Chapter 2

Hotaru's P.O.V

It was the first round of indoor combat training. I was on the villain's team with Bakugou, the hotheaded blonde. We were all in our customized hero uniforms and because mother had taken care of mine, I wasn't sure what I was going to get. However, I was actually surprised by how much I liked it.

The costume consisted of a black and white striped, one-piece, bodysuit, a black vest, a grey skirt, and a light-grey-coloured cloak. It was a little too monotone for my taste but I still liked it. My mother most likely wanted to hide my quirk's more noticeable features but I think it only made my tail and horns pop out more.

Along with the clothes, my costume added three silver bands to my tail. No one had mentioned my tail, much to my enjoyment. I think Kyo was a little hurt by the fact that I wasn't exactly proud to have her spirit coexist within me, but she understood for the most part. It wasn't really my choice...

Back to the task at hand...

Bakugou had taken his unrivalled rage to the green-haired boy, Midoriya Izuku. I was sitting near the faux weapon I was tasked with keeping away from the 'hero team' until the timer ran out. Kiyo, of course, had objections.

'You should have gone with the blonde. At least you'd get to witness a fight. Even that level of experience will help,' she told me via our shared mind. I closed my eyes for a moment.

"There's two. I can fight the girl," I muttered. Bakugou and I were against not only Midoriya but Uraraka Ochaco as well. I sighed through my nostrils. As I did so, I caught a whiff of a scent that wasn't too far. It was new.

"We have company..."

"How did you know I was here?" a girl with brown hair and a Neopolitan-coloured costume walked out of her hiding place.

"Call it a justified hunch," I shrugged. Uraraka alerted Midoriya of our location, using an earpiece which we were all given by All Might. I saw her nod then focus her attention back on me. I had no idea what her quirk was, so I decided to stay alert and cautious. I was going to speak but a sudden large rumble shook the building.

'An explosion...' Kiyo muttered. I closed my eyes and sighed.

"He'll bring the building down, I'm sure of it..." I grumbled as I heard footsteps. While I was distracted by Bakugou's blast, Uraraka had jumped up and floated over me.

"So...that's your quirk..." I mumbled, simply staring at her.

'Get her!' Kiyo shouted. I narrowed my eyes as I leapt into action. I spun around and tried to grab Uraraka. I knew I couldn't catch her, so I decided to move the weapon away with my tail before she could get any closer.

The brunette fell to the ground, tumbling a few feet before crashing into a wall. I cocked an eyebrow. There was a pause, where Uraraka had gotten up and gained a fiercely determined look.

'Brace yourself,' Kyo suddenly warned. I was about to ask her what she meant when Uraraka began to act.

"Okay!" she said, putting her hands on a pillar next to her. I widened my eyes a bit. The floor beneath us had exploded and the shockwave blew my cloak around my body. I got low to the ground and swayed my tail back and forth. I use the movement of my tail to balance myself.

I actually learned that move back in Primary School, when we did a project on animals. I had researched that cheeta's swing their tails to balance themselves while running. Figured it would come in handy so I used it...

'The girl!' Kiyo shouted inside my head. I widened my eyes as I looked forward. Uraraka had used her quirk to improvise an attack. She picked up the pillar she was holding and used it to throw debris towards me. I managed to use my tail and knock it away but a few still hit me. I furrowed my eyebrows, knowing my next move had to be fast.

"Kiyo, help me out here," I bit my thumb, taking in some blood. I felt my quirk activate. Blue-coloured flames burst to life on the end of my tail and horns. I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fists.

'Wait! It's not enough-' I jumped from the piece of the debris I was on. As I was in the air, I shot blue flames out of my hands to throw me onto Uraraka, or at least the weapon. When only a tiny spark came out, I looked back to my hands.

"Damn it," I spat before I fell down the hole created by the explosion. I groaned as I landed on my back with a hard thud. After managing to roll onto my side, I noticed that I landed right behind Bakugou.

For a while, all I could see was smoke and dust, but when it cleared, I could see Midoriya with two injured arms. One was badly burnt and the other seemed to be completely broken. The green-haired boy collapsed after saying a few words. Then, I realized something.

