AugustRrush: Thank you times a hundred! I hope you enjoy this chapter. ❤

Oblivious IJ: "Hotaru Shippuden," haha! Midnight may or may not have been involved in her suit design... guess we'll have to stay tuned to find out for sure! And yes, shaking my head in disappointment at the pervy grape, and shaking my fist at the icy Shoto. o(╥﹏╥)o

LadyAmazon: I agree 100%! Go, Aihara! ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ

kaycblu: Thank you so much! That means a lot to me, seriously! It wasn't easy to adapt to a writing style, as it literally took me a few years, so I'm happy you like it! I'll continue to try my best~!

bbymojo: Ah~! Really? That makes me so happy to provoke such reactions. Sometimes when I'm writing I have to stop and laugh, or go like "omg," almost like I'm the reader, lol. And yes, Shoto's too cool for his own good. ╥_╥ I wonder when he'll loosen up? Hehe~ ❤

Vedahzii: Thank you! I'm happy you like Hotaru, honestly I was worried about her not being liked. D: But hearing you like her along with others brings me relief. And aaahhh, errors (ノ_・。) (╯︵╰,). So sorry about that. I'm straight up and honestly a terrible proof reader. Mistakes always slip past me in all of my stories. I definitely don't have a beta reader and should probably find one since.. I suck at finding errors. I'll look into doing that, and also go back and re-read to try and correct things! I'll take your 8/10 gladly, and your OC makes me curious. c: I will look into him/her when I have the chance, if you don't mind! :D

Ali D: Thank you~! I'm so happy you're loving this story! Yes, yes, I miss the times where they would feed the fish together. ❤ And I feel bad for Hotaru too. ;( Hopefully things will get better between the two of them! And ooo "Sky High," I never watched it but it sounds interesting :o! I'll look into that!

Guest: Thank you, thank you, thank you~! Here's an update for you. ❤

•

Thank you so much, everyone!

For reviewing, adding this story to your favorites, following, and most importantly reading!

I'm sorry for the long wait, this semester was nothing but boatloads of work, and most definitely my most stressful semester yet. I also been trying to update my other stories as well, so that's to blame too.

But, I worked really hard and just wrapped up my last final today, so I'm really happy about that.

This chapter wasn't what I originally envisioned. Well, maybe it is in some ways. It's one thing knowing what you want to happen, but a complete challenge writing things leading up to the events, at least I think. xD

Well, anyways, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. I'm sure there are errors somewhere, and I apologize in advance. I'll re-read this entire story to try and fix things very soon.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy!

❤•○●○•❤

Tension Rising

❤•○●○•❤

Hotaru sits on the bench just outside of the building her and Mineta are about to infiltrate. They have been assigned the role of the heroes, while Shoto and Bakugo have the role of the villains. She was really hoping to get the villain role, but this is fine too.

Her legs are crossed, and she leans forward slightly as she looks over the floor plans that were provided to them. As she reads, her other hand not holding the paper plays with the chains that reside on her outer thighs. She's not sure why, but she's always liked the feel of cold metal.

The building is five stories high, having the typical layout of an apartment complex. Stairwells are the pathway leading to each floor, no elevators. The layout almost reminds her of the run-down apartment she used to live in long ago.

Tearing her eyes away from the paper, she looks up at the building before her. It's taller than it is wide, and there are plenty of windows arranged uniformly in its structure. This building is no different than any other she set foot in before. She walked through many buildings like this to perform atrocious acts. This exercise isn't anything new to her. She's been through this countless times.

"You do remember the plan, right Mineta-kun?" She asks, looking over at him. He's trembling intensely.

"Taru-chan…" He begins as he grows pale. "I don't know about this anymore. Todoroki is going to freeze us while Bakugo blows us up! We're outmatched! This was a mistake! I unvolunteer—!"

"Calm down, Mineta-kun." Hotaru's lips curve upwards lazily. "I told you we can win this." She points at her earpiece. "Just stick to the plan and communicate often and this will be easy."

"How are you not the slightest bit worried?!" He jabs a finger at her. "Didn't you see Todoroki freeze the entire building and Bakugo blow a hole right through it?!"

"I did." She moves his jabbing finger aside. "But, we don't have to worry about any of those things."

Mineta is quiet as he stares at her calm face. Suddenly, tears gather in his eyes and he becomes distorted as he screeches in a panicked frenzy, waving his arms everywhere. Her expression gradually dulls.

"I should've gone pee first—!"

