AugustRrush: Thank you ~ ❤ ! i hope you enjoy this chapter too!
Oblivious IJ: F ! ヽ(・∀・)ﾉ
kirika o7: ehehe ~ Thank you sooo much ! I'm going nuts too ! hope you enjoy this one! ❤ (＾▽＾)
ILikeFoxes828: I really am such an awful person, aren't I? ahaha ~ ok ok ! This chapter, no cliffhanger! Well, at least I don't think it's a cliffhanger... or is it...? (・・;)ゞ aha, thank you so much ❤ !
Yuudie: Thank you so so much! I hope you enjoy this chapter ❤ (⁀ᗢ⁀)
PotatoFaye: haha omg, thank you ! I got chills writing it, no lie ! (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ i hope you enjoy this chapter, too! ❤
bbymojo: thank you so much! ❤ Taru really does have it rough, huh? i really hope you enjoy this chapter! (^人^)
Rynxenvy: I know ! o(TヘTo) Shoto should really soften up soon ! Taru needs a breaaakk ! ｡･ﾟﾟ*(oдo)*ﾟﾟ･｡ , please enjoy this chapter ❤
lovelyhatter: thank you so very much! ❤ ( ´ ▽ ` )
Sakiruka: aahh, thank you so much ~ I'm so sad for Hotaru too, but bad times always pass, right? ❤ fighting ! 감사함니다 ! \(^ヮ^)/
Ali Daisy: thank you so so much ❤ i truly enjoyed reading your thoughts for each chapter and your words really do mean so much! I am deeply appreciative and so very happy. I hope I can continue to put out quality writing that you will enjoy. (⌒‿⌒) ❤ thank you so much for reading !
•○●○•
I have one more final to go and I'm soo exhausted, aha. But, I'm pushing through!
I hope everyone's finals are going well if you're in school, and if not I hope whatever you're doing is going well! ❤
I hope everyone enjoys this chapter, and I'm sorry for any errors you most likely will come across. (*_ _)人
Thank you for reading!
❤•○●○•❤
Relinquish
❤•○●○•❤
Arms holding her close, a rhythmic thumping sound, a glimpse of red and white, faded voices and an intense battle. Was this all a dream or events of reality? These things are far too hazy for her to tell, but even so they weigh heavily.
Her eyelids slowly raise and an unfamiliar tiled ceiling greets her. Even though the room is dark, the pure white ceiling above her makes her squint. There's a beeping sound to her right that's radiating a light and she looks over. A heart monitor with a dripping IV next to it. She's in a hospital. She's alive.
She reaches upwards, seeing a needle stuck in her arm and presumably pumping in some sort of medication. Is it medication for pain? She doesn't feel any pain just like she doesn't feel any emotion. What should she be feeling right now? Happiness and sadness, those emotions are currently a mystery to her.
Slowly, she sits up. She instantly takes note of how drained she feels. Even though there are bandages wrapped around her hands and across her forehead, and even a cast on her right foot, nothing hurts. Has she lost all feeling, or has Recovery Girl healed her? What happened?
•
"I got her."
•
Her hand moves towards her head, getting lost in her hair. That was Shoto's voice. Her silver orbs are wide and trembling as things come back to her little by little. That's right. It wasn't a dream. Shoto was the one who carried her out of there with a touch so firm but gentle. After that violent fight… wait. Who fought?
•
"I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner, Young Aihara."
•
That fight was between All Might and Nomu. He saved everyone. He came nearly instantly after she fell into an unconscious state. No, she wasn't unconscious, but she should've been. She was trapped in a trance, aware but unaware. Why couldn't her body restore its temperature?
•
"It's a good thing you used your ice to cool her down, dear. Her fractured ribs and punctured lung, her broken ankle and dangerously high body temperature… due to these severe injuries her body wasn't able to shut down properly. You saved her life."
•
Instantly, her hands fall into her lap. She stares blankly ahead with parted lips. So, the only reason she's still drawing breath is because of Shoto? That alleviating coldness she felt, that was him? He saved her again and she wishes he hadn't. Why would he keep her safe?
Her knuckles turn white when she curls her fingers into the hospital gown she's dressed in. Her lips are now pressed together, and she bites down harshly on the inside of her cheek. Why? What's he thinking?
The heart monitor by her bedside becomes more rambunctious, and she draws in a breath to calm herself down. The answer doesn't really matter. Nothing does. Her dream and her plan, nothing turned out how she wanted it to. Her parents are out there somewhere. She doesn't know what to do now. As a result, she's discarding everything.
There's no point to anything. Nothing she does is ever enough. Everything she does and her entire existence is nothing but a disappointment. Becoming a hero, claiming her revenge, Shoto… what a joke.
Blood trickles down her fingertips when she pulls the IV out of her forearm, and the heart monitor stops. She throws her legs over the edge of her bed and stands. Her left foot is silent against the icy floor, while her bandaged right foot creates an aggravating thump for each taken step.
