Hello everyone!
I have to say, seeing us maintain a spot in the top 5 WebNovel rankings has me absolutely buzzing! I know, I know - staying at #1 might have been a bit of wishful thinking on my part. chuckles while fidgeting with a pencil But honestly? The fact that so many of you are still here, still enjoying these characters and their stories... that means more than any ranking could.
Pulls my Stitch onesie hood up, getting cozy in my writing chair
You know what's funny? When I really think about what I love writing most, what makes me lose track of time until I look up and realize it's 3 AM again... it's always the quiet moments. The character interactions. The way relationships build and evolve. The little gestures that say more than words ever could.
Leans forward conspiratorially
Speaking of relationships... grins I might have something new brewing. You see, I've been working on a new story - "Oshi no Ko: Where Our Blue Is." It's live right now, actually! Two chapters up and ready to read. I'd love to know what you think about my take on Ai's story. You can find it right on my profile after this bonus chapter.
Settles back, pulling my notebook closer
But enough about that! You're here for our regulars, aren't you? For Izuku and Camie and Momo and all the others who've made this journey so special. Let's dive into this bonus chapter, shall we?
Flips open notebook with a flourish
Oh! And before I forget - thank you. Really. Whether you've been here since the beginning or just joined us recently, you've made this story what it is. Every comment, every theory, every reaction... they mean the world to me.
Picks up pen
Now then... let's see what our heroes are up to today...
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Camie leaned forward in her seat, elbows propped on knees, as she watched Izuku and Manga exit the arena. The crowd's cheers echoed through the stadium, but her focus remained locked on Izuku's retreating form. The burns on his arms caught her attention—minor, but still there. He'd let himself get hit.
"He held back," Momo said beside her, voicing Camie's exact thoughts.
"Yeah. That's Izu for you." Camie sat back, a small smile playing on her lips. "Could've ended it in seconds, but let Manga have his moment."
Momo nodded, her ponytail bobbing slightly with the motion. Her fingers tapped against her thigh—a nervous habit Camie had noticed before. The girl seemed more tense than usual.
"Our match is after Bakugo and Tokoyami," Momo said.
"Yup." Camie popped the 'p' sound, stretching her arms overhead. "Gonna be lit."
Momo hesitated, then turned to face her directly. "Would you mind if we spoke privately before then? There's something I'd like to discuss."
Camie's eyebrows rose slightly, but she shrugged. "Sure thing, fam."
The two girls stood, excusing themselves from their classmates. As they left, Present Mic's voice boomed through the stadium, announcing the next match between Todoroki and Iida. Camie caught a glimpse of Hitomi entering the arena, her dual-colored hair gleaming under the sun, her expression cold and focused.
"Ice princess looks ready to freeze some engines," Camie remarked as they walked down the corridor.
Momo didn't respond, leading the way to one of the private waiting rooms. The door closed behind them with a soft click, sealing them in a bubble of quiet away from the roaring crowd.
The room itself was sparse—a couple of benches, a water cooler, a small monitor showing the matches. Momo walked to the center of the room, then turned to face Camie. Her posture straightened, shoulders squared, chin raised slightly.
Camie leaned against the wall, arms crossed loosely. "So, what's up?"
"Yesterday," Momo began, "you told me I couldn't be a burden on Izuku."
Camie's expression didn't change. "I did."
"At the time, I didn't have an answer for you." Momo's dark eyes locked with Camie's light brown ones. "I do now."
On the monitor behind them, ice erupted across the arena floor as Todoroki launched her opening attack against Iida. Neither girl spared it a glance.
"I'm listening."
"I'm going to defeat you in our match." Momo's declaration hung in the air between them. "And afterward, I'm going to ask Izuku on a date."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then Camie's lips curved into a smile—not mocking, but genuinely amused and perhaps a little impressed.
"Bold," she said. "I respect that."
Momo blinked, clearly having expected more resistance.
"You're not... upset?" she asked.
