winddemon199: ahaa ~ ! he wasn't going to let her get away that easily ! (⁀ᗢ⁀)
LadyAmazon: aahh, thank you so much ~ ! i was aiming for a trip down memory lane, i'm happy you enjoyed it ! ❤ it was so fun to write ~
ahgase007: ha ~ ! i smiled writing it ! Taru is starting to return to her old happy self ❤ ~ you're very welcome, and thank you for reading !
bbymojo: thank you ~ ! haha, ❤ that's so sweet, you took the whole bakery for me lolol ! i love writing Daichi and Taru. and yes yes, he's fairly young ! Daichi is in his mid twenties! when he met Taru he was still a student learning the ways of being a park ranger and doing work studies, aha. those two have a strong and lovable sibling-like bond ❤ and yup, i think he sees something going on with Shotaru. (¯▿¯) , and that chapter was nothing but Shotaru ! it was so sweet and fun to write all of their moments, and at their most precious place at that. ❤ here's to a fresh new start to their relationship !
lovelyhatter: IT'S HAPPENING ~~ ! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖° ahaa, thank you ~ ! ❤
jaffa3: lolol i agree ! ❤⌒ヽ(*'､^*)
Vienna22: AH , thank you ~ ! i'm so happy you enjoyed it ! ❤ i hope you enjoy this chapter, too !
pinkpaladin: ehee , that makes me extremely happy ~ ! no need to apologize ❤ just you reading is more than enough ~ (⁀ᗢ⁀) ! thank youu ~ ! you stay safe, too ! ❤
cherryvampiress: we sure are accepting bets ~ ! if you win tell me what you want ~ ! as long as it's within my power, i shall comply, ahaa ! ｡ﾟ( ﾟ^∀^ﾟ)ﾟ｡
Emocean: Sexy Anti-Hero Taru-chan coming through ! lmao ~ ! thank you ! i had so much fun writing that chapter ~ ❤ cheers ~ !
Cally: ahaha ! gosh, i wonder when they will finally do that ? is that moment near or far ? it sure is taking them a while, ehe. (￣▽￣) poor, adorable, and oblivious souls ｡ﾟ(TヮT)ﾟ｡ you stay safe, too ~ ! ❤
paulina101: update for you ~ ! aha , thank you so much ! and it's my pleasure ❤
Frenchie Is French: thank you ~ ! i'm happy you love them ! ❤
Rmack: ❤ ! thank you ~ ! that makes me happy to hear ! i can't wait for you to read this chapter !
TECKK: ahaa , ~ i'm happy to hear that ! you're very welcome, thank you for reading ! ❤
•○●○•
hello , ❤
hoping everyone is staying safe and healthy !
take care of yourselves ~
i hope everyone enjoys this chapter !
endless love to all of you ~ !
❤＼(￣▽￣)／❤
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cover image:
cherryblossomx6 (dotdeviantart) (dotcom) /art/ After-School-Plans-839356482
just remove the spaces and put a "." where you see the word "dot" and remove parentheses.
or if that's not working just look up my username on deviant art lol, ( ´ ω ` )
•○●○•
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Hero Names and Internships
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"The Hero Killer had another bloody day in Hosu City yesterday afternoon. His attack has left the Turbo Hero Ingenium in critical condition. It is unknown at this time if he is expected to make a full recovery—"
The flashing images from the television reflect in two sets of eyes. They sit side by side at the counter, watching the news broadcast on the small screen that's mounted in the corner. A light clink sounds out when Hotaru sets down her canned soft drink.
"That guy…" She whispers.
At the sound of her voice, Shoto lowers his own canned beverage onto the countertop. He swallows the rest of his drink before looking over at Hotaru. A troubled expression is on her face as she watches the live broadcast.
"Do you know him?" He asks, making her head turn in his direction. Her silvery orbs that are locked onto his mismatched ones are inquiring, so he continues. "The Hero Killer?"
She leans forward and props her elbows up on the countertop, resting her chin in the palm of her hands. Her lips purse as she stares ahead at the hanging plant on the wall. The afternoon sunlight streaming through the nearby window complements her form. Her eyelids lower slightly.
"Not personally." She answers. "I just know that he's really dangerous. He has a ton of followers that support his desire to purge the world of false heroes. My dad always told me to stay away from him, but unfortunately my poor luck didn't allow that."
After that, she lets out a huff that's followed by a pout. If Lightning Beast himself wanted her to stay away from the Hero Killer, Shoto can only imagine just how dangerous that guy is. But, she encountered him before. He faces her with a frown.
"How'd that go?" He asks curiously. She shivers suddenly, making him raise a brow.
"Pretty bad. He's like a ghoul." She begins, her hands raising towards her face as she reminiscences. "Licking up blood like it's his favorite snack, and not to mention he just looks creepy in general. I called him stupid..." She trails off, meeting Shoto's stunned eyes. "I… wasn't very bright at the time. Well, let's just say it was a good thing my dad was nearby to bail me out."
"I see…" Shoto murmurs, turning his attention back over to the television just as she does. The woman on screen begins talking about Ingenium once more. He says his next words more to himself than her. "Ingenium is Iida's older brother."
"I thought so." She whispers with a worried crease in her brow.
That explains why Iida had left early during the Sports Festival. She hopes he's doing well, and she hopes Ingenium will bounce back. Her eyelids drape over her eyes as she clasps her hands together. She lowers her head as she says a silent prayer. The Hero Killer, Stain, he really is stupid.
When she gets her new phone, the first thing she's going to do is check up on Iida. He must really be going through it right now. He's probably frustrated and sad, maybe even vengeful. Who wouldn't be? She knows that feeling all too well.
She moves to grab her drink and finishes it off. Letting out a content sigh, she looks beyond the glass window and into the world that's being swallowed up by the twilight sky. She smiles.
"Today was an awfully long day." She states.
"Says the one who didn't lift a single thing." Shoto brazenly remarks, and she scoffs.
"I did my fair share of lifting! Maybe I didn't lift as much as you and Daichi, but," She holds her hand out for him to see. "Just look at all these nasty blisters."
Shoto stares at her hand. Her slender fingers are scuffed up, and her palm does have at least a couple blisters. This is undeniable proof that she's done some lifting. She's been doing the best she can with her lacking physical strength. He knew that from the beginning.
"I was joking." He reveals, his cheek pressing against his balled-up fist as he uses it as a headrest. "You should tend to that."
"I will. No need to worry." She beams, spinning around in her seat.
"I wasn't worried."
"Whatever you say, Shoroki."
