Hope
Estelle held the machine in her hands and made her way out of UA. The support course had a lot of trouble making Estelle's idea come to fruition, but they had done fantastic with the creation. In an attempt to dull down her hope, Estelle reminded herself of the unlikelihood that it could do more than potentially possible.
Once she had reached the entrance, Estelle let out her fiery wings and soared into the air at top speed. The nearest woods were about eighty miles away, but it was a good starting point for her investigation.
Unfortunately, her plan on marking spirits locations on a map had not fully worked out due to the spirits love for isolated areas. Though it did give her an idea that the bridge was further south since the more she travelled, the more spirits she came across.
She was also worried about the timing. Estelle had seen very few spirits the last two weeks. They were few and far between since ghouls took up their space. She still hasn't gotten to the bottom of it, but she hoped she would soon. Nevertheless, she hoped there would be enough of them around to test her theories.
Landing on the wind ruffled grass, Estelle turned the device on and plugged in an earphone so she could remain incognito. Starting at her regular first stop, the path was ingrained into the mud with her footprints. Following along, Estelle eventually smiled at the frantic beeping of the machine.
'There's a spirit here.'
Estelle moved into a crouch whilst she made her way through some bushes. Bingo. There was a bat snout up ahead. Ensuring that she wasn't stepping on anything that would alert the creature, Estelle attacked when she was close enough. A few seconds later, the beast fell to the ground with a whine, too late to defend itself. Estelle listened as the loud beeping noise of her frequency machine had dulled to a halt.
It had worked. A machine that could detect spirits. Estelle figured it would help the heroes when they were suspicious. A sure way to test it before calling her and a certain way to guarantee the safety of others. She knew the commission would be happy about this, and Estelle was glad that she wasn't empty-handed, at least.
Estelle decided on doing various tests to know the full scope of what it could accomplish. She attempted to use it whilst flying, which had worked as long as she wasn't too high up from the ground. Estelle had tried it on different spirits she could find, which varied slightly in beeps depending on the beast's strength. Estelle really wished she had something like this when she was back home. Ignoring that for nows, Estelle mentally prepared for the biggest test yet.
If it could find the bridge.
Estelle knew she would be exhausted after this since she was prepared to speed through the whole of Japan. But she needed to do this if she could get out of these people's lives quicker. It would be better for everyone. She doesn't belong here, and she shouldn't feel like it because she was not meant to be here. That was a fact.
Letting out a turbo of flames, Estelle zoomed through the air at top speed whilst staying in perfect distance to the ground and the sky. The breach could be anywhere; she couldn't limit it. The machine didn't sing its song many times due to the lack of spirits, but it was undoubtedly a relief when it did.
'This is so much easier.'
But, she still hasn't found the breach.
Estelle was only halfway through Japan at this point; there was still a chance. Estelle forced her flames to keep going at that reminder as she flew with determination. Estelle was back into the warrior psyche as she smashed down onto the scattered dark spirits and left as quickly as she came. Estelle was on autopilot whilst she roamed every inch of the country in hopes the little machine in her pouch would beep for anything besides the creatures she so desperately hated.
There was nothing.
Estelle leaned against a tree for a moment to recuperate the massive about of travel she had completed too quickly. She knew she had hoped for too much, but dammit, couldn't the world have made something easy for her? Just once in her life?
It was nightfall at this point. Estelle hoped the class didn't create a scene when she didn't arrive for dinner. She assumed they must be sleeping by now. Good. Shooting back up into the air, Estelle made her way back to UA.
After her patrols around the UA area, Estelle was startled when she realised the whole class was in the living room. It wasn't awfully late, but they were usually in their dorms by this time.
The door clicking shut alerted them of her entrance, and the students immediately brightened. Staring at them perplexingly, Estelle watched as they surrounded her with pleased grins.
"Thank goodness your back; I'll make you some tea!" Momo shouted as she hurriedly made her way to the kitchen. Before Estelle could say a word, many classmates started to speak up.
"Where were you?"
