A/N:
Finally! Finally I have almost forty followers! I've been screaming in my head in excitement for so long during this week..! Thank you!
I'm trying to up my excitement again but.. It's hard. Especially when I have school literally looming in front of me in 3 weeks, and the fact that I am a literal ghost in my friends' group chat ever since quarantine started, haha. Great.
I don't think that I would update that much after school starts because I have freaking 4 APs and another hard class.. I think I will post every month. Or maybe 3-5 months? Maybe go on hiatus? (That thought gives me horror even while thinking about it. I want to update every week, T-T).
Do you guys have experience in APUSH, APcalc, AP:lang, and APstat? Some advice for a fresh junior? Because I've been worrying my butt off because of these subjects all year, T-T.
I hope that I won't lose interest in this work because I've been working on this for so long, literally 6 months of my life (I've literally been obsessing over this every little second of each day during those months. My sister thinks that even this is an understatement; she reckons that I've been keeping on repeating stuff in excitement and rattling off her ear about this story every chance I could get, haha)!
Disclaimer: My Hero Academia belongs to Kohei Horikoshi. I only own my OCs and the plot, along with my sister, deadpeaches!
*Heads Up*: Aera also had 'debuffs' as a skill in her quirk! I did mention it in the chapter before she meets Minho, so don't think that I'm just shoving in extra quirk abilities when it's plot convenient..! It is part of her quirk, and along with the others, that's all the things that she can do, excluding her quirk advancement. (*plotting smile*)
If you guys want to listen to music while reading this, you guys know what song to hear! It's one of MHA's villain OSTs, you guys know it. Especially when the USJ attack is featured here, haha.
When I have a ':' out of nowhere, you guys can turn it right then, and it will fit perfectly with the writing. I think. I tried it out for funzies while reading my draft again…!
.
.
A Week After
"Be-Beep! Be-Beep!"
"Shut up, you stupid alarm!" I groaned as I slammed my hand on the alarm while shifting around on my bed, entangled in a warm cocoon. "Ow..!"
The damned alarm clock did not listen to my insistent orders, so in response, I snatched it up and threw it across the room grumpily. With a clang, it landed on the quartz floor, jarring me rudely out of the sleep-filled haze that I was in. Fudge, the alarm clock!
I sat up wildly and leaped out of my enormous bed, my feet slapping the cold quartz floor while approaching the fallen alarm clock hurriedly. Cursing as I inspected it carefully, I groaned as I saw a small dent on the alarm clock. "Oh no, this is freaking expensive..! Why did I..! Shoot, I'm so sorry, you poor alarm clock..!"
Turning the alarm clock in my hands, I saw the gleaming face of the clock and froze. I screeched at the top of my lungs. "Fudgemallow Sticks! I'm so freaking late! Oh my gosh, what am I doing?!"
As if knowing my panic, my phone dinged with a text message. Weaving my hand through my tangled claret-colored hair, I walked over to my bedside drawer and snatched up my phone with my other hand. There were multiple text messages from Momo.
Ainiru? Where are you? I can't find you on the subway..!
Are you asleep?!
Hurry and wake up! The subway is going to come in a few minutes..!
Ainiru! Wake up! You're late!
I stared at the screen in utmost horror. I MISSED THE SUBWAY?! Omg, what am I going to do?!
Suddenly my phone chimed with a phone call, and I immediately swiped at the screen and answered the call. "Momo! The subway left already, right?! What should I do?!"
Luckily I could hear Momo's voice over the subtle rumbling of the subway. "Ainiru! You're awake..! Try to go on the buses...! Hurry, there's only 39 minutes until the bell rings...!" She whispered urgently.
I close my eyes in horror. No! It takes me almost 30 minutes to go to UA!
Fudgemallow Sticks! I'm so late!
"Okay, I'll be there as fast as I can!"
.
.
"Stop 21: UA. Please watch your step when you are exiting the bus." A robotic woman's voice said as I immediately elbowed my way through the crowds of people. Get out of my way! Please! Out of my way, I'm going to be late!
In the morning, I had to stop by the subway for my uniform while acting to my family members as if I was not late, and also fight for a spot on the freaking bus. It was a very wild morning, especially when I had to switch my usual school route.
Ainiru, you have 8 minutes! Hurry! A text from Momo popped up on my phone's home screen.
Shit, I'm fucking late! OMG, why was I so fu-no, fudging worried last night?! Cursing profanities in my head, I shoved my phone back into my backpack and started to run, my feet rebounding off the asphalt fiercely.
Like a curse, I had been woken up by every little sound and little light that flickered by my closed eyelids last night, when I had finally managed to fall into sleep after worrying endlessly.
To say that I was not tired was a freaking understatement. Along with having endless piles of worries and the D-word in my mind last night. Nope, not that thing. D-O-O-M. That's what I meant.
Snorting at the dirty scenario that had risen in my head unceremoniously, I got distracted by the most pressing matter at this point: finding a freaking restroom where I could change into my uniform and out of my fake uniform. Another hurdle to get through.
I literally had been tearing through the subway station to find my freaking locker and snatch my uniform off the rack as if I was snatching someone's prized donut or something. I hoped that there weren't any wrinkles on my uniform, caused by how I had squashed it inside my backpack as fast as I could and ran for the bus.
Where?! Where?! Stretching my eyesight as far as I could see, I strained my eyeballs, trying to find a restaurant or cafe as I glanced down at my watch. 8 and a half minutes! Shootie Pie!
..I don't think I could change into my uniform right now! I should just go to school, where I can just change inside the restroom!
…Damn you, Otousan! Why do you need to make my life harder than it should be?! Maybe I should just tell him and I am freaking attending UA's hero course..!
But.. there's a chance that he might make me switch schools! I can never predict how Otousan would react..!
The best timing.. I think..
Would be the Sports Festival…! Assuming that I.. would survive..
The USJ Attack.
Gulp.
My feet stampeded on the sidewalk as I tried to push away the thought of the USJ attack with a mental shove. It's probably not going to happen today, especially when my bad luck has already struck!