"Stop yelling. You're giving me a headache." She sighs, standing up.

She stretches her arms behind her back and lets out a breath. Earlier she was so tired, but now she's feeling fired up and ready to get started. She raises her hand above her face, blocking out the sun trying to smolder her eyes.

"We have the advantage because we've seen them and everyone else perform already." She begins. "Also, haven't you noticed that the weapon is always on the top floor? I'm sure it's the same this time around too. It would make no sense for it to be on a lower floor where it's easy to get to. Say, those balls on your head can stick to anything, right?"

"...Balls?" He repeats with a blush, and she glares intensely which makes him recoil. "No, no, no, no! I-I mean, yes!"

"Then this really should be easy if you just do what I told you to do." She brings her hands to her hips and faces him. "All you need to do is scale the outside of the building."

"B-but, all by myself?!" He frets, terrified at the chance of running into either Todoroki or Bakugo while being alone.

"Are you not comfortable with that?" She blinks, her lips pursing. "I was planning on distracting them, so you wouldn't have to worry about fighting, and so you could retrieve the weapon easily without any complications."

"By yourself?!" He gapes, and she tilts her head.

"Well, if you want to come with me you can. We can plow right through them. It's up to you."

He doesn't like either of the options she has given him, but he doesn't have any better ideas. Her quirk is strong but so is theirs, and he knows he doesn't stand a chance against their opponents. Is it really alright to leave her to fight those two all by herself, though? Hotaru smiles at the obvious turmoil on his face.

"It'll be fine either way." She reassures him, smirking to herself when Mineta pales at her next honest claim. "The truth is, I've done this so many times before."

"What?!"

"We will now start the final person-to-person combat training!" All Might's voice suddenly exclaims from the intercom, preventing Hotaru from replying to the small boy. "Start!"

Hotaru approaches the open door leading inside with a hesitant Mineta following behind, but she does not enter. She comes to an abrupt halt in front of it and Mineta barely stops himself from bumping into her. Her silvery eyes stare into the dark interior of the building and she crosses her arms over her chest.

"We're going to wait right here for a minute." She informs Mineta, making him gaze at her unsurely.

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Taru-chan? This is a timed exercise. What if we run out of time? W-what if they find us?" He stammers out nervously, noticing despite his words her form is completely relaxed. "Shouldn't we hide at least—?"

"Don't underestimate a villain, Mineta-kun." She smoothly cuts him off.

Her eyes continue to stare inside the building to detect any movement. Although she can see why Mineta thinks them standing out here in the open is reckless, it's also necessary.

It took Shoto less than a minute from the start of his previous round to freeze the entire building, and even less than that for Bakugo to take action against Midoriya. Waiting like this is essential.

If she doesn't see a raging Bakugo within this short minute, she knows he's being more level headed in order to redeem himself from his loss. After seeing his distraught face from his loss, it's safe to say he will be much more composed than before. She's waiting like this just to be sure, but she's not waiting for that alone. Shoto's ice is something else she's waiting for.

He froze the entire building because he knew his opponents were inside. She doesn't think he would freeze the building without knowing if they are inside or not. It would make no sense for him to do that because her lightning can just simply melt his ice. If he does do that, however, that reveals some vital information—that he doesn't know their location.

She counts to sixty in her head before uncrossing her arms. There is no ice and no explosions or movements of any kind. She seems to be right in her speculations so far, but she won't know for sure until she steps inside.

"Let's go." She waves to Mineta, a gesture that's clearing telling him to follow along. He does.

It's quiet as they enter the building, and the only sound that can be heard are their own footsteps. Mineta is walking extremely close to her, for once not for his own perverted desires. He's actually quite nervous. Even though there is lighting in here it's extremely dim, practically doing nothing. Hotaru comes to a stop in her walk.

The temperature suddenly drops to extremely low digits, negative digits. Ice starts to coat the building and head towards them rapidly. Mineta screeches while Hotaru's eyes narrow the tiniest bit. The timing of this attack is too perfect.

"So, they really can see us." She murmurs to herself and places herself directly in front of Mineta. "Stay still, Mineta-kun. If you don't you'll get shocked or frozen solid."

He complies to her words instantly with no questions asked. Hotaru generates lightning around her form and extends it outwards. The heat from her lightning counters Shoto's ice before it comes in contact with either of them. The frigid solid melts into steaming water before evaporating, flooding the hall they are in with steam.

