A/N: You guys don't know how much I've fought my hw and my studying for the TINIEST bit of writing time. It was a very hard struggle, especially when last month I suffered the worst writing block ever. I hate you, homework. Forever. Wishing that we can go back to online learning is an understatement.
It's also really hard for me to keep writing because I don't feel comfortable enough to write. I feel like I should be devoting my writing time to something (it's studying lol) but I still want to write.
Anyway, in an attempt to motivate myself, I've looked at my very first work in writing, and.. I definitely made an EXTREME amount of progress in 4 years, lol. I was really terrible. I'll leave it at that. How I didn't receive troll comments was a miracle, haha!
The days of when I would churn out 7k-8k word chapters each week are over. T-T
I don't think this chapter is that fun, probably b/c of how much I've looked through this chapter, changing things and editing this and that. Hopefully, it will be more fun for you to read than me XD.
*Heads Up*: There will be a POV change in the middle of the chapter. I'm going to mention it there, so don't get startled. XD
Disclaimer: Kohei Horikoshi owns My Hero Academia. My sis and I only own our OCs and the plot! (I wish I could own MHA though, hehe)
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"This is still a sports festival, so we've prepared a recreational activity for all participants! We even shipped in cheer-leaders from America to get y'all pumped up! ...Eh? What's this?" I heard Present Mic question Aizawa-Sensei puzzledly as he craned his neck forward to see us striding forward as we emerged from the tunnel. "Class A?! Why?!"
"What is this sudden fanservice?!" At Present Mic's words, Seinare groaned and began to mutter to herself as I beamed and waved my hand at the crowd energetically while moving closer to the center of the stadium. The stunned speechless crowd began to roar with approval, whole millions of eyes had gone wide at the surprise.
"They're cheering for us! HAHA!" Kicking up her legs in excitement, Hagakure shook a pom-pom energetically at the crowd, who were roaring with approval as Uraraka shook her head with a nervous giggle. "I didn't think they would like this so much..!"
"Mineta… Kaminari..!" I heard Momo lament the loss of her dignity dejectedly to herself as I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder while shooting a peace sign vivaciously with a charming wink as the camera caught me on the main screen. "It's fine, Momo! Chin up! Confidence is the key!"
"Of course...!" Spreading her lips thinly on her face, Momo projected a somewhat confident smile as Jirou gave an outward small smile while slowly covering her stomach with her arms. Recovering from his surprise, Present Mic continued on enthusiastically with his announcements, unrattled. "All right, everyone! After this, we hope everyone enjoys the little recreational competitions!"
Happily whispering out greetings to my classmates as the hum of the crowds grew louder, I stood next to Shoji and Ochako, nervously swiveling my feet on the ground to create tiny dust clouds. The bright sunlight warmed my skin to a glow, and I mentally thanked the fact that I didn't have my jacket on.
"Once that's over, it's time for the final event," Present Mic hollered out as the reassembled crowd roared with hype at his words, "Between the 20 members of the five winning teams.. We'll have a FORMAL TOURNAMENT! A series of one-on-one battles!" The hologram glowed brightly as the screen transitioned with a whirl into the competition pyramid, my eyes growing wide with excitement at the sight.
Finally! The Tournament!
YES, YES, YES!
"A tournament, huh? So we'll be up in that ring I see on TV every year!" His spiky hair bristling with excitement, I heard Kirishima exclaim eagerly in front of me as Mina asked out, "Was it a tournament last year too?"
"The format's always different, but most years involved some kind of head-to-head competition. Last year was foam sword fighting." Sero answered her, playfully miming with his hand as if he was fighting with a sword.
"-Matchups will be decided by drawing lots..! As a reminder, lots must be taken for the battle arrangements in the last few rounds..! If you make it to the last few rounds, perhaps Lady Luck will be on your side and you'll be picked!"
Her navy-blue hair shining in the sunlight, Midnight-Sensei energetically whirled her whip around with a flair as I mentally corrected her title for the higher being: Lady Imagination.
"Once the first match-ups are settled, we'll move on to the festivities and then the tournament itself!" declared the R-rated heroine confidently as she held up a box that slightly rustled with papers. As she moved to put her hand inside the box, I heard Ojiro's voice and remembered that he was going to give up his spot. "Um, excuse me.."
At his words, Midnight stopped as the sandy blonde continued, his voice shrinking as everyone turned to look at him. "I'm.. withdrawing."
Everyone let out a horrified gasp at his words. My eyebrows slightly creased, I regarded Ojiro curiously as Midoriya asked loudly in surprise, "Ojiro-kun, Why..?!" as Iida pushed up his glasses in a puzzled manner. "This is a rare chance for the pros to see you..!"
Ojiro let his hand fall down back to his side. "Because I.. I can barely remember anything from the cavalry battle.." He began to tentatively describe what had happened during the cavalry battle as I frowned, truthfully worried about the people I was going to fight.
I wonder who I'm going to fight.
There's more people than usual, 4 more people added, including me! I hesitated, thinking briefly about the fact as I nervously shook it away.
I really don't know. But I'm going to do everything that I can.. to win. That gold carries everything that I care about.
Again, the brilliant gold medal flashed in the bright sunlight, as if reminding me that my whole life's dream was on the line, along with my dignity, and Minho's situation.
"I can't remember anything either… I want to withdraw too! Letting someone who didn't do anything advance into the second round.. Doesn't it defeat the whole point of the Sports Festival?" My ears pricking up at the somewhat unfamiliar voice, I raised my head again to look at Shoda Nirengeki, the small similarly-brainwashed boy who had been on Shinso's team.
Silence reigned as everyone paused in their breathing, turning to Midnight-Sensei for her verdict.
"How young and naive…" Midnight-Sensei said softly as her face turned expressionless. After a few seconds of contemplation, the R-rated heroine suddenly beamed brightly as she yelled vigorously with an energetic crack of her whip, "I like it! Shoda and Ojiro have officially withdrawn! Replacing those two will be the members on Team Nomura-"
Huh?! It was supposed to be Team Kendo- No, no, Mina took their headband..!
