minirie: yeah Shoto needs to get it together, (#`Д´) , aha. i absolutely loved writing the scene with the girls. i'm so happy you enjoyed it ! and yes yes , i agree. ❤ she deserves it. thank you so much !
Emocean: we're about to find out about that, huh? (* ^ ω ^) and yes the amount of stress and hardships she's enduring right now is no joke. she's just trying her best but all this negativity is making her teeter. :c , Shoto definitely isn't making any sense, and perhaps we'll get some answers this chapter, ha! I'm kinda happy though because I was aiming for confusion w him... and that was hard ... bc writing him became confusing, LMAO. I'm taking note of those crossed fingers, ehe. in conclusion, it seems Hotaru just needs to beat everyone's ass ! everyone will realize their mistakes regarding her soon enough ~ and her vs Iida... all i'm gonna say is "aaahh!" ヽ(・∀・)ノ , and how you like Mineta, ah! wow, lmao thank you so much! i'm so happy. he's a pervy boy but he has a good heart. thank you a ton ! cheers ! happy to write for you ! ❤
bbymojo: thank you so much 。゚(TヮT)゚。 ❤'s x 100 . you're so sweet too and i really enjoy your reviews. honestly ! love hearing your thoughts along with everyone else's. ❤ you're the best! writing those fluffy moments was very enjoyable and definitely my chapter highlights. (i'm gonna do chapter highlights with you, ehe) it was a nice brief break from all the tension! another highlight for me was her putting her foot down with Shoto. i was nonchalantly sipping my tea writing that, lmao. you're right with the unresolved stuff! and oh, the apology will so be worth it i swear i've been planning this for so long. it's gonna be interesting, haha! I love Daddy Zawa. and that preview was so misleading, don't worry ~ ! and oh my gosh, you touched my heart so deeply. (´ ∀ ` *) thank you so much, i'm honored and so happy ! sending you a virtual hug ! ❤
LadyAmazon: i can't wait for their girl get-together ! and Aizawa to the rescue as always ! ❤ awe, Hotaru appreciates you and so do i ! She would love to have her own aquarium and koi fish ! i've always love watching koi fish swim, especially the butterfly kois! you keep well, too! ❤ i hope the weather stays nice, too! the weather has been confusing the plants i feel so bad for them. i had to cover my tulips bc of a sudden freeze. i wish you luck with your garden! (⁀ᗢ⁀) gardening is so relaxing. hoping for good weather and beautiful blooms, but most importantly the fun that comes with gardening ~ !
Oblivious IJ: ahaha ! xD love it ! it had to be done.╰(▔∀▔)╯
Cally: hello ! thank you so much for reading ! (⁀ᗢ⁀) especially binge reading, ahh ! ❤ i'm so happy you love it ! i can't wait to for you to read more, especially the parts you're most eager about! i'm eager, too! i hope you enjoy this chapter!
Yuudie: thank you so much! ❤ i should have plenty of more time to write ~ ! i'm really happy about that o(≧▽≦)o , i can literally spend all day writing and not get tired of it, haha. Hotaru really is a dork, especially with fish, haha!
lovelyhatter: aahh, thank you so much! that means more than i can say! i really do try, haha. much love to you, as well ! ❤ i love your fangirling, aha! i fangirl over your reviews, too! i personally enjoy writing heavy scenes, so i'm happy you enjoy reading them! can't wait for you to read this chapter! please, enjoy ! (´ ∀ ` *)
Swiggs: haha! thank you so much! hope you enjoy this chapter !
•○●○•
whew, my spring break has been extended and my classes have all moved online.
happy about the extended break, but i'm not sure about these online classes, haha. i'll be happy if they are easier.
but either way, i hope everyone is well!
thank you so much to everyone who reads, and thank you so much for your reviews. i really love reading through them. i get so happy every time! i also get happy about the favorites and follows, i see you guys, too!
please, enjoy! and i apologize for any errors as always.
❤•○●○•❤
Premonition
❤•○●○•❤
It looks hopeless and feels hopeless. She can feel the warm blood soaking into her attire, and even the slightest of movements allows for the thorns to dig more deeply into her. Her teeth grit and she glares down at Shiozaki. It was decided in an instant? No. Every person that thinks she's been defeated is severely wrong. She's not done yet.
She's far from it.
Her silvery eyes suddenly morph into a glowing cyan. Blue sparks emit from her body. The only reason her lightning didn't work earlier is because she didn't use a high enough voltage. She miscalculated. Now, she has to make up for her blunder.
Steam starts to spew. The vines holding her captive start to turn from a healthy green to a decaying brown. A charcoal black comes afterwards, and then scorching flames follow instantly. Hotaru bursts through the thorny vines and ashes fall like snow. Before her feet touch the ground, more vines ensnare her. This cycle happens over and over again.
She's so frustrated. So very frustrated. She wants to cry, but as if she would do that here. Being pricked countless times, not being about to do anything at all, all of the satisfied faces in the audience… It makes her so sick with anger. Damn everyone. Damn Shiozaki for humiliating her like this.
This isn't how things are supposed to go. She's not supposed to look pathetic like this in front of all of these watching eyes. Her parents, are they laughing right now? She can swear she hears them. Her jaw locks.
These vines are tough and thick. They are living and flowing with water. They are flourishing. Getting rid of them is nothing like getting rid of Shoto's ice, and even that's not so simple. She can ignite and scatter them with her lightning, but as a result more pop out of the ground. It's an overwhelming number. There's no end to them. She can't find an opening. Everything she does is futile.
If she keeps going on like this she'll do herself in. Not only will her lightning cause her to overheat, but the flames below her will contribute to… Her silver eyes grow large, the flickering red reflecting in them.
Fire.
"Shiozaki isn't letting Aihara go!" Present Mic screams almost in panic when Hotaru begins struggling once more, and the audience cheers. "Are the vines too much?!"
"No." Hotaru answers in monotone, and Midnight raises a brow at her.