Hotaru's eyes widen when her costume suddenly feels cool. It's not a nipping coldness but relaxing like sitting in front of an air conditioner vent in a hot room or being caressed by a cool breeze on a warm spring day.

She looks down at her costume and her lips part, seeing the electricity she's generating is making those transparent lightning patterns glow cyan. It's like she's a walking thundercloud. She experiments briefly.

Whenever she uses her quirk, or simply channels it into the costume, it causes the patterns to glow the same color as her lightning, somehow powering it to regulate her own body temperature. She slowly begins to smile at how handy this is. Now it'll take much longer for her to overheat.

Nevertheless, she shouldn't be spending this time ogling over her costume. The building is now frozen solid, and it only happened when they entered it.

"Alright. This could mean a few things." Hotaru begins, turning to the boy behind her. "The most logical thing is that they know exactly where we are. In other words, they can see us. They were keeping tabs on us from either one of the windows in the front of the building, or one of them is standing further in the shadows and watching us right now. I find the latter unlikely, though. If that were the case, we would've been hit with a direct attack."

Mineta stares at her with a slightly opened mouth, amazed by her speculations. Why she's so relaxed and naturally able to pick up these hints and clues, it's clear she's speaking from experience. He gulps. She really has done this before.

"Either way, they know we're inside." She looks over her shoulder to check for any approaching figures. "One of them is probably heading here right now and I'm betting it's Todoroki-san. So then," She looks back at him. "Have you decided what you want to do?"

Mineta opens his mouth to answer her, but his eyes are suddenly drawn down the hall just to their left. He wails, and she turns with a gasp just in time to see ice plowing right towards them. No, not them. She's wrong. It's plowing just towards her. The attack is too fast and strong, and she has no choice but to let it make contact with her.

The dangerously cold ice rams into her body, and she's sent flying back into the concrete wall. She gasps in pain at the impact. She's momentarily stunned, and the air is knocked out of her. Her eyelids clamp together, and she draws in a painful breath. Her knees buckle, but before she can hit the ground, the ice pins her mercilessly against the wall.

The cold makes her shiver instantly, and she can already feel it slowly beginning to eat away at her cells. She's felt this ice before, but it feels much different this time around. Instead of the gentle caress of it that reminded her of snow, it's now like a raging ice storm meant to wreak havoc. It hurts.

Her eyes slowly crack open to see Shoto walking out of the shadows. The expression he wears is repulsive and his eyes gaze at her with nothing but hate. As he grows closers, Mineta's wails grow more faint. Hotaru looks over at him, gawking when she sees him running for his life towards the exit.

"I'm sorry, Taru-chan!" He cries waterfall tears. "I can't do this! It's too much!"

"Mineta-kun?!" She calls after him only to get no response.

He runs outside without hesitation and shows no sign of turning around. He leaves behind a trail of tears and she stares after him until he's no longer in sight. Is he seriously that terrified of going against their opponents? Some hero he is.

Shoto comes to a stop in front of her, making her turn her attention back to him. Her silvery eyes stare into his. She can only keep her eyes locked with his for a short amount of time before the hate in them makes her look away. Her head ducks slightly and she tries to move.

"I wouldn't move if I were you." He tells her, making her go still. "You can if you want, but your skin will be torn off."

"...This ice is that cold?" She mutters in question. Honestly, she didn't know that her skin getting torn off was possible. In a way, she's kind of appreciative of that warning even though she detests his tone. "That's really impressive. But, are you aware of how hot lightning is?"

She starts to generate lightning around her form to heat up her body and the air. Her body emits a faint glow and steam starts to rise, and he counters by coating her with even more ice. He's working faster than she can melt it. Her teeth grit and she glares at him.

"The difference in our ability is too great." He states as a matter of fact, making her lips part. "Give up. Not just in this battle trail, but whatever it is you're trying to do."

She stares at him wide-eyed before slowly lowering her head. Her hair falls over her face and casts a shadow. This demanding and hateful tone of his is really starting to get to her. She lets out a breath that escapes in a cloud due to the frigid air.

"I cannot do that." She asserts, lowering her eyelids.

"Then I'll just force you to."

"You think you can?"

At her sarcastic tone, the ice around her grows thicker and she gasps heavily, hissing in pain. She cannot bear being held captive in this cold any longer, but more importantly she can no longer put up with Shoto. Rage starts to build up with her. She's slipping again.

"Who do you think you are? Telling me what to do… thinking you can stop me so easily… it's really annoying, you know." She whispers. "I went through hell because of you, and now you're forcing me to go through that again. Really, Todoroki-san… you're not making this easy at all."