Once she's in front of the window, she moves the curtains aside. A clear night cityscape reveals itself and a full moon. Being on a higher floor level, the view is more than decent. However, instead of staring at the scenery she briefly stares at her mended reflection, then studying the actual window itself. It doesn't open. She presses her hand against it.
The room is illuminated blue and the glass shatters. The loud sound and bright flash is prominent enough to catch the attention of the hospital workers just outside of her room. Footsteps rapidly approach and Hotaru lets out a heavy breath. The door to her room opens.
Glass from the broken window is spread across the floor, glistening beneath the moonlight. Scorched bandages and a disintegrated cast lay on the ground. The curtains whip wildly from the windy night, and that's it.
There's no sign of Hotaru.
•○●○•
He was only just released from the hospital, yet despite that he's moving swiftly. His feet carry him quickly down the hallway and towards a familiar door. With a locked jaw and distressed yellow-gold eyes, he slams the door open.
Nezu looks up from the papers on his desk and at Daichi. The man has sweat trickling down his face from all the energy he used to get here so quickly. Nezu's eyes shut, knowing he must've heard about the villain attack and the dangerous villain advisory that has been broadcasting non-stop. In fact, it's on the television right now.
"This is a follow-up report on yesterday's incident at the U.A. rescue training facility where hero course students were attacked by villains." A woman reporter speaks. "According to police investigation, the criminals call themselves 'The League of Villains,' and have been plotting to kill All Might, who has been a teacher at U.A. since spring this year. Police have arrested 72 villains, but they still don't know the whereabouts of their ringleader."
The photograph of the Unforeseen Simulation Joint that was displayed behind the reported is replaced with a different photograph. A photograph of Lightning Beast and Two Face.
"Not only that, one of the villains among the attack was Lightning Beast himself, who was proclaimed the have been annihilated by Endeavor years ago. Two Face, who was supposed to have withdrawn from her villain ways was also involved in the attack." The reporter continues. "They have escaped arrest presumably alongside the ringleader."
The pictures of the two villains fade and are instantly replaced with another. Hotaru's picture appears for the world to see—a photo the press snapped of her when they bombarded the front gates of U.A. for forced interviews. She's looks nothing more than a villain. It's a deceptive display, but only those who are truly aware of Hotaru's situation know that.
"Onto some breaking news; Lightning Beast has a daughter who was temporarily enrolled at U.A. High School and is believed to be responsible for the attack as well. She was sent to an undisclosed hospital for treatment, and was reported missing early this morning and is currently at large and dangerous. If you see any of these villains, do not approach and call the police—"
"Hotaru's really here, right?" Daichi's voice speaks up and overpowers the television audio. "She's not really missing, right?"
Nezu looks away from the screen and at Daichi standing before his desk. His posture is straight and stiff, and his fingers are curled into tight fists. Remorse fills Nezu, Daichi's afflicted expression getting to him, especially after their agreement. After all, Daichi was the one who told him about Hotaru's life and how she really was a sweet girl despite everything, which led him to accept her as a student at U.A.
"I'm sorry." Nezu says, and Daichi's eyes harden. "We don't know where she is."
"What do you mean she's gone? What happened to her?!" He exclaims and his hands slam onto the desk, creating a loud sound. "You were supposed to save her!"
"I sincerely apologize." Nezu looks to the ground wistfully, his paws pressing together. "We were outsmarted. We're doing everything we can."
Daichi sucks in a breath and his muscles loosen. His racing heart starts to slow, and his fingers uncurl and hang limply. His eyelids drape over his eyes and he remains silent for a short moment.
He shouldn't be getting worked up like this. It isn't helping the situation, and he's fully aware that this prodigious school wouldn't sit by and do nothing when someone is in trouble, especially one of their students.
"No, I apologize. I shouldn't have snapped." Daichi eyes open and stare at the principal. "Hotaru has always been like a younger sister to me. I watched her grow up and so it pains me that she's gone. Either way, we need to find her quickly."
"I agree." Nezu hops out of his chair, walking around the wooden desk. "The media has labeled her as a dangerous villain despite us claiming she wasn't. She betrayed her parents during the attack. She has both heroes and villains after her. We need to find her before something bad happens."
"Right." Daichi asks, watching as Nezu walks towards the large window. "Is the staff here searching for her?"
"Yes. I am also working on contacting as many Pro Heroes as I can to tell them the true situation. I just hope that if Aihara is found by someone other than the few of us that know the truth, that she doesn't display any hostility and yields to them. If she is to fight confinement that will make the situation far worse. If she wants to be saved," Nezu looks over at Daichi seriously. "She'll need to relinquish everything."
The air in the room is so thick it feels as if Daichi is underwater. His eyes are hard and his hands form tight fists once more. Hotaru allow herself to be arrested if someone other than them happens to get to her first? Hotaru… relinquish everything? He can't see someone as stubborn as her doing such a thing. This situation is getting even worse for every second that goes by.
"I'm going to start searching for her myself." Daichi says, turning and heading towards the door restlessly. "If you find anything out, please let me know. I'll do the same."