That nickname makes him stare down at his feet, and her arm that suddenly situates itself on his shoulder makes him sigh. His eyes move in her direction to see she's pointing at all the work they've done. All the shelves are filled with glass tanks and gravel is neatly stacked nearby.
"We've emptied the entire truck. Once we got past the gravel, it wasn't so bad. Look at all these fish tanks that will soon be the home to many fish. Then, those fish will find new homes and bring so much joy to people." She begins with a smile. "We couldn't have done this without you."
That was a rather interesting way to put it. As expected from her. Her arm falls away from him and she hops onto the ground, stretching her limbs. Just as he slides out of his chair, she lets out a profound yawn.
"It's quite unfortunate though." She speaks through her yawn, wiping drowsy tears from her eyes.
"What is?" He inquiries, confused.
"That we weren't able to set up a fish tank today." She answers with a pompous smirk. "It seems we'll have to do it another time since it has gotten so late, and since I have gotten so tired. Or, maybe you can return my last request to me and I can ask for something else."
"No."
"You're so not fair!" She spins arounds and faces him with a glare, her index finger mercilessly pointing at his face. "Come on. I gave you another three requests, but you can't even give me my one back?"
"Nope." He nudges her hand aside.
"You scared or something?"
"What's there to be scared of?"
"I don't know. You tell me."
"Nothing."
"Hmph." She folds her arms over her chest. "Then, at least tell me what your three requests are."
"I'm not sure what they are yet." He answers, moving past her. "It'll be nice to have something to hold over your head, though."
"Oh, funny." She stomps after him. "Using my words against me? I'm going to make sure this backfires on you. Just wait for it—oh that reminds me. I still need to get back at Mineta-kun and Kaminari-kun… Huh." Her finger grazes against her chin. "I got some major plotting to do."
The two of them step outside, the setting sun caressing them. A cool breeze blows by and the traffic on the street is growing less and less. The sky is orange in the distance, yet above their heads it morphs into a dark blue. Stars are beginning to appear. Although, not many will. Hotaru comes to a stop and stares at a lone star. It shines dimly. She raises her hand to shield the sun away from her sight.
"One day…" She whispers.
At her soft voice, Shoto pauses and looks at her from over his shoulder. Her raised hand lowers at a slow pace, and the outer corners of her have a subtle upwards arch to them. The breeze weaves through her dark strands of hair, and the rays of dusk make her skin golden like honey. Her silvery eyes look his way suddenly, and she smiles sheepishly.
"What?" He inquires, and she shakes her head.
"Nothing. I was just wishing." She answers, and his head tilts ever so slightly. "On that star, I mean."
He looks up at the solitary star above their heads. It's so faint he almost doesn't take notice of it. Wishing on a star? His gaze falls back down to her ingenuous face.
"What did you wish for?" He pries.
"If I tell you, it won't come true. You should know that." She shifts her weight, placing her hand on her hip. "Unless," She smirks, jesting. "Is that a request?"
"It's a request." He confirms, and her lips part. "I want to know what you wished for."
His requests so far have been for his own advantage. They've had some kind of goal attached to them. This request on the other hand is unexpected. There's no meaning to it. It's pointless. What could he possibly gain from knowing what she wished for?
"Are you serious?" She mutters in question, giving him an odd look.
"Yes." He nods.
"What if my wish doesn't come true?" She frowns. "Are you trying to sabotage my dreams?"
"It will."
She wonders what he is thinking right to seriously be requesting such a thing. He's so sure her wish will come true but he doesn't even know it. Suddenly and like a cloudburst, realization falls down onto her. Her silvery orbs widen the tiniest bit before she smiles. Clasping her hands together behind her back, she blithely moves closer to him, peering up at him with a gleam in her eyes.
"If it doesn't come true, I'm blaming you." She states, and he nods stiffly. "I wished to walk underwater."
Silence hovers between them. A flock of birds fly overhead, and blinding headlights shine onto their forms as a car passes by. Gradually, Shoto's expressionless face morphs into something more ambiguous.
"What kind of wish is that?" He utters, making her grin widely.
"What do you mean? It is what it is. Just once, I want to be on the inside looking out instead of the outside looking in."
She moves by him, her hair flowing with her movements. He can't help but feel like that answer was a bit obscure. As she walks by, he catches whiff of a soft freesia scent with subtle traces of vanilla. He stays still for a mere few seconds before following after her. She skips up to Daichi who is waving the delivery man off.
"Daichi!" Hotaru practically sings out. The Park Ranger turns around just in time to be tackled with a hug. "Your fish store is almost exactly as it was before!"
"H-Hey, I'm sweaty…" He frowns a bit until she shakes her head, gazing up at him with upward curved lips.
"After today, we're all due for a shower anyway. So, I don't care."
With a helpless sigh and the small shake of his head, Daichi returns her embrace with a smile of his own. There's no fault in her words. He supposes it doesn't really matter. Not only that, he wants to give her this hug anyway for all of her help. Ruffling up her hair results in her shrinking away from him with puffed out cheeks.
"Todoroki," Daichi beams as Shoto approaches the two of them. "I could thank you a hundred times and it wouldn't be enough. Even this isn't enough, but how about this," His fists settle against his hips. "Dinner. On me. I'll buy you whatever you want. You must be hungry after all that work."
Shoto blinks a few times. It's true that he worked up quite the appetite. In fact, he completely skipped over lunch now that he thinks about it. As hungry as he is, he doesn't want to bother the Park Ranger with that. He can just eat when he gets home. Just when he opens his mouth to politely turn down that offer, a low sound catches everyone's attention. Shoto stares at the ground.
"I think your stomach said 'yes.'" Hotaru brings her hand over her mouth as she laughs at the sound of Shoto's growling stomach.
"...It's fine." Shoto tries to deny the offer once more.
"We can just grab some fast food." Daichi snickers. "Don't have to dine in if you don't want to."
"Come on, Shoroki." Hotaru grabs onto his hand, making him look away from the ground and at her. "Cold soba? Isn't that your favorite?"
"Yeah…"
"Then it's settled!" Hotaru turns to Daichi with a successful grin. "Let's go to that soba place—Everything Soba. It's on the way back, isn't it?"
"It is." Daichi confirms, twirling his keys. "Let me lock up the shop then we can get rolling."
"...Thank you."
"Lighten up." Daichi laughs at how Shoto appears apologetic. "It's no problem at all. Me and Hotaru gotta get some more smoothies, anyway."
"Yes!" Hotaru clenches her fists in excitement, sparkles embellishing her spontaneously. "This time I want to try the strawberry smoothie."
Shoto spares her a glance, and it's not much longer after that when he finds himself in the backseat of Daichi's car. Hotaru is slurping her smoothie from the passenger seat with rosy cheeks of contentment, and Daichi's pretty much doing the same as he drives down the road.
