"Nee-chan! It's you! IT'S YOU AGAIN!" Akia exclaimed. She pointed at the nearest tv screen and then clapped her hands together.
It was the day after the incident and school was closed temporarily because of it. Thus, Neon spent the day with her sister, helping her along with her homeschooling as well as keeping her company while being productive at the same time.
"One thousand...one...hundred!" Neon grunted as she finished her last sit-up. She flopped back onto the floor, waited for a moment to feel the burn fade from her core, and then she hauled herself back up to a seated position. Sweat dripped down her chin and clung to her clothes, sticking it to her body like a second skin. She looked at the monitor and she pursed her lips. "Yep...That's me.."
Footage of Class 1-A getting off the bus and returning to school played again on the news. Once the story got out that the elite hero school were attacked by villains, the news was having a field day with it. Every channel that had even a remote affiliation with news or journalism was talking about it. Entertainment news. Sports news. Even the channel that usually broadcasted about animals living in nature. How they managed to tie in a villain attack with the hunting abilities of tigers was worth commending, in Neon's opinion.
"Akia...Can we please watch something else? Don't you want to watch cartoons?" Neon groaned, "And stand back from the monitor. You're too close. Do you want to end up being the first person in our family to get glasses?"
Akia shook her head as she paused the screen, her feet stuck in her spot in front of . A few strands of her black hair came loose from her ponytail and they swept over her almond shaped brown eyes, which narrowed to stare more intently at the broadcast. Besides the coloring of her features, she could not have looked more different to Neon since Akia seemed to have inherited the physical resemblance from her mother. "Nee-chan! Nee-chan! Are all of these people in your class? What's that guy's Quirk? What about that girl's? Oh! That guy looks mean!"
"Yeah...That's Noisy Boy...The one I told you about," Neon said.
"And what about the guy you were stuck with in the training zone?"
"That's Ojiro. The guy on the left."
"Ooh! Is that his tail? Cool," Akia breathed, "Oh! There's the girl that's entirely pink! She's so cute! And that girl next to her! Her costume is completely pink too!"
"Ah..That's Ochaco. The girl who can make things float," Neon said.
"Awesome," Akia said and she clasped her hands in front of her, "Nee-chan...Do you think one day I can go to UA too?"
Neon stiffened. She did not want to make any promises she wasn't confident in keeping. "I'm not sure, Akia," she ended up saying.
Akia ran to Neon and she clenched her fists tightly in front of her. "I'll work really...REALLY hard...Like this!"
She opened her hands and Neon quickly put her own hands over her sister's, covering the big shining diamonds that had formed in her sister's tiny, soft hands.
"A-All of you guys, stand outside. I can take it from here," Neon shouted over to the bodyguards standing near the door.
"Yes, Ojou-san," they said as they filed out of the room. When they were gone, Neon sighed and lifted up her hands.
"What is the number one rule, Akia?"
Akia gulped. "I can only use my Quirk when it's just family in the room." Her head lowered. "I'm sorry."
Neon put a hand on Akia's head. "It's okay. You got caught up in the moment...Just don't let it happen again...Now...Can Nee-chan see what you made?"
Akia handed Neon the diamonds and Neon's throat tightened when she saw how clear and bright they were. They were big too, 1 carat each at least. Akia's Quirk was getting stronger.
"They're pretty...That's why people want them...Right, Nee-chan?" Akia asked.
Neon nodded. "Ah...Some people will do bad things to get what they want," she said and she bent down so that they were eye level, "So you have to protect yourself."
Akia nodded. "En. I will be safe...and be smart, like Nee-chan!"
Knock! Knock!
Neon quickly stuffed the diamonds in her pocket as the door opened. She frowned when her brother came into the room. He stopped for just a second when he saw the paused news report on the tv but then he continued on his way towards his sisters. His tie was pulled loose and his sleeves were pushed up to his elbows. His usually neatly parted hair had come loose and a few strands of hair hung over his left eye. Neon had actually never seen Koushi even an ounce frazzled before and he looked stressed. Really stressed.
