Sometimes I don't really know myself / Devil on my back, pray for me, need help / Angel in the front tryna guide my steps / Who do you call when you need some help?
Ding-dong!Neon closed the laptop resting on her stomach, stopping the music, and she sat up from her bed. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon and she had already done everything she needed to do. The house was cleaned. The briefcase containing her hero suit sat next to her small duffel bag stuffed with a few clothes and toiletries she'd need during her internship. Her internship would be far away from her apartment but thankfully the hero she'd be working for did include lodging if needed. Even Ito had come to do her weekly check-in. Everything was all set.
So who could be at the door?
"Young Nagano! I have arrived!"
Neon leapt into a standing position, momentarily forgetting about her laptop and she slammed her palm down on the cover at the last second to keep the laptop from crashing on her feet.
"A-All Might?!" she exclaimed as she quickly set her laptop on the bed and rushed to the door, "What are you doing here?"
When she pulled back the door, she was surprised yet again when she saw a sheepish Midoriya standing next to the heroic form of the country's #1 hero, who had a rather large wooden crate tucked under his arm and balanced on his hip.
"And Midoriya too?" Neon asked.
"Us being here together is purely coincidental! Why? Because although we didn't discuss it with each other, it seems Young Midoriya and I came here with the same intentions," All Might laughed.
"S-Sorry to bother you," Midoriya said as his face grew redder by the second, "I would've called to talk but I didn't have your number…"
Neon couldn't help but cough out a laugh at her classmate's obvious discomfort. "Midoriya, is this the first time you came to visit a girl's home?"
Her answer was in the form of a brighter shade of red that darkened his cheeks.
"Come on in," Neon chuckled and stood back, allowing the two to enter the room, "Welcome."
Neon's apartment was fairly simple with mainly a twin size bed and a white bookcase along one side with various books, movies, vinyl records, and a record player placed horizontally on the open shelves, separating the room from the kitchen, which was to the side of the front door. There was a small tv and a state of the art soundbar that were both placed on top of a cardboard box marked "MISC"."Thank you! And congratulations on the move. In fact, I believe I might have something of yours," All Might said as he set the big crate down in the center of the room. Meanwhile, Neon noted that Midoriya had to take in a deep breath before finding the courage to step over the threshold, "This was placed outside your door when we got here."
"That's odd...I thought Koushi sent over everything already," Neon said as she walked over to the crate and stared at the address label that distinctly showed her old home address as the sender.
Pouf!
All Might returned to his thin state and he let out a heavy sigh.
"Make yourself comfortable," Neon said with a gesture to her bed, "I don't have any chairs so the bed will have to suffice."
"Ah! That is quite generous of you but I am fine to keep a standing position!" All Might declared.
"So what brings you guys to my apartment on a nice Saturday afternoon?" Neon asked as she crossed her arms and looked between her two guests.
Midoriya gulped. He approached Neon and then looked to All Might for support. "It's just...Yesterday after school, I happened to overhear Aizawa Sensei tell All Might that you decided to turn down the offer from Edgeshot."
Neon stood up a little straighter. "Yeah. I'm going to work with Graffiti Girl. What of it?"
"Both your Sensei and I agree that this would be a poor decision for you to make...And quite out of character, I might add for you," All Might said.
Neon shrugged. "Maybe you just don't know me well enough then."
"You're doing this for Iida-kun, aren't you?" Midoriya asked quietly, "Since he decided to work in Hosu City with Manual? That's where the incident with his brother happened, right?"
Neon shrugged again and then moved her gaze to the window. "I have my reasons," she muttered.
"I can understand you wanting to keep an eye out on a friend. That is very admirable of you but you shouldn't hurt yourself in the process of it," All Might said.
"Working with Graffiti Girl will hurt me?" Neon asked.
"Not working with Young Edgeshot would be," All Might corrected, "His methods are unorthodox and in all my years, I have rarely seen him work with anyone voluntarily and when he does...When it's up to him, it usually is a great and unexpected partnership. It would be a folly for you to not take this opportunity. He will help you grow in a way no other hero can. Not even me."
"But Iida-"
"Young Iida will be under the care of a licensed hero," All Might said, "And he is also sensible young man himself. You need to have more faith in him, if not Manual."
That struck a nerve and Neon threw her hands out exasperatedly. "I do have faith in Iida-kun. It's the villains that I don't-"
Bzzzzt! Bzzzzt!
"It's me. It's me."