"But Midnight-Sensei, it doesn't make sense for us to participate either..!" Scrunching up my eyebrows in confusion, my head whipped around for me to see a student with a swirly, translucent jellyfish head exclaim loudly while everyone stared at him. My mind kicked into its adapting mode at once, I already filed the image of my fellow student under the memory file as my eyes shifted to my navy blue-haired teacher.
Real. Accept. Move on.
The student with the jellyfish head continued on, the tone of humility apparent in his voice. "We were frozen the whole time! Tetsutetsu and his team should have the honor of participating instead of us..!"
EH?! So Tetsutetsu and his team are still participating?!
"So be it. Team Tetsutetsu! Decide your participants quickly!" As the crowd of students around me parted, I stared in wide-eyed curiosity as the four students turned to each other to do rock-paper-scissors as Midnight's affirmation. As my eyes scanned the four teammates, I realized with a scorching shock in my chest that I was blind. The whole freaking time.
Wait, WHAT. There was another girl in the TEAM?!
Sure enough, a brass-eyed girl that I had never seen before in my life, brushed her dark orchid-purple hair back with a careless flick of her hand. She pleasantly flipped out a scissor-sign with one delicate swish of her fingers, along with Ibara Shiozaki, the seraphic vine-haired girl.
"Ah! It is settled. Shiozaki Ibara and Hanshi Myakuhari will bring us back up to 20 competitors!" Midnight-Sensei continued on as I blinked, trying to accept the changes hurtling toward me like a wrecking ball. "And here are the matchups!"
At Midnight-Sensei's voice, I immediately raised my head to scan the hologram that popped up in the air alertly, a tsunami of electricity arcing through my mind as I spotted my name in a flash.
Midoriya Izuku VS. Shinso Hitoshi
Todoroki Shoto VS. Sero Hanta
Shiozaki Ibara VS. Kaminari Denki
Yukimisaka Ainiru VS. Yaoyorozu Momo
Hanshi Myakuhari VS. Umihaku Heiakira
Shujenzi Seinare VS. Aoyama Yuuga
Iida Tenya VS. Hatsume Mei
Ashido Mina VS. Lee Minho
Kirishima Eijiro VS. Tokoyami Fumikage
Uraraka Ochako VS. Bakugou Katsuki
?!
WAIT, I'M FIGHTING MOMO?!
My mouth agape in shock, I stared at the hologram in shock, the excited murmurs of the buzzing crowd unhearable to me. No. This can't be happening.
…There was always a possibility that I was going to fight her…! Realizing that I was looking like an idiot on live television, I closed my mouth and pressed my lips together, my throat burning with dryness. I stupidly assumed that the battles would be all the same and I would have to fight Seinare or somebody new!
I should stop thinking that the future is the same at once!
Feeling another person's gaze on me, my eyes flitted over… only to meet a very familiar pair of shock-filled onyx eyes.
My classmates goggled at the hologram as Momo was looking over at me, her expression frozen on her face. Stunned, I could only stare at her back while blinking, the smile on my face instantly dropped at the situation that lay sprawled before me.
Faintly in the background, Ochako gave a tiny shriek of surprise as Bakugou said her name out loud monotonously, both realizing that they would fight each other. Shaken out of my disbelief at the noise, I broke my own uncertainty and gave her a reassuring smile. It's fine. Let's talk.
"Now that's done, let's set aside the tournament for the time being.. And get on with the Thrill-A-Minute Festivities!" As Present Mic hollered out eagerly, the stadium reverberated with simultaneous applauds and thunderous blasts of fireworks. As my classmates dispersed, I walked closer to Momo.
My feet slowed to a stop as I stood next to my best friend. Tsuyu, Jirou, Mina, and the other girls stayed a few feet away from us, mindfully staying a few feet away from us as Hagakure began to bounce up and down with excitement with exploding cheers.
"No hard feelings, okay..?" Concealing my anxiety and my jumbled mixture of my feelings, I grinned at her hearteningly as I got straight to the point. "We were going to have to fight at some point anyway. It's our futures on the line now!"
"But.. Ainiru—"
"It's okay, Momo. Relax, it's fine. What we can't change, we need to face bravely..!" I held up my hand, my thumb and pinky outstretched as my ebony-haired best friend raised her head to look at me with brimming distress. "Pinky-promise that we'll both do our best and not get mad if the other wins!"
With her face strained with nervosity, Momo stayed silent for a tense second, a small gladdened smile beginning to crack her upset exterior. "...Ainiru, you are seriously wanting me to make a pinky promise on that..? Is it not obvious that I would not get mad if you win..?!"
Momo shook her head goodnaturedly as I grinned even wider. "I know that you do! But pinky-promises are the ultimate contract between besties, remember? A cheer to the ol' days, c'mon!"
"..Of course, Ainiru…!" With her raven-black hair shining in the sun, Momo gave me a solaced soft smile as she linked her pinky with mine. "Let's try our best..! We'll always cheer each other on, no matter what!"
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"Thanks, Cementoss." Present Mic's booming voice echoed as I walked through the tunnels, trying to find my way back through the convoluted, labyrinthic corridors after changing out of my clothes to my P.E. uniform. "Hey guys! Are you ready?!"
Cementoss-Sensei must be done preparing! Midoriya and Shinso are going to go first just like in canon!
"Y'all have been through hell to get here! The one-on-one tournament!" The voice hero's ringing declaration brought an onslaught of ear-splitting cheers, more higher than before as I sped even faster through the hallways, cursing. "You've only got yourself to rely on! Even if you're not a hero, this saying holds true; you know it!"
Shootie Pie, I think that I took the wrong turn! The walls became so dark and grainy when I took that hallway when the floor started slanting downward and-
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"Spirit, Technique, Strength, Wisdom, and Knowledge! Use 'em all and show us your best!" I heard Present Mic say very loudly in the background.
Is that who I think that is?!
