The Heights Alliance common room was practically overflowing with noise.

Music played from a portable speaker, half-empty soda cans littered the coffee table, and someone—probably Sero—had managed to hang a crooked banner reading CONGRATS ON SURVIVING EXAMS! above the television.

Class 3-A had finally finished another grueling round of assessments, and tonight was supposed to be about celebrating.

Unfortunately, Ruru had volunteered to provide the entertainment.

"ALRIGHT, LOSERS! EYES ON THE SCREEN!"

Ruru stood proudly in front of the television, gripping the remote like she'd just been handed an award.

Kaminari immediately perked up.

"YOOOO! Is this the slideshow?!"

"DUH!" Ruru grinned. "And before anybody asks, yes, I made sure everyone looks absolutely ridiculous!"

"How reassuring," Jiro deadpanned.

"Oh, relax, Jiro! You're gonna LOVE it!"

Ruru clicked the remote.

The screen lit up with an aggressively colorful title card.

CLASS 3-A: THREE YEARS OF ABSOLUTE IDIOCY!

Kirishima burst out laughing.

"NO WAY!"

"That's actually pretty good," Sero admitted.

The presentation began innocently enough.

There were photographs of Bakugo glaring at the camera, Midoriya buried beneath a mountain of notebooks, Iida lecturing a vending machine, and Todoroki staring blankly at a particularly strange-looking cafeteria meal.

Even Bakugo cracked the faintest smirk when an unflattering picture of Sero appeared.

"HEY!" Sero protested.

"THAT'S WHAT YOU GET!" Ruru cackled.

For several minutes, everyone seemed to be having fun.

And Denki?

Denki was laughing harder than anybody.

At least, until the next slide appeared.

DENKI KAMINARI: U.A.'S MOST EXPENSIVE NIGHTLIGHT!

A photograph of Denki after overusing his Quirk filled the screen.

Kaminari blinked.

"Oh, come ON!"

Several students laughed.

Ruru giggled.

"WAIT, WAIT! IT GETS BETTER!"

Another slide appeared.

Then another.

And another.

Photographs of Denki's training mishaps, awkward expressions, and Quirk-related setbacks flashed across the screen. Each was accompanied by increasingly insulting captions.

BRAINS: 1% — ELECTRICITY: 99%!

PROOF THAT U.A. ACCEPTS ANYBODY!

HERO NAME: HUMAN PHONE CHARGER!

Denki's laughter gradually faded.

"Okay, okay, you got me," he said, forcing a grin. "Can we move on now?"

But Ruru kept clicking.

"WAIT! THIS NEXT ONE'S MY FAVORITE!"

The next slide featured a photograph from a rescue-training exercise several months earlier.

Denki recognized it immediately.

It was the incident where he'd pushed his Quirk beyond its limits and needed assistance afterward.

The very same incident where Ruru had helped him.

His smile disappeared.

"Ruru."

She looked over.

"Hm?"

"Seriously. Skip that one."

Something in his voice made Kirishima stop laughing.

Jiro frowned.

"Yeah, Ruru. That's enough."

"Oh my GOD!" Ruru exclaimed, laughing awkwardly. "What's with everybody?!"

She glanced at Denki.

"Wait, you're actually upset?"

Denki looked away from the screen.

"It's just… that one's kinda personal."

For a moment, Ruru appeared genuinely confused.

Then her eyes widened.

"Oh."

She lowered the remote.

"Oh my God, Denki. I didn't realize!"

Sero crossed his arms.

"How could you not realize? You've been making jokes about him for five minutes."

"Because I thought he was in on it!"

Ruru looked positively horrified.

"I thought this was something you and {user} planned together!"

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Denki's head snapped toward her.

"…What?"

Ruru blinked.

"Oh."

Her expression changed.

"Wait."

She looked toward {user}, then back at Denki.

"Den-Den… you seriously didn't know?"

"Know WHAT?"

Ruru's fingers tightened around the remote.

"That… that {user} submitted this part?"

Mina nearly dropped her drink.

"WHAT?!"

