Ren lowered his eyes, just slightly.
"…It's personal, sensei," he said quietly."I can't tell you."
The words hung in the air like a guillotine.
Aizawa didn't react at first.He didn't shout.He didn't threaten.
He just stared.
A long, heavy, suffocating silence.
Then—
Aizawa stepped closer until he stood right in front of Ren.
"Personal," he repeated slowly."That's the kind of answer students give when they don't want to admit they're in danger."
Ren's breath tightened.
Aizawa leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper:
"Or when they're doing something that will put everyone else in danger."
Ren clenched his fists behind his back where Aizawa couldn't see.
"I'm not hurting anyone," Ren said firmly.
Aizawa's eyes didn't leave his.
"Not yet."
He reached out—fast—Ren flinched—
—but Aizawa simply took Ren's wrist, turning it slightly.
"You're shaking," he said.
Ren cursed internally.
Aizawa released his hand.
"Listen," he said quietly, and for the first time Ren heard genuine concern mixed with suspicion."You're talented. You're smart. Your quirk is dangerous. And today… you showed a way of thinking no first-year should ever show."
Ren's heart stopped for a beat.
Aizawa continued:
"You talk about 'cutting off the root.'You talk like someone who's been studying villains intimately.You talk like someone who knows Mastermind's ideology better than we do."
Ren swallowed—hard.
Aizawa's eyes narrowed.
"So when you tell me your contacts are 'personal'…I need to ask one thing."
Aizawa stepped so close Ren felt the man's breath on his face.
"Ren," he whispered,"are you connected to villains?"
The words hit Ren like a punch.
And before he could answer—
A faint vibration buzzed under his pillow.
Ren froze.
Aizawa's head turned—slowly—toward the sound.
The phone.
Dabi.
The silence shattered.
Aizawa's hand moved.
Fast.
Straight toward the pillow.
The phone buzzed again.
Aizawa's hand was inches from the pillow when Ren suddenly blurted out:
"Okay! There's a girl I like!"
Aizawa froze mid-reach.
Silence.
Even the phone stopped vibrating—as if Dabi himself went, bro what?
Aizawa slowly straightened, giving Ren the most deadpan, exhausted, I'm-too-old-for-this look.
"…A girl," he repeated.
Ren nodded seriously.
"Yes. A girl."
Aizawa watched him for a long moment.Too long.Ren felt sweat sliding down his spine.
"What does that have to do with you hiding things from a pro hero?" Aizawa asked.
Ren rubbed the back of his neck, acting embarrassed on purpose.
"Well, sensei… she's not from U.A., okay? She's… from outside. And if the class knew, they'd tease me forever."
Aizawa blinked.
Ren silently prayed he looked pathetic enough.
Finally—finally—Aizawa sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I swear…" he muttered, "I did not sign up to deal with teenage romance."
Ren almost collapsed with relief.
Aizawa stepped back, his suspicion fading but not disappearing.
"Fine," he said. "I won't pry—for now. But if anything dangerous is going on, Ren… you tell me. Immediately."
Ren nodded quickly."Yes, sensei. Got it. No danger. Just… an embarrassing crush."
"Hm." Aizawa headed for the door. "Get some rest."
The moment the door clicked shut—
Ren exhaled sharply.
He yanked the pillow up and grabbed the phone.
Dabi was still on the line.
Ren whispered into it:
"Dabi—you almost got me killed!"
Dabi's voice came through, annoyed and amused:
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. But—you told a pro hero you like a girl?Bro, that's the lamest cover I've ever heard."
Ren flopped onto the bed, exhausted.
"At least it worked," he muttered.
Ren had just ended the call with Dabi, laying back on his bed, finally catching his breath—
When suddenly—
BANG!
His dorm door flew open.
"RENNNNNNNNNN!!"Mineta burst inside, eyes sparkling with pure gossip-fueled energy.
Ren sat up, horrified."…Mineta? How long were you—?"
Mineta pointed dramatically.
"I KNEW IT! I heard you earlier!You like a girrrrrl!And she's not even from U.A.! You romantic criminal!"
Ren's soul left his body.
Before he could speak—Mineta was already sprinting down the hallway screaming like a siren.
"GUYS!!! RENN LIKES A GIRL!!AND SHE'S FROM OUTSIIIIDE U.A.!!"
Ren: "MINETAAAAA—!!!"
He chased after him but it was too late.
Doors opened one by one like a chain reaction.
Kirishima: "BROOOO YOU DIDN'T TELL US?! THAT'S SO MANLY!!"
Denki: "Outside U.A.? Is she a model? A vigilante? A villain?—WAIT, IS SHE A VILLAIN?!"
Sero: "Dude, you have lore now."
Mina:sparkly eyes "What's her name?? How cute is she?? When did it start??"
Midoriya had already pulled out a notebook."Ren! Congratulations! W-what's her quirk? What are her traits? How did you meet? Can you analyze the compatibility between—"
Bakugo stomped out of his room, pissed for no reason."DAMN NERD! YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST QUIETLY GET A GIRL LIKE IT'S NOTHING?! HOW?!"
Todoroki, calm but deeply confused:"…So this is why you looked tired in class."
Iida pushed his glasses up dramatically."REN, YOU MUST INFORM US OF IMPORTANT LIFE EVENTS! IT IS OUR DUTY AS CLASSMATES TO SUPPORT YOU!"
Ren covered his face, dying inside."PLEASE. STOP. ALL OF YOU."
Then—like a boss entering after the chaos—
Yaoyorozu stepped forward."Ren… if you need advice, we will support you. Just tell us honestly—who is she?"
Everyone leaned in.
Ren froze.
Sweat drop.Internal screaming.Brain.exe not responding.
