Ch 31 - Sounds Like Big Trouble
Fwoomp!
"Ah! Neon, you're awake. Oh! The Class Rep is here too!"
Each of his classmates baffled Todoroki in some way and when it came to Kirishima, it was his tendency to react without filter or thought. Even though both of them were in the hospital because they could not sit idly by and both were distraught over the capture of Bakugou, the fact that Kirishima could show genuine surprise and relief unabashedly at that moment was what differed him to Todoroki the most, who could only give a small nod towards the occupants of the hospital room.
Todoroki took his time while Kirishima hurriedly pulled up a chair next to Tenya's and sat by the bed. Todoroki, himself, chose to stand on the other side of the patient.
"Kirishima-kun...Todoroki-kun…," Tenya said as he stood up from his seat, "I was just filling Neon-san on the current situation. She woke up only a few hours ago."
"Yeah," Neon croaked.
Once again, Kirishima's facial expression gave away the surprise that both him and Todoroki felt at the sound of her voice. She put her hand to her throat at Kirishima's reaction even though Todoroki doubted it would make a difference, "I...strained my vocal cords while fighting the villain and-"
"Besides the damage to her voice," the Class Rep interrupted, jutting out a hand as if to physically cut off Neon's words, "Neon-san also suffered from ruptured ear drums and a broken ankle. Thankfully, both the doctor and Recovery Girl Sensei were able to heal Neon-san enough so there is no permanent damage. She should be all healed up within a few weeks. In the meantime, the doctor has instructed Neon-san to speak as little as possible. So...Neon-san, allow me to answer on your behalf for now since I am fully aware of your situation."
A nerve twitched at the corner of Neon's temple that did not go unnoticed by Todoroki but before she could respond, another classmate interjected.
"Ha!" Kirishima couldn't help but laugh, "Bet you wish Baku-"
Mentally, Todoroki flinched as he watched Kirishima's face cloud over with darkness at his own reminder of his classmate in peril.
"Hey. You okay?" Neon asked quietly.
It took a second for Todoroki to realize the girl was looking directly at him. He usually kept his expression blank but did Kirishima rub off on him in some way?
"Neon-san! I really must insist that you keep-" Tenya started to say but then Neon swatted a hand out to shush him while still keeping her eyes on Todoroki.
"...Ah," Todoroki said reluctantly but he didn't sound sure even to himself so he quickly changed the subject. He turned to the class rep so that Neon couldn't look at him directly, "I heard you brought Neon back to camp from the mountain."
His ploy worked. All heads turned to the class rep who nodded solemnly.
"Yes. We heard Neon-san scream for Kota-kun to run from high up in the mountain. Given my speed-based Quirk, Mandalay-san gave me permission to go up to retrieve him...but by the time I arrived, the battle was over. Midoriya-kun carried Kota-kun and I carried an unconscious Neon-san down the mountain and then...when we saw Aizawa Sensei...he took Kota-kun and we went back to camp with Neon-san...while..Midoriya-kun...despite his physical state...he went...to find..."
Damn, Todoroki thought as the eyes came back to him. He didn't want to talk about what happened. He didn't want to explain it. He was already reliving it with almost every breath. Bakugo was right there. If only they acted faster...If only they chose the right marble...If only...
Todoroki's jaw clenched. This was no time to reflect. They needed to act and based on what he and Kirishima had just overheard at Yaoyorozu's room, there was something they could do.
He was eager to bring this piece of information to Neon's room but one look at her...with her foot in a cast and scratches and bruises along her exposed skin...made Todoroki hesitate to share what they had discovered. He had already failed in keeping one classmate safe...He was not going to fail again...
"Why didn't Recovery Girl heal you up completely?" Todoroki asked and much to Neon's credit, if she was surprised by him changing the subject not so subtly this time, she did not show it.
She shrugged. "Rec-"
"There is a limit to Recovery Girl Sensei's Quirk and she was conserving it's usage for Midoriya-kun," Tenya explained.
A familiar pang of annoyance hit Todoroki but he didn't let it show. Out of everyone in the class, he understood Tenya the most. The Class Rep was straight forward and his thinking was linear. Todoroki understood why Tenya was insisting on speaking but he still felt annoyed. Was it on Neon's behalf?
Todoroki looked at the girl, who was now leaning against her pillow with her arms over her chest. Her eyes met his and she gave a defeatist shrug.
The annoyance in Todoroki grew. It was confusing and unfounded, which made it that much more irksome.
