Outside the school infirmary, tension weighed heavily on Izuku and the student council members. They stood in uneasy silence, their anxious gazes fixed on the closed door, waiting for any news about Ameri.
At last, the door creaked open, and Momonoki-sensei stepped out, flanked by Kalego. The students immediately crowded around them, their questions overlapping in a flurry of concern.
"How is she? Will she be okay?"
Momonoki held up a hand to calm the group, her expression grave. "The situation is quite serious," she began. "Ameri has been affected by a strong psychological spell. Its purpose was to alter her personality, making her more... ladylike. Thankfully, her memories remain intact, which is a small mercy."
Izuku's brow furrowed as he stepped forward. "How long will it take for her to recover?" he asked, his voice tight with worry.
"Breaking the spell won't be easy, that's for sure," Momonoki said with a thoughtful expression. "The spell is a tangled mess, like a sweater knitted by an amateur, affecting her personality, emotions, and memories very oddly. It would be possible to undo this spell by force, but doing that risks permanent harm to her," she added as the group collectively tensed at the revelation, their unease mirrored in their furrowed brows and clenched fists.
"But there's no need for drastic measures," Momonoki reassured them quickly. "The spell, while intricate, isn't overly complex. If Ameri continues with her daily routines, she should gradually return to normal. All we can do for now is monitor her closely."
The student council members exchanged uneasy glances, their spirits dampened. Seeing this, Momonoki sternly reminded them to maintain their composure.
"For the time being," Momonoki continued, "it would be best to send Ameri home to rest. Someone should also accompany her to explain the situation to her family."
"Midoriya, you should go," Smoke said suddenly, cutting in just as one of the council boys was about to volunteer. Her suggestion caught the boys off guard, prompting a wave of questions.
"Don't you see?" Smoke explained, exasperated. "With Ameri like this, our workload has just tripled. The amount of work she handles on her own will now require all of us combined just to keep things running. We can't spare even a single person. Besides," she added, gesturing to Izuku, "Midoriya is already well-acquainted with Ameri's family, so it'll be easier for him to explain the situation to them."
Izuku nodded without hesitation. "I don't mind. I'll escort her home and talk to her family. But before that—" He fished his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. "Hey, Opera. Are you free right now?"
******
"I'm sorry you had to accompany me," Ameri said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She clutched Izuku's blazer tightly around her shoulders, her head bowed in an unusual display of shyness.
"It's alright. I really don't mind," Izuku replied with a strained smile, his hand moving to rub the back of his neck. Their conversation from two days ago lingered in both their minds, casting a faint shadow of awkwardness over the moment.
Izuku sighed inwardly and shifted his gaze to the window, watching the passing scenery. They were seated in a horse-drawn carriage, driven by Opera, on their way to the Azazel Manor. The uncomfortable quiet stretched on for what felt like an eternity before they finally arrived.
Stepping down from the carriage, Izuku offered a hand to Ameri, who accepted it with a small, hesitant nod. Together, they entered the grand mansion with Opera following a few paces behind.
Inside, they were immediately greeted by Moana. Her sharp eyes flicked over Ameri, taking in her subdued demeanor, before narrowing as they settled on Izuku.
"What is going on here?" Moana demanded, her tone curt and no-nonsense. "Why is Lady Ameri acting like this?"
"I'll explain everything," Izuku said calmly. "But it would be better if Ameri's parents were here for the discussion. Could you call them?"
Moana's eyes lingered on him for a long moment, her skepticism evident. Finally, she gave a curt nod. "Very well. I'll inform them." Her gaze shifted to Ameri, softening slightly. "In the meantime, you should go and change."
"Yes, I'll do that," Ameri replied in a soft, almost timid voice, causing Moana's brow to twitch slightly, but she said nothing, only sighing in resignation before leaving the room.
"I'll be back shortly," Ameri said politely, dipping her head before disappearing up the grand staircase.
Izuku moved to the living room and sank into the plush couch, swiping through his phone as he waited while Opera stood silently behind him.
Moments later, Moana returned, carrying a tray with a delicate tea set and a plate full of cookies. She placed a cup in front of Izuku with practiced grace. "I've contacted Lady Kumara. She'll be here soon," Moana informed him before retreating once more.