….Gosh, why is my optimism trying to bend the future in my favor?
.
.
The door to my classroom thundered closer as I bolted toward my classroom. I had totally forgoed the option of going to the restroom, because of the tiny little voice in my head that insisted that I could NOT be late at all.
Probably it was by the fact that I ABSOLUTELY hated and feared being late to any kind of appointment, which ranged from just getting a snack at the convenience store with Tsuiniko, or as important as a school event or something. Even if I was a few minutes late, I would get extremely sweaty and pale.
My heartbeat would start pounding out of my chest every second, and it was as if ninjas were going to pop out of nowhere and smite their katanas at me, just for the grave sin of being late. A total 180 from how I had thought and handled being late to school or something before I had been isekai'd here.
An effect of my.. accident, I think. It must be the origin of this.. phobia.
Heaving in large gulps of air like a drowning cow, I slammed open the classroom door and yelled out breathlessly "Present!" just as Aizawa-Sensei had called my name out monotonously. Sweat popping out of my forehead, I went red as a beetroot as everyone's eyes swiveled over to me. At least I'm not late!
I'm not late! YES, YES, YES!
But in the few seconds that I surveyed everyone in the classroom, I could literally see the burning question that had appeared on everyone's faces: Why is she not wearing the uniform?
I saw Momo putting her hands to cover her face in second-hand embarrassment and resignment as she realized that I didn't have time to change. I cringed, my embarrassment tingeing my cheeks crimson again.
Looking up from his attendance sheet, Aizawa-Sensei frowned more deeply than usual as he observed the 'fake' uniform that I was wearing. I gulped nervously as a drop of sweat dripped down my neck.
"Yukimisaka. Why are you not wearing your uniform?" My eyes flickered down to the ground as mortification burned up my vocal cords. "Uh… I… well… uh.. I.."
Fudgemallow Sticks, how do I make up an excuse for this!
...That.. um, my uniform was ripped so I needed to get another one- No, I have a few other sets of uniforms! It doesn't make sense that all 5 sets are ripped or damaged!
...That.. uh, I accidentally wore my sister's uniform?! ..No, that doesn't make sense either! It's not enough for Aizawa-Sensei to understand!
I guess.. I need to.. Tell the truth. To Aizawa-Sensei. Reaching to a conclusion, I sighed silently while scratching at my head with a hand.
But outside the classroom. Never inside. Nope. Not a chance.
"Well, Yukimisaka. If you aren't going to answer, I'll have to deduct points from you."
As Aizawa-Sensei moved his hand to start writing down a note with a pen, I blurted out, "Can I.. talk to you outside, Aizawa-Sensei? I do have a reason why."
.
.
Eyes narrowing slightly as I fidgeted under his gaze, Aizawa-Sensei looked down at me while folding his arms wordlessly. His wrapping scarf gave a rustle as he spoke lacklusterly, "Yukimisaka. Do I need to remind you that time isn't on our side? What's your reason?"
Man, I don't want to spill the details of how embarrassing and restricting my freaking family is! No one knows except for Momo and Shoto!
I would rather not have my family issue on display!
But what can I do!? I'm about to have points deducted!
Thinking as fast as I could, I opened my mouth and blurted out nervously, "...My family doesn't know that I attend UA, Aizawa-Sensei. That's why I.. have a different uniform on. I usually change into my uniform before I come here but I woke up late this morning..! I have my uniform in my backpack right now, so if you can just give me permission to go to the restroom and change, I wil-"
Aizawa-Sensei interrupted my ongoing rambling. "Yukimisaka. How did you even sign the school application forms without your parents' permission? If you have forged your parents' signatures or signed it on your own, that's illegal."
I swallowed. "My.. parents are divorced, but I found out that my mom still had some legal powers over me. I.. sent her the application secretly without my father knowing, and she signed it for me. But my father still doesn't know… so please don't give him a call or any notifications…!"
I shut my eyes, wishing with all my heart that Aizawa-Sensei wouldn't cut down my scores. Please. Please. Please.
Please don't pry. Don't pry.
...Aizawa-Sensei is the type of teacher that isn't nosy! But what if he does ask!?
Fudgemallow Sticks!
"... I see." My eyes shot open as I looked up at him with shining hope in my eyes. Aizawa-Sensei sighed tiredly as he unfolded his arms. "..This time I will let this go, Yukimisaka. But I warn you..." Aizawa-Sensei's stern gaze penetrated through me. "...I won't be so lenient next time."
A bright smile broke out on my face as I expressed loudly with gratitude, my hands clasped together, "Thank you, Sensei! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"You don't need to thank me. Just wear your uniform. " After that exhaustion-filled statement, Aizawa-Sensei wordlessly waved me inside as he re-entered the classroom.
Happily following him through the door, I slightly shrunk back as everyone's curious eyes landed on me. As I stood there awkwardly, Aizawa-Sensei returned to his attendance sheet. "Asui. After I finish attendance, go to the restroom with Yukimisaka so she could change into her uniform."
I turned to look at Tsuyu, who nodded in compliance. "Yes, Sensei. Kero."
"Yukimisaka, you can now go to your seat."
I bowed my head and turned to walk to my seat. I accidentally made eye-contact with Tsuyu, but I fixed it quickly by flashing a friendly smile at her, who offered me a small, cute froggy smile. Ack, so cute! I calmly approached my seat as if nothing was wrong, even though everyone was watching me curiously.
Fighting the urge to blush with the sudden embarrassment that flooded me, I sat in my seat with a screech on the floor and faced everyone's questioning stares with a small innocent smile.
Ugh, I wish that this morning never happened! Why is my luck so bad!?
Next time, I'm going to try to sleep without worrying, even though the USJ Attack is so close! Like tomorrow, or in this school week!
…It's going to happen anyway.
.
.
It seemed like the universe wanted me to die despite my protests. So much, in fact, that they wanted me to die today.
Because right now, at this very moment, a freaking bus was driving my friends and I to our beautiful, joyful doom. And I had complied without any mutiny or complaint. Which was great. Totally great.
As I sat in my seat quietly, I began to tear away at the calloused skin near my fingernails, but made an effort to stop.
