The next day it was back to full on training with a trip to the USJ to practice handling disasters, more successfully this time. Shine and Wally got to hear all about the incident of a year prior from multiple sources.

Shine was not too impressed with the account of Shigaraki, despite the students describing him as scary, and she surprisingly guessed the Nomu was not his creation right off. 

Though it was Kirishima she told this too, he wasn't 100% sure who was responsible. Probably All for One, but it wasn't as if anyone could prove he was working alone, and Kirishima thought mentioning All for One was unwise, not knowing that Likstar had been filled in already. He changed the subject.

"So, how'd you and West meet? I mean, you said you're from different places, right?"

A part of their story that was almost more unbelievable than the rest of it-- it seemed so out there. Likstar nodded in confirmation.

"Yeah, I'm from the Silent Planet. He's from what I call the DC universe, for lack of a better term. They are connected, but neither knows the other exists." 

He waited... 

"And...?" he finally said. 

Likstar shoved her hair back. "We met because my enemy tried to destroy my ability to DJ-- or World Walk, if you prefer. It's a long story, but I lost memories of all my trips, and my connection to the worlds almost snapped completely. Memory is crucial to this line of work. Without it, I'm clueless about it all.... Plus," she leaned on her sword--which was weird to see, "what I learn, what I get from each place, becomes a part of me. Without it, I'd be a lesser person. I think that was the other goal, but it was stopped."

"Whoa, heavy." Kirishima was impressed.

"Yeah, anyway, he got sucked into it... To tell you the truth, at the time I wondered why he was one of the people  involved. I had formed the least connection with him. Now it's clear."

Kirishima gave her a questioning look, so she continued.

"It's about what would be. Because of the whole adventure, we became friends. You can guess the rest. So, in the end, the enemy self foiled. Ironic, no?"

"Yeah, lucky too."

"Not lucky, ever," she said that very decidedly, like it was a real point to be made.

Though the training was challenging, the students all felt it wasn't really aimed at them. The school wanted to see what these DJs were made of, but they also wanted to see how the students would interact with them. 

The girls seemed to like Shine. Wally was accepted into the group, Kirishima and Kaminari especially clicked with him, but he wasn't really a leader. Shine's personality was not very pushy (so far) or flashy, nor did she command loyalty the way Midoriya or Iida did, or respect like Todoroki, but she had force to her that was powerful even when her physical prowess sorely lacked, and this was the concern.

Already her influence on the girls could be seen, even if it was just in how they tried to help her. 13 put a positive spin on it. "They look up to her as an adult and as a person willing to defend us. Let's be honest, all us female teachers are involved minimally in training because we're so busy. I think Likstar's appeal is she's there all the time, and her leadership is more like a hands-off presence. I wouldn't worry about it. It might even be good for them for now."

But All Might and Aizawa were concerned about the ideas Likstar and West might put in the students' heads with their stories-- and often a remark here and there that sounded strange.

"I guess they'll have to hear other opinions sometime," All Might shrugged, "They can take it. Anyway, nothing really outlandish has happened."

But still...and this was after one week.

When the 2nd week began, the students had a day off to visit family, so Shine and Wally were left alone at the dorm.

"Okay, I know you're dying to talk about the mission," Wally said, settling on the couch with an apple, "And I'm ready to go. What'd you think of the kids?"

"With the exception of Mineta, who's undecided, I like them," Shine replied, looking up from her book, "Some I already love. They're so sweet or noble or brave. Even Bakugo's growing on me."

"Is he? 'Cause I think he's kind of a jerk."

"Yeah, but I've yet to see him do anything worse than yell at people."

"That's not jerk-ish enough for you?"

"Sometimes I do want to smack the little punk, but..." Shine leaned back, "I can't shake the feeling that there's more to him, to all of them. And it's really cute how the girls have taken me in."

"Yeah, that was cool," Wally smiled, "Of course they love you. You always win over younger kids."

"Um, 15 year olds aren't all that much younger than me, Wally. Eight years is our age gap."

"But past 20 it's not such a big deal."