"I see…" Todoroki said.
"Midoriya-kun was in the worst condition..He's been in and out of consciousness but still recovering," Tenya continued with his report, mostly for Neon's sake as Todoroki and Kirishima were already aware, "Jiro-san and Hagakure-san are still unconscious from the villains gas...and Yaoyorozu-san also got hit hard on the head and is hospitalized here. I heard that she regained consciousness about the same time as you did. I'm planning to go check in on her after I've talked with you, Neon-san."
"Yeah! Neon. That's actually why we came here," Kirishima exclaimed, "When we went to Yaoyorozu's room-"
"We saw that a couple of policemen were talking to her," Todoroki finished for Kirishima and prayed that the red-head had the sense to keep his mouth shut.
Fwoomp.
The door slid open and a woman with long, red hair, slightly darker than Kirishima's, stepped into the room followed by a grim faced man with spectacles and black hair slicked back. The woman's eyes sparkled and her cheeks turned red. "Oh! You didn't tell me how popular you are with the boys, Neon," she gasped, "Are they each vying for your affections?!"
Neon let out a snort while Tenya practically fell back in his seat. Kirishima gaped at the woman while Todoroki just stared blankly at the two newcomers.
"I doubt it's like that, Ito-san," the man stated as he pushed up his glasses with one hand while the other hand held tightly to a bright, pink briefcase. Even though Todoroki had never seen this man before, he could already tell the briefcase did not belong to him. The man just exuded an aura of stuffiness...Yet there was something familiar about him. Something in the way he looked at the woman next to him...The slight quirk in his lip as if he is smiling at an internal joke…
"You're Neon's brother," Todoroki stated.
Any semblance of a smile vanished and the man's whole demeanor stiffened. He let out a small cough and then gave a curt nod. "I am Nishiyama Koushi and you are Todoroki Shouto. Son of-"
"What's going on?" Neon asked and Todoroki knew she interjected for his sake. He was grateful for that but he also did not want her to go against doctor's orders.
"Ehhhh? That's your brother? You guys look nothing alike!" Kirishima yelled and then pointed a finger at the woman, "Is that your sister?! Wow! Were you all adopted?"
Neon snorted again while Todoroki just mentally counted to three.
"Koushi-san, allow me to introduce you to Kirishima-kun. He is also one of our classmates," Tenya said as he walked over to share an overly formal handshake with the man, "And...you must be Ito-san, the social worker assigned to look after Neon-san. Greetings. My name is-"
"Oh! I already know from the school reports Neon gives me. You are Iida Tenya, the Class Representative and her oldest friend."
The annoyance within Todoroki rose up once more.
"And you! Kirishima Eijiro-kun! You were her partner in the practical portion of your finals. Don't worry about how you did. I'm sure you'll make a great hero one day. You have a bright future ahead of you," Ito said as she walked over to the bed. She smiled at a sheepish Kirishima for a beat and then she directed her attention at Todoroki, "And you-"
"We all know who I am at this point," Todoroki said and then looked at Neon's brother, "And everyone else in this room. I believe now the question is, 'Why are you here?' Although, that is something I don't believe we need to stay here for. If this is a private matter, we should leave and have you two speak with Neon alone."
"Yes. We wish to speak to Neon alone if you all don't mind," Koushi said. He ignored the alarmed expression from Neon's face and he held out the briefcase towards the government worker, "Ito-san? Could you please take back your briefcase now?"
Ito took a beat to react and judging by her expression, Todoroki guessed that she didn't even realize she wasn't carrying it in the first place. Was this absent minded person really supervising Neon?
"Oh! Thanks, Kou-kun. I must've dropped it in surprise when I saw Neon with all her admirers," Ito grinned.
Koushi rolled his eyes exasperatedly and now the resemblance between the two siblings was undeniable to everyone in the room. "No. You left it-"
Fwoomp.
"Oh...You must be feeling quite good, Nagano, if you're already throwing parties…" drawled a bored voice from the doorway.
"Aizawa Sensei?!" Kirishima exclaimed and then he leapt from his seat when he saw what was behind his homeroom teacher, "Why are there so many policemen with you?!"
"Now that the hospital and Recovery Girl have signed off on your status, Nagano," Eraser Head said with his tired, baggy eyes never leaving the girl in the hospital bed, "I have come to take you to a safe location to recuperate."
"What do you mean a safe location, Sensei?" Tenya asked, "Is the hospital not safe?!"
