EnderBlazeHybrid:
The mc losing time and time again has me losing interest in this story. I read and watch stories to see the mc succeed, not to fail constantly. I don't care about a losers bracket, I care about the winners. You should learn to not make this so edgy with constant drama. Besides, irl he would already have been taken out of the house of his aunt with how mentally (and apparently physically) abusive she is. She is THAT bad that I wouldn't ever want to be close to both her and the mother.
I would have enjoyed reading the rest of the story if you scaled back all the depressive stuff. Real-life is already bad enough, thanks.
Response:
I'm sorry to hear that. This is probably going to be the last chapter for a while before we see any more drama. I can also see how having to read the MC losing constantly get's exhausting quickly, I wanted to make the story as realistic as possible and I also didn't want to take from the glory of the other main characters. Fun fact about the festival arc I was actually going to have Akio beat Tokoyami and Todoroki before losing to Bakugo as a runner up. On Lia(his 'aunt'), I did not intend for my writing to actually come off as her being physically and mentally abusive. I meant for her to come off as brazen in her language as Bakugo but still cares deeply for the people around her especially Akio. She did hit him in a fit of rage and emotion but there isn't really any excuse for her actually hitting him. It's probably something I'll have to revise later on down the story or remove completely to make it more clear(As my earlier chapters make me cringe really hard).
Thanks for reading the story so far and the criticism.
My Hero Academia: Akio Takeyama
Chapter: 23
What is your purpose?
"How could you do nothing,"
Akio fingers pooled along with the piano slowly and meticulously. His voice filled the otherwise cluttered storage room with something serene and beautiful.
Akio's body moved in rhythm with each ending note for the chord he pressed. His head shook as he prolonged the note he sang. His head rising into the air as the volume of his voice lifted to deliver a harsher but somber tone.
"Cause I've been looking at the sky to show me where I went wrong,"
"Been looking at the sky like someone was looking down,"
"But it keeps raining on me,"
As he continued the song Akio couldn't help but zone out not able to remember the last minute until his mouth opened to deliver the last bits of lyrics. His fingers pressing and releasing the keys just as fast to imitate the urgency and hard-hitting vocals he would deliver.
"And I've been looking at the sky since I was 5 years old."
"Been looking for the stars but it seems like they're all gone,"
Akio lowered his head relaxing himself and his posture as he dipped the tone of his voice to something much more comfortable, "And it breaks my heart, you know,"
"But I think it's time to go,"
He closed his eyes, fingers tapping across the keys to deliver a finishing delight of melodic fade out to the song. Humming along before vocalizing a bit towards the end the keys ending with his voice.
The silence stuck to the air a bit as Akio took the moment to take a breather. Who would've known that Endeavor had a piano tucked away here? Fairy Tail is the one who is in charge of inventory for the Endeavor hero corporation and according to her this-
"Piano was a gift from some interview a few years back,"
His eyes narrowed at the thin line of dirt coating my fingertips. Somehow, I thought that this Piano has been here for only a couple of years...hell it probably hasn't been touched in over a decade. Still, it looks so expensive. The gold trimmings with the black gloss was the perfect combination and even with the culmination of dust the gold still looked pristine.
Akio frowned, "If he doesn't want it I could take it off his hands." He grumbled.
Something so great just sitting here unused. It'll be a great pass time trying to play the piano again although I only remember to play a couple of songs.
"I doubt he would care."
Akio whirled around in the seat, eyes going wide in shock. Todoroki was standing there with a quizzical expression.
Akio averted his gaze, feeling a bit bashful that Todoroki heard him sing.
"Damn, you should've said something sooner," The blonde chuckled softly scratching the back of his head, "Then you wouldn't have had to hear such horrible signing."
I was so caught up in the moment that I didn't even realize my ability wasn't active. Burnin told me to make sure it was always on. Akio closed his eyes and quickly sighed a tingling sensation reverberating from his body and onto the floor.