Neon sighed. "Sorry, guys. Give me a second," she said as she pulled out her phone from her hoodie pocket and answered it but before she could say a word, her brother's panicked voice came screaming through.
"IS SHE WITH YOU?! Is Akia with you?!" Koushi demanded.
"Whoa! What?! Someone's taken Akia?!" Neon cried which made both All Might and Midoriya straighten up considerably and look at Neon with more alertness than before.
"Yes. I was just informed by her guard but I don't believe this is a kidnapping. I believe she might've snuck out to get to you."
"Why don't you think it's a kidnapping?" Neon snapped, "It's always a kidnapping!"
"Well, since it usually is, I know how to look for the signs," Koushi said, "But there were no signs of struggle or even a ransom note and she had been considerably upset these last few days with you gone. I think she didn't realize just how permanent your situation was until recently."
"But she's not with me," Neon exclaimed, "I would tell you if she-"
She paused when her eyes fell on the crate before her. "Erm…While I have you here...Did you perhaps send me another box of my stuff?"
All Might's jaw dropped while Midoriya's eyes grew three times its normal size when they caught what Neon was getting at.
"Another box?" Koushi asked, "No. I sent you everything already last week. There's nothing left of yours that-"
"That's all I needed to know," Neon sighed, "Yeah...I know where Akia is. Just come over to my place in one hour."
"One hour? If she's with you-" Koushi started to protested.
"Give me an hour!" Neon snapped and then she drew in another breath, "She'll be safe here for the time being. Just...give me one hour...Please. Trust me."
"...Okay. You have one hour," Koushi relented and then hung up the phone.
"Your sister...Your sister is in this crate?!" Midoriya cried out as he and All Might raced towards the crate.
"Stop!" Neon ordered and they froze in their tracks, "This is my home and my situation...Let me deal with it."
Neon tucked her phone back into her hoodie pocket and went over to her open kitchen. She took out a crowbar from under the sink and went over to the crate.
"What?! Why do you even have that?!" Midoriya gasped as Neon wedged the crowbar under the nailed down lid.
"I'm a teenage girl living by myself in one of the biggest cities in Japan. Why do you think I have that?" Neon huffed as she put her full weight on the tool to pry the lid open. As soon as she did, she saw the top of a head of black scurry to the farthest corner of the box under the packing peanuts.
Neon set the lid on the floor, leaned up against the side of the crate with her back turned to it's contents, and casually folded her arms. "You heard what I said to Koushi, Akia," she stated, "You have about 56 more minutes until you have to go home so I suggest you not waste your precious time inside this crate."
There was a rustle behind her and then Midoriya and All Might watched as a rosy cheeked girl with long, black hair emerge from the crate. She bit her lips as her big brown eyes darted quickly across each of their faces before landing at her sister's back. She reached out a small hand and grabbed the hem of Neon's shirt. "I'm...I'm sorry," she said in a faint whisper.
"If you have something to apologize to me for," Neon said evenly, "You will say it to my face and not my back. Come out of the crate."
Neon's eyes went to the two males in the room. "And no help. You got yourself in it, you can get yourself out."
The little girl gulped again and she slowly released her grip on Neon. She moved both her hands to the side of the crate and it took her a couple of attempts to climb over it since the sides went all the way up to her chest. When she finally stood in front of Neon, she had a few packing peanuts stuck in her hair and to her red dress. She clutched her hands in front of her and she looked down at her feet.
"I-I'm sorry, Nee-chan," she whispered again.
"For?" Neon asked.
"For coming here even though I wasn't supposed to...And for causing trouble and worrying everyone."
Neon nodded and put a hand on Akia's head. "Okay. Forgiven."
Akia ran straight forward and hugged Neon tightly around the waist while Midoriya gaped at his classmate. "Th-That's it?"
Neon nodded while she ran a hand down Akia's hair. "I mean, she understood what she did wrong so what else can I do? Besides, Koushi will be here soon and I'd rather not waste time reprimanding her for something she already knows. Plus…"
"Plus?" Midoriya asked.
Neon grinned. "Shipping herself to me is kind of brilliant."
"I thought you'd appreciate it!" Akia exclaimed as she looked up at her sister and they exchanged the same wide smile. Then, when she remembered that they were not alone, Akia's smile grew considerably smaller and she edged herself a little bit closer to Neon. Her eyes darted again to Midoriya and then All Might.
"Akia, it's okay. They're the good guys," Neon said but made no attempt to move Akia away from her. Neon shrugged at her guests, "You have to excuse Akia's hesitancy. You two are the first people she's ever met that isn't blood related or on the family's payroll and she knows not to trust anyone at face value."
