Ch 33 - Sounds Like Heroic Support
Neon didn't realize just how long and how tightly she was holding onto her own hands until she released it and put them over her mouth, feeling her fingers tingle as blood rushed back into them. Neither Tsukauchi or All Might had reported anything to the school yet and everyone had been on pins and needles since the conference. Neon, Midnight, and the other UA teachers had made their way back to the teacher's lounge to await any news. Then it happened.
A news channel started to broadcast a fight that was happening live between All MIght and a tall, built man with a navy blue, skull-like gas mask with angular pipes at the top, a wide collar-like life-support system around his neck with multiple other pipes connecting the front and back. They were fighting amongst a ruined warehouse. Amongst the rubble, the reporter had pointed out several fallen heroes, including Blue Jeanist. Neon wanted to mute the broadcast because the reporter in the helicopter had no idea what was going on and was blabbering on theories that made her stomach turn. To make matters worse, Bakugo was nowhere to be seen.
Principal Nezu, Eraser Head, and Vlad King had returned shortly after the broadcast had started. The Principal calmly suggested that they moved to the staff conference room so that they didn't have to cram around an old tv set. Now, they all sat around a u-shaped desk, watching an enlarged projection of what was happening. No one spoke. They were too lost in their own thoughts or listening to what the reporter had to say.
Neon was in the former category. Where were the rest of the pro-heroes? Why was All Might doing this by himself? Where was Noisy Boy? Was he in another location?! Were the other pro-heroes there?
Suddenly, All Might was knocked right into the air and towards the helicopter but before he could hit them, he was pulled back down in a flash of yellow. Neon blinked.
"Looks like Gran Torino has made it," Principal Nezu said, "That should mean more reinforcements are coming. From what Detective Tsukauchi has said, Endeavor and Edgeshot should be part of that group.
"Th-This scene is like out of the nightmare!" the reporter stammered through the camera, "In an instant, half of Camino Ward has been destroyed! Currently, All Might is fighting the villain thought to be the ringleader! I can't believe it! Just one villain has destroyed the city and is more than holding his own against the Symbol of Peace!"
"Oh shit," Neon whispered when the dust settled enough for her to get a clearer view of All Might. He was starting to steam and he looked smaller than he usually did, even though he wasn't in his gaunt, frail frame yet. He's running out of time.
"Th-Think nothing of it, Neon!' Cementoss said hurriedly, "That is just All Might's..er…"
"She knows, Cementoss," Principal Nezu said, never taking his eyes off of the screen, "But I fear the rest of the world will too very soon."
Kaboom!
The villain struck once more and they saw Gran Torino jump out of the way but All Might stood exactly where he was and jabbed out his own fist, nullifying the villain's strike with his own. The impact caused a massive shockwave that blurred the camera's view once more with dust and debris. Neon waited with baited breath and then she gulped when she finally saw All Might with blood pouring down his sharp, hollowed cheeks and sunken eyes.
"Can you...Can you all see this?" the reporter asked, "All Might has...deflated!"
Suddenly, a surge of yellow energy sparked through All Might's right arm and it bulged out once more into a muscular form. The rest of All Might stayed the same. The villain also reached out his arm, cloaking it in a sinister black and red light bu just when he lifted up his hand, a blazing ball of fire enveloped the air in front of him and he quickly withdrew his hand.
Endeavor stepped into the view of the frame while a blur of black cloth shot through the air, knocking All For One's hand back and then soared into the air. The cloth unfolded itself, unraveling into a familiar masked face.
"Shishou! He made it!" Neon whispered.
"Even Kamui Woods," Midnight breathed when they saw thick branches reaching out and ensnaring Mt. Lady around the waist, pulling her out of the rubble.
Flashes of fire and streaks of black went after the villain again and again. It did not damage the villain in any way but it did manage to hold him back, giving All Might, who had fallen on his hands and knees, some time to recover.
Fuck! I wish there was something I could do, Neon thought with gritted teeth.
"Come on, All Might...Get up. You can do it."
Neon looked around and saw that Midnight was muttering to herself and then next to her, EctoPlasm chimed in with his own words of encouragement.
"Stand up. Fight."
Neon sucked in a breath. "...Which direction is the warehouse?!"
"Eh? What?" Cementoss asked back, his eyes still on the screen.
"Which direction?"