"If you were expecting me to go easy on you, you're even more dense than you were back then."

Something in her snaps at his words. Dense? Her body is no longer trembling just from the cold. He really struck a nerve with that one. He may as well be right though, but it still pisses her off.

"...And if you thought you had me cornered right now, you're even more laughable than you were back then. Show me your tears," Her ducked head rises and her body glows as she grins viciously. "Shoto Todoroki!"

The ice around her bursts into countless shards with a boom. Shoto's eyes enlarge and he brings his hands up to shield himself. Thick steam is clouding his vision and puddles of water take form. Sweat forms on his face from the sudden heat, and when the steam clears he sees her standing before him.

Blue lightning is sparking around her form, and her costume makes her look even more like a thunderstorm itself. Her strands of dark hair mimic the shape of lightning bolts, and her glowing cyan eyes are locked with his. There is neither a smirk or frown on her face. Her lips are pressed together in a straight line, but her eyes are imposing. She slides her right foot forward before sprinting towards him with intensified speed.

He promptly sends waves of ice her way and she leaps. Surprise crosses his features when she jumps from wall to wall and avoids his attack. Her form passes over his head and lands right behind him. They are back to back. Just as he starts to turn around she attacks before he can do anything. He staggers literally a single foot forward from a weak shove. An imaginary cricket chirps.

Hotaru's cheeks gradually turn a glowing red and she looks to the ground in embarrassment. She thought she would be able to send him crashing into the wall like he did to her, but… that was a stupid thought. Well, this is a major disappointment on her part. Why did she even try that? Even she knows she's as weak as can be.

"...Is she messing with him or was that a real push?" Kirishima questions from the monitor room, sheepish sweat gliding down his face.

"...Good question." Tokoyami states.

Hotaru's embarrassed expression vanishes when Shoto turns around with the most heated expression yet. Her jaw locks and she takes a backwards step when ice erupts from beneath his right foot and rushes towards her.

With a grunt, she springs backwards while using her lightning to heighten her movements. She's airborne from her jump and she twists her body in a semicircle, kicking her legs out and shooting lightning bolts at the rapidly approaching icy wall. The blue bolts make the ice rupture and shards fly. When she lands safely on the ground, she turns and runs down a different hall.

Fighting him head on isn't an option. Not only is she too weak physically, but all of the ice he's using is taking up most of the hall and compromising her mobility. She can melt it but only if she uses a high voltage, and honestly, she spent more energy than she intended to earlier escape from his clutches. His ice is just as cold as her lightning is hot. Its equal powers clashing.

She winces suddenly and raises her hand in front of her. The skin on her fingers is red and raw, and tiny streams of blood flow down them. He wasn't kidding when he claimed that if she moved her skin would be torn off. To think that the person she used to call her hero spilled some of her blood.

It's partly her fault for moving despite his warning. Her judgement was poor when she used her lightning to escape, in other words she moved before she fully disintegrated it. Regardless, he's still the main cause of it. Her painfully numb fingers curl tightly, and her expression grows dark.

She should've zapped him until he screamed and cried instead of shoving him. Yes, she should have. Honestly, that was her original plan to do just that, but she didn't. Why didn't she? Aizawa's voice suddenly floods into her head. Oh, that's right. Remorse.

The sound of crystallizing ice makes her look over her shoulder, and she lets out a surprised sound at Shoto rapidly surfing towards her on his own ice. That technique makes her wonder how many more he has hidden away, and also shows her just how formidable he is. Those eyes of his that look so much like Endeavor's… they're desperate to take her down.

She looks back ahead narrowed eyes. The blue sparks around her body intensify. Lightning travels through her muscles and compels them to perform at beyond their original capability. Her eyes glow and she picks up her speed. Each step she takes melts the thin ice below her in an instant. It's only when she turns down a different hallway and out of Shoto's sight when she brings her hand over her earpiece to speak.

"Please tell me you're scaling the building, Mineta-kun."

"Of course, I am, Taru-chan." His voice speaks into her ear to reply instantly.

Although there is a quiver in his voice that gives away how nervous he is, she smiles slightly at how he's pulling through. Her simple smile fades instantly and she blanches when she sees one of his purple balls stuck to a window at the end of the hall. Does he lack common sense? He's ruining the plan, practically writing out that he actually didn't forfeit. Her eyelid twitches and she hurries towards it.