He looks between the two of them as he holds his to-go bowl of soba. There are hearts swirling around them in their state of euphoria. He wonders, are those smoothies they are drinking really all that great? He looks over at the nearby cupholder his own smoothie is in.
Daichi ended up buying him a strawberry flavored one even though he didn't exactly ask for it. He feels like he's being spoiled. But, part of him is feeling more comfortable than before around these two. They are easy-going and buoyant, just like back then. He's starting to lighten up like Daichi mentioned ever so slightly.
Slowly, Shoto reaches over and grabs onto his smoothie, bringing the spiraled straw towards his lips so he can have a taste. His eyes widen a notch.
"Oh." He stupidly states at the sweet and pleasant taste.
"It's good, isn't it?" Hotaru asks him, looking over her shoulder with a smile.
Shoto nods silently and continues to drink it, even though the word "good" isn't well enough to describe it. His gaze focuses past the window. The sun has set, and more stars have been plastered across the sky. The city buildings start to grow less and less as they enter a neighborhood area.
"Down this road, right?" Daichi suddenly asks, making him lean forward slightly.
"Yeah." He answers, directing him down a road aligned with homes.
"Really?" Hotaru lowers her drink and stares out the window with pursed lips.
She stares at the beautifully landscaped Japanese-style homes. Some have small fountains out front while others have outdoor lights along the stone pathways leading up to the front doors. They are stunning homes, familiar homes.
"Really." Shoto confirms, turning his attention over to her.
Surprise is on her features. Was she not expecting him to live in such a wealthy neighborhood? His old man being the Number Two Hero, of course he has an ample amount of money.
"Interesting." Daichi whispers to himself, making Shoto look at him next and peculiarly.
"Is it that surprising?" Shoto inquires rather blandly, not getting why they are so astonished.
"Of course it is." Hotaru nods, raising her finger and pointing at a house they drive by. "Because, that's our house."
"Really?" Shoto's eyes widen as he becomes surprised just like them. He points his own finger at a house further down the road, probably the biggest one on the block. "That's my house."
"Whoa." Daichi gawks, his golden eyes just as wide as Shoto's. "Are you saying we've been neighbors this entire time?"
"...I guess so." Shoto murmurs.
"No way!" Hotaru looks back at Shoto with an agape mouth. "I know I haven't been living with Daichi for very long, but how come I haven't seen you at all?! Are you an indoor person? And, you!" He head snaps in Daichi's direction. "How long have you been living here? There's no way you couldn't have noticed freaking Endeavor living down the street!"
"I moved here a few years ago. And, I work a lot, okay!" Daichi answers in a whining tone.
"You haven't looked down the street once to see a literal man on fire?"
"I look down the street all the time! We probably have conflicting schedules. So, maybe that's why I've never seen him." He waves her off.
"I guess that could be it." Hotaru stares skywards in thought as Daichi pulls in front of Shoto's house. "It's still unexpected though. I feel like you should've known that."
"You didn't know, either." He points out.
"But, I'm technically new in the neighborhood."
"Not anymore."
"Don't you talk to the neighbors at all? They couldn't have not mentioned him."
"I don't talk to them that much. But, before you start, you don't talk to them at all."
"I tried to once, but they're scared of me." She folds her arms over her chest, quoting the words of the old lady across the street from their house. "'Oh no, it's Lightning Beast's daughter. Run!'"
Shoto sweat-drops from the backseat. They're doing it again. It's like they completely forgot about his existence. Their bickering is soon muffled by their laughter as they realize how secluded they are from their neighbors. He doesn't understand how that's so funny. Daichi unlocks the car door and looks back at a sluggish Shoto.
"Alright. Safe and sound at home." Daichi gives him a thumbs up. "Thank you again. And, since we're neighbors, you're welcome over anytime!"
"I never thought that we would be neighbors, Shoroki." Hotaru turns around in her seat to face him. There's a happy smile on her face. "We could walk to school together! And hang out whenever, can't we?"
He didn't think they would ever be neighbors either. He doesn't know how to feel about this. Is she going to be waiting at his front door every morning? Is she going to come knocking randomly? This might be problematic, especially whenever his old man is home.
"Whatever." He says, leaving it at that as he locks onto Daichi's golden eyes. "Thank you for the food and ride."
"No problem." The Park Ranger beams.
Shoto moves to open the door, only for it to lock before he pulls the handle. Hotaru's finger is on the button that locks the door. What is she doing? He spent the entire day with her and did some heavy lifting he didn't sign up for. He's tired. What else does she want?
"I'm not letting you leave until you give me another request." She states, and he scoffs.
"Requests?" Daichi raises a brow.
"Yup." She nods.
"Not happening." Shoto states, glaring at her. "Let me out."
"Not happening—hey!"
Hotaru complains when Daichi unlocks the door for him once more, while preventing her from locking it again. She watches with a pout as Shoto escapes from the vehicle, and Daichi snickers at her when she redirects her pout towards him. Right when Shoto closes the door, the privacy gate in front of his house opens. Daichi and Hotaru's head snap in that direction.
A muscular man is standing there. He's tall and wearing a dark t-shirt and sweatpants, seeming to have been lounging around. His face doesn't look very friendly, and his turquoise eyes are glaring in their direction. His flaming mustache flickers—flaming?
"Wait a second." Hotaru rubs at her eyes and squints, her face nearly pressed against the window. "That's… Endeavor?"
"Is it? I've only ever seen him on TV." Daichi mutters. "He looks different in casual clothes."
"I guess it makes sense now why you never noticed him before." She speculates aloud. "Well, I guess I should say 'we' haven't—crap. He's walking this way isn't he?"
"It sure looks like it." He laughs a little nervously, sweat forming on his temple at the approaching Endeavor.
"Hurry. Back up!"
"That's rude! I can't do that!"
"Yes, you can!"
"I literally can't! A complete stranger just dropped his son off at home. The most logical thing to do is see what he has to say—!"
A knock on the window makes them jump. Slowly, they turn their heads to see Endeavor glaring into the car. It's obvious that he wants them to roll down the window. Shoto is hovering by the car with a miffed expression, having not gone inside yet.
"He's kind of scary looking, isn't he?" Daichi whispers.
"No. He just looks like an asshole." She whispers back.
Movement from beyond Endeavor catches her attention. Two more figures are present at the gate. A young woman with beautiful white hair that bears red streaks, and a handsome young man with spiky white hair. The woman is jogging in their direction with a smile while the young man is trailing behind with a curious expression. They must be Shoto's siblings, and with how they appeared so suddenly reveals that they must have been waiting.