...Let's stay optimistic, Aera!
It's fine..! Didn't the author say that the villains were easy to finish off, that even my classmates had managed to fend them off easily?!
I mean, if I am on the level of my classmates, then I should be able to fend them off too!
Yeah! Let's just think like that!
I frowned to myself as my stomach still swirled with icky feelings. I.. I don't feel so good.
… I swear I should have a buttload of good luck coming next! If... I can enjoy it after surviving today.
Fudgemallow Sticks, erase the 'if'! ….I will survive today!
The bus lurched, sending me careening to the side into Sero despite the fact that I had my belt on. "Ack, sorry..!"
"It's fine, you should hold on to your seat, Misaka! Wouldn't want to get hurt before we get there..!" said Sero lightly as I chuckled and settled back into my seat awkwardly, the seat belt whirring back more restrictedly around me as I put a hand on the edge of my seat.
"Your quirk reminds me of All Might." I heard Tsuyu say to Midoriya faintly in the background. Don't panic, Deku..! Play it off as best you can, you'll be okay.
"I wonder what we will be doing today?! This is almost like a field trip!" Hagakure excitedly said as her shirt twisted in mid air at her seat. I assumed that she was looking out the window, which was behind her. She had worn a pair of shorts and pants, saying that she would take them off when we arrived at USJ.
"I mean, Aizawa-Sensei said we will be doing rescue. I don't know what kind of rescue lesson would have us boarding a bus and leaving school though." responded Heiakira bouncily, leaning back into her seat and relaxing as she sat next to Toru.
"I think the place that we're going to right now is still on campus, Umihaku," Sero said cheerfully as he pointed through the window at the far away gym-building in the distance. "See? We still didn't leave the school's boundaries and our driver said that it was really close even."
I stayed silent, perfectly content to spend the remaining minutes in silence, when Heiakira looked up at me and asked, "Are you okay, 'Misaka?"
I blinked. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
Heiakira tilted her head a bit, her teal braids tumbling over her shoulders. "It's just that you don't look so good ever since we left." I faintly heard Bakugou responding with a snarl at Tsuyu and Kaminari, which I remembered were commenting on his explosive temper.
I shook my head slightly while smiling at her concern. "I don't have motion sickness, if that's what you mean." I hesitated before speaking again. "But something about today just gives me a weird feeling...Maybe because I didn't sleep well yesterday."
"Maybe you should ask Shujenzi to give you an energizing pill or something..!" Sero grinned as he jutted his thumb out to Seinare, who was sitting in the way back. I laughed out while making quotation marks with my fingers, "Maybe I should! She's like the 'walking pharmacy' of our class..!"
"I heard that, Misaka. No pill for you." Overhearing my words, Seinare said lightly as she closed her eyes while leaning her head back on her seat. Right next to her, Minho looked at his phone. Gosh, she has good ears!
I aww-ed at that, disappointed. "Aw, dang it. Now I guess I will have to suffer through today's rescue lesson." I looked around while trying to distract myself from my inevitable fate.
Tokoyami was quietly just sitting next to Heiakira, while Shoji was scrolling through his phone silently. Looking past Sero, I saw Mineta was ogling at his phone, which I knew that the picture probably should have been censored. At my left, Ojiro was also awkwardly sitting on his seat, tipping forward because of his tail.
Almost all the extroverts were with Midoriya, while I was left with all the introverts. I had no one to talk to except for Sero, Heiakira, and Toru.
What am I thinking? This is a perfect chance to try to make friends with these guys! Well, except for Mineta. I want to leave him alone to do his…thing.
Hmm. Tokoyami isn't doing anything. Plus Ojiro too.
Thinking quickly, I looked at Ojiro and commented on the obvious. "Your tail is quite uncomfortable, isn't it?"
"Uh… yeah. It is." Ojiro awkwardly said as his tail twitched right next to me. I smiled to put him at ease. "You kind of remind me of Luke Skywalker. You know, from Star Wars."
I know for sure that Stars Wars do exist here! Because of that play that Class 1-B did! Thank goodness!
"Oh.. really..?" Realizing that his answer was very bland, Ojiro uncomfortably scratched his head with a hand. "I.. didn't see Star Wars. But.. I've heard of the name."
I grinned. "Ha, me too! I only know about it because of its popularity." Accidentally making eye contact with Tokoyami, I switched my tactics. "You know, I've noticed you use your tail like how Tokoyami uses his.. um, shadow thingy! Except that your tail can't be used from all 360 degrees."
"Really..?"
"Yeah, Tokoyami and you both use your quirks for combat, like for hitting things. Both of you have a strong attacking power. It's very handy to hav-"
Suddenly a tiny form of Dark Shadow popped out of Tokoyami and warbled to me and Ojiro, "My name is 'Dark Shadow', not 'shadow thingy'!" He turned to Tokoyami disappointedly. "...Why didn't you say anything about me to them?" He asked peevishly to his human, who also gave a surprised start when he had popped out.
Our conversation put on a pause, Ojiro and I watched in fascination as Tokoyami sighed out, "Dark Shadow. Go back inside."
Dark Shadow sniffed delicately as he deliberately ignored Tokoyami's order. "You always say to go back inside. I feel like I'm being caged..!"
Stretching his link to Tokoyami, a tiny Dark Shadow swerved around, stopping to peer at us curiously. "Oo. These are your classmates, eh? Very shiny."
"So your name is 'Dark Shadow', huh? So cool!" Sero exclaimed as he observed Dark Shadow excitedly. I bent forward, my eyes gleaming with fascination. Gosh, he's so cute…! "Hi, Dark Shadow!"
As the daemon chirped out a reply, I asked out to his human, "He even has a personality, Tokoyami?"
Tokoyami settled more deeper into his seat as he answered me quietly. "Yes."
My eyes sparkled with curiosity as I asked Dark Shadow, "Hey, want to see my butterflies? They're kind of like you!"
Dark Shadow tilted his head in childlike wonder, mystified at my words. "Can I?"
