MHA: Dark Matter

"Hardening."

I channeled Dark Matter into the ribbons wrapped around my forearms. A moment later, two gray strips of fabric, made of steel wire and carbon nanofiber, hovered around my figure. I threw a few punches in the air, getting used to controlling the ribbons without using my hands, which I'd subconsciously relied on for convenience. Muscle memory, I guess. Controlling the ribbons felt like using a combat whip. And whips are wielded with hand and wrist movements. Those associations made it feel natural for the ends of the hardened ribbons to be in my palms. In reality, where the ends were located on my body didn't really matter. Same with the hand movements for ribbon "control." They were just crutches I needed at first for better control.

"Training, Phase 1."

I gave the command to the training machines. A second later, I deflected small steel balls flying from all directions with the ribbons. Inhale. On the exhale, I threw a few punches and kicks, trying not to lose control of the ribbons and tracking the trajectory of the incoming steel balls with my Gaze. Inhale. Exhale and strike. The ribbons spun around me, deflecting shots from all sides. Ten minutes later, I gave the next command.

"Training, Phase 2."

I jumped to the side as a pillar of fire erupted from where I'd been standing. My concentration wavered, and a steel ball hit me in the back. I forced my focus back and ducked under a flamethrower's blast. I moved to the side, raising my forearm to block a steel ball aimed at my neck. I wanted to cover my whole body with "Hardening" or just shift into my Form of Noah. But I couldn't. Otherwise, the training would be useless.

I twisted my body, letting a steel blade that popped out of the floor slice uselessly through the air, centimeters from me.

Inhale. Exhale.

The training continued.

*

*

*

"Ayame, how's the new job?"

I kept a close eye on the chicken sizzling in the pan, not forgetting to glance at the pasta boiling nearby. Tonight, I'd decided to make pasta with chicken and mushrooms.

"Good so far. I haven't fully gotten to know the team yet."

The girl said, not taking her crimson eyes off the pan. She was wearing revealing home clothes, which made me work even harder to focus on the cooking.

"I'm sure you'll get along with them. And if not, it's not the end of the world. Musutafu isn't that small. You'll find another good job."

I transferred the cooked chicken pieces to a bowl, then scraped the pre-chopped mushrooms off the cutting board and into the pan with a flick of my knife.

"Look how far things have come. A teenager has to cheer me up and recite cliches from 'success in life' brochures. All that's missing is for my company to be owned by his father."

I suppressed an awkward laugh with effort and added cream and boiling water to the mushrooms. I covered the pan and started chopping cheese, parsley, and dill. Well, my adoptive father, who actually answers to me, isn't in charge of the company Ayame works for now. That company is run by one of my "debtors," who doesn't even fully understand who he's really subordinate to. Sometimes I feel like having a ton of money is a special kind of Quirk. You can do truly incredible things with it.

"The great guru, Ken, is ready to help you find your way through the cycle of surrounding chaos we call life."

I said pompously, draining the pasta into a colander. In a minute, I could add it to the pan. For now, I'd add the chopped cheese and herbs.

"And has the great guru himself found his way through the life surrounding us?"

A shiver ran down my spine from the hot breath of the girl pressing against me. The two hemispheres pressing against my back provoked an immediate reaction from my body.

"Not now. Wait until it's ready."

I lightly slapped her hand as it reached for the cooked chicken pieces.

"Jerk."

She pouted and sat back down at the table with a dissatisfied face. This woman was torturing me! How could she call herself an adult after acting like that?

"Big bro, will it be ready soon?"

"Just a little longer, Hana-chan. Be patient, and your big brother will feed you delicious food."

I said cheerfully, adding the pasta to the pan.

"Ooh. Ken, I didn't know you were like that."

"Like what?"

"A lolicon."

Something in my brain stalled. I slowly turned my head and looked with dead eyes at this...

"Nee-san, what's a lolicon?"

Take that, you treacherous woman.

"A lolicon is someone who loves little girls, Hana-chan."

The girl nodded, then looked at me with a serious, incredibly cute face.

"So Big Bro loves me. Right?"

How could I say no, looking into those gray eyes? Those eyes, so full of life, so far from the blank, terrified stares that Tristesse's Quirk had conjured up for me. A gentle smile appeared on my face.

"Of course."

"Lolicon."

This woman! What was she teaching Hana? And why was I being called a lolicon? I love Mei too, and she definitely doesn't have a child's body... Wait, why am I even defending myself right now?

Grumbling quietly, I served food for three. Too bad I couldn't pry Mei away from her babies. Well, if necessary, there was food I'd made in the fridge for just such an occasion. Damn it. With all my commitments, it'll soon turn out that Mei spends more time in my apartment than I do.

"Delicious as always. What else would you expect from the Yoshioka family's personal chef!"

"Then where's my salary, since I'm working as a chef here?"

"Hugging pillows don't get salaries."

"I'm a very alive dakimakura who demands payment for non-core work!"

"Caring for two beauties should be its own reward."

"One of those beauties is an extremely shameless, brazen, and treacherous individual who slanders my good name."

"But that doesn't stop her from being a beauty."

The vixen said with a playful smile and a sultry voice, leaning forward. My gaze dropped below her face for a second. When I finally managed to tear my eyes away from her... assets, the brunette had a triumphant smile on her face. Calm, Ken. Calm. Don't blush. Don't fall for this fox's manipulations. You have Mei! You have a girlfriend who definitely won't be sleeping tonight!

"Big bro."

I looked at Hana-chan, who was clinging to my arm. Warmth spread through my chest, and a peaceful smile appeared on my face. I'm not alone.

"So, how do you like Italian food?"

"Tasty."

I admired the bright red silhouette of the girl, visible through my Gaze. For some reason, I only now caught a whiff of flowers from her. I unconsciously closed my eyes and lowered my head toward her hair. That scent. Red camellia?

"Awakened your perverted instincts, Lolicon-san?"

The sweet voice of the older Yoshioka, who'd appeared beside me, made me realize what I was doing. I opened my eyes and met Hana's gaze. She was watching me closely. Okay. Okay. Okay. I felt the blood rushing to my face. What did Midoriya do in cases of extreme embarrassment and overwhelming awkwardness? Apologize, bow, even prostrate himself in dogeza? No, that's not my style. My style is...

"Let's watch the news!"

...smooth and subtle topic changes. Incredibly smooth and equally incredibly subtle. Ignoring the looks from the fairer half of humanity, I grabbed the remote and turned on the kitchen TV.

/...the U.A. High training camp was attacked by the League of Villains. The U.A. administration has not yet commented on the incident. According to independent sources, out of the 40 students at the camp, 15 were exposed to poisonous gas.../

I watched the news anchor intently. So the League's new members finally attacked the U.A. camp.

/"Thank you."

The purple-haired girl running beside me said shyly, looking away./

I closed my eyes. Jiro and Midoriya had to understand what it meant to become a hero. I can't constantly watch over and protect everyone. It's precisely because of situations like this that I need greater power. Besides, those two weren't the main target of the League's "strike force." Well, Bakugo. I won't miss your stupid shouting and explosive personality. The fact that you'd switch sides and become a villain? I honestly don't believe it. Your personality isn't built for it. I hope your death finally shatters Midoriya's rose-colored glasses and tempers his character.

/"...wait. We've just learned the identity of the missing student. It's Class 1-A student Izuku Midoriya, who took first place in the U.A. Sports Festival!"/

WHAT?