[Just picture Camie instead of Kady in the above song, and it fits like a glove.]

Camie was avoiding Moto after what happened, but, she thought, maybe she should let some of her classmates know what Moto did to her... It did leave a mark, after all.

Some of the girls asked her.

Camie looked around. Moto wasn't in the room yet.

"Lowkey," she said, "it was Kali. She went ballistic on me."

"What? Really?" the girls said skeptically, "Come on, Camie. Kali? This isn't funny."

"No, for real, she's a psycho," Camie said.

"Kali is?" one of the other girls said, raising an eyebrow.

"Moto is pretty chill," said the first, "Camie, if you're going to set up one of your illusions, you can't start with something that unbelievable."

"Chill?" Camie said, "Like, Moto-san is chill? Are we even talking about the same chick, or are y'all tripping?"

"I think you're tripping, Camie," said the second girl, annoyed, "That wasn't a funny joke. We just asked, but if you're not gonna tell us... Oh, I bet it was in training."

"No, I legit got assaulted!" Camie said.

But her tone being her usual lingo-filled, cavalier one, they thought she was kidding and being sarcastic.

Camie couldn't adjust her delivery on the words-- she wasn't really aware she was doing it, though she thought it might be her speech patterns, as most people didn't really follow along with her too well.

Hmpf. Bakugo would have still taken it seriously, she thought.

But remembering Moto's weird threat, she didn't think she should contact him.

Then a hand moved over her desk. She frowned.

Moto was leaning on it. "Talking s--- about me?" she said, smiling like it was a joke.

"She's just bs-ing us about stuff," the other girl said, nodding at Moto, "Doesn't want to own up to goofing off in training again. You know Camie."

"Yeah, Camie spaces out a lot," Moto said, "but you know, with that quirk, it's not too surprising she can't tell what's real and what's fake anymore."

The other girls snorted a laugh...mostly because Camie's quirk scared all of them, but Moto was the only one with the nerve to say anything about it.

Camie leaned away from Moto. "Like, sis, I don't have any problem knowing what's real, yo."

"Yeah, whatever, Camie. Serious talk time, you've got to stop starting these jokes right before class," Moto said, examining her nails, "It's just disruptive. Let us focus on getting our s--- ready."

"I wasn't--" began Camie.

"Actually, she's right. I need to finish getting my notes out," the first girl said apologetically, "Sorry, Camie. You can finish telling us about training later."

"Yeah, whatever." The second girl turned away.

Moto went back to her desk.

Camie felt all over again how much she was outmatched here.

But it didn't stop there. Moto cornered her on her way out of the locker room, where she'd waited, hoping the scary girl would have left with the others.

"Nice try, Utsushimi." Moto smiled unpleasantly, shoving Camie up against a locker. "But do I need to remind you I said not to mess with me?"

"Girl," Camie strained, "you can't just think you'll get away with straight up attacking me at school. Like, someone will see you eventually. You don't have an illusion quirk."

"That your attempt to flex on me? Or are you just that dumb?" Moto leaned back. "Please, remember who's highest in the stealth ranking in this class? It's not you, Camie, because despite your quirk making it easy for you, you're such an airhead you forget what you're doing half the time to gawk at boys. You think I'm not smart enough to wait till no one will see me?"

Just admitting that up front? What kind of bully was she? Weren't they supposed to deny they used these tricks?

"And if security picks you up?" Camie tried again.

"Camie, you can make illusions," Moto said, "Cameras can't be trusted around you." She smiled.

"And I'm sure when they hear you were trying to start bulls--- rumors about me to cover up failing in class, which the other girls knew, they'll be kind of suspicious of any footage that would confirm that, wouldn't you say?"

Camie's mouth dropped open.

Moto let her go and stepped back. "Don't screw with me, Utsushimi."

"Girl, I never even wanted to," Camie grumbled, "Why are you doing this to me? Huh? What'd I ever do to you?"