"I guess staying in the car isn't an option." Hotaru sighs, and Daichi nods in agreement. If it was just Endeavor, she would've only rolled down the window the tiniest bit. However, she's curious about Shoto's siblings. She'll be well-mannered for them.
Daichi puts the car in park and turns it off. Endeavor moves back when Hotaru opens the door and steps out. She shakes her head to get some of her hair out of her face, her eyes shutting in the process. Daichi comes climbing out of the car with a polite smile, moving to stand next to right her, placing himself between her and the Number Two Hero.
"Hey. Sorry for the late visit." Daichi begins, holding out his hand. "I'm Daichi Hayashi. I live just down the street and am Hotaru's guardian."
Endeavor stares at Daichi's hand, and Hotaru cracks her eyes open. They hold a threatening glint that only falters when he accepts Daichi's handshake. Her lips part slightly in surprise at his unexpected courtesy.
"Enji Todoroki." Endeavor introduces himself. "Shoto's father."
Hotaru's and Shoto's faces go blank at the scene. They exchange a quick glance just before Endeavor focuses on Hotaru. She straightens her posture while clasping her hands together tightly behind her back.
"So, you're Shoto's friend? Aihara-san, right?" Fuyumi, Shoto's older sister speaks up. She moves closer to her with a bright smile. "I'm Fuyumi, Shoto's older sister. I've been wanting to meet you for the longest!"
Her words make her breath hitch. She's been wanting to meet her and already seems familiar with her. Has Shoto spoken of herself around his siblings? Hotaru throws Shoto a sly smile and he frowns deeply.
"That's me." Hotaru confirms in a captivating tone. She steps forward, holding her hand out with eyes that shine as brightly as the stars above. "I'm Hotaru Aihara. It's nice to meet you, Ms. Todoroki."
"Oh! You know english!" Fuyumi grabs onto her hand with both of hers.
"Yeah, sorry." Hotaru smiles sheepishly. "I hope that was alright. I just thought it would be confusing if I referred to everyone here as 'Todoroki-san.'"
"It's no problem at all." She beams. "You can actually call me Fuyumi, if you want."
"Are you sure?" Hotaru's brows raise, and Fuyumi nods. "In that case, you can call me by my first name, too."
"You're too sweet!" Fuyumi's cheeks become rosy along with Hotaru's, their chemistry already blooming. "Isn't she sweet, dad?"
Endeavor doesn't answer. Shoto's head drops slightly, not expecting this to have happened at all. His older brother Natsuo appears at his side.
"So," Natsuo begins, his hands moving into his pockets. "You spent the entire day with a girl?"
"I did." Shoto answers honestly, and Natsuo laughs at that straightforward answer. Although, that laugh only lasts for a brief moment when his gaze falls onto Endeavor. Natsuo's eyes narrow the tiniest bit. Just like that, tension fills the air and everyone takes notice.
"A-Anyways…!" Fuyumi blurts desperately to ease the tension, shooting Natsuo a pleading look. "Thank you so much for being Shoto's friend."
"Yeah…" Natsuo mutters, his hand moving behind his neck as he gazes at Hotaru. "Thanks for taking care of him."
Hotaru almost forgets how to breathe at their grateful words. There are so many mixed emotions hovering in the air. It's clear there is some tension between them all, and directed at the same someone, which is Endeavor. From what Shoto told her about his past, it makes sense why things would be like this. She can only bring herself to nod at their words with a wistful smile, and Fuyumi looks over at Endeavor insistently.
Endeavor's eyes narrow, knowing why Fuyumi is staring at him like that. She wants him to say something—something that will lighten the mood. His teeth grit when he looks at Hotaru. The silver color of her eyes is the exact same as his, yet they shine so much differently. He recalls her fight with Shoto in the semi-finals. He can no longer deny it.
"During the sports festival, you..." He begins, and everyone grows tense.
Daichi steps closer to Hotaru, and Shoto's eyes narrow along with Natsuo's. Fuyumi's jaw grows tight as she awaits what her father is going to say. Hotaru merely stares at Endeavor blankly, already expecting the worst.
"...Placed third." Endeavor finishes.
"And what of it?" Hotaru inquires, bringing her hand to her hip.
"I expected worse." He states, and Natsuo glares fiercely.
"Hey—" Daichi starts up with a frown.
"Is that a compliment?" Hotaru speaks over him, making surprise cross his features.
Silence hovers for a fleeting moment. A cool breeze blows by and crickets sing their songs. Hotaru smirks which makes Endeavor glare.
"No." He bites out, and Hotaru brings her hands over her shaded cheeks.
"But, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me." She begins, falling into Daichi's side almost dreamily. "I'll take it as a compliment. You should say nice things more. It'll be a nice change for an asshole like you."
Endeavor's form becomes black and white for a mere second before red hot flames erupt. Daichi instantly picks up Hotaru and runs back over to the car while she laughs her butt off. Shoto stares after them with wide eyes, having a hard time processing how she actually called his old man an "asshole." Even though it's taking time to process, he can easily see her saying such a thing.
"I-It was nice meeting you! Gotta go!" Daichi sputters out as he shoves a still laughing Hotaru into the car.
"Wait just a second!" Endeavor starts stomping toward them with a popping vein. Fuyumi slowly brings her hand over her mouth in horror.
"Maybe later! It's late and well past this girl's bedtime! Goodnight, Endeavor, sir!"
Daichi climbs into the car quickly and speeds down the road promptly, resulting in a cloud of dust consuming Endeavor's form. Natsuo slowly grins, not bothering holding back his amused laugh. That girl has crazy fortitude. Already, his visit home from college is more bearable.
"D-Dad?" Fuyumi hesitantly reaches towards her fuming father.
"She's so infuriating!" Endeavor roars.
A slurping sound emits as Shoto drinks his smoothie. He turns around and begins to venture inside with a ghost of a smile. His gaze focuses on the brightest star in the sky and he thinks to himself;
How does one walk underwater?
•○●○•
"Hey… that's that Aihara girl, isn't it?"
"Lightning Beast's daughter… kind of scary."
"She did amazing in the sports festival, though."
"She's crazy strong."
"And how she shared a hug with Endeavor's son was so adorable~!"
"It seems like they have a completely different relationship going on compared to their parents."
"Can she be trusted, though?"
Hotaru stares out the window of the train with sheepish sweat gliding down her face. Raindrops fall from the sky and stick to the glass. Ever since she arrived at the station she's been hearing so much gossip about herself… and Shoto. It never ends. She wishes Daichi didn't have to go into work early. Him dropping her off would have spared her of this misery.
