Chapter 113: I’m not a porcelain doll.

After accompanying Mina to the infirmary, Momo returned with the girls to the stands of Class 1-A, where she found Kai in the same corner where she had left him. Curiously, Kai was now talking to Ojiro, which surprised and pleased her in equal parts. She quickly approached the pair of young men and greeted them with a smile.

"Hello again, I didn’t expect to see you two talking."

"Well, actually, Ojiro was just telling me something that happened to him in the cavalry battle. Apparently, there’s a guy with indigo-colored hair who has the ability to control people when they respond to him." Kai commented in a slightly interested tone, prompting Momo to reply seriously, fully aware of whom he was talking about.

"That quirk is dangerous..."

"Yeah, the truth is I don’t remember much of what happened; I only recall the end, where luckily I managed to free myself from the control and found myself as part of his team. But it’s a fact that he managed to control us in some way, and I lost my memories after I answered one of his questions." Ojiro commented with a serious expression, causing Momo to nod and then ask curiously.

"But Ojiro-san, why did you come to tell Kai about this? Are you afraid he might have other intentions?"

"Yes, actually, when we left the stadium after the event, I heard him cursing Saito and the fifth place we got, quite angrily. So I thought it would be best to tell him so he could be on guard. After all, that power is quite dangerous." Ojiro nodded and explained his reasons, which earned him a cheerful smile from Momo, while Kai placed his hand on his shoulder and commented in a casual tone.

"I understand. Thanks for the information. In the coming days, stop by my workshop. I’ll lend you a key to my gym so you can train there; there’s equipment that might be very useful for you."

"Oh, I really didn’t do it expecting something in return, so I’d feel a bit uncomfortable accepting something like that." Ojiro said, looking visibly uneasy, to which Kai replied casually, not giving it much importance.

"Don’t worry about it. I like you, and that’s why I’m lending you my gym. There you’ll find some data about my father’s martial arts, so you might like it."

"Iron Palm’s martial arts?!" Ojiro asked, visibly excited, causing a small giggle from Momo, while Kai responded as he took out his phone to check something.

"Yes, the same one, but don’t say it too loudly, or they’ll start again with the ‘he’s crazy’ thing."

"Oh, sorry..." Ojiro apologized with an embarrassed expression, to which Kai waved his hand casually as he commented.

"It’s fine. That’s part of being a hero. It doesn’t just affect you, but also those close to you."

Not knowing very well how to respond to Kai’s words, Ojiro could only say goodbye with an uncomfortable expression, giving way to Momo, who sat down casually and then rested her head on Kai’s shoulder. At that moment, the blue-eyed boy asked in a serious tone.

"You know the guy Ojiro was talking about, don’t you, Momo?"

"...Yes, we had a small altercation, but nothing serious, don’t worry." Momo answered in a somewhat uncomfortable tone, since even though she had gotten very angry, she didn’t want him to do anything. Kai then asked again, a hint of anger in his voice.

"Did he try to control you?"

"...Yes, but the [Will Keeper] appeared and nothing happened, don’t worry." Momo replied while gripping Kai’s arm tightly.

Among Kai’s defensive and counterattack abilities, there was what he defined as the ‘Keeper line’, which were conjured swords with strong pacts and limitations whose sole purpose was to block different powers or situations, such as control—like the [Will Keeper], or clairvoyance—like the [Secrets Keeper], which was the sword capable of blocking things like Sir Nighteye’s future vision.

The way the ‘Keeper line’ swords worked was very simple: they could not be used actively under any circumstances, and their aura consumption was relatively high. In exchange, they were summoned automatically when the user became a victim of the particular attack they were meant to defend against, appearing in the person’s hand and preventing the attack.

"I’ll look for him later." Kai commented in a dark, visibly angry tone as he looked toward the center of the stadium.

"Don’t do anything, Kai. It’s not worth dirtying your hands with someone like that. Will you promise me?"

