MHA Universe, Earth, Japan, Musutafu.
"We have three days off of school, and this is what you came up with?" Tatsuo asked while the corner of his lips twitched intermittently.
"Oh, come on, Tatsuo-Kun, don't be like that." Akatsuki replied with a grin. "Coming shopping with us can't be that bad, can it?"
Then, before Tatsuo could respond, he felt a tug on the hem of his shirt. Turning his head in its direction, he saw Sakura looking at him with upturned eyes.
"Tatsuo-Kun, don't you like spending time with us?" Sakura asked, a slight tremor in her voice while tears began to well up in her eyes. "Is it because you don't like being around me?"
'Damn, I know all this is fake.' Tatsuo muttered internally while looking down into Sakura's eyes. 'But still, women are terrifyingly good actors. I mean, seriously... Even though I know it's fake, I can still feel my heart tightening.'
After the incident at the USJ, U.A. gave the students the next three days off. And today was the first of those three days. So, when deciding what they would do during those days off, while Alfonzo went on patrol like usual, Akatsuki and Sakura decided that they would drag Tatsuo to the mall to go shopping.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Tatsuo asked while smiling down at Sakura.
Seeing Tatsuo's smile, Sakura could not help but blush slightly as she tightened her grip on his shirt while looking away to hide her blush.
"Please, stop with the public displays of affection." Akatsuki said while rolling her eyes. "You're making all the single people glare at us."
And just as Akatsuki said, there were quite a few people glaring at the trio. However, they were not all males. Though, there was a fairly high number of men and teenage boys staring. However, it was not just because of the public display of affection. Rather, that was only one of the three reasons why they were getting such glares.
The other two reasons were just as simple, though. The second reason for all the glares from the males in the mall was because Tatsuo was walking with two extremely pretty girls. And the third was because they were cursing Tatsuo for being too handsome.
But as previously mentioned, males were not the only ones glaring, as there were quite a few females glaring, as well. And their reasons were pretty simple, too. And that was because Tatsuo was just too handsome and they did not think Akatsuki and sakura deserved to be walking with him the way they were.
"Eh~, I'm used to stares like this." Tatsuo replied with a shrug. "Just ignore them. It's not like they're gonna do anything about it."
"Well, I can't argue with that." Akatsuki replied with a shrug of her own.
Meanwhile, Sakura took the chance to let go of Tatsuo's shirt and smoothly transitioned to holding his hand. All the while, the blush on her face deepened.
"Anyway, what did you two wanna go shopping for?" Tatsuo asked while shaking his head at Sakura, who seemed to think she was being sneaky.
"Actually, I didn't really have anything in mind." Akatsuki replied. "Just wanted to get out and have some fun."
"If you say so." Tatsuo replied while tightening his grip on Sakura's hand which made the violet-haired beauty smile shyly. "But I've come to know that a boy shopping with girls is usually only fun for the girls."
"Poor baby~." Akatsuki sing-songed. A moment later, her expression turned a little more serious. "I swear, you're the only guy I know who would complain about being able to hang out with two beautiful girls like this."
Tatsuo only shrugged in response while Sakura just enjoyed the feeling of holding his hand.
"Anyway, the first major event in this world is over." Tatsuo said quietly to make sure that no one overheard him. "The USJ incident is over. Next will be the U.A. Sports Festival."
"Yeah, that should be fun." Sakura said just as quietly. "It should happen sometime in May, right?"
"Yeah, it's after Golden Week." Akatsuki added. "But let's go back to the USJ incident. Well, the end of the USJ incident. Did you guys see the look on All Might's face when he realized that everything was over? Seeing him like that kinda made me feel bad for him."
"Me, too." Sakura added. "He looked kind of depressed."
"Well, that's his fault." Tatsuo said mercilessly. "I mean, I know being a Hero and helping as many people as he can is kinda what he does. But he has responsibilities other than just being a Hero ever since he signed on as a teacher. And he decided that being a Hero was more important than being there for his students."
"That's kinda harsh, isn't it?" Akatsuki asked. "It's not like he knew that there would be a Villain attack at the USJ."
"I'm not blaming him for that." Tatsuo replied with a shrug. "I'm just saying, he put being a teacher and being a Hero on a scale. And the Hero side was heavier in his opinion. So, when he wasn't there to help, he can't blame anyone but himself."
"When you put it like that, I can't really disagree." Akatsuki said while shaking her head lightly. "By the way, what exactly happened to all those Villains?"
"They were probably sent to Tartarus." Tatsuo replied. "Most Villains are. But most people don't' know about it. So, it's not surprising that you don't know."
"Tartarus?" Sakura asked while looking up at Tatsuo.