"Excuse me, can I get your autograph?"
A tap on her shoulder makes her look over. A grown businessman is holding out a notepad and pen to her, smiling at her like he's her biggest fan. He really wants her autograph? How strange. If she's being honest though… she's deeply touched.
"Sure." She grabs onto his notepad and pen, signing her name in beautiful cursive handwriting. His eyes gleam instantly.
"Woah! This is in english." He gushes as she hands his materials back over to him.
"Really? Can I see?" A woman moves over curiously, awed. "Can I get your autograph, too? I bet I can sell it for big bucks when you become famous!"
"Me too! Me too!"
"You're really not that bad compared to your parents, huh?"
"She's like a baby lion."
"Do your best! I'm totally not a hater!"
"Can I get a picture with you?"
That's how her entire morning goes. Drowning in compliments, being begged for an autograph, being told to try her absolute best. It's almost dreamlike. It doesn't feel like all that long ago when people feared her. Now they are being drawn to her like a magnet. She's not sure which she prefers.
She hurries off of the train when she arrives at her stop, relieved to no longer be surrounded by countless fans. She feels tired even though she slept so wonderfully last night. This is going to take some getting used to without a doubt.
Cold raindrops splat onto her as she walks down the road leading to U.A. Her hand hovers over her head to keep the water from falling onto her. It's futile. She thought she'd be able to make it to school before the rain started, but she was clearly wrong. She lets out a sigh and allows her hand to drop back to her side, seeing no point in keeping it up. Just as she stops hopelessly shielding herself, something else does it for her.
"Why didn't you bring an umbrella?" A voice speaks out.
"Maybe because I knew you would hold one over me." She answers with a smile.
"I doubt that."
"I'm sure you do." She twirls some of her damp strands of hair with her finger, and Shoto stares ahead blankly.
"Yeah."
Hotaru moves closer to him so she's completely under the umbrella with him. The pitter-patter of the rain falling onto it resonates. She adjusts her bag on her shoulder and Shoto looks off to the side as their arms brush together.
"Todoroki!" Mineta's voice wails from behind them. "Stay away from my Taru-chan!"
The two of them look over their shoulders to see Mineta running full speed in their direction, his purple umbrella thrashing about. Hotaru smiles mischievously and stares back ahead. This could be part of her payback.
Shoto grows somewhat stiff when he feels her arms coil around him. Her fingers lightly grip his sleeve as she holds onto his arm with a gentle yet firm hold. His eyes move in her direction with a mellow glaze.
"He can't say anything if I'm the one sticking to you." She affirms smugly.
"...I guess so." He murmurs, looking forward.
"Anyways, I thought you left already. I would've waited for you so we could've come to school together."
"I left after you. Why do you take the long way?"
"Huh? What do you mean? Is there a shortcut I don't know about?"
Mineta pauses in his run, staring after them with an agape mouth. What? Was he ignored just now? His beloved Taru… ignored… him? Not only that, she's hugging Todoroki's arm like he's her favorite stuffed animal. They are talking about some sort of secret passageway from what he can hear. What in the world do they do there? This can't be happening. It isn't happening.
"It's happening." Kaminari suddenly walks by him, reading his thoughts.
"This can't be happening!" Mineta cries out, dropping his umbrella and he panics.
When they head inside the school building, Hotaru lets go of Shoto's arm and instantly feels cold. She can't hold back the shiver that quakes her. She blinks a few times in bewilderment, watching as he closes his umbrella and shakes the rainwater off of it.
"Shoto," She begins, and he looks over. "Can I see your hands?"
Mutely, he walks over to her. He props his umbrella up against his locker and holds out his hands out to her. She grabs onto both of them with hers, her silvery orbs widening in absolute wonder.
"Your left side is warm, and your right side is cool." She states aloud.
"I wonder why." He quips, and she giggles when he pulls his hands away from hers.
They swap out their shoes and head to class together, Mineta trailing behind them like a zombie. He's letting off a bleak aura. Hotaru takes notice and gives the boy an odd look from over her shoulder.
"What's the matter, Mineta-kun?" She questions. "You look really sad, you know."
"My heart…" He whispers.
"Is completely fine." She finishes.
"Why him?! What makes him so special?!" He whines, and her head tilts.
"Actually—"
"Taru and I have known each other since we were little." Shoto reveals, and Mineta pales. "Let's go. We are going to be late."
"Lead the way, Shoroki!" Hotaru jogs after him. "You should hurry too, Mineta-kun!"
He calls her Taru? She calls him Shoroki? They both seem different. How can this be? He has known Taru longer than he has? How many moments have they shared? This won't do at all. She's slipping out of his grasp! He must tighten his hold on her before she slips away entirely! He won't lose to Todoroki. This is war.
"I don't think you stand a chance." Kaminari suddenly walks by him once again.
"Shut your mouth, Kaminari! Just watch me win her heart!"
When Shoto and Hotaru reach their classroom, everyone is gushing about how so many people noticed them from the sports festival and gave them tons of attention. Hotaru stretches her arms as she maneuvers over to her desk, and Yaoyorozu smiles as she nears.
"Good morning, Aihara-san." She greets.
"Good morning, Yaoyorozu-san." Hotaru beams as she returns her greeting. "Did you enjoy your break?"
"I did." She nods blissfully, her ponytail swishing. "I was able to visit this tea shop I've been wanting to go to for a while. Do you have a favorite tea?"
"Hm," Hotaru hums to herself as she thinks. "My favorite tea has to be either chamomile or peach tea."
"Oh, I love chamomile tea!"
"Hey, Taru-chan," Hagakure skips over with a twirl. "I got your new number~!"
"So did I, kero." Asui smiles from nearby.
"We added you back into the group chat!" Uraraka grins widely.
Hotaru looks in Uraraka's direction with a smile. However, her eyes are instantly drawn to Iida who's sitting right in front of her. He's staring off into space which makes her fight a frown. She texted him to check up on him, and he responded that everything is well. She wanted to believe him, but looking at him now makes it hard to.
The door abruptly opens, making everyone dart to their seats and sit with perfect posture. When Hotaru sees just who's in the doorway, she stands up in excitement at a face she hasn't seen in so long.
"Aizawa-sensei!" She cheers, holding her hand up high as she waves a bit too enthusiastically. He takes steps into the room.
"Morning." He greets, returning her wave lazily.
"Good morning!" The class greets, and Hotaru lowers herself back into her seat with a content expression.