"Of course." Nezu nods just as Daichi takes his leave.
Once Daichi exits the room and continues down the hall, he pulls out his walkie-talkie to inform his officer co-workers of the situation. Just as he finishes talking into it and rounding the corner, he comes to a sudden stop at the teenager before him. His golden eyes widen.
"No way…" Daichi begins, smiling at the familiar face despite the situation. "Shoto?"
Shoto's eyes are just as wide as Daichi's. If he's being honest, he didn't think he would ever see this man again—the park ranger who always happily answered any aquatic question him and Hotaru had. What is he doing here of all places?
"Daichi." Shoto greets almost monotonously, and the organ in Daichi's chest feels much heavier all of a sudden.
It seems Hotaru isn't the only one that has changed. Shoto is different as well. Just like Hotaru, his expression is colder, his voice is more impassive, and his eyes are more obscure. His lips downturn. After all this time, he never learned what happened to them. What did they endure that brought about such a change? However, such questions can wait.
"You haven't seen Hotaru recently, have you?" Daichi questions.
Shoto looks away from him, his expression unreadable. His hands move into his pockets and he remains silent for a few seconds. Daichi begins to frown.
"She should be in the hospital."
"Yeah, that's where she should be…" Daichi murmurs.
His weakened voice and sad expression makes Shoto's eyes widen a notch. Is she no longer in the hospital? The possibility of her being discharged so soon is impossible. Clearly, something is wrong and he doesn't know a thing about it. That bothers him incredibly.
"What do you mean?" Shoto questions, his jaw growing tight. "Did something happen?"
"I don't know the exact details myself, but nobody knows where she is." The older man answers. "I'm surprised you didn't know. It's all over the news. But, if you see her or have an idea of where she might be, please let me or the school know."
Daichi hurriedly walks past Shoto who seems to be in a profound daze. His heterochromia eyes stare down the empty hall, many troubling thoughts running through his mind. Hotaru is missing and this fact is all over the news?
Normally, Shoto would spare some of his time to watch the news to keep himself updated on heroes and occurrences in the area, but he skipped watching the news this morning. In fact, he skipped breakfast too. Since yesterday, he hasn't had an appetite.
All he can do is think about how Hotaru saved him from her own father. She acted as if she was a hero. Her, a villain, saved him so willingly. His fingers curl into tight fists. Why would she save him? What is she thinking? He doesn't know.
One moment she's taunting him with a nefarious smirk, tugging sensitive strings in his chest purposely and radiating a villainous aura. However, she started showing another side to her as the days went by. Or, maybe that side of her has always been there. It just took him this long to see it.
At times her silver eyes appeared despondent, and the few times she smiled it was wistful. Sometimes it seemed like she was on the verge of tears. During their combat training she was hesitant to attack, and out-loud she admitted she was clueless. She apologized to him multiple times and he ignored those apologies.
She told him that all she's been trying to do is protect him. She claimed she hated her father. Her words didn't match up with her actions, so he labeled her as dumb. He truly thought she was just attempting to play mind games with him until the attack. The livid yell of Lightning Beast fills his head, followed by Two Face's snarl.
•
"This whole time you were protecting him?! Taru!"
•
"I should've killed you when I had the chance, you rat!"
•
Long ago, he used to think their home situations were similar until she personally diminished that thought by claiming her parents were nice. However, it turns out he was right all along. They are far more similar than he originally thought—the only difference is the severity of their abuse.
He finds himself remembering the nasty bruise that was on her face, and recalling her spoken words when he questioned it. Just how much did she endure for his sake? Is it safe to say she had it worse off? Perhaps that's an overstatement. He can't speak on it. He doesn't understand her or know of any of her trails, her goals, nor her inspirations. He never attempted to perceive them. Although, there is one thing he knows.
His feet start carrying him down the hall once more. Something weighs heavily in his chest, and he knows what it is. He just never thought it would be so burdensome. This is remorse. His hand raises and covers the left side of his face, and he lets out a heavy breath while his eyes shut.
This entire time, Hotaru was protecting him while putting herself in danger. This entire time, her countless apologies to him were genuine. This entire time, she's been throwing him many signs. He knows now that this entire time;
He was the dumb one.
•○●○•
"Endeavor, you were believed to have ended Lightning Beast. What are your thoughts of him having been alive this whole time, and his daughter being enrolled at U.A. alongside your son?" A reporter questions the number two hero.
Endeavor's fingers curl into tight fists, his flames growing more intense. Ever since yesterday he's been bombarded with questions like this. The press has been swarming outside of his agency, adding to his already flared temper.
The praise he once received for ending that wicked villain all those years ago is now worthless. Now everyone is questioning and doubting him, wondering if he possibly let Lightning Beast live. That's not the case.
He remembers striking him down clearly. He remembers the horrified expression and tears running down his daughter's face as his flames engulfed him. Lightning Beast's daughter. She's given him the slip many times. Way back then and recently. But, to think she was at U.A. this entire time and he didn't even know, and that Shoto didn't even bother to inform him of this.