"Yeah!" Ruru said quickly. "I mean, they sent me the pictures and captions! I thought it was supposed to be some kind of couple joke!"

Denki stared.

"That's not funny."

"I KNOW!"

Ruru's voice rose.

"That's what I'm saying! I thought you two were just messing around!"

Jiro stood.

"Ruru, you're the one who made the slideshow."

"With everybody's submissions!"

She reached for her phone.

"Look! I can show you!"

A moment later, she held up a screenshot of a submission record.

There, beneath the humiliating Denki segment, was an unmistakable label.

Submitted by: {user}

The record looked convincing.

It was also completely fabricated.

Ruru had created the entire segment herself, collected the photographs, written the insulting captions, and falsely attributed everything to {user}.

But nobody else knew that.

Especially not Denki.

"No way," he murmured.

His usual cheerful expression had vanished.

"No. That's gotta be wrong."

Ruru's face softened.

"Denki…"

"No, seriously."

He looked toward her.

"You remember that training exercise, right? You were THERE. You know how much that messed with me."

Ruru lowered her gaze.

"Of course I remember."

Her voice became unusually quiet.

"I was the one who stayed with you afterward."

Denki went silent.

"I defended you when people were making jokes about it," she continued. "Remember? I kept telling everybody how awesome you were for protecting the team."

She hesitated.

"That's why I thought… if {user} submitted those pictures, you must've been okay with it."

Mina looked deeply uncomfortable.

"Okay, everybody needs to calm down."

"Yeah," Kirishima agreed. "We don't even know what happened yet."

Bakugo scoffed from the couch.

"Then maybe somebody should've checked before putting this garbage on the damn screen."

Ruru flinched.

"Excuse me?!"

"You heard me."

"Okay, WOW! I didn't know everybody was gonna attack me for trying to make a fun slideshow!"

"Nobody's attacking you," Jiro replied. "But you're acting like you had nothing to do with it."

Ruru opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Then gave a strained little laugh.

"Whatever! Fine! I'm the bad guy! I get it!"

Denki barely seemed to hear her.

His golden eyes were fixed on {user}.

There was hurt in his expression.

And confusion.

But also something else.

A desperate reluctance to believe what he'd been shown.

"Hey…"

His voice was quieter than usual.

"Please tell me there's some kind of mistake."

Ruru immediately leaned forward.

"Denki, I literally just showed you—"

"Ruru."

He didn't raise his voice.

He didn't have to.

"I wanna hear from {user}."

Ruru's smile froze.

For a fraction of a second, her expression became positively venomous.

Then she laughed.

"Right! Of course!"

She stepped aside, lifting both hands.

"Go ahead! I'm sure there's a totally hilarious explanation!"

The common room had gone completely silent.

Denki remained standing near the television, the humiliating slideshow frozen behind him.

He looked toward {user}.

"Did you really send her that stuff about me?"

Ruru folded her arms.

And waited.

After all, if {user} denied everything, she could simply accuse them of lying.

If they became angry, she could accuse them of overreacting.

And if they tried to confront her?

"Come on, {user}! Don't make this all dramatic! It was supposed to be a JOKE!"

Denki had always been the funny one.

The guy who cracked jokes during stressful training exercises, made ridiculous faces in photographs, and somehow managed to embarrass himself at least three times before breakfast.

He didn't mind making people laugh.

Actually, he loved it.

But there was a difference between making someone laugh and being treated like an idiot.

And lately, Denki couldn't stop wondering whether the person he loved understood that difference.

"DUDE! YOU'RE DOING IT AGAIN!"

Sero's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Denki blinked.

"Huh?"

"That!"

Sero gestured toward him.

"You've been staring at your phone for, like, twenty minutes!"

They were sitting in the Heights Alliance common room. A video game was paused on the television, abandoned halfway through a match.

Kirishima sat nearby, watching Denki with a concerned expression.

"Man, are you still thinking about the slideshow?"

Denki groaned.

"Can we not?"

"Dude, we're worried about you."

"I'm fine!"

Sero raised an eyebrow.

"Bro, you just lost three matches in a row because you were staring at the floor."

"Maybe the floor's just really interesting!"

