Ochako hadn't felt anything from Katsuki since she left the classroom. By now, twelve classmates surrounded her in the common area. Nobody had yet to voice what they all feared.

Eijiro finally stopped pacing and addressed his classmates. "So how do we get him back?"

Tenya pushed up his glasses. "You heard Professor Yamada. We're to leave this to the adults."

"There's gotta be something we can do," Denki said. "Maybe we can figure out why they took him in the first place."

"Bakugo's only connection to Black Gauntlet is from when he fought two members on Monday," Momo summarized. "He took out one of them, and the other escaped with his comrade.

"Furthermore, it was one student of UA against two Black Gauntlet members. I'm sure their leader wasn't pleased when they returned and reported what happened."

"Sable was the one who personally took Kacchan." Once the words left his mouth, Izuku flinched and glanced over at Ochako.

She remained curled up on the couch, staring at the bracelet around her wrist.

"We know why they targeted him, but we need to learn why they took him," Fumikage said.

"Sure, let's just waltz up to Sable and ask nicely," Hanta sarcastically said. "Maybe since we're there, they'll give him back!"

"How do we know he isn't..." But Rikido's voice trailed off.

Ochako's heart squeezed.

"Because he's Katsuki fucking Bakugo, and he's too tough to be taken down," Mina stubbornly declared.

A weak grin attempted to curve Kyoka's lips. "He'd call us assholes or something for moping around like this."

"Yell at us to be better extras," Mezo added.

"We will get him back, Uraraka," Shoto said, looking at her.

A tremor shook through UA. Fumikage and Rikido immediately looked at each other. "Did that feel like that one guy's magic from the attack?" Rikido asked.

"Only one way to find out," Fumikage said.

"Whoa, you mean from Black Gauntlet?" Denki asked as another tremor occurred.

If Black Gauntlet was here, Ochako was going to face them. She was behind Fumikage and Rikido. Others followed.

Chaos had erupted in the halls of UA Academy. Just how did Black Gauntlet get in? A spell protected the grounds from something like this happening. Did someone from the inside lend a hand?

The sound of familiar explosions made Ochako's heart soar. She ran to the source, calling for her boyfriend. Certain classmates followed her.

The dining hall was an utter disaster. When the smoke dissipated, all eyes fell on Katsuki. He could pass as a member of Black Gauntlet with the way he dressed. He wore all-black, his clothing different than how he was last seen, including black gloves. Dark goggles with a leather band fit around his head.

He stood nearby the Black Gauntlet member, who he had nicknamed Gray. They faced Professor Aizawa.

"You see what I see, right?" Hanta asked in disbelief.

"Katsuki!" Ochako shouted, running toward him.

"Leave, they've done something to him!" Professor Aizawa warned.

Katsuki let out a bone-chilling laugh. "They've given me freedom! UA held me back from my full potential." He turned his head to look at Ochako, brow furrowed. "Fuck off." He raised his arm and fired an explosion spell at her. It was bright and powerful.

Quick thinking, she touched the pads of her fingers together and pushed off the ground to float in the air. The classmates behind her moved out of the way to avoid it.

"Kacchan, what are you doing?" Izuku demanded, charging up with green electricity.

"Showing my true power, you damn nerd!" he roared, a mad grin spreading across his lips. "My explosions are more intense! My eyes will be fine, but I'll burn out your retinas!"

Ochako safely made it to the ground. She couldn't look away from Katsuki. This had to be some nightmare.

"Oi, take care of the old man," Katsuki told Gray as he sauntered away. "I'll kill these extras."

"It's eight against one," Eijiro warned. "What do you think of those odds?"

"I fucking think—" Katsuki stilled at the same time as Gray, and they both nodded. "Another fucking time, Shitty Hair."

Gray opened a portal in-between them. "Let's not be the last ones to leave."

Ochako's heart skipped when she watched Katsuki turn to leave. "Katsuki, please!"

He stopped to glance over his shoulder at her. His signature smirk appeared, and all felt right in the world. Then he raised his right arm and flipped her off. Laughing, he followed Gray through the portal.

The portal closed, and Ochako felt like she had been punched. She couldn't breathe. This was real. He didn't give her a sign that he was okay. It wasn't some covert, undercover mission where he played a villain.

xXx

Ten students from 1-A were wake in their common room. Classes had been canceled for tomorrow, so it wasn't like they needed to worry about waking up early. They conversed amongst themselves, but Ochako's mind was on overdrive.

The future glimpse that Katsuki had seen could have happened already, but he didn't have a way of confirming it. At the time, he had been too focused on her than his surroundings. As for what she saw, was there a reason why Katsuki wasn't in the hospital room with her? Did it mean their child would never meet their father?

Child. One hand absentmindedly touched her stomach. If she waited a few days and took a test, would she discover she was pregnant? Safety measures had been used, but they didn't always guarantee certain results.

"Ochako, are you all right?" Izuku asked.

She snapped back to reality, raising her head. "What?"

Mina frowned. "He asked if you're all right. You've been so quiet."

"I just"—she struggled for words—"don't understand why Katsuki would do this."

"He wouldn't if he didn't have a choice in the matter," Eijiro said.

"Do you think he's being blackmailed?" Denki wondered aloud.

"Or he's acting under the control of the Forbidden Art of Coercion..."

Tenya gasped. "But that's forbidden!"

Eijiro gave him a look. "Dude. You don't think a band of baddies wouldn't stoop that low? Not everybody follows the rules."

Nodding, Tenya pushed up his glasses. "Point taken."

"What makes you think Coercion?" Hanta prompted.

"He wore goggles," Eijiro pointed out.

Izuku gasped. "They're hiding his eyes, so we can't see the sign!"

"Sign?" Kyoka questioned.

"Under the Coercion, one's eyes become dull, glazed over," Shoto explained. "It's a dead giveaway."

"If Katsuki's under a spell, how do we break it?" Ochako asked.

Izuku broke things down. "Kacchan could break it on his own. I know he has a strong enough will. He just might need a little help, though. If we can distract the caster, which I'm guessing is Sable, he has a chance to break the hold. Another option is we completely break the caster's concentration."

"Sable's the key," Mina said. "How do we find him?"

Eijiro cracked his knuckles. "Forcefully."

Momo looked at Shoto. "Is it possible to use magic to track Sable? Perhaps he gives off a certain vibe or wavelength for us to look into. After seeing Bakugo earlier, he's certainly powerful."

Shoto rubbed his chin. "It's something to consider."

"I was under the impression that those under the hold were essentially mindless puppets," Tenya commented. "Bakugo spoke to us. He even used our typical nicknames."

"If that's what Sable wanted from Kacchan, then that's what he got," Izuku said. "A powerful magic-user could do something like that."

"Let's find Sable and kick his ass," Denki said.

Ochako voiced a concern. "I'm sure Katsuki will"—she swallowed hard—"consider it distasteful to get rescued, but..." Her voice trailed off.

"But what?" Mina questioned. "He can learn to ask for help once in a while."

"I think we need to sleep and regroup tomorrow," Tenya said.

Shoto nodded in agreement.

Izuku looked at Ochako. "We'll figure out a way to get Kacchan back."

xXx

A/N: At least they know he's alive!