A lone girl was sitting on a stool in the middle of the night, vacant eyes staring into the sleeping visage belonging to a masked woman lying on an unfamiliar bed not of hers.

Her legs carried her faster unlike any other day. She almost found herself lost in her footing a few times as she entered the nearest train station and swiped her phone on the scanner to proceed. She gave no thought to the stares watching her young figure run across the area. There were not as many people in the night compared to the day, so no one stood in her way of entering the train to the hospital her dear mother was sent to.

Weary half-lidded gray eyes examined the patient. Band-aids were plastered on her cheek and bandages rolled around her neck, possibly more underneath the hospital gown and blanket, and most prominently on her head. An IV was attached to her exposed and bandaged forearm.

Once she ran out of the barely vacant train car of staring eyes ("Why is a minor girl here at midnight? Doesn't she have school to worry about?"), Tsumugi exited the train station and followed the map on her phone. She failed to recognize a police officer standing watch.

Tsumugi squeezed the hand that was underneath her own. She had grasped the small pale hand with hers ever since she sat down and was left by the nurses for her own privacy. She didn't pay mind to the pitying solemn looks casted her way before closing the door.

She wanted to choke.

No matter how much she could sense it, the warmth was still barely hanging on.

"Excuse me, young lady with the ribbons! What are you doing at this time-"Tsumugi shrugged the hand off her shoulder and continued to search for the hospital. She was murmuring incoherent things to herself, seemingly turning a blind eye to her surroundings. "Hospital...Hospital...I have to go, it's urgent, I can't stop now... "

Tsumugi closes her eyes. Only the sound of beeps occuring in a slow yet steady beat can be heard.

Unlike the monitor, her own heart felt like bursting any minute.

The white empty corridors were silent, hollow, and suffocating. The moment she had the room located, she briskly walked there, nearly bumping into doctors around corners. The taps in her steps gradually became heavier and uncontrollable the more she sped up.

Tsumugi wondered how long has it been since she abandoned her sleep completely and made her way to Mahiru's side. An hour at least?

It was only that brief moment before she tossed the thought aside. No, none of that matters.

Her lips quivered.

Why did this happen? Was it her fault? Was it because she left Mahiru to her own devices that the woman ended up in the hospital? If she and her mother had talked it out, could this have been avoided? Tsumugi was the only one to have known that solution, yet she couldn't bring herself to do such a simple thing.

It was because it was simple that Mahiru got into an accident.

The guilt eating her heart told her that.

Was the accident really unavoidable? Car accidents are rare cases, especially in this day and age where quirks and villains are usually the topic of the news.

Wasn't there someone nearby to help? There are pro heroes who have night shifts, right? Practically everyone, hero or civilian, has a quirk. Did no one have a suitable quirk to prevent that car from crashing? Or was it...

"Yes, it's exactly what you think~"

Charcoal gray eyes shot open. That voice...

A dark shadow loomed over her from behind. There was no need for her to look at the source because she knows that daunting voice. The face of childlike innocence made it all the more despicable.

"Society is too weak to even protect a single civilian from a measly car. How sad."

"Shut up."

"You had the slither of faith in society's generation of heroes. Now you've lost it all."

"Stop..."

"You're disappointed. You hate them. You hate this treatment the quirkless have to suffer. You despise the world."

"I don't... They did their best to help..."

"But most importantly, you regretted not having a quirk to save your family."

Her fist pounded the counter beside the bed.

Beads of sweat broke out while she panted and heaved the frustration out slowly but surely.

From behind her, a ghost of a sinister smile resembling the crescent moon giggled.

"You'll never hide from me. I am you, you are me. I am Tsugumi, your true innermost thoughts and feelings."

Tsumugi sensed her cold whisper in her ear, "It's okay to admit them. No one will hate you for that. C'mon, you'll feel better..."

There was no immediate response. Tsumugi had to regain her senses together until suddenly knocks were made from the door.

Tsugumi's presence vanished just before the muffled voice spoke, "Excuse me, this is Tsukauchi Naomasa, may I enter?"

Gray eyes slowly widened. "Tsukauchi...? Y-Yes, please!" She spoke loud enough for him to hear.

When the door slid open, a familiar man with black hair and eyes soften upon meeting her figure.