"No,"
Akio blinked, no?
Todoroki shook his head. "Your singing was amazing..." He looked down at his feet, "have you always played?"
Akio smiled softly as he turned back in his seat, "I took classes a bit when I was younger." His fingers ghosted over the keys slowly bit by bit, his fingers beginning to gently press a new melody into life.
"I want to take classes,"
Lia looked at his 10-year-old self with a raised eyebrow, "classes for music?" She held the flyer in her hand.
"Why?" Akio could remember the disapproving frown she gave him.
He could remember looking down at his small hands bandaged from the fingers to the shoulders. My emotions. To prevent it from ever happening again.
"Okay," Lia knew the reason before it even left his mouth. Lia kneeled and leaned forward to place a kiss against the top of his head. Akio hands up to steady himself as he tip-toed to kiss her cheek in return. "But don't blame me when you get bored."
It was an outlet for me. Akio hummed along feeling a bit more confident in his voice.
"Clinging to hope what else is there to live for?"
Todoroki stood still, his eyes closing as he listened again.
"Got nowhere to go, what else is pain good for?" Akio sang softly. It was almost as if he was talking rather than singing.
" I am confident that your life has a purpose,"
Suddenly he quickened the melody but his voice stayed the same. The emotion coming more through the sound of the piano rather than his voice.
"It's okay, you will get through it. Don't give up cause someone needs you." Akio raised his fingers, the notes hanging in the air without their necessary transition or sendoff.
I don't remember the rest.
It seemed to jolt Todoroki. The ice and fire quirk user snapping his eyes open as the song abruptly came to an end. Did he like that song? Akio gave a sheepish smile as he stood himself up and cleaned his hands with a paper towel.
"Sorry, it seems like you like that song, but I don't remember the rest," Akio apologized as Todoroki turned shaking his head.
"It's fine," His tone was emotionless as he pulled out his phone, "You took up a good chunk of my time and it's going to anger my old man."
"Oh yeah? " Akio edged out not in the mood to deal with Endeavor's temper when it came to training.
Their relationship right now Akio could only describe as 'I'm only here because of necessity and not because you're my father' type deal. Todoroki despises his dad, that much Akio knew and he didn't need someone to hold his hand when it came to figuring out why. The image of women with grey eyes and the kindest smile flashed in his head. Rei todoroki.
"Is that why you came to find me?" Akio asked as they stepped back out into the hallway of the hero firm. Giving a few nods in the direction of the sidekicks that passed them by.
Todoroki nodded, "Yes," he answered, turning to Akio. Akio's lip twitched but forced it down to keep his cool.
He looked away, "So your father sent you? Right in the middle of your little private father and son bonding time?" The way Todoroki brows furrowed and a frown settled on his face at father and son bonding time made the corner of my mouth curl up into a smirk.
"It's not father and son bonding time," Todoroki practically growled out. Akio could feel Todoroki's glare burning holes on the side of his face as they walked.
Akio only shrugged in response, I know that. He just wanted to see how much the phrase irked the ice and fire user.
Akio's lips curled up into a smile as he shrugged, "It's not how everyone else sees it." Akio's words had Todoroki kissing his teeth.
"You need to stop listening to Burnin'." He said the frown still lingering on his lips.
Akio turned to him then with a coy smirk, "I don't think it was Burnin' saying those things." Todoroki's eyes lowered into a steely gaze which Akio just tilted his head at. Todoroki is right, but he doesn't have to know that.
Todoroki's heterochromia orbs glowed as they held each other's gaze. "I've learned something new." That simple statement leaving his mouth made Akio's fingers twitch. Ah, so that's why? Akio could feel shivers go down his spine making the hair on the back of his neck stand up in alarm.
A heartbeat spike, Akio noticed. Todoroki meant business.
Akio turned to him, a sudden excitement bubbling inside. Finally, I can have a proper rematch with him. He chuckles softly, "If you're trying to scare me it won't work. I took your father's criticism to heart and worked on my weakness."
