nico2411: haha~! she needs the biggest hug in the world! i hope you don't mind me pulling on your heartstrings for a little bit longer ! (´ ∀ ` *) i hope you're ready for this chapter and the next o(≧▽≦)o , thank you so much for reading and everything ~ ! ❤
LadyAmazon: haha ! honestly i felt bad about tricking everyone but also at the same time i was like 'this is going to be hilarious,' lmaoo ! yeeah, Shoto is going to have to WORK for Taru-chan !and omg i love that quote from Mulan it's like one of my most favorite quotes ever ! AND, about my tulips. this is crazy, so, right after i updated this story i went to bed. i woke up to see it snowing .. ? i panicked but the tulips survived. but then yesterday there was the most nasty hailstorm ever and now they look sooo awful. but they are still blooming ! tulips are as tough as nails i guess, haha. this is my first time growing them. i should try doing an indoor garden like you, i never thought of that ~ ! ❤ i hope your gardening is going well! enjoy your tea too, i'm sipping some right now haha.
Cally: aaahh ~ ! thank you so much ! ( ´ ω ` ) yeah she's not going to forgive that boy just yet, ehe. next chapter for you ! the fated battle is upon us.
SummerBum95: haha ! perhaps me tricking everyone could be my early April Fools joke, lol. Taru will do anything to piss off her parents, haha. mhm, you're absolutely right. those two are both in the wrong in some shape or form. now, if only they will just sit down and talk things out. (ノ_。) , thank you sm for reading !
NotDeadYet16: thank you ! ❤ that means a lot and makes me happy! i hope you can continue to enjoy this story!
Emocean: thank you! good luck with your online classes, too! ❤ lmaooo! i absolutely love reading your reviews there is so much energy to them and they make me laugh out loud. i agree with everything ! her parents are.. awful. Shiozaki was interesting. and Shoto is so mean, but yeah at least her apologized, haha! it's not going to be that easy tho. i love writing Iida, too ahah so thank you ! and i totally understand the bed thing. i'm in my bed too rn as always. (¯▿¯) ~ cheers ! hope you enjoy this chapter!
bbymojo: aaahh, crying tears of happiness and sending you x 300 ❤'s. 。゚(TヮT)゚。 ! i truly enjoy writing Shiozaki vs Hotaru even though i ended up rewriting it like three times, aha. it was a little tricky so i'm happy you enjoyed it! Mineta being Mineta is always great, and no matter what Hotaru just can't get rid of her soft spot for Shoto, ehe. ❤ and Shoto is about to discover his for her through his grovelling, mwaha! it's going to be so worth it i'm sooo excited. \(^ヮ^)/ my evil side is laughing too !
Kancolle Haruna Chan: thank you! ❤
lovelyhatter: tension is great ~ ! and yes he did leave some things left unsaid (ノ_。), aah Shoto . but it's a tiny step forward i suppose , aha. Dadzawa to the rescue ! i love writing him and Hotaru. thank you so much! sending you lots of love ! ❤
Vienna22: thank you so much ! ❤ it really means a lot. i hope you enjoy this chapter!
winddemon199: i love Endeavor as a character too (´ ∀ ` *) he'll become a better person eventually, i'm sure! maybe sooner than later, ehe. next chapter for you! thank you for reading!
•○●○•
i hope everyone is well and healthy! ❤
thank you as always and take care of yourselves. we're in this together, everyone ❤
happy to share my writing with you especially during these difficult times!
please, enjoy! ❤
❤•○●○•❤
Adamantine
❤•○●○•❤
"Alright! It's time for the second match of the second round! Are you ready?!"
The audience cheers in response to Present Mic's voice, focusing intently on the stage Hotaru and Iida stand upon. Iida is staring Hotaru down with a severe gaze while she studies a fly that just landed nearby. She adjusts the collar of her jacket, tapping the tip of her shoes where her toes are confined against the ground. She looks completely disinterested and that makes Iida's eyes narrow.
Hotaru has always been a mysterious character to him. He can never quite tell what she's thinking. Whenever he thinks he's close to figuring her out, she does something that completely proves him wrong. She claimed to be nervous, but looking at her now proves otherwise. Like spring clouds, she's unpredictable.
Regardless of what she's thinking right now, this fight that's about to happen will be his most difficult one yet. She's the only one here who can move at high speeds that rival his own. He's not sure if his Recipro Burst will be enough to defeat her, and he knows the most simple touch will allow for her to electrocute him. He needs to tread carefully, but so does she.
Thanks to the cavalry battle, he learned that her speed trick isn't as all-powerful as he originally thought. He's not implying that it isn't impressive or strong, because it is. He's only implying that the weighty consequences that come with it put her at a disadvantage. It's a risky technique that makes her reach her limit more quickly. She's placing an electrical burden on her own body and he can use that to his advantage.
The fly Hotaru was staring at suddenly takes off, leading her to meet Iida's serious eyes. Iida-kun. This fight is going to require a lot of energy. He's extremely fast and that worries her, and he's much stronger than her physically as well. A punch from him would hurt. A kick would be even more painful she's sure.
However, if he touches her he'll get shocked. His engines stall for a while after his Recipro Burst, too. She can use that to her advantage to blast him out of bounds or shock him unconscious. That's easier said than done, though.
