Hey everyone, hope you're all doing well!
There's this awesome drawing of Akano Yumi/Jean Grey is done by the awesome Kureha-chan!
Click here to check it out! https/tebocchi./post/617846164575993856/a-mutants-hero-academia-dark-phoenix-boku-no
And for any of you who love to draw, I'd be more than grateful to see what you imagine Yumi to look like!
~
"Now that lunch is over, it's finally time to reveal the final game! But before that, there's good news for all of you who didn't make it to the finals! This is just a sports festival! So we've prepared recreational games that everyone can participate in, too!" Present Mic's voice rang through the stadium as he finished up.
The horde of first years all made their way back inside the stadium, including Akano Yumi and Midoriya Izuku who'd walked side by side as they entered the dark corridor after their earlier meet up. The air between the two of them was still slightly awkward as they walked amongst their fellow freshmen, which was an understandable outcome since the green haired boy had caught her balling her eyes out.
From the side, students whispered furtively, their acute stares following the two of their forms. One went as far as to forcefully bumping shoulders with Midoriya without bothering to apologize which only led to the greenette's bewilderment.
'What's with them?' He internally wondered, his eyes drifting back to the girl walking beside him as they exited the corridor and out into the bright field. There were no traces left on her face that proved that she was crying just minutes prior, and it made him a bit relieved that she seemed alright now. Even though they hadn't known each other very well, they were teammates in the previous round, after all, so he cared that she was okay.
"Hm?" Yumi noted his staring, so she she turned to look at him quizzically.
The shorter male's wide jade eyes opened further when her green eyes -that were a few shades lighter than his- met with his own.
It was only then that Midoriya realized just how beautiful she was.
Akano watched his expressions change from calculative to mortified to shy, shuffling between them before her eyes.
"I-I was just wondering why the students from the other classes are acting so aggressive lately." He speedily said, turning his head away from her with an embarrassed flush. Midoriya honestly didn't know how he'd been casually walking alongside her those past few moments. With his shy persona, he had a hard time talking to girls and with how good-looking the redhead was, it got harder for him.
"Ah..." She herself took in the jealous stares that were sent from the rest of the general ed students and pierced into all of the sixteen finalists. "Apparently they took the hero exam and failed. In hopes to prove the school wrong, they wanted to make a good impression in the festival. And that plan obviously went down the drain." She monotonously spoke. She maintained a firm look, but internally she was still shaken up after meeting... Him.
"Oh.." Izuku nodded in understanding. She and him halted in their steps once they approached Midnight's stage.
"Well, their attitude still can't be fully justified." Yumi shrugged.
"Is that the case for you, too?" Midoriya mindlessly queried.
Scrunching her eyebrows at him, Yumi's face displayed a confused look. "What do you mean?"
The color in his cheeks returned and she assumed his timidness won out in the end. "N-no, I-I just meant that you're trying so hard.. I just thought that you-"
"Unlike the majority of my class, I originally applied for the general studies." She interrupted Midoriya either a rather stoic look, eyes closed. 'Although I am using this event to prove myself'
Midoriya was taken aback at her words. "Eh?"
Once she fluttered her eyes back open, Yumi caught sight of Todoroki walking not too far behind Midoriya. And immediately, everything around her blurred, the emotions he'd unwittingly shared with her rising up again like bile in her throat. All she saw in that moment was the dual haired boy and she felt her feet shuffling around on their own. She didn't even bother explaining herself to the confused green haired teen, uttering a quick "Excuse me," before she made her way to Shouto.
The heterochromatic eyed teen was standing spiritlessly in front of the Umpire's stage. As she strolled on towards him, Yumi stared onward in thought.
'... Why am I going after him?' Her eyes were slowly widening at the realization. 'We're just strangers to each other.'
With that thought, the redhead paused in place, her breath hitching in her throat. 'Just what was I going to say to him?' At her silent ponder, she released a breathy chuckle that was bitter in nature. She had gotten carried away. After she'd infiltrated his memories -a boy she didn't even know nor did he know her- with no invitation whatsoever, what exactly was she going to do?
Green eyes lingering with a yet unidentified emotion, they draped half-closed as she let her lips press lightly together. 'I'll put those feelings, his feelings aside for now. It's not like I don't have my own problems to worry about...'
And with that notion, Akano Yumi reluctantly and hesitantly attempted to shrug off those unwelcomed emotions that were permeating through her, deciding to focus on the task at hand.
To win this thing.
*
"All right, everyone! Let's have fun competing in the recreational games!"