Camie pushed off from the wall, taking a few steps toward Momo. "Why would I be? You want to prove yourself. That's exactly what I was asking for."
"I don't understand." Momo's brow furrowed. "I just told you I'm going to try to date Izuku."
"Yeah." Camie nodded her head, her blonde waves bouncing with the movement. "You told me you're gonna try to earn a place beside him."
On the screen, Iida's engines flared as he attempted to close the distance to Todoroki, only to be met with another wave of ice. The crowd's reaction rumbled through the walls.
"I already told you I've never tried to keep Izu to myself," Camie continued, moving to the water cooler and filling two cups. She offered one to Momo, who took it after a moment's hesitation. "That'd be like trying to keep the sun from shining on other people."
"Then what did you mean yesterday?" Momo asked, her fingers tightening around the paper cup.
Camie took a sip of water before answering. "Exactly what I said. Izu gives everything he has to the people he cares about. His time, his attention, his support." Her eyes grew serious. "He'll break himself helping others. I won't let him break for someone who won't do the same for him."
Momo stared down at her cup, absorbing Camie's words. "And you think I'd be a burden."
"I think," Camie said carefully, "that you haven't shown yet if you'd be a help or a burden. That's why we're here, right?"
The monitor showed Iida finally reaching Todoroki, only for his kick to be caught in a wall of ice. Todoroki's expression remained impassive as she encased more of Iida's body in frost.
Momo raised her eyes. "I'm not weak."
"Never said you were." Camie finished her water and crushed the cup in her hand. "You're smart as hell. Definitely smarter than me and probably smarter than Izu. But that's not what this is about."
"Then what is it about?"
"It's about whether you can stand beside him when things get real." Camie's usual slang disappeared, her voice taking on a rare seriousness. "At USJ, you froze. Not judging—it was scary shit. But Izu didn't freeze. He ran toward danger."
Momo flinched slightly, the memory still raw. "I know."
"And that's who he is." Camie's eyes softened. "He'll always run toward danger. So the people around him need to either keep up or get out of the way."
The monitor flashed as Todoroki unleashed her final attack, completely immobilizing Iida in ice. Midnight's voice announced Todoroki as the winner.
"I'm not asking you to be perfect," Camie continued. "I'm asking if you can push past your limits when it counts. If you can be someone he can rely on, not someone he has to worry about."
Momo set her untouched water aside, her expression hardening with resolve. "That's exactly what I intend to prove today."
Camie grinned, her usual playfulness returning. "Then bring it, fam. No holding back."
"Of course." For the first time since entering the room, Momo allowed herself a small smile.
The door opened suddenly, revealing Hitomi Todoroki, still breathing heavily from her match. Her heterochromatic eyes widened slightly at finding the two girls there.
"Sorry," she said, her voice cool and composed despite her obvious fatigue. "I didn't realize this room was occupied."
"No worries, ice princess," Camie said, waving dismissively. "We were just finishing up."
Todoroki nodded stiffly, her dual-colored hair slightly disheveled from the match. "Bakugo and Tokoyami are about to start. After that, it's your turn."
"Thanks for the heads-up," Momo said politely.
As they moved to leave, Camie paused beside Todoroki. "Nice match out there. Engines never stood a chance."
A ghost of a smile touched Todoroki's lips. "Thank you."
The three girls made their way back to the stands just as Present Mic announced the start of the next match. Bakugo stood at one end of the arena, his characteristic scowl firmly in place. Across from him, Tokoyami's bird-like head tilted downward, Dark Shadow hovering protectively.
"This should be interesting," Momo murmured as they found their seats. "Tokoyami's Dark Shadow is powerful, but Bakugo's explosions create light—a natural advantage."
Camie nodded, settling in beside her. The tension from their private conversation seemed to have dissipated, replaced by the shared excitement of watching their classmates compete.
The match began with Tokoyami immediately sending Dark Shadow forward in a sweeping attack. Bakugo countered with a series of explosions that lit up the arena, forcing Dark Shadow to recoil.
