I mentally growl as Toru Hagakure awkwardly walks over. I try to squarely look where her eyes would be and inwardly beg that she just has a different number.

"So..." she nervously starts before holding up her slip, showing just the lines I feared. "You.. uh.. you got four too, right?"

Let's see, I could just shove this in my pocket and never bring it up again, but c'mon, that's just rude. "Yep," I admit, holding it up.

"...Oh." She sounds just as surprised before we go back into silence.

I swear, I was set up. But how? It was random. Don't get me wrong; it just feels weird. Teens of the opposite gender should not be paired up and sent into the woods with almost no supervision. Still, I'm not in a position to argue, so I keep my mouth shut.

"Seshin!" Mineta moans and wobbles over to me from Aoyama, who's breathing a sigh of relief. His eyes are all crazed, and he's drooling out a waterfall. "Trade. With. Me. Please!"

Hagakure slightly steps behind me as I sigh through my teeth in annoyance at the pathetic twerp. "Seriously? You haven't even been assigned a scarer role and yet here you are."

"Seshin... Please!"

The very nerve. The fact that he's only up to my waist in height makes me just want to kick him square in the face. One side of me practically begs me to, saying, "Please! By all means!" Best not to though. I instead lift him with my flames and hold him up. "Did anyone lose their child or do I drop kick them?"

"He's with me," Samae groans, holding up two slips of paper, both with the number six.

"Oof," I reply, roughly forcing the pervert at him.

"Thanks."

Hagakure's sleeve furiously waves at Mineta to add to my riddance. "And stay over there, you freak!!"

I guess I could've ended up with Mineta, so it could be worse. With that in mind, I hear Pixiebob call us over for the first people to enter. I sigh and trudge over into line, Hagakure noticing and following close behind. "Let's just get this over with."

I'm not really looking forward to this. Not just because it will be incredibly awkward, but because surely Auxi and possibly Ashido will hear of it and will instantly be all over me about it. At the same time though, it could be fun. Just wait until the classes' roles of scarers and wanderers swap. Together, we could definitely pull off something terrifying.

As the cats instructed, we are being released into the dark forest every three minutes. First Tokoyami and Shoji then Bakugo and Todoroki. During those six, it's pretty silent. Makes sense though. Those four aren't really fazed by much.

Until it's our turn, I glance around at the other teams. Auxi's going in with Jiro before us, and behind us are Yaoyarozu and Aoyama followed by Uraraka and Asui. Behind everyone, Midoriya shudders, looking back and forth between directly ahead of himself and his partner, Kyor.

Wait, Kyor?? He's in 1-B; what's he doing here?? Plus, I thought he went back to the cabin with our five and Monoma. Finally, a pair of screams sound off and Kyor slightly smiles. Weirdo.

I look back ahead, seeing Jiro and Auxi have already gone in, supposedly being the source of the sounds. Just a couple more minutes then we'll be let in. It can't be that hard. We just need to retrieve our flags then get out. Besides, I believe I've seen all the class B students by now, and each of them seem interesting instead of scary, excluding Kyor, who's not even playing scarer.

"Next team!" the blue cat enthusiastically waves. "In goes 'Hoodie' and 'Ghost Gal!'"

'Hoodie?'

I take a quick breath before going forward a few steps, Toru right side me.

It's just as expected really. The trees mostly block the little light shining off the moon. Either way, I strike up a flame for more. Fairly far into the woods, we encounter the usual jump scare attempt and hear the all too common screams from other teams. There are a few times where I feel Hagakure suddenly grab my arm but back off just as quickly when I turn to stare.

"Did I scare ya?" she asks, obviously trying to disguise her fear with an excuse of trying to scare me.

"For the third time, Hagakure, no. You did not. Please stop, just the same."

"I'll try."

"Whatever."

No sooner had I brushed that off, we hear the scraping sounds of wood, and I again feel her grab me. I try not to focus on it and instead try to pinpoint the sounds. Finally, my eyes slide to a dark bush where two cloak like arms slowly branch out and rise from the shrub around a black silhouette of a body with two thin yellow eyes and a glowing, fiery mouth.

"I am the spirit of the forest," our guest moans. "You have disturbed my ghostly slumber with your childish games. Now you will join your friends in my eternal prison."

Seriously? "Luna," I interrupt, recognizing our attacker. "Remind me again; am I supposed to be scared or offended?"