"Tsk." Endeavor turns, striding away from the press and into the city, leaving them in an uproar.
Does Shoto still desire to be her friend even now? Does he still worry about her well-being? Why else would he keep this a secret from him? He knew all too well about that girl being one of his targets.
As much as he wants to go home and question his son, he'll wait. Right now, he has villains to hunt down. This time he'll make sure to end Lightning Beast's savagery, and this time, his daughter won't slip away from him again. He'll redeem himself.
His phone lets out a ring and he holds it up to his ear. One of his agency workers speaks to him, and his lips curve upwards into a smirk. His eyes narrow in determination. Fortunately...
There's been a report of a silver-eyed teenage girl nearby.
•○●○•
Overlapping waves, dark clouds and sun-rays. A cooling breeze and the smell of salt. Quiet and peaceful, lonesome and desired. Hotaru stands alone on this empty beach, her footprints stretched out across the sand behind her.
It's been nearly a day since she left that hospital, and since then she's been staying on the low. The world sees her as a villain. Her face is all over the news. Something like this shouldn't be so unforeseen, but it hits her so hard like she never considered this happening.
She's the daughter of Lightning Beast. She's the daughter of Two Face. For most of her life she's performed in villainous acts by their side. Despite their manipulative teachings, it doesn't change the very fact that she once wanted to be a villain. It doesn't change or erase the things she's done. Of course something like this would happen. It was inevitable.
There's a storm brewing in the distance and she stares at it. However, there's one thing she never considered happening. She only thought she would be the enemy of one world, not two. Both the hero and villain world are after her, and she's merely drifting in between.
She can't enter either world. She's not wanted in them. She's not suited for either. What a mess. What a complete mess. She just wants to disappear. Everything she's done, good and bad, it doesn't even matter. She can't escape this. Her father has won in the worst possible way. He was right.
By simply being her father, she'll forever be viewed as a villain. Her hands are bloodied like his and soiled with countless sins. She can't be a hero, and her poor attempt at trying has led to this outcome. He was right, and she was wrong. She should've never went against him. Now, she has lost everything.
When did her mind become so corrupt? Why did she even consider being a hero? Who made her want to become one? Shoto. He changed her. He ruined her. He ruined everything. She wishes so badly that they never met. But, like always, her wish is meaningless.
Whether she's wishing on a star or the candles of her birthday cake, nothing comes from it. Nothing ever changes. Her life still always remains full of heartache and regret, anger and fear, and she's now sure it'll forever stay that way.
Her hands that are stuffed into the pockets of her sweatpants form fists, and as a result her fingers bump against something cold and metallic. She grabs onto it and pulls it out of her pocket, holding it in front of her. It's her koi keychain.
Shoto gave this to her long ago. She's kept it ever since. She's tried to get rid of it so many times because of the many overwhelming emotions it stirred up in her, but she couldn't. However, now things are different.
His hateful eyes flash before her and his piercing words cut right through her. How he laid her down on a blanket of ice, how he carried her to safety, how he saved her life, everything. His words and actions are contradicting, and she hates him for it.
She hates him for making her go down this road. She hates him for approaching her on that day she was feeding the park fish in solitude. She hates him for making her feel happy. She hates him for making her feel hurt. She hates him. She hates him. She hates him.
"Disappear…!" She bites out, bringing her arm back and swinging it as hard as she can.
The old scratched up keychain slips from her fingers, sailing through the air. The red and white coloring of it contrasts against the evening sky along with the dark storm clouds over the horizon. It disappears into the deep ocean, disappears from her life.
She drops onto her knees, breathing heavily and biting down hard enough on the inside of her cheek to draw blood. Her trembling fingers curl into the sand, tiny grains getting trapped beneath her nails. Tears fill her eyes and she refuses to let them fall. She won't cry, especially because of him. She won't give him her tears.
A salty breeze ruffles up her hair as golden hour approaches. The sound of the ocean waves grow more apparent as the tide slowly grows closer to her. The refreshingly cool salt water brushes against her fingertips and her eyelids lower as if she can get lost in the enormous mass just like that. She just wants to be put out of her misery.
The crunching of sand makes her silver eyes open and look over her shoulder. A child with a horn stands there, holding her koi key-chain. Hotaru's eyes widen a notch. Did the ocean already wash that back to shore? Evidently it did. After all, droplets of water are now adorning it. The child hesitantly holds it out to her.
Hotaru stares at the glistening chain and sits up on her knees. For her to hold it out to her must mean she witnessed her discarding it. Wordlessly, she looks away from it and turns her attention to the ocean ahead. The child still hovers behind her and irritation starts to pique within her. What is this kid even doing here?
"Keep it or give it to someone else." Hotaru says in monotone. "I didn't throw it away on accident."
"U-Um… thank you." The child whispers, holding onto the keychain tightly.
Hotaru raises a brow at the child's forced voice. It sounded choked and pessimistic. That prompts Hotaru to look at the young girl once more, and her lips part at the tears streaming down her face. She blinks a few times, perplexed.
