Chapter 16 — An Unexpected Encounter
"Your name is Akio Tatsuma, right?"
After leaving U.A. High School, Akio walked alone along the quiet road leading away from campus. Other students had taken this path earlier, but none of his Class 1-A classmates were still around.
The voice came from behind him.
Akio turned.
Standing there was a boy with half-white, half-red hair.
Shoto Todoroki.
"Do you need something?" Akio asked casually. Then he realized the wording sounded a bit odd. They had only been classmates for a single day, after all.
Todoroki didn't seem bothered.
"I've been observing you," he said plainly.
His expression remained calm, as usual.
"Your Quirk is strong. I want to test something."
Akio blinked.
"So you want to fight?"
Todoroki nodded slightly.
Akio found that interesting. There were plenty of strong students in the class—Bakugo, Tokoyami, and others. Yet Todoroki had approached him first.
But Akio shook his head.
"Sorry. I'm not interested."
Todoroki paused.
He hadn't expected that answer.
"Why?" he asked.
Akio shrugged.
"Because I don't feel like it."
Then he turned and walked away.
Todoroki stood there for a moment.
"…?"
For a brief second he wondered if he had misunderstood Akio's personality. The guy usually seemed calm and composed, yet that response sounded oddly childish.
In the end, Todoroki simply let out a quiet breath.
Maybe Akio just didn't enjoy fighting.
Or maybe he had some other reason.
On his way home, Akio passed through a small park.
He didn't know the name of it. He only knew it was quiet, which made it a pleasant shortcut.
Suddenly—
Whoosh!
Something sharp flew past him.
Akio leaned aside instantly.
A thin needle-like object sliced through the air where his arm had been a moment earlier.
"Nice reaction speed."
A cheerful voice followed.
Akio stepped back several meters and looked toward the source.
A blonde girl in a school uniform stood there.
Her expression was innocent.
Too innocent.
Akio narrowed his eyes.
"…Himiko Toga?"
The girl tilted her head.
This high-school girl looked cute and harmless at first glance—but her mind was deeply twisted. She admired the ideology of the Hero Killer, believing violence and blood were expressions of love.
Her Quirk allowed her to transform into someone whose blood she consumed.
She was also already responsible for several attacks involving victims drained of blood.
"Hmm?" Toga blinked curiously.
"You know me?"
Akio relaxed slightly.
"I almost underestimated you," he said.
He actually had a complicated impression of her. If she hadn't ended up among villains, maybe things could have turned out differently.
Right now, though, she was still just a wandering high schooler. The future events involving the Hero Killer hadn't happened yet.
Still—
Her dangerous nature was already obvious.
"Tch," Toga muttered, waving her hand dismissively. "I wanted to try attacking a U.A. student for fun."
"Guess I picked the wrong one."
She turned as if to leave.
Her skirt swayed in the breeze as she walked away.
Akio raised an eyebrow.
"You're leaving just like that?"
Toga glanced back.
"Oh?"
"And what do you want to do about it?"
Akio smiled.
Before she could react—
He moved.
Lightning surged through his legs.
In a flash he crossed the distance between them.
His hand pressed forward, pushing Toga down onto the grass.
She tried to strike with another needle—
But a small spark of lightning ran through her body.
Crack.
Her muscles locked instantly.
Toga collapsed, paralyzed.
"You—what are you doing?" she demanded, suddenly nervous.
For the first time, she realized the situation had reversed.
Usually she was the hunter.
Today she was the one trapped.
Akio crouched above her, amused.
"You attacked me first," he said calmly.
"And this park is pretty quiet."
"No one around."
Toga's face flushed.
Her mind raced wildly.
What if he actually does something…?
Her body was still numb from the lightning.
Running away wasn't an option.
Akio watched her expression change and couldn't help laughing.
He had no intention of hurting her.
Teasing her was enough.
Just as he was about to stand—
Thud!
Something struck the back of his head.
Akio stumbled forward.
Because he was leaning close to Toga, the sudden movement caused his lips to brush against hers.
Both froze.
"…!"
Toga's eyes widened.
"My first kiss!"
Akio immediately jumped back and looked around.
An apple rolled across the grass nearby.
Someone must have dropped it from a tree.
The situation had become unbelievably awkward.
Without saying another word, Akio turned and walked away quickly.
Behind him, Toga remained lying in the grass, face bright red.
"…Hey!"
But Akio was already gone.
As he walked away, he touched his lips thoughtfully.
They were soft.
Very soft.
🤗If you enjoyed this chapter, please add it to your collection and
keep supporting the story 💖✨