"What are you planning on doing, Nagano?" Eraser Head asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
Before Neon could explain, the Principal turned around in his chair and gave her a nod. "45 degrees West. Towards City Hall."
Bam!
"AH! NEON!" Midnight and Cementoss yelled as Neon ran out of the conference room.
"No one go after her except Present Mic!" Neon heard Principal Nezu say as she rounded the corner. She ran up two flight of stairs and stumbled out on to the roof. The cold night wind blasted in her face but it did not slow her pace. She went right up to the edge of the banister, gripping the railing, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
"Please...All Might...Fight...Fight…"
"He doesn't look like his usual self...but...All Might is still All Might, right? He'll...win...right?"
One by one, she heard the voices of people cheering and calling out from the streets and through the opened windows in their homes. She took a deep breath and pointed a finger to her throat.
"ALL MIGHT!" Neon roared, "FIIIIGHT!"
Present Mic came up from behind her just as her bubble formed and floated up into the sky. A silence filled the air, only disturbed by the sounds of a few dogs barking around the neighborhood.
"Yowwww. I see now," Present Mic said with a grin, "Looks like it's time to rock. You ready, DJ Neon?"
Neon nodded and pointed her finger to the base of the speakers at his throat.
"YOWWWWWW! Don't give up, All Might! Go beyond, PLUS ULTRAAAA!"
His screams bent several trees below and flocks of birds flew out into the air along with the largest bubble Neon had ever produced.
"All Might! FIGHT!" another person shouted and then another...and another.
Soon, the night erupted into shouting from across the city as everyone bared their hearts and souls to the hero. Neon snapped her fingers in quick succession. Bubble after bubble came rising to the top, clustering around the biggest one and then Neon thrusted her hand in the direction of City Hall. The dome top of the building rose amongst the skyline and the cluster flew out beyond it.
"Come on…" Neon whispered with her head lowered and tears dripping down her chin, "Don't give up, All Might. We need you...We still need you..."
She let Present Mic pull her back from the ledge and usher her back to the conference room. She didn't know if it would work and she hoped with all her might that the outcry of support and hope would reach the Symbol of Peace. She slumped into an empty chair, avoiding Eraser Head's steely gaze.
"Eh? What is this?!" the reporter's voice rang out through the city square. The bubble cluster flew into view, with the biggest one resembling a translucent full moon, "B-Bubbles..Bubbles have emerged overhead. It has come from an unknown source and it seems to have captured the attention of everyone below, heroes and villains alike!"
"It actually worked," Present Mic whistled as Neon raised her hand and tearfully snapped her fingers.
"ALL MIGHT! FIGHT! WE BELIEVE IN YOU! GO! SYMBOL OF PEACE! ALL MIGHT! DON'T GIVE UP!"
The camera rattled as the soundwave forcefully pushed back the helicopter but everyone could hear the cries of the people. The symphonic sound of heroic support.
The sound of everyone's hearts calling out to their hero.
Their hope.
Their Symbol of Peace.
All Might raised his fist once more and yellow energy ignited through his arm, brighter and stronger than before. He ran towards All For One with no hesitation as the villain came forward with equal intensity.
KABOOM!
Their fists collided with light and wind erupting out from the point of contact. Blood came shooting out of All Might's lips and arm as he was pushed back at breakneck speed but then he dug his feet into the ground, slowing the momentum until he came to a full stop. Then his left arm sparked with the same bright energy.
The villain reacted by powering up and expanding his other arm as well but just as he was about to prepare a counter, the yellow energy in All Might's left arm disappeared, returning to his right. With the villain's two arms thrown back, in expectant to strike, he had left himself wide open for All Might's attack and the Symbol of Peace sent a thunderous blow right into the villain's wrinkled face.
Kaboom!
The camera went tumbling in every direction along with the helicopter. Entire chunks of concrete and stones were blown up into the air and smashing each other into pieces upon collision. From what they could make out from the blurred and frantic camera movements, the citizens were only able to see a tornado-like eruption coming from the ground below.
When the helicopter finally regained control and the news crew got their bearings, they moved the camera back onto the situation on the ground.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
A thunderous roar of relief, joy, and hope ripped through the city at the sight of their mighty hero, muscular and tall just like he usually appeared, and standing over the beaten villain with a powerful fist raised high and unshaking in the air.
"I-It's a victory!" the reporter sobbed, "The villain has fallen and All Might stands victorious amidst the destruction!"