It was a hard lesson learned. He knew it was a problem but didn't think much of it until it was too late.
Akio didn't want the number 2 hero to hold back no matter if he got his ass handed to him or not. He needed to know how far he was and Endeavor did not disappoint in showing him the reality.
Long story short he was thrashed.
"Is that the best you can do?" Endeavor fist was still broiled with fire, pieces of broken rubble, and tile strewed about the makeshift arena. Akio should have vomited by now but he was gasping for air with how Endeavor's fist had caved in his gut. Right through the wall too.
"You should know by now that staying in one place is not only deadly but stupid against an opponent faster than you." Endeavor glared at him, "Or did your little bout with the hero killer not get that through your skull?"
Akio hacked and wheezed, "S-Sorry," He was able to force out before coughing uncontrollably.
"Don't apologize to me…" His blue eyes narrowed dangerously, "learn how to use your quirk effectively the next time I see you or go back to Burnin'."
It was an ultimatum that gave Akio no choice, but to train despite his injuries. Although it indeed slowed him down. Making his progress a crawl but an effort he was willing to put in. Burnin' made sure he always submerged himself in ice to not aggravate his injuries and delay his recovery. Every single session they proceeded with caution until the very last one.
I've seen massive improvements to my speed and arsenal. With my new special move and ability, this definitely won't be the same fight from the start of the school year. Akio couldn't wait to see the look on his face when Todoroki failed to win.
"Don't forget I've almost reached peak physical performance again concerning my injuries," Akio all, but smugly replied flexing his arm and fingers as proof. "And I've integrated new movements into my attacks making it much more difficult to exploit my weakness."
Akio reached into the pockets of his U.A PE uniform - something that was surprisingly included in the case with his costume - in case they did indeed need it. He could still feel the ghost of fire on his skin from their last 'experimental bout' to see how well they progressed.
Endeavor even took both Todoroki and me out on a patrol so I assume the hero has taken at least a little interest in me. Or so Akio hoped was the case because if almost beating his son in a sparring match wasn't enough to earn his respect then what would?
"It won't be the same as last time."
"Is that right?" Todoroki questioned pausing in the middle of the hall. Akio took a couple of steps forward putting space between them before pausing to look back at him.
Their air mingled and the temperature dropped before rising again.
"Yeah, because It has to." His face was void of all emotion as the words left his mouth. Blank. Tone-death. It irked Todoroki so much so, it showed. A small tug of the lip and a twitch of the finger.
He was on the edge.
And Akio jumped at the chance to push him off.
"Hey, has your father started comparing me to you yet?"
Todoroki jerked forward, combustion of pure red-orange flames from his left side as he shot forward. Akio lowered himself, a frightening look coming over his features - he was intending to hurt him - as he shot forward himself, frost building up and solidifying in his hand. They swung at each other left hands inches away from colliding.
"That's enough,"
Akio suddenly felt his hand ripped off course as he was forcibly pulled forward. He suddenly took a sharp intake of breath as if he had been choking. I lost control. He looked up from the hand holding his wrist to find Kamiji - Burnin' - in front of him. Her face was oddly serious as she stared down at him with the most fearsome gaze.
His eyes widened when he looked back down at the left arm encased in a sheen of ice.
"Dumbass," Burnin whispered, releasing his wrist. I-I lost my cool and almost revealed my trump card. Akio quickly shrunk away the ice flexing his fingers before curling them into a tight fist.
"Sorry." He apologized, hanging his head low.
"I apologize as well." He heard Todoroki mumble.
Burnin' smiled a toothy grin before raising both her hands and crashing it down on their heads. They were both forced to bow.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"
"We're sorry!" They both said in unison.
- Akio's pov -
Endeavor and Burnin' stood over to the side watching us get ready to face off once again. The area we were in was something akin to a reinforced gymnasium although there were scorch marks all over the walls. Must be where Endeavor comes to train.
