Beyond Ultra (a MHA story)

Chapter 91

After the class passed, Horoki went to the dorm and went into his room. He sat down and sighed, running his hands through his hair. He then began to hear Shigaraki's voice, "are you willing to throw your ideals and kill one of your classmates?" The voice was repeated in his head multiple times and he felt his heart race. Who would we have to kill? Who did they have in mind? Horoki's train of thought was quickly cut as he heard the door knock. He got up and walked over to the door and opened it. He saw Jiro looking up at him and he looked back at her. "Oh hey Jiro." He said calmly. "Come in." Horoki said politely. Jiro sat down on his bed while he sat at his desk normally as if he wasn't having a mid life crisis just a few minutes ago. "I wanna talk about...us." Jiro said. Horoki looked up raising an eyebrow. "Mina talked to me about our relationship. After I heard you talk about giving villains a second chance well...I thought about you." Jiro said, trying to keep it together. "What I'm trying to say is, I'm sorry for accusing you of keeping your villainous ways. I hurt you and I didn't think how you felt with my words." Jiro said. "I know you might not forgive me b-" Jiro was quickly cut off by Horoki hugging her. "That's all I ever wanted from you...an apology..." Horoki whispered. Jiro held him close and let the tears flow and fall onto his shirt. He brushed her hair and shushed her, "it's ok Jiro, don't worry." Horoki said trying calm his crying classmate. She wiped her tears and looked up at him, "can we start over?" Jiro asked quietly. "As...friends...?" She asked. "Of course. Don't worry." Horoki said, while he was hurt that Jiro didn't want to get back with him, he was more than happy to get an apology from her. "I questioned your trust when all you did was help us and keep us away from harm...I'm sorry...I'm so so sorry." She said, continuing to tear up. Horoki held her close and shushed her quietly, brushing her hair to calm her down. She settled down and fell asleep in his arms. Horoki then got up and carried her to her room and tucked her into bed. He came out and got his bag, slinging it over his shoulder. He came down the stairs and saw some of the class downstairs, "hey Horoki! Where you going?" Kaminari asked. "Just gonna go to Ryuko's house. Talk and just chill at her house." Horoki said, "wait she just lets you vibe at her house?" Liam asked. "Yeah, she sees me like a little brother she's never had." Horoki said with a smile. "Oh no I've seen tons of videos to know where that goes." Mineta commented. Mina smacked the back of his head, "pervert!!" She shouted. "See you guys later." Horoki said as he left the house. "He seems a bit happier." Kirishima said as he ate some chips. "Well that's cause of me, no need to thank me." Mina said as she brushed her nails on her shirt to flaunt her good people skills. "How are you the cause?" Kaminari asked. "I talked to Jiro about their breakup and she was actually thinking about how bad she hurt Horoki. After the whole presentation on the villains? She was thinking about talking to him, I just gave her the push she needed." Mina said with a confident smile. "Well least Horoki's love issues are out of the way." Mineta said. "You think he'll keep acting like a villain?" Mineta added. "Horoki only acts like that to keep us on our toes." Tokoyami said, emerging from the shadows to get some food to eat. "He's the only one who's had the  closest relationship to a villain so he would know how to react. Besides his project really made me think, how many villains are the way they are because of circumstance?" He asked. The class looked down, Midoriya came in and smiled, "hey, have any of you guys seen Horoki?" He asked. "You just missed him. He went to Ryuko's house." Liam said. "Shoot! Well, what are you guys doing?" Midoriya asked. "Be honest with us Midoriya, do you think some villains were just born to be evil? Or made evil with special circumstances." Kaminari asked. Midoriya stood there and put his two fingers together. "W-Well I definitely think th-that it could be special circumstances." He said in a soft voice. When Horoki presented his project, his brain immediately went to Gentle Criminal and his accomplice La Brava, they weren't trying to harm anyone, just trying to pull a stunt. However if they did succeed then Eri wouldn't have been able to see Jiro sing and learned to smile. The classmates continued to discuss Horoki's presentation, criticizing and praising it. It was a pretty controversial topic, one that had been spreading in other classrooms too, whether Horoki planned it or not, his project became one for heated debate.

At Ryuko's House

Horoki was in the yard training his smoke form and trying to chain attacks using his smoke wings, however they were only good enough for flight and any damage to it would cause the to disappear. Ryuko came out with some food and the two sat outside to eat. "You know, that project of yours is causing quite a stir." Ryuko said as she ate some of her food. Horoki looked at her, "project? You mean the one I presented?" Horoki asked. "Yeah, it's been trending on social media. Controversial but thought provoking." She said, looking pretty impressed. "Makes me wonder, what made you think of that subject for your project?" She asked Horoki, who was eating her food. "Oh just my time with Toga when I was younger." Horoki said. "Oh the girl who you ran with when you were younger?" Ryuko said. "Yeah. I always thought how things would go if society gave Toga another chance...maybe things would've been different." Horoki said as he picked at his food. "On the bright side, Jiro apologized to me. We're now friends." Horoki said. "You don't sound happy." Ryuko looked at him with a tilted head towards him. "I guess I wanted to get back with her, you know? Before everything went shit." Horoki said. "Well, how do you feel about that?" Ryuko asked. "Uhhh I feel pretty good, disappointed but good." Horoki asked. "I know you wanted to get back with Jiro, but it takes time to heal. It's good to start off as a friends and work your way back to being a couple." Ryuko said. "Now eat your food, it's getting cold." She said in a big sister tone."

At the Dorms

Horoki came home and was a bit exhausted from dinner and training at Ryuko's house. He looked to his right and saw everyone eating at the table. "You guys just had dinner?" Horoki asked. "We wanted all of us to eat together." Momo said. "Like a family!!!" Tokoyami said slamming his fist with tears. "You brought up his parents didn't you?" Horoki asked. "We didn't know it would cause this sorta reaction!!" Kaminari said. Horoki rolled his eyes and sat down with them, looking at the Mac and Cheese, some sushi, ramen, and risotto. The group ate some of the food and looked at Horoki, "so what are you doing with Hawks?" Kirishima asked. "Oh working on stealth tactics, using my quirk to my fullest and handling the press." Horoki said, scratching his cheek. "I'd bet that Horoki would be the one to talk to the press all day." Kaminari said. "I can see that." Liam said as he drank his soda. "Hey, guys! We got cupcakes in the oven!" Sero said with a smile. The class cheered and saw Sero took the cupcakes out and they waited till they were cooler and took some. Horoki sneaked in and grabbed one, eating it quickly. Although he doesn't really feel hungry, Sero's cupcakes hit a sweet spot that just can't be resisted. He licked lips and cleared his throat to try and remain serious. "Any word on Lincoln and his exam?" Horoki asked. "It's this Friday." Liam said, eating some Mac and Cheese. "Think we can watch it?" Kirishima asked. "I highly doubt it. Chances are he will have to tell us his results." Tokoyami said. The class finished dinner and they all marched to bed, Horoki stopped Jiro from entering her room. "Hey, I uh, wanna say thanks, for the second chance." Horoki said with a shy smile. "Thanks for forgiving me...I don't know what I would've done if you just disappeared from my life Horoki." Jiro said with a comforting smile. She then entered her room and Horoki was alone in the hallway, he then walked to his room and laid in the bed. He stared at the ceiling and remembered Shigaraki's words, if he was gonna have to kill one of his classmates, who would it be?