Neither of his friends laughed.

Denki sighed.

"Okay. Fine. Yeah, I'm thinking about it."

Kirishima leaned forward.

"Have you talked to {user}?"

"Not really."

"Then maybe you should."

Denki dragged a hand through his hair.

"I know, I know!"

He looked miserable.

"It's just… dude, that stuff was brutal."

His voice became quieter.

"Especially the pictures from that rescue exercise."

Kirishima frowned.

"Yeah. That was pretty messed up."

"I thought we were past that, y'know?"

Denki stared at his phone.

"I worked my ass off to get better after that. And I thought {user} was proud of me."

"Maybe there's an explanation," Sero offered.

"That's what I'm hoping."

Unfortunately, somebody else had been listening.

"DEN-DEN!"

Ruru appeared from the hallway, carrying a bag of snacks and wearing her usual enormous grin.

"There you are!"

She dropped onto the sofa beside him.

"Why's everybody looking so depressed?! Did somebody die?"

Nobody answered.

Ruru looked between them.

Then her expression brightened with recognition.

"Ohhh."

She nudged Denki.

"You're still upset about that whole slideshow thing?"

Denki winced.

"Ruru, come on."

"What?!"

She raised both hands.

"I'm just asking!"

Kirishima frowned.

"Maybe don't bring it up like that."

"Oh my GOD! I'm not trying to be mean!"

Ruru laughed.

"Seriously, what's wrong with everybody lately?"

She leaned closer to Denki.

"Look, Den-Den, I get it. It sucks finding out somebody thinks you're embarrassing."

Denki stiffened.

Ruru continued.

"But honestly? You're AWESOME! Who cares what anybody else thinks?"

"That's not really the point," Sero muttered.

"Well, it should be!"

Ruru crossed her arms.

"Personally, I could never date somebody who was embarrassed to be seen with me."

Denki looked down.

"Yeah…"

Her smile widened.

There it was.

That tiny crack in his confidence.

She was getting somewhere.

"Like, seriously!" she continued. "If I had a boyfriend as funny and talented as you, I'd be showing him off EVERYWHERE!"

"Ruru," Kirishima warned.

"What?! It's a compliment!"

She flashed Denki a grin.

"You're totally boyfriend material, Kami! Don't let anybody convince you otherwise!"

Denki gave a weak laugh.

"Thanks, I guess."

"You're welcome!"

Then Ruru glanced toward the hallway.

"Oh! Speaking of relationships…"

Her eyes landed on {user}.

How convenient.

"LOOK WHO IT IS!"

Denki immediately straightened.

"{user}…"

Ruru bounced to her feet.

"Oh my God, PERFECT TIMING!"

She clapped her hands together.

"You two seriously need to talk! The tension is getting ridiculous!"

Sero closed his eyes.

"Ruru. Please."

"What?! I'm HELPING!"

Denki stood.

"Actually… she's right about one thing."

Ruru beamed.

"I AM?!"

"Yeah. I need to talk to {user}."

He hesitated.

"Alone."

Ruru's smile faltered.

"Oh."

A pause.

"Well, yeah! Obviously!"

She remained standing exactly where she was.

Denki blinked.

"…Ruru?"

"Hm?"

"Alone?"

Her expression tightened.

"Okay, WOW!"

She laughed.

"You don't have to kick me out! I'm literally just trying to help!"

"Nobody's kicking you out," Kirishima said. "They're having a private conversation."

"Fine! Whatever!"

Ruru grabbed her snacks.

"Guess I'll just leave everybody to their super serious relationship drama!"

She marched toward the hallway.

Then stopped.

"Oh, and {user}?"

She looked back with a sickeningly sweet smile.

"Maybe try remembering that your boyfriend has feelings, okay? Just a little friendly advice!"

"RURU!" Sero exclaimed.

"What?!"

Denki finally frowned.

"That's enough."

For a moment, Ruru looked genuinely surprised.

Then she shrugged.

"Whatever. Can't take a joke, apparently!"

She disappeared into the hallway, leaving an uncomfortable silence behind.

Sero stood.

