Sorry that this chapter is a bit later than usual— life be crazy sometimes.
Chapter Nineteen: Do Your Best!
I'm so tired. I'm so fucking tired. So, so tired. I'm so tired.
Even after promising Midoriya that she would rest, she hadn't slept a wink. Sure, she had laid in bed in the dark and counted down how much sleep she could get if she just fell asleep now, or now, or now…
Useless.
It only gave her more time with her thoughts than she cared to have. She had nowhere to turn away from her thoughts of Shouta, of his defeat and the feeling of her heart dropping from her body at the sight of his bloodied goggles. She thought about how pathetic she had been, needing Bakugou to run in like a real Hero to save her. She thought about the Warp Villain, and how Bakugou's hands had sparked against the metal casing inside him. She thought about Midoriya, and about All Might. She thought about Shigaraki Tomura.
She thought about how a part of her still wanted to kill him, even knowing he hadn't killed Shouta. Then she tried very hard not to think about it.
"Koharu!"
Her shuffling feet came to a stop. She had been so lost in her head again that she had nearly forgotten where she was. She slowly turned to find the source of the voice, already recognizing it as Uraraka even before Koharu spotted the wide-eyed girl running down the hall towards her. "Good morning, Urara—"
The brunette tossed her arms around Koharu, nearly sending the two small girls to the floor with the force of her hug. Koharu held back a wince as Uraraka's hands pressed over her bruises. "I was so worried about you!"
"Oh, you really didn't have to be—"
"Haru!" Another body slammed into her back, Mina's long arms wrapping around the two girls. "You're really okay!"
Koharu felt her face begin to flush, the pit of embarrassment in her stomach growing under the attention of her classmates. "Of course I am. I already told you guys that when you texted me."
Mina scoffed and tightened her grip. "How was I supposed to be sure that it wasn't fake Haru, hmm?!"
"You could have just called me…" Her eyebrow ticked. "And quit it with the 'Haru' shit!"
"Knowing and seeing are different things," Uraraka intervened. "We're glad to see that you're okay, Koharu!"
"Yeah, you were gone so quickly yesterday! You and Midoriya both. Everyone was really worried about you guys." Mina finally pulled away from the hug to fully display her pout. Uraraka remained latched on for a moment longer before letting go as well.
"And what about Aizawa-sensei?" Uraraka asked as the trio continued on towards their classroom. "They told us some stuff, but… is he really going to be okay?"
Koharu nodded affirmatively. "Yeah, he might look scrawny but he's actually pretty tough. He's a Pro for a reason, y'know."
When the trio reached 1-A, Mina reached out to slide open the door. Most of their class had already arrived and taken their seats, and a quick sweep revealed exactly who she was looking for. Bingo.
"I'll be right back," Koharu quickly excused herself to the girls' confusion, and darted straight to her target.
"Yo, Bakugou."
Her palm resounded solidly against Bakugou's desk. He lifted his head slowly, unimpressed, his lips already twitching into a snarl. Koharu felt her own lips twitch into a grin as he snarled out, "Fucking what?"
"Next time, I'll be the one saving you. So don't get used to me thanking you or anything."
"What sorta dumb-shit 'thank you' is that, you damn extra?!" Heat crackled under Bakugou's palms as he slammed them down onto his desk. His chair screeched as it slid back into Midoriya's desk. Midoriya squeaked loudly at the contact.
"I don't like to owe people." Her own hand slid off of his desk to reveal a folded bill. Koharu grinned cheekily at the steaming blond. "So let's call this collateral until we're even. It's real money, so you better not burn it."
"I don't want your shitty money!"
Koharu shrugged as Bakugou yelled in her face. She began to walk to her desk, her own voice indifferent as she replied, "That's too bad, 'cause I'm not taking anything from you until we're square."
From the sidelines, Kirishima interjected with a bright, "That's manly as hell!"
"Why is Koharu challenging Bakugou, ribbit?" Tsuyu asked with a tilted head. Koharu glanced behind her to see that they had caught the attention of the entire class. Gossips, Koharu thought lightly.
"SHUT UP!" Bakugou rumpled up the money into a ball and tossed it onto Koharu's desk. Midoriya meeped as the wad flew over his shoulder. "TAKE YOUR STUPID MONEY!"
Koharu rolled her eyes as she picked up the ball. "Give it away if you want. I'm not taking it back." She dropped it onto Midoriya's desk.
"P-please don't involve me!"
Bakugou's scowl deepened, and he snatched the money off Midoriya's desk. "Shut it, you shitty nerd! No one's involving you!" He sat forcefully on his chair and turned pointedly forward.
Koharu shot a finger-gun at Bakugou and clicked her tongue before she took her seat behind Midoriya. "Awesome. Glad we're all on the same page."
"Everyone!" Iida suddenly cried from the front of the room, having placed himself behind the podium. "Morning homeroom is about to start! Stop talking and take your seats immediately!"
A hush fell over the class as he effectively stole their attention from Koharu and Bakugou.