Before even thinking, my mouth opened and I blurted out, "Hey, Shinso..!" At my voice, the purple-haired boy raised his head as I stopped in front of the tunnel that he was in. Sunlight peered at the end of the tunnel, where I glimpsed the gigantic fighting stage as my heart raced with excitement at the sight. Ack, I'm not supposed to be here!
"…Yukimisaka..?" His purple-hair tousled in the light breeze, Shinso gave me a look of unexpectedness, his voice full of surprise at my sudden appearance. "...Why are you here? No, how?"
I cracked a grin, sheepishly admitting that I had gotten lost in the hallways. "I got lost. Look at the sheer size of this place! I don't get how my friends navigate here so easily..!"
I shook my head with a smile as Shinso stared at me with an arched eyebrow as if gauging when I was going to leave. "And you're a friend of mine…! I couldn't just keep going when you're going to have your match in a few minutes..!"
Plus, you're one of my most favorite characters anywa-!
"I thought we were only acquaintances, not friends. We didn't talk that much to become close friends." Shinso answered me with candor as I gave him a thumbs-up with my lips quirked up, unfazed. "So what? Closeness doesn't matter when I know new people. I know you, you know me, we're automatically best friends…! You see what I mean?"
The tall, indigo purple-haired boy gave me a look of bafflement, my words heard as a foreign language. "... I don't get what you mean but... You know what? Forget it." Seeing the look of impish glee spreading across my face, he responded, "You're not going to listen to me anyway."
I beamed. "Aren't we already best friends?" Seeing him awkwardly stand there as a pause took place between us, I smiled at him innocently. "Are you thinking that Midoriya-kun sent me to spy on your weaknesses before the match?"
"No, that's absurd. That was not what I was thinking about. I was.. thinking about the match." Shinso shifted his gaze to look at the tunnel across the one we were in.
"I didn't tell him by the way. About your quirk. But I think Ojiro-kun might have told him though." I peered at him in curiosity. "Dang, you don't look nervous at all…! At least Midoriya-kun's nervous. I'm not taking sides, but maybe you can defeat him in no time." Look at me turning a blind eye to the future!
Shinso suddenly gave a quiet scornful exhale of air at my words, looking down at the ground as he moved his feet, dust stirring up around his worn sneakers. "What are you saying, it would be easy for him. Having everything handed to him just because he was born like that. Naturally blessed." He expressed the last two words with vehement frustration, but a hidden tone of despair was there if I heard it correctly.
I raised my eyebrows slightly at his words, seeing the discouraged side of him that I had seen later in the Classes A vs. B tournaments. "So what? What if he wasn't naturally blessed? If that was the reality, it means that you have a chance of becoming a hero more than he does." That is the truth after all. "That's not the case here, but..."
I smiled as the wind tousled my hair wildly; Shinso lifted his head to look at me, his dark eye-bags deepening more in the shadows. "Don't lose hope just because you don't have the best of quirks, Shinso. You can still win with your brainwashing!"
"I know. But I can already predict the outcome."
"Don't be so pessimistic..! Be confident!" I went forward to clap him on the shoulder cheerfully. "But if you lose, today's not the only chance to train and become a pro-hero! If you manage to achieve what you want in the end, then this Sports Festival can be considered as nothing..!"
"How do you know that I want to become a pro-hero?" Narrowing his eyes at my words, Shinso asked me in confusion as my eyes widened. I refrained the urge to clap a hand to my mouth. Fudgemallow Sticks!
Giving two double thumbs-up at him while hiding my shock with some faltering, I grinned at him, "Doesn't everyone here want to become a hero? I just assumed that you did."
Present Mic then yelled out, "Now, time to start! The First Match! Are you guys READY?!" The crowd answered his questions with exploding ebullience as I saw Deku approaching the stage with strong-willed determination in every step; the haggard, gaunt form of All Might barely seen in the shadows of the catacombs that Deku had emerged from but I still managed to glimpse him. "Making a weird face despite his excellent performance in both tournaments from before, it's Midoriya Izuku, from the Hero Course! Verses…"
"Go, show 'em what you got!" In response to my encouragement, I saw Shinso slightly shake his head with the tiniest bit of amusement as he walked forward to meet his opponent, the main character himself.
The purple-haired boy consciously touched his neck as Present Mic announced to the crowd, "Sorry, but this guy hasn't really done anything to stand out yet! It's Hitoshi Shinso, from General Studies!"
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I stared up at the dark, grainy ceiling of the tunnel, heaving a huge breath to expel all of my anxiety mentally.
The first three battles had continued on like how they were written in stone, and I had secretly sighed in relief at the results. But now, it was finally my turn.
Come on, Aera. You can do this.
Yeah. You're only going against your best friend in the competition of your lifetime.
At the thought, almost all of my competitiveness plummeted as I physically deflated, tormented by the action of even thinking about fighting my best friend physically. Even though it was for entertainment purposes.
But still! There's not going to be another Sports Festival next year. You know that. Next year is going to be full of pain, and crippling exhaustion. If… you make it that far.
I hesitated, thinking about my old matches in my former world. Even though my opponents scared me secretly, I was still able to fight through the pressure! Using all of my knowledge, practice, and experience while sparring with others!
I have so much on the line. For myself, for Ainiru, for Minho's Yunazu-san!
..Why do I have so much doubt! If Momo wins, well, I'll still be happy but… I paused in my thought process, my heart shooting down toward my stomach with a powerful, resounding NO.
But I admit that I can't bear to think of that result. Not because I don't want her to win..! It's just that I gave everything too to make it here, along with everyone here!
I squeezed my eyes shut and exhaled again heavily, using every ember of my confidence to crush my firing uneasiness. I just need to perform better than everyone.
Opening my eyes, I faced the bright opening, the air humming with a certain air. An air that I had felt before, when I was walking toward my first opponent that I had ever fought and won in the many tournaments that I had been in.
None of them know this feeling. Only I do.
