As Hawks watched the two villains enter the abandoned building that was currently Hikari's "home" the bird couldn't help but follow behind, eyeing the subtle changes of the two while they were in each other's presence.
It was subtle to the untrained eye of course, but like he said, Hawks had been silently judging and cataloguing every movement and response for the villain in an effort to manipulate him into getting what he wanted.
So looking now, the hero could very clearly see a couple differences, ones that got him rather furious and yet all so curious at the same time.
His slightly slouched posture, the subtle gazes to Hikari when she wasn't looking, the way he would purposely look for an excuse to touch her for no apparent reason, they were all utterly new and absolutely disgusting to the hero.
And he was sure that the thoughts in Dabi's head were less than innocent, the way he eyes his sister like a piece of meat, like he was examining his next prey with his lips slightly parted. It honestly made him want to kill the villain right then and there.
Very heroic, right? Well, blame the stitched bastard for that one.
It's like he was purposely pushing his buttons and Hawks was sick of it, all three of them moving into the seemingly empty slums before he felt himself speak up by clearing his throat. "Right so, you guys know each other. That's….nice…why did ya two keep me in the dark about that little detail?"
This caused the two of them to stop before the duo collectively turn towards the bird with a blink of surprise. His tone clearly made it obvious that the sudden information wasn't "nice" in the slightest. Ah, how amusing.
Dabi was the first to answer, taking the opportunity to snake his stitched hand onto Hikari's hip before forcing her body into his, the poor girl stumbling into him given the short notice of the action.
And when he responded it was raspy and cruel, purposely trying to piss off Hawks as he pushed his head even further into her hair. "Because, the look on your face right now really is priceless, isn't it Princess?"
His move was successful in the intention though, the bird puffing his chest in anger as he took a step further in order to separate them. That cocky bastard, he was doing all this on purpose, wasn't he? How dare he use Hikari like that.
Although the bird didn't get the chance as Hikari herself aggressively stepped on the villain's toes a minute later along with elbowing him into his chest roughly in order to break away with disgust. "Get your crusty man hands off of me, I'm still pissed at you."
Watching the girl, the villain then lowered his eyes with a half lidded stare. "You act like that's new for you. When aren't you pissed?"
Hikari couldn't help but chuckle at that, placing her hands on her hip with unnamed sass. "Good point. I can't help it. You always just do such "charming" things all the time, seems like that's just a constant now.
Dabi sensed the obvious sarcasm immediately. "Why thank you, Dollface. I'll cherish that compliment forever."
Knowing she clearly didn't mean it as a compliment, Hikari groaned before turning back to the small makeshift bar in the corner and to the three bottles that were calling her name. He really was insufferable most of the time. "Mhmmm sure sure. Good for you. I need a drink…"
The hero then watched as the villain starred as she passed by him, his expression softening for a split second before back snapping up his "asshole" demeanor and uncaring smirk.
Picking up a half empty bottle of alcohol and a dirty glass, Hikari then weighed the two before throwing the glass away in order to drink straight from the bottle. "You must be so glad to see me again so soon brother. Did you enjoy the show? I bet your poor little hero's heart is broken right about now, right?"
He knew exactly what she was talking about, the fight at the club and her insane behavior. It was certainly surprising to say the least, how she took pride and joy in that kind of chaos.
And although he knew it, he didn't want to speak on it, especially with Dabi so close by. "W-What do you mean?"
Scoffing into the bottle Hikari replied. "You saw it yourself firsthand, how that little sister you claimed to love so much is now completely gone, how much like our dear old dad I've become."
As much as he hated it, she was right. All throughout tonight the only thing that Hawks could focus on was how far gone his sister really was, how much she reminded him of the sick twisted grin that their father used to wear for his victims.
Back there she looked more like a villain than he could even bear.
The words she chose were rather strange though, taking a step closer to his sister with slight disbelief. "What the hell do you mean "claimed to love"? Of course I love you Hikari, I always have, you're my sister.…"
Yet Hikari wasn't swayed in the slightest, the girl throwing back the alcohol without a care in the world before smirking sadly. "Come on Hawks, don't humor me. We all know that's bullshit. You can quit it with the act now. I know exactly the type of person you are, you confirmed that much during our little meeting."