It wasn't long before Ameri reappeared, now dressed in a more formal outfit, and took a seat across from Izuku, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the soft clinking of the tea set filling the quiet space between them. Izuku took a sip of his tea, his mind racing for the right words to say. Just as the awkward silence threatened to settle over them again, a sudden shout shattered the stillness.
"Oh my!"
Startled, Izuku and Ameri both turned toward the voice. Standing at the top of the grand staircase was a little red-haired girl, her hand dramatically covering her mouth while three fluffy tails swayed energetically behind her.
"Ameri! You brought your boyfriend home!"
"B-B-Boyfriend?!" Ameri spluttered, her face turning as crimson as her hair. "Katsumi! What are you talking about?!"
Completely ignoring her older sister's flustered reaction, the girl skipped down the stairs, her mischievous grin widening with each step. She stopped directly in front of Izuku, planting her hands on her hips in a stance of mock authority.
"Hello, big brother!" she declared confidently. "I'm Katsumi, Ameri's cute and absolutely adorable little sister." Puffing out her chest with pride, she added with a teasing lilt, "And now that you're dating my sister, you'll have to pamper me too!"
Izuku blinked, struggling to hold back a sigh as a thought crossed his mind. 'So they know the word boyfriend but still don't get what friend means... How convenient.'
He straightened and smiled politely. "Hello, Katsumi. I'm Izuku. But, unfortunately, I'm not Ameri's boyfriend." Turning to Ameri with a playful glint in his eyes, he teased, "Ameri, you never mentioned you had a younger sister. That's quite the surprise."
Ameri looked away, her face still burning. "I—It just never came up!"
But Izuku wasn't done. A new thought struck him, and he tilted his head curiously. "Wait a second. Why weren't you at the Battler Party a few months ago?" he asked, turning back to Katsumi.
"Oh, I was away at boarding school," Katsumi explained nonchalantly as she flopped onto the couch next to Izuku. Without missing a beat, she snagged a cookie from the tray on the table. "I just got back yesterday for a break. But next year, I'll be enrolling at Babyls too!" She waved the cookie dramatically before leaning closer to Izuku, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Anyway, forget about all that. Are you really not dating my sister?"
"Katsumi!" Ameri shrieked, burying her fiery red face into a nearby pillow.
"Hehehe~" Katsumi giggled, sticking her tongue out at her sister.
Izuku chuckled, shaking his head. "No, I'm not," he said simply. After a moment's thought, he reached into his bag and pulled out a chocolate bar. "But... I can offer you this as a peace offering."
"Chocolate?!" Katsumi gasped, her eyes lighting up as she snatched the bar eagerly. "I love it!"
But then her playful expression softened into curiosity as she glanced at Ameri, tilting her head. "What's with you today, though? Normally, you'd have thrown a pillow at me already and started yelling about not eating sweets before dinner."
Ameri peeked over the edge of the pillow, her eyes darting nervously toward Izuku before quickly looking away. "I'm just... tired," she murmured.
Katsumi frowned slightly, her tails twitching as she studied her sister more closely. She turned back to Izuku, her earlier playfulness giving way to genuine concern. "Did something happen?"
Izuku smiled reassuringly but didn't immediately answer. "That's something for your parents to hear, too," he said gently. "Let's wait until everyone's here."
Though still curious, Katsumi nodded, settling back into her seat with a surprisingly mature acceptance. Moments later, her mischievous grin returned as she waved the chocolate bar triumphantly at Ameri. "Don't think you're off the hook, though! I'm definitely asking more questions later!"
Izuku chuckled softly as Ameri groaned into the pillow. 'This family definitely keeps things lively,' he thought with a smile.
"I'm glad to see you haven't forgotten the rules of this house," a commanding voice suddenly interrupted as Kumara entered the room. She folded her arms across her chest and glanced at her youngest daughter. "Now, why don't you hand that chocolate bar back to him?"
"Can't I keep it?" Katsumi asked, her large eyes wide with exaggerated innocence, practically sparkling as she clasped the bar close to her chest. "Please?"
Before Kumara could respond, Izuku stepped in with a kind smile. "Ma'am, please let her keep it. Consider it my gift to her since this is my first time visiting your home."
Kumara raised an eyebrow at him, her stern expression softening ever so slightly. With a small sigh, she shook her head. "Midoriya, you shouldn't spoil her like this," she admonished lightly, though a smile tugged at her lips. "But fine, I'll allow it—just this once."
