This time I will protect them I won't be a coward

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After explaining the layout of Overhaul's hideout in intricate detail to the mood-swinging former sidekick of All Might, Sir Nighteye, Denki found himself under a scrutinizing gaze. Nighteye's narrowed eyes betrayed his rising suspicion.

“And who, exactly, are you?” Nighteye asked, his voice sharp with doubt.

For a moment, Denki’s brain scrambled for a response. Then, with a straight face and perfect comic timing, he declared, “Bob. Yeah, uh… Bob.” He folded his arms as if that was a fully convincing answer.

Sir Nighteye blinked, visibly unamused, but a faint twitch of his eyebrow hinted at how absurd he found Denki's response. Denki almost broke into laughter but managed to maintain his composure. It wasn’t the first time he’d blurted out something utterly ridiculous under pressure, and, honestly, it probably wouldn’t be the last.

Despite the awkward moment, Nighteye seemed to let it slide, gesturing for his assistant, Bob (yes, the real Bob), to take notes. Internally, Denki smiled, knowing that despite his antics, Sir Nighteye believed him.

After relaying every detail he could remember about Overhaul's hideout, Denki felt the charged atmosphere suffocating. He needed a break—a quick breather to collect himself. While Nighteye deliberated over his testimony, Denki decided to sneak out for a brief walk.

The nearby park was the perfect escape. Small and serene, it was almost eerily empty at this time of night. The faint glow of orange lamps illuminated the empty pathways, flickering occasionally and casting restless shadows. The cool breeze whispered softly through the trees, scattering leaves onto the pavement.

Denki knew he shouldn’t be out here alone. His instincts told him it wasn’t exactly the safest move, and besides, not even Midoriya knew he had slipped away. Midoriya was back at headquarters, finishing up his report on today’s events, probably assuming that Denki was still enduring the company of “Mood Swing McGee” (as Denki had mentally nicknamed Nighteye). But ten minutes wouldn’t hurt, right? Just a quick stroll to clear his head.

Walking along the pavement, Denki let his boots crunch through the dry leaves, their sound oddly satisfying in the quiet. He started humming to himself and soon found the tune morphing into full-blown singing:

🎶 Best believe I'm still bejeweled When I walk in the room I can still make the whole place shimmer... 🎶

Denki sang with the carefree attitude of someone who thought they were completely alone. That illusion shattered when an all-too-familiar voice interrupted him.

“Oi, angel.”

Denki froze mid-step. The playful lightness in his expression drained as cold reality set in. He slowly turned, his heart pounding as though it might break free of his chest. That nickname… It had been months since anyone had called him that, but Denki remembered exactly who had—Shigaraki Tomura. The memories of the USJ incident slammed into him like a tidal wave, and for the first time in a while, Denki felt truly vulnerable.