"Th-that's completely understandable," Midoriya said as he tentatively stepped forward and bent down to be eye level to the child, "Hi. I'm Izuku Midoriya. I'm a classmate of your sister's."
"I know…I...I saw you on TV," Akia said in a faint whisper as her cheeks turned a bright pink, "It's...it's nice to meet you."
"And this is-" Midoriya started to say and then his whole body broke into a sweat when his eyes connected to the scrawny form of All Might, who had been sweating ever since the lid was pried open, "AH CRAP! WE FORGOT ABOUT-"
"How much did you hear while you were in the crate, Akia?" Neon said as she slapped a hand over Midoriya's mouth to prevent him from spilling more beans than necessary.
"I heard you address someone as All Might and that my crate was being carried up to your door," Akia reported and she peered at the now soaked scrawny blonde at the foot of her sister's bed, "A-Are you really the great hero?"
Midoriya flailed out his arms "N-No! He's just a man who happens to share the same name as-"
"Yes. That's All Might Sensei," Neon said sharply and Midoriya gaped at his classmate, "I've never lied to Akia before and I don't intend to do so now."
"Y-Yes. It's me, Young Nishiyama. You have caught me in a rather peculiar state. Why? Well...that is a long story that I do not want to burden you with," All Might said.
Akia nodded. "Nee-chan always said to never pry into someone's business and to respect their privacy. If they don't want to share, then we shouldn't make them...Unless..."
"Unless?" Midoriya asked.
"Unless it affects our lives or someone very important to us," Akia finished and then looked up at Neon, "Nee-chan...Is that right?"
Neon nodded. "Yes. In this case, we will respect All Might Sensei's need for privacy and keep his secret as well. Akia, when you talk to Koushi later, just say that all you saw was me, Midoriya, and a Sensei from my school, okay? Don't give him any names. Just say a Sensei and if he asks for specifics just shrug and say you talked to me most of the time so you didn't notice the Sensei much."
Akia nodded. "Okay."
"You're teaching your sister to lie?!" Midoriya asked.
"Withholding the truth isn't technically lying," Neon said.
"Thank you, Young Nagano and Young Nishiyama," All Might said as he wiped the sweat off his brow with a towel, "Your discretion is appreciated."
Akia's nose wrinkled up. "Dis-discretion?"
"It means keeping his secret," Neon explained and then lifted Akia up and balanced her sister on her hip with one arm, "Okay. Now that we've got all that settled, there's only one thing left."
"What?" Akia asked.
"Akia," Neon sighed, "I know it must be hard for you that I'm not at home anymore but you can't come to my place every time you want to see me."
Akia bit her lip. "I know...but...but it's hard…"
"I know," Neon said, "I miss you too, Akia."
"Then...why did you leave? Are you mad at me like you are with Father?"
Neon had to catch herself before she dropped Akia in surprise. "What? No! Of course not!'
She lowered both of them to the floor and she held Akia's hands in hers. "It's very complicated and hard for me to explain even to myself but...it's better for me if I didn't live with you guys any more. It has nothing to do with you. Believe me, if I could keep you safe and get my way, I'd have you live with me."
Akia's eyes lit up but Neon cut her off before she could get her hopes up. "But I can't guarantee your safety, Akia. Not now, at least. Father won't allow me to be a hero under his roof so I had to leave. At least, that's the main reason but there are many other reasons why it's better for me here...But...just know this, Akia...No matter where I live or what my name is...I'll always be your Nee-chan. Okay?"
Akia sniffled. "...Okay."
"And if you really, really need to see me, call me and tell me so. Then I'll do everything I can to see you as soon as possible," Neon said, "I can't promise that I'll be there right away but I'll try my very best."
"What will I do in the meantime?" Akia asked, "Who's going to play with me? And read with me? And watch movies?"
"Koushi will do that," Neon said, "He already told me he was going to stay by your side from now on. Your his sister too, you know. Watch movies with him."
"Even the romantic movies?" Akia giggled.
Neon grinned. "Especially the romantic ones."
Bzzzzt! Bzzzzt!
"It's me. It's me."
"Ugh...I told him one hour!" Neon groaned as she answered her phone, "Don't tell me you're here already""Father found out and it was either come earlier or have your new home get surrounded by the entire police force and god knows which hero," Koushi grunted.
"Of course," Neon groaned, "Alright. I'll bring her down."
"Already?" Akia gasped and Neon shrugged.