"Why are you crying?" Hotaru mutters, slightly narrowing her eyes. She doesn't feel like dealing with a snobby kid. She came to this beach to be alone, not to babysit.
"I never got a gift before." The child snivels.
At that, it feels as if Hotaru's heart has dropped into the pit of her stomach. Because that keychain that child holds was the first gift Hotaru has ever received, and she finds herself remembering the happiness she felt upon receiving it. Yet, she didn't react as severely as this child is.
Crossing her legs, Hotaru faces the girl. She glances at the horn on her head, then stares at her long off-white hair. Her tearful eyes are a bright red. She's barefoot and wearing a nightgown. With a sigh, Hotaru leans back on the heels of her hands.
"Is that it?" She inquiries. "I don't think it's anything to cry over."
"I-I… did something bad too." The child says, quivering as she rubs at her eyes.
"Oh?" Hotaru tilts her head slightly. "Welcome to the club."
Surprise crosses the child's feature at Hotaru's response. She stares into her silver eyes that she finds rather unique. This person has done something bad too? Then, would she know what she should do now?
"I don't know what to do." She says, and Hotaru shrugs, answering.
"Me either."
"Can you help me?"
Hotaru's eyes shut at that, and she lets out a heavy breath. The young girl grows tense when her eyes reopen, now dark instead of bright. Lightning flashes in the distance, and that's when she feels like she's seen eyes like this somewhere before.
"I'm not a hero." Hotaru murmurs lowly with a bitter tone. "In fact, I'm not a good person at all. You should ask someone else for help if you really need it."
"But, I can't ask anyone else."
It's now clear to Hotaru that this child will not leave her alone. She rubs at her scalp in frustration, making her wavy hair even more of a mess. She's very annoyed right now. Her hand falls into her lap and she gazes at the girl harshly. The child just stares at her innocently.
"Fine." She sighs. "You said you did something bad, right? Just apologize."
"Is that all I have to do to make things better?" The child questions, on the verge of tears once again. "Even if I made someone disappear?"
Why this child is seeking help and advice from her of all people is very questionable. However, Hotaru's eyes widen a notch at her words. She made someone disappear? When she says that, does she mean she made them run away? Kill them?
Hotaru looks out towards the ocean. She feels as if she can relate to this child in many ways if that's the case. In a way, she's reminded of her younger self. So, she acts as if she's speaking to her past self.
"Sometimes an apology can't come close to fixing your wrongdoings. Sometimes your sins will stick with you forever and you can't do anything to suppress them. That's just how life is. You'll have to endure many things. But, I think as long as you learn from your experiences and grow from them, that's more than enough. It may take a while, but it's possible."
Hotaru looks back at the child to see her cheeks are a shade darker in awe. Her wide eyes hold an intrigued sparkle. The grip she has on the koi keychain tightens, and Hotaru's lips tug upwards slightly.
"You know who you are. You know what you've done and want to do. You know what you deserve, too. So," A shadow falls over Hotaru's face, her upward curved lips quivering. "Don't give up. Don't live in anyone else's dream. Face everything head on. You're capable. Even if you end up failing in the end, at least you can say you've tried your best."
Hotaru raises her hand over her face, having not planned to give a speech. Her throat has grown tight along with her chest. What is she even saying? Why is she feeling even more frustrated than before?
"W-What I'm saying is, something is better than nothing. Even if it's just an apology, even if it's not enough, there's certainly no harm in saying one. So, yeah. Apologize. The sooner the better."
When Hotaru says "the sooner the better," she really means;
Go away.
"Then I'll apologize." The child nods after carefully absorbing each word. "U-Um, please don't cry."
"I wasn't planning on it!" Hotaru snaps, looking up at the child with a glare and making her jump. "Just go away already. Maybe I don't look like it to you, but I'm a wanted and dangerous villain. Hurry up and leave before I lose any more of my composure. I have nothing more to say to you."
"But—"
"Leave. I won't say it again." Hotaru cuts her off.
Hotaru stares out at the ocean, watching as the sun sets over it. The child is still hovering behind her, making her fingers curl into fists. She's about to use her quirk to scare her away until all she can see is black. Her jaw goes somewhat slack.
The young girl has taken the initiative to hug her from behind. Due to Hotaru sitting on the ground and the child's height, her arms are wrapped around her head and covering her eyes. Hotaru's mind goes blank, wondering what kind of embrace this is supposed to be, and also finding this child quite bold for touching her.
"Thank you. I will take good care of this gift." The child says graciously. "Bye!"
The child runs off, and Hotaru remains deathly still. She remains this way for a few minutes while staring out at sea. The words she spoke to that child replay in her head, and she slowly stands up.
She was planning on disappearing for good tonight. She'll leave everything and everyone behind without looking back. However, she can't seem to do just that. There's something else she needs to do first.
"An apology… huh." She whispers to herself, walking down the shoreline.