"It's been a while, Tsumugi-san."

"Y-Yeah..." She pondered whether to address him as a figurative uncle figure or not.

"Wh-What brings you here, u-uncle Tsukauchi...?" She felt a slight tinge of embarrassment appear as she somewhat stumbled on her words. Maybe she'll just stick to the honorifics for the meantime.

He seemed unfazed by this as he formed a small smile. "I know this is a sudden meeting, but I'd like to move our discussion elsewhere, if you don't mind..." He glanced at the unconscious woman lying in bed sadly.

Tsumugi nodded. "O-Of course."

When the two shifted to the hallway right outside Mahiru's room, Tsukauchi stood in front of Tsumugi who sat on a sofa and peered up at him curiously.

The man apologetically returns her gaze. "I'm sorry to say this when you were still accompanying Mahiru-san, but because it's night time, will you be patient with me? My men are investigating the scene as we speak-"

"My mom..." Tsumugi unintentionally cut in, "When... When will she wake up?"

Silence.

As Tsukauchi searched for an appropriate response, Tsumugi realized her mistake and quickly said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to ask you that... I'm sorry..."

She bowed her head as an apology. It was obvious he wouldn't have the answer to that. He's not a doctor. Plus, she placed the pressure on him without thinking twice. How inconsiderate...

Soon a large warm hand patted her head. Tsumugi slowly tilts her chin up to meet his reassuring smile.

"There's no need to apologise. For now, how about I drive you home? It's dangerous for a young lady to wander in the night by herself." Tsukauchi softly said.

His gentle gesture reminded her of how Mahiru would act similarly when she needed comfort. The most prominent person before her though, was the man who Tsumugi had lost since her childhood years. He was fond of running his warm hands through her hair and mess them into ruffles. In return, she had become a bit affectionate and internally enjoyed the unrefined touch.

Now she forgot it almost completely. How could she have forgotten her father's touch?

Before the tears pricked her eyes, the girl lowered her head and nodded once.

"Okay, thank you..."

The ride back to her home was quiet. Naturally the atmosphere was awkward and tight-lipped between them. Tsumugi was only mildly aware of the driver's lingering concern while she was preoccupied with her own depressed thoughts.

When they arrived at her apartment, Tsukauchi wished her a goodnight before promising to return whenever she is ready to call his number. He was mindful of the time she needed to bring herself together and would patiently wait until the girl calms down.

Tsumugi could only mumble some things in response and watch as the man left the hall before her feet unconsciously lured her to the front of her door. By the time she shut the door behind her, her body collapsed on the sofa.

And just like that, she succumbed to her exhaustion.

...

[8:40 a.m. - The same day, UA Entrance Exam]

As students who dream to enroll into UA High School entered the window paned building, Izuku hastily ran up before the gate. He thought he would've been late but fortunately that worry was out of the window.

"I made it..." He breathed out, recovering from the sudden rush and walking inside with hands gripping his backpack straps.

In the end, he didn't have time to test out the power he recieved from All Might.

Izuku covered his mouth with a pale dubious look in his eyes. He swallowed the hair in order for the quirk to be absorbed as his own, but would that really work?

"Outta my way, Deku!"

Izuku released his mouth and looked behind him to find the familiar ash blonde approaching.

"Kacchan!"

"Don't stand in front of me. I'll kill you." He had a scowl as he brushed past the flustered teen flailing his arms awkwardly out of habit.

Izuku let his arms fall limp and called out to him, "W-Wait! Kacchan, have you seen Tsumugi-chan? I was in a rush, so I thought I'd see her by the entrance..."

Bakugou paused in his tracks. He did notice the lack of rabbit-ears accompanying the green-haired boy. "I haven't." Was all he said before moving on his way.

"O-Oh..." Maybe she overslept or something. Knowing her though, she wouldn't pass up on the opportunity to get into UA. She'll definitely come.

Remembering the times Tsumugi was courageous and supportive, Izuku was filled with determination despite his legs shaking nervously. Remember those past ten months of training in hell! Take the first step...

He boldly puts out one foot forward.

...to being a hero!

Somehow the next step led to kicking the back of his heel and caused him to lean forward to the earth.

This is it. This is the end for him.

