The next day, atnight
Mato lay on his bed, his mind running through a lot of thoughts.
(Am I a villain?)
(Am I a hero?)
(Do I want to keep going with AFO's plan?)
(Rest. You deserve it. You haven't rested since school began.)
Suddenly, in front of him, a portal appeared.
"Kurogiri-san...?" Mato wondered, tilting his head. He entered the portal.
He found himself in Yokohama. More specifically, in the League of Villains' basement. He saw Shigaraki, Kurogiri, Dabi, and Toga.
"Welcome back, Mato," Shigaraki muttered. "Good job during the Sports Festival. You did what AFO and I asked you."
"Yeah," said Mato, sitting on a chair. "I've missed this place... I feel like it's been forever since the last time I've been in the basement."
Without warning, Toga jumped onto Mato. "Mato-kuuun!"
Mato fell from his chair. "Yo, Himiko-chan... I missed you. Do you want my blood?"
"No, I'm just happy to see you~," Toga said. "I've seen you on the TV! I didn't think you had such a physique!"
Mato blushed. (She saw me? Holy shit!)
"Toga, get off Mato," Shigaraki said.
"Wait a second, Tomura," said Toga. "I want to hug him a little longer..."
It was clear -- after the Sports Festival, Toga developed a crush on Mato.
"If you're going to ask for blood, just take it."
Dabi grabbed Toga's dress and lifted her off Mato. The boy got up.
"We have a little work to do," said Shigaraki. "All together."
"What?" Mato asked.
"We're going to ask Stain if he wants to join the League of Villains."
"Stain? I met him some time ago..."
"It'll be easier then."
Kurogiri opened a portal.
"Let's go," said Shigaraki. "Oh, and, anyway: what do you want as a reward for completing your mission, Mato?"
Mato thought about it after stepping inside the portal. "A bit of relaxation."
"No more missions, no more 'befriend this, do that,' just a bit of relaxation for at least a week, please."
"Fine," said Shigaraki. "We won't bother you for a week or two, depending on what AFO decides."
The villains got outside the portal. In front of him, there was Stain.
"Yo," Mato said. Stain turned. "Would you like to join the League of Villains?"
"You're Sat--" Mato dashed forward and covered Stain's mouth.
"Don't call me by my real name, idiot of a Stain!" he shouted. "Call me Mato."
"Oh, sorry," Stain said. "You're the kid I met some time ago, right?"
"Yeah, it's me," said Mato. "So, whaddya say? You in or not?"
"No," said Stain. "Why should I join the League of Villains?"
"Fame?"
"Don't want it."
Mato turned to Shigaraki. "It didn't work, Tomura."
"We tried. Let's leave," said Shigaraki.
"You mean I tried!"
The villains returned to the basement.
"Now you can return home," said Shigaraki.
"How's your time at U.A. going?" Dabi asked.
"Fine, but..." said Mato. "There are too many girls."
"Really?" said Toga. "How many?"
"More than ten," Mato supposed.
(I'll kill every single one of them... Mato-kun is mine and only mine!)
"There is a girl," said Mato. "With salmon-pink dreads and an obsession for technological things... I think I might have fallen for her."
Mato slapped his own forehead. "Kurogiri-san, open the portal. I'm goin' home."
Kurogiri did so, and Mato slowly entered the portal. "See you in a while, guys."
Once Mato left, Dabi sighed. "He's clearly overwhelmed and stressed by all the stuff he has done."
"Yeah, I noticed," Shigaraki said.
"He's so handsome..." Toga muttered.
"Why didn't you confess to him when you were hugging him?" Dabi asked.
"Because I feared he might reject me!"
Dabi almost smashed his own head against the wall.
(This girl is the dumbest person I've ever seen.)
__________
Some time later...
Mato was sitting in his chair in class. He was spinning his pen and staring at the ceiling.
(How long does it take for Sekijiro-sensei to arrive?) he wondered. Speaking of the devil, Vlad King arrived.
"Hello, students," he said. "Today is a special day. You've got to choose your hero name."
(Finally, something entertaining...)
"Here are the number of agencies who wants you," Vlad King said.
1. Hideki Shirakawa - 6,113
2. Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu - 246
3. Ibara Shiozaki - 157
4. Neito Monoma - 56
"With no surprises, Shirakawa is unrivalled," Setsuna said.
"It's not my fault if I'm the best," said Mato.
"As a special guest, we have here Midnight."
Midnight entered the class. "Hello, everyone! Today, you gotta choose your hero names!"
The students started writing their hero names on a board.