She needs to be careful and precise. She needs to expect the unexpected. This will be a battle of speed. She certainly has it, but she can't maintain it for long. Her father's fighting style may actually come in handy. Will she be killing two birds with one stone?
"From a family of heroes, from the hero course, it's Tenya Iida!" Present Mic exclaims. "Versus! Also, from the hero course! And, who I'm rooting for…" He whispers that last bit, but it's still loud enough for everyone to hear. "It's Hotaru Aihara! Let's get it!"
The audience roars loudly, free of any booing. Hotaru's shoulders rise as she draws in a breath. She holds it for three seconds before releasing it. Iida crouches slightly and she remains upright. Why does she feel so detached? Is it because this is her last match? Her eyelids drape over her silver eyes while her lips purse.
"Disappointing…" She whispers.
"Start!" Present Mic yells.
Iida's fingertips brush against the rough ground and he falls into a deep lunge. The pipes on his legs start to erupt with blazing gases. Hotaru's eyes slowly open and hold a sinister glow. The audience grows tense and Endeavor's teeth grit naturally at that recognizable demeanor. Her resemblance to him is uncanny.
"Recipro…!" Iida begins, not affected by her villainous appearance. "Burst!"
With incredible speed, he runs forward. Hotaru's body becomes shrouded in lightning and she takes a single step forward, raising her hand in front of her offensively. Iida closes the gap between them in an instant, and she says the name of her technique like everyone else seems to do.
"Lightning Beast." She whispers.
The air becomes still while silence spreads. Time slows when Iida's foot comes rushing at her head. A black curtain falls over the world around her. She imagines a bowl of water harboring a lone fish. The water is rippling. She needs to keep it steady. If she doesn't, the water will spill and the fish will suffer. In other words, she needs to handle her quirk carefully, especially since she has to spend so much energy already.
She drops onto the ground and under his leg. She spirals and aims her own kick at his shins. He jumps and she bounces back to dodge another swift kick that's quickly followed up by another. The rushing air from the force makes her hair whip. He's not giving her any breathing time.
For every attack he sends her way she evades with either a duck or bound, and he does the exact same for her own attacks. His attacks which are made up of punches and kicks, they're scattered. Despite that, they are accurately aimed. He's not just swinging randomly.
He's keeping her moving. He's moving so rapidly and making her exert herself. It's hard for her to keep up with him. The engines on his thighs where hot gases escape, he's keeping them angled towards her. That's when it clicks. That sly fox. He's trying to make her overheat. Her irises shrink and she extends her arms, a shadow falling over her face.
"That's enough." She murmurs piercingly. Just this once, she's going to spill the water.
Iida's eyes enlarge when she suddenly moves faster than before, so fast it's almost like a glitching NPC character in a game. Before he can even comprehend what's happening, her foot slams into his side. Lightning travels into him upon contact and he cries out, the force of her kick making him skid backwards at a great distance.
The boundary is approaching him quickly and his teeth grit, unable to move due to paralysis. Just before he crosses the forbidden line, his engines spew enough gas to make him stagger forward instead. That was too close. He looks ahead at Hotaru with a hard gaze. She's more quick to anger than usual.
She's moving swiftly and powerfully, but also in a lethargic manner. He noticed she favors ranged attacks, so he figured if he closed the gap he would have an advantage at close combat. He was wrong. That fighting style rings many alarm bells. He may as well be fighting Lightning Beast himself.
"Wow!" Present Mic screams along with the audience. "S-So fast! So much happened in just a span of ten seconds!"
Iida straightens up with sweat forming on his temple. He knew his Recipro Burst wouldn't be enough, which is why he chose to use it early. Now he just needs to somehow hold out for a minute or two. However, his eyes narrow slightly. That sudden burst of speed she displayed, is she holding back? He gasps slightly when the blue glow emitting from her fades. His plan is working.
"She's trembling…" Shoto whispers to himself from the stands, his eyes still somewhat wide from her and Iida's intense exchange. Not only is she trembling, but she's covered with sweat and her eyes are drooping. Iida's trying to make her overheat, and it's working. This is a bad match up.
Iida has superior speed and Hotaru's struggling to keep up. Additionally, when it comes to endurance, Iida has Hotaru beat by a long shot. She has obviously come a long way with her training, but a month isn't enough time to outrun someone who's been running for nearly their whole life. If he's being honest, he's sure he would be struggling himself. But, now's her chance. Iida's engines are stalling.
Hotaru raises her hand and takes aim at Iida, taking notice of how his engines are leaking with smoke. By trying to make her overheat, he also put himself at a disadvantage. She'll end this now.
Lightning shoots from her index finger and hurls towards Iida, thunder booming. The distance between them is considerable and she wants to keep it that way. If another close combat fight occurs she'll be done for. Sweat drips from her chin and her arm trembles. Her silvery eyes enlarge and the audience cheers.
"Iida's so quick, not even lightning can touch him!" Present Mic exclaims.
What?
Iida dodged her lightning. Even though his engines are stalling, his own leg power and natural speed is enough to maneuver around her strikes. Hotaru's teeth bare. Her body is slowing down and the fact that he's so far away isn't helping. It's giving him more time to dodge, additionally the fact that it's quite obvious where she's aiming. He's not advancing on her either. He's keeping his distance.
