IM GOING TO FINISH THIS BOOK AT EXACTLY 50 CHAPTERS THATS SO EXCITING! unfortunately that is only bc i zoned out high while writing this and forgot to break it up into multiple chapters. oops.

The next morning, I had to go to school. I considered skipping, seeing as all my friends (including my boyfriends) had to pretend to hate me all day. But the point of the fight is for Shigaraki to know about it. I'd rather him spy on me at school than in my own home, so I was stuck.

Shinsou was the only one awake by the time I was getting ready to leave. I remembered our talk the previous night, and I knew he did too, but neither of us brought it up. It was an unspoken rule about high talks like that, we didn't mention them again until we were stoned.

I ended up in Aizawa's classroom earlier than normal, only a few seats held students. I kept my head down and headed straight for my desk. My plan was to dissociate through the whole day and hope that Shigaraki noticed. My skin crawled at the thought of relying on him spying on me for anything, even if it was his own murder.

Katsuki walked in right as the bell rang, earning a tired sigh from our teacher, but no further action. He stomped over to his desk, deliberately ignoring me. I knew exactly why, but it didn't make it suck any less.

The rest of my classes and lunch flew by in a blur, just like I had hoped. A small part of me was wishing that Eijirou hadn't skipped our class together, just for a chance to actually see him, but of course he was absent.

I had to walk home, noticing my mom's car in the driveway as I reached my house. I groaned to myself, because that was just my luck. A lecture was waiting for me behind the front door.

Better to rip off the bandaid, I thought to myself, pushing the front door open.

The sight of my ticked off mother greeted me in the hall. I held a hand up before she could even open her mouth. "Can I talk, just for a second?" I asked, my fatigue obvious in my voice.

She frowned, giving me a once over, but didn't say anything.

I took that as my sign to start rambling. "I'm going through something really fucking shitty right now, and my friends are here to help me. I really need them right now, mom. I promise that we won't even leave the house, just please don't kick them out. Please," I begged, letting my backpack fall from my shoulder and hit the floor.

My mom was trying her hardest to remain firm, I could it all over her face. Eventually, she let out a long winded sigh, dropping her hands to her sides. "You promise you won't leave the house for anything other than school?"

I nodded eagerly. I had no intention of going anywhere until it was time for the meet up, and I'd have to sneak out for that regardless. That stipulation totally worked for me.

"Fine," she said with a single nod. "Let them know that dinner will be done around six."

I managed a smile and pulled her into a hug. She was surprised at first, seeing as I hadn't been a hugger since I was seven, but quickly returned the hug. It was uncomfortably tight, but I knew that was what she needed. "Thanks mom," I mumbled, releasing my hold on her.

She stepped back a few moments later, sniffling slightly. I got my cry-baby gene from my mother, obviously. "I love you, Izuku. You know you can talk to me, right?" She wiped away a stray tear from her cheek.

I chuckled a little. "I know, mom. I love you, too."

She quickly turned away, a hand over her mouth. "You should head upstairs, your friends have been waiting all day for you," she waved towards the stairs with her free hand.

I did as she told me, knowing that she wanted some time to pull herself together. Had it really been that long since I told my mom I loved her? Last year felt like a different life time now.

"Izuku!" Uraraka cried out in excitement at the sight of me entering the guest room we had taken over.

She was sitting on the floor across from Todoroki, it looked like they were playing some sort of card game. Shinsou was lying on the bed, his phone in hand and mindlessly scrolling. Both boys looked towards the door after she'd spoken.

"Howdy fuckers," I greeted with a dramatic flare.

"Never gets old, apparently," Shinsou mused, his eyes going back to his phone.

I shrugged, sitting at the end of the bed and looking over the game Uraraka and Todoroki were playing. "It's classic."

"That's one word for it," Uraraka said with a snort, flipping over a card.

My eyes narrowed at the action. "What the hell are you guys playing?" The layout wasn't anything I recognized.