"Shoto and Take," Endeavor took a step forward regarding us both with a cold, but calculating stare. Todoroki glared at him while I nodded, 'I expect both of you to not hold back."
"You don't have to tell me twice," I responded sliding my feet back into a stance. Not like I was going to do that. Todoroki lowered himself to his left side a tad bit further than his right. I tensed, is he going to use his fire first? I narrowed my eyes focusing on calming my breathing to anticipate the first move.
"Start when you're ready," Burnin said, pocketing her hands in her hoodie.
I peeked at Burnin' who was giving me a thumbs-up before pointing at her shoes.
I know. I activated Seismic sense. Suddenly, my heart throbbed its waves flowing from my body to the ground as it mingled with Todoroki's. I can see everything. With my ability activated it'll make it a bit easier to predict his moves.
I activated my quirk, the floor suddenly growing at my command as it carried me up. Todoroki was quick to react throwing up his right hand a torrent of ice flowing from the floor and traveling up my pillar with outstanding speed. My quirk was quick to put a stop to that. Taking control of his ice it shrunk and disappeared. Then reappeared and traveled in the opposite direction.
"I thought you would've learned by now?" I taunted, maneuvering myself forward on the pillar. I control everything solid. Even if it's his ice. Todoroki threw his left hand out a flash of fire burning away the ice. He brought it up, the torrent of flames forcing me to leap off onto the ground. I immediately grew two pillars from my side as they rose and curved down to crush him.
Todoroki quickly escaped using his ice to surf along the ground and dodge the attack. He raised his left hand and aimed. His fire was too quick for me to do anything but defend.
The floor grew again at my command, a wall that blocked the fire. Todoroki surfed on his ice in a circle around me throwing out a constant torrent of fire. He was trying to box me in. I cursed, realizing his mobility had improved considerably to the point where he forced me to trap myself in a dome. I sighed kneeling on the ground as I willed the tile floors to stay together as the heat threatened to burn right through.
I cursed as my arms began to waver at the constant pressure of having to continuously repair the walls. If I don't do something soon I'll be consumed by the flames.
"C'mon think!" I grunted out trying to process the situation. I have control over all solids and with my new ability - even with my vision obscured - I can tell where Todoroki if he's within its radius. I looked around at the walls. What did Endeavor say to me?
"What makes your quirk effective? Why does it make it effective? How can I make it more effective? When do I apply that? If you can't answer these simple questions you won't grow any stronger than you are now."
Endeavors' steady blue gaze never ceased to make me feel off. Always like he was looking right through rather than at me.
"The problem isn't your quirk," He pointed at me, " It's you."
That hurt more than I want to admit. Endeavor said it as fact and not his own professional opinion. He was Blunt. Just like Tsuyu.
Shaking my head I grit my teeth repairing the damage being done. But it makes sense. The biggest demon is yourself as they say and that's just the first hurdle.
- Burnin' POV -
Burnin could tell Endeavor wasn't happy in the slightest. The flames which were dormant on his face are now wild and alive with an unadulterated fury.
"Did what I say go in one ear and out the other?" He growled out from beside her, "Perhaps I should listen to you less Kamiji."
Kamiji chuckled eyes still glued to the match before her. Shouldn't he be happy his kid literally has Akio on the ropes?
Not that it matters, she thought.
Kamiji's grin grew wide showing how she was gritting her sharp teeth in anticipation.
"He's got a good head on his shoulders." Moe kamiji was sure of it. Her orange orbs glowed as she leaned forward holding her breath.
Just watch.
The anticipation for the finale is killing her!
Suddenly, jagged pieces of ice grew across the ground in all directions. Kamiji's eyes widened in excitement. There he goes! It caught Todoroki at the wrong time as it collided into his ice that he was surfing aimed his hand down to burn it all away relieving pressure from Akio.