When Izuku thought he would crawl in a hole and die afterwards, the gravity that was pulling him ceased. He blinked once to find himself frozen in midair.

"Are you all right?"

The voice woke his stupor and he proceeded to panic. However he stopped when the person beside him settled his feet to the ground. A brunette girl with perpetual pink cheeks folded the pads of her fingers together and smiled.

"It's my quirk. Sorry for using it without asking first. But it'd be bad luck if you fell, right?"

Amidst his speechlessness, a stray thought of his friend standing next to him chuckling almost dryly popped up.

Unaware of this, the stranger continued merrily, "Aren't you nervous?"

"Uh..." Was Izuku's clever response.

"Let's do our best. See ya!" She sent a quick wave as she went inside the school.

Izuku stood dumbly in the middle of the path until he recollected his thoughts. That girl was nice and a good sport! If he manages to get accepted into UA, he hopes to befriend her or at least meet people like her.

He's sure Tsumugi will like that as well.

...

The living room was silently still and dark, hiding from the sunlight slipping underneath the flare of closed curtains.

From the sofa, a laid figure unconsciously turned to face the ceiling, groaning and moaning.

Heavy eyelids slowly opened to reveal dull gray slates.

Tsumugi propped her upper half from the leather cushion as she rubbed the drowsiness off her eyes.

She craned her head over the ledge of the sofa to see the sunlight burning strong and winced. When she looked to the clock, it was indeed past noon, further confirming her suspicion of her prolonged sleep.

Tsumugi rested her gaze on her lap for a solid minute, mind blank.

A frown pulled at her lips before she persuaded herself to freshen up.

Only dull footsteps were heard as she made a beeline for the bathroom. Once Tsumugi stood in front of the mirror and before the sink, she found herself surprised of her reflection.

For starters, she looks like an utter disaster. Her bed hair, despite kept in her usual ponytail during her sleep, was wild like a lion's mane. Some strands that framed her face stuck out in different directions she didn't like.

Her now half-lidded eyes were rimmed of weariness and exhaustion, which would be less worse off than prior to her mind escape from reality.

Had she looked like this when she went out at the middle of the night also? Did she look so miserable while she paced through the streets and in the hospital?

When she washed her face, she was unable to regain the usual sharp edge in her eyes, for she did not have the strength to do so. Rather than recovering her energy from sleep, the effects this time were the opposite.

Her heart feels heavy and constricted. Those are obviously not good signs, so Tsumugi attempted to breathe and ease the tightness in her chest. It worked only for a fraction.

The girl hasn't felt this way ever since her father passed away. As a little child, the unbearable sensation of denial had took more of a toll on her body than now. However this time, her heart wasn't breaking down from rejection. It sprouted from fear.

Tsumugi was relieved when the worst case scenario hadn't struck her dear mother. Mahiru is still alive. Yet the anxiety overwashed that relief almost immediately.

When will she awaken from her comatose state? What if something within her body suddenly acts up without her knowing? What if she'll stay like that for a decade, or even more? There's also the hospital bill to worry about now. If she can't pay them, there will be no guarantee the woman will survive, especially when Tsumugi has an education to prioritize.

For a moment, a fleeting thought crossed her mind but she quickly turned it down. This is a family problem, a responsibility no one but herself can take. There's no way she'll have the Bakugou or Midoriya families be involved. Not at all.

It's all up to Tsumugi to take care of the remaining (direct) family she had desperately clung to since the death of her loving father. As a child she even swore on his grave that she would protect her mother in his place.

The teen runs a hand through her hair, letting her body sink to the cool tiled floor as the guilt returned once again. Her pale arms wrapped around her trembling frame did nothing to calm the toxic turmoil in her chest.

Now she's alone.

...

After a couple of hours of eating ice cream to relieve some of the depression, Tsumugi mustered the will to use her phone she had left untouched since she had awakened today. Upon glancing at the date and time, she came to a dreadful realization.

The entrance exam to UA was already over.

...

Tsumugi's mind paced back and forth anxiously to the ticking seconds of the clock echoing the silent home.

What should she say to Izuku?

She had once attempted to contact UA for a makeup exam on the same day, but of course that didn't go as well to her liking. The after-taste from dealing with the person on the other line didn't settle pleasantly, especially when they seemed like the strict and intolerant character.

