a/n: hello everyone! in this story, all of the kids are about 13-14 years old, and they haven't gotten to the age where they've started to wear face masks. anyway, i have an important question for everyone!

i'm thinking about making another oneshot book; is there anyone you guys would want to read about? i kind of want to write for dabi or setsuno, but im not sure if a lot of people are fans of the latter-

i could write for the students, but i'm not that invested in their characters, so i'm not sure if i'd be the best at it ;-;

also aHHHH the new trailer for season 4 LOOKS AMAZING- everyone in the shie hassaikai was there!!!!

Kai's knuckles are bruised from punching a random person on the street, but other than that, he's quite content with himself. The ghost of a smile graces the usually stoic face of the teenager as he stares down at the ground, cheek freely bleeding from a shallow cut as one of Pops' underlings led him back to the Yakuza base. The yellow-eyed boy could sense the anger radiating from the subordinate and he could physically feel the anger from the tight grip the older man has on his arm.

He understands why the assistant's so angry. After all, this wasn't the first time Kai has done something like this. He frequently gets into fights with people who insult or talk smack about the Yakuza. It's starting to become a problem, but Kai doesn't care.

The Yakuza doesn't deserve this treatment. They've graciously brought me into their loving arms, so why-

Kai then let out a low mewl of pain when he's suddenly jerked forward through the door, and the scrawny teen's heart dropped to his stomach when he saw Pops standing at the entrance with his arms crossed. There seems to be a sort of sad, somber expression set in the wrinkled lines of the capo's face, and Kai doesn't like the look at all.

"P-Pops?"

Kai asks, barely noticing that there was blood starting to drip from a wound on his forehead. The person he had gotten into a fight with had taken out a knife; it was a good thing that the Yakuza subordinate had broken up the fight before it could progress farther.

Pops sighs, tired eyes studying Kai's roughed-up face for a moment, before beckoning to Kai to follow him in his familiar, gravelly voice.

"Come here, Kai. You need to get those wounds covered."

Heart feeling lighter, Kai bounds forward to walk alongside Pops, shaking the grip on his arm off and he vaguely heard the underling sigh loudly. The boy doesn't pay any attention to the noise though; he's just focused on meeting Pops' long strides, but unfortunately, his legs aren't quite as long yet. Kai hopes that he can be as great as Pops one day.

When the pair reach Pops' office, the older man turns the doorknob slowly, pushing the door open with a slow, stretched-out creak. It's an ominous noise, one that sends shivers down Kai's spine, but he knows that Pops would never harm him.

Kai enters the room first, cautiously walking in. The area looks the same from the last time he was in here; about three days ago, when he had gotten into yet another fight. Kai frequents here and he's come to know where to go; where to sit.

Kai seats himself at the rickety wooden chair that faces the sleek desk that belongs to Pops, while Pops himself sits down in the plush seat that's positioned behind the desk with a huff. The Shie Hassaikai leader first digs through one of the desk drawers, producing a box of bandages. He opens the box and offers some to Kai, who takes some gratefully.

"...Thanks..."

Kai says hesitantly and Pops nods in acknowledgement, silently returning the box to its original drawer. As Kai applies the bandages to his wounds, wiping away blood with tissues from the tissue box on the desk, Pops speaks, wise eyes watching Kai closely.

"Listen, Kai... I know you're determined to defend the Yakuza, but you shouldn't always resort to violence. We might be a gang, but don't be a heartless brute, alright? That's not what I taught you."

The teen nods, feeling a bit bad as he bows his head in respect, and he stares at his knees, waiting with bated breath for what was going to happen next. Kai's then surprised to hear a soft chuckle suddenly come from Pops and he lifts his head, eyes wide.

Pops is looking at him fondly, a simple smile displayed on his weathered lips. The older man opens his arms, and Kai smiles, eyes filling with tears as he gets up from his seat to run around the desk to embrace his mentor.

As Kai hugs Pops, the man's rough, calloused hand brushes through his brown locks. It's a soothing action and with that, Kai closes his eyes.

After a while of holding each other, Pops lets go of Kai, his eyes shining with tears.

"You've grown so big, son. You... You'll be a great successor to me. I can just tell. Now, go along and play with Hari and Y/N. They were asking where you were this morning."

Kai nods and practically skips out of the room, unusual for the serious boy. As soon as he exits, Hari is there waiting for him with Y/N, hair arrows weaving through the air excitedly. It's a habit the boy has, and sometimes Hari accidentally stabs someone with the tip of an arrow. It's always awkward whenever someone has to be hauled out of a room due to not being able to move.

"Yo, Kai! I heard what happened! You're such a savage!"

Hari cheers excitedly, showing two thumbs up to Kai, who just stares at him with a strange expression. Sensing that he said something weird, Hari deflates, shoulders bowing as his hair droops. Meanwhile, Y/N is staring at Kai with a worried expression, anxiety clear in their eyes.

"Why do you have so many bandages on your face?!"

Y/N asks Kai, rushing forward to cup the sides of his face with two hands, and Kai pushes them away, flustered.

"It - It's nothing. I was just defending the Yakuza again, that's all."

Hari then lets out an annoying 'oooooooh' noise, and when Kai turns to look at him, the pale-haired male has a devious smirk on his handsome features.

"I ship you two~ Y/N totally has a crush on you - woah!"

Y/N had shoved Hari against the wall, face flushed with a dark blush as they proceeded to punch him playfully, which drew laughter from the male. Kai simply watched the scene with a neutral expression, his heartbeat quickening as he watched Y/N.

He hoped that Y/N did like him, because he certainly felt something whenever he saw them.