"We thought something might have happened because you missed dinner?"
"Was it a bad spirit?"
"-Since you haven't skipped for ages!"
Estelle was overwhelmed by the noise and raised her hand to quieten them, placing her other on the new device.
It was discomfiting to realise that they had been waiting for her. She had an insistent urge to run in the opposite direction. The concern in their voices was baffling to her. Was she really ingrained in their lives this much for them to stay up? She didn't know. She didn't expect it to.
Here she was, frantically looking for a way to leave so she could get out of their hair quicker.
And they're waiting for her to come back?
Estelle couldn't fathom it.
The class had been silent for a full minute as they waited for her to speak. They all could see her struggle to form words. It was clear that whatever it was - bewildered her. They just couldn't figure out what.
Bakugo was the one to break the silence. Storming up to the confused female, he nudged her shoulder forcefully. "What did I say before?!"
Realisation slowly dawned on her.
"When you come back all tired. The class worry."
But still, isn't this concern unfounded?
Momo had come back with the tea at this point, and the students migrated to the living room so Estelle could relax. Now that they had gotten through their outburst of worry, they had noticed that Estelle was dead on her feet. Her hand was gripped tightly around a device that looked suspiciously like the blueprints they saw a while ago.
Giving the girl a few moments to enjoy the tea. They watched as Momo beamed at her closed eyes and satisfied expression. "So?! Did something happen?" Kirishima questioned with a hint of trepidation.
"No. I got caught up with work. My apologies, I wasn't expecting you all to think anything of it."
"Why wouldn't we? You are our classmate. You usually make sure to come for dinner, so when we realised that you didn't. We kinda got caught up in our theories," Tsu added almost bashfully.
"So, nothing happened at all?" Sato asked with disappointment. If nothing happened, she purposefully didn't join them for dinner.
"I wouldn't say that."
They all perked up.
"I created this device with the help of the support department. It manages to locate spirits," Estelle explained further.
"No way! Awesome!" Kaminari cheered as the class surrounding the female nodded in agreement.
"Hmhmm. I had hoped that it would also lead me to the breach."
"Oh, and did it?" Izuku prodded.
"I checked every nook and cranny of Japan with it today. It failed," Estelle deadpanned.
"You did what?!" The class collectively shouted.
"I travelled around Jap-"
"No-no! Did you even take a break?! How did you manage that?!"
Estelle looked up from her cup in confusion. "I flew?"
The students sighed at her oblivious response. "We meant; how did you manage to do all that without collapsing from exhaustion?"
"I think you forget that I am not the same as you all."
"Don't say it like that!"
"Huh?"
"You are the same! You just have a couple of differences, no big deal!"
Estelle lowered her cup from her mouth, stunned at the words leaving Sato's mouth. "I am confused."
"About what?"
"I am a warrior, yet you all worry like I am a child."
The class stood stunned at the blatant term. It solidified the fact that Estelle thought differently. She didn't understand their unease when she didn't come for meals.
"We worry for those we care about."
Estelle froze and sighed to herself, a heavy weight of a burden she could not name. "You shouldn't care for me. I am undeserving of it."
"Stop that!" Bakugo exclaimed as he nudged her once again. Estelle gazed at him in puzzlement.
"Stop what?"
"Stop saying dumb shit like that!"
Estelle tilted her head in question, innocent curiosity showing on her face, "But it is the truth?"
The class pushed away from their twisted hearts from her words and smiled, "No way! Everybody deserves that! Don't sell yourself short!"
"Nothing you say is going to change the minds of these idiots. You just have to accept it," Bakugo mumbled.
Estelle frowned, "But shouldn't you stay away if I will be leaving?"
"No way! That just means we have to make the most of it!"
"I don't think that's best."
"Why not?"
"Because I have done this not only for your benefit. But for my own too."
Understanding bloomed in their hearts. Estelle remained distant because staying alone was more painless than going back lonely. "Estelle. We aren't asking you to change yourself for us. We understand that you value that; what we're trying to say is - don't push us away so much."