The silhouette slumps over in frustration. "I hate you," she mumbles before color returns to her and fills in her outline, showing her unamused expression.

"I mean, it was a nice approach. Maybe deepen your voice a bit."

"It worked on the last team," another girl explains from behind a tree, poking her head out to show Aonani, Kyor's sister.

"Wow," Hagakure breaths, finally letting go of me. "I didn't know you could do that."

"It's something I'm teaching myself actually," she smiles. "My quirk allows me to bend and solidify light. It was Luna's idea to work it so that it practically turns something invisible, saying she was inspired by you."

"Heh, I'm flattered! What else are you working on?"

"I'd like to get our flags now," I interrupt, wanting to just get what we needed and get out.

"Right! Sorry," Aonani nods. "We wouldn't wanna hold you back and make you fall behind. Plus, we should really hide for the next two." She waves for Luna to get back down to use her quirk on her again then waves at us. "Good luck and have fun, guys!"

"Sure."

"Thank you!" Hagakure waves back and follows me back down the path.

We walk in silence for about a minute until Hagakure decides to make small talk. "So... what do you think has been your most challenging task throughout the semester so far?"

I almost decide not to answer, but then that's just be rude. So I go with it. "I dunno. Either my internship or the practical exam against Mr. Carver. Both were pretty intense, but the internship had a life-or-death situation. So, yeah, my internship. What about you?"

"Mmm... I gotta say my practical exam. That was pretty hard! Especially knowing that I was invisible but the handcuffs weren't. I'm surprised Mr. Snipe didn't hear me coming!"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure a gun isn't a quirk. Had Mr. Snipe actually been going all out, he would've immediately shot Shoji in knees."

"Heh! Probably." She pauses. "Okay, do you wanna ask a question?"

Well I was bored anyways, and we haven't run into any more scarers so far, so might as well. "Who do you think you least get along with?"

"That's easy. Mineta is such a nuisance!"

"No argument there."

"Yeah. How about you? Do you know anyone you have problems wtih?"

"I can name a few, but the top of my list is Sicuto. You remember him, right? We fought in the Sports Festival."

"Oh. Yeah, he was pretty harsh. I just woulda thought Bakugo to be at the top after the fight you both broke into during training."

"You guys saw that?"

"Most everyone did. I know Shoji, Ninji, and I all stopped our game to watch for a bit."

"I'll admit, that was my fault. Something stupid I probably shouldn't have said to his face."

"Like what??"

"That he was weak for not tipping me off my platform."

She giggles. "Wow, you've got some nerve! And to Bakugo of all people! With your quirk, you must be really smug about stuff!"

Her bringing up my quirk sort of makes me remember one of the last things she and Ashido said about it way back after combat training. Yep, that it was pretty much meant for evil purposes. I say nothing and look back ahead.

"Did I say something wrong?" she asks in hesitant guilt.

"No, you're fine. There are just some times where I feel like my quirk is evil. I want to show the good it can do, but I feel like a hypocrite when I hurt people with it."

"Oh. I'm sorry... Well, if it helps, I don't think your quirk is evil in the slightest! It's really cool! I... I believe you'll do great things with it."

Her words make me feel a little better. I glance back over at her and flash a small smile. "Sure. Thanks."

I can see small blush glow on her cheeks as she stares down at her feet. After a few seconds, she loudly exhales. "Whew! I-is it hot out here, or is it just me?"

Slightly annoyed, I stare back ahead. "Now you're crossing it. Please stop."

"No really, I seriously think I smell smoke."

There's no way she could be joking about something like that. We stop short, and I lift my head to sniff a couple times. "Now that you mention it..."

It's definitely suspicious. I know a few of us students can burn things, but the scent is so strong like it's not as controlled as I know we would keep it.

"Think it's something for the exercise?"

"I greatly doubt it. They announced it as a test of courage, not a fire drill."

Hagakure whimpers. "I don't like it. What do we do?"

"Well, you're going to let go of arm,–"

"Sorry!" She instantly backs away.

"– and both of us are gonna keep level heads." I answer while summoning three flames and combine two to create a minion. "I'll get a quick sky view of the forest and see what's up."

I link the minion with the third flame and raise my hand into the air to send the ghost off. Before I get a good angle, Hagakure roughly tugs on my sleeve and whispers. "Seshin!"

"What?"

She reaches out a sleeve to point to something off the designated path. I can't see that well, so I extinguish my minion and float my one flame a couple feet in the direction of where my invisible companion is supposedly pointing.