"True. Still, they're grounded for teenagers."

"I agree." Wally munched in silence a moment. "And the training?"

"I'm dying, one muscle at a time."

"But coming back stronger!" he tried to hype.

She moaned.

"Okay, so it's hard-- but so cool. I wish the League had this."

"Do you?"

"Well...minus the certification stuff," he admitted, "That still weirds me out."

"Me too...and Iida keeps telling me about all the rules. One time he told me about how heroes can't use their quirks for themselves. I mean, I guess beyond household stuff... He looked really serious. Like it was personal."

"You know," between bites, "Icyhot gives off that vibe too," Wally noted, "Kid looks like he's seen stuff. Even Midoriya-- he's really committed, never rests."

"I can't figure him out," Shine admitted, "He makes no sense. He's apparently as strong as Superman at full power but somehow only uses some of it, from what the girls told me. They don't know why. They think his quirk is more volatile than others for whatever reason. But if so, why the control? It never explodes. It seems like Shazam's-- an on/off thing."

"A kid with Superman level powers? Yeah, sounds like Shazam," Wally said wryly, "Personally, I think he got his powers a weird way. He just has that look, like it's all new to him. I've seen it a lot."

"Really?" Shine said, surprised, "I didn't notice, but now that you say it..." 

"But if everyone's born with a quirk, of course, that makes no sense."

"All Might told us about All For One, but not the students. I'm still not sure why they trusted us, except that we would've known something was up," Shine reflected, "If he could take power, transfer it, maybe other people can. But it's a long shot to assume Deku's quirk has anything to do with that. He seems familiar with superhero-ing itself."

"Yeah, but think about it," Wally rubbed his chin, "All Might's his hero, and in that newsreel they had us watch, he said that weird thing to the camera... though maybe it was to other villains. But Midoriya and him seem to be close. I've seen them talking a few times. If he got given a quirk, it'd make sense All Might of all people would know about it."

"Yeah, but this is conjecture at best, Wally," Shine said.

Someone rang the doorbell. Wally zipped to the peephole.
"It's Eraser." He opened it.

Aizawa looked bored. "Just thought you should know, there's going to be a PT event this Friday, some new policy to reassure the public and all that. The committee says you can attend if you behave yourselves. The students' parents should at least meet their dorm-mates is the idea, I suppose. Anyway, up to you."

He seemed completely uninterested in their response.

"Wow, you are not looking forward to this." Shine joined them.

"I hate publicity," he said.

"Shame, you look good on camera," Shine jibed, "I saw in the news bytes."

He just gave her a dead-eyed stare. Wally choked down a guffaw.

"You'll need a cover story, then," Aizawa said, like every word was tedious, "Work on it. That's all." He walked away.

"He brightens my day every time," Shine said ironically, then she squeezed Wally's hand, "'Course, not as much as you do. Should we go?" 

"Heck yeah! It'd be a nice change... Wait, parents don't like me," Wally faltered. 

"Yes, they do." Shine waved dismissively.

"Shine, your parents don't like me."

"Yes, they do. Shut up." 

"Well, maybe. But you know--"

"My dad just thinks the distance is risky." Shine sat back down. "It's nothing personal. He likes you just  fine. And all my time away from them, even if it's for hours, is annoying to them. But it'd happen anyway, and they've come around a lot."

"Yeah, well," Wally sat down, "I hate causing you guys problems..."

"One more or less isn't much difference," Shine shrugged, "Anyway, yeah. The event sounds fun. Speaking of fun, it's nearly noon."

"I'll get the ice water and a bucket and string."

"Wally West!"

The door bell rang. 

"Last chance," Wally offered.

"Shut up." Shine shoved him as she walked up to the door and opened it. She was met by a noise maker almost snapping her nose.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi." Miss Joke came in. "Gee whiz, this place has cracked down. I had to get Nezu on the phone just so they'd let me in... Wow, this is fine." She turned around fully to take in the sitting area. 