"Damn it…" She mutters with a popping vein. Her body is already sweltering so she can't just shoot continuously. That kick she landed on him was supposed to be the finishing blow which is what led her to use her quirk carelessly. She really is going to have to use every bit of her energy, huh? Her irritation is obvious to everyone.
"Calm down…" Aizawa whispers to himself, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watches. Something really is eating away at her. It's like she's fighting two battles at once and it's compromising her performance.
"Dodge this, then." Hotaru says, lowering her arm. Lightning discharges from her body and extends outwards, covering the stage. Iida crouches on the ground and performs a high jump, getting out of its range effortlessly.
The moment he touches the ground, Hotaru is already shooting more lightning his way. A total of ten strikes rush at him, one coming from each of her fingertips. He runs in a zig-zag formation, evading each one.
Hotaru wipes sweat from her brow. This fight isn't going how she wants it to at all. Then again, nothing goes how she wants it to. She's running out of options. How disappointing.
Her eyelids clamp together and she crouches, pressing her hands against the ground. It looks like she's going to have to close the gap, because she's getting nowhere as of right now. Utilizing Lightning Beast seems to be the only way to turn this around.
She now knows how fast his Recipro Burst is, and she knows she can move faster than that if she really pushes herself. She's going to be spilling the water again and more carelessly than before. However, this will be the last time she does it and she doesn't need to worry about her condition afterwards. She's going to end things right here and now, for sure.
Sparks coil around her figure and she's suddenly sprinting forward with the sound of thunder. Her body temperature skyrockets. She focuses on her breath and the air rushing at her face, anything to distract herself from the intense heat. Iida starts advancing on her too, getting away from the edge of the stage. His engines aren't steaming anymore.
"Recipro…!" Iida begins, and her eyes narrow in anticipation while her sparks intensify. His leg raises and she gets ready to counter. "...Extend!"
Recipro Extend?
With speed nothing like before, his leg comes soaring towards her. He's too fast. Before she even knows it, his foot slams into her abdomen. It digs into her mercilessly and makes her hack blood. Her ribcage is on fire and she's blinded by pain. She's sent backwards and lands roughly on the ground, dust kicking up.
"A direct hit!" Present Mic springs from his seat, panicked. Mineta sobs but Hotaru can't hear any of it. All she can hear is the ringing in her ears, and of course, him.
"Taru!" Shoto yells.
Why would he call out to her? It doesn't make any sense. It makes her chest burn even more but from something entirely different. He's the last person she wants to call out her name in that worried voice. She hopes she was just hearing things. After all, he feels nothing for her. He's nothing but a joke, a joke that she just can't seem to disregard.
With quivering limbs, she slowly starts to push herself up. Everything feels as if it's on fire. She's sweating excessively and excess sparks still dwell upon her flesh, making her wince. She feels nauseous when she rolls onto her front and the vile taste of blood spreads across her tongue. Her eyes crack open and her complexion grows impossibly pale. The tips of her fingers are right against the boundary line. She's just a mere centimeter away from touching it.
"Iida is out of commission!" Midnight's voice abruptly yells out, and Hotaru quickly looks towards the center of the stage with blurry vision. The R-Rated Hero is crouched down next to an unconscious Iida. "Aihara advances to the semi-finals!"
The audience is caught in a stunned silence, and Hotaru manages to move herself into a sitting position. She rests her arm over her bent knee with shallow breaths. Red seeps from the outer corner of her lips. She tries raising her hand towards her face only to wince once more when her body freezes momentarily. Her own residue sparks stun her, and she lets her hand fall to the ground. Paralysis? She supposes that makes sense.
She was serious when she said she would end things, even if it meant taking Iida down with her. So, she made sure the voltage she was using on herself was high enough to knock him out upon contact. However, he surprised her.
He had even more speed stored away. Despite the high voltage shock he suffered from, he still managed to push through the pain and nearly send her out of bounds. Perhaps even he was trying to take her down with him. He's strong. For once in her life, she got lucky. That's all there was to this win. Nothing more, nothing less.
Hotaru rises onto her wobbly feet by some miracle, wavering instantly. Her teeth grind together in discomfort at the fiery pain that's radiating from every part of her. Her eyes are drawn to the silent audience, and naturally her gaze falls onto him.
Her silver eyes are vacant as she stares right at Shoto. He couldn't stop himself from calling out to her when Iida landed that solid kick. It just happened naturally like when she fought Nomu. He doesn't quite understand it. Despite that, his tense muscles slowly begin to relax. She won. That means his next fight will be…
His thoughts come to a sudden halt when the shine in her eyes disappears. They become clouded and faded. Her hair becomes ruffled at the sudden motion. A silent gasp escapes him. Like someone flicked off a power switch, she collapses.
•○●○•
Even in her sleep she's tired. She's floating in darkness, sinking deeper and deeper. Air bubbles rush past her and muffled voices reach out to her. A beckoning pair of silver and red eyes stare at her. They grow closer and soon she can see their deceitful faces. Her father reaches out to her with a smile, his lips moving. He fades away and an entirely different voice overpowers his own.
"Taru."
Hotaru's eyes crack open and stare up at a blue ceiling. She blinks a few times, wondering if her eyes are still closed. Why does everything look so dark? She reaches up, feeling a medical ice bag on top of her head. Did she pass out? When she turns her head, she can see Iida in a separate bed next to hers.