If the R-Rated hero is being honest with herself, she's at a loss of what to do. A full five minutes have gone by and Hotaru hasn't been able to completely free herself. The vines coiling around her have been growing in number. She's clearly immobilized. If she didn't keep freeing herself for brief moments, she would've had to call the match, and she's still debating if she should do that or not. Her lips downturn. If this goes on for any longer, Hotaru's injuries will grow more severe.
Hotaru is now being held upside down by the vines and covered in unpleasant scratches. Her cyan eyes stare directly at Shiozaki. A trail of blood runs down her face and into her hairline. Flames surround her from the burning vines on the ground. Her bright eyes gradually move to stare into the fiercely flickering fire.
"It doesn't matter how much you struggle." Shiozaki begins with a holy light enhancing her humble form. She extends her arms. "You cannot escape my Crucifixion. My vines will punish and judge you, you sinful being. You will only find relief in the flames of hell. So, please, surrender yourself to this righteous will. Concede to your sins. For all of those you hurt, I will bring salvation to them through your defeat."
Her words, courteous and divine, make the already loud cheers of the audience grow. Hotaru's lips part and blood coats her left eye, making the white of it red. Her vision now holds a blurred crimson tint.
The audience is enjoying this so much that it's disturbing. Do they want her to go along with this? She supposes she could in order to buy some more time. Surely they don't think she's actually enduring this for no reason.
"I've already been through hell." Hotaru answers. "I wanted to be like my parents. I've killed people. I've hurt people. I've been deceived. I was a villain, a sinful being like you claim. There was a time in my life I considered the most beautiful, but my own actions ripped that away. That was my hell."
"I-I see." Shiozaki stutters a bit, not expecting her to actually confess those things so easily and out loud. The audience even quiets slightly. "Then, now you must surrender yourself—"
"Surrender myself?" Hotaru cuts her off sluggishly. "I get it, but I'm not going to do that in the way you want me to. In fact, shouldn't you be the one to surrender, you sinful being?"
"Why would I do that? You are in no position to tell me to surrender." She brings her hands over her chest. "At this rate, you will bleed out if you do not concede soon. I do not wish for things to go that far, but…" Her kind eyes are suddenly shining with anguished tears. "Me, a sinful being? How insolent of you to call me that!"
The vines around her loosen before growing tighter than before. Hotaru's teeth grit and she gasps heavily, her face twisting in obvious pain. A pain-filled sound escapes her while her eyes squeeze shut. This hurts, a lot. She cracks a single eye open to stare down Shiozaki.
"W-Well, I haven't even touched you yet." Hotaru gets out between her strained breaths, these vines now suffocating her as well. "Y-You're the only one spilling blood here. You're the only one being oppressive. You're judging me when you don't know my story, w-when you don't even have the right. It seems you are confused about what a sinful being is. You're not the only one who's confused, though. W-Well, then..."
Hotaru closes the single eye she had open. Her lips purse and the fire crackling below her grows apparent. Sweat glides down her face. The air is searing and distorted. The concrete ground is sweltering. Their battlefield is now identical to an arid region, just like she wanted.
"Allow me to show you…" Hotaru's lips curl upwards languidly, her nefarious eyes slowly opening. "...What a sinful being is, Shiozaki-san."
Shiozaki shivers at the vile way her name was spoken, and lets out a gasp when lightning bursts from Hotaru's form with blinding force. The vines that held her captive are rendered into ashes and a villainous aura spreads. Shiozaki acts quickly through the sudden unease she's feeling.
More vines burst from the concrete ground as Hotaru descends. However, they are moving slower than before. Not only that, their green color isn't as bright either and they are thinner than before. The scolding air is hindering their true capability. They are weaker. With a smirk, Hotaru makes a finger gun and takes aim.
Her lightning disintegrates the thorny vines. The moment she touches the ground, she somersaults and positions herself into a crouch. Multiple beads of sweat glide down Shiozaki's face when Hotaru stands amidst the fire of the burning vines.
She's bleeding all over and there are tears in her clothing. The light of the flames surrounding her adorn her form and make her appear even more eerie. When her silver eyes lock with her dark ones, she pales.
What this villain did hits her like a truck. She's unbelievably shrewd. This whole time, did she never have the upper hand? She was letting herself be confined and tortured with so many bleeding cuts over and over again, just so she can stockpile the vines she "failed" to escape from. She did that to use them as burning material. They are scattered everywhere. Flames are everywhere.
By doing that, she dehydrated the ground and air. The air is so hot her vines are starting to wilt naturally without Hotaru even having to use her lightning. She's now at a huge disadvantage. The tables have turned.
"Aihara finally breaks free! But, was she ever even confined at all?!" Present Mic gawks. "She's turned the stage into her own flaming playground! Things are starting to heat up!"
"Time to end this." Hotaru whispers thickly, her body letting off a faint blue glow while sparks discharge. She begins taking steps forward. "Plants don't mix well with flames and smoke."
Shiozaki shakes her head instantly, forcing herself out of her panicked thoughts. It's okay, she inwardly urges herself. She made sure to drink plenty of water before this fight. Her vines still have enough moisture within them. She just needs to act more quickly and effectively than before. Hotaru is still far away from her and at the opposite end of the field, she needs to keep her there. If she closes the gap, it'll all be over.
Bringing her hands together in prayer, Shiozaki closes her eyes and tilts her head skywards. Half of the vines on her head burrow into the ground which causes it to tremor, while the other half rushes towards the approaching Hotaru. She draws in a concentrated breath, praying desperately.
"Via Dolorosa…!" Shiozaki cries out.
The whole stage becomes shrouded with thorny vines. Some seem to fall from the heavens, while others seem to emerge from the depths of hell. The audience roars loudly, and Present Mic runs around in a mini circle from the commentary room.
"I-It's a flaming jungle?!" Present Mic exclaims.
"You're more persistent than I thought. I might actually have to get serious." Hotaru sighs in disappointment, and her expression darkens with an unsettling grin. Shiozaki gulps, especially when she laughs and twirls as if she's dancing to dodge the slash of one of her vines. "I really hate using so much energy. But, it can't be helped. Don't disappoint me."
