Bakugo banged on his sisters door five times before waiting to receive only silence. It was almost time for class and she was taking forever getting ready. Well, it was either that or the poor girl was stalling for as long as she could. Katsuki knew better than anyone how heart broken his sister was over changing classes and all.
He grumbled to himself before slamming his fist on the surface again, shouting through the wood angrily. "Come on Amari, get your ass moving already! Why are you always so goddamn slow?"
Just then, the door opened quickly, revealing a very annoyed sister. "Would you cut it out Katsuki, I already said I was coming! Give me a damn break, would you?"
Shaking her head in frustration, Katsuki could now see the bags under her eyes and her very tired stance. She had never really snapped at him before. Usually she would just brush it off and he would call her a push over. That's how he knew she wasn't alright.
Amari closed the door behind her only to find Bakugo trying to take her school bag out of her hands. Was this going to be a normal occurance now? She hoped not. "Don't even think about it. I already told you I can carry my own bag. Cut it out already, would you?"
She stepped away then, causing Katsuki to back off for the moment, now just staring at her in concern. He knew he was probably overdoing it but the boy couldn't help it. There was something up with her. "Listen, if any extras try to mess with you just let me know and I'll take care of them."
Looking down at the floor before a moment, the girl smirked sarcastically. "Thanks but I'm fine. I can handle myself Katsuki."
Narrowing his eyes in frustration, Bakugo said his next words without thinking. "And how are you gonna do that without a quirk, dumbass?"
The minute he said that, Katsuki knew he had misstepped, watching his sister shrink into herself a tiny bit more, her voice sad. "I'll figure it out. Just, stop trying to baby me, okay? I don't need you to fight my battles for me."
Bakugo was silent then, watching her walk away from him slowly. Why did he always have to say the wrong thing? He didn't even know how to be that caring twin brother she always wanted. Everything was so new to him.
But one thing was for sure. He would protect her, even if Amari didn't want it.
Moving to the front gates without Bakugo, Amari stopped when she noticed a bunch of reporters trying to get into the gates. It was like the All Might incident all over again.
As she passed though, the reporters perked up, shouting through the bars. "Bakugo, Amari! A word please.."
Amari stopped for a moment, clearly confused as they tried to reach their microphones through the bars. "How does it feel to aid All for One in the attack a couple weeks ago? Are you blackmailing any of the heros to let you stay at U.A.?"
Her eyes widened as the reporters fed her such hate and lies, calling her villain and shouting at the girl through the gates. On closer inspection there seemed to also be some protesters with large signs that read DON'T LET A VILLAIN INTO U.A. among other hateful words. It was honestly overwhelming.
Balling her hands into a fist, Amari spoke back to them roughly. "I'm not a villain and I haven't blackmailed anyone! Why are you even saying that? I'm a hero!"
The reporters took in her words before a male answered, his voice cruel and sharp. "What kind of hero hurts their fellow students and aids a villain?"
She felt tears prick the corners of her eyes as Amari answered back. "You're twisting everything around. I didn't aid anything!"
Although the news team was even faster, firing back. "But you do admit you hurt your fellow students?"
Amari remained silent after that, knowing that what they said was true. She did hurt her friends. That was something unforgivable that she would never live down. What kind of person could even do that kind of thing? The answer was simple, a villain. "I..I..."
Feeling her head grow dizzy, the girl shook her head before running off into the school roughly, the couple students looking her direction as she went by. The tears were reaching the surface now but Amari shoved them down until they were no more.
The reporters sighed in disappointment when a new voice could be heard through the space. "What the hell did you say to her, you damn extras?!
They turned to find Bakugo glaring back at them angrily, one of the people recognizing him immediately. "Oh, I know you. You're related to that villain."
At the word villain, Katsuki palms started to light up in a fiery rage, pulling the man's jacket through the bars and hissing. "Listen here, I'm only going to say this one. My sister is not a villain, so get that through your goddamn head already! How much of an idiot could you possibly be to even believe that?! Amari is nothing but a hero, so don't you dare even start with that crap unless you want me to catch you on fire right now!"
The man wiggled under his grasp, clearly afraid as Bakugo grew satisfied, throwing the man back and scoffing in absolute anger. "Bastards, now get out of here before I do something not very heroic."