The bird felt his mind going in a thousand directions at her words. Yes, in a technical sense he did choose the commission over her before he didn't have a choice, okay? Hawks knew he was in a critical position right now and that he couldn't be selfish back then. Why couldn't she see that?
Sighing out in exasperation, her brother couldn't help but take a step closer. "I get it, okay? I really do, what happened in the past and what happened last night was my fault, I know that. But if you would just listen to me so I can explain.."
Yet the person that answered him wasn't Hikari, but rather Dabi, moving a couple inches away from the girl before laying his hand on the right hand side of her hip this time.
Wrapping his fingers around the fabric of the waistband, the villain then purposely lowered his hand so it was resting on her upper thigh before leaning into her ear with a raspy chuckle.
"Oh, would you look at that. What a surprise, the absentee brother is about to make some sort of piss poor excuse on why he isn't a piece of shit. This will be interesting."
And that certainly flared up the hero's anger ten fold, seeing such a slimy and disgusting man touch his sister like nothing. What the hell was he doing, was he trying to piss him off? Of course he was, that was just how Dabi was.
But of course that little truth was lost on the hero in the moment, his eyes clouded with absolute fury as he snapped at the villain with a growl. "Yo Dabi, I'm going to need you to stop touching her like that. At the club it was different but you have no reason to do it now. So back away.."
Dabi didn't in fact back away though, only seeing amusement in the bird's growing anger. "Ah, and here comes the orders. How bold indeed, considering your head has been so far up your ass for years, you never even realized what was happening."
And although Hawks knew he was right, he didn't speak on it, still utterly anxious as his sister was being touched by this filth. "S-Shut up…"
Dabi only enjoyed his anger though, twisting his lips into a smirk before lifting his hand painfully slowly in order for Hawks to follow his gaze with venomous intent.
"What's wrong Hawks, you don't like this, how about this?"
Feeling all of his feathers start to sharpen immediately, Hawks took another step closer as Dabi snaked his other hand in order to grab Hikari's chin and forcibly push it only a couple inches away from his lips.
His breath coaxed into her mouth as Hikari felt her own breathing stop completely, staring into Dabi's half lidded cerulean gaze before recalling the night that they had shared before.
She knew he was just using her to piss her brother off but regardless of his warmth couldn't help but draw her in, wishing for him to close the gap in order to feel that fleeting and fake moment of love once more.
Hawks on the other hand was absolutely furious, his own breathing becoming lodged in his throat as he watched that bastard play around with his sister between his fingers, Dabi now turning to purposely staring at the bird as he remained inches away from Hikari's lips.
And that was a snapping point for the hero, taking another step closer before balling his fists in order to try and contain the fury that was seeping out. "Listen you bastard, I'm not fucking around. Take your hands off of my sister before I make you regret it..."
The air was silent at his words, everyone taking in the tension before Dabi couldn't help but smirk at Hawks' threat, finding the irony almost immediately and speaking on it, knowing what would utterly destroy the bird.
"That's really funny, considering you're already too late. I've already put my hands on her. In fact, I've done much worse. Would you like to know Hawks, the things I've done while you weren't around..?"
The implications of the words were too much and in the next minute, Hawks had grabbed the villain forcibly before slamming him into the nearest wall, the hero's hands now around Dabi's throat in blinded fury.
Squeezing his airway slightly, the villain could only laugh when the bird's hands shook with absolute hatred. "Y-You, you crusty little piece of shit! You son of bitch, shut your goddamn mouth! Shut your goddamn mouth right now, ya hear me?! I don't want her name to ever pour from your disgusting lips again, ya hear me?
Dabi still only found amusement though, enjoying how he made his colleague break. "Hmmm I don't think I will. She's just too good to pass up, don't you think?"
To add to the disgust, the villain then licked his bottom lip as Hawks felt all his feathers sharpen lethally before his eyes grew absolutely livid.