"A game Uraraka made up," Todoroki explained, looking down at the cards with a blank face. "It doesn't make any sense."

The brunette in front of him gasped in offense. "It makes perfect sense, you're just too stupid to understand it."

He just looked at her with his favorite deadpan expression.

She huffed in annoyance. "Fine, you're too smart to understand it," she amended. "I bet Kaminari would get it."

"Did you know he's actually a math prodigy?" I asked her, folding my legs beneath me and getting more comfortable.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "You're joking."

"Dead serious, actually."

"What the fuck?" she grumbled, gathering up all the cards.

*********************************

I spent the next day exactly as the previous, until lunch. My phone buzzed just as I sat down at the loner table once again.

Unknown~

Ostracized all over again

Don't you want to get away from all the judgment?

My eyes glanced around the table on instinct, but none of the other students were even looking up, all engrossed in their own worlds. I couldn't help but look across the cafeteria, catching sight of my friends at our usual table. They appeared more sullen than usual, the boisterous conversations turned down to quiet talking.

Izuku~

What exactly are you offering?

I held my breath while I waited for the next message to come in.

Unknown~

Oh?

Already deciding to change your mind?

Izuku~

Well seeing as my entirely life went up into flames I don't exactly have any reason to stay

Unknown~

I'm offering a life of freedom

The same offer I made to you last year that you so rudely disregarded

I frowned at the reminder. The reason I was so confident in our plan working, was because Shigaraki had been trying to recruit me before the bomb incident. If it hadn't happened, I probably would have accepted. I had no idea where I'd be then.

Izuku~

You blew up my school

Excuse me for thinking that was a little much

Unknown~

I'm offering you a second chance

I never offer a second chance

Take it while you still can

"Oh my god," I whispered, rereading the texts to make sure the words were correct. It had been two days and he already thought I was crawling back to him? That was way easier than I had been expecting.

Izuku~

Meet me at the league tonight

We can negotiate terms

I was worried I was being too direct, blowing the whole thing. I started to chew at my thumb nail from the stress.

Unknown~

10

Don't be late

I had to have read the message at least five times before I finally believed it was real. It had been way too easy. There had to be a catch, right?

Regardless, I stood from the table and bolted out of the cafeteria. I grabbed my shit from my locker and headed out of a side door. Like hell I was waiting all day to let the rest of them know what had just happened and I didn't want to do it over text.

*********************************

Ashido had created a group chat with everyone in it, even Himiko (I had to add her, but per Ashido's request). After a few very heated arguments there, we came to the conclusion that my boyfriends and our friends couldn't be in the club. They could wait out in the alley, but them being there would raise way too many questions for Shigaraki. Shinsou, Todoroki, Uraraka, and Himiko would be in the club with me. He'd be expecting them, knowing that we're attached at the hip regardless of the choices any of us made. If anything, he'd be excited by the idea of getting them to join up as well. Todoroki had been the one to call Dabi and inform him of the plan, and he had everything ready for us.

Now we just had to hope that it all went smoothly.

My job was fairly easy, I just had to play my role and pretend to be interested in Shigaraki's offer long enough to figure out if he's armed or not, while also convincing him beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was on his side. He'd be easier to catch off guard if he trusted me. Then, I'd excuse myself to run to the bathroom, and signal to Shinsou with a nod for armed, or a head shake for not. Either way, he was determined to go in guns blazing, but he wanted to be prepared.

I was a little nervous that he was going to get himself hurt, but then I remembered every time I'd seen him shoot a gun or in a fight. He was going to be totally fine.

"You're gonna be okay, right?" I was sitting next to him at the crowded bar, needing to yell to be heard over the music. It had to be extra loud tonight to cover the sound of gunshots.

He rolled his eyes with a confident smirk. "Don't start worrying about me now."

I shoved his shoulder, making him tip slightly before righting himself again with a chuckle. "Shut up, you know worrying's my thing."