After they withdrew lots, the bracket was determined regarding the one-one-one tournaments. Still a bit shaken up with the whole Todoroki-memories immersion, Yumi's thoughts were blurred as she stood there. Her clouded gaze shifted tiredly along the wide screen displaying the battle arrangements, indicating that her first opponent would be Aoyama Yuga, a boy from class A.
A few events had transpired during the draw; a blonde teenage boy named Ojiro had decided to back down from the next round -much to everyone's shock. Akano immediately recognized him as the guy from Shinso's team, the one who had been brainwashed into doing so. His decision took everyone present by surprise since it was a chance no one would pass up. However, the redhead knew it was a logical end result to Shinso's actions, who had quickly averted his gaze away from her at that moment. Even though the two general ed students had made up with each other during the lunch break, Yumi still hadn't entirely made peace with the approach Shinso took during the cavalry battle and the broken Ojiro's withdrawal added to her worries.
After the bracket was determined, everyone dispersed; some of the students went to participate in the recreational games, others exiting the stadium to prepare for the upcoming battles, while Yumi was stuck in place like a sour thumb.
"First is the scavenger hunt!" Present Mic declared up from the announcement booth, and the students participating in the game rushed enthusiastically to acquire the items that were written in the cards they had picked out.
"A cat! Please give me a cat!"
"Does anyone have a textbook?!"
Akano calmly made her way across the field, passing by the excited boys and girls who were just happy to be a part of a fun school activity. She stopped by a wall, leaning against it while sliding down to sit on the freshly mowed grass to which her eyes were solely focused.
Thoughts filled with turmoil, Yumi failed to notice when a dark haired boy approached her from the far side of the field. No matter how much she tried, she just couldn't get over all the pain and anger Shouto had radiated. She had only seen and felt a fraction of it, of all the hurtful events that he's been through which evidently morphed him into the boy he was today. Perhaps that was why he looked so mature and lonesome for a fifteen-year old-
'Look who's talking...' She humorlessly joked to herself.
Akano was still isolated in her own bubble. But it was only when the dark haired boy's shadow loomed over, replacing the bright gaze of the sun that Yumi was thrust out of her grave ruminations.
"Hello,"
She looked up to see the person who greeted her from her seated position, and she found a spiky haired boy grinning down at her. The first thing she oddly noticed was the wide, zig-zag patterned headband he wore around his forehead, which she assumed he wore to keep his hair out of his eyes. "Hi." She said back in a rather dull fashion, but you could detect the slightest hint of curiosity she held as to why this boy whom she didn't know approached her.
'Oh, no. Please don't tell me it's another "confession". Why do they always choose to do them during school events?'
His rounded grey eyes met with hers and he didn't seem the least bit hindered by her rather unwelcoming greeting. In fact, he took it up to introducing himself. "I'm Awase Yosetsu, from Class B."
"Umm... Nice to meet you?" She hesitantly said. She still wondered what a boy from the other hero class would want from her since he didn't seem to be all that romantically oriented at the moment, unlike the other boys in her middle school who'd made bold declarations with their cheeks aflame. But she internally shrugged, deciding to reciprocate the gesture. "Akano Yumi, Class-"
"I know." Awase interrupted. "I saw you in the opening ceremony."
'Huh.' Akano realized that she mostly had to make introductions of herself today almost exclusively to class A students who'd missed the opening ceremony at which she'd given the freshman representative speech.
"I'm here for this." Awase finally declared his reasoning of coming up to her as he extended one of the cards belonging to the scavenger hunt. Akano reached a curious hand out to read what it says. The red haired girl took it between her slender fingers, gently brushing Awase's and began to read it silently.
'Bishoujo?'
[Bishoujo: Beautiful girl]
Once Yumi was done sweeping the word with her eyes, she looked up from the small laminated paper that she had in her hand, which she reached out back to the slightly taller boy, indicating that she was done with it.
"I mean, I'm flattered, but-." She began, locking with Yosetsu's expectant gaze. Yumi's downturned lips tugged up a bit, her brooding eyes lightening somewhat. Her brow, however, still retained a hint of permanent sorrow as she faced Awase. "Sorry. Right now I'm not in the mood. But I'm sure you'll find someone-"
"Awase! Don't you dare get her for that item!"
'Oh boy... I know that voice.'
Yumi didn't have a chance to finish her sentence when the familiarly worked-up and obnoxious voice of barged into their conversation. The blonde haired boy stomped towards the two of them like a moody child. "It'll definitely get to her head!"