Making sure that I had wrapped my fighting tape around my fingers and hands correctly and comfortably, I spotted a loose strip and tied it tight around my ring finger, the blood thrumming in my chest dynamically. I can finally fight again, with no bones in my legs clicking and snapping violently.
Steels of determination swept its icy bonds into my heart, the rhythm of my heartbeat becoming steady and calm. The fine lines of everything sharpened in my vision. This is the only chance to get the gold that I've trained for my whole life.
I felt the muscles in my face slacken and stiffen as I set my features indifferently, only allowing a cool, unwaveringly bright smile to express itself on my lips.
Let's do this, Aera. Never stopping until the end.
You already did these kinds of stuff before.
Competitive determination callously branching through my limbs, I felt the air around me change, its particles becoming energized and frenetic as my quirk activated. I stretched out my limbs again, swishing my leg up to my head to hold tightly; my muscles straining themselves to the limit.
"We can make it. Finally…!" Tittering their encouragement, viruses brushed their hard, crystallized blue wings as they surrounded me, disappearing back into my flesh as I heard the mic turn on again with a crackle.
"Now it's time for the fourth match! We're rolling onward! I've been looking forward to this one! The bond of friendship can be tested through time and trouble, but this! This is the ultimate example!" Present Mic screeched through the microphone, his excitement leaking through his professionalism as the crowd erupted with clamorous yells of excitement.
Noticing my unspoken cue, I walked out of the opening, the strong fictional sun awashing its beams of light across my face, the heat exploding across my whole being magnificently. Through my ambition-driven, adrenaline machine-like mind, I wondered dimly if someone could see this happening from my world, happening to me right now. This moment.
The sound of gravel scrabbling loudly across the dirt floor, yanking me out of my surreal-like thoughts; my sneakers plowed powerfully through the dirt. With an explosion of fire burning furiously in my veins, I effortlessly recovered my "competition confident walk" from my old days, my limbs strengthening boldly with impenetrable resolve.
Across the stage, I saw Momo beginning to walk forward to me, her face set in both reluctance and strong-hearted determination.
"All-purpose Creation! That's Class A's brain right there, recommended with certified abilities; the girl who can make ANYTHING! From the hero course, it's Yaoyorozu Momo! Verses…."
Hearing the crowds roar deafeningly around me, I felt a tearful grin almost threatening to break out on my face. I've missed this so much. I've forgotten what it was like.
"Her opponent, also from the hero course, the girl with the sha-la la butterflies! Underestimating her is a no-no, she's Class 1-A's gutsy one with all the techniques! Yaoyorozu's BEST FRIEND, Yukimisaka Ainiru!"
Midnight-Sensei stood tall over us on a wooden platform as Momo and I both gave each other a determined smile and began to step inside the boundaries. The crowds erupted more with enthusiasm as we faced each other on stage. Otousan, I hope you're watching this. Keep your eyes peeled, you're gonna be surprised by your quiet, mouse-like daughter.
But as my feet went forward, the cement unshakeable under my steps, the most dreaded thing in my entire life happened as I felt my seemingly-strengthened heart quiver fearfully in my chest, my mindset almost thrown off by the sound.
Damn the all-horrifying, delightful DING that echoed through my psyche, Lady Imagination's dreaded messages foretold.
NO. Why?!
Fufu. Sorry, Aera Kim. Mind changed. Gotta pull up the stakes higher..! Can't have the readers only satisfied! Too bad I want them to call your battles... As that journalist complimented your fighting a long time ago, phenomenal.
A call-back to the good old days, right? You wanted it so much, didn't you? Except that… this time if you don't complete your matches by the time limit, your legs are going to be paralyzed. Again. ^^
I froze while reading.
My body stopped moving. My heart faltered, a shock of trauma shooting through my aorta and challenging my organ with a falter of fear.
No.
That can't happen to me.
Not again.
Not after… How much I had worked for my legs to be barely walking back then-!
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"Aera Kim. Correct?"
A nurse padded up to me in her scrubs, looking down at her papers as I numbly sat upright on my hospital bed. My feet were clad with the soft socks that Eomma brought me as they swung over my bed's side. The rough, cotton hospital gown that I wore day after day yanked at my neck uncomfortably with its tied strings. A cold draft of air lifted through my clothes as I unconsciously shivered in my coldly air-conditioned room, my feet stinging from the cold despite having multiple blankets over me.
"Aera Kim? Hello?"
A hand waved in front of my face. Out of reflex I blinked woodenly, slowly realizing that I had again zoned-out. With a slight shifting of my eyes, I looked at the clock that was dimly lit with a lamp's amber glow. 1:53 PM
"Aera, you need to go to your physical therapist now."
My limp dark hair fell to the side as I looked up at the brown-haired nurse, who had a set of impressive piercings on her lip and right ear. A diamond on her nostril winked at me as she gestured to the wheelchair that she had brought along with her. I hadn't heard the rattle of wheels and clinking of steel when she arrived here. "You need to sit here. Your helpers are going to come in a few minutes."
Not again.
She must have seen the look of sharp frustration in my eyes, for she addressed me firmly but kindly, "Aera, you must go through the process. One step at a time. That's all it takes."
I let my eyes flicker over her, then slowly gave her a nod of compliance.
"Come on, Aera. Heave yourself up, brace your arms by the bars and-" My physical therapist, Ms. Octavia Williams said behind me as she supported me from behind. I reached another shaking arm, my hips trembling from the strain, as my legs buckled. Again.
Fudg-
I crashed to the soft mat-floor with all my limbs akimbo, Ms. Williams caught me effortlessly as my legs stayed limp. Faced with my knees, I saw the bulging scars and knobbly bone structures that had regrew and fused together after the break. My own legs.
I scrunched up my eyes, refusing to see the ugly sight. "It's okay, Aera..! Get up, your legs are strong."
Her brightly-colored and beaded cornbraids swishing forward in my view, I felt Ms. Williams tried to prop me up again but I refused.