As expected, Akio quickly took advantage of the opportunity. There were a rumble and shift as the walls suddenly shrunk and leaped digging deep with arms and raising them. A wall bigger than the others sprouted up and suddenly moved forward like a bulldozer ready to crush Todoroki against the wall.
The arena was covered in a misty fog from the sudden rupture of ice. The same he had done to the tape-kid back during the U.A festival Kamiji had noticed. It rose and stuck all the way to the ceiling stopping the wall just a few feet from the wall.
Todoroki barely survived that.
The ice broke apart as the wall suddenly grew appendages that rose high into the air and came down with a ferocious slam.
"Here it is!" She practically yelled in excitement. Her eyes shone and Endeavor took a step forward, both of their flames becoming wilder as they shouted at the top of their lungs.
"It's over!" They screamed in unison.
Todoroki threw out his arm, the burst of wind as he activated the flames blowing away the fog obscuring his vision. It revealed a descending Akio, his left arm reeled back for a punch.
"Akio!" Todoroki yelled, clenching his fist as fire seemed to engulf his left side.
Akio POV - Endeavors Pro Agency
This was it. I reeled back my hand clenching a fist as I focused on the ice and my arm.
Endeavor was right. It isn't my quirk that is the problem. It's me. The foundations on which I've built up my quirk has to be rebuilt. The way I fight defensively when I'm faced with an opponent stronger than me rather than trying to be the aggressor sounds nice, but in the long run, isn't a sustainable way to safely win every single fight. I lack the speed and finesse. How much is strength worth in a fight if my quirk is not fast or versatile enough to keep up with my opponent?
Hell, I could barely keep up with Burnin' or Endeavor during the usual patrol yesterday.
It's hard breaking out of old habits and that's what makes the process of starting over difficult. With every new ability, I learn comes with its flaws and more time having to spend making sure it's up to par with my other abilities. That's what I've been working on. Mobility, close-quarters combat, and my new abilities.
Todoroki raised his hand releasing a torrent of flames directly at me. I would have been a sitting duck before but now, I smiled diving headfirst into the flames. The frost building up in my handle suddenly ruptured, freezing, and then encasing my arm in a thin sheet of ice.
I felt oddly calm despite the danger of being burnt to a crisp. It was as if this all was second nature to me. I'm not afraid of a little pain. Especially if that's what it takes to win!
I raised my icy fingers towards the flames, "This is over." I said, realizing that my fingers were cutting through the flames. It was surely melting through the protective later, but I could just keep regrowing it with no effort.
I reeled back my right arm and encased it into ice.
"Have a taste of defeat!"
Todoroki's eyes widened and the smile on his face grew as my icy fist swung and connected with his jaw.
I landed on the ground smiling as I felt the familiar tingle in my feet. You can't use your ice anymore Todoroki. Using ice is futile as I can just shrink it the moment he activates his quirk. I control the ground on which we all stand on and without it, Todoroki can't influence the tide of a battle if I'm around.
Todoroki let out a yell. Snapping his head back to face me before stomping his right foot back preventing himself from falling. I chuckled the ground under his feet shifting forward and forcing him to lose his balance.
Now!
I made two tendrils grow from the ground wrapping around Todoroki before slamming him against the floor. Before more and more wrapped around his legs. I shrunk the floor beneath him before regrowing it around his body. There in the middle of the training course, Todoroki was trapped inside of the floor. Only his head was visible as I walked over and kneeled.
My face was blank with emotion as I regarded him coldly, "Todoroki Shoto," He gritted his teeth struggling to escape. "I told you not to underestimate me."
It's useless.
"I don't suggest activating your fire," I knocked against the floor with my knuckles, "From what I can tell the floor is reinforced to make sure even Endeavor can't cause too much damage."
Todoroki stopped struggling once he heard that. He wasn't happy clearly by the way his brows furrowed in frustration.
I got up pushing my hands into my pockets, "You can break out of there, but you'll just burn yourself trying." I explained and with that final note released him from the ground as Endeavor and Burnin' came over.