"…she's… uh…"
The entire class waited.
Ren felt the universe judging him.
"…someone."
The class:
"BOOOOOOOO!!!"
The class was still yelling, crowding around Ren like hungry gossip piranhas—
When suddenly—
RING! RING! RING!
Ren's phone lit up.
Caller ID: Akira
Ren's heart dropped.
NO. NOT NOW. ANYONE BUT HER.
Before he could react—
Mina snatched the phone."Ohohooo~ is THIS HER?!"
Ren: "Mina—DON'T—!!"
She already pressed speaker.
A calm, cool, incredibly dangerous-sounding girl's voice came through:
Akira: "Ren. Your support gear is ready.Where are you? Come to the usual spot."
Dead. Silence.
Ren went pale.
Kirishima: "BRO… 'usual spot'?? HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON?!"
Denki: "Support gear? She works with him? She sounds… kinda scary hot…"
Jirō (blushing slightly): "Her voice is… really pretty."
Mina: "OH MY GOD REN YOU'RE DATING A COOL GIRL."
Midoriya scribbling notes at 300 km/h:"Support specialist… unusual requests… secret meeting spot… HIGH compatibility score—!!"
Todoroki: "So this is why you couldn't tell us."
Bakugo pointing an angry finger:"YOU WERE HIDING A BADASS GIRLFRIEND?!"
Ren: "SHE ISN'T MY GIRL—!! She's just—!! She works on my gear—!! THIS IS A MISUNDERSTANDING—!!"
But the phone was still on speaker.
Akira: "Ren? …Are you with… other people?"
Everyone leaned closer to the phone and yelled:
"HELLOOOOO AKIRA-SAN!! WE'RE REN'S CLASSMATES!!"
Ren's soul left his body again.
Akira paused.
Then said in a dangerously calm voice:
"…Ren.We will talk about this."
CLICK. She hung up.
Ren stared at the phone like it was a bomb.
Kirishima: "Bro, she sounds like she could kill you."
Mina: "Or marry you."
Bakugo: "Same thing."
Ren slumped to his knees.
"…I'm dead."
Ren slowly turned toward Mineta.
Very. Slowly.
Shadow covering half his face.A smile that wasn't a smile.Veins popping on his forehead.
"…Mineta," Ren said quietly.
Mineta froze like a caught mouse."H-Huh…? Y-Yes, Ren… buddy… pal… friend…?"
Ren's aura went DARK.
"THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU, MINETA—YOU. IDIOT."
Mineta screamed and ran for his life.
"AAAAHHHHHHH!! I'M SORRYYYY!! I WON'T SPREAD ANY MORE RUMORS!! I WON'T EVEN TALK!! I'LL BECOME SILENT LIKE A ROCK!!"
Ren chased him down the hallway, eyes glowing with fury.
The rest of Class A watched like it was a nature documentary.
Kaminari: "Bro is dead. Rest in pieces, Mineta."
Kirishima: "Honestly… deserved. He leaked classified feelings, man."
Sero: "At least we got entertainment."
Mina: "Ren's villain arc is starting—!!"
Midoriya, taking notes:"Ren's speed increases dramatically under emotional stress… interesting…"
Bakugo: "Tch. If Ren doesn't kill Mineta, I will."
They all watched Mineta running in circles screaming for help, Ren chasing like a predator.
Finally Ren cornered him.
Mineta trembled."I—I'm sorry! I thought it was romantic gossip! I didn't know she'd call! I didn't know the whole class would scream in the phone! I didn't know she'd sound like someone who can kill with a spoon—!!"
Ren cracked his knuckles.
"You're going to apologize to Akira too."
Mineta collapsed.
"NOOOOOOO—!!! SHE'LL KILL ME FASTER THAN YOU!!"
Few Minutes Later…
Mineta lay on the floor like a defeated NPC, curled up and whimpering.
Ren rubbed his temples, breathing hard.His anger faded…only to be replaced by pure dread.
Because now he had to go meet Akira.
And she was definitely pissed.
He could already imagine the look she'd give him.
The rest of Class A stood around watching him like he was about to walk into his own funeral.
Kirishima: "You okay, bro?"
Ren: dead voice "No."
Denki: "She didn't sound angry… she sounded worse. Calm."
Sero: "Yeah, that scary calm when girls are about to murder you."
Mina: "Ohoho Ren, just tell us the truth~ are you two close-close? Or close?"
Ren glared."None of your damn business."
Midoriya nodded, sympathetic but curious."If she's your support specialist… you must've worked together a lot…"
Todoroki tilted his head."She sounded… attached."
Ren: "…Shut up."
Bakugo clicked his tongue."Oi. If you're gonna meet her, fix your damn face. You look like you're about to cry."
"Thanks, Bakugo. Very helpful."
Bakugo smirked."I TRY."
Ren sighed deeply and started toward the exit.
But then—
A voice came from behind:
"Ren."
He turned.
It was Yaoyorozu.
She stepped closer, gentle and sincere.
"Don't worry. If she's important to you—even just as a friend—we'll support you."
The class nodded behind her.
Even Bakugo muttered something like,"Just don't die."
Ren exhaled, grateful but embarrassed.
"…Thanks. I'll be back soon."
He walked out of the dorm.
As soon as the door closed—
The class whispered in unison:
"We're following him, right?"
Kirishima: "Obviously."
Denki: "Stealth mission!!"
Jiro: "This isn't right… but I really wanna see her."
Bakugo: "If he gets in danger, I'm blowing the girl up."
Todoroki: "Let's go."
Outside the Dorm
Ren pulled out his phone.
A single new message from Akira:
"Come. We need to talk."
He gulped.
"…I'm screwed."