Yui stumbled backward, her heart pounding in her chest.
A solid wall blocked her path.
She couldn’t tell whether the chill creeping along her back was from the cool surface of the wall or the cold sweat beading on her skin.
The charming interior of the house, moments ago so inviting, now loomed as a scene of terror.
The two companions who had come with her were visibly shaken.
Mio flailed her arms at empty air, screaming at a father who wasn’t even there to stay.
Inoue, though not making any sudden movements, was curled up silently, trembling uncontrollably.
"Isn’t it beautiful?"
Those eerily glowing red eyes locked onto Yui.
The man in the clown costume grinned, baring his protruding front teeth in a way that both disturbed and stirred a creeping terror deep within her.
Yui pulled Mio and Inoue close behind her as she glared at the clown responsible for this nightmare.
"Oh. You’re a brave little one. I like that type."
He bowed with exaggerated flourish.
The crisp wrinkles in his pristine white outfit fluttered in stark contrast to his vivid red, painted lips.
His otherworldly, grotesque appearance made Yui’s eyes flutter uneasily.
"Nice to meet you, cute little one. I am Wiseman—the clown of dreams and hope, a friend to all children."
With a sly wink, he punctuated his greeting.
Yui slipped one hand behind Mio’s back, out of the clown’s sight, and began sending a desperate message.
-Dad, help
The clown, either oblivious or indifferent, kept his gaze fixed on Mio as he continued his unsettling explanation.
"You see, I believe that humans are most beautiful when they are gripped by fear. The kaleidoscope of expressions they make when terror overwhelms them is truly magnificent."
"W-What are you talking about?"
"Oh, is it too much for you to understand because you’re still so young? Yet you do appreciate pretty and cute things, don’t you? I certainly do. In short, that is exactly why all of this is happening."
Intoxicated by his own words, he gestured passionately.
Although his voice was unusually high for an adult man, there was an abrasive, scratchy quality to it that filled the cramped room.
"I long to witness humans, plunged into despair and cast into the abyss by fear, struggle in their final moments—but no one ever lends me a hand. Ignorant mortals, blind to the grandeur of art. Ah, but I’m not talking to you, so there’s no need to be frightened. When you’re young, it’s only natural to not fully understand greatness."
Desperation surged through Yui as she searched frantically for a means of escape.
The wall was pressed against her back.
The only door in this room lay beyond the clown calling himself Wiseman.
That meant she’d have to break past him somehow to flee.
"But how?"
Considering the clown’s lanky frame—almost as tall as Kirishima—it seemed nearly impossible to force a way through him.
Moreover, the two people behind her were in such a bad state that she wasn’t sure if abandoning them was even an option.
Her mind felt paralyzed by tension, unable to formulate a plan.
"Now then, my brave little friend, take a look at the faces of the two beside you. That little one who seems to be your friend is reacting in a textbook manner!"
Before she knew it, Yui’s eyes shifted toward Mio’s tear-stained face.
Mio, pressed against the wall, was inching backward as if trying to vanish, tears streaming down her face.
Though Yui couldn’t quite decipher what Mio saw, the raw anguish etched on her face sent shivers down Yui’s spine.
"Ahh. Isn’t that a compelling sight? A look that seems to soak the barren heart of this wretched clown. And the adult over there remains inexplicably calm—which makes it even better. Those types, when broken, reveal an intensity that is simply thrilling!"
"I don’t know about all that soaking, but one thing’s for sure—you’re insane."
"Oh, I’m not insane. You are."
The clown chuckled with a ridiculous expression as he pointed directly at Yui.
Just as he was about to speak again, the door behind him creaked open.
Hope flickered in Yui’s heart as she thought Kirishima might have arrived.
But instead, a bear draped entirely in black fur stepped through the doorway.
"I did as I was told. I’ll get you to see Mama soon. Wiseman promised—and Wiseman keeps his promises."
"Quiet! I’ll take care of it once I’m done here, so just stay still. If you start causing a ruckus, I’ll show you the monster under the bed again."
"O-Okay. I’ll wait quietly. I promise to behave."
The bear, speaking in a clumsy tone, simply stood behind him.
The clown’s face twisted into an expression of irritation before he returned his focus to Yui with a smile.
"Now, where was I? Ah, right. I was saying our brave little friend is downright crazy. Let’s see if you’re as smart as you are brave. Tell me this: why do the two people beside you look that way?"
"How should I know?"
"Oh my, it seems my little friend isn’t very bright after all. Of course, it’s all thanks to my Quirk. Right now, both of them are seeing their deepest fears. It’s utterly entertaining—more thrilling, they say, than any horror movie. Ah, don’t you think I’m too kind? They get their thrill, I get to feast on their beautiful expressions, and it even gives them a chance to overcome their trauma! I really should have earned a psychology license."
"What do you mean, Quirk?"
Yui was about to dismiss the clown’s absurd ramblings when it suddenly struck her—a mental-type Quirk might just be possible.
Though mental Quirks were rare, they weren’t as nonexistent as something like Bombay blood or Rh-null.
