“-and how does it make any sense for that crazy loudmouth to get a grenade as part of his costume, but I can’t get a syringe, a knife, or anything? Shouldn’t blowing someone up need more training than stabbing them?”

“You sound even scarier than you looked, ribbit.” Tsu said, getting a pout from Himiko as the three of us stepped out of the small gift shop that was on the way to the station. I’d picked up something for aunt Nozomi, Tsu doing the same for her siblings, while Himiko was just along for the ride.

Speaking of her siblings-

“You really have to go to and from Aichi everyday?” I asked, the three of us having set off together after that rather interesting day at school ended. Himiko and I had some experimenting, among other things, to do before heading home, and walking Tsu to the station wasn’t much of a detour.

“To help out at home.” Tsu said. “I don’t mind the long ride. I can study and get work done.”

“I’ll join you next Saturday after class.” I said.

“Really?” Tsu asked, poking the corner of her mouth and glancing up towards me.

“My aunt wants me to visit her every other week.” Which wasn’t asking for much with how much freedom I now had. Thankfully. I had a very special idea forming for the upcoming weekend.

I really wanted to test out that dojo key.

“Try and get this guy to do something other than studying on the way.” Himiko piped in. I’m pretty sure her coming was a flip of a coin; it all depended on whether or not she put together plans with any of the new friends she was making. “He does enough of that.”

Tsu hummed, looking away from me. I pretended not to notice the occasional sent my way the rest of the walk.

We didn’t actually head to the station, finding an empty bench in view of it so we could wait for Tsu’s train to show up. We were close enough that it wouldn’t take her more than a few seconds to be up there with the rest of the commuters once it arrived.

The wait was full of conversation Himiko interrupted with a strange question.

“Katsu.” Himiko asked, scooting in a bit closer to me rather than Tsu who was on the other side of her. “Can I have some of your blood?”

Why her tone sounded so strange and why she looked so intent about it were the first questions to pop into mind but her hard, very pointed stare up at me looped into what was, or at least what I thought was going through her mind.

This wasn’t about me.

I raised my hand, letting her bite into my palm and drink some of my blood. She didn’t use her quirk at all, nothing changing when she pulled away.

“Is drinking regularly a part of your quirk?” Naturally, Tsu voiced her curiosity after a small ribbit.

“I don’t need to drink blood to live or anything.” Himiko said. Technically true but debatable. A desire strong enough to push her towards what it did when she was at her worst could be labeled a need in my opinion. “I just have a strong craving for the blood of people I know. I’m not sure if that’s because of my quirk or something else.”

Boldly straight forward.

Despite that Himiko wasn’t the picture of confidence she usually was, unable to bring herself to look over at Tsu as she explained. She was still trying and struggling to broach the topic of Tsu’s blood.

Looking back, I was the one who got us started; this would be her first time trying to ask for someone else’s.

I could only imagine just how much was running through her head, but she didn’t need to be that worried. Not with Tsu of all people.

“It feels like your about to ask for my blood, ribbit.” Tsu bluntly pointed out. She poked the corner of her mouth, looking between the two of us. “It’s weird that this isn’t the first time this has happened to me.” The train we were waiting for began to round the rails, Tsu standing up and focusing on Himiko. “I don’t mind giving you some.”

“You’re still weird for just going along with it.” I said, shaking my head.

“You’re the one who asks for it.” Tsu retorted, blank stare pointed my way.

No matter how true that was, she was the weirder one between the two of us. Theres no way I was.

Himiko caught her in a tight hug, before letting her go, waving and smiling even after Tsu was lost among those gathering at the station. That smile remained long after the train had taken off, Himiko looking on after it.

“You’re still going to have get most of your fill from me.” I said. As much as it was just a joke, it was also a sugarcoated way of telling to be careful with that craving of hers.

“Don’t worry, you’ll always be my number one blood bag.” Himiko joked back, grabbing my hand as we turned to leave. Her grip tightened as her smile fell, lips thinning into something far more serious. “I won’t hurt her.” She muttered, those words meant more for herself than me.

