Chapter 25: Am I Ready For What Will Come?
"It's too quiet.", said Kukeiko as she was hugging herself.
"What do you mean 'it's too quiet'?", asked the woman who was sitting near her on a chair.
"It's just too quiet. After the License Exam, I kept seeing stuff. I continuously saw the blue haired guy peeking from behind buildings, I'd hear knocks and..."
"You were just experiencing the symptoms of-"
"Mei heard them as well!
Th-the the the carvings! They're not hallucinations! Miss, I wasn't hallucinating! I have the carvings in my room! Mei and Monoma and Akihiro saw them too!"
"Can you show them?"
"Here", said Kukeiko, showing her pictures of the carvings.
"What about the monster?", asked the woman in a calm and soothing voice.
"Well, I can tell you that it might, like maybe THAT was a hallucination. I mean just like you said a couple days ago!
How was it called..."
"Sleeping paralysis"
"Yes! Sleeping paralysis!
But now, it's quiet. I-I-I don't even know whether that's a good sign or not. And because it's so quiet, I'm scared...
What if something or someone comes?
What if something happens?
I'm so scared cuz I can't scream for help, I can't fight..."
"Have you talked about it with anyone else?"
"No..."
"Why not? I heard you have quite the group of friends."
"Well, I mean, I already caused them enough trouble. I don't want to make things worse. I don't want to..."
Kukeiko remained silent.
"Say it."
"..."
The woman smiled softly.
"Go on."
"I feel like I'm a ... They have problems of their own, so I don't think telling them would do any good to either of us."
"Believe it or not, sharing your thoughts with a friend, family member or anyone else you trust will help you face the problem head on."
"...but what if I don't want to... face it head on", said the girl in a very low voice.
"Mind if you repeat that?"
"Nothing. I said nothing."
"You did say something. Repeat it."
"What if I don't want to face it head on? I just want to wake up, go to school, work on my items, have some bubble tea and then go to bed and repeat!"
"You're just sweeping everything under the rug. If you don't face, you won't move on. Everything we stumble on is like an obstacle. If you don't overcome it, you won't be stronger.
What you're saying is the same as wanting to sit in front of the obstacle and do nothing."
"..."
"It's alright to take a break, but never give up, okay?"
Kukeiko was staring at her hands, playing with her metalic marbles.
"You know, Izuku told me he admires you a lot."
"You're not the first to tell me that."
"He said that he wants to smile fearlessly like Kukeiko."
'No matter through how much trouble she's going through, she always smiles and makes others feel better. I want to be a hero that does that! I want to get to be like her.'
"So are you going to be the tough girl who gets through any obstacle with a fearless smile on her face?"
"..yea"
"I can't hear you? Do I have to repeat myself?"
"Yes, I said!"
"That's my Kukeiko!
Before you go, here are the pills for your insomnia, alright?"
"Yes, miss. I wish you a beautiful afternoon."
"Goodbye!"
Izuku appeared at the nurse's office with two bubble teas later that afternoon. Kukeiko was done with all ger medical treatment for the day. With her eyes red from crying from the shots, she came out to greet her brother and started drinking from the bubble tea.
"Thanks a lot, bro."
"You're welcome. Made sure to get your favourite."
"Why are you all beaten up?"
"Ah, we had tough lessons today."
While sipping from her bubble tea, Kukeiko scanned Izuku from head to toe.
"Aren't the wounds more from quirk training?"
"You're a very good reader."
"Why are you surprised? I still remembered how you were after the Entrance Exam!", laughed she. "Damn it! I almost forgot! Father bought us something!"
"Father...?"
"Yea, I know! Wow, right? He's the last person you think about, right? He gave us teddy bears!", said the girl on a cheery tone.
"Teddy bears,", chuckled Izuku.
"Mhm! I have yours in my room. And it has audios too! I bet that they are different and I haven't listened to yours.
Also! Dad said that he'll come soon!"
"Glad to hear that made you happy sis, but I don't think he'll be here in the near future."
"Aw come on, cut him some slack! Maybe a second chance? That sounds well.
Look, you'll come over now my room so I can give it."
"I'm good."
"I don't want it sitting in my room when it's supposed to be yours. At least listen to what he's got to say."
"Alright alright."
...
...
"You know... I'm still not used with All Might being retired."
