My Hero Academia: Nightmare Mode

The once-empty Bakusquad dorm was alive again. Laughter, chatter, and Kaminari's usual antics echoed through the halls as the students of Class 1-A returned to UA after their summer break. It was a bittersweet moment for Kikidori, who had spent the past two months in an unexpected routine with Toga. Now, with everyone back, she had to leave—sneaking out early that morning without a trace.

As the day went on, Kikidori fell back into his usual quiet demeanor, blending into the background while his classmates caught up and unpacked. He moved with precision, organizing his things and tuning out the noise. What no one realized was that today wasn't just any day—it was his birthday.

He had told no one. It wasn't because he didn't want to celebrate, but because birthdays felt... different now. Since losing his parents, they were just another reminder of what he no longer had. This year, however, was different.

His phone buzzed softly in his pocket.

*Happy Birthday, Kiki! I wish I could be there to celebrate with you. Love you. 💕*

Toga's texts had been coming in nonstop since midnight. Each one was as cheerful and affectionate as the last, filled with hearts, balloons, and teasing comments. Kikidori couldn't help but smile faintly as he read them. She was the only person who knew, and that was enough for him.

"Yo, Kikidori!" Kirishima's voice boomed as he barged into Kikidori's room without knocking, his trademark grin plastered across his face. "Why are you hiding in here? Come on, man, we're all hanging out in the common room."

"I'm fine," Kikidori replied coolly, slipping his phone into his pocket.

Kirishima frowned, stepping closer. "Come on, dude. You've been quiet all day. Even quieter than usual. Did something happen over the summer?"

"No," Kikidori said quickly, perhaps too quickly. He stood up, brushing past Kirishima. "Let's just go."

The common room was as chaotic as ever. Mina was perched on the arm of the couch, excitedly showing off new dance moves she'd learned. Kaminari was fiddling with a game console, yelling at Sero to stop stealing his snacks, while Jiro sat in the corner, nodding along to music. Bakugo, as usual, looked annoyed, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"Finally!" Mina exclaimed when she saw Kikidori. "We were wondering if you were gonna stay holed up in your room forever."

"I'm here now," Kikidori replied, sitting down on the couch.

As the night wore on, Kikidori found himself relaxing, though he kept glancing at his phone, responding to Toga's playful messages whenever he could sneak a moment.

At one point, Mina flopped down next to him, her sharp eyes narrowing. "You've been weird all day, Kiki. What's up?"

"Nothing," he said, avoiding her gaze.

Mina squinted at him suspiciously, then suddenly gasped. "Wait... is today—no way! Is it your birthday?"

The entire room went silent.

Kikidori froze, his heart skipping a beat. "No," he lied flatly, but Mina wasn't buying it.

She grinned mischievously, standing up and pointing dramatically at him. "It totally is! Guys, it's Kikidori's birthday!"

"Wait, for real?" Kaminari jumped up, nearly dropping the controller in his hand. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because it's not," Kikidori said firmly, but his reddening face betrayed him.

"Don't even try to deny it," Mina said, grabbing his wrist. "We're celebrating whether you like it or not!"

Within minutes, the common room transformed into a makeshift party. Kirishima and Sero ran to grab snacks, Kaminari turned up the music, and Mina insisted on baking a cake, despite her questionable cooking skills. Even Bakugo got roped into the festivities, though he muttered curses under his breath the entire time.

As chaotic as it was, Kikidori found himself smiling—something that hadn't come easily to him in years. For the first time, it didn't feel like just another day. And when his phone buzzed with another message from Toga, he felt a warmth in his chest that he couldn't quite explain.

*Hope you're smiling right now. You deserve it.*

The end of Chapter 30.