"You're awake, Aihara-san!" He smiles at her with a wave. "I'm glad."
She stares at him with tightly sealed lips. He's awake and well. She pushes herself up into a sitting position, the icy bag on her head falling into her lap. Her eyes close for a brief second before reopening. It's no good. It's still dark.
"You're awake." She says, her lips curving upwards while her bangs cover her eyes. "I'm glad."
"I regrettably lost." He begins, clenching his fists as his face twists in frustration. "I underestimated your lightning. But, it was an honorable fight. I am happy to have fought against you."
"I underestimated your speed." She admits, her hand moving over her abdomen. Recovery Girl obviously healed whatever damage has been done, but the memory of pain lingers. "You're incredibly strong and fast. I couldn't keep up."
"About that…" Iida suddenly clasps his hands together in apology. "I apologize."
"Don't worry about it." She waves her hand through the air with the smallest of smiles. "A fight is a fight. It's not supposed to feel good. But, since you're apologizing, I'm going to apologize too." She meets his eyes hesitantly. "Sorry for shocking you so intensely, and…" She swallows thickly. "Sorry for… not being myself out there."
"It's not a problem." Iida smiles, stiffly moving his arms about. "It may have unsettled me for a moment, but it was completely impractical."
"Impractical?" She murmurs, looking at him curiously.
"Yes. Others may have seen your father, but I saw you, Aihara-san." He reveals, making her lips part in surprise. "Despite your villain past and tactics, I know you are a good person."
His words make her eyes grow wide in shock. It doesn't take long for her expression to morph into a troubled one. He didn't see her father in her? Her fingers curl tightly into the fabric of her pants. Wrinkles form and she stares down at her lap.
Her father's face flashes before her followed by her mother's. The strange dream she just had follows afterwards. She would've referred to it as a nightmare if it wasn't for that voice that overpowered her father's.
"Iida-kun…" She begins carefully, making him blink. "Was Todoroki-san in here?"
"Yes." He answers with a short nod. "He along with the others came by while you were still sleeping. In fact, he left just before you woke up."
"I see." She whispers almost inaudibly.
The door opens and Recovery Girl comes walking in. She smiles in relief that she's now awake and begins making her way over. Hotaru doesn't even look her way, keeping her eyes downcast.
"I'm happy you're awake, dear." The old woman begins with a smile. Then, she frowns at her as the scolding begins. "I don't know exactly what you're doing with your quirk to increase your speed, but you need to be more careful. Your body can't—"
"Is it true?" Hotaru cuts her off, making her frown.
"That you nearly ruptured your insides again? Well, fortunately no. It was just some internal bleeding. However, that's still serious."
"What—?!" Iida starts to exclaim until Hotaru speaks again.
"No. I'm not worried about that." She says quietly, making them have to strain their ears. "Is it true that Todoroki-san was in here?"
Recovery Girl raises a brow at her. Iida and the old woman exchange a glance before looking at Hotaru once more. Her fingers are trembling and they aren't sure why. Recovery Girl taps her cane against the ground.
"That sweet boy always comes by to check on you." She answers, and Hotaru slowly looks over at her.
"Always?" She repeats.
"Always." The old woman confirms, and Hotaru's breath gets caught in her throat.
She thinks back to what feels like forever ago. Their combat training. When she and Mineta fought against Shoto and Bakugo. After that fight, she rested in Recovery Girl's office. One of the voices she heard but couldn't distinguish, was Shoto?
•
"...I wasn't worried about her..."
•
It was him. The puzzle piece fits perfectly. He came to visit her even back then when the tension between them was so high? Recovery Girl said "always." Hotaru swallows forcefully. No way. Her hands tangle into her hair. What is she saying?
"He came by earlier too." Recovery Girl reveals with a worried crease in her brow. "But, that was when you didn't want to see anybody."
Large waves of anger suddenly roll off of Hotaru's form. Her blood is boiling as she slides off of the bed. Iida and Recovery Girl call after her when she stomps out the door, but she doesn't listen. She may as well have not heard them.
Her walk is expeditious and her steps are heavy. The world around her grows darker and darker. Her vision grows blurry and she bites down on her lower lip, her fists quivering at her sides. She turns down a new hall and spots him at the end of it. He's nearby. So, it really is true.
His back is to her and his hands are in his pockets as he walks. Her teeth bare and she takes off into a messy run. The sound of her heavy steps makes him turn around. His eyes widen instantly at her villainous expression. His lips part but she closes the gap before any words come out.
He grunts when she shoves him roughly against the wall, her fists tangled in his shirt. Her silver eyes that are flickering cyan glare up at him. Sweat forms on his temple and her grip on him grows even tighter.
"I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but knock it off!" She fiercely yells at him.
"What are you talking about?" Shoto retorts, his own glare forming.
"Stop playing dumb!" She bites out. "What the hell are you trying to do?! S-Stop messing with me! I can't take it anymore! S-Seriously… just stop it already…!"
Her eyebrows quiver along with her lower lip. Warm tears escape her eyes and stain her cheeks. The grip she has on his shirt gradually loosens as her fingers straighten out, her hands now flat against his chest. Her livid glare has transformed into a gaze of pure confusion and grief.