"To be honest, neither am I."
"Says his number one super fan and student.", said Kukeiko smirking at him.
"Hahahaha, oke, you got me."
"I wonder how Endeaver will do as the number 1, as the new symbol...
I wonder what Todoroki-kun has to say about this."
"Todoroki said nothing about it... yet."
"Yet."
"Yes."
The two siblings arrived at the girl's room.
"There you go!", said Kukeiko giving Izuku the teddy bear.
"Thanks. Good night, Kukeiko!"
"Good night, Mighty Junior!"
"I told you not to call me that...", mumbled the hero student.
"Okay, Kukeiko! First night alone after... *sigh* the event..
Well! I am Kukeiko! There is nothing I can't handle!", said Kukeiko in a mighty voice, striking All Might's pose.
"I have done so many things today too! I don't have much left till I'm done with that costume of Amaya's! Everything's going to be alright!"
•I wouldn't talk so soon...•
The rest of the week went with the same sort of attitude. Kukeiko's mental health was becoming better, but the physical side of her health was declining. But that didn't stop her. Masks and shots won't slow her down from reaching her goals and dreams.
She didn't look like stepping down. We're talking about Kukeiko here.
One Sunday evening, the girls of 1-A, Kukeiko, and some of the girls of 1-B were hanging in Ashido's room. It was more like a girls meetup.
The girls were talking about different things that they used to do during middle school.
"Hey! We barely hang out like this! Shouldn't we talk about, like, boys?", said Hagakure.
"Isn't there more to high school than boys?", added Kukeiko.
"Says the only girl who is currently dating a boy.", pointed Ashido.
"True."
"I'm still shocked how you where able to get to Monoma."
"I didn't. He came to me."
"Luckyyy", said Hagakure, superficially punching Kukeiko.
"You're a lucky one.", added Jiro.
"Changing the subject..", started Jiro.
"We're not changing the subject!", said Ashido.
"How did you end up coming here?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, why heroes? You can do as much money, if not more doing something else!"
"What kind of question is that?", asked one of 1-B's girls.
"Well people become heroes for different reasons."
"I agree with that.", stated Ochako. "I've heard many people say that they become heroes to save people and giving hope to people but for me... Well, I wanted to become a hero because of the good pay."
The girls looked at Ochako quietly, which made her red and float around room.
"Being a hero is cool and being able to be someone's hero and give them hope sure is sure something to work hard for.", said Kendo.
"I see", said Kukeiko as she was bringing Ochako back on the floor.
"I'm curious, Midoriya,", started Tsuyu. "What's your quirk more precisely?"
"Levitation. But I use it more like an extension of myself. For example, if I levitate a dumbell, it feels just like actually holding a dumbell. If I want to kick a ball, but the ball is too far away, I can use my quirk as an extension of my leg and kick it."
"Woah..."
"I understand now, ribbit."
"Actually, after the Sports Festival, many people, especially kids, would tell me that my quirk is just like Uravity's!"
"Awwww How cute!!!", said Ochacko. "That really is adorable!"
"Well, your quirks do look similar", said Jiro.
"To be honest, your fight against Bakugo's was amazing! You did so well! The determination in your eyes! The willing to fight till your last ounce of strength! No wonder people look up at you!"
"They look up at me?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't they? I can't think of a reason for it to be otherwise.
You guys have no idea how many people look up at you. It's adorable and inspirational in the same time!", said Kukeiko, making the other girls smile.
"Come to think of it, you too are a hero.", said Momo.
"It's nothing compared to what you guys do. I can't even jog without gasping for air."
"Don't belittle yourself like that!", Kendo patted Kukeiko's back.
"I am not! I am stating facts."
The girls started laughing all of a sudden.
"What happened?", asked Kukeiko, chuckling nervously.
"It's amusing how you didn't notice you were floating.", chuckled Jiro.
"Wait WHAT?!"
Kukeiko wasn't very high up, but she was floating upside down. Her long, untied hair was floating in all directions and at that time, Hagakure was having fun braiding it.
"Want me to..", started Ochako.
"No! I like floating like this. I feel so weightless."
"Plus! I can do so much with your hair. You have so much of it I can do whatever I want with it."
"Well, as long as you don't make nots in my hair, it's okay.", said the support hero as she was laughing.
