Waking up the next day, the headache persisted, making him want to stay in bed.
He even called out of school because his head was that bad.
Around noon the worst of it tapered off.
He dragged himself to the kitchen while his mom was away, probably grabbing something for dinner.
He saw a bowl with a film covering it. There was writing that said "For Jun, from Mom".
He silently thanked his angel of a mother as he tore the film off, devouring its contents.
Mid-meal, he looked at the stove and the sudden want to test his accidental discovery blossomed.
He reached over, turning it on… only to remember it was an electric stove.
With a frustrated groan he turned the stove off.
Looks like I'll have to buy a lighter. I wonder if they're age-restricted here.
He put another spoonful into his mouth, savoring the wonderful home-cooked meal.
Doesn't matter, with Toga's quirk… Right! Toga!!
He quickly stuffed his face with the rest of the food before washing it off in the sink.
He hopped two steps at a time up the stairs before reaching his room, grabbing his phone.
Wait… she'd be in school right now.. why am I such an idiot today?
Jun rubbed his temples, blaming the lingering mild headache for the lack of brain function.
Still sending a text wouldn't hurt.
[Junfun: Text me when you get out of school.]
As he went to switch the app to the internet, a message immediately pinged back.
[Bloodqueen: Jun… I need you…]
That's more clingy than usual.
[Junfun: Need more blood? I just sent you some like last week.]
[Bloodqueen: Jun…]
Jun rubbed his eyes. "I do not have the brain power to unravel this."
He hit the call button.
First ring…
Second ring…
Third ri– "Hello?"
"Toga, I have a headache and can't really think, so you gotta be blunt. What do you need?"
"Oh… I hope you get better."
"Thanks, but the reason you need me?"
"It's my mom again…"
Jun felt his headache pulse harder, frustration about this subject already brewing.
That line has been more frequent over the last few months. Time to act.
"Do you need me to buy you a train ticket?"
"What?"
"A train ticket, so you can come here."
There was silence on the other line before a choked sob was heard. "That's not funny."
Jun softened his tone, understanding her confusion. "It's not supposed to be. But you haven't answered the question."
"...Are you really going to buy a ticket?"
"Yep."
Another few seconds of silence, before she quietly answered. "Yes please…"
Jun turned the call to speaker mode, opening up the internet.
"Do you need today or tomorrow?"
"Today, please..."
"Alright, give me a second."
Jun navigated to a website that allowed to buy online tickets. Taxi? Nah she'd arrived at night. Plane? Nah, that's a bit too much. Train? That would work, fast, easy, and apparently cheap.
"Man, train tickets are cheap, I should have done this way sooner."
A few clicks later and the ticket was bought, then he copied the information into a message. "Alright, I'll send you the link and code. See you in a few hours."
"That easy?"
"Yep, that easy, crazy that it took me this long to be honest."
"I… thank you, Jun."
"You can thank me in person, Toga. See you soon?"
"Yeah… you will."
The line went dead, Jun rubbed his eyes, head starting to ache again as he set his phone aside
Yet he knew that this was at best a band-aid to the larger issues, but it was a start.
"Let's go get a lighter, test out this new fused flame quirk before I just decide to pass out."
***
After a quick internet search, Jun was disheartened to see that while not restricted by age by law, many sellers treated a lighter as a tobacco accessory.
So he looked in the house, eventually finding one that was probably meant to light candles.
Jun held the button down with his index, running his thumb against the gear to hear that satisfying click.
He had already deactivated Biological Blueprint to stay below his hard limit, loading in this new fused flame based orb as an active quirk.
As soon as the fire hit the air, Jun felt an inexplicable tie to the flame.
Using his free hand to guide the flame, it eventually created a three-foot-long line of pure flame.
When Jun tried to extend the flame more, the opposite end shortened.
So that's my limit?
Jun spent time shaping the flame into more complex patterns. Noticing that the limit in this regard was purely in his hand speed.
Now how do I…
He remembered a scene in season 2… or was it 3? Of My Hero Academia, which had Endeavor compressing his flame into a hotter blue like Dabi's.
So if I push in on both sides, should it do something similar?
He put his hands on both sides of the floating flame, pushing his hands together.
He felt the slight resistance of the flame, and the heat that started to build with it.
I don't know if this quirk comes loaded with Fire Resistance…cross my fingers.
Slowly the color started to change. Brighter blue, yet smaller in size.
Is the quirk also limited by temperature? Or just lack of control?
When Jun was finished he had about an inch of blue flame. He couldn't make it any larger.
He flicked it around, trying to come up with more ideas before letting the flame die out.
So as long as I concentrate, the flame seems to exist. It reminds me of fire-bending from 'Avatar' in a way, except way less in size.
He slid the lighter back into the drawer he found it in.
Next time, I'll check out its damage… maybe add it to my baton? Flame enchantment on my melee weapon.
Jun let out a yawn, looking at his phone. "I can get a nap in before Toga arrives."
Then the sudden thought of explaining why he had brought a girl home to his parents crept into his mind.
"Why… Why am I so stupid?"