Chapter 77

The sterile smell of the U.A. gym filled my nostrils as I watched the sparring matches unfold. Class 1-A, Izuku's class, was training with my own, 2-B. It was… enlightening. Diamond, ever the powerhouse, was practically short-circuiting Denki, her electric blue lightning bolts flashing. Katsume and Katsuki were locked in a brutal dance of explosions, the air thick with smoke and the scent of burning hair. Sibling rivalry, I supposed, was a universal constant.

I watched, detached yet invested.

After an hour of intense combat, both classes were dismissed to clean up. Izuku and Momo practically vibrated with excitement as they rushed toward me. I enveloped them both in a hug, lingering on Momo's kiss. Her presence was a grounding force, a reminder of the life I was building, however complicated it might be.

"You alright, Anos-nii?" Izuku asked, his freckled face creased with concern. "You've been acting… distant lately."

"Just work stuff, Izu," I said, brushing it off. He wouldn't understand. He couldn't. Not the burden of knowing, of remembering a past life, of balancing the demands of Dark Red and the responsibilities of a hero-in-training.

Izuku, satisfied for the moment, wandered off to find his own classmates. I turned back to Momo, but something was off. She shifted uncomfortably, her dark eyes darting away from mine.

"Is everything alright, Momo?" I asked, my voice laced with concern.

She hesitated, a blush creeping up her neck. "Yes, of course, Anos. Everything's fine."

But I could tell she was lying. There was a flicker of guilt, a hint of embarrassment in her eyes. I wanted to press, to demand the truth, but I held back. If she wanted to talk, she would.

"You know you can tell me anything, right?" I said, my voice soft.

She gave me a reassuring smile. "I know, Anos. I promise. It's nothing, really."

I let it go, but the nagging feeling remained. Something was definitely amiss.

Later, I found Diamond leaning against a wall, her usual sardonic expression softened by a hint of amusement. Talking to her was always easy. She knew parts of me no one else did, understood the darkness that sometimes threatened to consume me.

"Momo's being weird," I said after a comfortable silence. "Lying, even."

Diamond raised an eyebrow. "Momo? Lying? That's a new one." She paused. "Maybe she's just stressed about school, or… family stuff."

"Maybe," I said, doubt clouding my voice. "But it feels like more than that."

Diamond studied me for a moment, her blue lightning bolt streak gleaming in the artificial light. "Look, you trust her, right? Give her some space. If it's important, she'll tell you."

I nodded, trying to convince myself she was right. Trust was paramount, especially in a relationship like ours.

The rest of the afternoon blurred by. I spent some time observing the other students, their strengths, their weaknesses, their potential. The next generation of heroes, the next line of defense against the ever-present threats looming on the horizon.

Finally, the school day ended. I made my way to Ms. Midnight's office, needing someone to talk to before retrieving Akira. I confided in her about the lingering trauma from my past life, carefully omitting any details about my night job as Dark Phantom. She listened patiently, offering insightful advice and a gentle reminder that I was making progress.

As I walked out of her office, I couldn't help but feel a little lighter. Until I saw Akira.

She was standing alone, her small frame trembling slightly. Two girls, students from class 1-C if I wasn't mistaken, were towering over her, their faces twisted in cruel sneers.

I felt a surge of protective rage erupt inside me. I crossed the distance in seconds, placing myself between Akira and her tormentors.

The girls flinched at my sudden appearance, their eyes widening in fear.

"Leave her alone," I growled, my voice low and dangerous. "Or else."

They didn't need a second invitation. They scurried away, muttering apologies.

I turned to Akira, my expression softening. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, avoiding my gaze.

"How long has this been going on?" I asked, my voice gentle.

She hesitated, then mumbled, "A few days now. They say… they say I'm possessed because of my quirk."

The anger I had managed to suppress earlier flared up again, hotter and more intense than before. Possessed? How dare they treat her like that?

"Stay here," I told Akira, my voice firm. "I'll be right back."

I stalked off, my eyes scanning the crowd for the two girls. It didn't take long to find them, huddled together near the entrance.

I approached them, my presence radiating a palpable aura of intimidation.

"You two," I said, my voice resonating with barely restrained fury.

They looked up at me, their faces paling.

I launched into a lecture, detailing the cruelty and injustice of their actions. I emphasized the importance of acceptance and understanding, the need to embrace diversity and combat prejudice.

They listened, their heads bowed, their faces etched with remorse. They stammered apologies, promising to never bully Akira again.

I wasn't entirely convinced, but I let it go. For now.

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