"Suck at life? Think about it," Moto said, "Know your place, trash. If you were a better hero, I wouldn't have had to come down on you with my advice that you so rudely ignored for weeks. Not my fault I had to step up my game. And I will win." She looked coldly at her. "Don't doubt it."

Camie swallowed. She felt sick.

Moto sauntered away.

In the gym, Camie went as far away from her as possible.

"Why did you come in so late?" Shishikura said.

Moto shrugged. "Ah, you know, Camie wanted to chat about nothing, but really, I'm almost worried she's getting more ditzy than ever. That Bakugo brat is such a bad influence. Sometimes she says stuff that's so out of left field, it almost sounds like a threat."

"He talks like that, it's true," Shishikura said, "and I have noticed her getting more aggressive since hanging around him."

"You know what they say about bad company." Moto blew some dust out of her mouth at her opponent. "Corrupts."

"I'm not sure Camie ever had good morals to begin with," Shigaraki muttered.

Moto shrugged.

Camie was leaving the gym when she noticed Shishikura scowling at her and frowned. "It's disgraceful, Camie."

"Huh?" Camie was blank. 

"You really should have the decency not to pick on people at your own school at least," Shishikura said, "whatever your friends are like."

"What the heck are you on about?" Camie asked.

"Just don't," Shiskikura said, walking away.

What was that? Camie wondered.

Then she saw Moto smirk at her as she walked by.

Camie's pulse pounded.

* * *

After that, incidents like this were a daily occurrence for Camie. It was so subtle, no one else would have noticed the small remarks Moto dropped here and there that made them look at Camie or say stuff about her that they no doubt didn't even think was hurtful, but it was always just the kind of thing to reinforce what Moto already had said about her.

Camie found her whole class would refuse to believe her if she claimed she was getting picked on, because in their eyes, she was the one who pranked people.

And, okay, she had at the beginning of the year, but not even that much, and she was never mean spirited about it. No one ever picked on her because of it before.

What had gotten into her class, to shift like that? How did Moto manage to turn all of them, and they didn't even seem to know it?

Camie really almost thought it was all in her head, except Moto would give her that sly, unpleasant smile whenever no one else was looking. She always timed it just right too.

Camie was getting to where she dreaded walking into her classroom every morning. No one would say anything that mean to her, but the looks of dry contempt or complete lack of concern she got, on top of Moto's smug ones, were just a weird kind of psychological torture.

Yoarshi, at least, remained oblivious to it all, but his sheer cluelessness made that not that comforting. He spoke well of everyone, so his opinion of her wasn't worth much in weight to everyone else's.

Camie would have been less bothered if she'd been going to UA as usual and gotten away from it. The class had been criticizing her all year, and it was nothing new...just new in this way...but, without that escape, she just had home.

And she couldn't really tell her parents, because nothing about what was going on was blatantly bullying. She couldn't say "everyone's looking down on me and harshing my mellows" as a form of assault and be taken seriously.

In fact, they'd probably just say it was how she acted, and if she didn't want it she should change.

But it wouldn't matter even if she could change, she thought. Everyone already was fixed in their minds about her.

But she couldn't go to UA. Moto was watching her every move, and even if it was an idle threat, nothing else she'd threatened had failed to happen. She was clearly able to get what she wanted. And while Camie didn't know if she'd risk being violent with anyone else, if she could attack her and not get caught, how much easier someone from a different school?

It was just...too risky. Why should she drag them into her school drama? She hated it when people did stuff like that.

She couldn't talk to Bakugo though. He'd figure out something was up-- he always could read her a little too well. So she didn't take any calls from him.

* * *

"Okay, three times in a row?" Shine said, when Bakugo said Camie was not going to appear yet again, "That's it. Something is up."

"Yeah, so let's go over there and bust some heads!" Bakugo said.

"Oh, sure, that'll make the news," Dabi said sardonically, from where he was sitting off to the side with a book.

"Bakugo, really, you need to try to be rational for once," Shoto said.

"Shut up. I am always rational!" Bakugo said.