"Kid!" Dabi's voice pulled both of us from our conversation. He was across the bar, nodding towards the back hallway of the club that I knew led to a few different private rooms. "You're up!"

My breath hitched as it truly sunk in what we were doing there. We were going to kill a guy, the same guy that blackmailed me, blew up my school and tried to frame me for, threatened the life of everyone I care about, and has some sick fascination with befriending me. I shook my head violently, I could do this.

"Hey," I could barely hear Shinsou's voice, but he cupped my right cheek (his face cheek you whores), holding me in place. "I'm right here, it's gonna be fine, okay? Just twenty more minutes and then we're done with him, forever."

All I could do was nod, to lost in my own head to even register the intimate touch. "I'll see you soon," I said resolutely, because neither of us were going to die tonight.

"Damn right you will," he responded, flashing me his signature sleep deprived smirk. "Good luck."

With that I headed towards the back, the music becoming muffled the further down the hall I went. Dabi had let me know that Shigaraki would be waiting in the last room, a decent distance from the rest of the club goers. He'd actually requested the room himself, making our jobs a million times easier.

The whole walk I just kept relaying the names of everyone I was doing this for. My mom, Eijirou, Katsuki, Ashido, Sero, Kaminari, Uraraka, Todoroki, Shinsou, myself. Over and over. I had to remind myself, or I knew I'd back out.

I took a deep breath, trying to steel myself as I stopped in front of the door. I had a breakdown the last time I'd come face to face with him, I couldn't let that happen again. I needed to stay strong and do my job. If Shigaraki suspected this was a trap, Shinsou was as good as dead as soon as he opened the door. 

No pressure or anything.

I didn't bother knocking, I never had, why start then? I pushed the door open and waltzed in like I owned the place. I had to revert back to the Izuku of last year, how he would act, what he would say, it was all necessary to pull this off.

The room was fairly small, only housing a swanky couch on the opposite wall of the door, and a matching armchair angled towards it. Shigaraki had already claimed the couch, so I sauntered over to the chair. "Hello, Shiggy," I greeted, kicking my feet over the armrest of the chair.

He raised an amused brow in my direction. "You devolved quickly," he observed, taking a swig of whatever the hell he was drinking.

"You of all people should know how fast I can stop caring," I pointed out, stretching my arms above my head until I heard my shoulder make a satisfying pop. "Let's negotiate."

"Straight to the point," he mused, swishing the dark colored liquid in his glass. "That's one of the things I like about you. You don't have time for bullshit." He let out a hoarse laugh that made me want to vomit, but I refrained.

"Exactly," I smiled at him, sickly sweet and dripping with sarcasm. "So, let's get on with it."

He chuckled before downing the last of his drink. "Dabi has two other clubs just like this, all fronts, of course. He's got one out on the east coast where I was thinking of setting up shop."

"And I'm involved how?" I pressed, getting annoyed with his roundabout answers.

"I'll need a seller out there," he said with a grimace, leaning back into the couch. "I'm not exactly approachable."

That was the understatement of the century. Shigaraki was a whole new shade of pale, and that was coming from me. He constantly looked sickly, that paired with the bloodshot eyes made him appear down right contagious. Not to mention dozens of scars that littered his face and neck, topped off with fresh wounds scattered across his visible skin. Overall, he only vaguely resembled a real person.

"But I'm hot and charismatic as fuck," I cut in with a sly smile. My hands slotted themselves behind my head, the picture of arrogance.

Shigaraki seemed to mull over his next words for a moment. "Not the words I would use, but the basic idea is the same. I think you could really pull your weight out there."

"Hm," I hummed, my eyes closed. "What do I get out of this deal?"

"Fifteen percent of all your sales," Shigaraki replied quickly, as though he'd seen the question coming. He was finally learning.

I peaked one eye open at him. "Room and board?"

He rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Obviously."

I shut my eye and kicked my legs. "Dope."

