Timeline: Two years before Midoriya entered UA

Warnings: Teen Pregnancy; sensitive topics

Rainbow | Prologue

January

Noa's hands trembled as they clutched her knees, waves of dark hair cascade around her face, shadowing it from view. She hopes that it hides the way that her eyes are starting to glisten over. She can begin to feel it trickle down her cheeks and through hyperventilating breaths, she tries to hold back the dam as much as she can. She can't cry - not right now, not in front of the headmaster that looks down at her with disappointing, disapproving eyes. She knows that he had expected better from her - that they all had.

To be honest, she expected better from herself too. She shouldn't have let this happen in the first place. She was only two months from at least finishing her first year; they could've at least given her that - let her at least finish off the year so she had something to hold onto, but she guesses that by then, it would have been too noticeable; it would have drawn too much attention.

"Rikona," the headmaster starts and his voice cuts into her like knives, "We -"

"-Do you know who did this?" Her voice is accusing, trembling with emotion that threatens to break her as she looks up with a fire in her eyes, "Do you know who did this to me?" Her nails dig into her knees. "Do you plan on bringing him in here anytime soon?"

The look that the headmaster shares with the only other adult in the room - the teacher who had spoken up about their suspicions of Noa in the first place. Their shared look speaks louder than she ever could. It seems like the high expectations that they tied to her shoulders aren't extended to the person who put her here in the first place. As if they expect it from him, but not from her. That it doesn't matter what he did - only the outcome that is in her.

"-We know." the headmaster began carefully, his eyes hooded and guarded, as if he expects her to lash out if he says the wrong thing. As if he's trying to protect himself from her. "We are fully aware of the student that is involved with this - he will be facing his own reprimands at a different time. He will face punishment, but for the time being - "

That's just bullshit and she knows it. She knows that they won't do anything about him - at most, he will get a slap on the wrist while she's forced to face the consequences herself. All the consequences. It's not fair. She wants to scream. She can feel a howl building in the back of her throat like a lion, but she tames it with a thick swallow that makes her chest ache.

"- For the time being" Noa mocks. "You're just kicking me out, you don't even care that he's involved with this."

Noa spits her words out like venom, unfamiliar emotions building up inside her chest. She doesn't know why she expected any different. He comes from a better family - a family that makes a lot of generous donations to the school. She doesn't even think that her mom so much as donates a dollar to a tip jar. But she's never really felt this type of anger before; it's new and strong and she doesn't know how she is supposed to act on it or if she is supposed to act on it at all.

The teacher, with worried droopy eyes, doesn't say anything against the headmaster, they don't even dispute her comment. But they still have the nerve to try to usher her to calm down, she yanks her arm out of their grasp with a glare that makes them step back with muttered apologies and mumbled comments about how she 'shouldn't stress herself out right now.'

Well it's too late for that. She's stressed - and sad - and pissed and a whole lotta of other things that she doesn't even have the words for.

A more gentle hand lowers the one that she raises threateningly at the headmaster with a soft disapproving tsk. That sound - that familiar sound - makes her pause, the touch draining her rage as she lowers her head and softens her voice. It takes all of the energy out of her when she sees the look in her mother's eyes.

It's the first thing that Akako has done since they've been in this pathetic meeting. She has yet to acknowledge anything going on, simply nodding her head along when appropriate and taking it all in a calm, nerving stride. If she watched close enough, Noa could see small puffs of smoke exhale from her mother's nostrils. The only sign that she is much angrier than she is presenting. She has yet to even comment on any of the claims or the fact that her daughter is being expelled.

Noa had fought tooth and nail to get in, clawed her way to the top of her classes just to get accepted. Shiketsu wasn't her first choice, but it was the only way her mother would let her go to a hero course; and well, Noa was eager to take any compromise she could get. Anything for the chance to be a hero. Anything for the chance - the chance she's ruined.

So much for Akako approving of the school because of their 'traditional' ways of teaching Noa how 'the world really works.' She can't even begin to imagine how her mom feels knowing that she went against her rules of not dating - nevertheless the outcome of breaking said rule.

"Rikona," the headmaster begins again, his voice showing how tired he feels about arguing with her. She can see the vein starting to pop on his shiny forehead. "The other student will face punishment; the same punishment you would be facing if the two of you had only broken the rule of dating between the students."

"But the matter of the fact is," he continues, "That you breaking the rules resulted in a pregnancy. A pregnancy that you kept hidden from all of our staff, including your mother, for five months. That is more than enough grounds for getting expelled."

Noa swallows thickly. She can see the indents of her nails against her skin and she can't even feel her heart anymore; she can only feel the rage pulsating off her mother beside her. The silent, disapproving rage that makes her quiver.

"-However," the headmaster continues, his tone more serious as he locks eyes with her. "Due to the fact that the school lacks certain protocols, for such a circumstance and we have a certain reputation to maintain - we will gladly help you with the support of your upcoming child so that you two may live a quiet life. Do you understand?"

She's sixteen - and she was the top of her class, and already one of their top students overall. She's not stupid and she knows how to read between the lines. Hush money; she supposes that that is what she is worth to them, what she means to them. She is nothing but a mark - a tarnish - on their reputation. A tarnish that they would rather avoid seeing in the media. She can't imagine the chaos that would happen should word get out of one of their top students - at such a traditional school - being a teen mom.

She's tempted to say no; just to watch them burn. But her eyes shift to her mom - traditional, silent, raging. She doesn't know what will happen when they get home, especially since she knows that despite this growing crisis, she knows that she will be bringing a baby home. She had already made that decision long ago - and had chiseled it to her heart when the boy who whispered love in her ear told her that it would be better to just get it taken care of before whisking away some other poor freshman girl.

Her mom catches her gaze. Akako's steely eyes make her blood run cold and she catches the words that her mom whispers to her softly, smoke exhaling from her breath curls around her neck and itches against her skin. Take it - you'll need it. Something about it isn't comforting, it's not an act of taking what can help a young mother. It lacks warmth, heart. It's a threat; a threat that she will need the money because of something worse to come.

She has an odd, empty feeling that come tomorrow morning, she won't be living at home anymore.

Noa finally speaks when she manages to find her voice.

"Okay."