"Boys, please," Shine said, "Wally and I talked about it, and he thinks we should check in, but I can't just show up at her school easily, can I? We should probably visit her at home, but that's harder to plan. So let's work that out first. Though, I hear we might be doing another joint training with them soon. That could be fun."

"I'm amazed any of us have the time," Shoto said.

"You don't, but 'heroes make time for training,'" Shine said dryly, "That's something they'd say here, right?"

Dabi snorted.

"When's the Convention?" Momo asked Shine. 

"This weekend," Shine said, "I'm kind of nervous... Cece's going, though."

"Really?"

"Apparently her boyfriend is still invited though he's retired, you know, out of respect. Guess he's not been in public too much, but he wants to support them. So she's going with him," Shine said. "It's not really supposed to be a party, but I guess that's the cover so no one on the outside thinks it's going to be important."

"There's a war going on, and they think no one will suspect that?" Dabi snorted.

"Classically, parties thrown during war time have been a tactic..." Shine said, "but I admit, I feel it's a little obvious too. Still, if we want to meet more pros...and while I'm not sure it will help, I am curious. Aizawa seems to have the wrong idea about how we recruit people. It's not really like we just go out and find them, but he was trying to help, and I didn't have the heart to say no. It's such a huge concession for him to ask us to come."

"Yeah, I guess he trusts you finally," Shoto was blunt.

"Todoroki..." Momo said.

"No, it's fine. We all know how it is," Shine said, "Anyway, I've been to a ton of these with Wally. Parties, cover up parties...actually meeting a couple times. I know the drill. I hope it's not too different here."

"I can't picture West being the type to schmooze with people at parties," Dabi said.

"He's not very good at it," Shine admitted, "He just hangs by the food table, and I kind of do that too, honestly. But it's a great way to observe everyone else."

"I remember now. You did that at the PTA meeting here months ago," Shoto said.

"Yes, it was quite informative." Shine looked sly. "Wasn't it?"

They blinked at her.

"Power of no one thinking you matter." Shine casually took a bite of her snacks.

"You're scary," Dabi said.

"Thank you," Shine replied.

"Well, I hope you have fun while your...uh, collecting intel," Momo said. 

"Oh, sure. You should help me get dressed for it," Shine said.

"What about Camie?" Bakugo said.

"Yes, we need to talk to her too," Shine said soberly.

* * *

"I get it," Shoto said to Bakugo on the way back to the dorms, "You're worried about Camie, and I kind of am too now, but if we rush over there, we'll get her into more trouble."

Bakugo huffed, which meant he knew he was right.

"I'm sure we'll find a way to talk to her," Momo said, "At least she's still texting you. Jiro told me if someone really doesn't want to deal with you, they'll do this thing called 'ghosting', and she hasn't done that."

"She hasn't sent any memes either," Bakugo said. He stalked away.

"I guess that's significant..." Shoto said, confused.

"I didn't really think it was true, but I think Bakugo really does like her." Momo was stunned.

"Like her? Like a crush?" Shoto still was pondering this.

"Yes, I think so." Momo had forgotten about him asking her about that...for a second, then she remembered and reddened. "I mean, it's hard to tell with him, but he sure talks about her a lot...and it seems like he's missing her talking to him."

"That also means you have a crush?" Shoto said with a look of awe.

"I think it can," Momo said, "At least, it can for Bakugo. He's not very open about his feelings with anyone. I'm surprised he's admitting to being worried, and to be honest, that kind of makes me worried for her too. I know I tend to worry about things a lot, but if Bakugo is, then it's not all just me overthinking..."

"Maybe we should ask Mr. Aizawa about the joint training," Shoto said, "Maybe he'd push for it more if he knew."

"You think he would? That's a really nice idea," Momo said, "We should."

They veered toward the office building.

[Aw, look at them looking out for the angry pomeranian.]

But before they ever found Aizawa they ran into...Medea?

She was walking out of the counselor's office. She eyed them.

"I know you from somewhere..." she said.