"What happened?" Neon asked, "Stock market crash?"
Koushi coughed and then fixed his tie. "Just taking care of business while Father is away."
"Father is always away," Neon said.
Koushi's eyes trailed up towards the tv screen. "Were there a lot of them?"
"Villains? Only 3. Thugs? Yeah. There were a lot. They were more nuisances than a hazard though," Neon said.
Her brother looked down on the ground and he chuckled. "Is that so?"
Koushi wasn't acting like his usual self and it irritated Neon to no end. "What'd you come in here for?"
"Two things...the school called and they'd like for you to come in an hour early tomorrow."
Neon blinked. "For what?'
Koushi shrugged. "Secondly, I just got off the phone with Father and Mother. They have cut their trip short. They are arriving home tomorrow," Koushi said and he looked solemnly at Neon, "They heard the news."
Neon grimaced. If there was anything her father hated more, it was a spectacle. The Nishiyama family avoided scandal and the spotlight like a plague. Her being on the news, even if it wasn't her fault and even if she wasn't the focus, was not something she'd expect her father to be too happy about.
"Thanks for the warning," Neon conceded and her brother gave a small nod.
"Father and Mother are coming home," Akia said with a tug on both her brother and sister's sleeve, "That means a big family dinner, yes?"
Neon forced a smile and she nodded. "Yep."
"Yay!" Akia laughed, "I love family dinners!"
Neon sighed. If only she could share the same sentiment.
The next day, Neon was annoyed to find that all her own classmates wanted to talk about was being on the news too. She was already dreading the berating she would inevitably get from her father. Must she be reminded of it so early in the morning?
"But man, all the channels made a big deal out of it!" Denki laughed as Neon walked past his desk.
"I was surprised," Kirishima admitted.
Jiro stopped twirling her earphone jack and she shrugged. "The hero course that keeps pumping out pro heroes was attacked for real. Of course everyone wants to talk about it."
"Who knows what would've happened if the teachers hadn't come when they did?" Sero sighed with relief.
Slam!
She stood from her chair, her arms braced against her desk and she glared at her stunned classmates. "Aizawa Sensei and Thirteen Sensei were both seriously injured from that incident. Don't talk and laugh as if it's all water under the bridge because it's not. There are people still suffering from the consequences."
"R-Right...Sorry, Nishiyama…" Denki said sheepishly as Neon took her seat.
"Everyone! Morning homeroom is about to start!" Tenya yelled as he charged into the room, "Stop talking and take your seats!"
"We're already in our seats…" Kirishima said, "You're the only one who's not."
"Shoot…" Tenya growled as he heeded his own demand. His whole body shook from frustration and slight embarrassment.
"Don't worry about it," Ochaco said, "But...don't you and Neon usually come to school together? How come she arrived before you?"
"I had to come in early to help the school out with something," Neon yawned.
"Help with what?" Kirishima asked.
The door to the classroom opened.
"Morning…"
The entire class leapt to their feet at the sight of their homeroom teacher wrapped from head to toe in bandages. "Aizawa Sensei! You're back too soon!" they shouted in unison.
"Y-You're too professional…" Denki gasped.
Tenya's hand shot in the air. "Aizawa Sensei, are you really alright?!"
"Could you call that 'all right'?!" Ochaco whispered behind him.
"My well-being isn't important. What's important is the fight is not yet over," Aizawa said.
"Don't tell me…" Midoriya exclaimed.
Neon's eyes widened. "The villains?!" she demanded.
Aizawa lowered his head. "The UA sports festival is drawing near," he stated solemnly.
"What?!" the students fell back in their chairs, "That's a super normal school event!"
"Is it really okay to have a sports festival so soon after the villains got inside school premises?!" Jiro asked.
"What if they attack again?" Ojiro asked.