"Its full name is: Special Prison for Villain Criminals – Tartarus." Tatsuo said in an explanatory tone. "Located far off the coast, it's where extremely dangerous Villains are detained and interrogated. The only way to get there is by a narrow bridge. However, the bridge is lined with all sorts of heavy weaponry to make sure that no one gets in or out without authorization."
"That sounds pretty serious." Akatsuki said with a slightly amazed expression on her face.
"That's not even the half of it." Tatsuo continued. "Most of the prison is built below sea-level. Meaning, if anyone tried to break through the walls, the entire prison would be flooded with tons of water. And if that happened, I'm sure you could guess what would happen to everyone inside."
"They would be washed away and crushed." Sakura said in a detached tone. "Well, I'm sure if that did happen, everyone there would probably deserve it."
"Everyone except for the guards." Akatsuki pointed out.
"Well, if it got to that point, I doubt there would be many guards alive." Tatsuo said while shaking his head.
"I guess you're right." Akatsuki admitted.
"But I'd bet Shigaraki and Kurogiri never even made it to Tartarus." Tatsuo continued. "They've got a big backer, after all. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Alfonzo told me something about that as soon as I get home."
"All for One, huh?" Akatsuki asked rhetorically.
"The one that steals people's [Quirks], right?" Sakura asked rhetorically. "It's actually kinda hard to believe he was able to survive his last fight with All Might. Especially after what you told us about this world."
"It's all thanks to his most loyal subordinate, Dr. Garaki Kyudai." Tatsuo said solemnly. "That man is a certifiable genius in the fields of medicine and bio-engineering. Honestly, I think he's more dangerous than All for One himself."
"Yeah, he's the one who created the Nomus, after all." Akatsuki said while nodding in agreement. "But there really isn't anything we can do about him. I mean, he's never been proved to be on All for One's side."
"Why do we need proof?" Tatsuo asked while looking at Akatsuki strangely.
That question actually brought Akatsuki up short. As a law-abiding citizen in both this world, her original world, and the world of Elder Tales, she would never think of acting without some kind of proof.
"Tatsuo-Kun is right." Sakura said, her tone colder than usual. "Removing a dangerous variable like Dr. Garaki is the smart thing to do."
Akatsuki snapped her head in Sakura's direction after hearing the cold pragmatism from her younger friend. But when she remembered the kind of world Sakura came from, she could only shake her head. Though Sakura usually acted like a gentle, sweet girl… When things did not involve Tatsuo and other girls, anyway… she was raised to be a self-serving Magus in her original world. So, it made perfect sense that she would think that way.
"*Sigh* Hearing just how vicious the two of you can be makes me feel like I'm the weird one." Akatsuki said.
"You're definitely not." Tatsuo replied. "We just grew up in some seriously screwed up environments. Seriously, you shouldn't end up like us. We're both pretty screwed up in the head."
Sakura nodded in agreement.
"I'll keep that in mind." Akatsuki replied.
Like that, the trio continued to chatter as they walked through the mall, occasionally stopping to look at the different stores. Though, those stops got pretty long whenever they came across a clothing store.
All the while, Tatsuo was dragged around, and with each clothing or shoe store the trio entered, his expression told everyone watching that he died a little more inside. And by the time they were done, Tatsuo looked as if the last of his soul had just left his body, leaving it to act on its own.
"Oh, come on, Tatsuo-Kun." Akatsuki for the second time today. "It's not that bad. Stop acting like a baby."
"Seriously?" Tatsuo asked in a dead tone. "I'm carrying all of your stuff. I had to wait while the two of you tried on a bunch of stuff that you already knew you weren't going to buy, and I had to give you a sincere opinion on everything you changed into. And you say I'm acting like a baby?"
Sakura at least had the decency to look slightly embarrassed when Tatsuo pointed out their shopping habits. Akatsuki on the other hand looked completely unbothered.
"Of course we had to look at everything." Akatsuki said matter-of-factly. "If we didn't, how would we have known if they suited us, right, Sakura?"
While Sakura nodded sheepishly, Tatsuo first looked down at all the shopping bags that he was carrying and had draped over him. Then, he glanced at Akatsuki and Sakura, who were each only carrying a pair of small bags. Finally, he turned the blankest, most resentful glare in Akatsuki's direction that he could muster through his mental fatigue.
Seeing Tatsuo's glare, Akatsuki only smiled victoriously. In fact, even Sakura, despite how bad she felt for making Tatsuo look like that, could not help but giggle, as well.
Tatsuo only rolled his eyes in response to the girls' reactions. Then, he continued walking towards the mall's closest exit. And when Akatsuki and Sakura saw this reaction, they both giggled a little harder while following him.