She supposes saying one is the least she can do after all the trouble she has caused. There's never any harm in saying one, and sometimes not saying one at all can be more lethal than your mistake. So, after this stepping stone, she'll truly be gone. It took her a while, but now she knows for sure;
There's no place in either world for her.
•○●○•
It isn't until the next day when classes officially start once again at U.A. The villain attack has resulted in a day missed so students and staff can recover, and to ensure that the campus is safe once again.
The day goes by smoothly and as it normally would, aside from their homeroom teacher Aizawa not being here due to his injuries. Instead of doing something physical in the Foundational Hero Studies class as what normally would happen, a packet to complete is given instead.
Throughout the day Shoto finds himself glancing at Hotaru's empty desk every so often. Her absence makes the room feel strange. Normally she would be napping around this time or gazing out the window in a thoughtful manner. Or, if their eyes happened to meet, she would say something stupid and throw him a smirk. She was annoying, yet, her being gone doesn't feel right. It's like a large piece of a puzzle is missing.
He thought she would return today, but there is still no sign of her. There are some things he wants to say to her, things he needs to say, but he's not sure how he wants to say those things. An apology and a thank you. It isn't something that he can just speak so easily.
He can forgive but he can't forget. He can be thankful but not appeased. He can apologize but it won't be enough. Is there even a point to saying things if they are so meager? How would she react?
The school day ends, and he spent most of it lost in thought. He packs up his things much like the rest of his classmates before heading out the door. The entire class moves in a group. After the villain attack, it seems they have all grown closer to one another even if it's just a tiny bit.
When Shoto steps out of the school building her squints against the bright sunlight. It's a cloudless day and the sky is a deep blue. As he walks down the stairs, he contemplates if he should take a different route home. It's a longer route, but it cuts right through the place he swore to never go to again. Does she still visit there—?
"Midoriya?" Iida's voice draws him out of his thoughts. He looks ahead, seeing Midoriya has come to an abrupt stop in his walk and is staring uneasily ahead. Shoto follows his gaze and freezes as well.
"I-Is that…?" Ashido stutters, shrinking back.
"Another villain?" Hagakure finishes, latching onto Ashido in fear.
Everyone grows tense and becomes on high alert at the figure blocking their path. A hood is over their head, and they are wearing all black. They are on campus, meaning they must've somehow bypassed the school's improved security system. Or, is that perhaps...?
Shoto studies them, taking note of their height and slender frame. They raise their head slightly and he sees silver. Slowly, they reach upwards and take their hood down. His pulse thuds loudly in his ears.
Dark and wavy hair comes tumbling out, and her silver orbs stare at each and every one of them. Her expression is empty and her eyes are hard to read. She looks his way, a crease forming in her brow instantly and she quickly looks away.
"Taru-chan!" Kaminari's face lights up along with Mineta's. The two of them start to run over to her. "You're okay—!"
"Don't come any closer."
Hotaru's spine-chilling tone makes them stop in their tracks. Mineta shivers in fright at her now glowing eyes and Kaminari stares in disbelief. Somehow, she looks like more of a villain than ever before.
Her eyelids lower briefly, and her lips part as she draws in a breath. Shoto watches as she brings her hand over her chest and lowers her head. She bows lowly, her hair falling over her face. The sun high above highlights her form.
"I would like to apologize for all the trouble I've caused. My presence has caused so much fear among you all, and you came face to face with the most deadly villains because of me. Some of you even got hurt. I know apologizing is hardly enough, but even so, I'm saying one regardless."
She straightens up, her hand falling away from her chest and hanging limply at her side. Remorse shines in her glossy eyes and her jaw grows tight as if she's in pain. She avoids their gaze by staring at the ground.
"I'm sorry. But, starting now you don't need to worry." She says, and Mineta reaches out with a trembling arm, pale.
"W-What are you saying, Taru-chan?" He questions, and she looks at him.
"I'm leaving." She answers, turning so her back is to them.
"Hey… hold on." Kirishima starts up. "You don't have to leave."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"You want to be a hero, don't you?!" Midoriya blurts out, stepping forward boldly.
Hotaru's shoulders quiver and she hunches forward slightly. Her hand moves over her mouth as she lets out a bitter laugh. Straightening up, she brushes her hair back while shaking her head. When she looks over her shoulder, the villainous glare she has makes nearly everyone recoil.
"I'm really sick of delusional people. Me, a hero? Stop fantasizing. Try telling me that again when you don't have that look of fear on your face. I'm leaving. Don't follow me. If you do, I'll kill you."
Looking away from a trembling Midoriya, Hotaru starts walking to take her leave. Shoto's fingers curl into fists as he starts to become angered by her. He opens his mouth and begins to follow her until Kaminari runs past him.
"Taru-chan you don't really mean that—!" He expresses, grabbing onto her shoulder. The moment he touches her lightning flows into his body and he's suddenly giving two thumbs up. His short-circuited brain only allows him to say, "uhh… ye~"
"Hey!" Jiro yells, glaring daggers at Hotaru for her actions.