"Yay!" Katsumi cheered, holding the chocolate bar aloft like a prized trophy. She turned her bright, beaming eyes toward Izuku. "This big brother is so nice. Can we keep him?"
Kumara chuckled softly at her daughter's antics. "Why don't we ask your sister..." Kumara trailed off mid-sentence as her gaze shifted to Ameri. Her eyes widened in shock. The bold, confident young woman she knew was now a shy, timid girl, stealing glances at her from under lowered lashes and trying to make herself as small as possible. "What the hell!? What happened to my daughter!?" Kumara demanded, her voice rising in alarm.
"Well..." Izuku sighed deeply, scratching the back of his neck before launching into an explanation of the incident that had occurred earlier that day.
When he finished, a suffocating aura filled the room as Kumara's eyes glowed an intense red, her hair billowing as though caught in a tempest, and her tails whipped about furiously. "Who dared to lay their hands on my daughter?!" she growled, her voice trembling with fury. "I'll rip—"
Before she could finish, Ameri rushed to her side, gently clutching her mother's arm. "It's okay, Mother. I'm fine," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper as she tried to calm her down.
"No, you're not!" Kumara snapped, her voice sharp with concern. "This isn't just some silly prank! It's an assault that could have—and still might—seriously mess with your mind and magic. Midoriya, back me up here!"
"Well... ugg..." Izuku hesitated, glancing between Kumara's blazing eyes and Ameri's pleading expression. He sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging slightly as he made his decision. "Sorry, Ameri, but your mother's right. We can't just brush this off."
Ameri's face fell, her expression one of deep betrayal.
Ignoring her reaction, Izuku continued, "In fact, I know someone who could help us track down the culprit. But... she'll expect compensation for her work."
Technically, he could ask Yelan to do it as a favor, but given Ameri's family's status, it didn't feel right to take advantage of their friendship. Besides, this was a good opportunity to help Yelan build her reputation in the right circles.
"Money is no object," Kumara said firmly. "As long as the culprit is found and dealt with."
"In that case..." Izuku took out his phone and shared Yelan's contact information with Kumara. Once the details were settled, he stood up and hung his bag over his shoulder. "Well, I should be going now."
"What?! You're leaving already?" Katsumi piped up, looking at him with a pout. "Why don't you stay for dinner?"
"Katsumi, don't trouble him," Ameri chided gently in a soft voice.
"I'm not troubling him!" Katsumi protested, her cheeks puffing up indignantly. However, her expression softened as she glanced at her sister, remembering what she was going through.
"I agree with Katsumi," Kumara said warmly. "You should stay, Midoriya. We'd love to have you."
Izuku smiled apologetically, shaking his head. "Thank you, but I really need to get home. My grandfather is expecting me. Next time, though, I promise." Izuku politely declined her offer, knowing that things between him and Ameri weren't exactly going great currently and would only make for an even more awkward situation with her father around.
Kumara studied him for a moment before nodding. "Very well," she said, her tone both understanding and a little wistful. "I'll hold you to that.
She walked him to the door alongside Opera, thanking him sincerely for escorting Ameri home. As Izuku left, Kumara sighed softly, a smile playing on her lips. "What a sweet boy," she murmured, heading upstairs to freshen up.
Meanwhile, Katsumi crept over to Ameri, who was lost in her own thoughts, a slight blush still lingering on her cheeks. With a sly grin, Katsumi poked her sister in the stomach.
"So..." she began, drawing out the word. "Are you sure you two aren't together?"
Ameri blinked at her sister, her expression blank for a moment before frustration took over. With a huff, she clenched her fists and stomped off to her room, leaving Katsumi laughing loudly in her wake.
******
The next day, in the Student Council office, the atmosphere was tense. All the members, except Ameri, who was inside her private office, were in a sorry state. Their minds and bodies were utterly drained. Ameri's sudden change in demeanor had severely affected her work efficiency, leaving the remaining council members to shoulder the brunt of the workload as the responsibilities kept piling up.
However, at the moment, they had even more troubling problems to deal with.
"Damn it! We've got to do something!" Johnny growled, slamming his fist on the table, making the papers scattered on it jump. "Our control over the students is slipping through our fingers!"