Neon balled her hands into fists and pressed them against her eyes in a hopeless attempt to stop her tears. She couldn't breathe and her heart felt like it was being wrenched in a million directions. She was happy for the win but also devastated by the loss.
The time of peace was about to get overtaken by a time of doubt and uncertainty...along with god knows what else. This was All Might's last stance. The people didn't know it yet but their hero...their hero was gone.
Neon was in shock. She didn't know how long she sat in the conference room. Didn't even register when and how she got back to the teacher's lounge. She laid down on the couch with a blanket over her for a long time, not moving and just blinking up at the darkness.
It was the sound of a phone ringing that brought her out of her daze except it wasn't her actual phone that was ringing. It was the sound of it calling another phone. She looked down.
Calling Cool Hair.
She didn't even realize she had dialed it and she couldn't bring herself to end it. She watched her screen, waiting for the other end to pick up. It didn't.
She sighed and tried another number.
"H-Hello? Neon?"
"Midoriya! Are you alright?" Neon asked. She didn't have to ask if he knew what had happened. He was All Might's number one fan. Of course he knew.
"Yeah…" he said with sadness. There was a long pause and Neon heard the sounds of people chattering and police whistles.
Neon narrowed her eyes. "Where are you? What are you doing out this late?"
"Oy! Midoriya! Bakugo! Iida! I see Todoroki and Momo-chan. Let's make our way over to them!"
Midoriya gasped at Kaminari's shout while Neon felt like someone punched her in the gut. He was with everyone and Bakugo! If he was safe, why didn't they tell the teachers? Why didn't they tell her?!
"I-It's not what you think," Midoriya cried, "We...er...er..."
"MIdoriya! Why are you on the phone?! Who are you talking to?"
"I'm sorry, Iida-kun! I answered without thinking, I-"
"Is that Neon-san?!"
Neon took a second to regain her composure. First things first.
"We can talk about that later, Deku," she said solemnly, calling by his hero name so that he knew why she was calling him in the first place, "I'm more concerned about you."
"Ah...Thanks, Neon but I'm fine. Really."
"With All Might…" her voice caught in her throat and she took another breath, "With All Might's state now...It's going to be a heavier burden for you to carry but...you don't have to do it alone. If you need to talk or have any kind of help...I'm here. Okay?"
"Okay...Thanks."
"That's all I wanted to say. Goodnight."
Neon hung up and fell back onto her pillow. She closed her eyes but couldn't sleep. So they were out rescuing Noisy Boy...That's why they didn't answer any of her calls. She could see why they didn't include her but it still stung more than she'd care to admit.
She didn't get much sleep that night. Tossing and turning between worry over All Might and anger over her friends' actions.
We are friends, right? Then why wouldn't they tell me? At least answer my calls or texts. Did they think I'd run after them or tell Eraser Head? Do they not know me at all?
By the time morning came, Neon did not feel any better and she could not think of a reasonable answer for any of it. Eraser Head brought her to the police station to give them a full report, since she was unable to at the hospital and she sat quietly, answering the detective's questions and trying not to react when he asked if she knew about her classmates' rescue plans. She just shook her head no and a stone-faced Eraser Head backed her up. Judging by the terseness of his answer, she guessed he wasn't too pleased to hear about their involvement either.
When they finally finished their questioning and she left the room, she was surprised to see Bakugo coming out of the room next to hers. He looked unfazed by her and Eraser Head's presence.
"You okay?" she asked.
He gave a shrug back, which showed her just how serious the situation was. Noisy Boy had finally shut up.
"Neon!"
Ito came racing to her and she enveloped her in a tight hug. "Oh! I'm so glad you're okay."
"You can go home now, Nagano. You too, Bakugo," Eraser Head said, "But try to avoid being in public. You guys are going to be the topic of conversation for a while so best to keep a low profile."
"Yes, Sensei," they said with Neon still in Ito's clutches.
"Would you like a ride home?" Ito asked Bakugo, who shook his head and walked away without any warning. Ito looked curiously at him but then shrugged it off before returning her attention to her ward, "Ready to go?"
"Yeah," Neon said slowly, "But there's something I'd like to do today that will need your help…"
- 12 hours later -
Kaboom! Kaboom!
Todoroki woke up with a jolt and then after a beat, he settled back down on his futon and blinked up at the moonlit ceiling. It sounded like the old man was still lashing out his frustrations in the training room...or whatever was left of it.