"Yeah, real high class," Shine agreed, "So, Miss Joke--" 

"That's so formal," Miss Joke interrupted, "Maybe use my real name? Emi Fukakado." 

"Um...Joke's a lot easier to say," Shine helplessly, "But I prefer Shine, by the way. However, I understand this first name thing can be considered disrespectful."

"Yes," Miss Joke admitted, "You're American, right?"

Shock registered.

"It's the clothes," Miss Joke waved, "and...not knowing how to read Japanese..."

"Oh. Yeah, we are."

"Well, then we can make an exception. Over there first names are the norm, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Then that's okay. Anyway, Fukakado is a mouthful."

Shine and Wally both were relieved.

"Okay...Emi, was it?" Wally said.

She nodded.

"What do you want to do?" he finished.

"Me? I'm the guest. What's your plan?" Miss Joke rubbed her hands together. "I'm sure you have ideas. I expect to be impressed."

"I told you, we can't leave campus," Shine reminded her,"but I would like to explore it further. Have you ever been here?"

"Not for years. Aizawa seems reluctant for me to meet all his friends for some reason."

"Yeah...what's the deal with you two? You seem to go way back." Wally put on shoes as he spoke. Shine grabbed sunglasses.

Miss Joke began to explain the nature of their relationship. Since Aizawa wasn't there to tease, it was less exaggerated.

"That's cool," Shine commented, "I bet people make lasting friendships doing the hero thing together. I know I bond with people I face challenges with."

"Sometimes those bonds are short lived," Miss Joke admitted, gesturing wildly, "Not in our case. Ours will last a lifetime!" humorously. 

Shine laughed, not really getting it, but it was so dramatic.

"Lady, you have flair," Wally surmised, "You must be one of those heroes--like me. Ready with the quips."

"Oh, you know it!" Miss Joke grinned, "Nothing fights crime like a good one-liner."

"Finally! Someone else gets it. You hear that, Shine?"

"I never doubted you, Wally." Shine shouldered her purse. "It's too nice to stay inside. Let's go." Out they went.

"So, you two are a couple?" Miss Joke said. You could almost see the hearts in her eyes.

"Yep," Wally said proudly.

"How long?"

"Two years, almost," Shine said.

"Wow, so wedding bells are coming?"

Pause. Shine reddened.

"Oops, sorry. Kind of jumped the gun on that," Miss Joke apologized hastily, "Nevermind. You're cute though."

"Thank you," Shine relaxed. 

"So Emi," Wally changed the subject, "your quirk makes people laugh, right?"

"That nerdy kid snitched," she grinned, "Yeah, I call it Outburst."

"That's freaking terrifying. I bet villains run from you."

"Oh, yeah, but not may people get that till they've seen it. You're quick."

"We have experience," Shine said, "Though mine isn't personal, but I can easily see why all those villains who take themselves way too seriously would freak. Villains often do."

"So true!" Miss Joke chortled,"You've got a handle on it, I see. Research?"

"No, it's just nature of criminals. If they could laugh at themselves they wouldn't commit such crimes most of the time. They'd be too humble." 

Hmm, intriguing, Miss Joke thought, She's familiar with humor's power for a Pro, if she is a Pro. She didn't learn that from UA, definitely not Aizawa. Wonder where she's from? 

"I don't know about humble. Humor is mostly my way to deal with the stress," Wally said, "But villains can be kind of stupidly funny."

Miss Joke nodded. "I've told people villains are ridiculous for years, but most just think they're all too scary." 

"You aren't scared of evil people, Emi?" Shine queried. 

"Not all criminals are evil, but even ones who are, not usually. Too busy laughing." Miss Joke tilted her chin.

The next couple hours passed in the same way. Miss Joke seemed bored with just walking after a while so they explored the library, gym, and lunchroom (per Wally's request).

"And you get to use all this for free?" Miss Joke said enviously (and slyly).

"Oh, well it's--" Wally began.

Shine nudged him. He broke off.

"It's complicated," Shine said, "I guess it's sort of a repayment for certain services. Or a down-payment. But free? I wouldn't call it that." Mostly because there's no way to explain it that won't sound bad, she added mentally. 