Just ahead is a shape that looks like a person. I make out the details and see that their back is facing us and they're just standing there stiffly. It doesn't look like anyone we know from this angle.

"Well that's weird," I whisper. "Bet it's a scare attempt?"

"I don't think so. I don't recognize them.... I'm gonna see." Before I can say something against it, she waves. "Excuse me? Sir!"

". . ." He says nothing. He doesn't even move.

"Are... are you alright?"

". . ."

"Do you need help? The campsite near here can-"

"It's okay..." he quietly moans. We're both surprised. His voice sounds shaky and and scared. We both wait for him to say more.

"I- I'm sorry??"

"It's alright... Nothing is wrong...."

"Hagakure..." I interrupt. "Despite what he says, I don't think this guy's okay to be around."

The man continues talking to himself in a slightly panicked tone. "Everything is... fine!!" His last word seems to be low and distorted. His quivering arms suddenly fly to the his head to tightly clutch it. His breathing is getting louder and heavier as if he were having a panic attack.

"This is getting weird." I cautiously start to take a few steps backward, and Hagakure does the same. "I think we should leave."

The man is starting to jerk his head left and right, almost like he's desperately struggling with something. His breathing and words start to go faster and faster. "Nothing's wrong, nothing's wrong, nothing's wrong nothing's wrong nothing's wrong nothing's wrong nonthingnothingnothingNOTHINGNOTHINGNOTHING!!!" His hands finally fall loosely to his sides from his tilted head, and he again assures in a deep, distorted voice. "Everything's going to be fine..." Just as quickly, his body is engulfed in a pitch black substance like a dark skin suit.

With a loud, disturbing crack, his head suddenly turns a 180 to grimly stare at us with beaming red eyes in a white skull-looking face.

I quickly shake my head in shock and make a disgusted face at the sight. "Hagakure. Run." We stay frozen in place.

The monster's body then leaps around to match its head and two more arms emerge from its sides. It gets down on all six limbs and scurries at us, screaming a terrible sound all the way!

"TORU, MOVE!!!" I dive at her and tackle her to the side, just as the abomination leaps at us then grabs onto the tree behind us. We grunt from the fall, and I quickly whirl from my position to stare up at it scurrying up the tree like a lizard. "You okay?"

"Y-Yeah," she confirms through heavy breaths. "I'm fine."

"Good. We gotta get outta here now! We are not fighting that thing!"

"O-okay!" I get back to my feet and help Hagakure up to hers. As soon as I do, she instantly screams, "Seshin!!"

I whirl back around just in time to see the monster leap from its perch and swipe ferociously at me. I summon Inner Demon as quickly as I can and have it cover both of us. I can feel a sharp pain tearing across on my back as the beast takes the hit, but shares it with me. I recall and turn back to face the black terror.

It rears back on its legs and shows off its sharpened claws. It screams again and stares me down. Its skinny, muscular body looks like that of a Nomu, but it's lacking the exposed brains and wide, clueless eyes. It instead looks like something straight out of a horror movie.

I think about my next move. I can't fight it. I just got in trouble for recklessly doing so at my internship. That leaves me with flight. The best way to that is to phase and leave, but that would only work if it were just me. If I phase, I'm basically leaving Hagakure, who has no offense whatsoever. Dang it! Why am always in one of these situations where I'm face to face with a villain while I'm protecting someone?!

"Eyes." Its voice moans from its twitching head. "Se-shin. Seshin."

"It.. it knows your name?" Hagakure whimpers.

I'm definitely surprised as well. Am I supposed to know this guy? I don't have a plan of action, so I try to stall.

"Cool to know I'm making a name for myself." If he knows me, then he must know what I can do, so I ignite all my flames and have them surround us as a bluff. I'm not going to attack; it's just to threaten it a bit. "Who are you? How'd you find this place?!"

"Eyessss," it moans again. This thing might not be a Nomu, but it seems to have the brains of one.

"Yeah, we covered that. Where are you fr-?"

"Seshin. Must be broken. Must. Break. Jeamoko Seshin!"

"W-what??" I breathe. My dad??

The mutant screams again and comes charging at me in my dazed state.

"Seshin!!" Hagakure screams herself, pulling me out of my shock. I quickly cock my head, just as the pitch, black claw comes swiping at my ear.

