Chapter 66: In Between Tales (5)
~Nejire H. POV~
[Days Later, Naruhata, Tokyo, Japan]
Today's a very special day. Today is the day I'm dating Ren Yuki today.
He showed me around Naruhata when he appeared as I asked, I had free time away from working under Ryukyu and studies. It was my free time off, and I spent it asking Ren bluntly if he wanted to hang out.
He agreed making me happy. Other than having Mirio and Tamaki to hang with he was my first friend since I felt alone.
We both met up at Naruhata as we greeted each other at the station, speaking in a cheerful tone, "Hey Ren! It's been a while since the internships, right? I bet you got stronger with your copy abilities, huh? Can you tell me, please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?"
He smiled happily as he took my hand and explained in a confident tone, answering my questions, "Yup, I got stronger, Nejire. I even added a new Quirk that allows me to heal others, sort of like Recovery Girl's [Heal] Quirk. It was [Cell Activation], but when I refined the Quirk, it became [Cellular Activation]."
My ears perked up hearing that. He explained to me what has been doing for the last couple of weeks to June of this month and day.
I listened intently hearing how he's been trying to improve his abilities effectively and trying to gain Quirks that required more support than offensive power. Especially his [Create] Quirk that he got from a Classmate.
My eyes widened hearing that the principal is paying him large sums of money for the material he produces with Quirk Factors. I tried wrapping my head around and apparently, the principal of UA is taking great interest in his abilities.
Especially with the Quirk Ore, he calls that contain the [Negation] Quirk Factor. From what he explained, if someone with a Quirk meets the material, they'll temporarily lose their Quirk so long as they remain in contact sort of like Eraser Head's Quirk [Erasure].
Except his on sight while the Quirk Ore in question is in contact. Even heard they sent some of his materials over to I-Island meaning it's that valuable. After all, I-Island is an artificial moving island inhabited by over ten thousand scientists researching Quirks.
I should know I've been there once with Mirio and Tamaki when he won first place at the UA Sports Festival. Come to think of it, Ren did win First Place at the Sports Festival I couldn't help but ask in a curious tone, "Say Ren, since you won first place in the Sports Festival, did you ever get tickets to enter the I-Island event for the I-Expo?"
He seemed a bit surprised as he thought, putting his hand behind his back. But he quickly shook his head in a confused tone, "No? Was I supposed to get one later in the months or days?"
Ah. I see he didn't get it yet.
I began to explain to him the importance of such a chance and the fun games as we proceeded to stroll down Naruhata. He seemed surprised by the information, making me giggle, poking his face, "Hahaha… for a smart guy, you seem to be quite out of the social media of events. I bet you've been procrastinating on your training for the Final Exams for this semester, mister."
To my surprise, though, he shook his head as he dropped a bombshell on me about the Final Exams in a bored tone, "Oh? You do know that my having [High Spec] means free time for me for the writing portion. Along with my clones working in the other Courses, it's not that challenging to complete. It's the practical I'm more interested in learning."
This piqued my interest. Knowing he's practically the smartest kid in UA because of [High Spec], I couldn't help but ask curiously, "That's interesting to hear. You do know the practical is usually robot combat, no?"
However, he shook his head as we continued to walk around Naruhata replied in a confident tone, causing me to pause at his words, "Nope. At least not with the first years, I think. The practical will be us against our teachers with Mei's invention, nerfing them to make it possible but also exploiting my classmate's weakness."
I looked a bit surprised by his words. I couldn't help but ask in a confused tone, tilting my head, "Really…? It seems a bit much to me. I can't help but ask why the teachers would do such a thing if it's practical, of course."
To my question, he answered in an assured tone, speaking out or guaranteeing as we entered a nearby shop, "Because of the ongoing rise of crime as of late. With how hostile the villains have been, it's impractical to let students fight robots that yield no educational experience. Hence why, I believe fighting the teachers with their expertise and exploiting our weaknesses would be the best way to challenge us to improve. At least from what my info source says."
Huh… never gave it that much thought. And when he said it like this, I could see the robots used in the previous exams wouldn't be practical.
Especially since the USJ and Hero Killer incident occurred. It would –
*BANG*
My eyes widened as we heard gunshots. Quickly, my eyes drifted to a villain with arms that looked like guns as he yelled out loud, "GIVE ME THE MONEY! NOW!"
Having my hero license I can intervene and use my Quirk to subdue – what is he doing?!