"A bit late, but correct! I can reveal anything I wish—be it your fears or your desires. Unfortunately, I don’t exactly know what each one is, as it depends on your life experiences."
"That’s why I like Wiseman—if you just listen, he shows you the good things."
"You, be quiet! Don’t say another word until this is over!"
"Okay. I won’t talk."
"Then tell me, why am I not conjuring an illusion? If that thought doesn’t cross your mind, you must be a monkey. I doubt my little friend is that foolish."
With the situation growing ever more dire, Yui felt her resolve beginning to crumble.
A Quirk that could display whatever its wielder desired left her with no easy route of escape.
Any attempt to put distance between them would surely trigger an illusion that’d render her helpless. To make matters worse, the only exit was barred by that enormous bear.
Just when despair threatened to consume her, Yui recalled Kirishima’s words from before.
"Listen carefully. Ojiro—if you, too, dream of becoming a Hero, there’s something you must remember. And Yui, this applies to you as well. It might be early, but it never hurts to know."
Kirishima’s grave expression, so unlike his usual gentle smile, startled her.
"Fundamentally, you, I, and Yui are all destined to develop abilities that lean toward combat. Even if you become a Hero someday, fighting will be your primary duty. So heed my words: never, ever give up. Struggle until your last breath."
With an unwavering intensity on his face, he continued, "Fighting as a Hero means there are people counting on you. You must not give up. I won’t say you’ll never fall—after all, the world is vast and Quirks vary wildly, so mismatches are inevitable—but never let yourselves be the first to break. Fight with every ounce of courage, and do not end up running away with your tail between your legs."
After his stirring words, Kirishima’s expression softened once more.
Yui remembered the gentle way he had patted her head and wondered if it was all perhaps too soon for her to bear such expectations.
She could still feel the warmth emanating from his massive hand.
Resolutely, Yui clenched her fist.
The clown beamed at her defiant expression, laughing so heartily that it seemed his mouth might split wide open.
"Ahh. What a magnificent look! I adore the face of someone who's both proud and brave. It’s precisely for that reason I left you unscathed. The expression of one lone soul, abandoned while others flounder in a sea of fear, is nothing short of exquisite—it’s art!"
"Is that so? Still, I’m not going to kneel before you."
"Oh, of course you should. And mark my words—you will kneel. You’ll beg me to spare your life, and perhaps even plead for the two behind you. Look at the reality, little one: you’re nothing but a small, weak child burdened with two others."
He curled a finger and sneered.
As infuriating as it was, Yui had to admit the overwhelming disadvantage she faced.
"Your confident stance now is entirely due to the mercy I’ve bestowed upon you. Understand this: you cannot defeat me—you can’t run. And behind me stands a foolish yet mighty bear. So tell me, little one: who will be the one to drown in a sea of blood after tasting despair?"
"No matter what you say, I’m not giving in."
"What? Haven’t I made myself clear? You can do nothing! You’re a powerless child, alone in this world. Who is there to help you? No one. Give up, little one, for no one will come to your rescue. This house has been sealed off by my Quirk! Anyone who comes near will only see the illusion meant for them. Now, tell me—who will save the brave but fragile child standing against a Villain?"
"I will."
"What?"
Before the clown could protest further, a large, powerful hand burst through the door, seizing the bear by the back of its head.
Soon after, Kirishima appeared, tearing the door apart as he charged in.
He slammed the bear onto the floor and declared, "I’m the one who’s going to save her. Don’t you understand Japanese? No answer? Then let me say it in English: I am her champion."
Leaving the stunned clown behind, Kirishima barreled forward and smashed down the wall behind Yui.
The clown could only stutter in shock at the sheer swiftness of it all.
"You! How—how did you get in here? No one should be able to come within thirty meters!"
"Run now. It’s sudden, but I’ll stop him before he can target you."
Yui’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of Kirishima’s broad, sturdy back.
It was like an unyielding mountain.
Seeing him so energized for the first time bolstered her resolve, steadying her heart on the verge of surrender.
She longed to rush into his arms and weep, but now was not the time.
Though Kirishima had felled the bear, the clown still stood—and if his words were to be believed, Yui remained within his reach.
Without hesitation, Yui sprinted toward the light.
"Hey, wha—kgh!"
"Shut up."
From the very moment Yui began to move, Kirishima sensed her every step within his territory.
He lunged at the clown, preventing him from halting her progress.
Every Quirk comes at a price—concentration, stamina, and the like.
Such abilities often falter the moment focus is broken.
A supersonic jab slammed into the clown’s mouth.
Broken teeth burst forth, scattering through the air.
He had pulled his punch just enough to avoid being lethal, sparing his face from complete destruction.
"Kuaaaah!"
Just as Kirishima prepared to land another crushing blow, the bear—previously down—rose, roared, and swung its massive forepaw.
With claws flailing across his vision, Kirishima laughed heartily.
Unlike the clown, who had nothing but his Quirk, this was an opponent worth striking.
And so began a grim ballet of blood and shattered bones.
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