After the attack on the U.S.J, school was closed for the next day. Haruka remained at home, though this was mostly her choice as her parents had told her earlier than morning that they wanted her to stay at home, though she had left the house earlier in the morning, when her mother took her for a haircut.
"Your hair's been getting really messy recently," She had said timidly, "Don't want your hair to get in the way of your hero training." And that was why now Haruka, who was now watering her plants along her window sill, her hair was now just reaching the ends of her ears and was much less curly now, though the long fringe that covered one of her eyes still remained. At Least Bakugou isn't going to get mad at me for looking like Midoriya, She thought as she continued to water her plants, which looked much healthier than usual.
After she was done, she placed her small watering can to the side and stared endlessly at the sky. I wonder if anyone else is staying at home today, she thought, hopefully we'll be able to go to school tomorrow, it's kinda a bit boring not being in the class.
She then began to picture their classroom with everyone, in the image in her mind she could see Kirishima talking with others around him, she could see the girls chatting with each other, she could even see that gross piece of trash Mineta whining and crying to anyone who would listen. And then she could see Bakugou and Todoroki.
The two were sitting in completely different places in the room, yet when she saw them everyone else seemed to blur away. Todoroki wasn't doing anything in particular, as he seemed to have fallen asleep, while Bakugou on the other hand was yelling at Midoriya in his seat. As Haruka was looking at them through her image when Miyumi's words from yesterday snapped her out of her trance. "You like Bakugou don't you?"
Haruka's face immediately went red again, as she started to shake her face to hide her blush, Why am I thinking about them that way? S-sure they both have amazing quirks and have amazing potential… and I guess both of them are fairly attractive and good looking- Her face went even redder as she turned away from the window still. W-why am I thinking about those things? Haruka then began to rummage around her room, hoping to find something that made the thought she was having; I-I don't have any feelings for those two do I?
She began to look through her bookshelf, her fingertips passing the books spines as she looked at their covers. They were mostly gardening books, books that her dad would read to her when she was younger. She smiled slightly at the fondness of them as she continued to look through them. When she had gotten to the end of the first row, something fell from one of the books and onto the floor. She stopped and crouched down to and picked it up, unfolding the old paper as she did. When she finished unfolding it, she was quite surprised to see what it was.
Although many wouldn't be able to tell what it was, Haruka recognised it as a drawing she had done when she was younger, much younger. The drawing featured a poorly drawn picture of a woman who was drawn with bright orange lines which were meant to be hair. Her body was made out of triangles as in her hands she held a shield and staff which looked like a circle and a few lines. This woman took up most of the page, and down the bottom Haruka had written: "THe hErO i waNNa Be!" and in the corner of the drawing, was written: "BY SODA HARUKA!"
Haruka remembered drawing this and she remembered what she had drawn this picture from.
When Haruka was little, she had found a book in the local library. It had been a very old book, one that when she had shown her parents too, they were a bit hesitant about letting her borrow it. "I don't know sweetie" her father had said, "I don't think the things tat are in that book are for someone your age." But Haruka insisted, "But there's a lot of heroes in it! And they look so cool!"
With some begging, they agreed to let her borrow it. However, when they got home her dad had spoken to her about it. "That book was from a long time ago. You know how everyone has quirks. Well back in the day it was fairly rare and back then there were no heroes." He then gestured to the book, "And back then when the villains showed up, there were people who fought against the villains… but they were never recognised as heroes." He then placed both of his hands on Haruka who stared wide eyes at her father, "Don't show you're mother this, but I believe that those people, those vigilantes in that book were truly heroes at heart."'
Haruka nodded as she then took the book to her room to read. There were hundreds of pages, talking about these so-called 'vigilantes' that her father spoke about. To her though, she could barely have seen the difference from the heroes she saw on TV everyday. And then she got to that page.
There was only a picture of her, a young and somewhat muscular build woman with long orange hair. She wore a golden top and a long golden skirt that went down to her knees. In her left hand, she held a golden shield which had yellow accents around it, and in her right hand she held a long golden staff with a red orb in its centre. In the photo which was hand drawn, she posed magnificently Almost looking down at Haruka from above with her grace. But it wasn't the photo alone that had drawn Haruka to this "hero."
Although Haruka could barely remember what this hero or vigilante's name was, she remembered what she had done. During the complete and utter disaster of one country, a villain whose power and strength alone nearly caused the end of all times. Until on that fateful day, one woman clad in gold stood for the sake of the people and fought. In that moment, when she had challenged him against all she spoke her words true for all those to hear:
"You wish to hurt these people don't you? Then that is the only reason I need to defeat you. Whether they see me as a hero, as a monster, I no longer care what they will call me. If I can continue to protect them, those who have wanted nothing but to live in peace.
And for the sake of that peace, I will do whatever I can to stop you!" This woman clashed with the villain and their battle was brutal and victorious. The book estimated how long their battle had went, but they always brought up the damage that was done. The battle, according to the book which had taken up most of the city it was happening in, 75% of the country's shape had changed so much that it could have been seen from space as seen from a satellite. As Haruka read eagerly on, she started to imagine this battle in her own mind. She's so amazing, how come i've never heard of her before?
As Haruka read on however she soon got her answer, as the last few lines told how the battle had ended: The nameless hero that Haruka couldn't remember had done something quite lethal, though it would ultimately cause her end, but by doing this she had given herself the strength to kill the villain. However as the sun rose on that morning, the nameless hero who had given up everything to save the lives of everyone, had succumbed to her injuries and died.