"Hey, Hid," whispered Tetsutetsu. "What are you choosing?"
"You'll see," said Mato.
"All right, time's up! Show me your names!" said Midnight.
Yosetsu Awase chose 'Welder.'
Sen Kaibara chose 'Spiral.'
Togaru Kamakiri chose 'Jack Mantis.'
Shihai Kuroiro chose 'Vantablack.'
Itsuka chose 'Battle Fist.'
Yui Kodai chose 'Rule.'
Kinoko Komori chose 'Shemage.'
Ibara Shiozaki chose 'Vine.'
Jurota Shishida chose 'Gevaudan.'
Nirengeki Shoda chose 'Mines.'
Pony Tsunotori chose 'Rocketti.'
Kosei Tsubaraba chose 'Tsubaraba.'
Tetsutetsu chose 'Real Steel.'
Setsuna chose 'Lizardy.'
Manga Fukidashi chose 'Comicman.'
Juzo Honenuki chose 'Mudman.'
Kojiro Bondo chose 'Plamo.'
Monoma chose 'Phantom Thief.'
Reiko Yanagi chose 'Emily.'
Hiryu Rin chose 'Dragon Shroud.'
Finally, Mato's turn came. The boy stepped up and reached Midnight on the teaching post.
"So, what's your hero name, Shirakawa?" she asked.
Mato showed the board. "Dark Matter."
"Whoa, such a good name!" said Tetsutetsu.
"It sounds like a villain name," said Midnight.
"I know," Mato sighed. "But I don't care. As long as it is a name villains are afraid to say, it's good."
"I like your confidence!" said Midnight. (Remember, Nemuri: he's a minor, you can't hook up with him, and you're not a pedo...)
Mato sat back on his chair.
(I won't need a hero name. I already have my dear 'Mato' as my villain name.)
__________
After school...
Mato was walking outside the school. His mind was fixed solely on returning home and relaxing. He wanted to enjoy the holidays Shigaraki gave him. Suddenly, though, he saw her: Mei Hatsume.
(Oh, crap...) Without warning, Mato grabbed Monoma's arm and dragged him with him.
"What is it, Shirakawa?" he asked.
"You have success with girls," said Mato. "How would you ask a girl out?"
"Be direct and don't be afraid," Monoma explained. "Don't ask her 'wanna hang out sometime?' but ask her 'I'm free this Friday, would you like to hang out with me?'."
"Alright..."
"Why are you asking tho?"
"See that girl with salmon-pink dreads?"
"Yeah."
"I have a crush on her, and I want to ask her out. That's why I asked you."
"Go, she'll surely accept."
"I hope so."
Mato took a deep breath. Then he stepped up.
"Mei Hatsume, right?"
Mei turned to face Mato. He gulped.
"Whoa! You're Shirakawa, the one who won the Sports Festival!" she said.
"Yeah, it's me. We also teamed up in the cavalry battle, remember?"
"Yeah, I do. Anyway, what do you want?"
Mato gulped again and tried to find the right words to ask her out.
"Y'know," he began. "Tomorrow is Friday, and I'm free, so... I wanted to ask you..."
He froze for a second.
"I wanted to ask you if you would like to hang out with me tomorrow to go to the cinema or wherever you like!"
There was silence for a moment.
(Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes...)
"Okay."
Mato's eyes widened. "Okay?"
"Yeah, okay," Mei repeated. "I would like to hang out with you, Shirakawa."
Mato gulped. "O-okay, so... tomorrow, after school?"
"Yeah, reach me in the laboratory after you're done!" Mei thumbed up.
"Got it," Mato said. "Now I gotta go. See you tomorrow?"
"See you tomorrow."
Mei left. Mato still couldn't believe she accepted.
"Congratulations, man," Monoma clapped him on the shoulder. "To be honest, she's pretty cute, you've got good taste in women."
Mato nodded. "I gotta tell Izuku. I'll catch you tomorrow."
__________
Izuku's house
Mato opened the door and entered.
"Hey, Hideki!" Izuku reached him.
"Hey, Izuku," said Mato. "Guess who's going out with a girl tomorrow?"
"You?"
"Yeah, me!"
"That's fantastic! Who's the lucky one?"
"Mei Hatsume. The one we teamed up with in the cavalry battle."
"You didn't tell me you had a crush on her."
"Because I didn't want to."
Mato started to walk towards his room. "I'll catch her in the laboratory of the school."
"I'm glad."
(I thought Himiko-chan was my only love... but goddamn, Mei got me in love again.)
Chapter 21 - End