Just the idea of Hikari sleeping with someone like this was absolutely unbearable. He better not have forced her or else they would be hell to pay, staring right now. "Y-You.."
Although before the two could tear each other apart, Hikari chimed in a moment later the girl calling back casually like this was a normal occurrence for her.
"Hey children, as entertaining as this is, can we get back to what you called me here for? You all can try and kill each other later. It's been a long night."
Her words caused the bird to turn towards his sister only to find her staring at her phone, not at all interested in the fight between him and Dabi. What was she doing, he was trying to protect her, to defend her. Why did she just look bored?
It seemed like the addition caught Dabi's attention as well, speaking to the bird with hidden amusement. "That's right, you really should be thanking me, Hawks."
Still unhinged from his own anger, Hawks managed to scoff. "Oh yeah, and why the hell would I be thanking you?"
Although Dabi was happy to explain, to give him another newfound realization, almost like the villain was mocking him. "Because without me you wouldn't have even seen your precious little sister ever again. I'm the reason that she's even here right now. Did you know that? I bet you didn't…"
And that caused the hero to immediately stop, taking in Dabi's words before searching both his and Hikari's face for any sense of a lie. What the hell was he even talking about? How could he possibly be responsible for bringing Hikari here?
His hands couldn't help but loosen around Dabi's statement, pure confusion and shock on his face. "W-What?"
Seeing Hawks trying to connect the pieces together, the villain gratefully clarified, using the advantage to walk away from the idiotic hero before shifting his gaze to Hikari all at once.
"That's right, she didn't want you to know that she was alive but I brought you two together. That little family reunion you both had the last couple weeks, it's because she was following my orders.."
Although Hikari perked up as soon as she heard his word choice. "Excuse me? Don't make shit up Dabi. You didn't give me orders, I did you a favor. There's a big difference."
Dabi was quick to respond though. "Whatever you want to call it, the point is you should be a bit more grateful to me chicken shit. I brought your innocent little sister back from the dead. Did you enjoy the act, did it feel real?"
Because he was speaking with only half the information, Hawks turned to his sister for clarification. Dabi's words right now didn't make any sense and it was making him rather anxious. "H-Hikari what is he saying?"
Glancing to the bottle in her hands, Hikari only lifted up her phone before shrugging. "Dabi called me about a job, said that he would make it worth my while and I agreed. Didn't you listen to what that commission dog told you, I work for commission, payment, basically whatever interests me."
And because of tonight's events and all the new horrible information, Hawks was too overwhelmed with all the pieces, forcibly trying to connect what she was saying. "You came for a job...but what kind of….?
That's when it all clicked.
Of course, it was obvious. The reason why she was here, the reason why everything had gone so wrong. He knew exactly what her job was. "The file."
Smiling at his realization, Hikari then reached into her jacket pocket before pulling out a singular solid black colored flash drive, swirling it around in the fingers as Hawks watched in horror. "Ah, now he gets it."
And seeing that little piece of plastic between her fingers, it was like every single horrible thing had suddenly crashed around him.
That file contained a list of commission secrets, and now it was in the hands of his villain sister, just inches away from Dabi, aka the only person that couldn't see what was on there.
It not only confirmed him as a spy but it also documented the plan going forward with the league, along with various names of people that knew his position of double agent.
He was screwed, he was so incredibly screwed..
...and from the way Hikari was looking at him, she knew it too.
Voicing his biggest fears, Dabi spoke a moment later. "I expressed to our Princess here that I was rather skeptical about a hero joining the league. I wanted to make sure that you weren't trying to screw me over so I hired Valkyrie to break your guard down and find out the truth for me. That way, I could make my decision on whether to kill you or not."
The villain couldn't help but take in the utter fear in the bird's eyes as Dabi pointed back to Hikari with a smirk. "Besides, who could do a better job than Hawks' own sister, right?"
All at once, Hawks began to replay the weeks he had spent with his sister, re-examining all of their interactions and conversations leading to this point. He always thought she was just trying to be there for him, to get him to open up because she cared.
