Yui blinked, looking up from the holo-display on her hack brace at the buzzer that announced the ten minute heads start was up. She’d decided to take a look at where the other ‘villains’ had decided to go, but none of them had decided to go into the sewer area of the fake city. It was obviously an area that didn’t get much use if the dust was any indicator, and the camera feeds down here were spotty and didn’t have any audio. Maybe she should mention that to Nedzu?
She sighed softly as she leaned against the wall, what was Aizawa thinking? It was obvious that the two of them didn’t get along, what would pairing them up against the other accomplish? Or maybe he was giving them a chance to vent at each other so they could hopefully start on a clean state? She didn’t get it, it just seemed like a bad idea to her.
The exercise seemed like a big game of hide and seek though, it’d be fun to play that without the stress of a grade over their heads. Soft footsteps broke her out of her thoughts, ten minutes, that was faster than she’d suspected. She blinked as her hack brace and the holo-lens powered down. Even her comm was off. Whatever, she’d have to take a look at them after the exercise.
“I’m surprised you thought of the sewers.” Yui turned to face Tomono as he stepped around the corner, the white material of his suit seemed to glow in the dim light.
“Oh, I just had to figure out the best place for a rat to hide.” His tone was nonchalant, though the look in his eyes had her tensing up. That malicious light wasn’t what she was used to seeing from him.
Yui rolled her eyes, keeping her posture loose for whenever he tried to pounce. She always hated this back and forth, Miyu had been a talker: taunting and goading and degrading, the teen would rather just beat her problems into the dirt. “I don’t think I want to hear that from you. Aren’t you sick of the act you put up for the rest of the class?”
“Ha! You know, I knew there was something wrong with you the first day. I’m not the only one putting up an act, am I, Hijack?” He chuckled as she tensed, her fists clenching as she glared at him. “I can’t believe they let a villain into class. Under the guise of ‘reformation’.” His lip curled as he lifted his hands for air quotes.
“I’m not Hijack, you really think U.A. would let an A-rank villain into their school-“ It was like a bony hand clutched at her throat, cutting off her words as ice raced through her veins, her heart beat thudding in her ears. She took a step back, looking around to try to understand where this sudden bout of fear came from when a force slammed into her jaw, snapping her head to the side as she blinked at the teen that was right in front of her.
“Don’t lie to me! I know the truth, my uncle is a member of the Commission.” His voice hardened before he let out a shaky laugh, “Finding out the A-Ranked villain Hijack, who stole billions of yen, who stole information and then those people show up dead, is the thorn in my side? That was rich.”
It’s just his Quirk, fight it! Yui grit her teeth as she ducked under the next punch he swung, going to sweep his legs out from under him only for him to jump up to avoid the move. Normally she'd have gotten him but her limbs were stiff as she combatted the emotions. She held her arms in front of her, watching as he met her stance. “I’m the thorn in your side? Dude, I haven’t done anything to you.”
The ice in her veins melted, her blood going from freezing to boiling as a red-hot heat spread out from her chest. “All you ever do is contradict me! Demean me in front of the class, the teachers. Poke and prod at me with that damned smart mouth of yours. What, you can’t stand the fact that you come from nothing so you have to pick at me?”
“Stop fucking with my head, you spoiled, pompous-“ Yui spat out the words, red tinting her vision as she grabbed the taser staff, the only thing on her mind was making him stop.
“What do you know?!” Tomono snapped, knives in his hands and advancing on her before she could blink. Sparks flashed in the low light as metal scraped together, Yui ignored the burning sensation from the knicks in her fingers. If anything, it added to the fire in her chest. “Do you even realize how hard I’ve worked to get here? Of course you wouldn’t, you bypassed all the criteria just because the principal is interested in the notion of reforming a villain! This isn't the first time he's thrown away safety in the name of an experiment!"
Yui grunted as she shoved him back, surprised by how much force she actually had to use to do it. For being a lanky teen, he had more mass than she thought. The heat in her chest evaporated, a weight on her chest as something clamped down around her heart. Her breath caught in her throat and she was trying to ignore the way her eyes stung with held back tears. The sudden change had her stumbling back into the wall behind her.
“Like it’s even possible. Villains can’t be redeemed. There’s a reason they get sent to Tartarus! All you will do is go back to villainy with whatever secrets you gather here. What will people think then? They’re going to think that any hero can turn to villainy. Is that what you want? Your friends will be the first people anyone will suspect.”
“Don’t. Don’t you fucking bring them into this, they have no-“ Yui growled before he was in front of her again, managing to block him with the staff again as her left arm spasmed.
“They don’t know. Of course they don’t. You really think they’d be caught dead around you if they did?” He rolled his eyes as he side stepped the kick she aimed at his knee. “We’re at a hero school. No one would want you here if they knew the truth. They’d think you were just a villain mole!”
