Chapter 7 // I Didn't Study For This

"You remember Miku's...habits, of course." Toga said, twirling a knife around. "Sneaking out...drinking...we'd have the best of times at night."

Lullaby swallowed. "She didn't drink."

Toga's smile sent chills down her back. "You didn't notice? Like mother, like daughter."

"She wouldn't. She wasn't like mom." Lullaby argued, shaking. "Asahi was the one with issues, not us."

Toga laughed, stabbing the couch with her knife. Lullaby watched as the stuffing pooled out, the fabric torn even further. She imagined the cotton pooling out of a stab wound, the white turning to syrupy red. "Gosh, you didn't know your sister at all."

"Miku was a saint..." Lullaby inhaled, biting the inside of her cheek. "She wouldn't have been like our mother. She wouldn't have kept those secrets."

"Not the Miku-kun that I knew." Toga was already losing interest, cleaning the inside of her nails with the knife. "The Miku I knew couldn't keep a secret to save her life. That didn't turn out wrong, now did it?"

Lullaby felt a thick, harsh fury course through her chest like a stab wound. She clenched her jaw, and yanked roughly on Toga's sweater. Toga yelped as Lullaby pinned her to the wall, holding back a cry of rage. Lullaby held a shard of harsh, silvery-black light against Toga's neck. She glanced at the unfamiliar shade of light, then turned her attention back to Himiko.

Toga held her knife against Lullaby's neck, evenly matched. They both said nothing, merely breathing roughly and eye-contact unbreakable.

"You're gonna kill me, Kage-boo?" Toga asked with a sparkle in her eyes.

"I'll make you wish you were dead if you cross my limits again." Lullaby murmured. "God, I never hated you more than I do now."

"Toga." They both turned to see the burned-boy who threatened her earlier leaning against the doorway. "And moody, new girl. That's enough."

"Lullaby Doe." Lullaby said with a scowl. She let Toga drop, relishing the yelp as Toga banged her head against the couch. She made to leave, but the boy held her back, eyes burning through her.

"Crazy told me you needed to dye your hair. Better do it now, we're relocating tonight," the boy said, jerking his head to Toga. Lullaby sighed. At least she wasn't the only person who thought Toga was a psychopath. She was still annoyed by this boy, but as she had no choice, they'd be allies for a while. Better make her internal allies carefully.

"Where are we going?" Lullaby asked, masking her curiosity. His eyes glinted.

"Shiggs wants to see what you can do. If you have the guts to be a villain. It ain't pretty." he said, shoving her out. "Hurry up."

"I'm going, jeez." Lullaby hissed, shoving Toga out of the way with her shoulder. She shoved her hands in her jacket pockets, and felt something brush against her fingers. A piece of paper? She sneaked a look in her pocket, and felt a shot of guilt.

It was a photo of her and the Midoryas. Correction; Kage and the Midoryas. Lullaby was someone different.

"Miss you, Deku." she murmured, shoving it back in her pocket. "But I can't go back."

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Izuku stretched, yawning. Just another ride back home after a tiring day dealing with schoolwork, hero analysis, and...Kacchan, naturally. But he wasn't on this train, so he didn't have to look up from his phone every ten seconds. He checked his phone every chance he could for an update...

BREAKING NEWS: YOUNG GIRL HOSPITALIZED FROM VILLAIN ATTACK NOW ABDUCTED FROM HOSPITAL ROOM

YOUNG GIRL ABDUCTED NOW PRESUMED DEAD: "THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE!"

KAGE ASAHI: TARGETED MURDER? IS SHE THE FIRST?

Every time he saw the words "presumed dead" and "murdered", he felt like vomiting. When he found out she was abducted, he felt like the world was collapsing. Kage was his best friend outside of school.

Is. She is my best friend, he thought. He chose to believe, somehow, she was still alive somewhere. They would still be heroes, alongside the friends they would make at U.A. Did it make him selfish to dream of being a hero while his friend was who knows where? She was blind, probably scared, hurting.

"Be positive." he told himself, putting his phone away. They would be heroes, like they dreamed. They'd make the difference Kage talked so admiringly about. He'd be a pro-hero for Kage. He promised himself that much.

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"So?'' The burnt boy, whom she learned was named Dabi, stepped back to admire his work. She touched her pale, ivory hair. Half of her head was bleached, while the other remained onyx black. Shigaraki nodded, scratching behind his earlobe. Lullaby held back a grimace.

"You did good." she said approvingly, tying it back in a tight bun. A curl of hair fluttered against her cheek. "So, my test? I didn't study."

"Let's go. We're doing a bit of an informational raid, if you will." Shiggs said, stretching. "Your job is to dispose of the guars and clear the path."

"Put the newbie in the front, huh? Smart move, Shiggs." she said, slipping a laced muzzle over her mouth and nose, courtesy of Toga. "If you're going to risk someone, risking me is a good choice. But don't worry. They'll be gone before they can bother noticing you."

Shiggs nodded, pleased. "Very well, Lullaby. Show us what you can do."

"With pleasure." Lullaby grinned, gesturing to the doorway crowded with her new allies. "Ladies first."