When in actuality it was because she was trying to get him to spill any information about him being a spy. Dabi used his own sister, his own grief and blinded love to fully screw him over.
And he had won, Dabi had won this invisible game like it was nothing.
All that Hawks could do now was wait for the villain to find out the truth and end his life. Because if Hikari had the real file then everything was already over.
He failed, he failed his sister, he failed the commission and he failed the world.
Twisting the invisible knife even more, the male villain added. "But you shouldn't have anything to worry about though, right? That is, if you've been telling the truth this whole time like you said you've been doing."
Somehow, it felt as if the stitched man was silently saying. I know you're full of shit, I know that you lied to me in his own language with that last sentence.
Hawks felt his feathers twitch with every word, choosing to stay silent as Dabi lifted his hand outward all at once. "Well then, let's see if you die tonight, shall we?"
The hero then silently turned to Hikari, begging her internally not to give that file up, not to condemn him to death tonight like this.
She was his sister, right? Then she had to feel some sort of sympathy for him. She had to, or else he'd be dead.
Yet Hawks felt his heart drop his chest as the girl took in his silent plea before chuckling under breath, almost like she was mocking him before handing the small black flash drive over to Dabi without a care in the world.
"Yes, let's see.."
And that was it, the hero knew it. Hikari had just signed his life away, just like that.
Watching with extreme still silence, Dabi made his way across the room to the old dingy laptop in the corner before opening the top and sliding the flash drive into the side with a hum.
Every single second felt like agony to Hawks, the sweat accumulating rapidly before glancing to the left only to find that his sister was staring right at him, like she was watching his movements.
Her gaze was silent and firm, the bird wondering why she was doing it in the first place. She knew he was a spy already, didn't she? She had to know or else they wouldn't have been here right now.
Maybe she just wanted to see his destroyed expression first hand, maybe that's why she was staring at him. That was the only solution he could foresee right now, given that the girl had already made her choice.
Hikari hated him after all, he supposed he deserved what came next.
The laptop screen dinged to life a second later, causing Hawks to flitch before the file popped up on the screen as Dabi's half lidded gaze narrowed with delight.
And the hero waited, he waited for the villain to cremate and burn him to a crisp, he waited for Dabi to yell at him and torture him for trying to screw him over, he waited for him to do any of the horrible and disgusting threats he had heard for months, the ones that he promised to do if he found out Hawks was a traitor.
So, he was certainly surprised when Dabi only stared at the screen in silence.
Complete and utter silence.
Hawks didn't dare make a move as he knew it could be his last, staring at the stitched man's back with heavy anxiety for what seemed like forever.
But even after that long, he still didn't move, he just stared.
As the air grew heavy, Hikari finally spoke up, moving from the seated position she had occupied to meet her friend with slight concern, glancing over his shoulder. "So, what is it?"
Dabi couldn't help but blink in disbelief then, turning to Hikari before voicing his wandering thoughts, clear surprise and confusion in his tone. "It's not here."
Blinking in surprise at his words, the girl couldn't help but turn her head to the side. "What do you mean it's not there? These were all the files from his office, everything the commission was working on. I made sure of it.."
Yet the villain was quick to cut her off, a slight growl in his tone. "These are from those fuckers all right, but there's nothing in here about the league or Hawks being a traitor. There's no mention of any kind of mission like that.."
And that caused Hawks' to widen his eyes as he felt all of his breath lodge in his throat all at once.
Wait, did they just say what he thought they did?
No, that wasn't right, he read what kind of files were in that flash drive in the report of the break in. The file of him being a traitor was definitely a part of those. It should have been in there. He wouldn't have read that wrong, not in a million years.
But if that was the case, why wasn't it in there, why was it left out?
It made no sense to the hero, the man trying to rack his brain while Hikari and Dabi had their backs turned to him. That file was supposed to be in there, he was sure of it. So, where did it go. Did someone delete it?
But who?
Well whatever it was, he was safe, at least for now. That much was supposed to be relieving, yet Hawks couldn't help but still be caught up in the logistics on how.