Though, she has only herself to blame.

Gray eyes glanced at a black phone sitting on the sheets of the bed and beside her feet. It had vibrated a few times from the past hour and now laid silent in its sleep mode.

When she had checked the screen, several text messages and missed phone calls were listed.

Tsumugi gritted her teeth and screamed into a pillow. Frustration, in this moment, was an ugly and pathetic thing to experience.

The frustration of herself caved in her heart as though it rightfully belonged to there. An evident glaze in her eyes shut themselves as a pitiful whimper sharply escaped her throat.

What can she say to Izuku?

...

Black eyes peered into another pair of dark irises.

Tsukauchi's amiable smile had disappeared once he met her even gaze. Something had changed in her. It wasn't a stark difference, but now her brows were furrowed almost perpetually. When he first met her eight years ago, he remembered the child bearing a similar expression. One of loss and immense sadness.

Now it seemed as though desperately seeking hope that was all lost.

The detective was sitting across her with a table of two untouched green tea mugs set aside. She doesn't seem to have any intention on laying her hand on it at any moment, making the atmosphere more grave than possible.

Tsukauchi closed his eyes briefly before he withdrew a thin document from his suit. Gray eyes were watching his every move.

"My men and I had investigated the scene," He began. "When we were gathering eyewitness testimonies, one of them brought up something...interesting."

No response.

He assumed the permission to continue and said, "The driver whose car had struck your mother... They had fled with the intent of harming an innocent citizen."

Tsumugi's eyes flared instantly.

"What..."

"According to their testimonies, the driver, whose face was completely obscured, deliberately sped up in spite of the red traffic light and jumped out once the car was about to collide into your mother. The fact that the wheel was free of control further attests this."

Pale hands formed into fists atop the table. The tea's surface rippled slightly from the trembling.

"That damn bastard..." Tsumugi growled lowly, unable to refrain her tongue. What kind of face did they make when they thought of that despicable idea? Just thinking of that made her glare daggers at her mug.

Tsukauchi was not offended in the slightest, for he also shared the sentiment internally.

Before he would allow her rage to peak though, he spoke, "Tsumugi-san, is it possible there's someone you or your mother may know who shares an unpleasant relationship with?"

Said girl blanked into confusion. She blinked twice. "Not...that I've known..."

Would Mahiru have done something to upset someone? The kind and loving mother who wanted nothing but peace and happiness for her family? She would never do anything immoral. Tsumugi won't believe it after being her blood daughter for 16 years.

As for herself, she doesn't know anyone who would have the balls to enrage her after attempting to kill her mother. No one will ever get away with that, not on her watch.

"I see..." Tsukauchi said. "Forgive me. There was an assumption that the culprit had planned to target Mahiru-san from the beginning. Oddly enough, it seemed plausible, though I'm not sure why."

The man opens the document to a page. "When I searched up her family records, I was surprised to find minimum information."

Tsumugi lifted her head. "What do you mean?"

Tsukauchi furrowed his brows as he skimmed the paper. Then he meets her gaze asking, "If you don't mind me asking, has Mahiru-san made any mention of her side of the family?"

The raven-haired teen pursed her lips. "Now that you've mentioned it... no."

Grandfather Tsubaki doesn't count since he is only a grandfather by name and he was more closer with her father Hotaru.

A cold hollow space suddenly filled her chest.

How come she hasn't asked this until now, when her mother is unable to answer in her coma?

Tsukauchi proceeded, "According to my findings, she was disowned by her parents at the age of 4, presumably because of the discovery of an absent quirk, and was sent to an orphanage. She was never adopted even after the age of 18, but she managed to do well with her grades. Regardless, Mahiru-san didn't have much history. I suppose it's understandable," He muttered, "She was abandoned for being quirkless, and couldn't find the history because of society."

Tsumugi didn't know how or what to react.

To not find a family from childhood to the time she's a legal adult is...sad. Was Mahiru still thinking optimistically like she displayed during Tsumugi's time as well? Or did she dislike society for her status as a human being of no powers? Tsumugi wanted to know as much as she wanted to with her father's. Yet, both were unable to open their past to her before they unwillingly closed off their world from the girl.

