(Age 8)
Akira wasn't paying attention at first.
He had been sitting on a bench at the school courtyard, lazily playing his console, when he heard a familiar voice—Alya's voice—filled with distress.
His fingers froze on the buttons.
Lifting his head, his golden eyes sharpened as they locked onto the scene unfolding across the courtyard.
A group of older boys, around 10 or 11 years old, had surrounded Alya. Their expressions were smug, their body language oozing arrogance.
Alya, on the other hand, was clutching her scarf tightly.
The reason why?
One of the boys had grabbed a lock of her silver hair, twirling it between his fingers with an amused smirk.
"Your hair is so weird," he sneered. "Like an old lady's."
Another one laughed. "Yeah, are you a ghost or something?"
Alya glared at them, but there was a slight tremble in her hands.
That was all it took for Akira's blood to boil.
Mock him? Fine.
Mess with him? Whatever.
Touch Alya?
…They must have a death wish.
The Warning
He stood up.
His movements were calm, deliberate. The usual laziness in his posture vanished, replaced by something sharp, something cold.
His Hawkeye quirk activated in an instant and his grey eyes turned light blue glowing with intensity.
The moment he focused on them, time seemed to slow down.
Their breathing patterns.
Their shifting weight.
The way their hands twitched before moving.
It was all obvious to him.
He took a single step forward—
—and vanished.
Before anyone could react, he was right behind them.
Alya's eyes widened as she felt a warm presence at her back.
"Aki…" she whispered.
Akira didn't speak.
He just grabbed the wrist of the boy holding Alya's hair and squeezed.
The boy yelped in pain. "What the—?"
Akira's voice was quiet, but deadly.
"Let. Go."
The boy immediately released Alya's hair.
Akira still didn't let go of his wrist. Instead, he tightened his grip.
The older boy whimpered. "H-Hey, I was just joking, man!"
Akira tilted his head. "Funny. I wasn't."
The other bullies moved to attack.
Big mistake.
The first one swung at him.
Too slow.
Akira sidestepped effortlessly, his Hawkeye quirk allowing him to read the movement before it even started.
His elbow shot up—smashing into the boy's chin.
The second one lunged with a wild punch.
Akira ducked, spun, and slammed a knee into his stomach.
The third one hesitated for a second too long.
Akira grabbed him by the collar and yanked him forward, delivering a brutal headbutt.
The last bully staggered back, shaking. "M-Monster…"
Akira tilted his head. "And?"
The boy turned and ran.
The other three were on the ground, groaning in pain.
Akira scoffed. "Pathetic."
Alya stared at him.
She blinked. Once. Twice.
Then she grinned.
"Aki, that was so cool!" She beamed, grabbing his hand and swinging it excitedly. "You took them down so fast! I didn't even see you move!"
Akira sighed. "You really don't see the problem here?"
Alya pouted. "What? They started it!"
"You let them get close to you," he pointed out, flicking her forehead. "Next time, just throw them with your Telekinesis."
Alya rubbed her forehead, grumbling. "I was about to."
Akira gave her a flat stare.
"Liar."
Alya stuck out her tongue.
Akira sighed and ruffled her hair. "Next time, just call me."
Alya giggled, hugging his arm. "Why? Gonna beat up more idiots for me?"
Akira smirked, but his voice was serious.
"If they touch you again, I won't hold back next time."
Alya blinked, then gave him a soft, genuine smile.
"Thanks, Aki."
And just like that, the anger in his chest faded.
Because no matter how much trouble she caused, no matter how much of an idiot she was…
She was his idiot.
The fight had ended.
The bullies lay groaning on the ground, clutching their bruises. Akira, standing tall, hands in his pockets, didn't even look tired.
Alya, still holding onto his arm, grinned like an idiot.
"Aki, you're the best!" she cheered.
Akira rolled his eyes, pulling his arm away. "Yeah, yeah. You owe me one."
She pouted. "Huh? Why?"
"Because I just saved your life," he said flatly.
Alya crossed her arms. "They weren't gonna kill me!"
"They were gonna touch your hair," Akira said with disgust. "Same thing."
Alya gasped dramatically. "You're right! Unforgivable!"