I smiled as I lifted my hand in answer. Spreading her cobalt wings, B8 fluttered out, saying as she flapped closer to Dark Shadow, "Dang, this is the first time I see you..!"
One of her antennae swung as she observed Dark Shadow, whose gold eyes gleamed as he oohed and ahhed while peering at her from all angles. "You're kind of like us, just like Ainiru said...!"
Dark Shadow lifted his head to me in wide-eyed marvelment. "Are they talking about me? I can kind of hear their voice... What they're saying?"
I smiled happily. "Yeah, they are. They're just repeating what I said a few minutes ago…!"
Suddenly the bus slowed down and stopped. Realizing that we had arrived, I turned in my seat to see Iida stand up rigidly, announcing to us loudly, "We're here. Look sharp, now..!"
.
.
The Unforeseen Stimulation Joint was massive. So massive that I couldn't see the ends of the place. With a glass-paneled dome, the place was filled with every emergency site that I could think of, each site stupendously gigantic as I stared at them in both wonder and an exploding, mind-numbing sense of ultimate doom.
"Whoaa! Is this Universal Studios Japan?!" I heard Sero exclaim as everyone marvelled at the sight loudly. Even though the place was so big and so wondrous, I couldn't bring myself to say a thing.
While walking with the others, I felt my heartbeat picking up, each blood-sending thump beating furiously in my ears and body. My breathing quickened as I tried to stop the weird jelly-like feeling that tried to come over me as I stopped in front of the space hero, Thirteen.
This is it.
The USJ Attack.
It's about to happen. In a few minutes.
Another near-death experience. Death just loves attacking me, don't they?
"Every disaster and accident you can imagine. I built this facility myself. I call it… The "Unforeseen Simulation Joint!" Thirteen proudly announced to us as Deku and Uraraka excitedly called out his hero name. My hands were damp with cold sweat, my fingerless gloves absorbing it and producing a cooling effect that somehow pierced through my numbness.
"Hey, Misaka. You okay?" Kaminari asked me quietly, taking notice of my state. Plastering on a mask as well as I could, I reassured him as I flashed him a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine..! Just a bit nervous..!"
Act like you're excited. Act like you don't know anything. Act as if everything's fine when it's freaking not..!
Reaching into my satchel as inconspicuous as I could, I took out a small blue packet and slipped a green-striped yellow pill silently into my mouth as Thirteen began to present his prepared speech.
It was one of Seinare's pills; the ones that she had shoved in my mouth when I had the panic attack during the media break-in. She had given the packet to me, with the warning that they only worked when I actually had or was about to have the medical condition that they were made for.
As the medicine's essence of calm melted down my growing panic slowly and steadily, I steamrolled my focus and concentration as far as they could go, whittling all of my senses furiously to the finest point. Now that the panic was slowly disappearing, I could finally think. But now, I had only minutes before Shigaraki was about to arrive, and once he came..
It was the fight for my life. And the lives of my friends.
It's okay, Aera.
You're prepared. Unlike the 'accident'!
Once Shigaraki comes, be prepared. Be ready to fight!
No matter what, we'll all come out of this fight alive. All of us.
First.. I should evade Warpgate's transporting hole that spits out my classmates into different sites! Then I should help fight against Warpgate!
"That is all! I thank you for listening..!" As Thirteen bowed, I squared my shoulders as strongly as I could, stretching out my limbs and my neck as my friends whooped and cheered enthusiastically. Any time now…
I did a mental check of my costume, ready to unleash my viruses at any second. Aizawa-Sensei turned back to us as he spoke, "Great. First off…"
Right… now. :
As if on cue, something black began to swirl in front of the foyer's fountain, its dark tendrils oddly hypnotizing as they spun in a circular motion. Adrenaline started to kick up even faster than ever in my veins, my eyes flaring with my heightened senses.
... Crap.
The alarming rush of energy streamed through my limbs as I watched Aizawa-Sensei and my friends look at it, the former in silent alarm, the latter in innocent curiosity.
A very pale, almost gray hand reached out as Tomura Shigaraki made his appearance through the teleportation hole, followed by his lackeys. The gray, decayed-looking hands that enwrapped him looked almost comical to me as I grimly watched him walk closer and closer.
Ah. Good old Shiggy.
His hands look stupid. My internal brain whispered to me, somehow activated in my plight. I tried to slap it away mentally to the far off corner. I didn't need any unnecessary commentary, especially when my life was in danger.
"Huddle up and don't move!" Aizawa-Sensei yelled to us as he whipped on his goggles. "Thirteen! Protect the students!"
Shiggy's stupid but creepy at the same time. What a weird mix.
"Who the heck is that?! Has the lesson already started..?! Like during the entrance exam?!" Kirishima alarmedly said out loud beside me as my fellow classmates froze in confusion. I answered him, my voice shaking slightly as I forced the trembling out of my voice, "No, those are-"
Aizawa-Sensei finished my sentence for me. "Don't move! Those are villains!"
Suddenly a blue hologram popped up in front of me with a resounding, ominous ding.
Mission 2:
Get on Shigaraki's Hit List!
Or die trying!
Reach the number 360 on this visible 'Hate Meter', which indicates that you have completed this mission and made yourself one of Shigaraki's targets in the future! Hurry though, you have a time limit!
Penalty: Death
By the way, don't even think about trying to contact the staff with your viruses. Your viruses don't work like that anyway.
Have fun! ^^
I stared at it in the utmost horror.
The fuck?!
You… Y-You want me to die?!
Lady Imagination, how can I…! All the remaining blood on my face drained from my complexion within milliseconds as Shigaraki pronounced slowly as he threw back his head in childlike disappointment, "Where is he..? We've come all this way. And brought so many playmates…"
Everyone stared at him in horror and fear, me included. "All Might.. The Symbol of Peace… Why is he not here…?"
With a jerk, I noticed the towering Nomu right next to Shigaraki. Aera, stay calm!
Stepping forward hurriedly, Momo asked Thirteen calmly, "Sensei. Aren't there intruder sensors?"