Todoroki felt a cold chill roll down his spine. "Are the villains still after Neon?"
"We can't be sure," Eraser Head admitted and then his gaze rested on the briefcase still dangling from Koushi's hand, "Ah...I see I came a bit too early…I'll let you two tell Nagano in private."
"Can everyone stop treating me like I'm a child?! Somebody just tell me what's going on!" Neon rasped. She jumped out of bed with her blanket spilling to the ground along with both her feet, one bare and one casted..
Todoroki turned and immediately grabbed her arm in case she lost her balance. Another pair of hands grabbed her on the other arm at the exact same time with the exact same intent.
"Neon-san," Tenya said sternly, "Please conserve your voice and energy. Do not hurt yourself."
"I wasn't going to do anything stupid. Give me some credit, guys," Neon sighed as she shrugged them both off and slowly sat back down at the edge of her bed, "It's just frustrating knowing that I'm here like this...with some of our classmates...and that Noisy Boy…I just…I just wish there was something I could do."
The air left Todoroki's lungs.
"Be logical, Nagano," the homeroom teacher warned, "This is far more serious than anything any of you have ever faced. Leave this to the faculty and the pro-heroes. You hear me?"
"...Yes, Sensei," Neon whispered as she stared at her hands, clasped on her lap.
"Todoroki, Iida, Kirishima. Out!" Aizawa ordered.
"Yes, Sensei," Kirishima said with a gulp as he headed towards the door.
Tenya gave a small bow to Neon. "I will go check up on Yaoyorozu," he said, "I will message you with any updates. Be safe and get some rest."
Neon gave a small nod and then Tenya followed Kirishima. Todoroki said nothing as he also left the room. He didn't know what to say. The Class Rep said it all.
The door shut and Todoroki found himself in a hospital hallway with two of his classmates, his homeroom teacher, and five armed policemen.
"Oy, Aizawa Sensei, why is Neon's brother here? I thought she is no longer part of the Nishiyama family? Are they taking her back?" Kirishima asked.
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T SEE HER ANYMORE?!"
The screechy bellow that came through the door sent Todoroki and Tenya racing towards it but both were stopped easily by their teacher, who grabbed them by the elbow. "Todoroki! Iida! Stay out of this."
"Sensei! The doctor told Neon-san that she needs to conserve her voice," Tenya said.
"Did Neon mean Akia? Is she being cut off completely?!" Todoroki demanded.
Aizawa drew a long steady breath and then with a quick scan of their surroundings, he pulled his two pupils to a row of empty seats that lined the hall. "Sit!" he ordered, "Kirishima, since you're here too, you might as well come over and hear this too."
When the boys took their seats, Aizawa leaned against the opposite wall and folded his arms across his chest. "I don't need to tell you that things are serious right now but the situation is much graver than the three of you realize. Do you understand why the League of Villains took Bakugou Katsuki? Why a group of villains are even interested in first year students?"
Kirishima shook his head while Tenya and Todoroki remained motionless.
"They are doing this to get to All Might...And to do that...they will take down all that he holds most dear…and it seems UA is where they are planning to start."
This got all three students' full attention.
"With the incident at USJ...and then with students getting caught up in the Hero Killer Stain incident...and now this...UA...is currently under government investigation and there's a chance...if we don't address this situation to their satisfaction...that UA will be shut down completely," Aizawa said.
"But why Bakugo and Neon?!" Kirishima demanded, "Surely, if they want to take students as hostages, they wouldn't pick some of the toughest guys in our class."
"It's because of their behavior during the Sports Festival, isn't it?" Todoroki asked and when Kirishima looked at him questioningly Todoroki continued, "Neon's defiant words...Bakugo's violent actions...They seem, to the public at least, the least hero-like...And if the villains were able to take them and convince them to join them...that would be a heavy blow to UA's reputation...One that they won't be able to recover from in addition to all that has happened so far."
"This is my fault," Tenya said as he buried his face in his hands, "If I had known sooner about Neon-san's family situation, I wouldn't have pushed her so far in the tournament. She wouldn't make such a bold statement...and if I...I hadn't gone after-"
"You are already atoning for your mistakes," Aizawa interjected, "And Nagano is responsible for her own actions...Which is why she is also under investigation...of a different sort."
"What?" the boys asked.
"USJ...Hero Killer Stain...This...With Nagano being involved in all three incidents..." Aizawa said slowly, "It's too big for the government not to notice. I assume Nagano has told you two the reason why she had been given much more freedom than a typical emancipation?"
