What is wrong with me? she thought desperately as she hurried down the hallway. This has never happened before. Why now?
She reached the girls' restroom and pushed the door open with relief. The cool, quiet atmosphere was a welcome break from the sweltering classroom. She quickly entered the nearest stall and locked the door. Finally alone, Ochako lifted her skirt with trembling hands, fearful of what she would find.
Her pink bunny panties were visibly darkened in the center. The fabric clung to her skin, outlining her intimacy in a way she found overwhelming, saturated with a moisture that definitely wasn't sweat.
"Oh, no," she whispered, her face burning. "Oh, no, no, no..."
She tucked her fingers into the elastic waistband and carefully lowered the garment to her knees to examine the damage. The adorable printed white bunnies were barely distinguishable. Between her legs, her inner thighs glistened; her lips were swollen, evidence of an excitement she could neither explain nor control.
I'm so wet... she realized in horror. How did this happen? I wasn't even thinking about anything inappropriate!
She took some toilet paper and began to clean herself, wiping away the excess liquid with slow movements. The paper became damp and sticky. She needed several sheets to clean herself thoroughly; each pass made her more aware of how sensitive her skin had become.
There was a moment in class she vaguely remembered. She had felt... something. As if someone were touching her down there. But it was impossible; she was sitting at her desk and no one was nearby. However, the sensation had been unmistakable: invisible fingers brushing against her most private areas, a soft pressure that turned into direct stimulation. The mere memory made her shudder.
Am I going crazy? she wondered as she finished cleaning up. Do normal people feel phantom touches? Should I talk to Recovery Girl about this?
She pulled up her panties; the damp fabric was uncomfortable, but there was no turning back now. She couldn't change her clothes in the middle of the school day. With a sigh, she flushed the paper and headed to the sinks. She turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on her face repeatedly to clear her head.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was still flushed, but not as much as before. Her brown eyes reflected confusion. She took a deep breath, trying to pull herself together.
Okay, Ochako, she told herself firmly. You're going to go back to class, sit down, and take notes like a normal student. Whatever happened... it was probably just stress.
She dried her face, smoothed her uniform, and after confirming she looked presentable, left the bathroom. She was halfway down the empty hallway when she saw someone coming from the opposite direction: Mina.
"Ochako-chan!" the pink-skinned girl shouted with her characteristic energy. "Are you feeling better now?"
"Yes," Ochako replied, forcing a smile. "I just needed a moment."
"I know that feeling!" Mina winked at her. "Aizawa-sensei's classes can be eternal. I swear my bladder synchronizes with his tired voice!"
Ochako let out a genuine laugh. "He has a very... serious teaching style."
"Exactly! Anyway, I better hurry before they mark me absent. See ya!"
She passed Ochako toward the bathroom, still humming that cheerful tune. Ochako watched her go for a moment, then shook her head and returned to the classroom.
At least I'm not the only one who needs a break, she thought.
***
The sound of nails scratching skin was the only thing breaking the tense silence of the bar.
Scratch... scratch... scratch...
Shigaraki stood in front of the bar, his fingers moving compulsively over his neck. The skin already showed intense red marks and small traces of blood.
"Everything went wrong," he muttered with a contained rage. "Absolutely everything."
Kurogiri remained behind the bar, watching his young leader with his yellow eyes glowing amidst the dark mist. On the television screen, amid the static, a distorted voice resonated with authority.
"Tomura, control your temper. Explain to me exactly what happened."
"WHAT HAPPENED?" Shigaraki turned sharply toward the screen. "Everything was wrong from the start! The log clearly said only All Might, Thirteen, and Eraserhead would be at the USJ. Just those three! But Midnight was there! Why? The information was garbage!"
"Perhaps it was a last-minute addition," Kurogiri suggested cautiously.
"Or maybe UA suspected something and set a trap for us," Shigaraki spat.
"Tomura," the voice of All For One interrupted the paranoia, "continue. What else failed?"
Shigaraki began to pace, vibrating with frustration. "The students. They acted too coordinated, as if they knew what to do in a crisis. And that bald brat... He organized the girls to attack the Nomu strategically. They weakened our perfect weapon before All Might even arrived!"
"Tell me about him," All For One requested with a slight hint of interest.
Kurogiri intervened: "According to my observations, that student showed exceptional leadership skills. The young women under his command coordinated their quirks in a complementary way to maximize damage."
"But that's not all," Shigaraki added, scratching himself until he bled. "Thirteen also damaged the Nomu ahead of time. We lost our weapon designed to kill the Symbol of Peace! Turned into nothing!"
He struck the wall, pulverizing part of the concrete with his quirk. "And you, Master... you lied to me."
The silence was absolute. Even Kurogiri tensed.
"Choose your next words carefully, Tomura," All For One warned, losing his fatherly warmth.
"You told me All Might was weak. But I saw him tear the Nomu apart with his own hands!" Shigaraki laughed bitterly. "That man is not weak!"
"All Might is weak," All For One corrected firmly. "His residual strength is still considerable, and I miscalculated the margin of difference. It was an error in judgment that I will not make again."
"Great. That makes me feel much better after being knocked out by Eraserhead."
"Aizawa Shota is an experienced combatant. Underestimating him was your mistake, not mine."
Shigaraki fell silent, scratching himself with resentment. All For One let a few seconds pass before concluding:
"I understand your frustration, but we have learned that the new generation is more capable than we anticipated. Kurogiri, I want you to investigate the first-year students. But do not touch them; UA will be watching. We will wait for the right moment and then we will attack with full knowledge of what we are facing."