"Yes, of course there are..!" As Thirteen responded to Momo, something like a thermometer bar appeared to the right of my vision, a thread of blood-red circled around where it was, which was 0. Almost at the top was 360, with a few other numbers after it. I faltered as I eye-balled the distance between 0 to 360.
THAT MUCH?!
Suddenly a small timer popped up, with its numbers glowing 47:51. In that short amount of time?!
"..Are they only here or also at the main building..? Either way, if the sensors aren't working… It has to be one of their quirks." Shoto spoke quietly as he went closer to the bannister, looking over the edge to stare down piercingly at the villains below.
….H-How can I achieve making Shigaraki hate me without going close to him in the first place?!
Aaaaaaaaa!
Think, Aera, Think!
"Thirteen! Begin evacuation! And try calling the school!" Aizawa-Sensei said to the space hero, who nodded furiously. "Kaminari. Try using your quirk to signal for help." The blonde nodded shakingly in reply, his antennae waving in the air. "Got it!"
Deku… He annoyed Shigaraki when he interfered in Shigaraki's plans! Along with Shoto and Bakugou!
...There's no other choice!
I need to do something! Something that interferes in his plans, that makes him take notice of me and get annoyed!
Maybe… I should stop Warpgate from transporting all of us..! Maybe if that happens, Shigaraki would notice me and get really, really annoyed!
But how?! HOW CAN I STOP WARPGATE?!
….Just go with it, Aera! You have no other option!
Plus, Warpgate can't exactly kill you with his teleportation, unless you get teleported to a site and then get killed by a freaking villain!
As Aizawa-Sensei turned away from us to face the villains alone, Midoriya burst out with a note of panic, "But Sensei, you can't fight them all alone! Against that many, even you can't nullify all their quirks! Head-on battle isn't one of your fighting styles-"
Aizawa-Sensei turned to give us a look, though I couldn't guess what kind of look he was giving us because of his goggles. "No good hero is a one-trick pony. Thirteen! Take care of them!"
You have to face Warpgate! Before he could transport everyone!
That's the only way to maybe annoy Shigaraki, without exactly fighting villains or Shigaraki himself!
Fudgemallow Sticks! I don't want to face Shigaraki and his decaying! Even though he acts like a freaking kid right now, he's still terrifying!
Without a second to waste, Aizawa-Sensei unleashed his wrap scarf and threw himself down to meet the onslaught of villains that charged to meet him. I stared at the unfolding scene, thoughts flashing in and out of my mind as Thirteen began to hurry us to the exit.
If I order the destroying viruses into Warpgate…! My expression fell into horror at the thought.
…. I would wrangle, destroy or rip apart the systems in his body.
All of the physical systems in Warpgate's body would be under my control to rip apart and destroy. I imagined that each bone in his body would break at my silent order, his muscles ripping apart, skin tearing out, his nerves screaming in utter torment, veins exploding with blood, causing him to experience the most intense, excruciating, hell-like pain that a living being could ever feel.
….And if I exploded his heart or crushed his brain mercilessly…. he would lose his life. Right there before my friends and teachers.
I cut off the thought, extremely horrified at what would happen if I did. I couldn't even imagine the sight.
NO! OF COURSE NOT! I CAN'T DO THAT! I can't kill another person! Even though they have probably killed others!
Our whole purpose of being here at USJ is to save other people, not hurt or kill them, like what Thirteen said!
Even though my classmates and regular people did not know this, I knew that this ability was the most villainous part of my quirk. My quirk was considered threatening here, and to an extent, villainous. Especially when computer viruses were more malicious and harmful here since this world was more technologically-advanced. Which was another reason why Ainiru did not say anything about her quirk to others.
I can't use that!
Then what?!
...Glitching?! I can only do that to myself! …Information?! I can't even try to contact our teachers..!
As everyone started to turn and run to the exit, I was left there, frozen in my thoughts, as Midoriya was watching Aizawa-Sensei fighting the villains, whipping out his wrapping scarf expertly as Aizawa-Sensei bound and unbinded villains left and right.
I heard him exclaim in front of me as if he was in a trance, "Wow..! He can hold his own, even when outnumbered."
Then… the debuffs?!
..But I never tried it on other people! I only tried it on myself..! And the results were weird!
My own quirk goes haywire! It was as if my quirk was malfunctioning, to the point that I couldn't control when I activated my quirk, and how exactly I wanted things to go..!
It was as if one of my limbs wasn't listening to me!
I don't know exactly what it does! If I do that to Warpgate, what if it makes things WORSE?!
Before me, Shigaraki started to scratch at his neck with annoyance as he watched Aizawa-Sensei take out villains with every blink of an eye. "I hate pro-heroes. Ordinary villains don't stand a chance against them..." He said quietly, dry skin flaking off as he scratched more fervently at his neck with irritation.
In a fleeting second, I wondered how I was able to hear him, considering that he was a few yards away from me. …That's weird.
Inwardly I knew that Shigaraki's Hate Meter for Aizawa-Sensei was shooting high, and wished fervently at that moment that all the hate would have been switched over to me. Iida's voice resounded behind me as I stood there, motionless while thinking at break-neck speed. "Midoriya! There's no time for analysis! Yukimisaka! You too! Hurry up and evacuate!"
Reaching forward as I was broken out of my thinking processes, I grabbed Midoriya by the shoulder to shake him out of his mumbling commentary of Aizawa-Sensei's fighting. "Midoriya! We have to go!"
His head snapped back as his green eyes met mine, startled. "Ah, yes...!" He began to follow as I ran toward our classmates as fast as I could, sprinting with my glitches as blazingly fast as I could. Please! I need to get there!
Before them when Warpgate arrives!
Suddenly everyone stopped in front of me, screeching to a stop as black tendrils whirled up like a fiery furnace in front of them, towering sinisterly as Warpgate emerged from his own teleportation hole. "I won't allow that." I reached the back of the crowd, breathless as I tried to move forward.
Wisps of black swirled around Warpgate as I tried to reach the front of my classmates as fast as I could, pushing as lightly and quickly as I could with glitches. Hurry! I need to be there!
