Chapter 13

Third P.o.V

'Hotaru, I'm telling you that twelfth place isn't that bad.'

"It wasn't what I wanted, though...I promised myself that I'd get in the top ten, at least..."

Hotaru hadn't studied. With everything going on, how could she? When she learned they would be taking placement tests and that the class had exams coming up, she panicked.

Lucky for her, Kiyo managed to memorize some of the materials, but would only help after Hotaru begged. Now, everyone was dispersed into their groups and talking about their scores. However, Hotaru sat sulking at her desk.

"Hey, Anzai. Some of us are gonna study at Yaoyorozu's house. Do you wanna-" Kaminari paused when he saw Hotaru's teary eyes.

"O-Oh!" he widened his eyes as he panicked. Hotaru whipped away her tears and forced a chuckle.

"I'm just a little upset about my placement. Sorry about being a crybaby," she put on a false smile. Kaminari shook his head as Kirishima walked over.

"I guess you already asked her..." the redhead sighed. Hotaru sniffled, finally managing to stop her tears.

"What?" she gave Kirishima a confused look.

"I was gonna ask if you wanted to come and study with me and Bakugou," he laughed nervously. Hotaru thought for a moment. She leaned back in her chair, looking past Kirishima and Kaminari. Bakugou was looking at her from the corner of his eye but instantly looked away when he noticed she had caught him, causing her to smile softly.

"Sorry, Kaminari. I think I'll go with Eijirou and Katsuki," she said. Kaminari nodded.

'He never stood a chance. Of course, you choose the loud blonde and the red one,' Kiyo sighed. Hotaru brushed off the comment.

"Okay, no worries!" Kaminari gave her a goofy grin.

"Alright!" Kirishima cheered. Hotaru couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah...It sounds fun," she nodded with a small giggle. She got up and walked over to Bakugou's desk, Kirishima following in suit.

"There you go. Now was that so hard?" he asked as the two approached the blonde. The plum-haired girl gave him a confused look, which he replied to with a grin. Bakugou glared at him-silently telling him to shut up.

"He didn't want to ask you himself, so he made me," Kirishima explained. Hotaru stifled her laughter.

"For once, Katsuki doesn't want to talk or shout?" she crossed her arms. Bakugou gazed up at her with a menacing glare, causing her to laugh harder.

'That's odd. He's usually louder,' Kiyo pointed out, some scepticism detectable in her voice.

"Shut up!" the loud blonde hissed. Kirishima seemed to have a moment of realization.

"Where are we going to meet up, anyway?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. The three froze. Hotaru thought for a moment and the perfect spot came into mind.

"I have just the place!"

Hotaru's P.o.V

"Where is he?" I wondered out loud.

I had promised Katsuki that I'd sit with him and Eijirou at lunch. I had just left the lunch line and now I had to find my friends. Furrowing my eyebrows, I looked around. Why did there have to be so many goddamn kids?

"I guess they shouldn't be too hard to find," I sighed. As I roamed the cafeteria, I passed a table that sat some of my classmates, including Midoriya, Iida, and Todoroki.

'Sit with them. It would be easier to talk to them than trying to make conversation with the blonde,' Kiyo grumbled. I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"I like talking to Katsuki. I know he's a bit extra but sometimes you just have to show him who's boss," I explained as I used my enhanced hearing to try and snuff out the boy in question.

'You know you didn't have to choose anyone to study with. We're fine on our own,' Kiyo's suddenly sour tone caught me off guard.

"What's the point of having friends then? I'm not the smartest and Katsuki and Eijirou can fix that. You have to understand, Kiyo. We're not alone anymore," I explained in an unintentional hushed voice. I slightly widened my eyes as I spotted my friends. I waved.

"Plus, this is a good opportunity," I said as I approached and sat down.

"Are you talking to Kiyo?" Eijirou asked. Surprisingly, he seemed to be one of the only ones to actually try and talk to Kiyo since she's been sealed inside me. She talks back, too!

