21. The Parting.

After a quick healing session, I woke up in an unfamiliar bed.

The UA nurse's office.

I pulled the curtains aside and looked out the window at the setting sun.

4 and change.

Good. I wasn't out too long.

Gripping my hand, I pushed myself up, dangling my legs off the bed, when suddenly a voice addressed me from behind.

"Matsun? You're up?"

I turned around as the curtains separting the beds slid apart revealing a battered Deku.

"You bumrushed a robot didn't you, Mein Pharaoh?" I teased.

".....no." Deku replied.

"Uh huh? Is that so?" I asked, pulling out his book.

"Why don't I see for myself?"

Deku looked at me perplexed for a moment before he sighed defeatedly

"Yes. Just don't look into it." He pleaded.

"Oho! Now I definitely have to see what you did!" I chuckled mischievously, as he attempted to wrestle control of his book.

Of course he failed, vis-a-vis the massive cast on his hands and legs.

I flipped through the pages until I came up on his most recent exploit while he sulked in his bed.

"So you ran straight at the zero pointer to save that girl from the gates and ended up getting kicked in the chest by it? How are you even alive, you colossal idiot? In fact why did you even run to her rescue? Her quirk would have allowed her to escape either way! You risked your life for nothing!" I chastised, as he looked away.

".....If I left her behind, what sort of hero would I be, Matsun? Wouldn't I be the same as those heroes at the market that day, watching the sludge consume Kacchan, doing nothing?" He replied downcast, shaking me to the core.

"You.....you've been thinking huh?" I sighed.

"Yeah. You told me to, remember?

Always keep thinking, you never know when you might need it!" Deku answered with a goofy smile.

"So can I assume your broody emo phase is over for good?" I teased.

"Matsun!" Deku pouted in protest, lending me to laughter, when suddenly, the door clicked open.

Small Might walked in apples in hand, looking over the both of us, his gaze lingering on Deku's cast a bit longer.

"Must've been some intense conversation in the teacher's lounge, especially Deku here?" I asked.

"Oh certainly, Yuji-shounen, though you weren't far from their minds either." Small Might replied, throwing me an apple.

"Uh huh?" I intoned biting into it, as he continued.

"Yes. Most of them didn't even believe Midoriya-shounen could make it. He was quite the surprise!

Especially when he charged at the zero pointer to save another student." He said, turning to Deku, "Truly heroic, Midoriya-shounen! You should be proud of yourself!"

"Suffice to say, we both passed right? Even Deku since he should have gotten those rescue points." I asked.

Small Might looked at me uncomfortably.

"That .... Yuji-shounen, I can't reveal the scores before it's time."

"No. That's fine, All Might. I understand." I replied.

"That's great." Small Might said, clapping his hands, "Shall we get you out of here? The school's closing for the day, after all."

"Yeah, sure. I'm good to go. But what about ...." I said, looking at Deku.

"I'll deal with him." Said Recovery Girl, as she walked into the room, and plopped herself onto her chair by Deku's bedside.

With a big smooch, she began healing up his remaining wounds and wet cracking sounds emerged in the room as his bones and musckes snapped back into place.

"I feel sleepy~" Deku muttered.

"That's a side effect of my quirk. I can't heal people, I can only make their bodies heal themselves. So it's natural to feel drained after getting healed." Recovery Girl explained, handing Deku a candy.

"Now then, I have to close the nurse's office, so you youngun's might want to leave fast. Unless you want to be locked in for the next three weeks!" She smiled mischievously.

"Nah, as charming as this place is, I think I'll leave now." I replied, and threw Deku over my shoulders and walked out.

Once I delivered him home to his mother, I crossed the street and ran over to my own apartment, straight into Himiko's welcoming arms.

"Hehehehehe, darling! You're very cuddly today. How was the exam?" She giggled.

"Uh huh. I aced it, of course! Might have even beat All Might's record." I said, as we settled onto the couch.

"Ho! Then how about we go out to celebrate?" She asked.

"Or maybe in?" I said, pointing to the bedroom.

"I wouldn't be against that...." Himiko replied, jumping on my lap, as I carried her over to the bedroom for a good time.

And so the days in between passed happily, until three weeks later when the results came out.

And I knew it was out even before I found the letter in my mail, when I was awoken by the chattering of the horde of reporters just outside the building.

It even threw me for a loop at first.

I was half a beat away from a heart attack thinking that they had found out about my secret apartment.

Thankfully, they weren't here for me, but rather for the the sensation of the week.

The singular quirkless student admitted to UA. The first in history as a matter of fact.

Every tv show, magazine and browbeaten news rag had their crew here, just across the street.

Deku peeked out the window at us, pleading for help as my phone rang, showing Deku's caller ID.

I smiled evilly, looking him in the eye and rejected his call, sipping away at my morning coffee, scratching Kuribo behind his ears.

Ah, what a lovely life. A good morning brew, my loving girlfriend by my side, an adorable little floof on my lap and live entertainment in sight.

The perfect beginning to a good day!

"Shouldn't we go help Deku?" Himiko asked, petting Kuribo.

"Nah. I think this is going to a learning opportunity for him." I replied.

Himiko raised an eyebrow at me, as she leaned on my shoulder.

"That is very un-heroic!" Himiko said, poking my cheeks.

"Oh don't act like you don't want to see him flounder around the presstistutes. Besides, I'm no hero, and Deku certainly ain't no damsel." I replied pinching her nose.

"Hehehehe...you're right about that!" Himiko said, munching on a bagel.

I watched in amusement as the light drained from Deku's eyes and he flustered about, stuttering half answers and babble for nearly a good half hour before the reporters scattered, leaving behind a drained and stressed out bundle of seaweed.

Deku got up and glared at us resentfully, as he stomped down the stairs heading straight for our apartment.

"Should we go...?" Himiko wondered.

I chuckled as I got up and stretched.

"Yeah, I guess it's time we book it. And bring the bugout bag with you."

"Before Deku whines our ears off?" Himiko asked, putting on a jacket as we slipped out the back door.

"Got it in one." I replied, just as the front door rang.

"Matsun!" Deku cried.

"Down we go!" I said, ignoring him, and slid down the pipes by th balcony.

"What now?" Himiko asked, looking around.

I smiled and pulled out my phone.

"Well, I do have a promise to keep." I said, dialling Aiba, "And you have your part to play."

"So it's time huh?" Himiko asked, looking down at the bag in her hands as she realized what I meant.

I nodded, the mood turning sombre.

"Do I have to go? I don't want to leave you!" She cried, tears pooling in her eyes.

"We decided this months ago. When the results came, it would be time.

I don't want to do this either. But for the future...our future together...." I said, pulling Himiko closer, into an embrace.

Of course, I didn't mind it much. Himiko was just another pawn in my grand game against the ROB.

An insurance policy, if I may, before I returned to the void and tore him a new asshole.

But to her I was everything, and it was in my interest to keep it that way.

And so, I had to conclude my months long indoctrination and act, on good terms.

"I know. It's just..." Himiko sniffled, "I can't bear to be away from you for so long."

"You won't have to. We'll meet still, just not as often. And I'll call. But remember, they must not suspect anything, ok?" I reminded her, wiping her tears.

"I know." Himiko said.

She slung the bag over her shoulder, and looked back at me once more, kissing me goodbye.

Then she turned around and left on her mission.

To build a reputation in the criminal underbelly. To gain contacts. And finally, infiltrate the League of Villains.

For her darling.