"Greetings. We.. are the League of Villains. Forgive our audacity, but.. Today, we've come here to UA High School..This bastion of heroism…"
As Warpgate's voice registered in my ears, I paused while trying to hurriedly squeeze in between Jirou and Kaminari, and looked up at him as emotion welled up inside me, caused by my memories.
..You don't even remember…That-
No, Aera! Don't think about it! It's going to make you hesitate when you try to put the 'debuffs' on him!
"..To end the life… of All Might, the Symbol of Peace." Wrangling down my panic-stricken mind, I managed to jostle past everyone else as gently as I could, and came to a stop in front of Kurogiri, right behind Thirteen.
"We were under the impression that All Might would be here.." Warpgate spoke calmly. "It seems that his schedule was revised? Well… no matter what, my role remains unchanged." His black cirri-like smoke began to reach out around us as he tried to encompass us around in his teleportation hole.
Now.
Fueled by the force of my rip-roaring adrenaline, an invigorating, spirited spark traveled down my limbs like a crashing waterfall as I stepped past Thirteen with all the courage I had. Releasing my butterflies into the air, I reached out my hand in a simple gesture. Please. Please make his quirk malfunction..!
Go, you guys. Aim for his main body. Without a word, they zipped through the air, darting through the dark tendrils with a blue-illuminated zing in milliseconds. Enveloped in darkness, the only indication that they had succeeded was the dynamic, glowing-blue circuit-board patterns that flashed throughout Kurogiri's ascending smoke before my eyes…
But before I could release the final act of my malfunctioning viruses, Kirishima and Bakugou lunged forward, the former hardening his arm as he yelled. Landing a powerful right hook at Kurogiri as he landed, Bakugou detonated his biggest explosion, ripping the moisture from my stinging eyes and throwing me back with the force.
The heat blasted me with full brunt on my face as I slid backward before landing on my bum, coming to a stop when Thirteen supported me with a steady hand as I panted hard from the effort. NO! WHY DID YOU GUYS-?!
NOW WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?!
Kurogiri reformed back to his form, his glowing, yellow eyes reshaping back to their regular trailing crescents. "That was close… Yes.. Even though you may be only students, you are the golden eggs of the bunch.."
Letting go of my shoulder, Thirteen outstretched out his hand to Bakugou and Kirishima, who looked back at his urgent voice. "No, get back! Both of you!"
Black smoke encircled us instantly as Kurogiri spoke threateningly, "Writhe in torment, students. Until you breathe your last." Panic-stricken at his words, I shot to my feet as fast as I could and tried to glitch out of the teleportation hole. No!
If I get out here, I should help Iida get past Warpgate! That's the only way this situation would dissolve, and maybe I would get Shigaraki's annoyance when Warpgate appears again next to Shigaraki!
With a blast of swirling black smoke and wind coming at my side, I barely escaped the swirling hurricane that had surrounded my classmates, the smoke nipping at my heels as I stepped out with a computer glitch. YES! I've made it!
Now what do I do?!
…..I should go behind Kurogiri... and strike at him from behind! Malfunction his quirk and then...kick whatever thing he had on the center of his bod-
?!
Suddenly something pushed me, the powerful thrust making me stumble backwards. Reeling back as I opened my mouth to cry out in surprise, a pair of eyes, with the very familiar shade of violet, flashed at me before a sickle-shaped, opalescent slash of air crashed into me without warning...
And knocked me back into the whirlwind of teleportation smoke.
LADY IMAGINATION, WHY!?
.
.
Released from the teleporting wisps of smoke that had enveloped me when I had tumbled back into the teleportation hole, I fell on the floor in an almighty crash, my body bruising as I winced heavily. Noticing that I was inside some building, my brain kicked in. OH NO, WHERE AM I?!
Hissing at the broken debris that dug into my hands painfully as I stood up immediately, I looked around wildly, hoping that I knew the site that I was. Fire?! No fire. Mud?! Nope-
?!
Something very heavy collapsed on top of me, my knees crumpling under the weight. Crushed with the overwhelming mass on my back, I face planted on the ground painfully with a yell. "Ow, what the fudge!"
It feels like two people just fell on top of me! WHAT THE FUCK?!
"Gah, I'm sorry! Where are we?!" I heard Kirishima ask wildly out of the blue, with another very familiar voice cursing violently, "I'm going to fucking kill that Warpgate guy!"
"You guys, get off me! We don't have time!" I yelled, my mind whirling rapidly, trying to make sense of what was going on. Fudgemallow Sticks! I got warped with Bakugou and Kirishima!
WHY?! Why couldn't I be warped with Shōto instead?! THAT WOULD BE SO EASY!
The two immediately got off me and within nano-seconds, I shot to my feet instantly in front of them, my panic taking hold of me at the moment as I glanced at the timer, 37:58. Gah!
"Why'd you guys jump in at the last second?! I was about to stop that guy!"
Eyes narrowing in distaste as he recognized me, Bakugou weirdly did not sneer at me but shook off the remnants of his huge arm grenade device on his left and spat out, "All of us here are at fault, including you, you bitch..!"
Kirishima interjected loudly, repeating his question again urgently, "You guys, stop fighting! Where are we?!
My plan is smashed to pieces!
...Make up a plan! Improvise! Oh, I wish there was a guide that was titled 'How To Make Shigaraki Hate You 101'!
WHAT THE FUDGE DO I DO NOW!? Especially when villains are going to come at any moment!
..I'll have to fight.
My eyes darted around the place we were in as I pretended to recognize the site that we were in. "I think we are in the Collapsed Zone-"
Excruciating pain suddenly wracked my chest, as if someone was stabbing my stomach violently. Blinded immensely by the pain, I bent over, choking and hacking severely as my body heaved from the effort. In a moment where all I knew was pain, a random memory flashed by my eyes, in which I had watched the anime-version of All Might coughing up blood with some amusement.
As Kirishima and Bakugou whirled around to face me in alarm, a painful burn shot up my throat as I instinctively put a hand to my mouth, gasping heavily as pain-filled tears brimmed in my eyes. As I held out my shaking hand, I reeled back in shock as I realized that I had vomited up blood. All red.