That expression makes him freeze, but mostly those sorrowful glistening trails descending down her cheeks. The only tears he's ever seen from her were happy tears. These are the tears she refuses to give to anyone, but yet she's shedding them for him and because of him.
He doesn't know what to do. He's just as confused as she is. Why she came at him like this and her words are a mystery to him. Despite that, all he can think about is how he could possibly get her to stop crying.
"Aihara-san," Shoto begins carefully, moving. His fingertips gingerly brush against the back of her hands resting against his wrinkled shirt. The moment she feels that contact, her breath gets caught in her throat and she takes a backwards step. A fathomless rift forms between them.
Hotaru wipes furiously at her eyes, but that does nothing to stop the overflowing moisture. She didn't chase him down to cry. She didn't want him to see her like this. Although, it's hopeless at this point. She's tired of this confusion and uncertainty. She's sick of the deception. It's making her crumble. But, to let herself crumble this far… damn him.
"You hate me," She speaks in a frail tone. "S-So, stop doing things that suggest the opposite!"
Her voice echoes throughout the empty and far reaching hall. Once that echo fades, the air vent nearby begins to reverberate. Cold air spews onto them and their hair lightly ruffles as a result. Shoto averts his gaze from her to the ground.
When he apologized earlier, the pressure kept him from saying anything else. That pressure is no longer lingering. Something else is. It's something that makes him feel dismal and full of remorse. It's a desperation that gives him the strength to continue on with what he wanted to say.
"I don't hate you." He says quietly, meeting her glossy eyes once more.
"But, you don't like me." She instantly shoots back.
"That's not true."
The tightness in her chest makes it hard to breathe. Those words make more tears leak from her eyes. His apologetic tone and earnest mismatch eyes makes her take another step back. Her eyelids clamp together and she shakes her head curtly. She can't believe that.
"I want to be friends," He continues, making her grow tense all over. "Aihara-san."
At a slow pace, her eyes crack open. Her head that was ducked rises to look at him. Her lips part and her appendages tremble. As if she wasn't breathless enough, he smiles. It's the most subtle thing, like the faintest clap of thunder miles away. If he didn't always greet her with frowns and glares, she wouldn't even have noticed it.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I'm telling the truth."
"Liar."
"Liar?" Shoto quickly repeats, stunned.
"You never tell me the truth. You never tell me anything. After everything today, do you truly think I can believe you so easily?" She clenches her fists. "Just earlier you said you didn't like me, you say a half-assed apology, and now you want to be friends…? Just forget it. Todoroki-san,"
She looks away from him with a heavy breath, her tense muscles relaxing. She's tired. There's no way he's telling the truth. But, how would she know anyhow? When it comes to him she can't tell what's real or not.
"Forget everything. In return, I'll forget everything too."
"What?" His brows furrow.
"A friendship between us would be cynical. It took me till now to realize it." She mutters, taking steps away from him. "I don't want it."
"You're wrong."
"What?"
Now her brows are furrowed as she looks back at him, pausing in her walk. Those mismatch orbs of his are serious. It makes her jaw tighten and glare return. When it comes to his own benefit and getting the things he wants, he's adamantine. Like a diamond. A beautiful and stupid diamond.
"You're delusional." She speaks sharply. "I'm not going to fall for your tricks anymore. What do you even know about friendship?"
Silence hovers in the air for a brief moment after that. He looks hesitant. That's more than enough to answer her question. He doesn't know anything. He's wasted enough of her time as it is. She's done—
"I only know what you taught me." He answers.
Her heart skips an entire beat. It's as if it's melting and as a result her breath hitches. He begins taking steps closer to her. Her head screams at her to pull back, but the organ in her chest is so heavy she's rooted in the same spot. The tears she barely managed to stop are threatening to return. If she crumbled earlier, now she's shattering.
"I told you to stop screwing around." She breathes out, ducking her head when he comes to a stop before her. Her eyelids lower in an attempt to stop the returning flow of her tears. It's futile. She curses in frustration. "Damn it… I'm really sick of you. Leave me alone."
"A bet." He begins like she didn't say anything at all.
"What the hell are you on?"
"Nothing."
He's irritating her. He seriously wants to make a bet? This really is nothing but a twisted game to him. She's starting to question which one of them is the ex-villain. Why is he saying all of these things that tug at her heartstrings before their fight? He's trying to get inside her head again with false kindness once again. Fine. She'll respond in kind.
"You want to make a bet?" She repeats, and he nods. "Alright. What kind of bet?"
"Whoever wins our fight can request something from the loser." He suggests.
"Let's make it more interesting."
Shoto raises a brow when her silver eyes peer up at him. They are red from her tears, yet that does nothing to taint the severity of them. Her lips press together and she holds up her index finger.
"If you can land a single hit on me, I'll respond to a total of three requests." She begins. "It doesn't matter what they are or how big. But, you must speak those requests now."
His mind goes blank for a short moment. She's granting him three requests, but only if he can land a hit on her? That's a bold suggestion and it makes his lips purse. Is she implying that he can't land a hit on her? On top of that, he needs to speak those requests now.
"Hurry up and speak, Todoroki-san." She waves her finger around idly. "Or else we can forget about this whole thing."