However, not long later, Tatsuo came to a complete and sudden stop as his head snapped to the right.
"Huh?" Sakura intoned as she stopped, as well. "Tatsuo-Kun, is something wrong?"
Yet, Tatsuo did not answer. Instead, he just started walking in the direction where he was looking. Meanwhile, Akatsuki and Sakura were left to exchange glances before turning to follow Tatsuo.
"Oh~, I get it." Akatsuki said in an understanding tone after scanning the surroundings.
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked while continuing to focus all of her attention on Tatsuo.
"Just look at the store he's going into, and you'll understand." Akatsuki replied with a shrug.
Hearing that, Sakura finally took her eyes off Tatsuo's back. Raising her head, she, just like Akatsuki said, immediately understood when she read the name of the store Tatsuo was heading into.
"Oh, you're right." Sakura replied, her tone sounding rather relieved. "I suppose there's no way Tatsuo-Kun would be able to walk by a jewelry store without some kind of reaction."
"That's only if they have something of high enough value." Tatsuo said without turning around. "And as it just so happens, I found something quite valuable."
Hearing that, Akatsuki and Sakura exchange glances once again. Then, they hurried to catch up with Tatsuo, curious to know what attracted his draconic instincts.
About an hour later, Tatsuo, still carrying most of Akatsuki's and Sakura's shopping bags, stepped out of the jewelry store with an additional bag and a bright smile on his face.
"Ah~! I feel much better." Tatsuo said in a light, airy tone. "There's nothing better than shopping for treasure. This will make a fine addition to my hoard."
Just as Tatsuo finished speaking, both Akatsuki and Sakura stepped out of the jewelry store, as well. However, they did not look anywhere near as refreshed as Tatsuo did. In fact, their expressions looked closer to Tatsuo's before he noticed the jewelry store.
"That was a pointlessly long stay in that store." Akatsuki said in a tired tone.
"Hmm… You don't say?" Tatsuo asked. "But I felt every second was worth it."
"Did you really have to take a look at every piece of jewelry they had on display, though?" Sakura asked, sounding just as tired as Akatsuki. "From the beginning, it was clear that you were only interested in the two pieces that you bought."
"Did it?' Tatsuo asked in a tone filled with schadenfreude. "Well, I just had to make sure that I didn't miss anything. I mean, there's no way to know if they would suit me if I don't check them all out, right?"
"That sounds awfully familiar." Sakura muttered resentfully.
Akatsuki, upon hearing that, looked at Tatsuo with the blankest, most resentful glare she could muster. Then, after not getting any kind of reaction other than a refreshing smile that would have fit in perfectly in any whitening tooth paste commercials she had ever seen, she turned away and stormed off towards the nearest mal exit.
"Come on, Sakura, let's go." Tatsuo said with a chuckle as he led Sakura to follow Akatsuki out of the mall.
Not long later, the trio left the mall and headed towards the neighborhood where Akatsuki and Sakura lived. Then, when they finally reached the girls' homes, Tatsuo handed them their bags, bid them farewell, and turned around to head back to Alfonzo's building.
However, instead of walking all the way back, Tatsuo ducked into a secluded area and tore open a hole in space before walking through it directly into his bedroom. He then put his bag from the jewelry store on his desk and made his way down to the kitchen where he found Alfonzo already working on dinner.
"Oh, you're back." Alfonzo said while cutting vegetables. "Well, I'm sure this won't surprise you. But Shigaraki and Kurogiri were broken out before they ever reached Tartarus."
"Yeah, that doesn't surprise me at all.' Tatsuo replied as he stepped into the kitchen to help with dinner. By the way, do you think you could find out where Dr. Garaki works? I wanna take him out before he can do too much damage."
"Sure." Alfonzo replied. "I should be able to find out by tomorrow morning."
"Perfect." Tatsuo said with a malicious grin on his face. "I'm supposed to go out for karaoke tomorrow afternoon. So, I'll have an alibi if he shows up dead."
"*Sigh* Just don't leave any evidence.' Alfonzo said while shaking his head.
"Please don't' treat me like I'm some kind of amateur, Alfonzo." Tatsuo said, sounding a little offended. "Not only will there not be any evidence. But I can confidently say that not even Garaki will know who put him out of his misery when he dies. Hell, if I really wanted to be ruthless, I could even set it up so that it looked like someone else did it. But I don't wanna implicate someone innocent."
Alfonzo only rolled his eyes in response while continuing to cook. After that, the conversation turned to much lighter topics as the two cooked together. However, by the time they were done cooking, Tatsuo actually got another surprise.
{[Notifications]
[Skill], [Cooking] has increased in rank from B+ to A-.}