MY HERO ACADEMIA:NEXT GENERATION

Chapter 26: Bonds in the Shadows

A week had passed since Felix had arrived at U.A., and Kenji found himself slowly lowering his guard around the newcomer. They weren't best friends, but there was an unspoken bond forming between them, forged through the shared secret of that night. Felix hadn't pried too much, and Kenji appreciated that. He didn't have many people he could trust, but Felix, despite his cocky attitude, seemed to understand that.

The week had also been a strange balance between the ordinary and the unsettling. Kai and Kenji had fallen back into their usual tense rhythm-sharp words exchanged here and there, but there was an undeniable shift beneath the surface. That moment in the training hall lingered in Kenji's mind more than he wanted to admit. Whatever progress they'd made during patrol duty, disappeared.

Ren, ever the observant one, had also noticed the change. His friendship with Kenji was still rock solid, but there was a subtle distance forming, though Ren didn't seem to push it too hard. He was watching Kenji closely, though, and it was only a matter of time before he'd demand answers.

Shoto, Kenji's adoptive father, had been busy with hero duties, but even their rare moments together had taken on a new weight. Kenji knew he should talk to him about everything-the stalker, the strange feelings, the flashes of unknown memories-but he kept it all locked inside. Shoto had enough to deal with as the number one hero. Kenji didn't want to burden him with more.

Still, as the days passed, the idea of keeping it all to himself became harder to justify.

That afternoon, Kenji found Felix waiting for him after class. They hadn't spoken much in front of the others, but Felix had a way of finding him when things were quiet. The gym had emptied out after a long day, and the usual banter of their classmates faded into the background as Felix approached with that same easy grin.

"You're late," Felix quipped, leaning casually against the wall.

Kenji rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smirk that tugged at his lips. "Didn't know we had plans."

"Maybe we do." Felix's tone shifted, a bit more serious. "We need to talk."

Kenji's smirk faded. "About what?"

Felix glanced around, ensuring they were alone before continuing. "You know what. That night. We can't just ignore it,mano. I've been thinking... We should do something."

Kenji folded his arms, the tension rising in his chest again. He had been thinking about it too, though he wasn't sure about taking any steps. "Like what? Go to the police? Tell dad?"

Felix nodded slowly. "Maybe. Or both. I mean, we don't even know what this guy wants. And, well, it's not just your problem anymore. I got dragged into it too."

Kenji sighed. "I didn't ask you to."

"I know," Felix replied, his voice a little softer. "But I got involved anyway. And honestly, you can't keep going on like this. You've been on edge for days, and it's not just the injuries. You've got that look in your eye like you're waiting for the next thing to go wrong. You'd be lost with out me"

Kenji couldn't argue with that, except that last part, cocky bastard. He had been waiting-for the next attack, the next glimpse of the stalker, the next nightmare. And it was wearing him down. Still, talking to Shoto or the police felt like an admission that he couldn't handle it on his own. And Kenji hated feeling powerless.

"We don't even know what this guy wants," Kenji muttered, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "He shows up, watches me, disappears. There's no pattern."

Felix tilted his head, his sharp green eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Have you ever considered that maybe this has to do with who you really are?"

Kenji stiffened. He had thought about it, but the idea that his past-the one he didn't know-might be the reason for all of this made him feel sick. "I don't know," he admitted, the words heavy in his throat. "But if it is... then why now? Why after all these years?"