CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
"You're dismissed," Dr. Hibiki said as she made her way out of the classroom, heels clicking against the floor tiles as she snapped the door shut behind her.
Rio packed up his things and walked out into the hallway. He leaned against the wall, arms folded, as he watched Sae pacing around. She was clearly not in a good mood, but he wasn't about to forget the things she said earlier.
Rio walked beside her. "Are you really not going to say anything?"
"About what?" Sae said dismissively, walking away from him.
"You know what," Rio said, voice low. "What you said to Himiko was outta pocket. Just apologize."
She scoffed, tugging her sleeve over her wrist. "For what? Telling the truth?"
Rio shook his head, already fed up. "Forget it."
He turned as he spotted Riku heading out the school gates and gave him a quick wave. But his frown returned when he noticed something strange—Toga's parents weren't here.
That was… weird. They were usually the first to show up for pick-up.
His eyes scanned the lot. "Where's Himiko?"
Rio walked back into the building, ignoring the scathing gaze from Sae, who bored holes into his back with her intense stare.
Walking toward the class, he opened the door and found Himiko sitting at her desk, her small legs swinging in the air as she hummed a tune to herself.
"Why are you still in here? You're usually the first to leave," Rio said as he stood in front of her desk.
Himiko just turned to him, her eyes conveying a certain sadness. "Mama and Papa said they wouldn't be able to pick me up on time today."
"So when are they picking you up? You know you can't stay here long—the janitor locks up in an hour."
Himiko looked troubled by that revelation. It was understandable; she was never around long enough to find out. Still, that was really irresponsible of them.
"Papa said he's busy and has better things to do. I'll probably wait outside by the steps."
"That's not nice. Won't it be lonely sitting outside by yourself? Worse still—it'll be raining soon." Rio frowned at the way she was being so callous with her safety.
"Don't worry, Rio… I'm used to being lonely." Himiko said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes "And look! I brought an umbrella, so I won't get wet."
"You know what? Come with me instead. I'll show you something cool."
Himiko looked confused by that declaration, but she nodded obediently as she packed her pink princess schoolbag.
"Here, let me help you with that," Rio offered, taking the bag from her hands and slinging it over his back. Their hands touched briefly.
Cold—that was how her hands felt. Like stroking a marble statue.
"Where are we going?" Himiko tilted her head curiously.
"Somewhere cool. You'll see."
She nodded, still confused but trusting, as she followed behind him, skipping down the hallway to keep up with his pace.
"Oy! Kenji, Daiki, Hayato—we're moving out," Rio called to the trio. The boys were sitting on a bench outside, huddled together, eyes glued to a game on Hayato's phone.
Sae leaned against a tree, arms folded as she rested. It seemed she had been waiting for him. Her eyes shifted until they settled on the tagalong behind Rio.
"And where do you think you're going?" she asked sharply.
"To the Pit, obviously," Rio replied casually, brushing past her.
Sae straightened, voice rising. "What? Are you out of your mind? That's our place. You can't just bring outsiders there."
Rio raised an eyebrow. "She's not an outsider. She's Himiko."
"Oh, so you're on a first-name basis now? That space is for the crew. I'm not letting some random girl waltz in just because you're feeling generous. Just because she isn't an outsider doesn't mean she's one of us."
Rio exhaled sharply through his nose. His fingers flexed against the strap of Himiko's bag. He didn't have the patience for this—not today.
"Stop being a bitch about this, Sae. It's getting annoying. Her parents aren't coming to pick her up anytime soon, and she's going to be stuck outside for the next few hours all on her own."
Himiko glanced down at her shoes, shoulders curling inward. She didn't say anything.
Sae scoffed. "How is that my problem?"
"What's up with you now?" Rio took a step closer, holding her wrist. "Are you getting jealous? Feeling threatened because you're not the only female in the group?"
Sae's jaw tightened. "You really don't know me at all. Just back off, Rio," she said, yanking her hand free from his grip.