"Apparently, they think of it as UA showing that our crisis management system is solid as a rock by holding the event," Aizawa stated, "Security will also be strengthened to five times that of previous years. Nishiyama has also been good enough to add some of her own sound bubbles around the premises. So...all students are advised...don't touch them if you come across any of them, unless you want half the faculty coming at you with all they've got."
"Yes, sir!" the students called while Neon stifled another yawn.
"Happy to help."
"Above all, our sports festival is a huge chance. It's not an event to be cancelled because of a few villains," Aizawa Sensei continued, "Our sports festival is one of Japan's biggest events."
"Of course, all the top heroes around the country will be watching," Momo added, "For scouting purposes."
"Ah. Joining a famous hero agency will get you more experience and popularity," Aizawa said, "Time is limited. If you expect to go pro, then the path to your future will open up at this event. One chance of the year...For a total of just three chances. No aspiring heroes can afford to miss this event. If you understand that, then don't slack off on your preparations."
"Yes, sir!" the class said while Neon's lips untwisted from a frown.
"Aizawa Sensei," Neon called out, "Any way I can avoid participating?"
"EH?!"
The class turned to Neon. Even the teacher took a second to digest her question and he slowly leaned over the podium, as if honing all of in his attention on her.
"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Aizawa asked, "This is a path you must take if you expect to go pro."
"Yeah. I heard you," Neon said, "For experience and popularity...But I'm not in it for popularity...And wouldn't I get experience once I get my pro license?"
"To get experience, you must be working at a hero agency," Aizawa said, "And to do that, the pro hero must be aware of your skills and your experience in order to hire you. This is your opportunity to showcase your potential."
"This is the only way?" Neon asked.
"Yes...At this time," Aizawa said.
"Aha! At this time! But there will be others! Can't I wait for another opportunity then? Is there one where I don't have to strut around and do tricks in front of cameras like a dog show?"
"Nishiyama!" Aizawa barked. His usually quiet and solemn voice was now replaced by a thundering shout that left no room for questioning and any doubt of his authority, "It would be irrational for you to waste this opportunity. This is a big stepping stone in order to become a pro hero. There might be other ways but nothing will be as effective as the sports festival. Do I make myself clear?"
Neon drew in a breath and she gave a slow and very hesitant nod.
"Homeroom adjourned. Please prep for your next class," Aizawa said as he walked out of the room.
Neon rested her chin on her hand and scowled. First she had to deal with her parents and now she had to prep for a bogus sports competition? It was such a complete waste of time. If the heroes were truly scouting for potential talent, they should hold private tryouts or something. Why pit the hero course with the rest of the student body? It was all just a public display of nonsense.
This was the worst day ever.
Neon trudged through the morning's classes and when it was lunchtime, Neon couldn't wait to get out of the room and to just go somewhere. However, now everyone was talking about the sports festival.
"I'm going to do my very best! LET'S GIVE IT OUR ALL!" Ochaco yelled with determination as they walked to the cafeteria together along with Iida and Midoriya.
"Nishiyama-san and Uraraka-san…" Midoriya asked, "There's something I've been meaning to ask you two…"
"What is it?" Ochaco asked.
"Why did you guys decide to become to UA and become a pro hero?"
Ochaco scratched the back of her head. "Money…" she admitted sheepishly and that surprised even Neon, "To put it simply, yes…Money..." She bowed to them repeatedly. "S-Sorry if it's such an unwholesome reason. You guys all seem to have such admirable motivations, it's embarrassing."
"Why?" Tenya asked as he threw his arms up in the air, "How is having a goal to support your livelihood not admirable?"
Ochaco sighed. "My family owns a construction company...but we haven't gotten any work at all...So we're flat broke. This isn't really something to tell other people, though."
"If you get your license, you'd be able to use your Quirk to bring construction costs way down, right?" Midoriya asked, "No need for heavy lifting so less cost for labor and equipment."
"RIGHT?! That's what I told Dad when I was little!" Ochaco said as she pumped her fist in the air and then she sighed again, "But...they told me they didn't want my help. They'd be happier if I could just achieve my dreams."
"You have great parents," Neon said.