"You weren't being serious before?!" Present Mic yells out.
Aizawa's eyes narrow slightly in thought as he watches Hotaru. That's not it. She has been serious this entire time. She's bluffing to get inside her opponent's head. What she really means is she's going to have to go beyond her limit. But, something's off. She's imitating Two-Face here of all places.
Hotaru's idle walk turns into a swift sprint. Static tickles her flesh and lightning channels within her. A heaping number of vines thick and thin thrash about, her being their only target. It's like a kraken on land. The stage is dense with flames and vines. Shiozaki doesn't plan on going down easily. She's giving it her all. So, she'll give more than that.
A vine whips across the ground and aims for her ankles. She leaps over it before ducking under another. Flaming thorns burst from the ground and she spins on the soles of her feet to evade. She cartwheels and twists through the air, dodging three at once while shooting lightning at the next.
"H-Holy crap she's amazing!" Kaminari stands from his seat, his hands tangled into his hair. Midoriya quickly writes down notes in his journal while keeping his eyes on the fight, muttering incoherently as Iida waves his arms everywhere with an agape mouth.
"Go, Taru-chan—!" Hagakure starts to cheer until Mineta screams.
"Taru-chan! Show everyone how sexy you are! Take it all off!"
"S-Scum!" Jiro leans away from him in disgust.
Hotaru continues to elude the desperate attacks of vines. The fire is definitely weakening them, but it's also putting herself at a disadvantage, too. Her body is burning from the heat and injuries. Not only that, there are so many vines blocking Shiozaki from her sight. She doesn't have a clear shot. The smoke and flames aren't helping the current low visibility she has, either. She needs to somehow—her thought process is cut short.
The ground beneath Hotaru's feet suddenly cracks, and her eyes widen a notch. It's almost as if the vines below the ground here were lying in wait.
A trap?
Shiozaki's hands clasp together even tighter. Her lips curve upwards into an ethereal smile, ready to punish this villain. Victory is within her grasp once again, and this time it shall not slip away from it.
"You pitiful lamb." Shiozaki speaks softly, extending her arms. "You are the one who is confused. I will show you the light."
The concrete slab Hotaru is standing on top of raises off the ground, a large vine responsible. The loud voices surrounding her gradually fade away as time slows. This is it. Vines are coming at her from different angles, and the one below her is beginning to rattle, meant to knock her off balance. She comes to a standstill.
Shiozaki proceeds to launch vines in Hotaru's direction to finish her off. However, she falters slightly when she catches sight of Hotaru's subtle smile. Wait. Shiozaki takes a backwards step with nervous sweat. The crowd bellows and Present Mic gawks, screaming.
"Aihara is sent flying?!"
Shoto leans forward with widened eyes. Sure enough, Hotaru is sent high into the sky. She jumped. She timed her leap with the rebound of the vine that was attempting to throw her off balance. She used it as if it was a trampoline. Just how competent is she?
Hotaru's hair whips wildly, her eyes taking in the blue sky. It's much cooler up here. The rushing air feels nice. There are birds flying overhead and they seem so close. She reaches towards the feathery animals.
It wasn't hard for her to figure out what exactly Shiozaki's trap was. If she's being honest with herself, she only jumped to escape the vines she couldn't see from behind her. She didn't think she would end up nearly above the stadium. But, this is the most ideal spot for her to be. She can see everything.
She adjusts her body so she's facing the approaching ground. She extends her arms and spreads her fingers. Lightning coils around her fingertips and Shiozaki becomes iced over in fear. She'll use a high voltage just for her. She has earned it. Not only that, the recoil she'll receive from this attack will lessen the impact of her fall.
Shiozaki's jaw goes slightly slack as thunder booms and cracks through the air. Her dark eyes stare into Hotaru's vibrant ones. Lightning illuminates the sky. She can't believe she used her vines to her advantage again. She doesn't know what else to do. She's at her limit. Her head is pounding. The fire is eating away at her beloved vines. But, she can't lose. She prays one last time, using every last bit of her strength.
Hotaru unleashes her scattershot lightning attack. Multiple vivid strikes hit the ground all over the stage, falling like rain. All of the vines become blackened and scorched, turning into piles of ash. Hotaru takes aim at Shiozaki next.
Shiozaki panics and quickly confines herself in a shield of wilting vines. The world around her turns black as it's blocked away from her sight. Her clasped hands tremble and not even a second later, her vines are disintegrated. There's a thump instantly afterwards, and she pales at the sight of Hotaru directly in front of her.
Droplets of blood splatter onto the ground and residue sparks still ooze from her flesh. Her index finger is just centimeters away from Shiozaki's forehead. She's breathing heavily and her eyes are sinister. The audience grows silent.
"I win." Hotaru mutters with shrunken irises, and Shiozaki trembles.
"B-But, I'm still—"
"I'm giving you the option to surrender. Do you not want that? Should I claim my victory in a more unpleasant way? I could make you bleed just as much as you made me. I could shock you unconscious. I could blast you out of bounds. The options are endless." Hotaru cuts her off with a wicked smile, laughing. "I'll let you choose."
Shiozaki's eyes squeeze shut. This villain, Hotaru Aihara, she's too strong. She's too cunning. She knew that winning against her wasn't probable. There's nothing else she can do against her. Her drooping vines are long past their limit. She's dehydrated. How shameful. Why was she the one she had to fight?
"I-I surrender…" Shiozaki whispers with tears streaming down her face.
"Shiozaki surrenders!" Midnight calls out, and not many cheer. "Aihara advances to the next round!"
Silence hovers in the air and Hotaru's hand falls back to her side. She takes a backwards step, lowering her eyelids. Thick red coats her eyelashes and her entire body trembles in fatigue. Slowly, she opens her eyes to stare at the heartbroken Shiozaki.
"I told you not to disappoint me." Hotaru begins, making her look at her in fright. "And, you didn't."