His bandages are finally gone. There's a scar that wasn't there before beneath his right eye, but it's still him. He looks exactly the same otherwise. After what he endured at U.S.J., he's fortunate to have only received just that scar. Things could've been a lot worse. She's happy that he's fully recovered. However, she guesses this means she can't hug him as easily anymore.
"Aizawa-sensei, your bandages are gone." Asui notes aloud, her finger against her cheek. "I'm glad."
"The old lady went overboard with her treatment." He grumbles, scratching beneath his eye. "More importantly, we're having a special hero informatics class today."
Everyone clenches their fists, growing either nervous or excited. Hotaru merely gazes at Aizawa curiously. A special class? She doesn't have the slightest clue what it could be. After a dramatic silence, Aizawa suddenly reveals just what exactly they'll be doing.
"Code names. You'll be coming up with hero names."
"We're going to do something exciting!" Nearly everyone leaps from their seats, instantly sitting back down quietly when Aizawa glares with glowing eyes.
"This is related to the Pro Hero drafts I mentioned the other day. The drafts begin in earnest in the second and third years, after students have gained experience and can become immediate assets to the Pros. In other words, for them to extend offers to first years like you shows that they are interested in your future potential. These offers are often cancelled if that interest dies down by graduation." Aizawa explains.
"So, we'll have to prove ourselves once we get picked, huh?" Hagakure asks a question Hotaru was wondering about herself.
"That's right." Aizawa answers. "And, here are the totals for those with offers."
Hotaru silently gasps and leans forward, not expecting for the offers to be in already. Perhaps she should have expected it, but honestly she was just trying not to think about it. She's almost scared to see her total offers. It didn't seem like any hero at all was interested in her during the sports festival. What if she has none?
The total offers appear on the board behind Aizawa. Naturally, her eyes are drawn to Shoto's name who has just above four-thousand offers. As expected. She slowly works her way down the list and her breath gets caught in her throat. She brings her hands over her constricting chest.
"In other years, it's been more spread out, but all eyes were on these two this year." Aizawa states, pointing at both Shoto's and Bakugo's names, the top two.
"Gah, there's such a big difference!" Kaminari sighs and slumps backwards.
"Those Pros don't know a good thing when they see one!" Aoyama fumes.
"Todoroki's first, and Bakugo's second...?" Jiro whispers to herself, confused.
"It's the opposite of their placement in the sports festival." Kirishima muses.
"Some people are too scared to ask for a guy who had to be restrained on the podium." Sero points out.
"What're the Pros scared of?!" Bakugo yells.
Yaoyorozu lets out a discouraged sigh as she compares her low number of offers against Shoto's. She looks over at him with a forced smile.
"You're amazing, Todoroki-san." She compliments Shoto who's busy glaring at his offers.
"They're probably all because of my dad." He grumbles, and Yaoyorozu lets out another sigh. She looks over at Hotaru next who also got more offers than her.
"You got 250 offers. Congratulations… Aihara-san?!"
Everyone looks over at Hotaru too see that her eyes are swirling and she's pale. Aizawa lets out a heavy breath. She always does this when she's overwhelmed. It doesn't matter how much he tells her to do this, she somehow seems to forget each and every time.
"Breathe, Aihara." He advises her, and she suddenly gasps for air.
"Taru?" Shoto frowns when she slumps forward against her desk.
"I-I'm fine…" She whispers, sounding like she's trapped in a faraway land. She didn't even think she would get one offer, yet she got more than she could even dream of...
Aizawa proceeds to explain they will all take place in internships whether they received offers or not, which also explains why they are suddenly coming up with hero names. However, he claims he can't help them with picking their names, and that's where Midnight steps in.
"When you give yourself a name, you get a more concrete image of what you want to be like in the future and you can get closer to it. This is what it means when they say, 'Names and natures do often agree.'" Aizawa informs as he pulls out his sleeping bag. "Like 'All Might' for an example."
After that, he steps into his sleeping bag and lowers himself onto the ground in the corner of the room. It doesn't take long for him to fall asleep, and Midnight begins passing out whiteboards and markers. Once they come up with their names, they have to write it down and present it to the class. Midnight is going to be the one to determine whether their chosen names are acceptable or not.
Hotaru stares down at the whiteboard with furrowed brows. She always dreamed of becoming a hero, but she never really gave much thought to what her hero name would be. She didn't think she would make it this far. Some of her classmates come up with their names quickly while it's taking her a long while.
When the presentations start, the inspiration she was hoping she'd get doesn't happen. The names Aoyama and Ashido came up with are… strange. Very strange. It looks like she can't rely on her classmates for help even though Asui's hero name saves the day. Shoto just uses his actual name.
She stares out the window and at the gloomy sky. Lightning flashes and her eyelids lower slightly as her mind drifts over to her parents. She even reminisces about her past for a short moment before shaking her head. Forget about that, she urges herself. However, forgetting isn't possible. All she can do is… embrace.
Who is she?
How people view her, how she views herself, her aspects and past, who she aspires to be and how she acts, she thinks of all of these things. Lightning. The everchanging weather. Villain to hero. A leaf is carried across the window with a strong gust of wind, and her eyes slowly widen.
Before she even knows it, it's just her, Bakugo, Iida, and Midoriya who still need to present their names. She scribbles onto her whiteboard and grips it tightly with a tightened jaw. A heavy breath escapes her. The scooting of her chair sounds out when she stands.
"I'll go next." She announces, and Midnight grins and waves her up to the front of the room.
All attention is on her when she stands behind the podium, and Aizawa cracks his eyes open. Her nerves skyrocket, but she ignores them. She shouldn't be nervous when stating who she is.
"I couldn't think of anything for the longest." Hotaru admits as she stands before her class, whiteboard in hand. "Our names are supposed to represent who we are. Everyone knows I was a villain before, and now I'm working hard to become a hero. Some people may think this dream of mine is a lost cause, but whatever. It's what I want, and this is who I am."
She holds her whiteboard up for everyone to see with a smile, and Mineta screeches with red cheeks. Everyone's eyes grow large and Shoto's lips part ever so slightly, especially when she smiles.
"Anti-Hero: Tempest." Hotaru reads aloud.
"Anti-Hero?" Midnight looks at her curiously, hands on her hips as she leans closer to read her chosen name. "Are you okay with that?"
"Mhm." Hotaru nods, her simple smile seeming to bring the sunshine on this rainy day. "Mineta-kun always calls me an anti-hero. I didn't think much of it at first, but it's perfect. Present Mic referred to me as the 'Tempest Angel' during the sports festival, and I didn't mind it. My villain past won't ever go away, and some of my nefarious characteristics still remain. Yaoyorozu-san and Iida-kun told me that it was a very unique aspect I had. Even though I wasn't exactly proud of it at the time, I now understand what they meant."