"Yeah," Kimaris agreed, rubbing his temples with a weary sigh. "Without the President's usual commanding aura, the students aren't taking us seriously. It's like they've completely lost their fear of consequences."
"Even worse," Sunny groaned, leaning heavily on the table, "when we try to discipline them, they just laugh it off. It's like all our authority vanished the moment President stopped being... well, President."
"And let's not forget Kalego-sensei's ultimatum," Smoke added grimly, her words casting a heavy shadow over the group. They all flinched at the memory of Kalego's stern warning:
'The Student Council members are the role models of Babyls. If the Student Council President, who should be setting an example, continues to be this ineffective, I will have no choice but to consider shutting down the Student Council altogether.'
"Our hands are brutally tied right now," Johnny muttered, clicking his tongue in frustration. "If things continue as they are right now, we will have to shut this place down sooner than later."
"Actually," Smoke began cautiously, drawing everyone's attention, "I might have an idea. It could buy us some much-needed time and restore order to the school."
"What's your plan?" Kimaris asked.
Smoke leaned in and explained her idea. As she spoke, the room's atmosphere grew tense, the reactions ranging from reluctant nods to outright disbelief.
"Smoke!" Johnny shot to his feet, glaring at her. "How can you even suggest something like that?"
"Because we're desperate!" Smoke retorted, her tone sharp. "And Kalego-sensei isn't exactly known for his patience. Besides, this guy is our best and the safest option to avoid a full-blown power struggle when Ameri gets back to her usual self."
"And what makes you so sure he won't try to take over?" Johnny challenged, his fists clenched tightly.
"Because I know how to read people," Smoke replied, her voice laced with irritation. "Better than you, apparently."
Johnny glared at her, but before he could retort, Sunny spoke up hesitantly. "Johnny, I don't like this any more than you do, but... maybe we should at least consider it." he said while Kimaris nodded in agreement.
Johnny let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his messy hair. "Fine. But we're running this by the President first."
Everyone agreed and marched into Ameri's office. Inside, they found her sitting at her desk, leisurely sipping tea while flipping through a document at an unhurried pace. The sight was a stark contrast to their own exhaustion, and a collective gloom settled over them as they compared her relaxed demeanor to their harrowing workload.
"Oh, hello, everyone!" Ameri greeted them with a sweet smile, setting down her teacup.
"Ameri, we need to talk," Smoke began, launching into a detailed explanation of their discussion outside.
Ameri listened intently, her expression growing somber as she absorbed their words. When they finished, she lowered her head, her horns drooping slightly. "I'm so sorry for being such a burden," she murmured, her voice trembling. Tears shimmered in her eyes, threatening to spill.
"No, no! That's not what we meant!" Smoke exclaimed, panicking as she waved her hands frantically.
The next few minutes were spent in a chaotic flurry of reassurances and awkward consolations. Eventually, she calmed down and focused on their proposed plan.
"I don't mind if it'll ease your workload," Ameri said softly, her fingers nervously twiddling a loose thread on her sleeve. "But... I don't feel right pushing this onto him. It's not even his responsibility."
"Don't worry," Smoke reassured her firmly. "We won't force him. If he says no, we'll respect his decision and leave him alone."
"In that case..." Ameri nodded hesitantly before pulling out her phone. She scrolled through her contacts, her thumb hovering for a moment before pressing a number listed under her favorites. She brought the phone to her ear, "Hello, Izuku? Can you come to the Student Council office?"
******
"Hey Ameri, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Izuku burst into the room, his voice brimming with concern. He stopped short when he noticed the other Student Council members gathered inside."What's going on here?" he asked, his gaze shifting between them, noticing the tense atmosphere in the room.
"Izuku, thank you for coming so quickly," Ameri said, offering a small smile. "There's something we need to discuss with you."
"Go ahead," Izuku replied, his brows furrowing slightly.
Smoke, who had been leaning casually against the far wall, straightened and wasted no time. "Midoriya, what do you think about becoming the vice president of the Student Council?" she asked, cutting straight to the point.
Izuku blinked, taken aback. "What!?" he exclaimed incredulously, his voice pitching slightly higher in disbelief. "Where is this coming from?"
Smoke let out a sigh before explaining the current situation of the Student Council. Izuku listened carefully, nodding as he absorbed the information.