Dabi and Hikari also seemed very confused, the girl narrowing her eyes. "Wait, so if there isn't that kind of file in there then that means…"
The villain finished for her, obviously unhappy with the result. "That he isn't a traitor."
And that was music to Hawks' ears, finally mouthing his mouth now that he knew he wasn't going to get roasted alive tonight. "Ah, see. I told ya. See, this is what happens when you don't trust me Dabi. I'm all for the league, always have always will be!"
Obviously finding it hard to believe that result, Dabi then turned to his friend before placing his hands on her shoulders and locking eyes, as if to read her entire reaction. "There has to be something else, something you missed."
That's when Hawks watched as his sister very briefly turned her gaze to him before fixing her eyes back on the villain. To anyone else, it may have looked like an eye roll, like she was annoyed by Dabi's words, and the bird couldn't help but detect something else.
She had looked at him in the same way as she did a couple minutes ago. It was almost identical, almost like she was trying to relay something to him, like she was trying to communicate something.
That's when everything seemed to flood into him at once.
The only person that had that file the entire time, the only one that would have been able to manipulate or do something to it...
...would have been Hikari.
But that didn't make sense. She said she hated him, she said that she wanted him to burn. If that was the case, why would she steal those files and then change them in order to save him.
A change of heart maybe?
He wasn't sure but the idea couldn't help but play in his mind. Could she have helped him, was that even possible for her. If so, why?
Hikari had no problem staring right back at Dabi though, the girl shrugging her shoulders in a carefree fashion. "Are you doubting my skills? I did what you told me to. The facts are right there. I downloaded all of the commissions files and if it's not in there then.."
Although Dabi only narrowed his eyes, as if he was trying to read something in her response before finally giving up a few seconds later and backing away. "I just can't believe it. He's the shadiest person alive. I thought for sure that he was fucking with us."
The girl seemed to follow suit though. "You're telling me. I thought you were onto something also. But even when I was living with him I didn't get anything. Shady, sure but I didn't get anything else from him."
Hawks could barely believe what he was hearing. He didn't know how but he had done it, he had gotten two villains off of his trail somewhere.
It should have made him feel relieved.
Yeah, it should have but even still, the hero couldn't help but sense a sort of unease with the situation, like he wasn't completely out of the woods yet, like someone was still watching his every movement.
Shaking her head, Hikari then lifted up the bottle of alcohol she was drinking before waving it around with a smile. "Ah well, now that everything's over we can relax and go back to how everything was before…"
And ever so slightly, Dabi followed suit, stealing the bottle out of Hikari's hand before taking a long chug as Hawks watched the display with growing anxiety.
Was it really over, just like that?
It almost seemed too good to be true.
Once Dabi had passed out from the alcohol, Hawks watched as his sister turned her eyes towards the villain before putting her own drink down and standing up in order to leave.
Not fully understanding, the girl glanced back at him once before ascending the old moldy steps leading upstairs as Hawks felt the sudden pull to follow her.
A lot had happened since their big argument and he just wanted to make it right, to understand her somehow. So because of that, the bird silently followed Hikari up the steps, the small squeaks of wood being the only sound echoed throughout the space.
And once he had reached the top, Hawks saw one of the rooms open, leading him to it and pushing it slightly open before stepping inside all at once.
Hikari didn't seem bothered by his sudden presence though, almost like she expected it.
The air was silent for a couple seconds more before the girl finally spoke, the words causing Hawks to freeze immediately at the implications they held, almost like she couldn't take the quiet anymore.
"Aren't you gonna ask me why I deleted the files labeling you as a traitor?"
Widening his eyes at the sudden confirmation, Hawks felt his breathing completely stop as he processed the words. Wait, did she just say that she helped him?
So he was right, she had covered for him.
But the question remained, why? It still made no sense. In every sense Hikari should have just let him burn. So why didn't she? "W-What?"
Shaking her head in exasperation, Hikari sighed. "You must have figured it out, right? I know you're not that stupid."
