"Aren't you going to get yourself spruced up?" Nemuri asks as she enters Hibiki and Aizawa's shared 'apartment.'

"Why would I? My whole body is covered with my hero suit, so nobody is going to see me."

"Oh. That's right. You wear your helmet down so much at the school that I forgot," Nemuri sighs then perks up. "Is Fatgum coming to pick you up later?"

"Yep, we're heading to the billboard charts together," Hibiki responds, sitting on the couch beside Eri and ruffling through her bag for her phone charger.

Nemuri affectionately pats Eri's head before sitting on the other side of her. "So... does that mean you're going public with your relationship? And where's Shota?"

"Yes, and I don't know. He never seems to be where I am unless he's going to bed. He's avoiding me, and I don't know why."

Nemuri hums, watching Eri color in her coloring book on the table in front of them. "It's cause you're dating Fatgum."

"Huh? Why's that?"

"You didn't know?"

"Know what?"

"Shota, he obviously has a thing for you. I don't think he realized it till recently though. That's likely why he's avoiding you."

Hibiki freezes in her bag shuffling. Her eyes widen, her mouth slightly opened but not able to get any words out. Nemuri notices her frozen form and tilts her head.

"What...?" Hibiki gasps out after a minute.

"I said that Shota likes you. Figured you knew."

"I–what...?"

"Shota. Likes. You. You okay?"

"He..."

"Yeah, I figured you knew. I thought you were dating Fatgum because you rejected Shota?"

"What?! No! I-I no! He never said anything!" Hibiki gasps, clutching her pained chest. "If I knew I wouldn't hav–" I wouldn't have what?

Nemuri blinks, looking at Hibiki's pained expression. "You... really didn't know... I'm sorry! I didn't know! Me and my big mouth... I'm just gonna go! I gotta get ready for tonight!" She jumps up and races out the door. "Forget I said anything!"

Hibiki tries to get up to go after her but fumbles, her legs becoming jelly. She throws her hand out finding the nearest thing to hold onto. Her hand slips on the chair and falls face first into it.

"Hibi-san!" Eri shouts, jumping off the couch and kneeling by the hero worriedly. "Hibi-san! Are you okay?!"

Hibiki groans, pushing herself up and rubbing her nose. "Y-Yeah... I'm-I'm fine, Erichan. My chest just hurts a little... and now my face." She sighs, leaning her head against the chair. "Things just feel a little different now..."

~~~

"Babe!" Tai calls out as he sees her exit the gate of the dorms.

"Hey, Tai," Echo responds, returning the hug he rushes up to give her.

"You okay? You don't sound yourself. You're not sick or anything?"

"No... I'm fine. Just... got told something that's thrown me off my groove," she sighs.

"Oh, okay. Everything alright then?"

"It will be. Now, let's go get our new rankings."

"Yeah! Oh," he looks around. "Where's little Erichan?"

"She's being watched by Togata," she explains. "Plus his two friends."

"Aww," he pouts. "I was hoping she was coming with us."

"Eri needs to remain on the down low too. She can't be getting publicity."

"Ah, right."

The two get into the larger than usual car, to fit Tai's Fatgum size, and head off to the stadium that's holding the hero billboard chart ceremony.

Once they arrive, reporters flock to the car, recognizing it as Fatgum's vehicle. The chauffer stops the car, getting out to open the door for them. Fatgum steps out first with a big smile, waving to everyone.

"Fatgum!" they call out before all talking over the other with questions.

He turns back to the car and holds out a hand. All the reporters perk up, not expecting someone else to be in the car. Echo takes Fatgum's hand, and he helps her out of the large car. The reporters go wild once their eyes land on who he's with.

"Echo?!"

Echo smiles, even if they can't tell, and waves. "Heyo!"

"Echo, are the two of you dating?!"

Fatgum grins, placing his hand over Echo's back. "She's all mine!"

Echo nods, looking up at Fatgum as he looks down at her. "Yes."

Some reporters look happy while others look to be confused or in thought.

"One of the shortest and tallest heroes together?" one of them mumbles.

Echo feels an irk mark form on her head at the comment, proceeding to drag Fatgum inside and ignoring all their further questions.

~~~

The stage lights up and the ceremony begins.

"Number 10, has slipped in rank but won't be defeated, Equipped Hero: Yoroi Musha!" the woman announces. He gets up and heads up on stage. "Number 9, from the clean and shiny commercial, it's everyone's favorite Laundry Hero: Wash! Number 8, in a huge leap up the charts, it's Kamui Woods! Number 7, from the orthodox school of manliness comes a regular in the top 10, Shield Hero: Crust! Number 6, this bunny's spirit is infectious, Rabbit Hero: Miruko! Number 5, check out the huge increase of this mysterious ninja's solved cases, Ninja Hero: Edgeshot! Number 4, a heroine who likes to keep to herself that's quickly raised to the top as the number one female hero, the Reverblicating* Hero: Echo!"

"Go get 'em, babe!" Fatgum cheers with a fist pump.

Echo chuckles as she makes her way onstage with a wave.

"He's currently on hiatus, but he's still ranked highly with the number one approval rating this round, it's Fiber Hero: Best Jeanist! We're all hoping for his return as soon as possible. Number 2, he does things his own way which is how he reached the charts with lightning speed, Winged Hero: Hawks!"

"Makes me sounds like such a rebel," Hawks huffs.

"That's because you are," Echo scoffs amused.

He grins back at her.

"Finally," the woman announces and the lights go dark for the number one's dramatic entrance. "He's been the temporary number one, but today he'll inherit that sacred spot after all this time. Flame Hero: Endeavor!"

Everyone in the crowd cheers as everyone stands up on stage. They wait until the cheers have calmed down before the President from the chair comes on stage to speak.

