Chaos hit fast. Robots surged onto the field. Steel groaned. Students scattered. Bakugo launched ahead with explosions ripping the dirt behind him. Todoroki froze half the ground in a clean sweep and ran over it without slowing.
Khan tracked Midoriya. He didn't sprint at full tilt. He moved smart. Dodged debris. Used smaller bursts through his legs, just enough to clear gaps and land clean.
When a robot swung wide and clipped the group, Midoriya pivoted, hopped, and landed with a grunt. He kept moving.
Present Mic shouted commentary. Midnight laughed at a near miss.
Midoriya reached the zero-point section with the rest of the mid-pack. He hesitated for half a second, eyes flicking over the wreckage. Then he moved. He used the broken parts as stepping stones, power flowing through his legs in controlled bursts.
He cleared the section without breaking stride.
The crowd noticed.
Bakugo finished first. Todoroki followed. The rest poured in behind them in waves.
Midoriya crossed well inside the cutoff. Probably hiding his strength. Smart boy.
Endeavor leaned forward. A pro hero two rows up whispered to another and pointed at the screen. A scout tapped a tablet and frowned.
Between events, teachers shuffled. Khan stood and stretched, traded a few words with a support staffer, then sat again. He kept his spot.
The cavalry battle came next. Arguments sparked. Alliances formed together under pressure.
Midoriya stayed with General Studies. Smaller team. Less flash. He spoke quietly. His teammates nodded. They stacked their plan simple and moved.
When the match started, Iida charged early and paid for it. He recovered, but the weakness showed. He took risks that didn't need taking.
Midoriya's team slipped through openings others ignored. He used his legs to reposition, boost, and brace.
The final rounds drew blood. Bakugo roared. Todoroki froze half the field again. Explosions tore divots into the dirt. Cementoss rebuilt walls on the fly. Midnight knocked out half a team with a grin.
When Midoriya got knocked out in the later rounds, he took the hit clean and rolled. No shattered bones. He stood, bowed, and walked off under his own power.
The crowd clapped.
By the time the final match wrapped and Bakugo took the top spot with a scream that rattled teeth, the sun hung low and the air smelled of dust and sweat.
Students lined up. Awards got handed out. Cameras flashed. Parents cried. Sponsors beamed.
Khan waited.
After the ceremony, staff filtered down. Some went to congratulate. Some went to wrangle kids. Khan stood and stretched again, then made his way toward the tunnel entrance at an easy pace.
Midoriya stood off to the side with his classmates, towel draped around his neck. He laughed at something someone said, then winced and rubbed his calf. He breathed and rolled it out.
Khan approached and stopped a few steps away.
"Nice legs," he said.
Midoriya choked on his water. "S-s-sensei."
"Relax," Khan replied. "I'm talking about function."
Midoriya laughed, embarrassed. "It worked. Mostly."
"It showed," Khan said. "You didn't break yourself."
"I almost did," Midoriya admitted. "Once."
Khan nodded. "Almost doesn't count."
Midoriya glanced at his teammates, then back. "Thank you. For the advice."
"You did the work," Khan said. "I just showed a microwave."
Midoriya smiled, wide and relieved.
"Stretch tonight," Khan added. "Eat something with salt. If your legs cramp, walk it out. Don't power through pain."
"Yes, sir."
Khan stepped back and gave him space. "Enjoy the rest of the festival."
Midoriya bowed, deeper than needed. Khan waved him off and turned away.
He caught Yaoyorozu a moment later near the water station. She looked tired
"Decision trees help?" he asked.
She nodded. "They did."
"Good," he said. "You made clean calls out there."
She hesitated, then smiled. "Thank you."
Khan tipped his head and moved on.
Uraraka caught his eye from across the tunnel and gave a small thumbs up. Khan returned it.
Khan closed the door behind him and kicked his shoes off by the mat. Sakura peeked around the corner from the kitchen. She froze when she saw him, then relaxed all at once. Relief softened her shoulders. She wiped her hands on a towel that was already folded too neatly to have been used much.
"You're back," she said.
"Yeah," Khan replied. He scanned the room. Couch straightened. Books stacked. "Oh, you cleaned?"
Her cheeks colored fast. She nodded. "Yes. I cooked your favorite."
He hummed and shrugged out of his jacket. He stepped farther in, dropping his keys on the counter. He looked around again. She'd even done the bathroom.
"Mm." He walked past her into the kitchen, lifted the lid on the pot, took a look. Steam rolled up. She'd nailed it. He grabbed a spoon, tasted, nodded.
"Good."
Her smile came out small and bright at the same time. That look never got old. She hovered while he leaned back against the counter. Her hands fidgeted at her sides. She wanted to sit. She wanted to wait. She wanted him to tell her what to do.
Khan watched all of that happen without saying a word.
He set the spoon down and reached for the hem of his shirt.
Sakura moved before he finished the motion.
"Let me," she said.
He stopped and looked at her.
She stepped closer, fingers already shaking. She reached for the buttons at his collar, then paused, eyes flicking up to check his face. Permission. Always that first.
He tilted his head.
She undid the buttons slowly. Her knuckles brushed his chest. She swallowed. When the shirt slid off his shoulders, she took it from him and folded it.
She turned back to him, eyes dark now, waiting again.
"Relax," he said. "You're wound tight."
She nodded and tried. Failed. Tried again.
He reached out and hooked a finger under her chin, lifting her face to make her look at him.
"You did good," he said.
Her breath hitched. Khan leaned in and kissed her. He pulled back before she could chase it.
Her hands twitched at her sides.
"On your knees," he said.
She dropped without thinking. Knees on clean tile. She didn't even glance at the couch. She knew better.
Khan didn't drag it out. He let her have him just long enough to shake the edge off her thoughts. Enough to make her forget whatever anxiety had driven her here early with cleaning supplies and a grocery bag.
When it was over, she stayed where she was, head bowed, breathing uneven.
He zipped his pants and stepped back.
"Up," he said.
She stood, swaying a little, eyes unfocused but soft.
"Go wash your hands," he added. "Then grab your bag."
Her eyes flicked to the stove. "Dinner's ready."
"Not tonight," he said.
Her lips parted. Disappointment flashed, then vanished. She nodded. "Okay."
She washed her hands. Dried them. She grabbed her bag from the chair by the door and slipped her shoes on.
Khan leaned against the counter and watched her.
At the door, she hesitated.
"Thank you," she said.
"For what," he asked.
"For letting me help," she replied.
He snorted. "Don't thank me for doing what you wanted."
She smiled anyway.
He opened the door for her.
Khan stood there a moment longer, then went back to the kitchen. He turned the stove off, covered the pot, and slid it into the fridge. He poured himself a glass of water.
His phone buzzed. A message from Hana.
H: All good. Sakura home safe.
Khan typed back.
K: She is a good slut.
He tossed the phone on the counter and leaned back against it, staring at the ceiling.
Sakura was easy. She wanted approval. She wanted to be useful. She wanted him to tell her when to breathe and when to stop. He showered, changed, and dropped onto the couch.
Another message popped up.
Sakura: Did I do okay today?
He didn't answer.
A meal together was too much for her. She needed to know her place. Was she trying to become a wife now?
She wasn't a partner. She wasn't a girlfriend. She wasn't building anything with him.
She was property. An obedient slut. Trained to serve, nothing else.
**-**
This novel is completed. I'm currently editing the chapters and uploading them to Patreon. If you'd like to read the full novel and support my work, feel free to check it out. Available up to Chapter 68 so far.
patreon.com/EternallyPoor