The dim lobby felt heavier with every passing moment, the oppressive silence broken only by the occasional creak of the building or the muffled sound of voices from the kitchen. Bakugo leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, watching Shoji and Jirou sit near the door.

"You've been awfully quiet, Earphone Jack," Bakugo said, smirking.

Jirou's violet eyes flicked up at him, her face unreadable. "I'm thinking."

"Sure you are," Bakugo teased, "Thinking about that idiot Denki?"

Jirou's face flushed, and she glanced away, tugging at her earphone jacks. "Shut up, Bakugo."

"Ha!" Bakugo laughed, his tone mocking but not cruel. "No way you don't like that dumbass. You've been glued to him ever since we got here."

"I care about him," Jirou shot back defensively, her voice sharp but tinged with embarrassment. "He's my friend."

"Right," Bakugo drawled sarcastically, leaning forward with a grin. "Just a friend."

"Leave her alone," Shoji interjected, his calm voice cutting through the banter. He adjusted his mask, turning to Jirou. "We've all been through a lot. Whatever you feel, it's okay. Right now, we need to focus on getting out of here."

Jirou nodded, grateful for Shoji's intervention.

The Unseen Shadow

They sat in a strained silence for a moment, the weight of their situation pressing on them.

Shoji suddenly stiffened, his multiple arms tensing. "Wait."

Bakugo and Jirou looked up at him sharply.

"What is it?" Jirou asked.

"I hear footsteps," Shoji murmured, his voice low. "And... I see a shadow."

"Where?" Bakugo demanded, his hands already sparking with explosions.

Shoji pointed toward the edge of the lobby, near the far window. "But there's no one there," he said, his brows furrowed.

"That doesn't make any sense," Jirou muttered, her earphone jacks twitching as she tried to pick up any sound.

Suddenly, a soft voice broke the silence.

"Hello?"

The three of them jumped, turning toward the sound. A figure began to shimmer into view—a faint outline against the darkened window.

"Hagakure?" Shoji asked, recognizing the voice.

The outline solidified slightly as the invisible girl's voice replied, tinged with fear. "Yeah, it's me."

Shoji tilted his head. "You're back... Invisible. Why?"

Hagakure hesitated before answering, her voice quiet. "I don't want them to see me."

"Who?" Jirou asked, stepping closer to the window.

"They came last week," Hagakure whispered. Her words sent a chill through the air. "Random people. I was outside getting some air when they arrived. They didn't see me, but they did something to the door."

Bakugo's eyes narrowed. "What did they do?"

"I don't know exactly," Hagakure admitted, her voice trembling. "But it wasn't just the door. They... they cursed this whole place. Everyone was asleep, and I couldn't warn you. I saw Mineta and Ojiro for a second, but Ojiro left really fast. Like he knew something was coming."

A Flicker of Hope

Jirou pressed her hand to the window, her expression softening as she looked at Hagakure's faint form. "Toru, that's incredible. You've given us a clue—hope. We didn't know what was keeping us here until now."

Hagakure's outline shifted as though she were nodding. "I'm not giving up on you. I'm going to figure out how to get you out of there, even if it's the last thing I do."

Jirou felt a surge of determination. She smiled faintly, her hand still pressed against the window. "Good job, Toru."

The moment was interrupted by a loud thud.

Jirou's heart skipped a beat, but then she realized it was Hagakure placing her own hand against the glass. For the first time, they felt closer to breaking free.

The Plan Forms

Bakugo stepped forward, his fierce gaze locking on Hagakure's faint outline. "You said these people cursed the place, huh? Did you see anything that might give us a clue—some way to undo it?"

Hagakure hesitated. "I... I don't know. I've been trying to figure it out. But I'll keep looking. There has to be something."

"Then keep at it," Bakugo growled. "If they think they can trap me, they've got another thing coming."

Shoji, still by the door, turned to Jirou. "We'll stay here and monitor things. If Hagakure can find a way in or get more information, we'll be ready."

Jirou nodded, her heart lighter than it had been in days. "We'll get through this. Together."

Bakugo crossed his arms, his expression fierce. "Damn right, we will."

To Be Continued...