Momo asked with a somewhat worried expression. After all, this was something different than with Kirishima. Kai wouldn't do anything too extreme against him for his joke, but against the indigo-haired boy, who knows what an angry Kai could do to him with how jealous and protective he was.

"...But he tried to control you. Who knows what could’ve happened if not for the [Will Keeper]..." Kai commented with a dark expression as he stared at Momo, who responded in a serious tone, meeting his gaze.

"But nothing happened. Besides, it’s not like he could have done much. I was with the girls, and apparently he just wanted to control me, so I’d apologize because he was frustrated about having been eliminated."

"..." Kai remained silent, staring intently into Momo’s eyes, who returned his gaze firmly, determined to prevent a tragedy. She then asked in a serious tone.

"Do you promise me?"

"..." Kai opted to remain silent, then looked away from Momo, who quickly took his face in her hands and made him look at her. At that moment, she spoke in a serious tone.

"Kai, you’ve already done more than enough with the [Accomplice]. I’m not a porcelain doll. I’m going to be a heroine, and you have to let me fight my own battles. You can’t spend your whole life defending me from everything and everyone. So promise me you won’t do anything. This is my fight. Trust me—let me show you I can handle things on my own."

"...Alright, do what you want. But if things get complicated, you can’t stop me from getting involved." After a sigh, Kai could only respond in a somewhat defeated tone, to which Momo smiled charmingly, then cheerfully commented.

"You’re really the best. But let’s change the subject. Who do you think will win between Kaminari and Uraraka?"

"Kaminari. Uraraka has mobility and some attack power, but she doesn’t have a good defense against electricity." Kai responded after shaking his head, feeling somehow defeated. Momo commented with a small, delighted smile.

"You’re right about that."

…

"Ladies and gentlemen, we’re at the penultimate match of the first round!!!" Present Mic announced loudly, renewing the audience’s enthusiasm, which began cheering again. The hero announcer then continued.

"...From the Heroes Course, Kaminari Denki!!!!!"

Just like all his classmates, Kaminari entered the stadium with a ‘cool’ smile on his face, waving to the audience before walking to the platform. Present Mic then announced his opponent.

"Versus, also from the Heroes Course, Uraraka Ochaco!!!!"

Looking especially shy, Uraraka quickly reached the combat platform, but curiously, she now wore what looked like bulky gloves on her hands and large bracelets that looked like weights on her wrists. This caught Kaminari’s attention, as he also had a pair of special wristbands, though much more discreet—the ones he was still paying off to the terrifying blue-eyed boy.

"Ready?!... Begin!!!"

With Present Mic’s announcement, Kaminari was covered by an electric aura at the same time Uraraka rose quickly into the air with a jump, simultaneously using the device on her waist. It was a bulky yet elegant belt, white and planed, with pink details and tiny but powerful boosters that helped her move freely in the air.

Once Uraraka reached a great height, she deactivated her quirk and used her belt to propel herself even further. She dived downward at the platform, aimed her right hand at the ground and struck it like a meteor as she shouted excitedly.

"Star Impact!!!"

Uraraka’s punch almost completely destroyed the platform, causing a small earthquake and kicking up a thick cloud of dust. Meanwhile, back in the Class 1-A stands, Kai couldn’t help but cover his face with one hand, then asked in a tone between annoyed and regretful.

"Why am I surrounded by idiots? Why does everyone have to give such cheesy names to everything?"

"Fufufu, that’s part of the romance of being a hero. Besides, you do it too, Kai, so don’t complain too much."

Momo commented, amused and somewhat proud to see the attack, since that move was only possible thanks to the impressive devices Kai had developed for Uraraka. These not only allowed her to fly, but were also smart enough to let the girl attempt such madness and come out unscathed.

"I do it out of necessity. Saying the name makes them more powerful. They do it just because they like it, so don’t compare us, please."