I squeezed back, the both of us headed away from the station to look for a place without too many eyes.

XOXO

Jet black fur that wafted alongside the leaves and grass as a breeze rolled through the surrounding trees. Crimson eyes with dark pupils that were like black holes, something about its gaze forcing me to pause. Easily tall enough to stare down at me with a much longer body, its snout nearly touched my forehead as it took sniffs of the air.

A final sniff taken, the absolute unit of a wolf turned its piercing gaze from me, stepping up to Himiko and giving her the same treatment. This time the wolf pushed its snout against Himiko’s face.

“Awwww, Katsu didn’t say you’d be so cute.” And Himiko took to the creature that should inspire some level of fear or caution quickly, reaching up and scratching the scuff of the wolf’s neck. “Aren’t you just the biggest cutest girl around?” Himiko cooed, scratching and rubbing even harder. Without any kind of input from me, the wolf lowered herself, letting Himiko get onto her back, furry ears perking up as Himiko spread scratches out across her head. “I think she likes me.”

“You think?” That quick friendliness was for Himiko alone, the wolf’s unblinking gaze back on me. It felt like I was being sized up and judged. Despite that, she didn’t stop me from reaching up and scratching beneath her furry chin not that there was much reaction to it. “I’ll leave naming her to you.”

Was the difference in treatment just preference? Maybe I was being judged more harshly since she knew she’d be taking orders from me? It was a shot in the dark, but wolves were all about packs, right?

“Really?” Himiko shifted and lowered herself, the wolf’s fur actually thick enough for a lot of her to get lost in all that wafting darkness. “You named that bird and cat after their looks right? Hmmmm, maybe we’ll call her Nocturne?”

“Nocturne?” Pretty interesting choice. Himiko always reminded me in the most random of ways that it was just her pretty privilege that kept her from getting the title nerd back in our old school.

“Yeah, its cool and it matches her fur. We’ll call her Fluffy for short.” Fluffy was in no way shape or form short for that but both made sense. And, the newly named wolf, leaned into Himiko’s running hands, releasing a low yet unnaturally deep bark. “Looks like she likes it.”

I looked over to HK, he standing at the edge of the small clearing we were in.

“Statement: No one is approaching, master.” He assured me despite that bark.

Musutafu had proven to be even bigger than surface looks suggested, so we had plenty of parks, a beach or two, or other possibly isolated areas to choose from. The real pain had been finding one that wasn’t too popular of space to gather while also providing plenty of cover without being too restraining.

Parks won out again as the place to be.

“Hey, don’t you want a name other than some letters and numbers?” Himiko asked, peeking out of Nocturne’s fur to get a look at HK.

“Query: Must I truly entertain conversation with this meatbag, master?” HK asked, not so much as twitching to look at Himiko.

“I won’t order you to be friends with her or anything, but she is going to be around a lot. It wouldn’t really be efficient to be complete strangers.”

“Resignation: As you say, master.” Accepting that, he finally acknowledged Himiko’s presence, his head whirling to face her. “Statement: I have no need for a name from you, meatbag. None you produce will be superior to my designation.”

“Maybe tin can would work.” Himiko bit back snidely. “If you like those letters and numbers just say that. Maybe we can go with…Agent 47?”

“Observation: That is merely a title attached to a portion of my designation.” HK said.

“That wasn’t a no.”

“Commentary: Truly? Surely you do not need things spelled out for you?” HK’s head turned to me. “Are you sure it is wise to divulge so much to this human? Her intelligence is questionable.”

“Still not a no.” Himiko said, Nocturne making the conversation even easier by carrying her over to HK and laying down, leaving Himiko to lean into her side as the two talked. “Come on if you hate it just say no. It shouldn’t be that hard for a machine like you.”

“Statement: I take orders from the master, not you, meatbag.”