"Stop being so obvious!" She whisper-shouts, shooting lightning through the window and making it shatter along with causing the purple ball to fall. Mineta who is only a couple feet above the window screams at the lightning bolt breaking through the glass. "Be quiet—!"

She's cut off by her own scream when she's suddenly sent flying out the window. For a brief moment she sees stars and the air rushing at her face makes her eyes water. When her body rams into a light pole, the world is suddenly painted black and white. Like out of a cartoon she remains seemingly glued to the metal pole before falling backwards with swirls in her eyes. Her entire being is rattling.

The blue sky above her along with the few clouds is blurry. She slowly rolls onto her hands and knees with quivering limbs, drawing in multiple deep breaths to try and restore the air that was knocked out of her. Her silver eyes look back towards the building and at the thick ice that is responsible for sending her relentlessly all the way out here.

"Why…?" She bites out, her fingernails scraping against the concrete as she forms fists.

She understands his hostility. It's only natural, but hasn't he noticed? She could've shocked him multiple times, she could've chosen to fight him instead of running away, she could've even won this entire thing by now. He has to have noticed these things, or does he just hate her that much?

With bared teeth, she sits up on her knees and glares intensely at the ice she knows Shoto is just behind. A cloud passing over the sun casts a shadow on her form, and the cool breeze ruffles up her messy hair. Her fingernails dig into her palms as her chest grows tight, feeling something she hasn't felt in a while.

It's as if she's caught in a net, or a better term would be caught between two worlds. Her eyelids clamp together, and she shakes her head, slowly rising onto her feet. This feeling, why did it return? The path she laid out before her doesn't lead to either of those worlds, so why is she suddenly wavering? It's because of him. Everything is because of Shoto Todoroki. It has always been that way.

For him to be so icy cold, mercilessly attacking her when all he needs to do is use the capture tape, and that unbearable amount of hatred in his eyes, it makes her blood boil. Is he merely just using this training to inflict pain on her? Does her pain bring him satisfaction? Come to think of it, he already won once and didn't need to go through this again. She recalls how he claimed the difference of their ability is too great.

"You're right, Sho." She whispers, taking slow and heavy steps back towards the building while her eyes glow bright. "The difference in our ability is very great. Starting now, you won't touch me again."

Her eyelids lower once more as she deeply and slowly inhales. Before this combat training started she already decided she would win, but now it's different. She's not going to simply win, she's going to give him the most humiliating defeat even if it means spending every bit of energy she has.

Pressing her fist against the ice coated building, her eyes slowly open. She will win, and not because she wants to, but rather she has to. Winning this is essential to her plan. She lowers her fist. It's time to get serious. She's been a little too relaxed. Looking up, she sees Mineta. He hasn't climbed very high at all, which is disappointing.

"T-Taru-chan…?" He stutters out, gulping at her hollow expression that is somehow more frightening than her villainous one.

"Can I be honest with you, Mineta-kun?" She asks, and his jaw goes slightly slack. With how she's gazing at him with longing eyes, he naturally nods.

"I came here for something, but now that I'm here that something has made me realize how senseless it really is, and how impotent I am when it comes to other small things I want to achieve. I really don't know what else to do, and I don't even think there is anything else I can do." She looks away from him, suddenly appearing sad. "So, I'm done."

"We're forfeiting?!" Mineta beams in excitement, sulking when she shakes her head in objection.

"No. I'm going to do what I've should've done from the start." She smiles a little wistfully, heading back towards the front entry. "This is selfish of me, but would you mind staying out here?"

"Wha?!" He calls after her only to be ignored, however, she does whisper incomprehensibly under her breath.

All Might's natural grin falters at the dark expression on Hotaru's face displayed on the monitor, but it fades entirely at her spoken words. Even though she was not pressing the button on her earpiece to speak into it, his authority allows him to hear every word uttered regardless. He lowers the handheld transceiver in his hand.

"So, that's what it is… Young Aihara."

•○●○•

Shoto's eyes narrow when Hotaru rather casually comes walking through the front entry doors once again. Aside from her entire form being shrouded in dazzling blue sparks, her stormy costume is decorated in dust and scratches from his ice attacks. Her glowing eyes are locked onto his, menacing and resolute, looking just like her father's.

Frost starts to form on his right side, and his breath becomes clouded as the temperature lowers. It's obvious he's preparing an ice attack, however Hotaru keeps on walking forward like she's simply taking a stroll in the park. His jaw locks and he sends icy spikes towards her.