Akira sighed. "Finally, you understand."
One of the bullies groaned. "W-We're sorry…"
Akira's sharp grey eyes snapped to them.
They immediately flinched, scrambling backward like terrified rats.
He took a step forward.
They instantly froze.
Akira knelt down to their level, staring them dead in the eye.
"You get one warning," he said, voice eerily calm. "Stay away from her."
The bullies nodded frantically.
Akira tilted his head. "And?"
"A-And w-we'll never touch her hair again!" one of them stammered.
"And?"
"W-We'll never mess with her ever again!"
Akira smirked. "Good boys."
He patted one of them on the head—then suddenly gripped his hair and yanked.
The bully yelped in pain.
Akira leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper.
"If I see you near her again…" he tightened his grip, "I'll break every single one of your fingers. Slowly."
The bullies turned pale.
Akira released him, standing up. "Now scram."
They ran faster than they ever had in their lives.
Alya clapped. "Wow! That was so dramatic, Aki!"
Akira sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're not supposed to be entertained."
"But I am."
"…Of course you are."
It didn't take long before a teacher found out.
And now, Akira was sitting in the principal's office, arms crossed, legs stretched out, looking bored.
Alya sat beside him, swinging her legs, completely unbothered.
The principal—a stern-looking old man—sighed deeply. "Akira, this is the third time you've beaten up older students."
Akira yawned. "They deserved it."
The principal rubbed his temples. "That's not the point—"
Alya interrupted. "Actually, I think that is the point!"
The principal sighed again. He looked exhausted. "Alya, you're not helping."
Alya pouted. "But they were bullying me! And they insulted my hair!"
The principal looked at Akira. "And instead of telling a teacher, you decided to beat them up?"
Akira's expression didn't change. "It was faster."
The principal looked like he aged ten years.
"We'll have to inform your guardian," the principal finally said.
Akira stiffened.
The principal continued, "And as punishment, you'll both be cleaning the entire schoolyard after class for a week."
Akira frowned. "Both of us?"
Alya gasped. "I didn't even do anything!"
The principal gave her a tired look. "Exactly. Next time, use your quirk to protect yourself."
Alya pouted, crossing her arms. "This is unfair."
Akira sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Guess we have no choice."
Alya turned to him with puppy-dog eyes.
"Akiiiii," she whined. "Do something!"
Akira stared at her.
"No."
Alya gasped like he had just betrayed her.
"But you always help me!"
"I already did," Akira said flatly. "By breaking those guys' faces."
Alya huffed. "You're the worst partner in crime ever!"
Akira smirked. "Then find another one."
Alya grumbled under her breath.
But then, she got an idea.
She turned to the principal—and activated her ultimate weapon.
Her puppy-dog eyes of doom.
Her voice wobbled. "M-Mr. Principal, sir… If I get punished too, doesn't that mean… the bullies win?"
The principal froze.
Akira's eyes widened.
Oh no.
Alya sniffled. "I mean… I was the victim, right? And I-I was just so scared… I didn't know what to do… but Aki protected me… and now I'm being punished too?"
The principal shifted uncomfortably.
Akira internally groaned.
He had won the fight against those bullies, but this?
This was Alya's battlefield.
The principal hesitated. "W-Well…"
Alya sniffled louder.
Akira almost laughed. She wasn't even crying for real.
The principal sighed in defeat. "Fine. Akira will do the punishment alone."
Alya immediately brightened. "Really? Yay!"
Akira's eye twitched.
The principal turned to him. "Akira, please try to solve problems without violence next time."
Akira sighed. "No promises."
The principal massaged his temples. "…Just go."
As soon as they left the office, Akira glared at Alya.
"You… betrayed me."
Alya stuck out her tongue. "All's fair in love and war, Aki~!"
Akira groaned. "I should've let those idiots pull your hair."
Alya gasped. "You don't mean that!"
"…Yeah, I don't," Akira admitted.
Alya giggled, hugging his arm. "You're the best, Aki!"
Akira sighed. He was never winning against her, was he?
"Yeah, yeah… whatever."
But even as he grumbled, he let her hold onto his arm.
- To Be Continued