Tenya nodded. "Because the teachers at UA gave ample proof that she had good judgement and maturity..."
Aizawa nodded. "Ito is here to warn her. Even once we get Bakugo back - and I am confident we will - if another incident comes up with UA and Nagano is involved...She would lose emancipation and be placed into a foster home...And then it would be up to the adults who are responsible for her to decide her future. Whether that means keeping her at UA would be up to them. "
Todoroki could feel the chill in his spine return and then it went through his veins. Neon...Not in class...That was unimaginable.
"And...and why is Koushi-san here then?" Tenya asked after a long silence, "Earlier...she yelled about not seeing 'her' anymore...Does that mean Akia-chan?"
"Ah...I've been privately informed that Nishiyama Akia had escaped the safety of her home to come find Nagano once already. With that and the public attention being casted on Nagano right now...it is not safe for the two sisters to see each other...For the time being, at least…," Aizawa said, "I'm telling all three of you this not only for Nagano's sake but for yours as well…"
He paused and waited until all three boys looked up and gave him their full attention. "Your actions have consequences...so think carefully about what you do in the future...and…"
His eyes scanned across each boy as if reading their minds. "Like I said to Nagano, if any of you are planning on doing anything in regards to Bakugo...you need to stop and leave it to the pro heroes. Are we clear?"
"Yes...Sensei…" the three boys replied stonily.
Fwoomp.
"She's ready," Ito said as she and Koushi stepped out onto the hallway and then to the side as to let Neon through.
Clink. Clink.
The cold in Todoroki was overtaken by a wash of heat that burned all the way to the top of his ears as he watched Neon come out with two crutches wedged under her arms. She was looking in their direction and her face was paler than before and her eyes were rimmed with red. There was no sign of tears but the amount of force her lips were pressed together showed just how much she was trying to keep bottled up inside.
It felt both familiar and strange to Todoroki at the same time. Familiar in the sense that he knew the amount of energy it took to hold in raging emotions that were a breath away from bursting through...Strange that seeing it on another's face made him want to unleash his own anger on their behalf. Todoroki knew he would be actually steaming if not for almost a lifetime of keeping himself in check.
"Let's go, Nagano," Aizawa said as he walked towards the elevator, leading the pack with Neon behind him and the policemen standing in the rear and sides.
"Oy...Neon," Todoroki heard himself call out just as the elevator doors opened. He didn't know what he was about to say. This was not thought out or considered. Yes...Kirishima was definitely rubbing off on him.
Ding!
Neon stepped into the elevator and then turned to look at him.
"I know what kind of hero I want to be..." Todoroki said, "...And I'll tell you when we get back to class...All of us."
Ding!
The elevator doors closed but not before Todoroki saw one corner of Neon's lips twitch upwards.
Todoroki stood in silence for a long while. He watched Tenya bade Koushi and Ito good-bye and then the class rep went to Yaoyorozu's room to check-in on her. Then, it was just Kirishima left.
"Oy...Todoroki...About what Sensei said…" Kirishima started to say in a hushed whisper.
Todoroki stood up a little straighter, feeling his blood pumping but his heart steadying as well. "It hasn't changed my mind...Has yours?"
Kirishima shook his head. "No...We'll wait for Midoriya to wake up and then tell him our plan...Sound good?"
"Ah," Todoroki said.
"You didn't want me to tell Neon about what we overheard at Yaoyorozu's even before Sensei talked to us…" Kirishima said with a frown, "Why?"
Todoroki shrugged. "She hasn't fully recovered."
"Would that stop you from telling Midoriya…?" Kirishima asked.
"...No…" Todoroki admitted, "But...Neon…"
Todoroki looked at Kirishima. He couldn't say what he thought. Neon wasn't there. She didn't let the villains get away.
If he said it, he knew those words applied to Kirishima too...However...there was just a part of him that was urging him not to get Neon involved.
"This...this isn't her fight," Todoroki ended up saying.
"Yeah…" Kirishima said as he looked at his feet, "I understand."
"Oh...and what Sensei told us today about her...situation…I know he said it was alright for you to hear it but...it would be best if you didn't mention it to any one."
"Don't worry. I won't say a thing," Kirishima said and then he smirked, "Trying to protect her, huh? That's pretty manly of you."
"That's what friends do…" Todoroki said as he headed towards the stairwell.
"Sure…" Kirishima muttered his breath, "'Friends'."