Endeavor looked pissed, but Burnin' looked like she was ready to tackle me to the ground.
"I wonder what my old man is going to say about me losing," Todoroki said as he pulled himself up. I let a small smile grace my lips as he narrowed his eyes at me.
"You won."
I nodded, "Yep." I popped the 'p' for emphasis.
A genuine chuckle bubbled up my throat. It feels weird being this happy but, right now I don't know what to do. It's like this is the best thing that's happened to me in so long! A huge confidence boost after everything that's happened to me this week.
Throughout my life, I managed to speak, "Not going to lie. You had me in the first half. Using your fire to keep me pinned while moving on your ice is impressive. I still have to switch between earth and ice because I can't use both of my quirk's properly as you can." My eyes looked at him in awe. "You've definitely improved a lot!"
Todoroki grunted a small sound of acknowledgment. "What was that move you used?" He glanced at my arm before raising a hand to rub his jaw.
I smiled flexing my fingers, "Oh you mean my new ability?" I blinked tilting my head to the side, "It's something I've been working on since the U.A festival...I've only now begun trying to perfect it 2 days ago."
Suddenly Kamiji smashed her cheek against my own, while squeezing the life out of me, "And I'm the one who helped him!" She let out a hearty laugh slapping Akio on the back. "I wonder what we should call that final move. What about Diving ice? Ice punch! Ice cowl? No?"
I cringed at the names, "Please, don't ever try suggesting names again."
Endeavor stood - no - towered over Todoroki with such a furious look I could feel the heat waft over me. Burnin' smile was still on her face, but she went dead silent. "Someone is in trouble." I shot her a glare.
You could give them some semblance of privacy y' know?
"Spit it out." Todoroki all but snapped glaring at his father.
…
Endeavor closed his eyes, and for a while, I held my breath. This was Endeavor we were talking about. He must not be happy in the slightest with his son. But, the man threw me for a loop as his lips curled up into a smile.
"There it is! That fire!" He yelled. Endeavor sounded smug as he spoke as if he was reveling in a victory of some sort.
His blue eyes stared down at his son with a wild fury behind them. "Don't you see if you hadn't neglected your left side you would have burned him right out of the sky!? Now you know why this training is important."
Ah, so it was to prove his point.
Suddenly, the smile faded from his lips and his tone lowered to something more serious, "Shoto you've tasted defeat. Never forget how it feels." Todoroki kissed his teeth, throwing his head to the side. Endeavor stared at him a bit more before slowly turning to me.
"Akio Takeyama," I winced at the casual use of my real last name. Todoroki told me enough to know that he did background information on me and wasn't afraid to throw it in my face now and then.
Kamiji blinked, "Takeyama?" She whispered and I could feel my heart running at a mile an hour. Her orange eyes regarded my form for a moment raising her eyebrow quizzically. I smiled softly at her as I pushed myself up to a stand.
I kept my lips shut tight, and turned to face the towering hero in front of me.
Endeavor eyes were cold but they held a solidness to them. As if he wasn't looking past me but at me. My eyes widened a smidge as I quickly looked down at my feet.
I've been acknowledged by the number 2 hero.
"To think someone could match Shoto in terms of quirk...you are truly an enigma. But even I can tell you haven't found it yet..." He closed his eyes as I blinked up at him in confusion.
"Found what?" I asked.
His eyes snapped open and suddenly I felt a sudden pressure on my shoulders.
"Your purpose." He finished staring me down, "Takeyama why do you want to be a hero?"
My mind drew a blank as I struggled to find an answer. Why do I want to be a hero? I clenched my fist and stuttered out a response-the first response that came to mind.
"T-To get revenge."
"Revenge?" Todoroki repeated in surprise.
I could feel the darkness creeping around and beginning to swallow me whole. The intense gaze Endeavor was giving me only amplified the longer I stood there. I did realize one thing, however, and that was the number 2 hero saw right through me.
