BOKU NO HERO ACADEMIA: CENTER STAGE "TAKAMI KEIGO AND YAMASAKI KIRA"

BY: RENEE PHYLLIS

CHAPTER ONE

"Introduction"

"You shouldn't take anything lightly, Hawks. You don't know the world you live in", she said in the cold dead of night, when Hawks, the Winged Hero, was about to leave the warehouse that was used by the League of Villains when meeting Hawks. "Speak of the woman who doesn't have a side", he said in a spiteful tone, turning around to face the woman who was speaking to him. She was seated on those metal crates that was placed outside of the warehouse. "Sides? There's no point in picking sides. Violence breeds violence. And besides, I have the center stage to look down upon", she hopped off those same metal crates she was sitting and stared at the hero. Hawks gave her a shrug and went on his way. She chuckled like a deadly snake ready for its prey. "Kira, let's go", Dabi called out to her. "What were you two talking about? You weren't playing with him again, were you?", Dabi asked the girl as they walked together. "Don't worry. I was being gentle", she smiled at him.

…

Yamasaki Kira, a 20-year-old villain or should they say a hero – sometimes. She joined the League of Villains for one reason only. And that is, to be there for her friend, her only friend, Toga Himiko. She wasn't necessarily, what you would call a villain, although, she became a killer to avenge the death of her parents, her family, especially her brother, who was brutally killed in their home. She ran to her home, in happiness, ready to celebrate her birthday. She was only 15 and she was excited, only to see them, on the floor, blood everywhere in the kitchen. There seemed to be a struggle. She froze on her spot. Her breath became heavy and she couldn't properly breathe. The cake that she was supposed to blow her candles to, were on the ground, smudged and bloodied. The balloons, popped. Her brother, holding his favorite stuffed-toy on his hand, the other, reaching for her mother. What's going on? Mom? Dad? Niko? She couldn't seem to cry. When she snapped back to reality, she immediately called the police and an ambulance, but it was too late. Too late to save them.

Some said it was a villain. No neighbors were present or even heard anything. "The father was a Police, no wonder villains would go after them", a woman said on the background. She sat in the back of the ambulance, a towel around her shoulder, covering her. "What a horrible thing to happen", another said. She covered her ears. She didn't want to be reminded of the reality that her parents and brother were dead. "What will happen to the daughter?", a person spoke. "I heard she'll be taken good care by the chief of the police department. Apparently, it's her grandfather", another gossiped. They were right. She was to stay with her grandfather. The chief of the police department of the city. She was quirkless, just like her mother and so, her grandfather taught her how to fire a gun, protect herself from danger and from strangers and how to also protect herself from quirked people – if the time comes that she'll encounter one. He also sent her to school, where she met Toga Himiko, who would later become her friend.

At school, she became a loner. People were scared of looking at her. People would gossip about her as the girl who'd lost her parents and brother on her birthday. Since then, she loathed her birth. She loathed her entire existence. She loathed everything about her life – well, except her grandfather.

She met Toga and instantly they became friends. She didn't mind Toga being all that she is. For her, she was amazing and unique and needed to be cherished. For Toga, she was a senpai she could count on. They were both crazy, only Toga was more visible in craziness. Toga and Kira would always be together and they both promised to never leave one another.

At her 18th birthday, she didn't want to celebrate, it was too painful to be reminded of the day they died. Her grandfather never insisted upon it or even forced her, but instead, he gave her, her very first gun. It was a Smith & Wesson Model 500, known to be the most effective pistol since it was introduced. She was overjoyed, for the first time since that day. But things would start to get a little messier.

She came home, tiptoeing and setting her bag down as slowly as she could. "Where have you been?", she was startled by the light turning on, revealing her grandfather sitting at the end of the dining table. "I- I was having practice", she stuttered, an obvious lie on her part. "It's surprising to think that one of the villains, the killers that killed your parents is found dead on the side of the river this morning. His throat was slashed open, a gunshot on the head. Surprisingly, the weapon used to slash the throat was left at the crime scene, but no fingerprints. The one who slashed him might have been wearing a glove. But what bugged me the most is that the bullet on his head, is the same bullet that is in the gun I gave you. It had a marking, only I know." Her heart was pounding so loud. She could no longer hear what her grandfather was saying. She remained silent; on the spot she was standing. "Kira", her grandfather said in a deep and concerned tone. "I know you've been investigating your parents' and brother's death, but the case is not closed and we are doing everything we can to find those killers", he said, basically pleading. "Well, then… You're not doing enough!", she shouted. She punched the side of her hand on the wall beside her. "I'm sorry, but we've been busy with other cases, we don't-", she cut him off. "…What? You don't have time? That's right, grandpa. You've been busy and had forgotten about my family, about your daughter! But I have had time to look for them and I found one. It's a matter of time before I find those other two", she said and glared at him, her voice breaking. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't. "You are not thinking straight. It's a good thing that the bullet wasn't registered and that it will take time for everyone to know it was YOU who killed that man, but please, stop this nonsense! I don't want you ending up like that friend of yours", he shouted back at her. She stopped for a moment, at the mention of her friend, her only friend, Toga Himiko. She wasn't there on that day; she was on the lookout for the killer of her parents and brother. She was shock to hear that her friend was on the run and that police started questioning her. School became even more depressing, draining. Everyone was avoiding her, not wanting to get near her as they thought she was Toga's accomplice. She only felt sorry for Toga, that she wasn't there to defend her from the people that was calling her a monster. In a way, she thought to herself, if she was also a monster.

Her face grew dark, looking down and staring at the tiled-floor. "This isn't nonsense. I'm avenging my mother and father, my little brother who had so much potential, who wanted to become a hero! He had the power to become one hell of a hero and now where is he? Down the dirt", her eyes sting as her tears fell. She continued to look down as she was crying her heart out. "I know how you feel. You're right, I lost my daughter and I will never get her back. But I will not let you down this path, because if I do, then what will my daughter say. If you don't stop with this nonsense, then I have no choice but to take you in. Right now, I have to go to the station. I beg you, Kira. If not for me, then do it for your parents, your brother", he held her hands and hugged her tightly, kissing her head as he went out of the door.

As soon as he stepped out of the door, she fell on her knees and burst out crying. She could never believe what she was about to do next. "I'm sorry grandpa. I AM doing this for them", she whispered to herself. She wrote a letter to her grandfather, saying that she will never come back and that she will continue her hunt, even if he liked it or not. She set the letter down on the dining table, and tightly gripped on two bags – one back-pack and one duffel bag – that she was bringing along with her. She took all of her savings with her and went to a place where she knew, Toga would be. "Kira-senpai!", Toga ran into her arms with the same expression she always had. "Himiko! I knew you'd be here", she said and hugged the girl, wrapping her arms around her head. "Let's get out of here", Kira said and Toga giggled, jumping up and down happily. From that day on, their lives as villains started – on the contrary.

"What's got you all smiley?" Dabi asked the girl, staring into her surroundings and smiling like she somehow saw something good to smile at. "Just remembering the past. How me and Toga lived our lives", she said. "I don't care about your life story", Dabi replied. She glared at him and rolled her eyes. "Then don't ask." And off they go, back to their hideout.