"We're already in our seats," Kaminari pointed out.
"Yeah, you're the only one who's not."
Iida's face turned red in frustrated shame as he realized the truth of the statement. He rushed to his seat.
"Hey, Koharu!" Mina suddenly called across the room, nearly tipping her chair over. From behind her, Tsuyu grabbed onto her backrest to steady her. "Who's gonna teach homeroom today?"
"Eh?" Koharu replied as she slouched in her seat. "How am I supposed to know that?"
At the front of the room, the door to 1-A slid open. Shouta stood in the doorway, face and arms still heavily bandaged. "Morning," his muffled voice greeted through the bandages.
"Aizawa-sensei, you're back too soon!" hollered the class, minus Koharu who was too stunned to move her mouth.
"You're too much of a Pro!" cried out a shocked Kaminari as Shouta began to slowly trudge into the room.
"So you're alright, Aizawa-sensei?" Iida asked, his hand raised high into the air.
Behind him, Uraraka held a hand to her mouth in shock. "Can you really call that 'alright'?"
"My well-being doesn't matter," Shouta replied, earning him a loud snort from Koharu. "More importantly, the fight is not over yet."
Murmurs broke through the class at his proclamation.
"Don't tell me…"
"The villains again?!"
Koharu thought she saw his eyes rolling through the open slit of Shouta's bandages. "The U.A. Sports Festival is drawing near."
Kirishima pumped a fist into the air, excitedly exclaiming, "That's a super normal school event!"
"Wait a minute," Denki interrupted, pressing his palm flat against a resistant Kirishima's face.
"Is it okay to have a sports festival so soon after the villains snuck inside?" asked Jirou skeptically.
"What if they attack us again or something..?"
Shouta visibly sighed. "Apparently, they think of it as U.A. showing that our crisis management system is solid by holding the event. Security will also be strengthened to five times that of previous years. But most importantly, our sports festival is a huge chance. It's not something to be cancelled because of a few villains."
Koharu rested her chin into her palm as she eyed her brother. She understood the importance of the event, but his words seemed undercut by the fact that he was still heavily mummified because of those 'few villains'.
"Our sports festival is one of Japan's biggest events. In the past, the Olympics were called a festival of sports, and the whole world was crazy about them. As you know, with reductions in scale and population, they're now a shell of their former glory. And for Japan, what has taken the place of that glory is the U.A. sports festival."
"Of course, all the top heroes around the country will be watching," added Yaoyorozu from her seat behind Koharu. She clenched her fist with determination. "For scouting purposes!"
Eager to share his knowledge, Kaminari added, "After we graduate, it's typical to join a pro agency as a sidekick!"
Koharu stuck out her tongue at Kaminari's words. "Taking that route, too many people miss their chance to become independent and end up being sidekicks forever, though."
Jirou eyed the boy sitting beside her. "Kaminari, I feel like you'd be one of them. Since you're dumb." Kaminari visibly deflated at the girl's unexpectedly harsh words, drawing a chuckle from Koharu.
"Joining a Pro's agency will grant you more experience and popularity," Shouta explained to the class, having often reiterated the same concept to the stubborn Koharu. "Time is limited. If you expect to go Pro, then the path to your future opens up at this event. You have one chance a year for three years— a total of only three chances. No aspiring heroes can afford to miss this event. If you understand that, then don't slack off in your preparations!"
"Yes, sir!" cried the class. Koharu felt her leg begin to jiggle up and down under her desk. As tired as she was, Shouta's words had filled her with a new energy. Screw classes— she was ready to go out and begin training that moment.
"Homeroom is dismissed."
xox
The bell chimed overhead, signalling the start of the lunch period.
"Well, that's enough for today then. Class is dismissed," Cementoss said from the front of the room. Likely eager to get to his own lunch break, he quickly closed his books and exited the room.
The class wasted no time with his departure, students popping up and forming into groups to mingle. Koharu was counted among them, her feet taking her quickly to Kirishima's desk. "Hey, hey, Kirishima~!"
Kirishima turned in his chair to greet Koharu with a toothy smile. "Hey, hey, yourself! Did you want to eat lunch together again?"
Koharu shook her head slightly, her smile turning apologetic. "Sorry, I already promised Uraraka that I'd eat with her today. Buuut…" as she spoke, her hands clasped in front of her chest. She grinned at Kirishima enthusiastically. "D'ya wanna train with me after school?"
"Eh?" Kirishima excessively blinked. "You want to train with me?"
"Well, yeah!" She rocked back on her heels. "You're a tough guy. I bet you can keep up with me."
Someone scoffed behind her. Koharu felt her eyebrow twitch as she turned around to face the source. Bakugou's head was turned pointedly towards the window as if he hadn't just been eavesdropping on their conversation.
Koharu rolled her eyes at the sight, and asked, "Got something to say, Bakugou?"
His face pulled into a scowl as he turned to lock eyes with her. "The fuck would I have to say to you?"
She held his gaze for a long moment before breaking the contact with a shrug. "You can join us, if you want. I'm sure Kirishima wouldn't mind, right?"