Hotaru smiles warmly and her silver eyes soften. Shiozaki's breath gets caught in her throat when she bows lowly, her hair falling over her dirtied face. The sun shines onto her when she straightens up, and suddenly she looks nothing like a villain.
"It was a great fight. Thank you." She smiles, and all Shiozaki can do is stare.
Midnight walks over to the two of them with a smile, her hands on her hips. She comes to a stop before them and they look over.
"That was a great performance." She compliments, then eyeing Hotaru in concern. "Should I get a stretcher for you?"
The girl is covered in so many scratches and bleeding from each and every one. Her complexion is somewhat pale, and she's drenched in sweat. Her clothing is in quite a dreadful state as well, but fortunately not too dreadful.
"No, I'm fine." Hotaru shakes her head at that. "It looks worse than it actually is. I can get to the infirmary on my own. Thank you."
With those final words, Hotaru turns and begins taking retreating steps. She didn't want it to end quite like this. Her whole body is on fire and her clothing is tattered. There wasn't much she could do at all. It was a terrible match up and she was at a disadvantage the whole time.
She didn't think Shiozaki would be so problematic. She completely underestimated her. Perhaps she was the one she should've been most worried about. This isn't how she envisioned this fight at all. Her silver eyes stare at the ground as she walks off the stage.
Oh well.
The audience views her as a villain, anyway. So, surely using villain tactics won't affect her more negatively than these heroes already view her. Besides, there's something she wants to prove. She steps into the dark tunnel and out of sight. It's only then when her exhaustion hits her full force.
"Young Aihara!" A familiar voice calls out to her when she's suddenly falling forward. Strong arms catch her before she hits the ground.
"A-All Might?" She whispers, staring up at him through half-lidded eyes. He grins widely, picking her up with ease.
"You're too stubborn." He says as he starts walking her to the infirmary. "Refusing a stretcher when you're in this condition… jeez!"
Her lips curve upwards slightly as she rests her head against his chest. He must've been waiting for her. Or, he rushed here to help her. This is a true hero. Him, Aizawa, Nezu, Daichi, even Shoto. They are her heroes.
"I didn't want them to see me as weak." She admits.
"Young Aihara, you are far from weak."
She laughs a bit, shaking her head. She's not sure if she can agree with that. If it's coming from him though, it must be true. She only wishes she could see it. There are so many things that she wishes for.
"Did you see me out there, All Might?" She questions drowsily. "You were watching, weren't you?"
"Of course!" He nods joyously.
"Did you see my mom, too?" She questions further, and his smile falters slightly. "Be honest. My mom, did you see her in me?"
"Yes…" He answers hesitantly, truthfully. That's when he notices something is off with her. "Young Aihara, why did you go to such extremes? Surely that was…"
He trails off when she brings her hands over her face, giggling.
•○●○•
"I hope you enjoy seeing yourself on the hero stage."
•○●○•
"That wretched snake!"
Cierra screams at the top of her lungs, throwing her wine glass at the nearby wall. Shards of glass scatter across the ground and she starts pacing around the dark room. Rai massages his temples from his spot on the couch.
"She just loves to piss me off!" Cierra growls. "How dare she emulate me? How dare she use my techniques to be a hero? Look at her!" She jabs a finger at the television that's displaying Hotaru's face. "She looks just like me! I can't stand it! You should've just let me kill her! Now look at what she's doing. This is humiliating!"
She looks over at Rai, seeing his eyes are still glued to the screen. He doesn't respond to her words and his fixated expression doesn't falter. She huffs and walks back over to the couch. Her heels click loudly with each step, and she plops down next to him.
"Well? Don't you agree?" She inquires.
Rai doesn't answer and she lets out a sigh. She stretches her arms high above her head before falling over into his lap, staring up into his silver eyes that are finally taking her in. Her hand moves and caresses his scarred face.
"Do you still love her?" She asks with narrowed eyes, looking at the television. "She's not your prodigy. She betrayed you. She tried to kill you just so she can be with Endeavor's brat. If Twice didn't make that double of you, you would've really died. Wake up. You're being delusional."
"She'll come back." He murmurs. "She'll find out sooner or later that there's no future for her as a hero."
"Delusional~!" She sings in response.
Kicking her legs, her heels fly off and across the room. The knock over a vase which results in it cracking. She moves so she's sitting in Rai's lap, her legs cradling him.
"You're just having a hard time accepting it." She whispers, pressing her forehead against his. "Remember how you were raving about killing her after her betrayal? That was the first time you said something logical in a long while."
He stares into her eyes and she smiles widely. It doesn't take long for him to lose interest and look away. Cierra glares angrily and moves off of him, sitting in her previous spot next to him. Her patience is running severely thin.
"I was just angry." He blames his previous death threats on his emotions, and Cierra rolls her eyes. "She'll realize her mistakes."
"And if she doesn't?"
"I'll make her life a living hell." He answers. "Nevertheless, if she keeps her word she'll be imitating me next. These heroes will want nothing to do with her. I have no doubt that she'll end up fighting Endeavor's son. And when that happens…" He grins viciously. "She won't be able to handle the pressure."
"Right~!" Cierra nods happily. "She's falling right into our trap and she doesn't even know it. She thinks she has us under control… but really we are controlling her! Ha~!"
"...You say that as if you weren't going on a panicked rampage minutes ago." He mutters, sweat-dropping.
•○●○•
It's cold, so cold that she can see her breath. However, if she's being honest, she has always preferred the cold over the heat. She finds it more tolerable even though it also brings about a sense of loneliness.
In the winter months, she could never feed the fish. In the winter months, she made the worst mistake of her life—leaving Shoto behind to become a villain. For those reasons, she hates the cold just as much as she loves it.
Her favorite season is spring. It was when she met Shoto. It's when the flowers bloom and when the fish are no longer dormant. Her eyelids suddenly drape over her silvery orbs. Why is she thinking of such things? How disappointing.