"Is that a purpose or,"
My fingers started to dig into my palms.
"An excuse?" His words had knocked all the air out of my lungs. For a moment I stood there dumbfounded as a response never came out. My mind drew a blank and so there was nothing to be heard but silence.
Endeavor kissed his teeth, "What's the point of doing all of this? You wasted my time and I-"
Todoroki stood abruptly, "That's enough." His voice was sharp and it made Endeavor paused to look over at his son. "I only became a hero because that's what was expected of me ever since I was born." His eyes lowered into slits and his brows creased angrily.
"Don't you ever lecture anyone about purpose when yours was being obsessed at beating All Might." His words were laced with poison and spite. It was clear to everyone in the room that he was close to snapping. The calm and collected Todoroki was showing a different side to himself and it was to defend me.
But, he's wrong.
My mouth went on autopilot. "It was his obsessiveness with wanting to beat All Might that made him the number 2 hero." As the words left my mouth they felt like steel. That steel was piercing Todoroki and oddly enough it didn't make me sick to my stomach. The way his head snapped to me with utter betrayal written on his face, I could care less. "Never complacent. Never lazy. Always focused on doing his job better over the publicity, wealth, or perks. Endeavor truly is the number 2 hero."
He was an inspiration growing up as a kid. The undeniable truth and definition of the meaning hero. I didn't choose this agency because he is the number 2 hero.
I walked and stood right in front of him. Staring up as he stared down. Blue on purple.
I chose it because of what he represents.
"But he's right. Don't lecture me," I paused my brows furrowing and the anger that kept hidden down in my chest bubbling to the surface, "My purpose is to be the hero my mother never was for me and never can be. That's my revenge...for the world making me the son of Yu Takeyama."
I felt out of breath, but for the first time in my life, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I'm Akio Takeyama and that's okay. For so long, I've thrown it to the back of my mind. Never having the strength to say it out loud but now, "That's right, I'm Akio Takeyama."
I glanced at Burnin' to see her tightlipped and staring ahead.
I'm Akio Takeyama, the son of Yu Takeyama. The son of a villain. With a deep breath, I calmed myself, and I'm okay with that.
Endeavor lips twitched the tiniest of silver of a smile gone as quickly as it came. "You are you. First, accept that and then accept the perilous journey to becoming a hero." He turned around, but didn't leave, "Osirus," My eyes widened, "Don't come back."
I looked down at my feet and nodded. "Thank you."
"I can't believe it!" Burnin' was back to her usual self but I could tell even with the added enthusiasm for my accomplishment at beating Todoroki there was a lot on her mind.
"Burnin' please," I sighed out rubbing the bridge of my nose. I have a horrible migraine and it's only getting worse. As much as I like to hate Todoroki and admitting he's my rival. I couldn't tell at all what he was thinking when we were left standing there all alone after Endeavor left.
I started stuffing my face full of mashed potatoes.
"Moe." I raised an eyebrow at her cheeks filled with mashed potatoes. She blinked pushing her untouched cup of water across to me. "Call me Moe. You've earned it!"
What? I tried to swallow the mash potatoes eventually using the water to wash it down. Wait, I almost choked when I heard that. I held my hand up, taking a moment to catch my breath.
"Call you by your first name, Moe?"
"The 'e' is silent!" She announced loudly much to the dismay of the customers eating their food. But who were they to throw out the person who saved their restaurant from a bomber? Burnin'.
A tick formed on my head, "You're not silent!" I yelled and Moe slammed her hands on the table.
"Well, it's just who I am!" She suddenly dropped back in her seat, the smile across her lips fading from her lips. I just shook my head and sighed. I'm already too exhausted to be dealing with this.
"I won't tell anyone." She said quietly. Oh. If that was all she needed to say why didn't she do it earlier.
The rain began to increase in volume. We are going to get drenched running back to the agency. She kissed my teeth and shook my head.