They seemed to listen to his threat, running back a couple feet so that they were no longer near the gates, that's when he heard another voice. "Kacchan, you didn't have to be so violent. I get you're upset over Amari-chan but what if they start assuming things about you too?"
Turning back to find Deku, Katsuki only frowned, surprisingly keeping his voice rather level. "Those bastards can say what about me, I can take it. But, no way in hell am I going to let them say that kind of shit about my sister."
Deku blinked in surprise at that. "Wow, Kacchan, you've really changed."
Bakugo scoffed back though, his voice already escalating. "What the hell does that mean?"
Putting his hands out in defense, the boy cried back. "I didn't mean anything bad by it! I just think it's really sweet that you're looking for Amari-chan like that. By the way, is she doing okay? I'm really worried about her."
Amari's brother looked off in the direction of the school before letting his eyes fall. "I think it'd be pretty damn stupid to say she's alright. Although, it's not like she'd tell me anyways."
Deku took in his friends face and couldn't help but be kind of shocked. At this moment, Kacchan looked soft and more human, like he really was worried about his sister. "You're right. I don't think I'd be alright if someone told me I had to be quirkless again. But Amari-chan is so smart and amazing, even without a quirk. I guess we'll just have to look out for her, right Kacchan?"
Closing his eyes for a moment, Bakugo only gave a slow, silent nod before turning on his heels aways from the boy. The last thing he wanted was for Deku to get involved with this but if it meant her improving then he would suffer through, same with that icy hot bastard.
At this point he would do anything to get her smile back
Running down the hallways, Amari didn't really know where she was going but somehow her legs wouldn't listen to her, just continuing to dash with no sign of stopping. All she wanted was for those terrible words in her mind to disappear.
She closed her eyes for a moment, willing them away when suddenly she ran directly into someone, causing all of their books to fall to the floor in a single, heavy thud.
Groaning from the ground, Amari rubbed her backside carefully before bowing her head in a hard apology. "I'm so sorry. That was completely my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going and…"
Although she paused when the strangers voice called out to her. "Amari, what are you doing running down the hallway like that? Are you alright?"
She blinked twice only to find Todoroki staring back at her, visibly confused. "Shoto? I'm sorry, I didn't know that was you. I wasn't doing anything important…"
Brushing himself off, Todoroki reached out his hand for her to grasp, hoisting her back up. "You already apologized, and something is telling me you're not telling me the full truth."
Once she was back on her feet, Amari sighed heavily. "It's just, I ran into a couple reporters on the way to the gates and they said some rude things. That's all, nothing I can't handle."
Yet Todoroki wasn't so sure about that. That girl clearly looked upset a minute ago. This brought another question in his mind though. "What about Bakugo, wasn't he supposed to be with you?"
Rubbing the back of her neck once, the girl shook her head in exasperation. "Yeah I went on ahead. He's been really weird since I came back and I don't really know why. It's like he thinks I can't do anything for myself. I hate it."
Todoroki knew very well why Bakugo had changed so suddenly, but didn't want to bring it up to her yet. If she knew that her brother saw her in her weakest moment, then she wouldn't be able to talk to him normally again.
Touching her arms slightly, the boy replied. "Have you thought of the possibility that he's trying to show that he cares about you? Maybe he's just worried after everything that happened. I know I still am.."
Amari eyes saddened then, placing her hand on top of his. "I guess, it's just weird. He's never been this nice before. I don't really know how I should take it."
Todoroki couldn't help but smile slightly at that. "I'm sure Bakugo isn't very well versed on showing his feelings so it will take a little time to get used to it. But isn't this what you wanted?"
She thought before that for a moment before lowering her eyes in sadness. "Yeah, I guess. It's just, complicated. I don't even really understand why he would care so much now that I'm basically useless and the weak twin."
The boy's smile disappeared then, leaning closer to her in concern. "Amari, you are not useless. I've said it before, you are more than just your quirk. You'll see that soon. Someday you'll see what I see."
Shaking her head at his words, Amari scoffed. "What, an annoying, quirkless brat?"