"I...think... Weren't you at the city?" Momo had not seen her up close, but the purple hair streaks were hard to miss.

"Ah, yeah, you're Monama's rivals, huh?" Medea said, twirling her hair, "The 1-A b-----ds."

"What?" Shoto said.

"Just kidding." Medea laughed a little weirdly. "I have issues... Uh, well, don't let me stop you. Go on."

"How do you--? Wait, you're the girl sneaking in for therapy," Shoto said.

"Medea, right?" Momo said, "Shine's mentioned you."

Medea sniffed. "Yeah?"

"Wait, I remember you were with the LOV when we talked to them too," Momo recalled, "Only you were kind of behind that other lady a little, so I didn't remember."

"Sure." Medea looked around.

"I'm...sorry," Momo said, "I mean, for what you're going through. Uh, not that it's any of my business, just, uh, I know it's rough."

"You wouldn't know anything about my life, Princess," Medea said, looking her up and down, "I bet you've never even been to a bad neighborhood..."

"Actually, I have been a couple times," Momo said.

"Oh? Just for a mission, I bet."

"Well...it wasn't official either time," Momo said.

"Oh? Top secret?" Medea said.

"More like we weren't supposed to be there," Shoto said.

"Ah." Medea's eyes flickered with interest. "Rebels, huh? Slightly cooler. Would not have pegged either of you stiffs for the type, but I guess UA is full of surprises. Where's that dumb blonde who thought Dabi was hot? Not one of your pack?"

"You mean Camie? She goes to a different school," Momo said, "Actually, we think she might be having problems--"

"Momo!" Shoto didn't even notice he used her first name there.

Momo looked at him in surprise. "Huh?"

"I mean, I'm sorry, but should we really tell her that?"

"What the h--- am I gonna do about it? Stalk her?" Medea shrugged dryly. "I'm not into that kind of crap anymore. More my brother's thing anyway... Ah, I have got to stop bringing him up every five minutes... Cece keeps telling me that..." She hit herself in the head with her own fist.

"I perhaps said too much," Momo admitted.

"Hey, I won't have anyone to rat you out to," Medea said, "And if that chick is having problems, I'd look into it if I were you. She hangs with your group. She's a target. Just saying. Aren't we all? I'd expect hero kids to be less sloppy."

Her hair flickered purple fire for a second.

"That's an interesting quirk. How does it work?" Shoto asked.

"You know how you can turn your flame on?" Medea said.

"Yes..."

"Yeah, well, I'm way stronger than that," Medea said, "but unstable. Short lived too. Basically, I have to kill my target fast or I run out of steam-- something about the chemical make up of my quirk, I guess. Looks cool though... I kind of hate it though."

"Your quirk?"

"Yeah...I hate that it's erratic." Medea scowled.

"I felt the same way about my left side," Shoto said, "but I started to accept it was my quirk, not my father's, and I began to feel better about it."

Medea snorted. "Well, thanks for the life story, there, Pretty Boy, but the whole problem is kind of it's my quirk. I wouldn't feel the same if it was someone else's."

"But if you own it, make it yours," Shoto said, "Perhaps you'd feel better."

"I don't have a problem owning it..." Medea said, "I just wish it didn't own me, if  you get me... Whatever, I don't think you're on my wavelength... You're kind of cute though."

"What?" Shoto said

Momo frowned at her.

"Too bad red and white emo isn't really my type-- call me old fashioned," Medea shrugged, "But you could probably get most girls with that ensemble. If you didn't look dense as bricks, that is."

"Uh, what?" Shoto said.

"He belong to you?" Medea asked Momo, like he wasn't even there.

"No!" Momo was shocked. "We're not-- I mean, Todoroki isn't anyone's property!"

"Girl, I'd put in a bid, or you'll lose your shot to those other b-----s," Medea said airily.

"Wasting your time," Monama's voice startled them from behind, "Neither of these two have an ounce of self awareness."

"Oh, look what the copy cat dragged in," Medea said dryly, "Or should I say, the rival class?"