"I know you won't," I said, leaning back in my seat with a frown.
At that, a pregnant silence followed.
Moe smiled and leaned forward. Her head was propped up by her hand as she stared up at me. I frowned at her and looked away. It was incredibly unwanted and uncomfortable with her burning two holes in the side of my head.
"Do you hate her?"
What a surprise. I don't even have to hesitate.
"Yes."
Moe huffed and leaned back in her seat. It was the first time I had seen her face scrunch in like that. How disgruntled and frustrated she looked. She was frustrated with me. But why? Does this have to do with my mother?
Her orange eyes glided across the table and then up at the ceiling. I raised an eyebrow watching her twist and turn. Her feet tap against the ground and look everywhere but at me.
Her actions weren't strange as I could clearly tell something was eating at her. She was debating with herself. I opened my mouth to ask how she was feeling but gaze suddenly shooting at me made me snap it shut.
"Why?" She asked and she was completely still her tone taking on this soft and low volume. It threw me for a loop and that's why it took me a moment to shake out of it. She's serious or is she just being cautious?
What's the point of asking me why? I felt a throb in my head as I hung my head low to massage my temples.
"Why?" I repeated my eyes shut tight. I could remember the smile she gave me, holding me tight and her eyes. But everything seemed muted. Her mouth moved but I didn't exactly hear her words-my mother as she spoke to me. It all flashed in my head of the letters I wrote, never getting replies. I never asked anything of her and they always ended with I love you but the words were never reciprocated. Maybe she never got them. I would eventually tell myself that and stopped writing letters altogether. That was something I decided after the incident. When my mental state had deteriorated to the point where I...let me not delve any deeper than that.
I opened my eyes and raised my head, folding my fingers under my chin, "It's not just I hate her." I clicked my tongue knowing how emotional I get talking about it. I rather not live my life sad, depressed, and looking back at the past. "Just imagine not having your mother around for a decade, no communication-nothing, until she just suddenly appears as a hero."
Moe hummed talking in what I say. She shifted in her seat, fingers tapping against the wooden table. "Imagine despising your mother for all your life. To realize the only person who loved you is the person you despised." The tone in her voice transitioned suddenly, catching even me off guard with how weird it sounded coming from her.
Anger and frustration, "Imagine, only realizing from a letter that person left you after they pass away from cancer before you come back from your internship." She hugged herself fingers digging into the fabric of her sweater as she shook her head. "Sorry, I got a little bit angry there."
I blinked watching the smile return to her lips, "Akio, as my co-pupil for about a week. Here's your last lesson." Moe paused, raising her thumb and pinky finger to her ear, "Don't regret not making a call."
My eyes widened, "I really appreciate you calling me. Even if I don't deserve it." His mother's self-deprecating chuckles faded into the background just as a server came and set down to bowls of ice cream.
You don't. You really don't deserve it.
But what the hell? I scooped up a spoonful of ice cream into my mouth.
Another call won't hurt me, right?
Finally, this chapter is out and it only took 100 revisions. I decided to skip the hospital part of all this as I feel it was really irrelevant to what I want to do. So this chapter is just me wanting to be done with this so I can flash to the good part of this story where Akio starts to get his own story aside from the main characters. Which is still a couple of chapters away but, hey we're getting there even with my slow ass pumping out a chapter every few months.
Besides that, I'm debating giving the briefest of introductions to Akio father in the next chapter. Probably a good ideqa since I haven't had any practice writing any of the characters from the League of Villains which I feel will be a struggle considering character dialogue and personality isn't my strong suit. Then again...does he really have to be part of the league of villans? Or could use the next chapter to develop another OC his childhood friend Kara red? If you guys remember. No? The one who can shoot lasers from her eyes like darkseid in the sports festival? We'll see anyway thank you for actually reading all this if you read this far and don't be afraid to shoot me a private message or leave a review I try my best to respond to reviews if I can.