SideStory #6

"Aftermath"

"Of all the people to possibly visit me in the infirmary… it had to be you huh?" Izumi said with a small teasing grin towards a supposedly emotionless boy that she had met many months ago. The session she went through inside the infirmary wasn't actually that bad, and while she did lose a lot of blood, it wasn't as intense nor as much as her older attempts. It was still bad however, but thankfully this time she didn't faint nor lose consciousness. The Pro Hero which acted also as a nurse in UA treated her pretty well, she was also quite thrilled that the old lady was Recovery Girl. Even with the effects of the old lady's quirk, she still needed blood transfusion, and luckily her mother had come just in time to administer it. Her mother had quickly left after that, saying that Nemuri needed her for something important. She was okay with that as she and her mother along with her aunt had agreed to go home together later that day.

This also meant that with her aunt's permission, she was allowed to stay in UA until it was time to go home. She was excited at the prospect of it. While also a bit downtrodden that even though she managed to save a few people, she still recalled that she did not gain nor collect any points. This in turn robbed her of her mostly cheerful mood until someone came on the door to visit her.

That visitor was the boy that she met all those months ago.

"How are you doing?" he asked. His tone in itself made Izumi question if he was really concerned for what happened to her, or if he really cared at all. Still, having him here surprised her immensely. She did not expect the boy to be the first out of her family and friends to visit her.

"I'm fine… got a little sketchy there in the exam but I'm fine." She mused.

"You know; those Zero Pointers wouldn't have hurt any students right? There was no need for you to go all out." The boy said. As he said this, Izumi felt a punch in her senses. Of course, it was a mock battle, a simulation. No one would be gravely injured...

Stupid… she grimaced herself internally. What was done is done however and she needed to accept that. Even what could possibly be a grade short of passing.

"Y-Yeah… got a bit overboard didn't I?"

"You sure did. That show you made, left quite an impression on everyone from what I heard. Not just in the room I was in, but from the other examinees as well." he said, with a bit of levity in his tone.

"Y-You saw that?"

"Never took my eyes off the screen actually. Much like everyone else in the room I was in." he said in continuation. His tone a bit curious, but not much was different from how he usually said things.

"I don't really remember much about what happened, Recovery Girl couldn't tell me and my mom was clueless too. Did… did I do something-"

"You took two hulking pieces of machinery, threw them into the sky with no visible effort and made them explode there."

The way he said the sentence was borderline shocking and disturbing for Izumi. Even she didn't fathom that she did those things, yet she did remember that the moment she fell to the ground and caught by Ochako, she did see the sky darken in smoke, with none of the Zero Pointers visible near her.

She assumed she did something, but not to that extent. Opening her hands and staring at them with the various cuts and bruises made by overusing Black Whip, she wondered if that was because of her, or if 'One for All' had something to do with it.

Maybe both.

Still, the thought scared her to no avail. Having this much power… scared her. Even if it was hers. All those months ago, she had a good grip with how her quirk worked, and with that she thought that she had mastered a good deal with it. She even made approximations of how much strength and use her quirk had in her journals.

Clearly there was more to this than expected… or maybe 'One for All' was-

"You're muttering to yourself. I could hear you even from where I'm standing." The boy suddenly said. Waking Izumi out of her usual brainstorming retinue. A look of embarrassment was strewn on her face.

"S-Sorry… it's just when I'm flustered or anxious I kinda use that as a coping mechanism."

The boy nodded and he walked to the nearest chair, took it and sat in front of her. The distance was still great between them, but it seemed like he had something to say to her about her condition. Like he knew how she felt on that very spot she was in right now.

At least that's what she expected from him.

"Are y-you just going to sit there… and stare at me?" she asked with an awkward smile.

He huffed. His expression unchanged.

"No. I was just considering what to say to you."

"O-Okay… y-you don't need to concern yourself about me. Not like you know what it feels to be in my place after all…" Izumi said with a courteous and admitting smile. It wasn't a good smile, but it felt appropriate.

"I do know actually…" he said.

"Huh?"

"I know what it's like to have such a quirk. For people to be scared and terrified with how powerful you are and how it affects those around you." There was weight in his words as he said this, like a million possible reasons and deeper painful memories manifested in just two sentences. She could almost feel sorry for him and the way how he lightly scratched the scar on his face, she knew that his words were true. She respected that.

"T-Thanks. For sharing that." As she said this, he nodded in response. Although his demeanor was the same, Izumi could feel that between those short interactions, he was beginning to loosen up a bit with how he acted towards her.

"Your name is Izumi correct?" she beamed a bit when he recalled her name, even if it was more than ten months ago. The last interaction they shared, which was the Memorial Fair did not go as well as it went. Yet now, it seemed like they were slowly easing in with each other, not in a completely friendly sense yet but getting there in time.