"What are you planning?" He questions piercingly, and her head tilts.
"Is that request number one?"
His expression dulls and her devious one remains unchanging. She took control of the situation and is leading him straight into a trap. He knows it. Despite that, he wants to trust her even if this does somehow turn back around and slap him in the face.
"I want you to give me a chance to prove that we can be friends. I want you to tell me about your past. And…" His gaze softens. "I want you to thank me."
"Thank you?" She repeats, confused.
"You said you needed to thank me." He reminds her. "So, I want you to tell me why you're thankful."
"You still haven't figured it out?"
"I gave it some thought like you told me to. There's only one possibility I came up with. I think I'm wrong, though."
"Well, tell me so I can tell you if you're wrong or not."
"Is that a request? You only have two left now." He looks rather smug when her hand drops back to her side. "I'll give you three requests, too. If you can land a hit on me."
"How sweet of you." She states dully. "Unfortunately, I can't think of any."
"None at all?" He blinks, caught off guard. He thought she would have plenty. "You don't have to think of them now—"
"You're missing the point. I can't think of anything, because…" She starts taking retreating steps, pressing the heels of her hands against her watery eyes. "There's nothing I want from you."
•○●○•
"It's finally time!" Present Mic exclaims with a large grin. "The first match of the semi-finals! It's the fated battle! With the intense rivalry their parents share, this is going to be the most flashy battle yet! From the hero course, it's the icy-hot Shoto Todoroki!"
The audience roars loudly when Shoto walks out onto the field. His demeanor is serious and his eyes are fixated. After all these years, he finally gets to fight against Hotaru. The challenge she issued towards him before this whole thing even began is still fresh in his mind, too. He can now get back at her for that day and release the rest of his frustrations. He's going to move on, all while learning more about her. He needs to make sure he lands a hit.
"I'm kind of excited about this fight." Someone in the audience admits.
"Me too! It'll be like watching an actual fight between Lightning Beast and Endeavor, huh?"
"Who do you think will win?"
"Endeavor's son, obviously."
Shoto steps onto the stage, his eyelids lowering as he draws in a deep breath. This fight will be far from easy. Hotaru's lightning is dangerous, but he knows her weakness. He knows her fighting style, but he can't treat her lightly. Underestimating her would be foolish. When Present Mic's voice sounds out from the speakers, his eyes open and stare into the dark tunnel ahead that she will be emerging from.
"Versus, also from the hero course, the tempest angel, Hotaru Aihara!"
The audience goes wild, eager for her to arrive and for the fated fight to commence. Shoto's eyes gradually widen and the loud cheers begin to diminish. Soon, silence is hovering in the air and Present Mic sweat-drops.
"T-The tempest angel, Hotaru Aihara!" He yells again and desperately.
A full minute goes by and there's no sign of Hotaru. The audiences begins to whisper amongst themselves, noting how Hotaru seems to be a coward like her father. Endeavor slowly grins while letting out an amused chuckle.
"Where's Taru-chan?" Mineta looks around with a sad face.
"I don't know." Midoriya whispers, a worried crease in his brow.
"That Lightning Bastard better show up and kill that Half-and-Half Bastard." Bakugo grumbles with a popping vein. He wants to fight Hotaru next.
A shadow falls over Shoto's face and his jaw goes slightly slack. It hits him. She was never going to fight him at all. That's why she changed the bet. Instead of the original bet of the loser carrying out a request for the winner, she changed it to landing a hit. She had no intention of carrying out this bet, because she was never going to…
"Taru…" He bites out with a bitter glare, clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles turn white.
Midnight brings her hand over her earpiece with a frown, looking across the field at Cementoss. He shrugs his shoulders, signaling he doesn't understand what's happening either. Her blue eyes look up at the commentary room, zoning in on Present Mic and Aizawa.
"Should I count this as a dropout?" She mutters quietly, although not liking that idea.
"Hey, Eraserhead." Present Mic turns to Aizawa in a panic, whispering. "Where's your student?"
Aizawa's eyes shut and he lets out a heavy sigh. How would he know where she is or what she's doing? However, he does know something is wrong with her. He can tell just with a glance. She was so determined for today. To simply throw the match isn't like her. He stands up and starts to venture towards the door.
"I'm going to find out. Don't count this as a dropout just yet." He grumbles.
"W-Wait, what should I say to these people then?!"
"You're a radio show host. I'm sure you can figure it out."
The door shuts behind Aizawa, and Present Mic stares in a panic. He looks around wildly and for nothing in particular. With a sudden energetic scream, he springs from his chair and waves his arms around.
"It looks like we're having technical difficulties and the Tempest Angel hasn't received the notice for her match! Everyone, let's make some noise for her arrival! Let me hear you say 'yeah!'"
"Yeah!" Everyone yells.
•○●○•
Aizawa brazenly opens the door to Hotaru's assigned waiting room. At first, nothing greets him. He doesn't see any of her belongings or her. It's almost as if this room hasn't been used at all. Just as he starts to turn to search elsewhere, he catches sight of her.
"What are you doing? You were supposed to be on stage five minutes ago."
He 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 all of these? The answer is obvious.
She's sitting on the cold ground, tears streaming down her face. Her silver eyes that always shine are vacant. There's no life in them. She snivels and brings her knees to her chest, hugging them close and ducking her head to shield her face.