They went back to the dorm after their late lunch...and somehow Miss Joke convinced both of them it would be a good idea to prank all the students. When they started arriving back around 5:00 pm, Wally deterred all of them in the common area as long as he could.

"Why did I agree to this?" Shine asked Miss Joke nervously.

"Because you thought it'd be funny!" Miss Joke said enthusiastically.

"Better question: Why'd you bring all this stuff with you?" Shine twirled her hair.

"Just in case! A good prankster is always prepared." Miss Joke did a fist pump + pull down.

Bakugo brushed past Wally saying, "Out of my way, you red haired b------."

Wally gave Shine a look like "It's about to go down." 

"No one else has see me yet." Miss Joke rubbed her fingertips together. "I'll hide for the finale." She vanished.

"3--2--1," Shine counted on her fingers.

"WHO FILLED MY ROOM WITH PINK CONFETTI!?" at the top of his lungs. 

As one, all the guys already back-- Kirishima, Sero, Shoji, Tokoyami, Sato, and Mineta-- all turned and looked at Shine and Wally.

Wally shrugged innocently. "Wasn't me."

Bakugo came almost flying out of the elevator, a crazy look in his eye.

"Did you do this?!" he demanded.

"Do what?" Wally asked. A curse-laced repeat of his earlier exclamation followed.

"Oh, that.... Nope," Wally shrugged again.

Shine was already questioning if this had really been a good idea when Iida was heard shouting, "My glasses!"

"You didn't...?" Kirishima said.

"Relax, Rocky," Shine waved, "They aren't broken. We just moved them...to weird places...like the bed post..."

"So it was you." Bakugo made a savage step toward her, and her sword came out right at his chest.

"Look, kid, yell if you want, but touch me, and you'll feel this. Got it?" Shine warned.

Bakugo paused, as if considering how much of a threat that was. "You think you can take me?" he thundered.

Shine winced. "No," she muttered, "not really." 

Iida came in. "Someone rearranged my room-- What's going on? Miss Likstar, are you threatening Bakugo?" 

"Oh, this?" Shine lifted her sword, and sliced it right through Bakugo's arm before he could turn back around--and her speed suggested practice. Everyone almost choked, but the blade passed through him like a hologram.

"Non-lethal," Shine said, "Stings though. What's up, Iida?" 

"You--how did--?" Iida pushed his glasses up. 

"Oh, like I'd actually try to hurt one of you," Shine scoffed, "Please. Self defense, hello?" 

Bakugo glared. "You don't think I could handle a sword?" 

"Well, frankly, no." Shine stepped away, wisely.

"Did you move my glasses?" Iida asked hopelessly.

"No," Shine said, "Not single-handedly..." 

"Dude, what's going on here?" Kirishima asked Wally. 

"Oh, you know, just a few harmless pranks," Wally said. 

"Pranks?" Tokoyami repeated.

 "Harmless?" Iida sputtered, "You ruined my whole system. It'll take me 30 minutes to reorganize. Time is precious. We have a lot on our--" 

"Geez," Shine said, "If so, then why waste time yelling at us?"

Silence. She had him there and made him madder. He whirled around and stormed back upstairs. (He did later apologize for yelling.) 

"I wonder what's in my room," Sero mused.

The other guys did also. Bakugo seemed to be trying to think of a threat, but before he could, some more people arrived: Uraraka, Yaoyurozu, Midoriya, Mina, Aoyama.
Bakugo was just curious enough about how they might get served to keep his mouth shut. Iida was too busy rearranging his glasses to notice. 

Over the next 20 minutes shrieks of surprise and also...delight? could be heard. 

"Oh, I love it." Uraraka had a teddy bear with "Hug Me" stitched across it's stomach. (Or so Miss Joke had claimed.)

"What the heck?" Mina cried, "Who put a bubble-making machine in my room?"

"Shine," Wally hissed, "why did Joke have that in her car?"

"Birthday party, I think," Shine shrugged.

"Tape across my doorway, really?" Sero said, shaking his head.

