AM N. NOT.(っ－＿－)っ
A while back…
Nemuri drummed her knuckles against the steering wheel, frustration coiling tight in her chest. The traffic hadn't moved an inch—not a single one—for what felt like hours. She'd dialed Maki's number three times already, but each call went straight to voicemail. No ring, no message, nothing. It was just like him to keep his phone silent, but right now, it only made her more on edge.
Then, finally—movement. The cars ahead crept forward, slow as molasses, but moving all the same. She let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, waited her turn, and eased her foot onto the gas.
As she drove past the next block, signs of chaos began to crowd the edges of her vision. Crowds clustered on sidewalks, phones held high; ambulances wailed past in a flash of red and white, sirens cutting through the hum of traffic. Nemuri's brow furrowed—this was close to home. When she drew near 23rd Street, the damage came into full view: shattered storefronts, scattered debris, deep gouges in the asphalt. For a split second, her heart jumped—did I mix up the streets? She'd sworn her condo was on 23rd, not 13th—but no, the street sign ahead confirmed it. Still, she couldn't rush; the line of cars stretched on ahead, stubborn as ever.
And then she saw them.
Massive wooden statues lined the road—impossible shapes that defied sense: centaurs with serpent heads, their forms carved so intricately they looked less like wood and more like living things frozen in time. Her jaw tightened as she slowed, and that's when she spotted the group: All Might, his broad frame unmistakable even from a distance, standing beside another woman she knew well.
It was Princess Tsunade Senju—one of UA's Latros instructors, and a combat teacher whose reputation preceded her. As the last living princess of the Senju Clan, she and her mother were the only ones left with the blood of the legendary Hashirama Senju running through their veins.
Physically, Tsunade cut an imposing figure: tall and curvy, with a build that balanced grace and raw strength. Her long blonde hair fell in two low ponytails over her shoulders, and her brown eyes were sharp as glass—warm enough when she chose, but holding an edge that promised I'll patch you up or break your spine—your call. The purple diamond mark etched into her forehead stood out stark against her skin—the seal for her Strength of a Hundred Technique, a reservoir of chakra she could call on at will.
She wore a grey kimono-style blouse tucked into navy pants, cinched with a dark obi belt and paired with sturdy sandals. Over it all draped a green haori coat embroidered with the Senju kanji. She carried herself with the poise of royalty, but anyone who'd seen her fight knew better: the moment she set her mind to it, she could shatter concrete with a single punch. A handy way to settle disputes, to say the least.
Nemuri pulled her car to the curb near the group and pressed the horn, leaning out the window. "What in the world happened here?" she called out.
All Might and Tsunade turned at the sound, and both broke into smiles—warm, knowing grins that made Nemuri's eyebrows shoot up. Why are they looking at me like that?
The two of them walked over, joined by a man in formal black attire who'd been standing nearby. Nemuri watched them approach, her grip tightening on the steering wheel.
"HAHAHAHAHA! What are the odds? One in a million, I'd say!" All Might boomed, his voice carrying even over the street's noise.
Nemuri glanced at the wreckage behind them, then back at him. "Hmmm. Seriously—what went down? This street looks like it got hit by a meteor."
"It was a void crack," Tsunade said, her tone matter-of-fact as she leaned against the car door.
"A void crack?!" Nemuri's voice shot up an octave. "Is everyone okay? Are people in the area safe?"
Fear pricked at her throat now—sharp and cold. Maki. He was just a few blocks away, and she had no idea if he'd been caught in this. "Sorry, All Might—Sis Tsuna—I have to go. I need to check on him, make sure he's—"
All Might held up a hand to stop her, his smile softening. "No need to worry, Nemuri. He's fine."
Her racing thoughts stuttered to a halt. "What do you mean?"
"He's the one who handled all of this," All Might said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Nemuri stared at him, her mind blank for a beat. "What do you mean—he handled it?"
Tsunade straightened up, her expression shifting to something more serious. "We'll talk more at your place. I want to meet him—I've got some questions I need to ask. And Isaac here—"
"Well, might as well tag along," the man in black said with a slight nod.
All Might clapped his hands together. "Then leave everything here to me! I'll keep an eye on things."
"Thank you, All Might," Isaac said. "I'll leave the Adamas in your care."
"No worries!" All Might grinned and shot him a thumbs-up.
Tsunade turned to her assistant, who'd been standing quietly a few feet away. "Shizune—you head back to the car and drive to UA first. I'll take care of some personal business."
Shizune stepped forward—a slender young woman with black hair tied in a neat ponytail, her dark brown eyes alert and focused. She had an understated presence, but every movement spoke of precision: dark high-collared blouse, matching pants, sandals, and a small pouch of medical supplies strapped to her waist. She was "medical ninja efficiency" made flesh—calm, composed, and utterly unshakable.
She rarely drew attention to herself, but anyone who looked closely could see the steel in her gaze. Mess with her in a fight or a treatment room, and you'd regret it. She was the kind of person who kept everything running smoothly while her boss smashed the ground and reminded the world who was in charge.
"Be careful, Lady Tsunade," Shizune said, her voice steady. "Let me know if anything comes up."
Tsunade nodded, then glanced at the cars still trickling past. "Take care of things at UA, alright?"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade. Leave it to me."
"Can you take us to your place, Nemuri-chan?" Tsunade asked, moving toward the passenger door. "We can talk there while we—"
A shout cut through the air: "Leader Apple! You need to see this—something's wrong with the Adamas! It's not acting like it should!"
Isaac sighed, shaking his head as he looked toward his team. "New group. Amateurs—can't leave them alone for five minutes. LadyTsunade, can you please handle the questioning and record it?"
"Leave it to me," Tsunade said. "I'll send audio files to your account—will that work?"
"More than enough. Thank you your highness." He turned and strode toward his team, calling out, "What exactly did you find?!"
Nemuri watched him go, then looked back at Tsunade, who was already opening the passenger door. "Come on, Sis Tsuna—let's go. I… I'm still not sure I believe this."
Tsunade slid into the seat, raising an eyebrow. "What's there to doubt? You heard All Might—he resolved the whole thing."
But as Nemuri started the car, her mind was racing. How? How could Maki have done this? She knew him—really knew him. He barely left the condo on a good day; he'd once said he'd stay put even if the world ended outside. The thought of him out here, facing down a void crack… it didn't make sense. It really, truly baffled her.
(っ－＿－)っAM N. NOT.