"You screwed me up," I mumbled.

'That was all you. I'm only able to use so much power and that was a small amount of blood,' Kiyo explained. I sighed.

"Hero...Hero team...Wins!" All Might's announcement made my head hurt. I groaned as I closed my eyes. A nap was definitely in order...

Later...

I was getting ready to leave. Almost all the kids had already left, anyway, and there was no point in sticking around. Ashido Mina, a pinkette I had met briefly on my first day, walked up to me with a big grin.

"Good job, Anzai! That fire thing you did with your tail looked so cool!" she complimented cheerfully.

"Not really...But thank you," I gave her an appreciative nod.

"What kind of quirk do you have, anyway?" the outgoing girl asked. I froze.

"O-Oh," I stuttered as I became tense. I was wishing Kiyo would help me with a smooth transition for our conversation but she had been silent since I blamed her for my failure. I did feel bad about that but I wanted to wait for her ad I to, at least, be on speaking terms.

"Excuse me..." I mumbled as I hurried out of the room. I passed Midoriya in the hallway as I was on my way out. I saw him look at me and I spun around to face him.

"Good job today. That power you have is something else," I nodded before continuing my escape. Once I was outside, I stood behind a tree off to the side of the courtyard and sighed.

'Calm down, you'll have a panic attack.'

"Kiyo...You've been quiet," I looked back to my shadow. She hadn't talked since my match with Midoriya and Uraraka...

'Listen, Hotaru...' I heard Kiyo sigh, 'This is a codependent life we live. You're my key to the world outside of that stupid temple and I give you power. We have to communicate.'

I raised an eyebrow, "What?"

'Earlier when you said I screwed you up? I didn't. If you had waited, I could have helped you, but you acted on your own accord. The seal only gives me so much power. If you want more power, you'll have to get stronger. It's as simple as that,' Kiyo's tone bothered me. I narrowed my eyes.

"So, you're calling me weak?" I glared at my shadow. The only response I got was silence. The red orbs were gone, meaning Kiyo had her eyes closed.

"Fine."

"I'll train...But don't think I'll be releasing the seal or anything any time soon," I had come to accept the fact that Kiyo was now refusing to talk to me.

With my mind finally quiet, I was able to listen in on the conversation Midoriya and Bakugou were having. Midoriya had just run out of the school to catch Bakugou, only to get yelled at.

"My quirk is something I received from someone else." My eyes widened. Was he serious?

"I can't say who I got it from, but it's like a story out of comic books, except it's true," the green-haired boy said. He's...like me? He understands...

"On top of that, I still can't control it properly. It's just a borrowed power that I haven't made my own, yet. That's why...I tried to beat you without using it. In the end, I couldn't win and had to rely on it," he looked like he was about to start crying or pass out again. I can't say I looked any different...His words hit too close to home.

"What the hell is that?"

"'Borrowed power'? You're talking nonsense," Bakugou didn't believe him.

"What are you trying to do, make me out to be more of a fool than you already have, huh? What are you trying to say? Today I lost to you...that's all it was..." the blonde looked like he was gonna explode.

"As I watched the ice guy, I thought, 'I can't beat him!'. I ended up agreeing with what the ponytail girl said! Damn it! Damn it, damn it!" Bakugou began to yell.

"I'm just getting started, you hear?! I will become number one!" he had blown his fuse. I sighed as I leaned against the tree I was hiding behind. I have to admit, his determination was very admirable. Stupid, but admirable.

"There he is!"

I jumped as All Might came barreling out of the school. I covered my ears and winced at his volume.

"Why is everyone so goddamn loud?" I groaned.

All Might had tried to give Bakugou a pep talk but failed. When the hero's attention was turned to Midoriya, I walked out of my hiding place, attempting to sneak away and go home unnoticed.

"Miss Anzai!"

'Shit.'

"Do you mind telling me why you were hiding?" All Might asked in his booming voice. A bead of sweat fell down my forehead as I sat there in silence. After a moment, I swallowed the lump in my throat and spoke up.

"G-Goodnight, Sir," I bowed at the waist before running out of the school's gates. I sighed.

"This damned school is going to be the death of me."