Although Todoroki only frowned, brushing a couple strands of hair from her face. "No, a beautiful, intelligent, amazing girl, and the one that I love. I didn't fall in love with your quirk Amari, I fell in love with every part of you."
Amari felt her face flush in embarrassment as the first bell rang, signifying that their conversation had to be over, Todoroki speaking first. "You should hurry to your class before you're late. I'll see you after, alright?"
She nodded back in a daze which caused him to smile, leaning forward and pressing a quick kiss onto her forehead. "You can do this. I know you can. If you can handle my father and his agency, then you can handle anything."
Pulling away, Todoroki lifted up his hand in a goodbye as Amari mimicked the action, her fingers touching the place where his lips were lightly. Why was he still being so sweet to her when she had nothing to offer back? She honestly didn't deserve him.
Amari felt her lips curve into a small smile before her eye caught something on the ground the couple feet away. It looked to be a letter of some sort.
Picking in up in confusion, she turned it around only to find that it was addressed to Todoroki. He must have dropped it when they bumped into each other.
She flipped it over again only to see that the seal was torn and broken, the letter peeking out the top and coaxing her to touch it. No that would be wrong. She couldn't just read his mail like that.
Although with the letter already open, Amari couldn't resist, taking the paper out before opening it and laying her eyes on the first couple words. She told herself that once she knew what it was, that she would put the contents back.
Yet, that's not what happened at all, the girl losing feeling in her hands all at once and dropping her bag onto the floor. That paper wasn't just any old boring old letter.
No, it was for a marriage interview.
With wandering thoughts, Amari made her way with the instructions that All Might had given her before she returned back to the academy. She supposed this was her life now so she had to get used to it.
Reaching the doorway of the class listed, she sighed heavily before pushing the door open and walking inside. This immediately caught the attention of the other classmates.
One of the boys narrowed his eyes in confusion as he pointed. "Hey, I know you. Aren't you that Bakugo girl from Class 1-A?"
Ignoring his words though, she walked past the boy as another spoke. "Wait, she's the one on the news right now. Aw, don't tell me we got stuck with the villain in our class."
Amari lowered her eyes in annoyance as another voice spoke up, except this time it was a bit more familiar. "Took you long enough short stuff. I was beginning to think you got lost."
She turned around in confusion, only to find Shinso staring in front of her, bag in hand. "Shinso, what are you doing here?"
Throwing his bag over his shoulder, the boy leaned down and pointed to her slip of paper. "This my class dummy, can't you read? All Might asked me to keep an eye on you so he transferred you into this class instead. Welcome to class 1C."
At his words, Amari frowned. "Oh, so he asked you to babysit me, is that it? What, is he afraid I'm going to go berserk and kill someone also?"
This caused Shinso to become rather surprised, noticing her rough tone. "What, no. I just heard about everything and thought it might be better for you to be in a class where you knew someone. Don't treat me like I'm some little lap dog for All Might. Sorry for assuming wrong."
Amari stopped then, realizing what he just said. He asked for her to be transferred,just so she wouldn't be lonely? She had to admit but that was a really sweet thing to do.
Feeling bad for yelling at him, she sighed. "No, I'm sorry. You were just trying to help, right? Sorry, I've just been a little off lately."
Shinso frowned back, pointing to the girl in question. "I've noticed. Be careful, you are starting to get dangerously close to Bakugo territory with that attitude. Well, it's not like it matters. Go ahead and say what you want, I'm not that fragile."
Amari couldn't help but smile at that, ruffling his purple hair like a child. "Thanks Shih Tzu. But hey, now that I'm out of the hero course, there's a spot open now. You should take your chance."
At the close contact, Shinso felt his face grow warm, not liking her words and slapping her hand away. "Are you serious? I already told you that's not how I want to earn my spot. I want both of us in the hero course. You deserve it too."
Her eyes grew sad then, shaking her head. "I don't know, maybe I was just kidding myself. It seems like the world doesn't want me to be a hero so maybe I should just give up."
Shinso narrowed his eyes in concern then, slapping her on the backside of her head to wake her up. She seemed really depressed right now and he didn't like it.
Blinking in surprise, Amari gasped. "Ow! Hey, what are you…!"
Although she stopped when she saw Shinso's face. "Since when has Bakugo Amari ever given up? Since when has she taken the easy way out? That answer is never, you've never done that, so don't start now."
