"
Junsei remained silent.
Midnight's voice cut through the air.
"Begin!"
Kirishima's entire body hardened instantly, skin transforming into jagged, rock-like armor. With a roar, he charged forward.
Junsei did not move.
He simply watched.
When Kirishima was two feet away from Junsei, he suddenly dropped low, arms shooting forward to wrap around Junsei's legs.
"I can't beat you with speed or strength!" he shouted. "But I can throw you out!"
With a guttural roar, he heaved upward, muscles straining beneath hardened skin.
Junsei did not budge.
Not an inch.
Kirishima's teeth clenched.
"What the hell?" he panted. "How much do you weigh? It is like I am trying to lift an elephant"
Kirishima looked up at Junsei.
Two glowing blue eyes stared down at him.
Kirishima froze at the menacing stare directed at him.
Junsei's hand moved slowly toward his head.
In the next instant, Junsei's fingers closed around Kirishima's skull.
With a single, fluid motion, he lifted and flung him.
Kirishima's hardened body sailed through the air and crashed beyond the arena's boundary.
Midnight did not hesitate. "Kirishima Eijiro is out of bounds! Mori Junsei wins!"
Cheers erupted from the stands.
Junsei looked briefly toward where Kirishima lay, already attempting to rise.
Kirishima had been mistaken. He did not weigh like an elephant. He had chosen a creature with a much bigger mass.
Without acknowledgment of the noise surrounding him, Junsei turned and walked back toward the corridor from which he had come.
Before entering the tunnel, he noticed the bracket in the score board.
Bakugo's name was positioned near his own.
If Bakugo won his match, they would meet next.
Junsei genuinely hoped Bakugo would win.