"Come on, Kirishima. Let's give them some space."

"Yeah. Good idea."

The two headed toward the kitchen.

And suddenly, Denki was alone with {user}.

He looked nervous.

Far more nervous than he usually did.

"Hey…"

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Look, I know this whole thing has been weird."

He swallowed.

"I've been trying not to let it get to me, but…"

His gaze dropped toward the floor.

"That presentation really hurt."

A pause.

"And then Ruru showed me that submission record, and I just…"

He shook his head.

"I don't know what to think."

For a moment, his usual humor disappeared completely.

"I know I act like an idiot sometimes. But I never thought you actually saw me that way."

His expression softened.

"I love you, y'know? And I thought you loved me, too."

He looked directly at {user}.

"So please… just tell me what's going on."

He hadn't broken up with {user}.

He hadn't made his decision.

And despite Ruru's best efforts, he was still hoping there was an explanation that would make everything okay.

Unfortunately, from the hallway, a familiar voice suddenly called:

"HEY, DEN-DEN! YOU WANT ME TO SAVE YOU SOME PIZZA?"

Denki closed his eyes.

"…I swear to God."

Even now, Ruru couldn't stand not being the center of attention.

Friday nights at Heights Alliance were sacred.

No homework.

No training.

No teachers breathing down anybody's neck.

Just an evening of video games, snacks, and the occasional screaming match over who was cheating.

Unfortunately, tonight's game night had been organized by Ruru.

And Ruru was currently being absolutely insufferable.

"DEN-DEN! BABYYYY! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON MY TEAM!"

Denki groaned dramatically.

"RURU! YOU LITERALLY DROVE ME OFF THE TRACK!"

"BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T MOVE!"

"I WAS IN FIRST PLACE!"

"AND NOW YOU'RE NOT!"

The common room erupted into laughter.

Sero nearly fell off the sofa.

"YOU TWO SUCK!"

"SHUT UP, SERO!" Denki shouted, laughing.

Ruru giggled and leaned against Denki's shoulder.

"Awww, don't be mad, Sparky! You know you love me!"

Denki grinned.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

She pressed an exaggerated kiss against his cheek.

"MWAH! That's for being such a good boyfriend!"

Kirishima chuckled.

"Man, you guys are ridiculous."

"RIGHT?!" Ruru squealed.

She wrapped both arms around Denki's shoulders.

"We're literally PERFECT together!"

Mina shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

Jiro, sitting cross-legged on the floor, rolled her eyes.

It wasn't that anybody particularly minded Denki being happy.

It was just…

Well.

The situation was complicated.

Only a few weeks earlier, Denki had been dating {user}.

And that relationship had ended after the infamous slideshow incident.

Ruru had claimed that {user} submitted a collection of humiliating photographs and jokes about Denki's intelligence.

Denki had believed her.

The relationship had fallen apart.

And Ruru, who had supposedly been nothing more than his supportive best friend, was now his girlfriend.

A rather convenient development.

"Okay, okay!" Ruru announced, dropping her controller onto the coffee table. "New game!"

Kaminari raised an eyebrow.

"What're we playing?"

"Couples trivia!"

Sero blinked.

"…Couples trivia?"

"YEAH!"

Ruru bounced excitedly.

"It's this game where everybody answers questions about their partner, and whoever knows the most wins!"

Jiro frowned.

"Most of us aren't dating anybody."

"Well, duh!"

Ruru laughed.

"That's why you guys can be the judges!"

Bakugo, who'd been sitting in a nearby armchair, looked up from his phone.

"That sounds like the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

"OH MY GOD, BAKUGO! YOU'RE SUCH A HATER!"

"Correct."

Denki snickered.

Ruru dramatically rolled her eyes.

"Anyway! I already made the questions!"

She pulled out a stack of colorful cards decorated with little hearts.

Mina sighed.

"Of course you did."

"FIRST QUESTION!"

Ruru practically shouted it.

"What is Denki Kaminari's FAVORITE THING about his girlfriend?"

Denki blinked.

"Wait, I'm supposed to answer that?"

"YES, SILLY!"