Currently, she's resting in a deep soaking tub filled to the brim with ice. Her hair is pinned up and out of the way. Every cut and bruise that tarnished her skin is long gone, and blood no longer stains her.
The curtains that confine her in a private makeshift room move aside, making her look over. Recovery Girl has entered, closing the curtains behind her. She starts carefully walking over with her cane. Her squinted eyes gaze at her in worry.
"Are you sure you didn't want to see your friends?" She inquires dolefully. "They were all very worried and wanted to see you."
"I'm sure." Hotaru answers, sinking further into the pit of ice and staring at the ceiling. "Don't worry. I'll be seeing them soon, anyway."
Recovery Girl's expression grows more worried despite Hotaru's words. Nearly all of Class A rushed over after her match to see her, but she told her to tell them she was sleeping. Something is off with this girl. Normally she's so happy to see her friends. She almost resembles the troubled girl she once was when she first enrolled.
"Dear, what's the matter?" Recovery Girl inquires softly, and Hotaru's head ducks. "Something is troubling you."
Silence hovers in the air, aside from the occasional cracks and pops of the ice Hotaru's immersed in. That's a question that has a very long answer. It's an answer she doesn't want to speak out loud. Even just thinking of it makes her throat feel raw and tight. Instead of answering, she smiles.
The ice cubes clink together when she shifts. She raises her hand and pulls the pin out of her hair. Instantly afterwards, she shakes her head as if she's a dog, resulting in her wavy tresses to tumble over her shoulders. She steps out of the tub, and her bare feet touch the ground along with the bottom hems of her sweatpants. She wrings the cold water out of her t-shirt as she looks over at the old woman.
"It's nothing serious." She begins with a small smile. "I was just wondering what my life would be like if I had made different choices. I wonder if I would be more likeable."
"You're already likeable." Recovery Girl shakes her head. "You shouldn't dwell in the past, dear. It isn't healthy."
"Right." Hotaru grabs a towel to dry herself off. "My mistake."
Hotaru begins to change into her brand-new gym uniform. As she changes, the more strained her smile becomes. Recovery Girl frowns, easily taking notice of the distress she's trying to hide. Whatever is bothering her is much more serious than she's making it out to be.
"Thank you for tending to my wounds and preparing an ice bath for me." Hotaru says, running her fingers through her hair. "I feel a lot better."
"Of course." The old woman nods. "It's what I do. Are you sure you don't want to rest longer? You still have time before your next match."
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. I feel better than ever." Hotaru disagrees with a thumbs up, waving as she takes retreating steps. "Besides, I don't want to miss this next fight. I'll most likely be seeing you again later. So, see you in a few."
•○●○•
He hopes Midoriya wins this fight. He hopes it's an overwhelming win that leaves Todoroki crying in pain. It's only fair. He keeps stealing his woman, after all. He needs to be properly punished for his stupidity. Taru-chan doesn't need him, and Todoroki doesn't deserve her. Taru-chan is his—
"Mineta-kun," An angelic voice makes him look over. Hotaru is standing there, smiling at him while pointing at the available seat next to him. "Can I sit next to you?"
"Of course you can, Taru-chan." Mineta smiles with his tiny mouth, his cheeks darkening in pleasure when she claims her spot.
"Taru-chan!" Kaminari suddenly exclaims, sitting next to her which makes Mineta glare. "Are you okay now?"
"Those injuries looked painful." Sato states, and Koda nods in agreement.
"I'm better now." Hotaru answers with a happy nod. "Please, don't worry."
"That's good!" Iida turns around in his seat, facing her with a thumbs up. "You fought well."
"Truly a force to be reckoned with." Tokoyami adds on.
"You were twinkling." Aoyama winks.
"And you won without even having to touch your opponent." Sero sighs, awed.
"Yeah. That was sexy. You're sexy, Taru-chan." Mineta compliments, ogling at her. He coos with hearts developing around him. "...My anti-hero…!"
Hotaru's eyes widen and her lips part, almost as if she's surprised. Her eyelids lower briefly while her smile returns, gracing her beautiful features. She gratefully looks over everyone present.
"Thank you, everyone."
"Hey, are you sure you're okay?" Kaminari tilts his head slightly.
Her silver eyes look his way, appearing dim despite their bright color. Gazing into them is like looking into a gloomy sky, completely dreary. Her lips curve upwards forcibly, and she waves her hand through the air at that.
"Mhm. I'm just still a little tired from my previous match. Please, don't worry." She attempts to reassure him, and his eyes narrow at that obvious lie. He plans on questioning her further, but that plan is instantly blown away when the audience cheers loudly.
"The first match of the second round!" Present Mic exclaims. "At this year's Sports Festival, both have shown top class performances! Midoriya versus Todoroki!"
Hotaru's gaze shifts to focus on the stage below. Their eyes are intense as they stare each other down, adding to the already weighty atmosphere. She looks between the two of them, swallowing thickly as her fingers curl into the fabric of her pants. Even though she's not the one on that stage, she feels nervous. She doesn't even know who she wants to win.
"Now, start!" Present Mic cheers.
The instant he yells that, Shoto quickly sends ice in Midoriya's direction. It's a large wave, but not as large as the one he used against Sero. Midoriya doesn't waste any time either. With the simple flick of his finger, he shatters Shoto's ice with a strong gust of wind. The air suddenly turns frigid and Mineta latches onto her arm as he shivers intensely. Her eyes narrow slightly, but not at Mineta.
Midoriya's quirk is very powerful. It's powerful to the point his own body can't handle it. Already, he has a broken finger. However, those wind gusts he can create are familiar. It's just like what All Might can do.
She looks over at Shoto, seeing he stopped himself from going out of bounds by creating a wall of ice. He attacks with his ice again, and Midoriya smashes it once again with the exact same attack, breaking another finger in the process. Shoto's teeth grit in obvious frustration. Her lips downturn.
"But man, you, Todoroki, and Aihara can both shoot off powerful attacks that cover a lot of ground." Kirishima's voice catches her attention, making her look over. She was so focused on the match she didn't notice him arrive. "Like 'Bam!'"