Karma.
So much that my cupped hand was full of it, almost overflowing as I looked down and realized that drops of my sticky, clumped up blood had been splattered across some parts of my knees-sleeves and shoes. WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?!
WHY AM I COUGHING UP BLOOD?! I'm not sick! I'm perfectly fine!
Do I have cancer or something?!
As I looked up at my two classmates in stunned horror, I saw a notification appear on top of my vision with a ding. My eyes flickered upward as I heard Kirishima's urgent question, "What the-?! Why are you-?!"
This is your first warning, Aera. I've told you this many times...!
Do what the audience wants you to do! Make things fun! That's your job! Everytime you hesitate, well…
Expect this to happen.
Shivers ran through my body as I swore that I could literally hear her cold honeyed voice in my ear, her concealed wrath extremely noticeable in her sickly sweet tone.
All of a sudden, I heard footsteps. A few seconds later, a towering, extremely muscled man appeared behind Kirishima, who was wearing second-rate support items. With his turtle-snout rasping out a brash roar, the man aimed his fist roughly at Kirishima. My eyes widened as I lunged forward with instinctual glitches, blood splattering across the villain's face as I threw the contents of my blood-filled hand on a reflex. "Behind you!"
His arm outstretched already, Kirishima hardened his limb as the man's fist crashed on it with a strong impact. "Thanks, Misaka!" A second later, the villain retracted his arm, cursing as he tried to wipe off my blood off his face.
Explosions boomed right in my ear as the villain swayed on his feet because of Bakugou's precise attacks. Spying my chance, I quickly leaped up with a glitch, spinning in mid-air as I leaned my body back and tilted my hips right at the perfect angle, striking out my foot with all the strength I had into a high tornado kick.
My foot successfully collided with a resounding crack on the villain's temple, and I landed safely on my feet as the villain buckled under my sharp blow and collapsed unconscious, KO'd.
I looked down at him, having a weird flashback of the shooter crumpling down at my feet, but shook it off firmly.
I thought that I could never do that kick again! But I did…!
"Shoot.." I muttered to myself as more villains poured into the room, menacingly sneering as the three of us went back to back. Actually, two of us, because Bakugou started blasting away mercilessly, roaring out, "Die, scum!" as he smashed explosion after explosion while landing ruthless blows with his fists on the surrounding villains.
Hardening his arms as he crossed them, Kirishima yelled a manly battle cry as he swung one of his rigid arms at one villain, who had his machete broken to pieces at the impact. "Don't get hurt, you guys! Misaka, you should-"
"Should what?!" I yelled out as I threw myself into combat explosively without a thought, my legs flying out instinctively as a villain tried to sock me in the chest with a spiky wooden cudgel.
Using my glitches to the fullest, I spun and crushed down my heel on his weapon, which snapped in two as I landed and shunted my foot forward to smash upward on the villain's chin, who got thrown back with a sickening crack. I heard Kirishima yell back, "Never mind!"
On a reflex, I dodged a flying punch aimed at me with a glitch and whirled around with a ready back kick, shoving my foot with all my strength at the villain's solar plexus before aiming for the woman's neck pressure point. My hand whacked her neck expertly with a miniscule sharp circle, a move that I had learned and practiced for years. "Ha! Take that, you ugly-looking boar!"
After slamming another bulky villain to the ground with a well-practiced judo move, a specialty taught by my Taekwondo grand master for shits and giggles, I viciously drove my knee into a villain's crotch with a glitch, not caring if I was causing them great pain with my moves, which was enough to break bones and bruise them heavily. They were going to hurt and kill me without a second thought after all.
A blade slashed in front of me as I dodged it immediately with a glitch. "Whoa, you almost sliced my ear off, dude!" Step-siding away with a few glitches from the nail-covered dude, I kicked the guy's face, flipping up his falling katana with my foot and catching its hilt successfully as the villain clutched his broken nose.
I'm going to do whatever it takes to live!
.
.
"And... nighty-night." Out of breath, I said grimly as I watched a pile of medium-sized pipes detach themselves from the ceiling and plonk down on the last villain who was standing right underneath them. As my destroying viruses dodged the pipes easily, the villain lurched backward and collapsed on the floor as one last gigantic washer clocked him on the top of his head comically.
I wiped off the sweat on my forehand, feeling a wave of tiredness come over me. But I was used to it. I think my stamina is halfway done? I did predict that the villains were going to be… sort of easy to defeat.
"That's all of 'em. I think." Kirishima puffed out a breath as he let go of a villain's shirt. His empty hand steaming, Bakugou muttered as he trudged through the piles of villains' unconscious bodies. "Bunch of fuckers."
Kirishima held up his hands, unhardening them as he wiped off the sweat on his face. "Great! Now let's hurry and help the others! If we're here, I bet everyone else is still in USJ! I'm worried about the guys who don't have ways to attack!"
23:59
After worriedly glancing at the timer on top of my vision, I studied the curved, purple-tinted katana that I wrested away at the start of the battle, thinking furiously of how to raise the hate meter.
It was still at... 0.
...I had done nothing.
Fuc-Fudgemallow sticks!
What the heck do I do?!
"Everyone will be fine. But we still should help them!" Holding out the bloody bandage that was wound around my katana's hilt as I stuck out my tongue at it in disgust, I flinged it over my shoulder and went forward to rip out a clean strip of fabric from an unconscious villain. As I stood up and tightly knotted the fabric around the katana's hilt, Kirishima asked me as he and Bakugou watched me warily, "But Misaka, are you okay? Earlier, you just-"
I firmly cut through his question, knowing that he was about to ask me about my blood-vomiting. "Look, I'm fine. See? Not even a scratch on me." I gestured at myself, hoping that they wouldn't mention my blood-stained mouth and costume. "We have to focus on the situation right now..!"
Thankfully, Kirishima did not press on that issue and continued on. "Thirteen-Sensei's probably got his hands full because of us. None of this woulda happened if we'd let him suck in that mist man. As men, we gotta take responsibility.."
