Fortunately, the gap between rounds was long enough for me to track her down and get her on board for the last step of this side hustle. I hustled through the halls, weaving past crowds, and after what felt like forever, I spotted her. She was still morphed into me - same face, same build - but something was off. Way off.
She leaned against a wall near the backstage area, arms crossed tight, her golden eyes narrowing at me from a distance with a pout that screamed trouble. The second I clocked that vibe, I knew the air around her was heavy enough to tank everything if I didn't play this right.
"Ryuga-kun, you're late," she said, voice flat but dripping with accusation. "Too busy basking in your win with those two girls?"
I sighed, already feeling the headache. "Toga, don't twist it. The team was just debriefing and talking strategy for the..."
"Oh, really?" she cut in, her faint smile sharp as a knife. She yanked out a dagger - sharp as fuck - and pressed it to my throat. "Looked like you were having a blast with them from where I stood. What about me, Ryuga-kun? Don't I matter? Or am I just some toy you toss when you're done!?"
I knew she was jealous, but this? This was next-level bad.
Logically, I hadn't done jack shit wrong, just team stuff, no flirting, no nothing. But logic didn't mean squat when it came to her perspective. From her angle, I'd been cozying up to Ochako and Mei, and I couldn't exactly blame her for seeing it that way. Toga - in the original timeline or now - wore her emotions loud and wild, unpredictable as hell. That's what made her stand out, though. Took a sharp eye to spot the universal thread of jealousy in girls, no matter how they showed it.
I wasn't in the wrong, but arguing pride with a pissed-off woman? Rookie mistake. So I stepped closer, even as the blade nicked my neck again, forcing an uneasy look to cool her down. "Toga, if I didn't take us seriously, I wouldn't have ditched lunch to find you. Sorry for stressing you out…"
Her stance softened at first, but then she shoved me back, eyes wild with doubt. "How do I know you're not lying?! How do I know there's not someone else in your head, someone who isn't me?!"
Before she could spiral further, I grabbed her shoulders, pulled her back a bit, then leaned down and shut her up with a deep, messy French kiss. She squirmed at first, pushing against me, but then flipped the script, taking control, kissing me harder, her face flushed red when she finally pulled back, eyes glinting with suspicion.
"How can I trust you're not bullshitting me?" she demanded.
"If I didn't give a damn, I wouldn't be here," I shot back, reading her vibe even if this wasn't in the original script.
Or maybe I'd misread it.
I opened my mouth to pivot to the plan, but she grabbed my collar, yanked me down, and sank her teeth into my neck - right on the fresh cut. She bit hard, sucking with this feral intensity, making noises that'd mortify me if anyone overheard without context. Pain spiked, sharp and stinging, but it came with this weird, electric rush I couldn't pin down. Awkward as fuck too, as she morphed into me, doing this to me? Words failed.
If someone caught us, it'd be a shitstorm, but I grit my teeth and took it. Not just 'cause I didn't want to hurt her, those raw, unhinged feelings, warped by her Quirk's side effects, were why I trusted her this deep. Letting her vent like this wasn't just for her, it was part of my play. The more you give someone drowning in despair a taste of something good, the tighter they cling. I wasn't here to exploit that, though.
Love? Yeah, maybe. Hit fast, sure, but honestly, I felt less alone, less bitter than before I got dumped into this world.
When she finally let go, she looked up, cheeks red, that provocative edge still sharp but her voice softer. "Ryuga-kun," she tilted her head, eyes piercing. "What're you hiding from me?"
That question should've dropped ages ago.
She wasn't dumb, not by a long shot. Crazy? Sure, but she wasn't one of the League's nine lieutenants in the original timeline for nothing. She'd sniffed out something off about me, probably from day one.
"There's stuff, Toga," I said, keeping my tone steady, "you shouldn't know yet. Not 'cause I don't trust you, it's just not time."
She frowned, lips pouting - a clear sign she wasn't buying it. Before she could push, I stepped closer, hands on her shoulders, voice dropping low. "But I swear, everything I'm doing, every damn move, it's not to hurt you. It's to protect you… protect us."
Silence stretched between us. I saw the war in her eyes, trust me or keep digging. She sighed, turning her head but staying close. "Fine, Ryuga-kun," she said, softer now. "I'll wait. But you better not screw me over."
I flashed a small smile, stepping back. "You're my everything, how could I?"
She giggled, but I knew I had work to do to lock in that trust. Shoving the messy feelings aside, I switched gears to the plan. "I need you to head home before the next round," I said, pulling a USB from my pocket and handing it over. "Everything I've prepped is on there. Post it all the second the festival ends, no delays. I don't want any teacher or student getting a chance to bury it."
She took the USB, rolling it between her fingers, curiosity sparking. "So… what's this?"
"The truth," I said, firm. "Shit that'll flip everything upside down once it's out. Step one to changing it all."
She went quiet, then pressed, "Why now? Why's it so urgent you need me on this?"
I shrugged, playing it vague. "Trust. I'm betting on you."
She stared a bit longer, then nodded. "Alright, I'll do it. But in return…" Her grin turned dangerous. "You owe me ten more minutes. No dodging."
I sighed, cornered. "Fine, ten minutes. But Toga, don't burn me out before..."
She didn't wait, ripped open my PE shirt, sniffing me like a damn weirdo with this unhinged glee. Before she could escalate, her face darkened, scary as hell. She dropped me, bolted to a corner, and two minutes later dragged back… Mineta?!
What the actual fuck?
"Mineta?" I squinted at the little perv dangling from her grip like a caught chicken. He looked like he'd seen a ghost, trembling, face pale as shit.
"He was creeping on us," Toga said, her smile thin but her eyes lethal. "So… how should I deal with him, Ryuga-kun?"
No question, her "deal with" wasn't gonna be gentle. Goddamn it, I'd figured someone might crash this, but Mineta? I sighed, stepping up and resting a hand on her shoulder to cool her off. "Toga, let him go. This ain't the spot for a scene."
She scowled but chucked him down hard. He hit the ground with a thud, scrambling up, stammering, "I-I was just passing by! Swear! I see nothing!"
I leaned down, hauled him up, and dropped my voice cold. "Listen, Mineta. This is delicate, so whatever you saw, keep it zipped. I don't care about this, but she won't let it slide if you blab."
He nodded like his life depended on it, avoiding my eyes. "G-Got it! My lips are sealed!"
"Beat it," I said, nudging him off. He bolted like a gust of wind, leaving me and Toga staring after him.
"Let's finish what we started, huh?" She turned back, pinning me to the wall with that expectant grin.
"Fuck..."