Was that purely coincidence? Or is someone pulling the strings of her cruel world without guilt?

"Your father and I were lonely once, until we found each other and discovered that we truly love each other not because we both have no quirks, but because we understood each other too well. We both wanted a family to love and protect."

Mahiru smiled. "Your father was the light of my life. I followed after his light and was able to find true happiness. He was my firefly. And you're..."

Tsumugi pushed back the tears threatening to rise. She brushed the side of her head to finger one of the hairclips Mahiru had bought for her recent birthday. It felt like a day had passed since then.

"You're my star."

Tsumugi exhaled. "I see."

A frown slightly pulled at Tsukauchi's lips. "Regarding your mother," He began, "I will be your guardian in her absence. I will come to check on you every morning for the sake of your safety. Is that all right with you?"

Somehow the news didn't surprise the girl. She had predicted this man would wound up making her his responsibility at some point, whether temporary or permanent. Regardless, she doesn't mind. There's something about him that Tsumugi can fully trust in. Perhaps that's his charm; to gain people's trust and faith.

"Yes. Thank you, Tsukauchi-san." Tsumugi said.

She watched said man leave his chair to place a firm hand on her shoulder. Gray eyes meet determined black ones.

"I swear I will get to the bottom of this. Please believe in me. Have hope in your mother." His eyes creased in the end.

Tsumugi stared. Had she ever predicted this turn of events would happen, she wouldn't have been so naive. How could she have believed Mahiru would be safe in a society where danger lurks in every corner? Where people smile blissfully knowing evil will be eradicated by heroes?

Such bliss doesn't exist in her world. Neither will a smile that pretends everything will be all right.

"I know."

...

Emerald green eyes stared at the empty desk behind him more often than he could count.

Izuku was worried. Tsumugi hadn't answered his attempts to reach her at all. Although he saw that his messages were marked as read, the fact that the girl didn't reply a simple "ok" -or anything for that matter- meant something was wrong. She's not the type to leave the recieving end on hold. There would always be some type of confirmation that she acknowledged something.

Yet there was none.

He also wanted to know if she made it into UA. The freckled boy had not once seen her face at the high school nor had heard rumors of a girl with rabbit ear-like ribbons. Even when he had resorted to calling the Kuroyanagi house phone, no one picked it up.

Was her mother also not-

"Ah, Kuroyanagi. Good morning."

Izuku swerved his head to the classroom entrance upon the homeroom teacher's name call. A relieved smile lifted his lips.

Thank goodness! He was afraid she might have stayed home sick.

The teacher continued with a slight frown, "You're late, Kuroyanagi. It's been five minutes since the bell rang."

"...Sorry."

There was a moment of silence until she had apologized and slowly tread to her seat.

A pair of crimson red eyes began to notice the strange delay of response and followed her unsuspecting figure.

Meanwhile the lack of sincerity behind her apathetic tone only upset the man. However he soon dismissed it as slackening behavior. "Just because the end of your junior high years is around the corner doesn't excuse you from losing appeal for being late. Please come on time, Kuroyanagi."

An automatic hum was only heard as she settled on her seat and slung her bag over the hook by the side of her desk.

Izuku was watching her behavior since she entered for only a minute, yet he recognized several things right off the bat that were unusual. Untamed strands of ebony black hair protruded in awkward directions, making her sporting a wild hairstyle. Tsumugi must've woke up late and was in a rush to not pay mind to her appearance, he concluded.

(Tsumugi was picked up by Tsukauchi. Being a punctual man, the girl had awoke with enough time to eat, refresh, and prepare for the day. There was no traffic on the way to school either by car.)

When attendance was in session, a certain name had been repeated more often than not.

A fellow classmate who sits next to her tapped her shoulder almost tentatively. He whispered, "Kuroyanagi..."

Izuku watches Tsumugi slowly blink before meeting the many stares of her classmates, including himself. Whether she acknowledged the silent message lurking in his gaze, she made no notion.

(Tsugumi didn't want to. Yet she did underneath the turmoil feeling burdening her thoughts. She feared the light of those eyes piercing through her very being. She doesn't want to be aware.)

Her lips pulled back before muttering, "Here..."

Izuku furrowed his brows.

Why does she sound so...sad?

...