Kaboom!
Todoroki listened to the sounds of Endeavor's wrath while his mind drifted back to reality. He had passed out as soon as he returned home. They had spent the night out in Camino Ward...unable to get back with Bakugo because of the trains being stopped. None of them slept. There was too much to process to sleep anyways.
"You're next."
All Might's parting words on the broadcast rang in Todoroki's head. To others, it might've sounded like a threat to the villains...but Todoroki couldn't help but think that All Might was talking to someone specific...And it wasn't a threat. It was an order. Someone else was going to have to become the new Symbol of Peace and All Might knew exactly who he wanted it to be.
Kaboom!
Todoroki sighed and sat up. Without thinking, he looked at his phone to check the time. As soon as the screen turned on, a familiar notification popped-up.
1 new message from Neon.
Todoroki knew he couldn't avoid her forever and there was no point in delaying it any longer. He unlocked his phone and looked at the messages from his friend.
(2 days ago. 6:30pm) Neon: Hey. Just a heads up, they took me to UA. Let me know when Midoriya wakes up.
(1 day ago. 11:00am) Neon: Just checking in to see if you heard anything yet about Midoriya. Also, can you check on Iida-kun? He hasn't been responding to my texts and that's unlike him. I'm worried.
(1 day ago. 5:00pm) Neon: Why aren't you answering me? Is something wrong?
(Today. 4:00pm) Neon: Hey...I'm at Shili Park and I'm not leaving until you come.
Todoroki leapt to his feet. That park was in his neighborhood. He checked the time on his phone. It was already 10:00pm. There was no way she would still be there after 6 hours, right? That would be ridiculous. That would be…just the type of outrageous and stubborn thing that Neon would do.
He hurriedly ran out of the house, not even bothering to answer his sister, who called out after him in surprise.
"Shoto! Where are you going? It's already-"
Bam!
Todoroki slammed the door and kept running. His shoes were untied. His t-shirt and pants were heavily wrinkled for having been slept in but he didn't think about that as he raced to the park near his house. He skidded through the park gates and then pulled out his phone. It only rang once before she answered.
"I'm on the swings," was all Todoroki got before she hung up.
As he tried to catch his breath, he looked around the empty park until he spotted the tall slide that was the centerpiece of the playground. He put his phone back in his pocket and he walked over towards it. His heart was beating rapidly from the run and he needed to get his thoughts in order. He was ready to answer whatever questions she might have for him.
When he got to the playground, he saw her sitting at the center of three swings. She had a backpack at her feet and her crutches were leaning against the steel poles that held up the swing set. He expected her to say something but was not surprised that she just stared blankly at him. Neither of them said a word so he went over to the swing on her left and sat down.
"Is it safe for you to be here?" he asked, "The police told us to avoid being in public."
Neon waved a hand in front of her. "See anyone here?"
"You know what I mean."
Neon nodded. "I got released this morning after talking to the police... but when I went back to my apartment, I saw a couple of reporters waiting outside for me. So I decided I might as well stay out and wait for them to leave...So you actually being this late is a good thing. Hopefully, they're gone by the time I get home."
"Sorry for keeping you waiting," he said, "I just woke up."
"I can see that," Neon replied as she kicked off the floor and started to swing.
Todoroki looked at her, going back and forth without saying anything else. "So...that's why you're here? Just to kill time."
Neon stamped her feet down just as the swing got back to the ground and she turned to him. Her expression hardened. "I'm here because I want to know why my friends went out on a crazy, dangerous mission last night without bothering to tell me."
"Oh," Todoroki said and then he looked at the bag at her feet. There was a half-filled water bottle sticking out of one of the side pockets. The front pocket was left opened and there were a few empty potato chip bags and half-eaten onigiris in it. "I would've thought you'd have spoken to Iida already."
Neon pushed off and began to swing once again. "I wanted to talk to you first."
Todoroki blinked. "Why?"
"Because…" Neon said and waited to go up and down a few more times before finishing her answer, "We made a deal so I'm keeping to it."
"We did?"
"Yeah...To tell you when I'm mad to avoid any miscommunication. So here I am...Telling you I'm mad," Neon stopped her swinging again but this time much more gently. She kept her eyes on her lap as she spoke, "Why didn't you tell me you were going after Noisy Boy?"
"I didn't want to get you into any trouble."
"Yet you thought it was fine to bring along the others?"