“Still not a no. Agent 47 it is.” Himiko declared, flat out ignoring Hk-47’s exasperated sigh and robotic mutters.

I’m just going to pretend they were getting along. If nothing else, Himiko was having fun trying to poke at his buttons.

Either way, we were here to do more than name Nocturne.

I focused, using the bare minimum of energy called for it, and tried to summon my other newest familiar.

Stepping into view at the center of the clearing, its form being built up by chaotic embers of bleeding flames, a figure even taller than Nocturne heeded my call, loose pebbles trembling about. Its body, coated in a light covering of dark brown fur, was dense with pure muscle, arms, legs, and core all giving All Might a run for his money. The ends of its hands, turning to a sets of stony fingers, held an old rusted axe like weapon with a handle that looked like a bone ripped from some other creature comparable to it.

Its head, a stony mass with curled horns, possessed beady orange eyes that looked just as angry as the flames it formed from.

Other than the low breaths it took, the thing was motionless.

“Hey.” I called out. I could tell from its response, or rather lack of it, that this familiar was different from any other so far. There was barely any autonomy, much less personality behind those fiery eyes.

It’d take orders. Nothing less and nothing more.

“Stay still.” It further stilled, no clear signs that it was alive other than its gaze.

I’d summoned the doll a handful of times but even she, a literal doll, didn’t feel anything like an empty husk. Maybe this was because it was a demon? Or maybe that was how familiars with multisummon mechanics worked?

Setting those possibilities aside, I stepped forward holding out a hand, Soul Solid taking shake in it. Sheath tossed aside, I stopped in front of the demon and pressed the point of the blade to its leg.

Nothing.

I pushed harder.

Nothing.

Planting my feet firmly into the ground and putting my back into it, I tried my best to force the blade to at least bruise or prick skin.

CCCCRRRKKK!!!

I stumbled forward a step, the shattered remains of Soul Solid’s blade falling to the ground.

How about that? It looked like I’d be learning whether or not my items repaired themselves.

The handle, thrown sheath, and scattered shards all disappeared as I let go of the weapon and cupped my chin, taking a step back. No ordinary villain or criminal would be able to take on one of these.

At the cost of another portion of energy equal to the first, an identical demon formed beside it.

Oh yeah. This would be extremely useful during far more than the USJ incident but especially so there. Even if everyone still ended up scattered and isolated, if I was quick with it, I could send one of these demons with them in the confusion or just scouring the entire building in general to fight along everyone.

Letting them fade away, the portion of my energy they took up returned in full.

The key to that dojo required way too much space and was too much of an unknown to use here. Which meant it was time to move on to the new stuff.

“Hold on.” Himiko said, waving me over. Nocturne’s stare followed me, but she didn’t raise any protest about me sitting against her surprisingly comfortable fur. I see why Fluffy was chosen as a name. “Alright, if you get something good, we’re going on a date before we go back home.” Himiko said, laying her head against my shoulder.

“After we check on what your quirk gets from all this.” I reminded her before getting started.

[Rolling Advantage Gold Skill Ticket…]

|Servitude|

|Uncommon Skill|

You are one hell of a Maid/Butler, having great skill in housekeeping, manners and many forms of servitude. You can clean, keep track of schedules, remember people's preferences, know how to present yourself in a professional yet approachable manner and overall are experienced in all skills that would be needed by someone in the profession.

OR

|Thunder breathing|

|Elite Skill|

Demon Slayer - Thunder Breathing is a specialized swordsmanship style and breathing technique that mimics lightning, specifically swift strikes and movements akin to lightning ripping through the sky, and replicates it with the user's movements, techniques and abilities. Most, if not all, known techniques and forms involve utilizing blinding speeds and immensely fast attacks to overwhelm the enemy in an instant. With magical power, thunder can be manifested to further augment the power of the style as well as redirect lightning based attacks.]

This was one of those nonchoices. In what world would anyone ever consider taking Servitude over Thunder Breathing?

“I’m already satisfied with your service, so you don’t need that servant one.” Himiko joked.