I'm already ticked. I push Hagakure out of the way to give me space and phase for any more attacks. I feel strike after strike fly through me. I try to time it right and come back to my solid state and bring in Inner Demon for an attack. It swings a massive arm to strike, but the monster grabs it and holds it off with three of its hands and reaches out its forth at me. My beast uses its other arm to block its outstretched one. It screeches at me again.

"How do you know him?!" I demand while I have him captured. "Are you with the League of Villains?!"

It quickly gets mad and uses my demon's arms to lift itself and pushes its legs out to kick me down. My beast vanishes and I land on the ground on my already sore back.

I grunt in pain and open my eyes to the see the monster looming over me with its claws open and ready to strike. "To break Jeamoko. Means to kill. His son!"

"Seshin! Shine your flames on me and close your eyes!" I follow Hagakure's command and guard my vision. "Say 'cheese,' ugly!"

I can't say what exactly happens, but I can see light leak through my eyelids that comes from behind me where Hagakure is.

The creature hisses and staggers back in confusion. The light stops, and I open my eyes again. The creature is madly rubbing its eyes.

Not letting my guard down, I get back up and step backward a few paces to Hagakure's side. "What happened?"

"I just focused a beam of light at his face and blinded him for a bit, so we're not completely safe."

"You can do that?" I ask. I always thought her entire quirk was just straight up invisibility.

"Forget my quirk right now! I thought you just said we weren't gonna fight!"

"I had no choice. I-."

"EVERYONE IN CLASS A AND CLASS B!!" A voice suddenly shouts in my head. It's not Hagakure. It must be Mandalay of the Pussy Cats. "IN THE NAME OF THE PRO HERO, ERASER HEAD, YOU ARE GRANTED PERMISSION TO ENGAGE IN COMBAT!! I REPEAT: USE YOUR TRAINING!! YOU MAY FIGHT THESE VILLAINS!!""

"Well that's convenient," I comment. "Why would-?" I then remember the fire we just smelled. Surely that couldn't have been done by this thing here. That means there must be more villains in the forest. And if everybody's been given permission to fight, then... "Everyone else is in trouble as well. The camp's under attack!"

"Wait, you mean there's more?!?"

"Villains, yes. I don't know how many, but from what I've gathered from this ugly, I think they're with the League of Villains."

"What makes you think that?"

The beast suddenly shakes back to its gruesome self and screams at us. "Forget that! Watch out!"

At my command to Toru, the monster makes a mad rush, dashing left and right and daring us to take a single step. It seems to intentionally blend in with night, sprinting around surrounding trees and even closing its eyes to hide their gleam. I'm ready this time and summon my three minions for one good counterattack. I follow its random path, waiting for it to get closer and take a shot. It's so fast, and I get tripped up, glaring at the wrong tree until it darts out on different one and to another.

Finally, it runs past another trunk to one past then back to the first. I pull back my hand to ready the command and wait. My heart is pounding madly at the most deadly three cup game of all time and practically feel a terrifying presence snarl at me. Hagakure screams again, and I hear something instantly scrap against the tree bark behind me.

In the ten milliseconds I have, I see flashes of red in the corner of my vision, and I whirl around at a large black claw stretching out to my face! Just like back in the USJ, I see everything in slow motion. A hideous hissing sound screeches at me, but I'm focusing my minions the wrong way! I can't react in time! Someone! I can't do this! Please help!! I push myself but feel nothing new in those seconds! I grit my teeth and close my eyes, ready for a fatal strike.

"Hyaaahhhh!!!" A new voice suddenly yells, and a foot soars into the monster's side, kicking it away and up against a tree. They land, and I open my eyes to glance up at our rescuer.

"Samae!" I recognize him, as he stretches and flexes his leg from the force, looking down at the monster, who scrambles back up. How did he get here though? Isn't he supposed to have been the one of last people to come in? Remembering his quirk, I stare around us. Of course, the night! With all this darkness and shade of the trees, where can't he go!

I re-ready my flames and quickly nod to Samae. "Thanks, Samae. How do we help?"

"By staying outta my way!" he shoots. "Put away your fire and back off! This sucker is mine." I'm slightly surprised as the two furiously stare each other down. The monster screeches, but Samae smiles grimly.

Even though it's dark, there's a spine-chilling atmosphere among them. Samae's fingers flex as if he has his claws right now, and his sharp teeth reflect the little moonlight there is. But the scariest thing about him, about this entire scenario even, is the predatory hunger shining in his wild eyes.

Stay tuned for A Change in Perspective: Hikari Samae