"And women..!" I corrected him lightly as I returned back to them, my unwieldy katana swinging at my side. I winced, wishing that it was my trusty and well-balanced hwando, the type of Korean sword I had used when I practiced Hapkido 'Kumsool'. Creasing his eyebrows tightly, Bakugou stated a bit angrily while frowning, "If that's what you two want, then fucking go. I'm gonna beat that Warpgate guy to a pulp!"
Kirishima blinked before shaking his head in slight exasperation and amusement. "Still pulling that immature crap at a time like this..? Besides, normal attacks don't work on him..!"
Bakugou's red eyes flared irritatedly. "Shut up! It's how these fucking punks are getting around. Bring him down, and they'll have nowhere to run!"
"...You're right. He's the main problem." I grimaced as I tried to remember what had happened next.
I know that they go out.. And then..!
Suddenly I saw something camouflaged crawling behind Bakugou and my eyes widened. I remembered what had happened next. As the villain lunged at Bakugou with a dagger, my mouth unconsciously opened to warn him, "Look ou—"
As expected, the blonde had already pivoted on his heel and slammed his hand down on the villain's head all the way to the ground, strong explosions firing off immediately. I blinked, extremely surprised to see the scene exactly play out as I had seen it before. "Wow. Fast reflexes."
Sweating profusely, Bakugou brushed off my comment without a word before stating, "..Anyway, if all they're sending against us are these fucking idiots.. We should be fine."
I narrowed my eyes, realizing something. Wait a second.
… I finally know what Lady Imagination's trying to make me do.
What I've been doing.. is to try to stop Warpgate! But.. I remember that Kirishima and Bakugou faced a detour!
I've been trying to avoid it all this time!
Having instinctively hardened out his arm when the villain had tried his sneak-attack, Kirishima's sweaty face uplifted, delighting at Bakugou's mood change. "You sure are calm all of a sudden..! You're usually like 'die!'"
"I'm always calm, you fucking broom-head!" Even though he was calm a few seconds ago, Bakugou reverted back to his extremely acerbic, snarling personality as he flipped Kirishima off, who gave an amused 'heh'. I smirked at the sight. "Ah, there it is."
Gritting his teeth while growling under his breath, Bakugou strapped on his other remaining exploding hand device tighter as he made to go out of the building that we were in. "I'm outta here."
"Wait, Bakugou. I'm going too." I lifted my chin confidently as he stopped and turned to sneer at me. I grinned at him in response, knowing fully that I looked creepy because of my blood-stained mouth. Before the blonde could say anything, Kirishima also clashed his hardened knuckles together. "You gotta trust your pals..! Be a man, Bakugou! You've convinced Misaka and I!"
"..Tch." After studying the two of us for a few seconds wordlessly, Bakugou stepped out through a half-collapsed doorway as Kirishima and I both followed him willingly.
So.. Lady Imagination.
You wanted to make me face Shigaraki along with them, huh? From the start..!
That's what the audience wants, isn't it…?! They must want me to fight him directly with Deku and the others.
..How's that called fun?! When I'm the one risking my life out here!
18:47
I solemnly stared at the timer as I emerged out of the building. Stopping in their tracks, Bakugou and Kirishima froze at the faraway sight of All Might snatching Deku, Tsuyu, and Mineta away from the clutches of Shigaraki and Nomu. Unlike the two of my classmates, I calmly surveyed the scene, trying to remember as much as I could of the battle.
So be it.
I die either way…!
I swallowed, steeling my nerves as much as I could.
This is my only chance to live.
.
.
A/N: What do you guys think Aera would do to get Shigaraki's annoyance? I did think about this but managed to shove in some other planning just a few weeks ago.
Last two weeks ago, when my sister and I were out walking through the streets with some of our family members, I was asking her about what Aera could do to complete her mission. I did think of a way, but I thought that it would only complete her mission half-heartedly.
But she surprised me and even herself with her crack answer, which I laughed so hard when I envisioned it in my head. I can't tell you guys more because it might spoil you guys, but… it was hella unexpected. *wink wink*
(All I could say is that… I'm very glad that I'm not you, Aera. I'm so sorry. XD)
Maybe you guys can predict it, but I hope that you guys would be surprised by it! I hope you guys will laugh as much as I did when you guys read it maybe next week! Or the week after that, I don't know. (My sister and I talked about it a LOT, it would be a big disappointment if you guys don't see it as we did, haha XD)
Another Thought: I think Aera's classmates would see her as mysterious. To an extent, haha. I mean, why did she wear another school's uniform? Why does she cough up so much blood? *notice my evil cackling, teehee.*
I think this chapter is 'kind of' filled with some very clique stuff, but I tried to convince myself that not everyone would be criticising my story like I do.
Thanks to Blakeyblake5, Forever Love The Dark, Gallows110, lopzy, piiix, and softsoundjameson for following and favoriting! Thank you so much! (I was literally sobbing in happiness this week!)
To softsoundjameson:
Thank you for your kind words, haha! You flattered me so much with your comment!
To magnificent eyes of wonder:
You don't know how much I LOVE your reviews! Thank you so much for reviewing! I always jump to read your reviews as soon as possible! You just answer with the things that I really needed, which is another skill of yours as I may say..!
I too noticed that other fanfics kind of forgot about Sato and Koda, so I'd decided to put them there. It also made sense to me that Minho would befriend Koda, because his only friends during his school years were the social outcasts, the people who weren't human-looking at his schools. He would like Shoji and Tokoyami for sure.
Fun fact: Do you remember the computer girl that Aera stood up for a few chapters ago? She was one of Minho's closest friends, hehe. The computer girl did tell him that day about how.. weird Ainiru was behaving.
When I was writing the lunch scene, I was about to put Aoyama there, but I remembered that he, um, took his French wine, cheese and bread in the classroom. Even though I really like him as a character, I tried to keep it canon as much as possible, haha. You can also see that I took in your request for Tokoyami, which I was trying to do anyway! XD
And that's all! I hope that you really like this chapter!
To the other readers: Any thoughts? If so, please review! They're like life-giving water to my motivation, so please, please review!