"Oh, I love the sparkle." Aoyama gestured to the LED light display.

"Yeah, I had a feeling he'd take it as a gift," Shine remarked, "But you know, I'm okay with that. The theme was happiness, right?"

"Pink confetti?" Bakugo growled, "Who'd find that happy?"

"Your reaction was classic," Shine dared to retort, "But I'll clean it up if it'll make you not blow something up."

"I can do what I want!" he snapped.

 "And what do you want!" she almost yelled back.

"I want it out of my room!" he retorted.

"I'm not sure what disturbs me more-- the fact that you invaded my privacy," Tokoyami remarked, "or that you put 50 paper cranes on my floor."

"Paper cranes?" Yaoyurozu said in her nerdy voice, "Oh, I've heard of that. There's supposed to be a thousand-- one for every prayer said for you. Right?" She glanced at Shine.

"Yeah," Shine nodded, "I thought it'd be cool. Plus, my sister is into origami, and Miss--I mean, I learned how to make them. It only took, like, 20 minutes with Wally's help."

"So, is it a gift or a prank?" Kirishima asked, coming out of his room holding a handful of silly string.

"Open to interpretation," Shine smirked.

"Shine," Yaoyurozu held up a No#1 teacher hand sign, "I really like this, but I don't understand the joke."

"I didn't have the heart to actually prank everyone," Shine explained, secretly noting that Yaoyurozu had finally used her first name, "Plus with limited supplies, we had to improvise."

"Ahhh!" Midoriya yelled.

"What'd you do to the punk?" Bakugo almost grinned.

"Nothing that explosive." Shine seemed a little taken aback. Most of them crowded around Midoriya's room. His All Might figurines had been lined up to face each other, like they were going to war.

"What omen is this?" Izuku was freaking out.

"Easy there, Small Might," Wally said, "It's just a joke. No omen intended."

"Although," Shine picked up one and examined it, "the resemblance to Captain America: Civil War is a little uncanny. Sorry." She put it back on the shelf.

"Oh...uh...guess I overreacted," Izuku said. 

"Just a little," Uraraka grinned.

"Thanks for the sugar," Sato thumbs-upped them. 

"So we ran out of ideas," Shine said in response to the looks.

"You know, I was mad, but now I'm kinda getting into this," Mina fist pumped, "I can't wait to see what you did to the others..."

As it turned out, people had mixed reactions. Jiro thought the cassette tapes hanging from her ceiling made awesome antiques 😏👌. Kaminari didn't get why he had a huge battery🤔, but Todoroki was probably the most unnerved. No one warned him-- they were all committed by now.

He went into his room, and the whole floor was covered with bubble wrap. The look on his face was like he'd been stunned with one of those electric flyswatters.

"Why?" he asked, after Shine sheepishly explained.

"Because bubble wrap is awesome!" Mina started tap-dancing on it.

"Please stop doing that," Todoroki said.

"I don't see the connection to your theme," Yaoyurozu confessed to Shine.

"It's just so fun to stomp on," Shine shrugged.

"I find it annoying." You could tell Todoroki was ticked when he used that word.

"Okay, okay, we'll remove it," Shine shrugged, "...once Mina's had her fun."

"So--Much--Popping!" Mina cried.

"Well, that's everyone." Wally dusted his hands off. "Oh--" 

A closet door burst open, and Miss Joke popped out, scaring all the students.

"Not quite everyone," she grinned, "There's still yours."

"Oh, yeah," Sero said, "You should've been pranked too."

"But, we were here...?" Shine gave Wally and Miss Joke a blank look.

Wally feigned innocence. "Well, maybe Emi's sneakier than that, hmm?"

"This better not be gross." Shine headed for her room, all the students yearning for payback followed--or were simply curious. Shine threw open the door and cautiously flipped on the light, then she peered in more carefully. "I don't see--" 

Miss Joke shoved her inside, and some motion-activated light clicked on. A small device projected 3D star images onto the ceiling. They started to rotate. 