Kirishima quickly nodded along. "Yeah, come with us!"
They watched as Bakugou's scowl seemed to deepen. "No."
"Suit yourself," Koharu flatly replied, unbothered.
"Koharu!" Uraraka suddenly shouted across the room. The girl in question looked over to see that Uraraka had a fist raised high in the air and a serious look darkening her face. "I'm gonna do my best!"
Koharu let out a gleeful laugh and raised her own fist in the in response. "Yeah, let's do our best!" She looked back to Kirishima, a residual grin on her face. "I'll talk to you later, 'kay?"
He nodded affirmatively and smiled as he gave a half-hearted fist-pump to tease her. "Yeah, go do your best."
"Shut it, Sharkface," she replied with another laugh, shoving his fist back down. She shot a glance to the surly blond at the next desk. "Bye, Bakugou."
He didn't say a word, but Koharu felt the heat of his glare on her back. Her feet skipped beneath her— somehow, she just didn't feel as tired as before.
She left the classroom alongside Midoriya, Uraraka, and Iida. Uraraka's arm was woven tightly with her own, the girl pressed to her side as they walked.
"Uraraka," Midoriya suddenly said. "Why did you decide to come to U.A. and become a pro hero?"
"Huh?" Urarakra stammered as her feet stopped moving beneath her. Koharu was forced to stop as well. "Um… because… well, for money."
"For money?!" repeated an incredulous Midoriya. "You want to be a hero for money?"
Uraraka's cheeks tinged red, and she rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "To boil it down simply, yes… I'm sorry it's such an unwholesome reason!"
Koharu patted Uraraka's hand gently, still wound in her elbow. "Don't be silly. There are no bad reasons to be a hero— you'll still be out there risking your butt like everyone else, so what does it matter why you want to do it?"
"But you guys have such admirable motivations for wanting to be heroes…" mumbled Uraraka, freeing herself from Koharu to pat at her blushing cheeks with both hands. "It's embarrassing…"
"How is having a goal to support your livelihood not admirable?" Iida asked.
Midoriya was quick to nod along. "Right. It's just unexpected."
"My family owns a construction company, but we haven't got any work at all, so we're flat broke…" Uraraka explained with twisting hands. "This isn't really something to tell other people, though.."
"Construction…" repeated Iida thoughtfully.
"Ah!" Midoriya exclaimed, dropping his fist into his palm. "With your Quirk, getting licensed would bring costs way down, right?"
Iida nodded. "If you could make the raw material float, you wouldn't need any heavy equipment!"
"Right?!" Uraraka cried, bouncing up and down before them. "That's what I told Dad when I was little! But…" she seemed to deflate as she continued, lost in memories as she looked off to the side. "But they told me they would be happier if I followed my dreams." Uraraka's hands fisted into the material of her skirt before she looked up with a renewed determination shining in her eyes. "So I'll definitely become a hero and make money and let my parents take it easy!"
"Bravo!" Iida suddenly cried, his hands clapping high in the air. "Uraraka, bravo! Bravo!"
Koharu quickly joined, clapping her own hands at chest level with a bright smile. Uraraka's cheeks warmed to a pleased pink.
"AHAHAHA!"
A loud laugh suddenly echoed down the hallway, halting the teens in their mini-celebration. The group looked up to see All Might quickly coming towards them. The group froze in shock as he stopped and pointed to one of their numbers: "Young Midoriya is here!"
"A-All Might?" Midoriya stammered in response. "What's the matter?"
"Lunch!" He promptly replied before pulling out a cutely wrapped bento. His large frame nearly filled the hall, and Koharu was surprised to see no trace of the emaciated man she had seen the day before. She tried to blink away her shock as the burly man continued, "Wanna eat together? How about it?"
Midoriya looked back to his friends, receiving a quick nod from Iida. Midoriya paused as he met Koharu's gaze, and she briefly wondered what her face must be doing. She forced it to smile and nod, and Midoriya looked away.
"I'd love to!" He responded to the teacher before scurrying to join All Might down the hallway. Koharu watched as they disappeared around a corner, voices fading down the hall.
"Let's get going, then!" Uraraka suddenly said as she wound her arm back through Koharu's, snapping the girl from her thoughts. She forced another smile onto her face.
"Sure, sure. Let's get going."
chapter end
Otakugirl1996— Welcome back! I'm glad you liked the texting, and her interactions with Deku. Their dynamic is one of my favourite to write.
M— Welcome back! I appreciate that you noticed her contact name for Midoriya. Koharu absolutely has ridiculous names for everyone in her phone, most of which would probably offend their owners lmao.
Teletraan— Welcome back! I looove your guess of her last Figure being fire and the rationale behind it. I hope you're doing well, as well! xo
oLainao— Okay, I laughed SO. FUCKING. LOUD. at your review. The mental image of Midoriya scaling Koharu's apartment and whispering in her window was just too much to handle. I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling unwell, and I hope that you're doing better now! It's important to take care of yourself. xo