'Hello, Red-haired friend of Hotaru's.' Well...she does refer to him as 'Red-haired friend' from time to time.

"She says hi," I laughed nervously as I looked at Katsuki.

"Are you done pouting?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. The blonde clicked his tongue.

"I'm not pouting," he spat. I smiled.

"Of course you're not," I began to dig into the food that had been served to me. It was a quiet lunch, which was surprising considering I sat with Katsuki. Actually...he hadn't done much talking all day. I would have to ask him about that...

Later...

Roles were reversed this time around. I was waiting for Katsuki. After he threatened Midoriya or said whatever it is he says in that menacing tone of his, he met me outside. I sighed when I saw him approach.

"Threatening Midoriya took longer than usual. You've got more to say this time around?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Shut it," Katsuki hissed before walking right past me and out of the school gates. I gave him a worried look before running after him.

"You've been quiet...Are you okay?" I ceased my eyebrows with worry. He didn't answer, causing me to frown.

'He seems normal,' Kiyo deadpanned.

"Fine. Don't talk to me," I said as I turned away from the blonde. I saw his eyes narrow before he grabbed my wrist.

"Wait, damn it."

I raised an eyebrow. Katsuki widened his eyes slightly as he quickly let go of me. He clicked his tongue then averted his gaze.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow," I muttered with a sigh. From the corner of my eye, I saw Katsuki look back at me as I walked away. I was disappointed but I wasn't going to walk home with him if he was going to be in a mood.

Alone, I made my way home and found that, for once, my mom was already there. She wasn't drunk, which meant she had to be suffering from a serious hangover...A hangover always meant I would experience some sort of pain. Whether mental or physical, I knew my mother would try and hurt me...

'Tread carefully, Hotaru,' Kiyo suggested with a serious tone. I nodded.

"Hello," I quietly walked in and took my shoes off. There was no reply. My mother simply sat in silence. I slowly entered the room.

"Is...Is everything okay?" I asked as I crept in front of my mother. She was blankly staring at me.

"People at church are starting to ask me about you. They say we look alike and they've noticed our last names. Whatever stunt you pulled, I hope it paid off because it's about to cost me everything,"

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. I felt like I knew where this was getting at. My mother always kept her home life and church life separated. I was never allowed into the church and none of the church-goers could see me.

'That's all her fault,' Kiyo spat. I sighed.

"People are piecing things together. Your little acts at that school are causing people to lead themselves on, even though I constantly tell them I have nothing to do with something so clearly evil," my mother said. I flinched.

"Mom, I-" "Get out."

I blinked, my confusion clear on my face, "What?" She was kicking me out?

"Mom-" "Don't call me that and get out of my house!" she shouted. I winced as she threw a nearby book at me. My mother got up and began pushing me towards the door. When I stopped to try and appeal to her, she pushed me again and caused me to fall. My body hit the floor with a thud.

'Hotaru!'

"I said leave, damn it! I don't want you anywhere near me!" she shouted as she began kicking me. When given the chance, I winced and struggled to stand. My fuming mother pushed me out the door and slammed it behind me.

I was stunned. I sat in silence, staring at where my mother once was as a sigh escaped my throat. For some reason, I was calm. I guess I knew this day would come. She would kick me out but I wouldn't leave. I can't leave...I have nowhere to go.

"Someday she's going to accept that I'm her daughter," I said as I sat down on the few steps that led up to our porch.

'Get up and go somewhere! She wants you to leave, at least do something eventful,' Kiyo suggested. I shrugged.

"It's not like I've got anywhere to go," I said as I stood up. I wasn't wanting to make things worse by fighting with Kiyo, so I got up and walked. Where to? I don't know. But I walked.

-.-

I've been getting antsy and have been trying to push Hotaru and Bakugou together a little more. I mean, it's already chapter 13 and like nothing's happened, yet. I hope you liked this chapter, anyway! Please leave some reviews or something. I'd enjoy it!