"Whoa..." Shine got closer. "I don't even recognize those asterisms."

"Those what now?" Kaminari asked. 

"Unofficial or official Constellations," Yaoyurozu supplied. 

"Way cool," Shine said, "and I'm guessing...space travel?" She shot a questioning look at Miss Joke.

"Well, and Shine Likstar was too good a name pun to pass up," Miss Joke snickered.

Shine rolled her eyes. "Okay, Wally's turn."

"But if you didn't, then when would Miss Joke have...?" Wally wondered.

"Oh, I might surprise you," Miss Joke simpered.

Wally opened his door. "What the--?"

It was a Smiley Meal bag-- several of them, actually.

"You see, I figured out what your color scheme reminded me of, and it was too perfect." Miss Joke was shaking with laughter.

Shine started to chuckle. "Oh, my gosh, Wally, she's right. It does look like a Happy Meal. Oh, that's cute."

"Yeah," Uraraka agreed. 

"Ugh," Jiro made a gagging face.

"Haha." Wally did not appear flattered. "Well, I guess we're all evened up now. Good game."

He held out his hand. Miss Joke shook it and looked stunned.

"Where did you get that?" Shine pointed to the joy-buzzer.

"Picked it out of her pocked while you blinked," Wally shrugged.

Whoa, all the students thought in awe.

He's so much faster than Iida or even Gran Torino could be, Midoriya thought.

Wally tossed Miss Joke back her device.

"Well, color me impressed," she said, smiling genuinely, "That was pretty good. Guess I know not to get on your bad side."

After cleaning up for those who demanded it, and apologizing for taking it too far perhaps, Shine and Wally bid Miss Joke farewell.

"Did Mr. Aizawa even know she was here?" Tsu asked.

Miss Joke winked. "Oh, I'm sure it'll get back to Eraser. Most things do." She saluted Shine and Wally.

"Thank you," Shine said, " I can't remember the last day I laughed so much." The girls glanced at her sympathetically.

The door was tapped on just then. Mina answered it. "Oh, hello Mr. Aizawa. What's going on--sir?"

"You'll need these flier--" Aizawa looked past her and his eyes turned red. "What are you doing here, Joke?"

"Huh--?" Even Miss Joke seemed slightly nervous with that glare. "I was--"

"Invited." Shine seemed unintimidated. Maybe she'd seen weirder things than Aizawa's quirk. 

"Why?" he asked.

"'Cause we hit it off, dude," Wally said, a little defensively, "Clicked, jibed."

"Definitely jibed," Shine echoed, "Really, Mr. Aizawa, it's no big deal. Nezu okayed it, even thought it might promote unity."

"Which gives me an idea," Miss Joke was back to her peppy self now, "for our classes joint training? How does next week sound?"

"We're on a tight schedule all this month," dryly.

Mina, who liked Miss Joke, slumped. Some of the guys breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, that sounds like you're intimidated," Miss Joke retorted, "It's a rational idea, isn't it? But if you're really so busy, why this?" She held up the flier.

Shine gripped her purse. "How did you--? Oh dang, you're good, lady."

"PT, that's so cute," Miss Joke smirked, "Good idea, actually. I might have to try that." 

"What's this?" Todoroki squinted at the flier.

"Oh--" Wally snatched the stack out of Aizawa's grasp and passed them around so fast they barely registered what was happening.

"This is hell is what it is!" Bakugo growled, reading the lines.

"Ah, we get to invite our parents?" Uraraka smiled.

"Week after?" Miss Joke said with the air of making a final offer.

"If it'll get it over with quicker, we'll find a time next week." Aizawa half closed his eyes wearily.

"Thanks! You're the best!" Miss Joke waved. "Bye, kids, prank you later. Keep smiling." She bounded past Aizawa and was gone. 

"Sir, what is all this?" Kirishima asked Aizawa. 

"Ask Likstar and West. I've got things to do," Aizawa said crisply, leaving. 

All eyes turned to them. Shine briefly explained what he'd told them. Not everyone was stoked about it, but they took it quietly and went to bed.