Rio clenched his fists. He looked over at Himiko—small, quiet, shrinking into herself—and forced himself to breathe. Pushing harder wasn't going to help.
"Look, whatever differences you guys have, you can work through them. Himiko doesn't look like she has many friends. Just give her a chance."
"That girl's not normal, okay? She gives off major creepy vibes. Something about her is just... off," Sae said bluntly, and Rio had to fight the urge to scream in her face at how hypocritical she was being.
"Sae, let me be completely honest with you… that's the stupidest thing I've heard all day."
"You've robbed at least two stores, Hayato is a raging arsonist, and Kiba nearly ate a man. You're in no position to come around and call someone creepy."
"Why're you so pressed over her? Kinda weird how hard you're going for her."
"It's not weird. What's weird is how unreasonable you're being. I don't know what shaped your perception of her so badly that you're painting her as a villain."
Rio took a breath, voice cooling into something quieter but firmer.
"Look, Sae—everyone who found themselves here is messed up in one way or another. You can't start casting stones at someone just because they're another kind of messed up."
"Whatever. I'll play your little game for now. Just don't come crying to me when this all blows up in your face."
"Nope, not having it. We're not the only ones in the group—we're going to be democratic about it. We'll cast a vote."
At some point in the argument, the others had ducked behind the bushes to watch it unfold. Rio wasn't about to let them have the satisfaction of sitting back and spectating like cowards.
He turned on them. "You guys gonna keep hiding or actually help settle this?"
Sae glared at them venomously, as if daring them to speak. The boys looked around sheepishly, clearly not expecting to be dragged into it.
"Umm… I think I don't mind," Hayato said nervously, rubbing the back of his neck and glancing at Sae. "I mean, her parents aren't coming to pick her up. It's only fair we let her crash with us, even if it's just for today."
He avoided Sae's glare, shifting awkwardly as if afraid she'd bite back.
"Hmm. She can stick with us. There's enough room for one more person," Daiki's gravelly voice cut through. His tone was more decisive, as if trying to take some of the pressure off the others.
"All in favor, raise your hands."
Four hands went up in unison. Hayato's rose slower than the others, hesitant, his eyes still flicking toward Sae as if waiting for approval he knew wouldn't come.
"And all against?"
Only two this time—Sae and Kenji.
The rest of the group looked at Kenji in confusion. His hand hovered halfway in the air before firming up under Sae's nod.
"What? She really does give me the creeps. Am I the only one seeing this?" he said defensively, though his voice wavered under the weight of everyone's stares.
"Then it's decided," Rio said, folding his arms. "Himiko stays."
He turned back to her with a small nod. "Sorry about that display, Himiko. I don't think Sae hates you—she's just really guarded around people she sees as strangers."
"It's okay," Himiko said softly. "I really don't mind."
Kenji stopped in his tracks.
"We've been walking for almost thirty minutes. Hey, where are we anyway? This isn't the—"
"ZARRIS."
It was just one word—sharp, absolute—but the moment it rang out, agony detonated inside Rio's skull.
He dropped to his knees with a strangled gasp.
It felt like a white-hot rod had been jammed straight into the center of his brain. His vision fractured—colors bleeding into each other, a ringing splitting his ears.
The pain was so raw and unrelenting he couldn't even scream. Just kneel there, trembling, hands clutching his head as the world caved in around him.
What the hell was that? Can't move—can't think—my brain—it's like something's stabbing through it—
The others weren't spared. Six bodies hit the concrete hard—some clutching their skulls, others rolling and wailing in agony.
Hayato's voice cracked mid-scream. Daiki's fists slammed against the pavement until his knuckles tore. Kenji foamed slightly at the mouth. It was carnage, but silent except for their helpless cries and the dull thud of limbs hitting the ground.
Amid the chaos, a cool voice sliced through like glass.
"How odd. I don't remember implanting the order to bring you all here at once. I recall placing the explicit command only on the purple-haired girl."