"And you can do it with no time lag." Sero frowns in jealousy, looking over at her then focusing back on Bakugo. She blinks a few times. She didn't even notice Bakugo. He's strangely quiet.
"I'm not just shooting them off. Don't underestimate 'em." Bakugo mutters. "If you overuse your muscles, the muscle fibers will tear, and if you keep running, you'll run out of breath. Quirks are physical abilities, too. They must also have some kind of limit."
Hotaru wordlessly nods in agreement at that before focusing back on the match. Bakugo's right. Quirks aren't limitless and require careful handling. Everyone and every Quirk has a limit. Judging on their performance thus far, the key to either of them winning will be endurance. Shoto seems to get that.
"I'll end this quickly." He states lowly, attacking with his ice but more swiftly than before. However, as expected, Midoriya counters yet again.
Hotaru's brows furrow. Midoriya has broken every single finger on his right hand. He's so resolved despite the painful consequences it's almost scary. How does he plan to continue fighting with all of those broken bones? She knows that she was injured quite badly throughout her own battle, but not to this extreme. Just looking at his dark and swollen fingers makes her cringe.
Shoto suddenly runs forward. He's using his ice as a ramp. Finally, he's going in for a close-ranged attack. Midoriya tries to force him back with another strong wind gust, but Shoto jumps out of its range. Ice forms around Shoto's fist and he throws it forward with great force. Midoriya barely manages to dodge. He staggers and that gives Shoto the chance to capture his foot in an icy trap.
With widened eyes, Hotaru's pulse accelerates and she clenches her fists. Is this the finishing blow? Midoriya's fingers are battered to the point he can't even use them. Her trembling fists move over the lower portion of her anxious face. This is Shoto's chance.
What?
Her own thoughts make her deadpan and become rigid, along with Midoriya's suddenly glowing arm. Midoriya drives his fist forward and shatters Shoto's ice, sending him backwards with winds stronger than a tornado's. His now broken arm makes him cry out loudly in pain, and Shoto's body rams not so gently at all into his own ice.
"Go, Midoriya!" Mineta wails noisily, waving his fists everywhere. "Beat him up!"
The sudden irritation she feels at Mineta's words makes it clear to her just who she's rooting for.
"That's a lot more powerful than before." Shoto states calmly, slowly standing up and moving a large shard of ice off of him. "Are you trying to tell me to stay away?"
His right side is covered in frost. He's trembling, too. That's bad, isn't it? He's reaching his limit. Clouded breath escapes his lips and Hotaru begins fiddling with her curls. This isn't looking good for either of them. She can't tell who has the upper hand.
However, she knows for certain if Shoto uses his left side he will undoubtedly have a major advantage. He would even be able to get rid of that frostbite. Him using his left side isn't so simple though, all because of Endeavor. But, his fire is nothing like his. Guilt fills her to the brim. She shouldn't have compared him to that man.
"What, you're that beat up just from defending and running away? Sorry." Shoto begins, clearly trying to get under Midoriya's skin. His eyes look over at Endeavor in the audience. "Thank you, Midoriya. That guy's face is clouded over thanks to you."
Hotaru looks over to see for herself, and sure enough, Endeavor appears very bothered. Why? Is it because Midoriya is proving to be a formidable opponent? Because Shoto won't use his flames? Either way, her eyes narrow. She doesn't want Shoto to look at him.
"With your arms like that, you can't fight anymore, can you?" Shoto continues. "Let's finish this."
It certainly seems like Midoriya is done for. Shoto attacks by sending spiky shards of ice at him full speed. Hotaru never bites her nails, but she's doing that now. Shoto is underestimating Midoriya. Afterall, he's still standing despite being in an unbelievable amount of pain.
"Look out..." She whispers beneath her breath.
"Where are you looking?" Midoriya suddenly bites out in a tone that makes her grow tense.
Shoto's eyes widen when his ice is rendered into fragments, and grunts when he's hit with a strong gust of air. He stops himself from going out of bound with his ice, nearly being too late. That was too close for comfort.
"Bastard…" Shoto breathes out with an icy glare. "With your broken finger…?"
Hotaru releases a breath that she didn't even know she was holding. Midoriya is insane. Can he not feel pain? Or, is he just ignoring it? Regardless, surely that finger isn't going to heal properly. There's no questioning his passion for wanting to become a hero, but he can't do that if he injuries his body beyond repair. She's worried for him. She's worried for Shoto. Watching this whole thing is nerve-racking.
"Why are you going so far?" Shoto gets out between his heavy breaths, winded from that attack.
"You're trembling, Todoroki-kun." Midoriya reveals, a shadow over his face. Shoto eyes widen as he becomes tense. "Quirks are physical abilities, too. There's a limit to how much cold your body can take, isn't there? And isn't that something you can solve by using the heat from your left side? Everyone is fighting with everything they've got. To win and get closer to their dream. To become number one… you want to win with just half your strength?!"
Hotaru's lips part in wonder at his words. Her eyelids lower slightly, and she bites down harshly on the inside of her cheek, drawing blood. Everyone is fighting with everything they've got. She can't say that she falls into that category. Her hands fall into her lap and her fingers tremble.
Ever since the cavalry battle, she's been unsure. Additionally, her fight with Shiozaki was ambiguous to say the least. The goal she had for herself is gradually morphing into something else. As of right now, she doesn't even know what she's doing. No, she shouldn't say that. She's fully aware, yet she's reluctant deep down.
"You haven't put a single scratch on me yet, you know!" Midoriya bites out, somehow forming a fist despite his broken appendages. "Come at me with everything you've got!"
"Midoriya… What are you planning? Everything I've got?" Shoto grumbles, his face twisting in rage. "Did my damn old man buy you off or something? Now I'm angry!"
Shoto starts sprinting forward. However, his movements are much slower than before. Hotaru leans forward and swallows thickly. He's extremely angry. This is her first time seeing him direct that hateful glare at someone else other than herself or Endeavor. Her eyes narrow slightly. She feels as if she's missing something. Her breath gets caught in her throat as a thought strikes her.