“Shut up!” She hated that her voice cracked, trying to mask it with a jab to his throat with the staff. He grabbed the metal before it could connect, wrenching it from fingers that were somehow numb and throwing it away from them. She grit her teeth as she clenched her fingers, the knicks on them seemed to burn more. Was there something on the blade?
“You know I’m right.” He scoffed as he shook his head, sheathing the knives back into their places. “That’s a pretty powerful numbing agent. It’ll spread throughout your body until you can’t move. It’s not lethal. You might find this funny, but I thought of it after seeing your taser staff. I just thought electricity was a bit too much.”
Yui growled, “What do you fucking want, Tomono? If you have such a problem with me being here, why not take it up with Nedzu? Or, I don’t know? Ask your uncle to try to kick me out if he’s such a big hotshot at the Commission?”
“I don’t need my family to get rid of you.” He snapped, that suffocating weight in her chest coming back again as she tried to get her racing heart to calm. “And you’d really think I’d go to Nedzu? Like you don’t already have him under your Quirk. Oh wait, you don’t use your Quirk, do you?” His eyes flashed dangerously, a harsh laugh escaping his lips.
“Everyone just thinks it’s a simple charm Quirk. And then I have your best friend pegging it almost on the mark. Thanks to your brother? Hah! All my hard work almost undone just because of you. What fucking right do you have to be stepping all over my efforts? With your Quirk, you don’t even have to try! Hell, it’s like a beefier version of mine. And you don’t even use it?! Do you think this is just a joke? You came into our academy of heroes to show how much better a villain can get it done?!"
Yui kept an eye on him as he ranted, trying to ease back away from him. Her whole left arm was numb, she couldn’t even get the fingers to twitch. She froze when his eyes narrowed on her, his posture straightening as he brushed the dust from off his suit. “You asked what I wanted. I want you gone.”
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Yui let out a snort, “Please. You really think I’m going to let you intimidate me? I don’t care what you think of me-“
“What about Nejire, Tamaki and Mirio?” His eyes lit up when her mouth clicked shut, eyes taking on a glow as fire sparked in her chest. “I know my opinion means nothing to you. You’ve made that very clear in class. But, you care what they think. And you know they’d believe me. You’ve seen how effective my Quirk is on our gullible classmates. Even our teachers will see the truth.”
“I mean, we all see how violent you are. You tried to stomp poor Yamashi’s chest in during a sparring session. You’re so reckless, how many times has Recovery Girl had to patch you up? You really think you belong here? You’re better off in the dark with the rest of the villains.”
Yui bit the inside of her cheek as she dug her nails into her hand, trying to get those spiteful words out of her head but it was like they just kept spinning around. “What’s stopping me from just going to Nedzu about this?”
“You don’t have proof. Of anything I said.” He lifted a small black device from his pocket, “This jammed up your communications, didn’t it? So, it’s my word against yours. You might be his prized student, but I’m sure I can convince him you’re just trying to defame me. And I’m sure you already know the Commission is keeping an eye on you, even if it’s not obvious. You’re on a slippery slope, one misstep, one mistake, and they’ll be all over you. They can’t have someone like you making people doubt heroes. No one wants a trouble maker around.”
Yui stumbled back against the wall, her feet dragging on the concrete as she used the wall to support herself. She hated to admit, but he was right. The Commission would use any drama caused by her to argue against her being here. If they could get rid of her, well, they’d probably jump at any chance. And without Nedzu’s reformation plan…where did that leave her? Hell, it'd even impact their plan to defame Endeavor if it was known she was the source of the information. To the public, she’d just be another villain. She’d either have to go on the run or make a whole new identity again.
“I always get my way, Yui. This little matter between us won’t be any different. You have a month to leave on your own volition. Say goodbye to your friends, think of something to tell Nedzu and our teachers. And leave. If you don’t, well, I’m sure you don’t realize just how fast rumors spread in a school environment. You might as well give your friends a happy remembrance of you, before they see you for what you really are.” He flashed a grin as she slid down the wall, leaning down to snap capture cuffs on her, right before the buzzer rang out to signal the end of the exercise.
“I’ll be sure to let sensei know where to get you. Though the numbing agent should start wearing off in about five minutes. And if you try to convince them of what I said, I believe they’d just think you were being a sore loser about the exercise.”
Yui glared at his back as he walked off. Fucking hell. I can’t believe I let him play me like that! She let out a growl, turning her eyes on the camera that was above her head. Once I can move I can check the cameras, maybe they’d have something useful? I need proof to accuse him of anything…Definitely have to get Nedzu to replace the cameras down here now.
She was able to get her fingers to curl when a voice called out. “Problem child?”
“Over here, sensei.” She called back, resting her head against the concrete as he came into view. He raised an eyebrow at her before he sighed softly. Something twisted in her gut, was he disappointed in her? She had failed the exercise…
“The sewers were a good idea. Most students don’t think about going under the city. Can you move at all?”
“I’m getting the feeling back in my fingers.”
“It’ll be a few minutes then. Did you want to wait it out or for me to carry you?” He unlocked the cuffs on her wrists, pocketing them as she flexed her hands.