Shigaraki chuckled at my response, but the noise just reminded me of two stones smashing into each other. Unpleasant, sharp, and way too loud. "I look forward to working with you," he said with a small nod in my direction. "Any chance your little friends are looking for a fresh start, as well?" he asked with thinly veiled curiosity.

I pretend to think about it for a second. "They could be persuaded."

Shigaraki's lips pulled back in a grimace that I think was supposed to be a smile. "You should set up a meeting."

I saw an opportunity, and the rising panic forced me to take it. "Shinsou's actually at the bar right now. If I hold his hand, he'll do pretty much anything I ask," I said with what I hoped was a nonchalant shrug.

The way Shigaraki's eyes lit up, told me that he bought it. Well, I actually don't know how much of a lie it was, but either way my plan worked. "Go grab him then," he instructed, nodding his head toward the door.

I heaved an over exaggerated sigh, pretending I was annoyed with being forced to get up. "Be back in five," I said in a sing-song voice over my shoulder, walking out of the door. I carefully closed it and then allowed myself to breathe for the first time. My legs started to shake beneath me, but shook it off. I needed to get to Shinsou.

When I entered the main area of the club, I barely had time to look around before someone grabbed my arm. I whirled around and came face to face with the exact guy I was looking for. It was no use trying to speak, we were standing next to a speaker. Instead he pulled back to the hall, stopping right at the entryway where the music was at a more tolerable level.

"I have no idea if he has a gun," I admitted right out of the gate, and my talking just kept increasing in speed. "I just agreed to move out east and become a dealer for him, and now he thinks I'm out here batting my eyelashes at you so you agree to come with me." I took a deep inhale once I finished. I wasn't even sure if he could understand all of it-

"That's fine, Iz. You did great, actually," he said with a smile, ruffling my hair.

I swatted his hand away with a scowl. "What'd you mean?"

"He trusts you enough to send you on an errand, and he invited me into the room. You just made my job ten times easier. You did great," he repeated, looking almost excited by the news. "You need to go find Todoroki now, okay? He's over at the far end of the bar." The instructions were clear, he didn't want me going back with him.

"But he's expecting me to bring you," I reasoned, grabbing his arm so he didn't run off without me. "He'll get suspicious if you show up alone."

Shinsou shook his head, grabbing my hand off his arm and locking our fingers. My heart stuttered, because it suddenly felt like a goodbye. "I'll tell him you're getting a drink, he won't even bat an eye."

"Shinsou, I don't-"

I started to plead with him, but he cut me off by placing a kiss on the back of my hand. "I'll be back in five minutes, then we can go get stoned in your garage, okay?" he bargained, mischief dancing in his eyes as he waited for my response.

I took a breath, suddenly terrified. "Promise?"

He lowered our intertwined hands and held up his other hand, pinky out. "Pinky promise."

I couldn't fight the chuckle that escaped me at the childish notion. The first day I met him, I asked to be friends and he agreed. I was completely shocked, no one had ever said yes before. I wouldn't believe it until he pinky promised me. He would tease me by offering to pinky promise over the stupidest things, but eventually it became one of the most absolute foundations of our friendship. Neither of us had broken a promise yet.

"I'm holding you to this," I warned as I locked my free pinky with his.

"I'd hope so." He winked at me with a cheesy smile and unlinked our hands. "See you in five."

I watched him walk down the hall until he reached the door. My body reacted without my knowledge, making me fully enter the club again. Somehow it knew that I couldn't handle staying there.

Spotting Todoroki was fairly easy in the crowded club. He was sitting on the far side of the bar, sipping what I hoped was water, while his two toned hair stuck out like a sore thumb. I had to squeeze through the crowd to get to him, but it only took me a few seconds.

Just as I sat down beside him, the music cut out. The crowd was in immediate uproar, drunk patrons bitching. Todoroki and I exchanged a look, the sinking feeling in my gut growing larger. My eyes flashed to Dabi behind the bar, but he was looking around just as confused.

Bang!

Bang!