Rubbing the back of her head, Amari groaned back. "Okay okay I get it. Could you maybe not hit me next time?"
Yet, he wasn't sure she did get it, as she just brushed off his comment like it was nothing. Somehow, he knew that Amari needed more than just a few words to motivate her. He couldn't do that alone.
Suddenly, the teacher walked into the class, speaking out loudly so everyone could hear. "Alright everyone. I see you've already welcomed Bakugo Amari into our class. I expect everyone makes her feel comfortable. Now everyone, meet me at the training building in ten minutes. We are going to work on some training."
Looking towards each other, Shinso shrugged before heading outside and gesturing Amari to do the same, not really knowing what was in store.
The class walked into the training ring quietly, Amari noticing that it was the same ring as that time she fought Todoroki before they became friends. The memory had a slightly nostalgia to it.
Because she was zoning out, she didn't even notice a couple classmates bump into her, clearly on purpose before snickering back. It seemed they didn't like that she was there. Well, she was from the hero course after all.
She rubbed her shoulder in a frown before the teacher spoke again. "Alright, today we are going to work on our agility and strength which will help in evacuating civilians while the hero's defeat the villain. The citizens are just as equally counting on us so we must be in our best shape for them. Everyone, partner up and show me what you got!"
Almost immediately, Amari felt a tap on her shoulder, turning to find one of the students who pushed her a couple minutes ago. "I challenge you, 1A reject."
Frowning back, she nodded her head, already wanting this boy to eat his words. "Fine, but don't cry when you lose."
This got the boy furious, already running towards her with his fists outstretched. Luckily this exercise didn't involve quirks so she felt pretty confident about this. The teacher must have done that on purpose.
Amari dodged his blind fist easily before stepping to the side and raising her own fists up in a punch, the boy easily blocking as well. He grew cocky because of that though so she was able to swing another fist unnoticed, this time lower.
The boy groaned as her first made contact, doubling over in pain as Amari kicked his legs out from under him, causing him to tumble to the ground in a heavy thud. And just like that, it was over.
Narrowing her eyes in disgust, she then leaned down towards him. "Did you really think just because I dropped out of the hero course that I would be easy? Rule one, never underestimate me, you got that?"
He groaned back in response as Amari raised her head, now turning back to her other bullies sharply. "Anyone else wants to try, cause I have a lot of pent up rage I would like to get out."
The students looked between each other in disgust before one of them replied, speaking for the group. "You really shouldn't act so cocky Bakugo. Don't act like you're better than us just because you were in the hero course!"
Although Amari was too annoyed to care, only shrugging. "I'm not being cocky, I'm being reasonable. If you want a fight then I'm not going to run away. So what will it be?"
They all grumbled at that, Shinso watching nervously as she picked a fight with the entire class. She was really going to take all of these kids with no quirk? That was insane.
Then he couldn't help but stare as a group of seven students all barreled towards her at once, determined to knock the girl down a couple pegs.
Amari seemed to welcome the challenge though, dodging one of their attacks and ducking under another. It's not like she wanted to fight them but if she was going to be in this class, then she needed to show them that she was just a serious, that she wasn't a hero course reject. It was the same determination and drive she had from Endeavors agency.
Feeling her heart rate increase, she went to dodge another attack when the girl noticed that her reaction time was a tiny bit slower than before. So much so, that one of the students was able to get a strong punch in, swiping her across her jaw.
She groaned back, whipping a small bit of blood from her mouth as she threw down another student, then falling to the ground in a heavy thud. That was three, there were only four more.
Turning around, Amari ducked as her head suddenly grew even more dizzy than before. What the hell was even happening? She couldn't be this tired already. They weren't even using their quirks.
Amari misstepped again, causing another punch to her chest and knocking the life out of her. Her breathing had picked up now, almost at an irregular rate. The sweat pooled on her brow as she heard someone call out to her, clearly worried. She just wished she knew who it was.
She felt her legs give out for a moment as she flopped down onto the ground, clutching her chest as her heart pounded in her ear. It was like that was all she could hear anymore.
