Horizon: I've...been busy with other projects so there was a bit of a wait for this chapter.
Why…did you leave me?! Midoriya-kun, where are you? I don't want to be alone! Please! Please don't leave me alone in here! Her eyes stung as she gripped her butterfly pendant in one hand and tried to find his shape in the dimness of the forest.
Shirayuki's pulse was racing as she realized he was long gone. He told her to hide, that he was going to find Kota and get him to safety. But a hero wouldn't hide! My father…would've wanted me to help! I just…the dark…and I'm alone…
Fear clutched at her heart as she quickened her pace. The girl could smell smoke and each breeze brought with it an intense wave of heat. She clutched her pendant tighter and tried to imagine that Amajiki was there with her. She tried to imagine holding his hand and walking with him instead of being by herself, but the harshness of reality overtook her.
Shirayuki could hear a voice and paused in her steps. Even with the warmth of the evening, goose bumps rose on her skin when she realized this was an unfamiliar voice. The girl hurried to get behind a tree and covered her mouth with a hand as she heard him coming closer.
He sounded older than any of her classmates. An adult, but not one of the adults involved in the training camp. This was a complete stranger and what he said made her start to tremble. He was talking to himself and seemed to be searching for someone. The name "Bakugou" was unmistakable in his murmurings.
No…no! He's with…Todoroki-kun, isn't he? They had to pair up. And they went in ahead of me and Midoriya-kun! They're still in the forest! I have to get to them! I have to tell them what's happening! But…but if I move, this person will see me! My quirk! I could…but I don't want to kill anyone by accident! What should I do?! What would my father do?
The answer was simple. Calorie Bomb would not hide, even if he was in danger. Calorie Bomb would rush to protect his friends no matter what. Summoning forth all of her courage, Shirayuki moved from behind the tree and lifted a hand.
Energy began to hum through her arm and heat up at the center of her hand as she looked at the man. What she had not expected was for her eyes to be met with a figure in a long coat and a hat, his face concealed behind a black and white mask. The girl's heart beat even faster when he tilted his head and took a step toward her.
"What's this? Don't tell me you're going to try to spoil my performance," he spoke, sounding amused. "Why are you alone in the forest, young lady?"
She gritted her teeth and the energy in her hand pulsed, building in strength. Shirayuki could feel fear still strong in her heart, but she thought of her friends. Thought of this masked man trying to hurt them. It kept the tears from rolling down her cheeks and she narrowed her crimson eyes on the man. "…what are you…planning…?" she forced out. "…I…heard you say "Bakugou"…"
"Ah. I see. Is he a friend of yours? Why don't you tell me where he is? I'd rather not fight such a delicate-" He went silent as a searing hot blast of energy shot past his head and struck a tree trunk. The man turned to look at the scorched bark and then looked to Shirayuki, tipping his hat back a little. "Well, I see that you're going to make this difficult."
He started toward her without hesitation, holding his hands out at his hands. "And with that quirk. Let me see. It reminds me of someone else." His fist struck his palm as he seemed to nod to himself. "That's right! I knew that brilliant light looked familiar from somewhere. You're the daughter of Shirayuki Hikari, aren't you? So that would make you Calorie Bomb's daughter!"
Her stomach dropped when she heard him say this. How…how does he know her name? He…knows Hikari-san's name…! How?! Shirayuki took a few steps back and let more energy collect in her hand, preparing another blast.
"I'm sure that Shigaraki wouldn't mind having that quirk at his disposal. If I bring you in along with young Bakugou, I wonder what sort of applause I might get. Two for the price of the one."
"N-no! Stay back! Stay away! I'm not…going with you! I won't-!" Shirayuki stumbled and fell backwards onto the ground. She quickly raised her arm again and sent out a weaker pulse that struck him in the chest, sending him reeling back. "Stay away from me!"
"Back the fuck up before I knock that stupid hat off your head." This was a female voice that came from Shirayuki's left. A female figure emerged from the darkness and the young woman glared at the masked man with narrowed amber eyes. "I'm serious. That impractical hat's gonna be in the dirt if you don't back off."
The girl let another energy blast collect in her hand as she watched this strange young woman with blue-green hair step between her and the man. Unsure of who this person was or if they were even a villain. The man clearly was.
He lifted a hand to pull off his mask, revealing another mask underneath, and gave her a clear look of annoyance. "Oh, my dear Okabe-san. How nice of you to make an appearance. I thought you didn't plan on joining the festivities tonight."
"Back. The. Fuck. Up." The woman crouched down and let a hand hover just an inch above the ground. "Or I'll rattle your old bones apart, Compress."