"Father's orders," Neon said as she helped Akia to her feet and pushed her towards the door, "You probably gave him more grey hairs with this stunt."
"Is it any worse than the trouble you've caused?" Akia asked as she started to walk.
Neon hesitated a bit as she trailed behind Akia but then she quickly recovered, "No...but I'd rather you not model your life around me."
"Why?"
"Because you're your own person," Neon said, "Don't do something just because I've done it. Make your own choices but be smart about it. "
"Okay."
Neon opened the front door. Akia turned and gave a small nod to the room. "It...It was nice meeting you all and thank you for taking care of Nee-chan."
"Oh! Not at all," Midoriya said while All Might smiled.
"It was nice to meet you too, Young Nishiyama! Have a safe trip home!"
Neon looked over at her classmate and teacher. "I'll be right back. There's soda in the fridge. Help yourselves," she said and then shut the door behind her and Akia.
When Neon returned to her apartment, she was amused to find that Midoriya and All Might were in the same spot she had left them in. She silently went to her fridge and then got a can of soda for herself.
"Y-Your sister...is very nice," Midoriya said as Neon popped the top.
She said nothing as she took a swig.
"Now that I've met your sister," All Might announced, "I understand your circumstances more and am even more convinced that you need to work with Young Edgeshot. Call Eraser Head immediately and tell him you've changed your mind. I bet he's expecting your call. Why? Because he wouldn't tell us about your choices if he didn't think we'd come talk to you about it."
Neon slammed the can down on the kitchen counter. Bubbly but syrupy liquid splashed down over her hand as she glared at her teacher. "You guys meeting Akia changes nothing. If anything, it supports my decision to stay near Iida. You heard her. The kid thinks of me as a role model. What kind of role model would I be if I chose my own personal growth over a friend's life?"
"Yes...But you also taught your sister to respect someone's privacy," All Might said, "And if Young Iida did not confide in you, then you should give him the space he needs."
"But what if that Hero Killer-"
"If the Hero Killer reappears then it is up to us, pro heroes, to handle," All Might said, "If Young Iida is foolish enough to get involved, trust that the pro heroes in the area will be there to get him out of a bind. After all, isn't that the whole point of having pro heroes? To trust them with the public's safety?"
Neon watched a small drop of soda ran down the back of her hand and then disappear into the pool below it. "I…"
"Us, pro heroes, are just as concerned about this Hero Killer, Young Nishiyama. Even more so...Why? Because it's us he's targeting."
"I obviously don't know Iida-kun as well as you do, Neon," Midoriya said slowly, "But I don't think he'd do anything rash...However...if you think he will, maybe I should pass on my internship too and try to find something in Hosu to keep an eye on Iida-kun."
"What?!" Neon spun around so fast that the soda on her hand went flying across the room, "Are you crazy? You only have that one internship offer. You can't put your whole hero career in jeopardy just because Iida-kun might do something stupid! That's-"
She stopped herself short as Midoriya gave her a knowing look.
"Now that you heard it in your own words…" Midoriya said, "Does that change your mind?"
A small grin tugged at the corner of Neon's lips. "Touché…"
"I am worried about Iida-kun too," Midoriya said, "But there are other ways to keep an eye on him than to just be near him. He's in our class group chat and he's usually pretty responsive to any school related questions. Uraraka-san and I already agreed to keep asking questions throughout the week so that he's engaged and focused on hero-work."
"Oh right…The class group chat...I should get in on that now that I can share my phone number," Neon said as she pulled out her phone and tossed it to Midoriya, "Here. Add me and put your contact in there as well."
"Really?!" Midoriya exclaimed, "That's great! Usually it's Iida-kun who answers on your behalf or else guesses what you would say on class discussions."
Neon grimaced. "I don't even want to know what he thinks I'll say...Or what I should say…"
"So you'll call Eraser Head and tell him you've changed your mind, Young Nagano?" All Might asked.
"Yeah..." Neon sighed, "As soon as I make Iida-kun promise me he'll keep me in the loop at all times."
"Excellent!" All Might shouted as he pulled out his phone, "Did you get all that?"
"Ah…." came the tired voice of Neon and Midoriya's homeroom teacher, "I don't know why you bothered to call me. I already accepted Edgeshot's offer on Nagano's behalf as soon as you agreed to pay her a visit. I never even told Graffiti Girl Nagano accepted her offer. It was a stupid and illogical decision in the first place."
"YOU DID WHAT?!" Neon yelled.