Once again, the first thing to greet me when I woke up was that sharp sting of antiseptic burning my nose, the blinding white fluorescent lights stabbing my eyes, and an eerie silence wrapping the room - enough to clock exactly where this shithole was.
Yup, hospital. Probably Hosu General this time, and it is not clear how much time has passed. No clue what kind of room this was either, but the mess of machines and IV drips hooked up to me was way over the top.
My body - especially my gut - was patched up tight, but the pain hit like a truck no matter what I tried, even talking. So I just lay there, useless as hell. Guess the cost of playing reckless like this is always a brush with death. Fine by me, but the real headache? Sooner or later, I'll bite it for real - no more of this half-dead limbo. Scared of dying? Kinda, but after flirting with it this much, it's not just fear of death anymore - it's something else.
What I'm most afraid of here is how to face Himiko.
I promised her before that I would be careful and avoid getting hurt again, but now that it's like this, I don't know how to talk to her...
I tilted my head, spotting Toga beside the bed. Her blonde hair was a tangled mess, sailor school uniform paired with that familiar sweater, her sleeping face weirdly peaceful. No disguise this time - no Quirk, just her, raw and real.
That said something: I might mean more to her than the caution she usually clings to out there. She really loves me...
Not far off, two familiar figures: Izuku and Tenya, both conked out - probably from watching over me. Izuku's head was slumped on my bed, green hair a disaster, looking cozy as hell in deep sleep. Tenya sat ramrod straight, arms crossed my way like he'd been keeping vigil, but his constant nodding showed he'd crashed hard too.
Seeing all three of them here, something twisted in my chest.
Been a minute since I last had a quiet moment like this… or felt this kind of care. Guess they see me as someone worth the effort to stick around for.
But that calm didn't last.
A sharp knock snapped all three awake, scrambling to check the door. I just hoped it'd be a normal visitor… but nah, springtime's long gone.
The second that door swung open, the room's vibe flipped. Police Chief Tsuragamae Kenji - beagle dog-faced - strode in, trailed by a squad of cops, some U.A. staff like All Might and Principal Nezu, and pros like Gran Torino and Endeavor. The once-spacious room turned into a sardine can. I flicked my eyes over them, catching the grim looks - every single one aimed at me. Whatever brought them here, it wasn't good news.
"Onodera Ryuga," Tsuragamae's voice boomed, heavy and formal, reading off an emergency arrest warrant. "We're here to inform you that you're suspected of murdering the so-called Hero Killer Stain."
The room went dead.
Not shocked. I knew what I'd done - whatever the reason, I lit the fuse and snuffed it out. That alone was enough to flip the script big time. But slapping an arrest on me while I'm laid up like this? Fucking annoying.
Before I could react, Tsuragamae's gaze shifted, zeroing in on Toga.
"And another arrest warrant for Toga Himiko, currently wanted for serial murder."
Scratch that - shit just hit the fan.
Himiko ditched all calm, springing up, yanking her trusty dagger from her sweater with pro-level ease, dropping into a fight stance, and screaming: "ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TAKE HIM OUT STEPS OVER MY DEAD BODY FIRST!"
That move cranked the tension to eleven. One more twitch, and it wouldn't be a brawl - it'd be her getting ganked by everyone here, no escape, maybe even forcibly hauled off, making this mess uglier than ever. No way I'm letting that happen.
Pain be damned - my gut screaming - I forced myself up, ready to stagger out of bed and stop this trainwreck. Worst case, I'd go down swinging with her. No biggie.
"Toga, stop!"
Tenya beat me to it. Still shaky from the last fight - maybe, i guess, he stepped between her and the cops, trying to keep this from blowing up. Izuku rushed in too, grabbing her wrist and mine, eyes torn between resolve and panic over what to do.
"You two, don't!" Izuku's voice cracked. "This'll spiral beyond saving!"
"Let go, seaweed head!" She snarled, wrenching free and pointing the blade at Tsuragamae. "If you take Ryuga… if you drag him off… none of you are leaving here in one piece!"
"We're not negotiating," Tsuragamae said, firm as steel, signaling his crew to move. "Onodera Ryuga and Himiko Toga, you're both under arres - "
"I've got something to say!"