Estelle pursed her lips in thought. The urging feeling to run was still in her bones. All Estelle wanted to do was make that distance bigger.
Too much care.
Too
Much
Care
-Thump-
"Stop that!" Estelle growled, slamming her hand against the blonde's face to push him away. His growl could be heard in response as he added strength to his head against her hand to overpower the tug of war.
The class sweatdropped at their antics but smiled. The pair looked like an old married couple when Bakugo and Estelle did stuff like this. They had noticed it had begun to get more frequent, but with the stubbornness of the two, they would never admit it.
A few students had come down in the middle of the night to find Estelle and Bakugo watching the television together. It was a sight to see Bakugo screaming at the tv like Gordon Ramsey while Estelle watched him with a hidden smile.
The interaction was adorable, though they would never say it out loud. A few had even complained to Mr Aizawa about the noise; he was fully aware that it was happening.
One day, their teacher came downstairs to reprimand the pair but was in disbelief from the atmosphere. Estelle was the most relaxed Mr Aizawa had ever seen her, and Bakugo was a far cry from the consistently angry male he was used to. The difference was so strange that he took a moment to stop and eventually decided to leave the pair be. Mr Aizawa would never admit it, but he had ordered soundproof boards when the students were in class, so they were not interrupted in their sleep.
Estelle needed normal, and if that was given to her from the unlikeliest of places, he would just have to accept it. It was odd to realise that she found some of that with Bakugo of all people.
"Hey, since we are here. I was wondering if you read the article about you yesterday?"
Startled, Estelle shook her head in answer. It was quiet for a few moments as Izuku pulled out the paper from the cabinet and brought it out for Estelle to see.
'The Guardian; Here to stay?
After speaking to the guardian, Estelle, a hero from another world, it has come to our understanding that she may not be here to protect us for long. Why? You may ask? Because Estelle is looking for a way to return home.
Now before you sing your celebrations. I would like to remind you that the symbol of peace is no longer in action, and we need all the help we can get. Even from another world, this hero is an excellent asset for fighting against the great evil heading towards us.
We have all seen the power she possesses; we need the guardian here to help protect us. A great hero who saved her own world from peril is here providing support. But is she here to stay? We can't say for sure.
But what we can say is; we need her. We need her help. So, guardian, will you stay to help us? We know you aren't from this world, but does it really matter? You are human, just like us.'
Estelle was muted as she read through the article. She had no words to describe what she was feeling. Did that reporter talk about her leaving to give people an incentive to make her stay? That made her want to leave all the more. She wondered if they would sing the same tune if something were to go wrong and if Estelle was honest; there was a familiar foreboding feeling in the air.
She didn't belong here; it was more trouble than it was worth for her and the rest of the world. They just didn't realise it yet.
Silently putting down the paper, Estelle eyed the class watching her. She could see the question in their eyes and let out a sigh. "I never should have been here in the first place. It doesn't matter if I go, you would always be fine without me. Trust in your own abilities, not mine. For it's what keeps you alive."
"But, Estelle..."
Cutting of Izuku, Estelle gave a slight smile. "Trust me, it's the right call."
"It doesn't feel like the right call!" Kaminari whined out disappointedly.
Shaking her head with a chuckle, Estelle muttered. "You all knew this was temporary. Sometimes the right call is the one people like the least. But, it needs to be done. I don't belong here."
"You do, though."
Stunned, Estelle whirled her head to Tsu, who had spoken up softly from the couch. "Even though your pretty distant, you hate people and avoid us like crazy. You're still a part of the class."
Feeling a low punch in her gut, Estelle forced her body to stay still to show she wasn't affected. But internally, Estelle wanted to lean over from the blow. The class watched as Estelle struggled to form any sort of answer. They could see the surprise she was attempting to hold together and were confused by it.
Weren't they obvious with this? Maybe Estelle was just the type of person to not believe them. The thought saddened them.
"It's okay. You don't have to say anything. Just know that it's true. You are a part of Class 1A."