A pair of shoes stomped and quaked the floor until they arrive before the unsuspecting head donning long ears.

"Oi, Rabbit!"

Droopy ears twitched only slightly before sinking low. Dark eyes dragged themselves above the empty surface of the desk.

Tsumugi looks at him with a hand pressed to her cheek and the other limp atop the desk.

"What?" She said.

Bakugou scowled more intensely than before. "The hell's with that weak response? Why do you look like a dead fish that's been rotting for a year? Huh? Where was your ass at during the entrance exam?"

Upon hearing the last sentence, a flicker of something akin to horror knifed her expression. Bakugou's brows slightly rose. That's the first time he's seen such a face formed by the girl. But why did she act up from that?

Tsumugi pressed her lips into a thin line and looked to the curled hand forming in front of her.

"I was at a different testing room. I guess it's because I wasn't in the hero course exam that you didn't see me. I'm quirkless, after all."

"Liar."

Tsumugi's fingers twitched almost on reflex while her breath hitched in her throat. A bead of sweat fell by her temple. She lifts her gaze to find Bakugou's confused stare.

It wasn't him who said that.

"What's with you? You look like you saw a ghost." The blonde remarked, unamused.

After a quick recovery, Tsumugi huffed. "As if. I don't believe in ghosts. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be in the ladies' room." She leaves her seat only to be grabbed by the shoulder.

The raven head stared ahead, the need to look back unnecessary. "Let go." She solemnly said.

"Or else what?" Bakugou dared. "Look at me in the eye, Rabbit."

"That's quite a passionate request. Since you asked so nicely..." She slowly tilts her head back.

Crimson eyes narrowed.

She hated them. She hated how they relentlessly pierced her nearly to the core as though she was an open book. They were always burning even underneath his rare neutral persona.

Even more so, they were always looking ahead. In her mind, he was climbing the walls to a solitary world containing one stubborn girl who hates his guts. He wants to reach over and beyond the tall walls where greater heights lie.

However, the walls will never stop building themselves.

Tsumugi frowned before shrugging his hand off. Without another word spoken from either side, the girl makes her leave.

Just when she opens the door, she heard him speak loud for her to hear, "You're running and too afraid to look at me? Rabbit, did you..."

She closed the door behind her before he would continue. Standing by the doorframe, her fists trembled by her sides.

"Shut up..."

...

Upon returning home from an unpleasant day, Tsumugi found herself standing in her mother's bedroom. Everything was kept clean and untouched just like how she intended to be.

Tsumugi rolls her sleeves and clutched the handle of the vacuum cleaner in hand. Now that her mother is absent from activities, she will take care of the house in her stead. It feels kind of lonely having an open space, but that won't stop the girl from doing what she has to do.

Tsumugi inhales sharply before beginning her cleaning. Though the notion may sound sudden, she was the type to keep herself busy and distract herself from her...case, for a lack of words.

While she was vacuuming the carpet floor, she approached her mother's desk and pushed the office chair aside to clean the free space underneath. Upon doing so, the raven encountered a jam in her vacuum.

Flicking the switch off and releasing a sigh, Tsumugi had to man-handle it and bent on her knees to reach for the source of the jam.

After a few strained attempts, she successfully removed a pen from a narrow gap between the desk and the wall.

However when she did, her fingers also grazed something leather. Something rectangular was taped to the back of the desk.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

Tsumugi was surprised to have effortlessly pulled the object from its fixed place because of the not-so sticky tape. Perhaps it was intentionally designed for easier access?

Although when she pulled it out, she overestimated the stubbornness of the tape and bumped her head as a result.

Tsumugi winced from the impact and nursed her head all while remaining underneath the desk; which may look silly from a third perspective but she had no need to be concerned with that.

Afterwards, the teen sat upright and discovered a brown book laying beside her. Something white protruded from the pages, compelling her to open the journal.

It was a small piece of paper containing Mahiru's familiar, neat handwriting.

Gi Ru Na Ku Sa Gi Tsu No

Ro Ku

Gu Rei

Ro Shi

[0207]

Several question marks float around Tsumugi as she stared at the kanjis and numbers blankly. Is this a puzzle that requires decoding? For what, exactly? More importantly, why did Mahiru write this?