From the way Midoriya spoke along with his reckless actions, Shoto's words and his livid expression. Could it be? Does Midoriya know why Shoto refuses to use his flames? Does he know of Endeavor's vile behavior? How would he know that… unless Shoto told him himself?
Even back then, Shoto wouldn't tell her a thing about his upbringing. Even now he won't tell her. She's always guessing. Her lips curve upwards into a shallow smile. Figures. Maybe she's not meant to be his hero. She can't save him at all. But, Midoriya can. Just as she thinks that, Midoriya's fist slams into Shoto's gut.
Sweat drips down Shoto's face. His hand presses against his abdomen that's now radiating with pain from Midoriya's punch. He rises onto his feet somewhat unsteadily, glaring at him.
"Why…?" He murmurs in frustration, continuing his onslaught with his ice. Midoriya is able to counter and evade no matter how he chooses to attack. He keeps getting pushed back. His body is becoming numb as more frost spreads across his flesh. Everything… is starting to hurt.
"Why are you going so far…?" He inquires through his aches and pains.
"Because I want to live up to everyone's expectations." Midoriya answers and he runs towards him, his broken arm that's covered in ice just thrashing at his side. "I want to be able to smile… and respond to them… to be a cool hero… That's what I want to be!"
Shoto no longer feels like he's standing on that stage. He's in a place more tranquil. His mismatch eyes drift off to the side and land on a figure sitting beneath a wisteria tree. The sound of rippling water resonates and koi swim about. Then, his mother's voice calls out to him.
•
"Shoto…"
•
A fierce pain drags him away, and he gags. Midoriya headbutts him and sends him skidding backwards. He nearly loses his footing.
"That's why… everyone's giving it their all!" Midoriya yells at him. "There's no way I could know all of your circumstances, or your resolve. But, for you to become number one without giving it your all, to completely reject your father… Right now, I think you should stop screwing around!"
•
"Shoroki!" Hotaru beams.
"What?"
"I wrote you a song." She informs as she tosses fish food into the pond.
"...A-A song?" He stutters out with red cheeks.
"Mhm! It's your hero theme song. Alright, here I go~!"
"W-Wait...!"
"Shoto is strong. Shoto is cool. Shoto is the best! He's—!"
His intense laughter overpowers her obnoxious voice, and his mother smiles from afar.
•
After those torturous mornings he spent with his father, after watching his mother suffer for the sole purpose of trying to protect him, his days always ended with Hotaru. She always did the most stupid things to make him laugh even though she was undergoing her own dark battles. He never knew exactly what those battles were, though. Every time he questioned her she merely smiled.
She wanted to be a villain, and he wanted to be a hero. Those two things are incompatible. Everyone knows that. Yet, she still made him smile. She still remained his friend. She was his hero in those dark times.
When she became a villain, when they parted ways, she turned away from him so easily. He remembers looking back at her only to be forsaken. She compared him… to his father. That abusive and awful man. Even now she does. Her actions and words, he can't bring himself to forgive her.
"Shut up…!" He growls from between his teeth.
•
"I don't wanna, Mom…" Shoto cries into his mother's chest. Her fingers run through his hair soothingly. "I… I… I don't want to be like Dad! I don't wanna become someone who bullies you, Mom!"
"But, you want to be a hero, don't you?" His mother questions with a warm smile. "It's okay for you to be one. As long as you have a future you feel strongly about..."
•
"That's why… I will win! I will surpass you!"
Pain burrows deeply into his abdomen at Midoriya's merciless punch. The sound of a boiling kettle fills his ears. He can feel that scorching water on his face all over again. He can see his mom's disgusted expression at the sight of him. As he falls backwards, he stares at the sky he can't quite make out.
Just like Hotaru left, his mom was torn away from him too. They both saw his father in him. It's because of his old man that his mother ended up so distressed. It's because of his old man that Hotaru was raised to be a villain. He's going to reject his old man no matter the costs. He's not going to be like him. His mom and Hotaru… despite everything… he…
"Shoto!" A familiar voice calls out to him. It's broken in sound and frantic. He looks over and finds himself staring into her silver eyes.
They are wide and thick moisture swirls within them. She's standing, leaning over the edge of the railing and gripping it tightly. Her hair becomes disheveled due to the sudden wind gust and her eyelids clamp together, salty droplets flying away with the wind.
"Don't lose! I…!" Her striking orbs fly back open and she extends her hand. "I want to fight you, too!"
"Taru…" He whispers, his vision becoming hazy.
All of his dark emotions fall away. His old man is blocked out. He can't even visualize or hear his voice. The world now exists without him and everything is so much clearer. Hatred no longer poisons him. He was blinded. He can no longer deny it. His mom and Hotaru… despite everything…
He misses them.
"It's your power, isn't it?!" Midoriya yells, and his breath gets caught in his throat.
•
"Yes, that's right. Children inherit Quirks from their parents. But the really important thing is not that connection, but recognizing your own flesh and blood—recognizing yourself. That's what I mean when I say: 'I am here!' You see?" All Might's voice sounds from the TV him and his mom sit in front of.
•
Finally, he remembers the words his mom spoke to him after that.
•
"But you want to be a hero, don't you? It's okay for you to be one. You don't have to be a prisoner of your blood. It's okay for you to become who you want to be."
•
Fire erupts like a volcano, and Hotaru brings her hands up to shield her eyes from the sudden brightness and heat. He's using his left side. He's using his fire. Her hands lower and fall back onto the rail. He's free.
"Even though you want to win… Damn it…" Shoto begins, the frost that was coating his skin melting. "To help your enemy… which one of us is screwing around now? I want... to be a hero, too…!"
It's been a while since she heard Shoto say that out loud. He's finally doing what he wants, no longer worried about anyone else. However, it's been even longer since she saw his smile.