The vibrating of her phone in his bandaged hand makes him look down at it. More messages are pouring in and even more disgusting than before. Death threats. Slanderous name calling. Words that tell her that her dream is hopeless. Words that tell her to think of them whenever she hurts her opponent. Words that tell her to kill her opponent, Shoto Todoroki.
Aizawa's teeth grit. They've been sending her messages like this all day. It even looks like she talked on the phone with them. What disgusting parents she has. He shuts her phone off before putting it in his pocket, having no intention of giving it back to her. He takes steps closer to her and she shrinks back against the wall.
"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."
"I know that." She snivels out, her fingers knotting into her hair. "W-Why do you think I'm in here and not out there? I can't fight Todoroki. If I do, I'll just be doing what they want. I don't want to be a slave to them anymore. Unless," She lets out a dry laugh. "Is this wrong too?"
Her hands fall away from her face as if she has lost all strength. Blotchy tears stick to her lashes as she looks at him, her lips curving upwards despite the raw sorrow etched in her voice. She laughs some more, the muscles in her chin trembling.
"Figures. Nothing I do is right. E-Everything I do whether it's good or bad, it's wrong. My existence is wrong. The most right thing I did today was get my ass beat by Shiozaki-san. Those stupid Heroes really enjoyed that. T-They booed me before even giving me a chance! What am I supposed to do, if nothing I do is right? D-Die? Is that the only thing that'll bring them satisfaction? Should I just go jump off of a bridge? Watch that be wrong too."
"Are you done?" Aizawa asks when her sniveling rant ends so she can catch her breath. She shakes her head.
"I'm trying, S-Sensei. I'm trying so hard, but it's pointless. Everyone sees me as a villain. I'm tired. I'm really, really, really, tired." She buries her face in her hands once again. A few seconds of silence hover after that before she whispers. "...and Shoto Todoroki is an asshole."
Aizawa leans forward slightly, resting his bandaged arms in his lap with much difficulty. Her silence makes it clear that she's now gotten everything off of her chest. She has every right to be frustrated and somber as she is now. The girl can't catch a break. Just the fact that she made it this far at all is impressive.
"You call this winning?" He questions, resulting in her throwing him a heated glare.
"What the hell am I supposed to do, then?! You tell me!" She all but screams at him.
"Forget about them."
Shock registers on her face. She freezes all over at the solemn glint in his dark eyes. At a slow pace, her hands fall away from her face as sweat forms on her temple.
"Forget?" She repeats, and he nods.
"The only wrong thing you've done today was let the words and thoughts of others limit your capability. You need to realize that it isn't possible to please everybody. No matter what you do, there's going to be people out there who disagree with you." He begins, and her lower lip trembles.
"But—"
"Listen, problem-child." He cuts her off, and she snivels. "Forget about the Heroes in the audience. The real Pros are watching behind the scenes, and I can guarantee they are far more perceptive than the ones sitting in this stadium." He utters, and her eyes widen. "Forget about your disgusting parents, too. Looking at those messages, I now understand why you imitated them, but…" He lets out a heavy sigh and glares at her with a popping vein. "Do you have a screw loose or something? Seriously, what's wrong with you?"
He reaches out and bonks her on top of the head. It was a lazy and painless strike, and her shoulders quake when she lets out an enheartened laugh. She turns her head away from him to hide her sudden smile he brought about. Aizawa's glare softens into something more placid.
"What your parents want doesn't matter." He continues. "The same goes for everyone else. For once, Aihara," The use of her name makes her look back at him. "Why don't you do what you want?"
Her eyes widen a notch at that. Do what she wants? Easily sensing her internal turmoil and bewilderment, he starts speaking again.
"You always place others before yourself in everything you do, and you're easily influenced by those around you." He explains. "That's what I mean when I say to forget everyone else. Act solely for yourself and chase your own dream."
Just this morning, Daichi said something similar to her. She finds herself experiencing déja vu. To forget her parents and the Heroes in the audience is easier said than done. Regardless of that, it would be nice if she could forget. To forget them all and focus on herself leads to another problem, though. Her lips press together firmly.
"As for Todoroki," Aizawa begins carefully. "It's clear you both have some pent-up frustrations towards one another. Personally, I think this fight will be good for you both to release whatever hard feelings you have. Keep in mind, this will be the only chance you'll get to fight it out with no consequences."
"...But," Hotaru swallows thickly, lowering her head slightly. "What if it's not just anger I'm feeling?"
"What else are you feeling?"
"Regret."
"Then, forget Todoroki too." He easily answers, and her jaw drops. "Instead, focus on your dream. You want to be a hero, don't you?"
"Yes." She answers instantly.
"That's all there is to it, then. You showed the world Two Face and Lightning Beast in your previous matches. Now, show them Hotaru Aihara." His eyelids lower. "Whatever you choose to fight for, whether you fight or not, that's something only you can decide."
Just like that, it feels like the whole weight of the world is on her shoulders even though it's just her own innermost demons. What should she do? She hardly has any time at all to decide. However, one thing is for certain.
"Sensei…" She whispers, biting down on her lower lip.