Tsumugi scratched her head. Great, as if she doesn't need more confusing things to be concerned of. That is, about her mother's obscure motives.

Tsumugi decides to keep it in her own desk drawer until the time would come when its owner comes back to welcome her home. She may have to analyze it when she is certain that moment may not come any soon.

The dreadful knot in her intuition did nothing to enlighten her faith.

...

Tsumugi absentmindedly traced a ghostly trail above white negative space. Excited chatters became noise to her as the mental void grew vacantly empty.

Her high school future suddenly up and vanished before she could grasp the remains of her dream.

On the left column of her paper were two inquiries: Desired high school and career.

'Crap, I don't know...'

How could people be so determined about their future? How passionate are they to set their life plans in stone when it hasn't even begun?

Gray eyes flitted from face to face before retreating to her paper with a bitter frown. For once, she wished she had their single-minded track. That sounds much simpler and direct than being open to limitless opportunities.

Sure, being in the security department would be a heroic approach for a quirkless somebody like Tsumugi, just like her father had once joined prior to her birth. However she could not find the spark that would push her into working for the protection of society. Since pro heroes (with quirks, must she remind once again) have completely filled in that area, the police force have degraded to locking up villains and cleaning up the heroes' mess. She sees no experience from cuffing wrists and throwing criminals in jail while the pros continue earning their praise and money from the government. The scenario irked her.

Overall, she was not inclined to becoming a hero, nor did she even dream of it.

Tsumugi is not the type to find life in glory and fame. She is too laid back to uphold the burden of countless lives on her shoulders. While she understands the sense of accomplishment achieved in the end, she could not hope to deal with the work regardless.

If her world was a script, she would be the side character who emotionally and/or physically supports the main character. She would be the gray to the white, the stair to the pedestal.

In all honesty, she would love to be given the role where she doesn't have to be "the chosen one" or the "unlucky fated hero." She wouldn't have to go through all the obstacles that the hero undergoes for development. She would remain a static character.

She would not need to change.

"Tsumugi-chan..."

Said girl twitched. Sensing a pair of eyes on her, she looks up. She puts on a polite distant air that seemed to always fit on her like a glove.

"What's up, Hero?"

Izuku held a mildly confused gaze. "You look like you're having trouble."

Ah, always on the lookout for help in need. This boy may just be the appropriate person to be the protagonist of his world. A child with honorable dreams and ambition who has long ways to go. A kind heart who would even save a stranger within his reach.

Yes, the kind of hero she would lend a shoulder to carry him when he is unable to walk.

However, there won't be a spot for her to witness his feats; not even a lane for her to stand and run. From afar, she could only watch her close friend -once a fellow member of the audience- prepare to pave his own path with the help of his friends.

It's time for Tsumugi to leave her spot to someone else.

She shakes her head and wryly smiled at her paper. "No, I think I know what I want to do. Hero, there's something I have to tell you..."

From there on, she will have her own story to write.

...

Her confession regarding her enrollment ended with little to no hard feelings. Izuku was naturally shocked and sad to enroll without Tsumugi's presence, as the girl had predicted. Yet she did not expect him to smile reassuringly and offer words of optimism, saying they will see each other outside of school. If anyone knew how to lift her spirits, the freckled boy is one of them, aside from her parents.

The remaining time of her school year went by normally, if not bittersweet on her part. She would catch glimpses of Izuku's sweet smile and attempt to return the gesture. Both didn't want to end the year awkwardly or depressing between them; Tsumugi pretended to be her normal apathetic self while Izuku continued his nerdy otaku interests in heroes.

Underneath that, Tsumugi bears the depression by her lonesome falling asleep with damp sleeves and dried tears on her skin while the unsuspecting boy would contemplate the day of her confession with a frown. Neither intended to bring up their thoughts to each other, whether out of fear or hesitation.

Graduation day arrived before Tsumugi knew it. After the uneventful ceremony, seniors spent time either with their families or friends while taking a trip down the memory lane.

As for Tsumugi, she was staring at the budding cherry blossom trees with hazy yet still eyes. During that period, her mind continuously thought back to her mother.

Mahiru could have been watching her last year of junior high end. She could have been in a photo with her daughter to commemorate the moment. Tsumugi would not have to avoid her friend just to wallow in her melancholy.