She leaned closer.

"Come on! Tell everybody!"

Denki scratched his cheek.

"Uh…"

Ruru giggled.

"Don't be shy!"

"Okay, okay! I guess… you're fun to hang out with?"

"AAAAHHH!"

She practically launched herself at him.

"THAT'S SO CUTE!"

Sero started laughing again.

"Bro, she asked you a question and then answered it for you!"

Ruru ignored him.

"See?! That's why Den-Den and I work so well together!"

She turned toward the rest of the room.

"We actually LIKE having fun!"

Jiro's eyes narrowed.

Something about that last sentence had been a little too pointed.

Ruru continued.

"Honestly, I don't understand couples who get all serious and dramatic about everything!"

Mina frowned.

"Ruru…"

"What?"

"Maybe don't."

Ruru blinked.

"Don't WHAT?"

"You know what."

For a moment, Ruru looked confused.

Then her gaze wandered toward {user}.

And suddenly, she smiled.

"Ohhhh!"

She burst into laughter.

"WAIT! You guys don't think I was talking about {user}, do you?!"

Nobody answered.

Ruru laughed harder.

"OH MY GOD! That's actually hilarious!"

Denki's smile faded.

"Ruru, come on."

"What?!"

She threw up her hands.

"I'm literally just saying relationships are supposed to be FUN!"

Bakugo scoffed.

"Then why the hell are you giving a speech about it?"

"Because SOME people apparently need the reminder!"

Her eyes flickered toward {user} again.

"Like, seriously! Life's too short to be miserable all the time!"

"Ruru," Denki repeated.

She turned toward him.

"What, babe?"

"Can we not do this?"

Her expression changed.

Only for a second.

Then she pouted.

"Awww, Den-Den! Don't tell me you're getting all serious, too!"

Denki exhaled.

"I'm not. I just don't think we need to bring up old stuff."

Ruru's grin returned.

"Exactly! That's what I'm saying!"

She looked toward {user}.

"Some people really need to learn how to move on!"

Jiro dropped her controller.

"Oh, for crying out loud."

"What?!" Ruru protested.

"You're doing it on purpose."

"DOING WHAT?!"

"Making everything about {user}!"

Ruru gasped.

"OH MY GOD! I literally cannot say ANYTHING around you guys!"

"Then try not saying anything," Bakugo muttered.

Sero choked on his soda.

Denki rubbed his forehead.

"Guys, seriously…"

But Ruru wasn't finished.

Not even close.

She slipped off the sofa and wandered toward the coffee table, dramatically selecting another trivia card.

"Oh! Here's a good one!"

She cleared her throat.

"What should you NEVER do to someone you're dating?"

The room went quiet.

Ruru grinned.

"I've got an answer!"

Mina closed her eyes.

"Please don't."

Ruru ignored her.

"NEVER make them feel embarrassed for being themselves!"

There it was.

The accusation.

The reminder.

The same ugly little story that had ended Denki's relationship with {user}.

Ruru looked delighted.

"Right, Den-Den?"

Denki's expression tightened.

"…Yeah. I guess."

"SEE?!"

She clapped her hands.

"That's why we work so well together!"

Then she turned directly toward {user}.

Her grin became almost painfully sweet.

"Awww, don't look so serious! You're welcome to play, too!"

She held out one of the trivia cards.

"Actually, I've got a GREAT question for you!"

Jiro leaned forward.

"Ruru. Don't."

But Ruru was already laughing.

"What's the difference between being someone's girlfriend and being the reason they need a NEW girlfriend?"

Silence.

Complete silence.

Even Denki looked startled.

"Ruru, what the hell?"

She blinked innocently.

"WHAT?!"

"That wasn't funny."

Her smile faltered.

"Oh my GOD, Denki! Seriously?!"

She threw her hands into the air.

"IT WAS A JOKE!"

Bakugo snorted.

"Then where's the funny part?"

Ruru's cheeks flushed.

"YOU GUYS ARE SO SENSITIVE!"

Then she looked toward {user} again.

And smiled.

An awful, smug little smile.