Turning her head to the source that was heading towards them in full, speed, Yumi was met by an unwelcoming yet familiar sight.
There stood her long time acquaintance, Monoma Neito, yelling at Awase who was previously conversing with her.
As Akano and Monoma made eye contact, the former refused to even acknowledge the blonde's presence. The disinterested look that was plastered on Yumi's face seemed to irk him even further.
Awase watched from the sidelines, his nose scrunching in both confusion and curiosity. "Huh? What's going on?"
His question seemed to be enough to separate the clash of green and periwinkle-purple eyes and the two broke their glaring match, which was far more subtle on Akano's side.
"Nothing!" Monoma snubbed, snapping his neck in the opposite direction and refusing to look back to the still quiet redhead. "Let's find you someone else." He suggested to his classmate in a demanding tone, determined that Awase should not take Akano Yumi as the 'beautiful girl' for the scavenger hunt.
Awase instead just shrugged. "Nah, I'm good."
"Hmph." The boy with the slicked blonde hair finally looked her way. "If you look at it objectively, she doesn't even meet the specifications." He said in a petty tone, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Are your eyes malfunctioning, Monoma?" Awase asked with a deadpan.
'Okay, that's it.' The telepathic teen released a deep sigh as the two boy talked, finally getting up to her feet and dusting herself off from any grass that might have stuck to her. With all the effort she took, Akano wrung herself out of the depressed state she was previously in.
"On second thought, let's go." She abruptly said, quickly taking Awase by the hand and walking away -much to Monoma's infinite dismay. "O-oh, okay." Awase sputtered from the initial shock and for the fact that the two of them walked hand-by-hand. The warmth from her soft hand set against his was somehow traveling up his neck and settling on his cheeks.
As the two of them advanced to the finish line, Yumi could still hear Monoma's shouts and grunts of disapproval, and it brought a satisfied smile to her lips.
"Fourth place, huh? Not bad." The spiky haired ravenette grinned once they looked up to the screen displaying the ranks and results regarding the recreational games. Much to his disappointment, Akano had let go of his hand after they crossed the finish line, but at least he'd reveled in the jealousy-filled glances most of the boys from the other classes and his own had thrown his way for holding hands with the first years' idol.
"Yeah." The redhead nodded.
Only a few moments later, a chortle erupted in Yumi's chest at the sight in front of her. 'What the-'
There, being woman-handled by an orange haired girl was the snobby Monoma. The aforementioned girl had abnormally large fists that were able to accommodate the entirety of Monoma's torso as she carried him in a sprint towards the finish line.
The sight gave Yumi unbridled joy, and the many other students surrounding her, as well.
"What was the hunt for?" Akano found herself bemusedly asking the orange haired girl after she'd made it into sixth place and dropping Monoma to the ground, who then protested loudly.
Kendo was a bit out of breath, a few drops of sweat on her cheek after she'd carried the taller boy. When she looked up to see who was talking to her, her teal eyes widened for a bit before returning to normal. The redhead awaited for her answer, which made Kendo flinch as she remembered the question. "I'm not really sure if I have it right, but..." She brought a nervous hand to the back of her head while allowing the other to search for the scavenger card in her pocket.
Yumi took the card with a polite nod, and the corners of her lips reached up to new heights in a grin as she read the words; 'Perverse Person'.
"I'm a mind reader. So trust me when I say, it fits." She assured in a playful manner that made Kendo smile, as well. "Akano Yumi."
"Yeah, I know- I mean, I'm Kendo Itsuka." Kendo finished with a nervous giggle. She saw that the well-known freshman rep had her hand reached out, and she quickly moved to shake it. Apparently Akano Yumi was well known amongst the majority of first years, usually fawned over by boys and girls for her beauty and brains. But she never gave anyone the time of day, so Kendo was pleasantly surprised when the usually aloof teen came up to her and started chatting up. However, the moment quickly ended when Monoma quickly intervened, karate chopping their handshake at the middle.
"Kendo! Don't shake hands with her, you'll be infected with Bumptious Syndrome."
"Eh?" Kendo tilted her head to the side in confusion.
From the sidelines, other boys class B were watching the scene play out. "It's my first time seeing Monoma actively hating on someone who isn't from Class A." Tsubaraba commented and received a "Right?" from Awase.
A long and heavy sigh escaped from Akano whose exacerbation reached new levels. She was adamant on ignoring him like she always had, in hope of not seeming vain like him, but she'd had enough of his childish behavior. So she did something she wasn't proud of and stooped to his level.
"As opposed to being petulant like you? I think she'll be fine with me."