Walking close to the man I saw Ren casually walking up. I half expected him to fight back but what he did seemed to be stunned everyone as he spoke nicely, "What are you doing young man?"
Changing his attention the robber pointed his other gun hand at Ren speaking in a confused tone, "Can't you see, I'm robbing this shop. You too, give me your money kid, or else..."
However, showing no gold he soon brought out 2 gold bars startling the group and bringing them out of nowhere as he spoke in a calm tone, "Young man, do you have family perhaps?"
The robber answered with an annoyed expression, seemingly looking dumbfounded, being offered two blocks of literal gold, "Of course I do, everyone has their parents."
But his next words seemed to stun the people as he patted the villain's shoulder, showing sympathy in a calm tone, "Then here, take this. Buy your parents a few things. Tell them you found a good job as they won't take it from a robber. They'll feel that the little boy they dotted turned bad because they didn't give you enough focus. But wanna learn a small secret… your parents will still love you no matter what you do. Take the gold but do not kill. That cashier has also family, they will cry if they see his lifeless body. Can you stare at them saying I did well today killing a man for you…"
I felt a shiver run down my spine as he spoke his words. Just reassurance and control, yet to villain, his legs shook a little then his arms started shaking and tears welled up in his eyes seemingly striking his nerves or emotions.
He looked guilty at first but soon looked at Ren, who offered a drink with a casual tone and a friendly grin, "Wanna take a quick sip and chill, man?"
The villain surprisingly nodded and received a drink from the canister he brought out of nowhere. But the aroma hit everyone as he drank it slowly.
Tears began to fall from his face as he spoke in a guilty tone, stunning me even further of Ren's actions, "This taste just like ma made for me when I was a kid…. What the hell am I doing with my life…"
Patting him over the shoulder, the people began to record a video of the event occurring as the man explained he came from a poor family having to pay different kinds of fees there. He simply wanted to be a hero he says.
When Ren heard that he spoke in a comforting tone with a sly grin and said, "A hero is made from a firm will and a desire to help. If you just want a job, you can still find many uses of your power and make money. You just need to think my friend."
The villain seemed interested in his words as he spoke in a conflicted tone, "W-What can my quirk do? It's just guns. They can only harm others."
Ren laughed but didn't contain mockery as he replied, giving him examples and taking the time to explain to him, "Hahaha… that is where you are wrong, friend. There are countless jobs out there. You need to find a job where you can utilize your quirk. You can join the army, a carpenter by changing bullets with nails, a bodyguard, or a police officer. Being just a hero is not the only way to make money."
The villain seemed to have calmed down and even showed a resolute look in his eyes. He stood up and gave the gold bars as he said in a calm tone, "Thank you… but you can keep them. I'll make my own through my means legally. Sorry to cause a scene… I'll turn myself in and reflect…"
Ren nodded as he spoke to him in a calm tone, giving him a fresh start, "And when you get out head to Hopper's Café. They'll take any guy like you wanting a second chance."
He paused before curtly nodding his head as the police came in, going for his surrender immediately. I stood there simply dumbfounded as the gold bars crumbled away, revealing two chocolates instead covered in gold foil, he said in a calm tone, "Sorry about the delay there. Nejire had to help the guy out. He seemed to be in a bad place."
Seeing he had literal chocolate bars, I took one, taking a bite, asking in a confused tone of the ordeal, "You know you didn't have to interfere. What if the villain wanted to shoot you right then and there…"
He paused slightly as he shot a cocky grin as he said in a calm tone, taking a bite of the chocolate that was homemade, "True. But let's just say I knew what he was going through. I simply 'observed' the situation and handled it without causing him to lose his way. Let's get the date going and take a bite of my homemade chocolate."
I pouted as he used his Quirk which is illegal. But since he resolved the issue without any violence, I let it go and took a bite.
*Crunch*
Ahh~
I felt my groin go a bit wet as I imagined myself taking a bite out of the chocolate. I just imagined my bliss and worries washing away, imagining myself naked, covered in this milky chocolate goodness –
"Hey Nejire?"
My eyes jolted, seeing his expression of a cheeky grin as he said, "You got chocolate on your lip."
*Chu*
He went in for a small kiss, making my face heat up as he licked it away. I felt a shiver run down my spine. I'm not that easily teased by him… am I…?
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A/N: Brah... that [Cooking] skill is straight OP making a random villain have a flashback story like Ratitoue and gaslighting the man using [Observe] to see his past. Otherwise, this would be the end of the In-Between Tales Arc next chapter straight into the Final Exams Arc!