The screen turned off. Shigaraki stared at the black glass with cold hatred. That bald brat... they will all pay.
[Outside UA – The Next Day, After School]
Ren stepped out of the UA main building and stretched his arms toward the sky. The afternoon sun bathed his bald head, creating an almost celestial effect.
What a perfect day, he thought with genuine satisfaction. The weather is ideal, I survived another of Aizawa-sensei's classes without him throwing an eraser at me, and I have the whole afternoon free. Life is beautiful.
"Hayashi-kun?"
He turned around and saw Ochako approaching with a curious expression.
"Ochako-san," Ren greeted her with a warm smile. "Are you finished with your things?"
"Yes, I just picked up my books from my locker," she replied. "But you... why do you look so satisfied? You're practically glowing."
Ren laughed, genuinely amused by the observation.
"You know what? Honestly, I don't know," he admitted with disarming sincerity. "But for some reason, I feel incredibly good today. As if everything in the universe were aligning perfectly."
He took a step closer, his smile becoming a bit more mischievous without losing its warmth.
"I'm in such a good mood that, if it weren't for the fact that I value my freedom and don't want to go to prison, I'd give you a kiss right now."
Ochako turned red instantly. Her hands waved frantically in front of her.
"H-Hayashi-kun! You can't just say things like that out of the blue!" she stammered.
Before Ren could respond, he felt a sudden weight on his back.
"So here you were, my favorite bald guy!"
Invisible arms wrapped around his neck as Hagakure jumped onto his back. Ren adjusted automatically, holding the girl's invisible legs to keep her steady.
"My favorite exhibitionist girl!" Ren replied with the same enthusiasm.
Immediately, he felt an invisible hand cover his mouth forcefully.
"HAHAHA, yes, how funny Hayashi-kun, always such a joker!" Hagakure laughed nervously. "Always saying weird things!"
Her invisible fingers moved quickly from his mouth to Ren's ears, pinching them with surprising strength.
"OUCH! OUCH! Hagakure-san, that hurts!" Ren protested, trying to break free, but the girl's grip was firm.
"The weather is beautiful today, right, Uraraka-san?!" Hagakure continued chatting happily as if she weren't torturing Ren. "Perfect for walking home without a hurry!"
"Y-yes, very nice," Ochako replied, amused by the scene.
Ren, deciding that two could play at that game, discreetly moved his right hand. His fingers slid from where he was holding Hagakure's leg upward, beneath the skirt of the uniform. He found the soft curve of her rear and squeezed firmly.
"KYAAAA!" Hagakure shrieked, immediately letting go of Ren's ears. "WAIT! WAIT! I'LL CALM DOWN! I'M STOPPING!"
She jumped off Ren's back; her uniform floated agitatedly as she stepped away.
"You're a pervert!" she accused, though her voice sounded more amused than offended.
"You started it," Ren replied with an innocent smile while rubbing his aching ears. "I was only defending myself from your unprovoked attack on my face."
"Your mouth provoked the attack!" Hagakure counter-argued.
"Technically, my mouth only told the truth," Ren pointed out. "You are an exhibitionist in the technical sense, considering you walk around invisible all the time."
"I'm wearing a uniform!" Hagakure protested.
"But your hero costume is practically walking around naked," Ren counted on his fingers. "Mathematically speaking, that is still exhibitionism."
Ochako watched the exchange with a smile and finally let out a loud laugh.
"You two get along incredibly well," she commented warmly. "It's like watching siblings bickering."
"We're not siblings!" Ren and Hagakure protested simultaneously.
There was a moment of silence, and then all three burst into laughter.
"Well," Ren said finally, adopting a gallant posture, "since the three of us are here..."
He offered both arms: one toward Ochako and another toward the space where Hagakure was.
"Ladies, it would be an honor for this humble bald knight to escort you to your respective homes. The streets of Musutafu can be dangerous, and I could not forgive myself if I allowed two such lovely ladies to walk alone."
"Dangerous?" Ochako laughed. "We live in one of the safest neighborhoods in the city!"
"The details are irrelevant," Ren declared dramatically. "The point is that I am offering myself as your personal bodyguard, bald and extraordinarily attractive."
"The attractive part is debatable," Hagakure commented, but Ren felt her invisible hand take his arm gently.
Ochako looked at the offered left arm and, after a brief internal debate, took it delicately.
"Well," she said softly, "if you insist so gentlemanly..."
"I insist," Ren confirmed.
"Then," Hagakure broke the moment, "who do we drop off first?"
"I live fairly close," Ochako admitted. "About fifteen minutes away."
"I'm further," Hagakure added. "About thirty."
"Perfect," Ren nodded. "We'll walk Ochako-san first, then Hagakure-san, and finally, I will walk to my apartment with a heart full of satisfaction for having fulfilled my duty."
"You're ridiculous," Ochako laughed.
They walked in a comfortable silence, enjoying the weather and each other's company as the sun began to set.
******
Author's Note: I promised you two bonus chapters as a reward for those reviews, and I'm making good on that! Here's our goal for the week: 800 Power Stones. I hope you're all loving the story so far!
If we hit 800 Power Stones this week, I will immediately release 3 bonus chapters this Sunday to kick off the new week!
Reminder: Our regular schedule is every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Want to read ahead? You can find advanced chapters at: patreon.com/shurazero
Thank you all for the incredible support. Let's hit that goal!