"That's why…" Ochaco said as she gripped the hem of her skirt, "That's why I have to become a pro hero . I'll earn lots and lots of money and let my parents take it easy."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"BRAVOOOOO!" Tenya cheered as he clapped his hands over his head, "Uraraka-kun! Bravo!"
Ochaco blushed and then looked over at Neon. "What about you, Nishiyama-san?"
"Power."
Ochaco slanted to the side. "Eh? Power?"
"I want to be powerful," Neon said and then gave a shrug to emphasize the end of her statement.
Midoriya blinked. "That's it?"
"That's it."
"Nothing else to add to that?"
"Nope.
"Really?"
"Yep."
"But-"
"Ah ha! Young Midoriya is here!" All Might came charging across the hallway and he pointed his finger at the green haired boy.
"All Might! What are you doing here?" Midoriya asked.
All MIght lifted up a pale blue lunch sack. "Lunch! Wanna eat together?"
"He's like a maiden!" Ochaco sputtered.
"How about it?" All MIght asked and then he directed his smile at Neon, "Oh! Young Nishiyama! I almost forgot. Principal Nezu sent me to get you."
Neon blinked. "Me?"
"Your father and brother are in his office right now. Your presence is demanded."
"What?!" Neon gasped.
"Koushi-san too?" Tenya asked as he adjusted his glasses.
All Might jutted out his thumb and his teeth gleamed in the sunlight. "Young Nishiyama...Just remember, no matter what happens...Go beyond...Plus Ultra!"
Neon had no clue what the Symbol of Peace advice was intended to mean, let alone what her family was doing at the principal's office. Whatever the case, she knew it was bad news. She sprinted through the school and practically kicked down the principal's door to get in. When she entered, she was out of breath and nervous as hell.
"Ah. You're here! Would you like some tea, Neon-chan?" the principal asked brightly from his desk while her father and brother stood stoically on the other side. They turned to look at her with grim expressions on their faces.
"I'm okay. Thank you, Principal Nezu," Neon said as she slowly closed the door behind her and walked towards her father.
"As I was telling the principal here," her father said, "There has been a mistake. No child of mine will be a pro hero. Making a fool of themselves in the public eye...All that peacocking around...No! I will not have it. I am withdrawing you from this school effective immediately."
"What?!" Neon gasped, "No! Father. You can't do that!"
"I most certainly can and-"
Sluuuuuuurp!
Principal Nezu took a long sip of tea from his porcelain teacup. Then he set it down on a saucer, next to a small stack of paper. He pushed it forward and he smiled at the flustered parent. "You know...today, on my way to school, I saw a leaf floating in the wind…"
Oh, here we go, Neon inwardly groaned.
"...And I couldn't help but wonder how far is it from the tree that it grew on? Where is the wind taking it? It is very much similar to how a child can naturally stray far from their parents," the principal said, "Although sometimes, it's the parent that strays far from the child. My point is, Nishiyama-san...Neon-chan is right. You can't do that. You do not have that authority…"
Huh?!
The principal then turned towards Koushi and he folded his hands in his lap, "I believe you do, the other Nishiyama-san, since you are the one who signed as the legal guardian for this child on the application form."
Koushi nodded "Ah. Yes. My parents has given me legal guardianship over my sister. I have been placed in that role for three years now."
"It was a mistake for him to agree to my daughter's enrollment! A rather uncharacteristically lapse of judgement on my son's part," Junichiro blustered, "But what does it matter if he does it or I do it? What matters is that my daughter is to leave this school immediately!"
"That is true. If her legal guardian decides to withdraw her from this school, then even I, as the principal, cannot stop that from happening," Principal Nezu said with a pleasant smile still on his face, "Again...that is if the legal guardian chooses to."
"I-" Koushi started to say.
Pop! Pop!
Two sound barriers appeared over her brother and father's head as Neon glared at the two of them. "Enough blabbering out of the two of you," Neon seethed, "It's my turn to do the talking now so you will listen to what I have to say."