“I live to serve.” I said sarcastically, refocusing on Thunder Breathing.

I selected that and a rush of pain, not far off from the one way back when I acquired Karate, flared to life. The migraine it was threatening to leave behind lessened as I focused on the new flood of information, Iron Mind doing its thing.

The basics of using a katana. That quickly bled into a mountain of more specialized knowledge. Certain breathing patterns, footwork, training needed to make the most of the fighting style, and all the different forms, from one to the seventh. Even the advancements Zenitsu’s extensive use of the first gave birth to were included.

And as much as I wished otherwise, all that knowledge came with a conclusion; truly trying it out, especially the magic powered thunder, was not an option in the city on anything other than a stormy day. The noise could attract a hero or dozen.

Hopefully that dojo came with a katana.

[Rolling Gold Ability Gacha Ticket…]

[Ratio Technique

|Uncommon Ability|

Jujutsu Kaisen - Allows you to split your target into imaginary lines that forcibly create a weak spot for them at the ratio point of seven to three. Hitting a target on that spot will deal critical damage.]

Not really the craziest thing in the world but given the way I fought it actually-

[Feat Accomplished!

Obtain five different abilities.

+1 Ability Slot]

Another ability slot!?

[-Active (1/2)-

Shadow Hands

N/A

-Inactive-

Enflame

Dry

Clothes Beam

Ratio Technique]

“Hey, what’d you get?” Himiko asked, bumping her head against my arm. “Must be good if you’re zoning out like that.”

“We can go on as many dates as you want, Himi.” I said, leaning against her too.

“Hold on, hold on, now I’ve got to know. What’d you get?”

“It’s called the Ratio Technique.” I said while slotting it into the new active slot. With little more than my intentions, a bit of my energy was used, a black line with incremental marks across it appearing across the branch I was looking at. A shadow hand formed, its form a bit more unstable than usual while the line began to flicker. A more focused effort solidified both.

Splitting my attention between two different abilities was going to take getting used to.

“I can mark targets with an imaginary line. Hitting the seven-to-three ratio along it works like a critical hit in a game.” Beginning a slowed chopping motion, the conjured hand hit the seven-to-three ratio point closer to the tree itself. Despite not even trying to truly break it, that’s exactly what happened, the snapped branch falling to the dirt ahead of us.

“Seven-to-three ratio?” She repeated. “How do some imaginary lines cause that?”

“Magic.” I said, shrugging.

“Yeah, I don’t know why I asked.” Himiko nodded to herself. Then abruptly stood up. “Well, lets get going on that date.”

“Hold on now.” I said, standing up too. “You’re not getting out of this that easily. We need to put you through your paces and see just how much all of this your quirk can copy.”

Himiko stopped, shoulders dropping. “Dammit. At least take it easy on me. I don’t want to have to shower before we go out.”

“I don’t know.” I said, smiling and stretching a bit. “Maybe I like seeing you break a sweat.”

That dirty grin of hers formed immediately, Himiko strutting her way back to me. “If you want to see me all sweaty, there’s another way we-“

“Training first.” I said, half heartedly chopping the top of her head. Himiko clicked her tongue but got herself ready.

Now was the time to finally found just how much she got from me. Especially the Kure bit. If her body changed enough, she might actually be able to learn and use Removal while powered up with my blood.

XOXO

(A/N: I just realized this but in the MHA fandom some people kind of debate when the USJ stuff happened. I stay out of the fandom for the most part to be honest so I have no idea what the most widely accepted answer is but for the purposes of this story, it definitely doesn't take place in the first week. End of second week, start of third, has always been my own head canon. That's the kind of the mindset I've been, and consequently, Katsu have been operating under. Some of his thoughts wouldn't really make sense if all that stuff was just back to back in the already packed first week.

Just kind of realized there might be a disconnect there for some people who aren't of the same mind as me.

Anyways, some great rolls and finally that second ability slot. He's looking more and more ready for USJ.)