"What?" Hotaru murmurs, still walking away. "It's his own fault for not taking me seriously. He's fortunate he has an electrical resistance. If he didn't have one, you'd probably have to call an ambulance."
"Everyone, just let her go!" Iida exclaims, moving his arms around robotically. Koda nods fearfully in agreement. "She has chosen to be a villain!"
"But…" Yaoyorozu whispers, her hands over her chest.
She hasn't chosen to be a villain. The nefarious force behind her words and her actions… Shoto's eyes narrow. Right now, she's chosen to act stupid. Just like back then. If he somehow was sent back in time to that night everything fell apart between them, this is what he would say.
"This isn't you, Aihara."
Hotaru stops in her tracks at Shoto's voice, her eyes growing wide. A tremble forms in her appendages. She doesn't dare turn around and face him. If she does, she's sure to lose it.
"Tell me, Todoroki. What makes you say something so bold? You are the last person in this world who truly knows me." She says icily.
"I know you better than anyone else here." He states, and a chord within her is brutally struck.
Oh, he's really pissing her off now. Claiming he knows her so well when he's been blind this entire time makes her want to go on a rampage. Just who does he think he is? He's just a pretentious, stupid, and ignorant idiot.
"Shut up." She whispers thickly, taking a single step forward only to stop when he speaks again.
"Why you're leaving right now and acting like a villain to prevent us from following, it's to protect us, right?" He inquires. "That's quite heroic."
She turns around in a flash, her teeth bared and eyes glaring so intensely. Her hands have form into fists and blue sparks dance around them. How could he of all people… read her so easily? Shoto merely stares back at her straight-faced.
"Shut up! Damn it…!" She yells. "Hero this, hero that. I'm anything but a hero! You of all people should know that, especially since you know me 'so' well! I can't be a hero. I'm not a hero! I've hurt people. I-I've… I've killed people! I'm not leaving to be a hero to anyone. I'm doing this because it's the only thing I can do. There's no place for me here, just like there's no place for me elsewhere… all because of you…!"
Shoto's eyes widen at the thick tears gathered at the outer corners of her eyes. Her lower lip is trembling and she's no longer glaring, yet he finds himself preferring that glare over her heartbroken expression. She raises her hand, pointing a single finger at him. Her next words burrow deeply into his chest.
"I wanted to be a villain. I wanted nothing more, but then you came along. You became my friend, and because of that I experienced happiness. You saved me back then and I wanted to save you, too. I couldn't do that so easily. It took time before I realized what was right and what was wrong. But, I learned. I struggled for so long. I played the role of the villain for years and betrayed my parents, stalled their plans for as long as I could so they couldn't get to you."
Her hand lowers and she wraps her arms around her trembling form, drawing in a deep breath, her throat tight and struggling to get the rest of her words out. By some miracle, she pushes through.
"It didn't go as I planned. Now I'm standing here in front of a completely different you, and I'm equally different too. I blame you for everything. I fought to save your life and now I'm about to lose mine. Because of you I lost everything. I have no home now. My parents want me dead. There's a huge price over my head and villains and heroes are trying to claim it. Are you happy, Sho? I really hope you are. I can't be a hero or villain now. I can't be anything because of you, and I'll forever resent you."
"T-That's not true, Aihara-san!" Midoriya suddenly drops his bag onto the floor, digging through it. Hotaru turns to him with darkened eyes, watching as he pulls out some beat up notebook titled "Hero Analysis for the Future."
"This doesn't involve you. You don't know anything, so—!"
"That's not true!" He cuts her off again with the same words, and her features twist in deep frustration.
Midoriya straightens up, flipping through his notebook in a hurry. He feels like he can understand her and her motives now, especially after the villain attack. He witnessed her save Todoroki and unleash everything to try and save Aizawa. She acted as a hero bravely many times despite the fear that was buried within her. That fear is present even now.
Perhaps this entire time she didn't intend to be a hero, and perhaps she didn't intend to be a villain either. Yet somehow she's a perfect mixture of both. But, that's not his biggest discovery.
He remembers talking to All Might about Aihara before. He was curious as to why she was here. All Might couldn't tell him why due to her secrecy and contradicting actions and words. However, he most definitely figured things out after her encounter with her parents. This entire time she was scared and needed help. He wants to help her.
His green eyes meet her tearful silver ones, and he holds up his notebook for her to see. Hotaru takes in a sharp intake of breath and grows stiff all over. It's like all her defenses have suddenly shattered away.
"You're already a hero, Aihara-san! But, most importantly, you don't have to be scared anymore." Midoriya says, slowly smiling towards the end. "You're safe here!"
Hotaru continues to stare at the sketch of herself drawn neatly in Midoriya's notebook. It's her dressed in her hero costume, with detailed notes alongside about her quirk and various techniques. He has drawn her in his hero notebook? He sees her... as a hero?