Her eyelids shield her eyes shortly. When her silvery orbs reemerge, they resemble skies after the rain. They are fathomless. She lets out an airy laugh.
"I'm someone who has been thrown from one world to another. All of my experiences shaped me into who I am today. So, I'm going to carry everything with me—my mistakes and my accomplishments. When someone is trapped, I'll be the tempest that carries them to safety, and with that storm I'll be the lightning that diminishes all of their troubles. And," She declares, shrugging in false innocence afterwards. "People may find me more turbulent than your average hero."
"I…" Midnight whispers, her cheeks glowing pink as she stares at Hotaru. "Love it!"
The class erupts with thrilled cheers, and Hotaru becomes bashful instantly at the praise and approval. She gives a small bow before she moves back over to her desk.
"You're so sexy!" Mineta quivers in delight as she passes by him. "My…" He turns around in his seat, facing Shoto with a severe gaze. "Sexy anti-hero. Just… mine."
Shoto stares right back at him, slightly caught off guard. He's clearly threatening him right now, as he always does when it comes to Taru. Mutely, he rests his head against his balled-up fist. It's like Mineta views her as a prize in a competition. His lips purse as a thought strikes him.
Is this what Taru means when she calls people "delusional?"
•○●○•
After everyone choses a suitable hero name with the exception of Bakugo, everyone is given a list of their offers from Pro Heroes. They have to choose a single agency to intern at, and those who didn't receive any offers are given a list of forty agencies who are naturally accepting internships from U.A. To top that off, they are only being given two days to choose.
Lunch comes along quickly, but hardly anyone goes to the cafeteria. They are all too busy looking over their offers and trying to pick which hero agency to intern at. Some people have already decided, while Hotaru is having a hard time.
She looks over her offers with pursed lips, starting to wish she didn't get this many offers. It's just making it harder for her to choose. If she got thousands of offers like Shoto and Bakugo, she wouldn't know what to do. Just with this couple hundred, she's struggling. Some of these heroes listed she has never heard of.
For example, who in the world is Uwabami? The only Pro Heroes she at least heard of on her list of offers is Mount Lady, Edgeshot, Hawks, and even Endeavor. Well, she already crossed his name out, so she won't count him. As if she would work under that flaming prick. She taps her pen against her desk as she contemplates some more.
One name in particular stands out to her, mainly because it's quite interesting. Despite that, she's ultimately clueless. She should ask Aizawa what his thoughts are. At this point she's just going to pick an agency randomly. But, before she visits Aizawa, she's going to visit the cafeteria. She's starving.
"Did you decide, Aihara-san?" Iida's voice draws her out of her thoughts. She looks over with somewhat wide eyes, seeing him standing by her desk.
"Not yet." She admits with a timid smile. "I'm having a hard time. I think my empty stomach is compromising my thought process, too."
"I see." He waves his arms about in a stiff manner. "Then, would you like to go to the cafeteria? I was going to head that way myself."
"Oh, sure." Hotaru grins happily. "Let's go."
She stands up from her seat, stacking her papers neatly over her desk. Iida begins walking with movements more robotic than normal. Hotaru trails behind him with a closed-eyed smile, and Shoto looks after them with the smallest of frowns.
There's something off about Iida and the reason behind it is obvious. He had already eaten his lunch and he's sure he's not walking to the cafeteria to feast some more. He has also been fairly quiet today. Actually, seeing him talk to Taru is the first time he has heard him speak today. Realization dawns on him, and he can't help feeling more worried about him than before.
Iida and Hotaru approach the stairwell. Before they head down like Hotaru originally thought they were going to do, Iida moves over to the small clearing beyond it and where a storage room is. It's a more shadowy area where the sunlight can't reach, and no students are present. Hotaru blinks in bewilderment.
"Actually, Aihara-san," Iida begins, looking back at her from within the shadows. His glasses are gleaming brightly, shielding his eyes from her sight. "I need to talk to you, if you don't mind."
If he wants to talk to her in such a private area, and so badly that he would go to the extremes of faking walking to the cafeteria with her, it must be important. She looks both ways down the hall before stealthily stepping within the shadows alongside him.
"I don't mind." She says, leaning back against the railing of the stairwell and peering up at him. "What's up?"
"What do you know about the Hero Killer: Stain?"
Her breath gets caught in her throat and the air feels cooler. That was more of a demand than a question. Instantly, she knows where this is going. She catches a glimpse of his vengeful eyes just as he turns so his back is to her. Does he plan on going after him? A crease forms in her brow. He can't do that. He absolutely can't. If he does, he'll die.
"He's just as his name suggests," She begins, staring at the ground as she fiddles with her hair. "A ruthless killer who targets heroes. He's an icon in the villain world and many look up to him. He's insanely strong."
"I see. Anything else? Are you aware of how his Quirk works?"
Wrinkles form in her attire as she grips her shirt tightly. He's scaring her right now. Not his question, but why he's asking them. Her jaw tightens. She understands his pent-up anger, she really does. Despite that, he's about to travel down a road with a dead end.
"Nothing other than the fact that he can kill someone like you without breaking a sweat, and even someone like me." She answers. "Iida-kun, I know what you're thinking. If you go after him you are walking straight to your own bloody grave."
"I understand. Thank you, Aihara-san." Iida finally turns around, and he's smiling like nothing is wrong, smiling like his questions had no meaning. "I was just curious. I apologize for wasting your time."
"You weren't wasting my time. At least… don't go alone." She murmurs as he starts to take retreating steps. Her silvery orbs that seem to glow within these shadows follow his every move. He doesn't answer her, and she pushes herself off of the railing with a desperate expression. "Iida-kun, I'm being serious. If you—!"
"I know." He cuts her off, throwing her yet another smile from over his shoulder as if to reassure her. She can't tell if that smile is real or not. "You don't need to worry."
Her fingers that were curled into tight fists at her sides go limp. She helplessly stares after him as he takes his leave, resulting in her standing alone in the shadows. The appetite she worked up is no longer present. A heavy breath escapes her parted lips and she brings her hand over her face. She now has a wretched feeling in her gut.
•○●○•
"Aizawa-sensei," Hotaru drags out, leaning against the back of his chair dramatically. She has invaded the staff room once again. His eyelid twitches in annoyance. "I don't know what to do."
"Stop coming in here like you own the place." He grumbles, spinning his chair around and knocking her off-balance. She lets herself fall onto her bottom, now sitting at his feet. With a smile, she holds out her offers to him.
"Don't you want to see all the offers I got?" She inquires with a head tilt.
"I'm not picking for you." He waves her off, and she gawks at how easily he sees through her.