His flickering fire reflects in her eyes. Her lips slowly part as the air is sucked out of her. Her heart grows soothingly warm. She openly stares at his placid face that's featuring the most beautiful smile. His equally beautiful eyes leak tears of happiness. Not even Endeavor's idiotic words can tarnish it. Slowly, her hands fall away from the metal railing.
"I guess…" She whispers to herself, somewhat in a daze even as their final attack detonates. "...I don't have to worry anymore."
•○●○•
Shoto won the battle and now Midoriya is undergoing surgery. Hotaru had a feeling his injuries wouldn't be so simple to heal, which makes her even more worried about him. It's too bad. She wanted to tell him something. She wanted to thank him. He saved Shoto in a way she couldn't. However, it looks like the words she wants to say will have to wait.
A short break was given due to the damage the stage received during the battle. So, now they are taking time to repair it. The next fight will be between her and Iida. She wonders how this will go. She should probably take this extra time to strategize, however, her mind is elsewhere.
"Aihara-san!" A voice calls out to her, making her look over her shoulder. Iida is walking down the hall and in her direction.
"Iida-kun," She turns around, facing him with a smile. "Me and you are in the ring next, right? I look forward to it. No holding back, alright?"
"Yes!" He grins excitedly. "The same goes for you. Whatever the outcome, I hope there will be no hard feelings, Aihara-san."
He holds his hand out to her in friendly sportsmanship. Graciously, she places her hand in his for a shake. Iida is such a refined guy. She really likes that about him.
"Of course." She lowers her eyelids. "I wish you luck, Iida-kun."
"...Aihara-san, are you well?" Iida suddenly questions.
Her hand in his grasp is trembling, and now that he's really looking at her she looks distraught. Not only that, her complexion is quite pale. Sweat forms on his temple as he becomes concerned.
Iida's very perceptive. Actually, everyone is. This isn't the first time someone has questioned her well-being today. The only difference this time is that she's sure Iida isn't going to simply brush this aside. He's quick to act and takes things to the extreme.
"I'm just a little nervous." She answers, bringing her arms around her midsection. She's smiling a fake smile in hopes to assure him.
"Oh! I see." Iida's jaw drops. Suddenly, he glues his arms to his sides and bows lowly. "Please, forgive me! The truth is, I'm quite nervous myself. You are definitely a formidable opponent!"
Hotaru's lips gradually downturn, guilt weighing heavily on her. As Iida straightens up she ducks her head just enough so hair covers the majority of her face. Her fingers curl into her jacket and cause it to wrinkle.
"Actually, Iida-kun…" She whispers, turning away from him before he can see her face. "I should be the one apologizing."
"What do you mean?" Iida inquires, confused. He doesn't get an answer. She's already walking away while waving from over her shoulder.
Iida blinks a few times, staring after her while bringing his finger to his chin. Something is definitely wrong with her, and he's not sure if she told the truth just now. Why else would she apologize? The sound of approaching footsteps makes him turn around.
"Oh, Todoroki-san." Iida greets with a stiff wave. "Congratulations on your win."
"Thanks." Shoto nods slightly, coming to a stop beside him. Iida looks back at the retreating Hotaru with obvious concern, and Shoto follows his gaze. "Is something the matter?"
"Well, I believe so. Aihara-san seems troubled. I wonder if it has something to do with the booing she received. Or, perhaps someone has upset her?" He contemplates.
That last bit makes Shoto look at the ground. Someone has upset her? He knows for a fact that person is himself. The booing of the crowd must've upset her, too. Either way, he feels like he's the one to blame. He is the one to blame, yet she still called out to him. His chest feels heavy as he peeks in her direction.
"Perhaps you should try talking to her." Iida suggests. "She seems fond of you. You both are childhood friends, right?"
"Well—"
"Aihara-san!" Iida abruptly yells, making Shoto's eyes enlarge. "Wait!"
Hotaru comes to a stop at Iida's very loud voice. With a small frown, she turns around only to see a cloud of dust. Confusion washes over her and she tilts her head. When the dust clears, she sees someone unexpected.
Shoto stands there, alone, staring at her. Iida has bolted away. Why would he do that? Her gaze is overwhelming. He can't read her. She's emotionless. It makes him uptight. He doesn't know what to say to her. No. He knows what to say, he only can't bring himself to say it. He swallows thickly.
He starts taking steps towards her even though he's hesitant. If he were to walk away, it would only deepen the rift between them. That's something he doesn't want. He needs to force the words out. He wants to make amends for his foolish mistakes. He wants to admit that she was right about him being his old man's puppet all along.
Even though he was rejecting him, the hatred he was harboring took over him. He wants to apologize for his rude behavior and reveal how he's struggling to forgive her, and also confess how he misses those days they spent together. For once, he wants to be honest about his feelings even though he doesn't completely understand them himself.
He comes to a stop before her, and she peers up at him through her ebony lashes. Her silver eyes are fickle, like a cloudy day where one can't tell if rain will happen or not. Normally he's the one towering over her, but it's almost as if it's the other way around. She's the one looking up at him, yet he feels like he's about to collapse from the pressure.
"Aihara-san," He speaks softly, and her eyelids lower slightly. "I'm sorry."
That's all he can bring himself to say, because the pressure grows more weighty when she leans closer to him. Her eyes stare deeply into his own, and skittish sweat forms on his temple. She raises her hand and fiddles with her hair, tucking some strands behind her ear. She takes a backwards step and turns on the balls of her feet while uttering.
"Nice joke."
~ Next Chapter Sneak Peek:
❤•○●○•❤
Adamantine
❤•○●○•❤
"What are you doing? You were supposed to be on stage five minutes ago."
Aizawa glares down at Hotaru who's sitting in the darkest corner of the waiting room. She doesn't respond to him and continues to scroll through her phone. His eyelid twitches and he tramples over to her. He snatches the phone from her, freezing when he catches sight of all the gruesome messages on screen. Did she read through these? The answer is obvious.
"Aihara," He lowers himself onto the ground, sitting cross-legged in front of her. She buries her face in her hands. "You can't let them win."