Kai responded in an ‘offended’ tone, which only made Momo laugh. But at that moment, the dust settled, revealing Uraraka on the ground, wrapped in what looked like a fine black thread coming from one of Kaminari’s wrists. He looked quite battered, with a trace of blood on his cheek, most likely from debris.

"Winner, Kaminari Denki!!!"

With Midnight’s announcement, Kaminari moved his wrist slightly, causing the black thread enveloping Uraraka to return to the bracelet on his wrist. Then Nemuri approached the unconscious girl on the ground.

[We need medical assistance; she’s unconscious.] Upon noticing Uraraka’s state, Nemuri quickly used the earpiece in her ear. Several people then entered carrying a stretcher.

"What did Kaminari do?" In the stands, Momo asked somewhat confusedly while looking at Kai, attracting the attention of all the students, who also wanted to know. The blue-eyed boy answered casually.

"Not much. Kaminari just jumped right before Uraraka touched the ground and managed to stay on the platform using the reinforced alloy cable in his wrists. Even though Uraraka’s belt prevents most damage, her body still suffered from doing something so reckless without proper training. So he took advantage of that, wrapped her in the cable while she couldn’t move, and electrocuted her."

"I see… so Uraraka was reckless to attempt such an attack. But, well, it’s not like she had many other alternatives. Her fighting style is based on contact, and that wasn’t an option against Kaminari’s electricity." Momo commented understandingly, prompting Kai to reply casually after yawning lazily.

"If she had listened to me and adopted the heavy projectiles I recommended, things could’ve been different."

"Although that would be powerful, it’s understandable she chose not to. After all, what you recommended were practically ‘ kinetic bombs’ of several tons, and once fired, she completely loses control over them. That’s very dangerous." Momo commented with a small smile, inadvertently making all the students nod as they listened curiously to the conversation. Kai could only shrug and respond without much interest.

"And because of that mentality, she lost. In a complex situation, that mentality will undoubtedly cost her life. But well, that’s not my problem."

A bitter smile inevitably formed on Momo’s and the students’ faces. But at that moment, Present Mic announced the next match, which was between the only person who didn’t belong to Class 1-A or even the Heroes Course, Hatsume Mei, and Iida Tenya, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

The fight was quite comical, with Mei completely playing around with the speedster boy and making him use one of her babies. The entire fight turned into a live demonstration of the young inventor’s inventions, as she announced each one and its specifications as she used them. She even explained the one she gave Iida, and then left the battlefield when she was satisfied.

"I like that girl, hahaha"

Kai couldn’t help but comment between laughs, while poor Iida shouted at the top of his lungs in the arena that he had been tricked. The students watching couldn’t help but show ironic smiles, although Momo’s face formed an expression full of vigilance and worry.

"Would you let her enter your workshop, Kai?" Momo asked in a kind tone, trying to hide her emotions, prompting Kai to ask in a somewhat puzzled expression as he turned to look at her.

"Why do you ask?"

"Just curious." Momo answered with a small smile that made Kai’s skin crawl. He quickly responded in a serious tone.

"Alright then… and no, I wasn’t thinking of letting her into the workshop."

"That’s good…"

Looking genuinely pleased, Momo commented quietly as she leaned her head back against Kai's shoulder. Kai couldn't help but secretly sigh in relief, while making a mental note to talk to the girls about the problem that very night, or things might get out of hand. After all, he had never seen such a scary Momo before, he actually feared for his life for a second and that was when he was supposed to be stronger.

(We can't delay explaining things to the family any longer, this is already getting out of control and the consequences can only get worse from now on. Besides, I'm really worried about Momo's reaction to the news and therefore, Keiko's, and also this Yumiko and the damn problem with that rat, the confrontation is supposed to be at the end of the month... Shit, why can't the problems come one at a time?)

With his mind full of complex thoughts, Kai said goodbye to Momo and began to walk towards the dressing room, since there was little time left before his fight with the green-haired boy started. He wanted to calm his thoughts, since there was something he wanted to try, and for that, he needed to be calm and focused.