Willing herself to get back up, Amari found her strength and stood back up, the room beginning to spin all at once. What the hell was even happening? She couldn't let those students beat her. She needed to prove to them that she wasn't useless, that she was worth something.
Thinking back to the letter in her bag, she also knew she had to push through for Todoroki. She had to be strong enough for him so that she wasn't a burden. If only her body would listen to her.
Shinso felt his heart drop in his chest, as Amari clutched her chest, now shouting at the other students to stop and pulling them away from the girl. "Amari! Get away from her, there's something wrong..."
The kids listened, backing away as Shinso leaned over towards the girl, noticing a heavy shake in her body, like she was forcing herself to even stand. "Amari! Hey, can you hear me?! What's wrong?"
Her eyes looked hollow, like she was mentally in pain as she spoke, her breathing turning erratic. "It's not over. I can do this..I can do this…"
Shinso's eyes saddened as he grabbed onto her shoulders before replying. "It's okay, just relax. They called the fight off. Just breathe.."
Although Amari only shook her head, tears rose to the surface as black spots pooled in her vision, now gasping out in short breaths. "No..I can't...I have to keep going...or else I'll lose everything. I don't know why my body isn't...please...I can't…"
She fell to her knees then, Shinso catching the girl so she wouldn't fall as he just stared at her in utter anxiety and fear. She was trying so hard to fight, even though her body was rejecting her.
Weakly grabbing onto his shirt, Amari stared at him with a devastating, tearful expression before she lost consciousness all together, causing Shinso to gasp. "Amari, Hey Amari! Amari wake up!"
Yet, the girl wouldn't move, Shinso knowing fully well that she had pushed herself to her own breaking point.
Groaning, Amari flopped open her eyes, now feeling the sensation of her body weighing her down. It was like her limbs were like lead bricks. Everything was still extremely hazy and she had no idea how she even got there in the first place.
She sat up maybe a little too quickly, feeling a wave of dizziness overtake her as a voice echoed to her right. "You poor dear, you like to overdo yourself don't you?"
Narrowing her eyes in confusion, she turned only to find Recovery Girl staring back at her. "Where am I?"
The woman moved up to her before feeling her forehead lightly. "The infirmary. That boy Shinso brought you here after you passed out during class. He seemed very worried as well. I had to make him go back to class."
Pulling her hand away, Amari replied. "Do you know what happened? I wasn't even using my quirk and yet I felt so drained and exhausted. That's never happened before."
Recovery Girl was quiet for a moment before answering back sadly. "That's because before you were using those dangerous pills to sustain your body. Didn't All Might already tell you? Once the drug is fully out of your system then you'll return back to your original body. It seems that process has already started."
The words hit Amari like a ton of bricks, causing her to look down at her hands. Did losing her quirk also mean losing her strength and her power? No it couldn't be. She remembered herself as a child, collapsing from just a small run. Was that how her life was going to be now?
Whispering back, she replied. "No, that can't be. I worked so hard to be strong. I can't even have that anymore?"
The woman casted her eyes down at that, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry dear, unfortunately so. That means you have to stop pushing yourself like before. As you can see, your body isn't able to take it anymore."
Amari felt a sob build up in her throat, putting a shaking head to a mouth to suppress it when the door next to her slammed open aggressively. "Where is Amari?! I heard she collapsed! Where is she damn it!?"
She looked eyes onto her brother as the sweat pooled down his face. It was like he ran here as quickly as possible. They stared at each other for a moment before whispering out. "Amari.."
Opening her mouth to reply, suddenly the girl was surprised as Katsuki's rough hands wrapped around her slender frame, pulling her into a tight and suffocating embrace.
She was about to question what was happening when Amari noticed the slight shake to his body. Was he, scared? It couldn't be. "Katsuki?"
Her words seemed to wake him up, pulling the girl away and shouting. "What the fuck is wrong with you?! You were being god damn reckless again, weren't you?! You idiot!"
Bakugo shook his sister back and forth causing her to groan, placing a hand to forehead in an oncoming headache. "You're overreacting Katsuki, I'm fine."
Although he noticed her headache and pulled away, giving her a tiny bit of space. "Don't give me that crap. If you were really alright you wouldn't have passed out in front of the entire damn class. What happened?"