With a strong explosion of annoyance, stress-filled frustration, and a strong, acridly sharp sense of despair.
"Aera, you need to try agai-"
At those words, everything inside me erupted.
"What do you mean?! I've tried again and again and IT DOESN'T WORK! NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TRY, MY LEGS DON'T-" I stopped, breaths stuttering out of my chest as tears streaming down. The tight cluster of emotions in my chest had finally overflowed. "They don't work.. T-They're supposed to work! But they don't w-work at ALL-" I cried out with my raspy voice from disuse, my hands reaching up to wipe my face roughly.
Sobbing until I finally heard the silence that greeted me, I felt the hand of my therapist making repetitive circles on my back as she quietly calmed me down. I suddenly grew aware that my tears had died down, and I was slowly easing into a state of numbness. Feeling sorry that I had yelled at Ms. Williams who had been kind from the very start, I whispered out, "I-I'm sorry.. I just-"
"I understand, Aera. It's okay." I felt her hand leave my shoulder as her footsteps went away from me. A few minutes later, a tissue appeared over my shoulder as Ms. Williams beckoned to me to get it. I slowly lifted a hand to take it. "Blow your nose, everything's going to work out."
I honked into the napkin, sniffling while feeling very embarrassed that I had a very emotional melt-down in front of someone. "B-But it doesn't seem like it."
Ms. Williams' beautifully manicured hand eased itself on my shoulder again. "Seriously, I mean it. You'll be walking in no time, Aera. It just takes time and practice..!"
I stayed silent, mulling over her words. Seeing my uncertainty, she added, "I know you can do it if you try one more time. Just one more time."
Just one more.
The thought rang throughout my mental space. Just one more try.
Just like that time. When I stood up, brushed myself off, faced the dummy in the gym, and vowed that I was going to make it to the end.
I wordlessly pulled on my therapist's sleeve. Understanding my intent, she pulled me up in front of the bars with her enormous strength. "Ready when you are, Aera. Just one more try."
A lone, left-over tear trickled down my cheek as I sniffled inaudibly, my sweaty hands gripping at the wood beams as my waist and hips shook with the ache and wrenching, twisting pressure.
Just one more try.
Just one.
Gritting my teeth as I steeled the metal bands of my mind, I reached out my arm.
Right. Left. Right. Left.
Right. Left. Right. Left.
Right. Left.
We're almost there. The realization crashed into my mind as I realized that I was literally so close.
So close to making it to the end of the bar for the first time after months of trying.
Panting deeply as sweat dripped down my temple and neck, soaking my gown, I reached out my other hand, trembling in the air while holding back a fractured smile.. and managed to grasp the end of the wooden pole, my months-long goal complete.
I breathed victory.
Finally.
.
Suddenly I felt the crowds' cheers piercing through my ears, as surprise tore through the veil of memories. Where am I?! Why are there crowds of people around me?! Why-?!
Oh. Right.
I'm in the world of My Hero Academia right now.
I stiffened, remembering that- IT'S MY MATCH RIGHT NOW! WHY DID I STOP WALKI-
My thoughts died as I spotted Lady Imagination's messages again.
Also, I think you need to be reminded that I'm the Ultimate. I influence everything. Don't be startled when your opponents are powered up by me as time ticks by, both in their quirks and physically. Just a little colorful present on my part…!
Show me your best. Your dying best. You get what I mean, right?
P.S. I might also make this permanent! Try your best!
:)
Huh?! What's permanen-
?!
.
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Third POV
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Izuku Midoriya was excited, so as to say. It might have been an understatement, he admitted to himself as he nervously gripped into his notebook and prepared to take notes eagerly. As his obsession, he was ready to tackle the Sports Festival's brilliant opportunity to see other quirks, especially his own classmates. Misaka-chan and Yaoyorozu-san are going to start any minute-!
"Deku-kun, you're still writing?" The green-haired boy jumped, startled out of his reverie as Ochako leaned in forward to peer at his notebook. He flushed red at the close proximity of the girl as the brown-haired heroine admiringly said, "Wow! You've written a lot for Yaoyorozu-san and Misaka-chan..!"
"Y-yeah.. I have.." Midoriya almost buried himself in his notebook, still embarrassed about his hobby even though Uraraka had smiled at him reassuringly when she had found out. "..It's because their quirks are really good! Yaoyorozu-san's creation quirk is so versatile; I'm really curious to see how Misaka-chan would counter her! I can foresee that it's going to be hard but unpredictable!"
Deku began to shift back into muttering mode, his classmates staring at him in wonderment as the boy began to write in his notebook furiously. "….Misaka-chan has her glitching, which is speed, one of Yaoyorozu-san's weaknesses... But I can't just base it off of that… I need to see how she's good at using her quirk; and the technique she uses… uses kicking a lot but… Hmm, if I'd seen her fight the villains at USJ, I would predict the outcome more accurately-"
"Oi, Deku, shut the fuck up!" Bakugou wrathfully spat out from behind, sneering as Kirishima leaned over to look at the green-haired boy's notebook; Midoriya stopped muttering immediately and gave a wince at his childhood friend's acerbic order as his spiky, red-haired friend told him, "Misaka-chan's fighting level's really high, you know? Dunno about the technique part, but she was wipin' out villains back at USJ like it was no problem! Right, Bakugou?"
"I don't fucking care about that insect-bitch!" Bakugou irritatedly answered with a snarl as Jirou leaned over to peer over Midoriya's shoulder and said curiously, "But Misaka told me that she only trained for 3 years. Compared to how Yaoyorozu trained since she was a kid.." The indigo-haired girl turned to look at her side, where Minho was sitting quietly. "Minho, you know anything? You went to school with them."
"...No, I don't. I wasn't friends with them back then." The celadon green-haired boy responded after a few seconds of awkward silence as everyone's eyes swiveled to him. Midoriya considered his classmate with a concerned eye, who seemed to have withdrawn into his shell after Midoriya had accidentally overheard Misaka's heated conversation with him. I wonder if he's feeling okay now… I didn't know he almost jumped off the roof a few years ago, like how Kaachan would always tell me to do-
"Now it's time for the fourth match! We're rolling onward! Rushing headfirst toward the top! I've been looking forward to this one! The bond of friendship can be tested through time and trouble, but this! This is the ultimate example!"