“I’ll wait. I don’t feel like being a sack of potatoes today.”
He knelt down beside her, taking her hand and applying band aids to the cuts on her fingers. “Don’t be so down, kiddo. You can’t win every exercise. Take this as a learning experience to be better.”
Yui gave a slow nod, opening her mouth to tell him what Tomono said before she shut it. Tomono’s words were swirling around her head. And…hadn’t she already caused Aizawa enough trouble since meeting him? How much more could he take? This was her problem. Her past, her mistakes…she could handle this. All she needed was proof, and how hard would that be to get? She was already digging shit up on Endeavor. It was one of her skills, after all. She cleared her throat, “You’re right, sensei. I underestimated him. I won’t make that mistake again.”
“No need to be so serious, problem child… your jaw is bruising pretty bad, we should get that looked at before you head to your study group after class.” She let out a groan at having to bother granny again. Aizawa just rolled his eyes, “It could be fractured, Yui. I’ll drag you if I have to.”
“Fine… it doesn’t feel fractured though.” She grumbled as she moved her foot, her legs starting to run with pins and needles as they woke back up.
“We both know you have a high pain tolerance. You could break a bone and you’d probably think it was just fractured.” Yui crinkled her nose as she shakily got to her feet, Aizawa’s hand on her back to steady her.
“Yeah, yeah. I get it.” She huffed as she started to head toward the exit, slowing bending down to reclaim her taser staff and collapse it. “I’ll go see granny.”
Aizawa raised an eyebrow at her tone, was she really that disappointed that she lost to Tomono? He knew Miyu’d been rough on Yui when she didn’t meet expectations… “You do know that you don’t have to punish yourself for losing the exercise, right?”
Yui stiffened at the question, frowning as she met his stare. “I know that.” Her voice dipped into a monotone before she kept walking.
Aizawa let out another sigh as he followed after her. “Are you still going to do that cooking session with your friends after school? Will you be home for dinner?” He asked gently, trying his best to smooth over the awkward feeling between the two of them.
“Yeah, I think we’re still doing it. And I might be late getting back depending on what homework they’re stuck on.” She glanced at him, before she gave a small smile. “Someone’s English class is apparently kicking the butt’s of most of my friends.”
He let out a soft snort, “Just wait until they have to take hero law with me. English will seem merciful.”
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Yui could admit she needed a distraction from...the Tomono incident. So she still met up with her friends after school. What she didn’t expect...was her friend’s total lack of knowledge when it came to cooking. It was just Togata, Hado, Amajiki and her in Togata’s kitchen, Haya and Todani unfortunately unable to make it due to family matters. Amajiki was just fine, which made sense due to his Quirk. But Hado almost sliced her fingers cutting vegetables, and Togata...
“I told you to be careful with the oil splashing over!” She huffed as she pulled the teen away from the burst of flames from the stove top.
“I can put it out with the water from the sink!” Hado had the sprayer pointed at the stove and would have doused it if Yui hadn’t stepped between the oven and the girl.
“Never use water on a grease fire!” She growled out as she pulled the fire extinguisher from the spot on the table and quickly smothering the flame, turning the stove top off. Luckily, the only thing damaged was the food they were frying.
“Okay. Let’s start off with onigiri. I never should have suggested fried shrimp.” She sighed as she cleaned up the mess.
“I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it could start on fire like that!” Togata looked down, rubbing the back of his head.
“Wow Yui! How do you know so much?” Hado asked, tilting her head a bit. Amajiki was hiding around the corner, peeking out at them. Yui couldn’t help but remember all the times she caught Dabi trying to cook things with his flames...in the fucking apartment.
“I’m...used to people doing stupid things around fire. Anyway, let’s get started on onigiri, or rice balls. Pick out your ingredients that you want inside.” Luckily they’d already cooked the rice, she washed her hands, making sure they had individual bowls with salt-water to dampen their hands before handling the rice.
She spent the time to talk them through the steps, sticking with the original triangular shape and the more popular fillings. “But you can add whatever you like, try different combos. Maybe you’ll find something that’s amazing.”
“Or something terrifying.” Amajiki muttered, filling his with shrimp and mayo.
“Well yeah, but you can’t make a worse combo than sweet potato and soy sauce with green onions.” She shrugged, “Or gummy worms and pudding.”
“Haha! That sounds like a riot!” Togata laughed as he made his, “Who made those?”
“Izu and my cousin Himiko. They made them to torment our cousin Dabi after he lost a bet.” She chuckled, “His face was priceless, I still have the video of him eating those.”
“You gotta show us sometime!” Hado giggled, poking her tongue out a bit as she tried to get her rice ball to look like a cat, finally managing to get the ears to look right, though her ingredients had gotten all rolled up and were spread through the rice. It was still cute, almost a calico type pattern.
Yui couldn’t help but grin as she watched them, yeah, risk of fire aside, this was just what she needed.