Amari paused for a moment before looking down at her hands once again and sighing only for Recovery Girl to reply for her. "Bakugo's pills are leaving her system so soon she'll be back to her original body. She just overexerted herself during class. A little rest and she'll be fine."
Bakugo took in her words before sharply turning back to Amari who looked devastated. Did that mean she was going to have to go back to how she was before america, would she even have to be hospitalized?
He then noticed a slight cut on her cheek and reached out to touch it, only for her to slap his hand away. She hated his pitying look more than anything. "Would you stop it already?! Don't look at me like that."
Frowning back, Bakugo replied. "Like what? I haven't even said anything damn it."
Shaking her head, Amari touched her bruised cheek before answering. "I know what you're thinking, and I know exactly why you're being so nice all of a sudden."
Not really fully understanding, he watched as she continued. "Do you think I'm stupid? The only reason you like this is because you pity me, because you take one look at me and see your poor little quirkless sister that can't do anything. Well, that's not how I wanted your love Katsuki. I never wanted you to look down on me like that."
Katsuki felt his stomach tighten, denying her claim all together. "What are you even saying? I'm not…"
Yet Amari only cut him off. "Oh please, that's exactly what you're doing. The last year we were at U.A. I've done everything to get you to look at me and only now do you decide to be my overprotective brother. Where were you all those times before? Nowhere, and that's because I wasn't quirkless and a nobody back then. Tell me I'm wrong Katsuki...tell me…"
As much as he hated to admit it, his sister was partly right. The only time he truly changed was after finding out about her hardships and struggles. Before that he had no clue, just pretending that she didn't exist when it actuality, she was hurting far more than he ever knew. He needed to be there for her and he just wasn't.
Shaking his head, Bakugo replied small and low. "I made a mistake, okay? But I'm trying my best damn it. Is it so bad that I want to help you now, that I want to be your brother?"
Amari took in his words for a moment before staring at the floor sadly. "All my life, I've only wanted one thing. If all you're going to do is pity me then that's just the same as you ignoring me. If I don't earn it, it doesn't mean anything."
Her voice dropped lower than as she locked eyes with her brother, really truly meaning her next words. "I want to stand next to you, not behind you."
Bakugo eyes widened then as he took in his sister pure determination. It wasn't about just being nice to her. No, she felt like she had to earn her spot next to him.
He then maybe realized that his approach wasn't the best. He needed to make her see that he wasn't just doing this out of pity. The poor girl just couldn't believe his words yet. He had broken her that much.
Katsuki paused for a moment before replying. "It's not about that, you idiot. I get it though, so I'm just going to have to make you see that I'm not going anywhere, no matter what you may believe in that screwed up head of yours."
Amari blinked in surprise, not fully understanding his words when the door next to them slammed open again, this time revealing Todoroki. "Amari, are you alright?! I got here as fast as I could.."
He ran up to her but slowly stopped when he locked eyes with Bakugo. They stared at each other for a moment before Amari's brother sighed, standing up from his spot on her bed. "Alright you icy hot bastard, you have five minutes. Make it count."
Then he watched as Bakugo took only to look at Amari before speaking back. "I'll be outside. Hurry up."
Slamming the door to the infirmary behind the boy, Todoroki then turned back to Amari. It was almost like Bakugo finally approved of them. "Does he seem a bit softer to you?"
Amari only shrugged her shoulders though. "I don't know. Something's been up with him."
Walking over to the girl in question, Todoroki then placed a warm hand on her cheek before sighing. "Thank goodness you're okay. I was worried, it was hard to focus in class knowing you might be hurt."
She eyed his worry before running her fingers through his hair lightly. "Hey, I'm okay. Sorry, I may have overdid it again in class."
Yet Todoroki wasn't surprised by that. "Of course you did. Amari, what have I told you about that?"
Smiling back sheepishly, she replied. "I don't remember?"
He frowned at that, causing her to sigh. "I know I know, but they started it, and I wasn't going to let them walk all over me just because I was dropped from the hero course. Yet, it seems I'm reverting back already. Soon I won't be able to fight at all. How funny is that?"
Todoroki knew what she meant by that, remembering All Mights painful words. The look in her eyes was one of utter heartbreak. "Is that really true?"