Heads whipped around. Tenya again. He stood tall, glasses glinting cold, no hesitation left - just a scary-ass determination.
"I'm the one who wanted Stain dead."
That dropped like a bomb. A long, stunned second hung in the air. Tsuragamae squinted, sizing up Tenya's words with suspicion.
"What're you getting at?"
"I was blinded by hate. I charged him intending to kill, and Ryuga was just protecting me, buying time for backup." Tenya took a deep breath, fists white-knuckled. "He didn't mean to kill Stain. It was an accident - his Quirk spiraling out of control."
I stared at him. He was weaving truth and lies to shield me. Problem is, the "truth" he saw? I engineered it that way.
Real things here: I'd planned to off Stain since day one in this world. No one knew - not even Tenya - that I torched that USJ Nomu with phosphorus on purpose, not some slip-up. No one knew I chose to end Stain; Tenya just thought I dragged him along to catch the guy, not kill him. And now he's throwing himself under the bus to redirect the heat.
Tsuragamae went quiet, motioning a cop to cross-check Native's report - the only other witness. When his phone buzzed, I knew this fight wouldn't need knives or fists.
A quick exchange, then his sharp eyes locked on me. "Latest report says Onodera Ryuga told Ida Tenya to get Native to safety instead of fighting Stain. Paired with Ida's statement, this isn't as cut-and-dry as we thought. For now, your arrest's on hold pending further info."
Good news: I'm off the hook - for now. Bad news: Toga's stunt - resisting arrest, threatening the chief and everyone else - could still get her snatched up fast as hell.
Then Nezu piped up.
"I propose a deal," he said, smiling faintly. "Drop both warrants. Himiko Toga joins U.A. as a transfer student next semester. I'll personally oversee them both."
"You serious?" Endeavor scowled. "A wanted killer at U.A.? That's a joke!"
Nezu's calm held. "If memory serves, there've been precedents - under strict supervision. I'm confident we can handle it. And I'm sure this will be like a form of "special rehabilitation" to give juvenile criminals a chance to correct their mistakes and become useful citizens to society, instead of just solitary confinement."
No way this was random kindness.
All Might had clued me in earlier - after I'd bullshitted him about a second Quirk, "future sight." He must've passed it to Nezu before this.
Matching my "predictions" - U.A.'s defenses breached, press sneaking in; League hitting U.S.J; Nomu in Hosu - they lined up too clean. Probably why this pint-sized principal bought my "vision" act hook, line, and sinker.
This sweet-ass deal? Not charity. Nezu's betting me and Toga at U.A. could be aces up his sleeve for future disasters. Plus, me "naturally" rocking two Quirks - rarer than his own weird bear-rat-dog mashup - made it a no-brainer how valuable this could be.
So, tossing Toga into U.A, bailing and keep an eye on us wasn't just goodwill. Nezu's playing chess, banking on her sticking close to me for control - and leverage.
Tsuragamae frowned, eyes darting from me to Nezu. "This your pitch? We'd need conditions if we agree."
"Of course," Nezu nodded. "Special monitoring for Onodera Ryuga and Toga Himiko, tight oversight from U.A. staff - especially Aizawa Shouta. Any slip-ups, they're dealt with on the spot."
Endeavor wasn't sold. "What about her victims? The murders she racked up? 'We'll watch her' cuts it? You know what this'll do to U.A.'s rep?"
Nezu tilted his head, unflappable. "We'll ensure Himiko Toga's no threat. Restrictions - Quirk use only with clearance. Regarding her victim, I will take appropriate action. Plus, a tailored rehab program to rein in her behavior."
Tsuragamae mulled it over, glancing at All Might. His furrowed brow screamed tough call. But he knew nabbing a U.A. kid could spark a shitstorm, especially with the full story still murky.
"…Fine," he sighed, relenting. "But if Himiko Toga steps out of line, she's gone - no excuses - and U.A.'s on the hook."
Nezu nodded like he'd scripted it.
"Accepted."
Toga stayed coiled, golden eyes drilling the cops. I brushed her arm, shaking my head slow - painful as hell. She grudgingly eased up, stashing the dagger, though she hated this fix.
Wiping Toga's rap sheet from black to grayish-white? Smart play, even if it's like shooting myself in the foot.
Fuck it - i'll deal with that later. Too damn tired…