•○●○•
"I told you she wouldn't be able to handle the pressure." Rai chuckles, gulping down the rest of his wine. The Sports Festival is now taking an unexpected commercial break because of the missing Hotaru. "It ends here for her. This is as far as she gets. She showed the world the villain she is by imitating us, and now she's dropping out with nothing to gain. Her own plan backfired."
"This is hilarious." Cierra leans from side to side, alcohol taking its toll. "She thinks she's winning but this is what we want her to do. Haha~! She's too easy to manipulate! Too bad for you, Taru~!"
Rai reaches for the remote with a content smile. Hotaru's hero journey ends here. She thinks she's fighting back against them by not going against Endeavor's brat, but little does she know that's exactly what they want her to do. Her absence will make the Heroes view her as not only a villain, but also a coward—
"There's the Tempest Angel!" Present Mic exclaims with a relieved smile. The audience cheers powerfully, and Endeavor's eyes widen. "Class A's Hotaru Aihara!"
"What?!" Cierra shrieks, and the remote drops from Rai's hands.
Hotaru steps out of the dark tunnel and into the open. The warm sun rays kiss her skin, and she pauses just to soak it in. Her silver eyes, inflamed from the countless tears she shed, stare up at the cloudless blue sky. The sudden breeze weaves through her wavy strands of hair. She looks over her shoulder.
Aizawa is leaning against the wall. He walked her here upon her request. She faces him with a small smile. The wind picks up and hoists blades of grass into the air. They circle around her as she bows respectfully to Aizawa. She continues towards the stage, and afterwards the bandages covering his mouth conceal the brief upward curve of his lips.
Shoto can't help letting out a relieved breath at her presence. Still, there's no denying he feels some irritation. It's no secret that she had every intention of dropping out. He watches as she walks up the short flight of stairs and onto the stage. Her eyes that were downcast meet his as she takes her place.
Her poise makes his brain falter. His thoughts fade instead of coming to a stop. From her stance and stare, everything about her is aspiring and serene. A sense of familiarity consumes him. Standing before him is the Hotaru Aihara he knew her as.
She inhales deeply and holds that breath for a few seconds. Once she releases, it's like she's no longer looking at him. He may as well be an unseeable ghost. She's gazing at something beyond him, something he and nobody else can see.
"Alright! Let's get this party started!" Present Mic shouts in excitement. "Ready, and…!"
Shoto knees bend slightly as he gets ready. His number one goal right now is to land a hit on her. After that, he'll respond to her declaration of war that she announced before this whole sports festival even began. His emotions, his desires, he's going to unleash it all.
Hotaru remains in a relaxed stance, standing in a way she would in front of the pond in her beloved park. She blocks out the sound of the audience and focuses on the wispy breeze, free and at ease. Her frustrations and regrets, the voices that haunt her, everything is going to expire in a short while.
Holding back isn't an option. She has a dream to chase, and a friend she needs to make amends with. That one thing for certain is the very fact that she can't forget him, Shoto Todoroki. This is all she wants. If she can help herself by being here and help him second-handedly, this is the best option. But, she's putting herself first.
Her lashes brush against her cheeks when she shuts her eyes. Ever so slightly her lips curve upwards and her hand moves over her chest. Daichi, Aizawa-sensei, All Might, Nezu, Mineta, every single one of her dear friends in Class A…
"Thank you." She whispers just as Present Mic yells.
"Start!"
The warmth of the sun fades away as a biting cold takes its place. A shadow falls over her and a frigid gale bombards her. A colossal wave of crystallizing ice rushes towards her, like a violent wave of an ocean amidst a storm. The high-pitched crackling and musical chimes of his forming ice fills her ears. Her eyes open to see peaked shards a mere few inches away from her face, his Heaven-Piercing Ice Wall.
She reaches towards it, extending her fingers as far as she possibly can. The ice seizes her fingertips then shoots up her arm. The fierce crystal proceeds to ensnare her entirely, covering her head and body. It nips at her flesh and doesn't let up. The wave is relentless and prolonged, hiding her away from everyone's sight, only for a moment.
The ample ice crystals suddenly glow brightly. Sparks spread across its sleek surface. Without warning, boisterous thunder sounds out and causes everyone's ears to ring. Heat clashes against cold and the ice deflates like a balloon. Dense clouds of steam rise into the air and the word darkens in a flash.
"What's going on?! I can't see!" Present Mic squishes his face against the window of the commentary room. A droplet of water splats onto the glass followed by another, causing him to make a confused face. He redirects his gaze skywards and gawks.
A dark and towering cloud hovers over the stadium. Streaks of serpentine lighting flare from within it. Cold raindrops fall from the sky one by one, delicate and rhythmical. Puddles form and ripples embellish them with a splash. A low rumble of thunder resonates. Everyone's breath is stolen away.
"They…" Aizawa whispers to himself, awestruck as he stares at the sky.
"...Changed the weather." Endeavor quietly finishes.
~ Next Chapter Sneak Peek:
❤•○●○•❤
Hotaru Aihara
❤•○●○•❤
Raindrops slither down his flesh and her breath tickles his bare chest. The sun peeks through the breaking away storm clouds, and the puddles scattered across the ground mirror the sightly sky that's so profound. Her words have rendered him speechless and in a daze. They replay over and over in his head like a broken record. His eyes shut.
"Stupid," Shoto whispers, taking her into his arms.