She wishes he didn't show her that. She wishes he didn't say what he did. The tears she so desperately didn't want to give away now have no choice but to depart. They stream down her face and leave behind glistening trails, in front of her entire class…
In a panic she turns away so her back is to them, her cheeks growing darker in utmost humiliation. She raises her hands to wipe her tears only for more to fall. It's futile trying to hide them and even more of a lost cause to get them to stop. How disappointing. She ducks her head.
"Dang it… Midoriya…" She speaks, voice weak yet having a hint of something angelic. "I hate people like you..."
Midoriya grows rigid at that. Lowering her hands, she looks back at him. The sunlight hitting her face makes her falling tears apparent, but her simple sad smile stands out the most. Her hair ruffles in the breeze, the sun casting highlights. Her glassy eyes gleam hopelessly.
"...I never know how to react." She whispers, voice cracking. Midoriya grins with sparkling eyes. "I always just end up embarrassing myself. Thank you, but my mind is made up. You may see me as a hero, but that's the one thing I absolutely cannot be. There's no way I could after everything I've done."
"It'll definitely be a challenge." Asui speculates, finger grazing against her chin. "Maybe even impossible."
"You don't sparkle as brightly as me—" Aoyama is cut off by Sero.
"You have what it takes, though! Especially after taking on your own parents. Although it's true you have a bit of a villain side…" He trails off towards the end in thought.
"I think you can do it, Aihara-san!" Uraraka chirps with a wide smile.
"Yeah!" Kirishima grins, walking over and holding up his fist. "Give yourself some more credit. I don't know what kind of crimes you committed, but I do know of all the good things you've done!"
"What matters is what you do from here on out." Yaoyorozu smiles.
"Damn it!" Bakugo roars with a popping vein, his patience long gone. "Hurry up and choose and get out of the damn way before I kill you!"
Hotaru stares at them all with tears still streaming down her face. Her lower lip is trembling as she frowns at them all. The organ in her chest grows soothingly warm. It's so tempting to stay. She really wants to.
To become a hero was one of her biggest dreams ever. But, she just can't. She knows that if she stays she'll be putting them all in danger again. They are making things harder than they need to be. She's crumbling.
"I hate all of you." She whimpers, preparing to walk away. "T-Thank you so much. I'm really grateful. I want to stay, but I just can't. I-I'll just be an aquarist instead."
"An aquarist? What a waste." Kirishima laughs, his hand coming down onto her shoulder and preventing her from leaving. Not only that, a short-circuited Kaminari blocks her path. Something latches onto her leg and she looks down to see Mineta hugging her closely, evidently enjoying touching her.
"I won't let you leave, Taru-chan, my sexy anti-hero…" He utters creepily.
"Is that what you really want?" Hagakure skips over, jumping up and down.
"You have the right to choose who you want to be like the rest of us!" Ashido exclaims.
"Aihara-san," Midoriya clenches his fists with a grin. "Let's all be heroes together!"
Hotaru's shoulders quiver, not understanding why they are saying such things to her. After everything, after all the trouble she's caused, they are encouraging her. She doesn't understand how people like them can exist. It's almost as if they want her to stay. That can't be right. Yet, their words have broken through to her.
Being a villain was her first dream. Being an aquarist was her second. However, her third and biggest dream was to become a hero. It's like a new path has opened up in front of her. She's uncertain of where it will lead to, but her classmates and teachers are alongside it. It's only because of them she can take this first step.
She didn't plan on this. All she wanted to do was apologize and leave for good. She didn't expect them to grab onto her and pull her into this world of light. She's no longer drifting and finally anchored.
"I-I want to be a hero." She chokes out, bringing her hand over her lips to muffle a pathetic sob. Her eyes squeeze shut and more tears fall. "I always wanted to be a hero…!"
Then, she breaks down completely. She's so embarrassed to be this emotional. However, she guesses she doesn't mind giving her tears to them. These tears are happy tears. She's not sad at all. She finds herself smiling when everyone gradually crowds around her for a group hug. It feels as if she's finally home.
Bakugo tries to stomp past them all until Kirishima grabs his arm and forces him to join in which results in him yelling. Jiro rolls her eyes and Koda trembles. Tokoyami lets out a sigh and Shoji shakes his head. Shoto stands in the far back, away from everyone with a shadow over his face.
He never really knew her at all.
~ Next Chapter Sneak Peek:
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The Distance Between Them
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The distance between them has grown even deeper and now she's partially to blame. Yet, for once she doesn't mind this rift. Perhaps she desires it, or rather she just merely doesn't care anymore. She simply has no more feelings left towards him and she no longer sees the need to protect him. It's no surprise to her that this growing rift has become noticed.
"Say, Sensei," Hotaru begins, looking at Aizawa with a smile. She plops down in the chair next to his desk in the teachers' lounge. "Would you like to hear my story?"
"Your story?" He repeats blandly, and she nods.
"Yes. The story of Hotaru Aihara. From beginning til now." She folds her arms over the backrest and leans forward. "What do you say?"
"Yeah!" Present Mic exclaims from across the room, and Hotaru sweatdrops with a cat-like expression.