Hearing Present Mic's announcement, Deku turned back to the match ahead, pushing away his mind-drilling worries about Minho and the determination that Misaka had to win the third event. I hope that if I do make it to the finals, I don't have to fight Misaka-chan since she's fighting for Minho.
Plumes of flame roared up at the four pillars located at the cornerstones of the stage, as Deku and his classmates set their focus strongly on the match between the two best friends.
"All-purpose Creation! That's Class A's brain right there, recommended with certified abilities, the girl who can make ANYTHING! From the hero course, it's Yaoyorozu Momo! Verses…"
As Present Mic began his introduction for Misaka while the crowd cheered thunderously with anticipation, Midoriya realized that something about his usually bright and cheerful friend was off.
"Her opponent, also from the hero course, the girl with the sha-la la butterflies! Underestimating her is a no-no, she's Class 1-A's gutsy one with all the techniques! Yaoyorozu's BEST FRIEND, Yukimisaka Ainiru!"
As Misaka walked out of her catacomb, her face was stiff. A somewhat austere smile was on her lips as if she had cut off all strings of empathy attaching her to reality. The wine-haired girl seemed to be confident as always, but she walked differently too, as if she was placing her feet deliberately to intimidate whoever she faced. Like she would mow down mercilessly anyone who stood in her path without a single thought. She's like Todoroki-san right now…!
"Eh? What's with Misaka? She's like a different person!" Above Deku, Mina's voice was heard as their classmates murmured in confusion. Midoriya saw his friend's mask falter a bit as the crowd yelled enthusiastically after her introduction, but it seemed like she wasn't startled. Instead it looked like she was reveling in it secretly.
"Oh, I don't know who to root for..!" Jirou buried her face into her hands as Seinare said beside her, "Me neither. I'm happy with whoever wins, but I hope that they won't hold this over their friendship."
Deku silently agreed with his tall blue-haired classmate. He admitted to himself that he envied the two girls' unbreakable friendship, something he wanted badly as a child between Kaachan and him. But now the two girls were going to fight for their futures against each other. He hoped that the loser of the match wouldn't hold a grudge.
"I thought that Yaoyorozu-san would- Hey, you guys! Something's happening to Misaka right now!" Breaking off from what she was about to say, Umihaku alerted them loudly with a note of panicked concern, yanking Midoriya out of his thoughts as his jaw dropped in horrorification at the sight that met him.
Wha-?! Oh my goodness, WHY IS SHE-?!
The claret-haired girl had suddenly doubled over as if someone had stabbed her viciously in the stomach, putting her trembling hands on her knees to support herself while gasping for air. Her usual strong bone frame curling in on itself from the visible pain, Misaka began to spew blood from her mouth while choking and coughing, waterfalls of her blood staining the stage crimson red at her feet. Midnight-Sensei and Yaoyorozu gasped in shock, the latter immediately appeared at her best friend's side after a few seconds of inactivity. "Ainiru!"
"EH?! What in the world is happening to Yukimisaka! Why is she suddenly like that?! Does she have cancer?!" Present Mic's panicked voice filled the stadium as the aghast crowds were shocked speechless, appalled at the unexpected scene.
"Present Mic, what is going on?" Deku heard Aizawa-Sensei's voice, and assumed it was because of the fact that Aizawa couldn't see clearly because of the many bandages that covered the teacher's face. "She's throwing up blood right now, EraserHead-!"
"Yukimisaka, do you need to see Recovery Girl immediately?!" The R-rated referee yelled out in alarm as the girl stopped vomiting up blood. For a few seconds, Deku watched Misaka silently catching her breaths shakily, gazing down at the floor numbly, trembling as Momo kept on asking her if she was okay.
"What the heck?! That's what she went through during the USJ attack!" Midoriya heard Kirishima exclaim in an uproar. Turning to face his spiky red-haired friend, the green-haired boy questioned him agitatedly along with the others, "What?! W-What do you mean!?"
"She was throwing up blood like that! I asked why but she just waved me off-!"
Suddenly Misaka stood upright again with a sharp movement, turning to Midnight-Sensei firmly as her classmates' attention got drawn back to her again. "I-I don't need to go to Recovery-Girl, Midnight-Sensei. I-I'm fine. Just... please start the match now." The crowds began murmuring in concern, bothered by the girl's strong-hearted determination despite her harsh physical condition.
"Are you sure?! It seems to me that you'll need medical attention immediately!"
"Midnight-Sensei, I really don't need any..! This is.." Misaka's face suddenly tightened with a concealed emotion that Deku wasn't sure of what she was feeling. "This is just a.. recurring medical condition I have. I've checked with the doctors but they say I'm fine. It's nothing... Really."
In the throes of disquietude, Yaoyorozu looked at her best friend in surprise and hurt; Midoriya noticed that it seemed like it was the first time for her hearing this also. Midnight-Sensei hesitated, her whip still in hand as she tried to refute her student's claim.
Seeing Misaka's pained but pleading weak-smile, Midnight-Sensei stopped in thought, yet swung a hand forward to acquiesce to Misaka's wishes. "Alright.. I'll allow this. However, if your medical condition seems to be getting worse, I'll have no choice but to pull you out. Do you understand?"
Her shimmering butterflies released, Misaka nodded with a strong jerk of her chin. "I understand completely. Just.. may I have a few seconds?"
"..15 seconds."
Gently moving Yaoyorozu's hand off her arm, Misaka sent an apologetic look to her best friend, wiping her bloodstained mouth with a hand as she turned her back to glower up at the sky with groundless fury. Why's she so angry all of a sudden?