"Tokoyami needs to end this quickly," Momo observed. "The longer the fight goes on, the more light Bakugo creates, weakening Dark Shadow."
"Smart strategy would be hit-and-run," Camie agreed. "But firecracker won't let him."
Sure enough, Bakugo pressed forward aggressively, his explosions growing larger and more frequent. Tokoyami retreated, trying to maintain distance, but Bakugo's mobility proved superior.
A particularly large explosion sent Tokoyami skidding backward. Dark Shadow shrank visibly, the light from Bakugo's attacks diminishing its size and strength.
"He's toast," Camie said, leaning back. "No way to win once Dark Shadow gets that small."
Momo nodded, her eyes never leaving the arena. She studied Bakugo's movements intently, as if mentally cataloging his techniques for future reference.
The end came quickly. Bakugo closed the distance with a series of smaller, controlled explosions, then unleashed a massive blast that sent Tokoyami flying out of bounds. The crowd erupted as Midnight declared Bakugo the winner.
"And that's that," Camie said, stretching her arms. "Guess we're up next."
Momo stood, smoothing down her uniform. "Yes, we are."
Their eyes met, the earlier conversation hanging unspoken between them.
"See you in the arena, Yaomomo," Camie said, her tone light but her eyes serious.
"I'll be there," Momo replied with equal gravity.
They parted ways, heading to their respective preparation rooms. As Momo walked, she caught sight of Izuku finally making it back, talking with an animated Manga and Kirishima. The burns on his arms had already begun to fade.
I will not be a burden, she thought, clenching her fists. I will be someone he can rely on.
In her preparation room, Momo sat with perfect posture, eyes closed in concentration. The match against Camie would test more than just her quirk—it would test her resolve, her adaptability, her courage.
Momo had studied Camie's quirk. Glamour allowed her to create illusions through a smoke-like substance. Visual and auditory deceptions that could disorient and confuse. But they remained just that—illusions. They couldn't physically affect her.
The key would be distinguishing reality from illusion, then countering with physical attacks Camie couldn't defend against with her quirk alone.
Momo opened her eyes, looking down at her hand. She'd need to be fast. Decisive. No hesitation.
"Contestant Yaoyorozu, please proceed to the entrance tunnel," the announcement came over the speaker.
It was time.
Meanwhile, in her own preparation room, Camie adjusted her hair into a messy bun. She bounced on her toes, warming up her muscles, her expression uncharacteristically serious.
Despite her casual attitude earlier, she understood the significance of this match. For Momo, it was about proving herself worthy. For Camie, it was about challenging a friend to rise above her limits.
"Contestant Utsushimi, please proceed to the entrance tunnel."
Camie rolled her shoulders and headed for the door. "Showtime," she murmured.
The roar of the crowd grew louder as both girls approached their respective entrances to the arena. Present Mic's voice boomed overhead, introducing them with his characteristic enthusiasm.
"NEXT UP, TWO OF CLASS 1-A'S MOST BRILLIANT LADIES FACE OFF! FROM THE HERO COURSE, THE CREATION PRODIGY WITH A GENIUS-LEVEL INTELLECT, MOMO YAOYOROZUUUU!"
Momo stepped into the sunlight, her posture perfect, her expression composed. The crowd cheered, many remembering her impressive performance during the cavalry battle.
"AND HER OPPONENT! THE ILLUSIONIST WHOSE TRICKS WILL LEAVE YOU QUESTIONING REALITY! ALSO FROM THE HERO COURSE, CAMIE UTSUSHIMIIIII!"
Camie emerged from her tunnel with a confident stride, waving to the crowd with an easy smile. Her eyes, however, remained focused on Momo across the arena.
They approached the center, stopping a few meters apart. Midnight stood between them, her whip at the ready.
"Are both fighters ready?" she asked, looking from one to the other.
"Yes," Momo said firmly.
"Start this shit," Camie replied with a grin.
"Then..." Midnight raised her whip. "BEGIN!"