"Come on, {user}! Don't tell me you can't take a joke either!"

Denki sat beside her, visibly uncomfortable.

The rest of Class 3-A watched.

And Ruru waited for a reaction.

Because if there was one thing Ruru loved more than making people laugh…

It was making somebody else the punchline.

"Okay, okay, okay! EVERYBODY ACT NATURAL!"

Ruru was practically vibrating with excitement.

Which, considering her personality, wasn't particularly unusual.

The problem was that she was currently crouched behind the Heights Alliance common room sofa with Sero and Kaminari, holding a remote control and giggling like a cartoon villain.

"Ruru, dude," Sero whispered. "Are you SURE this is a good idea?"

"YES!"

She grinned.

"It's gonna be HILARIOUS!"

Denki leaned over her shoulder.

"What's it even supposed to do again?"

"Oh my GOD, Den-Den! I literally explained it five times!"

"Yeah, but you keep changing the plan!"

"BECAUSE I'M IMPROVISING!"

Sero sighed.

This had seemed like a much better idea twenty minutes ago.

Originally, Ruru had suggested organizing a harmless prank competition.

Everybody would set up ridiculous surprises for their friends, record the reactions, and vote on the funniest one.

Simple enough.

Except Ruru's chosen target was {user}.

And suddenly the whole thing felt a lot less innocent.

"Ruru," Denki began, lowering his voice. "Maybe we should pick somebody else."

She turned toward him.

"What?! WHY?"

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"I dunno, babe. Things are still kinda awkward."

Ruru stared.

Then laughed.

"OH MY GOD! Denki!"

She nudged his shoulder.

"You're seriously STILL worried about that?"

"Well, yeah. Kinda."

"Awww!"

She pressed a hand against her chest.

"My boyfriend's such a sweetheart!"

Denki smiled faintly.

But Ruru wasn't finished.

"Come on, Sparky! It's been weeks! Everybody needs to move on!"

She waved the remote.

"Besides, it's not even mean! It's literally just a joke!"

The plan was simple.

Ruru had placed several of her Pop Parade bubbles around the common room, carefully disguising them among colorful party decorations.

When activated, the bubbles would burst in a harmless shower of confetti.

A small speaker would then play an obnoxious, pre-recorded announcement:

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'VE BEEN OFFICIALLY VOTED CLASS 3-A'S BIGGEST PARTY POOPER!

It was childish.

Embarrassing.

And absolutely unnecessary.

Especially considering Ruru had specifically chosen {user} as her target.

But naturally, she considered herself a comedic genius.

"Okay!" she whispered excitedly. "Here we go!"

Across the room, Mina was arranging snacks on the coffee table while Kirishima helped move a few chairs.

Jiro sat by the window, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone.

Bakugo occupied his usual armchair, looking thoroughly uninterested in everybody else's existence.

And {user} was within view of the common room.

Perfect.

Ruru's grin widened.

"THREE…"

Sero winced.

"TWO…"

Denki hesitated.

"Ruru, wait—"

"ONE!"

POP! POP! POP!

Several colorful bubbles burst overhead, releasing a shower of paper confetti.

The speaker crackled to life.

"CONGRATULATIONS, {user}! YOU'VE BEEN CROWNED CLASS 3-A'S BIGGEST PARTY POOPER!"

A ridiculous fanfare played.

Then came the sound of exaggerated canned laughter.

Ruru sprang out from behind the sofa.

"HAHAHAHA! GOTCHA!"

For approximately three seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Mina slowly turned around.

"…Ruru."

Ruru was practically doubled over.

"OH MY GOD! DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT?!"

Sero emerged from behind the sofa, looking deeply uncomfortable.

"Uh…"

Kirishima frowned.

"Wait, was that supposed to be funny?"

"YES!"

Ruru pointed excitedly toward {user}.

"COME ON! IT'S HILARIOUS!"

Jiro lowered her phone.

"Not really."

Ruru blinked.

"What?!"

"That was just kind of mean."

"OH MY GOD!"

Ruru threw her hands into the air.

"IT WAS A PRANK!"

Bakugo glanced up.

"Shitty prank."