"At least look and help me narrow my choices down! Please? I haven't heard of some of these people. The last thing I want to do is pick the worst possible agency."
"That's why you need to take the time to do research." He mutters drowsily, although reaching over and taking the papers from her.
Hotaru rests her hands in her lap, watching as he reads through all of the offers she has received. It takes him about a minute or two to finish looking through the papers. Once he's done, he hands them back to her.
"You got some good ones." He states, turning his chair back around so he's facing his desk.
"That's all you're going to say?" She pouts, glaring at his next words.
"Yeah. Now go away."
"You're so cold, Aizawa-kun." All Might's cousin shivers from his desk across from his. Hotaru rises onto her feet to view the scrawny man.
"How about you, cuzzo?" Hotaru holds the papers out to him. "Do you want to see?"
"Yes!"
He takes the papers with pure excitement and quicker than she anticipated. Unlike Aizawa, he reads through them with a big grin and sparkling eyes. Hotaru clasps her hands together behind her back, waiting eagerly for his feedback with a smile.
"You got some amazing offers, Young Aihara!" He nods in approval, handing the papers back to her.
"You too?" She whines at the lack of help, and he only laughs, very nervously.
"S-Sorry. We can't just simply tell you what agency you should go to. It all depends on you. For starters, figure out what kind of hero you want to become." He advises her through his jittering teeth.
A question mark appears over Hotaru's head. Why is he suddenly so edgy? Did one of her offers frighten him?
"For instance, Thirteen would focus on natural disaster rescues." Midnight walks over, her arms folded behind her head.
"And someone like Endeavor would be fighting against villains, ya know?!" Present Mic all but yells as he enters the room, and Hotaru faces him with a grin.
"Present Mic!" She runs over to him happily and he beams down at her. "Do you want to hear my hero name?"
"Yes!" He nods rapidly, extending his arms and wiggling his fingers as if saying "bring it on."
"The Anti-Hero: Tempest!" She exclaims.
"Whoopee!" He strikes a pose, and Hotaru's cheeks become rose dusted.
"I drew some inspiration from the nickname you gave me during the sports festival. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all! In fact, let me tell ya something!" He brings his hands down onto her shoulders, spinning her around so she's facing Aizawa. "I'm the one who came up with his hero name, 'Eraserhead!'"
"Really?" Hotaru gushes with sparkling eyes. "So, in a way you named us both? We really are just alike, Aizawa-sensei!"
"Why are you still in here?" He glares at her.
"Because I thought I could get some guidance. And, I missed you, too. But, fine. I'll leave." She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "I can do this without you."
"I know you can. Now go. You're going to be late to class." He dismisses her, then frowning when she appears next to him. His eyes glow red.
His capture weapon darts out before she even comes close to hugging him. It coils around her tightly, gluing her arms to her sides. She gapes, gazing at him in shock as he stands up and faces her.
"W-Wow! You're faster than I remembered!" She utters, her brows raising. With the simple tug of his weapon, she falls onto her backside. Before she even knows it she's being dragged across the floor. "What are you doing?"
"Taking you to class. Where you are going to stay until the final bell." He answers.
"H-Hold on! I'll go myself! Being dragged like this is not necessary…!" She cries out, and everyone sweat-drops.
•○●○•
Hotaru stays in class until the final bell like she was told. Everyone witnessed Aizawa dragging her down the hall, and it was kind of embarrassing. And just like earlier, she still doesn't know what agency to choose. She huffs as she slides on her outdoor shoes, slamming the door to her locker shut afterwards. Shoto looks over at her annoyed face.
"What's wrong?" He asks her, and she shakes her head aggressively enough to make her hair thrash about.
"Everything." She grumbles, walking off with her nose aimed skywards. Shoto blinks a few times, trailing after her.
"I think that's a disingenuous answer."
He makes that statement as soon as they step outside, and she freezes so suddenly he nearly walks right into her. Her hands move into her hair and she spins around with a whine.
"I don't know what agency to go to." She reveals, slouching forward in misery. "Aizawa-sensei wouldn't really help me. I guess this really is something I have to do all by myself…" She murmurs, gazing up at him through her lashes. "...Did you decide yet?"
"My old man's agency."
"Really? Are you… going to be okay?"
Her lower lip protrudes with her worried gaze. There's a sudden stirring sensation in his gut, and he nods. Somehow, his eyes grow more pretty to her. There's something flickering within them. That alone makes it clear to her that he will be just fine.
"Yeah." He answers, and she can't help smiling.
"Right." She says softly and just as they start walking again. "You know, it's crazy, but I got an offer from him, too."
"You did?" He replies instantly, surprise crossing his features. "Are you going to accept it?"
"No. That would be too weird." She waves that off. "And honestly, we'd probably just argue all the time. Number Two Hero or not, I don't think working under him would be much of a learning experience for me personally."
"That's true. He doesn't…" Shoto hesitates with his next words. "Like you."
It's strange to him that his old man would extend an offer to Hotaru. He has always hated her. However, what happened yesterday was strange too. He gave her a compliment in disguise. What is he trying to do?
"Obviously." She laughs a bit. "I know I'm still trying to decide, but there actually is an agency that somewhat has my interest. I don't know anything about it though. The guy's name just sounds cool."
"What is it?" He asks curiously.
"It's…"
Hotaru trails off and comes to a stop. It's like time has frozen around her. Her irises have shrunk in size. Shoto follows her gaze which leads him straight to their feet, and he freezes much like her. The two of them tremor at a pair of blue and beady eyes staring at them. A smiling face is bulging from the ground. Slowly, Hotaru grabs onto Shoto's sleeve.
"...Do you see that?" She whispers with sweat forming on her temple. She has grown pale. Shoto's lips part to answer her, only for them to seal shut when the face suddenly disappears into the ground with a laugh.
"...It's gone." He states.
"And so are we." She sputters out, pulling him along quickly.
~ Next Chapter Sneak Peek:
❤•○●○•❤
Unforeseen
❤•○●○•❤
Hotaru stares into his eyes that are stern and bright. Her arms hang limply at her sides and her brows knit together. What kind of initiation is this? The lenses of his glasses gleam a pure white when she brings her hand to her hip, even shifting her weight in a sassy manner.
"Yeah, this is a waste of time." She states. "I can't make you laugh."
"It is a waste." He agrees. "It seems I've taken in someone who doesn't have the ability to try."
A popping vein bursts from the back of her head, and he leans back in his office chair. She raises her hand, taking some strands of hair between her fingers. Her cheeks gradually darken as she looks off to the side.
"...What do you call a fish with no eyes?"