The ice closes in on her in an instant, but steam fills the hallway just as promptly along with a crack of thunder. His vision is clouded by the haze, and he instinctively squints at the sudden brightness from her quirk. Before he can even comprehend what actions to take next, she's suddenly behind him, then his wrists are bound.

He remains frozen with widened eyes, feeling her trembling fingers slowly unwind from his wrists and leaving the capture tape behind. That's when he realizes she's nothing like before. She takes a couple backwards steps, speaking in a hollow voice.

"The difference in our ability is far too great." She begins, and he looks over his shoulder at her with blazing eyes. "You are the last person who will ever stand in my way, Shoto Todoroki."

He looks away from her with a "tsk," and the cold air grows thick at the anger rolling off of him. She takes a single step back, wincing as static leftover from her lightning tickles her flesh. Moving so fast like that to get behind him so quickly, and the high voltage she has used to melt the ice in an instant left her exhausted.

She wasn't as careless as last time using her speed enhancing technique so severely, but she wasn't exactly careful either. Her lack of sleep is definitely catching up with her along with everything else.

"You're not the only one who reminisces that day," She whispers heavily, looking to the ground. "I just want you to know that."

Silence hovers between them after that, and she turns to start heading deeper into the building only to stop in her tracks. His voice reaches out to her and her eyes enlarge while the organ in her chest drops into the pit of her stomach.

"I don't care about that day like you do. That day you got what you deserved, and now you're here for some sort of retribution that you can't achieve." He says in a dangerously low voice, and she slowly turns around, paling at his hateful eyes. "Am I right? You're here to avenge your old man."

"...What I deserved?" Her voice quivers and she shakes her head desperately, sweat trickling down her face. "...I-I'm not here to—"

"Then why are you here, villain?"

She can't say.

That's always the answer to that question, but it's more crucial when he's the one to ask. If she told him, or if he even found out the reasoning of her being here, what would he do? Would he laugh? Make fun of her even? Tell her to wake up from this pointless fantasy? In the end, the answer to these questions doesn't matter. She can't tell him either way, so she'll never know.

"...I can't say." She whispers, and he looks away from her in disgust.

The disgust grew from the seed of his hatred, and she knows she was the one to plant that very seed. Her muscles grow tight and she bites down harshly on her lower lip, drawing blood. Just like she planted a seed, he also did the same for her but he's completely blind to it. It's frustrating, however at this point she prefers just that. The seed he planted is starting to wilt.

She turns so her back is to him, keeping any other words wanting to escape her mouth trapped within by biting down onto her thumb as she walks. Her vision oddly grows blurry and her eyelids clamp together as a result.

"Oi, Lightning Bastard!"

Hotaru's eyes snap open just in time to see Bakugo emerging from the hall beside her. His gauntlet is loaded and glowing, and it's aiming right at her. She gasps and generates lightning within her own body, hearing All Might yell.

"Young Bakugo, don't!"

Unsurprisingly, Bakugo doesn't listen. He releases that powerful blast and it barrels towards her. She's careless again when she enhances her reflexes and speed to dodge, but she's acting on pure survival instinct. The blast misses her barely, but something strikes her as strange about it. It came out slower than the time he used it against Midoriya, and she finds out too late as to why that is.

In the end it was a diversion, and he uses it to swing with his right arm and send her roughly onto the ground with a blast from his palm. All air is knocked from her lungs once again, and something in her snaps. It's not a bone that snaps or a tearing of a ligament, no… not at all. Any composure she has left shatters away.

She finds herself thinking of not her plan, but her father's plan. His plan is the whole reason she came here, and she came here because of one thing. She has one role to play.

"Don't forget that day, Taru."

"Why are you down here?" Shoto's voice is just barely picked up by her.

"You were taking too damn long!" Bakugo grins almost like a villain and tiny explosions emit from his palms. He glares at Shoto. "You said you had the Lightning Bastard held back, but it looks like she was the one who had you—"

"Oh? Is that what Todoroki-san told you?" She questions, slowly pushing herself up. The taste of blood coats her tongue and she quivers. "Sorry, but as you can see…" She straightens up and faces Bakugo, wiping at her lip. "I'm as free as a lightning bug. And now," She outstretches her hand. "I'll secure the weapon from you with ease."

"Heh," He grins viciously at her cocky tone, facing her fully like a predator. "Don't think for a second this will be easy! I'll kill you!"