"EXCUSE ME?!"

"Did I stutter?"

Ruru's smile tightened.

"Okay, wow. Guess everybody woke up on the wrong side of the bed today!"

Mina crossed her arms.

"Ruru, why do you keep singling out {user}?"

"I DON'T!"

"You literally put their name in the announcement!"

"BECAUSE IT'S PERSONALIZED!"

Jiro stared at her.

"Yeah. That's the problem."

Ruru scoffed.

"Oh, come ON! You guys are acting like I committed some horrible crime!"

Denki finally stood.

"Ruru, seriously. That was kind of messed up."

Her expression changed.

Just slightly.

"…What?"

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"I mean, I thought we were gonna do something funny. Not… whatever that was."

Ruru blinked.

Then laughed.

"Oh my GOD, Den-Den!"

She stepped toward him.

"Don't tell me you're mad at me, too!"

"I'm not mad. I'm just saying—"

"Wow."

She shook her head.

"Unbelievable."

Denki frowned.

"Ruru."

"No, seriously!"

She folded her arms.

"You know what's crazy? I go out of my way to make everybody have a good time, and THIS is how you thank me?!"

Sero sighed.

"Ruru, nobody asked you to do that."

"BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO SURPRISE EVERYBODY!"

"Yeah, well, you definitely surprised us," Jiro muttered.

Ruru ignored her.

Instead, she looked toward Denki.

And for the first time that evening, her cheerful expression became something considerably uglier.

"You know, Denki, I thought YOU of all people would understand!"

He blinked.

"Understand what?"

"That people should be allowed to have FUN!"

Her voice rose.

"I mean, wasn't that literally the problem with your last relationship?!"

The room went silent.

Denki stiffened.

"Ruru…"

"No! Seriously!"

She gestured toward {user}.

"This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about! I can't even make a harmless little joke without everybody acting like I'm some kind of monster!"

Mina stepped forward.

"Okay, stop."

But Ruru was already working herself into a frenzy.

"Honestly, I don't know how you put up with it for so long!"

"Ruru, stop," Denki repeated.

She turned toward him.

"WHAT?!"

"I said stop."

His voice wasn't especially loud.

But it was firm.

And Ruru clearly wasn't accustomed to hearing that tone from him.

For a brief moment, she looked genuinely stunned.

Then she laughed.

"Oh my GOD. Fine!"

She turned away, throwing both hands into the air.

"Whatever! Apparently nobody in this class has a sense of humor anymore!"

Bakugo scoffed.

"Or maybe you just suck at jokes."

"SHUT UP, BAKUGO!"

"MAKE ME!"

"ENOUGH."

Aizawa's voice came from the common room entrance.

Apparently, the noise had finally attracted a teacher.

He surveyed the confetti-covered floor, the abandoned speaker, and the unusually tense group of students.

Then his tired eyes settled on Ruru.

"Fujisaki."

She immediately straightened.

"Y-Yes, sir?"

"Explain."

Ruru blinked.

"Well, you see, it was actually just this really funny—"

"Explain why the common room is covered in confetti and why half the class is arguing."

Her grin faltered.

"…Oh."

Aizawa crossed his arms.

"I'm listening."

For once, Ruru seemed to struggle to find something clever to say.

Then, predictably, she looked toward {user}.

Her eyes narrowed.

And just like that, she found someone else to blame.

"Well, everything was FINE until everybody started getting upset over a harmless joke!"

She gave an exaggerated sigh.

"Honestly, {user}, I really don't understand why you always have to make things so difficult!"

Denki turned toward her.

"Ruru, come on. That's not fair."

She ignored him.

Instead, she planted her hands on her hips and stared directly toward {user}.

"So what?! Are you seriously gonna make a huge deal out of this just because I'm dating your ex?!"

Several classmates exchanged uncomfortable glances.

Aizawa remained silent, clearly waiting for an explanation.

Denki looked caught between embarrassment, frustration, and disbelief.

And Ruru?

Ruru wore that same infuriating smile.

Because even with half the class questioning her behavior, she was still convinced that she was the victim.

Create your own scenario