"I'm surprised you remember my name. Could've sworn you disapproved of seeing me last time."

He shrugged.

"My sister forced me to remember you. She even made me promise to 'be respectful' towards you should we meet again."

"Aww… that's cute. Tell your sister I'm grateful." She teased. He responded the opposite of what she thought. His already deadpan frown further dropped at her suggestion. Making her feel a bit bad that she did. The conversation was already awkward to begin with.

"Do I look like I enjoyed that?" he asked.

"N-No… based on how grumpy you look; I don't think it's that hard to see."

"Good."

"Y-Yeah…"

Izumi sighed to herself, this conversation was going nowhere fast. She liked that he was here and was flattered that he took the effort to see her but the conversation jumped from being eventful, and back to the usual expressionless tone this guy had.

He then stood up and returned the chair.

"Look, I only came here to ask a question. It's up to you entirely if you want to answer it or not. Because after that little show you made, it's very likely that we'll be classmates or at the very least, schoolmates." Izumi turned all her attention towards him in a puzzled manner.

"I-I don't know if I'll even pass… I got zero points in the practical."

"Oh I'm sure you will. I don't believe they'll let you go that simply with that stunt you pulled." He assured. His tone made me Izumi question if he was thrilled by that prospect or not. Yet that small little assurance for as weird as it sounded gave her a bit of hope.

Maybe she could pass. She smiled a bit at him.

"What's your question then?" she asked.

"What is it with that Overpowered quirk of yours?" he said with all seriousness in his tone. Izumi pursed her lips, trying to think of how best to explain it to him. But with how things went today, she was unsure if her information as accurate. Right now, she began to ask why her quirk was like this in the first place, as she knew that her mother's was a form of telekinesis, a strong one at that. Yet her father's, she knew next to nothing about.

She now began to question what her true origins were and why her mother seemingly kept most of that information close to her heart. Not even telling anyone at all nor sharing those secrets. It made her a bit suspicious with her mother yet again. Their relationship had in fact healed for the most part, but there was still very much so a section of it that needed to be repaired.

With the mysteries of her quirk deepening, she mused to ask her later at home. Maybe even confront her when the time came.

"Hey… I asked you a question." The boy said with a bit impatience in his voice.

"Sorry… the best answer I could give you is, I'm not really sure myself. I only got this quirk last year and while I thought I have a good grasp of how it functions. I'm surprised yet again with how I managed to do things in the practical."

Or maybe it was because of 'One for All', which was the main theory she needed to investigate, and the one detail that he can't disclose to him. As it was All Might's secret.

"You only got it last year? How is that even possible?"

"Don't ask me. I don't really know myself."

"Hmph… you're pretty strange Izumi."

"Can't say I don't think of you the same Shoto." Izumi teased back to alleviate the seriousness. He was surprised that she remembers his name back in the fair, he didn't even introduce himself it was his sister that did so.

"Alright, I got what I needed. See you in class I think." He said as he started to walk to the door. Almost like he was now bored of this conversation and wished to exit it. Izumi smirked. She couldn't judge how the boy acted, as she herself was a loner in her own way back in the day. She smirked at him since it reminded her a bit of herself…

He closed the door behind him and left Izumi to her thoughts. Their interaction this time was better than last time, but it did leave much to be desired.

"See you…" she whispered to herself. Her tone that of wishful thinking. Wishful thinking that she could pass. She hugged herself after she was left in the room alone. Even though she desired to take a walk in the school grounds, it seemed like her mental anxieties beat her to it.

She was about to lay down on the bed she was sitting in when a knock on the door was heard. A series of knocks to be precise. Furrowing her brow at the commotion, she gently stood up from where she lay and slowly walked to the door. Her legs were shaking a bit still, her body still recovering from the shock and loss of blood. Thankfully, she still managed to maintain her equilibrium and balance with each step. As she reached the door, she saw the window on it and was surprised to see a multitude of people, examinees her age that were waiting to see her.

Her eyes widened as they all smiled and waved at her.

She awkwardly smiled back and opened the door. Thankfully, one of the people that were on the door was Uraraka Ochacko who as soon as she opened it, she was tackled into a hug that made her trip on the floor.

"Ow." Izumi said.

"I'm so sorry! A-Are you alright? Are you still bleeding? Are you hurt still-"

"I'm fine Uraraka… I'm fine. Just a bit weak but fine." Izumi replied, trying to re-assure the zero gravity girl that she was alright. They giggled at each other as Izumi saw who the others were.

"Glad you're alright. I could've sworn I told you to stop." The tomboyish girl said with the earphone jacks replacing her earlobes. She grinned at her as the other girl, one with orange hair who Izumi recalled as the one with the big hands looked relieved to see her okay.

"Thanks as well for getting me out of that situation. I never saw what you did entirely but I got a glimpse of it. Thank God you're alright."