She saw her father try to say something and his hands went to claw at the sound barrier but Neon was having none of it. She was tired and angry.
So very angry.
"'Legal guardian'. 'Father'…Stupid, empty titles. What right do EITHER of you have over my life?!" Neon yelled, feeling her throat tighten and tears of frustration come to her eyes, "Neither of you have been there for Akia, let alone me. When was the last time you spent a full day with either of us? Where were either of you when she took her first steps? Where were you when she said her first words? What about when she was taken the first time? And the second? Were you there to protect her? To get her back when she got kidnapped? No! It was me. It was always just me!"
The two men remained silent and neither of them made a move against her barrier so that gave Neon every opportunity to unleash every bone she had to pick with them. She knew she should stop but she had already crossed a line so she was going to take All Might Sensei's advice. Go beyond...Plus Ultra.
"What about Mom?" Neon whispered through gritted teeth and that got at least a guilt-filled eye aversion from her brother, "Where were either of you when she died? She needed you there on her last day. I needed you there."
Pop! Pop!
She broke both barriers at once to see what either of these had to say for themselves.
"Neon...I didn't know it would be Mom's last day..." Koushi said weakly.
"BULLSHIT! Utter bullshit!" Neon shouted, "I was 5 years old and even I could tell Mom was really sick. Every day could've been a last day with her towards the end. You ran away and hid in your books because you couldn't handle it!"
She turned to her father. "Is that why you don't want me to be a hero? Because you don't want to be reminded of my Quirk? Of Mom's Quirk?!"
Junichiro cleared his throat. "Neon. Watch your tone. Don't take that voice with me."
"No! I've watched my tone this whole time! I tried to play by your rules because that's what Mom told me to be. To be helpful around the house. To be useful...Because you two can't do jackshit!" Neon yelled, "I will become a pro hero because that's what Akia needs. Someone she can rely on. I'm doing what I can to make her world safer while you two are just trying to hide from it!"
"Well said…"
Neon gasped, having completely forgot the principal's existence once she started her tirade. She turned to him, wiped her tears with the back of her sleeve, and she bowed her head. "Sorry you had to hear that, Principal Nezu."
"Not at all, Neon-chan," Principal Nezu said, "I like a fighting spirit within my student...and since you haven't withdrawn, yet, might I make a suggestion as someone still responsible for your growth and education?"
Neon nodded.
"The sports festival is in a few weeks...Why don't you use that to prove to your family your potential?" Principal Nezu said with a smile, "Prove that the skills that you've gained thus far isn't just for...What was it you said, Nishiyama-san?...Oh, yes...Making a fool of yourself in the public eye and peacocking around. That you will become a strong and dependable hero?"
"What?" Neon asked, "But wouldn't me participating in the sports festival prove exactly that?"
"Not if you place in the top 3…" Principal Nezu said as he picked up his teacup again and took a sip.
"Top 3?" Koushi repeated.
Principal Nezu nodded. "Then it proves that Neon-chan's abilities are not for show. That her skills and experience actually counts for something…something that even the top heroes in the world recognize as potential."
Silence clouded the office as Neon stared at the principal.
"What do you say, Nishiyama-san?"
Junichiro clenched his fist and he begrudgingly nodded his head. "Fine. If Neon places in the top 3, we will not withdraw her...BUT no funny business. You can't manipulate the scores to help her. She needs to win it fair and square."
"I am accustomed to presiding over the third year's events so I will not even be present that day for the first years. This deal will also stay within these walls. None of the teachers need to be aware," Principal Nezu said placed a paw on his heart and another paw in the air. "Most of all, I would not have it any other way."
Then he turned to smile at Neon, "What about you, Neon-chan? What do you say?"
Neon took a deep breath. "I still think the sports festival is a complete waste of time and energy but I'm willing to set that aside…"
She stuck out her hand towards her father. "Go beyond, right?" she grumbled.
"Plus Ultra," the principal finished as he watched Neon and her father shake on the deal.