Todoroki looked away and out into the darkened playground. It was quiet and the street lamps were stretching the shadows of the trees and play area across the rubbery floor. He found it surprisingly peaceful. "They didn't have as much at stake as you did…"
"You mean their lives?" Neon asked incredulously, "What about your life? Detective Tsukauchi said it was fortunate that you guys were there to get Noisy Boy out before the fight got really dicey but...do you realize how you lucky you are that nothing else happened to you guys? All Might gave his everything for that fight."
"That's what heroes do. They put their lives on the line for others."
"I'm just as much of a hero as you are," Neon said, "And I don't need you trying to save me."
Todoroki's hands gripped the chains of the swing tightly. He was laying down his logical points and she was swatting it away. "You couldn't have done anything even if you did know...And you would've been beating yourself up the whole night about not being able to help."
"I was already up the whole night worried about you guys!" Neon shouted. Her hands jerked the chains forward as if punctuating her sentences, "It was unlike any of you to not respond. I knew something was going on and I didn't know what!"
"You called Midoriya though and you found out," Todoroki pointed out.
"Yeah but I called you first!" she said accusingly.
Todoroki didn't understand her point and his face clearly showed it because she took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Listen...You know what kind of person I am. I'm not the type of person who lets my emotions get the better of me...but I'm also not the type to sit back and wait it out. If there is a problem, I'd like to get it resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible…So I'm going to be blunt...Even if I don't want to hear it myself. So here goes. When all of this went down..I wanted to talk to you about everything that was going on but...you weren't there...and that made me sad. Really sad."
Neon let go of the chains and then clasped her hands tightly on her lap. Her hair was tucked back behind her ears so Todoroki could see her cheeks getting red.
"There...I said it," she said, "I fully realize that it's been only a day of us not speaking but...it was a very important day...And...please take into account that I'm running only on like 3 hours of sleep and feeling especially vulnerable since Akia is now gone so if you think I'm being overly emotional, just so you know, I completely agree...but that's how I feel right now. I don't know how to deal with it or think myself out of it...and that's why I'm here. To sort it out so we can both move on and go back to how it was before"
It was a lot to take in and Todoroki didn't know where to begin. If Neon was bad with handling emotions, he was even worse. He was floored by her admission. Whatever reaction he thought Neon would have, it certainly wasn't this. He tried to think of something to say but the only thing his brain could latch onto was the fact that. she didn't say everyone...She didn't say Iida or Midoriya..It was him...and with Neon...Her choice of words were never to be taken lightly, which meant that in a dire situation, her first instinct was to turn to him. No one else…
Whoosh!
The chain beneath Todoroki's left hand turned bright red as flames leaked out from beneath his fingers. He stopped himself before the heat rose up any further but it wasn't immediately quelled so he grabbed it with his right hand. Steam emitted from the metal as he slowly turned his attention to the shocked expression on Neon's face.
"I'm...sorry…" Todoroki said, "I didn't realize it would make you feel that way. I only wanted to protect you."
A long silence stretched out between the two and then Neon gave a small nod. "I know," she said, "That's why I'm so frustrated because I understand why you did what you did but I couldn't stop being mad. God...Having friends is so unnecessarily complicated. This is one of the reasons why I've avoided having them in the first place!"
"Same…" Todoroki admitted.
Neon lightly punched him in the arm. "Are you saying you don't want to be my friend anymore?"
Todoroki blinked. "No. Not at all. I was merely-"
Neon chuckled and she shook her head. "I was just kidding, Cool Hair."
"Oh...So...Are we good now?"
Neon nodded. "Yeah. We're good."
Beeeep! Beeep!
"Hey. You kids! What are you doing out this late? Don't you know there is a curfew?" a policeman shouted off in the distance while blasting his whistle. They saw his silhouette running towards them and they both hurriedly jumped to their feet.
"It's alright. They're with me!" Ito called out happily, emerging from a park bench that was hidden behind some trees. They watched as she strolled towards the policeman, showing him her government identification.
Todoroki turned to Neon, who shrugged.
"I figured it might take you a while to show up so I had Ito stay with me in case it goes too late."
"What if I slept through the whole night and didn't get your message until morning?!"
Neon gestured to her bag. "We got enough supplies. It's fine. I thought it through. Don't worry about me."
As if I can, Todoroki thought to himself but thought better to voice it out loud.