And of course he had figured it out, but that didn't make him feel any better about it. He should have been overjoyed with this news. So instead, why did he feel like he was still doomed?
"W-Why did you do that? I thought you were hired to prove that I was a spy. Why did you change your mind..?"
Looking down at the dirty mattress by her feet, Hikari seemed to be contemplating her own actions. "You should be thanking me. If it wasn't for me you'd be dead right now. That was his plan anyways, to burn you alive once he found out."
The girl then turned her head to the side. "But that's the problem with Dabi. He's always been such a brute, a kill and ask no questions kind of guy. He's never been able to look at the big picture. Just like with that dealer tonight. I could've used him, but he just killed him…"
Feeling herself start to smile, Hikari then turned to her brother before lifting out her hands. "But me, I like to think a little bit bigger, I like to think about the possibilities, how I can use someone to my advantage."
The girl then snapped her fingers before lowering her amber colored eyes at her next prey, causing a chill to run across his spine. "And you Hawks, are very useful to me, that's why I couldn't have Dabi kill you."
Her words were strange, something that the bird didn't understand. "M-Me? How am I..?'
Yet Hikari was happy to clarify. "Because you dear brother, are the closest I've ever been to what I want, and I'm not about to waste my opportunity because of some petty fight you two have between each other."
Taking another step closer, the girl then lifted her hand before revealing the very reason why she had chosen to keep her brother alive, and it wasn't out of love.
"You see, you are going to get me close to the commission, so I can tear it down."
Tear it down? Wait, what did that even mean? Hikari was after the commission this whole time, why would she want them? Was there something he didn't know about?
"W-What, why would I do that?"
Clicking her tongue, Hikari then turned her head as she giggled at the trap he had found himself in. "Because it would be a real shame if Dabi did find out that you were a traitor, if he realized that you tried to cheat the system and change those files while I wasn't looking during our little fight last night."
Hawks couldn't help but stop at that, processing her words like a thick poison. Wait, she was saying things that didn't even happen. "But I didn't do that. I didn't touch that file..."
Smirking, his sister replied proudly. "And who do you think he'll believe? His best friend, or someone he's already suspicious of, someone he already wants dead? Face it Hawks, one word from me and you'll be burnt alive, no questions asked…"
He felt his mouth run dry immediately, knowing exactly she was going with this. Of course it wasn't that easy, he knew it. She was going to hold this over his head, she was going to exploit and use him just like with that dealer tonight.
She didn't care for him, only what he could offer. "Y-You're blackmailing me?"
At the simplistic terms, Hikari giggles once again. "Well yeah, of course. You didn't think I saved you out of love, did you? Oh please, that's not how I work, Hawks. You should know that by now."
Although he did. He knew he shouldn't have expected such a thing from his sister, especially given the things he had seen the last couple days. But, he couldn't help but be hopeful, to wish that she had saved him out of the goodness of her heart.
And the fact that she hadn't done that bought a bitter wave of sadness with it.
But her words also brought something else with them, a newfound realization. She was willing to lie for him to get what he wanted, but that also meant..
"Wait, if you kept this from Dabi then that means you will be going behind his back, lying to him, betraying him.."
Yet it seemed like Hikari already knew the terms of her plan, only shrugging her shoulders with a plain reply. "What about it?"
This caused Hawks to blink in surprise. Well, that was strange, from the reactions and conversation with the villain he had seen the two seemed to be really close. "I don't know, I thought you two were friends?"
At the word, he watched as Hikari's lips turned into a bitter smile before shaking her head and turning away from him. She knew better than to call him that after everything that had happened.
If only Hawks knew all of their history, and what led her to this point.
When she decided to speak, her voice was bitter and slightly condescending. "Friends'' is a very loose term. I've been stuck with him, that's all. The only reason we tolerate each other is because we are all we have left from the past."
Following her inside the room, Hawks felt his wings shiver from the implications of her words. "So you guys haven known each other for awhile then?"