Izuku listened intently, nodding along as he processed the details. "I see," he said thoughtfully, scratching his chin. "But that still doesn't explain why you're offering such a high position to me."
Johnny adjusted his glasses with a practiced motion, stepping forward to address Izuku's concern. "Midoriya, there are two reasons the President commands authority over the entire student body," he explained. "First is her strength, which I hardly need to elaborate on—after all, you've experienced it firsthand."
Izuku nodded, remembering his fight against Ameri from earlier that year.
"The second is her authority, which stems from her remarkable achievements," Johnny continued. "She earned VAV (6th) rank in her first year—an accomplishment practically unheard of—and her position is further bolstered by the influence of the Azazel family name. Together, these factors make her an almost unchallengeable force, both within and beyond the school."
"And that's why we came to you, Midoriya," Smoke continued. "During the Mock Battle Exam, the whole school witnessed that your strength rivals Ameri's. While your rank isn't as high as hers, it's still remarkable for a first-year student to achieve GIMMEL (3rd) rank right at the start. More importantly, you're Sullivan-sama's grandson, which puts you on par with—or even above—Ameri in terms of influence."
"That's why we're asking you to take this position, Izuku," Ameri added, her voice tinged with guilt. "Even if it's not permanent, just until my condition is cured."
Izuku stood silent for a moment, going over their words in his head. After pondering about it for a few minutes, he finally had his answer.
"I'm honored that you'd consider me for such an important role," he began, "but I'm afraid I have to decline." He raised a hand to halt the protests that were already forming. "The position you're offering is incredibly time-consuming.... time that I just don't have right now."
"My battler has started working on several projects at the moment, which I am helping with," Izuku continued. "Then there are my studies as well as training after school, which makes it difficult for me to commit to something of such responsibility."
Disappointment washed over the room like a wave. The Student Council members visibly deflated, their hopes dashed as they were unable to refute his reasoning.
"However..." Izuku's voice cut through the somber atmosphere, drawing their attention once more. "I do have an idea that might help ease your burden—at least a little." He glanced around at their curious faces. "Well... I was thinking..."
******
The next day, in the bustling corridors of Babyls, a small first-year student found himself cornered by five second-year students. Their towering figures loomed over him as they closed in with sinister grins, their menacing laughter echoing faintly. The younger student trembled, clutching his bag tightly, his wide eyes darting around trying to find a way to escape.
However, before the bullies could make their move, black tendrils, outlined with a glowing teal light, shot out from seemingly nowhere, wrapping around each of the older students with precision and speed. The bullies let out startled yelps as they were hoisted into the air, and within moments, they dangled upside down from the ceiling, staring at the floor far below with wide, terrified eyes.
"You must think you're pretty tough, terrorizing younger students like this," a cold voice echoed through the hallway, sending shivers down the spines of the five assailants. Turning toward the source of the voice, they saw none other than honor student Izuku Midoriya, staring down at them with cold eyes.
The first-year student looked up at his savior, his expression a mix of awe and relief. Meanwhile, the crowd of onlookers whispered among themselves in hushed tones, equal parts amazed and unsettled by the honor student's display of power. Among them, a few familiar faces watched with curiosity, their eyes drawn to the strange black tendrils emanating from Izuku.
"What is going on here!?" Kalego's sharp, authoritative voice cut through the tense air, silencing the whispers. The crowd parted swiftly as the strict teacher marched toward the scene, his piercing gaze sweeping over the suspended bullies and the figure controlling them.
Upon arriving, Kalego's eyes narrowed as he took in the glowing tendrils and their source. Izuku stood calmly at the center of the commotion, unflinching under the teacher's intense scrutiny.
"Midoriya," Kalego said, his voice laced with exasperation. "Care to explain why you've turned the hallway into a circus act this time?"
Izuku met Kalego's gaze. "Nothing much, sensei," he replied evenly, as he gestured slightly to the pinned badge on his blazer, the emblem glinting in the light. "Just doing my job."
Kalego's gaze flicked to the badge, his frown deepening. Before he could respond, another voice joined the conversation.
"Kalego-sensei," Smoke's cheerful tone cut through the tension as she stepped forward to stand beside Izuku. "To help restore order in the school," she began, her voice trying to maintain a professional air despite the grin tugging at her lips, "Prefect Midoriya will now be working with us."
To be continued...