"You should be careful, or you'll be the one getting killed."

Bakugo's fingers curl into tight fists and a shadow is cast over his face. His form trembles angrily and his quirk flares. Losing to Deku of all people… and being mocked by this cocky villain… it makes sends him over the edge.

"Don't underestimate me, you scum!" He propels himself towards her with his quirk. "Die!"

Hotaru remains in the same spot and waits for him to grow closer. When he's within range and swings with his right arm. She ducks under it and her hand presses against his chest. He draws in a sharp breath when her body glows. As soon as her hand makes contact with him, lightning flows into his body.

Blue illuminates the hall, and Bakugo's livid curses and yells echo throughout. His entire form is distorted and occasionally his skeleton shines through. Hotaru's eyes stay shut approximately the whole time, all because she doesn't want to see what kind of vile expression is on Shoto's face.

Her lightning fades and leaves Bakugo momentarily stunned. However, he's able to move around more than other people she has shocked like this, and she can only assume it's because of his strong will. It's impressive, but right now it's only a nuisance to her. So, she doesn't end her assailment just yet.

She shrouds herself in blue and her muscles tingle. Turning on the sole of her foot, she moves in a semi-circle and raises her leg to land a swift kick against Bakugo's side. This time around she's not holding back and using her quirk fully, and as a result his form slams into the wall.

"No," Hotaru's eyes crack open to stare icily. "Don't you underestimate me."

Bakugo raises his arm and aims his gauntlet at her, recovering almost instantly. Her eyes enlarge in disbelief and she takes a step back when his gauntlet glows. He's using the one opposite from what he used earlier, and this one is glowing much more brightly than the other. This time, the blast is too wide to dodge, and she has absolutely no way to counter.

She hears All Might yell for him to stop for the second time just as she's sent flying through the brick wall and out beneath the blue sky. Her body hits that same pole from earlier and she's briefly blinded with pain. She topples forward, landing on her hands and knees as she quivers all over.

Her costume bears plenty of scratches and is covered in soot from her blast, and some debris from the wall she was just sent mercilessly through. She trembles intensely, feeling bruises forming instantly. To be tossed around like this… to be overpowered… to suffer from injuries caused by another… pisses her off. It gets to her like nothing else.

Although she's aching all over and on the verge of passing out from fatigue, she rises onto her feet. She wavers and nearly falls over, but by some miracle she's able to remain standing. Her eyes that were shut in pain slowly open and stare ahead at the fresh hole in the wall, seeing Bakugo and an unbound Shoto standing there. They both look ready to pounce her.

Is freeing someone who was captured even allowed? She doesn't know, and she doesn't care anymore. All she can think about is how angry she is. Everything else is cast aside, including her plan.

"Alright then," She spits out, forming rigid fists with her hands. "You both want to be heroes, right? Let's see how you fare against a real-life villain!"

Hotaru raises her hand skywards, loud thunder cracking to life as blue electricity gathers in her fingertips. The streetlight just behind her flickers, and her eyes along with her entire form glows. Her fingers mimic the shape of a gun and she aims right at the two of them.

The strike she's about to unleash will be wide enough to hit them both simultaneously, and strong enough to injure them greatly. The heat from her sparks cracks the concrete below her. Shoto takes a single step forward, getting his ice ready while Bakugo readies his explosions.

Before she unleashes her attack, Shoto creates a protective wall of ice that shields them from her sight, and All Might's voice addresses her instantly after that. She's sure he's just going to order her to stop her actions, and she's right. However, the words he uses catches her off guard while hitting her deep.

"Young Aihara, you cannot accomplish your goal like this."

Her body ices over and she draws in a sharp breath. How would he know about her goal? He couldn't know a thing about it. Realization dawns on her. Unless, when she has whispered earlier… did he hear her…? She lowers her hand.

"...How disappointing." She murmurs to herself, taking backwards steps.

•○●○•

Although thunder boomed no lightning flashes. Instead, it's unusually quiet like the calm before a storm. Shoto's eyes narrow cautiously and he moves to peak around his protective wall of ice just as Bakugo blows it into pieces.

"What are you doing?!" Shoto all but yells at him in disapproval. Bakugo glares.

"Shut up, Ice Bastard! I can take her on myself!"

After that, the two of them look ahead. Now that Shoto's ice is gone, Hotaru is back in their line of sight. Her eyes are shut, and her head is angled somewhat towards the ground. Shoto's eyes widen a notch when he sees her hands held up in surrender. Bakugo grins viciously.