And although Hikari's back was turned, he could just barely see her fallen shoulders and the sudden changed atmosphere around the girl as an onslaught of memories seemed to pour into her all at once. "Yeah, something like that…"
Then she sucked in a heavy breath before shoving down those lingering feelings and turning around to meet her brother. "The point is, I could care less what happens to that overbaked pop tart anymore. He made a mistake calling me back here, thinking I'll be a good girl and follow his lead.."
Looking into Hikari's eyes, Hawks couldn't help but gasp, seeing a cloudy overlay start to take over. They were uncaring and unemotional, now lined with intent, pure and absolute intent.
"Don't be mistaken. I'm getting what I want, and I don't care who I have to step on or break to get there."
The girl then lifted her hand up before allowing her lips to curve into a twisted smile all at once, her voice cynical and cruel. "This is your one time offer Hawks so I would think carefully if I were you, because I don't ask twice…"
Turning her head to the side, Hikari then finished coldly. ""So, what will it be, brother, do we have a deal?"
Looking down at her hand, a thousand thoughts immediately ran through Hawks' head all at once. She was giving him a choice, a choice to live or a choice to die tonight.
That very option was in the palm of her hands right now, and she was letting him choose.
But if he accepted that offer it meant having to work with his villain sister, it meant betraying the commission, the very place that gave him shelter and made him a hero, made him worth something. Could he really do it? Could he go behind their backs for the sake of this mission?
Although, then he thought about something else.
Spending more time with her could also give him an opportunity to repair their broken relationship, to pull her away from villainy before she got too far. They would be working together after all, hiding from Dabi, lying for each other.
Maybe that meant that somewhere deep down, Hikari didn't really want him dead, maybe this alternative motive was just a way to keep him alive, even if it was for an underlying purpose.
He could just pretend to help her get close to the commission and while trying to help her break away, and worst case scenario if she really was too far gone then he could just inform the commission after all of this was over and done with and lock her away forever.
That's right, he could just lock his mistakes and shame away if they were unfixable.
The choice seemed obvious now that he really thought about it. He couldn't die here, not while his sister and the entire world were counting on him. He would just have to make this all work someway or another.
Hikari, he would save her.
He had to, for his own conscience and for hers as well.
Because of that, Hikari then watched as her brother slowly lifted his hand before grabbing onto the surface of hers all at once, his eyes fixed in his own determination.
"Deal."
The hero's words couldn't help but make Hikari's smile turn wider before lowering her amber eyes with absolute intent and silent yet hidden amusement.
She was sick of getting trampled on, of being crushed over and over again because of her weak heart. It was about time something changed and she finally turned away from her past. It only brought horrible memories with it anyways.
Hikari knew she needed to face the facts, the ones that had been haunting and tormenting her for years, the ones she refused to believe until now.
Her brother, Keigo was gone.
Hawks didn't care.
Dabi only used her whenever it was convenient for him.
And if that was the case, then so be it.
So screw her brother, screw Dabi, and screw everything in the entire world. She didn't need them, she didn't want them anymore. After years of trying to please them, of trying to get them to notice her it was finally over.
And that was because she finally had realized the painful truth.
None of it mattered, nothing ever mattered but herself.
"Well then, let the games begin."
End of S1 let's gooo. So we have Hikari covering for Hawks with the sole reason of using him to get her closer to the commission. Although, I think a part of it was because she wasn't ready for him to die. She's gotten kind of soft for him I think.
And in doing that, we see her determined to screw Dabi and Hawks over to get to the president. Back a couple chapters ago we found out that Hikari believes that Dabi feels nothing for her, that he just uses her whenever it is convenient.
But our girl is done with that and is turning the table in order to get what she wants. A Queen, screw them all over yes. Let's see how that works out.
Also did you notice, Hikari doesn't call her brother "Keigo" anymore because she truly believes he doesn't exist anymore. After he chose that file over her she has given up hope, only seeing what the commission made him to be, which is "Hawks." Oof heartbreaking stuff.
Next Chapter: Start of season 2, Hawks comes up with an idea to try to "reform" Hikari from her villain ways along with getting her close to the commission.