Suddenly the crystal-water eyed girl furiously punched her arm high into the air and carelessly flipped the bird at the sky. The crowd gasped at her unreasonable action. Whirling back to her best friend and her referee, she yelled so loudly with scrunched-up eyes and balled-up fists; the stadium echoed with her flying yell. Midoriya gave a start at her shrill and hoarse voice. "가자! 끝까지! 이건 아무것도 아니야!"
(Let's go! To the end! This is nothing!")
The audience, recovering from their shock, began to halfheartedly cheer again as Midoriya and his classmates blinked in confusion at the foreign language. The green-haired boy heard Minho shifting in his seat and spoke out the question that everyone had in unison at that moment. "Minho-san, what did she say?"
"...She said that this was nothing." Minho spoke quietly as everyone's eyes swiveled over to him for the translation, including Deku.
"Okay, let's get going!" Present Mic yelled with his enthusiasm refilled to the brim after the brief dry-out period that he and the crowd had been going through because of Misaka's situation.
"The fourth match.. START!"
.
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Aera's POV
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My throat was blistering with pain as I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. My insides trembled with trauma as my eyes frantically darted to the upper corner of my vision. 3:50
A timer. Along with a meter of three colors: yellow, orange, and red. I assumed the red was the most strongest.
FOCUS, AERA! Just because of unexpected situations, you can't lose your game!
As soon as Present Mic had started my match, Momo immediately thrusted out her arms, her skin already undergoing the multi-colored shimmer when she was creating items. With her twin bo-jutsu staffs appearing in her hands, my best friend skidded forward at a second's whim toward me with a determined yet uneasy gleam in her eyes.
Wait,huh-
Metal flashed in my eyes as the staff sliced through the air with the superhuman strength that my best friend had. My body moved as I activated my quirk with all the instincts I had. Instantaneously weaving through time and space, I activated my glitches to swerve to the side without hesitation. The bright sun reflected off the staff as it swung past the back of my head, jabbing into my eyeballs with the fierce glare.
"First MOVE! Yaoyorozu on the OFFENSIVE! Unlike usual-!"Present Mic screeched in the microphone as I glimpsed Momo's face at the edge of my vision. It looked like she already noticed my blurred, static-filled body dodging her attack. She's going to attack me again-
As expected, she angled her closest staff to stab behind her as I passed by her in a computer glitch-filled whiz. Giving me an opening that I could manipulate even with the staff. Aha, got you-!
I instantaneously shot out my leg behind me, using the speed that my glitches gave me. My spine grazing the staff as I dodged it, I yanked the coming staff out of her grasp strongly, about to land a finishing back kick on Momo's unprotected back. Now-sheshouldgetpushedout-
"Yukimisaka OVERTURNS IT! And she kicks-"
But my friend was too smart for me. With a crafty gleam in her eyes, Momo kicked away her other bo-jutsu staff, already anticipating my move with only her brain. ⬘YELLOW
In a blink of an eye, a huge projectile gun flipped to life in her hand with a multi-colored shimmer as I realized with a rush of alarm what she was trying to do. That'swhyshewentclos-!
"Yaoyorozu creates a GUN! She AIMS-"
Just as my foot was about to make contact with her back, Momo effortlessly pointed the gun at me and shot out a huge net from it. The rough, nettle-like snare exploded to its full circumference, about to snap up my body in seconds in the air. Especially my foot.
Fudgemallow Sticks.
The force whammed into me as the net snapped its tendrils over me like an outstretched claw, causing me to grit my teeth as it forced my body into a ball. Both of the crowd's panicked yells and triumphant roars were faintly heard in my ears as I tumbled backward, ensnared in a net as I came to a stop.
"OH NO! Yukimisaka's in a net!"
Heat suddenly was felt as I felt flame whirring in front of me, glitches snapping and flickering in my body as I became unmoving on the stage floor. A cornerstone was in front of me. Fudgemallow Sticks, I almost got pushed out if it weren't for the pillar!
2:18
Shit.
"Immobilization! 5… 4…" The world in a whirl, I dazedly heard Midnight-Sensei call out the final numbers as Momo stood a few centimeters away behind me, panting lightly with concentration on her face still. "Looks like Yaoyorozu's going to WIN! 3 more seconds-!"
Hell no. I felt gritty dust crunching themselves in my mouth as my brain fiercely flared through every idea. Kinetic energy mustered itself out of nothing as my glitches gathered in my unmoving body. "3..2.."
Simple.
As a blink of sunshine flashed through my closed eyelids, I knew what to do.
Destroy.
Instincts commanding my viruses to emerge from my body, the net whipped outward like a parachute as I burst free from my restraints, dynamic energy arcing through my body. "1-"
Use the pillar! As a last ditch effort, I threw out my leg to the edge of the cornerstone pillar in front of me, fiery heat streaking up my leg as I felt my sweatpants and sneakers almost catch on fire. My bandaged fingers scraped the stage floor as I snatched up the remnants of the original net with a spry glitch. Using all of my high-powered glitches, I swung my legs up, using the useful ledge on the fire-filled cornerstone to kick my body backward in the air.
"A flying flip through the air by Yukimisaka-AND-"
Ruggedly aiming her gun at me, Momo immediately shot another net at me as I flipped over in the air, barely missing me by a hair. Gravity and balance wildly spinned awry in my ears. My body arched through the air, midway between ground and sky as fire sputtered in the edges of my vision. Fire licked at the dangling tendrils of the highly-burnable net that I grasped tightly in my fist, about to eat away at the flammable tweed. Catch on fire please-!
As soon the earth turned upright before me, I successfully landed on the ground with a ear-jarring, heel-shattering crash, wasting no time in springing up and flinging my ablazing net at my friend with a time-stretching glitch. She'll dodge it. She's that good-!
"WHOA, a fiery attack by Yukimisaka! Usin' the net like THAT-!"
With a lightning surprise crackling through her eyes, Momo immediately produced a small fire-extinguisher in her hand with a shimmer, spraying the incoming net-on-fire. Midnight-Sensei hurriedly stepped out of the way with a wary recoil, the power of the misty spray immediately dousing the flying net wet and heavy as it disappeared in the explosion of foggy air. Now.