"We chose to make the charts more of an event today because we feel this time is a critical juncture for heroes," she begins. "It's been about three months since All Might's retirement, and I know that there are some of you who feel we are still lacking an icon, but the heroes will guide us into the future are standing before you, so let's put our faith in them."

"So how does it feel to finally be at the top?" Hawks whispers to Endeavor.

Endeavor glares down at the bird man in annoyance as Echo does the same for him talking. Hawks takes the hint and 'zips' his lips closed.

"How about we hear a few words from everyone?" the female announcer from before returns, starting at number 10.

Echo is quick to notice Hawks getting more and more annoyed by each speaker's words.

"Hawks, I swear you're starting to make me wanna punch you," Echo whispers loud enough for him to hear.

He turns to her with a grin, 'unzipping' his lips. "You know, that might just turn me on." He wiggles his eyebrows before zipping his lips again.

Echo rolls her eyes though he can't tell.

"And Echo, do you have anything to say?" the woman comes up to her. "Any comment on being the number one female hero?"

Echo awkwardly chuckles. "I wasn't trying to become number one honestly. I typically work at night, so I didn't realize how many I saved to get to this point. Though it likely helps that I can clone myself to save more people I guess."

"Come on guys, who wants to hear about this canned crap? Stain maybe?" Hawks cuts her off.

Echo's eye twitches as everyone remains silent.

"I like this guy. He's fun," Miruko comments.

"More like incredibly obnoxious," Echo scoffs, crossing her arms.

"As always you enjoy causing a commotion," Edgeshot huffs.

"Of course he does, he's kind of a whore for attention," Echo continues.

"I just have a problem holding back sometimes," he claims, walking over to forcefully take the mic from the lady. "Okay, so... if we're talking about popularity, Best Jeanist is ranked at the top because the boost he got from being on hiatus." He flaps his wings and lifts himself up slowly above everyone. "I'm runner up thanks, Echo is third, Edgeshot is fourth, and Endeavor eats in at fifth... I'll skip the rest. To be honest with you, I think the approval rating is the most important number right now." As he flaps, lots of his red feathers are rained down toward the stage, making Echo's eye twitch in anger. "Isn't about time the charts were overhauled. Don't you think we need to change how we do things?" Echo reaches out and snags a few of the dropped feathers, squeezing them harshly. It makes Hawks pause in his speech, flinching a bit.

"Get down here you overgrown chicken!" Echo speaks up.

He ignores her and continues. "Our great symbol is no more."

"Dumbass..." Echo sighs, ignoring his speech and moving closer to Endeavor to light Hawk's wings on fire from the radiating flames Endeavor always gives off.

"Ow! Okay okay, I'm done," Hawks says, returning to the stage. "Now let's hear from number 1 who has a lower approval rating than I do."

Endeavor snags the mic from Hawks' hands as Echo snatches Hawks' foot and throws him to the floor.

Endeavor brings the mic to his lips. "Since this child decided to fan the flames, I won't say much. So instead, just watch what I do."

Hawks begins to sarcastically clap as Echo thunks the back of his head.

~~~

The event is now over and Hawks, Echo, and Endeavor are in one of the backrooms. Her helmet is down, so Hawks can see how annoyed she is with him.

"Sorry if I threw you for a loop man!" Hawks apologizes as Endeavor is currently suspending him in his fists by the front of Hawks' jacket.

"What the hell were you thinking, boy?!" Endeavor asks outraged.

Hawks has a shit eating grin on his face as he responds. "Everyone just kept spouting the same normal boring stuff, ya know? Felt like somebody needed to make an impact."

"You made things hostile especially with the Stain comment and even added the word overhaul later which was a stupid word choice. Out of all the words you could've used that's what you use?" Echo huffs.

"Yeah, yeah, my bad. I'm not as big a word nerd as you are," Hawks retorts with a lazy gaze.

Endeavor's flames go down. "You were trying to test me."

"Of course I wasn't. I was helping you. Turned out well, right? It's not like I'm an All Might super fan or anything, and I sure never wanted to become him." He continues his speech, explaining himself.

"I'm leaving. Fat is waiting on me," she says, turning to leave the room.

"Fat?" Endeavor questions.

"Uh, yeah, Fatgum, we're sorta dating? Duh," Echo scoffs, rolling her eyes and forming her helmet back over her head.

"That large hero in yellow?" Endeavor questions. "Isn't he a bit... large compared to you?"

Hawks begins to laugh. Hard. So much so that tears are rolling down his face.

Echo's face explodes into redness. "My sex life is none of your fucking business!"

Endeavor freezes as his face turns pink. He awkwardly coughs. "That's-That's not what I meant, but, uh..."

Echo face turns pinker now in embarrassment, though they can't tell, as she quickly spins around and flusteredly stomps out the room, slamming the door behind her. "I'm-I'm done with the two of you!"

Hawks continues to laugh, keeling over and holding his stomach. "HAHAHAH! ENDEAVOR!!"

"Shut-Shut up! I didn't mean it that way, and you know it!"

Echo finds Fatgum who's talking to a reporter. She slinks up behind him and slides her hand over his pointer finger, getting his attention. "Let's get outta here. I'm ready to leave."

"You okay? How'd the talk with Hawks and Endeavor go?"

Echo glances at the reporter. "I'd rather not talk about it..."

Fatgum looks from Echo to the reporter and smiles. "Well, it looks like my lady is ready to go, so I'm gonna have to cut this talk short."

The reporter says that it's fine before leaving the couple alone.

Echo sighs, slumping into Fatgum's side. "I'm tired of dealing with childish heroes. Yours?"

"We'll pick up some to-go then head to mine?"

"Sounds perfect."

...~~~...

*Reverblicating= a combination of 'reverberating' and 'replicating'