She nodded her head and the boy gasped, wanting to erase her sorrow right away. So, he did the only thing he knew how to do, he pulled her into an embrace.
Amari gasped at the impact, feeling his heart beat hammer in his chest as the boy spoke. "It's okay, you don't have to say anything. I'm here."
Suddenly, she felt the desire to cry but resisted, instead choosing to tightly grasp his shirt for comfort. He knew that she didn't want to talk about it. What was there even to talk about? The reality either way was terrible.
She closed her eyes at his warmth, now hearing herself speak with a slight crack to her words. "It's not fair. I worked so hard.."
Nodding his head back, Todoroki replied. "I know, it's completely unfair. But you know, I'm kind of happy you stopped using those pills."
At his words, Amari pulled away from him, staring at him with a look of utter betrayal. Those pills were everything to her. How could he even say that? "What.."
Putting a hand up to stop her, the boy continued. "I'm glad because now that means you won't die so suddenly and leave me anymore. When you disappeared, I think I truly realized how important you are to my life Amari."
His explanation was sweet, but she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness to it. "It seems to me like nothing has changed. At least with my pills I could die doing what I loved. But now, I'll slowly die with nothing."
Todoroki turned his brow in concern then, cupping her face lightly but firm. "Don't speak like that, please. Yes this is difficult but I already said we'd face it together. You won't be alone, I won't allow it."
Just then, Amari thought back to the letter in her bag, shoving his hand off of her lightly and turning away. "Is there something you want to tell me Shoto?"
Turning his brow in confusion, Todoroki replied. "No, I don't believe so.."
Amari shook her head in response, trying again. "Are you sure? There isn't anything of importance you want to tell me about?"
Yet once again, he only shook his head. "Amari, what's wrong?"
She was silent for a moment before reaching into her bag and pulling out the letter, now watching Todoroki's eyes grow wide. "Here, I'm sorry but I read it."
Taking the letter from her hands he replied. "Amari.."
Although she only shook her head, her eyes now casting to the floor. "Since when have you been getting marriage interview offers?"
Todoroki paused for a couple seconds before answering. "Since after you returned from being kidnapped. But I can explain, it's my father doing, not mine. I never asked for them."
Thinking back to Endeavor, Amari frowned, uttering to herself. "He must really not want me then.."
The boy looked at the letter for a couple more seconds before throwing it in the trash can next to him. "I believe he's getting pressured by the news. That's why he's grown a bit more aggressive than usual."
Hugging her arms across her chest, Amari then asked the question that she had been wondering since she picked up that terrible letter. "So, are you going to go?"
Todoroki listened to her words before widening his eyes and looking at her like she was crazy. "What, of course not. I've turned down all the offers. How could you even ask that? As if I would let my old man control my life like that.."
Amari rubbed the back of her neck in anxiety as she replied. "I don't know, maybe you'd want to see your options or something like that. I wouldn't judge you for it if you did. Now that I'm quirkless and everything…"
Yet before she could even finish, Todoroki cut her off. "Are you serious right now? Why would I go to a marriage interview when I already found what makes me happy, and she's sitting right here."
Her face began to rise in heat as Todoroki touched her cheek lightly. "Don't even doubt yourself like that Amari. You're the one I fell in love with, remember that."
Feeling her chest pound rapidly, he then leaned in and pressed the soft kiss on her lips, snaking his hand on her waist for support.
When they pulled away, he then rested his forehead on hers, breathing out a heavy sigh. Todoroki already knew that there was only one person for him.
His father could go screw himself because he wasn't about to give this up.
AHHHH so much cute flush and angst. Amari's in a pickle but as you see she's got a really strong support system with Deku, Todoroki, Shinso and Bakugo all helping her out and taking her side.
I'm so excited I get to do soft Bakugo now. I feel like he needs a reason to be this soft in order for his character to be canon to his anime personality. And what a better reason then all the crap he's seen and been through.
I also really love Amari's phrase. "I want to stand next to you, not behind you" because it really captures who the character is. She wants her brother to love her but she doesn't want to be seen as a burden or a third wheel. She wants to be equal to him.
Next Chapter: Worst father award, Endeavor comes back and makes Amari an offer.