Both girls then pulled her up as Ochako got off her. Izumi then smiled at them and saw that one more person, a certain glasses-wearing boy was also with them. He looked relieved as well to see her alright after everything that happened.

As they got up, he cleared his throat. Allowing everyone to say silent so that he could speak.

"I was wrong about you… you may not have shown proper behavior throughout the course of this exam, but at the very least you were dauntless and brave to save your co-examinees even at the expense of your own safety. I respect that." He said as he offered his hand.

Izumi looked at it and nodded, shaking it in good will.

"Thanks."

"Are you flirting with him nerd?" the tomboyish-looking girl said to the both of them after they withdrew their hands. Instantly, the glasses-wearing boy cried in outrage while the rest of them including Izumi laughed.

"Thanks for coming by guys, this means a lot to me." Izumi said to them. They all smiled at her and after that Izumi confidently thought that with the new people she got along with, it meant new friends as a result. Maybe today wasn't as bad as she thought it would be.

She managed to chat with her new companions and got along well with them as the hour passed.

However, one thought managed to tug on her senses. Out of all the people that came today, neither Sylvianor Himiko came to see if she was alright. Himiko most of all was missing, making Izumi wonder where she could have been.


"Have you been successful in your mission Io?" Nemain said, she was wearing casual clothes today as they walked by on the sidewalk together with Io. Her sister-in-arms looked quite pleased today, her blue hair ruffling in the wind as the exam was finished.

She got what she needed and she was thrilled as a result.

She then made a series of hand gestures and symbols to prove her point towards her chaperone. Nemain smiled, easily understanding what she meant as they walked together. They stopped by on the nearest bus stop, waiting for the next ride.

"I think you will pass without a doubt my friend. You are leagues beyond those pestilent children. For now, I think now we should wait for what happens next. We are only here to observe after all… observe and report back."

Io nodded. They then noticed that a woman whom was looking at her phone wearing a trench coat came to bus stop as well. she was engrossed in her phone as her earphones was up. She stood by the side away from them thankfully, and Nemain continued to talk.

"Did you make contact with the subject of interest?"

Io nods, suddenly she sees the woman next to them dropping her phone. A level of unease was felt by the blue-haired girl, but it seemed like Nemain didn't notice it. She looked at the woman, she never got her attention but it looked like she got her phone back.

Suddenly, they exchanged glances. The woman waved at her with a small smile as she went back to her business. Io narrowed her eyes, but felt that maybe she was paranoid.

"My friend, I asked you a question." Nemain said, putting her focus back.

Io nodded as the bus finally arrived and they rode it together. The both of them still communicating about today's events.

They didn't even realize that the woman who was with them at the bus stop vanished. Ultimately walking away from view no the nearest alleyway. Then the woman's form distorted, turning what seemed to be a gelatinous substance that melted away everything in her body with each step. Even what remained of her face was gone and the substance oozed away.

Revealing a naked Himiko Toga with a less than pleased look. She stopped on the nearest dumpster and opened it. Showing a woman who seemed to be unconscious. Himiko stared at her and thought about what she heard.

She then took a knife from the dumpster which she kept earlier and made a small slit on her thumb. Allowing it to bleed as she spread the bodily fluid on the cold surface of the knife.

Her eyes were greedy with intent.

Her usually smiling face was replaced by a look of bloodlust.

"Exchange Student huh?"


Somewhere…

A man was watching carefully on various screens that were in front of him to view. Various medical apparatuses were strapped on his body as he re-reviewed footage and notes about a certain topic that he wished to investigate further. He hummed in a sort of playful manner as he re-examined each material he had in hand.

He then felt what seemed to be a presence of something unknown manifesting out of thin air behind him. The purplish-looking smoke coupled with what seemed to be an echoing voice was heard. The man did not anticipate the random visit, but he welcomed it regardless.

Good news came when such an event rose.

"I have found her." The metallic, echoing voice said, one that belonged to a primordial purple mist that had a suit and tie for wear.

"You found her you say? Tell me more then…"

"She took the entrance exam of UA."

"Did she now? That's interesting." He said as the man continued to study the various material he had on the screens. Each screen suddenly got replaced by an image of a girl with red hair, fighting off a slime villain. Red lightning surrounding her.

He then made an imaginary gesture of reaching out to the girl and clenching his fist as if to grab her. The mist-like figure behind him seemed to notice this small action.

"I have also seen evidence… that All Might is within the vicinity of the school. Turns out the rumor going on that he will finally teach at UA is true"

The name made the man in the seat flinch, but didn't care afterwards.

"Kurogiri… I think it's time to teach my student a lesson. Give the order to him to proceed."

"At this stage? Is it wise?"

"That is correct, because killing two birds with one stone is a good plan as any..."

TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 10