"A fire-extinguisher at hand! I swear, EraserHead, that girl's resourceful as-"
Seizing the opportunity, I immediately dived through the misty haze, lunging to try to snatch the net-projectile gun that Momo had in her right hand. I need to take it and use it against her-!
Another net appeared in front of me in a flash but I was ready this time. My butterflies swooshed in with an electrifying whirl, tearing it to shreds. I emerged from the mist... Only to have huge-ass firecrackers spring into my face, the sparks fizzling around me. Wrenching my neck to the side, I readily dodged a golden fizzle sparking in my face. No, get rid of the gun!
"Yaoyorozu's FIRECRACKERS! Set them up in milliseconds, that crafty girl-!"
My mind whirled to the ideas that I had made up. "B1-5, destroy her gun! You guys know what to do after!"
Immediately shifting over to the right, I shirked another net and lunged, finding the right momentum to leap through the air. Dark smoke whipped up in her face, Momo's net gun immediately exploded into hundreds of blasted plastic and metal pieces as she held it up again, ready to fire. "Yukimisaka's destroyance at WORK-!"
A sharp shower of nails and screws rained down on Momo as a steel bo-jutsu materialized in Momo's steady hands. She instantly blocked my arm and my planned attack, but I knew my movement allowed a crucial opening: her back. "Yaoyorozu BLOCKS wonderfully, but OH-!"
As my glass viruses absorbed themselves into the body of my best friend, I felt a bizarre, unfamiliar presence compress itself over my mind, slamming down on my thoughts. Immediately clamping onto it, I seized it with the biggest mental lashes I had, snapping shut on Momo's quirk with sharp jaws just as the colorful meter went up a spike. ⬘ORANGE
"It's gonna feel weird, Momo..!"
With everything I've got.
"But I have to." I speedily stabbed my heel down and spun with all the strength and speed I had, my glitching heel flying through the air behind me in a high kick as Momo hurriedly held up her staff with both hands. "Yukimisaka's on offense NOW-!"
She held off the brunt of my kick as I pushed down on it. A crack of sound issued in my ears as my glitching foot crashed down on steel, the metal even giving way with a crunch under my unforgiving limb. 1:15
Realizing that her bo-jutsu stick was broken, Momo tried to create another one, and her quirk sputtered out of control as I wrenched her quirk controls in my favor. Before my kicking leg even landed, I whirled around the other way as I shoved her backward. "KICKING SPREE ensues by Yukimisaka! Yaoyorozu's almost-"
I shifted to my other foot on the ground, before shunting my glitching foot forward to finally land the ending blow to the bo-jutsu stick, despite it being made with steel. It snapped in two, and Momo faltered backward, almost losing her balance as she stumbled backwards with startledness.
"OH, almost-"
A dozen of multi-color shimmers had struck at the same time in her body as I ruthlessly jabbed at her quirk in my mind; some random objects popping out of her flesh, varying in size and complexity, while others stuck out at various angles. She's really close to the white line!
"Gotta be careful of that LIN-"
A multi-color shimmer crackled half-heartedly as a pipe faltered to pop out of her thigh, as I sprang forward with a glitch and mercilessly aimed at a back kick toward her solar plexus. "I'm sorry, Momo!"
"AND YAOYOROZU'S OUT! Yukimisaka Ainiru passes to the second round!"
1:07
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Hi you guys, lol. It's been quite a while. (Notice my dead voice XD)
Before I wrote this, I barely finished studying for my Criminal Justice test, and my head is hurting right like crazy rn, XD. But writing this is for everything I have suffered through today.
Even though I was telling myself to write, write, write every second of the day, I couldn't. Something was blocking me from doing so, mostly homework and all. But something else was there: the discomfort of doing something that I shouldn't be doing.
This month has been one of the hardest because I was having loads of homework, and I also had to find a way for me to study ahead for the SAT and other things. I was really worried that my grades wouldn't be enough to get me into the college I want to attend. (It's Stanford, XDD. Even though the acceptance rate is the lowest in the "Ivy League" universities in America, I believe I'll make it. XD)
But I know I can get accepted, and I believe that I can make my goals come true despite all odds, lol. Because if I failed, who else from my family would make it? I know my sister can, but my mom always says that both of us should succeed.
So even though I would be unable to write as much as I want right now, I don't want to regret later because I know that what I do during these next two years is going to determine what course I'm going to take for the rest of my life.
But I'm never going to forget about this fanfic and it's definitely on my bucket list to complete, XD. So yea, I'm still going to update as much as possible, but they'll be rlly slow. And I mean slow.
For now, I'm going to take a break until mid-December bc of the SATs. I really want that 1600, and it's going to be a FREAKING MIRACLE if I do get the score. You guys know how hard it is, but Imma try my best. Even though I only have exactly 5 weeks to prepare. Somehow, I believe that I will make it. Moving mountains and all that, XD. If you get what I mean.
Right now, I'm extremely tired b/c I'm writing this at 1 AM in the morning. So to those who wrote reviews, I'm really sorry but I have written my responses to you in the next chapter..! I hope! (I usually write replies but I just can't do it this chapter. I'm that tired. T-T)
Thanks to AK632612, Datrandomg, Pika Hime, Rouge Poncho, Sammy123456, The Dooples, , thebarbas98, CrazyWill71, SpringSugar, and takakiharuka8 for FOLLOWING AND FAVORITING!
(This fic has over 55 followers and 45 favorites! OUINEJOnfewfpinawf) I'm so grateful to you guys, THANK UUUU! U guys helped me destress during this very hard time, and encouraged me to write despite the hardships!
So yes, I need reviews to refuel my motivation for this story. Which means, PLEASE ALWAYS REVIEW. BY ALL MEANS, PLZ. Plainly, it gives me JOY. Indescribable joy that pushes me to have an obsession with writing! Please and thank uuuuuu!