"That girl is Calorie Bomb's daughter! She has a quirk that I'm sure Shigaraki would be interested in! Besides, she has a connection to our target," he argued.
"Even if she is, she's on the exclusive "don't touch" list. Or did you forget what Dabi said before we started this?" The woman, Okabe, jerked a thumb over her shoulder to gesture at Shirayuki. "This one's special. He said not to touch her so don't touch her. You want to get barbecued? Because that's how you're going to end up getting barbecued."
He sighed dramatically and put his mask back on. "I suppose not. Well, there's always next time." He tilted his head and held out a hand. "Now, are you going to join me? I'm sure that if you assist, we can have him captured in no time."
Shirayuki seized the opportunity to twist on the ground and push herself up. Sprinting away from these two villains and into the darkness of the forest. Determined to find Bakugou before they could.
A…"don't touch" list? I'm on something like that? Why? Dabi…? That's what that woman said, but…who is that? I don't know anyone with that name! Why…why would they care if I got hurt? She glanced back over her shoulder, but no one was following her.
In the darkness, running with her head bowed, she got turned around and she was unsure of where she was. Shirayuki had gone off the path to get out of their line of sight and now she was alone again. The heat was more intense here and she realized why when she lifted her gaze. Bright blue flames had engulfed a portion of the forest and were sending off waves of heat that made sweat stick her shirt against her back.
What's…happening? Why is this happening?! What is this? Fire…the whole forest is going to burn! Where is everyone? I can hear some of my classmates, but it's…it's too quiet! Where are they?!
She fumbled around in her pocket for her cellphone. Any hope of calling for help was dashed when she saw the "no signal" message. Even if she screamed, she was afraid that her classmates would not hear her and she would just end up drawing the villains' attention.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she fidgeted with her butterfly pendant. I just…want to go home. I want my grandma. I want Tamaki. I want my friends. I want my…father…Her shoulders shook as she slouched and tried to wipe at her eyes. I don't know what to do. I'm…not brave like he was! I don't know what to do!
A hand planted on her shoulder and someone pushed her to take a step forward. "This way." It was a vaguely familiar voice she had only heard a few times. A glance up showed someone she had only seen a couple of times, but she immediately recognized him as her cousin's boyfriend. The man with bright blue eyes, spiky black hair, and all of those scars and staples.
"…wh-what are you…doing here…?" she stammered. He…he isn't a villain, is he? No! Don't…tell me that Sayuri-chan's boyfriend is-!
"Doesn't matter. Here. This way, Ume." He urged her forward and walked with her; directing the girl through the darkness and finally reaching the edge of the forest. He pointed at the building there. The same building where some of her classmates were supposed to be taking remedial lessons. "Go in there and don't come out until it's over. Got it? Sayuri…would kill me if you got hurt."
"…what…w-wait a second…why…?" Shirayuki was pushed out of the forest and stumbled a few steps toward the building. When she looked back over her shoulder, he was gone. Now she knew, though. The "Dabi" that those villains had talked about was her cousin's boyfriend. Now she had to wonder if her cousin was involved with this as well.
What…do I do now? She looked from the forest to the building. I…I have to tell someone! Even if he's Sayuri-chan's boyfriend…he's with those villains! And they're after Bakugou-kun!
Shirayuki ran to the building and slipped inside, pausing for a second to glance back again. There was no sign of anyone behind her. No one at the edge of the forest. She hurried through the hallways, trying to find someone, and when she finally found her classmates, the girl was on the verge of tears.
"Yuki, are you okay? What's wrong? What happened?!" Kirishima almost knocked over his chair when he stood up.
"…I…um…I don't…I don't know what to do…" She blinked, trying to keep her tears from falling and curled her hands into fists. Trying to summon her courage to explain what happened.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing interrupting?" The 1-B homeroom teacher went silent when he saw the way the girl looked. "What's going on?"
She took a deep breath and made no protests when Kirishima held her shoulders. "I saw villains outside!"
"What?! Hang on! There are villains out there?" Kirishima looked past her to the door and frowned. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"
"No, but-!" It felt like the words were catching in her throat. She wanted to tell them about Dabi and about how Bakugou was the villains' target, but the words just would not come out. Why?! Why can't I be stronger? Why can't I just say it? Why can't I be like my father? Why am I like this? Why?!
Kirishima could feel her trembling and glanced over at Vlad King. "You can't make her go out back out there! Let her stay!"
"Yeah! It's not safe out there!" Ashido agreed. "Come on, Yuki. You can sit with me, okay? Everything's going to be alright!"