The blonde gasped in response, but quickly humphed to hide his displeasure.
"I see you've qualified to the final event even though it's a heroics student event." Monoma smirked crossing his arms in front of his chest as he looked her up and down, a gesture that was rendered useless since he was practically the same height as her. "You must be really desperate to prove yourself, huh?"
"Probably." She shrugged nonchalantly. "But why don't you try being a little desperate then? Who knows, you might have even made it through the second game if you had."
Monoma's nostrils flared at the jab, which he unfortunately laid out the groundwork for. He looked away from the infuriating girl, mumbling under his breath, "Stuck up shrew."
He made sure to mutter the insults loud enough so she would hear them, and she immediately rolled her eyes. Meanwhile, Kendo just stood there, her eyes traveling back and forth between with a bewildered expression.
"So I see you still haven't gotten over my rejection, huh?" Yumi's face was neutral as she uttered those words, but her tone showcased smugness.
"-Who would?!" Monoma growled loudly, his face flushing red from both anger and embarrassment. She'd caught him red-handed with the cause of his eternal bitterness towards her.
"..Turned down?" Awase repeated.
"That's what she said.." Tsubaraba cackled.
Fists clenching by his side, Monoma swallowed thickly to regain his composure which he thankfully did. He smirked, closing his eyes and throwing his hand in the air. "That's why I hate arrogant people like you, you just think everything revolves around you. Seriously, you're nothing but an infernal nuisance to my eyes. Why don't you just go awa- Are you ignoring me?!" It was only then he realized that she was no longer listening, nor paying attention as she turned around and walked away from the bitter boy.
The blonde flinched when he felt Kendo sympathetically patting his shoulder. "So that's why you're like this with her, huh, Monoma?" She shook her head, a wide smile decorating her cheeks. "A man's pride really is a fragile thing."
"Shut up!!"
As Yumi walked away from the horde of students rushing towards the next game, she decided to take a walk outside the stadium to get ready for the fight and get into the right state of mind. When she approached the tunnel, however, her eyes met with Ochako who was wearing an American cheerleader uniform.
'I swear, this day could not get any weirder.'
So she made her way towards the brunette who was now jumping in place and cheering for god knows who.
"Yu-chan!"
"Wha- uhh.. What?" Yumi held back the laughter that threatened to spill from her lips, clearing her throat and holding her stomach. "Why are you wearing that?"
"Kaminari-kun and Mineta-kun played a prank on us and got us to wear these cheerleader uniforms!" Uraraka complained with too much pep, moving her arms around which made the pom-poms shake in her hands. But she suddenly got a bit nervous under Yumi's bemused gaze. "Does it look too weird?" She asked rubbing the back of her head with her pom-pom clad hand.
"No, you look great." Yumi shook her head. "You even got pom-poms there. Going all out, huh?" She had an unusually large grin plastered on her face. That smile...was the only thing holding back the full belly laughter that wanted to get out.
Ochako nodded. "I thought it was a good idea to calm my nerves..." She trailed off, giggling. On her face, Yumi could see a swirl of emotions, in which restlessness shone above all. Losing the amused expression, her green eyes softened in understanding. She dedicated a comforting a hand on the shorter girl's forearm for her hand was currently occupied. "Don't worry, you'll do great." She reassured. To Ochako, the serene warmth of Yumi's touch was akin to the same day they'd first met when she calmed her down after rescuing her from that groper.
Her lips trembled, the weight of her fear of screwing up the upcoming fight against Bakugo was slowly lightening. "You really think so?"
Her friend gave her an assertive nod. "I know so."
"B-b-b-but, it's Bakugo-kun!"
Watching her Ochako's stuttering, quivering form, she felt a wave of empathy for her friend's emotional state. "Your match is with that explosion guy, huh?"
"Yeah. Bakugo-kun's kinda..." The girl lowered her head, as a sigh left her mouth. "I guess you can say I'm really scared. But you know, I'm trying to braver and fight everything head on, like you always do, Yu-chan!"
"Me?" Yumi wondered. "Anyway, I'm sure you'll find a way. You're a full fledged heroics student who managed to make it this far. I believe in you."
"Arigatou, Yu-chan! I know you'll do great, too!" Uraraka beamed brightly, her blushed cheeks notching upwards in a grin.
Yumi smiled, too, but hers only revealed concern for her own upcoming battles. "Good luck to both of us.."
A/N:-Sooo how do you like the chapter? I tried to make it more lighthearted and fun, since the last one was on the angsty side Don't forget to favorite and to drop a comment!