From the shadows, a woman in a pencil skirt emerged, heels clicking against the concrete. Even through the torment strangling his body, Rio's gut twisted at the sound of that voice.
Dr. Hibiki.
"Ma-ma, Hibiki-san, I thought you said it would be only one. Imagine my surprise when you bring in not just one, but seven children," came another voice—low, amused, unfamiliar.
Rio groaned, barely lifting his head. His vision swam. A silhouette loomed: a man in a black trench coat and fedora, cloak dragging across the ground like a shadow that didn't belong.
"Tch. I didn't expect it either," Dr. Hibiki muttered, pulling a cigarette from her coat. "Seems the little ones move in packs."
The flare of her lighter glowed like an ember of hell. She took a slow drag and exhaled poison.
"It's a welcome surprise though," the man said with a chuckle. "I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth."
He crouched beside Daiki, trailing a finger across the boy's rough, stone-textured arm with clinical interest.
"Easy for you to say. If seven kids go missing on my watch, I can kiss my promotion goodbye.
"Still concerned about that?" the man mused. "After everything we've paid you over the years, I thought you'd have outgrown civil servant concerns."
"I did," she said bitterly, blowing smoke from her nose. "Until I decided to buy property in Mustafu. Damn All Might's presence is jacking up the prices."
"You're in luck then. After today's transaction, you just might be able to afford it."
He snapped his fingers, and several men in similar trench coats emerged from the surrounding darkness, moving silently like shadows given flesh. They stooped to collect the unconscious teens.
Move. Move, goddamn it. This isn't normal. What kind of quirk is this? Mental manipulation? A psychic command trigger? My brain—it's burning—I can't breathe—I have to get us out of here—
But his body refused. His fingers twitched uselessly against the concrete.
"A very fine batch of goods, as always," the fedora-wearing man said with satisfaction.
"It's always the ones with powerful quirks that like to act out. People with humble quirks like mine would never be so bold as to blatantly disregard the law," Hibiki chuckled, taking another drag of smoke.
"Don't sell yourself short. You're also exceptional."
Whether that was about her quirk being powerful or her boldness in breaking the law, Rio didn't care. None of it mattered.
He'd already begun to adapt to the pain. His body was trembling, mind swimming, but he could feel the edges of control returning.
Give it a few more minutes—he'd be able to move. Fight. Get everyone out.
"So, how much am I getting paid, Oleg? I'm taking a pretty big risk, after all."
"Don't worry," said the man—Oleg, as Rio now knew him—his voice laced with amusement. "The price will be sure to satisfy you." His amusement gave way to irritation as he turned to his underlings. "What are you dawdling for? Hurry and load up the merchandise!"
"Sorry, boss, but this kid is mad heavy!"
Daiki.
They were hauling Daiki away.
If they got him into the van, that was it.
Rio's chest constricted. He couldn't let that happen. But unless he could knock out everyone here in one move—a feat he could've managed before this mind-shredding pain—it was impossible.
He clenched his jaw and forced out a groan, raw and scratchy like a warped recording.
"Wait… why are you doing this?"
"Hmm… that's never happened before."
Hibiki's voice held a flicker of intrigue—mild curiosity at best. No alarm. No fear.
Before Rio could brace himself, he felt it—cold, unfeeling steel against the side of his neck.
Click.
"Sleep," someone murmured.
And then… silence.
The agony vanished in an instant, and in its place was only the warmth of unconsciousness rushing up to meet him like water rising in a sinking ship.
His last thought was somewhere between bitter relief and despair.
'They didn't even give a villain monologue.'
Author's Note: Yeah i implemented the suggestons. Normally it wouldn't make sense and be an unwise decision for Hibiki to act now so it was supposed to occur a month later. Then again she's stupid enough to abduct kids so this was a reasonable decision narratively. The good news is that my old laptop isn't destroyed but fixing it is so expensive that it's not even worth it.