The first quarter of the year had quickly passed, leaving place to the summer holidays.
Satoru was sitting on his bed, lifting weights.
(If I want to get stronger, I can't slack off during the summer holidays. Because the others and I will attack the Training Camp, I can't relax.)
Izuku entered the room. "Dinner is ready, Hideki."
"Okay, let's go," Satoru placed the weight on the floor and got up. "I'm starving."
Izuku and Satoru reached the kitchen.
"Enjoy your meal," Inko said.
"Arigatou, Inko-san," said Satoru.
"Hideki, you sure you don't want to join the Training Camp?" Izuku asked.
"Yes, I'm sure," Satoru hummed while taking a bite of the meal. "I gotta help Mei-chan with her gadgets. I wouldn't be a good boyfriend if I didn't help her, right?"
"If you really don't want to come, I won't force you," said Izuku. "Just know you're missing a huge opportunity."
"Nah, I'll keep training at home, you don't have to worry."
__________
Training Camp - Day 1
Izuku was standing outside the school, waiting for the bus to bring him to the Training Camp. Uraraka approached him.
"Deku-kun! Have you seen Shirakawa-kun?"
"Yeah," said Izuku. "He said he won't join the Training Camp, even though his class is."
Not too far away from there, Tetsutetsu spat on the floor.
"That brat... why didn't he join us?"
"Don't be mad, Tetsutetsu," said Setsuna. "Maybe he has his own reasons."
"Maybe he doesn't want to be seen by me," said Itsuka.
"What do you mean, Kendo?" Tetsutetsu asked.
"Oh, right, you don't know yet," said Setsuna. "We caught Shirakawa with a girl at the mall a while ago."
"Really?" Tetsutetsu widened his eyes. "Don't tell me he doesn't join because he wants to spend time with that girl!"
"No, I don't think that's the reason," said Setsuna. "But we can only accept this choice of his."
"I swear, when I catch him," Itsuka clenched her fist. "I'll beat him up first, then I'll beat up his girlfriend."
"Aren't you a bit too jealous?" asked Monoma. "I mean, he doesn't know you like him, and you helped him during the practical exam, so..."
"Shut up, Monoma!" Itsuka yelled. "You even helped him to ask her out!"
"I wouldn't have been a good friend if I hadn't done that," Monoma defended himself.
"You hated each other until before the Sports Festival..." Tetsutetsu commented.
__________
Izuku's House, 12:00 AM
Satoru was standing in his room, waiting for that message.
"How long does it take for them to get here with Kurogiri-san's Quirk..."
Finally, the message arrived.
"Come out, we're here."
"Finally..."
Satoru went downstairs and opened the door of the house, getting outside.
"Come outside, Dabi. I can see you from here."
Dabi came out from the bushes and showed himself.
"Today, our mission begins," he said.
"I know," said Satoru. "Can you repeat how our squad is called?"
"Vanguard Action Squad."
"What a shitty name. Tomura surely hasn't taste for names."
"Yeah, he definitely hasn't."
Behind Dabi, Satoru saw another bush moving. "You brought Himiko-chan with you, didn't you?"
"Yeah."
"Mato-kun!" Toga came out from the bushes. "It's been a while since our last encounter!"
"Yeah, I missed you too, Himiko-chan..." said Satoru. "Anyway, should we move on? The Training Camp is distant from here."
The trio started to make their way.
"You know," said Satoru, looking at the sky. "I can't even remember the last time it was just the three of us."
"Yeah, with all this villainous stuff and engagements, we've seen each other really briefly," said Dabi. "Not to mention you've been working alone lately."
"You and Himiko-chan did nothing for the last few months, right?"
"That's not true!" Toga exclaimed. "I did something! I thought about you!"
(Why is she flirting with me now that I've got a girlfriend? Goddammit, this world is so unfair...)
"Thanks, Himiko-chan," said Satoru. "You and Dabi are the only ones I really trust within the League of Villains."
"Same for us, Mato," said Dabi. "We trust no one but you."
Satoru sighed and looked at the floor.
"You're growing affectionate towards your classmates, I noticed," said Dabi.
"Huh? How did you..."
"It's written all over your face that you care about the friends you made at U.A."
"I know, I'm not supposed to care..."
"It's not your fault," said Toga. "You're human, and therefore, you have feelings. The more you stay inside that school, the more you'll grow affectionate towards them."
"Furthermore, you're not truly a villain," Dabi scratched his burned chin. "From what Tomura told us, AFO found you when you were a baby and brought you into the League of Villains. It's as if you're born evil."
"But I'm not," said Satoru. "I... I don't feel I'm a villain. I never did, to be honest."
"So you want to quit the League of Villains?" asked Toga.
"No," said Satoru. "Once you're in, you can't leave. And I don't want to leave you alone."
"Thanks, Mato-kun," said Toga. "If you were to leave the League, I'd miss you a lot."
Dabi rolled his eyes. (They like each other, but she realized it too late, and he got a girlfriend in the process...)
"Anyway, let's remain focused," said Satoru. "Whether I'm a villain or not doesn't care right now. We've got a mission right now, remember?"
"You're right," said Dabi.
"And also," Satoru added. "All For One promised to give me his Quirk if we succeed."
"For real?" Toga widened her eyes.
"For real, real," said Satoru. "And I'm really, really willing to gain All For One to become strong and break free from this control."
"What control?" Dabi asked.
"If I disobey Shigaraki or AFO, they'd kill me," Satoru explained. "But if I gain AFO myself and become stronger than them, I won't be forced to obey them anymore. And I'll finally stop being a villain."
"So you want to be a hero now?" Toga asked.
"N-no," said Satoru. "But I don't want to be a villain, either."
"That's not important for now, Mato," said Dabi. "You said it yourself: we have a mission."
Satoru nodded.
(And by the way,) thought Dabi. (I've always shipped you with Toga.)
Chapter 27 - End