No one knew who this woman was in the end, as by the time the people had gotten there, the woman's body had gone.
Despite how she felt by the end of reading that page, despite the somewhat emptiness he felt knowing this woman's fate, Haruka felt this sudden joy of hearing this story of this hero. A woman who stood before calamity, a woman who fought for the sake of all. To Haruka, she was the hero that Haruka wanted to be at that moment. And so, she drew that picture and shown it to both of her parents. Her father seemed somewhat bewinded at the drawing while her mother seemed somewhat horrified learning that the woman had come from the book she had borrowed.
So much so that she started to scold her father and Haruka for trying to get her to like vigilantes. "Haruka, those people in that book are nothing but Villains, people who believed that they were above the law and used the fact that they were fighting others as an excuse!"
"But that hero died protecting everyone, why would a villain die protecting others?"
Her mother said nothing as she took the picture and book away from Haruka. And because of that Haruka soon lost sight of the hero she aspired from, the hero whose name she couldn't remember.
It was while she was looking at this that she heard her mother call: "Lunch time!"
Haruka quickly folded the picture and put it back where she found it and ran to get lunch. I wonder what her name was, she thought as she ran, I should try finding that book again.
School was open the next day and so everyone was back in class. Everyone seemed fairly excited about the news last night that had talked about the U.S.J attack. Haruka listened to the others as they talked, with most talking about the small screen time they got while others talked about how they were now practically celebrities.
Mineta on the other hand was crying and whining about how dangerous the attack had been but was then immediately shut down when Bakugou yelled, "ahh shut up! Grow a pair, will you!"
Haruka watched him for a bit, slouching both of her arms in her seat as she did until she heard Mina and Asui's conversation.
"Hey, So who's going to be taking us for class today?"
"I don't know, but it couldn't be Mr Aizawa cause he's still in the hospital."
Just as Tsui said that, the classroom door suddenly sprung open and to everyone's shock it was in fact Mr Aizawa. However his entire face was covered in bandages as well as both of his arms. Everyone stared at him wide eyed as we walked nonchalant in, Iida asking if he was ok?.
While Aizawa answered him, not really seeming to care too much about his injuries.
"Besides.." He said as his eyes peaked from the bandages, "There's still danger around."
Once again the whole class started to tense up. Is he going to be making us fight more villains? Haruka thought, Is he gonna just watch us have to fight those villains again?
"The sports festival is coming up…"
Oh thank god… everyone thought instantly, it wasn't something that would get them killed.
In that moment, nearly everyone seemed quite hyped for this news, though there seemed to be some concern.
"Is it actually safe to be having it soon after the attack?"
"Yeah the villains could show up when we're all together…"
"It's necessary to demonstrate that U.A's crisis management is sound, well thats the thinking apparently. Compared to past years there'll be five times more security. Anyhow, the sport's festival is the greatest opportunity you'll ever get. "
Once the class was dismissed, everyone began chattering with everyone excitedly. About the sports festival. Some talked about the event itself while others talked about the possibility that the met become sidekicks when they graduate. It was while this was happening that Haruka overheard Midoriya and Uraraka conversation as she told Midoriya with surprising enthusiasm, "Let's do our best in the sports festival!"
The others turned and saw Uraraka who was usually laid back and happy was now brimming with confidence and power. To Haruka at least she was looking kinda like Bakugou.
"I'm gonna do my best!" She roarded, easing her fist up with enthusiasm. This made some of the others join in as she soon started a chant. It was while this was happening that Haruka could feel it happening again. She felt slightly dizzy, and then…
"I'm gonna do my best!"
Haruka turned and saw everyone now looking at her in surprise as Marsh-marigold's started to grow in her hair. "Umm… er…I.." she panicked before quickly running out of the room and headed to the mess hall. She felt her face go bright red as she walked there. How could I let myself Mimic Uraraka? I could have blown my cover just now! She started to take deep breaths as the Marsh-marigold 's started to decay in her hair. I just need to find someplace quiet before I talk to anyone.
She finally got to the mess hall where she got a tray and lined up to get her lunch. After about 15 minutes she finally got her food and went to find a spot by herself to sit. Once again, it seemed like all of the seats had been taken by some large group. Maybe I could eat outside. She looked outside, I don't think there's any rule where it says I can't. She walked outside the mess hall and out onto the school grounds, until she found a nice shady spot under a tree.
Haruka sat down and began to eat, as &&'s were blooming under her eyes. Haruka could already feel her head becoming more 'still," as she ate.
She was so busy eating that she didn't notice Miyumi walking towards her. "Hey." Haruka jumped slightly as he looked up and saw Miyumi also carrying her tray of food. "Oh.., um…hey…" Miyumi then sat down next to her, though she was about a metre away from where Haruka sat. "You seemed pretty anxious after class, was it about the sports festival?"
"Well, I-i guess with the others, i-"
"I get it! You're just as excited for it as the others. That's totally fine."
Haruka looked at Miyumi "It's very likely that we'll be fighting each other and some may think that's a bit scary. But I think it's gonna be really fun!"
"That's why we should be looking forward to it. After what just happened, we should be able to enjoy showing off to everyone!"
Haruka felt herself begin to smile, the incident before beginning to fade into obscurity. Yeah I guess she's right. It would be fun to have a sports festival. But just then, Miyumi's words began to sink in, making Haruka's whole face turn bright red.
Wait, if we have to fight each other, does that mean I have to fight against Bakugou or Todoroki?