"Why are you fraternizing with these stuck up snobs?" Monama asked.

"I can talk to who I want, Copy Cat," Medea simpered, "Whatcha you gonna do about it? Laugh maniacally and make some jab about my inability to succeed?"

"You...know her?" Momo said, "I mean, I remember you met, but I didn't think it was on familiar terms."

"Oh, I'm just keeping an eye on her to make sure she doesn't steal something," Monama said.

"He can't admit that he majorly has a thing for bad girls," Medea said around her hand to Momo.

"I heard that, you witch! I do not!"

"Witch isn't really an insult, considering my code name, dork," Medea said, "but watch it. I can still burn you."

"Not if I get close enough to copy you!" Monama shot back, "You're not that fast."

"I don't need to be fast if you can't touch me," Medea said. "But hey, it's a waste of my time anyway... I gotta go before a teach sees me."

"Are we just okay with this?" Shoto asked Momo. 

She shrugged. "I guess... I, uh, hope it goes well for you...Medea."

"Oh, sure," Medea said carelessly, "Well, have fun with Pokeball head there." She walked away.

"You always need to be involved," Monama said to Momo.

"It was just an accident," Momo said, "But why do you seem to know her so well?"

"I told you, I keep an eye on her. Someone has to."

"Did she ask you to?" Shoto said. He meant that as a real question.

Monama turned pink.  "Oh, shove it up yours, you prick." He walked away.

"I don't get why that made him so mad..." Shoto said.

Momo choked on a laugh. "Maybe it was your delivery...."

"Yaoyurozu, why did she think I was your property?" Shoto asked.

Momo blushed. "She was just being a tease, that's all... She didn't mean it. It was a joke."

"But I don't get it. What's funny about it? It makes no sense."

"She was...uh, just saying we were... Nevermind." Momo hurried ahead.

They were what...? Shoto thought.

But even he wasn't that dense.... After he thought about it for a while, he realized Medea must have meant they were together... What else would make sense in that context? She'd said he wasn't her type, after all. Yes, the clues pointed to it.

[IcyHot conspiracy vibes... So he can actually put stuff together if you give him long enough. Good for you, baby boi!]

Well, it was silly. Momo would never be with him. She was much too good for that...

Wait, what?

Why was that the first thing that came to his mind about it?

Shoto almost forgot why they were actually looking for Aizawa as he turned it all over in his mind.

Momo finally found their teacher in one office and was telling him their concerns, while Shoto was still lost in thought.

"We can see, but your personal lives are not really a reason to do this," Aizawa said.

"But, Mr. Aizawa, Medea had a point," Momo was saying, "It might not be personal."

"Fine...we'll try," Aizawa said, "This is so exhausting, keeping track of who could be in trouble..."

"I know... Thank you, though," Momo said.

They headed back to the dorms, Shoto still lost in thought.

Momo didn't say anything to him. She was kind of embarrassed still too.

"I guess everyone else is still at the gym," Momo noted, "It's dark inside." She opened the door.

Shoto paused in the doorway. And stared at her.

Momo flipped on the light switch.

Then it hit him! It was so simple!

He should have seen it before.

He must just have a crush on Momo!

[Cue the Hallelujah chorus...]

https://youtu.be/IUZEtVbJT5c

But wait... He turned red. 

If that was true...what was he going to do?

"Todoroki? Are you okay?" Momo asked. He was just standing there.

Shoto looked up. "Uh, yeah...I think..." He exited the room promptly, muttering something about homework.

Momo was left kind of confused.

[Well, finally!!!!

Now, if he'd just tell her...

Y'all think I'm just trolling you, but seriously, as an author I get annoyed with having to make these characters true to life at times. But I'm not one of those people who can change people's personalities when I ship. I have to see it happening with them as they are to believe it. Makes all this a lot more of a challenge, I can tell you. They're just so dense!

But it looks like there's light at the end of this tunnel.

The light's on joke was a special request from my sister. She thought it'd be funny. It kind of was😄.]