"Huh?" He drags out, taking intimidating steps forward. "After all that talk, you're giving up?!"

Hotaru's eyes open to stare at Bakugo's approaching form. Brief and vibrant explosions flicker in his palms, giving away the impression that he plans to attack her even though she's surrendering. Her lips part and she lets a heavy breath escape them.

"Yeah. Because," Her tired arms drop to her sides. "Beating you both now would be pointless. Win or lose, it doesn't matter."

"What?!" Bakugo roars.

Hotaru grunts when he grabs her roughly by the shoulder. His explosive palm is in her face, ready to detonate at any moment. Her teeth grit along with the locking of her jaw. This guy really is ruthless. Shoto walks up from behind him with a glare.

"Is it that upsetting to you that I'm giving up?" She questions angrily, feeling nothing but frustrated. At this point she just wants everything to be over with. "You should be grateful."

"Why would I be grateful for a half-assed win?!" He jerks her closer with a growl, his gaze bitter.

"W-What?" She stutters out, her expression morphing into one of confusion.

"If you're going to go against me, don't fucking quit! I want the satisfaction of crushing you! I'm aiming to be the next number one hero, don't make a fool out of me! You're the daughter of that bastard Lightning Beast and Two-Face, right?" He sneers, and her eyes enlarge with a tremble. "Come at me with everything you got! If you're not going to go all out, why are you even here?! Stop messing around, you damn villain! I'll kill you!"

He shoves her back, and she trips over her own two feet. She lands roughly on her bottom, but she doesn't wince or grimace. All she can do is stare ahead with wide eyes. His words replay in her head over and over. To think that Bakugo of all people would be the one to knock some sense into her. How amusing.

Hotaru rises onto her feet shakily, still feeling fatigued and banged up from previous events. It wouldn't be surprising to her if she passes out right here and now, but she pushes on by some miracle. Or, perhaps it's because of this new resolve she feels.

Once she straightens up and meets Bakugo's eyes, a boastful and wide smirk forms on his face when she nods. She's going to fight him, and now he can have the opportunity to crush the daughter of the number one villain. He'll be legendary.

Hotaru's fingers curl into fists and she closes her eyes briefly. She draws in a deep breath and her shoulders rise at that. She's been hesitating a lot, losing herself even. Even now, she's still unsure. Is this right, or is it wrong? Is this the right path? She doesn't know. All she knows whatever she chooses to do it always backfires. She's such a mess. When she shrouds herself in lightning, she re-opens her eyes. The clock is ticking.

"Just remember," She takes a step back, getting in a battle stance that resembles her father's dangerously. "You asked for this."

"Bring it, Lightning Bastard." Bakugo grins viciously, and Hotaru's silvery orbs look Shoto's way. His teeth grit together, and he wears his usual glare.

"You wanted to know why I'm here, right?" Hotaru asks him, smiling genuinely and in a way that makes the organ in his chest stutter. "I'll let my actions speak for me."

Shoto's lips part to retort in some way, but no words come out. Her eyes bear a sparkle similar to what he originally knew them as, however, that's not what prevents him from speaking. Paralysis is. All he can see is a vibrant blue as he's consumed by it. It's a heat more intense than his flames he refuses to create. It hurts. Judging by Bakugo's curses, he knows he's caught in the same lightning trap.

Hotaru moves past them both, not sparing them a glance. Her movements are lazy like an old cat, and she even lets out a yawn profound enough to cause salty droplets the stick to the outer corner of her eyes. She moves her hand over her face instantly afterwards, shielding those glistening tears. Her lips moves as she whispers.

"I'm surprised you haven't caught on yet… Shoroki."

~ Next Chapter Sneak Peek:

❤•○●○•❤

Finale

❤•○●○•❤

"I've learned so much today, actually." Hotaru murmurs, fiddling with her fingers. "But, most importantly I learned that I'm not suited for any of this."

"Meaning?" Aizawa inquires.

"Well..." She holds up two fingers, pointing at one. "Let's say this finger represents a righteous path, and the other represents an unjust and wrongful one. Neither one guarantees happiness. Which path would you take?"

"The righteous one."

"Even if it's equivalent to signing a death certificate?"

His eyes widen the tiniest bit. She said too much, and now she doesn't know what to say. He addresses her once and she doesn't react, and when he addresses her a second time she nearly laughs as she wonders—how can this unkempt hero she met a mere few days ago look at her with more care than her own father ever has?