Mahiru would not be lying asleep and unmoving in what may become her deathbed.

Tsumugi discreetly glances behind her to witness a passing family of three: a proud father, a delighted mother, and a hopeful daughter clutching her graduation roll with a mind that looks toward the future.

As the family left the area, the lone girl returned her gaze upon the tree. The spring breeze brushed by her yet she remained unfazed.

Once she leaves the school grounds, Tsumugi will be on her own. A world only she can carry her responsibilities independently. A future without anyone to support her.

Her lips parted almost into a bitter laugh.

Ah, that has always been her life. Why should she be surprised now?

Tsumugi stretches her arms above her head. "Well, time to head back. Tsukauchi-san must be worried about me now..."

...

On a sunny morning, the doorbell chimed throughout the apartment room. Footsteps hastened to the door as the owner grabbed her schoolbag and slipped in her black boots.

Upon opening the door, a certain detective in waiting smiled. "Good morning, Tsumugi-san."

Said girl returned the smile with a small one. "Good morning, Tsukauchi-san."

The two left the complex and entered inside the elevator down to the lobby floor. As they were alone, the man took the opportunity to inquire, "Forgive me for my assumptions, Tsumugi-san, but were you not the type to wear the boy's uniform?"

"Oh, I don't really loathe wearing a skirt." Tsumugi replied truthfully, looking down to her high school uniform.

The female uniform consisted of a sailor double button-down top, however she replaced the standard white bow with thin white ribbons. Unlike the average student, she also wore a slim white turtleneck and black leggings underneath her pleated gray skirt. The school uniform itself has a monochrome palette, dark gray being the dominant while black secondary. A thick white band covering her left upper arm has the school's emblem of a black pentagram, labeled Chūsei High. (1)

Honestly, this is a very appropriate uniform for Tsumugi's color scheme. She bet she could even blend in with the background.

Tsukauchi seems to think the same as amusement alit his expression. He looks back to the elevator doors, polished steel reflecting their blurry figures. "I think you look great in it. Especially your hair. Did you change it for a new pace?"

Tsumugi glanced to him mildly surprised before a subtle grin rose on her lips. She combed her hair tied into high uneven twintails with another of the same gray ribbons her father had gave her. "Yeah, you're right."

"Oi, Kuroyanagi, why do you wear the guy's uniform? Aren't you a girl? I bet you'd look cute in a sailor uniform-!" A (male) classmate was cut off by a punch at the arm, courtesy of the raven-haired girl. Tsumugi eyes him and the surrounding students while nonchalantly watching the victim cry out from the impact as though she hadn't laid a finger.

"I have my reasons. There's no need to concern yourself with how I choose to dress."

If Tsumugi had to say why, then it was all for the sake of her closest friend. She knew how embarrassing it would have been for a girl to rescue a boy (in this case a strong-willed girl and a timid boy), so in order to help both her and her friend, she would pretend to be a boy. That way his bullies would not pick on him right away for that. She has to respect his honor and dignity as a man, right?

However, now there's no need to.

The elevator came to a stop and opened to reveal the lobby. Tsumugi and Tsukauchi approach the familiar car parked by the road. The route to Chūsei is not too far compared to her middle school.

While the ride was quiet (Tsumugi felt bad for not being responsive as the detective would have liked, but she couldn't muster the will), the girl was staring out the window aimlessly.

Farewell, junior high. To the Tsumugi who believed everything would turn out all right, she apologizes.

Now as a first-year, she will have to stand on her own two feet without any familiar face to assist her at school. She may make unlikely friends and enemies, but her resolve from more than ten years ago still burns brightly.

Lady Luck better watch out. Tsumugi won't give up fulfilling her goal to show what the quirkless can do.

...

..

.

[Diverged Paths]

(1) - Chūsei High is a high school I made up, so it's not an official location created by the creator. Chūsei stands for "neutral" in Japanese fyi. Since Tsumugi attends to a completely different school, that means OCs are bound to appear. I won't throw everyone at you readers since that's too much information to take. I will be referencing them and even include some interactions with Tsumugi. Some may be important and appear with significant roles, others not so much. Regardless, I hope you enjoy them.

The next update may come sooner as I've finished most of the next chapter.